BOXX electric bike: two wheels, four corners, all-electric transport for one

Has bicycle design reached its pinnacle? Or are electric bike manufacturers just not trying hard enough? The YikeBike begs to differ, and here joining it is BOXX Corporation's diminutive BOXX. Coming in at just under a meter (or 36-inch inches) long, the 120 pound aluminum "bike" has a top speed of 35 miles per hour and can even haul up to 300 pounds of heft. Yet, despite that compact footprint, the company hasn't skimped on tech, as it boasts traction control, anti-lock brakes and yes, even LED lights. Available in one of ten colors, $3,995 nets you a base 40-mile range model, which can optionally be doubled to 80 by ticking the $599 CORE 2 box. And for those willing to spruce even further, there's a $149 heated seat and $349 1-hour charger on offer. Ready to literally hunker down on electric mobility? Go on, peep the source links below -- do it, we've even linked the configurator.

APK puts Windows 95, 98 and XP, plus Linux on the EVO 3D

And here you thought Microsoft bringing Windows 8 to ARM was big news. Turns out, a member of the xda-developers forum has managed to make an APK that puts a variety of Redmond's x86 operating systems on the HTC EVO 3D and its 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon -- Windows 95, 98, XP and even your favorite flavor of Linux are all available for the three dee-equipped handset. All you need to do is install the Bochs Pentium emulator APK and the OS disk image of your choice, modify a couple files, and you'll be doing yesteryear's desktop computing on a handheld in no time. Feeling nostalgic? Detailed instructions how to do it yourself and the necessary files can be found at the source link below, but all we want to know is: does it do the blue screen of death or the force close dance when things go awry?

Hyundai A7 Android tablet is only $79

Hyundai has been typically been known for their cars, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t or shouldn’t be producing tablets, right? Well for those willing to give them a chance, you might be interested in taking a look at the Hyundai A7 Android tablet which after conversion will cost you approximately $79, a figure that some of you guys might consider to be an affordable “risk”. So what can users expect from the $79 Hyundai A7 Android tablet? In terms of hardware, the Hyundai IT A7 tablet will feature a 7” 800×480 display. It will also feature an Allwinner A10 CPU under the hood that has been clocked at 1.5GHz, 512MB of DDR RAM, 8GB of internal storage, 1080p HD video playback capabilities, HDMI output, SD and TF card support but will be missing both Bluetooth and GPS support. It reportedly also runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which makes it almost value for money for its modest specifications. At the moment it looks like the Hyundai A7 tablet is available only in China for 499 Yuan, but if you have a friend or relative living in China, perhaps the Hyundai A7 tablet might be worth checking out.

Sony Xperia S Launching End Of January In The UK?

Sony recently announced their latest Android smartphone, the Sony Xperia S, and the last thing we heard was that the device would land in the UK around March. Now it would appear that the Sony Xperia S may be released earlier than that, as UK retailer Play has the Xperia S up fro pre-order and is showing a release date of the 30th of January 2012. The Sony Xperia S will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, although Sony have said that it will get the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update, and the device also features a 4.3 inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. Other specifications on the Sony Xperia S include a dual core 1.5GHz processor, 32 GB of built in storage and two cameras with a 12 megapixel camera on the back, which features Sony’s Exmor R sensor and a 1.3 megapixel camera up front. The rear 12 megapixel camera will be capable of full HD video in 1080p, whilst the front facing camera will be capable of 720p video.

