Atree J100 gets lost in the forest of Korean PMPs

We certainly cant knock the 4GB Atree J100 when it comes to its well stocked arsenal of goodies: it has a three-inch touchscreen, an e-dictionary, DMB digital TV tuner, video playback, and microSD expansion -- and it plays music too. Audio formats are also plentiful, with MP3, WMA and OGG for the commoners, and FLAC and APE for the lossless fanatics. Too bad its held back by the chunky casing, which looks big enough to have fit a five-inch screen if the designers were so inclined. With slicker-looking competition from the likes of Cowon and Samsung, the otherwise entirely useful J100 might struggle to stand out, but if youre willing to look beyond its superficial shortcomings, its available now for 198,000 KRW ($158).

PSP Minis, Digital Comics get their own promo videos

The PS3 Slim might be getting all the attention today, but the new PSP Minis bite-sized games and PSP Digital Comics service are actually potentially game-changers as well -- so of course they get their own promo videos. Minis are 100MB or smaller games that will launch on the PlayStation Store the same day the PSP Go arrives, and while the launch lineup doesnt have any standout must-haves, we think theyll be quite popular. The real sleeper might be the Digital Comics service, though, which will launch with Marvel titles and eventually add more publishers -- although pricing and other details havent been announced, weve got a feeling quite a few PSP owners will be into the idea of getting comics on the go. Innovative new ideas or clever reaction to games and ereaders on the iPhone? Hit the break, watch the videos, and sound off.

Sony announces PS3 firmware 3.0, European PlayStation Video Store, Digital Reader comics viewer

Sony just announced a bunch of tweaks and additions to the PS3, PSP, and PlayStation Network at GamesCom, chief among them the new PS3 firmware 3.0. The new code features animated themes with avatars, a new status indicator, a modified friends list, assorted interface changes, tweaks to trophies, and a Whats New section that replaces the Information Board. Sonys also bringing the PlayStation Video store to the UK, France, Germany and Spain in November, with more planned expansion in 2010 -- customers will be able to rent and buy films in SD and HD, and while itll open with just movies, other content will be added as time goes on. The PSP is also getting a Digital Reader comics viewer, with lots of heavy hitters like Marvel on board to provide content -- Marvel says the PSP could become their biggest distribution outlet. Well see about that -- for now, check a video of firmware 3.0 after the break.

Update: Digital Reader press release after the break.


Join the Reading Revolution: Digital Reader Coming to PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable)

Take your favorite comics everywhere you go with Digital Comics for PSP

COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- gamescom -- Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the digital reader for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), a new service that will allow PSP owners to access a range of media on their PSP. The digital reader service will be launched with Digital Comics this December in select countries, the U.S., and regions in Europe with other PAL territories to follow in 2010, putting PSP owners in control of a huge library of Digital Comics from provider partners including one of the leading comic publishers, Marvel Entertainment. Content from other partners such as IDW Publishing, iVerse Media and others, as well as graphic novels for bite-sized entertainment on demand and on the go will be available.

The new Digital Comics service will let you download hundreds of classic and new comics from PlayStation®Store to your PSP, to read page by page or frame by frame wherever you are. The service lets you take a huge collection of comics out and about with you, allows you to pick up the latest edition from any Wi-Fi hotspot, and gives you a brand-new way to use your PSP for entertainment on the go.

The digital reader for PSP will offer the biggest names in comics, including content from Marvel Entertainments Spider-Man, X-Men and the Fantastic Four, from IDW: TRANSFORMERS and Star Trek and in partnership with iVerse Media, brands like Archie Comics, and Image Comics Proof, while other content will include graphic novels, comics from a variety of local publishers and the latest underground sensations. More and more titles will arrive on PlayStation Store with monthly content updates, offering a huge choice of quality titles at your fingertips, allowing you to take your favorite comic characters with you on the move.

"This is a great new service that offers PSP owners even more options for entertainment on the go and makes PSP a must for comics fans," says Isabelle Tomatis, European Marketing Manager, Hardware and Platforms, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "Digital Comics will sit alongside the new PlayStation®Network video download service as yet another way that PSP offers a whole world of entertainment in your hands."

"PSPs new digital reader offers an unprecedented consumer experience that will extend the world of Marvel from print pages into the hands of fans around the world. We are excited to be part of this launch," said Ira Rubenstein, executive vice president, global digital media group, Marvel Entertainment.

The intuitive Autoflow feature allows you to zoom in and move from frame to frame on each digital page, mimicking the way your eyes would move across a print page from left to right. Its straightforward and simple to use, and thanks to PSPs high contrast LCD screen, your comics will be looking better than ever as the stunning graphics leap out from the screen.

Digital Comics will be launching on the UK, US, Irish, Australian, New Zealand and South African PlayStation®Stores this December, with other PAL territories to follow, and with more and more comics and graphic novels arriving every month. Consumers will first need to connect their PSP via Wi-Fi to the PlayStation Store to download the digital reader. Once downloaded, they can return to the PlayStation Store to choose from a wide variety of comics available. To find out more, visit www.eu.playstation.com.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®Network software and hardware in 99 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories. Since the launch of PlayStation 3 in November 2006, over 23.7 million units have been sold globally and continue to be sold at a record level. Maintaining its position as one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history, PlayStation 2 has sold over 138.8 million systems worldwide. Since its launch at the end of 2004, over 52.9 million PSPs have been sold globally, highlighting the importance of the portable entertainment market. With the huge increase in interest and accessibility of network applications and network gaming, over 27 million accounts have registered to PlayStation Network, the free-to-access interactive environment, and over 560 million items have been downloaded.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at www.playstation.com or visit the Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its digital services PLAYSTATION®Network and PLAYSTATION®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com

PlayStation, PLAYSTATION and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PS3 and PSP are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Acer reportedly set to launch three touch-enabled, Windows 7-based devices

Another company producing yet more products that take advantage of Windows 7s much-vaunted touch capabilities? Amazing but true, at least according to DigiTimes, which is reporting that Acer is set to launch no less than three "touch-enabled products" loaded with Windows 7. That word apparently comes straight from a product manager in the companys mobile computer department, who also went on to say that touch-enabled netbooks might see "good market acceptance" if theyre marketed as cheaper alternatives to tablet PCs, although its not clear if the products in question are actually touch-enabled netbooks. In other touch-related news, Acer is also reportedly looking at using in-cell touch panel technology when it becomes widely available, which should be cheaper to produce than conventional touch panels that dont have all the necessary touch components built right in at the LCD panel level.

