For the car with everything, a computer of its very own
Where haven't PCs gone? They're common in dens and living rooms and are even creeping into beds and onto park benches.
But until the ClarionMind from Clarion, they have never colonized the automobile.
The Clarion mini PC has an 800-megahertz Intel Atom processor and 512 megabytes of memory. It has a 5-inch touch screen and 4 gigabytes of storage for programs and media. The device can be connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or by pairing it with a compatible cell phone over Bluetooth.
The device uses a special version of Linux and includes software for Global Positioning System mapping, along with a Firefox-based browser for visiting Web sites on the go.
The Mind can play audio and offer driving directions over the car's speaker system. Video and music can be stored on a microSD card, and quick keys allow instant access to MySpace and YouTube.
Clarion has not announced a price but the device should be available next month. Obviously the Clarion Mind's more complex functions are best suited for passenger – not driver – entertainment. John Biggs, New York Times
Let the sun run your iPhone
The Asian tech importer Brando.com.hk's latest gadget, a solar-powered iPhone case and charger, taps into two recent and noble obsessions – going green and keeping your iPhone battery full.
The $48 device is made of black leather and includes a 3.7-volt rechargeable battery and a built-in photocell.
The case can fully charge an iPhone in about 12 hours in direct sunlight.
The case comes in two formats – a flip-top model that opens at the bottom and a booklike model with a fastener at the side. The device also includes an AC charger to initially charge the battery. The solar panel can then top off both the auxiliary battery and the iPhone's battery, when needed. It is compatible with the older iPhone as well as the iPhone 3G.
The case adds about three ounces to your phone's overall weight.
Suddenly, leaving your iPhone out in the sun is not necessarily a bad idea. John Biggs
Is that a projector in your pocket?
Backs and shoulders will appreciate Dell's new portable projector. The computer maker's new M109S On-the-Go pocket-size projector weighs in at a vertebrae-friendly 0.8 pounds, and can fit in the palm of your hand.
The M109S features 858 x 600 SVGA resolution, good enough to project a decent image (think more PowerPoint, less David Lean) and a mercury-free LED light source with a four-year life expectancy.
The M109S also comes with a three-in-one multi-input cable that combines the DC power input, VGA and composite connectors, which means fewer peripherals to pack. Vertical adjustment and auto keystone features help restore tilted screens to their rectangular format. The $500 M109S, out now, is compatible with both American and European television standards, and is HDTV capable. Understandably, chiropractors are up in arms over this. Azadeh Ensha
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