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Intel is working on a new line of ultra-small and ultra-low-power microchips for wearable devices likesmartwatches and bracelets, a bid by the company to make sure it will be at the crest of the next big technology wave after arriving late to the smartphone and tablet revolution.

The new line of chips, called Intel Quark, will ship next year and include an ingestible version aimed at biomedical uses, Intel's president, Renee James, told reporters late on Monday.

The Quark chips will be five times smaller and 10 times more power efficient than some of Intel's Atom chips for tablets and smartphones, she said.

"We're very committed to not missing the next big thing," James said.

Intel, the world's biggest chipmaker, dominates the PC industry, but it was slow to adapt its chips to be suitable for smartphones and tablets.

Intel Chief Executive Brian Krzanich and James spoke on Tuesday at the company's annual developer conference in San Francisco, their first major public appearance since their promotion in May, when Paul Otellini stepped aside as chief executive.

Intel's focus on wearable computing -- a trend that for many Americans evokes images of Dick Tracy, the comic strip detective who sported a two-way wrist radio -- comes as Silicon Valley eyes sophisticated computerized watches with touch-screens and other high-tech features. Technology companies see wearables as a growth opportunity amid signs that explosive expansion in smartphones shipments since Apple launched its first iPhone in 2007 is receding.

Last week, Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy Gear watch, and Qualcomm, an Intel rival, launched the Toq smartwatch in a bid to showcase its technology to potential manufacturers.

Krzanich, a three-decade Intel veteran seen as the company's manufacturing guru, has said that under his leadership Intel will give much more priority to its Atom line of mobile chips. In the past, Intel's most cutting-edge manufacturing resources were reserved for making powerful PC chips, with Atom chips made on older production lines.

Processors based on technology from ARM and made by Qualcomm and Samsung account for most of the mobile market.

Intel has shown some recent signs of improvement in mobile, progress Krzanich is keen to build on. The company has promised major performance improvements in its new Bay Trail chip for tablets.

The Bay Trail chip is based on Intel's new Silvermont architecture, which is the most extensive overhaul of its mobile processors to date, with improved performance and lower power consumption.

Microsoft announced that it will not be releasing any more security updatesfor its Windows XP operating system, meaning XP-loyal users are going to face a difficult time in converting their systems to the latest version of Windows 8. 

The end of security updates to XP would mean that any flaws reported by hackers will not be fixed by the company. 

Microsoft ended security updates to many of its previous Windows versions like Windows 95, 98, Vista and XP would be the latest to finally face the axe after Microsoft updated it several times before, Fox News reports. 

XP has key security features missing, can't support the latest, safest and most web-compatible versions of Internet Explorer and can't take full advantage of the latest hardware advances. 

Users familiar with the good-old Windows XP might have to upgrade to a new computer, upgraded software and possibly new accessories like printers and scanners and yet the biggest change would be the switch to the Windows 8 OS which has its own set of complexities to access. 

According to the report, Windows 8 is the only operating system available on new computers and since it is radically different from previous versions, desktop owners will find the system complex to operate which is ideally meant for touchscreen tablets.

 

Lenovo's impressive Horizon Table PC is about to get a smaller IdeaCentre comrade with the launch of the Flex 20 All-in-One computer. Part of a bunch of new multi-mode devices to making their debut at IFA 2013, including the new Yoga 2 Pro and a couple of laptops, the multi-user Win8 PC boasts 19.5 diagonal inches of multi-touch display real estate, features Intel's latest Core i processors and is available with HDD or SSHD storage.

A nifty hinge mechanism at the back of the Flex 20's cool aluminum housing allows screen angle adjustment from fully upright to between 15 and 70 degrees, and can also be pushed flush with the housing at the rear for a tabletop tablet experience. The frameless IPS display panel to the front can support up to 10 simultaneous touch points, though some will no doubt find the 1600 x 900 resolution a little disappointing.

 

Lenovo's Aura interface makes it possible for two or more users to access different photos, video or music on the same screen at the same time, and Lenovo has stacked the virtual shelves of a dedicated AppShop with multi-user entertainment apps optimized for the Flex 20. It's bundled with a wireless mouse and keyboard, and optional gaming accessories include a electronic dice, and a joystick and striker for use on top of the touchscreen display. Interestingly, the 0.81 in (20.5 mm) thin, 7.72 lb (3.5 kg) All-in-One also boasts its own internal battery for up to 3 hours away from the wall outlet.

