Is it the end of the road for the iPod classic?

The iPod classic appears to be in short supply. That could mean one of two things.
(Credit: Apple)

The site AppleBitch has an interesting tidbit on the status of the iPod classic, as supplies appear to be dwindling at various US retailers. Target and J&R don't seem to have any in stock and Amazon, which has the 160GB Classic on sale at US$229.99 (best deal), lists shipping times at "two to four weeks". 

The initial speculation is that Apple might be on the verge of updating the Classic now that Toshiba has recently updated its 1.8-inch iPod-size hard drives to 220GB. The Classic was last updated in September of 2009 and never got a bump in Apple's last update to the iPod line in September of last year. 

Of course, the other possibility is that Apple would finally retire the iPod classic as it continues to move toward flash-based memory in its devices, including the MacBook Air. That said, we still feel there's a nice niche for the iPod classic for music hoarders with huge collections and hope Apple doesn't put it out to pasture. Anybody else feel the same way or should we not care if it goes away? 

Via Crave CNET

Read More

Sony NGP vs. Nintendo 3DS

(Credit: Sony)

January hasn't even come to a close and we've already been introduced to two brand new portable gaming systems--one from from Nintendo and one from Sony. 

At a press event in Tokyo yesterday, Sony revealed its latest endeavor in the portable gaming world with what it is calling the "Next Generation Portable." Boasting PlayStation 3-calibur graphics, two cameras, 3G connectivity, Sixaxis controls, and two touch-sensitive areas, the NGP looks nothing like any of the so-called leaked photos that have circulated on the Internet and is clearly not the same as the Xperia PlayStation Phone. 

Now that we know what we can expect from both companies, let's take a look at how the two portable systems stack up. 

Hardware

It's safe to say the specs Sony has thrown around will clearly outpace the 3DS, as was the case with the companies' last generation of portables. However, as we all know, these details did not have any effect on sales. Sony has taken a page out of the Nintendo DS' book with its touchscreen and pad features, but it's far too early to be able to fully grasp what these details really mean for gamers. The Uncharted gameplay video we posted earlier shows a few ways these gestures might be implemented. 

The NGP showcases a 960 x 544-pixel OLED screen, which isn't quite high enough of a resolution to call it portable HD gaming, but judging from videos that are beginning to surface, it's safe to say titles will look spectacular. If the 3DS' main selling point is 3D, we'd imagine the NGP's is its ability to render close to PS3-quality games. 

The 3DS and NGP are heavily focused on connectivity, with both systems utilizing Wi-Fi, but the NGP will also allow for GPS, Bluetooth, and 3G data service. In response to the 3DS' Street Pass and Spot Pass player-matchmaking features, the NGP seems like it will revolve around location-based multiplayer functionality with a social feature called Live Area. 

The NGP does appear a bit bulkier than the original PSP, as Sony has once again opted for the brick design. Its two analog thumbsticks are also a very welcome addition, as the PSP only featured one. On the other hand, the 3DS will introduce the first-ever analog stick on a Nintendo portable, located just above the D-pad. 

Both devices have rear- and front-facing cameras, with the 3DS able to shoot and display 3D photos. We're a little cloudy on the extent of the NGP's camera functionality, but with 3G connectivity, the possibilities certainly seem endless. 

New to Sony is the NGP's touch abilities which feature a front screen and rear pad that react to finger gestures. The 3DS' lower screen keeps the touch functionality found on all DS devices, but will still require a stylus for most applications. We really think the rear touch panel on the NGP has potential especially because it allows players to interact with the screen without getting in the way of one's line of sight. (More on the two touchscreen technologieshere.) 

Games

Word is the NGP will utilize flash storage-based games and will have backward-compatibility with original PSP and PSOne games that can be downloaded to the device through the PlayStation Store. Sony also said that the NGP may have the ability to play ported versions of PS3 games. 

We know the 3DS is backward-compatible with DS and DSi downloadable games, and will offer Game Boy titles through a 3DS online store. 

In terms of which franchises gamers can expect on the NGP, Sony has announced support from series like Uncharted, Killzone, Wipeout, Resistance, LittleBigPlanet, Hustle Kings, Hot Shots Golf, and Call of Duty as well as new titles such as Little Deviants, Reality Fighters, and Gravity Daze. 

Launch and launch window titles for the 3DS include games like the Dead or Alive Dimensions, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Pilotwings Resort, Nintendogs + Cats, Madden Football, and more. We've got some impressions of these games from last week's 3DS event. 

The outlook

Sony has really loaded up the NGP with a feature set unlike anything we've seen on a portable gaming machine, but it will be interesting to see how developers and gamers utilize these tools. Sony notably left out a price for the NGP, but we're hoping the technology inside doesn't push it over the US$300 threshold. 

Nintendo will have a healthy head start as the 3DS hits the US on March 27 for US$250. While Sony left out a price tag for the NGP, anxious gamers can expect to get their hands on the device this holiday season. 

