Muscling in on the mobile market

Most people would agree that the iPod rejuvenated the digital music market and, by the by, restored the fortunes of Apple.

With the launch of the iPhone, Apple is looking to do the same again - set the trends, corner the market and leave everyone else looking like also-rans.

But selling phones to people is very different to selling them a portable music player.

To begin with, most people already have a mobile phone. In the UK, upwards of 80% of households have one. Worldwide, more than one billion handsets were shipped in 2006. By comparison Apple, which has a more than a 70% share of the mobile music player market, sold 39 million iPods in 2006.

And with the iPhone, Apple will not be creating a market, it will be muscling in on a lot of very established companies.

Direct competition

A quick look at the technologies Apple is pushing in the iPhone shows that many others devices, either on shop shelves or about to be launched, share these features.

Take the touchscreen, for instance. Many smartphones - which more resemble a PDA than a plain handset - can be used with a stylus or a deft finger.

Nokia's 6708 and SonyEricsson's M600 and P990 are examples of this. All are made for corporate road warriors and, it has to be said, they look like it.

SonyEricsson also makes the W950 music-playing phone that has a touchscreen plus buttons, stylus and handwriting recognition. It also looks a lot funkier than the business versions.

The iPhone is not the only mobile with a touchscreen

Gilles Oriol, product marketing manager for Western Europe at SonyEricsson, declined the opportunity to talk directly about Apple's iPhone. "We do not comment on rival products," he said.

But, he told the BBC News website, that he "doubted" that SonyEricsson would ever make a phone that only had a touchscreen.

"It must remain a good telephone first," he said, "consumers are more willing to dial a number with the keyboard than they are to do it with a touchscreen."

"Also," he added, "the point about a touchscreen is that it affects battery time. You need a powerful battery because to use the touchscreen means it remains on all the time."

Apple's iPhone is due to make its appearance in the US in June, but before the big day Asian rivals will have launched handsets that will be in much more direct competition.

In February, Samsung showed off the F700 that resembles the iPhone in many ways. The screen of the F700 is smaller at 2.78in (7.06cm) compared with 3.5in (8.9cm) for the iPhone - but in almost every other respect they are very similar.

The two have comparable amounts of memory and features, but the F700 has the advantage of including a slide-out keyboard and a five megapixel camera. By comparison, the iPhone Steve Jobs showed off in January only has a two megapixel camera.

Looks matter

But the greatest competition for the iPhone in terms of looks might come from the phone that LG has designed with Italian fashion house Prada.

Not only does this have a touchscreen, but it also shares some of the sleek looks of the Apple gadget.

LG's Prada phone

John Bernard, marketing manager for LG UK and Ireland, said the Prada phone was being designed long before Apple made its announcement.

He said that Prada had been looking for a partner to help it make and market handsets for several years.

Prada oversaw the design process for the phone, he said, and had the final say on what it looked like and the way that people navigated through its many menus.

"It looks gorgeous and that's what people are going to be buying it for," he said.

So far LG has no plans to sell the phone in the US, believing the customers in Europe and Asia are a better fit for its charms. It will be aimed at those who are aged between 20 and 45, said Mr Bernard.

He admitted that the slimline look of the phone had meant some compromises on features such as onboard memory.

But, he said, for many consumers good looks outweighed features. "The Motorola Razr is not a very well-specced device but it's one of the most popular ever."

The fact that people will buy for looks rather than features suggests, said Mr Bernard, that the mobile market is changing. No longer do people buy phones for what they can do but for what they say about them as a person.

A fact that has worked well for Apple when it comes to selling iPods - but the competition in the mobile world suggests that may be a tough act to follow.

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NOKIA: Nokia announced the new Nokia 6288 for China market

Nokia 6288: Captivating slide phone with leading-class video
capture and playback capabilities

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced the new Nokia 6288 for China
market, a compact tri-band GSM slide phone that adds high-quality
video capture and playback capabilities among its mix of other
compelling features. The built-in FM radio and music player on the
Nokia 6288 supports multiple formats such as MP3, AAC and eAAC+ allows
easily accessible mobile music enjoyment. Nokia 6288 has been launched
worldwide during Q4 2006 and since it has enjoyed strong sales
momentum, while this is a new version tailored to the requirements of
China market. The Nokia 6288 for China is expected to begin shipping
at the end of March, 2007.

"Nokia believes that high quality video recording and playback is fast
becoming a lifestyle trend in China - especially when you can freely
record whatever, wherever and whenever. The high quality playback of
video recordings or watching of favourite videos on its large, bright
2.2" QVGA (320x240 pixels), 262,144 colour display is exhilarating on
the Nokia 6288", said Marko Rantanen, Vice President of Nokia Mobile
Phone, SMO China Area. "We are seeing video fast becoming a mass
market phenomenon and can be seen as the next wave after digital
photography which is already supported in many of our Nokia devices".

The Nokia 6288 is ideal for smooth and high quality video playback
recorded on miniSD memory card fitted to its hot swappable slot (which
supports up to 2GB - miniSD card sold separately). Outfitted with a 2-
megapixel camera with 8X smooth digital zoom and integrated camera
flash, the Nokia 6288 makes it easy to capture rich colour still
images and videos of special moments.

The Nokia 6288 also includes dedicated camera and zoom buttons making
it even more convenient to record a video or snap a picture of family
and friends. Videos taken with the Nokia 6288 can be edited and sent
to family and friends via MMS and email or upload to video sharing
sites on the Internet. While Bluetooth technology lets you print
pictures directly to any compatible picture printer.

Besides its excellent video and imaging qualities, the Nokia 6288 also
supports Video Ring Tones for more fun and rich multimedia experience
and comprehensive organizer features with its calendar and contacts
synchronization capabilities.

The Nokia 6288 weighs approximately 115g and is available in high
gloss brilliant black. Other exciting colours are planned to be
introduced in the near future.

About Nokia

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth
and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects
people to each other and the information that matters to them with
easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and
solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides
equipment, solutions and services for network operators and
corporations.

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Philips 598 Cell Phone Tells Women They're Too Fat

Philips is telling us that the 598 cell phone is designed specifically "for women" with all sorts of features that the feminine contingent may appreciate. We're not just talking about the glossy black casing accented by shiny gold trim. It's got a digital diary and datebook, shopping list, discount manager (which I guess goes well with the shopping list), body weight index, and basal metabolic rate measurement. Why don't they do like some of those phones available in Japan that keep track of that time of the month too?

I don't know about you, but most of the women that I have encountered just want a phone that looks nice and is easy to use. Sure, there's a contingent of tech-heads out there too, but then again, they probably wouldn't be all that interested in the basal metabolic rate feature.

One female commenter said, "As a woman, this phone does nothing for me. I don't need a phone version of a Cosmo mag telling me I'm too fat."

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AppleTV could extend iPod dominance: analysts

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - With Apple Inc. expected to roll out its AppleTV home media device this month after a slight delay, Wall Street analysts have begun to project what role the new gadget will play in consumers' living rooms - and in Apple's financial results.
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AAPL91.13, +1.54, +1.7%) rose $1.52, or almost 2%, to close at $91.19 Monday after two analysts issued upbeat notes on the upcoming product.
The company originally said it would begin shipping AppleTV in February, but later set its release for March and has since remained tight-lipped. The product will allow users to transfer to their televisions the digital movies and music they've stored on their PCs using Apple's iTunes software.
Apple has sold more than 90 million iPod portable media players and has about 110 million active users of its iTunes online store, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. That customer base should "give Apple a significant early lead in the digital living room" over Microsoft Corp.'s Media Center PCs that run the Windows operating system, Munster wrote in a research note.
Because the iTunes customer base is nearly 10 times larger than the estimated 12 million active users of Media Center PCs, the AppleTV could be "a Trojan horse" that Apple can use to extend its dominance from portable digital players into the market for home media centers.
Comparing iTunes and AppleTV to the Microsoft (MSFT : Microsoft Corporation
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MSFT27.83, +0.50, +1.8%) offering "is not apples-to-apples," Munster acknowledged, because the Media Center's television link goes through Microsoft's Xbox game console, whereas the AppleTV will stream digital content directly to a TV using a wireless link.
Munster expects Apple to sell 2 million AppleTVs in 2007. He projected that every 500,000 units sold above that target will add 2 cents a share to his calendar-year earnings estimate of $3.11 a share.
Munster currently holds an outperform rating and a $124 price target on Apple's stock.
Munster's comments echoed those of ThinkEquity Partners analyst Jonathan Hoopes, who said Monday that even though the upcoming iPhone has claimed much of the Apple spotlight, "the potential is huge for this small (AppleTV) device."
The product will come with 40 gigabytes of storage, capable of holding up to 50 hours of movies and TV shows, and will carry a $299 price tag. The device measures about eight-by-eight inches and is one-inch thick.
Hoopes said that in addition to being able to wirelessly stream content stored on iTunes, the AppleTV potentially offers the ability to provide services traditionally offered by cable TV companies -- including digital-video recording, video-on-demand content, gaming and advertising.
Hoopes kept his buy rating and $120 price target on Apple's stock unchanged.

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New Google Phone to rival Blackberry and Apple iPhone?

