October 2004
Thursday 28 October
Sony has announced the price and release date for the PSP Playstation Portable game/entertainment console, and it is better than anyone expected.
The PSP will be available in Japan on December 12th and will cost 19,800 Yen (about $185).
Expectations of a US release date and price for the PSP are March and $150-$160. (Comparable to the Nintendo DS which will retail at $150).
(via cnet)
I learnt something yesterday: There is one really important thing you need when you are looking to future-proof a new home and make it possible to easily install a home network in the future - you need a 20 foot long PVC pipe.
To be more exact, you need a 2-inch diameter pipe running from your attic to your basement, this will allow you to easily install ethernet or other cables to any room in your house without needing to struggle or badly damage your drywall.
(or you could just go wireless)
Expect to see a slew of black colored versions of all the previously pearly white iPod accessories.
First out of the gates is Griffin with their new black edition of the iTrip FM Transmitter.
The iTrip Black will be available in November for $35.
It doesn't seen very special to me but Apple has released a U2 branded special edition iPod.
It's a 20gb 4th generation iPod with a black shell, red scroll wheel, some signatures on the back, and a $349 price sticker.
One rumor proved false is that it comes with a load of U2 music, instead you can buy "the first digital box set" of 400 tunes for a measly $149 more.
Apple has announced the long expected 60gb color version of the iPod:
"A delight for the ears. A feast for the eyes. Though it’s no bigger than a pack of playing cards and weighs in at just over 6 ounces, iPod Photo delivers a one-two sensory punch. Letting you carry an entire library of your favorite music — up to 15,000 songs — or enough photos — as many as 25,000 — to fill nearly 200 slide trays or cover nearly 5,000 square feet of wall space. Got a really big den?
The newest member of the iPod family, iPod Photo comes in two sizes: a 40GB model, available for $499, and a capacious 60GB model that sells for $599. Both feature a razor sharp LCD display that lets you see your photos in vivid color — 65,536 colors, to be exact. And with its built-in backlighting, you’ll be able to admire those photos indoors or out."
Some highlights of the 60gb iPod Photo are 15 hr battery life, 220 x 176 pixel 65k color screen, syncs album art, and a (too high) $599 price tag.
ipodlounge has some exclusive photos
Tuesday 26 October
I am sorry there have been no posts the past couple of days:
My wife and I are looking to buy a house and on Sunday we drove 300 miles and visited a load of new home communities, on Monday we priced out our favorite houses with all the options we want, today (Tuesday) we finished option planning and decided on the house and lot we want, tomorrow (Wednesday) we are driving 300 miles (again) to sign contracts, and then on Thursday I should be able to start posting again a little, and then we are away doing house stuff again until the next Wednesday.
Once that is all out of the way I have to start thinking about how to wire for home theater, and Internet access: I want to have LCD TVs with Internet access in the family room, the kitchen, the master bedroom, and 2 other rooms (that will be our offices).
Most people take 3-4 months to research and choose the house they want, we are doing it in 3-4 days. Will this haste come back and bite us in the ass? .... probably.
Friday 22 October
The DMC Xclef 500 100gb MP3 Player is an upgraded version of DMC's existing Xclef 500 MP3 player.
This thing is big (5.0" x 3.2" x 0.8") but if that isn't a problem and you need storage for 10 gazillion songs this could be worth looking at.
The DMC Xclef 500 100gb MP3 Player features MP3, WMA, WAV, ASF, and OGG files, has an FM tuner, can record FM and voice at up to 320kbps, has a battery life of 20hrs, and costs $449 for the 100gb version.
DMC Xclef 500 100gb MP3 Player Product Page
(via the inquirer)
Here's an interesting use of the USB flash drives that are everywhere these days, the Flashpoint USB Drive lets you copy data to it from another drive without needing to be plugged into a PC.
Basically how it works is that the Flashpoint is a hermaphrodite, it has both a male and female connection. (Other USB drives have a male connector, and laptops/computers etc have a female connection.)
To use the Flashpoint USB Drive you just mate the male part of another USB drive to the female part of the Flashpoint and press it's button, all the data in a "share" directory on the male gets squirted over to the female.
It all sounds dirty and sordid to me!
(via engadget)
Wednesday 20 October
Sorobangeeks also got some photos of the new Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000 PDA.
The Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000 is a nice looking PDA that could only be improved if it had WiFi and was available here in the US.
The Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000 has a great flip-top design with a QWERTY keyboard, runs linux, has a 416mhz xscale processor, 3.7" VGA screen, SD/MMC card slot, USB connectivity and a 4GB hard drive.
Battery life of the Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000 is said to be 7 hrs, it is 4.9" by 3.5" by 1" and it weighs 10.5oz.
Sometimes writing this site seems more like the Guinness Book of World Records instead of gadget news, the main difference is that here the records change almost daily:
LG Philips broke the record for largest OLED (organic light emitting diode) display at the FPD show in Japan yesterday by showing off a 20.1 inch screen.
People (ok, geeks) get excited about OLED screens as they do not need a seperate backlight, so power consumption is lower and battery life is longer, and the screen is thinner.
sorobangeeks went to the WPC Expo in Japan and photographed a lot of interesting stuff including the Kyocera Contax i4R digital camera.
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.
Tuesday 19 October
I got a look (and a listen) at both of the new high end media center PCs from NiveusMedia at the Digital Life show.
The Denali features P4 3.2Ghz HT, 1GB 400Mhz DDR SDRAM, 320GB HDD, DVD Recorder, Dual TV Tuner, Single HDTV, Nvidia GF6600 PCI-X, 24-bit/192Khz High Definition 8-Channel Audio & Windows XP MCE 2005 for $3999.
The Rainier features P4 2.8Ghz HT, 512MB 400Mhz DDR SDRAM, 160GB HDD, DVD Recorder, Dual TV Tuner, ATI 9600XT, 6 Channel Audio, Gigabit LAN & Windows XP MCE 2005 for $2999.
I have to say these things aren't just quiet most of the time, they are silent!
4 photos of them, and their rear ends, below.
Continue reading "Niveus Denali and Rainier Media Center PCs"
NEC are unveiling a new laptop at the WPC expo show in Japan.
The new NEC is the first laptop powered by a fuel cell instead of a standard li-ion battery, and the battery life is said to be an impressive 10 hours.
(via sorobangeeks)
The blackberry 7100t is the new blackberry device that is actually useful as a phone as well. This has been my main sticking point with blackberry in the past: their devices just didn't work as phones so you would have to carry a seperate phone as well as your blackberry.
A lot of the reason for the increased phone usability is the reduction in size achieved by implementing a new keyboard where every key is used for 2 letters and software tries to work out which letter you wanted.
I tried out the new blackberry 7100t and found it really easy to use.
5 photos of the Blackberry 7100t from the Digital Life show are below.
Continue reading "Hands on with the Blackberry 7100t"
Ah, now this is much nicer than the Sushi USB drives we mentioned yesterday.
This sexy little bundle of leather and zinc comes in sizes ranging fron 64mb to 2gb, and would make a prefect gift for a stylish friend or a leather clad S&M fiend.
Looks like they are currently available only in Japan and prices are surprisingly tame: $70 for 512mb and $180 for 1gb. I will have to look out for these next time I am passing through Tokyo airport (or I may just look for them in Hong Kong where you can get all the Japanese gadgets for less than they cost in Japan).
(via everythingusb)
Digital Media Thoughts found the product page for the Hasselblad H1D medium format digital camera that was first mentioned at Photokina last month.
The Hasselblad H1D is massive, reminding me of the ugly new Honda SUV, but its specs are very impressive:
The Hasselblad H1D has a large 22 megapixel 37mm by 49mm sensor, and instead of a CF card slot it has a built in 40GB hard drive: a necessity as each image can be 132MB in size (so even with the hard drive it can only store 850 images!).
The Hasselblad H1D has all the manual controls you would expect from a world class professional camera, and has a price to match: $22,000
(via digitalmediathoughts)
Monday 18 October
Ok, I can see the red part of the name of the new camera from Casio but where is the star?
Apart from the pretty color this is a fairly standard digital camera: 5 megapixels, SD/MMC card slot, 320 x 240 video, USB connectivity, and 3x optical zoom.
The Casio EXILIM EX-Z50 Red Star will be available in November.
Useless trivia: Red Star is also the name of a nice restaurant in Portland Oregon.
Another interesting find at Digital Life last week was the Hawking Technology HSB1 802.11b/g wireless signal booster.
The Hawking wireless signal booster is a little box that you connect to the antenna connector of your wireless router. The wireless signal booster then boosts the power output from a typical 100mW up to 500mW.
The wireless signal booster works with just about any wireless router and the extra power should result in much better range: up to 1200ft indoors and up to 3800ft outside.
This looks like a great little gadget if you need your wireless to reach to all corners of your house.
The Hawking HSB1 wireless signal booster will be available November 1st.
Continue reading "Hawking Wireless Signal Booster"
Motorola now has the official product page up for their m500 5GB MP3 player.
The Motorola m500 5gb MP3 player features a replaceable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery, backlit display, MP3 WMA and audible support, FM tuner, FM recording, clock, stopwatch, USB 2.0 connectivity, and a 25 hour battery life.
The Motorola m500 5gb MP3 player will be available in November and pricing is expected to be the same as all the other 5gb players coming out for Christmas ($200-$250).
Motorola Product Page
Today's addition to wierd USB device hall of fame are these sushi shaped USB drives.
The drives come in 32mb and 128mb flavors and are currently available only in, surprise surprise, Japan.
Prices are $60 to $80, but I think I will be waiting for a fish head shaped 2gb drive.
(via solidalliance)
I've been looking for a good travel mouse for a while and just stumbled upon the new Logitech V500 Cordless Notebook Mouse that seems to be exactly what I am looking for.
The Logitech V500 Cordless Notebook Mouse is small, but not too small, has a 4-way solid-state scroll panel (instead of and better than a scroll wheel), 2.4GHz wireless, an "all terrain optical engine" sensor, and takes 2 AAA batteries.
The Logitech V500 Cordless Notebook Mouse will cost $69.95.
TrusterReviews hasa head to head review of two 23 inch monitors, the ViewSonic VP231wb and the hp 2335.
While these monitors are nice it would take a lot to get me paying more than twice what I paid for my dell 2001fp monitor for one of these.
