5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Best design yet, excellent screen and feel
• Faster, thinner, lighter
• Facetime and 720p video recording

Cons:

• No FM radio, no numerical battery
• Low resolution and low quality still photography

Product perfection is next to impossible. There’s no way to please everyone, and as we all know, the minute you buy something new, something new and better has just come out. In our everlong search for perfection in anything, gadget or otherwise, the iPod Touch aims for kingship. Does it take the throne?

With the iPhone 4, a huge makeover to the handset promised to reshape Apple’s media player, and it did. Including the iPhone 4’s A4 processor, Retina display and front-facing camera for Facetime, the 4^th generation iPod Touch includes almost everything the tech giant’s latest phone introduced. It accomplishes all this while still thinning down and shedding weight, from the already absurdly-thin design.

The iPod Touch 4G makes older models look fat in comparison. The mirrored back surface still scratches easily, and rounds the glass off to an almost razor-thin edge. Past iPod’s had much larger, rounder edges – this iPod is by far the sleekest. The power/standby button has finally been moved over to the right side, as on the iPhone. The volume rocker has thicker, rounded buttons which are easy to press, though iOS4 on the iPod does not support quick mute like on the iPad.

The 2nd Gen iPod Touch left of the 4th Gen

4th Gen iPod Touch, Top, with it’s rounded, separated volume rocker above the 2nd Gen

Past iPod touch models had qualities that made them seem less professional, less clean. The Wi-Fi antenna showing, thick rounded edges, etc. The iPod Touch 4G, however, does not. It’s clean, crisp, and looks and feels great. The thinness of the design is excellent for holding in a pocket, though like the Nano, it’s easy to forget because it’s so light and thin. Yet with that miniscule frame, the iPod is still tough. Users can safely play a game of ball with the Touch in a pocket. I’ve on more than a few occasion forgot it was even there.

Performance is stellar. It seems silly that each new i-device is considered snappy and fast thanks to performance boosts, yet the same applies with this iPod Touch. There isn’t a faster mobile device on the market today.

Many have thus far been impressed by the Retina display, boasting a higher resolution 960×640 display and 326 pixels per inch. I’m not. Yes, it looks great, and yes, it is much clearer than older every other screen I’ve tested. But having switched back and forth between my iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch 4G, it really isn’t that big a deal. Some journalists have openly stated that the upgraded screen makes the iPad useless, but I couldn’t disagree more. There is certainly a difference, but that’s not worth upgrading for alone.

What is more significant is the improved brightness and contrast. The difference in lights and darks has been significantly improved over previous models. It’s not as good as the Super AMOLED displays used on Samsung’s recent Galaxy S mobile phones, but it’s a significant step forward in LCD displays. That contrast is far more important than the picture clarity because the human eye is more sensitive to the differences in lights and darks than it is to anything else, except for motion. So unless you plan on spending inordinate amounts of time reading – for which the pixel density and higher resolutions do matter  – the update in contrast and brightness is most noteworthy.

For gaming, however, pixel density changes everything, or at least it can. Games with heavy graphics can look amazing on this screen, though few have helped flaunt the upgraded hardware thus far. More importantly, the upgrade in processing speed, screen quality and overall build, help to push the iPod ahead of mobile gaming competitors. This iPod is easily the most powerful gaming device, not to mention the smallest, most useful and most inexpensive (through cheaper downloadable games).

The addition of not just one, but two cameras is huge, but not as big as it could have been. The main camera in the back is capable of shooting 720p video. A few test videos I shot proved to be noisy and a little fuzzy, but picture quality was fine, above par for what we’ve come to expect with 720p-ready cellphone cameras. Reducing the size to 480p improves the quality.

The lack of a proper still camera is more frustrating. Both the rear and front (640×480) cameras can shoot stills, but only at low resolutions with mediocre quality. The rear camera is limited to about one megapixel. It was my biggest hope to see the iPod Touch become a competitive photographic device, but Apple’s obviously more intent on leaving that with the iPhone for now. Maybe next year…

Using Facetime has been a blast. Calling family and friends is gimmicky, but fun. It works perfectly, and the results of several dozen calls proved that the technology is solid. The bigger problem is how we communicate as a society. Conversation becomes awkward quickly – with Facetime, you can’t do anything besides for look at the person on the other end and speak. Your appearance matters. You can’t play with your hair or do something else. In a way, it puts more pressure on the conversationists. Facetime demands a person’s full attention, one which we as a society will need to adjust to.

FM radio, which made its way to the iPod Nano, is still missing for the Touch, though one could argue the point that with Wi-Fi and apps, an FM transceiver is unnecessary. I argue that Touch owners who plan on using the device to exercise won’t be carrying a Wi-Fi signal with them, and we all can’t live in Mountain View. There is also no numerical battery life indicator, which I always use instead of the graphic battery bar.

