September 2004
Thursday 30 September
Casio has surprised everyone by coming out with a new VGA Pocket PC.
The Casio Cassiopeia DT-10 VGA Pocket PC seems to be designed mostly for business use and is touted as shock resistant (1m drop) drip proof and dust proof.
The Casio DT-10 features a 3.7" VGA LCD screen, 27hr claimed battery life, 416MHz processor, SDIO and CF card slots, 128MB RAM, 64MB ROM, Bluetooth, and 802.11b Wi-Fi.
The Casio DT-10 Pocket PC is 5.5" x 3.2" x 1.0" and weighs 10.6oz. The DT-10 will be available in Japan in November.
(akihabara news via engadget)
Engadget has a review of the very nice Sager 3790 laptop.
The Sager 3790 has either a 1.5GHz to 2GHz Centrino processor, 256mb to 2gb RAM, 40gb to 80gb hard drive, 15.4" 1920 x 1200 pixel screen, 128mb Radeon 9700 graphics, 4 in 1 card reader, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and lots more.
The price is very good in comparison to other high end laptops: A configuration with 1.7GHz processor, 512mb ram, and 60gb hard drive is just $1795.
order the 3790 from Sager
read the review at engadget
Toshiba have announced they will be volume producing 0.85" hard drives by the end of the year. These drives are likely to have a capacity of 2 or 3 GB.
Samsung are also in the R&D stage of producing a 0.85" hard drive.
Once these drives are being produced we will probably start seeing them appear in cell phones and future Pocket PC models.
(samsung story : hitachi story : via engadget)
Sandisk have announced the availability of an 8gb Ultra II (60x speed) CompactFlash card.
The 8gb Ultra II CompactFlash card will be available in November and will retail for $959.99.
As camera megapixel resolutions keep going up, with typical consumer cameras needing 1 or 2 MB per shot, basic SLR digital cameras needing 3 to 8 MB per shot, and professional digital cameras needing 9+ MB per shot, it is good to see storage card technology keeping up so we can still have 200+ highest quality photos on one card.
Quote from Aximsite forums:
Ok, so I just talked to Dell Customer Chat, and I got an official launch date, preorder date, and pricing. If you don't believe me talk to Dell Chat yourself. Anyways on to what we've all been waiting for...
416 x50 $299
520 x50 $399
624 x50v $499
They all feature CF and SDIO card slots.
Launch Date: October 10
Order Date: October 12
(aximsite via pocketpcthoughts)
Contax (a brand of Kyocera) has announced a new high quality small digital camera: The Contax i4R.
The Contax i4R is just 3.7" x 1.5" x 0.8" and weighs 3.1oz. It has a fixed length 65mm f/2.8Carl Zeiss lens that can focus down to 2 inches, an 8x digital zoom, and a 4 megapixel sensor.
Other features of the Contax i4R are: SD memory card slot, sliding flash/lens cover, 9 point autofocus, 640x480 30 frames/second AVI movie recording, and usb 2.0 connectivity.
The Contact i4R will be available in 3 colors: black, silver, and red, and it should cost around $450 when it is released in mid-October.
Contax launches clean-lined 4-megapixel digital camera
Carl Zeiss Tessar T* lens and RTUNE technology for crystal-clear images
Hamburg, September 27, 2004 – A slim body, sharp eye and a speedy heart: Contax is launching the i4R to coincide with Photokina 2004. This is the first in the new Contax “i” range. In addition to a fast Carl Zeiss lens and the RTUNE image processor for unlimited continuous shooting, other impressive features of this pedigree digicam are its small size, perky design and low weight (90g). The Contax i4R will be available in Europe in advance from mid-October at a price of €398.
“The “i” in Contax i4R stands for individuality, innovation and ingenuity. These are the core values of this camera,” states Dirk Hülsermann, Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager at Yashica Kyocera. “In the Contax i4R we have developed a camera whose design generates emotions, which creates outstanding images and is breathtakingly fast.”
Timeless “design classic”
The design of the Contax i4R is characterised by straight lines for an ultraslim look. In the silver and cherry colour variants brushed aluminium gives the body a cool appearance. The black variant of the Contax i4R comes with a mirror-smooth finish. The protective slide (which incorporates the integral flash) is a striking feature. It protects the LCD monitor and the lens when the camera is switched off. The slide mechanism is also used to switch the camera on and off.
Carl Zeiss Tessar T* lens and RTUNE
The “optical heart” of the Contax i4R is a Carl Zeiss Tessar T* 6.5mm lens (equivalent to 39mm in the analogue 35mm format) with a maximum aperture of f2.8. Four lens elements, configured in three groups, are precisely matched to the 1/2.5-inch image sensor CCD chip (resolution: 4 megapixels). Thanks to the patented RTUNE double processor the image data is processed extremely quickly. The camera therefore operates with virtually no shutter lag and can shoot up to 3 frames a second in continuous mode. RTUNE also decisively enhances image quality. Images shot on the Contax i4R stand out because of the absence of noise and their high-fidelity colour rendition.
New control concept and various setting options
The Contax i4R has been designed to be as reliable as it is functional. The newly developed control concept enables intuitive and fast handling of all the main setting options. The Contax i4R has eight programs plus one automatic and five preset white balance modes to ensure that images are perfectly adjusted to the light conditions. Its sensitivity can be set manually in the range 50 to 400 ISO or automatically regulated. Four flash programs round off the exposure control. The Contax i4R offers a 1.5-inch LCD monitor for viewfinding and image playback with a resolution of 130,000 pixels (557x234).
Docking station and USB 2.0
The Contax i4R comes complete with a docking station. The docking station is used to charge the battery in the camera and to provide a straightforward link to a PC, TV and printer. Images and videos can therefore easily be transferred to the computer, video clips can be played back on the TV, and photos can be printed directly on a PictBridge-compatible printer without any intermediate steps.
Power supply to the Contax i4R is provided by a powerful rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Measuring a bonsai-like 94 x 38.5 x 21 (W x H x D in mm) and weighing a mere 90g, the camera is extraordinarily compact. It is available from mid-October in three colour variants, i.e. black, cherry and silver, and comes complete with the docking station. The price is €398.
Specifications
Camera Contax i4R
Type
digital camera with record, playback and delete modes
Effective pixels
4 megapixels
Pickup device
1/2.5" CCD with 4,19 million pixels gross
Image dimensions in pixels (stills):
2272x1704, 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480
Image dimensions in pixels (video):
640x480, 320x240
Video frame rate
30 fps, 15 fps., unlimited, depending on size of recording media
Recording format
JPEG (Exif 2.2), DCF standard, supports DPOF
Lens
Carl Zeiss Tessar T* with 4 elements in 3 groups with aspheric elements and special optical glasses
Focal length
6.5mm (corresp to 39mm in 35mm format)
Lens speed
F/2.8
Digital zoom
up to 6x (13 steps)
Focusing control
automatic (video AF)
Focusing range (from lens front surface)
approx 0.6 - ∞, Macro approx 0.05m – 0.6m
Shutter speeds
CCD controlled electronic programme shutter (1/2000 – 1sec)
Exposure
programme AE, exposure compensation, ISO: auto, 50 – 400 (4 steps)
Continuous mode
3fps (without AF), 1.4fps (with AF) in highest quality, unlimited exposures, depending on size of recording media
White balance
auto and manual (options: bright sunlight, tungsten, cloudy, neon light, presettings)
Focusing control
video feedback autofocus
Focusing modes
Multi AF (9 points) or Spot AF
Features
Monitor
1.5" TFT LCD monitor, 130,000 pixels
Programmes
1. sports, 2. portrait, 3. nightportrait, 4. sunset, 5. twilight, 6. night, 7. black and white, 8. sepia
Flash/flash range
built-in/0.6m to 1.8m
Flash modes
full auto, full auto with red-eye reduction preflash, daylight fill-in flash, flash off
Interfaces/docking station
USB 2.0, video/audio, AC
Recording media
SD cards, MM cards
Sound recording
30 seconds per image, WAV format
Power source
3.7v / 760mAh
Dimensions
94x38.5x21mm (wxhxd)
Weight
90g
Accessories (supplied)
Lithium-ion battery
X
AC adapter
X
USB cable
X
Video cable
X
Hand strap
X
Camera case
X
Docking station
X
Specifications subject to change
About RTUNE
RTUNE starts very early in the imaging process and through efficient color management reduces the amount of data to be processed by the camera. White balance, so crucial for a natural color rendition, starts directly behind the pickup device and not, as is normal with other models, in the digital section. The result is a considerable reduction in noise. Additionally, RTUNE prevents the so-called "cross talk" effect, in which neighboring ones can distort the signal of a pixel. This results in fewer digital artifacts and an increased purity of color. Because the subsequent digitalizing of the signal means less computing time for the elimination of aberrations, another source of interference with color reproduction is reduced. The RTUNE processor works with 16 bits and so achieves an extremely differentiated, practically continuously variable conversion of grays and colors. By executing many complex image-processing algorithms, the RTUNE processor accelerates the computing speed and makes the customary intermediate storage of images superfluous. Because the image files are built up more efficiently thanks to RTUNE and contain less superfluous interference, the JPEG files finally saved turn out much smaller. Correspondingly more images fit onto every costly memory card.
YASHICA Kyocera GmbH, Hamburg
Together with subsidiaries in London, Paris, Vienna and Zurich the European head- quarters in Hamburg, theYASHICA Kyocera GmbH, controls distribution, marketing and service on the European market. The product range comprises YASHICA brand compact cameras, KYOCERA brand Finecam digital cameras as well as CONTAX brand compact, SLR and digital cameras.YASHICA Kyocera GmbH was founded in 1983 by the merger of Yashica Co Ltd with the Kyocera Corp and is an outright subsidiary of Kyocera Corp. Today approx 100 employees work for the YASHICA Kyocera group in Europe.
Managing director Europe of the YASHICA Kyocera group is Wilhelm H Hotes.
Kyocera Corporation, Kyoto
With a vision of ceramics as the key material of the future, the engineer Dr Kazuo Inamori founded the company in 1959. By combining ceramic materials with metals and plastics and integrating these into new technologies Kyocera is today one of the worldwide leading suppliers of ceramic components for, amongst others, the information and communication industry. The corporation is also one of the worldwide leading producers of solar modules. With an annual turnover of about EUR 9.32bn (fiscal year 2001/2002) and about 44,000 employees Kyocera today maintains 62 factories and more than 100 branches worldwide. 35 subsidiaries devoted to the marketing of laser printers, analog and digital cameras, microelectronic parts and solar modules are situated in Europe alone. Less known perhaps is the company's cultural engagement: via a foundation the corporation every year finances the prestigious Kyoto award. With approx half a million Euros this is one of the highest endowed awards for the lifework of high-ranking scientists and artists.
Further Information:
YASHICA Kyocera GmbH
Dirk Hülsermann
Eiffestrasse 76
20537 Hamburg
Tel.: 040 / 25 15 07-46
Fax: 040 / 25 15 07-48
FAKTOR 3 AG
Peter Jefimiec
Kattunbleiche 35
22041 Hamburg
eMail: kyocera@faktor3.de
p.jefimiec@faktor3.de
Tel. : 040 / 67 94 46-53
Fax : 040 / 67 94 46-11
FAKTOR 3 AG
Thomas Schultze
Kattunbleiche 35
22041 Hamburg
eMail: kyocera@faktor3.de
t.schultze@faktor3.de
Tel. : 040 / 67 94 46-41
Fax : 040 / 67 94 46-11
jkOnTheRun took a look at the Axible gadget storage bag, also known as "The Man Bag".
The Man Bag tries to fill a tricky product niche: a small bag for the guy who has too many things to fit in his pockets (phone, pda, book, keys, etc etc).
Why is that a tricky niche to fill? simple: it must absolutely definately positively be impossible for the bag to be mistaken for a purse.
Did jk's Man Bag pass the "man purse" test?, check out his review and see.
Wednesday 29 September
PocketPcThoughts has reviewed the Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard.
The Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard is a very small (5.5" x 3.9" x 0.5") box that folds out for form a good sized (9.9" x 5.8" x 0.5") 4 row QWERTY keyboard.
The Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard should work with any bluetooth equipped pocket pc (or a pocket pc wit a socket bluetooth SD or CF card) as well as many bluetooth equipped smart phones.
The list of compatible devices on the Think Outside site is a little out of date and doesn't specifically mention any of the new VGA Pocket PCs although they should work with the keyboard without problems.
Mamiya has announced a medium format digital camera: The Mamaya ZD, as well as a camera back: The Mamiya ZD Back.
Medium format is the preferred solution for many professional photographers, having a wider field of view and larger more detailed pictures than regular 35mm film.
