Gadgets

Review: Spinz Spinning Pens

Dennis Gray — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:37:37 -0500

Zero. Ronin. Axis. Huh? I don't get it.

But I'll explain it.

Jakks-Pacific is introducing the U.S. market to pen-spinning, a popular 'sport' in Europe and Asia, with thousands of participants, tournaments, a Pen Spinning World Cup - whah?

Pen spinning is becoming a free form of self expression for pen lovers - and people who want to be in a sport and not break a sweat. They aren't just for writing anymore, I suppose. These pens are built in such a way as to provide heft and balance where needed such that their owners can do tricks and amaze their friends. A quick YouTube search will yield thousands of examples.

The makers of Spinz pens claim to be the only manufacturer of precision-balanced pens specifically for spinning. In their demo video, they claim that if kids get caught spinning pens in class, their teachers can't take 'em away 'cause the kids can't do their work! These actually are writing instruments.

I dunno. I see 'detention' written on these bad boys.

Still, it gives someone with a true attraction to pens a place to go and express themselves, either by learning the tricks of pen-spinning (which is beyond my family's abilities, frankly) or allow them the freedom to customize the daylights out of their writing implements.

Spinz pens come in three product familes / skill levels. Entry level is 'Zero' which includes a snap-on spinner, akin to training wheels for would-be spinners. Then there's 'Ronin' which raises the bar and includes goodies for customizing and changing weights to suit its owner. 'Axis' is the ultimate, and includes all the goodies any pen spinner could want, like grips, weights, even a sweat band (hmm...). There are also add-on accessory packs, called 'Modz' to add a splash of color, or a bit more weight.

Now for the critique.

As someone who uses pens everyday, I can say that as writing instruments, Spinz pens are lacking. I understand of course that the primary reason for these pens is spinning, but if you're a pen fan, these write pretty much like an inexpensive ballpoint. It can also be difficult to keep the pen snapped together while writing, again realizing that the pen is built from smaller parts that are interchangeable for balance and performace in the spinning arena.

This is a niche product which will appeal to those folks already aquainted with pen spinning, and so I asked a neighborhood teen his opinion of Spinz pens for spinning. His assessment was that they were underweight to do complex tricks, and when he added some small fishing weights to the end caps the pens were much more spinnable (in his humble opinion). I have to go with his obsservation, since I for one lack the manual dexterity to open the box without aid, let alone spin one of these pens successfully.

If you have someone on your shopping list who has asked for one, the $10 entry point for the 'Zero' and 'Ronin' starter sets won't bust the budget. If you spotted these on the end cap at the mega-mart and thought they might be fun for your 4-year-old, steer clear - there are too many small parts for younger kids. This is a product for tweens and teens - and probably not pen collectors.

Review: Audio-Technica ATH-ES3 Headphones

Dennis Gray — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:34:32 -0500

Flat is the word.

They fold flat, they have a flat frequency response, and they sound kinda flat. But flat is a GOOD thing for headphones. Really.

The Audio-Technica ATH-ES3 Headphones are classified as mid-sized over-the-ear headphones that are lightweight (2 ounces without the wire) and the ear cups fold flat for storage or stuffing in your gadget bag of choice, or even the bag the headphones ship with. They have a published frequency response of 10Hz to 25KHz, which basically means that they will play back all the sound the human ear can hear, and the dog will like them, too.

They also ship the ATH-ES3 with a belt clip cable organizer, and they're available in different colors to suit; white with silver accent, white with metallic pink accent, white with metallic blue accent and white with metallic green accent. They have a 3.5mm right-angle stereo plug for connecting to your favorite portable audio source, but if your portable media player is in a carrying case or protective shell (my player of choice wears one), the plug may not fit into the headphone socket, as the right-angle connector is on the large side.

The response curve is very flat - so much so, they have a sound very similar to 'reference-type' headphones audio engineers use. When listening to these, I compared them to some high-end 'reference' headphones from Grado and Sennheiser, and the only distinguishing factor between them was the outside ambient noise from the environment creeping in due to the small earpieces. Bass is NOT boosted in the design, as is common with a lot of smaller headphone designs, and the impedance of the ATH-ES3 is on the low end - 32 ohms - which means you'll need to crank the volume a bit more than with those earbuds that came with your rig. The large 28mm drivers take a bit of energy to get moving after all.