Though best known for their pioneering search engine technology, Google have their digits in many slices of the internet pie. From mapping the planet with Google Earth to online movie clips with Google Video, not to mention more obscure developments emanating from Google labs, such as Google Mars and Google Ride Finder, the search engine king is certainly not afraid of exploring new areas of technology.

One of the most hotly speculated Google offshoots is the somewhat mythical Google Phone. Bigmouthmedia first reported on the Google Phone in December 2006, but since then, Google has remained tight lipped on the subject.

However, in a new development, Isabel Aguilera, head of Google's Spanish and Portuguese operation, has publicly acknowledged that Google is "investigating" the development of a mobile phone that works as a portable internet access device. In reply to this, Erin Fors, a spokeswoman for Google HQ in the US responded with a short statement:

"Mobile is an important area for Google and we remain focused on creating applications and establishing partnerships with industry leaders to develop innovative services for users worldwide. However, we have nothing further to announce."

Despite Google's reluctance to speak further on the matter, the mobile industry blogosphere is buzzing with Google Phone talk and Richard Windsor, phone analyst with London based Nomura, recently told clients at a major European conference in Germany that an unspecified Google representative had confirmed that the company is working on its own phone device.

Adding fuel to the Google Phone fire, a venture Capitalist with Boston based Polaris Venture Partner, Simeon Simeonov, wrote on a blog that an inside source close to Goggle had informed him that the company is developing a slick low-cost, internet-connected phone with a colour, wide-screen design that would rival the Blackberry and Apple's iPhone, and which could handle VOIP (voice over the internet calls). However, in contrast to the Blackberry and iPhone, the Google Phone is expected to be a mass-market device aimed at bringing Google to users who don't have a PC, rather than being a high end luxury phone.

Despite's Google's huge successes in the internet business, some within the mobile phone industry don't believe that Google's success in the PC search world will translate well into the mobile search world. Finnish mobile giant Nokia believe the Google Phone will meet with limited success because Google lacks the necessary relationships within the phone industry that are required to compete with the already established mobile phone leaders.

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Apple iPhone components scheduled for April delivery

"Nanya Printed Circuit Board Corporation, a Taiwan-based supplier of printed circuit boards (PCBs), has had its high density interconnect (HDI) PCBs used in mobile phones certificated by Apple iPhone, and is scheduled to deliver the products in early April, according to company sources," Steve Chuang reports for CENS.

"Apple has unveiled its first handset, iPhone, and planned to launch the product in June this year, and therefore the firm's contracted suppliers have to step up shipping relevant components and parts starting in the beginning of April. Among them, Nanya has had its HDI PCBs certificated by iPhone, and is scheduled to deliver those to Apple iPhone in April," Chuang reports.

Chuang reports, "Based on an estimated shipment of 10 million iPhones, Nanya PCB is very likely to score 30% of orders released by Apple iPhone, contributing NT$300 to 400 million to the company`s sales revenue for this year and boosting the its profit margins in the second quarter and the third."

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Early launch for iPhone?

Apple’s wrapping up development of it’s touchscreen wonderphone – is an early release just around the corner?

Could iPhone be launching earlier than expected? What more secrets are there under the hood?... [more images]Apple’s begun asking suppliers to send components for the iPhone to manufacturing plants, at least according to the China Economic News Service, which says manufacturing of the handset will begin in earnest next month.

It means Apple has finally got the go ahead from electronics watchdogs the FCC, as well as finishing development of the iPhone’s software.

The last time we saw the iPhone in the flesh, Apple still had work to do on its calendar, and had left a mysterious gap in the bottom right of its main menu.

The latest nugget of information means Apple has plugged the gaps in development and could even launch the iPhone early, if manufacturing goes well.

Speculation across Apple fansites is rife that the company will drop something special at next month’s NAB convention. Last week the Mac maker hung gigantic banners inside the glass windows of its flagship New York stores, only to whip them back down hours later.

Did Apple forget to add a detail? Maybe that detail was subject to FCC approval, or still in development. Whatever the reason, hopefully we’ll learn a few more iPhone secrets next month.

In the meantime, check out everything we already know about Apple's mobile masterpiece in T3's iPhone Bible.

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LG's Prada wins prestigious European design award

[LG announces its Prada handset has been chosen the 'Best of the Best' for 2007 by the red dot Design Awards committee. red dot Design Award, along with IF Design Award, is one of the most prestigious industrial design awards in Europe.]

LG Electronics(LG), a leader in consumer electronics and mobile communications, was again lauded this year by the red dot Design Awards committee at this year's red dot Design Awards 2007, as it took home over two dozen awards, including the event's highest recognition.

LG received awards in 29 categories including the 'Best of the Best' award for PRADA Phone by LG, its full touch screen handset which has already created a worldwide buzz. LG's accolades eclipsed its total of 20 awards received at last year's event, when it also won two 'Best of the Best' awards.

Sang Young Shin, the head of LG Electronics Corporate Design Center, said, "LG has proven our design expertise through recognition from this prestigious design organization for the past several years. With this momentum, we will solidify our commitment to emotive product design."

The PRADA Phone by LG (LG-KE850), the world's first full touch screen interfacephone and winner of red dot's 'Best of the Best' award was co-developed by mobile communications leader LG Electronics and famed design house PRADA. The unique handset is the perfect balance between LG's leading mobile communications technology and PRADA's unsurpassed design capabilities.

Other award-winning products of LG include SHINE phone, both slide and bar types, steady-selling SolarDOM, Lightwave Oven, 'Art DIOS' side-by-side Refrigerator, LCD TV, Plasma TV, all three models of Fantasy Monitor, Touch Screen MP3 Player and many more.

red dot Design Award, along with iF Design Award, is one of the most prestigious industrial design awards in Europe. The gala award ceremony will take place on June 25, 2007,in the Essen Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany. The award-winning entries will be exhibited in a special exhibition titled "Design on Stage. - Winners of red dot Award: Product Design 2007" from June 26 through July 23, 2007, in the red dot design museum in Essen. The red dot design museum houses the largest permanent exhibition of contemporary design in the world.

Last year LG already broke industry records by winning in 20 categories at the red dot design awards and 11 categories at the prestigious iF Design Awards. Some products that propelled the company to the top were its wall-mounted projector, dual-core widescreen notebook PC,industry darling and best-selling handset LG Chocolate. The wall-mounted projector and dual-core widescreen notebook PCdid especially well, winning red dot's 'Best of the Best' design award in 2006. The company also won the 'Design Team of the Year 2006' of red dot design award for its focus on design management. This was only the second time that the design department of an Asian company has won red dot's 'Radius' Trophy.

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Affordable 3G LG phones to hit world market soon

THE general perception that the third-generation (3G) handset is an upmarket gadget will be a thing of the past when LG Electronics Mobile Communications starts to market its affordable phones that support the 3G platform worldwide soon.

The slim, multimedia phone LG-KU250 was chosen as the winning handset under the GSM Association's (GSMA) 3G for All campaign and the result was announced at the 3GSM Congress in Barcelona, Spain, recently.

GSMA is the global trade association representing about 700 GSM mobile operators across 214 countries.

GSMA chairman Craig Ehrlich said the range of 3G handsets remained relatively limited and at a premium price level, particularly for pre-paid customers who made up over 60% of the global mobile subscriber base.

Therefore, he said, the association had embarked on the campaign with the aim of making 3G mobile services accessible to a much wider user base, especially in developing countries.

Ehrlich said 12 of the world's leading mobile operators had selected the LG-KU250, which is only 15mm thick, from 19 handsets submitted by eight vendors.

He said that by agreeing on a common set of requirements, the 12 operators would enable LG to achieve major economies of scale in manufacturing, logistics and marketing.

“These will enable those cost efficiencies to be passed on to consumers,” he said at a briefing for Asian media representatives at the 3GSM Congress. The briefing was organised by Ericsson.

Ehrlich said the price gap between 2G and 3G handsets would also be narrowed, and more compelling and affordable content and services would be made available.

“We expect LG to start shipping the LG-KU250 handsets worldwide in April,” he added.

Ehrlich said the LG-KU250 handset would be available at a wholesale price of 30% to 40% less than a typical entry-level 3G mobile phone and be competitive with the multimedia 2G handsets on sale today.

The product, which has a chipset supplied by Qualcomm, supports video calls, high-speed Internet access, MP3 music and video playback/recording, multi-tasking and a wide range of other multimedia services.

Additional specifications include Bluetooth capability, an external memory slot, standby time of 300 hours and 3G voice talk time of 180 minutes.

“The LG-KU250 has a clear mass market appeal and will help fuel interest in 3G services worldwide,” he added.

Ehrlich noted that although there was only one winner, GSMA would not stop the other 18 participating handsets from entering the marketplace.

“The other manufacturers that lose may also commercialise their products, and if they do so, consumers will have a wider choice of affordable 3G phones to choose from,” he added.

Meanwhile, the GSMA has announced a new initiative to promote the worldwide use of mobile phones for payments at points-of-sale.

A total of 14 operators, representing about 900 million mobile users, have agreed to take part in the association's Pay-Buy Mobile programme, which seeks to define a common global experience for mobile phone payments.

Ehrlich said mobile payments would be made using a SIM/Universal Integrated Circuit Card embedded in handsets, plus the Near Field Communications technology that would link mobile devices with payment and contactless systems.

