EyeFi Mobile getting cooler and cooler with apps and direct transfer

First came wifi capable SD cards. Then they added GPS. Now, Eye-Fi is turning it up to 11 once again with a cool bevy of iPhone and iPad apps, and a direct transfer capability for easy backup.

With the idea of making it easier and easier to share photos people take, EyeFi has created Direct Mode transfer so that your camera can transmit photos directly to a mobile device, beit smartphone or tablet. This makes it far easier to upload to photo sites like Facebook and Flickr. The Apps will also allow for simple one touch integrated sync with online storage sites.

Genius. I know that when I want to share something on Facebook, I tend to go for a my lower res iPhone, rather than shoot with my camera and have to jump through a few hoops to transfer to my PC and upload. This new direct mode transfer will enable me to easily shoot a shot and have it up on Facebook within seconds.

Look for it to appear later this year, with Direct Mode being an upgrade for all Eye-Fi X2 cards.

   

Kodak Adds two more HD cameras to its pocket line

Kodak's new ultraslim Playful HD Pocket Camcorder

I love CES. So many new announcements for new toys. And this one is great for those loving to capture the moment with a pocket video camera. Kodak is adding two new HD cameras to it’s line of great pocket camcorders.

The first is a very slim PlayFul, which will sport the usual autofocus and image stabilizaiton, but also smart face tracking and full 1080p HD video. And the dedicated SHARE button sends video directly to media sites like Facebook, Youtube and Flickr via USB and your PC. It’s available in silver, blue-silver, purple-silver and blue-black.

Kodak has upgraded it's rugged Playsport camcorder

The next is an upgrade to the Playsport camera. In addition to similar features in the Playful, the Playsport also has low light performance, shock and waterproof (to a depth of 10 feet) design, and a cool feature on it’s LCD which adjust automatically to the lighting conditions it faces. The Playsport is available in Black, Red, Green, White and Aqua.

Both cameras record to SDHC up to 32GB. Look for them in the Spring with a cost of $150 for the Playful and $180 for the rugged PlaySport.

AutoVue Lane Departure Warning System – Because we need all the help we can get

I don’t know about anyone else, but every single time I get in my car to go anywhere, I feel like I am risking life and limb. I guess I really am. I know that each time I arrive at my destination in one piece, I feel like I’ve won the lottery.

I’m pleased that someone is working to make our roads a little safer, Iteris’ AutoVue Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system consists of a camera, an on board computer and image recognition software that can detect when a commercial or passenger vehicle starts drifting off the road or out of a lane, when an unintended lane change starts to occur, the unit automatically emits an audible warning sound, similar to a rumble strip noise, alerting the driver to get back to the business of driving.

In addition to its lane departure system, Iteris sensors also offers forward Collision Warning systems and blind spot warning systems. Now if they could just make an idiot warning system that would stop some folks from driving altogether, we could all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

The system is available as both an OEM and aftermarket option and can be easily installed within a few hours. Almost anything that improves vehicle safety is worth a try in my book.

AutoVue is already available as part of an option package on selected Infiniti vehicles

Vizio expands to the mobile gadget market

HDTV giant Vizio sets it's sites on mobile gadgets ...

Known for it’s low cost, but value added HDTVs, budget electronics manufacturer Vizio is setting it’s sites on the mobile gadget market with Android based smartphones and tablets that can interface with their TVs. Now that’s a huge broadside …

The gadgets are called the Via Phone and Via Tablet respectively. Both will be based on the latest Android Gingerbread OS and will have integrated IR blasters to control their HDTVs. In addition, these mobile devices will have 1Ghz processors, HDMI output, WiFi, Micro SD card slots and Bluetooth. The Via Phone will have a nice 4 inches LED screen, while the via Tablet goes to 8 inches.

No word on price just yet, but knowing how Vizio’s core customers are value based, you can bet they’ll be competing in that arena, and could be quite attractive to carriers looking to court new customers with a phone that does a lot for little money.

And although there are many low budget Tablets starting to flood the market, Vizio can wave the flag of quality by pointing out stronger processors and more up to date Android capability. It’s a win win for both sides of the marketing isle.

Look for an official announcement at CES.

Iomega shifts to a new media direction

Iomega's TV will feature Boxee and have iOS data backup for the iPhone

With it’s array of zip drives back in the mid 90s, Iomega was the kind of media storage. Then along came CD burner and larger hard drives and suddently, and zip drives were the 21st century equivalent of 8 Track tape players. Soon, the name Iomega was equated with “remember when.” Not that they died out. They just went under the radar, designing a smooth array of portable hard drives and other solutions. But with the world changing again and moving to the cloud, Iomega is changing with it, offering a cool new media device that marries the Boxee streaming software with the iPhone.

Iomega TV with Dlink’s Boxee will provide not only streaming of iptv over the internet, but also giving to 1 and 2TB storage solutions for saving of personal media. Known as a “hub,” Iomega TV will also interface with the iPod/iPhone through it’s Super Hero backup interface, and have a DLNA media server running as well.

Based on the Intel Atom CE4100 processor, Iomega TV will support 1080p HD video, work on both WiFi and ethernet, and have the signature Boxee keyboard remote control. The SuperHero iPod interface will backup contacts and photos to an SDHC card and provide a line-out audio. But don’t look for it to backup apps or movies and music just yet – that’s up to Apple.

Prices begin at $230 for an internet only version, with storage options at $300 and $350 respectfully. Coming next month.