Imagine sitting in your favorite restaurant; you have just taken off your coat and are sitting comfortably at your table.

Instinctively, you tap on the table with your finger. In moments, the lacquered finish becomes host to a display from a small micro projector stored overhead. The table becomes a display screen featuring the menu and a highlight on today’s special. Pressing your finger on an appetizer, you tug it out of alignment and drag all the way to the corner along with an order of your favorite side dish and the soup of the day.

Unable to decide your main course, you tap a large side button which allows you to bring up a host of recommended dishes starting from the chef’s recommendations to ratings and comments from other patrons.

The concept is simple, but quite possible. In the context above, a projected screen would not only save precious resources on paper for menus, but would also allow artists to create dynamic concepts without being limited to print media.

Microsoft has recently shown off their Mobile Surface technology at the annual MS TechFest. It is an employees-only event, but it still features some of the latest and newest works from the tech industry giant.

The demonstration was pretty much akin to the recent displays of Microsoft Games’ Project Natal for the Xbox. Natal was a camera based technology that used a user’s body movements for input. The Mobile Surface was the same. It was no longer limited to touch and object detection; it can also detect hand and finger location that expanded the range of possible control inputs.

So far, no commercial technology uses Microsoft Surface yet, but once it does, expect to see a great change on those tables you are used to sitting in.

Read more about the Mobile Surface on Pocket Lint.

If you have been reading the last few headlines in today’s global or economic news, give yourself a moment to step away and have a break, the world is not composed entirely of bad news.

Anyway, a “mobile charity auction” raised a solid £150,000 in order to help young men and women deal with emotional problems when they have no one to turn to. Get Connected has a team of over a hundred volunteers who dedicate much needed time and energy into helping young adults find their way in life. Get Connected has been around since 1999 and they have helped over a hundred thousand people in the past decade.

Carphone Warehouse, one of the largest mobile phone retailers in the UK, has been a solid contributor and supporter of Get Connected. They already raised thousands of Pounds for the cause and they have continued their support in the recent auction.

Mobile phone manufacturers have also been keen in lending their support. O2, Research in Motion, Sony Ericsson, Celaton and many other industry leaders were present at the event to not only show their support, but to provide actual products for the bidding lots. Tickets to concerts, major events (such as the World Cup) and advertising placement all went up as lots for the auction which raised plenty of much needed funds for the organization.

It feels great knowing that despite the harsh pace and competition in the mobile industry, manufacturers, operators and developers still take the time and energy to pool together to help out when they can. In events like these auctions and in emergencies such as the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, we have seen many people in the industry reach out and give all the help that they can.

Read more about Get Connected at Mobile Today UK.

It has already been confirmed that the new Windows Phone 7 operating system is going to be one amazing new OS. It is revolutionary, dynamic and it totally changes the way we see mobile phones.

Steve Ballmer and his team have gone all out in order to show us what they have done so far. The user interface is the first of its kind in terms of the level of dynamic elements and visual animations. It makes the iPhone OS and the Google Android platform actually look old and static. While what we have seen in the incomplete user interface has impressed us all quite a lot. There is still that question as to exactly what kind of mobile smart phone will actually be able to run the new OS.

As we already know, Microsoft has teamed up with Qualcomm so we can be pretty sure that the new OS will need at the very least, a Snapdragon. It is very important, considering that CPU speed will deliver plenty in terms of smoothness of delivery. With the new UI relying mostly on its visual appeal, it is important to have the processing power that it needs to carry all those small animations.

According to a recent podcast from ZDnet, there will be three different chassis types for Windows Phone Seven. The first is a basic smart phone look, the second will have a slide out keyboard, and lastly, the type 3 will take on the form of a Treo-type.

For manufacturers, it is reported that HTC, Asus and LG will each be having their own WP7 devices. Asus is reported to be working on a Microsoft branded device that is due to be released by October or later.

To read more about the possible hardware and other details about the new WP7 and its chassis types, go to GSM Arena.

Knowing the chassis type for a mobile platform is pretty telling, after all, it pretty much lets us know the adaptive capabilities or the versatility of an OS. While this may seem like a big deal, in application it is not.

Still, news is news and we just got some interesting info regarding the upcoming Windows Phone 7 series mobile platform. According to a recent podcast from ZDnet, the new Microsoft mobile OS will be relying on three basic chassis types.

The type 1 chassis is the traditional touch screen smart phone look. As made famous by the Apple iPhone, the touch screen layout is both basic, easy to use and takes only a few moments to figure out. We are honestly not surprised by knowing this since the user interface displayed by WP7 will need the traditional large screen that touch screen devices use.

