800MHz CPU-packing P565 handset appears on ASUS site

ASUS' P565 has been pretty much unofficial until now, though we did see some alleged photos and specs of the device not terribly long ago. The phone has just been officially listed on the ASUS site, however, and we've got a quick rundown of its stats (which are pretty much exactly what we'd seen before). The Glide UI-sporting, HSDPA smartphone -- which ASUS claims is the "fastest business PDA phone" in the world -- runs Windows Mobile 6.1, has an 800MHz Marvell CPU, a 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen, 256MB flash memory and 128MB of DDR SDRAM, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, and a microSD slot with SDHC support. Like we said, none of this is a big surprise, but it's the first official look we've had at the handset, though we're still waiting on word about pricing and availability.
Resource - Engadget

Smart camera sports Atom

Matrox Imaging announced a Windows CE "smart camera" that uses a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. The Iris GT features 256MB of RAM, 1GB of flash storage, a gigabit Ethernet port, USB 2.0 and RS232 serial ports, plus an opto-coupled trigger input and strobe output, says Matrox.

(Click here for a larger view of Matrox's Iris GT)

According to Matrox, the Iris GT is designed to run "machine vision" applications created using the company's Matrox Design Assistant (IDE) integrated development environment. The IDE aims to let manufacturing engineers and technicians configure and deploy applications without the need for conventional programming, the company claims.

Matrox Design Assistant runs on a Windows desktop PC, and is said to let users design machine vision applications using a flowchart. Adding elements to an application is done by taking steps from a toolbox. Available steps include image analysis and processing, communication, flow-control, and I/O, the company says.

A finished application will be able to accept input from the camera, then perform operations such as the following, according to the company:

• Locating and reading barcodes
  
• Finding and recognizing character strings
  
• Recognizing patterns
  
• Measuring the geometry of 2D objects
  
• Compensating for lens distortion, and calibrating itself via a grid or a list of known points

Matrox's Design Assistant IDE (left) creates applications (right) that run on the Iris GT smart camera
(Click to enlarge)
Once an application has been created via the IDE (above left), it is then deployed to the Iris GT smart camera, where it runs independently. The device includes an integral HTTP server, allowing an operator to check up on its operations remotely (above right) from any web browser, Matrox says.

Camera hardware

As mentioned above, the Iris GT runs Windows CE 6.0 on a 1.6GHz Atom processor, though Matrox did not say whether the CPU is the N270 part usually associated with netbooks, the 230 aimed at nettops, or -- most likely, we think -- the Z530 commonly found in MIDs (mobile internet devices). The device has 256MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage.

Connectivity for the camera includes gigabit Ethernet, an RS232 interface, four digital inputs, four digital outputs, one opto-coupled trigger input, and one strobe output. The device can connect to Modbus via TCP/IP, Matrox adds.

Optically, the camera has a C-mount connector that allows lenses to be interchanged. According to Matrox, the Iris GT is available with a choice of two different monochrome sensors: A Kodak-supplied CCD has 640 x 480 resolution and captures 110 frames per second, while a Sony-supplied CCD has 1280 x 960 resolution and captures 22.5fps.

Described as "sturdy, dust-proof, and washable," the Iris GT operates over temperatures from 0 to 50 deg. C (32 to 122 deg. F). It requires 24VDC input power and uses approximately 10 Watts, says Matrox.

Features and specifications listed by the company for the Iris GT include the following:

• Processor -- 1.6GHz Intel Atom
  
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage
  
• Camera -- Monochrome sensor, with 640 x 480 or 1280 x 960 resolution
  
• Networking -- Gigabit Ethernet, with 8-pin M12 connector
  
• Other I/O:
  • RS232
    
  • Digital I/O -- four inputs and four outputs
    
  • Trigger input
    
  • Strobe output
• Operating temperature -- 0 to 50 deg. C (32 to 122 deg. F)
  
