Gizm0 - Gadget Blog for the Technology Obsessed.

Posts Tagged ‘CES’

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

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

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.

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!

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!

Panasonic MHC150 Takes on XDCAM EX-1

Written by steven on February 14, 2008 – 1:08 pm -

Panasonic and Sony are always bitter rivals and while we appreciate the Panasonic HVX200, the Sony XDCAM EX-1 takes it up about 10 notches. We love our Sony XDCAM EX-1 pro-level handheld video camcorder. The XDCAM EX-1 knocks the socks off the Panasonic HVX200, so of course Panasonic had to step up.

Their latest offering, the MHC150 (terrible name), looks alot like the HVX200 except uglier and more generic. Their format of choice is AVCHD and the MHC150 boasts 1080p/60. Its supposed to ship in the fall and should roughly match the XDCAM EX-1’s $6.5K pricing. We bet the specs and prices will be a bit lower grade then the XDCAM EX-1, specs which is a low budget shooter’s dream come true.

In other words, don’t get too excited about this Panasonic. The good news is that it may be a hint of other things to come. Frankly we’d be disappointed if this was all they had to battle the EX-1 with.

Nokia N96, World’s First Superphone

Written by steven on February 12, 2008 – 7:51 pm -

Sorry iPhone, but the Nokia N96 is THE phone for people obsessed with features and functionality. The Nokia N96, which is supposed to drop in Q3 for €550 is the son of Nokia’s N95. Just peep this pic and the following specs and tell me you’re not salivating.

Don’t worry iPhone, if you added a keyboard, kept your awesome operating system and matched the Nokia N96’s other features, we’ll fall back in love with you. Too bad we don’t expect that to happen anytime soon.

Some Features of the Nokia N96:

2.8″ screen, 16GB of internal storage, Wi-Fi, HSDPA, a microSD expansion slot, built-in 3D stereo speakers, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, flash, and video light, assisted GPS with photo geotagging, an integrated kickstand for video viewing, and in select markets, an integrated DVB-H receiver for watching live broadcast TV..

According to Electronista.com, “a second phone, the N78, is designed as a budget alternative to the N82: also resembling the N81, the new phone uses a lower-resolution 3.2-megapixel camera and strips most built-in storage in favor of microSDHC cards. It nonetheless uses assisted GPS, Wi-Fi, and a native 3.5mm headphone jack; in a unique twist, it also sports an FM transmitter for broadcasting its music to other devices. Nokia bundles the N78 with a 2GB microSD card and ships the phone during the spring for 350 Euros ($508).”

Garmin Nuvifone, iPhone’s Newest Competitor?

Written by steven on February 2, 2008 – 1:05 pm -

Garmin, a company known for their GPS receivers, is entering the the phone market, and in a big way. The Garmin Nuvifone is made for the iPhone age, except that shows up to the party wearing a few things the iPhone can only dream of, like true GPS navigation, (of course), 3G, ability to geo-tag photos, MMS and instant messenging and a built in video camera!

Available in Q3, the interface is also a surprise. It’s the same interface as used on the TomTom. With big icons and an easy to navigate user-interface, Garmin’s Nuvifone isn’t really meant to be an iPhone killer, just the next level of portable GPS - but its hard to deny that the two worlds are coming closer and closer together.

See it for yourself at 3GSM in Barcelona, February 11th-14th.

What follows is Garmin’s own press release on the Nuvifone - read only if you’re very interested or very geeky:

“The nuvifone is an all-in-one device offering unmatched integration of utility and function in a single mobile device,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “This is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for — a single device that does it all.”

The nuvifone is an innovative mobile phone that has a wide range of advanced yet easy-to-use features. The all touchscreen device is the first of its kind to integrate premium 3.5G mobile phone capability with an internet browser, data connectivity, personal messaging, and personal navigation functions in one device. When powered on, the 3.5-inch touchscreen display reveals three primary icons — “Call,” “Search,” and “View Map” which allow the user to effortlessly master the nüvifone’s functions.

The nuvifone is the ultimate multi-tasker. Calls are easily initiated by tapping the “Call” button and selecting a name from the contact list or by using the on-screen keypad. When the user is trying to juggle talking on their phone while entering their vehicle to start a trip, the nuvifone makes the transition simple. When the nuvifone is docked onto the vehicle mount, it automatically turns on the GPS, activates the navigation menu, and enables hands-free calling so that the user never misses a beat in the conversation and is able to begin routing to their destination with ease.

Customers familiar with Garmin’s industry leading nuvi(R) product line will feel right at home using the nuvifone’s personal navigation features. It includes preloaded maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe, or both, and allows drivers to quickly find a specific street address, establishment’s name or search for a destination by category using the nuvifone’s built-in database with millions of points of interest. Turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions guide the user to their destination. If they miss a turn along the route, nuvifone automatically recalculates a route and gets them back on track, speaking the names of the streets along the way.

The nuvifone is Garmin’s first device to include Google local search capability, which harnesses the vast point of interest information available from the world wide web. Nuvifone users can search for locations like “coffee shops” and Google will sort the results based on the user’s current location and relevance. Information provided by Google includes a web-based rating so that users can select the most appropriate destination and route directly to it. In addition, the nuvifone includes a web browser incorporating premium features and touchscreen operation for an optimum mobile browsing experience. The nuvifone also includes personal messaging functions, including email, text, and instant messaging.

For the ultimate in safety, the “Where am I?” feature lets users touch the screen at any time to display the exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. The nuvifone also helps drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot by automatically marking the position in which it was last removed from the vehicle mount.