Elsewhere, the Flex 20 is available with up to 4th generation Intel Core i7 processor options (including HD 4400 graphics), DDR3 RAM tops out at 8 GB, and there's a choice of up to 500 GB of HDD storage or a hybrid HDD that includes an 8 GB solid state cache. Connectivity takes the shape of two USB 3.0 ports, a 6-in-1 media card reader, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connectivity. Quality online video calls get some help from a HD webcam and integrated stereo speakers with support for Dolby Home Theater v4.

The Lenovo Flex 20 will be available later this month, prices start at US$899.99.

Chromebooks have lowered the price of admission for owning a laptop. Though many Chromebook owners are content to funnel all of their personal computing through a web browser, not everyone wants to sacrifice the native apps that platforms like Windows and Mac OS X can provide. The Chrome OS platform, however, just took another step forward in becoming a viable desktop alternative, with the addition of new browser apps that, well, no longer look the part.

Today Google announced the arrival of "For Your Desktop" apps for Chrome. On the back-end, they're still, more or less, the same browser-based apps Chrome has had all along. But on the user end, they look and behave like native desktop (or perhaps tablet?) apps. They run offline, and they run full-screen. They ditch all of the browser trimmings (toolbar, navigation buttons, URL bar) that just won't let you forget you're on the web. They can even deliver notifications just like a desktop app.

Google is also launching a Chrome App Launcher for Windows, a taskbar-based control center that makes the same desktop-ish apps fit in a bit more seamlessly on Microsoft's OS. The apps you start from the Launcher all launch in their own windows. There's even a search box in case things get too crowded. It has more than a few things in common with the old Start Menu that so many Windows 8 users are left pining for.

As promising as Google's more desktop-like Chrome apps are, let's not get ahead of ourselves. There aren't a ton of compatible apps at the moment, and there are still barriers preventing Chromebooks from functioning like a Windows PC or a MacBook (hardcore gaming, Microsoft Office, iTunes, and Photoshop all come to mind). So this isn't necessarily going to make that US$1,300 Chromebook Pixel purchase much easier to justify.

Chrome "For Your Desktop" apps are available now for Chromebooks and Windows, and will be coming later to Mac OS X and Linux.

IFA 2013 is in full swing right now, and Toshiba has taken the opportunity to reveal some new additions to its line of 2-in-1 computers that can transform from laptops to tablets. The recently announced Satellite W30t and W30Dt feature detachable backlit keyboards and multi-touch screens to give users a more versatile Windows 8.1 computer in an extra portable package.

For the most part, the two models are nearly identical, with the only major difference between them being their processors. The W30t is run by 4th-generation Intel Core processors with an Intel HD 4200 GPU, while the W30Dt incorporates fanless AMD A4-APU Series processors with an AMD Radeon HD 8180 GPU. Because of its fanless construction, the W30Dt does not require any vents on the case like the W30t. Both models have their CPUs located in the tablet portion though, giving them the same processing power whether the keyboard is attached or not.

Other than that, each computer sports a full 33.8-cm (13.3-in) HD IPS screen, which is capable of 10-finger touch support. The two models can be equipped with up to 500GB HDD storage as well as 4GB DDR3L memory. They also include the usual HD webcam with a microphone and connections for micro-USB, micro-HDMI, micro-SD, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

Both the keyboard and tablet portions have their own separate batteries, which according to Toshiba provide five hours of power each for a total battery life of 10 hours when they're connected. If needed, each section can also be charged individually. Both pieces also have their own built-in speakers and will transfer audio from the keyboard to the tablet when it's disconnected and vice versa when it's reattached. The keyboard also includes a USB 3.0 slot that can charge any connected devices even when the computer is switched off.

According to a spokesman with the company, the Satellite W30t and W30Dt are expected to sell at a price of €749 (US$980) and €649 ($850), respectively. Toshiba plans to begin shipping the two laptops to store shelves in Europe in Q4 of this year.

Scientists at Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) have developed a flexible computer keyboard that is paper thin and is claimed capable of transforming any area into a touch-sensitive surface. The company describes its creation as the world's thinnest wireless touch surface at 0.5 mm thick, and offers consumers a low-power Bluetooth technology featuring "the latest in printable, flexible electronics and touch screen sensing."

