Friday, July 30, 2010

Apple 27-inch LED Cinema Display official: $999 from August

Apple’s last update of the day is a new 27-inch LED Cinema Display, the bigger sibling to the existing 24-inch model.  Packing 2560 x 1440 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, the new Cinema Display uses an IPS LCD panel that offers 178-degree viewing angles; there are also 49W speakers (plus a subwoofer) and an integrated iSight webcam.
apple 27 inch LED Cinema Display 1 540x376
Connectivity, meanwhile, uses a single cable that makes hooking up your MacBook Pro more straightforward.  That packs a pass-through power connection for your notebook, together with a Mini DisplayPort (for audio and video) and a USB port to hook up the new Cinema Display’s three port USB 2.0 hub.
As for hard specs, Apple are quoting a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 375 cd/m2 brightness and 12ms response time.  The new Apple 27-inch LED Cinema Display will go on sale in September, priced at $999.
Press Release:
Apple Unveils New 27-inch LED Cinema Display
CUPERTINO, Calif., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today unveiled a new 27-inch LED Cinema Display with stunning 2560 x 1440 resolution and 60 percent more screen real estate than the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. Featuring a built-in iSight® video camera, microphone and speakers, powered USB 2.0 hub, and universal MagSafe® connector, the new LED Cinema Display is an ideal companion for the MacBook® family or a Mac® desktop, and is available for $999.
“With built-in MagSafe charging, iSight camera, speakers, and USB ports, the LED Cinema Display is ideal for MacBook and MacBook Pro users,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With its massive 2560 x 1440 resolution, the new 27-inch LED Cinema Display is a perfect fit with our powerful new Mac Pro, and it gives iMac users an easy way to double their screen real estate.”
The new, larger 27-inch LED Cinema Display features a beautiful 16:9 edge-to-edge glass display on an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge that makes tilting the display almost effortless. The LED Cinema Display has vivid colors and exceptionally high contrast and uses a premium display technology called in-plane switching (IPS) to provide a brilliant image across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle.
Designed as a companion for any Mac notebook or desktop, the 27-inch display includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing, an integrated MagSafe charger to keep Mac notebooks charged, built-in Mini DisplayPort connectivity for video and audio input and a powered three-port USB 2.0 hub so customers can charge their iPhone® or iPod® even when they take their MacBook with them.
The new LED Cinema Display now includes a new ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an optimum viewing experience. Made with mercury-free LED technology, arsenic-free glass and highly recyclable materials, the LED Cinema Display meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.* The new display contains no brominated flame retardants and all cables and components are PVC-free.
Pricing & Availability
The new LED Cinema Display will be available in September through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US). The LED Cinema Display requires a Mac with Mini DisplayPort.
*EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visitwww.epeat.net.

Apple Magic Trackpad official: $69 multitouch peripheral

Apple’s new Magic Trackpad brings to desktop users something they’ve been enviously eyeing up from their mobile counterparts for some time now: multitouch gestures.  Basically a larger version of the multitouch trackpad from a MacBook Pro, the glass-topped slab hooks up to your Mac via Bluetooth and promises “months” of battery life and up to 33ft range.
Apple Magic Trackpad 6 540x376
Supported gestures include two-finger scrolling, pinching to zoom, rotating with your fingertips, three-finger swiping, and activating Exposé or switching between applications with four fingers.  The Magic Trackpad is also identically angled to the regular Apple Bluetooth keyboard, so they should fit together quite nicely on your desk.
Of course, it also means that those MacBook users who prefer to use an ergonomically designed third-party keyboard but are loathe to give up their multitouch trackpad now have a way of keeping both.  The Apple Magic Trackpad is available now, priced at $69.

Apple Battery Charger claims lowest “vampire draw”



Apple Battery Charger 1Looks like we spoke too soon when we said the new 27-inch LED Cinema Display was Apple’s last new product of the morning; they’ve also slipped out a new Apple Battery Charger, intended for use with battery-powered peripherals like the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad.  The Cupertino company reckons their new charger is “optimized” for their own batteries, though of course it’ll rejuice any AA-sized NiMH cells you slot in.
In the box is the charger itself and six batteries, with Apple claiming up to a 10-year lifespan for them.  Also making the whole thing a little more earth-friendly is the fact that it apparently has the lowest “vampire draw” (or standby power consumption) of “any similar charger on the market”: just 30 milliwatts, in fact.

