Archive for April 27th, 2005
Today is turning into Apple day on TechSmec.com. Now we bring you news that the price of the rather tasty Cinema Displays is being cut - the 20-inch model to $799 and the 23-inch HD model to $1,499.
In addition, Apple’s new 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5s and 1.67 GHz 17-inch PowerBooks now feature built-in support to directly drive Apple’s groundbreaking 30-inch Cinema HD Display, saving customers hundreds of dollars.
“Apple’s Cinema Displays now start at just $799, making widescreen flat displays affordable to even more people,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Even Apple’s groundbreaking 30-inch Cinema HD Display, with its over four million pixels, is now made more affordable with standard support built into some PowerMac G5 and PowerBook configurations.”
Apple’s flat panel display line, comprising the 20-inch Cinema Display, the 23-inch Cinema HD Display and revolutionary 30-inch Cinema HD Display, is designed to work with DVI-equipped Power Mac G5 desktops, PowerBook G4 notebooks and Windows-based computers, and offers the widescreen design (16:10 ratio) coveted by creative professionals who want access to more screen real estate. The 30-inch Cinema HD Display has an industry-leading 2560-by-1600 pixel resolution and the 23-inch Cinema HD Display has a 1920-by-1200 pixel resolution, ideal for editing High Definition Television (HDTV) content. The 20-inch Cinema Display professional-quality flat panel offers a 1680-by-1050 pixel resolution, more than enough space to edit full size images with plenty of room for on-screen palettes.
Two systems now feature built-in support for Apple’s breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display: the new 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5 and the 1.67 GHz 17-inch PowerBook. Users can also add support for the 30-inch Cinema HD Display as a build-to-order option on the new 2.0 GHz and 2.3 GHz Power Mac G5 systems, as well as the 1.67 GHz 15-inch PowerBook.
Apple Cinema Displays deliver the superior color performance needed to meet the rigorous standards for SWOP-certified display-based proofing systems. With display-based proofing systems, print professionals can approve jobs for press production onscreen without the need for hard-copy proofs, resulting in significant time and cost savings. Apple flat panel displays provide a broad color gamut and maximum color quality using the industry’s best wide-viewing angle technology of up to 170 degrees even when viewing images off-axis.
Apple Cinema Displays feature an all aluminum design with a very thin bezel, suspended by an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge that makes tilting the display almost effortless. Each Cinema Display features two FireWire 400 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, and support the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) mounting interface standard.
Source: Media Center PC World
April 27th, 2005
Apple has upgraded its G5 desktop line, featuring dual 64-bit PowerPC G5 processors running up to 2.7 GHz and including Mac OS X version 10.4 “Tiger”.
The new Power Mac G5 line delivers higher performance graphics options with more memory and built-in support for Apple’s breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display on the 2.7 GHz model.
The new line also includes larger hard drives, a faster 16X SuperDrive with double-layer support and 512MB of memory across the line.
“The Power Mac G5 continues to deliver the ultimate performance for our most advanced customers running bandwidth- and compute-intensive applications,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With dual 2.7 GHz 64-bit G5 processors, dual 1.35 GHz front side buses, ATI Radeon 9650 graphics, 16X SuperDrive with double-layer support and Mac OS X Tiger, the new Power Mac G5 is the most powerful and advanced Mac we have ever made.”
Powered by dual 64-bit PowerPC G5 processors, the Power Mac G5 provides a
128-bit memory architecture, delivers expansion of up to 8GB of fast 400 MHz DDR SDRAM and supports graphics cards with up to 256MB of video memory. The top model features two 2.7 GHz processors, each with an independent 1.35 GHz front-side bus for an amazing bandwidth of up to 21.6 GBps.
All new Power Mac G5 models come standard with dual-display support with
either the ATI Radeon 9600 graphics card with 128MB of video memory or the ATI Radeon 9650 with 256MB of video memory. The new Power Mac G5 line gives users new graphics options to drive Apple’s gorgeous 30-inch Cinema HD Display. The dual processor 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5 features built-in support to drive Apple’s breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display right out of the box. Available as a build-to-order option on every model, the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL high-performance graphics card can drive up to two 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays.
Every Power Mac G5 ships with a new, faster 16X SuperDrive with double-layer support capable of burning up to 8.5GB on a single DVD, 512MB
memory and larger hard drives for up to 800GB of internal storage, all within the Power Mac G5’s signature aluminum enclosure featuring innovative computer-controlled cooling for quiet operation. All Power Mac G5 desktops deliver industry-leading connectivity, high-performance I/O and expansion including Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire(R) 800, FireWire 400, three PCI-X or PCI expansion slots, USB 2.0, optical digital audio input and output, and analog audio input and output.
Pricing & Availability
The new dual processor Power Mac G5 models will be available this week
through the Apple Store, at Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The new dual Power Mac G5 models complement the existing 1.8 GHz single processor Power Mac G5, providing customers with an affordable entry-level system priced at just $1,499.
April 27th, 2005
A lot of devices have been touted as “iPod Killers” in their time - the portable media center and the Sony PSP to name two - and now Nokia think that they have got one on their hands as well.
The Nokia N91 combines a mobile phone with a 4-gigabyte hard disk to create a portable music player with room for up to 3000 songs. Digital music formats supported include MP3, M4A, AAC and WMA.
The N91 wears its music player heart on its sleeve with an industry standard 3.5mm stereo headset jack and keys dedicated to music control on the face. In fact, the mobile phone keys are hidden behind a slide-down cover.