This concept translates equally well to digital cameras: The Mamiya ZD has a 36x48mm 22 Megapixel Full Frame RGB Square-structured CCD sensor compared to the 17x13mm sensor of the Olympus E300, or the 24x16mm sensor of the Nikon DX2 SLR Digital Cameras.
The Mamiya ZD is expected to cost over $10,000 so it is strictly for serious professional photographers.
letsgodigital has a hands on review
Meet the new Sony, same as the old Sony.
I4U found a Japanese press release announcing the Sony NW-HD2 network walkman, successor to the NW-HD1 network walkman released just a few months ago.
Excitment was mounting: would it support MP3 instead of the proprietary ATRAC format?, would it have a color screen?, would it have a larger hard drive than 20gb?, would it be more relaistically priced?
Unfortunately all they seem have changed on the the Sony NW-HD2 network walkman is the color: you can get it in silver, pink, or blue.
The Sony NW-HD2 network walkman will be available in Japan October 10th, and probably the US soon after that.
(via I4U)
Griffin have announced that their radioSHARK desktop AM-FM radio is now shipping.
I know, desktop AM-FM radio doesn't should very gadgety or interesting, but the radioSHARK is more like a Tivo for radio that integrates with iTunes and iPods.
The radioSHARK is controlled through your PC or mac and connects via a USB port.
With the radioSHARK you can set presets for station and schedule recodings of radio programs.
Programs recorded with the radioSHARK are saved to iTunes and can be synced with an iPod for portable listening.
The Griffin radioSHARK is available at griffintechnology.com for $69.99.
(press release)
Griffin Technology Press Release
For Immediate Release
Griffin Begins Shipping radioSHARK Desktop AM-FM Radio
Desktop radio includes time shift recording, automatically syncs with iTunes and is Mac & PC compatible
NASHVILLE, TN – September 29, 2004. Griffin Technology Inc., innovator of exciting hardware and software products for the Mac and PC, today announced it has begun shipping the much-anticipated radioSHARK, a desktop AM-FM Radio with time-shift recording capabilities. Compatible with both Mac and PC computers, radioSHARK allows users to listen to and record their favorite AM or FM radio broadcasts. The radioSHARK allows the recording of scheduled radio events or as a way of ‘pausing’ live radio. This gives the listener the ability to return where they left off minutes, or even hours later. The radioSHARK sells for $69.99 and is now shipping. It is available for sale at http://griffintechnology.com and the Apple Store.
The radioSHARK connects to and is powered by USB. The fin-shaped device acts as the antenna and can be adjusted and positioned for best reception. Once connected, all radio tuning and control is through its full-featured front-end application. Favorite station presets can be set with the click of a mouse and new stations can be scanned and tuned with ease. The radioSHARK application is also where you can program the radioSHARK to record your favorite broadcast to listen to later. Recordings are automatically synced to the Apple iTunes music application, ready for playback or transfer to an iPod for on the go listening.
“So it’s a little late,” said Paul Griffin of Griffin Technology. “When you’re developing new products from scratch, sometimes you run into unexpected speed bumps along the way – it’s the nature of the business. That said, the radioSHARK is a very cool product that I think people are going to love. It’s the product that ‘I’ wanted to make and ultimately was worth the wait.”
Pricing & Availability
The Griffin radioSHARK package includes the USB radioSHARK hardware device, software for both Mac and PC, as well as a 40-page instruction manual. It retails for $69.99 USD and is available now at http://griffintechnology.com and the Apple Store.
SanDisk Achieves Breakthrough Performance with 90nm NAND/MLC and Advanced Controller Technology to Boost Capacities for Popular Ultra II High-Speed Memory Cards
Photokina 2004
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2004--
SanDisk Introduces World's First 8-Gigabyte ULTRA II CompactFlash Type I Card; Leads In Capacity and Performance for Memory Stick PRO and SD Formats
SanDisk(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK) announced today that its Multi-Level Cell (MLC) and advanced controller technology have allowed it to quadruple the capacity of its high-speed SanDisk Ultra(R) II cards. SanDisk now offers the world's first 8 gigabyte (GB) CompactFlash(R) Type I card and 4GB SanDisk Ultra II Memory Stick PRO(TM) and 2GB SanDisk Ultra II SD(TM) cards, and maintains their award-winning minimum write speed of 9 megabytes per second (MB/sec.) and minimum read speed of 10MB/sec.(1)
The new high capacity SanDisk Ultra II cards are designed to be a reasonably priced, high performance solution for the photography channel and were announced yesterday at the Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany.
Yoram Cedar, SanDisk's senior vice president of engineering, said, "SanDisk's engineers have been refining our NAND/MLC and advanced 32 bit controller architectures over the past 5 years, and we are now beginning to see the full fruits of these efforts. These new Ultra II cards employ our highest density 90nm 4-gigabit (Gb) NAND/MLC single-die tightly coupled with our latest generation controller chips. New high performance algorithms were implemented that maximize the MLC performance while benefiting from the lower cost per megabyte of MLC memory. These achievements in products that will ship in volume production in the coming quarter demonstrate the true power of the NAND/MLC technology that SanDisk and Toshiba have developed through our strategic partnership."
Jim Handy, director of non-volatile memory at Semico Research Company, said, "The fact that SanDisk is now able to support their high-speed SanDisk Ultra II line of flash cards with MLC NAND speaks very highly of the company's command of MLC technology. Until now, MLC could not be used in SanDisk's Ultra line of high-speed flash cards whose higher performance requirements ruled out MLC's cost savings. The company has found a way to bring MLC's improved cost structure into the market for top-of-the-line cards."
Pricing and Availability
The SanDisk Ultra II product line is available in CompactFlash, Memory Stick PRO and SD formats. Suggested retail prices and availability are as follows:
Capacities US$ EUR Avail-
(ex. VAT) ability
--------------- ------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
Ultra II CF 256MB - 2GB EUR 44.00 - Now
$49.99 - $249.99 EUR 245.00
------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
4GB $479.99 EUR 465.00 October
------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
8GB $959.99 EUR 930.00 November
------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
--------------- ------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
Ultra II MS PRO 256MB - 1GB EUR 73.00 - Now
$74.99 - $249.99 EUR 259.00
--------------- ------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
2GB - 4GB EUR 495.00 - November
$479.99 - $959.99 EUR 990.00
------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
--------------- ------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
Ultra II SD 256MB - 512MB EUR 45.00 - Now
$64.99 - $89.99 EUR 72.00
--------------- ------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
1GB - 2GB EUR 119.00 - November
$119.99 - $239.99 EUR 239.00
--------------- ------------- ------------------ ------------ --------
SanDisk Ultra II cards are available at most of the 80,000 consumer electronics stores and other retail outlets where SanDisk products are sold worldwide.
SanDisk, the world's largest supplier of flash memory data storage card products, designs, manufactures and markets industry-standard, solid-state data, digital imaging and audio storage products using its patented, high density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is based in Sunnyvale, CA.
The matters discussed in this news release contain forward looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as described under the caption, "Factors That May Affect Future Results" in the company's annual report on Form 10-K-A and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The companies assume no obligation to update the information in this release.
SanDisk's web site/home page address: http://www.sandisk.com.
Images of SanDisk products are available at http://www.sandisk.com/corporate/media.asp.
SanDisk, the SanDisk logo, SanDisk Ultra and CompactFlash are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries. SanDisk Extreme is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. SanDisk is an authorized licensee of the SD trademark. Memory Stick PRO is a trademark of Sony Corporation. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective holder(s).
(1) Results based on testing with HDBENCH benchmark software. Actual results in digital cameras will vary by model.
Tuesday 28 September
Rob Galbraith got the scoop from Sandisk on their new line of CompactFlash and Secure Digital cards.
The Extreme III series, like the Panasonic cards announced today, are capable of 20MB per second data transfer speeds.
The official announcement of the Extreme III series will come tomorrow, with 1GB and 2GB Extreme III CompactFlash cards shipping in October, and 1GB Extreme III SD cards shipping in November.
There will also be new card readers shipping on December, as well as 4GB CF and 2GB SD Extreme III cards announced but with no ship date.
Panasonic has announced 2 new SecureDigital (SD) memory cards that use a fancy new LSI architecture to achieve read/write speeds of 20MB per second (or 133x speed for comparison to CD writers and CompactFlash cards).
The Panasonic Pro High Speed series of cards comes in 1GB and 512MB versions, and the cards will be available in October.
Price is not yet known.
full press release.
(via dpreview)
Press Release:
Osaka Japan -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC), best known for its Panasonic brand products, today announced it will introduce "PRO HIGH SPEED Series" 1GB and 512MB SD Memory Cards this Fall that doubled the internal data transfer rates. These two SD Memory Cards use Panasonic's new LSI architecture and proprietary high speed technology to achieve a data transfer speed of up to 20MB/s.1 Named the "PRO HIGH SPEED Series", the new memory cards will feature distinctive, newly-designed labels and packaging.
Sale of the memory cards worldwide is scheduled to begin in October. In Japan, 1GB and 512MB SD Memory Cards will be available on October 15, without manufacturer's suggested retail prices.
New Product Feature Outline
The new PRO HIGH SPEED Series SD Memory Card can achieve data transfer speeds of up to 20MB/s for an SD Memory Card when used with SD products that comply with a newly upgraded interface. Panasonic will also simultaneously launch a Cardbus compatible PC Card Adaptor as a host device to enable high-speed data transfer.
The name PRO HIGH SPEED indicates that the cards provide high-level performance compatible with the standard demanded by video professionals. The basic construction of the PRO HIGH SPEED Series card is employed in the recording medium (P2 Card) used by the Panasonic professional camera DVCPRO P2 system, which delivers the exceptional tapeless video capture performance and durability required by video professionals. The fact that this professional camera has been adopted by more than 40 leading TV broadcasters and tested at the recent Athens Olympics shows its reliability of both the camera and media.
PRO HIGH SPEED Series SD Memory Cards are compatible with existing SD-enabled products. They can be used with current SD-enabled products to achieve the same maximum high-speed data transfer of up to 10MB/s as that provided by Super High Speed Series.
Panasonic plans to release PRO HIGH SPEED Series Cards with doubled memory capacity in coming years.
Product Development Background
Since its introduction in 1999, the SD Memory Card has come to be used in a wide range of digital products including digital still cameras (DSC), digital video cameras, PCs, PDAs, and mobile telephones. Among these products, the memory card's major application has been storage of still images. The DSC market has recently seen rapid progress toward higher resolution, which has increased the size of data files and the need for higher performance. Consecutive shooting, an increasingly popular DSC feature, also requires high-speed transfer rates. In addition, there is a continuing popularization of functions to record and play back video images such as MPEG4 and MPEG2 using memory cards.
In the future, it is expected that more and more users will enjoy recording TV programs on SD Memory Cards for playback on different SD-enabled products. Since video data entails an extremely large file size, it stands to reason that there will be an increased need for high-speed data transfer.The PRO HIGH SPEED Series was developed to respond to this demand for high-speed data transfer.
Specifications
Dimensions 24 × 32 × 2.1mm (W × L × T mm)
Weight Approx 2g
Number of Pins - 9 (same as exisiting SD Memory Card)
Data transfer rate: Up to 20MB/sec
*1GB and 512MB SD cards utilize portions of the memory for copy protection and other purposes.
Usable capacities are 944MB and 472MB respectively.(MB means 1,048,576 bytes).
So, does that make it a blueberry?
Research in Motion have just released the first Blackberry phone/organizer that has bluetooth built-in: The Blackberry 7290.
The Blackberry 7290 is being offered through O2 in the UK, Ireland and Germany from November 2004, and surpisingly in the US through Cingular from October.
The Blackberry 7290 is 4.4 x 2.9 x 0.8 inches and 4.8 oz. It has 32mb RAM, 5 hrs talktime, color display, and QWERTY keyboard.
Price of the Blackberry 7290 in the US will be $190 with a new 2 year service agreement.
(via engadget)
Pocketnow has reviewed the HP iPAQ hx4700 VGA Pocket PC.
The iPAQ hx4700 features a 4" VGA (640x480 pixel) screen, 128mb ROM and 64mb RAM (with 135mb of that available for user storage), 624mhz processor (same as my favorite Dell X30), wireless 802.11b and bluetooth 1.2, and both SDIO and compactflash expansion slots.
The iPAQ hx4700 is big: 5.2 x 3.0 x0.6 inches and 6.6 ounces but that is to be expected considering the large screen.
What did they think of the iPAQ hx4700? they loved the screen and speed but didn't like the design and price so much. Read their review for the details.