(via pocketmediathoughts)
Saturday 16 October
Dell have announced their competitor to the iPod mini: the Dell Pocket DJ.
The Dell Pocket DJ is a 5GB hard drive based mp3 player roughly the same size as the iPod mini and weighing in at 4.4oz.
It has 25% more storage (5GB), 20% more battery life (10 hrs) but will cost 20% less ($199).
It looks to us like the user interface of the Dell Pocket DJ isn't as good as the iPod mini or the Creative Zen Touch (especially the "scroll barrel" but the overall design is nice.
Overall if you are in the market for a 4 or 5GB MP3 player this is worth looking at.
New Dell TVs, Printers and Music Players
Product Information Sheet
New York, October 14, 2004
Dell today opened its holiday retail season by announcing the expansion of the company's consumer electronics product portfolio, provided at exceptional prices to help more customers enjoy advances in digital music, photography, and television technology. Details and availability on the new consumer electronics are provided below. More information, including technical specifications and hi-resolution images are available at www.dell.com/digitallife.
Televisions
Dell's new 42-inch plasma displays, the Dell W4200HD 42" Plasma HDTV and Dell W4200ED Enhanced Definition 42" Plasma TV, will be available in time for holiday season programming. Both TVs boast wide-aspect (16:9 aspect ratio) screens that deliver excellent picture quality in packages that are only 3.3-inches thick.
The W4200HD retails for $3,499. It provides 1024 vertical lines and 768 horizontal lines of resolution, showing high-definition content. It is fully equipped to receive both analog and digital broadcasts out-of-the-box, due to dual integrated analog and combination digital/analog tuners.
The W4200ED, priced at $2,299, is an enhanced definition display equipped with dual analog tuners and features 852 vertical lines and 480 horizontal lines of resolution.
The Dell W4200 displays both allow users to multitask by viewing images from different sources simultaneously, with dual tuners and Picture-In-Picture (PIP), Picture-On-Picture (POP), and Picture-By-Picture (PbP) modes. When a PC is attached, the W4200 displays also support PC graphics on PC graphics, video on PC graphics, and video on video.
Detachable speakers deliver 20 watts of sound each, and high quality audio outputs allow easy integration with existing home theater components. Included SRSTM TruSurround XTTM transforms television audio into a stunning surround sound experience.
Both TVs are also powered by a PixelworksTM chipset. Dell is the first TV supplier to receive the Pixelworks' DNX certification, a series of rigorous video quality tests that measure out-of-the-box picture quality and performance.
Dell's goal is to help customers get their new plasma televisions working as quickly and easily as possible, so six different installation options are available to fit every need1. These options range from simply unboxing and hooking the TV up, wall mounting, or speaker mounting with concealed wiring.
Dell also announced a new model in its LCD TV product line today - the W1900 19" LCD TV, selling for $899. Multimedia enthusiasts now have more room to experience and enjoy digital content.
Dell has engineered the W1900 to feature a 1280 x 768 resolution (15:9 aspect ratio), thus optimizing for DVDs, today's TV signals, and tomorrow's high-definition broadcast standards. With a full suite of TV and PC connectors, the W1900 is also equipped for simultaneous use as a PC and TV display. When used as a PC monitor, the 158 square inch (1022 cm²) screen size can display two full documents side-by-side, enhancing productivity and ease of viewing.
Both plasma TVs will be available next month in the Continental (excluding Alaska) United States and in Canada. The W1900 19" LCD TV can be purchased immediately in the United States and Canada and will be available in Europe, Japan, Australia and Singapore and other regions over the next several months.
Printers
Bring the photo lab home with the new Dell Photo Printer 540 and the Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 942. The sleek, compact - 3.2" x 7.8" x 5.3" (HxWxD) - Photo Printer 540 sells for $189 and is available to order today in the United States. The Dell 540 makes it easy to create high-quality photos anywhere, thanks to a 2.5-inch LCD screen, USB input, PictBridge port for a camera connection, and 5-in-1 digital memory card reader that allows customers to view and print their images without connecting to a PC. For advanced editing, it also includes a USB PC connection and a suite of photo editing software. And images can be shared immediately after they are printed, because the printer's dye sublimation technology covers them with a glossy Clear Life CoatingTM that makes them durable, smudge-proof and long lasting2.
Other convenience features include 4x6-inch photos in fewer than 60 seconds3, one-button printing in black and white or color, one button save to PC, and the Dell Photo Print Pack, which includes Dell Premium Photo Paper and a Dell Print Cartridge for exactly 40 prints.
The Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 942 gives every home and small office the ability to print, copy, fax (when connected to a PC with fax modem) and scan in color - plus print photos - in one, easy-to-use device. Initially available for $1494, the 942 is can be purchased today in the United States. It will be available in other regions in the coming months.
With print speeds of up to 19 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 14 ppm in color (actual print speeds will vary with use), the 942 meets everyday printing and imaging needs. It also includes advanced photo printing features like a 2.5-inch LCD screen, a PictBridge port for a camera connection, and memory card slots - making it simple to print photos without being connected to a PC. The optional photo cartridge ensures a greater range of color, finer detail, and more realistic images. The 942 is also a standalone color copier for reproducing text documents, photos and graphics quickly and easily.
Both new Dell photo printers use the Dell Supplies Management SystemTM , which monitors cartridge and/or paper levels, proactively notifies customers before they run out of their supplies, and provides a direct link to Dell's website for easy reordering. In addition, all Dell printers come with Dell service and support, including 24x7 toll-free technical phone support and one-year Advanced Exchange Service5.
Dell DJs
Dell tuned into music enthusiasts who like more style with their music players. The company's two new DJs, enabled by Texas Instruments' Digital Audio processors, sport a sleek silver and black design and trimmer form factors. The 4.4-ounce6 Pocket DJ is smaller than a deck of cards but with enough storage for 2,500 songs7. Dell also updated the interface on the 20GB8 model for the music enthusiasts who want to load and easily play their entire music collection, or even books, on a digital music device.
DJ users can choose to download their favorite music from the many MP3 and Windows Media® -based download services on the Web. To simplify how customers enjoy music while protecting digital content, Dell will implement Microsoft's® Digital Rights Management technology, code-named Janus, and Media Transfer Protocol. The new technologies support legal downloads and secure transfer of digital music from any device or online service, and will be available on existing DJs later this year and in early 2005 on the new models introduced today. In addition, Dell will provide the firmware to upgrade DJs on support.dell.com at no cost, and plans to participate in Microsoft's forthcoming "Plays For Sure" campaign to help educate consumers on the compatibility of services and devices carrying the "Plays For Sure" logo.
The Pocket DJ starts at $199. The 20GB Dell DJ holds about 9,900 songs7 for $249. Both are available next month in the United States.
About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is a premier provider of products and services required for customers worldwide to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. Company revenue for the past four quarters totaled $45.4 billion. Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained www.dell.com.
1 Plasma TV installation services provided via third-party contract with customer. Availability varies. Other conditions apply. For complete details, visit www.dell.com/servicecontracts.
2 Under normal household storage and usage conditions.
3 Actual print speeds may vary with use.
4 After $30 instant rebate off original price of $179.
5 Replacement part or unit will be dispatched if necessary following phone-based troubleshooting in advance of receipt of returned defective unit. Availability varies. Other conditions apply. Defective unit must be returned. Replacements may be refurbished.
6 Weight is for unit only.
7 Assumes audio format is 64kbps WMA encoding with average song length of 4 min.
8 One GB = 1 billion bytes; actual capacity varies with preloaded material and operating environment and will be less.
Pricing, specifications, availability, and terms of offers may change without notice. Taxes, fees and shipping charges are extra, and vary. Dell cannot be responsible for pricing or other errors, and reserves the right to cancel orders arising from such errors.
Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
Sony really needs to get a clue about how to do business. They used to have a reputation for being cool but now they just churn out pretty looking under-powered over-priced junk that always uses their own proprietary formats that no-one else is interested in (memory stick, ATRAC etc).
As if that wasn't enough they are now getting bad publicity by threatening the creators of the RetroPod.
The RetroPod was a fun satirical look at the 80's that took an old sony walkman and made it into a case for an iPod. Sont obviously doesn't get satire and sent a nasty cease and desist letter:
"Your use of casings for such a purpose is a clear infringement of the SONY and WALKMAN marks because it is deceptive. Consumers likely will be misled and deceived into believing that Sony is somehow connected with the iPod personal stereo when in fact it is not. Moreover, they will be misled into thinking that Sony is backward in its design of products and is going away from miniaturization, as the size of the tape player housing is quite large by today's standards."
Anyway, since when is an iPod a "personal stereo", what century are those lawyers living in?
It has been a week of new media center pc releases and now The Register and TrustedReviews have taken a look at the Evesham ebox Media Center PC.
The Evesham ebox Media Center PC, definately has the look of a media center pc and would look good in a living room. It specs seem good too: 2.8GHz Pentium 4, 512mb RAM, 160GB hard drive, DVD-RW writer, but no wireless or PCI-express/AGP graphics card.
The Evesham ebox Media Center PC is available in the UK for for 765 pounds plus VAT (about $1400).
I have been using X1 since mentioning it yesterday as an alternative to Google Desktop Search and it is a great piece of software.
It has now fully indexed my PC and I have instant search capabilities inside 45,000 emails, 10,000 attachments, and 150,000 files! (I am an email hoarder).
On the email tab I start typing "united sfo" and I imstantly get the list of 45,000 emails cut down to 56 related to flights I have taken in the last 8 years to/from San Francisco airport on United.
There are also privacy issues being raised about Google's desktop search as it indexes all the emails and files of all the users on the PC:
"This is not a bug, rather a feature," says Marissa Mayer, Google's director of consumer Web products. "Google Desktop Search is not intended to be used on computers that are shared with more than one person." (via slashdot)
The only downside to X1 is the price, $75 is way too expensive for the average computer user wanting to search their files. If X1 were to cur their price to something much lower (maybe in the $20 range) they would probably end up making more money from the much higher sales volume they would achieve.
Friday 15 October
Jason over at the unofficial google weblog suggest X1 as an alternative to Google's new desktop serarch tool.
One advantage of X1 is that it keeps all the data locally so there are less privacy concerns and you can find your files/emails without being connected to the internet.
