Infotainment

Logitech has just revealed its latest universal remote, the Harmony Touch. It marks the first big shift in the company's Harmony remotes in quite some time, and is designed to simplify some of the complicated controls that came with previous models. Most controls are contained on the 2.4-inch touchscreen, but there are still some physical buttons on the device for certain functions. Logitech opted to remove number buttons from the remote, which looks quite odd at first glance. Removing these allows Logitech to trim a substantial amount of girth from the device. You can still get access to a number pad via the touchscreen, if you need to enter a channel's number. The touchscreen has an option to store 50 of your favorite channels as icons that look similar to those on iOS devices. These feature the logo of the channel, which should make it easier to find the channel you're looking for. The screen will also accommodate any other functions that the physi

After forty years of venturing no farther than low Earth orbit, NASA may have decided to establish a manned outpost at a greater distance than humanity has ever traveled before. According to documents seen by the  Orlando Sentinel , NASA has chosen a  proposal  to build a space station beyond the Moon that will act as a “gateway spacecraft” to explore the Moon, the asteroids  and eventually as a staging post to launch a manned mission to Mars. The documents refer to a project that NASA Chief Charlie Bolden briefed  the White House  on earlier this month. They describe a deep space habitat that would be built at Earth-Moon Lagrange 2 (EML-2) – a point in space 38,000 miles (61,000 km) on the far side of the Moon and 277,000 miles (446,000 km) from Earth. The outpost wouldn’t orbit the Moon. Instead, at EML-2 the gravitational and centrifugal forces of the  Earth and Moon  balance out and an object placed there will remain suspended like one of those desktop novelty  floating glo

Taking a number of cues from the LF-LC Hybrid Sports Coupe Concept unveiled in Detroit in January – which isn’t a bad place to take some cues from in our opinion – the Lexus LF-CC Concept Car is a mid-sized coupe concept featuring a new 2.5-liter full hybrid powertrain that will soon be introduced on the Lexus model range. The vehicle will be unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show that kicks off at the end of the month. Like the LF-LC Concept Car, the LF-CC is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle but is a little more compact. Designed around the same L-finesse design language that will be used in future Lexus D-segment vehicles, the LF-LC and LF-CC are obviously stablemates. There’s the same mesh patterned spindle grille flanked by functional air intakes and LED headlights that lack the conventional, one-piece cover. The LF-CC's headlights also feature a new three LED-projector design, while independent Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are integrated into the

What once seemed science fiction may be becoming a reality. The futuristic SeaOrbiter ocean explorer, a concept conceived by French architect Jacques Rougerie, has been trying to reach fruition for the past twelve years. However recent developments suggest that the vessel is set to start construction this October, with possible completion in 2013. The SeaOrbiter, if it goes ahead, will be the world’s first vertical ship to measure 51 meters (170 ft) in height. To realize this achievement more than 50 percent of the vessel will remain underwater. The project is expected to cost around US$52.7 million, with ambitions to observe and explore vast cross sections of oceanic life. Furthermore the SeaOrbiter hopes to implement a new standard of scientific communication that allows researchers to track and monitor marine life in real time. In doing so, a team of 18 marine scientists will live on board of the vessel. “This vertical vessel drifts in the currents hosting 18

BRAVEN is looking to stand-out from the Bluetooth speaker crowd with a new line that offers the versatility of integrated phone charging plus speakerphone and daisy chaining functionality. The BRAVEN SIX Series comes in three flavors - two aluminum models and a ruggedized unit - which boast between 12 and 20 hours charging time. The sleek 6.25 in. x 2.5 in. x 1.75 in. (15.9cm x 6.4cm x 4.5cm) enclosures contain two HD audio drivers, left and right channel passive sub woofers and a duplex microphone for hands-free calls. The speaker output is 3 watts and there's an option to connect via an audio cable if your want to bypass the Bluetooth link. The cheapest of the three models - the US$150 BRAVEN 600 - is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and promises up to 14 hours of playtime. At the other end of the scale is the $190 BRAVEN 650 which looks just like the 600 but gets aptX and AAC audio encoding, more playback time - rated at 20 hours - and comes in a red or "Mountain Ash"

Matrox has updated its line of DualHead2Go external multi-display adapters with the simultaneous release of the DualHead2Go Digital SE and DualHead2Go Digital ME (Mac Edition). While both the SE and ME let users connect up to two monitors, the SE model features multi-GXM (Graphics eXpansion Module) support that allows two adapters to be connected to a single system to provide a total of up to four displays. Both the ME and SE share the same palm-sized form-factor, albeit with a different finish – black for the SE and, you guessed it, brushed aluminum for the ME. While the SE connects to a system’s DisplayPort video output, the ME connects via a computer’s Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt port. But that - and the ability to connect two SE's together to provide four external displays - is pretty much where the differences end. Both units feature a DisplayPort input and two DVI-D outputs, along with a powered USB port to supply power for the device – although Matrox also sells a power ad

