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Garmin Launches Simple Yet Sophisticated Sat-Nav

OCZ Unveils Vanquisher CPU Cooler

Daily Mailbox

ASUS Rolls Out 20X LightScribe DVD Rewriter

HTC Launches HTC TyTN II In Europe

AMD Introduces SSE5 x86 Instruction Set

LG Launches Its First DivX-Certified Digital Television

Sony Unveils First U.S. Walkman Video Players

Panasonic Unveils LUMIX DMC-L10 DSLR Camera With Face Detection



Garmin Launches Simple Yet Sophisticated Sat-Nav

Garmin has today announced the new nuvi 700 series satellite navigation system.

Each nuvi in the 700 series has traffic alerts, with a free lifetime subscription to traffic services. This enables drivers to avoid congestion and find alternative routes via the sat-nav. Garmin uses the patented Cyclops technology to provide accurate safety camera alerts for all its sat-nav systems. It is believed to be the most up-to-date and reliable information available for both fixed and mobile cameras. Advanced trip planning capabilities let users input up to 200 destinations in one route. It also has a 10,000 point track-log which acts like an electronic breadcrumb trail, remembering exactly where you’ve been. This has advantages including the ability to view your route afterwards in applications such as Google Earth.

All the Garmin nuvi 700s have a built-in FM transmitter, allowing users to wirelessly transmit directions, telephone calls (selected models) or MP3s through their vehicle’s stereo. Bluetooth wireless technology is available on the Garmin nuvi 710, 760 and 770 for hands-free calling when paired with compatible phones. Users can find and dial numbers stored in their phone or numbers from the nuvi’s points of interest database (hotels, restaurants, shops and more). This enables phone calls to be made easily and safely while on the move. Text-to-speech is also included on the nuvi 750, 760 and 770 where the actual names of roads are read out loud so there is no confusion over which turn you should take even if there are many roads close by. There is even a built-in picture viewer so you can store and look at all your favourite photos.

Like other widescreen Garmin nuvis, the 700 series boasts a bright, sunlight-readable 4.3-inch colour touchscreen display (480x272 pixels). The design incorporates a high-sensitivity internal GPS antenna that makes it thinner and even easier to mount in a car as well as carry around.

Another new feature which makes the Garmin nuvi 700 series even easier to use is the choice of keyboard style. When typing in a destination users can choose between a Qwerty keyboard or an alphabetical one. This means everyone can use the format they prefer – and speed up their search.

The Garmin nuvi 700 variations are as follows:

  • The nuvi 710 has regional mapping (UK and Ireland or other region) with Bluetooth
  • The nuvi 750 has UK and European mapping
  • The nuvi 760 has UK and European mapping with Bluetooth
  • The nuvi 770 has mapping for the UK, Europe and the United States with Bluetooth

All have safety camera and traffic alerts as well as an FM transmitter.

The nuvi 710, 750, 760 and nuvi 770 are expected to be available in October 2007 at an MSRP of £279.99/€399, €449, £369.99/€499 and £449.99/€599 including VAT respectively. (The nuvi 750 is not available in the UK).

OCZ Unveils Vanquisher CPU Cooler

OCZ Technology Group announced the Vanquisher CPU cooler, an anticipated expansion of their cooling product line. The Vanquisher is an enthusiast-grade thermal solution for the latest high-performance processors.

The OCZ Vanquisher features a pure copper base plate and three copper heat pipes that rapidly transfer heat away from the processor up to the dense, aluminum fin array where the thermal load is dissipated by the included 92mm fan. The press release claims the efficient heatpipe design moves so much heat that the fin array is able to transfer up to 200 Watts. The Vanquisher also utilizes an original low speed fan mounted with rubber connectors to decrease vibration and noise.

The compact and versatile OCZ Vanquisher CPU cooler is compatible with sockets AMD 754/939/AM2 and Intel 775. Because no motherboard back plate is required, the hassle-free Vanquisher is installed quickly and easily for consumers of all skill levels.

Specs:

  • For Sockets AMD 754/939/AM2, Intel LGA775
  • Pure Copper base plate and 3 heat pipes
  • Pure Aluminum fins
  • 1 year warranty
  • Fan Rated Voltage: 12 V DC
  • Fan Speed: 800-2000RPM
  • Fan Bearing type: Ceramic
  • Dimensions: Heatsink: (L)72 x (W)110 x (H)134mm; Fan: (L)92 x (W) 92 x (H)25mm
  • Includes: 92mm Fan and rubber mounting clips; mounting Hardware for all above CPUs; thermal compound
  • Part Number: OCZTVANQ

