Archive for the ‘News’ Category
HP is adding to its Pavilion Puma-based offerings with the dv7z, a 17-inch version of the AMD-centric laptops. The new model features a variety of configurations, starting with an Athlon X2 dual core CPU (1.9GHz up to 2.2GHz), up to 4GB of RAM, an ATI Radeon HD 3200 or 3450 graphics chipset, storage options from 160GB to 500GB, and a vast array of screen resolutions, optical drives, and networking add-ons. The systems start at $949.99, and are available for customization and ordering right now.
Posit Science has announced that Mac users can now get its Brain fitness Program Classic for Mac OS X. the program offers users exercises that are designed to provide faster thinking, sharper focus, and better memory.
The application was designed by a team of 50 neuroscientists from UCSF, Yale, Stanford, MIT, and UC Davis. The application retails for $395 for a single user and will run on PowerPC 10.3.9x- 10.4.x and Intel Macs 10.4.x – 10.5.x.
Mac user Susan Greskevitch, who’s 47 years old, is already seeing benefits from the program. "I’ve noticed changes after just 12 sessions of the Posit Science Brain Fitness Program," she says. "For instance, in the last week or so I’ve noticed that I’m suddenly using words that were in my vocabulary, but that I didn’t use very often. You’ve developed a fantastic program and I’ve already recommended it to several people."
Sony’s PlayStation 3, long third in the wave of current-generation game consoles, is finally beginning to accumulate substantial sales, statistics show. Bloomberg reports that during the first five months of 2008 the PS3 sold more units than Microsoft’s Xbox 360, which has normally held second place under Nintendo’s Wii. The surge is attributed mainly to high-profile exclusives like Metal Gear Solid 4, and the demise of HD DVD, boosting the appeal of Sony’s extensible, built-in Blu-ray drive.
The 360 may continue to have an inherent edge however, as it has been on sale since 2005, and has thus accumulated a much larger userbase. Microsoft is also attempting to reinvigorate the console with new, larger hard drives, challenging options for the PS3. The PS3 is presently available in a 40GB standard edition, or an 80GB MGS4 bundle. The 60GB 360 will replace a 20GB model, and join the 120GB Elite.
Coming in the fall Xbox 360 update: Netflix! Yes, Xbox 360 owners who are also Netflix subscribers will be able to stream movies available for online streaming now straight to their consoles. You can also share your Netflix movies with friends via your Xbox Live party so you can watch stuff together, although whether or not you’ll all need accounts isn’t clear. Here’s hoping you Xbox owners didn’t shell out for a Roku box, as it’s about to become useless. Oops! But still, awesome.
From Gizmodo
According to Nikkei, Toyota’s apparently going to be equipping future high-end Priuses with Kyocera-built roof-mounted solar panels. Somewhat counterintuitively, the sun’s rays won’t be used to power the car itself, but will instead run the AC. It also sounds like your next solar-assisted Prius won’t be around for a while, as the panels aren’t designed in yet, nor will they be until early next year when Toyota starts work on revamping the line.
One of the coolest things about the Batpod from the upcoming Dark Knight movie is the fact that it actually works. Previously seen being straddled by Meredith Viera on The Today Show, the decked out motorcycle burned rubber at the slightly more dignified British Formula One Grand Prix this weekend. Who else would give anything to be Jean-Pierre Goy, Christian Bale’s stuntman, right now?
Ozone the future concept vehicle designed for Peugot can be defined as a perfect fusion of accessibility and pleasure. This eco wary future concept vehicle has created a new standard of excellence in future luxury segment vehicles. Ozone which has semi transparent glasses is a hydrogen powered fuel cell transportation vehicle. The cabin of the vehicle is encased between two giant wheels that are controlled by two separate electric motors powered by the fuel cells. The symmetric metal body is loaded with doors slide 360 degree into its own frame.
Ozone has good interior volume while the exterior has an excellent view. Controlled with a joystick Ozone expresses the functionality and clarity of modern design.
Taiwan display maker Innolux has landed new orders for touchscreens from Apple, say claims from those inside the industry. While few details are available, the company is expected to start shipments soon; the company itself declines to either confirm or deny orders from Apple but says it will soon ship a production run of touch panels using capacitive input like that of Apple’s handhelds.
The size of the screens and the amount being delievered is unavailable, though Innolux’s largest of two factories producing the screens can generate at most 100,000 units per month.
The new information corroborates a very early report from December which suggested Innolux would start shipping screens to Apple during the spring, though the combination of smaller-scale production and a relatively late shipment make the nature of the shipment unclear.
Apple has historically relied on the competing display firm Wintek for the panels used in the iPhone and iPod touch, suggesting that the California company is expanding capacity to accommodate iPhone 3G demand, switching suppliers, or else relying on Innolux for a separate device. Most such shipments of individual parts start months in advance to build up an adequate supply as well as to give the final manufacturer time to assemble the finished products.
To help you stay close to those who matter most, Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI), the world’s leading manufacturer of webcams, today unveiled its first Mac®-compatible webcam with premium autofocus technology and Carl Zeiss® optics: the Logitech® QuickCam® Vision Pro webcam for Mac. The new Logitech webcam delivers image-perfect detail and clarity, and exceptional video calling with iChat® and Skype®.
“With this new webcam for Mac computers, we’ve integrated our most advanced video technologies to truly enrich your video-calling experience,” said Gina Clark, general manager and vice president of Logitech’s Internet Communications business unit. “The lens and autofocus, the sensor and the lighting software all contribute to create image-perfect detail and clarity. Whether you’ve used a standalone or an embedded webcam in the past, you’ll be amazed at the difference in quality our new webcam makes.”
To deliver image-perfect detail and clarity, the Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac combines Logitech’s premium autofocus technology with Carl Zeiss optics. The new Logitech webcam uses a voice coil motor for its autofocus system, instead of a stepper motor. Focusing is fast and fluid – crisp even in extreme close-ups only 10 cm from the camera lens. Logitech’s autofocus system compensates for changes in image-edge sharpness and refocuses images in less than three seconds. And through its exclusive collaboration with Carl Zeiss, Logitech ensures that the lens meets the world-renowned Zeiss standards for design and manufacturing to achieve superior sharpness in a compact, lightweight design.
The 2-megapixel sensor helps the Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac capture video images in high resolution. It is assisted by Logitech’s RightLight™2 Technology, which enables the webcam to adjust intelligently in dim or harshly backlighted situations.
Discount retail giant Aldi will offer the Medion akoya mini Netbook starting July 3rd. The Medion akoya mini is actually an MSI Wind U100. This is great news for Netbook fans in Germany. They can pick up an MSI Wind for 399 Euro (~$619).
The $499 MSI Wind is delayed in the U.S. until June 27th. The Aldi/Medion deal could be part of the reason for the delay, as Aldi sure demands quite some inventory.
The Medion akoya mini comes in black and silver, but not in white.
The MSI Wind aka Medion akoya mini has a 10 inch LED backlit screen, a 80GB HDD, Intel Atom CPU and runs Windows XP Home.
MSI briefly offered a MSI Wind with smaller batteries (3 cells). If the Aldi Netbook will have the original 6 cell battery is not known yet.