In the UK the main (formerly only) phone company British Telecom (BT) just doesn't get it.
According to BT's Graham Whitehead "The internet is dead, or dying; it's full of viruses, worms and porn, you have to wear a kevlar suit before you go online," he said. "BT is creating a private network, which will be joined to other private networks, to which we will add voice over IP."
He also thinks the low uptake of broadband in the UK is due to people not seeing a need for broadband in their daily lives.
I disagree: the low uptake of broadband in the UK is directly related to a certain company (BT) trying to control and overcharge for broadband connectivity, limiting competition and stifling innovation.
I am so glad I moved from the UK to the US and got away from that kind of attitude and inward thinking. The US is a lot bigger and therefore a lot more difficult to wire for broadband connectivity but over half of US internet users have broadband and personally I would never live in a house of apartment without it.
Casio have announced a new watch in Japan that lets you pay for gas at Exxon gas stations that support Speed Pass.
The watch will be available in Japan from October 22nd and will cost 26,000 yen (about $230).
In related news, a gallon of gas will soon cost more than this watch.
Personally I like the idea of technology being built into watches as a watch is the one thing I am guaranteed to be carrying all the time, however I would much prefer it to be in a watch that looks nice, not a big lump of plastic that looks like a refugee from the 1980's.
(via wristdreams)
Monday 27 September
Olympus have announced a new digital SLR camera at the Photokina trade show.
The Olympus E300 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 17.3mm x 13mm sensor, and it is the third digital SLT offered by Olympus that uses their FourThirds technology.
Other features include lots of manual controls, CompactFlash storage card, pop-up flash, 1.8" LCD, and 1500mAh battery. The Olympus E300 comes as a kit with a new 14-45mm Zuiko Digital lens (equivalent to 28-90mm on a 35mm film camera).
The Olympus E300 is 5.8" x 3.4" x 2.5" and weighs 1.3lb without the lens.
Pricing has not yet been announced.
FREMONT, Calif. - September 27, 2004 - Plextor® Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, today announced the new PX-716 series DVD±R/RW drive. With high-speed 16X DVD+R and 16X DVD-R recording, the PX-716 gives users the ability to create, edit, and share customized DVDs and CDs in less time than ever before .
The drive achieves blazing fast 16X CAV performance on recommended 8X DVD+R media, and burns a 4.7GB DVD in less than six minutes. Available in both internal (ATAPI) and external (USB/FireWire) versions, the new drive also supports dual-layer DVD media, enabling users to burn up to four hours of high-quality MPEG-2 video on a single 8.5GB DVD disc in approximately 28 minutes.
The PX-716 features Intelligent Recording, a combination of technologies designed to achieve high-quality recordings across a broad spectrum of media with varying grades of quality:
- Intelligent Tilt - Precise laser and three-dimensional tilt control to reduce jitter and achieve optimal recording and reading on uneven disc surfaces.
- PoweRec - A sophisticated write strategy providing superior quality recording at maximum speed for certified media.
- AUTOSTRATEGY® - A technology that determines the standard deviation of any blank disc and automatically optimizes the write strategy for unknown media, enabling high-quality disc recording. AUTOSTRATEGY technology is the culmination of five years of research and development by Taiyo Yuden, a leading Japanese supplier of quality CD and DVD recording media.
"Plextor constantly develops and introduces features that differentiate our DVD and CD drives from competitive products," said Howard Wing, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor. "The combination of Taiyo Yuden AUTOSTRATEGY technology and Plextor's proven expertise of high-quality disc recording has yielded outstanding results. We have successfully demonstrated that the PX-716 with AUTOSTRATEGY is capable of providing high-quality writing over a broad spectrum of media. This remarkable feature will appeal to anyone who purchases unbranded media to save money, but has been disappointed by low-quality recordings in the past."
Plextor PX-716A DVD±R/RW Drive
The Plextor PX-716 is a highly versatile DVD/CD burner specifically designed to deliver high-quality recording performance. The 9-in-1 drive supports 4x DVD+R Double Layer, 16X DVD+R, and 16X DVD-R Writing; 8X DVD+RW and 4X DVD-RW Rewriting; and 16X max DVD-Reading; as well as high-speed 48X CD-R Writing, 24X CD-RW Rewriting, and 48X max CD-Reading. The PX-716 has an 8 MB buffer and features Buffer Underrun Proof Technology to prevent buffer underrun errors and allow multi-tasking.
The internal PX-716A drive features an ATA/ATAPI-5 (EIDE) interface for broad based PC-compatibility. A short drive length of 6.7-inches accommodates small form-factor PCs, while a replaceable black front bezel allows a user to change the appearance of the drive to match a computer. Burst data transfer rates for the internal drive are 16.7 MB/sec for PIO Mode-4, 16.7 MB/sec for DMA-2, and 66.7 MB/sec for Ultra DMA33.
Plextor PX-716UF DVD±R/RW Drive
The external PX-716UF includes a dual interface that supports both Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and full-speed compliant IEEE-1394 FireWire®, enabling a Plextor customer to easily share a single external high-performance DVD/CD recorder among multiple Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows-based personal computer systems. Burst data transfer rates of 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) or 400 Mbps (FireWire) allow a user to burn a 4.7GB DVD+R disc in approximately six minutes.
Lossless Linking/Zero Link technology enables users to perform basic editing tasks directly on the DVD disc, so there is no need to reload DVD content back to a PC to make minor changes, and no need to re-burn an entire DVD after making small edits. The PX-716 also includes PlexTools® Professional software, which is capable of determining good discs from bad discs before beginning the burn process. In addition the software enables a unique combination of user-controllable CD recording and CD/DVD media test features, including:
o GigaRec allows high capacity storage up to 1 GB on a 700 MB CD disc.
o SecureRecording offers password protection for CD discs.
o Q-Check for CD media checks and graphs the results of written disc quality, including C1/C2 errors, track and focus errors, and beta/jitter errors.
o Q-Check Time Analyzer (TA) for DVD media checks and graphs the results of written disc quality including PI/PO.
o Silent Mode enables users to vary tray load/unload speed, spin up/down speed and write/read speeds.
o VariRec allows adjustment of the laser power to produce the highest quality audio recording possible.
Plextor Software Bundle for Windows: Roxio Easy Media Center 7, Basic DVD Edition and Roxio PhotoSuite 7
Plextor's bundled software package offers ease-of-use and extensive functionality for Windows platforms. The PlexWriter PX-716 ships with Easy Media Center 7, Basic DVD Edition. Roxio's number-one selling DVD/CD-recording software lets users create movie DVDs, data DVDs, music CDs, photo slide shows synchronized with music, data CDs, and backup copies of personal discs.
The PlexWriter PX-716 drive also includes, Roxio PhotoSuite 7 for capturing, organizing, editing, and sharing digital photos; and a 30-day trial version of Dantz Retrospect® data backup software. For Macintosh users, Toast Lite versions 5 & 6 are also included for the PX-716UF.
Pricing and Availability
The Plextor PX-716 DVD±R/RW drive is scheduled for shipment to distributors and resellers in North and South America on October 15, 2004. The internal PX-716A drive has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $149.00 USD. The external PX-716UF is $239.00 USD. All retail packages include a one-year full warranty.
We are getting a lot of use out of our iPod mini, and one thing we felt we needed was a bit more protection when working out at the gym or on a bike ride.
We looked around for a solid metal iPod mini case that had a belt clip, and we came up with the Matias iPod Armor Mini.
Did the Matias iPod Armor Mini case meet our needs? keep reading to find out......
Did he or didn't he? Minnesota State Patrol claim they clocked a teenager by the name of Samuel Armstrong Tilley speeding at 205mph over a measured quarter mile on his Honda RC51 motorbike.
A regular RC51 can "only" go 165mph, so either something was wrong with the speed measurement or Tilley made some major modifications to his bike.
The 200mph+ club for motorcyclists is an exclusive club, achieving 200mph over a quarter mile is something usually reserved for well planned events at places like the bonneville salt flats.
If Tilley keeps behaving like this he will be up for a Darwin Award soon.
The long delayed OQO handtop PC may finally be about to be released. Rumors abound that it will be released in early October at a price of $1899.
The OQO runs windows XP but it a lot more like a mini tablet pc.
The OQO is tiny, 4.9" x 3.4" x 0.9", and weighs 14oz, but manages to pack in a 1GHz transmeta processor, a 20gb hard drive, 256mb RAM, a 800 x 480 pixel 5" lcd screen, QWERTY thumb keyboard, 802.11b and bluetooth wireless.
One downside to the long development cycle is that some of the specs are no longer as impressive as when the OQO was first announced. For the high price of the OQO I would like to have seen 1 40gb or 60gb hard drive, 512mb RAM, USB 2, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, and a faster Transmeta efficeon processor. I also don't like the low 3hr battery life, for the sake of a few extra ounces we could have got a much better battery life.
Toshiba has announced new models in their Gigabeat line of MP3 players, including the first MP3 player with 60gb storage capacity.
The Toshiba Gigabeat F series also has a 2.2" color QVGA (240 x 320 pixel) display, USB 2.0 connectivity, and an 11 hr battery life.
The Toshiba Gigabeat comes in 3 sizes: 10gb, 20gb, and 60gb. The 60gb version will hold up to 15,000 songs and will be available in December.
Press release and specifications
(via gizmodo)
Richard Branson and his Virgin company have announced a deal with Burt Rutan creator of SpaceShipOne to lauch a commercial space flight service.
The new service, Virgin Galactic, aims to fly 3,000 people into space in the next 5 years.
Virgin Galactic will operate a fleet of 5 space ships based upon Rutan's SpaceShipOne, which is expected to win the X-Prize for the first privately funded flights into space.
Virgin is investing up to $100 million into the venture and they expect flights to start in 2007. The price of a ticket: about $200,000 (including 3 days training).
FORE IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 16.7 Megapixels of Righteous Resolution: IN THE STUDIO OR ON THE ROAD CANON’S NEW EOS-1Ds MARK II SLR TAKES PRO DIGITAL TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF IMAGING EXCELLENCE With the Highest Resolution, Lowest Noise, Truest Color And Fastest Burst Rate In Its Class, The EOS-1Ds Mark II Digital SLR Is The One Pro Digital Even Medium-Format Film Holdouts Will Love LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Sept. 21, 2004 – At long last, catalog and commercial photographers, stock photographers, studio portrait specialists and other professional photographers of every stripe and specialty can capture brilliant high impact images and enjoy the speed, economy, flexibility, increased workflow and productivity that only digital offers, with Canon’s new 16.7 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark II SLR. “The EOS-1Ds Mark II digital SLR camera establishes a new benchmark of innovation and excellence not only for Canon but for our industry as a whole and particularly for the community of professional photographers who are our most demanding and discerning customers,” stated Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc (NYSE:CAJ). “Up to now, many professional and commercial photographers have been wedded to their medium format film cameras in order to ensure the excellence of their images and the ability to make dramatic enlargements with virtually no reduction in quality. With this remarkable new pro digital SLR, we are sending a message to those medium format fans: your digital dream has been fulfilled.” For those wishing to get a first glimpse of that dream, production models of the new EOS-1Ds Mark II camera will be on display at the Canon booth at the Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany starting on Sept. 28th and at New York City’s Photo Plus show starting on Oct. 21st at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The EOS-1Ds Mark II camera body carries an estimated street price of $7,999 and is scheduled to begin shipping in November. The successor to Canon’s 11.1-megapixel EOS-1Ds SLR introduced in 2002, the new 16.7-megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark II camera utilizes a full-size 24x36mm CMOS sensor that eliminates focal length conversion factors, and features dramatically improved image quality made possible by the combination of new image sensor technology together with Canon’s exclusive DIGIC II image processor. The new CMOS sensor features larger microlenses over each photosite compared to the EOS-1Ds resulting in an improved signal-to-noise ratio. On-chip noise reduction has also been improved to produce a cleaner signal before the image data is transferred to the DIGIC II image processor. The DIGIC II processor in turn produces rich, high-chroma color gradations for more naturally rendered images. Indeed, it is the combination of Canon’s proprietary CMOS sensor and DIGIC II technology that permits the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera to provide what was once considered near impossible: high definition at high resolution with extremely low levels of false
-more16.7
Megapixels of Righteous Resolution: In The Studio Or On The Road Canon’s New EOS-1Ds MARK II SLR Takes Pro
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color artifacts. DIGIC II also permits faster processing of large files and is twice as fast as the image processor used in the EOS-1Ds. Color Space… The EOS-1Ds Mark II camera provides five preset color matrix settings plus two custom settings (as compared with the five presets provided on the original EOS-1Ds camera). In addition, the support for the Adobe RGB color space is improved through the use of DCF 2.0 and Exif 2.21 file formats. …And White Balance Inherited from the EOS-1D Mark II model is the new camera’s white balance correction feature that permits nine +/-adjustments in full step increments; compensation for blue/amber bias or magenta/green bias; white balance bracketing in three +/- full stop increments and auto white balance derived exclusively from image sensor data. The camera features a total of ten white balance settings:Auto, daylight, shade, cloudy, tungsten light, fluorescent light, flash, manual, custom and personal. Fast, Fast, Fast The EOS-1Ds Mark II pro digital SLR is ready for action just 0.3 seconds after its power switch is clicked on and fires a fast four frames per second at full resolution for bursts of up to 32 JPEG or 11 RAW images (compared with 3 fps for up to 10 frames on the original EOS-1Ds camera). In a commercial studio environment, the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera will actually shoot faster than the time it takes for most studio strobes to recycle. The camera also offers users ISO options from 100 to 1600 in 1/3-stop increments with the flexibility to expand the range to ISO 50 or ISO 3200 by utilizing the camera’s custom functions. While the new 1Ds Mark II camera occupies the prestigious flagship position of Canon’s professional digital line, it incorporates or surpasses many of the new technological advances introduced earlier this year on the 8.2 megapixel EOS-1D Mark II pro digital SLR, which has become a favorite of photojournalists, sports shooters and wedding photographers. Like its 8.2 megapixel SLR sibling, responsiveness and user-directed adaptability are again clearly evident in the range of the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera’s shutter speeds – from 1/8000 to 30 seconds and bulb (with user-set adjustments of 1/3, ½ or full stops). The camera’s shutter lag time is just 55ms and focus is achieved in a virtual instant thanks to a 45-point AF system. Precision also extends to the EOS IDs Mark II camera’s 21-zone metering sensor, which, as one would expect, works seamlessly with the E-TTL-II flash metering technology. Adding to the camera’s versatility and ability to reflect the individuality of the photographer using it, the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera features 20 built-in Custom Functions with 65 settings and 27 personal function settings that can be uploaded to the camera with the use of dedicated software. Recognizing that such customization can be time consuming, all of the camera’s settings can now be saved to a memory card and shared with multiple cameras. Should the camera need servicing, the settings can be stored and reloaded after the work is done.
