Hasta La Gadget!

Panasonic is going at it from all angles today, with three new 12.1 megapixel LUMIX cameras with surprisingly distinct aims:

• LUMIX FZ35 (pictured) – The requisite “superzoom” of every lineup, the FZ35 doesn’t disappoint on features, but the $400 pricepoint certainly pushes the limits of “consumer” camera. Features include 18x zoom and HD video recording, including a Creative Movie Mode with shutter speed and aperture settings for video. It also expands on typical facial recognition functionality with a “Baby mode” for… finding babies.
• LUMIX FP8 – While it can handle HD video, the FP8 is more about looks. Still, the 12.1 megapixel sensor and 4.6x zoom aren’t bad for the form factor — though the $300 pricetag isn’t nothing.
• LUMIX ZR1 – Featuring the “world’s first 0.3mm thin aspherical lens,” the ZR1 manages a full 8x optical zoom while keeping its girlish figure when extended. There’s also room for a 12.1 megapixel sensor. The cam goes for $280.

All the cameras pack optical image stabilization and facial recognition, and the ZR1 and FZ35 have a “High Dynamic Mode” which presumably emulates HDR photography to some extent. All three will be out in September. Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic’s new LUMIX consumer lineup: the high-powered FZ35, fashionable FP8 and thin-lensed ZR1

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panasonic’s new LUMIX consumer lineup: the high-powered FZ35, fashionable FP8 and thin-lensed ZR1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like Redmond is backing slowly away from its previous IE-or-else stance on Windows 7 for European markets. According to an article just published, the OS giant has apparently caved to pressure from the European Commission over “monopoly abuse” (practices which essentially force users into Internet Explorer as their main browser). The last we’d heard on this story, the company was considering shipping the new operating system without a browser altogether, but it looks like those plans have changed. Microsoft has relented and will now offer consumers a “ballot screen” on first boot, allowing purchasers to make their own (we’re hoping informed) decision about which window into the web they’ll be looking through. Additionally, while Windows 7 will still include an install of IE, users will have the option to disable it, and computer-makers will also be allowed to pre-load any browser they see fit for their systems. We’re glad that Microsoft is taking the inclusive approach here, though there are lots of good arguments against the EC’s actions. We don’t see Apple getting the same heat for Safari, though Apple doesn’t currently hold the lion’s share of the market. At the end of the day, we’re personally just happy to not be using IE — no matter how you slice it.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Microsoft relents to European Commission, will give users browser freedom in Windows 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this really happening? Are we all collectively in some sort of lucid, dreamlike state where Garmin-branded cellphones flow like water, or is this the real deal? Correct us if we’re wrong, readers — but if we’re reading this press release correctly, Taiwanese folks will have a crack at Garmin-Asus’ nuvifone G60 come the 27th of this month, just a few days from now; Singapore and Malaysia will have theirs meanwhile by the end of August, and Europe and the US are “on schedule” for the second half of the year (we hesitate to associate the phrase “on schedule” with this product, but we’ll let it slide this time). If WinMo is more your cup of tea, the M20 will be coming to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia in August as expected — the US isn’t on the roadmap for this one, but Europe should have it later this half. These phones have taken so long to arrive that they’ll be fighting an uphill battle against irrelevance — but with the reality that handsets will be all but replacing dedicated portable nav units in the coming years, it’s a play that Garmin’s gotta still be eager to make nonetheless.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Garmin-Asus confirms nuvifone G60 for sale this month in Taiwan, M20 soon after originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s fiscal year 2009 just came to a close, and the new milestones for the company aren’t too boast worthy. Year-over-year, the company saw a 3.2 percent decline in sales, its first drop in the company’s history — guess that third quarter report was a pretty good indication of things to come. Net profit, too, fell 17 percent to $14.57 billion. Looking at just the fourth quarter, sales fell 17 percent to $13.1 billion, and profits saw a pretty massive 29 percent drop, to $3.05 billion. Attributing to the decline were legal charges and severance claims from laid off employees, a referral of revenue from the Windows 7 Upgrade program, and of course overall drop in PC and server sales across the industry. So far the stock market has acted as you’d expect, and shares have dropped a notable eight percent. Despite all this gloom, let’s not forget that the boys in Redmond are still pulling a profit — and hey, cheer up Steve, you’ve got one helluva bright light for fiscal 2010.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Microsoft sees first annual sales decline in its history for fiscal 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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€450; that’s what’ll cost to take home the world’s thinnest (11.98mm) touchscreen cellphone fashioned into an tempting wristwatch. Although details are few and we’re relying upon machine translated text of the press release, we can tell you that Samsung’s watchphone — first seen as a prototype at CES — brings a 1.76-inch glass, scratch-proof touchscreen and stainless steel body that plays host to features such as Bluetooth 2.1, Outlook email sync, MP3 player, speakerphone, and voice recognition when it goes on sale this month in France. Hear that LG, Samsung just beat you to market by a calendar month.

Update: English press release is out with the following new specs: 176 x 220 pixel, 262k color TFT TSP display, 40MB of internal memory, 630mAh battery, and 57.5 x 41.1 x 11.98mm / 91g footprint. Gallery updated with better quality images.

[Thanks, Young]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables

Samsung’s S9110 touchscreen watchphone syncs with Outlook, on sale this month (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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