Lotus Clark Type 25 Elise SC Special Edition

Type 25 celebrates the life of Jim Clark: Jim Clark is considered by many as the finest and most naturally gifted racing driver of all time. He won the F1 World Championship twice for Team Lotus in 1963 and in 1965. In total, he won 25 Grand Prix races and was the first Briton to win the Indianapolis 500.

Clark won a third of all the F1 races he entered, as well as racing in other formulae such as F2, F3 and Touring Cars. Typically he would race in as many as three different categories per race meeting! How many of the current crop of F1 drivers would do that? In tribute to Jim Clark's achievements, Lotus, in association with Classic Team Lotus, is producing the Clark Type 25 Elise SC, with a donation for each of these special cars sold going to the Jim Clark memorial fund.

This Elise, limited to just 25 cars in the UK (25 being the Type number of his 1963 Lotus F1 car and his number of F1 wins) has been authorised by the Clark family and coincides with the 40th anniversary of Jim Clark's death at Hockenheim in 1968. The Clark Type 25 Elise SC will be launched at The Scottish Classic SpeedFair at Knockhill on the 8th of June 2008 and will form part of a weekend long tribute to Jim Clark.

The Club Lotus Jim Clark Remembrance Weekend will take place over the 7th and 8th of June and promises to be a fantastic celebration of the life of Jim Clark. Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus Plc comments, "It is fitting that the latest version of our award winning Elise, the Clark Type 25 Elise SC, should celebrate the life of Jim Clark. It is also an honour to be able to unveil the car at Knockhill this weekend. Each owner of the Clark Type 25 Elise SC will be joining an unrivalled heritage that recognises motorsport's greatest partnership, that of Lotus and Jim Clark.

" The Clark Type 25 Elise SC draws upon many styling cues from the Type 25 Formula 1 car that Jim Clark raced to win the World Championship in 1963. The car, with a removable hard top as standard, is finished in British Racing Green with a yellow stripe along the centre and features high performance Lotus Sport wheels, finished in an historic black and silver design. The interior is inspired by the Team Lotus Formula 1 cars of the era, with black leather sports seats, trimmed with red leather and all finished off with a fantastic retro wooden gear knob.

The Elise SC is the most powerful production Elise ever produced and offers stunning performance. Power comes from a 1.8 litre non-intercooled, supercharged engine and uses intelligent cam switching technology, enabling the engine to switch to the high performance cam anywhere between 4000 and 6200 rpm. This clever feature gives the engine two characters, allowing the car to be driven economically or giving maximum performance for spirited driving.

The Elise's light weight gives low CO2 emissions, great handling and affords phenomenal braking. Another benefit of the low weight is incredible acceleration, with the sprint to 60 mph taking just 4.3 seconds and with 100 km/h despatched in 4.6 seconds. The Elise SC accelerates on to a top speed of 148 mph, which is 238 km/h. All Lotus cars offer exceptional handling and the Elise is no exception. The chassis has a seriously light, stiff structure. Combining this technology with the fantastic Lotus ride and handling gives an inspiring driving experience and the mid-engined layout of the Lotus Elise offers fantastic balance and agility.

The Elise SC offers a few technological advances that Jim Clark may have found helpful in his Type 25. Coming as standard on the Elise is traction control, ABS and sequential shift lights, however all the driver aids are included to improve the driving experience and do not intervene unless really called upon.

The Clark Type 25 Elise SC is currently only available in the UK and Republic of Ireland and is on sale now. Price: £35,995 MSRP, and includes £5,750 worth of options for just £3,445. On the Road costs are £950 MSRP ENDS

source manualgear

Asus Eee TV

No, the Eee PC might be tiny in size, but the Eee TV definitely isn't, bringing 42" of viewing goodness to your living room.

I personally don't like the idea of Asus killing the Eee name by slapping it over a wide range of different devices - after all, isn't it supposed to signify something small and extremely portable?

