Gadgets Base

Posted Jan 31st 2008 2:58PM by Steven Kim
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Just in case you thought that Sony was, you know, making up those snazzy new alpha DSLRs with articulating, live-view LCDs, we’re here with a plethora of hands-on shots to prove that they’re the real deal. Since you already know the specs by now — 10.2 megapixel (a300) or 14.2 megapixel (a350) sensors, 2.7-inch screen, ISO up to 3200, and traditional CF slots — we’ll just let you get right to the eye candy below.

Gallery: Hands-on with Sony’s new a300 and a350 DSLRs

Posted Jan 31st 2008 3:03PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Storage
Been looking for the perfect card reader to complement that ExpressCard-less MacBook Air of yours? Well here’s exactly what you aren’t looking for, the ImageRouter from Delkin. This thing is built for professional photographers who need to dump pictures in a hurry, and one of these $149 monstrosities can read up to four CompactFlash cards simultaneously over a USB 2.0 connection. But wait, there’s more! You can plug up to three ImageRouters into each other for a total of 12 CompactFlash cards in UDMA transfer mode all at the same time, perfect for all those 25 megapixel shots you’ve been snapping, or that RAID array you’ve been meaning to build. Delkin’s shipping this thing in March, and it also comes in a $249 version with some bundled BackupandBurn software.

[Via SlashGear]

With iPhone users now being treated to a desktop like web experience on a portable device, jealous Windows Mobile users have had to cough up twenty-five smackers for Opera Mobile to get a mediocre (but at least functional) mobile web browser. But it looks like Opera’s stranglehold as the only decent mobile web experience may be coming to and an end when Skyfire makes its first public appearance. Promising a desktop like browsing experience, complete with support for flash, YouTube, ajax, and more, Skyfire looks to be heaven sent for Windows Mobile users.

Check out a video demo of Skyfire and get more info at TechLore.com.

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I like a good chair PC chair, my current one is giving me headaches as it is a little bit too wide for my desk. This chair from Pyramat seems to have the form factor down to a size that will comfortably fit most desk environments and they have brought 2.1-channel sound to the party as well. There are two full range speakers placed either side of the headrest and there is a powered subwoofer hiding somewhere in the construction.

Aside from things like the MP3 dock, the PC Gaming Chair 2.1 is a plush looking seat. It looks sturdy enough to take a bit of abuse and the wireless connection for the speakers is a nice touch. I am guessing, however, that there must be at least one wire going in from somewhere to power this beast.

Pocket Lint

Posted Jan 31st 2008 1:24PM by Steven Kim
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Nikon has a raft of new Coolpix digicams at PMA to cover the range of shutterbugs, from “give me more options” to “just a shutter, please.” For those who want some more options but just can’t commit to a DSLR yet, there’s the P60. You’ll get to play around with 8.1-megapixels, 15 (!) scene modes, manual mode and 5x stabilized zoom. The heart of the Coolpix lineup belongs to the compact S550, S520 and S210 models. The S550 sports a 10-megapixel sensor and 5x zoom with electonic stabilization. The S520 has true optical stabilization attached to the 3x zoom optics and an 8-megapixel CCD. Finally, the S210 keeps the 8-megapixel sensor, but reverts to electronic stabilization. At the “easy” end of the spectrum is the L18 digicam, with 8-megapixel resolution, 3x zoom and a big 3-inch LCD; available in your choice of navy or ruby red.

Gallery: Hands-on with Nikon’s new Coolpix lineup

Nikon certainly isn’t going to let up when it comes to new releases of digital cameras, and the Coolpix S600 is one of the latest offerings from its stable. This stylish new camera comes with a speedy start-up time (perfect to capture an ongoing moment even when you’re not prepared - losing out on a couple of seconds could mean the magical moment is gone, never to be repeated), advanced functions, and superior photographic performance, all crammed into a slim, stylish body. For further details on the specifications, kindly head on after the jump.