Sony sneaks PS3 Slim through FCC under pseudonym, 250GB model discovered

Shenanigans were afoot in Sonys efforts to throw bloggers (such as yours truly) off the scent of the just-announced PS3 Slim in the FCC, and weve got to give them credit -- filing the thing as a "Computer Entertainment System" manufactured by "Sand Dollar Enterprise, Inc." managed to do the trick. Well played, Sony. Anyhow, it turns out that Sand Dollars address is registered to Sony Computer Entertainment of America, which in turn leads us to the matter at hand: test documents for this sneaky bugger reveal a second model number, CECH-2001B, listed as a 250GB version of the console. For the math challenged, thats over two times the storage of the only SKU announced thus far, so if they can get this out for a reasonably modest bump in MSRP (we doubt it) and get it out quickly, it might be worth the wait. Why its legal for a company to falsify its name with the feds like this is unclear, but well admit, we respect and admire the effort. In fact, wed be even more likely to buy a Slim if it came from a company called Sand Dollar, we think.

iHomes iHMP5 headphones double as lackluster portable speaker system

Its a dilemma that even your mother has likely faced. Youd like a new set of headphones, but youd also like to fill your dorm room with sound should a few friends stop by. In a beautiful effort to solve said quandary, iHome has introduced a 2-in-1 stereo speaker / headphone system dubbed the iHMP5. For those unaware, these are the first over-the-ear cans produced by the company, and unlike most other alternatives, these boast an inline pre-amp that flip em "from private to party" mode on a moments notice. In other words, these headphones double as a portable speaker system, and theyre available in a trio of colors right now for $59.99. Dont you love it when a plan comes together?

DUAL MODE HEADPHONES GO FROM PRIVATE TO PARTY AS iHOME LAUNCHES THE NEW iHMP5

Built-In Amplifier Turns Personal Headphones Into Portable Speakers

RAHWAY, N.J., August 18, 2009 – Up until now, personal headphones meant an isolated experience, and for subway rides, visiting in-laws and plane trips, thats a welcomed relief. But what happens when you want to turn a personal reverie into a portable party? That solution is now here as iHome, a leading supplier of innovative iPod/iPhone speaker solutions, today introduced the iHMP5 2-in-1 Stereo Speaker / Headphone System. The first, over-the-ear headphone offering from iHome, the iHMP5 is unique among other headphones as it is fitted with an inline pre-amp that when activated can fill a room with stereo sound.

"At iHome, we continue to drive innovation throughout our product line by imagining new interpretations of product categories and applying creative design options to make them a reality," said Evan Stein, vice president of Marketing, iHome. "Our iHMP5 is a perfect example of this as we completely change the way people view headphones by allowing them to turn it into a portable speaker system."

The iHMP5 allows users to configure the unit in two ways: as a personal set of headphone to listen to music privately, or as a speaker system to share the fun with friends. Available in three fashionable colors, the iHMP5 is outfitted with a lightweight, adjustable headband and full 360-degree padding on the ear-cups for noise isolation, making the private listening experience both comfortable and clear. However, for those times when sharing is a must, consumers can simply activate the battery powered amplifier and the stereo sound is there for everyone.

The iHMP5 is currently available for purchase at The Apple Online Store and on ihomeaudio.com for a suggested retail price of $59.99.

Sony finally hacks $100 from old PlayStation 3 price, starting today

After begging, pleading and imploring Sony for months on end to lower the barrier to entry on its PlayStation 3 console, the company has at long last relented. Starting today (supposedly, anyway), all existing PS3 consoles will retail for $100 less than they did yesterday, though it looks as if most e-tailers have yet to ratchet their tags down to reflect the change. Of course, you could wait just a few more days and snag a PS3 Slim for the low, low price of $299, but the question is -- will you? Do tell in comments below.

ASUS Ion-based Eee Top ET2002T makes itself known in France

ASUS sort of got official with its Eee Top ET2002T back at Computex in June, but its looks like things are now a whole lot more real in France, where Blogee.net has gotten the pics and the complete specs of the all-in-one desktop. In addition to that all-important (and already known) Ion chipset, this one comes packing a 20-inch 1,600 x 900 display, an Atom 330 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and even an HDMI input in case you want to simply use it as a display, among some other fairly standard specs (detailed at the link below). Still no word on an official price or release over here, unfortunately, but itll apparently be available in Europe in "several weeks" and run a not so low €598, or about $845.

NVIDIA strikes gold with Ion: 21 new products at Computex

We had a hunch that Computex would be a massive show for NVIDIA, and while we already caught a glimpse of what the GPU manufacturer had in store, we had no idea itd come out with guns this big a-blazin. Showing absolutely no mercy for those other integrated graphics sets of the world, NVs today unveiled 21 new Ion-based products in Taiwan, with all but a handful being completely unheard of. Of course, theres the AspireRevo, Ion 330 and IdeaPad S12, but outside of that select few, everything else is all new. Asus is introducing its C2N7A-I motherboard and all-in-one Eee Top ET2002, Colorful is busting out its iHTPC, ECS is pushing out a new desktop and MSI is showcasing its Windtop AE201. And thats just to name a few. Hop on past the break for the full spill, and dont stray too far -- well be out and about grabbing hands-on time with as many of these as we can track down.


NVIDIA ENERGIZES COMPUTEX WITH NEW ION-
BASED PC PRODUCTS

Highly Anticipated Platform Takes Off With 21 New Products for Small PCs


COMPUTEX, TAIPEI, TAIWAN-JUNE 2, 2009-NVIDIA, the world leader in visual
computing technologies and the inventor of the GPU, announced broad adoption of its award-
winning NVIDIA® ION™ graphics processor at the Computex tradeshow today. The new
products – introduced at an NVIDIA press conference in Taipei and on display at the show –
include small desktop PCs, thin and light notebooks, all-in-one PCs, and low power motherboard
solutions which all deliver a full PC experience in a small, low-power system.

The new products include:
Acer Desktop AspireRevo
AsRock Desktop ION 330
ASUS Motherboard C2N7A-I
ASUS All-in-one eeeTop ET2002
Colorful Desktop iHTPC
ECS Desktop 7AT-3L
ECS All-in-one Morph-I
Flextronics All-in-one Cobra-2
Flextronics Desktop Dove-2
Funtwist Desktop FION 330
ICD All-in-one Kitchen PC
Lenovo Notebook IdeaPad S12
MSI Desktop Windbox D200
MSI All-in-one Windtop AE2201
Pegatron Desktop IPP7A-CP
Pegatron All-in-one IPP7A-DF2
Pegatron Motherboard IPX7A-ION
TCL All-in-one Ruiyi 1010
Telcast Notebook TL-1000N
Weibu Notebook N10A
Zotac Motherboard ION-ITX

See the new ION products on display at Computex at the NVIDIA partner booths in the
Nankang Exhibition Hall.

The new NVIDIA ION-based PCs and platform solutions are great for high definition video,
mainstream gaming, and GPU-accelerated video and photo editing applications that take
advantage of NVIDIA CUDA™ technology.

ION also supports DirectX Compute as part of Microsofts upcoming Windows 7 operating
system. DirectX Compute running on NVIDIAs CUDA compute hardware architecture delivers
a major boost for small form factor PCs because it accelerates applications like video editing that
run poorly or not at all on todays low-powered PCs. Other GPU-accelerated applications like
vReveal and Badaboom let users quickly edit video and convert it for use on a portable media
player like an iPod.

"NVIDIA is really shaking up the small form factor space with ION graphics," said Rob Enderle,
Principal Analyst for the Enderle Group. "Netbooks and nettops are the hottest selling items in
the PC space right now, but most are severely limited. ION removes the major chunk of that
performance limitation allowing PC vendors the perfect blend of design, performance, and value
that drives sales in hard times."

