Around The Web

Anyone who wants a reliable and simple navigation device with a bit more screen real estate won't be disappointed by the Garmin Nuvi 1490T.(author unknown)

The new iPod touch, nano, and shuffle continue Apple's commitment to innovative design—but are any of them worth your money if you're in the market for a new music player?

(author unknown)

We speculated this morning that the new Nikon P7000 was going to be a G11 fighter, and now that we have the official specifications it certainly appears that is the case. I’d go so far as to say that Nikon specifically went after the Canon G11 by putting a 10.1 megapixel sensor in the camera, and then making the lens have a slightly wider zoom range (28-200mm, vs Canon’s 2-140mm), by making the ISO range slightly higher (to 6400 over Canon’s 3200). It seems that the P7000 is all about trying to go one better, and it looks like Nikon may have a winner.

In addition to the high ISO range and wider zoom, the P7000 also records video 720p video at 24 FPS, and allows you to autofocus and zoom while recording. The CoolPix also has the ability to record audio using an external microphone via a microphone input jack, a CoolPix first. The new Nikon CoolPix P7000 will be available later this month with an MSRP of $499.95.

MELVILLE, NY (September 8, 2010) – With advanced functions and features similar to those found in Nikon’s line of award winning and critically acclaimed D‐SLRs, Nikon Inc. today introduced the COOLPIX P7000, the ultimate compact camera that’s ready to take on most any photo assignment. At home in a pro’s gadget bag or in the hands of a spirited enthusiast, passionate photographers of all levels will benefit from the P7000’s high performance, extensive manual controls, stunning image quality and advanced shooting functions.
The 10.1‐megapixel COOLPIX P7000 features a large 1/1.7” CCD sensor coupled with a 7.1x Wide Angle Optical Zoom‐NIKKOR ED Glass Lens for consistent superior image quality that explodes with vivid color and sharpness frame after frame. Taking Nikon’s commitment to image quality a step further, the P7000 adopts Nikon’s new EXPEED C2TM high performance digital image processing engine to ensure high‐ quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness.
“The COOLPIX P7000 represents the best of both worlds. It is an exciting compact camera offering from Nikon, as it not only provides expanded creative control found in digital SLR cameras, but also provides photo enthusiasts with the portability and simplicity of COOLPIX digital cameras,” said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. “The P7000 is the perfect complement to an advanced photographer’s D‐SLR, and it inspires the entry‐level consumer to explore the boundaries of their photographic capabilities and fulfill their creative vision.”
ISO sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 to 6400 (expandable to ISO 12,800 in low noise Night Mode) to ensure incredibly sharp, crisp images when shooting in low‐light or photographing fast‐moving subjects. The P7000 also offers a variety of functions that enable superior rendering when shooting at high sensitivities, including a Low Noise Night Mode and a Noise Reduction Filter. The camera also features 5‐ Way VR Image Stabilization System, which utilizes a variety of tactics including optical lens shift to minimize the effect of camera shake to help banish the blur while shooting handheld or in low‐light.
Thoughtful engineering has led to the addition of features that will be welcome to current D‐SLR users. The Zoom Memory function allows the camera’s 28‐200mm (35mm equivalent) lens to be used in a way that simulates use of a prime lens, ideal for shooting at a preferred angle of view. The P7000 also adds controls and buttons for key features like ISO, white balance, bracketing and exposure compensation. The new innovative and independent Quick Menu dial ensures easy access to key functions with the comfort of analog operation. Advanced users will also enjoy the benefits of shooting RAW/NRW* files for creative freedom, and macro abilities as close as 0.8 inches.
While the image quality of the P7000 is nothing short of stellar, the video capabilities are far beyond that of a typical compact. The P7000 records HD video at 720p at 24 frames‐per‐second (fps) with optical zoom and autofocus control. A COOLPIX first, users can now record audio with an external stereo microphone via the microphone input. An accessory microphone or Nikon Speedlight can be mounted on the P7000’s hot shoe.
Additional features of the Nikon COOLPIX P7000 digital camera include:

• 7.1x Wide‐Angle Optical Zoom‐NIKKOR ED glass lens (28‐200mm f/2.8‐5.6) allows for detailed
  close‐ups and dramatic landscapes.
• 3.0‐inch 921,000‐dot Clear Color Display with wide viewing angle makes it easy to compose,
  view and share still images and movies that come alive with rich detail and improved contrast.
• Large optical viewfinder with diopter adjustment dial Tone Level Information helps photographers achieve their desired exposure with a histogram display, allowing them to determine the exposure while checking the balance between highlights and shadows.
• Electronic Virtual Horizon Indicator gives the user visual confirmation that the camera has a
  level horizon.
• In‐camera editing functions include exposure compensation, COOLPIX Picture Control, noise
  reduction filter, Quick Retouch, D‐Lighting and Active D‐Lighting.
• 5‐Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization System
• Optical VR Image Stabilization by lens shift minimizes the effects of camera shake.
• Hybrid VR Image Stabilization by lens shift and electronic VR.
• Motion Detection automatically detects moving subjects and adjusts shutter speed and
  the ISO setting to compensate for camera shake and subject movement.
• High ISO up to 6400 at full resolution for optimal results when shooting in low‐light or
  photographing fast‐moving subjects.
• Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically takes up to 10 shots while the user presses the
  shutter and saves the sharpest image.
• Full Manual Controls‐PSAM (Program, Shutter, Aperture, Manual) control gives creative
  control over images.
• NRW (RAW) file function compatible with Mac® and Windows® Operating Systems.
• Bracketing functions for Automatic Exposure (Sv and Tv) and White Balance allows the user to take consecutive shots with slightly different settings and select the one that best matches their
  intention.
• HD (720p) Movie with Stereo, Mic Input Jack and HDMI Output records at 24 fps with optical zoom, autofocus and stereo sound.
• Subject Tracking automatically activates autofocus while tracking moving subjects, like active children or unpredictable animals.
• Scene Auto Selector automatically recognizes the shooting situation and adjusts the camera’s settings accordingly for great pictures anywhere. Smart Portrait System integrates the following features to make it a snap to capture stunning portraits:
• In‐Camera Red‐Eye FixTM automatically fixes most instances of red‐eye. o Enhanced Face‐Priority AF can detect up to 12 faces from a variety of angles.
• Skin Softening ensures smooth skin tone on the face of subjects by leveraging built‐in
  face‐detection technology.
• Smile Timer automatically detects when a subject smiles and releases the shutter.
• Blink Warning alerts the photographer if a subject has blinked.

The Nikon COOLPIX P7000 will be available in late September 2010 for $499.95** MSRP.

Ths S8100 is the cheapest of the three cameras being released by Nikon today, and although at $300 it’s starting to get into the luxury range for point-and-shoots, I think it looks like a pretty solid deal.

You’ve got the usual 12.1 megapixels and HD (1080p) video, but the S8100 also does some interesting photographic tricks. It can capture five shots in a row at 10FPS, which is… disappointing in one way, but pretty awesome in others. It’ll be handy, anyway. Hopefully you can select to shoot more shots at a lower resolution. It’ll also shoot slow-motion video at 120FPS — that’s no Casio Exilim, but it will reduce events to a quarter of their normal speed.

It’s also got a 10x zoom which it says is fast, but they don’t list the F numbers so we can’t be sure. It goes up to ISO 3200 and there’s stabilization, though, so you won’t have to rely on the flash too much.

And one thing that’s definitely lovable: it’s got a very high resolution LCD. 3″ and 921K dots, which according to my chart is 640×480. Almost as good as the screen on the 7D and T2i.

