Posted 30. April 2012 |
“I have pre-ordered the FXI Cotton Candy any screen micro computer…. Sweeeeet! But I have questions about how it works….”
One thing is certain, the demand for Cotton Candy has been incredibly high. Some people find the technology and the concept so intriguing that they actually have ordered the device without even looking at the specs – which is also OK with us!
To clarify – this post is aimed at demystifying the product and it’s use in a summarized and clear fashion.
So let’s get started: With physical measurements: 8cm x 2.5cm and only 21 grams, FXI Cotton Candy contains the most processing power per cubic inch of any other computer on the market. To put it further into perspective – the length and size of Cotton Candy is approximately equal to that of an average adult index finger, except for rectangular in design. (I know this because I am an average guy and it matches almost exactly the length of my index finger.)
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, however a technical spec is worth 2000 – so we have one here:
1. HDMI
2. Bluetooth connect button
3. Reset button
4. Double-Cap Cover
5. USB 2.0 male
6. Micro SD slot
7. Micro USB 2.0 female
So, we have HDMI with Full HD support for outputting video and audio to any screen. We also have two magic buttons in our little computer:
1. A quick Bluetooth connect button, which enables the user to connect to a Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard with one press
2. And a “hidden” reset button
Additionally, an elastic double-cap cover protects Cotton Candy, for example, from the hazards of a pocket or handbag or pocket full of keys, lint, pens, coins, gum & mobile phones.
The USB 2.0 male connector has caused some confusion. It serves two different purposes. The first is to provide power to Cotton Candy, while the other and more unique purpose is to allow interoperability with a PC. In the case of power, Cotton Candy follows the USB 2.0 spec, which means that it will operate correctly provided a minimum of 5V@500mA, something that any device with a standard USB port can provide.
The second use case, however, is made possible through FXI’s patented technology allowing any computer supporting USB storage to function as a client; making it possible to interact directly with Cotton Candy through the computer’s keyboard, mouse and screen, effectively bypassing (or complementing) the CPU, storage and OS of the computer itself.
Here is how it works:
Plug Cotton Candy into the USB port of any Linux, Mac or Windows computer and instantly access either Android or Ubuntu Operating System’s. Use the computer keyboard and mouse to control your Cotton Candy! Have your private and secure computer on any computer, or Multi OS, or all in one media storage and player and so on.
The Cotton Candy micro computer does not have a screen or a keyboard or integrated input device, but peripheral possibilities are expanded with Micro USB. Visualize it as a USB port in any other computer and you’ve got it – plug in webcams, digital cameras, external keyboard and mouse, printer/scanner or even Ethernet to USB adapter. If one port is not enough, the amount of peripherals can be increased with a USB hub or docking station.
It wouldn’t be a computer without storage though, right? Therefore we have a card slot for Micro SD Digital High Capacity (SDHC) v.2.0 supporting up to 64GB of storage. Insert your card and use it as you would in any other computer or mobile phone. But there is more.
Use multiple SD cards to house multiple OS – for instance one Android and one Linux. With Cotton Candy any screen micro computer you can boot from separate Micro SDs. Not only is this really cool, you get multiple computers from one piece of hardware and two SD cards.
So, you think, Cotton Candy has it all. Will it make coffee? Work as a personal Taser? House a Swiss Army Knife? Perhaps not.
In summary, as a fully capable computer, Cotton Candy integrates wireless connectivity with Wifi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, again, working in a similar fashion as in any other computer platforms. Multiple OS are supported on different SD cards and the first product will have , 1 GB DRAM, near unlimited peripheral support, an Internet connection, device to device communication – you name it. The tiny Cotton Candy can nearly do it all, in a tiny little form factor.
NOTE: Taser functionality, Swiss Army Knife and coffee makers will not be present in the first version of Cotton Candy. In a future post, we will further examine the uniqueness of Cotton Candy’s patented USB functionality… Thank you for visiting us!
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Posted 30. April 2012 |
Laptop Magazine
By Sarah Silbert
Cotton Candy: One Sweet Mini-Computer
“A computer that fits in your pocket? Yes, and with a 1.2-GHz ARM processor to boot. Norwegian company FXI Technologies wowed techies the world over when it unveiled its tiny, 21-gram USB-powered PC in late 2011. The mini-computer is expected to hit the market in the second half of 2012 at a price less than $200. With a USB 2.0 port on one end and an HDMI jack on the other, the Cotton Candy connects to a keyboard, mouse or tablet, bringing the Android Ice Cream Sandwich and Ubuntu operating systems with it. Essentially, this device makes any peripheral–from an iPad to an HD monitor–computer complete with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and support for most audio and video formats.”
Read the full article on Laptop Magazine
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Posted 27. April 2012 |
TRONDHEIM, Norway – April 27, 2012, FXI announced today it is the recipient of the Red Herring Top 100 award. Given in recognition of leading private companies from Europe, the Top 100 celebrates technology innovations across their respective industries.
Red Herring’s Top 100 Europe list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising new companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Salesforce.com, YouTube, and eBay would change the way we live and work.
“Internally, we believe that we’ve got a market changer on our hands,” said Borgar Ljosland, CEO and founder of FXI. “Being recognized by Red Herring, gives us confidence in our ability to make a mark in computer history.”