Very little else is known about the Eee TV, but I would prefer to stick to more established brands when it comes to LCD TVs.

source ubergizmo

Sony introduced officialy its new lineup of XBR6-XBR7-XBR8

Sony introduced officially its new line of XBR6/XBR7/XBR8, 7 new BRAVIA XBR Flat-panel LCD HD. - XBR8 Series: 55-Inch KDL-55XBR8 and 46-Inch KDL-46XBR8 models which incorporate TRILUMINOS three-color LED Backlight technology.

Our New screens are Full HD 1080p and feature different technology like ACE PRO technology, BRAVIA Engine 2Pro…

NEW YORK, June 5, 2008 – Sony today introduced seven new BRAVIA® XBR flat-panel LCD high-definition televisions including models with Triluminos LED backlight and local dimming for outstanding black-level reproduction and unmatched contrast.

The new models expand the BRAVIA LCD line up to 30 models ranging in screen size from 19- to 70- inches measured diagonally.

The XBR models represent Sony’s premium line, delivering the latest features and the pinnacle of picture quality.

“Critics consistently praise BRAVIA as the best HDTVs on the market, and the XBR badge indicates the best of the best,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics’ television marketing group. “Consumers can now experience the quality of BRAVIA from small-sized models all the way up through our premium big screen XBR series.”

XBR8-Series
Leading the line is the full HD 1080p 55-inch KDL-55XBR8 and 46-inch KDL-46XBR8 models (all measured diagonally). The models incorporate Sony’s TRILUMINOS® three-color LED backlight technology with local dimming coupled with 10-bit processing and 10-bit panel to deliver exceptionally deep black level and accurate colors.

Sony’s TRILUMINOS LED backlight technology dramatically expands the TV’s color range by aligning individual clusters of red, green and blue LEDs, significantly elevating color purity compared to traditional single white LED backlights.

Additionally, the sets offer the new Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO (ACE PRO) technology. ACE PRO, which features Sony’s own algorithm for local dimming, improves contrast and dynamic range by controlling the LED backlight level by area so that detail is maintained in the dark areas, while other areas are driven near peak brightness. The technology reduces unnecessary light emission resulting in true, deep blacks and reduced power consumption compared to conventional LED backlit models.

The models also feature BRAVIA Engine™ 2 PRO, which is Sony’s latest high quality picture processing technology and the company’s Motionflow 120Hz high frame rate technology.

Sony’s Motionflow technology allows you to enjoy movies and prime-time TV (film-based content) with exceptional clarity and resolution in motion. The Motionflow algorithm identifies film content and removes “judder” resulting in a clearer picture with smoother motion during sweeping pans without a visible jerking or stuttering. Additionally, Motionflow 120Hz technology creates 60 unique frames between each of the existing 60 frames, doubling the frames displayed per second, further improving images for fast action sports and other programming.

Rounding out the picture enhancement suite in the XBR8 is x.v.Color compatibility. This technology expands the potential color data range of video by about 1.8 times, resulting in the display of more natural and vivid colors similar to what the human eye can actually see. This complements Sony’s HD camcorder models and Blu-ray Disc players, which capture and display color range beyond what broadcasters currently deliver.

The models also feature Sony’s Digital Media Extender (DMeX), providing the ability to seamlessly add new features. DMeX allows users to connect optional expansion modules such as the BRAVIA DVD Link, the BRAVIA Wireless link, the BRAVIA Input Link, which will ship later this year, and the currently available BRAVIA Internet Video Link.

The BRAVIA Internet Video Link module attaches to the back of a selection of the Sony’s 2007 and 2008 BRAVIA LCD flat-panel television models. The service seamlessly streams on-demand entertainment including movies, TV programs, your favorite YouTube videos and a variety of other content not found on network or cable/satellite TV. The service connects to the Internet via your existing broadband Ethernet connection and streams content at no additional charge. Content is easily navigated with Sony’s Technical Emmy® award-winning Xross Media Bar (XMB)™ user interface.

