AH - New ELECTRONIC and GADGETS

Apple IPhone 5S Is Here

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:14:00 +0000

Apple IPhone 5S Is Here

Well, it has finally happened: all the owners of iPhone 4S can cry into their pillow: Apple has introduced a new flagship smartphone iPhone 5. So, how is the new model different from all the previous ones. Check out what has changed:

Hardware Equipment

The A6 processor of the new smartphone has become more powerful and secures better performance. iPhone 5 supports the 4G network, which means that the speed of the Internet will reach unimaginable 100 megabits per second. For those who like to spend time on Facebook or your favorite Geniusbeauty.com, it is a real advantage!
Among other things, the time of the smartphone performance using Wi-Fi will reach 10 hours. The gadget allows you to watch video for 10 hours, listen to audio up to 40 hours, and works up to 225 hours in the standby mode.

Size and Weight

Of course, iPhone 5 is the lightest and most delicate iPhone in the world so far. Its thickness is 7.6 mm (as opposed to the previous 9.3 mm), and its weight is only 112 grams. The smartphone will still be available in two colors: black and white.

Design and Display

The gadget has a new aluminum design, the screen is equipped with a four-inch Retina display with a 1136×640 resolution. Moreover, the smartphone will require the use of new SIM Cards (and it is not even a Micro-SIM, as before), it is a Nano-SIM instead. In addition, the headphones, EarPods, have altered their outlook.

Camera

The resolution of the camera is still eight megapixels, but it has a new function of making panoramic images with a resolution up to 28 megapixels by moving the camera in space with a single smooth motion.
In addition, the new functions of video recording (with a 1080p resolution) include an improved image stabilization, face detection with up to 10 people in the shot and the opportunity to take photos directly while recording video.
The first people to enjoy all the pleasures of iPhone 5 will be the residents of the USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and some other countries – the new “apple masterpiece” will go on sale on September 21.

Keyboard Keychain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:13:00 +0000

Keyboard Keychain

These days many of us need devices that will enable us to operate our smartphones and tablets wherever we want with equal dexterity and comfort, virtual keyboards maybe topping the list of useful gadgets. These days many of us need devices that will enable us to operate our smartphones and tablets wherever we want with equal dexterity and comfort, virtual keyboards maybe topping the list of useful gadgets.

Katy Perry for GHD Hairdryers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:13:00 +0000

Katy Perry for GHD Hairdryers

Katy Perry continues working with the producers of GHD hair dryers and GHD hair care products: the singer once again demonstrated her luxurious hair in a fresh advertising campaign – this time she had the image of a diva from “the golden Hollywood” era (the pop-diva had already had the image of a hippie, a disco girl, and a mermaid).
Luxurious dresses, bright makeup and a small portion of theatricality – one can immediately see that she is a star!
The shooting was run by Ellen von Unwerth, who preferred to focus on restrained sensuality and the interplay of tones rather than on bright colors (the latter are always excessive with Katy) and presented black-and-white portraits of Perry to the public.
The girl really looks perfect in the pictures: whether she is playing chess, recovering after a tiring concert or just getting ready to appear on stage. But whose merit is this: that of the photographer, the heroine, or maybe Photoshop?

New Gadget Takes Smell Based Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:13:00 +0000

New Gadget Takes Smell Based Photos

A student from China has created a gadget that allows you to photograph the smell. For those who always wanted to smell the appetizing-looking pictures, a student from China came up with a special device that prints the smell of food pictures. A camera that can photograph beautiful dishes, and a smell recognizer are built in a food-printer. The image is printed with aromatic ink.
Zhu Jingxuan, a student at the Department of Industrial Design at Donghua University, invented the amazing device. The young man drew a sketch and made a model of his invention during the workshop by Sony. His idea was recognized as one of the best and Jingxuan, along with the other winners, went to Sony China Creative Center in Shanghai to make a real food-printer in a team with ten Sony designers.

The Kindle Amazon Always Wanted to Build

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:10:00 +0000

The Kindle Amazon Always Wanted to Build

Amazon introduced a new E-Ink Kindle, The Paperwhite, on September 6, alongside the launch of the Kindle Fire HD Family of high end slates.

Priced at $119, the 5th generation Kindle headlines a higher resolution display with 62% more pixels and 25% higher-contrast, as also a built-in front light for night reading.

Announcing the Paperwhite, Amazon.com Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said, "Paperwhite is the Kindle we've always wanted to build - the technology didn't exist to build a display with this level of contrast, resolution, brightness and battery life, so our engineers invented it."

The 6-inch, 212 PPI display is readable in bright sunlight and has a buttonless bezel.

Slimmer and sleeker than the Kindle, Paperwhite measures 169 mm x 117 mm x 9.1 mm and weighs 213 g. It features 2 GB internal (approximately 1.25 GB available for user content) and stores upto 1,100 books.

Battery life can stretch to 8 weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 10.

The device charges fully in approximately 4 hours from a computer via USB cable.

The base model of the Kindle Paperwhite is $119;

A 3G and Wi-Fi version, Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi + 3G, is available for $179.

Amazon also announced a price drop on its existing Kindle from $79 to $69, which features minor tweaks to fonts and texts.

