Recently, it has been a noticeable trend to release gadgets that perform multiple functions. Even without taking into account the mobile phones that are both media players and cameras, we can recall a docking station for iPod with built-in alarm clock or, for example, digital photo frames, capable of operating as a stereo.
AmpLamp belongs to this class of devices, too, which, however, is still in the concept stage. This gadget is capable not only to illuminate the surroundings, but also can be used as an audio system.
In AmpLamp there are two interesting technologies, which, without doubt, will find their application in a variety of audio devices. Airsound technology through the use of several small speakers provides even sound distribution throughout the volume of space, while providing power 80 Tues A NXT technology allows you to turn any flat surface into a speaker.
We often write about different digital photo frames. Their basic purpose is to scroll the pictures, which are loaded into memory and thus replace many conventional photo frames with a photo. But their extra features may be different. The one, which will be discussed in today’s article, has an additional function – it is also a magnet that can be attached to the refrigerator door.
You want to decorate your refrigerator door? There is a lack of family warmth in the kitchen? You want to see your favorite people in front of you even while cooking? Then this picture frame is right for you. It’s called DigiFrame.
DigiFrame has a capacity of up to 66 different photos (32 MB memory), which are loaded via the USB of PC. It supports JPG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF formats. By attaching DigiFrame to the refrigerator, you can enjoy photos on a 2.4-inch TFT LCD display. Screen resolution is 320 x 240 pixels.
The gadget costs about $60.
Some digital photo frames are used not only for their intended purpose, but also have a very large number of additional functions. The functionality of these gadgets have exceeded the company Sungale introducing new digital photo frames code named ID800WT.
The gadget has a touch-sensitive display with resolution of 800×600 pixels and 512 MB of internal memory. The novelty has a set of widgets for quick access to weather, news, Picasa photos download service, YouTube service, Gmail e-mail and Internet radio.
The device supports image formats such as JPG, TIF, PNG and BMP, music formats are WMA and MP3, and video format of AVI. Connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi, a gadget is synchronized with your computer via USB-port.
The main advantage of the ID800WT model is its setup: the gadget starts, as it is switched on, no additional manipulation is required, it is easy to find own wireless network. A distinctive feature is the fact that the touch screen responds to the pressing of any location, not in certain areas, like the majority of frames.
It is obvious that Sungale was mainly focused on widgets, but unfortunately, the manufacturer couldn’t implement this objective in a proper way. For example, it’s not convenient to use Google-post because of the small number of rows which are displayed simultaneously, and some widgets are unstable.
The price of this gadget will be 164 dollars 85 cents.
Everyone who likes working with digital photos, altering photographs and collecting all of his/her “photo masterpieces” probably will like a new gadget Picture Porter 35. This is a capacious device that allows you to store digital images.
Its internal memory is 160 GB, LCD – 3.5 inches.
Of course, the device has a fast USB-connector that allows you to use it as an external hard drive. You can directly connect any device with a USB-port to the Picture Porter 35.
There is also a card reader. And it can be used not only as an album for your photos, but also as media – it «reads» MP3, WMA, AAC, and MPEG-1, MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG.
The software allows creating your slide show and see IPTC metadata for the corresponding images.
The price of this gadget is still unknown.
Company Digital Foci is the manufacturer of Picture Porter 35. The new photo album will be presented at the Consumer Electronics, CES 2009.
To people who spend a lot of time travelling, there is no need to explain the importance of having a portable alarm in the luggage. But the gadget Travel Alarm with a Digital Photo Frame despite being an alarm clock has an additional function – digital photo frame. Nobody would argue that far from the family, it is much nicer to wake up in the morning and see the photos of your beloved ones.
Due to the possibility of synchronization with atomic clocks through the Internet, the Travel Alarm with Digital Photo Frame will wake you exactly on time, and concerning the photo-frame, it has a screen size of 2.4 inches, and can store up to 60 photos and display them in a slideshow. Loading images in memory, and clock synchronization is done through USB-connection.
Dimensions of the gadget: 8,2 x5, 7h2, 5 cm, so that it will easily fit in a road bag. The price is a bit confusing – 80 dollars is too much.
And here is another interesting concept from Computex. This time it is an unusual electronic photo frame from SilverPac and Microsoft.
From all these new gadgets, the new photo frame differs by the use of Windows Embedded 6.0, and Microsoft software like Windows SideShow, and Windows Live FrameIt. From the technical characteristics we are only informed that the gadget has a touch screen with a diagonal of 10.1 inches (25.7 cm), and there is a built-in wireless standard 802.11n support.
Potentially, such a bundle of technical data and software means that the frame can be used as a network media player. Also SilverFrame can be synchronized with the calendar on your PC and work as reminder / organizer, plus the opportunity to receive and send e-mails directly from the gadget, though it is not the most sensible way to manage a mail.
The bad news is that it will not be released very soon. Concept is presented for the purpose of interest of promotion and distribution of one of the major brands of similar products.
