FocuSoft Tech Blog

Knuckle Duster Corkscrew	iMo Pivot Touch unveiled	MUJI Lego kits make Lego an even more creative toy	LG rolls out first netbook in the US
Intouch IT7150 wireless Internet frame	USB Whirl Wind Warmer Cup	3D Rendering not difficult with ProFORMA	Hitachi Starboard FX-77GII Interactive Whiteboard
Extend and bend your minutes with the Stretch Clock	Illuminated JetBib Feeding System

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Gadget Thumbnails for 23-Nov-2009

LG has finally joined the rest of the computing world (Stateside, of course) by releasing their first netbook in the US ever – with the LG X120 being the star of the show this time round. This is pretty surprising considering the LG X120 has already arrived in other countries some time ago, but still, the adage holds true – better late than never. With a deluge of netbooks already flooding the market in the US, is there room for one more? Why not take a closer look at the LG X120 after the jump before drawing up any conclusions, and who knows, you might just have that itch to purchase a brand new netbook for yourself or a member of the family this coming Christmas.

The LG X120 netbook is the first of its kind from LG, where it not only delivers all the benefits of a netbook, it also offers users a shortcut to the fun stuff with a unique Smart On interface which makes it a snap to stay connected faster and easier than ever. Regardless of whether you’re an avid social networker who just needs to check on your Facebook page round the clock or a college student who wants something light and yet functional, the LG X120 is able to deliver. Although I would think for the former, he/she would probably also own a cellphone or BlackBerry which already comes with a Facebook application to handle the mobile social networking aspect.

Tipping the scales at 2.8lbs, the slim and stylish LG X120 will feature a sleek white matte exterior and fashionable blue trim, capable of running for up to 7 hours on a full charge. You also get round-the-clock Internet connection thanks to a built-in AT&T 3G wireless connection, although that remains subject to the area you’re at as well as the signal strength, so be prepared to surf at EDGE speeds sometimes as well. Other features include 1GB RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a 10.1″ screen with crystal clear LED backlighting, an integrated 1.3 megapixel camera, HD stereo speakers and Wi-Fi connectivity. You can pick up the Window XP-powered LG X120 for $179.99 with a 2-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement, accompanied by a $60 monthly 5GB plan.

Press Release

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LG rolls out first netbook in the US

Giant International has rolled out its Intouch IT7150 wireless Internet frame which could very well be one of the more suitable gifts for folks this coming Christmas season, regardless of how young or old they are. What makes the Intouch IT7150 wireless Internet frame special compared to other digital photo frames? Well, you can tell from the name itself that it is not only capable of displaying a bunch of your favorite photos captured digitally in a slideshow format, it is also connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi for added functionality. This is the first all touch multimedia wireless Internet frame from the manufacturer, where it allows one to access content on their PC and Internet using the Intouch IT7150 from virtually anywhere in their home.

With its inherent ability to remain connected to the Internet, the Intouch IT7150 is capable of achieving instant access to news, weather, social media, other dynamic content and online photo galleries, alongside enabling users to organize and share their own photos through a partnership with FrameChannel. Apart from that, users can also upload photos and other content into the internal frame memory directly from a memory card, the Web, or even a PC using a Wi-Fi or USB connection. You will be able to check up on the latest news updates from Washington through FrameChannel, while subscribing to personalized RSS feeds from your favorite sites (including CG, of course!). Heck, even the latest weather conditions can be checked out if it is so required before you head out for your vacation.

Some of the features found on the Intouch IT7150 include :-

• 7″ color digital display screen with 16:9 aspect ratio
• High resolution at 800 x 480 pixels
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Touch operation with on-screen QWERTY keyboard
• Digital photo frame with FrameChannel partnership
• Wireless RSS 2.0 feed reader
• Live internet radio
• Video/audio/photo playback function
• Stereo speakers (1W x 2)
• 128MB of internal memory
• Audio jack
• Clock, calendar and alarm
• USB cable included to connect to PC
• Rechargeable battery with estimated 1.5 hours battery life

Expect the Intouch IT7150 wireless Internet frame to retail for $229.99 if you’re interested in bringing one home.

Press Release

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Intouch IT7150 wireless Internet frame

Whenever I think of 3D scanning, I think of this very complicated process of a multitude of cameras surrounding an object, taking pictures at every angle, and then blending them all together with a computer.

A PhD student at the Cambridge University Engineering Department named Qi Pan has made like Apple and “thought different”.

As you can see from the video after the jump, Pan took a detailed paper building and rotated it on an axis, filming it with an ordinary web camera. His ProFORMA (Probabilistic Feature-based On-line Rapid Model Acquisition) program scanned it, and he immediately had something ready for 3D model generation. He could even shake the real thing and move it, and the CG image would do the same. Wild!

A program like this can have a lot of applications, but all I can think about is the way it will change animated films with 3D computer animation. Instead of some graphics designer having to painstakingly make an object for three-dimensional space, all the programmers would need is a simple rotational scan. It’s better technology than motion-capture!

This man Qi Fan has just made computer animation history, and I look forward to the next PIXAR or PDI film that will use it. Of course, the technology is still under development, but I can see it being in the hands of a typical consumer.

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3D Rendering not difficult with ProFORMA

It’s just another day in the gadget world and another clock meant to bend your mind.  No one really knows why they insist upon creating clocks that do nothing but make your head ache.  However, they keep on doing it, so there must be plenty of people out there dying to snatch them up.  At least with the Stretch Clock you won’t be stuck staring at the same boring clock you see in every office and home.

