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October 22, 2005
iPod Nano
Take everything you love about iPod and shrink it. Now shrink it again. With 2GB (500 songs) and 4GB (1,000 songs) models starting at $199, the pencil-thin iPod nano packs the entire iPod experience into an impossibly small design. So small, it will take your music places you never dreamed of.
Call it astonishing. Unbelievable. Impossible, even. Then pick it up and hold it in your hand. Take in the brilliant color display. Run your thumb around the Click Wheel. Put on the earbuds and turn up your music. That’s when everything becomes clear: It’s an iPod.
It holds up to three days’ worth of music. It plays for up to 14 hours between battery charges. It displays the color album art for the song you’re listening to right now. It carries your photos, podcasts and audiobooks. It syncs seamlessly with iTunes. It connects to a host of iPod accessories. Simply put, iPod nano is 100-percent iPod. And then some.
Touch and Go
iPod nano’s Click Wheel puts music under your thumb. Click to fast-forward, rewind, play, pause or access menus. Use the touch-sensitive surface to control volume or browse music. You can do it all without looking. But with an iPod this beautiful, who’d want to?
Song Stylings
Add accessories to your iPod nano via the Dock connector and headphone jack and your music will always keep up with you — at home, on the go, even in your car. Of course, in either signature white or sleek black, iPod nano itself makes the ultimate accessory.
Up to 4GB of skip-free storage on a featherweight iPod means you can wear almost three days’ worth of music around your neck. Or jog with 1,000 songs on your arm. Now that you can take your music everywhere, there’s no limit to where it will take you.
Posted by gizmoFan at 9:26 PM
iMAC G5
What if you could command an entire world of music, photos, movies and DVDs — all from your sofa? Now you can share the good life with friends and family on a 17- or 20-inch new iMac G5 featuring Front Row software and Apple Remote. Slimmer than ever, the gravity-defying enclosure also houses built-in iSight, SuperDrive, wireless and the easy-to-use software that brings it all together. Modern living starts at only $1299. (Mighty Mouse NOT sold separately.)
You’ve got the best seat in the house. The full-screen Front Row media experience — with its intuitive menus, large text and brilliant graphics — lets you browse the music, photos and videos on your iMac as easily as you browse music on your iPod. And the new Apple Remote lets you do your browsing from anywhere in the room. So gather your friends and dazzle them with a slideshow of your vacation pics, a home movie or a DVD. iMac G5 was born to entertain.
Posted by gizmoFan at 9:09 PM
HP iPAQ rx3715 Mobile Media
If you're a musician, photographer, or storyteller—as well as a person frequently on the go—the powerful HP iPAQ rx3715 Mobile Media Companion is your dream tool. Start enjoying music, photos, and video wherever you roam, whether into the backyard or across the continent.
This small electronic gizmo will help you our with you daily stuff, and will add some fun to you day. Price: $499.99.
• Ensure that your system runs smoothly with Windows Mobile 2003 (Second Edition) for Pocket PC-Professional Edition
• Never miss a memory: Capture and share your best moments in sharp, 4 x 6" snapshots that are ready to print wirelessly using the integrated HP Photosmart camera and HP Instant Share
• Organize, edit, share and wirelessly print photos and video clips with HP Image Zone, HP Instant Share and HP Mobile Printing
• Enjoy music and video in MP3, MotionJPEG, MPEG1, H.263, MPEG4, WMA, or WMV formats, transferred from your PC
• Store music, photos, and video on memory cards (sold separately)
• Listen privately in stereo via headphones
• Stream content over your Wi-Fi home network and view on your iPAQ while moving around the house
• Present content on your PC, TV, and stereo by teaming your iPAQ and Wi-Fi home network
• Challenge yourself to Pocket PC games, including Solitaire and Jawbreaker
Posted by gizmoFan at 8:45 PM
HP iPAQ rx3715 Mobile Media
If you're a musician, photographer, or storyteller—as well as a person frequently on the go—the powerful HP iPAQ rx3715 Mobile Media Companion is your dream tool. Start enjoying music, photos, and video wherever you roam, whether into the backyard or across the continent.
This small electronic gizmo will help you our with you daily stuff, and will add some fun to you day. Price: $499.99.