Sony Europe has unveiled a new addition to its E Series VAIO laptop range which allows users to flick through web pages, play music and adjust volume by waving a hand in front of the unit's webcam. The 14-inch VAIO 14P also features a backlit keyboard for twilight hours typing, a USB charging port to keep mobile devices topped up, and both discrete and integrated HD graphics. The new Sony VAIO E Series 14P is powered by an Intel Core i3-2350M processor running at 2.3GHz on an Intel HM76 Express Chipset, that's supported by 4GB of DDR3 1333MHz SDRAM memory and 500GB of 5400 RPM HDD storage. As the name might suggest, it benefits from a 14-inch VAIO Display at 1366 x 768 resolution and 16:9 aspect, with onscreen action provided by AMD Radeon HD 7670M graphics with 1GB of dedicated VRAM memory and integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000. The system automatically switches between the two, depending on detected need for efficient energy use. Other power-saving features include a DVD Super

Japan’s Tokyoflash has made a name for itself with numerous weird and wonderful – or maybe baffling - ways to tell the time. Now, bringing to mind Homer Simpson’s quote of, “From now on Honey, we'll be spelling everything with letters,” when Marge is impressed by a house that has its street number spelled out with letters, German design agency Biegert & Funk is set to release a wristwatch that fancies things up by telling the time in words. Essentially a shrunk down version of the company’s QLOCKTWO wall and desktop clocks, the QLOCKTWO W features a square face measuring 35 x 35 mm (1.37 in) that contains a grid of 110 letters. Press the button on the right hand side of the watch and the relevant letters will light up to reveal the time in readable text – “It is half past ten” or “It is a quarter to seven”, for example. Additional presses of the button will reveal the calendar day, and then the seconds. Biegert & Funk will release the QLOCKTWO W in the northern autumn in st

  Astronomers using data from NASA's Kepler mission have discovered a tiny solar system consisting of a single red dwarf star, known as KOI-961 and three planets which are 0.78, 0.73 and 0.57 times the radius of Earth. "This is the tiniest solar system found so far," said John Johnson, the principal investigator of the research from NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "It's actually more similar to Jupiter and its moons in scale than any other planetary system. The discovery is further proof of the diversity of planetary systems in our galaxy." To find the size of the planets, data on a well-studied twin star to KOI-961 (known as Barnard's Star) was used. Once they were able to estimate the size of KOI-961 - or Kepler Object of Interest 961 - astronomers were able to determine how big the planets must be to have caused the observed dips in starlight. In addition to the Kepler obser

Lenovo’s IdeaPad is an interesting little device – it functions as a Windows laptop computer, but its screen detaches to operate as a stand-alone tablet. While Apple has no equivalent system of its own, a few companies have come out with products that come close. One of the latest is the Notebook Case for iPad, which consists of a keyboard-equipped hinged shell, that accepts an iPad 2 as its screen. The case incorporates USB and mini-USB ports, and communicates with the tablet via Bluetooth. Unlike some other keyboard cases, it also features a lithium-polymer battery that allows the user’s docked iPad to charge while in use. Japanese retailer Rakuten is currently offering the case on its website for ¥5,980, or about US$74. There’s no word on availability or pricing outside of Japan, or if it will work with the latest model of iPad. Users who like the general idea behind it, however, might also want to check out the Logitech Keyboard Case for the iPad 2. Source: Rakuten via 9 to 5 Mac

When we reviewed the HP TouchSmart 610-1030a all-in-one last year, we questioned just how useful most users would find the touch interface on a desktop PC. Thankfully HP has provided a non-touch alternative for those not likely to find much benefit from (and aren’t willing to pay extra for) a touchscreen-packing desktop unit. The Omni 27 Quad is also the company’s first 27-inch all-in-one model ... read on for our hands-on review. Omni 27 Quad series specs Our review unit came with Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed and was powered by an Intel Core i7-2600S processor running at 2.80 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, and with a 2 GB AMD Radeon HD 6550A graphics card. There was also a 2 TB 7200 rpm HDD for storage, Beats audio, Blu-ray drive and a digital TV tuner and accompanying remote and IR blaster for turning the unit into a DVR via Windows Media Center. This is a step or two up from the standard configuration, which features an Intel Core i

