Selasa, 21 Juli 2009

Fujifilm gets official with FinePix F70EXR, Z37, S200EXR and J38 - Gadget World



Fujifilm couldn't keep a lid on a few of its newest point-and-shoot models, but it's still delivering a couple of small surprises on this fine July eve. Starting things off is thealtogether expected FinePix F70EXR (shown), a pocket-friendly shooter with a 10x wide angle optical zoom, a case that's just 22.7 millimeters thick, a 10 megapixel sensor and a respectable price tag of $279.95. Following that is the FinePix Z37, a fashion-forward cam with a 10 megapixel sensor, sleek enclosure, SD / SDHC card slot, a 2.7-inch rear LCD and a $149.95 MSRP. Moving right along, there's the 12 megapixel FinePix S200EXR, a "prosumer" camera with a 2.7-inch display, an extra longevous battery, a 14.3x optical zoom lens and a startling $599.95 sticker. The lower-end FinePix J38 boasts a 12.2 megapixel sensor, SDHC card slot, 3x optical zoom and a $129.95 price, while the entry-level A170 (10 megapixel) and A220 (12 megapixel) handle just the basics for $89.95 and $99.95, respectively. Head on past the break for a detailed look at each and every model.

Fujitsu's sleek FUTRO S100 gets VIA Eden implant - Gadget World



By and large, thin clients are relatively boring. That said, they're typically dead silent and plenty powerful to handle the most basic of tasks, and thanks toFujitsu, this one's even halfway easy on the eyes. The new FUTRO S100 was revealed today, complete with a 500MHz VIA Eden ULV processor that enables the entire system to suck down just 11 watts under full load. Other specs include 1GB of DDR2 memory, a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, VGA output, Ethernet, a VX800 media processor, Chrome9 HC3 graphics and internal CF-based storage support. There's nary a mention of price, but it's ready to ship today for those with the correct change.

Senin, 20 Juli 2009

Collins America announces new Mini DisplayPort LCDs, HDTV tuners - Gadget World



Collins America may have been first out of the gate with the promise of some non-Apple Mini DisplayPort LCDs back in April, but it never got around to the little business of actually releasing them. That hasn't stopped the company from coming back with some fresh new promises of updated models, however, and it's even thrown in a whole new product for good measure. Leading off this batch is the 24-inch CinemaView 24 LCD, which packs a full 1080p resolution, a 2ms response time, a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio, four USB ports, and the same $499 price tag as before. Moving on up considerably is the all new CinemaView 47, which is intended to double as both a TV and PC monitor, and of course packs that same 1080p resolution, along with four USB ports, a 4ms response time, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, and a significantly higher $1,499 price tag. To go along with it, Collins has also debuted its new $399 CinemaView TV device, which packs dual HD tuners, both Mini DisplayPort and HDMI outputs, picture-in-picture support, and inputs for up to four separate HDMI sources. While things are obviously still subject to change (or disappear), both it and the CinemaView 47 are now slated for release in January, while the CinemaView 24 is supposedly on track for an October release.

Intel's 34nm-based 320GB solid state drive - Gadget World

Hankering for an SSD that's as big as your traditional HDD? So is Intel, or so we hear. In fact, we've been hearing whispers that a capacious 320GB solid state drive wasin the works since January, and now those whispers have been upgraded to library-like voices. According to the generally reliable Golum, Intel's so-called Postville SSD family is well on its way to reality, and with them should come much needed price drops. The new series should top out at 320GB, with an 80GB and 160GB version falling underneath. Word on the street has it that both of the smaller two will be around $100 cheaper than the same-sizedX25-M drives, though there's been no leaks on the 320GB model's MSRP. Still, Intel has a golden opportunity here if it'll just get these things to market -- a cheap(er) SSD with a brand name like Intel could blow the solid state market wide open.

Toshiba Blu-ray player - Gadget World

Japan's own Yomiuri is reporting today that Toshiba is expected to finally admit defeat and enter the dark, devious world of Blu-ray later this year. For those keeping tabs, we've heard both confirmations and denials about the outfit finally caving and supporting the format it once battled so valiantly, but this seems to solidify it. If machine translation is to be believed, the company's first DVD / Blu-ray deck is slated for release somewhere in the world by the year's end. The article also mentions that Tosh is strongly considering a Blu-ray recorder for the Japanese market, though no further details on that are available. C'mon Toshiba -- get this bad boy to the States before Christmas.

Kingston unveils 256GB thumb drive for well-heeled memory fiends - Gadget World



We're sure that it's only a matter of moments before a 256GB thumb drive this bulky is something of a joke -- hell, it wasn't so terribly long ago that cramming 256MB into something this size was an accomplishment. That said, if you're a netbook user looking for a storage bump, it looks likeKingston's got your back: this guy boasts transfer rates of up to 20 MB/sec. read and 10 MB/sec. write, and for all of you Vista fans, supports Windows ReadyBoost.

