FXI Cotton Candy – The Miniature PC On A Stick
March 3, 2012 by mintgadgets
Filed under Computer Gadgets
FXI Technologies has recently just released in limited availability the Cotton Candy miniaturized dual-core PC computer the size of a USB flash drive.
The FXI cotton candy is referred to as an “any screen computer” which really means it’s a tiny miniaturized fully capable PC computer that doesn’t come with a screen or monitor. These miniaturized computer devices are ideal for embeded applications including portable set top box gaming and entertainment equipment, mobile “any screen” computing, and a full range of specialized applications including medical, automotive, security, surveillance, and other dedicated solutions.
This tiny fully contained computer is packed with impressive raw horsepower and offers integrated HDMI, USB and MicroUSB connectivity for surprising flexibility in the portable market.
And let’s talk about just how how tiny and compact. The Cotton Candy miniaturized PC on a stick weighs only 21 grams. That’s just a little over 1/2 ounce. The dimensions of this super miniaturized computer are roughly 3 inches in length and a bit over 1/2 inch in width.
The cotton candy architecture will lend itself as an ideal add on to smartphones, tablet computers and notebook PCs including Macs. In addition, the device is perfect for adding intelligent computing capabilities to displays, set top boxes and gaming consoles.
FXI Cotton Candy Technical Specifications
- ARM® Cortex™ A9 1.2GHz Central Processing Unit (CPU) with NEON extensions and Trustzone extensions.
- ARM® Mali™ 400MP Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) delivers 720p and 1080p OpenGL ES v2.0, can process 30M Polygons and 1.2 GPixels per second.
- Wifi 802.11 b/g/n network connectivity.
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.
- 1GB DRAM memory.
- Up to 64GB expandable memory with microSD local storage.
- Supports standard OS’s including, Android (Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich), Linux (Ubuntu), and includes embedded virtualization client for Windows, Linux, Mac.
- USB 2.0 port for power and connection to devices that support USB mass storage.
- HDMI 2.1 port with audio.
- Decodes MPEG-4, H.264 and other video formats, displays HD graphics on any HDMI equipped screen.
FXI Technologies (www.fxitech.com) is a Norway-based hardware and software startup with a focus on improving the world of digital screens with smart and personal capabilities. This includes initiatives
- Improving consumer access to Cloud computing.
- Accelerate the adoption and use of “smart screen” technologies.
- Easy ability to share media and content (videos, movies, photos, games, etc.) from mobile and portable devices on large screens and projectors.
FXI Cotton Candy, the PC on a stick, may very well open up even more exciting embedded computing applications around the corner, and we’ll be ready to talk about it here at Mint Gadgets. If you’re interested in learning more about the cotton candy miniature PC on a stick, you can visit the comunity website at cstick.com where development units are available now for pre-order.
Source: [FXI - cstick.com]
Desk Pet Tankbots with Smartphone Controller
February 21, 2012 by mintgadgets
Filed under Cell phone Gadgets, Toy Gadgets
Your cluttered desktop is full of obstacles like your computer mouse, coffee mugs, staplers, notebook computers, etc., right? Maybe you didn’t realize, but this clutter creates the ideal obstacle driving course for the Desk Pet Tankbots. These clever little mini-robot remote controlled gadgets are actually masters at navigating in and around any maze.
The amusing little Desk Pet Tankbot is equipped with an advanced optical navigation technology. It can search at detect any obstacle in its path at easily navigate around it. This is the pinnacle of procrastination busting, robotic desktop entertainment at its best.
This ingenious little Desk Pet Tankbot can operate in three different modes.
- Touchless navigation – detects objects in its path with optical navigation technology and can automatically navigate through the maze on your desktop.
- Autonomous personality mode – spins around and shows off its lights and sounds.
- Smartphone control – use your Smartphone or iPhone as a remote control to steer and guide the Desk Pet Tankbot.
And what’s better than one Tankbot. Well, two tankbots, of course! Desk Pet Tankbots can “fire” infrared shots at each other and the tankbot optical sensors can detect when they’ve been hit. After enough shots, the winner disables the loser.
Smartphone Controlled Desk Pet Tankbots Demonstration
Smartphone Controlled Desk Pet Tankbots Features
- Avoids and steers around obstacles with advanced optical navigation technology.
- The little tankbot has a personality too with light-up eyes and cute little robot sounds.
- Tankbots are randomly picked from four different colors (Grey ,Blue, Orange, and Green). Sorry, you can’t order the color you prefer, but they’re all great Tankbot colors.
- Come on, you know your desk needs a maze-navigating tank robot.
- Three modes of operation: touchless navigation, autonomous personality mode, smartphone remote control.
- Compatible with iOS devices and Android devices (2.1 and up), you can download the free remote control tankbot app from the App Store or Android Market.
- Insert the DeskPet Universal Remote into your headphone jack to control your TankBot.
- Includes the integrated USB flip out connector to recharge using your computer USB port.
- Automatic shut-off after 3 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life.
- Internal rechargeable battery provides 15 minutes of tankbot play time from a 40 minute battery charge.
- Suitable for Ages 8 and Up
A Desk Pet Tankbot (or two) provides hours of desktop mini-robot fun entertainment. Get your Desk Pet Tankbot today!
