NewsMicrosoft Updates Zune Despite Competition
Posted 09/04/08 at 06:18:41 PM by Florence Ion
Despite its diminishing popularity, Microsoft still plans on releasing new Zune models in 120GB and 8GB (flash-based) capacities. We’re unsure what colors will be released, but we do know that you’ll at least have the option of a black 120GB and a blue 8GB.
Though the Zune never bumped Apple’s iPod out of first place, it managed to make its mark in the digital audio player (DAP) market with wireless syncing and a bigger screen. The player became a little played out though, with weak sales making the Zune an after thought in the DAP market.
Engadget reports that the old 80GB and 4GB were discontinued at Wal-Mart, just in time to pave the way for their successors. The new Zunes will cost $249 and $149, respectively, with the 80GB iPod Classic costing the same as a 120GB Zune. Though the price tag may seem a little steep, the Zune’s features, such as the built-in FM Tuner and wireless capabilities, give consumers a little more bang for their buck.
NewsSamsung the Cynic: Blu-Ray Only Has Five Years Left, Suckers!
Posted 09/04/08 at 01:15:24 PM by Paul Lilly
If Samsung is to be belieived, the future for Blu-ray doesn't look so bright. Despite burying its rival, HD-DVD, and gaining market penetration thanks to Sony's Playstation 3 console, Samsung sees the high definition format as being on life support.
"I think it has 5 years left, I certainly wouldn't give it 10," said Andy Griffiths, director of consumer electronics at Samsung UK.
With such a pessimistic outlook, Samsung must be looking towards digital downloads as the next big thing, right? Surprisingly, no. According to Samung, the successor to Blu-ray will be OLED displays. Huh? Odd as it sounds, the company is touting high definition displays while downplaying a media format that could show off the new displays.
"We will launch the OLED technology when it's at a price that will be appealing to the consumer, unfortunately that's not yet," explained Griffiths.
Griffiths went on to say that OLED could be become a mainstream technology by as early as 2010.
NewsGhostbusters is the First Film to Be Released on a USB Stick
Posted 09/04/08 at 12:21:15 PM by Paul Lilly
If nothing else, give PNY points for creativity. In an attempt to differentiate its USB keys from other companies, the memory maker will attempt to sell a 2GB USB flash drive with the movie Ghostbusters pre-installed.
"As a market leader in the USB market, PNY's focus is to offer consumers added value by providing enjoyable blockbuster content on their USB," said Stefanie Summerfield, UK and Nordic sales and marketing director for PNY Technologies.
It remains to be seen exactly how many people will be interested in receiving a free 20-year-old movie with their USB key, but if it proves popular enough, it's conceivable that the partnership between PNY and Sony could lead to more flicks on more flash drives. That's assuming consumers won't be put off by the DRM scheme. According to a PNY spokesperson, customers will be able to download Ghostbusters to their laptop or PC, but they'll have to have the USB key plugged in if they want to watch the movie.
Is PNY on to something here, or are pre-loaded movies ultimately just a marketing gimmick? Hit the jump and post your toughts.
ReviewsCowon A3 Portable Multimedia Player 
Posted 09/03/08 at 08:00:00 PM by Michael Brown
If you’re willing to look beyond everyone’s favorite fruit company when you shop for a digital media player, you’ll encounter some wildly underrated alternatives. Cowon manufactures more than a few, including the nearly divine A3.
In fact, there’s just one feature that kills our enthusiasm for this chunky player: The joystick you must use to navigate the device’s user interface (among other things). You’ll find our full review after the jump.
NewsLogitech Announces New Illuminated Keyboards
Posted 09/03/08 at 10:40:05 AM by Paul Lilly
Thin is in, and if Sony's new 28mm Bravia ZX1 LCD television weren't enough to convince you, maybe Logitech's super skinny keyboard will. With an ultra-thin 9.3mm frame, Logitech's Illuminated Keyboard is the thinnest plank ever. But despite the bright, laser-etched backlighted keys, the new keyboard isn't being marketed towards gamers.
"You've just gotten home," Logitech writes. "It's dark but you still have emails to write, people to chat with, blogging to do. While everyone else is in the dark, you're getting ready to shine. Don't you deserve a keyboard that shines with you?"
