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No, you’re not seeing triple — those really are three totally different models of voice recorder from Olympus. Well, they’re not actually that different. Core functionality is largely the same between them: a few gigs of internal storage, rechargeable AAA battery, built-in stereo mics, and a monochrome LCD screen (now bigger!).
People do, in fact, still use these; not everyone can get by with a 99¢ iPhone app for recording important meetings and lectures. Here are the key features of the new models, from left to right:
WS-600S: $80. Bargain bin version. 2GB inside. WS-700M: $100. Value buy. 4GB inside, MicroSD slot, noise cancellation. WS-710M: $150. Fancy style. 8GB inside, MicroSD, noise cancellation, and a directional microphone in addition to the standard stereo one.
They should be available in… September? Man, why didn’t they just wait and tell us then?
Stage aesthetics all contain a common trend. Generally, the equipment should be seen as little as possible, leading to pretty much every guitar amplifier in existence being black. Orange Amplifiers said, “To hell with all that nonsense” and proceeded to create some of the most visually offensive and sonically powerful amps on the market. Their latest release, the Thunder 30, should start coming out into the wild sometime this spring.
What you get are four EL84 class A power valves pumping out a total of 30 watts. A new addition to Oranges is the twin channel setup. Your standard clean channel and a dedicated overdrive/distortion channel with shape control. They also threw in an FX loop not found on previous models.
Configurations include the head alone, or in a front loaded 1×12 combo. We’ll have a full review for you guys as soon as we get our hands on one.
After a day full of jamming in stale meeting rooms all day, the Motorola’s club venue is a nice change. And we hear Motorola has something special to announce. I don’t know, maybe a new phone sort of thing. We’ll find out shortly.
We’re live at the Mirage’s Revolution Lounge. This is where all the cool kids probably hang. Maybe. I don’t know really. It’s the club next to the Beatles show.
And we’re stating. First up is Droid info. The second major update is coming soon.
Moto has been working with Adobe to bring Flash 10.1 to Android. This feature will get pushed out in an upcoming update. A specific date wasn’t given.
Motorola is committed to updating previous models. The Cliq will get the Android 2.1 treatment shortly. The MotoBlur is getting updated too, but we’re not sure how.
And the new product: the Moto Backflip with MotoBlur.
The phone itself seems to a slightly different form factor with a different clamshell design. The phone will be launched world-wide, but Moto isn’t ready to announce the US carrier yet. Boo.
Stick around for the hands-on. It should be up shortly.
Audio vendor iHome will introduce two new members of its Studio Series line of iPod and iPhone speaker docks at CES this week. Both models incorporate Bongiovi...
So let’s say you’re “on the go” and you’re notebook dies. What do you do? I mean, you’re “on the go.” Well, you sure as hell don’t take it to Best Buy. Hopefully you have the Lexar Media Echo system in place. This little flash drive continuously backs up your files while you’re “on the go.” How clever.
These flash drives are designed to stay in a USB port so that they can always back up you files. The included software takes care of all the dirty work.
The difference between the two models is that the tiny ZE models are only available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB, while the slightly larger SE models are available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB flavors. Prices have yet to be released, but the backup solutions should be available in February here in the States, while Europe will need to wait a bit longer.
If you read the headline, then you already know that Samsung pushed out 2.6 million LED LCD TVs in 2009. That’s nearly equal to the population of San Diego. But the company also expects 2010 to be bigger — a lot bigger. Samsung plans on moving 10 million LED LCD TVs in 2010, which would be one to every person living in Beijing. That’s a lot, folks.
We’ll get a closer look at Samsung’s 2010 HDTV lineup with week at CES. It will likely include LED-backlit HDTVs in smaller sizes, which will help the company reach the lofty 10mil goal. Previously, the LED technology was mainly a top-tier feature, reserved for larger models with high price tags. But like everything, the technology is flowing down-market and into models that were previously lit with CFLs.
The RCA brand is still around thanks to TTE Corportation and is ready for 2010 with a full-scale HDTV assault. Most of the nine upcoming models are a snozefest, but a few stand out from the rest with with modern specs, Energy Star 4.0 ratings and presumably low prices.
