Edo Competition Ferrari Enzo

After working on supercars such as the Ford GT, Porsche Carrera GT and Maserati MC12, there was not much more Edo Competition could do to establish itself as one of the greatest tuners in the industry but they found yet another challenge in the form of the Ferrari Enzo.

Specifications
Engine V12
Power est. 700 hp (514 kW) at 8200 rpm Max.
torque est. 715 Nm (527 ft-lb) at 5800 rpm

Performance
Top speed > 370 km/h (230 mph)
0 – 100 km/h (0 – 62 mph) est. 3.5s
0 – 200 km/h (0 – 124 mph) est. 9.5s
0 – 300 km/h (0 – 186 mph) est. 22.0s

Features
Power increased to about 700 hp thanks to new exhaust headers like on the Ferrari FXX, high-flow catalytic converter, performance muffler, modified intake with ram-air system, high-flow air filters and ECU recalibration Stainless steel muffler with adjustable remote-controlled butterfly-valve, new exhaust tips Exhaust sound level adjustable at the push of a button Wheels can be custom-painted on request

Tire pressure monitoring system displaying air pressure and tire temperature for each wheel Sport suspension for the road with adjustable compression and rebound damping like on the FIA GT MC12.

Nose lift functionality is retained. Special lightweight wheels with Michelin tiresgog Front: 10 x 19 with 265/35 ZR 19 Rear: 13 x 20 with 335/30 ZR 20 New high-performance clutch. Extremely lightweight.

Two different friction compounds selectable (strada/pista) New transmission control unit. Same shift times as on the Ferrari FXX Are we hitting automotive perfection here?
source manualgear.com

The World's Fastest, Largest Capacity 2.5'' SSD, by Samsung

Samsung announced the development of the world’s fastest, largest capacity 2.5’’ SSD, MLC-based with SATA II interface. It provides a 256GB capacity, with a reading speed of 200MBps and writing speed of 160MBps. It's also very thin, only 9.5mm, and measures 100.3x69.85mm.
Taipei, Taiwan, May 26, 2008 - Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it has developed the world’s fastest, 2.5-inch, 256 Gigabyte (GB) multi-level cell (MLC) based solid state drive (SSD) using a SATA II interface at the fifth annual Samsung Mobile Solution Forum held at the Westin Taipei Hotel. Samsung’s new 256GB SSD is also the thinnest drive with the largest capacity to be offered with a SATA II interface.

With a sequential read speed of 200 megabytes per second (MB/s) and sequential write speed of 160MB/s,
Samsung’s MLC-based 2.5-inch 256GB SSD is about 2.4 times faster than a typical HDD. Furthermore, the new
256 GB SSD is only 9.5millimeters (mm) thick, and measures 100.3x69.85 mm.

Once introduced, the Samsung’s 256GB SSD will mark the largest capacity SSD from the global market leader in SSD sales, effectively eliminating density as a barrier to SSD adoption in the consumer space.

“With development of the 256GB SSD, the notebook PC is on the brink of a second stage of evolution. This change is comparable to the evolution from the Sony Walkman to NAND memory-based MP3 players, representing an initial step in the shift to thinner, smaller SSD-based notebooks with significantly improved performance and more than ample storage,” said Jim Elliott, vice president, memory marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.

Through major advancements in proprietary controller technology, Samsung’s new MLC 256GB SSD, besides being comparable in speed to an SLC-based SSD, also boasts reliability equal to that of SLC SSDs, with a mean time between failures (MTBF) of one million hours, while costing considerably less. Power consumption is also exceptionally low at 0.9 watts in active mode.

In addition, the drive offers a sophisticated data encryption process that prevents data stored on the SSD from being accessed in an unauthorized manner, even after the SSD is removed from the PC.
Overall, the number of computing units in which SSDs are being offered is expected to increase dramatically once Samsung’s previously announced 128GB SSD and the new 256GB SSD are launched. At present, Samsung is actively involved in high-capacity SSD design-in activities for all of the top PC and server manufacturers from the U.S., Asia, and Europe.

Samsung is expected to begin mass producing the 2.5-inch, 256GB SSD by year end, with customer samples available in September. A 1.8-inch version of the 256GB SSD is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2008.

According to a Q1 2008 report by the semiconductor market research firm iSuppli, the SSD market will grow at an annualized average of 124 percent during the four-year period from 2008 until 2012. iSuppli now projects SSD sales to increase by an additional 35 percent in 2009 over what it projected last year, 51 percent more in 2010, and 89% more in 2011, and continue to show dramatic increases in subsequent years.

source akihabaranews

Dual Music Player That Plays Your MP3 Collection & Your CDs

You want to enjoy your audio CDs while traveling but you also have a huge MP3 collection at home that you want to take with you. The ideal solution? DMP, a portable music player that supports CD and MP3 files.

Use the MP3 player as you normally would, hang it around your neck, clip it on your jeans or place it in your pocket. Otherwise open both sides and insert your favorite CD and you got yourself a CD player my friend. Now that’s music to my ears.

