A ‘TOUCH’ IS ALL IT TAKES: SONY UNVEILS NEW BLOGGIE CAMERA
Device Allows Easy Sharing of HD Video and Photos via Social Networks

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 1, 2010 – Making its worldwide debut today, Sony’s new Bloggie™ Touch enhances the pocket video camera category by making it even easier to preserve and upload life’s spontaneous moments.

The Bloggie Touch (MHS-TS20 and MHS-TS10) captures full 1920×1080p high definition MP4 video and 12.8-megapixel photos on 8GB or 4GB of embedded memory, respectively, offering approximately four hours of HD movie recording. Its sleek, stylish body sports a three-inch diagonal capacitive touch screen enabling intuitive operation as well as attractive shooting and playback options.

“The new Bloggie Touch addresses the growing need for premium video products with advanced technology in a desirable package at a competitive price point,” said Andy Bubala, director of Sony’s camcorder business. “We started from the ground up to develop a new system of hardware, software and seamless integration with social network services for an easy, intuitive shooting and sharing experience that anyone can enjoy.”

Boasting a clean, innovative design, new Bloggie Touch cameras feature minimal hard keys and a large, vibrant touch screen that automatically adjusts for vertical or horizontal shooting and viewing, enabling customers to shoot video right-handed, left-handed, right-side-up or even upside-down. You can record video, snap photos, or both at the same time, just by pressing two of three simplified buttons on the device. An advanced user interface features intuitive “touch and flick” recording control, search and playback operation, as well as a simple Share-it-Later function to tag the clips and pictures you want to post for easy upload when you are online.
Sony’s Bloggie Touch cameras now deliver amazingly high quality video and photos. Equipped with a F2.8 wide angle lens and a sensitive Exmor™ CMOS sensor, the new cameras achieve high resolution video and crisply-detailed still photos with less noise, even in challenging lighting conditions. Additionally, its processor allows videographers to attain 4x digital zoom and auto focus capabilities, including Auto Macro to focus sharply on objects as close as four inches away.

The ultra-compact, lightweight cameras slip easily into a pocket or purse so they can record your favorite moments anytime, anywhere. The Bloggie Touch has SteadyShot

Related posts:

1. Sony Bloggie Touch Now With Touchscreen Viewfinder
2. Sony Bloggie Touch Now With Touchscreen Viewfinder
3. Sony touts spiffy HDTVs, cool camera, Chumby chumminess

]]> http://itoptech.com/2010/09/sony-announces-bloggie-touch-pocket-video-camera/feed/ 0 http://itoptech.com/2010/08/logitechs-lonely-tv-part-3-google-tv-ad-pulled-part-4-steps-up-to-the-plate/ http://itoptech.com/2010/08/logitechs-lonely-tv-part-3-google-tv-ad-pulled-part-4-steps-up-to-the-plate/#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 02:20:18 +0000 admin http://itoptech.com/2010/08/logitechs-lonely-tv-part-3-google-tv-ad-pulled-part-4-steps-up-to-the-plate/

Video Impressions Of Google TV On Logitech Revue Hardware

Google Apps Marketplace opens for business, for business

Google Continues Damage Control With More Buzz Security Updates [Google]

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After Part 3 of Logitech’s Lonely TV ad campaign (pictured above) didn’t get quite the reception the company probably intended, GTVHub points out the video has disappeared from YouTube and quickly been replaced by Part 4 in the series. Both are embedded after the break so you can judge for yourself, but Part 4 (along with Parts 1 & 2) seems to do a better job of representing an Aaahh!!! Real Monsters mischievous entity than the Grape You In The Mouth! feel of Part 3. Of course, we’d just like to get out of the ad critic business and get some more Revue with Google TV hands-on time — anyone who remembers Nilay’s tale of woe from podcast 197 knows that IR blasters are an even scarier prospect than anthropomorphized HDTVs suddenly appearing in our bed.

The pulled ad:

Lonely TV Part 4:

source

Related posts:

1. Video Impressions Of Google TV On Logitech Revue Hardware
2. Google Apps Marketplace opens for business, for business
3. Google Continues Damage Control With More Buzz Security Updates [Google]

http://itoptech.com/2010/07/engadget-podcast-203-07-02-2010/ http://itoptech.com/2010/07/engadget-podcast-203-07-02-2010/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:37:08 +0000 admin http://itoptech.com/2010/07/engadget-podcast-203-07-02-2010/

The Engadget Show – 004: The decade in gadgets, with special guest Peter Rojas!

