June 01, 2006, 5:36 PM PDT
Wii is best of E3 (yeah, E3 was in May)
Posted by: Molly Wood

Video game critics who just got the ringing out of their ears and the alcohol out of their systems and who just shook off the strobe-induced seizures have finally gotten around to awarding their best of E3 awards. And in case the hours-long lines weren't a tip-off, the Game Critics Award for "best hardware" goes to the Nintendo Wii. EA's Spore, which lets you evolve a creature from the cell stage all the way through universal domination, took home all the big game awards. It's probably because Robin Williams showed up at E3 and created a big, freaky, mutant spore on the show floor. Or, possibly, was a big, freaky mutant spore on the show floor. Reports are still sketchy on that one.

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June 01, 2006, 4:24 PM PDT
Self-parking Volvo
Posted by: Wayne Cunningham

At the Geneva Auto Show, we watched the new Toyota Prius and its self-parking floor demonstration. Now, Autoblog reports on and shows video of a self-parking Volvo S60. It does the same type of parallel-parking maneuver as the Prius and uses a similarly large space. The S60 is shown parking on a normal street, but it merely backs into the space without making any forward corrections. Living in San Francisco, I'm used to doing my own parallel parking. What would be more useful is a device that scans each side of the street, looking for available parking spaces just big enough for my car.

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June 01, 2006, 1:21 PM PDT
Finally, a Razr for rappers
Posted by: Molly Wood

Where would we be without cell phone bling? Motorola and Dolce&Gabbana are filling that hole in your heart with a pimp new Razr V3i that's tricked out in tasteful gold and silver and features special ring tones, screensavers, wallpaper, and animation and a matching gold pendant. Once you've got that, of course, you'll need the optional accessories, such as the leather phone case (gold), Bluetooth headset (gold), and wired stereo headphones (gold) with on-wire volume control (gold). Sounds so...nice (ugly)!

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June 01, 2006, 12:59 PM PDT
False alarm: MTV Urge MP3 player
Posted by: James Kim

According to certain reports, MTV Networks and U.K.-based Mini Media Europe Limited are supposed to launch an MTV-branded MP3 player by September, presumably to match up with MTV's new Urge music service.

An MTV representative tells me that Mini Media was misquoted as saying it was to produce an Urge-branded music player. The rep says, "Contrary to press reports, Mini Media Europe Limited has not signed a deal to produce MP3 players carrying the Urge or MTV brands in Europe...there are no plans for an Urge-branded or MTV-branded MP3 player."

Mini Media has signed a deal to provide Pimp My Ride-branded MP3/MP4 players in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France starting in September.

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June 01, 2006, 12:46 PM PDT
Inside Sony's failure to Connect
Posted by: James Kim

John Borland over at CNET News.com has a nice piece about Sony's failed attempt at catching up to iTunes (and the iPod) with its Connect digital music service. From the article:

Programmers went to work on the project, intended to be Sony's answer to Apple's iTunes. But the tone had been set for a dysfunctional mix of politics, programming, and pique that would prove deeply destructive to Sony's digital music ambitions. Fourteen months later, a disastrous product launch doomed Sony's latest attempt at catching Apple.

Blunders such as having no native MP3 support for Network Walkmans, poor SonicStage software, and an insistence on pushing its ATRAC3 format could be blamed on Sony's apparent lack of interdepartmental communication and vision. Can Sony, in particular its crumbling digital music empire, make a comeback?

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June 01, 2006, 11:00 AM PDT
Nikon announces the D2Xs
Posted by: Philip Ryan

Nikon has announced an updated version of its top-of-the-line D2X digital SLR. The new version, called the D2Xs, still has the same 12.4-megapixel CMOS sensor but adds a bunch of minor tweaks to the successful pro-level dSLR. As was the case when Nikon updated the D2H to the D2Hs, the new D2Xs will replace the D2X, and while it isn't an earth-shattering update, it does add some cool new features. According to a company spokesperson, Nikon has no plans yet to offer any of the added features as an upgrade for current D2X owners. The Nikon D2Xs is expected to sell for $4,699 starting next month.

