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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 WiFi camera reviewed: wait for generation two

by Darren Murph posted Jan 10th 2009 at 3:12PM

WiFi cameras are far from new -- over the past couple of years, we've seen P&S after P&S arrive with minimal functionality that would allow it to sync pictures with one specific online photo portal (or similar). Sony has stepped up the game for cameras to come with the Cyber-shot DSC-G3, which is the first of its kind to include a web browser for logging into pay-hotspots and uploading to practically any photo sharing site on the web. Popular Science got to handle one for a few weeks, and in the end, they were in love with the idea but hesitant to praise the execution. The T700-turned-wireless took satisfactory pictures, but the browser experience was less than awesome. You can hit the read link for all the dirty details, but unless you're willing to deal with "agonizingly" slow load times, you're probably better off waiting for the next revision. Or for some other company to whip out a bona fide competitor.

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser

Dell Mini 10 hands-on

by Nilay Patel posted Jan 10th 2009 at 10:31AM

We just caught up with the Dell Mini 10, and while it's not as crazy hot as the white Adamo, it's still pretty sweet -- much nicer looking than the Mini 9, and more compact than the Mini 12. No wonder Dell's calling it a "perfect 10." The multitouch trackpad is really similar to the one on the newest Macbooks, but it's a little less intuitive -- the buttons are pushed into the corners, so a middle press doesn't do a lot. On the other hand, it's a little more useful -- not only can you do the usual zooming and scrolling, laying three fingers on the pad brings up a slick little launcher screen. Too bad we don't have pricing or availability -- if this thing comes in at a reasonable number, it's going to be our favorite netbook. We stacked the 10 up against the 9, the 12, and a MacBook Air, check it all out in the gallery below!

Gallery: Dell Mini 10 hands-on

LG's new X120 netbook with Splashtop-powered instant on

by Paul Miller posted Jan 9th 2009 at 6:37PM

We just bumped into LG's X120, a barely-differentiated followup to the X110 that's floating around the show floor. There's still a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, Windows XP and a 10-inch WSVGA screen, but what's new is the Splashtop-powered "LG Smart On" OS, which does the quick boot thing we've come to know and love on many ASUS products, the Voodoo Envy 133 and elsewhere. The effect, as always, is pretty stunning, and the OS should be helpful for a quick look at the web or to hop on IM over the laptop's WiFi connectivity. The netbook itself seems to have been tweaked a tad on aesthetics, but it's still a bit thicker than we'd like at this point for the netbook market. We're short on further details, but since the X110 did 3G, there's a good chance that'll be in play as well -- we're still waiting on PR from LG. In the meantime, you can check out a video of the startup after the break.

Gallery: LG's new X120 netbook with Splashtop-powered instant on

Continue reading LG's new X120 netbook with Splashtop-powered instant on

White Dell Adamo pictures leak out

by Nilay Patel posted Jan 9th 2009 at 5:20PM

While we got some early time with Dell's super-secret Adamo prototype, it looks like we weren't the only ones -- and it also looks like we didn't get the whole enchilada: there's a wicked-sexy white version hiding in the Palms as well. Still no more details than before, but bub.blicio.us was also allowed to boot the aluminum ultraportable, so at least we know that there's chips in that box. We're actually headed back to check out the Mini 10, so we'll dig for even more (and try to get pictures in a better-lit room), but for now check these latest Adamo pictures in the gallery.