The F11 series all feature a new slim profile and down-firing speakers that allows the TV to maintain its sleek look. The 24-inch, 26-inch, and 32-inch are all 1366×768 panels and are equipped with the usual HDMI and component inputs. The 40-inch (L40FHD2XF11) and 46-inch (L46FHD2XF11) however are 1080p sets with 120Hz support. All the sets besides the 24-inch already have the necessary specs to meet the Energy Star 4.0 specs when they are enacted on May 1st, 2010.
Prices for these sets haven’t been released yet, but it’s probably safe to assume that they will be on the lower scale of things.
About a year ago, I blogged about Yamaha’s portable room that you could set up in bigger rooms to have your well-deserved quiet time. And now another Japanese company called Tamada brings us something similar: The Depot Angel [JP] (what a name), a pre-fabricated basement that can be, again, used to enjoy some alone time, as a storage room or as anything you’d like it to be.
The main idea is to create additional space for Japanese households at relatively affordable prices. Seeing that real estate in Japan is (generally speaking) pretty expensive, it might make sense for some families in this country to get one Depot Angel and bury it under their house.
The female buyer you can see in the (Japanese) video below says her “artificial” basement is ideal for storing rice and vegetables as the room is relatively warm in winter and cool in summer. Tamada got the inspiration for the basements from those underground tanks gas stations use.
A Depot Angel that offers between 4.6 and 6.1sqm of space costs $21,000, whereas the top model (23sqm) has a price tag of $107,000. Buyers can choose between four different models, which range from 770 kg to over a ton in weight.
Information is surfacing that Google is building a competitor to the iSlate, an unannounced Apple tablet like device. Google is hosting an Android event on January 5th but it is unlikely this device will be announced at that event. Google has supposedly been working over the past 18 months with HTC (the same company that is building the Nexus One) to build a tablet like device that will run a Chrome based OS. There are also several working models of the device according to smarthouse.com.au. No other details are known at this time about the device other than Google is behind the operation.
Happy 2010, people who count from Anno Domini using the Gregorian calendar! I greeted the new year by saying, sometime well after midnight, “Oh, it’s 2010 already.” I was playing the PC version of Call of Duty 4, which is demonstrably better than the Xbox 360 version I played two years ago. But that’s not the point of this here post. No, for I have one question to ask of the people who did go outside and celebrate: what were the “Happy 2010!” glasses like?
You’ll recall that a few weeks ago, based on a segment from the Opie and Anthony show, we wondered aloud what kind of “Happy 2010!” glasses were going to make the rounds come December 31. The problem is that, because of the nature of the Arabic numerals, the glasses would either be tilted to one side, or there’d be no way to see effectively. (We were spoiled by the easy-to-wear 2008 and 2009 models.) Being that I didn’t leave the house, nor did I watch the TV to see the ball drop in Times Square—I had effectively rung in the new year by watching Dream/Sengoku’s Dynamite!! show from Tokyo on HDNet the night before—I have no idea how people responded.
So if anyone has any “Happy 2010!” glasses stories they’d like to share, I’m all ears.
And if you thought “Happy 2010!” was difficult, just wait to “Happy 2011!” rolls around.
I’m not an RC gadget expert, but modding static model kits of space ships so that they’re water-proof and can be RC-controlled to make them then “fly underwater” seems like a very, very geeky thing to do to me. Take this 1/350 scale replica of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A space ship from Star Trek, for example.
Some person [JP] in Yokosuka, Japan, bought the static kit and transformed it into a space ship that can move and be RC-controlled underwater. The people belonging to the “underground” circle of these self-made gadgets call themselves “Aqua Modelers” and meet up on a regular basis [IT] to exchange ideas and show off their works each year. The last one apparently just took place a couple of days ago.
See the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A in action in the video below:
Most modern Macs--except for the MacBook Air and some MacBook models--offer both FireWire and USB connections. When shopping for an external hard drive, then...
Viliv is on a steady roll releasing hot portable computers and in just a couple of weeks at CES, we’ll see the company’s next creation dubbed the N5 with the already announced S10. I can’t wait.UMPCPortal has the initial specs and they seem solid:
3G modem
WiFi
GPS
1024×600 4.8-inch screen
Now all we need is the expected battery life and price, but as with all the other Viliv models, both will probably be up there.