Rounding out the feature set is Digital Media Port (DMP) compatibility, which provides access to video and music from portable media devices like compatible Walkman® and iPod® players and other DMP accessories, which are sold separately. The models also can display digital photos using creative multi-plane 3D graphics slideshows from USB devices, as well as access photos from your PC in another room using Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compliant devices via your home network.

Sony’s new 3D Favorites Menu complement the XMB graphical user interface, which has been also been enhanced with Sony-unique integration of TV Guide providing easy access and navigation of content and menus through colorful thumbnails and logically placed icons.

Inputs found on the XBR8 models include four 1080/60 24p HDMI connections (HDCP), two 1080/60p HD component inputs, a 1080/60p-capable PC input, Ethernet (RJ-45) port and a RS-232C connection.

XBR7-Series
The full HD 1080p XBR7-series includes the 70-inch KDL-70XBR7 and 40-inch KDL-40XBR7 models. With WCG-CCFL backlight, 10-bit processing and 10-bit panel, and ACE (Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuitry), the models deliver outstanding picture quality and elegant style only BRAVIA can deliver.

The KDL-70XBR7 features BRAVIA ENGINE 2 Pro digital video processing, while the KDL-40XBR7 offers BRAVIA ENGINE 2 EX. The models both feature Sony’s Motionflow 120Hz high frame rate technology and x.v.Color. Rounding out the feature set on these models is the new 3D Favorite Multi-plane graphics, XMB graphic interface with TV Guide, BRAVIA Sync, DMeX and DMP compatibility.

The XBR7 models also can display digital photos and play digital music from USB devices and photos from Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compliant devices via your home network.

Inputs include four 1080/60 24p HDMI connections (HDCP), two 1080/60p component inputs, a 1080/60p PC input, Ethernet (RJ-45) port and a RS-232C connection.

XBR6-Series
Complementing the full HD 1080p 32-inch class (31.5 inch diagonal) KDL-32XBR6 and 37-inch KDL-37XBR6 models previously announced, the full HD 1080p 52-inch KDL-52XBR6, 46-inch KDL-46XBR6 and the 40-inch KDL-40XBR6 models were also introduced today (all screen sizes measured diagonally). The models offer a space-saving bottom speaker, floating-glass industrial design and all of the features found in the KDL-40XBR7 except the RS-232C connection and BRAVIA ENGINE 2 EX.

All of the new XBR series models also offer the option of additional speaker grille color accents including silver, red, brown and gold. The optional color grilles can be purchased separately. XBR8 and XBR7 models ship with a black grille cover. The XBR6 ships with a silver grille cover. Additional grille covers are sold separately.

All of the new BRAVIA models ship this fall and further details are available at www.sony.com/2008xbr. They will be offered at sonystyle.com and at Sony Style retail stores nationwide, as well as at authorized Sony dealers across the country.
source akihabaranews

Surf Chair for the Lazy

There is nothing quite like spending a quiet afternoon on a comfortable chair, surfing on your favorite websites. This makes the Surf Chair very suitable for such activities, allowing you to just laze while enjoying the latest webcomics or movie reviews without a care in the world.

The monitor, while not the largest in the world, is suspended in front of the user and can be adjusted to suit your viewing angle.

It would have been nice to see some sort of folding tray attached to this workstation, but I guess the designer didn't want to run the risk of having you spill some drinks on it by accident.

source ubergizmo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lamborghini Spiga by Ugur Sahin

The name “Spiga” refers to the roof shape of the car which sticks out along the windshield giving it a spike-like shape which translates in Italian as Spiga. The main charachtesristic of the car is that the rear and the middle flows in an harmonic way which kind of reminds the human muscles stretching to the back, as the front is slightly different than the rear, it also gives a sense of speed and movement forward when viewed form the side angles. The air intakes near the side windows are designed integrated on the body whcih also shows strong Lamborghini aspects. source yankodesign.com

Italian Speed Racer

We realize this is the second auto post in as many days, but this story was too good to let go by unnoticed. It seems unbelievable, but what you are looking at is a concept design introduced by Italian auto dreamers SpadaConcept.

