New Gadget 2011

I generally wear iPod nano as a watch, but with Android wrist-top gadgets that offer more features reaching the market, it is feeling a little behind the times these days. Something like Antonio De Rosa�s new iWatch2 idea design is much more in maintaining with what I would expect Apple to offer in the upcoming future of wearable computing products.
Like the iPhone SJ idea before it, De Rosa�s iWatch 2 (which is itself a refresh of an older iWatch design) appears to be something that you could simply imagine gracing the desk of Apple layout guru Jony I have at this very moment: It has the aluminum and glass attraction of the iPhone 4 and 4S, along with an on-screen UI that looks convincingly iOS motivated.




In spite of what Apple really has planned in the way of wearable wrist-top computing, I however want this idea to fly out of my dreams and on to my wrist. What about you?

The open source resurrection of WebOS is underway, allowing device makers and hackers to install the operating system on tablets or other gadgets as early as September.
WebOS is the platform that HP acquired along with Palm for $1.2 billion in 2010. HP planned to make phones and tablets based on WebOS, with the goal of being an Apple-like company that controlled hardware and software. But being like Apple isn�t easy, and in light of dismal sales, HP scrapped its WebOS hardware plans last fall. Instead of killing WebOS, HP now plans to release it as open source software.

A lot of nitty-gritty technical stuff has to happen between now and September. For starters, HP wants to switch the platform to a standard Linux kernel, which, as The Verge points out, will make loading WebOS onto other devices easier due to the greater availability of drivers. HP is also working on a new version of its application framework, called Enyo, which allows WebOS apps to run through web browsers on other platforms. (Think of being able to run WebOS apps within Chrome, or Internet Explorer, in addition to running on phones and tablets.)

Realistically, device makers aren�t going to put WebOS on a phone or tablet this year. They may end up avoiding the platform entirely. But I can see hackers running wild with the operating system soon after the source code is released. If you�re not afraid to tinker, you might be able to boot WebOS on an Android tablet before the year is through.

Pentax has launched its latest interchangeable lens camera, the Pentax K-01, designed by Marc Newson and compatible with standard Pentax K-mount DSLR lenses.

There�s also 6fps burst still capture, and an ISO range of 100 to 25,600. The manual focus mode features a peaking system for swifter and more accurate adjustments, and there�s an easily twiddled mode dial and chunky controls. A pop-up glash and powered hotshoe are on the top, while ports include USB 2.0, AV out, HDMI and 3.5mm audio in.

Although the K-01 will work with all of Pentax�s K-mount lenses, the company has also prepared a special super-slim option, the smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS, for those who want to keep the bulk down. It�s the world�s thinnest interchangeable lens, Pentax claims.

The Pentax K-01 will go on sale in March 2012, priced at $749.95 for the body alone, or $899.95 for the body and the 40mm lens. The lens itself will be sold separately at $249.95.