Master Lock is currently developing a biometric activated garage door opener with bioMETRIX, and this new electronic padlock will be known as the smartTOUCH GDO. This means only authorized persons will be able to open and close the garage door, making it harder for thieves to just cut a standard padlock in two and encroaching on your territory. The weatherproof sensor doesn’t require you to memorize yet another PIN number, instead it sends a wireless signal to the door opener upon successful authentication. The Master Lock smartTOUCH GDO will appear on store shelves this summer, and it will most probably be priced more than $200.

Original post by Akihabaranews.com and software by Elliott Back

Intel has debuted the Bearlake family of chipsets for desktop PCs at CeBIT 2007. This series will features DDR3 memory support, FSB speeds of up to 1,333MHz, and compatibility with upcoming Wolfdale and Yorkfield Core 2 Duo processors that were manufactured via the 45nm process. The P35 chipset will probably phase out the current 965 Express series for desktops, but we won’t see a wide adoption rate yet since DDR3 supplies are currently low and the price remains on the other end of the spectrum. Thankfully, the P35 chipset also boasts backwards compatibility with DDR2 memory. Look out for P35-based motherboards to hit stores sometime this April or May at a yet undisclosed price.

Original post by Akihabaranews.com and software by Elliott Back

Pantech has harnessed the power of magnetic levitation (yes, the same principle used in transporting thousands of people on bullet trains every day) by integrating it inside a cellphone. This super slim slider measures at only 9.9mm thick will be able to slide open and close almost automatically thanks to this technology. Being the first handset in the world with such a feature, Samsung’s range of slim sliders will definitely be threatened by Pantech’s offering when released next month since the latter has eliminated space-wasting parts such as springs. Features of this Pantech wonder includes a 1.3 megapixel camera, DMB broadcasting capability, and MP3 playback. There is no word on pricing details, so just sit it out until April rolls around.

Original post by Akihabaranews.com and software by Elliott Back

Wireless media players are starting to make their presence felt at homes, and the Linksys KiSS 1600 is testament to that. This device is capable of streaming high definition media such as video, audio, photos, and other digital content to your TV from network-attached devices or the Internet. There is even an integrated DVD player which can upscale standard definition DVDs to a much more respectable 720p through HDMI. What would really make it perfect is the inclusion of a hybrid HD DVD/Blu-ray drive. Just make sure your TV itself is of the High Definition variety before picking this £259.99 wireless media hub up.

Original post by Akihabaranews.com and software by Elliott Back

The barebones MP3 player market is currently dominated by iPod’s diminutive Shuffle, but there are some notable competitors waiting in the background at the moment. Coby’s MP-C896 is one of them, and it looks like another competitor in terms of design, the Sansa Xpress. Features include a crisp LCD display, USB connectivity, an integrated FM tuner and recorder, a built-in microphone, and support for WMA files. The Cony MP-C896 comes with up to 2GB of internal memory, making it the perfect casual MP3 player to tote around when exercising, assuming the price is right.

Original post by Akihabaranews.com and software by Elliott Back

Wacom, famous for developing graphical tablets for digital artists, has recently presented an easy-to-use interface that captures biometrical profiles of handwritten digital signatures in a high quality format. This signature LCD tablet targets those in business who want to eliminate the paper trail where signatures are concerned. In addition, the entire sales transaction becomes faster and more secure. The Wacom signature tablet features a reflective TFT LC display (VGA resolution) and uses a cordless, battery-free pen for signing purposes. A 10cm screen length ought to be long enough for even the most titled signatories. This prototype design is currently on exhibition at CeBIT, so we won’t know when will it be released for commercial purposes yet.

Original post by Akihabaranews.com and software by Elliott Back

Portable media players are all the rage, and Axes of Japan has joined the fray recently with its PicStar VP8360 device that comes with more features than you can shake a stick at. The VP8360 features a memory card reader (compatible with CF, Memory Stick, SD, SDHC, and miniSD), a massive 160GB hard drive, AVI, MOV, and MPEG 1/4 support, an integrated FM tuner, and MP3 playback capability. Heck, you can even record video on it directly from virtually any source, with output in 320 x 240, 640 x 480, and a mode specially for PSP. I wonder how much it costs…

Original post by Akihabaranews.com and software by Elliott Back