The unbelievable part is that it has just been announced this very non-traditional design is actually going into production. I wont bore you with such mind blowing performance details as a zero to 60 mph time of 2.7 seconds, or the fact that this dream machine will sell for around $400,000 US.

What I will ask you to notice is the set of balls these designers must posses. Check out the airplane inspired tail, the glass canopy and flush headlights. This thing makes Speed Racer look like a Honda Civic.
source yankodesign.com

The Panasonic TC 37LZ85 is a 37 Inch LCD TV from the Viera range and is aimed at the mid-price market. As this TV is Full HD at 1080p pictures are much sharper and more realistic than a HD Ready television, but this is only possible if the source is HD as well.

There are a few great features on the Panasonic Viera TC-37LZ85 that help to make the TV perform better than many other TV’s in the same price range. However; the TV does have a few flaws one of these is its digital comb filter, some TV’s that are cheaper have a better version. Although the Comb Filter does help to clear up the picture, other TV’s on the market use a system called motion adaptive filters.

The Panasonic TC-37LZ85 is not going to blow your mind away, as it is just an average TV and better deals can be had with a cheaper brand. Although some people will want to purchase the Panasonic as they know that they will have a TV with great build quality.

The sound on this television is better than your average TV giving you 20 Watts of virtual surround sound from its full range speakers. As this is a Full HD TV you will need to be able to connect a number of HD sourced products, so the addition of three HDMI inputs is very welcome.

The Panasonic TC-37LZ85 costs just $1,399.99 and can be purchased

source product-reviews.net

Lenovo IdeaPad U110 Mini-Review

Back in January at CES, Lenovo unveiled the IdeaPad line and its seriously fashionable ultraportable: the Lenovo IdeaPad U110. The system, which snagged our Best of CES Award in the notebook category, went on sale earlier this week and finally arrived in our offices to many oohs and aahs this morning. I left the notebook at my desk for a few moments and came back to my colleagues checking out what we think is one of the most stylish ultraportables we have ever seen (Full review here).

Unique Design

As you will see in our video, I am calling this machine the “little red corvette” (yes, I know what Prince intended the song to be about). Our $1,899, 2.4-pound U110 is clad in cherry red, but it is also available in a shiny black. The aluminum-alloy top cover on the U110 features a notched surface pattern, called Tendril, that is just eye-catching.

The engraved Tendril pattern also creeps its way to the bottom of the notebook and under the hood into the system’s hidden, touch-sensitive buttons which lie across the top of the keyboard. The “piano painting wavy keyboard,” as Lenovo calls it, is ultra-glossy and very comfortable. However, the slippery keys and touchpad are going to take some getting used to. The whole system is very glossy, as you can see in our pictures. It was hard to take shots of the system without a lot of reflection bouncing off of the screen and keyboard.

Sleek LED-Backlit Screen

For an 11.1-inch screen, the frameless display is impressive. My short time with the system shows that the screen produces good vertical and horizontal viewing angles. In fact, it’s so glossy that I could check my teeth for food in its reflection. The system also uses LED-backlit technology that should save on battery life and energy, just as we saw with the comparable ASUS U2E.

The 1.3-megapixel webcam, located on the top of the screen, supports the system’s facial recognition capabilities. I expect the facial recognition software to perform just like we saw in the IdeaPad Y510, with which I had no problem logging into the system and my e-mail using my face.

Lots of Extras

The U110 includes a host of connectivity, including a 6-in-1 memory card reader, 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, headphone and microphone jacks, Ethernet, modem, Mini-PCIe slot, and ExpressCard slot.

