Archive for 2011

NEC ValueStar VW970/DS All-In-One 3D Desktop PC

Posted in NEC by Conner Flynn on February 2nd, 2011

NEC has announced their latest new all-in-one 3D desktop PC, the ValueStar VW970/DS. This all-in-one is based on Intel’s new Sandy Bridge platform. The space-saving machine features a 23-inch 1920 x 1080 3D monitor and a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-2620M processor.

Other features include a 1GB GeForce GT425M graphics card, 8GB of RAM, up to a 2TB hard drive, a Blu-ray drive, a TV tuner, a card reader, WiFi, an HDMI port and two USB 3.0 ports. Pricing and availability info are still unknown at the moment, but hopefully we will learn more soon.

Cydle M7 MultiPAD Android Tablet

Posted in Tablet PC by Conner Flynn on February 2nd, 2011

Looks like the FCC has finally approved the Cydle M7 MutiPAD. The device is a 7-inch Android tablet with a detachable stand, allowing you to more comfortably watch videos or surf the web anyway you want. If you are interested, the FCC has published the user manual and other information.

The Cydle M7 MultiPAD packs in an 800MHz ARM11 CPU, 8GB of storage space, 256MB of RAM, a 7-inch (800 x 480 pixel) touchscreen display, a 4500mAh battery and Google Android 2.1. There’s also a g-sensor, an HDMI port, a built-in speaker and 1080p HD video output.

T-Mobile announces the Samsung Galaxy S 4G

Posted in T-Mobile by Conner Flynn on February 2nd, 2011

We already knew about the 4G Samsung Galaxy S phone that was rumored to hit T-Mobile, but we now have an official announcement from T-Mobile and Samsung about a release date. To refresh your memory, the Galaxy S 4G is an Android phone with a 1GHz processor, a 4″ Super AMOLED screen, 16GB of internal memory, a 5 megapixel rear camera, and a front facing camera.

Other features include Android 2.2, support for T-Mobile’s 4G network and the 2010 movie Inception, preloaded onto the device. No info on price yet, but we can expect the phone to arrive in February.

Nokia’s bicycle cellphone charger now €30 in Europe

Posted in Nokia by Conner Flynn on February 2nd, 2011

Nokia’s bike-powered cellphone charger was supposed to arrive by the end of 2010 for about €15. Now the company is ready and is charging €30 to European bicyclists, which is twice as expensive as anticipated. The kit comes with a Nokia charger, phone holder, and bottle dynamo.

The charger also sports a 2-mm charger interface and provides 28 minutes of talk time for every 10 minutes spent riding between 6kph (4mph) and 50kph (31mph). Europeans can pick one up from Nokia’s online store. The rest of us will have to wait.

OnLive’s flat-rate PlayPack plan is live with 38 games

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

It was supposed to arrive on January 15th, but who cares, the fact is that it is here now. Onlive has introduced PlayPack. For $9.99 a month you get unlimited access to a selection of titles. There’s no long-term commitment needed and your saved games will stay on servers for at least a full year after cancellation, if you back out and come back.

Right now there’s 38 games to choose from in all, including BioShock, Prince of Persia, and others. They have pledged more titles are on the way “on a regular basis.” Can they secure enough good titles on a daily basis to make this work? We hope so.

Zumreed X2 Hybrid Headphones are also Speakers

Posted in Headphones by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

The X2 Hybrid Headphones look common enough, but look closer. They double as speakers. It allows you to switch back and forth between headphones or external speakers. If your ears get tired, just switch them. The outside of the earcups functions as the external speaker and the interior earcups function as a normal pair of headphones. Pretty neat design.

The drivers are 40mm and as speakers they output 0.5 watts. When used as a speaker they need to be charged and will operate for 4 hours on a 1 hour charge. They also come with a 3.5mm stereo gold plated plug and a 6.3mm stereo plug.

HTC Inspire 4G hits AT&T February 13th

Posted in HTC by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

AT&T will start selling the HTC Inspire 4G starting on the 13th of February 2011. It’s the first 4G device to hit AT&T this year, but far from the last. The company has announced that they intend to launch more than 20 4G devices by the end of the year.

