Sony Unveils Thinner PlayStation 3

Sony announced a slimmer version of its gaming console, the PlayStation 3, at the Tokyo Game Show Wednesday.

Due to be launched this fall, the new PlayStation will keep the same name as its two predecessors, but will be 20% smaller and 25% lighter than the second-generation model, Sony says. It will available in two versions: black and white, with either 250GB or 500GB of storage memory.

As far as physical differences from the previous model, the new PS3 will be thinner; it will also have a disc tray (instead of a slide-in disc mechanism) and a grooved design on top.

The “charcoal black” model should hit the market on Sept. 25, while the “classic white” should arrive Nov. 22 in Japan.

All the pricing details have not yet been announced, but a limited edition bundle, featuring the 250GB black PS3, UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Game of the Year Edition and a voucher for more than $30 worth of bonus content for multiplayer shooter DUST 514, will be available Sept. 25 for $269.99.

For Kids, Android Is Safer Than iOS

With the school year under way and the holiday season looming, a lot of kids are asking for (and getting) a new mobile device.

Whatever sort of device you choose, it’s important to turn on the appropriate parental controls. But before you decide on a gadget, you should be aware that some will be easier to control than others — and when it comes to parental controls, kids are much better off with an Android device rathern than an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

Android devices give you access to apps that permit deeper levels of control and monitoring without requiring technical know-how to set up.

Devices Designed for Kids (and Parents)

Family Guardian can be installed on existing Android devices, but starting this year, more and more Android tablets aimed at kids come with this level of parental control built in.

Earlier this summer, Techno Source released its Android tablet for children age 5 and up, the Kurio 7. This tablet has an Android skin similar to what you’ll find on Samsung or HTC devices, but it’s much more involved. The skin lets you set up several different profiles on the Kurio, including an administrative profile for you and a restricted profile for the kids.

Restrictions let you block app downloads, in-app purchases and specific apps (even when they’re already installed) and limit websites in the browser. Because you can have multiple profiles, you can personalize restrictions for each child (and grownups, too, should they want to use the device).

Amazon recently introduced Kindle FreeTime controls with its new line of Kindle Fire HD tablets. Set up multiple profiles, restrict access on a schedule, and choose the content kids are allowed to see and use.

When the holiday shopping season gets under way, we’re likely to see still more tablets suitable for kids and young teens. Thankfully, manufacturers are moving away from designing tablets that look like toys or something best suited for toddlers for kids older than 4.

Apple announces iPod nano

So there is no new iPod shuffle at yesterday’s press event by Apple at the Yerba Buena center in San Francisco, California, but that does not mean that things have not gotten slimmer during the announcements. Not only were we treated to the thinnest iPhone to date as well as the slimmest iPod touch ever, we also have another superlative title introduced for the reinvented iPod nano, which is touted to be the “thinnest iPod ever”, measuring at a mere 5mm, now how about that? Despite its small size, do not think that this is an iPod nano to be trifled with, where it will now come with the largest display ever built into an iPod nano at 2.5” so that your eyes will be able to enjoy more of your music, photos and widescreen videos.

The new iPod nano, as mentioned above, will come with a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display that makes life a whole lot easier when navigating through your music. There is also a home button that helps you return to your home screen quicker than ever before, conveniently located buttons that makes it easy to control volume and quickly play, pause or change songs without having to take a second look.

Music lovers will also appreciate the fact that the new iPod nano comes with built-in Bluetooth for wireless listening with Bluetooth-enabled headphones, speakers and cars. Not only that, boasting a whopping 30 hours of battery life, the new iPod nano delivers the longest music playback of any iPod nano to date, so that you are able to enjoy your favorite music and FM radio longer than ever before. Other integrated fitness features include a pedometer and support for Nike+, meaning you should be able to see newer iPod nano models throughout gyms in the neighborhood.

The new iPod nano will arrive this October in pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, silver and slate for $149 a pop where it has 16GB of storage space to get you started.

Meet the New iPods

Yesterday’s Apple event included the announcement of new generation Touch and Nano products. Over 350 million iPod devices have been sold over the years. And the new generations should prove to continue the sales trend.
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After a 2 year hiatus from new models the 5th generation Touchprovides loads of enhancements. Following many of the leads of the iPhone 5, the Touch has a sleeker look. At just 6.1mm and 88g, it is the thinnest and lightest Touch ever. The 4” retina display means more space to view what you choose.  For the first time the Touch comes in silver, black, blue, yellow and red. And as practical flair the “iPod Touch loop” pops up from the back of the Touch so you can attach a wrist strap. Units also come with Apple’s new EarPod earbuds.

Internally the A5 chip with dual core graphics will boost graphics up to 7 times. And iOS6 will give all the latest advantages that the iPhone 5 offers. Feature-wise a built in 5MP iSight camera means autofocus, LED flash, help with motion artifacts and panoramic capability. Battery time will give you 8 hours of video or 40 hours of music and it charges via the new, smaller Lightening connector. The iPod Touch will retail for $299 (32GB) and $399 (64GB) and ship in October.

The small but mighty iPod Nanounderwent a massive change too. The Gen 7 form factor – usually a Nano advantage – does not disappoint at just 5.4mm thin and 31g. Apple saw then need that many users did and added big, easy to use controls for common tasks like volume and play/pause/forward and backward. The advantage is that you no longer have to look at the screen to perform basic functions. For those that do want to look at the 2.5” screen, the Nano contains a multi-touch screen. Choose one of 8 colors (including a Product RED option).  EarPod earbuds are also included.

