Daily Marauder

TECHNOLOGY

We’re going to be seeing a lot more touchscreen computers. One of the features of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system is that it supports a multitouch user-interface (much like on the iPhone or a Tablet PC). To further the adoption of such touchscreen technology, Microsoft led a $24 million round in Israeli startup N-trig. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/12/microsoft-leads-24-million-round-in-n-trig-to-bring-multitouch-to-pcs 1/12)

(Below) I got the chance to demo the HD 3D home theatre system last week and was fully blown away.  I wasn’t so much a fan of the animation films in the format but sports of any kind comes alive in HD 3 dimensionally.  You really need to see this one…

Panasonic introduced at CES its 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System, which is said to be the first-of-its-kind setup that depicts 3-D imagery that the company says is fully true to life. The system involves a 103-inch plasma HDTV from Panasonic and a Panasonic Blu-ray player that, together, deliver full HD images to the left and right eyes. Pocket-lint.co.uk (1/9)

With an eye toward the youth market, AT&T and Dell are selling an Inspiron Mini 9 laptop for $100 until Jan. 31 — including the $350 rebate — a Windows XP device embedded with connectivity to AT&T’s 3G network. Buyers must commit to a two-year service contract that costs $60 a month. RCR Wireless News (1/9)

(Below) I got to check out Eye-Fi at CES.  Anything that makes it easier to transfer pictures from my camera to my computer is a very good thing.  And with the iPhone application they also demoed at CES, they’re taking it to the next level.  Too bad the only people able to have the iPhone app are those who own the Eye-Fi card. Blah….

For the second year in a row, Eye-Fi claimed the prize in the ninth annual Last Gadget Standing SuperSession sponsored by NetShelter, as determined by the crowd’s reception on Saturday. This year Eye-Fi demoed the new Eye-Fi Video Card, which allows users to wirelessly upload videos and share videos in real time, over the internet. The emWave Personal Stress Reliever, a portable biofeedback tool from HeartMath that helps users “reduce stress, balance emotions and increase performance,” won in an online vote at the Last Gadget Standing site. (Cynopsis 1/12)