Auri's Blog

Another cool technology emerging from CEATEC 2007:

1 LTD’s directional audio speakers used a mesh of 8 to 20
little speakers and Regaza’s audiovisuak processor solution to effectively transmit audio to specific locations in a room.
This enables many applications, from multilingual audio based on where a person
is sitting in a room, to automotive possibilities where passengers can clearly
listen to only their audio tracks, while the driver only hears traffic and GPS
instructions. Given an effectively optimized room or environment, there are
incredible possibilities for audio targeting solutions.

Toshiba displayed a *working* media player running on Methanol fuel cells. This is quite the breakthrough – unlimited, renewable, affordable, clean energy for consumer electronics devices. Imagine running low on power for your laptop. Just add a few squirts of methanol into a port and bam, get more power. In combination with rechargeable batteries, it could become the next big thing. Toshiba has shown concept mock-ups/prototypes in the past, but this is the first time they’ve shown something that actually works.

• Refills are not free. Iced tea is $4, and it has ice… That refill? Another $4!
• The pizza was very good. I ordered a "half and half," where I could choose what I wanted on each half. One half was potato and mayonaise with some Japanese herbs and spices, the other half – a margarita pizza… basil, mozzarellllllla, and tomato.
• There was no pepper at the table. Bummer with the Caesar salad.
• There were no plate settings. There’s a basket with spoons and forks. I’d actually liked to have tried eating the salad with chopsticks.
• The tiramisu tasted like Eckeridge Farms frozen stuff, but it was good.
• The tables next to me ordered pasta. They used Tabasco Sauce on their pasta… Japanese pepper, maybe?
• Pizza: $14, Drinks (iced tea + refill): $8, Tiramisu: $4. Caesar Salad: $8. Yowsa!
• This was the only Italian place I found in a one-mile radius.
• There were a number of Indian places, but not a single Chinese restaurant.