16.7 Megapixels of Righteous Resolution: In The Studio Or On The Road Canon’s New EOS-1Ds MARK II SLR Takes Pro
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With 16.7 effective megapixels (out of a total of 17.2 megapixels) packed on to a 36.0 x 24.0 mm CMOS sensor, the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera offers the world’s highest pixel count in a 35mm, full-size digital AF SLR camera. In the JPEG Large and RAW modes, the 4992 x 3328 recorded pixels are easily capable of making 16 x 24 inch enlargements. What’s more, the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera has sufficient resolution to generate a full double page spread at 300 DPI, considered the ‘Holy Grail” of catalog photography. Unlike the original 1Ds camera that featured only two image quality settings, the new EOS-1Ds Mark II model places greater control and discretion in the photographer’s hands and offers a choice of five image quality settings: RAW (16.6 megapixels); Large JPEG (16.6 megapixels); Medium 1 JPEG (8.6 megapixels), Medium 2 JPEG (6.3 megapixels), and Small JPEG (4.2 megapixels). RAW files and JPEGS can be shot separately or simultaneously, for maximum flexibility according to the desired workflow. E-TTL II Flash Exposure Control The EOS-1Ds Mark II Pro Digital SLR camera incorporates the E-TTL II Flash control system first introduced on the EOS-1D Mark II model earlier this year. Though it remains compatible with all EX-series Speedlites as well as the E-TTL wireless autoflash system, the smarter E- TTL II flashmetering algorithm evaluates the subject as a “plane “ rather than a simply a point and ensures that images containing various colors and levels of reflection are captured accurately and optimally. The system compares the ambient light with pre-flash data reflected off the subject and recorded by the central 17 metering zones. It then selects the areas with a small difference to be weighted for flash exposure calculation. The system eliminates or under-weights areas with large differences, recognizing them as an extremely reflective object in the background or a highly reflective subject, then smartly ensuring it by considering the distance information data provided from compatible EF lenses. The system similarly prevents over-exposure when photographers lock focus and recompose the shot by considering the flash output level calculated according to the distance. The camera also allows users to select an averaged metering pattern by using its custom function settings. Pick A Card… Like the 8.2 megapixel EOS-1D Mark II digital SLR that Canon announced in January, this new 16.7 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark II model is equipped with two dedicated card slots for Compact Flash (Type I or II) and SD memory cards and allows for either simultaneous backup recording for situations where image capture is critical or individual recording on separate cards for capture of an enormous number of images. The EOS-1Ds Mark II camera also features a brilliant and easy to read 230,000 pixel high detail color LCD Monitor (compared with a 120,000 pixel display on the original EOS-1Ds), that measures two inches on the diagonal and provides 100% coverage. Image playback can be automatic after an image has been captured and is also reviewable by simply pressing the “display” button on the rear of the body. The monitor is equipped with a magnification feature that provides a 1.5 X to 10X scrollable zoom in 15 stops, enabling users to check the focus and exposure of their images with a new level of on-the-spot precision. The monitor also provides five brightness settings, a new and bolder typeface to allow for easier reading of text menus and an auto rotation feature that automatically rotates a vertically shot image to enable easier viewing
16.7 Megapixels of Righteous Resolution: In The Studio Or On The Road Canon’s New EOS-1Ds MARK II SLR Takes Pro
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and downloading. Manual clockwise rotation of the image is also possible by 90, 270 or 0 degrees through the image rotation menu. RGB Histogram Contributing to the precision and control afforded to its users, The EOS-1Ds Mark II camera’s RGB histogram display enables separate checking of color and brightness information for the red, green and blue channels. The RGB histogram can also be used to check other color information not available in the brightness display such as white balance bias, color balance, color saturation and the compression of color gradations. Available when viewing any recorded image in the Single (Info.) image playback mode, the RGB histogram is displayed as an alternate to the luminance histogram, which draws attention to overexposed portions of the picture that lack image information. Improved Interface In addition to the professional-standard four pin IEEE1394 (Firewire) port that enables high speed computer interface at 100 megabits per second, the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera features a new video output terminal which supports TV connection, facilitating the viewing of images on a television screen, as well as a USB port for connection to a computer or Direct Printing with BJ Direct, Canon’s Compact Photo Printers and PictBridge compatible printers. Able to stand up to real world conditions – from environmental portraiture, nature, travel or “annual report” type images to high-volume catalog photography, family portrait studios or event imaging applications – this fast and fine thoroughbred SLR is also a rugged, lightweight, weather resistant magnesium alloy workhorse, with a shutter durability-tested to 200,000 exposures (50,000 more than on the original 1Ds camera). The camera’s EF lens mount is made of stainless steel and is fully compatible with all Canon EF lenses (except EF-S lenses), as well as TS-E and MP-E lenses. Adding to its allure, the new EOS-1Ds Mark II camera fairly sips power from its battery, executing approximately 1200 shots per charge, double that of its original (and recent) EOS-1Ds ancestor. Bundled Software The EOS-1Ds Mark II camera is bundled with two software CD-ROMs: the EOS Digital Solution Disk (ver. 9.0) which includes Windows and Macintosh versions of the EOS Viewer Utility (ver. 1.2) which allows image downloading, RAW image adjustment and camera setting specifications; EOS Capture (ver 1.2) and PhotoStitch as well Twain and WIA Drivers (Windows only). The second disk, Digital Photo Professional (ver. 1.5) includes a newly updated RAW image processing application to handle the workflow demands of professional photographers. It enables high-speed RAW image processing and preview, support for sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB color spaces and is Color Management System (CMS) compatible. The EOS Capture software supports tethered shooting with Digital Photo Professional as well as EOS Viewer Utility to provide a powerful performance combination for studio photographers. As with the EOS-1D Mark II model, no third party image retouching software is included.
16.7 Megapixels of Righteous Resolution: In The Studio Or On The Road Canon’s New EOS-1Ds MARK II SLR Takes Pro
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Remotely Possible New for the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera is the optional Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E1A)**. Given the enormous popularity of LAN-based image transmission systems and the demands for higher speed image distribution in the reporting fields, Canon developed this new accessory that allows photographers to transmit images from their cameras directly to a computer over a wired or wireless local area network (LAN). The WFT-E1 transmitter includes a mini antenna, a long and short IEE1394 cable, a case and camera mounting screw. The transmitter will also be compatible with the EOS-1D Mark II and the EOS 20D digital SLR cameras via a firmware upgrade. Pricing for the WFT-E1 has not been finalized, but will be announced prior to initial dealer shipments in November. Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America, and is ranked #35 on the latest Business Week list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2003, with global revenues of $29.9 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com. # # # All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners. * Prices subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary. ** This device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.
Audible has started working with Sprint to put spoken word audiobooks on Sprint PCS smart phones.
The first device that will work with Audible audiobooks is the Samsung SP-i600 smartphone. It will be interesting to see how usable the interface is and how much you can store on your phone: the SP-i600 only has 32mb memory, a lot of which could already be used for photos, email, contacts etc.
You can get $50 off the Samsung SP-i600 when you commit to an Audible subscription.
(msmobiles.com via Engadget)
Mad Catz Announces Accessory Lineup for the Nintendo DS
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2004--Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., the world's leading third party video game accessory manufacturer, today announced its prominent lineup of accessories for the much anticipated Nintendo DS(TM). The accessories will begin shipping in North America in conjunction with the launch of the Nintendo DS this November.
"We are excited to be creating and offering the first third-party accessories for the new Nintendo DS," said Darren Richardson, President and CEO of Mad Catz, Inc. "With its revolutionary new features such as touch screen input, voice recognition and wireless communication, we are confident that the new DS will generate an excitement for the new accessories Mad Catz has to offer."
Protective carry case stylistically designed to keep your DS protected from minor bumps, drops or scratches.
Screen protector, with a textured surface, adheres instantly to your DS screen to protect against scratches and to eliminate glare.
Game cases protect the media slots of the new Nintendo DS game disk from pocket dust and dirt at all times.
Car charger plugs directly into your vehicle's standard lighter/power socket, providing power as you travel. You can use your DS while it is charging, or switch it off and charge the battery even faster.
AC adapter allows you to charge or power the new DS by plugging into a standard power outlet. Use your DS while it is charging, or switch it off and the battery charges even faster.
Earphones are attached to a band that rests comfortably at the base of your head. These compact, portable headphones are designed to give maximum comfort and a snug fit for your active lifestyle.
Stylus is a replacement unit that allows you to take advantage of the revolutionary, touch-screen input technology of the DS.
DS II Mobile Kit comes with essentially everything to connect and enjoy your DS while on the go. The DS II Mobile Kit comes complete with a hard carry case, 6 game cases, earphones, a Y cable and a car and AC adapter.
DS Kit provides the necessary accessories to protect and enjoy your DS. The DS Kit includes a soft carry case, 6 game case, car adapter and earphones.
About Mad Catz
Mad Catz (www.madcatz.com), designs, develops, manufactures and markets a full range of high quality, competitively priced accessories for video game consoles and portables, including the industry leading GameShark brand of video game enhancements. Mad Catz is a worldwide leader of innovative peripherals in the interactive entertainment industry, with distribution through nine of the top ten U.S. retailers offering interactive entertainment products. With operating headquarters in San Diego, California, Mad Catz has offices in Canada, the U.K. and Asia, as well as distributors in Europe and Australia.
Lexar Revolutionizes Professional Digital Photography Workflow with New ActiveMemory System
COLOGNE, Germany, September 27, 2004 – Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading marketer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today at Photokina (Hall 1.2, Booth-058) introduced the ActiveMemory TM System, a technology designed to optimize digital photography workflow to achieve enhanced productivity in and out of the photo studio. The first products to support the ActiveMemory System are certain Professional CompactFlash TM cards, new Lexar Professional FireWire and USB 2.0 card readers, and Photo Mechanic TM 4.5 professional image browsing software.
At the center of the ActiveMemory System are ActiveMemory-enabled Professional CompactFlash cards that can store user preferences and host device settings in a protected area on the card. These settings can only be modified by the host application that created them and can be used to auto-configure multiple ActiveMemory-enabled products within the system. These settings are preserved even when the card is formatted or other data files on the card are deleted, because the ActiveMemory data is stored outside the standard DOS file structure on the card.
