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Alan Brandon
Shake, rattle, and roll: Sony’s feature packed HD Handycam CX520VE
By Alan Brandon
22:44 July 12, 2009 PDT
Sony has announced its new flagship HD camcorder, the Handycam HDR-CX520VE. Equipped with three-way image stabilization as well as a new sensor, lens, and image processor, the CX520VE provides what Sony calls its best picture quality ever. Shooting full HD video and surround sound, the unit also features 64GB of internal memory and GPS “geotagging” of video clips. Read More
MIT’s ‘flexible camera’ replaces lens with fiber web
By Alan Brandon
23:40 July 8, 2009 PDT
Imagine that instead of carrying a camera in your jacket pocket, your entire jacket was the camera. That is the promise of a new type of light-detecting fibers developed by researchers at MIT. The team from the Institute's Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) has developed light-detecting fibers that, when woven into a web, act as a flexible “camera”. Fabric made from these fibers could be joined to a computer to create a large, foldable telescope or made into a soldier’s uniform to provide greater situational awareness. Read More
Cobra SL3 GPS finds traffic cameras, is blind to radar
By Alan Brandon
18:24 July 5, 2009 PDT
At first glance the Cobra SL3 looks like a normal radar detector, but it’s really a GPS-enabled speed camera locator. The SL3 features a built-in, updateable database of speed camera and red-light camera locations. Its LED indicators and alert tones warn you when you approach a camera location so you have time to slow down. Read More
THINERGY battery packs a little power in a littler package
By Alan Brandon
01:27 July 1, 2009 PDT
The new line of THINERGY Micro-Energy Cells from Infinite Power Solutions Inc (IPS) could soon be powering small devices such as autonomous wireless sensors, powered smart cards, active RFID applications, and implantable medical devices. The manufacturer says these tiny, rechargeable, thin-film batteries combine the energy density of traditional batteries with the high discharge current of supercapacitors. With some models measuring just 0.5 inches square (12.7mm) and less than 0.01 inches thick (0.17mm), IPS claims these are the most powerful batteries for their size. Read More
Light sensor breakthrough could enhance solar cells and digital cameras
By Alan Brandon
02:06 June 30, 2009 PDT
A new type of light sensor that acts like a pixel in a digital camera has been created by researchers at the University of Toronto. Scientists believe the sensor, which takes advantage of a phenomenon called multi-exciton generation (MEG), could lead to substantial advancements in the performance of a variety of electronic devices including digital cameras. Read More
10x better? Juniper Networks launches industry’s first 100Gbs Ethernet card
By Alan Brandon
21:19 June 24, 2009 PDT
Juniper Networks has announced what it says is the industry's first 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100 GbE) router interface card, which will be offered as part of Juniper's T1600 core router. The 100 GbE card is designed to address what the company calls the “new generation of scale” coming to core networks. Telecommunications providers, cloud-infrastructure companies, and other organizations rolling out large-scale virtualization face ever increasing demands on their networks. The 100 GE interface will provide an order of magnitude increase over most current interfaces. Read More
Olympus goes back to the future with the retro-styled E-P1 digital camera
By Alan Brandon
18:05 June 19, 2009 PDT
A modern reinvention of the classic Pen camera from the 1960s and 70s, Olympus' E-P1 rolls a compact point-and-shoot form factor and full-size DSLR features together in a way that seems to defy categorization. There's something undeniably appealing about a 12.3-megapixel camera with interchangeable lens system, 720p high definition video, image stabilization and stereo audio recording that you can carry in a classic leather half-case, but the E-P1 is almost as notable for what Olympus left out. Alan Brandon zooms in for a closer look. Read More
No PC required: Brando SATA HDD adapter plays media straight out of the box
By Alan Brandon
18:29 June 17, 2009 PDT
If you like your gadgets to be functional but without all that fussy “styling” or aesthetic design, the Brando SATA HDD Multi-Media Player Adapter may be for you. This no-frills adapter is literally a black box device that lets you play media files from a SATA hard disk, SDHC card or USB storage device on your TV – without the need to use a computer. Read More
Honeywell wind turbine is a breeze to run – and a light one at that
By Alan Brandon
15:11 June 17, 2009 PDT
Has affordable, practical home wind power generation become a reality? The Honeywell Windgate wind turbine from EarthTronics looks like it could be a contender. Developers EarthTronics and Honeywell Corp hope the Windgate wind turbine will help meet the energy needs of homeowners and businesses, even if they are not located in prime “windy” areas. EarthTronics says the 6-foot wide, 95-pound Windgate can start to spin in breezes as low as 2mph and can create more power with less wind than other types of wind turbines. Read More
