Thursday, February 28, 2008

Zen concept PC caters to visually impaired

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/242589745/


There's hardly a shortage of pocketable devices for the blind, but the Zen is lookin' out for the visually impaired who crave a more full-fledged computing experience. Essentially, the Sandbox PC (hardware) and Zen (operating system) would team up to "create a computing environment that could be used with eyes closed." More specifically, it would utilize an Active Surface for displaying text in Braille and producing images, windows and icons that could be felt. No word on whether this contraption would handle other tasks such as reading one's e-mail aloud or enabling the blind to still participate in Hot or Not, but nevertheless, it's definitely a step in the right direction.

 

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Posted by Augustine at 8:45 AM

Why hasn't anyone hacked the Kindle?

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/242660102/

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You know, the Kindle runs Linux, has USB, uses all standard processors and chipsets, even comes with free built-in EV-DO -- you'd kind of think that stuff (and all the rest) would make it about as high a profile target for hardware modders and hackers as there are. So what gives, why hasn't the hacker community glommed onto this thing? Hit the poll: anyone can answer, but we really want to hear from the über-geeks in the house why the call to Kindle has gone unheeded.

 

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Posted by Augustine at 8:44 AM

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Nokia's nanotech Morph goes on display, signals melting devices in our future

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/240928239/

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Why is Nokia always trying to outdo everyone with its fancy-schmancy concepts and designs? Why can't they just get in line and keep it simple? We may never know the answer to those questions, but what we do know is that the company is presenting a new concept device called the Morph that would be right at home... in the year 3000. The unit is included in the MoMA's "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition catalog, and boasts the ability to stretch and flex to almost any shape a user could think of. The nanotechnology-based device would deliver transparent electronics, self-cleaning surfaces, and the malleability to transform into any number of configurations. Of course, the actual technology required to put this together is years or even decades away, though Nokia expects to see some of these innovations making their way into high-end products within seven years. See the device doing its thing in some photos after the break.

Update: Tipster Pdexter pointed us to a video of the Morph in "action" -- check it out after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Nokia's nanotech Morph goes on display, signals melting devices in our future

 

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Posted by Augustine at 7:45 AM

Intel's 6-core Xeon and Nehalem CPU info leaked

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/240985888/

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Intel's had its new processor plans slipped out to the public thanks to Sun, according to DailyTech. Details on the 6-core (!) Xeon Dunnington, as well as the kinda-sorta hush-hush Nehalem were apparently leaked out onto Sun's public web server over the weekend, including plans for the new Xeons to overtake the company's Tigerton CPU line. The Dunnington processors will have a 16MB L3 cache shared by all six cores, and will be pin-compatible with the Tigertons, thus making integration with your Clarksboro chipset slightly less painful... by being possible. The Nehalem also got the spy treatment, with news that it will not only replace the Penryn line in Q4 '08, but will also be the first time in 18 years that Intel includes on-die memory controllers. If this sort of thing is important to you (and we think it may be) hit the read link and get all the juicy details.

 

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Posted by Augustine at 7:44 AM

Lippert intros CoreExpress-Menlow module for handheld devices

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/241015983/

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We've already seen plenty of prototypes of Menlow-based handhelds (or MIDs), but it looks like Germany's Lippert Embedded Computers is among the first to put together a finalized version of the core component of said devices, with it now showing off its CoreExpress-Menlow module. Aimed at everything from automotive to medical to point-of-service devices (in addition to more consumer-minded handhelds), this board measures just 2.6 x 2.3-inches and packs the expected Silverthorne processor, along with some soldered on RAM, built-in WiFi and GPS, and support for a number of different storage options, among other shrunk-down features. No word on pricing or availability just yet, however, although Lippert will apparently have more to say about that at the Embedded World 2008 trade show later this week.

 

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Posted by Augustine at 7:44 AM

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