Designer: Yong-Seong Kim

source yankodesign.com

Yamaha Deus Ex Machina Concept Bike

This Yamaha-branded Deus Ex Machina concept motorcycle was dreamed up by Art Center Pasadena student Jake Loniak, and I must say it looks really mean. You get the best of exoskeletons and motorcycles crammed into a single vehicle, and being a concept Jake has certainly gone wild with its specifications.

It will be powered by ultra-capacitors and doped nano-phoshpate batteries (same as those found in hybrid cars), where 36 pneumatic muscles and 2 linear actuators set along a spine consisting of seven artificial vertebrae are what keeps it in control.

Heck, even the helmet is pneumatically attached for superior ease-of-use. Jake also claims that this design can hit a top speed of 75mph, but I hope the wearer will be adequately protected in the event of an accident.

source ubergizmo.com

Panasonic Blu-ray Player LSI

Panasonic steals the headlines yet again with a new Blu-ray Disc player-specific single-chip signal processing LSI, a first in the world. Dubbed the MN2WS006, this chip brings together a front end to read the signal from the Blu-ray disc, and a back end that convert this into AV data.

Multi-standard video decoding technology is utilized to enable video playback for BD, DVD, and CD media, and standards including MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and VC-1; audio playback compatible with lossless coding; and dual-screen simultaneous video playback including HD video, and a high-speed graphics engine technology which enables 2D graphic processing, and also 3D graphic processing or curved surface drawing on Panasonic's MN2WS006.

source ubergizmo.com

Pentax unveils its new Optio W60, a waterproof Digital Camera
Pentax has announced a new Waterproof digital camera, the Optio W60. Our device features a 10Megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom and a 28mm wide-angle lens.

In addition to this, our Optio W60a sensitivity up to ISO 6400, and can record HD video (720p). Finally this pentax bear the pressure under water until 4 meters.

Available in 2 colors: Money and Blue Ocean.
source akihabaranews

Fiat 500 Novitec

The sexiest Fiat out there is finally starting to get a little love from the tuners and Novitec opens the show with a couple nice tweaks for your Fiat 500. Want more power? That's an easy thing to do, you don't even need to open the bonnet if you're driving the 1.3 liter JTD version, a little ECU mod and there you go, 83hp (instead of 70) and a lowered 0-60 (11.9s) and higher tope speed (165 kmh - 102 mph). This modification costs 335 €uros.

The proud owners of a 1.4 liter version can enjoy much more power after a go at a Novitec garage, the mechanics there can add a supercharger providing 131hp, 172nm of torque which helps the Fiat 500 rocket from 0-60 in just 8.8s, top speed now reaches an impressive 198kmh (120mph).

Other changes include the appearance, with new bodykit, wheels, lowered suspension (-30, -80mm), and new exhaust.

We can't wait to see what Novitec will do with the Abarth version!


source manualgear.com

Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia

Do you know how many times Alfa Romeo won the legendary Mille Miglia race? That's right, eleven times, that's why this special edition of the gorgeous Brera will come at an extremely exclusive 11 units.

The Alfa Romeo Brera Mille Miglia Edition is not so different from the one you drive every day, it simply features a special plate placed between the two seats, and a special interior with Black leather upholstery and Red stitching.

The Quadrifoglio sign proves that this is an all wheel drive version, powered by a 260hp 3.2 liter V6.

source manualgear.com

WILLCOM D4 (Sharp WS016SH), Exclusive Review!!!

Last week we were invited by Willcom in Tokyo to test their hot new Willcom D4 aka Sharp WS016SH (don’t get the idea we flew thousands of klicks… their office is next door to ours). We have here a 1.33GHz Centrino Atom Z520 CPU (one of the first UMPCs on the market carrying it!) Windows Vista, 40GB HDD, 1GB RAM, a 5" 1024x600 TFT touchscreen all in a compact size of 84x188x25.9mm and weighing 470g… Nearly first generation PSP size! After the press conference and the enthusiasm generated by it, we begged Willcom to let us have the D4 for a few hours in order to get a better idea of what the beast was all about.

After a few exchanges, Willcom (the company is very open minded) allowed us to test drive an Alpha version (engineers are still working on optimizing it for Vista… mainly drivers/software). An engineer working closely on the project was also present to provide answers to our many questions… This opportunity enabled us to better understand what to expect with the final product.

Getting Started:
Overall the D4 is a beautiful machine, the latest generation to date with a flexible slide keyboard system. It’s fluid and robust, easy to handle with just one hand, with a very solid screen hinge system that when straightened resembles that of a classic portable and offers a multitude of configurations for various uses. The screen looks great with a good resolution, even when viewed outdoors.

The touchscreen responds very well with the stylus, and remains accurate when manipulated with your fingers (just don’t move them too fast… engineers are working on improving this point). The D4 also features a directional pad. Utilization was a little difficult, the amplitude of horizontal movement in relation to vertical is not the same, the cursor is faster horizontally. The engineer explained this was only a matter of setting the driver level, thus easily changeable.

About Performance:
As seen on the video, the D4 suffers a little with Vista… It’s clear that in order to use Vista, you better have a powerful system, and its clearly inadequate for running a mini-portable type UMPC. However, owning a Vista running Sony UX92 (DSS), I can tell you the D4 seems faster. Note that the first model you see on the video is the software test version (with a lot of stuff installed) and the interface you see is a Beta version (I do scroll/drag icons… our test engineer is developing this feature and showed us his D4 test … this is where we got the scoop to beta test this device), and not yet optimized. Some features were not yet efficiently integrated (hence the error messages that appeared).