Like the D2X, the Nikon D2Xs has two continuous-shooting modes; one captures up to 5 frames per second at 12.4 megapixels, the other captures up to 8 frames per second but crops the image down to 6.8 megapixels--this is especially useful for pro sports photographers. The original D2X had small hash marks in the viewfinder to mark the crop, but the new D2Xs uses a built-in liquid crystal polymer network to darken the unused portion of the viewfinder in the high-speed crop mode, so it's now perfectly clear what you'll get when shooting in this mode. Plus, the camera's exposure and autofocus systems have been retailored so that the camera meters only within the cropped area, and all nine of the cross-type autofocus sensors remain active, in high-speed crop mode.

Tweakers will be pleased with some of the new functions, such as the new camera's ability to save custom camera settings onto a CompactFlash card and load them onto any Nikon D2Xs. You can also upload custom tone curves to the camera, choose the length of time that the focus-tracking feature tracks a moving subject (also great for sports photographers), and program the automatic ISO setting to boost the camera's light sensitivity (a.k.a. ISO number) when the camera drops below a certain shutter speed. Nikon has made the Adobe RGB color space available in all of the camera's three color modes and added the same black-and-white mode that appears in its 10.2-megapixel D200.

Taking a cue from compact cameras, Nikon has built in some in-camera editing functions. The D2Xs will let you trim photos down from the camera's full size of 4,288x2,848 pixels (or 3,216x2,136 in high-speed crop mode) to sizes ranging from 2,560x1,920 down to 640x480 pixels. The trim function preserves the original and saves a new trimmed version as a separate file. If you shoot raw files, you can also overlay one photo on top of another to create a new merged photo. Similarly, the Nikon D2Xs has a built-in multiple exposure function to create a single image from up to 10 separate exposures. Lots of film cameras, even some point-and-shoots, can do this, but few digital cameras can, and almost none allow up to 10 exposures.

Other minor improvements include a wider viewing angle for the 2.5-inch LCD, the addition of 1/3-stop steps between ISO 800 and the first of the camera's two ISO boost settings, and a higher-capacity lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The new battery, called the EN-EL4a, boasts 2,500mAh--up from the EN-EL4's 1,900mAh--and lets you capture up to 3,800 shots per charge, according to Nikon. The D2Xs comes with a USB cable that uses a rubber gasket to attach more firmly to the camera so that the cable won't accidentally fall out when shooting while tethered to a computer or during a file transfer.

The only other major addition with this camera is Nikon's new Image Authentication function, which will likely not matter outside of legal or law enforcement circles. Available as an optional package, it comes with special software that reads information recorded to a USB key during image capture to ensure that the image, EXIF data, date and time stamps, and GPS information have not been altered since capture.

Should D2X owners upgrade? That depends mainly on whether any of the added features make a big difference in your shooting. Sports photographers who rely heavily on the high-speed crop mode will no doubt love the new viewfinder mask, and police departments will likely want Image Authentication to protect their evidence chain. Most D2X owners probably won't find a pressing need to upgrade, but new buyers will probably want to wait a month for the Nikon D2Xs instead of grabbing the D2X today.

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June 01, 2006, 10:19 AM PDT
Another CDMA Slvr?
Posted by: Kent German

Two weeks ago, I mentioned that Verizon was supposed to get a CDMA version of the Motorola Slvr L7. Although we have no confirmation of that rumor, it now appears Sprint might be getting its own Slvr model as well. According to PCS Intel, Sprint sources have verified that the carrier will add the slim candy bar handset to its lineup at an undetermined time. Sprint's Slvr L7c reportedly will offer a 1.3-megapixel camera, which is an improvement upon the VGA camera in Cingular's Slvr L7.

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June 01, 2006, 10:16 AM PDT
Sony breaks out more-expensive Bravias
Posted by: David Katzmaier

As if there aren't enough different LCD-based flat-panel HDTVs on the market already, Sony saw fit to introduce seven more today, all bearing the Bravia name and all available this September. These higher-end models improve on the currently available S2000 and U100M entry-level Bravias, with higher 1080p resolution in larger models, better backlight technology, and, yes, higher prices.

The new sets start with the 40-inch and 46-inch V2500 series, the least expensive 1080p LCDs in Sony's 2006 lineup. Aside from their higher native resolution, these LCDs have new WCG-CCFL (Wide Color Gamut Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlights, standard on all of the new Bravia models. You'll be tested on that later, but in the meantime, just remember that Sony claims the new 'lights make colors look better. Connectivity is highlighted by a pair of HDMI inputs that can, unlike most 2005 1080p sets, accept 1080p resolution signals. The KDL-40V2500 will sell for $3,500 and the KDL-46V2500 for $4,500.

