Thursday, May 14, 2009

Samsung unveils 70 Series Touch of Color LCD monitors

May 13th, 2009

Samsung 70 Series LCD Monitor

Samsung takes the wrap off its new 70 series LCD monitors. The slim P2070, P2370 and P2370HD with Touch of Color (TOC) design are eco-friendly and aim at optimum consumer satisfaction.

P2070 and P2370 LCDs have screen depth of 30mm while P2370HD features a 65.5mm deep screen. These LCDs are designed to keep up with the work, play and entertainment needs of the user.

“The 70 Series offers our customers a sophisticated-looking LCD monitor with the performance capability of our televisions,” said J.H. Kim, President of Samsung Electronics America’s Information Technology Division. “The 70 Series is the new standard as more people upgrade their monitors for additional uses, like watching television programs Read the rest of this story >>


BlueRadios Wireless Internet Personal Computer

May 13th, 2009

 BlueRadios WiPC Handheld Device

BlueRadios present their new product WiPC (Wireless internet PC), a handheld mobile device for content snacking. This device weighs 30g and functions effectively with 1 watt power. WiPC with Kopin SVGA color micro display is used in various micro imaging applications, earlier used only in military and industrial applications now comes to the consumers.

“The beauty of this device is the quality of the micro display and that we reduced a 5 lb. laptop down to 3oz. so it fits in the palm of your hand,” says Mark Kramer President and CEO of BlueRadios, Inc. “Our product changes the way high quality mobile media content is viewed and accessed.”

Users can access the Internet for information, entertainment Read the rest of this story >>


Apacer SAFD 254 SSD solution announced

May 13th, 2009

Apacer SAFD 254

Apacer launches new Serial ATA Flash Drive (SAFD) 254 that provides high capacity and wide operating temperature to industrial and embedded applications.

This SSD solution’s stacking technology supports wide range of operating temperature up to 128GB capacity. Its reliable NAND SLC memory offers read/write speed of up to 150/130 MB/sec. Thus, SAFD 254 can be used under tough conditions making it apt for military touch book, aeronautics, aviation and oil well drilling industries.

The high quality global wear leveling technology evenly distributes the writes throughout the sectors of the flash media memory, thus enhancing its life cycle. The integrated S.M.A.R.T. technology offers an interface that facilitates quick display of important information. This minimizes the risk Read the rest of this story >>


Sharp intros ten AQUOS D Series HD LCD TVs

May 13th, 2009

Sharp AQUOS D Series

Sharp expands its AQUOS range with the inclusion of ten new LCD TVs in the AQUOS D series. The company claims that these devices are more energy efficient as compared to other LCDs. They feature high-Picture-Quality Master Engine that can produce clear high-speed images.

The AQUOS D series come in 52V-, 46V-, 40V- and 32V- inch sizes. The Picture-Quality Master Engine of these devices is said to incorporate various technologies like Clear Double Speed function that is capable of detecting image movements and giving a clear picture; Active Conditioner that adjusts contrast and color to the best viewing level and also reduces noise accurately and improved Smooth Image Quality function.

The LCDs are capable of playing online video content and other made-for-tv Read the rest of this story >>


ViewSonic to enter 3G smartphone market

May 13th, 2009

ViewSonic Logo

At a time when recession prevails in the global economy and all business firms are striving to survive, ViewSonic plans to enter the 3G smartphone market, reports CNET. Let’s leave the financial comments on this move to the economists.

The smartphone market is dominated by giants like Apple, HTC, LG, Nokia, and Research In Motion, no points for guessing this but the suspense in this news is whether the display technology giant ViewSonic will be able to set its foot in this new land.

The reported plans of the company clarify that the phone will be first launched in China followed by Europe and the US. The company also claims that the phone will be an extension to their existing Read the rest of this story >>


Elgato Video Capture transfers videos to iPhone, Mac and iPod

May 13th, 2009

Elgato Video Capture

Elgato unveils its new Video Capture that enables easy transfer of analog video to iPhone, Mac and iPod. This product connects a variety of analog video sources including set-up boxes, VCRs, DVD players, camcorders and others to Mac through USB 2.0. It supports video recording in H.264 or MPEG-4 format.

One can transfer videos to iTunes, upload them to You Tube, play videos using QuickTime Player and even edit them in iMovie. Elgato Video Capture bundles up software that guides users at every step - from connecting analog video source to the Mac or other devices to playing and sharing videos. Video cable and SCART adapter that accompany the product abet to transfer videos easily.