When I surf the Net it’s with another model with a cleaner Vista installation (SP1), and therefore more efficient… I remain skeptical about using of Vista with a UMPC and Atom, and I wonder if the lack of information released concerning Vista’s reliability on this platform is not simply due to Vista being too greedy with resources… In fact I was told that the Windows XP D4 was very fast… I believe it!

Features/Connectivities:
Numerous! OneSeg TV (the standard mobile digital TV in Japan), WiFi, Bluetooth (for connecting on a mobile affiliate) 2Mpx camera, mini USB, micro SD…… etc. As for the the odd looking card shown on the video, it’s a W-SIM. It acts as a SIM card and contains the phone PHS (equivalent to GSM) transmitter/receiver … You may not find this very interesting, but it’s an example of other cards that could be used on other networks. Why not a 3G, or something else in the future?

Plus:
High Technologie in PSP size !
Design
Keyboard with multitude of configurations
Screen Touch
Functionalities

Minus:
Vista !!!
Only 1 Go of ram
Sell only in Japan

Conclusion:

Although the D4 Beta version was not very well optimized, our enthusiasm remains unchanged. Beautiful design, ergonomic, a well thought out keyboard, multiple positions, touchscreen…… I’m impatient to get my hands on a final version.

There’s no doubt a community will be created around this machine, offering drivers for other OS. With Willcom’s team spirit and open-mindedness, I don’t think they’ll put a spanner in the wheels of projects emerging around their machine.

source akihabaranews

Sony NWZ-A820 Mp3 Players

The Sony NWZ-A820 series is part of Sony's new Walkman flash-based mp3 player series and features a 16GB version (NWZ-A829) and a 8GB version (NWZ-A828).

The players are aimed at the video playback market and aim to compete directly with Apple. The main value-add to these players is their above-average sound quality with out-of-the-box headphones.

The earbuds are made from adjustable silicone and can sit comfortably in your ear with sizes ranging from small to large.

source retronews.com

eSATA Rack

New eSATA Rack for your HDD on the market, the Double Rack

Last January, we announced you a new rack for your HDD with eSATA connection. Well, the manufacturer proposes a new version with this Double Rack and the possibility of connecting 2 SATA HDD simultaneously! It is compatible 2.5''and 3.5''. Note that it features USB 2.0 port and two eSATA ports of course.

We should test it at Akihabaranews, so stay tuned! The new Rack is available for 69€ on GeekStuff4U.com.

source akihabaranews

Sony Ericsson W980 preview: First look

Sony Ericsson W980 is among those gadgets with enough class and guts to hope for a long run in the spotlight. A Walkman-series phone, armed with 8GB of internal memory, 3 megapixel camera and a built-in accelerometer simply cannot go unnoticed. Now, add the exotic FM transmitter feature and the light effects and you can feel the tingle of excitement of having a real star in your hands.

You can bet that we are already working on a full-blown review of the sleek clamshell but before it's ready to serve, here is a quick taster of our first impressions. It should give you the first idea of what the Sony Ericsson W980 is good for.

For starters, check out some photos of the newest addition to the Walkman family. It looks all set to become the flagship of the Sony Ericsson music feature-phone portfolio and has some pretty high expectations to match. The question is whether Sony Ericsson W980 is capable of going that extra step towards stardom.

Design and construction

Sony Ericsson W980 is finished in nice glossy plastic that gives it those sleek and sexy looks. Its mirror-like front surface is not the easiest to work with but is visually impressive. The main problem here is fingerprint smudges. Those are a huge issue with the W980 and we had to spend almost as much time cleaning the handset as we did using it.

The Sony Ericsson W980 stands at 92 x 46 x 16.9 mm, which is compact enough for a clamshell phone. It seems rather large when opened but is in fact very pocket-friendly when closed. Besides, it weighs the delightful 100 g.

The front panel of Sony Ericsson W980 looks as if it holds no controls whatsoever. When the handset is dormant, the whole front is just one solid piece of opaque mirror. As soon as you press a key however, eye-pleasing illuminations appear to mark the location of the touch-sensitive controls. Those are in charge of the music player and the FM radio without even opening the phone.

There is a lock slider on the side of Sony Ericsson W980 that comes in handy for avoiding accidental presses. The volume rocker is also placed on the side, as usual.

We however didn't like the Walkman key location much. It's placed under the cover, so you have to open the flip to use it. It would have been much more comfortable somewhere on the side, so you can use the Shake control feature without bothering to flip up.

The lower part of the front is decked with a transparent stripe. It illuminates to create light effects to the currently playing music track. Those light effects are also available when you play some of the preinstalled games but in different color. We know it's only eye-candy with no actual use but that doesn't make it any less cool, does it?

Opening the Sony Ericsson W980 reveals the 2.2" QVGA display. The moderately sized screen doesn't quite befit a flagship device that the W980 is supposed to be. It is capable of showing up to 262K colors and really won us over with picture quality.