Source: OCZ Technology Group

Daily Mailbox

Alienware DOOM-BOOM A Graphics Revolution @ Gamepyre
Comex 2007 Singapore Day 1 Coverage @ TweakTown
Leadtek WinFast PX8500 GT THD Extreme Review @ Madshrimps
Gaming Heaven Review: Jeanne D'Arc (PSP)
Foxconn G33M motherboard - Intel GMA3100 @ TweakTown
Sapphire Radeon HD 2400 XT video card review @ Elite Bastards
CoolIT Ram Fan Memory Cooler Review @ Tweaknews.net
Apevia X-Telstar Black Aluminum Mid-Tower ATX Case @ BmR
Nespresso Le Cube C185 Review @ Digital Trends
ASUS P5K3 Premium / WiFi AP Review @ InsideHW
Magicool DIY Watercooling Set Review on Technic3D
Beginners Guides: Ten Steps to a Secure PC - UPDATED! @ PCStats
Microsoft Reclusa Gaming Keyboard reviewed at Metku.net
Gadget Review: USB Fragrance Oil Drive from USBGeek @ DragonSteelMods

ASUS Rolls Out 20X LightScribe DVD Rewriter

ASUS introduced the DRW-2014 L1T internal DVD rewriter with LightScribe direct disc labeling technology. This DVD±RW drive provides 20X DVD±R writing, 8X DVD±R (DL) and 14X DVD-RAM reading capabilities. In addition, users can expect to enjoy five times faster data transfer rates than the current DMA33 standards with the SATA interface.

This DVD±ROM drive also allows 6X DVD-Rewrite, 8X DVD+Rewrite, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X CD-Write, 32X CD-Rewrite, 14X DVD-RAM and 48X CD-ROM.

The novelty also adopts several technologies, including proprietary, such as:

  • LightScribe
  • QuieTrack - made of Airflow Field Modification (change the uneven airflow field inside the drive to a balanced pressure distribution that leads to a quiet and stable operation) and FlextraLink (prevents buffer under-runs by marking the disc where writing stopped and resuming it at the same place when information flow begins again).
  • FlextraSpeed - continuously monitors the recording media and sets the optimal writing speeds.
  • Auto Vibration Reducing System - designed to minimize the vibration caused by the spindle motor and resonance between components as well as the drive and PC cases.

Specifications:

  • 20X DVD-Write/6X DVD-RW/18X DVD+Write/8X DVD+ReWrite/8X DVD±R (DL)/16X DVD-ROM/14 X DVD-RAM/48X CD-Write/32X CD-ReWrite/48X CD-ROM
  • Vertical and Horizontal Mounting Available
  • Support DAO, TAO, SAO, Packet Write
  • Support Windows Vista/XP/NT/2000
  • Multiple formats: DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM Mode1, CD-ROM/XA Mode2, Photo CD, CD-I, CD-Extra, CD-Text
  • Interface: SATA
  • Dimensions: 148.5x42.6x173mm
  • Weight: 800g
  • Bundled: NERO 7.0 suite

The DRW-2014 L1T Drive is available in three colors - White, Black and Beige. An optional stylishly designed deluxe panel made from ferric materials is also available.

Source: ASUS

HTC Launches HTC TyTN II In Europe

HTC unveiled the HTC TyTN II "mobile companion" that will be launched in partnership with operator partners across Europe, as well as direct under the HTC brand.

The HTC TyTN II packs all the power of Windows Mobile 6 into an original new form factor. The 2.8-inch colour screen slides back to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, then tilts up to position the screen for reading and creating emails, using applications, or even just playing videos and games.

The HTC TyTN II allows users to get connected in any country with tri-band UMTS and quad-band EDGE. It boasts worldwide 3.5G high speed internet – HSDPA, at speeds 9 times faster than 3G – and WiFi 802.11b/g to ensure users can enjoy high-speed surfing, uploading and downloading while roaming anywhere in the world.

HTC Home, HTC's new homescreen, offers easy access to photo dialing, text messages, calendar entries, emails and contacts, as well as one touch access to live weather conditions plus four-day forecasts.

Leveraging the functionality of Windows Mobile 6, the HTC TyTN II provides a complete suite of business applications including Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, contacts, calendar, push e-mail, notes, tasks, PDF viewer and more. In addition, HTC has included further applications such as a business card scanner and TomTom Navigator 6 (Taster edition) to complement the in-built GPS.

HTC also announced the launch of HTCmail, a fully hosted, secure, and managed email service based on Microsoft Hosted Exchange. The HTC offering provides seamless and real-time access to up to 5 different email accounts, aggregated and instantly delivered to a mobile device through Outlook 2007. Features include email, contacts and calendar. HTCmail is compatible with all HTC devices, and will be rolling out across selected European markets (France and UK at the moment) from September 2007.

The HTC TyTN II will be launched in partnership with operators across Europe from September, including Orange, T-Mobile, Telefonica Group and Vodafone, as well as direct, under the HTC brand.