The device can record videos with resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and uphold NTSC, Read the rest of this story >>


Motorola unveils MOTO W7 Active edition handset

May 13th, 2009

Motorola MOTO W7 Active Edition Phone

Motorola has announced the MOTO W7 Active Edition 3G enabled handset with motion gaming feature. The included accelerometer guides the phone’s activities according to users’ hand gesture, direction and body movements.

The integrated pedometer keeps a track of the steps taken while running or walking and helps plan a workout. In addition, the personal trainer application allows one to set workout goals, make workout profiles and check summary reports.

“For those who are always on the move, the MOTO W7 Active Edition is designed to keep up with the pace,” said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices. “The accelerometer technologies put a new spin on the traditional relationship we Read the rest of this story >>


23-inch Acer H Series LCD Monitors - the Ultimate Cinematic Option

May 12th, 2009

Acer Logo No more spending money for movies at multiplexes as here is a great compensated option. Acer India unveils the latest display range, dubbed the Acer H Series LCD monitors.

Available in a whopping 23-inch widescreen display, the stylish LCD monitor range claims to offer a complete cinematic experience with high-quality images, stylish functionality and impressive performance.

The latest offering in the consumer TFT (monitor) market from Acer ensures the panoramic, 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio. Users will experience splendid cinema-like visuals, dazzling colors and precise details while watching movies, videos and games. It provides a rapid response time of up to 2ms G/G and contrast ratio of at least 10000:1 with Acer Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM) for astonishing Read the rest of this story >>


Dell ST2010 20-inch monitor unveiled

May 12th, 2009

Dell ST2010 Monitor

Dell’s new 20-inch monitor dubbed ST2010 has been launched in Hong Kong, reports Engadget. The 20-inch device is apparently larger than any other entry-level monitors.

The ST2010 monitor is expected to feature 1600 x 900 resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio and 250 nits brightness. The monitor is speculated to have 5ms response time and 160 degree viewing angle. The device is also said to support HDMI and VGA inputs. It is also speculated to feature audio in/out connector.

Dell’s official site claims that ST2010 complies with the ENERGY STAR specifications. It also claims that the two lamp direct backlight system saves as much Read the rest of this story >>


Corsair launches P256 high performance solid-state drive

May 12th, 2009

Corsair P256 SSD

Corsair has announced the launch of P256, a 256GB solid-state drive. The device claims to use improved technology to render better performance and compatibility.

The drive comes integrated with Samsung MLC flash player, Samsung Controller IC and 128MB of cache memory. The device support Native Command Queuing which assists in stutter-free performance. The solid-state drive is capable of rendering a reading speed of 220MB/sec and a write speed of 200MB/sec.

“The Corsair Storage Solutions P256 delivers the best computing experience of any single storage drive available today,” quoted John Beekley, VP of Applications Engineering at Corsair, “Using the P256 results in immediate and dramatic improvements in system startup and shutdown, Read the rest of this story >>

Samsung B9000 HDTVs

Samsung has recently announced 46″ and 55″ HDTVs from the B9000 series that are actually sequels of the A950 models released sometime last year. These additions offer LED backlights alongside localized dimming to ensure you get the sharpest image possible, while Media 2.0 with YouTube/Yahoo! Widgets support add another dimension of interactivity. A built-in USB port allows you to view your favorite photos over a big screen, while DLNA functionality and a wireless connection to the external media box further adds to the overall desirability of the product. Too bad Samsung has not revealed important information such as pricing or availability, but that’s just a matter of time really.

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 | Audio & Video, Home Gadgets with No Comments »

ClickFree Transformer Backs Up Your Data Easily

Clickfree has just introduced its new Transformer Cable, which is “the first and only USB cable that turns ordinary external hard drives into truly automatic Clickfree backup solutions.” Put simply, users just connect their USB HDD to their PC via this here cable, and without any software installations or black magic, the external drive automatically begins to search through, organize and backup your data. The painfully simple cord should be available right now for the mildly reasonable price of $59.99; full release is after the break.

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 | Computer Gadgets, Laptops, USB Gadgets with No Comments »

Belkins’ New automotive USB charging options

Today Belkin introduced the Dual Auto Charger and Micro Auto Charger which feature quick-charging capabilities for your iPhone, iPod , Blackberry or other USB charging device on the go.

Dual Auto Charger

The Dual Auto Charger has a quick-charge (1 amp) port for your iPhone and a second USB port (0.5 amp) for another device. It includes a 3 ft charge-n-sync cable for iPhone and iPod. This charger is currently available and lists for $29.99.

Belkin Micro Auto Charger

The Micro Auto Charger is designed to sit nearly flush with your dashboard while still allowing easy removal. Also quick-charging at 1 amp, it is well-suited for iPhones and certain GPS systems. It will be available in early May and lists for $14.99 or $19.99 with charge-n-sync cable.

