Jan 08

Sony’s camera and camcorder lineup spotted at CES (video)

Posted in: Features, hands-on, sony, Today's Chili

We swung by Sony‘s gloomy CES booth to check out their new camcorders and cameras for 2010. Fresh on the Handycam menu were the SDHC-loving CX and XR series camcorders (pictured above), and we saw some nice demos of their Optical SteadyShot (mesmerizing video after the break) and wide angle G lens. The tapeless AX2000 professional video camera was also present further down the table, sporting dual memory card slots. On the other table we encountered the Bloggie and the rest of the 2010 Cyber-shot lineup in several colors. Aww, what a sweet family.

Gallery: Sony’s camera and camcorder lineup from CES 2010

Continue reading Sony’s camera and camcorder lineup spotted at CES (video)

Sony’s camera and camcorder lineup spotted at CES (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
Jan 07

Canon A-Series compact cameras hands-on

Posted in: feature, Features, hands-on, Today's Chili
Canon A-Series compact cameras hands-on
Compact cameras are produced in such great numbers and their models refreshed with such great frequency that it’s hard to get too excited with each new iteration. It’s particularly hard when that refresh is as evolutionary as it is here. But, if it ain’t broke you truly shouldn’t fix it, and it’s hard to find much fault with Canon’s compact line. So, the new A-series cameras announced earlier this week, ranging from the A490 all the way up to the A3100 IS, feature changes that are definitely of the evolutionary side. The primary difference is in the packaging, taking more styling queues from the Elph line and generally looking slimmer and sleeker than before. SDXC compatibility is in the cards if you’re the wealthy type, but otherwise these won’t break the bank, ranging from a thoroughly affordable $110 up to a still quite reasonable $180 for the A3100 IS.

Gallery: Canon A-series cameras hands-on

Canon A-Series compact cameras hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
Jan 07

Kodak touchscreen Slice camera, underwater Playsport camcorder, and friends hands-on

Posted in: feature, Features, hands-on, Today's Chili
Where do you show most of your digital photos to friends? Probably via Facebook or Flickr or the like, but many consumers simply do the most logical thing: turn their camera around and squint at the dinky LCD. That was the idea behind the Slice, announced yesterday and more or less designed around a lovely 3.5-inch touchscreen that may not be quite as big as a 4 x 6 print, but it’s far more versatile. The 14 megapixel camera has a solid feel in the hand and looks great. For those feeling a little more adventurous there’s the 1080p Playsport camcorder, which looks and feels more or less like a beefy Flip. To prove its disrespect toward moisture, the camera was unceremoniously plunked into a fish bowl, where it seemed hardly perturbed. Finally is the Pulse digital photo frame, a somewhat pedestrian-looking seven-inch, 800 x 600 model that sports the ability to receive photos via e-mail, so you can shoot those pics of the grandkids off to nanna without her having to touch a thing. Pictures of all that and a pair of new EasyShare models in the gallery below. Oh, and a crab, too.

Gallery: Kodak Slice, Playsport, Beat, and EasyShare cameras

Kodak touchscreen Slice camera, underwater Playsport camcorder, and friends hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jan 06

MyFord dash and Sync App Ecosystem hands-on

Posted in: feature, Features, Ford, hands-on, Microsoft, sync, Today's Chili
MyFord dash and Sync App Ecosystem make us want a blue oval
You’ve read the PR, seen the press shots, and probably snickered a little at the quote from Ford’s Derrick Kuzak indicating that his company’s latest tech “will cause people to fall in love with their vehicles again.” After getting a chance to play with a few entrants into the company’s so-called Sync App Ecosystem, and getting behind the wheel of a MyFord-equipped mockup vehicle, we’re not laughing — but we are smiling. It’s impressive tech, so read on through to see some videos and check our impressions.

