Bag claims to cool laptops without a fan

This may sound a little far-fetched, but anyone who's suffocated a still-hot laptop in a zip-up sleeve might be interested to hear about a bag that cools its contents without the help of a fan. That, at least, is what Thermaltake claims its iXoft Notebook Carrying Bag can do.

The 15-inch bag uses "unique thermal shifting chemicals to spread heat out evenly across the pad," according to Fareastgizmos, which "melt into a gel state when heated and solidify into crystal state when cooled." Yes, it could well be an attempt to capitalize on burning laptop fears, but that doesn't mean it won't work.

The company does have something of a track record on the subject, especially where sweaty palms are concerned. Besides, it's more convenient than lugging around a laptop in a picnic cooler. Just be sure not to use it with one of those Glacial touch screens that's supposed to stay warm.

Via Crave CNET

After 38 years, a new type of memory to hit market

It's been a long haul for phase change memory, but the goal is in sight.

Numonyx, the memory joint venture between STMicroelectronics and Intel, is already shipping samples of phase change memory (PCM) chips to customers and will start shipping PCM chips commercially later this year, CEO Brian Harrison said at a press conference Monday.

"We expect to bring it to market this year and generate some revenue," Harrison said. "It is one to two years before it becomes widely commercially available."

Hearing a CEO talk about existing samples and near-term commercial shipments is a big deal for PCM. The technology has been stuck in the proverbial "a few years away" phase for a long time.

"It could be cheaper than flash within a couple of years," analyst Richard Doherty in said in 2001, predicting the technology might hit the market in 2003.

"We are making good progress," Stefan Lai, one of Intel's flash memory scientists, said in 2002.

Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel and the man for whom Moore's Law was named, had an article in the September 28, 1970 issue of Electronics predicting that Ovonics Unified Memory, another name for the same type of memory, could hit the market by the end of that decade. (The same issue of Electronics also included this article: "The Big Gamble in Home Video Recorders.")
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Big-screen, short-throw BenQ beamer

Are you always straining your eyes at puny projections in confined meeting rooms? Now you can go big-screen in style with BenQ's MP771 multimedia projector. The leather-clad light cannon is a jewel in tight quarters, capable of casting a generous 74-inch presentation from a mere 1m throw distance. And it's bright, too, at 3,000 lumens. Designed for interactive whiteboards and even bare walls, the MP771 also features the latest Texas Instrument Brilliant Color technology and wall color correction function.

There's a catch, though. Since it has only a fixed zoom lens, wall space may be a potential issue here. We're looking at a fixed whopping 3 x 2.3m (148-inch) projection for a typical 2m wall to conference room table setup. That said, the S$3,299 BenQ MP771 is still an idle solution given the right conditions--think space-constrained Asian offices and meeting rooms.

Click for larger images:



Photo credit: BenQ

HP's Elite--a steroidal Webcam

For a while it seemed Webcams were destined to become a standard built-in for many monitors and laptop screens, not unlike the way Wi-Fi cards eventually were replaced by integrated technologies in portables. But one way to ensure a product stays independent is to load up on features--which is exactly what a new model from HP has done.

The Elite Webcam has a 3-megapixel resolution for live feeds, 12 megapixels for still shots, autofocus, stereo mic, and an "Instant Chat" button. Everything USB notes a few shortcomings in its frames per second, but you can't have everything.

Besides, it has one feature that we might value above all others: A sliding "privacy cover" with a colored shade that indicates the camera is indeed turned off. Because leaving a Webcam on by mistake could be disastrous.

Via Crave CNET

Concept timepiece inspired by Swarovski and Signity

This beautifully crafted timepiece is the brain child of designer John Pszeniczny who drew inspiration from Swarovski's expertise in crystal and Signity's brilliance in gems. The Luna Watch is stylishly simple yet futuristic. Touching the two contact points activates the time display which floats inside the crystal, giving the illusion of a crystal ball.

While the Luna Watch is undeniably attractive, we can't help but wonder how heavy and bulky the final product will be. Just looking at the thickness of the bracelet design in the picture, one almost imagines a chunky wrist adornment that's bucking the trend for slim and sleek. And given the use of crystal, stainless steel and Spessartite Garnet (a type of gemstone) among its main materials, this timepiece is definitely not going to be your garden variety budget Timex. The good news is since it's still on the drawing board and unlikely to turn up in stores anytime soon, you'll have plenty of time to start saving if the Luna Watch is ticking your time.

Via Yanko Design
Photo credit: Yanko Design

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