• Ensure that your system runs smoothly with Windows Mobile 2003 (Second Edition) for Pocket PC-Professional Edition
• Never miss a memory: Capture and share your best moments in sharp, 4 x 6" snapshots that are ready to print wirelessly using the integrated HP Photosmart camera and HP Instant Share
• Organize, edit, share and wirelessly print photos and video clips with HP Image Zone, HP Instant Share and HP Mobile Printing
• Enjoy music and video in MP3, MotionJPEG, MPEG1, H.263, MPEG4, WMA, or WMV formats, transferred from your PC
• Store music, photos, and video on memory cards (sold separately)
• Listen privately in stereo via headphones
• Stream content over your Wi-Fi home network and view on your iPAQ while moving around the house
• Present content on your PC, TV, and stereo by teaming your iPAQ and Wi-Fi home network
• Challenge yourself to Pocket PC games, including Solitaire and Jawbreaker
Posted by gizmoFan at 8:45 PM
HP Photosmart R607 Digital Camera
What fits in one hand and boasts 4.1 megapixel resolution for enlargements to 11 x 17", plus HP's exclusive Real Life technologies? Answer: The small-but-mighty HP Photosmart R607! Photosmart R-series Camera Dock with extra battery included—you don't have to plug in cables to download photos or charge the batteries. You can get this camera for just over $300.00, so if you still want a good picture but do not want to spend a lot, this is another option.
• Get outstanding close-ups and shots at a distance with the 21x total zoom (3x optical Pentax,7x digital) and eight shooting modes, plus automatic or manual focus
• Hold steady for quick shots with the compact design with durable metal front and comfortable, sculpted grip
• Automatically brighten darker areas of photos with HP's adaptive lighting technology
• Eliminate red-eye right in the camera
• Capture scenes and vistas with the panorama preview
• Take better photos with HP Image Advice: After snapping a shot,the camera suggests how to improve next time
• Send photos to e-mail addresses and on-line albums via HP Instant Share when you dock the camera
• Charge two batteries at once—one in the camera,one in the dock's spare bay
• Add creative touches to photos by adjusting resolution, compression, sharpness, saturation, and contrast on the camera
• Crop, rotate, and enhance photos, plus organize, create album pages, and make photo CDs with HP Image Zone
• Capture action in MPEG movie clips with sound or a series of still photos using burst mode
• Save photos and videos using the 32MB internal storage or SD or MMC cards
• Print without a PC to select HP printers with the included cable (supports PictBridge formats)
• View photos and video on your TV with the dock
Posted by gizmoFan at 8:39 PM
HP Photosmart R707 Digital Camera
Present subjects in their best light, snap great photos, and distribute to family and friends with HP's revolutionary new Real Life technologies. With 5.1 megapixel resolution, the Photosmart R707 takes sharp shots that can be enlarged to poster size. It also captures far-away subjects with its 24x total zoom (3x optical, 8x digital). Choose from 10 shooting modes, bring out detail in shadowed faces and backgrounds, and even get pointers from the camera on how to take better photos. Photosmart R-series camera dock with extra battery included—no plugging in cables to download!
• Preserve detail normally lost in shadows with HP's adaptive lighting technology (part of HP Real Life technologies)
• Remove red-eye results while photos are in the camera without extra flashes or software touch-ups
• Be a better photographer with HP's Image Advice technology: After taking a photo,the camera analyzes the settings and suggests how to improve next time
• Take the guesswork out of lining up panoramas: this camera overlays up to five shots in a continuous, previewable image
• Never miss a moment: Catch everything on video, complete with sound, using the video-clip feature
• Get images to friends and family fast via e-mail with HP Instant Share
• Crop and enhance photos and video with HP Image Zone
• Print directly (without a PC) by connecting the camera to an HP Photosmart printer or select HP all-in-one
• Shoot in comfort with the easy-to-hold camera and ergonomic grip
• Transfer, print, and distribute photos and video by using the dock to connect the camera to your PC; attach the dock to your TV and use the included remote control
Posted by gizmoFan at 6:06 PM
HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera
Looking for the perfect camera that takes out-of-this-world photos? It's easy with the R717. It features Real Life technologies,which let you bring out details in shadows, remove red-eye (right in the camera), and preview panorama shots.
Choose from 12 shooting modes. Use automatic mode for no-brainer shots; switch to manual to add a personal touch. Make video clips. Then connect the included R-series camera dock and enjoy one-touch connections to your printer, TV, and PC or Mac.
Take superior photos with the 6.2 megapixel resolution
• Get crisp shots from afar with the 24x total zoom (HP Precision 3x optical,8x digital)
• Remove red eye right in the camera
• Take it places: It's easy with the pocket-sized body and durable, stainless-steel front
• Bring out details that normally get lost in shadows with HP's adaptive lighting technology
• Get sharp focus automatically with the multizone settings
• Customize your settings and save as your unique mode for quick access
• Snap whole panoramas: take up to five photos and preview the composite image on the display
• Specify where to send photos as you take them—then e-mail without burdensome attachments using HP Instant Share
• Easily frame and view photos and see menus on the bright,1.8" display
• Pick your battery type: HP Lithium-Ion rechargeable (included) or Duracell CP1 one-time use
• Edit and organize your picture collection with the included HP Image Zone software
• Get brilliant images and poster-size enlargements by printing directly to a PictBridge-compatible printer (no PC required) or to any Photosmart printer via an SD/MMC card (sold separately)
• Discover the secrets of taking better photos with tips on focus,flash, and more from HP Image Advice
• Transfer, print, and e-mail photos and videos without plugging in cables, plus recharge the camera's battery and a spare, using the R-series dock; attach the dock to your TV and use the remote control to view photos
Posted by gizmoFan at 4:43 PM
October 21, 2005
Sony Cyber-Shot Station CSS-PHB
The Sony CSS-PHB Cyber-shot® Station makes transferring images from your compatible digital camera easier than ever before. Simply place your camera in the base and it instantly starts charging while providing a quick connection to your personal computer and television.
The CSS-PHB includes a USB cable for computer transfers and an audio/video cable so you can view your pictures and videos on your television. It also includes a wireless Remote Commander for easy control of your digital camera anywhere in the room.
• Includes everything you need to easily transfer images and video to your computer
• Allows an easy connection to your television for onscreen images and video
• Charges your camera while transferring information
• Includes wireless remote control
• Features a convenient plug-and-play USB interface1
• Incredibly simple to set-up and use
Posted by gizmoFan at 1:00 AM
Sony Handycam HDR-HC1
Sony introduces the world's smallest and lightest* high definition consumer camcorder with full HD resolution based on HDV 1080i, the Sony Handycam® HDR-HC1. The ultra-compact HDR-HC1 Handycam® camcorder fits comfortably in your hand, while delivering high-definition picture quality and lighting detail on both video and digital still images.
The HDR-HC1 features Sony's CMOS imaging sensor technology, designed to deliver faster image processing speeds for richer colors, more vivid detail, and significantly less glare from reflected light. The Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens further enhances image clarity and richness, even when shooting in low light.
The HDR-HC1 also features a 2.7-inch wide hybrid, touch-panel LCD screen1 to access menu options. You can switch between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios (in DV mode) to see exactly how your content will be viewed on television. Other convenient features include fully automatic controls, a built-in microphone for audio quality, an intelligent pop-up flash, and Super SteadyShot® image stabilization. You can even record your own high defnition video in complete darkness with Sony's Super NightShot® Infrared System, which adds the greatest amount of range and detail to your images in low- to no-light conditions.
Posted by gizmoFan at 12:56 AM
Sony Cybershot DSC-P200
The Sony DSC-P200 Cyber-shot® digital camera gives you professional quality features in a compact, point-and-shoot design. With a 7.2 Megapixel Super HAD™ CCD with exclusive Sony technology for superb resolution, sensitivity and clarity, you’ll get digital photos that are rich with detail. The Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® 3X optical zoom lens combines exceptional picture quality and ultra-sleek design.
Other stand-out features include a large 2-inch LCD monitor1 with 134K pixels that makes it incredibly easy to frame shots and review pictures. Sony's own Real Imaging Processor™ LSI provides fast startup, fast shot-to-shot times and extended battery stamina for extended use. It is even compatible with the Cyber-shot® Station docking bay (sold separately) for easy picture transfers while you charge your camera’s battery.
Get this gizmo for just $369.95 (recommended, have 1 for work)
Posted by gizmoFan at 12:52 AM
Sony Cybershot DSC-T7
Get incredible performance in an incredibly thin design with the Cyber-shot® DSC-T7 digital camera from Sony.
Up to 5.1 Megapixel image capture
Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® lens with 3X optical zoom
2.5" hybrid LCD monitor1
Features Real Imaging Processor® technology for extraordinary responsiveness
The world's most compact zoom camera for just $449.95.
Presenting Sony´s thinnest Cyber-shot® digital camera yet, the DSC-T7. It features 5.1 Megapixel image capture, a Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® lens with 3X optical zoom and 5 area multi-point auto focus, all in a camera body only 5/8 of an inch thick. It includes a full-sized 2.5" hybrid LCD monitor1 with a Clear Photo technology for improved viewing in bright sunlight.
The T7’s ultra-compact design doesn’t compromise its performance thanks to Sony’s Real Imaging Processor™ technology, 14-Bit DXP A/D conversion processor, and multi-pattern measuring. All three combine to provides fast start-up times, fast shutter speeds, and accurate exposures for photographs that are consistently entraordinary.
This will be the perfect gizmo for ladies to carry around in their bags, or for men that can have them in the pocket.
Posted by gizmoFan at 12:46 AM
40" BRAVIA™ XBR® LCD Flat Panel HDTVKDL-V40XBR1
Packed with the latest technology, Sony’s 40" KDL-V40XBR1 BRAVIA™ XBR® LCD Flat Panel HDTV features the WEGA Engine™ system, which delivers superb picture quality from any video source minimizing signal deterioration. Other features such as WEGA GATE™ guide allow the user to easily navigate television functions: favorite channels, television channel lists and external input list of settings. The exciting PC Input function allows the user to connect a PC to the KDL-V40XBR1 for viewing PC activity in a 16:9 HD Resolution environment. And with Integrated HDTV capabilities, the user can enjoy digital programming with enhanced audio and video reproduction. Watch your living room come to life with Sony’s 40" KDL-V40XBR1 BRAVIA™ XBR® LCD Flat Panel HDTV.
You can enjoy your favorites programs just for $3,499.99, so start saving.
Posted by gizmoFan at 12:35 AM
October 19, 2005
Adidas_1, The World's First Intelligent Shoe
Adidas has launched the intelligent shoe it unveiled last year. Known as adidas_1, the shoe provides "intelligent cushioning" by automatically and continuously adjusting itself. It does so by sensing the cushioning level, using sensors. It then calculates whether the cushioning level is too soft or too firm via a microprocessor and adapts with a motor-driven cable system to provide the correct cushioning for the specific purpose at that time. A prime example of the convergence process in which computers are embedded in everyday objects to enable them to play their role more effectively, the adidas shoe is one of a number of intelligent clothing items arriving at market this year. Available now, adidas_1 costs US$250 or 250 Euros.
The shoe will be launched on television in the United States with a new television ad called "Hello Tomorrow". The commercial was directed by Spike Jonze and the music composed by Squeak E. Clean featuring Karen O of the "Yeah Yeah Yeahs". The commercial opens on the face of a young man waking up. He is surrounded by darkness, as if the world has been erased. As he sits up, a pair of adidas_1 shoes roll onto the screen and onto his feet. As they magically tie themselves, the lights of the adidas_1 interface come alive, signaling that the shoe is now on.
As he takes his first tentative step forward, a portion of the floor appears; he takes another step and more floor appears. As he continues walking, he creates the world around him. A door appears. The view moves outside the room, and the screen shows only the doorway floating in darkness. Back to the young man, he smiles, steps back in the room and decides to go for it. He runs full speed and leaps into the blackness.
As he lands, a new world is created with every step. He runs through different landscapes from city streets to forests to familiar sidewalks. As he runs, it is his steps that are creating new scenes. He even lies down on the sidewalk and puts his feet in the air, and a new world appears above him. The commercial ends with the young man back in bed and a product shot of the adidas_1, followed by the text, "The World's First Intelligent Shoe". The ad signs off with "Impossible is Nothing".
"adidas_1 is the proof of our brand attitude, Impossible is Nothing," said Uli Becker, Head of Global Communications for adidas. "Since this intelligent technology is a revolution to the footwear industry, we wanted to create a campaign that is equally unique and unexpected. Just like the ad illustrates, with the adidas_1 you experience a new world."
"Our challenge in creating 'Hello Tomorrow' was to showcase the adidas_1 shoe while capturing the idea that every step taken would be different," said Chuck McBride, Creative Director North America, TBWA\Chiat\Day.
The campaign will be supported by outdoor, point of sale, public relations and Internet. The Web site features a new technology wherein the onscreen landscapes actually move and change as the user moves the cursor, meaning each site visitor has a unique experience. It can be accessed at the shoe's launch web site.
In development since 2001, the adidas_1 senses the cushioning level on every step, understands whether the cushioning provided is too soft or too firm, then adapts itself to provide the right level of cushioning.