iDesk Concept, Provides A Glimpse Of A Future Workspace

The iDesk concept which has been designed and rendered by Adam Benton and takes a look at what desks may hold for the future. The iDesk concept is an entirely adaptable workspace that doesn’t just contain your computer and documents. But enhances their functionality by allowing them all to interact with each other, in a similar vein to Microsoft’s Surface technology. By placing objects on to the iDesk surface, devices, images and data can easily be transferred from your smartphone, tablet or camera directly to your desktop computer and vice versa. The desktop would become an additional working space to your monitor screen, and enable you to arrange and view documents as if they were paper placed on a traditional work surface. iDesk’s designer Adam Benton explains: “The desk could sync with your Mac or potentially have a Mac built in, perhaps with a portion of the desk’s surface angled upward to serve as a display. Tactile keyboards could likewise be replaced by a digital touch-sensitive version (endlessly configurable to your preferences for individual apps), and any part of the desk’s surface could be cordoned off as a trackpad area. Files could be transferred easily between Macs, iPhones, iPads, and so on by sitting the devices on the desk and swiping file icons across its surface from one device to the other.” Even though Benton’s iDesk design is still a concept many of the features incorporated into the desk have already been showcased by larger technology firms, and hopefully we will begin to see them trickle down to affordable mainstream products very soon.

Epson's iProjection wireless projection app: wireless projection using an app

Facetious headlines aside, Epson's produced iProjection: an app that lets you display those awkward holiday snaps on any wirelessly connected (Epson branded) projectors from your iOS device. All you need is to make sure your iPod/Pad/Phone is on the same network as the projector, launch the app and make sure the first thing on show isn't that candid shot of you on a beach. You'll be able to pull PDF, JPEG and PNG image files from your handheld, Dropbox and Gmail from the cloud and via Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Keynote files from the desktop. It's available today for free from the App store (you can assume the projectors will require actual cash) and after the break you'll find a press release cooling on the window.

SITA and Orange develop NFC-based airport check-ins, let you bump the TSA

You've been there before -- fumbling in-front of a non-enthused security agent, trying to download your fancy mobile boarding pass over an uncooperative network. It's that kind of awkwardness that SITA and Orange are trying to avoid with their NFC-based check-in solution. In their joint proof-of-concept, the duo embedded ticket credentials into an NFC-capable SIM card -- meaning phones without NFC circuitry can also use the tech -- which enables airport plebes to check-in, get through security, board planes and even enter lounges with just a wave of your phone. And because you're not futzing with loading a webpage, nor relying on a fussy image-based scanner, the tech should mean less time spent waiting at checkpoints. Writing that info onto the SIM has other advantages, as it can still be read even when your device runs out of juice.

The Most Expensive T-Shirt costs more than two Ferraris

The high-priced $45,000 Eton shirt just got beaten by a huge margin as "The Most Expensive T-shirt in the World" (yes, that is what the t-shirt is named) as far as the price tag is concerned. UK-based Superlative Luxury is out with these eco-friendly tees that they claim; help us stay free of "indulgence and decadence" that "harm our beautiful environment". Well, the $400,000 t-shirt is said to be made of "only renewable energy sources and represents a C02 reduction of 90% compared to traditional t-shirt production". It is made with 100% organic cotton with 150g/m2 quality weight, so you can wear it even if your skin is extremely sensitive. But that is not the reason for its high cost. The tee sports a "spherical pattern" studded with 16 one carat diamonds of which eight are white and eight are "enhanced rare black" ones.

Leaked Sony image: Is this the ST25i Kumquat?

What's this? If this is true, it looks like one of the jilted partners in the Sony Ericsson split is doing all it can to ruin the nice surprises planned for next month's MWC. An image has appeared at Xperia Blog that purports to be of the ST25i Kumquat, which, if you've been paying attention is the cheapest of the three phones due in April listed on the leaked roadmap from a few days ago. The design language matches the Nozomi and the Xperia S we played with at CES, but the on-screen icons are clearly bigger: pointing us in the direction of this having a cheaper display (with a worse resolution) than its brothers. Don't let that Sony Ericsson logo fool you either, the company's producing versions that bear both branding, at least for this set of releases. We're off to grab a microscope and see if we can't glean any more facts from the snap.

Apple’s Bliss electronic textbook leaked; could turn education futuristic

Paperback textbooks in schools could soon turn obsolete. With Apple’s latest leak, education in the near future could soon turn technology-soaked. Codenamed the Bliss, this device draws along the lines of the Apple Board and could turn late Steve Jobs’ vision of having electronic interactive textbooks that enabled teachers to comment and update students into a reality. However, if Apple is indeed looking to capture the world of academics with these digital textbooks, the company will need to keep an eye on its price tags, given that iOS devices have been known to blow up wallets to oblivion.