The keypad of Sony Ericsson W980 has rather extraordinary looks (very much like the low-end R306 radio) with its round buttons. It is however quite comfortable to use due to the large enough keys and sufficient space between them.

It's difficult though to say the same about the soft keys that are too tiny for our taste. They are a nuisance to use if you have larger fingers - pressing some of the neighboring keys seems imminent.

A nice feature in Sony Ericsson W980 is the ambient light sensor that is placed slightly below the display. It takes care of adjusting the display brightness according to the current lighting conditions.

The thing to note at the rear is the 3 megapixel camera lens. Sony Ericsson didn't bother putting either auto focus or flash, so you probably understand you're not to expect miracles of it. Its placement is also quite inconvenient as it is exactly where your index finger will normally rest when shooting. You will need to work out a proper way of holding the W980 when taking pictures.

source gsmarena.com

Sony XEL-1 OLED: Latest in Digital TV technology now available

How would you like to be one of the first to get your hands on the latest in Digital TV technology? Well Sony have now launched their XEL-1 OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) the panel on this TV has a thickness of just 3mm and has the best image brightness, color and contrast that you have seen.

For those of you who have not heard of OLED, it is simple this is the next big thing in TV technology, contrast ratio alone is 1,000,000:1. The response time of the Sony XEL-1 OLED is rapid and is smooth with it. This TV uses Sony’s Super Top Emission this is combined with features like micro-cavity and color filters, the end result is the purest colors that you would ever have seen.

The Sony XEL-1 OLED has a host of other features which are all designed to gibe you the greatest image quality, these include CineMotion, Comb Filter, Light Sensor and much more.

When Plasma came out many of us wanted to dump out old CRT in favour of this latest technology, now many people have decided to jump ship on Plasma and moved to LCD as the picture quality on them have been getting better. Now OLED is the next big thing and other TV makers will see how well Sony do with their OLED sales and if successful will bring out their own version.

The Sony XEL-1 OLED is now available and will cost $2,499.99 from SonyStyle

source product-reviews.net

Philips X800 and X-Connect are all-touch

Philips are obviously making a go at the high-end market, something they've been keeping away for quite some time. Today they've officially stepped up with two new handsets - the Philips X800 and the Philips Xenium X-Connect. The Philips X800 is a full touch-screen device with a large display, while the Philips Xenium X-Connect is a Windows Mobile-based device with an even bigger TFT display. Let's not waste any more time and delve into the specifics.

The Philips X800 is the first full-touch device by the China-based manufacturer. Images of the X800 already leaked a week ago but now it's the real deal - the device is officially announced.

The Philips X800 is a tri-band GSM/GPRS handset and its highlight is the large 2.9-inch 262K color TFT display with touch-screen functionality and a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels. The interface of the device is also fully touch-based and offers handwriting recognition. The Philips X800 also flaunts a 2 megapixel auto focus camera, a microSD memory card slot, Bluetooth, an office documents reader.

The extraordinary battery times have been, so to say, a Philips trademark in recent years. The Philips X800 doesn't make difference and the manufacturer promises up to 850 hours of standby time and up to 8 hours of talk-time.

Unfortunately, no availability or pricing information is yet known.

Next Philips unveiled preliminary information on their upcoming Philips Xenium X-Connect. It will run on Windows Mobile 6 and will have a large 3-inch display (resolution and touchscreen functionality are still not clear). It will be rich in connectivity features such as GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA, however lacking Wi-Fi.

The Philips Xenium X-Connect will also have an integrated GPS-receiver and will offer Bluetooth, USB and a microSD memory card slot. More than anything though, the device has killer looks.

Currently no availability or pricing info is known on the Philips Xenium X-Connect.

source gsmarena.com

Blackberry 9000 Bold review

The new high-end Blackberry 9000 is finally out and adding a second name as Blackberry Bold. The new messaging smartphone strives to deliver much more than what is expected form a ordinary smartphone messenger.

The new Blackberry Bold features a large TFT display with the same half-VGA resolution as the Apple iPhone's - 480 x 320 pixels, a new full QWERTY keyboard and runs on the latest Blackberry OS 4.6.

The Blackberry Bold powered with a 624MHz processor and 1GB of on-board storage. It also has a microSD memory card slot with full support for 8GB microSDHC cards and maximized for 16GB support, one such large capacity cards become market available.
The new Blackberry Bold is the allegedly the first Blackberry smartphone to feature tri-band HSDPA support besides the quad-band GSM/EDGE one. The Blackberry Bold is definitely is packed with goodies as it also flaunts an integrated GPS receiver and Wi-Fi.

A pair of stereo speakers, a 2 megapixel camera with LED flash, Bluetooth and a USB port all fill up the feature set.

Additionaly, as a customizing option, the future Blackberry 9000 users will also be able to buy replaceable leather-like backplates that come in a range of colors.

The BlackBerry Bold 9000 will be available around the world beginning this summer.

Here's a Blackberry Bold video walkthrough courtesy of Crackberry.com:

source gsmarena.com

Canvas by Kyle Cherry

Designer Kyle Cherry has envisaged a new type of computer with creatives in mind. Called simply “Canvas”, the computer is designed to increase the quality and productivity of the designer or artist.

