Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

It’s not clear what format or resolution it’s going to be in, but Sony and PNY have just announced that they’re teaming up to release one of the best movies ever, 1984’s Ghostbusters, on a flash drive. That’s the first full-length studio movie to go out this way, but knowing Sony, we’re expecting a crazy proprietary format that only plays in a heavily DRM’d player. Even still, it’s definitely a start — and coupled with the plan to stream Hancock exclusively to Bravia Internet Link owners, it certainly seems like the company is warming up to alternative forms of distribution. Now if we could just get some DRM-free HD content in a standardized format, we’d be all set, no?

[Warning: PDF read link]

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Storage

Lebedev’s design crew never seems to be short on surprisingly obvious and yet entirely fresh takes on every day objects, and the new Folderix flash drives are taking that ethic to entirely new and conveniently functional heights. The 4GB drives come in a myriad of colors, are available today and will run you a fairly steep $55. Literal folder design? Priceless.

[Via Electronista]

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Storage

Lenovo already rolled out one Olympics-themed flash drive long before the Beijing Games kicked off, but now that the Opening Ceremonies have come and gone, the outfit is showing off a few more for good measure. The Mascot series contains a half dozen colorful 4GB units that’ll go for around $30 apiece, while the so-called Medallions will only be available on the second-hand market thanks to the original batch selling out. Lastly, we’ve got five slightly different 1GB titanium drives that boast swiveling plugs and arrive in a swank mahogany box. Huzzah?

[Via EverythingUSB]

Read - Mascot drives
Read - Medallion drives
Read - Titanium drives

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

It’s far from the first company to attempt to make a more environmentally-friendly flash drive, but given the near disposable nature of them these days, that’s not exactly a bad thing. This latest drive from Hong Kong-based Hoshino also takes a decidedly different approach than other drives that simply keep the hazardous chemicals and whatnot to a minium, with it actually constructed out of polylactide (or PLA) made from corn that is, technically, biodegradable. The downside is that in order for it to be broken down, PLA needs to be blasted with heat for ten days on end at a specialized facility, which isn’t exactly the most direct route back into the ground, or an accessible option for everybody at the moment (there’s also the small matter of it being based on a food product). The drive also apparently isn’t available to the general public just yet, but companies interested in doing business with Hoshino can contact ‘em for more details.

[Via Everything USB, background on PLA via Smithsonian Magazine]

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Original post by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Giving mere mortals the power to monitor their own health at home isn’t a shocking revelation, but LifeSource’s new Wellness Connected family takes in-home status checking to another plateau. Three products in the line are being announced: the Wireless Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor, Wireless Precision Scale, and Wireless Activity Monitor. The trifecta utilizes FitLinxx’s proprietary wireless technology in order to link together and provide users with information on blood pressure, weight, and “activity” that can be logged and analyzed on a typical computer. Regrettably, no pricing information was mentioned, but we get the sense that this trio won’t be coming without a noticeable premium.

[Via medGadget]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Be honest with yourself: has there ever been a time when you felt like taking a hammer to a computer of yours? Yes, of course. Apparently some of the clever minds at plankton figured out a way to let people live out that fantasy without totally destroying their partially functional machine. The “nailed” USB flash drive features 2GB of internal storage, an unmistakable design and a rather huge head to ensure that even novice nailers don’t miss the target. Of course, it doesn’t take any responsibility for damage incurred by inserting said drive in the previously referenced manner, but a few light taps should suffice in most instances. Pick one up now in galvanized or blued (okay, not really) for €29.50 ($46).

[Via technabob]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Nothing too fancy from Kingston Technology today, just a couple of more capacious flash drives and an all new one for good measure. For starters, the DataTraveler 400 with MigoSync software and the DT100 are both now available in roomy 16GB flavors. Meanwhile, the DT101 arrives on the scene with security software, capacities up to 8GB and in cyan, pink and yellow hues. Each of the newcomers should be available now, with the 16GB DT400 demanding $196, the 16GB DT100 costing $85 and the DT101 line ranging from $14 to $44.