The shoe is one of the the most advanced ever made. Its sensor works by measuring the distance to a small magnet at the bottom of the shoe, takes 1,000 readings a second, and is accurate to a tenth of a millimeter. It understands via a small microprocessor capable of making five million calculations per second. And it adapts with a motor-driven cable system that spins at 6,000 rpm, faster than the blades of a helicopter.
Posted by gizmoFan at 10:21 PM | Comments (1)
Personal Optical Mobile Assistant by Microvision
As computers shrink, many professionals will wear an interface to critical information. The trend toward miniaturisation in computers is continuing. The desktop became the laptop then the palmtop and soon, computers will disappear into a pocket, a piece of jewellery or a clothing label. Once the computer disappears from view, the next challenge will be accessing the information contained within, and the current odds-on favourite for these duties is the head-up or head-mounted display. The World leader in head-up displays - Microvision - already has units used in a range of applications, but the market was given a boost in January when Xybernaut unveiled the world's first commercially-available wearable computer, a product it describes as "a personal optical mobile assistant." The POMA delivers instant access to email, the internet ... your entire PC.
What separates the poma from those which have come before it is the VGA Liquid Crystal Head Mount Display, which enables the wearer to go about everyday business whilst being able to view the computer via an image superimposed over one eye. The concept is not a new one - fighter pilots have been using them for decades, surgeons have been using them over recent years and car makers have been experimenting too - all for situations where extra visual information is necessary but primary vision is critical and cannot be obscured. Using the poma is accomplished via an Optical Pointing Device, so it's mainly an information-retrieval system while you're on the go, though a wrist-worn keyboard is listed as an option. There will be a number of accessories available, including a metal carrying case, rechargeable battery packs, a carrying pouch and a 1GB external microdrive. The poma will go on sale for US$1,499 direct from www.xybernaut.com. All before your eyes, Surgeons in the United States have been using head-mounted displays during operations to monitor a range of vital information sources. Wearable computers are definitely going to play a role in our future and they won't be a fad, and they won't be one of those buzzwords which readily disappears - at least not until they have become ubiquitous.
Posted by gizmoFan at 10:13 PM
Mitsubishi Launches SCOPO
Now Mitsubishi will start making the gadget that will fight for the costumers of the already used Apple´s iPod MP3 Player. They present this wearable display that will allow the user to visually interface with the omnipresent digital world whilst navigating their physical environment. It's no exaggeration to say that the SCOPO could very well be to the eye what the I-Pod was to the ear. So now you can SEE your videos insted of just hearing them.
The SCOPO, however, doesn't obstruct your field of vision like some prototype displays. Instead it uses a small LCD screen that hangs over your eye and fills your vision, providing the illusion of a ten inch screen from a miniature surface. The headset has optional headphones and a small belt carried unit that contains the silicon that creates the images on the screen.
When plugged into a cell phone, PDA or laptop with video functionality, you can stream directly to your field of vision or vice versa, recording footage on the fly. The SCOPO belt unit does not contain a hard drive for storing video or computing itself.
The SCOPO is expected to cost only US $400 and the initial takeup is expected to focus on industrial and telecommunications companies, as well as the personal user.
As a portable and affordable digital interface for your existing PDA or mobile computer, the SCOPO promises real time data feeds and information that can enhance your life whilst on the move.
That gives you access to the full gamut of online resources, whether GPS navigational maps, yellow and white pages data, restaurant reviews and entertainment listings, or any text, voice and image manipulation.
It also facilitates immediacy in that you can access your software and data as you think about it, without having to reach for your device. In fact, the easy access headset design allows the SCOPO to be worn as a full time interface without interfering with your daily activities.
With an industry leader like Mitsubushi releasing a cheap and practical wearable display, substantial market penetration should follow as well as new cultural trends. The street finds it's own uses for things, and with the interaction of wearable displays with wireless internet and other emergent technologies, the digital and biological worlds are truly beginning to merge.
Posted by gizmoFan at 9:52 PM
The ‘FAT CONTROLLER’ Snow Glove for Apple´s iPod MP3 Players
O’Neill Europe recently announced the latest addition to the H.2 Series range of wearable electronics with the arrival of the ‘Fat Controller’, a snow glove that incorporates a wireless remote control for Apple’s iPod MP3 players. A limited number of the new gloves will be distributed throughout Europe this coming winter at a retail price of €139. The ‘Fat Controller’ uses radio frequencies to relay instructions to a module installed on top of the iPod. Tune selection is managed from a small, thumb-controlled joystick woven in to the top of the right-hand glove that mirrors the behavior of the iPod’s scroll wheel. By nudging the joystick to different points of the compass the wearer can play/pause, adjust volume and skip tracks without having to remove the iPod from the inner sanctums of a snowboard jacket.
