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Tobii and Lenovo show off prototype eye-controlled laptop, we go eyes-on (video)
A lot of companies -- including heavyweights like Microsoft -- believe that motion control is the future of the human-machine interface. But it's an awful lot of work to wave your hands around every time you want to change windows, isn't it? Swedish firm Tobii, which specializes in eye control, teamed up with Lenovo to craft a run of 20 prototype Windows 7 laptops with eye control sensors built-in, and we had a chance to check out the setup here at CeBIT today. The verdict? It works extraordinarily well -- Tobii clearly knows what it's doing, because even with our sloppy calibration at the start of the session, the system still detected where we were looking with pinpoint precision. One demo the company had set up was an Expose-style layout of all open windows, and we were able to target the smallest of the bunch (Calculator in this case) consistently and naturally -- we never felt like we were "staring" to make something happen. Clearly this is a capability that'll require some UX thought and research, because you don't want the computer to just start doing things as you look around; most of the eye-controlled capabilities they'd baked into the laptop here were triggered with a key command, though one feature we really liked -- a quick bar to access frequently-used media -- was pulled up just by looking beyond the left side of the screen. It also worked very well and never came up when we didn't want it to. The level of precision was further verified with a simple game they've created where you blow up asteroids before they impact Earth just by looking at them; the smallest rocks were only a few pixels wide, and we could consistently blast 'em. As for commercialization, they're still a ways off -- they're thinking two years if they can team up with the right partner. Tobii says that there's a trade-off between sensor size and accuracy; the prototype has a sizable hump on the back and a roughly inch-wide strip running directly below the display, both of which are pretty impractical for a truly portable machine. The sensor must be below the display, we're told, though it could be made quite a bit thinner -- no wider than the bezel you've got below your notebook's current display. Follow the break for a full video demo! %Gallery-117868%
Tablet shocker! MSI WindPad 100A packs Tegra 2 and will ship with Honeycomb
At this point, MSI has been showing off its 10-inch Android tablet for a good half a year, but at least this time it's coming clean with some specs, and they're actually not half bad. Yep, the company brought its WindPad 100A to CeBIT and has announced that it, like most of the others, is powered by a dual-core Tegra 2 processor and will get some sweet Honeycomb when it hits the market in late May or early June. The model on hand at CeBIT was running some 2.X version of Android, and the hardware was identical to the one we saw back at CES. MSI's told us that pricing hasn't been set yet, but hopefully, like Moto's Sanjay Jha just proclaimed, these tablet prices will be dropping come the second half of the year. Hit the gallery below for some closer hands-on shots. %Gallery-117776%
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer shows up wearing Honeycomb to CeBIT (video)
Here's a trend we can get behind: ASUS and others are remixing existing, yet-to-be-released Android tablets with Honeycomb where it makes sense to do so. The Eee Pad MeMO, for instance, is now being promised with a Qualcomm port of the platform in time for its June launch -- and along those same lines, the company is showing its Eee Pad Transformer here at CeBIT with a Honeycomb upgrade. Unlike the MeMO, the Transformer is just a straight Tegra 2 setup like the already-launched Xoom, which is likely why they were able to get it loaded on here and functioning relatively well in time for the show. The build ASUS has here doesn't appear to be final -- the Android Market is missing, for example -- but what was there seemed to be running smoothly; considering the internals, we'd expect no less. Follow the break for video (pardon the lack of audio -- there was some talking going on that we found distracting). %Gallery-117784%
MSI Dual Pad concept eyes-on (video)
Complementing the integrated projector concept introduced at CES last month, MSI brought a new not-for-sale hottie to its CeBIT booth this week in the form of the Dual Pad, which is... well, literally two WindPads placed on top of one another. The idea is that the pads can be taken apart and used as two completely independent Windows 7 tablets when necessary -- "you and your girlfriend on a trip" was the example given to us during the press conference -- but when you piece them together, they become one mega-tablet capable of operating essentially as a single dual-screen netbook (a hingeless, permanently-open one). Again, it's a pure concept; there are no plans for commercialization that we could eke out, but we can't imagine it'd be cheap since you'd effectively be buying two complete tablets. Follow the break for video! %Gallery-117771%
MSI WindPad 110W eyes-on (video)
