Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Cool Glass Tea Kettle with Built-in Steeper

Cool Glass Tea

Steeping tea is one of the keys to a successful brew. Without it, you’ll end up with a somewhat flavorless, less full bodied beverage. The Tea Kettle By NORM Architects incorporates an innovative design that helps you achieve tea bliss. You simply fill with hot water and drop the tea steeper, which is attached to a rubber stopper. The spout appears to be the only flaw in the design, which will let some of the much needed heat out. Nonetheless, we’re digging the all glass body contrasted by the stainless steel steeper.

You can pick one up for $79.

Dual-Core Motorola Droid X2 Comes to Verizon Wireless

Dual-Core-Motorola-Droid-X2

The Droid X2 is Motorola’s most powerful phone and boasts a dual-core 1Ghz Processor along with Android 2.2 which will be updated the new Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It also sports a large 4.3-Inch scratch resistant qHD display, 8 Megapixel camera, Mobile Hotspot which allows you to share your 3G connection over WiFi to 5 other devices, HDMI output and and support for Google Services including Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Maps and many more.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 with Touchwiz

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 with Touchwiz

Finding that perfect size for tablets will require a bit of trial and error. I’ve been playing with a few 10.1″ tablets that, I think, are a bit too big. Even the iPad with it’s 9.7″ screen is on the bigger size. On the other hand, the 7″ ones like the PlayBook are awesome for portability but feel a bit small at time. So, in the middle, is the 8.9″ form factor that we have seen the LG tablet in as well as the upcoming Samsung Galaxy. I’m really looking forward to the Galaxy Tab 8.9- seems to have everything I would want from a tablet. They were on display in Russia and the following video shows the awesomeness.



I do hope that the Touchwiz interface could be turned off as I prefer a stock experience. Expect to see the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 to appear some time towards the end of summer

Sharp Aquos Android clamshell tricks friends into thinking you can't afford a smartphone



Looking for a handset that harkens back to simpler, pre-smartphone era, without losing the Googley luster of Android? We've got the perfect phone for you, and all you've got to do is move to Japan and get a Softbank Mobile account. Sharp, one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in its native country, rolled out the retro-future Gingerbread-packing Aquos Phone Hybrid 007SH, an Android 2.3 flip phone with a 180-degree swiveling touchscreen above the hinge and a numeric dial pad below that all the cool kids in Shibuya crave. It's also got some pretty solid specs, so far are clamshell phones go, including a 16MP camera and a 3D-capable display. The handset will hit Softbank in mid-June followed shortly by Sharp's rotary Honeycomb tablet.

HP rolls out budget-minded Pavilion g6s laptop with Sandy Bridge

HP-Pavilion-g6s

HP has already rolled out a few new Sandy Bridge laptops this month, but it's now back with yet another: the Pavilion g6s. Like the still-available g6t and g6x, this one packs a 15.6-inch display with a rather lowly 1,366 x 768 resolution, but you can now get that paired with your choice of Core i3, i5 or i7 Sandy Bridge processors. Otherwise, you'll get some fairly respectable specs across the board, including up 6GB of RAM, up to a 750GB hard drive, and optional Radeon HD 6470M graphics -- not to mention your choice of four different color options. Of course, cost is still the main concern with the g6 series, and this one keeps things in check with a starting price of $550.

HTC Evo 3D, View 4G available for pre-order at Sprint



Sprint customers holding out for the HTC Evo 3D can now inch slightly closer to that glasses-free display -- without dropping by RadioShack. The carrier has confirmed that you can reserve the WiMAX handset by visiting a Sprint-owned retail store and plunking down $50 for a gift card. There's still no word on when you'll be able to get the device in-hand (and the 3D's exclusive carrier is mum on pricing), but, if you don't mind reserving a phone without any hint as to how much you'll eventually need to pay, then Sprint seems happy enough to swap your Grant for a spot on the list. It's also taking names for the Evo View 4G tablet and, like the 3D, that $50 deposit can be used to take a bite out of a 2D handset. You know, in case you decide that a third dimension is too hot to handle.

