Outrage! Canadia says we’re lazy! But they do make better Palm Pre commercials »
You know what Canada looks like? It looks like the best part of town – where everyone is cool and gets drunk all the time without hangovers and where you used to go to raves when you were like 16 and now when you go back the rave places have grown up with you and become chocolate shops and classic book stores – but it looks like that all over the country. Anyway, this commercial for the Palm Pre in Canadia (in order of importance) shows roller derby, some kind of old persons ball game, and the Palm Pre. The resulting footing, led by an amiable guy in a tie, tells me more about the Pre than Ms. Freakyhead ever did. Good job, Canada! Too bad you’re monarchist communards or I’d totally be living up there. via Giz
Olympus pulls the trigger on the E-600 DSLR »
Big news this AM from Olympus with the announcement of the E-600 DSLR. Looks like another entry-level(ish) digital SLR. Big notables for the 12.3-megapixel shooter include a swiveling 2.7-inch LCD and slew of fancy art filters. That’s seriously about it, folks. The E-600 coupled with a 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 kit lens will retail for $600 in November. CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 31, 2009 – The new Olympus E-600 is a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera with everything you need to start enjoying the benefits of DSLR-quality photography today. It’s simple to use, so moving up from a basic point-and-shoot is an enjoyable and affordable experience, and packed with features to meet all of your still photography needs. The E-600’s high-performance swivel 2.7-inch HyperCrystalTM LCD screen helps you compose from virtually any angle; in-camera Art Filters add more pizzazz to your pictures; its four-frames-per-second burst speed won’t miss a moment of the action, and In-body Image Stabilization removes blur caused by camera shake when you’re on the go. The 12.3-megapixel image sensor and TruePic III+ captures detailed, crisp images and accurate color. “With the E-600, Olympus has answered the call for a more affordable and creative camera that has everything you could need to get great results,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Digital SLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The new entry-level SLR camera offers something for everyone to enjoy, including in-camera Art Filters for expanded creative freedom.” Exceptional Image Quality Whether you’re shooting a high school basketball game or capturing a city streetscape, the E-600’s high-performance 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas. Its Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus’ TruePic III+ Image Processor, which produces clear and colorful photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible. The new image processor is noted for accurate natural color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies, and precise tonal expression; it also lowers image noise in photos shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations. Swivel Live View LCD Swings into Action The E-600’s 100 percent accurate 270 degree swivel 2.7-inch Live View HyperCrystal III LCD can be rotated freely so photographers can compose at any angle, including overhead and down low, without getting bent out of shape. This makes it easier to photograph young children on their own level or shoot high above a crowd. E-600 photographers can compose a subject right on the Live View LCD and see the results of the various creative features – live as they’re happening, before the shot is taken. With Live View, settings like white balance and image brightness can be selected, and the result can be seen instantly on the LCD display. Real-time Live View offers amazing versatility and creative control. The LCD displays 230,000 pixels in vivid color and includes HyperCrystal technology, which offers many times the contrast of conventional LCD monitors for easier viewing in both preview and playback. It also provides a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees, which ensures images can be composed from even the most obscure angles. The 2.7-inch LCD makes icons and text on the camera’s menu easy to view. Fast Autofocus Life moves fast, so it’s important to have a camera that locks focus accurately and quickly. Whether you choose to use the super fast autofocus technology or focus the lens manually, the E-600 offers the same sophisticated focusing options as higher-end DSLRs. Use the optical viewfinder to track movement like birds or wildlife or your favorite team on the field, or use the large Live View LCD to frame up a flower or a group of friends at the family gathering. Consumers accustomed to composing and focusing using a point-and-shoot camera’s LCD will appreciate that the E-600 offers the same easy, seamless experience (what you see on its LCD is what you get!). Either way, the focus is quick, precise and easy. Art Filters for Expanded Creative Control If you’re hoping to get more out of your camera than simply capturing and documenting a scene, and enjoy enhancing or customizing an image to make it your own, then you will value the camera’s Art Filters. The filters, which are built into the camera, provide incredible individual artistic control over an image, so that you can spend more time