Gizm0 - Gadget Blog for the Technology Obsessed.

Phone of the (Near) Future: NVIDIA’s superphone

Written by steven on March 8, 2008 – 4:19 pm -

NVIDIA concept phone

Don’t get too excited, this is a concept phone, but a prototype has already been built and shown at Mobile World Conference (MWC 2008). Using NVIDIA’s sick engine, this phone takes the wind out of the N96 hype. Of course one is expected to arrive Q3, and the other may or may not arrive soon, but it should. Its the illness. Don’t want to read specs? Try 12 megapixel still photos and 720P video. That’s right, shoot progressive HD video on your mobile phone.

Here are the jawdropping specs:

ARM11 MPCore
HD AVP (High Definition Audio Video Processor) 720p H.264, MPEG-4, and VC-1/WMV9 Decode
720p H.264 and MPEG-4 Encode
Supports multi-standard audio formats including AAC, AMR, WMA, and MP3
JPEG encode and decode acceleration
ULP (Ultra Low Power) GeForce GPU
OpenGL ES 2.0
D3D Mobile
Programmable pixel shader
Programmable vertex and lighting
CSAA support
Advanced 2D graphics
Up to 12Mpixel camera sensor support
Advanced imaging features
True dual display support
720p (1280×720) HDMI 1.2 support
SXGA (1280×1024) LCD and CRT support
Composite and S-Video TV output

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Goodbye iPhone, hello Motorola Z10

Written by steven on March 8, 2008 – 3:45 pm -

Motorola Z10

You were fun, iPhone, but now you’re starting to get a little heavy in the pocket - that shine is getting dusty, and you’re creakin’ like a 40 year old. Your features are getting all confused. You blank in and out cause your light sensors are broken. That EDGE data is starting to creep slower than molasses, and gosh darnit, I don’t want to see a miniature version of the NYTimes, I want to see a mobile version! Oh yeah your camera sucks and how come you can’t shoot video? Aren’t you supposed to be the illness?

Face it, we’re bored with the iPhone’s pet tricks. On to the new. We’re consumers and gadget freaks and we want more, more, more!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enter the Motorola Z10, the cell phone that knocks the iPhone out until June or so when a 3G version of the Mc phone is unveiled. Even then I might be enjoying the video camera on my Moto 210 too much to give it up. Here’s hoping the 3G iPhone has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

The Motorola Z10 has a 3.1 megapixel camera, which isn’t that great at all, but passable. Key however is the phone’s slick look and ability to shoot video.

Like Music? Peep this beauty, the Samsung SGH-i450. Featuring a full digital music player, a 3.5mm headset jack, and Bang & Olufsen speakers. The dual-slider design also offers a touch wheel for menu navigation. Slickz.

Samsung SGH-i450

Nokia N96: the top phone for Europeans

This thing is the new champ but it sure does cost a whole lotta dough (550 euros). We’ve called it the world’s first superphone. For goodness sakes you canwatch TV on it. But peep out the price, 550 euros is like $800 or something. Still for the feature obsessed, this is the king. As picky as we are, this thing has more features then we could ask for. Well, let’s hope the N97 can shoot HD video! Just kidding, the N96 doesn’t even arrive until late summer 2008!

Full specs of Nokia N96 include:

WCDMA2100/900 (HSDPA) / EGSM900, GSM850/1800/1900 MHz (EGPRS) connectivity
DVB-H Class C, 470-750 MHz
S60 3rd edition, FP2 UI
2.8” QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) LCD TFT display with up to 16 million colors
5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and auto-exposure
Dual-LED camera flash, video light, recording indicator, auto-focus assist light
Secondary VGA (640 x 480 px) camera for video calls
Video capture in MPEG-4 up to VGA at 30 fps
Digital Video Stabilization
Built-in GPS/A-GPS
WLAN - IEEE802.11 g/b
Stereo FM radio (87.5-108MHz, 76-90MHz) with RDS
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 with Micro USB type B interface
3.5mm stereo headset plug , TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)
Bluetooth 2.0 A2DP stereo/EDR
950 mAh battery with up to 220 min talk, 220 hrs standby time, 5 hrs video, 14 hrs music or 4 hrs TV playback
Dimensions: 103×55×18 mm
Weight: 125 g

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Point and Shoot HD Video: Panasonic DMC-TZ5K

Written by steven on March 7, 2008 – 12:14 pm -

It seems here at Gizm0.com all we talk about are cameras, maybe we should start a camera blog or hire a few more writers. Anyhoo, we can’t help it, cameras are the ultimate gizmos, shooting pics, recording audio and now shooting HD video?! That’s right folks, meet the newest HD camcorder, the very svelt Panasonic DMC-TZ5K.