Without a doubt, 2011 is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for portable-gaming-centric devices, with products like the iPhone and iPad creeping their way into what has historically been a binary market. Will the public embrace the 3DS and NGP and match sales of the last generation, or will the emergence of Apple's casual gaming offerings turn this into a bloody battle to the death? 

Via Crave CNET

Read More

Powerbeats by Dr. Dre too handsome for gym?

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Headphones aimed at the fashionable consumer are not in short supply these days, but one would think the last place people are concerned about gadget style would be the gym. However, plenty of manufacturers are banking on the belief that you want good-looking tech no matter how sweaty you are, hence the Powerbeats by Dr. Dre Sport Headphones from Monster. These US$150 earphones offer a secure fit, integrated iPhone controls, and a sleek look--but they're also pricey for workout headphones, and they don't seem particularly durable or sweat-resistant. 

Read the full Powerbeats by Dr. Dre Sport Headphones review. 

Via CNET

Read More

Sony coming down hard on PS3 hackers

Sony came down hard on PlayStation 3 hackers today, saying they will be permanently banned from the company's online services. 

"Violation of the System Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system," reads a notice posted to Sony's official PlayStation blog. "In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of International Copyright Laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently." 

To avoid the lifetime shutout, Sony said, consumers must "immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems." 

In the post, Social Media Manager Jeff Rubenstein said the policy represents an initial response to questions from PlayStation.Blog readers about how Sony plans to deal with breaches of its policy. 

The company did not say when the ban will begin, but the blog PS3 News is reporting that many users of its PS3 forums have already confirmed receiving e-mail notices from Sony followed by their PlayStation 3 consoles being banned. 

According to one account, "If you get error 0x8002A227, Sony banned your PS3 from the PSN."

This is just the latest step by Sony to thwart PlayStation 3 jailbreaks. 

In the most well-publicized battle, the company last month requested a restraining order against famed iPhone jailbreaker George Hotz, also known as Geohot, for coming up with a jailbreak that lets people run unauthorized software on the PS3. 

Sony alleged that the jailbreak, created with the assistance of the hacking group fail0verflow, violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and asked a court to stop Hotz from making any material related to his hack available on the Web. Hotz countered Sony's claim, saying his solution was a jailbreak for a closed system, just like any jailbreak for mobile phones, which are explicitly allowed by the DMCA. 

A US District Court granted a temporary restraining order, and Hotz has since removed all mentions of the jailbreak from his site, but Sony mistakenly retweeted the jailbreak code. 

That case is ongoing. 

Sony also took legal action last year to halt the sales in some places of PS Jailbreak, a USB dongle that allows PlayStation 3 owners to dump borrowed games onto the system's hard drive. 

In addition, Sony has tightened security with each successive firmware update. 

In its statement today, the company said that "by identifying PlayStation 3 systems that breach our guidelines and terminating their ability to connect to PlayStation Network, we are protecting our business and preserving the honest gameplay experiences that you expect and deserve." 

A majority of commenters to the blog seem pleased by the move announced today. 

"Thanks for acknowledging this officially. Good to know Sony is not just hoping that this goes away," wrote one poster. Wrote another: "Thank You Sony! Ban these punks!" 

But a few voices of dissent popped up on the forums as well. 

"If Sony actually took the time to know what us (the consumers) wanted, maybe they would see less piracy," one person wrote. "I mean the whole reason hackers want to hack the PSP Go is to play games that are still only available in UMD only." 

Wrote another: "While I understand the security and legal issues relevant to piracy and hacking, if I felt companies' motivation was pure, I [might] be OK with this stern stance. But, I think it is motivated more by greed and control than anything else. They want to keep all the $$$ for themselves." 

Via Crave CNET

Read More

Panasonic introduces new line of mini camcorders

Panasonic HX-WA10 (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand--Panasonic today unveiled a new series of mini camcorders which allows users to capture full-HD videos and high-resolution still images. 

The HX-WA10 is a rugged videocam that features a flip-out display and aesthetics similar to that of the Sanyo Xacti camcorders. The WA10 is waterproof up to depths of 3m, which makes it suitable for recording by the beach or pool. It can snap 16-megapixel photos, too. There is also the DC10, which doesn't have the waterproof function but gains a larger LCD. 

Panasonic TA20 (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

Panasonic also introduced the TA20 and TA2 pocket camcorders. Both shooters have a 3-inch touchscreen LCD and voice recording feature. The TA20 is tougher, with waterproof and shockproof specifications of 3m and 1.5m, respectively. The duo also sport a Night View mode, which boosts the brightness of the scene digitally to allow users to record clips in low-light conditions. 

We will update this story with details of prices and availability once we get more information.

Via Cnet

Read More

Sony Alpha and NEX updates at CP+

The translucent chassis of the unnamed midrange Alpha dSLR. (Credit: Sony)

At the CP+ imaging tradeshow in Yokohama, Japan, Sony announced plans for its Alpha dSLRs lineup. 