Again, at $300 (available later this month) you’ve got a lot of options, but sight unseen I’d recommend this camera on the strength of the Nikon brand and unusual features. Here’s the full press release, if you like that kind of thing:

NIKON’S NEW COOLPIX S8100 GIVES CONSUMERS HIGH‐SPEED SHOOTING AND SUPER 10X ZOOM TO 
CAPTURE ‘‘CAN’T MISS’’ MOMENTS EVEN IN LOW‐LIGHT CONDITIONS 
 
The S8100’s Compact Design Includes 12.1 MP CMOS Sensor to Capture Amazing Photos Up To 10 FPS  
 
MELVILLE, NY (September 8, 2010) – Nikon Inc. today announced the COOLPIX S8100, which offers a  
12.1‐megapixel backside illumination CMOS sensor to provide consumers with enhanced performance 
and outstanding image quality for high‐speed shooting and low‐light conditions. Fast, responsive and 
versatile, the Nikon COOLPIX S8100 with an incredible 10X zoom will capture fast‐moving subjects in still 
images and HD (1080p) movies.  
 
To help capture moments that are gone in an instant, the COOLPIX S8100 not only features high‐speed 
shooting at five full resolution frames at up to 10 frames‐per‐second (fps), but a pre‐shooting cache that 
records up to two shots before the shutter‐release is fully pressed.  For extremely fast action shots, the 
S8100’s Sports Continuous mode records up to approximately 120 fps.  With Subject Tracking, the S8100 
automatically tracks a designated subject by activating autofocus (AF), enabling the user to capture the 
best moment confidently. The S8100 also adopts Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED C2™ image processing 
engine, which is customized to each COOLPIX model to further drive enhanced performance, 
outstanding image quality and HD video. 
 
Staying true to the legacy of the Style Series, the S8100 empowers users with serious performance and 
image quality, while remaining stylish and compact.  Equipped with a 10x Optical Zoom‐NIKKOR ED glass 
lens (30‐300mm, 35mm equivalent), the COOLPIX S8100 allows the user to get close to the action, even 
when recording a movie in Full HD (1080p).  For that family film producer, the S8100 features one‐touch 
recording, optical zoom and stereo sound recording while filming for an enhanced user experience.  
Additionally, users can perfect their movies in‐camera with a new editing function or snap still images 
while recording. 
 
“Our portfolio of compact digital cameras is designed to equip photographers of any level with the 
features and functions they will need for various shooting situations in a portable, compact body,” said 
Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc.  “The COOLPIX S8100 blends superior high‐speed and low‐
light performance with a sleek and stylish design for a camera that is not only ready to go when you are, 
but one you are proud to show off.”  
 
Advanced Technologies for Beautiful Nighttime Shots 
The COOLPIX S8100 features a 12.1‐megapixel backside illumination CMOS sensor, which enables 
exceptional image quality even when shooting in low‐light settings.  This CMOS sensor lends itself to 
enhanced shooting functions in dark situations, including the advanced Night Portrait mode, which 
reproduces night scenes and indoor portraits as the user sees them while reducing image blur.  The 
Night Portrait mode combines consecutive shots of the background while the subject is taken using the 
flash, allowing challenging night scenes to be easily captured during handheld shooting and eliminating 
any subject movement.  To further help deliver crisp, sharp photos, the S8100 features a 4‐Way 
vibration reduction (VR) Image Stabilization System with ISO settings up to 3200.  
 
Other functions benefitting from the lower noise and exceptional image quality of the new CMOS image 
sensor include an advanced Backlight shooting function with an in‐camera high dynamic range (HDR) 
function, which merges images of the same scene to achieve a single image with a broad range of tonal 
detail for a frame‐worthy shot.  Additionally, the S8100’s advanced Night Landscape mode combines a 
series of five consecutive shots taken at a fast shutter speed into a single image with reduced noise for 
when taking handheld shots.  From romantic candlelit dinners to capturing the bright lights of New York 
City at night, the COOLPIX S8100 ensures that no low‐light moment will be left in the dark.   
 
Creative Versatility 
The COOLPIX S8100 helps unleash the user’s photographic potential with enhanced shooting and editing 
functions, including a new Mode Dial conveniently placed next to the shutter‐release button for quick 
and easy access to shooting modes.  The COOLPIX S8100 also features the Creative Slider, which 
simplifies adjusting brightness, saturation and color tone in‐camera.  Other in‐camera editing functions 
include Quick Retouch and D‐Lighting, giving users the ability to adjust their images during playback. 
 
