I want a piece of software that would allow me to control all the filters and adjustments in Photoshop directly using a MIDI-type device so that I can work without ever having to open a palette, just by twirling knobs or pushing sliders.

So far nobody’s done it. Maybe you can badger somebody into doing it. Thousands of Photoshop users would thank you.

I always called it my couch top instead of a laptop.

If it is just for ubiquitous web availability throughout your house, couldn’t it be bigger and more powerful, thus replacing a PC? There’s no need for something ultra portable in your house.

I think it is going to fall into the, “My phone does all that for less money and is also a phone and media player and is smaller” or “The screen is too small and a keyboard would be nice and if it was a little more powerful I could do more with it” conundrum.

Apple has proven with the iPod and iPhone that a big screen isn’t necessary for portable web surfing and replaying media.

While I think the idea of building something based on a community of experts is a great idea, I think you still need to have a product that people want. Otherwise it will just be forever known as that product that the community built but still ended up sucking.

I just though you might wanna know about micropledge. It’s a website that if you have an idea you can put it in, and then if people find the idea interesting they can pledge for it, and when the amount needed is reached some developper or a group of developper agrees to do the job, and everything comes together.
Great idea no?

Hope you like it!

I’ve been using a custom solution to this for about a year now. I have a batch of very cheap manageable power strips and control them using USB or Bluetooth. At about $10 per socket these devices are way cheap. I use them everywhere. In some server rooms, to automated my house, and even as disco lights ;)

It seems these strips are not very popular or known, mostly because the software is windows-only, has a lacking interface and is missing some key-features (like bluetooth discovery and setup).

I briefly searched for US retailers, but non seem to carry the product. Is the Gembird Silvershield SIS PM / SIS PM BT (for Bluetooth) available anywhere?

My app can manage these strips with a slim hud-style interface, has lighting scenarios and program macro support. If there is cheap access to these strips, I’ll polish the app a bit and release it (as freeware of course). Some feedback on the availability and possible interest in an app would be nice ;)

And the analog gauges on the camera are just fantastic. Is it silly to buy a digital camera solely because of its cool retro gauges? Probably, but I never claimed not to be silly.

I certainly is something that could be great. Replace the nettops (or whatever the correct tech term is) with these for a large number of people. I know I would love to have one instead of something like an EEE or Wind. Have it around the house and for e-mail and web browsing it would certainly be great for getting away from just sitting in front of the PC. Maybe add an IR port on it too so a plug-in could allow it to be a universal remote, until more appliances function on WiFi.

One of the markets it serves could be the one for people who like lots of the iPhone functionality, but not how small it is, same for the iPod Touch here on size. Something that could be used rather than a laptop and have that households PC become mainly for work and gaming.

Really great idea, something I’d want, I just hope if it gets done, it is done right so that it came come to market instead of fail and then we have to wait 10 more years to see someone try again.