This day in Engadget: RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis talks about his first ‘touch product’

Hulu Going Mobile And Might Hit Android And iPhone OS

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Robots, death, Epic Fascination, and tropicalia: genre-surfing tokenism dominates the Engadget Podcast this week.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Guest: Chris Ziegler
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Castor – Rude Boy

Hear the podcast

00:02:58 – Motorola Droid X review
00:04:40 – Introducing review scorecards!
00:18:48 – Droid X ad pokes fun at iPhone 4 antenna troubles
00:26:15 – Samsung’s American Galaxy S phones pose for family portrait
00:26:48 – Samsung Vibrant is official on T-Mobile, coming July 21 for $200
00:26:53 – Verizon ropes in Samsung Fascinate, US Cellular gets a Galaxy S too
00:26:55 – Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview
00:27:00 – Samsung’s Epic 4G for Sprint seems to live up to its name
00:30:10 – Samsung Epic 4G preview
00:42:41 – Microsoft says Kin software update is scheduled for mid-summer
00:42:45 – Kin One drops to $29, Two drops to $49, data plans remain silly expensive
00:42:50 – Microsoft Kin is dead
00:42:55 – T-Mobile kills off current Sidekicks, Kin says ‘welcome to the club’
00:47:00 – What killed the Kin?
01:11:05 – Hulu Plus announced with support for iPad, iPhone, PS3, Xbox Live, and more (update)
01:15:15 – Hands-on with Hulu Plus via Samsung HDTV, iPhone and iPad
01:15:45 – Hulu Plus preview arrives in iTunes App Store, Flash be damned
01:16:00 – Hulu CEO: we’re ‘complementary’ to cable
01:16:23 – HP / Palm buyout officially complete — get ready for webOS printers
01:19:35 – MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance

Subscribe to the podcast

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Download the podcast

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Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

brite-View’s ‘HDelight’ Will Wirelessly Transmit Uncompressed 1080p Digital Content from PC to TV at San Francisco’s Netbook Summit

Turn Any PC with HDMI Ports into HTPC and Wirelessly Stream Netflix and Hulu to Any HDTV

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 20 /PRNewswire/ — brite-View’s HDelight (BV-1222), a 1080p wireless PC-to-TV transmission kit, will help users finally achieve the dream of enjoying all digital content from the Internet, a computer hard drive, game machine or home network on HDTV. brite-View will display the HDelight at the WHDI™ (Wireless Home Digital Interface™) booth (#303) at San Francisco’s Netbook Summit on May 24-25, 2010. The HDelight will officially launch in July 2010, and the price is expected to be under $200.

The first solution of its kind, the HDelight is not limited to use with specific PC or HDTV models. Provided the PC and HDTV have HDMI ports, the HDelight can air bridge the two and transmit uncompressed, 1080p high-definition content from computer to TV with no noticeable latency. brite-View is targeting later in 2010 for the release of another multi-room solution, which will be fully compatible with the WHDI standard.

Featuring AMIMON’s wireless module (the technology that is the foundation of the WHDI standard), brite-View’s HDelight is an affordable and flexible 1080p wireless PC-to-TV transmission kit. Users simply connect the HDelight’s transmitter to their PC’s HDMI port, and the receiver to the TV’s HDMI jack. Consumers are then free to enjoy content from any source, not just the traditional set-top box or DVD player. The market responded well to the brite-View Air HD (BV-2500), and the new HDelight kit will build on that success.

“brite-View products are user-friendly, affordable and feature the most advanced technology,” said Robert Lo, CEO of Xpike Innovations, which owns the brite-View brand. “The HDelight lets users enjoy online entertainment on the big screen. This will be a whole new experience for PC users, especially since Netflix will soon begin streaming 720p HD content.”

The HDelight is ideal for three major uses:

* Entertainment: Wirelessly streams Hulu, Netflix and YouTube, and has a no-latency feature that will give gamers the “rush” of experiencing PC gaming on a large-screen TV.
* Communication: With Skype installed on the computer, HDelight brings Skype’s recently launched five-way video conferencing to larger displays.
* Information: Students of online education are no longer bound to the computer screen. The HDelight enables better learning experiences on a large-screen TV.

For those who cannot attend the Netbook Summit, brite-View has also released a YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhzVo62ifjI) showing the HDelight in action, working seamlessly with the HDMI-ready PC and TV in a living room setting.

