Gizmodo: 7K320

'Biggest Military Hack of All Time' Was Done Over a 56k Connection

Adam Frucci — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Gary McKinnon, the British hacker who broke into military computers looking for evidence of UFOs in the "biggest military hack of all time," did so using his home computer and a 56k modem. I think we just lost our rights to complain about not having Japan-fast broadband.

Using his own computer at home in London, McKinnon hacked into 97 computers belonging to and used by the U.S. government between February 2001 and March 2002.

McKinnon is accused of causing the entire U.S. Army's Military District of Washington network of more than 2,000 computers to be shut down for 24 hours.

Using a limited 56-kbps dialup modem and the hacking name "Solo" he found many U.S. security systems used an insecure Microsoft Windows program with no password protection.

He then bought off-the-shelf software and scanned military networks, saying he found expert testimonies from senior figures reporting that technology obtained from extra-terrestrials did exist.

At the time of his indictment, Paul McNulty, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said: "Mr. McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time."

He's currently awaiting extradition to the United States where, if convicted, he'll face up to 70 years in jail and up to $1.75 million in fines. Let us know about that alien technology first, Gary! [Valleywag]

Hitachi CinemaStar Now Reaching 1TB

Mark Wilson — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:15:00 EDT

For the DIY DVR enthusiast, Hitachi just announced their new CinemaStar 7K1000.B. Coming in sizes up to 1 terabyte, the 7,200 RPM drives promise to be the "industry’s quietest, most energy-efficient 3.5-inch hard drives." But what can a 1TB CinemaStar actually do? It can store 247 hours of HD MPEG4 and handle 10 streams of data simultaneously (as usual, your tuners are the main limiting factor). Hitachi also promises that the CinemaStars are designed for operation 24/7, so hopefully you won't lose about 45 episodes of No Reservations like I just did. There are no prices yet, but look for the new CinemaStar 7K1000.B this August.

Hitachi Delivers High-Capacity, Low-Power Digital Video Storage For the Tera Era

Hitachi CoolSpin Technology Delivers Low Power and Quiet Acoustics for Digital Video Applications

SAN JOSE, Calif. – July 30, 2008 – Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi) today introduced two new CinemaStar™ hard drives optimized for use in digital video recorders (DVRs) and set-top boxes. The CinemaStar™ 7K1000.B is available in a broad range of capacities up to one terabyte (1TB) and the CinemaStar 5K320 delivers up to 320GB of capacity and incorporates innovative Hitachi CoolSpin™ technology.

CoolSpin drives use a motor speed optimized for low power and acoustics, enabling Hitachi to deliver the industry’s quietest, most energy-efficient 3.5-inch hard drives. Hitachi CoolSpin enables a new generation of DVRs and set-top boxes that store more hours of video, run more quietly and use less power.

The new Hitachi CinemaStar drives include the following:

Drive mechanics designed for continuous 24x7 operation

Silent-seek acoustics for nearly inaudible operation

Three low-power idle modes for best-in-class power utilization and heat emission

Smart Command Transport (SCT) and SmoothStream technology optimizes the drive for uninterrupted audio and video streaming

Expanded temperature range to enable fan-free DVR designs

Ramp load/unload design to increase shock protection and power savings

Thermal monitoring and fly-height control to enhance drive reliability during lengthy video encoding/decoding sessions

Optional Bulk Data Encryption (BDE) for increased protection against data loss

Proven perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology helps to ensure maximum stability, reliability and data integrity

CinemaStar 7K1000.B

The CinemaStar 7K1000.B is based on the recently-introduced, second-generation Hitachi 7,200 RPM terabyte hard drive family. The new 3.5-inch drives, available in capacities ranging from 160GB to 1TB, leverage seven generations of power management technology to deliver best-in-class low power and thermal emissions. Hitachi used HiVERT technology, first pioneered on 2.5-inch Travelstar drives, to increase the power efficiency characteristics of the drive. The CinemaStar 7K1000.B enables device manufacturers to develop DVRs that run cooler and require less power, which ultimately leads to longer product life.

All CinemaStar products are enhanced with silent-seek acoustics to deliver bedroom-quiet operation, and a Hitachi patented load/unload ramp mechanism that helps prevent disk wear and protects the disk during non-operation. The CinemaStar 7K1000.B is also built using the industry’s most reliable perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology for maximum stability, reliability and data integrity.

1TB CinemaStar hard drives can hold up to 247 hours of MPEG-4 encoded high definition video1 and can support more than 10 simultaneous data streams.

CinemaStar 5K320

The CinemaStar 5K320 provides up to 320GB capacity and features innovative CoolSpin technology to deliver a new level of power efficiency and quiet operation for digital video applications. Key to CoolSpin technology is an optimization of motor speed to provide an ideal balance of performance, power utilization and acoustics.

Both CinemaStar drives announced today combine a targeted 1.2M hour Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)3 and extended operating temperature range to maximize DVR lifespan. At 3.1W idle power, the CinemaStar 5K320 helps meet low power compliance targets for consumer electronics devices and allow consumers to save on their energy costs.

The digital video recorder market continues to experience robust growth. IDC estimates that shipments of hard drives for personal video recording applications will grow at a 14% annual growth rate between 2007-20122.

“Hitachi has been making dramatic improvements in power savings generation to generation and our CoolSpin product line in particular, sets new standards for power-efficient audio/visual hard drives,” said Larry Swezey, director, Consumer and Commercial HDD Marketing and Strategy, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. “The Hitachi CinemaStar drives are designed to excel in DVR and set-top box applications, where cool operation, quiet acoustics and overall power efficiency are of critical importance.”

Availability

The CinemaStar 7K1000.B will begin shipping to customers worldwide in August and the CinemaStar 5K320 is expected to ship in September, 2008.

Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000B is Power Efficient 1TB Drive, Has Encryption Too

Kit Eaton — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

About a year ago we brought you the first retail terabyte HDD, the Deskstar 7K1000, and now Hitachi has released the Deskstar 7K1000.B. And Hitachi's worked quite hard on it: With a 32MB buffer and a three-disk layout, it's apparently the "world's most power-efficient 1TB drive" and consumes about 43% less power when idling. And for those of you who think "bleh" to the power savings, it also has built-in encryption, which Hitachi says doesn't impact on read/write speeds at all. Out soon for $279, which puts it in competition with the Samsung HD103UJ. Available July for $279. [Hitachi and BoingBoing Gadgets]

Lenovo IdeaCentre K210: Desktops Are Still Cool, Right Guys? Guys?

Mark Wilson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Lenovo is preparing to release a fancy new desktop, the IdeaCentre K210. Featuring specs up to an Intel Core 2 Quad processor, 3GB of RAM, optional Blu-ray drive, multicard reader, webcam with VeriFace recognition and anti-bacterial keyboard, none of the specs will scream ultimate gaming machine, but the PCs start at just $379 (with the 22-inch monitor costing an extra $299). As for the style, it's pretty much how I picture a sci-fi movie from the early '90s depicting computers of the future—shiny, but with the same basic shape they had when Sandra Bullock could pass as a hacker. Read on for the entire spec rundown.

Lenovo Enters Global Consumer Desktop Market With ``IdeaCentre'' Brand

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Lenovo has announced the launch of the IdeaCentre K210 desktop, marking the company’s global entry into the consumer desktop market outside of China. This announcement follows the recent debut of Lenovo’s IdeaPad series of notebooks, which signaled Lenovo’s dramatic jump into the worldwide consumer notebook business outside of China earlier this year.

Lenovo’s IdeaCentre and IdeaPad introductions are timely, as IDC forecasts worldwide consumer PC demand to grow by nearly ten percent a year between 2007 and 20111.

The IdeaCentre K210 is designed for user comfort and convenience. For example, Lenovo is the only worldwide PC maker to offer the cutting edge “Bright Vision” technology2, which actually detects how far the user is from the monitor and adjusts the brightness accordingly.

Your face is your password

Among the new technologies the IdeaCentre K210 utilizes is VeriFace™3 facial recognition technology that allows the user to log in by having the camera recognize his/her facial image. The K210 is the only desktop PC to offer this distinctive feature. Additionally, The K210 features an anti-microbial keyboard that uses special material to inhibit bacterial growth. This is especially helpful for families that have numerous people using the same keyboard and are concerned with “keyboard germs.”

