Mimo Monitors has just announced their Magic Touch 10.1″ Capacitive Touchscreen.  While a touch screen is nothing new and neither is video via USB connection, the Magic Touch manages to combine both and can be connected using a single USB 2.0 cable.  Running  a resolution of 1024X600 it’s only fully touch compatible with Windows 7 and while the panel  is technically capable of four-point multi-touch, you’ll only get single touch. The screen can be removed from its base dock easily and used independently as a tethered tablet or for mounting via a standard Vesa connector.

Aimed at applications like retail POS, healthcare, manufacturing and education, the Touch could also be used to declutter your desktop and get things like IM, chat and other functions off your primary monitor.

Available for preorder from Mimo with shipping around December 12, the Magic Touch is $299 while the Magic Touch Deluxe which adds 2 USB ports ( you’ll need an additional AC adapter to power them if required) is $329.99

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, News

Tagged: monitor, USB devices

Mimo Magic Touch – Capacitive Touchy Feely for your PC originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 22, 2011 at 10:00 am.

If you’re like me who sits in front of a computer monitor for long hours, in my case two monitors side by side next to a TV monitor editing music videos, PayPerView programs and PSA/TV commercials, your eyes tend to become strained from the effects of staring at the monitor.   But never fear, there is help for those of us who sit in front of computer monitors and who still want to look stylish.

Introducing Gunnar Optiks Digital Eyewear.  These are digital performance glasses made specifically for the digital user, from everyday computer user to pro gamer. The lenses are made from proprietary material for enhanced monitor viewing and tuned for close monitor viewing as well. But more on that later.

The reason our eyes become fatigued and strained from a monitor is due to several factors: glare, flicker, poor contrast, reading small fonts, and other monitor properties which can cause eye discomfort. Unless these causes are corrected, then the user can suffer from everything from red itchy eyes, to blurred vision, and all the way to pounding headaches. Fortunately, I never suffered from the headaches but I have had the eye strains. No fun.

But thanks to the Gunnar Optiks I noticed a significant improvement in my vision while wearing them. After putting them on, I can tell the difference by

I haven’t found anything negative about Gunnar Optiks eyewear.  I like the styles they have, their eyewear has many benefits to wearing them and enhances viewing capablities.

Gunnar has some really cool pairs of sunglasses as well as 3D eyewear with the same technology built into all their styles of eyewear. I can see why gamers from beginners to professionals would want to wear these glasses as well. They make what you look at better, and you look cool in them.

Since Gunnar Optiks eyewear is mainly for people with fair to excellent eyesight, Gunnar offers frames that are Rx compatible so that people with sight restrictions can have corrective lens with the Gunnar technology. Very impressive I should say. Check out Gunnar’s website for more information on the prescription eyewear, and check out their other many styles from their Gaming Styles to their Tech Styles to their Creative Styles.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, Health Related Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: eyewear, monitor, vision

Gunnar Optiks Phenom Gaming Eyeglasses Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

I am a master of multiple monitors. At my last job, I wrangled my way into having a total of four LCDs connected to my workstation, which was pretty fantastic for multitasking. The downside was that such a configuration requires more than one video card (usually).

Your run-of-the-mill video card has either one or two video outputs. If you want to add extra monitors, you need to get another video card. Not only can this be costly, it’s completely unfeasible if you’re working with a laptop or an all-in-one machine like an Apple iMac. This is where DisplayLink technology comes into play. DisplayLink is a new hardware standard that allows passing a video signal over USB instead of more typical connections like DVI and VGA. One such manufacturer of DisplayLink products is VillageTronics, who sent me their ViBook adapter to test and review. We’ll see how it compares to the more traditional method of adding an extra internal video card to your computer.

The hardware is, as with many USB products, extremely simple. Install the software, plug the device into your monitor and a USB port on your computer. The software handles the rest, and bam – you have a whole extra monitor onto which you can extend your desktop and application windows. DisplayLink is supported by both Windows and Apple’s Mac OS X operating system, and the ViBook is no different.