"Consumer interest in the Acer AspireRevo featuring NVIDIAs ION graphics has been
overwhelming," said Gianpero Morbello, senior vice president of corporate marketing for Acer.
"The Acer AspireRevo clearly demonstrates the power of ION to deliver a full and unique
multimedia experience for an amazingly low price. We see strong consumer demand in this
space."

NVIDIA ION graphics processors deliver big performance from small PCs with up to 10X faster
graphics than similar systems1. ION graphics support:

• Windows 7 and Windows Vista Home Premium
• Low-power CPUs including Intel Atom, Intel Celeron, and Via Nano processors
• Outstanding 1080p HD video with true-fidelity 7.1 audio
• Popular games including The Sims 3, Lego Batman, World of WarCraft, and
Battlefield Heroes
• DirectX 10 graphics with advanced digital display connectivity
• Accelerated video enhancement and transcoding using NVIDIA® CUDA™ and
DirectX Compute technology

1
Based on 3D Mark 06 results on Atom 230 CPU with NVIDIA ION GPU, versus Atom 230 CPU with Intel 945
graphics.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA (Nasdaq: NVDA) is the world leader in visual computing technologies and the inventor
of the GPU, a high-performance processor which generates breathtaking, interactive graphics on
workstations, personal computers, game consoles, and mobile devices. NVIDIA serves the
entertainment and consumer market with its GeForce graphics products, the professional design
and visualization market with its Quadro® graphics products, and the high-performance
computing market with its Tesla™ computing solutions products. NVIDIA is headquartered in
Santa Clara, Calif. and has offices throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. For more
information, visit www.nvidia.com.

Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, features, impact, and
capabilities of the NVIDIA ION graphics processor, NVIDIA ION-based PCs and platforms, and NVIDIA CUDA
architecture, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be
materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include:
development of more efficient or faster technology; adoption of the CPU for parallel processing; design, manufacturing
or software defects; the impact of technological development and competition; changes in consumer preferences and
demands; customer adoption of different standards or our competitors products; changes in industry standards and
interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems as well as
other factors detailed from time to time in the reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission
including its Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended April 26, 2009. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on
our website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
###
© 2009 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, ION, GeForce, Quadro, and Tesla are trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be
trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on NVIDIA, please visit the NVIDIA Press Room at
http://www.nvidia.com/page/press_room.html

PS3 SKUs compared, no PS2 backwards compatibility found

Its been at least an hour since Sony has released a new PlayStation 3 SKU, so our friends at Joystiq took the time to take a breath. In that moment, they came up with a handy -- and somewhat startling -- chart that explains which PS3 model has what, including Cell chip size (the more efficient and quieter 65nm vs the older 90nm), USB port count, pack-in freebies, and which ones have PS2 backwards compatibility. Its charts like that remind us that no currently-shipping PS3 comes with HD video cables or PS2 backward compatibility, for better or worse. Hit the read link for the breakdown, and start your fanboy engines.

Lenovo debuts IdeaCentre D400 home server, worlds thinnest Q100 and Q110 nettops

Remember those digital home products we saw Lenovo tease yesterday? Yeah, theyre real, and theyre now more official than ever. Kicking things off is the companys first-ever home server, the IdeaCentre D400, which sort of resembles a certain Acer product and supports up to 8TB of storage via multiple types / sizes of HDDs; theres also five USB sockets along with an eSATA port for adding even more storage externally. Next up is the IdeaCentre Q100 and NVIDIA Ion-powered Q110 nettops, both of which measure in at just 6- x 6.3- x 0.7-inches and offer plenty of basic power for the size. The WinXP-equipped Q100 hums along on 14 watts when idle (40 watts at full load) and sports a single VGA port, while the Vista-laden Q110 dishes out 1080p content over HDMI; further specs include an Atom 230 CPU, 1GB / 2GB of RAM, 160GB / 250GB hard drives, gigabit Ethernet and WiFi. As for pricing? The D400 should start around $499, the Q100 approximately $249 and the Q110 at $349 when they all ship next month. Feel free to peruse the full press release and specifications after the break.



Lenovo Expands "Idea" Consumer PC Line with Its First Digital Home Products
Introduces Worlds Thinnest Nettop PCs

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – August 19, 2009: Lenovo today announced three new PC devices that deliver power, performance and style to the digital home experience. Lenovos first home theatre PC – the IdeaCentre Q700 – provides high definition 1080p playback and digital surround sound for a variety of multimedia formats displayed right on a users HDTV. Lenovos first home server - the IdeaCentre D400 - makes managing content across several PCs simple.

In addition, the IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110 nettops continue to push the envelope on thin and light design as the worlds thinnest nettops1 while extending the entertainment experience with support for HD video on the Q110. Lenovo also expanded its ultraportable line with the thin and light IdeaPad U450p for extra portability.

The News

• The digital living room, with a PC as the centerpiece of the entertainment experience, continues to grow worldwide as more consumers create and consume content. Because consumers want a compact and easy-to-use solution to enjoy their multimedia, Lenovo designed two new product lines – the Q and D Series - to fit this digital life, in style

• Due to explosive growth of multimedia content combined with a greater selection of varying types of PCs, consumers now are considering size, versatility, performance and price more than ever before when selecting PCs for their homes. Lenovos Q Series offers a range of PC products to complement the home theater experience and simplify the living room or study

• With more people creating and consuming content than ever before and home networks and high speed Internet adoption continuing to increase, home servers like the D400, are becoming important tools to manage content created on several different PCs and devices

The Facts

• According to a June 2009 Forrester Research, Inc. report titled US Online Consumer Survey: Technology in the Home, 2008, "roughly two-thirds of US living rooms have a PC and an Internet connection along with the standard TVs, DVD players or DVRs. This presents an interesting opportunity for the consumption of video and music on PCs connected to entertainment devices, as consumers are interested in using these devices interchangeably for the consumption of digital content."2

• The home server market is growing. IDC forecasts home server shipments to have a compound annual growth rate of more than 110 percent from 2007-2012 for both home and commercial customers worldwide3

Quote
• "Lenovo will be a great addition to the category of home servers powered by Windows Home Server software," said Eugene Saburi, general manager, Microsoft Solutions Marketing. "With the IdeaCentre D400 home server coinciding with the availability of Windows 7 on Lenovo laptops and netbooks, consumers will have an affordable solution that enables them to unleash the power of their home networks."
• "We created our latest IdeaCentre PCs to help consumers manage their personal and professional content with the performance they need and with a style that expresses their individuality," said Dion Weisler, vice president, Business Operations, Lenovo. "Our super small nettops give consumers the portability of a laptop, making them a versatile and affordable part of the digital home experience."
• "The Lenovo Q110 with NVIDIA ION delivers knockout graphics capabilities for its diminutive size," said Manoj Gujral, general manager, Desktop GPU Business, NVIDIA. "With its ION graphics processor, this tiny PC can do more than many full-size desktops, letting users enjoy full HD movies, play mainstream games, edit family videos and even quickly convert video to an MP3 player."