For ease of use and system recovery Lenovo offers the Lenovo Vantage Technology (LVT) menu. With just a single touch the user can more easily recover from system crashes or viruses. The File Management feature helps save critical data on a special system partition in the event of system failure. And for the “easy open” experience, Lenovo has built in its tool-free design which allows for easy expansion, serviceability and modifications.

Industry leading system specs include:

* Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Processors

* Intel® GMA 3100 integrated graphics

* Blueray HD-DVD Combo accommodates home theater

* High definition audio 5.1 for reverberating sound

* Gamers will love the optional upgrade to ATI Radeon 2600 XT (512MB)

Pricing and Availability

The IdeaCentre K210 is available on Lenovo.com, at various retail outlets in the United States and through Lenovo business partners. The starting price is $379 (after mail-in-rebate). The L195W, 19-inch monitor is priced at $229 (after mail-in-rebate). The L222W, 22-inch monitor is priced at $299 (after mail-in-rebate).

Xbox 360 Price Cut Leaked By K-Mart Weekly Circular

Jason Chen — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:54:16 EDT

A forum user High-Def Digest just posted a scan from next week's K-Mart weekly circular ad showing a price drop of $50 on the Xbox 360 Premium. The $299 price still includes a 20GB hard drive, and the timing of this supposed price drop matches up with whatever announcements Microsoft is going to have at E3—some of which which are rumored to either be a price drop or a newer version with slightly bigger storage. Kotaku points out that there's no price drop for either of the other two models, but with the Arcade sitting at $279, it seems more than likely that Microsoft will lower that as well. [High Def Digest via NeoGAF via Kotaku]

Wind, Solar Recharge Tent Keeps Phones Juiced at Glastonbury Festival

Elaine Chow — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Glastonbury festivalgoers won't have to worry about not having enough juice in their cellphones, thanks to U.K. mobile company Orange's green cellphone charging stations. The freestanding tentpods draw their electricity from a wind generator and solar panels. With a peak power of 1Kw, the pod can charge up to 100 mobile phones per hour and stores unused energy in a battery bank. The tent also contains a fully functional weather station and a nifty panel that keeps track of power generated and consumed throughout the festival.

The new pod, an evolution from the Orange portable wind charger that debuted at Glastonbury 2007, will act as a trial in using renewable energy sources on a larger scale. If everything goes well, the technology will become a staple at “Chill n' Charge tents” in future festivals. The pod can be found within the Pennard Hill camping grounds at Worthy Farm in Somerset. [Slashphone]

NHK Projector Features Insane 7680 x 4320 (8K) Resolution

Sean Fallon — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:55:00 EDT

Japanese TV broadcaster NHK has demonstrated Super Hi-Vision, their whopping 32 megapixel, 8K (7680 x 4320) ultra-high definition projector technology using two LCoS projectors with a combined 8,000 lumens brightness and a towering 6.6m x 3.7m 300-inch projection screen. For those of you who are counting, that absolutely obliterates the 4K (3840 x 2,160) full-HD standard. They have even developed a matching 8K studio camera. Once again this raises the question: is there such a thing as too much HD? [CNET]

ATC5K: We're Way Too Chicken to Use this Helmet Camcorder

Mark Wilson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EDT

We're not really that extreme. Wait...we're on the internet and can be whoever we want to be...

We're so fucking XTREME. When we skydive without parachutes into our kayaks, we always tape our adventures on the Oregon Scientific ATC5K camera! Sure, its 640 x 480 resolution at 30fps doesn't sound amazing, but it can withstand rain and snow while recording our adventures on an SD card. And once we've exhausted our supply of 50% Red Bull/50% Mt. Dew out of our CamelBak, we can relive the adrenaline rush by watching our adventures on the ATC5K's 1.5-inch screen!! (A rarity in helmet cams.) For the rest of you couch potatoes, the ATC5K will be available for $199 this August.

Hitachi's 2.5-Inch HDD Does 7200rpm Speeds With 5400rpm Power

Christopher Mascari — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:01:00 EDT

Fujitsu might have been the first to introduce a 2.5" 7200rpm hard drive with 320GB capacity, but Hitachi is hot on their trail. Today, Hitachi announced that they too have a quick lil'-drive, the Travelstar 7K320. The HDD will support the same SATA 3Gbps interface as the Fujitsu, but will supposedly use less power. With only a 1.8 watt read/write power draw and a 0.8 watt low power idle, Hitachi claims the 7200rpm 7K320 power consumption is on par with their 5400rpm models. So if you were set on getting a faster 2.5" 320GB HD for your notebook, Hitachi's version should be available in a few weeks with a $219 price tag. Press release after the jump.

Hitachi Delivers Performance Without Sacrifice in New 7,200 RPM Travelstar Hard Drive
New 320GB Notebook Hard Drive Combines High Capacity and Superior Performance With Power Efficiency and Low Acoustics

SAN JOSE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Continuing its longstanding tradition of delivering superior performance with no sacrifices required, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today began shipment of its fourth-generation 7,200 RPM mobile hard drive, the Travelstar™ 7K320. The new drive delivers 60 percent higher capacity than its predecessor, while improving application performance by 12 percent and power consumption by 22 percent. The drive's quiet acoustics improve the experience of watching movies or listening to music on a notebook PC. The 2.5-inch drive is offered with optional Bulk Data Encryption for users wanting increased data security. Hitachi also plans to ship enhanced-availability (EA) models, designed to provide high-capacity storage for low-duty-cycle, 24x7 applications.

The performance attributes of the Travelstar 7K320 allow consumers to opt for a full-featured notebook or compact desktop model, while still achieving all the capacity and performance typically associated with a more traditional desktop PC. The new drives bring forth a number of essential features that are in strong demand from manufacturers of notebooks, compact desktops, gaming systems, blade servers and video surveillance systems. Some of these attributes include best-in-class operating shock protection of 400Gs, 5,400 RPM-equivalent power consumption and quiet acoustics.

"As operating systems have grown more complex, users have struggled with an overall decrease in system performance," said Larry Swezey, director, Consumer and Commercial HDD, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "Solid state drives (SSD) have yet to deliver an overall increase in speed, and certainly not at an affordable price. The 7,200 RPM speed of the Travelstar 7K320 provides an improved overall experience, at the capacities users want and at a far lower cost than SSD."

Gartner is predicting worldwide mobile PC shipments will surpass global desk-based PC shipments in the second half of 20091. This evolution has been driven by the ever improving performance-for-price of mobile PCs, relative to desktop PCs. Hitachi believes the greater availability of 7,200 RPM hard drives will help accelerate this trend, as more users realize the benefits of combining desktop-class performance with the convenience and portability of a notebook.

Advanced Features

The Travelstar 7K320 includes many features that translate into very tangible benefits for users, including:

* 320GB capacity for storing approximately 80 hours of high definition video, 320 hours of standard video, 100 movies, 80,000 4-minute MP3s or 160 games2
* The 7,200 RPM provides any operating system with a noticeable advantage in boot times and application performance. A SATA 3Gb/s interface and fast media transfer rates provide faster file copying and document retrieval, better graphics and improved game performance
* Best-in-class operating shock protection of 400Gs to minimize the effects of rough handling and vibration
* Power utilization on par with Hitachi's 5,400 RPM mobile drives, so that users can enjoy more "unplugged" notebook computing time
* The drive's quiet acoustics provide a richer audio listening experience for music, movies and games

Protect Your Data

The Travelstar 7K320 features optional Bulk Data Encryption (BDE), a capability that Hitachi has offered in its mobile hard drives since the start of 2007. Previously, data on a hard drive could be protected either through software-based encryption or a system-level password. Hard drive level encryption provides improved performance and a higher level of security than any of the previously available methods.

When employing bulk data encryption, data is scrambled using a key as it is being written to the disk and then descrambled with the key as it is retrieved. Thus, data encryption at the hard-drive level represents a more sophisticated approach of securing users' data and is generally considered to be virtually impenetrable. Another benefit is that it speeds and simplifies the drive re-deployment process. By deleting the encryption key, the data on the drive is rendered unreadable, thereby eliminating the need for time-consuming data-overwrite.

BDE models ship exclusively with a SATA 1.5Gb/s interface.