With this fourth iteration of the iPod Touch, Apple brings sweeping upgrades, but not sweeping changes to their acclaimed media device. Those upgrades are fantastic: a powerful processor, more memory, a vastly better screen, all while maintaining excellent battery life. The few changes – the inclusion of two cameras – are a start in the right direction, but not the leap we’ve seen Apple take so many times before. The company is quickly closing in on a perfect, do-everything device, but this isn’t it.  Still, the 4^th generation iPod Touch is by far the best portable media player, and the closest one to perfection.

It would seem that the multitouch table is now a dime a dozen.  Well not quite, but you get the picture.  Gesturetek, hot on the heels of Merel Technologies mTouch table announcement has unveiled their 42-inch and 70-inch interactive table, the GestTable.  We’re not sure about the 70-inch version, but the 42-inch unit can be locked together in multiples to form one cohesive display, complete with multitouch capabilities.

Not to be outdone, Gesturetek has also developed some sort of interactive 3D display where guests “can interact in free space with on-screen computer-generated characters, avatars or real-time video images of themselves.”  We assume that the “free space” part means you won’t have to touch a physical surface to move or manipulate objects.

Too bad the press release is devoid of a price or launch date. 

GestureTek® to Showcase 42″LCD Multi-Touch Table and 70″ Freestanding Multi-Touch Display at InfoComm 2010

New technology compatible with Microsoft Surface Toolkit for Windows Touch
InfoComm 2010

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GestureTek, award-winning inventor and long-time pioneer of gesture control systems, announced it will showcase its new GestTable™, a 42″ LCD multi-touch surface computing solution, along with the new GestDisplay™, a 70″ turnkey freestanding multi-touch unit, at InfoComm 2010 in Booth N1870. The technologies will run new multi-touch applications for retail, advertising and public spaces. InfoComm runs June 9 to 11 at Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Our hardware innovations nicely compliment our deep insight into all forms of advanced display and digital signage applications, particularly multi-touch, immersion, 3D vision, mobile device interactivity, object recognition, motion and object tracking, and even face tracking”

Sleek, Stylish, Modular LCD Multi-Touch Table in High Def

The GestTable is a 42″ LCD multi-touch unit featuring high-definition 1920 x 1080 p resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio, a precise and responsive tracker and an ultra-speedy response time, with multiple cameras running at 100 frames per second. The shallow panel less than 10″ deep can be sold separately, dropped into a turnkey table or built into custom furniture. Units can also be locked together in modular format to enable large images to be presented across multiple screens. Systems are also designed for vertical presentation using a standard LCD TV mount. In addition to supporting Windows 7 HID (Human Interface Device), TUIO and NUITEQ’s latest Snowflake Suite Release 1.9.1, the GestTable is also compatible with the Microsoft Surface Toolkit for Windows Touch. This means that developers experienced in Microsoft Surface can easily create multi-touch content and applications to run on the GestTable.

Turnkey Freestanding Multi-Touch with Extra Large Screen and Extra Slim Base

The new GestDisplay 70″ MT is a freestanding vertical multi-touch display that features a large-format screen with a 70″ diagonal surface and a streamlined base that measures just 22″ deep. This turnkey, plug and play unit produces bright, clear, crisp multi-media imagery, even in harsh lighting environments. With virtually no frame or technology to be seen, images appear to be floating in free space. Attractive, eye-catching and easy to set up just about anywhere, the system functions both as ready-made digital signage for branding and advertising, and as an easy-to-use interactive information presentation system, for way-finding or retrieving product information. Most notably, it employs the natural dynamics of gesture and multi-touch. The GestDisplay supports the same output techniques as the GestTable, including the Microsoft Surface Toolkit for Windows Touch, Windows 7 HID and TUIO.

Full Suite of Turnkey, Plug and Play Interactive Display Products Now Available

GestureTek’s GestTable LCD multi-touch table, GestDisplay vertical multi-touch system and Cube™ portable interactive floor, represent GestureTek’s full suite of turnkey, plug and play interactive display solutions. They are easy to set up, easy to use and easy to maintain. All technologies feature multi-patented, award-winning gesture control software from GestureTek.

“Our hardware innovations nicely compliment our deep insight into all forms of advanced display and digital signage applications, particularly multi-touch, immersion, 3D vision, mobile device interactivity, object recognition, motion and object tracking, and even face tracking,” says Vincent John Vincent, Co-Founder and President of GestureTek.

GestureTek Shares Expertise in 3D Vision for Attractions and Large-Format Displays

Systems integrators, exhibit fabricators, designers and content developers attending InfoComm are encouraged to visit the GestureTek booth to find out more about how GestureTek is using multi-touch and 3D depth-sensing technology to bring attractions to life.