HTC TyTN II key features

  • Adjustable screen angle and slide-out QWERTY keyboard
  • 2.8-inch 240*320 QVGA touch screen
  • Tri-band UMTS & Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
  • 3.5G high speed internet
  • Live HTC Home screen
  • Windows Mobile 6 Professional with Direct Push Email
  • Internal GPS antenna, TomTom Navigator 6 Taster Edition
  • Business Card Scanner
  • 3-megapixel autofocus camera
  • Wireless LAN – WiFi 802.11b/g
  • Bluetooth 2.0
  • ROM 256MB and RAM 128MB
  • Easy scrolling with touch scrolling or jog wheel
  • microSD card slot
  • Dimensions: 112mm (L) x 59mm (W) x 19mm (T)
  • Weight: 190g with battery
  • Battery: 1,350 mAh rechargeable Li-polymer battery
  • Standby time: up to 350 hours for UMTS; up to 365 hours for GSM;
  • Talk time: up to 264 minutes for UMTS; up to 420 minutes for GSM; up to 120 minutes for video call

Source: HTC

AMD Introduces SSE5 x86 Instruction Set

AMD today introduced SSE5 (Streaming SIMD Extensions 5), a new extension of the x86 instruction set that is designed to allow software developers to simplify code and achieve greater efficiency for performance-hungry applications.

According to the press release, SSE5 helps maximize the output of each instruction and consolidates code base by introducing functionality previously only found in specialized, high-performance architectures, to the x86 platform:

  • 3-Operand Instructions - a computing instruction is executed by applying a mathematical or logical function to operands, or inputs. By increasing the number of operands an x86 instruction can handle from 2 to 3, SSE5 enables the consolidation of multiple, simple instructions into a single, more effective instruction.
  • Fused Multiply Accumulate - the 3-Operand Instruction capability enables the creation of new instructions which efficiently execute complex calculations. The Fused Multiply Accumulate instruction combines multiplication and addition to enable iterative calculations with one instruction. The simplification of the code enables rapid execution for more realistic graphics shading, rapid photographic rendering, spatialized audio, complex vector mathematics and other performance-intense applications.

The SSE5 specification, which is being made available to the developer community today at http://developer.amd.com/SSE5, will be implemented in products based on AMD’s next-generation "Bulldozer" core, available in 2009.

Source: AMD

LG Launches Its First DivX-Certified Digital Television

DivX and LG Electronics announced today the launch of DivX-certified Time Machine TV Series both in Plasma and LCD models. Joining over 90 million DivX Certified devices, LG’s DivX-certified Time Machine TV Series is now available in Europe, China and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

LG’s DivX-certified Time Machine TV Series includes three LCD models – the 47LB5RE, 42LB5RT, 37LB4RT – and two plasma models, the 50PB4RT and 42PB4RT. The series features a built-in 80GB hard disc drive for Time Shift function and recording, USB 2.0 port for backing up recorded content and MP3, JPEG and DivX playback capability. The Time Machine TV Series also boasts a simultaneous watch-and-record function.

Source: LG Electronics

Sony Unveils First U.S. Walkman Video Players

Sony today took the wraps off two new Walkman players that not only support audio – but for the first time in the United States – video. The new NWZ-A810 and NWZ-S610 series of Walkman digital music players will support an open platform, providing more choices for downloading and managing music and video collections online.

The devices have a standard user interface that makes it easy to enjoy songs, videos or pictures. The video players have Quarter Video Graphics Array (QVGA) LCD screens that display video at 30 frames per second. QVGA is a display mode for small screens in which the resolution is 320 pixels vertically by 240 pixels horizontally.

The battery life allows up to 8 hours of video playback for the NWZ-A810 series and 9.5 hours for the NWZ-S610 series. The battery also provides up to 33 hours of music playback for both series.

The players support security-enhanced Windows Media Audio (WMA), as well as non-secure AAC and MP3 music formats, plus JPEG files for photos, in addition to the AVC (H.264/AVC) Baseline Profile and MPEG-4 video codecs.

The top-of-the-line Walkman video players (NWZ-A810 series) have 2-inch QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) LCD screens. This series of players comes with Sony MDR-EX082 ear-buds. Designed with a younger demographic in mind, the NWZ-S610 series has a 1.8-inch QVGA (320 by 240 pixels) LCD screen and includes an FM tuner with 30 presets.

The Walkman video players store up to 1,850 songs on the 8GB models, 925 songs on the 4GB models, and 440 songs on the 2GB models, for songs an average of four minutes in length at 128kbps in the MP3 format.

For those who just want music sans video, Sony is also introducing the NWZ-B100 series These audio players include USB direct connect, a three-line color LCD display and an FM tuner. They feature up to 12 hours of battery life.

With FM recording capability, it is easy to capture and play back radio programs. The NWZ-B100 series also has a voice recorder function with a built-in microphone for taking notes or recording sing-alongs to favorite tunes.