Of course it also gets the usual white Apple styling, with flip-out AC prongs from a removable power plug section.  The Apple Battery Charger is available to order now, priced at $29.

NVIDIA Fermi-based Quadro pro graphics cards outed, plus 3D Vision Pro

NVIDIA has outed its latest Fermi-based cards, the NVIDIA Quadro Plex 7000 array, and Quadro 6000, Quadro 5000 and Quadro 4000 GPUs, targeting graphics professionals that might weep in excitement over the fact that they’re apparently up to five times faster for 3D applications and up to eight times faster for computational simulation.  While most models are intended for desktop workstations, there’s also the Quadro 5000M chipset for mobile workstations.
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 5000 6000
All versions support OpenGL 4.1, DirectX 11, DirectCompute and OpenCL, together with NVIDIA’s new 3D Vision Pro system, also freshly announced today.  That brings shutter glasses to the professional workbench, and will be priced at around $349 for the specs and $399 for the transmitter.
Dell, HP and Lenovo are among the manufacturers who have signed up to use the cards, with the various models rolling out as follows:
Scalable Visualization Systems:
  • Quadro Plex 7000, with 12 GB (total) of memory and 896 CUDA cores ($14,500; available fall)
Board and Desktop Workstation Solutions:
  • Quadro 6000, with 6 GB of GDDR5 memory and 448 CUDA cores ($4,999; available fall 2010)
  • Quadro 5000, with 2.5 GB of GDDR5 memory and 352 CUDA cores ($2,249; available now)
  • Quadro 4000, with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256 CUDA cores ($1,199; available now)
Mobile Workstations:
  • Quadro 5000M, mobile workstation GPU with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory and 320 CUDA cores (due Q3 2010 in HP and Dell machines)
Press Release:
New NVIDIA Fermi-Class Quadro Launches the Era of Computational Visualization
First GPUs to Combine ECC, Double Precision Floating Point and Massive Geometry Processing, Delivering Five Times Faster 3D Performance, Eight Times Faster Simulation Performance and Immersive Stereoscopic 3D
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – July 27, 2010) – SIGRRAPH 2010 — NVIDIA (Booth #717) today launched the era of the ‘computational visualization workstation’ for designers, engineers, researchers and animators by introducing its Quadro® graphics processing units (GPUs) based on NVIDIA® Fermi architecture, and by also introducing the new NVIDIA 3D Vision™ Pro solution. The new Quadro GPUs deliver performance that is up to five times faster for 3D applications and up to eight times faster for computational simulation(1), shattering previous benchmarks.
The NVIDIA Quadro Plex 7000 array, and Quadro 6000, Quadro 5000 and Quadro 4000 GPUs feature the new NVIDIA® Scalable Geometry Engines and leverage NVIDIA Application Acceleration Engines (AXE) to enable the world’s fastest performance across a broad range of CAD, DCC and visualization applications(2). Rated at an unheard of 1.3 billion triangles per second in raw performance(3), the Quadro 6000 enables users to interactively work with models and scenes that are five times more complex than ever before.
“For over a decade Quadro has been the choice of professionals around the world. We’ve also built Engines like AXE to enable the creation of next-gen applications,” said Jeff Brown, general manager, Professional Solutions Group, NVIDIA. “When you couple these technologies with our Fermi architecture, the result is a new Quadro family that’s exponentially better than anything the market has ever seen.”
Redesigned from the Ground Up to Accelerate Entire Workflows
Combining high performance computing capabilities with advanced visualization, the new Quadro GPU is the world’s first professional graphics solution with Error Correction Codes (ECC) memory and fast, IEEE double precision floating point performance. These are intended for applications demanding the highest accuracy, such as medical imaging, finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics.
“In high-end visual effects development, fast iteration is essential,” said Olivier Maury, research and development engineer, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). “By using NVIDIA Quadro GPUs, we are seeing up to eight iterations each day of complex fire, dust and air simulations, representing speed improvements of ten to fifteen times. NVIDIA CUDA and Quadro GPUs have entirely changed the way we solve complex visual effects challenges.”
The new Quadro GPUs are built on industry standards, including OpenGL 4.1, DirectX 11, DirectCompute and OpenCL. In addition, Quadro leverages technologies that are unique to NVIDIA — such as the company’s portfolio of Application Acceleration Engines (AXE) and NVIDIA CUDA™ parallel processing architecture. The result is that software developers are able to create and deliver the next-generation of professional applications that incorporate compute-intensive tasks. Among these tasks are ray tracing, physics simulation, computational fluid dynamics and real-time video effects processing.
“NVIDIA isn’t just working on building better graphics hardware, but the software tools needed to drive the needed advancements that are now changing the industry,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst, Enderle Group. “NVIDIA was committed to building tool after tool this past decade in order to drive the market where they needed it to go, and their efforts are paying off.”
The new Quadro professional solutions introduced today include:
Scalable Visualization Systems:
Quadro Plex 7000, with 12 GB (total) of memory and 896 CUDA cores
Board and Desktop Workstation Solutions:
Quadro 6000, with 6 GB of GDDR5 memory and 448 CUDA cores
Quadro 5000, with 2.5 GB of GDDR5 memory and 352 CUDA cores
Quadro 4000, with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256 CUDA cores
Mobile Workstations:
Quadro 5000M, mobile workstation GPU with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory and 320 CUDA cores
Additionally, all Quadro products are compatible with the new NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro active shutter-glasses solution, also announced today, for the highest-quality stereoscopic 3D immersive experience.
Widespread Adoption
Workstation OEMs and System Integrators, including Dell, HP, Lenovo, BOXX Technologies and NextComputing, are among those that are offering the newest Quadro solutions. Quadro products are also available from value added resellers through master distributors PNY Technologies in North America and Europe, Leadtek in Asia Pacific, and ELSA in Japan.