Technical Specifications:

Travelstar 7K320
320/250/160/120/80GB
9.5mm in height
7,200 RPM
252 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
2/2/1/1/1 glass disks
4/4/2/2/1 TMR recording head(s)
1000G/1ms non-operating shock
400G/2ms operating shock
4.2ms average latency
12ms average read time
1.0W active idle
0.8W low-power idle
Serial ATA 3Gb/s, 1.5Gb/s encrypted
115/110 grams in weight
2.5Bels typical idle acoustics
2.8Bels typical operational acoustics

Availability

The Travelstar 7K320 is now shipping to customers worldwide. The enhanced-availability version of the drive is expected to ship in the third quarter of 2008.

About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies develops advanced hard disk drives to store and preserve the world's valued data. Founded by the pioneers of hard drives, Hitachi GST enables users to fully engage in the digital lifestyle by providing high-value, high-capacity storage in formats suitable for the office, in the home or on the road. With vertically integrated research, design and manufacturing capabilities, Hitachi GST delivers leadership technology and quality to its global customer base.

With approximately 33,000 employees worldwide, Hitachi GST offers a comprehensive range of hard drive products for desktop computers, high-performance storage systems and servers, notebooks and consumer devices. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.hitachigst.com.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies trademarks are authorized for use in countries and jurisdictions in which Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has the right to use, market and advertise the brands. The Travelstar trademark is authorized for use in the Americas, EMEA, and in the Asia-Pacific region in the following countries: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE:HIT) (TOKYO:6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled 10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.

1 Garter Global PC Forecast and Shipments Quarterly Statistics, George Shiffler, March 13, 2008

One GB is equal to one billion bytes and one TB is equal to 1,000 GB when referring to hard drive capacity. Accessible capacity may be less.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies' trademarks are authorized for use in countries and jurisdictions in which Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has the right to use, market and advertise the brands. The Travelstar trademark is authorized for use in the Americas, EMEA, and the following Asia-Pacific countries and jurisdictions: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. Hitachi Global Storage Technologies shall not be liable to third parties for unauthorized use of its trademarks.

2 Actual storage may vary depending on the compression rate applied. Capacities may not be combined.

Color Laser Printer CLP-315K is World's Smallest, Says Samsung

Kit Eaton — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:10:37 EDT

20% smaller than the previous generation, Samsung is claiming their new CLP-315K is actually the World's smallest color laser printer. It's got a resolution of 2,400 x 600 dpi and can spit out four letter-sized pages per minute in color and 17 in black, and apparently it has improved photo quality output. There's also another small all-in-one edition, the CLX-3175FNK, which has a scanner built in and can scan to and print from USB memory sticks so it can operate PC-free if you need it to. There's no word on release date or price yet, sorry. [Akihabaranews]

Crowded Ultraportable Party Gets Dissected

Christopher Mascari — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:00:43 EDT

The guys over at Liliputing have a done a great service for all who are looking for the perfect low-cost ultraportable notebook. They've made a "comprehensive list of low-cost ultraportables", that not only shows you what's available and what's not, but also provides information for every unit. So if you've been craving an ultra-portable, check out the list. Though proceed with caution, 'cause if you've already decided on a model this list might make your head explode. [Liliputing]

Lightning Review: Sony Ericsson K850i CyberShot Phone (Verdict: Almost Usable, But Not Quite)

Adrian Covert — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:55:24 EDT

The Gadget: Sony Ericsson's K850i is part of Sony's CyberShot line of phones which boast high quality cameras in a cellphone package. In addition to its 5 MP camera and unusual design, the phone has three touch sensitive buttons just below the screen. Is this powerful enough to throw your point and shoot aside?

The Verdict: The dedicated camera buttons (on/off, shutter, zoom, photo/video/playback) on the side go a long way toward making this feel like a real point and shoot. It takes good photos in average daylight situations and has a powerful flash. It comes with a standard array of modes (macro, sports, twilight, etc...), and specialized features like BestPic, which takes 9 "burst" photos and lets you pick the best one. The four digit keys on the right side also become dedicated buttons in camera mode, with blue icons that glow while active. Photos are good in daylight and the flash is powerful. Videos are smooth, but show visible signs of compression.

As a camera, the interface its a step toward feeling like an actual camera, but it's still not there. It's extremely awkward to hold the phone in camera mode and and use any of the buttons on the backside of the phone. It's just not ready to replace a point and shoot. Which makes it's size (almost an inch thick), somewhat inexcusable.

Sony Ericsson's UI is as polished as a non-smartphone interface comes. Everything on the screen is laid out clearly, menus are intuitive, icons are bright and colorful. I'm not a huge fan of the keypad cosmetically, but it does look nice when it glows. My main gripe is the keypad has too many buttons crammed around the screen. A green four-way navigation ring wraps around two buttons, neither of which are used as a select button. (Both are hot keys; one for web, one for messaging.) The selection and context functions are passed on to the touch-sensitive keys, which are a nightmare to use. I have to press the touch keys repeatedly and in different ways to get them to work. The silver hard keys are placed too close to the touch-sensitive keys, which led me to hit wrong keys repeatedly.

While there are a lot of good things this phone offers, none of them outweigh the bad found in the essential features.

Experience the Joys of Constant Lag With Xbox Live on Dial-Up

Elaine Chow — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EDT

For you poor, poor souls who own an Xbox 360 but still rely on dial-up for your internet, an intrepid Instructables member has written up a great "How To" on using your phone line to log onto Xbox Live. All you need is a PC running Windows with a working dial-up connection, an ethernet cable and an Xbox 360 (duh). Yes! Now even those of us still riding along the 56.6K information dirt trail will be able to download new Rock Band tracks! [Instructables]

Red's 5k, 4k, and 3k Pro Cameras: What the Resolution Really Means

Jason Chen — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:20:00 EDT

Here's why we're excited about Red's announcements of their 3K Scarlet and 5K Epic digital cameras. Their insane resolution. It's one thing to talk about resolution as an abstract number, but Red has a fantastic chart comparing these resolutions to things you're actually familiar with, like your HDTV or your old SDTV. Even the Scarlet, the most affordable of their cameras, dwarfs your 1080p TV in the way that Wilt Chamberlain's "scoring" record dwarfs ours. [Red]

RED Launches 5K RED EPIC Flagship Camera

Adrian Covert — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:04:48 EDT

RED just announced their new RED EPIC flagship video camera at NAB, which uses a new, full-frame S35mm Mysterium X sensor. The Mysterium X matches the quality of 35mm film at 5k resolution and one ups the 4k Mysterium sensor found in the RED ONE. The EPIC can also shoot framerates up to 100 FPS.

Other features of the Aluminum-framed beast include full size, dual-link HD SDI, 2 XLR audio inputs, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Firewire 800 and USB 2.0. It also weighs 6 pounds. And if any of you happened to purchase the $17500 RED ONE, you can exchange it and receive full credit towards the RED EPIC (which currently has no price tag). RED currently plans on an early 2009 release for the EPIC. [RED]

SPECIFICATIONS:
* FULL FRAME S35MM NEW MYSTERIUM X SENSOR
* 1-100 FPS
* UP TO 100 MB/SEC. REDCODE RAW AND RGB RECORDING TO REDFLASH
* FULL SIZE DUAL LINK HD-SDI, 2-XLR AUDIO INPUTS AND HDMI
* WI-FI CONTROL
* FIREWIRE 800 and USB2
* 6 POUND FULLY MACHINED ALUMINUM BODY WITH HYBRID STAINLESS PL MOUNT
* COMPATIBLE WITH MOST RED ONE ACCESSORIES
* FULLY UPGRADABLE SENSOR, BODY, BOARDS AND MOUNT.

SPECIFICATIONS, DELIVERY DATES AND DESIGN ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE... COUNT ON IT.

Toshiba IK-HD1 is World's Smallest HDTV Camera

Haroon Malik — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:59:00 EDT

With vital measurements of 1-6-inches cubed and 2.3-ounces in weight, Toshiba's IK-HD1 waltzes in to easily steal the "Smallest HDTV Camera, Ever" title. Packed to the miniature eyeballs with three CCD chips, the 1K-HD1 can capture video at broadcast-quality at 1080i, but it won't be making its way to your camcorder anytime soon. The tiny marvel is actually intended for professional broadcasting, and needs to be hooked up to a rather sizable control unit, which can be placed up to 90-feet away. It appears Mr Professional Broadcasting wins again. Dammit. [DVice]

The Conclusion: Creative Backs Down Against Driver Modder, Reinstates Posts

Jason Chen — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EDT

The story of Daniel_K vs. Creative reaches a temporary conclusion as Creative reinstates the deleted forum posts by Daniel that helped other users get their sound cards working under Vista. The company did this as a result of angry forum and blog posts (some here as well), mostly all siding with Daniel.