About Xpike Innovations, Inc

Related posts:

1. In praise of the iPad: A contrarian view
2. Gadget Deals of the Day [Dealzmodo]
3. Dell, Toshiba and Gateway Core i3 laptops get revealed early, joined by Pine Trail netbooks

]]> http://itoptech.com/2010/05/brite-view-hdelight-brings-whdi-to-laptops-and-netbooks/feed/ 0 http://itoptech.com/2010/05/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about-it/ http://itoptech.com/2010/05/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about-it/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 17:57:13 +0000 admin http://itoptech.com/2010/05/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about-it/

How Apple and Google Fell Out of Love [Apple-google War]

Google Maps gets updated for Android 1.6+

Yahoo Sketch-a-Search debuts at CTIA 2010

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The Google TV has landed and is already sending ripples through the marketplace, but what about all the companies already blending internet and TV? Whether they are already planning to work with the new initiative (Rovi), even more firmly staking a claim on their existing technology and vision for the connected TV (Microsoft, Yahoo), sounding like it’s an option for the future (Samsung, VIZIO, Boxee) or already working on their own Android on TV projects (People of Lava, MIPS) each one should tell a little bit about where this market is headed in the coming months and years. Read on for their statements — and a quick breakdown of what each is bringing to the table in case you weren’t already running a network cable to your HDTV years ago.

Boxee:

There’s a lot of love going around for Boxee, and its CEO Avner Ronen has long promoted the merger of content from internet and traditional TV sources, if he can get access for the XBMC spinoff. This is what he posted to his twitter after the announcement.

Watched the Google TV demo. more complementary than competitive. we should start working on Boxee Android App for TV… – Avner Ronen

Microsoft:

Microsoft needs little introduction here, from the Web TV to today’s Windows 7 Media Center, Mediaroom (used by AT&T’s U-verse service), Xbox 360, Zune and most recently an embedded Media Center edition that could run directly on TVs and set-top boxes it’s been working to connect the larger PC and internet experience to the television for quite some time.

“Microsoft has been in the smart TV space for a number of years and has strong partnerships with operators, OEMs and content partners across the industry and around the world. The company remains focused on delivering the best connected TV and entertainment experiences through a combination of great software plus services pulling information from the cloud, where content flows seamlessly from screen to screen on any device. We’re already seeing much of this happening today. For example, Microsoft is enabling TV service providers to deliver these scenarios with Microsoft Mediaroom, the world’s most deployed IPTV platform, powering award-winning TV services to close to 5 million households via 25 operator partners around the world. Mediaroom also enables TV service providers to deploy applications that can bring video and Web content together in ways that are specifically designed for enjoying and interacting via the TV and a remote control. Mediaroom customer, AT&T U-verse TV, has deployed over 20 interactive TV applications to date. Some example applications are highlighted at http://www.microsoft.com/mediaroom/Themes/Applications.aspx.

Another example is Windows Media Center which is focused on enabling new broadcast and internet TV content experiences on the PC for more than 25 million users around the world. Smart features like the integrated TV guide bring broadcast and internet TV channels in one place. Further, Microsoft is also delivering web and TV- integrated digital and social entertainment services direct to consumers through TV and video on Xbox LIVE and Xbox 360 consoles with 23 million Xbox LIVE members in 26 countries as well as Zune and Windows Phones.”

Yahoo:

Yahoo!’s Connected TV widgets launched at CES 2009 and are available on Sony, Samsung, LG and VIZIO HDTVs delivering video on demand from Blockbuster and Netflix, Twitter, Facebook, fantasy football and other internet content as Java/XML apps. They’ve appeared on Intel CE3100 hardware — predecessor to the CE4100 powering the Google TV systems. The platform claims 7,000 active developers, over 50 widgets currently available and over 150 more coming by the end of the year.

“Consumers love television, and Yahoo! is enhancing the TV viewing experience by adding high quality, personally-relevant Internet content across devices from the world’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers. Yahoo! is leading, innovating and delivering amazing consumer experiences, and there is no doubt in my mind that the next phase of the Internet revolution will be televised.” — Ronald Jacoby, Chief Architect, Yahoo! Connected TV

Samsung:

Samsung’s Internet@TV platform debuted last year and utilized on Yahoo! Connected TV widgets bringing content to TVs and Blu-ray players. In 2010, it’s next step is the Samsung Apps service bringing functionality across a wide range of devices including TVs, receivers, Blu-ray players and mobile phones.