Pentax K-5 II & K-5 IIS DSLR Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Pentax K-5 II & K-5 IIS DSLR Cameras

Pentax K-5 II & K-5 IIS DSLRs announced on September 10, 2012, represent a determined bid by Pentax to expand its user base with technological breakthroughs and innovations, instead of just retaining its following based on excellence of quality.

Pentax has a small but loyal following built over decades on the reliability and good performance of its SLR and DSLR cameras.

Following its acquisition by Ricoh in July 2011, Pentax has shown an inclination to be counted amongst DSLR camera leaders Canon and Nikon, or at least move ahead of the pack represented by Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and Samsung.

The company's newly introduced flagship DSLR Pentax K-5 II builds on the excellent reputation of is recently withdrawn K-5 flagship product. By sticking with the K-5 nomenclature, Pentax is acknowledging that their new product is an incremental upgrade with the confidence that the nature of the incremental upgrade is substantive enough to warrant a migration to the new product.

The headlining new features in the K-5 II are

Weather, dust and cold resistance
A newly developed SAFOX X AF sensor that delivers the broadest autofocusing EV range (-3 EV to +18 EV) in its class
A 3.0 inch, 921 K dot wide-view, air-gap-free LCD display.

The K-5 IIs targets professional photographers with a sensor that does away with an anti-aliasing filter, making it very attractive for commercial and studio photography where camera settings, lens selection, lighting, and other shooting conditions are controlled.
Low Light Photography

The sensitive AF sensor on the new cameras enables photographers to work with a luminous flux based on F2.8 levels in addition to F5.6, which increases the AF accuracy when using fast lenses. Additionally, the sensor uses an upgraded AF algorithm and a Select-Area Expansion feature, which automatically tracks the subject when it deviates from a pre-assigned selection point, by assessing data from neighboring sensors.
Pentax K-II.
Pentax K-IIs. Photo Credit: Pentax
Improved LCD

Pentax has eliminated the air-gap between the LCD screen and the protective anti-glare glass coating with a resin layer that alleviates the reflection and dispersion of light to effectively prevent ghost images and maintain image brightness.

The K-5 II steel and magnesium body comes with 77 special seals making it dustproof, weather-resistant, cold-resistant construction and capable of operating at temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C).

The cameras have a top shutter speed of 1/8000 per second, and the ability to withstand as many as 100,000 shutter releases.

K-5 features retained include:

APS-C (23.7mm x 15.7mm), 16.28 MP CMOS sensor
PRIME II Imaging Engine
ISO 100 to ISO 12800 in the standard setting, or from ISO 80 to ISO 51200 in expanded mode
Bright, clear optical viewfinder with a nearly 100-percent field of view
7 fps Still shooting with upto 30 frames in a row.

The Pentax K-5 II will be available at retail outlets nationwide and online in October 2012 with a suggested retail price of $1,199.95 for body only, $1,349.95 for the K-5 II kit including the DA 18-55mm WR zoom lens and $1,549.95 for the K-5 II kit including the DA 18-135mm WR zoom lens.

The K-5 IIs will also be available at retail outlets nationwide and online in October with a suggested retail price of $1,299.95 for body only.

Kindle Fire HD Family

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Kindle Fire HD Family

Amazon made a bold foray into the high end tablet market on Thursday, September 6, 2012 with the launch of its Kindle Fire HD Family of three tablets.
The Kindle Fire HD Family comprises:
7-Inch Kindle Fire HD
8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD
LTE 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD
All three run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and feature Wi-Fi, Front-facing HD cameras, and Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus audio.
Amazon claims that the Wi-Fi technology featured on the tablets - dual antenna, dual-band, and MIMO - gives 40% faster downloads and streaming compared to the next fastest tablet (Apple iPad).
The tablets come with Amazon-exclusive applications such as X-Ray for Movies, X-Ray for Textbooks, Immersion Reading, Whispersync for Voice, Whispersync for Games, and Kindle FreeTime.
X-Ray for Movies enables users to easily find information on actors and movies through IMDB.
Kindle Free Time lets you set time limits for when your kids are using the tablet.

7-Inch Kindle Fire HD

The $199 7-Inch Kindle Fire HD features a 1,280 x 800 display, dual-core 1.2GHz TI OMAP4 4460 processor and 16GB storage. It measures 193 x 137 x 10.3mm and weighs 395 gms.
The slate is claimed to have a battery life of 11 hours.

8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD

The $299 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD features a 1920x1200 HD display with 254 ppi, dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP4 4470 processor, 16GB storage and a front facing camera. Measuring 240 x 160 x 8.8mm, it weighs 567 gms.

LTE 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD

The $499 LTE 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD has the same specs as the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD but features 32 GB of storage, plus ultra-fast 4G LTE wireless powered by the latest generation 4G chipset. It comes bundled with a $49.99 one year 4G LTE data package.
The data package provides a bandwidth of 250MB per month, 20GB of cloud storage, and a $10 Amazon credit for only $50 a year.
Amazon is also introducing an all-new upgraded version of the best-selling standard definition Kindle Fire with a faster processor, twice the memory and longer battery life, and perhaps most important of all a reduced price of $159.
Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablets range will be ad supported, users will get to see special offers on their lock screens.
It's not clear if users will have an option to rid themselves of the ad by paying an additional one time charge.

