Panasonic Comes Up With The BizPad, Targets Business Sector

Business may now regard tablet PC’s as a valuable tool to use for day to day operations. Unfortunately, most of today’s tablet PC’s are designed for general consumer use. Panasonic has recently offered to provide businesses with better options by introducing its new BizPad Tablet designed specifically for business and industry use.
The new Panasonic BizPad has features that might prove useful for different businesses and industries. The Panasonic BizPad features a 6.5 LCD touch screen display that provides good reading visibility even while outdoors. It also has a drop resistance strength of up to 1 meter and is IP54 compliant when it comes to dust and splash resistance. This rugged tablet also weighs around 600 grams, making it easy to carry around with just one hand.
The availability of multiple interfaces allows the Panasonic BizPad to be quite versatile when working with other devices. It comes with Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, and IrDA standard support. It also has an SD Memory Card and USB slots to make it easy to connect with other external interfaces. Other features include a two dimensional scanner camera with flash, a contactless IC Card Reader and a 3G communication module. The new Panasonic BizPad is set to be introduced in an exhibit at the Retail Tech Japan 2011 at the Tokyo Big Sight this March 8 to 11, 2011. It will then soon be made available for the business and industry sector. There’s no word on its possible pricing yet.

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Seagate Releases Windows XP-Friendly 3TB Hard Disk Drive

Seagate has announced that its 3.5-inch, 3TB desktop hard disk drive Barracuda XT is now available for shipping. A 3TB HDD eliminates the need to purchase additional hardware or software to overcome the 2.1TB drive barrier seen in other hard drives.
The company has also said it was able to make the drive’s capacity available to PC systems with its free DiscWizard utility software, as well as an added virtual device driver. This allows legacy BIOSes and OSes like Windows XP to access capacity beyond 2.1TB on a drive. The DiscWizard can be downloaded for free on Seagate’s website.
This high-performance hard drive delivers the highest available capacity on a single drive for home computers and work stations, enabling users to perform demanding tasks such as high-definition video editing and PC gaming.
The 2.1TB drive barrier was set about 30 years ago to limit the logical block address (LBA) range on a hard drive. The LBA specifies where blocks of data are stored on a hard drive. This makes legacy BIOSes and operating systems like Windows XP unable to use hard drive capacities beyond 2.1TB.
The Barracuda XT can be installed in PCs just like any other hard drive, using Windows to format and partition the drive. A PC that runs on Windows XP can only access 900GB of the drive–the portion above 2.1TB–while computers powered by Windows Vista and Windows 7 will recognize the 2.1TB capacity. Users will then have to download and install DiscWizard.
After installation of the DiscWizard, the user interface would display two partitions: one with 2.1TB and the other with 900GB capacity.
The Barracuda XT features five disk platters, a 7200rpm spindle speed, a 63MB cache, and a SATA 3.0 interface for a 6Gb/sec throughput. It is now available in Seagate’s retail points, costing US$274.

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Asus Eee Pad MeMo

While tablet PC’s now seem to dominate the market, there are still uses for smaller devices that one can simply put into one’s pocket. While tablets may have substantially bigger displays, there are people who might wish for a device with similar features to what a tablet may have but one that does not always need to be carried around by hand. Hence there are tablets like the new Asus Eee Pad MeMo that are developed to fill up such needs.
The new Eee Pad MeMo from Asus features a 7.1″ capacitive touch screen display that makes it just small enough to fit into a jacket pocket, something that bigger tablets may not be able to do. It becomes quite a handy tablet to make handwritten notes as well as use for a variety of other features. Its features certainly do make it quite a capable tablet that can be comparable to its bigger relatives.
As displayed at CeBit in Hanover, Germany the upcoming Asus Eee Pad MeMo features a 1.2GHz Qualcomm 8260 processor, 1GB RAM and storage options of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. It also comes with a 5MP rear facing camera with Led flash, a 1.2MP front facing camera as well as HSPA, WiFi and Bluetooth support. Other features include a GPS, G-sensor, proximity sensor, e-compass and a micro HDMI port. Although the release date for the Asus Eee Pad MeMo is expected to be set around June of this year, the expected pricing has already been provided. The 8 and 16GB model is expected to cost around US$690 while the 32 to 64GB versions expected to go for around US$965.

