New Danger Smartphone from Microsoft?

“A Dangerous Future”
Monday, October 27th, 2008

Uh, oh, this doesn’t sound so good for our beloved DangerOS. From an article on Brighthand.com:

Microsoft recently acquired Danger, Inc. as a way to widen its appeal to consumers. Danger is the company behind the Sidekick — a line of smartphones popular for their ease of use. Myerson indicated that its expertise will be used to make future versions of Windows Mobile more appealing to the average user.

Terry Myerson recently took over as the head of the Microsoft Mobile Communications Product Group. Hopefully this doesn’t mean that the DangerOS will be scrapped and all work focused on Windows Mobile.

Nooka ZOT AL Watch

Design brand Nooka kicks off their design initiative with a series of watches with more projects on the horizon. Named after the local accented way of saying New York, the brand represents Nooka’s love of New York with a series of innovative watches. The ZOT AL offers an unconventional method of telling time, using a dotted display on an aluminum face. Other standard features include a chronograph and alarm. Available at select dealers and online via Nooka.

Hublot Bigger Bang Watch

The latest innovation from Hublot is the world's first tourbillon column-wheel chronograph. The sequel to their popular Big Bang watch, the Bigger Bang has a direct coupling on a flying tourbillon cage. The chronograph mechanism and column-wheel are visible via the dial at 12.00 o’clock. The watch has a dial-side column-wheel chronograph and flying tourbillon housed in a 13mm diameter cage without ball bearings. The watch has 262 components and the tourbillon is fitted with 33 rubies and a circular-grained right bottom plate decorated in black gold, The watch is available in three versions of 18 pieces each, there is a platinum case with a black ceramic bezel, an 18K red gold chase with a black ceramic bezel and an all back ceramic version.

Sony unleashes the next big thing

Everything is going organic these days, including the latest innovation in television technology.

OLED_main Sony recently began selling their organic light emitting diode (OLED) TVs to much excitement and twittering in the videophile community.

Sony’s OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TV, the XEL-1, is truly the next big thing in television technology. It boasts a 3 millimeter thin panel and offers unparalleled picture quality with amazing contrast, outstanding brightness, exceptional colour reproduction, and a rapid response time. It delivers astounding performance in all the key picture quality categories. OLED technology can completely turn off pixels when reproducing black, resulting in more outstanding dark scene detail and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. OLED also creates unmatched colour expression and detail and enables rapid response times for smooth and natural reproduction of fast moving images like those found in sports and action movies. The XEL-1 features the latest connectivity options including two HDMI™ inputs, a digital tuner, and a Memory Stick® media slot for viewing high-resolution photos.

Only the geekiest of geeks will get excited by talk of 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and “blacker blacks.” And let’s be realistic here… this first iteration is an 11-inch screen, half the resolution of true High Definition and is selling for $2,500.

Cowon iAudio O2 16GB Portable Media Player

Cowon iAudio have consistently delivered high quality ground breaking players such as the incredible A3 the first Portable Media Player that was able to support High Definition content. The latest player in this long line of quality media players is the Cowon iAudio O2. Based on the adaptable and flexible solid state flash memory the O2 is incredibly robust and isn't affected by jarring bumps or knocks – no more skipping sound or picture break up. Without the need for moving parts the battery life increases to 18 hours for music playback or 8 hours for movies made even more remarkable by the vibrancy of the 4.3” 16.7 million colour TFT screen. Best of all unlike other portable media players which restrict you to specific formats or time consuming conversions the O2 liberates you with native support for virtually all of the most popular video formats. Hi Def DVD rips downloads or recordings – there’s almost nothing that you can throw at it that it can't play thanks to the Da Vinci chipset that Cowon utilize to ensure quick and stable playback of all it's supported Codecs. Whilst you’re assured of your files being able to be played instantly all Cowon aficionados have come to expect superb class leading sound and audio quality and peerless format support. With a jaw dropping 64mW of sound output 32mW per channel the Cowon O2 punches like a heavyweight champion whilst Cowon’s famous JeffEffect audio enhancement technologies direct sound with the dexterity balance and precision of a featherweight. An unsurpassed range of audio formats are supported including MP3 WMA AC3 AAC FLAC OGG Vorbis OGG FLAC APPLE Lossless True Audio Monkey Audio MusePack WavPack G.726 and PCM. With a high quality movie taking up almost 2GB capacity is a key feature for any portable media player. Users ...
Price: £209.00 from Advanced MP3 Players

Intel Unveils Second-Generation Classmate PC

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, Shanghai, 2008 – Intel Corporation unveiled a new design of the Intel-powered classmate PC today at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai. As announced in a keynote by Andrew Chien, Intel vice president, Corporate Technology Group and director of Intel Research, the second-generation Intel-powered classmate PC is an affordable, fully functional, rugged Internet-centric computer platform. These simple-to-use PCs have wireless capability, longer battery life, water resistant keyboards and are more shock resistant if dropped. Intel is calling this category of PCs “netbooks.”

The Intel designed computer offers different choices to manufacturers so each can tailor laptop models for a variety of education needs. The new classmate PC blueprint is the latest innovation and educational tool for parents and teachers to use technology, computers and Internet access to better educate students around the world.

“Only 5 percent of the world’s children today have access to a PC or to the Internet,” Chien said. “Education is one of the best examples of how technology improves our lives. We have seen how technology helps teachers create fun learning experiences more efficiently. We have also been touched by children’s excitement when they are inspired by technology. The Intel-powered classmate PC is one of the ways we support the IT industry in spreading the benefits of technology in education for children around the world.”

