Amazon.com Product Description
With a gorgeous widescreen display, the Garmin nüvi 660 GPS Personal Travel Assistant is your answer to the call of adventure. A sleek navigator and a keen travel assistant, the nüvi 660 is preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions, and the data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.This preloaded navigator brings all this fantastic map data to your fingertips with a super-bright, 4.3-inch widescreen display for improved map viewing, day or night. Use the touch screen interface to select destinations, look up POIs, and play your favorite MP3s and audio books. The display also helps you control hands-free calling, traffic alerts, and the FM transmitter, all from the screen of your personal travel assistant.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
the Garmin nüvi 660 GPS Personal Travel Assistant
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
New PLAYSTATION®3 Model to Take Holiday Season
by Storm
Aggressively priced hardware and a terrific software line-up make for an unbeatable combination
New 40GB PS3 at €399
London, 5 October 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced details of its exciting new PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) model that will launch throughout the SCEE territories on 10th October 2007 at the highly attractive price of €399.
Providing an incredibly appealing entry point to the world of High Definition gaming and entertainment for the holiday season, the new PS3 brings the next generation of interactive home entertainment to homes all across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia.
Along with an ever expanding line-up of PS3 titles (a total of 65 titles tracking across all genres by Christmas), the new PS3 is equipped with a 40GB HDD and includes all the features central to the High Definition entertainment experience; true next generation gameplay, stunning High Definition Blu-ray Disc™ movies, SIXAXIS™ wireless controller, Wi-Fi and HDMI connectivity, all powered by the Cell Broadband Engine™, the digital heart of PS3.
As with the 60GB PS3, the new PS3 features upgradeable firmware allowing new features and functionality to be added to the system as time progresses. A recent firmware update, for example, enabled PS3 to upscale DVD’s played on the system to full 1080P High Definition.
The introduction of the new PS3 has been determined following user feedback from thousands of existing PS3 owners as well as research into future potential PS3 owners. The new model features two USB 2.0 ports rather than four and no longer includes the multi memory card port.
The new model is no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation®2 titles, reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature amongst later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles (a total of 65 titles across all genres by Christmas).
The existing Starter Pack*, comprising a 60GB PS3 with extensive backwards compatibility, an additional SIXAXIS wireless controller and two first party titles will be reduced in price to €499. Remaining on sale while stocks last, the 60GB model represents outstanding value for the keen gamer wishing to upgrade to the High Definition capabilities of PS3.
“The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners,” said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of European PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, and the new PS3 is more than ever the perfect High Definition entertainment system.
*In the UK and Ireland, the Starter Pack will be replaced by a separate in-store promotion on the 60GB PS3.
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
PLAYSTATION®3 40GB Specification
Product name PLAYSTATION®3
CPU Cell Broadband Engine™ Processor
GPU RSX™
Sound Dolby 5.1ch, DTS 5.1ch , LPCM 7.1ch, AAC,
others *1 *2
Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
HDD 2.5” Serial ATA 40GB
I/O USB 2.0 x2
Communication Ethernet x1 (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX,
1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.11 b/g Included
Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) Included
Wireless controller (Bluetooth) Included
AV Output
Screen size 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
HDMI OUT x1 *3
AV MULTI OUT x1
DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x1
BD/DVD/CD Drive
(Read Only) Maximum Read Speed BD 2x (BD-ROM)
DVD 8x (DVD-ROM)
CD 24x (CD-ROM)
Dimensions Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
Weight Approximately 5 kg
See chart on attached PDF version of press release
*1 A device compatible with Linear PCM 7.1 Ch. is required to output 7.1 Ch. audio, supported by Dolby TrueHD or a similar format, from the HDMI OUT connector.
*2 This system does not support output from the DTS-HD 7.1 Ch. DTS-HD 7.1 Ch. audio is output from a 5.1 or lower channel.
*3 "Deep Color" and "x.v.Color (xvYCC)" defined by HDMI ver1.3a are supported.
