Sony P-series "netbook" unveiled, underwhelming

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Nokia's 6208c now official, officially in love with stylus input

Nokia's 6208c isn't arriving as a surprise, though it is quite nice to see it being made completely official. The rather unique handset was designed with the Chinese market in mind, as it boasts an integrated, removable stylus modeled after bamboo slips for inputting Chinese characters via pen. You'll also notice a stainless steel back cover, 3.2-megapixel camera (with twin LED flash), a 4x digital zoom and a microSD slot for expanding storage. Mum's the word on pricing, but it should be loosed in "select markets" during the first half of 2009.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

HP Firebird 803 tower with VoodooDNA leaked!

A gaming tower which flips the disc drive and most other components on their sides to save on space. The resulting kit seems to have more in common with gaming consoles than desktop PCs in terms of design, with very little configurability or expansion available, but the leaked specs are still quite palatable to the modern PC gamer:
NVIDIA nForce 760i SLI chipset
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz processor
4GB of RAM
Dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S cards
Two 320GB SATA drives
Blu-ray
5-in-1 card reader
6 USB, 1 FireWire, 2 eSATA, 1 S/PDIF and 1 DVI dual-link
Bluetooth
802.11n WiFi To save on space (and heat), the Firebird actually uses an external power supply, but we suppose the included wireless keyboard and mouse should help to make up for that clutter. As you've probably gleaned from the specs, those small form factor 9800S cards aren't going to be putting away the frame rates quite like the cutting edge cards from NVIDIA and ATI, and the seeming lack of expandability makes the (theoretical) up-front cost savings seem a bit less exciting, but for a certain type of gamer the Firebird could be a welcome respite from monstrous, unrealistic and just-as-quickly-outmoded performance towers.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Mac OS X 10.5.6 now available via Software Update

Headline pretty much says it all, and it's a big one. Tipping the scales at 377MB (or 190MB for some; see image after the break), the OS X 10.5.6 update is now available via Software Update.
Apple has posted the official changelog. Here are the highlights:
Improves the reliability of AirPort connections, including improvements when roaming in large wireless networks with an Intel-based Mac.
Improves reliability of Address Book syncing with iPhone and other devices and applications.
Includes general improvements to gaming performance.
Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards.
Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Mac automatically sync within a minute of the change being made on the computer, another device, or the web at me.com.
Improves Apple File Service performance, especially when using a home directory hosted on an AFP server.
Improves reliability and performance for AT&T 3G cards.
Improves printing for USB-based Brother and Canon printers.
Fixes issues that could cause Time Machine to state the backup volume could not be found.
Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
Adds a Trackpad System Preference pane for portable Macs.
Personal Engadget favorite: Improves the performance and reliability of Chess.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Asus unveils Celeron-based Eee Box B203

Aside from the the Intel C220 processor, very little has changed from the Atom-based Eee Box B202: it sports Windows XP Home, ships with up to 2GB RAM and 160GB storage, and measures a diminutive 222 x 178 x 26.9 mm (roughly 8.7 x 7 x 1 inches). Of course, it still ain't the prettiest device we've ever seen -- but if it's cheaper, faster, and small enough to fit behind your monitor anyways.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

Cyber Sport's Orbita Mouse is a revolution

The big selling point on this 800 DPI mouse is the use of a spinning scroll-wheel that replaces the typical left and right mouse buttons (push down for left-click, squeeze for right) -- it's like a Griffin PowerMate riding optical wheels. That gives you 3-axis control over objects in 3D be they wireframe models, the world according to Google Earth, or a BFG 9000. It also makes for quick scrolling through documents or a low-cost jog dial for frame-by-frame video manipulation. Orbita communicates wirelessly over 2.4GHz "zero lag" RF to the USB charging base and includes PC and Mac compatible software to map the mouse to your different applications. $98.50, that's how much -- render of the Orbita docked after the break along with a video of an early prototype.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

How would you change HP's TouchSmart 2 all-in-one PC?

HP's TouchSmart 2 launched without a whole lot of fanfare, but what you get for $1,299 is pretty unique. The IQ504 / IQ506 all-in-one PCs are one of the first to actually encourage full-on touchscreen use in a PC, with HP urging users to touch their way to computational bliss.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

iriver's 7-inch Framee-L digiframe handles multimedia just fine

The subtly beautiful 7-inch Framee-L features a 720 x 480 resolution display, 1GB of inbuilt memory, an SD / MMC card slot, USB port and an alarm feature for waking you in the mornings (or nights, if you roll like that). Furthermore, you'll find a capable multimedia player that can handle photo slideshows, all sorts of audio files and even MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, AVI and Motion JPEG video formats. It'll hit Japan just before Santa takes flight for ¥17,800 ($196).

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

ASUS rolls out four new VH-series 16:9 LCD monitors

With four new VH-series LCD monitors, each of which boast the desirable-to-some 16:9 aspect ratio. Those include the 18.5-inch VH192 model, the 21.5-inch VH222 and VH226 models, and the 23.6-inch VH242, the first of which packs a 1366x768 resolution while the latter three all offer full 1080p. All four also boast ASUS' "Smart Contrast Ratio" technology to deliver numbers from 10,000:1 to 20,000:1, and all but the low-end VH192 include an HDMI port, along with built-in speakers and, of course, the usual VGA and DVI ports. The VH226 also distinguishes itself a bit further with a slightly better 2ms response rate and a glossy finish. No word on a price or release date for any of 'em just yet, but I would expect to start seeing them show up any day now.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Acer Aspire One goes official on AT&T's 3G network

The netbook is being offered for the teensy price of $99.99 (coupled with a lengthy and expensive contract with AT&T). The diminutive laptop comes equipped with a single mind-blowing gigabyte of memory and a decently sizeable 160GB hard drive. Besides doing its mobile broadband thing, it also sports 802.11b/g, weighs in at 2.44 lbs., and will never, ever seem worth it in the long run.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

The solid gold Vertu Boucheron

It looks like it was shaped by an overly taut sphincter. The Vertu Boucheron 150 is made from "solid gold" and is meant to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Boucheron jewelry house in Paris. According to the designer, it took 1,000 hours to cut into shape, 700 hours to hand polish, and more than 500 hours to build. Funny, it only took us a split-second to wretch.

