Hasta La Gadget!

While ASUS has some way to go before dominating the world with its PadFones, it seems that the company is still very much committed to this eccentric phone-in-tablet idea. What’s more interesting is that rather than launching a completely new device, this time we’re given a nice spec bump in a near-identical device, meaning existing PadFone Infinity users can keep their tablet docks and swap just the phone. But is it worth the upgrade? Let’s take a quick look.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, ASUS

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Somebody needs to get a hold of Doctor Evil quickly and let him know that his evil lair needs a new projector for the media room. Sony has announced that it is now shipping the world’s first 3LCD projector with a laser light source. Yes that’s right, it’s a projector with frickin’ lasers.

Rather than using the normal bulbs that are expensive and burnout rather quickly, or dim low-end LEDs, the Sony VPL-FHZ55 laser light source projector uses a blue laser as its light source. You may be wondering how blue laser can reproduce full-color. The answer to that is a phosphorescent material that outputs pure white light when the laser shines through it. Once the white light is produced, 3LCD tech turns it into the colors you need for a high-quality image.

The projector offers an impressive 4,000 lumens of color light output and supports a resolution of 1920 x 1200. Sony estimates that the laser unit will provide 20,000 hours of use before it needs to be replaced.

There’s no indication of how expensive the VPL-FHZ55 might be, though I found one for sale via Amazon’s Marketplace for about $6500(USD).

Box users who have been using other services to compose notes and collaborate on documents can now do so from inside the app, thanks to a Box Notes. The Google Docs-esque feature set allows for real-time, collaborative document editing, with the ability to embed images and video clips. Through a simple (even sparse) UI, team members can edit a file simultaneously while adding notes to specific items, as well as comments via a side pane (similar to Word and Docs). Additionally, Box says these new features will make their way to mobile devices. Unfortunately, though, The Next Web reports that Box Notes won’t see a full release until sometime in 2014, and there’s no word on pricing yet either. Still, those looking to jump on the beta can sign up via the source link below.

Filed under: Internet, Software

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Via: Box Blog

Source: Box Notes

Many running watches aren’t very interesting to… well, watch. You can’t say that for Garmin’s new Forerunner 220 and 620, both of which carry one-inch color screens that provide clearer visual cues and new run / walk alerts. Either device will sync data to a PC or phone through Bluetooth, and the 620 (pictured at left) can connect through WiFi. The 620 is also keenly aware of its wearer’s abilities. It can gauge peak oxygen volumes, and estimates race times based on likely endurance; an optional companion for the 620, the HRM-Run, measures gait with an accelerometer and suggests days off based on heart rate history. Interested athletes can pick up the Forerunner 220 and 620 this fall at respective prices of $250 and $400. They can also spend $50 more to bundle a heart rate monitor with the 220, or the HRM-Run with the 620.

Filed under: GPS, Wearables

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Source: Garmin

When it comes to competition, Pebble has plenty to be concerned about. In an interview onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2013, founder Eric Migicovsky seemed unconcerned about questions on competition from Apple and Samsung, claiming that Motorola and Sony have offered smartwatch products for quite some time.

However, speaking backstage, Migicovsky went a bit more in-depth with the latest products from Samsung and the idea of a forthcoming Apple iWatch, stating that Pebble would be pretty uninterested in the idea of an acquisition by the competition, should it be offered.

“In the Samsung Galaxy Gear presentation on stage, Samsung was really heavy on features for the watch but skirted how people actually use it every day,” said Migicovsky. “I use my watch on a daily basis, looking at upcoming weather forecast, with an app for Evernote, and an app on the phone to customize the watch with drag-and-drop functions that auto syncs to the watch.”

According to Migicovsky, Pebble is fortunate to have been working on wearable computing for years in the background, constantly iterating, as wearables heat up in general.

“We’re in a great position because we get to figure out what works first,” said Migicovsky.

That said, Migicovsky didn’t seem interested in the idea of an acquisition. For the record, Migicovsky claims that Pebble has never had an acquisition offer by Samsung or Apple or anyone else for that matter, but hypothetically speaking, it’s not something that piques his interest.

“We’re staying laser focused on the task of creating a platform that people can build on top of to communicate with wearables, and we won’t do anything that causes a distraction from that goal.”

But that doesn’t mean that there’s no new hardware in the pipeline. For now, Pebble is working on building the ecosystem around the product, like the companies building special bands or the developers building apps. Eventually, though, Migicovsky hinted that Pebble is looking at the other materials people wear on their wrists, perhaps hinting at a luxury model down the road.

After all, the Pebble is a sports watch.