Leopard O.S.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony fans, the fun’s not over yet. Besides going hands-on with that pair of new 300-series alpha DSLRs and that alphabet soup of H, S, and T series cams, we also managed to take a look at all four new W series Cyber-shots. Differing mostly in resolution and optical zoom, the 10.1 megapixel DSC-W170, 8.1 megapixel DSC-W150 and DSC-W130, and 7.2 megapixel DSC-W120 all feature the company’s “smile shutter” technology, which we found to work pretty well at recognizing our grins during a demo. Look for these to start shipping in March and April, for between $200 and $300.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

When we forced the TiVo HD and Series3 to go mano-a-mano back in October of last year, we had a sneaking suspicion that the latter was actually no longer being produced. Fast forward (har) three months, and sure enough, it seems that the end really is nigh for the Series3. According to TiVo Lovers (who heard directly from DVRupgrade), TiVo is accelerating the EOL (end of life) of the Series3 and “focusing all efforts on the recently launched, lower cost TiVo HD.” Apparently, the firm managed to sell through oodles of Series3 boxes over the holidays (thanks in large part to a sizable rebate-based promotion), and rather than searching for creative ways to solve the “continued component shortage,” TiVo is reportedly choosing to nudge potential customers in the direction of the TiVo HD. Granted, we’d still take this with a (light) dose of salt for the time being, but don’t be shocked to see Series3 stock start dwindling in the coming weeks.

[Via TVSquad, thanks Brad L.]

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Filed under: Storage

Been looking for the perfect card reader to complement that ExpressCard-less MacBook Air of yours? Well here’s exactly what you aren’t looking for, the ImageRouter from Delkin. This thing is built for professional photographers who need to dump pictures in a hurry, and one of these $149 monstrosities can read up to four CompactFlash cards simultaneously over a USB 2.0 connection. But wait, there’s more! You can plug up to three ImageRouters into each other for a total of 12 CompactFlash cards in UDMA transfer mode all at the same time, perfect for all those 25 megapixel shots you’ve been snapping, or that RAID array you’ve been meaning to build. Delkin’s shipping this thing in March, and it also comes in a $249 version with some bundled BackupandBurn software.

[Via SlashGear]

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At PMA 2008, the camera and video industry’s annual tradeshow, manufacturers will be showing new products that promise to give consumers better pictures — and HD video.

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Filed under: Storage

NextoDI may not shake up the designs of its various photography-friendly storage devices very much, but it at least keeps up a steady pace with the technical upgrades, with its new Nexto Extreme ND2700 unit now adding some speedy eSATA support to the mix. Otherwise, you can expect the usual accommodations for a 2.5-inch hard drive, along with slots for just about any memory card you’re likely to use and, of course, a USB port for times when eSATA isn’t an option. Still no word on a price or release date, but we’re guessing you shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to get your hands on one.

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Garmin’s Nuviphone promises to wed GPS with cellphone, using finesse and flair. Lots of people are comparing it to the iPhone.

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Filed under: Features, Household

What we may have is “a failure to communicate!” In previous Lockdown articles we have examined the vulnerabilities of mechanical locks and how easily most of them can be compromised. Even some popular high security locks can be easily bypassed — if you thought that installing a deadbolt would provide all the protection you may need, think again.

But if your locks will not adequately protect you, then what will? How about a portable alarm system that is affordably priced, a cinch to install, and virtually immune to the most common cause of false alarms (keypad entry errors), maybe something like the LaserShield. Still, the question arises: if a determined burglar can easily bypass this wireless system with some simple and abundant technology, is that too much of a risk to your home security?

Continue reading The Lockdown: Lasershield - convenient, cost effective, potentially vulnerable

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Basic point-and-shoot digicams is what the Stylus line is all about, and the trend continues. Up here are some shots of the 840, 850SW and 1030SW. 8-megapixels on the 840 and 850SW with 5x and 3x zoom, respectively. And if you vacation includes some light snorkeling (or you like taking pics in the rain), note that the 850SW is shockproof 1.5-meters and to waterproof to 3-meters. Need more megapixels? Step on up to the 1030: 10.1-megapixels and a 3.6x zoom and waterproof to 10-meters.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

The TiVo vs. EchoStar case got another little push towards finally ending today, as the Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Texas ruled that EchoStar had indeed infringed part of TiVo’s “time warp” patent. You might recall that the case had recently been on hold while the USPTO re-affirmed that the patent was valid — armed with that decision, the appeals court ruled that EchoStar had crossed the line on the software component of the patent, but that more information was needed regarding whether or not EchoStar’s hardware also infringed. That means we’re in for another round of wrangling down in Marshall — we’ll keep you updated, if we can manage to stay awake.

[Via Zatz Not Funny! Warning: PDF read link]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Those intrigued by the idea of interlocking light blocks but disappointed by the subtlety of some of the current options available may want to take note of Remake Design’s latest creation, which takes the idea to excessive new heights. As you can see, they’ve churned out a series of blocks to let you relive your past Pac-Man adventures on a grand scale, including blocks of dots, ghosts, and Pac-Man himself — no power-ups though, it seems. No word on a price just yet, but given that the firm’s standard set of four solid-colored lights costs $300, you’ll likely have to part with a sizable stash of quarters if you want to add this particular retro touch to your living room

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