On the one hand, Daniel says "They publicly threatened me, just to show their arrogance. They were sarcastic, ironic and asked me if I wanted something from them, as if I were expecting something. It was my protest against them and would like to see how far it would go."

On the other hand, Creative does have a legal right to protect their software, and if they want to force users to upgrade in order to get proper functionality, it's their right to do so (even if it is somewhat of a dick move). Daniel himself admits that he crossed the line, both with asking for donations and this:

Reversing ALchemy was also wrong, I know. But I reiterate, what is the point of improving ALchemy and changing for it, when it requires an improved driver? It was my protest against Creative.

To Creative's credit, they do realize the error of their ways and are being more acceptive to new forms of development. But Daniel's not without his faults here, which seems to be something glossed over on recent accounts of the situation. In the end, the posts are back up and people can go ahead and get their cards working on Vista, which is probably the most important thing any of us will take away from this mess. That, and the fact that John Stamos has aged quite well. [The Register]

Creative's statement:

We have read the strong feedback about Creative's forum post regarding driver development by Daniel_k and other outside parties. Creative's message posted on our behalf by our Company spokesperson tried to address our concern about the improper distribution of certain software which is the property of other companies. However, we did not make it as clear as we would have liked that we do support driver development by independent third parties. The huge task of developing driver updates to accommodate the many changes in the Vista operating system and the extensive testing required, including the lengthy Vista certification requirements for audio, makes it very difficult for Creative to develop updates for all past products. Outside developers have been very helpful to Creative and our customers by developing updates for many of our Sound Blaster products, and we do support and appreciate these efforts. This however does not extend to the unauthorized distribution of other companies' property. We hope to work out a mutually agreeable method for working with Daniel_k in supporting his efforts in driver development. Going forward, we are committed to doing a better job of working more closely with third parties to support their development for our products and our customers.

Creative Presents Cease-and-Desist Note to Developer Hero

Haroon Malik — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

After Vista's release, Creative's Audigy Sound Blaster series lost a lot of their in-built functionality. Developer, good-guy and all around hero, Daniel_K stepped up to the challenge, putting together his own drivers and asking for non-obligatory donations in recognition of his effort. Daniel_K's drivers restored functionality, and added some extra features to boot. That's great news, right? Apparently not; Creative is pissed.

We're not too sure why Creative wouldn't want their old products having proper cross OS support implemented. Sure, they do provide beta drivers, but word is they aren't to stable, plus we're guessing their newer, shinier and more expensive replacement devices have something to do with it. Frankly, those won't sell if some asshole is putting down his own, backward compatible drivers to bring old hardware up to speed. Checkout what Creative had to say below:

Daniel_K:
We are aware that you have been assisting owners of our Creative sound cards for some time now, by providing unofficial driver packages for Vista that deliver more of the original functionality that was found in the equivalent XP packages for those sound cards. In principle we don't have a problem with you helping users in this way, so long as they understand that any driver packages you supply are not supported by Creative. Where we do have a problem is when technology and IP owned by Creative or other companies that Creative has licensed from, are made to run on other products for which they are not intended. We took action to remove your thread because, like you, Creative and its technology partners think it is only fair to be compensated for goods and services. The difference in this case is that we own the rights to the materials that you are distributing. By enabling our technology and IP to run on sound cards for which it was not originally offered or intended, you are in effect, stealing our goods. When you solicit donations for providing packages like this, you are profiting from something that you do not own. If we choose to develop and provide host-based processing features with certain sound cards and not others, that is a business decision that only we have the right to make.

Although you say you have discontinued your practice of distributing unauthorized software packages for Creative sound cards we have seen evidence of them elsewhere along with donation requests from you. We also note in a recent post of yours on these forums, that you appear to be contemplating the release of further packages. To be clear, we are asking you to respect our legal rights in this matter and cease all further unauthorized distribution of our technology and IP. In addition we request that you observe our forum rules and respect our right to enforce those rules. If you are in any doubt as to what we would consider unacceptable then please request clarification through one of our forum moderators before posting.

Phil O'Shaughnessy
VP Corporate Communications
Creative Labs Inc.

How very, very greedy, Mr Creative. On a side note, I've been having a pretty bad CS experience with Creative myself; anyone calling in agreement / disagreement? [Creative; Daniel_K Drivers. Picture via DK Images]

Thinkware iNAVI K2 GPS Makes Navigation Look Like a Game

Kit Eaton — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:12:46 EDT

While we were raving about Dash Express' neat real-time info, Thinkware has launched a new navigation device that packs so much 3D graphic goodness its display looks like Crazy Taxi. The iNAVI K2's amazingly detailed 3D maps are rendered on its 4.8-inch 800 x 480 pixel screen in a photo-realistic way, and it even uses a three-axis sensor to detect the absolute direction changes of your car. This speeds up its positioning system, and makes it sound even more like a games console. It uses an 8GB SDHC memory, with 256MB of its own RAM, has multimedia functions, photo viewing and, yes, plays games. Out in Korea (where else?) for $556. [Aving]

Saturday Art Project: K-3PO Papercraft

Mark Wilson — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:27:27 EST

What are you doing today? Nothing. You're sitting around reading Gizmodo. (Not that there's anything wrong with that—thanks for stopping by.) But why not be productive with your day and build this K-3PO papercraft model? (You can F5 Gizmodo in the background.)

Craft Tip: spray paint the finished version gold and everyone will think you built a C-3PO model. And one day, in a fit of rage, you can tell your best friend that you slept with his girlfriend AND that for all those years he was duped into thinking that model on your coffee table was C-3PO when you'd really constructed a paper version of the similar but white robot and just painted it gold. Bwahahaha. [model via neatorama and blog@papercraft]

Round-Up: Sony 2008 Line Show Goodie Bag

Kit Eaton — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:30:10 EST

As you may have noticed, Sony is currently planted in Vegas, announcing gear it withheld from us at CES. The biggest news is the arrival of the BDP S350 and S550, the first full-spec 2.0 Blu-ray players, complete with Ethernet and the long-awaited BD-Live compatibility. On Monday, Sony also gave us two new high-performance Cyber-shots, the W300 and H50. And just this morning they announced everything from a tiny dongle (for Bluetooth audio) to a huge rack (for A/V management), though no TVs or VAIOs. Here are the most interesting highlights:

•PFR V1 - Funky head-worn speakers that reflect full-range sound into your ears

•NHS 130C - A massive rack-mounted high-definition audio-video system

•MDR AS100W - Outdoor sports headphones that convert into earbuds when the workout ends

•NWZ A720, A820 and A820K - New 2.4-inch screen A/V Network Walkmans (Walkmen?) with Bluetooth A2DP

• - HT-7200, HT-SS2300, HT-CT100 and HT-DDWG700Home-theater-in-a-box systems to accompany Sony's Blu-ray players (sold separately of course)

•PS-LX300USB - A USB turntable for converting your old records to MP3

[More Sony on Giz]

Sony NWZ A720, A820 and A820K Walkman Players Have Built-in Bluetooth, 2.4-inch LCD

Jason Chen — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:01:01 EST

Sony's NWZ-A720, A820 and A820K Walkman players all look alike, but the 8-series has added Bluetooth to sweeten the deal. It's quite similar to their NW-A829 and NW-A828 brothers that were announced in Japan, in fact.

NWA-A720
• 4, 8 and 16GB
• Windows Media DRM compatible
• MP3/AAC/WMA/L-PCM audio
• h.264/MPEG4 Video
• 2.4-inch LCD
• Comes with EX-Headphones
• 36 hours of battery life

The NWA-A820 is exactly the same as the A720, but comes in a 16GB version with Bluetooth 1.3 A2Dp on board. The NWZ-A820K is also exactly the same as the A820, which includes the Bluetooth 1.3 A2DP streaming, but comes with a pair of Bluetooth headphones. However, the 820K is only available in an 8GB model.