In the box

The ViBook comes with everything you need to get started:

• ViBook device
• 18″ DVI-to-VGA cable
• DVI-D male/male adapter
• VESA-compliant mounting bracket
• Documentation and drivers disc

The hardware

The device itself is very straightforward – it’s a small black box with a female DVI-I connection on one side and a recessed USB mini-B port on the other. The included USB cable has a large square block around the mini-B plug, so that it sits well in the recessed USB port on the ViBook.

The DVI-I port on the other side is the same DVI connection found on modern video cards. DVI-I includes the ability to transmit both digital DVI signals and the older analog VGA signal standard, so it can be used with a DVI-to-VGA adapter.

The included 18″ DVI-to-VGA allows you to connect the ViBook to the VGA output on your monitor with minimal excess cable length. Then, if you choose, you can mount the ViBook to the back of your monitor with the included VESA bracket. It’s compatible with both 75mm and 79mm VESA mounts, so it should work with any normal desktop LCD monitor. Two adhesive 3M-branded foam pads are included as well, in case your LCD doesn’t have VESA mounting holes.

In addition to the aforementioned cable, the ViBook also includes an adapter to connect it to your monitor’s DVI port. For some reason, only a small gender-changer type adapter is included, rather than an actual cable, so you can’t use the VESA bracket with it. For the price, it would have been nice if a short DVI-to-DVI cable had been included with this device.

The software

VillageTronics includes a CD-ROM with software for both OS X and Windows. The Windows software is actually a product called UltraMon, which I have used in the past. The license for this application is nearly $40.00 USD, so it’s definitely a nice bonus with the ViBook. VillageTronics rebranded the software as VT MultiDisplay, but for all intents and purposes, it’s UltraMon.

This is a great piece of software, and I highly recommend it if you use multiple monitors on a regular basis with your computer(s). It provides extra buttons in the title bars of your windows to move them between displays, and puts a taskbar on every monitor so that your applications don’t all put taskbar buttons on your primary display. There is, however, one downside to the VT MultiDisplay software – UltraMon has yet to be officially compatible with Vista and XP, which means that the ViBook’s included copy isn’t necessarily going to work well. I’ve used UltraMon in Vista, but the extra taskbar functionality has been unstable.

This doesn’t mean the drivers necessary to use the display are incompatible – I’ve had no problems using the ViBook with my Vista Ultimate SP2 installation.

The ViBook also comes with software for OS X. However, it’s Intel-only and all my Macs are old PowerPC machines, so I can’t test it.

Performance

I’m not entirely read up on the nitty gritty of how DisplayLink works, but from my testing scenarios, it seems like the ViBook (and, I imagine, DisplayLink in general) piggybacks off your computer’s internal GPU (graphics processing unit). On my desktop PC with an nvidia 9500 GT, I was able to play Runes of Magic (a World of Warcraft-style MMORPG with better graphics) with high graphics settings at about 30fps. On my netbook, however, which uses the Intel integrated graphics chipset, video performance was what you’d expect from integrated graphics – games were unplayable.

For general-purpose computing, the ViBook will more than suffice.

The bad

As with just about everything I’ve reviewed, I have a few minor complaints about the ViBook. The DVI port on the device itself is framed by the plastic cover of the box, which prevents DVI plugs from being completely secured to the port with the screws on either side of the connector. This isn’t a huge deal, but I’m of the school of thought that when it comes to somewhat expensive technology, the details matter in the overall fit and finish of the product.

The verdict

Overall, I’m pretty happy with the ViBook as a piece of geeky hardware. I think it’s more useful in general than needing a mini-DVI or mini-DisplayPort adapter for your laptop (which is how Apple laptops have been configured for awhile now). If you have a desktop computer, I’m not sure that the ViBook will be particularly useful, since you can easily add a second video card for less than half the cost of this device. On the other hand, it’s plenty handy for hooking up a monitor to a laptop or iMac, especially since it doesn’t use a big bulky video cable. The included software helps to offset the cost of the hardware, so I call it a win.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Desktop Computer Gear, Reviews

Tagged: monitor

VillageTronics ViBook DisplayLink USB Video Card Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 13, 2010 at 12:35 pm.

