Windows Phone is really making a comeback, and this year’s CES saw Microsoft show off a number of new handsets powered by the software. The Lumia 900 is possibly the best of them all so far – with an 800×480 resolution, and a four inch screen, it’s a good step forward for what could be a real challenger for Android – eventually.
The Bloggie Live isn’t the most feature-packed gadget around, but it’s definitely an interesting one. This mini camcorder allows users to capture video, then directly upload it to YouTube, Facebook or Twitter on the fly. You can also stream media live if you want to, through video-sharing software.
It’s also a 12.8 megapixel camera, which words at 1080p resolution, with an LED flash and an integrated USB connector.
Despite all of its problems, Samsung is still moving on. The 7.7 tablet is the latest in its series, and it’s impressive – 7.9mm thick, 340 grams and an AMOLED screen. With 1GB of RAM and a 1.4Ghz dual-core processor, perhaps the only disappointed is the lack of Android 4.0 in lieu of Android 3.2.
LG isn’t the biggest laptop manufacturer in the world, but the Z330 model shows what they can do. This 13-inch model is powered by a Core i7 processor, has HDMI ports, a USB3.0 connection and – the best part – is only 15mm thick.
Sure, hackers may have allowed motion-control video game gadget Kinect to be used with Windows for months now, but the fact it’s being released for the PC is still an interesting development. It’s a move that shows motion-control is here to stay, perhaps not as the main focus in gaming but certainly in other ventures as well.
Some of the most interesting Kinect developments have come out of universities and young students creating experiments. It’ll be fascinating to see what else they can come up with.
And one more for the road…
Part of the problem with electric cars is figuring out where they’re going to charge. But Fulton Innovation has fixed all that, creating a new wireless charging technology for vehicles.
You attach part of the charger to your car, and another is installed in the floor. You just wait for the car to charge, and drive away.
It’s not commercially viable yet, but still, an interesting concept nonetheless.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