To further help the process of composing and sharing photos and movies, the COOLPIX S8100 boasts a 
3.0‐inch ultra high resolution (921,000‐dot) Clear Color Display with a wide viewing angle and anti‐glare 
coating.  Additional must‐have features in the S8100 include 17 scene modes, including the Scene Auto 
Selector, which automatically recognizes the shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly 
for great photos in any environment.  For outstanding portraits, the S8100 features Nikon’s Smart 
Portrait System, which incorporates a series of automatic functions including In‐Camera Red‐Eye Fix™, 
improved Face‐Priority AF, Blink Warning, Smile Timer and Skin Softening to flatter even the most 
camera‐shy subject. 
 
Availability and Pricing 
The COOLPIX S8100 will be available late September 2010 for $299.95* MSRP in a choice of attractive 
colors including black, red and gold. 

Nikon made the Coolpix P7000 a much different camera from its predecessor, the gone-nowhere P6000, probably in hope of a better showing against market-leading models like the Canon PowerShot G11 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3.Lori Grunin

A high-resolution touch screen and HD movie capture highlight the latest Nikon glam cam.Joshua Goldman

A backside-illuminated CMOS sensor brings high-speed shooting performance and improved low-light photo quality to Nikon's compact megazoom lineup.Joshua Goldman

Well well -- what's this? Look like all those rumors about Nikon licking its wounds and gunning hard for the high-end compact camera market were true: this hot little piece is the new Coolpix P7000, Nikon's answer to the Canon G11. Like we'd heard, it actually drops the megapixel count from the P6000, with a 10.1 megapixel CCD sensor that can hit ISO 6400 sensitivity natively and 12,800 when boosted behind a f/2.8-5.6 7.1x VR zoom lens and a three-inch 921,000-dot LCD display. It also has full manual controls for virtually every setting, an optical viewfinder and accessory hot shoe, RAW support, and a 720p/24 movie mode with VR and continuous autofocus that might actually be useful for more than just casual shooting because there's a mic jack. There's also the usual range of Coolpix automatic adjustments and modes, of course, but come on -- look at all those manual dials and buttons, people. It'll hit later this month for $499.99 -- we're definitely requesting a review unit to put this head to head with seemingly-similar G11 and others pro compacts like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, so stay tuned. PR after the break.

Gallery: Nikon's Coolpix P7000 brings manual heat to the prosumer level

Continue reading Nikon Coolpix P7000 brings manual heat to the prosumer level

Nikon Coolpix P7000 brings manual heat to the prosumer level originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | CommentsNilay Patel10759375542672973898

In addition to the intriguing new Coolpix P7000, Nikon also announced the Coolpix S8100 (pictured above) and S80 tonight -- sure, they're not the dramatic new models, but they're certainly respectable updates to the S8000 and S70. The S8100 actually learned one trick from the P7000: it's dropped the megapixel count to 12.1 from the S8000's 14.2 in order to improve light sensitivity -- it can now hit ISO 3200 natively, which isn't bad for a tiny cam with a 10x zoom. It's also got a new 1080p movie mode and a faster 10fps burst mode -- although we're told it can only burst five frames at a time, so that's not nearly as interesting. It'll hit later this month in a few colors for $299.

The S80 goes the other way, boosting the megapixel count to 14.1 from the S70's 12.1, and upping the 3.5-inch touchscreen to OLED. The touchscreen enables all the same snazzy tricks as on the new S1100pj, including the ability to draw right on your pictures, and and the 720p movie mode and 5x optical zoom are unchanged. It'll hit this fall in all sorts of colors for $329. Honestly, we're still not entirely sold on touchscreen controls for cameras to begin with, and on top of that we're definitely concerned that OLED will make a touchscreen camera virtually useless in daylight, but we'll wait to see this thing in person before we rain too hard on this parade. Check a pic of the S80 along with both press releases after the break.

