features a 240 MHz MIPS32® CPU core with 16 KB of instruction cache, 16 KB of data cache, 1 KB of pre-fetch cache, and incorporates 4 MB of flash memory and 16 MB of RAM. In addition to an external 2 dBi antenna, the WGR614L integrates a second internal diversity antenna to provide enhanced performance and range.

NETGEAR Launches Open Source Wireless-G Router Enabling Linux Developers and Enthusiasts to Create Firmware for Specialized Applications

Open Source Wireless-G Router (WGR614L) Delivers Higher Processing Power and More Memory for a Wide Variety of Customized Applications and is Supported by a Dedicated and Responsive Open Source Community

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – June 30, 2008 – NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking solutions, today announced the launch of the Open Source Wireless-G Router (WGR614L), a full-featured wireless router designed to serve as a reliable, high-performance platform to support a wide variety of applications created by the open source community.

The high-performance WGR614L, which is “Works with Windows Vista” certified, The router supports free open source Linux®-based Tomato and DD-WRT firmware and will soon support OpenWRT.

The WGR614L is supported by a dedicated open source router community, www.myopenrouter.com, which provides open source firmware downloads, forums, blogs, articles, source code, and user guides, and provides users with dedicated and responsive support by open source experts.

“The launch of the WGR614L is significant to the open source community as there has been a growing demand for more powerful platforms to support a rapidly growing segment of open source enthusiasts that are seeking to create more robust, commercial-grade applications for their wireless routers,” stated Som Pal Choudhury, senior product line manager for advanced wireless at NETGEAR. “In addition to adding a more powerful processor and additional memory to the proven Broadcom® platform, the most popular open source firmware, Tomato and DD-WRT, are available on WGR614L making it easier for users to develop a wide variety of applications. An important feature of our offering is the dedicated and responsive open source community which enables users to easily exchange ideas and troubleshoot issues. New applications currently being developed by this community include traffic shaping applications, redirections to captive portals for hotspots, guest access via a separate SSID, upstream and downstream QOS, and intelligent bandwidth monitoring.”

The NETGEAR Open Source Wireless-G Router (WGR614L), which features one 10/100 Internet WAN port and a four-port 10/100 LAN switch, incorporates an 802.11g access point to support wireless connectivity at speeds of up to 54 Mbps. The WGR614L supports static and dynamic routing with TCP/IP, VPN pass-through (IPSec, L2TP), NAT, PPTP, PPPoE, DHCP (client and server), and Bigpond. A Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall protects the network from intruders, and the wireless connection is secured with support for 40-, 128- and 152-bit WEP encryption, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), WPA2-PSK, and Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). Additional security features include: Exposed Host (DMZ), MAC address authentication, URL content filtering, logs and e-mail alerts of Internet activity.

The NETGEAR Open Source Wireless-G Router (WGR614L) is backed by a one-year hardware warranty and is available now via select retailers, direct marketers, e-commerce sites and value added resellers at a retail price in the U.S. of $69.

JVC TO OFFER WORLD'S THINNEST TUNER-EQUIPPED LCD TV WITH SLEEK, THIN-BEZEL DESIGN AND REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION

Technology to be offered in two screen sizes

WAYNE, NJ, June 17, 2008 -Establishing a new benchmark in flat panel TV design, JVC in July will market the world's thinnest LCD TVs with built-in tuners*. The new line of super-slim Full HD TVs also weigh less and consume less power than conventional LCD TVs.

JVC's new slim LCD TVs, part of the company's Procision series, feature a cabinet that across most of its width measures a mere 1.5 inches (39mm) deep, with a maximum depth of just 2.9-inches (74mm) at the panel's center. The design ensures that from nearly any angle, the sets present a super-slim appearance. Complementing the slim design is a thinner bezel, further minimizing the presence of the cabinet.

The new super-slim design will be available in two screen sizes in the U.S., the 42-inch LT-42SL89 and the 46-inch LT-46SL89. Both offer 1920 x 1080p resolution.

The slim design was made possible through the use of a new JVC-developed slim panel backlight unit and power supply substrate, or chassis. The new slim LCD panel backlight unit is 40 percent smaller in depth and bezel width compared to a conventional LCD backlight, measuring just 0.79 inches (20mm) deep and 0.51 inches (13mm) wide. In addition, the unit weighs only 26.4 lbs (12kg) and consumes a mere 145W (see diagram 1).

*with built-in tuners as of January 6, 2008, according to a JVC survey

Efforts to reduce the depth of an LCD panel backlight result in uneven hot spots appearing on the LCD screen surfaces because CCFL light sources are brought closer to the liquid crystal panel (see diagram 2). To overcome this problem, either light-diffusing plates are applied or more CCFL tubes are used. But the former approach can result in lower brightness, while the latter approach can be costly and increases power consumption.

