Archives for January 2006
Z800 3DVisor
Juniper Foo | Jan 11, 2006
Next to Icuiti's wicked-looking 3D visor at CES 2006, the Z800 3DVisor looks almost drab. Like a wad of silver foil eye cooler you can expect your spa consultant to whip out for your exhausted optics. Then again, the Z800 lays claim to being the world's first high-res OLED-based stereovision, with advanced 360-degree headtracker and stereo sound for a complete 3D virtual experience. The sticker price, though, is sufficient to rock you back into cold, hard reality.
Check it out from all sides: Front | back | closed up | side
Price: From US$899
Availability: See eMargin
Device: 3D glasses
Basic specs: Immersive 2D/3D stereovision "big screen" experience equivalent to 105-in display, interactive 360-degree advanced head tracking, SVGA (800 x 600), high contrast ratio >200:1, full color at 16.7 million pixels, low power utilizing USB, 8oz, built-in stereo sound and noise-canceling mic
Catch the peeping Tom red-handed
Damian Koh | Jan 11, 2006
We seem to have a burgeoning list of most-wanted in our editorial team. Previously, we were rooting for SatuGO, but now it seems Sightwave Optics has something which we'd love to consider in our quest for better imaging weapons: The Digiviewer 220x. This gadget sports a 2.45-inch LCD and 22x optical zoom capability. Before you rub your hands in glee, this is not a digital camera.
The Digiviewer binoculars weigh 810g (without battery, ouch) and have really nice cushioning on the viewing side that wraps the eyes end to end. While traditional binoculars require you to look through two telescopic tubes that are connected together, the Digiviewer uses a 2.45-inch LCD to display images. Add a 22x optical and 10x digital zoom capability, and is there even a worry that you cannot get up close and personal with your idol from a distance?
From a pair of pictures on the company's Web site comparing images at 5x and 50x zoom, we are already contemplating what we can actually use its ultrazoom for. What's more, the Digiviewer comes with automatic focusing and a one-touch zoom control. The only qualm we have is the display resolution of 480 x 234 pixels--not at all impressive.
Now if we can lay our paws on a prototype, we'll know what's been going on behind the curtains in the building opposite ours.
More images of Digiviewer 220x:
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Look really far ahead.
Better late than never
Philip Wong | Jan 11, 2006
Up till now, conservative Panasonic has been reluctant in embracing the latest wireless audio technology in its Asian home entertainment products. Consider that a double blow, especially with its formidable know-how inherited from Technics, its audio specialist sister company.
Fortunately, the excruciating wait is over. Sporting a familiar styling and feature set with its well-received SC-HT930, the upcoming SC-HT885w now comes with an external wireless module for its surround speakers.
Matching its new-found capability is a competent 700W amplifier paired with four identical 360 degree sound-enabled speakers. You also get better picture quality with the onboard 12bit/108MHz video digital-to-analog converter and advanced progressive-scan engine.
More info here
Intel processor double whammy
Darius Chang | Jan 11, 2006
In a keynote speech today by CEO Paul Otellini at CES in Las Vegas, Intel officially unveiled its new Centrino Duo Mobile Technology. The centerpiece of the Duo Mobile chipset, previously code-named Napa, is Intel's Core Duo chip, which places two mobile processing cores on one chip. Two other components, Intel's Mobile 945 chipset and Pro/Wireless 3945a/b/g chip, are also part of the new chipset. A single-core version of the new technology is called Core Solo. In addition to powering the next generation of laptops, Duo will be at the center of Intel's new Viiv platform, which will seek to firmly place PCs at the center of home entertainment.
According to an Intel executive who briefed CNET in December 2005, the Core Duo chip is expected to deliver a 68 percent performance gain over Intel's current Sonoma single-core processors and reduce battery consumption by 28 percent. Such a gain would help to bridge the considerable performance gap between mobile and desktop PCs.
Read more
Charge of the Bluetooth-ready headsets
CNET.com staff | Jan 11, 2006
Motorola has unveiled the H5 Miniblue Bluetooth Headset, the teensiest Bluetooth headset the CNET team has ever seen. At only 33 x 41 millimeters, the H5 has a flanged ear tip to ensure a comfortable fit. The built-in mic apparently picks up your voice through your ear canal, which is a good thing, since the H5 doesn't have a boom mic, like a lot of other headsets. It also comes with a silver, stylish portable charging base and will be available the first half of this year.
In addition to its Miniblue, Motorola also showed off other tiny headsets at CES. The design of the new Motorola H700 is similar to the Motorola HS850's but is 30 percent smaller, and you can turn the device on and off simply by flipping the boom mic. The H3 Bluetooth headset, designed specifically to complement the Motorola Razr V3, features a sleek design that mimics the Razr's slim form factor. It has a removable ear hook and is compatible with Bluetooth 1.1- and 1.2-enabled cell phones.
Not to be outdone, Nokia also revealed three new Bluetooth headsets at the recent CES 2006: The BH-200, the BH-800, and the BH-900. While the BH-800 isn't as small as the Motorola H5 Miniblue, it still looks nice and compact atonly 1.6 x 0.7 x 0.35 inches and 0.3 ounces. There's a headset strap that lets it dangle around your neck, making it seem even more like a fashion statement. It comes in both black and silvery white. Rated talk time is 6 hours, while standby time is 160 hours. The BH-800 should be available in Q1 this year.
The other two may not be as pretty, but they're definitely functional. The BH-200 is a basic Bluetooth headset made to be easy to use, with uncomplicated controls. Rated talktime for the BH-200 is 5 hours 30 minutes, while the standby time is 150 hours. The BH-900, on the other hand, caters to business audiences, with noise-reduction and echo-cancellation technology, which means the person you're speaking to will be able to hear you even if you're in a noisy environment. The BH-900 has an extendable boom, plus it supports push-to-talk technology, depending on the phone and the network. Rated talk time for the BH-900 is 8 hours, while standby time is 180 hours. Both the BH-200 and the BH-900 will be available in Q2 this year.
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