SONY UNVEILS NOISE CANCELING AND BLUETOOTH WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY ENABLED WALKMAN VIDEO MP3 PLAYERS
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 26, 2008 - Sony today unveiled three new Walkman® video MP3 models that for the first time in the United States support noise-canceling and Bluetooth® technologies.
All three NWZ-S710F, NWZ-A720 and NWZ-A820 Walkman® players also support common audio formats, including MP3s.
"Achieving the highest audio quality is one of our top priorities when designing our players," said Steve Haber, senior vice president of the Digital Imaging and Audio Division at Sony Electronics.
High-Quality Audio and Video
The new Walkman® video players offer great video resolution and brightness, along with high-quality sound and an extended battery life. They come with Sony's EX series in-ear-buds with 13.5 mm drivers that passively block out ambient noise and help create a better listener experience.
Sony's clear audio technologies are also included and significantly improve sound quality when playing back digital music files. They fill in the high tones that can be lost during file compression, enhance the bass, minimize distortion and maintain a consistent channel signal.
The devices have a standard user interface that makes it easy to enjoy songs, videos or pictures. For exceptional image quality, the video players have a large Quarter Video Graphics Array (QVGA) LCD screen that displays video at 30 frames per second. QVGA is a display mode for small screens in which the resolution is 320 pixels vertically by 240 pixels horizontally.
The battery life is up to 33 hours of music playback for NWZ-S710F models and up to 36 hours for NWZ-A720 and NWZ-A820 models. The battery life is also up to nine-and-a-half hours of video playback for the NWZ-S710F model and up to 10 hours for the NWZ-A720 and NWZ-A820 models.
Integrated Noise-Canceling Walkman® Players
For business travelers or families who want to keep the volume down and the audio quality high, Sony has created the NWZ-S710F series of noise canceling Walkman® players.
These Walkman® players have a built-in noise-canceling system that can reduce up to 75 percent of the ambient noise. Five clear audio technologies are built into the device to create sound clarity that maintains the same quality of the original source.
Because the system diminishes intrusive noise, listeners can avoid turning up the volume. Travelers can turn on the noise canceling feature and get peace and quiet even without listening to music.
The compact and lightweight NWZ-S710 players have a 1.8-inch QVGA (320 by 240 pixels) LCD screen (measured diagonally). They include an FM tuner with 30 presets that make it convenient to listen to the radio on the go.
With or Without Wires
The NWZ-A720 series has a bigger 2.4-inch QVGA (320 by 240 pixels) LCD screen (measured diagonally). Incorporating the design ethos of both the previous A and S Series Walkman® players, these models have a slim body and a sleek industrial design.
With the same look and feature set as the NWZ-A720 series, the NWZ-A820 and NWZ-A820K series adds Bluetooth® technology. This technology eliminates the inconvenience of wires while streaming tunes from the MP3 device to headphones or other devices with Bluetooth® technology. It also makes it easier to listen to music virtually anywhere, anytime: in the living room, bedroom, office or even outdoors.
These Walkman® players have a 2.4-inch QVGA (320 by 240 pixels) LCD screen (measured diagonally). For NWZ-A820 and NWZ-A820K series, users can manually delete videos directly from the devices' internal memory without connecting to a PC.
For fitness enthusiasts, the NWZ-A820K Walkman® player comes bundled with both the EX-series earbuds and the DR-BT21G Bluetooth® wireless technology enabled headphones. With a wireless behind-the-neck style, the DR-BT21G stereo Bluetooth® headset has built-in remote control features that play, pause and forward tracks. Fully charged, this headset offers hours of listening to music, watching videos or hands-free talking while connected to a compatible cell phone.
These devices use Bluetooth® Stereo technology with Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) to deliver high-quality sound. The Walkman® players support multiple digital music devices and accessories, including headphones, headsets and speakers with Bluetooth® technology.
Consumers can check whether their Sony device is compatible by visiting www.sony.com/bluetoothstereo.
Sony's Open Platform Means More Choice
The Walkman® players support an open platform, providing more choices for downloading and managing music and video collections online. The devices support security-enhanced Windows Media Audio (WMA), as well as non-secure AAC, linear PCM and MP3 music formats, plus JPEG files for photos, in addition to the AVC (H.264/AVC) Baseline Profile and MPEG-4 video codecs.
The Walkman® video players store up to 3,800 songs on the 16GB models, 1,850 songs on the 8GB models and 925 songs on the 4GB models, for songs an average of four minutes in length at 128kbps in the MP3 format.
All of the new players are compatible with most subscription music services. The new players are Certified for Windows Vista, meaning they have passed a series of compatibility tests including Plays For Sure verification.
To help manage digital music libraries, the new Sony Walkman® video players come with Microsoft Windows Media Player 11. This familiar interface makes transferring music very intuitive.
Pricing and Availability
The NWZ-S710F series of Walkman® noise canceling video MP3 players come in two different capacities and three colors:
• The NWZ-S716F player has approximately 4GB of internal storage; comes in silver, red and black and will cost about $150.
• The NWZ-S718F player has approximately 8GB of internal storage; comes in black and will cost about $200.

The NWZ-A720 series of Walkman® video MP3 players come in three different capacities and two colors:
• The NWZ-A726 player has approximately 4GB of internal storage; comes in black and pink; and costs about $150.
• The NWZ-A728 player has approximately 8GB of internal storage; comes in black and pink and costs about $200.
• The NWZ-A729 player has approximately 16GB of internal storage, comes in black, and costs about $300.

The NWZ-A820 and NWZ-A820K series of Walkman® Bluetooth® wireless technology enabled video players will initially be available in the following configurations:
• The NWZ-A828K comes in black, has approximately 8GB of internal storage, and costs about $270.
• The NWZ-A829 comes in black has approximately 16GB of internal storage, and costs about $320.

Presales have begun for the new Walkman® models online at www.sonystyle.com/walkman and at Sony Style stores. The players will be available in March across the country at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

$6 Million Kipnis Home Theater Seats 3, Might Be Worth the Money

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST

Often when we encounter these super deluxe home theater rigs, we can't figure out where all that money goes. Not so for the Kipnis Studio Standard, the austere name Jeremy Kipnis gave to his $6 million trial home theater, one he's happy to reproduce for any other way-too-well-off citizen who asks. I mean, yeah, it's totally ridiculous, but with 8.8 channels of surround sound, 16 subwoofers and video resolution four times as tight as 1080p, at least you see where ~~your~~ some rich dude's money is going.

For one thing, we've laughed in the past at fancy home theaters that still had 720p monitors; well, this guy leapfrogs even 1080p and goes with Sony's formerly commercial $100,000 4K SRX-R110 projector, lighting up an 18-by-10-foot Stewart Snowmatte "laboratory-grade" screen. Ironically, the Sony doesn't have an HDMI HDCP input, but it can upconvert all Blu-ray and HD DVD content to 4,096 x 2,160 in analog. There's also a secondary projector, if you're just dying for the olden days of "full HD."

The sound system is 8.8 channel, though I can't figure out why it's not 9.16, or even 11.16, given the fact that there are eight Snell THX towers spaced all around, plus three Snell center-channel speakers, all powered by a combination of solid-state and tube amplifiers. As I hinted, the low end is handled by 16 Snell subwoofers. (I guess this means Snell makes the best speakers money can buy—I'll just file that away for...never.)

All of this is crowded into a room that's not ginormous by any means, just 26.5 x 33 feet, with a single three-cushion menage-a-trois couch as the focal point for all 11,315 watts of juice. (Fun Fact: That's like 11,215 more watts than anything I own.)

Want one? Well, you're in luck, cuz Jeremy Kipnis is selling this design, along with an even bigger one called the Alpha Ciné and a tinier one called the Gamma Ciné. That's right: $6 million doesn't even get you the Alpha; it gets you the Beta. [Kipnis via Crave and, most informatively, Audio Video Interiors]
Thanks Steve!

Comment of the Day

Benny Goldman — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:30:23 EST

Hey commenters: Despite what we may say to one another, I know deep down we are one big happy family. So after sifting through the daily dose of "Will it blend?"s, "DO (NOT) WANT"s, insane rants, conspiracy theories, and this well-crafted missive, I found something that was both funny and out of the ordinary, and it represents how much you all mean to me. True, it did come from the legend Strider_mt2k, but this is good advice for you up-and-comers who hope to see your own comment up in the bright lights one day. So here it is, your comment of the day, a quick one-liner found on the Massive Lens post:

BY STRIDER_MT2K AT 09:08 AM
Holy Milton Berle that thing's huge!

