IBLOG SPACE

We’ve seen quite a few companies looking to steal Flip’s crown for point-and-shoot camcorders – JVC’s PICSIO models, for instance, or the HP V5020u – but Cisco aren’t willing to sit back and watch that happen. A new range of Flip Video cameras has been launched, the UltraHD 8GB and 4GB, and the MinoHD 8GB and 4GB, each capable of 720p 60fps recording. The two 8GB versions can store up to two hours of footage, while the 4GB models max out at an hour. All but the cheapest UltraHD have image stabilization, and of course there’s the flip-out USB plug and preloaded copy of FlipShare for basic editing and uploading content. The Flip Video UltraHD 4GB is $149.99 while the UltraHD 8GB is $199.99; the MinoHD 4GB is $179.99 while the MinoHD 8GB is $179.99. They’re on sale today in various colors, or can be customized online at TheFlip.com. Meanwhile Cisco has also kicked off a “Designed for Flip” accessories program, with various third-party companies taking advantage of the new FlipPort con

The stand-out hardware at IDF 2010 last week was probably Dell’s hybrid netbook/tablet, the Inspiron Duo , but that’s not to say there weren’t other gadgets lurking at the show which were also interesting. Carrypad spotted the NFS N-Pad, a Moorestown based tablet demonstrated running Android. Moorestown, as we know, is Intel’s next-gen range of Atom Z6xx processors designed for frugal devices like smartphones, slates and other ultra-mobile PCs. Carrypad says the N-Pad is both thin and very light, similar to what we’ve grown to expect from ARM-based slates, and that it’s previously been shown running MeeGo. Obviously that’s Intel’s current pet-OS, so if the N-Pad does arrive on the market we wouldn’t be surprised to see it running rather than the Google platform.

Photokina 2010 is upon us, so expect a flood of new digital cameras like Fujifilm’s FinePix X10 0. The new compact camera delivers some seriously delectable retro style, with a 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor wrapped up inside, a Fujinon 23mm fixed focal length lens and – perhaps most interestingly – Fujifilm’s new Hybrid Viewfinder. Fujifilm envisage the X100 slotting in-between regular compacts and DSLRs, and so the Hybrid Viewfinder borrows the best of both. It can work in both optical and electronic modes, as well as overlaying digital information – such as shutter speed and other settings – over a purely optical view, meaning you may not ever need to turn on the 2.8-inch LCD. There’s also the company’s latest EXR Processor, real leather cladding and an ISO range of 200 to 6400, along with 5fps burst shooting and an SD/SDXC card slot. More specs in this PDF. Unfortunately, while the FinePix X100 will be making its debut this week, it won’t actually be hitting shelves until ear

Rumors about the latest generation iPhone heading to China seemed to have been true. Apple has just announced that the iPhone 4 will be made available in China in just a few days. Bringing all of the same features that purchasers around the world have been enjoying for a few months now, the China-bound model is actually launching hand-in-hand with new retail locations opening in the region. Beginning on September 25th, Chinese customers will be able to pick up the iPhone 4 inside China Unicom retail locations, as well as within Apple Stores. Customers will be able to pick up their new iPhone starting at 8:00am. New locations getting equipped with Apple retail locations include the Hong Kong Plaza in Shanghai, and the other new Apple Store Xidan Joy City in Beijing. As far as pricing goes, the devices are listed without a contract, but China Unicom will be offering two-year contract pricing at the time of launch. The contract-based pricing should be revealed closer to the launch. But,

Looks like the Google Voice applications are starting to break into the App Store by force. Just yesterday we reported that another app for Google Voice, called GV Connect, passed the review process for Apple’s App Store , and now we’ve got the prodigal app returning to the scene. This one comes full of features, as we’ve come to hope, and the price isn’t that bad, either. The developer, Sean Kovacs, has just made it known that his application, GV Mobile+, got the big thumbs up from Apple, finally. You can find it in the App Store right now, if you want to get your Google Voice on on your iPhone. The application itself will let you read and listen to your voicemails, send SMS, as well as make phone calls. The application will cost you $2.99. If you’re having trouble finding it in the store, that’s because it literally just hit. But, keep on trying — it’s there.

