Sprint Launches Dual-Mode 3G and 4G USB Dongle

This morning Sprint announced a new mobile broadband solution that supports both its 3G EV-DO network and 4G WiMAX networks. The U300 is the first USB dongle of its type, and it costs $149 with a two-year contract at local Sprint stores in Baltimore and surrounding areas. What makes this device attractive is that, typically, you wouldn’t want to purchase a WiMax  broadband card unless you lived in a coverage area like Baltimore where Clearwire (formerly XOHM) exists.

This new solution, designed by Franklin Wireless, provides makes 4G more attractive to travelers; you can use a 3G connection back at home in Washington, D.C., and every time you travel to Baltimore, you’ll be able to surf at faster speeds without having to buy additional hardware. A single $79.99 data plan will cover surfing on either network, too. That’s a $20 premium over a single 3G broadband connection.

During our initial tests of the XOHM WiMAX network in Baltimore, built by Sprint, we averaged 3.05Mbps during a 25MB FTP download test and 2.4Mbps upload throughput. That’s smack dab in the middle of Sprint’s claims that this card will offer 2-4Mbps downlink speeds, but it’s still a good improvement over the typical 600 - 1.4Mbps you could expect from a 3G broadband connection.

Nikon hits 24.5 megapixels with D3X

Though almost everything you need to know about the new Nikon D3X leaked Friday, the 24.5-megapixel dSLR Nikon dubs its "extreme professional" model formally debuts today, November 30. What didn't leak was the price: $7,999.95. Start saving your pennies now.

There's quite a bit of speculation as to how similar the sensor in the D3X is to that in the Sony Alpha DSLR-A900; Nikon says it's "a Nikon designed sensor" that may (or may not) be manufactured by Sony, which usually means they're pretty similar. However, the A900's sensor has a pixel pitch of 5.9 microns, while Nikon's is surprisingly smaller--5.49 microns. So, they're pretty much different sensors, with different performance characteristics. The D3X's sensitivity range runs from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, with a Lo 1 of ISO 50 and Hi 1 and 2 of ISO 3200 and ISO 6400. The camera will also offer a 5:4 (8x10) crop mode at 20.4 megapixels, along with the same 10.5-megapixel DX crop mode as the D3, and support.

With all that extra data to process, it's no surprise that the D3X isn't quite the speed demon the D3 is for burst shooting, though 5 frames per second at full resolution is certainly zippy enough for most. (Nikon didn't provide info on the number of frames, however.)

The rest--body, AF system, viewfinder, and Expeed image processor--is all identical to the D3, and Nikon claims you should expect similar performance. It's also compatible with the D3's accessories.

Pitting the D3X against the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III when the Nikon becomes available in late December will certainly make my cold winter days a little more interesting.

Macbook Pro (2008)

Redesigned with a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, the MacBook is thinner and lighter than its predecessor as well as stronger and more durable. But Apple didn't stop innovating with the body's design. The MacBook also includes a new 13.3-inch, LED-backlit glass display (instead of an LCD panel) and a glass trackpad that doesn't include a button (for larger tracking area) and features includes Apple's Multi-Touch technology.

Under the hood, the MacBook is powered by a powerful 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (with 3 MB L2 cache and 1066 MHz front-side bus), which runs applications faster and more efficiently as well as helps to reduce power requirements and save on battery life. And the MacBook features the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, which delivers outstanding 3D game play with up to five times faster graphics performance than the previous generation.

It's pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, which enables easy backup of your most important data via Time Machine, a redesigned desktop that helps eliminate clutter. It also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications--including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes--and the newest version of the fast-loading Safari web browser. Other hardware features include a 160 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (which can be upgraded to 4 GB), an 8x combo Superdrive (for burning dual-layer DVDs as well as CDs), built-in Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

 (Enhanced Data Rate), and Mini DisplayPort video output (for DVI and VGA connections).

The New MacBook Design

Traditionally notebooks are made from multiple parts. With the new MacBook all of those parts with just one part--the breakthrough unibody enclosure. Every MacBook starts its life as a single block of aluminum, which is precisely machined into the basic unibody design. Another pass and the unibody takes shape. Another, and the integrated keyboard emerges. When you pick up a new MacBook you immediately notice the entire enclosure is thinner and lighter. And it feels strong and durable--perfect for life inside (and outside) your briefcase or backpack.

