Apple this week announced the iPod nano, a successor to the iPod mini, offering smaller size and longer battery operation. The new device, based on 2 GB or 4 GB flash memory, measures 3.5x1.6x 0.27 inches and weighs 1.5 ounce. The players, which feature a 1.5-inch color LCD screen, operate for up to 14 hours and support MP3, MP3 VBR, AAC, Protected AAC, Audible and WAV formats. Suggested prices are USD 199 (2 GB) and USD 249 (4 GB).
Epson has announced the development of a prototype postcard-sized (5.4x4 inches) mini-projector using a LED light source. The company, which has no immediate plans to put it to market, said that the equipment demonstrates how compact mobile 3LCD projectors could become. LED light sources, according to Epson, also provide greater readiness, longer running time and swifter switch-off.
Sony has confirmed at Game Developers Conference Europe that users will be able to plug a keyboard and a mouse into the PlayStation 3. The capability would bring the PS3 even closer to the PC concept that has been touted by company executives. Sony had already revealed that the console will feature an HD – in 80 GB and 120 GB capacities – capable of running operating systems such as Linux and Mac OS.
Creative Technology announced that it has been awarded a patent for an audio player interface technology used by rival Apple on its blockbuster iPod device. The so-called “Zen Patent” covers interface that enables users to “efficiently and intuitively” navigate among and select tracks. Creative applied for it on January 5, 2001; it was awarded on last August 9. Apple filed a similar application on October 28, 2002.
Hitachi this week unveiled a new line of consumer DVD recorders containing hard drives with capacities of up to 1 TB. According to the company, the products, set to reach retail in Japan next month, will be the first on the market able to record two high-definition programs simultaneously. Hitachi has currently no plans to launch the recorders in the United States or Europe.
Creative has finally released its new digital video player. The Zen Vision is based on a 30 GB hard drive and sports a 3.7-inch display capable of showing 262,000 colors at 640x480 resolution. Supported video formats include AVI, MPEG-1/2/4-SP, WMV 9, Motion-JPEG, DivX 4/5 and XviD. The 4.9x2.9x0.8-inch device also handles TiVoToGo files and plays MP3 and WMA audio. It features radio, microphone, CompactFlash slot and USB 2.0 port. Retail price is USD 400.
Less than a month after HP added a couple of iPod Shuffles to its co-branded line of music players, the company announced the end of the deal to resell Apple’s gadget. Inventory will guarantee the continuity of sales until at least September. HP also plans to keep offering Apple’s iTunes software with desktop and notebook PCs. Under the agreeement signed in January 2004, it is not allowed to produce or market music players until August 2006.
Fujifilm will launch in September the FinePix S9000, allegedly world’s first 9-megapixel camera, offering proprietary Super CCD High Resolution sensor and a new 10.7x optical zoom equivalent to a 28-300 mm film model zoom. Suggested retail price is USD 699.95. In October, the company will release a second 9-megapixel cam, the FinePix E900, a compact design with 4x optical zoom and 2-inch LCD screen priced at USD 499.95. The S9000 will ship with four AA alkaline and the E900 with 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries. Both use Fujifilm's xD-Picture Card.
Samsung is developing flash memory based MP3 players capable of receiving XM Satellite Radio content through a separate kit. Users will be able to connect the device to a docking station and record XM programs. In a statement, the company informed that the players will probably hit stores in the end of the year, available in two capacities.
Sony has announced that it will integrate Ageia’s physics engine in the upcoming PlayStation 3. The PhysX SDK is a library for creating in-game realistic graphics through simulation of thousands of interacting fragments. According to Ageia, its multi-threaded capability makes it a perfect fit for the Cell processor. The PS3 is expected to hit stores in May 2006.
HP added two iPod Shuffles to its co-branded lineup of music players. Both sync with the PC through a USB 2.0 cap and promise up to 12 hours of battery life. The players are identical to Apple’s models measuring 3.3 inches long and weighing 0.78 oz. The 512 MB model is selling for USD 99.99 while the 1 GB one runs for USD 129.99.
Philips Electronics this week launched an initiative to develop a GSM cellphone costing under USD 20. The company intends to sample, by the end of the year, a system priced at under USD 5 called Nexperia Cellular System Solution 5130, which integrates all the electronics needed for a mobile phone. It should drive the cost of GSM handsets well under the current USD 40 limit.
Memory maker TwinMOS unveiled its new Sushi MMD101 MP3 player. The device weighs only 25 g and measures 53 x 28 x 20 mm. It supports MP3, WMA and WAV files and is equipped with 5 EQ options. The USB 2.0 Sushi works on one AAA battery, promising up to eight hours of continuous playing, and is available in 128 MB, 256 MB and 512 capacities.
Samsung will launch two cell phones in the third quarter featuring full QWERTY keyboards and 1.3 megapixel digital cameras. The SGH-D550 is a GSM/GPRS handset with a 262,144-color TFT LCD and support for MP3 and AAC playback as well as for the BlackBerry e-mail technology. The number pad is converted into a keyboard when the phone is turned to its side. The SPH-7000 runs on a XScale processor and supports CDMA2000-1x. It sports a 65,636-color TFT LCD and is compatible with 802.11b wireless networks. The keyboard is revealed when the sliding LCD screen is moved aside.
Japanese NEC unveiled a new line of plasma displays featuring its TheaterSync video processing technology. Developed in partnership with Silicon Optix, it promises to get HD quality images out of common sources such as cable TV, DVD and even VHS. The TheaterSync tech, based on the HQV standard, will appear on plasma displays ranging from 42 to 61 inches. Prices will start at USD 1,995.
