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Friday, August 12, 2011

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Growing Up Geek: Zach Honig

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Growing up in the 80's, many kids used their Little Tikes easels to sketch their homes, or their families, or a football or two. Mine was littered with pictures of ceiling fans. But not just the ceiling fan mounted above my playroom -- no, these fans were upside-down (like a model I saw in New Orleans), daisy-chained (seen at a local arcade), and connected to a gas-powered motor (as I once noticed at an Amish farm). My obsession with ceiling fans, and really any motor-powered gadget, ran deep. At one point, shortly after I took my first steps, I began refusing to eat in restaurants that didn't have fans. And when a particular establishment was sophisticated enough to have installed that ever-so-necessary exposed air circulator, you better believe that it needed to be running, and at full speed.

My seemingly bizarre obsession with powered devices didn't stop there. I also had an unlikely fascination with vacuum cleaners. Not with their ability to pick up dirt -- I don't believe I had any interest in what they were actually used for, much to the chagrin of my mother -- but with the loud motor that sprung to life when I flipped the power switch, and the uncannily bright headlight that lit the way. Sure, vacuums today feature quiet motors and highly maneuverable ball designs, and even though life was simpler two decades ago, that mesmerizing loud hum, and bright, guiding light would be all it took to get a two-year-old me hooked. But electricity became more than a casual curiosity. My most prized possession was a wood-mounted set of outlets paired with matching switches -- one was fixed, and one dimmed. My grandfather helped me build it after one of our weekend trips to the hardware store.

My parents were happy to support my electrified obsession, buying dozens of sets of Christmas lights in the middle of summer, and allowing me to string up the house with interconnected strands. Cords kept me grounded, so once I discovered battery power, that was it. I began collecting flashlights of every shape, size, and degree of luminosity -- a three-cell D Maglite became my pride and joy, until million-candlepower beacons first made their way to the neighborhood Radio Shack, which had always been my first stop on every trip to the mall. I owned enough flashlights to keep the house perfectly lit during power failures, which, quite disappointedly, were few and very far between in New Jersey.

As I grew older, I moved far beyond vacuum cleaners and ceiling fans, focusing all of my geeky attention on my first MS-DOS powered desktop. Eventually, I was racing around a pair of GUIs -- System 7 on the Macs at school, and eventually Windows 95 at home, which came installed on my first Intel Pentium desktop, which arrived bundled with a color monitor. Unboxing that color CRT, a MAG Innovision with the text COLOR printed in a enormous rainbow font on the box, was not an insignificant life event. I remember that moment more vividly than any other during my pre-teen years, and was only able to match that level of excitement with the purchase of my first notebook -- an Apple PowerBook G3 (Pismo).

I quickly learned that in order to afford the sky-high prices technology demanded in the late 90's, I'd need to get a paid gig. I was far too young to meet the 16+ age requirement for finding "legal" work, so it was under-the-table odd jobs for me. Tech support house calls brought a couple bucks from mom and dad, but summers de-veining shrimp in my uncle's seafood restaurant and falls blowing leaves in Jersey helped to pay some of the bills. Eventually, I was able to afford to build my own computer, driving to a mom and pop computer store down the street. My dad watched in awe as I pushed the cart around the tiny store, loading up on one of the first Pentium III processors, a rather unassuming case, a 10GB Maxtor hard drive, and -- if I recall -- 16MB of RAM.

After that second major desktop purchase, each year brought a new computer, with the previous year's acquisition heading off to eBay to fund the next new thing. I spent much of my time browsing the auction site, often buying new gear second-hand after letting an early adopter drive it off the lot, even if it meant missing out on that still-thrilling unboxing process. Cell phones hit the mainstream during my senior year of high school, and my first smartphone -- a super-sleek Palm Treo 650 -- made its appearance the year before my MacBook made the jump to Intel during college.

Just before my first year of journalism school, I took an interest in photography, buying my first DSLR -- a Canon Digital Rebel. The Ritz Camera salesperson threw in a 1GB CompactFlash for good measure, which made the $999 camera an even bigger bargain. That six megapixel cam stuck with me until I decided to make photography a career, choosing to major in photojournalism at the Missouri School of Journalism. During my second year, I invested in a nearly $10,000 pro kit, including a second-hand Canon EOS 1D pro body, 16-35mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm f/2.8 L-series lenses. I took up an interest in aerial photography, even dedicating a few weeks to earning my private pilot's license. Sadly, flying quickly became cost-prohibitive, as aviation fuel prices rose beyond $6 per gallon. Instead, I decided to focus on writing, replacing all the heavy gear with a set of pens and a reporter's notebook -- and a brand new MacBook Pro.

Since then, writing and editing has paid the bills, starting with a year-long stint as assistant editor for news and reviews at Popular Photography in 2007. The following summer, I found myself staring out the window of a 747 as we passed over the polar ice cap en-route to Beijing, where I worked as an Olympic News Service reporter at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After two months in China, I was proud to call PC Magazine home for a couple years, before joining the incredible Engadget team earlier this year. Over the course of my still-young career, I've considered keeping work and pleasure separate, letting a business gig fund my gear addiction to avoid the risk of losing interest in technology. But while I've been much more critical in recent years, tearing through the packing tape of the latest gadget hasn't become any less of a thrill. Ah, I think that's FedEx at the door. I'll be going now.

A Senior Associate Editor at Engadget, Zach Honig spends his free time traveling the globe, having visited more than 30 countries in the last decade. You can follow his adventures on Twitter, where he'll soon be posting from Germany, the UK, Japan, and Vietnam @ZachHonig.

IBM exec says PC is 'going the way of the typewriter,' kills our birthday buzz

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:31 AM PDT

Well, this is awkward. As the IBM PC celebrates its 30th birthday today, one of its original designers is already mulling the end of its reign. In a blog post penned this week, Mark Dean, IBM's CTO for the Middle East and Africa, reflected on the dawn of the desktop era and looked forward to its seemingly inevitable demise.

"When I helped design the PC, I didn't think I'd live long enough to witness its decline. But, while PCs will continue to be much-used devices, they're no longer at the leading edge of computing. They're going the way of the vacuum tube, typewriter, vinyl records, CRT and incandescent light bulbs."

Dean added that he's glad his company sold its PC business to Lenovo in 2005, as part of a move that, according to him, allowed IBM to position itself at the forefront of the "post-PC" era. No word yet on when the funeral rites will be held, but you can read the full post at the source link, below.

Engadget Podcast 252 - 08.12.2011

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT

You might think the Engadget Podcasters are a bunch of dudes and dudettes who sit around and obsess over consumer electronics all day for a living. Aaaaaaannnnd.......you might be right. That's why we brought in Garry Dell'Abate, a guy who obsesses over executive-producing The Howard Stern Show every day (for a living), for a little bit of an outside take on the big issues of the week. But never fear, traditionalists: he's still quite the nerd, it turns out. It's the Engadget Podcast, this time with perspective.

Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guest: Gary Dell'Abate
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Money


04:34 - Nokia to retire Symbian in North America, going all-in on Windows Phone
11:00 - Nokia: the N9 isn't coming to America
19:05 - German Apple suit ruling blocks Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sale in Europe
23:21 - NL ruling on Apple vs. Samsung dispute due on 9/15, courtroom antics catalogued
42:30 - Spotify reported to have 175,000 paid-up Americans, valued at $1.1 beeellion
52:17 - Sonos Play:3 review
56:34 - Listener questions





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HTC Bliss stops by the FCC dressed in Verizon red (update)

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT

Looking for a little FCC Friday rapture? HTC's rumored "women only" smartphone, the Bliss, just passed through the Commission's gates for a bit of strut and tell. Sporting the model number PI46110, the handset seems destined for a Big Red debut with CDMA 850MHz / 1900MHz bands, WiFi and Bluetooth on-board. The carrier looks to be continuing its recent trend of global-capable phones, as the device also packs a GSM 900MHz radio. While we weren't able to dig out any concrete dimensions for the phone, we'd err on the side of a 4-inch or below display, considering VZW's past dalliances with gender-specific marketing -- no, we haven't forgotten those Pre Plus ads. If that leaked roadmap is any indication, you ladies can expect to see this stylish (we assume) Android 2.3 accessory hit on September 29th.

Update: A Verizon mailer has popped up over at xda-developers, and while the camera placement certainly seems to conflict, some folks are suggesting that what's shown there (and after the break) might just be the first legitimate shot of the Bliss. Here's hoping, right? Thanks, Liam!

Engadget's back to school guide 2011: headphones

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT

Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're giving your ears some love with a plethora of headphones that will keep you rocking around campus -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!


Whether you're dubstepping, duck walking or just plain sprinting to and from classes, you may want to add a soundtrack to your campus travels with some slick new headphones. Although, with so many choices and styles it can be a bit overwhelming to find a set that's right for you. Luckily, we're here to help! Don't forget to enter our giveaway as well if you want a shot at winning your own set B&W's brand spankin' new C5 in-ears -- not to mention more than $3,000 worth of gadgets that are sure to induce an extreme case of Gadget Acquisition Syndrome!

You'll find some of our own recommendations just past the break, and another chance to enter our back to school giveaway. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and click on over to our giveaway page for all the details.



On the cheap


Klipsch Image S5i

Klipsch's S4i is probably one of the most solid sounding mobile in-ear headphones for about a Benjamin -- especially if you love those emphasized lows and highs. The S5i takes the same internals and packs 'em into an adventure-ready, rugged and moisture-resistant package, so you won't need to worry if you spill some brewsky water on them.

Key specs: Ruggedized rubber design, moisture-resistant in-line remote / mic and driver housings

Price: $104 on Amazon


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Etymotic mc2
Not only will its in-line remote / mic work with any phone, but these 'buds isolate noise up to 42dB, quelling the sounds of rambunctious dorm-mates.

$100 on Amazon

Pioneer SE-CL331
These "washable" in-ears will be perfect for those times you forget to empty your pockets while doing laundry before rushing to class.

$60 on Amazon



Mid-range


Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile HiFi

We really love the P5s. These headphones have surely been a crowd pleaser thanks to a travel-friendly design, sophisticated look, smooth sound signature, and a fit that stays comfortable for hours. You can even use 'em as a headset for phone calls, thanks to the in-line remote. $300 may be tough to swallow, but these are easily worth it -- unless you aren't privy to leather, that is.

Key specs: Leather-wrapped, memory foam earpads, detachable cables, in-line remote / mic, articulating earcups, passive noise-isolating

Price: $300 on Amazon


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Klipsch Image X10i
Take everything that's great about the S4is, and soup-it-up with improved quality and sound that's aimed at pleasing audiophiles on the move.

$217 on Amazon

AIAIAI TMA-1 w/ mic
The TMAs were designed with DJs in mind, packing a detachable coiled-cable and uni-body design. Or swap to its straight cable with an in-line remote / mic for commanding your playlists on the go.

$225 on Amazon



Money's no object


Ultimate Ears In-Ear Reference Monitors

You're a purist, we get it! You don't care for boosted bass or factory spec'd EQs. You want the most transparent sound possible. Lucky for you, Ultimate Ears teamed up with EMI's Capitol Studios to make a set of IEMs that any professional recording engineer or audiophile will love.

Key specs: Three balanced armature drivers per monitor, maximum 32dB of noise-isolation, 5Hz to 18khz frequency response, braided Y-splitting cable, custom-molded

Price: $999 at Ultimate Ears


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Westone ES5 IEMs
Three drivers per custom in-ear mold not enough? You could get two more -- and for a cool 49 bucks less than those UEs above. Party on.

$950 at Westone

Sennheiser HD 800
Ah, so you're not a fan of plugged-up ears? Say hello to what could be considered the crème de la crème of circumaural audiophile cans. You'll definitely need an amp that goes to 11 for these, though.

$1,500 on Amazon


Engadget's Back to School Giveaway
Official Rules
No Purchase Required to Enter or Win

Eligibility: Engadget's Back to School Giveaway (the "Giveaway") is open only to individuals who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years of age or older. Employees of Weblogs Inc. LLC, AOL Inc., their advertising or promotion agencies, those involved in the production, development, implementation or handling of Giveaways, any agents acting for, or on behalf of the above entities, their respective parent companies, officers, directors, subsidiaries, affiliates, licensees, service providers, prize suppliers any other person or entity associated with the Giveaways (collectively "Giveaway Entities") and/or the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members (whether related or not) of each such employee, are not eligible. All U.S., federal, state and local and Canadian federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void in Quebec, Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.

Sponsor: The Giveaway is sponsored by Weblogs Inc. LLC, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 ("Sponsor").

