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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Panasonic unleashes Lumix ZS10, ZS8, FX78, and TS3 point-and-shoot cameras

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/panasonic-unleashes-lumix-zs10-zs8-fx78-and-ts3-point-and-sho/

Thought Panasonic was done unleashing Lumix point-and-shoots for a bit? Us too, but apparently the compact cam fun isn't over yet. Yep, in addition to the eight it released earlier this month at CES, the company has four new ones for your eyes only tonight. Naturally, we've got all the important details and few glossy shots below. Oh, and if that's not enough for ya, you can always hit the break for the full press releases.

Up first are two new powerful shooters joining the ZS family: the DMC-ZS10 and DMC-ZS8. Like the previous ZS cams, the 14.1 megapixel ZS10 has a 24mm ultra-wide-angle and 16x optical zoom Leica lens, records 1080p video, and sports a three-inch touch LCD. The specs certainly impress, but Panny's also hoping you take its 3D Photo mode seriously -- the setting can produce a "realistic 3D photo" by taking 20 consecutive shots and overlaying the best two. Naturally, the images can be viewed on any of the Viera 3DTVs. The ZS8 sports most of the same specs, but cuts it down to just 720p recording. No word on the pricing on these two, but they should be hitting shelves in March.

Like its FX75 brother, the DMC-FX78 is all about Full HD. Packing a Leica 24mm wide-angle lens, the 12.1 megapixel FX78 can record full 1920 x 1080-resolution video in AVCHD. But beyond the recording specs, Panasonic has improved its 3.5-inch Smart Touchscreen, which basically allows you to control all the cam's functions -- autofocus, zooming, playback, etc. -- with, well you know, just a touch. Like the ZS cams, the FX includes the 3D Photo mode. As you may have guessed, no pricing yet on this bad boy, but it will come in black, gold, and white in March.

Last but not least is the rugged TS3. Like the DMC-TS1, the 12.1 megapixel shooter is completely waterproof, not to mention shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof. Yep, it's as proofed as they come, and throw in the fact that it packs a compass, altimeter, and barometer and you pretty much can swap this thing out for a ton of other gear. As an actual camera, the TS3 doesn't sound too shabby either -- it can record 1080p video, packs a 3D mode, and boasts a 28mm wide-angle Leica lens. Nope, no pricing, but it'll join the others in March.

Gallery: Panasonic Lumix ZS10 and ZS8

Gallery: Panasonic Lumix FX78 and TS3

Continue reading Panasonic unleashes Lumix ZS10, ZS8, FX78, and TS3 point-and-shoot cameras

Panasonic unleashes Lumix ZS10, ZS8, FX78, and TS3 point-and-shoot cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IBM says graphene won't fully replace silicon in CPUs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/ibm-says-graphene-wont-fully-replace-silicon-in-cpus/

As you may have been able to tell from the flurry of research that's occurred over the past few years (which has even resulted in a Nobel Prize), there's plenty of folks betting on graphene as the next big thing for computing. One of the big players in that respect has been IBM, which first opened up the so-called graphene bandgap and has created some of the fastest graphene transistors around, but is now sounding a slightly more cautious tone when it comes to the would-be demise of silicon-based CPUs. Speaking with Custom PC, IBM researcher Yu-Ming Lin said that "graphene as it is will not replace the role of silicon in the digital computing regime," and further explained that "there is an important distinction between the graphene transistors that we demonstrated, and the transistors used in a CPU." To that end, he notes that unlike silicon, "graphene does not have an energy gap," and that it therefore cannot be completely "switched off," which puts it at quite a disadvantage compared to silicon. Intel's director of components research, Mike Mayberry, also chimed in on the matter, and noted that "the industry has so much experience with it that there are no plans to move away from silicon as the substrate for chips." That doesn't mean that there still isn't a bright future for ! graphene , though -- Lin gives the example of hybrid circuit, for instance, which could use graphene as a complement to silicon in order to "enrich the functionality of computer chips."

IBM says graphene won't fully replace silicon in CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZDNet |

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Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop now shipping with stickers, the good kind

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/google-cr-48-chrome-laptop-now-shipping-with-stickers-the-good/

How is it that so few companies get it? While dozens of manufacturers will gladly slap an Intel, Microsoft, or NVIDIA advertisement on the palmrest of your brand new laptop, Google knows better than to partake in this annoying practice. Instead, it ships its Cr-48 Chrome laptop as a sticker-free slab of matte black stealth. At least it did. Now, don't worry, Google hasn't succumbed to the temptation to advertise (ironically) -- it's simply bundling this swank skin and a decal set with new Cr-48 shipments. The choice to apply is yours and yours alone, exactly as it should be. See the finished product after the break.

Continue reading Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop now shipping with stickers, the good kind

Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop now shipping with stickers, the good kind originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luigi Montanez | source

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iPhone 5 and iPad 2 will come with NFC built in, suggests well-connected analyst

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/iphone-5-and-ipad-2-will-come-with-nfc-built-in-suggests-well-c/

You'll no doubt be aware of our (well justified) distrust for anything that passes a tech analyst's lips, but this time's a little different. Richard Doherty of Envisioneering Group cites "engineers who are working on hardware" for Apple's latest project in asserting what that project actually is: NFC capabilities are apparently being built into the next generation of iPhone and iPad devices. Contactless payments via NFC have been steadily building up in hype and adoption recently -- at least in the western hemisphere, the stuff is commonplace in Japan -- and Doherty predicts Apple will make its move into the field with some new hardware and an accompanying "revamp" of iTunes. The idea would be to allow the use of iTunes gift card balances and the credit card info Apple already has from you to make swiping payments at compatible retail outlets. Apple is said to be planning enticements, like loyalty credits and points, to get you using its service in the place of the competition, and there are already a couple of software patent applications from the company detailing other potential uses for the technology. All of which could mean absolutely nothing, of course, but this seems like a! n awful lot of smoke for there not to be a fire under it.

iPhone 5 and iPad 2 will come with NFC built in, suggests well-connected analyst originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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9to5Mac | source

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Samsungs 750 and 950 3D LED monitors do a whole lot, won't give us a price

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/samsungs-750-and-950-3d-led-monitors-do-a-whole-lot-wont-give/

We reported on Samsung's new line of 3D-enabled LED monitors just before the CES tsunami hit, but it seems the specs got lost in the commotion. So here's what we know about the new 750 series and the asymmetrical 950 series: they'll come in both 23- and 27-inch sizes with 1080p resolution, two-millisecond response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and D-sub, HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI-DualLink connectivity -- and they can all be ordered with a TV tuner for hybrid HDTV / monitor operation. They all do 3D for gaming, TV, films, and user-generated content, and the hybrid 750s and all the 950s can do 2D-to-3D conversion from PCs, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and set-top boxes. We know what you're thinking: "How much?" Well, we'd like to know the same thing. The whole line hits stores in March, but Samsung has yet to set a price.

Continue reading Samsungs 750 and 950 3D LED monitors do a whole lot, won't give us a price

Samsungs 750 and 950 3D LED monitors do a whole lot, won't give us a price originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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