The first phase of this initiative will begin with a business model analysis, followed by an end-to-end trial in South Korea later this year.

Korea Telecom Freetel, South Korea's leading mobile communications operator, will lead the trial, which will include participants in the value chain, from banks and credit card providers to retail organisations and handset makers.

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Sony to launch PS3 in Australia, Europe, New Zealand

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Remember when game consoles just played games, were simple and inexpensive? Well, no more!

In another series of long-awaited rollouts, Sony will launch on Friday its PlayStation 3 in Australia, Europe and New Zealand, and its price has escalated. Japanese gamers forked over 412 U.S. dollars in PS3's initial launch, Americans anteed up 599 dollars, but European gamers will have to pay 779 dollars to 840 dollars, while Australians must pay up to 839 dollars for a game console that also connects to the Internet, plays high-definition DVDs and stores photographs from a digital camera and music from an iPod.

The PS3 is big gamble by Sony, under its British chief executive Sir Howard Stringer, to regain dominance in home entertainment. The often-delayed product is expected to hit the Japanese giant with losses of 2 billion dollars this fiscal year. It takes a significant loss on every PS3 it manufactures and will hope to recoup the money from sales of 36 games that will be available at the launch.

Experts in Britain believe the PS3 will make a solid but unspectacular start this week.

"A lot of eyes are on Howard Stringer and whether the PS3 can reclaim the home entertainment crown for Sony," said Paul Jackson, principal analyst at Forrester Research.. "One product will not bring the corporation to its knees but they are pinning a lot of hopes on it ... And I doubt whether Sony expected such a negative backlash from the online community.'

Bloggers have given the PS3 a lukewarm reception.

One, named "Guspaz," wrote: "Assuming Sony sells every console in Europe that they ship, they'd still have sold only two-thirds as many as the Wii (and a quarter as many as the [XBox] 360). I don't think that it's too late for Sony to turn the PS3 around, but since it would involve swallowing their pride, popping their ego balloon, and taking heavy financial losses, I don't think it's likely to happen."

But David Carnoy, an editor at www.cnet.com, said: "Though not without a few minor drawbacks, the PS3 is a versatile and impressive piece of home entertainment equipment."

Sales of the PS3 in America have not been outstanding. In February it sold 127,000 units, trailing behind Nintendo's less costly Wii console, which sold 335,000, and Microsoft's XBox 360, which sold 228,000. Even Sony's PlayStation 2 -- the most popular game console -- sold 295,000, continuing to outperform its more expensive successor.

Retailers in Britain are trying to downplay concerns thousands of people will be left disappointed by a shortage. Sony has had time to ship 1 million PS3s for Friday's European launch, with 220,000 available in the UK -- by far the biggest console debut yet. Virgin Megastores said it had received several thousand pre-orders.

"The number of customers asking our sales staff about it over the last few weeks has been phenomenal," said Stephen Lynn, a senior manager.

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Bond Goes Where No Blu-Ray Has Gone Before

The Blu-ray edition of Casino Royale has made it into the charts this week at #7. This is the first Blu-ray title to enter Amazon's Top Ten List.

Blu-ray has only been around for about a year, yet things look promising for the new technology. This high ranking is expected to be followed by record breaking sales in the first week. This will also promote the new format. People may think that Blu-ray is the way to go in the ongoing format war.

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Canon Powershot SD1000 Review

Review: "...Despite its four-digit number, Canon positions the PowerShot SD1000 as a replacement for last year's SD600, which also puts it below the new SD750 in the company's line. Resolution has been bumped up to 7.1 megapixels from the SD600's 6MP, but despite an almost identical controls layout (though different cosmetic design), Canon made a few changes on the inside.
Despite our minor gripes, the PowerShot SD1000 is a top-notch compact camera for its price range. Most users will be pleased with its excellent image quality and the useful, if not extensive, feature set...."

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Canon Adds New Models to PowerShot Series

Canon Extends PowerShot Digital Camera Line-up With Two New Feature Rich Models

Canon’s New PowerShot A550 and PowerShot A460 Cameras Offer Consumers A Great Shot Every Time In A Fun And Simple Package

Singapore – Focused on consumers looking for a functional yet powerful compact camera, Canon announces the introduction of two PowerShot A-series compact digital cameras – PowerShot A550 and PowerShot A460 - that combine fun, functionality with high-resolution and high quality photography; all in a compact form that fits comfortably into the hand. These new models are feature-packed and are the perfect upgrade for users of existing entry-level cameras. They also provide a smooth transition for first-time digital camera users.

“The new Canon PowerShot cameras will deliver exceptional value to consumers,” explains Andrew Koh, Director and General Manager of the Consumer Imaging and Information Division at Canon Singapore. “They continue Canon’s long standing tradition of providing users with imaging excellence; giving them the opportunity to capture all of life’s special moments.”

The DIGIC difference
The cameras feature Canon’s proprietary DIGIC II imaging processor for crisp, vibrant images, responsive performance and lower power consumption. The DIGIC II processor combines the roles of imaging processing and camera function control into one chip, resulting in faster display and write times for each image and lower power consumption, which extends battery life.

Get it right the first time
Both the PowerShot A550 and A460 digital cameras empower customers, enabling them to get the best out of their photographic endeavors. The cameras come with Canon’s AiAF “smart” auto focus system with Canon’s iSAPS intelligent scene analysis algorithm to determine optimum settings for focusing, exposure and white balance. Users can also select a wide range of shooting modes all at the touch of a single dial. These shooting modes include Full Auto, Auto with manual adjustment of exposure compensation and white balance, Portrait, Night snapshot, Kids and Pets and other special scene modes.

Both models are also able to record movies with sound of up to 1GB or 1 hour, making them perfect for capturing memories in motion with point and shoot simplicity.

Direct print
Both cameras come with a Print/Share button that accelerates direct printing to compatible Canon and PictBridge enabled printers and one-touch image transfer to computers for uploading to the Internet, or as email attachments. Users just need to connect their camera to a compact photo printer, press the Print/Share button and wait for the photos to be printed. Canon’s digital cameras are also PictBridge compatible. They work with PictBridge enabled printers and offer excellent image quality and ease-of-use such as uploading onto the Internet or as email attachments.

PowerShot A550
The PowerShot A550 digital camera sports a high resolution 7.1 megapixel CCD sensor with a 2-inch LCD screen and a high quality 4x optical zoom lens, along with a 9 point AiAF auto focusing system to ensure that images are clearer and sharper. In addition, the camera includes an AUTO Hi ISO function to assist users in taking pictures by automatically adjusting to the most suitable ISO setting for the situation. The camera also effectively utilises a high resolution CCD sensor that enables active use of the digital zoom range without compromising image quality, as well as a Digital Tele-Converter function that shifts the angle of the view toward the telephoto end by extracting and digitally enlarging the centre portion of the captured image.

The camera retains many hallmark A-series features, including an optical view finder and a comfortable handgrip, making handling it easy and comfortable while providing yet another option for viewing the subject and saving battery power while shooting.

PowerShot A460
Like its A430 predecessor, the A460 combines fashion and function, offering a sleek, eye-catching body design and go-anywhere portability. Canon’s PowerShot A460 features a 5.0 megapixel resolution with a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2-inch LCD screen.

The camera comes in three vibrant and attractive colours – Gracious Silver, Lapis Blue and Vin Rouge and boasts a number of advanced capture and playback features, including a newly added slide show that gives users a choice of three special effects for image playback on television. A super macro setting allows users to shot from as close as 1cm from the subject and eight special scene modes. Additional features include an optical viewfinder and compatibility with MMC, SD and SDHC memory cards.

Pricing and availability
The Canon PowerShot A550 and A460 are now available at Canon authorized dealers at a recommended retail price of SG$369 and SG$279 respectively.

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SanDisk Sansa e260R

The SanDisk Sansa e260R is similar to the Sansa e260 , but this model features slick integration.

The player we tested has 4GB of memory, but models are also available in 2GB, 6GB, and 8GB capacities. A slot for a tiny microSD Card lets you expand the memory, or switch easily among a variety of media files on several cards.

The player is roughly as tall and wide as the iPod Nano, but it's a little thicker and weighs nearly twice as much. It has a relatively large and bright 1.8-inch color screen, though it's still too small for watching long videos. Beneath the screen, a rotating plastic thumbwheel lets you scroll through lists and adjust the volume. A select button sits at the center, and four directional buttons surround it. Because the thumbwheel protrudes from the faceplate and has a ridged surface, it makes operating the directional buttons difficult and uncomfortable. This strange design ruins the otherwise smooth interface.

The channels are organised by genre, or program a custom channel to your own tastes. The preprogrammed channels are a great way to discover new music and in my opinion are preferable to listening to the frequent rotations and commercials on FM radio. Plus, you can always skip ahead to the next track.

There are settings which let you switch to PlaysForSure mode

where the player behaves like the regular Sansa e260 and works with online stores such as Napster, Urge, and Yahoo.

To upload photos and videos, you must use the included SanDisk Media Converter, which converts them to its own format. Annoyingly, the player doesn't natively support any standard image or video formats, not even JPEG.

The e260R has a built-in FM tuner and you can record live radio, though there's no timer for scheduling recordings. The headphone's cord acts as an antenna, and reception can vary as you move around. The tiny built-in microphone works well for voice recording. Unlike with many audio players, you can change the e260R's battery yourself; a battery kit even includes a screwdriver for easy removal of the four small screws on the back of the player.

