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Hyundai IT shows off 70-inch multitouch table concept
There's not a ton of details on this one just yet, but Hyundai IT is reportedly showing off this 70-inch multitouch table at the Korea Electronics Show this week -- in concept form, at least. While there's no specs -- apart from the fact that it's "HD" -- Hyundai is apparently saying that you'd be able to use the display either as a Surface-like multitouch table or as a TV, although it's not clear if that means it actually tilts up. Contrary to appearances, however, the table apparently doesn't function as a phone. Here's hoping Hyundai will actually show it off in action once the show gets underway.
Windows Phone 7 handsets: spec comparison
Having trouble keeping track of all the new Windows Phone 7 handsets today? We don't blame you -- even we had trouble remembering all the minor differences between the similarly specced devices. To end our frustration, we've compiled a big chart that lists out the carriers and specs for all 10 devices (with a couple extra MIA) to make our lives a tad easier -- head on pass the break if you need the peace of mind.
Displax Overlay Multitouch turns your LCD or plasma into a touchscreen, demands a pretty penny
Remember when Displax teased us earlier in the year with a polymer film that could take any conventional LCD, plasma or RPTV and turn it into a touchscreen? Yeah, well now that very technology is shipping to Average Joes and Janes like yourself your good pal Jim. Starting nowish, the outfit's customizable Overlay Multitouch will be heading out to screens ranging from 32- to 103-inches in size in order to add multitouch capabilities to a screen that previously hated even the thought of being groped. Of course, with a starting tag of €1,300 ($1,805), we get the impression that most of the orders (at least initially) will be coming from corporations looking to jazz up their boardrooms. In related news, the company is also debuting a 42-inch Windows 7-based multitouch table that can detect up to four independent touches at once. The Oqtopus uses a specific kind of optical technology that allows bare fingers, styluses and even gloved hands to operate it, but with a starting price of €4,500 ($6,250), we're guessing your own personal Santa is already signaling "no." %Gallery-104429%
How many Nintendo characters can you fit in one tabletop mosaic? (Answer: 401)
A crafty gamer by the name of Brandon McCool -- which we pray is his actual, given name -- recently completed a piece of nerdy furniture six months in the making: A mosaic table with 401 tiles upon its surface, each featuring a different Nintendo game character. As far as coffee tables go, this one's a pretty radical plane upon which to place large books and cold beverages. Though we're not sure the robin egg blue paint job meshes with the black leather couch, but -- oh, no, wait! It's got video game throw pillows as well. Our years of experience as interior decorators tell us that this pairing is a-ok.
Visualized: PlayStation controller table, or the things men do when in love
Continuing the fine tradition of combining console peripherals and lounge room aesthetics, this here mod was built by a young chap completing his Year 12 high school qualifications in Australia. Made out of humble MDF and plywood, the PlayStation controller coffee table took 20 weeks of on and off labor to finish and the result pretty much speaks for itself. You'll find a couple more pictures after the break and a fuller gallery at the source.
Computer Board coffee table blends the past with the future with charm and dignified elegance
We're not furniture experts by any means, but we're pretty sure your great Aunt Dottie's not going to be a fan of this one. The Computer Board Table is made from two tables, plus the modems, computers, and miscellaneous electronic goodies that make up its guts. The results of the project are quite beautiful. Hit the source for more photos.
GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous
Still looking to snap up your own Surface? Ain't got the cheddar to buy that one that comes free with a yacht? In all honesty, we're in no position to make promises about the affordability of this one, but GestureTek is gearing up to offer the world yet another option with the curiously titled GestTable. This 42-inch beast of a table contains a multitouch LCD with a lovely 1080p resolution, which means that you could theoretically watch the next installation of the Batman series on the same surface that's holding your cup of joe. Not that we'd recommend that, but hey.... In related news, the company is introducing the new 70-inch GestDisplay, a massive freestanding multitouch panel aimed primarily at businesses looking to give prospective customers a way to interact with the wares they're about to inevitably buy. As we alluded to earlier, there's nary a mention of price, but feel free to dip into the nitty-gritty just past the break.
Sony's 35-inch atracTable to be 'industrialized' in June, show Microsoft how it's done (video)
Swiss company Atracsys swims in the same waters as Microsoft's mythical Surface beast -- namely, multitouch horizontal displays -- but where it might differ from its more lauded competitor is in actually bringing its hardware to wider markets. Having sold the tech knowhow to Sony, the company is today informing the world that its atracTable is ready for mass production and commercialization this June. We've been told that prototype designs are now "finished," leaving only the marketing, pricing and distribution details to be worked out. A high-contrast, Full HD screen is promised, which will be able to communicate with your mobile devices (naturally) or respond to motion input picked up by a pair of Sony's camcorders which come built in. Skip past the break for a couple of video demos from last year.
WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails
Portable devices that turn any surface into a speaker are hardly anything new, but the folks behind the WOWee One portable speaker (not WowWee) seem to be making some slightly bigger claims than most, and are even throwing out the increasingly popular "perfect companion for the iPad" phrase for good measure. As with other similar devices, the WOWee One conducts sound through any surface you rest it on (even a wall with an optional attachment), but it also has the benefit of patented "Gel Audio" technology, which promises to produce bass frequencies about three octaves below any other comparable device. You'll also apparently get about 20 hours of use from the built-in rechargeable battery, and your choice of three different colors -- all for the not so low price of $79.99. Head on past the break for a quick video.
Ideum unveils new and improved MT-50 multitouch table
Ideum's original MT2 multitouch table was certainly impressive enough for early 2009, but the company already followed it up with an updated MT-50 model in August of last year, and it's just now taken the wraps off some further, fairly significant improvements to that model. It's still a DLP projector-based system with a 50-inch screen, but the PC at the heart of the table has been upgraded to a quad-core rig with GeForce GTX 285 graphics and, just as importantly, the number of points-of-touch has been increased to sixty, making it an even more attractive option for places like museums. As before, the table also boasts a nigh indestructible tempered glass surface, which has definitely been put to the test. See for yourself in the video after the break.
Twitter-enabled LED table lets you get your Lite-Brite on from afar
Well, here's a bit of a twist on the ever popular DIY Twitter gadget. Rather than controlling a device via Twitter, or having a device simply display or read tweets aloud, the folks behind this LED-stuffed table have taken a slightly more artistic approach by relying on the tweeting masses to generate patterns of light on the table. That's done with a combination of a hashtag and a specific format for entering colors and coordinates, which head first for a MacBook Pro before being transmitted to the table via Bluetooth. Not content to leave it there, the table's creators have even set up a live USTREAM feed to let you see the results of your tweet. Hit up the link below to try it out for yourself.
NVTouch Surface Computer gets you into the multitouch table game for a scant $70k
Want to get all multitouchy with a large-screened table without buying into the Microsoft Surface ecosystem? Are you independently wealthy and a bit of a bring-your-own-x nerd type? Oh, good. The folks at NVision Solutions and Intuilab have teamed up to build the "durable" rear projection NVTouch Surface Computer, which retails for around $70,000. The unit is built around off-the-shelf components like a projector, desktop PC and standard video card, and can be upgraded and customized by NVision or the buyer. Obviously this is centered around commercial applications where buyers are going to be building highly custom apps, but Intuilab has some pretty great concept apps already built for the table as a bit of a jumping off point.
Noteput music table plays the notes as you lay them down (video)
Finally we get the chance to literally lay a track down. The Noteput interactive music table was concocted by a pair of German design students back in October of last year, but watching it in action is still a mesmerizing experience. Employing a simple camera beneath the surface, the table can tell what notes you're placing upon it and play them back -- individually when you position them or as a group once you hit the big play button. The coolest feature for us is the ability to loop playback and replace notes on the fly. It's like being a really old school kind of a DJ. Click past the break to see what we mean.
Touchy Remix is the multitouch table you could actually use
Remember when those Microsoft Surface-based tables were all the rage? Yeah, those were the days. Fast forward to today, and you'll probably realize that those things never really took off save for the in luxury yacht market, and while cost was obviously a problem, the overall design never really helped, either. You see, most of the ones we saw were in the shape of a box, which made them exceedingly difficult to sit at and use for an extended period of time. The Touchy Remix, however, solves that issue entirely and creates an alternative that can easily be used by multiple persons who are seated comfortably. German artist Janis Pönisch is responsible for the design here, and the fiberglass shell ensures that the whole thing remains nimble and easy to relocate. There's no mention of a mass commercialization date, but here's hoping this thing hits our local Pottery Barn on the double -- multi-player, multitouch Galaga, anyone? Update: Turns out these things are already out and about, with one particular tipster noting that they have a few in his London-based running Vortex software. Update II: SOCO, the Amsterdam-based creator, pinged us with a few more details. Currently, IntactLab is the only distributor (though more are hopefully on the way), and the unit ships with OS X (or Windows 7, if you prefer) loaded on. Multitouch software is provided by IntactLab, and the aforesaid bar added on their own additional software for that given scenario. You can find a product specification sheet here (warning: PDF). %Gallery-85114%
ZEN Pinball's Ninja Gaiden table trailer slices and dices
Wondering what the official Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 table for ZEN Pinball looks like in motion? Wonder no more -- the video above will show you all of the Hayabusa-style bumper action you'll be able to find, complete with ramps, flashing lights, ninja spirits and... burning pagodas? Boy, those ZEN folks aren't really pinball traditionalists, are they? But it does look fun. The table will bring new gameplay modes and missions along with it to the PlayStation Store on Thursday, January 14, for $2.49 (€1.99). Of course, it's DLC for the original ZEN Pinball game, so you've got to have that, too. Wait, we just rewatched it -- did Ryu just slice the ball in half? That's pretty awesome!
