Tech & Gadget Stream

With a name like Hitachi Mobile Hi-Vision Cam Woo, we can't help but be interested with what this can offer you. It does record video in 720p resolution (although it isn't the first), and also packs in a 5-megapixel sensor, HDMI interface and a microSDHC memory card slot that ought to last you some ways before it runs out of memory (or battery). Apparently, the Hitachi Mobile Hi-Vision Cam Woo will be out in Japan this Monday on KDDI, although we're willing to bet our bottom dollar that this will never make its way across the Pacific.

We've seen the Apple tablet rumor go by, and we've been following this since the patent was filed, including the recent rumors. However, some are saying that Apple’s tablet could be a "kindle" (or kindle dx) killer, and that's a little bit more curious. For sure, a tablet computer would have many advantages over an eBook and Apple can probably put up a good fight on the distribution side, but the real question is the battery life and the display. Such a tablet probably won't last for more than 3-4 hours of continuous use, so one has to wonder if that's good enough to act as an efficient eBook. For some users, naybe, but for hardcore readers it is not so certain. Also, reading on an LCD display arguably strains the eyes more than reading on an eBook. We think that it will take an eBook (with color e-Ink) and a great distribution system to Kill the Kindle.

With Nokia's Ovi Store about to be launched, it looks like Nokia is going to make an effort to take down Apple's App Store. While Google's Android Market had 50 selections when it was launched, Nokia says the Ovi Store will have over 20,000 items ready for download, which is a good start, especially since Apple has about 40,000 apps in the App Store. The questions that people are asking is that whether said "items" include ringtones and songs. Obviously that number includes custom apps and WidSets, possibly even N-Gage games. After all, it's about quality, not so much quantity.

Word on the street has it that Samsung will be releasing the Exclaim M550 from Sprint, their latest messaging handset. The Samsung Exclaim M550 is touted to be the spiritual successor to the Samsung Rant, where it will be equipped with an alphanumeric and a QWERTY keypad, where both of them will feature the sliding mechanism for a unique mode of access. Other features that ought to come with the Exclaim M550 include :- 2.6" QVGA display EV-DO Rev. 0 connectivity Social networking applications GPS navigation 2-megapixel camera microSDHC memory card slot Sprint has slated the Samsung Exclaim M550 for a June 7 release in either blue or purple colors. Unfortunately, there is no word on its price but we don't expect it to be too expensive anyways.

The RAPHaEL (Robotic Air Powered Hand with Elastic Ligaments) robotic hand was conjured by the brilliant minds of Virginia Tech, and it uses air to drive the hand's movement without the use of expensive or bulky motors/actuators. The entire system can operate on a mere 60 psi, where it is then guided by microcontroller commands so that it can open and close precisely, even down to the individual finger. One of the main issues with robotic hands to date is their inability to use the right pressure when handling certain objects, but RAPHaEL seems to be doing pretty well here, holding a light bulb without breaking it.

Love cycling but hate those long stretches of uphills that seem to make your calves burn with fire? The Gruber Assist is here to help, as this electric motor can be hidden within the bike's tube seat so that your shame will not be proclaimed to the rest of the world. Of course, you will need a minimal diameter of 31.6mm to install the Gruber Assist, where it can be retrofitted to virtually any bike as long as the size is right. If you want some electric-assisted boost the next time you head outdoors, the Gruber Assist won't come cheap - it has an asking price of around $2,400.

The Surveyor SRV-1 Mobile Robot is so small it can fit onto a rather large palm, where it is connected through Wi-Fi to a computer, beaming back whatever it is looking at from its 1.3-megapixel camera. A couple of built-in laser pointers help it navigate around obstacles, while the 7.4V rechargeable battery works for up to 4 horus thereabouts before requiring a recharge. You can control the SRV-1 over the Internet via a simple Web interface, and the open-source software ought to make it a snap to integrate the SRV-1 into your own project if you're so inclined. It is powered by a 500MHz Blackfin BF537 processor with 32MB RAM and 4MB flash memory, which is more than enough space for you to throw in your own hacks and modifications. ThinkGeek is carrying the Surveyor SRV-1 robot for $479.99 .