Norwegian company FXI technologies showed off a USB stick-sized portable computer prototype, complete with a dual-core 1.2-GHz Samsung Exynos ARM CPU (same as in the Galaxy S II), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI-out and a microSD card slot for memory. Codenamed Cotton Candy because its 21 gram weight is the same as a bag of the confection, the tiny PC enables “Any Screen Computing,” the ability to turn any TV, laptop, phone, tablet, or set-top box into a dumb terminal for its Android operating system.

The Cotton Candy has a USB 2.0 connector on one end and an HDMI jack on the other. When connected to an HDTV, it uses the HDMI port for video, the USB for power, and Bluetooth to connect to a keyboard, mouse, or tablet for controlling the operating system. The device can output up to 1080p so even a full HD screen can display the Candy’s preloaded Android 2.3 operating system at its native resolution. The dual core CPU is powerful enough to play local 1080p video or stream HD clips from the Web. Learn more and see our hands on video below.

When you plug the Cotton Candy into a Mac or PC, the Windows or OS X operating system recognizes it as a USB drive. You can then launch the software and run the Cotton Candy’s Android environment in a secure window while you use your desktop OS outside the window. You can even transfer files between your notebook’s native OS and the Cotton Candy’s Android environment by dragging them off or on the USB stick’s memory.

HDTVs, monitors, and computers are just the tip of the iceberg for the Cotton Candy. The device will be able to connect to tablets, smartphones, and even set top boxes via USB or Bluetooth. He says that he expects the device to be able to turn even an iPhone or an iPad into a terminal for its environment. Imagine an iPhone running Android!

Because the Cotton Candy is a full-fledged computer, it should be able to plug into a USB hub and connect directly to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to launch its OS. Offices or schools could set up docking terminals to support users who carry it in their pockets.

Cotton Candy’s purpose is to provide a computing experience that users can carry with them and replicate anywhere they go. Imagine walking into an Internet cafe or a business center, popping your Cotton Candy into a USB port, and having your own operating system and applications take over the device.

Though the current prototype runs Android 2.3, Borgar told us that the ARM-based hardware can run Ubuntu Linux currently and future versions should be able to run the ARM version of Windows 8. Future versions of the device will have a USB 3 connector and faster processors.

From developers to students to mobile workers, there are a number of groups that could find innovative ways to use a computer the size of a USB stick. However, you won’t see a consumer product shipping anytime soon from FXI. The company plans to sell the Cotton Candy to developers and let OEMs license the technology and turn it into something that can appeal to a wide audience.

Borgar does not expect these future “any screen” products to replace your primary PC or smartphone, but says they could become popular secondary devices. With Ubuntu installed, the Cotton Candy can even be turned into a mobile file or web server!

FXI hasn’t set pricing yet for the Cotton Candy, but expects it to cost considerably less than $200 per unit. That’s not bad for a full-fledged computing device the size of a cigarette lighter.

Ideal for enterprise, mid-market and public sector customers, the sleek, space saving HP Compaq 8200 Elite All-in-One Business Desktop offers robust performance, enterprise security and remote management features, as well as integrated collaboration tools that allow businesses to connect to co-workers at the office, across town or on the other side of the globe.

Featuring an expansive 58.4 cm (23”) diagonal full HD LED monitor, the HP Compaq 8200 Elite All-in-One includes an integrated webcam, microphone, and speakers for streamlined remote face-to-face communication. SRS Premium Sound is included to deliver a refined audio experience complete with immersive surround sound. It also comes with HP Virtual Rooms, allowing businesses to conduct business presentations, team meetings, training events and classes in an easy-to-use online conference center.

The first All-in-One addition to the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Desktop Series, the HP Compaq 8200 Elite All-in-One supports the latest Intel® processors and Intel® Q67 Express chipset to intelligently maximise computing performance and utilises Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology to improve integrated graphics multitasking. Allowing for easy deployment and manageability, the new 8200 Elite All-in-One is equipped with Intel Standard Manageability and HP BIOS features, as well as Intel® vPro™ technology to enable remote PC management and issue resolution.

Demonstrating HP’s Elite level of commitment to the environment, the HP Compaq 8200 Elite All-in-One is ENERGY STAR® qualified and EPEAT® Silver registered and offers an 87 percent efficient power supply. It also comes preinstalled with HP Power Assistant, is enabled with S3 sleep settings mode, and features a holistic thermal design with temperature sensors, fan acceleration, and power management settings.