Agreement to Official Rules: Participation in the Giveaway constitutes entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

Giveaway Period: The Giveaway begins at 12PM ET on August 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011 (the "Giveaway Period"). The Giveaway Period shall be divided into fifteen (15) separate Entry Periods:

Entry Period 1 begins at 12PM ET on August 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 2 begins at 12PM ET on August 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 3 begins at 12PM ET on August 3, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 4 begins at 12PM ET on August 5, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 5 begins at 12PM ET on August 8, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 6 begins at 12PM ET on August 10, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 7 begins at 12PM ET on August 12, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 8 begins at 12PM ET on August 15, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 9 begins at 12PM ET on August 17, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 10 begins at 12PM ET on August 19, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 11 begins at 12PM ET on August 22, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 12 begins at 12PM ET on August 24, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 13 begins at 12PM ET on August 26, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 14 begins at 12PM ET on August 31, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 15 begins at 12PM ET on September 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.

Entry: During the Giveaway Period, go to http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/engadgets-back-to-school-2011-sweepstakes-were-giving-away-3/ and add a comment to submit your entry. The use of any agencies or automated software to submit entries will void all entries submitted by that person.

Drawing: At the conclusion of the Giveaway Period, Sponsor will select the name of one (1) Grand Prize Winner from each of the fifteen (15) Entry Periods in a random drawing of all eligible entries received during each Entry Period. The odds of being selected as a potential winner depend on the number of eligible entries received during the applicable Entry Period. Potential Winners will be contacted via email and asked to provide their full name, age and mailing address within a specified time period. If a potential winner does not respond within the timeframe stated in the notification email, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from all entries received during the Entry Period. Non-winning entries from one Entry Period do not carry over into subsequent Entry Periods.

Requirements of the Potential Winners: Except where prohibited, the potential winners will be required to complete and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release (the "Affidavit/Release") and IRS W-9 form within seven (7) days of being notified. If a potential winner fails to sign and return the Affidavit/Release and W-9 form within the required time period, an alternate entrant may be selected in his/her place in a random drawing of all entries received. Acceptance of a prize constitutes consent to use winner's name and likeness for editorial, advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. In the event the potential winner of any prize is a Canadian resident, he/she will also be required to correctly answer a time-limited mathematical question to be administered by email, mail or phone to receive the prize. Limit one (1) prize per household.

Prizes: Fifteen (15) Grand Prize Winners will each receive a Back to School Prize Pack containing the following items: HP Pavilion dm1z laptop, Sony NEX-C3 digital camera, Samsung 7" Galaxy Tab, Motorola Photon 4G (Sprint) smartphone, Altec Lansing Octiv 650 speaker doc, Bowers & Wilkins C5 headphones, Nook E-reader, Timbuk2 Command Messenger bag, Elgato HDHomeRun TV tuner, Kingston Wi-Drive, 1-year Premium Spotify subscription, Scosche: goBAT II, iMainGo: X, G-Form 11" Extreme Sleeve, Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite, 1-year Premium Skype subscription, Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock, Red Swingline Stapler, Toddy Smart Cloth and Pogo Sketch. Approximate Retail Value of each Prize Pack is $3,151. Subscriptions are subject to issuer's terms and conditions. Activation fees and monthly service fees not included with any smartphone/digital devices. No cash or other substitution may be made, except by the Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute a prize or portion of a prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Winners are responsible for any taxes and fees associated with receipt or use of a prize.

General Conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Giveaway is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, or other technical problem, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) suspend the Giveaway to address the impairment and then resume the Giveaway in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) award the prizes at random from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Giveaway or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of the Giveaway may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. In case of a dispute as to the owner of an entry, entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the screen name from which the entry is made. The authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

Release and Limitations of Liability: By participating in the Giveaway, entrants agree to release, defend indemnify and hold harmless the Giveaway Entities from and against any claim or cause of action, including without limitation, any third party claim, arising out of participation in the Giveaway or receipt, use or misuse of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Giveaway; (b) technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or network lines; (c) printing errors; (d) lost, late, postage-due, misdirected, or undeliverable mail; (e) errors in the administration of the Giveaway or the processing of entries; or (f) injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Giveaway or receipt, use or misuse of any prize. Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Giveaway Entities' liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Giveaway, and in no event shall the Giveaway Entities be liable for attorney's fees. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PRIZES AND ALL ELEMENTS THEREOF ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF ANY KIND. SPONSOR DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND/OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. Some jurisdictions do not allow the disclaimer of implied warranties. In such jurisdictions, some of the foregoing disclaimers may not apply to you insofar as they relate to implied warranties.

Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Giveaway or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Giveaway, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the Commonwealth of Virginia or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Giveaway Results: To request the names of the winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Engadget Back to School Giveaway Winners, Zach Honig, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. Requests must be received by September 30, 2011.
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The IBM PC turns 30, we hurt our hands giving it birthday punches

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:37 AM PDT

IBM PC turns 30
Thirty years ago today IBM officially ushered in what many consider to be the modern computing era with the 5150. What ultimately became known simply as the IBM PC was the first machine to run a Microsoft operating system (the recently acquired PC-DOS) on an Intel processor (the 4.77MHz 8088) and inspired countless clones. The bare-bones model, which cost $1,565, was cheap enough to become a serious commercial success, and spawned an entire cottage industry of machines that touted their IBM-PC compatibility. We won't spend too much time recounting the story of how IBM's decision to build a computer with off the shelf components and commercially available software forged a standard whose descent survives to this day in the form of Wintel. But, if you're feeling a little nostalgic, you can read the original PR from August 12, 1981 just after the break.
Show full PR text
IBM Corporation today announced its smallest, lowest-priced computer system -- the IBM Personal Computer.
Designed for business, school and home, the easy-to-use system sells for as little as $1,565. It offers many advanced features and, with optional software, may use hundreds of popular application programs.
The IBM Personal Computer will be sold through participating ComputerLand dealers and Sears, Roebuck and Co.'s new business machine stores beginning this fall. It will also be sold through IBM Product Centers and a special sales unit in the company's Data Processing Division.
"This is the computer for just about everyone who has ever wanted a personal system at the office, on the university campus or at home," said C. B. Rogers, Jr., IBM vice president and group executive, General Business Group. "We believe its performance, reliability and ease of use make it the most advanced, affordable personal computer in the marketplace."
IBM has designed its Personal Computer for the first-time or advanced user, whether a businessperson in need of accounting help or a student preparing a term paper.
An enhanced version of the popular Microsoft BASIC programming language and easily understood operation manuals are included with every system. They make it possible to begin using the computer within hours and to develop personalized programs quite easily.
Among the new system's highlights are:
Features: Available with the system are an 83-key adjustable keyboard, up to 262,144 characters of user memory (16,384 standard), a printer that can print in two directions at 80 characters per second, self-testing capabilities that automatically check the system components and a high-speed, 16-bit microprocessor.

Performance: Operating at speeds measured in millionths of a second, the IBM Personal Computer can generate and display charts, graphs, text and numerical information. Business applications -- including accounts receivable and word processing -- can be run on the same system with applications covering personal finance and home entertainment.

Service: The IBM Personal Computer will be serviced by IBM and by a nationwide network of authorized IBM Personal Computer dealers designed to provide the high standards of service associated with all IBM products.

Color/Graphics: The capabilities provide users with a text system capable of displaying 256 characters in any of 16 foreground and 8 background colors. It is also capable of displaying graphics in four colors.

Compact Size: The main processor or system unit -- about the size of a portable typewriter -- contains expandable memory and a built-in speaker for audio and music applications.

Expandability: A starter system consisting of a keyboard and system unit can be connected to a home television set with a frequency modulator. It can then be expanded to a system with its own display, printer and auxiliary storage cassettes or diskettes. The computer can be used with color or black-and-white television sets. Information from centralized data banks such as Dow Jones News/Retrieval Service* and THE SOURCE* can be accessed and displayed.
The system's keyboard comes with a six-foot, coiled cable for flexibility. It can be used in the lap or positioned across a desk top without moving the computer itself. The 83 keys make it easy to write and edit text, enter data ranging from stock analysis to cooking recipes, figure business accounts, or play video games.
The optional IBM display and printer are attachable units. The display has an anti-glare screen, green phosphor characters for reading comfort and controls for brightness and contrast. Automatic flashing and underlining can be used to call attention to especially important information on the screen.
The printer provides 12 type styles. Both printer and system unit can run self-diagnostic checks so users can verify that components are functioning properly.
Software for Business and Home
"We intend the IBM Personal Computer to be the most useful system of its kind," Mr. Rogers said. "Besides making it easy to set up and operate, we are offering a program library that we expect will grow with the creativity of the Personal Computer users."
Mr. Rogers said IBM has established a new Personal Computer Software Publishing Department for the system. It will publish programs written by IBM employees working on their own time and those accepted from independent software companies and outside authors.
Program packages available for the IBM Personal Computer cover popular business and home applications. For example, EasyWriter* will store letters, manuscripts and other text for editing or rapid reproduction on the printer. Businesses can use General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable by Peachtree Software, Inc. to generate balance sheets, track accounts and automatically print checks.
VisiCalc* is available for applications ranging from financial analysis to budget planning. Microsoft Adventure brings players into a fantasy world of caves and treasures.
Advanced Operating Systems
IBM, in conjunction with Microsoft, Inc., has adapted an advanced disk operating system to support IBM Personal Computer programs and software development. It has also contracted with Digital Research, Inc. and SofTech Microsystems, Inc. to adapt the popular CP/M-86* and UCSD p-System* to the Personal Computer. These two systems should provide users with the opportunity to transfer hundreds of widely used applications to the IBM Personal Computer with minimal modifications.
The IBM Personal Computer can be tailored to fit the user's needs. A basic system for home use attached to an audio tape cassette player and a television set would sell for approximately $1,565, in IBM Product Centers, while a more typical system for home or school with a memory of 64,000 bytes, a single diskette drive and its own display would be priced around $3,005. An expanded system for business with color graphics, two diskette drives and a printer would cost about $4,500.
The IBM Personal Computer was developed at the Information Systems Division's Boca Raton, Fla, facility and first deliveries will be scheduled for October.

Slim new HP TouchSmart AIO highlighted in leaked promo video

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:13 AM PDT

A tipster sent in what looks to be a video of a forthcoming HP all-in-one. The TouchSmart 520 is a slim device, propped up by two "sweeping support arms," which allow the PC to be adjusted, much like in past models. Not a lot of specs to go on at this point, though the system does sport a "high definition display" and souped up audio courtesy of Beats. Enjoy the rendered slickness in the video after the break.

Visualized: A gadget graveyard

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 07:49 AM PDT

Wonder where your old SDTV went to die? Wonder no more.

Samsung plans August 29th mobile launch... Galaxy S II finally landing in US?

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 07:27 AM PDT


Well, we have few other details beyond what you see in that invite above, but you better believe we'll be in New York City on August 29th. We're definitely expecting Samsung to announce a Galaxy S II launch in the US, especially given Samsung Mobile President Shin Jong-kyun's promise of a release "sometime in August" -- along with that intriguing II graphic in the invite up top. We also have on good authority that the S II will be launching on several carriers at once, which likely explains why Samsung is putting on the show, rather than deferring to a single partner. Check back on the 29th for the full scoop, and head on over to our full review to whet your appetite in the meantime.

Update: We noticed that the invite image itself is named "Galaxy_S_II_Invite_v2.jpg," so we're gonna go out on a limb here and say that the S II will definitely be released.

Cirque's GlidePoint NFC trackpad makes online shopping even lazier (video)

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 07:07 AM PDT

We've seen NFC technology pop up in everything from smartphones to windshields, but a company called Cirque has now expanded it to desktops, as well, with its GlidePoint trackpad. Cirque's system is relatively straightforward, consisting of its GlidePoint module (with an onboard NFC antenna) and a simple touch sensor. With these two elements working in harmony, users can scan a compatible card by hovering it over the module, while simultaneously using the trackpad to execute onscreen functions. The company has applied the same concept to its proprietary glass touch panel, as well, which could be integrated at payment terminals, or within tablets and touch-based smartphones. It remains unclear whether we'll see this kind of technology pop up on the commercial level, but for more details, check out the demo video after the break, followed by the full press release.

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Cirque Solves the Problem of Simultaneous Touch and NFC Operation

8/5/2011 12:00:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cirque now offers the ability to combine touch sensing and Near Field Communications on GlidePoint trackpads and GlideTouch touch panels.

Salt Lake City, Utah – July 29, 2011 – The combination of touch and near field communications operation has traditionally been problematic because both systems can interfere with one another. Now, Cirque has perfected the simultaneous operation of both touch and NFC. This advancement builds upon Cirque's patented integration of an NFC antenna with a touch sensor (US Patent 7,306,144). See a video demonstration of this solution in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo12Jxd0ox0

Cirque's GlidePoint trackpads and GlideTouch touch panels already offer industry leading features like multi-finger gestures, precise finger tracking and high resolution stylus performance. By combining NFC operation with touch sensing, Cirque solutions greatly simplify the addition of NFC to a wide variety of products. Now, customers can easily add touch input and near field communications to:

• Notebook computers
• Payment terminals
• Tablets and mobile phones
• Keyboards and PC peripherals
• Medical devices
• Industrial controls, and more

Near field communications are becoming increasingly popular for contactless card payment, logical access control, and mobile device communication. "So many devices combine touch and NFC", says Douglas Moore, Vice President of Cirque Input Solutions, "it is ideal to combine both technologies, which we can now do thanks to our patented methods."