“As the first professional-class GPUs to integrate high performance computing with advanced visualization, NVIDIA Quadro combined with Dell Precision workstations are poised to transform workflows,” said Greg Weir, senior manager, Dell Precision Workstations Product and ISV Marketing. “With this technology, we are enabling our design, research, animation and film customers to deliver higher quality results in less time.”
“NVIDIA continues to push the envelope on delivering cutting-edge graphics solutions,”said Rob Herman, director of product marketing, worldwide ThinkStation Business Unit, Lenovo. We’re actively incorporating these latest graphics into our newly upgraded ThinkStation C20 and D20 workstations to deliver innovative, ‘visual supercomputers’ to our customers.”
Availability and Pricing
The Quadro 4000 ($1,199 MSRP, USD) and Quadro 5000 ($2,249 MSRP, USD) are available immediately through all channels. The Quadro 6000 ($4,999 MSRP, USD) and Quadro Plex 7000 ($14,500 MSRP, USD) will be available this fall. Mobile workstations based on the Quadro 5000M will be available in the third quarter of 2010 from HP and Dell.
Press Release:
NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro Ushers in a New Dimension in Visualization
RF-enabled 3D Stereoscopic Solution Designed for Modern Professional Workstations and Multi-user, Large Scale Visualization Environme
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – July 27, 2010) – SIGRRAPH 2010 — NVIDIA (Booth #717) announced today NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ Pro, a new 3D stereoscopic solution empowering engineers, designers, architects and computational chemists who work with complex 3D designs to see their work in greater detail. 3D Vision Pro solutions brings true stereo 3D back to the desktop with support for LCD panels and offers a practical way to provide a rich, reliable 3D viewing experience for large scale visualization environments like video walls and collaborative virtual environments (CAVEs).
Incorporating active shutter glasses and an innovative radio frequency (RF) communication system, 3D Vision Pro solutions delivers the highest quality stereoscopic experience and supports a wide range of use cases:
Individuals can experience 3D on LCD panels at their Quadro powered desktop and mobile workstations
Small groups can view 3D on single or multiple projectors, and
Larger groups can experience 3D on power walls or in theaters driven by NVIDIA Scalable Visualization Solutions (SVS)
3D Vision™ Pro provides long range connections, up to 150 feet, with no cross talk, blind spots, or other transmission issues between multiple systems. As a professional stereoscopic solution, status information is transmitted from the glasses back to the host for effective IT management.
“With the ability to provide valuable insights into complex data, 3D stereo has become one of the core elements of the modern workstation,” said Jeff Brown, general manager, Professional Solutions Group, NVIDIA. “Together, 3D Vision Pro and Quadro solutions bring the highest quality and most immersive 3D experience to enterprise environments.”
NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro — A New Way of Looking at Things
Digital content creation (DCC) artists, product designers, and physicians can see their ‘world’ in 3D, with perspectives that are significantly richer than traditional two-dimensional views. Physicians, for example, can now view volumetric scans like ultrasound in 3D. Businesses looking to provide large scale visualizations such as popular video walls now have a reliable, enabling technology to deliver that kind of experience.
“NVIDIA is clearly a leader in the field of 3D visualization and has been working on Stereoscopic 3D technology since 1999. With their launch of a professional 3D solution, this technology can easily move beyond the entertainment viewing experience for individual consumers,” said Dr. Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research. “By providing large scale visualization capabilities and remote management capabilities, NVIDIA is pioneering 3D technology for the enterprise, opening the door for professional users and large scale visualization system integrators to utilize 3D in ways not thought of before.”
Key features of NVIDIA 3D Vision™ Pro stereoscopic solutions include:
Active shutter glasses technology that delivers a true progressive image, which preserves the highest quality texture detail and text;
Rechargeable batteries with 20 hours of continuous operation;
Wide range of panel and projector support, and;
A wide range of professional application support.
Professional applications for NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro already available
Companies such as Siemens Healthcare, Agilent, Cineform, and RTT are already embracing NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro technology as an essential element of new solutions they’ve recently announced:
Siemens Healthcare is now shipping its syngo.fourSight Workplace Imaging Management Solution for Obstetrics. It provides off-system 3D/4D volume manipulation and 2D image and clip review for a variety of Siemens’ most powerful ultrasound platforms, assisting in communication with doctors, surgeons, and patients. It may also improve paternal-fetal bonding, and aid in treatment or pre- and post-natal surgical planning.
“Our syngo.fourSight Workplace software, combined with new NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro technology and the latest NVIDIA Quadro professional graphics solutions, makes this an even more compelling image management tool for enhanced patient throughput and department workflow in obstetrical ultrasound,” said Barbara Del Prince, worldwide segment manager for OB/GYN, Siemens Healthcare. “Doctors, hospitals and imaging centers now have the most powerful, comprehensive and innovative 3D imaging solution toolset available for volume image manipulation.”
Pricing and Availability
NVIDIA 3D Vision™ Pro stereoscopic solutions will be available in October directly from NVIDIA and from authorized resellers such as PNY Technologies at MSRPs of $349 (USD) for the glasses, and $399 (USD) for the RF transmitter hub. For more information on NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro, please visit: www.nvidia.com/object/3d-vision-professional-users.html.

