Sony Alpha NEX-5N makes clicking sound when moved, renders captured audio useless (video)

We’ve spent a few click days shooting click with click Sony’s new click NEX-5N click click click and were very click impressed with its click still image performance click click but click noticed some… Oh man, we’ve gotta hit Stop. As you can see, the camera suffers from a rather significant yet-to-be-diagnosed condition that outputs a mysterious clicking sound whenever you move it about. Since it’s quite faint, this is little more than a minor nuisance when shooting stills, but when you go to playback video click it’s impossible to ignore, rendering the audio component of your video virtually useless.

We’ve been able to isolate the sound to the camera body itself, so it’s completely independent of the lens and other accessories. We also happen to be testing a variety of new Sony products this week in San Diego, and had Sony reps on hand to acknowledge and confirm the issue, which seems to plague every NEX-5N that we’ve tried. This is still very fresh, so Sony doesn’t have a fix or even a statement to issue, but because 1080/60p video is one of this camera’s headline features, we’re going to recommend holding off on your purchase until the company can confirm what’s causing the issue. Jump past the break to hear it for yourself in our demo video.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Sony Alpha NEX-5N makes clicking sound when moved, renders captured audio useless (video)

Sony Alpha NEX-5N makes clicking sound when moved, renders captured audio useless (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon roadmap, 2.5GHz CPUs coming early next year

We’ve been hearing about Qualcomm‘s next generation of 2.5GHz processors for a few months now, but the company’s quad-core future has now become a little bit clearer. Speaking at the Innovation Qualcomm event in Istanbul yesterday, Senior Vice President of Product Management Cristiano Amon confirmed that the chipmaker’s S4 line of silicon will be shipped to manufacturers by the end of this year and should appear in consumer products by the beginning of 2012. Available in single-, dual- or quad-core models, the new, 28nm additions to the Snapdragon family will also support Adreno graphics, 3D and 1080p HD, in addition to 3G and LTE connectivity. If all goes according to schedule, then, we could see a slate of S4-equipped handsets at next year’s Mobile World Congress in February, though we’ll try to contain our excitement until we get a more specific launch date.

Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon roadmap, 2.5GHz CPUs coming early next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epson launches five 3D, 1080p home theater projectors for serious cinephiles

Epson 3D Projectors

New projectors quietly slip on to shelves almost every day, but Epson’s new PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010, and updated Home Cinema series certainly caught our attention. They combine 1080p images with active 3D tech for a price that home theater builders shouldn’t immediately dismiss. The flagship Pro Cinema 6010 and Home Cinema 5010 lines can output 2,400 lumens while maintaining a contrast ratio of 200,000:1. Both also include the ability to convert 2D content to 3D on the fly. The primary difference between the $4,000 6010 and $3,000 5010 (the wirelessHD-equipped 5010e will run about $3,500) is the included accessories and options: like ceiling mounts, 3D glasses and additional lens modes. The budget 3010 ($1,600) and 3010e ($1,800) models sport a more modest 40,000:1 contrast ratio and 2,200 lumen rating, but do have a pair of built-in 10W speakers. Oddly, only the 3010 package will include 3D glasses. The Pro Cinema 6010 and Home Cinema 5010 line will start shipping in November, while the 3010 series will land in October. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Epson launches five 3D, 1080p home theater projectors for serious cinephiles

Epson launches five 3D, 1080p home theater projectors for serious cinephiles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ContourRoam waterproof camera takes hands-free filmmaking underwater

Contour has already produced a handful of imagers for football players and cyclists, but the company has now come out with a solution for underwater explorers, as well, with its first waterproof camera — the ContourRoam. This hands-free device boasts a super wide-angle, 170-degree rotating lens, capable of capturing HD video in three different resolutions (1080p, 960p, and 720p) at 30fps. Its lens can also rotate up to 270 degrees, and projects a horizontal laser to help you align your shots. The camera’s instant on-record option, meanwhile, allows you to start recording as soon as you turn it on, while its waterproof aluminum body lets you shoot video at underwater depths of up to one meter for up to 30 minutes at a time — meaning you can leave that old ContourHD case at home. Aspiring Steve Zissous can buy one now for $200, at the source link below. Otherwise, just wade past the break for more information, in the full presser.

Continue reading ContourRoam waterproof camera takes hands-free filmmaking underwater

ContourRoam waterproof camera takes hands-free filmmaking underwater originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s new internet TV box, projector and Blu-ray player make an appearance at IFA

They didn’t earn highlights during Sony’s IFA 2011 keynote, but it did slip out a few more pieces of home theater hardware that are more likely to end up in your living room than its outlandish 3D helmet. The SMP-N200 replaces the earlier Netbox that debuted last year with a refreshed design and support for HD and 3D. Unsurprisingly, this Blu-ray player (without the Blu-ray) also supports DLNA “throwing” of content, making it a natural Apple TV-style tie-in for the Tablet S and Tablet P once they launch. Moving on, the VPL-VW95ES is a proper replacement for last year’s VPL-VW90ES that we’ll probably get more properly acquainted with later this week at CEDIA. For 2011 it’s been refreshed with 3D conversion capabilities, an integrated 3D emitter to sync the glasses and the ability to set and memorize different lens positions to switch seamlessly between 16:9 and ultrawidescreen projecting. Finally, the BDP-S185 Blu-ray player was announced, with compact size and power consumption that Sony claims is 47 percent less than the previous year’s models as its most notable features. All should start shipping in October, no specific word on pricing yet.

