Today, Casio trotted out what they’re calling the thinnest ruggedized digital camera, the EX-G1. And at .78-inches I might have to agree, although I didn’t really do any comparison, but it does sound thin for being shock-resistant, freezeproof, dustproof and waterproof. And as you’ve probably noticed the styling bites off of their G-Shock line of phones.

casio-ex-g1-camera-2

Spec wise were talking a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 848×480 movide mode, microSD card slot, 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD and Advanced Dynamic Photo function. There’s a bit more details on just how rugged the EX-G1 is after the ‘leap’.

You can expect the EX-G1 to arrive sometime December for $299.99 – it will also come in black.

Capture Life’s Elements on EXILIM Digital Cameras from Casio

CASIO RELEASES WORLD’S SLIMMEST*1 SHOCK-RESISTANT DIGITAL CAMERA
EXILIM G – Waterproof and Dustproof, in a .78-inch,*2 Smart Design

DOVER, NJ, November 18, 2009 – Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today the release of the EX-G1 shock-resistant, waterproof, dustproof digital camera-the first in the company’s new EXILIM® G brand of digital cameras. With its smart design featuring functional beauty, the EX-G1 embodies Casio’s endurance-minded features and specifications in a sleek 0.78-inch*2 low-profile camera.

Casio first introduced the shock-resistant G-SHOCK® timepiece to the world in 1983. The
G-SHOCK brand remains extremely popular among consumers and adventure enthusiasts around the globe thanks to its distinctive, unique design, rugged toughness and practicality, even under severe environmental conditions. In 2000, Casio launched the G’zOne™, a durable, water-resistant mobile phone.

Casio is positioning the EXILIM G brand in an “endurance” category, which demonstrates its determination to create digital cameras suitable for top athletes and adventurers. The endurance category caters to those who never quit challenging both extreme conditions and their own limits. The new model was developed to embody this brand concept, using Casio’s years of experience creating technologies for shock resistance, waterproofing and slim-line design.

The EX-G1 is designed with shock-resistant elements throughout the camera, both inside and out, creating a smart look in a slim-line camera with functional beauty. In addition to capturing

*1. As of November 18, 2009, based on a Casio survey of shock resistant digital cameras (excluding protruding parts).
*2. Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards.

high-resolution 12.1 effective megapixel images, the EX-G1 also features modes such as interval shooting and multi-image capture which utilize the camera’s endurance qualities. The interval shooting function can automatically take still photos or movies at fixed intervals, enabling users to capture great shots while engaged in active sports such as snowboarding or cycling*3.

“Whether it is the lifestyle that you have chosen or your career path that requires you to carry a camera tough enough to endure life’s elements, the EXILIM G EX-G1 offers an endurance level that will withstand the demands of your daily routine,” says Toshi Iguchi, senior general manager of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “The EX-G1, Casio’s toughest camera to date, is a prime example of Casio’s constant devotion to creating cameras to accommodate all levels of photographers.”

Through rigorous testing, the EX-G1 has been designed and created with a shock-resistant shell which passes drop tests including multiple falls from seven feet.*4 Featuring a two-layer construction with a stainless steel outer-casing, the EX-G1 inner body withstands shock and water damage. The camera’s intelligent design is constructed with a resin cover to protect the body side near the shutter and a resin lens ring to protect the lens.

The technologically-advanced design features waterproof performance and corresponds to IEC/JIS Protection Class 8 (IPX8) waterproofing. The EX-G1 can be used at depths at 10 feet for 60 continuous minutes*5. Water will not penetrate the camera even when directly sprayed with jets of water from every direction corresponding to Protection Class 6 (IPX6). Capable of withstanding temperatures as low as 14°F*6, Casio’s EX-G1 boldly captures images where any adventurer goes.

The EX-G1 will hit shelves in December 2009 with an MSRP of $299.99 and will be available in black and red.