Halo Reach hit store shelves this week, and already Microsoft is touting it as the best Halo release it has ever had. In fact, the game generated $200 million in revenue for the company. Since the launch, the game has been extremely popular on Xbox Live. And most folks that have had the chance to voice their opinions on the title have said that it’s an outstanding offering that puts a fine end to the Bungie-developed Halo franchise. But all the laudatory comments and gushing over the game just don’t work for me. I’ll be the first to admit that Halo games are fun to play. But for me, Halo Reach – and all the hoopla surrounding it – is what’s wrong with the gaming industry. Let me take you back to the 1990s. During that decade, the gaming industry was a much different space. There were a slew of developers and none were big enough to be called dominating players in the market (potentially with the exception of Sega and Nintendo). At the time, game budgets were small, and the industry it

While we obviously love gadgets here at SlashGear, we also love hearing from the designers and engineers responsible for creating them and the decisions they make during the design process. We’ve been following the Notion Ink Adam since its first curvy render, and now project lead Rohan Shravan is sharing some of the choicesand thoughts behind the Pixel Qi slate’s form-factor evolution. There are plenty of seemingly minor details which add up to a better user experience; for instance, the curved section at the top of the slate allows Notion Ink to use traditional 3-cell batteries rather than a more expensive proprietary pack, as well as giving the user something to hold on to. However it also means there’s space for the speakers to be on the side, rather than the bottom, for improved clarity of sound, and it lifts the screen to a more usable angle when the Adam is placed on a table. Shravan also talks about the choice of 4:3 versus 16:9 aspect displays (the iPad uses the former, the

The iTunes App Store may not be out of the fire when it comes to application submissions just because they are becoming a bit more transparent on the matter, but at least it’s a step forward. While there were many apps that got caught in the crossfire of app submission, it was a Google Voice client that brought up some of the most dust. But, it looks like a new client, while unofficial, has just made its presence known within the App Store. It’s called GV Connect, and it’s available right now. While it may not be the same as the previous Google Voice client that made itself so popular all those months ago, it does indeed work quite well. The application will allow you to make Google Voice calls, send SMS, and listen/read your voicemail. If you want to get your hands on it, you can find it in the App Store right now for $2.99. If you do check it out, let us know what you think of it in the comments. Was it worth the wait?

Lenovo’s LePad and U1 Hybrid tablet/notebook contraption was probably one of the best looking, and most talked about pieces of tech to hit this side of the world in a long while. The talk only bumped up when there was “confirmation” that the Tablet duo devices was canned, and wouldn’t be seeing a release after all. And then it was resurrected as an Android-based device, heading towards China. And now there’s a confirmation that that is indeed the case — the LePad tablet is being released in December, and the U1 will be a separate dock that gets released later. The 10.1-inch tablet will be obviously sized up against Apple’s own 10-inch tablet device. Unfortunately, at this time, we’re not exactly sure what kind of specifications are being put into the device. However, back in the day, the device was featuring an ARM CPU, and Skylight Linux OS. However, it has since been switched over to the Android-based system. The tablet might also feature a 16GB flash drive, and 512MB of RAM. As for

When it comes to MP3 players, having a favorite is just like anything else. Usually, when it comes to the market, Apple’s iPod usually has the choke hold. But, sometimes having that MP3 player just doesn’t work when you’re trying to work out, or go for a run. And, having that “sporty” MP3 player usually means it’s not attractive to show off to anyone. So, thanks to one designer, we’ve now got a concept design to combine both worlds. Designer Paul Rothwell has drawn up the idea of a functional MP3 player that not only looks good, but can be used while you’re working out. Featuring an attractive, slightly curved touchscreen, there’s a sliding control that will let you choose which function you want, at any given time. You can switch it over to a timer, if you want, and have the display show you how far you’ve run, the time elapsed, as well as how many calories you’ve burnt. While you’re in the running mode, the GPS tracker will aide you in showing you all of the collected information. T

