Don Carleone’s Flash Drive
There is no way how modern technologies can effect legendary movie pictures of past (except for remastering maybe), but we have recently discovered that an unsurpassed “The Godfather” trilogy of 20th century has effected a well known modern technology corporation. This corporation is Super Talent Technology Corporation. Effecting Super Talent didn’t mean changing their products or anything of that kind. Paramount Pictures (also famous for MTV and Nickelodeon films, DreamWorks Studios, etc), “The Godfather” original license holder and Super Talent have signed a licensing agreement with Paramount Licensing Inc. to design a USB flash drive with the themes of “The Godfather”.
Super Talent isn’t of course a newcomer in the world of computer technologies. Its name is bound with successful DDR memory modules production in the first place and now they are going for another sort of fame – a fame of stylish gadget manufacturer. “The Godfather” USB flash is only a stylish product as there is nothing new the design of the drive, but there is something to be delighted with. The license agreement with Paramount allows Super Talent to put “The Godfather” logos on the body of the flash and preinstall notorious quotes form the movie and original posters and that’s about it. Shipping starts this December, available memory capacities vary from 1 GB to 8GB.
Nokia releases firmware v12.043 for N96 smartphone
The last month of each year is not probably the time for only big releases, so people could feel themselves free to choose New Year presents for their friend and relatives, but it is also the good time for manufacturers nevertheless to get busy with what was not perfect thru the past year. The case in which we are mentioning it is the latest Nokia N96 firmware update v12.043 available from today’s morning December 08. And it is a good move from Nokia I suppose, because even within a few hours from the moment after first lucky N96 users have installed v12.043 to it, the web started filling up with positive comments. Well done for Nokia as it may now expect better profits from smartphones in the “hot” season of winter. So, let’s see what N96 firmware v12.043 is all about.
First of all mind you that the latest N96 v12.043 firmware is not up to bring too many of new features. As we started with Nokia was not perfect with its flagman N96 model, now is a good time to fix it along with many other Nokia devices which get their firmware updates regularly. That is exactly the way it should be and it doesn’t mean that Nokia puts up for sale underfulfilled gadgets. In the meanwhile, the updated devices show a bit more of what was expected, not only patches for obvious bloopers. More concrete on N96 with v12.043, it now has: camera performance update. It shows in less motion blur and color bloom effect. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have enhanced interoperability. Messaging fix doesn’t alter SMS text into MMS if case when the SMS was sent to more than 20 numbers. With an additional download, compatibility with Nokia Email service is available. And, except for fixing crushing applications, many more changes in screen settings, themes and ringtones, etc.
Overall firmware v12.043 made N96 faster and more reliable with plus 45 free MB RAM after boot. The updating pack has 120 MB at Nokia official web site, or over-the-air it would be only 3 MB.
Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot
The Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot has managed to create a real stir in the mobile community. It’s the first GSM handset that ships with the whopping 8 megapixels worth of camera goodies and such things simply cannot go unnoticed.
You’ve probably already gone through the news scoop and you know the sweet details - face detection, smart contrast, both a xenon flash and a photo flash, as well as geotagging complete the camera feature set. A 2.4-inch QVGA TFT display with scratch-resistant mineral glass cover will serve you as a viewfinder.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite
Perhaps spooked by the success of Sony’s PlayStation 3, despite its delays and hefty price tag, Microsoft has come up with an upgrade to its Xbox 360, less than 18 months after its initial launch. The Xbox 360 Elite is black instead of white, includes a 120GB hard drive (six times as capacious as the previous 360’s, and twice as big as the PS3’s), and sports an HDMI output for easier and better quality connection to HD Ready TVs.
You can buy the Elite in the US for $480, and it will be released in the UK on 24 August with an ‘estimated’ retail price £300. You can find our review of the original Xbox 360 here.
Hitachi UT42-XV700
When flat panel TVs first went on sale, it was pretty common to find them without TV tuners built in, and sometimes even without speakers. As time went on and flat panels became marketed as TV sets, we saw them start to incorporate tuners. These days, it’s pretty rare to find a screen that’s missing this vital component.