*3. A commercially available mount is required to support the camera.
*4. In accordance with Casio’s own standard with reference to the US MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5-Shock, the camera passed a test in which it was dropped from a height of 2.13 meters (7 feet) onto lauan plywood at 26 different angles. However, the camera is not guaranteed to withstand all shocks in terms of damage, malfunction and performance. Moreover, camera shock may result in inability to retain waterproof performance.
*5. Based on testing conditions established by Casio.
*6. Battery life will be shorter than under normal temperature conditions.

EXILIM G EX-G1
Shock-Resistant, Waterproof, Dustproof, Slim-line Digital Camera

Slim-line Design with Toughness Construction
Shock Resistance
The EXILIM G EX-G1 offers the world’s thinnest profile*1 of .78 inch (excluding protruding parts) in a shock-resistant digital camera. The camera passed multiple drop tests of seven feet based on Casio’s own standard*2.

Waterproof/Dustproof
The EX-G1 offers waterproof performance corresponding to IEC/JIS Protection Class 8 (IPX8) waterproofing, and can be used for 60 continuous minutes at a water depth of 10 feet*3. It also withstands water jets corresponding to IEC/JIS Protection Class 6 “IPX6″ waterproofing, and can be directly rinsed under running water. The EX-G1 is also impervious to dust, with performance corresponding to IEC/JIS Protection Class 6 “IP6X” dustproofing.

Freezeproof
Withstanding ever the coldest of temperatures, the EX-G1 endures through temperatures as low as 14 °F*4.

Shock resistant/waterproof construction and design
Exterior
The outer body of the EX-G1 is made from stainless steel to withstand external shocks while a polycarbonate cover absorbs shocks to the body side near the shutter. The camera’s wrist-strap holder is made of die-cast zinc to withstand drops while a rotating lock secures the external memory slot cover. For additional protection, the EX-G1 comes with two types of detachable protectors to absorb shocks.

Internal construction
The waterproof inner body of the camera is made from polycarbonate reinforced with fiberglass while a buckle-lock construction is added to absorb impact, using fewer screws to secure the inner body. Additionally, the camera’s frame comes equipped with speaker and microphone filters to prevent water from penetrating the camera.

Lens
To prevent damage to the camera’s lens, a resin ring as been added around the glass casing to ease shocks to the lens area. With the addition of a reinforced, glass lens cover, the EX-G1 is tooled with a multi coating that is water-repellent and prevents light reflection from ruining pictures. To further protect the camera from impact, high-performance damping material has been added to protect the lens unit from external shocks.

LCD panel
The acrylic plate to protect the LCD from water pressure and shocks is 1.5 times thicker than conventional point-and-shoot cameras. The LCD panel features a resin mount to ease shocks to the LCD panel area.

BEST SHOT® functions befitting a waterproof, shock-resistant camera
Interval shooting
The interval shooting function allows users to automatically take still photos or movies at fixed intervals while engaged in action sports such as cycling, snowboarding, and wind surfing*5. With the EX-G1, users can take powerful photos from inside the action, the kind which are usually almost impossible to capture. The shooting interval can be set at 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 3 minutes, and the capture time for movies may be set at 3, 10, 20, or 30 minutes.

Great for a variety of outdoor photography scenes
The BEST SHOT function enables users to take beautiful photos just by selecting the desired subject scene. The EX-G1 includes additional BEST SHOT settings suitable for various outdoor situations, such as “snow” and “beach” scene settings, which automatically adjust to prevent subject underexposure due to the brightness of snow or sun. There is also an “underwater” setting to control the tendency of underwater photos to come out looking too blue.

12.1 effective megapixels
This thin stylish model features a large 2.5-inch monitor with 230,400 dots of high resolution and a non-extending 3X zoom lens ranging from 38-114mm (35 mm film camera equivalent).

Intelligent AF
When the camera is pointed at a desired shot, the Intelligent AF function automatically detects the photo subject even if it is not a human face and determines the focus and exposure area accordingly.

