Devices Site

I got sucked into a demo at CES.  It was innocent enough, Editor Adam Berger wanted to play with the steering wheel on the table and being his assigned wingman, I got stuck listening to the pitch.  I went from feeling stuck to genuinely interested in about 15 seconds.  This is a really neat concept that combines GPS, car monitoring and email/SMS. 

Let’s say your wife breaks down on the way to work.  If you had one of these units plugged in, you’d know where she was and what kind of problem the car is having, probably well before she does.  The device plugs into the cars computer port and can report speed, location, low tire pressure, and all the other things your car knows.  It can even unlock doors remotely.

Another scenario is your teen finally gets permission to take the car.  You can program this device to let you know if the car goes over 65 mph or goes out of a location zone.  Notifications can come in via email or SMS.  Sweet, teens are getting away with nothing these days.

At $140 per year, the cost isn’t ridiculous especially if you are a nervous parent.  Coming this June to consumers and in March to car dealerships.

Company site [CarShield]
*warning: company website is horrible; let’s hope this first look will improve by launch

Here’s what $230 will buy you in the point-n-shoot world right now, as embodied by the pleasantly mainstream Pentax Optio M50: a sleek little body (under 4″ wide and just over 2″ high), a 5X optical zoom lens, an 8-megapixel sensor, and a choice of pink, blue or silver. Little perks like “Smile Capture” make this fun at parties, but no one is going to murder you for it in some dark alley. Come to think of it, depending on where you live it might be a really smart buy. Detailed specs after jump. [Pentax]

The PENTAX Optio M50, with a 5X optical zoom housed in an ultra compact body with fun color options, is the ideal combination of style, function and price for both customers looking to update their camera and new digital users. The camera features a unique Smile Capture function, which distinguishes smiles on a subject and automatically releases the shutter. Available in three color choices including silver, light blue and pink, the Optio M50 will ship in March 2008 for US $229.95.

CAMERA HARDWARE

MODEL: Optio M50
TYPE: Ultra-compact digital camera
PRODUCT CODE:
Silver: 17103, UPC: 027075140400
Light Blue: 17156, UPC: 027075139602
Pink: 17116, UPC: 027075139565

SENSOR
Type: 1/2.35″ interline transfer CCD w/ primary color filter
Effective pixels: 8.0 MP
Total pixels: 8.50 MP
Recorded resolutions
Still: 3264×2448 (8M), 2592×1944 (5M), 2304×1728 (4M), 2048×1536 (3M), 1600×1200 (2M), 1024×768 (1024), 640×480 (VGA)
Movie: 640×480 (VGA), 320×240 (QVGA)
Quality levels:  Best,  Better,  Good

LENS
Type/construction: Pentax zoom lens, 8 elements, 6 groups (4 aspherical elements)
Optical zoom: 5x
Focal length (equiv.): 6.3-31.5mm (36-180mm)
Digital zoom: 5.1x
Combined zoom: 25.5x
Intelligent zoom: Approx 6.3x at 5M to 25.5x at VGA
Aperture: f/3.5-5.6

LCD/VIEWFINDER
LCD screen: 2.5″ TFT color LCD
LCD coverage: TBA
LCD resolution: 230,000 dots
Wide angle viewable: YES
Optical viewfinder: n/a

FOCUS SYSTEM
Type: TTL contrast detection autofocus
Autofocus: 9 point autofocus, multi/spot/auto-tracking autofocus available
Manual focus: YES
Macro focus: YES
Focus lock: YES, by pressing the shutter release button half way
Focus range:
Normal: 1.31′ to infinity (wide), 2.95′ to infinity (tele)
Macro: 0.33-1.64′ (wide), 1.97-3.3′ (tele)
Manual: TBA

FLASH
Type: Built-in series-control auto flash
Flash modes: Auto, flash on, flash off, redeye
Effective range: 14′ (wide, auto ISO), 9.2′ (tele, auto ISO)

STORAGE MEDIA
Internal memory: 51.1 MB
Removable memory: SD, SDHC

INTERFACES
Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out
Video out: NTSC, PAL
Printer interfaces: PictBridge

POWER SUPPLY
Power source: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery D-LI78
Recordable images: Approx 210
Playback time: Approx 240 min
Movie recording time: Approx 70 min
Audio recording time: Approx 300 min
AC adapter available: YES (optional)

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions (W x H x D): 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.9″
Weight
Without battery or removable memory: 4.1 oz
Loaded and ready: 4.6 oz
Construction material(s): TBA
Operating temperature: 32-104°F

TIMING
Startup: Approx 2.0 sec
Release lag: Approx 0.003 sec

LANGUAGE SUPPORT
English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Russian, Thai, Korean, Traditional/Simplified Chinese, Japanese

IMAGE CAPTURE

IMAGE STABILIZATION
Still: Digital SR Mode (auto up to 6400 ISO)
Movie: Movie SR Mode

METERING SYSTEM
Type: TTL
Multi-segment: YES
Center weighted: YES
Spot: YES
Exposure compensation: +/- 2 EV (1/3 steps)

