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Leica launching new Leica M in early 2013, stripped-down M-E available this month
Do you need a stylish, undoubtedly expensive German camera early in 2013? Perhaps right now? Leica’s got you covered on both fronts, announcing today that its Leica M line is finally getting an official followup to the venerable M9 rangefinder in “early 2013.” The new M is outfitted with the company’s first 24-megapixel (full-frame, naturally) Leica Max CMOS image sensor (à la the A99 and D600) — what Leica calls “a completely new development in sensor technology.” That sensor will snag you a sensitivity range of IS0 200 to 6,400 (expandable to 100). Even more exciting, this latest M can mount Leica’s legacy R glass (!) with a new adapter (available separately) and it can also shoot video in 1080p HD with 24 / 25p frame rate. While it retains the classic M-series styling, rear now features a 3-inch 920k-dot display, protected behind a layer of Gorilla glass. Leica’s also making special note to highlight that the new M features live view functionality on the embedded screen and with an optional EVF.
Sharp Launches Massive 90 Inch 1080p HDTV For $11,000
Sharp has this week added a huge HDTV measuring 90 inches to their range of high definition televisions, in the form of the new AQUOS LED TV model number LC-90LE745U. Sharp’s latest AQUOS LED TV is equipped with Sharp’s proprietary SmartCentral, which offers you direct access to popular applications.
As well as video on demand services such as VUDU, YouTube, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus and Netflix to name a few. Together with features for browsing the web and using Skype communications, via your Wi-Fi network.
The AQUOS LED TV stands an impressive 4′ tall and measures 6’8″ wide, weighing in at 141lbs, and is now available to purchase for around $11,000. Which is fairly reasonable for such a large HDTV when you consider HDTV sets that measure over 100 inches in size are available for nearer $20,000.
Source: Hot Hardware
AUO prevede di lanciare pannelli 3D da 65″ senza occhiali nel 2012
AU Optronics, gigante dell’elettronica noto soprattutto per la massiccia produzione di pannelli per display di varia tipologia, ha annunciato di avere in programma il lancio di pannelli 3D auto-stereoscopici (che non prevedono quindi l’utilizzo di occhiali), nel taglio da 65″, nella seconda metà dell’anno corrente. Le previsioni di vendita, riportate dal vice presidente del gruppo, dovrebbero ammontare a circa 700.000 prezzi entro la fine dell’anno.
La soluzione tecnologica scelta da AUO è duplice: una è indirizzata ai display di piccolo taglio, l’altra a quelli di taglio maggiore.
La prima soluzione prevede una barriera di parallasse (ovvero una sorta di filtro, posto davanti al pannello, che ha la funzione di filtrare, per l’appunto, i pixel visibili dall’occhio destro e sinistro, ricreando un effetto di tridimensionalità), necessaria per generare l’effetto stereoscopico senza l’ausilio di occhiali.
Toshiba intros Qosmio X875 gaming laptop with Kepler GPU, fairly tame digs
In case it wasn’t clear, Toshiba’s overhauling its entire consumer lineup for the back-to-school season, and that includes its lone gaming rig. The 17.3-inch Qosmio X875 replaces last year’s X775, ushering in NVIDIA’s spankin’ new Kepler graphics and that same reined-in design we we’ve seen in recent photos. Though Toshiba’s remaining fairly mum on specs (we bet this has something to do with not wanting to steal Intel’s Ivy Bridge thunder), we can confirm it packs “third-generation” Intel Core processors, NVIDIA GTX 670M graphics with 3GB of video memory, dual hard drive bays, quad Harman Kardon speakers and four memory slots, with up to 16GB of RAM on board out of the box. The resolution can be either 1600 x 900 or 1080p, with that latter pixel count only available on the 3D model. As you can see in the photos, Toshiba’s moved to a subtler aluminum aesthetic it’s calling Black Widow, but what you can’t tell from that vantage point is that this guy is 25 percent thinner than its predecessor. In case you needed more proof this is an Ivy Bridge machine, note the release date: this beastly fellow won’t be available until June 24th. At that point, it’ll start at $1,299, though the highest-end configuration will set you back a cool $2,499. That’s more than two months away, of course, so for now you’ll have to content yourselves with our teaser shots below.