The IdeaCentre Q700 - Multimedia Powerhouse for the Home
Lenovos DVD-like IdeaCentre home theater PC connects with multiple devices, including digital cameras, smartphones and more so consumers can watch videos in full HD resolution, view photos and listen to music all on their TV. They can also watch and record digital TV with the optional TV tuner and remote while seamlessly integrates multiple media sources into a single device.

Key Features Include:
• Full High Definition: Supports 1920x1080 graphics and 7.1 digital surround sound
• Fast Intel Core™2 Duo Processors: Provides silent and smooth video playback
• Plenty of Storage: Stores up to 1 terabyte of content with eight USB ports and an eSATA port

Additional details for the IdeaCentre Q700 can be found on www.lenovo.com

IdeaCentre D400 – Simple Storage for Work and Play
Lenovos IdeaCentre D400 home server securely houses large amounts of data for professional and personal use, including videos, music and photos. Users can easily set up a home network to store and share files across different devices such as PCs and smartphones. They can also regularly back up PCs on the network to support a small office or home office.

Key Features Include:

• Plenty of Storage: Supports up to eight terabytes of total storage
• Expandable and Easy to Use: Mix and match different brands and capacities of hard drives and even add and remove them while the PC is running. Connect multiple external storage devices with five USB ports, including a front-mounted port with one-touch data copy function and an eSATA port for high-speed external data transfer
• Dependable and Secure: Duplicate important data on multiple hard disk drives for backup and security
• Access Anywhere: Remotely access files from anywhere with an Internet connection by connecting remotely to the hub via a secure web page4

Additional details for the D400 can be found on www.lenovo.com.

The Idea Centre Q100 and Q110 – Thinning Down the Desktop
The IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110 nettops complete the collection of new digital lifestyle devices and stand out with a stylish black patterned design. These tiny PCs measure 0.7 inches thin, making them the thinnest nettops yet1 at just the size of a small book. The nettops feature an Intel Atom processor, making them ideal for performing basic functions like web surfing, downloading content and producing Internet-based documents. The Q110 may be the smallest, most powerful nettop yet. Equipped with Nvidia ION graphics, the nettop supports HD video and can handle accelerated media conversion and other tasks consumers would expect from full size desktops.

Key Features

• Ultra Slim and Small - At only 6 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches thin, the size of this tiny desktop makes it perfect for tight spaces. The nettop can even be mounted on the back of a monitor.
• Energy Efficient- The Q100 runs on just 14 watts when idle and 40 watts at full operation
• Enhanced Multimedia: The Q100 supports VGA output, while the Q110 supports 1080p high definition video with DirectX 10 graphics for crisp and vibrant content and 3G games and also enables smooth playback with Nvidia CUDA technology

Additional details for the Q100 and Q110 can be found at www.lenovo.com.

The IdeaPad U450p Laptop – Thin and Light Pumps Up Screen Size
The IdeaPad U450p laptop is designed for those looking to balance mobility and performance with style and affordability. Following the introduction of the IdeaPad U350, the 14-inch U450p offers Intel consumer ultra low voltage processors, long battery life and a wide range of entertainment and productivity features.

Key Features
• Thin and Light: Sporting a sleek, textured design, the U450p laptop is 0.9inches thin and weighs less than five pounds.5
• Optimized for Entertainment: With a High-Definition 16:9 screen, an HDMI connector and fast DDR3 memory, the laptop provides an excellent entertainment experience. It also includes a DVD burner/player for anytime access to multimedia on a CD or DVD.
• Packed with Smart Features: The laptop comes with a range of smart features designed to make computing more convenient and productive, including OneKey™ Rescue System for easy data and system recovery and VeriFace™ facial recognition technology.

Additional details for the U450p can be found on www.lenovo.com.
.
Pricing and Availability6
The IdeaCentre Q700 home theatre PC and IdeaPad U450p laptop are available immediately through business partners and www.lenovo.com. The IdeaCentre D400 home server and Q100 and Q110 nettops will be available in mid-September.

The IdeaCentre D400 home server and Q700 home theatre PC start at approximately $499. The IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110 nettops start at approximately $249 and $349. The IdeaPad U450p laptop starts at approximately $799.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovos business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Groups acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.

1Based on available market information as of August 19, 2009. Compared with nettops from Acer and Asus with ultra small form factor PCs under 1L.

2US Online Consumer Survey:Technology In The Home, 2008, Corina Matiesanu, Forrester Research Inc, 2009

3Worldwide and US Home Server 2008-2012 Forecast, Richard Shim. IDC. 2008.

4Must be connected to a separately purchased wireless router. WWAN/WiMAX Service Providers: Requires separate agreement with select third party service provider, and is subject to credit approval and applicable service agreement/terms, rate plan and coverage maps of the provider. Service is available in select metropolitan markets, not available in all areas. Service provider, not Lenovo, is solely responsible for service. Lenovo customers may be contacted after purchase to activate service. Special credit and tenure restrictions and additional charges may apply to international roaming. A network connection, third-party software, additional hardware, and/or subscription to a third-party service may be required for certain solutions/applications. Additional restrictions apply.
5U450p weighs 4.6 pounds with six cell battery.

6Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice and is tied to specific terms and conditions. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice

__________________________________________________________________

US Specs – Key Features

IdeaCentre D400 Home Server
Dimensions: 200mm horizontal X 210 vertical X 220 depth
Processor: Atom 230 (single) 1.6 GHz
Memory: 1 GB DDR2
Storage: 4 hard drives, up to 8 TB of total storage
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet – can connect to wireless router for wireless
Multimedia: 5 USB, 1 eSATA
Other: iTunes server, Lenovo PC Client, Windows Home Server service pack 2

IdeaCentre Q700 Home Theatre PC
Dimensions: 250mm (h)x200 (d) x60 (w)
Processor: Intel Pentium with Duo Core E5200, E5300, E7500; Intel G43 Express Chipset
Memory: up to 4 GB DDR2 667 mHz
Storage: 320, 500 or 640 GB, holds up to 2 TB
Graphics: Intel integrated GMA 950, 1920x1080 high definition, GMA X4500
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g, Gigabit Ethernet
Multimedia: HDMI connector, DVD/RW player, 8 USB, 1 eSATA, firewire, 4-in-1 card reader, audio in/out, mic, headphone, S/PDIF out, optional PCEe ATSC TV tuner with remote, optional wired mouse and keyboard
Weight: 5.6 pounds
Other: Windows Vista Home Premium 64, Lenovo Rescue System, wired keyboard and mouse, remote

IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110 Nettops
Dimensions:6inx6.3x0.7
Processor: Intel Atom 230 single core, sis672 chipset
Memory: 1 GB DDR2 on Q100, 2 GB on Q110
Storage: 160 GB on Q100, 250 GB on Q110
Graphics: Intel integrated on Q100, ION 1980x1080 high definition and Direct 10X graphics on Q110
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g wireless dongle included (no keyboard and mouse)
Multimedia: Gigabit Ethernet, VGA connector (HDMI connector on Q110)
Other: Windows XPHome, Vista Home Premium