These headphones are smallish for the average adult and style-wise are suited for a woman's tastes - at least my wife says so. The diameter of the earpieces is small-ish to be classified as 'over-the-ear', but its a compromise that aids portability. Put another way, the earpieces are just about the best fit you'll find for younger kids, without experiencing the irritating tendency of full-size headphones to fall off the kid's head and land in their plate of spaghetti-O's...not that something like that has happened in my household.

The downside is the price. These are on the high-end of the price scale, around $70, and as of this wiritng can be hard to find. But if you're looking for a headphone that doesn't fall off your head and doesn't muddy up your listening with bass-blasting and boosting, try these on for size. If you're raising a young audiophile, this headphone is spot-on.

Review: Audio Technica ATH-ON3A

PD Love — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:40:39 -0500

When I first opened the Audio-Technica ATH-ON3A headphones I was a bit
skeptical. They seemed so small, how on earth could they produce a
decent sound? I thought perhaps these were toy headphones for the
kids, but once I plugged them into my iPod Touch, I realized these were
no toys.

The ATH-ON3A Portable Headphones are very compact and
perfect for traveling. The band that goes over the head is very thin,
almost too thin. But, you really don't notice it and it keeps the
headphones very light and flexible but not flimsy. The headphone pads
themselves are small but well padded and comfortable. I am typically a
fan of the over the ear, canister style ear pieces (like I have with my
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro) but easily got used to the feel of this smaller,
lighter set.

From a sound perspective, using my iPod Touch, I
was able to test a clear, crisp sound. Obviously the smaller set does
not block outside noise like an over the ear, closed "canister-style"
unit but it does a very good job of producing a quality sound. And
actually using the set at work, it is better not to have a complete
block of sounds around you so the unit works well in that type of
environment.

Normally one has to consider a trade off between
comfort and quality. These Audio-Technica headphones seem to have a
good balance as they are very comfortable (primarily because they are
so light and well padded) and the sound quality is very good. All of
that plus a two year warranty makes them perfect for the traveller or
for use in the office or almost anywhere. I haven't tried them while
running yet but may give that a try as well.

Specs - Weight 1.3 oz., Frequency Response 12-23,000 Hz, Impedance 32 ohms, Sensitivity 102 dB/mW at 1 kHz.

Review: Audio Technica ATH-CKM50A Earbuds

Chuck Tomasi — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:36:38 -0400

When it comes to portable listening, there seems to be two types of people – those who like headphones and those who prefer earbuds. For portability and sound quality, at a reasonable cost, I prefer earbuds. Choosing earbuds can be a difficult task – after all, they are a rather personal item. Once I find a set I like, I have a hard time changing my mind. Now that time as come.

Recently I had the chance to try out a pair of Audio Technical ATH-CKM50A earbuds. Very nice. I am an iPod owner and started with the generic white earbuds that came with them. I used them so much I wore them out. I’ve been through several pair of earbuds in the past six years, but have settled on one pair with good results for the past year or so. I was rather skeptical that I would find anything I liked better until Dale provided me with the opportunity to try the Audio Technica ATH-CKM50A. I just finished listening to 6 hours of podcasts and music and I have to say these hold up well. The audio quality is great. From the high tones to the low bass, and even the spoken words, the ATH-CKM50A did not fail to produce great clarity.

The first thing I noted about the Audio Technica earbuds is their shape. As you can see from the picture, they aren’t a simple right-angle in to the ear. I didn’t know what it meant until I was outside cutting the grass that I realized they never slipped out of my ears once – something I had to repeatedly fix on my old earbuds. Cutting my grass is analogous to running a couple miles, it is very jarring to the body. These earbuds stay put! The lawnmower also provides me with a test of how well they seal out ambient noise (something I adore on plane rides.) These units did an excellent job at that also. With the lawnmower going all out, the volume on the iPod was never at more than 75%.