Alesis brings a pair of new musician-friendly iPad docks to NAMM

If there's been one must have accessory at NAMM this year it's been the iPad. That's right, no mixer, instrument or microphone is stealing the show, it's Apple's 9.7-inch slab of touchability that everyone is after. Alesis is just one of many companies creating compelling musical offerings around the iOS tablet with its latest products, the AmpDock and DM Dock. The DM Dock turns your iPad into the thumping, bumping and crashing heart of an electronic drum system. You can tap out rhythms and build drum sets with the touchscreen, but it's when you start plugging triggers into the 13 1/4-inch inputs that it really comes to life. The AmpDock, as you may have guessed, turns that A5 processor's attention towards your axe. There's a standard 1/4-inch jack as well as a combo XLR / 1/4-inch plug for connecting a second guitar or a mic. The AmpDock also has a separate pedalboard that allows you to control some program parameters while keeping the tablet safe from stray stomps. Check out the gallery below, as well as the video after the break.

iConvert Dock Turns iPad in to a Scanner

iConvert is a dock for the iPad that has a scanner built in. The dock has a feeder tray that allows paper to be fed through a document scanner. When an iPad is docked with the scanner, you can load up an app and any data scanned can be captured and then sent direct to the app running on the iPad. The device is compatible with both versions of the iPad (1 and 2) and when docked, you simply load in a single sheet of paper and hit the scan button on the screen. The paper is then pulled through the scanner and as it's scanned, it also is revealed on the screen. The app automatically saves the image to your library or allows you to send via email, twitter and other apps. It isn't clear in the video, or on the Brookstone website, but it appears that it also has the ability to send direct to apps such as Evernote which if this is the case, it will be a seriously handy scanner that can be used whilst on the move. The device is powered by battery but it also isn't clear how many scans you can achieve on a single charge. As for the technical specs, the iConvert can scan at 300dpi in colour. Images are saved in the JPEG format. Overall, an impressive idea assuming that it makes Evernote integration simple as a couple of taps on the screen. If not, then perhaps not so handy.

Facebook Bed

The Facebook bed otherwise known as the Fbed, has been designed by Tomislav Zvonarić, and allows those addicted to staying up to date with their Facebook updates a place to grab a little shut eye in between typing. As you can see from the images below the Facebook Bed has been designed using the Facebook “f” logo turned on its side. At one end there is a space for your computers connected directly to your Facebook pages and a sleeping area at the other. Although you will need to stay cross-legged or a little cramped when using the computer, as leg space is at a premium. The humorous concept created for the most passionate of Facebook users, is even equipped with a handy cup holder to keep your mountain dew in place whilst you surf.

Akai releases MPC Fly for iPad, waits 'til you get the pun

We already knew Akai was refreshing its legendary MPC range, but the newest member to the family -- the Fly -- has to be about the cutest. It kinda looks, initially, like a knock-off MPC novelty case, until you realize those pads are real, and that software on screen is legit. The case-and-device approach seems a smart idea, so it feels like one unit -- it even juices your slate when you charge its built-in battery. The trade-off is an extra two pounds of weight, and almost an inch of thickness. Somewhat lighter is the app which rocks effects, a sound library, sampling, supports WIST (Wireless Sync-Start Technology) and works on any iPad -- but you'll need a second-gen tab to use the hardware. Before you bemoan that this is some sort of cash-in, the whole idea is that you can lay down ideas on the (ahem) Fly, and pick them up later back in the studio. If you want to see more, drop some bass over the break for a video.

The most expensive tablet in China costs twice the price of an iPad

A 9.7-inch android tablet called “Hongpaiyihao (Red Group Number One)” launched by a Chinese vendor is making news by costing twice the price of an iPad. Touted to be made exclusively for government officials of China, the RMB 9,999 (US$1,580) tablet comes to you in a leather case which has the product name embossed in gold. It features Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 5 MP camera, 2 MP front-facing camera, 3G connectivity and runs on Android 3.2 Honeycomb. A 8,000 mAh battery, means that it should run for at least a week. However that's not all that you are paying for.