The standard aluminum electro-static trackpad has been replaced with a new glass Multi-Touch trackpad, which provides 40 percent more tracking area than before. Use two fingers to scroll up and down a page. Pinch to zoom in and out. Rotate an image with your fingertips. Swipe with three fingers to flip through your photo libraries. Swipe with four fingers to show your desktop, view all open windows, or switch applications. The entire trackpad surface is also a button, allowing you to both track and click virtually anywhere on the trackpad. And you can easily enable multiple virtual buttons in software, such as right-clicking.

The keyboard has also been improved, with the rigid aluminum keyboard webbing cut precisely to hold the keys, which are curved to perfectly fit fingers.

The 13.3-inch display is made of edge-to-edge, uninterrupted glass for a smooth, seamless surface and features LED backlighting for brilliant instant-on performance that uses up to 30 percent less energy than its predecessor. The ultra-thin displays provide crisp images and vivid colors which are ideal for viewing photos and movies

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor

Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which has a super-fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. With 3 MB of shared L2 cache, data and instructions can be kept close to the two processor cores, greatly increasing performance and allowing the entire system to work more efficiently. And, because the processor cores share the L2 cache, either can use the entire amount if the other happens to be idle.

Video Processing & Output

The new MacBook uses a graphics processor that economizes space without sacrificing battery life. The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M is great for gaming, providing up to a 5x performance boost. Enjoy faster, smoother, more responsive gameplay as you power your way through the 3D environments of Quake, Call of Duty, and Spore. The 9400M graphics processor shares 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM with main memory.

The MacBook includes a next generation Mini DisplayPort, which delivers a pure digital signal that can drive up to a 30-inch widescreen display. The Mini DisplayPort is ultra-compact at just 10 percent the size of a full DVI connector, and is compatible with Apple's 24-inch Cinema Display. Adapters are also available for using VGA, DVI/HDMI and Dual-Link DVI displays

Hard Drive and Memory

The 160 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0. The 2 GB of PC3-8500 DDR3 RAM (two SO-DIMMs of 1024 MB) has an industry-leading 1066 MHz speed, and the RAM capacity can be increased to 4 GB.

Wireless Connectivity

The built-in 802.11n wireless networking provides up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g, but it's also backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g routers, enabling you to communicate with the a wide variety of Wi-Fi resources. It works seamlessly with the new AirPort Extreme with 802.11n. Use the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to your PDA or cell phone, synchronize addresses, or download pictures from your cell phone. You can also use a wireless headset for iChat audio chats and VoIP calls as well as quickly share files with a colleague.

Video Conferencing with Built-in iSight

Artfully placed in the glass display is an iSight camera, which enables easy video conferencing as well as allows you to snap pictures of yourself and create video podcasts. Using the iChat AV application, video conferencing is integrated into your iChat buddy list, so initiating a video conference is a breeze. iChat also lets you hold audio chats with up to 10 people and provides high-quality audio compression and full-duplex sound so conversation can flow naturally. For video podcasting, you can record a short clip using the iSight camera, then use iWeb to create a video blog entry or post your GarageBand-recorded podcast.

Report: Flash Memory Confirmed For Xbox 360 ‘Jasper’ Models

Microsoft has apparently confirmed reports that Xbox 360 consoles featuring the new ‘Jasper’ motherboard also include 256MB of flash memory storage.

"We are constantly updating the console's more than 1,700 internal components," an unnamed Microsoft spokesperson told consumer site Xbox 360 Fanboy. "We can confirm that we are moving to internal memory for the Xbox 360 Arcade. The physical internal memory is the same size as the previous external memory units - 256MB."

The statement appears to imply that the internal storage is only utilized in the Xbox 360 Arcade, which is not bundled with a hard drive. Its presence should remove the need for the Arcade model to rely on external memory cards for storage – the same solution used for the Wii, which has 512MB of internal flash memory.

First rumored in October of last year, the Jasper board is intended to replace the current ‘Falcon’ models, in an attempt to reduce production costs and improve reliability. The Falcon, in turn, was introduced to replace the original ‘Zephyr’ board, which has been most prone to the infamous "red ring of death" problem.