Gateway gives Intel a go with Atom N270-equipped LT2000 netbook - Gadget World


Gateway LT2001u
• Intel® Atom(TM) Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
• Genuine Microsoft Windows XP® Home (Service Pack 3)
• 10.1-inch WSVGA 16:9 ratio TFT LCD (1024x600 resolution)
• Mobile Intel® 945GSE Express Chipset
• 1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM
• 160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive(2)

• Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®
• Web Camera
• Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
• Dolby Headphone Technology
• Three USB 2.0 Ports
• 3-cell Li-ion Battery
• Chassis: NightSky Black
• One-Year Standard Warranty
• 2.62 lbs.
• 10.17 (w) x 7.24 (D) x 1.03 inches (H)
• Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $299.99

Special edition Mad Catz Street Fighter IV controllers set for limited engagement at Comic-Con - Gadget World



Heading to Comic-Con this year? If not, you'll be missing out on a limited edition Street Fighter IV-branded FightSticks and FightPads from Mad Catz, with button layouts designed to maximize your hadouken-throwing efficiency and with a design the Joystiq crew labels as inspired by Sagat (the character) -- a perfect complement to your Tournament Edition sticks. According to Capcom's official blog, only 500 of each have been made, divided evenly between PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The pad will cost you $49.99, the sticks $179.99, and the online auction resale value guaranteed to be even more.

URC debuts MX-5000 universal remote with haptic feedback - Gadget World



URC has rolled out some pretty impressive remotes in its day, and it looks like it now has another claim to fame with what appears to be the first universal remote control with haptic feedback. That comes in the form of the company's new MX-5000 remote (pictured above with the touchscreen-centeredMX-6000 ), which has a 2.7-inch touchscreen that URC says provides a "'very satisfying sensation" when you press one of the onscreen buttons. Otherwise, you can expect it to pack built-in WiFi, narrowband RF and IR to let you control just about anything you can throw at it, along with an included base station to accommodate various IR and RS-232 components and, of course, a built-in rechargeable battery and charging base.

Kamis, 16 Juli 2009

Dell adds Inspiron 17 laptop - Gadget World



Good news, lovers of giant laptops: Dell's just added a 17.3-inch option to its Inspiron lineup. The Inspiron 17 -- which has a backlit 16:9 aspect ratio, 1,600 x 900 resolution LCD -- will boast options for Intel Pentium Dual Core as well as Core 2 Duo processors, up to 3GB of RAM, an up to 320GB SATA hard drive, and an up to 9-cell battery (the base model comes with a 4-cell). Other optionals include a Blu-ray drive and a 1080p display. You can order this puppy now -- the base price is a pretty sweet $499 -- and it should ship sometime in August. One more shot after the break.

Dell debuts Vostro All In One desktop - Gadget World

Dell's business-minded Vostro line of PCs may already seem like it was overflowing with options, but there's been one fairly significant gap that Dell has now finally filled by rolling out its first all-in-one Vostro desktop. As you can imagine, this one is a slightly squarer version of the company'sStudio One 19 home PC, with it packing a 19-inch display, and a range of fairly standard configuration options, including Core 2 Duo or Pentium dual-core processors, and 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive in its base configuration. What's more, while the system packs the usual built-in kickstand, it can also be used with an optional VESA mount to free up even more desk space, and you can of course also grab it with a wireless mouse and keyboard to further cut down on clutter. Look for this one to hit North America on August 11th, although folks in Japan and China can grab one right one for a starting price of $629.

Updated Dell Inspiron 13 - Gadget World



Dell Singapore site right now and we're this close to falling in love -- it's thinner and lighter, takes some nice design cues from theInspiron Mini and Studio lines, and the configuration with a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo and ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 graphics costs just S$1,399 ($962). Oh, and there's also an LED-backlit 1366 x 768 display, HDMI / VGA out, an ExpressCard/34 slot, and 1394 -- pretty great for under a grand. We're on pins and needles waiting for official US pricing information: not only do we expect it to be slightly lower, you just know Dell will be blowing these things out when back-to-school rolls around.

Samsung's BD-P4600 Blu-ray player - Gadget World

Samsung's top of the line BD-P4600's turn. If you've ever thought that the perfect place to put your Blu-ray player is mounted on the wall under your HDTV, then there is little doubt that this is the Blu-ray player for you. Of course that doesn't mean you should buy it blindly without any other regards, which is exactly why we took the time to try it out for you.