Joining its Intel-powered 100W cousin at CeBIT this week is MSI's WindPad 110W, basically an AMD Brazos-powered remix of the original with a slightly different design. You've got an optical pad on the upper part of the right bezel that controls a mouse pointer -- if you're into that sort of thing -- but hopefully you'll be touching the lovely 10.1-inch IPS display (which it shares with the 100W) directly most of the time. We would've liked to have taken the skinned load of Windows 7 for a spin, but MSI had its demo unit set up on a looping video and kept it under glass or in employees' gentle hands for the entirety of our time at the booth, so we didn't get a great sense for performance; they're targeting mid-year for release, though, so they've got some time left on the clock to put some spit and polish on the package. There'll also be a dock available that plugs into a connector in the bottom of the tablet -- it wasn't on-hand, but the company had some prototype docks connected to WindPad 100A dummy units (showing Honeycomb on their fake displays, interestingly, even though live 100As at the show are running Froyo). Follow the break for a quick video from all angles. %Gallery-117768%
ASUS Eee Pad MeMO and MeMic hands-on (video)
Though we played with ASUS' Android-powered Eee Pad MeMO back at CES, the company spilled a couple new secrets here at CeBIT today: first, it'll be running Honeycomb by the time it launches in June -- current prototypes are running Gingerbread -- and second, certain MeMO bundles will include the MeMic, a separate Bluetooth handset that lets you take calls without holding a giant tablet to your face (it's pronounced "me-mike," by the way). Interestingly, the MeMic features a translucent LCD that we're told will make it to the production units; unfortunately, the units on display were running very early alpha software that had "given out" by the time we arrived at the booth, so we couldn't get a sense of viewability. In addition to making calls, the MeMic will let you stream music, control media, and perform a few other basic tasks that make sense for a tablet remote. On the Honeycomb side, ASUS tells us the delay is simple -- as it stands, a commercial-grade Honeycomb port doesn't exist for Qualcomm hardware, which is what the Eee Pad MeMO is running (the Xoom -- the only released Honeycomb tablet so far -- is running Tegra 2). The company's confident that it'll be ready by the time the MeMO's slated for release in June, however. Follow the break for video! %Gallery-117746%
We're live from CeBIT 2011 in Hannover, Germany!
Though enterprise software and infrastructure tend to be the focus of the event, CeBIT always yields a few consumer-focused gems -- and with all the tablet action lately, we'd be shocked if we didn't see a few slates break cover here. We'll be canvassing the fairgrounds all week looking for said gems... so be sure to join us on this magical journey, won't you? Tip: Keep an eye on the CeBIT 2011 tag for all the news from the show!
Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 Windows 7 tablet: orders kick off tomorrow starting at €699
Expanding on some tidbits fleshed out last week, Fujitsu has dropped all the details on its Oak Trail-based Stylistic Q550 Windows 7 tablet here at CeBIT this week. Along with your choice of 30GB or 64GB SSDs, you'll be able to select Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional atop a 10.1-inch WXGA IPS display capable of four-finger multitouch with stylus input, 2GB of RAM, and an optional Gobi radio that'll push 14.4Mbps down and 5.76Mbps up over HSPA. Pricing will vary by market, but it's starting at €699 (roughly $966) here in Europe when it goes on sale tomorrow. Follow the break for the full press release. Update: We just snapped a few glamor shots of Fujitsu Technology Solutions CEO Rolf Schwirz showing off the Q550 here at the company's CeBIT press conference -- see 'em below! %Gallery-117743%
Fujitsu's 10-inch Stylistic Q550 tablet to sport Oak Trail, Windows 7
We knew good and well that Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 was en route, but now we're learning a few more dirty details as its official launch day draws ever nearer. Reportedly, the business-oriented slate will be fully revealed at CeBIT next month, with Fujitsu being one of the only outfits out there eager and willing to take a chance on both Oak Trail and Windows 7 Professional. Our experiences with existing Win7 tablets haven't been stellar, but it's possible that the added power in Oak Trail will cut down on the lag and make things a bit smoother to operate. We're told to expect a 10-inch LED touchscreen, smartcard slot, fingerprint reader, trusted-platform module (TPM), front and rear cameras, a 32GB / 64GB solid state drive, USB socket and an optional 3G module. Most impressive, however, is the claimed eight hours of battery life, which we'll quite honestly have to see to believe. If all goes well, it'll start shipping this April to European nations, but there's no word yet on how badly it'll hurt your wallet (or when it'll grab a passport and head to other continents). As you'd expect, we'll be live from Germany digging for more just as soon as the show floor opens. A brief introductory vid is just past the break.