Microsoft has always been reticent to detail or confirm the hardware changes, and new hardware packaging does not make them easily identifiable. However, sightings of the Jasper model began in U.S. stores late last month, and users reported the presence of the flash memory.

Asus N10JC

ASUS has put out its fair share of mini-notebooks, but its latest, the $649 N10Jc—despite its 10-inch screen and Intel Atom processor—is not a member of the growing Eee family. The N10Jc, ASUS’ first corporate netbook, is more concerned with security and performance features than being “easy to learn, work, and play.” Sporting several features not commonly found on other systems in its class—including a glossy screen, switchable Nvidia 9300M GS graphics, ASUS’ instant-on Express Gate, an HDMI port, a fingerprint reader, and a two-year warranty—the N10Jc packs plenty of perks. However, this mini-notebook’s punchy performance and solid graphics also means that it is chunkier and pricer than the others.

Design

The N10Jc looks more like a traditional ultraportable, like the ASUS U2E or U6V, than an Eee PC. Its glossy taupe lid branded with the ASUS logo and its silver hinge exude a professional look. The design isn’t as flashy as the Eee PC S101 (it lacks the Swarovski crystals) but looks classier than the Eee PC 1000, MSI Wind, and Samsung NC10.

While the N10Jc is smaller than most full-featured notebooks, it is the chunkiest in the netbook class. Measuring 10.8 x 7.6 x 1.4 inches and weighing 3.4 pounds with the six-cell battery, this is the largest 10-inch netbook on the market, mainly because of its inch-thick screen bezel, which also makes the screen look smaller. Compared with its distant cousin the Eee PC 1000H, which is one of the larger 10-inch netbooks on the market, the N10Jc is 0.1 inches thicker and 0.2 pounds heavier. Nevertheless, the system and its AC adapter, which brings the total travel weight to 3.8 pounds, fit nicely in a Targus portable DVD player traveling case and didn’t feel heavy on our shoulder.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard on the ASUS N10Jc is by far the best keyboard we have seen on any ASUS netbook. Unlike the Eee PC 901 or 1000H, the keyboard isn’t stricken with flex and the keys provide nice feedback without heavy clicking. Nevertheless, as happy as we are with the feel of the keys, touch typists may be bothered by the awkward placement of the right Shift key, which is shrunken and positioned next to the Up arrow. For this reason, we still prefer the keyboard on the Samsung NC10 and the HP Mini 1000.

We were similarly pleased with the feel of the N10Jc’s touchpad, which is spacious and similar in size to those on mainstream laptops. It offered a textured feel as we navigated around the desktop, and the two mouse buttons below are easy to click, unlike the rock-hard buttons on the Eee PC 1000 and 901. A fingerprint reader is nestled between the right and left mouse buttons but didn’t interfere with our navigation.

Nokia N97 Announced - Full details and release date for Nokia N97

We heard about it at the end of last week, but we had no idea just how exciting Nokia’s announcment would be! Christmas has come early this year as Nokia has revealed their brand new N-series handset, the N97 - and we couldn’t have wished for anything better! Take a look at the headline features:

Key Features of the new Nokia N97

• Touch display (3.5″ of it) which slides and tilts to reveal a full QWERTY kepboard plus d-pad for easy navigation.
  
• 5 Megapixel Camera
  
• Carl Zeiss integrated optics coupled with a dual LED flash
  
• A massive 32GB of internal memory with MicrSD support for further memory expansion
  
• Integrated Assisted GPS
  
• WiFi and HSDPA
  
• DVD quality video capture and 16:9 display
  

The N97 is a cutting edge smartphone that includes support for their OVI service as well as the Nokia Music Store. Nokia have called the N97 “the most advanced mobile computer” and have done well to keep ahead of current mobile phone usability trends. With more and more people using their phones to browse the net, to access email accounts and share photos online we expect that the likes of the N97 will become the most demanded everyday phone. GPS has also become a standard on handsets and more and more people are expecting their phones to have integrated GPS. App developers are also aware of this and the number of cool GPS reliant applications is growing at a phenomenal rate.

Nokia have divulged that the expected release date for the N97 is in the first half of 2009 and is expected to hold a pre-tax price tag of 550 Euros. So if you are wanting to get this handset soon after public release expect to take out a higher tariff package if you want it for free.

