Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
Save for slight variations in storage mediums and capacities, resolution, and lenses, Sony’s 13 new Handycam Camcorders aren’t radically different from each other. The ones that matter the most are Sony’s XR550 and CX550, which (yes), has everything mentioned below, but either adds to or improves on its underlings’ offerings with a either 240 gigs…
Seems a little random since it runs Google’s Android, is all. And we know how Ballmer feels about Google.
Microsoft big boss Steve Ballmer is just now taking the stage here in Las Vegas to kick off CES 2010. What’s he gonna do and say? Here, I’ll tell you. UPDATING THROUGH THE KEYNOTE Update: The keynote began with a testimony on the benefits of technology from SNL’s Seth Myers. He thanks technology for all…
ViewSonic has released a bevy of new gear including monitors, media players, HDTVs and, of course, computers, including this adorable VOT125 Mini PC. On the TV front, ViewSonic is debuting four ViewLED HDTVs from 42″ to 18.5″ with prices ranging from $1,199 to $299. The big boy will be launching in Q2 but the rest…
The Word is that Ballmer just announced an exclusive deal bringing the awesomely-designed HTC HD2 to T-Mobile this spring. https://gizmodo.com/htc-touch-hd2-review-a-tragedy-5400593 The flagship WinMo phone has a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen, Qualcomm’s awesome Snapdragon processor, and runs on HTC Sense. And also of note, Ballmer has been having technical difficulties and hasn’t actually announced this yet. T-Mobile…
Oh, that’s why we’re delayed 5 minutes.
Wired got a hands on with the mysterious Saygus Vphone, that popped up over at the FCC back in November. They say the Android phone is capable of making video calls—even over EDGE. https://gizmodo.com/is-saygus-vphone-v1-verizons-next-android-phone-5397720 Saygus CEO Chad Sayers told Wired that the company developed a proprietary video algorithm for the CDMA handset that allows them…
Sony’s announced a glut of new cameras today at CES, but instead of going through all 20-odd of them, I’m only going to show you the best. You deserve the best. Here’s two of them, the DSC-W370 and DSC-W350. The 14-megapixel Cybershot DSC-W370 and DSC-W350 have CCD image sensors with Sweep Panorama for capturing places…
Think of it like a Cliq, but with a folding instead of a sliding keyboard, so the screen doesn’t cover so much of the keyboard when it’s open. Motorola says the guts are basically the same as the Cliq’s, so expect a performance level on par with that and not the Droid. Slower, is what…
This is a pretty neat visual representation of our collective aversion to legitimate social contact. I mean, average US data consumption. You can make your own judgments. [Fast Company via Neatorama]
The new SC-HTB1 home theater audio system is fed up with subwoofers thinking they’re sooooo special. So it decided to put the bass in its place: inside the soundbar. An all-in-one speaker system is a boon to the space-challenged studio dwellers out there: the entire set-up is a single soundbar that rests in front of…
Lenovo has really impressed at CES this year, with the UI hybrid and Skylight, and now its first smartphone, called LePhone. Despite its French-sounding name, this baby is destined for China only. https://gizmodo.com/ideapad-u1-hybrid-hands-on-meet-voltron-he-could-be-a-5440922 Interestingly, the 3.7-inch touchscreen Android phone comes with a dock, which then gives it a QWERTY keyboard, long-life battery and inbuilt speakers.…
Panasonic is super into plasmas, being the king of them and all. But their LCD line is getting a top model with 1080p and LED backlights. They also have wide viewing angle high contrast IPS panels. The models also have ipod docks and photo viewing capabilities, as well as 24 frame support, 4 hdmi inputs…
We’ve seen Panny’s standard-def camcorders, but here are Panasonic’s three new HD cams. The HDC-HS60, HDC-TM55 and HDC-SD60 are all compact, LCD touchscreen camcorders with 35.7mm wide-angle lenses and a healthy 25x optical zoom. And that’s just the basics. https://gizmodo.com/panasonic-adds-standard-def-sdr-h85-sdr-t50-and-sdr-s5-5442071 They’re also the first Panasonic camcorders capable of recognizing up to six faces in view.…
Sony’s MDR-NC300D digital noise canceling earbuds use the same technology found in Sony’s top of the line, and very much respected, MDR-NC500D over the ear headphones, and at $300 these earbuds ain’t cheap but they might actually be worth it. https://gizmodo.com/lightning-review-sony-mdr-nc500d-digital-noise-canceli-5028001 Sony claims these earbuds have 98.4 percent ambient noise reduction, which is the result…
Sony just announced at their ever-hectic press conference that the PS3 will be able to play full 3D movies through the newly announced 3D Bravias. https://gizmodo.com/sonys-bravia-led-lcd-hdtv-lineup-xbr-lx900-and-xbr-hx9-5442019
Last year, Sony threw us the Webbie mini camcorder. This year, it’s the Bloggie. Will next year’s pico-camcorder be called the Tweetie? The RSSfeedie? The Faxmachinie? https://gizmodo.com/sony-webbie-hd-camcorders-hands-on-5125963 There’s three Bloggie models this year, the MHS-PM5, MHS-PM5K and MHS-CM5. All three film in 1080p video and take 5.0-megapixel photos. The CM5 brings a much-needed feature to…
I’ve seen 3D on every type of TV/glasses combo, but up until now, the video feed itself was always streamed from Blu-ray. So with DirecTV announcing three 3D HD channels arriving in 2010, I just had to try it out. https://gizmodo.com/3d-hits-home-snap-judgments-on-3-different-technologie-5357383 My verdict: After about 5 minutes of watching the feed on a 50-ish inch…
Sony is beefing up their VAIO line with three new notebooks, the F-, Y- and W-Series, and is refreshing their VAIO Z-Series. The four new models are available with Blu-ray drives as well as Sony’s Transfer Jet technology. https://gizmodo.com/vaio-w-series-eco-edition-saves-earth-hugs-trees-5442079 The Sony VAIO Z-Series, with a 13.1″ LED backlit screen, weighs only three pounds, thanks to…
Sony’s new Vaio W series “eco-edition” is so green—(how green is it?)—that it doesn’t even have a printed manual. Its materials are all recycled, and would make a great accompaniment for a Prius. Update: Hands-on! So I just played around with the Vaio W, and it’s disappointingly low-end. It does have the new Pine Trail…