“For Samsung, the Connected TV era began more than three years ago and achieved a breakthrough in 2010 with the introduction of Samsung Apps, the world’s first TV application store now available in more than 100 countries. Our success has been fueled in part by partnerships with diverse Google properties including YouTube, Picasa, and Maps via our Internet@TV service in addition to our application partners on the Samsung Mobile platform. Samsung is focused on delivering the most complete Internet TV experience to consumers and this will guide our approach as we consider introducing new services or platforms such as with Google. A relationship with Google TV is currently under consideration.” — David Steel, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Samsung Electronics America

Rovi:

Known in another life as Macrovision and TV Guide, Rovi may already be behind the program guide on your TV or set-top box. While cable and satellite operators have not widely deployed some of its more interesting UIs, it’s already looked for a way over the top by adding a guide via Samsung’s widget service, and recently showed off its latest design, the TotalGuide shown above.

“Rovi sees the Google announcement today as another milestone in the continued development of Internet TV. We’re working with Google to help bring next-generation guides to the users of Google TV. This includes TotalGuide applications for the Android platform as well as TV data. We believe a critical component for creating a simplified consumer experience is data that allows you to browse and discover more content.” — Corey Ferengul, EVP of Product Management and Marketing, Rovi

VIZIO:

VIZIO has dived wholeheartedly into the Connected TV pool, building its entire UI on the Yahoo! Widgets design, including all the standard TV controls in the same interface where you’ll find Twitter and various video on-demand services. VIZIO Internet App TVs have a QWERTY Bluetooth remote to make internet browsing easier and it’ Super Bowl ad was devoted to informing customers it could bring the best of the internet to your TV.

“We are excited that other technology providers are following VIZIO’s lead to offer easy to access Internet content on their televisions. We were the first to integrate Wifi and Bluetooth technology into HDTV sets to enable a simple, intuitive HD internet steaming experience and as a result more than 70% of VIZIO Internet Apps consumers are connecting and streaming actively with VIZIO products. We at VIZIO are constantly evaluating new opportunities to further enhance the value of our products, including those brought to us by Intel and Google. Our goal is to continue to make the best of the Internet easily available to consumers with products that they can afford.” — Laynie Newsome, Co-founder and CSO

People of Lava:

People of Lava surprised everyone by being the first to announce an Android TV, and expects to have its product on shelves well ahead of Sony’s Google TV.

“It is of course a challenge for a small TV-manufacturer in the premium range to set out to launch a whole new kind of integrated product and experience. I see today’s events as a confirmation that we did the right thing to dare to press ahead.” — Christian Svantesson, Managing Director of People of Lava.

“The more Android-based TVs on the market, the better. This would mean that the development of Apps, adapted for the TV will get a boost, and more Apps will become available. And what’s good for the customers is good for us. We can already offer a number of Apps that we think will give our customers the most instant benefit, such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, an open Web-browser etc. And our App-store, which is already up and running, offers more Apps, ready to be downloaded.” — Mathias Adolfsson, Chief Technical Officer at People of Lava.

“The fact that we and others can create new Apps for our customers, actually gives our customers a product that “comes alive”, and will continue to evolve with the customers, in the direction of their own choice. Choice is so central here. Not dictating, but giving options. We see this as a great start towards our vision of a “Window to the world” – giving our customers the standing option to choose not only what they want to see or do, but also when.” — Martin Ljunggren, Chief Marketing Officer at People of Lava.

MIPS:

You may or may not know the name MIPS, but the company’s chips are embedded in TVs and set-top boxes all over, already running Yahoo! Widgets. It’s already worked on an HD-friendly version of Android for its processors that could have a wider reach than the Google TV platform.