“Imagine a card that contains its owner’s name and image preferences,” said John Omvik, director of professional product marketing, Lexar. “Images downloaded from the card can be automatically appended with the photographer’s copyright information, search keywords and caption information. In the future, photographers can also have confidence knowing that the camera is configured the way they expect, because their preferred settings are automatically loaded when the card is inserted in an ActiveMemory-enabled camera.”
While many cameras and software applications already allow users to save favorite settings, storing this information on a memory card is unique because it allows for the immediate transfer of established information and improves multi-user or multi-device working environments.
ActiveMemory Software Applications
Photo Mechanic 4.5, an upcoming version of Photo Mechanic professional image browsing software, will feature ActiveMemory technology that allows users to store download preferences and IPTC captioning, including copyright information and database keywords. When an ActiveMemory-enabled card is inserted in the new Lexar Professional CompactFlash reader, Photo Mechanic automatically launches and begins to download the images on the card. During the download process the IPTC information is automatically appended to each image.
ActiveMemory will enable photographers to change the sequence of traditional workflow by eliminating redundant and repetitive manual tasks like captioning, adding search keywords and copyright information from the post-processing stage.
ActiveMemory Camera Applications
Digital cameras can also use the ActiveMemory technology to store user preferences and other camera-specific set-up parameters, such as CSM settings, on the card. This information can be used to quickly configure a camera to a known and trusted state, or for specific shooting conditions.
Today’s professional digital SLR cameras are feature-rich with multiple pages of menu and set-up options. While this provides professionals with maximum flexibility, it can also increase the possibility for user error. This is particularly true when cameras are shared among multiple photographers or with rental equipment. Users of ActiveMemory-enabled cameras will be able to plug in the card and be confident that the camera is ready to go the way they expect it.
“For professional photographers, there is nothing worse than losing a shot,” said Kevin Gilbert, professional photojournalist and president of Blue Pixel. “But it is even more frustrating when it could have been avoided because the photographer or his editor was unaware that critical settings were changed on the camera. ActiveMemory-enabled cameras will give all photographers peace of mind, knowing that their preferred settings are stored on their cards and established on their camera. It will help us so much in the field.”
The Future of ActiveMemory
ActiveMemory technology will have other applications beyond professional digital photography. Any software or host application that uses flash memory and can benefit from automating or configuring tasks, based on reading software settings or user preferences that reside in a protected area on a memory card, could benefit from this technology.
ActiveMemory-enabled CompactFlash cards, card readers and Photo Mechanic 4.5, will be available in Q4 2004. For more information, specifications and a white paper, please visit www.lexar.com/activememory
Fujifilm announces 1GB xD-Picture Card™
High capacity, ultra-compact digital camera media available in early 2005
27 September 2004 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. and Olympus Corporation have today announced the joint development of a new 1GB version of the ultra-compact xD-Picture Card™ digital camera storage media. The new xD-Picture Card™ M1GB* will be available commercially from the first quarter of 2005.
The xD-Picture Card™, launched in September 2002, has earned a popular following as an ultra-compact digital camera storage media format. The new 1GB version was developed to meet customer requirements for larger capacity storage.
The xD-Picture Card™ M1GB is based on the latest high-density MLC (Multi Level Cell) memory technology, making it possible to pack 1GB of capacity in an ultra-compact (20mm x 25mm x 1.7mm) card. This new technology offers storage capacity potential of up to 8GB.
Fujifilm will continue to boost the performance of the xD-Picture Card™ to meet the trend for increasingly high-resolution digital cameras and the diversification of shooting styles.
* The ‘M’ in M1GB stands for MLC (Multi Level Cell) memory, a new high-density flash memory technology.
1. The xD-Picture Card M1GB™ will be compatible with models of Fujifilm digital cameras released from now on. As this card uses a new memory format, firmware upgrades will be made available for certain existing digital camera models. The details will be announced before the product launch.
2. xD-Picture Card™ is a trademark of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
For information about Fujifilm and its products, please visit: click here or call 020 7586 1477.
Press Release (Olympus US):
OLYMPUS ONE GIGABYTE XD-PICTURE CARD CAPTURES THOUSANDS OF IMAGES ON POSTAGE STAMP-SIZED FLASH MEMORY CARD
“Miniature Powerhouse” Significantly Increases Storage Capacity of Digital Data for Greater Ease of Use
Melville , New York , September 27, 2004 – Olympus America Inc. today announced the development of a One Gigabyte xD-Picture Card. As one of the world’s smallest storage media for digital cameras and digital voice recorders, the xD-Picture Card is now capable of holding an entire gigabyte of digital images, data, audio and video. As a result, this ultra-compact card allows photographers to capture a greater number of photographic scenes and subjects, and at higher resolution settings, before the card is full and images must be downloaded or the card changed.
“Olympus not only concentrates on building digital cameras that deliver the highest level of image quality combined with the sleekest designs on the market today, but we also constantly look to integrate the most cutting edge technologies,” said Chip Pryor, Memory Products Business Manager, Olympus America Inc. “The One Gigabyte xD-Picture Card is a prime example of our ongoing commitment to raise the bar and contribute to the advancement of the digital camera industry by creating a better digital experience for all consumers.”
Designed to Do More
By offering a range of storage capabilities, the One Gigabyte xD-Picture Card guarantees that digital camera users’ storage requirements will be fulfilled. Whether on a challenging photo-shoot assignment or on that once-in-a-lifetime backpacking adventure far from civilization when having the most storage is a must, professionals and other active photographers will appreciate the convenience and freedom the new one gigabyte card provides.
For example, used with the 8.0-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom, the one gigabyte removable media can save up to 43 TIFF files or about 660 HQ images – an incredible amount of image files. The new high-capacity card also supports Olympus exclusive features such as Panorama photography. Olympus xD-Picture Cards are the only media cards on the market that enable the Panorama function on Olympus digital cameras, whereby up to 10 images can be stitched together to create incredible vistas.
Designed for Maximum Speed, Portability and Compatibility
In addition to the giant leap in storage capacity, the one-gigabyte card offers all the features for which the xD-Picture Card is renowned. They include a diminutive size of 20mm x 25mm x 1.7mm, a weight of only 2 grams, fast read/write speeds, low power consumption, and a durable multi-level cell (MLC) design.
Designed for Greater Movie Length
Approximately 50 minutes of footage in amazing DVD quality (MPEG4 format) may be recorded when using the Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom with the new card. In upcoming digital cameras from Olympus where the length of QuickTime Movie recording is only limited by the capacity of the card itself, the One Gigabyte xD-Picture Card will enable incredibly long video to be recorded – making the digital camera a powerful tool for creating digital movies.
Designed to Adapt
The One Gigabyte xD-Picture Card can also be used with an assortment of USB card reader/writers, such as the MAUSB-10, MAUSB-100 and the new MAUSB-300 – allowing the card to be read by any computer’s USB port without the use of a camera. When an xD-Picture Card is inserted into any of these reader/writers, any document can be downloaded to the card, transforming it into a portable hard drive for easy transfer of images, data, and voice files from one computer to the next.
To enhance flexibility and convenience even further, the card can work with adapters such as the MAPC-10 PCMCIA Adapter for PC-Card interfaces, and MACF-10 Compact Flash Adapter for use with all CF devices.
Availability
The 1GB Olympus xD-Picture Card is planned for release in the first quarter of 2005. The full range of Olympus xD-Picture Cards includes 16MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128MB, 256MB and 512MB capacity versions.
U.S. Pricing
US and Canadian pricing to be determined.
Saturday 25 September
Amazon.com has a great deal on high-speed compactflash memory cards at the moment.
You can get for the Lexar Professional 80x 1gb CompactFlash card for $50 (after $30 rebate expires 9/30).
Note: if you see a price higher than $80 then Amazon is sold out and they are defaulting to a seller such as Office Depot or Tigerdirect. Wait for Amazon to have them back in stock at the lower price.
Do you really need a high speed card? well a regular card has a write speed of 600kb a second, but this card has a write speed of 12mb a second. We will have a review in a couple of weeks looking at a number of high speed cards and seeing where they come in useful (hint: if you want to take advantage of the 5 shot per second burst speed on the 8.2 megapixel Canon 20D camera you will need a fast card).
Lexar Professional 80x 1gb CompactFlash card for $50
Looks like I was right in August 13th when I said the Nintendo DS game system would launch before thanksgiving.
Nintendo have just confirmed the DS will launch in the US on November 21st at a price of $149.
The Nintendo DS features two 3 inch LCD screens with the bottom screen touch sensitive like a PDA, it has a port for connecting a microphone, wireless connectivity (both 802.11 and a proprietary Nintendo system), 16 channel sound, and two processors.
(thanks portagame)
BMW have announced that their H2R Hydrogen Gas powered car has set nine world speed records with a top speed of 174 mph.
The BMW H2R also went from 0 to 60 mph in under 6 seconds and produces 232 horsepower.
The BMW H2R is, unfortunately, just a single seat test car based upon the engine from the BMW 7 series, and even if you could buy one you would spend most of your time searching for gas stations that sell hydrogen.
Friday 24 September
The iPod mini is a great portable MP3 player, but what about those times when you don't want to listen to music through earphones, what if you want to play music for your guests, or listen to music in your hotel room?
One solution is the Altec Lansing inMotion powered portable speaker system: essentially a little white shiny plastic box that opens up to reveal two pairs of speakers and a dock for the iPod and iPod mini.
Altec Lansing sent us an inMotion speaker system and we tested it out for a few weeks in our apartment, on a business trip to the west coast, and on our recent Hurricane Ivan delayed vacation to Mexico.
Did we like the inMotion? keep reading to find out......
The Altec Lansing inMotion is currently available from Amazon.com for $109.99 with free shipping
Just the other day I was thinking "hmm, wouldn't it be great if I had an accessory for my iPod mini that turns it into both a laser pointer and a flashlight".
Guess what, Griffin Technology just launched that exact accessory.
The Griffin iBeam plugs into the speaker socket of the iPod and iPod mini and comes in two parts: one is a mini flashlight and the other is a class IIIA laser pointer.
The Griffin iBeam is available from griffin for $19.99
Maxtor has announced 2 new Onetouch II external hard drives based upon their DiamondMax 10 series of hard drives with 16mb of cache.
The Maxtor Onetouch II has Firewire and USB 2.0 connectivity (but no network connectivity), a onetouch backup button, and a drivelock feature for security.
The Maxtor Onetouch II drives come in 250gb and 300gb versions and are available for preorder at a price of $330 for 250gb and $380 for 300gb.
No ship date is given.
Continue reading "Maxtor Onetouch II 300GB External Drive"
Hardware Central has posted a review of Logitech's new mouse, the MX1000, that uses a laser instead of the usual optical sensor.
The laser is said to be 20 times as accurate as a normal optical mouse.
The MX1000 is wireless and has a cute little battery status monitor on the side.
Hardware Central liked everything except the price of the Logitech MX1000.
(review)
Toshiba has confirmed to BargainPDA that they will definately not be releasing the e830 VGA Pocket PC in the US.
This is a shame as the e830 seems to be a great Pocket PC:
4" VGA 640x480 screen, Bluetooth and 802.11b, 520mhz processor, 128mb RAM 32mb ROM, SDIO and CompactFlash expansion slots, 5.3 x 3.0 x 0.6 inches.
If that isn't bad enough, Toshiba announced that they are pulling out of the US PDA market completely, which seems like a silly decision considering how poor HPs recent Pocket PC releases have been.
(more at BargainPDA)
Dapreview.com has found that the iRiver H320 20gb MP3 player is available in the US for $329 with a ship date of October 6th.
The iRiver H320 features a large color screen that you can use to view photos, USB 2.0 file transfer, 20gb storage, voice recorder, FM tuner, support for MP3 WMA ASF WAV and OFF, and a 16hr battery life.
(via dapreview)
My biggest complaint about the Sony Network Walkman was that it didn't support the standard MP3 format, instead making people convert their music to Sony's proprietary ATRAC format.
Sony has done a bit of an about face and announced they start supporting MP3 format on flash based music players.
Their is no info yet on whether they will extend this to their Network Walkman hard drive based player.
If only Sony would ditch their Memory Stick flash card formats and switch to the industry standard CompactFlash or Secure Digital cards: their incompatibility stopped me from buying any Sony PDAs, cameras, or music players.
SANDISK BREAKS THE $10 PRICE BARRIER ON SHOOT & STORE FLASH MEMORY CARDS
New Price Points For Shoot & Store Line Aimed At Accelerating The Adoption of "Consumable" Usage Model For Flash Cards As Permanent "Digital Negatives"
Sunnyvale, CA, Sept. 15, 2004 – Delivering on its previously announced strategy to grow the consumable market for flash memory cards, SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) has introduced new, lower prices for its Shoot & Store™ line of flash storage cards that are sold in supermarkets, drug stores and other mass-merchant outlets.