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 | USB Gadgets, Vehicles with No Comments »

USB Rubik Card Reader

Rubik’s Cube has entertained and puzzled kids for quite a number of decades now, and that could have inspired someone to come up with the awesome USB 270° x 270° Rubik Card Reader. It takes on the form factor of a Rubik’s Cube but unfortunately drops the traditional color scheme. Instead, you can twist all three levels of this device parallel to one another so that there is always enough room for you to plug in all the corresponding memory cards in their respective slots. A blue LED functions as a status indicator on this $12 memory card reader.

Thursday, April 16th, 2009 | USB Gadgets with No Comments »

Samsung HMX-R10 HD camcorder

We will soon be able to actually get our hands on the Samsung HMX-R10 HD camcorder starting as soon as next month. The camcorder was released in Korea yesterday and measures in at just 4.9″ x 1.5″. Specs include a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution from a 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor. It also has a 9-megapixel sensor for still photos.

Features:

  • 5x optical zoom
  • a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD with the proprietary Magic Touch UI from Samsung
  • a microSDHC memory slot with support for cards up to 32GB
  • Slow-mode shooting is also possible at 60, 300 and 600 fps

You will be able to get the Samsung HMX-R10 HD camcorder in the U.S. starting on May 15th for about $499.99.


Toshiba Satellite U400-189 Notebook Reviewed

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Laptop | 1 Comment

Toshiba Satellite U400-189 Notebook

Toshiba Satellite U400-189 is one of the models of the company’s U400 series. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 2GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive and integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics chipset.

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Sony MCB1172 Smallest HD Camera Module

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Camera and Camcorder | No Comments

Sony MCB1172 Smallest HD Camera Module

Sony announced the MCB1172 a coin-sized HD camera module. The module offers 8.3 Megapixel module that is able to capture 720p video at 30fps. Sony MCB1172 has a high sensitivity mode and a slow-mo function. It does face detection, auto focus and movie stabilization.

[pocket-lint]

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Elecom MR-C14 and MR-C15 Card Readers

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Storage | No Comments

Elecom MR-C14 and MR-C15 Card Readers

Elecom announced the MR-C14 and MR-C15 multi-in-one memory card readers. The former supports 44 types of cards while the latter accpets just 24.

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Buffalo DVSM-U24FBS DVD SuperMulti Burner with DVD Upscaling

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Storage | No Comments

Buffalo DVSM-U24FBS DVD SuperMulti Birner with DVD Upscaling

We may have seen so many DVD players with HD upscaling abiliity but we can’t find similar functions on DVD Burner. Buffalo brings us the DVSM-U24FBS, a DVD SuperMulti burner with DVD upscaling function that enhance the quality of DVD video up to 1080/60p.

The burner can write DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL up to 8X and DVD-RAM at 12x. DVD+/-RW and CD-R/RW are also supported.

Buffalo DVSM-U24FBS is available in Black (DVSM-U24FBS-BK)and White (DVSM-U24FBS-WH) for 5800 Yen.

[buffalo]

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T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 Reviewed

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Mobile Phone, Smartphone | No Comments

T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 Reviewed

T-Mobile has just launched the new Sidekick LX 2009. The QWERTY mobile phone has a 3.2-inch touchscreen and a 3.2 Megapixel camera. It features integrated GPS and support for 3G HSDPA/quad-band EDGE network.

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Asus Eee PC 1008HA Seashell Unboxing

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Laptop | No Comments

asus-eee-pc-1008ha-seashell-unboxing-1

Asus Eee PC 1008HA Seashell is ultra slim netbook. Based on Atom platform, the Seashell supports WiFi, and Bluetooth as well as optional HSPA and WiMAX. The netbook has been unboxed by electricpig, you can see more shots after the break:

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Flashlight 3-port USB Hub

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Peripherals and Accessories | No Comments

Flashlight 3-port USB Hub

Here is a 3-port USB hub with small LED light designed to provide you with light in the dark. Just press the button on the side, you can then see a cable for connecting PC and three USB ports. The hub measures 158×35x22mm and weighs 95g.

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Dell Inspiron 537 and 537s Desktop PCs

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Computer | No Comments

Dell Inspiron 537 desktop PC

Dell launches the new Inspiron 537 and 537s series desktop PCs, that are both available in eight vibrant color options. Both series are powered by Intel’s processor ranging from Celeron to Core 2 Quad. They have up to 4GB RAM and up to 750GB hard drive. Consumers can choose from integrated GMA4500 or ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB graphics. Blu-ray drive option is available.