No price or any real detail announced.

Intel's 32nm chips ready for MIDs and netbooks in 2009

In 2005 Intel revealed its 65-nm manufacturing process, then 45-nm in 2007. Today, in keeping with its "tick-tock" strategy, Intel is announcing a further shrinkage to its manufacturing process as it ends the development phase for 32-nm chip circuitry. That puts the chips on a production schedule for Q4 2009 -- interesting as Intel's rumored 32-nm Medfield chip wasn't expected until the first half of 2010. According to Intel, the new chips incorporate second-generation high-k + metal gate technology with transistors that switch 22% faster than its current 45-nm Penryn chips. Why should you care? Well, the smaller chips are cheaper to manufacture which should translate to consumer savings. They also require less power than Intel's notoriously power-friendly Atom-class chips.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

PlayStation Home launching globally tomorrow, December 11th

PlayStation Home will launch globally on December 11th. The 3D virtual on-line community is like Second Life, only with the risk of rootkit. Hot. All kidding aside, the new service gives PS3 owners a customizable place to chat (voice or text) and play games with other PlayStation Home users through personalized avatars. Just like real life except without acne and all your social shortcomings. Home will be available to download and "experience basic features" for free -- some services (like creating a "club") will require cash though, so be prepared.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

LG tests world's first LTE cellphone chip: 60Mbps downloads are go

As mobile service providers ramp-up for the WiWAX vs. LTE battle, LG just announced a significant milestone: the world's first 3GPP LTE chip for cellphones and data cards. While theoretically capable of 100Mbps/50Mbps download/upload speeds, LG's 13 x 13-mm chip was able to demonstrate 60Mbps down and 20Mbps goes up.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

Acer takes the "most netbooks sold" crown from ASUS

The hotter-than-ever netbook market -- which has seemingly been headed Acer's way for a while now -- has seen its numbers for the third quarter of 2008 arrive, and the Aspire One has indeed overtaken ASUS Eee PC as top dog in units moved. Acer's captured 38.3 percent of the market share, selling 2.15 million netbooks, while ASUS sold about 1.7 million, or 30.3 percent. XP-loaded Aspire One can be yours for $299 today at Best Buy.

Courtesy: http://www.engadget.com/

Sony Ericsson's Walkman Xmini for Japan is awesome, but not for the usual reasons

In most parts of the world, the cute little device you're looking at here would pass as a perfectly acceptable Walkman. In Japan, though, it's more than just a Walkman -- it's a Walkman phone, people. The Sony Ericsson Xmini has been added to KDDI au's CDMA-based lineup, measuring just 75 x 44 x 18mm and tossing aside the usual barrage of 8-megapixel cameras and wide VGA displays for a mere 320 x 240 screen and 4GB of on-board memory. When closed, its colorful chin reveals music controls; opened, the whole thing morphs into a tiny handset -- and a refreshing change of pace from the giant clamshells those poor souls on KDDI are usually subject to.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Nikon's D3X DSLR hits the scene in official fashion

After a quick outting in its own mag, Nikon has gone and gotten all officially official on the D3X. The big boy DSLR sports a bone-crushing 24.5-megapixel CMOS FX format sensor, full resolution shooting at 5 FPS, ISO from 100-1600 (expandable to 50-6400), TIFF, JPEG or NEF (RAW) file formats up to 138MB, and a newly updated EXPEED image processing system. The top-tier digicam won't come super cheap, hitting shelves at $7,999.95 -- but if you need something like this, money probably isn't much of an issue. The camera goes on sale this December, so you might want to get the piggy banks out.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Bluetooth 2.2 spec could be released as early as mid-2009

According to CNET, it looks like Bluetooth 2.2 will see the light of day sometime in mid-2009. Designed to work in tandem with other wireless technologies already present in many devices, the spec will be referred to either as Bluetooth 10x (working in conjunction with WiFi) and Bluetooth 100x (working with UWB). Something like this should good news for manufacturers of PMPs and handsets, expanding the range of possibilities to include Bluetooth media streaming and much larger file transfers. On the other hand, perhaps the new spec will finally herald the age of the Bluetooth viruses the doomsayers have been hollerin' about. No matter what happens, it shouldn't be too long before we find out.

Windows Vista / Server 2008 SP2 Beta out now to MSDN and TechNet subscribers

Windows Vista SP2 may not be hitting manufacturers 'til next April, but the beta is already scootin' about to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Yep, as of this very moment in time, the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta is in the wild, and Microsoft is planning to making it publicly available via TechNet this Thursday.

Click on the links given below if you want to know more about this issue.

