LEDs are very well known for their recent use in Christmas lighting, but OLEDs are a little different. OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode and is praised mainly for its properties concerning energy usage. Because the diodes can emit light without a backlight they can be used in much thinner devices and can run for longer on the same charge as a traditional LCD screen. OLED screens also be produced at a fraction of the cost of LCD screens because the diode printing process can be performed on a variety of surfaces even with household inkjet printers. In addition if the diodes are printed onto a flexible surface this creates the possibility of flexible screens of light, a method that is key to the future of roll-up and fabric displays.

The actual quality of the light emitted from OLED displays is also of a higher quality than LEDs since the pixels are able to directly emit light, again without a backlight. This also allows a greater range of screen vision, even up to a 90 degree angle. If you’ve ever struggled to get a good view on your LED television screen, you know what a benefit this is. In addition to the vibrancy of color and quality of light, OLED screen can also portray “true black” by turning off individual pixels, not only giving a better picture quality but saving energy. To top it all off, OLED screens have a much faster response time, being .01ms as opposed to the 2ms time of LCDs, giving you not only better picture, but better accuracy. 

But OLEDs do have a downside. Because they are composed of “organic materials” these screen have a very limited lifetime, averaging only about 14,000 hours (around five years of use) while LCD screen average about 60,000 hours- over four times as long. But there are innovations in this area, with the development of a metal membrane which helps deliver light to the screen more effectively, using half the energy and doubling the screen’s expected life. 

Is OLED the future? It seems so considering the benefits of such a screen. Already labeled one of the hottest gadgets of 2009 by a number of online articles and journals, the OLED screen is sure to be a big improvement in computer and television technology. 

Intelligent furniture, that is furniture with built-in electronics capabilities, is becoming more and more popular as home electronics become sleeker, smaller, and easier to integrate. One of these is the MECO, or MediaCore, a home entertainment mecca of sorts, consolidating your PC, DVD player, TiVo, digital television and any other home entertainment equipment you use. Encased in MECO’s sturdy wooden frame is hidden a PC running Windows Vista Ultimate, a quad-core Intel processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 4TB hard drive, WiFi connectivity, 8-channel HD audio, and room for more.

The MECO also featured a state-of-the-art cooling system to keep all your gear running, as well as allowing accessibility from the front and back of the unit for use and maintenance. So what makes the MECO different from other home entertainment systems? The truth is at first glance, not much, but it’s the look of the piece that is its real selling point.

When you first see the MECO it appears as nothing more than a coffee table or television stand and that’s just want its meant to do. Instead of showing off all the boxes and wires, your entire system is discretely hidden in plain sight. Isn’t that what the future of home furnishing was supposed to hold? 

MediaCore is not the only one on this forefront though. There is a very evident trend along the lines of hiding electronics including intelligent chairs, desks, and tabletops with iPod ports (arguably the most popular hidden electronic feature) as well as WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities. But my favorite by far is the Amadeus Sound System wing-backed chair with built-in speakers, iPod and CD connectivity, and woolen cashmere cushions. The look of this piece is classic, while the functionality is all new.

The more the world heads towards a paper-less, electronic filled society, the more these “intelligent furniture” pieces tend to creep up, proving easier and more convent use of the gadgets we use every day. 

U.S. patent application number 20080319910. Behind those
digits lies a potential future of owning a Personal Computer. A patent applied
for by the Microsoft Corporation, published on Christmas Day, reveals the
details for a pay as you go-approach to owning a computer with the the initial
unit coming at little to no cost to the consumer. But in the world of
uber-affordable Netbooks and the growing popularity of ‘everything but the
kitchen sink’ smartphones, is the idea of quasi-coin-operated computer going to
fly?

In its most rudimentary form, the patent outlines a
subsidized or free computer that then charges a fee based on usage. The
criteria for the cost is a combination of time spent and level of performance
demanded.

“A computer with scalable performance level components and
selectable software and service options has a user interface that allows individual
performance levels to be selected,” reads the patent abstract. The application
goes on to state that “The scalable performance level components may include a
processor, memory, graphics controller, etc. Software and services may include
word processing, email, browsing, database access, etc. To support a pay-per-use
business model, each selectable item may have a cost associated with it,
allowing a user to pay for the services actually selected and that presumably
correspond to the task or tasks being performed.” The application was filed
back in June of 2007.

So why on Earth would someone want to risk actually spending
even more on a computer? Well, the service has the potential to bolster where
other units can only struggle; performance. If, initially, you can only afford
a $500 computer, the peformance and potential for such a rig may be greatly
inhibited, espescially if you don’t know your way around a motherboard.
However, by offering baseline, upgradable PCs to a user at next to no cost, may
in fact yield a model better suited to the rapidly evolving world of modern
technology.