JVC's display engineering team succeeded in developing a new, slimmer backlight unit by optimizing the light-diffusing plates and light-reflection sheets, as well as improving its overall composition. This provided uniform light-diffusion at all the corners and edges without the addition of more CCFL tubes, while maintaining adequate luminance to ensure that the screen always remains bright (see diagrams 3 and 4).

JVC also developed a slimmer yet efficient power-supply substrate and employed a direct-mount configuration for it on the LCD panel backlight unit with a fan-less heat dissipation system to further reduce power consumption.

Both models will be VESA compliant for easy wall mounting, but JVC will also offer its own mounting solution - a wall mount designed to position the slim TV closer to the wall than does a standard mount.

Both sets include a full complement of connections, including three HDMI inputs, two component inputs, one S-Video in and a PC input. Other features include front touch sensor controls, a headphone jack, USB picture viewer and an illuminated universal remote control.

The new JVC super-slim LT-42SL89 and LT-46SL89 will be available in July with approximate retail prices of $1,899.99 and $2,399.99, respectively.

RGB liquid crystal shutter protection system
LCD Panel: 1.3 inch x 3, Aspect Ratio 4:3
Pixel Count: 786,432 (1024 x 768) x 3 ; Total pixels 2,359,296
Color Control Device
Light source: 330 W NSHA Lamp
Screen Size: 31 to 400 inches (projection distance differs by lens)
Full color (1.07 billion colors) *when in using with video
Brightness: 7,000 ANSI lumens
Contrast Ratio: 2200:1
Scanning Frequency
Horizontal: 15-100KHz, Vertical: 48-100Hz, Dot Clock: 180 MHz or less
Displayable Resolution
RGB Signal
1024 x 768 dots (1920 x 1080 resizing display possible)
Video Signal
800 TV
Computer Input/Output
Digital DVI-I x 1 (HDCP Compatible)
Analog RGB input x 2; Mini D-sub 15-pin, BNC input 5-pin
Video Input
Video input x 3;
BNC terminal (Y/Video-Pb/Cb-Pr/Cr)
RCA terminal (Y/Video-Pb/Cb-Pr/Cr)
S-video
Video Output
Analog RGB x 1; Mini D-sub 15-pin*3
Audio Input/Output
Input: Stereo mini-jack x 2
Output: Stereo mini-jack
Control Ports, etc.
Control port: D-sub 9 pin; USB type B*4
Wired remote control connection
PJ Net Organizer connector
Operating Temperature
5 ~ 40
Power Source: AC 100V(±10％), 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 484W (Standby:28W)
Dimensions: 370.0 (w) x 187.0 (t) x 439.9 (d) (including protruding parts)
Weight: 11.4kg (without lens)
Main Accessories
Wireless remote control (AAA battery x 2)
Removable power cord
Back-up power adapter
USB cable
Mini D-sub 15-pin connecting cable
Operating manual
Customer service contact list
Warranty
PIN code label
Lens mounting hardware
Light-shade plate x 2
Spacer x 3

One piece of "meh"ness about the LP-XP200L, though: you'll have to buy the projection lens separately. [Sanyo]

Pre-installed apps: Quick Office document viewer, WebKit-based S60 browser, music and video player, push-email support, and other standard S60 apps.

Samsung's press materials included a table that claims the brushed steel L870 has something called the "Safari browser," but like all the latest Nokia S60 cellphones, it probably just uses Nokia's own S60 Web Browser, which is often referred to as "Safari" because it uses the open source WebKit—Apple's Safari foundation, but not the actual Safari. The possibility of Apple actually giving one of the iPhone's crown jewels to the competition, and then porting it to Symbian—without any of the iPhone's user interface programming classes—is close to zero.

In other words, nothing to see here that we haven't seen before. [S60 and Symbian Freak via Phone Arena]

OK, so you're out there on your ops, and you want to pick up chatter from enemy radio. You don't want to look suspicious, so you pull out your pipe and pretend to pack it with tobacco. You can't actually light it, because inside this pipe-shaped countersurveillance radio is a receiver, batteries and a bunch of other stuff that won't take kindly to smoke and embers. The device's neatest attribute is its lack of earpiece. Instead, you'd bite down on the mouthpiece, and hear signal through bone conduction.Once you've gathered your information, you can stash your film and other goodies into a dead rat. Or, if you think rats are icky, you can put your data into a brick or a rock. Here's one actual "concealment" brick with a cement cap:Since there's always a risk of getting caught, smart guys wrote down their info on water-soluble paper, and stored it in thermoses. A thin layer of glass separated the paper from water; when the bad guys came close to apprehending the agent, he'd just drop the thermos and the glass would shatter. There'd be no sign of the paper, and the contents would then be drinkable—if you didn't mind all the broken glass.

