Xbox 360 'Valhalla' motherboard leaked on Chinese forum?

Been to the gym lately? If not, then let this be your new motivation. What we're looking at here is a purportedly forthcoming Xbox 360 motherboard redesign that takes aim at slimming down the portly figure of Microsoft's console. Sure, there's a small chance that this diet could be the work of a scarily talented console modder, but it'd still be a near-impossible task to work in what appears to be a CPU / GPU combo chip (pictured after the break) under that greatly reduced heatsink. Note that there's also an extra SATA port at the top left corner. Perhaps this is the "Valhalla" revision that we've all been waiting for? On a related note, Microsoft is currently hiring a Motherboard Design Engineer for the Xbox 360 Console Development team, with such saucy tasks as "specifying, designing, implementing and verifying the mother-board and other various sub-system boards that make up the XBOX 360 product line." Feel free to sign up if you
think you can hack out a better motherboard.

By Richard Lai

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Dragonfly jet-powered helicopter runs on H2O2, shuns traditional tail rotors (video)

By Tim Stevens

Your average whirleybird is driven by a big motor in the middle, spinning the blades one way and, as per Newton, rotating the body of the craft the other. A tail rotor counteracts the force, but a more efficient solution is to have the rotors power themselves, which is exactly how the Dragonfly DF1 works. It has tiny, hydrogen-peroxide jets on the blade tips, spinning them up without pushing the body of the helo in the other way -- though a small tail rotor is still needed to turn the craft. It's much like the tech that propelled James Bond toward his waiting DB5 in Thunderball, but unlike that jetpack this copter can fly for up to 50 minutes. It's the product of Swisscopter Americas and, while they've been playing with the DF1 for many moons now (demonstrated in a video below), the company is also working on the DF2 shown above, a rather more civilized version that seats two. The DF1 is certified for flight in the US, looks to be available for sale and, while no price is listed, they are said to be much more friendly to the environment than traditional helicopters. That'll surely add to the premium.

By Tim Stevens

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Canon captures your coffee in a 70-200mm telephoto lens

OK, not really, but Canon was indeed giving out these novelty coffee mugs -- in the shape of an EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens -- at the Winter Olympic's press center, and here's Microsoft's Josh Weisberg (Director of Rich Media Group) showing off his swag to the whole world. Yes, we're just a bit envious. So anyone got a spare Canon L-Series lens that we can tamper with? Or maybe that big-daddy Sigma lens if you're game with sharing coffee?

By Richard Lai

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nFocus rolls out three new large, thin displays for business, education

Don't count on these being available at your local mega-electronics retailer, but InFocus' new series of large, thin displays aimed at business and education users may just have you wishing they were. Available in 42, 55, and 65-inch varieties, the slim, professional-grade displays all pack a full 1080p resolution, a generous supply of inputs (including HDMI, VGA and RS232 for Crestron and AMX integration), a split screen feature to accommodate two separate video sources, and some anti-burn-in technology that will let you leave a pie chart up on the screen all day without any worries (if that's your thing). Of course, professional-grade also come with professional-grade prices, and these are no exception, with them running $1,399, $2,599, and $7,499 -- although InFocus insists they are aimed at the "budget-conscious professional."

By Donald Melanson

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Archos Phone Tablet shelved due to lack of carrier support?

We'd already heard that Archos' Android-based phone tablet might be in trouble if the company wasn't able to line up at least two carriers to support it, and it looks like that unfortunate end may have now come to pass. While Archos itself still isn't saying anything, French daily Les Echos is reporting that the company has indeed shelved its plans for the phone, and is apparently returning its focus to its line of non-phone internet tablets. Of course, the phone does still exist, so there's always a slight chance that it could make a comeback, but the word out of CeBIT seems to be painting a pretty grim picture.

By Donald Melanson

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Archos Phone Tablet shelved due to lack of carrier support?

We'd already heard that Archos' Android-based phone tablet might be in trouble if the company wasn't able to line up at least two carriers to support it, and it looks like that unfortunate end may have now come to pass. While Archos itself still isn't saying anything, French daily Les Echos is reporting that the company has indeed shelved its plans for the phone, and is apparently returning its focus to its line of non-phone internet tablets. Of course, the phone does still exist, so there's always a slight chance that it could make a comeback, but the word out of CeBIT seems to be painting a pretty grim picture.