Logitech Announces BCC950 ConferenceCam (Video)
Logitech has launched a new video camera designed to be used for video conferencing, the Logitech BCC950 , which is a all in one pan, tilt and zoom full HD web camera.
The Logitech BCC950 features a wide range of functions, which include a full-duplex omni-directional speakerphone, and it is designed to work with a range of different applications, have a look at the video below.
This new conference web camera is capable of full high definition video in 1080p at 30 frames per second and it also comes with a remote control which can be used for a range of functions.
The Logitech BCC950 will be available shortly from Logitech for $249, you can find out more information over at their website.
Source Logitech
A closer look at Apple TV’s software update and 1080p movies
The new iPad was upgraded with a display an HD junkie would give his universal remote for, but the Apple TV simply received an update to a capability many believe the original should’ve had the first go around: support for 1080p content. In addition to that all-important resolution bump, both this and the last-gen model received a modest software update that brings a few features and enhancements. Those tweaks aren’t necessarily worth a review, if you ask us, especially since the price remains the same and existing Apple TV owners will reap the benefits of most of these improvements. Still, we’d be remiss if we didn’t poke around just a bit. Follow past the break to see what’s changed.
iTunes 10.6 now available for download, includes support for 1080p videos
Apple TV vs. the new Apple TV (2012): what’s changed?
The Apple TV might still be a hobby, and thus not the main event at Tim Cook’s Apple presentation today, but Apple’s participation in the living room has had its fair share of rumors, speculation and dreams. The fact that the user experience has been streamlined is the big news today, but there is also a modest spec bump that includes the ability to play and output 1080p. Other than that you can easily see after the break how well the new Apple TV matches up with its predecessor.
Apple reveals 1080p Apple TV: $99, arrives March 16th
It looks like we were blind-sided a little by that decidedly iPad-esque invite, because Apple has something more for us — it’s just announced the latest iteration of Apple TV and it can do 1080p video. The new UI inches slightly closer to iOS territory, with a splash of new color and a whole range of third-party apps willing to play with the new box. This includes access to Photo Stream alongside old favorites like Netflix, Flickr and YouTube. Expect improved connectivity to the iCloud (including your movie content) and better integration of your iTunes playlists directly from the refreshed UI. The good news: the price is going nowhere — the new model matches the 2010 version at $99. The bad? You’ll have to wait until next week to get your hands on one. Pre-orders start today.
Samsung Galaxy S3 le specifiche tecniche complete Rumor
Continuano le indiscrezioni sull’atteso Samsung Galaxy S3 provenienti dal sito BGR. Dopo aver anticipato alcune caratteristiche del presunto form factor e della sulla costruzione la settimana scorsa, i rumor questa volta si concentrano sulle specifiche tecniche complete.
Con la doverosa premessa che quanto riportato di seguito deve essere considerato un semplice rumor, le caratteristiche tecniche del device comprenderebbero:
- Processore quad-core Samsung Exynos da 1.5 GHz
- Display da 4.8″ full HD con risoluzione 1080p in 16:9
- Fotocamera posteriore da 8-megapixel ed anteriore da 2 megapixel
- Scocca realizzata con materiali ceramici
- Connettività 4G LTE
- Android 4.0
Come sottolineato anche in precedenza, ci auguriamo che le indiscrezioni possano trovare conferma in tempi brevi. Se le informazioni appena riportate dovessero rivelarsi fondate, il Samsung Galaxy S3 potrebbe rivelarsi un degno erede dell’attuale modello. Basta soffermarsi sulle caratteristiche tecniche dell’accoppiata CPU-Display per rendersene conto.