Earlier on, guys would wrote down data in exploding notebooks, but I imagine the practice was curtailed when they drew a little too much attention, especially in phone booths, airplanes or gas stations. Note: The instructions tell you to remove the safety when you start using it, not just when you need to blow it up. If your data-dumping apparatuses didn't get you out of trouble, you're lucky you've got an Escape & Evasion Rectal Suppository Tool Kit shoved up your ass. That's right, that tool kit is rectal, and goes up presumably far enough that the man with the rubber glove (you know the man) won't find it. Hopefully you'll be able to get to it when you need to saw, drill, ply and file your way out of a Siberian prison camp. Escape futile? Or just having an upleasant time with the whole suppository tool kit? If you planned ahead, you got the agency to provide you with a definitive way out. Though not common, "L-Pills" containing "lethal" substances were issued from time to time, and stashed in pens. U-2 spyplane pilots carried something slightly different, a needle, hidden within another larger needle (you know, so you don't prick yourself), tipped with something nasty called "saxitoxin." All of this CIA tech and much more like it is covered with great depth and hair-raising anecdotes in Spycraft, a new book by Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton, reviewed by us, and available for pre-order at Amazon.

The new MKV-L will be able to take out an ICBM and all of its MIRVs long before they could do any damage, and Lockheed just announced an important milestone in its development: they've calibrated the infrared pathfinder seekers. These are the clever gizmos at the heart of the MKV-L that'll let it track those multiple targets. Next up: testing prototypes in the air and the lab, with an aim of in-operation date of 2017. [Cnet News]

Kodak EasyShare M853 ($150 , 8.2MP) - The Best UI
The Good: The UI is clean and straightforward. On-screen menus explain the different options very clearly. The color in outdoor, well-lit settings was very accurate. Macro shots were clear.
The Bad: For such a great UI, I was surprised at the mediocrity of certain features. The most problematic issue I found was the M853 wouldn't mount to my Mac. Neither iPhoto nor Image Capture recognized it as a USB mass-storage device. The display is too small to get a decent field of vision. There are few options for taking manual shots, and the buttons used for these limited options aren't labeled. The M853 had the worst battery life of any camera I tried. Low light/no flash situations yielded poor pictures.
The Verdict: A beginner will be taking pictures right away, but it's not worth the frustration that comes later.

Nikon CoolPix L18 ($140 , 8MP) - The Easiest to Use
The Good: The CoolPix is so simple that it pretty much has two modes: Auto and Easy Auto. No pure manual mode exists, but there are some scene options available if you need something more specific. Outdoor pictures as well as close up macro shots looked good. Most of all, I really loved the 3" LCD display—larger than any other I tested.
The Bad: It may be too simple for people who like to tinker with their shots. You can adjust exposure and ISO, but the options don't help very much and you may not have as much control over your pictures as you'd like. Low light shots came out very blurry. I am not fans of AA batteries in cameras, and this one takes two.
The Verdict: This camera is a no-brainer for those with no-brains. It's pretty much the digital equivalent of a disposable camera—decent pictures for a decent price.

Canon PowerShot A580 ($150 , 8MP) - The No-Frills Camera
The Good: This camera takes pictures and it takes them well. Outdoor pictures came out bright and colorful, and turned out best when we were able to get a clear shot of the subject without background distractions. Manual options are comprehensive and show changes live, allowing you to see your alterations. The A580 took the clearest pictures of any of the cameras in dim light/flash free situations.
The Bad: It's bulky and unattractive. Pictures taken from a distance were out of focus and came out bad. The UI is cumbersome. Indoor, well-lit, no flash macro shots did not come out well (though maybe that's asking too much). It too runs on AAs, which I have avoided buying since 2002.
The Verdict: If you want the best pictures you can get in this price range, the A580 is a good choice. If you want to win the $150-and-under point-and-shoot beauty contest, you better keep shopping.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S750 ($150 , 7.2MP) - The Fiddler's Delight
The Good: Pictures on the S750 turned out bright and crisp. Outdoor shots looked good, and so did indoor macro shots. Plenty of manual options put you in control of the pictures you take.
The Bad: It helps to have some experience with digital cameras if you want to get the most out of the Cyber-shot. The auto mode is fine, but the manual options are the stars of the show. The scene modes are few and located on the camera dial itself, not a menu, adding some awkwardness. Low light shots were blurry. It uses Sony's proprietary Memory Stick, and not SD, a big no-no in my book.
The Verdict: The Cyber-shot is a very complete camera, it takes good pictures in different situations, has many options as well as a solid UI. I think it's worth learning all of the features on the camera; after all, this will be an investment, and it could improve my photo-taking skills.

GE A735 ($100, 7MP) - The Cheapest
The Good: The A735 is seriously cheap—$40 to $50 less than the rest—and holds its own when it comes to features. Manual mode is full of options. Bright light pictures had rich, deep colors.
The Bad: Most pictures didn't come out well and were very dark. Indoor and low-light situations were blurry and unfocused. The UI is a mess, way too many options and not easy to figure out. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't want no stinking AA batteries!
The Verdict: If you're super-broke, wait until you save up some more and get something nicer than this. It will take pictures, but you won't be happy with most of them.

