Makerbot is one cool toy on display at CES 2011

While I was at CES this year, I saw a booth from MakerBot which was nothing more than six or so of these funny-looking machines here.

This is the Thing-O-Matic, and it is a creation of a Dr. Seuss book come to life. Did the villain in The Lorax have something like this? Hopefully, this MakerBot will have less impact on the environment.

The Thing-O-Matic is “an affordable, open source 3D printer”. It allows the user to make things with ABS, HDPE, or PLA plastic. Its maximum size is about 100 x 100 x 100mm, which I’m told is a size of a cupcake.

I believe that the company was on hand to make certain that people were getting some cool 3D printed creations. That is a lot better than any swag than I have ever seen.

I also believe that the company wants to inspire Thingiverse, a way to share your work and inspire other people to create. So all you need to do is just get the download, and you’ll be holding the 3D creation in your hand.

The MakerBot Thing-O-Matic is available for a very high price of $1,225.00 . Yes, that is a whole bunch of money. I wouldn’t pay that price unless I needed this, honestly.

Vivitek LED-based pico projector at CES 2011

Vivitek is an up and coming brand who wants to make a name for itself in the cut throat world of consumer electronics, and have decided to roll out a new pico projector that is LED-based. This bright and lightweight device will also boast 3D ready capability, making sure it keeps up with the rest of the pack. Of course, in order to differentiate itself from the rest, Vivitek has decided to name this the Qumi (pronounced Q-me), something which is memorable and will definitely strike a chord when you talk about pico projectors. Consumers are pretty picky these days, with many of them citing brightness, battery life and picture quality being key factors where pico projectors are concerned, so head on to the extended post to see how Vivitek intends to meet these needs.

First of all, the Qumi range of projectors will incorporate the latest LED and other leading-edge technologies and features, including stereoscopic 3D, to ensure that it is versatile enough to match the range of portable products out in the market. Tipping the scales at just 1.6 pounds, it is the first pocket projector in the world that is 3D-ready thanks to Texas Instruments’ DLP Link technology. There is also the presence of touch sensitive button controls and sleek design which are ready to see action with other compatible devices such as digital cameras, notebooks, smartphones and tablets.

Among the key features and specifications would include :-

• Native WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution
• Up to 300 lumens of brightness and a 2500:1 contrast ratio
• 3D-Ready (via DLP Link) and a DLP chipset from Texas Instruments
• 1.6 pounds
• Dimensions: 6.3”(w) x 1.2”(h) x 3.9”(d)
• 30,000+ estimated LED hours of operation
• Mini-HDMI
• Universal I/O (24-pin connector for VGA/component input)
• 3.5mm video-in
• 3.5mm mini-jack audio-out
• USB port
• microSD memory card slot
• Built-in 1W speaker

It will come in either black or white shades as it hits the market this May for $499 a pop. Well, hopefully the brightness level won’t be obsolete by the time it rolls out, and will it be the first if other manufacturers beat Vivitek to the punch where a release date is concerned?

Get extreme with the AdrenoCam

If you happen to live a pretty adventurous life and want to record all of those down for posterity, why not consider what the AdrenoCam is capable of offering? Yeah, we know, it will more or less bring memories of the ContourHD camera, but why not give this $200 plus Head Mounted Mini Video Recorder a chance? Regardless of whether you’re capturing images for hardcore sports or military/tactical applications, this DVR is most likely capable of taking all the knocks without compromising on its performance. You will not get full HD recording quality though, as it maxes out at 720 x 480 resolution at 30FPS, although it will be accompanied by fully integrated microphone and speakers alongside H.264 video compression for near-DVD quality footage. In addition, the 2.5″ LCD display allows you to view whatever you’re recording in real time, apart from checking out what you’ve already recorded in the past. We would say you can mount this anywhere else apart from being near your head if you are creative enough to find an access…

Sennheiser ushers in new headsets

Are you a huge fan of all forms of multimedia content? Then chances are you would most definitely have given Sennheiser’s range of headphones in the past a go, and just like any other good capitalist company should, they have come up with a new range of multimedia headsets that are touted to rock your world. The audio specialist has just announced their latest addition to the range, comprising of the CX 980i hi-fi ear canal headset as well as making sure their line of full-size, Bluetooth wireless headsets will also see more action with the MM 550 TRAVEL.