Cirque Corporation is the original developer of capacitive sensing technology and continues to function as a market leader in a variety or markets such as notebook computers, payment, industrial, medical and consumer electronics. To learn more about Cirque's wide range of capacitive touch solutions, visit http://www.cirque.com.

Cirque, GlidePoint, GlideTouch and all associated logos are trademarks of Cirque Corporation. The technologies described in this release are protected by patents and patents pending.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 European ban hearing to be held August 25th

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 06:42 AM PDT

No one was all that surprised when Samsung announced plans to fight the injunction granted by a German court that banned the sale of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Europe -- what is perhaps surprising, however, is how quickly the wheels of justice are spinning on this one. The hearing, which was initially expected to take four weeks to get started, will be held on August 25th. A decision on overturning the ban is expected to arrive a few weeks after that date.

Vection Field controls traffic at SIGGRAPH, fictional cities from the future (video)

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 06:22 AM PDT

So, let's set the stage. You're walking down a semi-busy street in a semi-foreign city. You're curiously hanging close to the middle of the sidewalk. You bust out your smartphone and figure out that your so-called engagement just got "Complicated." Your gait has an irregularity. You look up and spot what appears to be a local, eerily perturbed and somewhat flummoxed by your current position. You dodge left. So does he. You dodge right, knowing full well that it'll only complicate matters when he follows suit. Before long, you're tiptoeing around a stranger while a full-on traffic jam builds up behind you. You've just ruined the universe, and that's not doing anyone any good. The solution? The University of Electro-Communications's Vection Field, which hones in on large moving visual cues that "induce a sense of self-movement." Funny enough, the lenticular lenses pathway here at SIGGRAPH actually worked -- we never expected an optical illusion to solve such a monumental issue, but we'll take it. Vid's past the break, per usual.

Quantum Phantom prototype lets you control your computer screen with a webcam (video)

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 05:53 AM PDT


A guy named Ben Wu sent us this video recently and it sort of blew our minds. Wu, an engineer and self-described dreamer, has spent the past year developing a program he calls Quantum Phantom -- an Iron Man-inspired system that allows users to control a computer's cursor using only an ordinary webcam. With his Windows software onboard, Wu can draw, write and move onscreen icons or widgets, simply by waving his camera in front of a set of dual monitors. The prototype is even sophisticated enough to recognize his own webcam-produced handwriting and automatically convert it to rich text. In most cases, the sensor relies upon an ordinary cursor to navigate a screen, but Wu has also developed a pointer-free solution, as demonstrated toward the end of the above, three-part video. Be sure to check it out for yourself and get lost in the magic.

[Thanks, Ben]

Lenovo aims new ThinkPad Edge laptops and ThinkVision monitor at business weaklings

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 05:29 AM PDT

Lenovo's come to the aid of road-weary business users who want a second screen for their laptops but think a Spacebook is a little excessive. It's just released the 14-inch ThinkVision Mobile Monitor to accompany its new ThinkPad Edge laptops, which gets both power and data via USB, has 16 brightness settings and packs an independent kickstand. It can either be used as a dual display for those mammoth spreadsheets or as a presentation screen where lugging around a projector just isn't practical. The Edge laptops (a 14-inch E425 and a 15.6-inch E525) come with AMD A-Series APUs, an optional fingerprint reader and a choice of "midnight black" (seen above) or "heatwave red" (shot after the break). All three are promised to arrive this month, with the laptops starting at $549 and the monitor priced at $219.99. Of course, if you need a USB-powered display bigger than 14-inches, you might be better off trying one of these.

Acer Iconia Tab A100 review

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 05:00 AM PDT

It's been nine months -- nine months! -- since Acer first announced it was getting into the tablet game, with a promise of both 7- and 10-inch slates. Well, the 10-inch Iconia Tab A500 has been on the scene for months, but until now we've been tapping our feet impatiently waiting for the other tab to drop. Acer came out and said it wouldn't be here until the second half of the year, and meanwhile we'd heard rumors it would arrive in September and that it was delayed due to "Honeycomb compatibility issues".

Well, folks, dog years later it's finally here. Say hello to the Acer Iconia Tab A100, the company's first 7-inch tablet, and the first 7-inch tablet to run Android 3.2. Other than its OS, its specs are fairly run-of-the-mill: a Tegra 2 SoC, five- and two-megapixel cameras, and micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports. And rejoice, geeks, because that's vanilla Honeycomb loaded on there -- you won't find any custom skins or proprietary widgets clogging your home screens. As much promise as these vitals might have for nerds, though, Acer is clear the tablet is for mainstream consumers ("moms," among others, according to the press release). We're not sure how your mother would feel about the precious pattern on the back, but chances are she'd appreciate the bargain factor: the 8GB version costs $329.99 while the 16GB number rings in at a reasonable $349.99, undercutting the 16GB HTC Flyer by $150. We've been lucky to get some quality time with the A100 the past few days, and let's just say we're coming away with some mixed feelings. But do we like it enough that we feel this little guy was worth the wait? That's a toughie, guys.
Acer Iconia Tab A100 review

Look and feel


At 0.92 pounds, the A100 is heavier than the 0.83-pound Samsung Galaxy Tab and on par with the 0.9-pound BlackBerry PlayBook and 0.93-pound HTC Flyer. At first glance, it looks thinner than average, thanks to its nearly flat surfaces and the fact that it's a shade slimmer than the 0.52-inch -thick HTC Flyer. But then you pick up a PlayBook, just four tenths of an inch thick, and the A100 suddenly feels like more of a burden.

But because of its more e-reader-like shape, it feels deceptively lighter than the Flyer. At 4.6 inches tall, it's narrower in portrait mode, making it that much easier to cradle with two hands and pound out emails using both thumbs. But with a width of 7.68 inches, it stretches farther in landscape mode, which means, conversely, that depending on the size of your hands, you might feel a bit more of a stretch in your fingers while tapping onscreen objects. Also, the bezel is bigger on the two short sides, which means if you're holding the A100 in landscape mode, you'll have more blank space flanking the display than if you held it in portrait.

Aesthetically, the A100 seems to take some design cues from laptops -- some slightly outdated ones, at that. The back cover has a navy finish with a pattern of thin, golden ribbons stretching from edge to edge. The back side is also stamped with Acer's logo, though we think it might have looked more elegant without it. There's also the five megapixel main camera on the back, along with an LED flash next to it.


The flip side to the A100's clean lines and squared-off corners is that there isn't much to hold onto. As dense as the Flyer is, we've always been endeared by the rubberized panels on the back, as they make the tablet easy to grip. The A100 has a glossy plastic back cover with a subtle contour that puffs out ever-so slightly in the center and tapers near the edges. Make no mistake: this isn't really an issue of ergonomics -- you're not likely to drop the A100 to an untimely death. There's just something to be said for the tactile experience of resting your fingers on rubber or cold aluminum instead of warm, slippery plastic.

On the front, you'll find the two megapixel secondary camera up top, with a home button built into the lower bezel. That button isn't a physical key, per se, in the sense that you don't push it, but tap it. Still, the home icon doesn't glow, but is instead painted so that it's always visible. And there's no haptic feedback, so it doesn't feel quite like interacting with the usual array of keys on an Android device. People who know their way around Honeycomb might find this addition redundant, but we often found it handy while using the tab in landscape mode.

Completing our tour, there's a glowing power / lock button on the same edge as the front-facing camera, so if you were holding the tablet in portrait mode these would be sitting on top. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack up there. On the opposite edge, below the home button, there are two small speakers on either end, with a micro-HDMI port, docking connector, and a micro-USB socket in between. (That docking connector, by the by, works with the same optional dock that was released around the time the Iconia Tab A500 came out.) Finally, if you were to cradle the slate in landscape mode, you'd see a lever to lock the screen orientation, a volume rocker, and a door hiding microSD slot. There's another slot next to it, but it's covered, and although it's the perfect spot for a SIM card, Acer just refuses to comment. We do wish that Acer labeled those volume buttons, though once you use them enough times you'll know which is which. On the bright side, we appreciate that the company made the external storage so easy to access unlike -- ahem -- some tablets we've tested recently.

Display and sound

The 7-inch (1024 x 600) display has something of a split personality as far as viewing angles go. On the one hand, you won't miss any detail if you're sharing the tablet with a friend and happen to be watching a YouTube clip from an awkward side angle. We did just that with Lady Gaga's "On the Edge of Glory" video, and even when viewing from oblique vantage points we could make out the smoke in the background along with the purple soundstage sky. On the other hand, trying to watch something with the tablet set down on a table in front of you is an exercise in futility. Forget a washed-out spot here or some color distortion there -- what you'll see is contrast so severe that you'll think you're looking at an inverse of whatever it is you were watching.

On the plus side, the sound quality is surprisingly decent, especially considering that we don't even have high hopes for audio on laptops, much less tablets. That catchy Lady Gaga number we mentioned? A pleasure to listen to, with a minimum of tininess and no one instrument overwhelming the others. The volume, as you might imagine, is pretty weak -- even cranked to the max, it felt just a half notch above our comfort level.

Cameras

Considering that tablet cameras typically offer mediocre image quality at best, we were pleasantly surprised by the A100's five megapixel rear sensor, which rendered natural-looking colors and did a fine job of capturing close-ups (in the gallery, you'll notice one sample in which the camera focused on the background instead of the foreground). We were less impressed by the two megapixel front-facing camera, which cast a faint blue tint over some of our shots. Many of our photos taken from that vantage point were also blurry -- and not from a failure on our part to stand still.
Acer Iconia Tab A100 (rear-facing camera)
Acer Iconia Tab A100 sample shots (front-facing camera)

In our sample 720p video, you might spot some ghosting as cars, bikes, and other faster-moving objects hurdle across the screen. Motion at least looks fluid, though, and ghosting wasn't a problem with slower-moving subjects -- namely, people. Our videos were also as well lit as our sample shots taken with the rear-facing camera, and displayed equally balanced colors, too.


Software

The A100 makes a claim that's worth repeating: it's the first 7-inch tablet to run Android 3.2. In a move that will please geeks, the company went with vanilla Android, and refrained from topping it off with any proprietary skins or widgets. That's good news for people who know their way around Honeycomb, though we do think it's curious that Acer didn't attempt to make it any more user-friendly, as Lenovo did with the IdeaPad K1.

Acer also didn't add much in the way of popular apps, as Lenovo and Toshiba did with their recent slates aimed at mainstream consumers. You will, however, see Docs to Go, along with a lone card game (Solitaire). Acer did throw in one proprietary app of its own -- SocialJogger, a Facebook / Twitter aggregator. And, of course, the company bundled clear.fi its own home-brewed software for sharing media with over devices over a shared WiFi network.

Performance

Though Acer doesn't highlight this in it press materials, the main advantage to having Android 3.2 is the apparent performance boost. Like so many other tablets on the market, the A100 packs a 1GHz Tegra 2 processor. In general, we think the SoC has performance limitations, with some visible lags being fairly typical. That said, the A100 fares well. Apps are quick to open and minimize, and the display responds smoothly to taps and swipes. The A100 also has Flash 10.3 on board, and while it loaded sites a bit more briskly than other Honeycomb tablets, the difference was subtle, at best. It's definitely not a reason to consider buying this over another slate.

And while benchmarks don't tell the whole story, we were encouraged to see that its scores in Nenamark 1 and 2 and the mobile browser test Vellamo bested those we got out of 10-inchers such as the Lenovo IdeaPad K1. (This was the first time we tried to run the popular Quadrant on an Android 3.2 device, and the app crashed every single time.) In this patchwork of tests the A100 even bested the Toshiba Thrive, which in turn delivered numbers similar to the Galaxy Tab 10.1. It's nice, then, to see evidence that as cutesy as the A100 is, it might actually play in the same league as bigger, more expensive models.

We also had mixed luck in the stability department. While some apps, such as Tweetdeck, ran smoothly, others, including Amazon Kindle, force closed. Additionally, the accelerometer is way too sensitive. During our testing, it routinely flipped the screen's orientation when we didn't mean it to. It makes us appreciate other tablets, such as the K1, that pause before moving from landscape to portrait and back.


