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Blu-ray sales not as high as expected
2008-05-03 00:53:00
Despite the win in the HD DVD/Blu-ray battle, potential consumers still hold on. Their is a decrease in standalone Blu-ray players (not PlayStation 3, combo players, or PCs with Blu-ray drives) since the beginning of the year.There was a 40 percent decrease between January to February and only small increase of 2 percent between February and March, after the win against HD DVD.More apparent reason reason is still the price of around $400 in March. During the holiday season the price was closer to $300. But also, many costumers settle for DVD quality picture and don't see justification in spending more money on what they see as slight increase in picture quality. According to Sony, one of the main producers of Blu-ray drives, $200 players won't be available until next year.Cnet News
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Nokia introducing the NFC enabled, Nokia 6212 classic
2008-04-24 03:39:00
Near Field Communication (NFC) allows users to access and share content easily between electronic devices. The new phone, integrated with NFC, allows users to access services, share content, maintain paiments and ticketing with few taps on the device.The Nokia 6212 classic comes with a 2 megapixel camera 2 inch qvga display, fm radio and music player, optional micro sd card with up to 4GB.The shipping for the Nokia 6212 classic will start in the third quarter of 2008 in Europe and Asia with an estimated retail price of 200 Euros.Nokia Press
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Sony joins Nokia's in unlimited music service.
2008-04-23 05:05:00
Sony BMG, announced partnership with Nokia to make their musical catalog available on some of Nokia devices. After buying one of these Nokia devices the customer will have access for a year to the music of Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters or any other Sony BMG artist.The customer could download music from Nokia's service "Come With Music " to a PC or to another Nokia handheld, but not to iPOds or other non-compatible devices. After the 12 months the user will have the option of purchasing new content or joining Nokia's subscription service.The new concept here is the download are not temporary, users can keep their files after that period and there is no limitation on the number of songs.Nokia will launch "Comes With Music" service in the second half of the year.Cnet News
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GTA IV expected to break sales record
2008-04-21 03:25:00
Take-Two's latest installment of Grand Theft Auto, GTA IV, is slated for an April 29 release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles.The game is predicted to sell $400 million for the first week of release, the biggest debut of a video game title.The game will offer, for the first time, multiplayer options with up to 15 modes, each supporting up to 16 players.The standard version price will be $59.99. The special edition which include artwork book, soundtrack cd, encased in a metal deposit box, will cost $89.99.efluxmedia
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The new Asus Eee PC 900 will come with Windows XP
2008-04-16 23:55:00
The latest version of the Eee PC, the low cost laptop, is expected to be offered with either Linux or Microsoft's Windows XP Home. The ultra-laptop will come with 8.9" display, 1 GB of RAM, 1.3 megapixel camera and a 12GB (XP) or 20GB (Linux) of Hard-drive.The price, announced at Asus press conference is $513.Microsoft, as previously announced, pushed back the end-of-availability for XP Home to June 30, 2010, specifically for the Ultra low-cost PCs.ComputerWorld
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Windows 7 to release next year, says Bill Gates
2008-04-05 19:44:00
Windows XP sales are about to extend further than planned until june 2010, in order to support the ultra-notebook Asus Eee and Intel's Classmate - machines that are not meant to run smoothly on Vista. Gates probably means for Beta releases and not actual product.Engadget
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Wake up easier with the Sleeptracker watch
2008-04-05 00:42:00
Sleeptracker wrist watch is able to detect the sleep cycles of the wearer, in order to give the optimal time for a decent nights' rest.The front of the watch is unusually large, because it consists of accelerometer to detect movement. The idea is to detect the lightest sleep cycle phase, nearly awake.You can set the watch at a specified time and it will wake you up 10-90 minutes earlier, if it detects the light sleep phase.Price: $149 for the Sleeptracker (audible alarm), $179 for the Sleeptracker Pro (also includes vibrate mode).Sleeptracker
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Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX500, their first 3-inch touch-screen digital camera
2008-03-31 02:24:00
Also features a 25mm ultra-wide-angle Leica DC lens, 5x optical zoom and 10.1 megapixels. The system can be control with both touch-screen and joystick. The camera can record High Definition video.“With the FX500’s touch-screen operation, we are giving our consumers a new interface that we think will prove extremely intuitive during playback, photo organization and of course – helping to take high-quality photos,” said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.In playback mode, a new Easy Organization menu allows for photos to be selected and viewed by scrolling through the thumbnails located below the main window. Then, users can edit the titles using an on-screen keyboard.Another new feature in the FX500 is Auto Focus (AF) tracking, tracks the photo subject even if it moves after the AF is set – especially helpful for catching active children or pets.Key Features*Intelligent Exposure – Adjusting over/under exposure in pho...