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/12/02/announcing-the-windows-vista-and-windows-server-2008-service-pack-2-customer-preview-program-cpp.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/default.aspx

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Nokia Quake III gains on-phone server, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse support

Remember when playing Quake III at a decent resolution required a $5,000 Alienware? Man, those were the days. Now, we can't help but be thankful for a few special Nokia handsets (the N95 8GB, E90 and N82 in particular) that can all handle the game by their lonesome. In fact, the latest version of the software adds a few remarkably awesome extras. For starters, users can now take advantage of on-phone server support, meaning that your handset can actually host a Quake III multiplayer battle (and may we recommend the server name "trashaccident?"). Also of note, the devs have tossed in support for Bluetooth mice and keyboards.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Acer's 16-inch Aspire 6930 reviewed: right on the money

In the battle between new 16-inch multimedia notebooks, it's safe to say that Laptop Mag prefers Acer's rig over Samsung's R610. The Aspire 6930 (or 6930G-6723, if we're talking specifics), was said to have an eye-catching design, great Blu-ray playback and solid all-around performance suitable for a media-minded lappie. Not to mention the sub-$1,000 sticker -- that helped, too. In actuality, the only real knock was the fact that a 1080p display wasn't included at the $999 price point, but we all know that's just being greedy. These critics didn't hesitate to dish out a 4 out of 5 star rating for Acer's latest 16-incher, calling it "a winner" for anyone looking for a "relatively lightweight desktop replacement that's not too expensive."

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Fedora 10 goes live: your download awaits

Just six short months after Fedora 9 hit the tubes, in flies Fedora 10 to give you something new to tinker with over Thanksgiving break. The latest iteration of the Linux-based OS bundles in OpenOffice 3.0 and touts a "wide range of improvements in areas such as virtualization management, networking, boot time and security."

Hitachi introduces trio of ultra-bright projectors

Hitachi's latest trifecta wasn't designed for your surely swank abode per se, but we suppose those with enough cash and willpower can do anything they darn well please. That said, the CP-X10000 (1,024 x 768), CP-WX11000 (1,280 x 800) and CP-SX12000 (1,400 x 1,050) can all handle professional (read: lit) settings with ease, featuring 7,500 / 6,500 / 7,000 lumens, respectively. The whole lot also boasts a 2,500:1 contrast ratio, 10-bit signal processor, HDMI / BNC connectors, Ethernet, an RS-232 control port and a lamp good for 10,000 maintenance-free hours. Mum's the word on price, but don't worry, these are going on the corporate card anyway.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Toshiba unveils 16GB microSDHC card of its own.

SanDisk was first out of the gate with a 16GB microSDHC card, but Toshiba's just two months behind with the announcement of its iteration. Slated for mass production in January of 2009, the capacious SD-C16G should provide plenty of room for your EMF albums and that Rage Against the Machine discography. In related news, Tosh also introduced the soon-to-come SD-F16G and SD-F08G, 16GB / 8GB Class 6 SDHC cards that should handle even the quickest of cameras when they launch over the next few months. No prices to chew on just yet, but we'd wager they'll be competitive.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

HP reveals multitouch TouchSmart tx2 convertible tablet

While HP mistakenly claims that its sparkly new (but previously rumored) TouchSmart tx2 is the world's first multitouch consumer notebook, we're still decidedly stoked about this here convertible tablet. Boasting a 12.1-inch swivel display (LED-backlit) that's just dying to have your prints all over it, the tx2 will come loaded with Windows Vista, a bezel-mounted fingerprint reader, integrated webcam with microphone, Bluetooth / WiFi, stereo speakers, a 5-in-1 multicard reader and a LightScribe SuperMulti DVD burner. HP's also delivering the oh-so-stylish Reaction Imprint exterior, an AMD Turion X2 dual-core processor, the firm's own MediaSmart 2.0 software, a VGA output, Ethernet and at least one USB port from the looks of things. You're supposed to be able to add one of these to your digital shopping cart right now via HP's own webstore or Amazon.com, but both links currently lead to sections of the intarwebz you don't ever, ever want to see. Hold tight -- we've a feeling HP will be getting really official with this one momentarily.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Motorola adds another 5-megapixel phone to the mix with VE66

If you like what the ZN5 brings to the table but roundish sliders are more your cup of tea (and when the alternative is a drab gray candybar with purple accents, we can't say we blame you), Moto's got the solution to the pollution this morning with the official announcement of the VE66. You've got that 5-megapixel autofocus cam with LED flash (as opposed to the ZN5's xenon) and image stabilization, WiFi, FM radio, Motorola's CrystalTalk noise reduction, and a navigation wheel for flying through song tracks. Interestingly, there's no mention of Moto's partnership with Kodak anywhere on the phone or the announcement -- but something tells us that won't have an effect on picture quality. Look for it to launch some time this quarter.

Sony unveils five new audio accessories: headphones, speakers and remote

Rather than just introducing these five items individually, Sony reckoned the world at large may pay more attention if they were unveiled in one fell swoop. To that end, we're left staring at a new pair of noise canceling headphones (MDR-NC7; $50), travel speakers (SRS-M50; $50), a universal remote (RM-VL610; $30), EX Series earbuds (MDR-EX36V; $30) and stereo Bluetooth headphones (DR-BT160AS; $160). While the first two are pretty self-explanatory, color lovers will appreciate the three swappable back plates for the remote, and the water-resistant BT 'phones pack a built-in microphone, rechargeable Li-ion cells and A2DP support. Everything should be available now if you look hard enough, and the full release with all the gory details is waiting just after the break.

Courtesy: www.engadget.com

Asus R50A finally arrives, jacks your wallet in the process

If you're looking to drop nearly $2,000 on a UMPC, well, first of all, you're nuts, but second of all, you're in luck, 'cause the Asus R50A is shipping at €1,475 ($1,878). They weren't kidding when they said it would be above $500, but for the price you'll be running Windows Vista on a handheld with a 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor, a gig of RAM, a 32GB SSD hard drive, a 5.6'' screen at 1024 x 600, three USB ports, a microSD slot, a wireless keyboard, and an external DVD reader / writer. Connectivity options include 802.11 b / g WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G. These specs aren't all that different from what you'd find in a netbook (save for the SSD), except you're paying more than twice as much and you get to look like you're playing games on a GP2X while you're using it on the train. Maybe it's supposed to be a status symbol?