The end result is dubbed, in the application, to be “a
more granular approach to hardware and software sales” with the end result being
that the consumer is ” able to select a level of performance related to
processor, memory, graphics power, etc that is driven not by a lifetime maximum
requirement but rather by the need of the moment.”

The application states that “When the need is browsing,
a low level of performance may be used and, when network-based interactive
gaming is the need of the moment, the highest available performance may be made
available to the user.”

office, gaming, and browsing.

The patent application then goes on to depict three distinct
‘bundles’ based on usage; office, gaming, and browsing:

“The office bundle may include word-processing and
spreadsheet applications, medium graphics performance and two of three
processor cores,” the document reads. “The gaming bundle may include
no productivity applications but may include 3D graphics support and three of
three processor cores. The browsing bundle may include no productivity
applications, medium graphics performance and high-speed network interface.”

“Charging for the various bundles may be by bundle and
by duration. For example, the office bundle may be $1.00 [68 pence] per hour,
the gaming bundle may be $1.25 per hour and the browsing bundle may be $0.80
per hour. The usage charges may be abstracted to ‘units/hour’ to make currency
conversions simpler. Alternatively, a bundle may incur a one-time charge that
is operable until changed or for a fixed-usage period.”

Ultimately, this new model would strive to establish a more
consistent stream of revenue, in juxtaposition to the one-off, every five
years. In return, users would see consistent levels of performance, as opposed
to starting at a plateau that quickly falls off the precipitous cliff of
outdated hardware/software.

An interesting approach, and one that comes in stark
contrasts to the likes of Apple, which essentially penalizes early adopters
with its nearly annual overhaul of technology. But it’s also going to be one
hell of a hard sell.

Source

First things, first. The device itself, is much bigger than the Kindle. The screen is the same size as a sheet of printer paper–8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall. Said screen is also a touchscreen for easier use than the Kindle, as well. The Plastic Logic Reader’s official product page at PlasticLogic.com describes the device as being “thinner than a pad of paper.”

The page also describes it as supporting Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint formatted documents (one assumes this would include plain text and rich text files as well, since Word can handle them, too). The Reader can also display PDFs, which is really the answer to the first question you want to ask when considering an e-book reader. The second question is how you you get all of those documents onto it.

The answer to that question is quite basic and simple. Which are both generally good things when considering anything. Simple = Good.

There is a mini-USB port on the device for transferring files. However, users can also take advantage of Bluetooth or WiFi file transfers, as well. See that? Nice and simple. Unlike the Kindle model which requires users to get most of their content from Amazon.com. While it’s true that there are other ways to get content onto the device there is something so nice about just dragging and dropping. Also, the device can wirelessly transfer between other Readers. That’s pretty handy.

Plastic Logic is saying they’re aiming their device at mobile business professionals, which is why they claim it’s not a Kindle killer. The thing is, it seems to cover a lot of the same bases as the Kindle and it does it in a more elegant and simple fashion. Sure, you may not be able to download the top-ten best sellers from Amazon.com with ease from where ever you are, but how many people would actually want to do that? It’s obvious that not only could this reader obliterate the Kindle in almost all aspects, it would be the logical choice for anyone who really doesn’t want to carry more devices around than he or she needs to.

The Plastic Logic Reader will ship sometime in the first half of 2009 and one assumes it will be priced to match the Kindle, or perhaps run a bit more pricey since it’s aim at the business-suit crowd.

To see the Plastic Logic Reader demoed at, uh, DEMO ’08, watch the below video embedded from PlasticLogic.com:

What happens if one person in one of those locations needs to get up to, say, wash the dishes in the middle of the conference?

Don’t laugh! In the video after the jump, you’ll see that such a scenario is demonstrated (despite being highly unlikely)! So, let’s say you have to get up from the table while having that incredibly important tele-conferencing session and need to make sure your voice is still heard, and preferably, your face still seen.

What do you do?

The answer is simple, apparently. You use Jeppe’s ability to follow you to the sink so you can do those dishes while carrying on that important meeting.

See, Jeppe is a little robot with wheels, a camera and microphone that is controlled by a Nokia Internet tablet. It can follow you around as you talk to the person on the other end. Nokia says that he’s supposed to be a sort of robotic pet allowing families to keep in touch with relatives. However, thanks to a number of free alternatives, like Skype, Gizmo Project and basically any video-enabled instant messaging service, one wonders just who the heck would spend any money on this thing.

As of July 2008, Jeppe’s features are a bit on the limited side. For now, that tablet has to be on the same WLAN as the Jeppe in order to connect to the rolling robot. Obviously, the plan will be to have this work over the Internet in the future.

Also, Jeppe only has one-way video (it has the camera, the user with the tablet can see what Jeppe sees), and two-way audio, hence the tele-conferencing instead of video conferencing. The official website for Jeppe claims that two-way video is coming.