In our audio-quality tests, the e260R fared no better than the regular e260. It received a very low score in our frequency-response test, where we play a sequence of tones from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and measure the deviation between them. Music didn't sound as lively as it did on other players when I listened through a good pair of headphones.

However, the player's low audio quality and uncomfortable thumbwheel make it hard to recommend.

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Kodak V803: 8 easy megapixels

WHEN digital cameras were still a novelty, it was difficult to imagine that they would one day become so ubiquitous or so powerful. Yet today, we have the likes of the new Kodak EasyShare V803, an 8-megapixel consumer camera that’s both feature-packed and easy to use.

Like other cameras in the V series, the V803 has a generous 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD display at the back and five buttons on its left that enable you to quickly toggle flash settings, review photos, delete them, tag pictures or videos for e-mailing or printing, or call up an on-screen menu for more options.

The compact (10.3 x 5.4 x 2.5) camera comes in a sturdy, smoothly rounded aluminum body that’s available in eight colors. Holding down the power switch at the top next to the shutter button brings the V803 to life and pops out its Kodak Retinar 3x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 36 to 108 mm).

You can shoot in auto mode for general picture taking or select from 21 different settings.

An on-screen menu activated by pressing the “SCN” button next to the power switch provides quick access to these settings, making it easy to adjust to a wide variety of shooting conditions (bright beach scene, light is behind the subject, candlelight, sunset) and subjects (distant scenery, close-ups or subject in motion).

The camera has only 32 megabytes of internal memory—enough for 10 shots at 8 megapixels—so you’ll probably want to add an SD card so that you can keep shooting without having to download and delete photos.

As you might expect, picture quality and color are excellent, especially in daylight and normal lighting conditions, and the 8-megapixel sensor picks up an incredible amount of image detail. The V803 also does a decent job of capturing audio and video in MPEG4 format.

The camera’s lithium-ion battery seems extremely efficient, and I was able to shoot for days on one full charge without ever having to worry about recharging.

My main problem with the V803—and it’s not a trivial one—is that there’s a noticeable delay of five to six seconds between shots, whether you’re shooting with flash or not. Dropping down to the lowest 1.2-megapixel setting doesn’t seem to make any difference. What this means is that the V803 is not the camera you want to use if you need to take follow-on shots quickly, say, to capture candid moments. By the time you’re ready to shoot again, that moment will probably be gone.

Another irritant is that the zoom lens cannot be retracted, even when you only want to view your pictures.

Unlike the V570 I reviewed a year ago, the V803 has thankfully shed the cradle in favor of a standard USB cable that you can connect to a computer. The camera comes with software for Windows and Mac OS X, but I was also able to import pictures into my Linux PC using open source software.

Retailing for about P16,995, the V803 is a capable and handsome compact camera that can take gorgeous pictures. If you don’t need to take them in quick succession, then you might want to give this one a closer look.

Pros: Sturdy and smart compact design, sharp details at 8 megapixels and good color, easy to use

Cons: Long delay between shots

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Directed Electronics 2007 May Start Slow

VISTA, Calif. — Directed Electronics Inc., which makes security and entertainment systems for homes and automobiles, said Friday it expects a sluggish start to 2007, due mostly to fewer new subscribers at Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.

The company said Sirius, a key customer for its satellite radio business, expects to add 2 million new subscribers in 2007, which is down from 2.7 million new subscribers in 2006. The subscriber forecast comes on the heels of lower-than-expected retail sales of satellite radio receivers in the fourth quarter, which led to higher inventory levels at stores.

Directed Electronics expects first-half earnings to fall to less than half of what it earned in the same period a year earlier, with the first quarter most challenging. It expects revenue in the range of $83 million to $87 million.

The company earned $4 million, or 16 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2006 on revenue of $74.3 million.

Directed Electronics expects fiscal year profit of between 95 cents per share and $1.05 per share on revenue in the range of $475 million to $510 million.

Last year, the company earned $21 million, or 81 cents per share, on revenue of $437.8 million

Analysts currently forecast a first-quarter profit of 17 cents per share on revenue of $109.4 million. They expect fiscal-year profit of $1.27 per share on revenue of $548 million.

Shares of Directed Electronics fell 27 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $8.95 in premarket electronic trading.

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Panasonic revamps DMP BD10 Blu-ray player

Panasonic have introduced an improved version of their DMP BD10 Blu-ray player with the BD10A BD.

The most significant improvement is a new audio decoder which offers the lossless 7.1 audio formats of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD which are both High-res formats.

Panasonic has introduced compatibility on the BD10A BD with its AVCHD disc shot on the companies range of HD camcorders, and there is an upgraded version of VIERA link which enables users to operate multiple connected components with a single remote control.

There is nothing much to differentiate the new model from the old, and it is a little disappointing that the BD10A BD does not have an Ethernet port.

Good news for original BD10 owners is that they will be able to upgrade their existing machines with firmware enhancements to bring playback enhancements in-line with the new model. Already available is a patch to enhance picture quality and stability which must be downloaded and burnt to a cd from Panasonics support website.

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Motorola Launches New VoIP Router for Vonage Customers

Motorola and Vonage announced the release last week of the Motorola VT2542, a new wireless router that makes it easier for customers to use VoIP, broadband internet, and fax services all at the same time.

Specifically designed for Vonage customers, the new router features voice-over-data prioritization to maintain optimal call quality while talking on the phone and surfing, or when two members of a household are using Vonage at the same time. The device also features VPN support, a secure web-based interface, and compatibility with standard Vonage features like conference calling, call forwarding, call transfer, and call waiting.

“The Motorola VT2542 is just the latest innovation that gives our customers more options to meet their communication needs,” commented the CEO of Vonage, Mike Snyder. “Vonage’s successful relationship with Motorola has produced ground-breaking devices that help our customers communicate, when, where and how they choose.”

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Two Name Disputes Concluded

Apple settle with Cisco and Beatles Label

Apple and Cisco have settled their name dispute over the new ‘iPhone’. In future both companies will use the name, both parties have let it be known. Both sides would recognize those ‘iPhone’ trademark rights registered up to now and put aside all actions currently in train in connection with the disagreement.

It needs to be otherwise examined as to what extent the equipment from both producers embody joint features in the areas of security and communication for both companies and consumers. Further details of the agreement remain confidential.

Apple introduced its new iPhone at the beginning of the year and had, as a result, been sued by Cisco (as we have reported). The latter company, which had acquired the trademark ‘iPhone’ when taking-over InfoGear Technology, had asserted its rights to the name.

And in the dispute with the Beatles’ Apple Corps an agreement was also recently forged. The record company has disputed for years with Apple over the Apple logo and the trademark name. It formed the opinion that by selling ‘iTunes’ music over its internet site Apple had broken an agreement of 1991, which provided for the use of the ‘Apple’ trademark by the same-named computer concern. The Beatles label certainly made it a condition that the computer manufacturer was not to engage directly in the music business. When Apple did indeed enter the music business with ‘iPod’ and ‘iTunes’, the Beatles perceived this agreement to be broken and proceeded anew against Apple. The British High Court found in favor of Apple, and as a result the music label decided to fight this judgement.

According to the agreement now brokered, Apple will in future own all the trademark rights and will place a few of them at the disposal of the London-based record company, on a licensed basis. The details of the agreement, especially any possible payments from Apple to the Beatles’ firm, were not made public in this case either. Apple chief Steve Jobs has declared that he is a great Beatles fan. This was noticeable at the presentation ceremony for the new ‘iPhone’, when the Beatles song ‘Lovely Rita’ provided the background music.

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Apple offers to pay employee taxes on misdated stock options

Apple Inc. continued its effort to get out of a stock option backdating quagmire on Friday, offering to pay any extra taxes incurred by employees and let them correct option "strike" dates.

Apple outlined the offer in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing that estimated the cost of the plan would be 67,000 dollars.

Fewer than 100 employees could be subject to additional income taxes due to exercising misdated stock options since 2005, according to Apple spokesman Steve Dowling.

Apple will also let employees with unsold options correct strike dates, days used to determine the price at which they can buy stock, and pay the workers for any loss of value, according to the filing.

"If they still hold the option, we will adjust the stock price and make up the difference in cash," Dowling told AFP. "If they have already exercised, we are paying the extra taxes on their behalf."

Because of Internal Revenue Service rules, the offer does not apply to Apple officers such as chief executive Steve Jobs. Jobs voluntarily cancelled his outstanding stock options, according to Apple.

Jobs has been questioned by US federal investigators as part of a probe into the granting of stock option awards at the Cupertino, California-company which makes Macintosh computers and the best-selling iPod digital music players.

Apple has said that Jobs was aware of irregular backdating of stock options for some executives, but that he did not personally benefit from the awards.

Other technology firms, including McAfee and CNET, have also been roiled by the wide-ranging federal probe into the granting of stock options at over 100 companies.

The backdating of stock options is not illegal itself. But it is improper to manipulate the date on which stock options are awarded, or to grant such rewards without disclosing them to shareholders in security filings.

Executives could reap bigger rewards cashing in stock options if the date on which they were granted is manipulated to when a company's share price was at its lowest.