For further information please contact:
Nick Sharples (nick_sharples@scee.net) or Nick Caplin (nick_caplin@scee.net)
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
Tel: + 44 207 859 5301(5349) Fax: + 44 207 859 5036
Images of the new PS3 are available on the SCEE Virtual press Office at http://www.scee.presscentre.com
For more information contact:
SCEE Press Centre
Email: scee_presscentre@scee.net
Tel:+44 (0)20 7859 5000
Monday, August 4, 2008
Canon Powershot SD 950 IS
“With the Digital IXUS 960 IS Canon sets new aesthetic and technical standards for digital compact cameras,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “Its supreme titanium build quality and elegant design are complemented by powerful, innovative features that deliver premium-quality imaging. This is a camera that will appeal to consumers who demand the best.” Features at a glance: Titanium IXUS design The Digital IXUS 960 IS takes Canon’s unique Perpetual Curve design and renders it in a high quality, pure titanium shell, creating a more tactile and ergonomic photography experience. Used extensively in technologically advanced industries such as aerospace and medicine, titanium is stronger than steel but significantly lighter. Its strength and anti corrosion properties combine with the camera's high build quality to offer durability without compromising size or weight. A Exceptional image quality The Digital IXUS 960 IS features a new range-leading 12.1 Megapixels of resolution, allowing users to create poster-size prints or crop sections of photos without loss of detail. Imaging power is furthered by an ultra-compact 3.7x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer (IS), which incorporates Canon’s aspherical lens technology (UA)* for maximum sharpness and clarity. Users can take zooming further with Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom – features which combine the benefits of digital zoom with a reduced risk of image quality deterioration. Captured images can be viewed on the high-resolution 2.5’’ PureColor LCD, with increased colour reproduction and a wide viewing angle for easy sharing with friends. For situations with difficult lighting or where added stability is needed, the Digital IXUS 960 IS features a real-image optical viewfinder. To provide a closer look at images, Canon’s improved Image Inspection Tool is also included. For the first time, this can be used in playback mode as well as shooting. The function incorporates Face Detection Technology for automatic close-up inspection of faces in shots. Total anti-blur solution The Digital IXUS 960 IS includes a range of ISO features that combine with the camera’s optical IS to virtually eliminate the risk of image blur. Both optical IS and Auto ISO Shift deal with the blur caused by camera shake. When selected by the user, Auto ISO Shift boosts the ISO setting just enough to reduce the effects of unintended camera movement. Two further features – manually selected high ISO settings up to ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto – combat the blur caused by typical subject movement, as well as camera shake when poor light would normally require a longer exposure. DIGIC III for better photos At the heart of the Digital IXUS 960 IS is Canon’s DIGIC III image processor. As well as ensuring fast performance, superior colour reproduction and white balance, DIGIC III powers a range of features to improve the photographer’s success rate. Canon’s Face Detection AF/AE/FE locates up to 9 faces in any scene before automatically adjusting focus, exposure and flash for optimum results. The undesirable effects of flash are quickly removed with improved Red-Eye Correction during playback. This innovative system uses Face Detection Technology to automatically identify and correct red-eye – while ensuring that no other elements of the picture are accidentally altered in the process. Users also have the option of manually adding or removing Red-Eye Correction frames. Advanced Noise Reduction Technology, powered by DIGIC III, safeguards images against graininess when shooting at high ISO speeds while maintaining image detail. Every subject and size The Digital IXUS 960 IS incorporates 18 different shooting modes for stills and movies. Amongst these are several presets for tricky shooting environments – such as snow and beaches – and an ISO 3200 mode for producing flash-free shots at 1600x1200 resolution in low light. My Colors can be used to apply effects and enhancements in both shooting and playback mode. In addition, with Canon’s new Image Resize function users can downsize full-resolution images to 1600x1200, 640x480 and 320x240 sizes – perfect for instant uploads to blogs or auction sites. Larger, longer movies With the Digital IXUS 960 IS, users can capture movies with sound at an extra large XGA (1024x768 pixels) resolution at 15fps – the highest movie resolution in the Digital IXUS range. Alternatively, VGA and QVGA quality movies can be shot at a smooth 30fps. Canon’s innovative Time Lapse Movie function enables users to capture changing scenes for accelerated playback as smooth VGA-quality movie clips. And for occasions when longer movies are required and storage space is limited, a new LP (Long Play) mode offers VGA movie capture at 30fps – producing movies at half the file size with no loss in resolution or frame rate. Ultimate ease of use The Digital IXUS 960 IS benefits from several enhancements aimed at creating a more straightforward shooting experience for all users. These include an image range selection feature, which allows users to easily select several images for printing, protecting, categorising or erasing; the addition of a 3 level battery indicator; and a small size AF frame option for more precise focusing on slim, distant or macro subjects. Printing The Digital IXUS 960 IS features a dedicated Print menu for quick access to direct print options. Full PictBridge support means users can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer without the need for a PC. A Print/Share button allows one-touch printing and easy uploads to Windows or Mac systems. Language The Digital IXUS 960 IS user interface supports 25 languages: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian and Ukrainian. Memory Card Support In addition to SD, SDHC and MMC memory cards, the Digital IXUS 960 IS supports the new MMCplus and HC MMCplus card – a format for high-volume shooting that allows capacities up to 32GB. It comes supplied with a 32MB memory card. Software and CANON iMAGE GATEWAY The Digital IXUS 960 IS comes bundled with the following Canon Software: The bundled software supports Windows 2000 (SP4) XP (SP2) and Vista and Macintosh OS X v10.3-v10.4. The camera supports PTP for driverless transfer to Windows XP and Macintosh OS X, along with MTP for image and movie transfers to Windows Vista. Purchasers of the camera are eligible for membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY*, 100MB of online ‘personal gallery’ space for sharing stills and video with family and friends. Optional Accessories An optional Waterproof Case (WP-DC19) allows users to bring the Digital IXUS 960 IS to a depth of up to 40 metres for compelling underwater shots. Specially designed Weights (WW-DC1) are available to control camera buoyancy. Other accessories include:
Canon today launches the new flagship model of its Digital IXUS range, the Digital IXUS 960 IS. Sporting a stylish new curvature design sculpted in pure titanium, the Digital IXUS 960 IS features a range-leading 12.1 Megapixel sensor. A new 3.7x optical Image Stabilizer zoom is complemented by Auto ISO Shift and high ISO 1600, offering Canon’s total anti-blur solution. With a DIGIC III processor powering Canon’s Face Detection AF/AE/FE* and improved Red-Eye Correction, the Digital IXUS 960 IS comes fully equipped for superb people shots. Extensive movie options include XGA recording, Time Lapse Movie and Long Play modes.
