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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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The iPad 2

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 09:15 AM PST

Apple has just made its second-generation iPad official! It features a 1GHz dual-core A5 chip and, finally, cameras, both front and rear! The new CPU is said to be up to twice as fast, with graphics performance up to nine times better than on the original iPad, while power requirements have been kept the same. Battery life is, consequently, unaltered, with Apple promising 10 hours. Pricing, too, has been left unchanged, starting at $499. The new tablet will come with an HDMI output capable of 1080p -- which will set you back $39 for the requisite dongle -- but we've yet to hear any rumblings of Thunderbolt connectivity. There's an enlarged speaker grille on the back, as expected, though resolution has not budged from the original iPad's 1024 x 768.

720p video recording at 30fps will be on tap from the rear-facing camera, which can also do a 5x digital zoom if you're into that kind of thing, whereas the front-facing imager will record at a more modest VGA resolution, also at 30fps.

There's a new cover for the device, which is best defined by Steve Jobs himself: "We designed the case right along side the product. It's not a case -- it's a cover." Basically, it's a magnetic flap that protects the front and automatically wakes and puts the device to sleep according to whether it's open or closed. Guess we know what that proximity sensor was about now. These Smart Covers will cost $39 in plastic or $69 if you opt for leather.

The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and a little lighter at just over 600g, while chromatic options have been expanded: you'll get a choice between white and black. It'll be available on both AT&T and Verizon, and all variants start shipping on March 11th. Apple Retail Stores will start sales at the unusual hour of 5PM, which will probably make online pre-orders the fastest way to get yours.

In terms of new software, Apple's launching iOS 4.3 alongside the new iPad and bringing with it much improved Safari performance as well as FaceTime, Photo Booth, iMovie and GarageBand (the latter two costing $4.99 a piece) apps specifically for the newly camera-enriched iPad. Personal Hotspot capabilities are also arriving in the latest version of the OS, but they'll be exclusive to the iPhone 4, so you won't be able to share your 3G iPad's connection.

We understand the new iPad will require iTunes 10.2, whereas the latest public version is 10.1.2. Click past the break for Apple's official press release and some slick promo video action.
Show full PR text
Apple Launches iPad 2

All New Design is Thinner, Lighter & Faster with FaceTime, Smart Covers & 10 Hour Battery

SAN FRANCISCO-March 2, 2011-Apple® today introduced iPad™ 2, the next generation of its magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple's new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect. iPad 2 is available in black or white, features models that run on AT&T's and Verizon's 3G networks, and introduces the innovative iPad 2 Smart Cover in a range of vibrant polyurethane and rich leather colors.

"With more than 15 million iPads sold, iPad has defined an entirely new category of mobile devices," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we're launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again."

With the new front and rear cameras, iPad 2 users can now make FaceTime calls to millions of iPhone® 4, iPod touch® and Mac® users so they can see family and friends anywhere there is Wi-Fi. Photo Booth lets you apply fun visual effects, including eight photo special effects like Squeeze, Twirl and Kaleidoscope, to photos captured by either camera.

iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3, the latest version of the world's most advanced mobile operating system, with new features including faster Safari® mobile browsing performance; iTunes® Home Sharing; enhancements to AirPlay®;** the choice to use the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute audio; and Personal Hotspot to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.*** Additional iPad 2 features include a built-in gyro for advanced gaming; HSUPA support for enhanced 3G upload speeds on iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on AT&T, and HDMI Video Mirroring that lets users mirror their iPad screen on an HDTV using an optional adaptor.

The innovative new iPad 2 Smart Cover provides protection for the iPad screen while maintaining its thin and lightweight profile. Designed with a unique self-aligning magnetic hinge that makes it easy to attach and remove, the new iPad 2 Smart Cover automatically wakes iPad 2 when it's opened and puts it to sleep when it's closed, and has a soft microfiber lining to help keep the screen clean. The Smart Cover also folds into a stand for typing or viewing videos and is available in vibrant polyurethane for $39 or rich leather for $69 in a range of colors, including a (PRODUCT) RED one which helps support the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Apple also introduced two new apps: iMovie® and GarageBand® for iPad, both available on the App StoreĆ¢„  for just $4.99 each. With iMovie, iPad 2 users can shoot and edit videos right on their iPad and post their movies to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and their MobileMeĆ¢„  gallery; watch them on their iPod®, iPhone or iPad; as well as view them on their HDTV using AirPlay and Apple TV®. GarageBand turns your iPad into a collection of touch instruments and 8-track recording studio, allowing you to perform with onscreen keyboards, guitars, drums and basses using multi-touch gestures–even if you don't play a musical instrument.

iPad 2 runs almost all of the over 350,000 apps available on the App Store and there are more than 65,000 native iPad apps available from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 14 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 10,000 films including over 3,500 in stunning high definition video. The iBooks® app for iPad includes Apple's iBookstoreĆ¢„ , the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available on March 11 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G compatible with the Verizon network will be available in the US only for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iMovie and GarageBand for iPad apps will be available on March 11 for $4.99 each from the App Store on iPad or www.itunes.com/appstore.

iPad 2 will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25; and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

**AirPlay video requires second generation Apple TV running the latest software.

***Personal Hotspot requires supporting data plan. Customers should check with their carrier for availability.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.


Apple iOS 4.3 coming March 11 with iPad 2, includes new AirPlay features and FaceTime

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 09:14 AM PST

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/03/20110302-10322071--img4602.jpg
Along with the iPad 2, Apple's releasing the final version of iOS 4.3, which features the Nitro Javscript engine from Safari on OS X, new iTunes Home Sharing features that let you play content from desktop iTunes over WiFi, and the updated suite of AirPlay features from the betas -- including the ability for App Store apps to share audio and video. Apple's also finalizing the new option that lets you assign the side switch to either rotation lock or mute, and it's adding Personal Hotspot support. There's also those rumored iOS versions of Photo Booth and FaceTime for the new cameras. It'll be a free download for all iPads, the GSM iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS and the third- and fourth-gen iPod touch when it's released on March 11. When will it hit the Verizon iPhone 4? We don't know yet.

Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:58 AM PST



11:14AM Thanks for reading!

11:14AM Okay, hands-on time!


11:13AM "I'd like the teams that worked on this to stand up -- give them a round of applause. And as always, I'd like to thank everyone's families. They support us and let us do what we need to do. They make it possible for us to work our tails off."

11:13AM "The hardware and software need to intertwine more than they do on a PC. We think we're on the right path with this."

11:12AM "This is worth repeating. It's in Apple's DNA that technology is not enough. It's tech married with the liberal arts and the humanities. Nowhere is that more true than in the post-PC products. Our competitors are looking at this like it's the next PC market. That is not the right approach to this. These are pos-PC devices that need to be easier to use than a PC, more intuitive."



11:11AM Looks like we're wrapping up...

11:11AM Steve is back!

11:11AM "This will define the category for years to come."

11:10AM "This really is a giant leap forward."
















11:08AM Scott Forstall and Michael Tchao also making some quality appearances in this video.









11:06AM Okay Apple, you've convinced us to buy an iPad 2. Many iPad 2s.






11:05AM Florence and the Machine -- Dog Days Are Over provides the soundtrack here. Perfectly matches Jony Ive's silky smooth lauding of this product.


11:05AM Video time.

11:05AM "Now we made a video that I'd love to show you."

11:04AM "We think 2011 is clearly the year of iPad 2..." Big cheers for that.

11:04AM "So iPad 2 -- amazing product. Faster, lighter, thinner. Cameras and gyro. iOS 4.3 and FaceTime. iMovie and GaragrBand. 3G on AT&T and Verizon. Same battery life. Same prices. Black and white. Smart Covers."




11:03AM "So, GarageBand for iPad. This is no toy. You can use this for real work. I cannot tell you how many hours teenagers are going to spend making music with this." Wow, $4.99. That's kind of insane.

11:03AM Steve is out. "I'm blown away with this stuff. You know, playing your own instruments. Or using the Smart Instruments. Anyone can make music now."

11:02AM "We can't wait to hear all the creative things people will do when they get this in their hands."

11:02AM This will be a dream come true for a lot of bands looking to do fast and cheap demos.



11:01AM The editing of multiple tracks looks really intuitive.

11:00AM "This can record up to 8 tracks. Let's put that in perspective -- back when the Beatles did Sgt. Peppers, you could only do four tracks, and the machine was the size of a washing machine."


10:59AM "Once you've laid down one recording, that's the first step to writing a song. That's where the track view comes in."


10:59AM "They make it so you can't play a bad note." Described as training wheels... really more like a taxi cab.


10:58AM Oh, it will strum for you as well.

10:58AM Goodbye need for talent!

10:58AM This is weird. Compatible chords are selected, and you can strum down each line to "play" the guitar.


10:57AM "We've got great guitar amps and effects... but you know there are a lot of people who don't play guitar. So we created Smart Instruments. Here you see an acoustic guitar, but one that anyone can play..."



10:56AM "Another great feature of these drums is that your kids can play them... with headphones on."



10:56AM If you hit the rim of the snare you get rim sounds, you can move from bell outward on the cymbals and the sounds change accordingly.

10:55AM Demo'ing drums now. Ha! It looks like a drum kit from the dummer's view.

10:55AM "Let's bring up 50's scifi... here's something you can do on the iPad that you can't on a real keyboard." Wow, you can slide your note up along the keys, but also tweak vibrato as you slide your finger along individual keys.




10:54AM "Some great sounds here. Let's bring up the classic rock organ. The look changes to match a real B3 organ." Ooh, sounds good too! And drawbars... and speaker rotation. Sounds very good.



10:53AM "Now we're only seeing some of the keys because this is only a window into a much larger piano." You can toggle octaves.


10:53AM There's a toggle for the sustain pedal. "Another thing about a piano is that you can play with dynamics... the sound is different when you tap softly or with force. How do we do that? With the accelerometer."



10:52AM "The first thing you see is an instrument browser. They turn the iPad into a musical instrument that you can play where ever you go. Here's a grand piano... and it's not just a grand piano. Clavinet, some great synths... let's stick with piano."





10:51AM Xander Soren is coming out to demo.


10:50AM "Touch instruments, you can plug in a guitar if you want, but it's got touch instruments. Guitar amps and effects, 8 track recording and mixing, 250+ loops..."


10:50AM "Next up... GarageBand for iPad."

10:50AM "Precision editing, sending HD video around with one tap. A lot of great features in an app we're going to price at just $4.99. Available on March 11th."


10:49AM Steve is back. "It's awesome. 1.3 lbs... it blows my mind, this stuff."


10:49AM "And that is the new version of iMovie on the iPad 2."






10:48AM New sharing options... YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and more.

10:48AM They've got a new "neon" theme -- think Miami Vice.

10:48AM Music automatically switches with themes...





10:46AM Over 50 sound effects come with iMovie. I hope they have the Wilhelm Scream.


10:45AM Editing does look pretty handy on that bigger screen. "We've also done a lot of work in the audio area."



10:44AM Randy is doing some iMovie editing.






10:43AM "This looks really great on the Retina Display of the iPhone and iPod touch too."



10:43AM Ha, homescreen looks like an old theatre.

10:43AM "Today we've got a new version that takes advantage of the iPad 2 and its extra horsepower. I'd like to show it to you."

10:42AM Randy Ubillos is out to demo iMovie for the iPad.


10:42AM "We have a long history of video editing, and iMovie for iPad is in that vein." Precision editor, multitrack audio, new themes...


10:42AM "The first one is iMovie for iPad."

10:42AM Steve is out. "In addition to these two apps being built into iOS 4.3, we have two other new apps. And we like doing apps. It can set the bar. It sets the bar high for developers."






10:41AM "So these are just a few features in iOS 4.3, and this will be out March 11th..."




10:40AM "From day one, you can FaceTime from your iPad 2 to all the iPhone 4 customers out there."

10:40AM Demo'ing the flip feature to get to the back camera. "If Michael had children or something, this might be interesting to look at." Ha!



10:39AM And... a FaceTime call is happening.


10:39AM "Next is FaceTime. It's the best and easiest way to video conference. We're bringing it to the iPad. You can FaceTime between two iPads, between an iPad and an iPhone, or between an iPad and a Mac." Demo time for this.

10:38AM "That's Photo Booth." Hmm.

10:38AM You can manipulate effects by touching. Pretty nifty.


10:37AM "Here I have an iPad 2 which is mirrored up there. Let me launch Photo Booth. The iPad 2 is so powerful that we're looking at 9 live video streams at once." Real time effect demos, like on a desktop. Scott is cycling though them to great hilarity.




10:36AM "Next, the iPad 2 comes with these new cameras. And we've built in some new software -- starting with Photo Booth. Let me give you a demo."

10:36AM 4.3 will add personal hotspot for the iPhone 4.


10:36AM You can now select which mode it's in.

10:35AM "Next, this is something we heard from customers. Some customers have said they want to use the switch on the device to quickly mute the device, others have asked for a switch to change the orientation lock." Ooh, backpedal!


10:35AM "When you tap on the AirPlay icon, it looks around and finds your Apple TV. It's that easy. We're making it even better in iOS 4.3. If you're sharing photos, you can use all of the built in slide show options. And now in 4.3, apps from the Store and even websites can do video or audio."



10:33AM "Along with the iPad 2, we're releasing the next release of iOS 4.3. It starts with significantly increased Safari performance. We took the Nitro JavaScript engine. Next, iTunes home sharing. It lets you get at all of your content directly over WiFi. Next, AirPlay improvements."




