Month: January 2008

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Yamaha Launches A2DP Bluetooth Speaker

Yamaha

Yamaha has launched a 10 watt, A2DP-compatible, Bluetooth speaker called the NX-B02. The device is designed to handle output from Bluetooth-compatible PCs, PDAs, and of course your mobile phone. In case that wasn’t enough, it’s also equipped with a 3.5mm line-in socket, so you can easily connect your MP3 player or PMP.

The NX-B02 has dual 4.5cm (1-3/4-inch) full range speakers, and each speaker has an SR-Bass (Swing Radiator Bass) diaphragm. This diaphragm moves by the vibration of the main diaphragm and efficiently increases bass energy, producing larger sound pressure levels for deeper and stronger bass.

The speaker can be used as a portable device as it runs on four AA batteries. According to Yamaha, battery life is about four hours with alkaline batteries and seven hours with NiMH batteries. You can also choose to run it on the AC adaptor that comes with the package.

The NX-B02 is priced at Rs 7,883 ($199.95).

source:tech2 

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New Cyber-shot Mobile with GPS

Gps-mob

We’ve heard rumors (and seen some live images on a China-based website) that hint at a new Sony Ericsson handset, presumably a Cyber-shot K-Series mobile. From the images it would seem this will have a 3 megapixel auto-focus camera with a dual-LED flash – if it were indeed the prototype for a SE Cyber-shot mobile, that is.

According to some of the rumors doing the rounds, this handset should also have an integrated GPS receiver. There’s no word, obviously, on a release date or pricing, nor too much dope on the actual specs. Of course, the rumors need to be confirmed as well.

source:tech2

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Sony Launches 5 New W-Series Cyber-shots

Sony

Sony’s Cyber-shot W-Series has gained a new look for 2008, with five new cameras that team HD image quality with easy-to-use features. Available in a choice of colors, the new W-Series boasts clean lines and contemporary looks. Inside the all-aluminum case, all five models come with the latest Sony technology.

The range is topped by the 10.1 megapixel Cyber-shot W170 that sports an extra-large, bright 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD. There’s also a Carl Zeiss wide angle lens with 5x optical zoom. Thanks to its minimum focal length of 28mm (35mm equivalent), zooming out to wide angle lets you squeeze in more of landscapes and group photos without cropping the subject.

The W170 now features Intelligent Scene Recognition that takes the guesswork out of selecting the right camera settings in a range of common shooting situations. In Advanced mode, the camera takes two shots – one with standard automatic settings and the other with optimized settings – allowing you to pick your favorite. Other key features include Smile Shutter, Face Detection and Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization for clearer low-light shooting.

With a resolution of 8.1 effective megapixels, the W150 has the same 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD as the flagship W170. It also features a 5x zoom Carl Zeiss wide-angle lens, plus Smile Shutter, Face Detection, Super Steady Shot, and Intelligent Scene Recognition.

The W130 also boasts 8.1 effective megapixel resolution, along with Smile Shutter, Face Detection, Super SteadyShot and a 4x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens. The W120 shares similar specifications but with a resolution of 7.2 effective megapixels.

The entry-level W110 offers 7.2 effective megapixel resolution plus 4x optical zoom, Smile Shutter and Face Detection.

The W120 will be available for about $200 in pink, blue, black and silver in March 2008. The W130 will be offered in pink, black and silver for about $230 the same month. The W150 model will hit retail in sophisticated champagne, red, black and silver for about $250 in April. The DSC-W170 model will also be available around the same time in the same colors for about $300.

source:tech2 

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Samsung launches new flagship DSLR – the GX20

DSLR

Samsung has today launched the 14.6 mega-pixel GX-20 DSLR.

This is the first model from the company to be built around its own CMOS sensor, which is 23.5×15.7mm (APS-C sized) and has been designed and built by Samsung in Korea.

The camera, which is expected to be priced around £699.99 (with an 18-55mm lens), also boasts an Enhanced Digital Filter which the manufacturer says “allows a greater dynamic range of exposures and can also be used to add various effects or compensate for missing pixels after taking a picture”.

Coupled with this, is a wide view 2.7 inch TFT LCD (delivering 230k pixel resolution) and live view through the optical viewfinder or LCD display.

To prevent image blur, the camera offers built-in Optical Picture Stabilisation (OPS) technology, which means it shifts the CCD to counter any movement of the camera’s body.

Samsung claims that its new flagship is “robust enough” for taking quality pictures in wet, sandy or dusty conditions. It has 72 water-resistant and anti-dusting body seals and a Dual Dust Removal System for removing particles from the sensor.