By Donald Melanson

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Verizon's HTC Incredible spotted again, looking as red-accented as ever

We're missing that crazy contoured back this time around, but otherwise, HTC's so-called Incredible for Verizon is looking as real and ready for action as it ever has in these latest shots leaked over at Phandroid. It's hard to say whether these crimson bits are going to make it to production -- they seem a little too spectacular for a high-end device that Verizon will want to appeal to the masses, but then again, red is Verizon's color, so who knows? We've seen from countless prototypes in the past (Moto's Morrison comes immediately to mind) that they're often given special colors, presumably to identify bandits trying to expose them as anonymously as possible -- and we're tentatively going to say we dig it here. AT&T's gone wacky on us in the past, but is Verizon hip enough to ship a phone this edgy? Release rumors span from March to May at this point, so we'll know within the next couple months what's what.

By Chris Ziegler

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North Korea's Red Star OS takes the 'open' out of 'open source'

You know, Tux always seemed so harmless... little did we know that he is actually a Che Guevara-type figure who's been traveling around the world, fighting the good fight on any number of fronts. First, Cuba announces its national Linux variant, Nova, and now? Red Star is North Korea's very own Linux-based operating system, featuring a desktop very similar to Windows -- but for the red star that replaces the Start button. It first came to light when Mikhail, a Russian blogger living in Pyongyang, picked up a copy for $5 near Kim Il-sung University. The install disk apparently features a quote from Kim Jong-il about the importance of an operating system "compatible with Korean traditions," and the system requirements are a Pentium III 800MHz with 256MB RAM and 3GB hard drive space (North Korea's version of Minesweeper must take up a lot of room). Of course, this bad boy has Firefox -- except here it's called My Country, and it will only connect you to something called "My Country BBS," a web portal on North Korea's own (restricted) version of the Internet. Where will the plucky penguin turn up next? We don't know, but we bet it'll be one hell of a ride.

By Joseph L. Flatley

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Apple / Nokia federal lawsuit put on hold pending ITC investigation

We normally wouldn't cover something so procedural, but given the heightened interesting Apple's patent dealings this week, we thought we'd note that Cupertino's tiff with Nokia in the federal courts has been put on hold while both companies argue their case before the US International Trade Commission. We expected the ITC to be the primary front in this fight from the start, but now we'll be particularly focused on the Commission's ruling, since several of the patent claims Apple's asserting against Nokia in this case are also being claimed against HTC. We don't have a timeline on when the Commission will reach a decision, but we'll keep an eye on things.

By Nilay Patel

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Windows Phone 7 Series hands-on and impressions (updated with video)

Forget everything you know about Windows Mobile. Seriously, throw the whole OS concept in a garbage bin or incinerator or something. Microsoft has done what would have been unthinkable for the company just a few years ago: started from scratch. At least, that's how things look (and feel) with Windows Phone 7 Series. This really is a completely new OS -- and not just Microsoft's new OS, it's a new smartphone OS, like webOS new, like iPhone OS new. You haven't used an interface like this before (well, okay, if you've used a Zune HD then you've kind of used an interface like this). Still, 7 Series goes wider and deeper than the Zune by a longshot, and it's got some pretty intense ideas about how you're supposed to be interacting with a mobile device. We had a chance to go hands-on with the dev phone before today's announcement, and hear from some of the people behind the devices, and here's our takeaway. (And don't worry, we've got loads of pictures and video coming, so keep checking this post for the freshest updates).

First the look and feel. The phones are really secondary here, and we want to focus on the interface. The design and layout of 7 Series' UI (internally called Metro) is really quite original, utilizing what one of the designers (Albert Shum, formerly of Nike) calls an "authentically digital" and "chromeless" experience. What does that mean? Well we can tell you what it doesn't mean -- no shaded icons, no faux 3D or drop shadows, no busy backgrounds (no backgrounds at all), and very little visual flair besides clean typography and transition animations. The whole look is strangely reminiscent of a terminal display (maybe Microsoft is recalling its DOS roots here) -- almost Tron-like in its primary color simplicity. To us, it's rather exciting. This OS looks nothing like anything else on the market, and we think that's to its advantage. Admittedly, we could stand for a little more information available within single views, and we have yet to see how the phone will handle things like notifications, but the design of the interface is definitely in a class of its own. Here's a few takeaways on what it's like to use (and some video)...

