Sony's foray into the CompactFlash market
Damian Koh | Feb 01, 2007
Not content with just Memory Sticks, Sony has announced its intention to enter the CompactFlash media card market.
| Editors' note:
Sony Electronics Asia Pacific has officially announced its CompactFlash cards available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities. The cards with 66x transfer speeds read and write at a minimum rate of 10MB and 9MB, respectively, while the faster 133x media has a minimum 20MB read/write speed. The flash media is expected in Asia, including Singapore, from May.
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Sony's latest foray is set to complement the company's first digital SLR--the Alpha 100. "With the addition of CompactFlash cards to its product range, Sony widens the choice for users of dSLR cameras, such as the new Sony Alpha 100 model, that are looking for fast and reliable recording media from a leading brand" said Renaud Isnard from Sony Europe's Network Media division in a press release statement.
As to whether this is a sign that Sony's second dSLR will soon be announced, or whether the Japanese conglomerate will shoot itself in its own foot with a premium pricing strategy is anyone's guess.
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On a separate note, but still on memory cards, Fujifilm has adopted the Secure Digital format in its latest lineup of FinePixes. For more information, check out our CES coverage.
From metal to plastic, and now wood!
Philip Wong | Feb 01, 2007
Forget fancy glass panels. LG is going environmentally friendly with its upcoming wooden plasma TV. First reported by CNET Crave UK back in late 2006, the Korean chaebol is apparently ready to ship a 60-inch model for the Korean market as early as March.
While wooden TVs may sound like a new fad for the uninitiated, a Swedish company called SWEDEX has actually beaten LG with its own line of wooden products. These range from large-screen LCD TVs and monitors to keyboards and mice.
There is one minor concern for folks here in the humid tropics, though. Does the product warranty cover the unlikely event of a termite attack?
Image courtesy of Akihabara News
Sleeping with your TV
Philip Wong | Feb 01, 2007
Have you ever had the painful experience of your expensive tech toys being vandalized by your very own toddlers? How about the scratch marks on your super-sized flat-panel turned race course, left by those Matchbox die-casts? Since we reckon you can't lock up that huge 50-inch mammoth, why not conceal them from preying eyes with MK 1 Studio's Underbed Lift?
An oversized edition of the common A/V mounting arm, it's capable of stowing a 50-inch panel under a king-sized bed with only 8-inch of clearance. What's more, it can be deployed under 45 seconds and comes with built-in swivel capability for that picture-perfect viewing angle. It's, nevertheless, a shame that this innovative product is available only in the US. Tough luck, folks.
More images of the Underbed Lift:
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iCache
Juniper Foo | Feb 01, 2007
Here's the only credit card you'll ever need. iCache looks to be a nifty enough device in that it takes all your gazillion credit cards that you've subscribed to, and replicates them all into a universal card. Here's how it works: You register all your cards to your online account. You then insert the universal card into the iCache. Now each time you use a specific card, you call it up on the iCache screen, which then loads the information onto the universal card. And, voila. One card to rule them all! The data is, of course, encrypted and accessible only via the biometric fingerprint reader. As a further precaution, data loaded on the universal card vanishes after 10 minutes. So best not to shilly-shally over your purchases. Of course, while this may relieve your bulging wallet considerably, it's still one more thing to carry with you. Darn.
Click to see more images:
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Via popgadget.net
Price: N.A.
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Device: Credit card storage
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Panasonic cameras receive overhaul treatment
Damian Koh | Feb 01, 2007
Apart from its optical image stabilizer and Leica glasses, which are about all that's similar, Panasonic is introducing a plethora of new Lumix shooters in time for Spring shoppers and ahead of the PMA (the annual photo imaging event) crowd in March.
The new Lumix cameras are broadly classified into the megazoom, ultracompact and budget categories. Photographers who crave for extended long focal range would fancy the 12x optical zoom FZ8 (replacing the FZ7), TZ2 and TZ3. The latter two have a 10x optical reach with 28mm angle lenses (replacing the TZ1) in a slightly more compact body.
In terms of size, the FX30, FX10 and FX12 ultracompacts go easier on the pocket, but are not without bells and whistles. Panasonic claims the FX30 as the world's slimmest 28mm wide-angle lens camera at just 22mm thick, while the FX10 and FX12 feature 6- and 7-megapixel resolution, respectively, with 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD screens.
Not everyone can afford a shiny new, top-of-the-line shooter and Panasonic isn't all that heartless with its budget LZ and LS series. These cameras don't skim on features and, like the rest of the Lumix lineup, are equipped with the company's optical image stabilization technology and Venus III image processor.
According to Panasonic Singapore, these shooters will be available in Singapore between February and April, but if you have US friends, these are what they can look out for:
In February
FX30 - US$350
FZ8 - US$350
LS70 - S$150
LZ6 - US$180
LZ7 - US$200
FX10 - US$200
FX12 - US$220
In March
TZ3 - US$350
For a quick breakdown of all the cameras announced, click here.
PMA 2007 show report
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