The ultra-thin surface is wirelessly connected to an iOS 7 or Windows 8 device using CSR’s brand new CSR1010 chip, which is optimized solely for Bluetooth Smart, a recent technology that ostensibly extends battery life and has a much smaller form factor than standard Bluetooth. With a touch latency of under 12 ms he user experience is reported to be seamless, providing instant visual feedback.

"The device can do basic text input as well as touch and gesture control, so you can swipe and pinch and zoom, as well as use much more complex gestures," says Paul Williamson, Director of Low Power Wireless at CSR. "Additionally, it can be used with a stylus-like pen for handwriting recognition or for drawing and sketching."

The touch surface is able to register multiple touch points thanks to Atmel's touch silicon technology, with reel-to-reel printing from Conductive Inkjet Technology used to apply the conductors to the flexible membrane. The process allows for the production of a wide range of shapes and sizes, which can bring a full-sized keyboard experience to protective tablet covers, for example, or add touch-sensitive areas to a desktop workspace.

CSR’s ultra-thin touch surface will be unveiled to customers for the first time this week at IFA 2013 in Berlin.

When it comes to gaming laptops, the era of two-inch-thick, weighty monstrosities is truly over. Systems such as Razer's Blade and Blade Pro have carved out a decidedly more pleasing form-factor for the category, and with the GS70, MSI is ready to stake its claim at the top of the market. The new system is particularly thin for its category and packs some high-end hardware within its svelte body.

The GS70 is aimed firmly at the top end of the market. It starts at US$1799.99, comes in at 0.85-inches (2.15 cm) thick and weighs 5.73 lb (2.6 kg). Running Windows 8, the system boasts some impressive internals including an Intel Haswell Core i7-4700HQ processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M 2 GB GPU and 16 GB of DDR3L 1600MHz RAM.

The GS70's 17.3-inch anti-reflective display comes in at a full 1920 x 1080 resolution and it's possible to output to three displays at up to 4K resolution through the built-in HDMI and Mini DisplayPort. In terms of connectivity, there are four USB 3.0 ports, three audio jacks and a 720p webcam. There are also Killer E2200 Game Networking and Killer N1202 2x2(a/b/g/n) cards on board.

The system's SteelSeries keyboard features anti-ghosting technology and color backlighting and the laptop is fitted with a six-cell 120w battery, though there's no word on how long it will run on a single charge.

The GS70 also employs a dual fan thermal solution to keep the machine cool. The system pulls heat from the top of the laptop, dissipating it at a 45-degree upward angle, a technique that MSI claims will guarantee a cool gaming experience.

There are two versions of the GS70 available, coming in at $1799.99 and $1999.99. The lower cost system features a 128 GB SSD hard drive and 750 GB HDD, while its more expensive cousin comes with a 128 GB SSD RAID and 1TB HDD configuration.

In terms of competition, the GS70 looks fairly well placed. It matches the Blade Pro's specs while offering more RAM, and while it might lack its rival's LCD trackpad feature, its prices do start $500 lower than Razer's machine.

In the Western world, we tend to take for granted some pretty basic amenities, like reliable electricity. For people living in those corners of the globe where electricity can be scarce, WeWi Telecommunications, Inc. has developed the SOL, a rugged laptop that doesn't rely on a power socket to stay charged. The Ubuntu Linux-powered computer is instead equipped with a detachable solar panel, which the developers claim will provide up to 10 hours of battery life after just two hours in the sun.

We've seen solar-powered laptops before, but never one that promised to be this energy efficient. WeWi claims the SOL never actually needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet to charge, but it still has the option in case you need to keep working late into the night. The solar panel can even detach and connect to an extension cord, so you can use the computer indoors and still keep it charged with direct sunlight.

Aside from benefiting the owner by supplying a readily-available energy source, the SOL's solar panels should also help the environment by reducing air pollution. According to the developers, each SOL computer could prevent approximately a ton of CO2 emissions from being released into the atmosphere during its lifetime simply by not charging it exclusively through a power socket.

The designers hope the SOL can serve as a reliable computer for students in developing nations and globe-trotting adventurers alike, which is why the entire device has been designed for durability and built from reinforced materials. Inside the case, the SOL houses an Intel Atom D2500 1.86 GHz Duo Core processor with an Intel 945GSE chipset. Users will have access to 320 GB of HDD storage as well as 2–4 GB of DDRIII SDRAM, depending on what the buyer chooses. The whole computer has been optimized with Ubuntu in mind and comes pre-loaded with a suite of productivity tools, but WeWi has stated that another OS can be installed if needed.

