Xentry transforms smartphone into electronic door caller display

by - on June 28th, 2013

There is nothing quite like taking something old and fashioning something new and updated out of it with a little bit of extra help from more modern technology, of course. Case in point, U.S. startup Xavage Technologies has decided to create a new kind of smartphone housing that will work in tandem with an app, and has christened it Xentry. Basically, Xentry is capable of transforming an older generation iPhone or even the Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate into a door-mounted caller-display, letting you check out who is at the door at the moment, while allowing you to communicate with them via using a corresponding app. Since an older smartphone is used here, you need not worry too much that someone is going to steal a spanking new iPhone 5 from literally your doorsteps, which ought to provide some sense of relief to most of us.

Basically, with the Xentry, your old and retired smartphone will be mounted on the inside of your front door, where there will be a customized peephole attachment which replaces an existing peephole lens, letting the phone’s camera to come into play instead, staring out into the corridor so that you know whether your pizza has come a-knockin’.

The “smart door” system will be able to stream real-time video as well as audio thanks to your home Wi-Fi network, so you need not have to fork out extra each month to have a SIM card working in the door-mounted smartphone. Other than that, there is also the ability to disguise your voice whenever you speak to the the caller at the door, with the added functions of door movement detection via the phone’s gyroscope as an added security measure.

Xavage hopes to raise $200,000 using Indiegogo so that the two Xentry models will be able to enter production, with one of those being specially designed to house old iPhones (3GS/4/4S), while the other is meant for the Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate, which was one of the most popular devices Stateside in 2010.

Xentry Page

Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1

by - on June 30th, 2013

When someone mentions the name “Sceptre”, what comes into your mind? I am quite sure that many of us are well acquainted with Sceptre’s range of LED TVs that deliver plenty of bang for your hard earned buck, and this has somewhat raised the confidence of the general cost conscious populace in this relative newcomer to the home theater/audio visual arena. This time around, the folks over at Sceptre has something slightly different for us as your eyes would not be the ones entertained, but rather, your auditory canals, in the form of the Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1.

The Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1 will boast of a built-in subwoofer, in addition to being powered by Google’s Android operating system while sporting Wi-Fi connectivity so that your run-of-the-mill HDTV can be “transformed” into a smart TV of sorts, thanks to the wonders of plug and play technology. I suppose the total cost of ownership for a smart TV has now been lowered across the board with this Sceptre offering, although it should not come with a similar level of integrated performance as Samsung or LG’s own range of dedicated Smart TVs. Still, something is better than nothing, right?

With the inclusion of Android’s interactive media operating system, you should be able to take advantage of the perfect entertainment atmosphere, as you are now able to access the Google Play Store, where the doors have been opened for you to download thousands of songs, games, movies and apps to add to your TV viewing experience. Something tells me that Angry Birds are going to see a spike of downloads and installations in the days and weeks ahead, if the Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1 sees a large number of sales.

Features of the $299.99 Sceptre SB301524W Sound Bar 2.include a 35W subwoofer with passive radiator, SRS WOW HD audio technology, dual front facing speakers, a trendy touch sensor control panel, and an optional smart remote control which is capable of offering a navigational experience which is on par with that of a traditional mouse and keyboard. Any one of our dear readers are interested in this bad boy?

Press Release