10:32AM Scott Forstall is out.

10:32AM "So those are the two accessories. Now let's go back into the iPad 2, because we have a new release of iOS -- iOS 4.3."


10:32AM Poly cases are $39, leather $69

10:31AM Steve is pretty stoked about this cover. "There are magnets in the hinge and the cover. And what would these cases be if they didn't come in colors. 5 poly, 5 leather."








10:31AM "That kind of reminds me of a Pixar short."


10:31AM Hard to describe, but let's say there was a lot of snapping this cover onto iPads.


10:30AM This is cute.

10:30AM "They come in polyurethane or leather. Here's a video."


10:30AM "It's really easy to remove or change the cover."

10:29AM "They grasp it, and auto-align it. I'll show you a little video. It's so cool. You can remove it in a second. It adds minimal weight and thickness. It's got a microfiber cloth that cleans the screen."


10:29AM "It automatically wakes the iPad when you open it, and puts it to sleep when it closes it. Now how is this held on? Do we have screws? No -- we use magnets."








10:28AM It's a flap that covers the front of the device. Interesting.

10:28AM "We designed the case right along side the product. It's not a case -- it's a cover."


10:28AM "We did a case for the original iPad. It worked pretty well, but we went to all the trouble to make this beautiful design, but then covered it up with the case. We thought we could do better than this with the iPad 2."

10:27AM "Something that's going to be even more popular, we call Smart Covers."



10:27AM $39


10:27AM "Here's what it looks like."

10:27AM You can charge while using.

10:26AM Provides output up to 1080p. Works with all apps.

10:26AM "Mirrored video output."

10:26AM "Some other new features. HDMI out. We have a cable that does just that."



10:25AM "26 countries or more on March 25th. And that is iPad 2."


10:25AM "Just a beautiful product... so when are we going to ship it? April, May, June? No. March 11th."



10:25AM "When you add this together with over 65,000 apps... we think 2011 is going to be the year of iPad 2." Big cheers from the crowd.

10:24AM "Now some folks are out there saying they're only a little bit more expensive than us. When you look at this matrix, five of these six are less than $799." Burn Moto.




10:24AM "In addition to preserving the battery life, we've also preserved the price. The same exact prices."

10:23AM "This has been tried and tested... iPads get 10 hours of battery life."


10:23AM "Over a month of standby."


10:23AM "Now here we are adding stuff into the iPad. Cameras, faster CPUs, gyroscope and all this stuff. We've made it way thinner. Something's gotta give. You would think we'd have to give up battery life. But we found a way... the same battery life as the original iPad."




10:22AM "In addition to having both colors, we have models that work with both AT&T and Verizon."






10:22AM Big cheers for that.

10:22AM "It's really thin... and it comes in two colors. And we're shipping white from day one!"


10:21AM "All new design. This is what it looks like."

10:21AM "In addition to thicker (he meant thinner), it's lighter too."

10:21AM "Nothing approaches this."



10:21AM "When you get your hands on one, it feels totally different."

10:21AM "The new iPad 2 is thinner than your iPhone 4."


10:21AM 13.4mm to 8.8mm

10:20AM "Having built in all this stuff, one of the striking things about the iPad 2 is that's dramatically thinner. 33% thinner."

10:20AM 'We've also built in the gyroscope we have in the iPhone and iPod touch."



10:20AM "Second, we've built in some cameras for video. We've got a rear and front facing. More on that in a few minutes."

10:19AM "The first iPad was no slouch... so a lot faster."

10:19AM "We go all out on the graphics performance. Up to 9 times faster. Same low power as A4. This will be the first dual core tablet to ship in volume."



10:19AM Boom. Dual core CPU.


10:19AM "What is iPad 2. What have we learned? It is an all new design. It's a completely new design. And it's dramatically faster. We have a new chip we call A5."



10:18AM "But we haven't been resting on our laurels. Today we're going to introduce iPad 2."

10:18AM "We've gotten off to an exceptional first year. We'd like to build on that. What about 2011? Everyone's got a tablet. Will 2011 be the year of the copycat? If we did nothing, maybe a little bit... probably not."












10:17AM Steve is back.

10:17AM Phil: This is just the beginning.

10:17AM Damn you Apple for making everyone here cry about the iPad.

10:17AM Man this is actually really emotional...


10:16AM iPads are being used to work with Autistic children. This is pretty cool. "We're not curing Autism, but it's helping."









10:15AM Doctors are using the iPad... and spending more time with patients. Also, the iPad has been performing brain surgery.


10:14AM Chicago schools... using the iPad, seeing huge gains.



10:13AM Yes, Apple.

10:13AM Phil: Some people call this a post-PC device.

10:13AM Gist of the video -- the iPad is magical. Sales were through the roof. Stuff is amazing.



10:12AM Phil Schiller: No one predicted this would be as successful as it's been.

10:11AM Hmm... screen just says... Video. Oh there we go.

10:11AM "We made a video about 2010, the year of the iPad..." Video time!

10:11AM "One of the things that's helped us roll this out so fast is our retail stores. They were built for moments like this. We have hundreds of Apple stores now. Without them, we wouldn't have been successful."



10:10AM Ouch -- Honeycomb logo... 100 apps.

10:10AM "There's never been anything like this for photography... 65,000 apps specifically for the iPad."


10:10AM "They're taking advantage of this incredible, magical UI."

10:10AM "Fantastic games, a lot of apps for business and vertical markets. The things people are doing here are amazing."

10:09AM Steve is showing off some of the iPad app selection.


10:09AM "Samsung put one out last year. They said 'our sell-in was quite aggressive, 2m, but our sell out was quite small'." Zing!



10:09AM "Many have said this is the most successful consumer product ever launched. Over 90% market share... our competitors were flummoxed."


10:08AM "We sold 15m iPads... that's more than every tablet PC ever sold."


10:08AM "When we said the iPad was magical, people laughed at us. But it's turned out to be magical. And people questioned whether it was an 'unbelievable' price -- well ask our competitors."


10:07AM "We're in a position where most of our revenue comes from these products."


10:07AM "Today we're here to talk about Apple's third post-PC blockbuster product. That's how we think about these things. We started with the iPod, then we added the iPhone, and then the iPad. Every one has been a blockbuster."


10:06AM "Lastly -- we recently shipped our 100 millionth iPhone."



10:06AM "A lot of people have tried to copy this."

10:05AM "Another milestone... let's look at the App Store. We recently paid out over $2b to devs in total. Devs have earned over $2b from selling their apps on the App Store."


10:05AM "Now Amazon doesn't publish their numbers, but it's likely this is the most accounts with credit cards anywhere on the internet."


10:05AM "That's iBooks. As you know, that's one of our three stores. They all use the same Apple ID to access them. Recently, we just crossed 200m accounts."




10:04AM "We have over 2500 publishers in the iBookstore."

10:04AM "Users have downloaded over 100m books in less than a year. Today we're announcing that Random House is bringing over 17k books."

10:03AM "We've got something great to announce today, but first some updates. First iBooks."

10:03AM "We've been working on this product for awhile, and I didn't want to miss it."


10:03AM Standing ovation for Steve Jobs. People are flipping out. He looks good!

10:02AM Whoa! Steve is out!

10:02AM The lights are going down... we're about to begin!

9:59AM "Ladies and gentlemen, our presentation will begin shortly. Please switch devices to silent mode."

9:58AM As you can by the photo, the chair / table setup is here... just like when Steve showed off the first iPad.

9:58AM Did we mention that they're playing a lot of Beatles right now?


9:56AM For those wondering -- no sign of Steve here, but Jony Ive is in the front row.

9:54AM If you're seeing any trouble with comments, don't panic. It looks like Disqus might be experiencing the Apple effect right now.

9:52AM It's all Beatles all the time here.

9:51AM Joz is also in the house, just being Joz.

9:50AM Packed house today -- we can see Tim Cook and Phil Schiller near the stage right now. Expect to see more of them.

9:46AM Okay, we're in our seats and... the Beatles are on the sound system.

09:31AM We're inside and waiting to sit down! All the usual suspects are here -- and we've heard that Pixar's John Lasseter is somewhere in the mix as well.
We're going to be liveblogging Apple's iPad 2 announcement (and whatever else they have in store). Check back at the times below, and get ready to make history together!

08:00AM - Hawaii
10:00AM - Pacific
11:00AM - Mountain
12:00PM - Central
01:00PM - Eastern
06:00PM - London
07:00PM - Paris
09:00PM - Moscow
11:30PM - Mumbai
03:00AM - Tokyo (March 3rd)
05:00AM - Sydney (March 3rd)

iMovie, GarageBand for iPad announced -- $4.99 on March 11th

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:53 AM PST

In addition the the announcement of the iPad 2, Steve Jobs just unveiled iMovie for iPad, so all your tablet video editing dreams are about to come true. So what does this new version of iMovie have in store for you? A precision editor, multitrack audio recording, some brand new themes, AirPlay to Apple TV, and the ability to share videos in HD. It'll be available on March 11th (the same day as the new iPad) for $4.99.


Apple's also just outed GarageBand for iPad. The app will boast several touch instruments, guitar amps and effects, 8-track recording and mixing, over 250 loops, the ability to email your AAC files, and it's compatible with the Mac version. GarageBand for iPad will also run you $4.99 when it's released on March 11th.

iPad 2 gets a Smart Cover

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:52 AM PST

We can't say we were expecting to be impressed by a case for the new iPad 2, but Apple's pulled something of a surprise out its hat with its new Smart Covers for the tablet. Available in multiple colors and in your choice of polyurethane or leather variants, the covers attach to the iPad with a self-aligning magnetic hinge and can also be folded into a triangle and used as a stand. What's more, they'll automatically wake or put your iPad to sleep when you open or close the cover, and they even pack a microfiber lining that cleans your screen each time you flip it open. As Steve Jobs explained, Apple designed the covers right alongside the iPad itself and, as he points out, "it's not a case -- it's a cover." Look for the poly covers to set you back $39, while the leather ones will run $69 apiece -- video is after the break.


Apple ships 100 millionth iPhone, 15 million iPads sold in 2010

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:51 AM PST


Apple's been having one record quarter after another lately, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that it still has plenty more to boast about when it comes to sales. At it's event today, Steve Jobs revealed that the company recently shipped it's 100 millionth iPhone, and that it sold 15 million iPads in 2010 -- a figure he points out is "more than every tablet PC ever sold," and one that translates to $9.5 billion in revenue and a more than 90 percent market share. Jobs also noted that there's now 65,000 apps specifically for the iPad compared to just 100 for Honeycomb tablets, and he even got in a bit of a dig at Samsung's now infamous comments about its Galaxy Tab sales for good measure.

100 million books downloaded from iBooks, Random House titles added

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:50 AM PST

Apple's kicking off the iPad 2 event with some iBooks announcements. The first thing you need to know is that 100 million books have been downloaded to date from the company's bookstore. That's a lot of digital tomes, and there are more coming. Yep, that brings us to the second big piece of news -- Random House is bringing its entire US catalog, which includes 17,000 titles, to the store. We had an idea that was going to happen since the publisher just changed up its e-book pricing model, but the store now officially includes bestsellers by John Grisham, Dan Brown, and others. According to PCMag, some of those titles started to pop up in Apple's store yesterday, so get going and start reading.
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Random House, Inc. Makes Entire US Catalog of 17,000 ebooks Available on Apple's iBookstore

iBookstore Now Features More than 2,500 Publishers, Including All Six Major Trade Publishers

SAN FRANCISCO-March 2, 2011-Apple® today announced that Random House, Inc., the largest trade book publisher in the US, has made its full catalog of 17,000 ebooks available on Apple's iBookstoreĆ¢„ , including bestsellers by Stieg Larsson, John Grisham, Dan Brown, Danielle Steel, Laura Hillenbrand, Cormac McCarthy, Lee Child and many more of the world's preeminent authors. Starting today, customers can pre-order upcoming releases from Random House including Lisa Gardner's "Love You More," Suze Orman's "The Money Class" and Jean Auel's "The Land of Painted Caves." With the addition of Random House, the iBookstore now offers ebooks from all six major trade publishers and thousands of independent publishers.

"We are delighted that Apple's iBookstore now will be carrying Random House's US ebooks for the first time," said Markus Dohle, Random House's Chairman and CEO. "And we look forward to bringing our 17,000 ebooks to Apple customers."

"We're thrilled to offer Random House on the iBookstore," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Internet Services. "iBookstore customers have already downloaded more than 100 million books in less than one year, and we think they'll love being able to choose from Random House's incredible selection of titles to enjoy on their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch."

iBookstore customers can choose from a wide selection of illustrated and video-enhanced books that look incredible on iPad™, including Jay-Z's memoir "Decoded" and Bing West's "The Wrong War"; bestselling children's series such as Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones; and cookbooks by Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, and the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten. Random House, Inc. comprises more than 80 adult and children's US publishing imprints including Alfred A. Knopf, Doubleday, Crown, Pantheon Books, Vintage, Ballantine and Bantam.