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Energy Sistem Energy 30xx Series PMP

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Portable Media | No Comments

Energy Sistem Energy 30xx Series PMP

Energy Sistem presents the Energy 30xx Series portable media player with integrated speaker. The new Energy 30xx PMP features a 1.8-inch LCD screen, FM tuner, and support for Microsoft PlayFX sound enhancement technology. The player has integrated speaker and dual headphone jacks.

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Höfner bass controller for Rock Band

May 12th, 2009 by Sze | Filed in Gaming | No Comments

Höfner bass controller for Rock Band

If you are waiting for the The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle, you may want to get this Höfner bass controller. The controller is a replica of Paul McCartney’s bass guitar.

The Beatles Rock Band bundle with include the Höfner controller as well as Ringo’s Ludwig-branded drums. The bundle will be priced at GBP 179.99.


smartfabric

Wearable technology is here already, with Smart Pants you can take technology literally in your clothes.

Now if anyone calls you Smarty Pants, they may not be insulting you in any way, they may just be describing the kind of pants you are actually wearing.

According to scientists at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,we will be wearing technology besides using it.

This smart fabric is able to detect your every move, measure your speed,rotation and flexibility of the pants with everyone of your data moves transmitted back to a computer.

…See the rest of Article »

  • Cell Phones
    Meet the latest in wireless. New models, future Nokia, iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung..
  • Digital Cameras
    Digital photography and digital reflex cameras, the latest Canon and Nikon, and digital photography courses..
  • Consoles and Video Games
    Accessories for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii Nintendo, comparative and ATI graphics cards, Nvidia..


  • More»

clickfree_traveler

Clickfree has created the new external SSD. You can get this technology in different GB´s. You have your choices of 64GB ($250),16GB ($80), and 32GB ($150).

…See the rest of Article »

flp-310-_lift_2

A great Space saver is the FLP-310 ceiling Flip-Down TV lift. Turns automatically on and off your TV.

In areas where every inch is important, you need technology that’s helps you save space, not take it up. Space is important i areas such as boats,RV´s Etc. This device is a bit pricey but if you have some money to spare and can afford it, looks like something that will keep your home uncluttered.

…See the rest of Article »

wind-washer_2_lupbo_69img_assist_custom

The Wind Washer even though it is a concept is Eco-Friendly and a green gadget.

Especially during water droughts this is going to be a handy gadget. With the Wind Washer designed by Hwang Jin Wook, you will be able to use very little water to wash your dishes in the future, since it is only a concept for now.

…See the rest of Article »

mothers_day_2009Hurry! Tomorrow is Mother´s Day. Mother´s Day 2009 falls on May 10th which is on Sunday, in other words, Tomorrow!

Before you start having a nervios breakdown because you have been so busy that you forgot about getting you mother a Mother´s Day Gift, relax, I have done some investigating for everyone and found some nice things you can go out and but right now and have it ready for tomorrow.

…See the rest of Article »

samsungp2370-sb

Samsung´s new LD monitors have received a touch of color with the Touch of Color Design.

Here are 3 more desktop LCD monitors from us to choose from. The candidates are the P2370, P2070, and the P2370HD. The P2070 offers you 1600 x 900 screen resolution while the other two ( P2370 and P2370HD) give you 1920 x 1080 screen resolution.

…See the rest of Article »




saya_2

Robotics has come a long way, showing their ¨Saya¨to the world, the first robot substitute teacher.

Meet Saya, She is not your average substitute teacher but the kids love her. Saya´ s original purpose was to be a receptionist in 2004, that what her creator proffesor Hiroshi Kobayashi of the Tokyo University of Science wanted for Saya.

…See the rest of Article »

ovi-store_n97_white_04_lowres-hero

I think we are all anxious for the Ovi Store to open and when it does it will aim to impress. I think it does if its your first day and you show up with 20,000 item when the Apple Store has 40,000. That´ s what is being said though, and for the time being there is no info as to when the store will actually open and if the number of items may be more or less.

…See the rest of Article »

madeoff

Be the first to try out the new Made Off cell phone game on Monday and see how good your schemes are.

On May 11 you will get the chance to prove if you are better a scheming and cheating and stealing than Madoff, are you? The cell phone gaming company Cellufun is going to make “Made Off” available on its site for free , according to MyFox.

…See the rest of Article »

nano_technology

Many of us can not afford those real expensive disinfecting devices but the following devices mentioned will sure help.

With the whole Swine flu going around we have been advised from health official to tighten up washing our hands more and disinfecting things more often. The following gadgets will help you and your family to stay healthy, this does not mean you will never get sick ever again but it will be less likely.