Touch Control Dial offers fingertip access to all the camera’s key functions.
*See Technologies Explained Additional Information
*CANON iMAGE GATEWAY is not available in all European countries. Please see www.cig.canon-europe.com for available countries. Movie upload requires users to download and install the movie upload task, available after registration from the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY site.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Panasonic BL-C131A Wireless Network Camera
What happens when you're not around? Life is precious and valuable. View the things you value when away from home or when you're at another room in your home. View your property, your pets, even your children. You can even listen in! You can add extra eyes (through your computer) by adding the Panasonic BL-C131A Wireless Network Camera. It works with 802.11g wireless technology and it lets you monitor its "view" (what its lens sees) from virtually anywhere. Just log on a specially designated Internet site using a PC and instantly access camera images. You can even control the BL-C131a using your web browser to move the camera's pointing direction and modify its digital zoom to bring objects of interest into close view. Place this plug-and-play camera in your home, office, vacation home, or almost anywhere else you'd like to keep an eye on things, with no PC required at the location. Check your property, check your children, check your babysitter - from any location using your PC or an Internet equipped cell-phone or PDA. And the camera can be easily hidden from view. 1 Lux Color Night View Mode Simple plug&play mode Built-in Microphone - listen as well as view Privacy Mode- Privacy mode can be controlled remotely using your administrator password Camera can be set to automatically record video at certain times and certain speeds With optional, external sensors attached to the camera, it's possible for the camera to email5 or record when triggered by motion, sound, light, timer, or even a push button Compression Format JPEG (3 levels), MPEG4 Picture Sizes - 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (default), 192 x 144 Frame Rate (speed) - Max. 30 FPS (640 x 480, 320 x 240, 192 x 144) Integrated F2.8 fixed-focus lens - set for 20 to infinity Panasonic 1 Year Warranty Connecting the camera to the Internet requires Internet access and may require that you obtain additional hardware such as a cable or DSL modem,
How to Shop for the Best GPS PDA Accessories
Features and Price Together Are the Best Determining Factors When Shopping for GPS PDA Accessories
Once you have decided to buy one, there are a few things you should keep in mind, and a few things you should look into before purchasing a GPS PDA accessory. After all, many of the GPS products on the market can be very pricey, and you don't want to rush out and buy one only to discover that it doesn't fit your needs, or that another product does the same thing cheaper.
What Features Do You Really Need?
Most likely you will be able to find plenty of GPS PDA accessories which offer everything on your must-have list. This is where your other list comes in; use it to narrow down your options be eliminating the products that don't offer the extra features you are looking for. By doing this, you can determine which features are worth the extra price to you, which will allow you to come up with a short list of the products that are the best fit for your needs.
Once You Have Found the Perfect Product
An Overview of After Market PDA Bluetooth Accessories
Bluetooth Makes it Easy for All Your Devices and Accessories to Work Together
Bluetooth is one of the latest marketing buzzwords for PDAs and cellular phones, along with PCs and especially laptops. It is a wireless technology designed to let products and accessories built by different manufacturers work together, without requiring special access codes or driver installation. Theoretically, any Bluetooth accessory should work with any Bluetooth-enabled device, and multiple accessories working with the same device shouldn't interfere with each other.
For example, if you pick up a Bluetooth headset for your current PDA, and then in a year's time replace it with a new PDA, the headset should work with the new PDA without any difficulties. With some older PDA Bluetooth accessories and devices, this is not always the case, but generally the more recent the design of the accessory or device, the more likely it is to work with other Bluetooth products.
