Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Sony's 11-inch VAIO TT: world's lightest Blu-ray laptop

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/400734593/

Filed under: Laptops

It took a few ~~days~~ hours longer than expected, but Sony's VAIO TT is here. And it's sexy. This 11.1-inch beauty features a sub-1-inch thick, 2.87-pound chassis made from carbon-fiber, and Sony claims it's the lightest notebook on the planet to pack Blu-ray capabilities. Arriving in a variety of configurations, the VAIO TT is available with an XBRITE-DuraView LCD, Intel's Centrino 2 technology, an HDMI output, dual channel 256GB (128GB x 2) SSD setup with RAID, Sprint WWAN (EV-DO Rev. A) and Windows Vista running the show. The Fall-bound TT -- which will arrive in premium carbon black, silk black, champagne gold and crimson red outfits -- will start at around two large, with the Blu-ray model going for $2,700 and the SSD edition demanding $2,750. There's no direct mention of a battery life figure, which scares us just a tad, but you can dig into the full release just after the break.

Gallery: Sony's 11-inch VAIO TT: world's lightest Blu-ray laptop

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Microsoft thinks two WiMo devices are better than one

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/400760950/

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Microsoft thinks two WiMo devices are better than one

Ever try to look at a really big picture on a really small screen, like the kind you'll find on your average Windows Mobile phone? You're either left scrolling all over or squinting, and while you might think a pico projector could be a handy solution, Microsoft thinks you're wrong. You just need more phones! A patent application called "Mobile Device Collaboration" has been uncovered that describes how multiple mobile devices could be placed next to each other to share pixels, using proximity sensors to correctly orient one image across a plethora of screens. MS also wants phones to combine antennas to boost signal strength, CPUs to handle intensive tasks, and even batteries (via tether) so that if one phone is dying the other can keep it soldiering on. All well and good, but we'd be happy with improved battery life in just one WiMo phone, thanks very much.

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Amazon: 6 million DRM-free songs on T-Mobile G1

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/400760948/

It's true, Amazon just announced that its MP3 music store will be pre-loaded as an application on the T-Mobile G1. Users will be able to search, download, buy and play music from Amazon MP3 -- that's a selection of 6 million DRM-free MP3 songs from all four major labels and many independents. The pre-loaded Amazon MP3 application provides G1 owners with a phone-optimised view of the Amazon MP3 store -- WiFi is required to download music, but searching, browsing, and listening to samples can be done over 3G "the T-Mobile network." Tracks cost around $0.89 with most albums priced between $5.99 and $9.99. How you like them Apples, Apple.

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Samsung ups the ante with the X460 laptop; X360 feels neglected

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/400980516/

Filed under: Laptops

Samsung ups the X360 ante with the X460

Is Samsung's Air competitor, the X360, a little too delicate for your tastes? Perhaps you'd be in for its slightly heavier cousin, the newly announced X460. It weighs in at 4.1 pounds and offers a larger 14.1-inch (though still 1280 x 800) screen, yet still manages to come in at just 1.2-inches thick. An Intel Centrino 2 handles the number crunching paired with up to 4GB of RAM, while up to a 320GB HDD (alas, no SSD) and a Super Multi Drive DVD burner with LightScribe handle storage. An nVIDIA GeForce Go 9200M GS chipset will cover (lightweight) gaming duties, while connectivity is offered via 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a 7-in-1 card reader, and HDMI output to boot. A 6-cell battery will keep it juiced for up to 5 hours (7.5 if you opt for the 9-cell), and the ever-trendy anti-bacterial keyboard will keep you healthy. No price or availability yet, but just look at that lovely shade of rose.

Update: TrustedReviews already has a quick preview of the X460, looking a little less hot in black. [Thanks Howard]

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SanDisk ships 16GB 300x Extreme IV CompactFlash card

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/400988007/

Filed under: Storage

If you're jonesing for the quickest, most nimble CF card this planet has to offer, you'll be hard pressed to find one quicker and more nimble than this. Following up on Pretec's launch, SanDisk has started shipping its 16GB 300x (45MB/sec) Extreme IV CompactFlash card, which marks a 12.5% increase in speed and 50% boost in capacity compared to its predecessor. Oh, but then there's the $399.99 price tag. We know, right?

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T-Mobile G1 video hands-on

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/400952100/

Filed under: Cellphones

No, we're not done with this thing yet. Check out our hands-on video of the T-Mobile G1 after the break. Of note, scrolling around in the browser is a tad laggy, and everything feels very first-generation. There's an obligatory compare-o with the iPhone, but the G1 is obviously packing in a full-size keyboard, so the size doesn't seem too outlandish.

Update: We added a second, longer video after the break, concentrating more on software -- specifically Gmail. Desmond has had his phone for a while now, so we got a much better idea of what the phone is like in more capable hands. There's a tiny learning curve here, but it's a fairly rewarding one.