The glove itself is constructed from a combination of Oxford and stretch nylon and leather. On the interior, soft and comfortable insulation is delivered courtesy of PrimaLoft while the Dryhand lining lives up to its name. The result is a seriously technical snow glove with a water resistance and breathablity rating topping 3000/3000 m2/24hrs
The ‘Fat Controller’ is the latest in a line of the O’Neill H.2 Series wearable electronic snow range for Fall/ Winter 2005/06. Other items in the range include: the world’s first Integrated Solar Backpack with communication and entertainment functionalities, an Entertainment Backpack and the second-generation Communication & Entertainment Jacket (formerly known as the HUB). All products in the O’Neill H2 series have been developed for use in conjunction with Apple’s iPod MP3 player.
Posted by gizmoFan at 9:40 PM
October 18, 2005
Samsung SPH-V7900
The Future is here where your mobile phone will have a memory capacity greater than the first PC´s. Samsung has just introduced a 3GB HDD embedded phone (model SPH-V7900) onto the Korean market. This is Samsung's latest model equipped with a hard disc drive and gazzumps its own record of having the world's first mobile phone equipped with 1.5GB hard disc drive (model SPH-V5400), which it introduced into its home market of Korea in September of last year. Makes you feel like moving to Korea with all that mobile activity going on – but still, we have to wait a little to have this cute gizmos working over here.
The V7900 allows users to store two or three full-length movies (at 1.1-5GB each) or more than 700 music files (at 4MB each).
The V7900 also supports the latest multimedia compression technologies -MPEG-4/H.264 (for video) and MPEG-4 AAC/AAC+ (for audio). High-performance dual speakers are mounted on the exterior folder to provide 64-polyphonic stereo sound.
This model comes with harmonic color, a new feature that converts all musical elements such as scale, octave, tone and volume into visual images in a variety of colors and patterns.
It also comes with a 2 megapixel camera that includes 2x optical zoom, MP3 player, and document viewer functions.
"The major increase in memory will position the mobile phone as a key multimedia product that enables users to watch movies and listen to music. We will continue to apply the latest technologies and innovative designs to remain at the forefront of the global market for premium mobile phones," said Kitae Lee, President of the Samsung Electronics Telecommunication Network Business.
The phone is available in Korea at around US$700. Nothing comes cheap.
Posted by gizmoFan at 1:13 AM
Olympus Voice-Trek V-40 & V-50
Olympus is to release a pair of handheld voice recorders later this month that are likely to become hot property for journalists, in legal offices and in other professional roles where voice recording and transcription are the primary focus. The great thing about the new Voice-Treks is that the unit clips apart exposing a USB connection that is supported under the USB Storage class so transferring files doesn’t require drivers for Mac or Windows. Both can play WMA and MP3 files and the larger unit will record 36 hours at the highest quality setting, making it an ideal voice recording tool – one AAA battery offers 11 hours of recording.
Posted by gizmoFan at 1:02 AM
Nokia ESeries E60, E61 & E70
As wireless always-on technology invades the business world, the race is definitely on to grab the first round of market share beyond the early-adopters and Nokia strengthened its hand with the addition of three new models to its portfolio of business-optimized devices this week. The Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia E70 - the first of the new Nokia Eseries - are distinctively different in design and allow businesses of all sizes to mobilize their workforce. Nokia Eseries models combine attractive and easy-to-use designs that appeal to individual business users with new underlying technologies that allow IT departments to effectively manage security settings, corporate applications and data. Each of the devices is designed to accommodate must-have mobile applications needed in today's business world like mobile email and advanced voice calling functions. The E60, E61 and E70 will be available in the first quarter of 2006 worldwide.
Posted by gizmoFan at 12:51 AM
October 16, 2005
Creative Zen Vision
Creative's first portable media player was a solid maiden-voyage effort, but the company's next iteration, the Creative Zen Vision, is already attracting plenty of attention. We got our hands on an early production unit to see what the buzz is about, and our first impression is that there's quite a bit to like.
While it's not the ultimate media player (for lack of line-in recording), we expect the Zen Vision to be quite popular for its size, ease of use, and gorgeous screen.
Excellent screen. Clear audio. Easy to navigate. Remote works without the cradle. User-replaceable battery.