Gallery: More Adamo Images

Dell Adamo hands-on! (Update: now with video!)

by Nilay Patel posted Jan 9th 2009 at 1:31PM

Looks like our puppy-dog eyes have served us well yet again -- we just got to spend some time with Dell's ultra-hot Adamo. It's really small, less than an inch thick, we'd say -- and although we didn't measure, we'd say that 13-inch screen rumor was spot on. "Adamo" is actually the brand, like Inspiron -- this is just the first machine that'll be out. We weren't allowed to boot it up or do much of anything except take pictures, but it's built really, really, well -- and it's a total smudge magnet, with a super-glossy display and a shiny black panel like the Studio XPS series on the lid. Expansion-wise, we spotted three USB ports and an eSATA jack, and the power adapter is crazy small, with a removable plug for international use. The design is somewhat reminiscent of the Envy 133 with its squared-off shape, but it's still very unique, and while we didn't put in any serious time on the keyboard, it felt solid enough. Here's the problem, though -- we have no idea what's actually inside this gorgeous case, and until we do, it's just another pretty face. Hopefully Dell comes clean on specs and pricing sometime soon -- we'd love for there to be some muscle under that hood. We're headed back to the trailer to up a video, check back!

Gallery: Dell Adamo hands-on!

Continue reading Dell Adamo hands-on! (Update: now with video!)

Windows 7 Beta goes public

by Paul Miller posted Jan 9th 2009 at 1:03PM

But this time, you don't have to head over to your favorite torrent tracker to get it. Microsoft just began its Windows 7 Beta Customer Preview Program, which means you can head on over to your favorite internet, download the ISO, burn a DVD and start living the ultra-fantastic lifestyle of a Windows 7 user. The Beta expires August 1, 2009, and Microsoft is of course piling on the caveats in case this destroys your computer with fire -- and limiting this first run of downloads to 2.5 million users. We're hearing reports of sluggish downloads at the moment, but we're sure with a bit of patience you can be rocking this OS -- or, you know... find it on the torrents.

Update: Oops. Microsoft's Windows 7 download servers have crashed under the strain as has the Microsoft blog reporting the crash. We'll let you know when the servers (and Windows 7 beta) return.

Gallery: Windows 7 Beta

Dell's ultra-thin Adamo laptop set free

by Thomas Ricker posted Jan 9th 2009 at 11:44AM

We're live at the Dell presser and the Adamo (pronounced uh-dahm-o) is official. The laptop was briefly presented and then whisked off stage without specs or prices. All we know is that it's crazy thin and represents the new luxury design franchise within Dell's laptop lineup. More as we get it.

Continue reading Dell's ultra-thin Adamo laptop set free

Live from Dell's Adamo press event!

by Nilay Patel posted Jan 9th 2009 at 10:53AM

We're live from Dell's early-morning Adamo press event at the Palms -- we're pretty much expecting them to reveal a slick 13-inch ultraportable, but we'll see what other surprises are in store. We're currently confined to suite across the hall where Dell's plying the media with free omelettes, but we snuck into the event room for the shot above and saw what looked to be the XPS Studio 1340 and 1640 set up. We'll be starting for real in just a few, keep it locked!

Continue reading Live from Dell's Adamo press event!

Dell launches Inspiron Mini 10

by Darren Murph posted Jan 9th 2009 at 10:52AM

Here in an atypically small press conference in the desert, Dell has just served up its Mini 10 netbook, complete with an "edge-to-edge" 720p 10-inch display, a built-in TV tuner (!), integrated 3G WWAN / GPS, multitouch support and an Atom Z530 CPU. Moreover, you'll find an "edge-to-edge" keyboard (no wasted space, we guess), a gesture-sensing touchapd and expanded design studio choices. Check another image after the break, but don't expect any pricing or release information, 'cause Dell ain't squealing.

Continue reading Dell launches Inspiron Mini 10

HP's Firebird with VoodooDNA 802 / 803 now available starting at $1,799

by Darren Murph posted Jan 9th 2009 at 10:50AM

We know it's a little easy to lose track of time with the world's craziest consumer electronics show steaming ahead, but today actually is January 9th. The meaning of that? HP's two Firebird gaming towers are go for purchase. Both the Firebird with VoodooDNA 802 and 803 are available for purchase right now, with starting prices pegged at $1,799 and $2,099, respectively. The primary difference between the stock configurations are the CPUs (a 2.66GHz Core 2 Quad versus 2.83GHz Core 2 Quad), the hard drives (2 x 250GB verses 2 x 320GB), the sound card (the 803 has a Creative X-Fi mini-PCI audio card) and the fact that the 803 comes packed with a slot-loading Blu-ray drive. Hit the read link to get your shopping on.

