Archive for February, 2008
For drivers geared toward value, Sony Electronics is announcing that its new nav-u™ personal navigation devices (models NV-U73T and NV-U83T) are now available at retail and online stores for about $300 and $400, respectively.
These in-car portable systems contain navigation features that drivers have come to expect, such as text-to-speech voice commands and real-time-traffic capability. They also add new safety features, such as the super suction cup mounting system.
Sony’s new super suction cup comes with both models. It is easy to mount on the windshield or dashboard, providing a tight, stable attachment. Made with a flexible non-adhesive gel, it grips the rugged surface of the dashboard so the touch screen can be mounted closer for an easier reach.
Designed to stay put even in the most extreme temperatures, the super suction cup can also be easily removed and transferred to another vehicle.
Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone Calls
The top-end NV-U83T model adds another safety feature—Bluetooth technology—for making hands-free phone calls. With a built-in microphone, drivers can use voice commands to initiate calls via compatible Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. The nav-u system connects automatically so drivers can keep their hands on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road.
More info at akihabaranews.com
Soon available in Japan and made and designed mainly for the Mac user, it has one USB 2.0 port, two FireWire 800 ports, one FireWire 400 port, and one eSATA port. Definitively a must have if you’re looking for the most versatile HDD enclosure on the market.
Buffalo will offer its HDD case in three different capacities: 320GB, 500GB and 1TB.
Prices are range between 190 to 435 EUR.
The good news is this HDD enclosure is available (minus HDD) on GeekStuff4U.com and has been for a month. It can be shipped worldwide! (CE and FCC), under the name of Super Combo HDD Case. for 123 EUR
Source akihabaranews.com
Are you a Mecha or Transformer fan? Softbank may have created the ultimate mobile phone for you, the SoftBank 815T PB (Toshiba)!
Made for a new Japanese TV drama (Ketai Sousakan 7), this mobile phone can also be used as a toy since you can literally glue a a MECHA like kit to the back of the it and turn it into a Transformer lookalike.
As we stated earlier this is a REAL 3G phone, with a 3.2Mpix auto focus camera and a QVGA screen.
Source akihabaranews.com
Launched in the States last Autumn, Panasonic’s DMP-BD30 Blu-ray player is getting an introduction into the UK.
Offering 1920 x 1080 image resolution and high-quality surround sound from advanced formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, the BD30 offers "Final Standard Profile" to bring the full fat Blu-ray experience to your lounge.
Final Standard Profile adds new and enhanced features to compatible Blu-ray discs using Profile 1 Version 1.1 and is also referred to as "Bonus View", or even "Full Profile".
For example, a Picture-in-Picture feature displays a sub-screen, and an Audio Mixing function lets the user switch the playback sound between the main screen and the sub-screen.
A super-speedy chip-set, Panasonic’s Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD technology, PHL Reference Chroma Processor and the 1080/24p Playback function provides Blu-ray disc movies with the same 24fps playback used in movie theatres and should ensure great picture quality.
Other features include the ability to upscale DVD to 1080p, play CDs and the player has an SD card slot too.
Bundled in the UK with Ratatouille and Cars Blu-ray discs, the UK pricing for the BD30 will be £349.
Source pocket-lint.co.uk
This A-Data 2GB flash drive that resembles the Mickey Mouse’s head is somewhat usual to us at first sight since we aren’t exactly used to seeing iconic character in 3D, much less separated from his body. A-data adopted an ingenious design that doesn’t use retractable USB connector but rather a detachable ear that pulls out to reveal the mini thumbdrive. This helps to keep the cost down by making things less complicated. The left ear has one piercing that doubles as a keychain loop hole, and for personalization, you can put a photo behind the front plastic window.
What really surprised us was that the whitish Mickey Mouse drive is a really speed demon (no irony intended), coming out better than most themed drives with read speed averaging at 30MB/s. For the rest of us, OCZ and Corsair make some less childish thumbdrives.