HP gives TouchSmart 610 a second crack, this time with Sandy Bridge CPU options

HP may have announced its TouchSmart 610 all-in-one just a shade too soon for it to ship with Core 2011 processors, but that doesn't mean the company was above pushing out a refresh just a few months later. Now, this 23-inch beast is on sale with a variety of quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPUs. To recap, what makes the 610 special is its rigid hinge, which allows the 1080p display to slide down so that it's face-up, and nearly flat at a 60-degree angle -- a more ergonomic position for poking 'round the TouchSmart software while standing.

Like pretty much every other HP computer on the market, it comes standard with Beats Audio and, depending on how much money you're willing to shell out, you can trick it out with up to 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and your choice of NVIDIA or ATI graphics with up to 2GB of video memory. Those Sandy Bridge models are available now starting at $1,100, though as always, you can get an entry-level configuration with quad-core AMD innards for $900 and up.




Mimics helps you cope with your Sync-less existence (video)

Mimics helps you cope with your Sync-less existence (video)

Much as we hate to admit it, we can't all afford a fancy new car with Sync or Mini Connected inside -- I mean, come on, we're not made of money, people. Thankfully, it seems MP3Car has a pretty slick and affordable solution to the problem of fumbling with your iPhone when you should probably be focusing on the road and not crashing into things. Mimics is an in-car solution that transmits the contents of your handset to a touchscreen display in the vehicle's dash, letting you listen to music, use GPS, take calls, and check email without having to deal directly with the phone. The system is available now for pre-order at $630 for the full version, $530 for people who have standard double DIN-sized radio openings in their cars, and $205 for hobbyists who want to put the thing together -- here's hoping they're parked when they do.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Fujitsu Bay Projector makes laptops presentation-ready within seconds

Fujitsu Bay Projector
Fujitsu today unveils the latest ‘must-have’ device for the business professional: the world’s first projector built in to a modular notebook bay. The fold-out Fujitsu Bay Projector is ready to use in seconds and means no external beamer or external cables are required to share slides, spreadsheets or viral YouTube videos with colleagues or friends.

Available from July as an option for the Fujitsu LIFEBOOK P771 and LIFEBOOK S761 notebooks, the patented Fujitsu Bay Projector adds convenience and mobility. Set-up is simple: the built-in beamer is immediately ready to use once the lens and bulb are folded out of the DVD-size modular bay and clicked into place.

The Bay Projector works on almost any surface. Brightness and keystone correction are adjusted directly via built-in buttons, and laser beam technology provides high contrast and color depth to guarantee crisp, clear images. In addition to its portability, the Bay Projector is quieter and more robust than a traditional beamer, whose lens bulbs are easily damaged.

At the end of a long day for business travellers, the Bay Projector can also double-up as a hotel room personal cinema, where it can be used for playing back movies on a bigger screen, providing more comfortable viewing.

The Bay Beamer extends the flexibility of modular bays in LIFEBOOK notebooks. When not in use, the Bay Projector can be easily removed and replaced with a modular second battery, a DVD Super Multi drive, or simply a weight saver

Dieter Heiss, Head of Workplace Systems at Fujitsu Technology Solutions says: “Every business notebook user knows the scenario of arriving at an important meeting ready to give a presentation, only to discover that the projector is broken, missing or just won’t work with their notebook. The Bay Projector solves that – and underlines how LIFEBOOK models are truly a fully-mobile office. What’s more is that projecting images directly from a notebook’s modular bay is not only a world first but also very convenient – so we expect the Bay Projector to quickly become a ‘must have’ executive accessory.”

The Bay Projector module is available to order beginning July 1, 2011 across the CEMEA&I, United Kingdom, Ireland and Nordics regions – initially in LIFEBOOK P771 and LIFEBOOK S761 models. Pricing is around EUR 499 but varies according to region.

UCube speakers run off USB, are coming to an Amtrak quiet car near you

UltraLink UCube speakers

You can use these USB-powered UltraLink UCube speakers on a bus, on the beach, or on the table at your favorite McDonald's, but please -- for the love of god -- don't. Remember: with great convenience comes great responsibility, and if these speakers are as impressive as the dramatic marketing video below implies, disruption of the peace is about to know no bounds. At $150 per pair, these sleek sound machines aren't cheap, but each speaker is able to pump out 15 watts of peak power -- you won't be filling a large room with crisp, distortion-free sound, but they're probably loud enough to play your tunes or flicks for a group of friends, or to annoy strangers in a park. UltraLink claims that the speakers use DSP-controlled power supplies to "store energy during quiet passages," allowing the 3.25 inch cubes to reach their 15 watt peak output with 170-degree listening angles. We haven't had a chance to go hands on, but if these speakers sound half as good as they look, we may have a better solution for playing music in the CES trailer next year.


