Cebit 2005, one of the world's most important technology fairs, has opened its doors in Hanover, Germany.
The fair showcases many of the consumer electronics and technology products that will be released to the market in the coming months.
APPLE JOINS BLU RAY
Computer giant Apple has thrown its weight behind the new high-definition DVD format Blu-ray, according to backers of the format.
"Apple has joined us," said Victor Matsuda, vice president of Blu-ray disc group Sony Corporation of America, at a presentation at Cebit.
Blu-ray, backed by 100 firms including Sony, is competing against Toshiba and NEC-backed HD-DVD to be the format of choice for future films and games.
MOTOROLA iTUNES NO SHOW
One of the early talking points of Cebit is the lack of the much heralded Motorola phone to incorporate Apple's iTunes software.
The phone firm had said the device would debut at the fair.
Volker Haebel, marketing director of Motorola's German division, said many people had been asking about the phones and a launch could come in the United States within a few weeks.
INTEL AND SAP TEAM UP
US chip maker Intel and the German business software firm SAP, are teaming up in the area of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to develop applications that could eventually replace bar codes on products in shops.
RFID uses electronic labels with tiny microchips to identify individual items via radio signal and is already used in warehouse adminstration by big distribution companies such as Wal-Mart and Metro.
But the relatively high price of the chips has so far prevented their more widespread use, while consumer concerns that their shopping habits could be monitored have started to surface.
HARD DISK IN A PHONE
Electronics giant Samsung has unveiled a mobile phone with a three gigabyte hard drive built in.
The SGH-i300 phone is designed for multimedia use, specifically music.
Mobile handset manufacturers are targeting the successful MP3 hard disk player market - which is currently dominated by the Apple iPod.
The company also unveiled a phone with a seven mega pixel digital camera - the highest resolution camera currently on the market.
PALM READER
Palm Vein scanner
The scanner works without being touched
Fujitsu has launched a "Palm Vein" scanner which can identify people without any direct contact.
The company speculates that the scanner could be used by bank customers to withdraw funds from cash points with a single hand gesture.
The device uses infrared light to scan the palm vein, creating a map of individuals' hands to check the unique vein layout to identify users.
Data about your hand layout can be stored on a computer or on a bank card.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4335809.stm
The fair showcases many of the consumer electronics and technology products that will be released to the market in the coming months.
APPLE JOINS BLU RAY
Computer giant Apple has thrown its weight behind the new high-definition DVD format Blu-ray, according to backers of the format.
"Apple has joined us," said Victor Matsuda, vice president of Blu-ray disc group Sony Corporation of America, at a presentation at Cebit.
Blu-ray, backed by 100 firms including Sony, is competing against Toshiba and NEC-backed HD-DVD to be the format of choice for future films and games.
MOTOROLA iTUNES NO SHOW
One of the early talking points of Cebit is the lack of the much heralded Motorola phone to incorporate Apple's iTunes software.
The phone firm had said the device would debut at the fair.
Volker Haebel, marketing director of Motorola's German division, said many people had been asking about the phones and a launch could come in the United States within a few weeks.
INTEL AND SAP TEAM UP
US chip maker Intel and the German business software firm SAP, are teaming up in the area of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to develop applications that could eventually replace bar codes on products in shops.
RFID uses electronic labels with tiny microchips to identify individual items via radio signal and is already used in warehouse adminstration by big distribution companies such as Wal-Mart and Metro.
But the relatively high price of the chips has so far prevented their more widespread use, while consumer concerns that their shopping habits could be monitored have started to surface.
HARD DISK IN A PHONE
Electronics giant Samsung has unveiled a mobile phone with a three gigabyte hard drive built in.
The SGH-i300 phone is designed for multimedia use, specifically music.
Mobile handset manufacturers are targeting the successful MP3 hard disk player market - which is currently dominated by the Apple iPod.
The company also unveiled a phone with a seven mega pixel digital camera - the highest resolution camera currently on the market.
PALM READER
Palm Vein scanner
The scanner works without being touched
Fujitsu has launched a "Palm Vein" scanner which can identify people without any direct contact.
The company speculates that the scanner could be used by bank customers to withdraw funds from cash points with a single hand gesture.
The device uses infrared light to scan the palm vein, creating a map of individuals' hands to check the unique vein layout to identify users.
Data about your hand layout can be stored on a computer or on a bank card.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4335809.stm