Sony NEX-6 Mirrorless ILC Carving New Market Space

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Sony NEX-6 Mirrorless ILC Carving New Market Space

Sony's NEX-6 mirrorless ILC announced on Wednesday, September 12, represents a new range that targets photography enthusiasts.
Sony uses the NX nomenclature for its mirrorless ILCs and so far the NX-3 range has targeted beginners, NX-5 is mid-range, and NX-7 targets power users.
On August 30, Sony announced the NEX-5R that featured a newly-developed 16.1 MP, APS H (23.4 X 15.6mm) Backlit CMOS sensor with 200-12800 ISO range.
The headlining features of the NEX-5R were Fast Hybrid AF technology, wireless sharing and camera apps.
Fast Hybrid AF technology, first introduced n the NEX-5R, utilizes 99 phase-detection AF points arrayed on the image sensor to detect a subject's distance and quickly lock focus on it, and then uses contrast-detection AF to confirm extremely fine, precise details.
The Sony NEX-6 retains the 16.1 MP, APS H (23.4 X 15.6mm) Backlit CMOS of the NEX-5R, as well as its headlining features - Fast Hybrid AF, wireless sharing and camera apps.

Sony NEX-6. Photo Credit: Sony

It additionally packs some high end features seen on the NX-7 introduced in August 2011, such as the XGA (2.4m dots) OLED electronic viewfinder, built in flash, and direct access to camera settings using dials, buttons and knobs.
As a result, the NEX-6 appears to be a better camera than the NEX-7 if you don't consider the latter's whopping 24.3 megapixel, APS-C sensor as being such a big deal.
The NEX-6 will be available this November in a kit with the SELP1650 power zoom lens for about $1,000. It will also be offered as body-only for about $850.
The SELP1650 power zoom lens will be sold separately in January for about $350, and the SEL35F18 prime and SEL1018 wide angle lenses will be available this November for about $450 and $850, respectively.

Canon EOS 6D Full-frame DSLR Brings Joy to Photography Enthusiasts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Canon EOS 6D Full-frame DSLR Brings Joy to Photography Enthusiasts

Canon EOS 6D announced on Monday, September 17, 2012, is a full-frame DSLR whose most endearing feature is its affordability. So far full-frame cameras have been priced at points that only make sense to professional photographers.
The EOS 6D features a newly developed 20.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5+ Image Processor and, for the first time in a Canon DSLR, built-in wireless and GPS.
The camera also includes an 11-point AF array and 63-zone dual-layer iFCL metering sensor together with 1080p Full HD video capabilities.
The combination of the full-frame sensor and Digic processor allows it to shoot upto to 4.5 frames per second (fps) in burst mode.
It's impressive normal ISO range of 100-25600, can be expanded to 50-102400.
The EOS 6D camera's Auto Focus (AF) system includes a newly-developed 11-point AF sensor featuring a high-precision center cross-type point with an exceptional EV -3 sensitivity rating for accurate focusing even in extremely low-light conditions.
The EOS 6D has a large 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor with 1,040,000 dot VGA resolution and 170 degree viewing angle. When used for Live View shooting, the LCD screen provides 100 percent coverage, for easy focusing and framing.
The EOS 6D supports Full-Frame 1080p Full HD Video captures with full manual control over exposure and audio levels.
It's built-in wireless transmitter allows the camera to share images and video with the user's choice of wireless devices such as select PowerShot cameras, smartphones, or tablets, as well as cloud-based destinations including social networking sites through the Canon iMAGE GATEWAYii iii.
A free Canon EOS Remote app available for iOS and Android systems allows a smartphone or wireless device such as a tablet to remotely connect, control and operate the connected EOS 6Div.

For on-location shooters, landscape photographers or enthusiast photo travelers, the EOS 6D features
The built-in GPS can record longitude, latitude, elevation and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as EXIF data for seamless geo-tagging while shooting.
Besides the traditional HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode that allows you to capture three separate exposures and combine them in-camera, the EOS 6D features Multiple Exposure mode where users can combine up to nine individual images into a single composite image, with no need for later computer post-processing. Four different compositing methods are provided for maximum creative control, including Additive, Average, Bright and Dark.
Compositing results can be viewed in real time on the camera's LCD monitor, and there is a one-step Undo command that allows photographers to delete an image and try again if desired.
The camera is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards including the new Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) cards.

Pricing and Availability

The EOS 6D Digital SLR Camera will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $2,099.00 and it will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $2,899.00. Both configurations are expected to be available in December 2012.

Panasonic DMC-GH3 Mirrorless DSLR Optimized for Multimedia Photographers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:04:00 +0000

Panasonic DMC-GH3 Mirrorless DSLR Optimized for Multimedia Photographers

Panasonic DMC-GH3 Mirrorless DSLR announced on September 17, 2012, targets multimedia photographers. The DMC-GH3 succeeds the GH2, launched in September 2010, as Panasonic's new flagship mirrorless DSLR.
The camera features a newly developed 16.05 MP Live MOS sensor which in combination with its Venus processing engine delivers improved dynamic range and ISO 200 -12,800 expandable to 125 - 25,600.
An improved LPF (Low Pass Filter) is claimed to minimize generation of moire while drawing maximum resolution of the image out of the sensor.
The DMC-GH3 is ruggedized and weather resistant, with magnesium alloy full diecast body and advanced splash / dustproof construction.

