Author: Kyle VanHemert

In today’s Remainders: video! And in many cases, things caught on video for the first time, like Samsung’s E6 and E101 ebook readers, Apple’s $1 billion data center, Big Bloom’s “miraculous” fuel cell, and a modern day Superman.

Stylish Stylus
We got a look at Samsung’s ebook readers—the E6 and the E101—back at CES, but now you can check them out on video. Their claim to fame: electromagnetic resonance stylii that let you doodle on the screen and annotate your digital texts. Sure, that seems like it’d be useful for a particular set of ebookworms, but now that we’re in the era of the iPad, watching and waiting for that E-Ink display to refresh is even more grueling. Still, the hardware looks pretty sleek, and might be a good fit for those who remain committed to their marginalia. [Engadget]

Pickleback
At the beginning of February, Nickelback had 1,380,820 fans on their Facebook page. Facebook user Coral Anne wondered if a Pickle could get more fans. So she started the group, “Can this pickle get more fans than Nickleback?” The answer was yes, yes it could; on Friday, the Pickleback surpassed Nickelback in terms of Facebook fandom. The little stunt apparently did not sit well with Chad Kroeger, Nickelback’s frontman, who fired off this snooty little message to Pickelback’s creator. No matter—I think she got her point across. [The Daily What]

Hype Machine
This morning, everyone was abuzz over a little cube called the Bloom Box. The publicity stemmed from a 60 Minutes segment in which the Bloom Box was described as a “power plant-in-a-box,” and posited as a “miraculous” solution to our energy crisis. Well that’d be great, wouldn’t it? BoingBoing, however, was quick to cut through the hype and peg the Bloom Box for what it really is: a gussied-up fuel cell. Here’s how it works:

[The creator, Sridhar] said he bakes sand and cuts it into little squares that are turned into a ceramic. Then he coats it with green and black “inks” that he developed.

Sridhar told Stahl there is a secret formula. “And you take that and you apply that. You paint that on either side of this white ceramic to get a green layer and a black layer. And…that’s it.”

Big Bloom Boxes are currently powering some buildings owned by Ebay and Google and the results are indeed promising. Sridhar says that he hopes to shrink the Bloom Box down to be cheap enough for consumers sometime in the next 5 to 10 years, which usually translates roughly to 10 to never years. So, all in all, is the Bloom Box miraculous? No. Is it revolutionary? Probably not. Is it a viable option for cheap, renewable energy going forward? Maybe. [BoingBoing]

Safe!
Neatorama deems him a “real-life Superman.” I don’t know about that, but this guy, who dashed in front of an oncoming train to push a truck off the tracks, definitely has some super cajones. I like how he and his buddy celebrate so ecstatically right after his daring feat. And rightfully so. I’d imagine the “I just saved a car full of people” high five is the best high five of all. [Neatorama]

Nap Time
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley—nappers that they are—have determined that a 60- to 90-minute nap in the middle of the day can increase your brain’s ability to retain facts that you learn later in the day. Which is great, because I totally have an hour and a half in the middle of the day when I’m just sitting around trying to figure out how to replenish my brainpower. Oh wait no I don’t. There have been many studies like this that show how the mind benefits from naps, but they never seem to make it any easier for me to find time to do so. [PhysOrg]

That Data Center Is Fully Operational!
You know that tingle up your spine you got when you first caught a glimpse of the Death Star II? Watch this fly-by video of Apple’s new $1 billion iDataCenter in Maiden, North Carolina and tell me if you get the same feeling. Still, you’ll probably learn to love it—in the iCloud future, this is where all of your data will be stored. (Unless it’s stored on a Bloom Box-fueled Google data center, that is). [Data Center Knowledge]

Can You Hear Me Now?
Fast Company has a piece about the 10 most addictive sounds that are currently nestling their way into our brains (largely without us even realizing it). The study, conducted by Buyology Inc. and Elias Arts, ranked the top 10 branded sounds and the top 10 non-branded sounds. The most addicting sound for each, respectively: the Intel jingle and a baby giggling. The article touches on how advertisers have begun to understand our brains’ addictions to these noises, and how soundbites are playing an increasingly large role in branding. All Intel needs to do is get a baby giggling “bumBUM bum BUM” and they’re unstoppable. [FastCompany]

A Wired writer wanted to test just how effectively the Spot GPS Messenger could save his life. So, in the dark of night, he walked for 8 aimless hours into Tahoe National Forest. Then he pressed Spot’s emergency button.

Having covered his tracks carefully and inserted himself as deeply into the forest as he could, it took only 30 minutes for a squad of rescuers, including snowmobiles, skiiers and a snowcat, to find him.

Every ten minutes, the Spot GPS device relays its location to 48 different satellites. You can have this data beamed to a website so friends and family can track your trek, but it’s also available, when you hit the 911 button, to the GEOS International Emergency Response Center in Houston, Texas. When they receive the alert, they immediately determine the best rescue team and dispatch them to your exact location.

The Spot GPS is $169 with a $100 per year registration fee, but if you’re adventure-inclined, it’s probably worth it. [Wired]

I’ve played with my fair share of LEGOs, but I never actually envied the little guys until I saw Dave DeGobbi’s Crawler Town, a work as impressively conceived as it is constructed. I’d forfeit bendable elbows to live in it.

It sort of reminds me of those old books on a single building—Castles or Pyramids or what have you—where you could look at the huge, detailed illustrations and imagine dozens of little stories unfolding in every corner.

Attention is even given to the world in which the Crawler Town dwells. As DeGobbi describes it:

Crawler town roams the barren wastes of a post steam-punk world after cataclysmic climate change do to excessive coal use. Several such cities exist but Crawler town is the most popular due to the Aero 500 hydrogen fuel cell Air races that are held. Many people travel the wastes to Crawler town for vacation and to enjoy rare luxuries like Pizza, fresh vegetables and Beer. Travelling the wastes in search of minerals and aquifers ( vital for survival) the mobility of the city keeps it away from the vicious sand storms of the wastes

I’m even willing to excuse the machine-city’s “Eco-punk” designation just because it’s so damn cool. [Flickr via Brothers Brick]

If you’re a Nexus One owner and you have a sense of adventure—or are black-out drunk—you can now flash an alpha version of the leaked HTC Desire ROM on your phone. Speaking of Flash, this ROM has it.

Have you secretly harbored Desire-envy ever since its unveiling at MWC? This is your chance to close the gap; the Desire ROM will give you its Sense UI as well as support for Flash 10.1, apparently.

Of course, this is all very experimental, so things are buggy and it’s more of a curiosity than a permanent makeover. But a cool curiosity, nonetheless. As usual, proceed with extreme caution. [Redmond Pie via Boy Genius Report]

Recently, Apple removed Wobble—an app that adds real jiggle to photographic boobies—from the App Store. Other removals followed. Now, a developer who talked to Apple has the scoop on the future of iPhone titillation, and it is bleak.

Really bleak. Like no racy photos, no suggestive language, no bathing suits bleak.

This devastating news comes by way of TechCrunch, who has been following this story closely (but not in a weird way). Initially it seemed that Apple’s new policy was to ban “overtly sexual content,” which was disappointing, but, you know, understandable. Now TC has received word from a developer who has discussed the matter with “multiple App Store reviewers,” and things aren’t looking too hot. Not even close to hot, in fact.

Said developer was told “there will be no more applications that are for any purpose of excitement or titillation.” Huh? I get pretty excited playing Tapulous—are they going to ban that too? Well, if you’re thinking that maybe behind the hyperbole things aren’t actually so bad, think again. Here’s the full shakedown, as recapped by the developer of Wobble, an individual who has been standing in the shower since Apple first turned on the cold water on Thursday night:

1. No images of women in bikinis (Ice skating tights are not OK either)

2. No images of men in bikinis! (I didn’t ask about Ice Skating tights for men)

3. No skin (he seriously said this) (I asked if a Burqa was OK, and the Apple guy got angry)

4. No silhouettes that indicate that Wobble can be used for wobbling boobs (yes – I am serious, we have to remove the silhouette in this pic)

5. No sexual connotations or innuendo: boobs, babes, booty, sex – all banned

6. Nothing that can be sexually arousing!! (I doubt many people could get aroused with the pic above but those puritanical guys at Apple must get off on pretty mundane things to find Wobble “overtly sexual!)

