Dell continues to expand their popular Studio laptop product lineup with today’s introduction of the 14 inch Studio 14z laptop. The system shares much of the look and feel of the rest of the Studio lineup while maintaining a relatively thin profile measuring 0.79 to 1.2 inches thick.

The Studio 14z is also the industry’s first laptop to feature the optional FailSafe theft prevention system which helps to protect personal data if the laptop should go missing or get stolen. With FailSafe engaged, users will be able to :

• Track network information and the ISP location of the laptop when it connects to the Internet
• Get help to remotely erase selected files and render the laptop unusable until the rightful owner unlocks it

Other features and specs to the Studio 14z include:

• Energy efficient, mercury-free 14 inch 16:9 LED display with HD resolution (720p/900p)
• Choice of Intel Pentium Dual Core and Intel Core 2 Duo processors up to T9550
• Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
• Digital Video/Audio via HDMI and DisplayPort
• Starting weight of 4.3 pounds
• Standard FastAccess Facial Recognition Software
• Optional Phoeniz FailSafe Theft Protection
• Advanced touchpad contol
• 4W SRS 2.0 Audio with discrete tweeters and dual headphone jacks
• Up to 500GB HDD
• Optional 8:1 media card reader via 34mm ExpressCard slot
• Six cell battery
• Wi-Fi
• Optional Bluetooth and mobile broadband
• eSATA
• PowerShare – charge via USB 2.0/eSATA combo port even when you’re unplugged from the power outlet
• Optional external optical drive options
• Black Chain Link, Midnight Blue, Spring Green, Plum Purple, Ruby Red and Promise Pink (U.S. only)

The Studio 14z is available now with a starting price of $649

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Dell Studio 14z

Verizon Wireless customers – you’ll soon have three new LG handsets to choose from this summer. Verizon Wireless and LG Mobile Phones announced today that the LG enV3 would be available starting tomorrow and two other phones, the LG enV TOUCH and LG Glance, would be available starting on June 5th. Here’s the low down on the three new handsets.

Common features for all three mobile phones include:

• Text, picture and voice messaging with threaded message feature
• Bluetooth headset capable – headset, hands-free, object-push (for vCard and vCal), and phonebook access
• VZ Navigator
• Mobile Email, Mobile Web, Mobile IM, and Chat
• Chaperone Parent-capable
• Ability to save up to 10 contacts as favorites

LG enV3:

• Full QWERTY keyboard
• HTML Web browsing-capable
• Visual Voice Mail support
• microSD card slot
• Text Instant Reply feature – can automatically start a reply message when you read a message
• Media Center for storing and downloading music from V CAST Music with Rhapsody, games and more

• Internal screen: 2.60” and external screen: 1.56”
• 3.0 megapixel camera/camcorder

LG enV TOUCH:

• Full QWERTY keyboard
• HTML Web browsing-capable
• Visual Voice Mail
• Up to 16 GB microSD™ card optional removable memory
• Text Instant Reply feature – can automatically start a reply message when you read a message
• Media Center for storing and downloading music from V CAST Music with Rhapsody, games and more

• Read documents from any microSD card in several file formats including .doc, .xls, .ppt, and .pdf
• 3” external touch screen / 3” internal screen
• 3.2 megapixel camera/camcorder with autofocus, flash and image editor

LG Glance:

• An ultra-slim design with a “woven” metal back plate
• 1.3 megapixel camera

The LG enV3 will be available for $129.99 after a $50 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two-year agreement. The LG enV TOUCH will be available for $149.99 after a $70 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two-year agreement. The LG Glance will be available for $49.99 after a $50 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two-year agreement.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Verizon Wireless, LG Mobile Phones, LG enV3, LG enV TOUCH, LG Glance

It’s been an interesting day in the world of the Palm Pre. First off, Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed this morning that the Pre would indeed be coming to the company and that Verizon intends on selling the phone about six months from now (hmm.. I wonder if that stopped any defectors from heading over to Sprint on June 6th?). Heck.. that might even make me consider defecting back to Verizon and away from my iPhone.. just maybe…