Continue reading Nikon Coolpix S8100 gets 1080p video, S80 sprouts an OLED touchscreen

Nikon Coolpix S8100 gets 1080p video, S80 sprouts an OLED touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | CommentsNilay Patel

The Nikon S80 is the latest in Nikon‘s long line of pocket shooters. Nikon’s magically engineers managed to cram everything from a 14.1 MP CMOS sensor capable of 720p movies, a 5x optical zoom, and Nikon’s Expeed C2 image processor into a body less than 0.7-inches thick.

The rear panel houses an auto-rotating 3.5-inch touchscreen OLED, which displays a tabbed interface to better maximize screen real estate. Nikon built in also sorts of in-camera editing including adding animations to videos and editing photos. There’s even a paint function that takes full advantage of the touchscreen by allowing users to draw directly on their photos.

A 5-way optical image stabilizer assists the lens during shooting and an HDMI output makes showcasing photos and videos on a larger screen quite easy. A sliding front cover protects and hides the lens when not in use while also serving as the power switch.

Really the only thing not to like about the pocket shooter is the price. The MSRP is $329, but if that’s fine by you, expect the S80 to hit retailer’s in a variety of colors this fall.

Page 1
EMBARGOED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 at 12:01 AM EST Press Contacts: MWW Group Geoffrey Coalter E: Ugcoalter@mww.com Robin Theis E: rtheis@mww.com P: 201‐507‐9500 press.nikonusa.com NIKON’S NEW COOLPIX S80 TOUCH SCREEN DIGITAL CAMERA DELIVERS FUN AND FUNCTION IN A FASHION‐FORWARD DESIGN MELVILLE, NY (September 8, 2010) – Integrating stylish design with intuitive operation, Nikon Inc. introduces the new COOLPIX S80, equipped with a beautifully bright 3.5‐inch ultra high resolution organic LED (OLED) touch screen with an enhanced interface for a more enjoyable user experience. With a user‐friendly interface, the COOLPIX S80 gives the photographer easy touch control over the camera’s key functions for smooth operation, including touch shutter shooting, zoom and playback. To help users better compose their photos, the S80 employs tab‐type graphics to maximize screen space without cluttering it with icons. When the camera is rotated for vertical shooting, display tabs and controls also automatically rotate for smoother shooting. The large 3.5‐inch ultra high resolution (819,000‐dot) OLED touch screen display delivers clear, rich image reproductions, bright vivid colors and excellent contrast. With a wide viewing angle (approximately 180 degrees), brightness control and an anti‐reflection coating, the S80’s touch screen display makes it easy to compose, view and share photos and HD (720p) movies. “Our consumers not only rely on our compact digital cameras for beautiful photos and brilliant technology, but also as a reflection of their personal style,” said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. “The COOLPIX S80’s slim, sophisitcated design, touch screen technology and excellent features make it fun for consumers to capture high quality images and share their memorable moments.” Measuring 0.7‐inches, the surprisingly thin COOLPIX S80 can be slipped in any pocket or bag for unbeatable portability. Sliding the lens cover turns the camera on and off, while creating a sleek, modern look. Available in six colors as bright as the OLED touch screen display, the S80 is not only a compact digital camera, but it’s also a fashion statement. With the COOLPIX S80’s intuitive touch screen, creativity is at the user’s fingertips. The S80 lets users add their personal touch to photos with the Paint function, giving them the ability to write or draw on images during playback. The Retouch Menu lets users easily adjust images in‐camera with the touch of a finger by choosing from a wide range of functions, including Color Options, Soft Focus, Selective Color,
Page 2
Cross Screen, Miniature Effect and Fish‐eye Effect. In playback mode, the user can even add moving stamps for an animated effect. In addition, the S80 features a new rating function that allows users to rate their photos with up to five stars and sort images according to their rating. The S80 is equipped with a built‐in slide show function, allowing the user to playback photos to pre‐set music for an enjoyable sharing experience. The COOLPIX S80 also features HD (720p) Movie with optical zoom and stereo sound available during recording. An HDMI output enables easy playback on an HDTV for big‐screen viewing of photos from a recent vacation or HD video from the latest family gathering. Packed into the super slim COOLPIX S80 are must‐have features like a 14.1‐megapixel CCD sensor and 5x Wide‐Angle Optical Zoom‐NIKKOR ED glass lens (35‐175mm, 35mm equivalent) to help the user capture beautiful landscapes and allow them to get close to the action. The S80 helps reduce camera shake with a 5‐Way vibration reduction (VR) Image Stabilization System that includes Optical and Hybrid VR, Motion Detection, ISO settings up to 6400 and Best Shot Selector, which automatically takes up to ten shots while the shutter‐release button is pressed, and then selects and saves the sharpest image. The S80 employs Nikon’s EXPEED C2™ image processing engine to ensure outstanding image quality. To further help users take better photos, the COOLPIX S80 includes 17 scene modes and the Easy Auto Mode, which automatically recognizes the shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly for great photos in any environment. For outstanding portraits, the S80 features Nikon’s Smart Portrait System, which incorporates a series of automatic functions including In‐Camera Red‐Eye Fix™, improved Face‐Priority AF, Smile Timer, Blink Warning, Blink Proof and Skin Softening to flatter even the most camera‐shy subject. Availability and Pricing The COOLPIX S80 will be available in fall 2010 for $329.95* MSRP in a choice of stylish colors including red, black, blue, pink, gold and silver/brown.