Available: ThinkGeek
Price: $24.99
Digits Conductive Glove Pins – Keep Your Gloves On And Still Use Your Phone
February 8, 2012 by mintgadgets
Filed under Cell phone Gadgets, Clothes Gadgets
It’s winter and it’s cold outside. No way you’re going to take off your gloves or mittens to use your iPhone or Smartphone. We recently showed you a great smartphone compatible glove solution from AGloves that lets you use your phone with your gloves on. However, unlike the capacitive touch screen gloves that have conductive fibers woven into the gloves, Digits Condutive Glove Pins are a less expensive solution that actually convert your existing gloves or mittens into touchscreen compatible gloves.
Digits Conductive Glove Pins work with any pair of gloves or mittens that you already own. With these conductive glove pins, you can easily convert your gloves into smartphone compatible gloves that let you operate touch screen devices without having to take your gloves off.
Here’s how the Digits Conductive Glove Pins Work
Digits conductive glove pins are made of a conductive silicone material and have a metal pin on the back that attach to your glove. To install, you simply place the back side of the conductive pin digit with the post inside of the fingertip of the glove and push through. Then you twist the other side of the silicone pad onto the post.
The Digits Conductive Glove Pins are really easy to install. Each set comes with four conductive glove pins and you can mix and match anyway you want. For example, you could place all four conductive pins on a single pair of gloves. Or you could install two glove pins on the fingers of two separate pairs of gloves.
The Digits Conductive Glove Pins are compatible with most touchscreen devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android phones, and more. Next time you’re outside in the bitter cold and your phone rings, keep your gloves on and skip the frostbite with a set of Digits Conductive Glove Pins!
Available: ThinkGeek
Price: $9.99
Agloves Capacitive Touch Screen Gloves
January 27, 2012 by mintgadgets
Filed under Cell phone Gadgets, Clothes Gadgets
It’s bitter cold outside and you have your gloves or mittens on. You know it’s impossible to use your iPhone, Android phone or any touch screen device for that matter. It simply doesn’t work with your gloves on. And nothing’s worse than to have to take your gloves off just to use phone. The problem is solved with the Agloves Capacitive Touch Screen Gloves.
Don’t let the freezing cold outside stop you from getting those tweets out, dialing your phone or checking that Facebook page. The Agloves Capacitive Touch Screen Gloves keep your hands and fingers warm and still allow you to use your touch screen device. No more frostbite when you’re out in the elements and you need to send those text messages.
The problem with regular gloves is that they’re not conductive. And that means they simply won’t work with any touch screen device. All of these wonderful devices that we’ve become so dependent on use a capacitive touch screen that’s designed to work by sensing very small minute changes in electrical current when you touch the screen with your finger. And most gloves simply block that electrical activity.
The Agloves Capacitive Touch Screen Gloves, more like cozy mittens actually, have thousands of tiny silver threads wrapped around the nylon fibers which allow the electrical contact from your fingers to reach the surface of the touch screen on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone or any other capacitive touch screen device.
The capacitive touch screen gloves are super cozy, warm and snuggly and are stretchable to provide a nice snug fit which helps optimize the contact with your touch screen device as well. They come in two sizes, medium and large. To determine the proper fit, wrap a measuring tape around your hand, across your palm, just under your knuckles, and don’t include your thumb. See the agloves fitting chart for sizing details.
It’s the winter season, and it’s cold outside. Now you can keep your hands warm and comfortable with the Agloves Capacitive Touch Screen Gloves and never skip a beat again when you’re out in the elements with your iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or iPod. These are the digital age mittens you’ve been looking for!
Available: ThinkGeek
Price: $16.99
The Smartphone Controlled RC Helicopter
January 14, 2012 by mintgadgets
Filed under RC Helicopter Gadgets, Smartphone Gadgets
At Mint Gadgets, we love radio controlled helicopter gadgets. Here’s a new twist that caught our eye, a remote controlled helicopter that is controlled by a smartphone.
The Smartphone Controlled RC Helicopter works with your iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone device. You simply download a free app to you iPhone, iPad or Android and your smartphone becomes a remote control that communicates the remote controlled helicopter using the built-in wireless radio. Your smartphone wireless radio is able to control the helicopter up to a range of 60 feet.
The remote control app for flying the Smartphone Controlled RC Helicopter uses the motion-sensing accelerometers that are built into your smartphone device. This allows for easy and natural remote control by enabling the simple tilt and pan of your smartphone to precisely control the radio controlled helicopter’s forward, backward, left, right, up and down movements. The remote control app also provides a visual direction and speed indicator, and a convenient swipe of your finger controls the throttle.
The Smartphone Controlled RC Helicopter has a horizontal tail rotor that works in tandem with the two contra-rotaing coaxial main rotors to keep the helicopter balanced during flight. This innovative design enables easy flying and remote control, no more frequent crashes typical of many RC helicopters.
The Smartphone Controlled RC Helicopter comes with a rechargeable battery that provides approximately five-minute flight times from a 60-minute charge using the included USB charging cable. Suitable for kids ages 14 years and up.
Available: Hammacher
Price: $99.95