The sleek, white magnesium case is 4.9 by 2.9 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and weighs 8.2 ounces—smaller than its predecessor, but significantly bigger than the Archos Gmini 402. It houses a 30GB hard drive and a big, beautiful 3.7-inch, 640- by 480-pixel screen (compared with the Gmini 402's 2.2-inch, 320- by 240-pixel screen) that produces 262,144 colors. The transflective LCD smudges easily, but it is extremely sharp, has a fairly wide viewing angle, and is visible even in direct sunlight.
The Zen Vision works with an optional docking cradle and a remote. The cradle is actually superfluous, since the remote works directly with the player itself. The remote, which is only 4 inches long and half an inch thick, breaks out all of the controls that are on the player, so it's a very convenient way to adjust the settings when the player's hooked up to your living-room television display.
The menus still aren't final but very readable, well organized, and easy to navigate. You can be able to browse tracks—and artists, albums, and just about anything else—by letter. A handy built-in organizer syncs with Microsoft Outlook tasks, calendar, and contacts.
Video file support includes AVI, M-JPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4-SP, and WMV, and the Zen Vision is compatible with TiVoToGo for viewing TiVo-recorded video.
Photos look beautiful, and you can play individual photos or slide shows while listening to music. To create slide shows, you have to use Creative's Media Explorer on your PC. The device supports images in JPEG (progressive and baseline) formats up to 8 megapixels. And you can transfer them right from your camera via the CompactFlash (Type I and Type II) card slot, or you can purchase Creative's optional card adapter, which supports 17 other card formats.
The Zen Vision plays MP3, WAV, and WMA (though no lossless WMA) files and is PlaysForSure-compatible. It also works with WMA-based online subscription and download services. You can create playlists on the fly, and a DJ feature creates automatic playlists like Most Popular and Rarely Heard. You can also set bookmarks to return you to specific points in audio (and video) files.
Subjective audio quality is very good, with solid bass and crisp highs. The headphone output has sufficient headroom for listening in noisy environments, but the tiny built-in speaker could use a little more oomph, though we realize this will rarely be a problem for most users. Equalizer settings include eight presets as well as custom 5-band EQ sliders and a bass booster.
The FM tuner has a tough time picking up weaker stations, but you get cell phone–style bars to indicate radio reception, which is pretty cool. You can program up to 32 presets. The device can also record off the radio, and do voice recording via the built-in mic. Recording quality is fairly good, and you can split tracks while you're recording.
Other details include a high-speed USB 2.0 port, a removable lithium ion battery (which provides 13 hours of audio and 4.5 hours of video per charge, according to the specs), and an included wall charger (though the player also charges via USB).
The overall impression of the Zen Vision is that it will do quite well, though if you want to record video or audio from a line-in source you'll need something more along the lines of the Archos PMA400. The fairly compact Zen Vision is easy to use, and the screen is big and good-looking enough for watching full-length movies comfortably. As with most Creative products, the audio quality is very good, though we don't see the Zen Vision as a replacement for a dedicated music player. It will be available in pearl white or black, and the Creative site is taking preorders now for $399.
Posted by gizmoFan at 11:11 AM
HP Pavilion dv8000
The thinner and lighter HP Pavilion dv8000 ($1,579 as tested) is not as powerful as its predecessor, the Pavilion zd8000, but it serves as a nice desktop replacement notebook for moderate workloads. It uses the AMD Turion 64 ML-40 (2.2 GHz), and has dual 100GB hard drives (200GB total) and a gorgeous 17-inch widescreen. Although Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition is not currently available on this model, when it is, this will make a great Media Center system.
The thinner and lighter HP Pavilion dv8000 ($1,579 as tested) is not as powerful as its predecessor, the Pavilion zd8000, but it serves as a nice desktop replacement notebook for moderate workloads. It uses the AMD Turion 64 ML-40 (2.2 GHz), and has dual 100GB hard drives (200GB total) and a gorgeous 17-inch widescreen. Although Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition is not currently available on this model, when it is, this will make a great Media Center system.
The dv8000 is the high-end, deluxe laptop in HP's Pavilion line. The system has slimmed down to 8.2 pounds, well below the 9.5-pound zd8000. And it ships with one of the smallest AC adapters we've seen for a 17-inch notebook, adding a mere 0.8 lbs to the system's carrying weight. The 17-inch widescreen has HP's BrightView screen, which is ideal for all of your multimedia tasks. The movie-watching experience is not as awesome as the Toshiba Qosmio G25-AV513's, but it comes very close.
