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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Mid-Level Laptop - New Acer Aspire 8920G
kxLast week we reviewed the 6920G, the mid-level laptop in Acer’s new Gemstone Blue range. We had come away impressed, with not only its specifications but also its impeccable finish and styling. This week let's check out the 8920G, the flagship model that's aimed at the desktop replacement market.
Keeping in mind the premium positioning of the 8920, we wish Acer had taken the trouble to at least make its flagship model distinctive. The 8920 is similar to the 6920 with regard to its build and finish. There were absolutely no changes that we could discern. The lid and area around LCD panel have the same high-gloss finish, with the Acer logo displayed on the lid.
The area around the keyboard too has remained the same. The speaker grill is present above the keyboard area and, keeping in mind the size of the laptop, has been scaled accordingly. The left side of the keyboard has the CineDash Media console, which gave us a couple of surprises (more about that in the performance section). Compared to the 6920, the keyboard has been expanded to include a numeric keypad. This is a welcome move and one we wish was adopted by more manufacturers. The touchpad is a bit larger and has the same silver finish as the 6920.
As mentioned earlier, the 8920 is a desktop replacement/media center model. For this purpose it’s been given an 18-inch LCD panel with a native resolution of 1920x1080 (16:9 resolution) and a 2x Blu-ray drive. The LCD panel in terms of its usability can be described as simply perfect. Like the panel on the 6920G, it has excellent levels of color and brightness, and actually goes beyond its younger brother by offering excellent side and top-down viewing angles. This was apparent in our gaming and multimedia tests.
The expanded keyboard shines too. Though it has a glossy finish, it has great tactile feedback with recessed keys, ensuring a very comfortable working experience.
Connectivity-wise the 8920 is very well-equipped. It offers a 5-in-1 card reader, 4 USB 2.0 ports, HMDI/ VGA slots, headphone and microphone jacks (with S/PDIF support), Ethernet, Blu-ray 2.0 support, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/bg/g/n,modem, and an ExpressCard slot. The ODD, as we already saw, is a 2x Blu-ray drive.
Keeping in mind the premium positioning of the 8920, we wish Acer had taken the trouble to at least make its flagship model distinctive. The 8920 is similar to the 6920 with regard to its build and finish. There were absolutely no changes that we could discern. The lid and area around LCD panel have the same high-gloss finish, with the Acer logo displayed on the lid.
The area around the keyboard too has remained the same. The speaker grill is present above the keyboard area and, keeping in mind the size of the laptop, has been scaled accordingly. The left side of the keyboard has the CineDash Media console, which gave us a couple of surprises (more about that in the performance section). Compared to the 6920, the keyboard has been expanded to include a numeric keypad. This is a welcome move and one we wish was adopted by more manufacturers. The touchpad is a bit larger and has the same silver finish as the 6920.
As mentioned earlier, the 8920 is a desktop replacement/media center model. For this purpose it’s been given an 18-inch LCD panel with a native resolution of 1920x1080 (16:9 resolution) and a 2x Blu-ray drive. The LCD panel in terms of its usability can be described as simply perfect. Like the panel on the 6920G, it has excellent levels of color and brightness, and actually goes beyond its younger brother by offering excellent side and top-down viewing angles. This was apparent in our gaming and multimedia tests.
The expanded keyboard shines too. Though it has a glossy finish, it has great tactile feedback with recessed keys, ensuring a very comfortable working experience.
Connectivity-wise the 8920 is very well-equipped. It offers a 5-in-1 card reader, 4 USB 2.0 ports, HMDI/ VGA slots, headphone and microphone jacks (with S/PDIF support), Ethernet, Blu-ray 2.0 support, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/bg/g/n,modem, and an ExpressCard slot. The ODD, as we already saw, is a 2x Blu-ray drive.