According to Bill Giordano, General Manager, Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc., “We are very excited to offer the COOLPIX S600, as we feel the camera embodies the stylish design and advanced imaging capabilities of the COOLPIX Style Series. With the COOLPIX S600, consumers will be able to take stunningly sharp photos, faster and easier than ever before.” With the inclusion of full-time Optical VR Image Stabilization technology, one will be able to capture images that already have camera shake compensated for, while ISO capabilities up to 3200 lends provides an excellent range for low-light performance. Other features include a 4x Zoom-NIKKOR lens for capturing everything from vast landscapes to intimate portraits, and a 2.7″ high resolution LCD display that makes it a snap to preview and check out snapped images.

With a start up time of just 0.7 seconds (the fastest in its class according to Nikon), the S600 has superior shutter response as well as autofocus speeds for quick and responsive photo opportunities. The S600 boasts Nikon’s very own image processing system for enhanced noise reduction, known as EXPEED. In addition, this is truly a family man’s tool as it allows one to capture fast moving kids thanks to the Active Child Mode as well as over a dozen other scene modes that come standard in the Coolpix range. The Nikon Coolpix S600 will roll out this March for $299.95. Image courtesy of LetsGoDigital.

Press Release

Nowadays great efforts are made in order to simplify our life activity. Thus, there is no need to spare a lot of time in order to perform any operation because just a single touch is enough for modern devices to understand what exactly you want them to do. However, we should never stop at what has been accomplished.

Victor Soto who designed a new interesting gadget also adheres to this principle. His concept iRing represents a high-end ring, which helps you by means of Bluetooth technology and a tiny touch screen to control Apple devices, such as iPod and iPhone. Although it’s available just in two colors - black and white - it can be considered as a very stylish device with well-known Apple symbol on it. This Apple symbol serves as an indicator that shows a current state of a device, which is under iRing’s control. There is no need to take iPod out of your pocket in case you want to change track. Built-in battery will ensure a few days of continuous functioning. So, you can charge it just two or three times a week.

The significant advantage of this gadget is the fact that it is hard to lose it. Moreover, those who have some Apple things most likely will love it because they will be able to control their favorite devices by means of a single ring. Yet, sometimes they will be forced to take their iPods or iPhones out in order to perform more complex operations.

Posted Jan 31st 2008 9:18AM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Laptops
Everything’s free in America, for a small fee in America! Or something like that. Don’t mind us. Dell is shipping its XPS M1330 laptop with a DVD-playing version of Ubuntu 7.10 pre-installed in the States now, exactly as promised. Everybody else got this about a week ago, but we’re not bitter: the $954 US starting price sure beats the 799 Euros those suckers over there have to drop.

[Thanks, Nigel]

This convenient Gizmo converts old 35mm slides and film negatives easily into digital images. While you could preserve your memories using a conversion service, you might have to ship off your precious photos and you’ll definitely have to turn over custody to an unknown source not to mention the cost involved. For less than $100 you can do it yourself.

Slides and negatives are placed into a tray that aligns each properly; the touch of a button scans the image instantly. It has a 5MP CMOS sensor that provides 10 bits per color channel for data conversion and uses fixed focus and automatic exposure control and color balance, resulting in clear digital images without loss of quality. It can scan images up to 1,800 dpi and uses three white LEDs as a back light source. For photo transfers and power, it has a USB cable that plugs into a PC running Windows XP (requires USB 2.0) and includes software that allows you to edit, cro p, and resize your slides as well as convert your negatives into positives.

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $99.95

The last time I saw such a brilliant blending of Pac-Mania and illumination was the amazing Pac-Man Christmas tree that showed up on the streets of Madrid over the holidays. Now you can have your own personal Pac & Pals light show thanks to these fun colored light blocks.

Designed by French lighting company Remake Design, these clever interlocking light blocks now come in Pac-Man inspired styles, including colored ghosts, dots, and of course the pie-shaped yellow guy we all know and love so much.

The company offers a variety of snap-together colored lighting fixtures which can be combined to form unique pixel-like structures in any space. Pricing for their solid colored lights is around $300 for a set of four blocks, but pricing hasn’t been announced yet for the Pac-Man series.

If you’re not into Pac-Man, why not try some Tetris?

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france, ghost, lamp, light, pac man, pixel