HP 2133 Mini-Note PC official

Today VIA announced that the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC will be powered by VIA’s low power C7-M ULV processor. Read the full press release from VIA below. The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC starts at $499 and is expected be available later this month.

VIA enables the HP Mini to deliver performance and portability to the fast growing student market

Taipei, Taiwan, 8 April 2008 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced that the low power VIA C7®-M ULV processor will be used to power the new HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, a sleek and stylish, small form factor notebook targeted at today’s connected student lifestyle, where portability, productivity and affordability are highly prized.

The HP Mini provides all the benefits of a notebook PC in an ultra-compact form factor, enabling students to take notes, research information online, share photos, and effortlessly carry all their homework and personal files around in one tiny device.

“We are delighted that HP has leveraged the leading power efficiency and size of the VIA C7-M ULV processor in the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC,” said Richard Brown, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “This highly portable ultra mobile notebook is the perfect size for today’s students, and offers all the performance, features and connectivity they require.”

“The HP Mini epitomizes the direction of HP’s growing portfolio of innovative products that are designed to meet customers’ diverse sets of needs,” said Carol Hess Nickels, Director of Business Notebook Marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. “By leveraging VIA’s processors, we are able to offer students a portable, yet affordable, creative notebook PC that better prepares them to live, learn, and work in an information-rich environment.”

About the VIA C7-M ULV Processor

The VIA C7-M ULV processor is available at speeds from 1.0-1.6GHz with a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of only 3.5 watts, and idle power as low as 0.1 watt, helping to ensure enhanced battery life. It also features a low profile nanoBGA2 package measuring just 21mm x 21mm, enabling designs with drastically reduced weight, size, and thickness.

The VIA C7-M ULV processor delivers rich multimedia performance when paired with the VIA CN896 digital media chipset, which features the VIA Chrome9™ HC integrated graphics processor (IGP) with DirectX® 9.0 support for brilliant 3D graphics, and the Chromotion CE video display engine for a stunning video experience. Warm multi-channel sound is provided through the integrated VIA Vinyl Audio technology.

The VIA C7-M ULV processor is the number one choice for Ultra Mobile Devices with over 30 global design wins, the most on the market today. For more details on the VIA C7-M ULV processor, please visit the VIA website at:

www.via.com.tw/en/products/processors/c7-m_ulv/

About VIA Technologies, Inc.

VIA Technologies, Inc is the foremost fabless supplier of power efficient x86 processor platforms that are driving system innovation in the PC, client, ultra mobile and embedded markets. Combining energy-saving processors with digital media chipsets and advanced connectivity, multimedia and networking silicon enables a broad spectrum of computing and communication platforms, including its widely acclaimed ultra compact mainboards. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, VIA’s global network links the high tech centers of the US, Europe and Asia, and its customer base includes the world’s top OEMs and system integrators. www.via.com.tw

Digital Digest 8 Inch

Sahara releases affordable 8-inch sub-notebook

Sahara Computers, a supplier of information, communication and digital lifestyle technology to local and international markets, proudly announces the release of its latest 8-inch sub-notebook into the market.
sahara
This latest model, a new addition to Sahara’s Image Book Series, is an entry level, sleek and classy product which comes with lots of features in a small package.

It is one of the smallest notebooks with 60GB hard drive. The 8-inch LCD TFT display screen is bright and sharp. Weighing just 1.1kg, it will certainly provide a great solution for people looking for portability, style and affordability.

Sahara’s Image Book NB552221 series is Linux-based notebook, focused for entry-level users, students and frequent travellers. It has an extended battery life of 4.5 hours, which is one of the most important features for go anywhere computing. It is a WiFi-enabled notebook and has a PCMCIA slot, card reader and comes with one-year carry-in warranty.

The notebook’s features allow users to access data files and content with ease, communicate via e-mail and also connect various peripheral devices such as personal storage drives. Its rich and varied features would surely make it a choice over others.

Philips Intros GoGear MP3 Players

Philips Electronics India has launched its new range of 'GoGear' digital audio/video MP3 players for the Indian market.

The four new 'GoGear' digital audio/video MP3 players include: SA3125, SA6025, SA1355, and SA3115. The 'GoGear' series features: MP3 and WMA playback, voice recordings, Digital FM Radio with 10 station presets, wide color screens for easy navigation/photo viewing, support for video files up to QQVGA (160 x 128 pixels) resolution, Philips Video Converter software for conversion of video files, and extensive battery life.

The SA3125 features: flash audio video player 2 GB memory; 1.8-inch color screen for easy navigation and photo viewing; music with 10 FM station presets; and 10 hours music playback.

Whereas, the SA6025 features: flash audio video player 2 GB memory to enjoy WMV video on-the-move; 2.2-inch color LCD for easy navigation and video viewing; super scroll for fast search; MP3 and WMA (DRM) music plus FM radio; and 15 hours of music play back or 4 hours of video play back.

Talking about the 'GoGear' series, Gunjan Srivastava, Director of Entertainment Solutions, Consumer Electronics, Philips Electronics India, said Philips is committed to using innovation to bring convenience to its customers for an enriched user experience. The GoGear range provides customers with an 'ultimate control' over playback and browsing, and is testimony to this philosophy.