7. No apps will be approved that in any way imply sexual content (not sure how Playboy is still in the store, but …)

This can’t be life! Of course, the glimmer of hope here is that Apple is still reviewing their policy and taking a hard line while doing so, just to be safe. On the other hand, this could it, the real deal, the Puritanical future of apps on the iPhone. I hope you have a thing for girls in turtlenecks. [TechCrunch]

The Mars Society is a group that prepares for man’s eventual exploration of Mars with simulations in the Utahan desert. But their mission logs, posted regularly on the group’s website, reveal a tension that is very real—and very funny.

The two-week simulations, including various experiments and equipment tests, take place at the Mars Desert Research Station, located outside Hanksville, Utah. The volunteers who participate are expected to take the matter very seriously—after all, our future Mars colony depends on it. But of course, some pretend Mars astronauts are more dedicated than other pretend Mars astronauts and this is where the trouble starts.

The current team occupying the Research Station, Crew 90, is led by Nancy Vermeulen. According to their “Mission Info” page, they are the first team comprised entirely of Belgians. In the wake of the trouble they’ve been having, it now seems ominous that the last line of their statement reads, “the media is following our project very closely.” Indeed, Geekosystem picked up on the mission and faithfully documented its simmering turmoil.

After days of snits and snubs, the tension came to a head on February 15. In that day’s report, Commander Vermeulen explains:

The growing frustration that after 9 days PE, Nora and Margaux are
still not able to manage the Hab systems/ standard engineering
reporting system (and even don’t consider this as a problem!), exploded
during the lunch.

The lack of dedication to the mission of some people overloads the
others and it had to be spoken out. The problem was already there from
the first day, when it came out that some people didn’t prepare
anything for the mission, didn’t look at the manuals, which were send
to them months ago and didn’t even prepare the tasks for their own
role.
The accusation into my direction that I didn’t brief enough about the
systems was too much. Nicky almost exploded.
Arjan reacted double: At one hand he couldn’t stop criticising the
incompetence of some others during last week, but during the discussion
he acted as if he was from Barcelona (don’t know anything). He has his
own mission and own world.

The Commander’s Reports for the last days of the mission, which ended yesterday, obscure the interpersonal conflicts that paralyzed the crew. Only a few bloody noses are referenced, perhaps as physical manifestations of the crew’s frustrations.

You can read the whole saga unfold on the Mars Society site, or check out the abridged version at Geekosystem, who has done a commendable job tracing how the drama transpired. To Crew 91: Godspeed. The Red Planet makes beasts of men. [Mars Society via Geekosystem]

Surely by now you’ve heard about the high school student suing Philadelphia’s Lower Merion School District for remotely accessing his webcam. And maybe you read the Superintendent’s response and thought, “well, maybe this whole business is getting blown out of proportion.” It isn’t.

According to a Washington Post report from early this morning, the school district has admitted to remotely activating its laptops’ webcams forty-two times over the last 2 years. Now the FBI is involved, determining if the school district violated any wiretapping or computer-privacy laws in the process.

The school district maintains that the webcams were only accessed in efforts to retrieve stolen or lost laptops, but this whole mess stems from the punishment of a student in which a webcam shot, snapped while the student was in his home, was cited as evidence of wrongdoing. The extent to which the school abused its ability to access the webcams isn’t quite clear at this point, but the original incident makes the school’s defense about using them strictly as a security measure pretty hard to believe. [Washington Post]

There’s a lot of hostility swirling around Foxconn these days. First, Foxconn security assaulted a photograph-snapping reporter in China. Now there’s a report that workers at a Mexican Foxconn factory burned the joint down after being forced to work overtime.

Apparently at the end of the work day on Friday, supervisors at the Foxconn factory in Juarez, Mexico weren’t quite ready to wrap up for the weekend, so they told the workers that the transportation trucks that take them home everyday were being held up at a military checkpoint. In the meantime, the workers were forced to keep toiling away without any extra compensation.

Well, that bit about the military checkpoint wasn’t entirely true, and when the workers found out that the trucks were just being blocked-in in the parking lot, they expressed their anger by setting fire to the gymnasium, the area of the building in which the factory’s finished computers and cell phones are stored.

