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Mimo debuts 7-inch iMo Pivot Touch monitor
Mimo may not be doing anything crazy like producing a full-size monitor, but it's not exactly slacking when it comes to its tiny, secondary monitors -- the latest of which is the 7-inch iMo Pivot Touch. Apparently designed for folks that prefer pivoting to sliding, this new model packs the usual 800 x 480 resolution we've come to expect, along with an adequate 350 cd/m2 brightness, 400:1 contrast and, most importantly, touch capabilities (with support for both Mac and Windows). At $199.99, the Pivot Touch is also a full ten bucks cheaper than its sliding counterpart, and Mimo is even offering its own little Black Friday deal with free shipping until November 30th -- the monitor itself won't ship until December 3rd, though.
Atheros brings 802.11n to cellphones with AR6003, is one antenna short of a pair
802.11n is a wonderful thing, providing 144Mbps bandwidth and reliable connections over impressive distances, but part of that wonder comes thanks to a reliance on dual antennas. Twice the antennas means twice the streams (MIMO, ya dig?), but Atheros has decided to ditch one for its new mobile-friendly AR6003 chip. It's a power-saving move called "one-stream 11n," and while we've seen it before that doesn't mean we have to like it. Atheros's solution provides a maximum throughput of 85Mbps, which is frankly nothing to shake a stick at, and despite that will suck down 20 percent less power than its earlier AR6002 802.11a/b/g chip. In other words, we'll rock it in our celly -- begrudgingly.
Mimo's iMo Foto Frame Printer does precisely what you'd expect
Mimo's made quite the name for itself with its delightful array of USB-powered secondary monitors, but now it seems the company is spreading its proverbial wings and introducing something strikingly out of character. The iMo Foto Frame Printer most certainly isn't the first (or second) of its kind, but it just might be the cutest. The digiframe / printer hybrid boasts an 8-inch panel, a memory card slot, bundled remote and an inbuilt photo printer that shoots out 4- x 6-inch images with a 300 x 300dpi print resolution. $229.99 gets you the unit itself, a few cables and a paper cartridge for 36 prints -- after that, you're on your own. Godspeed, young one.[Via Red Ferret]
First Look: USB-powered Mimo 710-S display (which you could win)
Whenever I'm traveling on business, I rely on my lightweight and compact MacBook Air. There's only one problem with my MBA as far as I'm concerned -- the screen can sometimes seem too small when I have a lot of applications running simultaneously. What I need is a portable monitor that I can just hook up to display a frequently updated window off to the side of my primary display. That's where the Mimo 710-S USB-powered monitor (US$149) could help out. It's a tiny, foldable 800 x 480 pixel monitor that weighs less than a pound.While this is predominantly a Windows-oriented product, the company provides a place to download a Mac driver. The driver install does require a reboot, which is a bit annoying but to be expected with a proprietary display driver. There's a swivel built into the monitor so that it can be rotated into a portrait configuration. While the monitor doesn't automatically rotate what is being displayed on the screen, it's a simple matter to go into the Display system preference pane for the monitor and choose "Rotate 90°."
Nanovision MIMO 710-S and 720-S USB monitors hands-on
So you want a little more desktop real estate, eh? You could replace your existing screen with a bigger, higher resolution one, but sometimes a bigger monitor can just be, well, a little too big. You could always go with a secondary or tertiary monitor, but sometimes your desk is just too small. In that case a little USB auxiliary monitor is just right, and MIMO's latest, the 710-S and 720-S, are slimmer, sexier, and far more portable than ever. We thought that would make them perfect for anyone with a Goldilocks complex and slinky laptop, but the truth is, sadly, a little more complicated.
Nanovision's MIMO 720-S USB secondary display is slim yet touchable
If you got all excited about the upcoming MIMO 710-S, Nanovision's slinky refresh of its earlier UM-710, but then felt like someone took the wind out of your proverbial sails when you learned it lacked a touchable screen, we'd advise you to hold fast and ready that metaphorical spinnaker. The company has confirmed there's another new version coming over the horizon, the 720-S, featuring the same 7-inch, 800 x 480 panel, but now granted touch capabilities. You'll need to exercise a bit of restraint, as they're not due to ship for another month or so, and while we don't know exactly how much it'll displace from your wallet one UK site has a pre-order up for £130 (about $215). We do plan to be putting a 710-S through its paces shortly, though, which might just help to tide you over.