The Final Word: Point-and-shoots in this price range will never be masterful at taking great pictures. However, if you don't have the money or desire to make the DSLR investment, or even spring for the next step up, you don't have to be stuck with junky pictures or a junky camera. There are different things I liked about each one I tested, especially the screen on the Nikon and the picture quality of the Canon. But for the best all around package, I'd spend my hard-earned $150 on the Cyber-shot DSC-S750.

If you want to take the home theater out of the darkened theater room into a large open space, either of these models has the power to do it. If you have a big back yard and a knack for careful installation, they would be perfect for setting up an outdoor theater; though at 300" you might want to be a little careful what you watch. While there are no HDMI ports, both models offer D-Sub 15 and DVI-D as well as Composite and S-Video.

Lack of HDMI connectivity might scare some people away, but DVI-D is comparable in quality. If you want to run a seriously powerful system from an HTPC, either of these models could be the ticket. The only problem is the price, at $6,495 for the PLC-ET30L and $4,495 for the PLC-XT21/L, buying these would be a tad difficult to justify. I won't buy either of these models, but it never hurts to dream big. Oh, and don't forget to remember the $3,833 for the screen. [Sanyo via Oh Gizmo!]

The laptops will all have "Feather-Touch" multimedia touch-sensitive keys and a webcam with facial-recognition security login, presumably more for fun than true security. They will all also have Sleep-and-Charge USB ports, which will charge stuff even when the laptop is asleep or powered down, provided the laptop is plugged into a wall socket.

At the same time, Toshiba introduced two totally new laptops, the A200, with a starting price of $600 including 15.4" widescreen, DVD SuperMulti drive 160GB drive, 1GB of RAM and an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor. The company also introduced the 17" L350 with built-in webcam, ATI Radeon X1250 graphics and DVD SuperMulti drive for $750. [Toshiba releases: Redesigned laptops; Cheap laptops]

But at $147, it's just outside of our impulse buy range. Don't let our bank account speak for you, though. [product via tfts]

Tissue in the urethrovaginal space of the women who were no stranger to vaginal orgasms was, apparently, thicker than in that of the non-vaginal ones. This, says Janini, is evidence that women without any visible evidence of a G-spot cannot have a vaginal orgasm.

Beverly Whipple of Rutger's University School of Nursing in Newark, the team which coined the term G-Spot, is sceptical of Janini's findings. "It is an intriguing study, but it doesn't necessarily mean that women who don't experience orgasm don't have any tissue there." She reckons that the test would benefit from having women stimulate themselves first, and then repeating the ultrasound tests, as the area is believed to swell under physical pressure.

Janini is planning to continue his studies (of course he is) but says that women should not feel despair if they are unable to have vaginal orgasms. "One clear finding is that each woman is different," he says. "This is one reason why women are so interesting." And I thought it was our brains. [New Scientist]

So the shopping list function might come in useful for any user, and the perfume system sounds strange: its suggestions are based on your favorite food, drinks and so on. But the calorie counter seems just a little bit like girly stereotyping, in a 1970s kind of way.

The black and gold SGH-L310 clamshell at least has an unusual S-shaped hinge design, an external OLED alert screen hidden beneath some scroll patterns, and a crystal-decorated camera. The more discrete SHG-L320 has a shape that reminds us of a Motorola PEBL (designed to be "easy to grip", in case you were wondering), and a two-tone polished finish.

In terms of real specs, there's nothing really remarkable here: both phones have GPRS, EDGE and are tri-band; both play MP3s and AACs, have a 2 mega pixel camera and take a micro SD card for expansion. The L310 has a 1.8 inch TFT display, and USB 2.0/Bluetooth 2.0, whereas the L320 seems to be built around a different chassis, with a 1.9 inch screen and USB 1.1. Both will be available in Russia in February, the L310 at €240 ($352) and the L320 at €220 ($322), with sales expanding into Europe later in the year. [Samsung]

When you look at the Braun products by Dieter Rams—many of them at New York's MoMA—and compare them to Ive's work at Apple, you can clearly see the similarities in their philosophies way beyond the sparse use of color, the selection of materials and how the products are shaped around the function with no artificial design, keeping the design "honest."

This passion for "simplicity" and "honest design" that is always declared by Ive whenever he's interviewed or appears in a promo video, is at the core of Dieter Rams' 10 principles for good design:

• Good design is innovative.
• Good design makes a product useful.
• Good design is aesthetic.
• Good design helps us to understand a product.
• Good design is unobtrusive.
• Good design is honest.
• Good design is durable.
• Good design is consequent to the last detail.
• Good design is concerned with the environment.
• Good design is as little design as possible.

Ive's inspiration on Rams' design principles goes beyond the philosophy and gets straight into a direct homage to real products created decades ago. Amazing pieces of industrial design that still today remain fresh, true classics that have survived the test of time.

The similarities between products from Braun and Apple are sometimes uncanny, others more subtle, but there's always a common root that provides the new Apple objects not only with a beautiful simplicity but also with a close familiarity.