Following an internal review overseen by former US vice president Al Gore, Apple said that it would account for extra non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of 84 million dollars, dating to 2004.

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Nintendo Wii Outsells PS3 And Xbox 360 In Feb

February looked a lot like January, with Wii taking the top spot in next-gen consoles over rivals PS3 and Xbox 360. Nintendo Wii sold 335,000 units, whilst Xbox 360’s were 228K and PS3 underperformed with 127K consoles sold. Naturally, Nintendo was overjoyed, and issued a press release to announce the news:

According to independent sales data released by the NPD Group, the Wii from Nintendo was America’s best-selling video game console in the U.S. again in February, with consumers snapping up virtually every system available in America totaling more than 335,000 units.

Only one game system sold more in February, the portable Nintendo DS, with sell-through of 485,000 units. Together, Nintendo systems represented 54 percent of all hardware sales in February, more than those of all other manufacturers combined.

“We’re gratified that the explosive appeal of Wii, in terms of both new players and new ways to play, has created unprecedented demand, substantially beyond supply,” says Reggie Fils-Aime, president, Nintendo of America. “But we also understand that there are hundreds of thousands of consumers still waiting to get their hands on the system so we continue to both ship more units to retail every week and work non-stop to build capacity.”

Reports from households across the country indicate that Wii has become the centerpiece for weekend parties a new method for improving athletic technique and losing weight, and a landmark product for generating cross-generational fun.

The strength of Wii and Nintendo DS was also apparent in monthly software sales where three of the top four best-selling games for the month (Wii Play and The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess for Wii, and Diddy Kong Racing DS for Nintendo DS) play exclusively on Nintendo systems. In addition, so far this year 10 of the top 20 best-selling games are exclusive for Nintendo hardware.

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Samsung Narrowing Gap With Intel

Samsung Electronics has greatly reduced the gap with Intel in the global semiconductor market thanks to the world's largest chipmaker's sluggish performance.

According to reports from companies and research firm iSuppli, Samsung's sales in its semiconductor division rose 10 percent to $19.7 billion last year, which is 63 percent of Intel's $31.5 billion. In 2005, Samsung's semiconductor sales were 51 percent of Intel's.

Samsung's improvement was due to the sagging performance of Intel, rather than from its own efforts. California-based Intel reported an 11 percent decline in sales last year from 2005, while Samsung's sales grew by 4 percent.

Meanwhile, Samsung's operating profit from its memory sales fell 8 percent from 5.45 trillion won ($5.1 billion) in 2005 to 5.03 trillion won ($4.75 billion) last year.

``For U.S. microprocessor giant Intel, 2006 was the worst of times, as its global semiconductor revenue dropped by 11.1 percent from 2005,'' said Dale Ford, vice president of iSuppli. ``The revenue decline, which was due to Intel's bleak performance in its core PC microprocessor and flash-memory businesses, erased nearly all of the company's sales gains from its strong year in 2005.''

Samsung has for many years been the world's largest memory chip maker, but was far behind Intel in overall semiconductor revenues, including both the memory chips and non-memory chips such as CPUs. In 2002, Samsung's chip sales were $8.7 billion, or 37 percent of Intel's $23.7 billion.

It is considered inadequate to directly compare the two companies in terms of technology leadership as they specialize in different sectors _ Samsung leading the memory chip field such as dynamic random access memories (DRAM) and NAND flash chips, and Intel being the dominant force in the non-memory sector such as x86-series and Pentium central processing units (CPUs).

The iSuppli report named two South Korean companies _ Samsung and Hynix _ as big winners in the chip market last year. Samsung gained 12 percent in sales from 2005 to be ranked second after Intel, and Hynix' sales soared by 41.5 percent to $7.87 billion. With such a buoyant performance, Hynix rose from 11th place to seventh in worldwide sales.

As a whole, the worldwide chip market grew 9.3 percent last year to $260.2 billion, according to the iSuppli report.

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Bluetooth makeover bolsters security

Embedded in over 1 billion devices from handhelds and cell phones to keyboards and mice, Bluetooth may be used by as little as 30 percent of those that have a device with the wireless capability, says Kevin Keating, senior marketing manager for the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group).
The upgraded capabilities come under the version name Bluetooth Version 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate and are focused on ease of use, improved performance, and power savings. Keating said the Bluetooth SIG, made up of more than 7,000 vendors in telecommunications, computing, and consumer electronics industries, hopes that the ease of use will spur more adoption by end users.

Improved pairing will allow Bluetooth users to connect to another Bluetooth-enabled device in two to three steps rather than the previous version, which could actually take as many as 20 steps to connect two devices, said Keating.

The pairing now automates securing the link and authenticating the devices.

Pairing also offers protection against so-called "man-in-the-middle" attacks.

In a demonstration, Keating snapped a picture with a Bluetooth cell phone and paired it to a portable printer. It took only one click on the cell phone to accept the pairing before the printer printed out the picture.

Power consumption was also reduced by about five times using improved algorithms that put the chip to sleep when not in use. This will improve uptime for Bluetooth keyboards and mice, two of the most used Bluetooth devices.

Devices with Version 2.1 will be backward-compatible with older Bluetooth devices.

The future roadmap includes the use of ultra-wideband technology that will create a "Bluetooth channel" interoperable with ultra-wideband technology, according to the Bluetooth Sig.

Version 2.1 is expected to ship to device manufacturers in two months

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Mobile Music Delivered on the Spot at SXSW

Austin, TX (PRWEB) March 18, 2007 -- INgrooves, Qwikker, and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced today the availability of mobile music and wallpapers from twelve up-and-coming music artists, delivered by Bluetooth wireless technology direct to attendees' mobile phones, at ten content distribution points in key performance and event locations at the South By Southwest festival.

Held at over fifty venues throughout downtown Austin, SXSW is the pre-eminent event for showcasing and discovering new live music talent. SXSW has also become a showcase for innovative content distribution models, consumer platforms, and new content business models. Bluetooth content delivery represents a contextual, free, and easy way to distribute content direct-to-consumer.

INgrooves jumped at the opportunity to work with the Bluetooth SIG and Qwikker to deliver new hits from our top indie artists including Scissors For Lefty, Mud, and Poor Bailey, to their fans while they perform at the SF SXSW show in Austin.
Instant gratification goes hand-in-hand with live music, and with this in mind, INgrooves chose to promote its artists by giving away exclusive mobile content - through a downloadable INgrooves mobile channel available to any fan with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone.

"Artists and their fans are always looking for ways to connect with each other in more interactive, meaningful ways that define the music experience, and beaming custom mobile content to patrons at a concert via Bluetooth technology to their mobile phones for free is the ultimate expression of this relationship," commented INgrooves CEO Robb McDaniels. "INgrooves jumped at the opportunity to work with the Bluetooth SIG and Qwikker to deliver new hits from our top indie artists including Scissors For Lefty, Mud, and Poor Bailey, to their fans while they perform at the SF SXSW show in Austin."

"SXSW is a great venue to show how Bluetooth technology can be used in different - and perhaps unexpected - ways. With Qwikker and INgrooves, we let music fans with Bluetooth enabled phones instantly get a ringtone or wallpaper of their favorite band, delivered wirelessly and free," said Kevin Keating, marketing manager, Bluetooth SIG. "Companies like INgrooves are finding unique ways to take advantage of Bluetooth technology and push marketing, using it at venues to give consumers instant access to very specific content."

Saul Kato, CTO and founder of Qwikker, said, "We're enabling fans to leave shows with a piece of music from the band they are watching, which is a perfect example of context driving a high-value consumer interaction. Personal, immediate, digital interactions are the future of out-of-home media."

About INgrooves
Isolation Network is a digital media distribution and publishing company that provides various distribution and marketing services via its INgrooves and ONE Digital divisions. ONE Digital provides distribution and administration to large distributors and labels at rates far below the industry standard and INgrooves provides clients customized distribution, marketing, promotion, synch licensing and administrative support to help maximize the earnings potential of specific releases or catalogues. For more information, check out www.ingrooves.com or www.theonedigital.com.

About Qwikker
Qwikker is a local and social content distribution platform for mobile devices that allows the easy and free discovery, downloading, and sharing of content. Qwikker's solution enables companies to more effectively connect with their consumer by creating an interactive experience that delivers tailored, on-demand content which can be downloaded onto mobile devices via all available connections, including Bluetooth, WAP and SMS. The Qwikker platform can also be embedded into home media devices to streamline the transfer of both user generated and published content to and from mobile devices.
Qwikker runs the largest direct-to-mobile location content network in the world, with over 1000 Bluetooth content distribution points across the US and Europe. Brands which have leveraged the Qwikker network include Yahoo!, Channel 4, Electronic Arts, Universal Music, 20th Century Fox, Red Bull, Virgin Mobile, Robbie Williams/ie: music, Nokia and Universal Pictures. Backed by Sequoia Capital and Enterprise Partners Venture Capital, Qwikker has offices in San Francisco and London. www.qwikker.com.

About Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
Bluetooth wireless technology is the global short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths - small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. More than five new Bluetooth enabled products are qualified every working day and 13 million Bluetooth units are shipping per week. The installed base of Bluetooth devices is one billion and climbing, making it the only proven choice for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide.

