Acer Picasso

ntAfter an appearance at CES 2011 in January, the Acer Picasso is back on display. Originally expected to run on Froyo, the Picasso was shown running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). Using a NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, it felt faster than most other tablets. Yet it still felt a bit lagging when sitting next to the iPad 2. 

Acer Picasso

ntOne big plus with the Acer Picasso over the iPad 2 is the SD card expansion slot to compliment the 16GB of onboard storage.

Acer Picasso

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ntThe Acer Picasso also sports a dual-camera design and feels considerably thick in one’s hands for a tablet. It’s still a very portable device, but that could prove to a hindrance for those consumers looking for the sleekest gadgets available.

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Acer Picasso

ntThere are still a handful of details that haven’t been revealed about the Acer Picasso yet – namely pricing and a release date. 

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Pandigital Novel

ntOn the lower end of the spectrum, we have the Pandigital Novel. Running on Android 2.2 (Froyo), the Novel is a very budget-friendly option with a price tag under $200. This slate hasn’t attracted much positive attention, and it is painfully slow when compared to the two aforementioned tablets. Still you can’t beat the price. Think of it as a starter tablet.

EmFinders Solution

ntThat is not a watch you’re looking at in the photo above. It’s the EmFinders Solution (EmSeeQ), a mobile device that can track the person wearing the mobile device. This is intended for keeping track of seniors as well as patients with Alzheimer’s, autisms and similar afflictions. The device can locate an individual and directly call 911 to recover the missing person.

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ntThe EmSeeQ is currently available online through its own channels and will move over to AT&T later this year. The device itself costs $99 with a $25 monthly fee. However, the product price can be subsidized to free with a $39 per month plan, which operates on a month-to-month plan rather than a yearly contract.

Vitality

ntThe glowing orb pictured above is named Vitality. Basically, it monitors and alerts patients when to take their prescriptions. It works in conjunction with the GlowCaps, seen on a normal prescription bottle. The Vitality will switch from the docile blue lighting to red when a user needs to take his/her pills. If the user doesn’t do so in a timely matter, it will emit a noise and then eventually text/call a specified phone number. That number could be the patient’s or even a caregiver/family member if they want to be alerted in case of an emergency.

BlueLibris

ntDubbed the “Swiss Army Knife of mobile health devices,” the BlueLibris is 3G-enabled, one-button device designed for several consumer demographics. The waterproof device can help parents monitor the location of their children and help caregivers track a patient’s well-being and physical information.

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ntPricing and availability haven’t been announced yet, but we should be seeing the BlueLibris on the market later this year.

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Yellow Pages mobile app

ntRemember the Yellow Pages? Well, now they’re back and on your smartphone. Counting 14 million listings nationwide and going strong, the YP app should help you find everything from a local restaurant to a new electrician, all using the GPS function on your phone to help.

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ntThe YP mobile app is free to download and is available for iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices. The app is somewhat ad-based as, just like the Yellow Pages, many of the listings are paid for to stand out.