Sony NWZ-A818BLK Video Walkman,8GB

Sony has boosted the memory size of its Video Walkman up to 8GB. Available in four colors—white, black, silver and metallic pink, the NWZ-A818 still isn't the most beautiful machine on the block. Specs, price and shipping date after the jump.

Operating System
Windows XP, SP2 or newer
Format
MP3, WMA, AAC-LC, Linear PCM10
Frequency Response
20 - 20,000Hz (when playing back data file, single signal measurement)
Equalizer
5 Band: Heavy/Pop/Jazz/Unique/Custom 1/Custom 2 & Clear Bass
Format-2
MPEG 4, M4V
Playback
Mode: Repeat(On/Off), Continuous Playback (On/Off)
JPEG Playback
Normal/Slide Show/Slide Show Repeat Slide Show Interval(Short/Normal/Long) Compatible with DCF 2.0/Exif 2.2 file format4
Headphone Jack
Stereo mini-jack
USB Port(s)
22 pin to high-speed USB 2.0 connector6
Battery Charging (Approx.)
USB based charging; 3 hours (full charge), 1.5 hours (approx. 80%)
Estimated Battery Life
Music: Approx. 33H7 Video: Approx. 8H8
Output Power
5+5mW
Backlit Color
2.0" QVGA TFT display (240 x 320)
Simulated Surround
VPT: Studio/Live/Club/Arena/Matrix/Karaoke

Accessories
The Video Walkman comes with a USB Cable, MDR-EX082 Headphones and extension cord, CD-ROM with Windows Media Player 11 and MP3 Conversion Tools, Quick Start Guide and an Adaptor Plate (for optional 22 pin cradle). Price is $229.99 and it starts shipping tomorrow

LG-KS20 has Touchscreen

LG's new smartphone should be out in Europe by the end of the year, and we're expecting to get a look at it next week at IFA. Find out what else this touchscreen beauty has got, and see some pretty ladies handling it, all after the jump.

Runs on Windows Mobile 6.0
12.8 mm thich
2.8-inch touch screen display
Full browsing capability
HSDPA-supporting
3.6Mbps download speed
Push email service
2 megapixel camera
MP3 playback
Bluetooth 2.0
Cursive script recognition
Video call

Sirius Sportster

With Sirius' new Sportster 5 their dockable line has finally gone color. Featuring both a color display and a customizable backlighting to match your dash, the new Sportster is sure to offer hours of heated discussions over the merits of various schools of color design. Other than that, upgrades seem scant. The unit will offer 16 more minutes of recording (now you can record up to an hour of Sirius broadcast) but otherwise the same FM transmission and other (Fill in Special Feature)™ stay intact. Look for the Sportster 5 debuting this fall at $169.99. Hit the jump for the feature list in full.

FEATURES:

* Large multi-color display: easy viewing and use
* Selectable colors: match your dash lights and mood
* SIRIUS Universal docking capability
* SIRIUS Replay™: pause, rewind and replay up to 60 minutes of live radio
* FM transmitter or stereo audio output to connect your vehicle's radio
* FM preset function: allows you to store the best FM frequencies in your area for optimum     integration
* 30 presets: enjoy fast access to your favorite channels
* S-Seek™ Alert: so you won't miss your favorite artists, songs and sports
* One-Touch Jump™ button: direct access to local traffic and weather, or your favorite channel
* Personalized sports ticker: real-time updates of your favorite sports
* Rotary tuning knob: surf channels on the fly
* Sports Alert™: track your favorite sports team and race driver
* Parental controls: easily lock and unlock channels
* Alarm clock w/snooze: wake up to your favorite channel
* Complete vehicle kit includes radio, dock w/suction cup mount and vent mounts, remote    control,
   vehicle power adapter, magnetic mount satellite antenna and FM extender antenna
  

Butterfly Knife-esque CD/MP3 Concept ( LOOKS COOOOOOOOOL)

MP3s may be the wave of the future, but that doesn't mean we've had the initiative to digitize our CD collection. This Dual Music Player concept is a both a portable MP3 player and a more portable CD player. Unfolding á la butterfly knife, the DMP concept spins your CDs while exposed to the world, but we bet the effect would look pretty wicked (especially when operating the dual purpose, self defense saw function).