Pioneer showcases 16-layer 400GB optical disc

( Source from: Digitimes )

Pioneer is exhibiting its super multi-layer read-only optical disc which features 16 separate layers on a single side with 25GB storage capacity on each layer for a total capacity of 400GB at the IT Month fair taking place in Taipei.

The technology of the super multi-layer read-only disc is based on Blu-ray Disc (BD) with a breakthrough in material of reflective layers, according to Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan. The specifications of the pick-up head (PUH) of the disc is the same as those for the PUH of blank BD discs, and therefore the Pioneer discs can be read on BD players, the company said.

According to Pioneer's internal roadmap, its super multi-layer technology development is read-only (ROM) discs in 2008-2010, rewritable discs in 2010-2012 and 1TB (1,000GB) disc in 2013, the company indicated.

Comparison of main specifications between BD and Pioneer's super multi-layer
Specification	BD	Pioneer's super multi-layer
Storage capacity and number of layers	25GB for single layer; 50GB for double layers	400GB for 16 layers; 500GB for 20 layers under development
Material of reflective layers	Metallic	Dielectric
Track pitch	25nm	10&14nm
PUH	405nm, 0.85	405nm, 0.85

Sanyo to launch new electric hybrid bicycle

A model demonstrates Japanese electronics giant Sanyo Electric's electric motor assisted bicycle "Eneloop bike" in Tokyo.The new electric hybrid bicycle can triple the user's pedal power to make it easier to climb hills.(Credit: physorg.com)

Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. on Monday unveiled a new electric hybrid bicycle that can triple the user's pedal power to make it easier to climb hills.

Equipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the "eneloop bike" takes the crossover between a normal bicycle and a moped one step further, aiming to tap growing interest in tackling global warming. 

The system harnesses energy from braking when the bike goes downhill, and can add extra power equivalent to double the rider's pedal force for going uphill, in line with relaxed government restrictions on such systems. 

The eneloop bike can travel 1.8 times faster than conventional bicycles thanks to the motor powering its front wheel, the company said. 

Sanyo, which has rebranded itself as a purveyor of green technology, hopes to increase its market position in power-assisted bicycles, demand for which has almost doubled over the past eight years to hit about 283,000 last year. 

The bicycle sells for 136,290 yen (1,430 dollars) and will be in stores in Japan from February 2009. A company spokeswoman said the firm also aims to launch the new bike overseas at some point in the future.

Samsung NV100HD Review

When your local pub starts advertising 'Credit Crunch Lunches' (it's true!), you know times are hard. But maybe you're not quite ready to give up on life's little luxuries just yet? Maybe you still hanker after a state-of-the-art metal-bodied 14.7-megapixel touch-screen compact with an HD movie mode? Co-incidentally, that's just what Samsung's £170 NV100HD has to offer.

Positives

Samsung's compacts haven't always been the prettiest, but this one's a big step forward. It comes in four different colours, and the red version is particularly striking. The matte metal finish looks and feels classy, and round the back the ugly black buttons of Samsung's Smart Touch control system -- used on the NV24HD, for example -- are gone. The NV100HD uses a new Smart Touch 2.0 system that uses a touch-sensitive 3-inch screen instead. And it's quite a screen. 460,000 pixels make it super-sharp, and it's really bright and vibrant too.

Because all the adjustments are made using the touch-screen, the back of the camera is really clean, with just four buttons -- two for zooming, one to activate the menus and one for playback mode.

Smart Touch 2.0 is a big improvement, too. The previous system used a barmy triangulation system for displaying and activating menu choices via buttons which were far too light. This one's a lot more conventional and easier to operate.

Round the front you get a wideangle 3.6x zoom equivalent to a focal range of 28-102mm, while on the top is a power button, shutter release and mode dial. There are a couple more nice surprises here, including a Manual mode where you can adjust the shutter speed and aperture yourself and a 1280 x 720 HD movie mode.

Gadget fans will be impressed by the face-detection, blink-detection and smile-detection features, and if your portrait subjects have got faces like emery boards, the Beauty Shot function can smooth them over automatically.

The NV100HD's zoom is quite slow, but the AF is excellent and rivals the speed of Sony's CyberShot compacts, previously clear leaders compared to the rest.