The device comes pre-installed with pro-China apps, like Red Microblog, and several of China’s stated-fund newspapers including the Electronic Public Opinion that offers exclusive content. While the homepage to the device seems inaccessible, it's hard to say if this is a prank or it is something you can actually own.

World’s first Audi R8 V10 Limo is the fastest too

Carbonyte UK and Limo Broker, the same guys to have produced the Ferrari 360 Modena, have teamed up to create the world’s first, super-stretched Audi R8 V10 Limo. Considering that similar stretching out job on the Fiat 500 Limo wasn’t taken very well by the car enthusiasts, I couldn’t decide on the fate of the Audi R8 Limo either. Apparently, the work on the Audi R8 conversion has already taken off and is set to be completed by the summer of 2012.

The Audi R8 Limo will comfortable fit in up to eight people in its race-inspired bucket seats, while the engine is a 5.2L V10 that produces 528 HP.

GM teams with Future Lab on interactive Windows of Opportunity, MI:4 tech lives on

Wishing your vehicle had a better-integrated entertainment system than the iPad you're forced to futz with in the backseat? If GM has its way, you may be in luck. The auto manufacturer has joined forces with the Future Lab at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Israel to transform boring rear windows into interactive touchscreens. Since there are no plans to work the tech into production models right now, R&D gave the students a blank... er, clear canvas on which to create solutions.

The results include apps that allow an animated character to respond to scenery outside the window and finger drawing on window steam. Two other applications enable a look into users' windows worldwide and a music stream-and-share with your mates on the road. "Traditionally, the use of interactive displays in cars has been limited to the driver and front passenger, but we see an opportunity to provide a technology interface designed specifically for rear seat passengers," said Tom Seder, GM R&D lab group manager. Check out the apps in action or the particulars in the PR after the break.

Level 10 M Gaming Mouse Revealed By Thermaltake And BMW Designworks

If you are becoming a little bored of your traditional computer mouse you might be interested to know that Thermaltake and BMW Designworks have joined forces once again to create a new mouse called the Level 10 M. It’s not the first time Thermaltake and BMW Designworks have partnered to create a new product, and you might remember their first creation together theLevel 10 GT tower case.

The new high-tech Level 10 M Mouse features a hollow body together with some very unique design styling to provide a sleek mouse which has been designed for long periods of use.

On the top of the Level 10 M Mouse the palm rest has been perforated to allow passive airflow, and can be adjusted both in height and also the angle of orientation to the mouse body. The Level 10 M Mouse can also be adjusted by turning a screw on the top side of the mouse that enables users to easily adjust the size and shape of the mouse to ergonomically fit their hand.

Other than that no other information has been released as yet, but as soon as any more information becomes available regarding the new Level 10 M Mouse we will keep you updated as always.

HP VantagePoint 132 Inch Multitouch Display Unveiled

HP has this week unveiled their new VantagePoint display which measures a massive 132 inches across its diagonal, and is capable of supporting up to 32 touch points simultaneously. The new ultrahigh resolution interactive wall has been designed by HP to provide an immersive interactive experience, allowing users to use videos together with local and online applications in addition to live web feeds.

The VantagePoint system has been created by combining 6 x HP LD4730G 47 inch Ultra-Micro Bezel displays and measures 11 feet wide by 7 feet high. The VantagePoint is connected to a high performance HP Z800 Workstation enabling it to handle even the heaviest audio and video loads and full on-screen interaction.

Together with a smaller HP Pavilion Slimline controls display colour and contrast, the whole system runs Windows 7, together with applications written in JavaScript, C++, C# and Microsoft Presentation Framework.