While it was fun while it lasted, it was obvious that Willow Garage couldn't keep giving away its ultra-high-end development platform PR2 bots forever. After shipping 11 of the bots to research institutes, Willow Garage is now selling the PR2 to all comers -- as long as they've got 400 grand in their back pocket. We've covered the specs before (oodles of CPU power, two highly articulated pincer arms, and high-end vision systems), along with some of PR2's recent hijinks, and hopefully we see more of that sort of stuff now that the rugged, ready-for-adventure PR2 is on the market. If you can't scrap together all the cash, Willow Garage will also be offering a discount $280k version to people and institutions that can demonstrate "past performance and leadership" in open source robotics software -- a topic obviously near and dear to Willow Garage's heart with ROS, the OS that powers PR2 and is slowly spreading throughout much of the world of higher-end personal robotics.

As for the high price and its generally opaque business model, Willow Garage compares the current state of its industry to high end workstations in the 70s, back when researchers were spending more money and time figuring out what their computers could do than actually accomplishing anything with them. Willow Garage isn't planning on making any sort of killing in the business yet -- they'd just be happy to have the PR2 project at a self sustaining level -- but they're working toward what they see as the "next radical shift" in productivity, a personal robotics follow-up to the personal computer revolution. This is a future similar to the one Bill Gates was talking up back in 2006, but of course Willow Garage wants its open source ROS platform to be the "Microsoft" this time around. They certainly don't plan to corner the hardware market in the process, however: the company hopes the quasi-followup to the PR2 will actually be built by multiple companies.

Gallery: Willow Garage PR2 press shots

Willow Garage now selling the PR2 for $400k a pop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Willow Garage  | Email this | CommentsPaul Miller0474967285846507499906770279579913742878

Apple's new social network, Ping, has been around for about a week now, and all of the pundits have had their chance at weighing in on what Apple got wrong and right. And what's the result? Not bad, but not great -- more than a million people joined the network in just 48 hours. That's not terrible at all, but it's a far cry from the millions of people who actually use iTunes, presumably every day. Apple's success in this area, in other words, isn't going to come easy.

The company has already had to put in a little more work. In addition to all of those members, the network was also hit by spam early on, with fake accounts for people like Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive, plus links that led off to contact-stealing scripts and other trouble like that. Apple has already cracked down on most of the offenders, but clearly it was an issue early on that they didn't foresee.