On the ergonomics side, the Illuminated Keyboard comes with a soft-touch palm rest and full size key layout. Logitech also touts its PerfectStroke technology, which when translated from market-speak to layman means micro-scissors distribute force evenly across key surfaces so key presses feel the same whether you hit the middle of the key or strike the edge. It also encompasses a longer key travel - 3.2mm compared to 2.2mm.
Also coming to Logitech's keyboard lineup is the diNovo for notebooks and Cordless Desktop S520. The glossy black diNovo will meausre just 22.10mm from base to key caps and sport a brushed aluminin palm rest, along with a 2.4GHz wireless connection. The Cordless Desktop S520 will come in a matte-black and gray finish and be accompanied by a cordless mouse.
Look for availability this October with an MSRP of $80 for the Illuminated Keyboard and $100 for the diNovo. The Logitech Cordless Desktop S520 is expected to ship this month with an MSRP of $60.
NewsAre SSDs a Security Risk?
Posted 09/01/08 at 12:23:24 PM by Paul Lilly
The past few months we've watched SSDs gain momentum and attract the focus of both manufacturers and consumers. From larger capacities to faster performance, traditional hard drives suddenly find themselves on the verge of obsolesence. Or do they?
One of the biggest concerns surrounding SSDs continues to be long-term reliability, but there might even be a bigger stumbling block. Because many SSDs use industry-standard NAND flash chips designed for handheld gadgets, physical security becomes a potential issue. Jim Handy, director of semiconductor research and consulting firm Objective Analysis, points out there's nothing to prevent a hacker from unsoldering NAND chips from an SSD and extracting the data using a flash chip programmer. "There's really nothing sophisticated about this process," Handy said.
But that's not the only method. A hacker could use an ultraviolet laser to wipe out lock bits (encryption locks) from fuses on chip that secure SSDs. The data can then be read without any special software.
Is Jim Handy right to be concerned? Hit the jump to post your thoughts.
NewsNew Nikon D90 Features Better Eye-Fi Connected Features
Posted 08/28/08 at 09:28:52 PM by Mark Edward Soper
Eye-Fi, whose line of Wi-Fi-enabled SD cards caught our attention earlier this year, is back in the news: the new Nikon D90 DSLR joins its stablemate, the D60, as the second Eye-Fi-enabled camera.
What's New in the D90?
The D90, which makes its formal bow at Germany's Photokina trade show in late September, adds the ability to temporarily disable Eye-Fi transfer functions through the camera menu; a useful feature in hospitals, airplanes, or anywhere else where you want to prevent images from flying through the ether.
The D90 also features a 12.3MP image sensor, an optional geo-tagging module, Live View, face priority AF, and a 24-fps 720p movie mode, the first movie mode in any DSLR.
Other News from Eye-Fi
Users of any Eye-Fi Share or Eye-Fi card in any camera can also enjoy free geotagging and hotspot access by joining the photo-sharing site SmugMug, in a deal announced earlier this month.
How about it, DSLR fans? Does improved Eye-Fi support make you more likely to preorder a D90? Give us your take after the jump.
NewsAMD Deals DTV Biz to Broadcom
Posted 08/27/08 at 10:02:49 PM by Mark Edward Soper
AMD, who's been looking for a buyer for its ATI digital TV business since earlier this year, has found a buyer: Broadcom, eWeek reports. Broadcom is paying AMD about $192.8 million in cash in the deal.
What is Broadcom getting? From the press release:
In connection with the transaction, approximately 530 members of AMD's dedicated DTV team, in addition to certain employees directly supporting this team, located in six primary design centers around the world, will be invited to join Broadcom. AMD's DTV product line includes all Xilleon integrated DTV processors and complete turnkey reference designs, as well as NXT receiver ICs, the Theater 300 DTV processor, and a line of panel processors that perform advanced motion compensation, frame rate conversion and scaling.
The acquisition of the former ATI DTV business looks like a win for both sides, according to analysts quoted by eWeek. Broadcom expands its already-impressive chipset portfolio (which is already way beyond the communication chips that inspired the company's name), while AMD is able to further concentrate on x86 processors and GPUs. Can Broadcom make it work, when AMD couldn't? According to EDN's Suzanne Deffree, "Broadcom is stellar at integrating in acquired companies. Its M&A skills are a big part of what have built the company into the top industry player it is today."
So, how do you feel about Broadcom's picking up the old ATI DTV biz? For your feedback opportunity, join us after the jump.
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