Several successful installations use GestureTek’s proprietary multi-touch interface to add a collaborative element to the user experience. Other successful installations use GestureTek’s patented custom 3D vision tracker to create a virtual reality environment where guests can interact in free space with on-screen computer-generated characters, avatars or real-time video images of themselves.

“The burgeoning roster of flagship organizations that have used GestureTek technology – including LG Electronics, Clearwire, Old Navy, Hugo Boss, Pennzoil, Walt Disney World, CNN, Pepsi, Vodafone, Sony, Samsung, Intel and Gillette – is testimony to GestureTek’s long-time pioneer status and successful focus on solving difficult computer vision problems to power robust industrial, enterprise and consumer applications,” adds Vincent.

For those looking for a consolidated touchscreen computer that won’t break a grand, Sony’s new Vaio J might be right up your alley. The centerpiece of the Vaio J is its 21.5-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display, running on Windows 7′s built in touch support. Other specs include a choice of an Intel i-Series CPU, up to 8GB RAM, and an optional Blu-ray drive. Three unique buttons labelled VAIO, ASSIST and DISPLAY OFF give you shortcuts to a media gallery, tech support, and a display dimmer. Now for that affordable bit — sure, it isn’t the same price as a netbook, but getting an all-in-one touchscreen PC for under a thousand dollars is nothing to scoff about.

The Vaio J is available in July starting at $900.

Sony UNVEILS NEW ENTRY-LEVEL PRICED TOUCH-SCREEN PC

VAIO J All-In-One Puts Music, Photos and Blu-ray Disc Movies One-Touch Away

SAN DIEGO, June 8, 2010 – Sony today unveiled its new, affordable touch-enabled, multi-media machine- the VAIO® J Touch All-In-One PC.

With the VAIO J Series’ multi-touch screen, easy access to your PC, HD movies- your entire entertainment hub- is readily at your fingertips.

Equipped with a 21.5-inch (diagonal) 1920×1080 widescreen panel, the unit displays high-definition content in Full HD. Select models feature a Blu-ray Disc™ optical drive so you can enjoy movies in stunning 1080p high definition.

“The J Series changes the way consumers interact with their PC enabling them to tap, drag, zoom, rotate and engage with their content and entertainment like never before,” said Mike Lucas, senior vice president of the VAIO business at Sony. “And with its attractive price point, this cutting-edge technology will reach a whole new audience.”

The J Series comes with three unique hardware buttons-VAIO, ASSIST and DISPLAY OFF to get you to where you want to go with a touch of a button.

Launch directly into Sony’s own Media Gallery software by pushing the designated VAIO button and simplify your music library. With Media Gallery you can automatically create 21 unique channels of music based on beat, tone, rhythm and other elements. It also enables you to rediscover forgotten favorites by recommending content you already own based on your unique listening and viewing habits.

Facilitate simple do-it-yourself PC maintenance procedures by pressing the ASSIST button and launching the included VAIO Care™ software program. Finally a DISPLAY OFF button is included so you can turn off your screen for privacy or to perform nighttime applications without sending your PC into hibernation.

By utilizing built-in wireless 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi technology and your wireless router (required, sold separately), you can position the model virtually anywhere in your home and access the Internet, email or home network.

A built-in webcam with face-tracking technology and microphone let you video chat with colleagues. Included Webcam Message Board software makes it easy to create video messages or leave handwritten notes on the screen. A third-party internet service provider is required.

The unit packs a powerful 2010 Intel® Core™ processor (select models), loads of RAM, and an optional dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce ® series graphics for graphic-intense gaming and movies. It comes with Windows® 7 Home Premium or Professional 64-bit operating system.

Featuring a stylish, compact design the PC comes with an adjustable stand to help you adjust it to meet your desired viewing or touch angle or simply to decrease the slant for space-saving. A wireless keyboard and mouse that can easily be stored under the unit’s display are included.

The VAIO® J Touch All-in-one PC will start at about $900. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/jseries. It will also be sold at Sony Style® stores and select retailers around the country starting next month.

When the Surface surfaced it cost an arm and a leg.  Worse, it wasn’t really available for public purchase.  But now, just a few years later all the tech that went into the Surface has become relatively cheap.  Merel Technologies mTouch table is a great example of this and comes in a 32-inch and 42-inch model for the price of $3200 and $4200 respectively, which can both be purchased right now.

It’s essentially a touchscreen LCD running at 1080p that is connected to a quad core processor computer backed by a hard drive, 4GB of RAM and a GeForce 9300 graphics card.  The touch components are proprietary to Merel as is the UI/OS.  Aside from a built-in full blown browser window (virtual keyboard included) and the ability to sync your media from your phone, they’ve also got an app store (mStore) for downloading new applications.

I’m whole heartedly impressed.  Sure, it’s nothing new in terms of technology, but at this low of a cost and what appears to be a relatively lag free touch experience it’s worth taking a look if you’ve got some spare cash kicking around and wanna entertain your rich friends.