Additional shooting features include a one-touch RAW button, for switching from JPEG to RAW capture. RAW files can be checked on the LCD and then be directly converted to JPEG format via the built-in converter.

The GX-20 also offers continuous shooting at 3 fps, and an X sync. terminal for external Flash.

This new model is said to be aimed squarely at the prosumer market.

Robert King, commercial director of Samsung Cameras explains: “With the launch of the GX-20 DSLR, Samsung has a full digital camera line-up ranging from convergent compact digital cameras through to high-end fully-featured digital SLRs.

“This product is the start of an exciting DSLR range for Samsung as it is our first DSLR with our own manufactured CMOS sensor. This is a very important step for Samsung which is set to support our expansion in this competitive product sector.”

source:sky

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Samsung launches G600 Pink

pink

The Samsung G600 has been available for almost a year now with the Samsung G600 Silver edition added to the range last summer, the final addition to the range is the new Samsung G600 Pink – a ladies version of the 5.0 mega pixel camera phone.
This new Pink G600 holds exactly the same specifications and features as the other two models but now comes wrapped in a bright pink casing that looks great with the silver / chrome carcass.
The all star Samsung SGH-G600 slider has it all, a sexy design, cool high quality features and easy to migrate menu structure with an updated and highly developed user interface. Equipped and ready to go with its 5 mega pixel camera, the Pink Samsung G600 is reportedly said to be the slimmest slider of its type measuring 14.9mm in depth.

Sporting a 2.2 inch QVGA display screen for easier text ready and web browsing, the Samsung G600 Pink offers Bluetooth Wireless with Stereo A2DP support, GPRS and EDGE, Music Player with support for MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ audio file formats, Stereo FM Radio with RDS, TV Out port, USB Connectivity, expandable memory and built-in hands free.

Along with the camera filming 30fps, you’ve got accompanying features such as a built-in flash as well as an image stabelser and auto focus for unsteady hands, all helping to create the perfect image, aside of which there is also the ability to record short video clips.

Other features worth a mention are Bluetooth printing, on board organizer and email access. With only a handful of phones of this caliber available on the market, the Samsung G600 may not have much competition from other mobile phones at the moment but sets high standards for those to follow.

The new Pink edition will tempt many gadget loving women looking for a 5.0 megapixel camera phone, the first of its kind but surely not the last?

source:articles

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PIXMA MX7600 and MX850 all-in-ones

PIXMA

Canon claims that the PIXMA MX7600 produces high quality prints on plain paper with laser-like text, sharp, vibrant graphics and stunning photos to add a professional touch.

The PIXMA MX7600 offers copying, scanning and fax capabilities, together with document printing, and photo lab quality prints.

The PgR (Pigment Reaction) technology works by coating the paper with clear ink as it travels towards the print head, means that presentation-quality text, graphics and photographs can now be printed on plain paper, without the dangers of show-through, print curling, bleeding, scuffing or the images washing off with moisture.

The MX7600 claims print and copy times of 28ppm mono/23ppm colour, photo-lab quality borderless prints in 43 seconds, it offers built-in Ethernet networking capability, and a 33.6kbps Super G3 fax modem

Also announced today is the PIXMA MX850, an office all-in-one with print, copy, scan and fax capability. Replacing the MP830, the PIXMA MX850 maintains the 9600dpi FINE1 print engine specification, while adding additional SoHo (Small office, Home office) functionality.

Other features include auto duplex scan and copy, Ethernet connectivity, and a high speed ADF loadable up to 35 sheets.

s0urce:pocket

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Sony Ericsson R300i and R306i Radio phones

r360 r300i

Sony Ericsson has announced the launch of two new mobile phones, the R300i Radio and R306i Radio, both designed to deliver a “credible” radio-listening experience.

Both of these new phones are designed to have a “clear radio look-and-feel” and both offer integrated speakers – stereo in the case of the R306i Radio. Preset buttons on the front let you change stations and offer one click volume control.

The radio function can be set as your alarm clock and you can record direct from broadcasts, in addition recorded song clips can be used as ringtones.

“TrackID” comes as standard on both models. This feature, found on other higher-end SE offerings, lets you record a clip of a song from an external source, then find out within seconds who sang it, the name of the track and which album it is from.

Both phones feature Bluetooth, the R300i Radio has a VGA camera while the R306i Radio has a 1.3 megapixel camera.

The R300i Radio, complete with stereo headphones, will launch in two colours: Antique Copper and Steel Black. It will be available in selected (read: mostly emerging) markets from Q2 2008.