The SOL uses a built-in Intel GMA3600 graphics card with a 13.3 in LCD HD screen, which the designers are confident won't drain the battery too quickly. The laptop has a 3 MP webcam fitted to the front along with two speakers and an internal mic for online video chats, plus inputs for USB 2.0, headphones, and HDMI, among others. It also includes a few options for connecting to the internet, such as Wi-Fi and 3G/4G/LTE, plus connections for GPS and Bluetooth. Customers will even have a choice to add a satellite communications module for especially remote areas.

WeWi has not revealed a release date for its solar-powered laptop just yet, but the company has noted there are two distinct models in the works: the SOL and the SOL Marine, the latter of which will be waterproof. The company is determined to make the computer as accessible as possible, which is why it plans to distribute both versions worldwide at a budget price of US$350 and $400 respectively. Customers will also have a choice between a variety of color schemes for the case, including black, gray, red, and bright green.

Lenovo has taken the wraps off some new Windows 8 business class Ultrabooks ahead of an IFA 2013 debut. Though all of the new additions take advantage of the performance improvements and energy efficiency offered by Intel's Haswell processors, the new T and X Series models also feature something called Power Bridge technology that allows users to swap out the second battery without having to power down first. Lighter and thinner than previous ThinkPads, the new laptops all feature a large trackpad to support Windows 8 gesture controls, and come in both touch-enabled and non-touch display panel flavors.

Elsewhere, the T440s boats up to 4th generation Intel Core i7 processor configurations with integrated HD 4400 graphics, supported by as much as 12 GB of DDR3L system memory, and up to 1 TB of HDD storage or solid state options up to 512 GB. The 14-inch display is available in HD+ (1600 x 900 resolution), Full-HD and Full-HD touch IPS varieties, and there's a 720p webcam backed up by a noise-canceling dual microphone array.

Connectivity comes in the shape of three USB 3.0 ports, including one that can power connected devices, a media card reader, VGA and mini-DisplayPort, and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Other options include 4G LTE WWAN technology and NFC capabilities.

It also features a full-sized, spill-resistant keyboard along with fingerprint scanner and tamper detection.

The T440s will be available from the end of October, starting at US$1,149.

The only appreciable differences between the standard T440 and its T Series sibling are processor options that only run up to Core i5, one less USB 3.0 port and the choice to include an integrated smart card reader. This model is also a little chunkier, with a starting weight of 4 lb (1.8 kg) and a thickness of 0.83 in (21 mm). The T440 has also been given an October ship date, but is a little cheaper at $899.

The ThinkPad X240 weighs 2.94 lb (1.34 kg) and is 0.79-in (20.3 mm) thin. It's also available in configurations up to Haswell Core i7, and up to 1 TB of HDD storage (SSD is also available), though RAM tops out at 8 GB. Its 12.5-inch displays come in either HD, HD Widescreen and Full-HD non-touch, or HD Widescreen and Full HD touch-enabled versions, and there's Dolby Home Theater Advanced Audio 2. The backlit keyboard sports added Windows 8 functionality.

Buyers can choose to combine the X240's 3-cell battery with a 6-cell travel battery for over 10 hours of continued use before needing to find a wall outlet. Reported connectivity options include VGA and HDMI ports, a 3-in-1 card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, and 3G/4G WWAN as an optional extra. This model has been earmarked for October availability, and prices start at $1,099.

The two remaining Ultrabook models announced by Lenovo are new additions to its S Series. The 14-inch ThinkPad S440 and 15-inch S540 are available as 10-point multi-touch and non-touch HD screen options, and discrete graphics with up to 2 GB of dedicated video memory. Up to 4th gen Intel Core i7 processing is available, supported by up to 1 TB of HDD or 256 GB of SSD storage. The S540 is able to house twice the DDR3L RAM of its S Series sibling at 16 GB.

The S440 benefits from a rapid charge feature that can provide its battery with up to 80 percent charge capacity in just 45 minutes. Either model can be connected to a OneLink Dock via a single cable for power and access to USB 3.0, native video, and Gigabit Ethernet ports.

