RIM’s 2011 CDMA device roadmap has leaked, bringing with it details of a renewed push for the Canadian company into touchscreen handsets. According to what looks like a RIM presentation passed to CrackBerry, the BlackBerry PlayBook release in Q2 2011 will be shortly followed by the all-touch BlackBerry Monaco, a 1.2GHz CDMA/UMTS World Phone hybrid with a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen and 5-megapixel camera with flash.
The Monaco will also have an optical trackpad, 4GB of storage, 768MB of RAM and a memory card slot; connectivity will include WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, microUSB and NFC, along with GPS, a digital compass and accelerometer. The smartphone will run BlackBerry v6.1 and measure 120 x 62 x 11.5 mm.
It’ll launch in Q3 2011 alongside the BlackBerry Bold Touch (aka Montana), at 10.5mm the thinnest BlackBerry to date, and taking the top spot in RIM’s QWERTY range with its forged, machined steel chassis. The Bold Touch pairs a physical keyboard and a 2.8-inch VGA capacitive touchscreen, together with an optical trackpad, CDMA/UMTS and WiFi b/g/n. More specs in the gallery below.
Finally there’s the BlackBerry Sedona, set to bring its simple QWERTY phone ways to the market in Aug-Sept 2011, though still packing NFC, and the BlackBerry Curve Touch, a 3.25-inch HVGA all-touch smartphone with 5-megapixel camera and WiFi b/g/n. Full details in the gallery. RIM is pushing for NFC support across its range, which will be used for peer-to-peer networking and with special accessories.
The BlackBerry Curve has always been our favorite ‘berry because of its solid keyboard and lack of pretension to any functionality beyond great messaging, but it looks like things are about to change fast: you’re looking at a leaked image of what CrackBerry says is the Curve Touch, codenamed “Malibu,” and it’s all touchscreen — unlike the rumored Apollo, there’s no keyboard in sight. We’ve only got specs on the CDMA version, and they’re right in line with what you’d expect for a midrange device due out in late 2011 / early 2012: 800MHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor, 3.25-inch HVGA screen, 5 megapixel camera with HD video, 1GB storage with microSD expansion and 512MB of RAM, GPS, and NFC. Of course, CrackBerry says those are just “proposed specs,” so anything could change, but man — are we crazy for thinking an all-touch Curve definitely seems to redefine everything about what a BlackBerry is and is not?
As expected, Sony has outed its “PSP2“, currently codenamed the Sony next generation portable entertainment system or NGP, and expected to go on sale at the end of 2011. Based on a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 processor and Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU, the NGP has a 5-inch OLED 960 x 544 multitouch-capable touchscreen on the front and a multitouch pad on the back, for what Sony describes as “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” gestures in gameplay.
There are also two cameras, one front and one rear, and a suite of sensors including six-axis motion-sensing (pairing gyroscope and accelerometer), a three-axis digital compass, GPS and WiFi. There’s also 3G, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP stereo headphones. Sony is now using a flash memory card to store games, but there’ll also be access to the new PlayStation Suite, also announced today, which offers titles for the NGP and for Android smartphones.
As with the 3DS‘ StreetPass feature, the Sony NGP will use a new service called Near, part of the PlayStation Network, to flag up gamers in the vicinity and show what they’re playing now or having been playing recently. There’ll also be wireless multiplayer support. Each NGP game will LiveArea access, with a log of activity and other information.
The whole thing measures in at 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5 mm and has dual analog sticks, the usual directional buttons, action buttons and shoulder controls. No word on pricing; that won’t be revealed until closer to launch at the end of the year.
Press Release:
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
ITS NEXT GENERATION PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Ultimate Portable Entertainment System Makes Its Debut This Year,
Further Expanding the PlayStation® Business in the Portable Gaming Market
Tokyo, January 27, 2011– Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced its next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which delivers the ultimate portable entertainment experience. NGP will make its debut at the end of the year 2011.
NGP is designed to offer unparalleled interactive entertainment that is only possible on PlayStation®. This new system offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context, made possible by leveraging SCE’s experience from both PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®3 (PS3®) entertainment systems.
Deep and immersive gaming is at the core of PlayStation’s DNA, and NGP is the latest embodiment of this vision. By having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with various applications, NGP will enable infinite possibilities for users to “encounter,” “connect,” “discover,” “share” and “play” with friends wherever they are. Within the device are a range of features that provide a genuinely cutting-edge, next generation ultimate portable entertainment experience.
