Nikon V1 and J1 mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras revealed: 10.1MP 2.7x crop factor, shipping October 20th (pictures, video, price)

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  • September 21, 2011 at 8:57 am

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Nikon Series 1 MILC cameras and lenses

Nikon has finally revealed its duo of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, the V1 and J1. We can’t say that the world has been holding its breath for this, as there are already a lot of good choices when it comes to MILCs, but lets take it back from the beginning.

First is the introduction of a new CX sensor/mount (against Nikon’s already existing DX and FX sensors). The CX sensor measures 13.2mm x 8.8mm leading to a 2.7x crop factor; the sensor is smaller than the already established Micro Four Thirds 17.3 x 13.0mm (2.0x crop factor) and Sony’s E-mount 23.5mm x 15.6mm (1.5x) sensors. The smaller sensor size is a bit underwhelming, as the Nikon cameras would potentially have worse low-light performance than what’s currently on offer, but would allow Nikon to keep lenses and overall system size smaller than competitors. Although Panasonic holds the reins with its new power zoom Lumix G X 14-42mm.
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Meet HTC Rhyme, the new 3.7-inch Android smartphone with female sensibilities coming to Verizon, Europe and Asia (video)

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  • September 20, 2011 at 5:21 pm

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HTC Rhyme Android smartphone and accessories

The HTC Rhyme (a.k.a. HTC Bliss) is now official. The Rhyme is a 3.7-inch, 480 x 800 resolution, Android smartphone with a 1GHz single-core processor. The HTC Rhyme will be landing on Verizon, for $199, by the end of the month sporting an elegant, and undeniably female friendly, purple tone. It should also reach European and Asian shores in October and perhaps also adopt champagne and teal color looks.

The smartphone will be shipping with HTC’s new Sense 3.5 UI and Android Gingerbread, have a 5-megapixel back and VGA front-facing cameras, 768MB of RAM and 1GB of available built-in storage. HTC is also launching a series of matching accessories: Purple earphones and Bluetooth headset, a white car speaker and a “charm cable” which glows in purple on incoming calls and messages so you can be alerted discretely. There will also be a docking station which can charge your phone while tuning it into a bedside alarm or music center.

Check out more photos and video after the break.
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Microsoft shows off revamped and touch-friendly boot experience for Windows 8

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  • September 20, 2011 at 4:42 pm

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Windows 8 boot options new UI

You can already download the Developer Preview of Windows 8, so you can try the upcoming tablet friendly desktop OS for yourselves. Nonetheless, Microsoft continues to provide us with detailed info on the changes, improvements and new capabilities of Windows 8. It has already shown us that our PCs will boot-up faster, and today Microsoft is showing off the new boot experience with Windows 8.

Gone are, finally, the days of BIOS text screens from the 1980’s flashing by on your screen following by an incomprehensible list of boot-up options. Microsoft has now made the entire boot-up process seamless, keeping the same Metro UI and blue background throughout boot-up. Also because Windows 8 will run on devices without a hardware keyboard, the boot UI has also received the touch-friendly treatment; so now everything from dual-booting your system or performing a system restore or repair has received the same polish as the actual operating system — as has the new BSOD.

Windows 8 BSOD

Check out a demonstration video after the break.
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Google+ registration now open for everyone and Hangouts video chat coming to smartphones

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  • September 20, 2011 at 4:15 pm

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Google+ Hangouts video chat for smartphones

Google’s new social endeavor, Google+, has been around for 12 weeks now as a closed beta; that is you needed someone on the inside to send you an invite to join. Well Google just announced that registration is now open to everyone. This comes hot on the news that, after a very successful start, use of Google+ has been dwindling; so we are sure Google is hoping to gather steam for its platform.

To sign-up just head over to plus.google.com.

In addition, Google is rolling out a series of new features for Google+ and the Google+ Android app. We are most excited about the addition of Hangouts for smartphones. Hangouts is a face-to-face video chat platform and will allow Android 2.3+ users to now make video calls using their phones (device must have a front facing camera to support the feature). Apple iOS support will also be coming soon, so iPhone and Android users can debate which OS is the best while seeing each others’ look of disapproval.
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Google preparing Android developers for Ice Cream Sandwich, one operating system for all

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  • September 19, 2011 at 2:53 pm

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Actionbar phone and tablet on Android Ice Cream Sandwich

We’re expecting the next version of Android, code-named Ice Cream Sandwich, to come soon. Android versions have diverged, with Android 2.3 Gingerbread running on smartphones and 3.0 Honeycomb running on tablets; ICS is expected to unify the Android system again and will allow the same version of Android to run on all devices, independent of size and resolution.