Benchmark Score
Quadrant Would not run
Linpack 28.38 MFLOPS (single thread) / 55.36 MFLOPS (multi-thread)
Nenamark 1 57 fps
Nenamark 2 24.5 fps
Vellamo 1,057

Battery Life

The diminutive A100 houses a small 1,530mAh battery that promises up to five hours of juice if you're just doing things over WiFi, and up to four and a half hours of 720p video playback. We say, that's about right. In our standard battery test, which involves playing the same movie on repeat with WiFi on and the brightness set to 50 percent, it lasted four hours and 54 minutes. The numbers don't lie: that's the shortest runtime we've recorded on a tablet. Why, even the original Samsung Galaxy Tab lasted six hours and change. Not to mention -- after the 10-inch Iconia Tab A500 crapped out after less than seven hours, we would have hoped that Acer would have gone back to the drawing board and paid more attention to battery life, especially since the A100 was late to market anyway. It would seem that Acer either sacrificed a larger battery to keep the tablet small, or it wrongfully assumed that mainstream consumers don't care about longevity. Either way, we'd say that treating battery life as an afterthought is unwise.

Battery Life
Acer Iconia Tab A100 4:54
Apple iPad 2 10:26
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 9:55
Apple iPad 9:33
HP TouchPad 8:33
Lenovo IdeaPad K1 8:20
Motorola Xoom 8:20
T-Mobile G-Slate 8:18
Archos 101 7:20
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook 7:01
Acer Iconia Tab A500 6:55
Toshiba Thrive 6:25
Samsung Galaxy Tab 6:09

The competition

If you're dead set on a 7-inch tablet, it probably means you've given your options some thought and decided you prefer that size to more ubiquitous 10-inchers. So in that sense, comparing the different screen sizes feels like something of an apple-to-oranges comparison. Still, we can see people eyeing this inexpensive tablet as a gift for a not-so-tech-savvy person, in which case they might well be pitting the A100 against obvious contenders such as the iPad and Galaxy Tab 10.1. The big draw in that case will almost certainly be the price: the 16GB A100 costs $150 less than an iPad or Galaxy Tab 10.1 with the same amount of storage. It doesn't hurt that the A100 is fast and runs the latest version of Android (granted, that's a feature mainstream users might not care about). Still, the iPad and 10.1 are thinner, and both last at least twice as long on a charge.

As for 7-inch tablets, your main options aside from the A100 are the original Galaxy Tab, the BlackBerry PlayBook and the HTC Flyer / EVO View 4G (pictured in the gallery above). The PlayBook, as you'll recall, is thinner and lighter, but also more expensive, with a starting price of $499 for 16GB. The OS is still a work in progress of sorts, with more functionality yet to come (like, you know, a native email app). The HTC Flyer, too, costs $499 for 16GB and doesn't even include the $80 stylus if you purchase it in the US. That said, it offers better battery life and arguably better ergonomics, but it's just as heavy, slightly thicker, and it doesn't run Honeycomb. For those of you who live outside Europe, there's the Galaxy Tab, which is almost a year old and still doesn't run Honeycomb (officially). And though its battery life trumps the A100's, it still trails other tablets we've tested.

Wrap-up

Who knew the long-awaited Acer Iconia Tab A100 would turn out to be such an odd bird? On the one hand, the press release specifically calls out moms as potential customers and indeed, the company caters to them with an unabashedly feminine design. And yet, it's also a curiosity for geeks, given that it's the first 7-inch tablet to run Android 3.2. We don't mean to imply that there aren't any lady geeks out there (you're listening to one right now!), but soccer mamas and nerds make for an unlikely combination -- is there really a whole lot of overlap there? As it is, we think the tablet might alienate both groups. Do mainstream users care if a tablet runs Android 3.2 as opposed to 3.1 or even 3.0? Are there many geeks jonesing for a design that so unsubtly panders to women? And does anyone want a device offering half the battery life of its competitors? We're guessing not on all counts.

Acer simply isn't doing a good enough job of convincing mainstream shoppers that the latest version of Honeycomb on a 7-inch tablet offers a better user experience than an iPad. And if Acer is banking on women choosing a 7-inch tablet just because they have tiny fingers, then that's some misguided strategy too. People will choose the 7-inch form factor because it seems like the perfect balance between mobility and screen real estate, not because a 10-inch slate is too unwieldy. And if anything, we can more easily see a low-tech person picking up an HTC Flyer -- yes, it runs Gingerbread with Sense, but that would at least ring familiar to folks who aren't as gung-ho about their gadgets, but have at least mastered a smartphone.

Meanwhile, the company might have just burned a bridge with nerds who wouldn't be caught dead toting anything whose pattern looks like fishnets -- or that has sub-five-hour battery life, for that matter. Sure, it runs Android 3.2, but it won't be long before other tablets get updated to this version of Honeycomb and start reaping the performance benefits. The A100 isn't making a persuasive case for geeks either, then. And it's a shame, because the company might have had more success if it went after that person -- the enthusiast who has done his or her homework and decided 7 inches is the ideal size for a tablet. The person who can appreciate the value in having the latest version of Android. Acer should have gone after those people, and come up with more compelling reasons for them to bite.

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ACER ICONIA TAB A100 NOW AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA:
INDUSTRY'S FIRST 7-INCH ANDROID HONEYCOMB TABLET

Acer Extends Popular Iconia™ Tab Line with Its First 7-inch WiFi Tablet; The Ideal Companion for Families; Features Adobe Flash 10.3 for Web and Games

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 12, 2011 – Acer America expands its Acer Iconia™ Tab line of tablets with its first 7-inch tablet – and the industry's first 7-inch tablet running Android™ 3.2 (Honeycomb) – in the United States and Canada. The new Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 features an incredibly portable sub-one pound design, a vibrant 7-inch multi-touch display, and a sleek, thin design that is comfortable to use and take virtually anywhere.
With the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 tablet, customers can have a single portable device for enjoying entertainment such as games and websites as well as productivity applications such as a calendar and email. The tablet comes pre-installed with Adobe Flash Player 10.3, so Adobe Flash games and websites can be enjoyed right out of the box. In addition, the WiFi device is the ideal size for moms, families and individuals who want to stay entertained and productive, since the screen is large enough to enjoy video and other multimedia, yet the device is portable enough for comfortable single-handed use.

Weighing in at a mere 0.92 pounds and measuring only a half-inch thick, the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100's super-portable size makes it easy to take anywhere. The vibrant 7-inch TFT WSVGA screen displays social networking sites, photos and more in 1024x600 resolution and high-color contrast, so customers can enjoy crisp, vibrant content enhanced by a 16:10 aspect ratio and 75-degree wide viewing angle. Plus, the 7-inch capacitive touch-screen is incredibly responsive and accurate for convenient finger-tip control.

"The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 tablet delivers the ultimate combination of portability and performance for fun and gaming as well as staying in touch," said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product marketing, Acer America. "Families are spending more time social networking and enjoying web-based digital media, so a highly portable tablet like the Acer A100 will let them get more done and stay connected on-the-go to enjoy their lives more fully."

Ultimate Companion for Mobile Moms and Families
The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 is the ultimate companion for mobile consumers such as moms and families who want a single device for gaming, fun, entertainment and staying in touch on the go. Customers can enjoy movies right out of the box with the Google® Movies app that allows users to rent and play movies on the Acer A100. Also, Google® Music gives customers instant access to their personal music collection on the web without the hassle of wires or syncing. Customers can also use NemoPlayer® for video, photos and music and Aupeo! for enjoying online radio. Dolby® Mobile Technology on the tablet delivers dynamic sound to enhance the enjoyment of music and movies. In addition, the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 can be connected to a TV via its HDMI port, so customers can share full HD videos in 1080p resolution. Game play can also be extended to a big screen TV or display with the Acer A100's HDMI port and dual-display support. As a result, more people can watch and enjoy the game as it is mirrored to the larger screen. Plus, the Acer A100 can be used as a controller for the game as the player watches the image on the larger display.

In addition, games are crisp, fast and realistic thanks to the performance technology and six-axis motion sensing gyro meter. Customers can enjoy rich and exciting Adobe-flash based Web pages, games, videos and animations with Adobe Flash Player 10.3. Thousands of additional apps can be easily downloaded from the Android Marketplace.

Save Memories, Shop Better, Stay Connected with Cameras
The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 allows customers to always be ready to take photos and video on-the-go and quickly share them by email and on social media sites. Lighter than most SLR cameras, the Acer A100 has a 5MP rear-facing camera with flash, so families will know they have a great camera with them to capture all of life's fun and unexpected moments. It also records clear and detailed HD Video at 720p at 30 frames per second. Plus, the rear-facing camera can be used with many available apps to read bar-codes and QR codes for shopping and other promotions. The tablet also has a 2MP fixed-focused front-facing camera and webcam for video chats.

Reading and Productivity Apps Let Moms and Families Get More Done
The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 e-reading functionality will be appreciated by a range of family members. Moms and dads can download e-books to enjoy during quiet moments in comfortable single-handed usage. The tablet comes pre-installed with Acer LumiRead and Google® Books eReading apps for enjoying e-books. Plus, the color screen vibrantly displays children's e-books, so they'll always have something to enjoy during long or unexpected waits. Extra features like the realistic page turn effect make reading even more fun. The auto-rotation allows customers to enjoy e-books, games, movies and more in either landscape or portrait mode.

In addition, everyone can stay up-to-date with extended family and friends via Acer's Social Jogger, which puts Facebook® and Twitter® in one place for quick and easy reading and updates. Moms can keep their family schedule organized with the easy-to-use Acer "Day Planner" application that gives an easy-to-view list of upcoming activities. Working moms and those with busy schedules will appreciate that the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 helps them stay productive. Customers can set up multiple email addresses and view Microsoft® Office documents using the trial version of the "Docs to Go" app for getting things done quickly.

Android 3.2 Brings Additional Benefits for Browsing and Entertainment
The Acer A100 comes installed with Android 3.2, the latest version of Honeycomb to give customers the latest in advanced mobile browsing. Customers can browse the Internet with speed and ease, even web pages built with Flash, thanks to Adobe Flash 10.3 that comes pre-loaded on the Acer A100 tablet. In addition, Android 3.2 lets customers have more control over their entire browsing experience, such as managing web pages by tabs, more advanced privacy settings, and proper sizing of apps and web pages for the 7-inch display.

Connectivity to WiFi and Other Devices
The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 can quickly and easily connect to Wi-Fi networks via the integrated Acer InviLink Nplify 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED wireless technology to access the Internet, the Android marketplace for apps and more.

Customers can enjoy their own digital content on the Acer A100 tablet by transferring files such as videos, movies and eBooks to it through the tablet's micro-USB port or by using the Micro-SD card reader that can read Micro-SD cards with a capacity up to 32GB. Plus, the integrated Bluetooth allows consumers to connect the tablet to a variety of other devices, such as headsets and keyboards.

High-Performance for Maximum Enjoyment
The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 packs maximum performance into its incredibly portable size. It uses a high-performance NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM to give customers blazing fast access to multiple programs and apps at once. The Ultra Low Power GeForce® GPU enhances gaming, web, and multimedia for a more realistic, responsive experience.

The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 provides solid uptime with a 1530 mAh Li-polymer battery for up to five hours during Internet browsing with WiFi, up to four hours during web-streamed video and up to 4.5 hours during 720p video playback.

Sharing Digital Media is Easy with clear.fi
Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 comes with Acer clear.fi, which connects with any other DLNA-compliant device to quickly and easily share and enjoy digital media. It automatically detects clear-fi-enabled devices on the wireless home network (smartphones, notebooks, HD media players, etc.) and gathers and organizes media files by type (video, music, photo, pre-recorded TV).

Priced Starting at only $329.99
The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 is available in the U.S. and Canada at national retail stores now. The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100-07u16u with 16GB of memory has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $349.99 U.S and $399.99 CAD, while the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100-07u08u with 8GB of memory has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $329.99 U.S. and $349.99 CAD.

Jeff Bezos drops phone, has eureka moment, patents mini airbags

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 04:58 AM PDT

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos must have time on his hands and butter on his fingers. Why else would he have personally signed this patent application for a horrendously complicated "damage avoidance system?" It involves using a smartphone's inbuilt motion sensors to detect a free-fall calamity, then sending an emergency signal to a separate protective sleeve, which finally "deploys an airbag prior to contact." Heck, if we're going down that road Jeff, why not just stick some mini thrusters on it and make it hover?