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Motorola to split into two companies
2008-03-31 02:17:00
Motorola plans to split into two companies. Motorola's sales, who created the mobile phone market 25 years ago, are in decline for the past four quarters as Apple and Nokia are the company's main competitors.One company will focus on handsets and the other will sell network equipment, cable TV set-top boxes and two-way radios - areas that are profitable and growing faster.Miami Herald
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Yahoo, Google, MySpace form nonprofit OpenSocial Foundation
2008-03-26 23:26:00
Google, Yahoo , and News Corp.'s MySpace.com announced on teusday (March 25) that they have formed the OpenSocial Foundation , a nonprofit group to support the OpenSocial initiative that Google started last year to promote a universal standard for developer applications on social-networking sites.The OpenSocial Foundation is supposed to be formed within 90 days with more partners about to join the three companies. The idea is to maintain a standard that will last and is neutral.Cnet NewsOpenSocial.org
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Fingertip ring USB Optical Mouse
2008-03-25 03:49:00
This mouse is supposed to solve the problem of space at the office or when you travel by train, bus or plane. Works by strapping to the index finger with a button operated by thumb and a scroll wheel as well.They point out that it can get a while to get used to the idea of vertical finger operated mouse, and that it's not for applications that demand precision like photoshop or action games.Price is $7.91DealExtreme
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EA signs with Massive to offer in-game advertising on Xbox 360 and PC games
2008-03-19 23:22:00
Agreement enables integration of in-game advertising and premium video game content into long-term campaign planning and media buying processes.Electronic Arts and Massive, a sub company of Microsoft that specializing in video game advertising, announced an expansion and two-year extension of their agreement to offer dynamic in-game advertising for EA video games. That means playing the EA titles like Madden NFL football, NBA LIVE basketball, NASCAR racing and NHL hockey and the Need for Speed series on their online network with in-game ads.I wonder if that means cutting the prices of console and pc games, or just adding to the revenue of the companies involved?Microsoft press release
More About: Games , Xbox , Advertising , Xbox 360 , Signs

Six-core Intel processor coming this year
2008-03-18 02:17:00
The next step in processor design, according to Intel is scalable cores, from two to up to eight.The six-core Dunnington server CPU platform using Penryn architecture , with 16 Mb of L3 cache, goes into production this summer. That will be the last of Intel x86 processor with a front side bus (CPU linked to memory on a separate circuit). After that, the Nehalem architecture, in the fourth quarter of this year, will present simultaneous multi threading: the ability for each core to process two threads at the same time. Not alternately(hyper threading), but at the same time.Via BetaNews
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Motorola presenting alternative, clean power solutions
2008-03-18 01:19:00
With the demand for energy consumption growing, there is also the concern for the affect on the environment.Motorola presents this high speed mobile broadband including HSxPA and WiMAX. Two of these alternatives are fuel cell and reflow batteries. Motorola presented, for the first time, the usage of fuel cell to operate a WiMAX base station. The company tested successfully the solar and wind powered cell sites in UK and Namibia. The demand for this solution is more apparent in developed and emerging market with a shortage of generating power or lack of power grid infrastructure, for example, rural areas.
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Online video site Hulu goes live
2008-03-17 01:06:00
Hulu is a joined effort of News Corporation and NBC to enter the free video sharing market. The site, completely funded by ads, launched March 15 and features 250 full-length episodes of TV series and 100 feature films and also hundreds of shorter videos.There are content deals with Warner Bros. and Lionsgate.The guardian article mentions that in order for this project to be a major player in online TV content they should partner with CBS and Disney/ABC. I can't see NBC joining with rival TV networks.The Guardian
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Dell offers abuse-ready rugged notebooks
2008-03-12 23:19:00
Dell unveiled its first fully rugged laptop, Dell Latitude XFR D630. The company promises to deliver extreme durability without compromising on performance.The laptop, available for government and commercial purposes is available in the US starting at $3,899.The Latitude XFR meets the stiff standards of the department of defense for products that operate in extreme conditions (temperature, moisture and altitude for example)The XFR features* Five times more data durability of leading competitors with solid state drives* Latitude ExpressCharge charges batteries at least 30 minutes faster than competitors* Outdoor readable screen at 500 nits* Integrated resistive touch technology to easily interface with the system* Shock isolated mounting to help protect hard drive, LCD and core electronic elements* Dual locking butterfly mechanisms for easy access to components* Sealed keyboard designed to withstand driving rain and dustDell press release
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Logitech X-240 affordable Speaker System
2008-03-12 23:08:00
The Logitech X-240 speakers system is a 2.1 system with a 15 watt subwoofer and two 5 watt satellites speakers and a wired remote to cradle most MP3 players.The sound quality - don't plan to plug it to anything other than your desktop computer, but it is good enough for the price tag - $50.Wired
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Apple reports: 100,000 developers downloaded the iPhone SDK
2008-03-12 23:05:00
Apple reported that over 100,000 downloaded the iPhone software development kit.The SDK enables third-party developers to create games, business software and other applications specifically for iPhone.One of the games developers are hoping to build is Electronic Arts game 'Spore', the much anticipated title from Will Wright co-founder of Maxis, and the creator of Simcity and Sims.Cnet News