Gateway’s bringing some multitouch love to desktop users with their new ZX4300 and ZX6900 systems, and we have the full specs. The ZX4300, with a 20-inch, 1,600 x 900 resolution touchpanel, runs on 64-Bit Windows 7 Home Premium and features AMD’s Athlon II X2 CPU, integrated ATI Radeon HD 4270 graphics, 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 640GB HDD, 6 USB 2.0 ports, an 8x SuperMulti drive,  integrated speakers, and WiFi.

Meanwhile, the ZX6900 features a 23-inch, 1920 x 1080 LCD and a Core i3 CPU, a Blu-ray burner drive, with the same HDD, RAM, and ports as its brother. Both arrive with wireless mice and keyboards.

The Gateway ZX4300 is available next month for $749.99. The  ZX6900-01e is also available next month for $1,019.99.

GATEWAY REFRESHES ITS STYLISH ALL-IN-ONE TOUCH-SCREEN ZX SERIES PCs, BRINGING MORE VALUE THAN EVER TO STUDENTS, SENIORS AND FAMILIES

ZX4300 Series features high-performance desktop components;
ZX6900 Series adds powerful Intel Core i3 and i5 processors and a Blu-ray drive

IRVINE, Calif., May 19, 2009 – Today Gateway introduced new models in its line of sleek, modern touch-screen all-in-one ZX Series desktop computers. The ZX4300 line sees the addition of AMD Athlon II X2 processors and other powerful desktop components, making it one of the best performing all-in-ones in its price range. The larger and higher-performing ZX6900 Series also gets a boost from Intel’s powerful Core i3 and i5 processors and the addition of a Blu-ray drive, making it ideal for home entertainment.

The ideal solution for cost-conscious consumers, Gateway’s all-in-one PCs easily double as a TV and/or home entertainment center, making them perfect for small rooms, such as a dorm, home office or kitchen. High-definition widescreen LCDs, powerful components and integrated wireless capabilities make it easy to play online content from a Hulu or Netflix account or connect to other online entertainment portals.

“Because all-in-ones integrate a desktop tower into the back of a flat-panel display, they typically use smaller, less powerful notebook components that don’t require a lot of space,” said Steve Smith, senior business manager of consumer desktops, Acer America. “However, Gateway was able to leverage the latest desktop components to give consumers the best of both worlds – powerful performance and lower cost, all in a stylish, space-saving design.”

The stunning Gateway One ZX Series resembles a sleek, glossy flat-panel TV with its ultra modern luxurious industrial design, and enhances the look of any room in the home. Ideally suited for a kitchen, den, bedroom or a home office, its touch screen display, wireless keyboard and mouse, webcam and integrated high-definition stereo speaker system eliminates extra components and clutter, for a clean and streamlined look.

With its snazzy touch screen capabilities, the One ZX Series delivers a fun, exciting way to interact with music, videos, photos, social media networks and more. By simply touching icons on the PC’s screen, consumers can launch applications, movies, music, zoom in and out on photos and websites, resize windows and handwrite notes.

Gateway One ZX4300 Series
The new ZX4300 Series now includes powerful desktop components, bringing increased performance and no-compromise computing to this elegant design. Students and families will find it ideal for movies, games and general computing.

The ZX4300-01e includes an AMD Athlon II X2 235e processor, 640GB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive and ATI Radeon HD 4270 graphics, and possesses enough horsepower to rival most mainstream desktops, and look better while doing it.

The Gateway One ZX4300-01e will be available the first week of June at a leading retailer nationwide. Additional models will be available in July and will include TV tuners and faster AMD processors.

Gateway One ZX4300-01e
• MSRP: $749.99
• Windows® 7 Home, Premium Edition, 64-bit
• Touch screen / 20-inch HD widescreen Ultrabright™ LCD / 1600 x 900 resolution
o Resolution: 1600 x 900 resolution
o Brightness: 250 cd/m2
o Response time: 5 ms
o Contrast ratio: 1000:1
• AMD Athlon™ II X2 Dual-Core Processor 235e (2.7GHz, 2MB L2 cache)
• Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 4270 graphics
• 4GB DDR3 dual channel memory (1333MHz)
• 640GB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive (1)
• 8x DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti optical drive (slot load)
• Multi-in-one digital media card reader
• Wireless keyboard and mouse
• Integrated 802.11 b/g/n WiFi CERTIFIED®
• 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) LAN
• 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 side / 4 rear)
• Embedded high-definition audio with 2.1 channel support
• Built-in 5W stereo speakers

Gateway One ZX6900 Series
Featuring a large 23-inch touch screen with high-definition widescreen capabilities, the high-performance ZX6900 Series is ideal for enhanced entertainment and other productivity applications.