Video Recording

The DMC-GH3 captures full HD 60p/50p video with 30p/25p option in MOV (h.264), MP4 and AVCHD formats and supports video bit rates of 50Mbps in IPB and 72Mbps in All-I compression modes.
You get full-time AF as well as AF Tracking and Face Recognition AF. Touch AF in video recording lets users shift focus to a new object by touching it on the LCD.
Creative Video modes include Exposure and Slow/Fast-Motion mode. Exposure mode has four manual video modes: Program AE / Aperture-Priority / Shutter-Priority / Manual Exposure.
The Slow/Fast-Motion mode enables slow-motion (40% / 48% / 80%) and fast–motion (160% / 200% / 300%), all in Full-HD.

OLED EVF

The camera packs a 1,744K-dot (marginally improved over the GH-2) equivalent OLED EVF with 100% FOV. The image output between the LVF and the rear monitor is switched automatically with the eye sensor on the LVF, which features options of sensitivity - high, low and off - to reduce accidental activation of the rear monitor.

Free-angle LCD monitor

The 3.0-inch 614K-dot free-angle OLED rear monitor (3:2 aspect) with wide-viewing angle rotates 180° to the side and tilts 270° up and down offers approximately 100% of field of view. The OLED rear monitor adopts static touch control for smoother operation either in shooting or in playback.

Burst Mode Still Capture

The DMC-GH3 captures moving subjects clearly with the burst shooting at 6 fps in full resolution (max. 18 consecutive shots of RAW+JPEG) and 20 fps in 4-megapixel recording using an electronic shutter(max. 80 consecutive shots of JPEG).

Wi-Fi and Cloud Support

A free Android / iOS application, Lumix Link, lets you use a smartphone or a tablet to remotely control and operate the camera. What the camera is seeing is displayed live smoothly on the smartphone/tablet, and it is possible to set various controls including focus, exposure compensation, ISO, WB and Photo Style in addition to shutter release via live view using Wi-Fi.
After shooting, images including RAW files can be transferred over Wi-Fi to a smartphone or tablet immediately. Users can choose to upload images to the LUMIX CLUB Cloud Sync. Service via Wi-Fi- tethering and to send them to the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) -compliant AV equipment via a wireless router at home.
GH3 users get a personal folder on the cloud service and can transfer the images saved there to their Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, Twitter or YouTube accounts.

GPS Geo Tagging

In addition, GH-3 lets you tag the location information to the image by utilizing the GPS (Global Positioning System) log of a smartphone/tablet.

Creative Shooting Options

HDR (High Dynamic Range) shooting option that allows you to capture three separate exposures and combine them in-camera
Time Lapse Shot or Multiple Exposure

Flash

A new built-in flash of GN12 equivalent (ISO 100 •m) / GN17 equivalent (ISO 200 •m) covers 24mm wide angle of view. Synchronization for flash dimming and exposure compensation is available with adjustment of 1/3EV Step ±3EV. Manual control and a sync terminal are newly added for more versatile use of external flash.

Contrast Auto Focus (AF)

Panasonic is sticking with Contrast AF even as competing products are dabbling with hybrid focus systems combining contrast and phase detection.
Panasonic maintains Contrast AF give higher accuracy when shooting with a bright lens with a wide open aperture.
The DMC-GH3 features ultra-high-speed AF which makes it possible to capture fast-moving subjects clearly. The camera and the lens exchange the digital signal at 240 fps to minimize the time to focus.

Other Features

A new control layout with three dials on the front and back as well as single-function buttons.
Level Gauge which lets the camera detect the horizontal/vertical angle of view with its internal level working with the acceleration sensor. Photos shot in a portrait aspect will be automatically displayed vertically whichever lens is used.

Self Driving Cars Could Reach Ordinary People in 5 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:04:00 +0000

Self Driving Cars Could Reach Ordinary People in 5 Years

California on Tuesday September 25, 2012, became the second state after Nevada to allow road testing of Google's self driving cars, with standby human drivers.

Gov. Edmund "Jerry" Brown signed into law a bill authored by State Sen. Alex Padilla at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.

The bill, SB 1298, allows framing of rules and regulations for qualifying an autonomous car for road testing.

Speaking to the press at the event, Google CEO Sergey Brin said he expected autonomous vehicles to be available to "ordinary people" within five years.

"You can count on one hand the number of years until ordinary people can experience this," he said.

However, Bin stressed that the road ahead was still long and arduous.

"Safety is a huge challenge for us. That's one of the most difficult things that we undertake from a technology point of view, because there are never enough 'nines' in terms of getting things right," Brin said.

"What happens when a computer breaks down, or when the tire blows out or something unexpected happens? We spend night and day fretting about all sorts of rare possibilities, and I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to solve [these issues]," he said.

"It's dealing with every possible eventuality," he said, "and we're dealing with a long list of eventualities."

But humans have overcome those challenges before, he added. "For instance, for airplane flight."

Among the benefits of the self driving car, Bin cited

1. Less accidents because computers are more accurate, always follow the rules and react faster than humans.
2. Less congestion on highways because cars will be able to drive closer to each other as computers can react faster than humans.
3. Autonomous cars will allow people with disabilities or temporary impairments to be safely on the road.