Movin' on up, there are three models in the KDL-XBR2 series: 32 inches, 40 inches, and 46 inches. The bigger sets are 1080p and the smaller is the standard 1,366x768 resolution, but the main difference between these models and the step-down versions is on the outside. The two larger ones bring back Sony's "floating glass" design, made popular by the company's high-end plasmas and LCDs from a couple of years ago, that borders the frame with a strip of glass on all sides. Upping the style ante even further, the big XBR2s have silver frames that can be swapped out in favor of five optional colors: red, white, blue, black (pictured), and brown. The 32-incher lacks the floating glass and hot-swap frame, and it misses a few of the features of its brethren (it has just one HDMI input, for example). The 32-inch KDL-V32XBR2 costs $2,500, the 40-inch KDL-40XBR2 $4,000, and the 46-inch KDL-46XBR2 $5,000.

Finally, the company will ask an even prettier penny for the flagship KDL-XBR3 line, which again comes in 40-inch and 46-inch versions. These 1080p sets distinguish themselves from the rest with a glossy black frame, again ringed by floating glass -- and that's the only difference. Sony's press release pimps these models as being compatible with its forthcoming BDP-S1 Blu-ray player, but of course any 1080p-input-capable, 1080p-resolution HDTV could claim the same level of synergy. You'll pay $4,300 for the privilege of owning the 40-inch KDL-V40XBR3 and $5,300 for the 46-inch KDL-V46XBR3.

This flurry of Bravias matches the level of turnout from Samsung and Sharp this year, albeit at higher prices all around. It also marks an important exchange in the LCD vs. plasma battle, with even the least expensive new Bravia costing significantly more than much larger plasmas. On the flip side, 1080p resolution will definitely appeal to many videophiles, and plasma doesn't come close in that department yet. Whether enough people will want to pay the premium remains to be seen.

More resources:

Flat-panel LCD explained

Sony KDL-32S2000 review

Top flat-panel LCDs

Sony's 2006 TV product page

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June 01, 2006, 10:00 AM PDT
First details on Sony's Blu-ray-friendly STR-DG1000 receiver
Posted by: David Rudden

Along with amazing image quality, the currently available HD-DVD and upcoming Blu-ray players come with a high level of uncertainty regarding receiver compatibility. Running two HDMI cables between one device and its HDTV destination is akin to setting up a tightrope over a sea of copy-protection sharks. At today's Home Entertainment Show in Los Angeles, Sony revealed plans for an A/V receiver optimized to play fair with the Blu-ray format. The STR-DG1000 will be available in August (a few months before the company's October-due BDP-S1 Blu-ray player) for $800.

The STR-DG1000 promises to pass the full bandwidth of 1080p signals via HDMI, as well as upconvert images from composite-, S-Video, and component-video sources to HDMI. On the audio end, the receiver can output 7.1-channel surround sound, which can be split to a multiroom 5.1/2.0 setup. According to Sony, the connectivity suite will be composed of "HDMI, component, and optical inputs, as well as five inputs and two outputs for A/V, and three inputs and one output for audio." The receiver is also compatible with portable audio devices--the STR-DG1000 touts a Portable Audio Enhancer feature that should process and clear up compressed audio--and XM via a Connect and Play antenna.

More resources:

HDMI receivers: what to look for

HD-friendly A/V receivers

Prepare for launch: Blu-ray players revealed

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June 01, 2006, 10:00 AM PDT
Pantech C300 is the world's smallest camera flip phone
Posted by: Nicole Lee

Cingular and Pantech have come together to bring North Americans what they're calling the world's smallest camera flip phone. The Pantech C300 will be exclusive to GoPhone, Cingular's prepaid service. The C300 measures a tiny 2.72 by 1.69 by 0.76 inches when closed, and it boasts a 262,144-color internal display, MP3 ring tones, e-mail, photo caller ID, and a VGA camera with flash and a 4X digital zoom, as well as text, multimedia, and instant messaging.

Along with this, Cingular has announced the addition of its Media Net plan, specifically for GoPhone users--which means that they can now have a prepaid data plan. Before, the only option GoPhone users had was paying per kilobyte.

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