Upcoming Gadgets (Tech Friendly)
Archive for June, 2009
Firefox 3.5 to Launch Today
Jun 30th
Mozilla is all set to launch its latest Firefox browser today, the 30th of June. Shiretoko is the codename for Firefox 3.5, and it’s been expected for a while.
To recap, the list of new features includes a new privacy mode (the so-called ‘porn mode’ which Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Apple’s Safari, and Google’s Chrome have all introduced already), location aware browsing, and video rendering without the need for plugins. A release candidate version of 3.5 has been available for some time, with positive reports in terms of speed and performance.
Viewsonic Launches 22-inch LCD Monitor
Jun 30th
ViewSonic has announced the launch of its 22” Full HD 1080p monitor – VX2233wm. It has a slim-bezel design and a glossy piano black finish and its USP is 18,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
The VX2233wm claims high brightness and comes with Clearmotiv 5ms video response time. The display also offers Widescreen 1920×1080 HD native resolution that allows users to view HD Content in its native format with no stretching or distortion. Together with it this multimedia monitor features invisible stereo speakers and Optisync Digital/Analog inputs
PSP Exclusives to Look Forward to this Year
Jun 30th
We’ve already taken a look at both PS3 and Xbox360 exclusives set to hit consoles this year. Normally we would have hit the PC platform next but since this year is dry as a bone for PC gamers as far as exclusives are concerned we’re jumping straight to Sony’s handheld console and the list goes something like this:
Sony Possibly Working on a PSP Phone
Jun 30th
There’s been plenty of speculation for a really really long time now that Sony would eventually develop a PSP mobile handset. From rumors going around to being shot down every now and again, it seems like there’s some clarity on the situation according to a new report that’s out. At E3 this year, Sony unveiled their latest version of the PSP handheld gaming device they’re calling the PSP Go. According to reports, Nikkei, which just happens to a rather large media company from Japan, has news that Sony amalgamating their handheld gaming device with a mobile phone is true.
Mockup
Although the source is quite reliable, they haven’t really confirmed the information but have mentioned that Sony intends to compete with the iPhone and its gaming development. Of course this could also just mean they intend to develop a new mobile handset with better gaming functionality for motion gaming and then again I’d personally like to believe there’s a PSP Mobile in the works.
WD Launches My Book World Edition II Dual-drive System
Jun 30th
Western Digital has introduced its newly redesigned My Book World Edition II dual-drive network storage system in capacities of up to 4 TB.
With the double protection of two Mirrored (RAID 1) drives and continuous backup software, the My Book World Edition II network storage system provides a safe place for users to back up and store the data and digital media from all the computers on their network in one central location. Available now at select retailers and the WD online store, the new dual-drive systems join the recently introduced My Book World Edition and are compatible with PC and Mac computers.
Transcend Launches New 7-inch DPF in India
Jun 29th
Transcend has introduced a new 7-inch Digital Photo Frame, the PF730.
The PF730 Digital Photo Frame has a gently contoured shape with an elegant embossed pattern that fits the decor of any office, bedroom or living room décor. It can read high-resolution JPG images taken with any digital camera at virtually any resolution – with no resizing or adjustment necessary. Users can choose to view photos one at time, in customizable slideshows, or in a tiled thumbnail view. Additionally, the PF730 has a bright, high-resolution (800×600) photo-friendly 4:3 screen, advanced NaturaTone user–selectable color modes, and an Automatic Orientation Sensor (AOS), which make sure photos look their best.
The DPF has 2GB of internal flash memory and supports most mainstream memory cards including SD, SDHC, MMC, and MS, also features a USB port. Slideshows can be customized with variable image sorting, transition effects, attractive frame borders and fun animation themes.
The PF730 can functions as a full-featured MP3 player allowing users to listen to music while viewing photos at the same time, and can also be used as an alarm clock. The PF730 is fully equipped to play back movies and video clips, and supports full-motion 30fps video playback. The DPF also includes a clock and calendar with options to mark birthdays.
The Transcend PF730 DPF is priced at Rs. 8000 and comes with a 2-year device warranty and 1-year panel warranty.
Nokia N86 Comes to India
Jun 29th
Nokia has announced the launch of the N86 8MP mobile phone in India.