Here’s a seven-minute Nikon D4 sample video: try not to drool
Corey Rich. Might not ring a bell off-hand, but it’ll be someone you’re insanely jealous of after you head past the break and mash play. Sir Rich was fortunate enough to get hands-on with a Nikon D4 during the company’s launch efforts, and he put together an absolutely stunning seven-minute video montage showcasing exactly what the new beast is capable of. We’re told that the captures were taken over a grueling 11 day period, with all of the action shots captured directly onto SanDisk Extreme Pro CF cards. The author has posted a reminder that the Vimeo clip is compressed using H.264 at 10,000kbps, and while some have spotted glitching in parts, he assures us the original media was devoid of the stuff. Enough talking — get to watching.
Logitech outs C920 HD webcam, lets you Skype with your mates in 1080p
If you were impressed by Logitech’s C910 back in June, you may want to take a gander at the newly unveiled HD Pro 920. While it’s the first webcam to offer 1080p video chatting with the latest version of Skype, the C920 can also capture 1080p video while offering 720p for Windows Live Messenger. You’ll be able to upload your full-HD clips and 15MP shots at warp speed at the hands of H.264 advanced compression technology — making those YouTube uploads that much faster. Internally, the C920 implements Logitech’s Fluid Crystal Technology, Carl Zeiss optics and a 20-step autofocus. For audio capture, two mics are position on either side of the shooter for stereo recording. If you’re looking to snag one, it’ll set you back $100 starting this month. But for now, peep the gallery below and all the details in the PR after the break.
Leica rehashes Panasonic’s Lumix Fz150 as the V-LUX 3, because ‘image’ matters
Leave it to Leica to rebrand a recent Panasonic camera, tack on its iconic red dot and then likely charge a premium. Such is the case with its “new” V-Lux 3 digital superzoom, which is essentially its take on the venerable Lumix FZ150 we spent some hands-on time with back in August. To recap, this shooter features a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, Leica’s DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5 – 108 mm f/2.8 – 5.2 ASPH lens (that’s 25 – 600mm for you full-frame buffs), 1080p AVC HD video recording at up to 60fps with stereo sound and an a77-like 12fps continuous burst mode (albeit using manual focus). On back, you’ll find an articulating 3-inch LCD loaded with a 460K pixel resolution and a 0.2-inch EVF, both of which feature nearly 100% frame coverage. While there’s no word price, you can surely expect the V-Lux 3 to cost a few Benjamins more than its Lumix counterpart when it hits shelves in January. Hey, at least you can say its a Leica, right?
Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface available for pre-order in 23 countries, expected to ship in 2012
Microsoft’s Surface hasn’t exactly exploded on the sales figure front, but with next-gen model pricing estimated at $7,600 $8,400 and limited availability, we’re not surprised that the table of the future hasn’t begun popping up in hotels and retails stores the world over. That may slowly change, however, with one of the most recent models — Samsung’s SUR40 — finally coming up for pre-order today. Enterprise customers (or deep-pocketed individuals) can reach out to dedicated sales reps in any of 23 countries to place an order, including the U.S. and Canada, parts of Asia, and most of Europe. An exact ship date has yet to be released, but don’t expect the 40-inch 1080p multitouch table to start popping up until early next year. Want to start touching and tapping today? Check out our hands-on with an early SUR40 from CES.
Sony VAIO F Series review (late 2011)
Sony barreled into CES earlier this year flaunting a 3D monster laptop boasting a 16-inch 1080p display, a built-in 3D transmitter and a fancy button that promised to instantly add an extra dimension to your boring “regular” 2D movies. It was the latest in the outfit’s VAIO F Series, and it was ready to snatch $2,000 straight out of your wallet — but not all of us can throw down that kind of scratch. Still looking for a suitably powerful desktop-replacement that won’t decimate your bank account? That same 2011 VAIO F Series rig just might be your ticket, sans 3D trickery — and knocked down to a base price of $980. Does this somewhat more budget-friendly variant still pack enough punch to knockout your hefty desktop PC? Let’s find out.