Internally the Nano finally includes Bluetooth, perfect for streaming music to other receivers. The Nano can handle widescreen video too. A full charge via the Lightening connector will get a user 3.5 hours of video or 30 hours of music. The 16GB, $149 Nano will also ship in October.

These majorly revamped products sure do give existing owners reason to upgrade and perfect gift options for the holidays!

iPhone 5 is Born

After much speculation, many rumors and even ‘leaked photos’ the next generation iPhone was revealed by Apple SVP of Global Marketing Phil Schiller today. Many anticipated features did make it into the unit and Apple – as usual – surprised the public with other perks. Widely anticipated to be the single largest product launch in history industry experts anticipate 5M to 5.5M units to be initially sold with 8M or more expected in Q4. Let’s look at why.

After two generations of no form factor change, Apple went big on change. The iPhone 5 is the Worlds thinnest smart phone and 20% lighter (than the 4S) at 112g. The 5 features a 4” screen, versus the 3.5” of previous generations. Screensize always presented a competitive challenge, but the increase should diminish that criticism. And they will be using Sharp’s IGZO display technology – thinner screens due to smaller transistors which means more light can pass through and fewer LEDs are required. Translation: takes up less space and uses less power.The screen itself uses in-cell display technology. Previous versions required 2 discreet layers for the touch sensor technology. In-cell enables the touch sensor to be included in the LCD display turning 2 layers into 1 and making the phone .5mm thinner.

The change in screensize and thickness means the unit has a sleeker look to it, differing significantly from its predecessors. And the increased screen size plus higher resolution (1136×640) LCD means enhanced detail for all.

The guts of the unit hold some changes as well. The A6 chip will speed up the unit with a 2X faster CPU and 2x faster graphics.Means Faster app launching, saving images, load music app, viewing attachments in keynotes, ~2x performance across board. Demonstration of Real Racing: to produce a feature of time-shifted multiplayer. Can challenge someone one day and race them the next day.

The camera is now 8mp sensor, 3264×2448 backside illuminated, dynamic low light mode, sapphire lense cover – protection and clearer images. Now 40% faster on photo capture. Panorama: showed 28mp panorama taken on the camera (this can be done on the fly without using third party apps like Photosynth). Software compensates for moving artifacts if youre moving. Images can be shared directly onto Facebook or using iCloud where you can share with friends when added to stream you create (they receive a push notification when new photos are added).

Network speeds have also been increased. Technologies now include GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, and added HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, and LTE. Wi-Fi has also been improved to support 802.11 a/b/g/n, 802.11n is 2.4GHz and dual channel 5GHz, up to 150 Mbps.

Wideband audio. In typical cell phone call, the frequency of data in your voice is compressed around the midrange. But doesn’t sounded entirely natural. Wideband audio fills up more of the frequency spectrum to make your voice sound even more natural. Just starting this technology, 20 carriers at launch supporting this. (Deutsche Telekom and Orange mentioned.)

As expected there is a new connector, AKA Lightening. All digital 8-signal design, 8-0 % smaller. Apple are working with partners to help them integrate connector into existing accessories.

Announced in June, iOS6 running on the iPhone 5, contains both Passbook and Apple’s own map application. Passbook serves as Apple’s solution to a ‘wallet’. Select coupons and vendor payment processes will be available to users via their phone. So as you arrive to Target, for example, your phone uses location services to determine where you are and if you hold any gift cards or coupons. Then you receive an on screen notification. Airlines are currently using it for boarding passes too. And select retailers even provide the ability to pay through Passbook. As widely reported Apple opted to not continue with Google maps app. This new launch will give us a glimpse at the Apple Map functionality.

There’s much more: Facebook integration throughout the OS, great enhancements to Phone app like automated SMS or iMessage back when you can’t answer the phone, FaceTime works over cellular data network. Great enhancements for accessibility, including Single App Mode. Only 10 of the more than 200 new features in iOS 6.

Prices (on a 2 year contract ) will be the same as the 4Sm 16GB $199, 32GB $299 and $399 for the 64GB. You will be able to preorder on September 14th and it will be shipped on September 21st.

So, was it worth the wait and massive hype and would you be willing to switch?

LaunchPort – Charging your iPad in Grand Style

I look around my house and see my devices charging at every conceivable electric outlet, I have all sorts of electronics plugged into ugly little power strips all over the place. I have tried hiding the cords or using more attractive charging stations, but in the end I have a tangled mess of cords and gadgets stuck in every corner. Maybe we should go the other way, and stop trying to hide our charging gadgetry and make the charger an objet d’art. What if our chargers were something beautiful to behold?

Check out Strut’s LaunchPort, sure, it’s an incredibly convenient and wireless way to charge your iPad, but thats not the best part. The LaunchPort is a jewelry grade, stainless steel hand polished sphere shaped pedestal, used in conjunction with a uniquely handcrafted Burl wood, carbon fiber or leopard print case, that charges your iPad and looks simply beautiful doing it.

Using powerful magnets that easily secure the gorgeous case to the magnificent pedestal, the unit can tilt, turn and pivot to almost any angle and the specialty case actually directs the sound from the rear of your iPad up to the front, allowing increased volume and clarity over your stand alone iPad. The case can be removed should you desire it, and a mini USB is also included in the event you require charging somewhere away from the base station.

The pedestal is available in chrome, matte black and gloss white with special order engraving and custom finishes available, same goes for the elaborate cases which have many special order options in addition to the 5 standard finishes currently available. Please visit Strutlaunchport.com to learn more and as you may have guessed, this much style doesn’t come cheap, the Launchport rings in at about 1200 bucks for the pedestal with the case. Is that too much money for aesthetic bliss?