The new handset features an 8 megapixel phone and comes in a dual-slide design with 8 GB of memory and has a 28 mm wide angle Carl Zeiss Tessar lens. It also features a 2.6-inch display that has an integrated FM transmitter and has up to 30 hours of music playback and dedicated music keys for non-stop music. It comes with dedicated gaming keys and 17 pre-loaded N-Gage games out of which customers can choose and receive one licensed game for free. It also supports full sync capability with a PC and TV-out support for slideshows.
The phone that comes close on the heel of the launch of the N97 is priced at Rs. 27,359.
Sony Eyes Cellphone/Game Gear Hybrid
Jun 29th
Sony Corp is considering developing a cellphone-game gear hybrid in a bid to better compete with Apple Inc’s highly popular iPod and iPhone, the Nikkei business daily said on Saturday.
The Japanese electronics and entertainment conglomerate launched its first Walkman three decades ago, dominating the portable music player market, but it has been running far behind the iPod and iPhone in recent years. Sony plans to set up a project team as early as July to develop a new product that combines functions of its portable game player and Sony Ericsson’s mobile phones, the Nikkei said. Sony Ericsson is a cellphone joint venture between Sony and Sweden’s Ericsson.
A growing number of game-makers including Capcom Co Ltd and Square Enix Holdings are now offering software for the iPod and iPhone to take advantage of the Apple products’ popularity, posing a threat to Sony’s PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Co Ltd’s DS. A Sony spokesman declined to comment on the report.
Charge Your Phone on The Move in Delhi Metro
Jun 29th
The next time you realize your mobile phone has run out of battery charge and you are commuting by the Delhi Metro, don’t fret – just connect your phone to the charging points that will soon be available at stations for free.
For the convenience of its commuters, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will install 134 multiple mobile charging machines at stations by July this year in a phased manner.
“Metro commuters can charge their mobile phones at metro stations as soon as charging points at stations are ready,” DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said Sunday.
All major metro stations are already equipped with facilities such as bill-drop boxes, ATMs, tea and coffee vending machines, coin vending machines, eating joints, book shops and gift shops. The rent-a-cycle facility is also available at Patel Chowk, Pragati Maidan and Indraprastha metro stations.
Delhi-based Somya Enterprises is installing these machines, which will have multiple sockets to enable commuters to charge mobile phones of different brands and makes for free.
“The mobile phone charging machine will have six sockets or chargers and will be mounted on the walls in the paid area of the station,” Dayal informed.
In addition, charging points will also be available for laptops and mobile phones on board the 131 new trains which are being inducted for Phase 2 of Delhi Metro.
World’s Fastest 32GB SDHC Card to Ship in August
Jun 29th
SanDisk has introduced the fastest 32GB SDHC card – at up to 30 megabytes per second (MB/s) read and write speeds – in the market.
“The market for entry to mid-level DSLR cameras is growing, and SDHC is becoming the de-facto card format for these devices,” said Susan Park, director, retail product marketing, SanDisk.”Our card’s 32GB of storage and up to 30MB/s read & write speeds enable DSLR users to shoot without worrying about storage or speed limitations. SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards provide consumers with a more enjoyable user experience, letting them focus on what is really important – the images that they are capturing.”
The SanDisk Extreme SDHC card offers maximum data-transfer rates, giving consumers a memory card fast enough to unlock the full capabilities of their DSLRs. It adheres to the SD Association’s new Class 10 specification, which exceeds requirement for today’s high definition (AVCHD) video recording. The card offers a sustained write speed fast enough to ensure high-definition video recording and capacity capable of storing 160 minutes of full HD 1920×1080 pixels at 24Mb/s data transfer rate.
DSLR camera models like the Nikon D90 and D5000 offer consumers the ability to record HD videos, producing large files that can fill lesser-capacity cards quickly. High-megapixel DSLRs also can generate massive still images like those produced in the RAW format used by professional photographers who want to take advantage of the enhanced picture quality and flexibility that RAW allows during post production. RAW images demand up to ten times as much storage space as regular JPEG images, and when taken in rapid succession during burst mode can quickly fill smaller storage cards. The 32GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card can store up to 2500 RAW images.
SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards are fully compatible with any camera, card reader or other device that supports SDHC cards.
The SanDisk Extreme SDHC 32GB cards will be shipping worldwide to major retailers in August. Pricing hasn’t been revealed.
