WorldsLightest
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Toshiba promises world's thinnest and lightest 10.1-inch tablet and 13.3-inch Ultrabook, 55-inch QFHD TV, other wonderment for CES
It's dangerous to throw titles like "world's thinnest" and "world's lightest" around at events like CES -- what was a record breaker on Tuesday morning has a tendency to look a bit portly by Wednesday afternoon. But, never mind the caution, here comes Toshiba pledging both the thinnest and the lightest 10.1-inch tablet and 13.3-inch Ultrabook (though that latter one could just be referring to the Portege Z835 we've already reviewed). We'll have to wait a few days for any further details, though. The company is also promising to show off an OLED reference tablet with waterproof construction and wireless power plus a 55-inch QFHD television with glasses-free 3D. No world records there, but it should be quite a looker.
Willcom unveils its 33-gram WX03A, a phone-accessory phone?
You can't get more niche than a phone accessory that's also a phone, but that's exactly what Japanese network Willcom has got here in the miniscule WX03A "strap phone" -- a candy-bar handset that attaches to another phone. The device weighs in just 33g, crammed in a 32 x 70mm frame boasting a thickness of 10.5mm -- which, as you can see, compares favorably with a packet of curiously-named Japanese mints. With the space at a premium, features are very thin on the ground; no Bluetooth, memory card slot or even email functionality. There is, however, an infrared connection (for exchanging contacts), microUSB port, headphone socket and a battery capable of 300 hours standby. Those genuinely interested in carrying two handsets can pick one up in December, and we hope to see in-the-wild pictures of lop-sided, dual-phone nunchucks soon after.
New carbon nanotube aerogel is now the world's lightest solid material
Frozen smoke (read: aerogel) -- not to be confused with the stuff your Grandma uses to flavor her turkey -- is the world's lightest solid material, and it just keeps getting lighter. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have created a new form of the super material, known as multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) aerogel, that has a density of just four milligrams per cubic centimeter and can be used in sensors to detect pollutants and toxic substances, chemical reactors, and electronic components. Aerogels, which are known as the world's most effective insulators, have been around since the early 20th century, but most of these are fabricated from silicon dioxide. In order to produce the new aerogel, researchers removed the liquid from a "wet gel of well-dispersed pristine MWCNTs," creating a honeycomb structure with walls just 100-nanometers thick. The resulting material is an impressive and resilient electrical conductor that looks and acts less like frozen smoke and more like a burnt marshmallow. And now, you know. Check out the coverage link below for video.
Samsung crafts 'world's lightest' 3D glasses in partnership with Silhouette
You had to know that once LG sought a designer's inspiration for improving its 3D eyewear, Samsung too would be recruiting outside help with its three-dee goggles. Sure enough, Sammy has partnered up with Austrian design firm Silhouette to deliver what it claims are the world's lightest 3D glasses, weighing a measly 28g. The design is such that all the electronics are housed in two compartments at the rear of the specs, permitting for a perfect weight balance between the front and back. They'll supposedly fit on adults and children alike, will recharge wirelessly, and will also detect when 3D content is being beamed at them and automatically switch on and off. Their ability to deliver compelling content to make 3D TVs worth it, however, remains a mystery. We should be seeing plenty more of these active shutter lightweights at CES this week.
Olympus E-PL1S is a slightly improved PEN, world's lightest with interchangeable lenses
It's not much of an update, but how much could Olympus really throw at the 12.3 megapixel E-PL1 if it hoped to maintain the title of the world's lightest interchangeable lens camera? The new E-PL1S Micro Four Thirds shooter features an ISO bump from 3200 to ISO6400 and new BLS-5 battery that complies with a new rechargeable lithium-ion safety standard. Combined, the kit weighs just 454 grams (342 grams for the body) when bundled with a 112 gram M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II lens -- a weight that includes the battery and SDCH memory card. Look for the two to flutter onto retail shelves in April in choice of red, white, or black (with silver lenses) for about ¥60,000 ($723) or ¥80,000 ($964) with a M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 lens.%Gallery-107501%
Modu, world's lightest cellphone, lands in UK
Another day, another... oh wait, what's this? The Modu phone has been an enigmatic figure in the mobile world, treading the precipice of vaporware for a while before finally launching in its home market of Israel last year and in a few more places around the world since then. Aiming to shake up the apparently stale mobile market, this minimalist take on the phone is no larger than the standard battery in your modern smartphone and gets its name from the modular "jackets" it can slip into. They furnish it with added functionality and buttons, while also sprinkling a bit of extra style on top as well. Slide past the break to learn more about this handset, the Modu 1, together with a few teasers about the upcoming touchscreen-based Modu 2.%Gallery-97442%%Gallery-97441%
Panasonic breaking more arbitrary records with two new 1080p24 camcorders
Another day, another couple of Panasonic HD camcorders. This pair may not be the "world's lightest" (with an asterisk) like the entrants we saw yesterday, but each sports a dubious record of their own. First is the HDC-TM30 (pictured after the break), another "world's lightest" cam, this one with the caveat that, at 227 grams, it's the lightest with 32GB of internal storage. It sports a 16x (44 - 706mm equivalent) optically stabilized zoom ahead of a single CMOS sensor that can record 1080p24 video. The other player, the HDC-TM350 (above), offers a bit more on the quality front and pledges the "world's largest capacity" full HD camcorder -- with 64GB of storage. That equates to a nigh-ridiculous 16 hours of 1080p24 video shot through a stabilized 12x (45 - 540mm equivalent) lens. It even records 5.1 audio, but with the mics all placed within what looks to be a one square inch patch don't expect great channel separation here. Both are set for release in late-June for undisclosed (but hopefully non-record-breaking) prices.[Via Akihabara News]
Toshiba's Dynabook SS RX2: 12.5-hour battery and still world's lightest 12.1-incher
Back in March it was the world's first laptop with a 128GB SSD. Now the Dynabook SS RX1 makes the bump to the RX2 while grabbing the title to the world's lightest 12.1-inch laptop. Or so says Toshiba. Fortunately, Tosh didn't skimp on battery life (up to 12.5-hours when configured with an SSD) to achieve that 858-grams (1.89-pounds) weight. Shipping in late September, the SS RX2 features a semi-rugged frame, a 1.2GHz SU9300 ULV Core 2 Duo processor; up to 160GB of hard disk (or 128GB SSD); an LED backlit 12.1-inch 1,280 x 800 pixel display; up to 3GB of memory; Intel GS45 Express graphics chipset; 3x USB and 1x eSATA; 802.11a/b/g/n draft 2.0; integrated DVD super-multi drive; and built-in 3G data -- a road warrior's weapon of paradise.[Via Impress]