shooting and less time computing. Let your inner artist shine through and make a statement with these in-camera Art Filters: * Pop Art: Enhances colors, making them more saturated and vivid, creating high-impact pictures that express the joyful, lighthearted feeling of the Pop Art style of the 1960s; * Soft Focus: Creates an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere that renders subjects in a heavenly light without obscuring details; and * Pin Hole: Adds a nostalgic look and feel to the image with a darkened vignette around the subject connecting the viewer intimately with the subject at the center of the picture. Art Filters are easily activated with the mode dial on the right side of the camera body, and the fun part is that you can see and experiment with the effects on the subject live, on the LCD, before you take the shot! In-Body Image Stabilization for Sharp Images on the Go The E-600 travels with you to more places, thanks to its compact size and light body. Capture sharp images on the go with the camera’s in-body Image Stabilization (IS), which virtually eliminates blur with any lens attached. Three IS modes handle any situation. The IS-1 mode is for general shooting and adjusts the sensor on both the horizontal and vertical planes to compensate for movement by the photographer so images stay sharp in low light even at slow shutter speeds. To capture the motion of moving subjects, the E-600 offers two specialized modes: IS-2 mode is ideal for capturing a runner or cyclist traveling by in the horizontal mode, preserving the sense of motion while panning; IS-3 mode achieves the same effect when the camera is held vertically. In either mode, the artistic effects of panning enhance the shot and render the subject in sharp detail with blurred background. Moreover, the E-600 is the world’s smallest DSLR with built-in Image Stabilization, so you’ll feel comfortable taking it on the road with you to capture the action. Always Find a Face in the Crowd The new camera’s Face Detection technology reduces the chance of blurred subjects in photography by distinguishing between people’s faces and the background. It tracks up to eight faces within the image area, even if people are moving, and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures (ideal for large family or party group photos). Fast Sequential Shooting The E-600 can capture images at the highest image-quality setting at a rate of four frames per second. Whether you’re capturing a soccer game, children playing or a bird swooping through the yard, the E-600 ensures that you won’t miss a frame. Preview a Multitude of Possibilities Perfect Shot Preview enables users to easily preview and select from four thumbnail previews of the photographic effects of white balance and exposure compensation adjustments live on the LCD before taking the photograph. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, visually, without having to scroll through menu options. With 13 preset scene-select modes for every imaginable shooting scenario, automatic modes and full manual controls, the E-600 offers a world of possibilities to photographers. Versatile Memory Accepting both CompactFlash Type I & II, UDMA, Microdrives and xD-Picture Cards, the camera provides a choice of data storage options for enhanced flexibility, and it is possible to transfer image files from one card to the other right inside the camera. Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Images Life moves too fast to spend time worrying about dust ruining the perfect image. Olympus’ proven Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave FilterTM. The patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor and captures it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching photographs at the computer or sending their cameras back to the manufacturer to remove dust trapped inside. With Dust Reduction and the new creative features, Olympus continues to liberate users from the computer and editing software, and enables them to have fun capturing it all while on the go. Accessories The HLD-5 Power Battery Holder can hold up to two Lithium Ion BLS-1 batteries to extend the performance life of the E-600 and its existing BLS-1 battery. It also enables effortless vertical shooting with its own separate shutter button and control dial. Availability The Olympus E-600 DSLR will be available in early November 2009. It includes the E-600 Body, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLS-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCS-1), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card. U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations E-600 Body with ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $599.99 via PB
Breaking: Disney To Acquire Marvel Entertainment For $4 Billion »
The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today. Under the terms of the agreement and based on last week’s closing price of Disney, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion . Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor. (News breaking, more coming)
SanDisk rolls out new Clip players, say hello to the Sansa Clip+ »