About the Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, consumer electronics, automotive and network industries, is driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes Promoter group companies Agere, Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, along with over 7000 Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A. For more information please visit www.bluetooth.com.

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Sony Gets Set For Game Console War

Shops are taking their final pre-orders for the PlayStation 3 ahead of Friday's launch of Sony's next-generation console.

But the PS3 has come under fire because of its ??425 price tag - around ??120 more than its US retail price.

It will compete with the hugely successful Nintendo Wii console and Microsoft's Xbox 360.

The PS3 launched in Japan and the US in November, but its European debut was delayed due to problems with manufacturing its blu-ray disc.

It goes on sale in the UK this Friday, with the official launch taking place at midnight in Virgin Megastores on London's Oxford Street.

Sony said around 220,000 consoles would be available for sale.

Michael Brook, the editor of gadget magazine T3, said: "The real techies are going to love it and I think will bear the cost straight from the offset.

"But for it to go really mass market I think it will be Christmas when the price drops."

Sony said 30 PlayStation 3 titles would launch on Friday.

All PlayStation 1 and more than 1,200 PlayStation 2 games will be compatible with the new console.

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Game on for Sony's giant PS3 gamble

It is the most eagerly anticipated product launch since the last one. One second after midnight on Friday morning, a crowd is expected to surge to the tills on London's Oxford Street in the scramble to get their hands on the latest video games console, Sony's PlayStation 3.
The days when a games console, such as the Atari, was only about games are long gone. The PS3 has the ability to connect to the internet, play the new generation of high-definition DVDs, and store photographs from a digital camera and music from an iPod. Its strength as a digital Swiss army knife could, in fact, also be its weakness, according to critics, who warn that dedicated gamers might be put off by the 'distractions' - and the £425 price tag that comes with them.

None of this is likely to stop diehards descending on the Virgin Megastore on Oxford Street from noon on Wednesday to queue for the much-hyped product launch 36 hours later. The lower ground floor of the store will be turned into a 'campsite' so people do not have to queue on the street outside - cold weather and even snow have been forecast.
When the PS3 was launched in America last November - at a much lower price than in Britain - the fevered excitement descended into mob violence. Muggers held up of people waiting outside a superstore in Connecticut at 3am, demanding they hand over the money they had saved to buy a PS3, and one man was shot when he resisted. In Wisconsin, a teenager was injured when he ran into a pole while racing with 50 others for one of 10 camping spots outside a Wal-Mart. In California police closed a Wal-Mart after shoppers fought to get to the head of the queue. The consoles were soon changing hands on eBay for more than $2,000 (£1,000).

Retailers in Britain are trying to play down concerns that thousands of people will be left disappointed by a shortage of stock on day one. Sony has had time to ship 1 million PS3s for Friday's European launch, with 220,000 available in the UK - by far the biggest console debut yet. Virgin Megastores said it had received several thousand pre-orders. Stephen Lynn, a senior manager, said: 'The number of customers asking our sales staff about it over the last few weeks has been phenomenal.'

The PS3 represents a huge gamble by Sony, under its British chief executive Sir Howard Stringer, to regain dominance in home entertainment. The much-delayed product is expected to hit the Japanese giant with losses of half a billion pounds this fiscal year. It makes a significant loss on every PS3 it manufactures and will hope to recoup the money from sales of games, more than 30 of which will be available at the launch.

During a recent demonstration in London, gamers witnessed a preview of the racing game Gran Turismo featuring photo-realistic graphics in which light reflected off a car bonnet with stunning clarity. A war game, Resistance: Fall of Man, pays such attention to physics that shooting a window at the top causes a different shattering effect from shooting it at the bottom.

The ultra-real visuals are made possible because the PS3 contains a Blu-ray DVD player, which it is hoped will also appeal to film fans: Blu-ray DVDs have more than five times the capacity of conventional DVDs, so can produce greatly enhanced picture and sound quality.

Sales of the PS3 in America have not been outstanding. In February it sold 127,000 units, trailing behind Nintendo's less costly Wii console, which sold 335,000, and Microsoft's XBox 360, which sold 228,000. Even Sony's PlayStation 2 - the most popular game console - sold 295,000, continuing to outperform its more expensive successor.

Bloggers have given it a mixed reception. One, named 'Guspaz', wrote: 'Assuming Sony sells every console in Europe that they ship, they'd still have sold only two-thirds as many as the Wii (and a quarter as many as the [XBox] 360). I don't think that it's too late for Sony to turn the PS3 around, but since it would involve swallowing their pride, popping their ego balloon, and taking heavy financial losses, I don't think it's likely to happen.' But David Carnoy, an editor at www.cnet.com, said: 'Though not without a few minor drawbacks, the PS3 is a versatile and impressive piece of home entertainment equipment.'

Experts in Britain believe the PS3 will make a solid but unspectacular start this week. Paul Jackson, principal analyst at Forrester Research, said: 'A lot of eyes are on Howard Stringer and whether the PS3 can reclaim the home entertainment crown for Sony. One product will not bring the corporation to its knees but they are pinning a lot of hopes on it... And I doubt whether Sony expected such a negative backlash from the online community.'

How the rivals compare

Microsoft Xbox 360

Launched: December 2005
It does: Plays high-definition 360 and standard Xbox titles, as well as DVDs and CDs, and can connect to the internet for global tournaments.
Has sold: 10.4 million
How much: £279

Nintendo Wii

Launched: December 2006
It does: Less powerful than its rivals, but a 'motion-sensitive controller' has been worked into every game, so playing tennis or conducting an orchestra by waving the wand is a little like the real thing. Plays discs made for the Wii's predecessor, the GameCube.
Has sold: 4.62 million
How much: £180

Sony PlayStation 3

Launches: This month in Europe, earlier in US and Japan.
It does: State-of-the-art games consoles with the potential for photo-realistic graphics. Plays high-definition Blu-ray discs, some original PlayStation and PS2 games, DVDs and super audio CDs. Owners get free online gaming and web surfing access.
Has sold: 1.65 million
How much: £425

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Podcasts bring news, advice, humor and more to your iPod or computer

No day goes by without a good laugh, thanks to my podcasts.

"The Onion Radio News," David Steinberg's "Sit Down Comedy" and "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me" are among the comedy shows that slip effortlessly into my computer each week. All I have to do is flip open my laptop, click on my iTunes library, let the latest episodes download, and decide which one to play.

The term "podcast' is a combination of the words "iPod" and "broadcast," and it refers to an audio or video recording posted online. You don't need an iPod, although I have an older one. You just need a computer and a decent Internet connection.

I'm a Mac person, so I mostly use iTunes to find podcasts. But I can subscribe to any podcast out there.

If you have iTunes, you probably have seen the podcast category on the iTunes store. Click that link and you find a long list of categories, from arts to business to games to travel. They're all free.

If you're a PC user, you can use one of the many directories for podcasts, such as Yahoo, Podcast.net or Podcast Alley. Or, you can go straight to the source, such as NPR.org or the Comedy Central Web site, to see what's offered.

You'll need the right software; podcasts are based on the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. Some of the software choices are Juice or Doppler for Windows, and Juice or Transistr for Macs.

The choices are a little overwhelming, particularly when you don't recognize many of the amateur 'casters' names. Fortunately, you can sample, subscribe and unsubscribe with ease. One click gets rid of a podcast you don't like.

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iPod Shuffle Gets Speakers

Altec Lansing has introduced the iM600 , a new portable speaker system designed to work with the iPod. It's coming this month for US$149.95.

The iM600 comes with a built-in FM receiver, remote control and rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. It outputs 16 watts of power, and includes the "SFX Sound Field Expander" which widens the sound field. The speakers are powered by custom-built, two-inch neodymium drivers. The iM600 also features auxiliary input, sub out, composite video out and mini USB connections.

A wireless remote control provides iPod song navigation and speaker controls, and lets you scan FM stations and four FM presets. The iPod rests in an iPod docking station that flips open or closed for storage in your backpack or travel bag. The iM600 also comes with an AC power supply.

Altec Lansing has also announced two other inMotion iPod products launching this spring: the $399.95 M812, a wireless home audio system that comes equipped with two four-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeters, FM tuner and support for three additional speakers; and the iMV712, a $349.95 interface for the video iPod that features an 8.5-inch LCD panel, neodymium speakers and built-in subwoofer.

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Philips Introduce wireless HDMI

Philips has introduced ground-breaking technology with the launch of its SWW1800 wireless HDMI cable.

Philips claim that the new technology is the first device capable of transferring an uncompressed HD signal over the air which will also be free from interference from other devices.

In technical terms, the SWW1800 sends uncompressed 720p/1080i/1080p signals via the UWB (Ultra-Wideband) standard to the receiving device in the six to eight metre range.

"HDMI is an established cornerstone for the HDTV industry, and Philips is extremely pleased to see such significant advancements for picture and sound quality,” said Glen McIlmail, CEO of Philips Accessories, North America. “Wireless HDMI presents an entire new category. For consumers who want the most advanced technology with the simplest connectivity, this is the only way to go.”

Consumers will no doubt jump at the opportunity to clear up the untidy aesthetics that accompany multiple devices in close proximity, not to mention the irritation of hovering around a clump of spaghetti.

The SWW1800 retails in the US for $299 and expect it in the UK later in the year.

