Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Solo HD (PRODUCT)RED Headphones Head to HSN

Topic: Portable Devices

Monster has been working with rapper Dr. Dre for a long time now on headphones that are specifically designed for the audiophiles wanting the best sound from their tunes. The headphones are the Beats by Dr. Dre line that offers several products.

Monster has announced that a special, limited edition set of headphones called the Beats by Dr. Dre Solo HD (PROJECT)RED special edition headphones will be available exclusively on the Home Shopping Network at hsn.com. The headphones will sell for $229. Read more

Posted on Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Samson Adds New Gear to Expedition Portable Sound Systems

Topic: Portable Devices

Samson makes all sorts of sound gear from mics to recording kits for the home computer. The company has announced that it is expanding its line of portable Expedition sound systems. The new models are due out this year and include the XP40iw and the XP501i.

Both of the new products have an integrated iPod dock to allow for easy playback of tracks during parties and events. The XP40iw is a 40W sound system with a wireless mic and a rechargeable battery pack. It features two inputs allowing for additional mics. Read more

Posted on Thu, 4 Feb 2010 07:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Panasonic Unveils Lumix ZR3 Super Compact Digital Camera

Topic: Portable Devices

Panasonic has unveiled a couple new digital cameras today and the final new camera of the trip unveiled is the Lumix ZR3 with 8x optical zoom. The svelte camera is only about an inch thick and has a 25mm ultra wide angle lens.

The thin camera can also record HD video in AVCHD Lite HD format and offers Dolby Digital Stereo Creator for high quality audio. The camera has face recognition, happy mode, and iA technologies. Panasonic claims that the camera can focus in 0.26 seconds and has a 1.1 second start up speed. Read more

Posted on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Panasonic Rugged Lumix TS2 Breaks Cover

Topic: Portable Devices

Panasonic has announced that it has updated its rugged camera line with the new Lumix TS2 rugged camera. The rugged camera is the follow up to the Lumix TS1. The TS2 records HD video in AVCHD Lite format and has a 14.1MP sensor. Panasonic claims the camera is waterproof to 33 feet.

The camera is also said to be able to withstand drops from up to ten feet high and to operate in freezing conditions up to 14F as well as being dustproof. The cover on the rear LCD is 1.3 times thicker than the TS1. The optics of the camera are protected against shock and bumps with a supplementary damper. Read more

Posted on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Panasonic Lumix ZS7 is World's Smallest Superzoom Digital Camera

Topic: Portable Devices

Panasonic has unveiled a new superzoom digital camera this week called the Lumix ZS7. The digital camera has a 25mm ultra wide angle Leica lens and a 12x optical zoom. The optical zoom is also operable in the video recording mode as well as still shot mode.

The sensor of the camera is a 12.1MP unit and it has integrated GPS for geotagging of images with location data. The little camera can record HD resolution video using AVCHD Lite software. Panasonic uses sonic Speed AF system on the camera that allows it to focus and activate the shutter in as little as 0.006 seconds. Read more

Posted on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:10:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

The S1 Slate Is OUT

Topic: Portable Devices

Next week holds the Moment We've All Been Waiting For. The iSlate (or iTablet or whatever the hell it is Apple has cooking) will go from being ridiculous speculation to a Real Honest Product. This is not a good time to be any manufacturer besides Apple. Starting the 27th, and continuing for the next several days (weeks? months?) virtually every organ of the vast Tech Journalism community will either be singing Apple's praises or condemning this as the Beginning of the End for Jobs and Co.

And yet, I feel a Zen-like calm. Sure, I'm interested as all hell to see what it is Apple has to show, but I think I've already found the product I want; the DigitalRise S1 Slate.

Posted on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:25:14 CST | by Robert Evans

Noiko H-988 HD PMP Breaks cover

Topic: Portable Devices

I had to look at this product three times before my mind registered that it's not a PMP from Nokia, the phone maker. The device is called the H-988 and it's an interesting PMP, from the few specs that have been uncovered.

Some of the important details are missing, but what we do know is that the case is made from a zinc alloy and the bottom has a clear strip with LED lighting. The screen is 4.3-inches and supports 1080p video playback via TV out apparently. Read more

Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Garmin z mo 220 makes Motorcycle Nav Cheaper

Topic: Portable Devices

Garmin makes navigation devices for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even aircraft. The company has unveiled a new motorcycle navigation unit called the z mo 220. The device has a rugged touch screen that has text to speech, lane assist, Bluetooth headset capability, and on/off road travel options.

The touchscreen is a 3.5-inch unit that displays speed limits for most major roads. The device has spoken turn-by-turn directions and speaks most street names aloud. The 220 is waterproof, fuel proof, and glove friendly. Read more

Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Amazon Kindle Development Kit KDK Unveiled For Active Kindle Content

Topic: Portable Devices

Amazon announced today that it is inviting software developers to build and upload active content that will be available in the Kindle Store later this year.
The new Kindle Development Kit (KDK) gives developers access to programming interfaces, tools and documentation to build active content for Kindle.
With this move, Amazon is extending the Kindle Store to a Kindle App Store.

The Kindle Development Kit enables developers to build active content that leverages Kindle’s unique combination of seamless and invisible 3G wireless delivery over Amazon Whispernet, high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like real paper, and long battery life of seven days with wireless activated. For example, Handmark is building an active Zagat guide featuring their trusted ratings, reviews and more for restaurants in cities around the world, and Sonic Boom is building word games and puzzles.
Read more

Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:32:07 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Samsung Launches Digital Cams with New Names

Topic: Portable Devices

Yesterday I talked about the new digital cameras that Samsung launched for the American market. Apparently, Samsung felt like confusing a lot of us and has launched the same cameras in different markets with new names.

I am not sure exactly what other markets the cameras are bound for, but I'll link the new name sup with those unveiled yesterday to cut the confusion. Samsung launched the HZ35W and the HZ30W in the US and in other markets they will be known as the WB650 and the WB600 respectively. The TL110 and the TL105 here in America will be sold as the ST70 and ST60 in other parts of the world. Read more

Posted on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Garmin Launches BirdsEye Satellite And Aerial Imagery

Topic: Portable Devices

Garmin announced today that it will begin offering BirdsEye Satellite and Aerial Imagery, an annual subscription service that gives users the option of loading highly-detailed photo-based maps to select Garmin handheld navigators.

BirdsEye Imagery is raster-based, meaning it is compiled using actual aerial photos and images that are scanned, geo-referenced and overlaid onto the handheld GPS receiver’s display. Unlike vector cartography, the resulting images depict actual buildings, vehicles, roads, trails, and land features found nearby – giving explorers a unique understanding of their surroundings.
Read more

Posted on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:39:53 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr