Laptops Arena

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Remember when we wrote about the Laptop Pen from Navisis that allows you to enhance your portable computer and transform it into a digital notebook with handwriting recognition?
That is a great tech gadget that made me think of getting one too in the near future. Now let’s see another cool gadget introduced by N-trig, the provider of the DuoSense technology, which we encountered before when we found out about the large multi-touch display that brought real innovation to the touchscreen market.

Using the same high-end technology, N-trig unveils the world’s first device that combines stylus pen functionality with the multi-touch capability. It is called the Transparent Electromagnetic Digitizer and provides specifications on how to make a touch screen laptop, working similar with the Laptop Pen that clips to your computer monitor, connecting to one of the free USB ports of the computer, while you can write directly on the screen using the special digitizer. The large difference between this kit and N-trig’s device consists of eliminating the stylus and the USB port requirement, and leaving only a 2-mm screen that applies onto the monitor’s viewable surface, with the connectivity cable plugged into the monitor’s port. This way you get a single device, instead of three, plus the multi-touch capability, which recognizes simultaneous input from two fingers.



As I was saying, the advanced screen that applies on the monitor is just 2-mm thick weighting 200 grams and N-trig found a smart non-invasive way of enabling multi-touch input with handwriting recognition on your computer, by using standard air gap bonding, pressure-sensitive adhesive, or direct bonding with an intermediary index-matching gel to lower reflection, eliminating the need for special mounting brackets.
The DuoSense technology is based on zero-pressure capacitive touch that senses any finger and pen input, eliminating problems like when using long nails, gloved fingers and standard styluses.

“We believe Hands-on computing will change how the world interacts with computers. From image manipulation and gaming, to graphic and industrial design, N-trig is breaking down the barriers between humans and their machines,” said Amihai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. “Our technology enables OEMs and ISVs to create new depths of interaction through customization of applications that offer greater functionality, usability and capitalize on our ability to use two of the most basic extensions of the brain – the pen and our fingertips.”

Among the latest products released by Asus, the manufacturer of highest-quality computer gadgets and components, is a new portable wireless headphones model called Asus Travelite HS-1000W. It was designed for portability and to allow you to listen for your favorite music on the go, or chat with friends wherever you are, enabling clear communications over the Internet.
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Asus Travelite HS-1000W can be easily paired with a gaming laptop for in-game chat, offering a lightweight construction in a compact form factor available in classic black.

The company describes them as a USB portable wireless headphones because they support over-the-air connectivity from up to 20 meters away, after you plug the USB dongle into a free computer port.
Like the newest headsets that appeared lately in stores, Asus’ latest model features a foldable design, allowing you to insert it easily in a purse or laptop bag, to carry it with you wherever you go. It even fits slim tote bags.

The headset is plug-and-play, meaning that you won’t need to install any special software for the USB receiver and, more than that, it powers from a Li-Polymer rechargeable battery that keeps the vocal communication up for 8 hours.
Press-n-Pick and Press-n-Link functions give you the possibility to pick up or hang up Skype Phone conversations and connect the headset to the computer at the push of a button.
For a crystal-clear sound and true bass, it comes with a high 20Hz–20 KHz frequency response, < 0.08% distortion and access to different adjustments within the VoIP-based application, music player and gaming sound settings.

Asus Travelite HS-1000W potable wireless headphones use the 2.4GHz technology in a 2-way transmission mode, with a 44-mm high-performance speaker. The battery charges in 2.5 hours and keeps the headset operating for up to 3 months is left in standby.

Coming from a China manufacturer of smart computer peripherals, these egg-shaped external speakers are compatible with both laptops and iPod media players. You can use them as USB laptop speakers or iPod mini speakers for travel, choosing from several colors.

<-125x125 Button - left->All are provided by UPO Technical Products Ltd and offer stereo sound via a standard 3.5mm connectivity for computers and peripherals such as iPod, CD player, PC/MAC, MP3, MP4 and DVD players.
The design features egg-shaped shielded ABS plastic-based construction that protects the 2 speakers located inside, from accidental bumps and drops.
We don’t know the price for these models but we can assume they are very affordable if purchased directly from the China-based manufacturer.

They measure 65 x 70 x 80 mm and have 2 x 5W stereo output with mega bass.



A unique shape and the availability of various colors probably makes them eye catching among all the other computer peripherals existent on the Asian market today.

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Talking about innovative products submitted for the IFA 2008 customer electronics show, we have to mention 2 products introduced by Freesat Inc., the Laptop Pen and the TabletMouse.

What does the Laptop Pen do actually? –It is designed to convert your standard laptop computer into a highly-responsive tablet PC, after you clip the special device to the monitor, which doesn’t have to be touch-sensitive in order to recognize handwriting and, more than that, it allows you to write directly on the screen using the pen.
You don’t have to worry about leaving scratches, because the gadget set includes a protective film that you need to apply on the screen before starting to draw your sketches.

The Laptop Pen is supported by both Windows Vista and Windows XP including Microsoft Office suite up to the 2007 version, and you can use it on the new digital notebook with handwriting recognition for presentations, annotations, electronic signatures, painting, ink chatting in instant messengers, E-Learning, online training, or just for having fun with your children.

The part that clips on the monitor is the receiver station featuring a USB connector, LED lamp, the tablet function LED, and a mouse function LED, while the specially designed pen, based on the wireless technology, sports a pen cap, pen tip, mouse L/R buttons, Eject button, and a battery cap. It powers from the 1.5V cell battery x 3 EA.

In order to make it ready to work, you need to connect the clipping module’s USB cable into one of your free computer ports and run the software.
There’s also a Tablet Mode, which lets you write directly on standard paper sheets with ink and check your notes on the computer.

Freesat’s Laptop Pen that sets your digital notebook with handwriting recognition is available at around $200.

Meant to enhance productivity on the go, Newton Peripherals’ products have unique designs in very slim form factors, one of their top gadgets being the award-winning MoGo Mouse with the MoGo 1st Dad edition released in May with the occasion of Father’s Day.
<-125x125 Button - right->Now, the producer of the world’s slimmest mouse releases the MoGo Presenter Mouse, a wireless gadget that stores and charges inside your notebook’s PC/PCMCIA card slot.

As its name suggests, the new credit card-sized mouse model is designed to help you with presentations, but its main functionality is of a Bluetooth wireless mouse based on the optical technology, which provides scroll, right click and left click from up to 30 feet away.
You can use the wireless presenter for PowerPoint files with advance slides, start/escape and blank screens.

It has the features and look of a wireless Media Center remote control for laptops, plus the basic mouse functions, so you can use it on a desk or store it inside the PC/PMCIA slot to carry it wherever you need to go. You can take it out fully charged at a later time, and use it continuously for up to 10 hours.

The MoGo Presenter Mouse PC is available at a price of $89.99 and if you hurry up you can receive also 10% off the PPTMinimizer from Balesio, a compression software that reduces the size of Microsoft PowerPoint and Word files by up to 96%, without damaging the image quality. This way you have the possibility to send, share, load, edit and save large PowerPoint presentations.



“Mobile laptop users demand technology that travels well, is convenient to use with a high degree of functionality to help them be productive. We are seeing tremendous response to our ultra-portable products,” said Matthew Westover, President and Chief Executive Officer of Newton Peripherals. “We are launching the MoGo Presenter Mouse PC for the 250 million laptop users with PC Card-slots, and would benefit from the two-in-one functionality of a wireless mouse and presentation remote.”