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TomTom Releases New Version of TomTom app for iPhone

jessica — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:03:58 +0000

TomTom has a new version of the TomTom app for iPhone available. Version 1.2 now offers compatibility with the iPod touch and includes features such as Advanced Lane Guidance, Text-to-speech, a Help Menu, and updated maps of the US and Canada. It also gives you iPod player control, so you can control your music through the app.

Version 1.2 of the TomTom app for iPhone and iPod touch is now available for $99.99 at www.tomtom.com/tomtom-app. The new version of the software will be made available for free to existing TomTom app for iPhone customers.

"Our latest update adds the most highly anticipated advanced features to the TomTom app. These major enhancements and new features will be a great complement to its easy-to-use and intuitive interface, turn-by-turn spoken navigation and unique routing technology," said Benoit Simeray, TomTom’s senior vice president, on-board mobile. "We're also pleased to be able to offer this major update to existing TomTom app for iPhone customers for free."

Imation Pro WX is World's First Wireless USB Hard Drive

jessica — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:11:16 +0000

Imation is now shipping what they say is the world's first wireless USB external hard drive, the Imation Pro WX. It gives you 1.5TB of storage and has a wireless USB data transfer rate of up to 15MBs/second. That said, the product can back up a standard CD in about 50 seconds, and store up to 300,000 photos or 750 hours of video.

The Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive has a built-in stand and can be placed either horizontally or vertically. It also has a built-in sleep mode to save energy, as well as one-touch, backup sync buttons. Data can be backed up whenever it is within 30 feet, similar to a direct attached storage device.

The Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive is now available for $449.99 and is compatible with both PC and Mac computers.

Best Buy Announces Pre-Black Friday Deals

jessica — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58:57 +0000

Best Buy just announced that they are now offering Black Friday pricing on several models of flat panel televisions as well as home theater products. The company also lowered the price of entry level Dynex LCD HDTVs – the 32-inch Dynex LCD HDTV is now $299.99 and the 40-inch Dynex 1080p is $499.99.

Black Friday pricing will be available on several Samsung models, including a 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV for $397.99, as well as a 50-inch plasma 720p HDTV for $697.99 starting Sunday, November 22, 2009.

"Best Buy is committed to continuing to offer a superior shopping experience this holiday season," says Josh Will, vice president of Home Theater, Best Buy. "Customers can be confident that they are getting some of the best prices in the industry, as well as the convenience of being able to shop when and where they want either in store or online."

To learn more about more special offers visit www.bestbuy.com.

Review: World Series of Poker - Hold'em Legend for iPhone

Justin Hubbell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:06:35 +0000

World Series of Poker - Hold'em Legend
System: iPhone/iPod Touch
Date: October 31, 2009
MSRP: $4.99

There's not really a lot to do to a poker game. So what has Glu Games done with their version of Texas Hold'em?

Graphics

For starters, the graphics are very nice and crisp. You'll also notice in World Series of Poker - Hold'em Legend (WSOP: HL) that there are cutscenes that will play out showing the venue you will play at and a rival at the table. Also, you'll see cutscenes when you have an incredible hand.

- 19/20

Sound

The sounds that you will hear are similar to other poker titles. When you lose or first enter a tournament your rival will have something to say. Also, like in other Glu Games titles, you can listen to your own music during the game.

- 18/20

Story

As a poker game, there is really no story. You compete in small tournaments in the begging until you build up enough money to enter into larger tournaments.

- NA/NA

Gameplay

The gameplay in WSOP: HL is very simple and intuitive with touch screen controls. The flow of the game is excellent, as well. You can also save replays of your best hands. Throughout the game, you can earn up to 20 achievements, too.

- 18/20

Replayability

WSOP: HL offers a lot of replay value if you love to play poker. You can play in the Carrere Mode which has 7 different venues with up to 4 different tables, Multiplayer, and Cash Game which is a simple buy-in game at any of the 7 venues. In Multiplayer, you can play against up to 9 other players in real time. Also, there are global rankings for Multiplayer, too. Overall, WSOP: HL should keep you occupied for a very long time.

- 19/20

Conclusion

It's hard to differentiate a poker game, since there is little to change in the formula. However, Glu Games has done a very nice job in its newest mobile game. With crisp graphics, custom soundtracks, and hefty replayability, World Series of Poker - Hold'em Legend is an excellent buy for anyone who enjoys a challenging game of Texas Hold'em.

Final Score

-74/80 = 92.5/100

November 18, 2009
Justin Hubbell

Protect Your BlackBerry Storm2

jessica — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:32:04 +0000

Do you have the new BlackBerry Storm2? Protect it with a case from OtterBox! The company just announced the Impact, Commuter and Defender Series cases for the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone.