The stretch clock is meant to bend and extend the minutes of your day.  Those hoping that time will fly right by should probably keep away from this clock.  The clock comes with a cardboard template with four pegs.  Those pegs and the template allow for you to stretch the clock yourself from 9 inches on up to 12.  You can hang it asymmetrically or in a square shape.  To purchase the clock it’ll cost you $50 through Uncommon Goods.

Source: CraziestGadgets

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Extend and bend your minutes with the Stretch Clock

When you’re getting ready in the morning, it’s nice to be able to quickly glance at something to figure out what you need to wear.  Instead of having a weather station in the kitchen, you could have this device set up in your bedroom.  It’s a weather station and alarm clock combination gadget.  Making it so that you don’t have nearly as many gadget lying around.

This Weathercast Wireless 5-Day Forecaster Alarm Clock will be sure to wake you up in the morning and keep you informed on the weather outside.  It has no fees and can give you a 5-day forecast through AccuWeather.com.  It also gets free radio signals for most US cities.  You can check out coverage before you buy the device.  You can purchase it for $99.95 though Brookstone.

Source: TheGreenHead

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Weathercast Wireless Forecaster Alarm Clock

People are slowly becoming increasingly aware that they may not be able to continue their cellphone habits as they usually have.  Cops are starting to get a bit more touchy about people talking on their cellphone while they’re driving.  If you don’t want to wear something, you could always have a device within your car that turns your cellphone into a speakerphone.  This Yada Hands Free Bluetooth Speaker Phone just slips over the top of your existing rear-view mirror.

The Bluetooth device will let you talk on your phone without you having to deal with an earpiece of any kind.  The YD-V16 allows for you to talk for 25 hours at a time and has 650 hours of standby time.    It’s said to have great sound clarity and signal strength.  Which is hopefully correct, since this isn’t exactly a $25 device.  It’s going to cost you $179.99 through Amazon.

Source: GadgetGrid

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Yada Hands Free Rear-view Mirror Bluetooth Speaker Phone

Slowly people are starting to use light bulbs that are actually eco-friendly, so the old bulbs are becoming a thing of the past.  Sure, some of us still buy the old bulbs when we can’t afford to spend quite as much on a light bulb, but little by little they’re getting used less.  Well instead of just forgetting about those classic bulbs altogether, you can pick up one of these light bulbs turned into an oil lamp.

They comes in sets of two and are limited edition.  These were made out of reclaimed light bulbs by Sergio Silva.  The lamps use a non-flammable paraffin oil and have a wick ready to light.  Within the bulb is a strong spherical magnet and then the acrylic base has a steel component embedded within it.  The two combined make it so that the set of bulbs stay upright.  Unfortunately, despite that this is available for purchase, it’s extremely expensive.  You can purchase them for $650.

Source: CraziestGadgets

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Old Light Bulbs Made Into Oil Lamp

Pantech intends to create an impact among cellphone users in the US with their latest release from AT&T – ironically, the cellphone itself has been named “Impact” for obvious reasons. This being the second Pantech handset to arrive in store shelves this coming holiday season, you will be able to choose from a couple of colors, where they are bright blue and soft pink. This cellphone will sport a totally new form factor that has never been found in AT&T’s stable of quick messaging phones, boasting a high-gloss faceplate with a haptic response touchpad, a couple of displays to keep up with the current trend, a full hidden keyboard as well as a bunch of the latest social and multimedia options to make sure that Gen Y folks remain connected in a fun manner all the time.

Impact offers a totally new user experience right from the get go, where its shiny blackout exterior is surrounded by textured blue or pink detailing. Every time the touchpad which is located below the screen is pressed, it will automatically spring to action, coaxing your hand to provide the finger taps it so craves in order to “answer” with a soft, tactile buzz. This allows the Impact to play and control music, make a call, or send texts without the need to open the phone.

The Impact also comes with a sideways flip that opens up to reveal full QWERTY keyboard which makes it a snap to compose those long winded emails to your Aunt Martha in a flurry, while even traditionally long text messages would fall prey to your brilliantly fast fingers as they dance across an all-too-familiar keyboard layout. Apart from that, you will also get a range of shortcut keys that make room for one-touch access to IM, text, email, and switching between applications. The second full-color display screen is great for viewing videos, friends’ profiles and flipping through images, while either side of the display houses speakers that makes tuning in to your favorite songs a joy. The Impact will retail for a surprisingly affordable $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate for a new 2-year contract.

Press Release

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Pantech Impact to arrive in US from AT&T

Ah, you got to love concept technology at its finest. I mean, look at this thing. Someone actually made it so the time appears on my bed sheet for crying out loud.

And those numbers don’t just appear in that corner, they are very touchable, just like Braille. So when I get up in the middle of the night, and want to know what time it is, I don’t have to look at my cellular phone or the bright numbers on a clock radio. All I need to do is feel the sheets for the proper time.

Yes, besides the blind, I don’t really see a good use for this product. I mean, if I am too lazy to open my eyes and check the time, I doubt I’ll want to feel the corner of my bed for the time.

I am willing to bet that this concept will not see the light of day. Not only do we not have the technology to make this work, but I just don’t see it working, period.

Still, you got to admire how the controls are on the side of the mattress. I would imagine that these could easily be hit by those who toss and turn in their sleep.

Not to mention the imprints that would appear on your body when you got up the next day. Reminds me of the joke about the Corduroy pillows. They do make head-lines.

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Clock Sheet tells you the time, by touch