"Some people have other disabilities, some people are too young, some people are too old, sometimes we're too intoxicated," said Brin.

According to Bin, Google's cars have logged about 300,000 miles of road testing.

He acknowledged there have been incidents that have prompted the accompanying safety driver to intervene but just one documented accident, a fender bender that took place while a human was in control!

Some test cars have driven 50,000 miles without "safety-critical intervention."

There were nearly 33,000 deaths from motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2010. Nearly a million people die in road accidents across the world.

According to CNN, other organizations, including Caltech, have been working on autonomous cars.

Samsung ATIV Smart PC & ATIV Smart PC Pro

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:28:00 +0000

Samsung ATIV Smart PC & ATIV Smart PC Pro

Samsung ATIV Smart PC & ATIV Smart PC Pro feature 11.6-inch screens, detachable keyboard-docking systems and Windows 8 OS (with Windows 7 compatibility).
Announced on August 29, 2012, the Samsung device allows users to easily switch between clamshell notebook PC and tablet PC form factors, leveraging the power of the notebook format with the convenience of a tablet.

Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro. Photo Credit: Samsung

Their 1366 x 768 HD displays feature an advanced 10-finger multi-touch screen, against the 2-finger multi-touch screen of traditional devices. The enhanced sensitivity allows users to pinch-to-zoom, rotate images and scroll through pages with ease to enjoy the full capabilities of the latest entertainment applications.
In addition to keyboard and multi-touch input, the ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart PC Pro are equipped with S Pen which delivers realistic writing and drawing experiences as if using a pen or pencil.

Samsung ATIV Smart PC. Photo Credit: Samsung

The pre-loaded S Note application accompanies the S Pen to make writing and drawing as simple and intuitive as possible.
The Samsung ATIV Smart PC is powered by Intel's next generation Atom processor with 2 Gb memory, and the ATIV Smart PC Pro with Intel's Core i5 processor with 4 Gb memory.

Samsung ATIV Smart PC. Photo Credit: Samsung

Despite their compact and portable form factor, the two devices feature USB 2.0(Smart PC), USB 3.0(Smart PC Pro), mHDMI, miniSD and two extra USB 2.0 ports on the keyboard.
The ATIV Smart PC has a 47Wh battery with a life of up to 13.5 hours, and the ATIV Smart PC Pro, 31Wh with up to eight hours.
The ATIV Smart PC measures 304.0 x 189.4 x 9.9mm and weighs 750g without keyboard, and 304.0 x 189.4 x 19.9mm and 1.48kg with keyboard.
The ATIV Smart PC Pro measures 304.0 x 189.4 x 11.89 mm and weighs 884g without keyboard, and 304.0 x 189.4 x 21.89mm and 1.6kg with keyboard.

Samsung ATIV Tab: Windows RT Tablet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:28:00 +0000

Samsung ATIV Tab: Windows RT Tablet

The Samsung ATIV Tab delivers a full Windows 8-based PC experience in tablet form factor, with a 8.9mm device weighing 570 g that features a 10.1" display.
Announced on August 29, 2012, the device is powered by Windows 8 RT running on a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and features 2Gb RAM and 32/64GB User memory, with support for an addition 64Gb microSD.
It boots up instantly and comes loaded with Office Home and Student 2013 RT, offering the new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

Samsung ATIV Tablet. Photo Credit: Samsung

The tablet features a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera and 5-megapixel rear camera.
Measuring 265.8 x 168.1 x 8.9 mm it weighs 570g and packs a 8,200 mAh battery.
The ATIV Tab is compatible with a range of Windows-based PC devices and accessories, including printers, keyboards, projectors, external monitors, and other peripherals, through its USB port and uHDMI, with no need to install extra software.

Samsung ATIV S Windows Phone 8 Smartphone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:25:00 +0000

Samsung ATIV S Windows Phone 8 Smartphone

Samsung announced the ATIV S, the world's first Windows Phone 8 smartphone, at the IFA conference in Berlin on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.
Powered by a dual-core Qualcomm processor, the device features a 4.8-in HD Super AMOLED display, 1 Gb RAM, 16/32GB User memory and microSD (SDXC support).
It supports HSPA+42 connectivity, has a rear facing 8 MP main camera with autofocus and LED flash; and a 1.9MP front-facing camera.
Measuring 137.2 x 70.5 x 8.7 mm, the ATIV S weighs 135g and packs a 2,300mAh Li-ion battery.

