CompuLab’s Fit-PC Slim: Tiniest Windows XP system

Compulab has introduced a fanless PC, roughly the size of a paperback book, that consumes a mere 3 to 5 watts of power. The "fit-PC" comes with Linux preinstalled, and is intended to fit where conventional PCs won't, according to the Haifa, Israel-based company.
Compulab says the fit-PC is based on the company's CM-iGLX computer-on-module (COM), touted as the world's smallest LX800-based single-board computer when it was introduced last fall. The module has a 500 MHz AMD Geode LX800 processor, and is equipped with 256 MB of DDR RAM and up to 512 MB of NAND flash.

Compulab lists the following additional features and specifications for the fit-PC:

• 40 GB hard drive
  
• Dual 100 Mbps Ethernet
  
• SXGA graphics controller, resolution to 1920 x 1440
  
• 2 USB 2.0 high speed ports
  
• Audio in/out interfaces
  
• RS-232 serial port
  
• Single 5V power supply
  
• Dimensions -- 4.7 x 4.6 x 1.6 inches (120 x 116 x 40 mm)
  

Although the fit-PC comes with Linux pre-installed, Windows XP is "easily installable" via a USB CD-ROM drive, Compulab said. The system's embedded Linux OS reportedly is currently based on Gentoo, using a 2.6.20 kernel.

HP HDX16, HDX18 Entertainment Laptops

HP has announced the HP HDX16 and HDX18 entertainment notebook PCs, featuring high-definition playback support, built-in TV tuners, Blu-ray technology, and a new chassis design.

Both notebooks include built-in Wi-Fi networking, along with home-theater-quality audio/video options that include Altec Lansing speakers, an HP Triple Bass subwoofer and Dolby Home Theater software.

The HDX16 is a midsize notebook with a 16-inch diagonal widescreen with 720- or 1,080-pixel resolution display. The HDX18 is a powerful and visually captivating full-size notebook with an 18.4-inch diagonal Ultra BrightView 1,080-pixel screen and enthusiast-class graphics capabilities.

Additionally, the HP HDX notebook PCs feature HP MediaSmart, which allows consumers to enjoy photos, listen to music and watch movies in high definition.

The HP HDX16 starts at $1,299, while the HP HDX18 starts at $1,549. Both are expected to be available starting later this month.

Sony Soutina .... Very Impressive

First seen as a concept a year back, Sony's tubular speaker is set to go into production under the name the Sony Soutina.

This gorgeous speaker from Sony uses transparent organic glass to make up the tubing which vibrates and expands the sound to 360 degrees. The Soutina speaker has a frequency response of 50Hz – 20,000Hz.

the Soutina speaker features :-

• Frequency response of 50Hz – 20,000Hz
• Input line, coaxial, and optical connectivity
• Subwoofer (13cm)
• Medium speaker (7cm)
• Tweeter made of organic glass

Not cheap though - a whopping 6,500 Euros.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Details of the eagerly awaited full frame Canon 5D Mark II dSLR are out. The camera packs a whopping 16MP full frame sensor, comes with full weather sealing and anti-dust features, and has the ability to rattle out images at 6 FPS.

The full-frame sensor has been boosted up to 21.1 megapixels, the LCD is a high-resolution 3-inch beauty (like more recently released competitors), Live View shooting has been added, the sensitivity range has been raised to ISO 50 - ISO 25,600, auto focus points have been bumped from 9 to 15 points, and continuous shooting speed has been bumped from 3- to 3.9fps. Best of all, however, Canon has added HD (1920×1080,16:9) video capture at 30 fps (there’s also a standard TV quality 640×480, 4:3 setting as well), besting recently announced competitors like the Nikon D700 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A900. In fact, the consumer-oriented Nikon D90 is the only other dSLR to offer a video mode at the moment.

Canon plans to ship the 5D Mark II by the end of November for $2,699 (body-only) or in a kit version with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens $3,499, making it very competitively priced compared to the competition.