Chevrolet Volt Now Available to Order in Launch Markets

The Chevrolet Volt is really, really real. It’s no longer just a pipe dream from the auto manufacturer, and they’re proving their point today by announcing that they’ve begun their ordering process in participating launch markets. Basically, you’re preordering a car, but with as many other things you preorder at any given time in the year, what’s a car? Then again, when’s the last time you preordered something that cost $41,000?
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet is apparently so confident in their new electric vehicle, that they’re going to offer a new leasing program. You can get your hands on the new Volt for only $350 per month for 36 months. You’ll need to drop $2,500 when you start signing all the papers, but that’s no big deal, right? There’s a big tax credit though, but the benefit of the $7,500 tax credit is included in the reduced lease payment, with the tax credit going to the lessor.
“The Chevrolet Volt will be the best vehicle in its class…because it’s in a class by itself,” said Joel Ewanick, vice president of U.S. marketing for General Motors, who made the announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference. “No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever. The Volt will be packed with premium content and innovation, standard.”
Initial availability of the Volt is going to be in California, New York, Washington, D.C., Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, and New Jersey. So, if you’re not in one of those states and you’re itching to get one of these shiny new cars, then you’ll have to prepare yourself for a road trip. And what better way to break in your new electric vehicle than a cross-country trip. Check out the full press release below.
Press Release
SAN JOSE, CA – Starting today, participating Chevrolet dealers in launch markets will begin taking customer orders for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the industry’s first electric vehicle with extended-range capability.
Chevrolet is so confident in the overall value of the Volt that the brand will offer a lease program on the Volt with a monthly payment as low as $350 for 36 months at Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price with $2,500 due at lease signing, including security deposit based on current conditions, which could vary at time of delivery. The benefit of the $7,500 tax credit is included in the reduced lease payment, with the tax credit going to the lessor. The Volt’s MSRP will start at $41,000 ($33,500 net of the full federal tax credit, which ranges from $0-$7,500) including a destination freight charge of $720. Customer deliveries of the Chevrolet Volt are scheduled to begin in launch markets late this year with initial production limited.
“The Chevrolet Volt will be the best vehicle in its class…because it’s in a class by itself,” said Joel Ewanick, vice president of U.S. marketing for General Motors, who made the announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference. “No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever. The Volt will be packed with premium content and innovation, standard.”
The Volt will be initially available to Chevrolet customers in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. area. To be among the first to purchase a Volt, customers can visit their nearest participating Chevrolet Volt dealer. A Volt dealer locator will be available later today athttp://www.getmyvolt.com. The dealer will begin the order process, which will be followed up by contact from a dedicated Volt advisor who will be available to answer any questions and keep the customer apprised of the progress of their order. For customers needing general Volt information, Chevrolet will have a team of Volt advisors available to answer questions starting today at 1-888-VOLT-4-YOU (1-888-865-8496).
The Chevrolet Volt is the only electric vehicle that can operate under a range of weather climates and driving conditions with little concern of being stranded by a depleted battery. Volt has a total driving range of about 340 miles and is powered by electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas powered range-extending engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank.
Depending on their tax situation, Volt owners can qualify for up to $7,500 in U.S. Federal income tax credit, as well as other potential state and local tax credits, depending on location. Owners in certain states may qualify for the added convenience of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane access.