[Via BIOS Magazine]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Iomega stopped by our office last week to give us a look at current products and a sneak peak at what’s to come this summer. The various storage devices were, in turn, impressive, sleek, trendy, and a bit crazy, and we’ll be reviewing most of them at PCMag.com.

Check out more details on the new products, including the just-announced Iomega 500GB DVR Expander Drive, and our pictures, after the jump.

Iomega 500GB DVR Expander Drive This 500GB drive provides extra storage for the eSATA-enabled Scientific Atlanta’s standard-definition 8300 DVR (an 80GB model), e-SATA enabled 8300HD DVR (a 160GB model) and more upcoming Scientific Atlanta e-SATA enabled DVRs. The recording location is automatically managed by the DVR. A quiet, fanless operation (it’s air cooled) and a soft white LED adorn this seemingly Mac-inspired product; it comes with an optional stand. The DVR Expander will be available later this month at an MSRP of $199.95.

1TB “Super eGo” External Hard Drives These behemoths will not fit in your pocket. The new eGo Desktop model houses a 1TB, 3.5-inch hard drive, has USB 2.0 connectivity (FireWire or eSATA), and requires a power supply. The 1TB eGo is available now at $270, in ruby red, midnight blue, and jet black.

Screenplay HD Multimedia Drive This is version two; it now carries 500GB (check out our review of the original Screenplay on PCMag.com). It can hold 2 million photos, 9,250 hours of music, or 750 hours of video. It comes with a remote control for navigation and includes both HDMI and component video outputs for displaying high-resolution digital photos and video. Media formats supported are MP3, AC3, WAV, WMA, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and JPEG. The Screenplay HD is designed only for use with the PC and is available for $209.95. Handy for when the vacation gets boring or you’re low on money. Iomega says they’ve worked out some of the kinks we complained of in the first version; we’ll be testing this one as soon as we get one in. Watch for a review on PCMag.com.

Media Xporter Drive With this drive, you get 160GB of storage for your media collections and can watch video clips, play music, and view photos through the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It supports MP3, MPEG-4 and JPEG formats, and it includes software to convert other video file formats to compatible ones. The Xporter is useful for the further expansion of your gaming console as a home entertainment center. Available now for $119.95.

eGo Portable Hard Drive (Brown Genuine Leather) Yes, it’s an actual leather-bound hard drive. Inside this fashionable dead-cow covering is a 250GB 2.5-inch hard drive that can store up to 1,000,000 photos or 375 hours of video of yourself. You can also stick 4,625 hours of music on there, but honestly, how many times can you really listen to that Right Said Fred song, anyway? Available now for $149.95.

Camo eGo Portable Hard Drive For those of us who love to use our laptops outside and blend in with the landscape, this drive is for you. It includes a black Iomega Power Grip that provides extra durability. Both Mac and PC compatible, this drive has a USB 2.0 interface and 250GB capacity, and sells for $149.95. (Also good for the US military sniper on a secret mission and for the gamers who pretend they are.)

Original post by Chris Gampat

If Iomega packs any more memory into a device than it has into its new, sleek and shiny eGo 1 TB Portable Hard Drives, would the company call it the SupereGo, or maybe the Id? The new eGo Desktop model houses a 1TB, 3.5-inch hard drive with USB 2.0 connectivity (FireWire or eSATA) and it requires a power supply.

The 1TB eGo is available now at $270, in ruby red, midnight blue, and jet black. Definitely worth the money for (among others) for college students, small-business owners, people who love Lime Wire, and those aspiring writers you see at Starbucks who never stop typing furiously .

Look for a review coming soon from PCMag.com.

[Via Gizmodo]

Original post by Chris Gampat

Iomega announced the release of a new leather-bound hard drive. The company is touting the new eGo Leather Portable Hard Drive as “the perfect on-the-go portable storage device for today’s business executives and fashionistas alike.”