?Stunning OLED and Revolutionary User Interface
NGP incorporates a beautiful multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display. A high-performance CPU / GPU combined with OLED enables rich, visually striking graphics never seen before on a portable entertainment system, for both games and other digital entertainment content. The new system also incorporates a unique multi-touch pad on the rear, and together with the front touch display, NGP offers new game play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” moves of the fingers.
?Super Oval Design and Dual Analog Sticks
While succeeding the basic design philosophy of PSP, NGP adopts the Super Oval Design form factor, created to fit comfortably in users’ hands. For the first time, a portable entertainment system will feature two analog sticks, which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience.
?LiveArea™
Every game title for NGP will be provided with a space called “LiveArea™” where users can share the fun and excitement with other players. Users will have access to the latest information of games provided from SCE and 3rd party developers and publishers through PlayStation®Network. Additionally, NGP users will be able to view an “Activity” log that is constantly updated with accomplishments from users who are playing the same game, which in turn can trigger active real-time communication among users.
?Near
SCE will also provide location-based services on NGP as part of the basic features utilizing PlayStation Network. The new application called “Near,” developed specifically for this service and the network, will be pre-installed in the system to let users find out what their friends in the vicinity are playing now or what they were playing recently. Users can meet their friends and new players virtually, regardless of what games they are playing, simply by sharing their game information across different dimensions of time and distance.
?New Game Medium
NGP adopts a new game medium, a small flash memory based card, dedicated for NGP software titles. Taking advantage of the flash memory feature, this innovative card can store the full software titles plus add-on game content or the game save data directly on to the card. By adopting flash memory based card, SCE will be able to provide game cards with higher capacity in the future, allowing developers to store more game data to deliver rich and immersive games.
NGP will also come equipped with two cameras on its front and rear, as well as three motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass, all of which are designed to enable users to enjoy the world of entertainment that is linked with real life experiences.
PlayStation®Suite (PS Suite), announced today, will also closely coordinate with NGP. The newly developed and released game content for Android™ based portable devices can also be enjoyed on NGP. As a result, users will have access to not only the most leading-edge content, but also some of the more casual experiences that typify the mobile market place.
SCE will vigorously promote NGP towards the launch as the next generation portable entertainment platform and deploy various measures to further expand the portable gaming market.
Panasonic‘s rugged TS3 and Full HD ZS10 and ZS8 digicams aren’t the only new models from the company today; there’s also the ultracompact Panasonic LUMIX FX78. Built around a 24mm ultra-wide angle Leica lens with a 5x optical zoom and a 12.1-megapixel sensor, the FX78 is controlled via a 3.5-inch touchscreen display and supports Panasonic’s 3D Photo mode.
Despite only having a single lens, 3D Photo creates 3D stills by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best to create an image that can then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. There’s also Full HD video recording and optical image stabilization.
Various in-camera editing and retouching options round out the main specs; more details in the press release below. The Panasonic LUMIX FX78 will go on sale in March 2011 in black, gold and white; pricing will be confirmed closer to the time.
Press Release:
PANASONIC INTRODUCES STYLISH AND ULTRA-COMPACT LUMIX FX78 DIGITAL CAMERA WITH FULL-HD VIDEO CAPABILITIES
The LUMIX FX78 Features a F2.5 Super-Bright 24mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Leica Lens for Superb Photo and Video Quality and a Large 3.5-inch Smart Touch LCD for Intuitive Operation
SECAUCUS, NJ (January 25, 2011) – Panasonic today expands its LUMIX FX-Series of stylish and compact digital cameras, with the LUMIX FX78, which features a new Smart Touch operation on the large 3.5-inch 16:9 aspect LCD, allowing for intuitive touch operation, including Touch AF, Touch Zoom, Touch Shutter, and Touch Playback. The LUMIX FX78 also incorporates a new LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMARIT, 24mm ultra-wide angle lens that has a 5x optical zoom with F2.5 aperture. The 24mm wide-angle lens offers approximately 213% larger viewing space when compared to a traditional 35mm camera. This high-performing lens has been designed to fit the slim body while still offering exceptional photo and video quality. With its wide and bright lens, the LUMIX FX78 excels when shooting dynamic landscapes and in low-lit situations.