Sharp shows off the world's first Super Hi-Vision LCD with 16x more detail than 1080p

Super Hi-Vision LCD

While Japan's NHK has been working on the successor to HDTV, Super Hi-Vision, for years, there haven't been any direct-view HDTVs capable of showing its full 7,680 x 4,320 pixel resolution until this prototype unveiled today by Sharp. Its 103 pixels per inch may be just a fraction of those found in some of the pocket displays we've seen at SID this week, but that's still far more than the 36ppi of a 60-inch 1080p HDTV. If estimates are correct, we'll still be waiting until around 2020 for that 33MP video and 22.2 channel sound to actually be broadcast, although there's a possibility of some demonstrations happening during the 2012 Olympics. Skip past the break for the available specs and a video demonstration, or just head over to the NHK's Science & Technology Research Laboratories in Tokyo between the 26th and 29th of this month.


BBC shows us what it's like to live with a bionic hand

bionic hand

We've posted a fair share on bionic limbs and their advancements over the years, but rarely have we had the chance to see a video of one in real world use, on a real person. The BBC has shared a video of a man named Patrick using his bionic arm, which -- long story short -- was partially the result of being electrocuted at work. This is his second one to date and specifically, it's a prototype Otto Bock mind-controlled prosthetic arm equipped with six nerve sensors that let him use the hand as if it were his own-- it supports pinching and gripping with the fingers as well as lateral and circular movement of the wrist. Although the footage is a mundane roll of various day to day tasks -- gripping a bottle to pour a glass of water for instance -- it's quite amazing to realize technology is helping him do things he'd otherwise be deprived of. We'd suggest checking it out at the BBC by clicking the source link below.

Battery-powered 'Black Current' VW Beetle flaunts itself in drag (video)

Electric supercars

Electric supercars have been hitting some crazy speeds recently, but this is on another level. The Black Current is a Volkswagen Beetle reborn as an electric drag racer. It hits 135mph and demolishes the quarter-mile straight in 9.51 seconds. What's more, it does it quietly -- all you can hear is the delicious screech of sticky rubber. Plug into the video after the break for a taste of what it's like behind the wheel. And can someone please explain why that other car on the left even bothered to turn up?


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Samsung NX11 Compact Digital Camera Launched; Also supports new iFUnction Lens

Samsung NX11

Samsung has announced the release of its latest addition to its revolutionary and highly successful NX family of cameras, the Samsung NX11 Compact Digital Camera, in India that is an upgraded model based on the Samsung NX10 digital camera but which was the world’s first mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera with ultra-high resolution APS-C size CMOS sensor, but is also compatible with Samsung’s popular iFunction lens system.
The new Samsung NX11 features an APS-C size CMOS sensor and incorporates a number of advanced industry-leading imaging technologies and it’s smart slim design and powerful functions mark a new era in digital photography.

Samsung NX11 is a compact interchangeable-lens digital single-lens camera with added support of Samsung iFunction lens introduced for the NX100, and it features an APS-C size CMOS sensor and an ultra lightweight body, that produces high-quality images comparable to Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras.

Like the NX10 model, the Samsung NX11 camera also uses a high precision electronic viewfinder, instead of the traditional reflective mirror and prism used in Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras, which significantly reduces the camera’s body size making it compact.

The Samsung NX11 will come complete with an 18-55mm i-Function lens, as well as two new i-Function lenses, a 20mm pancake and a 20-50mm zoom silver colour lens.

The Samsung NX11 camera measures 123 x 87 x 39.8 mm and weighs only 353 gms, which is exactly same as Samsung NX10 model, and is ergonomically designed with a clipper-built design.

The Samsung’s i-Function lens puts the perfect picture at the fingertips of all photographers by providing an exceptionally easy way of controlling the camera. A typical camera user wraps their hand around the lens when holding the camera, the new i-Function system allows photographers to naturally use their left hand to change settings through a button built into the i-Function lens, without the need to take the camera off the target.

Users are also empowered with option to toggle between shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO quickly and easily by simply using the i-Function button and ring on the lens, meaning easier and quicker configuration while shooting.