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Apple and Nike anounced new generation of Nike+
2008-03-09 16:03:00
Next generation of of Nike + will not only communicate with your shoes but also with other gym equipment such as stationary bikes, treadmills. All this data, like the previous versions, will be recorded and you will be able to upload to a computer or Nike site through iTunes, for process and monitoring.NikeBiz
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Philips' new wireless stereo
2008-03-09 15:42:00
The Philips WAC3500D is targeted for the budget price costumers. It has 80GB hard drive, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, a CD player and it'll stream music from your PC, enable you to dock your iPod or broadcast music to Philips' capable products. The hard drive can rip your music to MP3s.Supported codecs include WMA and MP3.Speakers: 2x40W 5" wooferThe price is 230 pounds (around $455).Source: Crave
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Intel announces Intel Atom Brand for new family of low-power processors
2008-03-05 23:13:00
Designed for New Internet Devices, Low-Cost PCs.This new, low-powered proccesor designed specifically for mobile Internet devices, and a line of affordable Internet-centric computers arriving later this year. The company also announced the Intel Centrino Atom processor, consisting of multiple chips for optimal Internet experience in a pocketable device.The proccesor specific design for small devices and low power, maintains the Intel Core 2 Duo instruction set consumers are used to on the standard PCs and the internet. Includes support for multiple threads and increased system responsiveness. The chip is Intel's smallest and lowest power processor, with 47 million transistors in an area the size of an American penny.Press release
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Panasonic to release in April the world's first 32GB SDHC memory card
2008-03-05 14:11:00
This card is capable of storing up to 12 Hours of HD Video.This 32GB SD High Capacity memory card, RP-SDV32GU1K, has a Class 6 speed specification. The new card is ideal for HD video recording, with the increasing demand for High Definition Camcorders. With Toshiba's SDHC video cameras, this card can record 12 hours of 1440x1080i HD video in HE mode, and around 4 hours of 1920x1080i full HD video in HA mode. The class 6 speed allows data transfer speeds of up to 20 MB/s.The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $699.Press release
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Apple Introduces New MacBook and MacBook Pro Models
2008-03-03 23:29:00
Multi-Touch Trackpad Comes to MacBook ProApple updated the line of MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo. 2 GB ram are now standard in most models. Also, the MacBook pro includes the latest NVIDIA graphics processors with up to 512MB of memory, up to 300GB of hard drive, and Apple's new Multi-Touch trackpad that was introduced in MacBook Air, with Multi-Touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe - making it more intuitive and efficient to zoom and rotate photos, browse webpages etc. The entire line include a built-in iSight video camera, Apple’s MagSafe® Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain and built-in 802.11n wireless networking. The illuminated keyboard is ideal for dimly lit enviroments. The new MacBookThe prices starting at $1,099, the new MacBook lineup comes in three models and includes faster processors and larger hard drives across the line; sleek white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models with 120GB or 160GB 5400 ...
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Nokia presents: flex your Cell
2008-03-01 23:23:00
The Morph phone in open modeNokia introduced a flexible mobile. The Morph phone has been developed by Nokia and nanotechnology experts at Cambridge University, and was recently unveiled at New York's Museum of Modern Art.The phone can be used as keyboard when laid flat. While folded it turns into very thin mobile phone, or into a bracelet worn wirelessly connected to a headset.The Morph phone in wrist mode"All of the elements of the phone are reflected in real projects that are going on here," said Professor Mark Welland, head of the nanoscience group at Cambridge University and director of the Nokia collaboration.The joined effort of Cambridge University and Nokia, which involves 10 researchers from the company and 25 Cambridge scientists, goes further than just an accessory. Manipulating materials on atomic level, create devices that never get wet - because they repel water effectively - or can sense their surroundings, being able to tell whether food is off or measure the tempe...
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The LG-KF700 - the first mobile with 3 input methods
2008-03-01 00:09:00
LG Electronics anounced the launch of LG-KF700, the first phone with 3 seperate input methods - 3 inch touch screen, alpha numeric keypad and shortcut dial. Selecting tasks by the most efficient methods, for easy and intuitive navigation.“Our consumers told us that they wanted a phone that had plenty of multimedia features, but doesn’t take a long time fiddling with menus to figure out. We created the LG-KF700 based their insight,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Internal research showed that a phone’s multimedia features often lay dormant if they are hard to access. On many phones these features are hidden deep in menus, requiring too much time and effort to find them. The LG-KF700 eliminates these endless menus with its intuitive interface and multiple input methods.”The shortcut dial is used for scrolling through six user-selected features. It can also be used to scroll through webpages or e-mails, adjust volumes and other fun...
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2007 was a big year for mobiles
2008-02-29 16:16:00
More than 1 billion phones sold last year.Nokia, the global leader in this area looks to expand to North America while Motorola tries to stall its slide.The main draw shifts now to emerging markets such as China and India, with many people there buying their first mobile.Nokia dominated worldwide with 435 million units sold, followed by Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG.Via: ComputerWorld
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