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Thursday, June 23, 2011

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Pentax intros Q, world's smallest interchangeable lens digital camera (hands-on video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/pentax-releases-q-worlds-smallest-interchangeable-lens-digital/

Yesterday, the Sony NEX-C3 was the world's smallest interchangeable lens digital camera. It's not anymore. That title now belongs to the Pentax Q. To achieve the camera's incredibly small body size, Pentax had to shrink the sensor as well, making the Q not only the world's smallest interchangeable lens camera (ILC), but also the cam with the world's smallest sensor in an ILC. The Q uses a 12.4 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch backlit CMOS image sensor, manufactured by Sony -- significantly smaller than the 4/3 and APS-C sensors used in Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX-series cameras, respectively. As image quality is dependent on sensor size, the Q won't be able to compete directly with any other ILC -- instead, its images are most comparable to those you'd capture with a traditional digital compact (which, ahem, don't cost $800).

The Q will ship in late September or early October with a 47mm f/1.9 kit lens for about $800, and will be available in black or white -- abandoning the incredibly diverse color palette offered with other Pentax DSLRs. It will also be compatible with a 27.5-83mm zoom ($300), a 160-degree fisheye ($130), and 35mm and 100mm "toy camera" lenses ($80 each). The ILC will shoot 1080p/30 video with h.264 compression, 5 fps stills, and includes an HVGA-resolution 3-inch LCD and unique pop-up flash. A dedicated bokeh filter makes up for the camera's natural inability to capture images with a shallow depth of field. During our brief hands-on, images captured at up to the Q's highest available sensitivity of ISO 6400 appeared to be usable, at least based on a magnified LCD view (we weren't permitted to capture images to our own SD card). The cam offers traditional DSLR capture modes, in addition a a variety of creative modes and Smart Effect Options, including an HDR capture mode. The version Pentax had on hand wasn't fully baked, but jump past the break for our video walkthrough with a product manager.

Gallery: Pentax Q Hands-On

Continue reading Pentax intros Q, world's smallest interchangeable lens digital camera (hands-on video)

Pentax intros Q, world's smallest interchangeable lens digital camera (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link's Amplifi networking suite keeps the whole mansion connected

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/d-links-amplifi-suite-of-home-networking-devices-keep-you-conne/

Between our TVs, PCs, game consoles, and even refrigerators, most every room of our homes have devices needing an on-ramp to the information superhighway. To keep these gadgets connected, D-Link has debuted its Amplifi home networking equipment to bathe every square foot of your abode in ample bandwidth. There's the $150 HD Media Router 1000 that does 802.11n WiFi at 300 Mbps and has QoS technology to make sure your HD video streams and games are lag-free, plus four Gigabit Ethernet ports and an SD card reader. The Whole Home Router 1000 is $120 and sports similar specs sans the SD slot, but also packs D-Link's SmartBeam technology that tracks devices and "focuses beams of bandwidth" to keep you connected in every room. D-Link's $160 WiFi Booster also uses SmartBeam tech to extend your network's range via the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and put four more Gigabit Ethernet ports anywhere you choose. Lastly, the Powerline AV 500 Adapter ($100) and Gigabit switch ($200) give you screaming 500Mbps speeds from any electrical outlet. Interested? Well, they're all available now, except for the laggard Whole Home Router 1000, which isn't available until August. PR's after the break.

Continue reading D-Link's Amplifi networking suite keeps the whole mansion connected

D-Link's Amplifi networking suite keeps the whole mansion connected originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:43:00 EDT. Please see our term s for use of feeds.

