Jan 12

N-Trig Raises $24 Mil For Text Technology, With Help From Microsoft

Posted in: Microsoft, Today's Chili, touch, windows 7

As we saw during CES, Microsoft is getting series about multi-touch technology with Window 7. That’s good news Israel-based N-trig, the company behind DuoSense, a technology aimed at bring pen- and capacitive-touch to the same device.

The company announced today that has raised $24 million from investors, including Aurum Ventures, Challenger Ltd., Canaan Partners, Evergreen Venture Partners, and the folks in Redmond.

“With the introduction of multi-touch in Windows 7, integrated with N-trig’s DuoSense technology, our customers will have a new and natural way to interact with their PCs,” said Microsoft’s Ian LeGrow. “By simulating the way people write and touch naturally, N-trig is helping to make it easier to navigate your PC and enable a new class of Windows experiences.”

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Jan 10

CES 2009: ThermaPAK Keeps Your Laptop Cool

Posted in: laptop, Today's Chili

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Here’s a cool little computer accessory–literally. Created by ThermaPAK, the Heatshift is a battery-free cooling pad for your notebook.

Rather than relying on fans, the Heatshift has passive heat dissipation, thanks to a crystalline core than slowly changes from solid to gel. According to the company, when the pad is not in use, the material shifts back the other way, giving the Heatshift a longer shelf life.

The ThermaPAK people gave me a sample unit, whcih is currently sitting under my MacBook–a notoriously hot running computer. The pad seems to be doing the trick.

ThermaPAK also has a laptop bag that utilizes the HeatShift.

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Jan 09

CES 2009: A Mousepad With a Speaker

Posted in: speakers, Today's Chili

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Is there anything BillionSound won’t put a speaker in? No, no there isn’t. The Chinese company had speakers shoved into just about everything imaginable in their booth at the International Hall of CES 2009–including a mousepad.

The Chinese company’s excitingly named RM-102 sticks a 25mm flat-paneled speaker into a regular really, really thick mousepad. The whole thing is USB powered.

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Jan 08

CES 2009: Medis Intros Worlds First Portable Fuel Cell.

Posted in: Today's Chili

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Here’s something we hope to see a bit more of at this year’s CES: fuel cell technology. Medis Technologies showcased a battery at last night’s Digital Experience that it claims is, “the world’s first personal, portable, fuel cell.”

The new Medis 24/7 Fuel Cell Power Pack is relatively low priced, easy to use, and green. After you take it home (the battery retails for $24.99), pull off the tape and squeeze the device–the borohydride-based proprietary fuel will go to work, producing emission-free electricity.

One squeezed, the Power Pack will give you 20 watt-hours of power, which the company says can charge a phone up to six times.

Check out a video of the Medis 24/7 Fuel Cell Power Pack, after the jump.

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Jan 08

CES 2009: Targus Announces New Laptop Bags and Cooling Mats

Posted in: Today's Chili

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Targus announced new products today at CES, including new lines of laptop bags and cooling products.

The maker of the world’s top-selling laptop computer cases and accessories introduced new cases, which include the Venture collection, the latest in Targus’s checkpoint-friendly laptop bags; and Targus’ new fashion line of laptop cases.

The Venture bags can fit laptops up to 15.6 inches wide. Available in both backpack and topload bags (above), the bags allow your laptop to stay in the case when going through airport security. The unique design separates the laptop on one side while the other holds the rest of your belongings. The backpack has an estimated street price of $99.99, and the Venture Topload bag has an estimated street price of $79.99.

More new products after the jump.

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