Motorola has shown its latest music-phone/iPhone competitor named ROKR E8 with a pre-CES announcement. The phone has a smooth surface and features all back-lit touch keys which use vibration to inform the user of key presses.  ROKR E8 also has 2GB of flash storage and a microSD slot. The half navigation wheel in the middle adds an interesting visual feature. This phone has already debuted in a certain music video, sharp-eyed readers will notice.
D.S.

     2 Apple patent applications have just been published and both are quite interesting. One patent describes a dynamic OLED-based keyboard which changes its OLED key faces, similar to the Optimus Maximus LED keyboard. The key faces can change based on selected language locale or specific application needs. It’s unclear at this time whether a patent will be granted to Apple despite Art Lebedev’s Optimus Maximus already being available in limited production.

     The second patent describes an Integrated monitor and docking station similar to an iMac housing an ultra portable computer. “The docking station includes a display and a housing configured to hold” a thin portable computer, Apple writes in this application. “Traditionally a portable computer docking station requires a separate external monitor to be connected (e.g., by cable) to the docking station” which requires significant amount of desk space. “Therefore there exists a need for a docking station and display combination that is configured in a more efficient form.”

D.S.

     I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

     And just a quick reminder that I’ll be posting relevant news from the Consumer Electronics Show 2008 ( January 7-10 ) and of course Macworld 2008 keynote address ( January 15 ).

D.S.