Nokia announces layoffs with flowery language

Hiding behind a press release titled "Nokia continues its change and renews some of its activities," the woodsmen of Espoo are swinging a corporate axe of woe. In total, the mobile phone giant plans to cut something on the order of about 600 jobs in its Sales and Marketing, R&D, and global operations. Nothing compared to the cuts at Motorola but certainly unwelcome news for those affected.

12-inch not-Eee PC S101 followup expected this year

Here's another: a rumored 12-inch, 16:9 aspect followup to the svelte 10.2-inch Eee PC S101. However, since this edges above Jerry Shen's maximum Eee PC size-threshold of 10-inches, the new slimster will be launched under ASUS' ZX-series and hopefully come packing something a bit heartier than say, an Atom processor. Only, with an expected NT$30,000 (about US$912) launch by year's end, we're forced to stubbornly let go of our hope to find a refreshed Core 2 Duo on the inside.

Pioneer wins plasma patent case over Samsung, awarded $59.3 million

Pioneer may be licking its wounds, but at least there's one bright spot on an otherwise dark end-of-year. The US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Marshall (read: patent troll heaven) recently found that "Samsung willfully infringed two Pioneer patents covering plasma display technology," leading to a settlement which involves Samsung handing Pioneer a check for $59,351,480. Samsung has yet to comment on the ruling, but it's pretty easy to imagine what it's probably thinking, wouldn't you say?

AT&T kicks off BlackBerry Bold sales on the web

Some stores have already let a few slip out the door a day early, but for those of us who haven't left our parents' basements since 1989, turns out there's now a sweet alternative to heading down to the brick-and-mortar. The BlackBerry Bold's now up on AT&T's site ready to ship for $299.99 after rebate on a two-year contract, so go ahead and whip out the plastic. If you haven't been using a Curve or an 8800 lately, prep your unsuspecting thumbs with some hardcore workouts -- and if you have been using a Curve or an 8800, get those freakishly muscular, overbuilt digits out of our sights.

Windows 7 installed on a new MacBook Pro, sparks fly

To read complete details please click on the given below link:

http://www.gearlog.com/2008/11/windows_7_on_a_macbook_pro.php

Microsoft pays South Koreans $60 million to use its software

It might make for good business practice, but damn if Microsoft's plan to "invest" in South Korea's software industry "as part of the US giant's drive to strengthen its presence in the country" doesn't sound a bit desperate. After all, shouldn't your software be so compelling that governments and companies fall all over themselves for the rights to use it In a $60 million deal announced after Steve Ballmer lobbied met with South Korea's president, Lee Myung-Bak, Microsoft will train software designers, support venture firms, and establish a tech center in South Korea over the next three years. The Korean government will invest about $8.4 million. In separate but related deals also announced today, Microsoft entered into a vague agreement with LG -- having something to do with convergence using LG's mobile gear and Microsoft's WinMo OS -- and opened a research center with Hyundai to develop new IT products and services for automotive applications. Thumbs up, indeed.

HP's new Mini 1000 and MIE Linux make netbooks fun again

HP is giving the market a shot in the arm with its new "clutch-style" skinny form factors, polished Linux OS and aggressive price points -- even if the specs are about as boring as the Mini-Note 2133. As rumored, HP's new Mini 1000 netbook is ditching VIA and going the Atom route (1.6GHz N270, in case you hadn't guessed). Also new is an option for a 10.2-inch display, though it's a mere 1024 x 600 instead of the 1280 x 768 display on the 2133 -- for a bit cheaper you can get a 1024 x 600 8.9-inch display, but that would just be boring. HP is offering 512MB, 1GB and 2GB RAM configurations, though the XP option limits you to 1GB (thanks, Microsoft). For storage you can score a 60GB 4200 rpm HDD or your choice of a 8GB or 16GB SSD. If you go the SSD route there's also room for a 2, 4 or 8GB "HP Mini Mobile Drive," which is a regular USB drive that inserts all the way into a special slot for added integration. There's also an SD slot, VGA webcam, 802.11b/g, optional Bluetooth, Ethernet and dual USB plugs. Where things get extra interesting is in choice of OS. You can go the standard XP route, or for $20 less you can go for HP's brand new Ubuntu-based Linux "experience," MIE, which reminds us not just a little of HP's TouchSmart interface. The XP version is available today starting at $399, with a 10.2-inch version costing just a little bit more. The Vivienne Tam Edition, which brings a whole lot of style but little substance to the offering, will go for $699 in mid-December, and the MIE version will land in January for a mere $379.

Intel Core i7 benchmarks make Core 2 Extreme look like a washed-up has-been

Presumably in an (utterly futile) attempt to bring down the power grid all around the Mediterranean, print magazine PC World Greece benchmarked three powerful Nehalem desktop processors -- the Core i7 Extreme Edition 965, and the apparently non-extreme Core i7 920 and 940. Names aside, performance from all three was extreme compared to most stuff currently on the market. The data for number nerds: in 3DMark06 the 920 finished ever-so-slightly behind the Core 2 Extreme QX9770's 4,922 marks with 4,818 while the 940 and the 965 both opened a can of you-know-what at 5,282 and 5,716 respectively. More titillating figures await enthusiasts through the read link, but for you normal folk only concerned that Nehalem wouldn't be fast enough to justify an upgrade (and you weren't), rest assured that it triumphed in this no-holds-barred CPU cage match.