IdeaPad U450p
Dimensions: 338.5mm (w) x 235.5 (d) x 23-28.9 (h)
Display: 14 inch WXGA, 16:9 aspect ratio, 1366x768 LED backlight
Processor: Intel Pentium SU2700, SU3500, Intel Core2 Solo SU4100, SU7300
Memory:up to 4 GB DDR3
Storage: 250 GB, 320 GB
Graphics: Intel integrated GMA 4500 MHD
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 802.11b/g, with Intel wireless A/G/N with SU7300
Multimedia: HDMI connector, multitouch touchpad, DVD/RW, 1.3 megapixel camera, 2 1.5 watt speakers, 3 USB, 4-in-1 card reader
Weight: 4.6 pounds with 6 cell
Battery: 6 cell/6 hour
Other: VeriFace facial recognition, Vista Home Premium, One Key Rescue System, Carbonite, DDNi, Napster, Wild Tangent

Acer easyStore H340 Windows Home Server eyes-on

Yesterday we took a peek at Acers hotly designed Altos storage box, and today were getting up close and personal with its easyStore H340 Windows Home Server. Generally speaking, the box looks almost identical to the aforementioned Altos, except it replaces the totally boss front cover with an entirely more drab and entirely more glossy replacement. Take a look within just there in the gallery.

North Koreans love their spotty cellphone service

Its been nary a year since the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (aka "the North") got its very own 3G network, and now the Daily NK is reporting that -- no surprise -- cellphone use has taken the capital by storm. "Demand for mobile phones has been increasing" said one source. "Almost 30 percent of Pyongyang citizens seem to be using them." Still, this is the same country that refers to Kim Jong-Il as "Dear Leader," so while things are certainly looking up for Pyongyangites, there are any number of restrictions. For instance, not just anybody with disposable income can pick up one of these things -- the devices are still off-limits to cadres in the Central Committee of the Party and foreigners. In addition, using two phones simultaneously is illegal, as well as using a phone in someone elses name. And you thought the T-Mobile store was a pain in the ass? When an individual or a group of workers buy a phone, they must get a stamp from their home village, and then submit an application to the Communications Center -- all this for the privilege of having the government listen to their phone calls. There is no word on what phone / phones are available, but we do know that one will cost you between $90 and $120. Charges are reportedly 3,000 (around $20) a month for eight hours of talk time, with an additional €15 (also around $20) surcharge if you go over. Service is currently only available in Pyongyang and Sariwon, but apparently the service in Sariwon "kinda sucks." So really, service is only available in Pyongyang. And you know what? If youre reading this, youre probably not in Pyongyang.

New Maemo 5 screen shows fascinating, unique array of settings

Nokia may have shot down rumors that it was planning to completely replace its Symbian OS with Maemo, but that hasnt taken all the shine off the mobile OS, and a new, lone screenshot has now surfaced to further stoke those flames of anticipation (its okay, you can admit it). As you can see above, however, its not exactly the most exciting of screens to capture, but is supposedly the real deal and not just another SDK sourced image.

Maemo 5 Beta SDK released into the hands of an eagerly waiting world

Sure, youve seen the alpha SDK, and youve even seen it in pre-alpha, but if youre really serious about your Maemo 5 development you gotta check out the beta release. This should be music to the ears of all you crazy kids who are hard at work developing software for Nokias next-gen Internet tablets. And "Maemo 5 Beta SDK" is not only fun to say, but it also brings several new features to the table, including: support for widget development, a new version of the Modest open-source email app, OMAP3 support, HSPA data connectivity, hi-def camera support, and hardware-based graphics acceleration. Lastly (though certainly not leastly) youll finally be able to get your hands on a Maemo 5 Development Manual. We hear that ones a real page-turner. Hit that read link and get to work.

Sony announces three new PSP-3000 colors for Europe

Sure, Sonys had plenty of big announcements at Gamescom today, but fans of lowered expectations arent out of luck either, as the companys once again gone back to the paint shop and brought out three new colors for the still-sticking-around PSP-3000. Those include the all new "turquoise blue" and "blossom pink" colors, the former of which will come bundled with LittleBigPlanet, as well as the "lilac purple" model thats already made an appearance in the US (whichll also get the same Hannah Montanna Entertainment Pack). Still no word on the new colors getting a release over here, but it looks like folks in Europe will be able to get their hands on them in November.

Sony announces Lilac PSP, Hannah Montana and Assassins Creed entertainment packs

Tired of PSP colors yet? Sony doesnt think you are -- and it also thinks youre a lady, because its squarely targeting the new Lilac PSP at girl gamers. Tween girls, to be specific: the Lilac will debut as part of a $199 Hannah Montana Entertainment Pack that features young Mileys PSP game, a UMD with a few HM episodes, a 2GB memory stick, and some fun stickers. What do the less overstimulated among us get? An Assassins Creed Entertainment Pack thatll launch with Altairs PSP debut later this year and "other content that will announced later." Awesome, thanks for loving us too, Sony.

PS3 price cut may be on the way very soon, says analyst

Mike Hickey, an analyst with Janco, says that a major price cut on the Playstation 3 could be on the way in the near, near future (like, in the next few days). Hickey claims that the price slash needs to be at least $100 to get the retail juice moving again, and that, failing that, Sony should expect to see its sales on the console continue to decline. Weve heard predictions of a coming price reduction already (sure, they were from Microsoft, but whatever), and this wouldnt be a huge surprise, though well just have to wait and see. Hickey also speculates that Sony could hack the Blu-ray out of the PS3 in order to make that price cut doable, but that seems slightly wild to us. Then again, stranger things have happened.

Sony: no plans for a PS3 price cut

That PlayStation 3 price drop rumored to be coming tomorrow? Not happening, according to Sony. In a statement given to Joystiq, SCEA public relations manager Al De Leon says, "we do not have plans for a PS3 price drop, and any rumors to that effect are false and are the result of speculation." Although we wouldnt put it past the company to deny it up until the second before an official announcement, we seriously doubt Sony would announce any sort of price cut on the day its most likely to get drowned out by fake PSP2 mockups. No word on that speculated $100 PS2, but we wouldnt get our hopes up here, either.