Advanced Dynamic Photo function
Casio’s original Dynamic Photo function, which creates composite moving images using the camera’s own high-speed image processing technology, now does even more. When a moving subject is cut out of a number of images and combined with a different still shot that forms the background, the size of the subject can be changed to suit the background image. Additionally, the Dynamic Photo video can easily be converted in-camera into a motion JPEG movie file. Moving graphics such as hearts and bouquets of flowers are included so that users can have fun decorating their still images using the Dynamic Photo function. Casio not only allows users to have fun taking and viewing photos, but also provides innovative new ways for them to create original images, right on the camera.

Wide Screen Movies
The camera also features a wide format (16:9) Movie function. Just press the dedicated Movie button to take beautiful movies at 848×480 pixels.

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Hummingbird Robot To Begin Rescue Operations By 2011

The folks out at Chiba University have developed a new kind of robot that they believe will be highly useful for rescue operations due to its incredibly compact size.

Dubbed the Hummingbird Robot, Chiba staffers believe that the tiny robot, featuring four wings that flap an astonishing thirty times per second, a miniature motor to drive the furious flapping, and a control scheme that involves infrared sensors, will be useful as a rescue device once a pair of tiny micro-cameras are mounted to its superstructure sometime around 2011.

Some question the value of a rescue device controlled by infrared signals, which need a clear line of sight between the device and the controller to function. Others make some dark noises about the robot’s value as a tool in domestic spying–after all, who hears a hummingbird coming?–and still others look askance at the Chiba University design, remembering a strikingly similar design that came out of TU Delft in the Netherlands back in 2006.

Hopefully Chiba University will address some of these issues in the final version.

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Pegasus PJ-003 Spy Pen Cam

Now here’s a spy pen you can be proud of, the Pegasus PJ-003 Spy Pen comes with four gig of onboard memory and the capacity to take VGA video (that’s 640X480 for those of you who don’t follow resolution charts) all for $99.99.

But here’s the kicker–Amazon’s offering them up unusually cheap, in fact, about forty percent off. They’re currently available for $59.99.

The device is selling like figurative hotcakes, currently ranked number one on the Electronics Movers and Shakers chart, or the Amazon chart that shows the highest jumps in rank according to sales. I’ve never been so clear on what exactly makes these things so popular–a portable video camera that looks like a pen? Does anyone really need to take surreptitious video or is this one just for the stalkers?

So if you’ve been looking for a nice, surreptitous way to take video just about anywhere, the Pegasus PJ-003 should be about what you need. Oh, and if you can answer the above question, I’d definitely appreciate it.

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GorillaMobile: Joby’s Tripod For Mobile Devices

Don’t confuse Joby’s newest tripod, the Gorillamobile with the International calling service. Although, both products do have a lot to do with phones. Much like all of Joby’s previous tripods it uses the same ball-and-socket legs that can be wrapped around just about any surface (or pole) allowing you to easily mount your favorite mobile devices.

Attaching said mobile device to the GorillaMobile seems to come by way of either ‘a custom-engineered suction cup mounting system’ or ‘two removable high-bond adhesive clips’. Both don’t seem very forgiving and I can only image what would happen to my iPhone if the suction cups suddenly lost its suck, or what the adhesive strips would do to phone’s shiny black finish. Fortunately, they’ve tossed in the traditional universal camera adapter, but that only covers the point and shoot crowd.

The GorillaMobile, which weighs just 2oz and measures 6-inches tall, will ship later this summer

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Joby Gorillapod SLR Digital Camera Tripod Review

Joby GorillaPod’s have been a welcome new species over the last several years in the digital camera arena. The SLR version is a giant GorillaPod capable of handling the weight of these larger cameras while still allowing for the expressive stylings Joby is known for.



What I’ll mention right away is that without the “sold separately” ballhead attachment, the SLR Gorillapod just ain’t that cool.
Not a great way to start a review, but the fact is that the ballhead attachment is where all the action’s at. Without it, the Gorillapod is extremely limited in what it can do and it seems worthless to me that these products aren’t coupled together.

That’s not so say that the absence of the ballhead makes the SLR Gorillapod totally undesirable. It can still do stuff, but the upper most joints in the legs prevent you from achieving more angular and creative shots.