Windows 7 details galore: interface tweaks, netbook builds, Media Center enhancements

Microsoft's Windows 7 announcement earlier today was followed up by an extensive demo of the new features during the PDC keynote, and since then even more info about the new OS has flooded out, so we thought we'd try to wrap up some of the more important bits here for you. Microsoft seems to have done an impressive job at this early pre-beta stage, folding in next-gen interface ideas like multitouch into the same OS that apparently runs fine on a 1GHz netbook with 1GB of RAM, but we'll see how development goes -- there's still a ways to go. Some notes:
Obviously, the big news is the new taskbar, which forgoes text for icons and has new "jump lists" of app controls and options you can access with a right-click. You can select playlists in Media Player, for example. Super cool: when you scrub over the icons, all the other app windows go transparent so you can "peek" at the windows you're pointing at.
Gadgets now appear on the desktop -- the sidebar has been killed. That makes more sense for all those laptop owners out there with limited screen space, and you can still see gadgets anytime by peeking at the desktop, rendering all other windows transparent.
Window resizing and management now happens semi-automatically: dragging a window to the top of the screen maximizes it, pulling it down restores; dragging a window to the edges auto-resizes it to 50% for quick tiling. Nifty.
The system tray now only displays what you explicitly say it should -- everything else is hidden, and the controls have been streamlined.
User Account Control settings are now much more fine-grained -- you can set them by app and by level of access.
They demoed multitouch features on an HP TouchSmart PC -- it was pretty cool, although the usual nagging "what is this good for / that'll get old fast" concerns weren't really addressed. The Start menu gets 25 percent bigger when using touch to make it easier to handle, and apps will all get scroll support automatically. There's also a giant on-screen predictive keyboard. Again -- could be amazing, but we won't know until it's out in the wild.

At the other end of the scale, Windows 7 supports machines with up to 256 CPUs.
Multiple-monitor management is much-improved, as is setting up projectors -- it's a hotkey away. Remote Desktop now works with multiple monitors as well.
Media Center has been tweaked as well -- it looks a lot more like the Zune interface. There's also a new Mini Guide when watching video, and a new Music Wall album artwork screensaver that kicks in when you're playing music.
Devs got a pre-beta today; a "pretty good" feature complete beta is due early next year. No word at all on when it'll be released to market apart from that "three years from Vista" date we've known forever.

Sharp LC-65XS1U-S and LC-52XS1U-S X-Series AQUOS LCD HDTVs eyes-on

While we knew these new Sharp Aquos HDTVs were coming, we had no idea how thin and bright they were in person. Today at CEATEC 2008 Sharp officially announced its LC-65XS1U-S (65-inch) and LC-52XS1U-S (52-inch) AQUOS LCD HDTVs right at CEATEC Japan's opening bell. The displays' 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 1080P panel are nice and all, but we now know they measure in at a super gaunt 2.28-cm (0.9-inch) depth and are outfitted with a 2.1-channel, three-way five-speaker system that Sharp jointly developed with Pioneer. Meanwhile, Sharp boasts some serious energy savings with the new displays, promising a 26% reduction in power consumption. Expect them to hit stores in Japan October 15 in limited numbers for an undisclosed (read: 'spensive) price.

Apple "notebook" event is on, October 14th!

The rumors were true folks. Apple is staging an invitation-only Town Hall event in Cupertino next Tuesday, October 14th at 10AM PDT. It's absolutely safe to say they'll be showing off new laptops... and you know we'll be there live! Will this be an unveiling of a whole new form factor? Will this "Brick" mystery be put to bed? Will they come in rainbow colors? Tune in to find out.

Panasonic unveils SDHC-lovin' AG-HMC150 HD camcorder

If you thought the HD camcorder announcements at NAB Show 2008 started and ended with Canon's new duo, you'd be sorely mistaken. Panasonic is launching a new one of its own under the limelight: the Fall-bound AG-HMC150. This handheld rig is the newest member of the AVCCAM family and can capture clips at 1,280 x 720 or 1,440 x 1,080 while utilizing the industry standard MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 compression profile. You'll also find native 16:9 1 / 3-inch 3CCD imagers, a digital signal processor with 14-bit A / D conversion and 19-bit processing, 13x Leica Dicomar zoom lens, optical image stabilization and the ability to store footage on SD / SDHC flash cards. Sure, $4,500 is still a lot of coin, but it's certainly within the realm of reason for many prosumers out there.

Microsoft's Windows Mobile

It's the autumn release season, and new devices running Windows Mobile 5.0 have begun to hit the market. We bring you a hands-on, in-depth look at the next-generation OS.

Major changes and additions in WM5 include:
Upgrading the system kernel from Windows CE 4.2 to WCE 5.01
One-handed navigation
Program compatibility between Pocket PC and Smartphone devices
Persistent storage and new memory configuration
ActiveSync 4.0
Addition of Direct3D Mobile, DirectX Mobile, & DirectDraw Mobile
Improved application suite

WindowsCE kernel upgrade
The upgrading of the OS kernel is mainly an "invisible" change, at least to the end-user. Developers will have a few more options to work with, and enterprises will have new security features to insure that sensitive data doesn't get left on a lost or stolen device. But for the most part, users won't notice a real difference.

