Sony has refined its entry-level digital SLR with a faster, lighter and easier to use design. The new Alpha A200 model features upgrades influenced by the enthusiast-class A700 and replaces the former A100, Sony’s first foray into DSLR cameras. The performance-enhanced body features 10.2 mega-pixel imaging, 2.7″ LCD display, noise reduction for ISO up to 3200, and body-integrated Super SteadyShot image stabilisation.
“The new A200 is designed for consumers looking for an easy-to-use, reliable yet high performance D-SLR camera to meet their photographic needs,” said John Wallace, Sony Australia’s Business Development Manager for the Digital SLR division.”
Despite being targeted at entry-level buyers, the Alpha A200 provides all the functions required by keen photographers. Significant changes have been made to body design and control layout to make the new model easier for novices to operate.
The A200 boasts improved image processing engine and autofocus response, greater customisation capabilities and quieter shutter sound than its predecessor, as well as auto pop-up flash and battery life indicator that shows accuracy to one per cent.
Available from mid-February from $1,399 for the Alpha A200 body and twin lens kit (DT 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 and 75-300mm f4.5-5.6).
So you know all those funky concept designs we’ve been seeing lately, like the Air Line clothes dryer, the collapsible surfboard and the Lightway window lighting design? They’ve all been created by Australian students and are finalists in the Dyson Australian Design Awards.
Alongside these entries are a heap of more practical, less gadgety designs, and this, the Evo Scooter. Like the MIT Electro-scooter we saw back in November last year, this portable transport device folds up nicely into a portable package that you can carry with you everywhere. While it lacks the motor that the MIT design has, it makes up for it in its awesome looks and lightweight build.
Powerful game consoles are often just as programmable as research computers, and scientists are finding real world applications for them every day. “There is no doubt that the entertainment industry is helping to drive the direction of high performance computational science,” said Professor Peter Coveney of University College London.
The Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii in particular can function as great scientific tools.
If you missed going out last night to watch the World’s Biggest Short Film Festival TropFest, or you can’t wait for the obligatory DVD with next week’s Sunday paper, NineMSN have got all 16 finalists online for your viewing pleasure.
The downside is that they’re not readily available for download, and you have to sit through an ad before the video starts, but I could think of a few worse ways to spend a Monday morning, couldn’t you?
It looks like the K-Rudd express just keeps on rolling. Not content to sit back after uniting most of the country for Sorry Day last week, the Prime Minister is now looking to mobilise the government to tackle illegal internet downloads.
The Sun Herald reported over the weekend that “the Government will examine new legislative proposals being unveiled in Britain this week to target people who download films and music illegally. Internet Service Providers there might be legally required to take action against users who access pirated material.”
Unlike the RIAA’s stance of suing the hell out of any sucker that gets caught sharing music online, the proposed legislation takes a much more sensible approach to pirates with a three strikes policy, involving a warning for a first offence, a suspension of internet access for a second offence and a third offence would cancel the offenders internet access permanently.
newVideoPlayer("macpcstreetflame_gizmodo.flv", 463, 387,"");The Street is running a new video that cites research from Mindset Media, which pretty much says Mac users are assholes. Okay, they used the term “snobs,” but that was far too offensive to use in the title for this article. Mindset Media surveyed 7500 Mac and PC owners, and what they found seems believable, (we would have worded it differently.) Apparently, Mac boys ‘n’ girls are more likely to use teeth whitening products, notebooks over desktop computers, drive station wagons, pay for downloaded music, frequent Starbucks and have a greater environmental conscious. Sufficed to say, Mac users are largely douchebag-like in character. Douchebags that are reported to have purchased five pairs of sneakers in the last year, but douchebags nonetheless. Checkout the video after the jump; it’s priceless. [The Street via TUAW]
An exciting gadget weekend by anyone’s standards. Even the Amish would have enjoyed it. Here’s what you may have missed…
Wal-Mart Goes Blu-ray Exclusive in June and Toshiba To Pull Plug on HD DVD Next WeekIt’s all but official – Blu-ray has won the war. I just don’t want to have to buy Transformers again…
Laser Harp: Officially the Best Thing We’ve Seen All MorningMake music with lasers – what’s not to love about this?
Sony Magazine Says PSP-Phone Could Come As Early As February? Really?Um, not likely. Considering, you know, Feb is pretty much over now.
Poor People Use Yahoo, Richies Use GoogleWow, I’m rich! Or am I? I think my credit card would like to argue with these findings…
“If you could hold a giant magnifying glass in space and focus all the sunlight shining toward Earth onto one grain of sand, that concentrated ray would approach the intensity of a new laser beam made in a University of Michigan laboratory.” – Physorg
If that doesn’t amaze you, you need a slap. The HERCULES laser can produce that intensity instantaneously, and it is said to be the most intense known light in the universe.
I always wanted an RC car that didn’t eat batteries like Tom Cruise devours babies there’s no tomorrow. Corgi’s H2Go is fuel-cell powered RC car that just needs water and light—a solar panel powers its hydrogen station, which karate chops water into oxygen and hydrogen. The station tank takes about 2 minutes to refill, and a full charge (which takes seconds) nets you about 10 minutes of zoom zooming. And the design? By Luigi Colani, famous for his work with Ferrari and Alfa Romeo.
I think it actually looks more like something out of The Big O than Batman, though Big O borrows heavily from the former. Either way, it’s pure plastic art. More importantly, they work—some of the hand-built prototypes were a bit twitchy, but most of them were zipping around the track with no problems.
We just spotted these great, life-sized Lego models of Indiana Jones, C3PO and a Clone Wars Trooper at the annual Toy Fair. We asked how many Lego bricks it took to construct each one, but were told that it was “a big secret.” We couldn’t care less, they look amazing, and we desperately need some new office furnishings to brighten up the place. Unfortunately, these are just show pieces, and those hoping for a gigantic Indiana Jones Lego pack will have to make do with these (movie spoiler) kits instead. Clone Wars fans get some smaller Lego-loving, too, but we want them so bad, we’re going to try and smuggle the life-size models out. Stay tuned for news on the covert operation. Checkout the gallery for a ton of awesome images.