[11 May 2009 | No Comment]

Here’s a quick clip featuring hands on of the Samsung i7500, Samsung’s first Android based phone. Also the first non-HTC Android phone, the Samsung I7500 is due to arrive later this summer. Its a smartphone that boasts a 3.2″ AMOLED full touch screen, 7.2Mbps HSDPA and WiFi connectivity, as well as a five megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash.

Check out the hands on video below…

Cell Phones, Operating Systems »

[11 May 2009 | No Comment]

John from Phonedog who has already had access to the new Android Cupcake update have put together this nice video tour. The new Android 1.5 Cupcake update will be available to all Android users as from today, it packs a bunch of new cool features for all Android phones and one of which will be these awesome new widgets.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cell Phones, Gaming, Latest News »

[11 May 2009 | 2 Comments]

The Playstation has been a dominating game console for as far as it can be remembered. But Sony / Sony Ericsson have always denied the possibility of a Sony Ericsson phone orientated towards its game console series, in other words a PlayStation phone. In the past Sony have stressed that a PlayStation-branded phone could only exist independently from the mobile phone maker. However in a recent interview with Financial Times, Sony Ericsson’s president Hideki Komiyama have hinted that a PlayStation branded phone could actually be back in their agenda afterall. “If we do not adapt to this new technology or new market environment, we’re going to lose”, the Sony Ericsson head suggested.

playstation-phone

This comes as less of a surprise. With significant losses just within Q1 of 2009 and increasing threat into the portable gaming market from Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, clearly the Sony Ericsson boss feels it may be necessary afterall to rethink about the idea of launching a portable PlayStation mobile phone device - watch this space!

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Gadgets, Geeky »

[11 May 2009 | No Comment]

Check out this awesome retro style flip watch, from the video it looks like it was just a plain conversation concept from Fatman, but Circuit Girl found it fascinating and went on to complete it. Even Fatman was impressed and the prospect of being able to hook up the watch’s alarm so that it conects and plays an iPod automatically sounds very cool indeed.

Gadgets, Robotics »

[11 May 2009 | 2 Comments]

If you’re someone who employs a robot like automatic hoover vacuum system for your home, you might be interested in this latest invention from Panasonic. Fukitorimushi is the latest in floor-cleaning robots, unlike many that you may find up for sale these days, this autonomous robot does its thing in a rather creepy way by crawling around like a worm despite it using a highly efficient tech savvy cloth to keep your floors spotless.

fukitorimushi

Technically, the Fukitorimushi sports sensors that allows it to detect dirty spots on the floor. Fukitorimushi’s body is covered in Teijin’s Nanofront cloth, which is made of polyester filament fibers measuring 700 nanometers in diameter. Though this sounds remarkably hard to believe, this means it is about 7,500 times thinner than the average human hair. The nanofibers significantly increase the fabric’s surface area, giving it superior wiping characteristics and the ability to absorb oil and ultra-fine dust particles less than one micron in diameter. The large surface contact area also increases the fabric’s friction with the floor and makes it resistant to sliding.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cell Phones »

[11 May 2009 | No Comment]

Here’s a quick gallery showing you some pictures that were taken using the Nokia N97’s five megapixel camera. Now already available for pre-order via Nokia in the states for $524, the Nokia N97 is the second phone to feature a full touchscreen running on a Symbian S60 operating system. In addition to its five megapixel camera, other features include a 3.5-inch 640×360 pixels display, Wi-Fi, GPS and 3.5mm jack.

nokia-n97-camera-photo-sample-03

One of the obvious rivals of the Nokia N97 is probably the LG Arena also with similar specs and a five megapixel camera which we recently reviewed, you can check out the photos we took using its camera here.

Read the rest of this entry »


MSI's long-lasting Wind U100 PLUS found in the wild, totally not worth it


We know it's a struggle to differentiate in the netbook market, MSI, but $533 US (based on the $699 Australian it's been spotted at) for 802.11n and a bit of extra standard battery life seems a bit of a stretch, especially in the face of Dell's aggressively priced and similarly specced Mini 10. While it's nice that the Wind U100 PLUS weighs in at around 2 pounds and boasts 7 hours of use off of the standard 3-cell, it's still just Atom underneath -- anything more than a few hundies and we start to feel silly.

Mio Spirit TV spotted in the wild doling out routes, serving soap operas


While we Yanks are stuck with overpriced PNDs that suck down weather forecasts and pretend to alert us of upcoming traffic problems, folks overseas are using their navigators to watch fresh episodes of Top Gear. Navman, better known these days as Mio, has just outed two new satnav devices across the pond, both of which sport a built-in Freeview TV tuner, Bluetooth, Google search, walking mode and loads of POIs. The Spirit TV will arrive in both 4.7- and 7-inch flavors, with expected pricing hovering in the £200 ($306) to £300 ($459) range. For obvious reasons, we aren't expecting this one to head Stateside anytime soon, but those camping out in a Freeview territory should feel free to hit the read link for more hands-on shots.

