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Nikon crams 36x zoom in P500, full manual controls in P300, refreshes Coolpix range with tons of color
Is it spring already? Nikon has just assaulted us with no less than nine new Coolpix models, freshening up its consumer offering with a litany of hot new shades, touchscreens and hardware updates. We'll let you dig into the press releases after the break for the full details, but the two new Performance range cameras, the P500 and P300, are worth discussing in more detail. The P500 improves on Nikon's P100 by a few orders of magnification, touting a voyeur-friendly 36x optical zoom, while also offering a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 1080 / 30p video plus stereo sound recording, max ISO of 3200, and an 1100mAh battery. The back is also adorned with a tiltable display, sized at 3 inches diagonally and fitting 920k dots. Yours on March 3rd for $400, €464 or £400, depending on your local currency. %Gallery-115978% The P300 is cheaper at $330 / €348 / £300, however it might well be the more appealing option for image quality obsessives as it boasts a lens with an aggressive F1.8 aperture and 4.2x optical zoom. It shares the same backside-illuminated sensor as you'll find in the P500, but benevolently permits its user full manual control to let him or her capture that perfect shot. Rapid-fire shooting at 8fps for up to seven frames is available, but we're loving the fact it can also do 1080 / 30p with continuous autofocus and the ability to both capture images and use its optical zoom while recording. If Nikon is to be believed, the P300 is basically the P7000 that came out last year, but shrunken down to the size of a compact. It really is a very diminutive and attractive -- it has that intentionally understated matte black finish that huskily whispers the word "prosumer" in your ear -- compact camera. It lands on March 17th. %Gallery-115979% %Gallery-115976%
LG Optimus 2X and Optimus Black priced at €499 by Amazon Germany, not yet available to buy
Amazon's German outlet has started listing LG's two latest and undoubtedly greatest phones: the Optimus 2X (seemingly renamed the Optimus Speed here) and the Optimus Black. Both run Android 2.2 on 4-inch screens, with the former offering a dual-core Tegra 2 processor capable of 1080p video recording and HDMI output, and the latter cranking up the display brightness to a quite unreasonable 700 nits. The Optimus Black also has one of the thinnest profiles on a smartphone of its class at 9.2mm, and will be one of the first phones to offer WiFi Direct connectivity. Intriguingly, Amazon's Optimus Speed / 2X listing also shows a brown color option for the handset, though only its black SKU is subject to a neat €50 discount bringing its price to €499, the same as the cost of the Optimus Black. We don't know when either one will drop, but you can go and reserve yourself one (or a dozen) at the links below. [Thanks, Julian]
Razer trots out mildly overhauled DeathAdder Black Edition USB gaming mouse
When you've got a good thing rolling, why stop? That's the mantra applied to Razer's latest, which is actually the third DeathAdder to be released. You may remember the original slinking out way back in 2006, with the southpaws in attendance finally getting one of their own in March of last year. Today, in order to celebrate the device's Wood Anniversary, Razer's loosing the USB-connected DeathAdder Black Edition. For all intents and purposes, this is the same DeathAdder that we came to love last decade, but with an ever-so-slightly tweaked design that adds non-slip rubber sides and an all-black finish. It'll ship globally next month for $59.99 / €59.99, with orders being taken right... about.. now. %Gallery-115306%
Know Your Lore: Grim Batol
The World of Warcraft is an expansive universe. You're playing the game, you're fighting the bosses, you know the how -- but do you know the why? Each week, Matthew Rossi and Anne Stickney make sure you Know Your Lore by covering the history of the story behind World of Warcraft. Grim Batol was founded by Wildhammer dwarves seeking to escape the legacy of the war that tore dwarf society apart. Led by Khadros, their thane, they marched north from Ironforge (originally the home of all dwarves, from Dark Irons to Bronzebeards to Wildhammers) after the death of King Anvilmar and the civil war that pitted the three main clans of their people against one another. Having lost the war, the Wildhammers chose to build a new, grand home for themselves in the mountains between the Wetlands and the Highlands. And it was grand indeed, for a time. In terms of pure architectural splendor, Grim Batol threatens both Ironforge and the massive constructions of the Dark Irons inside the Blackrock Mountain. The Wildhammers did not dwell on their loss to the Bronzebeards. If making a new life for themselves in Grim Batol and the Highlands was hard, it was also exciting and a new challenge to be overcome, a new way of life to meet head on and overcome. Sadly, from these auspicious beginnings disaster would pile upon disaster. Armies would invade, fell sorceries would be unleashed, and in the end, the Wildhammers would abandon their once-great home. It did not rest quietly.