We’re not talking low-res, 15 fps here. No, this is full blown 1280×720 HD resolution at 30 fps! You can even zoom around when you’re shooting that glorious HD video, and when you’re done, simply plug it into your HD plasma to watchurbate amongst your brethen, or roommates, or whatever.

The TZ5 is the most capable camera we’ve seen so far in the new class of point and shoot HD video. On the still picture side, it rocks 9 megapixels and a novel Clipboard function, which lets you take pics of hard to read things like maps in a way that makes it well, readable. There’s also of course the Leica 28mm lense and 10X optical zoom. We don’t think it records stereo sound, but we’re pretty sure it will eventually. If you need to replace that clunky camcorder, grab one of these now for about $349.

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Casio Exilim EX-Z9: Pink is the New Black

Written by steven on March 6, 2008 – 6:25 pm -

Casio’s Exilim Z9 may not rock 13 megapixels like the Sony W300 we just featured, but it does come in pink, and orange, and all sorts of colors girls and non-geeks find adorable. That alone may win it a spot in a teenager’s pocket, but Casio Exilim Z9 is no toy. Rocking 8 megapixels, 23 best-shot pre-sets, an easy mode for people who want to take pictures, not think, and a 3X optical zoom. It also shoots video ready-made for Youtube.

According to Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division, “Casio’s innovative YouTube Capture Mode allows videos to be recorded and uploaded directly to YouTube in as few as 3 steps, making the EX-Z9 perfect for online video enthusiasts.”

Feature Highlights:

Stylish, slim, compact model featuring 8.1 million effective megapixels and 3x optical zoom.
Generous 2.6-inch wide LCD display
23 Best Shot Modes for high quality images
Anti Shake DSP for reducing photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects
Easy Mode for simplifying the camera settings
Casio’s Face Detection technology for maintaining a sharp focus

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Sony W300, a 13.6 Mega Pixel Cyber-Shot!

Written by steven on February 26, 2008 – 11:53 am -

Sony Cyber-shot W300

The Sony W300 is the first point and shoot to cross 12 mega pixels, stuffing a whopping 13.6 mega pixels into its compact point-and-shoot frame. There are also a few “pro” features thrown in, like high-speed shooting at an impressive 5 frames per second, although they had to drop the megapixel count to just three for that to work. There’s image stabilization built in and ISO up to 6,400. Don’t get too excited about that either, manufacturers usually promise more then they can achieve at the highest ISOs. Still, an ISO of 6,400 makes ISO 1,600 seem like a reasonable proposition.

In addition, to the above, the Sony W300 sports a 3X optical zoom and a reasonable $350 price - its due to ship in May.

Sony Cyber-shot H50

If the optical zoom is really important to you, you might want to opt for the companion Sony Cyber-shot H50, which sports an unusually high 15x optical zoom, but takes down mega pixels down to 9.1. While sacrificing pixels, the Cyber-shot H50 is a more powerful camera in many ways. Besides the optical zoom, which is quite impressive for a point and shoot, the Cyber-shot H50 also rocks a powerful flash. It can illuminate subjects up to 55 feet away. There’s also optical image stabilization as well as a dynamic range optimizer to keep blow outs and highlights in check. Its scheduled to come in at $400 but might just be the more useful camera overall. Point and shoots aren’t usually used to make poster-sized prints, and 9 quality megapixels is enough for gorgeous 8×11 prints.

We also like this matte-gray finish - very new and very modern. Sony is trying to take the lead and the Cyber-shot H50 as well as the Cyber-shot W300 stuff more features then we’ve seen in a point and shoot. No word on their movie modes, we’ll update you as we find out more.

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Macbook Air vs Thinkpad X300: Tale of the Tape

Written by steven on February 22, 2008 – 3:51 pm -

By now you laptop hungry freaks are probably salivating between the ThinkPad X300 and the Macbook Air. We’ve already previewed the battle and frankly suggested you go with the lowest priced Macbook Air. $1,799 is a damn bargain for the ‘Airs. But if you gotsta hook up your shiznet, with either laptop, you’re going to end up at roughly the same price point, $3,000. With solid state, DVD, ethernet, etc., the ThinkPad X300 is clearly better configured. The DVD burner for example, is built in, and ethernet can be ordered integrated into the laptop. With Mac, its “accessorize me!” But here’s the real weak point of the Macbook Air — that darn non-removable battery. Sure you can get it replaced for “the same price as a new Mac battery” but what a horrible day that’ll be when we have to stand in line at the genius bar or something, waiting for our number to come up.