Well done Strider, well done. [Comment Link, Explanation for the kiddies]

Pentax K20D DSLR Gets Official With 14.6 Megapixels, Live View and Expanded Dynamic Range

matt buchanan — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:00:45 EST

Pentax's long-rumored $1299 K20D is a shot square at Canon's 40D and the Nikon D300. Besides price, it bests both in pure megapixel count—14.6 effective, with a new CMOS sensor developed w/ Samsung—and rocks the same top 3200 ISO (6400 expanded) as the D300. (Is it as impressively noiseless though?) Expanded Dynamic Range promises more contrast-y shots, plus image stabilization is built into the camera's body. Like the 40D and D300 it adds a live viewfinder, but it's a bit tinier, 2.7 inches to their 3, with less than a third of the D300's resolution, so the screen won't be nearly as gorgeous. It comes up a little short against the competition in a couple of other ways, too. Update: If you're really drooling over the K20D, have a look at the new Pentax-produced walkthrough video below.

For one, its continuous shooting mode tops out at 3 FPS at full quality, half of either the 40D or D300. Also, unlike what was rumored, its RAW A/D processor only 12-bit, coming in a smidge below their 14-bit processors. Still, it looks like a solid camera for the price. All of the dirty details for photo fiends below.

MODEL: K20D
TYPE: Digital SLR
PRODUCT CODE:
Body Kit: 19381, UPC: 027075130814
SENSOR
Type: CMOS with primary color filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system
Size: 23.4 x 15.6mm
Color depth: 8 bits/channel JPG, 12 bits/channel RAW
Effective pixels: 14.6 MP
Total pixels: 15.1 MP
Recorded resolutions: 4672x3104 (14.6M), 3872x2592 (10M), 3008x2000 (6M), 1824x1216 (2M)
Quality levels:  Premium,  Best,  Better,  Good
Dust Removal: Image sensor movement combined with SP coating

LENS MOUNT
Type/construction: Pentax KAF2 bayonet stainless steel mount
Usable lenses: Pentax KAF2, KAF, and KA (K mount, 35mm screwmount, 645/67 med format useable w/ adapter and/or restrictions)
SDM function: YES
Power zoom function: YES

FOCUS SYSTEM
Type: TTL phase-matching 11 point wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII)
Focus modes: AF Single (w/ focus lock), AF Continuous, Manual
Focus point adjustment: Auto, User-selectable, Center
AF assist: YES, via built-in flash

VIEWFINDER
Type: Pentaprism
Coverage (field of view): 95%
Magnification: 0.95x (w/ 50mm f/1.4 at infinity)
Standard focusing screen: Natural-Bright-Matte II
Diopter adjustment: -2.5 to 1.5
Depth of field preview: Optical diaphragm stop down, Digital, Live View (FOV 100%, magnification 4x/8x available, grid pattern available)
LCD MONITOR
Type: 2.7" TFT color LCD monitor, adjustable brightness/color, Live View available (TTL by image sensor, 100% FOV)
Resolution: Approx 230,000 dots
Wide angle viewable: YES, approx 160° horizontal/vertical

BUILT-IN FLASH
Type: Retractable P-TTL popup flash
Guide number: 13 (100/m)
Coverage: 28mm wide angle (equivalent to 35mm)
Flash modes: on, redeye, slow sync, slow sync + redeye, trailing curtain sync, wireless
Flash exposure compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 1/2 steps
EXTERNAL FLASH
Type: Hot Shoe (P-TTL, high speed sync available), Wireless with PENTAX dedicated flash, X-Sync socket
Synchronization speed: 1/180s

STORAGE MEDIA
Internal memory: n/a
Removable memory: SD, SDHC

INTERFACES
Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, video out, DC input, cable switch, X-Sync socket
Video out: NTSC, PAL
Printer interfaces: PictBridge

POWER SUPPLY
Power source: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery D-LI50, BG2 Battery Grip (optional) for second D-LI50 battery
Recordable images: Approx 740 (approx 530 with 50% flash)
Playback time: Approx 330 min
AC adapter available: YES (optional)

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Body dimensions (W x H x D): 5.6 x 4.0 x 2.76"
Body weight
Without battery or removable memory: 25.2 oz
Loaded and ready: 28.2 oz
Construction material(s): Reinforced plastic polymer shell surrounding a rugged stainless steel chassis
Operating temperature: 32-104°F

IMAGE STABILIZATION
Type: Body-based, sensor shift Shake Reduction (4 stops maximum)

METERING SYSTEM
Type: TTL open-aperture, 16 segment metering
Sensitivity range: EV 0-21 (ISO 100, 50mm f/1.4)
Multi-segment: YES, 16 segments
Center weighted: YES
Spot: YES
Exposure compensation: +/- 3EV (1/2 steps), +/- 2EV (1/3 steps)
Exposure lock: YES
Exposure bracketing: YES, 3 or 5 frames, up to +/- 2EV (1/2 or 1/3 steps)

ISO SENSITIVITY
Auto: 100-3200 ISO (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), Bulb mode up to ISO 1600, expanded range ISO available to ISO 6400
Manual: 100-3200 ISO (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), Bulb mode up to ISO 1600, expanded range ISO available to ISO 6400

WHITE BALANCE*
Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent (W, D, N), Flash, Color Temperature
Manual mode(s): YES
* WB fine adjustment available

SHUTTER
Type: Electronically controlled, vertical run, focal plane shutter
Shutter speed: 1/4000 to 30 sec, bulb available

CAPTURE MODES
Mode selection: Green, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Metered Manual, X Speed, Bulb, USER
Green simplified mode available: YES
P/A/S/M/B: P, A, S, M, B (extended modes include Sv, TAv)
Date stamp: n/a
Digital filters (capture): Custom Image Function includes Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, and Vibrant modes, each with gamut radar and fine adjustment of saturation, hue, contrast, and sharpness. Monochrome includes adjustment for filter effects (green, yellow, orange, red, magenta, blue, cyan, infrared), toning (sepia warm/cool), contrast, and sharpness (regular and fine adjustment scales).
Data record: Folder Name (standard, date), File Name (standard, customizable)

DRIVE MODES
Mode selection: Single, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Burst (1.6M, JPG), Self-Timer (12s, 2s), Remote (0s, 3s), Remote Continuous, Auto Bracket, Extended Bracket, Multi-Exposure, Interval
Continuous FPS:
- 3.0 FPS (38 JPG and Continuous Hi, 14 RAW PEF, 16 RAW DNG)
- 2.3 FPS (unlimited JPG and Continuous Lo, 14 RAW PEF, 16 RAW DNG)
- 20 FPS in Burst mode (115 at 1.6M, , JPG)
Self-timer: YES (12s, 2s)
Remote control: YES, infrared (0s, 3s, continuous) and cable switch supported

PLAYBACK MODES
Mode selection: One shot, two shots, index (4, 9, or 16 thumbnails), magnification, image rotation, folder view, slideshow, histogram, bright/dark indicators, RAW to JPG
Magnification: Up to 32x, scrollable
Digital filters (playback): B&W (4), Sepia (3), Color (18), Color Extract (6), Soft (3), Illustration, HDR (3), Slim (+/- 8), Brightness (+/- 8)

FILE FORMATS
Still: RAW PEF/DNG, JPG (EXIF 2.21), DCF 2.0 (design rule for camera file system), DPOF, Print Image Matching III
CUSTOM FUNCTIONS
Functions available: 36

FILE STORAGE MATRIX (BASED ON 1GB MEMORY)
JPG **** *** ** *
4672x3104 (14.6M) 68 117 212 411
3872x2592 (10M) 101 168 296 616
3008x2000 (6M) 176 285 491 915
1824x1216 (2M) 461 737 1233 2238
RAW
4672x3120 (14.6M) 40

COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS*
*For device connectivity. Bundled software requirements may vary.
Windows: Windows XP/Vista, USB port
Mac: MacOS 10.2 or later, USB 2.0 port

KIT INCLUSIONS
K20D body, USB Cable I-USB17, Video Cable I-VC28, Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery D-LI50, Battery Charge Cradle D-BC50, AC Plug Cord, Strap O-ST53, Hotshoe Cover FK, Eyecup FP, Body Mount Cover, Finder Cap for ME, Focusing Screen LF-80 Frame Matte, Bottom Cap K10D, Software CD-ROM S-SW74/75