The thing is, is that Joby’s website lists the standard version for $40 as well as the ballhead sold separately for $40. That’s $80 for what professional photographers would call a secondary tri-pod. Can I get an emoticon?

It held up fine using a standard SLR (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30) in terms of being able to handle the weight while grasping objects9seen above), it was really precarious when attached to my buddy’s Canon EOS-1D Mark II with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens (seen in 1st pic) and couldn’t really hold it safely.

This leads me to another point. Joby actually has a more expensive SLR Gorillapod designed for the heaviest of SLR’s. Why not just have one and spare us the trouble if we have multiple camera’s or plan to buy a heavier one down the line?

Other than that, it takes a while to screw on and off and it looks like a gymnast performing a routine on that stationary horse thing. It’s a bit tedious and unlike the regular (small digital camera) Gorillapod, it doesn’t have a quick release tab allowing for faster attaching and removal.

The movable balls that give the tri-pod it’s unique shape changing abilities are stiff and rugged and I don’t question the quality of construction one bit. It is bigger than you’d expect so making room for it needs to be taken into account.

Keeping this review short and simple, we know what it does, but the regular SLR Gorillapod by Joby just isn’t strong enough to stand on its own. The missing ballhead needs to be included and the price needs to drop in order for this product to be taken seriously. Seriously.

Pros:

* Solid build

Cons:

* No ballhead
* Tedious attachment/removal
* Overpriced

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Apple MacBook Pro MB991LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop

* Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
* 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
* 250 GB hard drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive, 4 GB DDR3 RAM
* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics, 13.3 inch LED Display
* Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System