The second thing I noticed is they come with an extension cord! Thank you! This lets me put the iPod in my front pocket of my jeans and still have slack in the cord when I stand up. I can just as easily put it in the back pack and go for a bike ride. I love having the option of using a short cord or a long cord. When using the extension, the audio cable from the iPod fits at a right angle – another feature I love. It means if I have a clumsy moment, the connection is more likely to spin than twist and do damage to the cable or iPod.

The next thing is the way the headphones are worn. I have used phones of equal length and those with different length right and left earbuds. In case you don’t know, the ones with equal length are meant to be worn in front while the ones with unequal lengths are meant for one to go behind your head and the single cord worn on the side. Now you can watch for people who don’t know this and smile in the fact that you know something they don’t.

Available in red, white, and black, you should find a color that suits you.

Finally, there is the price. The ATH-CKM50A earbuds list at $79.99 USD. These are the best earbuds I have used in the sub-$100 range. The ATH-CKM50A are on my recommended holiday list for the music or podcast junkie on your list.

Review: ATH-ON3W portable headphones by Audio-Technica

Tonya DeWithe — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:16:30 -0400

I am rarely without my headphones. They have almost become a part of me, keeping me company while grocery shopping, doing housework, and while on the computer at work. I have become, out of necessity, somewhat of a headphone snob. My ideal headphones must be comfortable enough for long hours of wear, stay on my head without slipping, and, of course, deliver awesome sound. That’s why I was so anxious to try out Audio-Technica’s ATH-ON3W headphones.

These headphones are an on-ear style, with two cushioned speakers connected by a thin wire headband. When the headphones have been pushed up to their most compact setting (and only then), you can twist the ear cushion part so that they fold flat. Since the wire headband is fairly sturdy, they still have a diameter of about 6 inches when flattened, but they’ll fit well enough into a bag or briefcase. They’re not so much for pocket storage, though.

When I saw the sturdy tension wire headband that holds the speakers on the ears, I was skeptical about how comfortable it would be to wear them over a long duration. I suspected that the tension of the wire would pinch and cause a headache after a while. Wrong! I was delighted to find that they were very lightweight and quite comfortable, even after hours of listening. They stay in place very well, even while moving my head around rapidly or leaning over to pick something up. The thin wire is unobtrusive and didn’t catch on my hair. The ear cushions are also comfortable, and block out some of the ambient noise so you don’t have to do irreparable damage to your hearing while listening to your tunes.

All this comfort is great, but what about the sound?

The folks at Audio-Technica didn’t disappoint. I compared these headphones to a cheaper, low-end, partially-in-the-ear set; a considerably more expensive, high-end, on-ear set; and a set of comparably-priced, mid-price-range earbuds. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The low-ends started out strong with a bright, clear treble, but when it came to the bass parts of the songs, it was no contest. The ATH-ON3Ws shines in the lower registers when compared with the low-end set, leading to a more complete sound.

When compared with the high-end headphones, the higher-register sounds seemed a little muffled. The ATH-ON3Ws also lacked a certain richness and fullness of sound, but then they cost 4-5 times less than these high-end headphones, so that was an acceptable compromise. I can’t complain too much about that.

When compared to the comparably-priced earbuds, the ATH-ON3Ws had a bit more bass, which left the higher registers sounding weaker than they did in the earbuds, however, this may have been due to either a lack of bass in the earbuds, or the fact that the earbuds don’t rest well in my ears. The end result was that the ATH-ON3Ws had a richer sound quality.

Overall, whether I was listening to instrumental music, vocal music, or spoken words, listening was a pleasure. A great deal of the dynamic range of the sound is captured in these headphones, allowing music to be enjoyed and speech to be clearly understood. They strike a good balance between capturing the bass without losing too much of the upper registers. While the sound quality is good, the outstanding feature of these headphones is the comfort. They were lightweight, they didn’t slip, and they didn’t make my head or ears sore from having something putting pressure in the same spot for literally hours on end. These are a good, solid, day-to-day set of headphones that are well-suited for an active lifestyle.

