Filed under: Digital Cameras

We've been teased with the inevitable launch of the Nikon D700 DSLR, but it looks like our introduction is pretty much here with the nascent of a product presentation video that's supposed to hit the internets tomorrow. Observe as the nice man rubs the camera and says naughty things in French (hopefully we'll have a translation soon). He goes on to show off the new interface, quick menus, battery port, pop-up flash, and even gets a nice shot through the new viewfinder. In all seriousness, this is looking like a slick new camera. You're still looking at around €2,600 ($4,000), a July release, a 12-megapixel sensor, and sensor cleaning system. More information is sure to surface tomorrow when our friends across the pond wake up. Hit the continue link to be taunted a second time.

[Thanks, Pete]

Continue reading Nikon D700 presentation video revealed early, it's very nice

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Ever wonder how Netflix selects who gets the newest releases first? Apparently Sound and Vision Mag did. They contacted the company and although they wouldn’t reveal any trade secrets, they did divulge how the queues basically work. Here are some of their results:

• Ordering a movie first does not necessarily mean you will be the first recipient.
• The more popular the movie, the longer the wait.
• The more films you watch, the less likely you are to receive new releases. (We hate that one.)
• The more new releases you watch, the less likely you will receive other new movies. (Okay, that one is awful, too.)

Irregardless of our queue status and the algorithms used in them, we have to admit we are still Netflix advocates. It’s amazing how many obscure/old/cult films we have been able to screen with our subscription. And that makes it greatest thing since unsliced bread for us.

Tags: algorithms (T), home entertainment (T), movies (T), netflix (T), queue (T), tv (T)

Read More | Sound & Vision

Filed under: Displays, Gaming

It's never clear how a company plans on implementing a given patent, but Sony's patent application for a haptic touchscreen composed of "tactile pixels" lists former Sony Computer Entertainment chief Phil Harrison as the inventor and makes several references to potential use in "a game device" and to "game events," so it's a safe bet that it was at least developed with the PSP in mind. The patent app describes a sophisticated haptic feedback system that goes well beyond the basic rumble of today's device -- the pixels themselves are able to move up and down between two positions, providing direct feedback to user actions. That's certainly an interesting idea, but like all patent news, we're not going to hold out hope for it to surface in a consumer device anytime soon -- but we're willing to be surprised, you know?

[Via PSP Fanboy]

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Hallmark’s new line of greeting cards sounds like too much interaction for us. The company has had those with music and spoken lines out for a while now, and has added to the audio cards with small handles that you turn to automate them. These cards are going to set you back $7.99 each and are obviously going to cost you some extra postage if you want to mail them. Still, we admit we do have some affection for hoops and yoyo.

Tags: automation (T), greeting cards (T), hallmark greeting cards (T), music (T), speech (T)

Read More | Hallmark

Plug the Darth Vader 4-port hub in to your USB Hub and he is more than just a common device. His eyes glow, he moves his head, and he breathes in that nasty way. The animated Star Wars baddie will be coming out in August and you can pre-order at Geek Stuff 4U for $67.72. An R2-D2 version will also available for those who don’t like consorting with the Dark Side for the same price. You can also order the pair of them for $119.68.

Tags: darth vader 4-port hub (T), movies (T), r2-d2 (T), star wars (T), usb (T), usb hub (T)

Read More | Akihibara News

Amazon has begun to take orders for their MSI Wind. Available in black, they announced that shipping will begin July 7. The MSI Mini-laptop features a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, and Windows XP Home. Also standard with the laptop is a 1.3M webcam, Bluetooth capabilities, 3 USB ports, and a 4-in-1 card reader. At a size of 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.8-inches and a weight of 2.3 pounds, the Wind is available for $499.99.

Tags: amazon (T), computer (T), laptop (T), msi wind laptop (T), pc (T)

Read More | Amazon

Filed under: Laptops

The non-stop barrage of Eee-branded gear from ASUS continues on today, with the first appearance of the Eee PC 903, 904 (above), and 905. It's not clear exactly what the differences between the three models are, but as we've heard, they're all basically the Eee PC 901's Atom-based guts shoved into the Eee PC 1000's case -- which means you're getting a larger keyboard, but the 8.9-inch display will have a pretty significant bezel around it. As before, final specs and pricing aren't available, but since these are destined to replace the 900 and 901, we'd expect pricing to remain in the $600 range.

[Thanks, Sascha]

Read - Eee 903
Read - Eee 904 and 905

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In honor of Activision’s launch of “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” last Friday, the band made a personal appearance at Times Square in NYC. After the press conference was held, the Hard Rock Cafe housed a game lounge where fans could try before they bought the game. While we know that Activision will sell a ton of them, it remains to be seen what effect the old rockers and their album sales will have on a younger generation.

Tags: activision (T), aerosmith (T), guitar hero (T), guitar hero:aerosmith (T), music (T), video games (T)

Read More | I4U News

In honor of Activision’s launch of “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” this Friday, the band will be making a personal appearance at Times Square in NYC. After the press conference is held, the Hard Rock Cafe will house a game lounge where fans can try before they buy June 29. While we know that Activision will sell a ton of the games, it remains to be seen what effect the old rockers and their album sales will have on a younger generation.

Tags: activision (T), aerosmith (T), guitar hero (T), guitar hero:aerosmith (T), music (T), video games (T)

Read More | I4U News

Section: Apple, Mac + Computers, Laptops, MacBook Pro

A group of over 60 owners believes it does. A recent blog details the trouble, which seems to be a persistent blank screen problem.

After a reboot, or on wake from sleep, the machine refuses to acknowledge the presence of a display, either internal or external. From that point on, the computer never regains its displays—not after a reboot, etc. Subsequent debugging indicates that the machine is misidentifying its NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT card as the MacBook’s Intel X3100 card. This issue is known to affect at least 50 people—a group of affected users has formed a Google Spreadsheet in order to document and organize cases.

Apple recommends users replace the logic board, but doing this isn’t solving the problem for some users. And, of course, the problem seems to surface shortly after the expiration of the computer’s default warranty, meaning those inflicted are paying about $400 for a fix that may not actually fix anything.

If you’re noticing similar behavior, we recommend you join the Apple discussion forum to gather/offer possible solutions, or, at the least, to be counted. If this does prove to be a widespread problem, the more people who join the discussion, the sooner Apple may address the issue.

Via [apad.sytes.net]

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

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