Sony to launch FZ and TZ series in Asia
Darius Chang | Jun 05, 2007
Expect some serious gear envy in June as Sony will be introducing two new lines, the TZ and FZ series, with some surprises in store.
The FZ notebook may seem to be a update of its mainstream FE series, but Crave UK mentions that the top-end configuration comes with a Blu-ray drive option, making it the most portable way to carry a next-generation optical drive. Its entertainment roots are evident with a transflective 15.4-inch widescreen and HDMI port. Based on the Santa Rosa platform, we expect it to make quick work of any multimedia tasks.
But if portability is important for you, the 11.1-inch TZ laptop might appeal to you. Sharing the same genealogy as the ultralight TX series, Sony has somehow found space to fit in an optical drive in its exceptionally small chassis. Surprisingly, the TZ notebook is not based on the latest Santa Rosa platform, according to Crave UK. However, the unit does come with a fingerprint scanner and a new MacBook-style keyboard. A solid-state harddisk is also an option, though that choice might not be available to Asia-Pacific consumers.
VAIO FZ series | VAIO TZ series
New 13-inch Dell laptop leaked
Dan Ackerman | Jun 05, 2007
It's getting pretty hard to keep a secret these days, especially when it comes to laptops. Eagle-eyed bloggers already managed to rain on the Santa Rosa parade in early May, and we've since seen leaked laptops from Sony and Lenovo.
The latest unplanned product announcement comes from Dell, where Engadget has managed to get its hands on some promo literature for the upcoming Dell XPS m1330, a new 13-inch laptop. Purported highlights include:
The real highlight of the XPS m1330 is its small size, even for a 13-inch laptop. It weighs around 1.8kg and is super thin, going from 22.1mm in the front to 33.8mm in the rear. No pricing or availability info has been released (or leaked) yet, so stay tuned for more details on this impressive-looking system.
Ultramobile PC claims 12-hour battery
Mike Yamamoto | Jun 05, 2007
Some of us have never been huge fans of the so-called ultramobile PC (UMPC), but maybe that's because we have an aversion to gadgets with acronyms that sound like universities. Plus, there just seem to be so many reasons not to want them. However, a new offering from Korean computer maker Raon claims to have dispensed with one of those black marks: Battery power.
It's been christened the "Everun" because its batteries can last from 7 to 12 hours, according to the company, depending on whether it's running a standard or enhanced pack. And no, it doesn't weigh 10kg, either--in keeping within generally accepted UMPC heft and dimensions, it tips the scales at 400 to 450g while measuring 170.2 x 83.8mm and less than 25.4mm thick. Other specs include a 4.8-inch widescreen, an AMD LX900 600MHz processor and a 60GB hard drive.
Battery claims are notorious for being hyped, of course, so Raon's marketing literature must be viewed with the requisite skepticism. But no matter what, the company promises to keep a lid on the Everun's prices, estimating that they'll fall "in the US$600 to US$900 range". We still don't quite see where the UMPC fits in the evolutionary scale, but if prices keep coming down, it may be able to stave off extinction for a lot longer than we thought.
Obelisk Chairs
Juniper Foo | Jun 05, 2007
This brings Asterix's pal Obelisk to mind. For those not familiar with the French comic characters, Obelisk is Asterix's closest buddy who works as a menhir delivery man when not bashing up Roman legionnaires. This may well have been the inspiration for the Obelisk Chairs. Stacked together, they certainly resemble Obelisk's giant quarry stone. And it's a great idea for space-starved homes. Taken apart, they magically morph into a party of one table and four aluminum frame chairs wrapped in woven polyethylene, with white cushions. But at nearly US$9,000 an asking price, that's one hot seat to park your guests on. Nahhh. Beanbags, anyone?
See the chairs here
Via Uncrate
Price: US$8,920
Availability: At HGTV Marketplace; latest update: Spotted this at Singapore's Parkmall, and it's going for S$9,000-plus, yes, that's Singapore dollars
Device: Furniture
Specs: N.A.
Sony fights back with new Blu-ray player 
Philip Wong | Jun 04, 2007
Ain't it sweet to have healthy competition? Merely weeks after Toshiba fired its first HD-DVD salvo in Asia, Sony is now countering the threat with its second local Blu-ray release.
Joining the S$799 (US$561.57) PlayStation 3 and S$1,999 (US$1,404.98) Samsung BD-P1000 is an enhanced version of its first-generation BDP-S1 standalone Blu-ray player.
| Editors' note:
The Sony BDP-S1E has just been launched in Hong Kong at a recommended retail price of HK$7,980 (S$1,564). On a separate note, expect the US$599 BDP-S300 to hit Asia's shores some time in Q4 2007.
|
Easily the sexiest HD player among the next-generation DVD cohorts, the souped-up BDP-S1E now offers HDMI version 1.3 and wide color gamut support (xvYCC technology). The former outputs native Dolby Digital, Digital Plus and DTS-HD audio for outboard surround sound decoding, while delivering film-centric 24Hz 1080p video for enhanced visual performance.
Those on A/V receivers and processors without HDMI will also get to enjoy CD-quality Dolby and DTS sound. This is possible with the player's onboard decoder and analog multichannel audio outputs, a feature lacking in its own PS3 and lower-end models. Though pricing was not available at press time, expect the S1E to ship throughout Asia Pacific from July.
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