The iBookstore, included in Apple's free iBooks® app, is the best way to browse, buy and read books on your iPad, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iBookstore offers ebooks from more than 2,500 publishers in more than 20 categories, including Mysteries & Thrillers, Biographies & Memoirs, Cookbooks, Children's & Teen, Humor, Romance, Business and Travel.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Motorola Xoom returns to PC World UK, this time at £500, promises April 9th delivery

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:38 AM PST

Maybe PC World is trying to sneak the bad news in under the cover of the iPad 2 launch, but it's returned Motorola's Xoom tablet to its pre-order systems with a far less pleasing price than before: £500. It was £450 yesterday, but our suspicions were raised by the impossibility of actually pre-ordering one, and sure enough, now that you're able to sign yourself up to be among the first in Europe to own a Xoom, it'll cost you a 50 note more. Launch is scheduled for the first week of April, we're told, and PC World has a tentative April 9th delivery date. Yours, if you want it, at the source link below.

Rolls Royce unveils 102EX, the all-electric Phantom (video)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:37 AM PST

Rolls Royce unveils 102EX, the all-electric Phantom (video)
The word "experimental" isn't something you'd often apply to a Rolls Royce, a company with a history that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and clientele that isn't much younger. However, it does have a history of producing so-called EX cars, experimental models, and the 102EX is the latest -- and the most daring. It's the world's first fully-electric ultra-luxury car, featuring a hulking 71kWh battery (almost three times the capacity of the Nissan Leaf) that can be charged in as quickly as eight hours. Inductive charging is also available, like the wireless Tesla Roadster we saw at CES, though Rolls isn't saying how long that takes. Range is said to be up to 200km, about 125 miles, and the 0 - 60 roll takes somewhere under eight seconds. That's not bad for a 6,000lb monster. No estimated cost has yet been applied, nor any real intent for production, but if this does start easing off production lines we hope it does so without the tacky glowing hood ornament. The Spirit of Ecstasy looks best when shined by polish, not LEDs.




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102EX – PHANTOM EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRIC

01.03.2011Press Kit
INTRODUCTION
"Today, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars begins an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which technology may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future. The alternative drive-train we choose must deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience. It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future. That is why this project is so important." – CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents 102EX, a car that represents one of the most significant initiatives taken by the company in recent years. It is the world's first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment and continues a tradition of experimental cars running through the model generations.

Rolls-Royce produces cars that represent the pinnacle in luxurious motoring for the world's most discerning customers. However, the company also recognises the need to look to the future and to plan for long-term sustainable growth. An investigation into alternative drive-train options is an important step in that process.

With 102EX, also to be known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), it is the company's intention to carefully test the opinions and reactions to alternative drive-train options of a range of stakeholders including owners, enthusiasts, members of the public and the media.

Throughout 2011 Phantom EE will serve as a working test bed, giving owners, VIPs, the media and enthusiasts the opportunity to experience an established alternative drive-train technology and to feed back their experiences, thoughts and concerns directly.

The bank of research gathered from a global drive programme that will include Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America will be crucial to decisions affecting alternative drive-trains for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

There are no plans to build a production version of this car. Phantom EE's role is as a test bed, designed to explore established BEV technologies, to pose as well as to answer questions.

Can Phantom EE deliver an acceptable range for customers without frequent re-charging? Is there confidence in its ability to operate in extreme conditions? Will reliability and quality be consistent with expectations of the world's pinnacle automotive brand?

Phantom EE also poses more fundamental questions: Is an all-electric drive-train able to deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience for customers, an experience that truly befits the marque?

Whether all-electric or another alternative drive-train option is right for Rolls-Royce will become clearer when the test programme is complete at the end of the year.

102EX – PHANTOM EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRIC (EE)

Reinvention is part of being timeless and Phantom EE is the latest in a line of experimental vehicles from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It builds on a legacy which dates back to 1919 and 1EX.

Experimental models are used to test and evaluate new technologies and applications which could shape future Rolls-Royce products. Unlike a concept car, Rolls-Royce experimental models are always fully functioning, drivable vehicles using tangible materials such as wood, leather and metals rather than clay and foam or other concepts.

They present engineers and designers with the opportunity for real-world innovation and are used not only to showcase new components and engineering techniques but also to evaluate them.

The latest in this line of experimental projects began with a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a strikingly modern and immaculately proportioned car in which high technology and hand-craftsmanship combine to produce something extraordinary.

Phantom EE features the car's ground-breaking aluminium spaceframe, so important to dynamic prowess, as well as the sense of calm and tranquillity enjoyed by occupants. However, the naturally aspirated 6.75-litre V12 petrol engine and 6-speed gearbox have been replaced by a lithium ion battery pack and two electric motors mounted on the rear sub-frame. These motors are connected to a single speed transmission with integrated differential.

Each motor is power rated to 145kW, giving Phantom EE a maximum power output of 290kW and torque of 800Nm available over a wide band. This compares with 338kW for standard Phantom with maximum torque of 720Nm, delivered at 3,500rpm.

The Nickel Cobalt Manganese battery chemistry holds around 230Wh/kg,a high energy density which is important in achieving an acceptable range between re-charges. Pre-launch tests suggests Phantom EE should run to a range of up to 200km. Delivered on an effortless wave of torque, 0-60mph will be achieved in under eight seconds (5.7 seconds in standard Phantom), with top speed limited to 160kph.

This is the first application of the technology in a GKL++ segment (super luxury vehicles priced at more than €200,000) and the battery pack is thought to be the largest ever fitted to a road car.

Evaluation of technology is an important part of the test programme. However, more fundamentally the car will seek answers to questions posed of Rolls-Royce owners: what their needs might be for the future considering factors such as range, performance and re-charging infrastructure.

The feedback from customers – as well as media, stakeholders and enthusiasts via the website www.electricluxury.com - will prove essential in evaluating the appropriateness of battery electric technology for Rolls-Royce.

It will help inform a decision on whether all-electric, or another alternative drive-train technology, will be most appropriate for the world's best cars of the future.

DESIGN

"It's a credible design concept that perfectly complements the experimental nature of the car, exploring options in light, space and use of materials. Had we changed the overall aesthetic, the concept would have lost credibility; our audience would assume it was simply a styling exercise. The reality is that this is an experimental vehicle in its truest sense, challenging perceptions, emotions and values - as well as exploring alternative drive-train technology." – Ian Cameron, Chief Designer Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

102EX bears the famous hallmarks of the Rolls-Royce Phantom on which it is based, such as hand craftsmanship, fine detailing and iconic design cues like the pantheon grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy which celebrates its centenary in 2011. However, at the core of its design is the essence of an experimental vehicle, establishing this car's status as a test bed, while subtly alluding to its electric power plant.

The design creates a different aesthetic, experimenting with interior space and materials, as well as trims and illumination. These are framed around functional considerations for a battery electric Rolls-Royce - how the car is likely to be used and the changes that the technology brings in terms of interior space and exterior detailing. Naturally, these changes are executed in a way that affirms the car's credentials as a Rolls-Royce.

ATLANTIC CHROME EXTERIOR

Our designers were challenged with creating a finish for Phantom EE which immediately signified a special car, distinguishing it from standard Phantom models in the absence of many overt design changes. Not an easy task, since all Phantom models are special – with customers benefitting from a range of bespoke paint options running to some 45,000 colours.

Extensive research however had revealed a highly reflective paint using ceramic nano particles. Under a microscope these mimic the impression of a silver metal, but are between 8,000 and 80,000 times smaller than the thickness of a hair or 1,000 times smaller than the size of a normal metallic paint particle.

Test parts were produced and the design team were impressed with the results, knowing that the larger the object covered the better it would look. But they were under no illusions as to the task ahead.

In all sixteen coats of paint were needed, of which four were Atlantic Chrome, and many hours of time dedicated to ensuring a perfect end result. The finish is a striking one. Phantom EE commands the stage, with taut almost chiselled lines giving a wet impression to the car. This only grows in character as light conditions change.

ILLUMINATED SPIRIT OF ECSTASY

As well as the launch of 102EX, 2011 marks another milestone in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. On 6 February 1911, the design for Charles Sykes' Spirit of Ecstasy was first registered, signalling the start of a 100 year period in which this famous icon has adorned the prow of Rolls-Royce cars, from the famous Silver Ghosts, Clouds and Shadows of the 20th Century to today's hand-built Phantom and Ghost models.

Phantom EE's Spirit of Ecstasy, sits atop the radiator grille above the red double-R badge applied to EX models. Made of Makrolon, rather than stainless steel, it will be bathed in blue LED light, hinting at the electric technology beneath the bonnet. This stunning image complements the keynote graphic of website – www.electricluxury.com – where Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will expand the debate on the question of electric luxury to the online community, taking views from enthusiasts, media and members of the public.

INTERIOR DETAILING

Atlantic chrome-finished dashboard dials echo the exterior colour, providing a sense of interior-exterior balance and their analogue displays maintain the timeless architecture that every Phantom interior commands.

Other changes hint at further evolutionary designs applied to the car. For example, some dials have been subtly modified to provide information needed by the driver of an electric vehicle. The fuel gauge in particular has been replaced by an elegant battery charge indicator.

One of the most pleasing features of every Rolls-Royce Phantom interior is the power reserve dial located beside the speedometer. This reveals how much of the V12 engine's power remains at a driver's disposal. Phantom EE takes this concept a step further.

It features a regeneration symbol which takes the dial beyond the normal 100% line of standard Phantom. Depending on the momentum gathered, it conveys the degree of re-charge taking place as the vehicle is in motion.

EXTERIOR RE-CHARGING POINT

Re-charging is undertaken with a plug and five-pin socket which takes the place of the normal fuel filling mechanism for Phantom.The standard fuel filler cap has been replaced by a design featuring a clear window, displaying the RR logo and 102EX motif. The window frames rear-mounted, tricolour LEDs which present the car's charging status.

On start up, the socket is bathed in blue light. This begins to flash as charging commences. When completely charged, the display turns green, then flashing green as the solenoid is disengaged. A potential fault in the system is indicated by either constant or flashing red light.

Charging can be halted via a switch located adjacent to the plug. The process can also be operated inside the vehicle using controls accessed beneath the centre console, for example when induction charging is taking place.

CENTRE CONSOLE DETAIL

A key identifier for Phantom EE is the design of the centre console charging and display, sited below the central arm rest. A simple switch is used to start and halt charging, while the display itself features a bright plate with an image of a battery, lit by LEDs.

Reflecting the lights applied to the exterior charging point, this image changes colour according to the charge status of the car. A blue-lit battery shows the vehicle is on standard charge, while pulsating blue indicates that inductive charging is taking place. Green indicates a fully charged battery while red notifies engineers of a potential fault in the system.

CORINOVA LEATHER

"At Rolls-Royce we pride ourselves in producing an authentic and natural product for customers, the quality of which is second to none. Seton Corinova is an experimental vegetable-tanned leather that allows us to celebrate more of the curves, creases and other features that are part and parcel of the life of the animal. It's a more sympathetic process that stretches our understanding of Rolls-Royce interior expectations. Owners' reactions will prove fascinating during the tour." – Andrew Monachan, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars General Manager, Leathershop.

Interior wood veneers present Phantom owners with unique grains, patterns and detail adding weight to the fact that every model leaving Goodwood is as unique as the finger print of its owner. Phantom EE takes this concept a step further.

Its leather interior is derived from a natural vegetable tanning process christened Corinova. This gives life to the car, adding definition to the seats, floor and arm rests.

Most leather produced for automotive applications is chrome tanned. This is an important constituent that helps to stabilise animal hides and transfer collagen into leather fibres. The barrel-dyeing process used to colour Phantom interior leathers gives a rich, uniform pigmentation while maintaining the natural feel and softness.

An experimental leather, Corinova distinguishes itself by being entirely chrome free. It starts with a preparation of Glutardialehyde to prepare for tanning. Chestnut extract, sustainably sourced from Southern Europe and Tara powder from crushed fruit of the Tara bush in South America are used for drum-spun colouring. Fruits are harvested without damage to the plant and the product is finished with a combination of natural binders and high tech polymers.

The process lends itself only to certain earthy colours – in the case of Phantom EE a chestnut colour for seat covers and Quebracho Brown for other areas such as the floor and trunk lining, both of which are made of durable saddle leather.

As well as aesthetic differences, Corinova leather presents a number of practical benefits. It uses less paint finish than in standard chrome-tanned leather and creates less waste. It negates the use of petrol-refined products and with further development, it may be possible to use recycled Corinova leather in agriculture to aerate soil.

Rolls-Royce fully expects perceptions to be challenged and first impressions will no doubt focus on appearance, as features that define the life of the animal are more clearly visible in areas like seats and armrests than in production Phantom interiors. A change from the sumptuous finish applied to Phantom leather may imply a compromise to some owners, but others may welcome distinguishing features that stretch individualisation for Rolls-Royce Phantom models ever further.

As well as gauging owner feedback, the leather will be tested for its durability and performance after several months on tour.

INTERIOR PANELS

The interior of Phantom EE represents a departure from the traditional wood sets that define the majority of cars delivered to customers, providing a unique finish to the car. It features a distinctive aluminised foil weave that lifts the environment of the interior, contrasting sharply with the darker natural leather within. As is the case with Corinova leather, the aim is to challenge traditional perceptions of what might constitute a Rolls-Royce interior design scheme.

BATTERY PACK

Phantom EE is thought to have the largest passenger car battery in the world. Peak current is 850A, delivered at 338V DC. Overall capacity is 71kWh.

The pack is comprised of large-format NCM pouch cells. NCM (Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide) is a variant of lithium-ion chemistry that has particularly high energy and power densities.