Taking a look around the system’s ports, you’ll immediately notice the lack of an integrated optical drive. However, Lenovo packages the system with an external Dual Layer CD/DVD recordable USB-powered drive. The system also came packaged with an extra four-cell battery (in addition to the seven-cell main battery) and a carrying case.

Slow Boot Up, Solid Performance

Our configuration came with a 1.6-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 4,200-rpm 120GB hard drive that kept us moving at brisk pace while we were listening to music in Windows Media Player 11, surfing the Web, and writing this post in Microsoft Word 2007. The system’s boot time is a bit slow at a minute and 20 seconds. [Editor's Note: Our originally reported boot time was incorrect].

All in all, this ultraportable looks to be a stellar, luxurious PC. Click here for a full review that includes our benchmarks and more info.

source laptopmag.com

LG KF700 codenamed LG Virgo is among the latest LG multimedia full touch devices. It stands out with multiple control-and-navigation methods. LG KF700 puts together a 3" touchscreen display, a slide-out standard keypad and a side mounted scroll wheel with an adjacent OK key. And still, the KF700 is a rather compact device, which reminds a lot of the LG Prada. The fashionable Prada however easily gets blown out by the LG KF700. Now then, let's take it out for a spin, shall we?

Key features

• Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE plus HSDPA 7.2Mbps
• 3 megapixel autofocus camera
• Secondary camera for video calls
• 3" 262K-color TFT touchscreen display with 240x480 pixels resolution
• Touch feedback (haptics)
• FM radio
• Stereo Bluetooth
• Sliding hardware keypad
• Side scroll wheel with an OK key

The LG KF700 we had for a few short days was a pre-release beta version and so we decided to do a quick and dirty preview instead a full review. Some features (or disadvantages) may be subject to change in the retail unit, so we decided not to rush a full review.

The LG KF700 has a remarkably responsive user interface, fashionable looks and strives to conquer most of the multimedia applications you might want in a mobile phone. The three input methods are diverse enough for you to find your preference. However, all the three types are rather fused - the only one you could go without is the scroll wheel. The touchscreen display does the job for most tasks, but you need the keypad to enter text. The keypad is useless on its own too, because it has no D-pad. So in the end, you are bound to use at least two of the input methods described.

Key features

• Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE plus HSDPA 7.2Mbps
• 3 megapixel autofocus camera
• Secondary camera for video calls
• 3" 262K-color TFT touchscreen display with 240x480 pixels resolution
• Touch feedback (haptics)
• FM radio
• Stereo Bluetooth
• Sliding hardware keypad
• Side scroll wheel with an OK key

The LG KF700 we had for a few short days was a pre-release beta version and so we decided to do a quick and dirty preview instead a full review. Some features (or disadvantages) may be subject to change in the retail unit, so we decided not to rush a full review.

The LG KF700 has a remarkably responsive user interface, fashionable looks and strives to conquer most of the multimedia applications you might want in a mobile phone. The three input methods are diverse enough for you to find your preference. However, all the three types are rather fused - the only one you could go without is the scroll wheel. The touchscreen display does the job for most tasks, but you need the keypad to enter text. The keypad is useless on its own too, because it has no D-pad. So in the end, you are bound to use at least two of the input methods described.

The right side of the device houses the proprietary LG connectivity port - this is where you plug your headset, charger and USB cable. Here you also get the camera key and the touchscreen lock key.

The left side holds almost no controls except for the special scroll wheel/OK key combo. The scroll wheel can scroll through menus (one line per scroll unfortunately) while the OK key is used for confirming the selection. Pressing the OK key in standby mode will invoke a special customizable shortcut menu.

The metallic scroll wheel offers smooth action, while the OK key is a bit stiff at press. An added disadvantage - at least for us - is the fact that you can't press the scroll wheel itself to make an action. We are used to that solution with its frequent implementations in numerous smartphones and PocketPC by various manufacturers. But it may be just our crabby selves.