In addition to supporting easy transfer of non-DRM content via drag and drop, this dedicated audio model will also support most subscription services. The players store up to 485 songs on the 2GB and 235 songs on the 1GB, for songs an average of four minutes in length at 128kbps in the MP3 format.

To help manage digital music libraries, the new Sony Walkman video players come with Microsoft Windows Media Player 11. Sony offers a range of accessories (sold separately), including a Bluetooth audio transmitter and peripherals that allow consumers to wirelessly release their music on the move.

Sony will be phasing out the CONNECT Music Services based on Sony's ATRAC audio format in North America and Europe. Specific timing will vary by region depending on market demand, but will not be before March 2008 The CONNECT e-book service for the Reader will not be affected.

The NWZ-A810 series of Walkman video music players come in three different capacities and five colors:

  • NWZ-A815 - 2GB; white, pink, black, blue and silver; ~$140.
  • NWZ-A816 - 4GB; white, pink, black and silver; ~$180.
  • NWZ-A818 - 8GB, black and silver, ~$230.
  • NWZ-S615F - 2GB; black, pink, red and silver; ~$120.
  • NWZ-S616F - 4GB; black, pink, red and silver; ~$160.
  • NWZ-S618F - 8GB, black, ~$210.
  • NWZ-B103F - 1GB, black, ~$60.
  • NWZ-B105F - 2GB, ~$80.

Presales have begun for the new Walkman models. The players will be available in September. The silver players will be sold exclusively at Sony Style retail stores and online.

Source: Sony

Panasonic Unveils LUMIX DMC-L10 DSLR Camera With Face Detection

Panasonic today introduced the newest member of its digital single-lens reflex camera line, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10, the company’s first SLR with Face Detection. The DMC-L10 also offers a 2.5-inch Live View LCD which can rotate 270 degrees. Complete with a 10.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor, the DMC-L10 includes an advanced, Supersonic Wave Filter system that prevents dust from collecting on the sensor and degrading photo quality.

The DMC-L10 is Panasonic’s first digital SLR with Face Detection, which will focus, set auto exposure and can detect up to 15 human faces simultaneously. Combining Face Detection with Panasonic’s Intelligent ISO Control settings, which measures the movement of the subject and sets the ISO level accordingly, helps give consumers better images.

The Live View LCD lets users check the image on the camera after making exposure compensation adjustments, but before taking the shot. The LCD also features an Intelligent LCD function that offers an automatic brightness level control function, making the screen visible regardless of a bright sunlit or dark environment. In addition, the DMC-L10 adopts advanced hybrid-type AF system, which gives users the option to choose either the phase difference AF system or the contrast AF to suit the preferred shooting style. While in manual mode, the user can enlarge part of the subject on LCD and also freely move the magnified area for easy framing.

The DMC-L10 comes equipped with a LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm / F3.8-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. lens, which has a focal length from 14mm to 50mm, and offers a more compact and light-weight body than its predecessor (LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/ F2.8 -3.5 ASPH).

Other features of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10 include:

  • Film Mode: Allows users to choose a setting which mimics the effects of analog film. Users select from nine modes including Standard, Dynamic, Nature, Smooth, Nostalgic, Vibrant, Standard B/W, Dynamic B/W and Smooth B/W, with the capability to finely adjust contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction. All these settings can be confirmed before you take the picture and the result is always as you intended.
  • The Venus Engine III: Image processing LSI developed by Panasonic to maximize the performance of the Leica D lens and Live MOS sensor. This LSI helps reproduce images with improved resolution, color and detailed gradation. It also distinguishes chromatic noise from luminance noise and selectively reduces the chromatic noise, one of the chief sources of image quality problem.
  • Image Stabilization: Panasonic drew on its lens technology to invent Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), a system that prevents blurring from shaky hands and has been incorporated in the full 2007 line of LUMIX digital cameras. This image stabilizing lens system is now available with the LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm/F3.8-5.6/MEGA O.I.S.
  • Advanced Scene Modes: As part of the L10’s intuitive usability, the photographer can make finer adjustments when using frequently-used scenes such as Portrait, Sports, Landscape and Night portrait. For instance, when selecting the Portrait or Sports mode, users can further define whether the scene is in outdoors or indoors. When using the Landscape mode, users can specify if it is a nature or an architectural shot.
  • Auto-Focusing Methods: To match the shooting situation and subject's position, the user can select from six auto-focusing methods: Face Detection, 9-point, Multi, 3-point, 1-point and Spot. With the 1-point AF or spot AF method, the auto-focusing area can be chosen from as many as 11 points. Various group area patterns can also be selected in the new Multi method.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10 will be available in October 2007 for a MSRP of $1,299.95.

Source: Panasonic

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