Braun Atelier TV and latest iMac 24

Braun T1000 radio and PowerMac G5/Mac Pro

Detail of the radio perforated aluminum surface

Braun T3 pocket radio and Apple iPod

Braun L60 sound system and Apple iPod Hi-Fi

Braun LE1 speaker and Apple iMac

Some people will probably call these examples a "rip-off" but, in a world where industrial design and art is constantly being recycled into new work, I just see Apple's products as a great evolution to classic concepts. Now, as I look at Rams' work I can't help but to wonder: which of these old Braun designs will Apple revive next? Is there a MacBook Air—the rumored ultra-slim wire-free portable that seems to be the favorite bet for tomorrow's keynote—in there?

Hopefully, we'll discover at least some answers tomorrow. See you at Macworld! [Design Museum, Dieter Rams and O Globo Online]

The projectors will apparently complement Sony's beast-like 4K projection systems, but do they really need the complement? Both units will have the same physical construction, and will include a choice of five specialized lenses, for optimal picture rendition. The VPL-FW300L and VPL-FH300L will retail at $27,000 and $40,000, respectively. If you have always wanted a projector that looks like an old-school Battlestar Galactica cannon, get saving. [Sony]

LT Series
22-inch LCD screen
Subwoofer with improved low register
1.3-Megapixel webcam
Digital and analog broadcast tuners
Vaio Video Explorer
Blu-ray (VGC-LT80DB model only)
1680 1050 resolution
Intel Core 2 Duo processor
5-button mouse
From 370,000 and under ($3218)

LM Series
19-inch LCD screen
1440 x 900 resolution
Intel core 2 Duo processor
500GB HDD superior digital broadcast tuner (VGC-LM70DB model only)
Windows Vista
260,000 and under ($2261)

LJ series
15.4-inch LCD screen
1280 x 800 resolution
Hinged keyboard that folds up
SoundFLOW music software
"Chestnut attaching button" (answers on a postcard, please)
Comes in Pink, Cosmic Black and Everwhite
Intel GL960 Express chip
200GB HDD
5.3 kilos
Windows Vista
Between 200,000 and 170,000 ($1739 and $1478)
[Ascii and Impress]

Lenovo ThinkVision L220x Wide monitor Features 22 inches wide Full HD 1920X1200 Resolution 103 dpi (dots per inch) 92% color gamut USB Hub ( 1 in,4 out) Autorotation with Pivot Soft-OSM 16:10Aspect Ratio Analog input (VGA) & Digital Input (DVI-D) HDCP Support Screen Performance WUXGA Recommend Resolution: 1920x1200@60Hz Response time: 6 ms (G to G) Brightness: 300 cd/m2 Viewing Angle: 178°/ 178°(H/V, @10:1 CR) Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (typical) Design Stand tilt/swivel/lift/pivot 100mm VESA mount Best engineer cable management lift range:610mm-760mm Interface cable length (Analog): 3M Interface cable length (Digital): 3M USB Cable length: 3M Power cable length:3M

Other key elements in this Panasonic—modeled off of the same technology found in Olympus Evolt DSLRs—include a Supersonic Wave Filter system to keep the image sensor from getting dusty, and optical image stabilization, a hallmark of Panasonic cameras. The body will be on sale in October with a LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm/F3.8-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. lens for $1,300.

PANASONIC EXPANDS LUMIX SLR LINE WITH FIRST SLR MODEL FEATURING FACE DETECTION, ADVANCED INTUITIVE FEATURES

LUMIX DMC-L10 Features 270-Degree Rotating Live View LCD, and Advanced Dust-Prevention System

SECAUCUS, N.J. (August 30, 2007) - Panasonic today introduced the newest member of its digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera line, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10, the company's first SLR with Face Detection. The DMC-L10 also offers an advanced 2.5 inch Live View LCD which can rotate 270 degrees, enabling versatile shooting options, and making it easy and convenient to shoot from high or low angles. Complete with a 10.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor, the DMC-L10 includes an advanced, Supersonic Wave Filter system that prevents dust from collecting on the sensor and degrading photo quality.

"Panasonic's advanced digital imaging technologies, including Optical Image Stabilization and Intelligent ISO control settings, are helping LUMIX compact digital cameras make a name for themselves in this industry, "said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "Now, we expand our SLR line with the LUMIX DMC-L10, which is especially designed for the consumer who is familiar with compact digital cameras, but also wants to further experience the enjoyment of digital SLR photography."

The DMC-L10 is Panasonic's first digital SLR with Face Detection, which will focus, set auto exposure and can detect up to 15 human faces simultaneously, capturing the subjects clearly and brightly. Combining Face Detection with Panasonic's Intelligent ISO Control settings, which measures the movement of the subject and sets the ISO level accordingly, helps give consumers crisp, blur-free images.

