Go Gadgets

What’s on Next?

From boxy cathode ray tube sets to slim liquid crystal displays, television technology has come a long way in recent years. And the Mitsubishi LaserVue is leading the charge on the next generation of HDTVs. The set uses laser beams to deliver 3D-quality, 1080p video. According to Mitsubishi it displays a wider range of colors than any other HDTV and also boasts the most clarity and depth of field on the market.

Image is everything on the LaserVue. Only 10 inches deep, and framed with a thin bezel, it can be wall-mounted or attached to a stand. And the eye-popping 65-inch screen will make even the biggest of blockbusters look even better. ($6,999; laservuetv.com)

All Smiles

Sony’s HDR-CX12 Memory Stick Handycam combines a great HD camcorder with a 10-megapixel camera in a package about the size of a soda can. It packs advanced features like facial recognition technology, ability to record to a standard 4-gigabyte solid-state memory stick, and 5.1-channel surround-sound recording capability. But what’s most impressive about this unit is its Smile Shutter technology, which lets the camcorder automatically take still photos when a subject smiles, even while it’s shooting high-resolution video. So say cheese. ($900; sony.com)

It’s Got Connections

The Iomega ScreenPlay TV Link bridges the gap between USB and external hard drives and televisions, allowing everything from digital video files to JPEG images to be displayed in 720p or 1080i HD quality. The best part? Unlike other products that beam content — the Apple TV, for example — the ScreenPlay uses external storage. So if you need more space for your home movies, just buy a higher-capacity hard drive, unplug the old drive, and connect the new one. ($99; iomega.com)

A Nice Touch

You may not remember, but Apple didn’t invent the MP3 player — they just reinvented it with simple functionality. Similarly, the 10-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S60 adds a 3.5-inch touch screen to the picture-taking process, giving amateur shooters the easy point-and-click experience they’ve longed for. To operate the camera’s 5x optical zoom, you simply touch the image on the screen; the S60 frames the selected area and zooms right in. Embedded software allows users to literally retouch images with their own finger. ($349; nikonusa.com)

Light Table

Environmental meets functional in the SOLo Lounge Table, a solar-panel-equipped workspace that allows users to harness the sun’s rays to power electronic gadgets. One of the first devices of its kind, the SOLo harvests energy through photovoltaic cells embedded inside the glass tabletop. When used in a typical sunny outdoor setting, the table can collect approximately 73 kilowatt hours of solar energy per year. That’s enough to charge 100 cell phones or three laptops per day, completely off the grid. The table’s sleek design conceals some nice utility. USB, FireWire, a 12-volt DC standard outlet, and a grounded AC outlet are hidden within a drawer. A low-profile LCD screen serves as the unit’s interface and monitor, and low-energy LED lights turn it into a glowing conversation piece once the sun goes down. ($14,000; intelligentforms.net)

Ever Ready

A must-have tool for the road warrior’s arsenal, the Dell Latitude E4200 packs some valuable features into a slim package. The 1.1-inch-thick laptop with 12.1-inch display comes standard with a solid-state hard drive, GPS, and mobile broadband Internet access. But the most innovative feature on the device is Dell’s on communication module, which lets users access Microsoft Exchange data like e-mail and calendars without powering up the rest of the computer. For users on the go who frequently pop open and power up their system (for example, on a layover at the airport), this feature improves the Latitude’s battery life and makes its Intel Core 2 Duo processor seem even faster. ($1,999 and up; dell.com)

Good Vibrations

Forget spotty reception and bad service — many cell phone calls are missed because the recipient doesn’t hear the phone ringing or feel it vibrating. The Bluetooth Bracelet Call Alert is a simple device that pairs with a mobile phone and shakes to alert the wearer to an incoming call. Because it links via Bluetooth, the bracelet is functional even when a phone is tucked out of sight — like in a briefcase or a coat pocket. And the simple, unobtrusive design means the only person who will notice the bracelet will be the one wearing it. ($36; sourcingmap.com)

How Do Touchscreens Work?

The two most common types of touch screen are resistive and capacitive models. Resistive touch screens have two main components: the bottom layer is made of glass, and the top is a sheet of plastic. The inside surface of each has a conductive coating, and the two layers are separated by “spacers.” When any object touches the screen, it pushes the two surfaces together. The conductive surfaces transmit small amounts of electricity when they connect, and this electricity is measured and coordinated by the computer.

The other kind of touch screen, capacitive, comes in two variations: surface and projected. Both use only a single layer of glass that has had a conductive and protective coating applied to it. Capacitive touch screens are more expensive to produce than resistive screens, but they transmit light and images better. So, many manufacturers prefer capacitive screens on gadgets like handheld media devices.

On surface capacitive screens, there is a little bit of current in the four corners of the screen to create an electronic field. When users touch the display, the field is disrupted, and algorithms determine what area of the screen is being touched. Projected capacitive screens work similarly, but have the current flowing through a grid, rather than on the corners. The screen emits an electric field (which measures only in microamps, so it doesn’t upset devices like pacemakers) that calculates — more precisely than with surface capacitive screens — where a finger interrupts the signal. — J.P.P.