One-handed navigation
A long overdue addition to the Windows user interface is the ability to navigate without using the touchscreen. The PocketPC version of Windows Mobile 5.0 has adopted "soft keys" similar to those found on Windows Smartphones. These soft keys reside on the bottom of the screen, and provide context-sensitive commands. The soft keys can be activated either by tapping on them, or by pressing the hardware button associated with that key. When a softkey pulls up a menu, the directional pad can be used to select the option you want.
To fully navigate around the OS without using the touchscreen, you need to use the directional pad plus four hardware buttons: one button each for the left and right soft keys, the OK/Close function, and the Start menu. You may have noticed that most existing PocketPCs only have four front hardware buttons. Yes, if you want full one-handed navigation on current models, you have to sacrifice all your main application buttons, at least in the absence of third-party software that allows you to map multiple functions to a button. This system would obviously work far better on newer units with additional buttons that are specifically tasked to the softkeys, leaving at least two free buttons for launching applications.
Of course, you don't need to surrender your buttons if you don't want to. You can always assign the buttons to whatever you like, and leave the one-handed navigation to itself.
At first, I didn't think that I would find myself using the one-handed navigation that much--after all, I'd need the stylus out for most things anyway, right? After getting a chance to use it, though, I started to apprecciate how useful it really is. Quite a few operations can be done without needing the stylus. Opening and paging through my favorite book reader, navigating a website, looking up TV listings, all stylus free. Other, more subtle changes have been made to the interface to facilitate this, such as letting the directional pad activate checkboxes, buttons, and other on-screen elements. Some applications, particularly those not designed for WM5, still need stylus control, but it's only natural that some applications can't be controlled in such a simplistic fashion.

PocketPC/Smartphone application compatibility
Another selling point of WM5 is application compatibility between the Pocket PC and Smartphone versions of the OS. Previously, developers had to produce two seperate installs for their programs if they wanted to work on both PPC and SP. Now, the same version of a program will run on both devices, at least in theory. It's about time. The need to have seperate, incompatible versions of an application negated any real benefit from running similar operating systems on Pocket PCs and Windows Smartphones.
I tried several Smartphone programs on WM5. Six ran perfectly, two ran with graphical errors, and one would not run at all.
The programs which seemed to have the most difficulty adapting graphically were both games, which tend to be coded for a specific screen resolution. Most existing Windows Smartphones have a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. Games and other applications designed exclusively for this resolution, when run, were pixel doubled to 352 x 440, then displayed in the upper left corner of the PDA's screen. This allowed them to use about half of the total screen area. Other programs and games, including those which support the newer WM Smartphones with 320 x 240 QVGA screens, should run in full-screen. The most compatible were applications like Resco Explorer, and other apps that used a standard Windows interface. These displayed full-screen. Were it not for the pixelization of a few icons here and there and the periodic visual gap, you would barely know that they weren't PocketPC native apps. Virtually anything that relies on Windows' own UI and graphical hooks should work equally well.

The only program which would not run at all--which was, naturally, the one that I most wanted to run--was the Opera web browser for WM Smartphones. Presumably, this was too either attached to the Smartphone networking code to run on a PPC, or else it needs to be updated for WM5.

Persistent storage and new memory configuration
New in WM5 is what Microsoft calls "persistent storage," the principle that if you lose battery power, your data should still be there. This isn't a revolutionary concept, and it's been done plenty of times before, by Sharp, Palm, even Windows. What matters isn't so much the sentiment as the method of achieving it. Starting with WM5, all Windows-based devices are moving from using RAM as their primary storage medium to the use of flash memory. This makes the devices considerably more "bulletproof" in how their data is stored. Having a battery die, or any other sort of power interruption, will no longer result in a hard-reset of the device, as it would have on older models.

As a secondary benefit, using flash memory will free up the battery power that was previously tasked with protecting the RAM, thus resulting in improved battery life for WM5 devices. From my experiences this far, the improvement is quite impressive.

ActiveSync 4.0
ActiveSync 4.0 really doesn't look any different from AS3.8. All the options are the same. The update notes talk about an "Enhanced user interface," but then those same update notes talk about Bluetooth syncing like it's a new feature. The only significant difference that I can find between ActiveSync 3.8 and 4.0 is that AS4 is missing the ability to synchronize your device over a TCP/IP connection. This means that you'll no longer be able to sync over WiFi, ethernet, dialup, cellular, VPN, or any other remote access method. The only accepted means of syncing are now Bluetooth or a cabled connection to the PC. Unfortunately, if you want to sync a WM5 device, you've got no choice but to "upgrade" to AS4, since older versions refuse to sync with the new models.

Direct3D Mobile & graphics interfaces
The addition of new Application Programming Interfaces for 2D and 3D graphics is another "under the hood" change. While most users won't notice a difference at first, developers will be able to make their games and graphical applications more easily, as well as having a single API to take advantage of any and all models with 3D video hardware. This means improved compatibility, since currently applications written for a specific chip will work only on that chip. Programs written for Direct3D Mobile should run on any chip that is tied into the OS' graphical systems.

Application suite upgrades
Long-awaited changes are also made in the standard Windows application suite. Pocket Word has always been something of a running joke in terms of actual word processing. This is due to the fact that if you "round tripped" a document, from desktop Word to Pocket Word and back, it would strip out much of the formatting. Pocket Word also preferred to save files in its own format, which would be converted back to DOC via ActiveSync.
While not ideal, WM5's Word Mobile is much improved. It now has full native file support, without loss of formatting or need for conversion through ActiveSync. You can "round trip" documents without fear of destroying them. A spell checker and word count have been added.

What Word Mobile doesn't do is actually support working with most of the advanced features of a document. Nor, for that matter, can you do some of the other things that you might otherwise expect out of a word processor. You can't add, remove, or edit headers and footers. You can't print without third-party software. You can view tables and images, but you can't insert them into a document.
Word Mobile is a very basic word processor with Microsoft Word compatibility. A full scale desktop replacement it's not, and I doubt that anyone who currently runs Textmaker will be tempted to switch. But for basics, it's quite servicable, if you can get around the limitations.
Excel Mobile has gotten a similar but less drastic upgrade, with new support for creating and viewing charts.

Another new application is the cryptically named Download Agent. From what I can gather, DA is designed to allow for software updates "over the air," directly to a mobile device without the need for a host PC. But it's anyone's guess as to what it actually does, how it works, or how to use it, since it has no buttons that work, no options, no menus, and not even the barest shred of information about itself. If I had to speculate, I would say that it's tied in to the device's Exchange server synchronization.