Yanko commenters recommend the device rips CDs for you. And, while that idea completely makes sense, it also shows how understandably futile the portable CD player market has become. I for one miss the mechanical nature of musical playback. But then again, the near limitless battery life, micro designs and skip-free operation do a lot to make up for my illogical playback preferences.

Logitech MX Air Mouse

GREAT LOOK>

The Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Mouse ships today, and we've been testing it, taking it into the home theater and onto the desktop. You can move it around in 3D space, gesturing your way to screen navigation. But it's frustrating at times, and it takes a while to get the hang of it. Be sure you can return it, because some people will intensely dislike this mouse. Jump for our assessment of its pluses and minuses.

Logitech MX Air

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Good: Coolest-looking mouse we've ever seen. Nice charging stand. 2.4GHz wireless transmits a lot farther than conventional wireless mice (or even through walls), about like Bluetooth. Nice dynamic scrolling feature, where it lets you sling a scroll into hyper-auto mode, which feels a bit like the iPhone's "kinetic scrolling." The trick to using its 3D capabilities: When you pick it up, don't hold it like a mouse, but like a remote control. And it works fairly well, letting you move around in space and mouse around the screen with relative ease. Cool "Freespace" motion sensing gestures in selected media apps: slight flick to the left or right for volume, circle in the air for next/previous track.

Bad: The 3D interface takes some getting used to, we're still trying to figure out the crucial question: Why? Works OK as a desktop mouse, but if you pick it up the slightest bit, it thinks you want 3D mode and doesn't work in flat mode for a few seconds. It would be nice to be able to turn off the 3D mode altogether. We also don't care for the lack of a physical scroll wheel. Instead it's got a touchpad-like area for scrolling that makes an annoying ticking sound that you can't turn off. Expensive at $149.99.

Summing up, $150 is a lot to plunk down for a mouse that's beautiful but feels just plain weird. It behaves oddly on the desktop, and any cheap Bluetooth mouse would be a whole lot easier to use in the home theater. Pass.

If you're still interested, Amazon's the only place it's available thus far

O2 Cocoon Designer Cellphone

Swedish gadget blog Fosfor got their hands on the svelte O2 Cocoon phone, and were gracious enough to produce an unboxing gallery. Not only is the phone simple and elegant, but so is its packaging. We're big fans of this newcomer, from its clean lines to the incorporation of a hidden LED display. Hopefully this will spur some better design into the industry. [Fosfor]

o2 Cocoon Unboxed

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gizmodo.com

Super Tiny Micro SD Card Reader

The "Super Tiny Micro SD Card Reader" gets about as small as physically possible to read Micro SD and and T-Flash media, while still connecting to a normal USB 2.0 port. At a mere 25.5 x 12 x 4.5 mm, the reader is dwarfed by keys—I mean, just look at that picture—unless Brando is using the old "big key trick" again.

At $11 ($3 cheaper than this older model), the Super Tiny Micro SD Card Reader is a steal, considering it will both read you mini memory and double as a thumb drive. And for when the cops finally bust you for all those illegal MP3s/child porn, the small drive will be a blessing as it easily slides up your body's own hidden compartment.

source
gizmodo.com

Zero X Electric Motorcycle is Fast, Eco-Friendly, USB Compatible

What have your lithium-ion batteries done for you lately? Forget powering those handheld gadgets, the king of lithium-ion batteries is sitting in the heart of the Zero X electric motorcycle. Named for its lack of emissions and noise, the 120-pound Zero X still pumps out 20 horsepower and tops out at around 50 miles per hour. A single charge of the battery will take you 40 miles, but the battery packs can be hotswapped in mere seconds and fully recharge in about three hours. Though the engine is roughly equivalent to that of a 250cc gasoline-powered bike, the lightweight electric motor makes the Zero X accelerate much faster. If it's too fast for you, plug the bike's brain into your PC via the USB port to access the bike's virtual control panel.

The ZBrain computer opens up a host of customizatin options for the electric bike, including the ability to create multiple riding profiles for different users. You can blaze to work at full throttle all week, then tone down the acceleration and top speed and make the younglings run errands for you on the weekend. While the bike is suitable for on- or off-road adventures, it isn't street legal just yet. Zero Motorcycles is hoping to put a modified commuter version with lights and blinkers on the market in a few months. You can pick one up by joining Zero's fan club for a $2,000 fee, which is then credited against the purchase price of $6,900 when you place your order.