It is intended to allow a user with little or no experience to make the switch from traditional to digital workflows by building the system around a more familiar interface.

This concept should even make Wacom Clinq owners jealous.


source yankodesign.com

Olympus E-520 with built-in image stabilisation for razor-sharp results

The perfect moment doesn’t wait. That’s why serious photographers need serious equipment so that they are ready for whatever comes. With its pro features and top image quality, the new Olympus E-520 D-SLR fits the bill perfectly. The successor to the EISA Award-winning E-500 series incorporates a built-in image stabiliser to ensure blur-free shots irrespective of the lens attached – no matter if wide-angle or ultra-tele and without the need for a tripod. Matched with the Supersonic Wave Filter dust protection system and improved Live View capabilities, the freedom to frame and take great, crystal-clear photos is virtually limitless. Based upon the forward-looking “designed for digital” Four Thirds Standard, the 10.0 Megapixel E-520 with Live View ensures uncompromising D-SLR quality. It will become available in June 2008 and retail for £479.99 for body only.

Flexibility is the name of the game
The E-520 relegates blurred photos to a thing of the past. Its built-in image stabiliser ensures subjects are captured in ultimate sharpness, shot after shot – no matter if shooting from the back of a motorbike on rough terrain or capturing a spontaneous “stolen moment” out of the hand in a market square. Because the stabiliser is located in the camera body and not in individual lenses, photographers can shoot with confidence regardless of which lens is attached: from wide-angle models like the soon-to-be-released ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm 1:4.0-5.6 to high-performance zooms such as the new ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 70-300mm 1:4.0-5.6 (equiv. to 140-600mm in a 35mm format).

Sequential shooting at 3.5fps with up to eight images in RAW buffer captures every moment. Matched with fast processing speeds and the exceptionally low noise performance that’s attributable to the TruePic III image processor, high-speed action becomes your friend. Broad-ranging sensitivity from ISO 100-1600 adds versatility, and the bracketing function let series of shots to be taken with varying adjustments of exposure, focus or white balance, allowing the best of the shots to be selected.

For low-light shooting situations photographers can select the built-in flash or choose an optional external unit. Wireless flash control is also possible with this model, making customised lighting set ups an easy reality.

As with all cameras in the Olympus E-System line-up, the E-520 incorporates the Supersonic Wave Filter to protect against the effects of dust, which can enter the camera during lens changes or otherwise result from normal operation. Photographers therefore enjoy blemish-free pictures at all times.

Complex features – designed for easy usage
Despite being the powerhouse it is, the Four Thirds System-based E-520 remains a pleasure to use. Its ergonomic body houses the capabilities that not only advance image quality but also enrich the complete photo-taking experience. Live View has been enhanced to boost user friendliness. In addition to allowing depth of field previews, providing the facility to control exposure compensation and white balance on-screen, it is also possible to see the effects of Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology in real time on the 6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal II LCD. In addition, autofocus changes can now also be seen directly on the display. This has been made possible by implementing a contrast AF system* in addition to the customary phase difference detection AF system, which means that the mirror needn’t move to the down position for AF measurements to be made and previewed in Live View.

The LCD boasts viewing angles of 176° and has a field of view that covers 100% of the frame. Live View is also ideal to support the needs of macro photographers wishing to focus visually, as sections of the subject can be enlarged by a factor 7 or 10 to aid manual focus adjustments.

The E-520 includes a total of 32 user-friendly shooting modes to make shooting easy no matter the situation: whether at a candlelight dinner, taking a portrait or shooting under water. Operabilition is a cinch too: users can choose on-screen menus in up to 10 languages – and many more are also available for download. A long-life rechargeable battery ensures extended shooting. Dual CompactFlash and xD-Picture Card slots enable excellent storage flexibility, and the downloading of files is fast thanks to USB Hi-Speed 2.0.

A complete system for photographic creativity
As part of the Olympus E-System, the E-520 is compatible with virtually all system accessories. This embraces numerous flash units including the wireless FL-36R and FL-50R to take advantage of the camera’s remote flash control capabilities. More than 20 ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses – all featuring near telecentric construction – are available, covering a focal length range of 14-600mm (35mm equivalents). Among the latest ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses are the ED 9-18mm 1:4.0-5.6 (18-36mm), ED 14-35mm 1:2.0 SWD (28-70mm), ED 70-300mm 1:4.0-5.6 (140-600mm), and 25mm 1:2.8 (50mm) Pancake lens. Beyond this, thanks to the one-of-a-kind compatibility the Four Thirds System provides, photographers can also use lenses from other manufacturers adhering to the standard.

Further enhancing shooting opportunities, a special underwater case will also become available for the E-520. Waterproof to a depth of up to 40m, it opens up an entirely new realm of creative photography.

Satisfying demands for pro results and remaining surprisingly compact, the Olympus E-520 makes sure every photo comes out razor-sharp thanks to its built-in image stabiliser. It will go on sale from June 2008.