Update: Slashgear got some hands-on video with the device, and considering that the TV tuner is modular, we could feasibly see a US-friendly one installed and shipped here. Yes, please. Thanks, Chris!

Dozens of IONs captured showing no charge whatsoever

Dozens of IONs captured showing no charge whatsoever
Ions have negative or positive charges, but from what we can tell from the suite of pictures captured by ION Based, the next set of ION devices will simply lack charge altogether. All these dozens of images purport to show the future of the platform, netbooks and nettops with HDMI outputs, but there's not a single blinking LED showing signs of life. For all we know these devices could be empty shells holding only the crushed hopes and dreams of hardware engineers worldwide. The laptop pictured above is especially discouraging, showing a misaligned HDMI port peeking out of a distinctively VGA-shaped hole, partially blanked with white plastic. We want to believe in ION, but it's going to take a little more than this.

Mio's Moov S501 and S401 finally go legit


After Mio basically non-confirmed / confirmed these to us in April, letting us know the pricing was off, but saying nothing else about the leak, it was really just a matter of time until the two navigators broke into the realm of officialdom. The Moov S401 and S501 bring 4.3-inch and 4.7-inch displays, respectively, along with a new "Spirit" interface and some new functionality like Google Send-to-GPS, NavPix for pulling location from geo-tagged photos, text-to-speech for spoken street names and MioMore 2 PC software for calculating mileage and fuel economy. The S501 is Mio's thinnest PND ever at 0.64-inches, and includes 12 million POIs, while the S401 is inexplicably thicker at 0.71-inches, with 4 million POIs. They go for $200 and $180, respectively, and will go on sale in June.

12-inch MSI U200 thin-and-light appears a day early?

Well, well, look what we've got; a new CULV-based thin-and-light laptop from MSI. The image comes by way of Engadget Chinese whose trusted source lays out the following specs: a 12-inch, 1366 x 768 pixel LED-backlit display, with GMA 4500M integrated graphics, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, 2GB of DDR2 memory, and 250GB disk all wrapped up in a bigger-than-a-netbook but not-quite-a-laptop chassis weighing just 1.4-kgs (3-pounds) with paltry 3-cell battery. We expect pricing to be announced tomorrow but we'll bet dollars to doughnuts that it'll be about $700.

Zotac Ion-based IONITX-A SFF motherboard review roundup


Jonesing for a new small form factor PC, are you? Not so keen on selecting a pre-fabricated unit? If you definitely fit the bill here, it's worth taking a gander at Zotac's recently released IONITX-A motherboard. As the first of its breed to actually ship, a whole lot is riding on its solder points, and according to reviews found 'round the web, it's done a satisfactory job of living up to expectations. The test bench-abusin' kids over at Hot Hardware found that Zotac's board (and the included dual-core Atom 330 CPU) performed "as expected," notching results that were "significantly better than any of the single core Atom 230-based systems." The unique DC power input was also lauded, and the silent nature made this a perfect candidate for a low-power, highly-capable carputer building block. All in all, this here mobo won't transform your life, but it's certainly a welcome extra in the all-too-stale DIY SFF market. Check the links below for all the bar charts you can handle.

Read - Hot Hardware ("most appealing of the Ion-based products")
Read - PC Perspective ("an impressive motherboard for its size")
Read - The Tech Report ("as good as the Ion platform gets")
Read - Tom's Hardware ("it's most promising destination is in the HTPC space")

Apple confirms WWDC keynote time, Phil Schiller leading the way


The anticipation is palpable, sure, but those hoping for a Steve Jobs comeback at this year's WWDC should be prepared for disappointment. Apple just affirmed that this year's Worldwide Developers Conference will indeed kick off on Monday, June 8th, and the keynote address will be given at 10:00AM PT (so 1:00PM here on the right coast, and 7:00AM on the gorgeous isle of Maui). The big news, however, isn't that we'll be there live for every last word ('cause you already knew that, yes?) -- it's that Philip Schiller and company, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will be manning the address, offering devs an "in-depth" look at iPhone OS 3.0 and OS X Snow Leopard. In fact, attendees can expect a "final Developer Preview release" of the forthcoming OS, but you'll have to wait a few weeks yet to get details beyond that.

