Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Casio has released a new digital photo printer called the PCP-1200. Featuring a 7-inch wide touch screen display, the PCP-1200 also allows printing text on post card size prints thanks to its keyboard which you can use to input the text you want to print. If you’re wondering what’s so good about this feature, well this would be pretty useful if you need to print post cards and simple invitation cards in a hurry.

This digital photo printer also allows users to print photos directly from digital cameras, mobile phones and various media formats including CF, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, xD Picture Card, SDHC/SD memory cards and MMC. It also comes with an optional memory card adapter to allow direct printing of photos stored in miniSDHC/SD and microSD/SDHC memory card media.

Other stuff you can create using the PCP-1200 include funny cards, birthday cards, greeting cards and various fun print stuff using its 60 stamps theme feature. The PCP-1200 digital photo printer is available now in Japan and retails for around $500. No word yet if this will be released in the international market though.

Via [FarEastGizmos]

This does not come as a huge surprise, after all we have seen many recent reports with the same timeline, but its still nice to have some official confirmation.

While they still are not offering up a specific launch date, T-Mobile has confirmed that the first Android powered phone would be available “before Christmas” but may come as early as October. They also mentioned that the handset would be coming from HTC, and although they did not confirm a specific model, it is believed to be the HTC Dream, and it will feature both a full touchscreen along with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

At this point we can only hope that the Android powered Dream lands closer to the October end of the time frame, if nothing else the earlier launch would make perfect sense to make sure the fully benefit from the holiday shopping season.

Read [Yahoo! News]

It seems like it may be a good time for T-mobile over the next few months.  Android is reported to be dropping by mid-October, and now US customers will be getting the Samsung T919.  Sure, Samsung usually saves its better phones for Verizon or AT&T, but this one is an exception.  The T919 seems to be more of an iPhone imitator as TmoNews calls it a “dumbphone,” rather than a clone, but it’s impressive nonetheless.

The Samsung T919 comes with 3G, a touchscreen, up to 16GB memory with microSD, video streaming, 5-megapixel camera and GPS with voice commands.  Seems to beat out the iPhone in some aspects like the camera and voice commands for the GPS.  It doesn’t look as cool as the iPhone, even if the back of it is brushed aluminum.  The UK version of the phone has a front-facing camera, however that is not expected to be included on the US T-Mobile version.

It seems like a good phone, but the timing seems strange.  Why release an iPhone-like phone now when Android is around the corner?  Though this seems to appeal more to people who like the idea of a touchcreen phone without AT&T and not the idea of a touchscreen phone with a more fully featured OS.

Via [TmoNews]

When I was at CES last January, I had a very friendly salesperson introduce me to the Neonode N2.  I was amazed at this tiny device that was about the size of a flip-top cigarette lighter, and yet it was a phone. 

It wasn’t just any phone, but the kind with a full touchscreen interface.  All interaction with the screen is done with the user’s thumb, and in addition to the phone, there is email, camera, and calculator options.  So I guess the best description of the product would be a one-handed iPhone. 

Unfortunately, it may be quite a while before you can get a hold of one, because the company is recalling them.  Not just the ones that have problems, but all of them.  Apparently, the N2 is having reception problems of some kind. 

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iriver’s Korean site has started showing off the company’s latest portable media player, which was originally previewed during CES 2008, the iriver Spinn. This 3.3-inch player sports and AMOLED touchscreen display and haptic feedback feature. It supports various music formats including MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC and ASF as well as video formats including MPEG4, WM9 and WMA. In addition, this player also features DMB for mobile TV viewing.

Other features of the iriver Spinn include a radio, flash, Bluetooth, a new analog SPINN Wheel, and either 8GB or 4GB of flash-based storage. It now boasts of 24-hour audio lifespan and comes in a metal and plastic casing that is just 0.42-inches thick.

The iriver Spinn is now available for pre-order in Korea with an suggested retail of around $259 for the 4GB model and $299 for the 8GB model. No word yet as to when the Spinn will be released internationally, although rumor has it that it will hit the UK market around August.

Via [Akihabara News] Product [iriver]

Take a look at that steering wheel. It sure is sweet looking with its touchscreen, isn’t it?  Even Knight Rider didn’t have one of those.  Well, maybe the new version does, I haven’t really been watching it.

This device, which has been named the Unidrive, is under development by Spanish automaker IFR Automotive.  It is designed to interact directly with chassis and engine functions, allowing for customization for a driver’s individual tastes. 

The touchscreen provides instant access to valve timing, rev limit, ride height, ABS, and other figures.  In short, it is a readout screen that reads out everything a driver needs, and, in most cases, probably doesn’t understand. 

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Toshiba is very good at dominating the laptop market, and it looks like they have tried to make a new kind of Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC). 

This UMPC is an Atom processor with 64GB and SSD storage.  It has Windows Vista, as well as a GPS.  Not only does it have a lovely silver frame, but a 5.6 inch touchscreen. 

As you can see from the picture, the touchscreen allows for an intriguing keyboard for double-handed interface.  I’ve never really seen anything like it before, but I’m certain that I am wrong. 

I mean if it were that innovative, wouldn’t Toshiba put this UMPC prototype into production. Can you believe that Toshiba isn’t going to put this out?  I believe the reason for this is that they say it is too small. 

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Cowon has announced its latest touchscreen media player, the P5. Featuring a large 5-inch, 800x480 touchscreen display, the P5 boasts of haptic feedback mechanism which simulates a physical button through vibrations. The P5 runs on a fast 700MHz processor and can decode full DVD-resolution video in offline formats including AVI, DivX, MPEG-1/4, WMV and XviD. In addition, it also supports over-the-air TV with a built-in DMB tuner.

Other features of the Cowon P5 player include Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, supports APE, FLAC, OGG, MP3 and WMA audio formats, FM radio, optional internet access through a USB-based Wi-Fi adapter and it gives out 14 full hours of music playing and 9 hours of video watching despite having a large display screen. The P5 comes with either 40GB, 60GB or 80GB’s of hard drive storage.

Slated for release on July 29 in the Korean market, the P5 will be available in a black, red or silver aluminum design. Unfortunately, no word yet on whether it will get an international release.

Via [electronista]

When I first used the iPhone, I was not impressed by its lack of tactile feedback.  I mean, when I want to push a button, I should be able to feel it, for crying out loud!  Considering that touchscreens are starting to become even more common place these days, I suppose we all have to accept our inputs on faith. 

Fortunately, for those of us who want the instant gratification of operating controls, research is now being developed to combine touchscreen and tactile controls. 

The experimental device is called the SenseSurface, and it allows users to place working knobs on the screen’s virtual controls.  It works by putting on magnetic knobs that can be placed anywhere on a touchscreen LCD screen. 

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Dell has just announced that it will start offering a free software update for Latitude XT owners that will bring them multi-touch capabilities on their XT machines. By upgrading their XT’s firmware users will be able to maximize the full real estate of their XT’s screen.

Once the XT’s firmware is upgraded, users can start using their XT’s screen to scroll through web browsers and productivity application as well as zoom in and out various contents just by placing two fingers on the screen and moving them together horizontally or vertically. Users can also program a double-tap gesture on the screen to to launch an application or to turn the machine off. This feature is somewhat similar to the multi-touch capability of the MacBook Air’s touchpad..

The firmware upgrade is available at http://support.dell.com. If you want to find out how this multi-touch capability works, keep on reading to watch the video demo.

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