1. World's smallest RFID reader moves technology into music, videos

An RFID reader the size of a dime will allow the increasingly popular technology to be incorporated into film and music posters. The miniature reader, manufactured by Innovision Research & technology of Berkshire, England, supports the Near Field Communication (NFC) standard, which allows interaction of electronic devices when they touch each other. Thus, PDAs and MP3 players equipped with the reader may download music or videos just by tapping the device against a "smart" music or video poster. NFC, which was launched by Nokia, Philips, and Sony earlier this year, will serve as a digital identifier; when the connection between the NFC-enabled devices is established, WiFi or Bluetooth will be used to transfer the data. Analysts say the first NFC-enabled devices will be available in 12 to 18 months.