Gallery: Ford Sync App Ecosystem and MyFord

Continue reading MyFord dash and Sync App Ecosystem hands-on

MyFord dash and Sync App Ecosystem hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jan 06

Dell goes pro with 27-inch UltraSharp U2711 WQHD LCD monitor (hands-on)

Posted in: feature, Features, hands-on, LCD, monitor, Today's Chili

Dell‘s laptop and desktop lineups may hog all of the attention, but the company’s range of LCDs have proven to be contenders over the years. Not one to shy away from the professionals in attendance, the company has today released its first-ever WQHD monitor: the 27-inch UltraSharp U2711. Boasting a native 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, this beast just may pack enough pixels to sway you back into the single-monitor camp. Dell’s also trumpeting the unit’s “billion-color depth and IPS technology,” and the 6-millisecond response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 350 nits of brightness and a 12-bit internal processing help to round things out. For the pros who make ends meet by editing photos or video, you’ll probably enjoy knowing that this one boasts a 110 percent color gamut, factory-tuned Adobe RGB and sRGB modes (alongside a color calibration report), custom color adjustments and a smattering of mounting options.

You’ll also find just about every port known to man: HDMI 1.3, DisplayPort, DVI-D (x2), VGA, composite, component, USB (x4) and an 8-in-1 multicard reader. ‘Course, the actual aesthetics are nothing to write home about, but again, this one’s being targeted at end users who care less about the bezel and more about true-to-life pixel performance. We had a chance to toy around with the new beast, and frankly, we were mesmerized. Without an in-house color calibrator, we can’t speak for those who need oodles of numbers and bar charts to tell if a monitor is performing correctly, but we can say that the panel was remarkably sharp, crisp and accurate — more so than our (much adored) 24-inch 2408WFP, that’s for sure. Be prepared to catch this one next month with an MSRP of $1,049.

Gallery: Dell goes pro with 27-inch UltraSharp U2711 WQHD LCD monitor (hands-on)

Dell goes pro with 27-inch UltraSharp U2711 WQHD LCD monitor (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
Jan 06

iHome expands its portable offerings with trio of road-warrior iPhone and iPod accessories

Posted in: feature, Features, Today's Chili
iHome expands its portable offerings with trio of road-warrior iPhone and iPod accessories
What, this morning’s iPhone-friendly offerings from iHome don’t jive with your nomadic, cord-hating lifestyle? Check out the company’s next triumvirate of Apple-inclined accessories:
  • iP48 Portable Rechargeable Stereo Alarm Clock: Yes, it’s another alarm clock (pictured above), but this one zips shut to easily slip into your roller. It packs an internal, rechargeable battery and also will sync with your iPhone’s time, so no more late-night attempts at clock setting, you jet-setter you.
  • iP49 Portable Rechargeable Studio Series Audio System: We unfortunately don’t know what this one looks like, but we’re told it packs all the features of the home alarm clocks but with even better audio and, again, a rechargeable battery. A remote control is a nice bonus for when you’re too tired to wander across that 2,500 square foot penthouse suite your platinum reward status earned you.
  • iHM79 Rechargeable Mini Speakers: Perhaps the most useful of the three, the iHM79 (pictured after the break) is simply a set of tiny, portable speakers that will work with Apple devices or, indeed, anything with a 3.5mm output. They too are rechargeable and pack an internal amp.
Like before, no prices or specific availability dates for any of these, so you’ll just have to wait a bit on that. Yeah, we know, patience isn’t our strongest asset either.

Continue reading iHome expands its portable offerings with trio of road-warrior iPhone and iPod accessories

iHome expands its portable offerings with trio of road-warrior iPhone and iPod accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jan 06

iHome’s new clock radios will ensure neither you nor your iPhone ever sleep too late