There is a good flash demo at X1.com.
(more from theunofficialgoogleweblog)
Toshiba had a really light little projector at the digital life show.
The Toshiba TDP-P7U projects at 1024 x 768 (XGA) resolution with 1100 lumens brightness and a contrast ratio of 200:1, but it only weighs 2.9 pounds.
The Toshiba TDP-P7U is 7.3" x 6.9" x 1.8", and connects to your PC via USB, RCA, D-Sub, S-Video and just about anything else you can think of. If you want one it will set you back about $1899.
Press release and photos below.
Continue reading "Toshiba TDP-P7U Projector"
Toshiba's new TDP-P7U projector promises ultra bright performance in their lightest projector ever created.
The TDP-P7U has an ultra-bright display that delivers a brilliant 1,100 ANSI lumens of brightness with native XGA 1,024 x 768 resolution, DLP(TM) technology and a 2000:1 contrast ratio. The TDP-P7U weighs in at 2.9 pounds providing a lightweight, compact business presentation solution that fits easily into a briefcase or handbag for easy transport while on the go, or when presenting at multiple locations.
With a sleek, eye-catching design, the TDP-P7U includes rich multi-media features such as composite and S-video inputs, audio-in capability and a 0.5 watt speaker. In addition, the unit has digital keystone correction allowing for distortion-free projection, and under 37dBA whisper-quiet operating mode for small meeting environments.
"Toshiba's TDP-P7U projector is the ideal, ultra-portable, business tool for the mobile worker that delivers high-impact presentations with ease, especially when used in conjunction with Toshiba's award-winning notebooks," said Alex Ijuin, assistant general manager for Toshiba DPD's Projector Business Unit of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. "Today's announcement underscores Toshiba's leading position in developing small form factor presentation devices for mobile professionals, allowing them to carry all of their essential office tools with them on the go."
The Toshiba TDP-P7U is currently available for $1,899 ESP(a). All Toshiba projectors are available through Toshiba's enterprise sales team and authorized distributors, dealers, VARs, retailers or mail-order outlets and at www.toshibadirect.com.
Toshiba TDP-P7U Projector Product Specifications
Shape 0.7" DDR DMD DLP(TM)
Display Technology No. of
Pixels 786,432 (1024 x 768)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard 1.2x Manual zoom/manual
Projection Lens Lens focus
F/f (mm) F = 2.6 - 2.9, f = 27.5
- 33.0mm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Brightness 1100 ANSI lumens
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Native Resolution XGA 1024 x 768
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Contrast Ratio 2000:1 Full On/Full Off
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Color Reproduction 16.7 Million Colors
Projection Distance 3.9 ft - 38.8 ft
Projection Screen Size (Diagonal) 26" - 300"
Projection Methods Front and Rear
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Light Source 130W
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Horizontal
Compatible Scanning Frequency (kHZ) 15 - 80 kHZ
Vertical
(Hz) 50 - 85 Hz
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Input Terminals Video 1 x RCA, 1 x S-Video
RGB 1 x D-sub
RGB Audio Stereo mini jack x 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Video NTSC, PAL, SECAM
Input Signal Format Color HDTV/DTV
Difference (720p/1080i/480p/480i),
DVD
------------------------
VGA, SVGA, XGA (true),
RGB SXGA (compressed)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Keystone Correction Digital +15/-20 degrees
Internal Speaker 0.5W Monaural
PC Interface 1 x USB
------------------------
External Dimensions (W x D x H) 7.3" x 6.9" x 1.8"
Weight 2.9 lbs.
Power Consumption 190W
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Power Source 100-240V, 50/60Hz
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mouse Remote Control
with Laser Pointer
Box Contents (Batteries Included)
Power Cable
RGB Cable
USB Cable
CD-ROM
Soft Carrying Case
Owner's Manual
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jumping back to Digital Focus the other night, we wanted to tell you about some interesting 802.11g wireless technology we saw.
Unlike Belkin (who launched "pre-n" 802.11n technology and got told off by the official Wi-Fi standards organization) most wireless companies are focusing on improving and extending existing 802.11g wireless while they wait for 802.11n standards to be approved.
Netgear was at Digital Focus and they had networking gear that makes 802.11g both faster and longer ranged.
The Netgear Double 108 Mbps technology provides two simultaneous 108 Mbps wireless streams: an 802.11b/g stream perfect for fast file downloads, e-mail, Internet browsing, and online gaming, and an additional 802.11a ”fast lane”, free from congestion and interference, which is ideal for prioritizing traffic for applications such as home-based businesses and high quality video streaming.
The Netgear Double 108 Mbps technology also uses XR™ Extended Range technology from Atheros Communications offering up to three times the range of basic 802.11g technology.
Does it work as well as they claim? we're not sure yet but we are going to try and get some Double 108 gear and try it out.
Continue reading "Netgear Double 108 Mbps Wireless"
Thursday 14 October
We got a close look at the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D over at the Digital Life show, we also got some hints as to what it will cost.
The Maxxum 7D is a 6.3 megapixel digital SLR camera that has built in anti-shake technology meaning you don't need image-stablized lenses to get clearer pictures.
I asked the Konica Minolta staff about pricing and they said they didn't know what price it would be, I changed tack and asked which canon camera they expected it to compete on price with: the Digital Rebel, the 20D, and the 1Ds Mark II, and they replied the 20D... so expect it to cost $1300-$1600.
It seems like a good camera but compared to my Canon 20D it thought it was too cluttered with dials, switches and knobs. If you are in NY you can see the 7D at the Digital Life show at the Javits Center until Sunday October 16th.
Pictures below (3502 x 2336 pixel photos available on request)
Continue reading "Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D"
If the Creative Zen Micro is the "good" of new 5GB MP3 players then the Virgin Player seems to be both the "bad" and the "ugly".
It doesn't look like anything special, too much un-shiny plastic, the navigation isn't very good, and at the end of the day to my eyes it's just not sexy in the way that the iPod mini is.
I do like the dual headphone socket features but at the end of the day that's about all this MP3 player has going for it.
I expected more in the way of exciting design from Richard Branson and the company that put classy bars and double beds in boeing 747s and is going into space as Virgin Galactic.
5 hands on photos below.
Continue reading "Hands on with the Virgin Player"
Over at Digital Life I had a chance to play with the new Creative Zen Micro 5GB MP3 player, and I was impressed.
In my eyes it takes a lot to beat the iPod mini but the Zen Micro is in with a chance: it has the same small size but solid feel as the iPod mini and I'm tempted to say that after a few minutes use the navigation with the vertical scroll pad seems better than using the mini (why go round in a circle on the mini to scroll down a list when you can just scroll down on the Zen Micro).
I also like the way that the Zen Micro has a removable battery with a battery life that should be about 50% longer than the mini.
Tech specs of the Zen Micro and 5 hands-on photos are below.
Continue reading "Hands on with the Creative Zen Micro"
Got to run out the door now to get to the Digital Life show.
Wanted to finish with some photos of the iRiver PMC-120 20GB portable video player.
The iRiver PMC-120 has a 3.5" LCD screen and a 20gb hard drive, is 3.3 by 5.6 by 1.2 inches and weighs 0.6 pounds.
Battery life is supposed to be 5hrs for video and 14hrs for audio, and the price is $549.99.
More new to follow later today from both Digital Focus and Digital Life.
Continue reading "iRiver PMC-120"
I got my hands on both of these players at Digital Focus.
The Archos Gmini XS200 is a _tiny_ 20gb MP3 player, it felt almost comparable in size to an iPod mini, it's that small. Nice big screen on it but the navigation seems a bit too simplified and minimalist.
The Archos Gmini 400 is also small but is a fully featured video player. 2.2" screen 20gb hard drive etc etc. It hasa CF slot which is useful and I loved the TV out feature, picture quality was not as good as a DVD but was a lot better than regular TV.
Pictures below.
Continue reading "Archos Gmini XS200 and Gmini 400"
At Digital Focus last night I got to play with Gateway's new media center PC: The Gateway 820GM (bigger photo below).
Features of the Gateway 820GM BTX Media Center PC include 1GB RAM, Radeon X300SE PCI-Express graphics, Pentium 4 Processor, 250gb SATA hard drive, digital media reader, 7 USB and 2 Firewire slots, and 8x DVD burner with dual-layer capabilities (probably 2.4x DL).
One interesting thing is that Gateway are the only people making BTX architecture PCs at the moment: BTX has vastly improved airflow and design making your computer cooler, quieter, and potentially even a tiny bit faster.
Gateway were lucky in that it takes a lot of retooling to switch from ATX to BTX, Gateway got a jump on the market becuase they were retooling anyway after the emachines acquisition. Now lets see if they can turn this technical advantage into market share.
Continue reading "Gateway 820GM BTX Media Center PC"
Hp were showing off their ipod stick-on tattoos that are now available for purchase at HP.
I grabbed a few samples (The Who, Sting, and the Hives) and they are really high quality, the printing is clear and crisp, and the sticker comes away from the backing easily.
Hopefully I will have some tattoos to give away to ipod owners soon.
(more tattoo pictures below)
HP was also showing off their new Media Center devices including the media center extender and the HP Digital Entertainment Center z500 series living room dual tuner media center. Again I was impressed by the quality and looks of these devices.
(pics of those below as well)
Tivo were showing off the new Humax DRT800 DVD Recorder with Tivo Service, it's basically an 80 hour tivo with a DVD recorder that lets you record to DVD as easily as you record a program to hard drive.
What Tivo weren't showing at Digital Focus was just as interesting:
One of my pet peeves with Tivo is that my Tivo only operates wirelessly over 802.11b, which slows down the rest of my network from 802.11g speeds.
It is getting to the stage where I am tempted to setup two wireless networks: one 802.11g (or pre-n) for everything else and one 802.11b for Tivo.
Talking to a Tivo rep however I heard that Tivo will support 802.11g wireless "sometime next year".
Another thing I wanted to talk about was Tivo to Go and the word there is that it's getting close to being launched (Q4 or November - January), my guess is watch CES for the big announcements.
Bigger picture of the Humax below.
Continue reading "Tivo 802.11g and Tivo to Go"
So last night I headed over to the Digital Focus press event in New York. Digital Focus is basically a room with about 20 major consumer technology companies showing off their latest toys to a bunch of journalists ranging from ABC to PC Magazine to Consumer Reports to Playboy to me.