Review: Daylight Projection Clock with Outdoor Temperature Display (DP200A)

Dale — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:51:12 -0400

They say even a broken clock is accurate twice per day. But what if you had a really cool clock--one of the coolest--and couldn't trust it to tell time?

Let me make this very clear: we think this clock is really cool. It has a feature set that makes it almost worth its $130 price tag. If KITT were a clock, it would look like this sleek black design. We wanted to love it. Sadly, it fell short of expectations.

First, let me tell you what makes it great. The D200A has atomic time, getting its time from a satellite so that you never have to set it, and it's always accurate. It displays the time, indoor temperature, and outdoor temperature (via a wireless sensor that'll hang on your house or fit between your storm window and your screen), both on the animated LED screen and via projector onto the wall or ceiling. The projector adjusts for room brightness automatically is bright enough to see clearly in bright daylight and is great for when you wake up and want to see what time it is and simply have to look up at the ceiling to find out. It has an alarm with an 8-minute snooze, and to change the display, you simply wave your hand across the top sensor like a Jedi.

Sadly, though, the clock lacks in its two most critical features: the alarm's not loud enough, and it doesn't keep accurate time. Yes, that's right. This satellite atomic clock, even though it gets a strong signal in our bedroom, can't remember its timezone. The instructions include vague timezone settings, but you can set it for one timezone, see it adjust itself, and by morning, the hour is inaccurate. Leave it sit, and it changes once or twice per day. We watched it do this for a couple months, so unless we have a faulty model, it wasn't just a fluke. Thankfully, the satellite sensor can be turned off, and it keeps accurate time in manual mode, but for $130, all of the features should work. Also, the alarm has no volume setting, and unless you're a light sleeper, you won't hear it. It's just not loud enough.

We still use this clock. We just have to set the time manually and use a different clock for an alarm. If you don't mind paying a premium and can return it if it doesn't work for you, this is a great clock. Just don't trust the autopilot.

Review: Grill-Right Talking BBQ/Oven Thermometer

Dale — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:24:57 -0400

I love grilled food. Pretty much anything tastes better when slightly charred by burning mesquite, but sadly, I was born without that gene on the Y-chromosome that enables men to grill properly. This diesn't stop me, since I'm not too picky how well cooked my steaks are, but my wife likes hers well done. For culinarily disabled such as myself, cooking a steak past "Mooing" to "well done" without cooking it to "There's no such thing as 'Cajun Blackened Beef Jerky,' Dale," can be a daunting, if not impossible, task. Impossible, that is, until the Grill-Right Talking BBQ/Oven Thermometer from Oregon Scientific landed on our doorstep. I am proud to say that, for the first time in our marriage, I was able to grill a steak for my wife that was actually cooked to her specifications.

The device couldn't be simpler to use. Turn on the main unit, which has a handy belt clip so you don't lose it and can take it with you to the cooler to get something to drink. If you don't want to use the clip, it also includes a cradle-like table stand. Then take the wireless (330' range) transmitter, and attach the probe. Insert the probe deep into the meat, put the meat on the grill and the transmitter on a shelf or table next to the grill, and turn on the transmitter. On the main unit, choose the type of meat (beef, lamb, veal, hamburger, pork, turkey, chicken, or fish) and how you'd like it cooked (rare, medium rare, medium, or well done). (No, it doesn't have a setting for rare pork, poultry, fish, or hamburger.) Besides visual cues, the device talks, which would be great for those whose vision isn't what it used to be (not to mention a fun gimmick--the kids get a kick out of it, as do I). When the meat nears the desired internal temperature, the main unit beeps and says, "Nearly done." When you hear that, get ready to pull the meat. Another alarm begins a couple minutes later: a beep and, "It's done." It will repeat this until you turn the unit off or disconnect the probe so you don't miss it. If you take too long, the screen starts flashing, and the device beeps repeatedly to let you know that it's overcooked.

Besides the grill, you can also use the probe in the oven, and if you'd rather set your own "done" temperature, you can do so manually instead of using the presets.