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Not Everybody Happy About iPad 2 Launch

While many people, especially fans of Apple, are excited–ecstatic even–over the introduction of the iPad 2, not everybody seems to be in the same mood. And we are not talking about other tablet manufacturers.
BusinessInsider.com calls the iPad 2 launch a “snore” and is more excited about Apple’s unveiling of the tablet’s new cover, which attaches to the iPad 2 using magnets. The Smart Cover (pictured) can even wake up the device as the user flips it open, as well as prop the tablet in various orientations. It costs US$39, which comes in a variety of colors, while the leather version is $69.
The Register, meanwhile, is not sold on Apple’s claim of iPad 2’s “all-new design.”
“More accurately, the iPad 2 is a refinement and speed bump to the original iPad,” the website states. “Nothing magical or revolutionary.”
The review is also not happy about the un-upgraded display, keeping the 30-pin propriety port while not adding a Thunderbolt slot, and the unchanged maximum flash-storage allotment.
Lastly, GigaOM calls the iPad 2 “a step backwards for carrier choice,” at least in the Canadian market. While the original iPad is available unlocked, Canadian customers are now required to indicate the carrier that would go along with the iPad 2 before purchasing. Canada’s carriers of iPad 2–Bell, Rogers, and Telus–all run on GSM standard, a different environment compared to the differing standards between carriers in the United States.
“It should be cause for concern for Apple customers outside Canada, too,” GigaOM states. “It seems to indicate Apple is more eager to please carrier partners than it has been in the past, and it represents a significant reverse in Apple’s ongoing shift away from carrier lock-in.”

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iPad 2 Vs Other Tablets- A Comparison

Apple has just launched the second version of the iPad. It seems that Apple, a company known to be more deliberate when it comes to launching products, has suddenly taken the opposite approach as it hastily introduced the Apple iPad 2 to consumers. It may have done so to stay ahead in the market that Apple pioneered as well as to maintain its upper hand from its competitors by coming up with a second tablet version while the other competing tablets are just about to debut.
In such cases, it may not be quite rare for people to start comparing the new iPad 2 with its other competitors that are about to enter into the tablet market- the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the HP TouchPad and the Blackberry PlayBook. Based on what data Apple has recently divulged concerning its new iPad 2 as well as those from its competitors, here is a breakdown of how these tablets may be sized up according to certain important aspects.
Processor
The Apple iPad 2 features an Apple A5 Dual Core 1GHz processor, putting it almost at the same level with most of its competitors, with only the TouchPad sporting a better processor at 1.2GHz. But the processor alone may not always be the best benchmark to use in comparing tablets in terms of processing speed and power management.
RAM
Apple unfortunately hasn’t provided the details on how much RAM the iPad 2 comes with. Although some people may be expecting it to be 512MB, there are others who believe that it may still come with 256MB, the same as the original. But nonetheless, the iPad 2 may still be left behind in this comparison as the Motorola Xoom, Blackberry PlayBook and the HP TouchPad is expected to have 1GB RAM inside.
Camera
The iPad 2 now features the standard two camera design, just like the other competing tablets. But in terms of resolution specs, it may still lag behind the other tablets. The iPad 2 was indicated to feature a VGA front camera and with the rear one still unspecified. Only the HP TouchPad may come at almost the same level with the iPad 2. Although it sports only a single front facing camera, it comes with a 1.3MP camera sensor, better than the iPad 2’s supposed VGA version.
Form Factor
The new iPad 2 may have an advantage in this case since it will be considered as the thinnest tablet yet in its category, doing away with a third of the thickness of the original iPad. It is also second in terms of weight at only 1.35 pounds, with only Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet being lighter.
Pricing
The iPad 2 may be considered as setting up the benchmark for pricing as it is expected to cost at a base price of US$499. That is cheaper than what the Motorola Xoom tablet may cost, which is expected to cost as much as US$800. The other tablets have not yet provided the pricing details, but their companies will surely try to adjust their tablet prices according to what Apple recently announced for its iPad 2 tablet.
Although there are other features that these tablets may be compared to in order to provide a better comparison with each other, those stated above may already provide somehow a certain idea on where the iPad 2 stands. People can expect to see the new Apple iPad 2 this March 11.

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XtremeMac 3 in 1 Microdock

There are now quite many accessories developed specially for a number of Apple iDevices. But despite this, newer and newer ones are still being built that might provide features that may be a bit better or even unique. Consider the new XtremeMac 3 in 1 Microdock, which gives a new twist to what an iPod/iPhone dock might offer.
The XtremeMac 3 in 1 Microdock is built quite smaller than your usual docking stations for iDevices. But it does offer certain features that also might be of interest. The XtremeMac 3 in 1 Microdock can transform an iPod or an iPhone into a stereo speaker with its two powerful neodymium drivers designed for bigger audio. With a free alarm clock app, the Microdock can be transformed into an alarm clock that can be used with an iDevice during trips. The Microdock can also be used to charge an iPod or iPhone at twice the rate as any current USB. The XtremeMac 3 in 1 Microdock is available at XtremeMac for US$60.