Then, the Palm Pre made an appearance on day 7 of All Things Digital where Jon Rubinstein and Roger McNamee took the stage- answering questions about Palm and of course the Palm Pre. Here are some interesting tidbits from the session today:

• “Walt asks McNamee about his claim that all iPhone owners with expiring contracts will switch to the Pre. At what time will that happen? McNamee: 4:25 PM.” – funny stuff
• Multiple apps can be run at the same time easily
• Built-in support for Amazon MP3 store – files can be purchased and downloaded directly to the device
• Can sync with iTunes and iPhoto. Pre apparently pretends to be an iPod.
• Plug the Pre into a PC and you can use it as a USB drive, or use it to sync media etc
• Palm’s equivalent to the Apple App Store is the “Web App Catalog”. There will be a dozen or so apps initially. Applications are downloaded over the air
• Pre has a mirror
• Palm expects to have a GSM version but no word on when

Also – check out this funny video of a “faux-advertising shoot” involving McNamee and Rubenstein and of course, the Palm Pre.

AND finally, the lucky punks at the Boy Genius Report have managed to get their grimy hands on a new Palm Pre. You can see their short hands-on on the phone here. Grrr..

via All Things Digital

Technorati Tags: Palm Pre, Verizon Wireless, Boy Genius Report

Some good news to users of AT&T’s 3G network. The company announced today plans to upgrade the 3G network to “considerably faster mobile broadband speeds” with upgrades slated for later this year and finishing sometime in 2011. The company plans on upgrading to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology and will also nearly double the wireless spectrum dedicated to 3G in most metropolitan areas for stronger in-building reception and more network capacity. AT&T plans on LTE trials in 2010 with deployment beginning in 2011.

AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is currently available in 350 U.S. major metropolitan areas with another 20 areas planned for this year. HSPA 7.2 deployment will be announced on a local basis with new laptop cards and smartphones to be rolled out later this year.

You can read more about the network upgrade as well as other planned projects for 2009 here at AT&T’s website.

Technorati Tags: AT&T Wireless, 3G Mobile Broadband

[Republished from NetbookTech] HP continues their march into the netbook market with the introduction of three new netbook models – the HP Mini 110 XP Edition, HP Mini 110 Mobile Internet (Mi) Edition, and the HP Mini 1101. The Mini 110 XP and Mini 110 Mi are designed for “Internet-centric” consumers while the HP Mini 1101 is ideal as a “companion PC” for business users.

These new 10.1 inch netbooks have a starting weight of 2.33 pounds and measure just over one inch thick. You’ll can choose from either a 10.1 inch standard display or a 10.1 inch high definition LED widescreen display. Other common features include the Intel Atom N270 or N280 processor, a 92 percent keyboard, built-in webcam and microphone, built-in VGA port, and a 5 in 1 media card reader.

Here are additional details to the three new netbooks:

HP Mini 110 XP Edition:

• Up to 1GB of RAM
• Either 32 GB SSD or 160GB HDD
• Optional WWAN
• Optional Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator available in July which allows for 1080p HD content playback

HP Mini 110 Mi Edition:

• HP developed user interface on top of Linux
• Comes with apps for web browsing, email, and online video
• Up to 2GB of RAM
• Up to 250GB HDD

HP Mini 1101:

• Available in either Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Windows Vista
• Two optional batteries – 3 cell or 6 cell
• Optional integrated HP Mobile Broadband

Both the Mini 110 XP and Mini 110 Mi editions will be available in your choice of Pink Chic, Black Swirl or White Swirl HP Imprint finishes, while the business oriented Mini 1101 will be available only in the Black Swirl finish.

OK.. now the pricing and availability:

• The HP Mini 110 XP Edition and the Mini 110 Mi will be available in Black Swirl in the US starting on June 10 with a starting price of $329.99 and $279.99 respectively
• The HP Mini 110 XP in Pink Chic and White Swirl will be available in the U.S. starting on July 8th. Pricing to be determined
• The HP Mini 1101 in high gloss black starts at $329 and will be available starting on June 1st.

Oh yes – if you want to pre-order the netbooks – call 800-230-5752 to reserve a unit.