To refresh your memory, the HTC Inspire 4G comes with Android 2.2 Froyo, a 4.3 inch Super LCD display, and an 8 megapixel camera capable of recording HD video in 720p. There’s also a 1GHz processor, Dolby sound, and it will use the new version of HTC’s Sense.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 gets official pricing

Posted in Cameras by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 was announced late last year and will go on sale later this month. And now Panasonic has announced pricing for the Lumix GF2 for the US.

The Panasonic Lumix GF2 will cost you $499.95 for just the body and it will come in black, silver, white and red. Panasonic will also be selling the Lumix GF2 with a 14-42mm lens, which will cost you $599.95, and there will also be another option with a 14mm lens which will cost $699.95.

Roku Launches USB Playback Support

Posted in Media Streamers by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

Roku has announced that its Roku XD|S or HD-XR media steaming device now supports playback from USB devices. It came as an included feature in the latest firmware update. That should make users happy.

The feature has been added as another Roku channel and is available in the Channel Store and now supports KV (H.264), MP4 (H.264), MOV (H.264), WMV/ASF (WMV9/VC-1), MP3, AAC, JPG, and PNG files. In case you are not familiar with it, the Roku devices allow you to instantly stream movies, TV shows, Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon VOD, or even listen to music on Pandora, directly on your TV.

Droid Bionic shows up on Amazon for $149

Posted in Motorola by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

The Motorola Droid Bionic is now making an appearance on Amazon with a $150 price tag, with contract of course. Sadly the product page was removed shortly after word spread, but screenshots had already been captured and it’s existence proven.

The price could change over the next few months and that number could be just a place-holder, but $150 sounds pretty awesome to us. It’s supposed to arrive in May or June.

Visa begins iPhone ‘iWallet’ payment tests in Europe

Posted in News by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

We still need to carry around our credit cards in our wallets, so why not turn your handset into an e-wallet? Might as well. That’s what Visa Europe has in mind with the first commercial deployment of its iPhone payments App.

NFC-capable iPhones should be on their way later this year and the AAPL intends to look into ways for merchants to obtain a cheap and easy set-up for payment kiosks so that mobile payments can be easily handled with the proper infrastructure in place. This iPhone payment system requires users to use an add-on device before making a payment, but the iPhone 5 may have a built-in e-wallet if the rumors turn out to be true.

Automatic weapon gets FPS-style ammo counter

Posted in Weapons by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

You’ve seen all of the ammo counters on the various shooters that you’ve played and now a similar ammo counter is available for automatic weapons, thanks to a DIY project by Michael Ciuffo. So now when out on the firing range, you can be aware of your ammo situation just like in the games.

An accelerometer detects the gun’s recoil and keeps count, so it can be calibrated for different weapons. Michael has received enough enquiries about this that he is going to start producing it for the mass market soon.

LG unveils super thin bezel monitor display

Posted in LG by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

You’ve seen those video walls that companies use to promote their products. Usually they have thick bezels to match their huge display. Well, LG wants to improve this video wall technology with the 47WV30 47-inch LED super narrow bezel monitor display.

It’s currently being shown off at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2011. The LG 47WV3047-inch LED super narrow bezel monitor display offers a superior image without sacrificing convenience or cost efficiency. The 6.9 mm seam size makes it the slimmest on any 40- to 49-inch display, and it works great indoors or outdoors with brightness as high as 4,000 lux. No word on pricing yet.

PlayStation Move coming to the PC

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

The PlayStation Move wants to make a move to the PC world. A bunch of game developers have started a project called Move Server which aims to create PlayStation Move games for the PC. At this year’s Game Developers Conference, Sony will be having a session to explain what Move Server is all about.

We don’t have many details yet, but Senior developer support engineer John McCutchan from Sony Computer Entertainment America said that the Move Server project “will make it possible for academics and hobbyists to develop software using the PlayStation Move controller on their own PCs.” Maybe we will see more hacks with the Move like we are seeing with the Microsoft Kinect.

Apple rejects Sony Reader Store app

Posted in Apple by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2011

Just when you thought that they couldn’t get any more restrictive, it looks like Apple is tightening its iron grip in their iTunes App Store. The company has reportedly rejected Sony’s eBook store app – the Sony Reader Store from the iTunes App Store.

The reason for the rejection was changes in Apple’s App Store policy: All in-app purchases will now have to go through Apple. Apparently apps that sell their own content will not be allowed in the App Store in the future. Apple also may be planning to get into in the eBook business. Apple’s The Daily announcement is happening tomorrow, so we will see if they shed any more light on this.