The Impact Series case includes inner coring on the corners and back of the case for extra protection, and includes a self-adhering clear protective film to safeguard the screen from scratches. MSRP: $19.95

The Commuter Series for the BlackBerry Storm2 has a durable silicone mid-layer, a one piece custom molded polycarbonate shell and exposed silicone corners to protect it from impact. A self-adhering clear protective film is included to keep your screen looking new. MSRP: $34.95

For more rugged protection, the OtterBox Defender Series has three layers of protection:

Layer 1: Self-adhering clear protective screen cover
Layer 2: Hi-impact polycarbonate shell
Layer 3: Silicone skin to absorb bump and shock

Acoustic vents are included over the speakerphone and headset speaker, as well as isolation foam on the microphone to keep dirt and dust out. Silicone plugs protect all ports and a holster style swivel belt clip is included for easy carrying. MSRP: $49.95

"We have three customized case options for the new BlackBerry Storm2 and each speaks to a different customer," Curt Richardson said, OtterBox CEO. "The Impact Series is for everyday casual use, the Commuter Series is for those always on the go and the Defender Series calls to those that live an active and extreme lifestyle."

enTourage eDGe E-Reader/Netbook Coming in February 2010

jessica — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:45:15 +0000

Well…this looks familiar. Similar to the Barnes & Noble nook and Spring Design's Alex is the new enTourage eDGe. This device is not only a dual-screen hybrid e-reader, but a netbook, note pad, A/V player and recorder. It's made up of a Wi-Fi enabled 9.7" diagonal e-paper screen for reading e-books and taking notes with the stylus, as well as a 10.1" LCD touch screen used to surf the Internet, watch movies, listen to MP3s or record audio and video content. It runs on the Android OS and all documents are backed up to enTourage Systems' servers. It folds a full 360 degrees and can be viewed horizontally or vertically. Want to view only one screen? Simply fold it over.

enTourage Systems also just launched their own e-book store, which includes partnerships with Google, Ingram Digital and LibreDigital. The company also says that "the store will continue to grow to include more books and eventually textbooks as well."

The enTourage eDGe will be available in February 2010 for $490 in midnight blue and piano black. Want it in red, white or ice blue? Pay $40 more. Get more info at www.entourageedge.com

Olive Unveils the 4HD Hi-Fi Music Server

jessica — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:16:35 +0000

Olive Media today announced the new 4HD Hi-Fi Music Server for home stereo systems. The 4HD not only plays your music, but can rip and store your media onto its two terabyte hard drive. Music can also be copied to the Olive 4HD via your computer through its wireless or wired network connection. The music reproduction is handled through Olive's DAC, and is said to match the 24-bit sound and 192 kHz sample rate used in recording studios.

To use, connect the Olive 4HD directly to a stereo receiver. Music libraries are then navigated through the touchscreen or on a TV via HDMI. A free iPhone/iPod touch app is also available so you can control the 4HD from your iPhone.

The 4HD Hi-Fi Music Server is available from Olive for $1,999. It includes 12 of Chesky Records' best HD tracks for free.

Dell Intros Six New All-in-One Inkjet Printers

jessica — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:39:11 +0000

Dell just announced six new all-in-one inkjet printers for home or office use including wireless models, one with touch screen commands, and an affordable new printer with color trim options. The new printers even have an energy saving Eco-mode, which automatically goes into a power saver mode after 10 minutes of inactivity.

New printers:

Dell P713w and Dell V715w

Perfect for the small office, these wireless all-in-ones print up to 10,000 pages per month for the P713w and up to 5,000 pages per month for the V715w. Both models include high optical resolution of up to 1200 x 4800 dpi, input tray capacity of up to 150 pages and 2-sided printing. The Dell V715w includes a built-in fax and a 50-page Automatic Document Feeder. The Dell P713w features a 4.3-inch touch screen display. Prices start at $189 for the Dell V715w and $199 for the Dell P713w.

Dell V515w and Dell P513w

These wireless all-in-one models have print, copy and scan capabilities. The Dell V515w has a built-in fax, wireless printing and a 35 page Automatic Document feeder. The Dell P513w features a color display and 2-sided printing. Prices start at $149 for both models.

Dell V313 and Dell V313w

Designed for everyday convenience, these all-in-one printers offer professional quality documents and direct printing of photos via memory card slots. The Dell V313w is available with optional pink/white and blue/white trim. Prices start at $99 for the Dell V313 and $119 for the Dell V313w.

All printers are available now at www.dell.com.

ViewSonic Announces New PC Minis, All-in-One Touchscreen PC

jessica — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:30:30 +0000

ViewSonic just announced they have added two new PC Minis to their lineup, the VOT530 and VOT550 . These small-format PCs are great for creating your own media and entertainment hub. They come standard with Windows Home 7 Premium, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz processors and 802.11b/g/n wireless. Also, they use up to 45% less energy and up to 50% less plastic than a tower PC.

