Archives for October 2007
Sony's Mac Mini killer coming to Singapore
Darius Chang | Oct 23, 2007
We don't know about you, but we feel the Mac mini has become dated. True, it is small, white and has that classic clean Apple facade. But the boxy look is as relevant as bell-bottom jeans.
Sony has gone one step up and decided that round is hot. Its VAIO VGX-TP1 small-form-factor PC has no edges at all, going with a smooth circular design that makes it look more like a speaker than a computer. And though at US$1,599.99 (S$2,345.10) it's nowhere as cheap as the sub-S$1,000 (US$735.29) Mac mini, this VAIO makes up for it by including a wireless keyboard, full remote control, built-in TV tuner and more connectivity ports than the Mac.
On the flipside, we were surprised that although the TP1 is based on the latest Intel 965GM chipset, the integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics engine is a generation behind. If you are familiar with chipsets, you would also have realized by now that this desktop is powered by a mobile platform, which means you pay top dollar for what amounts to a budget notebook system (sans LCD). The price of looking good is, indeed, pretty high. Sony has not confirmed the launch date, though it confirmed that this VAIO is definitely on the boat to Singapore.
Moto Q 9h gets launch date this weekend
Damian Koh | Oct 23, 2007
That's October 27 in Singapore and next week in Malaysia. Other markets that will also get the Q 9h treatment include China and Indonesia with the latter targeted for a November launch. In Singapore, the QWERTY handset is expected to retail at S$828 (US$608.82) without contract.
Admittedly, what we like about the Q 9h is its keyboard, which is one of the best in the market right now. The only other one that caught our fancy was the earlier Nokia E61. Unlike most other QWERTY handsets, the keyboard on the Q 9h is curved. In a way, it matches the movement of our thumbs better than a straight set. Other features include HSDPA and Bluetooth stereo, though the unit is ostensibly missing Wi-Fi connectivity. To find out more, click here for a full review.
10mm waffle-thin Samsung 40-incher
Philip Wong | Oct 23, 2007
Just when we thought the Philips.LG 19.8mm LCD panel groundbreaking, Samsung has pulled a quick one on its rivals by unveiling a TV-equivalent with an even thinner 10mm thickness. Introduced at the recent FPD International 2007 in Japan, the 1080p 40-incher uses the latest LED backlighting and consumes less than 90W power. Even better, its waffle-thin chassis sports an ultra-narrow 14.6mm frame, almost half of what's usual and similar to the width found on current high-end LCD monitors.
Via Akihabara News
Wireless iPod speakers that are... actually wireless
John P. Falcone | Oct 23, 2007
There are a lot of dubious claims in the world of consumer electronics. Some of my favorites are "DVD-quality video" and "CD-quality sound" (for digital media that is often anything but) and the always classic "installs in just minutes." But one of the biggest truth-benders in recent years has been "wireless speakers." As resident blogger Steve "The Audiophiliac" Guttenberg recently pointed out, many so-called wireless speaker systems actually introduce more wires into the equation. That's exactly why Griffin Technology's new Evolve Wireless Sound System looks so promising: The US$299.99 iPod speaker system includes two speakers that look to be completely and totally free of cables.
How'd Griffin do it? By including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in the speakers themselves. Once they're fully charged (just sit them on the base station's cradle), Griffin says they can be placed anywhere within 150 feet. And because they communicate via RF, walls and obstructions shouldn't pose a problem--adjoining rooms and nearby outdoor spaces (patios, decks) are fair game. Griffin says the fully charged speakers should deliver 10 hours of playing time before needing another juice-up. And the detached speakers aren't limited to what your iPod can play; the base station's line-in cradle accepts a stereo input from virtually any source. (Yes, the base station still needs a power cord--but that's the only wire that the system should require if you're listening to your iPod.)
Of course, there can often be a big chasm between concept and execution. Griffin's sending our CNET.com counterparts a review sample, so we should know if the Evolve measures up in just a few days. (It begins shipping today, and will be available at selected US retail outlets. It is expected to be available in Asia in January or February next year.) In the meantime, you can find more detailed info at the product's dedicated Web site at evolvespeakers.com.
Via CNET Crave
Purple-striped glofiish
John Chan | Oct 23, 2007
400MHz Samsung processor, Windows Mobile 6, SiRFstar III GPS navigation chip and 64MB RAM. These specs describe the E-Ten glofiish X500 PDA-phone, and now, the new glofiish X600, too. The Taiwanese company has announced a new entry-level GPS handheld and it has the exact same features as the older X500.
It's not unheard of, certainly--repackaging an old product in a nicer-looking chassis and trimming down the size a little. It's just that we didn't quite expect a company like E-Ten to do something like that because it's usually the bigger players that bother to do so.
So, those who like their X500 slimmer and with a purple strip down its side can get the X600 in Singapore in early November. Right now, we still do not have information about its wider Asia availability and price, though we understand from an E-Ten spokesperson that it will be competitively priced.
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