Continue reading Sony’s new internet TV box, projector and Blu-ray player make an appearance at IFA

Sony’s new internet TV box, projector and Blu-ray player make an appearance at IFA originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell S2330MX ultra-slim monitor reckons it’s gorgeous, actually just ‘above average’

Dell’s much bragged-about skinny 23-incher just got put through its paces by the bods at HotHardware. Their conclusion? The 1080p display sports glossily good aesthetics and scores major points for its lumbar-loving 8.3-pound weight and 0.4-inch waistline (which burgeons to 1.19-inches around the ports). The twisted nematic panel isn’t up to IPS standards and won’t satisfy graphics or photography pros, but the LED backlighting produces good brightness and better-than-average black levels. Gaming was held back by minor streaking despite the 2ms response time, while Blu-ray movies suffered slightly in darker scenes. All in, a “relatively good buy” at $250 — although you might want to check out the source link to see if the S2330MX meets your exact requirements.

Dell S2330MX ultra-slim monitor reckons it’s gorgeous, actually just ‘above average’ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung unveils WB750 camera, with long zoom for all your paparazzi needs

Sometimes a photographer needs to get really, really close to his or her subject. And sometimes that requires a little help from a friend. Samsung has just that situation in mind with its new WB750, which features an 18x optical zoom with 24x Smart Zoom — that’s the longest zoom in the company’s compact portfolio. The camera also sports a 12.5 megapixel CMOS sensor with Sammie’s proprietary BSI (Back Side Illuminated) technology, and a redesigned image sensor, lens, and image processor. In addition to still photos, it also shoots 1080p HD video; a dual capture function allows you to shoot video alongside 10 megapixel pictures. Or, if you’d rather, you can take up to 10 frames per second in high-speed continuous mode. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but we have our fingers crossed it arrives before our next safari. See more pictures in the gallery below, and check out the full PR after the break.

Gallery: Samsung WB750

Continue reading Samsung unveils WB750 camera, with long zoom for all your paparazzi needs

Samsung unveils WB750 camera, with long zoom for all your paparazzi needs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony VAIO S Series review (15-inch)

It’s sad to say, but most of you who are going back to school have probably already returned by now — though if you’re in class right this moment you should probably be paying attention. If you managed to get back to campus without bringing a new laptop along, you might just want to keep reading — Sony’s just released a 15.5-inch addition to its VAIO S Series that not only adds a crucial bit of extra display acreage, but also bumps things up to a full 1080p.

Yes, this is a laptop that can not only be configured with a Blu-ray drive but has enough pixels to do the resulting footage justice, meaning it could make a passable player for movie night. But, does it have the chops to do your workload justice? Is it worth the $1,000 minimum asking price, at least a $100 premium over Sony’s 13-inch models? Join us as we find out.

Continue reading Sony VAIO S Series review (15-inch)

Sony VAIO S Series review (15-inch) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digital Projection debuts new native ultrawidescreen projector

1080p projectors and displays are sweet, but since movie lovers are watching content in ratios closer to 2.35:1 than the 16:9 layout of tradition HD projectors and PJs and wasting precious pixels Digital Projection International’s latest beamer is set up to be all about ultrawidescreen. The dVision Scope 1080p is 2560 x 1080 out of the box, no anamorphic lens necessary. its custom firmware automatically detects and resizes when the letterbox black bars to fill the 1080p field by increasing the number of horizontal pixels. Check the specs and explanation in the press release after the break, we’ll find out more about this and probably many other projectors at CEDIA 2011 in September.

Continue reading Digital Projection debuts new native ultrawidescreen projector

Digital Projection debuts new native ultrawidescreen projector originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Primed: all mobile displays are not created equal

Primed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day — we dig deep into each topic’s history and how it benefits our lives. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com.

The quality of a mobile phone’s display is arguably the most important factor to consider when you establish a relationship with a handset. It’s inescapable, really. Whether you’re playing a rousing game of Robot Unicorn Attack or (regrettably) drunk-dialing an ex, it’s the one interface element that you’re consistently interacting with. It’s your window to the world and your canvas for creation, and if it’s lousy, it’s going to negatively influence everything you see and do. Today, we’re delving into the world of mobile displays, where we’re aiming to entertain and edify, and hopefully save you from making regrettable decisions — when it comes to purchasing new phones, anyway.

In this edition of Primed, we’ll be examining the different qualities and underlying technologies of several displays, starting with the ubiquitous TFT-LCD and moving through the nascent realm of glasses-free 3D and beyond. We’ll also be addressing the importance of resolution and pixel density. Finally, we’ll be scoping out a handful of upcoming technologies — while some are thoroughly intriguing, others are just plain wacky. Go ahead… buy the ticket, take the ride, and join us after the break. It’s Primed time.

Continue reading Engadget Primed: all mobile displays are not created equal

Engadget Primed: all mobile displays are not created equal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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