Viddler

Earlier in June the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) held a minitrade show — named CEA LineShows — in New York City. This event wasn’t as big as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is every year in January, but the CEA felt it was important to let the media and analysts know what technologies are on the horizon.

David Begun from HotHardware (subscribe) stopped by the event to take a look at what new technologies companies were showcasing.

Sandisk shows off their new slotRadio™ player which can hold 1,000 songs per microSD card — cards will only work in slotRadio-compatible devices. The player is a little larger than an iPod Shuffle, but have a screen where you can see the song data — which the iPod Shuffle lacks.

Bre Pettis (friend him up!) explains what a MakerBot is and how almost anyone could afford to begin making things with it! I really want to save up for one of these, but it’s still just a little too expensive. Especially, when I don’t quite know what I’d make with it. What would you make?

Smartfish Technologies has an ergonomic keyboard that moves depending how much your stressing yourself by typing. ST states that they have created an intelligent and healthy range of “injury avoidance” ergonomic devices. Those keyboards the separate the left and right side of the keyboard aren’t comfortable to me. I can’t imagine it would make typing easier. I wonder if it will actually make me look healthier though… If anyone tries out one of these keyboards, let me know what you think.

FLO TV is a service available for smart phones which allows you to watch live, time–shifted, and simulcast programming over the the air thanks to MediaFlo’s owned an operated television broadcast network. MediaFlo, which is owned by wireless chipmaker Qualcomm, has built a mobile TV broadcast network using wireless spectrum that was previously being used to broadcast analog TV signals in the United States.^[1] FLO TV is currently being resold through AT&T and Verizon in the United States. They expect to be in over 100 markets soon. The $15 dollar a month price tag is a little steep. Especially, when I highly doubt Australians will get to watch LIVE U.S. television broadcasts and vice versa.

The Lightglove is the an innovation phase of a Minority Report style of interaction with a screen. It’s cool, but looks a little cumbersome in its current iteration.

Contour Design make several ergonomic computer peripherals such as keyboard add-ons like the RollerMouse as well as right AND left-handed mice. I’m left-handed, but I can use a mouse with both hands. A well-sculpted ambidextrous is something I would like to see.

Storage Appliance Corporation has a really simple way to backup your data. Many companies are trying to make backup as simple as possible. I suggest trying as many as you can. Especially if they’re free! Storage Appliance Corp. offers a combined hardware and software solution in the form of Clickfree™. Check it out!

There’s some pretty neat stuff in there. Do you think you’ll want any of these for Christmas? I’d like MakerBot, please. Drop it off under the Viddler tree.

Footnote
[1] FLO TV gets high marks on Inauguration Day – CNET

As always, feel free to send me a message if you have a video you’d like featured on the Viddler Blog and front page.