Hands-on with 3M's micro projector

The idea of having a projector that fits in the palm of your hands has been floating around for ages. There have been prototypes shown off by various companies but it looks like 3M has beaten everyone (i.e. mainstream technology companies--there are micro projectors from lesser-known Asian OEMs) to the chase with a real commercial product, the MPro110. Representatives from the company gave us a demo of the product. Here are our thoughts.
Read more »

Dashwire jumping aboard Symbian S60 phones

Question: If you didn't have to use your Symbian Series 60 phone every time you sent a text message, shared a photo, or listened to your voicemail in the order you received it, would you?

Ford Davison, the entrepreneur behind Dashwire, hopes you answer 'no.' Starting late November, the online phone manager will embrace Symbian Series 60 phones in a private beta. That will put it about three months behind the timeline we were quoted, but it so far looks like the wait will be worth it.

Dashwire's free application, currently available on Windows Mobile handsets, acts as a conduit between the details on your phone and your online dashboard from which you'll be able to text your contacts, add new contacts and bookmarks, share photos and videos, and enter a status message that updates to Facebook and Twitter.
Read more »

Scalado demos zero shutter lag for camera-phones

Good news for camera-phones running on future versions of Symbian OS. Mobile imaging software company Scalado is demonstrating its new imaging solution that's capable of processing full-resolution image files at 20 frames per second, eliminating shutter lag and providing instant zoom/pan picture reviews at the Symbian Smartphone show in London.

According to Scalado, this is the first live demo in the world. Besides Symbian, two other partners--Texas Instruments and OmniVision--are also involved in this collaboration. OmniVision manufactures CMOS image sensors for camera-phones and Scalado claims that the embedded SpeedTags will improve JPEG handling while provide better management for large file sizes generated by high-res pictures.

While most of these features are probably nothing new to digital still cameras and digital SLRs, this is still something to look forward to when it comes to the performance of camera-phones. No word on when we'll see this commercially in the market, but we suppose we wouldn't have to wait too long for it.

PicLens, now Cooliris, free for your iPhone

Remember the virtual 3D plugin for browsing pictures on the Web? Besides a name change from PicLens to Cooliris last month, the app is now also available on the iTunes Store. According to the developer, the program requires the iPhone 2.1 software and is compatible with both the iPhone and iPod touch.

It still works the same way as PicLens, which allows the user to search the Web for images via its unique 3D wall interface. To scroll, you simply swipe your finger in either direction. Or you could tilt the iPhone to make it roll continuously. One of the new features is Discover which grabs news feeds based on your locality (using the phone's built-in GPS to know where you are) and displays the related story accompanying the picture within the app itself.

Cooliris is now available on the iTunes Store as a free download. If you are a regular picture hunter and own either the iPhone or iPod touch, you should try it out.

Motorola preps its own Android phone

Motorola, which has been struggling to find a home run hitter to replace its RAZR, appears to be gearing up to debut a social-networking smart phone that uses Google's mobile operating system, Android, according to a BusinessWeek report.

Motorola's Android phone, according to the report, is expected to feature a touch screen similar to Apple's popular iPhone, as well as a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that allows users to connect to such social-networking sites as MySpace and Facebook. It is unclear how similar it will be to T-Mobile USA's newly released G1 phone, manufactured by HTC, which also uses Android.

The phone is anticipated to make its US debut in the second quarter of next year, according to sources cited in the BusinessWeek report, which noted that carriers have already seen spec sheets and images of the devices.

Motorola's Android phone may carry a price of approximately US$150 to US$180, with a two-year carrier contract, according to the report.

Via CNET News

Crave is...

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

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (2194)

» Digital Cameras (968)

» Notebooks (1222)

» PC & Peripherals (1299)

» Handhelds (581)

» Printers (79)

» Home AV (1132)

» Music & Play (884)

» Gadgets (1468)

» Future Tech (386)

» Green Tech (170)

» Lifestyle (151)

» Luxury (22)

» Home Appliances (57)

» Cars (98)

» Games and Gear (244)

» Software (90)

» Web (98)

Previously...

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Hot Topics

Subscribe to
Crave

What's Hot

apple apple inc. apple iphone apple ipod asia battery camera game google inc. iphone microsoft corp. microsoft windows mobile phone photograph singapore smart phone software sony corp. video

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