White PSP Assassin's Creed Bloodlines bundle to sell for $199 - Gadget World



Did anyone else think that Sony would have finally killed off the UMD movie for real by now? Guess again, suckers. The company just spilled some more details on that Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines PSP Entertainment Pack, and in addition to that sexy white PSP-3000 and 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, your $199 will get you an as-yet-unnamed feature film on UMD. Yes, even as Sony tip-toes into the future with the PSPgo, it's still trying to peddle movies on a garbage proprietary format no one ever really wanted and that most studios have stopped supporting. Old habits die hard, we suppose. Video after the break.

HTC Hero freed from generic box, called best Android device yet - Gadget World

It's not officially available yet, but the fine folks at Android Community have gotten their hands on a HTC Hero and posted up a quick unboxing and overview. Their unit is an unaffiliated generic whitebox model, so it's likely that the retail packaging the rest of us see from carriers will be different, but none of that changes the device itself, which AC thinks is the "best Android device to date." That's quite a statement, but we're inclined to agree -- we'll see if anything changes when we get that US 3G version in our hands. More pics at the read link, video after the break.

Alienware M17x gaming laptop gets "special edition" Nebula Red color option - Gadget World

Not satisfied with a gaming laptop that can be maxed out with a top-end Core 2 Extreme Quad processor and dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M graphics? Then how about a red gaming laptop that can be maxed out with a top-end Core 2 Extreme Quad processor and dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M graphics? That, as you might have deduced, is the latest option available on the "all powerful" AlienwareM17x laptop, which takes the red accents already found on the laptop and runs with 'em (check the gallery below for a closer look). Of course, "special editions" rarely come free, and this new Nebula Red color option is no exception, with it setting you back an extra $99 on top of the laptop's $1,799 base price.

Woodstation acts like a weather station, looks like a dead tree - Gadget World



Usually the intersection of woodcraft and gadgetry consists of little more than taking a piece of gear and putting it in a box. Woodstation may be no different, but at least it does its thing with some style, placing its LED display beneath the surface, allowing it to seeminglydisplay weather data on the wood itself. And if that weren't enough, the device contains a motion sensor (it turns itself on when you enter the room) as well as date, time, and alarm functions. Available in a maple or walnut finish, this bad boy is currently available in the UK for £89.95 (about $147). And unlike theAmazon Kindling, this thing actually works.

Kamis, 09 Juli 2009

NVIDIA's 40nm GeForce G210 and GeForce GT 220 desktop GPUs emerge - Gadget World

We can't say we're entirely shocked to see 'em, but a new pair of GPUs based on 40 nanometer process technology has surfaced over atNVIDIA 's website. Both of the new devices are expected to be sold exclusively to large OEMs for integration into pre-configured machines, and they'll both support DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.0, and CUDA. The lower-end GeForce G210 arrives with a 589MHz core clock speed, 512MB of DDR2 RAM and a 64-bit memory interface; meanwhile, the GeForce GT 220 ups the ante with a 615MHz core clock rate, 1GB of GDDR3 RAM and a 128-bit memory interface. As for outputs, the former packs VGA, DisplayPort and DVI, while the latter sticks with VGA, HDMI and DVI. There's no word on when we'll seen them offered in any entry-level desktop rigs, but surely it won't be long now.

Nokia makes 3720 official - Gadget World

Nokia's not exactly known for its beefy, ultra-survivable gear, but unless the human race plans on getting a whole lot less clumsy, rugged phones will always be a good idea -- and Espoo's 3720 certainly seems to fill the bill. The Series 40-based candybar features a 2 megapixel cam with LED flash, triband EDGE (sorry, North Americans), FM radio, microSD expansion, and the latest and greatest Bluetooth 2.1, but the real news here is that the phone is built to meet IP54 standards. A quick check with our handy-dandy IP code reference tells us that means that "ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact" -- in other words, your phone might get nasty dirty, but it'll keep chugging -- and it can withstand "splashing" water. Scuba divers, the search for your perfect phone probably continues. Refreshingly, the 3720 will run just €125 (about $175) unlocked when it ships later this summer.

Getac 9213 "business rugged" laptop tones down the toughness, the ugly - Gadget World

Looking for something a little tougher than your average notebook yet a little less fugly than your typical Toughbook? Getac's 9213 is a "business rugged" device that sports a full magnesium alloy chassis, a spill-resistant keyboard and touchpad, and a 13.3-inch WXGA display. With a 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn-class ULV processor, 3GB of RAM, a shock-mounted HDD (up to 250GB), and a battery life of up to eight hours, this guy shouldn't be slouch as far as performance goes -- and if that weren't enough you can swap out the optical drive for a second battery (extending its life another fifty percent or so). As you'd imagine, the connectivity options here include draft-n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and an optional 3.75G HSUPA module. Man, we can't wait to put this bad boy through one of our sadistic torture tests! Available now with an MSRP of $1,799.