The Phantom EE battery pack houses five modules of cells, a 38-cell module, a 36-cell module, and three smaller ones of ten, eight and four arranged in various orientations within an irregular shaped unit. This resembles the overall shape of the original engine and gearbox.

Each of the 96 cells was individually tested before assembly into modules to determine their characteristics and capacity. Sub-assemblies were further tested under load to verify that the power connections between each cell perform to specification.

The electronic sensing units for each group of cells were tested and calibrated prior to assembly and put through a rigorous temperature cycling regime designed to provoke failure of weak components. The main electronic box, which contains the switching and control gear, was tested in isolation from the other components to verify correct operation.

Three separate charger units (3kW each) are fitted to the battery, which allow both single-phase (20 hours) or three-phase charging (8 hours); for a passenger car this is unique. A fourth induction charger is also fitted to enable wireless charging, a technology being trialled in Phantom EE.

The battery pack would be expected to last over three years were it to be used every day. Part of the programme however will be to test this assumption in a real world environment and deliver a more robust answer to the question of battery lifespan.

INDUCTION CHARGING

Concerns about lack of available re-charging infrastructure in towns and cities are well documented and critics of electric motoring point to the additional inconvenience of trailing cables connected between power source and vehicles.

To present Rolls-Royce owners with a vision of a potential solution to these problems, Phantom EE is testing a technology called induction charging. This allows re-charging to take place without any physical connection, delivering greater convenience for owners and hinting at the potential for a network of remote charging facilities.

There are two main elements to induction charging; a transfer pad on the ground that delivers power from a mains source and an induction pad mounted under the car, beneath Phantom EE's battery pack. Power frequencies are magnetically coupled across these power transfer pads.

The system is around 90 percent efficient when measured from mains supply to battery and it is tolerant to parking misalignment. For example, it is not essential to align the transmitter and Phantom receiver pads exactly for charging to take place. While pads are capable of transmitting power over gaps of up to 400mm, for Phantom EE the separation is in the region of 150mm.

The coupling circuits are tuned through the addi­tion of compensation capacitors. Pick-up coils in the receiver pad are magnetically coupled to the primary coil. Power transfer is achieved by tuning the pick-up coil to the operating frequency of the primary coil with a series or parallel capacitor.

The pick-up controller is an essential part of the technology because it takes power from the receiver pad and provides a controlled output to batteries. It is required to provide an output that remains independent of the load and the separation between pads. Without a controller, the voltage would rise as the gap decreases and fall as the load current increases.

The transmitter pad has been constructed to shield magnetic fields to prevent EMI egress to bystanders and the system operates well within internationally agreed limits.

ELECTRIC CARS AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF ROLLS-ROYCE

Charles Rolls, Henry Royce and Claude Johnson played their part in an electrical revolution that pre-empted the establishment of internal combustion as the dominant car engine technology.
Henry Royce had developed a career as an accomplished electrical engineer before turning his expert hands to car manufacturing.

His business F.H. Royce and Co, which began selling simple lights and bell sets in the 1890s, became prosperous through the design and delivery of dynamos, electric motors and industrial cranes. Royce's many innovations include the patent for the bayonet bulb holder, a design that endures today.

One of Royce's clients was Pritchett and Gold, a company based in Feltham in Middlesex. As well as manufacturing accumulators they had developed a two-seater electric car, at least one of which was powered by a Royce electric motor.

The Honourable Charles Rolls also toyed with electric motoring in the years before the two men met. He had negotiated for the selling rights of an electric brougham, through C.S Rolls and Co, in Conduit Street, London which latterly established exclusive rights to sell Rolls-Royce models.

It is likely that this car was part of the City and Suburban Electric Car Project, a joint venture of two men, Paris Singer and one Claude Johnson. The project had a short life and Johnson left to join the rapidly expanding business of Rolls, latterly taking the role of managing director of Rolls-Royce. He became known as 'the hyphen in Rolls-Royce', with a pivotal role in its success.

Charles Rolls was on record outlining the merits of electric drive-trains - as well as raising prescient concerns about range and re-charging. He regarded a model called the Columbia as the best of its type, commenting in Automobile Journal:

"They are perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration and they should become very useful for town use when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for country use I do not anticipate they will be very serviceable – at least not for many years to come."

Later, when the first exports of petrol powered Rolls-Royce models were made to America, some authorities refused to believe they were not electrically powered, thanks to their legendary near-silent running.

In the 21st Century silence remains a key signature for Rolls-Royce cars. Other attributes of all-electric drive-trains also allude to famous Rolls-Royce characteristics. Power at low speeds is one example.

Thanks to improvements in battery technology, it may be that the serviceability to which Rolls referred more than a century ago is now sufficiently developed to re-visit all-electric motoring as an option.

And to pose a 21st Century question of customers, enthusiasts and the media:
Electric luxury – can it be perfection or does it present an unacceptable compromise for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars?

www.electricluxury.com


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

No of doors/seats 4 / 5 (optionally 4)
Vehicle length 5840 mm / 229.9 in
Vehicle width 1990 mm / 78.3 in
Vehicle height (unladen) 1638 mm / 64.5 in
Wheelbase 3570 mm / 140.6 in
Turning circle 13.8 m / 45.3 ft
Track, front 1687 mm / 66.4 in
Track, rear 1671 mm / 65.8 in
Width at shoulder height, front 1509 mm / 59.4 in
Width at shoulder height, rear 1431 mm / 56.3 in
Leg room, front 1028 mm / 40.5 in
Leg room, rear 1109 mm / 43.7 in
Head room, front 1051 mm / 41.4 in
Head room, rear 979 mm / 38.5 in
Boot volume (DIN) 460 ltr / 16.2 cu ft

Unladen weight (DIN) 2,720 kg
Gross vehicle weight 3,030 kg
Payload 300 kg
Axle load limit, front 1,473 kg
Axle load limit, rear 1,548 kg

Maximum power output 290 kW
Torque 800 Nm

Battery:
Chemistry NCM (Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide) li-ion
Number of cells 96 in pouch design
Capacity 71kWh
Battery pack weight 640 kg
Peak current 330 kW at 850 Amps
Charge time (est) 20 hours single phase / 8 hours three-phase

Transmission type Single speed 6:5:1 with integral differential

Steering type EHPS Rack and pinion, speed-sensitive
variable-rate power assistance

Brakes
Front / diameter Ventilated disc / 374 mm / 14.7 in
Rear / diameter Ventilated disc / 370 mm / 14.6 in

Drag Cd 0.37
Drag Cd x A 1.041m2 / 11.2 ft2

Top speed 160 kph (governed)
Acceleration 0-60 mph Under 8 seconds
CO2 emissions Nil
Tyre, front Goodyear EMT 255/50 R21 106W
Tyre, rear Goodyear EMT 285/45 R21 109W

Wheels (21 in alloy)
Wheel size, front 8 in x 21 in
Wheel size, rear 9.5 in x 21 in

12V Battery capacity / installed position 90+70 Ah / boot

AIST shows off full-color night vision camera, well lit Bullwinkle figurine (video)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:21 AM PST

You might know them for seemingly ridiculous innovations like Segway shoes or the HRP-4C pop star robot, but the folks at AIST have put away the gimmicks for their latest invention -- a full-color night vision camera. Produced by Nanolux, an arm of AIST, the camera uses a series of algorithms to read and process wavelengths reflected by objects lit with infrareds, allowing it to successfully reproduce reds, blues, and greens in the darkest of conditions. The company hopes to make the device available by the end of 2011 at a price point lower than conventional night vision cameras, and says they will work with different lenses to improve long-range photography for the device. Such an invention could have serious implications for fields like surveillance and wildlife observation, but fear not, AIST hasn't lost its sense of humor -- the company used a Bullwinkle figurine rotating on a Lazy Susan to demo its latest invention at Printable Electronics 2011. Check out the video after the jump.

Visualized: if the iPhone had happened in an alternate reality

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:02 AM PST

This collection of devices -- from Germany's SKS Hinkel, and winner of an iF Product Design Award this year -- is really a video intercom system. But if you use your imagination, from left to right, it looks like an iPod shuffle, an iPod classic, an iPhone shuffle, and an iPhone classic all developed in some awesome alternate dimension where coiled phone cords are still cool.

Admit it: you miss the click wheel.

Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 07:40 AM PST

We've been whittling our likeness into bars of soap for decades, but lucky for us someone's come up with a far easier way to render our flawless good looks in miniature. Following in a long line of inventive Kinect hacks, the folks at Interactive Fabrication have produced a program called Fabricate Yourself that enlists the machine to capture images of users and convert them into 3D printable files. The hack, which was presented at Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction Conference in January, results in tiny 3D models that resemble Han Solo trapped in carbonite and sport jigsaw edges that can be used to make a grid of small, but accurate renderings. Fabricate Yourself is still in its infancy, and the resulting models are relatively short on detail, but we're no less excited by the possibilities -- just think of all the things we could monogram in the time it takes to produce one soapy statuette. Video after the jump.

Wistron's WiGO 1 and 2 streamers win iF design awards, presumably for strangeness

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 07:22 AM PST

Though it could easily be mistaken for a dinosaur egg trapped in some prehistoric block of ice, what you're looking at here is actually a set-top box. A media streamer, to be specific. Details are light, but Wistron's so-called WiGO 1 and 2 have showed up at the presentation of iF's annual Product Design Awards at CeBIT, described as "multimedia centers" with HDMI connections that can browse local, networked, and internet content. In the case of the WiGO 1 (pictured above), it looks like the inner "egg" -- where the electronics lie -- has literally no accessible connections, but the reality is that the iF folks simply set it in its display case with the rear facing down. The WiGO 2 is a little more traditional in appearance; the meat of the device is a normal black box at the bottom, topped with a large cube of clear acrylic that gives the package a less geeky, more fashion-forward appearance. See shots of both units below.

inPulse Bluetooth smartwatch gets Facebook Places check-in app for Android (video)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 07:04 AM PST


Ever since Allerta released an SDK for its well-hyped inPulse smartwatch, it was only a matter of time before we start seeing more practical applications that take this Bluetooth peripheral beyond the BlackBerry ecosystem. For instance, the latest example comes from the inPulse's very own Lead Designer Eric Migicovsky, who happens to be a fan of Facebook Places and possibly an Android convert. Rather than having to pull out his Nexus One for every check-in, Migicovsky can now use his simple app on his inPulse to grab a list of nearby locations off the phone, and then check in with just a click of a button. Pretty neat, eh? For those interested, you can grab the project code off inPulse's website and get programming.

VW's Bulli van concept does iPad integration right, shockingly

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 06:45 AM PST

VW's Bulli van concept does iPad integration right, shockingly
After seeing many atrocious attempts, it seemed factory iPad integration was something that simply shouldn't happen. Now, in Volkswagen's Bulli concept, we're seeing something that makes sense -- something we've wanted to see for a while now. The tablet sits in a custom cradle in the center of the dash, extended on a pivoting arm so that it can turn toward driver or passenger. It then provides center stack duties, letting front-seaters manage the climate controls, play some music, and of course get directions. Naturally we'd like to see something a little more platform-neutral if it's going to be a factory option, but we're guessing that if indeed this new-age Vanagon ever sees production its interior will look nothing like this anyway. So, no point in getting too worked up about it, then.

BlackBerry PlayBook to be released on April 10th?

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 06:28 AM PST

It's a short and sweet disclosure from BGR this morning as multiple sources have apparently informed the news outlet that RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook will make its debut on store shelves on April 10th. The BlackBerry Tablet OS will reach Gold Master status on March 31st, according to the same soothsayers, which is late enough in proceedings to necessitate it being delivered as an update upon first booting up your device. We too have heard of a late March / early April launch for the PlayBook, which RIM itself promised for the first quarter of 2011, though the intrigue of what carriers will be providing you with connectivity on this 7-incher remains. You'll know more as soon as we do.

Bing advances past Yahoo! to become world's second most used search engine -- with 4.4 percent

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 06:21 AM PST

How far we've come from the heady days when Microsoft was willing to splash $44 billion to acquire Yahoo! Since then, the online portal has done whatever the opposite of going from strength to strength is, and today it's suffered the somewhat predictable ignominy of losing its second spot in search to Microsoft's upstart Bing. Statcounter places the February global share of search at 4.4 percent for Microsoft and 3.9 percent for Yahoo! (the Redmond giant can actually lay claim to a bigger slice since Bing "powers" Yahoo! search results in some countries), neither of which should give Google much reason for concern while it's sitting pretty with a share of just under 90 percent. It's the first time Google has dipped below the 90 percent mark for a long time, but Statcounter says "it shows little sign of losing its global dominance any time soon." So that settles that.
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Bing overtakes Yahoo! globally for first time

Boston, USA & Dublin, Ireland; Tuesday, 1st March, 2011: The Bing search engine overtook Yahoo! for the first time worldwide in January and increased its lead in February according to web analytics company, StatCounter. Its research arm StatCounter Global Stats finds that globally Bing reached 4.37% in February ahead of Yahoo! at 3.93%. Both trail far behind Google's 89.94% of the global search engine market.

In the United States Yahoo! at 9.74% still retains its lead over Bing at 9.03%. Google's share in the US is 79.63%. In July 2009 Microsoft announced an agreement whereby Bing would power the Yahoo! search technology. This has been implemented in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.

"It is significant that Bing overtook Yahoo! globally for the first time on a monthly basis but it remains a tough battle to claw back Google's market share," commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter. "Although Google dipped below the 90% mark in February worldwide for the first time since August 2009 it shows little sign of losing its global dominance any time soon."