While the future of the human–computer interaction is looking more promising by the day, for every Leap Motion or Oculus Rift in the wild, there's still millions of people who rely on a mouse to do their job – a device that by its very nature forces their forearm and wrist into a variety of unnatural positions, inevitably causing varying levels of discomfort and/or pain.

The VerticalMouse is far from a new product, with this being its fourth generation device in over a decade on the market. Despite several brushes with moderate to excruciating RSI in my mousing arm over the years, I've somehow managed to avoid it until this year. A recommendation from my physiotherapist pushed me over the edge about a month ago.

My initial impression was that the mouse was a bit lighter than I would have liked, and ultimately a bit less "premium" than I'd hoped given the US$99.95 price tag – the buttons aren't particularly satisfying to operate, with a bit more clack than clunk.

But these matters seemed utterly trivial after I'd actually plugged it in and used it for a couple of minutes.

If you've ever moved from an unergonomic desk to an adjustable or standing desk that's configured perfectly for your height, with your forearms parallel to the ground when using the mouse and keyboard, you might be familiar with the immediate feeling of relief in your mousing shoulder – almost like your body sighing.

The VerticalMouse gave me the same immediate relief in my wrist and forearm.

The vertical orientation seems to promote moving the mouse with movements of the elbow rather than the wrist, which feels a little odd at first but is easily adjusted to and obviously helps prevent wrist fatigue.

Mac users might miss the two-finger scrolling of their Magic Mouse or Trackpad, however I've solved this by keeping a Magic Trackpad on the left side of the keyboard for times when the scroll wheel just isn't cutting it.

The ability to tweak the pointer speed from the mouse itself came in handy more often than I'd imagined – designers and gamers will likely appreciate this. And yes, it's surprisingly capable for gamers, with five buttons to assign, and obviously far less wrist fatigue during those marathon sessions.

There's a variety of models available – the left handed and those of you with smaller hands have models specifically for you, there's wireless models with either a USB receiver or Mac-compatible Bluetooth, and the plain old wired, right-handed model I chose due to my distaste for batteries.

The verdict

Highly recommended. Anyone who does long periods in front of the computer, and especially those who experience discomfort or pain in their mousing wrist or forearm, needs to get hold of one of these.

Apple recently updated its MacBook Air line to include Intel's new much-touted Haswell processor. We decided to give the 11-inch model a whirl to see how the new processor affects its performance, and how well the laptop stacks up against previous iterations of the Air.

Though we’re only looking at the 11-inch model MacBook Air here, the 13-inch version is identical in RAM, CPU and SSD specs. Only a more generous screen, SD Card slot, a battery that offers at least three hours more life (54 watt-hours vs. the 11-inch's 38), and higher price tag differentiate it, so much of what's written should be applicable for both.

More of the same

If you’re already familiar with the MacBook Air – and since over five years have passed since the line was introduced, you probably are – then the physical difference between this latest 11-inch MacBook Air and those which immediately preceded it can be summed up in one word: negligible.

The 11-inch MacBook Air still weighs 2.38 lb (1.08 kg), measures 11.8 x 7.56 x 0.11 to 0.68 inches (300 x 192 x 3 to 17 mm), and is primarily constructed from aluminum. It's still a stunning laptop, so one can't fault Apple for leaving the styling alone.

Indeed, besides the minuscule addition of an extra microphone hole on the 2013 Air’s left-hand side, it’s otherwise essentially the same computer, physically, as the 2012 and 2011 models. One welcome change is that the base model Air (both sizes) now comes with a minimum 128 GB SSD, rather than the previous 64 GB, and the 11-inch model starts at US$999.

Introducing Haswell

The new generation of MacBook Air is Apple's first computer to feature Haswell, Intel's latest CPU, and the little slab of silicon brings some significant improvements to the table.

Whereas we could expect roughly five hours or so of battery life from the 2012 11-inch Air, the 2013 model boasts a reported nine hours. Indeed, in my own completely unscientific tests, I even managed to exceed this with careful light use.

For the first time, the 11-inch Air offers the ability to do a full day's work without recharging, and this is a huge boon in its favor.

Haswell also brings improved graphics performance – up to 40 percent improved according to Apple – thanks to the Intel HD 5000 graphics chip that's integrated into the CPU. This means that the new MacBook Air should prove more capable for graphically-intensive tasks than previous Air models.