There was nothing there I hadn't heard of or seen (or posted here for you) before but it was a great opportunity to get my hands on some of the latest gadgets and try them out.
It was also a great opportunity to meet some of the people who help run other sites you may visit daily - Joel from Gizmodo, Ryan from Engadget, and Janak and Suhit from PocketPCThoughts and DigitalMediaThoughts.
Stay tuned to see what we found from iRiver, Archos, Gateway, HP, Tivo, Netgear, Belkin, and others.
Wednesday 13 October
We mentioned the Creative Zen Micro 5gb MP3 Player over the weekend but now the official web page is up:
- Holds 2,500 songs on 5GB1 hard drive
- Micro sized (3.3" tall, 2" wide, 0.7" deep)
- Available in 10 electrifying colors (Black, White, Silver, Dark blue, Light blue, Red, Purple, Citrus Orange, Lime Green and Pink)
- Features a removable lithium ion battery
- Get up to 12 hours playback on a single charge2
- FM radio to listen and record
- Built-in mic for up to 10hrs voice recording
- Vertical touch pad for easy and intuitive navigation
- Access over 2 million songs through Zen supported music services
- Highest audio clarity at 98dB SNR
- High fidelity earphones with dynamic bass response
- Contacts, Calendar and To Do List3
- Plays MP3, WMA, WAV files
- Functions as an external hard drive for backup of computer files
- Backlit LCD displays track info
- Repeat, resume, and random play
- 8 EQ settings (Acoustic, classical, disco, jazz, new age, pop, rock and vocal)
- Sleep and wake timers
- Customizable main menu, so the features you want are right at your finger tips
- USB 2.0 interfaces (cables included)
- Belt clip / stand
- weight: 3.8 oz. (includes removable battery)
- warranty: 1 year limited hardware warranty / 90 day service warranty
Creative Zen Micro 5gb MP3 Player
(thanks Jorge)
Slappa were kind enough to send us a couple of their inexpensive hardbody CD cases: a graphite collection 40 CD (or 20 CD and 20 covers) case, and a camel collection 240 CD (or 120 CD and 120 covers) case.
The Slappa cases feature a solid hard shell in a number of different styles, and CD storage inside their patented stitched sleeves.
We tried out the cases around our office and on a trip to Mexico. Keep reading to find out what we thought......
Continue reading "Slappa CD Case Review"
Atheros has introduced the first Single-Chip 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Solution.
What this means for Pocket PCs and other gadgets is that it may soom be possible to have a low power wireless solution that supports more than just 802.11b.
A lot of large companies have 802.11a networks, and a lot of people are replacing their 802.11b networks with faster 802.11g networks: having an 802.11b device on a 802.11g hetwork slows it down for everyone, so 802.11a/b/g gadgets will definately be popular.
Of course, once this is in devices we will all be clamoring for 802.11n connectivity, then it will be WiMax, then the next wireless standard etc.......
(via PDAGeek)
Atheros Communications Introduces Industry’s First Single-Chip 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Solution
Highly-Integrated CMOS Chip Simplifies Systems and Delivers High Performance, Low Power Consumption and Compatibility with All Major 802.11 Standards
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 11, 2004 – Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced the world’s first complete single-chip IEEE 802.11a/b/g WLAN solution, the Atheros AR5006X. The chip integrates an entire 802.11a/b/g solution -- Media Access Controller (MAC), baseband processor, and a high-performance radio with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz capabilities -- in a low-cost digital CMOS design. Offering seamless connectivity to all Wi-Fi networks anywhere in the world, full support for the IEEE 802.11i security standard, and support for Atheros XR™ (eXtended Range) and Super AG™ performance enhancements, the AR5006X is ideal for PC OEM, enterprise, retail, and consumer electronics devices.
The breakthrough single-chip IEEE 802.11a/b/g solution complements Atheros’ launch in January 2004 of the industry’s first single-chip IEEE 802.11b/g solution. It further solidifies the company’s position as a market leader in high-performance, low-cost wireless LAN semiconductors.
“This is one of the most impressive and important announcements in the history of wireless LANs,” said Craig Mathias, a Principal with the wireless advisory firm Farpoint Group (Ashland, MA). “A low-cost, single-chip a/b/g implementation is key to the expansion of traditional WLAN markets, but also enables new, high-growth applications in a broad range of mobile devices. And with essentially the same performance as two-chip designs, we expect the AR5006X to have a huge impact on the Wi-Fi market overall.
The highly integrated AR5006X not only eliminates one chip of a previous two-chip solution, it also incorporates innovative design approaches that eliminate the need for up to 24 discrete components. As a result, it enables 802.11a/b/g reference designs that have 15 percent fewer parts and a correspondingly less expensive BOM (bill of materials). These simpler, lower-cost wireless designs will be greatly beneficial in products such as aftermarket PC cards, embedded PCI and mini-PCI cards, WLAN-on-motherboard solutions for personal computers, access points, home gateways, set-top boxes, digital media adapters, handheld consumer electronics, and VoIP handsets, among many others.
“The AR5006X chip achieves an unprecedented level of integration without sacrificing wireless LAN performance,” said Colin Macnab, vice president of marketing and business development at Atheros Communications. “By continuing to produce innovations that drive performance and lower WLAN system cost, we are powering the next-generation of high performance 802.11a/b/g wireless networking products.”
Atheros’ high-performance, low-power WLAN chips support the industry’s most robust security standard, IEEE 802.11i. An AES encryption engine is built into the hardware of all Atheros 802.11a/b/g and 802.11b/g chipsets, allowing real-time encryption with no performance degradation in computing, consumer electronics and wireless broadband applications. Atheros’ chipsets also support the WMM™ (Wi-Fi Multimedia) and draft 802.11e Quality of Service (QoS) specifications, providing advanced features for delivering wired-quality video and audio content via a wireless connection.
Super AG™ technology
Atheros’ popular Super AG performance-enhancement features are supported in the new single-chip AR5006X. Super AG employs multiple techniques including Dynamic Turbo with Adaptive Radio technology, packet bursting, fast frames, and data compression to dramatically increase the throughput and range of wireless networking products. The technology supports up to 108 megabits-per-second (Mbps) link rates, and enables user throughput of more than 60 Mbps.
eXtended Range technology
The AR5006X chip also supports Atheros’ eXtended Range technology, XR, which provides single access point coverage in home networking environments, eliminates “dead spots” in corporate wireless LANs, and provides outdoor coverage of up to two times the distance of competing WLAN solutions.
Atheros AR5006X pricing and availability
Atheros is currently sampling the AR5006X, with volume production expected in Q4 2004. List price for the AR5006X chip is under $12 in 10,000 unit quantities.
About Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a leading developer of semiconductor system solutions for wireless communications products. Atheros combines its wireless systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly integrated chipsets that are manufacturable on low-cost, standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is being used by a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer and networking equipment manufacturers. For more information, visit www.atheros.com or send email to info@atheros.com.
Tuesday 12 October
We've been on top of the X50 VGA Pocket PC reviews all day over at VGAPocketPC.com.
If you haven't been over there here's a roundup of all the reviews of what is now the new #1 top Pocket PC around:
PocketNow
Brighthand
CNET
BargainPDA
PocketPCThoughts
Aximsite
PDAGeek
PC Magazine
PDA Buyers Guide
Infosync
Dell Home: Axim X50v for $499 (free ground shipping) - 624MHz VGA Pocket PC, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, CF, SD, 802.11b, Bluetooth.
Update: $35 off with coupon on VGAPocketPC.com (October 13th only)
Gateway have announced their new Media Center PC: the Gateway 820GM Media Center PC.
The Gateway 820GM Media Center PC is interesting because it is one of the few PCs to use the BTX architecture for improving airflow through the computer.
Features of the Gateway 820GM BTX Media Center PC include 1GB RAM, Radeon X300SE PCI-Express graphics, Pentium 4 Processor, 250gb hard drive, and 8x DVD burner.
The Gateway 820GM BTX Media Center PC should be available this weekend, pricing is not yet known.
(via engadget)
This weeks award for most unfortunate company or product name goes to Korean company Woodi who produce a range of MP3 players.
Woodi's latest MP3 player is the WD-S1 which has an interesting swivel cover.
Other features of the Woodi WD-S1 are 256mb or 512mb storage, USB 1.1 connectivity, 2 color OLED screen, support for MP3, WMA, and OGG.
It's a small Woodi, 3.8" long, 1.2" wide, and 0.9" deep, with a weight of 1.5oz.
(woodi product page via i4u)
Hush Technology fanless PCs are expensive but very very quiet, just what you need to go with your $10,000 65 inch LCD TV :)
Niveus has a new Media Center PC based on the Hush Technology called the Denali HDTV Media Center PC.
Just like you would image from a name like Denalt HDTV Media Center PC, you get a high definition video 8 channel 24 bit 192KHz audio behemoth that packs a 3.2GHz Pentuim 4, dual tuners, PCI-express graphics, and DVD recorder, into $4,000 worth of sweet sweet high definition AV goodness.
"Dear Santa, I've been a very good boy this year and I now know what I want for Christmas!"
(via gizmodo)
Gizmodo is keeping on top of all the Windows XP Media Center 2005 releases today.
First up are 3 new offerings from HP: The HP Digital Entertainment Center z500 series, the HP Media Center m1100, and the HP Media Center Extender x5400.
The HP Digital Entertainment Center z500 series is a living room system with dual tuners, 802.11b/g, 200gb hard drive, and a 160gb external drive for $1999.
The HP Media Center m1100 is designed more for managing photo ans auio collections, also feaures 802.11b/g wireless, and will cost $999.
The HP Media Center Extender x5400 delivers live/recorded TV shows, music and photos stored on any Media Center PC or the HP Digital Entertainment Center to any TV in the house using home networks and will cost $299.
(via gizmodo)
HP Unwraps the Ultimate Digital Entertainment Experience for Holiday Shoppers Three new products enable consumers to easily enjoy pictures, music and movies
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12, 2004 – HP today broadened its consumer electronics portfolio with a suite of new digital entertainment products that make-over consumers’ living rooms by tying digital devices together while making the most of Microsoft’s latest Media Center Edition operating system.
