We know that publishing giant Conde Nast is taking the idea of an Apple iTablet so seriously it's already prepping content for the as-yet-unofficial platform, and here Conde Nast title Wired shows off a preview of what the mag might look like on the rumoured iPad.

The concept video shows Wired's iTablet app complete with animated, interactive graphics as well as the scrolling text, flippable pages and landscape or portrait options you'd expect from an ebook reader.

Is Conde Nast showing its desperation over the dying print industry and grasping at straws by taking the time and trouble to mock-up content for an arguably imaginary device, or is it a forward thinking trail blazer with an eye to the future?

Hit play on the video above now (watch out for the eye-wateringly bad electronic music if you're in a public place) then have your say in the comments box below...

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Tags: Hardware Apple iTablet Conde Nast Wired Concepts Video iPad

VIDEO: Wired for the Apple iTablet revealed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:22:48 +0000

Nokia has released a video based on what it believes the future will be for mobile phone users.?

The video, which has come out of a future vision conference in Helskini, unsurprisingly sees future users using tablet looking phones like the?Nokia N900, that just so happens to be shipping in the UK.?

As you also might expect, Nokia like everyone else believes augmented reality and social networking to be at the heart of the mobile phone in 2015.?

Press play to see the "concepts" in action.?

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Nokia Concepts Nokia N900 Video

VIDEO: Nokia outlines phone of the future originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:03:02 +0000

An interesting EU-financed project is looking at the possibility of building "Road Trains" to carry cars in convoy over long journeys. Each road train would be comprised of up to eight vehicles (cars, buses, trucks, anything), all of which would follow a professional driver, who would monitor the train's status.

Each following vehicle could lock its position so that the driver could take his or her hands off the wheel and read a book, play a game or watch TV or a movie. The vehicles would be wirelessly controlled by the lead driver, so that they stayed in formation. Fuel consumption could be cut, through the scheme, by 20%, according to the researchers.

"The goal is to try and introduce a step change in transport methods", said Tom Robinson, project co-ordinator. "We're looking at what it would take to get platooning on public highways without making big changes to the public highways themselves".

Each vehicle would need to carry a module capable of communicating with the lead driver, as well as sensors so that driver could monitor the entire train. However, the technology is available today, so the next step would be winning the trust of road regulators and the general public, as well as working out the safety implications.

Trials will be held on test tracks in the next few years in the UK, Spain and Sweden. We'll keep you posted of their progress. Let us know in the comments what you think - would you feel safe in a Road Train?

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Tags: Car And GPS Concepts EU Road trains

EU proposes wireless "Road Trains" originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:16:26 +0000

Apple is rumoured to be testing some prototypes of a next-generation iPhone that includes an RFID reader built in. According to Einar Rosenberg, who runs LinkedIn's Near Field Communications group, "the reaction was very positive that we can expect this in the next gen iPhone".

We're a little skeptical. Not that Apple is testing RFID in iPhones, after all - it's patented the idea, but that it'll be showing up in the next iPhone in June 2010. On the one hand, near-field communications is a growing industry, but on the other hand there's relatively few places you can use it right now (outside of the Oyster Card system on the London tube network).

Rosenberg posits that it could be used to link iPhones to Macs for syncing purposes, which is possible. We think it's more likely, though, that this is an extension of Apple's new iPod-touch based purchasing systems for Apple store staffers, and could make its way into a more enterprise-targeted product.

What do you reckon? Tell us in the comments.

Note: The embedded video above is from the Touch Project's iPhone RFID Demonstration - it's not an Apple video.

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Tags: Phones iPhone Apple Mobile phones RFID Concepts Rumours Video

VIDEO: Apple prototyping RFID iPhones? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:01:36 +0000

Whether you're a Mac or a PC (or a bit of both) this witty concept design has something for all-comers, with the clever design idea to create real-world versions of the calculators found in operating systems.

Just a concept at this stage, although we reckon with real product potential, the Mintpass designer has managed to capture the individual characteristics of the XP calculator and Apple's more metallic option perfectly.

Of course, if they were real world products the Mac version would be over-priced - and likely boast a non-replaceable battery - while the Windows version would crash often and may well come with an over-friendly paperclip as a free gift.

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Tags: Software Calculators Microsoft Apple Concepts Operating Systems

Clever concept sees OS calculators created in real life originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:44:52 +0000

The humble car is about to be catapulted into the 21st century offering drivers and passengers a multimedia experience akin to enjoying an in-flight entertainment service sat on an aeroplane.

Although only at a "proof of concept" stage at the moment, Alcatel-Lucent has shown off in New York what it believes we will be experiencing in the next couple of years.

Based around a Toyota Prius, the "Connected Car" features a LTE wireless connection, four independently operated touchscreens streaming live content from the Internet and cloud computing resources, such as connected music catalogues. ?

Each individual touchscreen in the Connected Car can operate simultaneously and features six categories of applications and content: Navigation, Communication, Internet, Vehicle Control, Games, and Entertainment. ?
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Because of the LTE connection, users will be able do things like rent a movie on the road, access home services and play multi-player games against passengers in the car, in other cars or remotely.

Alcatel-Lucent said the technology would also allow users to create a Wi-Fi hotspot in the car allowing your phone to connect to the Internet.

Tags: Car And GPS Cars Car Stereos Alcatel-Lucent Concepts Toyota

"Connected Car" brings in-flight entertainment to your car originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

From the chaps that brought us the iPhone with Cover Flow multi-tasking, Apple's mobile gets Dashboard Widgets in this latest concept.