Windows Phone 7 Series first look

Windows Phone 7 Series UI walkthrough

Start screen: the Start experience is completely revamped, now focusing on sets of tiles which represent links to applications or contacts. It's a completely contextual experience which can be customized both by users and carriers, and allows people to "promote" items higher up in the list. To the right of this screen is a long, vertical list of all your apps for quick jumps. It will take some time getting used to this layout; one or two tiles per line, and that long list which goes up and down rather than left and right, but honestly -- this does have some advantages. Things seems less out of reach in this configuration, and Microsoft swears that they'll be working closely with developers to build widgets that make use of the concept.

General phone navigation: If you've used the Zune HD, you know what this is like. Lots of bold text on the device, lists with text cut off on the sides of the phone, and additional screens to the left and right driven by arrows pointing you in either direction. For the most part this works, though in instances like email, it feels like there's a bit of wasted space. Everything else is super stripped down -- the calendar app looks like vector line art (and weirdly one of our favorite parts of the phone), the browser seems to be using the bare minimum to show its content (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), and the phone application is essentially monochromatic. On the other hand, you've got a beautiful and robust photo app (with pinch to zoom, as in the browser), and the Zune end of things is perfectly integrated... but what did you expect? Oh, and never mind that this is the first time Microsoft is bringing Zune to the rest of the world.

The sheer minimalism of the interface is striking, and we're really impressed by how many risks Microsoft is taking here. It's hard to believe that just a year ago this company was showing off WM 6.5, which now looks ages behind what they've turned around with today. We're not sure if someone was just let off the leash or if we're seeing a newer, smarter, more agile Microsoft, but the 7 Series concept definitely shows that this company is learning from its mistakes.

It's not a flawless experience. There are still some points that need polishing, and we saw our share of missed touches and weird behavior, but in comparison to another new OS we just saw (Bada), there's not even a competition. The browser also still needs a bit of work -- page rendering isn't as snappy as we would have liked to see, though it does seem to be true to page layout, which is a great step in the right direction. It's clear that the team we met here in Barcelona is still hard at work on refining and perfecting the work they've started. And honestly, for the first time in a long time, we're excited about Microsoft in the mobile space. If they can deliver on the promises of 7 Series, this could change the current landscape of the smartphone market... but that's a lot to deliver on. Hold tight, because things are really starting to get interesting.

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Microsoft Office 2010 Released Date Announced

Microsoft confirmed that their 2010 version of its Office productivity suite will be released in June of next year, with the beta version now available for download. This comes as the Office faces new competition from cloud-based productivity programs like Google Apps, most of which are free.

Among the improvements seen on the Microsoft Office 2010 includes sidebar enhancements on Word 2010 like the Navigation Pane, which replaces the Document Map feature on Word 2007, as well as a contextual spell-check that also verifies how each word is used in the sentence. For instance, phrases like "I am excited to sea you" would be corrected. Meanwhile, the PivotTable and PivotChart functions on Excel 2010 are fine-tuned and database organizer Access 2010 includes alerts in case of blocked active content.

Its trial version will no longer be a pain, unlike last time when users could only read files once past the trial period. The advertising-supported Office 2010 Starter, which will come preinstalled on PCs produced by most manufacturers, features streamlined versions of Word and Excel where documents can be created, viewed, and saved. Those who wish to upgrade a full version of Office 2010 will only need to purchase a single-use license code printed on a plastic card sold on retailers.

Meanwhile, users who prefer free, browser-oriented productivity tools will enjoy the Office Web, which will include streamlined versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. These tools will be available through Microsoft's Windows Live portal and launch directly within a user's browser.

Image source: Microsoft

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Microsoft Arc Keyboard: All the Style without the Extras

Microsoft unveils its new Arc Keyboard without much fanfare, especially during its keynote speech at the CES 2010. Nevertheless, this new peripheral is undeniably stylish with its arch-like body that is ergonomic enough without looking freakish (like being split into two).