• Power requirements -- 24VDC, 10 Watt typical
  
• Weight -- n/s
  
• Dimensions -- n/s

According to Matrox, the Iris GT will be available in the first quarter of 2009, though pricing was not released. More information may be found on the company's website, here.
Resource - WindowsForDevices

iriver's wave touchphone hits Korea on March 9th

After teasing us with a touchscreen phone way back at CES this January, iriver has been decidedly mum on the subject ever since, calling what we saw more of a "proof of concept" than a ready-for-market product. Well, that veil has been lifted and we're finally staring at the iriver wave, a touchphone that iriver plans to start shipping in Korea on March 9th of next year with KT, and with other major carriers to follow. Other than a touchscreen, the phone packs WiFi and the traditional kitchen sink approach of Korean PMPs, with multimedia playback, FM radio, e-books and an electronic dictionary. There's miniSD expansion, access to the Bugs Music Service for online music and we're sure a few other perks hidden under layers of Korean spec sheets. Overall the physical design hasn't really changed much from what we saw at the start of the year (looks like that 3-inch, 480 x 272 touchscreen is quite intact), but the software has certainly been refined, and is devoid of many of its original, erm, iPhone-inspired touches.
Resource - Engadget

Kids-on with the SMART Table

We got to play around with a SMART Table in a classroom full of lucky kids at Haines Elementary School in Chicago this morning, and we came away impressed with how much they loved it. The multitouch table is built on the same basic idea and hardware as Microsoft Surface -- Vista PC, XGA projector, infrared camera -- but it's a custom patented SMART design, not Surface lite or anything like that. That said, the multitouch system isn't quite as responsive as Surface, and the kid-proof plastic screen felt a little weird, but it certainly works well enough -- the Table recognizes up to 40 touches (enough for six kids to play comfortably, we were told) and we saw some interesting demos, ranging from the standard rotate / zoom photo app to painting and puzzle games. Teachers get admin access with a special USB key that enables them to manage apps, and there's an SDK in the works, so hopefully there'll be quite a few to manage. SMART says the Table should start shipping next spring for somewhere between $7,000 to $8,000 each -- obviously the company will be targeting school systems with its extensive SMART Board sales network, but well-off parents will be able to score one for their hopelessly spoiled darling children as well. Check a few vids of the table in action after the break.
Resource - Engadget

Motorola intros avant-garde $2,000 AURA, markets it like a Rolex

We can't remember the last time we purchased a phone because it possessed 700+ individual components, a stainless steel housing or a front plate that takes a fortnight to create, but Motorola's hoping you start to care about that kind of minutiae right about now. The admittedly gorgeous AURA (previously coined V70) is the world's first handset with a 16-million color circular display, and aside from making / receiving calls with the utmost clarity, it also boasts a Swiss-made main bearing, 62-carat sapphire crystal lens, a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, microUSB port, quad-band GSM connectivity, a microSD card slot, multimedia player and up to 7.3-hours of talk time (400-hours in standby). The 4.97-ounce handset is available exclusively from the MOTO STORE for $1,999.99, with pre-orders shipping out beginning December 4th. Who's in?

[Thanks, Paulo and Jake]

Read - Dedicated AURA website
Read - Motorola AURA press release
Resource - Engadget

Exclusive: HTC’s First WiMax Device!

So early yesterday evening I got a rather cryptic contact submission here on nedge2k.com regarding a new WiMax enabled HTC device. Needless to say, this had me pretty excited. This morning, I got the pictures and some info…so here it is!

What we have here is the "HTC T8290" and it is due out on the Russian WiMax network, Yota, very soon - so I’m told. Some specs as follows:

* 3.8" 800×480 WVGA LCD
* GSM+WiMax
* 802.11g WiFi
* Bluetooth 2.0

…yes, specs are a bit thin on the ground but I’m told to expect more info soon!

So what’s so good about WiMax? Well, think of it as having ADSL2+ on your phone! From the pictures, you can clearly see this thing is connecting at speeds around 14meg, impressive!

More info as I get it. Many thanks to my anonymous tipster for this great scoop!

Resource - nedge2k