“MIPS Technologies was pleased to see today’s Google TV announcement. Google’s announcement is clearly well aligned with our own vision of the future connected television and entertainment experience. To date, MIPS Technologies has synergistically supported Google’s commitment to the architecture-neutral, open source nature of Android by ensuring that our licensees have access to the best available software ecosystem for Android on MIPS-Based solutions. Google TV is the latest architecture-neutral solution from Google and, leveraging our past work with Android and our ongoing relationship with Google, MIPS Technologies is now in an excellent position to work with our licensees as Google TV moves beyond its initial reference platforms and into mainstream development within the digital home market-a market where MIPS is already the number one processor architecture.” –Art Swift, Vice President of Marketing, MIPS Technologies

source

Related posts:

1. How Apple and Google Fell Out of Love [Apple-google War]
2. Google Maps gets updated for Android 1.6+
3. Yahoo Sketch-a-Search debuts at CTIA 2010

]]> http://itoptech.com/2010/05/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about-it/feed/ 0 http://itoptech.com/2010/05/auo-scores-patent-lawsuit-decision-over-lg-display/ http://itoptech.com/2010/05/auo-scores-patent-lawsuit-decision-over-lg-display/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 18:42:13 +0000 admin http://itoptech.com/2010/05/auo-scores-patent-lawsuit-decision-over-lg-display/

Apple Goes After HTC In Lawsuit Over 20 iPhone Patents

New Apple touch display patent

Kodak wins preliminary ruling in patent squabble with Samsung

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LG Display may want to be more careful where it aims those patent lawsuits next time, after a dispute it kicked off with AUO has lead to a finding by a U.S. District court that it actually violated AUO’s patents and not the other way around. Say hello to patent Nos 6,778,160, 6,689,629, 7,125,157 and 7,090,506, covering “technologies help to improve response time, improve reliability of LCDs, solve the problem of defects in the displayed images, and provide a very compact structure useful for small handheld devices, respectively.” So far AUO is indicating that it will seek an injunction preventing LG from shipping its potentially infringing HDTVs, monitors, notebooks and even phones to the U.S, plus some other legal tough talk for good measure. After LG’s almost inevitable appeal this could drag out for years and/or be resolved in a sudden alliance of cross licensing so while there still may be time to grab that Chocolate Touch you’ve been eyeing, we’d keep a casual eye on LE9500 shipping dates in case of slippage.

Show full PR text

AU Optronics Prevails in Patent Dispute With LG Display
Court Concludes LG Display Infringed all 4 of AUO’s Patents

Hsinchu, Taiwan, – (May 2, 2010)
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AU Optronics Corp. (”AUO”) (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) is very pleased with the result that, following the finding by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (”Court”) on February 16, 2010 that LG Display (”LGD”) infringed all 4 of the AUO patents asserted at trial, the Court further concluded on April 30, 2010 that AUO did not infringe any of the 4 patents asserted at trial by LGD, indicating that AUO has prevailed in this important patent litigation.

This matter began in December 2006 when LGD of South Korea filed a patent infringement action against Taiwan’s AUO and Chi Mei Optoelectronics. AUO filed a counter-claim against LGD thereafter. The case went to trial in June 2009. At the trial, LGD claimed over $690 million dollars of damages from AUO. After an extensive bench trial, the Court concluded that LGD infringed all 4 of AUO’s patents, and that AUO did not infringe any of LGD’s patents asserted at trial. AUO believes that LGD’s demands were outrageous, and is elated that the Court rejected them while at the same time upholding AUO’s strong patented technologies and finding infringement of them by LGD.

The 4 AUO patents that the Court found that LGD infringed include: U.S. Patent Nos. 6,778,160, 6,689,629, 7,125,157 and 7,090,506, which patented technologies help to improve response time, improve reliability of LCDs, solve the problem of defects in the displayed images, and provide a very compact structure useful for small handheld devices, respectively. The infringing LGD products cover a wide variety of applications, including LCD panels for TVs, monitors, notebooks, public information displays and mobile phones. A substantial share of products using LGD’s LCD panels sold in the US for the damages period through the date of trial are infringing products.

Based on the Court’s finding of infringement, AUO will seek an injunction preventing LGD from exporting to and selling in the US products found to have infringed AUO’s patented technologies. The Court also concluded that LGD induced infringement of AUO’s patents. Based on this ruling, AUO hopes that LGD’s customers will immediately cease purchasing any unauthorized infringing products from LGD for sale or use in the US without the need for further court action.

As one of the leading companies in the design, research and development, and manufacturing of TFT-LCDs, AUO is a technology innovator with a strong emphasis on R&D for display technologies. Established in 2002 and located in Taiwan’s Hsinchu Science Park, AUO Technology Center is Taiwan’s largest R&D facility for optoelectronics, and currently houses more than 1,700 dedicated R&D engineers. As of the end of 2009, AUO owns nearly 6,000 patents worldwide, with over 5,500 additional patent applications pending, which places it number 1 among Taiwan’s flat panel industry.