The Olympus E-520 digital SLR – main features:

• Built-in image stabiliser for all lenses
• Autofocus Live View
• Excellent dust reduction system
• 100% D-SLR quality
• Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
• 6.9cm/2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD
• 10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
• 3.5fps with up to 8 images in RAW buffer
• Built-in flash and wireless flash control
• 32 shooting modes
• Optional underwater case available
• Four Thirds Standard
• Compact and ergonomic design
• Bracketing functions
• ISO 100-1600
• AF/ AE lock functionality
• Depth of field preview
• Anti-shock (mirror lock) function
• One-touch white balance
• Perfect Shot Preview
• 100% field of view via LCD
• TruePic III image processor
• Detailed playback info screen with histogram
• Hi-Speed USB 2.0

Glossary

Built-in image stabiliser
A type of image stabiliser that is built directly into the camera. This enables the photo-enhancing effects of image stabilisation to be enjoyed irrespective of the attached lens. In Olympus E-System cameras with built-in image stabilisation, a gyro sensor detects the precise direction of the shake. Using the on-board SWD, the shake is then compensated for by shifting the image sensor according to the movement data. For quick response at long focal lengths, cameras are equipped with two dedicated microprocessors: One to control the two supersonic motors that shift the unit vertically and horizontally, and one to provide high-precision control.

Face Detection Technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that’s sharp in the right places and ideally exposed.

HyperCrystal
A high-grade, fully-transmissive technology used in LCDs, which employs an additional layer at the bottom of the LCD to reflect light from external light sources. This enhances the brightness of the LCD, so even in direct sunlight images are displayed sharply and improved contrast compared to that of conventional displays. Also, it provides for particularly wide viewing angles without glare or shadow, so images can be framed from a variety of angles and viewed by several people at once.

Live View
Provides an alternative to framing shots through the viewfinder on a digital SLR camera. The image sent through the lens to the image sensor is displayed directly on the camera’s LCD. Whereas most compact digital cameras have been equipped with Live View functionality for many years, this feature has only recently become available on D-SLRs. The world’s first D-SLR to feature continuous Live View capabilities was the Olympus E-330.

RC Wireless Flash Control
The user can control wireless flash units remotely – eliminating the need for extra cables – by using the built-in flash as the system’s master unit. Control options include the ability to independently regulate flash mode and compensation settings for up to three groups of flashes, four channel settings to avoid interference as well as a wide range of brightness levels.

Shadow Adjustment Technology
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g. a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.

Supersonic Wave Filter
Dust entering digital SLRs, for example during lens changes, can cause damage to photos – unless it is removed. With the Supersonic Wave Filter, the potential for dust to ruin photos is eliminated. A transparent filter is located between the camera’s shutter and sensor. It makes sure no dust is able to land on the sensor. Instead, the particles settle on the filter and are then shaken off by a series of ultrasonic vibrations generated by the filter when activated. Olympus was the first manufacturer to incorporate dust protection in D-SLRs.

TruePic III image processor
Olympus’ latest-generation image processing engine. It automatically enhances important aspects of image quality including: Colour reproduction (colour range, saturation and brightness), picture sharpness (reduced image noise, improved edge reproduction), as well as providing faster processing speeds.

source dpreview.com

Bugatti Veyron Hermes 2008 Geneva Motor Show

Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermes review:
On the occasion of the 78th Geneva Motor Show (from 6 to 16 March 2008), Bugatti and Hermès co-present the fruit of their partnership: the "Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès", associat-ing Bugatti`s technical performance with the expertise of Hermès and its craftsmen. In partnership with Hermès, designer Gabriele Pezzini has married the distinctive Hermès style to the legendary Bugatti Veyron 16.4, magnifying the car`s personality.

This remarkable car features an array of exceptional characteristics: the innovative alliance of a technologically advanced engine, delivering 1001 horsepower, with an understated yet uncompromising silhouette reflecting the high performance capacities of state-of-the-art engineering and design, and above all, the pleasure these inspire in every Bugatti owner.

The fascination exerted by this sports coupé, capable of reaching 407 km/h, is due in large part to its unique alliance of the very finest motor-racing technology with comfortable handling for everyday driving. The 16-cylinder "W" configuration engine is fed by four turbochargers and features 64 valves, generating 1001 horsepower at 6000 rpm. The engine draws on its 8-litre displacement to deliver a maximum torque of 1250 Newton-metres between 2200 and 5500 rpm. With full-time all-wheel drive, the car`s phenomenal power produces breath-takingly dynamic handling, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.5 seconds.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 benefits from aeronautical and aerospace technologies, making it the fastest production car ever made. The car also features a braking system designed to deliver unprecedented powers of deceleration, establishing a new industry benchmark. The carbon-fibre discs provide brake pressure of up to 180 bars, combined with eight-piston monobloc callipers and titanium pistons fitted with fine steel heads and ceramic heat protectors. Apply the brakes at speeds above 200 km/h, and the rear wing acts as an airbrake, positioning itself at an angle of 113 degrees in less than 0.4 seconds, augmenting the Bugatti Veyron`s already impressive stopping power.