Xtreamer Ultra HTPC launching with Ion 2, 200 Euro price point
Name recognition? Ah, who cares? Particularly when you're hawking an Ion 2-based media PC for €100 €200 Xtreamer -- the same folks responsible for the e-TRAYz NAS -- is gearing up to unveil its latest concoction at CeBIT 2011, but it looks as if most of the beans have already been spilled. It's billed as a portable HTPC, and it can be ordered with a dual-core Atom D525 / Ion 2, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, HDMI / DVI outputs, six USB ports, an eSATA socket, Bluetooth, WiFi, gigabit Ethernet and support for IR control. Predictably, that low (low!) price point doesn't include an operating system, but at least that gives you the option to slap whatever you want on there. If you're looking for a TV tuner or optical drive, you'll need to turn to external options, but those looking for a barebones system to build on should be able to procure one in a matter of weeks. That is, if the Boxee Box doesn't lure you in while you wait. Update: Seems as if the final retail price is actually going to be set at €200, which simultaneously makes a lot more sense and makes us wish it weren't true. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
ASUS' EeeBox EB1501P leaks out with Atom D525, Ion GPU
We're still waiting on leaked (or official, we're not partial) images to confirm, but based on a presentation slide and a bit of insider information passed on to Notebook Italia, ASUS is gearing up to replace its aging EeeBox EB1501 with the EB1501P. Reportedly, the box will be based around Intel's dual-core Atom D525 processor and will feature NVIDIA's Ion GPU, a 250GB hard drive, 2GB of DDR3 memory, 802.11n WiFi, an HDMI output, six USB sockets and Bluetooth. That aligns quite nicely with the EB1501U (shown above) that we spotted back at CeBIT, which has yet to launch in any capacity since. A proper introduction at IFA, perhaps? We'll be watching, ASUS.
ASUS' Express Gate 2.0 instant-on OS demoed on video
ASUS' original ExpressGate instant-on OS may be getting a little long in the tooth, but it looks like it's finally due for a serious replacement. While it didn't cause much fanfare at the time, ASUS was apparently showing off version 2.0 of the SlashTop-based OS at CeBIT earlier this month, and Notebook Italia has just now provided a quick hands-on video that gives us some idea of what's in store. As you can see, the biggest change is the interface, which now looks more than a little like webOS' cards system, and represents a significant step up form the barebones original. Head on past the break to check it out for yourself. [Thanks, Sal]
Updated Archos 13 laptop to roll out next month
This one looks to have largely gotten lost among the hubbub of CeBIT earlier this month, but it seems like Archos quietly announced a followup to its Archos 13 laptop, which is now set to debut sometime next month. Complete details are still a bit light unfortunately, but the revised model will sport that always desirably "classy look," along with an Atom D510, Windows 7 Home Premium for an OS and, presumably, a 13.3-inch display. No word on pricing just yet, but the original Archos 13 came in at an even $800.
Lip reading mobiles are wunderbar, still at the prototype stage (video)
We came across this lip reading prototype during our exploration of the CeBIT 2010 halls, and while we're a bit tardy in bringing it to your attention, there's a certain timeless quality to strapping your face with wired sensors that transcends conventional restrictions of timeliness. That's our story anyway. Devised by researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, it picks up the motion of speech (via electromyography) without requiring the sound, and then translates it into audible communication via a delightfully cold and robotic voice. The purposes of such a project are obvious -- from helping people who've lost their speech to making private telephone conversations actually private -- but the fun is in seeing someone use the thing in its current unrefined form. You'll be able to do that just past the break.
ASUS Eee PC 1005PR packs Broadcom Crystal HD and high-res screen
Today in Tales from ASUS we bring you the story of the 10.1-inch Eee PC 1005PR. While we didn't catch this one hiding out in the overflowing CeBIT booth, it appears big A has gone and swapped out the screen on the 1005PE for one with a 1366 x 768-resolution and tucked a Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator inside, which means the little lappie should be able to handle some YouTube HD (at least after you download 10.1 Beta 3). Nothing special apart from that, as it's standard netbook down the line: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450, 1GB of RAM, and 320GB hard drive. No word on pricing or availability, but we're guessing it'll probably come in at under $400, like the Dell Mini 10 and HP Mini 210. It may not be a bad deal in the end, but we're still holding out for the Ion 2-equipped 1201PN and for ASUS to someday slow down the frenetic pace of Eee PC iteration.