The ZX6900-01e comes loaded with an Intel Core i3 530 processor, a slot load Blu-ray/DVD drive and high-def audio with 5.1-channel surround sound support, so consumers can immerse themselves in online and high-def entertainment.

The Gateway One ZX6900-01e is available now at leading retailers nationwide. An additional model will be available in June and will include a TV tuner and the faster Intel Core i5 650 processor.

Gateway One ZX6900-01e
• MSRP: $1,019.99
• Windows® 7 Home, Premium Edition, 64-bit
• Touch screen / 23-inch full HD widescreen Ultrabright™ LCD
o Resolution: 1920 x 1080 resolution
o Brightness: 300 cd/m2
o Response time: 5 ms
o Contrast ratio: 1000:1
• Intel® Core™ i3 530 Processor (2.93GHz, 4MB cache)
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics
• 4GB DDR3 dual channel memory (133MHz)
• 640GB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive (1)
• Slot-load 4X Blu-ray player & Blu-ray Combo DVD burner
• Multi-in-one digital media card reader
• Wireless keyboard and mouse
• Integrated 802.11 b/g/n WiFi CERTIFIED®
• 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) LAN
• 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 side / 4 rear)
• 1 eSATA port
• 1 HDMI port
• Embedded high-definition audio with 5.1 channel audio support
• Built-in 5W stereo speakers

If you thought the multitouch features on the iPad were a lot more fun, wait till you check this out. The Sony atracTable is a 35-inch multitouch tablet with HD resolution and sophisticated technology that can recognize other electronic devices when they’re placed on it, like your cell phone .

The device, which was first shown at the Vision 2009 conference, is comprised of two Sony ISS XCD-V60 cameras that work in conjunction to build a 3D image. It can recognize multi-touch inputs, and thanks to an included camera even analyse body movements as varied as your finger, hand, or arm. Sony even thinks that it can figure out the user’s age, emotions, and gender — I can’t decide if that’s cool or creepy.

The table is a collaboration between Sony ISS and Atracsys, a Swiss optical tracking company. Atracsys actually created a 60-inch version of the table in 2008, but Sony decided to create a smaller version once they bought the company’s technology.

The atracTable is set for release in June. Pricing is currently unavailable.

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The WePad, which we looked at last month, is shaping up to be a solid touchscreen Android based device.  But upon its announcement Neofonie saw it fit to leave out the launch date and price.  Well, guess what, we now know that.

It will hit Germany sometime in July with preorders starting April 27th.  Price you ask?  The 16GB WiFi only model will cost €449 ($611 US), while the 3G 32GB version will set you back €569 ($774).

In case you forget, here is a quick rehash of the specs:

• 1.66Hz Intel Atom N450 processor
• GMA 3150 graphics
• SD Card slot
• 2x USB ports
• Android OS
• 6 hour battery life
• HD capable screen
• Flash compatible
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Webcam

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Tablets, tablets, tablets! Here’s another one in competition with the iPad — ICD has unveiled a prototype of the Gemini, a rather impressive-sounding Android tablet. It features an 11.2 inch display, a 1GHz Tegra 2 chip (that’s got 1080p video down, something the iPad doesn’t), Flash support, a 3G connection, an SD card reader, GPS, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, MicroUSB connectivity, stereo speakers and two webcams.

Again, this is just a prototype, so pricing and availability are unknown. But it’s something to keep an eye out for.

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Multitouch PCs are becoming popular items from companies like HP, and Samsung is about to enter the marketplace for the first time with the U250 and U200 all-in-ones. Running on Windows 7, the U200 features a 20-inch display at 1600×900 resolution, while the U250 is 23-inches at 1080p resolution. Internal specs are currently unknown, but with resolutions that high, I’m guessing they’ll have GPUs capable of HD playback.

Pricing and unavailability are currently unavailable, but more info is expected at May’s PC World show. Until then, we’ll just have to wait and see.

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Hello, iPad. Meet your new competition, the upcoming slew of tablets from rival companies. One is the HP Slate, which has a new video out that tries to prove its superiority. The Slate’s features include a webcam, USB port, SD card port, and Flash capability, all running on Windows 7. Definitely the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to these things.

Pricing and availability are unconfirmed, but the Slate’s expected to land in June for around $500.

The iPad’s arrival is just days away and already a handful of reviews have trickled out on the Net.  Why we don’t have one in our hands or why we haven’t ordered one is largely due to its lack of flash compatibility.  But if you still haven’t hit the order button, or started to stand in line here is the review breakdown by our friends at Gizmodo.