The airbrake increases negative lift at the rear of the car to 300 kg, enhancing the braking torque on the rear axle. At 400 km/h, emergency braking will bring the sports car to a complete halt in less than 10 seconds. This, the world`s most fascinating car, has pushed back the limits of physical engineering to offer a completely new sensation for driver and passenger alike. But it has also adopted a radically different stance to that of other sports cars: its features and finish are sure to impress the most demanding clientele. Hermès and designer Gabriele Pezzini have lavished attention on the interior and exterior of this exceptional car, to create the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4: the "Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès"

A harmonious design, inside and out
The official name of the highly exclusive Bugatti Veyron "Fbg par Hermès" refers to the historic Hermès headquarters on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the heart of Paris`s eighth arrondissement: the "Fbg" appellation evokes the house`s "faubourg" address. With the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès, the exacting standards of Emile Hermès and Ettore Bugatti come together for the first time, in an exceptional collaboration: the culmination of their extreme attention to aesthetic and technological quality and performance. Gabriele Pezzini has reinterpreted Bugatti`s traditional two-tone carriage work, fostering a fluid, harmonious transition between the car`s exterior and interior design.

The colour of the hood extends to the interior of the cockpit, and re-emerges behind, at the level of the rear wing. As a tribute to the celebrated 1924 Bugatti Type 35, undoubtedly the most famous of all time, thanks to its many successes on the racetrack, the new Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès features eight-spoked wheels in polished aluminium, central butterfly wheel locks branded with the letter H, and air vents around the rims reproducing the characteristic appearance of Hermès saddle-stitching. The horseshoe radiator grille, and the lateral ventilation grilles flanking it, are made from lightweight alloys with a design of interlocking H`s evoking the Hermès "signature".

A refined formal vocabulary
The inner surfaces of the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès have been designed and sheathed in bull calfskin by the Hermès workshops in Paris. The care and attention to detail observe an extremely refined, minimalist formal vocabulary, reflecting the tradition of the very first Bugattis and the fundamental design principles of the house of Hermès. The door handles echo the fluid forms of handles on Hermès travel bags and luggage.

And the dashboard, traditionally finished in brushed aluminium, is here clad entirely in bull calfskin. Passengers aboard the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès will find a dashboard glove compartment designed to hold a selection of small travel accessories and a zipped Hermès wallet. Both seats are covered in two-toned bull calfskin, and the panel separating the cockpit from the central rear engine – traditionally made of carbon fibre – is covered in the same fine leather. The leather-lined trunk holds a specially-fitted "Toile H" and leather case, hand-made by craftsmen from the Hermès workshops.

This exceptional model – in toning colours of ebony and étoupe, or ebony and brick – is priced at 1.55 million euros (not including tax), available at the end of 2008.
source auto-power-girl.com caradvice.com.au

Logitech diNovo Mini Review

When we first played with the Logitech diNovo Mini, we loved the concept and it looked like it solved all our Media Center remote issues as it features a mouse and a QWERTY keyboard in a small and elegant package that can actually stay on the living room table without looking bad. In this review we will give you our verdict about the strengths and the weaknesses of this device and we will tell you whether or not you should get one. Installation

The diNovo Mini connects to the PC via Bluetooth. Even if your computer is equipped with a Bluetooth receiver, we recommend using the USB dongle that is provided in the box. It is easier because it is pre-paired with the remote, so upon connection, it will find the remote by itself, without requiring you to discover it "by hand".

And voila! The remote should work, but if you want to customize additional shortcuts, you will have to install SetPoint, the software provided by Logitech.

Unlike infra-red (IR) remotes, the diNovo Mini does not need to be pointed at the receiver and does not stop working if something (or someone) is in the way. We tested at a distance of 7 yards (about 7 meters) and it worked fine.

Usage

While Windows Media Center is mostly OK using a traditional remote, I have to admit that I sometimes like using the living room computer for a quick search, change some settings, show something to a friend, or even search a movie by title in Media Center. That gives me plenty of reasons for wanting to have a full keyboard and a mouse, without the bulk of a traditional set. The diNovo Mini is a very good solution for that. If you like QWERTY smart phones, you will like this keyboard.

The mouse function could be better: the motion is choppy and it might test someone with little patience. I suspect that it's because the mouse pad has a double purpose: it can be used as digital direction buttons and as a mouse pad. Also, the pad surface is very small, so the cursor has to accelerate quickly, leading to choppiness.

From my point of view, the only big mistake is the lack of media center "guide" button. I use that one all the time. Fortunately, I solved this by assigning the "guide" function to the FN+Music combination, but it is weird that a Media Center remote does not have such a guide button. Unlike many remotes, this one is backlit and it is smart: if you are only using the controls, the QWERTY section is not lit until you touch the keyboard. It is good for the eyes and it saves the battery to some extent.

Conclusion

In the end, our experience with the diNovo Mini has been excellent. It is everything that we wanted in a Media Center controller and it is the perfect blend between a remote, a keyboard and mouse, in a beautiful package that looks good on the coffee table. Of course, it has a few shortcomings, but there is nothing else like it on the market today.

If you are happy with your traditional MCE remote, or if you are OK with hiding your keyboard and mouse under the couch, there is no need to upgrade. However, if you are a moderate mouse and keyboard user on your living room PC, you should definitely take a look at the diNovo Midi. It costs around $150

source ubergizmo.com

MOTO Q 9c Available at Verizon Wireless May 9

Verizon Wireless has just announced a new member to their mobile lineup, the MOTO Q 9c. The phone will be available in the company's online store on May 9.

