Jason Wu creates designer cameras for GE…boooo
February 23, 2010
When top designer Jason Wu isn’t busy dressing Natalie Portman, Drew Barrymore or Michelle Obama, he’s busy designing cameras. Working with General Imaging and sold under the General Electric (GE) brand, Wu’s products will be called “Created by Jason Wu.” Someone needs to extreme makeover that product name.
The simple point-and-shoot digital cameras will be available with either 4GB ($180) or 8GB ($230) of internal memory. Both models are 12 megapixels with retractable USB connections for transferring data and charging. The Jason Wu touch includes elegant wrist straps and other fashion-forward accesories. The metal cameras are available in white, black, gold, red, yellow, blue and green. The leather colors are white, black or grey.
Both models will be for sale initially on HSN. Two questions, though. Would you buy a camera based on its external appearance, and would you buy that camera from the Home Shopping Network?
LG’s in-cell multitouch laptop displays, certified with Windows 7 Touch Logo
February 23, 2010
Want evidence for the old saying that there’s always something next to wait around for with technology? We’ve only just reviewed the most bodacious X200 Tablet from Lenovo, yet already there’s a capacitive multitouch display that promises to be that little bit better. LG’s in-cell multitouch technology places the touchy-feely parts inside — rather than as a film on top of — the LCD panel, which we’re told eliminates the loss of picture quality and brightness that regular multitouch results in. It only works with two fingers so far, but LG is still pretty pleased with itself for being the first to gain the Windows 7 Touch Logo sticker with this technology, which was previously limited to cellphone-sized displays. Mass production is set for the second half of this year, and we’ll go ahead and assume that local nemesis Samsung will be using every moment until then to offer its own competing models.
Facebook launches Facebook Zero, a text-only mobile site
February 16, 2010
Facebook’s mobile-optimized site just keeps getting better with time. The UI gets easier to navigate, the features just keep piling up, and it’s a pretty sweet deal for smartphone users. But what if you’re on a limited data plan, a slow network, or a phone that’s … well, not so smart? That’s where Facebook Zero comes in.
Zero is a lightweight, (mostly) text-only version of the popular social network. It’s designed to make Facebook more accessible, but also as a kind of gateway drug that mobile carriers can offer their users to tempt them into signing up for unlimited data plans and phones with better browsers. Looks like a smart move for both Facebook and whichever mobile partners get on board with Zero.
You can already check it out by pointing any browser to zero.facebook.com. Although you’ll probably get a message saying your carrier doesn’t support it yet, you can play around with it anyway.
Volvo’s touchscreen rear seat entertainment system
February 16, 2010
Volvo unfortunately isn’t providing any pictures of it just yet, but the automaker has announced a new rear set entertainment system that might just make those actually driving the vehicle a little envious. Dubbed the RSEi-500, the system is based around a touchscreen of unspecified size, and packs a 500GB hard drive for media storage, a DVD player, USB and A/V inputs, and built-in WiFi to let you pair it with a mobile hotspot (or your home network when you’re parked in the garage, for that matter). You’ll also get Windows XP for an OS, although there’s no word on the specs for the computer at the heart of the system (we’d expect it to be a bit too underpowered for a mobile LAN party though). Volvo also isn’t making any firm commitments about which vehicles the system will land in, but Autoblog apparently has it on good authority that it’ll be available on both the Volvo XC60 and XC70 starting this summer.
Ovi Maps downloaded 1.4 million times in first week since going free
February 3, 2010
People sure do like getting something for nothing. Since Nokia made the big move to stop charging for its walk and drive navigation last week, 1.4 million of us have downloaded the Ovi Maps software — on average, that’s a download a second since launch. The response has been so good that it’s exceeded Nokia’s expectations according to Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia Executive Vice President, with China, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain representing the top 5 downloaders. Hardly a surprise to see consumers responding so favorably to a free offering that makes a device you already have (your smartphone) that much smarter even if it does make your dedicated satnav somewhat mostly redundant.
