Swivl-it motion tracker for phones slated for late May

21600updated 04:08 pm EDT, Fri May 4, 2012 Swivl-it loses some features, $50 from the price

Swivl, maker of the self-titled mount for smartphones with digital cameras that pans to follow a speaker during a voice conference, has introduced a basic version of the gadget, Swivl-it. Unlike the $179 full-blown version, the $129 model doesn't have a digital wireless microphone included and is missing one motor that allows for vertical adjustment. Users can still tilt it by hand, however, but it won't adjust itself as they get up or sit down.It will otherwise follow the users horizontally over a 360-degree range. Either accessory is battery-powered, using AA and AAA batteries, with a life of up to four hours. A microphone the user wears to send CD-quality voice can be added for $49, though the same money will get users the full-featured Swivl with its powered vertical adjustment and the microphone included.

There is app support for iPhones and iPod touch devices, while Android phones aren't yet fully supported, though the accessory will still pan to follow users.

The accessory is said to ship late in May.

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Sharp starts making IGZO-based LCDs for phones, tablets

01603updated 12:20 pm EDT, Fri April 13, 2012 Sharp IGZO display tech in production

Sharp stated Friday that it was producing the first-ever IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) LCDs. Its repurposed Kameyama plant is rolling out panels primarily for smartphones and tablets. As examples, it cited a seven-inch, 1280x800 display for tablets, a 10-inch 2560x1600 display, and a large 32-inch, 3840x2160 desktop display.The panels weren't necessarily the only ones being produced. Sharp was hoping to promote use in notebook PCs and desktop displays.

IGZO may be considered vital to future displays as resolution goes up and pressure exists to slim devices further. The choice of materials allows for smaller TFTs and more illumination through each pixel, both improving the size efficiency and reducing the need for a strong backlight. Much of the reason for the new iPad's much larger battery and thicker profile comes from needing extra LED backlighting to maintain the 2048x1536 display's brightness despite four times the resolution of its ancestor.

Sharp hasn't named any customers, apart from likely future projects of its own. However, Apple has routinely been linked to Sharp and its IGZO displays in particular. The American firm is believed to already be sourcing some of its regular displays from Sharp and would see its focus on very high-resolution displays given a major assist. Future iPads, iPhones, and possibly Macs could get very dense LCDs without having to consume extra battery power or grow thicker.

Apple has alluded to a heavy technology investment that some have associated with displays. The company is rumored to have put as much as $1 billion into Sharp that may have been to get a ready source of displays.

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Eye-Fi Mobile X2 card sends photos to phones out of the box

01600updated 11:50 am EDT, Wed April 11, 2012 Japan gets Eye-Fi Mobile X2 in new 4GB capacity

Almost exactly one year after launching the original 8GB Mobile X2 SDHC memory card, Eye-Fi has used a Japanese launch to introduce another example with the Direct Mode built-in. The 4GB card ships with the Direct Mode enabled out of the box, letting users send photos over Wi-Fi from their cameras to, initially, their Android tablets or smartphones. An included and pre-set 10-digit pairing code won't even require users to start computers for the setup.A free app is required to receive the photos. Buyers will also get a free, three-month membership to Eye-Fi View, an online photo-sharing service that backs up all the photos and is said to have unlimited capacity. It usually costs 480 yen (about $6) per month, or 4,800 yen (nearly $60) annually.

The new X2 card is only meant for Japan for now, due to arrive there on April 13 and priced at nearly 6,000 yen (about $74). A US release is planned, though not set in stone, along with iOS compatibility as well.

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