The LUMIX FX78’s Smart Touch Screen allows for the Auto Focus (AF) to be set by simply touching the subject on the LCD and a touch can even release the shutter. Once locked on the subject, the LUMIX FX78 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function even if it moves. With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the FX78 automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. For example, a touch on a human face switches to the portrait mode, and a touch on the background or a landscape changes to the Scenery mode, while a touch on the subject close in the foreground changes to Macro mode. All menu settings are now available with touch control. The touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting, but also in playback, allowing the user to drag the images across the screen with a finger and browse the collection of photos as though flipping the pages of the book.
“With its super-bright and wide-angle lens, the LUMIX FX78 is a high-performing digital camera that excels in image quality, producing exceptional full-HD videos and still photos,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With the new touch-screen operation, the FX78 is intuitive to use and allows the user to take a photo, track a subject and even touch-up a face with just the touch of the finger.”
The LUMIX FX78 also features the Panasonic 3D Photo mode, which produces a realistic 3D photo by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best to create a 3D image that can then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. The format of 3D images is compatible with MPO, and can also be played back on other MPO-compatible equipment such as a televisions, digital photo frames and printers. Panasonic also adds the LUMIX Image Uploader, for seamless and instant sharing via Facebook (for digital photos) or YouTube (for videos). Users can checkmark the photo or video files they want to share, connect the camera to a PC with the included USB cable or by inserting the SD Memory Card directly into the PC’s SD Card slot, and then the uploading automatically launches with an easy-to-follow menu option.
Incorporating a newly developed 12.1-megapixel Hi-Speed CCD sensor, the DMC-LUMIX FX78 is compatible with high-speed, large-capacity signal processing required for 1920 x 1080 full-HD video recording in AVCHD and high speed continuous shooting. The AVCHD format almost doubles the recording time in HD quality, when compared with the conventional Motion JPEG. The LUMIX FX78 also boasts Dolby Dolby® Digital Creator to record high quality audio.
The advanced image processing LSI, the Venus Engine FHD, assures high picture quality in both photo and movie recording. It also incorporates the Intelligent Resolution technology to perform the optimum signal processing to give the entire image outstandingly natural clearness with fine details. The LUMIX FX78’s 5x optical zoom is available when shooting video. Thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology, the Intelligent Zoom is available with the LUMIX FX78 which extends the zoom ratio by approximately 1.3x maintaining the picture quality and extending it to a 6.5x zoom equivalent. The Sonic Speed AF, which gains approximately 33% higher speed compared with its predecessor DMC-FX75, has a quick shutter release time lag as short as approximately 0.005 second.
The LUMIX FX78 is not only a high-performing digital camera when it concerns image quality, but it also includes a host of entertaining features that brings photography to a new level of fun with features such as Art Retouch and Beauty Retouch. The Art Retouch function lets the user change the original photo in brightness and color saturation. The Beauty Retouch mode allows users to digitally touch-up faces by applying different effects, such as skin texture, lifting up the face and whitening of teeth. In addition, the Make-up mode gives the user the option to change the face’s complexion, lips, cheeks or eye-shadow coloring.
Panasonic’s iA Mode, a suite of technologies that engage automatically, has evolved for more powerful image stabilization while video recording and taking still photos with Active Mode which boosts MEGA OIS to excel in suppressing blur when recording videos at wide angle while walking. Other features of iA include: Motion Deblur, MEGA OIS, Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure. With iA, taking beautiful photos is possible for users at any level. In addition, the Intelligent Resolution technology is always activated in the iA mode, which helps produce even clearer photos by precisely performing signal processing pixel by pixel to help ensure clear and sharp images.
The LUMIX FX78 will be available in March 2011 in black, gold and white models and pricing will be announced approximately 30 days prior to shipping date. For more on these Panasonic LUMIX models, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.
AIS has pulled the wraps off a new series of touchscreen computers designed for industrial use as touch panel PC controllers for various needs. The machines all have Intel Atom processors inside running at 1.6GHz and they have a 2.5W TDP. The cool running nature of the machines means that they are all passively cooled and have no fans inside.
The touch panel screens are 15-inches and have 250-nit brightness rating and a 700:1 contrast ratio. The screens use 5-wire resistive touch technology and they are rugged enough to survive use in industrial settings. The machines also have connectivity with RS232, RS485, and Ethernet connectivity and more.
The machines are rugged to IP65 specs. The computers have 1GB of DDR2 RAM inside. Storage is to a 3.5-inch 80GB HDD and the OS is either Windows XP Pro or embedded. Pricing on the new computer is unknown.
Further details on the upcoming Sony PSP2 have leaked, with the gaming handheld tipped to use an OLED touchscreen larger than the display on the current PSP. According to Nikkei, the PSP2 will have an integrated 3G modem along with WiFi; in Japan, Sony will use an NTT DoCoMo connection to enable mobile multiplayer gaming, download software, and watch movies.