Delivering on the company’s digital entertainment strategy, these new products help create new consumer experiences by leveraging HP’s rich heritage in the PC and digital photography markets.
As a strategic partner at the Microsoft® Experience More launch in Los Angeles, HP is showcasing three key Media Center solutions: the HP Digital Entertainment Center, HP Media Center Extender and HP Media Center m1100 series Photosmart PC. All feature Microsoft Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 and are available in time for holiday shoppers.
“HP is the only technology company with the experience and innovation necessary to successfully lead the convergence of the computing and consumer electronics industries into the digital entertainment space,” said Duane Zitzner, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Thanks in part to our strategic relationships with companies such as Microsoft, we’re delivering experiences that allow consumers to easily enjoy their digital content in the living room.”
Highlights of these digital entertainment offerings include:
· The HP Digital Entertainment Center z500 series – Designed for the living room home entertainment center, the HP Digital Entertainment Center allows consumers to access their music, movies, home videos and photos from a single device via a remote control.
· The HP Media Center m1100 series Photosmart PC – Featuring the removable HP Personal Media Drive, these Media Center PCs provide consumers a computing experience that combines the latest in PC technologies and digital entertainment features.
· The HP Media Center Extender x5400 – This device delivers live/recorded TV shows, music and photos stored on any Media Center PC or the HP Digital Entertainment Center to any TV in the house using home networks, giving users the freedom to enjoy their content when and where they want.(1)
“Consumers have long demanded easy-to-use products that allow them to enjoy their multimedia content wherever they are and for years they have been disappointed,” said Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst, The Enderle Group. “Today’s news affirms how incredibly focused HP is on this problem and how their unique portfolio of technologies allows them to deliver innovative solutions that create the experiences consumers have so long desired.”
“HP was the first to bring a Media Center PC to market, and we are thrilled that we continue to work together to provide consumers new and innovative solutions that offer truly integrated digital entertainment experiences,” said Will Poole, senior vice president, Windows client business, Microsoft. “HP is offering consumers a range of Media Center PCs, notebooks and media center extenders, enabling consumers to choose the solutions that best meet their needs and allowing them to enjoy their digital entertainment whenever and wherever they like.”
HP Digital Entertainment Center z500 series
Giving consumers more for their living room, the HP Digital Entertainment Center puts all of a user’s digital entertainment – TV, music, movies, photos – into one sleek, black, brushed-aluminum device:
· Connect the HP Digital Entertainment Center to digital TVs and home audio equipment for a big screen, surround sound experience through a wide range of audio/visual jacks.
· Search for and record up to two different TV shows simultaneously.(2) Capture single episodes or entire series with the Electronic Program Guide provided by Microsoft(3) and never miss another episode of a favorite show again.
· Enjoy fully integrated wireless features with 802.11b/g,(1) an infrared remote control and wireless keyboard with trackball.
· Choose, organize and enjoy digital music from 10 feet away with HP Tunes, part of the Digital Entertainment Center’s compatibility with the Apple iPod from HP. HP Tunes works with Apple iTunes(4) to give consumers access to their music collection and play lists via a remote control.
· Enjoy photo memories using HP’s exclusive ImageZone application designed for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to view pictures by date, keyword and even by place with a few clicks on the remote control.
HP expects to launch a Digital Entertainment Center that will support ATSC high-definition recording in the first half of 2005.
“Intel and HP share the vision of the digital home enabling consumers to enjoy their favorite content anytime, anywhere and on any device,” said Louis Burns, vice president and general manager, Desktop Platforms Group, Intel. “With the introduction of the HP Digital Entertainment Center, entertainment for the living room now has new meaning, allowing consumers easy control and manageability over their digital content. We’re proud to work with HP to help bring this product to consumers.”
HP Media Center m1100 series Photosmart PC
The HP Media Center m1100 series Photosmart PC uses the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system’s powerful tools to create and manage digital media from music to home movies to photo slide shows. Control it all with one remote control:
· Take the video, photo and music experience to a new level of personalization and enjoyment. Get fast access to photos via a digital camera’s memory card using the PC’s front-mounted memory card reader or via the top-mounted digital camera dock holder and create, edit print or share memories.
· Safeguard digital memories by backing up photo, music and video collections to the HP Personal Media Drive (sold separately) or DVD burner.
· Create custom home videos with easy-to-use editing software. Burn to CD or DVD along with music and digital photos.
HP Media Center Extender x5400
With a sleek and stylish design that fits into existing home entertainment centers, the HP Media Center Extender allows users of the HP Digital Entertainment Center or HP Media Center PC to view recorded TV shows, videos and photos and listen to music files on TVs and stereos throughout a home(5):
· Watch a movie in the living room while another user listens to the music collection using the same Media Center PC in another room in the house. Up to five different Media Center Extenders can run at the same time from one Media Center PC.(5)
· Navigate and enjoy digital music, photos, recorded TV and videos with the same Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 interface and one remote control. The included setup wizard makes starting up quick and easy.(6)
· Use a wired or wireless(1) 802.11a/g connection. Connect to an existing TV or monitor and home stereo.
More product details and images of HP’s digital entertainment offerings are available in an online press kit at www.hp.com/go/DECLaunch2004.
Availability and pricing(7)
The HP Digital Entertainment Center, Media Center Extender and Media Center m1100 series Photosmart PCs are expected to be available this month both direct from HP via www.hpshopping.com and at retail partners nationwide.
HP is releasing two models of the HP Digital Entertainment Center. The HP z540 Digital Entertainment Center – featuring a single NTSC TV tuner and 160GB internal hard drive – has an estimated U.S. street price of $1,499. The HP z545-b Digital Entertainment Center – with dual NTSC TV tuners, 200GB internal hard drive and the HP Personal Media Drive offering an additional 160GB of removable storage – has an estimated U.S. street price of $1,999.
The HP Media Center Extender has an estimated U.S. street price of $299 and the HP Media Center m1100 series Photosmart PC has an estimated U.S. street price starting at $999 after rebate.
Configure-to-order models of the HP Media Center m1100 series Photosmart PC start at an estimated U.S. street price of $974 after rebate depending on the configuration ordered and are available direct from HP via www.hpshopping.com or retail kiosks.
HP also plans to announce a consumer notebook PC featuring the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system later this fall.
Philips announced their Wi-Fi enabled 23 inch "Streamium" LCD TV back in April and it's looks like it is getting closer to reality.
Philips has now announced the Streamium Wi-Fi LCD TV 23PF9976i will be available in November through Amazon.com.
Features of the Streamium Wi-Fi LCD TV 23PF9976i are:
- Wi-Fi connectivity to your home network and online entertainment media – compatible with iFILM and Yahoo! Movies, Photos, and Games.
- Philips PC Link – access to music, videos, and photos stored on a PC including the ability to tune into thousands of Internet radio station via the TV's on-screen menu.
- Built-in FM Tuner – FM digital tuning with 40 presets.
- Futureproof – The Streamium TV upgrades its own software to add new services, features, and media formats.
- Audio Support – MP3, MP3 Pro, PCM, WAV
- Video Support – MPEG-1/2/4, DivX, XviD
- Photo Support – JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG
No prices yet and no sign of it on the amazon site as of October 12th. Click the amazon link below to see if you can find it.
(via ehomeupgrade)
Epson has announced a new photo viewer / storage box: the Epson P2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer.
The Epson P2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer features a 40gb hard drive, 640 x 480 pixel (VGA) 3.8" screen, Photo playback, Movie playback, Music playback, A/V out, CompactFlash and SD memory card slots, RAW data support as native (supports RAW from Nikon and Canon).
Connectivity on the Epson P2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer is USB 2.0 and it can connect direct to a photo printer for printing out pictures.
Battery life is said to be 3 hrs, it will be available in November, and it will cost £349 in the uk and around $500 in the US.
(via dpreview)
The 5GB MP3 player announcements are coming out quickly now. This time it's Virgin / Virgin Electronics announcing their 5GB MP3 player, unimaginitively called the "Virgin Player".
The one interesting feature of the Virgin 5GB MP3 player is that it has two headphone sockets for sharing music with a friend: great idea!
The downside is that the Virgin 5GB MP3 player is going to be the same price as the iPod mini, and that it doesn't exactly challenge the iPod mini in the looks department.
The Virgin Player will be available at the end of October for $249.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- The consumer electronics arm of the Virgin Group is introducing a new 5-gigabyte hard-disk portable music player, bringing a powerful brand name in music to the increasingly crowded product space.
Virgin Electronics hopes its slim Virgin Player, which debuts Tuesday and is smaller than a deck of cards, will rise as a lead competitor to Apple Computer Inc.'s wildly popular iPod players. Apple dominates the portable player market that is filled also with choices from Rio Audio, Sony Corp., Samsung Electronics, and Creative Labs Inc., among others.
But few of the rivals have introduced a direct challenge to the iPod Mini model, which has a 4-gigabyte capacity. And that's the segment San Jose-based Virgin Electronics is pursuing - people who may want to tote about 1,000 songs in their pocketable devices but don't necessarily need the whopping 20-gigabyte-or-more capacity of audio players offered by Apple, Sony, Samsung and others.
"No one else has the same sort of brand energy that Apple or Virgin has. Plus, our heritage is music," said Greg Woock, chief executive of Virgin Electronics. "Apple is dominating, yes, but the market share that it has today is not going to last."
The Virgin Player has 20 percent more storage capacity than the iPod Mini. It is slightly larger but is a half-ounce lighter at 3.1 ounces. Virgin claims it has eight hours of continuous playback time on its rechargeable lithium ion battery - the same as the iPod Mini.
The player will be available for $249 at the end of October.
Unlike the iPod, the Virgin Player includes an FM tuner. But it has another notable difference: while the Virgin Player is fully integrated with its sister online music store, Virgin Digital, it also plays tunes purchased from other online music services that use the Windows Media Audio or MP3 formats.
That's a more agnostic approach compared to Apple's iPod, which works with downloaded songs only from the Apple iTunes Music Store in the Advanced Audio Coding format or songs ripped from CDs in the MP3 format.
Virgin also sides with the set of music providers, such as Napster and RealNetworks Inc.'s Rhapsody, which believe online subscription services will one day become more lucrative than the basic pay-per-download model that Apple helped pioneer.