Video: Better Place's automated electric vehicle battery switch station is faster than Melvin Dummar

It's massive, costs $500,000, and is just a prototype; but you're looking at a possible solution for swapping out heavy car batteries from future electric vehicles. Kind of important if you're hoping to take your EV on a trip a bit further than the supermarket or city center without having to stop for a lengthy recharge. This switch station, unveiled in Japan by Better Place, can swap out a spent battery in less time than it takes to refuel the tank in that baby-killer of a car you hold so precious. These battery swap stations are just part of the enormous infrastructure required to support Better Place's subscription approach to electric vehicles -- infrastructure easily estimated to cost $250 million or so for countries like Israel or Denmark on up to the $1 Billion already pledged by San Francisco Bay Area mayors. Better Place admits that the swap technology is a work in progress but hopes to have 150,000 charging stations and about 100 battery swap stations deployed in Israel by 2011. Check the video after the break.

The mysterious case of the non-existent white DualShock 3 controller

The mysterious case of the non-existant white DualShock 3 controller
For over a year you've had Sony's blessing to cradle a black DualShock 3 in your twitchy little fingers, and though that matte covering makes for a perfect primer base should you care to go the RustOleum rattle-can route, that's still the only color Sony has approved for the US. It's the only color, Sony repeats, even when presented with the image above, which pretty clearly shows a white DualShock 3 safely encapsulated within North American, bi-lingual packaging -- and a Walmart receipt to boot. Sony's specific response was: "We have no plans to release a white Dualshock 3." That means either someone carefully sealed an imported gamepad into a domestic package, or this was one of those unplanned releases. Something else to look forward to at E3? Oh youbetcha.

Update: Commenter Four More Beers looked up the UPC and, go figure, it points to the classic black model on Walmart's site. So, proven hoax, or does Sony also not have any plans to release new UPC codes?

Microsoft's Marketplace for Mobile developer portal now open for business

Microsoft's Marketplace for Mobile developer portal now open for businessRemember the 12 rules of Windows Marketplace for Mobile Microsoft posted a few weeks back? For coders, those were just the beginning. The Windows Mobile Developer portal is now live, serving pages upon pages of PDFs with rules, regulations, and plenty of fees, too. A 10-page license agreement describes the account fee ($99 per year), transaction fees (30 percent of each sale), and, most importantly, the license fee, which is the monthly amount paid out to the developer based on their app sales. A further 32-pages worth of submission guidelines advise on everything a registered developer needs to know to get an app through certification, including thrilling subjects like shortcut placement and icon design, DLL installation directories, and details of the fearful Hopper test -- two hours of random inputs and waterboarding. Apps will also be tested for memory leaks and to ensure that they play nicely with on-screen keyboards, two things many current third-party WinMo CABs have issues with. Marketplace will drop whenever Windows Mobile 6.5 starts hitting handsets -- officially, that is.

[Thanks, the::unwired]

Intel fined record $1.45 billion in AMD antitrust case

The verdict is in and it's huge. As expected, the EU is fining Intel a record €1.06 billion or $1.45 billion (Billion!) dollars due to violations of antitrust rules in Europe. The record fine surpasses that of the €497 million fine originally levied against Microsoft. The EU ruled that Intel illegally used hidden rebates to squeeze rivals out of the marketplace for CPUs. In a statement issued by European Union Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, the EC said,
Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market for computer chips for many years.
Intel was ordered to cease the illegal practices immediately and has three months from the notification of the decision to pay up. Of course, Intel will appeal and this will drag the litigation on for years as did Microsoft. Regardless, we'll bet that AMD, who raised the complaint against Intel back in 2000, will be celebrating come dawn in Sunnyvale.

Update: Intel has issued a formal response to the ruling saying that the commission "is wrong and ignores the reality of a highly competitive microprocessor marketplace," and that its practices have caused, "absolutely zero harm to consumers." Oh, and it will appeal the decision. Hurrah for corporate lawyers!

[Via Canada.com]

Orange bringing Comes With Music-equipped Nokia 5800 XpressMusic to UK

What a difference a year and a half makes, eh? It was August of 2007 when Orange first got all weird on Nokia over the then-wild concept of a manufacturer-owned and operated music store -- bear in mind the iPhone hadn't launched very widely at that time -- and look how far we've come. The two companies have just announced that the venerable Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will be available starting May 29 loaded up with Comes With Music, Nokia's all-you-can-eat service that brings endless downloadable tracks through its Music Store. In Orange's case, Comes With Music will be available on any of five special plans starting at £25 a month (about $38), meaning that you'll be able to nab music for the duration of your two-year contract. As long as DRM's in the mix, you're basically locked into your contract for as long as you want the definitive Bryan Adams collection that you've downloaded -- so we're hoping Nokia nixes that nightmare sooner rather than later. And hey, congrats, Orange customers -- you're the first Brits to officially be offered this through a carrier, and you'll be getting it in an "exclusive" black / silver color combo.