ASUS debuts business-minded PL30JT laptop
If there's one company that goes all out at CeBIT each year, its ASUS, as evidenced by the fact that we're still catching up with new products from the company the week after CeBIT. This one slipped under our radar at the show, but the folks at Softpedia managed to get a bit of hands-on time with the company's new PL30JT model, which looks more than a little like ASUS' previously announced UL30 series. The big news with this one is the inclusion of NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics with Optimus technology, which is complemented by a Core i5-520UM processor, a 13.3-inch 1,336 x 768 display, up to 8GB of RAM, a max 640GB hard drive, and ASUS' own Turbo33 technology, which promises to "enhance performance by up to 33%." No word on a price or release date just yet, but this wasn't one of the models promised in ASUS' initial batch of Optimus-enabled laptops. [Thanks, Martin]
Apple, Siemens and Sisvel patent infringement leads to CeBIT booth raid
Mama always said that some folks just never learn, and we reckon there's plenty of wisdom to be had from that very statement. Year after year, German police are called in to raid select booths at CeBIT (and IFA, to be fair), and yet again we've seen a booth cleared out at the request of powerful lawyers from a few companies you may have heard of. Word on the street has it that Apple, Siemens and Sisvel were all kvetching over patent infringements made by an unnamed company exhibiting at last week's show, and within an hour or so of the fuzz showing up, the whole thing was stripped and a hefty fine (€10,000) was levied. Unfortunately, the exact details of who was violating what remains clouded in mystery, but for whatever reason, we get the feeling that something extremely similar will be going down in Hannover next year. We blame KIRFers determination. Updated: Turns out one of our editors at CeBIT saw this whole situation go down at the FirstView booth. Within minutes the entire booth was surrounded by the Polizei, and though we tried to dig further on the situation our inability to speak German caused some communication issues so we decided it best to move on to the next craptablet on the floor. We will, however, always have the shot above to remember the confusing experience. [Thanks, TheLostSwede]
MSI caught showing off VoIP video conferencing phone running Android
There are already plenty of fish in the sea when it comes to VoIP picture-frame phones, and only a few have succeeded in arousing us, but this well-guarded fella here at MSI's CeBIT booth seems to have some potential with its unusually large touchscreen. According to the label, the MS-9A31 landline-VoIP hybrid phone will support DECT, video conference call and instant messaging, all courtesy of Android. A quick glance around the phone also reveals two LAN ports, a USB port and a card reader -- the latter two presumably for stuffing multimedia files. No word on price or availability, but if MSI's prominence can win over Skype's heart then we might have a winner here (and ASUS better watch out). We gathered some shots, but there's also a video walkthrough after the break.%Gallery-87575% [Thanks, Andy]
FirstView's $95 Android / Windows CE PC607V tips a craptablet iceberg at CeBIT
Doesn't look too bad for a $95 Android tablet, huh? Well, there's plenty more where that came from. Scattered along the main halls of CeBIT are dozens of Chinese and Taiwanese consumer electronics resellers looking to sell products to new customers, and this year they sure loaded up the suitcases with cheap Android / Windows CE tablets. For the most part all these tablets (or small smartbooks) have ARM 9 or 11 processors and 5 to 7-inch resistive touch displays. While some like the FirstView PC607V tablet (pictured above) have attractive skins on top of Windows CE, others from companies like Forsa and Huawei have gone with stock versions of Android. In truth, all of the ones we played with felt chintzy, but it was easier to lower our standards when we learned they wouldn't draw more than $150 from our wallets. We've got a hands-on video with FirstView's Android tablet after the break, but if that doesn't fill your cheap tablet needs hit the more coverage links for videos by some serious Android / ARM tablet lovers. %Gallery-87499%
NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround eyes-on, triple the fun
What's better than gaming on one 3D screen? Gaming on three, of course. We're no strangers to NVIDIA's 3D Vision along with the Acer and Alienware displays, but the company has unveiled its 3D Vision Surround capability at CeBIT that lets you play 3D games on three 1080p 3D displays simultaneously. Yeah, it's as crazy as it sounds -- we got to throw on a pair of the glasses and it's one seriously panoramic and immersive experience. What won't be as pleasing is how much a set-up like this will cost you -- you'll need three 3D screens, and a rig with an GeForce GTX 480 SLI configuration or higher (the desktop we saw had two GeForce GTX 280 GPUS). NVIDIA will officially launch the whole platform along these new GeForce GTX 480/470 GPUs later this month.Thinking about digging into your savings? Maybe the video after the break will put an end to your wavering. %Gallery-87417%
