Technology News

Today, Duracell announced Daylite, the first in a new line of flashlights that are durable enough to be used in the harshest of environments and compact enough to take into any space. Most important, the power and quality of the light beam is unsurpassed by any other device. See the press Release below.

In a professional setting or at home, trouble tends to hide in the dark corners. Today, Duracell is lighting the way with the introduction of the Duracell Daylite™, the first in a new line of flashlights that are durable enough to be used in the harshest of environments and compact enough to take into any space. Most important, the power and quality of the light beam is unsurpassed by any other device.

The Duracell Daylite™ flashlight will be available beginning in August 2008 at mass, drug and hardware stores nationwide. The suggested retail price is $24.99 for AA and AAA. The CR123 will have a suggested retail of $34.99.

Back in the 80’s and 90’s Sony were king when it came to portable music players with their Walkman range. However times have now changed and we know that there is a new king on the block from Apple.

As we know Apple has the iPod and Sony know that they just can’t touch that media player, but they hope with the launch of their E Series MP3 Players that they could compete with the Nano.

There is to be three models in the new E Series range, these include the NWZ-E435 (2GB), NWZ-E436 (4GB) and NWZ-E438 (8GB). The new mid-range MP3 players from Sony are aimed at the girly market.

The E Series comes with a 2in QVGA LCD screen and is able to play a range of files, such as MP3, WMA and AAC.

The players are just 8.5mm thick and weigh about 50g. If this was not enough to make you go out and purchase one, then Sony has another trick up their sleeve. There are rumors that the new Sony E Series MP3 Player will come with an FM tuner as well as simple drag and drop file transfers.

Will this be enough to win old Sony customers back?

Source

When it comes to portable media players one of the most important parts of the device has to be the headphones. So many people spend so much money on their headphones, but that is sometimes not needed.

Here we have a set Philips SHE2617 In-Ear Headphones, the great thing about these is the fact that they will appeal to kids of young ages as they come in a range of colors.

These headphones are so cheap that you could purchase them in all colors, then choose what color headphones that suit your mood on the day.

Although the Philips SHE2617 In-Ear Headphones are cheap headphones, they do offer perfectly balanced and natural sound.

Specifications:

• 15mm speaker driver optimizes wearing comfort
• Comfort ear cushions ensure a perfect fit for maximum comfort with three interchangeable earpiece cap sets
• Flexi Grip design protects the cable connection from damage due to repeated bending
• Neodymium magnet produces a strong magnetic field for greater bass response and higher overall sound quality
• Twin vents channel the air and balances the high and bass tones for more rounded listening

For more information on these Philips SHE2617 In-Ear Headphones

It was both painful and expensive for Toshiba when their HD-DVD format lost to Sony’s Blu-ray, but it looks like there is some HD-DVD revenge on the way.

Toshiba is launching its new upscaling technology called XDE; this stands for eXtended Detail Enhancement. Toshiba’s first product using this technology is a DVD player named “XD-E500 1080p/24fps”.

XDE promises to make your ordinary DVD’s look similar to Blu-rays thanks to some new upscaling technology. While Blu-ray has not made the public dump their DVDs yet, Toshiba wants you to keep your current DVD collection.

The XD-E500 DVD player will upscale your DVD video to 1080p, and it will also play many file formats including: JPEG, MP3 and DivX.

If Toshiba’s new XDE technology takes off then it cause a major blow to Sony’s Blu-ray, why would you want to buy more expensive Blu-rays when you can watch your large collection of DVDs in high definition?

The XD-E500 will be available this month for $149.99, we do not have a UK release date yet or price but will update you when its released. We are also hearing that televisions with “eXtended Detail Enhancement” may be on the way as well.

Source: Read

This is the Pentax Optio W60 waterproof camera, and if you live somewhere where there is a lot of rain and you like to take photos in all weather, then this wonderful waterproof camera is ideal for you.

According to Trusted Reviews the Optio W60 camera passes most tests with no worries, this gadget allows you to take pictures in heavy rain when other cameras would die on you.

When the W60 is set to a wide angle setting it was found to suffer from particularly bad barrel distortion. The digital camera also performed well up to ISO 800, this may not be an amazing achievement but its better than some cameras.

The W60 was found to be more sluggish that most cameras, this was thought to be due to the camera’s autofocus system. While the camera has its faults, if you’re looking for one that can withstand the elements then the Pentax Optio W60 can do the job.

For more information refer to Trusted Reviews and Read the full 8 page review.

Now this is very exciting in my eyes because I love technology, before I get into the news can you say for a fact you like wearing those awkward glasses on your head to watch TV in 3D? Yes that was my answer also “NO”.

Well the good news is that Telefónica will start testing a brand new television; they will test the 3D IPTV service in São Paulo, Brazil sometime later on this year.

