Sony Ericsson to unveil new Walkman and Cyber-shot phones

The Japanese-Swedish phone maker looks set to continue its success from last year with new additions to its popular Walkman and Cyber-shot handset series. According to a media invite that CNET Asia received, the product announcement, scheduled for next Tuesday (February 6), is expected to include new phone accessories, too.

While not much details were revealed, our best guess is that Sony Ericsson will finally showcase the slim W880i, which is rumored to come with onboard 3.2-megapixel camera, FM radio and 2GB storage. The company first unveiled teaser images of the W880i at the Las Vegas-based CES tradeshow earlier this year. We are also expecting to see Cyber-shot phones with possibly 5-megapixel sensors, optical zoom and even GPS. Stay tuned for more updates after the media event.

Cheap upgrade to Vista?

It has only been day two of the official launch and already some enterprising consumers are finding ways to obtain the latest Vista operating system for a song.

Not willing to shell out over S$300 (US$200.76) for the latest system? Well, you aren't the only one. It seems one can obtain an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) version of Windows XP for well under S$200 (US$133.84) and upgrade to the equivalent edition of Vista, paying only shipping and handling charges. This represents a whooping savings of about 50 percent.

The catch is the OEM Windows XP must come with a redemption coupon with a serial number. Moreover, the end user license agreement requires that your OEM software comes with the appropriate hardware as well. If you meet those requirements, just register at Microsoft's Express Upgrade to Vista Program and prepare to experience the "Wow" of the new operating system.

Seagate's portable drive gets wireless

Portable drives have just been given a whole new dimension. Seagate's D.A.V.E. (digital audio-video experience) mini harddisk not only holds gigabytes of data, but bumps up the stakes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Capable of holding up to 30GB worth of files, the D.A.V.E. has a built-in 10-hour battery and is built for rugged use. As long as your device, be it a laptop or mobile phone, has Bluetooth capabilities, it can scan through the tiny 1.8-inch harddisk for your favorite images or tunes. If two D.A.V.E. are in sight, they can even talk to each other via the included Wi-Fi radio. Seagate is expected to pump out these portable wonders to device managers mid this year for around US$200.

Philips HTIB goes micro

While other home-theater-in-a-box manufacturers are beefing up their lineup with value-added features such as USB connectivity, Philips is bringing the competition to a whole new level in design and quality. Its MCD759 micro theater is the company's latest salvo in these renewed directions. A true 5.1 surround edition of its equally stylish MCD708, the petite creation packs a serious punch in the audio power department with its generous 1,000W digital amplifier.

This should provide adequate headroom for driving the ribbon tweeter-loaded speakers, housed in a quality rosewood enclosure commonly used in higher-end models. Sharp-eyed audio buffs may also recognize the familiar triangular vibration dampers, deployed below the base of the two decks. These not only serve to enhance the audio reproduction performance, but also add a unique audiophile touch to this well-crafted S$1,199 (US$802.38) sound system.
More info here

Laptop bags get into SideShow

Not merely satisfied to just carry the latest in computing technology, laptop carriers are getting a slice of the action with an integrated SideShow LCD panel.

The first prototype out of the door is the Eleksen Windows SideShow laptop bag. Incorporating an LCD display on the bag cover, it communicates wirelessly with a compatible Vista notebook. This allows you to check your email, control your tunes and do a whole skew of basic computing functions without even turning on your portable. For a closer look at this innovative carrier, click here.

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