This reportedly isn’t the first time the slimy managers at the Juarez plant had tried to strong arm their employees into staying overtime without extra pay, so the explosive reaction is not entirely surprising. Sometimes you just gotta fight fire with arson. [El Norte (sub. required) – Thanks Wilibaldo]

Samsung’s new TL500 is capable of shooting RAW with a crazy fast F1.8 lens and lets you view it all on a twisting AMOLED screen. It’s possibly Samsung’s best point-and-shoot ever, and it could be a Canon S90 killer.

In October, we swore that the Canon Powershot S90 would never leave our pockets. But we might be willing to empty them out for Samsung’s TL500.

The TL500 packs a 1/1.7″ CCD sensor—the same size as the S90’s—and has a 24mm Schneider f/1.8 lens which makes for faaaast shooting and wiiiiide angles, with 3x optical zoom. The TL500 smartly scales back on the megapixels for better low-light performance, packing 10 as opposed to the 14MP offered by their recently announced CL80.

The TL500 shoots RAW and offers the garden variety of shooting modes including full manual control, and it has Samsung’s Smart Auto 2.0 and Dual Image Stabiliziation tech for recognizing surroundings and keeping them sharp in your photos.

Sweetening the deal, the TL500 has a swiveling 3.0″ AMOLED screen, so you will be able to see your shot no matter what crazy position you find yourself in.

But—and there’s always a “but,” isn’t there—the camera only shoots 640×480 video, and with a steep pricetag of $449, we would’ve liked to see 720p capability.

Nevertheless, Samsung has been steadily improving their camera offerings, and with the TL500 they might have created their masterpiece. You can be sure that we are going to get our hands on one as soon as possible to see if that’s the case. It’ll hit shelves sometime this spring.

SAMSUNG LAUNCHES THE TL500 – A HIGH-END COMPACT WITH AN ULTRA WIDE AND BRIGHT F/1.8 LENS

Fast Operating Speed and Ultra-Sensitive 1/1.7″ CCD Will Impress Enthusiast Photographers

Anaheim, CA (February 20, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, proudly introduces the 10 mega-pixel TL500, a high-end compact digital camera designed specifically for today’s advanced and enthusiast photographers. The new flagship of the company’s compact digital camera family, the new TL500 incorporates a full-range of advanced features, including a high-performance imaging sensor and one of the brightest lenses ever featured on a compact camera – a 24mm ultra wide angle Schneider KREUZNACH, f/1.8. The TL500 will be on display during PMA 2010, February 21 23, in the Samsung booth, #2227, in the Anaheim Convention Center.
“With the TL500, Samsung further differentiates its lineup from the competition and achieves yet another milestone in the industry,” said Mr. SJ Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. “With ultra-wide angle capability and unparalleled speed, the TL500’s lens offers a new level of versatility allowing the user to be more creative and take better pictures.”

High-Quality Optics and Images
The Samsung TL500 is sure to turn heads thanks to its ultra-wide, f/1.8 Schneider lens – one of the brightest ever featured on a compact digital camera. The impressive f/1.8 lens offers photographers a wider range of aperture steps and shallow depth-of-field, giving them the ability to blur out the background of their images while maintaining focus on their subjects. The ultra-fast, f/1.8 lens also allows users to take better photos in low-light environments as more light is passed through to the new high-performance 1/1.7″ CCD sensor. Larger than the sensors typically found in compact digital cameras, the TL500’s 1/1.7″ CCD offers unrivaled sensitivity (max ISO 3200/full-resolution). Together with Samsung’s re engineered and fast, DRIMeIII imaging processor, the TL500 captures high-quality images, regardless of the lighting environment.
The high-end Schneider lens offers a 24mm, ultra-wide focal length and 3x optical zoom. Much wider than traditional compact cameras, the TL500’s 24mm ultra-wide angle lens allows photographers to capture more of a desired scene, such as beautiful landscapes and large groups of friends or family. For blur free images, the TL500’s lens is also paired with Samsung’s Dual Image Stabilization technology.

Versatile Display Enhances the Viewing Experience
Composing and reviewing images on the TL500’s three-inch, swiveling AMOLED screen is a pleasure. The rotating AMOLED display will allow photographers to precisely frame their images the way they want and shoot from just about any angle, including overhead or low to the-ground shots. Compared to the traditional TFT-LCD found on most digital cameras, the TL500’s AMOLED provides users with a higher contrast ratio, deeper blacks and more accurate, vivid colors, even when viewed from an angle or in direct sunlight. The TL500’s AMOLED display is also more efficient when it comes to power consumption, allowing photographers to maximize battery life and shoot longer on a single charge.