Apple's anxiously-awaited third generation iPad was introduced in San Francisco today, with a host of upgrades and additions including a bright new Retina display driven by an A5X chip with quad-core graphics, a 5-megapixel iSight camera and now, full 1080p HD video capture capability. With both Wi-Fi-only and 4G models, the new iPad 3 can connect to numerous speedy networks such as the 4G LTEs offered by AT&T and Verizon, and it still offers up to 10 hours of battery life. The iPad 3's new Retina display boasts 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution (four times the number offered by iPad 2 screens and more than a million greater than HD TV offers). At 264 pixels per inch (ppi), the density is so great our eyes are unable to discern individual pixels when viewed from a normal distance. The result? Video, images, web pages and text appear especially sharp and realistic. A 44 percent increase in color saturation also enhances the viewing exper

This week, GM rolled out the IntelliLink system. The system connects wirelessy to your smartphone and provides voice-activated access to phone and audio functions. It's the latest example of the growing number of in-vehicle smartphone connectivity systems. The IntelliLink system turns the vehicle infotainment display into a smartphone-like interface with a configurable series of icons. The system integrates a voice control function that allows drivers to place a phone call and request a specific artist or song without pulling their hands or eyes from their respective driving duties. In terms of music, IntelliLink offers several options. Drivers don't need a proper MP3 player to enjoy digital music and can simply plug a music-loaded flash drive into the USB port in the center console. The system also allows for wireless Bluetooth streaming from services like Stitcher and Pandora when paired with a smartphone. It displays album and artis

Let’s get personal for a moment – how much attention do you pay to your poo? It might surprise you to know that your bowel movements can actually say a lot about your health. A group of scientists and designers wants to make it even easier for you to gauge your health just by looking at your solid waste with a product called E. chromi. Users would have only to drink a special beverage laced with an engineered strain of E. coli – don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe. When the bacteria makes its way through through the gut, it turns poo into a color that identifies what type of digestive system malady the user is suffering from. Rotavirus, worms, salmonella, colorectal cancer, colitis and stomach ulcers are all represented by different colors. But a normal brown result means that all is well in your bowels. The bio-engineered bacteria could be useful not only for identifying the gnarly diseases making your gut feel gross – it could also be used in

An intriguing bamboo mobile phone named ADzero is set to launch in the UK before the year is out following a positive response to the design, which was originally intended for the Chinese market. Though the intention is that the phone will run Android, relatively little is known about the phone itself. ADzero's Jerry Lao indicated to Gizmag that the designers are leaving all hardware options on the table until production is ready to ro UK newspaper the Telegraph has one or two details, though. Apparently the phone will be made from treated four-year-old organic bamboo, and will be half the weight of an iPhone. Its camera will feature a ring flash surrounding the lens to minimize shadows caused by the flash. And judging by the size of the display, the ADzero will almost certainly feature a touchscreen interface. "Bamboo may seem like a strange material to use for a phone," the ADzero's designer Kieron-Scott Woodhouse told th

The Telikin is a new touchscreen family computer designed to make everyday tasks as easy as possible. It is clearly aimed at the older user, which explains why its most vaunted features are social in nature, and make  a lot of  sense for grandparents with distant relatives.  Video chat  (thanks to a built-in camera),  photo sharing  and email are first among its advertised features - all of which come ready to use  out of the box , provided an internet connection is available, of course. Operating system  and software The operating system's home screen includes a menu giving one-touch access to a  calendar , weather information, news, the web and games. All are available at the touch of a button - a button clearly labelled with the relevant words rather than an abstract icon. The menu remains visible at all times, so users can easily navigate to wherever it is they want to be. The remainder and bulk of the home screen is filled with useful, accessible alerts and data

If you've ever found yourself rolling your suitcase through the airport and wishing your luggage was self-propelled, Portland , Oregon-based BOXX has something they'd like to sell you. The company's first production electric scooter is just about a meter (39 inches) long and looks like an odd sort of cross between a piece of retro luggage and a giant-sized camera . It promises to move you up to 80 miles (129 km) on a single charge at a top speed of 35 mph (56 km/h) and comes with a price tag starting just under US$4,000. The cost seems likely to turn off all but a certain type of customer, but nobody ever said being part of the eco-hip elite was cheap. If you want to have that 80-mile range you'll actually need to upgrade by plunking down an extra $500 for a "Core2" system, which is essentially an extra battery pack. The basic unit fully charges in about four hours, but another upgrade is offered for $349 that gets you a 1-hour charger. If y