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Apple Unveils iPad 2, Comes Sooner than You Think

As predicted by various sources, Apple CEO Steve Jobs formally announces the next generation of its wildly popular iPad tablet computer appropriately called “iPad 2.”
The new iPad 2 is slimmer and leaner compared to its predecessor. Its new features include a front-facing camera for video chat and a new dual-core A5 “system on a chip” processor, which makes the tablet “dramatically faster” according to Jobs.
The upgraded processor gives the device double the CPU power and nine times the graphics performance of the original iPad, all while keeping its 10-hour battery life.
Apart from the front-facing camera for VGA-quality video chat, the back camera can be used for 720p video recording. Apple does not specify the megapixels of both cameras.
The new 9.7-inch iPad 2 has 1,024 x 768 resolution on its screen, the same as the first iPad. Many observers are frustrated that the new tablet does not have a “retina”-esque display seen in iPhone 4.
The iPad 2 measures 9.5 by 7.3 by 0.34 inches and weighs 1.33 pounds, which makes it a bit smaller and lighter narrower than the iPad.
Other features include a 30-pin dock connector for syncing and charging, as well as a 3.5mm headset jack. No word whether the new iPad has Flash support, but it definitely does not have a microSD slot.
The iPad 2 will go retail on March 11 in the United States and March 25 in 26 other countries. Price remains the same as the first iPad, starting at US$499 for the 16GB version and an additional $130 for 3G-enabled models. It will be available for both AT&T and Verizon.

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Olympus SZ-30MR Digital Camera

Olympus has recently announced the launch of its new SZ-30MR Digital Camera in Hamburg, Germany. It may be considered as the most high tech camera yet from Olympus, who also has just launched the SZ-10 digital camera in February. For the new Olympus SZ-30MR Digital Camera, it is being launched as the world’s first digital camera to simultaneously capture and record 1080p Full HD video alongside 16Megapixel still images.
The “MR” in the Olympus SZ-30MR stands for “Multi Recording”. True enough, it is given the distinction of the world’s first camera to functionally record Full HD video and 16MP still images at the same time. The Olympus SZ-MR30 features Dual Engine TruePic III+ image processors that give it the power to record simultaneously in more than one mode and in a number of different combinations. This new Olympus digital camera also comes with a 16MP CMOS sensor with 24x wide optical zoom lens. The Olympus SZ-30MR is expected to arrive in stores by this month and is expected to cost around 329 Euros.

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Olympus Tough TG-810 Digital Camera

Toughness in digital cameras may be defined in many ways. But for the most part, it may be the digital camera’s ability to handle the extreme elements that makes it tough. But this distinction eventually changes and is even enhanced as newer and tougher digital cameras are being built. So much can be said for the new Olympus Tough TG-810 Digital Camera.
The Olympus Tough TG-810 Digital Camera is touted to be the world’s first 100kg crushproof camera. It can withstand the pressure exerted on it by any 100kg force or object and still remain workable. This rugged digital camera is also built to be waterproof, shockproof and freeze proof, with a high degree of scratch resistance to boot.
The new Olympus Tough TG-810 Digital Camera comes with a number of features that makes it suitable for use in extreme conditions indeed. This tough camera comes with a GPS and electronic compass that not only provides users with geographical data for their shots but also on the direction of where the camera is pointing. The camera can also provide latitude, longitude, altitude, shooting direction as well as air and water pressure data as part of the shots taken. It comes with a 14MP sensor and 5x wide optical zoom lens, 720p HD video recording, 4 underwater scene modes and a 3D photo shooting mode for still images. The Olympus Tough TG-810 Digital Camera is expected to be available in stores this month and may be expected to cost around 299 Euros.

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Penthouse to Launch 3D Porn TV Channel

Adult entertainment company Penthouse has announced that it launches what they claim as the “world’s first 3D pornography television channel” in Europe starting today.
The Penthouse 3D channel will broadcast in high-definition programs in 3D, streaming up to 30 hours of soft-core and hard-core adult-oriented programming every month. The channel will be available daily on ASTRA from 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.
And it will not be alone as archrival Hustler announced last month that it was preparing its own HD channel that would also support 3D programming. Their channel will debut in Europe in March on the Hotbird satellite.
PCMag.com notes that Penthouse is not the first network to sell porn in 3D TV. A company called Bad Girls in 3D announced in January 2010 that it would sell a 60-inch Mitsubishi HDTV, two sets of glasses, 3D playback software, and a subscription of their content for US$19.95 a month.

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