Presenting The Neptune Smart-Watch Has a Camera, Runs Android And Even Has GPS

Smart watches are everywhere these days. But of all the time-telling, wearable, connected devices, it’s possible that this new offering from Neptune may be the coolest one I’ve ever seen. Why? Because, unlike all the others, the Neptune Pine doesn’t need a smartphone to make it smart. All it needs is a micro-SIM card.

According to the product website, the Pine has a slot for you to insert your micro-SIM card, and once you do you can leave your phone at home. From there, the Neptune Pine can measure all of your health information, including heart rate, pace, calories burned, distance, and your position, meaning that this thing is probably jam-packed full of sensors (we don’t know because the founders didn’t get back to us.)

The Pine features quad-band GSM, 3D, 802.11 WiFi, a USB 2.0 connection, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0. Plus, it has a digital compass and FM radio built in. You can browse the web, check email, stay up to date with your calendar and even listen to your music library.

But even with all that connectivity, the Pine is still missing the very important camera function that’s so valuable within your smartphone. Or is it?

The Pine comes with a small 3.2-megapixel camera called the Recondite. I can’t imagine that the image quality is quite as good as the new smartphones on the market with 8-, 12- and 13- (!) megapixel shooters, but it’ll get the job done in a pinch.

Which is the idea, I think. No one wants to leave their phone home all the time. But the Neptune Pine is meant to be smart all the time, and work uniquely well if you’re going for a jog, or heading out on a special date with the lady love, or doing anything that makes you kind of wish you could leave the phone behind just this once.

The Neptune Pin runs Android 4.0, and doesn’t have an exact ship date. However, the $395 watch (which doesn’t include shipping costs) is promised to ship in the third quarter of 2013. Like many smart watches, this thing overpromises and I’m sure it’s going to under-deliver (if it ships at all) but why not marvel at its iWatch-esque charm while we wait for the Pebble to ship? [TechCrunch]

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Qualcomm Believes The Future is in Smart Watches, Not Google Glasses

Qualcomm believes that smart watches will be more valuable to consumers in the future, instead of augmented reality goggles such as Google Glass. Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs explained why during a chat with Pocket-Lint recently.

“Right now we’re more focused on things like smart watches – always-on display on your wrist – those kinds of ideas as opposed to Glass,” Jacobs said. He explained that he once went skiing with a set of goggles that provided information on his surroundings, but found that the experience was more distracting than helpful. “The stats are that some percentage of people get a headache from them. I think that any consumer product that’s giving a high percentage of people a headache is pretty hard to sell. So, a fully immersive Glass is tough.”

Jacobs said Qualcomm is still willing to support partners working on augmented reality heads-up displays, but that the firm is focused “on the other stuff” right now instead. We’re still excited for Google glass+, though, and think it can add a whole new dimension to the way we interact with the world.

Smart watches are neat, but they won’t exactly tell us more about our surroundings and currently exist as an extension of our smartphones. [TechnoBuffalo]

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AOC Slim 23" IPS Monitor Borderless

Close on the heels of its "virtually borderless" (when it's turned off) 27" IPS Display, display maker AOC has come up with a smaller sibling to add to the family. The 23-incher, tagged the i2367fh, totes similar styling and specs -- IPS technology, a claimed 2mm bezel, 1920 x 1080 resolution with 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time and two HDMI ports. The off timer function its predecessor sported also remains. However the new model, which is part of a different series, can't boast of the same height-adjustable stand and 4-watt speakers, integrating a 2-watt pair instead. The monitor carries a $199 sticker, but you can snag it for 10 bucks lower on backorder from B&H Photo and Amazon -- stock is expected later this month. [Engadget] 

PR TEXT;

 AOC Goes Slim with Its New 23-inch Virtually Borderless IPS Monitor

AOC's compact i2367fh HD monitor offers a design-friendly, energy-efficient and affordable option for multiple monitor setups

Fremont, Calif. – November 20, 2012 – AOC, worldwide leader in monitor display technology, announces the retail availability of the i2367fh, a virtually borderless 23-inch monitor that is perfect for both workstations and gaming setups. The display's Advanced High-Performance In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology and 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio provide enhanced picture quality, higher definition, better color accuracy and greater light transmission. Blu-ray players, game consoles and other devices connect effortlessly through the integrated HDMI port, and the built-in speakers eliminate the need for external audio.