The Live View LCD lets users check the image on the camera after making exposure compensation adjustments, but before taking the shot. The LCD also features an Intelligent LCD function that offers an automatic brightness level control function, making the screen visible regardless of a bright sunlit or dark environment. In addition, the DMC-L10 adopts advanced hybrid-type AF system, which gives users the option to choose either the phase difference AF system or the contrast AF to suit the preferred shooting style. While in manual mode, the user can enlarge part of the subject on LCD and also freely move the magnified area for easy framing.

A common concern among digital SLR camera users is the potential of dust entering the camera's body when adjusting interchangeable lenses. To combat this, Panasonic has equipped the DMC-L10 with a Supersonic Wave Filter system that uses supersonic vibrations to shake off dust clinging to the sensor, which also simplifies the maintenance process.

The DMC-L10 incorporates a variety of functions that build a bridge for those transitioning from a compact digital camera to a digital SLR, helping them to take high-quality digital photos. For instance, the Mode Dial on top of the camera provides easy access to the most frequently used settings including Auto mode, each P/A/S/M mode, and five scene modes (Portrait, Scenery, Macro, Sports and Night Portrait) and one custom mode that can be set per the user's preference.

The DMC-L10 comes equipped with a LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm / F3.8-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. lens, which has a focal length from 14mm to 50mm, and offers a more compact and light-weight body than its predecessor (LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/ F2.8 -3.5 ASPH).

Other advanced features of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10 include:

Film Mode: Allows users to choose a setting which mimics the effects of analog film. Users select from nine modes including Standard, Dynamic, Nature, Smooth, Nostalgic, Vibrant, Standard B/W, Dynamic B/W and Smooth B/W, with the capability to finely adjust contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction. All these settings can be confirmed before you take the picture and the result is always as you intended.

The Venus Engine III: Image processing LSI developed by Panasonic to maximize the performance of the Leica D lens and Live MOS sensor. This advanced LSI helps reproduce images with outstanding resolution, superior color and detailed gradation. It also distinguishes chromatic noise from luminance noise and selectively reduces the chromatic noise, one of the chief sources of image quality problem. This helps the DMC-L10 deliver the superb image rendering one expects from a quality SLR camera.

Image Stabilization: Panasonic drew on its cutting-edge lens technology to invent Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), a system that prevents blurring from shaky hands and has been incorporated in the full 2007 line of LUMIX digital cameras. This high-precision image stabilizing lens system is now available with the LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm/F3.8-5.6/MEGA O.I.S.

Advanced Scene Modes: As part of the L10's intuitive usability, the photographer can make finer adjustments when using frequently-used scenes such as Portrait, Sports, Landscape and Night portrait. For instance, when selecting the Portrait or Sports mode, users can further define whether the scene is in outdoors or indoors. When using the Landscape mode, users can specify if it is a nature or an architectural shot.

Auto-Focusing Methods: To match the shooting situation and subject's position, the user can select from six auto-focusing methods: Face Detection, 9-point, Multi, 3-point, 1-point and Spot. With the 1-point AF or spot AF method, the auto-focusing area can be chosen from as many as 11 points. Various group area patterns can also be selected in the new Multi method.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10 will be available in October 2007 for a MSRP of $1,299.95.

Both cameras will run on AA batteries, and will have such beginner-friendly tech as In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting automatic exposure tweaks. The L15 will also feature Optical Vibration Reduction image stabilization, to reduce the chance of a blurry low-light shot.

THE NEW NIKON COOLPIX L14 AND L15 DIGITAL CAMERAS ADD INNOVATIVE IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES TO NIKON'S LIFE SERIES

User-Friendly Design and Simple Functionality Provide Consumers With An Enhanced Shooting Experience

MELVILLE, NY (August 30, 2007) — Nikon introduced today two new additions to the LIFE family of digital cameras: the COOLPIX L14 and L15. As the ideal companions to capture all of life's moments, these compact, user-friendly cameras combine high performance and easy operation with the latest in imaging technology at affordable prices. Representing the utmost value to the consumer, the L14 will be able to capture an astounding 1,000 shots on a single pair of included Energizer® e2® Lithium® AA batteries, the most of any camera in its class.

"With the COOLPIX L14 and L15, users of any experience level can capture great images without having to master complicated features or controls," says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. "These cameras are great for casual snap-shooters who want to take great pictures, easily."

Building on the success of previous L-Series digital cameras, the L14 and L15 include new technologies designed to enhance the experience of the point-and-shoot consumer. With an enhanced face recognition function, each model will be able to recognize five separate faces, faster and more efficiently than ever before. Additionally, the L14 and L15 incorporate the new EXPEEDTM advanced image processing system for enhanced speed and brilliant color reproduction.

The L14 and L15 also feature In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, an innovation that automatically corrects red eye. In addition, scenes with poor backlight or underexposed faces can be corrected with the D-Lighting function, which is also done in-camera. After activating these functions or shooting in one of 15 different scene modes, the original settings of these cameras can easily be restored through the Easy Auto Mode. The L15 also offers active full-time Optical Vibration Reduction image stabilization, which compensates for camera shake and minimizes the instances of blurry images.