I love this thing and look forward to using it anytime I grill, broil, or bake meat to get it just right, especially since I can set the main unit on my desk while food cooks, and it'll remind me when to pull the meat out instead of waiting for the smoke alarm. Keep in mind that you'll still need to turn the meat as appropriate, especially on a grill, and make sure the flames don't char the outside before it's cooked on the inside. It doesn't cook the food for you.

It's not perfect in design, though. The transmitter could really use a hook or loop on it somewhere so you can hang it from your grill handle if you have no shelf. It can hang from the probe cord, but that's probably not a good idea. Also, as a fan of bratwurst and other sausages, I'd like a sausage preset (140°F, FYI), and some would like temperature presets besides "well done" for hamburger as well, but the manual setting allows fans of any kind of meat to choose their temperature of choice.

Review: D-Link DSM-210 10" Wireless Internet Photo Frame

Dale — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:46:51 -0400

A few weeks ago, our kids were heading off to camp, so we bought them disposable cameras to take some photos while there. We didn't want to spend a lot on digital disposables, and their personal digital cameras are too nice to get ruined at camp, so we went looking. Eventually we found them by the film, which was about a 3' square area--that's it. Film is dying and dying fast as digital cameras become ubiquitous.

But what's the point of having a digital camera if you can't show off your photos? Lately, digital photo frames have become increasingly popular, allowing hundreds of photos to be loaded into a single frame that cycles through them, com plate with transitions and other options. The D-Link DSM-210 Wireless Internet Photo Frame takes that concept to the next level, providing not only your photos, but everything from weather to comics to artwork to the day's news.

The DSM-210 lists Windows as its system requirements, but if you're a Mac user, don't let that hold you back. While Windows uses Yahoo Widgets to install images onto the frame, all users have several options for getting images onto the frame. You can also use a USB thumb drive, XD or SD card to copy them over, or use one of the online options. If you have a computer running Windows Media Center, you can also use WPnP to transfer photos.

The hardware also offers other interesting features. Motion detection sensors turn it off when the room is inactive but brings it back when someone comes in. A remote and touch screen offer options for control. It also includes both black and white faceplates.

The frame can connect to the Internet via your home wireless network. If you have no wireless network, wired will do just fine. Even wireless, the frame still has a power cord, so if you don't like that, set it on a table, and use the supplied standing arm, which can be used in portrait or landscape mode. I ran into a problem with the wireless setup, but it turned out my Airport network was using an old WEP encryption. In other words, if your network security is too old, you may need to update it to use this frame, but you should really be using WPA instead, anyway, as it's the only secure wireless security for home users. D-Link's free 24/7 phone support was very helpful with this and should be considered a feature of this frame.

Once connected, follow the instructions to use your browser to find content channels you'd like to add. In addition to photo channels like your personal Flickr, Picasa, MobileMe, and other photo feeds, you can add weather, news, trivia, and more. But note that many of the news channels are ad-heavy, much like the onscreen trivia you see at the cinema before the movie previews begin. Even worse, the National News feed is so random, it includes engagement announcements and all kinds of useless information. Thankfully, you can add any rss feed you want, although honestly, most families won't want text news feeds or stock quotes appearing on their wall.

Probably the best use of this for families besides computer-to-frame transfers or Flickr feeds, you can give out an account-specific email address to friends and family that you trust, and have them send photos to that address. The photo server will add those images to your frame automatically, so if Mom is away on business, she can send snapshots of the places she's seeing, and they'll show up on the family wall. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and distant friends can surprise you with their photos.

Do you know someone with a broadband internet connection that doesn't spend much time online, maybe a grandma or someone else who didn't grow up with a computer? You can give them a frame like this, and then send them photos, regularly surprising them with new updates from your family.

