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| OCZ Unveils Flex-II DDR 2 RAM Series |
| 04.23.08 (11:49 pm) [edit] |
OCZ Technology has unveiled the Flex II memory series, designed for the enthusiast-level market. These premium modules run at incredibly fast DDR2-1150 speeds for high-performance systems with integrated water-cooling. This new product offers enthusiasts the thermal management innovation of hybrid water and passive cooling.  The OCZ Flex II heat management solution enables high-frequency memory to operate within an optimal balance of extreme speeds and low latencies without the high temperatures that inhibit or damage the module. Each PC2-9200 Flex II memory module features thermal management technology. Combining an effective new heatspreader design with integrated liquid injection system and dedicated channels directly over the module’s ICs, Flex II effectively dissipates heat produced by high-speed memory. This was engineered with a unique "flexible" design to give enthusiasts the option to run the modules passively or water cooled via the thick array of aluminum fins, and the concurrent use of both options promotes maximum heat dissipation. Cost and availability is unknown as of now. |
| WD Adds Color to its Portable USB Drives |
| 04.23.08 (11:48 pm) [edit] |
WD has introduced 10 fresh new colors for its My Passport Essential Portable USB Drives.  My Passport Essential Drives are simple to use, light and easy to carry, and require no power adapter - they are powered directly through the USB cable and are equipped with sync and encryption software for easy file transfer. "Our striking new color selection gives our customers an opportunity to express their unique style, while securely storing and carrying the massive amounts of rich content generated by higher resolution cameras, HD videos and music", said Jim Welsh, vice president and general manager of WD's branded products and consumer electronics groups. WD Sync software allows consumers to synchronize essential personal files from their desktop PC to their My Passport drives that are protected with 128-bit encryption. Google software on the drive allows users to quickly locate files with the Google Desktop Search search tool, manage photos with Picasa photo organizer software and simplify Web searches with the Google Toolbar search bar. The new colors include - brilliant orange, super sunny yellow, raindrop blue, arctic white, deep viola, cherry red, ultra mint, real red, intense blue, and vibrant pink. Click here for more info on the drives. WD's My Passport Essential USB Drives are available now at select retail stores and from WD online store. My Passport Essential USB Drives are offered in capacities of 160 GB ($119.99), 250 GB ($149.99) and 320 GB ($179.99). |
| Kingston Launches DataTraveler Locker |
| 04.16.08 (10:32 pm) [edit] |
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Kingston Technology Company has announced the launch of DataTraveler (DT) Locker, a USB Flash drive that provides a convenient and secure way to store and backup digital data, initially in Asia only. The DataTraveler Locker allows users to create a privacy zone partition that protects data with 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) hardware-based encryption. "Given the increasing importance of the business information and personal data protection, we decided to develop the DT Locker which combines top-notch security features with an attractive consumer price point," said Nitin Malhotra, Country Manager, Kingston Technology, India. "The ability to create a public and private zone allows users to have maximum flexibility in the use of their DataTraveler Locker."  The drive's 256-bit AES encryption is achieved through a dedicated co-processor that encrypts data "on the fly". The privacy partition is accessed via password entry and the brute force attacks are discouraged while the drive locks down and reformats after ten failed attempts. The DT Locker sports a rugged design with a metal casing that surrounds and protects a rubberized chassis that swivels open to reveal the USB connector. The 2GB capacity is available and will be followed by the 4 and 8GB capacities later on. The Kingston DataTraveler Locker is supported by a five-year warranty and free technical support. |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 |
| 04.16.08 (10:28 pm) [edit] |
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I've always personally considered superzooms a better option for amateur hobby photographers than D-SLRs, primarily because you get so much more right out of the box. If you still feel limited, there are quite a number of add-ons you can use. Now with the superzoom cameras breaking the 12x optical zoom barrier and offering insane 15-18x optical zoom levels, the deal has gotten a lot more attractive.  The Panasonic FZ18 is a bit smaller than the comparative superzooms available today and is not too heavy at 407g. The handgrip is perfectly sized for the camera, which makes it easy to grab and maneuver the camera the way you see fit.