SteelSeries Sensei mouse points at the moon, we concentrate on its finger

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 04:20 AM PDT

It's been more than two years since SteelSeries unveiled its Xai and Kinzu gaming mice, but the peripheral maker has now returned with a brand new sword in hand -- the sleek and presumably sage Sensei. The device, unveiled yesterday, is powered by a 32-bit ARM processor that can digest images at up to 12,000 frames per second and rocks up to 5,700 CPI, with a Double CPI option that extends to 11,400 DCPI, for users gaming across multiple screens. The ambidextrous controller also comes outfitted in a metal coating that won't slip from your hands and connects to computers via a gold-plated USB. Best of all, PC gamers can use SteelSeries' Engine software to customize their experience even further, with pre-set configurations and user profiles. The Sensei is slated for release next month, when it will retail for $90 (or €90). Click past the break for more details in the full press release.
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The SteelSeries Sensei Mouse Introduces a New Standard in Customizable Peripherals

Designed and Tested with Professional Gaming Teams, the New Mouse is Equipped with Superior Technology Features and Layers of Personalized Options Found on Both the Hardware and the New SteelSeries Engine Software

gamescom 2011

COLOGNE, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GAMESCOM – Leading the buzz at this year's GamesCom, SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality peripherals, today introduced the most customizable mouse to ever hit the competitive gaming industry - the SteelSeries Sensei. Its 32 bit ARM processor allows for the advanced SteelSeries ExactTech calculations to be done directly on the mouse and allows for easy configurations via its LCD screen. Perfected with the world's most successful, professional gaming teams, the Sensei has an ambidextrous design with a metal, non-slip grip coating and three areas of illumination with 16.8 million color options. Debuting alongside the mouse is the new SteelSeries Engine software suite which allows for multiple layers of customization and extended programmability.

"We truly believe in building peripherals that sets the expected standards for competitive gamers. The intent is to make them faster, more accurate and allow them to play longer – essentially, peripherals that gives users the freedom to play how and where they want, and that will help them win," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. "The Sensei is really the culmination of thousands of hours of research and testing with competitive players that combines a distinctive aesthetic design with the access to superior functionality for all levels of players. Users will have the luxury of choosing a quick configuration directly on the Sensei's LCD screen or dive into the multiple layers of advanced macros and settings through the new SteelSeries Engine software."

The Master of Customization

The Sensei features a state of the art 32 bit ARM processor which allows for both ninja-esque speed and precision; true hardware based sensitivity settings from 1 to 5,700 CPI, and an "overclocked" Double CPI feature that allows the user to go all the way up to 11,400 DCPI - a setting that is ideal for multiple monitor use. SteelSeries' industry leading ExactTech settings, such as ExactSens, ExactAccel, and ExactAim, can be calculated directly on the hardware, which leaves the user with a mouse that is completely free of any interpolation or extrapolation, delay, filtering and without using up memory or resources on the user's computer. The laser sensor boasts 10.8 megapixel image correlation at up to 12,000 frames per second and the ability to handle tracking movements of up to 150 inches per second.

As the first in SteelSeries competitive line of mice to include illumination options, the Sensei hosts three areas of illumination – at the wheel, CPI indicator and at the SteelSeries logo, in 16.8 million color options including an OFF setting. The illumination can help provide specific functions like different colors for specific profiles.

Optimized Design and Grip

A new, non-slip grip, metal coating encases the Sensei, while its ambidextrous shape makes all 8 ergonomically placed buttons comfortably reachable for all three grip styles – palm, claw and swipe. Connecting to the computer through a gold-plated USB, its double-braided nylon cord is meant to withstand serious punishment, from aggressive tournament pulls to tangles and even animal chews.

To ensure maximum performance in all gaming scenarios SteelSeries enlisted help from world-class StarCraft® II, Counter-Strike®, QUAKE® Live, DotA™, League of Legends™, Heroes of Newerth™, WarCraft® III and Doom® players who helped with the testing and refinement of the Sensei. They provided input on everything from grip styles to the needs for customizable technology; the Sensei evolved from hours of game-play.

The Power of SteelSeries Engine Software

While the Sensei is able to be configured without the need for software drivers it is also SteelSeries' first mouse that can be powered by the new SteelSeries Engine software. It's up to the user to decide how much customization they want or need; SteelSeries is purely supplying the possibilities. The SteelSeries Engine can allow users to:

1. Manage multiple devices. Beginning with the SteelSeries Sensei, users can configure all of their peripherals to work together in one managed location – for cohesive peripheral use.

2. Easily configure their settings. The effortless drag-and-drop, easy to navigate features and directions make the software well-suited for all levels.

3. Create profiles. Users can quickly activate multiple profiles for peripherals from different characters in one game to multiple profiles in all of the games and programs they're using.

4. Improve set-up through statistics. Users will be able to record sessions and identify how to improve their button layout and macro settings through a visual heat map of the users peripheral.

5. Have the freedom to play. The SteelSeries Engine makes the Sensei as customizable as technologically possible. The software will even recognize what game a user is playing and will open the appropriate, saved profile. It allows the user to have complete control on how their mouse can function.

For more information and details about SteelSeries Engine software and what other SteelSeries peripherals will be compatible, go to http://steelseries.com/engine.

The SteelSeries Sensei will be available starting in September 2011 for $89.99 / €89.99 MSRP. For more details about the SteelSeries Sensei features, be sure to check out http://steelseries.com/sensei. Follow our social media communities on Facebook http://facebook.com/steelseries and Twitter http://twitter.com/steelseries for updates on availability, contests and new products.

Sony Alpha A77 caught sunbathing on a beach, courtesy of mysterious YouTuber (video)

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 03:38 AM PDT


Look away now if you're desperate for a beach holiday, because the above video features a Sony camera chilling out in the sand, before some lucky fella picks it up for a quick snap of the calm sea. Now, the clip doesn't actually indicate which model this camera is, but the video uploader -- with a fresh account hosting just this one video -- simply wrote "Sony Alpha A77?" in the title, along with "Taiwan" in the description. Our gut feeling tells us that this leak comes straight out of Sony's Taiwanese PR team, who's keen to show off this mysterious camera's quick autofocus in live view mode (presumably there's a translucent mirror inside to enable this), as well as its sand-friendly body. That said, the folks should really get that Zeiss lens inspected -- as pointed out by Sony Alpha Rumors, we seriously doubt it shares the same level of protection as the body. Poor thing.

Focusing on the camera again: we only get to see its back, but this alone is enough to prove that we're looking at a never-before-seen model from Sony -- while it sports a similar swivel screen as the A55's (whereas the A560 and A580 only have tilting screens), it also has a different set of buttons. In fact, said button layout is identical to that on the transparent prototype manhandled by Pocket-lint back in March! Combining these factors together, we say this A77 teaser is pretty legit. Now, how about a date and some prices for this 24 megapixel beast, Sony?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

LG P220 ultraportable specs and shipping date revealed, still no price tag

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 03:29 AM PDT

We didn't have a great deal of info about this ultraportable when we went hands-on at Computex 2011, but we knew we liked its thin bezel and Air-like (though plastic) design. LG has now revealed the final specs and also announced it'll launch the P220 in Korea this month and in Europe shortly afterwards. The Core i7 that powered the model we saw previously has been switched out for a Core i5, but unfortunately this doesn't seem to have done a great deal for battery life, which LG says is around the 5.5-hour mark. In terms of ports, there's nothing faster than USB 2.0, and the color range will put some people off too: white pearl, pink pearl or blue pearl, and definitely no lobster red. There is some good news though: that slimline bezel surrounds a full 12.5-inch IPS widescreen display despite the smaller chasis, with a claimed viewing arc of 178-degrees. Crucially, weight comes in at just under three pounds and the waistline is a mere 0.82-inches. LG hasn't revealed pricing yet, but the company will need to keep a close eye on the forthcoming Ultrabook range if it's to stand a fighting chance.

V-Moda remixes headphone lineup with Crossfade M-80 supra-aurals, yours for $230

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 02:40 AM PDT

V-Moda's been in a vampire swing recently, sinking its design teeth into some True Blood branded headphones. It's finally seen the light though -- one of its existing on-ear headphones, the V-80, has now officially been re-released as the Crossfade M-80. The metal-clad M-80 looks nearly identical to the company's veteran LP over-ear headphones, but this noise-isolating set is actually 53-percent smaller using 40mm dual-diaphragm drivers (down from 50mm) equalized to 31 points for more versatility across musical genres. There's memory foam padding on the earcups with an ultra-flexible headband wrapped in suede to keep things comfy, and vents on the swappable faceplates for a wider soundstage. Two kevlar-wrapped cables with a microphone and different in-line controls are included to support most smartphones. When it's finally time to take them off an included hardshell case will keep 'em safe -- though V-Moda claims they can survive over 70 six-foot drops onto concrete. Hot stuff, and thankfully above the collar. The M-80s are available now for $230 from V-Moda -- PR with more details after the break.
V-Moda Crossfade M-80 Metal on-ear headphones

V-MODA's Crossfade M-80 Metal On-Ear Headphone Packs Explosive Sound in a Sleek Size

Half the size of the rock-solid leading Crossfade LP, M-80 fuses Pure Noise Isolating Sound, Military-Level Durability and Timeless Materials

Los Angeles – August 11, 2011– V-MODA, the multi-platinum selling maker of headphones trusted by the pros and elite, deploys its best-sounding metal masterpiece yet, the Crossfade M-80. Masterfully tuned by a legion of legendary musicians, producers and DJs, M-80 packs unique materials, professional acoustics, natural noise isolation, ultimate ergonomics and military-level ruggedness into a design 53% smaller than its now legendary, over-ear sibling, Crossfade LP. M-80's first-class materials are virtually indestructible including a steel frame, STEELFLEX headband, interchangeable brushed metal shields, durable microfiber suede and replaceable memory foam cushions. The M-80 also comes fully loaded with two Kevlar-reinforced microphone cables for universal smartphone compatibility and an exoskeleton carrying case for added road warrior armor.

Pure Sound – Bespoke Fit
The nucleus of M-80 is its patent-pending and biggest-in-class 40mm Dual-Diaphragm Drivers that deliver multi-driver sound with the energy efficiency and consistent quality of a single driver. To recreate a pure balanced sound analogous to Vinyl, M-80 uses no batteries or artificial sound processing and instead relies on immortal acoustic techniques. The masterfully crafted V-PORT V3 provides natural noise isolation, life-like staging, vibrant bass, vivid mids and vivacious highs. By utilizing a 31-band EQ with select master musicians and producers, every step of the frequency response curve was finely sculpted.

The headphone also offers long-play comfort through a tailored, fashionable fit without unsightly gaps and minimal pressure on the head and ears, the result of years of ergonomic research. Since the fit is the sound, M-80 utilizes replaceable supple memory foam cushions, a bespoke STEELFLEX headband and tactile arm extensions. This tiny dancer can bend, move and twist like no other.

Salute to the Masters
"After years of research, design, and testing, this is truly the finest addition to our acoustic arsenal we have ever developed. Rome wasn't built in a day, and similarly it took almost half a decade to fuse the durability of an M1 Abrams tank, timeless Vinyl sound, Italian-suit elegance and exotic motorsport materials into the compact Crossfade M-80," says Val Kolton, V-MODA CEO and DJ. "In the sound-age of over-processed digital compression and disposable plastic products, our virtues were to develop a quality product that salutes the true masters of music, machines and materials. It's an incredible value for hi-fi sound and sophisticated style that says as much about you as your shoes, watch or car."

trueHERTZ – The Revelation of Headphones
Most headphone marketing is simply not telling the whole truth – headphones often break too fast and every unit sounds different due to quality control variance and individual fit. Upon this revelation, V-MODA invested heavily on a crusade to create a rugged product that provides the greatest sound for the greatest amount of people.

V-MODA's trueHERTZ and materalEDGE initiative reveals the sound, materials, engineering and quality control processes shielding the ever-present dangers to defenseless headphones.

"I vowed to never sell a headphone I wouldn't use myself, and as a producer, DJ and engineer always on the go – M-80 is knighted by quality," said Kolton.

The M-80 is tested under strict MIL-STD-810G military testing and V-MODA's even more stringent VMQA guidelines, of which a few are listed below.

MIL-STD-810G and V-MODA Quality Tests
• Kevlar reinforced detachable cables and 45-degree plug strain relief can each bend more than 1 million times, over 100x industry standards
• Survives 70+ drops on concrete from 6 feet, approximately three times the industry standard
• Headband can bend 10+ times flat, without breaking and retain its memory and shape
• Virtually inaudible sound variances across the spectrum of less than 2dB from unit to unit versus 10-30dB+ of inferior products
• MIL-STD-810G environmental tests including high and low temperatures, humidity, salt spray and UV exposure

M-80 Features:

• Stylish interchangeable ear shields
• Detachable Kevlar®-reinforced cables with 24k gold-plated plug
• One 3.5mm fabric cable with a three-button remote control optimized for Apple products
• One 3.5mm fabric cable with a one-button microphone universally compatible with all audio, tablet and 3.5mm smartphone products including Android, BlackBerry and Windows 7
• Hard exoskeleton carrying case, ensuring headphones are protected in style
• Two-year V-MODA premier warranty
• Immortal Life Replacement Program – 50 percent off lifetime discount to replace consumer-damaged headphones

The Crossfade M-80 retails for $230.00 and is available today at V-MODA.com and select retailers worldwide including Radio Shack.