Carcoon Server Shield portable clean room protects your hardware
By Alan Brandon
17:39 June 15, 2009 PDT
Responsible IT departments have well established data backup procedures and disaster recovery plans to cope with the unexpected. But some threats to IT infrastructure - like the dust created by building works in the vicinity of sensitive and valuable hardware - are known about in advance. To cater for such scenarios, Carcoon, the UK manufacturer of inflatable covers for cars and motorcycles, has developed the Server Shield. Read More
Cisco PVC300 Internet camera brings Big Brother to small companies
By Alan Brandon
17:06 June 11, 2009 PDT
Cisco’s new PVC300 Pan Tilt Optical Zoom Internet Camera provides a suite of surveillance features aimed at small companies who want to keep a watchful eye on their employees and business property. Designed to operate on existing wired networks, the PVC300 provides two-way audio, motion activated recording, automatic alerts and full-motion live video that can be viewed from virtually anywhere on an Internet-enabled PC or mobile phone. Read More
DigiLife DDV-JF1 puts HD video recorder AND projector in your pocket
By Alan Brandon
01:48 June 9, 2009 PDT
What’s the use of shooting HD video with your pocket camcorder if you can’t immediately share your cinematic masterpiece with your friends? That seems to be the question Life Technologies is answering with their new DigiLife DDV-JF1, a combination HD video recorder and pico projector in one compact unit. Read More
Rescue Reel is designed to let you down in an emergency
By Alan Brandon
18:01 June 5, 2009 PDT
The Rescue Reel is a compact, self-contained device designed to allow people to escape from high-rise buildings in an emergency. Taking inspiration from a fishing reel, inventor Kevin Stone's design features a simple sling harness and enough cord to descend from a 100 story building, yet the device is small enough to be stored in a standard filing cabinet drawer. Read More
PowerFlare LED safety lights offer safe alternative to chemical emergency flares
By Alan Brandon
16:44 June 3, 2009 PDT
PowerFlare’s PF-200 electronic LED safety light is not your average roadside flare. Invented by Ken Dueker, a former police officer and PowerFlare’s CEO, the PowerFlare PF-200 replaces chemical flares with a reusable, non-combusting alternative. Each PF-200 features a 360-degree LED array protected by a ruggedized plastic housing that can withstand the weight of a fire truck. Read More
GM’s OnStar predicts injury severity using real-time crash data
By Alan Brandon
18:07 June 2, 2009 PDT
General Motors has announced a new capability for its OnStar service, which the car manufacturer hopes will reduce emergency response times and save lives. The new feature, called Injury Severity Prediction, analyzed real-time vehicle crash telemetry data to predict how severely the occupants may be injured. OnStar then alerts emergency services so that they can react more quickly and appropriately. Read More
Honeywell keeps its cool with the programmable Prestige HD thermostat
By Alan Brandon
22:44 May 27, 2009 PDT
Honeywell’s new Prestige HD is its latest programmable thermostat, and it appears as if the technology company took a page from Apple’s design manual. The Prestige features a modern white case with a high-definition, full-color touchscreen and wireless capability. The user interface offers a modern look, with controls and data presented in an easy-to-understand format. The Prestige’s built-in wireless technology allows it to communicate with other Honeywell wireless devices, including the Portable Comfort Control and the Wireless Outdoor Sensor. Read More
Energizer Hard Case Tactical flashlight helps you find your car keys behind enemy lines
By Alan Brandon
19:05 May 26, 2009 PDT
Whether you need a flashlight that can withstand the rigors of the battlefield or if you’re just a bit clumsy, Energizer's second generation Hard Case Tactical rugged flashlight could be the answer. Featuring military-grade construction, the Hard Case Tactical 2AA flashlight is designed to withstand a 15 foot (4.5m) drop and immersion in water. The swiveling head allows you to position the light where you need it and the flat base accommodates hands-free operation. Read More
EMC's Symmetrix V-Max cloud storage solution
By Alan Brandon
23:34 May 25, 2009 PDT
If you want speed, torque, and raw two-wheeled muscle, buy yourself a Yamaha V-Max motorcycle. If you are looking for performance and scalable power for your virtualized data center, check out EMC’s Symmetrix V-Max. Yamaha’s version may offer a claimed 197 horsepower, but EMC says their V-Max Engine churns out enough power to support hundreds of petabytes of storage for enterprise cloud storage networks. Read More
PENTAX announces advanced K-7 digital SLR
By Alan Brandon
21:36 May 21, 2009 PDT
PENTAX has announced its new flagship DSLR camera, the K-7. The K-7 brings welcome updates to the PENTAX digital SLR line, and now offers many of the features that photo enthusiasts have come to expect from a high-end DSLR, including a redesigned body, a new 14.6-megapixel image sensor, and the ability to shoot HD video. Read More
rob yates
- November 26, 2009 @ 12:49 UTC
