Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Laptops

Well the rumoratti has certainly been working overtime today when it comes to Apple, so we’ve decided to bundle all the news that’s currently doing the rounds into one tasty and nutritious post.

First up, there are new — and quite detailed — pictures out of what appears to be those MacBook and MacBook Pro casings we saw during the week. Again, we can’t 100 percent confirm that these are the real deal, but they certainly have that Air-meets-MacBook hybrid quality to them that would suggest we’re looking at the next iteration of the line.

Secondly, Apple has gone and published a support document for the “MacBook/MacBook Pro (Late 2008)” — which suggests (gasp!) that there might be some late 2008 refreshes in our future. Oh really? Weird.

Rounding out the excitement, AppleInsider “confirms” the rumor that the new MacBooks will jettison the integrated Intel graphics which previous models have used in favor of NVIDIA’s MCP79 platform. The new GPUs apparently use a new set of GeForce 9300 and 9400 chips that will make previous performance look archaic by comparison. Additionally, according to hotshot Mac rumor specialist Kevin Rose, the new systems will support Blu-ray drives, thus finally allowing you to watch season 4 of Lost the way the lord intended it.

As with all rumors, you can never really know which one of these is going to stick, but luckily we won’t have to wait very long to get to the bottom of it. In the meantime, feel free to peruse the various links below and soak in the sweet, sweet gossip.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Leaked MacBook / MacBook Pro casing photos
Read - Apple Document Confirms MacBook/MacBook Pro (Late 2008)
Read - Apple dumping Intel chipsets for NVIDIA’s in new MacBooks
Read - Kevin Rose drops MacBook Blu-Ray Rumor at Live Diggnation event

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops

Oh Apple — release some new laptops so this madness can end. The forums at MacRumors are abuzz over a Taiwanese site that’s showing off pictures of what appears to be a very close cousin of that MacBook Pro-esque casing we saw earlier. This isn’t the same model, surely, but it does bear a striking similarity in both design and materials — and after lots of deliberation and comparisons, we’re fairly sure this isn’t the Air either (the hinge ends in a totally different spot in relation to the keys). That machined quality we noted in the earlier post is present, though as we said previously, the sides of these housings do look like separate pieces. Regardless, if any of this is even remotely true (and not another Photoshop from someone’s mother’s basement), Apple is indeed taking its laptops in an Air direction, which isn’t surprising — but signs of these being the end-result of new manufacturing process? The jury’s still way out. One more pic after the break of that controversial side piece.

[Via MacRumors]

Continue reading More pics of Apple’s supposed new laptops surface

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops

HP’s Voodoo Envy 133, first announced in June, has struggled a bit off the blocks, with manufacturing problems keeping it out of buyers hands until last month. Of course, HP has a good excuse: carbon fiber. The notoriously difficult material wasn’t used sparingly on the Envy 133, and if you’ve been looking for a laptop dripping with the synthetic material, HP’s got your number. We mention this to remind ourselves that, like the MacBook Air before it, this laptop is about looks first, function second, and the Envy 133 succeeds in that regard wildly. There’s always room for taste in these things, but HP makes quite a statement here no matter what your persuasion. We’re not going to run through a full review here, but we’ll let you know our first impressions after the break.

Continue reading Voodoo Envy 133 unboxing and impressions

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Here she is — the world’s first DSLR to capture 720p HD movie footage. But let’s be honest, the high-def action is just a cherry on top of Nikon’s D90 ($1,299 kit; $999 body only), as the expansive Live View LCD, high ISO options and heralded image quality are the real draws. You’ve already heard what the experts in the field had to say, but if you’re just lookin’ for some old fashioned gadget glamour shots to get your weekend started right, take all the time you need in the gallery below.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

For TiVo fans, there’s no denying that the Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC holds a lot of promise. Granted, it is arriving mighty late to a party that’s been rockin’ for some time now, but TiVo mixed with PC just sounds so, so good. Engadget HD was able to grab hold of a unit and unbox the thing for all to see, and as you wait for a review in the near future, let us encourage you to enjoy the gallery right over yonder.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Robots

Erector’s WiFi-enabled Spykee robot hasn’t even begun to ship to mere mortals just yet, but through some random acts of wizardry, Sven was able to grab hold of one and give it the ole unboxing / impressions treatment (on video, no less). It could be the novelty factor, but he seemed pretty stoked with the whole package, and the clip waiting in the read link gives some real hard-hitting insight as to whether or not this $300 character deserves a spot in your family. Give it a watch, won’t you?

[Via RobotsRule]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment

D-Link’s $230 DSM-330 media streamer has always been among the most flexible set-top boxes out there, and it’s just gotten even better, with the latest DivX Connected server software bringing Flash video support to the device. It’s not quite browse-and-play — every site requires a specific plug-in — but Hulu, College Humor, YouTube, ABC News, and Vimeo are already working, and there are more on the way. That’s pretty tempting for two bills, but we’ll stick to rocking PlayOn with our 360 and PS3.

[Via eHomeUpgrade and Zatz Not Funny!]

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon just launched its teaser campaign dubbed, “Destined Evolution.” There’s no way at this point to know for sure, but that certainly looks like a compact, full-frame 5D body (pictured after the break) given the button locations, mode dial, and seemingly lack of a pop-up flash. Three years since the 5D was originally launched, Photokina suddenly can’t come soon enough.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Continue reading Canon starts teaser campaign, evolved 5D expected

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Digital Cameras

By and large, Canon’s EOS Rebel XSi was widely adored. Still, even the fanboys in attendance can’t deny that firmware updates that solve any number of quirks are loved just the same. Canon has just posted up firmware v1.0.9 for the aforesaid DSLR, which purportedly fixes three primary issues. The 7.81MB download addresses a “phenomenon in which AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) shooting does not operate normally under specific conditions,” another in which “the Live View exposure simulation warning indication does not properly display during Live View shooting, and yet another in which “images cannot be played back after continuous shooting when a printer is connected to the camera or a video output terminal is used.” Tap that read link to get your download on, and be sure to let us know if this update actually works as advertised.

[Via CNET]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Peripherals

Does having a handle instantly make something portable? Canon sure seems to think so, and it’s hoping the lug-ability of its new ES3 and ES30 Selphy printers will be enough to rope you into buying its special integrated ink and paper cartridges for years to come. For the most part, two printers are identical, although the ES3 does boast a slightly larger 3.5-inch LCD (as opposed to a 3-incher), as well as an added 1GB of internal memory, which Canon claims is a first for a compact photo printer. Otherwise, you can expect a 15-in-1 memory card reader on each, along with PictBridge support, and a number of frame, clip art and calendar functions to impress your friends with. If that’s got you convinced, you can pick up both of ‘em now, with the SELPHY ES3 running $199.99 and ES30 setting you back $149.99.

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Original post by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Not much left to tell here that you didn’t already know. Still, now that the EOS 50D is official, we can list the specs with certainty: 15.1 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 image processor, up to ISO 12800 support, 3.0-inch LCD with face detection Live View, HDMI output, 6.3fps burst mode, and same AF system found in Canon’s 40D with new Microadjustment feature. This DSLR targeting the “advanced amateur” will be ready for the holidays (shipping in October) for an estimated $1,599 with Canon’s EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens — $1,399 for the body only.

Gallery: Official: Canon’s 15.1 megapixel EOS 50D with DIGIC 4 processing

[Thanks, Phil W.]

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Here’s three more from Canon, the same, entry-level trio we saw leaked yesterday now official (where’s the E1?). The optical image stabilized set feature face detection and DIGIC 3 image processing. Let’s highlight the differences:

• $300 SX110 IS: 9 megapixels, 10x zoom, 3-inch LCD
• $250 A2000 IS: 10 megapixels, 6x zoom, 3-inch LCD
• $200 A1000 IS: 10 megapixels, 4x zoom, 2.5-inch LCD

All three break loose at the end of this month and ship with a pair of AAs and 32MB SD card.

Update: Ah ha, we just found the missing Powershot E1 from yesterday’s quartet. The cutesy, OIS cam targeting teens and tweens features the same DIGIC 3 processing with a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x zoom, and 2.5-inch LCD

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Digital Cameras

There’s no telling how legit these shots are: the impressively extensive spec sheets and well-done product shots make us want to believe that no one on earth is actually bored enough to fake these, but at the same time we’re really hoping Canon has something better in store for its A-series cams and other budget shooters — they’re all cute, but perhaps overly so. Here’s the breakdown:

• A1000IS: 10 megapixel, 4x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD
• A2000IS: 10 megapixel, 6x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD (pictured)
• SX110IS: 9 megapixel, 10x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD
• E1: 10 megapixel, 4x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD

All four cameras include Face Detection and Digic 3 processors, and the ones with the “IS” suffix include image stabilization. Pictures are after the break.

Continue reading New Canon budget compacts leaked en masse, oppressively mundane?

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Digital Cameras

It’s fairly obvious that the EOS 50D is on its way out into the world, especially considering those pics and specs we just caught wind of. Still, it’s nice to see some decent images of the 15.1-megapixel DSLR, and thanks to a brief Canon Japan website slip-up, we’re able to do just that. Check out one more view of the device after the break.

Continue reading Canon’s EOS 50D product shots, test photo leaked

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Digital Cameras

We’d take all these rumors with a huge grain of salt given how much chatter there is ahead of Photokina, but Canon’s Chinese site briefly posted an official page for an EOS 50D this afternoon. It’s down now, but the listed specs are pretty solid: 15.1 megapixel sensor with a 1.6x crop and ISO 128000 sensitivity through a DIGIC 4 processor, dust reduction, VGA-res 3-inch LCD, and built-in image stabilization — which is a little odd given Canon’s great line of IS lenses. Google still has the page cached if you want to take a look — it’s thrilling, trust us.

PS.- As usual, this image has been floating around forever, so it’s probably a mockup.

[Via FredMiranda, thanks Gerald]

Read - Google translate page
Read - Photography Bay spec listing
Read - Screenshot of spec listing

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Original post by Nilay Patel