LG Optimus Black and LTE-equipped Revolution coming to CES
LG is busily preparing its CES presentation area right now, where the well known Optimus 2X is being joined by a pair of intriguing new devices, the Revolution you see above, an LTE-connected handset that seems destined to ride Verizon's minty fresh 4G network, and an Optimus Black (pictured after the break). The latter handset promises the "power of light" housed within an "innovatively slim smartphone with the best display clarity." Both the allusions to slimness -- we've found specs listing it as a 9.2mm-thick device with a 4-inch screen -- and display prowess match up to the LG "B" device we've seen leak out previously, which LG itself promised will be launching at CES. Other details include Wi-Fi Direct certification and the world's first two megapixel front-facing camera. It's gonna be a fun week, to be sure. %Gallery-112541%
Dell Streak slips to $100 on contract at Best Buy
Discounts are raining down from the heavens these days as retailers try to offload old stock and do a bit of tidying up before rolling in the fresh batch of 2011 smartphones. Best Buy is keeping with this trend by treating its customers to a nice big saving on the AT&T-attached Dell Streak, offering it up for a mere $100 in upfront costs. The typical two-year commitment will be required from you, but that might just be worth it for this 5-inch Android slate, particularly if you load it up with the latest firmware. Pricing is the same for both the black and white versions, so if you're keen to swap a small bulge in your wallet for a large protruding tabletphone in your pocket, you know where to look. [Thanks, Jeremy C.]
HTC Gratia is an Aria by another name, coming to Europe in November
It seems like launching a battalion of new handsets over the past month wasn't enough for HTC, so today the company's rolling out yet another option for European mobile phone buyers. Americans will already be familiar with the Gratia from their experience with AT&T's Aria, which looks to have made a more or less straight transition to the Old World markets. It now comes with Android 2.2 as its OS, while retaining its HTC Sense top-level skin (notably without the new "new" Sense additions present in the Desire HD and Desire Z), and is available in a pair of fresh new hues that include the deep green above and a lustrous white number after the break. Black is also an option for the more conservative among you. Look out for the Gratia on your local Euro retailer's cheap and cheerful shelves from next month.
Pioneer blings out HDJ-1000 headphones, turns them into a $209 Limited Edition
The thing with headphones, and sound equipment in general, is that if you get the design right the first time, you don't leave yourself much room for significant upgrades down the line. Pioneer seems to have fallen into that trap with its HDJ-1000 set of cans, which are today getting rehashed in a pair of new shades: the extrovert gold number above and an understated all-black look. Pioneer hasn't left the innards completely unretouched, however, as it has nipped and tucked a few bits to allow better low-range reproduction and a more comfortable fit overall. Neither sounds likely to justify the price bump to $209, but those golden highlights sure look appealing from where we're sitting.
HTC outs black Legend and white Desire to keep you busy for the time being
It's almost a given that HTC may have a little announcement for us next Monday, but chances are you'd like to let Windows Phone 7 settle in for a bit while you cling on to your trusty green bot. Assuming neither the Desire HD nor the troublesome Desire Z / G2 tickled your fancy, you now have two more options for consideration: a "phantom black" Legend and a "brilliant white" Desire (as seen a few weeks ago). Patrons in Europe should be seeing these new handsets starting this month, but here's a caveat: we're told that rather than going 100 percent SLCD for the Desire, it's actually a mix of both SLCD and AMOLED, so be sure to double-check with your store before handing over your hard-earned euros.