For now, though, you can check out this “amazing” video that demonstrates a kind of product that really doesn’t make any sense. One can’t help but wonder why simply staying seated at the table during a meeting is so difficult. Why anyone would want, let alone need, to have the ability to send their tele-conferencing unit zooming around someone’s office, looking up women’s skirts and knocking over potted plants and–actually, maybe this little guy has a purpose after all!

Jeppe is still in development and there’s no official word on when or even if it will be made available to the public.

By the way, the website doesn’t tell us how “Jeppe” is pronounced so, hopefully, they’ll include that in future versions along with two-way video and the ability to connect over the Internet.

What could be better than a USB hub? How about a composite-RCA, component-RCA, S-video output and media-playing capabilities? Brando now has available a new version of it’s old HD dock that allows you to play your favorite media directly into your favorite TV (assuming your favorite TV has some sort of RCA or S-Video inputs, that is). Brando’s “SATA HDD Multimedia Dock” also has a SD-slot and can support 2.5 inch SATA drives as well as 3.5 inch variety.

However, there’s even a bit more to this seemingly miraculous gadget…

What’s really nice about this thing is that it still allows you to access your SATA drives via USB. It’s not like you have to pop your drive out of this puppy and plop it into one of their older models. The only thing to be really concerned about here is that Brando isn’t exactly Sony.

The SATA HDD Multimedia Dock prices in at $84US on their website, but for that kind of price, for all of these great features, you might wonder just how reliable the thing is. It’s not like it’s easy to just ship it back to Hong Kong (where Brando is located) if it doesn’t work.

Sure, the web page says the device can play MPEGs 1/2 & 4, XVID, Divx3.11/4 & 5, along with MP3, WMA and WAV files, but, hey, can they play them well? Since there isn’t a “reviews” section on Brando’s product page for the SATA HDD Multimedia Dock, it’s just a crap shoot. Granted, Brando couldn’t stay in business if it didn’t sell products that worked, but at least one commenter over at Engadget.com did get stung when the SATA HDD Multimedia Dock he bought didn’t not function as advertised.

Still, a device like this is clearly a great idea (especially considering it even comes with a remote). So, perhaps its existence will prove to the big names in electronics that there is a demand for such a product. Until then, it might be a better idea to just put your $84US toward a 160 gig iPod Classic. At least then you know you can play what it says you can play.

Well, Ymup, a Japanese company has developed technology that will allow you to have just that, in the form of the oxygen-generating (oxygenerating?) Oxycool 32–a somewhat diminutive little box that can sit on a desk, countertop, or just about anywhere else.

The device, itself, is small enough to fit on a desk or in a backpack.
There have been reports that Ymup plans a battery operated version that will put this device inside a backpack, allowing you to get 30% oxygenated air flowing into your nose on-the-go. This version comes with a remote so you don’t have to take the pack off to control what you’re breathing.

According to the official details page for the Oxycool 32 (translated
here by Yahoo’s BabelFish) it’s possible to get oxygen out of the thing for an hour straight, on batteries, one assumes. Meanwhile, it also makes the claim that it can be run continuously. There is also an version that allows you to charge for specific lengths of time for it to run, assuming you want to charge for, you know, air.

Regular flavored oxygen just not interesting enough for you? Ymup also has perfumes available for the Oxycool 32, allowing you to liven your air flow up a bit.

You can expect to get 3 liters of oxygen per minute out of the thing
depending on temperature and atmospheric pressure (again, according to the official details page). It weighs just
shy of nine pounds and there are no details on their site regarding
how the portable, battery-operated version will differ. One assumes
the only change will be the weight of the battery.

So, if you’re finding that you’re just not getting enough oxygen in your diet, and you live in Japan, consider the Oxycool 32.

The idea of the e-book is similar to that of an mp3, in the reduction of the physical packaging of the material into a stream of data, making it cheaper to produce and easier to sell. It is easy to say the Kindle is the iPod of literature. However, like to iPod or iPhone in its early stages, the Kindle sells for roughly $360, making the initial purchase a little pricey.

Rivals have already sprung up, including the Sony Reader Other sites, like EcoBrain, covered in this article, have taken to providing access to e-books without the purchase of a reader.

In fact, the e-book trend it growing even with those not yet willing to shell out for a reader. Many people now find it easier to download their favorite novels in the comfort of their own home, without the threat of sold-out shelves or waiting lists. The Sony Reader’s partner service, Connect, has over 10,000 titles, while the Kindle’s partner service provides access to 140,000.

Questions arose initially within the industry about the product’s niche. Would people buy it? What would it feel like to curl up with your Kindle instead of your favorite worn-out paperback? Many people still prefer the feel of books, but imagine sitting in the doctor’s office, or on vacation, and suddenly getting the urge to read that favorite novel. The one you left at home. Certainly at times like these the Kindle makes itself worth the while. Of course, there was a time when an iPod seemed frivolous, but it is now a staple of the modern life. Will the Kindle be just as necessary in another 10 years?