HP hopes their new VantagePoint display will allow businesses to engage customers via specialised applications and improve back office operations using touch interaction. HP is currently marketing their new multitouch VantagePoint system commercially at the moment for around hundred and $125,000. Unfortunately there is currently no indication when the technology will be made available. However you can sign up for more information on the HP website.

Trax MkII Concept Watch Uses Tracks To Tell The Time

A new concept watch submitted to the TokyoFlash website this week called the Trax Mark II, has a very unique way to display the time, using a belt system of tracks, inspired by military hardware.

The time on the Trax Mark II concept watch is told by either three of four tracks. With the hours positioned on the right hand side and minutes on the left hand side of the watch face, if you can call it that.

The current time is displayed in the middle of the watch face between the red horizontal brackets. The idea behind the concept is that the belts are driven by small mortised movements or a mechanical movement.

If you think the design is something you would like to wear on your wrist jump over to the TokyoFlash website and cast your vote to try and help the concept watch make the jump from idea to reality.

Surface 2.0 now shipping, packing PixelSense and Gorilla Glass

Samsung's SUR40 has been a long time coming. The 40-inch next-gen Surface was unveiled at CES 2011, but it's only just now starting to ship, following the 2012 edition of that gadget show. It finally went up for pre-order in mid-November for $8,400, but at the time we still had no clear date for shipments. Those of you waiting impatiently to get your table-PC can rest easy however, as the AMD-based Win7 machine should already be en route to your doorstep -- provided you coughed up the cash one of course. We guess it was just a matter of finally getting that sensor-in-pixel tech worked out. Head on after the break for the full PR.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus show up in white

Someone, somewhere in Vietnam has had access to white colored versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, and just before you sit up and ask, “Hey! There are already white colored versions of those tablets in the market, so what’s new about these?”, bear with me for a little while. These are all new models, where you will find a white bezel instead of a black bezel around the display on current white models in the market. Apart from the slight change in color on the outside, everything else within both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus do seem to be the same. There is no word on pricing or availability, so it remains to be seen whether this will cost a wee bit more because of a cosmetic change. One thing we do know is this – Vietnam’s one of the places to go to if you want more information on leaked handsets and gizmos!

Sony Xperia S arriving in the UK in March

Products announced at events like CES usually don’t hit the streets until much later in the year, but it looks like that’s not the case for the Sony Xperia S. One of the first Xperia phones without the Sony Ericsson badge might be arriving sooner than we thought according to online retailers in the UK, Clove and Phones4U. OnClove’s blog, they announced that the Sony Xperia S will be retailing for £468 ($716) unlocked and off-contract; and will be arriving on the week of March 5^th.

Now that may seem pricey – but it usually always does after currency conversion. Plus when it reaches the US it will probably be sold on contract with a subsidized price (though there’s no official word of when that will happen yet). However if you’re in the UK and you’d like to pre-order the phone, you can head over to Clove’s website where you can pick up the phone along with its compatible accessories. Be sure to check out ourCES 2012 coverage of the Sony Xperia S.

CTL Introduces New Tablets

The new models are called 2go Classmate PC NL3 convertible tablet and the 2go Classmate PC E12. As the name suggests, the PC NL3 looks like a laptop but can be converted into a tablet by reversing its screen. The PC E12 is a more standard looking laptop.

The specs for both units are no slouch, with a 1.6GHz Atom N2600 processor powering the new models. There’s also 1GB of RAM onboard. Those looking for a more optimum performance may choose an SSD drive instead of a standard hard drive as the company offers both.

As expected, the NL3, being more versatile, will cost you $499 while the E12 will be pegged at $349. The company will be shipping the units by February,

Motorola XT615

 The Motorola XT615 intends to change that, where this Android-powered smartphone is a mere 9.8mm thin, allowing you to slip it into your jeans without any hassle. Despite the relatively thin body, you still get decent hardware specifications such as a 4″ edge-to-edge display at 480 x 854 resolution, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, 1GB ROM, 512MB RAM, and an 800MHz processor, coming in licorice and ultra white colors. No idea on whether the Motorola XT615 will ever make its way Stateside, but we do know that it will hit Hong Kong first sometime in the early part of this year for approximately $348 after conversion.

