Best Gadgets

Flexible batteries get the graphene treatment, could be cheaper than other bendy batts

2011-03-03T02:36:00.000-08:00

By Christopher Trout posted Mar 2nd 2011 1:53AM We've been talking about flexible batteries for years now, but a team of Korean researchers have presented a new solution to bendable energy sources that is not only more powerful than standard lithium-ion batteries, but also potentially cheaper to produce than its malleable predecessors -- and unsurprisingly, everyone's favorite wonder material, graphene, is at the heart of the innovation. The rechargeable battery contains a vanadium-oxide cathode, grown on a sheet of graphene paper, an unidentified separator, and an anode made of lithium-coated graphene. According to the folks behind the new power source, it sports higher energy and power density, as well as a better cycle life than the literally stiff competition. Similar advances have also out-performed rigid lithium-ion batteries, but have enlisted carbon nanotubes, a material more expensive to produce than graphene. Of course, like all technological advances, we won't be seeing these things for years, if not decades, so you might as well get used to ye olde standard bearer.
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NES becomes an HTPC, turns your FOF upside down

2011-03-03T02:08:00.000-08:00

By Michael Gorman posted Mar 2nd 2011 3:52AM Nintendo Entertainment Systems have proven to be fertile ground for the DIY community -- purses, guitars, and belt buckles are just a sampling of the more unusual NES mods out there. We've also seen our share of NES PCs, and now an enterprising Finn going by the name Ana-5000 has crammed a fully-fledged home theater PC into everybody's favorite 8-bit console. An Asus AT3IONT-I Deluxe motherboard with an Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor and an NVIDIA Ion GPU provides the computing power and offers HDMI and VGA ports, six USB 2.0 ports, optical and RCA audio connections, integrated 802.11b/g/n wireless and Gigabit ethernet, and Bluetooth connectivity. Ana-5000 gave the repurposed Nintendo a fresh black and white paint-job to set it apart from your garden variety NES as well. Hit up the Source link for pics and an explanation of the entire mod process if you feel like doing some console recycling yourself.
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iMovie, GarageBand for iPad announced -- $4.99 on March 11th

2011-03-03T01:44:00.000-08:00

By Laura June posted Mar 2nd 2011 12:53PM In addition the the announcement of the iPad 2, Steve Jobs just unveiled iMovie for iPad, so all your tablet video editing dreams are about to come true. So what does this new version of iMovie have in store for you? A precision editor, multitrack audio recording, some brand new themes, AirPlay to Apple TV, and the ability to share videos in HD. It'll be available on March 11th (the same day as the new iPad) for $4.99.

Apple's also just outed GarageBand for iPad. The app will boast several touch instruments, guitar amps and effects, 8-track recording and mixing, over 250 loops, the ability to email your AAC files, and it's compatible with the Mac version. GarageBane for iPad will also run you $4.99 when it's released on March 11th. There's a gallery after the break.

Developing... for the latest coverage of Apple's iPad 2 launch event, see our liveblog.

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iPad 2 gets a Smart Cover

2011-03-03T01:17:00.000-08:00

We can't say we were expecting to be impressed by a case for the new iPad 2, but Apple's pulled something of a surprise out its hat with its new Smart Covers for the tablet. Available in multiple colors and in your choice of polyurethane or leather variants, the covers attach to the iPad with a self-aligning magnetic hinge and can also be folded into a triangle and used as a stand. What's more, they'll automatically wake or put your iPad to sleep when you open or close the cover, and they even pack a microfiber lining that cleans your screen each time you flip it open. As Steve Jobs explained, Apple designed the covers right alongside the iPad itself and, as he points out, "it's not a case -- it's a cover." Look for the poly covers to set you back $39, while the leather ones will run $69 apiece -- video is after the break.

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Visualized: if the iPhone had happened in an alternate reality

2011-03-03T01:01:00.000-08:00

By Chris Ziegler posted Mar 2nd 2011 12:02PM This collection of devices -- from Germany's SKS Hinkel, and winner of an iF Product Design Award this year -- is really a video intercom system. But if you use your imagination, from left to right, it looks like an iPod shuffle, an iPod classic, an iPhone shuffle, and an iPhone classic all developed in some awesome alternate dimension where coiled phone cords are still cool.

Admit it: you miss the click wheel.

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Design project paints city's WiFi networks with light

2011-03-03T00:38:00.000-08:00

We've seen WiFi detectors used for various DIY projects before, but none quite like this rather ambitious project cooked up by Norwegian designers Timo Armall, Jorn Knutsen, and Einar Sneve Martinussen. They built a four-meter long WiFi-detecting rod that boasts 80 LED bulbs and carried it around various neighborhoods in Oslo, picking up signals of various strengths from nearby WiFi networks all the way. That's only the half of it, though. The real kicker is that they also captured the whole thing with long-exposure photographs to effectively paint the "invisible terrain" of WiFi networks with light. Head on past the break for a video, and hit up the source links below for a closer look at the entire process.

[Thanks, Christer]

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Emotiv EEG headset hacked into VR trapeze act, lets you fly like Superman (video)

2011-03-03T00:21:00.000-08:00

Last year, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students built a virtual reality contraption that let them soar through the sky, held aloft by a trapeze harness and seeing through HMD-covered eyes. This year, they're controlling it with the power of their minds. For his master's thesis, project leader Yehuda Duenyas added an Emotiv headset -- the same one controlling cars and the occasional game -- to make the wearer seemingly able to levitate themselves into the air by carefully concentrating. Sure, by comparison it's a fairly simple trick, but the effect is nothing short of movie magic. See it after the break.

[Thanks, Eric]

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Prospero the robotic farmer robotically plants seeds, makes humans even more lazy (video)

2011-03-02T23:58:00.000-08:00

Let's face it -- humans are lazy, yet incredibly industrious. We've seen everything from a self-making bed, to a channel-changer to even a touchless keyboard. And now, we're blessed with a robot that plants seeds for us. That's right, the image you see above is of a five-legged machine that has the ability to complete all of the necessary steps to grow a plant. Thanks to a Parallax Propeller chip that's mounted on a Schmart Board, Prospero is able to autonomously navigate in any direction and avoid obstructing objects. There's a sensor that lies under its body that senses where seeds have been deployed. If the robot detects that the ground is in need of a seed, it'll dig a hole, drop the seed, move the soil back over the hole and then spray paint the ground white to note that the process was successful. The belly of the bot is also equipped with fertilizers and herbicides, and Prospero can 'talk' (via infrared) to other robots in order to maintain crop-creating efficiency. You can check out a 48-second clip of the planting process after the break. Or, if you're a harvest-enthusiast, hit the more coverage link for 5 minutes of glorious green thumb action.
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NanoPhotonica develops S-QLED, OLED to develop inferiority complex soon

2011-03-02T23:39:00.000-08:00

NanoPhotonica Develops Breakthrough Technology for QLED Flat Panel Displays

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NanoPhotonica, a developer of advanced materials, has perfected realizable, breakthrough QLED display technology that it is commercializing for mass production.
Improvements have been made in image quality with the newer OLED technology, but high manufacturing costs, yield limitations and limited lifetime make it expensive and challenging for all but the smallest devices.

