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Wacom Intuos4 succumbs to peer pressure, goes wireless
Okay, so maybe there's not an overwhelming group of "peers" for Wacom's Intuos4 graphics tablet, but we're still kind of saddened to see a device that hardly seems to require wirelessness donning a Bluetooth connectivity option and following the wireless peripherals crowd. Ah well, guess we can't grumble too much about choice, so if you have some freaky workplace scenarios that require your tablet to be untethered (to up to 10 meters), you should be circling the latter part of March and expecting to pay around $400 for the privilege, or about $50 more than the wired Medium tablet. No luck if you were after the other sizes, unfortunately -- you'll just have to learn to love that wire.
BeBook Neo e-reader launches with WiFi and WACOM capabilities
We're still patiently waiting for Endless Ideas to launch a 3G-equipped e-reader to compete with the masses, but 'til then, we suppose we'll have to be satisfied with the WiFi-toting BeBook Neo. Boasting a 532MHz Freescale CPU, Vizplex display (800 x 600 resolution), 512MB of internal storage, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 connectivity and an SD expansion slot, the 6-inch, February-bound Neo brings to the table very little that we haven't seen elsewhere -- in fact, it's a dead ringer for Onyx International's Boox. Naturally, you'll find support for a multitude of file formats (ePUB, PDF, HTML, JPG, PNG, etc.), and the internal battery is good for 7,000 page turns on a full charge. The company is also playing up the unit's ability to access a wide variety of third-party ebook venues, which gives you the option of purchasing books from any given outlet rather than a predefined store. There's also WACOM tech built in, which should delight those who love to annotate and add text mark-ups. We're told that future software updates will add a multitude of new features, but it's tough to say if that promise is enough to coax you into dropping $299 on a pre-order. %Gallery-83700%
Dulin's Books brings Onxy's 6-inch Boox 60 e-reader to US shores for $349
It has taken longer than anticipated, but the Boox e-reader that we toyed with at CeBIT earlier this year is finally available for order here in the US of A, with shipments expected to begin in a fortnight. Onyx International's 6-inch reader -- which features WiFi, a Vizplex e-ink display, a 532MHz processor, 512MB of memory, a 1,600mAh battery and an SD / SDHC expansion slot -- is bring slung across the seas courtesy of Dulin's Books, and while it won't ship with integrated 3G support, it's still coming here with a lofty $349 price tag affixed to it. Sure, that WebKit browser may impress some, and the bundled white leather cover is a pleasant touch, but we can only wish it luck as it tries to rival the (less expensive and more capable) Nook and Kindle. [Thanks, Jorge]
Blizzard Holiday Fan Art Calendar Contest
The World of Warcraft has always had amazing fan art. Looking through the fan art gallery, it's hard not to get blown away by the talent the community has and their passion for drawing Blizzard properties. This year, the folks in Irvine decided to celebrate all that talent and passion by holding a contest for the artistically-inclined. Zarhym invites artists over at the official forums to contribute to the Holiday Fan Art Calendar Contest. The idea is to create a piece of World of Warcraft art that sets the tone for a particular month based on the in-game holidays. Artists can choose to depict scenes from or situations inspired by events from the Lunar Festival, Love Is in the Air, Noblegarden, Children's Week, Midsummer Fire Festival, Pirate's Day, Brewfest, Harvest Festival, Hallow's End, Day of the Dead, Pilgrim's Bounty, Feast of Winter Veil, all the way to New Year's Eve. Winners will be featured in the 2011 Official World of Warcraft Calendar as well as win a set of 2010 wall, daily, and mini calendars. One grand prize winner will also get to take home a Wacom Cintiq 12WX, the pen-on-screen drawing tool that some of Blizzard's own artists use. Additionally, the grand prize winner will also have his or her work featured in the official World of Warcraft magazine. Deadline for submissions is on February 8, 2010. As always, be sure to read the fine print if you're eligible!
Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch review
We've spent some time on Wacom's first-ever hybrid tablet -- the Bamboo Pen & Touch which, surprise, surprise, features independent stylus and multitouch finger inputs. Multitouch-equipped computer users may not be as stoked, but let's not forget those aspiring artists who are stuck with an old-school trackpad or a desktop sans touchscreen. Compared to previous pen-only models the $99 Pen & Touch should make life easier for tablet newbies, especially by eliminating the hassle of constantly switching between the stylus and the mouse. No, really: using the stylus as a mouse is just plain torture as the tablet's drawing area is mapped with the screen, which equates to extra hard work when you try to point your stylus at tiny buttons (you can switch to "Mouse mode" in preferences, but that's still extra donkey work). Do read on for some hands-on thoughts. %Gallery-79464%
Lenovo ThinkPad W701 hints at Core i7 Extreme in FCC reveal
Lenovo can't be feeling too much warmth toward the FCC right now. After Intel and Wistron combined to remove any mystery from its next IdeaPad, here comes the latter with yet another filing revealing yet more tasty morsels of knowledge. Wistron's latest submission is for a "Notebook Computer with Wacom Digitizer," which immediately points us toward the high-end ThinkPad W series,with the W700 being the only Lenovo laptop to sport such an appendage so far. Reassuringly, the new model name appears to be W701 and we've spotted a 2GHz Intel CPU, 320GB Fujitsu HDD, and a Samsung-made 17-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display in amongst the test specs. If your appetite hasn't been titillated already, the only contemporary mobile CPU from Intel that we know to run at a default speed of 2GHz is the quad-core Core i7-920XM, which comes with 8MB of L3 cache, 3.2GHz single-core max speed, 55W TDP, and a truly stratospheric price. We might have a Holiday Gift Guide candidate for 2010 already.
Fujitsu goes multitouch with a bevy of Windows 7 machines (video)
Not that there's any shortage of choice in the touchscreen all-in-one space, but Fujitsu seems keen on covering all the bases with its latest product unveiling. The headline F series (pictured) will be powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 processor, which represents 2.53GHz of ultra-efficient and plenty capable laptop hardware, and 4GB of RAM. Machines can be had in 23- or 20-inch varieties, with respective resolutions of 1920 x 1080 and 1600 x 900. There's also the MT series of 12.1-inch convertible tablets, which come with WACOM functionality and up to an SU9400 Intel CPU. Perhaps the most esoteric new offerings, however, are the NF/ER (laptops) and F/ER (desktops), which combine the hip new multitouch skills with specially designed keyboard and mouse inputs, as well as a support hotline, all in the name of getting the older generation in on the computing craze. Video lies after the break, or check out the Akihabara News link below for a full gallery of images.[Via Akihabara News]%Gallery-75410%
Wacom's Bamboo Pen & Touch unboxed and previewed
Wacom sure has been busy with its Bamboo line, and now the impressions are starting to trickle in. The Pen & Touch is particularly interesting, marrying what is essentially an extra large touchpad with traditional digital pen tech -- and to what effect? Well, the tester at BestTabletReview.com didn't find much difference in accuracy or sensitivity with his old Graphire, and was particularly digging the 16:9 ratio over his old tablet's 4:3 setup -- making for more of a 1-to-1 penning experience. Of course, it's probably more up to personal tastes as to whether you'll really find the multitouch aspects of the unit worthwhile, but they aren't touched on much here, and you could always just spring for the Pen-only edition if that's the way you're wired.
Wacom's Bamboo multitouch tablets finally go official, for formality's sake
There's really little point to this now, but a solid week after consumers in the US began picking up the Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet, the outfit has come clean and confessed that it actually approved the production of that very device. Granted, there's still some merit to the release, particularly since a foursome of new wares are being introduced. The second-generation Bamboo line will initially consist of the Bamboo, Bamboo Fun, Bamboo Pen and Bamboo Touch, some of which (we'll let you guess) are the company's first to support multitouch functionality as well as pen input. Prices are said to start at £49.99 ($81) for the Bamboo Pen and soar right on up to £169.99 ($276) for the Bamboo Fun Medium, and if you're interested in finding the one that fits your style, give that read link a look.
Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet found at Best Buy, unboxed on video
Need even more proof the Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet is real? Apparently cued by one of our posts (or so he says), "weaksaucetwelve" ran out to his local Best Buy and picked up the device for the previously-heard price of $69 plus tax, and then proceeded to take it home and unbox it on camera. From his experience so far, it only seems to support up to two fingers at a time with OS X Leopard, but otherwise it works great. Video after the break.
Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet is real, we've got pics to prove it
Windows 7 is almost here, and we get the feeling that the multitouch revolution (at least in the consumer realm) won't be too far behind. Lenovo just dished out a pair of new touch-friendly laptops, Fujitsu spruced up its LifeBook T5010 with a multitouch panel and now Wacom is kicking out a finger-friendly Bamboo tablet. Just in case you figured that yesterday's sneak peek was nothing more than an imaginative Photoshop, we've got another round of closeups today to prove otherwise. Tipster Jesus claims that he's been using the $69 device on his Snow Leopard-equipped Mac for a tick, and he's had no issues getting things working. There's also mention of a full interactive tutorial that helps you setup customer application-specific gestures, which frankly, sounds like oodles of fun.[Thanks, Jesus]
Wacom Bamboo multitouch pen tablet spotted by Mr. Blurrycam
It's been awhile since we've seen a new tablet from Wacom. In the meantime, the company has given us a digital DJ interface, but not what we really crave -- a new Bamboo tablet with multi-touch support. So what do we have here? A brave tipster (who wishes to remain anonymous) has turned us onto some blurrycam photos suggesting that such a tablet is indeed coming out. Might the above pictured Bamboo Touch see the light of day with the impending release of Windows 7? Stranger things have happened! More photographic evidence is yours to behold after the break.
Wacom's nextbeat NXT-1000 hits the Japanese and European club scenes in September
We're willing to bet Wacom's nextbeat NXT-1000 would feel right at home in a mockup spacecraft console (think Starfleet, not NASA), but more importantly, if you're one of those "creative DJs" who simply must employ this alongside the rest of your audio equipment, it's gearing up to put moves on you the likes of which have never been seen before. Launch dates are September 18th in Japan for 169,800 ($1,796) and September 25th for Europe, price probably comparable. No word on US release, but surely our Puritan heritage won't discount us from joining the party eventually. [Via Engadget Japan]
Gearing up for PvP - Your mouse
Let's face it, not everyone can afford an HP Blackbird 002, which was used for several MLG pro gaming tournaments and was awarded 4.5 stars (out of 5) by CNET. The Editors' bottom line at the time was "If you can afford it, and you want a high-end gaming PC, buy this one. End of story." The end of that story was a $5,600 hole in your wallet, which is not a very happy ending for most of us mortals (Wired gave its $2,100 successor, the HP Firebird, a 9 out of 10). The actual happy compromise is in your peripherals, which you can splurge on (within reason) without having to win the Lotto.I'll start with the mouse. More than your keyboard, your mouse is your most important gaming peripheral. For laptop users, who will more often than not use the default keyboard built-in to their machine, dedicated gaming keyboards are a luxury rather than a necessity. Furthermore, PvP enthusiasts necessarily learn to move with a mouse, which makes it a worthy investment.
Genius EasyPen and MousePen graphics tablets play on both sides of the fence
Genius, a regular purveyor of cheap and cheerful technology, has today announced a pair of "dual platform" tablets that play nice with both Windows and Mac OS. The EasyPen i405 comes with 28 programmable hot keys, a software bundle, 4 x 5.5-inches of real estate and a $79 price tag. This is trumped by the MousePen i608, which throws in an optical mouse, a 6 x 8-inches working area and -- best of all -- one more hot key to program. Bargain hunters out there might want to prick up their ears, as the MousePen is already available at Amazon and Newegg at prices south of $60, far below its suggested retail price of one Benjamin -- hey, it's no Wacom, but it certainly won't dent the wallet too bad.