StatCounter, which specialises in website visitor analysis for organisations and bloggers, provides free lifetime stats and free detailed analysis on the latest 500 hits. Members can upgrade to access more detailed stats from $5 a month.

StatCounter Global Stats are based on aggregate data collected on a sample of over 15 billion page views per month from across the StatCounter network of more than three million websites.

StatCounter, which provides free website traffic information, publishes search engine stats in its StatCounter Global Stats, a free online research tool. It also monitors internet market share battles including browsers, Social Media and operating systems including mobile.

The Engadget Interview: Ryan Bidan, BlackBerry PlayBook senior product manager

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 06:03 AM PST


RIM held a little PlayBook party here in New York yesterday, giving us a chance to hang out with Ryan Bidan, the company's senior product manager for the seven-inch tablet. In addition to chatting with us about battery life, connectivity, and pricing, Ryan clarified the PlayBook's app development model -- athough devs can choose to work with native code, Java, Adobe Air, and HTML5 / WebWorks, the idea is for the ultimate user experience to be seamless, and RIM is considering offering standard UI widgets for each environment. We also had to ask about those swirling rumors of Android support, and while we commend Ryan for his practiced non-answer, we can't help but feel we detected a hint of a smile on his face. Or was that just another tray of snacks going past? Check the video and decide for yourself.

Cox breaks return cable upload record with Motorola's help, subscribers still waiting for their cable guy

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 05:41 AM PST

Cox breaks return cable upload record with Motorola's help, subscribers still waiting for their cable guyThere's a somewhat narrow category here, but Cox Communications just set a benchmark for bandwidth on its Las Vegas network thanks to an RX48 DOCSIS 3.0 receiver from Motorola. That rate is 356Mbps on a 5 - 85MHz return path, which correlates to upstream performance on a cable modem. The company says the tests "demonstrate that Cox's HFC networks are much more future proof than many have believed" and that they "have the capability to support much higher data speeds than today without the need to replace any of the amplifiers, taps or cables." That will naturally leave Cox subscribers with just one question: how long until my uploads are that fast?


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Motorola and Cox Break World Record in Data Transmission Rates


Multiple records set; demonstrates potential for greater bandwidth efficiency and additional revenue opportunities for broadband operators




ATLANTA-CableLabs Winter Conference – March 1, 2011– Motorola Mobility Inc. (NYSE: MMI) announced the achievement of a new world record for return path data transmission by using breakthrough technology from Motorola on Cox Communications' Las Vegas network infrastructure.

Using the ultra low noise, high performance Motorola DOCSIS 3.0 RX48 return path receiver module operating within a Motorola BSR 64000 CMTS Edge Router, the record of 356 Mbps for a 5-85 MHz return path was set by transmitting across twelve return path channels of which six channels employed 256QAM modulation. Typical HFC networks today have two or three upstream channels delivering an aggregate of 40-70 Mbps.

"The RX48 and these tests demonstrate that Cox's HFC networks are much more future proof than many have believed," Jay Rolls, senior vice president of technology, Cox Communications. "We also increasingly need to be able to segment our business and residential customers, visibility into which is provided by the 5-85 MHz return spectrum utilizing 256QAM. Our networks have the capability to support much higher data speeds than today without the need to replace any of the amplifiers, taps or cables."

The test demonstrates how broadband operators can support more customers and more broadband rich services over existing networks, removing the need for inconvenient and costly new network construction. The new record also shows how the Motorola BSR 64000 CMTS Edge Router, with the RX48 can help lower the overall cost of DOCSIS for cable operators, while simultaneously opening new opportunities for business revenues.

In addition to establishing the world record at 5-85 MHz, a maximum transmission rate of 141 Mbps was also achieved over a 5-42 MHz return path using six return path channels. Three of these channels were able to operate using 256 QAM modulation, as opposed to 64 QAM maximum in use today, which is also believed to be a record. For the first time, cable operators can use the 5-42 return path to provide 100 Mbps dedicated to business customers and simultaneously provide residential customers with the return path bandwidth necessary to meet their growing needs.

All tests were conducted across Cox's Las Vegas hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network employing multiple DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 2.0 modems. It feeds a three amplifier cascade followed by an HFC optical link consisting of a standard Motorola DFB return path laser transmitting over 7 dB of fiber to the optical receiver. The output of this receiver was linked to the RX48 card in the BSR 64000. Measurements were made in accordance with standard cable industry practices. At the CableLabs conference, Motorola and Cox demonstrated the new record of 400 Mbps on a 5-85 MHz return path, which broke the previous record of 356Mbps

"We are very pleased to show the results of Motorola Mobility's investment in DOCSIS 3.0 innovation," said Joe Cozzolino, senior vice president and general manager, network infrastructure, Motorola Mobility. "The RX48 has clearly demonstrated that we are moving once again to a position of CMTS leadership. We are grateful to Cox for jointly working with us to demonstrate the continued great future of HFC networks and proving our belief in this breakthrough technology."

About the RX48:
The RX48 provides between 33% and 50% higher data rates possible in the return path than previously possible based on its low noise receiver and hardware based DOCSIS 3.0 channel bonding capabilities. For example, with a 5-42 MHz return path connected to the RX48, it will be possible for the first time for cable operators to support 100 Mbps dedicated for business services in only three bonded return path channels instead of four, leaving three return path channels available for residential data services, all supported using only a single RX48 port in the CMTS.

Google adding web-based in-app payments, probably some time in May

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 05:13 AM PST

It's not enough that you'll soon be able to make in-app purchases on Android, Google wants to give you an outlet for your app spending online as well. The search giant is hard at work turning last year's acquisition of Jambool and its Social Gold software into a web-based in-app payments platform it can call its own. Jambool's proprietors have word that Google's system is now in beta, which has led it to close new signups for the Social Gold offering, ahead of halting payment processing entirely on May 31st. That should serve as a pretty reliable guide for when to expect Google to flip the switch on its in-app purchasing service, which we're hearing will include some level of integration with Google Checkout and Google accounts. As TechCrunch points out, the next Google I/O gathering is scheduled for May 10th -- sounds about the right time for us to be introduced to this new, app-based way for separating us from our hard-earned cash.

Genesi reduces price of Efika MX Smartbook, Smarttop, says it's for greater good

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:57 AM PST

Back in September, we reported on the absurdly overpriced Efika MX Smartbook -- a little computer sporting a 10-inch display and a $349 price tag -- and it looks like somebody took note. The folks over at Genesi have reduced the price of their entire line of Efika MX products, dropping the aforementioned Smartbook to $199 and its desktop companion, the Smarttop, to $129. Of course, they did so with a bit of marketing flair, claiming the deal would open "the door even more for billions of people and businesses in emerging markets to affordable state-of-the-art computing and Internet access." Now, we're not calling anyone out here, but we're guessing we weren't the only ones who thought the Smartbook was just a tad too pricey. Full PR after the jump.


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$129 Efika MX Smarttop and $199 Smartbook Price Reductions Give People and Businesses in Emerging Markets Affordable Computing, Internet Access

3G Smartbook Added to Low-Cost, Energy-Efficient Efika MX Product Line from Genesi

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genesi USA Inc., a leading developer and producer of low-cost, high-value energy-efficient computing products, announces price reductions on its line of wafer-thin and whisper-quiet Efika MX computers, opening the door even more for billions of people and businesses in emerging markets to affordable state-of-the-art computing and Internet access.

The Smarttop network computer is now $129, while the two-pound Smartbook netbook is available for $199 (new Smartbook 3G version is $249). Both are WiFi-enabled and available at www.genesi-usa.com/store/.

"We have created a low-cost, energy-efficient, Internet-connected line of note/netbooks through a very specific business model. We lower our costs to produce Efika MX products through our vast developer community and with local assembly and manufacturing, we will be able to pass even more savings along," said Raquel Velasco, Managing Director/Chairman, Genesi USA Inc.

In January, IHS Global Insight estimated the world population will reach 6.9 billion during 2010 and that 5.9 billion people will live in emerging markets. As the world population grows so does the demand for low-cost, competent computing resources, particularly in emerging "middle class" markets around the world, estimated at 1.3 billion (emc = above poverty, below median income of middle class). Technology and service providers like Genesi are working to cost effectively address young tech-savvy consumers and businesses in these emerging markets.

"For a lot of people around the world, price has been a barrier to having any kind of technological connection to create or consume data. Eighty percent of the world's population has mobile reach via a 3G (third generation) network, and of that number, only 20% have Internet access," Velasco says. "Having a connection to the rest of the world is empowering – just look at what's happening in North Africa and the Middle East right now – and, for people and businesses in these emerging markets, a Smarttop or Smartbook may be their first fully web-connected device."

Supermicro and Fusion-io team up to deliver new SuperServers

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:29 AM PST

Fusion-io's been in the flash memory game for some time, but until now it has been known primarily for screamingly fast PCI Express-mounted flash storage solutions with wallet-crushing prices. Those drives are primarily aimed at the enterprise market, so it seems logical for the company to now enter into an OEM agreement with Supermicro to make NAND Flash servers. The aptly, if not modestly, named SuperServers can perform over 2.2 million sequential I/O operations per second (IOPS) and over 1.4 million random IOPS -- for comparison, the OCZ SSDs we saw at CES are an order of magnitude slower in IOPS, and they aren't exactly sluggish. Supermicro also claims that the new servers speed up enterprise applications by ten times while using only one-tenth of the power. Impressive numbers to be sure, but we shudder to think of how much the SuperServers will cost. A second mortgage for a server's a sound financial decision, right? PR's after the break.
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Supermicro and Fusion-io Enter into OEM Relationship to offer Supermicro Customers Unparalleled Performance and Reliability While Reducing Energy Consumption

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Super Micro Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMCI), a leader in application-optimized, high-performance server and storage solutions, today is announcing that a 1U SuperServer (SYS-6016GT-TF) running on the flash-based, server-attached ioDrive Octal from Fusion-io has achieved in excess of 2.2 million sequential IOPS, and in excess of 1.4 million random IOPS, offering supercharged performance in Supermicro's new SuperServer® line. The 1U SuperServer® being tested can be equipped with either 10G Ethernet or 40G Infiniband for networking or external storage connectivity.

The achievement comes as the two companies enter into a new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partnership. Fusion-io and Supermicro are teaming to offer Fusion Powered SuperServers® that significantly accelerate data intensive real-time applications, transactional databases and heavy workloads.

"Supermicro has worked closely with Fusion-io and fine-tuned our SuperServer® solution to obtain significant performance improvements over current SAS or SATA implementations," said Wally Liaw, Senior Vice President of International Sales for Supermicro. "Adding these Fusion-io accelerated SuperServers® to our extensive portfolio of high-efficiency memory and IO products provides our customers with SAN-like performance in smaller and more efficient form factors."

The initial agreement between the two companies covers three Supermicro SuperServer® models, bringing Fusion's ioMemory technology to 1U, 2U and 4U form factors. Supermicro will offer Fusion-io's ioDrive Duo and ioDrive Octal to its customers. By integrating the ioDrive Octal directly into a SuperServer®, enterprise applications are accelerated up to 10 times and beyond, while simultaneously reducing power-per-IOP up to 10 times.

"The solutions developed by Supermicro and Fusion-io bring both performance and reliability to NAND Flash, giving Supermicro customers a mission-critical advantage over their competitors," said Jim Dawson, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Fusion-io. "Architected to take advantage of the power of NAND Flash when it acts like memory instead of constraining it to operate like a disk, the Fusion Powered SuperServers® eliminate unnecessary complexity while dramatically improving performance and reliability. The result is flash-based performance that rivals DRAM, with data speeds dramatically exceeding even SSD-based storage arrays."

The ioDrive product line, available through the Supermicro solution in capacities up to 5.12 TB in the ioDrive Octal, offers Fusion-io's revolutionary new solid-state ioMemory tier to dramatically increase bandwidth and application performance, reduce latency, and simplify IT infrastructure, while slashing capital and operating costs. Supermicro SuperServers® integrated with ioMemory allows companies to rethink the way they architect data systems to unleash the true potential of their highest performance applications. Using less hardware, less power, and less administration, Fusion-io customers can realize performance gains of several magnitudes, immediately delivering unprecedented return on investment.

Three initial SuperServer models, covering 1U, 2U and 4U form factors are available with Fusion-io drives:
1U: SYS-6016GT-TF
2U: SYS-6026TT-GTRF
4U: SYS-7046A-HRF+

Supermicro Server Building Block Solutions® offer exceptional flexibility and outstanding feature advantages. For more information on Supermicro's complete line of server and workstation solutions go to www.Supermicro.com.

HTC ChaCha to be known as ChaChaCha in Spain, somebody didn't do enough market research

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:56 AM PST

As it turns out, the word "chacha" is used as a term of disparagement in the Spanish language. Coincidentally, perhaps after somebody hit HTC's marketing genii with a Spanish phrasebook, the HTC ChaCha will hereafter be known as the ChaChaCha in the land of sun, sand and siestas. This follows mobile search engine ChaCha suing for trademark infringement a couple of days ago and serves as an instructive example of why one should do one's market research before deciding to use one's internal codenames as retail product nomenclature.