Lenovo's IdeaPad S10-2 - Gadget World

Lenovo's S10-2 was a minor update to the original S10 (to put things nicely), but that's not to say it's not worth a look for those in the market for a 10-inch netbook. Boasting a slightly thinner, more beautified frame, the S10-2 also includes a tweaked keyboard, optional 3G, an extra USB port and none of the quirks that plagued the first edition. The benchmarking fiends over at HotHardware managed to sneak one of these things into their labs for testing, and while they largely found the S10-2 to be about the same as every other N270 + GMA 950 netbook out there, the 5.5 hour battery life was definitely impressive. All told, the S10-2 was found to be solid from top to bottom, but the $350 price tag did feel a bit steep considering just how many alternatives are out there. Still, even with the positive vibes, it's hard to recommend buying a WinXP netbook now with Windows 7 (and thus, no hardware limitations) just around the bend.

HP Mini 110 netbook gets 1366 x 768 display option - Gadget World

HP's Mini 110 netbook already had quite a bit going for it as it is, including a fair number of configuration options, but it looks like HP has now sweetened the deal even further by adding a 1366 x 768 display option. That upgraded screen is also thankfully the same anti-glare type of display that's been previously available with the lower res, and it'll set you back a fairly reasonable $30 on top of the base $329.99 price for the XP-based netbook (it's not currently available for the Mi Edition Mini). Better still, there just so happens to be a $30 off coupon floating around to completely even things out, which you can find by hitting up the link below before heading to HP's site.

Rabu, 24 Juni 2009

RCA's EZ209HD Small Wonder HD camcorder ships to retailers - Gadget World

It may lack the buzz factor of a Flip Video unit, but RCA's delightfully bantam Small Wonder HD camcorder is apt to provide just as much enjoyment without attracting loads of paparazzi. First announced at CES this year, the EZ209HD captures clips at 1,280 x 720 (H.264) and checks in at around 0.5-inches thick. It's shipping out now to retailers across the nation for under a Benjamin, but you should probably include a 16GB SDHC card in your budget plans. You know, just in case you plan on shooting for longer than the 2.85 seconds allowed by the 256MB of internal memory.

Zune HD video hands-on quickie - Gadget World



Sure, we've been chummy with the Zune HD in the past, but we just took it for a quick spin on video so you can check out those smooth transitions for yourself. Unfortunately, the unit we were playing with had zero content loaded on it, but you can check out the slick unlock mechanism, swooping screen-change animations and a bit of pre-loaded Zune video on the gorgeous OLED screen. Plus we tossed together a few pics and a shot of theTegra chip that's doing all the work into a gallery below. Video is after the break.

Pentax's Optio W80 point-and-shoot shrugs off water, haters - Gadget World



While Canon's PowerShot D10 has been hogging the spotlight in the waterproof point-and-shoot arena, Pentax is dropping in a formidable opponent this evening with the Optio W80. Said shooter measures in at just one inch thick and features a 12.1 megapixel sensor, a 5x internal optical zoom, a wide-angle 28mm lens and a SuperProtect coating that helps repel water, grime and finger marks from the len's crystal cover. The chassis is built to handle submersion in water up to 16 feet deep, not to mention extreme cold, dust and drops of one meter or less. There's also a 2.5-inch rear LCD, a 720p movie mode, face detection and shake reduction. It's slated to ship next month for $299.95; now you've just got to decide between Cardinal Red, Azure Blue and Gunmetal Gray. Tough call, right? The full release is just past the break.

Buffalo's 16GB 5mm USB Thumbkey: It's really small - Gadget World



This isn't the first time Buffalo's blown our minds with its lilliputian tech. The WiFi dongle, you have to admit, was pretty sweet. What can we say about the 5mm Thumbkey drive? For starters, it's really small. And it has a 16GB capacity. And it''ll cost you about $136 when it goes on sale (any day now). Sure, that's a tad pricey for a device that lacksgears and rubies -- but did we mention how small this thing is?

Gateway unveils DX mini-tower and SX small form factor PCs - Gadget World



Nettop? All-in-one? Sometimes you just want a good ole' fashioned desktop, and that's where Gateway's new DX and SX PCs come into play. The SX small form factor, pictured above, has packed in a 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Quad with GMA X4500 integrated graphics, 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 640GB HDD, a 18x DVD writer, multi-card reader, nine USB 2.0 ports, multi-card reader, firewire and eSATA, HDMI and VGA outputs, and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. Asking price for that setup is $499, but if you're looking to game, we don't see much room for adding a hipper graphics card. On the slightly heftier side, the DX mini-tower boasts either an Intel Core 2 Quad or AMD Phenom X4 with NVIDIA GeForce G210 / ATI Radeon 4650 graphics cards, respectively, up to 8GB DDR3 and 1TB HDD, eight USB 2.0 ports, and all the other amenities of the SX for a starting price of $750. Both models are expected for release end of June, which means pretty much now-ish. To top it off, the company's also just released a new FHD display series in 21.5, 23, and 24-inch varieties, and it looks like there's been a spec refresh to its LX and FX desktop lines. Full press release after the break.