Next Generation Electronic Foldable Book: OLPC XO Laptop 2.0
bOLPC XO Laptop 2.0 it totally blows the original away. About half the XO 1.0's size and more like a foldable book, it does away with the keyboard and trackpad to go totally touchscreen—that's right, dual touchscreens, straight out of the future, like a kid's book in Minority Report. Folded all the way out, the displays work like a single continuous one, for say, a sweet game of Pong. Like XO 1.0, the display by Pixel-Qi will look fine indoors or in bright sunlight. Unfortunately, it really is from the future: Due in 2010, they're aiming for $75 and one-watt power consumption. Update: High-res shots and full press release, and they're calling it XOXO, or XO-2.
Interestingly, in this clip from Laptop Mag, Negroponte says that part of the reason they're unveiling the design so early is that they're hoping people will copy it—a radically different stance from the first time around, when riffs on the concept of a cheap subnotebook by competitors basically slew the original XO.
Good to see a more enlightened view. In other OLPC news, Give 1, Get 1 will start back up in August or September. Man, I want one of these, and I'm not even in a Third World country. Or Alabama.
Interestingly, in this clip from Laptop Mag, Negroponte says that part of the reason they're unveiling the design so early is that they're hoping people will copy it—a radically different stance from the first time around, when riffs on the concept of a cheap subnotebook by competitors basically slew the original XO.
Good to see a more enlightened view. In other OLPC news, Give 1, Get 1 will start back up in August or September. Man, I want one of these, and I'm not even in a Third World country. Or Alabama.
Lenovo X300 Pretty Slim With The Magnesium Construction
At first glance the Lenovo X300 does not appear to be anywhere as slim as the Macbook Air. However, a closer look at its dimensions of 12.5 x 9.1 x 0.73 inches compared to the Macbook Air’s 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.7 inches reveals a different story. They are virtually similar in size, shape, and weight, with the Macbook Air edging out the X300 with its virtually Frisbee like profile. The X300 in comparison resembles a normal notebook, albeit with a slimmer profile.
In a throwback to the ThinkPad days, the X300 retains the familiar trademark black boxy body with the magnesium construction. The lid however is different from other ThinkPads; it has a silky smooth matte finish that feels incredibly good to touch. The same finish has been used around the keyboard area and gives the laptop a sexy appeal despite the monotonous all-black color.
We've seen that the X300 is pretty slim, but the question is: how secure is its body? The answer is "quite hardy". Since it retains the magnesium construction build of its predecessors, it’s got a tight finish all over that does not squeak and gives the appearance that it will weather well over time.
Moving on to the keyboard, one is impressed again. The keyboard on the X300 is much superior to the Macbook Air's in terms of user comfort, with its soft keys recessed keys. Typing on this keyboard is similar to using a Logitech G15 keyboard in many ways and this makes working long hours a breeze.
As for the mouse, the company's gone for a typical dual-pointer approach, and the X300 has both a touchpad and a track-point. Using either is easy; the only irritant is the horrible location of the touchpad. It’s positioned at an odd angle which makes using the track-point kind of hard as the user’s hand will keep brushing against the touchpad, making the cursor wander all over the screen.
In a throwback to the ThinkPad days, the X300 retains the familiar trademark black boxy body with the magnesium construction. The lid however is different from other ThinkPads; it has a silky smooth matte finish that feels incredibly good to touch. The same finish has been used around the keyboard area and gives the laptop a sexy appeal despite the monotonous all-black color.We've seen that the X300 is pretty slim, but the question is: how secure is its body? The answer is "quite hardy". Since it retains the magnesium construction build of its predecessors, it’s got a tight finish all over that does not squeak and gives the appearance that it will weather well over time.
Moving on to the keyboard, one is impressed again. The keyboard on the X300 is much superior to the Macbook Air's in terms of user comfort, with its soft keys recessed keys. Typing on this keyboard is similar to using a Logitech G15 keyboard in many ways and this makes working long hours a breeze.As for the mouse, the company's gone for a typical dual-pointer approach, and the X300 has both a touchpad and a track-point. Using either is easy; the only irritant is the horrible location of the touchpad. It’s positioned at an odd angle which makes using the track-point kind of hard as the user’s hand will keep brushing against the touchpad, making the cursor wander all over the screen.