In addition to navigation, the nuvifone includes access to Garmin Online(TM), an online service offering constantly-updating information such as real-time traffic, fuel prices, stock prices, sport scores, news reports, local events and weather forecasts.

The nuvifone also includes numerous mobile entertainment applications. The built-in camera allows individuals to take a picture that will automatically be tagged with the exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location, or email the image to a recipient who can navigate directly to the location. The nuvifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through Google’s Panoramio picture sharing site. The Panoramio photo search feature enhances the enjoyment and adventure of sightseeing in an otherwise unfamiliar location. Other multimedia functions of the nuvifone include a built-in video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC.

Garmin anticipates that the nuvifone will be available in the third quarter of 2008. Specific details about pricing and sales partners will be announced in the future. Additional information about nuvifone is available at http://www.garmin.com/nuvifone.

Nikon D60 price - $750, More Pics!

Written by steven on January 30, 2008 – 1:18 pm -

According to our favorite Nikon source, KenRockwell.com, Ritz is taking orders at $750 WITH 18-55mm lense. Should be available in early March, pretty darn soon. This is the sweet spot for those that love DSLR quality but at a reasonable price. What’s more exciting, Ken is saying that ”

The D60 will most likely smoke the old D80 in real image quality, since it appears to incorporate Nikon’s latest tricks which make last year’s D300 and D3 yield visibly better images than older cameras: broader color range because the saturation can be cranked higher (if you like), superior WB adjustment range, and adaptive dynamic range processing to give superior film-like looks to highlights.

I have not confirmed, but experience tells me that the “look” of D60 images ought to match the look from the superior D3 and D300, much as the last generation’s cameras (D2, D200, D80, D40) tended to be similar when set accordingly.

If the D60 matches the look of the D300, then the D60 ought to be the camera to get if you’re on a budget, since last year’s D300 costs about three times as much as I expect a D60 will.”

Nikon D60 Leaked Specs

Written by steven on January 28, 2008 – 5:12 pm -

As far as we know, these Nikon D60 leaked specs, first outted by PhotographyBay.com, are from Nikon’s own marketing material:

Nikon D60 digital SLR camera : Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the D60, one of the smallest Nikon digital SLRs ever. The Nikon D60 makes it fun and easy to take breathtaking pictures while also offering plenty of features for those who want to deepen their interest in creative shooting. With a split-second shutter response, the Nikon D60 captures pictures that cameras with longer time lags miss. Ease of use and creative options both come standard with the Nikon D60, whose exclusive Nikon technologies help deliver high-quality pictures with vibrant color and stunning, edge-to-edge detail. Such superior results are achieved through a high-resolution image sensor utilizing 10.2 megapixels and the world-famous Nikkor lenses delivering razor-sharp pictures.

Nikon D60 DSLR camera - 3D Color Matrix Metering II

Many cutting-edge Nikon features enhance your picture-taking experience. Nikon’s advanced 3D Color Matrix Metering II ensures consistently balanced exposures for images with natural color and contrast, while Nikon’s new digital image processing concept, EXPEED, makes it possible to deliver smoother tones and more accurate colors. Nikon’s fast, quiet and precise autofocus system adds significantly to the performance of the D60, capturing exact moments with astounding clarity.

Nikon D60 - Dust reduction & Image Sensor Cleaning function

Such clarity is reinforced by Nikon’s dust reduction countermeasures. To avoid picture-degrading dust particles accumulating near the imaging sensor, the Nikon D60 comes equipped with the innovative Image Sensor Cleaning function and Nikon’s exclusive Airflow Control System. These functions both reduce dust accumulation to give you even better picture quality.

Nikon D-60 reflex camera - Retouch menu

In addition to new dust reduction features, the Nikon D60 offers a variety of ways to experience more fun and creativity when taking pictures. Users can easily capture dynamic images in different shooting situations with a simple turn of the mode dial. The Retouch Menu offers even more creative excitement, letting you change your pictures into even more striking images – all fast, all simple and all without the need for a computer.

Nikon D60 body - Integrated Dust Reduction system

Compact and comfortable, the Nikon D60 has so much to offer: amazing picture quality, simple operation, an Integrated Dust Reduction System for clearer pictures and an extensive selection of creative features. The result: fun, fantastic and inspired pictures. The world of stunning photography is just a step away, with the Nikon D60.

Nikon D60 sensor - 10.2 Megapixels

The Nikon D60’s image sensor utilizes 10.2 megapixels to produce superb, high-quality images with incredible resolution, allowing you to make large prints, even if you only use part of an image. And thanks to EXPEED, Nikon’s unique digital image processing concept, your pictures will contain fine detail and smooth, natural tonal reproduction.

Nikon D 60 SLR - Integrated Dust Reduction System

The Airflow Control System used in the Nikon D60 leads air within the mirror box towards small ducts near the base, directing dust away from the image sensor. The Image Sensor Cleaning function also reduces dust accumulation near the sensor using specifically determined vibrations, which activate automatically or whenever the user chooses. This team of dust reduction countermeasures lets the user switch lenses confidently, taking advantage of the extensive lineup of Nikkor interchangeable optics while worrying less about the effects of dust in the camera.

Gizm0 - Gadget Blog for the Technology Obsessed.

Posts Tagged ‘CES’

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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Macbook Air vs Thinkpad X300: Tale of the Tape

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Nikon D60 or Canon Rebel XSi?

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Panasonic MHC150 Takes on XDCAM EX-1

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Nokia N96, World’s First Superphone

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Garmin Nuvifone, iPhone’s Newest Competitor?

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Nikon D60 price - $750, More Pics!

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Nikon D60 Leaked Specs

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