The bottom part of the LG KF700 features no controls whatsoever. The top one though has accommodated the microSD memory card slot. It's a good thing that the card is accessible without removing the battery.

Held in hand the KF700 might not look the smallest chap around, but you gotta believe us when we say it's really compact - especially when the keypad is closed.

The backlighting of both the KF700 keypad and the display is good. However LG displays still suffer under direct sunlight - especially with fingerprint smudges all over its face.

source gsmarena

Sony Handycam HDR-TG1 Review

For years Sanyo has been without a doubt the largest and strongest player in the Compact Digital Video Camera world, and crushed competitors generation after generation. Now after the Canon TX1, Sony is at the plate with its HDR-TG1, better know in Europe as the HDR-TG3.

A direct challenger to the Sanyo Xacti HD1000, the HDR-TG1 is also a full HD capable device (1080i), but a very expensive one. In Japan it's twice as expensive, is the TG1 really worth it?

Handling
Similar in appearance to the Canon TX1, the Sony TG1 has a pretty rectangular design with sharp edges and a strange heaviness even though it only weighs 300g with its battery. Housed in smooth, good quality plastic or brushed aluminum, the TG1 offers a nice compromise between style and sturdiness. Thanks to its compact body this new handycam can be easily carried in the front pocket of your trousers, ready to capture anything at anytime. Once in your hand, thanks to its Stand-by mode and “Quick-On,” HD video can be taken in seconds and saved for eternity.

If the design of the TG1 is somehow excellent we were quite puzzle and by its poor user interface, particularly the position of certain buttons sometimes making it impossible to correctly record video. Many times we confused the Video/Photo switch with the Zoom, and inadvertently erased some things we took.

Despite having a large, bright touch screen control panel, all the TG1 menus are a pain in the ass to use. It seems that Sony concentrated more effort on appearance than on their camera’s user interface, sometimes making it impossible to access certain functions.

Video
Once you start recording video you'll be stunned by how pictures are wonderfully shown on its little LCD. Once plugged to your full HD TV you'll begin to wonder if you were really recording in 1080. Pictures are without a doubt beautiful, but far from what's to be expected from a 1080 camera. They're perfect if you save your video at 720p on your computer.

Like many other compact HD cameras, the TG1 suffers from obvious aliasing on fixed pictures with contrasted lines, or pictures with slow movements. However, these are problems you should expect with something as light and compact as the TG1.

The good news is the TG1 overcomes something that many competitors, Sanyo included, are failing at. Image Stabilization (IS) is amazingly stunning and precise whether or not you are Zooming. As far as Auto Focus (AF) is concerned, the TG1 doesn't overkill but offers good performance particularly in Macro Mode which, like the IS, is astonishingly impressive.

While the overall video capability of the TG1 is pretty good, as with the UI we had to struggle to save and edit video on our computer. Like Panasonic SD cameras, the TG1 uses the AVCHD codec, a pretty good codec which is based on the H.264. Although we're NOT strangers to AVCHD, we had the most horrible experience when backing up and saving video to PC...

For a reasons we can't explain, Sony decided to make simple things like installing a software a real torture.... WHY ON EARTH is it REQUIRED to have the camera plugged into the PC in order to install and operate the companion software? To simplify the process threw away this piece of crap and used Panasonic's AVCHD to DVCPRO converter software to edit our video on Edius Broadcast... Well done Sony!