[Check out the press release in PDF]

Technorati Tags: HP, HP Mini 110 Mobile internet Edition, HP Mini 110 XP Edition, HP Mini 1101

ViewSonic expands their digital photo frame product lineup today with the introduction of the new TrueView family of digital photo frames. The new frames include the 10.4 inch VFD1020, 8 inch VFD820, and 7 inch VFD720 – all of which feature a 4:3 aspect ratio display which ideally matches digital pictures taken today.  The 8 and 7 inch frames feature 800 x 600 resolution while the 10.4 inch comes with a 1024 x 768 resolution display (it should be noted that a 7 inch display with an 800 x 600 resolution is indeed pretty unique in this space).

Other features of the VFD class of frames include:

• 2GB of internal memory
• Compatible with CF/MMC/MS memory cards
• USB 2.0 port
• Calendar and clock functions
• Slideshow feature with various display speeds and transition effects

The new TrueView digital photo frames will be available this quarter with the 10.4 inch going for $129.99, the 8 inch for $89.99, and the 7 inch going for $79.99.

Here’s a picture of the 7 inch model:

The 8 inch model:

and the 10.4 inch model:

ViewSonic also introduced two other digital photo frames today – the 7 inch VFA710W-10 and the 9 inch VFD920w-12 ebony frames. The VFA710w-10 and the VFD920w-12 will be available in Q2 2009 at estimated prices of $54.99 and $99.99.

Technorati Tags: ViewSonic, Digital Photo Frames, VFD1020, VFD820, VFD720

Now here’s an interesting take on the whole rhythm gaming genre. The game is called “Scratch: The Ultimate DJ” and it’s basically a game that lets you pretend to be a DJ – allowing you to whip out beats and scratches using a new hardware controller called the Scratch Deck. The Scratch Deck, designed by Numark Industries, combines two elements of DJ and “hip-hop experiences” – a free spinning, touch sensitive turntable with a crossfader and 5 Akai Pro MPC-style drum pads. I know.. sweet huh?

Here’s what Numark and Genius Inc have to say about the Scratch Deck:

“The turntable allows players to add their own style and manipulate the songs in real time, while the MPC-style drum pads give players the opportunity to perform and customize tracks by triggering samples using the very same pads that are the cornerstone of professional hip-hop beat production. Samples can either be pre-loaded into the game using 60 unique battle records that will ship with the software, or players can record and upload their own samples using a compatible USB microphone.

In addition to the features created by Numark, SCRATCH DECK also contains standard game controls found in music rhythm games. The turntable features a realistic surface that feels remarkably similar to a vinyl record. The drum pads and the crossfader also deliver an authentic and realistic music production experience. Left-handed DJs will appreciate that SCRATCH DECK is designed for use in right or left-handed configurations. “

The new Scratch Deck controller and the game “Scratch: The Ultimate DJ” will be showcased for hands-on play at the upcoming E3. Expect both in the fall of this year for the Xbox 360 and PS3 game consoles.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Numark Industries, Genius Products, Scratch The Ultimate DJ, Scratch Deck DJ Controller

Do you have one of those new iPod shuffle players? Are you afraid of breaking it or losing it? If so then you’ll want to check out the newly announced Speck TechStyle Case built exclusively for the 2nd and 3rd gen iPod shuffle.

Shaped like a headphone case, the TechStyle Case stores both the small iPod shuffle as well as the earbud cords. Simply place the iPod shuffle into the cradle, wind the earbud cords around the organizer, and then zip up the case. You can carry the case with you or attach it to a purse or backpack thanks to the included carabineer clip. You can even use the iPod shuffle while it’s stored within the TechStyle Case – just route the cord to the outside and then zip the case back up.

Other features include a removable adapter making the case compatible with both 2nd and 3rd generation iPod shuffles, as well as an oversized zipper for easy opening and closing of the case.