The interface has already been updated a bit -- Apple has added "back" and "forward" buttons to the service, to match the rest of the in-app browsers in iTunes. I still maintain that Ping won't reach its full potential until you can actually "like" songs and albums in your personal library, so hopefully a few more updates and tweaks are on the way.

TUAWPing reaches a million, attacked by spam originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMike Schramm171301052992382125131754329185896039650806547963392763721790

Ready to get swept away into the wild, wild abyss known as quantum computing? If not, we're certain there's a less mentally taxing post above or below, but for those who answered the call, researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz have a doozie to share. A team of whiz kids at the institution have developed a minuscule optical device that's built into a silicon chip, and it's capable of reducing the speed of light by a factor of 1,200. If you're wondering why on Earth humans would be interested in doing such a thing, here's the long and short of it: the ability to control light pulses on an integrated chip-based platform "is a major step toward the realization of all-optical quantum communication networks, with potentially vast improvements in ultra-low-power performance." Today, data transmitted along optical fibers must still eventually be converted to electronic signals before they're finally understood, but the promise of an all-optical data processing system could obviously reduce inefficiencies and create communication networks that are far quicker and more robust. There's still no telling how far we are from this becoming a reality -- after all, we've been hearing similar since at least 2006 -- but at least these folks seem to be onto something good... even if it's all too familiar.

All-optical quantum communication networks nearly realized, 'Answers to Life' airing at 9PM originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Physorg  |  University of California Santa Cruz  | Email this | CommentsDarren Murph0973355568374054369316154845369869034647133297457561484039860980309858872711047706925351185350905271032593251210694692681035082762462429163010894198948226029169117076861898358416221412775125856563140701908935179161665639

With the competition between brick and mortar and online stores, instant gratification is key. No one wants to wait when all their friends are playing the latest game, and Amazon knows that. In order to be competitive, 1Up reports that Amazon has decided to drop the shipping price to $0.99 on release day titles, on top of offering $10 and $20 gift card deals on some games. This means that you can get some seriously good deals that you’re not going to find in retail stores.

Sleek and powerful, the Samsung Fascinate is another strong addition to Verizon's Android lineup. Its user interface won't appeal to everyone, particularly seasoned Android users, but it's a good smartphone for the masses.(author unknown)

Cameras with interchangeable lenses are becoming all the rage.

They are targeted towards photographers who want a more compact, lightweight alternative to a digital SLR that's easy to use, without sacrificing flexibility and image quality.

But there's still a lot of confusion. Even manufacturers themselves can't quite decide what to call these SLR-like cameras, and some photographers even refer to them as EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens) cameras.

In short, interchangeable lens cameras don't have a mirror and pentaprism arrangement found in SLRs. Removing this makes the camera smaller and lighter. At present, there are two main systems vying for your attention:

• Micro Four Thirds: cameras from Olympus and Panasonic, which use the same lens mount. Lenses are interchangeable between these two brands.
• Proprietary lens mount: cameras from Sony and Samsung, rather confusingly called NEX and NX respectively. These cameras use a different lens mount and cannot be interchanged.

All these cameras still have some way to go before they are fully-fledged SLR replacements, at least in terms of performance and shooting speed.

Related Articles

• Sony Alpha NEX-5
• Ricoh GXR
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
• Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Drop that curling broom and get downloading! Reader Jacques writes in to let us know that the Canadian edition of the App Store has begun accepting iTunes gift cards as payment for app purchases, a policy change that seems to have quietly taken effect back in June of this year.

You may recall (or maybe not) that Canada's iPhone-toting population was previously shut out of using gift cards for apps, although the reasons why aren't entirely clear.

Congratulations, Canada, and enjoy.

TUAWIn Brief: Canadian App Store allows gift card purchases originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMichael Rose04552849239561834250059084057021125673001186145650030172101917931146360890392801

With the release of Back to the Future on Blu-ray due by the end of September 2010, we were given a chance to get up close and personal with one of the stars of the movie, the DeLorean DMC-12.