Posted in: feature, Features, ipod dock, IpodDock, Today's Chili
iHome's new clock radios will ensure neither you nor your iPhone ever sleep too late
If you tend to think of iHome as a company that makes things iPhones and iPods can be seen sticking out of, we’re here to reinforce that impression with the unveiling of three new clock radio dock devices for Appley goods.
  • iP90 Clock Radio/Audio System: This is the latest clock radio from the company, displaying a sleek design (pictured above) that’s much more visually appealing than the last one we saw and, interestingly, sports a sync button that will suck the time right out of your iPhone and use it to set the device. No more swearing at yourself for scrolling too quickly past 9:54pm.
  • iP42 Dual Alarm Clock Radio: This version (pictured after the break) slims things down a bit and, honestly, uglies them up a bit compared to the iP90, but adds the ability to manage two alarms at once. Sync button makes an appearance here, too.
  • iP39 Kitchen Timer and FM Alarm Clock Radio: Wrapping things up is a cooking companion, featuring stainless steel accents that are said to provide “the look and feel of a premium kitchen appliance.” Sadly we have no images of this Bertazzoni wanna-be, but we do know that it’s designed to be easy to clean, also sports an alarm clock, and adds a dual bake timer into the mix as well.
No release date or prices for any of these at this time. Can your sleep cycle handle this kind of variety? We don’t think so.

Update: Justin commented to point out what we missed: that the iP90 will be $99.

Continue reading iHome’s new clock radios will ensure neither you nor your iPhone ever sleep too late

iHome’s new clock radios will ensure neither you nor your iPhone ever sleep too late originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
Jan 06

Canon’s EOS-1D Mark IV gets unboxed, high ISO modes tested

Posted in: dslr, feature, Features, Today's Chili, unboxing
Canon's EOS-1D Mark IV gets unboxed, high ISO modes tested
Wondering how Canon’s high-ISO response to Nikon performs in the dark? We’ve got the answer. Photographer John Deeb got his early and was not only kind enough to take a comprehensive set of unboxing pictures with a video, but also captured a series of pictures of model Lauren Howery to show off how the thing performs in extremely low light at increasingly excessive ISO settings. Lots and lots of pictures below.

Gallery: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV unboxing

Continue reading Canon’s EOS-1D Mark IV gets unboxed, high ISO modes tested

Canon’s EOS-1D Mark IV gets unboxed, high ISO modes tested originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceJohn Deeb  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Jan 06

OnStar and Chevy show off Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone control apps for Volt

Posted in: Android, BlackBerry, electric car, ElectricCar, ev, feature, Features, hands-on, hybrid, iPhone, Today's Chili
OnStar and Chevy show off remote control app for Volt
It was announced back in December and now we’ve gotten a chance to play with it. More importantly, you can play with it too. Chevy and OnStar have officially launched their suite of mobile applications for the Volt, a three-pronged assault on smartphone and automotive bliss set to be available for BlackBerry, Android, and the iPhone set to deploy with the launch of the car itself sometime between the end of 2010 and 2011. Want to see it in action? Click on through to read all about it — and see it in motion, too.

Continue reading OnStar and Chevy show off Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone control apps for Volt

OnStar and Chevy show off Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone control apps for Volt originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , , ,
Jan 05

Parrot’s AR.Drone seeks us out, destroys us as we go hands-on

Posted in: feature, Features, hands-on, iPhone, Today's Chili, wifi
Parrot's AR.Drone seeks us out, destroys us as we go hands-on
Wondering what it’s like to fly the Parrot AR.Drone we covered earlier this evening? So were we, so we headed straight toward the thing at tonight’s Unveiled event. Speaking with representatives with Parrot they were unfortunately tight-lipped when it came to the details, but did at least confirm that the only connection to the device is WiFi. In theory, any device that supports 802.11 can connect to the drone to send controls to it and, interestingly, download video from the camera on the nose. The first such device is the iPhone and while the reps indicated they aren’t working on apps for any other platforms, they did promise to release all the control libraries to the world, meaning apps can be more easily written for a number of platforms — in theory. But what was it like to fly? Click through to read our impressions.

Gallery: Parrot’s AR.Drone

Continue reading Parrot’s AR.Drone seeks us out, destroys us as we go hands-on

Parrot’s AR.Drone seeks us out, destroys us as we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,