Seemingly unassuming because of its diminutive size, FXI’s Cotton Candy any screen computer packs all the processing power and entertainment features of your everyday smartphone, set-top gaming system, Ultrabook™, or tablet into a USB stick. And because it supports multiple operating systems, leverages the USB connection to add capabilities to existing notebooks, and adds smart features to “dumb” HDMI displays, Cotton Candy can provide a consistent, personal computing experience on any screen, wherever it travels.
“Choosing the companies with the strongest potential was by no means a small feat,” said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. “After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across Europe to the Top 100 Winners. We believe FXI embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture. FXI should be proud of its accomplishment, as the competition was the strongest it has ever been.”
Red Herring’s editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy, and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the track record and standing of startups relative to their peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the
“buzz” and make the list a valuable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the most promising new business models in Europe.
About FXI
FXI Technologies (www.fxitech.com) is a Norway-based hardware and software startup dedicated to making the world of digital screens smart and personal.
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FXI Technologies and Cotton Candy are trademarks or registered trademarks of FXI Technologies. All other trademarks or trade names are the property of their respective owners.
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Posted 19. April 2012 |
TRONDHEIM, Norway – April 19, 2012, FXI announced today it has been selected as a Finalist for Red Herring’s 100 Europe award; a prestigious list honoring the year’s most promising private technology ventures from the European business region.
The Red Herring editorial team selected the most innovative companies from a pool of hundreds from across Europe. The nominees are evaluated on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, quality of management, execution of strategy, and integration into their respective industries.
This unique assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the actual track record and standing of a company, which allows Red Herring to see past the “buzz” and make the list an invaluable instrument for discovering and advocating the greatest business opportunities in the industry.
“Micro computers are the next logical step in hardware devices,” said Borgar Ljosland, CEO and founder of FXI. “Cotton Candy any screen computer packs the processing and entertainment features of a smartphone, a set top gaming system, an ultrabook, and a tablet into the minute size of a USB stick. And its proprietary USB graphics support allows it make HDMI TVs and displays smart, while adding multi-OS support to existing laptops.”
“This year was especially difficult,” said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. “Despite the global economic situation, there were many great companies producing really innovative and amazing products that we had a difficult time narrowing the pool and selecting the finalists. FXI shows great promise and therefore deserves to be among the Finalists. Now we’re faced with the difficult task of selecting the Top 100 winners of Red Herring European award. We know that the 2012 crop will grow into some amazing companies that are sure to go far.”
Finalists for the 2012edition of the Red Herring 100 Europe award are selected based upon their technological innovation, management strength, market size, investor record, customer acquisition, and financial health. During the several months leading up to the announcement, hundreds of companies in the telecommunications, security, Web 2.0, software, hardware, biotech, and clean tech industries sent in their submissions to qualify for the award.
Borgar Ljosland will present with other Finalists at the Red Herring Europe Forum in Amsterdam, April 23-25, 2012. The Top 100 winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony the evening of April 25 at the event.
About FXI
FXI Technologies (www.fxitech.com) is a Norway-based hardware and software startup dedicated to making the world of digital screens smart and personal.
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FXI Technologies and Cotton Candy are trademarks or registered trademarks of FXI Technologies. All other trademarks or trade names are the property of their respective owners.
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Posted 18. April 2012 |
Now is a time to reflect upon on the form factor of the personal computer. Computer legend and gaming pioneer Jack Tramiel died last month at the age of 83.
Jack was an immense influence in the consumer electronics and computing industries. In a recent Forbes article, Martin Goldberg, video game and computer history book author said, “Jack Tramiel was an immense influence in the consumer electronics and computing industries. A name once uttered in the same vein as Steve Jobs is today.”
Jack’s company Commodore developed and sold, in 1980s thorough out the 1990s, the Commodore 64 computer, which today still stands as the highest selling single computer of all time. It was truly a “computer for the masses,” added Goldberg.
At its peak when Commodore 64 was the leading computer, it also had form factor on it’s side. Unlike the old PC’s, you could actually take Commodore 64 with you when visiting a friend’s house and enjoy playing the most advanced games – together. The carry on packaging wasn’t easy though -you had to bring the powersupply, disc drive, gaming controls, cables and discs. It took some effort however the reward was to play your games, with your friends on their TV. Some could say Commodore 64 was actually the ‘any screen’ computer of its time.
Then came the laptops, mobile phones, tablets etc. All of them are solid performing portable computers with a fixed screen size. Whereas desktop PCs remained as something largely kept stationary, with most hoping to never have to again lug the pile of equipment from room to room or place to place.
For 20 years we have been carrying a screen with our computer. It has been so long that we actually have become used to it – a screen that easily breaks, a screen that loses it’s colors and brightness, a screen that becomes obsolete, a screen that is the most expensive single component in a computer, a screen that is extra weight and a screen that often dictates the usability and capability of the device itself.
One might ask if that screen is really necessary? Why can’t we just shrink the Commodore 64 equivalent into a modern world version and use that instead?
Oh wait, we did! Now with the FXI Cotton Candy any screen computer this is happening, and much, much more…
By removing the screen from the computer, we can take the computer to any screen – one might say, we have brought the portable form factor back to computing.
Any screen. Any app. Any OS. Any input device. Any place. Any time.
Sweeeeet!
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