“The Nokia N91 delivers both a fantastic music experience and cutting-edge phone features,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President, Music at Nokia. “What sets the Nokia N91 apart is the fact that it is always connected - you can download new music while on the move, add it to your favourite playlist and then share your playlist with friends. It’s truly the world’s best mobile connected jukebox.”
Connecting to your PC via USB2.0 or Bluetooth it looks exceptionally easy to manage your playlists.
Convergence devices haven’t always caught on - there can be just too many functions in a single product, but TechSmec.cpom thinks that a combination of two things that the man on the street is beginning to find essential - the mobile phone and the iPod - is a bit of a winner.
iPod killer? Maybe.
April 27th, 2005
Here in the UK, hybrid cars aren’t exactly setting the roads alight, not least because of a damning review of the Toyota Prius on the BBC’s Top Gear programme, but in the USA sales are soaring.
Nationwide registrations for new hybrid vehicles rose to 83,153 in 2004 - an 81 percent increase from 2003 according to R. L. Polk & Co. The Toyota Prius recorded 53,761 new hybrid vehicle registrations in 2004, a 33% increase over 2003. The Prius occupies 64% of the hybrid market, a sizeable lead over the Honda Civic, which had 25,586 registrations and 31 percent market share. Since the introduction of hybrid vehicles in 2000, the market has grown by more than 960%.
Hybrid vehicles are automobiles powered by internal combustion engines,
but are also equipped with batteries recharged during driving and an electric motor to assist with power demand. There are different levels of hybrids, ranging from minor systems to “full hybrid” systems. Hybrids do not need to be plugged in, yet they deliver superior mileage and are considered environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional internal combustion vehicles.
“Expectations of continuing high gas prices, combined with the
introduction of new models to the consumer market, have heightened interest in hybrid vehicles,” said Lonnie Miller, director of Polk’s Analytical Solutions. “Hybrids offer improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions while maintaining the functionality and convenience of gasoline-powered vehicles. Hybrid technology is also easy to produce and works within the existing transportation infrastructure.”
None of which changes the fact that saving the planet is just plain boring. TechSmec.com doesn’t own a particularly gas-guzzling car, but even we can’t bring ourselves to own a Toyota Prius, which is why the new Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV may change the fortunes of hybrid vehicles in the UK.
For a start it actually looks like a proper with none of the quirky styling that made the Prius look like it had jumped straight from the concept drawing board to the road without passing the design stage. However, you still get 33 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the open road in hybrid mode. That’s almost small car territory and not what you would expect from a hulking 4×4. Expect to see this car on the school run sometime in 2006.
April 27th, 2005
Transferring home movies to DVDs has never been easier than with Sony’s next-generation DVDirect (pronounced DVD Direct) recorder, which lets you convert footage in real-time, from a digital camcorder to a DVD without using a computer.
The DVDirect recorder also works with analog camcorders, VCRs and other video sources. What’s more, it can be attached to a computer for more advanced DVD burning projects.
What it doesn’t have is a TV Tuner, so it has limited use beyond what it says on the tin - and as you are reading this on a computer you probably have all the DVD-burning equipment you need. Still, maybe your Dad needs one, so read on….
This second-generation model includes a digital video (DV) input (i.LINK/FireWire/IEEE 1394) that allows for quick and easy high-quality video transfers from a digital camcorder, including full camcorder control from DVDirect in synchronized recording mode. Sony has also added stand-alone recording support for DVD-R and DVD-RW discs, in addition to DVD+R, DVD+R double layer and DVD+RW discs, providing an array of media options.
DVDirect is the answer if you have degrading videotapes or if you use a camcorder and want to ensure that your taped memories are preserved into the future. Transferring home movies to DVDs is as easy as connecting a camcorder to the DVDirect drive and pressing the record button. The recorder automatically creates a DVD menu and can automatically or manually generate titles and chapters on a disc, making videos easier to watch.
“With DVDirect, converting taped footage to DVD is as simple as dubbing an audio cassette tape,” said Robert DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics’ IT Products Division. “It can be used for basic camcorder-to-DVD transfers in standalone mode or it can be attached to a computer for more advanced DVD authoring projects.”
The DVDirect recorder can burn up to 12 hours of high-quality hardware encoded MPEG-2 video onto compatible DVD+R DL discs or up to six hours onto standard single layer discs, which can then be played back and enjoyed on most home DVD players. The high capacity allows you to consolidate multiple tapes onto one disc, which is easy to share with friends and family.
Take Video to the Next Level Using a Computer
DVDirect can be attached to a PC via Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) for advanced DVD authoring and burning projects, such as adding graphics and music to home movies. In computer-attached mode, DVDirect can burn DVD-R and DVD+R discs at 16X, which equates to about six minutes of recording time. It also supports 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW, 48X CD-R and 24X CD-RW recording speeds.
DVD and CD Software Suite
The hybrid DVD recorder comes with the Nero(R) software suite to use when it is attached to a computer. The package features software for DVD video authoring and DVD/CD burning, as well as for packet writing, so you can easily burn files and folders by dragging them to the icon of a DVD+RW/CD-RW disc.
Rounding out the impressive bundle are DVD-video playing software, backup software, virtual disc drive software, management/jukebox software, disc label creation software and drive tool software. All tasks and applications are accessible via the Nero StartSmart launcher, which makes it simple to load all necessary software.
Availability and Pricing
The DVDirect recorder (model VRD-VC20) will be available in May for $299 MSRP. Sony DVD/CD rewritable drives are sold through resellers and retailers nationwide, mail order catalogs, and select online shopping sites, including SonyStyle.com. Pre-orders for this model are now being accepted on SonyStyle.com.
April 27th, 2005