For composing and displaying images, the L14 and L15 feature incredible, bright LCD screens, measuring 2.4-inches and 2.8-inches, respectively. Adding to the convenient portability of these cameras, both models are compatible with easily accessible AA-size batteries.

The seven megapixel L14 and eight megapixel L15 allow for high-quality prints in a variety of sizes and are easily connected to compatible printers via a PictBridge port for on-the-spot printing without a computer. Each camera features a 3x optical zoom and up to ISO 1000, helping to ensure sharp photos in any setting. In addition to the scene and movie modes found in every COOLPIX camera, the L14 and L15 will have a stop-motion feature, allowing the consumer to create fun, animated movies.

The COOLPIX L14 and L15 will be available in stores September 2007 with MSRP's of $149.95 and $179.95. For more information about these cameras and the full line of COOLPIX products, please visit www.nikonusa.com

From China, these Foot Trolleys of Death are controlled via a handheld throttle and can burn up to max speed in just a few seconds. Instead of a brakes, there is a shut-off button (probably bright red with "SHIIIIIIIIT" inscribed on it in a nice Gothic script) which acts like an emergency stop—meaning that when the skates come to a brisk halt, you probably won't.

A 10-pound engine encased in a seven-inch box on the heel of the right boot sits above a plastic fuel tank—that will make for some interesting ankle burns in a worst-case scenario—which holds one liter of two-stroke petrol.
Because of its exhaust vent and starter cable, safety officers have likened the Fireball Suicide Shoes to a lawnmower. I can think of two uses for it: birthday presents for Paris, Lindsay and Avril Lavigne, and as a modding experiment—cutting the grass (and burning stubble if you live on a farm) will be so much more fun. [Daily Mail]

Never mind those electric machines that pulverize the stuff, this is the best way to get that refreshing juice out of those oranges, with minimal effort using its soft-touch handle that turns 540 degrees. It even has its own 25-ounce stainless steel pouring pitcher. And check out that high-style industrial design. Oo-la-la.

Once you've tried you some ice-cold fresh-squeezed OJ, you'll never go back to that store-bought swill in a cardboard box. Available in stainless steel with either gray or orange handles, this overengineered jewel is probably worth its $100 retail price. [Metrokane, via Appliancist]

Like LG's months-out phone, this 3G slider lets you directly upload and share clips recorded with the 2MP camera to YouTube, uBlog or Buzznet—perfect for making your 15-second mark on the intertubes. Other features include an FM radio, MP3 player, web browser, RSS reader (insert Safari/iPhone comparison here) and a microSD card slot.

Mobile YouTube's definitely a trend at this point, and very possibly on its way to higher-end phone standard featuredom. Those of you with YouTube already in your pocket, what's your take so far? [I4U News]

Also called ALAVs, (Autonomous Lighter than Air Vehicles) the Blubber Bots sense and react to movement, sounds, lights and heat, thanks to the Sun SPOT chips that power their brains, which hang down beneath them*. LED lights and cellphone vibrators allow them to communicate amongst themselves—and, as the video shows, with us.

You can have your own for just $99, but you have to assemble it yourself. Alternatively, get yourself to LA and have Jed Berk himself help you out for $185.

*Another way in which they are similar to man.

Product Page [Maker Store via "Oh Gizmo]

You'll have to find blank media that supports burning that fast, of course, but that shouldn't be too hard. The drive itself is only $70.

The other drive, a $150 slot-loading affair, gives you a USB connection and actually supports those 8cm discs that always get stuck in our MacBook Pros whenever we trick Mark into thinking they work. The gallery below shows a cutaway demo model in action; note that there's even a manual eject. Similar Samsung-built internal drives will ship shortly with some big PC makers.

The SE-T084L will have burning support up to 8X DVD+R, 6X DVD+R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-R DL, 6X DVD-RW, and 5X DVD-RAM. Obviously slower than the desktop drive, this slot-loader will give you burning on the go whenever you need to, you know, burn on the go. – Jason Chen

Toshiba SD-L912A [Impress]

LG L206WU 20" LCD Choice of Interfaces [Everything USB]

At least, that's what NTT DoCoMo says. To me, with its dual camera and video-conferencing functions, this 17.6mm-thick 3G slider doesn't look simpler than other phones. Why and full features after the jump.

Simpure L2 Handset Features

Size: 98 x 48 x 17.6 mm
Weight: 110 grams
Stand-by time: 340 hours static and 200 hours dynamic. 260 hours on GSM.
Continuous talk time: 140 minutes
Continuous video calling time: 90 minutes
Main display: 2.2-inch 176 x 220 pixel TFT LCD with 262,144 colors
Cameras: Outside 1.3 megapixel, inside 320,000 pixel
Colors: black, white and gold
Roaming: 3G, GSM and GPRS

While we can't judge the simplicity of the phone by these specs, taking out functions doesn't mean simplifying a cellphone. Make a phone easier to use means rethinking the way the user interacts with it. If you have to access the same list menus and use the same buttons, you will end up with a phone as complicated as the rest but with less features, which is precisely what the Simpure L2 looks like.

