Nokia announces new smart home solution

Wouldn't it be nice if you could manage all your home appliances, electronics, entertainment, security and climate control system from your mobile phone? This is exactly what Nokia is promising with its Home Control Center solution. The beauty of this Linux-based platform is its comprehensive compatibility with most existing smart home technologies. This allows a unified user interface for these competing offerings which can be conveniently accessed from a mobile phone and Web browser.

Though detailed implementation of the Nokia Home Control Center is sketchy at the moment, the system seems to be centered on a miniature gateway featuring Wi-Fi, GSM, GRPS and Z-Wave wireless connectivity. Another function that caught our attention was its remote access capability. This should give users the added convenience of accessing their home gadgets from the office, in the car on the way home, etc. That's not all. Did we also mention Web, media and email server expansion options as well?

It's still unclear how an infrared or standalone product such as a flat-panel TV can be integrated into the Nokia system. That said, one of our editors will be heading to Europe soon to find out more. Stay tuned for a full coverage.

Via Ubergizmo | Photo credit: Ubergizmo

A movie beamer fit for Batman

It's black and has menacing wings sculpted like a futuristic stealth fighter. The French Cineversum BlackWing One is a full-HD home theater projector based on a three-chip LCoS engine similar to JVC's D-ILA and Sony's SXRD. Despite a hefty US$6,500 sticker price, the BlackWing One is currently the most affordable model in its lineup comprising the US$9,995 BlackWing Two and US$13,500 BlackWing Three.

For your money, you'll get out-of-the-box factory-calibrated D65 colors, a high-performance HQV video processor and two HDMI inputs. Unlike most LCoS-based beamers, the BlackWing One is also capable of projecting a bright image at 1,400 ANSI lumens, though dynamic contrast is a little low at 15,000:1.

Via Engadget | Photo credit: Cineversum

PS3 flashes firmware update version 2.53

Not literally, of course! The new PlayStation 3 firmware slated for today unlocks full-screen Adobe Flash support for the console's integrated Web browser. The latest development is a plus when it comes to sites built entirely in Flash, such as most of Hollywood's official movie webpages.

On a separate note, there have been rumors about the PS3 getting more affordable PS3 in 2009. Hopefully, Sony can make this a reality and deliver a slimmer design at the same time. Should we make this our X'mas wish for 2008?

Via Ubergizmo | Photo credit: Sony

Get a credit card, save on a PS3

Now might not be the best time to be getting a new credit card, but if you happen to be a gamer who's racking up charges anyway, a new PlayStation credit card could be the way to do it.

Yes, a PlayStation credit card. The card, issued by US Chase Bank and announced recently on Sony's official PlayStation blog, lets you earn reward points toward the purchase of a PlayStation and other Sony products.


Through an introductory offer running from now through December 31, cardholders can save US$150 on the purchase of a PlayStation 3. Which hopefully will offset the debt accrued when stocking up on the likes of Little Big Planet, Dead Space, and Fallout 3.

You can get the knockdown by going www.sony.com/newpscard to get instant approval for your card, and an immediate US$150 credit when you purchase a PS3 directly through the Web site. Or you can go to www.sony.com/getpscard to apply for the card and upon receipt of the card, use it at any authorized PlayStation retailer to purchase a PS3.

Via CNET Crave | Photo credit: Sony

Sharp Aquos takes new baby steps

That's right, folks. The Japanese LCD TV pioneer has recently soft-launched its latest Aquos A65 and A85 full-HD panels that are near-clones of their predecessors. Besides sporting basically the same aesthetics and thin 95mm bezel as the A63 and A83 (albeit with a new silver bottom), the two new models offer a humble 10,000:1 dynamic contrast and only three HDMI inputs.

Nevertheless, the above-mentioned A/V sockets have been updated with Aquos Link to remotely control its Blu-ray player, while film-centric 1080p24 signal compatibility ensures optimized hi-def video playback. Accordingly to Sharp's product manager, other key features of the A85-series also include a 12-bit panel and video-processing engine which deliver an additional 68 billion shades of colors.

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