The MOTO Q 9c is the perfect smartphone for business professionals and offers powerful capabilities, including access to more than 14 million points of interest with Verizon Wireless' popular VZ Navigator(SM) service.

MOTO Q 9c will be available for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement.

THE REVIEW

Size and weight:

The phone is less bulky than I thought it would be. With the extended battery there is a bulge in the back but it is not obstructive. The phone is heavy but weighted well so you do not really notice it. There is also a very "sturdy" feel to the phone.

Keyboard:

The full Qwerty of the Q 9c is solid after of week of perpetual use. There is decent tactile feedback on the keys, so you know whether you actually hit the button or not. There is also an ever so faint "click" when you depress a key, which is useful in that regard also.

Screen:

About the size of the new iPod video's. Plenty bright. Very clear graphics. The ticker bar on FoxNews when watching Sprint TV is very clear. Could not hardly make it out on my a900. There have been reported issues of dust under the screen but that has not materialized for me yet.

Software:

Windows Mobile 6 (obv). This is where things are less than perfect. The operating system is a tad laggy but as you use the phone and its features it gets down right slow. The occasional soft reset fixes this but still, annoying. Once you learn the hotkeys navigation is a breeze. PIE (pocket internet explorer) is better than most people give it credit for. Opera is faster, no doubt, but you can do anything you want right out of the box web-surfing wise.

GPS:

Fantastic. You have to download windows live but that is easy enough. Once you configure it you are good to go. There is no voice guidance (that I have found) through Live but it is still tremendous.

Call Clarity:

Excellent. I really cannot say enough about that. Both in handset and bluetooth modes virtually perfect. I am not a big speakerphone guy, but if I had to use it this would pass.

Functionality:

The volume control on the Q 9c is borderline retarded. You can only adjust the master volume on the fly by holding in the scroll wheel for a few seconds then rotating from there. You more or less cannot adjust the volume in TV...This is by far the worst part of the phone. The D-pad and center select button work well along with the softkeys. I have used the blackberry pearl in the past. Although I prefer the scroll ball, this is very intuitive and serves its purpose well.

General:

Nice display, good keyboard, functional WM6 device with an absolutely stupid volume control. Great download speeds, GPS is fantastic and you can mod the living heck out of this thing.

I would rate the phone at a 7 out of 10. If they had a better volume control system that would go up a full point.

source mobilewhack.com, sprintusers.com

Fujitsu Releases a New 400GB Handy Drive

You may remember the Handy Drive 300 from Fujitsu with its 250GB. Here's the new Handy Drive 400, which provides a whopping 400GB of space.

Sold in Japan for 216€, our little wonder features a 4200rpm HDD, USB 2.0, is 82x141.5x22mm in size, and weighs 230g.

source akihabaranews.com

Eye-Fi Works in Hotspots

Back when we reviewed Eye-Fi, the SD card that allows any digital camera with that slot to wirelessly upload pictures using a home router, we were impressed by its speed and ingenuity, but wished we could use it while on the go. Looks like the folks over at Eye-Fi heard our complaints (and others’). Today, Eye-Fi announced that it will sell its popular card in three forms, starting June 6th (sorry, no upgrades for early adopters).

Eye-Fi Home ($79) costs less than the current version, but offers less features; it syncs with your PC, but not the usual host of Web services. I’m not sure this is different enough from a regular SD card to warrant the $79 price.

Eye-Fi Share ($99) is essentially the current model with a new name; it syncs with both your PC and photo sharing sites, such as Facebook and Flickr.

Eye-Fi Explore ($129) is the real news. Thanks to a partnership with Wayport, users can upload photos at more than 10,000 hotspots nationwide. The Explore also has geotagging capabilities, using Skyhook’s Wi-Fi triangulation.

Up next on our Eye-Fi wish list: More hotspot partnerships, and the ability to upload video clips.

source laptopmag.com

3K RazorBook 400 Mini-Notebook PC: Just a Knock-Off?

We got word this morning from 3K Computers that they have officially changed the name of its new $399 mini-notebook from the Longitude 400 to the RazorBook 400. Frankly, we were unaware of the system, needless to say of its original name.

It seems to go head-to-head with the orginal Eee PC with the following specs:

• 7-inch WVGA LCD Display (800 × 400)
• 400-MHz 32-bit Single Core Mobile Processor (by Ingenic)
• 512MB DDR2 memory
• 4GB flash drive
• Linux OS
• WLAN
• 3 USB ports

The processor looks, to say the least, a bit shady. The 3K Web site lists the processor being made by Ingenic. Does Ingenic have an Intel Atom killer up its sleeve? There are no additional details on the Linux OS, though all the marketing materials say it runs a full-flash desktop interface. All the images of the system have stock photos pasted on the screen. I assume the one above represents “surfing.”

If you can’t wait to get your hands on the RazorBook 400 you can order one right now from 3K Computers. Or you could wait until we get ours in the office first and bring you our impressions of the $399 system.

source laptopmag.com