As the official unveiling comes closer, the precise date still remains unknown, more information is coming out of Google’s headquarters. A post on the official Android Developers’ blog, aimed at helping developers in preparing their tablet friendly Honeycomb apps to work on smartphones with Ice Cream Sandwich, brings us a few interesting bits of information.
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HP TouchPad running Android now with Wi-Fi, accelerometer and audio support (video)

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  • September 19, 2011 at 11:26 am

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HP TouchPad running CM7 with Wi-Fi support

The modding society has been making progress on porting Android to the HP TouchPad. The latest success comes from the very active CM Team, which has managed to enable all important Wi-Fi connectivity (with ensuing download of Angry Birds) on the TouchPad running CyanogenMod 7 (based on Android Gingerbread).

The team also managed to add accelerometer support, so the TouchPad can now switch between landscape and portrait mode (or play a game of Labyrinth) and work-in-progress audio support. We’re still a long way from a fully working port however, with the current build still lacking bluetooth, camera and gyroscope support among others.

Hit the read more link below for a video showing off the goods, as it’s the only way, for now, you can experience CM7 on the TouchPad.

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Google updates Chrome, promises to finally play well with Mac OS X Lion, adds full-screen mode

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  • September 16, 2011 at 1:21 pm

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Google Chrome update with compatibility for Mac OS X Lion

We’ve had our own personal issues with Google Chrome on OS X Lion. In fact, at times, Chrome was behaving so badly on the new Mac OS that I had more or less switched to Firefox. Well, finally, Google has updated Chrome promising better stability and compatibility with Lion.

In addition, Google has added support for Lion’s full screen mode. When enabled, each Chrome window takes up the whole screen (i.e. the menu bar is hidden) and its own desktop Space. Note that you can have different Chrome windows maximised or not in different spaces.

To enable full-screen mode, either click on the two opposing arrows at the top right or press command + shift + F — Google’s blog incorrectly states Ctrl+Shift+F.
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HTC Vigor to be HTC’s next flagship Android handset; could land on Verizon as the DROID Incredible HD

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  • September 16, 2011 at 7:58 am

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HTC Vigor Android smartphone

It seems that the HTC Sensation XE‘s reign will be short-lived. Rumors, and images, have been going around, of a new flagship Android smartphone by the Taiwanese manufacturer, named HTC Vigor.

The Vigor is rumored to bear some similarities with the Sensation XE, that is a 4.3-inch screen, dual-core 1.5GHz processor and Beats by Dr. Dre audio mode with matching earbuds. However, the HTC Vigor is believed to feature a 720p HD resolution (1280 x 720); that means a retina display worthy 342 ppi density, beating even the iPhone 4’s 330 ppi.

The phone will also have 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 8-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front-facing cameras. It is also said to run the new HTC Sense 3.5 UI on top of Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread.
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Google adds French, Italian, German and Spanish Voice Actions to Android Voice Search (video)

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  • September 16, 2011 at 4:50 am

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Google Voice Search for Android, European Voice Actions

Android users in Europe can now get talky with their smartphones. Google last year, had introduced Voice Actions as a way of controlling your Android device with your voice. We’ve already covered how you could perform all sorts of tasks, such as sending emails, calling contacts or searching, using your voice. Unfortunately voice recognition until now was limited to English (and mainly US English).

Google just released a new version of Voice Search for Android with voice actions in French, Italian, German, Spanish and specifically tailored British English. As usual, check the Android Market for the latest version of the app. To use, launch Voice Search by keeping the Android search button (the one that looks like a magnifying glass) pressed for a few seconds, or if you have the Google Search widget on your homescreen touch the microphone icon.

Google lists the following commands, though you could also try ‘listen to’ and ‘alarm’:

  • send text to [contact] [message]
  • call [business]
  • call [contact]
  • go to [website]
  • navigate to [location/business name]
  • directions to [location/business name]
  • map of [location]

A video of how it all works is after the break, yay!
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Google Goggles for Android can now run in the background, shames you with its knowledge

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  • September 14, 2011 at 3:46 pm

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Google Goggles for Android v.1.2 background searching

We’re sure that one of the first things you showed-off to your friends and family when you got your Android smartphone was Google Goggles. The app allows you to take pictures of artwork, landmarks and even everyday things and in true Google form, returns back information, such as the name of a landmark or a painting.