Similar to Samsung NX10, the NX11 digital camera also uses the best in class APS-C sensor for better image quality. The APS-C sensor is larger than Micro 4/3 and the larger sensor delivers high quality images, easily.

The Samsung NX11 is equipped with Samsung’s exclusive Fast and Decisive Contrast AF, providing a 15-zone (basic) and 35-zone (feature) automatic focus, and supporting 247-zone multi-zones metering.

Samsung NX11 digital single-lens camera is not affected by the delay produced by the reflector; its high-speed continuous shooting function can shoot up to three frames per second for a maximum of 10 superior photos at 14.6 megapixels.

The Samsung NX11 digital single-lens camera utilises the 14.6 M APS-C CMOS sensor and ultra-fast image processor DRIMe II Pro to capture detailed and vivid images. Meanwhile, its larger light-sensitive area can easily soften the silhouette highlighting the subject during shooting.

The Samsung NX11 camera’s APS-C sensor and ISO sensitivity range from 100 to 3200, makes its performance in colour reproduction and noise control equal to that of Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras.

The Samsung NX11 beholds a 3.0-inch LCD screen that features high-quality AMOLED technology that only uses one-eighth of the power consumption compared to traditional TFT screens. When shooting in bright sunshine or at acute angles the AMOLED display screen remains clear and bright with no reflection or discoloration supporting 10,000:1 contrast ratio.

In addition, the Samsung NX11′s electronic viewfinder has a 100% vision field and 86% magnification and can sense when users look through the viewfinder, automatically shutting down the AMOLED screen to conserve power.

The Samsung NX10 digital single-lens camera features the popular 720p HD video recording function which can record 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 340 MP4 (H.264 ) format AAC mono video. Users can produce professional-looking, high definition movies with the 1280 x 720, 16:9 ratio function.

Samsung is also introducing the K-Mount for the NX system, which will also be compatible with Samsung DSLR GX series. These high-quality lenses of various focal lengths from the K-mount series will improve the shooting ability of the new NX11.

Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder Launched; Features a Genuine Canon 10x HD Zoom Lens

Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder

Canon has introduced a brand new ultra compact Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder, that is a feature-rich professional camcorder capable of recording Full HD 1080p video using an AVCHD codec.
The ultimate professional camcorder for run-and-gun shooting, the compact Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder includes a detachable handle for low-angle shooting and portability.

With the handle attached, the Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder’s functionality is further enhanced with the addition of XLR inputs and an external microphone holder.

The Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder is capable of shooting in the dark, and it features infrared video capture, ideal for Military and Law Enforcement markets, as well as Nature and Wildlife videographers.

The Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder provides the option of recording to a 64GB internal flash drive or two SDXC-compatible card slots, as well as Relay Recording and the ability to record simultaneously to two cards for instant backup.

The Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder features a Genuine Canon 10x HD Zoom lens, Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor and a Canon 1/3-inch native 1920 x 1080 CMOS image sensor which delivers outstanding resolution and quality.

The Genuine Canon 10x HD Zoom lens boasts a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 30.4mm – 304mm with an eight-blade iris capable of rendering natural, smooth background blur with reduced lens diffraction.

The Canon 10x Zoom lens also features Canon’s SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) system with standard, Dynamic and Powered IS modes for steady video in most any shooting situation.

The Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder also includes an infrared feature that enables capturing of HD video in conditions with little to zero ambient light and it also includes an infrared emitter with a diffuser as well as a Green or White color option to shoot pleasing high-definition infrared imagery even in complete darkness.

The Canon XA10 Professional Camcorder features dual XLR inputs for external audio sources as well as a built-in stereo microphone that supports Dolby Digital 2ch (AC-3 2ch) with automatic and manual audio level adjustment.

For in-camera cinematic effects, the XA10 provides nine different customizable cinema filters. The amount of filter effect can be adjusted in three levels (Low, Medium, and High) Additionally the Standard Cinema Filter function is further customizable through Color Depth, Contrast, Soft Filter, and Key adjustments.

Compact and lightweight Canon XA10 camcorder weighs only 770 gms and measures only 3.7 x 8.1 x 7.0 inches including the lens hood and handle. The 3.5-inch High Resolution -922,000-dot – Touch Panel LCD screen provides a large, vibrant display and can be flipped for solo shooting with the LCD screen facing the subject.