Hanwha SL-888 laptop cooling stand for casual, classy blogging
We've seen a laptop cooling stand or two in our day, so we'll try not to belabor the point here: Hanwha -- which may or may not be the same conglomerate responsible for the Shin-Gung surface-to-air missile and the Duo for Laptop -- is proud to debut the evocatively named SL-888, a portable table for your notebook. Want to sit in a chair? The legs extend to about 12-inches off the ground. Want to sit on the floor? You can do that, too -- the legs collapse. Want to rest it on your lap? Hope you have a big lap, but that too is an option. Featuring a mousepad, a cup holder (perfect for that Whiskey Sour), and a cooling fan for your notebook du jour, all this can be yours for ¥3,980 (roughly $44). Hit the source link to order -- or get a closer look after the break.
Ideum's 100-inch MT-50 multitouch table supports 50 simultaneous touch points (video)
Surface? What Surface? Ideum, which popped out a rather gigantic MT2 multitouch table earlier this year, is now introducing another model that makes that fellow look like child's play. The 100-inch MT-50 is an outright beast, boasting 86 viewable inches, a 16 x 5 aspect ratio and a stunning 2,304 x 800 resolution. It was engineered for the Space Chase Gallery at the Adventure Science Center, which is one of several high-tech exhibits the company has deployed at the Nashville, TN-based science center. The table itself can support over 50 simultaneous touch points, and while the Flash-based software is obviously tailored for learning applications, there's nothing stopping this thing from becoming the world's next great arcade fixture. Hop on past the break for a drool-worthy vid. %Gallery-76883%
Virtual Autopsy Table brings multitouch to the morgue
Ever wonder what the insides of a human being really look like but lacked the grit or credentials to watch an autopsy in the flesh? Well, whatever the reasons, we can all probably agree this is one of the best uses for a multitouch table surface ever. The Virtual Autopsy Table (developed by Norrköping Visualization Centre and the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization in Sweden) makes use of high resolution MRIs, rendered and processed into 3D images which are then accessible in the table itself. The results are super impressive and educational -- not to mention the fact that there's no actual cutting involved! The autopsy table was obviously developed with educational purposes in mind, and we wouldn't be surprised to see these cropping up in museums all over the globe any day now. Check out the truly riveting video after the break.
Table-flipping becomes subject of Japanese arcade game
We all occasionally get the urge to make a showy fuss by sending a table -- and all the items said table is supporting -- sailing through the air. Whether you've just landed on a hotel-equipped Park Place in Monopoly, or if you've recently realized the downward spiral your half-finished life has embarked upon, the desire to dramatically rearrange furniture eventually visits us all. However, Destructoid recently turned our attention to a new Japanese arcade game that may prove cathartic enough to keep your dining room intact: Cho Chabudai Gaeshi, which translates to "Upending the Tea Table." The game takes players through a number of enraging scenarios, forcing them to pound on the table to demand the attention of nearby diners, ultimately culminating in the titular Upending. You can check out two videos of rage-filled people playing the game after the jump.
Video: iropod turns your desk into a big-ass mobile computer
Look, we like the idea of an ergonomic workstation with a VESA monitor mount. Integrate a slip-in laptop dock and we might even be tempted to reach for our credit cards. But designer Rad Iliuta seems to have built the computer right into the chassis of the iropod (Interactive Robotic Pod) while fitting it with a battery "as powerful as a car battery" offering a claimed 24-hours of freedom... you know, when you want to pack this into your backpack or take it into the woods. It's said to be launching in the 3rd quarter of this year which by our count gives them until September to get this thing priced and rolled out the door, literally. However, without a single PC spec listed on its website of dubious design we have our doubts about that time schedule. Insane or insanely awesome, let Rad know your thoughts in the comments below. Quickie video after the break.