After writing up the article on DoubleSight Displays‘ new USB displays, I did a little exploring of the rest of their website, and it appears that they specialize in multi-monitor setups.

I’ve never really given much thought to a multi-monitor stand, as I’ve never had more than two monitors at once, but after looking at what DoubleSight offers, I realize how cluttered it looks to have multiple monitors scattered across a desktop on individual stands.  Collecting them all onto one single stand looks so much more organized and more… well… awesome.

DoubleSight has a modular and varied array of products that should be capable of meeting just about any reasonable multi-display need, everything from a simple dual-monitor stand to triple- or quad-monitor stands, to multi-monitor extensions that could conceivably get you some pretty impressive monitor set-ups (nine monitors on a single stand, anybody?).  These things don’t come cheap (the pictured quad-monitor stand runs $350), but odds are that if you’ve got four monitors and a rig that can run them all, you can probably afford it.

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear

Tagged: monitor, Stand

DoubleSight Flex Stands let you use multiple monitors with style originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 29, 2009 at 2:51 pm.

If you’ve been looking for a simple way to physically expand your computer desktop, you now have a few more options.  DoubleSight Displays has announced the release of their Smart USB line of USB LCD displays, ranging in price from $120 for a 7-inch display to $160 for a 9-inch display with a built-in webcam.  All three models in the line support both portrait and landscape mode, use USB for both power and video, and are PC and Mac compatible.  These displays are designed to be portable, each featuring a folding stand and including a snap-on screen cover for traveling.

The manufacturer web site indicates that their Smart USB displays should be available at a number of big-name retailers, both online and brick & mortar.  Press release is available after the jump.

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ — DoubleSight Displays, a leading manufacturer of Multi Monitor Solutions, is pleased to announce the release of the its new Smart USB Monitor Family of LCD Monitor Solutions.

DoubleSight’s Smart USB Monitors are a true advance in the Multi Monitor Solution category. USB makes these monitors the easiest way to add a monitor to any computer. The small compact size makes the Smart Monitor the perfect accessory for Laptop and Netbook computers.

Key Features:

• Built-in Support for Multi Monitor Mode
• Perfect for Laptops, Netbooks and Desktops
• Lightweight and Portable
• Landscape and Portrait Viewing
• USB for Power and Video (no video port required)
• PC and MAC Compatible
• Supports a Variety of Applications

Multiple Monitors as a Solution

Multiple Monitors are a productivity solution which is rapidly becoming the norm in today’s busy workplace, according to Dario DellaMaggiore, Director of Sales and Marketing at DoubleSight Displays. “DoubleSight continually seeks new ways to help users expand their viewable workspace and make multitasking easier,” added Mr. DellaMaggiore. “Now adding a second or third monitor to a computer has never been easier. Simply connect the DoubleSight Smart USB Monitor via a USB Port and run the installation software. That is it.”

The Smart USB Monitors utilize USB for both power and video. One cable does it all. No additional video port, video cable or power adapter is required. DoubleSight utilizes DisplayLink Technology, making these Monitors truly smart and easy to use. DisplayLink allows the user to control the viewing choices, including alternating from landscape to portrait viewing with the click of a mouse. Several models are available, including 7″ and 9″ LCD screen sizes. Smart USB Monitors are also available with a Web Cam option. Each Smart USB Monitor ships with DisplayLink Software, an adjustable Desktop Stand, a Protective Travel Cover for portable use, USB Cable and easy-to-understand QIG and Owner’s Manual.

Smart USB Monitors are perfect for:

• Exporting Tool Bars and Menus
• Monitoring Email and Viewing Calendars
• Instant Messenger or Internet Phone Applications
• Watching Movies and Internet Video
• Viewing PC-based Photo Albums

Laptop Users

DoubleSight’s new Smart USB Monitors are the perfect Laptop accessory. Easily expand your viewable workspace wherever you are. Each Monitor weighs less than one pound and conveniently tucks into your briefcase to go with you. The adjustable stand removes quickly and a snap-on cover protects your screen when traveling. A convenient easel stand is tucked into the back of the Monitor to use when traveling.