Impressive Design

Despite being impressively slim, the ATIV S is comfortable to hold thanks to a bezel that bulges out slightly and then tapers more acutely to the back. The design allow your fingers to stay off the screen when you are holding the device in your hand.
Other standout design features include a raised physical Windows button to get to your Start screen, instead of a capacitive one. The display glass has slightly rounded edges and the speaker bar on the front and the back, as well as all of the buttons, are aluminum, not plastic.
Besides the ATIV S smartphone, Samsung also announced its other Windows 8 offerings at the Berlin conference: the Samsung ATIV Smart PC & ATIV Smart PC Pro and the Samsung ATIV Tab

Sony NEX-5R Mirrorless ILC with Hybrid AF

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:24:00 +0000

Sony NEX-5R Mirrorless ILC with Hybrid AF

The Sony NEX-5R, announced on August 29, 2012, is the successor to the NEX-5N and Sony's first ILC camera to feature "Fast Hybrid AF," integrated Wi-Fi for sharing, saving and viewing photos; and down-loadable camera apps.
The NEX-5R features a newly-developed 16.1 MP, APS H (23.4 X 15.6mm) Backlit CMOS sensor with 200-12800 ISO range. Its BIONZ processor lets you shoot stills at 3fps in focus priority mode, and 10 fps in speed priority mode.
Sony uses the NX nomenclature for its mirrorless ILC cameras; the NX-5 represents mid-range, the NX-3 targets beginners, and the NX-7, power users.

Focusing

The "Fast Hybrid AF" autofocus technology on the NX-5R utilizes 99 phase-detection AF points arrayed on the image sensor to detect a subject's distance and quickly lock focus on it, and then utilizes contrast-detection AF to confirm extremely fine, precise details.
In Speed Priority Continuous shooting mode, the camera will switch automatically to phase detection tracking AF and can track fast-moving action accurately in each frame up to 10 frames per second.
Tracking Focus continuously tracks a user-designated subject and is now more effective at tracking people. If the subject turns away from the camera, face-detection tracking automatically switches to subject tracking and continues tracking.
Other useful features include Peaking AF display that makes precise manual focusing easy by highlighting the edges that are in focus. This is especially helpful during macro or portrait photography where your focal plane can make or break your shot.
The Alpha NEX-5R features a 3.0" touchscreen LCD that flips up 180-degrees, ideal for perfect self-portraits.
It supports Full HD, 1920x1080 video capture at 60p, standard 60i or cinematic 24p using AVCHD or MP4 codec.

Quick Access Manual Controls

The new NEX-5R features a new fully programmable control dial and function button for quick direct access to camera settings as an alternative to menu based access.

Sony NEX-5r. Photo Credit: Sony

Wi-Fi Sharing and New Camera Apps

Using the camera's built in Wi-Fi, you can wirelessly transfer photos to a smartphone or tablet running Sony's free PlayMemories Mobile app, available on both Android and Apple iOS platforms. Additionally, you can upload photos to social networking sites such as Facebook using the new "Direct Upload" application, part of Sony's new PlayMemories Camera Apps platform.
This new concept of PlayMemories Camera Apps is the world's first application download service in an interchangeable lens camera that allows consumers to install new functions on demand, tailoring their cameras to fit their personal shooting needs. The service can be accessed over Wi-Fi or when the camera is connected directly to a PC via USB.
Other than "Direct Upload," the initial offering of downloadable applications includes "Picture Effect+"; "Bracket Pro"; "Multi Frame NR"; "Photo Retouch"; and "Smart Remote Control. A variety of other apps including "Time-Lapse" and "Cinematic Photo" are also planned for release.

Pricing and Availability

The NEX-5R will be available this October in silver, black and white for about $750 with an 18-55mm kit zoom lens as well as body-only for about $650.

Samsung Galaxy Note II 5.5-in 'Phablet'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:24:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Note II 5.5-in 'Phablet'

Samsung's Galaxy Note II is a 5.5-in, 1280 x 720 display smartphone with the S-Pen stylus powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB or RAM.
Announced on Wednesday, August 29, at IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, it's the successor to the dual core, 5.3-in display Galaxy Note 1 announced at the same event last year.
Measuring 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm and weighing 180g, the Galaxy Note II is the largest and most powerful smartphone in the Samsung stable.
Other hardware improvements, besides the larger display and a more powerful processor, include a 3,100mAh (2,500mAh on Note 1) battery, support for 64Gb (32Gb on Note 1) microSD card, Android 4.1 Jelly Beans (Android 4.0 on Note 1), and a redesigned S Pen with an improved 8mm grip and a rubber tip.

Samsung Galaxy Note II. Photo Credit: Samsung

Like its predecessor, the Note II has an 8 MP rear-facing main camera and a 1.9 MP front-facing video chat camera; and the stylus recognizes 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Software improvements include enhanced S-Note feature set.

Amazon Patents Dual Screen E-Book, Tablet Device

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:24:00 +0000

Amazon Patents Dual Screen E-Book, Tablet Device

Amazon was recently awarded a patent for a tablet with a dual display - a color LCD in the front and an energy efficient E-ink display at the rear, reports Mashable .
The LCD display would be used to view dynamic content such as videos, and the more energy efficient and easy to the eye e-ink display, for reading electronic books.
According to the patent filing the device would automatically switch displays taking a cue from its front and rear-facing cameras, as also allow content to be moved from one display to the other.
When viewing static content on the LCD a user could conserve power by nudging the content to the e-ink display with a touch.
According to the Amazon filing, "An electronic device including two or more display elements can provide enhanced functionality with improved rates of power consumption. A user can cause information that does not change rapidly to be provided or moved to a relatively static display element, such as an electronic ink display, which enables that information to be displayed for a period of time with little additional power consumption."