Microsoft rolls out Windows 7 packaging - Gadget World



We could swear we've seen this before, but nonetheless, Microsoft's Windows blog has unveiled what it's calling the official Windows 7's packaging -- as in, this it what we'll be seeing in stores when it launches this fall. It's apparently 37 percent lighter and has a 50 percent better econometrics score over the Vista box, which we can't help but draw mental parallels to the platform's overall performance and mindshare improvements. See it for yourself in the gallery below -- couldn't hurt to get a peek now at what you'll be picking up comeOctober 22nd.

New Toshiba Satellite laptops now available Stateside - Gadget World



Remember those new Satellite's Toshiba that dropped in Europe a week or two ago? Seems like they're making the scene Stateside starting today, alongside several of their siblings.As previously noted , the A500 is a 16-inch multimedia machine (starting at $749.99), while the U500 ($849.99) is a 13.3-inch guy more suited to on-the-go computing. Newly announced are the M500/M505 (with 14-inch high-def LED display, starting at $699.99) and the P500/P505 (an 18.4-inch desktop replacement with slot-loading DVD drive, starting at $799.99). All the new Satellites include multimedia command keys, webcam, face recognition software, harmon/kardon speakers and, of course, the world renowned eSATA/USB combo port. And if you're good, we have a couple pics for you. After the break, of course.

OCZ rolls out Sabre OLED gaming keyboard - Gadget World



If this OLED-laden keyboard looks a little familiar, it should, 'cause we saw the same one back at Computex when it was known as theUnited Keys OLED Display Keyboard (itself manufactured by Foxconn). Of course, with the OCZ name comes widespread US availability, although there's unfortunately still no word of a price or release date just yet (the United Keys version runs $260). Otherwise, it looks like this new Sabre model has remain unchanged from its earlier counterpart, with it still packing the same nine user-programmable OLED keys, 128MB of on-board memory, blue LED "sidelighting," limitless macro configurations, some "super tactile, low-noise" key feedback and, unfortunately, a lack of Mac compatibility.

Selasa, 23 Juni 2009

VIZIO Internet App HDTVs launch later this year, for less than you might expect - Gadget World



Sure VIZIO only just showed off new updates in its high end XVT series, but it's already planning the next generation of LCDs with VIZIO Internet Apps included. Packing widget functionality, 802.11n wireless networking and slider QWERTY Bluetooth remote, the SV422XVT, SV472XVT and VF552XVT Connected HDTVs are coming home in November, October and December, respectively. Already on deck to serve up content for your widgets are Vudu, Revision3, Facebook, Twitter, Rhapsody, Blockbuster OnDemand, Showtime, Flickr and more. The biggest surprise? There's apparently no price premium planned for these features, with the 55-inch clocking in at the same $2,199 price as the model it's replacing, though the 47-inch jumps $200 over the previous edition to $1,699, while adding the local dimming LED backlit technology previously reserved for the 55-inch. The 42-inch will be the first and cheapest available at $1,199 (sans LED) -- we'll see if that bar is low enough to get viewers tojump into the internet-connected display future.

T-Mobile myTouch 3G gets unboxed, user guide outed - Gadget World



Can't wait until July to check out every nook and cranny of T-Mobile's version of the Ion / Magic? A couple of tipsters, including one anonymously, have lent us a hand in that department with pictures of an apparent myTouch 3G unboxing, as well as an entire user guide dating back to May 19th. We're still rummaging through it ourselves, but so far we're not seeing anything we didn't already know or see for ourselves with the phone's many other releases. Completionists can hit up the 113-page manual in the gallery below.

HP ProBook 4310s serves up a cornucopia of options for the configuration junky within - Gadget World



It'd be difficult to term HP's new Mini 5101 netbook "exciting" but the new ProBook 4310s has promise -- or at least flexibility. Like its name suggests, the ProBook 4310s is for boring people who like to spend their days alternating between an Excel spreadsheet and Peggle, but the specs and looks hint at adventure. Basically, this 13.3-inch laptop can be whatever you'd like it to be, with a starting price of $799 and the whole gamut of options, from Celeron to Core 2 Duo, FreeDOS to Vista, DVD to Blu-ray, and integrated or discrete graphics (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 with 512MB of RAM and HyperMemory support). There's space for up to 8GB of RAM, EV-DO, ExpressCard 34, SD card, all sorts of hard drives -- if you can imagine a spec HP probably has an option for it inside this 1-inch thick, 4.34 pound shell. Even the screen is available in three different configurations -- it's nice to be reminded now and then that high design doesn't always have to kill choice. The 4310s will be available on July 20th.