WSJ‘s Walt Moseberg iPad Review
USA Today‘s Edward Baig iPad Review
New York Times‘ David Pogue iPad Review
PC Mag‘s Tim Gideon iPad Review
Houston Chronicle‘s Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus iPad Review
BoingBoing‘s Xeni Jardin iPad Review
Chicago Sun-Times‘ Andy Ihnatko iPad Review
The Root‘s Omar Wasow iPad Review

iBuypower today announced the successor to their Battalion Touch CZ-10 laptop, the Battalion Touch CZ-11.  It adds even more power under the hood, but what the other differences are between the new and old model are beyond my scope of knowledge.  With that said, let’s have a look at the specs: Intel Core i7- mobile processor, Windows 7 Home Premium, a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen, ATI Radeon HD 5650 graphics card, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 8x DVD burner, 6-cell battery, 3-in-1 memory card reader and if you so choose an optional Blu-ray drive.

The Battalion Touch CZ-11 should be available any day now and will start at $1,100.

iBUYPOWER Announces Availability of Battalion Touch CZ-11 with Intel Core i7 Processor and Full HD 1080 LCD

El Monte, CA – March 30, 2010 – iBUYPOWER, a leading innovator in gaming PCs, is excited to announce availability of the new multi-touch gaming notebook – Battalion Touch CZ-11. Launching on the heels of the highly successful Battalion Touch CZ-10, the CZ-11 is second in a line of new multi-touch notebooks from iBUYPOWER. iBUYPOWER Battalion Touch Notebooks are the only multi touch gaming notebooks currently available anywhere in the world.

“Multi touch is one of the fastest growing PC gaming interfaces,” said Darren Su, Executive Vice President of iBUYPOWER. “Pairing those capabilities with a Core i7 processor, high definition LCD and graphics card allows the CZ-11 to meet the mobile gaming needs of almost any user.”

The Battalion Touch multi touch gaming notebooks are perfect for Real-Time strategy gaming titles like R.U.S.E from Ubisoft, which is available in Beta now and due out on June 3 of this year.  The beta has already been downloaded by well over 1 million gamers worldwide.

iBUYPOWER’s newest 15-inch multi-touch gaming notebook features a Full HD 1920×1080 LCD with DirectX-11 capable graphics and the powerful new Intel Core i7- mobile processor.  The CZ-11 also features 4GB of DDR3 memory, an ATI Radeon HD 5650 DirectX 11 graphics card, 500 GB hard drive and an optional Blu-ray drive. Starting at a gaming-ready configuration for just $1,299, the Battalion Touch CZ-11 can be customized to meet your needs for as low as $1,100.

Customers with more specific gaming needs can configure a fully customizable gaming PC at www.iBUYPOWER.com. All iBUYPOWER systems come standard with 1 year limited warranty and lifetime technical support.

For additional information about iBUYPOWER please visit www.iBUYPOWER.com, or contact PR representative Mark Olson at 305.576.1171 x17 or markolson@maxboregsagency.com.

About iBUYPOWER

iBUYPOWER Computer, an enterprise in association with American Future Technology Corporation (AFT), is one of the largest system builders in the PC gaming industry.  Located in Los Angeles County, iBUYPOWER’s mission is to provide a complete computing solution to meet the needs of the surrounding community and customers nationwide. Currently, the company’s product lines include gaming desktops, gaming notebooks, workstations, media center PCs, peripherals and multimedia products. www.iBUYPOWER.com

It’s been a long time in the making, and a rough one at that, but the JooJoo tablet is finally shipping to those who preordered the 12.1-inch touchscreen device.  So when can you expect one?  March 29th, which is just 4 days from now.  Unlike the iPad, the JooJoo is compatible with Flash and runs on a Linux based OS.

Will I order one?  It’s very tempting.

JOOJOO TABLET NOW SHIPPING

SINGAPORE, March 25, 2010 – Fusion Garage announced that its category-creating joojoo Internet tablet has begun shipping from the factory today. joojoo devices are now on their way to U.S. customers who pre-ordered them. Devices should be received by Monday, March 29.

New joojoo orders can be placed at https://thejoojoo.com/store at a cost of $499 USD. With its easy to use user interface, joojoo allows users to tap into Internet applications, news, music, high definition video, social media and Web services. The device boasts the largest capacitive touch screen of any device on the market, measuring 12.1 inches in length. joojoo is Flash 10.1 and Java compliant and comes equipped with a built-in, rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.

For more information, please visit www.thejoojoo.com.

About joojoo

joojoo, officially introduced in December 2009, is the category-creating Web tablet that provides near instantaneous Internet access and the best online experience. The African word “joujou” means magical object and Fusion Garage’s joojoo brings users into an online world where everything on the Internet is just a single touch away. Powered by Fusion Garage’s innovative browser-based operating system, joojoo enables users to quickly and easily tap into Internet applications, news, music, high definition video, social media and Web services. joojoo has revolutionary hardware, including the largest capacitive touch screen of any device on the market – 12.1 inches –providing full screen content viewing. Its ultra-portable, ultra-thin design offers the best Internet experience anywhere – on the couch or on the go, standing or sitting. joojoo’s gesture-based user interface allows easy transitions between Web sites and turns pages in a digital publication via the movement of a finger. A full-size touch keyboard appears when users need it, and disappears when viewing content or paging through digital content. joojoo is available directly from Fusion Garage at www.thejoojoo.com.