All in One Keyboard PC: No More Space than a Typical Keyboard
This new generation All-in-One PC in a keyboard not only takes up far less desktop space, but also puts an Intel® Core™ 2 Quad CPU with all its features and performance at your fingertips. The new ZPC-GX31™ is a true innovation packing so much power, performance and compatibility inside a normal size keyboard. With features such as Dual Display capabilities, 4GB of DDR2/667MHz RAM, 1Gb LAN and DVI interface you now have a complete personal computer that takes up no more space than a typical keyboard. Simply place it on your desktop, plug in a monitor and you are done.
Kodak EasyShare M1033 - It's Got Style
After lagging behind its competitors for the last few years, Kodak is poised for a comeback with its new EasyShare M1033. The M1033 comes with Kodak’s new Smart Scene mode, which is quite a neat revolution in the way point-and-shoots are perceived. The images sensor seems to work in tandem with the image stabilizer, and there are a lot of other features you will like.
Pentax Optio W60 Lightweight and Fully Waterproof DigiCam
jPentax Imaging Company has announced the Pentax Optio W60 compact digital camera. Lightweight and fully waterproof, the Optio W60 features 10 megapixels and a 5X zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle capability. The design of the Optio W60 allows the camera to operate up to 13 feet underwater for two hours and at extreme temperatures well below freezing point.
The 5X optical zoom refraction lens never protrudes from the Optio W60, yet it covers focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm (approximately 28mm to 140mm in 35mm format). This range allows the camera to capture a wide variety of scenes including expansive landscapes, architecture, and group photos in confined spaces as well as close-up telephoto shots of subjects. A Digital Wide function merges two shots into one image for ultra-wide-angle image capture (equivalent to a focal length of 21mm in 35mm format).
The Optio W60 also accompanies users to new aquatic depths. With improved design and construction of the shutter button and controls, as well as reinforced, airtight joints, the Optio W60 allows underwater photography up to 30 percent deeper than previous Pentax waterproof models. In addition to the JIS Class 8 waterproofing standard, the camera is JIS Class 5 dustproof against dirt, sand and dust and operates in extreme temperatures as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius).
Other important features and modes of the Pentax Optio W60 include a High-Quality Movie mode with HD resolution up to 1280 x 720 pixels (comparable to a 720p HDTV) as well as Auto Picture mode, fast Face Recognition, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, an Underwater Movie mode, High Sensitivity Digital SR mode that automatically adjusts the sensitivity up to ISO 6400, and an LCD monitor with a 170 degree wide-angle view and Anti-Reflection coating to reduce glare.
The Pentax Optio W60 will be available in the US by July 2008 for US $329.95 in a choice of two colors - Ocean Blue and Silver. No information on the Indian launch and pricing yet.
The 5X optical zoom refraction lens never protrudes from the Optio W60, yet it covers focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm (approximately 28mm to 140mm in 35mm format). This range allows the camera to capture a wide variety of scenes including expansive landscapes, architecture, and group photos in confined spaces as well as close-up telephoto shots of subjects. A Digital Wide function merges two shots into one image for ultra-wide-angle image capture (equivalent to a focal length of 21mm in 35mm format).
The Optio W60 also accompanies users to new aquatic depths. With improved design and construction of the shutter button and controls, as well as reinforced, airtight joints, the Optio W60 allows underwater photography up to 30 percent deeper than previous Pentax waterproof models. In addition to the JIS Class 8 waterproofing standard, the camera is JIS Class 5 dustproof against dirt, sand and dust and operates in extreme temperatures as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius).