Negatives

While the NV100HD is smart, it can't work miracles. Spec-hungry punters will gobble up the 14.7-megapixel resolution, but it's just too much in a sensor this size. The colours are great, but even at ISO 100 the camera's noise reduction system is smoothing over some fine textures, and by maximum ISO it looks like your pictures have been printed on blotting paper.

The HD movie mode's a disappointment too. The resolution's not bad (better than VGA, anyway), but if you insist on walking about while you're shooting, the camera's footage is so jerky it's almost unwatchable.

The touch-screen interface can be a bit of a pain, too. It's all right if you've got delicate little fingers and a patient disposition, but fat-thumbed fumblers will find it's a bit slow, vague and error-prone.

Conclusion

Yes, there's too much noise reduction, the movie mode's not great and the interface can be awkward, but these are all par for the course with super-slim, super-sexy compacts. What's striking about the Samsung is its elegance, its neatness and, most of all, its price. Why would you need to pay more?

Canon "EOS 5D Mark II"

The Canon EOS 5D has been around for three years and shutterbugs have been eagerly anticipating its successor. The EOS 5D mark II was unveiled at Photokina in Germany to mixed reactions. While some photographers hailed the innovative full-HD (1,920 x 1080-pixel) video-recording function as the benchmark for other similar dSLRs to follow, critics had been skeptical of the minor upgrades such as the mildly improved burst mode.

However, we are sure this Canon will prove to be tough competition to the Nikon D90 which is capable of capturing only 720p-quality (1,280 x 720-pixel) clips. So how does the new EOS 5D stack up against its old man and the other kids on the block? Here are our thoughts.

Upside

Currently, the EOS 5D Mark II could possibly be the most innovative dSLR on the market. Following the trend of HD video capture in some point-and-shoots, Canon improved on that and the dSLR can record full HD-quality clips. Is this a big deal? Well, the industry certainly thinks so, with a US company already manufacturing mounts and rigs to set the Canon up for film-making.

To fully show off the video mode, the Japanese firm collaborated with a photographer to shoot a short film with the EOS 5D Mark II and the clip can be viewed here.

Compared with the Nikon D90 which was announced in late August, the Canon's specifications have definitely overshadowed its rival. While the former is capable of capturing only 720p clips for a maximum of 5 minutes, the EOS can produce 1080p videos up to 12 minutes. Audio recording-wise, the Nikon has a mono-aural microphone. The Canon has that also, but a 3.5mm stereo mini jack for external sonic capture has been thrown in for good measure.

The 35mm full-frame sensor's resolution had been bumped up from 12 megapixels to 21 megapixels. While casual shutterbugs probably won't need so many pixels, the EOS 5D Mark II's target audience are serious photographers who need to print large pictures or high-res images to deliver to clients. To handle the bigger files generated, Canon replaced the DIGIC III image processor with its latest DIGIC 4 engine.

Live View shooting is enabled in the new shooter, and the rear estate houses a 3-inch, 920k-dots LCD which is a far cry from the 2.5-inch 230k-resolution screen used in its predecessor.

Downside

We expected the new camera to boast faster shooting speeds, but the upgrade is so minor that it probably won't make much of a difference when snapping pictures. Some photographers have lamented that the 3 frames-per-second (fps) burst mode on the EOS 5D left much to be desired, and hoped the new shooter would deliver at least 5fps. Well, Canon has disappointed in this department as the EOS 5D Mark II can manage only 3.9fps.

Our brief hands-on showed that focusing was, indeed, speedier, but we wished the company had added more focusing points instead of retaining the nine AF points with six assist zone system found on the older dSLR. This would mean more flexibility while shooting, while chances of missing the focus would be reduced.

Outlook

We anticipate the EOS 5D Mark II to take the digital imaging market by storm when it goes on sale, but will it inflict substantial damage on Nikon? Well, we've heard from people who bought the D90 as they feel that they don't require 21 megapixels or don't have the hardware to efficiently process the full-HD video clips.

Preview: Nokia E63 Business Phone

Nokia E63 (Credit:Nokia & Cnet.com)

Nokia introduced the latest model in its E series of smartphones, the Nokia E63. Traditionally, the Nokia E series, which includes the Nokia E71 and the Nokia E66, have been very business focused and slightly on the pricey side, but the cell phone manufacturer is hoping to break that mold and bring in more general consumers by selling the E63 at a lower price point.