With the ThinkPad X300, batteries come in various strengths and weights, and are swappable, you know, just like back in the day. The ThinkPad X300 is also wi-max ready. Yummy!!! Of course this means absolutely nothing. There’s no wi-max signal anywhere we can think of, and we’re in New York City, but hey, at least we can say its future proof!

What this boring chart from macsource.com can’t reflect are the two aesthetic choices you have to pick from. Are you 3-day stubble cool and turtlenecky or do you rock monkey suits and a briefcase? Like the Presidential campaign, it also largely comes down to a choice of colors, silver or black.

We have Apple’s very BMW-like silver and slick or the Thinkpad X300’s silky black, complete with a fingerprint reader and a keyword that clickity clacks. Let’s face it, the ThinkPad X300 is the more serious machine - but we wouldn’t go so far as to call it the superior machine. It could be, if it ran on Apple’s far superior operating system. Chance of that happening? Don’t hold your breath.

Here’s the tale of the tape, but as we’ve said before, unless you’re a dedicated PC-guy by virtue of your corporate job, the $1,799 Macbook Air is your best bet. All specs aside, our metrics indicate that the Air will provide you with more daily gadget joy not to mention actually turn a few heads at the coffee shop. We don’t know about you homie, but if we just dropped three G’s, We’re gonna wanna see some envy in people’s faces.

The Thinkpad X300 is small and light but beautiful, it is not. No aesthetically-oriented person (e.g. hot females) will give you two shits about the mad coin you dropped on that thing. Show her the Macbook Air and the black American Express and she’ll probably just go ahead and marry you. Still, just between us gadget heads, we know Apple can do better. Macbook Air, you’re mad cool but we’re already looking for Macbook Air Pro, your bigger brother. And he better come with wi-max. Whatever that is. Gizm0 Crack House Team Delta Force, Out!

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ThinkPad X300 Specs - MacBook Air Killer?

Written by steven on February 22, 2008 – 12:40 pm -

Its a beauty. The Lenova X300 is about 3 lbs and as thin as the Macbook Air. Yep, it fits inside that manilla envelope made so famous by Steve Jobs. In many respects, the Lenova X300 is in a league of its own. Not only is it the thinnest, but its also the most power-efficient Thinkpad ever made. Here are some highlights:* It weighs 2.93 lbs, and at its thinnest is .73 inches, and at its thickest is .93 inches. That’s about as thin as the Macbook Air but half a pound lighter. Sweet.

* Here’s where you might be tempted to switch from the Macbook Air: Unlike the Macbook Air, it has a built in DVD burner and three USB slots.

* Standard memory is 64 GB SOLID STATE and screen size is 13.3″ inches of LED backlit glory - some say it looks exactly like the Thinkpad T41’s 14.1″ display.

* Temperature of the actual laptop is always a balmy but not too hot 86 degrees, even two hours into running a DVD movie. That’s great if you’re putting the laptop on your well, lap, for hours on end.

* WiMax ready later in 2008. Meanwhile, its got 802.11n built in and tests have shown that it pulls an impressive 130 mbps.

* Its still a ThinkPad, which means the keyword is the best ever made.

* Price? $2,500-$3,000. The Macbook Air can be had for $1,800, but when configured with a 64 GB solid state hard drive like the Lenova X300, the price and specs match up quite nicely.

Lenovo ThinkPad X300 MacBook Air, fully spec’d, has its match. You’re either a ThinkPad X300 or a Macbook Air person - for mobile professionals, these two are your best bets.

The Thinkpad X300 is fully loaded and is impressive for managing to stuff a DVD player/burner inside its guts and still weigh/cost the same as the Macbook Air (with solid state). What would we do? Take the Macbook Air without solid state or anything else..for $1,799. What a deal. But for ultraportable enthusiasts and PC folks who want it all, the Lenova Thinkpad X300 is the cream of the crop.

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Ricoh Caplio - 10 Megapixels and Serious Zoom

Written by steven on February 21, 2008 – 12:04 pm -

Ricoh’s Caplio is a pretty interesting offering - part of that fancy point and shoot category everyone is jumping into. The Ricoh R8’s point of differentiation is a a serious 28-200 mm focus range. It also zooms out by a 7.1x factor for long shots. The Ricoh R8 is an update of the Ricoh R7 and is taking that Sigma DP-1 look, which itself is a take on the Leica M8 minimalism. ISO on the Ricoh R8 is 1,600, which would be sweet for low-light shots.