So, what are the drawbacks? The online photo feeds can only handle 99 photos at a time, but you can have it pull photos randomly or by most recent from the feed, so it could definitely be worse. Also, given that Yahoo Widgets were originally developed for the Mac and work on a Mac, it makes no sense that a widget or other option can't be made for direct Mac use, but transferring via removable media or via online feed is the next best thing--at least it's an option. The touchscreen is very unresponsive--don't lose the remote. While the flash memory port is great, a compact flash option would be an added bonus. Finally, the online "My photos" and other content cannot be mixed with the images stored on the frame itself, so if you're watching a collection, you have to choose between local storage and online feeds. You should be able to add those stored photos to the list and watch both together.

If you're looking for a next-generation digital Photo frame, the DSM-210 offers excellent options, a decent viewing angle range, anti-glare matte screen, and a great experience. This one's a keeper.

Callpod releases Chargepod 6-in-1 Charger

Dale — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:18:09 -0400

Multichargers are becoming popular as the home becomes more wired. Can you guess by the name what one of the chargers is? Note that the price of the base is $40, but then it's $10 for each adapter. An $80 bundle pack will get people started. Read the full release below:

Simultaneously Charges: iPod, iPhone, Zune, Treo, BlackBerry, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, Most Cell Phones, PDA & Portable Gaming Devices

CHICAGO, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Callpod, Inc. (www.callpod.com), an award-winning emerging technology company that has created and patented unique audio conferencing and content sharing technologies for wireless and consumer electronic devices as well as cellular telephones, has reduced the starting price of its debut product, the Chargepod, to $39.95 and the bundle pack to $79.95.

The Chargepod is a 6-in-1 device that allows users to charge most mobile electronic devices with a single power cord from almost anywhere including at home, in the car or at the office.

"The response to the Chargepod has been extremely positive across the board," said Darren Guccione, President, CEO and Co-Founder of Callpod Inc. "It is a unique yet simple product that is extremely useful as it eliminates annoying gadget clutter by saving space, outlets and power. We understood that the Chargepod was a very special product that we wanted to share in both domestic and international markets. This price enhancement allowed us to better serve our customers as we scale into the mass retail channels this year."

Essential at Home, at the Office or on the Road

Callpod offers hundreds of manufacturer-specific adapters for all types of portable devices. Users can dispose of numerous power cords once the Chargepod enters the picture. The Chargepod uses voltage regulator technology and interchangeable power adapters to safely charge all of your mobile devices regardless of manufacturer or model. The Chargepod comes with an AC adapter; users can also purchase the car adapter for use in an automobile, making it an extremely versatile product for the mobile traveler or business user.

The Chargepod is an easy-to-use charger that solves an annoying problem that has plagued portable gadget lovers, families, road warriors, and employees ever since portable gadgets came on the scene. Callpod continues to add adapters for the Chargepod as new devices are introduced so that users can simply add an adapter and not a whole new charger every time they upgrade their device. The Chargepod is the last device charger you'll ever need to buy. It is simply the best travel charger for mobile devices available today.

Pricing options start at $39.951. The Chargepod carries a street price of $39.95 which includes theChargepod base unit, a carrying case and wall plug (100-240V AC, 50-60Hz). Each additional adapter is $9.95.2. Callpod offers a bundle pack for $79.95, which includes the Chargepodbase unit, AC wall plug, car charger, carrying case and the followingsix popular adapters: Apple/iPod/phone, Motorola, Blackberry, Nokia,Palm Treo and Sony PSP devices. (Consumers save $40 by purchasing thebundle pack)

Callpod has also fitted the Chargepod with a smaller wall plug for customer convenience.

In addition, Callpod recently released the award winning Dragon(R), a 100m range advanced Bluetooth headset for mobile phones, PDAs, gaming systems and computers. Another breakthrough device is Callpod's Phoenix, a revolutionary and patented Bluetooth mobile conferencing system which connects five Bluetooth headsets together so when users make a call, all five participants can talk in full duplex and join in a phone call on the other end. The Dragon is currently available in several retail stores and online retailers. The Phoenix(R) will be available this quarter. Stay tuned as Callpod plans to announce several new innovative products this year.

For more information please visit Callpod at http://www.callpod.com/.

Wacom and E-Ink: The end of notepads?