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ASUS rumored to have 13-inch Android laptop on its mind, NVIDIA expected to provide ARM CPU

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/asus-rumored-to-have-13-inch-android-laptop-on-its-mind-nvidia/

Some might argue that ASUS already has an ARM-powered Android laptop in its inventory thanks to the Eee Pad Transformer, however the company's now been identified as planning a more spacious 13-inch notebook device, whose power and pricing could well be even more attractive than the Transformer's. We should naturally be wary of the source here, DigiTimes having a record that's as patchy as the grass at Wimbledon after the first week's play, but the Taiwanese rumormonger says ASUS has already made launch plans for this 13-incher and will be using "NVIDIA's processor" inside. What's intriguing here is that in the paragraph immediately preceding that revelation, DigiTimes mentions quad-core ARM SOCs -- of which the one nearest to release is NVIDIA's Kal-El. Given the non-specificity of which NVIDIA processor we can expect, Kal-El's projected August release date, and the fact that the chip has already figured in an ultraslim Windows 8 prototype laptop, we'd say there's plenty of circumstantial evidence to stimulate dreams of quad-core Android laptop action. Additionally, DigiTimes points out that multiple vendors are gunning to offer ARM-powered notebooks with sub-$299 price points, aiming to gobble up market share with rock bottom pricing. Bring 'em on, we say.

ASUS rumored to have 13-inch Android laptop on its mind, NVIDIA expected to provide ARM CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnLive and Juniper team up on cloud-based services for enterprise

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/onlive-and-juniper-team-up-on-cloud-based-services-for-enterpris/

OnLive's MicroConsole may not have exactly taken the video game market by storm just yet, but it looks like the company isn't about to wait any longer to expand its cloud-based empire. Today it announced that it's partnering with Juniper Networks on what it's describing as a "no-compromise, media-rich, enterprise experience." While it's still apparently in the early stages, that solution will combine OnLive's own instant response video compression technology with Juniper Networks' Junos Pulse client, which together promise to make remotely-accessed desktops and applications "indistinguishable from a local one," regardless of the device you're accessing it on (including tablets and OnLive-enabled TVs). Unfortunately, anything much more specific than that -- including any indication of an actual rollout -- remains a bit light for the time being, but the two companies have already demoed the system at the NExTWORK Conference in New York City today, so it certainly seems like it might not be too far off.

Continue reading OnLive and Juniper team up on cloud-based services for enterprise

OnLive and Juniper team up on cloud-based services for enterprise originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS U36 ultraportable laptop available in UK, Â£699 for 'world's thinnest standard voltage i5'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/asus-u36-ultraportable-laptop-available-in-uk-699-for-worlds/

ASUS first made that handsome slab of magnesium alloy on the left available to the US back in December, and now the ultra portable laptop will finally grace folks in the UK. If you'll recall, the 13.3-inch U36's stand out features include a svelte 19mm thickness, standard voltage i5 processor, NVIDIA Optimus graphics, and a USB 3.0 toggle (for an estimated 11.5 hour battery life). The hardware seems chunky now that we've played with the company's UX21 ultrathin, but with a price of £699 (just over $1,200) it's hard to complain much. If your palms are beginning to sweat in excitement, it's available at Micro Anvika today in your choice of black or silver, and should be at Comet by the end of the month. You'll find even more details in the PR that just so happens to be waiting after the break.

Continue reading ASUS U36 ultraportable laptop available in UK, £699 for 'world's thinnest standard voltage i5'

ASUS U36 ultraportable laptop available in UK, £699 for 'world's thinnest standard voltage i5' originally appeared on Engadget! on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Iconia Tab A500 to get Android 3.1 on 5th of July, at least in Deutschland

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/acer-iconia-tab-a500-to-get-android-3-1-on-5th-of-july-at-least/

The Iconia Tab A500, Acer's "better choice" tablet, is set to join the ranks of Android 3.1 slates on the 5th of July, according to the company's German Facebook page. That's a little later than the June timeframe we'd initially been promised, but the precision of giving an actual date this time around inspires confidence that the OTA goodies will indeed be delivered. So far, we've only seen Acer announce this news on its German portal, so please keep your optimism in cautious gear if you reside outside the Bundesrepublik. The only certain Android update is the one that's already on your device.

