Hasta La Gadget!

The folks over at bēm wireless might be on to something new, as they deliver a new idea which is currently being incubated over at Kickstarter. I am referring to the Kickstand portable projector which will come with its very own integrated kickstand, allowing it to showcase a large image from a tiny package. This is one revolutionary, foldable product which is easy to carry around, allowing those who live out of a suitcase to simply toss it into a briefcase before leaving the hotel room for the next business meeting. Heck, families too, are not left out of this, as it can be set up to be an instant home theater in the blink of an eye.

Bryan Katzel, Director of Marketing and Development for bēm, said, “We’re very excited to show our consumers the Kickstand. There’s absolutely nothing like it on the market. We’ve integrated incredible technology into a beautifully designed form factor. This projector can take a tiny image from your smartphone, iPad or USB drive, and project it up to 90 inches across in high-definition (720p)- even on the ceiling. That’s huge!”

The Kickstand will feature a unique patented mobile design that comes complete with an anodized aluminum frame, in addition to bēm’s signature soft touch finish. Apart from that, you will find a hideaway directional swivel which would pave the way for an easy setup, and it can easily be folded back up for storage. There is also an assimilated remote control that doubles up as a lens cover to deliver the added convenience and functionality.

The integrated kickstand is what inspired the name, where it will go about to prop up the projector using a vertical orientation, allowing you to project images on the wall, or perhaps even the ceiling if you so desire. The Kickstand would come with a WXGA 1280 X 800 resolution for higher widescreen resolution (720p). and if you set up the projector a single foot away from the wall, the image will measure 9” across. Should you decide to place it 10 feet away from the wall, you eyes will be treated to an image that is almost 96” across. Connectivity options include an HDMI port, USB port, and Auxiliary Audio Out for multiple connecting options. Expect the Kickstand to retail for $799.99 if it is ever realized, but if you decide to pledge early on Kickstarter, your faith will be justly rewarded.

Press Release
[ Kickstand portable projector sports an integrated kickstand copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

RIM just can’t quit keyboards, and neither can many of its fans: even the BlackBerry PlayBook has an official Mini Keyboard case. It almost shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that the company is applying for a patent on a tablet design with a stealthy keyboard built-in. The layout hides a full, hinge-attached QWERTY keyboard from critics (and accidental key presses) underneath a back-mounted cover. When an owner’s urge to use physical buttons becomes overwhelming, the keyboard swings into action and relies on the cover as a kickstand. It’s a clever solution to lugging around a separate keyboard or specialized case, but it’s hard to say if RIM will implement what it’s learning into a finished product — the firm isn’t in the best position to experiment with new tablet concepts, and we’ve already seen a few imminent solutions to the concealed keyboard problem from other vendors. That said, the patent does show that the folks in Waterloo would like to keep a love of keyboards alive in the tablet era, even if it requires some subterfuge.

Filed under: Tablets

RIM applies for patent on tablet with concealable keyboard, keeps your QWERTY love a secret originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s no telling how much more we’ll see once the big Apple vs. Samsung trial finally gets underway in a San Jose federal court next week, but today has already seen the release of a swath of new documents full of surprises. Most notably, that includes a range of previously unseen Apple prototype devices, including various renderings of both the iPhone and iPad. One standout is an iPhone 4-esque device that quite literally wears its Sony influence on its sleeve (in one instance with the logo changed to “Jony,” a la Apple’s Jony Ive). According to the filing, it was designed by Apple’s Shin Nishibori, and was apparently up against another more metallic, iPod-style device at one point (ultimately winning out despite some protestation).

But those are far from the only iPhone prototypes that have been revealed. There’s also an elongated device identified by the codename N90, seemingly with a small screen and space for a keypad or input area of some sort below, plus a device with squared off corners somewhat reminiscent of the Motorola Photon 4G. Another prototype goes in the opposite direction, with sharp corners and a slightly rounded back. As for the iPad, we’ve gotten a look at some more recent prototypes than the early 2000-era model that surfaced earlier this month. While there’s no stylus in sight, there are a couple of iPad prototypes with kickstands built into the back of the device, and a number of considerably different designs than what Apple ultimately settled on. Dive into the galleries below for a closer look at the whole lot.

Michael Gorman contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs

Apple v. Samsung court filings reveal Sony-inspired iPhone, kickstand-equipped iPad and other prototypes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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