Under the hood, the Kitara is a powerful polyphonic synthesizer, controlled by a multitouch screen that can be used for multiple types of interactions with the instrument. The 8-inch screen and fret buttons act as a controller for the on-board synth.

The embedded electric guitar software lets you either “pluck” strings by touching them, or strum multiple strings just like a real guitar. But you can assign just about any sound you’d like to the strings. Individual strings can have unique sounds attached, and there are over 100 built-in sounds to start with. You can also use the Kitara as a MIDI controller for an external synth of your choice.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As you can see from the video clip, you don’t have to use strings either. You can use X/Y movements on screen to influence individual sounds and effects, adding to the creative performance possibilities of the instrument.

While you can certainly pull off some similar things with some of the iPad apps out there, the fact that the Kitara comes wrapped in a guitar body, and offers tactile frets, it seems like a much more guitar-like playing experience to me. Heck, I’d probably drop my iPad if I tried to strum it.

The standard, molded black ABS polymer Kitara will sell for $849 (USD), while the solid-aluminum limited-edition sells for $2499. You can find much more about the Kitara over at the here.

[via Gadget Review]

Frameless laptop? Talk about a concept pushing all of the boundaries – or just eliminating the boundaries altogether. Rumors are swirling that Acer is working on a laptop that could have a touchscreen keyboard…and a frame-less display. Is that even possible?

According to Digitimes, Acer will be launching this unnamed laptop some time before the end of 2010. A touchscreen keyboard seems plausible, although I’m not a big fan of them which is why I’m resistant to the iPad without the keyboard attachment.

But it’s the concept of a frame-less screen that has everyone intrigued. The only image floating around is the one above that looks more like a carbon copy of a check. But the screen will supposedly have a “reinforced glass substrate and simply print color on its back to allow the substrate to function like a notebook cover.” I would have assumed this laptop would be pricey for being the first of its kind, but Digitimes reports this will all make the model cheaper.

Who is to know if this is true or not, and if it will ever happen. There aren’t even any specific sources, but sometimes crazy rumors aren’t to be ignored. And isn’t always the most ridiculous rumors and concepts that come to fruition?

via zdnet

Gesture-recognition technology, such as that seen in Project Natal, has changed the face of gaming, but Microsoft’s Craig Mundie (pictured) believes it will also transform the office.

In a demo at Microsoft’s financial analyst meeting in Redmond, Washington, the company’s top research and strategy officer showed how the desktop computer of the future will use an entire office as both display and input device, with voice and gesture control augmenting the use of a number of touchscreens.

“The real question is what killer apps [will mark the] new era and what will be the user interface that people use to get at them,” Mundie said.

His demo included hologram-like videoconferencing, a virtual digital assistant, and multiple surface computers, along with voice-, touch- and gesture-recognition technology. The desk in the demo was a multitouch surface computer, and the office’s walls were also a display that could easily switch from being a virtual window or collection of digital photos to a corkboard of sticky notes or various workspaces. In one case, Mundie also used Project Natal-like depth cameras to put himself in the middle of an architectural demo, essentially putting himself inside a building that was not yet built.

His talk followed a demonstration by Microsoft entertainment chief Robbie Bach of the gaming potential of Project Natal. Bach played a game called Riccochet, in which players use their body to push, block and kick balls at various bricks. Microsoft showed off Project Natal at the E3 trade show earlier this year but hasn’t said when the Xbox 360 add-on will be commercially available.

“I’m not playing the Riccochet game, but I am using these technologies,” Mundie said. “This is our dream, but it is really not that far away. We see a pretty direct path to make this happen. We have all of the technologies to make this happen in our research labs.”

In an interview earlier this month, Bill Gates told CNET UK sister site CNET News that Microsoft plans to use Project Natal beyond the Xbox, including with Windows.

via cnet

Forget rumors and *gasp* blogs: if you want to get your hands on legit cutting-edge gadget news, the FCC is the place to be. Take these diagrams, taken from the FCC’s website, of what are supposed to be Creative’s contender for the touchscreen-crazy PMP market, the Zii. That by the way is an extremely awkward name for a device. Not what you’d expect from a company named “Creative”.

As you can see, Creative may be planning on trumping the Walkman X , the iPod touch and all other PMPs by including an HD camera in their device. Engadget’s Thomas Ricker also reckons that the “developer edition” Zii EGG (seriously, wtf is up with these names) means that Creative is intent on going Apple’s route, e.g. apps, making the Zii more than just a media player, just like the iPod Touch. Hopefully the price won’t be as ridiculous as the gadget’s name.

via technabob