Toshiba’s 55-inch 4K glass-free 3DTV to storm US stores

Toshiba is all set to launch a 55-inch glass free 3DTV in the US by the first quarter of 2012. The TV is first of its kind to be released in US, with a 4K resolution, which is 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. The LCD maintains its superlative HD resolution when it is in 2D mode; however, it drops down to 720p when displaying 3D content. Besides the need to wear 3D glasses, the technology is upgraded to enable face tracking to fine tune the experience for upto nine people. While this model has already been launched in Japan and Germany as Regza 55X3 and 55LZ2 respectively, Toshiba is expected to display another prototype at the CES this year. There is no information yet on other details, but we reckon it could be a tad expensive than the already existing $10,000 price tag for its siblings overseas.

Polaroid SC1630 Smart Camera packed with Android and WiFi connectivity makes CES 2012 debut

Shutterbugs ahoy! Polaroid just added a dash of Google to photography and unveiled this fabulous piece of technology at the CES 2012. The 3.2-inch device called the Polaroid SC1630 Smart Camera comes with a 16-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom. Boasting a 36-108mm lens, this Smart Camera instantly hooks up with WiFi networks, enabling you to quickly upload images on social networking sites. Also, users have access to the Android Market for application downloads and the like. Pricing on this one hasn’t been confirmed by the manufacturer until now though, and we’re pretty sure this Polaroid will fly off store shelves when launched.

Tamaggo Imager takes 360 Degree Photos with just one click

Our ubiquitous smartphones can do a plethora of things for us. However when it comes to 360 degree panoramic photography, I am not sure how many handsets at present do a good job. That’s where Tamaggo’s “imager” steps in. Though this wasn’t exactly a crucial need of the hours, the newly unveiled device reduces the task of creating 360 degree panoramic into a easy, oneMore Info

Sony demos 24- and 46-inch glasses-free 3DTVs, we go eyes-on

Take a quick tour of the showroom floor here at CES and you'll certainly see, 3D days are here again -- at least, where flat panel manufacturers are concerned. And while the industry continues to pump out mass market iterations of the living room tech that hinge upon hideous eyewear, companies More Info

Ford Evos concept

 There is always something interesting to check out on the CES showfloor, and the automotive department is not exempt. Known as the Ford Evos concept, this dramatic four-door fastback designed ride will merge a striking new profile that looks extremely fierce. On the outside, you will find a design language that is revolutionary, boasting an innovative silhouette and striking yet modern proportions. You will find gull-wing doors make an appearance here, where it opens up to reveal a unique four-door, four-seat layout. On the inside, you will not find it difficult to find yourself as though you were out of place from a normal car, and the Ford Evos Concept was specially built around the driver. Sporting a stylish and innovative cockpit, it might deliver new levels of driving pleasure and driver interaction.

Since it is a conceptual vehicle, you know that there are some laws of physics that can be disregarded, and the Ford Evos concept will have a heart for the environment, boasting a state-of-the-art lithium-ion plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain that delivers next-generation performance and fuel economy. To drive you into the future (pun intended), the Ford Evos concept also features cloud connectivity that will further boost efficiency by optimizing the choice of powertrain modes each time you drive to your destination.

Ectaco jetBook Color e-reader hands-on

E Ink Holdings is here at Showstoppers to show off a slew of new displays, with Ectaco's jetBook Color eReader standing among the most notable. First announced back in December, this device boasts a 9.7-inch, 1600 x 1200 display, replete with Triton Color E Ink technology. The WiFi- and 3G-enabled e-reader was explicitly designed with students in mind, with a bevy of educational books, tools and software preloaded. The colors we saw here at CES couldn't exactly be described as vivid, but, as with most other E Ink laced devices, this e-reader boasts a rather healthy battery life, capable of lasting for "weeks," we're told, on a single charge. The jetBook Color has already launched across classrooms in Russia, and is slated to launch on a global scale in the near future. For a closer look, check out our gallery below, along with our hands-on video, after the break.

