DripProof
Latest
Panasonic's HV200 portable TV is controlled with a wave of the hand
The Fistful of Lard conundrum, heard of it? Probably not because we just made it up. Nevertheless, it's the classic dilemma faced by any home cook: how do you control the counter-top set without subjecting the TV remote or all-in-one touchscreen to a slathering of semisolid hog fat? Easy, if you own Panasonic's new ¥50,000 (about $600) DMP-HV200 digital terrestrial television just announced for Japan. The IPX-3 rated, drip-proof set features gesture control that lets you change the channel or adjust the volume without touching the 1024 x 600 pixel LCD display or bundled remote. It's also available with an optional battery pack giving you about three and half hours of untethered image or video fed over 802.11n WiFi, SDXC cards, or USB cable. There's even a DMB-BV300 version with HDMI-out if you're willing to forgo the gesture control and fork over ¥80,000 (almost $1,000) for the illusion of Blu-ray magic on a 10-inch screen.
Toshiba's Dynabook Satellite K series and J60 laptops: droppable, floppable
If you fancy yourself a bit of an oaf then check this new business laptop from Toshiba. Said to withstand both drips and drops, the Dynabook Satellite K15 features a spill-proof keyboard, shock protected disk, and a reinforced, chip resistant 6.6-pound kit said to keep your data (and lease) safe from drops at up to 27.5-inches. Great and all, if you possess the freakish tendency to work at the kiddy table. Nevertheless, the K15 packs in a 15.4-inch, 1280 x 800 LCD, up to a 2.0GHz Core Duo T2500, 2GB memory, a rather wimpy 40GB (max) of 5400RPM disk, CD/DVD drive, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, and integrated Intel 945GM Express graphics. The K10 brings much of the same but with Intel's Celeron M processor and ATI's RADEON XPRESS 200M graphics thumping away at the heart. Additionally, the Satellite J60 series was announced which also pulls the Core Duo procs but with a 15-inch, 1400x1050 display, fingerprint reader, up to 2GB RAM, and that same, anemic 40GB disk listed amongst the specs. And get this, the J60s also feature a serial port, parallel port, PS/2 connector, and even a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive which, according to the machine translation, is built-in -- Hoozah! Expect a fully-spec'd K15, K10, and J60 to snag about ¥249,900 ($2,189), ¥174,300 ($1,527), and ¥268,800 ($2,354), respectively, when these drop in Japan next week. Click on for a snap of the J60 with floppy, 'cause just like a highway pile-up you know you can't look away.[Via Impress]