Intel Launches Cheaper Intel Quad-core

In addition to their mobile Extreme CPU, Intel has also announced its 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme processor, the 65-nm QX6850 with four cores and dual 4MB Level 2 cache. The QX6850, touted as the fastest consumer processor now available, is the flagship of their new 1,333MHz Front Side Bus CPU family, which includes the Core 2 Duo E6850, E6750 and E6550, all of them with cheaper prices than the previous generation.

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850
3.00GHz 1333 4MBx2 $999
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850
3.00GHz 1333 4MB $266
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
2.66GHz 1333 4MB $183
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
2.33GHz 1333 4MB $163

Canon HG10 is World's Smallest Hard Disk-Based HD Camcorder

Canon jumped into the hard disk camcorder market today with its HG10, the company's first high-definition hard drive camcorder and the world's smallest, weighing 19.92 ounces with the battery inside. That 40GB hard disk gives you 5.5 hours of AVCHD recording at its highest quality setting, compressing the video at 15Mbps. If our sneak preview of this camcorder is any indication, that's going to result in some sweet-looking high definition footage. Here are our impressions.

Canon HG10 HDD Camcorder

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While this HG10 shares a lot of specs with the Canon HR10, its DVD-recording HD camcorder brother, this new shooter feels extremely compact in the hand, and while it is indeed the world's smallest hard disk HD camcorder, it's not too small, still giving you easy access to its controls. We especially like the scroll wheel on the widescreen viewfinder instead of that touchscreen on models from Panasonic and others, which in the real world tend to end up such a smudged-up mess it's hard to even see your video underneath all those fingerprints.

A slight disappointment is the life of the standard battery included with the camcorder, which Canon says will give you an hour of shooting, and that's without the LCD viewscreen on. If you want longer battery life, you'll have to spring for the extended battery, which lasts a quoted 2 hours and 15 minutes.

We especially like the way Canon applies its AVCHD codec, different from the way this compression is being used by Sony and Panasonic. Canon's compression scheme is able to lightly compress some scenes, while more heavily compressing others. For example, a simple clear blue sky can stand a lot more compression than a complicated crowd scene or a bunch of flowers.

How does the resulting footage look? Canon was unable to show us any video coming out of this camcorder at our preview session in New York, but we did see some of the HR10's 12Mbps footage which looked excellent with very few compression artifacts. The good news is that this HG10 compresses its footage even less, at a rate of 15Mbps, so it'll probably look even better. Even at that 12Mbps compression rate we saw, it looked every bit as good as HDV footage, which compresses at 25Mbps. It was some crispy-clean HD video, remarkably sharp with excellent color saturation and accuracy. Big thumbs-up.

This HG10 is recording in 1080i HD, at 1440x1080 at all compression settings. As is the case with most 1080i camcorders, only 1440 pixels per scanline are written to disk to save space, anamorphically squeezed from this HG10's 1920x1080 sensors to 1440x1080 on disk, and then stretched back out for the full 1920x1080i when it's played back.

Canon also uses "super range optical image stabilization," which uses a gyro sensor that detects motion, and sends a signal to a processor that tells a lens-shifting element to move. Then a processor analyzes the image, and if it determines the framing could be even more stable, it sends a signal back to the lens to tweak it further. It's an optical system, but it has a unique ability to feed back even more information in a second pass of stabilization. The result is good stabilization of high-frequency shaking as other systems can do, but also stabilization of subtle hand movements.

Overall, this looks like a great new camcorder from Canon. Its AVCHD format is finally becoming more widely accepted, too, with Apple's Final Cut Pro editing software now compatible with the format, along with the excellent Windows video editing application Sony Vegas Pro 7e. Unfortunately, Adobe hasn't jumped on the AVCHD bandwagon yet, but Adobe officials told us they were feverishly working on it. Adobe is planning to include AVCHD support with future updates of Premiere Pro CS3, which we hope will trickle down to Premiere Elements. But you can still edit this camcorder's footage without buying any more software, at least on the PC—Canon said a version of the Windows-only Corel (formerly Ulead) VideoStudio 11 will be included with this HG10 camcorder.

Canon says the HG10 will be priced at $1299, and will ship in early October in the United States.