Mimo's 710-S 'Mobile Slider' USB monitor gets low... real low
Well, wouldn't you know it? Those off the wall concepts of what appeared to be a next-generation USB-driven Mimo monitor seem to have found their way into the production line, as the outfit made suddenly famous for its secondary displays now has a new model on tap. The 710-S "Mobile Slider" edition is really just a tweaked version of the aforementioned 7-inch panel, but it has been completely redesigned into a "sleeker, foldable and more portable unit." We hadn't really given much thought to bringing one of these things along in a laptop case, but this critter just might change our opinion on the usefulness to road warriors. Hit the read link to get in line; you'll have the opportunity to part with $149.99 in exchange for one later this month. [Via EverythingUSB]
CSIRO looks to analog TV spectrum for 100Mbit wireless broadband
Australia has already rolled out its plans to bring high-speed broadband to 90% of the country's population via fiber optic lines, and it looks like the folks at CSIRO are now pitching in with some ideas of their own to bring speedy wireless broadband to that ever present "last mile," and anyone else looking for an extra wireless option. As with others, they're looking to take advantage of all the analog TV broadcast towers that'll become available once the digital switchover in the country is complete, and it seems that they also have a few tricks up their sleeves that could eventually deliver wireless speeds up to 100Mbit per second (though it'd apparently be between 12 and 50 megabits per second initially). To reach those speeds, the group is apparently experimenting with a combination of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (or OFDM), used in basic wireless standards like 802.11g, and multiple input multiple output technology, or MIMO, which uses a range of antennas to transmit and receive multiple data streams. Of course, there's still quite a bit of work to be done before any of that moves beyond the lab, but CSIRO says that field trials could begin in 12 to 24 months, with a commercial rollout possible in the next three to five years.[Thanks, Aaron]
Mimo making its USB monitors slimmer, sexier?
Sometimes interesting news comes from unexpected places, and this morning that place is a UK car customization shop called Carcomputer. They've posted up info and pics for what appears to be the next generation of Nanovision's USB-driven Mimo monitor. The specs seem to be the same, with a 7-inch, 800 x 480 LED-backlit screen, but it's the new case design that's notable. Gone is the chunky, cheap looking shiny plastic, replaced by a slender matte black and silver design that not only holds the display in landscape or portrait mode but also allows it to be collapsed and thrown in a bag without scratching that panel. Right now that's all we know, but hopefully we'll be bringing more news soon -- along with pics of a set of these installed into headrests of our custom '64 Impala.[Thanks, Payam]
OptimizAIR WiFi HD streaming in field testing, ready to launch this summer
As the wireless HD world continues to turn, Celeno Communications is back with news that it's already field testing OptimizAIR WiFi based hardware. Promising 1080p video at distances of up to 120 feet through walls and floors to WiFi-capable devices, its MIMO technology is expected to see "massive deployment" by this summer, with IPTV customers likely to get the first shot. We're still concerned at a lack of vendors lining up behind it, though backwards compatibility certainly gives a leg up on Wireless HD, WHDI and the rest. Making a note in the calendar to check for possible product rollouts once the weather warms up seems like a reasonable next step.[Via SmartBrief]
Engadget's recession antidote: win a Mimo UM710 USB monitor!
You're probably getting used to it: bad economy, job losses sweeping the globe. Well, we here at Engadget are committed to trying to counter-attack a little bit of that suffering by handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a Mimo UM710 USB monitor to offer up. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Special thanks to The Gadgeteers for providing the gear! The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one Mimo UM710 monitor. Approximate value is $130. Entries can be submitted until Thursday, February 12th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
Mimo's tiny USB monitors get proper US release
We definitely dig Mimo's little auxiliary displays, but they suffer from two main problems: very limited availability in the States and a rather high price, conspiring to make them something less than an impulse buy. Sadly that latter constraint is still in place, but we're happy to say you're now just a few clicks away from buying your own if you're so inclined. Mimo has launched a US portal selling two seven-inch models, starting with the vanilla 710 at $130, offering a 800 x 480 screen with a 400:1 contrast ratio and brightness rated at 350 nits. On the higher end is the $200 740, adding touch capability and a webcam. In other words: same prices, easier to find. You decide if they're worth it for you.