While the Chevrolet Volt will come standard with a 120-volt charge cord that will provide owners with the ability to charge their Volt directly from a standard home electrical outlet, a total of 4,400 Volt buyers in launch markets could be eligible for a free 240-volt charging station, including home installation. The installations are part of a program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to install approximately 15,000 240-volt home charging stations across the U.S.
Technologies Keep Volt Customers Connected
When it comes to advanced technology, Volt customers are on the leading edge. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has standard technology features that link and entertain in innovative ways, starting with standard seven-inch touch screen navigation and an energy-efficient Bose premium audio system.
The Volt is the first GM vehicle to offer five years of OnStar Directions and Connections service, which includes Automatic Crash Response, stolen vehicle assistance and connected navigation, all standard. Volt will expand on OnStar’s foundation of leading-edge safety and security technology through the introduction of an OnStar-enabled mobile app that connects the vehicle to the owner’s smartphone.
“We wanted to make the Volt ownership experience unlike anything we’ve done at Chevrolet, because the Volt is unlike any vehicle we’ve offered,” said Tony DiSalle, director of Chevrolet Volt product marketing. “We want customers to fully enjoy the Volt lifestyle by providing unprecedented connectivity to their vehicle through the Volt mobile app.”
Unprecedented Warranties Bring Value and Peace of Mind
Volt owners will be provided outstanding battery and vehicle limited warranties. The Volt’s 16-kWh lithium-ion battery is covered by an industry-leading transferable warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. In addition, Chevrolet will provide:
3-year / 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage
5-year / 100,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy transportation
5-year/100,000-mile limited gas engine coverage
6-year/100,000-mile corrosion protection coverage
The Volt also has an array of standard safety features, including eight air bags — dual-stage frontal, side-impact, knee, and roof-rail side-impact – and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with Traction Control. The Volt is constructed of 80 percent high-strength steel for additional safety and protection.
Chevrolet will also provide customer assistance via a Volt advisor available 24/7 by phone or Internet. Dealers will also provide on-site dedicated Volt service and sales experts who will be able to address inquiries.
NOTE: Later today, Volt marketing director Tony DiSalle and Volt vehicle line director Tony Posawatz will host a live video webchat at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT from Plug-In 2010 to answer consumer questions about Volt pricing. Media and consumers can join the conversation on Chevrolet Voltage and the Chevrolet Volt Facebook page.
About Chevrolet: Chevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers gas-friendly solutions including the Cruze Eco and Volt, both arriving in late 2010. Cruze Eco will offer up to an estimated 40 mpg highway while the Chevrolet Volt will offer up to 40 miles of electric, gas-free driving and an additional 300 miles of extended range through a gas powered generator (figures based on GM testing; official EPA estimates not yet available). Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found atwww.chevrolet.com or join the conversation at www.chevroletvoltage.com.

Moshi Kitchenette Brings All Your Appliances Together

If you’ve got an apartment that has more than one bedroom, or it’s anything bigger than a studio, then you probably won’t need this (unless it just interests you that much). But, if you’ve got a cramped place you call home, then perhaps putting all of your appliances into one is exactly what you need to save on some space. That’s where Moshi’s kitchenette comes in. Designed for the smaller apartments out there, it’s specifically created to bring together all of your most-used appliances.
Moshi Kitchenette
The kitchenette features a dishwasher, induction cooking hub, washing machine (yes, a washing machine), a sink, and refrigerator. All in one, compact unit. What makes it that much more futuristic, is the fact that you won’t be using those ancientknobs and dials anymore. No, no, you’ll be able to control all of these appliances with a fancy touchscreen. Obviously, this is just a concept, and there’s no way to tell if it will ever become something more, but maybe if we all start wishing hard enough, we can make something happen. Would anyone out there really want something like this?

