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- [CES 2009] Sony Launches Handbag Vaio P SeriesToday
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Sony does not want to be seen bottom-feeding with the netbook vendors which is why it's decided to call its latest Vaio P series device an ultra-portable PC. The Vaio P is certainly a looker, forsaking the usual shape of many small notebooks in favour of a long, rectangular shape. They say it's just slightly larger than an office letter envelope and it weighs in at a very light 680g. Despite its diminutive stature, it packs in quite a few impressive features. Of course, there's Wi-Fi inside, along with GPS and bluetooth, but there's also 3G, making it a mobile broadband powerhouse. The 8in LED-backlit display is also capable of a very impressive 1600 x 768 resolution and there's a full keyboard with those isolated keys we love so much. The unit uses an Intel Atom 1.6GHz chip, has 2GB of RAM and there's a choice of traditional HDD or a 128GB solid state drive (SSD). Oddly, this baby runs Vista, which some think should have been left aside for the faster and more robust Windows XP. As you can imagine all of this style and functionality comes at a typically Sony price: $900 (£594). And that's before they add the usual UK weighting. Maybe it's not a netbook after all. Due out here next month in 4 colours - see them below.-Martin Lynch laptop news
- [CES 2009] Sharp Sticks Blu-ray Players In New AQUOS TVsToday
- You might not believe it but some LCD TV makers at CES 2009 are not launching super-skinny LCD TVS. Why? Because those like Sharp are launching new tellies with in-built Blu-ray players. These are the world's first AQUOS LCD TVs with in-built Blu-ray and comprise of 52in, 46in, 42in, 37in and 32in models with the slot-loading player situated on the top right. And yes, you can see that this makes the TV thicker than many LCDs but we think most folk aren't all that bothered, nor can afford, the current crop of cutting edge, anorexic LCDs. Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation, commented: "We created this series to offer consumers a product that provides the same high-quality, clear picture they've come to expect from a Sharp AQUOS, but with the added convenience of a Blu-ray player for a unique combination solution that allows playback of the latest HD Blu-ray movies. This product is a one-stop, stylish home theater and the built-in side-loading Blu-ray slot is also a space-saver for style-conscious consumers, eliminating the need for a separate box and extra cables." The AQUOS BD Series support instant-on and shut down when a disc is placed or removed from the player - a feature now becoming common of many new generation TVs. The TVs launch in February and prices [US for now] range from $1,100 to $2,600. In-built DVD players never sold more TVs so I'm not sure that TVs with in-built Blu-ray players wi
- [CES 2009] Cars Getting Internet RadiosToday
- When you're checking out your next new car, you may just see that it will come with a new upgrade option: Internet radio. Sure, we have all manner of table-top Internet radios out there right now but, thanks to a tie-up between Blaupunkt and miRoamer, motorists will soon be able to get the first Net radio for a car. That means drivers will be able to push a button and get instant access to "tens of thousands" of Net AM/FM radio stations. The first devices will connect via Bluetooth to a users' smartphone [and an unlimited data plan] for station access. There's also the ability to upload your playlists of digital tunes to a free Web site to give you access to your music on the road. "The beauty of Internet car radio is the customized user experience," said George Parthimos, Founder and CEO, miRoamer. "Today, users want to jump in their car and go - no pulling out third-party devices or plugging in cords to access their music and information. miRoamer's development with Blaupunkt is the first seamless Internet radio solution. Now, with the simple push of a button, users can access AM/FM stations or Internet radio's thousands of music, entertainment, news and talk stations from around the world, all from the same car stereo." Various models are under development and, at a later stage, there may be one with its own modem for accessing online content. Let's see which car makers in Europe will be the first to install them [we're guessing BMW or Mercedes].-Martin Lynch cars radio in
- Microvision Demos New Widescreen PicoProjectorToday
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Microvision is getting its hands dirty in the portable projector market again, and showed off a prototype of its Show WX device (the WX is for 'wide experience) at the Macworld Expo. It's 25% slimmer than the previous model, which puts it on par (or close as damnit) to modern smartphones and the iPhone 3G. The WX can project an image in 16:9 aspect at 848x480 resolution onto any surface and is just about 'movie capable' as the internal battery should last for about 2 hours. The other big difference with the Show WX is that it users lasers, which hold a distinct advantage over other light sources since they're always in focus. The closer you are to a wall, the brighter the image, but you can move closer or further away and even project onto curved surfaces without having to retune anything. When demoed at Macworld the unit seemed to impress, and was capable of dragging an image as big as around three diagonal meters on a wall. The first units are supposed to ship in the summer for between $400 and $500, though they may not hit mainstream stores until Christmas. - Paul Lester [TheRegister] projector laser portable
- Toddler Steals Parents' Car, Blames GTAToday
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It's been a while since someone blamed Grand Theft Auto for all the wrong in the world, so how about a nice amusing story of bizarre/stupid Americans to remind us of old times? The perpetrator this time is a six-year-old Virginian boy, who was so determined to get to school that when he missed the bus, decided to take his parents' 2005 Ford Taurus instead (you don't wanna be seen pulling up at the gates in that, son).We're not sure exactly how this was accomplished, given his size, but he managed to pull two 90-degree turns and overtake several other cars before running off the road and hitting an embankment about a mile and a half from school. When police arrived he said he'd 'learnt how to drive by playing Grand Theft Auto and Monster Truck Jam', and was subsequently taken to class after a quick check-up at the local hospital. Let's just hope he hasn't been playing Bully. Doubtless Rockstar and various other developers will get the blame in some quarters, when the finger should be squarely pointed at parents that let their six year old get up and ready for school alone while they laze around in bed, or play the game in the first place, for that matter. - Paul Lester [AJC] consoles GTA cars