The BlueStacks app will come pre-loaded with 10 apps, but you can also push your apps from your Android handset to your PC – something that isn’t possible yet on the Mac.

It’s not certain how much interest there has been in this new app, but we can see it gain momentum. Having said that, with the install base of Android, and the likelihood that most of them use Windows, it won’t be too long before downloads hit the millions in a short amount of time. We now wonder if the company will offer the same kind of solution to iPhone users with a Windows PC, or BlackBerry?

Unfortunately, I really cant say that i’ll be looking forward to see this.

The new interface looks better, but there’s a lot of white space that could be used to show more information about the files. The details view is no longer available from the interface, but you can enable it in the old UI and the setting is preserved.

If you like having your messages list available even when viewing, this is a great feature to have. To enable it, just open Gmail, go to Labs, and turn on the Preview Pane option.

The Preview Pane lab works like a charm with all your beloved Gmail shortcuts (if you’re not familiar with them, hit the question mark ['?'] in Gmail to bring them up). To turn it on in your Gmail account, head to your Gmail Labs page, Ctrl/Cmd+F for “Preview Pane”, select enable, and click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page. If you don’t fancy the default layout, you can adjust the size of the panes with a little drag and drop.

Via Lifehacker

What’s in the iPad 2?

• Powered by a dual-core A5 processor running at 1GHz
• The amount of RAM in is not listed
• CPU 2x faster, GPU 9x faster
• Front VGA resolution camera and read-facing 720p camera, but no word on resolution
• FaceTime support
• Thinner, even thinner than the iPhone 4 (8.8MM vs. 9.3mm) – current iPad is 13.4mm thick
• Lighter – 1.3 pounds compared to 1.5 pounds
• Two colors, white and black, and both will be instantly available
• 10-hour battery life
• Built-in gyroscope
• Availability – March 11 in the US and two weeks later in another 26 countries

A new version of GarageBand and iMovie for the iPad have also been released, plus a new HDMI out cable accessory that allows 1080p output.

A new “smart cover” that uses magnets to attach to the iPad 2 – case also doubles as a stand – There are 2 versions available, one polyurathane and one in leather.

So, what do i think? Well, it’s evolutionary rather than revolutionary for sure. The hardware upgrades are more modest than many were predicting (no Thunderbolt port, no super high resolution screen, no storage bump) and the new features bought in by iOS 4.3, while being rather interesting, are far from ground-breaking. There was also no price drop.

That said, this upgrade is more than enough to worry those planning on bringing out tablets this year. iPad 2 should present plenty of challenge for Morotola and RIM and the like as they gear up to release their tablets. Or, to put it another way, the Xoom and PlayBook could well be toast in the face of the iPad 2.

The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and kicks off at 10:00 am PT.

Specifications for the HTC Flyer include the following:

• HSPA radio, including AWS for T-Mobile USA
• Quad-band GSM
• 1.5 GHz single core CPU
• 1GB RAM
• 32GB Flash storage
• 1024×600 resolution display
• Aluminum unibody construction
• Dual cameras (5 megapixel on the back and 1.3 megapixel on the front)
• 4000 mAh battery
• microSD card slot
• Bluetooth 3.0
• 802.11 b/g/n WiFi
• Integrated GPS receiver

The HTC Flyer also has a pressure sensitive capacitive stylus and technology that is supposed to give you a “groundbreaking pen experience”.

Interestingly, the Flyer will ship with Android 2.4 and not 3.0 Honeycomb like the other new high-end Android tablets. Then again, HTC will offer its customized Sense stuff on there that might rival Honeycomb features.

Dripping each layer of material bit by bit in the additive manufacturing process, the Urbee is a two-seat car made by 3D printing guys Stratasys and engineering company Kor Ecologic. All of the body parts were made using 3D printers, including the glass panels.

One day it’ll hopefully be put on the production line and do its bit for the environment, if Kor Ecologic follows through on its hybrid promise. For now though, it runs on gasoline and ethanol (getting up to 200 miles to the gallon). The design is pretty sleek and space-age like, and can be seen at Las Vegas’ SEMA Show this week.