That said, taken on its own merits, it’s still a good screen, with decent viewing angles and very nice colors. I found that it was one of the more pleasant non-Retina glossy screens I’ve used, especially considering its size and (relative lack of) resolution, at 1366 x 768, or 135 pixels per inch (PPI).

While one could argue that it's time for Apple to upgrade the screen, it does the job, looks good enough, and affords such incredible battery life that I'm willing to live with it.

Size matters

As already noted, the display on the 11-inch Air is small. Too small? Well, that depends on the role the Air will take in your life. I use my computers mostly hooked up to an external display, and only rely on the built-in screen when traveling, or sat on the couch, so the 11-inch Air’s screen works just fine for me.

However, if you’re going to be relying on the Air as your primary machine and don't have an external display, it might be worth trying the model out in store, or even considering shelling out the additional $100 premium to upgrade to the 13-inch Air, as being chained to such a small screen could potentially become tiring for long periods of time.

Having said that, the smaller screen, shorter battery life and lack of SD Card reader slot are really the only tradeoffs you make when choosing the 11-inch Air over the 13-inch Air, and it's a very capable computer. The keyboard is excellent, and the glass trackpad is, though ever-so slightly shrunk in height compared to larger Mac notebooks, still miles ahead of the competition.

And the 11-inch Air is just so light, making throwing it into a bag easy. Sure we can say it weighs 2.38 lb (1.08 kg), but when you’re using it daily, it feels more like an iPad than a laptop, while offering far more power and flexibility than the iOS-based tablet ever could.

Performance

For those interested, the Geekbench benchmarking tool places the 2013 MacBook Air somewhere in the ballpark of the 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina, and the late 2012 MacBook Pro (non Retina) performance-wise. Though such guides should only be taken with a pinch of salt, that level reflects my own impressions while testing.

Apps load very quickly, zip along speedily, and the 11-inch Air wakes up from sleep before the lid is fully open. To be clear, I’m no graphics power user, but it handled the export of multiple image files and didn't balk at any tasks I gave it, without getting warm or stuttering at any point. Copying files was also very quick, and I don't believe I saw a single instance of "beachballing" (OS X freezing issues) during testing.

My own gaming requirements revolve around a long-running campaign of the aging title Rome Total War and some Minecraft, so I’m probably not best cut out for judging the game-playing capabilities of the 11-inch Air (and really, it's not intended as a gaming laptop). However, it should be capable of light-to-moderate gaming.

I did have the opportunity to put the 11-inch Air through its paces with some audio software, and it performed some heavy lifting without issue, tackling playback and recording of multiple Ableton Live audio tracks, complete with Max For Live plugins, all while hooked up to a large external display.

Chinese startup Tagtal is looking to bring an interesting new stylus to market. The tStylus, as it's called, is able to copy data from the screen it's touching and bring that data to another device. While in use, the stylus functions like a physical version of the selection tool in Photoshop. Instead of moving from image to image, you are moving from device to device. It is able to move images, video, and other various forms of media between the two devices, as long as each of them is running the software that allows it to receive input from the tStylus.

Part of what makes the stylus interesting, and where it can get an edge over Bluetooth sharing, is that the devices do not need to be paired with one another. Of course, the trade-off there is that the accompanying tStylus software has to be installed on the receiving device. If the owner of said phone or tablet doesn't have a tStylus of his or her own, it's unlikely that the software will be there already. Additionally, so far, the stylus is only compatible with iOS devices.

Copying data looks to be as simple as selecting something, holding down the stylus on the selection, and then holding the stylus down on the other device. Of course, time will tell how efficient this actually is when we get a chance to try it out for ourselves, but if the pitch video (found below) is any indication, the process looks to be very smooth.

The software behind the data transfer is called OSP (On-Screen Port). It also relies on the cloud to receive the data. The company is opening this up to developers, so in theory, more applications will be created that can make use of the functionality. In the meantime, the company is creating a couple of apps including Tagtal Paper, which allows users to write and draw, and then use the stylus to copy between devices. Tagtal Album is another app in development that allows users to view and copy photos.

The company is seeking funding for the tStylus on Indiegogo, which allows international funding. It's still very far off from its US$20,000 goal. Backers interested in receiving a stylus of their own will need to drop a pledge of $29 until the early specials run out. Once gone, the price jumps to $49. Should the product make it to retail, the company plans to charge $80.