Effective August 30 in the U.S. market, the 50-photo* (32-megabyte) card, priced previously at $14.99, now has a suggested retail price of $9.99. The price of a 100-photo* (64MB) Shoot & Store card has been reduced from $24.99 to $14.99. These price changes are being applied throughout the Shoot & Store product lineup, which consists of CompactFlash®, SD™, Memory Stick PRO™ and, in the next 30 days, xD-Picture Card™ (in 32MB capacity).
Shoot & Store, introduced in February, is aimed at consumers who want the convenience of leaving their flash cards with professional photo finishers or who don’t want to download images to a computer or a disk. In the U.S. alone, this line of affordable cards is currently sold in more than 10,000 stores.
“Reaching the under-$10 price point without sacrificing picture capacity is a milestone achievement in SanDisk's effort to grow the market for flash media,” said Stephen Baker, director of industry analysis with The NPD Group, a market research company that tracks retail trends. “Consumer-friendly price points such as these take a lot of the anxiety out of buying camera memory for many buyers and give them the opportunity to store their pictures in a safe, convenient environment.” Finally, he added, the growth in low-cost flash memory “nicely dovetails with the industry's drive to take the PC out of the process for digital consumers by allowing them to view, print and now store their digital pictures without the need to rely on a PC.”
Kent Perry, SanDisk product marketing manager for the Shoot & Store line, said, “We believe that $9.99 will be the magical price point for consumers to start adopting
flash cards in a ‘consumable’ usage pattern that is quite similar to the way people have used 35 millimeter film negatives before the advent of digital cameras or personal computers. The Shoot & Store card allows consumers to capture digital images in their digital cameras, erase unwanted pictures and permanently store the best images on the cards. Consumers can then drop their cards for regular prints at most one-hour print centers and keep the pictures stored permanently as ‘negatives’ on the cards.”
He added, “With these prices, digital flash memory is competitive with analog film in many channels, such as drug and food stores, and we expect it to have growing popularity at checkout counters in numerous convenience outlets. SanDisk was able to achieve this important price point because of our unique vertical integration model for manufacturing these cards as well as our economies of scale through very high-volume production.”
SanDisk, the world’s largest supplier of flash memory data storage card products, designs, manufactures and markets industry-standard, solid-state data, digital imaging and audio storage products using its patented, high density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is based in Sunnyvale, CA.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Based on resolution setting of 1 megapixel. Actual number of photos may vary depending upon camera model, resolution and compression.
SanDisk’s web site/home page address: http://www.sandisk.com
Product images can be downloaded from www.sandisk.com/corporate_media_kit.html.
SanDisk, the SanDisk logo and CompactFlash are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Shoot & Store is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Memory Stick PRO is a trademark of Sony Corporation. SanDisk Corporation is an authorized licensee of the SD and xD trademarks. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder (s).
Bob Goligoski
(408) 542-0463
bgoligoski@sandisk.com
Amazon.com has just started shipping the Canon Eos 20D Digital Camera.
If you want a good balance between high end professional digital camera and affordability this is currently the best choice.
For $1499 you get the camera body without a lens but I would recommend paying the extra $100 to get the camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens.
Full specs below.
Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens $1599 at Amazon.com
Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (body only) $1499 at Amazon.com
Continue reading "Canon Eos 20D Shipping Now"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 20, 2004 at 5 AM PDT
NEW MAXTOR ONETOUCH II DRIVE RAISES THE BAR IN CONSUMER BACKUP
Maxtor Brings Consumers the First External Backup Solution to Feature Simpler Backup, Added Security and More Powerful Restore Capabilities
MILPITAS, Calif., September 20, 2004?Simple, safe and powerful describe the new Maxtor OneTouch(TM) II drive, the next generation of Maxtor Corporation's (NYSE:
MXO) award-winning external drive family that allows consumers to easily back up family photos, MP3 music collections, and other important personal and business data with a simple touch of a button. No high tech knowledge is required to set up the new drive, giving consumers no excuse to not backup their computers.
Leveraging the company's first-to-market leadership and proven expertise in external storage and push button backup, the new Maxtor OneTouch II drive offers an exclusive version of Dantz(R) Retrospect(R) software for easy backup, a Maxtor DriveLock(TM) security feature for added data protection and more powerful restore capabilities, including historical backup recovery.
"Combine all this with a new, consumer-friendly user interface, and now the most difficult part of a backup solution may be choosing which capacity Maxtor OneTouch II drive to buy," said Mike Williams, vice-president of marketing for Maxtor's Branded Products.
"The new Maxtor OneTouch II drive is unequaled in its intuitive functionality,"
he said. "We listened to our customers and incorporated features and functions that improve upon our existing solution. The Maxtor OneTouch family continues to be the leading external hard drive for consumers, creative professionals, mobile warriors and small-business users."
New features of the Maxtor OneTouch II external drive include:
-- Simpler backup?No complex menus or commands or in-depth technical knowledge
are required to set up the Maxtor OneTouch II drive. The new click-through installation asks a few simple questions such as the user's name and preferred language, while configuring the software in the background to automatically back up all locally connected drives and files on the computer every day. This powerful, yet simple, default setting backs up virtually everything on the local drives including all Microsoft Outlook emails, address books, Internet favorites, My Documents folder, operating system, applications and more. Once installed, the Maxtor OneTouch II drive runs quietly and automatically. Users do not even have to close an application or a file for the drive to back up the saved versions.
-- DriveLock security?The Maxtor OneTouch II also offers Maxtor's new DriveLock
feature for added data protection. This feature allows users to password-protect the contents of the drive, keeping important data safe from unauthorized users.
Once a consumer powers down the computer, or the drive is removed from the system, access to the drive will be automatically locked until the correct user defined password is provided.
-- More powerful restore?If data is lost, restoring a backed up copy from the
Maxtor OneTouch II drive to the source system is simple. With historical backup copies, users can restore their entire system to its backed up status from yesterday, two days ago or even two weeks ago. The user is simply guided though a three-step process that includes clicking on the desired point in time, selecting the files or folders to restore and then choosing the destination for the restore. The drive also self-manages its storage space and deletes older backup versions as the drive fills up.
-- New user interface?Maxtor has redesigned the graphical user interface from
the ground up so that installation and setup are easier than ever. The wizard has an exclusive design that combines storage, security and backup in a single solution, in contrast to other offerings that only drop in software without integration
-- Mac® bootability function*? Mac users have the option to create a fully
bootable backup copy of their main system drive. Once a bootable backup copy is made, users can restart their system quickly using their Maxtor OneTouch II drive as if it were their system drive. Nothing needs to be moved or disconnected.
-- New look?The Maxtor OneTouch II drive sports a new, sophisticated, contemporary
look that suits a home or office setting and distinguishes it from competing products.
"Maxtor has helped make external storage and backup solutions a popular and growing consumer market category," said Larry Zulch, CEO and president of Dantz. "It's been a pleasure working with Maxtor to develop Retrospect Express HD backup software for their next generation Maxtor OneTouch II drive. The Maxtor OneTouch II is a significant achievement in consumer data protection, combining true backup power and honest ease of use."
Pricing and Availability
The new Maxtor OneTouch II external drive comes with a 7200RPM 300GB or 250GB hard drive with a 16MB buffer. Both feature a combo FireWire®/USB 2.0 interface for easy connection to a Mac or PC. The drives are available through Maxtor's network of leading retailers, distributors and online stores. They are also available at www.maxstore.com
About Maxtor
Maxtor Corporation (www.maxtor.com
Note: Maxtor and the stylized Maxtor logo are registered trademarks and Maxtor OneTouch is a trademark of Maxtor Corporation. Dantz and Retrospect are registered trademarks of Dantz Development Corporation. Mac and FireWire are registered trademarks of Apple Computer. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
The Maxtor OneTouch drive is an element of a user's overall backup solution and protection plan. For purposes of measuring disk drive storage capacity, one gigabyte
(GB) represents one billion bytes. The number of historical backup versions depends on the backup file size and total available capacity of the Maxtor OneTouch II drive. *The Mac bootability feature is available using Mac OS X with the FireWire interface only.
This announcement relating to Maxtor may contain forward-looking statements concerning future technology, products incorporating that technology, and Maxtor's execution.
These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which could materially affect the company's results, including, but not limited to, market demand for hard disk drives, integration of the company's products with products produced by others, the company's ability to execute future production ramps and utilize manufacturing assets efficiently, pricing, competition, and the significant uncertainty of market acceptance of new products and technologies.
These and other risk factors are contained in documents that the company files with the SEC, including the Form 10-K for fiscal 2003 and its recent 10-Qs.
Maxtor is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any responsibility to update or alter, its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT:
Media Relations:
Erin Hartin
Maxtor Corporation
(303) 678-2022
erin_hartin@maxtor.com
Investor Relations:
Jenifer Kirtland
Maxtor Investor Relations
(408) 324-7056
jenifer_kirtland@maxtor.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 20, 2004
Presenting the METASONIX TX-1 Agonizer SPECIAL EDITION.
It sucks even harder.
-----------------------------------------------------
NOTE: a large photo of the Agonizer Special Edition may be found at the following address:
www.metasonix.com/TX1big.jpg
-----------------------------------------------------
Earlier this year, we put out a horrific noise-box. It had an insulting press release. It had sadomasochistic cartoons right on the front panel.
And in spite of all this, AND repeated warnings NOT TO BUY IT, the original Metasonix TX-1 Agonizer became the fastest-selling product in our company's history!
The entire limited run was gone in 2 months.
And even after they were gone, people were screaming for more.
So how do we follow up such an ATROCITY? With MORE ATROCITY, of course.
Presenting the Special UNACCEPTABLE EDITION of the Agonizer.
It chews genitals even harder.
It's a CELEBRITY genital chewer.
Word.
So, like, what makes it more awful? We've changed some of the circuit components to add just that little extra smidge of massive, atonal distortion effecto thingy. It's now fully OPTIMIZED for bad tone and crappy sound. Now the family dog has deeply clamped his teeth into your scrotal sac, and he's starting to really get into the chewy goodness of your tender manhood. He's wiggling around, it feels good. Tastes sort of like fried chicken with mashed potatoes, apparently. (Hey, all I do is repeat what the dog tells me to repeat.) Woof woof, feel the love.
The Agonizer SPECIAL EDITION adds a SUCKBASS switch, d00d. It's called SUCKBASS, because it SUCKS the BASS out of your beautiful musical tone. It's a highpass filter. Makes it sound real constipated and boogery. Sounds like ass? Well, sonny, smoke that blunt, and just pretend this is an IKEA catalog.
And the new edition of the Agonizer still bears cartoons of naked women torturing animals. Even the Fleetwood Mac fans out there (you can recognize them by the many small dogs clamped onto their nether regions) should be able to figure out the meaning.
WHAT IS THIS THING: The TX-1 SPECIAL EDITION still uses a nasty, junky tube. It was used as the audio FM demodulator in TV sets. It was NOT meant for high-fidelity applications, it was meant for "budget" TV sets. Cheap-ass black-and-white sets, for po'folks. For some reason, Zenith had a real fondness for it. It was the white-trash portable TV sound system.
Our circuit uses it in a most ingenious way, if we do say so ourselves. The Agonizer SE hooks up the tube in an incorrect fashion. Because Eric (our designer) has a brilliant yet devious turn of mind, he thought of doing something with this "beam-deflection demodulator hexode" that the tube manfacturers never dreamed of doing.
In our circuit, this tube has ungodly amounts of distortion. And of course, Eric just had to make it worse, by putting a positive feedback loop around it. A neon lamp in the feedback loop plus clever use of the tube's very odd electrical behavior causes all kinds of non-stability, plus loads of grinding squegging nausea.
There's still a pentode-tube preamp in the front end, so nosepicking METALLICA fans can plug their cheap-ass Asian-made guitars into it and get something similar to the sound of a giant amp stack belching smoke and going up in flames.
SPECIFICATIONS: HA HA HA HA. Even after you got teeth marks all over your johnson, you STILL wanna see "specifications"?? Now we understand what happened to Paris Hilton's little dog Tinkerbell. They couldn't find Tinkerbell because she was trying to gnaw your dope-addled weiner off. Isn't that right? I bet she gave up and went home, because your sausage tasted more like METALLICA than like yummy boy-meat. Ugh. Have some specifications, ya suck-monkey.
