Spy shot of HTC's upcoming handhelds

All hail the camera-phone. While you may not get crystal-clear images, the opportunity to snag shots like this one is, without doubt, its greatest use. The Boy Genius Report has a photo of some new HTC devices arranged below its current lineup. You may not be able to see the fine details, but it's obvious that some of those are unreleased products. There's even speculation that one of them is not running Windows Mobile, but Android instead.

According to CNET UK's Andrew Lim, HTC will be holding an event on May 6. Could this photo be showing the product that will be announced then? Well, we won't know till then, or until the next spy shot comes in--preferably one that was taken with a half-decent camera-phone like the Sony Ericsson K850i or Nokia N82.

Credit: IntoMobile | Via The Boy Genius Report

New image sensor 100x more sensitive

The Japanese have developed a new image sensor that they claim is 100 times more sensitive to light than the existing conventional CCD or CMOS sensor. The prototype for the new chip is out already, and it is named CIGS (known only as Cu-In-Ga-Se, but we can make no sense of it).

Based on the structure of solar cells, this image sensor is able to pick up details in a very dark room, or even at 0.001 lux (the luminance from moonlight only). This means a lot to the imaging industry because one of the problems it faces now is the noise generated when users take a picture at high ISO setting. With a more sensitive sensor, users can take pictures at lower ISO sensitivity and achieve cleaner-looking shots.

While there is no concrete date set for the commercialization of this new technology, we are quite excited to see how it may benefit the end user. More updates on this space when we get more information.

BenQ MID specification released

The first Mobile Internet Device (MID) from BenQ looks more like a personal media player than a fully functional computing device. However, don't let its small size fool you as this machine is more than capable to complement, if not replace, your browsing and email needs.

First unveiled at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai, the Atom-based BenQ MID will hold a 800MHz SilverThorne processor, 512MB of RAM and a 4GB solid-state harddisk. HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are integrated, with GPS radio as an option. Instead of Windows, the BenQ MID uses a custom user interface. No news on when it'll hit retail stores yet, though.

Via Slashgear

Microsoft puts a squeeze on portable devices

Multitouch touchpad, gesture-based interfaces and motion-sensing controls seem to be already obsolete, according to a report by BBC. A research project at Microsoft's Cambridge lab allows the system to detect twisting, bending, pulling and squeezing forces to interact with the interface. But hold onto your horses if you expect this to be implemented on a foldable machine. The magic is really in the four sensors integrated inside the chassis. By recognizing the exact pressure points, the system can perform actions like page flips, switching application, etc.

A prototype was built using a Samsung UMPC, so this is not just vaporware or some abstract concept. However, there is no timeline given on when we will see this technology commercially implemented.

Philippines get Deep Blue UMPC

Despite its cool name, the Deep Blue H1 looks to us like a run-of-the-mill UMPC. Decked out with a VIA Esther 1.0GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 40GB harddisk and Wi-Fi, it lacks a Bluetooth radio. The 7-inch LCD has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, while two USB 2.0 and an Ethernet port are available for external connections. A card reader and Webcam complete the rather average feature set.

It weighs in at 1.2kg, which is very hefty for a UMPC this size, and runs off Linux or Windows XP. It is available in the Philippines for US$405.65 (S$549.09). Frankly, for the same price one can get the much lighter ASUS Eee PC 701 with a similar feature set, save for the storage capacity. We've contacted the company for the Asia-Pacific availability of this unit.

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (779)

» Digital Cameras (431)

» Notebooks (506)

» PC & Peripherals (531)

» Handhelds (264)

» Printers (44)

» Home AV (523)

» Music & Play (439)

» Gadgets (1002)

» Future Tech (171)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads