Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Canon's EOS 5D Mark II gets painstakingly detailed

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395224748/

Canon went a bit berserk this morning, but without a doubt the looker from the crowd is the 21-megapixel EOS 5D Mark II. Make no mistake, this bad boy is bringing all sorts of new and revamped technology to the game, and thanks to the good folks over at DPReview, you don't have to waste your day trying to piece it all together. Linked below is a 13-page "preview" that dishes out more details on the specs, changes, operation, design, menus and favorite date spots than you could ever fathom. Being the DSLR freak that you are, however, we know you've already ventured off and are onto page 2. No hard feelings, though.

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Sharp adds 65-inch AQUOS LC-65GX5 to internet-ready lineup

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395248485/

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Earlier this year, we saw Sharp dish out more internet-ready LCD HDTVs than we could shake a stick at. Now, the outfit is catering to those clamoring for a GX5 model larger than 52-inches. The expansive 65-inch AQUOS LC-65GX5 steps in with a 1080p panel, 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 cd/m2 brightness, ARSS speaker system, 176-degree viewing angles, built-in analog / digital terrestrial tuners and a whole mess of ports including HDMI (x3), optical audio, i.LINK, composite, S-Video and DVI. As expected, the set is DLNA-compliant, and there's a built-in IR port for anyone that still cares. Expect it next month (at least in Japan) for ¥680,000 ($6,450).

[Via Impress]

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New MacBook Pros leaked on German site?

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395248484/

Filed under: Laptops

Sure, none of it makes any sense, but we can't shake the feeling that there's something a little weird going on here. We've received a number of tips that T-Systems -- a division of the same company that owns T-Mobile -- has got pics of some variation of a MacBook Pro that we've certainly never seen before. The appearance of a new model would fall right in line with those rumors we've been hearing, but this seems a little too easy. In fact, the specs of these devices appear unchanged from the current lineup of laptops. The likely explanation is that there's been a photo mix-up -- someone got their proper MBP pictures crossed with one of those "wishful thinking" renders. Then again, given Apple's recent propensity for leaked photos... maybe there's something more to this.

Update: As a commenter noted, the above picture does look very, very similar to this fan-made mock-up, yet there are noticeable differences between the two (the thickness of the base, shape of the screen, location and style of the optical drive, width of the trackpad), which ultimately raise more questions.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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NY state inserts RFIDs into licenses; citizens next?

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395265983/

Filed under: Wireless

NY state inserts RFIDs into licenses, citizens next?

What can we say about RFIDs that hasn't already made you afraid? Your passport? Clonable. Your work ID and "secure" credit cards? Yeah, those too. Not scary enough? How about every adult New Yorker walking around with one in their back pocket? It's just a matter of time, as the Empire State's clearly enhanced drivers licenses (says so right on 'em) are now hitting the streets. For $30 on a new one, or $10 if you're looking to upgrade, you can get yourself a radio-wave emitting ID, enabling you to cross the border into Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean sans-passport. Don't worry, the cards won't be broadcasting any personal information -- just a unique code that the government can use to track your every movement.

[Via Crave]

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Sony stuns with SRX-T110 / SRX-T105 4k x 2k projectors

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395289812/

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Picking up where the SRX-R220 left off, Sony's new SRX-T110 / SRX-T105 4k x 2k projectors are likely headed right to a museum, cinema (lucky!), or "digital planetarium" near you. Each SXRD device touts a staggering 4,096 x 2,160 native resolution and contrast ratios of 2,500:1. Separately, the T110 comes in much brighter than the T105, offering 11,000 lumens over the latter's 5,500. Those of you hoping to sneak one of these into your home cinema without placing too heavy a burden on the ~~plastic~~ Centurion will probably be disappointed; the T110 will ring up at ¥12.7 million ($120,460), while the T105 demands ¥8.3 million ($78,725). Both should arrive in Japan this November.

[Via Impress]

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