The 23-inch IPS display has a 2mm bezel that gives the monitor a sleek, borderless appearance. The monitor's artistic design also features a metallic hook-shaped stand that allows for two different setup modes of viewing – as a photo frame style without a base or a standard function stand. The AOC i2367fh is available now for $199 at B & H Photo and Amazon.com.

"The i2367fh, part of our AOC 67 series, combines smart technology with style," said AOC North America Marketing Manager Chris Brown. "This monitor provides performance, affordability and design like no other display on the market today."

The ENERGY STAR i2367fh combines impressive display technology with energy-efficiency. The WLED backlit panel consumes 50 percent less energy than CCFL backlit monitors and contains no Mercury. The monitor's e-Saver feature and off timer function also help to reduce power consumption.

The i2367fh supports Full HD 1920x1080 resolution and can display 16.7 million colors. The monitor also offers ultra-fast performance with a 5ms response time that prevents pixels from blurring, streaking or ghosting. The Windows 7 compatible monitor allows for optimal productivity with its included Screen + Software, which can split the screen in up to four different viewing panes.

Specifications
• Full HD 1920x1080 resolution
• 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
• 5ms response time
• TFT Active Matrix LCD
• Hg free WLED Backlight for ultra-low power consumption
• FRC 8-bit panel that supports 16.7 million colors
• VGA and HDMI with HDCP digital inputs
• Two 2-Watt built-in speakers
• Detachable, multi-purpose stand
• User friendly OSD menu with 16 languages
• Microsoft Windows 7 compatible

About AOC

AOC is the world's largest manufacturer of LCD/LED monitors and HDTVs. With more than 60 years of design and manufacturing experience, AOC has earned a reputation for selling user-friendly, technologically advanced monitors, TVs and multi-functional displays. Every aspect of AOC's global business focuses on the development of products that fit seamlessly into consumers' digital lifestyle. For more information, please visit us.aoc.com. 

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Conan O'Brien is Back Again - Apple iPad mini Spoof

Conan O'Brien is back with another great spoof video, once again making fun of Apple's growing lineup of iPad's He mocks Apple's talking head-style promotional videos that mix product shots with brief statements by Apple's designers and engineers. In the clip, TeamCoco mentions several models to accompany the iPad mini that offer different screen sizes with "barely different options," including one the "barely fits in the door."

Have a look at it bellow:

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Xbox SmartGlass arrives on Android

Xbox Smart Glass, Microsoft’s clever second screen app for controlling your Xbox 360 with your computer, phone or tablet, has arrived on Android much sooner than we expected. Yup, that’s right: Google may be MIcrosoft’s arch-rival right now, but if you’ve got an Android powered phone you can use it to boss your console about right now. Read on for all the details!

Head on over to the Google Play Store and you’ll see Xbox SmartGlass for Android available as a free download (No word yet on the iPhone equivalent, but we doubt it’s far off). It works in much the same way as it does on Windows 8 and Windows 8 tablets: you can launch any of your apps and control them – including Internet Explorer– so long as you’re connected to the same network as the Xbox. You can also see second screen information about videos on supported apps, like actors on screen and more.

Windows 8 on sale now: Where to get it!

We’ve loaded up Xbox SmartGlass on Android and we’re pleased to say that it does indeed work like advertised. You’ll need to be logged in to the same account as the one you’re logged into on Xbox Live for it to work, but it’s a smooth operator: typing in websites on your phone and pinching into to zoom in on the TV is incredibly easy.

Want to get Xbox SmartGlass yourself? You can download it now, though it will only work on Android phones running Android 4.0 with a screen resolution of 800×480 or higher. Let us know how you get on with it in the comments below! [GadgetShow]

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