Acer Iconia Tab A500 to get Android 3.1 on 5th of July, at least in Deutschland originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Genesi i.MX 53 netbooks, nettops to take Freescale machines deeper into the bargain basement

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/genesi-i-mx-53-netbooks-nettops-to-take-freescale-machines-deep/

Back in March, Genesi announced its plans to target emerging markets by dropping the price of its Efika MX Smartbook and Smarttop machines. Those devices packed i.MX 51 CPUs, and post-cut price tags of $199 and $129, respectively. Now the San Antonio-based outfit is hinting at any even bigger price break for the developing world with the introduction of its i.MX 53 netbook PCB. According to a Genesi rep at the Freescale Technology Forum, the board, which is significantly smaller than its predecessor, is "as cheap as we can possibly make it," and will likely power even more cost efficient Genesi computers in the near future. No word on just how low Genesi is willing to go, but it's shooting for an i.MX 53 debut sometime this summer. If cheap is your thing, check out the PCB in all its glory after the break.

Continue reading Genesi i.MX 53 netbooks, nettops to take Freescale machines deeper into the bargain basement

Genesi i.MX 53 netbooks, nettops to take Freescale machines deeper into the bargain basement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Series 3 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/hands-on-with-the-samsung-series-3/

We were strolling around the Metropolitan Pavilion, enjoying the sights and sounds of Digital Experience, when, lo and behold, we spotted a pair of unfamiliar laptops gracing the thick black tablecloth at the Samsung booth. What you see above is just one member, the 12.1-inch model to be specific, of the as yet unannounced Series 3 line. These budget friendly lappies are anything but cheap looking or feeling. The entire lineup has followed in the footsteps of the Series 9, opting for soft brushed finishes that are, at the very least, metal-esque. Gone are the shiny plastics that made your notebook look like evidence at a crime scene. At the bottom end is a 15.6-inch model sporting a dual-core AMD A4 CPU and (oddly) a glossy display.

If you want to wipe the reflective sheen from that screen, jump up a notch to the $599 Core i3-sporting version. The 15.6 models reach all the way up to a quad-core Core i7 CPU for $819 and all the Intel varieties pack WiDi (as do the 12.5-inchers). The other sizes (11.6, 12.1, 13.3, and 14 inches) all sport the same premium finishes, solid keyboards, and pleasant touchpads, while being expected to be easy on the wallet. There are still some details to be worked out, and not all specs or prices are finalized but, while we wait for the official PR to roll in, check out our hands-on with the 12.1-inch and 15.6-inch models below.

Gallery: Samsung Series 3

Samsung Series 3 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verbalizer: the open-source wireless microphone of your Arduino-loving dreams

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/the-verbalizer-is-the-open-source-wireless-microphone-of-your-ar/

Google's Voice Search for desktop is nifty and all, but what it's really been lacking is a worthy way to trigger it into action. The Verbalizer is an open-source dev board made specifically to be used with the search giant's new tools from up to ten meters away. This microphone-shaped piece of circuitry was made with Arduino compatibility in mind, which means that voice search is just the beginning. The company (who happens to be the same folks behind the brilliant Instaprint) will be distributing schematics and source code through its website, and promises to give away a "limited run" of kits for free in a drawing starting today. Head on over to the source link if you feel like testing your luck, but not before checking after the break for one more shot of these mini masterpieces on display as well as the nitty gritty PR.

Continue reading Verbalizer: the open-source wireless microphone of your Arduino-loving dreams

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Verbalizer: the open-source wireless microphone of your Arduino-loving dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

My Shoe Heaven Is in This Store [Design]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5814456/a-shoe-heaven-exists-and-its-at-this-store/gallery/

Am I alive? That's what I thought when I saw pictures of this Sneakerology store in Sydney, Australia. See I have an inordinate amount of love for sneakers and shoes, and this store layout—which is very museum-like—is perfect

The shoes are organized in a shelving system that alternates shoes and a white box light (that doubles as a label) in a 200mm x 600mm box. Each level is offset by half a unit and repeats itself to create sneaker nirvana. There's also an interactive kiosk where customers can learn about the history of the shoe.

