September 13, 2006, 11:04 PM PDT
Sprint ramps up mobile content
Posted by: Bonnie Cha

Mobile TV is a hot topic here at CTIA, and for the cell phone industry in general. A number of services are out there, such as MobiTV, GoTV, and SlingPlayer Mobile, that bring TV right to the palm of your hand. Now, Sprint is adding to the mix by introducing Sprint Power View. It's the first network that specifically produces content for mobile devices, delivering the latest sports and entertainment news and original programming. It has its own studio in New York and 15 mobile camera crews to film events on location; shows are refreshed several times a day, seven days a week. Here's a sampling of the lineup:

Game Center: Hosted by James Brown (of Fox Sports and now CBS fame). Preview of day's games with brief analysis.

The Mobile Fix: Entertainment and hot gossip.

Daily Dose: Hosted by Ryan McDonough from the Fox Soccer Channel. Preview and recap of matchups.

We got to check out the service, and though we're not completely sold on the idea of watching TV on a cell phone, we have to admit, it was pretty cool. Power View is free to Sprint Vision and Power Vision subscribers and is available now as a downloadable Java app. You can find more information and check for compatible phones here.

Permalink | Post a comment

• Read also: CTIA fall, cell phones, smart phones
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 10:55 PM PDT
GM shows off its hydrogen-powered Chevy Sequel
Posted by: Kevin Massy

General Motors has unveiled its next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell car and the big news is, it's a Chevy. The Chevrolet Sequel is a 5-seater crossover that builds on technology developed in GM's two previous hydrogen concepts: the AUTOnomy and the Hy-wire. The Sequel is driven by two asynchronous wheel-hub-mounted electric motors on the rear wheels and a third motor driving the front wheels, which are themselves powered by gaseous hydrogen pressurized to 10,000psi and stored in three carbon composite tanks.

Like the Hy-wire, the Sequel is based on a skateboard-style platform, with all major propulsion, braking, and chassis components contained in the car's underbelly. All throttle and braking inputs for the Sequel use drive-by-wire technology, meaning that electronic--rather than mechanical--connections link the accelerator and the brake pedal to their respective functions.

According to GM, the Sequel has a range of 300 miles, a top speed of 90mph, and will go to 60mph from standing in less than 10 seconds--not spectacular by modern standards until you remember that the only emission produced is water vapor. At a press event in San Diego tonight, GM's vice president of R&D, Larry Burns, told a group of auto journalists that the Sequel heralds the "reinvention of the automobile."

We'll have to reserve judgment until tomorrow when we get a chance to actually drive one here in the desert of Southern California. Stay tuned to Car Tech for our first-hand impressions of the car of the future.

Source: Images: GM press photos

Permalink | 13 comments

• Read also: Car tech
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 8:45 PM PDT
First impressions: Palm Treo 750v
Posted by: Bonnie Cha

Our First Look video of the Palm Treo 750v is up, but I wanted to add a few more thoughts. First, it's really difficult to make a judgment on a product after spending just a few minutes with it, so take this for what it's worth. I can tell you that the device has a sleeker form factor, though that's not as significant as you may think. It's definitely shorter in length (4.4 inches vs. 5.1 inches), but there's no difference in width and it's only 0.1-inch thinner in depth. And as I noted in our 700wx review, with the arrival of sleek smart phones like the Motorola Q and the BlackBerry 8700 series, the Treo is starting to look pretty big. That said, among devices running Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition or those with touch screens, the Treo still offers one of the best form factors out there. And it appears the Treo 750v is set to carry on that tradition. It's easy to use one-handed, and the QWERTY keyboard is pretty decent. We also like the new soft-touch covering that makes it easy to grip. No official word yet on when the 750v will come to the United States. Hmm, while we're at it, we'd also like to know when we'll see a GSM version of the Treo 700 series.