The company's S-QLED technology improves on the picture quality and power consumption achieved by recently introduced OLED displays, while significantly reducing cost and improving lifetime well beyond what OLED can achieve. NanoPhotonica's materials and design solution is cost-effective on the full range of displays from smartphones to large devices like TVs.

NanoPhotonica is currently working with several leading display manufacturers to commercialize devices based on its proprietary technology. Work at independent laboratories previously identified key performance advantages.

"Most current electronic products have LCD displays that are power hogs and provide picture quality that, as we all know, leaves a lot to be desired," explains CEO Dr. Christopher Morton. "Improvements have been made in image quality with the newer OLED technology, but high manufacturing costs, yield limitations and limited lifetime make it expensive and challenging for all but the smallest devices."

Displays made using NanoPhotonica S-QLED technology will provide better picture technology than OLED, use 30 per cent less power, will be priced up to 75 per cent lower and last twice as long. The technology's versatility across all display sizes is made possible through cost-effective ink jet printing that requires no vacuum deposition.

"NanoPhotonica has a game-changing approach to the materials, design and manufacture for displays," adds Morton. "We're excited by the benefits we bring to the industry and by the response we have had from major display producers worldwide. Our focus is to accelerate work with existing and new display partners to bring this QLED technology to market soon. Our materials are enabling similar advances in the solar industry, and we intend to announce more about those programs shortly."

About NanoPhotonica

NanoPhotonica, based in Orlando, FL, brings innovative nanomaterials and production techniques to enable market-altering improvements to a range of photoelectric applications, including displays, solar panels and other electronic device industries. www.nanophotonica.com

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iPad 2 (or something) shows up in the wilds of China

2011-03-02T23:24:00.000-08:00

By Vlad Savov posted Mar 2nd 2011 2:57AM Look, not even the source of these images is absolutely certain that the device in his possession is a legitimate iPad 2, but we can't very well leave you spending your entire day anticipating Apple's new tablet launch without a potential candidate for what it might eventually look like. The above mockup has been procured over in China (where else?) and seems to tally closely with speculation we've been hearing about this hardware refresh -- namely, a slimmer profile, an almost entirely flat back, bigger speaker, and of course, rear- and front-facing cameras. We've looked into the digits on the back of the device and the model number is one for the original Apple TV while the FCC ID is for a WiFi-only iPad, but those could be mere placeholders on what is, once again, a mockup and not a real working tablet. The SIM card slot looks to have been repositioned to a slot that was once expected to house an SD card reader. Other tidbits of interest here include the 3G antenna, whose white cover is expected to be black on final units, and the sloped power button and headphone jack, bringing those witty "jumbo iPod touch" jokes to mind. Boy, those never get old. Jump past the break for a few more pics.
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Apple iOS 4.3 coming March 11 with iPad 2, includes new AirPlay features and FaceTime

2011-03-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

By Nilay Patel posted Mar 2nd 2011 1:14PM Along with the iPad 2, Apple's releasing the final version of iOS 4.3, which features the Nitro Javscript engine from Safari on OS X, new iTunes Home Sharing features that let you play content from desktop iTunes over WiFi, and the updated suite of AirPlay features from the betas -- including the ability for App Store apps to share audio and video. Apple's also finalizing the new option that lets you assign the side switch to either rotation lock or mute, and it's adding Personal Hotspot support. There's also those rumored iOS versions of Photo Booth and FaceTime for the new cameras. It'll be a free download for all iPads, the GSM iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS and the third- and fourth-gen iPod touch when it's released on March 11. When will it hit the Verizon iPhone 4? We don't know yet.

Developing...

Developing... for the latest coverage of Apple's iPad 2 launch event, see our liveblog.
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NVIDIA's faulty GPU class action settlement challenged, but time's running out

2011-03-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

By Sean Hollister posted Mar 1st 2011 11:50PM Remember when NVIDIA was caught selling defective mobile graphics chips, and agreed to provide bargain-basement replacement laptops to make a class-action lawsuit go away? At least one gentleman wasn't happy with how that went down, and is suing to see that affected customers get a fair shake. Ted Frank of the Center for Class Action Fairness says that NVIDIA has no business passing off cheap laptops, and we think he might have a case -- after all, the judge ordered that NVIDIA provide "a replacement computer of like or similar kind and equal or similar value," and it doesn't take a lawyer to see that the $400 Compaq Presario CQ56-115DX that the company's offering doesn't come close to compensating owners of faulty machines. We joked that you might be better off selling your old laptop for parts on eBay, and that might not be far from the truth.

The thing is, whether Ted Frank and company win or lose in court, defective laptop owners have only two weeks remaining to sign up for whatever NVIDIA ends up handing out, as March 14th is the final deadline to have settlement claims postmarked. Read the arguments at our more coverage link, and decide for yourself.

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Google adding web-based in-app payments, probably some time in May

2011-03-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

By Vlad Savov posted Mar 2nd 2011 9:13AM It's not enough that you'll soon be able to make in-app purchases on Android, Google wants to give you an outlet for your app spending online as well. The search giant is hard at work turning last year's acquisition of Jambool and its Social Gold software into a web-based in-app payments platform it can call its own. Jambool's proprietors have word that Google's system is now in beta, which has led it to close new signups for the Social Gold offering, ahead of halting payment processing entirely on May 31st. That should serve as a pretty reliable guide for when to expect Google to flip the switch on its in-app purchasing service, which we're hearing will include some level of integration with Google Checkout and Google accounts. As TechCrunch points out, the next Google I/O gathering is scheduled for May 10th -- sounds about the right time for us to be introduced to this new, app-based way for separating us from our hard-earned cash.
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AIST shows off full-color night vision camera, well lit Bullwinkle figurine (video)

2011-03-02T21:42:00.000-08:00

You might know them for seemingly ridiculous innovations like Segway shoes or the HRP-4C pop star robot, but the folks at AIST have put away the gimmicks for their latest invention -- a full-color night vision camera. Produced by Nanolux, an arm of AIST, the camera uses a series of algorithms to read and process wavelengths reflected by objects lit with infrareds, allowing it to successfully reproduce reds, blues, and greens in the darkest of conditions. The company hopes to make the device available by the end of 2011 at a price point lower than conventional night vision cameras, and says they will work with different lenses to improve long-range photography for the device. Such an invention could have serious implications for fields like surveillance and wildlife observation, but fear not, AIST hasn't lost its sense of humor -- the company used a Bullwinkle figurine rotating on a Lazy Susan to demo its latest invention at Printable Electronics 2011. Check out the video after the jump.
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Shocker! UK regulator finds average broadband speeds are 'less than half' those advertised

2011-03-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

You don't have to go to the lengths of compiling a statistical project to know that advertised and actual broadband speeds are two pretty disparate entities, but it does help. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, recently took a thorough look at 11 broadband packages, which collectively account for over 90 percent of all British broadband subscriptions, and found that actual download throughput was less than half (only 45 percent) of the advertised "up to" speed. The worst offenders were resellers of BT's ADSL lines, with Orange dipping below 3Mbit on its 8Mbit lines and TalkTalk occasionally offering only 7.5Mbit to users paying for a 24Mbit connection, while Virgin's cable connectivity won out by sticking most loyally to its listed rating. What Ofcom proposes for the future is that all these service providers start offering Typical Speed Ranges that more accurately reflect the bandwidth a potential subscriber would be buying into -- a proposal that might actually have some teeth as the British Advertising Standards Authority is currently in the midst of a review specifically concerned with broadband advertising practices. Transparency in the way we're sold broadband? That'd make a welcome change!
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Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

2011-03-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

By Joshua Topolsky posted Mar 2nd 2011 12:58PM

11:08AM Scott Forstall and Michael Tchao also making some quality appearances in this video.