Specs at glance:

- 15.3 MP full frame CMOS sensor (vastly improved light-gathering capacity per pixel: improved micro lenses; miniaturized micro circuitry; enhanced signal/noise ratio)
- Weather sealing same as 1Ds Mark III

- Dual Digic III with all-new "CXR" NR system reported to best 3rd party NR software. Available as a C.F with 4 levels of customizable parameters.
14 bit A/D conversion

- ISO 12800 (C.F. up to 25600)

- Reported 1 2/3 stop sensitivity improvement

- All-new 29-point TTL CMOS sensor
with 12 cross-type for F/2.8 or faster lens
(35% faster than 40D)

- Micro lens fine adjustment for up to 14 lenses

- 300,000 exposure shutter durability

- 6.0 / 3.0 fps

- 3.0" LCD
922,000 pixels

- EOS Integrated Cleaning System

- Live View (improved from 450D; latest generation)

- 6/3 fps continuous shooting for up to 68 frames

HP IQ804 and IQ816 TouchSmart PCs Unveiled

The new HP TouchSmart IQ800 series PC is a sleek all-in-one touchscreen desktop that can double as a TV with a huge 25.5-inch diagonal high-definition widescreen. With the natural user touch interface of the HP TouchSmart, users can quickly check the weather; play music and create playlists; crop, edit and share photos; or watch TV – with only a tap or swipe of a finger. The wall mountable TouchSmart PC includes an image resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels and a slot-load Blu-ray player, providing a stunning high-definition experience

The IQ800 series also features a powerful, energy-efficient Intel Core 2 Duo processor and uses HP power management technology to provide up to 45 percent energy savings compared to PCs without power management enabled. Other features built into the sleek IQ800 series include a webcam; colored HP Ambient Light; media card reader; large-capacity, high-speed hard drive; an HP Pocket Media Drive Bay for adding an additional hard drive; and premium speakers.

The HP TouchSmart IQ804 PC starts at $1,899 and is expected to be available Sept. 21, while the HP TouchSmart IQ816 PC starts at $2,099 and is expected to be available Oct. 12.

3M reveals MPro110 pocket projector

Small, lightweight and flexible: With the Micro Professional projector 3M MPro 110 sets projection specialist 3M mainly on the target group of professionals, who often are the presentations but do not take so much technology.

Their German division has recently announced that their prototype will soon become a reality. The MPro110 uses LCoS display technology to display VGA (640 x 480) resolution. It also uses an LED lamp, which means no fan noise. The LED is expected to display images bright enough to be seen in a brightly lit room. This feature is ideal for traveling presenters. The MPro110 weighs only 0.3 lbs and is less than an inch high. It is able to display an image up to 50 inches, diagonally. The connections for this device are few but useful including a VGA connection and a composite video connection. These connections allow the MPro110 to be used in a variety of situations from including office presentations, playing games, or watching movies. You can even connect you iPod to the projector and watch video either on a table or your best friend’s back. The MPro110 is expected to retail for about $359 and will be available worldwide September 30th

Cowon S9

For those of you that like your media players, then the new Cowon S9 Curve is one to check out.

The Cowon S9 has a curved backside and features a 3.3 inch color AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with 480x272px resolution and 16m colors.AMOLED screens are capable of lighting themselves and does not require backlighting like LCD screens. The Bluetooth support is listed as A2DP and AVRCP compatible which means audio streaming and remote controlling, and no support for headset mode or file transfer is listed. The interface will auto rotate as you turn the player and be flash, so hopefully that means it's skinable right out of the box. With a 500 MHz dual core CPU it should hopefully be rather quick. It comes with 9 EQ presets and like other Cowon players it does both Ogg Vorbis and FLAC. Size wise it will be 57.08 x 105.75 x 12.7 mm

It's the video aspect of the S9 that will disappoint many people. It only plays at the screens native resolution, which is rubbish in my opinion. This is most likely to make sure such players as the O2 have a market as well, but in doing so they limited a player which could be the new big hit and native Xvid support without resolution limits would definitely help towards that. It does do WMV and AVI (prob Xvid) like the D2 and h.264 has been added as a third supported video format. This means better quality per megabyte of data, and it might mean it will play back PSP formatted video. Don't get your hopes up however as h.264 compatible portable players tend to be extremely picky on what they will play back. The video support will do the job, but it could have been soooo much better - especially since the player has TV out, a feature that was barely a novelty on the D2.

Lastly, the capacity. A lot of people have been pointing out that this thing doesn't have memory expansion, something that's become a must have after the reign of the D2. With capacities up to 16GB at release and 32GB later, it isn't ever capable of reaching the D2's 48GB combined storage space. Not to mention the 32GB version will most likely be rather expensive, maybe more than people are willing to pay.

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