The R306i Radio will launch in two colours: Coffee Black and Champagne White. It will be available in selected markets from Q3 2008.

source:sky

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Canon EOS 450D DSLR

CanonESO450D

As was predicted, Canon has launched its latest DSLR, the EOS 450D – or – for our American brethren, the Digital Rebel XSi.

A replacement for the 400D, that’s been getting a little long in the tooth, the new model features a 12.2-mega pixel CMOS sensor, EOS Integrated Cleaning System, a 3-inch LCD (that’s 50% brighter than the one on the 400D) and now with Live View – the debut of such tech on a consumer model from Canon, and a new 9-point AF system.

The camera also ditches the compact flash card format in favor of SD.

The DIGIC III image processor and a redesigned menu system is borrowed from Canon’s EOS-1 pro-level range while a choice of 13 custom functions allowing the user to customize the camera to their shooting style will please enthusiasts.

The EOS 450D features:

  • 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor
  • Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System
  • 3.5 frames per second
  • 3.0-inch LCD with Live View shooting
  • 9-point wide-area AF system with f/2.8 cross-type centre point
  • Picture Style image processing parameters
  • DIGIC III image processor
  • Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software1
  • Compact and Lightweight body
  • Fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

Other improvements over the earlier model include a more lightweight body (the 450D weighs less than 475 grams), an improved grip design, a new high capacity battery good for 500 shots, 14-bit processing and RAW, expanded PictBridge functionality, more rapid response times and spot metering.

The EOS 450D Body only is priced at £599.99 and the EOS 450D plus a 18-55mm lens kit is £679.99. Both are available from March 2008 in the UK.

For our international readers, the body-only cost in the US will be $799, with complete with 18-55mm lens kit costing $899. European pricing comes in at 749 euros for body only and 849 for the kit.

source:sky

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Digital Hero 3 “tough-nut” wrist-cam

Wrist-cam

The Digital Hero 3, just gone live for sale over on I Want One Of Those, is described as a “real tough-nut” digital camera.

It’ll do you 3-megapixel stills and up to 54 minutes of video with sound, whether you’re up a mountain in the snow, out at sea in a storm, or up to 30 metres under water.

Simple to use, this tough and chunky piece of kit can be strapped to your wrist, kayak paddles, dirt bike handlebars or your wind-surfer, so perfect for capturing those extreeeme sporting moments.

Shockproof, waterproof and – apparently – idiot proof, the cameras has 16MB of onboard memory but is expandable up to 2GB with an SD card.

source:sky

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CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 is available now

Corel

This latest version of the Corel suite delivers better workflow, new tools for putting work online and improved user guides.

In face, overall, Corel says it has added 50 new and “significantly enhanced” features for graphics projects ranging from creating logos and web graphics, to multi-page brochures, to signage and digital displays.

New facilities include a Live text formatting option, which allows users to preview text formatting options before applying them to a document.

Next up is an update to the package’s font identification abilities. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 now integrates with WhatTheFont, the online font identification service from MyFonts.com.

In addition to this, Corel has added new fonts in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 including single-line engraving fonts and OpenType cross-platform fonts, which offer enhanced language support for Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic outputs in
WGL4 format.

Corel adds that users can now control and edit layers independently for each page of a document. Users can also add independent guidelines for individual pages and master guidelines for an entire document.

And new interactive tables has been included to let users create and import tables to provide layout for text and graphics. Users can align, resize, or edit tables and table cells to suit their designs.

Windows Vista integration has also been added including integration with the platform’s search facilities allowing Corel users to look for files by author, subject, file type, date, keywords, or other file properties.

Additional file support is another key update and the package now supports Microsoft Office Publisher, Microsoft Word 2007, Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, PDF 1.7 (Adobe Acrobat 8), AutoCAD DXF and AutoCAD DWG, and Corel Painter X.

Corel adds that CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 now includes 80 customisable templates that are accompanied by Designer Notes that provide information on the design choices made for the template, tips for outputting a design based on the template, and instructions for customising the template while still adhering to design principles.

For Corel PHOTO-PAINT, which is part of the suite, Corel has added RAW camera file support, a new straighten image tool, enhanced tone curve adjustments, and an integrated histogram.

The CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 includes CorelDRAW X4, Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4, Corel PowerTRACE X4 (for converting bitmaps into editable vector graphics), Corel CAPTURE X4 the one-click screen-capture utility, and the CorelDRAW Handbook.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 also includes two hours of training videos on the DVD.

source:sky