11:06AM Okay Apple, you've convinced us to buy an iPad 2. Many iPad 2s.

11:05AM Florence and the Machine -- Dog Days Are Over provides the soundtrack here. Perfectly matches Jony Ive's silky smooth lauding of this product.

11:05AM "Now we made a video that I'd love to show you."
11:04AM "We think 2011 is clearly the year of iPad 2..." Big cheers for that.
11:04AM "So iPad 2 -- amazing product. Faster, lighter, thinner. Cameras and gyro. iOS 4.3 and FaceTime. iMovie and GaragrBand. 3G on AT&T and Verizon. Same battery life. Same prices. Black and white. Smart Covers."

11:03AM "So, GarageBand for iPad. This is no toy. You can use this for real work. I cannot tell you how many hours teenagers are going to spend making music with this." Wow, $4.99. That's kind of insane.
11:03AM Steve is out. "I'm blown away with this stuff. You know, playing your own instruments. Or using the Smart Instruments. Anyone can make music now."
11:02AM "We can't wait to hear all the creative things people will do when they get this in their hands."
11:02AM This will be a dream come true for a lot of bands looking to do fast and cheap demos.

11:01AM The editing of multiple tracks looks really intuitive.
11:00AM "This can record up to 8 tracks. Let's put that in perspective -- back when the Beatles did Sgt. Peppers, you could only do four tracks, and the machine was the size of a washing machine."

10:59AM "Once you've laid down one recording, that's the first step to writing a song. That's where the track view comes in."

10:59AM "They make it so you can't play a bad note." Described as training wheels... really more like a taxi cab.

10:58AM Oh, it will strum for you as well.
10:58AM Goodbye need for talent!
10:58AM This is weird. Compatible chords are selected, and you can strum down each line to "play" the guitar.

10:57AM "We've got great guitar amps and effects... but you know there are a lot of people who don't play guitar. So we created Smart Instruments. Here you see an acoustic guitar, but one that anyone can play..."

10:56AM "Another great feature of these drums is that your kids can play them... with headphones on."

10:56AM If you hit the rim of the snare you get rim sounds, you can move from bell outward on the cymbals and the sounds change accordingly.
10:55AM Demo'ing drums now. Ha! It looks like a drum kit from the dummer's view.
10:55AM "Let's bring up 50's scifi... here's something you can do on the iPad that you can't on a real keyboard." Wow, you can slide your note up along the keys, but also tweak vibrato as you slide your finger along individual keys.

10:54AM "Some great sounds here. Let's bring up the classic rock organ. The look changes to match a real B3 organ." Ooh, sounds good too! And drawbars... and speaker rotation. Sounds very good.

10:53AM "Now we're only seeing some of the keys because this is only a window into a much larger piano." You can toggle octaves.

10:53AM There's a toggle for the sustain pedal. "Another thing about a piano is that you can play with dynamics... the sound is different when you tap softly or with force. How do we do that? With the accelerometer."

10:52AM "The first thing you see is an instrument browser. They turn the iPad into a musical instrument that you can play where ever you go. Here's a grand piano... and it's not just a grand piano. Clavinet, some great synths... let's stick with piano."

10:51AM Xander Soren is coming out to demo.

10:50AM "Touch instruments, you can plug in a guitar if you want, but it's got touch instruments. Guitar amps and effects, 8 track recording and mixing, 250+ loops..."

10:50AM "Next up... GarageBand for iPad."
10:50AM "Precision editing, sending HD video around with one tap. A lot of great features in an app we're going to price at just $4.99. Available on March 11th."

10:49AM Steve is back. "It's awesome. 1.3 lbs... it blows my mind, this stuff."

10:49AM "And that is the new version of iMovie on the iPad 2."

10:48AM New sharing options... YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and more.
10:48AM They've got a new "neon" theme -- think Miami Vice.
10:48AM Music automatically switches with themes...

10:46AM Over 50 sound effects come with iMovie. I hope they have the Wilhelm Scream.

10:45AM Editing does look pretty handy on that bigger screen. "We've also done a lot of work in the audio area."

10:44AM Randy is doing some iMovie editing.

10:43AM "This looks really great on the Retina Display of the iPhone and iPod touch too."

10:43AM Ha, homescreen looks like an old theatre.
10:43AM "Today we've got a new version that takes advantage of the iPad 2 and its extra horsepower. I'd like to show it to you."
10:42AM Randy Ubillos is out to demo iMovie for the iPad.

10:42AM "We have a long history of video editing, and iMovie for iPad is in that vein." Precision editor, multitrack audio, new themes...

10:42AM "The first one is iMovie for iPad."
10:42AM Steve is out. "In addition to these two apps being built into iOS 4.3, we have two other new apps. And we like doing apps. It can set the bar. It sets the bar high for developers."

10:41AM "So these are just a few features in iOS 4.3, and this will be out March 11th..."

10:40AM "From day one, you can FaceTime from your iPad 2 to all the iPhone 4 customers out there."
10:40AM Demo'ing the flip feature to get to the back camera. "If Michael had children or something, this might be interesting to look at." Ha!

10:39AM And... a FaceTime call is happening.

10:39AM "Next is FaceTime. It's the best and easiest way to video conference. We're bringing it to the iPad. You can FaceTime between two iPads, between an iPad and an iPhone, or between an iPad and a Mac." Demo time for this.
10:38AM "That's Photo Booth." Hmm.
10:38AM You can manipulate effects by touching. Pretty nifty.

10:37AM "Here I have an iPad 2 which is mirrored up there. Let me launch Photo Booth. The iPad 2 is so powerful that we're looking at 9 live video streams at once." Real time effect demos, like on a desktop. Scott is cycling though them to great hilarity.

10:36AM "Next, the iPad 2 comes with these new cameras. And we've built in some new software -- starting with Photo Booth. Let me give you a demo."
10:36AM 4.3 will add personal hotspot for the iPhone 4.

10:36AM You can now select which mode it's in.
10:35AM "Next, this is something we heard from customers. Some customers have said they want to use the switch on the device to quickly mute the device, others have asked for a switch to change the orientation lock." Ooh, backpedal!

10:35AM "When you tap on the AirPlay icon, it looks around and finds your Apple TV. It's that easy. We're making it even better in iOS 4.3. If you're sharing photos, you can use all of the built in slide show options. And now in 4.3, apps from the Store and even websites can do video or audio."

10:33AM "Along with the iPad 2, we're releasing the next release of iOS 4.3. It starts with significantly increased Safari performance. We took the Nitro JavaScript engine. Next, iTunes home sharing. It lets you get at all of your content directly over WiFi. Next, AirPlay improvements."

10:32AM Scott Forstall is out.
10:32AM "So those are the two accessories. Now let's go back into the iPad 2, because we have a new release of iOS -- iOS 4.3."

10:32AM Poly cases are $39, leather $69
10:31AM Steve is pretty stoked about this cover. "There are magnets in the hinge and the cover. And what would these cases be if they didn't come in colors. 5 poly, 5 leather."