Bridgestone's 13-inch color e-paper display handles pen input, has the future written all over it
While it'll always be difficult to accept innovative technology from a company that makes our tires, there's just no faulting Bridgestone's work in the e-paper space, or their latest color entry, above. The 13-inch display, based on "QR-LPD" tech, has what looks to be great color depth, along with snappy 0.8 second screen refreshes (great for this screen size) and actual Wacom-based pen input. There's video of it in action after the break, and if we didn't know better we'd think they were putting a Sharpie to a perfectly good display. Unfortunately, the image does look a little dim at the moment, so hopefully that's something Bridgestone can improve upon as they approach commercialization -- whenever that might be.
Blizzard Theme Park contest ending soon
Don't miss out on your chance to cook up the zaniest, most Blizzard-worthy idea of a theme park -- the deadline for submissions to Blizzard's Theme Park Contest is on March 30. Blizzard called on fanboys everywhere to submit their ideas for a theme park based on their properties, Diablo, StarCraft, and Warcraft, and anything from theme park maps to ride schematics to landscape pictures of the park are welcome. Selected entries will be shown during BlizzCon 2009.The best entry incorporating all three properties will receive a Wacom Cintiq 12WX, along with the Echoes of War soundtrack and a pair of StarCraft II Beta keys. Three other winners with the best Diablo, StarCraft, or Warcraft themes will win Echoes of War and two StarCraft II Beta keys each. With just under five days to go, designer hopefuls should submit their designs soon! You never know, Blizzard just might make that theme park happen...
Wacom's Intuos4 tablet gets put through its paces
If you're a digital artist, there's a good chance you've had your eye on Wacom's new Intuos4 tablets. The gang at PC Magazine have just put one through the ringer -- and have been kind enough to post a review for all and sundry to peep as well. According to the reviewer, the device occupies a "sweet spot" in the company's lineup. While offering decent resolution and pressure sensitivity when compared to the cut-rate Bamboo (the Intuos4 responds to as little as one gram of pressure), it still can't hold a candle to the Cintiq series -- except in price. The latter will run you up to two grand, while Wacom's newest starts at $229 and includes any two of: Photoshop Elements, Autodesk Sketchbook Express, and Corel Painter Sketch Pad. But that ain't all -- be sure to hit that read link for the full review.
Video: Wacom's intuos4 pen tablet now available with special typo pricing
Not much left to say about the Wacom Intuos4 that hasn't already been said in previews and repeated leaks. The pen tablet available in S ($229), M ($349), L ($469), and XL ($789) wide-format sizes. It's worth noting that the Large, with its 102.5-inches of working area is currently listed for $369 on the Wacom eStore (even up to the point of checkout) in what's most certainly a typo. Not saying they'll honor that price but you never know. Check the video introduction and feature set in the video after the break.[Thanks, Victor]Read -- Intuos4Read -- Intuos4 Large typo pricing
Wacom's Intuos4 removes layers, gets previewed
We've already seen some blurred image of the Wacom Intuos4's box and in-store display, and now we've got some much cleaner shots and hands-on impressions from ThatPoshGirls, which seems to have come back from a years-long hiatus just to cover this tablet. The new pen base is well-received, as are the LED screens that remind what each button is programmed to do. Overall, it's what you've come to expect from the Intuos series, along with improved Windows Vista compatibility. It's worth noting that the Amazon price was spotted when a product review was submitted and was quoted at $350 for the 6 x 9 inch medium, a little less than the $480 Canadian price from Future Shop we saw yesterday. Hit up the read link below for more pics of the tablet, its pen, and most importantly, cleaner shots of the box. Of course, we're still waiting on Wacom to even acknowledge its existence, but we'd expect that announcement to be just around the corner at this point.Read - Unboxing Read - First ImpressionsRead - Hint of Amazon's pricing