The Virgin Player supports Microsoft Corp.'s new copy-protection technology that allows online music subscribers to listen to vast catalogs of songs on their portable players.
Shiny Shiny (no relation) found an interesting gadget: a Vacumn cleaner that uses a (presumably sealed) air filled cushion to reduce the apparent weight to the user and make it glide smoothly over your carpet, hardwood floors, or swimming pool :)
The Airider vacuum cleaner will be available in the UK soon and it sounds fast:
"1400-Watt Thermal protected high-speed fan motor, creating 192 MPH high velocity airflow for maximum suction at base of hose, Air rider having higher Air Watts cleans more dirt. Thermal cut-off protects your motor from overheating "
(via Shiny Shiny)
The Dell Axim X50 and X50v are supposed to be released later today and PocketFactory got hold of the official spec sheet in PDF format.
No big surprises, it looks exactly like the pictures we already had, and the specs are the same as we had told you in our Dell Axim X50 profile.
The only changes to the profile are the confirmation of only 64MB RAM (some people were saying 128MB) and the confirmation of the weight at 6.2oz.
The Axim X50v is a great Pocket PC and I will be ordering one ASAP to review, only negatives are the lowish RAM (although with 1gb 80x speed CF cards close to $100 these days storage space shouldn't be an issue), and the lack of a jog dial like on the X30.
Dell Axim X50v PDF Datasheet (right click to save to your computer)
(via PocketFactory)
Continue reading "Dell Axim X50 / X50v"
Monday 11 October
We are waiting for the 65" LCD that Sharp announced last week, but until that comes out the largest LCD TV you can buy is the Samsung LT-P468W 46 inch LCD.
Extremetech took a detailed look at the Samsung LT-P468W 46 inch LCD:
"Unless there's a magic combination of knobs and levers to change the panel's dark-scene performance characteristics, we're left with a big, bright LCD panel that despite some very good image quality in bright scenes, we still can't award it top marks."
Extremetech only gave the Samsung LT-P468W 46 inch LCD 7 out of 10.
(more from extremetech via ubergizmo)
Half Life 2 is going to be the second game this year to really push the CPU, processor, and memory requirements of your PC to the limit.
If you want Half Life 2 to run faster and look as good as possible graphically you could drop a couple of grand on new hardware or you could read IGN's Half-Life 2 Optimization Guide.
The Half-Life 2 Optimization Guide tells you how to make Half Life 2 run faster by tweaking your existing systems.
The tips start with the obvious: removing spyware, defragmenting your hard drive etc, then move onto more detailed graphics card driver settings and tweaking the windows XP memory and file system.
IGN Half-Life 2 Optimization Guide
Buy Half-Life 2 for $44.99 at Amazon.com
Sunday 10 October
5GB MP3 players are like buses, you wait ages and ages for one then a bunch come along at the same time.
Gizmodo just found out about a new one: the Creative Zen Micro.
The Creative Zen Micro is due out by Christmas and comes in 10 colors (take that Apple!).
What else?, the Creative Zen Micro is small and curvy (3.3" x 2.0" x 0.7") has a removable battery, FM radio, voice recorder, and a 12 hour battery life.
I would expect this to cost around the same as the iPod mini (in the $200 to 250 range).
Saturday 9 October
ShinyPlastic.com and VGAPocketPC.com Newsletter
In this Issue:
- VGAPocketPC.com launched
- This week's reviews
- Recent new gadgets
- At the TechXNY show
- Competitions
- What's coming next from ShinyPlastic?
Continue reading "Oct 9th Newsletter"
While at TechXNY last week I got my hands on an interesting little device: The Pepper Pad 2 linux based tablet PC.
The idea behind the Pepper Pad is that is a simple to use portable wireless edevice for web browsing, emailing, and anything else it's "Pocket PC on Steroids" specifications can handle.
The Pepper Pad 2 features a 624MHz xscale processor (same as on the best Pocket PCs, 256MB RAM, 32MB video RAM, 20GB 1.8" hard drive, and a 8.4" SVGA (800 x 600 pixel) LCD screen.
Other features of the Pepper Pad 2 are 802.11b/g wireless, bluetooth, USB (only USB 1.1 though), and a SD/MMC card slot. The Pepper Pad 2 also has a QWERTY keyboard (split into 2 parts on either side of the screen), a S-Pad, scroll wheel and a stylus for input.
The Pepper Pad 2 felt nice in my hand but wouldn't be so nice to my wallet at $800. It seems a good gadget although I have to wonder if there is a big enough market for it to be a success.
Larger picture of the Pepper Pad 2
It looks like dpreview found the first flash based MP3 player with a 2GB storage capacity: the Ezmax EZMP-4100.
The Ezmax EZMP-4100 is an upgrade to the exisiting EZMP-4000 series and measures 3.5" x 1.1" x 0.9" and weighs just 1oz.
Features of the Ezmax EZMP-4100 include support for MP3, WMA, and OSF, an OLED screen, voice recording, and FM radio.
Battery life of the Ezmax EZMP-4100 is about 13 hrs.
Ezmax 4000 series specifications
(via dpreview)
Friday 8 October
bios took a look at the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook.
The Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook is a PCMCIA card that gives laptop users a greatly improved sound experience over the regular sound output of laptop computers.
Every laptop these days has a PCMCIA card slot or two but there are less and less things to do with it now that wireless, ethernet, modem etc is built into the laptop. It's nice to find something new to do with an otherwise empty PCMCIA slot.
The Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook has high quality sound output:
"It delivers THX® certified 24-bit ADVANCED HD™ audio quality playback with incredible 104dB SNR, allowing the highest resolution audio playback with support for DVD-Audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz and Windows Media 9: 24-bit multi-channel audio format.
The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook also provides encompassing 7.1 surround sound for Dolby® Digital EX as well as DTS-ES™ supported DVD movies; any DirectSound3D games and CMSS 3D virtualized 7.1 stereo music. Gamers will love the hardware accelerated EAX® 4.0 ADVANCED HD™ that not only brings games to life, but delivers maximum performance! Musicians will also enjoy true 24-bit recording and low latency ASIO support for the ultimate audio recording platform. Notebook audio just got very, very interesting!"
The Pioneer DVR-108 is the OEM version of the first 16x DVD Writer that also supports 4x dual-layer write speeds.
The main differences between this and the retail box version (DVR-A08) are that the DVR-108 comes with a plain faceplate and no software or cables.
We got a Pioneer DVR-108 to test from Directron. Keep reading to find out what we thought of it.
According to thinksecret Apple has a new iPod currently in production in Asia that uses Toshiba's 60GB 1.8" hard drive.
But wait, there's more..... they also claim that the new top of the range iPod will sport a 2" color LCD screen, synchronize with iPhoto software, and have new audio/video out capabilities.
The 60GB iPod is supposed to be the same height and width as current 4th generation iPods but will be 0.1" thicker and a little heavier.
Apple is planning on releasing the 60GB iPod within 30 to 60 days and it expected to sell for $499.
(more from thinksecret)
SorobanGeek is attending the CEATAC show and came across a Toshiba prototype of a 0.85" hard drive connecting with a Pocket PC via a SD card interface.
I'm not sure of the practical applications of this:
When 0.85" hard drives are released the maximum capacity is likely to be 1GB or at most 2GB, and like any hard drive it is more fragile than a flash memory solution. Also a 0.85" hard drive is too big to fit in an SD card so a solution would have to stick out the top of your Pocket PC (or be enclosed in a device specific accessory that maybe goes around the back of the Pocket PC).
So why not just use a 1GB SD card or CF card?
(via pdalive)
PDAgold found more info on the exact specifications of the hx2000 series of Pocket PCs from HP.
HP is copying Dell by offering 3 different versions of the hx2000: the low-end hx2110, the mid-range hx2410 and the high end hx2750.
The basic hx2110 features a 312MHz XScale processor, 64MB RAM and 64MB ROM (total 88MB user accessible), Bluetooth 1.1, SDIO and CompactFlash card slots and a 920mAh removable battery.
The hx2410 is the same as the hx2110 except for a faster 520MHz processor, Wi-Fi 802.11b, and larger 1440mAh battery.
The hx2750 adds a 620MHz processor, 128MB RAM and 128MB ROM (total 214MB user accessible), and a biometric fingerprint reader.
All 3 are 4.7" x 3.0" x 0.6" and weigh 5.8oz. All 3 are missing VGA resolution screens and consumer speed/range infrared, making these much more suited for the business user than the home user.
No word yet on pricing, and at TechXNY yesterday the HP staff wouldn't give any information out on the hx2000 series.
Belkin have announced that their "Pre-N Networking" products will be available from October 22nd.
It is based on the 802.11n Wi-Fi spec that allows for higher bandwidth longer range wireless that is still compatible with existing 802.11b and 802.11g. Belkin call it Pre-N as the 802.11n spec hasn't been approved yet.
I got to see the Belkin Pre-N 802.11n router at the TechXNY show in New York yesterday and the technology looks promising: in independent tests the Pre-N acheived more than 5 times the speed and 5 times the coverage area of 802.11g equipment.
Another feature of the Pre-N gear that I like is that if you have 802.11b or g equipment connecting to the Pre-N router your Pre-N cards still work at full speed. This is a great improvement over 802.11g which drops everyone to 802.11b speeds if a single 802.11b device connects.
Larger picture of the Belkin 802.11n Pre-N Router
The Belkin F5D8230-5 Pre-N Router will cost $180 and the Belkin F5D8010 Pre-N Network Card will cost $130.
Continue reading "Belkin 802.11n Wi-Fi at TechXNY"
Wednesday 6 October
Toshiba has added 2 17" widescreen laptops to their Qosmio range.
The new Toshiba Qosmio G10 laptops feature a dual-layer-compatible DVD Super-Multi drive, up to 160GB of storage (2 80gb 2.5" hard drives in one laptop), a 1440x900 17" Clear Super View LCD display, 1.6GHz Pentium-M processor, 512MB RAM (can be upgraded to 2GB), GeForce FX Go5700 video and realtime hardware-encoding TV tuner.
Battery life is low (2.4hrs) and the Toshiba Qosmio G10 isn't exactly what I would call small: 16.1" x 11.3" x 1.7", and almost 9lb.
The Toshiba Qosmio G10 laptops start at 300,000 Yen (about $2700).
