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Polaroid's CGA-02540 provides ClickFree backup for photos
For those aclimated just enough with technology to understand the basic functions of a point-and-shoot, but not intelligent enough to utilize a "My Pictures" folder or understand the concept of "one-touch backup," Polaroid's CGA-02540 is coming to the rescue. Designed for those who basically have a self-induced BSOD whenever they touch a mouse or keyboard, this 2.5-inch 40GB backup drive is programmed to work specifically (read: only) with photo files, and requires absolutely zero clicks to sniff around one's HDD, locate newly uploaded files, and backup only the latest pictures while leaving the originals in tact and in place. The ClickFree unit is so simple, in fact, that there's not even a single button on the enclosure, and if your PC sports a powered USB port, you won't even need to figure out how to utilize an AC adapter. Of course, clueless Mac users will certainly be in a quandary when trying to figure out why their machine isn't running "Windows XP or 2000," and we highly doubt 40GB is enough "for a lifetime of photographs," but nevertheless, the CGA-02540 should be available for purchase sometime this quarter for a currently undisclosed price.[Via EverythingUSB]
Polaroid's budget 32 and 20-inch LCDs hitting Japan
Polaroid - or should we say the Polaroid Holding Company -- is best known for its instant cameras budget digicams these days. Still, that's not stopping 'em from rolling out a couple of new 32-inch and 20-inch LCDs in Japan. These new panels of unspecified, though likely Chinese origin, all bring a 1366x768 resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 8-ms response, integrated digital tuner and 1x HDMI input on top of Japanese D4, S-Video, 2x composite, and D-Sub15 for the PC. The 32-inch FLJ-3235 features a 550cd/m2 brightness and 170-degree visibility while the 20-inch FLJ-2035 dims down a bit to a 500cd/m2 brightness while upping visibility to 176-degrees. While these may be Polaroid firsts for Japan, similarly spec'd and priced models can already be found at Home Depot of all places, closer to home. Invading Japan this December and priced to please at ¥100,000 (about $845) for the 32-inch model or about ¥70,000 (about $592) for the wee 20-incher. Go Polaroid uh, branding, go. [Via Impress]
Polaroid offers four pink digicams in support of breast cancer research
Just yesterday we hit you with Seagate's Pink Pocket hard drive, and now Polaroid is jumping on the (admittedly awesome) anti-breast cancer bandwagon and throwing down four new digicams in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. All four P&S models are available in pink, light pink, and magenta (similar to the trio of RAZR hues), house 16MB of internal memory, and support SD cards of all sizes. The a520M gets it started with a 5.1 megapixel sensor, 2-inch LCD, hardly useful 4x digital zoom, and an AVI movie mode, while the i533P steps it up by including a 2.5-inch display, much more worthwhile 3x optical zoom, AVI / MPEG-4 video capability, and video / audio outs. The i639M rocks 6 megapixels, a 2.4-inch screen, 3x optical zoom, video out, and an MPEG-4 movie (with voice recording) mode, while the top-end i733LP boasts 7.1 megapixels, a 2.5-inch TFT LCD, 3x optical zoom, movie mode with audio, and A / V outs. While pricing deets are currently MIA, these will only be available until next March, so you can pick up a delightfully colored digicam for that oh-so-special lady in your life (or one for yourself, ladies), and help out an excellent cause in the process.
Polaroid's barebones a520 digital camera
While Polaroid may have had that snap 'n shake camera market locked down, it certainly isn't atop the list of quality digital cameras, but the a520 isn't parading around attempting to be anything more than a bottom-of-the-line, wallet-friendly offering anyway. While the company's 10-megapixel i1032 was relatively uninspiring, this compact shooter should certainly appeal to budget-conscious consumers looking for a basic, simple way to take digital photos. The pocketable cam sports a modest five megapixel CMOS sensor, 2-inch LCD monitor, 16MB of built-in storage, SD support (limited to 1GB cards or smaller), and a VGA movie mode. Unfortunately -- albeit expectedly -- you'll find a (nearly worthless) 4x digital zoom in place of the more functional optical variety, and while it touts integrated "redeye reduction," we have our doubts concerning its effectiveness. Nevertheless, this diminutive P&S probably boasts enough capability for those wanting a (very) basic digital alternative to buying all those disposables, and can be found for the super-cheap price of about ¥10,000 ($85) when it drops in October.[Via Far East Gizmos]
Polaroid PDC 5080 reviewed/trashed by PC Mag
If you ever needed proof that megapixels aren't everything in a digital camera, look no further than PC Magazine's review of Polaroid's PDC 5080 5 megapixel cam, which sells for just $90. You know things are bad when the best they can come up with on the pro side is "light" and "cheap." The problems with the camera, on the other hand, read like a comedy of errors, from the open-at-your-own-risk blister pack the camera comes packaged in (rule #1, don't buy a digital camera in a blister pack), to the way below average image quality compared to other 5MP cameras, to the 9 frame per second "video" capabilities, to the images that mysteriously dissappear from the SD card. Stay away from this one, folks, and warn your friends.
Polaroid's i1032 10 megapixel compact
The megapixel race is sort of like the old US / USSR arms race: all parties involved are in a mad rush to see who can out shoot the other. But instead of suffering a thermonuclear holocaust, we're subject to equally painful joyous, super-detailed photos of Uncle Fred's celebretory leap after bowling a perfect game. That said, Polaroid enters the fray with the latest addition to the 10 megapixel club, the i1032. It packs typical digital camera fare: a 3x optical zoom (with 4x digital zoom), a 2.4-inch LCD, 32MB of internal memory, PictBridge support, and a SD slot. The race is on, but you don't have to bankrupt your country to own one: you can pick up this pixel packer at Wal-Mart for under $300.
Polaroid's MGX-0550: GPS and DVD combo
You know, it's still hard to get used to a new Polaroid product doing anything other than snapping pics. Well those are days long gone, so blot your eyes old timers and check the new MGX-0550 -- Polaroid's new SiRFstar III, WAAS-enabled, 12-channel GPS and DVD / CD playin' combo device. That 5.6-inch touchscreen delivers your choice of kid squelching vids or the most relevant of the pre-loaded maps covering the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. And yeah, the MGX-0550 will interrupt your media fix to provide the latest navigation instructions over its built-in FM transmitter through your car stereo system. When you arrive, be sure to drag the MGX-0550 along since DVDs will play for another 3 hours off rechargeable battery. No pricing or availably yet, but then again, how much do you care?
Polaroid DRM-2001G DVR with DVD burner and editing software
We know the DRM-2001G DVR isn't a real Polaroid product, and that the brand once synonymous with instant photography is now routinely slapped on everything from CRTs to portable DVD players. Still, we'd like to assume the Polaroid name means we're getting something a little different from the standard me-too offerings of other brands, and in this case, that does indeed seem to be so. The DRM-2001G may look like any other DVR with an 80GB hard drive and DVD burner, but the $299 unit actually has a few tricks up its sleeve, thanks to its built-in YesDVD and TVGuardian software. The former apparently allows easy editing of videos before burning , including creation of chapters and even disc-label templates. The latter is a subscription-based "foul-language filtering" tool. We can't imagine wanting to watch anything once it's been through the filter, but we can think of at least a few other uses for the technology -- like maybe a filter to, say, strip Paul Shaffer out of the Letterman show, or one to strip product placements out of sitcoms. Give us that, Polaroid, and you've got a winner on your hands.