Just as tablets will be all over CES, nearly every auto manufacturer will probably have a plug-in hybrid or fully-electric car at the NAIAS. Of course there are the already-known models from GM, Toyota, Fisker, and Honda. But Volvo announced today that it will also a C30 electric concept to show off.
There isn’t really anything to get excited about though. The C30 concept has a range of only 93-miles, top speed of 81, and takes eight hours to charge from a 230-volt source. The only thing it has going for itself is that it’s good looking.
A limited run of 150 vehicles will hit Swedish streets in 2011 to test out the concept. Hopefully Volvo doesn’t pull a page from GM’s history book and take a decade to produce the second generation.
A Japanese company called Futen (they don’t have a website) is selling a USB flash drive that uses face recognition technology to check the identity of users. Needless to say, the so-called Lockface only works with your computer’s web cam.
The first thing to do is to register a number of pictures of your face. After that, the Lockface verifies your face every time you need to access data on it (the verification process takes about a second). The USB drive doesn’t require extra software to be downloaded or installed.
Alternatively, you can also use a password, completely ignoring the face recognition function of the device. It uses 256-bit AES to encrypt the data. Futen says the device has an error rate of about 2% (it verifies the “wrong” person in 1.91% of cases and won’t verify the right person in 1.98% of cases).
The first version will hold 4GB of memory and is sized at 22×4×55mm. The Lockface costs $110 in Japan (where it’s already on the market). Futen is planning to bring models holding more memory in the near future.
In Blade Runner the Nexus Six models were the “rogue” replicants and someone – not saying who – was a Nexus Seven model.
So is Google saying they’re the Tyrell Corporation, working on the first off-world employees for their future colonies? Or is someone just playing a funny.
It’s been a long time we heard about JVC updating their Everio brand of camcorders (back in July to be more exact). But the company today announced a total of three new models for the Japanese market. Expect all of these to go on sale outside this country sooner or later.
The GZ-MG980 [JP, pictured above] is the most powerful of the three new Everio devices. It features 10.7MP with 1.6″ CCD sensor, produces 720×480 resolution, and comes with an 80GB HDD, an SD/SDHC slot, 39x optical zoom (F1.8〜4.3), a USB port and a 2.7 LCD screen. Japanese street price: $690.
The GZ-MS230 [JP] basically has the same specs, but it features just 8GB of internal memory (price: $515).
And the GZ-MS210 [JP] just has two SD/SDHC slots but no internal memory. But sized at just 52×110×62mm and weighing only 230g (battery included), it’s the smallest version (price: $460).
Victor JVC started selling the new Everios today. The company hasn’t said anything yet about its international sales plans.
What we have here is somewhat self-explanatory. The two new Oregon Scientific weather stations provide clock functions along with weather info and are solar powered. Both models feature atomic clocks and a detachable solar panel that recharges the battery. This way, you can know what the weather will be like for your daily tree hugging.
The $69 Oregon Scientific +ECO Solar Weather Clock (RMR331ESA) includes a wireless sensor for indoor and outdoor temperature/humidity monitoring. The $99 Oregon Scientific +ECO Solar Weather Station (BAR332ESA) steps up the features with a calendar display, weather icons, and the ability to monitor three remote sensors. See, I told you it was self-explanatory.
The 2010 Rolls-Royce model line has something very distinctly in common with all new Volvos. It has nothing to do with the engines, safety ratings, comfort, or design. Nope, none of that. Any guesses?
Rolls-Royce joins Volvo as the only manufacturers to offer HD radio as a standard feature in every model. Of course that’s only the new Ghost and three different variants of the Phantom. Previously HD radio was only an option, but someone high-up in Rolls-Royce probably enjoys listening to AM HD radio and wanted to make sure everyone had access to it.
Mercedes-Benz also is slowly rolling out the radio option and it’s a standard option in many model’s premium feature packages and Audi previously stated that that by 2011 all models will have it as well.
Japananditsalarmclocks. We just blogged the bizarre Clockman on Monday, but major Japanese toy maker Banpresto’s two new models aren’t too normal either. The company has designed alarm clocks using wrestling and boxing gongs as the design motif. The idea actually kind of makes sense but is cruel at the same time.