HP Mini 5101 cleans up nice, shows the serious side of netbooks - Gadget World



Just when you thought you were safe from the netbook horde, along comes HP's new Mini 5101 to tempt you with the same basic specs once again, but this time with a slick aluminum and magnesium chassis to appeal to the "mobile professional" or anyone else with a bit of class. In a crazy twist, HP has **finally moved the mouse buttons below the trackpad (because only professionals like clicking), and has included other perks like a 7200 RPM hard drive, Bluetooth 2.0, 2 megapixel webcam, and options of either a WSVGA (1024 x 600) or "HD" (1366 x 768) 10.1-inch LED screen. There are also options for 80GB or 128GB SSD drives, four-cell or six-cell batteries, with the latter rated at an improbable eight hours of runtime, and of course WWAN. There's a start price of $449, but with some of these options we could see that shooting up pretty fast -- especially if you pick the optional USB-powered external disc drive, external speakers or port replicator. It's not cheap being cheap. The Mini 5101 goes on sale in July.

Disney Netpal hands-on - Gadget World



We got a quick look Disney's little Netpal Eee PC rebadge, and found our not-too-high expectations slightly exceeded by the fairly slick skin Disney has slapped on top of XP. The Netpal platform is really Disney's primary contribution here, since the computer underneath is vanilla Eee PC other than the fairly stylish "boy" and "girl" skinning job. The shell, however, is a locked down environment that allows parents to white list web sites and email addresses for kids to access, along with a list of allowable apps -- kids aren't restricted to just Disney's set of experiences, little Bobby can master PowerPoint in between play dates if his parents don't mind. Standard netbook sluggishness is of course a drawback, but the extensive parental controls, kid-friendly interface and $350 retail price are all good omens for rising above the general shoddiness and usual misnomer of "kid tech." Video is after the break.

Acer rolls out new budget-minded Aspire laptops - Gadget World



They may not be quite as thin and light as Acer's Timeline laptops, but the company's latest trio of Aspire models will at least save you a few bucks, and give you some decent enough specs as well. On the low-end of the lot are the 15.6-inch AS5536 and the 17.3-inch AS7735Z (pictured above), the former of which packs an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics, and a 320GB hard drive, while the latter sports a Pentium T4200 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, and a 250GB hard drive. Both of those, however, are bested by the 15.6-inch AS5739G, which dials things up to a Core 2 Duo T6500 processor, 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA Geforce GT130M graphics with 1GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, and a built-in Blu-ray drive -- all for just $750. Look for all three to be available this month, with the AS5536 and AS7735Z running $480 and $600.

QNAP's SS-839 Pro Tubo NAS keeps it real with 8 bays and 4TB RAID storage - Gadget World



It looks like QNAP's insane desire to present the market with bigger and better network storage continues unabated. The SS-839 Pro Turbo NAS is being billed as the world's smallest 8-bay Intel Atom NAS, featuring a 1.6GHz N270 processor, 2GB memory, up to eight 2.5-inch hard drives or solid state disks, up to 4TB storage capacity, 2 eSATA and 5 USB ports. Power consumption with eight hard drives installed is about 34W. Software features include the usual: thin provisioning, online RAID capacity expansion and level migration, AES 256-bit volume-based encryption, Wake on LAN, SMS and email alerts, network surveillance via IP cameras, and the like. So, what are you waiting for? Hit that read link for the full, unexpurgated story.

Belkin's Gigabit Powerline Adapter ups the ante for electrical outlet networking - Gadget World



We don't know exactly how, but Belkin's claiming its new Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit adapters can outpace the current 200Mbps standard speed of most other powerline devices (not all of them, mind you) by five fold. Of course, the caveat here is that the touted 1000Mbps is under ideal settings, and there's no telling what other network traffic, interference, or problematic wiring could lower that figure -- still, assuming all conditions are sound, we're talking some hefty numbers for an HD streaming network run via your home's electrical system. It's available now in North America at a penny under $150 for a pair of adapters, with a European release in early August.