Dell replacing XPS touchpad with touchscreen... or someone, somewhere owns Photoshop

There are two kinds of Dell rumors: sure things, and ones that aren't sure things. This one falls in the latter camp, so proceed with caution. As you can see, pretty much the same old fare... but what's this? A large glossy touchpad? Here's our hunch: Dell is tired of drawing inspiration from Apple after the fact, and decided to turn the tables by capitalizing on one of the most persistent (and outlandish) Apple rumors in existence. A good capacitive touchscreen for the trackpad on a laptop would undoubtedly be a blast if it was done right, with the right software support, and at least seems like a good gimmick. Or maybe it'd just be lame. We won't go further than that, this could just as easily be a Photoshop, but we will be keeping an eye out.Update: False alarm, turns out this is just a still from an NVIDIA Tegra demo on YouTube.

NZXT's Avatar mouse

NZXT announce the Avatar high performance gaming mouse today officially. We already reported about a preview of the NZXT Avatar the other day. As with all of NZXT’s PC accessories, Avatar is designed to provide gamers with the ultimate crafted gaming armor to emerge victorious in the gaming arena of choice. Feature highlights of the NZXT Avatar include 2600 DPI Optical Sensor, LED DPI indicator, 5.8Mega Pixels/second with a max frame rate of 6,469, 7 programmable keys and an ergonomic Design.The new NZXT Avatar gaming mouse is available now for $59.99 according to the company.

Vista OS-X

While Vista is indeed a major update to Windows, there's a lot of it that is, quite frankly, just Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) making up for lost time. The last non-server release of Windows was in 2001 with Windows XP, with only a single major interim update in Service Pack 2. In the same time, Apple has been steadily releasing updates to Mac OS X on what was a yearly schedule, now around every 18 months.
This means that while Mac OS X has been steadily evolving through 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4, and is now working toward 10.5, Microsoft was waiting on what would become Vista. When it was obvious the original Longhorn OS wasn't going to happen, it took the Windows Server 2003 code base and used that for the basis of Vista. It also chopped quite a few features out of Vista, most notably the WinFS object-based data storage and management system, which had been promised in various forms since the first blurbs about Cairo in the early 1990s.
Microsoft had two serious issues. First, it had to make this update of Windows revolutionary enough that it came close to justifying the delay. Second, it had to come up with something that would stand up well with its main competitor in the desktop OS market, Mac OS X. Has it succeeded at both? I'd argue that the former's almost a nonissue: Vista will sell well, because the world won't have a choice. As far as the latter, well, probably, but you'd be hard-pressed to say Vista's better than Mac OS X.
In a nutshell, Vista vs. Mac OS X is Revolution vs. Evolution. It's about a massive, long-delayed upgrade that has to account for almost six years of progress by its competitors, versus a well-executed strategy of regular updates. While updating an operating system is never something that can be called easy, Apple's strategy has been the better one for keeping its OS on top of things, something Microsoft has admitted to in a roundabout way.

BlackBerry Bold now available -- in Chile

Movistar's Chilean outpost has now become -- somewhat surprisingly, may we add -- the very first carrier in the world to launch the BlackBerry Bold and put it into subscribers' hands. The carrier's making sure everyone knows what a coup they've managed to pull off, too, proudly proclaiming "FIRST ONES IN THE WORLD" with a red banner draped across the Bold's image on Movistar's site. Pricing seems a little high at 299,990 Chilean pesos (about $588) on a two-year contract.

ASUS Vito W1 wireless mouse keeps watch on your heart rate

I have no idea why you would want to keep track of your heart rate if all you’re doing is sitting idly by the computer. Seriously, how much faster can your heart beat if all you do is type furiously on the keyboard? I suppose this is interesting to see whether your pulse races whenever you check out NSFW images, or it might be interesting to see if you can remain calm whenever the stock markets plunge. Inside the Vit W1 mouse lies a pulse rate sensor that will send collected information to your computer wirelessly, where a pre-installed software on your computer will interpret whether you need medical attention or not by displaying a corresponding emoticon on the screen. The mouse is accompanied by five buttons, a small USB receiver, 1200dpi sensitivity and a maximum working range of 30 feet.

Sonos ZP120 and ZP90

It's been a while since Sonos last had a significant hardware announcement, so welcome into the world their new ZP120 ($500) and Z90 ($350), as well as the $1,000 BU150 bundle (which includes both the new devices and the same original controller). The main difference, which we'd already heard: they now both support SonosNet 2.0, which uses MIMO to double the wireless distance between nodes. Also clear to those paying close attention, the amp-enabled aluminum-clad flagship model (ZP120) has undergone an intense weight loss treatment, leaving it significantly smaller than its predecessor (but still capable of driving 55W of sound).Sonos is also launching the 2.6 version of its desktop software, which indexes more music than before (65k tracks total) and, surprisingly enough, gives new AND existing users $200 in free music from sites like eMusic and Livedownloads.

iPhone 3G un-unlockable

As some of you already know, updating your iPhone to firmware 2.0.1 means that you've lost access to all your jailbroken apps. That's pretty much expected and should be rectified by the DevTeam soon enough. What's notable from an unlocking perspective, however, is that Apple's 2.0.1 release also updates the iPhone 3G baseband. This puts iPhone 3G owners in a bit of a quandary: update now via iTunes in desperate hopes of the stability and improved keyboard response we've been seeing but do so at the risk not being able to unlock your iPhone 3G in the future (if and when the DevTeam gets around to releasing it for firmware 2.0). A lot can happen in the course of a 2 year (or longer) carrier commitment. According to the DevTeam, you'll get all the benefits of Apple's 2.0.1 update (without the pesky new baseband) just as soon as they can kick out the updated PwnageTool (current version is 2.0.1) onto the Internets.