Yesterdays PlayStation news, all in one place

Sony had itself quite a day yesterday, effectively reinvigorating the PlayStation brand with the $300 PS3 Slim and a host of upgrades and updates to the PSP, the PlayStation Store, and PlayStation Network. Now that the dust has settled, we thought wed throw down a little recap in case you didnt catch it all -- its clear that the lower-priced Slim has a lot of people talking about finally buying a PS3, but we think things like PSP Minis "snackable" games and the new PS3 firmware 3.0 might be equally as important in the long run. Heres the full breakdown:

Liveblog:

• Sonys GamesCom presser coverage live at Joystiq!
• Live from Sonys GamesCom Press conference (at Joystiq)

PS3 Slim and PS3 classic:

• Sony unveils slimmer PS3: $300, lands in September (updated!)
• PlayStation 3 Slim unboxing and hands-on!
• PS3 Slim sized up: smaller, deeper, no Linux or PS2 compatibility
• Sony sneaks PS3 Slim through FCC under pseudonym, 250GB model discovered
• Sony finally hacks $100 from old PlayStation 3 price, starting today
• Sony announces PS3 firmware 3.0, European PlayStation Video Store, Digital Reader comics viewer

PSP:

• Sony announces snackable 100MB Minis for PSN Store
• Sony announces three new PSP-3000 colors for Europe
• PSP Minis, Digital Comics get their own promo videos

Canons PowerShot lineup hands-on: the best of the rest

Sure, the G11 might grab all the headlines, but theres tons of meat to the rest of Canons new point and shoots. The S90, for instance, packs the same sensor of the G11 into a deliciously compact (though scarily plastic) body, the new SD940 IS Digital ELPH cams show off slim, curved metal bodies befitting their lineage, and the SD980 IS doesnt sacrifice much in the name of fashion -- while using their ultra-sized touchscreens to the utmost. All the cameras we handled were labeled prototype, and so hopefully the d-pad jiggle we detected on most of these (particularly pronounced on the S90) will be rectified before these hit shelves, but otherwise we like what we see so far.

Canon PowerShot G11 hands-on

Well certainly be going back for seconds, but at first blush Canons new PowerShot G11 is quite the attractive piece. The real standout, of course, is that flip-out LCD -- which feels bolted on by the gods -- but really the whole cameras build quality (and corresponding weight) is immediately obvious. We found the LCD plenty bright and colorful, though it certainly feels small for a modern camera. The price isnt small, but hopefully the RAW, 10 megapixel results will speak for themselves.

Canon outs new PowerShots: G11, S90, SX20 IS, SX120 IS, SD980 IS and SD940 IS

Looks like that PowerShot G11 we spotted this morning was indeed the real deal, and its being followed by five other compatriots announced by Canon this fine morning. Starting with the big boy, youre looking at a 10 megapixel sensor, 2.8-inch vari-angle LCD, 5x optical zoom, RAW support, a hotshoe and an MSRP of $499.99 when it lands in October. Moving on, weve got the $429.99 PowerShot S90, an all-business point-and-shoot model with a 3-inch LCD, 10 megapixel sensor, DIGIC 4 processing engine, RAW support and a 3.8x optical zoomer. Moving right along, theres the SX20 IS megazoom ($399.99), which packs a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 720p (30fps) video mode, an HDMI output, 20x zoomer and a 2.5-inch vari-angle display. The SX120 IS is a simpler beast (albeit bulkier), sporting a 10 megapixel sensor, 3-inch LCD, 10x optical zoom and AA battery support for $249.99, while the $329.99 SD980 IS Digital ELPH snags a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 3-inch touchscreen, 720p movie mode, 5x optical zoom lens and four different colors (silver, blue, gold and purple). Finally, the $299.99 SD940 IS offers up most of the SD980s amenities save for the LCD and zoom, which is replaced by a non-touch 2.7-inch version and a 4x lens. The full specifications are there in the read link.

Canon EOS 7D image appears online, might be in Best Buy systems

Canon might have announced a slew of new compacts today, but were thinking the most exciting news might be this image of the legendary EOS 7D. That flash button would indicate the presence of a built-in flash, and those mic holes hint at video features, but apart from that weve got little else to go on -- there are whispers that the Best Buy inventory system is listing the body at $2700 and the kit with an EF 28-135 lens at $2900, but we cant verify those at the moment. Were dying to find out more about this one, stay tuned.
7D image at dpreview forums
7D in Best Buy systems at Canon Rumors

Creative set to unveil World of Warcraft headgear at BlizzCon

The Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset is quite a mouthful to say, and judging by the teaser image above, itll be no less flashy to look at. Following in the footsteps of SteelSeries, Creative has put together a customized set of high-end headphones catering specifically to the millions of Warcraftsmen (has anyone used that term before, can we copyright it?) out there, who need comfortable cans for lengthy raiding sessions. Theyll come in both wired and wireless flavors, and will be the first to feature THX TruStudio PC sound, which were willing to bet makes as recognizable a difference as a butterfly flapping its wings somewhere in the Amazon. BlizzCon kicks off this Friday, so you shouldnt have to wait long to grab a pair of your own.

Nerds race across Azeroth IRL, nearly die from shame

Lets try not to read too much into this one. Here are the facts: two dweebs thought it would be a good idea to hook up treadmills to their PCs, don brightly-colored wigs and cardboard swords, and race their avatars across about a mile of virtual turf by jogging in place with only a modicum of coordination and zero athletic ability. The folks at Mana Energy Potion were complicit in the event, which failed to prove treadmill gaming is a good idea, but made great strides in proving just how low World of Warcraft addiction has brought certain members of our society. Video is after the break, we recommend you look away.

Sharps JD-7C1CL/CW pairs a home phone and digiframe in fine fashion

Hey, remember that OpenFrame touchscreen home telephone that we first peeked way back in August of 2008? Seems like O2 and Verizon werent the only ones looking to jump on that bandwagon, as Sharp has now issued a phone / frame tandem that looks eerily similar. The JD-7C1CL/CW is available in black and white to match the motifs present in 99 percent of pristine suburban domiciles, with the frame packing a 7-inch touch panel (800 x 480) that acts as a status indicator, calendar, clock, address book and (gasp!) photo frame. The phone itself doesnt look to be anything special, though the frame does include a whopping 128MB of internal memory. No word on a price or release date, but really, you shouldnt be considering a "home phone" in 2009 under any circumstances.

OpenFrame touchscreen homephone goes Atom, gets demoed on video, is still a landline phone

We first saw OpenPeaks OpenFrame home phone at CES, where it was sporting various FreeScale and ARM chips under the hood, but it looks like things have changed in development -- the company has been showing off production-ready units built on Atom chips at IDF. OpenPeak says that the ease of building for IA32 sped up development completely, and that only a fraction of the CPU is being used, giving the product room to grow -- probably a good thing, seeing as it supports open application development, rich services, and syncs with your PC and cell phone contacts and calendars. Of course, that still doesnt change the fact that its a landline phone, and were just not certain consumers are really clamoring for a $200 to $300 landline phone -- even it does rock a distinctly familiar touch interface. Anyone going to take the plunge when this thing hits in the first quarter of next year?

Wired article
Video shown at IDF

MSI X-Slim X610 leaked, reviewed by Russians

If the gang at 3D News are to be believed (and why not?), this familiar looking notebook isnt MSIs X-Slim X600 at all, but the not-yet-announced X-Slim X610. And if a leaked ultraportable isnt enough excitement for you, waitll we tell you that they actually got their hands on one of these beauts and gave it the full-on review treatment. As youd expect from a machine that shares chassis, specs, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics, a 250GB hard drive, 4GB RAM, and all but one digit of its name with the original, there is not too much to report. The major difference is that the X610 foregoes Intels 1.4GHz SU3500 CPU in place of an AMD Athlon MV-40 (1.6GHz), which results in some slower benchmarks, but not enough that youd readily notice in everyday use. And then there is battery life -- the new guy clocks in at slightly less than two hours, or around 20 percent less than the X600. Same machine, same specs, poorer performance -- not really a step in the right direction, MSI. Perhaps you can at least give consumers a break on the price?