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LG delivers slim CRT TV

LG Electronics has introduced world’s first – the slimmest CRT television. Driven by the company’s continuous emphasis on design and technology, LG’s new innovation is expected to further increase its dominance in the Middle East and Africa television market.

The stylish CRT TV bears a close resemblance to an LCD TV, and LG is confident that the new TV will appeal to budget-minded customers who wish to experience exceptional audio-visual quality at a lower cost.

K. W. Kim, President of LG Electronics, Middle East and Africa, said: “The CRT forms an important backbone of our sales in the region. LG Electronics has been a pioneer in home entertainment technology since its inception and continues to provide its customers with the best quality, variety and price options. The CRT TV market remains strong with a dedicated consumer audience.”


The new 21-inch CRT TV (model name: 21FU1R) is good news for consumers who consider three major factors before purchasing a new TV: picture quality, design and particularly price. Around 75 percent cheaper than a LCD TV, the Ultra Slim CRT TV will appeal to budget-minded customers.

When it comes to design, the front highlights a slim image with simple and straight lines. The back is curved with a stylish wave-line image that fits in any household. The frame is solid with a high glossy black colour.

The product’s technical specifications add to its appeal. The LG Ultra Slim TV has a deflection angle of 120 degrees to make it the slimmest CRT TV ever!

LG’s Anti-Doming Mask and Glass Design technology eliminates distortion at the edge of the screen. Its ‘Nano-Fluorescent Substance’ technology enables the TV to realise higher contrast ratios and display an excellent image quality with vivid and rich colours.

“This Ultra Slim TV is highly price competitive with great product quality in the 20-inch TV market. Now, customers in the Middle East have array of choices. We will aggressively advance into the commercial market as well as the emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China,” Kim added.

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LG's 2007 appliance line-up puts spotlight on healthy households

Global and regional digital leader LG Electronics, a pioneer in home appliance convergence, is continuing its gains in the premium appliance category with the introduction of its 2007 portfolio of digital appliances featuring both innovative technology and design.

Last year, LG shook up the premium appliance market by combining cutting-edge technology with an emphasis on artistic design and visual aesthetics. LG showcased its accomplishments by winning numerous design awards, including the prestigious red dot Design Award and iF Design Award. The company was further bestowed with the highest ratings from J. D. Power and Associates and Consumer Reports for design and technological excellence.

In 2007, LG will continue to expand its premium offerings. New looks, functions, styles and features will help make people's lives more convenient and enjoyable. 'We are maintaining our commitment to enhance quality of life for our customers this year,' said Mr. K. W. Kim, President of LG Electronics - Middle East and Africa operations.

'To do this, we have introduced more health and environment conscious and convergence products with added features in technology and design. The products will come in unique and aesthetic design for making households more pleasant environment and chores less burdensome,' he added.

In 2007, LG refrigerators will impress consumers with LG's specialty on design once again, especially its newest icy elegance look. LG's new fully metallic refrigerators showcase an icy elegance.

The new refrigerators provides a very sophisticated atmosphere and its minimal design will add more class on consumers' kitchens. LG's 2007 refrigerator line-up offer more than just a pretty face. The digital leader's emphasis on consumers' health and convenience bring more functions in 2007.

LG's innovative side-by-side refrigerator offers better use of freezer space by placing the ice maker on the upper part of the freezer door, allowing more freezer shelves. This year's side-by-side refrigerator also provides clean and convenient food storage using seven separate baskets, allowing consumers to easily find foods and not worry about foods absorbing other odours.

In the vacuum cleaner segment, LG's 2007 line-up feature more power. They also incorporate the world's first motorised dust compressing technology which compacts dirt and dust sucked up by the vacuum. This not only allows for more vacuuming without stopping to empty the dustbin (it holds four times the waste of conventional cleaners), but it also means that when consumers empty the dustbin, dust doesn't escape back into their homes.

LG ARTCOOL air conditioners are now armed with innovative inverter technology and internal functions as well. LG inverter technology controls and varies compressor speed to maintain stable indoor temperature, which in turn allows for more pleasant cooling and heating. Inverter technology is also more energy efficient and quieter than conventional models.

LG's innovative washing machine technology takes the stress out of laundry, along with the dirt, allergens and wrinkles while consuming less energy and water. The digital leader's unique allergy care steam technology better removes allergens and kills germs that might cause allergy-related illnesses. The heat from the steam efficiently eliminates germs and bacteria that live in clothes, bedding and other textiles.

Steam is also gentler to fabrics. Unlike water, high-temperature (95° C) steam reduces damage to clothes because it minimises friction force between water and clothes with less water consumed. Steam actually cleans clothes better than water alone because its molecules are smaller than water molecules, allowing them to penetrate more deeply into fabrics.

LG's Built-in Oven helps make cooking easier with included programs such as its e-cook book and auto chef, accessible through its built-in LCD screen. The newest Built-in Oven cooks twice as fast as conventional ovens. And its SolarDOM is even faster than that.

The SolarDOM allows chefs to cook a variety of foods in a fifth of the time of a conventional oven using its innovative light wave technology. Both brilliant cooking appliances retaining nutrients and flavor while offering faster cooking times.

The Built-in Oven also has a self-cleaning function that heats the oven to 500°C, burning away food and grease inside and making cleaning much easier.

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Sirius-XM merger is bad idea

Here’s what to expect if the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission allow Sirius and XM to merge, creating a monopoly in the satellite radio business:

Clear Channel will start buying every radio station in America that it doesn’t already own.

Apple will be able to buy any company that begins to challenge its dominance in the market for portable music players.

Comcast will begin merger talks with Time Warner cable.

And there will be nothing standing in the way of a marriage of NBC and CBS.

All that will be possible because the government will have declared that there is so much competition between the different technologies in the market for digital material — and the outcome of that competition is so uncertain — that there is no reason to worry about consolidation of companies.

This is the Powell Doctrine, promulgated by Michael Powell while he was chairman of the FCC.

There is something to the idea that antitrust regulators should use a lighter touch. But even discounting for that, there are plenty of reasons for the government to block an XM-Sirius merger.

Let’s start with the obvious, which is that while there are now multiple sources for digital music, they aren’t perfect substitutes for each other.

The different technologies also have different business models, complicating the terms of competition. Old-fashioned radio makes its money from advertising, so it is hard to see how it could discipline the XM-Sirius monopoly for raising prices. Nor could Apple, which makes its money selling devices and downloaded songs.

In fact, XM and Sirius really offer two services. One is music programming. The other is the delivery of that programming via satellites and ground stations. Most of their customers buy the package, but not all. I get limited XM service as part of my DirecTV subscription, and in the future one can imagine cell phone operators and cable companies and maybe even old-fashioned radio stations contracting with XM or Sirius for programming. A merger would reduce their choice of suppliers.

As for consumer choice, the companies argue that by eliminating duplicative folk channels and ’80s rock channels, the merger will give them the money and bandwidth to launch even more specialty channels. Of course, we have no assurances of that.

XM and Sirius are correct when they argue that we are about to enjoy a competitive free-for-all among various companies and technologies to determine which is the most effective in bringing digital music to consumers. It is a process that will foster innovation and greatly benefit consumers. But for precisely that reason, this is the wrong time to give one technology a leg up in that competition by allowing it to become a monopoly, while other companies are forced to compete on two fronts — against other companies using the same technology, and against companies using different technologies. By approving the XM-Sirius merger, the government would be stacking the deck in favor of satellite radio.

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10 tips: Buying a HDTV

High-definition televisions aren't just for the rich and famous anymore. Prices have dropped over the past few years, and HDTV channel offerings have increased. Consider these tips:

1 Reflect on what you'll need. To view high-definition images at home, you'll need an HD-capable TV and a provider with HD programming. Channel offerings vary: cable provider Bright House Networks has more than two dozen HD channels; satellite provider Dish Network has 31; and satellite provider DirecTV has fewer than 12 but promises more by year's end.

2 On-demand or recorded content may be ideal. It's getting easier to watch HD content whenever you feel like it, thanks to on-demand content offered by cable companies and digital video recorders offered by cable, satellite and phone companies.

3 Shop around for bundled packages. Ask the cable, satellite and phone companies that serve your area about three-way bundled plans that include TV, Internet and phone services for a flat monthly fee.

4 Incorporate added costs into your budget. If you seek out HD programming via cable, you must subscribe to digital cable and get an HD cable box for each HDTV in your home. If you use satellite, you typically must invest in a receiver and dish that can accommodate HD signals and pay extra each month for HD programming.

5 Memorize some magic numbers. Be aware that "1080p resolution" refers to the highest form of high-definition available. But 1080p content is hard to come by most HD cable channels broadcast in 720p and the benefits of 1080p resolution aren't all that noticeable on TVs with screens that are 42 inches or smaller. Choose an HDTV with a capability of at least 720p and 1080i.

6 Take standard-broadcast channels for a test drive. If you invest in an HD set and you're able to get a strong, clear signal, your TV could improve the picture quality of even standard-definition programming. But you run the risk of the reverse being true: the lower quality of standard broadcasts could get magnified and look terrible on your new HD-capable TV. The risk of the reverse is true: lower-quality standard broadcasts look terrible.

7 Try out a movie. Bring a DVD to the store and test it out on the HDTVs you're considering. Use a colorful action movie with lots of quick motion so you can analyze each TV's response time and see whether the picture breaks up on you.