Photo Mode
Sony makes a decent digital camera as well as video camera, but apparently hasn't mastered providing both in the same product. Yes video on the TG1 is great if you're not too picky (like we are, maybe), but lord the Photo Mode is horrible... If you REALLY need to take pictures with the TG1, simply shoot a video and later take a screen capture, you'll get better results.
Photo samples in 2016x1134px (9Mo)

Plus:
Compact and Stylish
Good video, once converted in 720p
Good AF even in Low Light
Great IS

Minus:
Horrible UI
Horrible Photo Mode
Needs Sony proprietary SOftware to edit video on your PC
No optional Wide angle lenses

Conclusion:
Compact, Stylish and providing good video once turned in 720p, Sony with the TG1 will definitively attract a lot of potential buyer, but unfortunately for us the TG1 is not mature yet, several UI flaws combined with poor photo quality and a poorly design companion software make us wonder why spending SO much money when the HD1000 form Sanyo offers as good as video as the TG1 for half its price (In Japan)

source akihabaranews.com

Tesla rolls out its long-awaited electric sports car

LOS ANGELES - It's safe to say Jeremy Snyder gets a charge out of the two-seat Tesla Roadster whenever he pulls one off the lot — and not because it's equipped with an all-electric engine.

As he pulled one of the sleek new automobiles down a side street Thursday and put the pedal to the metal, its lithium-ion battery-powered engine didn't give off sparks. It just emitted a powerful hum, something like a much quieter version of a jet taking off.

"Accelerate pretty good?" asked Snyder, head of client services for Tesla, who knew the answer.

"I call it a turbine sound," he said of the sound. "Because it's an electric motor it's got 100 percent torque all the time. So it just pulls you like when you're taking off in an airplane."

After several years of development, the Roadster — with sleek lines like a Ferrari or Porsche and a sticker price of $109,000 — officially moves from the drawing boards to the market next week when Tesla's first store opens. It's near the University of California, Los Angeles, in the city's toney Westwood neighborhoodBeverly Hills, Brentwood and Hollywood practically intersect. where

"Because it's Hollywood and glamorous, this is the flagship store," Snyder said.

The next store is to open in a couple months near Tesla's headquarters in the Silicon Valley city of San Carlos, where the car was developed with venture capital of more than $40 million from such investors as Google Inc. founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. More stores are planned for Chicago, New York and other cities by early next year.

Although a fully loaded model can set a buyer back as much as $124,000, that's still cheap compared with a high-end Ferrari. And its 6,831-cell lithium-ion battery pack gives off no emissions.

The car goes from 0 to 60 mph in just under four seconds and tops out at 125 mph. It goes 225 miles on one charge and can be fully recharged in 3.5 hours, which Tesla officials say should allow most people to drive it to work and back and recharge it at night like a cell phone.

Driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco, however, would require stopping in, say, Fresno and plugging its adapter cord into a motel room wall socket.

Some critics have expressed concerns about the durability and safety of the lithium-ion battery, which weighs about 1,000 pounds, more than a third of the entire weight of the 2,700-pound Roadster, whose body is made up of carbon fiber materials. Tesla officials respond that the car has passed all required safety tests. They say the battery should last for about 100,000 miles of driving.

The company, formed in 2003, is named for inventor Nikola Tesla, an early pioneer in the field of electricity. The people buying its cars so far, said national sales manager Doreen Allen, are celebrities, early adopters, wealthy people and environmentalists.

Tesla officials say Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, actors George Clooney and Kelsey Grammer and musicians Will.i.am and Flea have each ordered a Roadster.

It will be awhile before anyone can walk in and drive a Tesla home off a lot, however.

"Delivery is running about 15 months," Allen said, adding the company was surprised by the demand.

Tesla began taking orders last year for the 600 Roadsters it planned to produce in 2008 and had sold all of them by October, Allen said. The first ones began rolling off the production line six weeks ago, and Allen said all of the 2008 models should be delivered to their owners by March of next year. The first ones should begin going out the door later this month.

Meanwhile, orders are being taken for 2009 models, with plans calling for production of about 1,500 cars.

Eventually Tesla also plans to produce cheaper, family vehicles.

"There's a model in the works right now, a five-passenger sedan that will be styled comparable to the roadster but a lot roomier to accommodate families, and that is slated for 2010," Snyder said.

source yahoo.com