(via techjapan)
Another new device found by the guys over at dapreview.
The Mpio HD300 is a 1.8" hard drive based MP3 player similar in size and shape to the regular ipod.
The Mpio HD300 supports MP3, WMA, and OGG, and its features include FM tuner, USB 2.0 connectivity, rechargeable li-polymer battery with a claimed battery life of 15 hrs, a vioce recorder, and a 160 x 128 pixel LCD screen.
Two versions of the Mpio HD300 will be available: 20gb and 40gb, and pricing is expected to be comparable to the ipod.
(via dapreview)
AV Watch went to the Ceatec show in Japan and sound a nice little 5GB MP3 player with an equally interesting looking pair of Bluetooth headphones.
The NHJ VHD-5500 is YAIMK (yet another ipod mini killer), with 5GB storage, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and support for MP3, WMA, and OGG.
NHJ is the same compay that offers a range of "femate oriented" digital cameras called Che-ez!
(via dapreview)
Imagine taking 7 Tivos and squishing them all together inside a box, what do you end up with?: The Sony Vaio Type X.
Yes they stole the name from Jaguar but this is the Ferrari of video recorders: 3.6GHz Pentium 4 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 1 TeraByte (1000 GB of storage, dual layer DVD writer, and 7 (yes 7) TV tuners. The tricky thing will be getting it to work with your cable or satellite service.
In addition it can be configured with 17" to 23" LCD screens and a HD digital tuner version will be available in December.
Expect a basic Type X to be around $4,000 and a fully tricked out one to be closer to $10k.
Tuesday 5 October
Casio has developed a 1.2" LCD screen with a fingerprint sensor layered into it.
The idea behind the concept is to built biometric security into cellphones without needing a seperate sensor.
Casio said it could also be used in PDAs (but that would require a larger, higher resolution LCD).
Sounds nice but what I don't get is: why would I want a PDA or cellphone whose LCD screen is always covered in greasy dirty fingerprints?
(more from PC World)
Hardextreme.org reviewed the Swiss Army Knife with a built in USB drive.
The fact that products like this are so easily available just adds to my dismay over the hype PalmOne were trying to give the USB drive function of the $400 Tungsten T5.
If you can buy a 512mb USB drive for $50 or a 1gb USB drive for $100, or you can buy a high quality swiss army knife with 128mb drive for $99, why would you buy a $400 Tungsten T5 with 140mb of storage?
Getting back on subject, hardexteme liked the knife. I think it would be good guy for anyone who usually carries a swiss army knife and needs some USB storage (i.e. your typical sysadmin guy).
Not the best bit of publicity for Apple:
Robert Morgan runs a site called barefeats where he regularly tests Apple hardware. Instead of getting the hardware from Apple (who mostly give it out to larger sites and magazines to review) he has, for years, been going to various Apple stores and testing hardware there.
After his latest review of the Apple iMac G5 showed it wasn't as fast as Apple claimed Apple HQ told his local store not to let hime test Apple hardware any more.
Apple are trying to play nice now by promising to send him a G5 to test at home.
iaudiophile.net posted some pics and specs of upcoming MP3 players from Cowon.
The Cowon iAudio M5 is a hard drive based MP3 player with limited video playback.
The Cowon iAudio M5 has a Color LCD, USB connectivity, picture viewer, FLAC, OGG, WMA, MP3, ASF, and WAV support, and will probably have a 20gb hard drive. There may also be a M5L model released with 40gb drive.
Weight and size of the Cowon iAudio M5 are said to be similar to the earlier M3 model which is 4.1" x 2.4" x 0.6" and 4.8oz.
Price of the M5 might be in the $300-$350 range and it will be available in December.
(via iaudiophile.net)
Anandtech has put together a good comparison of 3 recently released ultra compact cameras: the Canon PowerShot S410, the Casio Exilim Ex-Z40, and the Pentax Optio S40.
All 3 cameras are about the same ultra compact size (roughly 3" x 2" x 1"), cost around $300-$350, and offer 3x optical zoom and 4 megapixel output.
Which camera did Anandtech pick as the best ultra compact digital camera?, check their article to find out.....
(Update: We got to see the Sharp 65" LCD TV at CES, click here for photos)
They are too late for this year's baseball playoffs but for the ultimate viewing experience next year check out the new LCD TV from Sharp.
The Sharp Aquos 65 Inch LCD TV announced today by Sharp is by far the world's largest LCD TV. The massive 65 inch diagonal screen will be almost 57 inches wide and 32 inches high, and will display a massive 6.2 megapixels (1920 x 1080 pixels) resulting in a great high-definition TV experience.
Sharp doesn't say much else in their press release (japanese) excelpt that the Sharp Aquos 65 inch LCD TV would be available in 2005 if they decide to go ahead with production.
Sharp's 45 inch LCD TV currently goes for around $7000 and thier 37 inch can be bought for close to $3000, so I would expect a 65 inch LCD TV to be introduced at $10000 and would fall to $7000 within a few months.
If you can't afford the 65 inch (and who can?), one side effect of this announcement is that prices for smaller LCDs should go lower.
LCD TVs typically outperform Plasma in screen life, picture quality, and brightness, so if you are in the market for a new TV don't forget to consider them.
Personally I am looking to buy a 30 to 40 inch LCD TV in the next year, I'm just waiting for the right price.
Monday 4 October
Canon have released an update to the firmware on the EOS 20D digital camera that fixes the following:
1) Fix the problem of shutter release not working.
2) Improves reliability when using some CF cards.
PC Magazine have also released a review of the Canon EOS 20D.
Our Canon EOS 20D arrived last week and we had fun over the weekend playing with it: it's a great camera. We will have more of a review in the next couple of weeks.
Continue reading "Canon Eos 20D Review and Firmware Update"
Engadget got sent some pictures of the rumored HP iPAQ hx2000 series of Pocket PCs, and they aren't pretty.
These aren't VGA pocket PCs although there is a slight change HP may do a Dell and make the high end hx2700 VGA.
Word is there will be 3 models: the hx2100, the hx2400, and the hx2700.
The HP iPAQ hx2100 will have a 316MHz XScale processor, 2.5" display, 64MB RAM, 64MB ROM, CompactFlash, Secure Digital, and Bluetooth.
The HP iPAQ hx2700 will have a 624MHz XScale processor, 2.5" display, 128MB RAM, 64MB ROM, CompactFlash, Secure Digital, and 802.11b (instead of, or as well as bluetooth).
There are no specs on the hx2400 but we expect it to have a 520MHz processor, 128MB RAM, and no Wi-Fi.
No info on release date or price: our guess on prices would be $300, $400, and $500 for the 3 models.
Engadget has some more pics including a clip-on keyboard.
(via engadget)
As we predicted the PalmOne Tungsten T5 has been announced.
No big surprises, I feel completely underwhelmed by it's lack of buzz.
Features of the PalmOne Tungsten T5 are a large 256mb of non-volitile flash memory (split into 55mb program memory and 160MB user storage), 416MHz XScale processor, 320 x 480 QVGA display, SDIO/SD/MMC card slot, runs PaolmOS 5.4 (not PalmOS 6 as widely expected/anticipated).
The PalmOne Tungsten T5 is a relatively small 4.8" x 3.1" x 0.6" and it weighs 5.1oz.
The PalmOne Tungsten T5 will be available November 3rd and it will cost $399.
The most exciting thing PalmOne found to say about the T5 is that is doubles as a USB flash drive. Guess no-one told them that you can buy a 512mb flash drive for under $50 or a 1gb flash drive for under $100 these days.
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Print Version
palmOne Breaks New Ground with Industry's First 256MB Storage Handheld
New Tungsten T5 Handheld Keeps Data Protected without Recharging and Doubles as Portable USB Flash Drive
MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nearly doubling the industry's current handheld storage maximum, palmOne, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLMO) today introduced the Tungsten(TM) T5 handheld with 256MB of flash memory.(1) The Tungsten T5 gives productivity-minded mobile professionals the ability to carry more data and applications than ever before on a handheld, for an estimated U.S. street price of $399.
[NOTE: To view the Multimedia News Release, complete with video and images, go to http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/palmone/20397
The Tungsten T5 handheld's flash memory protects information even if the device loses its charge, and doubles as a portable flash memory drive.(2) With palmOne's highest-resolution 320x480 color screen, Bluetooth(R) wireless technology, and an all-new sleek and slim design, the Tungsten T5 rises above conventional handheld limitations, giving customers the folders and files they need whenever and wherever they need them.
"Today's mobile professionals need greater access to their information, regardless of the data's size," said Ken Wirt, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for palmOne. "The Tungsten T5 handheld gives these highly mobile workers more storage capacity than any other handheld device. It also doubles as a flash drive, allowing people to carry their work from the office to home and back, without carrying a laptop."
Flash memory, a form of electronic memory, is used for easy and safe information storage. Its low power consumption and light weight make flash memory ideal for mobile devices. In addition, flash memory holds information without a charge or power, just like a memory card saves pictures when not connected to a digital camera. The flash memory in the TungstenT5 handheld will maintain its data, even when the power is exhausted. Simply charge the handheld again and the data is there.
Monumental Storage That Saves Data Without Recharging
With 256MB of flash storage, the greatest amount of memory currently available on the handheld market, the Tungsten T5 handheld can store all of the following:
-- thousands of appointments and contacts;
-- hundreds of emails and documents;
-- hundreds of VGA photos;
-- two music CDs; and
-- several minutes of video.
With the ability to carry so many files, folders and documents anytime, anywhere, users can stay connected and get more done while at the office, at home or on the road.
Quick and Easy Access to Folders and Files
Users can drag and drop files and folders between the Tungsten T5 handheld and their desktop computers using palmOne's new File Transfer application, which is installed onto computers via Palm(TM) Desktop software. Simple and easy to use, a live desktop window gives users instant access to data and information stored in the handheld's internal drive. Users who have Palm Desktop installed at work and home can simply drag an important file to their internal drive, take their Tungsten T5 handheld home, plug it into their home computer's USB port and access the file. While on the go and away from a desktop, users can view their Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents on palmOne's highest-resolution color screen.
The Tungsten T5 also doubles as a flash drive, making data stored on the device easily accessible on the go. To access important information wherever it's necessary, the user simply selects Drive Mode on the handheld and plugs the HotSync(R) cable into another computer's USB port. The user then can open, copy, move, rename, delete and manage files and folders while using the Tungsten T5 handheld as a removable drive.