Canon PowerShot G11 leaks out, looks promising

Canons PowerShot G10 has lived a long, fruitful life, but after being on the market for right around a year now, its time for a proper successor to step in and take things over. The slick little bugger you see above purports to be that very device, with the predictably titled PowerShot G11 supposedly boasting a swiveling LCD, 10 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization, SD / SDHC card slot and full manual controls with RAW support and a hotshoe. Were told that itll be available this fall for an undisclosed sum, and we get the feeling this will all become a lot more official in a matter of days / hours / minutes.

Canon announces voice-guided SELPHY ES40 photo printer

Canons just unveiled a compact little photo printer -- the SELPHY ES40. Now, we dont have a ton of info to go on in the press release, but we do know that this little guys boasts a voice-guidance system to work with its 3.5-inch LCD and scrollwheel to navigate through the menus. We dont usually find printers to be in any way interesting, but theres something about this one that we rather like -- maybe its the fact that weve been "talking" to our own printers for years, and have sadly never gotten a response. No word on availability yet, but itll run you around $149.99 when it arrives. Theres another shot of this bad boy after the break.

Yinlips Projector PMP is a PMP with a projector

You might not know this, but your portable media player is "shackling" you down with its shockingly small screen. What you, and every other self-respecting technophile, need is a projector to explode your awesome digital media onto the nearest wall, flat surface, or just some guys shirt. Nikon popularized this projector integration madness, and now Yinlips is continuing it with the 3.5-inch Projector PMP, which claims it can beam out a humongous 80-inch picture (wed be impressed if it can do half that) and play 64-bit games of an unspecified variety. Further info is scant right now, but we suspect you could fill in the blanks with your favorite generic Chinese PMPs specs and youll probably be pretty much spot on. Youll know more as soon as we do.

Canon PowerShot G10 reviewed

Weve always had a soft spot for Canons G-series of prosumer compacts, and it looks like the new G10 wont be any exception -- Photography Blog just put the boxy camera through its paces and found that its "undoubtedly the best ever" in the line. High marks were particularly given to the new wider-angle 28-140mm lens (which suffers less barrel distortion than the G9), higher-res LCD screen, and the new exposure dial, which allows you to fine-tune exposure settings without a trip to the menus. The new 14.7 megapixel sensor didnt receive the same praise, however: ISO 400 images were quite noisy, and the 800 and 1600 settings were "virtually unusable." Thats not exactly news for the G-series, but its pretty unfortunate -- especially considering that the G10s $499 pricetag edges into low-end DSLR territory. Still, if youre looking for a compact with deep manual controls and real optics, it sounds like the G10 is worth a look -- hit the read link for the full review.

Microsoft still hot for white space, describes WhiteFi wireless tech

The white space odyssey continues, with manufacturers of all backgrounds and sizes salivating so heavily over the bountiful frequencies opened up by the DTV transition that theyre willing to fight the NAB in a corporate cage match of epic proportions. Microsoft, part of the White Spaces Coalition and a company thats not always had success at this whole frequency-sharing thing, isnt giving up yet, presenting a paper this week at ACM SIGCOMM 2009 describing yet more new approaches and algorithms that would allow white space communication that functions like traditional WiFi devices -- but with ranges measured in miles instead of feet. Dubbed WhiteFi, the tech would include algorithms to enable both access points and clients to zero in on the same locally disused frequencies without stepping on the toes of other broadcasters. It certainly sounds like a consumer-friendly implementation, and something wed very much like to deploy at the 442 acre Engadget compound in northwestern Montana (its three counties away from the nearest hotspot), but were not entirely convinced this latest approach will find any more success at appeasing/defeating the NAB than any of the prior attempts. [Warning: PDF read link]

White space tests fail again- next up, conquering windmills

At this point all the snazzy new websites and re-focused marketing efforts in the world arent going to get Google, Microsoft, and the other members of the White Spaces Coalition anywhere if they dont actually demonstrate the broadband-in-between-TV-signals tech in action -- and it looks like thats proving to be harder than expected. For the second time in seven months, a prototype device has failed testing at the hands of the FCC, although this time it wasnt because it was interfering with TV signals -- it just wouldnt stay powered on. Microsoft says the power issue is "unrelated to the technology points were trying to prove," but as usual, those prickly pears at the NAB arent being shy about this latest setback, calling it proof that white space broadcasts are "risky technology that has proven to be unworkable." At this point were honestly torn -- we hate to side with the NAB and we had high hopes for the white spaces concept, but it just doesnt look like its panning out. Maybe its time to move on to bigger and better things, eh?

Android-based Archos 5-inch Internet Tablet coming September 15 with (you guessed it) an AppsLib store

See that? Its an Android-green invitation to the unveil of the 5-inch Archos Internet Media Tablet. The September 15th date isnt new (it was announced back in June) but its still good to see things moving ahead as planned. To whet the appetites of would-be developers, Archos has also announced its AppsLib application store for "advanced Android devices." The development guidelines, however, describe just a single, 5-inch 800x480 pixel device with accelerometer, OpenGL 3D graphics support, and HDMI output pushing an oddball 1160x652 pixel resolution to your TV. Right, specs already rumored for the Archos tablet. While not mentioned, we still expect all the other details -- 500GB storage, 10-mm thickness, 7-hours of battery when playing video, voice and HSUPA data radio, and OMAP3440 processor -- unexpectedly announced (by TI!) for the tablet way back in February to be in place when this thing gets live in Paris next month.

Archos to release Android phone / tablet

Were guessing well hear more about this at MWC, but TI just let loose a press release crowing about Archoss use of the OMAP3 processor in an upcoming "Internet Media Tablet" that runs on Android and also doubles as a phone. No pictures yet, but the spec sheet makes it sound like a hotrodded Archos 5: five-inch screen, up to a 500GB hard drive, a battery capable of 7 seven hours of video playback, and Flash support, all in a package just 10mm (.39 inches) thick. The underlying OS will be Android, but Archos plans to really beef up the media features -- theres even mention of HD video playback. That sounds seriously sweet -- if Archos ditches the current mushy resistive screen in the 5 for a capacitive unit, this could be a knockout Android device when it launches in the third quarter.

Retro Cassette Stereo Mini Speaker gives a (tinny) voice to iPods

Those poor, poor speakerless iPod Nanos, Minis and the like -- how long have they had to suffer without a set of ultra-awesome speakers to give life to their music? Sure, thereve been plenty of pretenders for the crown, but nothing quite as elaborately detailed as this Retro Cassette Stereo Mini Speaker. You read that right folks, stereo -- that means two, count em, two sweetly ornate sources of utterly unimpressive sound. Has the iPhone 3GS got an app for that? Course not. Read link details the full features, such as blister packaging (always good to know), and provides you with the means to acquire one in exchange for $32. Most righteous, no?