Lenovo intros well-connected 0.83-inch thick ThinkPad T400s - Gadget World



Thinner than some netbooks and more potent than four or five of them combined, Lenovo's ThinkPad T400s aims to hit some sort of sweet spot in between weak ultraportables and battery-draining 15-inchers. The 14.1-inch lappie measures in at a remarkable 0.83-inches thin and boasts a starting weight of under four pounds. Within, you'll find Lenovo's heralded roll cage technology, a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor, your choice of a 128GB SSD or 250GB HDD, a 9.5mm slim DVD burner or Blu-ray player, a multitouch trackpad, Ethernet, WiFi, optional WiMAX / WWAN / Bluetooth / ultra-wideband, a 34mm ExpressCard slot (or 5-in-1 card reader), a battery good for six hours and VGA / DisplayPort outputs. There's also support for the company'sConstantConnect and Protect technology as well as a built-in USB / eSATA port. In a surprising move, Lenovo decided to actually tweak the keyboard that has become a staple of the ThinkPad line; it increased the size of the Delete and Escape keys and tightened up the spaces between the keys to "help avoid crumbs that would otherwise fall below the keyboard." You can check the full release just past the break, and you can call one your own starting today for $1,599 and up.

Gateway's AMD-packing LT3100 netbook unleashed - Gadget World



Last time we saw Gateway's 11.6-inch LT3100 it was buried in a heap of other Acer / eMachines netbook reveals, including the Timeline. Now it's gone official, and the big surprise here is that the self-proclaimed netbook is sporting a processor from AMD -- you know, the company who has largelyshunned netbooks while later looking to differentiate with the "ultra-portable" Athlon Neo processor. The 1.2GHz Athlon 64 L110 is what's packed in here, in addition to integrated ATI Radeon X1270 graphics, WXGA resolution, up to 2GB RAM and 250GB HDD, card reader, 802.11b/g, webcam, three USB 2.0 port, and a 6-cell Li-ion battery. Not sure if it's because they shied away from Atom or not, but instead of XP we've got Windows Vista Basic for the OS. Available in NightSky Black and Cherry Red, it should be out soon-ish with prices starting at $400.

Kamis, 18 Juni 2009

HiPhone enters the laptop game, to our great amusement - Gadget World



Leave it to the brain trust at HiPhone to thwart our expectations. Instead of delivering a KIRF laptop befitting the company previously known for that dubiousnano / Aura mash-up, the iLaptop-2009 makes no attempt to be anything other than what it is: a totally nondescript 12.1-inch device that sports an Intel N270 (1.6GHz) processor and a 160GB SATA HDD. Yours now for a cool $450. And have you seen the pics of this thing? Man, are they lousy -- so bad, in fact, that we feel compelled to include a gallery of them for your enjoyment. You're welcome.

Verizon rolls out global laptop data with USB1000 stick - Gadget World



The promise of global data is finally becoming a reality for modem users on Verizon today with the release of its Novatel-sourced USB1000, a USB stick (hence the "USB" in the name, we're willing to bet) that features EV-DO Rev. A for domestic use plus triband HSPA when you're roaming around the globe. The stick itself runs $149.99 on contract after a $50 rebate, while monthly global data plans run from $129.99 for 100MB of data in 31 countries to $219.99 for 200MB; both plans include 5GB for use in the US and Canada. It'll be available online starting tomorrow.

Logitech debuts wireless Guitar Hero controller for Xbox 360 - Gadget World



Third-party wireless guitar controllers for the Xbox 360 have been disappointingly hard to come by to date, but Logitech has now come to the rescue with a new Guitar Hero-licensed controller that's similar to its PS3 and PS2 offerings, with the exception of being orange, and Xbox 360-compatible. Otherwise, you can expect the same wood neck, rosewood fingerboard, and metal frets as before, along with a touch-sensitive slider on the neck, strum bar and fret buttons that are "virtually silent," and a promised range of 30 feet. Unfortunately, the guitar also packs the same hefty $199 price tag as its PS3 counterpart, but if that's not too big a deterrent, you can look forward to picking up one of these up in August. Head on past the break for a quick video overview.

MacBook Pro (mid 2009) in-depth impressions - Gadget World



Let's be straight here: we're a little perplexed by the new MacBook Pro line. On one hand, Apple didn't really make enough changes to warrant a whole new review of the unibody lineup, and minor speed bumps aside, briefly using one of the new machines feels pretty much like using most any recent Mac: it's OS X on a really nice, albeit extremely glossy screen. On the other hand, after a week in the trenches, it's clear that all those seemingly minor changes will have a big impact down the line -- especially the move to sealed-in batteries across the board, which is a decision with decidedly mixed consequences. What's more, we think these changes impact the 13-inch and 15-inch models very differently -- the $1,199 13-inch configuration might have a shiny new Pro label on it, but even Apple admits that it's an entry-level consumer machine, and consumers and professionals don't have the same needs.

