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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 WiFi camera reviewed: wait for generation two
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-41112%
LG's new X120 netbook with Splashtop-powered instant on
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-41410%
Windows 7 Beta goes public
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-41385%
Dell launches Inspiron Mini 10
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.
VAIO P vs Eee PC... fight!
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-41271%
NIMBLe is MC Hammer-approved, brings Android to even the most boring of countertops
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-41246%
There will be a GSM-friendly 3G Palm Pre
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.
Palm stock on a rocket to recovery
If you bought stock this morning it's currently up 35%. Daaaamn.
Palm Pre website now live with official images, video
Palm just got official with its Pre. Peep the galleries below for some sexy product / webOS shots in addition to our liveblog pictures. Video sure to jerk tears from all you neo-fanboys after the break.%Gallery-41175%%Gallery-41164%
Palm Pre's wireless charger, the Touchstone
Palm just announced its wireless charger for the new Palm Pre, dubbed the Touchstone. No word on whether this is optional or standard, or if it's optional how much it'll go for, but it's certainly great to see a mainstream device get something like this first party. Update: Palm's website is saying this will be sold separately.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser
No clue why Sony didn't unleash this pretty boy with its litany of items yesterday, but maybe it just saw fit to give it some special attention. Thanks to the all-admitting FCC, we already had a good idea that this was coming, but now that it's finally here, we're still pretty jazzed. Set to rival Panny's Lumix DMC-TZ50, the DLNA-certified Cyber-shot DSC-G3 is the planet's first WiFi camera with a built-in web browser, enabling users to upload images and video directly to popular sharing sites wherever a WiFi connection is available. Of note, the camera comes with complimentary access to Sony's Easy Upload Home Page via AT&T WiFi, which provides easy entrance into Shutterfly, Picasa, YouTube, Photobucket and Dailymotion. Other specs include a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom and Face Detection. It's yours to grab right now for around $500.%Gallery-41112%
T-Mobile gets official with Shadow -- yep, just Shadow
T-Mobile doesn't seem too concerned about the fact that there already is a Shadow -- it's the very phone they're trying to replace here, actually -- but whatever, it's Windows Mobile, it's HTC, and it's finally here. The new model thankfully features WiFi and full support for T-Mobile's UMA-based HotSpot calling service, but spec-wise, it's kinda the same as the outgoing piece (which possibly explains the carried-over name). On-board you'll find a 2 megapixel cam with video capture, microSD support up to 8GB, spin wheel navigation, Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard (read: no touch), a QVGA display, and all the myFaves you can handle. It'll be available in Black Burgundy and White Mint in "the coming weeks."
Microsoft announces availability of Windows 7 Beta and Windows Live
The wait is over, folks. Sir Steve Ballmer has announced the availability of Windows 7 Beta and Windows Live here at his CES keynote. The official word is this: "The beta version of Windows 7, Microsoft's next-generation PC operating system, can be downloaded today by MSDN, TechBeta and TechNet customers. Consumers who want to test-drive the beta will be able to download it beginning January 9 at http://www.microsoft.com/windows7." Moreover, Windows Live -- described as "a free suite of communications and sharing applications that make it easy for people to communicate, share and keep their online lives in sync and in one place with one login -- is now globally available. Oh, and did we mention that January 9th is this Friday? Huzzah!
Sony gets official with VAIO P: world's lightest 8-inch netbook
Not that we really needed Sony to tell us something we already knew, but we certainly appreciate the gesture. The hotly anticipated VAIO P is for real, and it's coming in as the world's lightest 8-inch netbook at just 1.4 pounds. The Vista-based device packs an almost unbelievable 1,600 x 768 resolution LED-backlit XBRITE-ECO LCD display, 802.11n WiFi, 3G WWAN, Bluetooth, a battery good for four hours (eight hours with the optional high-capacity cell) and a GPS module for good measure. You'll also find an instant-on mode that launches directly into Sony's Xross Media Bar interface, and the inbuilt webcam will keep the video chats going well into the morning. It'll start shipping in early February (in garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black hues) for $900 and up, and you can peek the full release just after the break.%Gallery-40923%
Panasonic's CES 2009 wrap-up
Panasonic just shocked us good fashion with some pretty incredibly HD-related releases at its CES 2009 press conference, and we figured we'd round 'em all up so you don't miss anything. Have a look below at the shots -- we'll be working to get more details (price, availability, that sort of stuff) as soon as it's ready.Read - Hands-on with Panasonic's 0.33-inch thick Neo PDP Eco plasmaRead - Hands-on with Panasonic's DMP-B15 portable Blu-ray player at CES 2009Read - Panasonic introduces wireless, 1-inch thick TC-P54Z1 VIERA plasmaRead - Three new Blu-ray players from Panasonic: BD60, BD80 and BD70V
Three new Blu-ray players from Panasonic: BD60, BD80 and BD70V
Panasonic didn't spend much time on its new trio of Blu-ray players, but we caught a quick snap just to give you a heads-up of what's coming down the pike. The BD60 will support YouTube / Amazon Video on Demand content, while the BD80 will include BD-Live (Profile 2.0) support and the BD70V will simply go down as the "ultimate multi-format player." Or something like that.
Sony trots out 12 megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-W220
Sony's busting out a plethora of wares today in Vegas, and included among them is a new entry-level W-Series Cyber-shot. The DSC-W220 features both Intelligent Scene Recognition and Dynamic Range Optimizer, both of which were previously reserved for higher-end offerings. Specs wise, it's touting a 2.7-inch LCD monitor, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4X optical zoom lens, HD output, Optical SteadyShot stabilization, 15MB of internal memory and a Memory Stick card slot. It'll hit this April in silver, black, pink and blue for about $190.%Gallery-40925%
Hands-on with Panasonic's 0.33-inch thick Neo PDP Eco plasma
Panasonic ended its press conference today with a bang as it debuted the 0.33-inch thick Neo PDP Eco plasma display. We're still scrambling to find out how close this thing is to production, but good heavens, it's sexy. Have a look below.%Gallery-40908%
Hands-on with Panasonic's DMP-B15 portable Blu-ray player at CES 2009
We didn't have high hopes going into Panny's press conference today, but the company still managed to unveil a few surprises here in Vegas. One of those shockers was the world's first portable Blu-ray player, the DMP-. Said device supposedly includes the ability to pump out 1080p content, and while we're not terribly enthused about the design, we suppose we'll give it a pass being that's a world first.%Gallery-40916%
Panasonic introduces wireless, 1-inch thick TC-P54Z1 VIERA plasma
Here at the Panasonic press conference at CES 2009, the company finally woke us up with a stunningly thin 1-inch thick plasma: the all new Z1, or the TC-P54Z1 VIERA, in particular. Little is being said about the panel for now, though we are told that it'll be wireless (via an undisclosed standard) right out of the box.