ABOUT V-MODA
V-MODA is the true music lifestyle brand that is distinguished by its fashion-forward design, unparalleled quality and unequivocal passion for music and materials. Led by professional DJ and Chief Visionary Officer, Val Kolton, V-MODA products blend the inspiration of Italian design, the essence of music, and the charisma of Hollywood. Together with design extraordinaire Joseph Bucknall, the worldʼs most influential producers, musicians and DJs, V-MODA is constantly challenging the norm and forging the remix revolution. For more information, please visit V-MODAʼs website, V-MODA.com.

Wrist sensor turns the back of your hand into a meaty haptic interface (video)

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 01:59 AM PDT

We're all intimately familiar with the backs of our hands, so why not use them as a haptic interface to control our gadgets? That's the idea behind the device pictured above -- a nifty little wrist sensor that turns your paw into a flesh-toned trackpad. Designed by Kei Nakatsuma, a PhD student at the University of Tokyo, this contraption employs infrared sensors to track a user's finger as it moves across the back of a hand. These movements are mirrored on a wristwatch-like display, thanks to seven IR detectors and a set of piezoelectric sensors, effectively turning any digit into an organic stylus or mouse. Nakatsuma, who unveiled his work at this week's SIGGRAPH, says his creation can't handle the more complicated, pinching or rotating gestures you could manipulate on most smartphone touchscreens and acknowledges that the screen can be difficult to read in direct sunlight. But the underlying technology could pave the way for similarly handy designs, while allowing users to interact with their gadgets without having to constantly glance at their screens, or go fishing in their pockets. Feel your way past the break to see a video of the device in action.

CompuLab introduces Trim Slice H mini Tegra 2 computer, keeps desks clear of PC clutter

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 01:04 AM PDT

If you were impressed by CompuLab's Trim Slice that was released a few months back, wait'll you get a load of the new model that's on its way. Available near the end of August, the new diminutive desktop will be powered by NVDIA's Tegra 2 SoC like its elder sibling. In order to differentiate itself from the previous release, this build incorporates an accessible SATA hard disk bay, so that "ARM users are no longer deprived of choice when it comes to storage." Sounds great, right? You'll also be able to choose between two models. The Trim Slice H Diskless will allow you to add your own HDD or SSD for $279, while the $319 H250 comes with Linux pre-installed on a 250GB HDD. Both of these beasts will showcase 1GHz chips, 1GB RAM, HDMI and DVI ports, Gigabit Ethernet, built-in 802.11n WiFi, 4 USB ports, 2 SD slots, an RS232 serial port and USB Bluetooth adapter. Whew... while we catch our breath, scope out the pics in the gallery, and check the full PR below.

[Thanks, Irad]
Trim Slice H mini PC
Show full PR text
CompuLab is introducing Trim-Slice H and announces an open-source developers program

Haifa, Israel – 9-Aug-2011 – CompuLab, manufacturer of Trim-Slice – the first ARM Cortex-A9 miniature desktop powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2, is announcing a new Trim-Slice model and is reaching out to the open-source community with Trim-Slice developers program.

Trim-Slice H

Trim-Slice H further extends the usability of ARM on the desktop by incorporating an accessible bay for a 2.5" SATA hard-disk inside the Trim-Slice miniature fanless casing. "High-capacity and affordable storage is a vital element of the PC experience" said Irad Stavi, Director of Business Development at CompuLab. "With Trim-Slice H, ARM users are no longer deprived of choice when it comes to storage." Trim-Slice H will be available towards the end of Aug-2011 in two models:

- Trim-Slice H Diskless – where the buyer can add the hard disk or SSD – MSRP $279
- Trim-Slice H250 – with 250GB hard disk and Linux pre-installed – MSRP $319

Both models incorporate 1 GHz Tegra 2, 1 GB RAM, HDMI and DVI ports, Gigabit Ethernet, built-in 802.11n WiFi, 4 USB ports, 2 SD slots, RS232 serial port and a USB Bluetooth® adapter.

Discounted Developer-Kits

CompuLab is committed to cooperation with the open-source community. "Trim-Slice is particularly attractive to software developers since it is an open platform designed into a commercial grade product" said Igor Vaisbein, Trim-Slice System Architect at CompuLab. "The Trim-Slice design team is working closely with the community to facilitate further deployment of open-source projects. Recent support for Trim-Slice by Arch Linux ARM and MeeGo illustrate this relationship." To further extend the reach of Trim-Slice within the community CompuLab is now making a special offer to open-source developers only – Trim-Slice Pro Dev-Kit at 45% discount – $175 instead of $319. For additional info visit www.trimslice.com/community

Samsung's speedy 6Gbps SSDs shreds bits, blows minds

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 11:57 PM PDT

For most of us, the decision to move to flash-based storage has been one wrought with compromise: suffer through a year of ramen to afford a capacious SSD, or splurge on steak and settle for a cramped one. While we await our platterless future, Samsung keeps on chuggin', having just begun volume production of a speedier line of solid state drives it calls the PM830. Available in 128, 256 or 512GB flavors, they tout 20nm-class MLC NAND flash and SATA 6Gb/s support -- which equates to 500MB/s reads and 350MB/s writes, or almost double last year's model. Before you reach for the plastic, know that the line is available only to OEMs -- you know, computer manufacturers -- with the firm promising consumer-friendly goodies for all you DIY types soon. Of course, no word on when that'll be or how much they'll cost, but at least the PR after the break's free, right?
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Samsung Announces High-performance 512GB SSDs with Ultra-fast SATA Revision 3.0 Interface

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in advanced semiconductor technology solutions, announced today volume production of SSDs (solid state drives) that support the Serial ATA Revision 3.0 interface with data transmissions at six gigabits per second (6Gb/s). The new high-performance PM830 SSDs* are available at up to 512 gigabyte (GB) densities.

"Samsung's new line up of advanced SSDs will raise the performance bar to the next level for ultra-slim notebooks and tablets and accelerate growth of the market for high-performance SSDs"
Samsung's new high-speed SSDs are ideally suited for use in high-performance OEM notebooks and tablets. Sample production of the SATA 6Gb/s 512GB SSDs began in May, with volume production initiated earlier this month. The new drives are expected to replace SATA 3Gb/s-based SSDs by year-end.

"Samsung's new line up of advanced SSDs will raise the performance bar to the next level for ultra-slim notebooks and tablets and accelerate growth of the market for high-performance SSDs," said Wanhoon Hong, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Device Solutions, Samsung Electronics. "The industry is expected to quickly embrace SATA 6Gb/s-based SSDs, which also will help increase market interest in 256GB and higher densities significantly," he added.

The SATA 6Gb/s SSD shortens system boot-up time to about 10 seconds, while its high-performance allows users to download up to five DVD video files in less than a minute.

The 512GB SSD utilizes Samsung's most advanced 20 nanometer (nm) class** 32Gigabit multi-level cell (MLC) NAND memory chip incorporating the toggle DDR interface. A proprietary NAND controller facilitates exceptional performance levels that take full advantage of the toggle DDR architecture and the SATA 6Gb/s interface. The new SSD doubles the performance of a SATA 3Gb/s drive, with sequential read speeds of 500 megabytes per second (MB/s) and sequential write speeds of 350MB/s.

The drive also features the industry's highest level of security, which uses an AES 256-bit encryption algorithm to protect personal or corporate data from unauthorized access.

Samsung's SATA 6Gb/s SSDs are available in 512GB, 256GB and 128GB densities. The new high-performance SSD line-up is targeted for use in premium OEM notebooks, and tablets.

According to market research firm IDC, the global outlook for client-side SSDs is expected to grow ten-fold from 11 million units in 2011 to 100 million units in 2015. Moreover, the use of NAND in 256GB SSDs is forecast to more than double from 19 percent of all NAND used in SSDs in 2011 to 42 percent in 2015. Further, demand for 512GB SSDs is expected to grow from a 0.3 percent portion in 2011 to eight percent in 2015, also underscoring the growing interest in higher density SSDs.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of nine independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Samsung and the stylized Samsung design are trademarks and service marks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

* Editors' Note 1: The PM830 SSD is available to OEMs only for installation into new PCs or other devices. A consumer version of the drive which can be used as an upgrade for existing devices will be forthcoming and announced at a later date.

** Editors' Note 2: 20nm-class means a process technology node somewhere between 20 and 29 nanometers.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean USB toothbrush to stay fresh at your desk

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 10:41 PM PDT

For the modern dental enthusiast, we present to you the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean USB toothbrush -- because keeping your stank breath fresh at your computer is essential for early morning Skype calls. Long since gone are the days where brushing your teeth was limited to the bathroom. Nowadays, you'll need to keep those chompers fresh no matter where you might find yourself, including (but not limited to): the computer lab at school, your home office, your boss' office, or maybe even the Apple Store. Claiming up to 100 percent plaque removal and 44 percent more bristles, some are going so far as to call this £250 ($405) teeth gleamer the "iPod of toothbrushes." Check out the full PR and the so fresh, so clean jam after the break.


Show full PR text
Philips Sonicare Launches Two Revolutionary New Oral Health Care Products -- AirFloss and DiamondClean

STAMFORD, Conn., July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The number one dental professional recommended power toothbrush brand, Philips Sonicare, is leveraging years of science-based research to expand its product portfolio beyond power toothbrushing for the first time. Last night, Sonicare unveiled its new AirFloss against a fitting backdrop at the New York City Museum of Art and Design. A proof point to Sonicare's commitment to develop meaningful innovation, AirFloss is a first-in-class flossing device that effectively cleans between teeth using microbursts of air and water droplets that remove more plaque that brushing alone. Also on display at the event was the new Sonicare DiamondClean power toothbrush.

"Philips Sonicare has taken innovation to a whole new level with AirFloss and DiamondClean," remarked Dr. Bill Dorfman, DDS, who hosted the event and has appeared on TV shows such as Extreme Makeover and The Doctors. "As an innovator and entrepreneur, I draw inspiration from brands that use both science and consumer insights to develop new technologies that meet people's needs, and ultimately, improve their lives."

Sonicare AirFloss

Philips Sonicare AirFloss is a breakthrough interproximal cleaning device that provides people with an easy and effective way to clean in-between their teeth, without the hassle and mess of string floss.

"Research has shown that there are many barriers that prevent people from flossing regularly, from time and convenience, to dexterity,'' said Erik Hollander, Sr. Marketing Director at Philips Consumer Lifestyle. "AirFloss was designed to make flossing easier and less time-consuming, and the oral health benefits are indisputable."

According to a survey conducted on behalf of Philips Sonicare, one out of two Americans admit they do not floss as much as they should, and with 80 percent of Americans suffering from some form of periodontal disease(1), there is significant room for improvement.

With this insight in mind, Philips Sonicare created AirFloss to simplify this every day task, and during Philips' consumer testing, 86 percent of users found it easier to use than string floss(2). Sonicare AirFloss was also designed to maximize plaque removal and improve gum health. Studies found that it is clinically proven to remove up to 99 percent more plaque in-between teeth than brushing with a manual toothbrush alone(3).

Sonicare AirFloss uses microburst technology, a rapid burst of air and water droplets, to push plaque and bacteria from in between teeth. The microburst is directed using a nozzle guidance tip that ensures targeted cleaning between teeth, and the point and click one-button operation cleans the entire mouth with less than one teaspoon of water in less than a minute. It has an ergonomically designed handle and angled nozzle to access all areas of the mouth and its cordless, rechargeable handle fits on the same charger as the Sonicare FlexCare+.

Consumers can win a Philips Sonicare AirFloss by visiting www.Facebook.com/PhilipsSonicare and taking the quiz on the "Love Sonicare" tab.

Sonicare DiamondClean

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean takes power toothbrushing to its most sophisticated level yet. It harnesses Philips Sonicare's patented sonic technology to produce a powerful dynamic cleaning action for a difference that users can see and feel. DiamondClean is gentler on teeth and gums than a manual toothbrush, helping to keep teeth stronger and healthier for longer.

DiamondClean is clinically proven to remove up to 100 percent of plaque from hard-to- reach places than a manual toothbrush and to improve gum health in just two weeks(4). It is also clinically proven to whiten teeth in one week and protect against gum irritation and recession to help reduce sensitivity(5).

With five brushing modes, users can customize their brushing experience to their needs, while DiamondClean delivers a "unique whole mouth clean" feeling. The modes include Clean, White, Polish, Gum Care and Sensitive.

Sonicare DiamondClean brush heads have a new diamond-cut shape for a more efficient brushing experience, with 44 percent more bristles than the standard Philips Sonicare ProResults brush heads. It also features the latest in inductive technology to charge the toothbrush in a sleek glass cup that doubles as a drinking glass and comes with a travel case that allows for easy charging via USB port.