Olympus SZ-30MR shoots 1080p video and 16MP stills simultaneously; Tough TG-810 is 'crushproof'

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:22 AM PST

Olympus just loosed a trio of compact cameras. Let's start big with the €329 SZ-30MR. According to Olympus, the 30MR packs a backlit CMOS sensor with 24x (25-600mm) optical zoom and Dual Engine TruePic III+ processing. It also lays claim to being the first to simultaneously record 1080p video while shooting 16 megapixel stills -- a feature Oly dubs, Multi Recording. The SZ-20 lacks the MR and dials back the zoom to 12.5x but costs a relatively modest €219.

Olympus also announced a silver or black TG-810 compact for €299. First and foremost is the cam's claim for ruggedness: crushproof at a weight of 100kg (220 pounds); waterproof to 10 meters (32.8 feet); shockproof at a distance of 2 meters (6.56 feet); and freezeproof a temps to -10 degree celsius (14 degrees F). Otherwise, it boasts a 14 megapixel CCD sensor, a 5x (28-140mm) optical zoom, 720p movie mode, TAP control (for gloved use), GPS, and an electronic compass.

All three cameras feature a 3-inch LCD; HDMI; high ISO and sensor-based mechanical image stabilization; smart panorama, 3D photo, pet detection, and beauty modes; and SDXC and Eye-Fi card compatibility. Look for them to hit retail in March.
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Introducing the first ever camera to capture Full HD movies & 16 Megapixel stills simultaneously

Introducing the first ever camera to capture Full HD movies & 16 Megapixel stills simultaneously
Olympus Super Zoom Series posts another world first

New SZ-30MR & SZ-20 deliver high-tech at its finest

Hamburg, 2 March 2011 – When Olympus launched the SZ-10 in February, it was hard to believe the zoom in a compact camera could get any more powerful. The new SZ-30MR proves that it can. With a jaw-dropping 24x wide optical zoom (25-600mm*), this state-of-the-art flagship breaks all the rules in the compact category – and it breaks records too. The SZ-30MR is the first camera ever to offer simultaneous recording of 1080p Full HD movies and 16 Megapixel still photos. So with the SZ-30MR, users can shoot in high resolution with different combinations of recording modes at once, then share their shots in the format of their choice. For example, as a movie and digital still or a wide-angle shot and a close-up. Like the SZ-30MR, the new SZ-20 is astonishingly slender for a camera with huge zooming power. The super-slim design makes both SZ models ideal for people who like to travel light but insist on the very best spec. With a backlit CMOS sensor for excellent pictures in low light, 3D photo shooting and Eye-Fi card compatibility, these cameras combine practicality with beauty and sheer imaging power. The SZ-30MR is available for €329, the SZ-20 for €219, both from March 2011.

MR is for a Multi Recording
The SZ-30MR is the world's first camera to record 1080p Full HD movie and 16 Megapixel stills at the same time – thanks to an ingenious feature Olympus calls Multi Recording. For anyone who's ever shot a scene one way, then (when it was too late) wished they'd done everything differently, MR is a must. Dual Engine TruePic III+ image processors give the
SZ-MR30 the power to record simultaneously in more than one mode, and in a variety of combinations. Users can record two different movies at once: in wide-angle and close-up; Full HD and lower resolution; or original and filtered (using one of the SZ-30MR's seven Magic Filters for movies). In addition, with the Photo with Movie Clip setting, it's now possible to capture moving footage before and after taking a single photo. These innovations give users the fun and flexibility of sharing their shots in a variety of media – from full-size prints to video clips for their favourite social media website. Both new models come with wireless Eye-Fi compatibility, so they can upload photos automatically to the Web – no cables required.

SZ is for Super Zoom
The Super Zoom SZ Series lives up to its name with a 24x wide optical zoom on the SZ-30MR and an equally impressive 12.5x super wide optical zoom on the significantly lower priced SZ-20. With this sort of zooming power it's easy to take exceptional shots, from the expressive face of a gargoyle high up on a church roof to an emotive movie close-up of battling athletes. The pixel-rich 1080p Full HD movie format ensures the best moving picture quality currently available in a compact camera – with breathtaking realism, clarity and colour when users play back on a large Full HD TV.

S is for state-of-the-art
The SZ-30MR and SZ-20 are packed with the smartest technology the compact camera world has to offer, giving users a host of features that make it easy to get creative, transfer movies or photos wirelessly and capture just the shot they want in excellent quality. Both cameras offer 3D still photo shooting and eight Magic Filters, including the new Sparkle and Watercolour options. Pet Detection mode automatically snaps dog or cat faces just as they look up, while with Smart Panorama, users simply pan from side to side to get a sweeping panorama picture.


The SZ-30MR is available in black for €329, the SZ-20 in silver and black for €219, both from March 2011.


Distinguishing features:

OLYMPUS SZ-30MR

Image Quality

• 24x wide optical zoom (25-600mm*) for exceptional close-ups

Creativity & Flexibility

• Multi Recording with Dual Engine TruePic III+ image processor for recording movies and photos simultaneously, or two movies in different modes or from different angles

OLYMPUS SZ-20

Image Quality

• 12.5x super wide optical zoom (24-300mm*) for superb close-ups
• TruePic III+ image processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise

Common features:
Image Quality

• 1080p Full HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in the best image quality currently available in compact cameras
• 16 Megapixel backlit CMOS sensor for high-resolution, superb-quality full-size movies, stills and prints, even in low light
• Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots

Usability

• 3" colour LCD (460,000 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
• Smart Panorama for capturing sweeping stills just by panning the camera
• Handheld Starlight Mode for shooting blur-free at night without a tripod
• Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people's faces just as you want them
• Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
• Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
• Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog's or cat's faces when they look at the camera
• Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)

Creativity & Flexibility

• Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
• 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
• Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills:
Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Soft Focus, Fish Eye, plus new Sparkle (photos only) and Watercolour

Other key features

• Photo surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
• HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it's connected to HD equipment
• ISO 80 to 3200
• SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible**
• Built-in flash
• In-camera manual
• USB charging

* 35mm camera equivalent.
** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association.

1080p Full HD Movie recording
1080p Full HD movie recording (1920 x 1080) offers the best moving picture quality available in a compact camera today. With Full HD, footage is realistic, smooth, bright and clear. Movies become a fascinating window on real life when viewed on a big Full HD TV.

3D Mode (3D photo shooting)
Captures two shots of a scene from two different angles to create still photos that can be viewed with the added excitement and realism of 3D (on a 3D-compatible display). There are two 3D settings: Manual and Automatic. In both settings, the camera indicates when it is time to pan. In Automatic, when the camera is panned horizontally after the first shot, it automatically takes the second shot at the ideal moment. Manual is for 3D experts – the user decides when to take the second shot.

Advanced Face Detection technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that's sharp in the right places and ideally exposed. Advanced Face Detection Technology can detect up to 16 faces.

AF Tracking
This system tracks a moving subject automatically and keeps it continually in focus – for optimally focused and exposed pictures. It even memorises the subject when it goes out of frame and resumes tracking when it reappears.

Beauty Mode
Beauty Mode touches up the appearance of subjects even while the shot is being taken. This feature recognises faces and automatically makes skin on the face and adjacent areas appear smoother, brighter and more youthful.

Dual Image Stabilisation
Providing two-fold protection, this special function helps to avoid image blur caused by camera shake or fast-moving subjects. It combines high ISO values with a sensor-based mechanical image stabiliser, where a built-in gyro sensor detects camera movement and adjusts the sensor accordingly.

Eye-Fi card compatibility
Lets users insert an Eye-Fi storage card and set it to automatically wirelessly transfer new photos and HD movies to the sharing website and computer of their choice.

i-Auto Mode
The "intelligent-Auto" mode uses advanced automatic detection technology that enables the camera to automatically recognise the most commonly shot scenes. This makes it possible to capture perfect photos without the need for manual settings.

[ib] software
Olympus now offers [ib], an integrated photo browsing and organising software. Images can be organised by person with a new face recognition technology, by place with a GPS-based mapping function or by event.

Magic Filters
Make it possible to create special artistic effects in still images and/or movies directly in the camera.

Fish-Eye: Simulates the dramatic effect of a fish eye lens, lending a new perspective to the whole scene with a "wrap-around" effect.
Pin Hole: Reduces peripheral brightness, like with an image seen through a pinhole. A unique colour tone results in a style that has an air of secrecy or portrays the feeling of being lost in another dimension or space.
Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid, to create high-impact pictures that express the light-hearted feeling of the pop art style.
Punk: Displays images primarily in contrasting pink and black to give them an edgy, punk-inspired feel.
Drawing: Transforms images into line drawings to give the impression that subjects have been sketched by an artist.
Soft Focus: Creates a soft tone that gives pictures an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. It renders pictures as though they were veiled in heavenly light, without obscuring details such as hair or flower petals.
Sparkle (photos only): Adds twinkling lights to objects.
Watercolour: Another piece of artistic wizardry. This time images are turned into a watercolour painting surrounded by soft light.
Multi Recording
A world-first, Olympus Dual Engine technology allows users to combine various photo and movie recording modes simultaneously:

Photo & Movie: A Full HD movie and 16 Megapixel full-size photos. While users are recording a Full HD movie, they can take a high-resolution photograph as well.
Photo with Movie Clip: Records a Full HD movie before and after taking a photo.
Multi-File Movies: A Full HD movie and a movie with less resolution.
Multi-Framing Movies: A wide-angle and a close-up Full HD movie.
Magic Filter & Original Movie: A regular Full HD movie and a movie with a Magic Filter effect.

Pet Detection
Automatically detects dog or cat faces (two different modes) and works together with the Auto Release to capture the photo the moment the dog or cat turns to face the camera.

Photo Surfing
By selecting this option in the Playback menu, users can opt to browse pictures by date, scene, person, place, or image collection.

Scene Mode
Offers a choice of different scenes to suit the subject being captured, for example, landscape, night, beach and snow or pet. The camera automatically adjusts a host of parameters to achieve the best possible result for the chosen scene.

Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT)
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g., a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.

Smart Panorama
Allows the user to create an impressive super-wide angle, wrap-around photo simply by panning the camera horizontally or vertically. There's no need to pay attention to points of intersection – the camera knits the separate stills together automatically.

TruePic III+ image processor
Automatically enhances important aspects of image quality, including colour reproduction (range, saturation and brightness) and picture sharpness (reduced image noise, improved edge reproduction), as well as processing data faster. Supports the Magic Filters that enable unprecedented creative expression.



State-of-the-art TOUGH flagship is world's first 100kg crushproof* camera

State-of-the-art TOUGH flagship is world's first 100kg crushproof* camera
Crushproof OLYMPUS TOUGH is world record holder

TG-810 has 3-sensor compass for outdoor action

Hamburg, 2 March 2011 – Just when everyone thought the TOUGH range couldn't get any tougher, Olympus launches the ultimate indestructible camera. The new OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810 delivers fabulous-quality HD movies and stills – and something just as valuable: unlimited peace of mind. This state-of-the-art TOUGH blows the competition away with record-breaking ruggedness and unique TOUGH technology. The stats speak for themselves. The TOUGH flagship is the world's first camera that's crushproof* to a weight of 100kg, so an adult can tread on it and it'll keep going fine. Thanks to double-durable lens and port technology, the TG-810 is also waterproof*, shockproof*, freezeproof* and scratch resistant to an unprecedented degree. With its built-in manometer, unique three-sensor GPS & Electronic Compass and high-resolution,
glare-resistant HyperCrystal III LCD, this stylish camera is the ideal companion for an active lifestyle – from home to hotel to a hike through the Himalayas. Packed with advanced automatic features for easy shooting in tricky conditions, the new TOUGH captures memories just like they happened, and keeps them extra safe for sharing wirelessly with friends and family. The OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810 is available for €299 from mid-March 2011.

The toughest ever TOUGH
You don't have to live like a stuntman to abuse a camera. But with the OLYMPUS TOUGH flagship, you could. It's the world's first camera that's crushproof up to a weight of 100kg. But that's just the start. A sliding double lock mechanism and additional metal lens barrier ensure the TG-810 is waterproof to a huge depth of 10m, shockproof to a height of 2m and freezeproof to -10°C. There's even a built-in manometer to make sure you don't dive too deep. Just as well. Because this camera is packed with ingenious technology that's hard to find elsewhere – and makes it a joy to capture photos and HD movies, whatever the weather, wherever you are.

The safest and smartest
The best cameras (and mobile phones) often come with GPS. But only Olympus' GPS & Electronic Compass has three sensors to record the direction the camera is pointing (even when it's turned off). That makes it an excellent piece of kit for finding your way in unfamiliar surroundings. It displays more than 700,000 nearby geographic and natural points of interest – the maximum for a GPS-equipped camera. At a glance, users can check their latitude, longitude and altitude, shooting direction, the date and time or air and water pressure. In the water, the TG-810 really comes into its own. i-Underwater Snapshot, one of four underwater settings, detects when the camera is submerged and adjusts white balance automatically to ensure beautiful, worry-free shots – even in optional 3D. No matter the element, the 5x wide optical zoom lens (28-140mm**) provides precision and flexibility, while the large, three inch 920,000 dot high-definition HyperCrystal III LCD reproduces images on the spot in very high quality.

The best of the best
Like the other two OLYMPUS TOUGH cameras, the TG-810 offers high-end features that make editing and sharing a breeze, for example Eye-Fi card compatibility that lets users automatically transfer images wirelessly to a website or PC.

The TG-810 is available in silver and black for €299 from mid-March 2011.



OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810
Toughness

• Crushproof* up to the world-record weight of 100kg
• Waterproof* to 10m, shockproof* to 2m and freezeproof* to -10°C for worry-free use anytime anywhere
• Metal lens barrier for extra-tough lens protection
• Sliding double lock mechanism for optimum protection of battery, card slots and ports
• Water-repellent and scratch-resistant double seal technology
• Built-in manometer for checking depth underwater
• GPS & Electronic Compass with unique three-sensor technology for orientation and key information at a glance
• Improved TAP Control Mode for controlling the camera by tapping or tilting the body, ideal when wearing gloves
Image Quality

• Four underwater scene modes, including i-Underwater Snapshot (with the camera set to i-Auto) for worry-free underwater shooting
• 5x wide optical zoom (28-140mm**) for shooting flexibility
• 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
• Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots
• TruePic III+ processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise
• 720p HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in excellent quality
• 14 Megapixels for high-quality full-size movies, stills and prints
• ISO 80 to 1600
• Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Soft Focus, Fish Eye (photos only), plus new Sparkle (photos only) and Watercolour
• Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
• Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
• Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people's faces just as you want them
• Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog's or cat's faces when they look at the camera
• Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)
• In-Camera Panorama for quick and easy panorama shots
• Built-in flash
Storage & Sharing

• 3.0" 920,000 dot Super Precision HyperCrystal III LCD for TOUGH, generating clearer images and reducing reflection even in direct sunlight
• SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible***
• Photo Surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
Connectivity

• Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
• HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it's connected to HD equipment
Other

• USB charging

* Crushproof according to Olympus test conditions. Waterproof according to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8. Shockproof figures equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions). Freezeproof according to Olympus test conditions.
** 35mm camera equivalent.
*** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association.


For a full list of features, please go to http://www.countryspecificurl.com

For questions or additional information, please contact:

Julia Rauther
OLYMPUS Europa Holding GmbH
Tel.: +49-40-23773-4258
Email: Julia.Rauther@OLYMPUS-europa.com
http://www.OLYMPUS-europa.com



Appendix

3.0" Super Precision 920,000 dot HyperCrystal III LCD for TOUGH
Unique to TOUGH Series cameras, this exceptional LCD features 920,000 dot resolution that generates beautifully bright and clear images. It also has a special layer that reflects light from external sources, thus reducing reflection even in direct sunlight – for outstanding visibility in a variety of shooting situations. And of course it's super-tough. A triple-coated acrylic finish makes the LCD more scratch-resistant than ever before.

3D Mode (3D photo shooting)
Captures two shots of a scene from two different angles to create still photos that can be viewed with the added excitement and realism of 3D (on a 3D-compatible display). There are two 3D settings: Manual and Automatic. In both settings, the camera indicates when it is time to pan. In Automatic, when the camera is panned horizontally after the first shot, it automatically takes the second shot at the ideal moment. Manual is for 3D experts – the user decides when to take the second shot.

Face Detection technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that's sharp in the right places and ideally exposed. Face Detection Technology can detect up to 12 faces.

AF Tracking
This system tracks a moving subject automatically and keeps it continually in focus – for optimally focused and exposed pictures. It even memorises the subject when it goes out of frame and resumes tracking when it reappears.

Beauty Mode
Beauty Mode touches up the appearance of subjects even while the shot is being taken. This feature recognises faces and automatically makes skin on the face and adjacent areas appear smoother, brighter and more youthful.

Dual Image Stabilisation
Providing two-fold protection, this special function helps to avoid image blur caused by camera shake or fast-moving subjects. It combines high ISO values with a CCD-based mechanical image stabiliser, where a built-in gyro sensor detects camera movement and adjusts the CCD accordingly.

Eye-Fi card compatibility
Lets users insert an Eye-Fi storage card and set it to automatically wirelessly transfer new photos and HD movies to the sharing website and computer of their choice.

HD Movie (720p High Definition)
High Definition video (HD video) delivers a broadcast-quality movie experience when played back on an HD TV. In HD Movie Mode, the camera captures HD video using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 movie compression format at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

i-Auto Mode
The "intelligent-Auto" mode uses advanced automatic detection technology that enables the camera to automatically recognise the most commonly shot scenes. This makes it possible to capture perfect photos without the need for manual settings.

i-Underwater Snapshot
In i-Auto Mode, the camera detects when it is underwater and automatically activates
i-Underwater Snapshot, adjusting the tricky settings required for top-quality underwater shooting. It's perfect for portraits shot in shallow water and captures the subject and the background vividly.

[ib] software
Olympus now offers [ib], an integrated photo browsing and organising software. Images can be organised by person with a new face recognition technology, by place with a GPS-based mapping function or by event.

Magic Filters
Make it possible to create special artistic effects in still images and/or movies directly in the camera.

Fish-Eye (photos only): Simulates the dramatic effect of a fish eye lens with still photos, lending a new perspective to the whole scene with a "wrap-around" effect.
Pin Hole: Reduces peripheral brightness, like with an image seen through a pinhole. A unique colour tone results in a style that has an air of secrecy or portrays the feeling of being lost in another dimension or space.
Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid, to create high-impact pictures that express the light-hearted feeling of the pop art style.
Punk: Displays images primarily in contrasting pink and black to give them an edgy, punk-inspired feel.
Drawing: Transforms images into line drawings to give the impression that subjects have been sketched by an artist.
Soft Focus: Creates a soft tone that gives pictures an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. It renders pictures as though they were veiled in heavenly light, without obscuring details such as hair or flower petals.
Sparkle (photos only): Adds twinkling lights to objects.
Watercolour: Another piece of artistic wizardry. This time images are turned into a watercolour painting surrounded by soft light.
Pet Detection
Automatically detects dog or cat faces (two different modes) and works together with the Auto Release to capture the photo the moment the dog or cat turns to face the camera.

Photo Surfing
By selecting this option in the Playback menu, users can opt to browse pictures by date, scene, person, place, or image collection.

Scene Mode
Offers a choice of different scenes to suit the subject being captured, for example, landscape, night, beach and snow or pet. The camera automatically adjusts a host of parameters to achieve the best possible result for the chosen scene.

Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT)
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g., a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.

TAP Control Mode
A unique interface that lets users access a range of camera functions simply by tapping the camera body. Quick View Mode, Shooting Mode, a user-defined feature (Flash or SAT), and Snow Mode can be accessed by tapping at particular points of the camera. Tilting the camera scrolls through images in Playback Mode.

TruePic III+ image processor
Automatically enhances important aspects of image quality, including colour reproduction (range, saturation and brightness) and picture sharpness (reduced image noise, improved edge reproduction), as well as processing data faster. Supports the Magic Filters that enable unprecedented creative expression.

Google spikes 21 malicious apps with big download counts from the Market (update: Android 2.2.2 and up are immune)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 02:48 AM PST

We're sure that the debate of a carefully controlled and curated environment like Apple's App Store versus a free-for-all like the Android Market will rage on for years to come, but here's something to chew on: Google just removed some 21 apps from the Market in the last day from a publisher going by Myournet for doing all sorts of naughty things to your device. Offenses include attempting to root your phone, uploading phone information (including IMEI) to who-knows-where, and -- most egregiously -- adding a backdoor that allows additional code to be pulled down and executed.

At least some of the apps are pirated versions of existing apps that have been re-uploaded at zero cost to the user, which makes them appealing... and the trick apparently works quite well, because the 21 managed to clock over 50,000 downloads before getting taken down. This isn't the first time malicious apps have shown up on smartphones -- far from it -- but it's probably the highest-profile case of a first-party app store being infiltrated by really bad stuff. If there's a silver lining, it's that Google was extraordinarily quick to respond once Android Police reported the situation -- the site says it took less than five minutes from the time they reached out to the time the apps actually went offline. Still, that's little consolation if you've already installed your "free" copy of Super History Eraser. Hit the source links for the full list of pulled apps.

Update: Android Central points out that the type of root exploit used in these apps was patched in Android 2.2.2 and up, so Nexus One and Nexus S owners should be fine; everyone else is left out in the cold, though, thanks to the vexing third-party update lag. Thanks, Z!

Eizo's 27-inch ColorEdge CG275W has a 2560 x 1440 IPS panel, which will calibrate itself

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 02:17 AM PST

Calibrating your monitor in order to maximize color accuracy is considered an inevitable chore for graphics professionals, but here comes Eizo with a defiant look on its face and a brand new 27-inch IPS display. The ColorEdge CG275W promises to do all the adjustments itself, eschewing the need for a separate calibration utility, and can even be set to do it overnight, freeing your creative mind to collect its much needed ration of Zs. Brightness maxes out at 270 nits, contrast is rated at 850:1, and there's a 6ms gray-to-gray response time, not bad for the traditionally slower IPS tech. DVI, DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort connectivity is augmented with a USB 2.0 hub, while the stand can tilt, rotate and swivel in typical Eizo fashion. You also get that fetching hood that's compatible with both portrait and landscape orientation. Shipping begins at the end of this month, with pricing varying by territory.
Show full PR text
EIZO Announces 27" Self-Calibrating Monitor for Graphics

Hakusan, Japan, March 1, 2011 – Eizo Nanao Corporation (TSE: 6737) today announced the ColorEdge CG275W, a 27-inch monitor for professionals in prepress, digital photography, graphic design, video editing, post production, and other graphics fields.

The ColorEdge CG275W features a built-in calibration sensor for self-calibration. It becomes the second monitor in the graphics industry with this capability, following EIZO's ColorEdge CG245W which was released last year.

Self-calibration eliminates the need for a third-party external calibraqtion device and improves work efficiency since the monitor can be scheduled to self-calibrate outside of work hours when the computer is turned off. The computer itself is not necessary so a self-calibrated ColorEdge CG275W can be used with any operating system.

The ColorEdge CG275W uses an IPS (in-plane switching) LCD panel with a native resolution of 2560 x 1440 (16:9 aspect ratio). This is more pixels than produced by two 19-inch monitors with a 1280 x 1024 native resolution so the monitor has ample space for displaying graphics applications and tool palettes. It has a maximum brightness of 270 cd/m2, contrast ratio of 850:1, 6 ms gray-to-gray response time, and 178° viewing angles.

DVI-D, DisplayPort, and Mini DisplayPort inputs are included. All three ports offer up to 10-bit display which allows the monitor to show 1.07 billion colors simultaneously from a 16-bit look-up table (LUT).1

Several features are included for accurate color display.

* Gamma curve is calibrated on the factory line.
* Wide color gamut reproduces 97% of the Adobe RGB color space.
* 3D LUT improves the panel's additive color mixture (combination of red, green, and blue) for more accurate color and grayscale tones.
* Digital Uniformity Equalizer (DUE) compensates for fluctuations in brightness and chroma uniformity that are characteristic of LCD panels.
* EIZO-patented technology stabilizes the brightness after start up or coming out of sleep mode.

The ColorEdge CG275W uses hardware calibration so the monitor itself is calibrated rather than the computer's graphics card. This ensures no tones are lost in the calibration process for more predictable on-screen color. EIZO's bundled ColorNavigator calibration software2 is used for setting the target values for brightness, white point, and gamma and generating an ICC profile.

ColorNavigator includes a "Correlation Utility" that matches the measurement results of the ColorEdge CG275W's built-in calibration sensor to those of an external calibration device. This may be necessary in a work environment where the ColorEdge CG275W is used with other monitors and all measurement results need to be standardized.

The ColorEdge CG275W comes with six preset color modes that reproduce common color spaces used in pre-press, digital photography, broadcasting and digital cinema: Adobe RGB, sRGB, Rec709, EBU, SMPTE-C, and DCI.

Additional Features

* Includes a shading hood that can be used in portrait mode as well as landscape mode.
* FlexStand 2 with 90° portrait display, 151.5 mm height adjustment, 25° tilt, and 344° swivel.
* Energy-saving presence sensor that detects when the user is absent and prompts the monitor to enter sleep mode. When the user returns, normal operation automatically resumes.
* USB 2.0 hub with one upstream and two downstream ports.
* Consumes less than one watt in power save mode and no power when turned off.
* Simulation of two types of red-green (protanopia and deuteranopia) and one type of blue-yellow (tritanopia) color blindness.3 This helps designers to verify their color schemes can be recognized by people with all types of color vision.
* Limited five-year manufacturer's warranty.4

Availability

The ColorEdge CG275W will begin shipping in late March. Date of availability and pricing will vary by country so please contact the EIZO subsidiary or distributor in your country for details. EIZO will exhibit the ColorEdge CG275W at Focus on Imaging exhibition in Birmingham, UK from March 6 – 9 in Hall 9 Booth C3.

About EIZO


Eizo Nanao Corporation is a leading global manufacturer of high-end visual display products. The image quality, long-term reliability, and innovative features of EIZO monitors make them the products of choice in many financial trading rooms, hospitals, back offices, and design studios throughout the world. EIZO is based in Japan and represented in over sixty countries by a network of exclusive distributors.
For more information, please contact:

Eizo Nanao Corporation
153 Shimokashiwano
Hakusan, Ishikawa 924-8566
Japan
Phone: +81 76 277-6792
Fax: +81 76 277-6793
www.eizo.com

1 A graphics board and software which support 10-bit output are necessary for 10-bit display.
2 Compatible OSes are Mac OS X 10.4 and later, Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit) and Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit).
3 Requires use of EIZO's UniColor Pro software. This software is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7/Vista/XP and Mac OS 10.3.9 or later and can be downloaded free of charge from www.eizo.com.
4 The usage time is limited to 30,000 hours or less, and the warranty period of the LCD panel is limited to three years from the date of purchase.