SanDisk has revved its line of tiny Sansa Clip players — now called the Sansa Clip+ for those of you keeping score at home — and, thankfully, hasn’t changed too much from the already-great device (see our Sansa Clip review here ). The control pad’s now square instead of round and there’s a microSD expansion slot included for good measure, so you’ll be able to add up to 16 extra gigabytes if you like. At around 15 hours, battery life seems to be about the same as before and there’s still a built-in FM tuner, voice recorder, and extended file support (MP3, FLAC, Ogg, Audible, Rhapsody, etc.). The player also supports SanDisk’s new slotRadio initiative. The Clip+ will be available starting tomorrow in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB for $40, $50, and $70, respectively. [via CNET ]
NEC floods Japan with 7 new projectors »
NEC announced a total of seven “green” video projectors for the Japanese market on Friday [JP]. Each has different specs, but the one characteristic all devices have in common is the low level of energy consumption, which stands at just 0.6W in standby mode (down from 3W for the previous projector series from that company). Here are the main details for all of the new devices: NP610J: 1,024
FlyScreen lands on Android (1,000 invites) »
Israeli startup Cellogic, makers of the fine FlyScreen software, have spent the last 8 months or so developing a custom version for the Android platform to complement their currently Symbian-exclusive version. Today, the company is debuting the private alpha version of the Android-compatible program, and we have 1,000 invites to offer for those carrying around HTC phones running Android 1.5 (it works on the Samsung Galaxy too but is less optimized for that particular device). So what’s FlyScreen? Essentially, a collection of expandable widgets that comprise syndicated content (such as TechCrunch) and small apps that hook into Twitter, Facebook etc. You can use it to fetch the RSS feed of your favorite blogs, and thus be able to quickly access previews of published content, tag articles for later reading or share posts on Twitter and/or Facebook in just one click. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but here’s the cool part: like with the Symbian version, Cellogic has managed to bolt FlyScreen on top of the lock screen, effectively turning a fairly useless screen that slows you down from accessing your favorite content and apps into a mini Web OS from which you can access your favorite blogs, the weather report, your Twitter account etc. almost instantly after turning on your phone. Wanna give it a whirl? Simply head on over here and if you’re among the first 1,000 readers to enter the promo code “ techcrunch ” you’ll soon get an e-mail with a link that’ll take you to the appropriate download page. Try it out and let us know what you think. Crunch Network : CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors
CrunchDeals: HP MediaSmart Home Server for $450 »
Amazon has a pretty solid deal on an HP MediaSmart Home Server. Found elsewhere for over $550, you can get your hands on it for $450 until September 3rd. It was briefly priced at $419.99 direct from HP but that deal has expired and it’s now $600. The HP EX485 features a 2GHz Intel Celeron CPU (64-bit), a single 750GB SATA hard drive at 7,200 RPM, and four total hard drive bays for up to 9TB of storage. If that’s not enough space for you, there are four USB ports and an eSATA port that’ll allow you to hook up external hard drives as well. You can check out Matt’s review of a similar HP setup right here . HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server [Amazon]
Verizon cuts the BlackBerry Storm down to $50 »
The BlackBerry Storm may finally have found its pricing sweet spot. The phone definitely was overpriced at $200 last year and even the $100 price cut a few months ago didn’t seem right, but $50 ?!? Yeah, I wanna throw mine into a wall and piss on the remains daily, but VZW isn’t going to have any trouble at all clearing out the inventory. You know why it’s only $50 right? Because the BlackBerry Storm 2 is coming out real soon. We’re still hearing sometime in November 2009, but it could be sooner. Verizon probably wants to make sure that they don’t have any of the original phones left when the new hotness launches.
New projector houses a DVD player and is cheap, but pretty ugly »
Yokohama-based electronics company Kumazaki-Aim has announced a “portable” LED video projector [JP] (size: 268×295×92mm, weight: 2.5kg) that won’t win any design awards but houses a DVD player. Buyers also get a screen (132×25×980mm) for their money. The projector’s specs aren’t too promising either: 640×480 VGA resolution, 300:1 contrast ratio and 200 lumens brightness won’t get you very far. It produces 60-inch images from 2.1m away. There’s also an SD/MMC card reader, an S-Video interface, a VGA port and 3Wx2ch speakers. The DVD player supports MP3/WMA/AVI/DivX/Xvid and JPEG files. Out in Japan tomorrow for $600 (projector/DVD player plus screen). I don’t think the thing will ever be available outside Japan so you might want to contact Geek Stuff 4 U if you’re really interested in buying the set. Via Akihabara News
CrunchGear Week in Review: Shelf Stage Edition »
Cute bokeh filter for cute bokeh Swinxs now shipping, kids everywhere told what to do by strange man in a box Sexy S T R E T C H shelf is basically a giant rubber band Altec Lansing announces new computer speakers, iPod boombox device A Mega Man II chain-link wall scroll 1.5 years in the making