The Speck TechStyle Case is available in purple, pink, blue, and classic black for an MSRP of $19.95.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Speck TechStyle Case, Apple iPod shuffle

Just a little FYI for all you gamers out there. Electronic Arts (EA) announced the game lineup they would be presenting at the upcoming E3 to be held in Los Angeles next week. Without further ado, here’s the list of new games (and descriptions provided by EA press release):

ARMY OF TWO™: THE 40^th DAY

The ultimate two-man private military team of Salem and Rios return in ARMY OF TWO: THE 40^th DAY, where they must fight to survive a carefully orchestrated series of catastrophes that are dragging the city of Shanghai to the brink of disaster. The game has been built from the ground up with a focus on an incredible cooperative experience. A bigger playbook of features and a new arsenal of co-op moves are available to both players to perform at any time, opening up fresh strategies and choices. The result is a bigger, deeper, more organic and immersive co-op experience that lets players put their best two-man tactics to use whenever and wherever they want.

• Platforms – Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 and PSP®
• Ship Date – Winter
• ESRB Rating – Rating Pending

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Electronic Arts, E3 Game Linup

Pioneer Electronics announced that they are now shipping three new A/V receivers which seamlessly integrate the Apple iPhone and iPod into the home theater environment. The three receivers (the VSX-819AH,VSX-919AH, and VSX-1019AH) also feature proprietary technologies which attempt to “restore compressed audio data and recreate the dynamic listening experiences intended by the original musician.”

Common features on the new Pioneer A/V receivers include:

• Easily plug your iPhone/iPod into the receiver
• Full-color graphical user interface complete with album art
• Auto Music Mute function when an incoming call is received on iPhone
• Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) – designed for use with highly-compressed music files to ensure a more “dynamic audio experience when played through home audio speakers”
• Auto Level Control (ALC) – equalizes the fluctuating volume levels that can occur with digital audio tracks and other inputs

Here’s a quick breakdown of the three new models:

Pioneer VSX-819H-K:

• 5-channel A/V receiver
• Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoders (as well as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES, DTS-Express, DTS 96/24, DTS NEO:6, DTS5.1)
• 3 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output
• Front USB port and included cable
• 5 EQ bands
• TI Aureus Digital Engine
• HDMI Deep Color and xvYCC support
• Aspect Ratio Adjust
• 2 Component in/1 Monitor out
• 3 AV in and 1 Rec out
• 4 audio in and 1 rec out
• 1 digital coaxial input
• 2 digital optical input/output
• 2-zone audio
• 30 AM/FM station presets
• MSRP of $299

Pioneer VSX-919AH:

• 7-channel A/V receiver
• HDMI Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS) for Jitterless Transmission from Music CDs
• HDMI video conversion
• Pioneer PureCinema video processing
• Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoders (as well as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES, DTS-Express, DTS 96/24, DTS NEO:6, DTS5.1)
• 3 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output
• Front USB port and included cable
• 9 EQ bands
• Freescale Digital Engine
• HDMI Deep Color and xvYCC support
• HDMI 1080p video repeater
• Digital video converter to HDMI
• Aspect Ratio Adjust
• 3 HDMI in/1 out
• 2 Component in/1 Monitor out
• 3 AV in and 1 Rec out
• 4 audio in and 1 rec out
• 1 digital coaxial input
• 2 digital optical input/output
• 2-zone audio
• 30 AM/FM station presets
• MSRP of $399

Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K:

• 7-channel A/V receiver
• 2nd Zone A/V distribution with Color On-screen Display
• HDMI with 1080p video scaler
• Pioneer PureCinema video processing
• Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoders (as well as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES, DTS-Express, DTS 96/24, DTS NEO:6, DTS5.1)
• 3 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output
• Front USB port and included cable
• 9 EQ bands
• Freescale Digital Engine
• HDMI Deep Color and xvYCC support
• HDMI 1080p video repeater
• Digital video converter to HDMI
• Aspect Ratio Adjust
• Sirius Satellite Radio
• 4 HDMI in/1 out
• 2 Component in/1 Monitor out
• 3 AV in and 1 Rec out
• 4 audio in and 1 rec out
• 1 digital coaxial input
• 2 digital optical input/output
• 2-zone audio
• 30 AM/FM station presets
• MSRP of $499

Technorati Tags: Pioneer Electronic, VSX-819AH, VSX-919AH, VSX-1019AH, A/V Receiver, Apple iPod, Apple iPhone