The type 2 chassis is equally well known as the type 1 even though not all mobile phones use it. This is the touch screen layout that comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. This is perfect for all mobile phone users who rely heavily on sending emails, long messages and other keyboard-reliant functions.

The type 3 chassis details are sketchy at best, and while we have heard that this might be a candy bar phone layout, it is likely that the phone might be similar to the Backflip or the N900.

Anyway, WP7 is a mobile platform that everyone is looking forward to getting their hands on. From what we have seen at the Mobile World Congress, the new user interface is not only amazing, it is outright revolutionary. We actually wondered why no other mobile devices used the same kind of interface.

The first WP7 device is expected to arrive later this year.

Get to know more WP7 chassis info at Stuff TV.

Many consider the Mobile World Congress and the biggest event for the mobile phone industry since it focuses strictly on mobile phones and related technologies unlike events such as the Consumer Electronics Show.

The MWC was held last Valentine’s Day at Barcelona, Spain. Yep, and for the lack of any other way to put it, the event was a date with the future of mobile phone technology. There were plenty of sneak peeks at the lineup of upcoming devices for 2010, and of course, we have our favorites.

Topping off our list is the Samsung Wave smart phone. This 1GHz device features Samsung’s very own Bada operating system. It comes with a 3.3 inch super AMOLED touch screen which has one of the nicest displays we have seen on a smart phone. Overall, this is one device to look out for. The Bada OS is pretty good and intuitive, but when it comes to platforms we want, there is nothing quite like the upcoming Microsoft mobile OS.

Steve Ballmer of Microsoft went onstage to present the Windows Phone 7 series progress. What we saw blew us away. We originally expected the new Microsoft operating system to be a simple update of the existing WinMo series; instead what we saw was a complete re-imagining of how mobile phones should be used and how we should expect a user interface to look. Zune, Bing and Xbox Live Games service will be available.

Google’s Android is a definite pick by phone manufacturers as it popped up with Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10, X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro as well as HTC’s Desire and Legend smart phones. As much as we would have wanted to get a quick look at the upcoming HTC Scorpion, it was not around at the MWC.

Get more info about the MWC at Times Online UK.

Here’s a quick wrap up of all the interesting headlines that appeared last week:

First off, the Mobile World Congress held last February 14 at Barcelona, Spain finally ended with many attendees bearing witness to new releases and upcoming devices. Microsoft was the unexpected star of the show with their presentation of the new Windows Phone 7 series mobile platform. Though their newly released Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Maldives did appear on the Sony Ericsson Aspen; the big star was their work in progress, WP7.

Not only did the platform get a new name, it also changes everything we knew about Windows Mobile –in a good way. Many are now looking forward to the recently announced October release date for the OS.

Sony Ericsson just unveiled several new mobile phones in the form of the XPERIA X10 Mini, X10 Mini Pro and the Vivaz Pro. While many are already familiar with the Snapdragon Android XPERIA X10 and the Symbian HD recording smart phone Vivaz; the new X10 Mini and Mini Pro sports a half sized, watered down version of the X10. The “Pro” phones are similar to their namesakes in terms of specs, but also come with slide out QWERTY keyboards.

HTC also made several new announcements. First off, the HTC Bravo was now renamed as the HTC Desire. Both the Desire and the HTC Legend are expected to be released this coming March. No word has been given regarding the upcoming HTC Scorpion.

Lastly, we’ll take another look at Microsoft as it was just confirmed that the European Regulators have approved of the tie up between Microsoft and Yahoo! No word yet as to what this means for the tech industry, but we can expect to see something new later this year.

Read more news about the mobile industry at the Guardian UK.

The Mobile World Congress was full of impressive toys and gadgets, new applications, accessories and even news about soon-to-come technologies later for the year. All in all it has been a very successful event that has brought to the spotlight some major chunks of news.

Let us start out with the simple news. Sony Ericsson just beefed up their lineup with the new XPERIA X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro smart phones. These Android devices is Sony’s venture into low price range markets as their high end devices are not selling much in terms of quantity. The X10 Mini Pro has an extra feature: a slide out physical QWERTY keyboard perfect for users who like sending messages and like good phones.

HTC also had its own big reveal, but more of existing devices. The Desire and the Legend will be coming out this March. The Desire was originally named as the HTC Bravo and it served as the basis for the Nexus One smart phone. The Desire comes with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen. HTC Hero Legend keeps hiding away.

The big news of the event came from Microsoft as they unveiled the Windows Mobile Phone 7 operating system onstage. Many expected the device to conk out a BSOD warning page. Instead, the new mobile OS reinvented everything we thought were standards for smart phones.

