eSP - IT Solution Providers in Europe

Saville Audio Visual distribute in UK a clever "garden office" concept equipped with the latest videoconferencing technology.

Archipod is a self-contained, efficient wooden facility, designed to complement a garden. l
Designed as an insulated sphere 3m in diameter, the ‘Pod' is constructed predominantly from timber, the world's most replenishable construction material and is insulated to a standard exceeding that of current Building Regulations. A larger 4m version Fatpod) is also available.

The structure is built from prefabricated sections so that all the parts can be carried through a house and into a back garden. Because of its unique shape and the generous natural light from the roof dome, the ‘Pod' actually looks and feels bigger on the inside than the outside.

The unit is delivered, installed and equipped as an integrated package, including a state-of-the-art HD videoconferencing system. Only an electricity supply and a broadband connection from the house are required (and in UK planning permission is not normally necessary).

Saville videoconferencing manager David Willie added: "Stepping into Archipod on a rainy Monday morning is much better than driving across the country for a business meeting!"

Go Saville & Archipod

Go Archipod

NEC Display announces a unique addition to its X Series, a 43-inch X431BT bar-type (for lack of a better term) display with 1920x480 native resolution and 700 cd/m² maximum brightness.

Everyone, including NEC, has 16:9 LCDs for DS applications, but not everyone is looking at different, unique sized applications. This is a flat panel, direct-view LCD monitor that's basically a long, thin strip.

The X431BT includes DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-D connectivity, capability to be mounted in both landscape and portrait orientation, includes Picture in Picture (PIP), Picture on Picture (POP) and side-by-side display modes.

Two inputs can be displayed simultaneously in any of the modes by either maintaining one aspect ratio or evenly stretching both images to fill each half of the screen.

Go NEC X431BT

Sure, you can touch a screen but is that all there is? Finnish researchers think not. What’s the point of touching if you can’t feel? And that leads us to tactile technology.

Users can slide their fingertip across a button on the display of a device like the iPod touch. They felt a slight "catch" as if their finger had hit an actual button. The touchpad display had regions marked "brush," "rough," and "bumpy" indicating different sensations.

That demo of new tactile technology was shown at the Embedded Systems Expo & Conference by a joint venture between Senseg Oy and Toshiba Info Systems Corp.

The device simulates tactile sensations by varying the intensity and frequency of weak electric fields on mounted film between touch panel and display cover. The film is expected to be produced very inexpensively, selling for 9 to 18 euro cents apiece. Notebooks, tablet and other devices may come out during the first half of 2011 and cell phones are anticipated after mid 2011.

Apparently there are no limitations to the size of the film and the technique is break-resistant and noiseless. So expect digital signage displays and kiosks to follow this path of upgrade from touch to feel.

Go Sensational Senseg

What's a hardware company going to do in a cloud world? Catching most industry observers unaware, Intel will purchase of all of McAfee’s common stock for $48 per share in cash, a $7.68 billion deal.

McAfee, which has enjoyed double-digit, year-over-year growth and nearly 80% gross margins last year, will be run as a wholly-owned subsidiary, reporting into Intel’s Software and Services Group.

This acquisition, says Intel, "enables a combination of security software and hardware from one company to ultimately better protect consumers, corporations and governments as billions of devices - and the server and cloud networks that manage them - go online."

But it will also raise concerns about the power Intel will wield if it promotes McAfee with its OEM sales. Think of Microsoft-with-Internet-Explorer as a type of unfair bundle that governments will be looking for.

Security companies, competitors to McAfee, are probably shaking at the possibilities of Intel's concept of hardware-enhanced security. Unlike many acquistions that trigger related acquisitions, it leaves them with few options...AMD? ARM? Very unlikely...

Intel states: "The acquisition reflects that security is now a fundamental component of online computing. Today’s security approach does not fully address the billions of new Internet-ready devices connecting, including mobile and wireless devices, TVs, cars, medical devices and ATM machines as well as the accompanying surge in cyber threats. Providing protection to a diverse online world requires a fundamentally new approach involving software, hardware and services." Meanwhile the company has elevated security to be on par with its strategic focus areas in energy-efficient performance and Internet connectivity.

Intel’s Software and Services Group is managed by Renée James, Intel senior vice president, and general manager of the group.

“Hardware-enhanced security will lead to breakthroughs in effectively countering the increasingly sophisticated threats of today and tomorrow,” says James. “This acquisition is consistent with our software and services strategy to deliver an outstanding computing experience in fast-growing business areas, especially around the move to wireless mobility.”

“McAfee is the next step in this strategy, and the right security partner for us,” she adds. “Our current work together has impressive prospects, and we look forward to introducing a product from our strategic partnership next year.”

The above comment regarding a product introduction implies the two were already working on a project and that project may indeed have kicked off the acquistion discussions.

McAfee, based in Santa Clara and founded in 1987, is the world’s largest dedicated security technology company with approximately $2 billion in revenue in 2009. With its approximately 6100 employees, McAfee will join Intel's workforce to jointly explore future product concepts to further strengthen security in the cloud network and myriad of computers and devices people use in their everyday lives.

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