Permalink | 1 comment

• See product information for Palm Treo 750v
• Read also: CTIA fall, smart phones, cell phones, PDAs
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 7:43 PM PDT
I-mate debuts two Windows Mobile smart phones
Posted by: Bonnie Cha

We've been patiently waiting for I-mate to release some follow-up hits to its Jam, and it looks like we've got them--well, sort of. The company introduced two new smart phones at CTIA this week, the I-mate JAQ and the I-mate SPL. Images and rumors of the former started appearing on the Web a few weeks before the show, and it was quickly dubbed a Moto Q killer, but we saw it live and in person, and umm, not so much. Though it's packed with features (Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition, Bluetooth, 128MB ROM/64MB RAM, 2.8-inch touch screen), the quad-band smart phone is huge. Plus, it feels plasticky and cheap. On the other hand, the second model they announced, the I-mate SPL, is another story. This sleek candy-bar-style phone reminded us of the Motorola Slvr and runs Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Edition (so no touch screen). It also features a 2-megapixel camera, 128MB ROM/64MB RAM, and Bluetooth. Both models offer push e-mail capabilities. The I-mate JAQ will go for about $399, while pricing was not available for the I-mate SPL. We're in line to get these devices, so hopefully they'll be waiting for us when we get back to San Francisco. Check back soon for full reviews.

Permalink | Post a comment

• Read also: CTIA fall, smart phones, cell phones, PDAs
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 6:00 PM PDT
Cingular to get BlackBerry Pearl
Posted by: Kent German

At a press luncheon today, Cingular revealed it would get its own version of the new RIM BlackBerry Pearl by the first quarter of next year. The Cingular Pearl is expected to be largely similar to the T-Mobile version except that it also will support push to talk. When asked why the carrier was taking so long to acquire the new BlackBerry, a Cingular exec said his company likes to test their devices rigorously. Meow.

Cingular also revealed it would offer a 3G smart phone by the end of 2006 and that it remains very bullish on its relationship with Windows Mobile. And concerning its HSDPA rollout, the carrier plans to have 87 cities and more than 100 million people covered by the end of the year.

Permalink | 3 comments

• Read also: cell phones, CTIA fall
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 4:25 PM PDT
Zapr and YouSendIt make file pickup easy
Posted by: Rafe Needleman

I got waylaid at the Future of Web Apps conference today by the folks from Zapr. They make a free peer-to-peer file-sharing utility that's not just targeted at real people (as opposed to geeks; see AllPeers) but that I think they could actually use. Sharing a file or a directory does require a download, but unlike most other peer-to-peer sharing systems, receiving a shared file does not. It works through Web links: The application gives a shared asset a URL, which you can e-mail to your friends or post on the Web. People who go to the URL get a Web page served up by your PC, which then allows them access to the files you're sharing.

A big advantage of this concept is that once you share a directory, anything you put in that directory is easily accessible by anybody who has the link. And as long as the files are on your PC, they remain shareable. Free hosted sharing access to your files usually expires after a few days.

The major downside to Zapr is that you have to leave your computer on, although a future enhancement of the product will include paid, Web-based storage. Another big downer: No security, at least not in the current product. If the URL of a shared asset gets out onto the Web, anybody can download directly from your PC. Again, future releases will have security.

If you don't want to run an application to share large files, you might want to check out YouSendIt, which, like Zapr, allows receivers to get files by clicking on standard links. Since YouSendIt stores files on its own servers, you have to upload what you want to share, but then you don't have to leave your PC to allow people to pick it up. The hosted transfer model isn't as flexible as peer-to-peer sharing, but it is easier to use for both senders and receivers.

Permalink | 0 comments

• Read also: Web 2.0, Storage
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 4:00 PM PDT
CEDIA 2006: Sony polishes Pearl
Posted by: David Katzmaier

Sure, Sony introduced a couple of new LCDs today at CEDIA, but to home-theater enthusiasts, the company's most important announcement concerned its new front projector, the VPL-WV50 (September, $4,999), nicknamed Pearl. It's the less expensive version of the Editors' Choice VPL-VW100, also known as Ruby, and it offers the same 1080p native resolution, courtesy of an SXRD light engine, for half the price.

Judging from the specs, the main difference between the two lies in the lamps: the physically much smaller Pearl has a conventional 200-watt UHP lamp as opposed to the bulky Ruby's exotic 400-watt Xenon lamp. One of our few criticisms of the Ruby was the price of replacement lamps ($1,000 a pop, so to speak) and the fact that, at its quoted brightness of 800 ANSI lumen, screen sizes are practically limited to 100 inches diagonal or less. According to its specs, the Pearl has a 900 lumen lamp, so it should be a bit brighter than its big brother. Other than that, we can't really speculate on its image quality, but we expect to have a full review in the next month. And in case you're wondering, the VPL-VW50 is not the least expensive 1080p projector announced at the show. That honor belongs to the Mitsubishi HC5000, at least for now.