All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. ColorNavigator is a trademark, and EIZO and ColorEdge are registered trademarks of Eizo Nanao Corporation.

Shocker! UK regulator finds average broadband speeds are 'less than half' those advertised

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 01:42 AM PST

You don't have to go to the lengths of compiling a statistical project to know that advertised and actual broadband speeds are two pretty disparate entities, but it does help. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, recently took a thorough look at 11 broadband packages, which collectively account for over 90 percent of all British broadband subscriptions, and found that actual download throughput was less than half (only 45 percent) of the advertised "up to" speed. The worst offenders were resellers of BT's ADSL lines, with Orange dipping below 3Mbit on its 8Mbit lines and TalkTalk occasionally offering only 7.5Mbit to users paying for a 24Mbit connection, while Virgin's cable connectivity won out by sticking most loyally to its listed rating. What Ofcom proposes for the future is that all these service providers start offering Typical Speed Ranges that more accurately reflect the bandwidth a potential subscriber would be buying into -- a proposal that might actually have some teeth as the British Advertising Standards Authority is currently in the midst of a review specifically concerned with broadband advertising practices. Transparency in the way we're sold broadband? That'd make a welcome change!

NanoPhotonica develops S-QLED, OLED to develop inferiority complex soon

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 01:18 AM PST

Ahh, the wonders of OLED -- flexible displays, great viewing angles, and low power consumption. However, the folks at NanoPhotonica have "perfected" a quantum dot display technology called S-QLED that allegedly has superior picture quality, uses 30 percent less power, and costs three-quarters less than its OLED competition. The company is gearing up for mass production and is in talks with several OEMs to start producing S-QLED displays, but unfortunately there's no timetable for when they'll get to market. Guess we'll have to wait a bit longer to see just how perfect these QLEDs really are.
Show full PR text
NanoPhotonica Develops Breakthrough Technology for QLED Flat Panel Displays

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NanoPhotonica, a developer of advanced materials, has perfected realizable, breakthrough QLED display technology that it is commercializing for mass production.
Improvements have been made in image quality with the newer OLED technology, but high manufacturing costs, yield limitations and limited lifetime make it expensive and challenging for all but the smallest devices.

The company's S-QLED technology improves on the picture quality and power consumption achieved by recently introduced OLED displays, while significantly reducing cost and improving lifetime well beyond what OLED can achieve. NanoPhotonica's materials and design solution is cost-effective on the full range of displays from smartphones to large devices like TVs.

NanoPhotonica is currently working with several leading display manufacturers to commercialize devices based on its proprietary technology. Work at independent laboratories previously identified key performance advantages.

"Most current electronic products have LCD displays that are power hogs and provide picture quality that, as we all know, leaves a lot to be desired," explains CEO Dr. Christopher Morton. "Improvements have been made in image quality with the newer OLED technology, but high manufacturing costs, yield limitations and limited lifetime make it expensive and challenging for all but the smallest devices."

Displays made using NanoPhotonica S-QLED technology will provide better picture technology than OLED, use 30 per cent less power, will be priced up to 75 per cent lower and last twice as long. The technology's versatility across all display sizes is made possible through cost-effective ink jet printing that requires no vacuum deposition.

"NanoPhotonica has a game-changing approach to the materials, design and manufacture for displays," adds Morton. "We're excited by the benefits we bring to the industry and by the response we have had from major display producers worldwide. Our focus is to accelerate work with existing and new display partners to bring this QLED technology to market soon. Our materials are enabling similar advances in the solar industry, and we intend to announce more about those programs shortly."

About NanoPhotonica

NanoPhotonica, based in Orlando, FL, brings innovative nanomaterials and production techniques to enable market-altering improvements to a range of photoelectric applications, including displays, solar panels and other electronic device industries. www.nanophotonica.com

HTC Magic / T-Mobile G1 gets Honeycomb port, Android past and future fused together (video)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 12:34 AM PST

The original gangster of Android, T-Mobile's G1, just refuses to quietly fade into the annals of history. Even in spite of its long overdue end of retail life last summer, the handset continues to see support from grassroots modders and tweakers, with the latest project being the most ambitious of them all: an Android Honeycomb port. A pair of xda members have succeeded in splicing Android's most senior hardware with its very latest software and the results are available to see on video after the break. As usual with these builds, half of the phone's functions have still to be enabled and the UI lag seems like it'll be a permanent feature whatever happens, but still -- it's Honeycomb on the G1!

NES becomes an HTPC, turns your FOF upside down

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 11:52 PM PST

Nintendo Entertainment Systems have proven to be fertile ground for the DIY community -- purses, guitars, and belt buckles are just a sampling of the more unusual NES mods out there. We've also seen our share of NES PCs, and now an enterprising Finn going by the name Ana-5000 has crammed a fully-fledged home theater PC into everybody's favorite 8-bit console. An Asus AT3IONT-I Deluxe motherboard with an Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor and an NVIDIA Ion GPU provides the computing power and offers HDMI and VGA ports, six USB 2.0 ports, optical and RCA audio connections, integrated 802.11b/g/n wireless and Gigabit ethernet, and Bluetooth connectivity. Ana-5000 gave the repurposed Nintendo a fresh black and white paint-job to set it apart from your garden variety NES as well. Hit up the Source link for pics and an explanation of the entire mod process if you feel like doing some console recycling yourself.

iPad 2 (or something) shows up in the wilds of China

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 10:57 PM PST

Look, not even the source of these images is absolutely certain that the device in his possession is a legitimate iPad 2, but we can't very well leave you spending your entire day anticipating Apple's new tablet launch without a potential candidate for what it might eventually look like. The above mockup has been procured over in China (where else?) and seems to tally closely with speculation we've been hearing about this hardware refresh -- namely, a slimmer profile, an almost entirely flat back, bigger speaker, and of course, rear- and front-facing cameras. We've looked into the digits on the back of the device and the model number is one for the original Apple TV while the FCC ID is for a WiFi-only iPad, but those could be mere placeholders on what is, once again, a mockup and not a real working tablet. The SIM card slot looks to have been repositioned to a slot that was once expected to house an SD card reader. Other tidbits of interest here include the 3G antenna, whose white cover is expected to be black on final units, and the sloped power button and headphone jack, bringing those witty "jumbo iPod touch" jokes to mind. Boy, those never get old. Jump past the break for a few more pics.





Flexible batteries get the graphene treatment, could be cheaper than other bendy batts

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 09:53 PM PST

We've been talking about flexible batteries for years now, but a team of Korean researchers have presented a new solution to bendable energy sources that is not only more powerful than standard lithium-ion batteries, but also potentially cheaper to produce than its malleable predecessors -- and unsurprisingly, everyone's favorite wonder material, graphene, is at the heart of the innovation. The rechargeable battery contains a vanadium-oxide cathode, grown on a sheet of graphene paper, an unidentified separator, and an anode made of lithium-coated graphene. According to the folks behind the new power source, it sports higher energy and power density, as well as a better cycle life than the literally stiff competition. Similar advances have also out-performed rigid lithium-ion batteries, but have enlisted carbon nanotubes, a material more expensive to produce than graphene. Of course, like all technological advances, we won't be seeing these things for years, if not decades, so you might as well get used to ye olde standard bearer.

The Charlie Sheen meltdown will be twitterized #Winning #Duh

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 09:17 PM PST

Put down the search bar and step away from the television. Charlie Sheen's Twitter account has just been certified genuine letting you watch the train wreck at 140 frames per second.

NVIDIA's faulty GPU class action settlement challenged, but time's running out

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 07:50 PM PST

Remember when NVIDIA was caught selling defective mobile graphics chips, and agreed to provide bargain-basement replacement laptops to make a class-action lawsuit go away? At least one gentleman wasn't happy with how that went down, and is suing to see that affected customers get a fair shake. Ted Frank of the Center for Class Action Fairness says that NVIDIA has no business passing off cheap laptops, and we think he might have a case -- after all, the judge ordered that NVIDIA provide "a replacement computer of like or similar kind and equal or similar value," and it doesn't take a lawyer to see that the $400 Compaq Presario CQ56-115DX that the company's offering doesn't come close to compensating owners of faulty machines. We joked that you might be better off selling your old laptop for parts on eBay, and that might not be far from the truth.

The thing is, whether Ted Frank and company win or lose in court, defective laptop owners have only two weeks remaining to sign up for whatever NVIDIA ends up handing out, as March 14th is the final deadline to have settlement claims postmarked. Read the arguments at our more coverage link, and decide for yourself.

Emotiv EEG headset hacked into VR trapeze act, lets you fly like Superman (video)

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 06:35 PM PST

Last year, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students built a virtual reality contraption that let them soar through the sky, held aloft by a trapeze harness and seeing through HMD-covered eyes. This year, they're controlling it with the power of their minds. For his master's thesis, project leader Yehuda Duenyas added an Emotiv headset -- the same one controlling cars and the occasional game -- to make the wearer seemingly able to levitate themselves into the air by carefully concentrating. Sure, by comparison it's a fairly simple trick, but the effect is nothing short of movie magic. See it after the break.

[Thanks, Eric]





$200 'Mini' NMR detects cancer faster and cheaper than full biopsies

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 05:34 PM PST

Detecting cancer could be on the verge of getting a whole lot cheaper -- and better. Researchers at Harvard and MIT have come up with a device that, using a needle to get a tissue sample, has achieve 96 percent accuracy despite having a cost to produce of just $200. It's called a mini NMR (for nuclear magnet resonance) and also gives results in under an hour, giving the good or bad news on a smartphone display. The cost, simplicity, and portability could make it much easier for cancer to be caught and diagnosed early, but naturally it still has a good bit of testing left before it'll be ready for prime time.

Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7 now available, may or may not make its way to tablets

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 04:49 PM PST

Back in June at Computex, Microsoft announced the successor to Windows CE -- Windows Embedded Compact 7 – and it's finally hitting the general availability mark today. The guys in Redmond posted a 180-day trial of the final WEC7 bits yesterday, and while it is unclear when it was released to manufacturers, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley notes that the digital signature on the bits is February 19th. So, what does it all mean? Well, you'll definitely want to check out our Windows Embedded Compact 7 explained post, but we should start seeing the new OS powering phones (don't forget WP7 is built on the Win CE kernel), medical devices, retail systems, and maybe even some tablets soon. As for the latter category, you may rememeber that we saw that WEC7 prototype tablet above at Computex, however while some like ASUS promised early on that it would use the software for its EP101TC, it quickly ditched that idea and went with Android. Our guess is that will be the case for most out there, but the lightweight OS, which now can run on ARM V7 architecture, has built-in support for Silverlight for Windows Embedded and Flash 10.1, clearly has advantages over Windows 7 on tablets at the moment. Hit the source link for some more details, and we'll make sure to keep an eye out for new devices running the new wordy OS.

Design project paints city's WiFi networks with light

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 04:08 PM PST

We've seen WiFi detectors used for various DIY projects before, but none quite like this rather ambitious project cooked up by Norwegian designers Timo Armall, Jørn Knutsen, and Einar Sneve Martinussen. They built a four-meter long WiFi-detecting rod that boasts 80 LED bulbs and carried it around various neighborhoods in Oslo, picking up signals of various strengths from nearby WiFi networks all the way. That's only the half of it, though. The real kicker is that they also captured the whole thing with long-exposure photographs to effectively paint the "invisible terrain" of WiFi networks with light. Head on past the break for a video, and hit up the source links below for a closer look at the entire process.

[Thanks, Christer]


Older TiVo Series 3 / HD boxes will work with the iPad remote app soon

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 02:54 PM PST

The companion app for TiVo Premiere DVRs worked out well when we reviewed it, but ZatzNotFunny points out it could get even better soon when it will feature "limited support" for Series 3 / HD boxes, along with TiVo DVRs offered by cable providers like RCN and Suddenlink. This "coming soon" info was included in an update yesterday that added a new DVR selection screen to the setup process, ability to run in the background plus assorted performance enhancements and bug fixes. Of course, we now know that TiVo's "lifetime" offers won't last forever (ten years, give or take) but for users who would prefer to stick with their existing hardware instead of upgrading to a Series 4, there are still a few new features coming down the pipe.

Prospero the robotic farmer robotically plants seeds, makes humans even more lazy (video)

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 02:26 PM PST

Let's face it -- humans are lazy, yet incredibly industrious. We've seen everything from a self-making bed, to a channel-changer to even a touchless keyboard. And now, we're blessed with a robot that plants seeds for us. That's right, the image you see above is of a five-legged machine that has the ability to complete all of the necessary steps to grow a plant. Thanks to a Parallax Propeller chip that's mounted on a Schmart Board, Prospero is able to autonomously navigate in any direction and avoid obstructing objects. There's a sensor that lies under its body that senses where seeds have been deployed. If the robot detects that the ground is in need of a seed, it'll dig a hole, drop the seed, move the soil back over the hole and then spray paint the ground white to note that the process was successful. The belly of the bot is also equipped with fertilizers and herbicides, and Prospero can 'talk' (via infrared) to other robots in order to maintain crop-creating efficiency. You can check out a 48-second clip of the planting process after the break. Or, if you're a harvest-enthusiast, hit the more coverage link for 5 minutes of glorious green thumb action.

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