To you it may look like a snazzy Foot Locker. To me, it really is shoe heaven. I need to take my sabbatical in Sydney. [Sneakerology via Dezeen]

My Shoe Heaven Is in This Store

Vizio, your favorite low-cost TV leader introduces... a light bulb (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/vizio-your-favorite-low-cost-tv-leader-introduces-a-light-bu/

It's a busy week for Vizio. The budget TV manufacturer flaunted its flashy new tablet in front of our cameras yesterday, and had us hopping across town this afternoon for a chance to go hands-on with its latest entrant into a mysterious brand-new product category (for Vizio, at least). Reps were mum on details, so we had no choice but to return to the CEA LineShows in NYC to see what was up. We walked around the booth, looking for signs of that Vizio Android phone we saw at CES, only to find co-founder Ken Lowe cradling the new goods: a line of light bulbs. We laughed. Then asked to see the real product that Vizio insisted would be worth the trip. Nope, that was it: a LED light bulb -- four of them, in fact, arranged in height-order on a chrome bathroom vanity fixture. Lowe then proceeded to introduce his product as he has any other, so we hit record. They're bright, round, and standards-compliant, and will be coming to a screw-in fixture near you in Q3. How much? "A Vizio price."

Gallery: Vizio LED Light Bulb Hands-On

Continue reading Vizio, your favorite low-cost TV leader introduces... a light bulb (video)

Vizio, your favorite low-cost TV leader introduces... a light bulb (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Merel Mtouch multitouch table hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/merel-mtouch-multitouch-table-hands-on-video/

Multitouch tables haven't exactly hit the mainstream, but price is likely to be a major factor. Merel's Mtouch table brings that familiar Microsoft Surface-like multitouch functionality for a fraction of the price, retailing for $3,995, or about half as much as Surface. The 720p, 32-inch display doesn't sacrifice on power -- a 3.2Ghz quad-core Intel Quad i5 Sandy Bridge processor and dedicated Radeon HD 1GB video card keep the Windows 7-based interface running smoothly -- but the table's display suffers from some uniformity issues, likely due to the pair of super-bright LEDs used to light it.

We spent a few minutes with the Mtouch at the CEA LineShows in NYC, and liked what we saw -- once we got past the lighting issues, which appear slightly exaggerated in the photo above (notice the two bright spots near our subject's fingers). Content is loaded using a web interface, and the table is compatible with a variety of formats, including PDFs, which are displayed as "magazines" with easy-flip pages. The table is in the early stages of production -- just 30 have been made and sold so far, assembled completely at Merel's factory in Yonkers, NY. They are available for purchase now, however, and should be shipped to your door within 30-days of placing an order. Jump past the break as we go hands-on with the Merel Mtouch.

Gallery: Merel Mtouch Multitouch Table Hands-On

Continue reading Merel Mtouch multitouch table hands-on (video)

Merel Mtouch multitouch table hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Augmented reality app concept conjures movie scenes shot in your location (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/augmented-reality-app-concept-conjures-movie-scenes-shot-in-your/

AR technology has been getting seriously powerful recently, but we still need smart little ideas like this to keep us interested. "Augmented Reality Cinema" is a concept which would spot when you're in a famous movie location and then trigger playback of the relevant scene. Although we can't be sure the app actually works yet, the video after the break does at least show off the idea with some memorable London clips, including the classic post-infestation Westminster Bridge scene from 28 Days Later. If the designers ever need movie fans to go around tagging cinematic locations, then obviously we're keen to register our interest.

Continue reading Augmented reality app concept conjures movie scenes shot in your location (video)

Augmented reality app concept conjures movie scenes shot in your location (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvell Kinoma Play Android app hands-on preview (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/marvell-kinoma-play-android-app-hands-on-preview-video/

First unveiled back in February, Kinoma is Marvell's take on a "new open app platform" targeted at everything from mobile devices to desktops to embedded handhelds. Here in New York, the company is finally showing off a live version of the software in the form of Kinoma Play, an implementation of the platform that runs atop Android 2.2 Froyo -- for the moment at least. The folks from Marvell also had a massive touchscreen loaded up with a desktop version of the software running in a simulator atop OS X for eager onlookers to fool around with. Head past the break for a quick rundown of the offering and plans to do with it, along with some juicy video footage of the stuff in action.

Gallery: Kinoma Play hands-on