In this new range of headphones, the user will find him/herself to be in full control, being well capable of controlling a wide range of functions using a solitary button. It really depends on how often and how long you press the button, and the headphones will go around playing music tracks and videos in the way you want to – which of course, will also include pausing or skipping to the next/previous song. Apart from that, the very same button is also able to be used to receive and end phone calls while activating the voice control function. This Apple function virtually lets you take advantage of voice commands when retrieving a song and respectively a telephone number on the most recent iPod touch and iPhone 4 models. When it comes to controlling the volume, that’s a snap with the plus and minus button. You can check out the various iPhone-compatible headsets below along with their respective price tags.

• CX 980i – Hi-fi ear-canal headphones with in-line microphone
• IE 8i (MSRP: $599.95)- High-end ear-canal earphones with in-line microphone
• MM 80i TRAVEL – Travel ear-canal earphones with in-line microphone
• CX 880i (MSRP: $179.95) – Balanced ear-canal earphones with in-line microphone
• MM 70i (MSRP: $129.95) – Dynamic bass-focused ear canal earphones with in-line microphone
• PX 100-IIi (MSRP: $119.95) – Open, foldable mini headphones with in-line microphone
• PX 200-IIi (MSRP: $149.95) – Closed, foldable mini headphones with in-line microphone
• HD 218i (MSRP: $99.95) – Closed mini headphones with in-line microphone
• HD 238i (MSRP: $169.95) – Open mini headphones with in-line microphone

Ready to part with your money yet?

Hercules DJ 4Set announced

Budding DJs as well as those who are waiting to be the next big talent in the underground and dance scenes, listen up! Hercules took the opportunity at the recently concluded CES to announce the Hercules DJ 4Set, where it is touted to merge both the functions and feel of a pro controller with the simplicity users require when it comes to throwing a memorable party – or rather, parties all year long if you’re one groovy animal. Basically, this is being trumpeted as a must-have solution for mixing fans who are dreaming of setting the dance floor on fire with their mixes, all this without spending solitary time on top of a quiet mountain just to know their new gear intimately, alongside all that it is capable of.

Apart from that, the DJ 4Set will come in a slim and compact design that measures 13.7″ x 9.8″, while being more than large enough for comfortable mixing, sporting tons of space between the controls. Non-slip feet have also been thrown into the mix, allowing it to stand tough despite undergoing even the most intense mixing sessions. Rolling in both simplicity and advanced features within a single device, this is one easy to use controller which practically begs for a performance from budding and experienced DJs alike.

Some of the features available on the Hercules DJ 4Set include :-

• The 2 large touch-sensitive jog wheels, measuring 12cm in diameter – the same size as scratching jog wheels on DJ CD players – feature touch sensors on their top surface which detect the weight of the DJ’s hand and enable “Touch Wheel” mode, allowing the user to stop/restart playback, or engage in some serious scratching
• The highly distinctive “ring” on the base of the jog wheels – the signature of the new Hercules mixing solutions – features a super-ergonomic design, providing users with intuitive and simple pitch control
• Green or red backlighting on its jog wheels and buttons make the controls easier to locate and providing enhanced usability
• 4 channels (including 2 for the mix, and 1 stereo headphone output for previewing tracks), plus a microphone input with a talk-over function, allow the DJ to pump things up on the dance floor
• 4 Virtual decks for users to mix on, thanks to the very practical deck indicators on the console’s mixing surface (A, B, C, D) including, for example, two music tracks on 2 decks, a loop, an effect or a voice on the 2 others
• 60 controls in 2-deck mode and 112 controls in 4-deck mode
• The layout of controls has been optimized to make using the console quick and easy to learn.
• MIDI-based controls are independent of one another, for even greater ease of use
• Bundled with VirtualDJ® LE DJC Edition (supporting 4-deck mixing)
• Compatibility with all 2 and 4-deck MIDI mixing software

Expect the DJ 4 Set to retail for $249.99 a pop as it hits the market this coming April.