The lower budget Ricoh Caplio R50 shares the same 10 megapixel lense but has a more modest 36-180mm 5X optical zoom. We’re not going to show you the R50, looks like every other silver point and shoot. No word on pricing. Fairly interesting, but given the competition, we’d rather have that Sigma DP-1.

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Sigma DP-1: High End or Just High Priced?

Written by steven on February 21, 2008 – 11:20 am -

Let’s start with the basics. The Sigma DP-1 is what you might call a fancy point and shoot. Its also a thousand dollars. Oh yeah, its also not a Canon or a Nikon. Worse, there’s no built in flash (just a hotshoe), and no zoom - just a 16.6 mm fixed local length lense (roughly equal to 28 millimeter S.L.R. point of view). For goodness sake, it doesn’t even have an optical viewfinder standard. So what’s so hot about it? Well, try a brand new 14 megapixel Foveon image sensor. Do we have your attention yet?

Guess who they’re gunning after? The Leica M8. Do you remember how much one of those bad boy costs? $7,500. That’s right. Besides, that optical viewfinder thing, well you can buy one as an add-on for $150, so while annoying, its still roughly $6,350 less then the Leica M8.

Oh we’d wish they’d use a little red paint in the design though - a splash here, a line there. Something that takes this camera from not only a perfomer, but a design as well. That’s what the Leicas are - digital versions of Rolex and Omega watches, something that not only works but shows off well.

We’ll get you reviews as soon as we can but for now, we can’t recommend something that takes this much work to take good pictures and look sexy at the same time.

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Nikon D60 or Canon Rebel XSi?

Written by steven on February 19, 2008 – 12:50 pm -

With the announcement of the Canon Eos Rebel XSi (e.g. the Canon 450D), one has to pause. Yes, the newly unveiled Nikon D60 is a great update to the D40 and D40x, but being resolution whores, its hard to miss that the Rebel XSi is 12 megapixels to Nikon D60’s 10 megapixels. Despite Nikon fanboy assertions otherwise, Canon is not a toy company, 12 megapixels is not just a number. Canon has their sites set on killing the megapixel race (24 megapixels on their top camera, the Mark III). Even hardcore Nikon man Ken Rockwell has given Canon props for their superior resolving ability when he compared the Canon 5D to Nikon D3. We also noticed that Canon has a much more generous 3″ LCD “Live View” display, as compared to Nikon D60’s 2.5″. That’s a huge difference if you want to enjoy the photo you just snagged. 2.5″ sucks.

Nikon D60 does have one very sweet feature - its called Active-D Lighting. Basically it compensates for all of those blown highlights that make digital photography and cinematography so challenging. According to Senor Ken Rockwell, “This feature automatically identifies highlight areas that will be lost, and does its best to bring them under control. It works, and it works automatically.”

So which do we get for our entry level DSLR? Well the Nikon D60 is slightly more affordable then the Rebel XSi, (about $750 with lense kit at Adorama vs Canon Rebel’s $799 at J&R).

This reminds us of the battle between Sony and Panasonic camcorders. The Panasonic HVX200 never had the resolution of the Sony FX-1 or Z1 (they’re both HD camcorders). The Panasonic was always given credit for producing better looking, more filmic images - probably because of the way they handled dynamic range and highlights, while Sony always resolved better, which matters when you’re considering blow-up to theatrical size screens.

Therein lies your answer. Are you planning on printing your pics to enormous gallery size displays? If so, all the way to the high end, Canon is a better choice. If the D3 can’t resolve as well as the Canon 5D, which is half the price, then resolution whores should stick to Canon. If however, glorious photos without too much photoshop work is what you’re after, the Nikons are better choices, all the way down to the Nikon D40 (which is what the D60 essentially replaces). Us? We’re resolution whores, because we can do whatever the hell we want with the pic in Photoshop, except pretend we shot it in 12 megapixels!

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Gizm0 - Gadget Blog for the Technology Obsessed.

Phone of the (Near) Future: NVIDIA’s superphone

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Goodbye iPhone, hello Motorola Z10

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Point and Shoot HD Video: Panasonic DMC-TZ5K

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Casio Exilim EX-Z9: Pink is the New Black

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Sony W300, a 13.6 Mega Pixel Cyber-Shot!

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Macbook Air vs Thinkpad X300: Tale of the Tape

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ThinkPad X300 Specs - MacBook Air Killer?

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Ricoh Caplio - 10 Megapixels and Serious Zoom

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Sigma DP-1: High End or Just High Priced?

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Nikon D60 or Canon Rebel XSi?

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