Multiple Shooting Options
The TL500 supports RAW and gives enthusiasts full control over their images thanks to its shutter priority, aperture priority and full Manual shooting modes. When using these settings, shooters can experiment with features such as slower shutter speeds and depth of field; however, for those who prefer ease-of-use over manual controls, the TL500 also offers Samsung’s Smart Auto 2.0 (Still & Movie) scene recognition technology. Applicable for video recording (640×480 / 30fps / H.264) and taking digital stills, this intelligent feature analyzes the scene and then automatically selects the appropriate settings for the best results possible. Using this mode requires minimal effort and does not sacrifice image quality for simple operation.

Specifications
TL500
Mega-Pixels 10 mega-pixels
Optical Zoom 3x optical zoom / ultra-wide 24mm
LCD Size 3.0″ swiveling AMOLED
Lens Schneider KREUZNACH
Ultra-Bright f/1.8 lens
Movie Mode 640×480 @30fps / H.264
Size 114.3mmx63.2mmx29.2mm
Special Features – Ultra- Bright f/1.8 lens
– 24mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Lens
– 3.0″ Swiveling AMOLED
– Dual Image Stabilization (Optical + Digital)
– Manual Controls: A/S/M
– RAW support
– Smart Auto 2.0 (Still & Movie)
– Large 1/1.7 inch, high sensitivity CCD
– Front Wheel Control
Availability Spring 2010
Pricing $449.99
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Samsung Electronics America’s PMA 2010 press releases, video content and product images are available at www.samsung.com/newsroom.

Not to be upstaged by the TL500, the Samsung TL350 point-and-shoot offers its own unique bag of goodies: it shoots RAW, shoots video up to 1000fps, has an AMOLED display, and can capture 10MP stills while shooting 1080p video.

The TL350 sports a 10MP CMOS sensor and a 24mm Schneider lens capable of 5x optical zoom. It shoots RAW and has full manual controls, so seasoned photographers can get down and dirty.

Onto the good stuff: it’s one of the first non-superzoom point-and-shoots capable of shooting full-HD, 1080p video. We don’t know how it’ll actually look, but that’s a big deal. Even more bonkers is its new Dual Capture function that lets you snap 10MP stills while you’re shooting video, without having to switch modes. That’s hot. When you’re not doubling up, it has a burst mode in which you can shoot up to 10 full size shots per second.

It’s also capable of shooting high-speed video, all speeds of up to 1000 fps, though we’ll have to wait and see how it stacks up against the Casio EX-FH100, the forthcoming update to the reigning high-speed point-and-shoot champ. In any event, shooting at 1000fps crams the video down to a teeny 138×78 resolution.

Shooting 1080p video would be enough to grab our attention, but the high-speed video, simultaneous shooting, and RAW capabilities really make the TL350 a standout. It’ll be coming down the pipeline this spring for $350.

SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES THE HIGH-SPEED TL350 WITH FULL HD VIDEO

TL350’s New Dual Capture Mode Allows Users To Take 10 Mega-Pixel Stills While Simultaneously Recording Full-HD Video

Anaheim, CA (February 20, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award winning innovator in consumer electronics, today unveiled the TL350 – a high-speed, 10 mega pixel compact camera with 1080P, full-HD video recording. With a maximum video recording speed of 1,000 frames-per-second (fps) and a burst mode capable of capturing 10 full-size digital stills per second, the TL350 takes high-speed imaging to a new level for today’s consumer. Additionally, the TL350 enhances the digital imaging experience with Samsung’s Advanced Panorama Shot with Object Tracking as well as an innovative Dual Capture mode, which allows users to simultaneously take 10 mega-pixel still images while recording full-HD videos. The TL350 will be on display during PMA 2010, February 21-23, in the Samsung booth, #2227, in the Anaheim Convention Center.
“The TL350 is representative of Samsung’s strategy to lead the digital imaging industry through product innovation,” said Mr. SJ Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. “Consumers have expressed frustration with having to choose between shooting video or taking digital stills with their camera. With the TL350, Samsung has addressed this unmet consumer need, and now gives consumers the ability to do both simultaneously.”

High-Speed Digital Stills and Video
The TL350 allows users to capture high-quality images no matter how fast the action may be. Its advanced CMOS sensor and re-engineered DRIMeIII processor yield impressive low light performance and most notably, speed, giving users the ability to capture up to 10 pictures-per-second (pps) at the resolution of 10 mega-pixels. Additionally, the TL350 features a 1,000 fps (138×78), high-speed video recording mode which today’s creative consumer can use to reveal details of a fast moving event in super slow motion. Whether it’s used to capture an everyday moment in an astonishing new light or to analyze a golf swing, the capabilities of the TL350’s super-slow motion playback are endless.

Impressive Optics and Display
In addition to its impressive speed, the TL350 also features a high-performance 24mm ultra wide angle Schneider KREUZNACH lens complete with a generous 5x optical zoom. Much wider than traditional compact cameras, the TL350’s 24mm ultra-wide angle lens allows photographers to capture more of a desired scene, such as large groups of friends or family, while the 5x optical zoom will allow them to get in close when shooting from a distance. Samsung’s Advanced Panorama shot with Object Tracking will further enhance the camera’s wide-angle capabilities, ideal for the better capture of scenes such as vast landscapes. For blur free images, the TL350’s lens is also paired with Samsung’s Dual Image Stabilization technology.
The TL350 is equipped with a three-inch AMOLED screen providing users with a higher contrast ratio, deeper blacks and more accurate, vivid colors, even when viewed from an angle or in direct sunlight. The AMOLED display is also more efficient when it comes to power consumption, allowing photographers to maximize battery life and shoot longer on a single charge.

Features for the Advanced and Novice Shooter
The TL350 will appeal to both novice and more experienced users thanks to the combination of Smart and Manual controls. The camera’s intuitive Smart Auto 2.0 (Still & Movie) scene recognition technology will take the guess work out of taking a perfect photo or video every time; however, for those users who want to have more control over image capture, the TL350 supports RAW and offers Manual control. When set to Manual, consumers can experiment with features such as slower shutter speeds, depth-of-field and even focus.
Specifications:
Video Resolution / Frames-Per-Second
Aspect Ratio Speed Max. Resolution
WIDE (16:9) 30 fps 1920×1080
60 fps 1280×720
240 fps 608×342
420 fps 316×178
1000 fps 138×78
STD (4:3) 60 fps 640×480
240 fps 320×240

TL350
Mega-Pixels 10.2 mega-pixels
Optical Zoom 5x optical zoom / Schneider lens
LCD Size 3.0″ VGA AMOLED
Lens Schneider KREUZNACH
Movie Mode 1080P HD Resolution With HDMI Connectivity
Size 3.91 x 2.32 x 0.85 inches
Special Features – 24mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Schneider Lens
– 5x Optical Zoom
– 3.0″ VGA AMOLED (614K dots)
– Full-size Dual Capture Feature
– Advanced Panorama Shot with Object Tracking
– High speed CMOS sensor
– 10fps continuous still shot at 10M pixel
– High-Definition 1080p Video With HDMI Connectivity
– High speed Movie recording at up to 1,000fps
– Dual Image Stabilization (Optical + Digital)
– RAW Support
– Full Manual Control
– Advanced Picture Mode (manually adjust color tones)
– Smart Auto 2.0: Still & Movie
– Smart Album
– Smart Face Recognition (up to 20 faces)
– Perfect Portrait System: Beauty Shot / Face Detection / Self Portrait / Smile Shot / Blink Detection/Red-eye Fix
– Photo Style Selector
– Built-in software for playback, management, and editing on a PC (no CD-Rom installation required)
Availability Spring 2010
Pricing $349.99
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Samsung Electronics America’s PMA 2010 press releases, video content and product images are available at www.samsung.com/newsroom.

Samsung’s AQ100 and SL605 are billed as being waterproof and durable, respectively, but they’re really not all that waterproof and durable. Still, the AQ100 shoots 720p video on the cheap and can go for a dip, if not a dive.

With the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2‘s 30 foot waterproof rating, the 10 feet of waterproofness guaranteed by Samsung’s AQ100 doesn’t seem all that impressive. But you can bet that it’s going to be cheaper—at $200, the AQ100 is almost half as pricey as Sony’s new rugged cam, the DSC-TX5, which can only go the same 10 feet deep.