The VOT530 PC Mini comes with 2GB of memory and a built-in DVD drive. It is available now for $749 MSRP.

A step up, the new VOT550 features 4GB of memory and also includes a built-in Blu-ray/DVD combo drive. It sells for $949.

ViewSonic also announced a new all-in-one PC, the 18.5" VPC101. It features the Windows 7 Home Premium OS, Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz processor, 10/100 Gigabit Ethernet and wireless 802.11b/g connectivity. It also includes 4 USB 2.0 ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam and built-in speakers. It will be available in December for $649.

Press release:

New ViewSonic PC Minis Move Computing Out of the Office and into Today’s Digital Lifestyle

PC Minis deliver small footprint and optional Blu-ray for an enhanced digital content and computing experience from anywhere in the home

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual display and computing products, today expanded its PC Mini lineup with the VOT530 and VOT550. These full-featured, small-format PCs are ideal for power computing and enjoying digital media anywhere in the home, all while using up to 45% less energy and up to 50% less plastic than tower PCs.

The VOT530 and VOT550 PC Minis come standard with a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, powerful Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz processors and 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity, making them perfect media entertainment systems or home computing hubs. Whether streaming Internet content to a TV or accessing movies and music saved on the hard drive, these compact computers are ideal for downloading, managing and displaying digital content on any standard display or HDTV.

Six high-speed USB 2.0 front and back ports and DVI-I and eSATA ports in the back enable extended media format compatibility and the easy addition of peripherals. The included remote control makes navigating through DVD and Blu-ray content a breeze while relaxing on the couch or recliner. The built-in microphone and earphone jacks coupled with the RJ45 Ethernet transform these PC Minis into networked game stations for the household gamers.

The VOT530 PC Mini offers 2GB of internal memory and a built-in DVD Super Multi RW drive. Taking it to the next level, the VOT550 is powered with 4GB of memory and features a built-in Blu-ray / recordable DVD combo drive for the management and enjoyment of high definition, 1080p Blu-ray content.

For those looking for an all-in-one computing solution, ViewSonic today announced that its VPC101 All-in-One PC will be available in December. At an MSRP of $649, this 18.5" PC features a space-saving, easy to use and eco-friendly design, similar to the VPC100 with an integrated touchscreen to take full advantage of its Windows 7 operating system.

For additional information on ViewSonic products, please visit www.ViewSonic.com.

The VOT530 and VOT550 PC Minis are currently available at respective MSRPs of $749 and $949. More information on the full PC Mini line is available here.

Panasonic Wins Big with Two Awards from Popular Science

jessica — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:58:26 +0000

Panasonic certainly has something to brag about today. Two of their products, the TC-P54Z1 VIERA Plasma HDTV and the LUMIX GF1 digital camera, were just named "The Best of What's New" in the Home Entertainment and Gadgets categories by Popular Science magazine.

The winner in the Home Entertainment category is the Panasonic TC-P54Z1 VIERA Plasma. Sporting an ultra-thin 1-inch profile, this Plasma can be placed in areas you never would have considered before! And, it uses wireless technology with a maximum transmission rate of approximately 4Gbs, allowing full-HD uncompressed video and audio signals to be transmitted up to 30 feet from the TV. Also, the remote is RF, so the external box that houses all the electronics and connections can be placed out of sight.

The TC-P54Z1 has Panasonic's VIERA CAST technology for internet content such as Amazon VOD and You Tube, and includes 600Hz Sub-field drive that produces full 1080 lines of motion resolution. Also, the TC-P54Z1 is one of the few HD displays with THX certification, an audio and video standard set by THX Ltd.

Get more information on the Panasonic TC-P54Z1 VIERA Plasma here.

The award winner in the Gadgets category is the Panasonic LUMIX GF1. The GF1 is the world's smallest and lightest digital camera with built-in flash (as as of September 2, 2009), and packs in DSLR-like features and HD video capability. The GF1 features the interchangeable lens system based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard, for a much smaller camera body and lenses. In fact, the LUMIX GF1 is Panasonic's most compact LUMIX G Series digital camera.

Features include the new My Color mode with seven preset effects – Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette and Custom – all of which let you manually set the color, brightness and saturation levels. You can also see how the settings look before you shoot with the Live View function. The camera has nine Film modes, and you can set the contrast, sharpness and saturation levels for each one. A custom function lets you store your favorite settings in memory. Also, the exposure meter can be displayed in other shooting modes and the correlation between shutter speed and aperture is shown, with a color-coded warning that alerts you when the settings are not correct.

Get more information on the LUMIX GF1 here.

"For 22 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what's possible in the future." said Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. "The Best of What's New Award is the magazine's top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − represent the highest level of achievement in their fields."