device

What could have been the first mass-market Internet tablet-PC-based device has been abandoned in a copyright dispute. Michael Arrington, the man behind the CrunchPad, says the firm physically manufacturing the product wanted to go it alone, but the ... two sides are locked in an irresolvable dispute. The original concept of the CrunchPad was to produce a simple Linux-based tablet PC for easy web access, filling the gap between accessing the web on a smartphone and carrying around a full-blown portable computer such as a netbook or laptop. CrunchPad: a Blogger's Brainchild One of the most notable ... (view more)

A Texas company is suing at least 20 major consumer goods firms for allegedly violating a touchpad technology patent. The case has been filed in Texas' Eastern District Court, which has become notorious for patent lawsuits. Tsera LLC was granted a ... patent in 2003 (following a 1999 application) for a system by which a "touchpad is mounted on the housing of the device, and a user enters commands by tracing patterns with his finger on a surface of the touchpad. No immediate visual feedback is provided as a command pattern is traced, and the user does not need to view the device to enter ... (view more)

While many are expected to snap up Windows 7 when it becomes available in October, there may still be a few of you reluctant to trade in your more familiar Vista or XP operating systems. If you are one of those people that believe you can fine-tune ... these older models to perform almost the same functions as Windows 7, think again. Here are a few compelling reasons why Win7 is unlike any other Microsoft operating system to date: Device Stage: Device Recognition The first feature is something known as Device Stage. This pertains to camera, phone, printer and other external device recognition. ... (view more)

Device Remover Device Remover provides a in-depth view of all installed devices, device classes, drivers and services on a Windows system. Here you'll find the ability to easily remove devices en masse, problem solve errors, and get reports on the ... various devices hidden and visible on your computer. http://www.pro-it-education.de Wolfram Alpha This new search engine claims to provide more analytical and quantifiable results than Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo!. Wolfram Alpha's long-term goal is to make all online data immediately computable and accessible to everyone. They aim to collect and ... (view more)

A new mobile WiFi hotspot device about the size of a credit card is threatening to make USB cellular modems look primitive. One such devices is the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. It works by tapping into the Verizon 3G Mobile ... broadband network to create a personalized WiFi ' cloud ' for a fixed number of devices within a 50 foot area. USB-based modems boast similar features in allowing users to connect to the Internet while in motion or from a remote location. However, the biggest drawback of using a USB modem is that they are exclusive to only one device. (Source: ... (view more)

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is behind new-age systems the Highway E-Z Pass and the MasterCard PayPass bank card. Unfortunately, it now seems hackers are trying to take advantage of this convenient technology, and security experts are ... facing a serious challenge in keeping people safe. To participate in the Highway E-Z Pass, a person must first install a RFID tag in their windshield prior to traveling on a toll highway. When the driver approaches the stretch of the road that requires payment, their account is electronically debited. MasterCard PayPass bank cards work in a similar ... (view more)

Well, you made it through another April Fool's without being convinced your mother-in-law was moving in, your wife left with the mailman, or the Pittsburgh Pirates were Vegas' pick for the 2009 World Series. However, there were some pretty nifty ... jokes played this year, and we'll go over a few of them here. Some are simply ridiculous. For instance, it's unlikely Toshiba will fool anyone with its Petbook K9, which it calls the world's very first notebook for canines (and I don't doubt it). The tech giant's tag line for its goofy new device? "Playing fetch is so last year." It sure sounds like a ... (view more)

Adaptive Sound Technologies (AST) has now released a new tabletop device that induces sleep through the soothing sounds of nature. Dubbed 'Ecotones,' it measures sleeping patterns in terms of how long it takes a person to fall asleep, how often a ... person tosses and turns at night, and similar. The Sleep Machine That Never Sleeps What sets Ecotones apart from the dozens of similar products on the market is its responsiveness to disturbing noises and its ability to camouflage them without missing a beat. If a person sets their Ecotones to thunderstorms, for example, the pitter-patter of ... (view more)

Apple's new 3G iPhone has now become the best-selling mobile handset of any kind in the United States. Meanwhile, the original iPhone has earned the title of the 'most reliable' smartphone. The iPhone 3G snatched the top spot away from Motorola's ... RAZR, which had been the best selling phone for three full years. NPD, the group which produces the regular rankings, says this shows buyers are now much more interested in a phone's features than its look. That could be because people want better value as the economy slows. (Source: latimes.com ) Before anyone gets carried away, it's worth bearing ... (view more)

The popularity of the Apple iPod has produced some of the most innovative complimentary gadgets the world has ever seen. At a recent consumer electronics show in Berlin, onlookers were enthralled with the latest iPod sidekick that is sure to take ... personal entertainment to a whole new level. Meet the Optoma Pico Projector. The Optoma Pico Projector is not big and bulky like common projectors, but it does all of the same features and more. Think of it as a pocket projector. With its dimensions (2 by 4.1 by 0.7 inches) and a weight of about 4.2 ounces, the device looks more like a cell phone ... (view more)