The Nokia E63 will start shipping in Europe within the next few weeks for 199 Euros, which is about $248 here. Compare that with E71, which goes for $500 unlocked, and you've got a pretty good deal, especially when you consider that the E63 offers a full QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 2-megapixel camera.

The Symbian S60-based smartphone also includes support for Microsoft Exchange, POP/IMAP e-mail accounts, basic personal information management tools, and a music and video player. Like the E71, you can toggle between two different home views on the E63, depending on whether you're at work or at home. Other highlights include 2.3-inch, 16 million color QVGA display, Nokia Ovi support, 110MB internal memory, a microSD expansion slot (can accept up to 8GB cards), and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In its current form, the Nokia E63 does not support U.S. 3G bands and there is no built-in GPS.

We are still trying to confirm U.S. availability with Nokia, but we suspect it will be a couple of months after the European launch. Chances are you'll also have to buy it unlocked from online retailers or through Nokia, since we don't see it coming to a U.S. carrier for now.

Now official: 800MHz Asus handset

CNET Taiwan, first broke news of Asus' upcoming 800MHz handheld a couple of months back, and now the Taiwanese company has finally made it official.

Not only does the P565 have the fastest processor we've seen on a handheld, it also comes with a VGA (480x640) display. As a phone, it has a UMTS radio with HSDPA connectivity up to 3.6Mbps and tri-band GSM. Other common features such as Wi-Fi and GPS are also found in this handset.

Like the P552w, the P565 will come with the manufacturer's own Glide interface. We found this customization reasonably useful in our review of the P552w but not as polished as HTC's TouchFLO. It will be interesting to see if Asus has made any improvements to it in the upcoming device. We have contacted the company for availability and pricing information in Asia and are awaiting a reply.

(Source: Crave Asia via Engadget)

Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder

Introducing MinoHD: The World’s Smallest HD Camcorder

Flip Video MinoHD--the newest camcorder from Flip Video--puts the power of HD video in your pocket. Flip MinoHD offers all the signature Flip Video features you love--sleek design, simple user interface, flip-out USB arm, rechargeable internal Li-ion battery, built-in editing and sharing software, instant uploads to YouTube, MySpace, and AOL Video, plus stunningly crisp, clear HD-quality video. Weighing only 3.3 ounces and featuring a slim, sleek design that fits into any pocket or purse, super-small Flip MinoHD enables you to capture life in HD anywhere you go. 

Flip Video MinoHD Highlights

Stunning HD Video

Flip MinoHD is the world’s smallest HD camcorder. But, in this case, small in size translates to high in quality. Flip MinoHD produces vibrant HD 720p (1280 x 720, 16:9 widescreen) video that can be enjoyed on any HDTV. Flip camcorders have earned a reputation for high-quality video, and MinoHD combines that signature Flip quality with the latest in HD technology. Its 4 GB of built-in memory lets you capture an hour of brilliant HD video, even in low-light situations. Plus, premier AAC audio means your videos will sound clearer than ever. 

The Power of HD Video in Your Pocket 

Flip MinoHD offers the same features that have made Flip Mino a huge hit. Weighing only 3.3 ounces, Flip MinoHD features a super-sleek, super-portable design that truly puts the power of HD video in your pocket. This portability allows you to capture HD video almost anywhere you go: a morning hike, a lazy afternoon at the park, a late-night party, and everything in between. Like other Flip Video camcorders, MinoHD offers a simple user interface with one-touch recording, making it easier and more fun than ever to take HD-quality video. Simply power on and press record, and you’ll be capturing HD video in seconds. When it’s time to edit or share your videos, flip out the USB arm and connect to any Mac or PC to launch the built-in FlipShare software. 

Built-in FlipShare Software 

MinoHD comes equipped with FlipShare--Flip Video's new video-sharing solution. FlipShare lets you:

- Save and Organize: Watch your videos on your computer whenever you want, and create your own folders to organize your videos, or simply use the automatic date-stamp system.

- Publish Online: Upload your videos instantly to YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video and many other websites, all with the click of a button. It’s never been this easy to publish online!

 

- Email Videos: Send your videos privately to friends and family, and select from a wide assortment of included greeting cards to personalize your message.

