New Gadgets

HP is refreshing its HP Wireless TV Connect introduced in September last year. Basically, it is a similar technology then Intel WiDi except that it allows people who own computers that do not feature the WiDi chip (integrated to last generation Intel Core processors) to wirelessly stream HD multimedia content from their laptop to their TV display. It is also possible to stream 3D content from a PC to a 3D-enabled television.

The main innovation is the smaller size of the box and the sweeter price at launch time: $179.99 (vs. $199 when the first version was released).

The HP Wireless TV Connect wirelessly streams 1080p HD content such as photos, videos and blu-ray from any PC or notebook equipped with an HDMI port. According to the manufacturer, unlike other competing products, there is no lag in its solution.

Source: UberGizmo.com

Still in concept, the Gesture Remote looks quite capable of solving the age-old remote problem.

The universal remote is handy for turning on the TV easily. There is no need for a TV remote just to turn it on, the cable remote to change channels, or a stereo remote to adjust volume. Throw the DVR, DVD player, and other devices in the mix, though, and there are too many buttons and functions. The universal remote can’t handle the load.

Enter the Gesture Remote from IDENT Technology. This would allow you to surf TV channels and digital media using gesture. Using touch-technology, there are no buttons or keypads to deal with. Imagine the Gesture Remote as the Apple Magic Trackpad for the palm.

Just like a mouse, you can easily drag and drop or select content on the screen. Select the highlighted item by tapping the thumb. Scroll, flick, rotate, or zoom in and out for volume control and channel selection. It’s that easy.

The Gesture Remote would have to be able to talk to any kind of box, such as satellite, cable, and FiOS, as well as other devices. Here is to hoping this becomes reality.

Oh, mobile TV, you really are taking a beating, aren’t you? Despite hopes and promises over the last few years, nothing has really come of it but failures.

And now, Spain has abandoned plans to bring the DVB-H terrestrial mobile TV service to its citizens.

Bernardo Lorenzo, Director General of telecommunications at the Ministry of Industry, has said that if there is not an increase in demand, the government will allocate the frequencies destined for mobile TV to other services, adding that Spain does not want to become “one of the failures that have occurred in Europe”.

The Big B is referencing the fact that there have been several mobile DTV launches across Europe, none of which were successful. Ouch.

Ever since DVICE started out as the young whippersnapper on the gadget blog front it once was, it’s been interested in home saunas. And whilst some of them tend towards the basic, and others have a distinctly Swedish bent about them, the latest batch — such as this one from Carmenta — are certainly more evolved.

The Revolution has a uniform depth of 70 inches, and comes in four lengths: 35 inches; 47 inches; 60 inches; and 78 inches. It’s actually billed as a shower cubicle with sauna and steam bath incorporated in it. And Eighties-style neon lighting. And a telly. And a couple of beautiful people. Would you like to see them?

Apple is now moving on to updating their software after months of releasing new gadgets. The new Apple TV 3.0 software aims to up your TV experience, and battle it out with other television manufacturers.

The new software from Apple has a redesigned main menu that makes for easier browsing. Its content is definitely easier and simpler to manage. This will enable you to enjoy the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes.

You can also now enjoy iTunes Extra and iTunes LP in full screen display with your Apple TV. More, the software includes Genius Mixes and Internet radio via a home theater system.

In fairness to Apple, the new software will not rob you off your hard-earned money. It will come free (download) to those who already own an Apple TV. But for those who doesn’t have an Apple TV yet, it will come bundled with the 160GB edition for $229.

When taking a bath, you want to get extra pleasure from watching favorite TV show or movie playing on a personal computer or a DVD-drive, this means that it’s high time you order the waterproof TV with remote control.
The gadget is equipped with 8-inch screen and has a set of audio and video inputs, sufficient to connect almost any video source, be it a PC, DVD-player or receiver. Dimensions of the device are 205x275x37 mm, so that it does not take much space in your bathroom.
Price of this device is about $250.

There is also another concept mobile phone with built-in projector, which is a harmonious combination of a mobile phone communication abilities and a projector.

As you have probably guessed, the device will transfer to the wall all that is displayed on the screen. This feature can be very convenient for the organization of conferences. But probably the main advantage of this technology is the ability to watch movies on the big screen. The owners of this phone will be able to wholly enjoy movies, video games and TV.

But this device has its drawbacks. The projector emits very bright light, so that the image is not clear and stable.
Therefore, in such mode, the phone battery is likely to be exhausted eyes. But, according to developers, the technology implemented in this phone, is built on the basis of a new generation of miniaturized video components. Add to this advanced technology batteries, and this problem may be negligible.

Phone is made of polycarbonate, making it very reliable, and in isolation are used graphite sheets, scatter thermal radiation. The top end of the phone is covered with aluminum to reflect heat radiation from the projector module and keyboard. In other words, it will be a hot thing.

Once in my childhood I wanted to have my own TV-set in my room. This gadget is not created especially for children, but it seems to be mostly useful for them.

NapTV is a 2 in 1 gadget – a bench and a television. You can sit on the bench, you can lie under it. LCD TV screen is built under the seat, and 2 speakers with stereo sound are on its legs.

NapTV will especially be useful for those who want to save space in the house. In addition, you can surprise with it your friends and acquaintances.

The only question is how useful it will be. It is still only a concept, an idea of Colorflot, which will be implemented.

Recently, the official site of Toshiba in Japan described a new robot called Toshiba ApriPoko. This robot is designed to fulfill the wishes of its owner and help him/her in everyday life. It observes, learns what you ask and what you want and, thus, becomes an indispensable assistant.

To say briefly, for the first time Toshiba ApriPoko takes command via special remote control and remembers what you asked. And the next time it will do the same thing just by your voice command. By the way, it has a camera and microphone for IDENTIFICATION of the person who asks something. It can have several users as the data is collected and summed separately.

Another interesting feature is that this robot can operate your TV from a distance, as it can be done by a remote control. That is, if you ask it to change the channel, reduce or increase the volume, etc., it will be able to do it.

At the moment there is only a demonstrational version of ApriPoko and it understands only simple commands. But we hope that it will soon be on shelves.

Have you ever argued, during watching television, with someone for a remote control? To avoid this, you can buy a remote control for each family member, but then again everyone will watch what he/she wants.

This is a new special panel, which is suited to all televisions. You can simply lock the other remote controls. A very useful thing for the head of the family.

This gadget has also two other advantages: first, it can replace a lost remote control, and second, you can turn off the TV, so that others have not been able to switch it on.

There are times that the remote control is lost, and you can’t find it. This special remote control has an on/off button, volume increase/decrease button, also changes channels, switches off the sound, switches the TV/AV. And this is quite enough for a full remote control.

The second method is the use of general interest. Imagine that you punish the child and order him/her not to watch TV, but you have to leave him/her alone for some time. Then you just turn off the TV and pick up the remote control. Now your child will not be able to switch on the TV with other remote control.

In order to control your TV with this panel you just need to click “Mute” and hold a few seconds. The gadget works with many TV-sets – Toshiba, Sanyo, Aiwa, Mitsubishi, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, JVC, Sharp and others.

It is small and compact, so that you can even play tricks on your friends who can not understand why their remote control doesn’t work…

Its price is only 15 dollars, size 5.8×3.6×0.6 cm. The manufacturer is Ninja.