Samsung Galaxy Camera with Android 4.1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:24:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Camera with Android 4.1

Samsung on Wednesday, August 29 announced the world's first camera - smartphone hybrid. Powered by a quad-core processor, it features 21X, 23-481mm (35 mm equivalent) zoom, 16M, 1/2.3" CMOS sensor and voice and video communication.
The device lacks cellular voice capability, supporting communication through VoiP apps, such as Skype over 3G/4G or WiFi.
Measuring 128.7 x 70.8 x 19.1 mm and weighing 305g, the device features a 4.8" HD Super Clear Touch Display.
The Galaxy Camera will be available in two versions - a 3G + Wi-Fi model and a 4G + Wi-Fi variant
On device storage is 8GB, with support for micro SDSC, micro SDHC and micro SDXC extension.

Camera Features

ISO range extends from 100 to 3200. The camera can capture full HD 1920x1080 30fps video and 720x480 120fps slow motion video.

Samsung Galaxy Camera. Photo Credit: Samsung

'Smart Pro' technology facilitates advanced photographic setups using an easy-to-navigate menu system, users can choose from a series of preset scenario options which will automatically adjust the camera's settings.
The 21x super long zoom can be controlled by either button or touchscreen, rendering long-distance pictures in a quality that users will be proud to share, while OIS ensures that images stay clear and crisp.
By packing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless connectivity into the device Samsung has made it easy to edit and share photos. A built-in 'Photo Wizard' for editing photographs in-camera allows users to make professional quality edits on the go. The 'Movie Wizard' also allows users to create and edit expert-quality videos easily from the touch screen.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Camera also features 'Smart Content Manager,' an on-device organization tool to create folders and tags faces.
In addition to the pre-installed applications from Samsung, users can browse the web and enjoy any applications from Google Play or Samsung Apps stores. If users are not sure which app to download, 'S Suggest' will help them recommend a new photo editing app or fun game to download.
The camera has an 'Auto Cloud Backup' feature that automatically backs up photos into the cloud via Samsung's AllShare the instant they are taken.
As with other Android devices, the Galaxy Camera allows users to share photos at the same time as they shoot them with 'Share Shot.'
Besides sharing photos to social networks and cloud services, users can also connect to a range of GALAXY devices including the GALAXY SIII and GALAXY Note II.

New Gadget Takes Smell Based Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 01:04:00 +0000

New Gadget Takes Smell Based Photos

A student from China has created a gadget that allows you to photograph the smell.

For those who always wanted to smell the appetizing-looking pictures, a student from China came up with a special device that prints the smell of food pictures. A camera that can photograph beautiful dishes, and a smell recognizer are built in a food-printer. The image is printed with aromatic ink.

Zhu Jingxuan, a student at the Department of Industrial Design at Donghua University, invented the amazing device. The young man drew a sketch and made a model of his invention during the workshop by Sony. His idea was recognized as one of the best and Jingxuan, along with the other winners, went to Sony China Creative Center in Shanghai to make a real food-printer in a team with ten Sony designers.

Nikon 1 J2 Interchangeable Lens Camera (ILC)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:05:00 +0000

Nikon 1 J2 Interchangeable Lens Camera (ILC)

The Nikon 1 J2, announced on August 9, 2012, is an evolutionary upgrade to Nikon's first mirrorless camera, Nikon 1 J1, announced in September 2011.
The J2 is identical in size and weight to the J1, uses the same 10.1 megapixel CX format (13.2 x 8.8 mm, 2.7 crop) CMOS sensor and features the same hybrid (CDAF + PDAF) autofocus system, and the 1 mount as its predecessor.
Improved features include a 3-in, 921K dot LCD (3-in, 460K dot LCD on the J1), a new scene selection mode has been added to the four original shooting modes (P/S/A/M), allowing for scene selection from a total of eight options.
The J2 comes with the same 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens as the J1.
The J2 biggest improvement perhaps is its more competitive price - $549.95. The J1 with kit lens initially shipped in the US at $649.95.
Interestingly, Nikon doesn't plan to discontinue the J1.
Nikon has also announced another 1 mount lens: Nikkor 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 priced at $189.95 which is nearly 30 percent smaller and lighter than the kit lens. It will ship next month.
Read a more detailed writeup on the Nikon 1 J1 here. As we said earlier, most of J2 features are identical.

Sephora + Pantone Universe Color IQ Finds Your Perfect Skin Tone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:05:00 +0000

Sephora + Pantone Universe Color IQ Finds Your Perfect Skin Tone

One of the greatest challenges in make-up is the choice of a suitable tone. Even professional makeup artists sometimes make mistakes, and can not recommend the right one at once. However, with this new gadget this problem seems to have disappeared for some.
We are talking about the clients of the Sephora stores. Soon there will be devices that recognize skin color and recommend the right tone. They are created in collaboration with Pantone Universe (a recognized authority in the field of color). 26 July presentation of the revolutionary new product took place.
Every girl knows how difficult it is to choose the right tone. There are so many shades, formulas, and forms of production. Why is it so hard to find the one that is right for you? When you are choosing a foundation, it is important to consider your skin type, as well as the type of foundation you need. For most women, searching a foundation remains the most difficult thing when they shop alone.