Swann releases Freestyle HD, begs you to capture 1080p underwater via LCD viewer
Looking to step your game up when capturing surfing footage from atop your longboard? Swannis aiming to lend a helping hand with its newfangled Freestyle HD wearable video camera. This offering is the company’s first that sports a detachable 1.5-inch LCD viewer for taking a peek at your 1080p video capture in real-time — which you can capture at up to 30 fps. You’ll also be able to snap eight megapixel JPEGs should you so choose with 3x digital zoom at your disposal. Waterproof at depths up to 65 feet, the Freestyle HD can be helmet-mounted, attached to your favorite fixed-gear or the roof of your rally car via the three included mounting brackets. The camera will connect directly to an HDTV for viewing, or you can hop over to a PC via a microSD card or USB transfer. You can expect 2.5-hour battery life and a $279 price tag to boot — too bad that flight to the southern hemisphere isn’t nearly as affordable.
Swann Freestyle HD press photos
NICT, JVC Kenwood team up for wall-sized 3D HD display, lets in your face advertising get literal (video)
Been holding out hope for a real-life holodeck? Well, looks like Japan’s got wall number one out of four already covered. We kid, we kid. That Trekkie tech future’s still a ways off, but recent prototypes like this 200-inch auto-stereoscopic 3D screen are bringing that illusive reality one step closer to our living rooms. Exhibited during CEATEC 2011, this 1920 x 1080 full HD display plays images at 60fps using an array of 57 projectors, and offers up viewing angles of 13 degrees. What does all of that mean for you? Well, the setup gives viewers a limited ability to peer around projected objects, so long as they stay within a 1.3m (about 4ft) area. It’s yet another fruit of the collaboration between the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology and JVC Kenwood, except this one’s headed for the realm of outdoor digital advertising. Home theater aficionados looking for a virtual entertainment solution can always opt for Sony’s HMD, but that kind of defeats the glasses-free allure.
GoPro launches HD Hero2 helmet cam, announces video streaming Wi-Fi pack for winter
Want to catch every frame of your next extreme sports wipeout in all of its grotesque glory? GoPro knows where you’re coming from, and has updated its line of high definition helmet cams to help you capture every bone-breaking moment. The HD Hero2 competitively boasts that it’s twice as powerful its 2009 predecessor, the original HD Hero. The new helmet cam promises to capture 1080p 16:9 footage from atop your sweaty noggin at both narrow (90-degree), wide (170-degree) and medium (127-degree) angles, and can snap up to ten 11 megapixel photos per second. The camera’s mini-HDMI port, composite out, USB, SD card and HERO ports will help you share the spoils of your spills when your adventure ends — at least until this winter, when GoPro’s WiFi BacPac promises to enable live broadcasting and camera control over WiFi. Best of all? The Hero2 kills the original HD Hero’s confusing 3-digit code interface in favor of a simple language-based menu.
The HD Hero2 comes in three $300 configurations: outdoor, motorsports, and surf editions, all of which are compatible with existing accessories. Too rich for your blood? Then you’ll be happy to know that the previous models are getting price drops — $200 for the original HD Hero and a paltry $150 for its “960″ variant. Hit the break for the official PR and a full list of features.
DXG-5F9V makes home video memories a 1080p HD affair, 3D glasses not required
Who said all the 3D perks had to be reserved for Hollywood? DXG’s making the home video fun a virtual en vivo experience with the release of its 3D and 2D camcorder, set to hit the company’s online store today. For $299, you’re getting a 5 megapixel still camera and glasses-free, 1080p HD video recording at 30fps, viewable on either the handheld’s autostereoscopic 3.2-inch LCD display or the flatscreen of your choosing via an included HDMI cable. The DXG-5F9V only ships with 128MB of storage inbuilt, so if you’re aiming to immortalize your Jackass-worthy shenanigans, you’ll want to secure a 32GB SD card for additional capacity. With the holidays fast approaching, this might be your best bet to relive those looks of disappointment on Christmas morning.
Camera or camcorder? JVC’s hybrid GC-PX10 wants to be both