It does what your usual keyboard can do, but since it is wireless it comes with its own 2.4GHz Nano Transceiver that you can either plug to the PC or store underneath the keyboard body and still works like a charm. Unlike other keyboards, it is light on extra features with a few extra function keys and the absence of a number pad.

The Microsoft Arc Keyboard will be available exclusively on Best Buy beginning February 21, 2010, for US$59.95 with a three-year limited warranty.

Image source: Microsoft

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Altec Lansing BXR1221 2.1 Speaker System

A lot of people nowadays look for better audio systems for their PC's and laptops. It no longer just depends on portability and convenience but the level of sound quality now counts a lot. Even speaker systems for computers now can compete with most systems used in home entertainment.

With this in mind, the Altec Lansing BXR1221 2.1 speaker system just fits the bill quite right. It is not just simply an ordinary speaker system for desktops or laptops. It is a compact three-piece speaker system that has its own separate subwoofer to give more sound impact and depth. Audio Alignment technology allows better audio balance and accuracy. It is compact enough to use for laptops as well. The Altec Lansing BXR1221 multimedia speaker system is available at Amazon for US$30.

Image Source: Amazon

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SmartShopper SS301Grocery List Organizer

The SmartShopper SS301 Grocery List Organizer can easily become your reliable partner the next time you do your shopping. If ordinary grocery lists on paper does not just do its work for you quite effectively, then you might need some added help using modern technology. Why not use an electronic grocery list organizer that will help you not only remember what you need to buy the next time you go to the supermarket, you can "tell" it what to list out.

The SmartShopper SS301 features a voice recognition feature that allows you to record the name of an item you wish to add to your grocery list. The SmartShopper Grocery List Organizer contains over 2,500 common grocery items in its library that it can recognize and make part of your grocery list. It can even categorize and print out your list and even remind you of items that you may have coupons for. The SmartShopper SS301 Grocery List Organizer is available at SmartShopper for US$150.

Image Source: SmartShopper

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Comploo: Outdoor Heating Made from Compost

Japanese design firm Bakoko introduces a new way to get ourselves warm and cozy at the outdoors in an environmentally-efficient manner. The Comploo is a portmanteau of “compost” and “igloo,” which kinda give you an idea how it works.

This outdoor structure uses a heat dispersal method based on storing biodegradable wastes within its walls, keeping its internal temperature up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The compost that would be created out of the Comploo is then extracted and used as fertilizer.

There is, however, something icky about the Comploo. How can it be assured the warm air coming from the compost and out to the interior would not smell like trash? A prototype will be developed soon.

Source: Bakoko , via CrunchGear

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SanDisk 64GB Ultra SDXC

SanDisk introduces its newest addition to its very popular memory card line. The SanDisk Ultra SDXC has a memory capacity of 64GB, the highest in the market. It also features a 15MB/ second read speed, a Class 4 speed rating, and an exFAT file structure, making this memory card ideal for storing 1080p HD-quality video files without any glitches and transfer them to a PC quickly.

With its 64GB capacity, this memory card can store up to eight hours of high-definition videos. Because SDXC cards are based on the latest SD 3.0 specification, it only works on a handful of SDXC-compatible devices, but expect more to be developed in the future.

The SanDisk Ultra SDXC memory card is now available for a hefty US$349.99 .

Source: Engadget

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Play MP3 Player Concept Combines Music and Origami

If you think that rotating wheel thing on your iPod is the coolest thing ever, wait ‘till you check out what the creative minds over at Yanko are up to. The Play MP3 player is designed to work like an origami. Users simple fold the mp3 player into a triangle to play your favorite tune; make a square to stop the music; while slide the triangles and overlap them to rewind or fast forward.

Sure, the learning curve may be higher than the usual MP3 listening, but you cannot deny that it is a cool design concept. If only big-time companies are listening.

Source: Yanko Design , via Engadget

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T-Mobile Pulse Mini Now Available in Europe

T-Mobile in United Kingdom and Germany will have the first taste of the new T-Mobile Pulse Mini. Developed by China’s Huawei, this Android-based phone is a smaller version of the T-Mobile Pulse.

The T-Mobile Pulse Mini runs on Android 2.1, a Qualcomm MSM7225 processor, a 2.8-inch QVGA display, a 3.2-megapixel camera with flash, 300MB expandable internal memory, Bluetooth, WiFi, and Euro HSDPA connectivity along with the standard GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE.