The new TV will be viewing the 3D on a 52-inch Philips 3D HDTV in 1080p, the TV will include auto-stereoscopic which basically means that you can watch in 3D without the need for the clumsy 3D glasses.

There are what could be major downsides, one is that only Philips TV can currently display the awesome 3D and the cost is (Are you sitting down) a whopping 18,000 Euros which is around about $26,000 US.

Philips expects that the 3D TV will be good for corporate settings and that is will be around in say 3 to 4 years.

Source – IPTV News via Engadget

The Dazzle DVD Recorder has to be one of the most cost-effective ways for video capture. This product from Dazzle combines both user-friendly interface by using Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder software.

This system allows you to quickly record videos directly to DVD without the need for copying it to your hard drive first. This saves both time and space.

In just a few short clicks you are able to capture your home videos as well as TV recordings and transfer them directly to DVD. Both menus and chapter marks are also recorded.

Some of the features of the Dazzle DVD Recorder include, Transfer and share your videos on DVD with Dazzle DVD Recorder, Plug-in-play simplicity and a step-by step guide, copying your home movies from almost any video device to DVD, Capture from any video source with composite (RCA) or S-Video output, Burn videos direct from video source to DVD to preserve your memories and play them on a TV.

Woot are currently selling the Dazzle DVD Recorder for $19.99

Now we all love a good Blu-ray player, well in fact I prefer just to stick with a PS3 gaming console as it has a Blu-ray player and of course a hell of a lot cheaper. Anyway Yamaha are gearing up to unveil at least 3 new AV receivers on the world alongside a very high break the bank price Blu-ray player.

First up is the 7.1-channel RX-V1900 which apparently has USB, HDMI sockets, digital audio ports and a not known amount of power, this will be selling for around $1,399.95. Next up is the RX-V3900 for $1,899.95 and the RX-Z7 priced at around $2,699.95.

Anyway let’s move onto the most interesting one, the many are calling it “mythical” Yamaha BD-S2900, this Blu-ray player is priced at $1,199.95 with specs that include 192kHz / 24-bit DACs, BonusView, support for 1080p24 / 12-bit Deep Color, the full list is below. Not too sure if these specs are correct but we are very sure that CEDIA will clear things up for us.

Specifications shown over on AVBuzz
• Profile 1.0 Version 1.1 compatibility
• Secondary Video/Audio for enhanced commentary or information
Virtual Package for new entertainment possibilities with SD Card
High Picture Quality
• 1080p/24fps-compatible HDMI video output
• 12-bit Deep Color • High quality video processing with Chroma Upsampling precise pixel
Generation and 16-step motion detection
• 1080p playback for DVDs, photos and personal video data
Magnificent Audio Performance
• Direct HD audio bitstream output: Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (lossless); Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
• 192kHz/24-bit audio DAC
Advanced Facilities
• Design matches top-class Yamaha receivers
• RS-232C interface for custom installation
• IR In/Out ports
• Yamaha SCENE compatibility
• On-screen display with GUI
• Dolby Digital and DTS decoders
• Extensive disc/format compatibility
• SDHC compatible SD Card slot
• Dialogue Enhancer
• Dynamic Range Compression
• 5 Picture Modes (Normal/Soft/Fine/Cinema/User)
• 3 illumination modes: Bright, Dim and Auto
Disc/Format Compatibility
BD-Video, BD-R (BD Video), BD-RE (BD-Video andJPEG),
DVD-Video, DVD-R/-RW (DVD-VideoDVD-VR, AVCHD),
DVD+R/+RW (+VR, AVCHD),DVD-ROM (DVD-VR, JPEG, AVCHD)
CD, CD-R/-RW(CD-DA, MP3, JPEG) and SD/SDHC (JPEG, AVCHD)

Source – AVBuzz & HDTV-Space-Forum

Why not bring your home to life with the Westinghouse SK-32H240S, this 32-inch LCD HDTV offers you a cheap option to watching movies and television programs in a high quality.

The TV has a sleek look, not as nice as some of the Samsung’s and LG’s. The Westinghouse SK-32H240S offers supports for a range of formats like 1080i, 720p, 480i.

The LCD TV has a range of inputs as well as the preferred HDMI, which offers superb image quality performance. This allows for connections for things like a Blu-ray player as well as a Sony PS3.

Features include:

• 1200:1 contrast ratio
• 176° Horizontal/Vertical viewing angle
• 2 HDMI, 2 component and 2 S-video inputs
• 32-inch diagonal LCD with 1366×768 native resolution
• 50,000 hour lamp life
• 8ms response time
• Color Capability: 16.7 Million colors
• Integrated ATSC (Digital HD), NTSC (analog) and Clear QAM tuners
• SPDIF Optical audio out with stereo RCA audio out

Woot are offering the Westinghouse SK-32H240S 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV for just $399.99.