Nanovision Mimo UM-710 hands-on and impressions
The Mimo UM series USB monitors have been on our radar for a while now, so we were excited to get our hands on one and put it through the paces. The company sent us the base model UM-710, which sports the same 7-inch, 800 x 480 display as the rest of the line. Also available are the UM-730, which includes a webcam and a mic for, and the UM-740, a touchscreen variation of the 730. Read on for our brief impressions after spending a few days with the mini-display.%Gallery-39818%[Special thanks to The Gadgeteers for the display]
Popcorn Hour's WN-100 dongle brings WiFi to your A-100, A-110 or B-110
Generally speaking, it's tough to find someone who doesn't love their Popcorn Hour media streamer. Not to say everything's perfectly kosher, however, as the lack of internal WiFi is a niggle that many cord haters have found inexcusable. Curiously enough, we heard back in May that the outfit was preparing a new trio of streamers, and one of 'em was destined to have WiFi built-in; we're still waiting on that unit, but Popcorn Hour is more than happy to give the option of retrofitting. The WN-100 is a draft-N WiFi adapter that adopts MIMO technology, supports 64- / 128-bit WEP encryption (along with WPA / WPA2, etc.) and comes sporting with a $37 price tag. Or, you can snag the A-110 with WN-100 bundle and save a whopping two bucks from buying separately.[Thanks, AFB]
Nanovision's MIMO UM-710 mini display gets tested, proves addictive
While we were led to believe that Nanovision's MIMO line of diminutive LCDs would be stuck in South Korea for the foreseeable future, it appears that a trio of 'em are now shipping to North America. While not christened with any SideShow labeling, this 7-inch UM-710 mini monitor was designed to operate alongside your laptop and / or desktop monitor in order to give you more space for those little-but-necessary applications. Critics at Technabob were quite fond of the 800 x 480 display, noting that it was perfectly clear, incredibly useful and darn near impossible to live without after a solid hour of usage. Setup was relatively painless with Windows Vista, and OS X drivers (for Intel-based Macs, that is) were said to be bundled in as well. Sure, we'd prefer the $129.99 price tag to be a little lower, but if you can't stand to lug around a low-end 17-incher, this might not be a bad travel companion.
Nanovision's MIMO 7-inch displays are strangely cute, sort of useful
They're not much more useful or cost efficient than a second or third regular-sized display, but Korean company Nanovision's soon-to-be-released 7-inch mini-LCDs -- model-named MIMO -- are novel, and probably a bit more convenient to hook up thanks to a USB interface. Two models will hit the streets of Korea in just a couple of days, and they both work in either landscape or portrait mode at 800 x 480. The UM-750 (???183,000 or $152), has a webcam, touchscreen, and TV tuner, but its feature-challenged brother the UM-710 (???98,000 or $81) doesn't. Unfortunately, they're only planned for Korea at the moment, so everyone else will have to consider a smaller but considerably less adorable alternative.[Via Technabob; Thanks, Tom M]
Quantenna promises to boost WiFi signals with new chipsets
There's certainly no shortage of folks promising to give WiFi a boost, but upstart Quantenna looks to be one of the few that is actually close to getting something out the door. That comes in the form of what the company claims to be the "world's first" fully integrated 802.11n chipsets with both 4x4 MIMO and transmit (Tx) beamforming, which it says will help push WiFi signals to every corner of your home at throughput rates up to 1 Gbps. The chipsets also include other niftiness like Vector Mesh Networking, and they'll be available in both 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz, and dual-band versions, the latter of which does operate on both spectrum concurrently. While there's no word on any actual consumer products based on the chipsets just yet, Quantenna says it'll have samples available for "top-tier customers" later this year, with prices expected to hit $20 when they're produced in large amounts, or $40 for the dual-band chip.[Via GigaOM]
Aztech's WL850MS wireless HD media streamer gets detailed
Believe it or not, Aztech's WL850MS was actually first mentioned way back at CES 2008, but it's just now finding the limelight at CommunicAsia. The well-spec'd unit supports 1080p media streaming over Ethernet or 802.11n WiFi, and you'll likely be thrilled to know that it boasts MIMO antennas for extended coverage and 2.4GHz / 5GHz dual-band capability. You'll also find four 10/100 Ethernet ports for multiple video recipients and a pretty swank enclosure, if we may say so ourselves. Word from Singapore has the unit retailing for around $263, but there's no telling how long we'll have to wait before seeing it on US soil.
WiNetworks Win7200 Pico Base Station optimizes WiMAX coverage
Although we're still waiting for WiMAX to really crash the party, WiNetworks is way ahead of the curve with its Win7200. The Pico Base Station was designed to provide "optimized indoor and outdoor WiMAX coverage," and is available in the 2.xGHz and 3.xGHz (802.16e Wave 2) frequency range. The single-piece device promises to sip power and stay tight for use in cramped environments, and it's also crafted to play nice with existing network equipment and provide interoperability with third-party WiMAX-certified gear. To date, a price has yet to be divulged, but the outfit will be proudly showcasing its new toy at the WiMAX Forum Global Congress and CommunicAsia late next month.
Siemens' Gigaset SE68 WiMAX ExpressCard arrives before the network
Talk about putting the cart before the horse. Without a bona fide WiMAX network for mass consumer use up and running yet here in America, Siemens is making sure you're really ready for its onset by announcing its first WiMAX ExpressCard. The Gigaset SE68 WiMAX is based on the IEEE 802.16-2005 standard and complies with Wave 2 specifications (including MIMO A / B), supports beamforming and has actually been demonstrated as functional way over in Singapore. With a network in place, users can expect mobile broadband speeds of up to 20Mbps, and while no price is given, you can just circle the entire summer of 2008 in anticipation of its arrival.