PDAs, Cellular Phones, and Computers
New PDAs today resemble cellular phones as much as classic PDAs like the Palm Pilot. Most of these devices are Bluetooth-enabled, and even have the capability to link with other Bluetooth-enabled PDAs and cellular phones to exchange data. For models that are not Bluetooth-enabled, there are frequently PDA Bluetooth accessories available that will add Bluetooth capabilities to the unit. Bluetooth adapters are also available for PCs and laptops, usually plugging into a USB port, allowing you to easily exchange data between your computer and your PDA.
Just about any type of data can be transferred over a Bluetooth link, from electronic business cards and pictures to word processing documents and PowerPoint presentations. For transferring data from a PDA to a computer, special software is often needed and included with the Bluetooth adapter. However, PDAs running Windows Mobile can communicate natively with computers running Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista.
Having a Bluetooth PDA and a Bluetooth adapter for your computer can eliminate the need for a docking station or sync cable, removing one more piece of clutter from your desktop. You can even set the two devices up so they automatically synchronize their data when they're in range of each other.
Other PDA Bluetooth Accessories
Headphones and headsets are the most common PDA Bluetooth accessories right now. Wireless headphones are great if your PDA has music stored on it, because you don't have an unsightly wire running from your head to your pocket or purse. Headsets and earpieces allow hands-free operation of your cell phone or smart phone, which is not only convenient but is also quickly becoming a legal requirement world-wide for using your phone in your car.
Printer manufacturers are quickly adding Bluetooth capabilities to their products, turning them into convenient PDA Bluetooth accessories. Previously, to print something stored on your PDA, you had to use the docking station or sync cable to download the information to your computer, then print it from the computer. With a Bluetooth-enabled printer, you can send your data directly to the printer without the intervening steps. If your computer is also Bluetooth-enabled, it can send data to the printer as well, eliminating the need to hook up the printer to the computer or network.
There are many other PDA Bluetooth accessories available for your PDA, and with Bluetooth it doesn't matter who manufactures either the device or the accessory. A Motorola headset will work with an iPhone, and a Palm Tungsten can print spreadsheets on a HP LaserJet. Manufacturers are constantly coming up with new PDA Bluetooth accessories to meet the demands of consumers. Bluetooth technology is making it easier for everyone to communicate.
by: R James Cook
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Theft Prevention Accessories for PDAs
Protect Your Investment, Your Data, and Your Privacy With These Theft Prevention Accessories for PDAs
Losing a PDA through theft is one of the biggest challenges owners of personal data devices face. As the prices and capabilities of these units increases, so does the market for stolen PDAs, year after year. Of course, locking the unit up in a drawer and never taking it out is about the only certain way of making sure a PDA is never stolen, but that limits the usefulness. Attaching a heavy chain and a wheel hub may help, but it won't fit in your pocket. Instead of taking these sorts of extreme measures, consider one or more theft prevention accessories for PDAs.
Permanent Markings Scare Away Thieves
If you're a little handy and have a steady hand, you can try the tried-and-true method of etching. Grab your rotary tool and lightly carve an identifier into the back of the case, like a phone number or email address. Doing this will probably void your warranty. Don't try this unless you have a steady hand and neat handwriting.
A less extreme option is a security sticker. A sticker may not seem like much of a deterrent, but what if peeling off that sticker announced that the PDA is stolen? That's the idea behind security sticker theft prevention accessories for PDA units. The self-adhesive sticker is attached to the back of the unit, and gives an 800 number to call and report the PDA. The sticker also advises them that by reporting the unit, they can avoid prosecution.
However, if the sticker is peeled off, the phrase "STOLEN PROPERTY" and the 800 number are left behind in large, very obvious lettering of indelible ink. This type of theft prevention accessories for PDA units stops theft from those who want to snatch the item while you're not looking, and turn around and sell it on the street. Few people, regardless of how dishonest they are, will buy an item that announces it has been stolen.
Tracking the PDA With GPS
The GPS functionality built into many modern PDAs is usually used for convenience for the unit's owner, but with tracking security software, it can also be a way to find a stolen PDA. This form of theft prevention accessories for PDA units consists of software that is installed on the unit and a subscription service. The software installed will be linked to the unit's built-in password protection, and will automatically broadcast an emergency signal after an incorrect password has been entered. The subscription service will then pick up the signal and start tracking the PDA, informing the authorities where to find it.
Common Sense
Probably the best theft prevention accessories for PDA units, however, is our own common sense. Don't leave it lying unattended on a table, even for a moment. If you put it down and look away, someone else will probably pick it up. Don't leave it in plain sight inside a vehicle, even a locked vehicle. Make sure you use the built-in security functions of the unit itself. A password can, at the very least, protect the information on a unit from prying eyes if it is stolen. Think about that if you keep your kids' pictures and contact information for your kids' school on the unit.
by: R James Cook
