Samsung updates their popular LED HDTV product lineup with the introduction of a new flagship series called the 8500 Series. Taking the picture quality and thinness of the previous LED HDTV models, Samsung adds the latest networking technologies as well as new interactive features to the 8500 Series.

The 8500 Series will initially consist of two sizes – a 46 inch model with a suggested price of $3599.99 and a 55 inch model with a suggested price of $4499.99.

If you haven’t seen the Samsung LED HDTV, you really owe it to yourself to see one in person (head over to Best Buy and you’ll typically see several models on display). The product line uses white LEDs as backlight source enabling an incredible 7,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The colors pop, the details are incredibly sharp.. it’s just a sight to behold.

Other features and specs to the new 8500 Series include:

• 2 ms response time
• Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation – using 240 Hz refresh rate
• Three Auto Motion Plus presets as well as user customizable levels for judder and motion blur reduction
• New Samsung Medi@2.0 suite providing mode content from more sources than before.
• Internet@TV Content service with widgets from Yahoo!
• Touch of Color with Charcoal accents
• Crystal neck swivel stand
• Compatible with ultra-slim wall-mount solution which is sold separately
• Ultra Clear Panel
• Wide Color Enhancer Pro
• Down-firing speakers with integrated woofer (15 watts x 2 in the 55 inch model and 10 watts x 2 in the 46 inch model)
• DLNA- certified for wired and wireless access (USB dongle for wireless sold separately)
• Energy Star 3.0 compliant
• Built-in ATSC/Clear QAM digital tuner
• Picture in picture
• Local dimming
• 4 HDMI (HDMI-CEC) version 1.3 input (side)
• 1 component input in the rear
• 2 USB 2.0 inputs (side)
• 1 Ethernet connection in the rear
• 1 optical audio output in the ide
• 1 PC input in the rear

Expect the new 8500 Series around August/September of this year.

Technorati Tags: Samsung 8500 Series LED HDTV

Speck expands their CandyShell iPhone 3G/3GS case lineup with the introduction of five new two-tone color combos. The new style (known as “Ombre”) is available in the following colors: BubbleMaker Pink, BatWing Black, AquaBerry Blue, WaxStick White, and JamJar Purple.

The CandyShell case was introduced earlier this year and offers a unique combination of hard shell protection and a soft interior.

The new CandyShell cases are available at either the Apple Store or at www.speckproducts.com for a price of $34.95.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Speck, CandyShell case, iPhone 3G case, iPhone 3GS case

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple, for the first time ever, plans on attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January of 2010. It’s an interesting turn of events considering Apple decided to shun MacWorld in favor of announcing products and initiatives through their websites and their own events.

With Apple coming to CES, the real question now is – will Steve Jobs headline CES with a keynote speech? No one knows as Jobs isn’t returning phone calls to Gary Shapiro, the chief executive of the Consumer Electronics Association which runs CES.

However, you can probably be sure that if Jobs does make a keynote appearance at CES, the first few days will surely be buzzing.

It’s the end of July and we’re all looking forward to next year’s CES. Amazing!

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: Apple, CES 2010

Panasonic expanded their LUMIX line of digital cameras on Monday with the introduction of three new models including the LUMIX DMC-FZ35, LUMIX DMC-FP8, and LUMIX DMC-ZR1. The DMC-FZ35 is the successor to the FZ28 and features AVCHD Lite, HD video recording, and a 27mm wide-angle, 18x optical zoom LEICA lens while the DMC-FP8 comes with a 12.1 megapixel resolution, and a 28mm wide-angle 4.6x Leica DC lens with folding optics. Finally, the DMC-ZR1 features the world’s first 0.3mm thin aspherical lens which allows for a super compact body while still yielding a 25mm ultra-wide-angle 8x optical zoom.  Here’s the low down on the new digicams:

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ35:

• Creative Movie Mode – allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture manually for movie capture
• My Color Mode – manually adjust the color, brightness, and saturation parameters while seeing how the adjustments change the picture live on the display
• High Dynamic Mode – helps capture a scene with moderate exposure even though the scene contains both bright and dark areas
• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens
• Upgraded POWER Optical Image Stabilizer
• MEGA OIS
• Ultra high-speed Auto Focus (AF)
• 18x optical zoom lens
• Venus Engine HD
• Battery life of around 470 pictures
• Intelligent Auto Mode with features such as Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Exposure, and Face Recognition
• Face Recognition that recognizes up three faces simultaneously while taking pictures
• Available in September for a suggested retail price of $399.99
• Available in black

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FP8:

• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• LEICA DC Vario-Elmar lens
• High-speed Auto Focus(AF)
• Intelligent Auto (iA) suite of technologies
• POWER Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
• MEGA OIS
• Blue LED cursor buttons that glow when pressed
• 2.7 inch large Intelligent LCD
• Face Recognition recognizes up to three faces simultaneously
• Venus Engine V
• HD movies with VIERA Link Networking – record in 1280 x 720 at 30fps or 848 x 480 or 640 x 480
• 27 scene modes including a new High Dynamic Mode which takes a scene in moderate exposure even though there are dark or bright areas in the scene
• PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 software
• Available in September for $299.95
• Available in black, red, and silver

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZR1:

• Has the world’s first 0.3 mm thin aspherical lens providing a 25mm ultra-wide angle 8x optical zoom lens in an ultra-compact body
• Zoom range of 25-200mm
• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens
• High speed Auto Focus
• High speed startup of 1.1 seconds
• 2.7 inch Intelligent LCD
• Venus Engine V
• Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies including hand-shake component, and a face recognition feature – up to 6 faces registered and three detected simultaneously
• POWER Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS)
• Travel Mode – organize information related to travel including destination, date, and time. Allows for simply playback of pictures
• High Dynamic Mode (see above)
• PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 software included
• Available in September for a suggested price of $279.95
• Available in black, red, blue, and silver

[Check out the DMC-FZ35 Press Release]

[Check out the DMC-FP8 Press Release]

[Check out the DMC-ZR1 Press Release]

Technorati Tags: Panasonic, LUMIX DMC-FZ35, LUMIX DMC-FP8, LUMIX DMC-ZR1, digital cameras

Want to use a headphone other than the one Apple provides for the current iPod shuffle? Now you can with the new Belkin Headphone Adapter for iPod shuffle. Not only can you use any headphone with the new adapter, you’ll also be able to control the functions of the shuffle since the player doesn’t come with any controls itself.

The Headphone Adapter will allow you to:

• Adjust volume
• Skip tracks
• Toggle between playlists
• Hear a song title

Belkin’s Headphone Adapter will be available at the end of July in North America and in the middle of August in Europe, Asia, and Australia for $19.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Belkin Headphone Adapter iPod shuffle

We finally have a “Microhoo” folks!

Although not quite the merger nor acquisition that some folks were clamming for in years past, Microsoft and Yahoo! have finally come to terms on an agreement that will hopefully position both companies for a better fight against search king Google. The basics of the agreement boils down to the following: Microsoft will now power Yahoo! search while Yahoo! will become the “exclusive” worldwide sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers.

Want more of the nitty gritty? Here ya go:

• This is a 10 year agreement
• Microsoft will acquire an exclusive 10 year license to Yahoo!’s core search technologies – with Microsoft having the ability to integrate Yahoo! search technologies into existing web search platforms
• It’s all about Microsoft Bing when it comes to search for both companies. Bing will power Yahoo! search and sites. Yahoo! will continue to use its own technology in other areas of business like enhancing display advertising technology
• Each company will maintain separate display advertising business and sales force
• Yahoo! will maintain their look and feel on their sites
• Yahoo! will focus on a core business or web content and products for its users
• Yahoo! and Microsoft search marketplaces will be combined making it easier for advertisers
• Microsoft will compensate Yahoo via revenue sharing agreement on traffic generated on Yahoo!’s network of sites
• Microsoft will pay traffic acquisition costs (TAC) to Yahoo at an initial rate of 88% of search revenue generated on Yahoo owned and operated sites during the first 5 yrs of the agreement