10:31AM "That kind of reminds me of a Pixar short."

10:31AM Hard to describe, but let's say there was a lot of snapping this cover onto iPads.

10:30AM "They come in polyurethane or leather. Here's a video."

10:30AM "It's really easy to remove or change the cover."
10:29AM "They grasp it, and auto-align it. I'll show you a little video. It's so cool. You can remove it in a second. It adds minimal weight and thickness. It's got a microfiber cloth that cleans the screen."

10:29AM "It automatically wakes the iPad when you open it, and puts it to sleep when it closes it. Now how is this held on? Do we have screws? No -- we use magnets."

10:28AM It's a flap that covers the front of the device. Interesting.
10:28AM "We designed the case right along side the product. It's not a case -- it's a cover."

10:28AM "We did a case for the original iPad. It worked pretty well, but we went to all the trouble to make this beautiful design, but then covered it up with the case. We thought we could do better than this with the iPad 2."
10:27AM "Something that's going to be even more popular, we call Smart Covers."

10:27AM "Here's what it looks like."
10:27AM You can charge while using.
10:26AM Provides output up to 1080p. Works with all apps.
10:26AM "Mirrored video output."
10:26AM "Some other new features. HDMI out. We have a cable that does just that."

10:25AM "26 countries or more on March 25th. And that is iPad 2."

10:25AM "Just a beautiful product... so when are we going to ship it? April, May, June? No. March 11th."

10:25AM "When you add this together with over 65,000 apps... we think 2011 is going to be the year of iPad 2." Big cheers from the crowd.
10:24AM "Now some folks are out there saying they're only a little bit more expensive than us. When you look at this matrix, five of these six are less than $799." Burn Moto.

10:24AM "In addition to preserving the battery life, we've also preserved the price. The same exact prices."
10:23AM "This has been tried and tested... iPads get 10 hours of battery life."

10:23AM "Over a month of standby."

10:23AM "Now here we are adding stuff into the iPad. Cameras, faster CPUs, gyroscope and all this stuff. We've made it way thinner. Something's gotta give. You would think we'd have to give up battery life. But we found a way... the same battery life as the original iPad."

10:22AM "In addition to having both colors, we have models that work with both AT&T and Verizon."

10:22AM "It's really thin... and it comes in two colors. And we're shipping white from day one!"

10:21AM "All new design. This is what it looks like."
10:21AM "In addition to thicker (he meant thinner), it's lighter too."
10:21AM "Nothing approaches this."

10:21AM "When you get your hands on one, it feels totally different."
10:21AM "The new iPad 2 is thinner than your iPhone 4."

10:20AM "Having built in all this stuff, one of the striking things about the iPad 2 is that's dramatically thinner. 33% thinner."
10:20AM 'We've also built in the gyroscope we have in the iPhone and iPod touch."

10:20AM "Second, we've built in some cameras for video. We've got a rear and front facing. More on that in a few minutes."
10:19AM "The first iPad was no slouch... so a lot faster."
10:19AM "We go all out on the graphics performance. Up to 9 times faster. Same low power as A4. This will be the first dual core tablet to ship in volume."

10:19AM "What is iPad 2. What have we learned? It is an all new design. It's a completely new design. And it's dramatically faster. We have a new chip we call A5."

10:18AM "But we haven't been resting on our laurels. Today we're going to introduce iPad 2."
10:18AM "We've gotten off to an exceptional first year. We'd like to build on that. What about 2011? Everyone's got a tablet. Will 2011 be the year of the copycat? If we did nothing, maybe a little bit... probably not."

10:17AM Phil: This is just the beginning.
10:17AM Damn you Apple for making everyone here cry about the iPad.
10:17AM Man this is actually really emotional...

10:16AM iPads are being used to work with Autistic children. This is pretty cool. "We're not curing Autism, but it's helping."

10:15AM Doctors are using the iPad... and spending more time with patients. Also, the iPad has been performing brain surgery.

10:14AM Chicago schools... using the iPad, seeing huge gains.

10:13AM Phil: Some people call this a post-PC device.
10:13AM Gist of the video -- the iPad is magical. Sales were through the roof. Stuff is amazing.

10:12AM Phil Schiller: No one predicted this would be as successful as it's been.
10:11AM Hmm... screen just says... Video. Oh there we go.
10:11AM "We made a video about 2010, the year of the iPad..." Video time!
10:11AM "One of the things that's helped us roll this out so fast is our retail stores. They were built for moments like this. We have hundreds of Apple stores now. Without them, we wouldn't have been successful."

10:10AM Ouch -- Honeycomb logo... 100 apps.
10:10AM "There's never been anything like this for photography... 65,000 apps specifically for the iPad."

10:10AM "They're taking advantage of this incredible, magical UI."
10:10AM "Fantastic games, a lot of apps for business and vertical markets. The things people are doing here are amazing."
10:09AM Steve is showing off some of the iPad app selection.

10:09AM "Samsung put one out last year. They said 'our sell-in was quite aggressive, 2m, but our sell out was quite small'." Zing!

10:09AM "Many have said this is the most successful consumer product ever launched. Over 90% market share... our competitors were flummoxed."

10:08AM "We sold 15m iPads... that's more than every tablet PC ever sold."

10:08AM "When we said the iPad was magical, people laughed at us. But it's turned out to be magical. And people questioned whether it was an 'unbelievable' price -- well ask our competitors."

10:07AM "We're in a position where most of our revenue comes from these products."

10:07AM "Today we're here to talk about Apple's third post-PC blockbuster product. That's how we think about these things. We started with the iPod, then we added the iPhone, and then the iPad. Every one has been a blockbuster."

10:06AM "Lastly -- we recently shipped our 100 millionth iPhone."

10:06AM "A lot of people have tried to copy this."
10:05AM "Another milestone... let's look at the App Store. We recently paid out over $2b to devs in total. Devs have earned over $2b from selling their apps on the App Store."

10:05AM "Now Amazon doesn't publish their numbers, but it's likely this is the most accounts with credit cards anywhere on the internet."

10:05AM "That's iBooks. As you know, that's one of our three stores. They all use the same Apple ID to access them. Recently, we just crossed 200m accounts."

10:04AM "We have over 2500 publishers in the iBookstore."
10:04AM "Users have downloaded over 100m books in less than a year. Today we're announcing that Random House is bringing over 17k books."
10:03AM "We've got something great to announce today, but first some updates. First iBooks."
10:03AM "We've been working on this product for awhile, and I didn't want to miss it."

10:03AM Standing ovation for Steve Jobs. People are flipping out. He looks good!

10:02AM The lights are going down... we're about to begin!
9:59AM "Ladies and gentlemen, our presentation will begin shortly. Please switch devices to silent mode."
9:58AM As you can by the photo, the chair / table setup is here... just like when Steve showed off the first iPad.
9:58AM Did we mention that they're playing a lot of Beatles right now?

9:56AM For those wondering -- no sign of Steve here, but Jony Ive is in the front row.
9:54AM If you're seeing any trouble with comments, don't panic. It looks like Disqus might be experiencing the Apple effect right now.
9:52AM It's all Beatles all the time here.
9:51AM Joz is also in the house, just being Joz.
9:50AM Packed house today -- we can see Tim Cook and Phil Schiller near the stage right now. Expect to see more of them.
9:46AM Okay, we're in our seats and... the Beatles are on the sound system.
09:31AM We're inside and waiting to sit down! All the usual suspects are here -- and we've heard that Pixar's John Lasseter is somewhere in the mix as well.We're going to be liveblogging Apple's iPad 2 announcement (and whatever else they have in store). Check back at the times below, and get ready to make history together!

