THE GADGET PAGE

HP releases touchy feely desktop computer

For those who love a truly hands-on PC experience – and a whole lot of grubby fingerprints – HP is about to unveil the TouchSmart All-in-One featuring a screen with computing innards built in. That means you don’t need to find space for a separate PC unit on the floor. The TouchSmart is touch-sensitive and enables you to access photos, music, video, games, the Internet, television, family calendars and more, with a quick tap or swipe of the screen. HP’s touchable has a 22-inch high-def, widescreen monitor, 4GB of memory and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Other features include a DVD burner, direct access to YouTube, a built-in webcam and microphone, and the ability to record and watch TV. The TouchSmart All-in-One will launch this month. We hope the UK price will be in touching distance of the US, where the base price is $1,299.

TWISTING BY THE POOL

When you want to listen to your music in the bathroom, the Jacuzzi, or out by your luxurious pool you don’t want to go ruining your lovely MP3 player with water. The solution is the Wireless Floating Speaker which allows you to leave your high-tech gadgetry (and stereo system) safe in the warm while you take the speakers wherever you like. You can float it in the bath, the pool or even the fish pond! A small transmitter hooks up to your sound system and wirelessly transmits your tunes effortlessly up to 150ft away. You can hook it up to your iPod, your computer, your stereo, your TV – whatever has a standard 3.5mm audio output. The Wireless Floating Speaker retails for five pence short of £40 and is available from IWOOT

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED

Acer has just launched the Aspire one and priced at £199, we want one! The Aspire one is a mini-notebook computer equipped with an Intel Atom processor, an 8-gigabyte NAND flash module for data storage, a choice of Linux or Windows XP Home, and 512 megabytes of memory. In addition the Aspire one reads five different types of memory card for absolute data freedom. If you want to spend a bit more, you can get yourself a 80-gigabyte hard disk drive version instead and 1-gigabyte internal memory. The Aspire one comes with 802.11b/g WiFi built-in as standard for easy access to available wireless networks and can also be specified with a choice of embedded WiMAX or 3G wireless technologies for even greater wireless freedom. Initially available in blue and white, the range of colors available for the Aspire one will be expanded after the summer to also include brown and pink. Which one will you choose?

ALL I WANT IS A ROOM SOMEWHERE

Ever wanted to lock yourself up somewhere and completely hide away from the rest of the world. Well now for £25,000 you can! Climb inside the Ovei Isolation Chamber and relax with the ideal levels of lighting, sound, seating, and privacy you select. Just so you don’t get too bored with your own company, you can also play around on an integrated Macintosh or PC computer. An integral surround-sound system provides clear audio and the flat-panel video screen enhances your viewing pleasure as you watch your favourite DVDs, or you can connect a video game console. This private relaxation theatre is handmade from fibreglass by Formula 1’s McLaren Applied Technologies. To give it a real sci-fi feel, they’ve included an electronic door that closes silently at a touch, cocooning a sitter inside a completely ventilated interior that prevents stale air without compromising external noise reduction. The optional built-in massage chair accommodates a single person and has settings from light to vigorous. All functions are controlled by an interactive touch screen, and all materials have been tested to conform to international health and safety standards. If that isn’t enough to convince you to splash the cash, you could always retire to the garden shed instead!