Price and Availability

The Canon XA10 Professional camcorder is scheduled to be available in March 2011 for an estimated retail price of $1,999.00 or about Rs. 90,450.

Genius G-Shot HD580T Full HD Digital Camcorder Launched

Genius G-Shot HD580T Full HD Digital Camcorder

Genius has introduced Genius G-Shot HD580T HD Digital Camcorder that offers Full HD 1080P video recording and features a large 3-inch wide touch panel.
Genius G-Shot HD580T camcorder allows full HD video/movie recording at 30fps in 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution and is capable of saving the video files in high-compression H.264 format.

The new Genius G-Shot HD580T camcorder can take both take video and high resolution still pictures at the same time, and also allows transferring video contents into an still image.

The camcorder also include 4X full digital zoom for a closer view of the subject, built-in flash and LED light for capturing still pictures or video in relatively darker environment.

The Genius G-Shot HD580T camcorder also allow the motion playback in slow down speed enabling users recorded contents play from 1/2x~1/16x speed that shows activities they captured.

In addition, Genius G-Shot HD580T camcorder also includes a HDMI cable for output video to compatible HDTV.

Genius G-Shot HD580T Camcorder Features:

* 1080P (1920 x 1080 pixel ) full HD recording
* HDMI cable included for output to HD TV
* 5 mega pixels up to 16MP with the software interpolation
* 4X digital zoom at 720p resolution;1X digital zoom at 1080P
* 3-inch wide TFT Touch display
* Backlight compensation
* Motion Detection for simple security detection
* Dual SD slot card can support up to 32GB
* Dual power designed, Li-ion battery included

The Genius G-Shot HD580T is currently available in US market at the price of US $179.00 and includes 2-year warranty.

Fujifilm FinePix JX280 14-MP Ultra-compact J-Series Digital Camera Launched; Offers HD 720p Video Capture

Fujifilm FinePix JX280

FUJIFILM has today announced a new addition to its J-Series ultra-compact family of digital cameras with the launch of Fujifilm FinePix JX280 Ultra-compact Digital Camera that continues J-Series Momentum by merging style with the latest technologies.



The Fujifilm FinePix JX280 compact digital camera offers consumers latest features, and provides them with the perfect fit for their pockets as well as their wallets.

Weighing 113 gms, the Fujifilm FinePix JX280 compact digital camera features a 14-Megapixel CCD, a 2.7-inches High-Resolution LCD and a Fujinon 5x wide angle (28mm-140mm) optical zoom lens.

The new Fujifilm FinePix JX280 compact digital camera clad a high-grade metal body and is not only well protected from bumps and scrapes, but gives a simple, yet elegant design appearance. The FinePix JX280 digital camera comes in black and is a slim 18.5mm, easily fitting into any pocket or small purse.

Fujifilm FinePix JX280 has 24-MB internal memory and includes SD memory card slot supporting 8GB and SDHC memory card support of upto 2-TB memory capacity. It also includes USB 2.0 port and comes with NP-45A Li-ION battery.

“With an overwhelming consumer response to the J-Series cameras we introduced earlier this year, we wanted to give our customers an even greater range of options when it comes to price point and feature set,” said David Troy, director of marketing, Consumer Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “With the JX280 digital camera, there is now another ultra-compact model that has great looks and features, all at a great price.”

HD Capability

The Fujifilm FinePix JX280 compact digital camera also offers stunning HD movies in 720p with sound and high quality stills at 1920 x 1080 pixels. With the new HD Player (optional extra), which comes equipped with a remote control, users can gather around their home HDTV to enjoy amazingly detailed stills and high resolution movie playback.

Tracking Auto Focus

The new Fujifilm FinePix JX280 compact digital camera features Tracking Auto Focus which is perfect for when you need to take a picture of a moving subject and can’t keep your subject in the frame. Just switch Tracking Auto Focus on and it will track your subject and ensure that you achieve a crisp picture with you subject in the center of the frame in perfect focus.

Motion Panorama Mode with Auto Stitch

Users can simply select Panorama mode and start shooting custom Panorama Shot. Then, align the “+” symbol into the circle and the shutter will automatically release to seamlessly stitch the shots together in-camera. Perfect for landscape, large buildings or even party shots.