The AQ100 also shoots 720p video, shoots 12MP photos and sports 5x optical zoom. A dedicated Aqua Mode tweaks settings for shooting beneath the surface, and the AQ100’S image stabilization will help keep videos looking smooth. The quality likely won’t stack up to that of Sony or Panasonic’s new rugged cameras, but if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to get some underwater shots, it’ll do the trick.

The $129 SL605’s nods towards durability are its metal front cover, dust-proof controls, and scratch-proof casing, but I wouldn’t count on it taking too much of a beating. But it might suffice if you’re looking for a cheap point-and-shoot for an accident-prone loved one. Like the AQ100, it shoots 12MP and has 5x optical zoom, though it only shoots VGA video. The SL605 features a Smart Night Mode that allows the brightness of the flash to be controlled for better looking nighttime photography.

Both cameras will hit shelves this spring in a variety of colors.

SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES PAIR OF DURABLE COMPACT CAMERAS ALLOWING USERS TO GET ADVENTUROUS WITH THEIR PHOTOS

Waterproof AQ100 and Durable SL605 Offer High-End Features in Protective Frames

Anaheim, CA (February 20, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today added two 12 mega-pixel point and shoots to its digital camera lineup for 2010 – the durable SL605 and the waterproof AQ100. Thanks to their elements focused design, the AQ100 and the SL605 grant peace of mind and allow users to focus on taking the perfect shot, rather than worrying about damage to the camera. The AQ100 and the SL605 will be on display during PMA 2010, February 21-23, in the Samsung booth, #2227, in the Anaheim Convention Center.
“Memories can happen at any given moment and in any environment,” said Mr. SJ Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. “Further diversifying and expanding the range of digital imaging solutions available from Samsung, consumers can rely on these durable compacts to perform in the most challenging of environments as they’re both built to last and feature packed for the highest-quality results.”

AQ100
Offering extraordinary capabilities, the slim (0.78″ thick) AQ100 was developed for use in up to 10 feet of water and thanks to the camera’s exceptional low-light performance, it’s capable of taking bright images at that depth. Whether taking photos of friends and family in the pool or a school of fish while snorkeling in the ocean, users will benefit from the AQ100’s dedicated Aqua mode, which will optimize camera settings for the best possible underwater photos.
A powerful camera on land or in water, the AQ100 boasts an ample, 5x optical inner zoom lens complete with Digital Image Stabilization to help reduce blurry images. Additionally, the AQ100 features a bright, 2.7 inch TFT-LCD screen for framing and reviewing images.
In addition to taking beautiful still images, consumers can also record impressive 720p HD video above or below the water. The AQ100 offers image stabilization while recording video and for complete simplicity, it has Smart Auto (Still & Movie) scene recognition technology which fine tunes both video and picture settings for the best possible results. All the users have to do is point and shoot.

SL605
The new SL605 was designed with durability in mind, and offers consumers Samsung’s Anti scratch Mask, which safeguards the camera from any unwanted scratches during everyday use. Furthermore, key areas of the Samsung SL605, including the bottom, buttons and areas surrounding the 2.7-inch TFT-LCD (230,000 pixel), are rubberized to further protect the camera from elements such as dust, dirt or sand.
Beyond its durability, users will also benefit from the Samsung SL605’s internal 27mm wide angle, 5x optical zoom lens, which gives them the ability to take sharp and detailed images from any distance. With a wide-angle lens at their fingertips, users will be able to capture more of a desired scene, such as landscapes or large groups of friends and family. The SL605 offers standard definition, VGA video recording and also features Samsung’s intuitive and easy-to-use Smart Auto scene recognition technology.
Samsung has also incorporated a Smart Night Mode in the new SL605, which will allow consumers to capture sharp, properly exposed images when shooting at night. Typically, a flash can be too bright and wash out one’s subject when used in low-light or night-time settings, ruining what could have been a great image. With Samsung’s new Smart Night Mode, this is no longer an issue as consumers can now increase or decrease the power of the flash to ensure the perfect shot, the way they want, each and every time.