About Fusion Garage

Fusion Garage enables the best Internet experience through innovative software and hardware devices. Founded in 2008, Fusion Garage’s core browser-based operating system provides near instantaneous Internet access and has spurred the development of an entirely new category of consumer electronics devices dedicated to online usage. Fusion Garage is based in Singapore and is privately funded.

Android, Google’s open-source OS, is getting more popular by the week. Neofonie recently revealed their Android-based tablet concept, dubbed the WePad. The tablet will feature an 11.6 inch display with a 1366×768 resolution, a 1.66Hz Intel Atom N450 processor, GMA 3150 graphics, flash card reader, two USB 2.0 ports, and an integrated webcam. An estimated six hours battery life would come with the ultra-portable device. Neofonie also announced plans for an app store for the WePad, which would overlap with the already running Android Market.

Sounds like Neofonie has its eyes set as an iPad competitor. Until pricing and availability are announced, however, the WePad’s potential is unknown.

[via Geeky-gadgets]

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News hit today that the HP Slate, HP’s tablet computer, a competitor to the iPad, might cost as much as $540.  But, keep in mind that amount is derived from the rumored Euro price, a part of the world that always tends to be on the more expensive side when it comes to consumer goods; in other words it might be cheaper and more on par with iPad pricing ($499).

Also emerging are some specs: Intel Atom processor, rear webcam, Windows 7 with Adobe Flash support, USB input and a memory card reader.

[via Engadget]

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It’s not the type of news that will have you falling out of your seat, but if you’ve got a penchant for all things touchscreen than you might take to Nanovision’s latest LCD, the iMo Plus. This time around they’ve upped the anty from a 7-inch to a 10-inch touch resistive screen with a 1024×576 resolution. Connectivity and power comes by way of a USB interface and the remaining specs, well they’re rather garden variety: 400:1 contrast ratio and 200 cd/m2 brightness.

Keep in mind that this is touch resistive, which means a painfully slow response and a level of sensitivity equitable to a Russian body guard that doesn’t speak a lick of English. When it launches it should cost $270.

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It’s a pretty bold statement when a company says they’ve produced the most advanced product of its type in the company’s history, but if anything is gonna qualify for that label it is the DJM-2000.

At first blush it looks like your standard 4 channel DJ mixer.  But take a closer look and you’ll notice a multitouch 5.8-inch touchscreen.  Now I’m no DJ, but the DJM-2000 looks like it’s a game changer as far as mixing tracks on the fly goes.  Sure, the touchscreen can let you control MIDI sequences and other MIDI gear, as well as apply effects to sounds, but what is really neat is the Frequency Mix Mode.  Traditionally, DJs would just mix in a channel using a slider, but in Frequency Mix Mode DJs can select a specific frequency from the accompanying track or channel and mix only that frequency into the main track that is playing.  Cool, huh?

Anyway, all you DJs wll be glad to here that it will go on sale this June.  The downside is that it will cost $3000.

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Looking to add some pizazz to that newly minted sports bar? Digital Touch System’s T3-B table includes a 26-inch touchscreen LCD, WiFi and orientation switch for either side seating.  It’s not multitouch, but dual touch, which sounds like a good way of circumventing a law suit.  Optionally, you can order one with a receipt printer, credit card reader or a TV tuner.

Right now the company says they’re in use in over 100 venues and are currently being used to order food, request songs and play games. It’s large enough to seat 6 and is available in 2 different color.

There’s no word on a price, but I’m guessing that all depends on how many you order.

[via Techfresh]

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Freescale is back and this time they’ve given us more deets on their 7-inch tablet.  The form factor has remained the same, but now the company says they’ve adapted the Chromium and Linux OSes to the ARM architecture found under the hood of the 7-inch screen.  As of now it’s a resistive touchscreen, but this is still very much a prototype so lets hope they stuff a capacitive screen in there, but as stated it depends on the partner.  They’re also working on an Android version, but that has yet to debut.  Best of all the price for the machine will supposedly remain at $200, or so.

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Those living in Europe, working in construction and require a computer, will be pleased to hear that Panasonic has unveiled their latest Toughbook laptop, the CF-C1, the “lightest business-rugged convertible notebook”.  Inside is a 2.4Ghz Intel Core i5-520M vPro processor, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, 3G connectivity and a yet to be disclosed memory and hard drive capacity.

But what really counts is that the CF-C1 can take a licking.  According to Panasonic it can survive a 76cm fall (2.5 feet), a mess of drinks spilled on its keyboard and run up to 10 hours thanks to two hot swappable battery ports.