ISO SENSITIVITY
Auto: 64-6400 (ISO 6400 only available in Digital SR mode)
Manual: 64-6400 (ISO 6400 only available in Digital SR mode)

WHITE BALANCE
Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent
Manual mode(s): YES

SHUTTER
Type: TBA
Shutter speed: 1/2000 to 4 sec (4 sec available in Night Scene mode)

CAPTURE MODES
Mode selection: Auto Picture (xxxxx, xxxxx, xxxxx, xxxxx), Program, Night Scene, Movie, Voice Recording, Landscape, Flower, Natural Skin Tone, Portrait, Surf & Snow, Sport, Digital SR (5M), Kids, Pet, Food, Panorama, Digital Wide Angle (5M), Green
Green simplified mode available: YES
Face recognition available: YES, up to 15 faces in all modes, smile capture available
P/A/S/M/B: P
Date stamp: YES (not available in Green Mode)
Digital filters (capture): n/a

DRIVE MODES
Mode selection: One shot, self timer, continuous, Frame Composite (3M)
Continuous FPS: Approx 1.45 FPS
Self-timer: YES
Remote control: n/a

PLAYBACK MODES
Mode selection: One shot, index (9 thumbnails), magnification, movie playback, sound playback, histogram, bright/dark indication, folder display, select & delete, calendar
Mode pallet: Digital SR, slideshow, resize, trimming, image & sound copy, image rotation, digital filter, movie edit, frame composite, redeye edit, voice memo, protect, DPOF, image recovery, startup image, face zooming
Magnification: Up to 8x, scrollable
Digital filters (playback): B&W, sepia, color filters (6), color extract (3), soft, brightness
Movie edit: Save as still image, movie divide

FILE FORMATS
Still: JPG (EXIF 2.2), DCF 2.0 (design rule for camera file system), DPOF, Print Image Matching III
Movie: AVI (Motion JPG), 30/15 FPS w/ sound, color/sepia/B&W, Movie SR
Sound: WAV (PCM), monaural

FILE STORAGE MATRIX (BASED ON 1GB MEMORY)
STILL   
3264×2448 (8M) 242 465 701
2592×1944 (5M) 378 714 1014
2304×1728 (4M) 472 924 1297
2048×1536 (3M) 590 1155 1653
1600×1200 (2M) 943 1547 2277
1024×768 (1024) 1801 2873 3657
640×480 (VGA) 3657 5486 7100
MOVIE 30FPS (15FPS)   
VGA (640×480) H:M:S 0:15:10 (0:30:01) 0:20:19 (0:40:14) 0:30:56 (1:00:57)
QVGA (320×240) H:M:S 0:23:56 (0:47:20) 0:32:42 (1:03:51) 0:47:20 (1:31:26)
SOUND H:M:S 12:28:41

COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS*
*For device connectivity. Bundled software requirements may vary.
Windows: TBA
Mac: TBA
KIT INCLUSIONS
Optio M50, USB Cable I-USB7, AV Cable I-AVC7, Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery D-LI78, Battery Charge Cradle D-BC78(A), AC Plug Cord, Strap O-ST51, Software S-SW77
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
AC Adapter Kit K-AC78U, Battery Charger Kit K-BC78U, PTX-211 or PTX-210, PTC-L45 or PTC-L50, Optio Extended Warranty

Posted Jan 23rd 2008 5:33PM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsWow, it looks like the cat-and-mouse game of DRM exploits is starting to inflict some collateral damage — the DTrace debugging tool built into Leopard is apparently locked out of iTunes and any other app that opts-out. Reasons aren’t clear, but it sure looks like Apple is trying to keep interested parties from seeing the inner workings of FairPlay and other DRM-enabled apps — which probably makes the RIAA happy, but makes it harder for devs to get work done. In the words of one DTrace developer, the lockout is “antithetical to the notion of systemic tracing, antithetical to the goals of DTrace, and antithetical to the spirit of open source.” That’s pretty harsh — but given Apple’s new love for selective feature enabling, we’re not expecting a resolution anytime soon.

[Via BoingBoing]

PSP users in Japan: there will be no Skype for you. At least not yet.

Sony’s just announced that it’s not going to release the microphone-’n'-speaker add on yet, postponing the Japanese launch date indefinitely. Rollout here in the west, however, is said to be on target. From Kotaku:

"Apparently some of the microphone’s components failed to meet Skype’s necessary certifications, and rather than launch the service with no official peripherals to accommodate it, Sony have put the entire launch on ice… this ‘will make no difference to the European and USA launch, which will coincide with the end of January firmware upgrade.’"

Is anyone out there planning to do this? Is it a bit like side-talking, except it only works in WiFi hotspots with a single VoIP provider? Because that sounds like a big bag of unsuccessful.