Smile / Blink Detection

Photos are all too often spoiled by people blinking or grimacing. Fujifilm FinePix JX280 compact digital camera features Smile Detection that works with Fujifilm’s highly-acclaimed Face Detection technology to detect smiles subjects’ faces and will ensure that it will not take a picture until it detects a smile, giving users guaranteed perfect shots, all the time.

Another new feature supported by FinePix JX280 digital camera is Blink Detection which warns you if you have captured an image with people blinking, so you can re-shoot if necessary.

The Fujifilm FinePix JX280 offers these additional features:

* Scene Recognition Auto (SR AUTO): This mode intelligently detects the scene type you are shooting and optimizes the camera’s focus, exposure and white balance, so whether one is photographing flowers or a holiday landscape, a flawless photos at the press of a button is almost guaranteed.
* Digital Image Stabilization: Digital Image Stabilization reduces image blur automatically and offers creative adaptability and excellent picture quality.
* Face Detection and Automatic Red-eye Removal: To provide perfectly exposed and focused portrait shots, the FujiFilm FinePix JX280 digital camera comes equipped with Fujifilm’s latest Face Detection technology which is able to track up to 10 faces simultaneously, at almost any angle to the camera. The system instantly corrects red-eye and then saves both the original and the corrected image file automatically.
* Photobook Assist: Photobook Assist software bundled with JX280 digital camera lets users select and organize images in their compact digital camera to create a digital photobook. Users can download the photobooks to their computer using MyFinePix Studio software that is included with the model.

The 14-Megapixel Fujifilm FinePix JX280 compact digital camera will be available end of August 2010 at a retail price of $149.95 or about Rs.7,200 with warranty

Galaxy Tab 10.1 goes up for pre-order at J&R, joined by Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 and 4.0

Galaxy Tab

Remember that little GT-P7510 project Samsung seems to have on the backburner? You know, the ultraslim Tegra 2 tablet that makes Honeycomb finally feel ready for public consumption? Yeah, well, that's gotten its pre-order papers now, courtesy of J&R. Pricing of the WiFi-only Galaxy Tab 10.1 matches the $500 for 16GB and $600 for 32GB that Samsung announced in March, and though delivery dates aren't listed, we'll go ahead and assume the promised June 8th launch remains on track. Also ready for pre-order at J&R today are Samsung's 8GB Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 and 4.0 media players, priced at $270 and $220, respectively, though the only info about availability that's provided is a boilerplate "coming soon" note. Check out the source links for more details.

Bill Gates considers Skype 'a great purchase' for Microsoft, helped make it happen

Bill Gates

The aftermath of Microsoft's announcement that it'll buy Skype for $8.5 billion was filled with speculation about why the price was so high, who Microsoft was bidding against, and who inside Redmond was the driving force behind such a large expenditure. At least one of those queries has been demystified today, thanks to Bill Gates asserting himself as "a strong proponent at the board level for the deal being done." Microsoft's Chairman of the Board expressed his enthusiasm for gobbling up Skype in an interview with the BBC -- one which UK residents may see in full at the iPlayer link below -- and concluded that "it's a great purchase that a lot of innovation will come out of." Adding his support to Steve Ballmer's already public excitement about the Skype takeover, Bill stresses that "the importance of software is higher today than ever," while also predicting that video conferencing is set to become much better and bigger than we've yet seen. We've got our webcams at the ready, Bill!

Toshiba's tablet-ready, glasses-free 3D display debuts at SID 2011 (video)

Toshiba's tablet

The T-Mobile G-Slate may have a jump on the (red and cyan) 3D tablet market, but we can do better, and while strolling past Toshiba's SID 2011 setup, we may have found the slate of the future's killer component: an 8-inch, glasses-free 3D display. Tablet sized? Yes, indeed. We couldn't get a Toshiba representative to admit the depth perceptive display was destined for any upcoming devices, but we were told that the screen certainly "made sense" for a tablet device. The technology seems to be designed with a smaller form factor in mind, as the firm warned that larger versions of the screen, while possible, would suffer a drop in image quality. At 8-inches however, it looks mighty fine -- although you'll still need to look on from a centered sweet-spot to catch the 3D effect, a plague it shares with its glasses-free brethren. Check out our hands-on video (sans 3D, of course) after the break.