Hovercam X500 is great name for the function it performs, hovering over documents to project via camera.  The Hovercam is meant to replace the age old overhead projector we are most familiar with from grade school.

The X500 USB imaging device has a 5 megapixel sensor mounted on a swing arm that can either scan and recognize or monitor and project anything on the surface underneath. As a scanner, the HoverCam performs as a 600dpi equivalent scanner. Scans are snapped as photos would be, in an instant. No more waiting for the slow trudging of the scan sensor to run up and down the page.

The free software that is included with the X500 is called HoverCam Flex. The Flex is not surprisingly built on the Adobe Air platform, and is a desktop based application that connects directly to their web services. Images can be uploaded, saved, published, shared and OCR’d with a quick drag and drop. The HoverCam Flex service also provides quick integration with other cloud services like Google OCR, Picassa, DropBox and e-Fax. The benefits of the software alone might be worth the $199 asking price of the HoverCam X500.

To get the Hovercam X500 just visit Amazon and you’ll get a better price than the MSRP. (more…)

Fuchi View is making our life very portable with their new Pico Projector Plus USB projector.  As you can see from the picture the Pico Projector is literally the size of your hand.  The dimensions are a tiny 11.5 x 6 x 2.6cm.

Although the built in memory is only 1GB making it ideal for shorter presentations, to take full advantage of the multimedia functions you can use the SD memory slot to project even the largest of multimedia files.

If you are serious about this product there here are a couple more bullet points to consider:  Display formats include JPG, BMP, AVI, MOV, DivX, XviD, 3GP and MP4.  Runs off AA batteries or AC adapter.  Connects via mini USB cable.  Screen size from a small 5 inches to a large 65 inches.  Contrast ratio 260:1.  Aspect ratio 4:3 and the key element of resolution being 640 x 480 RGB. (more…)

Check out the latest on-line commercial from IOGear.  The commercial concept is a question about your monitor shrinking in size when viewing content on-line…now you can stream from your PC to your flat screen or project from the IOGear wireless USB audio video kit.  The only thing they forgot to mention is the critical step of clean streaming content during viewing from your cable modem…ya right.

Interested, check out the latest prices from Amazon.

2010 will be a fun year of USB reporting and blogging with USB 3.0 just starting to break with new products.  Today we have the first USB  3.0 WebCam from Point Grey.  The webcam has the bandwidth and capability to push a full 1080p video stream without compression.

Since USB host controllers are not yet available, Point Grey has teamed with Fresco Logic to include a USB 3.0 PCI interface card.

EverythingUSB brings up a good point with these new USB 3.0 devices, they will actually become cheaper than their slower, 2.0 predecessors.  The reason being:  less logic and hardware is required inside the device to do processing such as compression and decompression, USB 3.0 now simply push the data through the pipe.

The Point Grey Webcamera is slatted to display at the IDF 2009 conference in San Fransicso in a couple weeks.

Point Grey USB webcam product page [here].

NEC uses the term of “unmatched viewing experience” for their new 43 inch curved wide screen monitor.  Lets forget about the $7,000 price tage for a moment.

It’s a seamless curved design which is the most impressive feature, and includes connectivity as a single DVI-D input, HDMI 1.3, or USB 2.0.  NEC doesn’t clearly spec if the USB connection is for the monitor or an internal hub that just gives you access points for promotional flash drives, cameras and camcorders.

Some notable features which I didn’t think about, but NEC did the convenience of reminding me are the lack of bezels of multiple monitors side-by-side, and auto extended taskbar that spreads natively across the screen.

NEC Curved Wide Screen product page.

Mimo has made a fairly good name for itself with the 710 series USB monitor…a compact 7″ add-on monitor.  Well, these guys have one-upped themselves with the new 710-S.  This is a USB monitor which is now slider slim sweetness.

Just check out this picture and you’ll understand why.

Mimo better dump all their old 710 inventory because everyone will want this new version.

The 7″ display has a display resolution of 800 x 400, contrast ratio of 400:1, and brightness around 350 cd/m2.  Of course, the only connection needed, including power, is a USB connection.

The 710-S pivots 90 degrees and

“The integrated stand protects the screen from scratches when closed.”

Mimo doesn’t have stock, but willing to take your money.  For those who pre-book, you’ll get product by late August.  Price is $149.

Mimo 710-S product page.

We all know the MinoHD Flip is a great hand held video recorder and is probably the most popular one, but there is a new star on the horizon, the Samson Q3.

Where the Samson Q3 differs from the Mino Flip is the great ability to capture audio.  Just look at the thing…there is a towering microphone perched.  Ready to capture the best of moments.

I would like to see what Jake & Amir can do with this thing?

In addition to the well positioned microphone, the Samson Q3 also has an expansion slot via SD card for additional memory capacity.  Up to 32GBs to be exact.

The Samson Q3 also has VGA output so you can easily connect the device to your TV for instant viewing.  (more…)