This year, photographers can expect a midrange dSLR that employs a translucent mirror, much like the SLT-A55 and A33. The electronics firm showed off a mockup unit that's clad in a translucent chassis for visitors to see the internal mechanisms. 

Sony also announced development plans for a new standard zoom lens, 500mm F4 G optics, hotshoe flash and vertical grip. 

Mock up of the 500mm F4 G lens. (Credit: Sony)

For the mirrorless NEX system, the lens roadmap was shown. What's interesting is the 24mm Zeiss optics for this imaging format. If you recall, a few days earlier Carl Zeiss issued a statement saying that the company has joined the Micro Four Thirds consortium. So, it appears that the lens manufacturer is not tied to making optics for only one mirrorless imaging standard. 

Sigma's prototype of the 30mm F2.8 E-mount lens. (Credit: DC Watch)

Yesterday, Sony announced that it will open up the specifications for its E-mount to lens manufacturer for free. Sigma appears to have already hopped on the bandwagon, and showed a prototype of a 30mm F2.6 prime lens at CP+ for the NEX system. But what's also surprising is that the Japanese lens maker has announced it has just joined the Micro Four Thirds group. 

Sony's roadmap for E-mount lenses. (Credit: Sony)

From the looks of it, it seems like the biggest winner in the race for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (ILC) are the optics company. Will this move spur Canon and Nikon to unveil their own mirrorless ILCs soon?

Via Cnet

Read More

Nikon joins the F1.8 compact club

Even after using a preproduction model for the past few days, I've really had a hard time classifying the new Nikon Coolpix P300. As part of its P series, geared to enthusiasts, you'd think Nikon was taking on models like the popular Canon PowerShot S95 and the newOlympus XZ-1. But while it has the basic black, no-nonsense design, fast lens and broad manual feature set of those models, it uses a relatively small but backside-illuminated (BSI) 1/2.3-inch sensor similar to mainstream consumer cameras like the Ixus 300 HS--it's priced lower than the former and higher than the latter. 

Overall, I really like the camera's design. Though it lacks the lens-ring control of the Canon and the Olympus, the P300's pair of dials--one on the top right and one doubling as four-way switches for exposure compensation, macro, flash and self-timer--provide a nice feel for fast shooting adjustments. Despite being on the small side, it's still fairly comfortable to hold, with a grippy stripe in the front for extra security. And the popup flash's split design means that you still have a spot on the top left for your fingers while the flash is open. The LCD looks big, bright, and relatively high resolution as well. I also like the dedicated movie-record button, which doesn't require choosing a dedicated mode on the dial. 

My one gripe with the design is the menu and delete buttons, which sit below the navigation dial, are too flat and difficult to feel. 

As for features, here's a comparative summary:Like a lot of cameras with BSI sensors, it has several multishot modes for improved low-light quality. 

I have to admit; as part of the P series, I really expected that this would be Nikon's answer to the S95--an ultracompact with the P7000's sensor--rather than the Ixus 300 HS, though no doubt Nikon sensibly enough considers the manual controls sufficient reason to position it this way. 

As for its potential, a lot will be riding on image quality and performance (we can't comment on those based on the preproduction unit); ultimately, it's not worth paying more for a nice set of manual controls if it doesn't deliver on the photo quality. We look forward to putting it to the test. 

Via Crave CNET

Read More

Fujifilm X100 price announced, and it's not going to be cheap

(Credit: Fujifilm)

The Fujifilm FinePix X100 isn't news. In fact, it's been previewed, twittered and generally overexposed (if you'll pardon the expression) for months now. And yet, until today, we haven't had US pricing or availability for it. The wait is over: It'll be available in March, and you'll be shelling out US$1,195.95 for it. 

From a market standpoint, the X100 is a bit of an oddball. In spirit, it seems closest to theLeica X1, another expensive rangefinder-style compact using an APS-C-size sensor. But the X1, while it doesn't seem to be officially discontinued, is out of stock at a lot of outlets and no replacement has been announced. I don't know whether that's a commentary on the X1's US$2,000 price tag or the size of the market for a product like this. 

I do think the potential X100 user may also overlap with those attracted to less expensive cameras like the Olympus E-P2 or Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2: They're rangefinderish-style cameras with a relatively large sensor that you can slap a nice prime lens on. 

Fujifilm seems to be hoping that people will find the much talked-about hybrid viewfinder, larger sensor and cool design are worth the price premium. The viewfinder toggles between optical (like a point-and-shoot's, but higher quality with an information overlay) and electronic, which is nice to have. The large sensor is definitely an attraction, with its potential for better-than-average low-light quality, especially compared to the smaller Four Thirds sensors. And yes, the design is cool, though many of the controls are laid out like it's just a big 'ol point-and-shoot. 

Via Crave CNET

Read More