Expect this phone to become available in April. It costs £99.99 (about US$155) contract-free in the UK, while no pricing yet in other European countries.

Source: the::unwired , via Engadget

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DigitalRise X9 Tablet

If you cannot wait to have your own tablet computer with multitouch screen like the iPad , there is already such a product available. It’s not from Apple , of course.

The DigitalRise X9 features a 10.2-inch multitouch display with 1024 x 600 resolution, an Atom 270 processor, Windows 7, 3G connectivity, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, three USB slots, a SIM slot, and an integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam. It can also play an assortment of file formats, including MP4 and MP5. The screen is resistant to dust, scratches, and even fire.

This tablet PC is now available at US$799.99 , but hey, at least you saved $1,199.99.

Source: PMP Today

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Canon EOS 7D, Rumors It's Finally So Real

KapanLagi.com - After the rumors for about five years, Canon EOS 7D finally appears also although it is not entirely the camera just like many previous media reported. At least Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera is not full frame as reported. So what Canon has to offer its product through this time?

What is clear is physically Canon EOS 7D is not much different from other DSLR camera Canon output. The design looks sturdy body and is possibly because the camera body is made of stainless steel and polycarbonate. Grip on the front to make sure your fingers have a strong enough grip to hold the camera weighs 900 grams which achieve this while at the rear is spacious enough space to bertumpunya thumb.

Obvious advantages when you first saw the specifications of this camera is its ability to take several pictures in a short time. In burst mode, the camera is claimed to be able to take eight pictures in one second. Another feature is also quite interesting is the inclusion of which would flash sticking out from the top when the camera is turned on.

Canon EOS 7D uses a sensor measuring 22.3 x 14.9 mm with a 18-megapixel capability.

Although the sensor is used rather than a 35mm sensor, but at least the shooting is still big enough if you intend to do later on cropping to get a better angle. This camera shots measuring 5.184 x 3456 pixels and save space requires approximately 18MB for each drawing. Shots can be saved on CompactFlash memory card through the slot format that has been provided.

Two more are also interesting features infra-red sensors mounted on the front of the camera that allows owners of the camera using the remote control and viewfinder assembly has coverage up to 100%. Although sounds simple, these two features are identical with DSLR camera from the automatic class has a higher selling price of this Canon EOS 7D.

Problem shots, Canon EOS 7D also did not disappoint. Good Gear Guide gives a plus to the color shots are quite experienced in the areas of performance while minimizing exposure also did not disappoint. Even if there are complained of by this site is probably its autofocus feature that is sometimes not accurate. Trusted Reviews did not even hesitate to give the value of ten and only a few complain about the price that was not too good.

It was to redeem this camera takes pretty significant costs. The official site put the number of U.S. $ 1700 or approximately equivalent to Rp16 million in sale price. (Editing / rock)

SPECIFICATIONS
Sensor Sensor	: :	22.3x14.9mm CMOS (18-megapixel) 22.3x14.9mm CMOS (18-megapixel)
Lens Lens	: :	EF and L-series lens mount EF and L-series lens mount
Zoom Zoom	: :	N/A N / A
Viewfinder Viewfinder	: :	100% coverage 100% coverage
LCD Monitor LCD Monitor	: :	3 inches fixed, 920,000 dots Fixed 3 inches, 920,000 dots
Maximum Aperture Maximum Aperture	: :	- --
Shutter Speed Shutter Speed	: :	30-1/8000 30-1/8000
White Balance White Balance	: :	- --
Flash Flash	: :	Built-in flash Built-in flash
Shooting Modes Shooting Modes	: :	Aperture priority, Auto, Burst mode, Program mode, Shutter priority Aperture priority, Auto, Burst mode, Program mode, Shutter priority
Photo Effects Photo Effects	: :	- --
Storage Media Storage Media	: :	CompactFlash CompactFlash
File Format File Format	: :	JPEG, RAW JPEG, RAW
Interfaces Interfaces	: :	HDMI, USB 2.0 HDMI, USB 2.0
Dimension Dimension	: :	5.8" x 4.3" x 2.9" 5.8 "x 4.3" x 2.9 "
Official Site Official Site	: :	www.canon.co.id www.canon.co.id

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