However, the true utility of the app was constrained by the fact that you had to launch Goggles with the sole purpose of using it to search for an object but with mixed results. Well, Google just did the smart thing and enabled it to run in the background, silently getting information on any photos that you take normally with your device’s camera. When it recognizes an object in an image, it will notify you through the Android notification bar.

Just a warning to anyone concerned about privacy, in order for Google to look-up your pictures these are sent to Google’s servers for processing. However this is an opt-in feature, that is you have to enable it first.

To try out the new background image search, launch the Market and update Google Goggles to the latest version. To enable or disable the feature at any time touch the option key while in Goggles and go to ‘Settings’ and ‘Search from Camera’.
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Panasonic releases firmware updates for the LX5 compact camera and four Micro Four Thirds lenses

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  • September 14, 2011 at 7:30 am

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 digital camera

Panasonic hasn’t released a new version of the very successful DMC-LX5 high-end compact camera this year; but, it just released a new firmware version for the camera with major improvements in performance and capabilities. The updated firmware improves auto focus speed, white balance performance, easier manual focus fine adjustments, new max 250sec manual exposure while there is a new miniature effect and a number of other minor improvements.

At the same time Panasonic has also released an updated firmware for four of its Micro Four Thirds lenses: the H-F008 LUMIX G Fisheye 8mm, H-H014 LUMIX G 14mm, H-FS014042 LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm and H-FS100300 LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm. The improvements are targeted towards better video performance; all four get reduced auto-focusing sound during recording, while the two zoom lenses also get enhanced optical image stabilization during video recording.

Download links and further details after the break, of course!
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HTC Sensation XE is official with 1.5GHz processor bump, bigger battery and Beats audio

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  • September 14, 2011 at 5:48 am

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HTC Sensation XE smartphoneThe rumored special edition of the HTC Sensation just became official. The HTC Sensation XE will be the first handset from the company bearing the fruits of its partnership with Beats Electronics. The handset features a new red and black design (if that’s your thing) and will come together with a pair of matching Beats by Dr. Dre earphones.

When the in-ear headphones are connected, the handset switches to a custom Beats by Dr. Dre sound profile, which, HTC claims delivers audio tuned specifically for them. The Sensation XE features a higher clocked CPU, with the processor running at 1.5GHz (instead of 1.2GHz for the original Sensation). Most important, for us, is the inclusion of a higher capacity, 1730mAh battery. Hopefully the Sensation XE will be able to last a whole day with one charge; while hopefully, original Sensation owners will be able to buy it for their handset as well.

We’d also like to get the Sensation XE in our hands to test if HTC has fixed the infamous death-grip issue on the refreshed handset.

The smartphone will be available in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia in late September. Full PR after the break.
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Microsoft previews Windows 8, our quick overview; plus you can download your copy today

NewsThe Lab

  • September 13, 2011 at 5:15 pm

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Windows 8 Start screen

Microsoft just showed-off the next big version of Windows, to a room packed full of developers, at the BUILD conference. Windows 8 features two interfaces, one resembling the current Windows interface and a more touch friendly Metro-style interface — which you can see in the screenshot above. This allows Windows 8 to feel at home on normal desktops, touchscreen all-in-ones, tablets, laptops, you name it.

However Windows 8 is not just a change of appearances, the new operating system features a lot of improvements, we’ve already seen how Windows 8 will speed-up your boot times, and new features compared to Windows 7. We’ve compiled below a list of features which we think are interesting, from today’s official preview.
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Public service announcement: European HP TouchPad and Pre 3 pre-firesale customers please claim your refund

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  • September 12, 2011 at 5:52 pm

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HP Touchpad line terminated fire sale

Many of you were able to purchase the TouchPad at bottom prices, but what about the early adopters which found that their weeks old WebOS tablet, had dropped in value by multiples.

Well TouchPad and Pre 3 owners in the UK, France, Germany and Ireland can claim big refunds on their WebOS devices, provided they were activated before August 23rd. The refund that can be claimed is the initial price paid minus the fire sale price. For example, 16GB Touchpad owners can claim the difference between their purchase price and GBP89 in the UK or EUR99 in France, Germany and Ireland. Refunds are of-course also aplicable for 32GB and 64GB TouchPads and the Pre 3. More information can be found on HP’s Refund Program micro-site after the break.

The offer seems to be only available to customers in these four countries, at least for now.

HP is said to produce another run of HP TouchPads to satisfy US fire sale orders that were left hanging when the tablet was quickly sold-out. Europe is not yet said to join-in this second round of joy.
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