Gadget Lab Notes: Desktop Lighting Goes 2-D

The Looksoflat Lamp has an almost two-dimensional appearance

Gadget Lab Notes is an eclectic roundup of gadget news briefs and intriguing products that catch our eye.

Looksoflat Lamp is Like A Flattened Version of Pixar?s Luxo Lamp

The Looksoflat Lamp looks like it?s been flattened by a steamroller. It sheds a thin, rectangular area of light using LEDs (the only light source slim enough to fit inside its frame). Not too much else known about the lamp, except that it?s ?coming soon.?

Looksoflat [Looksoflat via Oh Gizmo!]

Lenovo and Tobii Team Up To Create The World?s First Eye-Controlled Laptop

The forward-looking thinkers at Tobii and Lenovo envision a future where hand-swiping based motion controls are just too much work. Solution: Notebooks with built in eye control sensors. Twenty Windows 7 running prototypes were developed, and although the technology won?t be appearing in homes for at least a few more years, the eye control-based experience is already extremely accurate and well developed.

World’s First Eye-Controlled Laptop [Tobii via Engadget]

Panasonic Debuts Blu-Ray 3-D Home Theater Systems and Slim Bar Speakers

Today, Panasonic introduced three new Blu-ray 3-D home theater kits, the SC-BTT770, SC-BTT370 and SC-BTT270, which feature iDevice docks and use Cinema Surround Plus technology for optimal movie theater-style surround sound. And to make sure you?re comfortable with your 3-D viewing experience, a 3-D Effect Controller lets you adjust image depth. The SC-HTB520 home speaker system is encased in reflective, stainless black mesh that?s dust and fingerprint resistant. It supports Stream Out for 3-D image signals, is Audio Return Channel (ARC) compatible, and comes with a wireless Down Firing Subwoofer.

Panasonic 3D Speaker Bar and Blu-ray 3D Home Theater Kit [Slashgear]

Verizon CFO Says It?ll Switch To Tiered Data Plans As Early As This Summer

Fran Shammo, Verizon?s CFO, said that Verizon will be implementing a tiered data plan in the not-too-distant future?as early as this summer. The plans will be based on speed, consumption, or a combination of both. The company waited to initiate this plan because it didn?t want to scare off potential iPhone 4 buyers.

Verizon Will Move to Tiered Data Plans This Summer [BGR]

Teeny Tiny Brando Wireless Router Fits Into Your Pocket

Measuring 6 cm long and 1 cm high, Brando?s EagleTec Nano Size Wireless N-Router makes even your iPhone look fat. It can provide a 150 Mbps data transfer rate for multiple users. It also supports auto IP address assignment for devices and 64/128-bit WEP, WPA and WPA2 wireless data encryption.

EaglTec Nano Size Wirless N-Router [Brando via Crunchgear]

Folding Mobile Phone Concept Awkwardly Combines Smartphone and Tablet

The 360 Compact Folding Mobile Phone Concept reminds me of one of those foam play mats from preschool, except with touchscreens on each face. Theoretically versatile, this dual jointed flip phone could lay flat with all 3 screens displaying information, or be propped up to provide an angled viewing and typing surface.

360 Compact Folding Mobile Phone Concept [Yanko Design]