Trust Apple to come up with interesting solutions to age-old problems. One of the reasons why virtual keyboards never really took off was the lack of tactile feedback. While pointing and multitouch gestures work best with smooth surfaces, physical keyboards still rule for data input as human hands need to feel the keys for typing accuracy. A recent solution was haptic feedback where the device vibrates when a key is pressed. However, this does not address touch typists’ needs of knowing the position of their digits in relation to the keys. Apple’s answer is to create a surface with raised bumps that correspond to the keys when the virtual keyboard is activated. These bumps will retract back to form a smooth glass surface when data input is not required.
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A few iHome computer speakers in the past, but the company is now making a bigger move into the computer accessories market after signing a licensing agreement with LifeWorks Technology Group. The new line is expected to launch “this summer,” and we’ve highlighted a couple interesting looking products, the iStand Notebook Media Bundle with an integrated iPod/iPhone dock (US$299.99) and the iConnect Media Keyboard (US$149.99). The Mac version of each is colored silver and white, while the Windows version is black. iHome-branded mice, headsets, and Webcams are also in the works.
krish Apple, computers accessory, apple iphone, computer, ihome, ipod, keyboard, mac, macbook, mouse
A portable DVD player with a built-in digital TV (DTV) tuner and Sony’s LBT-LCD7Di Muteki Shelf System with integrated DVD player and LCD. But Chinon’s US$200 AVi iPod dock is the first portable iPod speaker system we’ve seen that has both an integrated 7-inch LCD for showing iPod videos and a DTV tuner. Chinon says the AVi is “designed for use at home or on the road” and it also is equipped with an FM radio and alarm clock, though no GSM-shielding for iPhones. Unfortunately, to really be able to pull in DTV signals, you’re going to have to attach the included external TV antenna. It’s also worth noting that while the AVi is portable, if you want to cut the AC cord and go totally mobile, you’ll need to pick up eight “C” batteries and they only power the unit for about 3 hours, according to Chinon. That’s not too appealing.
krish Apple, Display device, Ipod Docks, TV, mobiles chino, chinon, clock radio, ipod speaker, portable tv, speaker, TV
