The 30-inch ultra-high-rez (2560×1600) monitor derby heats up even more now with Eizo jumping in with its SX3031W-H display, to be released first in Japan December 19th and maybe even making its way to US shores before too long. If so, it’ll have to compete against 30-inchers at that same resolution from Apple ($1,799), Dell ($1,274), HP ($1400) and that whopper we showed you from Gateway ($1,700) a couple of weeks ago.
Eizo is a bit modest with its refresh rate spec, quoting 14ms just like Apple does, compared to 11ms for Dell, and HP’s boast of 8ms. Those refresh rate specs are usually bullshit and rife with weasel words, anyway, so you’ll have to use your own eyeballs to see which one is better. One thing’s for sure, this Eizo display’s prices lag behind the diminishing trend, initially quoted at a hefty $2555 out of the gate. Ouch. [Electronista]
AU: Eizo screens aren’t about the refresh rates. They’re for graphic designers who require hardcore colour calibration and reproduction. That doesn’t mean they’re not overpriced, but it does mean refresh is the wrong point of comparison. -SB
As you can see, there’s still some little itty bitty rough spots in the iPod touch. We know there is a lot of copy and paste between the two devices, and this is nothing to be worried about, but it’s somehow surprising in a company like Apple. Lately, I have been getting the impression that, in its rush to get products out the door, Apple is leaving its legendary attention to detail in a secondary plane. What do you think?
Addy and I are going to the Maldives next week to scuba dive, and we are already packing stuff for it. Dive computers, underwater cameras, waterproof GPS and even one of these Klikk thingies, an almost-flat camera stand that can rotate up and down 18 degrees. There are two models to support different compacts and DSLRs. Available in black and cherry red for $21, it’s almost flat and made of “indestructible ABS.” This means it’s very light and, if you get enough of them, you can build your own personal Ultron.
newVideoPlayer("phonefingers_gawker.flv", 475, 376); We don’t know whether these phone fingers are real or not, but until the USB trouser press goes into production, these miniature, teatless, not-for-procreating-unless-you-lost-your-willy-in-a-freak-accident -and-had-a-rodent-penis-transplant condoms are my favourite useless thing evah. What else do you think they should be used for, though?
It looks like Verizon and AT&T’s recent “Hey, we’re not total assholes” moves might’ve been to preempt such “fairness” from getting some legal teeth, as a bunch of rowdy Senators are looking to make the mobile industry play just a bit nicer with a mobile bill of rights for consumers.
Today Western Digital announced that it has achieved 520 Gb/in2 areal density in an actual demonstration using its own perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR)/tunneling magneto-resistive (TuMR) head technology. For those of you who are counting, that makes it the highest density ever reached using continuous media. A density of this magnitude produces a 3.5-inch hard drive storing 640 GB-per-platter and single hard drive capacities as large as 3 TB. Compare that to the current leading density of around 200 Gb/in2 being shipped high volume products like WD’s 250 GB Scorpio(R) 2.5-inch drive. That’s all well and good, but it looks like you will have to wait to get your hands on this technology. Current estimates put the release at around 2010.
I dream of a day that I can dock my iPod with anything, (although I think that the release of the iCarta toilet paper holder a couple of years ago pretty much made that dream a reality.) and now Jacuzzi is doing their part with the J400 series line of iPod-compatible hot tubs. Thanks to the integrated AquaSound Audio System, you can listen to your favourite tunes without headphones while you relax. The music is pumped through waterproof micro-speakers that you can control with a sweet floating remote.
Because BlackBerries and Sidekicks aren’t quite secure enough for the NSA—the government agency that knows you called the Nintendo tip hotline way too many times in the late ’80s—they’re ordering up a bunch of General Dynamics Sectera Edge smartphones.
Not only are these things up to military spec, which means you can drop it on the dirt while taking cover, it’s got a personal organizer. The features that makes it NSA-approved are its advanced SIPRNET and NIPRNET access, DoD PKI-enabled Common Access Card Support, DoD 8100.2 requirement satisfaction, Type 1 classified data encrypted storage support, and the ability to be used inside “closed areas” with an SCIF-Friendly mode. Those specs are like security fanfic porn to the NSA tech crew. [GDC4s via Crave]
A big, big kudos to Apple on their adjustment of local Leopard pricing in line with the new strength of the Aussie dollar. Earlier reports had put the price at A$229, with the US price of $129 (pre-tax, of course) looking an awful lot cheaper. At current exchange rates US price translates to A$145, and when we add GST that becomes A$159.50. So yesterday’s announcement that we will pay $158 means… oh my…
SOUND THE GONG! THE END IS NIGH! WE ARE PAYING LESS THAN THE USA!! Seriously, in a world where we are fleeced as standard price policy, we have to give snaps to Apple for this one.
I was about to follow up with a cry of foul on the lack of a local price drop for iTunes Plus tracks, when the news landed in my inbox – DRM plus now $1.69, in line with general iTunes pricing! W00tles! Yes, I feel $1.49 would always have been a sharper, more attractive price point for iTunes songs, but bringing DRM-free tracks into line with the rest of the store is enough right now for me to spend a few download dolari.
I’m big on maintain some mental distance from my general Mac bent (god knows the mothership licks the toes of Jobs enough), but today I’ll throw them a little more love. Well played, Apple. -Seamus Byrne