Source Everything USB
Created by NASA, Memory Foam is revolutionary visco-elastic foam that is made up of cells that open and close and adjusts to body weight and temperature. Technicalities aside, these shades hook onto your MP3 player and play your music as you relax and unwind. The built-in speakers provide a soothing escape into darkness and your own favorite music. So pop them up when on a long-haul flight or simply indulge in a power-nap at work, the Memory Foam MP3 Blackout Shades will give you company everywhere. Memory Foam MP3 Blackout Shades from Smarthome cost $24.99.
Source Newlaunches.com
Imagine a phone made from cotton. Soft, pliable, and light yet never compromising on power or performance. The Soft Phone concept by designer Qian Jiang takes what we know about electronic cellulose structures and squeezes every last ounce of performance out of it, literally!
It’s a series of discs with electronic fabric stretched in between. The interface uses a combination of tactile gestures like squeezing to hang-up and touch which detects a deformation on the surface to register input. The fibers are fine enough and optically clear allowing light energy to pass thru to display simple contextual menus. Whenever you need a full QWERTY just unfurl the collapsible structure. The cell antenna, battery, camera, and micro electronics are contained inside a tiny clip which itself is made of soft, squeezable, stress-reducing silica.
One thing this phone concept did do away with is a receiver because didn’t you know people in the future only use hands-free wireless technologies? Pffft!
Designer: Qian Jiang
Source Yanko Design
RK Launcher installer gets an update. We have received few e-mails reporting that RK Launcher installer tends to crash under Windows Vista SP1.
Updates:
New installer compilation with better compatibility. (32Bit and 64Bit)
New icons added.
Ability to change the installation path.
Repair option added.
What’s included?
Refflective Icon collection
Stacks Docklet
New Leopard Dock skins
Tasks Docklet
iShut
Address Book
Author: Yoni
Source osx-e.com
Sony announces its new range of DAV-DZ BRAVIA Theatre systems, each styled to match the look and feel of the latest BRAVIA TVs. The new systems use BRAVIA Sync, for simpler control of TV and system together. Sony’s Digital Cinema Auto-Calibration ensures fast, simple and automatic multi channel surround sound set up, and with Sony’s DIGITAL MEDIA PORT you can connect your portable and wireless music devices for a full Home Theatre sound experience.
In addition, the systems will now upscale existing DVD collections to 1080p for the best picture on the latest HD1080 BRAVIA flatscreen TVs, and offer Dialogue Enhancer for clearer dialogue and the best sound balance even at low volume. Top of the range models also offer wireless rear speakers, using Sony’s newly-developed S-AIR technology.
Styled to match BRAVIA TVs – and with BRAVIA Sync for seamless operation
Many consumers are no longer happy with a stack of separate components in their home theatre system: they want a sleek all-in-one set-up, styled to match their TV. Nor do they want a stack of remote control handsets – they’d much rather the whole home entertainment system worked at the touch of a single button. That’s why Sony’s new DAV-DZ BRAVIA Theatre range has been designed to reflect the look and feel of the latest BRAVIA TVs – and uses BRAVIA Sync, an enhanced version of BRAVIA Theatre Sync, to give greater system control integration.
With a BRAVIA Theatre system and BRAVIA TV connected by an HDMI cable, BRAVIA Sync now gives you complete control of system and TV from a single remote control. The systems now offer:
- One Remote Easy Operation, with access to menu functions of connected products from a single handset.
- Simple BRAVIA Sync set-up: when connected to a BRAVIA TV via HDMI, functions of all BRAVIA Sync components are synchronised.
- One-touch Play: playback and theatre sound setting at the touch of a single button.
- System Audio Control from one handset.
- System Standby: just turn off your TV and the whole system goes into standby mode.
More info sony-europe.com
Sony Ericsson has unveiled their new Cyber-Shot branded camera phone, the C902. The 5 MP camera phone features a 2-inch TFT display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution, plus 160MB of internal memory to hold all of your photos. The C902 also features FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0, USB connection and an M2 memory card slot for even more storage extension.
Available in Swift Black and Luscious Red, look for the C902 in Q2 of 2008.
Source uberphones.com