The added width needed to accommodate the large display enabled HP to add a number pad next to the keyboard. Like its smaller dv sibling, the HP Pavilion dv4000, the dv8000 is configured with QuickPlay, which provides quick access to DVDs and music files in a preboot environment. With the press of the DVD or Music multimedia key (located above the keyboard), you can access your DVD drive or even the "My Documents" folder in your hard drive in seconds. You can also add a remote control that fits snugly in your PC Card slot for an extra $14.
To our surprise, the dv8000 came with a Turion 64 ML-40 processor instead of the Pentium M processor found on the dv4000. In PC Magazine Labs testing, the 2.2-GHz Turion delivered very good SYSmark 2004 SE performance, but the dv8000 still fell behind systems such as the HP Pavilion dv4000, which uses the Pentium M. The dv8000 doesn't offer a robust graphics solution. The basic ATI Mobility Radeon Express 200M with 128MB of discrete memory won't get you very far if you're a hard-core gamer, but is sufficient for video and all other 2D applications. For a serious gaming system, check out the Toshiba Qosmio G25-AV513. Based on our MobileMark 2005 tests, the dv8000's battery life is a very acceptable 3 hours 19 minutes.
Performance may not be commanding, but the features are. In addition to the four USB ports and one FireWire port, you get a 6-in-1 card reader that covers most major flash formats. The dual 100GB hard drives (200GB total) are cavernous—and the highest amount of storage we've seen in a notebook, along with the Fujitsu LifeBook N6210. Again, this is another feature which will really shine when the laptop has MCE installed and a TV tuner. The system comes with a DVD+R dual-layer drive with LightScribe functionality, and the Altec Lansing speakers keep you rocking all day.
The value rating is very good for a notebook with a 17-inch widescreen, 1GB of RAM, and dual 100GB hard drives. It's half the price of the Qosmio G25, but you don't even come close to getting all the cool A/V features found on that system. A weaker graphics solution, the lack of MCE and a TV tuner, and the less expensive Turion processor help keep the price down. Music and Photo ratings were excellent thanks to the dual hard drives and 6-in-1 card reader. The 60-day Norton Antivirus trials and 30-day Intermute SpySubstract software are good, but not enough to secure your PC completely.
By using the Turion processor, HP was able to make the dv8000 lighter and slimmer, but unlike many of its 17-inch counterparts, it's not a media-rich notebook. Adding the MCE OS could help with that. Until that happens, however, the dv8000 is a good general-purpose computer for small-business owners who don't want corporate notebooks, students, or home users working, doing the bills, researching on the Web, and doing e-mail.
Posted by gizmoFan at 11:00 AM
Sony VAIO VGC-RE110G
PC Mag has a review of Sony’s new sleekly-styled desktop, the VAIO VGC-RC110G. Inside the box is an Intel 8 Series (Pentium D) processor, 1GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, ATI Radeon X300 graphics card, Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW drive, and a secondary DVD-ROM drive. As tested, the unit came with a 20.1-inch widescreen monitor. PC Mag’s reviewer ended up giving the system mostly high marks, digging the dual-core processor and Media Center OS, quiet operation, front and rear video inputs, andhard drive bays prewired for expansion. They weren’t so hot on the 3D graphics performance and found it slightly difficult to upgrade the memory. Price direct from Sony is $2,199, or $1,299 without the monitor.
More info: http://www.pcmag.com
Posted by gizmoFan at 10:47 AM
Niveus Ice Vault 200 DVD Changer
Stop ripping you entire DVD collections to your hard drives, now there is a simple way to organize and play back your physical discs. With this in mind, high-end audio/video manufacturer Niveus has just announced a 200-disc DVD-changer for the everyman which allows for on-screen selection of the desired movie (and has a lot of money). The Ice Vault 200, as it’s known, hooks up to any Niveus Media Changer PC (sorry HP fans, not compatible with the new z556 desktop or any other Media Center PC) through a FireWire connection and displays its disc selection as a catalog of movie posters in the “my DVD” section of Windows Media Center Edition. Several Ice Vaults can be daisy-chained together, giving you access to over 1000 titles, and metadata is automatically updated as new discs are added. Niveus is shooting for a November release date, and although price has yet to be announced, we can be sure that it will not be that cheap.
More info: http://www.niveusmedia.com
Posted by gizmoFan at 10:23 AM