Take the other extreme: the iPhone. Whether you like Apple or not, the iPhone packs an amazing amount of functionality in a very tight package, while making its operation obvious to the user by implementing a direct-manipulation interface. Touch me to use me looks like a sexploitation B-movie, but it works. It does a better job on simplifying access to more sophisticated functions because Apple has simplified the interaction and they have made it consistent through the different applications. That's what other manufacturers really (hopefully) have to understand, rather than keeping increasing the complexity of the cellphones and adding never-ending cascading list menus to them.

And yes, I confess I am itching to make the Jesus-phone into the Jesus' Jesus-Phone once it comes out. – Jesus Diaz

Press release [NTT DoCoMo]

Entries can be Emulators, Homebrew Games, Demos or Applications that work directly on the Gamecube/Nintendo Wii.

Homebrewers getting organized...what is the world coming to? Next thing you know, they'll want us to pay for their work. – Mark Wilson

Coding Contest [wiinews]

Sony is releasing new VAIO computers and laptops, like always first in Japan but likely to spread to the rest of the world in the coming months. This is the 19-inch flavor iMac VAIO Type L, which comes with more or less the same design as previous incarnations but loaded with everything they could find laying around the warehouse, starting with the top-banana Core 2 Duo T7400 2.16GHz processor Blu-ray player wunderkind.

This $3,353 (400,000 Yen) VGC-LA83DB model also includes a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 driving the 1,680 × 1,050 pixels screen, 1 GByte RAM and a TV tuner, with one-click software to automatically burn any video into a DVD and direct support to H.264 recording in high definition. You have the full specs on the 19 and 15.4-inch models right after the jump (and don't forget to check our Where The Heck In Architectural Digest's World Is Your Sony VAIO Type L Friend? Gallery).

Like all its siblings, it also comes with the obligatory webcam and Vista Home Premium edition, as well as your usual arrangement of ports and flash memory slots: 4 USB 2.0, one FireWire, Ethernet, V.92 modem, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Memory Stick Pro and Duo, Secure Digital and Multimedia Card. For expansion you can also use the included PC Card Type 2 and ExpressCard slots.

Going down in price and specs, the VGC-LA73DB (someone needs a hara-kiri at Sony's marketing department) has a Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66GHz processor and the Intel 945GM Express chipset also in charge of graphic duties, but no TV tuner and no Blu-ray player for $1,928. The low-end VGC-LA53B takes thing down another notch, with Celeron M 440 1.86GHz and a expected price of $1,676.

The 15.4-inch 1,280 × 800 models all come with Celeron processors, different amounts of RAM from 1GB to 512MB and a copy of Vista Home Basic waiting to be instantly replaced by XP or Linux. But really, who cares about specifications when you can buy them in aqua, green, white, silver and pink. – Jesus Diaz

Product page (japanese) [Sony]

Product Page [via Born Rich]

Press Release [via New Launches]

No matter how fast your new 802.11n router is, if it can't reach your anti-WMD bunker, it is not good enough. Using the new Buffalo PL-HDP-L1/S, however, you will create a HD-PLC home network that will reach everywhere using your current electrical installation.

You just need to connect the master to your DSL and a power outlet, then connect the receivers and that's it, instant Ethernet-over-electric-wires. At a maximum 190 Mbps, the system can't beat the 520 Mbps of the lastest Wi-Fi but it can wipe out 802.11g and cover the whole house. Even my tin-foil insulated basement; if I lived in Japan, that's it, where you would be able to get the base unit plus a receiver for $178 in april, and $115 more per extra receiver. Hopefully, Buffalo will distribute it in other parts of the world too. – Jesus Diaz

Product page (in japanese) [Buffalo Tech via PC Watch]

The L5320 and L5310 Xeons, running at 1.86GHz and 1.6GHz respectively, probably won't be the ones showing up on those Apple machines that are said to be debuting on April 15 in Las Vegas at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention. Hey, Macs use Xeons, don't they? Will these Xeons be part and parcel of the fabled "OctoMac?"

Nah. The processors in the OctoMac will eventually be the higher-end 3.0GHz version of the quad core Xeon that Intel revealed last week, saying they'll be shipping later this year. Those are the chips the speed freaks will use, users who don't care so much about energy efficiency and care everything about the fastest processors available.

In the meantime, maybe Apple will make do with a pair of the existing Core 2 Extreme quad-core processors, which we're using right here on a PC and can attest to their already-blazing speed and serious video rendering capabilities.

Either way, we just got our invite to the big Apple unveiling in Sleazetown, and will be positioned right up front to let you know what happens. – Charlie White

More efficient quad-core Xeons [Macworld]