Related Articles

• Dyson Air Multiplier unboxing
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Macworld 2009: iLife 09, iWork 09, 17-inch MacBook Pro, DRM free iTunes
• Tech don't worry about the government

The LG Flatron E2260's price is too high and its performance too lacking compared to other similar monitors.(author unknown)

A bevy of Android devices will ultimately mean that Google’s mobile operating system will control largely half of the smartphone market, according to a Piper Jaffray report. Apple’s iOS will probably top out with market share of 20 to 30 per cent in the long run.

(Credit: CBSi)

The big picture? Android and Apple will squeeze rivals such as Nokia and Research In Motion, according to the Piper Jaffray report. These also-rans will duke it out for the 20 per cent share left on the table.

Android will grab half of the smartphone market ultimately just because of its product cycle and multiple partners. The HTC, Motorola and Samsung Android device barrage is impressive. In the end, RIM and Nokia will cave and adopt Android as an operating system and give the operating system a massive market share boost.

We’ve heard from reliable sources that RIM has at least pondered a move to Android. There was a power struggle within RIM management that led to the Android faction getting the boot for the most part. Piper Jaffray’s team of analysts argue that ultimately RIM will regret making a wrong turn at the Android cross road.

An excerpt from the report:

We estimate Google will control 14.9 per cent of the smartphone market through Android in 2010, growing to 23.2 per cent in 2012. For Apple, we expect the iPhone 15.9 per cent of the smartphone market in 2010, growing to 17.6 per cent in 2012. However, we believe the question is where the two platforms top out in terms of market share. An important factor for Android is that we ultimately believe that Nokia and RIM do not have the core software competency to be competitive in the smartphone space and will eventually need to adopt Android or potentially Windows Mobile Phone 7. Ultimately, we believe Android is likely to control over half of the smartphone market in the next five years. Apple’s essentially two-phone focus (low price 3GS and higher price 4) will likely limit how much of the market Apple can control and we believe ultimately Apple’s smartphone market share tops out between 20-30 per cent, which still offers significant room to grow.

Now it’s not all about market share. Apple will command half the profits of the smartphone industry. Piper Jaffray analysts estimate that Android will contribute US$1.35 billion in revenue to Google in 2012. For comparison, Apple generated US$1.5 billion in operating income in its first quarter.

For Piper Jaffray’s projections to play out there is one significant wild card: Nokia and RIM have to cave and go to Android. How much pain would those two companies have to feel to abandon software?

Another excerpt:

We believe one reason major competitors are having difficulty competing with the smartphone market share gains posted by Android and the iPhone is a fundamental identity problem. Google is clearly a software company focused on making Android a great mobile OS. Apple is clearly a software company focused on making iOS a great mobile OS and take it a step further by providing integrated hardware. We view competitors like Research In Motion (despite its acquisition of QNX) and Nokia as hardware companies that are dabbling in software. While there have not been major changes in share from RIM and Nokia as Android popularity has ramped, which we believe is due to Android largely replacing a lot of lower tier proprietary smartphone OSes, we believe long term both RIM and Nokia will be share losers in the smartphone space because they do not have a core software competency.

“Over time, we do not see the benefit of RIM and Nokia continuing to push proprietary software that can’t compete with the market and eventually expect one or both to capitulate and move to utilising third-party software,” say the Piper Jaffray analysts.

Given this Android/Apple smartphone duopoly there are a few other items worth watching. To wit:

• Apple will have to separate the iPhone from Google as Android becomes more competitive. For instance, Bing could be the default iPhone search engine. Maps would also be replaced with Poly9, a mapping company bought by Google.
• Carriers are more profitable with Android devices. That fact is going to push carriers to favour Android devices and bolster marketing support.
• Microsoft has a window here. Microsoft is the only smartphone player with real software expertise. It’s quite possible that Nokia, already a strong Microsoft partner, could adopt Windows Phone 7 at some juncture.

Via ZDNet US

Related Articles

• Android leapfrogs iPhone in US stats
• Android sales to outstrip iPhone by 2012?
• Nokia announces Ovi app store
• HTC Legend