SIGMACOM has announced a new external TV tuner called the SIGMA HDTV 5 USB v1 - honestly it looks more like an external hard drive than a TV tuner but at least it comes in a variety of colors! The new SIGMA HDTV 5 USB V1 allows you to watch/pause/record live over the air (OTA) HDTV broadcasts. The 5 in the product name means it uses a fifth generation VSB demodulator. Other specs include:

• Support for USB 2.0
• Support for Windows 2000 and XP
• Dolby Digital Surround sound support
• Internet Electronic Program Guide Support
• Auto power off mode
• Comes with remote control

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the unit comes with any Windows Media Center drivers so you probably won’t be able to attach this to an MCE system anytime soon.

[Check it out via MobileKorea.tv]

No Tags

If you’re like me, then you’re a frequent user of a laptop system. As much as I love my laptop’s keyboard, nothing beats a standalone keyboard and mouse for comfort - and that’s where the Legenda Design Laptop Stand Up comes into play. This device allows you to prop up your laptop to a pretty steep angle which means you have a good deal more real estate space to play with when it comes to adding a keyboard and mouse. The Gadgeteer reviews the productand finds:

All in all, the Laptop Stand Up is a well made product that looks sleek and sexy. It is also easy to assemble and disassemble. Depending on the style of your laptop, this stand may or may not be optimal for you though.

[Check it out]

No Tags

Steve’s Digicams reviews the Olympus SP-310 digital camera here. This camera features:

• 30 selectable shooting modes, including 27 creative scene options
• Powered by CRV3 battery (included) or two AA-size batteries; stores images on xD-Picture Cards
• 7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display

The verdict from Steve:

just like the SP-350, the Olympus SP-310 was disappointing. When we first saw the specs of this model, it looked very appealing. And we loved its ergonomics, image quality, and versatile exposure modes. However the poor shooting performance and short battery life really brings it down and it is very hard for us to recommend this model.

[Check it out]

No Tags

There are two new reviews of the Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser out on the net. One is from TweakNews and the other is from OverclockersOnline.com. I own a first generation diNovo and I’m still using it today. It’s one of the best Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combinations that I’ve ever seen. The new Laser Media Desktop advances the Bluetooth desktop combination by adding a slew of features including: Zero Degree Tilt, an MX laser mouse, a new MX optical engine, and 800 dpi resolutions and 5.8 megapixel image processing.
The verdict from TweakNews:

With the new diNovo, Logitech has taken an already great product and made it even better. Whether on an executive desk or the coffee table, the diNovo’s classic looks and outstanding feature set make it a good choice for the demanding user who wants wireless operation and uncompromising performance.

The verdict from OverclockersOnline:

The Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser has certainly become a welcomed addition to my desk. I definitely agree that splitting the keyboard up and moving the mouse closer to the rest of the keyboard is more comfortable.

[Check it out]
[Check it out]

No Tags

Audio-Technica has released a new blue colored version of their ATH-CK5 headphones. These headphones feature a unique loop support which flexes to fit snugly inside a person’s ear. The headphones themselves come in three different sizes and are also available in four different colors - Black, Red, White and of course Blue.

[Check it out]

No Tags

Samsung has introduced yet another MP3 player in the form of the YP-D1. What makes this player interesting is the integrated 2 megapixel digital camera and the 1.8 inch LCD color screen. The unit measures a tiny 45.5 x 85 x 17.5 mm and weighs only 64 grams. The YP-D1 supports a variety of file formats including MP3, OGG, WMA, ASF, JPEG, and MPEG4. Battery life is expected to be around 20 hours.

[Check it out]

No Tags

GearLive reviews the Neverlate 7 day Alarm Clock here. It’s an interesting alarm clock indeed - allowing you to set a different alarm time for each of the seven days of the week. That’s pretty handy if you have a widely varying schedule.The verdict?

All in all, the clock does exactly what’s advertised: gives you seven different alarms, and makes it simple.

[Check it out]

No Tags

The folks over at Gamershell.com are reporting that it actually costs Microsoft $715 dollars to manufacture a single Xbox 360 console. This information came from a supposed informant over at IBM who worked on the 360 chip design. Whatever the cost might be, it’s clear that Microsoft is losing money on every console. Should we pity them? NO WAY. The dollars lost will be made up in game sales and licenses. A small price to pay to try and gain market share in the game console business.

[Check it out]

No Tags

ByteSector reviews the Perfect Dark Zero game for the Xbox 360 here. I’ve had this game for a few weeks now but I haven’t had time to play it yet (too engrossed with Call of Duty 2 still). Their verdict?

Perfect Dark Zero is definitely the game to purchase for your 360. Whether or not it lives up to the expectations (and examples) set before it remains a personal choice, but no one can deny that this game is highly entertaining and one of the best shooters for the 360.

The game to get eh? Umm.. let’s not forget Call of Duty 2 folks!

[Check it out]

No Tags

While we’re on the new Intel 955 processor - let’s round up some more reviews found on the net. Here’s one review from Digit-Life. Their verdict?

Intel nearly managed to catch up with the dual-core processor from AMD. At the cost of a hugely enlarged chip (1066-MHz bus + 2 MB Cache per each core + increased frequency) — but it still managed to do it. Indeed, Intel Pentium eXtreme Edition 955 is currently approximately on a par (in total score) with AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ in performance. Of course, it’s a tad slower (again in the total score in all applications) — but the approximate parity is still there.

Here’s a review from Lost Circuits. Their verdict:

Intel’s latest processor release is another evolutionary step in the development of the Pentium4. With its 65 nm interconnect processs and 35 nm transistor gate length, the P1264 process sets new standards but overall it appears that while it is a giant leap for Intel, it is still a small step for overall desktop performance. Likewise, the powerconsumption of the Presler die certainly does not fall into the category of environmentally friendly. This does not mean that the Presler is a bad processor, on the contrary, it does have a huge amount of horsepower which is evident in those applications that can take advantage of it.

Finally - here’s a review from X Bit Labs. Their verdict:

In conclusion I would like to say that the major advantage of the Presler CPU for the manufacturer is its internal core structure composed of two individual dies. As a result, Intel managed to significantly reduce the production cost for these processors, which will help inexpensive dual-core Pentium D processors invade the market in 2006.

[Digit-Life review]
[Lost-Circuits]
[Xbit Labs]

No Tags