- Edit and Create Movies: Edit individual clips and create custom movies--complete with your favorite music. FlipShare even allows you to capture snapshots from your videos.

Seagate FreeAgent Go (500GB)

The Seagate FreeAgent Go ($239.99 list) is a new breed of portable hard drive: one with a prodigious capacity—500GB is larger than many internal desktop drives—as well as a convenient ability to dock the drive to a PC like you might with an iPod. The Go has a wealth of features that make it easier to back up your data than other drives do, which is one reason why I'm giving it the Editors' Choice for portable hard drives.

Too many people don't back up their important files (pictures of the grandparents with the kids, that rare CD they ripped and then lost, 15 years' worth of résumé updates). All of this data is irreplaceable but is also a hassle to back up using traditional CDs or DVDs. A 500GB drive has enough space to keep multiple copies of each file. Thanks to the optional dock ($29), which is a must-have, and the software, backing it all up is a breeze.

The Go's tapered silver case deliberately evokes last year's FreeAgent series of drives. Seagate has spent a lot of money on branding, and the design ID carries over to the company's desktop-class hard drives and the drives they're building for Mac users as well. The Go is available in 250GB, 320GB, and 500GB capacities and a choice of silver, black, red, and blue—colors no doubt designed to pop on the store shelves and complement other consumer electronics products like the iPod nano. The Go's optional dock is worth the additional money. It lets you easily connect the drive to your PC and keep it connected via a very long dual-head USB cable. The dock kit also comes with a slipcase for the drive, so it will stay relatively scratch-free in your travel bag. One big plus with the dock is that it is hot-swappable: You can remove the drive without having to use the "Safely Remove Device" command in Windows.

The Go comes with a relatively easy-to-setup Seagate backup utility, and like many similar programs, it defaults to saving your files to the My Documents folder. You can customize the backup routine and set the system to automatically back up most folders on the PC. The drive also comes with a folder sync utility, which lets you designate a folder on two PCs, which the software and drive will then keep current on both machines. That way, you can bring your work folder home with you and keep up-to-date copies of its contents with you at all times. I would've liked to have seen a disaster-recovery software package, like the one on Maxtor's OneTouch 4 Mini drives, but for most external drives it's not a deal breaker.

The Go comes with a dual-headed cable, which gives the drive additional power when you use it with a laptop. (Some laptops have trouble powering certain power-hungry drives through the USB ports; the dual-headed cables ensure against that.) The newer, larger-capacity portable drives tend to need more power than they can get through just a single USB port. Nonetheless, I was able to power the Go from a single USB port on both my test beds, an Apple MacBook Pro and Dell desktop.

The drive is a speedy one: Dragging and dropping our 1.2GB test folder took only 56 seconds, and the Seagate backup utility was right behind at 1 minute. PCMark05 returned a hard drive score of 2,779 points, which is par for a portable 2.5-inch hard drive. You shouldn't have any trouble waiting for the drive to complete your backups; you'll likely just leave it in its dock so it's always ready.

The Go is a little more businesslike in its design than competing drives, such as the SimpleTech Signature Mini Black Cherry. (We reviewed the 320GB model, but SimpleTech now also offers the 500GB capacity.) The SimpleTech comes with a free online storage subscription, but it's only 2GB. The Western Digital My Passport Elite is also stylish, has a built-in port protector, a capacity indicator, and comes in several colors, but with its dock ability, the Go's trumps the other two. The WD and Seagate have long-life five-year warranties, but the SimpleTech is shorter at only three years.

The Seagate FreeAgent Go (500GB) is the portable hard drive to beat. Its innovative dock, stylish design, generous five-year warranty, and included software give you just about all you need from a portable external drive. Half a terabyte is more than enough to back up a computer or two for most average users. The dock and software make the backup process easy—and the easier it is, the more likely you'll use this often ignored but very important safeguard of your digital life.

HTC Fuze (AT&T)

There’s a new smartphone coming to town from HTC and it has a Fuze.

The wizards at HTC have been working on revamping their entire line of Microsoft Mobile devices based on their own TouchFlo technology. With the iPhone being the new standard for high tech handheld devices, most manufacturers have been scrambling to imitate the technical features of the iPhone. This is a welcome change for the smartphone industry which had not seen any real innovations for some time until Apple showed up.