There’s no word on the actual screen size, but there will be two models available: one with a glove friendly capacitive touchscreen and one with out.  The glove friendly version will arrive this September and the other model this July.  The current suggested retail price is €1.998.

Panasonic Unveils Toughbook CF-C1: The Lightest Business-Rugged Convertible Notebook with Sleek Looks and Desktop Performance

At only 1.47kg (with 4 cell battery), new member of Panasonic’s business-ruggedized notebook family is tailored to mobile workers with multiple data entry needs
UK. 2 March 2010 – Panasonic today launched its new Toughbook CF-C1, a rugged yet lightweight business notebook that can be used in clamshell or tablet form. This makes it ideal for mobile workers like field healthcare staff, market researchers and others who need to enter data in different ways. Along with a hand-free ergonomic strap that enables users to enter information with one hand, the CF-C1 features, on a configuration base, a Multi-touch + Digitizer screen or a Multi-touch resistive screen that can be used even with gloves. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 is unusual in that the touchscreen works in clamshell as well as in tablet mode with no risk of breakage, as its toughened triple hinge keeps the screen rigid while the user is typing on it. Panasonic has specially designed the three-dimensional hinge to be very robust without adding significant weight to the device. The CF-C1 also offers users worry-free operation with up to 10 hours’ battery life with its twin hot swappable-battery.

Twin hot-swappable battery and hand-free ergonomic strap
The new Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 is especially well-suited to multi-taskers on the road with little opportunity to recharge their device. Its unique twin hot-swappable battery provides up to 10 hours of operation and allows users to exchange one while the unit is running. A Battery Charge Indicator shows the user the charge level at a glance and is always visible, even when the unit is turned off. With a single 4 cell battery installed, the unit is extremely light at just 1.47kg (and only 1.69kg with twin battery), and the moulded hand-free ergonomic strap lets users hold it easily with one hand while typing with the other. This makes the CF-C1 ideal for people who need to capture information in an environment where it may be difficult to put the unit down to type. Examples include researchers conducting point-of-sale customer surveys in a store, or nurses writing reports at a patient’s bedside.

Top-flight performance and connectivity
In addition, Panasonic’s new convertible is equipped with the business performance Intel Core i5-520M vPro™ processor (2.4 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93 GHz, Intel® Smart Cache 3MB), which offers excellent performance along with the vPro business features. As mobile workers are often operating in a stressful environment on tight deadlines, the CPU’s speed and low power consumption make their work easier as they can access key applications and process information more quickly.

“Panasonic´s new Convertible C1 Toughbook is a forceful notebook for professional users based on the new 2010 Intel® Core™ processors”, said Jörg E. Finger, Director Sales Operations – Multinational Customers at Intel. “In terms of processing power its Intel™ Core i5™ processor always adapts to the computing power needed. This adds to the new Toughbook´s efficiency during normal operation and makes no compromise on processing power.”

The Toughbook CF-C1 comes with 3G connectivity for the fast transmission of key data, which could be of crucial importance in a healthcare environment. This is because changes in a patient’s condition may require swift advice from a more senior healthcare specialist. With a view to complying with security and data protection mandates, many organisations – both in healthcare and in business – do not want to store confidential data on a mobile device. This makes it essential for mobile workers to transmit information from the input device to a centralised server as quickly and efficiently as possible. To support this, the Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 provides embedded 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® 2.1 connectivity as well as 3G.

“The new convertible Toughbook CF-C1 is a business-ruggedized solution designed for the modern mobile workforce” said Stephen Yeo, Marketing Director at Panasonic Computer Products Europe (PCPE). “Its sleek good looks will appeal to people in image-conscious markets such as fashion, cosmetics and blue-chip food brands, as well as to executives wanting a robust yet lightweight convertible notebook without compromising on performance. It’s as suited to customer presentations as it is to everyday mobile computing where speed, battery power and data input flexibility are of the essence.”

Practical and easy to clean
The CF-C1 features the Multi-touch capacitive touch screen that can be used with gloves, so it is ideally suited to healthcare workers such as nurses and doctors on visits to patients’ homes. The unit also includes a rubberised, disinfectable hand-free ergonomic strap. The convertible Toughbook CF-C1 has a spill-resistant keyboard; in operation mode it may be dropped from a height of up to 76 cm with no risk of damage. These features offer advantages to market researchers interviewing customers in stores, as well as to health professionals.

Price and availability
The Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 with Multi-touch + Digitizer screen will be available in July 2010 from selected distributors throughout Europe. The Gloved Multi-touch model will follow in September 2010. The product’s recommended retail price is expected to start at € 1.998,-.

About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of JPY 9,068.9 billion (approx. USD 90.52 billion, exchange rate USD 1 = JPY 100.19) for the year ended March 31, 2008. The Company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:MC) stock exchanges. For more information on the Panasonic Corporation and the Panasonic brand, visit the Company’s website at http://panasonic.net.