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
AC Adapter Kit D-AC50, Battery Charger Kit K-BC50, Battery Grip BG2, Cap D-BG2 (for battery grip), Focusing Screen LL-80 AF Divided Matte, Focusing Screen LI-80 AF Scale Matte, Remote Control F, Cable Switch CS-205, Magnifying Eyepiece O-ME53, DSLR Gadget Bag, DSLR Sling Bag

Pentax K200D Swipes K10D's 10.2-Megapixel Imager for Hot Entry-Level DSLR

matt buchanan — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:00:40 EST

Pentax's previously peeked and rumored K200D also officially exists today, bringing with it a 10.2MP hand-me-down sensor from the K10D, Pentax's now-outdated prosumer model. It's on the same strata as Nikon's D80, with same MP count (its sensor is a smidge smaller, 23.5 x 15.7mm to the D80's 23.6 x 15.8mm), 12 bits/channel RAW and 100-1600 ISO range, though the K200D is a bit cheaper ($800 w/ lens), has a bigger screen (2.7 inches) and shoots a slightly slower continuously (2.8FPS to 3). Like the K20D, it has Expand Dynamic Range for poppier images, and image stabilization ("shake reduction" in Pentax-speak) built into the camera's body. Update: If all of this has raised an eyebrow, take a look at the K200D video walkthrough we just got, down below.

Interestingly, they chose not to trickle down live view as a differentiator, which could hurt depending on whether or not Canon puts it in their rumored EOS 400D successor. Of course, this could indicate makers writ large are leaning against doing so for now to keep some distance between entry-level and pricier models.

MODEL: K200D
TYPE: Digital SLR
PRODUCT CODE:
Body Kit: 19541, UPC: 027075138131
Lens Kit: 19554, UPC: 027075139855
SENSOR
Type: Interline interlace CCD with primary color filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system
Size: 23.5 x 15.7mm
Color depth: 8 bits/channel JPG, 12 bits/channel RAW
Effective pixels: 10.2 MP
Total pixels: 10.75 MP
Recorded resolutions: 3872x2592 (10M), 3008x2000 (6M), 1824x1216 (2M)
Quality levels:  Best,  Better,  Good
Dust removal: Image sensor movement combined with SP coating

LENS MOUNT
Type/construction: Pentax KAF2 bayonet stainless steel mount
Usable lenses: Pentax KAF2, KAF, and KA (K mount, 35mm screwmount, 645/67 med format useable w/ adapter and/or restrictions)
SDM function: YES
Power zoom function: n/a

FOCUS SYSTEM
Type: TTL phase-matching 11 point wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII)
Focus modes: AF Single (w/ focus lock), Manual, AF Continuous available in Action mode (including Auto Pict Action), Kids mode, Pet mode, P/A/S/M/B/Sv
Focus point adjustment: Auto, User-Selectable, Center
AF assist: YES, via built-in flash

VIEWFINDER
Type: Penta-Mirror
Coverage (field of view): 96%
Magnification: 0.85x (w/ 50mm f/1.4 at infinity)
Standard focusing screen: Natural-Bright-Matte II
Diopter adjustment: -2.5 to 1.5
Depth of field preview: Optical diaphragm stop down, Digital

LCD MONITOR
Type: 2.7" TFT color LCD monitor, adjustable brightness
Resolution: Approx 230,000 dots
Wide angle viewable: YES, approx 160° horizontal/vertical

BUILT-IN FLASH
Type: Retractable P-TTL popup flash
Guide number: 13 (100/m)
Coverage: 28mm wide angle (equivalent to 35mm)
Flash modes: TBA
Flash exposure compensation: -2 to 1 EV in 1/2 steps

EXTERNAL FLASH
Type: Hot Shoe (P-TTL, high speed sync available), Wireless with PENTAX dedicated flash
Synchronization speed: 1/180s

STORAGE MEDIA
Internal memory: n/a
Removable memory: SD, SDHC

INTERFACES
Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, video out, DC input, cable switch
Video out: NTSC, PAL
Printer interfaces: PictBridge

POWER SUPPLY
Power source: 4* AA (lithium, alkaline, NiMH rechargeable)
Recordable images: Approx 1100 w/ lithium (approx 550 w/ 50% flash use)
Playback time: Approx 700 min
AC adapter available: YES (optional)

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Body dimensions (W x H x D): 5.2 x 3.7 x 2.9"
Body weight
Without battery or removable memory: 22.2 oz
Loaded and ready: 24.3 oz w/ lithium batteries (25.6 oz w/ alkaline batteries)
Construction material(s): Reinforced plastic polymer shell around a rugged stainless steel chassis
Operating temperature: 32-104°F

IMAGE STABILIZATION
Type: Body-based, sensor shift Shake Reduction (4 stops maximum)

METERING SYSTEM
Type: TTL open aperture, 16 segment metering
Sensitivity range: EV 0-21 (ISO 100, 50mm f/1.4)
Multi-segment: YES, 16 segments
Center weighted: YES
Spot: YES
Exposure compensation: +/- 2 EV (1/2 or 1/3 steps)
Exposure lock: YES
Exposure bracketing: YES, 3 frames, up to +/- 1.5 (1/2 steps) or +/- 1.0 (1/3 steps)

ISO SENSITIVITY
Auto: 100-1600 ISO (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps)
Manual: 100-1600 ISO (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps)

WHITE BALANCE*
Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent (W, D, N), Flash, Color Temperature
Manual mode(s): YES
* WB fine adjustment available

SHUTTER
Type: Electronically controlled, vertical run, focal plane shutter
Shutter speed: 1/4000 to 30 sec, bulb available

CAPTURE MODES
Mode selection: Auto Picture, Picture (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, Standard Flash-Off), Scene (Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum), Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Metered Manual, Bulb
Green simplified mode available: n/a
P/A/S/M/B: P, A, S, M, B (extended modes include Sv)
Date stamp: n/a
Digital filters (capture): TBA
Data record: Folder Name (standard, date)

DRIVE MODES
Mode selection: Single, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-Timer (12s, 2s), Remote (0s, 3s), Auto Bracket
Continuous FPS:
- 2.8 FPS (4 JPG and Continuous Hi, 4 RAW)
- 1.1 FPS (unlimited JPG and Continuous Lo, 4 RAW)
Self-timer: YES (12s, 2s)
Remote control: YES, infrared (0s, 3s) and cable switch supported

PLAYBACK MODES
Mode selection: One shot, two shots, index (4, 9, or 16 thumbnails), magnification, image rotation, folder view, slideshow, histogram, bright/dark indicators, RAW to JPG
Magnification: Up to 16x, scrollable
Digital filters (playback): B&W, Sepia, Color (18), Soft (3), Illustration, HDR (3), Slim (+/- 8), Brightness (+/- 8)

FILE FORMATS
Still: RAW PEF/DNG, JPG (EXIF 2.21), DCF 2.0 (design rule for camera file system), DPOF, Print Image Matching III

CUSTOM FUNCTIONS
Functions available: 23

FILE STORAGE MATRIX (BASED ON 1GB MEMORY)
JPG *** ** *
3872x2592 (10M) 202 343 586
3008x2000 (6M) 335 570 974
1824x1216 (2M) 902 1549 2627
RAW
3872x2592 (10M) 58

COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS*
*For device connectivity. Bundled software requirements may vary.
Windows: Windows XP/Vista, USB port
Mac: MacOS 10.2 or later, USB 2.0 port

KIT INCLUSIONS
K200D body (18-55 lens with lens kit), USB Cable I-USB17, Video Cable I-VC28, Strap O-ST53, Hotshoe Cover FK, Eyecup FO, Body Mount Cover, Finder Cap for ME, Software CD-ROM S-SW74, AA Lithium Batteries (*4)

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
AC Adapter Kit K-AC76U, Battery Grip BG3, Remote Control F, Cable Switch CS-205, Magnifying Eyepiece O-ME53 (1.2x), DSLR Gadget Bag, DSLR Sling Bag

Leaked Sony Ericsson Cybershot is the K780i, K830i or K870i?