The new Fuze will sport some impressive features such as a 2.8“ flush touchscreen, 512MB of ROM memory (288MB RAM), a redesigned slide-out keyboard, the all new TouchFlo 3D interface, 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, TV out capability, and an accelerometer.

Some other features that round out the list are:

• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Quad-band GSM, tri-band HSDPA/WCDMA
• GPS enabled
• Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR & A2DP
• Wi-Fi
• microSD slot capable of 32GB SDHC cards
• Microsoft Office
• Opera web browser
• Magnetically suspended stylus that activates screen when removed

The Fuze runs WM Pro, yet has a familiar smartphone look and feel. On the front of the phone, it has a ‘Home’ and ‘Back’ button instead of the usual Windows ‘Start’ and ‘OK’ buttons. At the bottom are the Send and End buttons. Neatly packed in the middle is a deceptively flush 4-way navigation pad that was hard to find at first. HTC chose a more minimalist look to the phone keeping the number of buttons to a minimum and having most of them flush to the device. Like the iPhone, the Fuze has a glossy plastic body that loves fingerprints. A screen protector is included and highly recommended as you’ll be touching the screen quite a bit.

Overall the device performs well though power users may balk at the smaller screen size and smaller keyboard. This device is aimed less for the road warrior and more at the consumer level.

The Fuze will be available through AT&T and is expected to launch near the end of October.

China's Android launch slated for Q1 2009

Plans are in motion for the much anticipated launch of an Android device for China between February and March 2009, but unlike the US launch of the T-Mobile G1 handset, China Mobile has decided not to work with Taiwanese PDA manufacturer HTC and has instead opted for working with Lenovo Mobile to release it's first Google powered phone.

Looking at Lenovo Mobile's website though, we are finding it hard to get excited about the announcement as their current range of phones looks a lot like the other Chinese mobile phone manufacturers and the site lacks the flashy eye candy of the major international players like Nokia, Blackberry and of course Apple.

As the fourth largest PC manufacturer in the world, we can't help thinking that this move might be a little ambitious given the unpopularity of PDA style devices from PC makers like the Dell Axim and the HP iPAQ which now holds only 3.3% of the global PDA market share behind RIM, Nokia, HTC and even Sharp.

Let's hope that the 50 workers in Lenovo's headquarters that will be losing their jobs this week are not responsible for product development.

PlayStation 3 160 GB Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Pack

As DVD playback made the PlayStation 2 more than just a game machine, hefty multi-media features make the Sony PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Features such as video chat, internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video will likely make it the central component of your media set-up. Still, it is first and foremost a game console--a powerful one at that.

Under the Hood

The PS3 features IBM's "Cell" processor and a co-developed Nvidia graphics processor that makes the system able to perform two trillion calculations per second. That's approximately 320 times more calculations per second than the PS2. Along with the traditional AV and composite connections, it also boasts an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port, which delivers uncompressed, unconverted digital picture and sound to compatible high-definition TV and projectors. The system is capable of 128-bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution for a full HD experience.

Blu-Ray Is the New Way

Sony's PlayStation 3 games are encoded onto the Blu-Ray disc media format, which can hold six times as much data as traditional DVDs. This increase in capacity, combined with the awesome power of its processor and graphics card, promises mind-blowing games once developers have learned how to fully harness the new console's power. The PS3 will also support CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats.

In addition, PlayStation 3 system software update version 2.20 and up includes BD Live support. With this you can now play discs that support Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 (BD-LIVE) and you can also connect to the Internet while playing discs that support this format so that you can obtain additional features. Features that are available vary depending on the software in use.

What's in the Box?

Game system with 160GB HD, Internet ready built-in Wi-Fi, and 2 USB ports

Dualshock 3 wireless controller

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune game

Voucher for downloadable PAIN game

Free PlayStation Network membership

Product Description

This limited edition bundle includes Uncharted: Drake's Fortune game, new Dualshock 3 wireless controller, voucher for downloadable PAIN game, free PlayStation Network membership, internet ready Wi-Fi, and 160 Gb of hard disk storage for all your games, music, videos, and photos. Every PS3 comes with a built-in Blu-ray player to give you the best high-definition viewing experience and pristine picture quality. Plus, the PS3 can play your entire catalog of CDs and DVDs.