Monday, March 8, 2010

Acer Frameless Laptop & Touchscreen Keyboard?



Would you believe that Acer is working on a frameless laptop with touchscreen keyboard? As far-fetched as the idea might be, it's certainly plausible, expected even. The idea, as rumored by DigiTimes, involves doing away with the display's frame by printing colors directly onto the back of the display's reinforced glass substrate from Corning (a la Gorilla Glass presumably). Coupled with a touchscreen keyboard, the rumored device should be impossibly thin by traditional laptop comparisons. Keep in mind that we've already seen this Frame Zero concept pictured above from Fujitsu and Acer's arch-rival ASUS has been showing off its dual-display laptop prototype with touchscreen keyboard for months. Even the OLPC XO-3 plans to eschew the clickity keyboard in favor of a touchscreen version. And anyone who has ever seen a scifi movie knows that tactile keyboards and display bezels have no role to play in our computing future anyway, so we might as well get things started now -- or in the second half of 2010 according to DigiTimes' sources.

Aiptek PocketCinema Z20 Packs Pico Projector



Watch out, Flip, because here's one tough guy that you don't wanna mess with. Joining Aiptek's family of pocket camcorders is the PocketCinema Z20 -- a fine mix of 720p camera (courtesy of a 5 megapixel sensor) and pico projector of an unknown resolution, powered by a two-hour battery (which we'll believe when we see it). Users will be spoiled by a long list of features: 2GB of internal memory, microSDHC expansion, built-in 2.4-inch LCD, HDMI output, composite video input (iPod adapter included) and remote control. Want it? You can pre-order now for €349 or about $476 ahead of its mid-April launch. Meanwhile, enjoy Aiptek's cheesy promotion video after the break.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

GPS and Sensor-laden ski Goggles

Remember those mind-melting Recon Instruments goggles that we caught wind of late last year? Admit it -- you never, ever expected those things to actually make it to market. Despite your pessimism, it seems as if those very specs are indeed making a beeline to the consumer realm, with Zeal Optics jumping in, working a bit of magic and relabeling 'em Transcend. Deemed the planet's first GPS and sensor-laden ski goggles, these things are purportedly capable of logging speed, altitude, temperature and time details, and the side-mounted toggle switches will enable you to view said data in real time (or not, if you're paying attention to the 50 foot drop ahead of you). Peek the read link for further details on the $350+ wearables (demoed after the break), and get ready to hit the slopes with a whole new mindset this October. more

eVouse Concept Mouse



We're not going to lie, it was a major let down when we found out that this glowing V-shaped mouse with faux Microsoft branding is nothing more than a splendiferous concept, but we're holding back the tears as best we can. The super futuristic-looking eVouse doubles as both a regular mouse and a pen sensor (in theory, anyway) or as its designer Marcial Ahsayane says, "it's a mix between a classic mouse and a tablet PC." We assume that means you can -- you know -- write digitally with it, but it will also work as an air mouse with touch sensitive buttons. Maybe you can discern a little more from the images below where it seems to morph into a boomerang of sorts, but in the meanwhile we'll be in the corner wishing this thing had a ship date attached to it. You hearing this, Microsoft? (www.engadgets.com)

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The 10 Golden Rules of Systems Analysis


The 10 golden rules of Systems Analysis by John E. Gibson, William T. Scherer, William F. Gibson.

Rule 1: There Always Is a Client
Rule 2: Your Client Does Not Understand His Own Problem
Rule 3: The Original Problem Statement is too Specific: You Must Generalize the Problem to Give it Contextual Integrity.

Rule 4: The Client Does Not Understand the Concept of the Index of Performance
Rule 5: You are the Analyst, Not the Decision-Maker
Rule 6: Meet the Time Deadline and the Cost Budget
Rule 7: Take a Goal-Centered Approach to the Problem, Not a Technology-Centered or Chronological Approach
Rule 8: Nonusers Must be Considered in the Analysis and in the Final Recommendations
Rule 9: The Universal Computer Model is a Fantasy
Rule 10: The Role of Decision-Maker in Public Systems is Often a Confused One