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.

Dell's new Latitude E series for suits detailed by elaborate PowerPoint presentation

This new Latitude E series presentation is no different. Sure, the subject matter is a little dry: reliable, boringbooks for businesses, but there are a few gems in here. The basic thing to get down is that Dell is kicking the D series to the curb, and is going E with its professional laptop line. Improvements include the perks of Centrino 2, more WWAN and other wireless chips, eSATA and Display Port plugs, thinner dockable laptops and huge ass batteries for all-day usage. The E6400, for instance, boasts 19 hours of battery with a 9-cell. On the teensy end, the E 4200 offers a 12.1-inch WXGA screen in a 2.2 pound form factor, with 32GB and 64GB SSD options. The E4300 bumps that up to 13.3-inches and 3.4 pounds. At the other end of the spectrum, the E 6400 ATG is a 5.6 pound beast designed to withstand drops, dust and moisture. The E 5400, 5500 and 6400 are the mainstreamers, with 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch screens, disc drives and all the other trappings you'd expect. Dell's roadmap has the larger laptops hitting in August, with the 12 and 13-inchers showing up in September. Unfortunately, it looks like the XT2 is getting pushed out to January of next year.

LG's BD300 Network Blu-ray player to stream Netflix in September

LG's BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player will begin streaming Netflix movies in the US this September. The player will cost "well under $500" and allow Netflix members to stream more than 12,000 standard definition TV and films through the device at no additional increase to their monthly paid subscriptions. Members will use the Netflix website to add movies or TV to their individual instant queues. Movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds when selected from the TV where users can browse, make selections, read synopses, rate movies, and fast-forward / rewind video streams using the BD300's remote control. While specs on the player itself are scarce, we do know that it supports BD Live and LG's SimpLink technology to integrate easily with LG TVs and AV products. One thing's for sure, with this deal announced and those with Roku and the Xbox 360 in the bag, it looks like Netflix is grown-up and ready for the digital age.

Gateway P-7811 FX gaming laptop coming August 14 for $1499

If you've been waiting for Gateway's P-7811 FX gaming laptop, the wait is almost over: it will begin shipping August 14, that is, if an open-lipped Best Buy is to be believed. As for specifications, you're looking at an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB L2 cache with 1066MHz FSB), PM45 Express chipset, 17-inch WUXGA display at 1920 x 1200, Nvidia GeForce 9800M-GTS with 512MB GDDR3, 200GB 7200RPM spinner, 8x DVD burner, HDMI 1.2, eSATA, a 5-in-1 media card reader, 1.3MP camera, and a 9-cell Li-ion battery. The $1,499 machine weighs in at 9.2-lbs and will be ready for your Crysis, Spore, etc. in a couple weeks.