Xerox Mobile Scanner hands-on

Xerox and consumer aren't necessarily words that get thrown together a lot, but the company's Mobile Scanner could actually find a home with some -- provided they're willing part with $250. It's reasonably light-weight (only 22.5 ounces) and it can (almost) instantly beam any document you feed it to an Eye-Fi connected device. It'll survive 300 pages on a single charge and keep your Android phone full of docs. What makes it special is the ability to scan not just JPGs, but PDFs. You can also switch between JPG, black and white PDF or color PDF with just a few taps of a button. It can even create multipage PDFs if you just feed a second document through within five seconds. Around back you'll discover the secret weapon -- an SD card slot populated with an Eye-Fi card that supports PDF creation. Check out the gallery below for a few more impressions.

Gigabyte S1081 Windows 7 tablet announced

Gigabyte has just announced the launch of its new high-performance Windows 7 tablet. Called the S1081, it features a 10.1″ display and is powered by the new Intel Atom Cedar Trail platform which is touted to be powerful and energy efficient at the same time. The tablet will be available in two variants – one with a 500GB HDD for users who need the extra storage space, and a SSD version for those who want even better performance from the tablet.In addition to the multi-touch capacitive display, the tablet will feature an optical trackpad to give a hand when precision is needed. The tablet also packs an HDMI and VGA port for you to output to a larger screen, USB 3.0 port, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. It also houses an Ethernet port for those occasions when there are no WiFi routers available.

The S1081 is also compatible with a multimedia docking station that comes with a DVD drive and a powerful audio system comprised of two stereo and two woofer speakers: great for those times when you’re using the tablet as a movie-playing device. The dock also comes with extra ports for increased connectivity options.

No word on pricing or availability, but we should find out in due time.

Sony Xperia Ion launched

 After years of creating phones under the Sony Ericsson brand, Sony has finally dropped the Ericsson from its name with the launch of its new Android powerhouse device – the Xperia ion. Unveiling the device at CES today, the phone is one of Sony’s most impressive creations to date. It will feature LTE connectivity – the first ever for a Sony phone.

The Xperia ion features a 4.6″ HD (1280 x 720) display (Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine), a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Sony Exmor R (featuring Fastest Capture which lets the phone take shots in just 1.5 seconds from standby and 1080p video recording capabilities), a front facing camera (capable of 720p video).

The phone also packs NFC capabilities, HD sharing via DLNA, HDMI, and BRAVIA Sync, and will come preloaded with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. However, an update for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is promised, and seeing how Sony has been doing pretty well with its updates, we’re pretty sure it’s a promise it’ll keep. The Xperia ion will be available exclusively in the US with AT&T this spring.

One Laptop Per Child XO 3.0 tablet to be showcased at CES 2012

[CES 2012] Remember back in 2009 One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) announced that it would be introducing a low-cost tablet, the XO 3.0? Well the tablet was supposed to go in production in 2010, and then was announced as delayed last year to get better screens, and we still didn’t get to see them. However, it looks like 2012 is going to be the year the tablets are finally complete.

OLPC has announced that the XO tablet will be shown off at CES next week and will go into production after it is unveiled. The tablet will feature Marvell’s Armada PXA618 SOC, 512MB of RAM, an 8″ PixelQi 1024 x 768 display (LCD option also available) and will run on Android or OLPC’s own Sugar operating system (a customized version of Linux).

The tablet will be priced at $100 to keep it affordable – but take not that regular consumers won’t be able to purchase the tablets individually, unless of course you’re the government of a developing country.

Toshiba to unveil world’s slimmest tablet at CES 2012

With the CES 2012 show in Las Vegas just around the corner, Toshiba is preparing the unveiling of the world’s slimmest 10-inch tablet. The thinnest and lightest in the world as claimed by the manufacturer, the tablet measures in at just 7.7mm “thick”. Also, the tablet packs Android 3.2, a Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 dual-core 1.2GHz chip, 1,280x800 resolution display, 1GB system memory, 32GB of flash memory storage, 7 hours of rated battery life, HDMI, USB 2.0, and microSD ports and seems to draw along the lines of the already available Toshiba Excite. Expected to be priced at approximately $800, Toshiba hasn’t confirmed the official price tag to be stuck on to this one when it surfaces in the United States for now.

