Lytro, the first light field camera is up for pre-sale with an expected delivery date starting in early 2012 at prices that range from $499 for the Red Hot (red) 16gb or $399 for the Graphite (grey) or Electric Blue (cyan) 8gb. The 16gb version will hold 750 pictures and 8gb will hold 350 pictures.

So what’s so special about Lytro?

Technology: Lytro Light Field Sensor and Lytro Light Field Engine 1.0.
Lens: 8x optical zoom; Constant f/2 lens.
Controls: Power button: Shutter button; Zoom slider; Touchscreen.
Display: 1.46 in | 33 mm back-lit LCD display with glass touchscreen.
Exposure: Tap on touchscreen to set exposure.
Battery: Long-life Li-Ion internal battery.
File Output: Light field picture file (.lfp).
Light Field Resolution: 11 Megarays: the number of light rays captured by the light field sensor.
Software: Includes a free desktop application for importing, processing and interacting with living pictures from the camera. It is built for Mac OS and requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. A Windows application is in development.
Picture Output: Produces HD-quality interactive, living pictures.
Picture Storage: Free storage for living pictures on Lytro.com, subject to the Terms of Use. (Internet access required)
Picture Viewing: View and interact with living pictures on the Lytro camera as well as any internet-connected computer, smartphone or tablet supported.
Light Field Engine: Version 1.0. This is the software that processes light fields to produce interactive pictures. Keep watching this space!
Shell: Ultra-light anodized aluminum structural skin.
Grip: TPSiV-Injection Silicon Rubber.

That equates to a picture that you can zoom in and out of without having to reshoot the picture. So if you see something interesting going on in your background, you can zoom in at a later date – take a look at the Adobe Flash based photo gallery. This takes picture bombing to a new level.

The software is Apple Mac only at the moment, but there is a Windows version in development.

[ Links: Lytro Light Field Camera ]

Engadget has the scoop on Apple’s next incarnation of Apple TV, which actually sounds more interesting than the original Apple TV, a somewhat underwhelming product. According to anonymous tipsters likely countering all that Google TV discussion, Apple’s next Apple TV device will be about the size of an Apple iPhone and will cost just a hundred bucks.

It looks to have roughly the same internals as the Google TV (namely an A4 CPU and 16GB of flash storage) – though it will be capable of 1080p HD. The device also looks to have just two ports (video out and power) and may utilized cloud storage. Of course whether the device is really useful depends on what content’s available and just how obnoxious Apple intends to be when it comes to locking the device down.

Link to the original article…

Use Skype? Love to use the video calling features? Hate how some of the higher priced Microsoft and Logitech cameras claim to be better; but really don’t measure up until you’ve spent over $100 or so? FREETALK has introduced their FREETALK® Everyman HD Webcam (TALK-7140) that has the following specs:

• Skype-certified High Definition camera
• High-performance optical lens
• 24-bit true color depth
• Auto Exposure and Auto White Balance
• Auto Focus capability
• Supports HD video encoding at resolutions up to 1280×720 at up to 22 frames per second
• Universal clip for supporting wide variety of displays

And all for the lovely price of $49 USD. Do want.

[ Link: Skype, Skype Shop, In Store Solutions ]

Atlona Technologies, solutions based manufacturer of Audio Video products, announced new USB Powered VGA to HDMI Scaler/Converter, the AT-HDVieW.

Atlona Technologies has consistently created products that will allow users easy and affordable means of connecting their PC to their HDTV without spending a fortune on new video cards or expensive boxes that perform this task as a secondary function.

Atlona has added to their ever growing product line with their newest Switcher/Scaler, the AT-HDVieW. This new unit designed to take both video and audio signal from a PC or Laptop, and upscale it to a digital HDMI output, was specifically made for the retail market. Users looking to upscale their computer viewing experience through their home entertainment center can now use the HDVieW to easily adapt their VGA outputs into HDMI. Operating this device is as simple as plug and play, due to the units ability to automatically sense the native resolution of the desired display and scale the computer’s output to match it.

The HDVieW offers a wide-range HDTV and PC resolutions, up to 1080p or 1920×1200 and will take audio signal from the computer and embedded it into the HDMI signal output, so that user is able to enjoy both audio and video though one cable. The HDVieW is a scaler-converter, which means that it will always work without any adjustments to the video card software in addition to that the video quality will be dramatically increased due to the built-in high quality scaler. Unlike many other scalers and converters on the market, this product has pigtail extensions attached with VGA, Audio and USB cables as to save the hassle of purchasing more cable. USB powered, this unit does not require additional power supplies. With limitless applications for both consumer and commercial applications, this competitively priced Scaler/Converter will find its way into any home.

The new AT-HDVieW will be available at the end of February with an affordable MRSP or $119.00 and is currently available for pre-order.

Link to the original article…

Panasonic introduced the new FH-Series to its 2010 line of LUMIX digital cameras, which includes the LUMIX DMC-FH20 (14.1-megapixels), LUMIX FH3 (14.1-megapixels) and LUMIX FH1 (12.1-megapixels). The LUMIX FH-Series are slim, pocketable models that pack a 28mm wide-angle lens with 8x optical zoom for the FH20 and 5x optical zoom for the FH3/FH1. All models can record High Definition video and thanks to iA (Intelligent Auto) are extremely easy to use.