Sony's X-series OLED Walkman now priced in real American dollars, ships mid-June

Sony has yet to offer us official US pricing or availability on its eagerly awaited X-series of OLED Walkmans. As such, we have to grasp at whatever bits of desperate information we can as this 3-inch Walkman with built-in noise cancellation makes its way West following the Japanese launch. Amazon lists the little guy at $399.95 (32GB) and $299.95 (16GB) which just happens to be the same pricing as Apple's iPod touch, for whatever that's worth. It's not in stock but you can pre-order now if dare.

Update: And just like that, it's official. Sony's 16GB NWZ- X1051 with 32GB NWZ- X1061 will be priced $299 and $399, respectively, when they go on sale nationwide Stateside in mid-June. As a surprise, they'll also feature embedded apps for YouTube and Slacker Radio for all the free video and audio you can consume over WiFi.

[Via OLED-Info]

AT&T's fridge even more rotten than its 3G streaming limits


Look we're all guilty of generating a little fridge-fuzz now and again. A practice that's disgusting at home turns downright antisocial at the office. Or near-fatal if you work at AT&T's San Jose office where a dirty fridge sent 7 people to the hospital yesterday. The incident started when an office refrigerator was found unplugged and stuffed with moldy food. While cleaning the fridge, the combination of chemical solvents with neatly labeled cups of rotting yoghurt and pork-roast parfaits created a cloud of toxic fumes that prompted a 911 call and the dispatch of a hazmat team. 28 people in total were treated for nausea and vomiting. AT&T: More SARS in more places.

3G Sidekick LX 2009 now available on T-Mobile

No doubt, the latest Sidekick looks pretty much like the swivel-screen Hiptop of yore. But as you'll recall from our review, the new 3G Sidekick LX takes the original tweener aesthetic high-end to match its aging user base. That means one of the best displays (854 x 480 pixel) available on a US handset and new 3G and assisted GPS radios to upload geotagged pics on the quick snapped by the LX's 3.2 megapixel camera with flash. Available now for $250 (after instant discount, mail-in rebate, and 2-year commitment) in your choice of carbon or orchid paint.

[Via PhoneArena]

ioBridge used for web-based water metering, shiatsu massage


The ioBridge I/O module -- is there anything it can't do? We've seen this plucky little device used for firing makeshift weaponry, pouring brewskis, and even charting electricity use (by far the most useful / least exciting of the lot). And now? Mr. "Power Meter" is back with a project that'll help you further keep tabs on your utility bills. Hit the read link for a step-by-step on how to: install a meter on your home's incoming water line, connect that to your favorite ioBridge module, and track your water consumption via the free ioBridge web service. Sound like a fun weekend project? Hit that read link to get started.

[Via Instructables]

Video: Apple responds to Microsoft's Laptop Hunters... with a Megan

According to Apple, there aren't any PCs with fast processors and big screens that work without viruses, crashes or headaches. But folks, this isn't reality, this is advertising. In fact, this is Apple's first jab since Microsoft took off the gloves with its Laptop Hunters series of pokes against Apple. So grab a Coke (or Pepsi) and check the ad after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Dell bans export of e-waste to developing countries

Dell -- which scored pretty poorly in the latest Greenpeace report -- has just officially adopted a ban of the export of e-waste as part of its policy. The company, which also has a recycling program, says it's been holding its partners to high standards for several years, but has revised its policy to conform to the Basel Convention, an international treaty that governs e-waste handling. E-waste is growing, toxic problem in developing countries like China and Ghana.

Acer's DX900 and X960 WinMo smartphones now available

They're no F1, but Acer's rolling out a whole slew of Windows Mobile- and Android-powered smartphones this year -- and another gruesome twosome of the bunch is now hitting store shelves around the world. First up we've got the WinMo 6.1-based DX900, which really isn't much of a looker but packs the powerful punch of twin SIMs underneath its homely shell. Most dual-SIM devices top out at EDGE, but the DX900 takes it to the next level with triband HSDPA on top of quadband EDGE; you've also got a 2.8-inch VGA display, WiFi, 3 megapixel AF camera, and GPS, so if you're a two-line kind of individual, look for this one now around Europe and Asia. Next, the X960 ups the ante with HSUPA and 7.2Mbps maximum on the downlink, a revised 3D user interface, and a 3.2 megapixel cam -- it too should be populating Europe and Asia as we speak. Neither unit is going to be blowing minds, granted, but if it's any consolation, we're sure there are a few good hacked 6.5 and Android ROMs waiting for 'em.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Read - DX900
Read - X960


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