The International Trade Commission has agreed to investigate a complaint of patent infringement made against Sharp Corp. Samsung claims that Sharp has infringed on 4 different patents for LCDs. Samsung is attempting to block imports of products using Sharp LCDs. These products include HDTV’s and the Motorola RAZR2. The companies are suing each other in various federal courts and in Seoul, South Korea. A decision is not expected to come for about 15 months.

Read [Bloomberg]

T-Mobile has reported a break-in at one of their warehouses that resulted in the theft of approximately 36,000 phones, which holds a value of around $8.2 million. Be warned if you are offered a sweet deal on a “new” T-Mobile phone as they are actively tracking the IMEI numbers, its noted that a majority of the phones were Sidekicks. T-Mobile dealers were notified and they are working with law enforcement officials to try and make sure these stolen phones remain un-activated.

“Wanted to let you all know that one of our warehouses was broken into over the weekend and some 36,000 phones were stolen (worth about 8.2 Million). The most significant phones stolen were the Sidekick phones. Please make sure you inform the dealers who like to purchase gray market handsets that we are aggressively working with law enforcement to prosecute anyone who has these handsets. We do know the IMEI’s of the stolen phones and once they end up on our network we will go to the dealer code that activated the phone. So if your dealers get a call about Sidekicks and the deal is too good to be true you will know why.”

Via [Boy Genius Report]

Don’t you just hate sharing the office microwave with your colleagues? You can never be too sure what was the last item that went in. To stay on the safe side, why not consider the iwavecube Personal Microwave? This tiny, portable microwave makes it a snap to reheat just about anything without having to share it with anyone else. Being pint-sized doesn’t mean the features on it are scrimped - you get all the electronic controls and safety features available on a regular model, complete with a built-in carry handle and see-through door to boot. The iwavecube Personal Microwave can sit in your cubicle for $129.95.

The DSC-780 and DSC-S750 have lofty-sounding model names, but don’t be fooled: they’re low end to the tune of $180 and $150. They’ve got 8.1 and 7.2 MP ratings, 3x lenses equivalent to 35-105mm and 2.5-inch screens. They do basic face recognition, have lithium ion batteries and a 1-inch profile. Do Not Want.

At $180, this is not a lot of camera. For a little more, a gadget freak could hit up any other model in the line and do with a better feature set.

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SONY ADDS PERFORMANCE AND REFINES DESIGN ON ENTRY-LEVEL CYBER-SHOT CAMERAS

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23, 2008 - Sony has enhanced the features and updated the design of its new Cyber-shot® DSC-S750 and DSC-S780 digital still camera models.
Both of the new entry-level digital still cameras feature Sony’s face detection technology, which identifies up to three faces in the camera’s LCD frame and automatically adjusts focus and exposure for well-exposed, natural-looking photos.
Sony has also upgraded the two models’ power source to Lithium Ion batteries, instead of AA batteries, to extend battery life and allow for a body design that is just 1-inch slim. The DSC-S780 and DSC-S750 cameras can capture up to 270 and 280 shots on a single full charge, respectively.
“Face detection is just one of the technologies we’re introducing to help customers take better photos more easily,” said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics.
The 8.1-megapixel DSC-S780 and the 7.2-megapixel DSC-S750 models incorporate CCD imagers, 3x optical zoom lenses, and 2.5-inch LCD screens for easy framing and viewing of photos.
Higher sensitivity settings up to IS01250 have been added to both models to help reduce the risk of blurry photos when shooting in low-light conditions.
Seven convenient scene selections, including twilight, twilight portrait, landscape, soft snap, beach, snow and high sensitivity, allow you to adjust quickly for specific shooting conditions.
The cameras’ five-point autofocus system helps take the guesswork out of picture taking by intelligently selecting the best focus for the subject. This helps to ensure that the subject is in focus, even if they are not in the center of the frame.
The cameras are equipped with 22MB of internal memory so you can start shooting as soon as the camera is out of the box. Their capacities can be expanded easily with an optional Memory Stick Duo™ or Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media card, now available in capacities up to 16 gigabytes.
Price and Availability
Available in classic silver, the DSC-S750 model ships in March for about $150, and the DSC-S780 will be available in April for about $180. Options will include travel chargers, batteries, carrying cases, sports packs and other accessories, all sold separately.
The models can be purchased online at sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), at military base exchanges, and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin on Jan. 31 at www.sonystyle.com.

This range of USB flash drives does not come in the form of sushi, but the different animal forms are appealing as well in a strange sort of way. Available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB versions, they’re somewhat like the USB Sushi flash drives, so expect to fork out a premium for it. In a more precise manner of speaking, the 1GB, 2GB and 4GB models retail for 275 Euros, 375 Euros and 475 Euros respectively. I would like to see humping versions to keep the USB Humping Dog company. Hanging out on a USB port all by yourself can get pretty lonely, you know.

Splatted Stan Coaster
It’s an insult to call him merely a drinks coaster. For it is nothing short of his destiny to hold your mug rock steady on the desktop and absorb all manner of stains, which is why he’s fully washable to boot. We promise you’ll never look at a splatted roadside hedgehog in the same way again.

See price