Archives for April 2010

Leica V-LUX 20 Compact Camera gets HD and Geo-Tagging

The Leica V-LUX 20 has been officially announced. Features included in the camera include a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 12 times zoom and GPS tagging. The camera is also able to capture video in a HD resolution of 720p.

The 12x zoom is optical that is provided by the 4.1-49.2mm f/3.3-4.9 lens. 4x optical zoom is also available on the camera.

The V-LUX 20 is Leica’s first camera that uses GPS tagging and allows for GPS co-ordinates to be captured and stored in the image EXIF data file allowing you to map where pictures were taken. As well as capturing and saving the GPS coordinates the camera also stores the local time that the images were captured. [Read more…]

Google Chrome OS to get Mulititouch with Synaptics Gesture Suite

Google Chrome OS as well as other Linux builds such as Ubuntu will now be able to use multitouch gestures on their touchpads.

This functionality comes thanks to the Gesture Suite update that now allows several new gestures including pinch to zoom, two finger twist and pivot rotate to name a few.

[Synaptics]Gesture Suite works with Ubuntu, Chrome, Fedora, SuSE, Xandros, Millos Linpus, and RedFlag, and can be used with a variety of touchpad sizes, ranging from the smallest netbooks to larger notebook PCs. Gesture Suite is free… well, it will be: it’ll be bundled for free with notebooks that have a Synaptics TouchPad or ClickPad.

[Read more…]

LG Optimus GT540

The last time we heard about the LG GT540 was back at CES in January. Back then the launch date of the phone was said to be April this year and then I don’t ever remember hearing of the phone since then.

Today the LG Blog in France gave an update to the handset and revealed it will be known as the LG Optimus when launched. The Optimus runs the Google [GOOG] Android 1.6 (donut) operating system.

Other specifications include 5 keys on the front of the device with 3 being physical and 2 being touch keys. The display on the LG Optimus measures 3 inches and has a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. The processor running inside is a Qualcomm Qualcomm MSM7227 that runs at 600MHz. [Read more…]

Apple iPad 3G Orders begin Processing

Yesterday we noticed that the Apple iPad 3G had slipped to May 7, but from a comment received we heard that those who pre-ordered were going to be getting them. This appears to have been confirmed by the above image showing $887.03 pending on someone’s bank account taken by Apple.

We know it’s not “ground breaking news” by any means, but with the Apple site showing “Late April” with no specific date for the majority of this month and then suddenly May 7, it did add to a bit of confusion as to when those with pre-orders were to receive them. [Read more…]

Panasonic 3D TV Production increased by 30%

Panasonic have increased production of their 3DTVs by 30% from what we are hearing today. The increase comes because of the company selling all of their original US allocation of the 3DTV’s recently. The 30% increase should help fulfil demands allowing those who want them to buy them.

“We’ve had a very strong reaction,” he said Uehara, “Our plasma panel factory is at full capacity but we’ve increased 3D panel production by 30 per cent compared to our original plan.”

The head of Panasonic TV business, Hirotoshi Uehara, has said that he is hoping the 3D business will be embraced not only by entertainment, but business also…

“My thinking is that 3D shouldn’t just be limited to broadcast television, it should reach a range of industries, such as video conferencing or PowerPoint presentations. That in turn will boost the size of the [market].”

[Read more…]

Windows Phone 7 Low-Cost Version to Launch

Microsoft [MSFT] are said to be launching a different variation of Windows Phone 7 for developing markets such as India. The lighter version will run on different spec handsets to the usual chassis 1 we have heard about in that it will support smaller screens and perhaps even slightly lower specs although details are a little vague at the moment.

Right now only chassis 1 specs have been revealed and it was expected that chassis 1 covers the 3 buttons on the front of the device along with a specific camera resolution, processor speed and screen resolution. It is unclear if the light version of Windows Phone 7 will be chassis 2 or a new/custom category. [Read more…]

Lenovo ThinkPad L Series Announced

Several days ago we came across a crossword puzzle that indicated Lenovo were launching a new ThinkPad. At the time it was expected that the L Series was going to be announced, and we find out now that this is indeed the case.

Today Lenovo announced that the new L Series ThinkPads are launching. Two models have specifically been mentioned in the press release called the ThinkPad L412 and the L512. Each of the laptops are designed to be high performance as well as durable.

Lenovo also mention in their press release that the laptops are the greenest on the market. Prices will start at just under $700 for the lowest spec model. [Read more…]

iPhone 4G Wanted Back by Apple

We expected to hear that Apple [AAPL] would want their iPhone 4G back from all the Gizmodo episodes yesterday. Gizmodo has gone and posted the formal request for the iPhone 4G which they only refer to as a device.

The formal request can be seen over on the Gizmodo site (assuming it is a formal request and all not staged) but anything like that would be pure speculation right now. Lets just see if Giz are invited to the Apple event on June 22. We assume they still will be. [Read more…]

Apple iPhone 4G to get Custom Processor – Rumour

Today has been quite a day for the Apple iPhone 4G due to leaked pics earlier. We are hearing rumours at the moment that indicate the next gen Apple [AAPL] device will get a custom processor much like the iPad got the custom A4.

The rumour comes from an “anonymous executive” speaking to the Korea Times. It is understood that Samsung, who previously designed the chips are no longer in charge of this part (as in the design) and that Apple themselves are designing the chip with Samsung only building them.

It was already expected that Apple would put the A4 or a similar chip in to the iPhone 4G, so this rumour doesn’t really come as a surprise. We already know the chip works well on the iPad and can provide 720p video, so implementing it in to a phone that will use the same OS shouldn’t really be that much of a challenge (we at least hope). [Read more…]

Jetyo HDV-T900 Camcorder has Dual Solar Panels

Jetyo isn’t a company I have particularly heard of before, but this new camcorder looked unique enough to give it a mention.

What makes the Jetyo HDV-T900 camcorder stand out is it’s dual solar panels that allow it to charge rechargeable AAA batteries that are used inside it. The device is powered by 4xAAA batteries, and when rechargeable AAA batteries are used the solar panels built in, can be used to recharge the device.

Other technical features include a 5 megapixel sensor that can capture a 1280 x 720 image allowing it to record 720p at 30 frames per second. If still images are being captured then these are captured at 12 megapixels. [Read more…]

USB Notebook Alarm from Thanko

When we see the name Thanko USB we often wonder what the next USB delight will be that that bring. The company are well known for their crazy gadgets.

The next Thanko USB gadget we came across is the Thanko USB Alarm designed for laptops and notebooks. The idea behind it is that you plug the gadget in to your laptop/notebook and when away from your desk it protects your laptop from being swiped.

To achieve this an alarm will sound as soon as it’s removed from the USB port which is said to be ear piercing. [Read more…]

Jobo photoGPS Models receive an Update

Two new photoGPS models have been launched by Jobo that bring more capacity and more locations to the GPS tracking devices.

The Jobo photoGPS 2 and photoGPS 4 are devices that sit on the hot-shoe of a camera and track GPS coordinates each time a photo is taken. When transferring images to a computer and the GPS information from the photoGPS module, the details are then merged.

These two new models have more coverage in streets, municipalities and POI’s by 23%, 42% and 27% respectively. [Read more…]