Jason Chen — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:30:03 EST

Unwired View has just as much clue what the model number on this leaked Sony Ericsson is, but they did manage to fish some shots out of PConline.com.cn. The phone, which could be the K870, K830 or the K780, has a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash plus an on-board GPS, like the W760 already has. Chances are we'll see an unveiling in Barcelona at the 3GSM show next month. [pconline via UnwiredView]

Here's an Idea for HD DVD: Just Give Up

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:33:15 EST

Even if you don't take Hitler's word for it, you probably have the feeling that Blu-ray has won, following Warner Bros.' decision to ditch HD DVD. Questex analyst Thomas K. Arnold has a real innovative solution:

"I'm hoping Toshiba, Universal and Paramount will take the high road and, for the good of the entire industry, bow out [of HD DVD]. Universal and Paramount, in particular, need to jump on the Blu-ray Disc bandwagon so we can go into the new year with a unified front and a unified mission: To educate consumers about the advantages of high-definition media and convince them the time to transition from standard DVD to Blu-ray is the day they bring that HDTV into their home."

Oh, so it's about consumers now, eh Tom? Who'da thunk it? [Home Media Magazine via HDTV UK]

Audiovox's Digital Message Centers Let You Leave Videos for Your Family

Adam Frucci — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST

Audiovox's Digital Picture Frame/Message Board that we showed you recently has just been made official. In fact, it announced two different versions of it. One allows you to record video messages, the other just audio messages. The video version, the DPF711K, will sell for $200 which the DPF710k audio-only version will run $160. Hit the jump for the full press release and details.

Las Vegas NV - January 2008 - Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) today announced two new Digital Message Centers that are designed to completely shake up the digital picture frame market. You can display up to 100 pictures on the built in 512mb memory and go as high as 500 pictures with optional additional memory cards but that is where the similarity to the competition ends.
The Audiovox Digital Message Center features audio or audio/video-messaging capability through built-in camera and recorders. Family members can leave messages for audio and or video playback and can even tag them to the built in calendar so they play back on a specific date. In addition the company has designed their digital message frames to be displayed in the kitchen with refrigerator mounting systems that include unique flat wire in three finishes to match most appliances.

The system has 7-inch LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 234 pixels. A digital clock and LED message indicator are also built in and the magnetic border makes posting notes and coupons a breeze. There are even Post-it® pads for anyone needing to scribble a quick note.

The systems are designed to mount either on a refrigerator, wall mount or stand on a counter and include the brackets for all three options. In addition, flat wire in white, silver and black finishes that match most appliances are also included.

The DPF711K Video Message center carries a MSRP: $199.99.

The DPF710K Audio Message center carries a MSRP: $159.99.

Alpine PND-K3MSN GPS: Same Old MSN Data, Some New Tricks

Brian Lam — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:23:45 EST

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.
The Skinny: Alpine's entire 2008 catalog was just leaked, and this is their MSN navigator with the same slow-ass movies, gas and traffic data that Garmin and others have been rocking for over a year. No word on size of the wide touchscreen display. There's a PND-K3 model without MSN direct.
The Good stuff: Actually, this is one of the first models I've seen to allow sorting of gas by location or price, and I like the zoom into intersection functions that make complicated turn scenarios simple. [AudioJunkies]

Supposed Pentax K200D Pictures Leaked All Over the Web

Haroon Malik — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:14:00 EST

We previously told you guys about two new SLRs Pentax were rumored to be readying. Well, it looks like images of the K200D have hit the old interweb, and although we have no new word on confirmed spec—the original rumor suggested a 10MP Sony Sensor, PRIME 12-bit image processor and a 3-inch LCD—the images look solid. Either that or someone has some super sexy PS skills, in which case, we are still searching for an art intern. However, we are guessing this is the real deal, click through the gallery to see why. [Photography Bay]

Crafts Corner: Needlepoint Mac

Sean Fallon — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:40:01 EST

Old ladies make quilts, nerds make life-sized replicas of the Macintosh 128k. And the best part is that Ben Fino-Radin's design even incorporates insertable images to mimic web browsing. Ridiculous? You bet it is. Do I want one? No, not really—but I appreciate the effort. [Benjaminter via Boing Boing]

Audiovox DPF711K Refrigerator Message Board

Brian Lam — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 02:18:51 EST

This fridge magnet has a screen that displays a calendar, a whiteboard and a camera for video messages to family members.

Sony to Release Pro Projectors for Big Rooms, Spaceships and Battlestations

Haroon Malik — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:25:00 EST

Sony is adding to their excellent projector lineup with two new models, the VPL-FW300L and the VPL-FH300L, both of which will happily display full HD content. The VPL-FW300L will churn out 7000 lumens (WXGA+ resolution; 1366 x 800) in comparison to the VPL-FH300L, which will produce a maximum of 6000 lumens (WXGA+ resolution; 2048 x 1080). The projectors are intended for professional use, with Sony aiming the devices at the auditorium, classroom and the meeting room, but do not let that stop you going nuts and setting one of these up in your monster bachelor pad.

The projectors will apparently complement Sony's beast-like 4K projection systems, but do they really need the complement? Both units will have the same physical construction, and will include a choice of five specialized lenses, for optimal picture rendition. The VPL-FW300L and VPL-FH300L will retail at $27,000 and $40,000, respectively. If you have always wanted a projector that looks like an old-school Battlestar Galactica cannon, get saving. [Sony]

Pentax K20D and K200D Digital SLRs Rumored

Charlie White — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:45:16 EST

Rumors fly about a couple of shiny new Pentax digital SLRs, possibly rolling out January 24th just in time for the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) convention. The Pentax K20D will allegedly replace and look a lot like the $799 K10D (pictured above) that shipped over a year ago, and the K200D is due to replace the aging K100D. If the rumors are true, this is going to be good.

The K20D is said to have a 14-megapixel CMOS sensor instead of the K10D's 10.2-megapixel sensor, along with a 14-bit RAW A/D Processor and our favorite, a 3-inch live view LCD. There will be improved image stabilization inside the virtually unchanged camera body, a shake reduction system Pentax has traditionally approached by moving the CCD rather than shifting lens elements.

The K200D will have a 10-megapixel sensor manufactured by Sony, and a PRIME 12-bit image processor. It will be able to crank out three frames per second, and also may have that larger 3-inch LCD.

There was no word about the main weakness of the Pentax line, its uninspiring collection of lenses. And after all, isn't a wide lens selection one of the most enticing attributes of digital SLRs? [Photography Bay photo by dpreview]

Samsung Rolls Out Next-Gen WiMax Toys While We Wait and Wait

Charlie White — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:16:11 EST

So is Korea actually a country from the future, or what? We're asking because Samsung is now rolling out its second generation of phones, mobile devices and USB modems that support WiMax. Heck, the whole country has a WiMax network at their disposal, while here in the States we keep hearing about how Sprint wants to build out a WiMax network but just can't seem to get it started. Anyway, check out the gallery of gorgeous geegaws Samsung announced today.

There are four devices in all, including the SPH-P9200 UMPC with foldable QWERTY keyboard, the SPH-M8200 slider touchscreen PDA that's 16.6mm thick that not only has mobile WiMax but CDMA EV-DO, and a couple of USB modems, the SPH-H1300 and SWT-H200K that are WiMax-friendly. Oh, and then there are the Samsung babes, too. It's a whole lot of stuff you can't have. You're welcome. [Unwired View and AVing]

Knight Rider KITT R/C Car

Mark Wilson — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:47:36 EST

Knight Rider as a TV show may be dated, but as a lifestyle? Still going strong. So for the Michael Knights in training out there, we strongly recommend picking up the $60 KITT R/C car. While it won't leap through the air or create smoke screens at will, the tiny Trans Am does feature KITT's hypnotic red lights and his trademark voice. Speaking of which, how great would a verbal battle be between HAL and KITT? That's gotta be on YouTube somewhere. Hit the jump for what may be the coolest watermarked animated gif ever.

Told you. [product via coolestgadgets]

Sony Ericsson K660 Candybar Allows Landscape Web Surfing

Adam Frucci — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:05:08 EST

Sony Ericsson just announced its new K660 web-optimized candybar. Sporting HSDPA connectivity, it lets you surf the web using the 2-inch screen horizontally and has custom web shortcut buttons. It also comes loaded with Google Maps for Mobile, although you'll be typing in your location manually as there's no GPS on board. It also has a 2-megapixel digital camera, a music player with FM radio, Bluetooth, and it comes with a 256MB Memory Stick Micro. It's set to drop in the first quarter of 2008 in "select markets," which probably means Europe, but we'll keep you updated.