What’s worse than the fact that I actually stood there and filmed the entire routine is that it was one of the highlights of the Australian CeBit show. Seriously – for the average gadget fan, there was not a lot more than cheap, ugly electronics that you wouldn’t even buy cheap in China. If you were thinking about going tomorrow, I’d save yourself the price of entry…

Each of the docks connects to the console in question, and include speakers, a headphone socket and connections for the Digislide projector (although the prototypes only had wires to manually connect the projector, the end products will let you just slide in the projector to dock properly).

The guys at Digislide are targetting an October release for the gaming docks for all the consoles – the only reason a PS3 model wasn’t on display is because they ran out of time. They’re targetting a $150-$200 pricepoint for the docks, but at this stage it’s impossible to say ow close they’ll land. Hopefully we’ll hear more closer to October.

Asus’ Fold/Unfold is thin like a MacBook Air but, when unfolded, the system tilts its keyboard up for ergonomics and better computer airflow. The concept will be released this year, by summer.

Meanwhile, that dual-touchscreen laptop, also known as the Flipbook, is planned for a little later. We should see it sometime in 2010. [TechRadar]

It’s not exactly a TiVo, and it’s only capable of storing over-the-air TV (and in its current form, just European digital broadcasting protocols), but the BlobBox from Telsey and TVBlob has an impressive list of talents stashed in a single plastic case:

• BitTorrent searching and downloading (plus downloading via HTTP and FTP)
• YouTube playback and uploading
• Miro for podcast management
• DVB-T over-the-air dual tuner, for watching and recording at same time
• Support for DivX, Xvid, WMV, MP4, MOV, ASF and (soon) MKV
• Web browsing
• Access to Flickr and other photo sites for viewing
• UPnP and USB connectivity for accessing content on other devices
• HDMI output for true 1080p viewing

It’s only got a 160GB hard drive, and not only does it just work on European DVB-T broadcasts, but it doesn’t have anything like a CableCard either, and given the fact that the company is based in Italy with few or no US distribution, there’s probably no plan for that either.

Bummers aside, the fact is, Telsey and TVBlob are taking us one step closer to Chen’s dream, and we certainly admire anyone with the guts (and the stomach) to help Chen realise his fantasies. [PRWeb, TVBlob and Telsey via Engadget]

If our best guess is correct, all of those off-white stuctures on the board are “micro-porous ceramic” heat sinks. But not only do they dissipate heat from board components while looking ever so evil—the ceramic also improves the structure integrity of the board itself.

The only catch to performance clockers may be the inclusion of SO-DIMM slots—small form memory slots generally reserved for notebooks.

As of right now, the Marine Cool is a concept. But like their dual-screen laptop, if Asus actually brings this model to market, we’d all remember that the company is capable of creating a lot more than just netbooks. [Softpedia via Engadget]

Panasonic 103-inch plasma smashed at CeBIT Sydney [Gizmodo Australia]
Thanks Séamus!

You’d better sit down…

It’s with a heavy heart we share the awful news that one of Panasonic’s magnificent 103-inch plasma screens died during bump out at CeBIT Sydney.

We actually first heard this news a few weeks ago (tip of the hat to hazchem), but without more sources we let it lie as unsupported rumour (at the time, Panasonic didn’t give us a confirm when we followed it up). Now with a fresh tip from a separate source, we’re in no doubt the screen is dead, and now Panasonic has confirmed to Gizmodo that the screen is indeed pining for the fjords.

At the conclusion of CeBIT while Panasonic was bumping out the 103-inch Plasma, when lifted using a forklift the Plasma fell and was irreparably damaged. The Plasma was fully insured and Panasonic has other exhibition units.

Rest In Peace, beautiful giant plasma. You know what they say, the candle screen that burns twice as bright… -Seamus Byrne

Seriously, this was exactly what this guy (also on the Made in Germany stand) was saying to the kid in the picture. “No, no, it isn’t a game, it is a driving simulator.” Doesn’t that just mean it is a BORING version of a driving game?

But the kid just wouldn’t be dismissed so easily. “How do you score?”, “What’s the goal?”, “Where are the hookers to boost your health?” I made that last one up. Have to give the kid a break, though. There was a pretty serious looking joystick attached to the machine. How could it NOT be a game to a 12-year-old kid? Oh yeah, and he crashed a lot too. He was rubbish at it. -Seamus Byrne

So here are those girls in the spa I mentioned earlier. They were showing off some new mobile phone protective covers called ‘Skins’… basically, large condoms you wrap your phone in before hitting the water, or mud, or jelly. Y’know, whatever.

Another photo follows the drop, showing a small number of the non-stop flow of men hovering around the spa. -Seamus Byrne

[Skins Mobile]

This was taken at one of the quieter moments…

Spend a little too long at your desk? Of course you do. These tables will do your back the world of good, letting you raise and lower your desk so you can shift between sitting and standing over the course of the day. Even low enough to sit on a swiss ball or kneel now and then if that takes your fancy. It’s all about saving your back!

Your back, and your rat’s nest of cables too. The arms and legs have cable channels, and under the back edge of the desk you can add an electricals duct, where six power points can live so you only need a single cable running away from the desk to your outlet. Neat, tidy, sexy, smart. And Aussie.

These are made by a crew in Melbourne, and the tables start at $1900 and flow up to over $4000 with all the bells and whistles seen on this desk here. Plus they can do all kinds of customisations to suit your exact needs. My back is already trying to remind me to go order one now. More close up pics around the table after the jump.

[ AME Systems ]

-Seamus Byrne