Vodafone teases with exclusive green Nokia N8, still mum on prices and availability
With September just a few days away, things are really about to get real for Nokia's flagship N8, especially in Europe. For instance, Vodafone's UK arm has just updated the "Coming Soon" page for this Symbian^3 device. What's new? Just the fact that the carrier will be offering the phone in two colors: black and green, with the latter ironically exclusive to red Vodafone. Yep, that's pretty much it -- no prices or dates mentioned just yet, but we'll be keeping an eye out for you N8 believers.
Graphite Kindle DX coming July 7th for $379, now available for pre-order
Amazon's having a field day with its Kindle lineup as of late. Hot off the heels of its Kindle price drop, bigger brother Kindle DX has gotten a new shade, a touted 50 percent improved contrast, and a $379 price tag -- much lower than the $489 it asked for when first hitting the scene. Not to worry, there's still a 9.7-inch E-ink display and free 3G wireless. Though not shipping until July 7th, you can go ahead and give Bezos and co. your money today, whether you're a domestic or international customer. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple iPhone 4 pre-orders are go, unlocked in UK!
You know what to do... unless you wanted the iPhone 4 in white which is unavailable for pre-order. Pricing for a SIM-free and unlocked iPhone 4 is set at £499 (16GB) or £599 (32GB) in the UK or €629 (16GB) and €739 (32GB) in France. Pre-orders are limited to two per customer. P.S. The 8GB iPhone 3GS is out for those of you looking to keep it old school at $99 on a two-year AT&T contract. Update: Looks like Apple's servers are struggling to keep up. For what it's worth, we hear that US pre-orderers are having more success with the AT&T link found in the source below.
'Black' HTC Desire comes to Orange UK, sells out in a flash
We'll be perfectly honest with you: we're not seeing what's "black" about the front of the Desire that Orange UK is now selling, but it insists that the phone is indeed devoid of color; we suspect they're actually just referring to the back, for which the description seems more accurate -- but that would make it no different than any other Desire being sold around the world. What does that mean? Basically, we think it means these guys need to get their eyesight checked. Spec-wise, this is the same Desire you'll find elsewhere... if you can find it, that is -- it sold out in short order on Orange's site since its launch a few days ago, no doubt a side effect of the customer euphoria caused by the realization that they can get a 1GHz Snapdragon running Android 2.1 with Sense on a WVGA display for free on contract. In the meantime, you might want to sniff around stores. Update: Turns out the real, actual, live Orange-branded Desire is black, despite the imagery on Orange's site. We're working on pictures -- stay tuned. Thanks, everyone!
Nintendo's black Wii console arrives early at Best Buy and Sam's Club
Typical, isn't it? A full four days before these things are supposed to go on sale to the North American masses, an image of Nintendo's black Wii console has leaked from none other than Best Buy. This here shipment was actually received in the Great White North, but we're more than confident that similar packages are hitting the shipping docks of Best Buy stores everywhere here in the US, too. You'll notice that giant "Do Not Sell Before 05/09/2010" sticker there in the lower-right, but as we've seen in the past, all it takes is a pinch of airheadedness, a touch of charm and false sense of urgency to snag one early. Godspeed, Earthlings. P.S. - The "old" Wii bundle is now on sale at Best Buy for $179.99 ($20 less than yesterday), and we suspect this will be a trend that continues to other retailers as the new packages roll out. Thanks, David! Update: Seems these are arriving at Sam's Club locations as well, though they aren't to be sold until May 9th. %Gallery-92381%
Black Nintendo Wii bundle to include MotionPlus, Wii Sports Resort; available May 9
Nintendo of America has finally announced the availability of a new colored Wii for North America. First spotted in a leaked GameStop ad, new Nintendo Wii bundles -- available in black or white -- will include a Wii MotionPlus and Wii Sports Resort. This is essentially the same bundle that has been available in Europe since late last year. The enhanced bundles will be available at retail stores beginning May 9th for the same price as the current Wii package: $199.99. While it may not be the price drop some have been waiting for, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime thinks the new bundle adds even more "value." In a press release, he stated: "By including even more of our top-quality hardware and software in the basic Wii system package, we're extending that commitment to entertainment and value. Now more than ever, consumers can count on Nintendo to deliver inclusive fun and advanced motion controls at a mass-market price."
Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus
Nintendo's Wii has been available in black overseas for quite some time now, and while there were ways to get one in North America, those ways weren't exactly cheap -- nor legitimate. Now Ninty is finally giving us a color option, releasing a black Wii to American consumers for $199.99 on May 9. In other news, you'll have a copy of Wii Sports Resort included and a MotionPlus adapter to match, along with the controller and nunchuck that were previously included. In fact that looks to be the standard bundle going forward on the white models as well, which equates to something of a soft price drop assuming new Wii owners were going to buy Wii Sports Resort. And of course they were, because who can resist bopping their friends over the head with pretend wooden swords?
HTC Desire Black Edition confirmed, coming to Orange UK in late April
Remember that little guy up there? We spotted video of the Black Edition Desire exactly a week ago, but had few details to go with it aside from the fact it existed. Now we have word from Conor Maples, Orange UK's PR guru, saying that the operator will stock not only the standard-issue gunmetal Desire, but also the special Black Edition, which will be exclusive to Orange in the UK. The more familiar model will be arriving on the carrier's shelves some time early next month, with the darker, edgier Desire making a fashionably late entry in the latter part of the month. Screenshot of the relevant tweet after the break. [Image courtesy of AndroidSuomi.fi]
HTC Desire hits T-Mobile UK, black prototype spotted online
HTC's new flagship device is now almost certain to officially land on British shores ahead of its Sense-less elder brother, the Nexus One. T-Mobile's official online store is ready to take your order for the Desire right this minute, though it does come with the proviso that delivery may take up to seven days. That meshes almost perfectly with Amazon's April 1 delivery date, though the most exciting news might relate to pricing. At the high end, you can have the phone for free on £35 ($53) per month over two years -- nothing new there -- but at the £15 ($22) a month price point, you can have 300 minutes, 300 texts, unlimited (with an asterisk) internet and the Desire for £129 ($194). With Orange and Vodafone also confirmed as carriers, it's looking like a good time for Android lovers in the UK. In the meantime, a black prototype Desire has been spotted online, following swiftly in the footsteps of the silver Desire we saw setting Dutch hearts aflutter last week. It's not yet clear if or when it'll be making its way into retail, but the video awaits after the break in any case. [Thanks, Steve E. and iacopo73]
Codemasters working on new FPS from creator of Black
Hey, remember Black, the PS2 and Xbox FPS created by Criterion Games before it went all-in on Burnout Paradise? Turns out the name wasn't just short for "black ops" -- the senior designer on the title was Stuart Black, and the vice president of development for Codemasters has now confirmed that he's working on a new game in a new studio for the company. Black will join former game director at Sony London, Tom Gillo, and senior producer Andrew Wilson on an 80-person team working with Codemasters' EGO engine to develop the brand-new IP, which the UK's Official Xbox Magazine seems to be hinting is "the shooter that everybody asked for." We've heard a lot of people ask for a next-gen No One Lives Forever sequel, but that's probably not what they mean. Black did have some nice stylistic twists, however, so while this game is definitely not a direct sequel (Criterion still owns that IP), we'll expect to see Black's ideas assembled in a new form.
Mature-themed Wii games get the black box in Japan
Nintendo of Japan has launched a new program to better differentiate its diverse Wii software lineup. According to the company, future Wii games that earn a CERO C rating (equivalent to ESRB's Teen rating) or above will be packaged in new black boxes. Likely, this initiative was started due to the upcoming release of Zangeki no Reginleiv, Nintendo's first CERO D–rated game (ages 17 and up) in Japan. It seems this is a platform-wide mandate, as Biohazard: The Darkside Chronicles looks to become the first third-party game to sport Nintendo's black packaging. By differentiating "hardcore" games from the rest of the Wii lineup, core gamers should have a much easier time identifying the titles they might like. As for helping "casual" folk make the quick decision, it's as yet unconfirmed if Nintendo will continue to use that striking red box for all Mario-themed games. [Via Siliconera]