Lasonic and Rap-Up team for the Limited Edition i931 boombox

Lasonics iPod dock masquerading as a ghetto blaster is nothing we havent seen before, but the new Limited Edition i931 with Rap-Up branding... well, its so "fabulous" we couldnt resist. Weighing in at about 25 pounds, this behemoth boasts two 12-inch speakers, it docks and charges your iPod, and its going to look semi-fly doing it, too. Its also got an AM/FM tuner, EQs, an alarm clock -- you know, the works. This hulking "high performance portable music system" is destined to make you nostalgic for a simpler time of miniscule MP3 players with teensy little earbuds. Its $189 and available now.

Clear iPod case pulls double duty with rotating speakers

iPod cases with built-in speakers have amazingly been around the block a time or two before. Were guessing the reason shelves arent flooded with em today has quite a bit to do with the presumably lackluster sound quality / output potential. Nevertheless, those hoping to find just a case for their precious new iPod classic need look no further, as the rotating speakers case for iPod is here to make your dreams come true. Reportedly, the $60.72 enclosure works just fine with 80/160GB iPod classic models as well as 30/60/80GB 5G iPods, but considering that each of the stereo drivers pumps out under 1-watt per, you should probably plan on tossing this bad boy over your right shoulder like we did back in 1985 in order to hear anything.

MSIs X-Slim X340 becomes a little chubbier, a little cheaper, and a little better

You might think that making a super-skinny laptop like the MSI X-Slim X340 wider would necessarily be a bad move, but when that extra girth more than doubles the battery life to a whopping 8:48, its a trade-off many will make. Extra bonuses include a keyboard that wont bow under the pressure of your more expletive-filled rants and an MSRP $100 cheaper than the $899 it launched at. Given the older, four-cell model is already shipping at well under that ($749 at most major electronics retailers) were eager to see just how much of a better bargain this already excellent deal can become. Oh, and if youre one of the folks already slinging one of these around wherever you go, you can get in on the eight-cell battery bandwagon for $99, but will just have to make do with that bouncy keyboard.

MSI X-Slim X340 gets reviewed, loved on despite the flexy keyboard

Weve had our eyes on MSIs answer to the MacBook Air (yeah, we said it!) for a while now -- and that includes a shady, late night hands-on photo session live from the Neville Island Motel and a horrifying back-alley vivisection, to boot. Now it looks like the crazy kids at Laptop are dead set on having their say on the X340 13.4-inch ultra-portable -- and why not? The more the merrier! According to the reviewer, what this character lacks in processing power, it more than makes up for in price, weight, and battery life -- at 2.9 pounds the device is certainly lighter than the Air, and its over three hours on a single charge are none too shabby. Even the 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo processor (coupled here with 2GB memory and running Windows Vista) is characterized as "snappy." Sadly, the keyboard is said to be flimsy and graphic performance pretty weak -- but still, at $899 (price as reviewed) this is sure to be right up some of your proverbial alleys. Interested? Hit that read link for all the gory details.

Windows 7 will cost half as much in the UK as in the US, crikey!

Happy news for our British readers today -- Microsoft is selling Windows 7 Home Premium in the UK at the bargain price of £65 for the full (non-upgrade) version. Converted to $107, thats less than Americans have to shell out just for an upgrade ($120) and about half the price of the full thing ($200). The Professional and Ultimate varieties are also cheaper by about $40 each. With Windows 7 E now out of the picture (though seemingly still available for pre-order from the MS online store), it looks like Microsoft has chosen to match its lower price (listed with an £80 MSRP) with the new SKUs that will actually see retail shelves -- a price online retailers are now undercutting. Jolly good. CNET was first to the story and was told by an Amazon UK rep that the current pricing is expected to be indefinite, but previous intel on the matter has indicated that Microsoft will be hiking UK prices from January 1, 2010. So if you wanna be safe, better get that brand spanking new OS before Christmas rolls around.



CNET article
Microsoft UK online store
Windows 7 Home Premium at Amazon UK for £65

Windows 7 SKUs announced: your worst nightmare has come to pass

Remember that screenshot we saw of all those different Windows 7 versions (pictured above)? Well guess what? Its worse than you could have possibly imagined. The following will be the actual new SKUs for the OS:

• Windows 7 Starter (limited to three apps concurrently)
  
• Windows 7 Home Basic (for emerging markets)
• Windows 7 Home Premium (adds Aero, Touch, Media Center)
  
• Windows 7 Professional (Remote Desktop host, Mobility Center, Presentation mode)
  
• Windows 7 Enterprise (volume license only, boot from virtual drive, BitLocker)
  
• Windows 7 Ultimate (limited availability, includes everything)
  

This information has been confirmed by Microsoft... who never listens to us. At least most consumers will only see Home Premium and Professional options at retail, which is more akin to the XP options of yore, and means WMC will be "baseline" for most PCs.

Update: Just to be clear, weve checked specifically with Microsoft on all six versions, and the placement of Home Basic in emerging markets. Theres now a full breakdown after the break.
Windows 7 Starter

• Available worldwide to OEMs on new PCs
• Missing Aero UI tweaks
• Limited to 3 simultaneous applications

Windows 7 Home Basic (Vista equivalent: $200)

• Only available in emerging markets
• Missing Aero UI tweaks

Windows 7 Home Premium (Vista equivalent: $260)

• Available worldwide, to OEMs and in retail
• Includes Aero UI tweaks
• Features multi-touch capabilities
• Adds "premium" games
• Adds media capabilities (Media Center, DVD playback, DVD creation, etc.)
• Can create home network groups

Windows 7 Professional (Vista equivalent: $300)

• Available worldwide, to OEMs and in retail
• Includes all features of Premium
• Adds enhanced networking capabilities (Remote Desktop host, domain support, offline folders, etc.)
• Adds Mobility Center
• Adds Presentation Mode

Windows 7 Enterprise

• Available only in volume licenses
• Includes all features of Professional
• Adds Branch Cache
• Adds Direct Access
• Adds BitLocker

Windows 7 Ultimate (Vista equivalent: $320)

• Limited OEM and retail availability
• Includes all features of Enterprise

Current Vista breakdown can be found here.

Fujitsu unleashes CELSIUS ULTRA specs, offers test drives at gamescom

And now we know what the "worlds fastest" air-cooled gaming rig is made of -- a 3.33GHz Intel Core i7-975 and a pair of souped-up GeForce GTX 295s running in SLI. Theyre backed up by 12GB of DDR3 memory, a 150GB WD Raptor as an OS drive and two 1TB storage hangars, but you must be wondering where all that German ultra clocking is. Well, the motherboard is of Fujitsus own making and a custom tweaker-ready BIOS is promised, but the truth is we really cant see anything overclocked especially for this rig. Which is not to say it wont be the most powerful pixel pusher in the world (this week), with hardware like that were sure youll be able to run Vista Business without a hitch... oh yea, thats the listed OS, and since were spilling bad news, recommended price tag is €4,000. If youre anywhere near Cologne this week, head on down to gamescom, and if you ask really nicely, the Fujitsu people might even let you play on this fiery beast of a machine. See it undressed after the break.