Final Fantasy XIV is coming to the PC on September 30th, and with a large title like a Final Fantasy title, it’s expected that accessories with the logo on them would break into the wild. And, sure enough, we’ve got not only a keyboard, but plenty of other peripheral goodies for you PC gamers who plan on spending a large amount of hours plugging into the Final Fantasy universe. You can choose from a themed keyboard, speakers, mouse, and gamepad to pre-order right now. There is a router included, too, but that’s not on the list quite yet. But, if you take a look at the keyboard above, you’ll notice that the designers effectively forgot one main part of creating a new piece of hardware. Any kind of attractiveness. They look almost military in their design, and the sad part is, that the keyboard doesn’t actually include any features that will help MMO players. It’s just your standard keyboard. The keyboard will cost you $26, while the gamepad is $46, and the mouse is $59. The speakers

HP’s one of those companies that has their foot in several different markets. And, while there’s plenty of speculation about all of the great products they’ll release with their acquisition of Palm, that’s not stopping them from releasing other things. And, HP needed a Flip competitor. So, they’ve introduced the HP V5020u digital camcorder . While the title may give it away, the V5020u digital camcorder will provide motion detection, as well as image stabilization. There’s also a 10X zoom, and you’ll be able to see what you’re recording courtesy of the two-inch LCD screen. There’s a 5MP sensor, an SDHC memory card slot, and you can record video in the H.264 video format. Not only that, but you can hook up the recorder to your HDTV thanks to the HDMI port. You even get a carrying pouch that will come in the box. It will retail for $159 when it hits shelves some time in October.

If you’re not a fan of Gran Turismo, the fan-favorite racing simulator, but you’re aching to get your hands on a PS3 that’s got a different color to it, then you’re in luck. Sony has just announced that there’s a brand new Ceramic White version of the popular video game console heading to Japan. Sony’s actually officially announced the console today, along with that previously leaked Candy Pink PS3 controller we brought to your attention not too long ago. The Ceramic White PlayStation 3 will feature a 320GB hard drive, and the same white colored PS3 Dual Shock 3 controller. It’s the same idea as the white console that came out earlier this year, but this one has more storage space. The console will be made available in Japan on October 21st, and will be $410 after conversion. Unfortunately, Sony hasn’t said anything about the console coming to the United States, or any other international market for that matter. So, you may want to start crossing your fingers.

When a company is launching a new product, especially a major one that they hope will be a smash hit, it’s perfectly normal to see employees –especially the higher-ups– start talking up sales, figures, and expectations. Sure, you can see exceptions to the rules some times, like when Sony Computer Entertainment’s Vice President said that Move wouldn’t have huge day ones sales (which, for the record, is today), it’s usually more like what Kudo Tsunoda said in a recent interview with Gamasutra . The main takeaway? Tsunoda, the former EA Chicago head and current figure head for Kinect (formerly known as Project Natal), went ahead and said that “preorders have been really strong. As far as what we’re looking at for Holiday, this is going to be stuff that’ll blow away any of the sales you’ve seen with the iPad.” We’re confused as to why Tsunoda decided to bring a different piece of tech, from an entirely different market, into the whole conversation. Actually, it makes perfect sense: in th