The clip from Ocean Observations shows one possible way the iPhone could offer Dashboard Widgets as seen in the Mac operating system on desktops and MacBooks.

Hit play to see the vision and meanwhile we'll be sure to keep you posted with all iPhone news - real or imaginary.

Tags: Phones iPhone Mac software Concepts Video Ocean Observations

VIDEO: What if the iPhone had Dashboard Widgets? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:05:22 +0000

We got invited to look into the future by Ericsson at the Taiwan Broadband show, as the company has done some studies on what the connected world will look like in 2020.

Ericsson was showing off a few concepts of what they expect to see in terms of consumer interactivity with various devices and how people would use these devices in 2020.

One of the concepts which Ericsson has created something of a working prototype of is the Spider Computer. This was initially meant as a computer for third world countries, but was changed to become something more of a portable computer during the study.

The current prototype has a built-in pico projector, a laser keyboard and a memory card reader. Ericsson is working on a clever way to integrate a long lasting battery and of course internet connectivity.

The Spider Computer mock-up looks like something out of a sci-fi movie as it stands on three legs that are meant to fold into the device itself. It’s all black and it almost looks as if it’ll come alive at any moment and start to attack you.

It’s always interesting to see a company’s vision of the future, but the biggest hurdle in this case seems to be how to power the separate devices rather than how to integrate all the technology Ericsson wants to fit into its futuristic concept.

You can read more about Ericsson’s vision of the year 2020 over at http://www.ericsson.com/ericsson/corpinfo/2020/

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Tags: Hardware Desktop PCs Concepts Ericsson

Ericsson reveals futuristic Spider Computer concept originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:46:59 +0000

The ebook reader marketplace is becoming rapidly populated as manufacturers rush to produce a gadget that not everyone's got yet.

Some potential purchasers are said to be put off from making the leap from hardback to ebook due to the electronic version not offering such a tactile experience.

This new concept design aims to address such issues with a "flipper" section on the right edge that can be pushed up, or down, to virtually turn a page.

Other innovations within the design include the flip gesture generating power for the device, a neat idea for a power-saving solution.

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Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Concepts Bibliofile

Bibliofile ebook reader concept design revealed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:19:57 +0000

Ocean Observations has worked up a concept interface for the iPhone that takes elements of the Palm Pre's functionality, combines it with Apple's Cover Flow, and makes up their idea of what multi-tasking on the iPhone could look like.

"Our idea is to present the running apps together with the rest of your app icons on the home screen, instead of hiding them behind some long pressing unrelated key", says the team behind the concept.

"All running apps have a miniature representation in a cover flow at the bottom of the screen. To make room for this, each home screen page will have one less row of icons and the dock is removed completely. But since the running apps will often equal your favourites, they will still be easily accessible".

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Tags: Phones iPhone apps Concepts Video Ocean Observations

VIDEO: iPhone concept shows Cover Flow multi-tasking originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:15:13 +0100

Adobe has posted a video revealing what features future versions of its Photoshop software might offer.

Revealed online for those that could not make it to Photoshop World, Adobe says it's a "sneak peek of technologies we're working on in the Photoshop Labs".

Hit play on the 5-minute video above to see wet paint effects for better blending, new brush prototypes, and warping and distorting functionality that looks almost too advanced to be possible.

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Tags: Software Adobe Adobe Photoshop Video Concepts Photo editing software

VIDEO: Sneak peak into the future of Adobe Photoshop originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:36:33 +0100

Panasonic Avionics has come up with a new concept for in-seat entertainment on aeroplanes. Dubbed the Fusion, it's for cattle-class seats, rather than for those that turn left. It gets an advanced touchscreen a USB port and iPod integration. When fitted into planes of the future it will offer video, games and internet access in a rather tidy design.

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Tags: Gadgets Home Cinema Panasonic Aeroplanes Video Concepts

VIDEO: Panasonic's Fusion entertainment concept for aeroplanes originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:39:50 +0100

Newly revealed designs from Microsoft's Applied Sciences Group and Microsoft Research bring the world five new input devices - presented as the Mouse 2.0 - that combine mousing abilities with multi-touch capabilities.

"Our goal is to enrich traditional pointer-based desktop interactions with touch and gestures. To chart the design space, we present five different multi-touch mouse implementations - the Arty Mouse, Cap Mouse, FTIR Mouse, Orb Mouse and Side Mouse", says the team.

Hit play now to see the different touch applications in action, as well as the different form factors your future mouse might well take...

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Tags: Hardware Mice And Keyboards Concepts Microsoft Video Microsoft Research

VIDEO: Microsoft's Mouse 2.0 concepts originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:18:53 +0100

Apple's much-rumoured iTablet, or iPad as the most recent rumours have dubbed it, could get a highly advanced touchscreen.

A new patent application revealed by AppleInsider describes plans for a multi-touch surface that could work with two full hands and distinguish between palms and individual fingers for typing and gestures, with activities done with more than one finger referred to as "chords".

Filed in June this year, Apple says the tech in the patent would make for "unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device".

Adding to the iPad hype, with the ability to detect all ten digits, the device that uses such a screen would have to be large enough to support two hands, so arguably of tablet, rather than phone, dimensions.

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Related links:

• News - Fresh Apple tablet rumours claim the iPad is due on 19 January

Tags: Hardware Apple Tablet PCs iTablet iPad Rumours Patents Concepts

Apple patents advanced multi-touch display originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:52:34 +0100