Asus Dual Panel Laptop Resembles Two iPhones Mating [Laptops]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/IhOu6VdkP3Y/asus-dual-panel-laptop-resembles-two-iphones-mating

Much like the next gen OLPC design, Asus' dual panel laptop ditches its keyboard for a second screen.

Spotted at CeBIT, the device features double multi-touch touchscreens that are coupled with software allowing for virtual interface devices—like a resizable keyboard and trackpad—or the laptop can simply be rotated for eBooks that read more like real books.

Apparently this dual panel laptop is just a corporate-sponsored entrant into a design competition, so we may or may not see the device ever hit the market.

Wait, let me rephrase that: Pleeeease make this, Asus, pleeeeassseee. [Electricpig]

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Analysts: PC Sales to Drop 12%, Desktop Demand To Fall 32%, Laptop Demand To Rise 9% [PCs]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/I2CUdcxCEvk/analysts-pc-sales-to-drop-12-desktop-demand-to-fall-32-laptop-demand-to-rise-9

Analysts at Gartner are expecting PC shipments to drop 12%, to 257m computers. I'm surprised that number doesn't go to half that considering, generally speaking, PCs are fast enough these days that we can all wait a year to buy a new one. Gartner also believes that desktop sales will drop 32% and laptop demand will rise 9%, on account of those spiffy netbooks everyone is carrying around in their giant custom attached pants pockets. [NYT]

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Misty Stealth Satellite Hides Perfectly While Watching You [Retromodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/qm0dXxEVVIc/misty-stealth-satellite-hides-perfectly-while-watching-you

Misty. That's the codename for one of the most advanced spy satellites up there. Launched in a 1990 military mission of space shuttle Atlantis, Misty is hidden by something really weird: A balloon.

As you can see in the image, Misty uses a conical reflective balloon. Little is known about how it works but in theory this design—which is patented by Teledyne Industries, who did the design for the US government—can both deflect ground lasers, radar waves, and hide it from the plain eye. [GWU via This Is Rocket Science]

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Asus Marine Cool Motherboard Fights Heat with Ceramic Plates [Motherboards]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3aXxmBdcopI/asus-marine-cool-motherboard-fights-heat-with-ceramic-plates

Ceramic isn't just for pottery. It's used in military armor to stop bullets and the Space Shuttle to thwart heat. Now, Asus is reintroducing the material in its sci-fi-tastic Marine Cool motherboard.

If our best guess is correct, not only is the board built on a ceramic underplate, but all of those off-white structures on the board are "micro-porous ceramic" heat sinks as well. But not only do they dissipate heat from board components while looking ever so evil—the ceramic also improves the structure integrity of the board itself.

The only catch to performance clockers may be the inclusion of SO-DIMM slots—small form memory slots generally reserved for notebooks.

As of right now, the Marine Cool is a concept. But like their dual-screen laptop, if Asus actually brings this model to market, we'd all remember that the company is capable of creating a lot more than just netbooks. [Softpedia via Engadget]

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Leica's S2 Is What You Get When You Crossbreed a Tank With a 37-Megapixel Pro Camera [Tomorrow's Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3e7-e6KqwAM/leicas-s2-is-what-you-get-when-you-crossbreed-a-tank-with-a-37+megapixel-pro-camera

Sorry to already shatter your expectations. An exception to the mostly mainstream camera gear we're scoping today is this working prototype of Leica's super-high-end S2 DSLR, a spartan tank of a 37-megapixel camera.

It's heavy, like a piece of war equipment, and feels like its built to withstand aerial bombardment—though it's supposedly a bit lighter than Canon's pro camera 1Ds Mark III. Its sensor size is not quite medium format, but it falls in that range—way bigger than the 35mm-size full-frame pro cameras like the 1Ds or Nikon's D3. It's for studio pros who need massive sensors and megapixels, and will have an accordingly ridiculous pro price.

What I love about it is the interface and design—the back is absolutely barren compared to most cameras, with just a dial, a switch and four buttons for its quadrant-style menu system. Each button dives into a single section, where you adjust the relevant settings. Another neat touch is the focusing setup. Hold the shutter down halfway as usual to auto-focus, but if you want to switch manual, you don't have to slide a toggle—just turn the focus ring.

It's coming out later this summer for a pro photographer or super-rich guy near you. But it's always nice to window shop, yeah?

PMA is an annual show where we get to see tomorrow's digital cameras—the ones that'll be populating pockets and purses for the rest of the year. We'll be he! re for t he next couple of days.

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