The Sephora + Pantone Universe Color IQ gadget scans the surface of the client’s skin, analyzes its tone and color. The skin is fixed in three face areas, and the average is revealed. Next, the colorimeter analyzes over 1,000 different tones available in Sephora, and picks the most suitable one. This device does not account for age spots, acne, imperfections that often distort the actual skin tone.

Apple to Announce New iPhone, iPad Mini on September 12

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 04:29:00 +0000

Apple to Announce New iPhone, iPad Mini on September 12

Apple is planning to announce the new iPhone (iPhone 5?), the iPad mini and the new iPod at a press event on September 12, reports iMore.
According to a reliable iMore source, iPhone 5, and possibly the iPad mini also, will launch on September 21.
iPhone 5 is rumored to be a 4-in, 16:9 screen device with a LTE radio, NFC hardware, 1 Gb RAM and bigger battery. It will support a nano-SIM and a smaller Dock connector.
The iPad mini is expected to be identical to the 9.7-in iPad, but with the screen scaled down to 7.x-in.

Microsoft Launches Outlook.com Web Email

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 04:28:00 +0000

Microsoft Launches Outlook.com Web Email

Microsoft today launched Outlook.com, a more credible alternative to GMail than its existing web based email client - Hotmail.com
If you are a hotmail user, you already have an Outlook.com account, and will be logged into it as soon as you arrive at Outlook.com. But don't despair, you will get a chance to pick a new Outlook.com alias!
So, what you need to do now is stop reading this and grab your alias, before someone else does!
The interface of the new service is minimalist and it comes with unlimited mail storage and integrates with Microsoft's Skydrive, which give you 7 Gb of free storage for documents, photos and videos.
You can open, edit and share Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from within Outlook.
The ads are fewer and less obtrusive and the service has streamlined connections to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Canon EOS M Mirroless ILC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 03:46:00 +0000

Canon EOS M Mirroless ILC

Canon announced its first mirrorless interchangeable lens (ILC) camera, EOS M, on July 23, 2012. It features a 18 MP APS-C (22.3x14.9mm) sensor with a Hybrid AF using contrast and phase detection.
The EOS M supports burst rate of 4.3 fps, 1920x1080/30p video capture with tracking AF, and an impressive ISO range of 100-12,800, extendable to ISO 25,600.
It comes with a 3-inch, 1040k dot touch display LCD monitor that makes it easy to navigate menus. It also supports gestures such as "pinch-to-zoom" and "swipe" to scroll between pictures.
The camera employs three AF methods for video and photos: Face Detection, Tracking AF, Multip-Point AF with 31 autofocus points as well as single-point AF.
You can engage subject recognition and tracking during video and still capture through a finger touch on the LCD panel letting the camera track accurately and focus on intended subjects with ease.
The camera has a smaller 'EF-M' lens mount than Canon DSLRs. A short flangeback places the rear lens element in the mirrorless EOS-M much closer to the surface of the sensor ensuring a compact form factor (109 x 66 x 32 mm, 298 g with battery).
Canon has introduced the first two EF-M mount lenses along with the EOS-M: a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM (35mm equivalent: 29-88mm) and the EF-M 22mm (35mm equivalent: 35mm) f/2 STM pancake lens.

Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS M. Photo Credit: Canon

Here is the big news. An adapter makes existing Canon EOS EF, EF-S lenses compatible with the EOS-M. Canons solution for compatiblity with existing brand lenses is slightly different from the one adopted by Pentax on its K-01 mirrorless introduced in February, which supports legacy Pentax lenses out of the box, something which makes it bulkier.
The EOS M bundled with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens will be available in October for an estimated retail price of $799.99.

EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens. Photo Credit: Canon

A white version of the EOS M Digital Camera bundled with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens will be exclusively available through Canon Online store.
Canon is targeting the EOS-M at ILC beginners and emphasizing its impressive video capture capability over still capture.

Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens. Photo Credit: Canon

Having taken their time jumping on the mirrorless ILC bandwagon that already has Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung, Sony, Nikon and Pentax onboard, Canaon has the advantage of having evaluated the market over a longer period.
With smartphones now featuring cameras that rival compacts targeting capture-the-moment camera buyers, Canon sees the need to move on to a new camera range that targets photography enthusiasts. A range that features DSLR like capability, but with compact form factor.

WSJ Confirms Amazon Smartphone with 4 to 5-in Screen

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 03:42:00 +0000

WSJ Confirms Amazon Smartphone with 4 to 5-in Screen

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 confirmed that Amazon is broadening its mobile device offering with a smartphone that will have a 4 to 5-in screen.
Sources tell the WSJ that the smartphone is currently being tested and mass production could start by year end, or early next year.
Bloomberg reported on July 5 that Amazon is planning to launch a smartphone that will compete with Apple's iPhone and Android smartphones in the market.
Two sources told Bloomberg that Amazon has tied up with Chinese Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. (2038) and is acquiring wireless technology patents to ensure it doesn't get embroiled in patent infringement litigations.
Amazon's foray into the smart phone market is designed to boost sales of its digital content - digital books, songs and movies. It earlier ventured into the Android tablet market with its Kindle Fire.
Amazon's smartphone is likely to be powered by Google's Android OS, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Amazon declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.
In November 2011, Mark Mahaney, an analyst at Citigroup Inc., said that Amazon is planning to release a smartphone.