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Samsung's NaBee brings wireless USB to any digicam

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/401077930/

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Wireless

Samsung has just introduced a product with a name we can't help but love: NaBee. The smooth sounding device is actually a system for bringing wireless USB technology to any camera with a USB connector. Packed within is Alereon's AL5000 Worldwide Wireless USB Chipset, which enables cordless communication between one's PC and digicam so long as the receiver and transmitter are within reach. Yeah, it's not nearly as elegant as inbuilt WiFi solutions, but at least it gives those a year or two out from upgrading a shot at enjoying wireless USB transfers in the here and now. Mum's the word on pricing, but it should be out this December.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X200 tablet goes on sale

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/401158792/

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Anyone interested in Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 tablet is no doubt pretty well acquainted with it by now, and if you're sold on it you can now finally get your order in for one, though it'll apparently still take one or two weeks to actually ship. Contrary to what we had heard earlier, it looks like the base price starts at a slightly more reasonable $1,844, although you'll have to drop an additional $275 if you want a fancy MultiTouch + MultiView display, and the rest of the baseline specs are also expectedly lightweight. That's nothing an extra $1,000 or so in upgrades can't fix though -- hit up the link below to get configuring

[Thanks, Micah]

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Motorola announces USBw 100 WiMAX adapter

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/401236394/

Filed under: Wireless

Hold onto your hats, Motorola fans! As the launch of the nation's first mobile WiMAX network (hopefully) draws near, the company's announcing its first ever USB WiMAX device, the USBw 100. This thumb-drive-sized slice of heaven will be available in three flavors, providing high-speed mobile broadband on your 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz or 3.5 GHz network. No pics, pricing or definite release date yet, just the vague promise that we'll be seeing her in the fourth quarter of this year. We're all giddy in anticipation.

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Eye-Fi making wares twice as fast, expanding internationally

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/401412276/

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Peripherals, Wireless, Storage

Frustrated by somewhat sluggish transfers from your otherwise spectacular Eye-Fi card? Fret not, as the company has just announced a forthcoming update at Photokina that will reportedly enable new and existing Eye-Fi owners to make "the upload of digital photos from camera to computer twice as fast." Also of note, as of October 5th, users can even add features that aren't already included on their card and renew annual services by tapping into the updated Eye-Fi Manager Web application. In related news, the outfit will be pushing its wares to Japan and Canada by the year's end, and in even more related news, Eye-Fi now supports direct photo uploads to Apple's MobileMe and the AdoramaPix service.

Read - Eye-Fi getting 2x faster
Read - Eye-Fi going international

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Sylvania's g netbook MAGNI gets detailed: it's a rebadged Wind

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/401474913/

Filed under: Laptops

Back in July, we heard that Sylvania (of all companies) would be bringing a few more netbooks into the world, and sure enough, that g netbook MAGNI that was hinted at earlier this year will be making its red carpet debut in time for the holidays. Based on information gathered in an interview with Paul Goldenberg, Managing Partner of Digital Gadgets (the company that sells under the Sylvania brand), the 10-inch netbook will be nothing more than a rebadged MSI Wind with a 120GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, an Intel Atom CPU and your choice of either Windows XP or Ubuntu Remix. Pricing and battery size details have yet to be determined, but given how easy it is to search for both of those tidbits in relation to the Wind, we'd say you've just found a great use for your deductive reasoning skills.

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Nokia's "Point and Find" Head-Up Display For Life is Launching in Beta [Augmented Reality]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/400849550/nokias-point-and-find-head+up-display-for-life-is-launching-in-beta

Nokia's Point and Find system is similar to the Sekai iPhone app we mentioned: you point your cellphone's camera at an object (such as a cinema) and it'll automagically respond with the film times, and connect you to online bookings. It's basically clever location-based services, like a head-up display for the world, and it obviously uses GPS to work out where you are. But there's no info on how the heck it knows you're pointing at the cinema in front of you rather than the restaurant next to you, or the sexy-looking girl across the street. It's finally launching in Beta over the next few months, so we'll know more then. [T3]

T-Mobile G1 Sized-Up Against its Competitors [Sizemodo]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/400871357/t+mobile-g1-sized+up-against-its-competitors

Here's the HTC G1 (a.k.a. Dream) sized up against the iPhone and HTC's Touch Pro: it's a kinda half-way house between them both. It's narrower, but taller and fatter—thanks to the slide-out keyboard—and lacks the deftly curved shape of the iPhone 3G, but it's a shade skinner than the Touch Pro. Looks it'd fit pretty comfortably in the palm. Check out the hands on to find out how it really feels.

Red Scarlet Cam Replaced With a "New Vision" [Camcorders]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/401009517/red-scarlet-cam-replaced-with-a-new-vision

Red's Jim Jannard has told fans in the RedUser forums to "Wipe your minds of the past announced Scarlet. Forget the design and forget the price. It is all different now. We think you will be surprised." In his words, "the market has changed and we have discovered a lot of things in the process. We have a new vision." So it is not as though the Scarlet cam has been scrapped—what we are talking about here is a ground up redesign that should be a positive thing for consumers. That having been said, the RED EPIC is going to receive a similar treatment as well.

What they are planning at this point is unclear, however threads in the RedUser forum confirm this much: the names will remain the same, new specs and working models should be available by the 2009 NAB show with a release to follow soon thereafter, and RED is aiming to fulfill initial orders before the fall of 2009. Jannard also noted that "the prices will be very near our target" with regard to Scarlet, so we could be in for an even better camera at a price point similar to the $3000 quoted initially. [RedUser and RedUser Redesign via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Canon 5D Mark II's Full HD Video Is So Stunning Our Eyes Explode [Canon 5D Mark II]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/401069529/canon-5d-mark-iis-full-hd-video-is-so-stunning-our-eyes-explode

As teased a couple days ago, here's the absolutely stunning video from Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet, the one that shows how incredible Canon's 5D Mark II's video capabilities really are. Remember, this video is totally unenhanced, completely raw from the $2700 DSLR (with a ton of nice lenses). I saw it a while ago in full HD on a 50-inch TV and I was completely blown away. Here's the making of vid, if you wanna see how it was done. [Canon]

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