08:00AM - Hawaii
10:00AM - Pacific
11:00AM - Mountain
12:00PM - Central
01:00PM - Eastern
06:00PM - London
07:00PM - Paris
09:00PM - Moscow
11:30PM - Mumbai
03:00AM - Tokyo (March 3rd)
05:00AM - Sydney (March 3rd)

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Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece

2011-03-02T20:34:00.000-08:00

We've been whittling our likeness into bars of soap for decades, but lucky for us someone's come up with a far easier way to render our flawless good looks in miniature. Following in a long line of inventive Kinect hacks, the folks at Interactive Fabrication have produced a program called Fabricate Yourself that enlists the machine to capture images of users and convert them into 3D printable files. The hack, which was presented at Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction Conference in January, results in tiny 3D models that resemble Han Solo trapped in carbonite and sport jigsaw edges that can be used to make a grid of small, but accurate renderings. Fabricate Yourself is still in its infancy, and the resulting models are relatively short on detail, but we're no less excited by the possibilities -- just think of all the things we could monogram in the time it takes to produce one soapy statuette. Video after the jump.
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Google spikes 21 malicious apps with big download counts from the Market (update: Android 2.2.2 and up are immune)

2011-03-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

By Chris Ziegler posted Mar 2nd 2011 6:48AM We're sure that the debate of a carefully controlled and curated environment like Apple's App Store versus a free-for-all like the Android Market will rage on for years to come, but here's something to chew on: Google just removed some 21 apps from the Market in the last day from a publisher going by Myournet for doing all sorts of naughty things to your device. Offenses include attempting to root your phone, uploading phone information (including IMEI) to who-knows-where, and -- most egregiously -- adding a backdoor that allows additional code to be pulled down and executed.

At least some of the apps are pirated versions of existing apps that have been re-uploaded at zero cost to the user, which makes them appealing... and the trick apparently works quite well, because the 21 managed to clock over 50,000 downloads before getting taken down. This isn't the first time malicious apps have shown up on smartphones -- far from it -- but it's probably the highest-profile case of a first-party app store being infiltrated by really bad stuff. If there's a silver lining, it's that Google was extraordinarily quick to respond once Android Police reported the situation -- the site says it took less than five minutes from the time they reached out to the time the apps actually went offline. Still, that's little consolation if you've already installed your "free" copy of Super History Eraser. Hit the source links for the full list of pulled apps.

Update: Android Central points out that the type of root exploit used in these apps was patched in Android 2.2.2 and up, so Nexus One and Nexus S owners should be fine; everyone else is left out in the cold, though, thanks to the vexing third-party update lag. Thanks, Z!

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Older TiVo Series 3 / HD boxes will work with the iPad remote app soon

2011-03-02T19:52:00.000-08:00

By Richard Lawler posted Mar 1st 2011 6:54PM The companion app for TiVo Premiere DVRs worked out well when we reviewed it, but ZatzNotFunny points out it could get even better soon when it will feature "limited support" for Series 3 / HD boxes, along with TiVo DVRs offered by cable providers like RCN and Suddenlink. This "coming soon" info was included in an update yesterday that added a new DVR selection screen to the setup process, ability to run in the background plus assorted performance enhancements and bug fixes. Of course, we now know that TiVo's "lifetime" offers won't last forever (ten years, give or take) but for users who would prefer to stick with their existing hardware instead of upgrading to a Series 4, there are still a few new features coming down the pipe.
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Genesi reduces price of Efika MX Smartbook, Smarttop, says it's for greater good

2011-03-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

$129 Efika MX Smarttop and $199 Smartbook Price Reductions Give People and Businesses in Emerging Markets Affordable Computing, Internet Access

3G Smartbook Added to Low-Cost, Energy-Efficient Efika MX Product Line from Genesi

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genesi USA Inc., a leading developer and producer of low-cost, high-value energy-efficient computing products, announces price reductions on its line of wafer-thin and whisper-quiet Efika MX computers, opening the door even more for billions of people and businesses in emerging markets to affordable state-of-the-art computing and Internet access.

The Smarttop network computer is now $129, while the two-pound Smartbook netbook is available for $199 (new Smartbook 3G version is $249). Both are WiFi-enabled and available at www.genesi-usa.com/store/.

"We have created a low-cost, energy-efficient, Internet-connected line of note/netbooks through a very specific business model. We lower our costs to produce Efika MX products through our vast developer community and with local assembly and manufacturing, we will be able to pass even more savings along," said Raquel Velasco, Managing Director/Chairman, Genesi USA Inc.

In January, IHS Global Insight estimated the world population will reach 6.9 billion during 2010 and that 5.9 billion people will live in emerging markets. As the world population grows so does the demand for low-cost, competent computing resources, particularly in emerging "middle class" markets around the world, estimated at 1.3 billion (emc = above poverty, below median income of middle class). Technology and service providers like Genesi are working to cost effectively address young tech-savvy consumers and businesses in these emerging markets.

"For a lot of people around the world, price has been a barrier to having any kind of technological connection to create or consume data. Eighty percent of the world's population has mobile reach via a 3G (third generation) network, and of that number, only 20% have Internet access," Velasco says. "Having a connection to the rest of the world is empowering – just look at what's happening in North Africa and the Middle East right now – and, for people and businesses in these emerging markets, a Smarttop or Smartbook may be their first fully web-connected device."

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Olympus SZ-30MR shoots 1080p video and 16MP stills simultaneously; Tough TG-810 is 'crushproof'

2011-03-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

Introducing the first ever camera to capture Full HD movies & 16 Megapixel stills simultaneously

Introducing the first ever camera to capture Full HD movies & 16 Megapixel stills simultaneously
Olympus Super Zoom Series posts another world first

New SZ-30MR & SZ-20 deliver high-tech at its finest

Hamburg, 2 March 2011 – When Olympus launched the SZ-10 in February, it was hard to believe the zoom in a compact camera could get any more powerful. The new SZ-30MR proves that it can. With a jaw-dropping 24x wide optical zoom (25-600mm*), this state-of-the-art flagship breaks all the rules in the compact category – and it breaks records too. The SZ-30MR is the first camera ever to offer simultaneous recording of 1080p Full HD movies and 16 Megapixel still photos. So with the SZ-30MR, users can shoot in high resolution with different combinations of recording modes at once, then share their shots in the format of their choice. For example, as a movie and digital still or a wide-angle shot and a close-up. Like the SZ-30MR, the new SZ-20 is astonishingly slender for a camera with huge zooming power. The super-slim design makes both SZ models ideal for people who like to travel light but insist on the very best spec. With a backlit CMOS sensor for excellent pictures in low light, 3D photo shooting and Eye-Fi card compatibility, these cameras combine practicality with beauty and sheer imaging power. The SZ-30MR is available for €329, the SZ-20 for €219, both from March 2011.