The Agonizer's overall gain is more than 100. You can't tell anyway, because of the GROSS distortion imposed in most control settings. Plate voltage is approx. 120v. The LEVEL knob is the input level control. The POUND knob varies the voltage on the deflection grid in the tube--which changes the gain and the distortion character. The CV input allows you to insert a control voltage in the grid, so you can modulate the distortion OR add another audio signal modulation to the noise. The STRANGLE knob brings the neon lamp into play. The overload effect increases further when the lamp conducts. And the GRIND knob controls the feedback loop. More GRIND, more horrible intermodulation distortion. Finally, "SUCK HARDER" is the bypass switch.
Don't taste the rainbow, taste the smegma.
No, the Agonizer STILL doesn't run on a nine-volt battery, dinkface. It still sucks power like a
mofo: 12 volts AC at 1.5 amps maximum. It's a BIG box, too: about 8" x 4.5" x 2.5", and weighing
4 pounds. Yes, roughly four times bigger than a typical cheapass fuzz pedal. It gets quite hot when powered for extended periods. Best of all, it's painted the most bilious shade of UV-reactive yellow-green our powdercoating shop could find. We told them, "The old one was too cute! We want people to VOMIT!" And somehow, Rob and his maniacs managed to cause vomitude. Nice work, fellas.
The AGONIZER SPECIAL EDITION is HAND-MADE in the USA. AND IT IS A LIMITED EDITION OF 100.
Now will you please stop smoking that stinkweed and remove the tiny dog from your crotch? The neighbors are starting to talk.
Yeah, the retail price is still US $ 499.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
METASONIX (attn. Eric)
PMB 109, 881 11th Street, Lakeport CA 95453 USA phone/fax (707) 263-5343 synth@metasonix.com, www.metasonix.com
Zi Corporation’s eZiTap™ integrated into commercially available Voq Professional Phone™
First Mobile Phone with eZiTap™ embedded; Targeted for the European and North American Markets
LONDON, UK AND CALGARY, AB, Canada, September 21, 2004 – Zi Corporation (Nasdaq: ZICA) (TSX: ZIC), a leading provider of intelligent interface solutions, today announced the Voq Professional Phone™, made by Sierra Wireless (Nasdaq:SWIR) (TSX:SW) with integrated Zi predictive text technology, is available in key European and North American markets. The Voq phone is available through Dutch carrier KPN, U.S. retail channels, and through key European distributors including A&C Systems, Cedros, Daimler, Dangaard, Hugh Symons, Speeka, Xacom, and Yes Telecom for sale in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Nordics, Switzerland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Zi’s eZiTap is integrated with Microsoft Windows Mobile software for Smartphones by the Zi Input Method Editor (IME).
The Voq Professional Phone is the first phone on the international market to embed eZiTap, which searches a built-in dictionary and predicts whole words as letters are multi-tapped on the 12 button keypad, allowing users to operate the phone with one hand. The more eZiTap is used, the “smarter” it becomes and the faster it predicts frequently used words. The Voq Professional Phone, which was created for business professionals, offers the best features of a mobile phone, messaging device, and a PDA, with the addition of a unique, flip-open QWERTY thumbpad for entering text.
“The pre-integration work Zi did with Microsoft, one of our key industry partners, allowed us to bring a differentiated product to market offering user-friendly features like Zi’s eZiTap predictive text technology as a standard input mode for use across applications and services on the Voq phone,” said Derek Evans, Sierra Wireless Vice President and Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “Working with Microsoft and Zi have been critical in order to launch a robust product and fill a unique niche in the marketplace.”
Glen Morgan, Zi Corporation Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, called the launch of the Voq Professional Phone an important milestone for Zi because of the first use of eZiTap embedded in a phone and the working relationship between Zi, Sierra Wireless and Microsoft on the project.
“The recent launch of the Voq Professional Phone is the culmination of a significant project for Zi and the work we have been doing with Sierra Wireless and Microsoft,” Morgan said. “The Voq Professional Phone will help demonstrate to the global market that our predictive text products are the easiest to use and the most advanced technologies on the global wireless market.”
“Innovative technology partners such as Zi, with its eZText and eZiTap text input technologies, will help users of the Voq phone more easily communicate on the go using their Windows Mobile-based devices,” said Julie Wymetalek, manager of the Mobility Partner Advisory Council at Microsoft Corp.
Zi engineers worked closely with Microsoft's development team to create an IME that resolves the entire text input interface and display of Zi's text input technologies on the Smartphone platform. The IME has been extensively tested to ensure users experience a familiar Windows Mobile interface across all the phone's applications and services. For handset manufacturers, this means they can implement Zi's text input technologies and the IME without any additional man-machine interface (MMI) work and testing.
The Zi IME package for Windows Mobile-based Smartphones includes a fully developed, localized interface, intuitive display, and user cues. They combine to deliver a non-intrusive IME which runs inside any Windows Mobile-based application requiring text input. For more information about the Zi IME, e-mail info@zicorp.com.
Wireless Enterprise World 2004
To see Zi’s eZiTap product on the Voq Professional Phone, visit Sierra Wireless’ stand (D19) at the Wireless Enterprise World 2004 show in London, United Kingdom on September 21 and 22, 2004. Event website: www.wirelessenterpriseworld.com/2004/ent_uk.
About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless (Nasdaq:SWIR; TSX:SW) is a leader in delivering highly differentiated wireless solutions that enable our customers to improve their productivity and lifestyle. Sierra Wireless develops and markets the AirCard, the industry-leading wireless PC card line for portable computers; embedded modules for OEM wireless applications; the MP line of rugged vehicle-mounted connectivity solutions; and Voq, a line of mobile phones with easy-to-use, secure software solutions for mobile professionals. For more information about Sierra Wireless please visit www.sierrawireless.com. For more information about the Voq Professional Phone, please visit www.voq.com.
About Zi Corporation
Zi Corporation (www.zicorp.com) is a technology company that delivers intelligent interface solutions to enhance the user experience of wireless and consumer technologies. The company's intelligent predictive text interfaces, eZiTap and eZiText®, allow users to personalize the device and simplify text entry providing consumers with easy interaction for short messaging, e-mail, e-commerce, Web browsing and similar applications in almost any written language. eZiNet™, Zi's new client/network based data indexing and retrieval solution, increases the usability for data-centric devices by reducing the number of key strokes required to access multiple types of data resident on a device, a network or both. Zi supports its strategic partners and customers from offices in Asia, Europe and North America. A publicly traded company, Zi Corporation is listed on the Nasdaq National Market (ZICA) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC).
This release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbour provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future events and the future financial performance of Zi Corporation that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including: the growth trends in the input technology industry; new product development; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment; financial and operating performance of Zi's OEM customers and variations in their customer demand for products and services; the ability to successfully acquire businesses and technologies and to successfully integrate and operate these acquired businesses and technologies; dependence on the introduction and market acceptance of new product offerings and standards; rapid technological and market change; matters affecting Zi Corporation's principal shareholder; litigation involving patents, intellectual property, and other matters; the ability to recruit and retain key personnel; Zi Corporation's ability to manage financial risk; currency fluctuations and other international factors; potential volatility in operating results and other factors listed in Zi Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any projections in this release are based on limited information currently available to Zi Corporation, which is subject to change. Although any such projections and the factors influencing them will likely change, except to the extent required by law, Zi Corporation will not necessarily update the information. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.
- 30 -
Zi , eZiTap and eZiText are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Zi Corporation. "AirCard" is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless. "Voq Professional Phone" is a trademark of Sierra Wireless, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For more information:
Media:
GBCS PR
Brian Dolby / Helen Lyman Smith
brian@gbcspr.com / helen@gbcspr.com
+44 (0) 115 950 8399
Investors:
Allen & Caron Inc
Len Hall
len@allencaron.com
+1 (949) 474-4300
September 23, 2004
Fable Breaks Sales Records in First Week of Release
Roleplaying Adventure Blockbuster Sets Stage for Spectacular Holiday Season for Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Fable, the ground-breaking Xbox® roleplaying adventure game, has had an amazing start at retailers across North America in its first week of release, breaking records and selling through more than 375,000 units (grossing roughly $18.7 million U.S.). Fable sets the stage for a spectacular holiday season for Microsoft Game Studios by paving the way for titles such as Halo 2, Blinx 2 and MechAssault 2. Sales records are being broken at retailers throughout North America: the game was EB Games' biggest first-week sales for any Xbox title ever; it broke Game Rush's first-day sales record for any game; it is the No. 1-selling overall title on any platform last week at GameStop and is the fastest-selling Xbox game at EB Games Canada for the first week. Fable even grossed more money than the No. 1 box office movie last week, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow*.
"Fable was the best first-week title on Xbox that we've ever had" says Jim Tyo, vice president of EB Games Canada. "The game has exceeded our expectations, and we're confident that this strong sales trend will continue."
"Fable has been a huge hit for us, and it was our number one-selling title across all platforms over the last week" says Dan DeMatteo, president and chief operating officer of GameStop.
In Fable, the players’ every action determines their character's skills, appearances and moralities. Character's life stories are created from childhood through adulthood and on to old age. They can grow from an inexperienced child into the most powerful being in the world, spoken of by all and immortalized in legend. Players may choose the paths of righteousness or dedicate their characters' lives to evil; observing as they transform into reflections of their actions and decisions. Age leaves characters wizened, battle leaves them scarred, gluttony affects obesity. With experiences come advancement and physical change; whether it is by expanding muscles, a keen eye and nimble form or the buzz of magical energies around their finger tips. As players' characters develop, the world reacts to them and their actions. People comment on their successes, failures, appearances and behaviors. Their many opinions are expressed through applause, mockery, trepidation, panic and even flirtation. With each person characters aid and every creature they slay, the world is changed forever. In Fable, gamers decide: “Who will I be?” For more information about Fable, visit the official site at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/fable/default.htm. Fable is available in North America for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). Fable will be available in Europe in October.
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® video game system and Windows® and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as Age of Empires®, Flight Simulator and Zoo Tycoon™; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as Halo®, Project Gotham Racing and MechAssault; and Zone.com (http://www.zone.com/), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as Bejeweled and OutSmart™.
Wednesday 22 September
Apologies for no posts yesterday or today.... I am away at an internet conference and get this: the high speed internet in the conference hotel isn't working!
Daily postings will resume Friday, until then check out Gizmodo or Engadget for you daily fix of new cool gadgets.
Monday 20 September
Bose has put out the press release for their Bose Sounddock speaker system for the iPod and iPod mini (which we mentioned on September 1st), here's what they had to say:
The Bose SoundDock system includes a proprietary acoustic design that delivers clear, full sound across the entire musical spectrum. Using an integrated system approach, the amplifiers, equalizers and speakers are matched; there is no need for the user to make complex adjustments to ensure superb acoustic performance. Patented integrated signal processing automatically adjusts tonal balance, so music sounds natural at any volume.
The Bose SoundDock system works with third and fourth-generation iPods, as well as the iPod miniand includes an infrared remote that can control the iPod from across the room. The system charges the iPod while in use, or when docked.
The Bose SoundDock digital music system measures 6 5/8″x 11 7/8″x 6 1/2″ deep. It features quick installation and intuitive operation. Consumers plug the power cord into a wall outlet, insert the iPod into the docking cradle, and play.
To complement the iPod and iPod mini design, the Bose SoundDock system’s industrial design is modern with a hi-gloss white finish. It is expected to sell for $299.
Info is slipping out on the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II professional digital camera that may be officially announced later this week.
The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II is supposed to feature a 16.7 megapixel sensor (4992 x 3328 pixels), have both CF and SD memory card slots, larger buffe (4 images per second up to 11 images RAW or 32 JPEG), and more tweaking options than a mere mortal will ever need.
More detailed features of the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II are: ISO: 100-1600 (ext 50-3200), 45 AF-points, 1/8000-30 sec, 2 inch 223,000 pixel LCD TFT Screen, 20 Personal preferences with 65 instances, 27 Personal functions, and weight of 1215g + 335g battery (NP-E3).
(thanks gizmodo)
ecoustics has posted a brief but very useful article on how TV and HDTV work, including a simple explanation of the different digital formats:
480i: Picture transmits at 60 interlaced fields per second (30 frames per second). Same number of scan lines and frames per second (fps) as analog, but provides a slightly improved image merely because of digital transmission method. Provides surround sound-capable digital audio that matches CD-quality Known as Standard Definition Television (SDTV)
480p: Same number of scan lines as analog, but sent progressive-style (60 complete fps) resulting in an even more improved picture. Capable of Dolby Digital Audio. Known as Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV)
720p: Higher resolution picture with 720 scan lines, sent at 60 complete fps. Provides Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround This is HDTV
1080i: Even higher resolution (1080 scan lines), but fewer frames per second. (60 fields per second, equal to only 30 complete fps). Provides Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround This is HDTV
1080p: This is the ultimate format goal for the future: the best of both worlds with maximum scan lines and maximum fps. No broadcasters have adopted this format, and not many TVs can display it properly.