If you’re someone who does a lot of presentations in front of images projected onto a wall, do you ever wish that you could manipulate those images with your fingers? If so, well, now you can. Ubi is a new piece of software that works with a video projector, a Kinect for Windows depth sensor and a PC running Windows 8, to turn any projection surface into a touchscreen.

Ubi (not to be confused with the computer of the same name) runs on a PC that’s supplying the projected video, and monitors the projected image via the linked Kinect. Apparently any projector and any surface (such as a table top) will do, as long as the image is sufficiently bright.

When it registers your finger or hand reaching into the frame, Ubi simply mimics that same movement as if it was a finger movement on the corresponding part of the computer’s screen – for example, if you reach in and physically swipe at a specific box that's projected onto the wall, Ubi will digitally “swipe” that same box on the computer, causing its projected image to move with your hand.

Ubi was developed by Seattle-based startup Ubi Interactive, for Microsoft. It is available now, in four versions. The Basic program, which allows for one finger-only touch point and a projected image up to 45 inches (114 cm) in size, sells for US$149 per PC. At the other end of the scale, the Enterprise version supports up to 20 finger or hand touch points and a 100-inch (254 cm) display, and goes for $1,499.

Projected interactive displays are something that various groups have been trying to develop for the past few years. Other projects have included OmniTouch, Light Touch, and the LuminAR Bulb.

Samsung has announced production of the first solid state drives (SSD) based on its new 3D V-NAND flash memory. V-NAND flash memories read and write twice as fast as conventional NAND memories, and last 10 times longer while consuming 50 percent less power. At present, the 3D chips offer about the same physical bit density as do more conventional NAND flash memory chips, but while 2D geometries are reaching the end state of their scaling potential, the 3D chips offer as much as two orders of magnitude of additional elbow room for denser devices.

Flash memory has been one of the miracle stories of the 21st century. Invented in 1980, flash memory drives hit the market in the mid-1990s with a storage capacity of 2 MB. Flash memory has been following or exceeding Moore's law for some time and 20 years on, capacity has increased to over 64K times the original figure.

The newest flash chips are made using 10-nm lithography, and are starting to run into physics-based problems. A NAND flash memory is a floating-gate transistor, in which an isolated gate layer can store charge for long periods of time. The memory is read by measuring the conductivity of the device channel as the control gate is pulsed. The memory cell gives a response if there is no stored charge, and no response if there is stored charge, thereby allowing non-destructive reading of the memory.

At least two sources of difficulty are appearing as a result of fabricating NAND flash memory in smaller sizes. First, each gate only holds a handful of electrons, so that small imperfections lead to memory states that are difficult to differentiate. Second, the control electrodes are so small and so closely spaced that their effects spread over more than one memory cell, leading eventually to unreliable reading and writing of data.

The 3D V-NAND flash geometry compensates for this problem by finding more room to move in the vertical direction. The first change is to a charge trap flash geometry, pioneered in 2002 by AMD. In a charge trap flash memory cell, the stored charge is not located on a floating gate, but rather on an embedded silicon nitride film. Such a film is more robust against point defects which form in the heavily-doped polycrystalline silicon making up a typical floating gate. It can also be made thicker, to hold larger numbers of electrons making the cells less sensitive to electron loss.

The second change is to wrap a planar charge trap cell into a cylindrical form. As shown in the figure above, growth of a group of V-NAND cells (in this case, a vertical stack of eight cells) begins with forming an alternating stack of conducting (doped) polysilicon layers (in red) and insulating silicon dioxide layers (in blue).

The next step is to etch or otherwise form a cylindrical hole through these layers. In practice, a 128 Gbit V-NAND chip with 24 layers of memory cells requires formation of about 2.9 billion such holes. Next a conformal layer of silicon dioxide is deposited, which coats the inner surface of the hole, followed by a similar layer of silicon nitride, and a second layer of silicon dioxide. The silicon nitride is the charge-trapping layer, and the silicon dioxide layers for the gate and the tunnel dielectric. Finally, the center of the hole is filled in with conducting (doped) polysilicon that forms the channel of the memory cells.