The LUMIX FH-Series features High Definition (HD) 720p motion jpeg video recording capabilities. By recording 1280 x 720p at a smooth 30 fps, in addition to WVGA (848 x 480) and normal VGA (640 x 480), the LUMIX FH-Series makes it easy to view videos on a PC or upload it seamlessly to YouTube with the bundled PHOTOfunSTUDIO version 5.0 software. All models are compatible with Microsoft Windows 7 and can take HD-quality still photos that fill a 16:9 HDTV. Users with a Panasonic VIERA HDTV can enjoy a slideshow of photos simply by inserting an SD Memory Card into the HDTV’s SD Memory Card Image Viewer slot.

Panasonic’s popular iA mode, a suite of technologies that engage automatically – with no setting changes needed by the user – makes it easy for anyone to take beautiful photos. Panasonic iA includes the following: MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) to help reduce blurry photos due to hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control to help reduce blur when the subject is moving; Face Detection to ensure registered faces are captured in focus with appropriate exposure and unwanted red eyes are digitally corrected; and Intelligent Scene Selector which selects the best option from: Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Night Scenery and newly-added Sunset. There is even a dedicated iA button, letting users engage easily with one click. The three models also have a 2.7-inch 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD, meaning the LCD detects the lighting conditions and controls the brightness level in 11 fine steps, to display with the most appropriate setting.

Link to the original article…

LG Electronics unveiled its stylish ultra-slim TV during LG press conference at CES 2010, which boasts 6.9mm thickness at the slimmest part and 10mm-thick bezel.

Thin, good looking and I want one? It’s gotta be expensive. That’s how my luck usually goes. More information as I get it.

It seems like 2010 will be the year of the set top box that gathers all of your media that you’ve collected over the years – be it music, video or web based media – and places it in high-definition on your television for all to see. LaCie has introduced their LaCinema Mini HD Media Center, about the size of a standard DVD – it fits in your palm, easily:

LaCie today unveiled LaCinema Mini HD, the all-in-one Wi-Fi High Definition media center. Its amazingly small and stylish design packs a big punch, bringing your HD movies, photos and music collections to your widescreen TV in full 1080p resolution.

LaCinema Mini HD bridges the gap between the computer and entertainment worlds in full HD quality. Featuring built-in high-speed 802.11n Wi-Fi, LaCinema Mini HD brings a DLNA® media player and server to your home without wires.

Transferring content to the LaCinema Mini HD is easy through the bus-powered USB connection for maximum transfer speeds, or by connecting the drive to a home network. Users can conveniently load files wirelessly from their computer or via the Ethernet connection.

Currently available in Europe for $299 with worldwide availability coming soon.

[ Links: LaCie LaCinema Mini HD Media Center ]

How about Full HD on a Smartphone? Unreal? Well, Zii Trinity mobile platform proves that this is possible. It will allow its users to enjoy Full HD video on this device. It has been designed by Creative Ziilabs and will run on Android and Plaszma interface. Making this step we can say that cellphones are coming even closer to netbooks thanks to their possibilities.

These features are all powered by ARM-based ZMS-05 and ZMS-08 processors that power Full HD graphics for netbooks. Don’t they have problems with cooling? Apparently not.

Link to the original article…

LaCie has introduced another one of those monolithic looking external hard drive with the “in style” Blue LED and what not. But the LaCie Lacinema Classic HD has HDMI outputs, 1080p playback and a remote control.

The LaCinema Classic HD offers a timeless and sleek design making it a great addition to any TV setup. Providing the widest media format compatibility, LaCinema Classic HD will play all your files without concern – from the most popular DivX format to high-quality MKV H.264 video format via its HDMI 1.3 connection. Uncompromising support for Dolby Digital audio quality enhances the LaCinema Classic HD, as well as your entertainment viewing experience.

The LaCinema Classic HD keeps it easy – use it as an external hard drive to load media from your Mac or PC. Then, simply connect the LaCinema Classic HD to your HDTV for instant playback.

Acting as a DLNA media player, LaCinema Classic HD can conveniently play movies, music, and photos from your computer or network storage. LaCinema Classic HD even offers network access to easily transfer files from your Mac and PC, while keeping it connected to the TV.

Drool. Do want. Comes with a 1TB drive and will cost $249.99 when it comes out shortly at your typical LaCie resellers.

[ LaCie ] [ LaCinema Classic HD ]

Samsung Electronics expects to release its 27-inch full HD LCD monitor ‘SyncMaster P2770H’ in Japan market. It supports 2ms response speed, 300cd/m² of brightness, 70000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 170-degree viewing angle with DVI-I(HDCP) and HDMI ports.

This thing is sadly bigger than my television…

Link to the original article…

With USB 3.0 coming out very soon, it is expected all that had preceded it (USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 for instance) will be destroyed by how fast it can access other USB 3.0 enabled devices. Tweaktown [ site here ] puts an early chipset through its paces against Firewire 400, Firewire 800, eSATA, SATA and USB 2.0 of course with varying results.

In our first test using HD Tune Pro, we can see that USB 3.0 is plenty faster than USB 2.0 when using the Intel SSD. It’s not 10 times faster as the marketing data tells us, but it is six times faster and a good sign for a technology still in its early stages of deployment in the consumer space.

Tweaktown shows a few graphs worth of information that show how you might want to hold off and buy a SATA 2.0 and USB 3.0 based motherboard for your next PC build. Definitely worthy of a quick read [ read more ], and they found that SATA 2.0 is keeping pace and sometimes beat USB 3.0 – barely.

[ Tweaktown ]

Link to the original article…