MR is for a Multi Recording
The SZ-30MR is the world's first camera to record 1080p Full HD movie and 16 Megapixel stills at the same time – thanks to an ingenious feature Olympus calls Multi Recording. For anyone who's ever shot a scene one way, then (when it was too late) wished they'd done everything differently, MR is a must. Dual Engine TruePic III+ image processors give the
SZ-MR30 the power to record simultaneously in more than one mode, and in a variety of combinations. Users can record two different movies at once: in wide-angle and close-up; Full HD and lower resolution; or original and filtered (using one of the SZ-30MR's seven Magic Filters for movies). In addition, with the Photo with Movie Clip setting, it's now possible to capture moving footage before and after taking a single photo. These innovations give users the fun and flexibility of sharing their shots in a variety of media – from full-size prints to video clips for their favourite social media website. Both new models come with wireless Eye-Fi compatibility, so they can upload photos automatically to the Web – no cables required.

SZ is for Super Zoom
The Super Zoom SZ Series lives up to its name with a 24x wide optical zoom on the SZ-30MR and an equally impressive 12.5x super wide optical zoom on the significantly lower priced SZ-20. With this sort of zooming power it's easy to take exceptional shots, from the expressive face of a gargoyle high up on a church roof to an emotive movie close-up of battling athletes. The pixel-rich 1080p Full HD movie format ensures the best moving picture quality currently available in a compact camera – with breathtaking realism, clarity and colour when users play back on a large Full HD TV.

S is for state-of-the-art
The SZ-30MR and SZ-20 are packed with the smartest technology the compact camera world has to offer, giving users a host of features that make it easy to get creative, transfer movies or photos wirelessly and capture just the shot they want in excellent quality. Both cameras offer 3D still photo shooting and eight Magic Filters, including the new Sparkle and Watercolour options. Pet Detection mode automatically snaps dog or cat faces just as they look up, while with Smart Panorama, users simply pan from side to side to get a sweeping panorama picture.

The SZ-30MR is available in black for €329, the SZ-20 in silver and black for €219, both from March 2011.

Distinguishing features:

OLYMPUS SZ-30MR

Image Quality

• 24x wide optical zoom (25-600mm*) for exceptional close-ups

Creativity & Flexibility

• Multi Recording with Dual Engine TruePic III+ image processor for recording movies and photos simultaneously, or two movies in different modes or from different angles

OLYMPUS SZ-20

Image Quality

• 12.5x super wide optical zoom (24-300mm*) for superb close-ups
• TruePic III+ image processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise

Common features:
Image Quality

• 1080p Full HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in the best image quality currently available in compact cameras
• 16 Megapixel backlit CMOS sensor for high-resolution, superb-quality full-size movies, stills and prints, even in low light
• Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots

Usability

• 3" colour LCD (460,000 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
• Smart Panorama for capturing sweeping stills just by panning the camera
• Handheld Starlight Mode for shooting blur-free at night without a tripod
• Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people's faces just as you want them
• Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
• Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
• Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog's or cat's faces when they look at the camera
• Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)

Creativity & Flexibility

• Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
• 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
• Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills:
Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Soft Focus, Fish Eye, plus new Sparkle (photos only) and Watercolour

Other key features

• Photo surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
• HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it's connected to HD equipment
• ISO 80 to 3200
• SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible**
• Built-in flash
• In-camera manual
• USB charging

* 35mm camera equivalent.
** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association.

1080p Full HD Movie recording
1080p Full HD movie recording (1920 x 1080) offers the best moving picture quality available in a compact camera today. With Full HD, footage is realistic, smooth, bright and clear. Movies become a fascinating window on real life when viewed on a big Full HD TV.

3D Mode (3D photo shooting)
Captures two shots of a scene from two different angles to create still photos that can be viewed with the added excitement and realism of 3D (on a 3D-compatible display). There are two 3D settings: Manual and Automatic. In both settings, the camera indicates when it is time to pan. In Automatic, when the camera is panned horizontally after the first shot, it automatically takes the second shot at the ideal moment. Manual is for 3D experts – the user decides when to take the second shot.

Advanced Face Detection technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that's sharp in the right places and ideally exposed. Advanced Face Detection Technology can detect up to 16 faces.

AF Tracking
This system tracks a moving subject automatically and keeps it continually in focus – for optimally focused and exposed pictures. It even memorises the subject when it goes out of frame and resumes tracking when it reappears.

Beauty Mode
Beauty Mode touches up the appearance of subjects even while the shot is being taken. This feature recognises faces and automatically makes skin on the face and adjacent areas appear smoother, brighter and more youthful.

Dual Image Stabilisation
Providing two-fold protection, this special function helps to avoid image blur caused by camera shake or fast-moving subjects. It combines high ISO values with a sensor-based mechanical image stabiliser, where a built-in gyro sensor detects camera movement and adjusts the sensor accordingly.

Eye-Fi card compatibility
Lets users insert an Eye-Fi storage card and set it to automatically wirelessly transfer new photos and HD movies to the sharing website and computer of their choice.

i-Auto Mode
The "intelligent-Auto" mode uses advanced automatic detection technology that enables the camera to automatically recognise the most commonly shot scenes. This makes it possible to capture perfect photos without the need for manual settings.

[ib] software
Olympus now offers [ib], an integrated photo browsing and organising software. Images can be organised by person with a new face recognition technology, by place with a GPS-based mapping function or by event.

Magic Filters
Make it possible to create special artistic effects in still images and/or movies directly in the camera.

Fish-Eye: Simulates the dramatic effect of a fish eye lens, lending a new perspective to the whole scene with a "wrap-around" effect.
Pin Hole: Reduces peripheral brightness, like with an image seen through a pinhole. A unique colour tone results in a style that has an air of secrecy or portrays the feeling of being lost in another dimension or space.
Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid, to create high-impact pictures that express the light-hearted feeling of the pop art style.
Punk: Displays images primarily in contrasting pink and black to give them an edgy, punk-inspired feel.
Drawing: Transforms images into line drawings to give the impression that subjects have been sketched by an artist.
Soft Focus: Creates a soft tone that gives pictures an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. It renders pictures as though they were veiled in heavenly light, without obscuring details such as hair or flower petals.
Sparkle (photos only): Adds twinkling lights to objects.
Watercolour: Another piece of artistic wizardry. This time images are turned into a watercolour painting surrounded by soft light.
Multi Recording
A world-first, Olympus Dual Engine technology allows users to combine various photo and movie recording modes simultaneously:

Photo & Movie: A Full HD movie and 16 Megapixel full-size photos. While users are recording a Full HD movie, they can take a high-resolution photograph as well.
Photo with Movie Clip: Records a Full HD movie before and after taking a photo.
Multi-File Movies: A Full HD movie and a movie with less resolution.
Multi-Framing Movies: A wide-angle and a close-up Full HD movie.
Magic Filter & Original Movie: A regular Full HD movie and a movie with a Magic Filter effect.

Pet Detection
Automatically detects dog or cat faces (two different modes) and works together with the Auto Release to capture the photo the moment the dog or cat turns to face the camera.

Photo Surfing
By selecting this option in the Playback menu, users can opt to browse pictures by date, scene, person, place, or image collection.

Scene Mode
Offers a choice of different scenes to suit the subject being captured, for example, landscape, night, beach and snow or pet. The camera automatically adjusts a host of parameters to achieve the best possible result for the chosen scene.

Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT)
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g., a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.