The Tapwave Zodiac 1 games console has been reviewed by hardextreme.org.
The Tapwave Zodiac 1 is an interesting use of the Palm OS: designed from the ground up as a game console not a PDA it features 32mb RAM, 200mhz ARM processor, bluetooth wireless, 2 sd card slots, and 3.8" 480x320 screen and costs $299.
There is also a Tapwave Zodiac 2 available with 128mb RAM for $399.
Hardextreme gave it 10/10.
Friday 17 September
For our business trips and vacations we needed a case that would fit our Dell Axim X30 pocket pc with the Mugen extended battery attached.
After looking around we found the Piel Frama leather case designed specifically for the X30 with extended battery.
Piel Frama also offer a wide range of cases for other pocket pcs and gadgets in cowhide, crocodile, and ostrich, and prices average around $50 and up.
How did it perform on our recent gadget testing roadtrip? keep reading to find out......
The ATI TV Wonder USB 2.0 is an external TV tuner for PCs (mostly useful to notebook owners) that sends uncompressed video images from an aerial, composite video cables or an S-video cable through a USB 2.0 connection to your PC or notebook.
TrustedReviews got hold of an ATI TV Wonder USB 2.0 card and tested it out, they liked it despite the lack of a remote control.
Bittech reviewed the Shuttle SB81P XPC small form factor pc.
The Shuttle SB81PC is a small computer case, 350w silent power supply, and motherboard: you have to add a processor, memory, hard drive, CD/DVD drive, keyboard, mouse, etc.
The Shuttle SB81PC is 12.7" long, 8.3" wide, and 8.7" high, this is a little larger than many shuttle cases but it allows the building of a more powerful system.
The Shuttle SB81P supports socket 775 pentium 4 and celeron 800/533MHz processors, up to 2GB of DDR 400 RAM, up to 3 3.5" SATA hard drives and a 5.25" optical drive (DVD/CD), and has 2 expansion slotS: a PCI slot and a new PCI Express slot for more powerful graphics.
Overall Bittech liked the performance, silence, and style but didn't like the onboard graphics.
Someone in Taiwan found the Asus A730 VGA Pocket PC in a store so they took it out of the box and took a ton of great photos.
The Asus A730 also features bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi, 64 or 128mb RAM, SDIO and Compact Flash expansion slots, Intel 520MHz processor, 3.7" VGA (640x480) screen, and a 1.3 megapixel digital camera.
Should be available in the US soon for $500 for 64mb with bluetooth or $600 for 128mb RAM with bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
(thanks pocketpcthoughts)
Thursday 16 September
You may have guessed from the rest of ShinyPlastic.com that I love gadgets: I normally have one or two gadgets in my pockets but when I travel on business or go on vacation I need a better solution for transporting my camera, iPod mini, pocket pc, cases, headphones, chargers, memory cards, etc etc etc.
Roadwired were kind enough to send me their Pod "digital lifestyle" bag and I tested it on a 10 day trip to Mexico: A trip that ended with Category 5 Hurricane Ivan coming to visit!
How did the Pod cope with Ivan?, keep reading to find out......
Buy the Pod from ebags for $49.99
Continue reading "Roadwired Pod Review"
On my recent gadget review trip I encountered a problem with my iPod mini and I am wondering if anyone else has had the same problem:
Inside my hotel room it was cool (68 degrees) and the air was dry, outside it was 95 degrees and very high humidity (glasses and camera lens steamed up immediately when going outside).
Most days I relaxed by the pool and listened to music or audiobooks, but one day the iPod mini wouldn't startup, the screen stayed blank.
I know the battery was fully charged but the iPod mini wouldn't work at the pool or later that day in the room.
I left the iPod mini in my room and the following day it worked perfectly again, my guess it was the humidity and the mini needed to dry out before it would startup again.
Anyone else encountered a similiar problem with an iPod?
Nikon has announced a new professional digital SLR camera: the Nikon D2X.
The Nikon D2X has a 12.4 megapixel sensor and captures up to 5 frames a second (or 8 frames per second at 6.8 megapixels).
One really interesting feature is that the Nikon D2X supports a 802.11b/g Wi-Fi wireless transmitter/remote control.
Another unusual feature of the Nikon D2X is a secure interface between the camera and a conpact flash card using encryption keys and/or passwords (only works with some planned Lexar CF cards).
More details and the press release below.
Continue reading "Nikon D2X Professional SLR"
Are you tired of everyone having a hummer?, tired of being able to fit into parking spots?, want to really look like you are making up for having a small *blank*? Then the International CXT may be the pickup for you.
Based on International's line of dump trucks and snowploughs, the CXT can tow up to 6 tons, seats 6, and has all wheel drive, 6 speed automatic transmission, and air brakes.
Expect the CXT to cost about $100,000, and at over 21 feet long expect it to be a real bitch to park outside the grocery store. On the bright side, at 9 feet high you will be able to see over the little Volkswagon Beetle you just crushed into the highway.
Wednesday 15 September
Reminder: On September 30th we will hold a drawing of all newsletter subscribers for the following prizes:
A 1GB Google Gmail Account (6 subscribers will win an account)
An Audia-X FM Transmitter
A Fossil Wrist Net Smartwatch
A Ultra Products Ultraviolet light tube set and 18" rounded IDE cable
For your chance to win a free Gmail account or one of the other gadgets on offer all you have to do is subscribe to the ShinyPlastic.com Mailing List - we send at most one email a week and promise never to give away or sell your email address or other information.
The Mailing List is new: at the moment there are so few subscribers that each subscribers has more than a 10% chance to win a prize.
More information and privacy policy
Brighthand has got the info on the MDA Compact Pocket PC Phone from HTC (formerly known as "magician").
The MDA compact is going to be smaller than most Pocket PC phones on the market: 4.25" x 2.3" x 0.7", and will weigh 5.3oz.
The MDA compact will also be more powerful than some competitors: packing a 416MHz XScale processor, and offering 64mb RAM, 64mb ROM, and has an SDIO expansion slot for more storage space and/or Wi-Fi functionality (bluetooth is already built-in).
The phone portion of the MDA Compact will be Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), making it usable in Asia, Europe and the US, and the MDA Compact will run the Phone Edition of Windows Mobile 2003.
The MDA Compact will be available in Europe in November and I hope it will be offered in the US sometime after that (hint hint T-Mobile... please).
Update: More photos and full specs of the Axim X50 and X50v are available on our sister site: VGAPocketPC.com
Photos of the Dell Axim X50 Pocket PC have been posted on russian forums handy.ru.
These look a lot more realistics than the fakes from a couple of weeks ago and match the internal photos of the Axim X50 posted on the FCC site.
If these Axim X50 photos are accurate then it confirms the rumors of the X50 having both a SD and a Compact Flash card slot.
Also showing up on the FCC site is a letter extending the confidentiality request for the Axim X50 until November 8th (it used to be September 24th) so it looks like there are some production delays.
Photos below, other features of the Axim X50 include VGA (640 x 480) screen, 128mb memory, and support for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 1.2.
Continue reading "Axim X50 Photos"
Suunto have announced a new MSN Mobile connected SPOT watch: the n3i.
I reviewed another SPOT watch (the Fossil Wrist Net) a while back and didn't like how bulky it was, so this seems like a good improvement.
The Suunto n3i costs around $300 (plus MSN Direct subscription), supports standard straps, is water resistant to 330ft, is just 13mm (0.5") thick, and can be charged via AC or via a USB port.
The Suunto n3i will be available October 15th.
(via spotstop)
Continue reading "Suunto n3i Slim SPOT watch"
Storage card prices keep going lower and lower, it used to be that a good price was 1gb of Compact Flash memory was $150 after sending in for a rebate, but now you can get 1gb of brand name Compact Flash (from Sandisk) for $82 from buy.com with free shipping!.
I take a lot of photos and it is great to not have to worry about swapping compact flash cards around, especially with a high mega-pixel digital camera. 1gb is 64 times the storage capacity of the compact flash card typically included when you buy a digital camera.
Click here for the $82 1gb Compact Flash
I'm back a day late from vacation thanks to Hurricane Ivan clipping Cancun where we were staying.
All my gadgets survived the strong winds and 25+ foot waves (they all got some good wind survival tests on our 11th floor hotel balcony at the height of the storm) and we survived a day stuck in our hotel with not much food and no alcohol! (alcohol sales were banned by the local government during the hurricane warning period).
One casulty of the vacation was my iPod mini, the difference in humidity between the hotel and the beach killed it.
There will be a gadget review every day for the next few days as well as all the regular gadget news.
Thursday 2 September
There will be no posts to ShinyPlastic.com from September 3rd to 13th as my wife and I are away on vacation putting lots of great gadgets to the test. (This is our first long vacation with no work in 2 years, so no computers, no cell phones, just portable gadgets, sun, and margaritas.)
Continue reading to see photos of what we will be reviewing the week we return......
Also don't forget to join our free mailing list and be entered for a chance to win a Smart Watch, an FM Transmitter, or one of six Google Gmail accounts.
Continue reading "Life is a Beach!"
Wednesday 1 September
Microsoft has quietly launched a beta of their much anticipated music download site.
The site will be integrated into version 10 of Windows Media Player and visitors can currently buy and downlaod music for 99 cents a track.
The full launch of MSN Music will be in October and Microsoft hopes to have one million songs online soon.
Bose has announced a high-end speaker solution for the iPod and iPod Mini at the Apple Expo Paris show.
It is priced at $299 and will ship October 15th. Sound quality is said to be very good for it's size (just like any other Bose product).
Not a lot else is known except that it has a wireless remote control and works with 3rd and 4th generation iPods as well as the iPod mini.
9/20 Update: More info from a Bose press release
Dell has announced their first 3 color laser printers; the 3000cn, the 3100cn (photo) and the 5100cn, and they are priced to sell.
The Dell 3000cn color laser printer is described as an affordable network-ready color laser for small or home offices. The 3000cn features up-to 2400 image quality (IQ) resolution, enabling high-quality color printing. It prints black text at speeds of up to 25 pages per minute (ppm) and color up to 5 ppm. The 3000cn is 16.7" x 16.5" x 17" and weighs 54.5lb, it sells for $449.
The Dell 3100cn color laser printer is described as an office color laser printer that grows with the business, it features the same resolution and print speeds as the 3000cn but comes standard with extra input drawers for greater paper handling capacity and a greater toner capacity. Because of its larger toner sizes, it can deliver a lower toner cost per page. The 3100cn is 16.7" x 16.5" x 21" and weighs 72lb, it sells for $549.
The Dell 5100cn color laser printer is described as a robust workgroup printer with color capability for medium to large businesses. It prints at speeds of up to 35 ppm in black and 25 ppm in color (nice speeds). Networking and duplexing are standard, and its flexible memory and high-capacity paper capacity options accommodate virtually any print job. The 5100cn is 16.8" x 22.9" x 18.2", weighs 84lb!, and costs $999.
A 4000 page black toner cartridge is $45 and each 2000 page yellow magenta or cyan color cartridge is $65.
The picture yesterday of the Dell Axim X50 pocket pc is definately a fake: the shape is nothing like a photo of the rear of the device that has shown up on FCC docs.
Most of the details on the Axim X50 are being held under a confidentiality request until 9/24 but there is some info in the FCC docs:
1100mAh removable battery with 2200mAh battery available (expect our friends at Mugen to have an even more powerful battery out soon for these).
At least 2 versions (we expect 3):
One Axim X50 with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a 3.7" 640 x 480 screen, 624MHz processor, and 128mb or 64mb RAM.
Another Axim X50 with Bluetooth only, a 3.5" 240 x 320 screen, 520MHz processor, and 64mb RAM.
We expect the third Axim X50 (not mentioned in the FCC docs as it doesn't have wireless) to have a 3.5" 240 x 320 screen, 520MHz processor (or slower processor), and 64mb RAM.
All 3 versions are expected to have both CompactFlash and SD memory card slots.
(via Brighthand)
We haven't talked about this before but Walmart has got into the laptop business.
If you are looking for a basic laptop for back to school or around the house then this is worth considering as it is just $598 (with no rebate forms or other tricks).
The specs are really good for the price: Athlon XP-M 1600+ processor, 14.1" LCD screen, 40gb hard drive, 128MB RAM, DVD drive, 802.11b Wi-Fi wireless, and Windows XP. Only bad part of the spec is the 128mb memory but it has an upgrade slot to add more DDR SO-DIMM memory (up to another 512mb).
Walmart ECS 14" Laptop with W-Fi: $598