Product DescriptionMacBook Pro brings high performance and precision design to everyone. Every new MacBook Pro features a breakthrough, long-lasting battery that delivers up to 7 hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and can be recharged up to 1000 timesnearly three times the lifespan of typical notebook batteries. The new LED-backlit display has a 60 percent greater color gamut than that of previous generations, giving you richer, more vibrant colors. Every MacBook Pro features the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, which provides an outstanding graphics experience for everyday tasks. Power your way through the latest 3D gamesincluding Call of Duty and Quakeand enjoy improved graphics performance with iWork, iLife, and everything you do in Mac OS X. And with the latest 2. 53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, its the most powerful Mac notebook ever. All in a precision aluminum unibody enclosure thats less than an inch thin. Amazon. com Product DescriptionAmazon. com has certified this product is Frustration Free. A Frustration-Free Package is easy-to-open and comes without hard plastic “clamshell” casings, plastic bindings, and wire ties. It’s designed to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging during shipping. Products with Frustration-Free Packaging can frequently be shipped in their own boxes, without the need for an additional shipping box. Learn more about Frustration-Free Packaging. Featuring a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, the MacBook Pro is thinner and lighter than its predecessor as well as stronger and more durable. But Apple didn’t stop innovating with the body’s design. The MacBook Pro also includes a new 13-inch, LED-backlit glass display (instead of an LCD panel) as well as a glass trackpad that doesn’t include a button (for larger tracking area) that features Apple’s Multi-Touch technology. The 13-inch unibody MacBook Pro (see larger version). This 13-inch MacBook Pro (model MB991LL/A) also now includes Apple’s innovative built-in notebook battery for up to 7 hours of wireless productivity on a single charge without adding thickness, weight or cost. Using Adaptive Charging and advanced chemistry first introduced with the 17-inch MacBook Pro the built-in battery delivers up to 1000 recharges before it reaches 80 percent of its original capacity–nearly three times the lifespan of conventional batteries. Under the hood, the MacBook Pro is powered by a powerful 2. 53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (with 3 MB L2 cache and 1066 MHz front-side bus), which runs applications faster and more efficiently as well as helps to reduce power requirements and save on battery life. And video is powered by the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, which provides an outstanding everyday graphics experience with up to a 5x performance boost. Other hardware features include a 250 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (which can be upgraded to 8 GB), an 8x combo Superdrive (for burning dual-layer DVDs as well as CDs), built-in Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, Bluetooth 2. 1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), FireWire 800 port, Mini DisplayPort video output (for DVI and VGA connections), and a Secure Digital card slot for easy access to digital photos and audio stored on SD and MMC memory cards. It comes pre-loaded with Apple’s Mac OS X 10. 6 Snow Leopard operating system–an operating system custom-designed for the advanced technology inside–and it also comes with the iLife ‘09 suite of applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes. The Unibody MacBook Pro Design Traditionally notebooks are made from multiple parts. With the MacBook Pro all of those parts with just one part–the breakthrough unibody enclosure. Every MacBook Pro starts its life as a single block of aluminum, which is precisely machined into the basic unibody design. Another pass and the unibody takes shape. Another, and the integrated keyboard emerges. When you pick up a new MacBook Pro, you immediately notice the entire enclosure is thinner and lighter. And it feels strong and durable–perfect for life inside (and outside) your briefcase or backpack. Off-the-shelf lithium-ion cells come in fixed, cylindrical shapes. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is powered by custom-made, ultrathin lithium-polymer batteries. The standard aluminum electro-static trackpad has been replaced with a new glass Multi-Touch trackpad, which provides 40 percent more tracking area than before. Use two fingers to scroll up and down a page. Pinch to zoom in and out. Rotate an image with your fingertips. Swipe with three fingers to flip through your photo libraries. Swipe with four fingers to show your desktop, view all open windows, or switch applications. The entire trackpad surface is also a button, allowing you to both track and click virtually anywhere on the trackpad. And you can easily enable multiple virtual buttons in software, such as right-clicking. The keyboard has also been improved, with the rigid aluminum keyboard webbing cut precisely to hold the keys, which are curved to perfectly fit fingers. And it’s illuminated, so when you’re in low-light settings, such as airplanes or conference rooms, you can always see what you’re typing. The 13-inch display is made of edge-to-edge, uninterrupted glass for a smooth, seamless surface and features LED backlighting for brilliant instant-on performance that uses up to 30 percent less energy than its predecessor. The ultra-thin displays provide crisp images and vivid colors which are ideal for viewing photos and movies Long-Lasting Battery The 13-inch MacBook Pro now includes a newly engineered lithium-polymer battery that that lasts up to 7 hours on a single charge thanks to advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology. The battery is built right into the computer, eliminating the space-consuming mechanisms and housings that standard removable batteries require. This non-removable battery also provides a longer battery lifespan of up to 1000 recharges–meaning fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment. Giving it a lifespan of up to 1000 recharges required breakthroughs in battery technology. Apple electro-chemists developed advanced chemistry that maintains the battery’s charging capabilities longer than ever. And while most notebooks wear down their batteries by charging them at a constant rate, the 13-inch MacBook Pro takes a different approach. Using an Apple-developed technology called Adaptive Charging, a microchip on the battery constantly communicates with the computer to determine the optimal way to charge its cells, adjusting the current up and down depending on a variety of conditions. Combined, these advancements offer a dramatic improvement in battery lifespan: more than three times the lifespan of typical notebook batteries–up to five years. Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 2. 53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which has a super-fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system’s performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance. ) The hafnium-infused circuitry–which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors–conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. With 3 MB of shared L2 cache, data and instructions can be kept close to the two processor cores, greatly increasing performance and allowing the entire system to work more efficiently. And, because the processor cores share the L2 cache, either can use the entire amount if the other happens to be idle. Video Processing & Output The MacBook Pro delivers both powerful graphics performance and long battery life via the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, which provides an outstanding everyday graphics experience with up to a 5x performance boost. Power your way through the latest 3D games–including Call of Duty and Quake–and enjoy improved graphics performance with iWork ‘09, iLife ‘09, and everything you do in Mac OS X. The power-saving NVIDIA integrated graphics processor also keeps you up and running throughout the day, with up to 7 hours of battery life. The MacBook Pro includes a next generation Mini DisplayPort, which delivers a pure digital signal that can drive up to a 30-inch widescreen display. The Mini DisplayPort is ultra-compact at just 10 percent the size of a full DVI connector, and is compatible with Apple’s 24-inch Cinema Display. Adapters are also available for using VGA, DVI/HDMI and Dual-Link DVI displays Hard Drive and Memory The 250 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data–akin to USB 2. 0. The 4 GB of PC3-8500 DDR3 RAM (two SO-DIMMs of 1024 MB) has an industry-leading 1066 MHz speed, and the RAM capacity can be increased to 8 GB. Wireless Connectivity The built-in 802. 11n wireless networking provides up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802. 11g, but it’s also backward-compatible with 802. 11a/b/g routers, enabling you to communicate with the a wide variety of Wi-Fi resources. It works seamlessly with the new AirPort Extreme with 802. 11n. Use the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to your PDA or cell phone, synchronize addresses, or download pictures from your cell phone. You can also use a wireless headset for iChat audio chats and VoIP calls as well as quickly share files with a colleague. Video Conferencing with Built-in iSight Artfully placed in the glass display is an iSight camera, which enables easy video conferencing as well as allows you to snap pictures of yourself and create video podcasts. Using the iChat AV application, video conferencing is integrated into your iChat buddy list, so initiating a video conference is a breeze. iChat also lets you hold audio chats with up to 10 people and provides high-quality audio compression and full-duplex sound so conversation can flow naturally. For video podcasting, you can record a short clip using the iSight camera, then use iWeb to create a video blog entry or post your GarageBand-recorded podcast. Other Features Two USB 2. 0 ports (up to 480 Mbps), one FireWire 800 (up to 800 Mbps), SD card slot Mini DisplayPort compatible with DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI connectors (all optional) Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors 8x slot-loading SuperDrive with the following write speeds: 8x DVDR; 4x DVDR DL (double layer); 4x DVDRW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW Built-in full-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U. S. ) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement) Internal omnidirectional microphone and built-in speakers Combined optical digital output/headphone out with selectable analog audio line in (minijack) Kensington lock slot Measures 12. 78 x 8. 94 x 0. 95 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 4. 5 pounds (including battery) Environmental Considerations Apple has worked hard to eliminate many of the toxins that are a common part of computer manufacturing. Apple engineers removed the majority of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from circuit boards, internal cables, connectors, insulators, adhesives, and more in the MacBook Pro. Because Apple makes both the hardware and the software for the MacBook, they’re designed to work together to produce a smarter product that uses less electricity. For instance, to reduce energy consumption, the hard drive spins down automatically when inactive. MacBook Air also decides which processor–CPU or GPU–is best suited to efficiently perform a task. The LED-backlit display in the MacBook Pro is another feature that plays an important part in conserving energy, consuming 30 percent less power than conventional LCD displays. And the display is designed to dim when you enter a darkened room. The MacBook Pro meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, giving it ENERGY STAR certification. MacBook also meets the latest efficiency requirements of ENERGY STAR Version 5. 0 Specification for Computers before its July 2009 effective date. The MacBook Pro has also earned the highest rating of EPEAT Gold. The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, evaluates the environmental impact of a product based on how recyclable it is, how much energy it uses, and how it’s designed and manufactured. Pre-Loaded with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife ‘09 Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar. Installed software Mac OS X v10. 6 Snow Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools) iLife ‘09 (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD) What’s in the Box MacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation

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psp go review

The PSP (PlayStation Portable) may have been overshadowed by the sheer volume of hype surrounding the iPhone, but Sony's latest portable gaming goodie, the PSP Go, could see that trend reversed when it launches early next month.

Form-factor-wise the PSP Go is significantly smaller and noticeably lighter than its PSP predecessors, and won't result in you hearing the sound of tearing fabric when you slide it into a pocket.

Downsizing however doesn't mean diminished gaming as the PSP Go's 3.8" TFT LCD screen slides up to reveal all the usual in-game PSP control suspects.

Sony's decision to ditch the optical UMD drive however plays a huge role in lightening the PSP Go's load by approximately 40 per cent. Where PSP titles were initially sold on petite and proprietary UMD discs, the PSP GO has 16GB of built-in flash memory (which can be bolstered by a Memory Stick Micro) slot for storing games and other media.

In addition to helping the PSP Go with its Jenny Craig weight-loss feat, dumping the UMD should see battery life theoretically improved too. About the only downside with that the lack of UMD support is that UMD titles you already own are destined to gather dust for the rest of their pointless lives.

The overall control layout on the PSP Go has changed little from the original PSP 1000, with a four-way directional pad available on the left and the usual Sony control buttons (with the triangle, circle square and cross) on the right.

Rounding things out are the select/start buttons in the centre, and an analogue control which is near the centre bottom of the PSP Go's screen. From a gaming perspective the Go feels very much like a fully-fledged PS3 controller in use, making prolonged bouts of gaming a significantly more comfortable proposition.

802.11b/g Wi-Fi support is also present, and allows for multiplayer mayhem, web surfing or connecting to the Sony online store to purchase and download games. New to the PSP Go is Bluetooth which allows gamers to pair up stereo Bluetooth headsets with the PSP Go. This also allows the Go to perform several other nifty tricks such as pairing up with a PS3 controller.

In terms of game titles, Sony has confirmed PSP Go versions of its big hitters (many of which were pre-installed as demos on the review PSP Go I was sent).

These included Metal Gear Solid Portable, Dissida Final Fantasy, Patapon, LocoRoco, Numblast, Resistance Retribution, Worms Open Warfare, Ridge Racer 2, God of War.

Other titles slated for the PSP Go in 2009 are rumoured to include Little Big Planet, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, MotorStorm Arctic Edge, and SOCOM Fire Team Bravo 3.

The big launch title however is expected to be the PSP version of car racer PlayStation mega hit, Gran Turismo. If pre release screen shots of in game car renders are anything to go by, involuntary trouser accidents from petrol heads are highly probable.

Those buying a PSP Go from October 1 will be able to download a free copy of Gran Turismo before the 10th.

Being a huge fan of Resistance: Fall of Man, I fired up Resistance Retribution, and gave the third person shooter an extended workout. Thanks to the Go's crisp and screen, gameplay was smooth (even outdoors).

With a decent set of headphones audio was utterly solid and the Go's sensible control layout and hand-friendly form-factor also meant that long bouts of gameplay caused little discomfort.

Whilst Sony is expected to develop a stronger focus on downloadable titles from the PlayStation Store, it's also said that new PSP games will continue to be made available on UMD.

How long this will last (especially as Sony appears to be moving to a more environmentally friendly digital-only games distribution model) is hard to say. Is this a biggie? Nope. Old-school UMD packing PSPs can also download and play download-only titles.

The Go's more pocketable size and crispy bright TFT screen also makes it a smoking media machine. Boasting the same support for music, video, and photo files as with earlier PSPs, The formats supported by the Go read like a who's who of digital media formats (MPEG-4, H.264, AAC, AVI, Motion JPEG, ATRAC, MP3, .Wav, WMA, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF and last but by no means least PNG).

Another killer PSP feature also present in the Go is PS3 integration. All existing interoperability between the PS3 and the PSP range is still supported which means that Remote Play can be used to access audio video and some game content from my PS3 wirelessly. Even better still I'm able to pair my wireless PS3 controller with the PSP for extra fine control.

Whilst some gadget blogs have criticised the PSP Go for being more of a PSP 1.5 rather than a PSP2, the PSP Go delivers a bunch of significant refinements to a portable platform that's already pretty solid having sold tens of millions of units worldwide and is backed by an incredibly rich games ecosystem.

For owners of existing heavier and bulky PSP 1000 and 3000's, the PSP Go is probably going to be the upgrade they've been waiting for. For gamers with a Nintendo, iPhone or iPod Touch, the decider to buying the PSP GO will probably come down to the range, quality and desirability of the games available for the PSP Go.

Source: NZ Herald

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