Hasta La Gadget!

Sony is continuing to build out its NXCAM video camera line with the new interchangeable lens NEX-EA50EH, a surprise entrant that’s aimed firmly at the run and gun professional crowd. It sports the same APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor as other cameras in the NEX line, and has notably added a rocker-style zoom lever for its brand new SEL18-200PZ 11x E-mount Servo Zoom Lens. That item is one of the first large sensor servo zooms we’ve seen, and packs continuous variable isis, auto focus and “Optical Steady Shot” active image stabilization. Another eyebrow-raiser is the model’s still photo talent, with the ability to shoot 16MP RAW stills, a mechanical shutter with its own release button and a flash hot-shoe all squeezed in. Video is recorded up to 60fps at 1080P in AVCHD 2.0, presumably at 28 or 17 Mbps, to SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, Sony Memory Sticks or Sony’s dedicated external SSD unit, which attaches to the camera. All that is topped off by an onboard shotgun microphone, a shoulder mount form factor and $4,500 price point (which has already changed twice on B&H). That means a lot of pros who want large sensor results — without all the DSLR foibles — may be sorely tempted. See the PR and video after the break for all the details.

Continue reading Sony unveils NEX-EA50EH pro camcorder with nary a dog or pony (video)

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony unveils NEX-EA50EH pro camcorder with nary a dog or pony (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 03:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember Samsung’s Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch for Sprint? Think that name was a mouthful? Well here’s a press shot of — wait for it — Samsung’s SGH-T699 aka. Galaxy S Blaze Q, a QWERTY slider for T-Mobile that’s been leaked before. Beyond the terrible name, the August 15th mention on the screen appears to confirm the previous launch date rumors. Spec-wise, the phone is expected to pack a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. There’s also mention of 1080p video capture and a 720p display — the latter being unlikely in light of the large amount of bezel surrounding the screen (Samsung’s smallest HD Super AMOLED display is 4.65-inches across). Our guess is that T-Mobile’s just complementing Samsung’s existing Galaxy S Blaze 4G with a mid-range QWERTY slider, but we’ll find out soon enough.

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q leaks in August 15th-dated press shot, keeps terrible name originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 05:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glasses-free 3D may be the next logical step in TV’s evolution, but we have yet to see a convincing device make it to market that doesn’t come along with a five-figure price tag. The sets that do come within range of tickling our home theater budgets won’t blow you away, and it’s not unreasonable to expect that trend to continue through the next few product cycles. A dramatic adjustment in our approach to glasses-free 3D may be just what the industry needs, so you’ll want to pay close attention to the MIT Media Lab’s latest brew. Tensor Displays combine layered low-cost panels with some clever software that assigns and alternates the image at a rapid pace, creating depth that actually looks fairly realistic. Gordon Wetzstein, one of the project creators, explained that the solution essentially “(takes) the complexity away from the optics and (puts) it in the computation,” and since software solutions are far more easily scaled than their hardware equivalent, the Tensor Display concept could result in less expensive, yet superior 3D products.

We caught up with the project at SIGGRAPH, where the first demonstration included four fixed images, which employed a similar concept as the LCD version, but with backlit inkjet prints instead of motion-capable panels. Each displaying a slightly different static image, the transparencies were stacked to give the appearance of depth without the typical cost. The version that shows the most potential, however, consists of three stacked LCD panels, each displaying a sightly different pattern that flashes back and forth four times per frame of video, creating a three-dimensional effect that appears smooth and natural. The result was certainly more tolerable than the glasses-free 3D we’re used to seeing, though it’s surely a long way from being a viable replacement for active-glasses sets — Wetzstein said that the solution could make its way to consumers within the next five years. Currently, the technology works best in a dark room, where it’s able to present a consistent image. Unfortunately, this meant the light levels around the booth were a bit dimmer than what our camera required, resulting in the underexposed, yet very informative hands-on video you’ll see after the break.

Continue reading MIT Media Lab’s Tensor Displays stack LCDs for low-cost glasses-free 3D (hands-on video)

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

MIT Media Lab’s Tensor Displays stack LCDs for low-cost glasses-free 3D (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solid-state drives cost just a fraction of what they did a few years ago, but with prices that can still exceed $1,000, you could hardly label them as cheap. Crucial still aims to put solid-state storage within reach of those on a budget, however, releasing its 2.5-inch v4 drive with pricing that starts at $50. That entry-level model will net you just 32 gigs of storage — hardly a lust-worthy sum — but the series is also available in configurations of 64GB ($70), 128GB ($100) and 256GB ($190), offering read speeds of up to 230 MB/s and write speeds of up to 190 MB/s with SATA 2-capable desktops and laptops. The v4 joins Crucial’s higher-end m4, which offers much speedier performance and Ultrabook-friendly configurations to boot. You’ll find full details in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Crucial outs v4 SSD for solid-state storage on a budget

Filed under: Storage

Crucial outs v4 SSD for solid-state storage on a budget originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 01:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zoom is known for making audio recorders, but its latest product, the Q2HD, brings video to the recording party — HD video, no less. Sure, there are many ways to shoot and share our lives these days, and it’s a wonder that services like Ustream aren’t just full of videos of people unboxing cameras, checking in and uploading pictures to Pinterest (while also watching Ustream). Zoom, however, evidently believes that though the method might evolve, the medium largely remains the same — voice and video. As such, the Q2HD Handy Video Recorder (to give it its full name) promises to play, capture and stream, all in “HD audio and video.” Paraphrasing of the box aside, we got our hands on one and took it for a spin. Want to know how it fared? Let’s reset the levels, then head past the break for the mixdown.

Continue reading Zoom Q2HD Handy Video Recorder lets you stream and record on the move, we go hands-on

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Misc. Gadgets

Zoom Q2HD Handy Video Recorder lets you stream and record on the move, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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