Netbook Users

Double the amount of visible work space and increase your productivity, at home or on the road. These Monitors do not require an extra video port and drivers are easy to download from our web site. Expanding your view has never been easier.

Desktop Users

Perfect for increasing your viewable desktop where space is tight. Since an additional video port is not required, our USB Monitors are perfect as a second or even third monitor. DisplayLink Software allows you to connect up to six Smart USB Monitors to your existing PC.

Models, Price & Availability:

DS-70U Smart USB LCD Monitor, 7″ LCD Screen – Est. Street Price $119.00

DS-90U Smart USB LCD Monitor, 9″ LCD Screen – Est. Street Price $139.00

DS-90UC Smart USB LCD Monitor with Web Cam, 9″ LCD Screen – Est. Street Price $159.00

Product URL – http://www.doublesight.com/product/?cid=10

    Contact:

    Dario DellaMaggiore, Director of Sales & Marketing
    DoubleSight Displays, Irvine, CA
    Telephone: 877.893.5237; 949.253.1535
    Email: dario.dellamaggiore@doublesight.com
    Web: http://www.doublesight.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE DoubleSight Displays

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Laptops and Gear

Tagged: monitor, USB

DoubleSight ups the USB display ante originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 29, 2009 at 10:36 am.

TRITTON Technologies enables PC and Mac users the opportunity to enhance their computer capabilities by adding up to six VGA displays with the help of the See2 UV150 and See2 Xtreme external VGA video cards. The See2 UV150 can add a second VGA display to computers at $49.99. The See2 Xtreme USB to DVI external video card, priced at $79.99, can add up to six displays to a computer. Now available at any local Best Buy or BestBuy.com.

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Laptops and Gear

Tagged: LCD, monitor, Spotlight Gadgets

Create a 6 headed monster – Tritton See2 Xtreme originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 17, 2009 at 5:07 pm.

Like several gadgets that I have reviewed, I am often attracted to products originally designed for children. Many children’s gadgets are brightly colored and are simply designed which makes them visually appealing. The ShowerPets Starfish Water and Temperature monitor naturally fits into these categories, Plus…

Who wouldn’t want a starfish to hang out in your tub to tell you the temperature of your bath and sing to you when the water level is getting too high?

The Starfish Monitor itself is fairly simple. The front of the Starfish is made of aqua colored plastic with a LED display in the center. The material used for the body has a nice texture and is very smooth to the touch. Each one of the “arms” are rounded nicely with no obvious seams or sharp edges.

The back of the Starfish has a very large suction cup used to adhere the device to the walls of the tub. The suction cup is sturdily attached to the back, and provides fairly good amount of suction so that it stays in place as long as desired. One edge of the cup has a tiny handle so that it can be removed easily after use.

The battery compartment resides inside the case, which can be easily disassembled by a screw on the back. Two AA batteries are necessary to power the device.

Notice the two small metallic bumps of the bottom, these are the water sensors. When they both come in contact with water, an alarm sounds. However, I was disappointed to discover that that the water level alert  is not especially musical: in fact it is the same droning noise that most alarm clocks use to drag us out of out of blissful sleep each morning. Not exactly the noise I associate with a relaxing bath, but it certainly gets my attention.

The Starfish displays the water temperature without complete submersion.

However, an additional immersion based probe is also included for better accuracy.

I tested both methods of measuring water temperature on the starfish with my ThermoHawk Infrared Thermometer and the difference between the on-board sensor and the external probe deviate by only 1 degree. I don’t require this level of accuracy for my baths, so I usually use it without the probe.

Author’s Note: The rose petals that are in the bath are purely to show the water level, and are not enjoyed by the author in any way except for the intellectual enjoyment of the advancement of science.

Overall, I felt that this gadget was quite sturdy and accurate for the price and I plan to use it quite frequently while drawing a hot winter’s bath.

Price: $9.99 from Amazon.com

Pros:
Never overflow the tub again
Never step into a “too hot” or “too cold” bath again

Cons:
Alarm could be more musical

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: bathroom, monitor, temperature

ShowerPets Starfish Water and Temperature Monitor Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 16, 2008 at 5:59 pm.