The way both devices work is that first a referee’s or broadcaster’s voice tortures you with a count down before the bell rings. The only way to stop it is to hit the clock within ten counts in the boxing version or three counts in the wrestling model (with the small hammer you see on the pictures). Otherwise the bell will go on ringing and ringing. The idea is to test the user’s reaction early in the morning.
Banpresto will start selling both version in Japan in the middle of next month. You can get both the boxing and wrestling model shipped to addresses outside Japan over at Geek Stuff 4 U for $49.84.
Viewsonic, best known for their displays, has just set their sights on the HTPC market. Jumping in with two models, Viewsonic no doubt hopes to make a good first impression in the home theater PC market, and their first entry looks to be a good way to do that.
Viewsonic is launching two models now; The VOT530, and the VOT550. Both come with Windows 7 Home Premium, Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz processors and 802.11 b/g/n wifi. Both systems have six USB 2.0 ports, along with DVI, LAN, and eSATA ports on the back. The systems come with a remote standard as well.
The VOT530 PC Mini has 2GB of RAM, and a DVD drive. The VOT550, comes standard with 4GB of RAM and a Blu-ray drive. The VOT530 will be selling for $749 MSRP, and the VOT550 is expected to sell for $949. Both are available now.
TiVo has finally dropped the price on the HD and HD XL DVRs. These models have been rocking their initial MSRP for years now, but now they can be had for a little bit less. The 160GB HD model is now $249 and the 1TB model, $499 down from $599. Of course you still have to pay a monthly fee to use these DVRs, but I’m not one to snub a modest price drop.
I wonder if this was a reaction to the Moxi price drop from last week. Probably not because these things are usually planned months out, but you never know. Maybe TiVo is starting to feel a little heat from their closest competitors, who now have a 3-tuner DVR by the way…
Android is still in its infancy in Japan where most domestic makers still stick with their proprietary operating systems, with basically no one outside the geek community knowing what it is. But things are changing slowly. Last week, SoftBank (the country's third biggest cell phone carrier) announced an Android-powered phone for next year when the company announced their new models for the next months.
And yesterday, Sharp announced at an event in Tokyo it will roll out a yet to be specified number of Android-based handsets as early as the first half of next year. Sharp commands the biggest market share of all eight cell phone makers in Japan so this is very good news for the Google OS in what is the most advanced mobile society in the world.
Brando, home of the odd USB device, finally has a product I want to order. No no, it’s not a heated slipper or a spy camera, it’s a Transformers USB drive. How cool is that?
So is it just me, or were Transformers cooler in the 80’s? I was looking at one at the store the other day, and it just seemed cheap compared to how I remember them.
KDDI did it as early as last month, and today it was NTT Docomo's and SoftBank's turn to unveil their line-ups of new cell phones for the Japanese market. Here are all of SoftBank's 17 future models [JP], which will be sold in Japan from this fall through spring 2010.
Head over to MobileCrunch to see them all in glorious high-res pictures.
My first reaction – when I saw today on Thanko’s web site that the notoriously silly gadget maker from Tokyo is selling USB-powered gloves with built-in heaters [JP] – was: Who actually buysthis kind of stuff? I mean Thanko is a real company, they have brick-and-mortar stores in Tokyo (two of them), they have employees etc. But they have been surviving for years now, even though they closed their English online store last month.
You can connect the gloves (black is for men, white is for women) to your computer’s USB port and expect them to keep your fingers warm while you type. Again: Who in god’s name would do that? And it’s not even Thanko’s only USB gloves, they have models that are shaped like teddy bears, too.
People living outside Japan can order the new USB gloves for $27.75 per pair plus shipping over at Geek Stuff 4 U.
Viewsonic, best known for their displays, has just set their sights on the HTPC market. Jumping in with two models, Viewsonic no doubt hopes to make a good first impression in the home theater PC market, and their first entry looks to be a good way to do that.
Android is still in its infancy in Japan where most domestic makers still stick with their proprietary operating systems, with basically no one outside the geek community knowing what it is. But things are changing slowly. Last week, 