Speaking of screens, Sony and Stewart Filmscreen also announced a specialized screen that's supposedly designed with the Pearl in mind. No word on pricing yet, but the new screens have a catchy abbreviation: Stewart Firehawk SST, for Sony/Stewart Theater, and will be available this month in a variety of sizes.

Update: I attended Sony's VPL-VW50 demo and learned a few new pieces of information. First off, the new projector looked pretty darn good, although some of the footage appeared a bit soft to my eyes. That could be due to any number of factors, such as setup or source, but either way I'm looking forward to seeing one in a real lab environment. Sony had one of the new screens in use and the rep claimed that it cost about $2000 for the 100-inch wide version. Replacement bulbs cost around $300 and should last 2,000 to 3,000 hours, depending on which setting you choose. We'll have a full review as soon as possible.

Permalink | Post a comment

• See product information for Sony VPL-VW50
• Read also: CEDIA 2006, televisions
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 4:00 PM PDT
CEDIA 2006: Sony busts out bigger Bravias
Posted by: David Katzmaier

Today at the CEDIA Expo in Denver, Sony announced a few new high-end LCD HDTVs under the Bravia name. The company also gave official details on its so-called Pearl projector, as well as announcing a partnership with projector-screen manufacturer Stewart for a specialized Pearl-friendly screen.

The new LCDs include the company's first 52-inch models: the KDL-52XBR2 (November, $6,500) and the KDL-52XBR3 (November, $6,800). Both join their smaller cousins in Sony's lineup and offer similar feature sets and styling, although the XBR2 model doesn't have the option to swap out its silver bezel for another color. Both 52-inch sets deliver 1,920x1,080 pixels, or 1080p native resolution, as well as the same picture-quality enhancements found on the smaller models. Given the picture quality evinced by the KDL-40XBR2, we expect these larger LCDs to be among the best-performing LCDs on the market.

Apparently unsatisfied by the depth of its relatively affordable S2000 line, the company also announced two other LCDs, the 32-inch KDL-32S2400 (October, $2,600) and the 40-inch KDL-40S2400 (October, $1,700). Aside from price, the main difference between the new sets and the S2000 models is color: the S2400s have a black bezel instead of a silver one.

We expect to review one of the 52-inch models when it becomes available, but we probably won't review either of the S2400 sets. Check out our review of the KDL-32S2000 for an idea of how the S2400 series may perform.

Permalink | 1 comment

• See product information for Sony KDL-52XBR3
• Read also: CEDIA 2006, televisions
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 4:00 PM PDT
Sony officially announces new ES A/V receivers
Posted by: John P. Falcone

Sony has officially unveiled the two new A/V receivers in its high-end ES (Elevated Standard) product line, the STR-DA3200ES and the STR-DA5200ES. The latter model offers the first-of-its-kind graphical user interface based on the Cross Media Bar GUI found on Sony's PSP and PlayStation 3, as previewed by CNET earlier this month.

Both receivers are specifically designed to dovetail with Sony's forthcoming Blu-ray standard bearers, the BDP-S1 and the PlayStation 3. As such, their HDMI inputs and outputs support HD resolution as high as 1080p, as well as uncompressed (linear PCM) 7.1-channel audio. In addition to its unique onscreen interface, the DA5200ES also boasts Faroudja's DCDi video-processing chip, which enables such abilities as scaling incoming analog video sources (for instance, composite and S-Video) to HD resolutions including 1080p, as well as offering picture-in-picture modes (a standard-definition source windowed over an HD one).

Both receivers will be available in October. The Sony STR-DA5200ES will cost $1,500 and the Sony STR-DA3200ES will retail for $900.

Permalink | Post a comment

• See product information for Sony STR-DA5200ES
• Read also: home audio, home video
• Email to a friend | Print this post

September 13, 2006, 3:10 PM PDT
Pentax intros Optio T20
Posted by: Philip Ryan

As if introducing a 10.2-megapixel SLR wasn't enough, Pentax has also announced its newest Optio point-and-shoot, the Optio T20. The 7-megapixel ultracompact boasts a 3-inch touch screen LCD, a 3X optical zoom lens, and 12 shooting modes. At 0.77 inch thick, the camera is set to compete against the ever-growing bounty of extremely thin, pocketable cameras that have been saturating the market for the last couple of years. The T20 has 12MB of built-in memory, though most folks will want to take advantage of the SD card slot if they're planning to shoot more than just a few images. Pentax expects the T20 to hit stores in October for about $350.

Permalink | Post a comment

• Read also: digital cameras
• Email to a friend | Print this post