Other important features and modes of the Pentax Optio W60 include a High-Quality Movie mode with HD resolution up to 1280 x 720 pixels (comparable to a 720p HDTV) as well as Auto Picture mode, fast Face Recognition, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, an Underwater Movie mode, High Sensitivity Digital SR mode that automatically adjusts the sensitivity up to ISO 6400, and an LCD monitor with a 170 degree wide-angle view and Anti-Reflection coating to reduce glare.
The Pentax Optio W60 will be available in the US by July 2008 for US $329.95 in a choice of two colors - Ocean Blue and Silver. No information on the Indian launch and pricing yet.
Egg Shaped Satellite Speakers Its Base Acts As SubWoofer
When you look at it seems like a simple egg-shaped object but it can be unmounted into two pieces that are the satellite speakers and the base acts as a subwoofer.
It has even an dock for your mp3 player and comes with a neoprene jacket.
The idea must be sold to Apple because it is in trend with it’s gadgets: innovative, performant and eye catching.
It has even an dock for your mp3 player and comes with a neoprene jacket.
The idea must be sold to Apple because it is in trend with it’s gadgets: innovative, performant and eye catching.
James Bond Style Spy Sunglasses with Wireless LCD Receiver
This James Bond Style SunGlasses allows you to film everything that comes in your way, using the two tiny cameras placed on the arms of the glasses.
A simple button push is all it takes to switch the view that you wish to record on the fully featured wireless receiver. The colour video is recorded with audio so that you can view your exploits later. The glasses are attractive but discreet to minimize attention.
Features:
You can get a pair of the Spy Sunglasses with Secret Bilateral Cameras from the Chinavision website for 258.58 EUR (about $403 USD).
A simple button push is all it takes to switch the view that you wish to record on the fully featured wireless receiver. The colour video is recorded with audio so that you can view your exploits later. The glasses are attractive but discreet to minimize attention.
Features:
- Memory: 128MB
External Memory:Up to 2GB (SD card, NOT included)
Display: 2.4 Inch LCD
Video Capture Resolution: 320×240
Viewing Format: AVI, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, VOB, DAT, ASF
Music Format: MP3, WMA, OGG, AC3
Picture Format: JPEG
Built In Microphone: Max Audio Range 4 Meters
Earphone Jack: 3.5mm-10mW+10mW
Output of Built In Speaker: 20mW AV OUT/IN (NTSC/PAL)
USB: 2.0
Power Source: 3.6 V 1300mAh Battery, 5 VDC Mains Connection
You can get a pair of the Spy Sunglasses with Secret Bilateral Cameras from the Chinavision website for 258.58 EUR (about $403 USD).
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Elpida Memory: World's First 2.5Gbps 1-Gigabit DDR3 SDRAM
Elpida Memory world’s first 2.5Gbps 1-Gigabit DDR3 SDRAM that is based on a copper interconnect process and new circuit technology. This new memory module offers faster speeds and an ultra-low voltage operation of 1.2V. It provides data rates of 2.5Gbps at 1.5V and 1.8Gbps at 1.2V, which is 25% faster than products with aluminum interconnects and consumes 22% less power. Elpida will release this new DDR3 SDRAM later this month. No word on pricing so far.
Compose Pen: Cool Singing Concept
Compose Pen: The pen acts as a mic you sing into. When docked into the digital paper tablet, your vocal harmonies are automatically transcribed into a score. For the old schooler, you can write directly on the display. It also contains libraries for an entire orchestra so once your composition is finished, just sit back and enjoy.
Designed by Iliara Marelli Chain Desk LED Lamp - Cool Lamp
Designed by Iliara Marelli Chain Desk LED Lamp: This cool lamp made from aluminum and lit by 4 bright white 1-watt LEDs, its articulating body folds to form an accent light when you’re not using it for illumination. When you close it , measures just 2.75″ tall but when you open it up, it can reach almost 22″ in height. The lamp is a bit expensive at the price of $595 USD.
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