Smart Panorama
Allows the user to create an impressive super-wide angle, wrap-around photo simply by panning the camera horizontally or vertically. There's no need to pay attention to points of intersection – the camera knits the separate stills together automatically.

TruePic III+ image processor
Automatically enhances important aspects of image quality, including colour reproduction (range, saturation and brightness) and picture sharpness (reduced image noise, improved edge reproduction), as well as processing data faster. Supports the Magic Filters that enable unprecedented creative expression.

State-of-the-art TOUGH flagship is world's first 100kg crushproof* camera

State-of-the-art TOUGH flagship is world's first 100kg crushproof* camera
Crushproof OLYMPUS TOUGH is world record holder

TG-810 has 3-sensor compass for outdoor action

Hamburg, 2 March 2011 – Just when everyone thought the TOUGH range couldn't get any tougher, Olympus launches the ultimate indestructible camera. The new OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810 delivers fabulous-quality HD movies and stills – and something just as valuable: unlimited peace of mind. This state-of-the-art TOUGH blows the competition away with record-breaking ruggedness and unique TOUGH technology. The stats speak for themselves. The TOUGH flagship is the world's first camera that's crushproof* to a weight of 100kg, so an adult can tread on it and it'll keep going fine. Thanks to double-durable lens and port technology, the TG-810 is also waterproof*, shockproof*, freezeproof* and scratch resistant to an unprecedented degree. With its built-in manometer, unique three-sensor GPS & Electronic Compass and high-resolution,
glare-resistant HyperCrystal III LCD, this stylish camera is the ideal companion for an active lifestyle – from home to hotel to a hike through the Himalayas. Packed with advanced automatic features for easy shooting in tricky conditions, the new TOUGH captures memories just like they happened, and keeps them extra safe for sharing wirelessly with friends and family. The OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810 is available for €299 from mid-March 2011.

The toughest ever TOUGH
You don't have to live like a stuntman to abuse a camera. But with the OLYMPUS TOUGH flagship, you could. It's the world's first camera that's crushproof up to a weight of 100kg. But that's just the start. A sliding double lock mechanism and additional metal lens barrier ensure the TG-810 is waterproof to a huge depth of 10m, shockproof to a height of 2m and freezeproof to -10°C. There's even a built-in manometer to make sure you don't dive too deep. Just as well. Because this camera is packed with ingenious technology that's hard to find elsewhere – and makes it a joy to capture photos and HD movies, whatever the weather, wherever you are.

The safest and smartest
The best cameras (and mobile phones) often come with GPS. But only Olympus' GPS & Electronic Compass has three sensors to record the direction the camera is pointing (even when it's turned off). That makes it an excellent piece of kit for finding your way in unfamiliar surroundings. It displays more than 700,000 nearby geographic and natural points of interest – the maximum for a GPS-equipped camera. At a glance, users can check their latitude, longitude and altitude, shooting direction, the date and time or air and water pressure. In the water, the TG-810 really comes into its own. i-Underwater Snapshot, one of four underwater settings, detects when the camera is submerged and adjusts white balance automatically to ensure beautiful, worry-free shots – even in optional 3D. No matter the element, the 5x wide optical zoom lens (28-140mm**) provides precision and flexibility, while the large, three inch 920,000 dot high-definition HyperCrystal III LCD reproduces images on the spot in very high quality.

The best of the best
Like the other two OLYMPUS TOUGH cameras, the TG-810 offers high-end features that make editing and sharing a breeze, for example Eye-Fi card compatibility that lets users automatically transfer images wirelessly to a website or PC.

The TG-810 is available in silver and black for €299 from mid-March 2011.

OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810
Toughness

• Crushproof* up to the world-record weight of 100kg
• Waterproof* to 10m, shockproof* to 2m and freezeproof* to -10°C for worry-free use anytime anywhere
• Metal lens barrier for extra-tough lens protection
• Sliding double lock mechanism for optimum protection of battery, card slots and ports
• Water-repellent and scratch-resistant double seal technology
• Built-in manometer for checking depth underwater
• GPS & Electronic Compass with unique three-sensor technology for orientation and key information at a glance
• Improved TAP Control Mode for controlling the camera by tapping or tilting the body, ideal when wearing gloves
Image Quality

• Four underwater scene modes, including i-Underwater Snapshot (with the camera set to i-Auto) for worry-free underwater shooting
• 5x wide optical zoom (28-140mm**) for shooting flexibility
• 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
• Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots
• TruePic III+ processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise
• 720p HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in excellent quality
• 14 Megapixels for high-quality full-size movies, stills and prints
• ISO 80 to 1600
• Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Soft Focus, Fish Eye (photos only), plus new Sparkle (photos only) and Watercolour
• Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
• Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
• Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people's faces just as you want them
• Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog's or cat's faces when they look at the camera
• Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)
• In-Camera Panorama for quick and easy panorama shots
• Built-in flash
Storage & Sharing

• 3.0" 920,000 dot Super Precision HyperCrystal III LCD for TOUGH, generating clearer images and reducing reflection even in direct sunlight
• SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible***
• Photo Surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
Connectivity

• Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
• HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it's connected to HD equipment
Other

• USB charging

* Crushproof according to Olympus test conditions. Waterproof according to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8. Shockproof figures equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions). Freezeproof according to Olympus test conditions.
** 35mm camera equivalent.
*** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association.

For a full list of features, please go to http://www.countryspecificurl.com

For questions or additional information, please contact:

Julia Rauther
OLYMPUS Europa Holding GmbH
Tel.: +49-40-23773-4258
Email: Julia.Rauther@OLYMPUS-europa.com
http://www.OLYMPUS-europa.com

Appendix

3.0" Super Precision 920,000 dot HyperCrystal III LCD for TOUGH
Unique to TOUGH Series cameras, this exceptional LCD features 920,000 dot resolution that generates beautifully bright and clear images. It also has a special layer that reflects light from external sources, thus reducing reflection even in direct sunlight – for outstanding visibility in a variety of shooting situations. And of course it's super-tough. A triple-coated acrylic finish makes the LCD more scratch-resistant than ever before.

Face Detection technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that's sharp in the right places and ideally exposed. Face Detection Technology can detect up to 12 faces.

Dual Image Stabilisation
Providing two-fold protection, this special function helps to avoid image blur caused by camera shake or fast-moving subjects. It combines high ISO values with a CCD-based mechanical image stabiliser, where a built-in gyro sensor detects camera movement and adjusts the CCD accordingly.

Eye-Fi card compatibility
Lets users insert an Eye-Fi storage card and set it to automatically wirelessly transfer new photos and HD movies to the sharing website and computer of their choice.

HD Movie (720p High Definition)
High Definition video (HD video) delivers a broadcast-quality movie experience when played back on an HD TV. In HD Movie Mode, the camera captures HD video using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 movie compression format at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

i-Underwater Snapshot
In i-Auto Mode, the camera detects when it is underwater and automatically activates
i-Underwater Snapshot, adjusting the tricky settings required for top-quality underwater shooting. It's perfect for portraits shot in shallow water and captures the subject and the background vividly.

Magic Filters
Make it possible to create special artistic effects in still images and/or movies directly in the camera.