An individual memory cell (circled on the photo) is made up of one planar polysilicon layer containing a hole whose inner surface acts as the gate electrode, a vertical shell of silicon dioxide as the gate dielectric, a vertical shell of silicon nitride that stores charge, a vertical shell of silicon dioxide as the tunnel dielectric, and a central rod of conducting polysilicon which acts as the conducting channel. Memory cells which are in different vertical layers do not interfere with each other, as the charges cannot move vertically through the silicon nitride storage medium, and the electric fields associated with the gates are closely confined to the vertical layer in which they lay. Finally, the vertical collection of flash memory cells is identical electrically to the serial-linked groups in which conventional NAND flash memory is configured. In the end, the effect of going 3D is to allow larger bit densities without requiring smaller individual memory cells.

Samsung is now supplying samples of V-NAND solid state drives for enterprise applications. Available in 480 and 960 GB capacities, the write speeds are about 20 percent faster than Samsung's earlier SM843T 980 GB SSD, while the power consumption is decreased by about 40 percent. More importantly, the endurance of the 3D drives is about 10 times greater than the SM843T, opening up additional applications that require data juggling on a level that would render last-generation technology SSDs impractical. There's no word yet as to when the new SSDs be available for the rest of us.

Using a wireless mouse can certainly help cut down on cable clutter, and if the battery runs out while scrolling through a website, or there's a slight delay between moving the peripheral and the desired onscreen cursor response, it's not the end of the world. For gamers, however, such things are serious enough that many enthusiasts and pros opt for the reliability of a wired connection to a gaming computer. Logitech's G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse effectively puts an end to battery life and performance woes by offering over 10 days of non-stop, lag-free gaming.

The latest addition to the Logitech G line, the G602 is claimed to get an astonishing 250 hours of continuous use from two standard AA-sized batteries in Performance (gaming) mode, and over 1,400 hours in Endurance (non-gaming) mode. The mouse can also run on one battery to cut down on weight, but does so at the expense of up time.

The gaming mouse is the first wireless mouse to benefit from the company's Delta Zero sensor technology, which offers up to 2,500 DPI sensitivity. Users can temporarily shift the LED-illuminated optical sensor from the nippy high setting to 250 DPI for precision targeting by holding down a command button, which resumes faster speeds when released

Logitech says that the 2.4 GHz wireless connection via a dedicated USB nanoreceiver has a range of 3 m (10 ft) and a 2-millisecond report rate for low-latency gaming freedom. The nanoreceiver can be stowed away inside the body of the mouse for travel, and there's a supplied extension cable for optimum reception.

The G602 benefits from slip-resistant grips and primary mechanical microswitches with a rated 20 million click lifespan. Frequent gaming commands can be assigned to the peripheral's 11 programmable controls via Logitech's Gaming Software.

It's available from September for a suggested retail price of US$79.99, and is complimented by the simultaneous release of a G440 Hard Gaming Mouse Pad that's optimized for high DPI game play, and the G240 Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad for low DPI gaming.

By effectively turning any flat surface into a multitouch user interface, Haptix has the potential to consign the humble computer mouse to the IO history books. Now the development team has announced plans that could kill off the physical keyboard too. Ractiv has partnered with Asetniop creator Zack Dennis to bring his chorded virtual keying concept to life.

You may recall that Dennis recently introduced a mid-air typing plugin for Google's Chrome browser called DexType, that made use of the newly-launched Leap Motion controller to key in characters using gestures. To realize his vision for the Asetniop virtual keyboard replacement concept, however, he's turned to the now successfully crowdfunded Haptix 3D multitouch system.

The Asetniop ten-point input method aligns eight commonly typed characters with fingers that would be used to type them on a QWERTY keyboard, and then assigns the remainder of the alphabet to combinations of fingers. The thumbs are used for Shift and Space, or together to Enter. With Haptix tracking the position of each digit of a user's hands, keying can take place on any flat surface.

Dennis reckons that most Asetniop touch typists should be able to achieve typing speeds of about 30 words per minute within a few hours, followed by steady improvements as the user becomes more familiar with the system. Though his own mastery usually results in speeds of between 65 and 70 wpm on a tablet, he reports that highs of over 100 have been achieved.

So will the integration of Asetniop into the Haptix system bring an end to our dependence on physical keyboards? In the short term, probably not. But it's early days for the new partnership, and both parties are looking forward to seeing where this development will lead.

At the time of writing, the Haptix team has programmed the basic Asetniop key map into the system (which is demonstrated in the video below) and Dennis says that they'll be working together on more advanced features (such as predictive text and autocorrect) in the very near future. He also reports that he's developed a handwriting recognition feature for numbers, symbols and accents, that may also see future adoption.