Gizmodo: hiro nakamura

Samsung Challenges Casio with $850 Slow-Mo HMX20 HD Camcorder

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:40:00 EDT

As excited as we are about Casio's Exilim EX-F1 camera with slow-mo and high-def video modes, we're even more thrilled to see actual competition in this category. Samsung announced its HMX20C (or HMX20) at CES, and is now officially shipping it, at least in Korea, for a price around $850. That's about $150 less than Casio's Hiro Nakamura supercam. Here's what's similar about the two models:

• Both can do full high-def shooting—Casio at 1080i but Samsung beats it, with 1080p
• The Samsung can do slow-mo at 300 frames per second (presumably in standard def, but maybe in HD; Casio can do 300fps, 600fps and 1200fps
• Both can take still pictures while shooting video—very helpful indeed
• Although the Samsung is positioned as a camcorder and the Casio is called a camera, they both have 6-megapixel CMOS sensors

Given the CES announcement and the Korea launch, we can only assume that the HMX20 will be one of the items in Samsung's summer line show lineup. That's good news for everybody—except maybe Casio. [Samsung Press Release via PC World]

OLPC Ad by Heroes' Masi Oka Has Us Convinced

Jason Chen — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:00:59 EST

We might have been a bit harsh on Masi Oka and his OLPC ambassadorship when it was first announced, but this ad of his seems pretty solid. He's pimping the OLPC Give One Get One program, which lets you buy two laptops (one for yourself, one for some kid you don't know) for $399. Seems like the OLPC team made a good pick in him—he's sincere and nerdy enough that you'd actually believe he cares about laptops for kids.

Heroes Star Hiro Nakamura Named OLPC Ambassador

Jason Chen — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:45:34 EDT

Heroes star Masi Oka, also known as "hey, that's the guy from Scrubs", has just been "chosen" to be the OLPC Global Ambassador. His qualifications? Being a huge nerd kid (he was on a cover of Time for genius kids because his friend's dad was the photographer), working as a nerd at ILM (even while shooting Heroes), and looking like a nerd—three qualifications we meet as well.

He says:

"Being a part of a global effort that is enabling children to learn, grow and succeed in life is both tremendously gratifying and important to me," said Masi Oka. "I'm very excited about this opportunity to represent One Laptop per Child and bring my love of technology and education to the global community. I believe that it is incredibly important to enable access to learning for all children so that every child has the opportunity to create a better life for themselves, their family and their society."

Which has the subtext of

Leaders of Nations hear my cry. Please buy these ~~$100~~ $200 laptops. Seriously. They're super bad ass and for kids and stuff. Now where's my check.

For this decision, we're sure one guy at OLPC camp just went "who's the most popular Asian nerd right now" and another went "that guy from Heroes!" To them, I present my head shot. I would post it here but most of you are working, and I don't want to melt any panties/boxers. [Businesswire]