8 Select a TV type. You can get an HDTV in a plasma, projection or LCD model. Research the pros, cons and costs of each TV type before you buy.

9 Bars or no bars? Depending on the size of the screen you buy, you may want black bars to appear around nonwidescreen content, or you may want to squeeze or enlarge the image to fit the screen.

10 Think about the future. The HDTVs being sold today shouldn't become obsolete for quite a while. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to choose an HDTV with a DVI/HDCP or HDMI connection because they're the most "future-ready" connectors on the market today.

Sources: CNET.com (www.cnet .com); MSNBC.com's Tech/Science section (www.msnbc. com); Consumer Reports (www. consumerreports.org); Bright House Networks (http://tampa bay.mybrighthouse.com); DirecTV (www.directv.com); Dish Network (www.dishnetwork.com)

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Sony Ericsson introduces W200i

Cellular phone maker Sony Ericsson has launched its newest gadget, the W200i, which combines different features to bring music to your mobile phone.

This new gadget can store up to 37 full-length tracks (about four albums). If you get bored with those tracks, you can easily replace them with fresh ones.

Using appropriate software, you can transfer songs from your PC to the mobile phone, which is available in Rhythm Black and Pulse White. This phone can play music for 18 hours.

If you want to hear the news, listen to the inbuilt FM Radio that can store up to 20 favorite stations. You can enjoy the music more by using the HPM-64 stereo headset, the first to provide bass reflex sound.

This phone is also equipped with a VGA camera with digital zoom, photo album, video messaging and web browser. -- JP

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'Slacker' Takes on iTunes, Satellite

A small San Diego startup has big plans for an online music service that, if successful, could compete with industry giants like Apple and XM Satellite Radio. Slacker, which launched in beta Wednesday, aims to take Internet radio beyond the Web.

Founded by former CEOs in the online music industry, including Dennis Mudd from MusicMatch, Jonathan Sasse from iRiver and Jim Cady from Rio and Altec Lansing, Slacker is taking a new approach to an old idea: personalized streaming radio stations. The company plans to launch a software application, a hardware player and even a car kit.

At its core, Slacker is similar to services like Pandora, Last.fm and Yahoo! Music. Users can select a radio station based on artist or genre, and custom tailor their own station by selecting songs as "favorites." The Slacker service uses a recommendation engine to play music the user would likely be most interested in.

Users cannot select specific tracks to play on-demand, but the idea is that they can discover new music in the process, with Slacker acting as a sort of personalized DJ tuned into their tastes. Like its competitors, Slacker will be free and supported by advertising, but the company isn't stopping there.

In the second quarter, the company expects to release the Slacker Jukebox, which brings the Web-based radio player to the desktop and adds a complete media library. Customers will then have the option of paying $7.50 per month for a "Premium" subscription which removes the ads and stores all "favorited" songs on a computer for playback through the Jukebox software.

Slacker isn't stopping with the desktop, however; an iPod-like portable device is also in the works. The player includes a 4-inch color screen and Wi-Fi connectivity for automatically syncing music from a user's custom radio stations and favorite songs. Pricing for the device is expected to range from $150 to $300 depending on capacity.

The company also plans to beam its service to customers while they are on the go using satellites, much like XM and Sirius do now. However, unlike typical radio operators, Slacker will deliver the user's custom station, rather than pre-programmed content. Pricing and a release date for the car kit have not been announced.

Slacker may have a bold mission and a solid team behind it, but the company faces a steep uphill battle that will pit the company against major players in the music space - who likely won't be happy with an upstart nipping at their heels. Thus far, Slacker has raised $13.5 million in funding, but more cash will surely be required if it wants to follow through with its lofty hardware ambitions.

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LG BH-100 Super Multi Blue Player

Step into the next century, and a common refrain among the unwashed today is that they'll be interested in buying a next-gen player when there's a clear winner in the format war or a combi player that plays both formats. The idea is to prevent the purchase of either a good size paperweight or undersized boat anchor.

Out of the blue (pun intended) at CES 2007 LG Electronics announced its surprise entry into the combi player market with the BH-100, which goes by the cool handle of Super Multi Blue player. But we'd hardly gotten over our excitement that the player was coming when LG told us it was coming to retailers in February. And before we got over that, we heard that the player was going to be missing HD DVD's key interactivity layer, and therefore wouldn't be allowed to use the official HD DVD logo on the player or its marketing lit. Buzz kill. Cue sound of a toilet flushing.

Still, the Multi-Blue is here. And we're here to tell you if you'd be missing anything in buying all your next-gen goodness in one $1,199 player. I guess I gave some of that away a paragraph ago. Oh well.

End of the Format War or a New Beginning? (Or at Least a Longer Middle?) My colleague at Home Theater magazine, Geoff Morrison, stole my thunder on this take. He had the same reaction to the Multi Blue that I had to Warner's announcement of the dual-format Total HD disc. Namely, that rather than end the format war this player, like Total HD, has the potential to prolong it by propping up a format that might be dying of natural causes in the market place (bet Geoff didn't know that take makes him an advocate of a free market economy).

My response is, "true dat." But at least the LG player is here now for the people that want it and may grab some fence-sitters; by announcing Total HD to launch in the second half of 2007 hasn't Warner given the sideline sitters yet another reason to wait to buy into either format?!

The Multi- Blue from the Outside
In short, it's pretty. The Multi-blue has an almost minimalist exterior, with just five softly lit buttons on the top of the unit and a smallish front panel display on the right of the chassis. There's a power button and the others are open/close, play/pause, stop and resolution.

The back panel features a component and an HDMI output, an Ethernet port and 5.1-channel analog outs. The power cord is not removable, and surprisingly for a $1,200 player there is only a TosLink digital audio output; no coax.

A Blu-ray Player That Pretty Much Plays HD DVDs
For a time, LG was an exclusive Blu-ray supporter, and then later decided to get into the game with a combi player. The Multi Blue reflects this history to spooky degree. It's more functional as a BD player than as an HD DVD player in a number of critical respects.

Regarding the Multi Blue's peculiarities, let's start with what's been known since CES. The Multi Blue isn't compatible with HD DVD's HDi (formerly iHD) interactivity protocol. HDi authoring is involved whenever a menu or anything else comes on screen over moving video, which essentially means every HD DVD I've seen so far is an HDi title. The lack of HDi therefore renders inaccessible any full motion video commentaries and other picture-in-picture video features that run while a movie is playing.

But lack of HDi compatibility means more than missing out the bonus features that include running video. The chapter menus that come up over the running video are also HDi encoded, and this is the key navigational tool for playing back HD DVD discs. The studios author the discs to be navigated using HDi and this is why players bearing the HD DVD logo must be HDi compatible.

HD DVD movie chapters don't have names or other verbal descriptions for their chapters, and HD DVD packaging typically doesn't include a chapter list of any kind. The studios expect that your player will bring up full motion chapter menus on screen and you'll select them that way. The Multi Blue generates its own Title and Chapter menus. But they are designated by numbers only, and this is confusing. Classic example: I just picked up the Nine Inch Nails Concert video Beside You In Time. There are no track listings on the packaging, and only chapter numbers come up from the Multi Blue's internally generated menus. Would be nice to see the song list, which you do in a Toshiba HD DVD player.

In fact, none of the HD DVDs I had on hand had chapter descriptions or lists in the packaging. To select any special features on an HD DVD disc with the Multi Blue you have to use the Title numbers. Audio commentaries are a little easier to find as you can identify and switch audio streams more easily. But most navigation with the Multi Blue is blind. To make an analogy, this is like searching a computer file structure with DOS via command line prompts vs. a graphical user interface like Windows. Not fun. It robs the HD DVD format of some of its best assets.

I also reported previously that a source at Microsoft indicated that these might not be the only problems the Multi Blue would have with HDi encoded discs. The speculation was that since HDi is an authoring environment, some discs encoded with HDi might not play back correctly at all. Thus far, this fear appears unfounded. I've loaded a bunch of the titles that are loaded with extensive HDi features, like Batman Begins, V for Vendetta and a bunch of the Universal U-Control titles. They all played, although Batman had to be reloaded two or three times before the disc would read properly and Miami Vice froze when I tried to unload the disc. But playback bug-a-boos are common to Toshiba's first-gen players too, so I can't say the LG is any worse in that regard with HDi heavy titles.

As to why LG decided to forego HDi, all we can do is speculate. The HD DVD spec mandates that two video decoders be included on an HD DVD player to accommodate these interactive features, and maybe LG was uncomfortable pushing the player's price even higher. But the lack of HDi is, to me, a bigger deal than simply missing some video commentaries; it really makes navigating HD DVDs a drag.

Other Oddities and Ends
On the video output front, the Multi Blue deserves major props as the first HD DVD player we've seen that can output native 1080p/24 over HDMI, which it does with both HD DVD and Blu-ray. Super cool!

But it won't output 1080p/60 at all. Although the number of displays that will accept 1080p/24 is growing, 1080p/60 compatibility is more common. And if the Multi Blue detects that the display isn't 1080p/24 compatible it automatically sends 1080i. While this isn't a death knell for image quality, especially if your set can deinterlace 1080i properly, the less processing the better in a purist sense.

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