Features such as support for multi touch and gestures are present. Zune, Bing and Xbox Live Games will be available for the Windows Phone 7. So far, no titles of games have been announced for the WP7 when it launches this holiday season. Lastly, HTC has confirmed news that they will be creating the next WP7 device.

Get the rest of the scoop on MWC’s highlights at GSM Arena.

Developers certainly have a knack for unveiling and presenting new products and technologies. Just take a look at Steve Jobs who was quite the personality onstage last January when he unveiled the new Apple iPad tablet.

Last Sunday, Microsoft’s very own Steve Ballmer too everyone like a storm with his presentation of the new Windows Phone 7 series (well, him and his colleagues). The presentation highlighted many great features and has left the crowd wanting more. And with the announcement that the OS will not be around until much later this year (around the holidays) it is going to be a long wait to see the final look of this promising platform.

Promising, long wait, wanting more; these are phrases (and praises) that were never attributed to the Windows Mobile operating system. For those who missed the presentation (and the news) it is actually quite the curiosity considering that the older versions of the Os were pretty much criticized and unwanted.

Windows Phone 7 changes everything we knew about the Microsoft mobile experience by delivering an operating system that flowed smoothly, looked visually stunning and is incredibly innovative in the way it presents menus and content access. The use of the capacitive touch screen is maximized as users will be flipping through large, easy to customize pages that segregate phone functions.

The new system naturally comes with new features. Zune is present now, making us wonder if it will ever get released in the UK. Zune is amazing when it comes to handling media, most especially music files.

Xbox Live Games has also been included. The online service is expected to run as smoothly as the console version, though no word yet if a similar subscription rate is needed.

Get the rest of the info and details on the new Windows Phone 7 platform at Pocket Lint.

Barcelona, Spain provided the romantic backdrop for a Valentines’ Day Mobile World Congress which saw plenty of this year’s upcoming technologies being showcased for the first time. Microsoft took the opportunity last Sunday to change the way to world viewed the Windows Mobile operating system by unveiling the much awaited version 7.

Steve Ballmer, Joe Belfiore, and Microsoft’s devs and representatives took turns onstage as they each highlighted the many amazing new features to be seen in WinMo 7. The biggest and most impressive thing to note about the new OS is that it totally reinvents everything we know about the old Windows Mobile platform.

What was originally a much criticized and clumsy operating system is now sporting a streamlined, stylized and futuristic looking user interface that would rival the Apple iPhone OS and the Google Android in terms of ease of use and even customization. The inclusion of the new Tiles system turns the tables on old school widgets by delivering even more user control of content.

New to the system is the inclusion of Zune media and interface influences (which actually took a while to explain since Zune is not available locally in Europe –something that Microsoft ought to do something about). Also, the games menu will deliver the recently announced Xbox Live Games service. So far, it is nothing but a social networking tool –MS has yet to demonstrate any new games or apps for the WinMo 7 OS.

Towards the end of the presentation, Steve Ballmer highlighted the various operators, manufacturers and developers supporting the new OS. Many are expecting to see the very first WinMo 7 phone to be released sometime later this year.

For the full details on Steve Ballmer’s presentation of the new Windows Mobile 7 operating system at the MWC, go to Engadget.

Imagine the amount of energy you spend each day; from the time you wake up to the time you get back to bed, you would have walked, lifted, pushed and moved around from your home to your workplace and back. Now imagine a new form of technology that places a lightweight generator unto your clothes that converts all that movement into energy.

This is the main focus of a new nanofiber based technology being developed by engineers at UC Berkeley. Liwei Lin, a professor at Berkeley, states that “This technology could eventually lead to wearable ’smart clothes’ that can power hand-held electronics through ordinary body movements”.

By using nanofibers made of organic polyvinylidene fluoride, scientists are able to create and integrate nanogenerators into clothes. The technology is easy to manufacture, cheap and very lightweight. In application, this means that it can be easily incorporated into clothes.

When this technology is perfected, it can be installed into normal clothes allowing us to charge small electronic devices with the energy we create by moving around. Biking, dancing, running and other more strenuous exercises will give you more energy than sitting around all day.

Of course, the actual movement to energy conversion rate has yet to be given. So far, it has been reported that the technology will be enough to generate enough power for small electronic devices. With this already in development, it will not be too long before we find ourselves taking a quick jog in case our mobile phones suddenly run low on battery charge.

When connected, the generator will not be noticeable at all, which means users can move about as if it was not there. By turning this technology into something un-intrusive, it is quite likely to be accepted and used.

Read more about the new nanofiber technology at the Telegraph UK.