Yet another ultra-portable styled notebook is hitting the market, this time its the GeCube Genie PC and it comes complete with a trick of its own. In a twist on the tablet pc with a rotating display, the Genie PC’s display will actually separate from the notebook. The Genie PC features a 7-inch display, a pretty low 2GB of flash-based storage, runs a Linux-based OS and retails for $450. Now back to that detachable display, it kind of sounds better or at least more useful than it may prove to be with actual use. See the display is not touch-based. It does have a trackpad on the side, so you could still sit back and browse around the web, that is until you needed to type something. (Read the full post about ‘GeCube Genie PC; Complete with semi-useful detachable display’…)

Recently during a Washington think tank, The Urban Institute discussed the phenomenon that as the number of iPods sold has increased, so has the rate of violent crime. The discussion seems to focus on iPods of course, but electronics in general are also mentioned. Some arguments for a connection between iPods and violent crime are that iPods are very coveted, iPod owners are easy to spot and are not always alert to their surroundings, which makes it’s harder for the thieves to get caught. Also, the Urban Institute points out that robberies by young people have increased more than for adults.  But there are arguments against a connection as well, for example there was also an increase in crime before the introduction of iPods. (Read the full post about ‘Think tank discusses “iCrime”’…)

In a move similar to Circuit City, but not quite as generous an offer, Canada’s Future Shop is helping those customers that were unfortunate enough to commit to the now dead HD DVD format. The offer from Future Shop does have some nice points and some limitations. First off they are accepting standalone HD DVD players that were purchased anywhere. The offer gives customers $100 that they can use to purchase either an LG or Samsung Blu-ray/hd dvd combo player. This does mean that you have a pretty limited selection, but at least you can still play any HD DVD movies that you already purchased, plus any new Blu-ray titles that you pick up in the future. (Read the full post about ‘Canada’s Future Shop offering $100 toward Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player purchase’…)

Here is a pic of a new Sony PSP 2 concept. It’s pretty sweet looking and seems to have a pretty big screen. Maybe this design would make UMD movies more appealing. But, don’t get too excited fanboys, this baby is still just a concept. [Source] Tags: video game, pvp, digital, lcd (Read the full post about ‘Sony PSP 2 Concept Looks Awesome’…)

The T-Mobile MDA Compact IV offers a 3 megapixel camera with auto focus as well as the following features:

* HSDPA-capable
* 4GB of built-in memory
* full VGA (640×480pixel) resolution touchscreen

Via MobileBurn.

Tags: Gadget, Hi-fi, hi fi, DAB

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1offers a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus, photo light, and video recording, as well as the following features:

* full arc-sliding QWERTY
* Windows Mobile 6 operating system
* 3-inch wide VGA (800 x 480) touchscreen display,
* A2DP Bluetooth
* GPS
* WiFi
* microSD
* 400MB
* quad-band GSM/EDGE
* 900/1700/1900/2100MHz UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (or 850/1700/1900/2100MHz)
* 4-way key and optical joystick

Via Engadget.

Tags: computers, gadgets, gprs, gadgetry

After a fourth straight year of projected losses reaching over $140 million dollars, electronics giant Pioneer has announced it will cease production of it’s own plasma HDTV design and will, instead, focus on HDTV plasma production using panels from another manufacturer, like Panasonic/Matsushita. he loss comes as a stunning development as Pioneer expected to post a net gain of nearly 58.02 million U.S. dollars. So a loss of nearly three times that has prompted a sort of “come to Jesus” moment for Pioneer. “This move will allow us to transform our business model for displays from vertically integrated, capital-intensive operations to a leaner business model geared to making value-added product proposals,” the company said in a statement. (Read the full post about ‘Pioneer says sayonara to in house Plasma production’…)

Going in extreme contrast to the newest Swiftpoint mice from Simtrix, you’d imagine the Jupiter mouse (pictured above) to be something you’d find in your local stationery shop, down the paperweights section. But believe it or not, the Jupiter mouse is not just a concept, but a new kind of mouse that really works as a navigation device for your computer. It got its name from the obvious resemblance to the Big Red Planet, not to mention the presence of that big swirl smack in the middle of it, looking just like the big storms on Jupiter (the planet) itself. How does it work? Crazy like no other, if you ask me. Actually, to scroll right, you just tilt it towards that direction. (Read the full post about ‘Jupiter mouse: made like a planet, made out of wood’…)

A new method for creating very efficient LEDs has been devised by scientists over at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. The team of brilliant researchers, headed by Hilmi Volkan Demir, have been able to produce energy efficient LEDs that emit a warmer and more natural looking white light than any kind of LED (or any other man-made light source, for that matter) available today. Using a special layer of nanocrystalline coating, the researchers were able to build an LED that produced whiter light than ever without sucking up more power. This is a huge step in the right direction for the LED light researchers, who have been spending the last decade looking for a way to make LEDs emit “natural light” without sacrificing the unit’s efficiency. (Read the full post about ‘LED lights become more efficient with new nanocrystalline coating’…)

Gadget designs these days are all about maximizing reliability, comfort, and of course, usability. Simtrix’s latest computer mouse models are up there and able to demonstrate compliance to all three points. The first of the company’s new dynamic mice duo is called the TriPed (at left), and is aimed squarely at tablet pc or tabletop computer users. The TriPed was so designed in order to provide “seamless transitioning between mouse, pen, and text entry.” Meaning, TriPed users will have more flexibility to do whatever gesture they need to do whenever they desire. The second, and equally intriguing new mouse model made for the Swiftpoint series is called the Slider, offering the option to be operated by being slid over a keyboard. (Read the full post about ‘Simtrix shows off two new mouse designs at CeBIT 2008′…)