For more information about Philips Sonicare AirFloss and DiamondClean or the Philips Sonicare range, including copies of clinical studies, visit www.sonicare.com


(1) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

(2) An Ease of Use Study to Evaluate Philips Sonicare AirFloss, String Floss and the Waterpik Waterflosser (IHUT). S. Krell, A. Kaler, J. Wei.

(3) A Randomized, Parallel Design Study to Evaluate the Effect of AirFloss (Chinook) on Removal of Interproximal Plaque and Reduction in Gingivitis. Jain V, Wei J, Jenkins W, Delaurenti M.

(4) Plaque removal efficacy of two novel Philips Sonicare DiamondClean brush heads, Putt M, Milleman J, DeLaurenti M, Schmitt P. Data on file, 2010

(5) Evaluation of stain removal by Philips Sonicare DiamondClean power toothbrush and manual toothbrushes, Colgan P, DeLaurenti M, Johnson M, Jenkins W, Strate J. Data on file, 2010

Panasonic GF3 reviewed: aging 12 MP sensor, good upgrade for current compact users

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 09:38 PM PDT

When the Lumix GF1 was released less than a year after Micro Four Thirds first made its debut, it made a huge splash for its size, image quality, and versatility. Problem is, Panasonic set the bar very high for future GF-series models, and has sadly come up short with its latest update, positioning the GF3 ($600 with 14-42mm kit lens) as an upgrade for compact camera owners while leaving enthusiasts longing for much more. DPReview took the GF3 to task, publishing a very comprehensive review while finding that while Panasonic's latest ILC is a good fit for some photographers, more advanced users will likely be disappointed -- especially if they're expecting a rangefinder-like successor to the GF1. We spent a few hours with a pre-production GF3 earlier this summer, and weren't blown away by its performance. When testing against the class-leading Sony NEX-C3, we found the Sony camera to offer faster focusing, better high-ISO performance, more accurate white balance, and better image quality overall. So unless you're really gunning to save 50 bucks on an ILC with a kit zoom (or you already have a collection of Micro Four Thirds lenses), the $650 C3 is definitely the better bet.

SETI comes back from the financial dead, gets a check from Jodie Foster

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 08:47 PM PDT

Roswell devotees, dry those tears -- the search for alien overlords frenemies is back on. Four months after going into financial "hibernation," SETI's Allen Telescope Array has been temporarily resuscitated thanks to an infusion of publicly raised funds from the SETIStars program, and Ms. Jodie Foster. The web campaign for those-who-believe raised over $200,000 in just 45 days, enough cash to get the Paul Allen-funded dishes scanning the skies for at least five more months. Tom Pierson, the institute's CEO, is hoping to secure long-term funding for the project from the U.S. Air Force, which could use the array during the daytime "to track orbital objects that otherwise might pose a threat to the International Space Station and other satellites." However Pierson manages to keep the fleet of skyward-facing ears afloat, one thing's for sure -- the truth is out there and tracking it's a hustle.

Dell quietly kills Streak 5 while nobody's looking, mourns end-of-life status

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 07:43 PM PDT

The Dell Streak 5 has always been an outlier, and it's traveled a bumpy road ever since the unveiling when Dell insisted its smartphone was in fact a portable tablet. From the delayed launch in the US to its $549 price for a SIM-locked unit -- not to mention the uncomfortably long dance with Donut -- perhaps this moment has been coming for a while. That's right, folks, the Dell Streak 5 is no more. Last month we reported it had been taken off the market while it received a software update, but the hive mind in Round Rock must have changed its sentiments along the way. The company now hosts a web page that declares its spacious smartphone / compact tablet has met end-of-life status, and it's offering little information other than the ominous phrase, "Streak 5 is no longer available." Perhaps spinners such as DJ_Steve will keep the misbegotten wonder alive with projects like StreakDroid, but for the time being, we're forced to hang our heads to honor the Streak's passing. It's been a great ride, indeed.

DARPA's Maple leaf Remote Control drone takes first flight (video)

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 06:51 PM PDT

After five years behind locked doors, researchers at Lockheed Martin's Intelligent Robotics Laboratories in New Jersey have emerged with a working prototype of the "Samarai," a tiny DARPA-commissioned surveillance drone. The nano air vehicles (NAVs), modeled after falling Maple leaf seeds, are designed to be super light weight and agile for vertical lift off, hovering, and navigation in tight spaces. Like your favorite $5 Subway sammie, these surveillance bots are a foot long, but instead of being shoveled in your mouth, they're thrown like boomerangs into flight and controlled using a tablet app or a basic remote. These eyes in the sky will officially launch next week at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Conference, but until then you can check out the video of their first flight below.

Update: Lockheed Martin wrote in to let us know that although originally commissioned by DARPA, this project is currently funded internally. Lockheed also noted that the flight recorded in the video is only a test flight, rather than a first flight for the Samarai.

iPad case helps you get into Bernie Madoff's pants

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 06:12 PM PDT

You know the old saying about not judging a man until you walk a mile in his shoes? Well, those who were quick to pass judgement on Bernie Madoff might want to try John Vaccaro's new iPad cases on for size. The pockets are made from the Ponzi scheme mastermind's pants, which were seized after his arrest. Vaccaro bought them up at auction and has begun making custom cases for the Apple tablet. At $350 each, they don't come cheap, but you do get a certificate of authenticity -- but with Madoff's name attached, how could you possibly go wrong?

Zediva puts the brakes on its streaming service, soothes your fears with monkeys

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 05:37 PM PDT

Zediva fought the law and the law shut it down. The unique DVD rental service, sued by the MPAA and Hollywood studios for running afoul of licensing and distribution agreements, has temporarily closed shop. A statement on the outfit's website optimistically refers to the court-ordered injunction as an "intermission," pointing to a hopeful future resumption of operations, and guaranteeing customers a solution for unused credits. The company's promised to fight back against Judge Walter's decision, and is in the process of appealing the ruling that could see it facing a permanent service blackout. We hope for the sake of its "DVD-changing monkeys" that all parties involved can work this out. Make sure to head past the break for Zediva's full explanation.

You may have heard by now that we're having to lay off our DVD-changing monkeys... :-)

A couple of years ago we came up with an idea for the next generation of DVD rentals. It seemed to us logical and evolutionary that if a customer was able to rent and play a DVD in his home, there should be no reason why he or she could not do that from the Internet cloud. After all, you can do that with a DVR, so why not with a DVD player?

Well, it turns out to have been a little more complicated than that ...

We are suspending Zediva's operations to comply with an order by the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

While we hope to be back online soon, we don't know when (or whether) that will happen. We are disappointed by this turn of events, and that we are not permitted to serve you.

We are quite aware that some of you have unused credits with us and appreciate your patience as we figure out our next steps. Stay tuned for more information via email.

Thank you again for your great support. It has been a blast serving you.

Audi's Urban Concept heads to IAA Frankfurt, tickles our EV sensibilities

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 05:12 PM PDT

The Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) Frankfurt looms on the horizon, meaning its time for another round of bodacious concept cars we want, but sadly can never have. We've already seen BMW's entry and now it's Audi's turn to show off an electric city-dweller. Dubbed the "Urban Concept," this latest e-tron is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and wields a door contraption that'll put Lambos to shame -- assuming it ever makes it to market. And it just might, seeing as our friends over at Autoblog caught it slumming around Berlin in prototype garb. We'll hear more from Ingolstadt come September, but in the meantime more sketches and snaps of the development mule await you at the source links below.

Show full PR text
The Audi urban concept – a completely new kind of concept car
  • An innovative urban concept car with 1+1 seats
  • Sleek cockpit made from CFRP, free-standing wheels with protective plates
  • Elaborate suspension, compact electric drive system for sporty performance
Audi is once again opening up new horizons: the Audi urban concept is a 1+1-seat, ultra-light car for congested urban spaces. The technical study does not fit under any of the conventional categories – the Audi urban concept combines elements of a racing car, a fun car and an urban car into one radical new concept.

The Audi urban concept is not based on any previous model – its development is solely oriented on the strict principles of lightweight construction, efficiency and reduction. The result is a concept car with no unnecessary weight, and one that concentrates on the pure essence of sporty motion.

The Audi urban concept has a sleek body. The wheels are free-standing, their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED lights. The highly concentrated look of the technical study, with its forward-urging lines, is dynamic and emotional – it lends Audi's design language a completely new impetus.
On board there is room for two people, their position slightly staggered and at a sporty, low level. All controls and materials are subject to the dictates of ultra-lightweight construction in order to ensure they convey a completely unique, sensory allure. The driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals to his own body measurements. Entry to the car is via the tailgate. The roof is designed to be maneuverable and slides to the rear to open.

The technology in the Audi urban concept reflects the full capabilities of the brand, especially when it comes to ultra-lightweight construction. The cockpit consists of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which integrates the undercarriage of both seats. The Audi urban concept rolls on wheels with a 21-inch diameter.

Two e-tron electric motors provide the propulsion – providing the ultra-light Audi urban concept with the ability to accelerate powerfully. A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy – ideal for extended city tours.

Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR packs photo navigation, augmented reality in a 16 MP digicam

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 04:48 PM PDT

GPS, a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, 15x optical zoom -- we've seen it all before. But a feature that displays places of interest on the camera's 3-inch LCD? Well, that sounds a bit like augmented reality (AR)! The Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR's new Landmark Navigator mode does exactly that, packing one million pre-loaded locations from around the world. Looking to find your way from Rome's Trevi Fountain to the Spanish Steps? The compact cam will point the way, including other stops along your route. You can also add your own locations, or launch Photo Navigation, which lets you easily return to places you've photographed -- or plot them on Google Maps once you get home. There's also 1080p movie capture, a 12,800 ISO high-sensitivity mode (that you'll probably never want to use), sensor-shift image stabilization, and a 24-360mm lens with an f/3.5 maximum aperture. But as you may have guessed, we're most excited about those AR features, so jump past the break for the full scoop.
Show full PR text
FinePix F600 EXR - the ultimate travel companion

FUJIFILM Corporation (President and CEO: Shigetaka Komori) is proud to announce the launch of the FinePix F600 EXR - a model that defines new picture-taking possibilities for a compact camera. Despite being no bigger than the F550 EXR it supersedes, the FinePix F600 EXR boasts exciting new technologies that improve the user experience and make it the ideal camera for photographers who like to travel, as well as those who simply want high quality results from a camera that fits into a pocket.

The FinePix F600 EXR uses key aspects of the specifications first seen on the F550 EXR, but adds extra functionality. The pioneering 16-megapixel EXR-CMOS sensor now features new EXR Auto with a Motion Detection capability to virtually reduce subject blur in lighting conditions. The built-in GPS functionality adds a Landmark Navigator feature to help photographers pin-point locations, and the 15x wide-angle optical zoom lens now doubles its telephoto power thanks to the new intelligent digital zoom mode. It all stacks up to make the FinePix F600 EXR a dynamic package and one that will set new standards in the premium compact camera market.
Intelligent Digital zoom pulls in the most distant details

The FinePix F600 EXR is no slouch when it comes to zoom capability. The camera features a wide-reaching 15x optical zoom, which offers the 35mm equivalent of a 24-360mm lens. This ensures that users can capture a wide range of images from landscapes through to tightly framed details.

Thanks to the inclusion of intelligent digital zoom, however, the F600 EXR's zoom range offers double the telephoto power. With intelligent digital zoom, even the most distant objects can be turned into frame-filling close-ups, greatly extending the creative uses for the FinePix F600 EXR.

Intelligent digital zoom is an enhanced digital zoom function. Cameras featuring a conventional digital zoom functionality boost sharpness during processing by enhancing the edges of all objects in the frame. However, this also increases noise in unwanted areas of the image, leading to lower quality results. Fujifilm's intelligent digital zoom assesses areas of contrast within an image and applies selective processing to the sections of the image where sharpness can be boosted without lowering image quality. This ensures that digital noise is not increased uniformly across the frame so results are much improved.
Enhanced sensor technology = improved low light pictures

The bespoke ½" 16-megapixel EXR CMOS sensor in the FinePix F600 EXR was first seen in the F550 EXR and combines Back Side Illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) and EXR technologies to deliver superb results across a wide range of lighting conditions. This is possible due to the design of the sensor, which improves light transmission to boost performance, most notably in low light conditions. On the F600 EXR, however, low light results are further improved thanks to the new EXR Auto mode that now offers Motion Detection.

The new function enables the FinePix F600 EXR to tackle motion blur on three fronts with mechanical image stabilization, high ISO sensitivity and the new Motion Detection capability working together. In low light conditions with EXR Auto mode selected, the FinePix F600 EXR will automatically identify if the subject is moving. If it is, the camera deploys Motion Detection and a higher ISO to ensure the subject is captured with reduced blur. If no subject movement is identified, the FinePix F600 EXR will automatically keep the ISO lower and use image stabilization for noise reduction.