Strong support from DataViz(R) Documents To Go(R) 7.0 gives users the ability to create and edit Word and Excel compatible files and view and carry PowerPoint files with no desktop conversion required. Multimedia content, such as photos, music and videos(3), also can be stored in the Tungsten T5 handheld's ample internal memory. A new Favorites view provides easy access to the applications, files and folders most important to the user, while a new Files application allows for easy navigation among folders and files.
Innovative Design
Documents, PowerPoint presentations, photos and even videos can be viewed in landscape or portrait mode on the Tungsten T5 handheld's stunning 320x480 display. A robust Intel 416MHz XScale processor provides plenty of power, and the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology lets users sync with a laptop computer or connect to a Bluetooth compatible phone to browse the web and get email.(4) With its slim and sleek design, the Tungsten T5 fits easily into a loose pocket and features the Multi-connector, a new common connector for palmOne products.
New Accessories
Being introduced with the Tungsten T5 handheld is a host of new accessories, including the following (all prices are estimated U.S. street price):
-- Tungsten T5 Hard Case -- Based on the best-selling Tungsten E hard
case, this case provides strong protection in a sleek, brushed aluminum
design. $39.99
-- Tungsten T5 Leather Case -- This premium slim leather custom case
features luxurious suede interior and storage for credit and/or
business cards and expansion cards. $29.99
-- Tungsten T5 USB Cradle Base -- This new stylishly designed HotSync and
charging cradle works with inbox cables and charger and includes an
audio out for stereo or powered speakers. $29.99
-- Tungsten T5 Cradle Kit -- The complete cradle kit for home or office,
this product includes a Tungsten T5 cradle, a desktop USB HotSync cable
and AC charger. $49.99
-- Combo Stylus with Pen Multipack -- This combo pack includes three
convenient-to-carry pen and stylus combinations. $14.99
Price and Availability
palmOne's Tungsten T5 handheld has an estimated U.S. street price of $399 and will be widely available on Nov. 3 from the palmOne online store (http://store.palmOne.com) and select retail stores worldwide. The company also announced a $50 price reduction of the Tungsten T3 handheld -- now $349 (estimated U.S. street price).
Additional information about the new Tungsten T5 handheld can be found online at http://www.palmOne.com/tungsten-t5.
About palmOne, Inc.
palmOne, Inc. -- the leader in handheld computing and communications solutions -- strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company's products include Zire(TM) and Tungsten(TM) handhelds and Treo(TM) smartphones, software and accessories.
palmOne products are sold at The palmOne Store (http://store.palmOne.com/) and palmOne Retail Stores, and through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator partners throughout the world.
More information about palmOne, Inc. is available at http://www.palmOne.com.
(1) 215MB user available.
(2) Host computer must support standard USB removable drive and
appropriate application software (not included).
(3) Videos may require conversion via the desktop to be viewed on the
handheld.
(4) Wireless access requires a compatible Bluetooth phone and carrier
subscription, not included. An Internet service provider account, data
service and carrier subscription may be required for Internet and
email access. These services may need to be purchased separately.
Broadcast Video and Other palmOne Materials
Broadcast video and other materials are available online from palmOne's Multimedia Library (http://www.thenewsmarket.com/palmOne). Press can register at the site, which is hosted by The NewsMarket (thenewsmarket.com), a web- based news and video archive, to browse and preview an extensive content library and order footage directly from their desktops. Registration and ordering on the site is free.
palmOne, Zire, Tungsten, Treo, Palm and Palm OS are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to palmOne, Inc. or its subsidiaries. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by palmOne, Inc. is under license. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.
SOURCE palmOne, Inc.
Sunday 3 October
Update: Yep, it was a fake. Don't believe the information below.
Playstation Magazine in the UK claims the scoop on pricing for the Sony SPS Playstation Portable. May be fake but here's what they say:
Package 1: Playstation Portable, Rechargable Battery, Battery Charger, 32MB MemoryStick: $199.
Package 2: Playstation Portable, Rechargable Battery, Battery Charger, 64MB MemoryStick, Strap with Headphones, Camera: $299.
Package 3: Playstation Portable, Rechargable Battery, Battery Charger, 256MB MemoryStick, Strap with Headphones, Camera, Aluminium Case, GPS, Translation Software: $399.
(thanks Dave, John, and gizmodo)
msmobiles discovered a new Pocket PC Phone: The Dallab DP900.
If you haven't heard of Dallab before they are a Malaysian company that until now has produced only bluetooth equipped accessories.
The Dallab DP900 is a tri-band (GSM 900/1800/1900MHz) 300MHz intel xscale, Pocket PC running Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 Phone Edition.
Other features of the Dallab DP900 are 64MB RAM, 64MB ROM, 1100mAh removable battery (that can be switched without the phone losing its connection or power), 240x320 pixel 3" screen, SDIO/SD/MMC card slot, and a VGA digital camera that rotates up to 180 degrees.
The Dallab DP900 weighs 5oz, its dimensions aren't known but it look pretty compact considering its small 3" screen size.
No info yet on whether the Dallab DP900 will be offered by any US phone companies.
(via msmobiles)
Hitachi has announced a line of "pro freezers" that connect to your home network.
The Hitachi Pro Freezer can tell you the status of your freezer (meaning open or closed I guess), open/close count, electricity usage expense etc.
Sounds ok, but I really want a networked freezer that will tell me if my milk is bad or if my wife just drank the last soda.
No word yet on price or US availability.
There are rumors that the availability of the ipod and ipod mini will be low again closer to Christmas.
At the moment the availability of the iPod mini is the best it's been since it was released, so if you are looking to get the iPod mini as a gift for someone our advice is buy now.
Amazon.com currently has all 5 colors of iPod mini available in stock for $236 with free shipping.
Sharp has announced a 26" LCD TV and PC combo in Japan that is more PVR than PC.
The Sharp Mebius PC-TX26GS/TX26G has a 1366 x 768 pixel resolution 26" LCD TV (that needs a seperate tuner if you want to watch HD-TV), and a DVD recorder/PC with 250gb hard drive, celeron processor, and 512mb RAM.
The Sharp Mebius PC-TX26GS/TX26G will be available in Japan in December.
Sharp press release (japanese)
Samsung has updated their small flash-based Yepp YP-T5 MP3 player, calling it the Samsung Yepp YP-T6 (bet a lot of thought went into that).
Other features of the Samsung Yepp YP-T6 are MP3, OGG, WMA and ASF playback, 4 versions (128mb, 256mb, 512mb, and 1gb) and 5 colors (green, black, red, blue and silver), USB 2.0 connectivity, FM tuner, and voice recorder
The Samsung Yepp YP-T6 is just 2.1" x 0.9" x 0.9" and weighs just 1oz, it's not the smallest MP3 player but it's very close.
The Samsung Yepp YP-T6 will probably be available in the US soon and will cost around $250.
(via I4U)
The Tapwave Zodiac 2 games console has been reviewed by trustedreviews.
The Tapwave Zodiac 2 is an interesting use of the Palm OS: designed from the ground up as a game console not a PDA it features 128mb RAM, 200mhz ARM processor, bluetooth wireless, 2 sd card slots, and 3.8" 480x320 screen and costs $399.
There is also a Tapwave Zodiac 1 available with 32mb RAM for $299.
Trustedreviews thought it was ok but didn't like the small selection of games available for the Tapwave Zodiac 2.
A picture and some more information on the Archos Gmini XS200 mp3 player has shown up on the site of French retailer FNAC.
The Archos Gmini XS200 features a 20gb hard drive, small 128x128 pixel screen, USB 2.0 connectivity, supports MP3, WMA, and WAV files, and works with both windows and mac.
The Archos Gmini XS200 is 3.0" x 2.3" x 0.8" and weighs 4.6oz (smaller and lighter than the iPod 20gb, but a little thicker).
Pricing is Europe is expected to be 299 euros, and the US price will likely be $299.
(via dapreview)
It seems that most new digital cameras released today are at least 4 megapixels in resolution.
Epson's new entry level digital camera, the Epson L500V, offers that and more.
The Epson L500V features a 5 megapixel sensor, 640x480 video, 3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom, 2.5" (comparitively large) LCD screen, 32mb internal memory, and SD/MMC memory card slot.
The Epson L500V is 3.6" x 2.5" x 1.2" and weighs 5.8oz.
No price or release date yet. My guess for the price of the Epson L500V would be around $400-$450.
(via dpreview)
Friday 1 October
No photos yet, but according to News.com the palmOne Tungsten T5 will be launched Monday, making it the first handheld in a long time to make it to release without a photo leaking: I guess it helps that it the only recent handheld release without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity (so no FCC docs to help us out).
According to News.com the palmOne Tungsten T5 will have non-volitile memory so data isn't lost when you forget to recharge it, will have a "high-end" Intel Xscale processor, 256mb of memory, and a Secure Digital card slot.
Price is expected to be around $400.
Is it just me, or is the most uninspiring handheld in a long time, no wonder Palm is leaking market share out the wazoo.
We have just launched a new sister site to ShinyPlastic, and it's called VGAPocketPC.com.
With 6 VGA resolution Pocket PCs either launched or coming in the next 3 months, and with lots of new details on the Dell Axim X50 showing up every day, we thought it was time for a web site that focuses solely on the VGA resolution pocket pcs.
Highlights of the new site include links to lots of reviews, a detailed profile of each VGA Pocket PC, and a great comparison of all 6 VGA Pocket PCs.
Want to know which VGA Pocket PC is built like a brick?, which one syncs via the faster USB 2.0 instead of the usual USB 1.1?, which one doesn't have 802.11b Wi-Fi?, and which one has the 4mbps IrDA 1.3 infrared compared to the almost 40 times slower IrDA 1.2 of other pocket pcs?..... then read the comparison and check out the rest of VGAPocketPC.com to find out.
On September 30th we held a drawing of all newsletter subscribers and gave away 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
We will be holding another drawing on October 31st for the following prizes:
A 1GB Google Gmail Account (another 6 subscribers will win an account)
A 512MB CompactFlash Card
A Dell Axim X30 Metal Case
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 5% chance to win a prize.
More information and privacy policy