Sony Move $349 Bundle Rumored, Offers Smaller Hard Drive

It wouldn’t be a normal day if we didn’t have some kind of rumor about an already announced product. Thankfully, we’ve got this new rumor about Sony’s Move, the motion-based controller/wand that’s due out in just a few months. It’s not groundbreaking or anything, but it may be just enough to get people who thought the original $399 bundle was too pricey to jump on board the Sony-backed motion controller movement.
PlayStation Move bundles1
Yes, we already knew about the other bundles. Sony’s got multiple ways for you to buy Move, all brought together to make something worth your time and hard earned money. Those original bundles are: a controller, PlayStation Eye, and one Move game all for $99. And then there’s the console bundle, which gives you all of that, plus the PlayStation 3, all for $399. Or, you could just buy the stand-alone pack for $49.99.
Unless you want everything and the console, then this new rumored bundle will be perfect for you. It’s everything that we mentioned up there, plus the console, but instead of the 320GB hard drive that the above bundle comes with, you’ll be getting a 120GB hard drive. There’s no official word about any of this from Sony quite yet, but these tipsters seem to know what they’re talking about. What this could mean in the long-run, though, is that the current generation of 120GB consoles out there might get a $50 price drop in general, after the release of these bundles. That’s something to look forward to, at least.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sony PlayStation Move Bundles Shown Off

While we may not have the final packaging to showcase for Microsoft’s variation of their motion-based peripheral, we do know that Walmart’s already bundling up the next piece of Redmond-based technology. Of course, we should have realized it wouldn’t take much longer for the Sony version, better known as Move, to make some kind of appearance on the Internet, too. And sure enough, here we are with the final packaging images.
PlayStation Move bundles
We’ve got three different variations here: for those who’ve been waiting to buy their PS3 until Move released, those who already have a PS3, and still one that tailors to those who already own the PlayStation Eye, too. For the first, the bundle includes the PlayStation Move wand, a PlayStation 3, a DualShock 3 controller, an Eye Toy, and one Move game, called Sports Champions. That bundle will cost you a cool $399.
PlayStation Move bundles 2
As for the other two bundles, you’ll get everything else but the PlayStation 3 and DualShock controller — so obviously you’ll already want to own the console, or it won’t do you any good. This bundle is only costing you $99. And finally, if you’ve already got the Eye Toy and just need the Move wand, that will cost you only $50. And, if you want the additional navigational controller, that will run you $29.99. So who’s getting excited?

Monday, July 12, 2010

Apple’s 3×3cm Touchscreen is the Real iWatch?

Do you remember the iWatch? It was a concept from ADR Studio, and it was something that they wished Apple would unveil at this year’s WWDC. Obviously none of that happened, but that doesn’t mean the concept from the studio wasn’t out-right awesome. But, it didn’t look like Apple was interested in doing anything that small with touchscreens. Until now. Thanks to some leaked images, it looks like Apple is busy working on something that utilizes a touchscreen measuring only 3×3cm.
Apple iWatch
Speculation is pretty much running rampant right now, as you might expect from something like this showing up online. And the translation from Tw.Apple.pro isn’t helping things at all. According to them, while the device clearly states that Apple’s got their firm grasp on whatever it is, the images don’t tell us what exactly it’s meant for. The initial report suggests that it could be a new iPod Touch Nano, or even a revolutionized iPod Shuffle. But we got really interested when the translation mentioned a touchscreen watch.
Apple iWatch3
Because that’s what the iWatch is, and we’re not changing our story: we like the concept. The trouble is, the images don’t tell us nearly enough, and while the initial report is great to breed speculation, in prime Apple fashion we just don’t have any idea what this could actually be. In fact, there’s no confirmation from anyone that it’s even a touchscreen — it just looks like one, especially with that bezel. So, until more images of this leak, and the “people close to the subject” start seeping out of the woodwork, just keep staring at this and try and guess what it is. Of course, we expect everyone to tell us what you think it is in the comments.