The same functionality will presumably be supported outside of Japan, with Sony partnering with local carriers. No mention of 3G subscriptions has been made, which leaves it unclear whether Sony will bundle some amount of inclusive data access in with the purchase price of the console – itself another unknown factor – or if gamers will be expected to pay some monthly tithe in order to get online while mobile.
As for the 3G connection itself, that will be for data only, rather than for making calls; we’re guessing that will help differentiate between the PSP2 and the upcoming Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play aka PlayStation Phone. Sony is believed to have developed a new processor for the PSP2, too; more details should be revealed when the console is officially announced, which is believed to be taking place on January 27.
ASUS’ Eee Slate EP121 is set to ship imminently, but until then we’ll have to live vicariously through the company’s official unboxing and demos of the 12.1-inch Windows 7 slate. Over the course of two videos, ASUS attempts to show us why we shouldn’t discount the PC tablet, and highlights some of the benefits regular Windows has over more mobile platforms like Android or iOS.
Videos after the cut
As we discovered in our own hands-on time with the EP121, the Core i5-470UM processor certainly means that Windows 7 whips along nicely, and the active stylus and dual-mode touchscreen makes for an arguably more impressive touch experience than finger-use alone. In the second video there’s a more general overview of Art Rage Studio, Adobe Photoshop, the bundled Bluetooth keyboard, 1080p YouTube streaming, and on-screen keyboard and hand-writing recognition.
With the tablet torrent at CES 2011 we’ll admit to having forgotten about bModo’s 12G tablet, announced in October last year, but the 11.6-inch Windows 7 slate has now shown up for a full review. AllTouchTablet picked up the $849.99 slate – which runs a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 single-core CPU with 2GB of RAM and Broadcom’s CrystalHD video accelerator – and found the Windows experience to be pretty solid, with media playback impressing.
Video demo after the cut
On its own, the Atom CPU and integrated GMA 3150 graphics aren’t going to do much good, but the Broadcom chip helps the tablet handle 1080p HD video (as long as it uses a supported codec). Unfortunately CPU-only tasks – like handwriting recognition in Windows 7 – aren’t as slick, and the 2.5-3hr battery life is pretty woeful when you compare it to the iOS or Android competition.
bModo has slapped a custom UI – triggered with a dedicated touch-sensitive key – to help Windows 7 with its finger friendliness, but it’s the lack of pocket-friendliness which really seems to scupper the 12G. At $849.99 – or $799.99 for the 1GB RAM version – and then another $75 for the optional dock (which doesn’t have an HDMI or other graphics output, and props the 12G up at a particularly steep angle) it’s expensive for a slate.
Google appears to be paving the way for the Android Market’s debut on Google TV, updating the app store submissions system to advise developers that touchscreen use in their software will now be treated as a “filtering” feature. Developer Al Sutton spotted that android.hardware.touchscreen access in an APK is now flagged up, a differentiator which will likely be used to prevent touch-dependent apps from being offered to Google TV users.
That’s important, since touchscreen-dependent apps might not work so well on hardware like Logitech’s Revue. The STB comes with a wireless keyboard complete with an integrated trackpad for navigation, which should cater for most apps, but anything more touch complex might not make for an especially usable setup.
Google hasn’t confirmed an exact launch date for the Android Market on Google TV, though the features page does suggest it should arrive in early 2011.
The $35 tablet from India has fallen out of the spotlight since its debut back in July, 2010. The last time the device managed to rise above the water, was the allegations that the device wasn’t manufactured in India at all, but had been outsourced to China. Before that, it was rumored that the specifications for the device had found their way onto the ‘net, thanks to the similarities it held with another tablet device. But the tablet has popped up again, but with more disappointing news. It looks like the device could be facing a delay.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Times of Indiais reporting that the primary contractor for the $35 tablet has been dismissed. HCL Infosystems had been tagged as the main vendor of the tablet, but it seems that complications with further demands for new conditions, along with rumors that a Rs 60 crore ($13m USD) bank guarantee couldn’t be reached have lead to the vendor’s removal from the project.
Another interesting note to the story. It seems that the shipping and import costs for the tablet to make its way out of India are rounding up to be about Rs. 5700, or about $124. It will be interesting to see how this extra cost, which is significantly higher than the projected cost of the tablet itself, will affect the final pricing for the device.
