Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook: 1/4/09

Friday, January 09, 2009

Logic Bolt: The US's First Projecting Cellphone [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/zJbFpcw2dVY/logic-bolt-the-uss-first-projecting-cellphone

We've seen plenty of units from overseas manufacturers, but the Logic Bolt will be the first US cellphone on the market with a tiny projector squeezed inside.

Scheduled for release next month at a pre-contract price between $400 and $500 (or $100 w/contract), the Logic Bolt is a GSM handset with a 320x240 touchscreen, 3MP camera, 4GB storage and MicroSD expansion. Using a bundled adapter, the phone can accept VGA and RCA inputs, passing the signal on for built-in 640x480 projection (or it can obviously play any preloaded media straight from the phone). The battery can only last 2 hours in projection mode, so a second battery comes bundled with the phone.
As you can see, the projection quality doesn't exactly dazzle, but in all fairness, these shots were taken under the less ideal bright conditions of the show floor.
Manufacturer Logic Wireless hopes to release a CDMA/WinMO version of the phone in the next four months, and they're planning a 2.0 version of the product with QWERTY and possibly Android by the end of 2009.

SanDisk's G3 SSDs Deliver 40,000 RPM Speeds Without Breaking the Bank [Ssd]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/BoGlUDqD7Zs/sandisks-g3-ssds-deliver-40000-rpm-speeds-without-breaking-the-bank

SanDisk's new G3 SSD drives are set to offer read speeds equivalent to a 40,000RPM platter drive at prices that won't make you queasy. The age of SSD laptops is looking imminent.

Coming in 60GB, 120GB and 240GB flavors, the new SSDs offer up speeds of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write, which is nothing to scoff at. And the prices? Not too bad, with the MSRPs at $149, $249 and $499, respectively. I, for one, would very much like my next laptop to have one of those 240GB (or larger) SSDs in it, and I might just wait another generation in order to ensure that that happens. You've got to think that by next year's CES these things will be pretty damned close to regular HDD prices.

SANDISK UNLEASHES WORLD'S FASTEST MLC SOLID-STATE DRIVE (SSD) FAMILY

Affordable Third-Generation SSDs Based on Multi-Level Cell (MLC) Flash Technology, Equivalent to a 40,000 rpm Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

CES 2009, South Hall, Booth # 30659, LAS VEGAS– —Jan. 8, 2009 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today unveiled its third-generation family of solid-state drives (SSDs). Using multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory technology, SanDisk's G3 Series establishes new benchmarks in performance and price-performance leadership in the SSD industry.

Designed as drop-in replacements for hard-disk drives (HDDs) in notebook PCs, the initial members in the SanDisk G3 family are SSD C25-G3 and SSD C18-G3 in the standard 2.5" and 1.8" form factors respectively, each available with a SATA-II interface. Available in capacities of 60, 120 and 240GB*, the unit MSRPs are $149, $249 and $499, respectively.

The G3 SSDs are more than five times faster than the fastest 7,200 RPM HDDs and more than twice as fast as SSDs shipping in 2008, clocking in at 40,000 vRPM1 and anticipated sequential performance of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write3. The G3 SSDs prov! ide a Lo ngterm Data Endurance (LDE) of 160 terabytes written (TBW) for the 240GB version, sufficient for over 100 years of typical user usage. (2,3)

"SanDisk's G3 SSD has met the demand of a 120GB SSD at less than $250 with an exceptional user experience" said Rich Heye, sr. vp and general manager, Solid State Drives (SSD) business unit, SanDisk. "Three key features developed by SanDisk enable this new design: a new SSD algorithm called ExtremeFFSTM allows random write performance to potentially improve by as much as 100 times over conventional algorithms; reliable 43nm multi-level cell (MLC) all bit-line (ABL) NAND flash; and SanDisk's new SSD controller, which ties together the NAND and the algorithm."

"With large capacities and aggressive pricing, SSDs are poised to enter mainstream corporate notebooks in 2009." Heye explained, "Given the current economic environment, corporate IT managers have also described a desire to extend the service life of existing notebooks. These notebooks are already maxed out on DRAM, and struggle to meet users' performance expectations. These existing WinXP notebooks can be upgraded to a 60GB SSD for $149, resulting in a system that frequently outperforms a new notebook with a HDD, thereby delaying the need for large capital purchases."

"Web-Feet Research has tested the replacement of the HDDs in three year old Notebooks with SSDs and has found an improvement in boot times, application loading and general user responsiveness that, in many cases, exceeds what a new notebook with an HDD can deliver," said Alan Niebel, Principal at Web-feet Research. "In these challenging economic times, IT managers are looking for ways to reduce IT spending without adversely affecting their user base and the SanDisk G3 SSD solution extends the notebook replacement cycle an additional two years at minimal cost."

The SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available to this market in mid 2009, in a 2.5" PATA configuration expressly for this purpose. In addi! tion, th e SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available on sandisk.com for do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts. "An SSD upgrade improves the user experience like nothing else you can do to a computer." Heye concluded.

SanDisk's flash technology is produced at fabrication plants in Yokkaichi, Japan, where SanDisk and its partner, Toshiba Corporation, share the output. The SSD controller and firmware were designed by SanDisk expressly for the G3 SSD.

If you would like to learn more about flash and the significant role that it plays inside laptops and other consumer electronic devices, please visit SanDisk's SSD Academy at http://www.sandisk.com/ssd. Here you can learn about solid state drives and the great promise they present to the computing market

Vocaloid 3: Japanese Synthesized Singing Sensation Now Knows English [Vocaloid]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/EKjKthVe8zQ/vocaloid-3-japanese-synthesized-singing-sensation-now-knows-english

Vocaloid, the super-popular singing synthesizer from Japan has now gotten an update—and it (she) is bilingual! Meet Megurine Luka, who's "moody and husky" voice is now yours to command in both Japanese and English.

Vocaloids 1 and 2, featuring much higher-pitched robotic singers became the #1 selling software on Amazon Japan. I think the fact that they had pretty, doe-eyed, teenage anime android girls (complete with "personalities" and "back stories") as mascots probably helped their appeal.

That's Luka-chan trying out her synthesized vocal chords in English—singing Amazing Grace. Previously, Western vocaloid fans had to enter all the text in katakana... like this admittedly adorable version of Miku (Vocaloid 2) singing The Proclaimer's 500 Miles.

[ Gizmodo Japan]

ASUS D200 Is a Media Server, Touchscreen Nettop, Router, Box [Eeeeeeeeeeee!]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/DfebRVaR2JE/asus-d200-is-a-media-server-touchscreen-nettop-router-box

Somewhere between the first EeePC and their awesome media-center-in-a-keyboard, ASUS became the Chuck Bukowksi of the gadget world: Drunk, unpredictable, prolific and occasionally brilliant. Then what of the Eee PC D200 touchscreen NAS-cum-router?

I'd say it falls under the drunk/brilliant category. According to Einfach Eee website (Varning! German!) the box will include an Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, a 1-4TB HDD, and 802.11n MIMO, and slot-loading DVD burner, a router and a touchscreen.

The intent of including the touchscreen is simple: it negates the need to either pipe into the NAS over the network or connection an external display, mouse and keyboard. Simple tasks, such as configuring the access point, moving files, setting permissions and burning DVDs (and hopefully direct media playback and torrent controls—with its DVI port, this could make a pretty amazing media PC) should all be manageable through the touchscreen.

To top it off, the $600 reported price is surprisingly low. ASUS says the D200 will ship in Q1 '09. For more pics and specs, head over to [Einfach Eee.—Thanks, Johannes]

Inside the Rocket-Proof Obamamobile [Cars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Us81MpbDi-k/inside-the-rocket+proof-obamamobile

I love this cutaway illustration of the new Cadillac One by John Lawson, Obama included. Specially things like "Doors: eight-inch thick and the weight of a 757 door". Other highlights:

• It can withstand rocket impacts and it's perfectly sealed against biochemical attacks.
• The petrol tank can withstand a direct hit thanks to a special foam and armor-plating.
• Its body is made of dual hardness steel, aluminum, titanium, and ceramics to "break up posible projectiles".
• The tyres are Kevlar-reinforced with steel rims underneath so it can run away no matter what.
• "Defense" accessories include: Night vision cameras, pump-action shotguns, tear gas cannons.
• It comes with bottles of blood compatible with the President's blood.

The only thing I don't get is this: It has a ten-CD changer. A CD changer? What is this? 1994? [Daily Mail]

Buffalo's Web Access hands-on: remote access from your iPhone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/buffalos-web-access-hands-on-remote-access-from-your-iphone/

16 gigs ain't enough space for all those episodes of The Hills on your iPhone? Well, if you've got a Buffalo NAS such as the LinkStation Mini or Pro, you can now access all your files remotely on your OS X mobile device through an optimized web page straight from your device. The really nifty part is that you can stream MPEGs over 3G (and presumably EDGE, though we don't know why you'd want to) -- although it took around 60 seconds to buffer a TV show episode in the demo we got. The Buffalo rep we spoke with informed us that an actual app would be available in the App Store sometime this quarter, but if you're itching to catch up with LC and the gang, be sure to check out any one of the aforementioned devices that support the service and you could be streaming pronto.

Gallery: Buffalo's Web Access hands-on: remote access from your iPhone

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Video, Storage

Buffalo's Web Access hands-on: remote access from your iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wireless HD hands on & recklessly-interfering

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/wireless-hd-hands-on-and-recklessly-interfering/

After some demo time with WirelessHD and founder John Marshall, it appears 2009 will finally be the year cable-free TV connections roll out in a big way. Expect products to launch towards the end of Q2, according to the Gefen rep on hand, their adapter will go into production towards the end of Q1 and hit shelves for about $700, while WirelessHD tech could add as much/little as 10% to the cost of a new TV like the demo units from LG and Panasonic. How well does it work for the money? Pretty well, with no untoward effects on the picture, and easily switching from source to source automatically. Walking between the display and source didn't cause a problem but even millisecond-switching 60Ghz hardware was no match for being picked up and fumbled around by a photo snapping Engadget editor. Check out pics featuring Gefen (fear not, the final models will have RS-232), LG & Panasonic prototypes plus OEM hardware we're likely to see soon in one form or another.

Gallery: Wireless HD hands-on

Filed under: CES, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Wireless HD hands on & recklessly-interfering originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Coby's sub-$200 netbooks handled at CES

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/cobys-sub-200-netbooks-handled-at-ces/

Remember those sub-$100 Coby netbooks that we deemed a hoax? Well, it looks like they might not be as hoax-y as we originally thought. Here at CES, Coby has a bunch of base models on the show floor in a myriad of color combos. The rep who showed us around made it clear that this was a "market research project" but that the 'books would ring in at under $200. There were a bunch of different configurations, but nothing too different from the usual Atom setup. The six color offerings might pique your interest, but after playing with them for a few minutes, we don't know how eager we'd be to run out and pick one up -- they felt pretty low-end. However, the only way to differentiate oneself in the crowded netbook market is with price, and Coby certainly has that working for it. We'll see if these ever make it to market, and reserve final judgment until then. Check out the non-junky gallery below.

Gallery: Coby's sub-$200 netbooks handled at CES