Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, March 24, 2008

Ultra-Basic Flip Video Camera Steals 13 Percent of Camcorder Market With Its Amazing Low-Light Performance? [Whoa]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/256635832/ultra+basic-flip-video-camera-steals-13-percent-of-camcorder-market-with-its-amazing-low+light-performance

flip%20ultra.jpg The Flip camcorder is about as far from a pro camera as Mario is from an actual plumber. In his (mostly fawning) review of the latest version, David Pogue says that the camera's major "shocker" is that its low-light capabilities "trump even $1,000 camcorders." But there's another one buried in there: It has snagged a whopping 13 percent of the camcorder market. Are there untold armies of soccer moms running around with the Flip? Or is its super simple operation (and functionality) a quiet gadget revolution? [NYT]

ASUS releases Splendid HD1 video card, sure does have a way with names

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/256589384/

Filed under: Peripherals

We're still a little hazy as to exactly what ASUS's new Splendid HD1 "video enhance card" actually does differently than most other 2D-enhanced devices, but the company claims it ratchets up 1080p video quality on both digital and analog outputs, and it'll fit in right along side those Splendid-based Xondar cards. Of course, it's also got HDCP (which is a start), but it's starting to smell a little gimmicky around here, splendid or not.

[Via Far East Gizmos]

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LG adopts in-plane switching tech for new LCD HDTVs

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/256781638/

Filed under: HDTV

Hitachi's in-plane switching technology's been making the rounds of late, and LG Taiwan's the latest to pick it up for use in future LCD HDTVs. Doubling frame-rate, providing a wider field of view, and supposedly upping durability (among other things), apparently we can start to see some IPS-enabled TVs from Korea's #2 in the not too distant future.

[Via Far East Gizmos]

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Fujitsu announces world's first 320GB laptop disk to spin at 7200rpm

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/256890080/

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

Take that WD, Toshiba, and Hitachi. Fujitsu just returned from exile with a claim to the ~~biggest~~ fastest laptop-disk throne. The 3Gbps SATA-equipped MHZ2 BJ series measures in at a standard 9.5-mm and spins at 7,200rpm with a 16MB cache and 25dB idle noise level. Average seek times are listed at 10.5-ms for data reads and 12.5-ms for writes while drawing 2.3 watts of power. Oh sure, a couple of 2.5-inch 500GB disk drives have already been announced. But most of those measure in at a non-standard 12.5-mm making them unsuitable for the majority of laptops on the market today. Sales of the new MHZ2 BJ-series begins in June.

Update: Oops, almost forgot about Samsung's Spinpoint M6 which does hit the 500GB mark in a standard 9.5mm-height package.

[Via Impress]

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Quanta teams with OoVoo on HD video conferencing box for your TV

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/256981104/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Quanta, the OEM behind the OLPC and MacBook, just announced its move into home-based HD video conferencing. Quanta is teaming with OoVoo to produce the Quanta Video Messenger -- a 1,280 x 720 pixel / 30fps, multi-point-capable set-top box that plugs directly into your HDTV and home Internet connection (presumably via Ethernet or 802.11n, they don't say). OoVoo is also looking to integrate its wares in existing set-top boxes. The prototype STB is the size of a hardback book and does not currently include a webcam or mic -- those must be plugged into the device separately. They'd better bundle a webcam then, if they hope to generate mass market appeal across familial generations. Early tests of the H.264 video over an Internet connection capped at 512kbps upstream produced the occasional video sputter (when watching a fast moving object) in quality roughly equivalent to DVDs. Fortunately, Quanta and OoVoo have 9 months to sort out any issues as they don't expect to ship until "later this year" for a price meant to be "affordable to consumers."

[Via MicroHoo News]

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Cybernet's all-in-one keyboard computers get an upgrade

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/257066967/

Filed under: Desktops

It's been just a little over a year since we saw Cybernet's zero footprint, keyboard-only computer -- now the company has upped the line with new features (but mistakenly stripped that shiny red paint job). The new systems -- which harken back to the glorious days of the TI-99 -- now support Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad chips, sport the GMA X3100 graphics chipset, up to 4GB of RAM, a slimline optical drive, and can astonishingly handle expansion via a Mini PCI and PCI-e slot. The all-in-one combos start at $629 and head marginally skyward from there.

[Thanks, stagueve]

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Intel's X48 chipset arrives on shelves, reminds users of the X38

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/257025505/

Filed under: Desktops

For those of you looking to build your ultimate super fantasy dream system, the goal may have just gotten a little closer. According to some tipsters and the zany builders at Tom's Hardware, Intel's X48 chipset is on the street (and mobos) and just waiting to take your breath away... maybe. According to Tom and co., the new configuration may not be that far of a cry from the previously released X38, adding only an improved northbridge and "official" support for FSB-1600 memory, though they note that this was technically available in the X38 as well. Tom runs the new entry through a battery of comparisons, so you can get a much clearer idea of what this puppy does. Is this new chipset the answer to overclocker's prayers, or just a waste of an additional $65? Only burning silicon knows for sure.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Saturday, March 22, 2008

Teclast's M26 PMP touts oodles of touchscreen

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/256125370/

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Quite frankly, Teclast's M25 was darn close to being solid, but it's pretty safe to say the M26 trumped it tenfold by ditching the scroll wheel in exchange for a few more millimeters of precious touchscreen. This admittedly sexy PMP features a 2.6-inch 400 x 240 resolution capacitive touch panel, support for RMVB, RM, FLV and AVI file formats, TV out and Microsoft's PlayFX abilities, too. Judging by the interface shot, it'll also handle FM radio and a slew of music / photo formats, and while there's no definitive price just yet, you can look forward to choosing between black and white whenever it lands.

[Via thegadgetsite]

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Sony's 25 megapixel Alpha A900 to arrive in August or September

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/255916730/

Filed under: Digital Cameras

We already spent some time grappling with Sony's monster full-frame Alpha A900 prototype at PMA, but the company's displaying an updated version at the Photo Imaging Expo in Japan, and reps are apparently now saying that the 24.6 megapixel DSLR will be launched during IFA in August or Photokina in September. Other than that, there's not much we didn't already know -- which means there's really not that much at all -- but there are some more shots of this nifty clear-bodied display unit at the read link for your ocular delight.

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Friday, March 21, 2008

Myka Brings BitTorrent to Your TV [Home Entertainment]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/255699453/myka-brings-bittorrent-to-your-tv

The Myka is what many Torrent fans have been waiting for—a device that makes it easy to download torrents and play them on your living room TV. You can connect to the internet via LAN or WiFi, it has HDMI, Composite, S-Video and SPDIF ports (nice), your choice of 80, 160 or 500 gigabytes (and USB expansion) and the Linux OS with pre-installed BitTorrent software. You can even transfer videos directly from your computer. Prices are going to fall between $299 and $459, which is more than the Apple TV, but something tells me that there is some built-in value there. Additional pic after the break.