Well, you’ve found one. The Hitachi UT42-XV700 lacks a TV tuner and the reason is simple: it’s been removed to save space. Because this TV is just 38mm thick, there isn’t room for ‘extras’ — or as some might argue, ‘essentials’. So, with no tuner, this TV is more of a screen than a TV, designed to work with an external source.
Asus Eee PC 901
Ten months old is young to write an autobiography, but if the Asus Eee PC were to pen its memoirs it’d consist of three chapters. The first would be all about introducing a revolutionary new product (the Eee PC 701), the second about rapidly refining it (the Eee PC 900) and the last would detail how, in the face of several me-too look-alikes, it was reinvented again in the guise of the Eee PC 901.
The 901 is, in many ways, so much better than its peers it’s laughable, but if you have an Eee PC 900 don’t worry about upgrading. The basic body shape and size is identical, save for a few millimetres here and there in the 900’s favour. The screen, too, is the bright 1024×600 panel that we know and love.
Toshiba Satellite Pro Laptop Computers
The ideal candidate for getting the job done.
The ideal candidate for getting the job done. With a Satellite Pro laptop you can be as mobile and productive as you need to be. Enjoy affordable, fundamental business productivity features, with styling that goes well beyond basic. Toshiba Satellite Pro notebooks make it easy to convey a polished, professional image, while making short work of the day’s work load.
Now presenting a range of sizes and features.
With the Satellite Pro laptop computer series, fundamental doesn’t mean limited. They come in different display sizes to meet your mobility needs 13.3″, 14.1″, 15.4″ or even a full 17.0″. They offer a choice of dual-core processors (AMD® or Intel®), graphics components, or other convenient functions such as the USB Sleep-and-Charge port (available on select models) which allows you to charge your electronic devices via any of the three ports, and more whichever of these options suits your business situation and working style best.
Motorola ROKR E8 Mobile Phone
Sony Ericsson and Nokia dominate the music phone market, so what makes Motorola think it can muscle in on the act with its new ROKR E8 handset? We take a closer look to find out.
Sporting a pseudo touch interface, the Moto ROKR E8 offers a flash, overly large design for its music dedicated offering.
Part of the ROKR series, which in the past has offered iTunes connectivity, the new handset comes with both the mini USB for the headset and a dedicated 3.5mm jack, so you can use your own headphones, however, you have to use the supplied headset if you want to use the radio.
The candybar design is reminiscent of the old SLVR L6, but is something new from Motorola, where design has obviously taken some thought. That said, it is a rather large offering, and strangely top-heavy in the hand.
Western Digital My Passport Studio Hard Drive
The Western Digital My Passport Studio hard drive packs up to 320GB of storage into a device no bigger than a Moleskine notebook, but has Western Digital had to cut too many corners to get it to this size? We start saving files to find out.
Small, compact and silver the My Passport Studio is a simple affair. Geared specifically for the Mac market, the unit comes HFS+ Journal formatted for Mac OS 10.4.11 users and above although it can be reformatted for PC use.
Dimensions are 8 x 126.74 x 81mm and it weighs an incredibly light 180 grams. Keeping it small, there is no power brick, with power instead being drawn from either the FireWire or USB 2.0 connection.
There are no buttons on the device itself and the only notification you get that it’s on is one of four status lights at the rear of the unit.
Toshiba Camileo Pro HD Camcorder
The Toshiba Camileo Pro HD has attracted a lot of attention because of the ability to record HD in a package which appears to be great value for money. But should the price sell this camcorder to you?
Taking the popular form factor of a handheld vertical unit with flip-out screen, the Camileo Pro HD comes in where the Camileo Pro left off and we’ve found that because of the names, there is a great deal of confusion about which camera you are talking about.
It is lightweight and almost pocketable. We say almost, because it will slip into a jacket pocket, measuring 70 x 110 x 33mm and weighing in at 180g, it is not as smallest option out there.