VAIO P vs Eee PC... fight!

by Paul Miller posted Jan 9th 2009 at 1:47AM

We've got a VAIO P in the house, and we thought it'd only be fitting to put the quintessential "it's not a netbook, we swear!" up against the quintessential netbook, ASUS's Eee PC (in convenient 7-inch and 10-inch flavors). Stand by for further impressions, but boy is that screen densely packed with pixels. There's another shot after the break of the P being swallowed by a 17-inch MacBook Pro... juxtaposition!

Gallery: VAIO P vs Eee PC... fight!

Continue reading VAIO P vs Eee PC... fight!

NIMBLe is MC Hammer-approved, brings Android to even the most boring of countertops

by Paul Miller posted Jan 8th 2009 at 10:57PM

Unrelated candid photo aside... it's no lie: if you've managed to load Android onto your device, no matter how lame it may seem, you're probably a good looking person. Not only that, but you might've built Touch Revolution's NIMBLe, which is a billed as a Home Touch Phone, but runs the Android OS and holds a full 7-inch touchscreen. The most basic functionality is that of a speakerphone, but obviously Android -- along with the built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and Ethernet connectivity -- opens this up to so much more functionality. Touch Revolution is actually dabbling in all sorts of hardware and software configurations, building a "Touch Device Development Platform" for farming out to companies for all sorts of purposes. Current builds include 600MHz StrongARM or greater processors, 128MB of RAM, 512MB of flash memory, SD card slots, 4.3-inch, 7-inch or 10-inch LCDs, 2 megapixel cameras and up to 800 x 480 resolutions. The unit we played with seemed responsive and only a little bit pointless, and we look forward to seeing this sort of thing hit the market -- we know MC Hammer would agree. Action video is after the break.

Gallery: NIMBLe is MC Hammer-approved, brings Android to even the most boring of countertops

Continue reading NIMBLe is MC Hammer-approved, brings Android to even the most boring of countertops

Skyla Memoir scanning digiframe caught on video

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jan 8th 2009 at 9:12PM

Remember Skyla's scanning digiframe? This company has managed to market a $219 piece of technology that does something that people have been doing for a hundred years without scanners, screen resolution, RAM or any of that good stuff. And you know what? It's pretty sweet. Pretty, pretty, pretty sweet. Don't believe us? Check out the video and decide for your own self.

Continue reading Skyla Memoir scanning digiframe caught on video

There will be a GSM-friendly 3G Palm Pre

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 8th 2009 at 4:49PM

We've gotten Palm on the record saying that there's a WCDMA (read: UMTS world 3G) version of the Pre in the works, though we don't know when or where. That means that the ~~AT&Ts~~, ~~T-Mobiles~~, and Vodafones of the world will get a shot at this baby. Suggestion, Palm: "soon" and "everywhere."

Update: We've just seen a copy of the Pre's press release, and sadly, the 3G GSM version is listed as being intended for "other regions" -- in other words, places not served by Sprint. The good news, we guess, is that we've also confirmed that it's HSDPA, so at least it'll be hauling ass.

Hands-on with Pentax's new lineup, including the white Pentax K2000

by Nilay Patel posted Jan 8th 2009 at 4:18PM

Let's just say this straight out: the white Pentax K2000 is one of the hottest DSLRs we've ever seen. It's seriously lustworthy. Considering how great the reviews have been, we'd say it's definitely worthy of a spot on your list if you're in the market. Pentax's less-interesting P70 and E70 were also out -- they look nice enough, for being pretty ordinary. Check it all in the gallery!