Inside all of that, you know, sexy-type fashionista dead cow is a 250GB 2.5-inch hard drive that can store up to 1,000,000 photos or 375 hours of video of yourself. You can also stick 4,625 hours of music on there, but honestly, how many times can you really listen to that Right Said Fred song, anyway?

The eGo Leather Portable Hard Drive also comes bundled with EMC Retrospect software for automatic backups. The built-in DropGuard technology should protect the device from drops of up to 51 inches, in case the thing should tumble off the old catwalk.

The drive is available through Iomega for $149.95.

Original post by Brian Heater

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Watch out, battery-powered MAVs — your viability could be seriously in danger. Based on a patent application from University of Florida aerospace engineer Subrata Roy, he’s reckoning that a micro air vehicle could be propelled by plasma. Scientists have known that passing a current or magnetic field through a conducting fluid generates a force, but exploiting it for use in moving an aircraft has proven futile thus far. The phenomenon, simply known as magnetohydrodynamics, has typically been tested on larger crafts, but Mr. Roy’s invention would boast a wingspan of less than 15-centimeters and resemble a flying saucer more so than a 747. Of course, this fantastic idea has yet to become much more than just that, but for armed forces and entities obsessed with surveillance, this could undoubtedly be big.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Dell confirmed Tuesday that chief executive Michael Dell preannounced a “green” consumer desktop at the FORTUNE Brainstorm: GREEN conference on Earth Day.

Scheduled to be released later this year, the computer is approximately 81 percent smaller than a standard mini-tower desktop, uses 70 percent less energy and comes in recycled and recyclable packaging.

“Ten years from now, we will look back and credit ‘green’ IT for helping to mitigate the effects posed by climate change, strengthen global industries and chart a new and prosperous low-carbon economy,” Dell said, according to a company spokeswoman. “It’s a historic opportunity that we must act on now.”

No word yet on the specs or pricing. It’s an intriguing concept, though, and I’d bet the R&D dollars Dell put into this will pay off across its product line.

Original post by Mark Hachman

Tired of calling Dell and not receiving the support you want? According to Dell, they’re here to help–for a price.

The company said Monday that it will be rolling out a premium support package for consumers. The premium service offer provides household support by an advanced support team in North America for one year, Dell said. The technicians are “empowered to address a comprehensive range of issues across the breadth of Dell’s product line”.

How much will this cost you? Dell hasn’t said. The company plans to reveal more details over the coming weeks. In addition, Dell plans to offer similar services in related areas, including home television installation, home theater set-up, technology integration, and other services “that can help customers build out their digital lifestyle infrastructure,” Dell said.

Over 20,000 XPS customers in the New York area trialled the service, and Dell reported a 90 percent customer satisfaction rating.

“Our commitment to a great customer experience has never been stronger,” said Ray Roman, vice president Dell global consumer services and support. “This premium service is all about making the tech support experience more personal; users who want high-touch support can now receive it. We’re excited to bring them to the market.”

Dell already provides its XPS customers 1 year of in-home service, parts and labor, and 24×7 phone support with the purchase of a new PC. Adding an additional year costs $149.

Whatever happened to service and support as a condition of buying the PC? Will tier-2 support be charged for? Many, many questions still need to be answered here.

Original post by Mark Hachman

20-inch widescreen
Embedded webcam and mic
Handles motion well

–Molly K. McLaughlin

For Lead Analyst (Displays) John R. Delaney’s full-length, free-verse Dell SP2008WFP review check out PCMag.com.

Original post by Blogging Molly

In a very short piece by Dow Jones, a source at Compal claims that Dell plans a sub-notebook to compete with the HP Mini-Note that was announced yesterday. And that’s all we know right now.

Compal, which is one of the Taiwan ODM community that manufactures notebooks and PCs for Dell and others to rebadge under their own names, hopes to ship 1 million to 2 million low-cost notebook computers to Dell in 2008, according to an unnamed official.

Original post by Mark Hachman