Yahoo estimates that at “full implementation”, this agreement will:

• improve annual GAAP operating income of approximately $500 million
• save capital expenditure by $200 million
• improve operating cash flow by approximately $275 million

The Microsoft-Yahoo agreement does not cover other areas of their respective businesses including email, IM, display advertising etc. Both companies are hopeful that the deal will close by early 2010. You’ll be able to read more about this on a site the two companies have established over at http://www.choicevalueinnovation.com/

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Yahoo

[Republished from NetbookTech] Looking to address the lack of built-in DVD burners on netbooks (and also looking to make a buck or two), Pioneer Electronics announces the slim and portable DVR-XD09 DVD/CD burner today. Described as having the “industry’s most compact design to date”, the DVR-XD09 weighs approximately eight ounces and is just slightly larger than a standard music CD case.

Features and specs to the Pioneer DVR-XD09 include:

• Measures 5.24 x 0.58 x 5.24 inches
• Weighs 0.5 lbs
• USB 2.0 interface
• Supports 8X write/read for DVD-/+R SL
• Supports 6x write/8x read for DVD-/+R DL
• Supports 6x write/8x read for DVD-/+RW SL
• Supports 8x read for DVD-ROM SL
• Supports 5x write/read for DVD-RAM
• Supports 24x write/read for CD-R/CD-RW

The DVR-XD09 will begin shipping August for a price of $79.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Pioneer Electronics, DVR-XD09 DVD/CD writer

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in a firefight then you’ll want to check out the above video clip from MSNBC.com. The MSNBC report, which aired back on June 29th provided a unique perspective to an intense gun battle between American soldiers and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

Two cameras were in use that day – one from MSNBC and one on top of a soldiers helmet. Known as the V.I.O. POV.T camera (point of view), this helmet-mounted camera provided a unique first-person perspective to action that most of us will probably never witness in our lifetime. 

Luckily no one was hurt in the hour-long gun battle.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: VIO POV.T gunfight, Afghanistan

Microsoft is set to release the next major software update for the Xbox 360 console starting on August 11th. Known as the Summer 2009 update, this is the first official update after the much heralded New Xbox Experience (NXE) update last November.

If you can’t wait for August 11th, you can always sign up at the Microsoft Connect website to be considered for the Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program. If you’re accepted, you’ll be able to check out the update before it actually comes out across Xbox LIVE on the 11th of August.

PC Magazine got a hold of the update and published a hands-on look over on their website here. Here’s a quick summary of some of the new features in the summer update.

• Netflix functionality gets expanded. You’ll finally be able to add titles to the Instant queue directly on your Xbox 360 console (yup – no more heading to the PC to add titles). You’ll also be able to view titles by genre, or from Netflix recommendations
• There’s also supposedly improved Netflix playback experience and support for the virtual theater allowing you to watch a movie with seven other friends
• Avatar Marketplace allows you to dress up your Xbox 360 avatar (tho you’ll need to spend money to do so)
• Games On Demand – purchase and download full Xbox games directly to your hard drive. Available titles include older titles such as Grand  Theft Auto, and Splinter cell.
• User ratings for games
• Streamlined updates for Xbox LIVE Parties

Check out the PC Mag hands-on for more info and pictures. Head over to Major Nelson for more info on how to sign up for the Preview Program.

Technorati Tags: Xbox 360 Summer 2009 update

I’ve been playing an outrageous amount of Call of Duty World at War recently on Xbox LIVE so you can imagine how psyched I am at the upcoming Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 title slated for November. While you’re waiting for the title to be released, here’s additional multiplayer footage of the game (many thanks  to @xboxmattyb89 on twitter for tweeting this one).

Can’t wait..

[Check it out via Stick Skills]

Technorati Tags: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2