Fish-Eye (photos only): Simulates the dramatic effect of a fish eye lens with still photos, lending a new perspective to the whole scene with a "wrap-around" effect.
Pin Hole: Reduces peripheral brightness, like with an image seen through a pinhole. A unique colour tone results in a style that has an air of secrecy or portrays the feeling of being lost in another dimension or space.
Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid, to create high-impact pictures that express the light-hearted feeling of the pop art style.
Punk: Displays images primarily in contrasting pink and black to give them an edgy, punk-inspired feel.
Drawing: Transforms images into line drawings to give the impression that subjects have been sketched by an artist.
Soft Focus: Creates a soft tone that gives pictures an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. It renders pictures as though they were veiled in heavenly light, without obscuring details such as hair or flower petals.
Sparkle (photos only): Adds twinkling lights to objects.
Watercolour: Another piece of artistic wizardry. This time images are turned into a watercolour painting surrounded by soft light.
Pet Detection
Automatically detects dog or cat faces (two different modes) and works together with the Auto Release to capture the photo the moment the dog or cat turns to face the camera.

Photo Surfing
By selecting this option in the Playback menu, users can opt to browse pictures by date, scene, person, place, or image collection.

TAP Control Mode
A unique interface that lets users access a range of camera functions simply by tapping the camera body. Quick View Mode, Shooting Mode, a user-defined feature (Flash or SAT), and Snow Mode can be accessed by tapping at particular points of the camera. Tilting the camera scrolls through images in Playback Mode.

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HTC ChaCha to be known as ChaChaCha in Spain, somebody didn't do enough market research

2011-03-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

By Vlad Savov posted Mar 2nd 2011 7:56AM As it turns out, the word "chacha" is used as a term of disparagement in the Spanish language. Coincidentally, perhaps after somebody hit HTC's marketing genii with a Spanish phrasebook, the HTC ChaCha will hereafter be known as the ChaChaCha in the land of sun, sand and siestas. This follows mobile search engine ChaCha suing for trademark infringement a couple of days ago and serves as an instructive example of why one should do one's market research before deciding to use one's internal codenames as retail product nomenclature.
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The Engadget Interview: Ryan Bidan, BlackBerry PlayBook senior product manager

2011-03-02T18:38:00.000-08:00

RIM held a little PlayBook party here in New York yesterday, giving us a chance to hang out with Ryan Bidan, the company's senior product manager for the seven-inch tablet. In addition to chatting with us about battery life, connectivity, and pricing, Ryan clarified the PlayBook's app development model -- athough devs can choose to work with native code, Java, Adobe Air, and HTML5 / WebWorks, the idea is for the ultimate user experience to be seamless, and RIM is considering offering standard UI widgets for each environment. We also had to ask about those swirling rumors of Android support, and while we commend Ryan for his practiced non-answer, we can't help but feel we detected a hint of a smile on his face. Or was that just another tray of snacks going past? Check the video and decide for yourself.
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Cox breaks return cable upload record with Motorola's help, subscribers still waiting for their cable guy

2011-03-02T18:17:00.000-08:00

Motorola and Cox Break World Record in Data Transmission Rates

Multiple records set; demonstrates potential for greater bandwidth efficiency and additional revenue opportunities for broadband operators

ATLANTA-CableLabs Winter Conference – March 1, 2011– Motorola Mobility Inc. (NYSE: MMI) announced the achievement of a new world record for return path data transmission by using breakthrough technology from Motorola on Cox Communications' Las Vegas network infrastructure.

Using the ultra low noise, high performance Motorola DOCSIS 3.0 RX48 return path receiver module operating within a Motorola BSR 64000 CMTS Edge Router, the record of 356 Mbps for a 5-85 MHz return path was set by transmitting across twelve return path channels of which six channels employed 256QAM modulation. Typical HFC networks today have two or three upstream channels delivering an aggregate of 40-70 Mbps.

"The RX48 and these tests demonstrate that Cox's HFC networks are much more future proof than many have believed," Jay Rolls, senior vice president of technology, Cox Communications. "We also increasingly need to be able to segment our business and residential customers, visibility into which is provided by the 5-85 MHz return spectrum utilizing 256QAM. Our networks have the capability to support much higher data speeds than today without the need to replace any of the amplifiers, taps or cables."

The test demonstrates how broadband operators can support more customers and more broadband rich services over existing networks, removing the need for inconvenient and costly new network construction. The new record also shows how the Motorola BSR 64000 CMTS Edge Router, with the RX48 can help lower the overall cost of DOCSIS for cable operators, while simultaneously opening new opportunities for business revenues.

In addition to establishing the world record at 5-85 MHz, a maximum transmission rate of 141 Mbps was also achieved over a 5-42 MHz return path using six return path channels. Three of these channels were able to operate using 256 QAM modulation, as opposed to 64 QAM maximum in use today, which is also believed to be a record. For the first time, cable operators can use the 5-42 return path to provide 100 Mbps dedicated to business customers and simultaneously provide residential customers with the return path bandwidth necessary to meet their growing needs.

All tests were conducted across Cox's Las Vegas hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network employing multiple DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 2.0 modems. It feeds a three amplifier cascade followed by an HFC optical link consisting of a standard Motorola DFB return path laser transmitting over 7 dB of fiber to the optical receiver. The output of this receiver was linked to the RX48 card in the BSR 64000. Measurements were made in accordance with standard cable industry practices. At the CableLabs conference, Motorola and Cox demonstrated the new record of 400 Mbps on a 5-85 MHz return path, which broke the previous record of 356Mbps

"We are very pleased to show the results of Motorola Mobility's investment in DOCSIS 3.0 innovation," said Joe Cozzolino, senior vice president and general manager, network infrastructure, Motorola Mobility. "The RX48 has clearly demonstrated that we are moving once again to a position of CMTS leadership. We are grateful to Cox for jointly working with us to demonstrate the continued great future of HFC networks and proving our belief in this breakthrough technology."

About the RX48:
The RX48 provides between 33% and 50% higher data rates possible in the return path than previously possible based on its low noise receiver and hardware based DOCSIS 3.0 channel bonding capabilities. For example, with a 5-42 MHz return path connected to the RX48, it will be possible for the first time for cable operators to support 100 Mbps dedicated for business services in only three bonded return path channels instead of four, leaving three return path channels available for residential data services, all supported using only a single RX48 port in the CMTS.

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Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7 now available, may or may not make its way to tablets

2011-03-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

By Joanna Stern posted Mar 1st 2011 8:49PM Back in June at Computex, Microsoft announced the successor to Windows CE -- Windows Embedded Compact 7 – and it's finally hitting the general availability mark today. The guys in Redmond posted a 180-day trial of the final WEC7 bits yesterday, and while it is unclear when it was released to manufacturers, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley notes that the digital signature on the bits is February 19th. So, what does it all mean? Well, you'll definitely want to check out our Windows Embedded Compact 7 explained post, but we should start seeing the new OS powering phones (don't forget WP7 is built on the Win CE kernel), medical devices, retail systems, and maybe even some tablets soon. As for the latter category, you may rememeber that we saw that WEC7 prototype tablet above at Computex, however while some like ASUS promised early on that it would use the software for its EP101TC, it quickly ditched that idea and went with Android. Our guess is that will be the case for most out there, but the lightweight OS, which now can run on ARM V7 architecture, has built-in support for Silverlight for Windows Embedded and Flash 10.1, clearly has advantages over Windows 7 on tablets at the moment. Hit the source link for some more details, and we'll make sure to keep an eye out for new devices running the new wordy OS.
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