Dale — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:32:14 -0400

Wacom and E Ink have put digital pen to digital paper to partner the Penabled digital pen to the Vizplex epaper display, opening up guaranteed new products that will allow you to set aside that notepad and just grab your electronic notepad. Full Story Follows:

Wacom(R) and E Ink(R) Partnership Delivers Pen Input to Electronic Paper Displays

Combined expertise provides innovative and flexible human interface solutions to mobile computing platforms

TOKYO, VANCOUVER, Wash., and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Wacom and E Ink Corporation announced today a partnership that will integrate Wacom's Penabled(R) digital pen input solution with E Ink's Vizplex(TM) electronic paper displays. With pen input high on the list of many eBook, Tablet PC, eNewspaper, PDA, eNotepad and appliance-type designers, the Wacom and E Ink partnership comes at an ideal time for mobile computing manufacturers looking to develop new and exciting consumer products.

E Ink's Broadsheet AM300 prototyping kit, available in a 6 inch diagonal size in June and other sizes later, combines the two technologies in a solution that mobile computing manufacturers can easily integrate into their product designs.

Wacom (Booth 1129) and E Ink (Booth 913) will be showcasing their technologies at the International Society for Information Display exhibition, May 20 to 22, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Electronic paper with pen input is ideal for reviewing documents on a portable device. E Ink Vizplex displays enable slimmer devices to have bigger screens that are easy on the eyes, even in ambient light. The intuitive nature of pen input makes it easy to navigate, write down ideas, highlight points of interest, as well as sketch or draw. Together the technologies achieve the ultimate vision of an interactive piece of paper.

"e-Paper is opening up a number of new products for displays, including eBooks, Mobile Internet Devices, Smart Labels and Digital Signage," said Barry Young, Senior Advisor for DisplaySearch. He added that "the partnership between E Ink and Wacom in the application of pen input should increase the breadth of ePaper capabilities and accelerate the growth rate."

"The marriage of Wacom's input technology with E Ink's Vizplex electronic paper displays offer manufacturers unmatched flexibility and creativity when it comes to the design of e-paper based products," said Stephen Sedaker, Director of Component Sales for Wacom. "Whether giving the user a way to digitally jot notes in the column of a book, or circle an interesting entry in the daily newspaper, people now have the option to interact freely with electronic paper."

Partnership Promotes Innovation

As electronic paper displays enter mainstream applications, the ability to support writing and drawing has become important. In emerging applications like eTextbooks, this feature is vital. Students are used to highlighting selected text, making annotations and simply scribbling notes and until now that was only possible via a keyboard connected to an electronic paper display. Pen input allows a level of flexibility and freedom that is not easily duplicated by other input means.

Wacom and E Ink are both leaders in their respective fields. Wacom's electro-magnetic resonance (EMR(R)) technology, bolstered by its patented battery-free and cordless digital pen, dubbed Penabled, has played a significant role in the development and success of the mobile computing industry. Wacom's OEM customers include, Lenovo, HP, Toshiba and Gateway.

E Ink's Vizplex electronic paper displays have become the display of choice for applications like eBook, eNotepad, eNewspaper, and ePlanner. With key attributes such as ultra low power, sunlight readability, thin form factor, low weight and EMI, E Ink's Vizplex displays offer benefits unmatched by any other display technology or manufacturer. E Ink's customers include Lexar, Motorola, Sony, Amazon, Citizen, Casio-Hitachi, iRex, Polymer Vision and Plastic Logic among others.

"E Ink Vizplex displays are replacing paper documents as people look for faster and more convenient ways to receive and absorb written information. One of the key benefits of ordinary paper is that you can write on it," said Sriram Peruvemba, Vice President of Marketing for E Ink Corp. "Now with Wacom's help, people can write and draw on electronic paper for a natural and collaborative experience."

The Broadsheet AM300 prototype kit being offered by E Ink is the fastest way to start working with E Ink technology which now includes the Wacom Pen input feature. The Broadsheet kit will enable engineers to rapidly prototype and develop next generation ePaper products. The AM300 will be shipping in June and is available online at http://www.eink.com/ for pre-order.