Evergreen Palm sized Bluetooth keyboard with trackpad

There is nothing much to write about the Bluetooth keyboard except that it works with iOS devices (only keyboard) and Playstation 3. Not sure why anyone would want one, but if in case then this one sells for $25 in Japan and works on two x AAA batteries.

Toshiba promises world's thinnest and lightest 10.1-inch tablet and 13.3-inch Ultrabook, 55-inch QFHD TV, other wonderment for CES

It's dangerous to throw titles like "world's thinnest" and "world's lightest" around at events like CES -- what was a record breaker on Tuesday morning has a tendency to look a bit portly by Wednesday afternoon. But, never mind the caution, here comes Toshiba pledging both the thinnest and the lightest 10.1-inch tablet and 13.3-inch Ultrabook (though that latter one could just be referring to the Portege Z835 we've already reviewed). We'll have to wait a few days for any further details, though. The company is also promising to show off an OLED reference tablet with waterproof construction and wireless power plus a 55-inch QFHD television with glasses-free 3D. No world records there, but it should be quite a looker.

Ramnit worm steals 45,000 Facebook logins

Ramnit is a worm that is better known in financial industry circles, but just like how economic performance of any country will affect the lives of the everyday man on the street, so too, has the Ramnit work which has set its sights on Facebook accounts recently. According to some reports out there, a minimum of 45,000 accounts have already been compromised, and the total extent of the damage has yet to be calculated. Basically, if you happen to be on Facebook a whole lot, you might want to be more cautious about where your mouse cursor clicks. Seculert has been tracking the worm for some time already, touting that Ramnit has had its focus mainly on users in the UK and France, although everyone else around the world are not exempt from potential attacks. The motive behind Ramnit? Possibly to magnify the malware’s spread by sending links to friends and acquaintances of compromised accounts. Just be careful out there, and try to have different passwords for different accounts. Difficult and troublesome, yes, but it is a whole lot better than having your account(s) compromised.

Vertu Signature Dragon Collection celebrates Lunar New Year with three cell phones

Even before the Lunar New Year sets in, renowned brands are already celebrating by rolling out dragon-themed products to lure consumers. The latest to join the dragon-band is Vertu. They have launched three exclusive cell phones to commemorate the Year of the Dragon. Vertu Signature Dragon collection is offered in yellow gold with diamonds, stainless steel with emeralds and black stainless steel with rubies. The highlight of this collection is the ‘four-clawed dragon motif which was an emblem exclusively reserved for Chinese noblemen and senior officials’. The top of the line, yellow gold model is decked with 18ct yellow gold while the navigation button is set with a 0.33ct princess cut white diamond. At the rear, the dragon’s eyes blaze with two white diamonds. This dragon has already travelled to Switzerland to be honored with the 725 stamp in the Assay Office before settling on this Vertu. However we are disappointed with the fact that the price of the Vertu Signature Dragon gold diamond model is not known.

Lexus teases odd LF-LC 2+2 Hybrid Sport Coupe concept

Those wild and crazy guys over at Lexus are teasing a new hybrid sport coupe concept car that has a very strange design. I can see little bits of the LFA in the design. The profile of the car reminds me of theFisker Karma as well. Lexus is offering up no real detail and is taking the chance to say the car will be at the Detroit Auto Show.

The name of the car has hybrid in it, so the thing would have an electric motor or motors in there somewhere along with battery packs. I would assume that all the details on the concept would be coming at the Detroit show kicking off January 9.

The car isn’t going to be all about fuel economy either. Lexus does say that the hybrid drive will be for performance and fuel efficiency. Several sports cars are using hybrid systems today to supplement the combustion engine for greater performance. Electric motors provide lots of torque for their size.