THE “PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS” TO BE BROADCAST WEDNESDAY, JAN. 5, 2011, ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK Mark Burnett Returns as Executive Producer and Queen Latifah Returns as Host for the Fifth Consecutive Year New Categories Are Offered as First Phase of Voting Begins Today The PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS, in which fans honor their favorites in movies, music and television, will be broadcast Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 (9:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Mark Burnett returns as executive producer of the season’s first awards broadcast while Queen Latifah returns as host for the fifth consecutive year. For the first time ever, fans have the opportunity to weigh in on new PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS categories, in addition to the nominees and winners they will determine later in the year. Starting today, 15 categories are eligible for voting on www.PeoplesChoice.com/pca/categories with the top vote-getters being added to the pool for the 2011 show. Additional categories

via press release: CLASS IS IN SESSION: “ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?” TO HOST SPECIAL HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS WEEK Globetrotters to compete for charity on popular Emmy-nominated program PHOENIX (Sept. 20, 2010) – Before embarking on their 85 th -consecutive season in late December, the iconic Harlem Globetrotters will go back to the classroom as players compete for charity during a special celebrity week of “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?” The Emmy-nominated syndicated television game show is hosted by renowned comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Globetrotter stars Special K Daley, Big Easy Lofton, Flight Time Lang, Ant Atkinson and Dizzy Grant will have fun with the kids and put their brain power to the test. The players will donate all winnings to the Make-A-Wish Foundation ® of America, the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. The Globetrotters have worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for several years to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions

VH1′S ALL NEW WEB CAM DANCE COMPETITION SHOW “DANCE CAM SLAM” WANTS YOU! Check Out DanceCam.VH1.com To Audition Now The Eight Episode Half-Hour Series Premieres Tuesday, October 26 at 10:00 PM* SANTA MONICA, CA, – September 20, 2010 – VH1 is looking for the most outrageously talented and wildly entertaining dancers from across the country to participate in a new weekly, multi-platform dance competition show. “Dance Cam Slam” is an all new VH1 original TV series where individual dancers and groups compete live via their home web cam for a chance to win a weekly prize of $5,000. “ Dance Cam Slam ” premieres on VH1 Tuesday, October 26 at 10:00 PM*. Hosted by Marianela, each half-hour episode of “Dance Cam Slam,” will consist of three rounds. In the first two rounds contestants dance simultaneously to the same pop song on their home web cams. Our judges score the performances and declare a winner. The third and final round pits the winners from the night’s first two rounds against

NBC’S ‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ RETURNS SEPTEMBER 25 WITH SNL ALUM AMY POEHLER & CHART-TOPPING MUSICAL GUEST KATY PERRY UPCOMING SHOWS: October 2 – Bryan Cranston/ Kanye West; October 9 – Jane Lynch/ Bruno Mars New York, NY – September 20, 2010 – NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” premieres with three consecutive shows starting on September 25 with Amy Poehler and musical guest Katy Perry. Bryan Cranston will be making his SNL debut as host on October 2. Cranston recently received his third consecutive Emmy win as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the critically-acclaimed television show, “Breaking Bad,” and was also previously nominated for a Golden Globe and three Emmys for his performance on the television series “Malcolm in the Middle.” Grammy award-winning artist, Kanye West, will release his fifth untitled album later this fall that will include the new single, “Runaway.” West’s past four albums have received critical acclaim with his singles consistently topping the Billboar

Scoreboard Adults 18-49: Rating/Share 6.7/18 3.5/10 2.0/5 1.1/3 1.0/3 Adults 18-34: Rating/Share 6.2/19 2.8/8 2.2/7 0.7/2 1.0/3 Total Viewers (million) 17.004 12.165 4.422 4.166 2.671 Due to the nature of live sports programming the ratings for NBC (NFL Football) and CBS (early NFL primetime overrun) are approximate and subject to more than the typical adjustments in the final numbers. See below for more information on these Fast Affiliate Ratings. Although “Manning Bowl II” was a bit of a snooze, NBC easily won the last night of “summer season” in both total viewers (17 million) and adults 18-49 (6.7 rating). Despite the blowout, “Manning Bowl II” out-rated the original by 3% and was the fifth best overnight performance in household rating ever for Sunday Night Football . CBS was a distant second, but 43 minutes of NFL overrun was more than enough to comfortably take second place. The 7p-7:30p portion of the overrun alone averaged an 8.5 rating with adults 18-49 and 24.3 million vi