Radiopaq, the innovative brand that brings you thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts from across the globe via Radiopaq.com, today announces the hardware that will pave the way for the future of digital radio. The Radiopaq Rp5 gives you the freedom to enjoy internet radio without having to sit in front of your computer, alongside your favourite analogue and digital stations - and, most importantly, the sound quality is fantastic.

This unique Radiopaq offering, which showcases the kind of technology industry experts had predicted would be available no sooner than 2009, is the first step towards the future of radio in a fast-evolving audio environment. The Radiopaq Rp5 is designed to mirror the innovative Radiopaq.com internet radio search engine, meaning that - whether at home or in the office, at your computer or away from your desk - the same recognisable and easy-to-use controls will help you find your best-loved stations and podcasts at the push of a button.

The Radiopaq Rp5 uses wi-fi to connect you to Radiopaq.com, bringing you content from the site – from new internet radio stations and podcasts from around the world to existing favourites – at the push of a button. Just like the site, everything on the Rp5 is searchable by name, genre, country or language and, in addition, you’ll have access to the extensive podcast library featuring everything from comedy to current affairs. Should you want any more information about any of the podcasts available on the Rp5, an ‘info’ button will tell you everything you need to know. The synchronisation between the Rp5 and Radiopaq.com is almost instant, meaning that the traffic updates and weather reports you’ll find on the site can be found on the Rp5 device itself, and any favourites you save or changes you make on Radiopaq.com will appear on your Rp5 internet radio.

If your favourite radio stations aren’t yet transmitting on DAB or via the internet, there’s no problem – this is because the Radiopaq Rp5 also brings you FM radio in superb sound quality. For those of you who still prefer FM, the FM-RDS radio tuner allows you to scan these stations manually or by name, saving you the trouble of remembering different frequencies. At the same time, the additional DAB capability offers you a greater choice of local stations and clearer reception. These DAB stations can also be found by name, as well as by region or genre – just like the thousands of internet stations available – and you’re free to pause and rewind podcasts at will, meaning you won’t miss a thing. And if, after all this choice, you decide that you’d like to listen to your own playlists via your mp3 player, the Radiopaq system will connect any mp3 player via USB.

‘We believe that the Radiopaq offering, with its seamless interaction between the website and the hardware, is without a doubt the future of radio,’ says Prash Vadgama, President of Radiopaq. ‘The Radiopaq offering is the simplest way to find and manage all the internet radio content you want, allowing you to choose between FM, DAB and internet radio whether you’re at your computer or using your Radiopaq system. Radiopaq allows you to organise all your audio content, making sure that your favourite stations are to hand and keeping up to date with all the podcasts you enjoy – the combination of the Radiopaq.com and Rp5 hardware brings you all the radio you like and more, while making sure it all sounds great.’

The dual-contrast, clear screen on the Radiopaq Rp5, which can be angled to make viewing easier, clearly displays the radio stations and podcasts you’re searching for. The five way speaker system and the combination of digital and analogue processors enhance the audio signal to give a full range of sound. This means that anything you’re listening to – be it classical symphonies, hip-hop or documentaries – sounds completely natural, while the high quality casing minimises sound distortion. A headphone socket is included for those who want to keep their audio to themselves, and a remote control is included to make this the easiest and most enjoyable experience of radio.

And now, thanks to recent updates to Radiopaq.com, using the Radiopaq Rp5 is more effective than ever. A new predictive text search offers thousands of internet radio stations from around the world, which can also be selected by country, genre and even language. The extensive podcast library at Radiopaq.com features great shows old and new, and allows you to not only skip forwards and backwards 30 seconds at a time, but also pause the podcast you’re listening to at any point so that you can listen whenever is convenient for you. So, take a break, make a cup of tea or make a phone call, and when you’re ready, your paused podcast will be waiting for you.

In addition, news – from recognised brands such as the BBC, The Telegraph, The Times and The Guardian and Sky News – is available at a glance, with the latest news feed running at the top of each page, along with weather and traffic information from your local area. Whatever you’re doing on Radiopaq.com, and whether you’re listening through your laptop or via your Rp5, all the information you’ll need is to hand.

The Radiopaq Rp5 costs £250 - please log on to radiopaq.com for more details.

Radiopaq Rp5:
- Enjoy internet radio, podcasts and on-demand programmes without having to sit at your computer
- Designed to mirror Radiopaq.com: same recognisable, easy-to-use interface
- Wi-fi connection between Radiopaq.com and the Rp5 allows you to manage and organise your radio experience in a way that is convenient for you
- Customisable traffic updates, news headlines and weather reports for your region
- Unlimited number of favourites
- Great sound quality: five way speaker system
- Also supports FM and DAB radio
- UPnP-enabled, giving you the option to play tracks from your computer through the system
- Compact, stylish design
- Remote control, illuminates when picked up, showing it is ready to use
- Bass, treble and volume controls
- Digital Signal Processor, for natural sound
- High density compound casing reduces sound distortion and improves sound projection