This new functionality is in addition to the EXR sensor's unique technology. Leave the operations to the FinePix F600 EXR in EXR Auto and it will select the best option to deliver a great result. But users who prefer to take more control themselves can choose from:

EXR HR (High Resolution) priority mode where the sensor utilizes every one of its 16 megapixels for the highest quality results.
EXR DR (Dynamic Range) priority mode where two images are captured and then merged together to produce superb results on high contrast scenes.
EXR SN (Signal to Noise) priority mode in which pixels are doubled up to increase sensitivity and give better results in low light conditions.

Additionally, thanks to new Motion Detection, available shooting types, come from recognized scenes and automatically optimized EXR modes, have expanded into 99 patterns in EXR AUTO mode.
Landmark Navigator – the next level of GPS

GPS tagging is the latest must-have feature on compact cameras and after introducing the functionality on the FinePix F550 EXR, Fujifilm has taken the technology further with the introduction of a Landmark Navigator on the FinePix F600 EXR.

Imagine you're visiting a city that you've never been to before. You want to be sure of taking in all the famous sites – or simply want to know where they are in relation to your current location. Landmark Navigator enables you to do just that. The FinePix F600 EXR automatically locates places of interest from its on-board database of around one million locations before displaying these points on the camera's LCD, showing their relative position, distance from your current spot and type of location depending on a range of category icons. Users can also add and edit location names.

This exciting new feature is offered in addition to the GPS functionality introduced in the FinePix F550 EXR. This includes Photo Navigation to help users to find their way back to a previously-photographed location and Tracking Data where users can create a route of their travels – along with pictures taken along that route – once they return home using Google Maps.

Great panoramic shots – seamlessly!

A 360° panoramic image of a location makes for a great memory and the FinePix F600 EXR has an enhanced Motion Panorama mode that ensures those memories are even better preserved. With the camera's 360° panoramic functionality each side of the panorama is connected so you get one – seamless – panoramic shot. No details are missed and you're assured of recording every single aspect of a location.

Good panoramic shots also rely on a steady grip on the camera and the FinePix F600 EXR's new rubber coating (Black color only) on the front plate will ensure a solid hold, as well as enhancing the overall feel of the camera. Coupled with the three-inch rear LCD with 460,000 dots, the FinePix F600 EXR all adds up to a fantastic handling experience.
Fantastic features for maximum versatility

In addition to all these exciting new features, the F600 EXR also offers a wide range of picture taking modes that make it the ideal model for almost every photographic occasion.

ISO sensitivity up to 12,800 (S mode only), a full complement of exposure modes including aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual for creative shooting, continuous frame capture of up to eight frames per second at full resolution, Raw file format, a selection of film simulation modes and a full-featured flash are just some of the multitude of options available.

And for users preferring to capture video footage, the FinePix F600 EXR offers full HD 1080p movie capture with stereo sound and a high speed movie option for freezing fast moving action at up to an incredible 320 frames per second.
Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR key features:

16-megapixel EXR-CMOS sensor with new EXR Auto mode and Motion Detection technology
Landmark Navigator
5x optical zoom covering 24 - 360mm (35mm equivalent) plus 2x Intelligent Digital zoom
Motion Panorama 360 mode (seamless)
Rubberised body coating (Black color only)
Raw file format (RAF)
SD, SDHC and SDXC card compatibility. 33MB internal memory
P, A, S, M exposure modes for creativity plus Scene modes
Pro Low-Light and Pro Focus advanced shooting modes
Full HD (1080p) movie capture
Photobook Assist function
Film simulation modes

Android Ice Cream Sandwich pictures leak, leave us slightly cold

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 04:25 PM PDT

Well what do we have here? It looks like Ice Cream Sandwich might have escaped from Google's freezer a little early. Let's be clear here -- we're not 100 percent sure this is the next major version of Android, but the evidence is somewhat convincing. Both Android Police and RootzWiki posted screenshots of a Nexus S running a blue-ish themed skin which appears similar to the Gingerbread UI, but with a revised dock containing four icons instead of the usual three. Most of the changes are mild, but introduce functionality that already exist in Honeycomb. The camera app is said to gain a panorama mode, and the Gmail app is supposed to match the design of the new OS. Follow the links below for more details, and jump past the break for an additional picture.

Archos Arnova 7b G2 makes its way through the FCC, we play the name game

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 04:12 PM PDT

We just saw Archos' Arnova 7 G2 make its debut in Hong Kong, and now a tablet carrying a strikingly similar appellative is popping up at the FCC. It might carry a familiar moniker, but the Arnova 7b G2 doesn't share the same skin as its recently outed cousin. Unlike the textured body we saw in Hong Kong, this guy's backside is a total fingerprint magnet, just like its predecessor, which we caught (official) wind of just two months ago. So what's up with this G2 confusion, anyway? Unfortunately, we'll just have to wait and see, as that's all she wrote for this dig through the FCC.

iTableous is a white iPhone 4 fit for a giant (video)

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 03:40 PM PDT

If you like flying unicorns, you probably love giant flying unicorns, right? Well, the white iPhone 4 has officially gone from myth to reality, but it seems some folks are still chasing the dream in a BIG way. Case in point: iTableous, an outsized tabletop bearing a striking resemblance to the long-awaited iOS handset. Unlike previous iPhone tables we've seen, this one doesn't support multi-touch -- a wireless keyboard and mouse hold the keys to navigating this behemoth -- but it does offer 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 500GB of internal storage, a 5.7 megapixel camera, 720p video recording, as well USB, HDMI and a good old 30-pin connector for hooking up the real-deal. What's more, this iPhone's a dual-booter, capable of running Mac OSX 10.6.7 (via Hackintosh) and Windows 7 Professional. If you're living at the tip of a beanstalk and need to shake that tired old 3GS, check out the video of iTableous in action after the break.

UK Prime Minister exploring social media crackdown in wake of London riots (video)

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 03:20 PM PDT

As Londoners continue to pick up the rubble and carnage from this week's riots, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is exploring new ways to maintain order -- including, apparently, a government crackdown on social media. In a speech to members of Parliament today, Cameron made clear his belief that law enforcement officials should be able to curb and monitor the use of social networking sites under certain circumstances, lending credence to the theory that mechanisms like Facebook, Twitter and BlackBerry played a critical role in inciting the recent violence:
"Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them. So we are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality."
There's a fine line separating issues of national security from the rights to free speech, but it's a line that Cameron seems willing to toe. And, though he and his Conservative government are only mulling the idea, it's difficult to ignore the irony in his statements. Keep in mind that this is the same man who roundly condemned Hosni Mubarak for shutting down Egypt's internet at the height of its revolution, calling for the now-ousted leader to fully respect the "freedom of expression and communication, including use of telephones and the internet." Cameron, of course, isn't calling for anything nearly as drastic as what Mubarak orchestrated, nor is he facing anywhere near the same level of domestic turmoil. But the fundamental narrative remains the same: in the face of social upheaval, a national leader instinctively reaches for a digital muzzle as a stop-gap measure, while (perhaps) ignoring the larger, longer-term ramifications of his actions. Fortunately for the UK, though, Cameron is already doing one thing that Mubarak apparently never did -- he's thinking about right and wrong. Head past the break to see Cameron's speech, in its entirety.

Microsoft Surface-controlled robots to boldly go where rescuers have gone before (video)

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 03:02 PM PDT

Ready to get hands-on in the danger zone -- from afar? That's precisely what an enterprising team of University of Massachusetts Lowell researchers are working to achieve with a little Redmond-supplied assistance. The Robotics Lab project, dubbed the Dynamically Resizing Ergonomic and Multi-touch (DREAM) Controller, makes use of Microsoft's Surface and Robotics Developer Studio to deploy and coordinate gesture-controlled search-and-rescue bots for potentially hazardous emergency response situations. Developed by Prof. Holly Yanco and Mark Micire, the tech's Natural User Interface maps a virtual joystick to a user's fingertips, delegating movement control to one hand and vision to the other -- much like an Xbox controller. The project's been under development for some time, having already aided rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina, and with future refinements, could sufficiently lower the element of risk for first responders. Head past the break for a video demonstration of this life-saving research.

Get Microsoft Silverlight

Nokia N9 gets axed in Germany, global tour looks even more meager

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 02:46 PM PDT

Like slowly waking up from a sweet dream, the Nokia N9 is gradually slipping away from our conscious mind before it's even released. We knew Stephen Elop & Co. didn't have high interest in the one (and only) Meego smartphone in its repertoire, but it's becoming very clear exactly how much the handset doesn't matter to the company. Nokia's confirmed with German site MobiFlip that the N9 will in fact not be making its way to Deutschland, just days after making it known that it has no plans to send the device to the US or the UK. Granted, those who can't shake off their desire for the one-of-a-kind phone will still find alternative methods of procuring it, but this is still a solid indication that Espoo is only staring ahead to its future with Windows Phone, and the N9 is merely in its peripheral vision.

Vuzix Wrap 1200 brings 3D to the glasses for $500

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 02:29 PM PDT


3D glasses are nothing new -- we've been tossing on RealD specs at the theater for at least a couple of years. But in typical Vuzix fashion, the Wrap 1200 brings a pair of displays directly to the glasses, simulating a 75-inch 3D screen. Tiny 852 x 480-pixel monitors display native 16:9 content on the three-ounce specs, and iPhone and component video cables are included in the box, letting you plug in to a variety of content (there's no HDMI support, however). The display supports side-by-side and anaglyph 3D, and you can also revert back to 2D content if things don't pan out as expected. The Vuzix Wrap 1200 is rated at three hours of playback with the pair of included rechargeable AA batts, or you can substitute lithium ion batteries for up to seven hours of use. Jump past the break for the full rundown from Vuzix, or hit up the source link to grab your own pair for $500.

Update: Originally, we reported that the Vuzix Wrap 1200 only supports anaglyph 3D, when it is in fact capable of side-by-side display as well. The post has been updated to reflect this correction.
Show full PR text
Vuzix Launches Wrap 1200 3D Video Eyewear

New Wrap 1200 boasts industry best 16:9 widescreen display equivalent to a 75" screen viewed from 10 feet

Rochester, NY – August 11, 2011 – Vuzix Corporation (TSX-V: VZX, OTC:BB: VUZI, FMB: V7X), award-winning manufacturer of video eyewear, is excited to announce the availability of the new Wrap 1200 Video Eyewear. The plug and play, sunglass style Wrap 1200 features an industry best 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen 3D display that is equivalent to viewing a 75" display from 10 feet. The Wrap 1200 is the ideal travel companion to watch movies or catch up on television shows on a long flight and supports both 2D and 3D content.

"We spent over a year developing the Wrap 1200, ensuring it is one of the most advanced, feature rich video eyewear ever produced," said Paul Travers, CEO Vuzix Corporation. "The combination of a 16:9 high resolution widescreen display along with our AccuTilt® display angle technology provides our customers with an unmatched mobile viewing experience."

The Wrap 1200's AccuTilt® technology allows the user to adjust the eyewear up or down 15 degrees to achieve the optimum viewing angle and a customized fit. The Wrap 1200 also has optics that allow the user to position the displays to match the user's IPD (Interpupillary Distance or eye separation) allowing for the optimum placement in front of each eye (much like binoculars).

The Wrap 1200 features convenient on-screen display controls (brightness, contrast, hue and color saturation), independent left and right eye focal adjustment and both component and composite video connections for superior video quality and maximum compatibility with devices including, game consoles, media players, phones, DVD players and tablets. Optional VGA connectivity is available along with a full line of accessories.

The stylish Wrap 1200 is wearable over most prescription glasses and features an adjustable hypoallergenic nosepiece and detachable premium quality noise-isolating stereo earphones to ensure an unmatched user experience. Two included rechargeable AA batteries and charger provide up to 3 hours of video playback or users can substitute two lithium ion batteries for up to 7 hours.

The Vuzix Wrap 1200 is available now at Vuzix.com for $499.99.

Virgin Galactic, XCOR land suborbital contracts with NASA

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 02:14 PM PDT


Have $200,000 to spare for a ticket to space? NASA does, apparently, a few times over. Following the retirement of its Space Shuttle program, the US agency just announced two-year contracts with seven space flight companies, worth a combined $10 million. NASA will partner with Virgin Galactic, XCOR, and five other companies to bring engineers, scientists, and equipment to space, for a variety of experiments in low-gravity environments. The contract provides few financial implications for Virgin, which has already collected $55 million in deposits from future space tourists, but the company did acknowledge it as an "important milestone" in its efforts to grow beyond initial consumer offerings. Space Adventures, which serves as a low-cost carrier of sorts in the industry with its $102,000 flight, may be represented as well, through its partner Armadillo Aerospace -- so it's probably safe to assume that NASA won't be paying two large huge a pop to blast its personnel to space.
at 11:59 AM

1 comment:

  1. UnknownMay 14, 2015 at 3:30 AM

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