AV8OR Multi Function Display

Okay, so the vast majority of you won't be needing a navigation unit that also provides pertinent information while cruising several thousand feet above your nearest freeway, but for the amateur pilots out there looking for the best of both worlds, take notice. Bendix/King's AV8OR is a self-proclaimed handheld Multi-Function Display, which gives pilots "enhanced situational awareness" by providing "real-time satellite weather information, topographic terrain and aeronautical navigation information." You'll also find more traditional GPS capabilities suitable for ground transportation routes, and the 4.3-inch display ought to be large enough for most. 'Course, the $749 price tag will likely keep most non-pilots at bay, but those thinking of picking up an ultralight aircraft probably won't flinch at such a comparatively minute figure.

Lenovo Ideapad S10

The Lenovo Ideapad S10, joins a growing list of sub-$500, under-3-pound, underpowered devices that is sure to pique the interests of mobile users who already own a laptop. These mini-laptops aren't meant to replace your primary one, and while Lenovo is fully aware of this, the S10 is offering a package of things that might make you reconsider its role.
Sitting back for a few months and seeing what other manufacturers were doing had its advantages—and Lenovo took note of what worked and what didn't. With the S10, a 10-inch screen looks to be the sweet spot, taking cues from the MSI Wind and the ASUS Eee PC 1000H. A 9-inch version of the S10 will be available overseas. The device can weigh as little as 2.4 pounds, depending on whether you use the 3-cell battery (3 hours) or a 6-cell one (6 hours). No one has figured out how to put a full-size keyboard on a UMPC, and the S10's 85-percent one is no exception.
Lenovo realized that the price-per-gigabyte ratio for solid state drives is not in its favor, so it eschewed them in favor of capacity. It will offer both 80GB and 160GB configurations, spinning at 5,400 rpm. You'll find the usual array of ports, including two USB ports, Ethernet, a webcam, headphone jack, and a 4-in-1 card reader. Until now, the HP 2133 Mini-Note was the only UMPC to have an ExpressCard slot for WWAN expansion—you can also find one on the S10. Unlike the HP Mini-Note, the Intel Atom is the S10's platform of choice. It runs a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, up to 2GB of memory, the Intel 945 GSE Express chipset, and the GMA 950 graphics.

There'll be two configurations, both running Windows XP, available in the United States for $399 and $449. The differences are in the hard drive capacities. A Linux flavor will be offered overseas. You also get a choice of three colors: black, white, and red. When it ships in October, it'll be the cheapest UMPC to run Windows XP in the United States. That is, if ASUS doesn't launch a tenth Eee PC, or Sony and Dell end their waiting game.

STARAY S3 Series

Tired of having to sleep with one eye on your HDD? Enter Raidon's STARAY S3 Series Data Encryption Box, which enables the drive within to be partitioned into public and private parts. There's also talk of S-Codes and X-Codes in order to ratchet up security, and the keypad-based password entry ensures that data snatchers will have to extract strings of thought from your brain before they can tap into your collection of 1980s-era R&B videos. Get yours sent to an undisclosed underground location for just $69, but don't forget to order up a hard drive while you're at it.

Zeemote W760

Zeemote JS1, presented as the "first compact wireless thumbstick for mobile gaming", will be released in the Netherlands next week, coming in a package with Sony Ericsson W760i.

At first the JS1 controller will be offered only in bundle packages with an advanced handset. The W760i (or simply W760) from Sony Ericsson was chosen to be shipped with the JS1 due to its 3G gaming capabilities, its motion sensor and its gaming-friendly slider design. The price of the Zeemote controller only was not announced yet, and neither was the one of the W760i-JS1 package. However, since the Sony Ericsson phone has a retail price of around 250 Euros ($390), users should expect the phone + controller to be sold for 300 Euros or even more. Connected via Bluetooth with a mobile phone, Zeemote's JS1 controller can offer mobile users a gaming experience similar to the console or desktop PC one, as it frees them from the limitations of the phone's small keypad. Zeemote says that the battery packed in its JS1 controller is capable of offering more than 40 hours of gameplay. This seems enough for "regular mobile gamers" and should allow them to play several weeks on the thumbstick. Of course, hardcore gamers will probably have to recharge JS1 more often than once in a few weeks, seeing as how some spend even more than 8 hours a day in the world of games. The JS1 might come in the same package with other new handsets besides Sony Ericsson W760, but for the moment its producer company has not made any statement regarding this matter. Anyway, mobile gamers who don't live in the Netherlands but want to have a Zeemote controller will probably be able to get one in the next months (with or without a mobile phone in the package).

Dell's new Inspiron 13 and Inspiron 518 are after your back to school dollar

Dell has never failed to provide compelling reasons -- particularly pricetags -- for students and / or their cash-strapped parents to pick up a Dell desktop or laptop on the way back to school. This year seems no exception, with Dell adding some special Inspiron configurations to its already beefy budget lineups. The Inspiron 13 laptop (pictured) is pretty much laptop 101, with a 13-inch screen, 8-in-1 media card reader and slot-loading DVD drive in the base model -- you'll have to fork over extra for WiFi, a webcam or Bluetooth. Wal-mart will be carrying a $699 version starting August 3rd, with full configuration coming to Dell.com later that month. The Inspiron 518 desktop (after the break) is similarly straightforward, with DirectX 10 integrated graphics, gigabit Ethernet and a pair of easy-access USB ports on top of the case, in addition to options for a 500GB hard drive and quad core processors. The starting price is $349.