The 2.5 inch LCD display unfortunately doesn't tilt or swivel. I feel that for a camera of this caliber, not having a maneuverable screen can be a handicap, especially considering that the biggest consumers of superzoom cameras are the higher-end experimental sort. Panasonic's done a good job of it in the FZ50, but I'd really like to see it in more of their superzooms. That said, the screen works wonderfully in all kinds of lighting conditions.  The 18x optical zoom is obviously the biggest selling point of the camera, but it's also the easiest thing that can go wrong if not implemented well. Many manufacturers put high zoom lenses that are painful to handle because of the ridiculously bad image stabilization. The FZ18 doesn't fall in that category. I found the FZ18 zoom very easy to handle thanks to Panasonic's excellent optical image stabilization. Even in indoor lighting, I got quite a few perfectly sharp and stable shots at full 18x zoom, which I find commendable.  The 8.1 megapixel resolution may not sound very exciting, but considering that there's also the 18x zoom and an OIS to handle, extra processing time for a higher resolution image would probably take a toll on the camera's performance. Still, 8.1 megapixel is more than enough for an A3 size print, so this isn't really a drawback. Just as in the other Panasonic cameras we recently reviewed, the FZ18 boasts an iAuto (intelligent auto) mode that works extremely well during those times when you're too lazy (or in a hurry) to set the camera to the right mode yourself. The results are pretty outstanding, and by the looks of it, scene modes could soon be a thing of the past.    In our performance tests, the FZ18 gave some pretty good results, but first let's take a look at the one flaw I noticed consistently in all the images. Since the FZ18 uses a noise reduction engine to reduce noise at higher ISO sensitivity levels, it affects the overall sharpness of the images as a side-effect. This may not seem apparent initially, but on a closer look at the photos on a monitor at full zoom showed that the noise reduction engine also affected the finest of details, making it look a but smudgy. This was mainly noticeable in landscape shots, where you tend to capture a lot of fine details. Still, this is not a fatal flaw in any way, and I'd say that the detail levels are still pretty good (as the image below can tell you), but perfectionist photographers may need to be warned.  Colors were very well reproduced by the FZ18. There were no issues with reds and greens, and as you can see in the picture below the minute color shifts were also well captured.  Low-light performance was great! As I mentioned earlier, it was possible to take a sharp picture at full 18x optical zoom without keeping the camera on a firm base, which says a lot.  Even the night shots gave excellent details with minimal noise, which is always well-appreciated in consumer cameras.  |
| Disney's iRiver MPlayer |
| 04.16.08 (10:24 pm) [edit] |
These days I’ve been coming across more and more DAPs (Digital Audio Players) that seem to be designed either for the younger generation, and by that I don’t just mean teenagers but preteens as well. And why not, I ask? They have a right to music as much as we do, so here’s one more to add to that list (which I’ll make it a point to let you in on later, honest) – iRiver’s MPlayer, which comes with an honest-to-goodness, totally American-styled design of none other than cartoon kingdom's most famous pair of ears: Mickey Mouse's. Form Factor Not much I can say about the design that I haven’t already, except that it looks like the back of Mickey Mouse’s head from any angle, and personally I’m a fan from waaay back, so I like it! It has plenty of what you might call the cuteness factor, so ideally it would be gadget designed for kids – or, let’s face it, girls. It has a mini USB port on the bottom and the strap loop and 3.5mm earphone socket on the top right between the ears.  The ears themselves serve a purpose as well. The left ear can be used to adjust the volume by twisting it to the right or left. Just make sure you don’t try to twist it all the way around. It has a spring mechanism so it moves only a few millimeters in either direction. The right ear, when used in the same way will allow you to switch tracks in either direction. On the side is where you’ll find a soft power button, and for some strange reason on the other side is a LED indicator – red for charging or battery drained; and green for, well, go.  Performance
Considering that the MPlayer doesn’t do anything else except play music, this is going to be one short review in terms of its performance. First off, it’s very comfy to use. I’ve always liked the design and feel of iRiver player earphones. Since it weighs just about 0.63 ounces it can easily dangle from your neck without causing you any sort of distress. Just expect to be stared at a lot. I casually passed it off as a "reliving my childhood" stunt.  Unfortunately, when it comes to its one and only function, the player doesn’t deliver too well. The highs are way high and shrill, and the lows are just not adequate. It was disappointing not to have thumping bass in my ears, and the treble stealing the show. It could be a bit harsh on the ears if the volume isn’t controlled properly. On the plus side the MPlayer can dish out a good 9 hours of playback time on a single charge – and that’s not bad for a player of this size.  It’s an iRiver product, which tends to make one wonder why it lacks quality in sound output. Although it can be really loud it’s not easy to listen to for too long without your ears starting to ache from the treble. If only there was some way to adjust that flaw, this could have been a superb choice. A tag of Rs 3,499 for 1GB makes it overpriced, so I'll pass. A pity – it’s cute enough to make a great present. |