OLPC spinoff in talks with four laptop makers

The broad influence of the One Laptop Per Child initiative continues to expand its sphere. Not long ago it was unclear whether the PC--originally conceived as a US$100 laptop for children in developing countries--would ever become a reality after a long series of delays. Now the XO laptop seems on the verge of becoming a hot item, and all the research that went into it is leading down divergent paths.

Case in point: Walter Bender, who just left the OLPC initiative to start up its open-source software spinoff, is reportedly in informal discussions to get its Linux operating system on low-cost laptops made by four manufacturers. The nonprofit spinoff, Sugar Laboratories, is having discussions with Pixel Qi and is interesting in pursuing a relationship with Intel, Bender told BetaNews. No other companies were named, though he mentioned Asus on Sugar Labs' Web site last week.

It's only the latest permutation in a long-running saga that has seen infighting, resignations, and other controversy since the project's inception. Last month OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte said the XO might switch from Linux to Windows XP, but that change remains to be seen. Stay tuned.

Via Crave CNET

World's Super (long) Phone?

Finally, a mobile phone that bucks the trend. For those sick and tired of claims like "the smallest", "the thinnest", "the lightest" from mobile manufacturers, here comes a handset that touts itself as "the longest". Exactly how long? Well, designer Tamer Koseli doesn't say, but his Super Phone certainly doesn't look pocket-friendly.

The idea behind the extra long design? There's more screen estate naturally, which means there's plenty of room for touchscreen functionality. There are, in fact, two displays: One OLED that shows basic info, the other for scrolling. And from the pictures, while there's no digital camera onboard, there appears to be an expansion slot of some sort. Unfortunately, until this Super (long) Phone gets made commercially, it's a claim that's likely to remain an empty boast.

Via Yanko Design

Fighter pilots get much welcome relief

At one point or another, all boys want to be fighter jocks. The cool aviator glasses, the outstanding flight suit and the honking helmet just add to the thrill of flying a multi-million-dollar investment to shoot down another multi-million-dollar toy.

But do we really know the risks? No, I'm not talking about being hit by a sidewinder at 20,000ft, or blacking out from pulling too many Gs. What if, heaven forbid, you drank too much just before a long sortie and you didn't have time to go to the loo?
Read more »

Tokyoflash's Infection watch dazzles and confuses

Just like there are times when you don't want strangers to look over your shoulder and see what you are typing on your mobile phone, we don't want people to know the time by stealing glances at our watch, either. Tokyoflash's Infection timepiece is one of the most subtle ways of telling these sneaky fellows to get their own watches, or look somewhere else.

Instead of using common denominators like moving hands or numerals to tell time, the Infection watch has 12 red LEDs to indicate the hours, 11 yellow LEDs with each of them representing 5 minutes past, and four green LEDs to show single minutes. According to the product description on the Web site, these multi-colored lights "pulsate and move like cells across the curved face to present the time from beneath the attractive, mirrored mineral crystal lens".

A conversation starter for sure, though you'd probably end up looking every bit like a dork if you can't tell the time on your own watch a few drinks later. Yours for US$138 inclusive of a five-day worldwide shipping period.

Thanks, Paul!

Canon's US$500 dSLR?

Yet another day, yet another rumor of a Canon dSLR. But this time round, it is not the highly anticipated and much speculated successor to the 5D. Instead, it is a budget model that seems to be priced even lower than the current EOS 450D, which was released for less than half a year.

For those who think the 450D is already a very basic model, Photographybay reported that this rumored model may be a scaled-down version of it. Named "EOS 1000D" by Netizens, this shooter is predicted to have a 10-megapixel sensor, seven autofocus points, 2.5-inch LCD display, and the much-coveted Live View feature.

The EOS 1000D is expected to be launched at Photokina in Germany later this year. Its price tag is estimated at around US$500, which will certainly drive consumers wild.

Personally, I think this rumor may be a fake because the 450D was just announced and this model, if released, may dampen sales. Unless Canon is looking to target another specific group of consumers with the budget unit, it doesn't really make sense. But if it does, expect a price war to rage. Naturally, we consumers will reap the benefits of cheaper dSLRs from it.

Update: Canon Singapore has mentioned that it "cannot comment on Internet rumors" but will update us if the company has any "relevant market information".

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