Samsung debuts first 32GB DDR3 memory module - Gadget World



Samsung has been making promises about a 32GB DDR3 memory module since it rolled out its first 50nm 4Gb DDR3 memory chip way back in January, but it looks like it's now finally delivered. While it won't be headed for regular desktops or laptops just yet, the company does have a new 1.35 volt 32GB module for servers which, in addition to packing that record-breaking capacity, also boasts a 20% better throughput compared to previous 1.5 volt modules and, of course, a lower power consumption to boot. As some math not performed by us will reveal, the module itself is made up of 72 of those 4Gb memory chips, which are lined up in rows of nine quad-die packaged 16Gb DDR3s mounted on each side of the circuit board. No word on pricing just yet, nor is there any word about Samsung's promised desktop and laptop memory, which are apparently still in the works -- in the form of 8GB DIMMs, at least.


Sony unveils 15.5-inch VAIO NW with BD-ROM and $880 price tag, we go hands-on - Gadget World


Sony announced today a new entry into its VAIO series, the NW, complete with a Blu-ray drive and what they're hoping is an aggressive pricing point. It's packing a 15.5-inch WXGA display with XBRITE, 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350, ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 with 512MB VRAM, a 4x BD-ROM drive, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, webcam, 802.11a/b/g/n, a 400GB HDD, and a Li-ion battery that's at best 5.5 hours in large capacity and at worst 1.5 hours with the standard-sized version. Port-wise, we've got VGA and HDMI output and Memory Stick Pro, ExpressCard, and SD card slots.

We got a chance to get some hands-on time with the portable, and we gotta say, it's a pretty impressive little number. It's not the most slender 15-incher, but at six pounds, it's lighter than we expected. The chiclet keys -- dubbed "isolated keyboard" by Sony PR -- are comfortable to use, as is the textured trackpad. Body and hinge felt sturdy, with an intentionally rugged and stylistic feel to it, and as one rep was excited to show, the metallic "Vaio" logo on the back makes a great reflection in the sun. From what we saw, Blu-ray playback was smooth, but we did notice horizontal viewing angles weren't the best. We'll reserve judgment when we get some play time with the unit and see how hard we can push the software, but for now we're pretty happy with what we've seen. Starting price isn't too shabby, at $880 equipped with the BD-ROM and $800 without, and it comes in three colors: white, grey, and dark brown. Striking your fancy? Look for it to ship out pretty quickly, as in some time next month.

Minggu, 14 Juni 2009

Tragus Headset Designer Likely Had Baby Batter On the Brain - Gadget World



The Tragus Bluetooth headset concept is a clever idea for people who misplace theirs between calls, save for the fact that it looks like a colorful sperm is about to swim into your ear canal. The flagellum squiggle is a clip that fastens the earpiece to your shirt collar when not in use. We'd say that's incredibly handy, if not for all the lame "is that hair gel?" jokes you'll get from your friends.

Sonoro Eklipse clock radio / iPod dock gets official, priced - Gadget World



This one's been making the rounds in Europe for some time now, and finally passed through the FCC late last year, but it looks like Sonoro's Eklipse iPod dock / CD player / clock radio has only just recently gotten fully official in the US, and given a price. Unfortunately, while it has dropped a bit compared to the Euro conversion, it is still a fairly hefty $550, which will buy you 7.5W of power output, a nice little OLED display, a compact remote, and an auxiliary jack in case the iPod dock and slot-load CD player aren't enough options for you. There's still no official word on a release date, however, but it looks like at least one retailer is now taking pre-orders for it.

MSI X-Slim X600 specs get detailed in full - Gadget World

We've already gotten word of some of the specs for MSI's new X-Slim X600 ultraportable, and gotten up close with the laptop itself, but those few remaining details has now finally been revealed in full, along with some fresh new pics of a hereto unseen black model. According to Notebook Italia, there will be two variations of the laptop available: one packing a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Solo processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive, and the other sporting a slower 1.2GHz Intel Celeron processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive -- the latter also ditches the built-in Bluetooth. Otherwise, you'll get ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics on each, along with HDMI out, three USB ports, a six-cell battery and, of course, that 15.6-inch 1,366 x 768 screen. Still no official word on a US release, unfortunately, but it looks like these will sell for €799 and €949 (or roughly $1,120 and $1,320) when they hit Europe at the end of June.

Shuttle's H7 5800 packs Core i7 and all the trimmings into a small form factor PC - Gadget World



These days, Shuttle's particular brand of small form factor PC isn't as exactly stunning as it once was, but it's still fun to see just how much they can cram in there. Shuttle has taken its barebonesSX58H7 Core i7 kit and is now offering it preconfigured with Core i7 Extreme processors, 6GB of RAM and GeForce GTX 285 graphics (With support for SLI or ATI CrossFireX). Unfortunately the base price for the H7 5800 is a silly high $2,149, and once you actually get to any of those previously mentioned trimmings, you're looking at around $4k for a computer. It might be slight technical feat, but we can't imagine Shuttle burning up the sales charts with this one. The barebones kit retails for $719.