OEMs Encouraged to Produce New Stuff

Eleksen Ltd. (www.eleksen.com) is working with Microsoft Corp. to deliver a range of ElekTex-based interfaces for new Ultra-Mobile PCs. Eleksen is a leader in touch sensitive interactive textiles for electronics interface design. The company’s core technology, ElekTex, is a unique electro-conductive fabric touch pad optimized for the creation of flexible, durable, rugged fabric touch screen interfaces. It replaces the hard touch pads, flexi-circuits and polymer switches which have limited the growth of the wearable electronics markets. Eleksen licenses ElekTex and reference designs to manufacturers for use in custom electronics design and also markets a range of ready-to-integrate solutions for garment, bags and accessories manufacturers.

Eleksen has unveiled new peripherals designs that include Eleksen’s Bluetooth fabric keyboard and its new USB keyboard. Additionally, Eleksen will be introducing a carrying case with an integrated keyboard and a range of designs that go beyond traditional functions to provide rich multimedia controls operated from the case cover itself. The designs include a variety of sensor layouts and control electronics that can easily be integrated into an Original Equipment Manufacturer’s accessories products and are available immediately.

ElekTex gives OEMs a highly innovative interface technology, which supports their needs to develop dynamic and feature rich peripherals for this new mobile computing platform. The designs illustrate how textile interfaces can be integrated into some of the most common accessories and peripherals to extend the ease-of-use and enhance the mobility of these devices creating a new type of peripheral that complements the portability of Ultra-Mobile PCs.

Satellite Taken as Total Loss

On Thursday, ARABSAT 4A was steered to its destruction in Earth’s atmosphere, according to the US Defense Department and amateur satellite watchers. Nearly a month ago a Proton Breeze M vehicle placed ARABSAT 4A into an orbit lower than its operational altitude.

ARABSAT 4A was a Eurostar E2000+ platform built by EADS Astrium, Toulouse, France. A multipurpose communications satellite, ARABSAT 4A was to serve Arab countries and neighboring regions. Its hybrid Ku- and C-band payload was to carry direct-to-home, interactive TV and Internet broadband services, with additional capacity to accommodate anticipated demand for high-definition TV. The launch services provider was International Launch Services (ILS) with the launch vehicle manufacturer Khrunichev State Research and Production. The satellite was launched at 2:10 a.m. March 1 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.

The Russian space agency has formed a state commission to investigate the anomaly that led to the satellite being placed off-course. The investigation is to be completed by March 30. Independently of the Russian commission, ILS has formed a Failure Review Oversight Board.

First Home HD DVD Titles Available

Warner Home Video (WHV), which distributes the largest film library of any studio, will launch the first titles on HD DVD. Clint Eastwood’s four-time Academy Award winning, Best Picture of 2004, “Million Dollar Baby”; the visually stunning, four-time Oscar nominated epic, “The Last Samurai” starring Tom Cruise and “The Phantom of the Opera,” Joel Schumacher’s vibrant movie adaptation of Broadway’s longest running show will all be released on April 18. Each of these titles will be available for $28.99.

Seventeen additional titles will be released in the coming weeks including “Batman Begins,” “Constantine,” “Training Day” and “The Matrix.” Warner Home Video HD DVDs will offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color — in addition to beautifully crisp sound (with up to 7.1 audio). HD DVD also introduces instant access to extra features with the debut of a seamless menu-bar that allows viewers to enjoy features and settings without leaving or interrupting the film.