Specifications
AQ100 SL605
Mega-Pixels 12 mega-pixels 12 mega-pixels
Optical Zoom 5x optical inner-zoom 5x optical zoom
LCD Size 2.7″ TFT-LCD (230K pixels) 2.7″ TFT-LCD (230K pixels)
Lens SAMSUNG SAMSUNG
Movie Mode 1280x720p @30fps / H.264 VGA @30fps MJPEG
Size 3.7″ x 2.4″ x 0.7″ 3.8″ x 2.3″ x .85″
Special Features – Water-proof up to 10 feet
– 5x optical inner-zoom
– 720p HD video recording
– Smart Filter (Lens & Color Effect)
– Smart Auto (Still & Movie)
– Smart Album
– Perfect Portrait System: Beauty Shot / Face Detection / Self Portrait / Smile Shot / Blink Detection/Red-eye Fix
– Photo Style Selector – Durable design (Metal Front Cover, Dust-proof Button-pad & Anti-scratch Mask)
– Smart Night Mode
-Li-ion Rechargeable Battery
-Smart Auto
-Smart Album
-Perfect Portrait System: Beauty Shot / Face Detection / Self Portrait / Smile Shot / Blink Detection/Red-eye Fix

Availability Spring 2010 Spring 2010
Pricing $199.99 $129.99
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Samsung has updated their HMX-U10 with two new compact camcorders, the HMX-U20 and the HMX-U15. Both shoot 1080p video and feature time lapse recording, but bumping up to the U20 gets you 3x optical zoom.

Nothing too exciting about these updates, but their solid specs ensure that Samsung is keeping up with the Joneses in the compact camcorder category. The U20 pictured here, like the U10 before it, is slightly curved, like someone stretching out after a long slumber, but it now packs a built-in USB plug for easy transfer.

Both camcorders sport 1/2.3″ CMOS sensors, with the U15 shooting 14MP stills and the U20 shooting (presumably better) 10MP stills with 3x optical zoom-action. Both offer 2″ LCD screens, HDMI connectivity, and image stabilization technology.

They’ll be available in black, silver, red and blue this spring—$229 for the U15 and $249 for the U20.

NEW SAMSUNG ULTRA-COMPACT CAMCORDERS MAKE IT EASY TO CAPTURE AND SHARE HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO

HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 Offer Full HD Video, Built-in USB and HDMI Connectivity

Anaheim, CA (February 20, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today extended its family of ultra-compact camcorders with the introduction of two new models, the HMX-U20 and the HMX-U15. Building on the success of the Samsung HMX-U10, the new HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 bring new features and functionality to Samsung’s ultra-compact camcorder family, such as a built-in USB connection, which now makes it easier than ever to not only record, but share full HD video with others. Adding even more, the new HMX-U20 now puts a true 3x optical zoom in the palm of consumers’ hands, allowing for additional creativity when recording life’s special memories. Both the HMX-U20 and HMX U15 will be on display during PMA 2010, February 21-23, in the Samsung booth, #2227, in the Anaheim Convention Center.
“Thanks to consumers’ demand for portability and ease-of-use, the ultra-compact camcorder category has exploded in growth,” said Mr. SangRyong Kim, Senior Vice President of Camcorder Team, Samsung Electronics. “The new HMX U20 and HMX-U15 offer not only portability and ease-of-use but also a number of versatile features like time-lapse recording that allow users to easily capture and share life’s important moments the way they see them.”

High-Quality Video and Digital Stills
The HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 come fully equipped with high-performing 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensors which help capture stunning, 1920×1080 full HD resolution video (30p / H.264). In addition, the ultra compact HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 also boast impressive digital still image capability. With the HMX U20, consumers can capture 10 mega-pixel digital still images, while the HMX-U15 shoots 14 mega-pixel digital still images. This impressive digital still capability eliminates the need for consumers to carry a separate digital camera as everything they’ll need is in one, ultra-compact device. The camcorders also include Hyper Digital Image Stabilization to help produce blur-free video and the HMX U20 adds even more versatility with a true 3x optical zoom. Consumers can also get creative with their video thanks to fun and unique features such as time lapse recording, which allows users to program the camcorder to record at a pre-set interval of one image every one, five, 10 or 30 seconds. Time lapse recording is especially useful for condensing extremely long events, such as rolling clouds on a sunny day, into a short, easy to-view video.

Easy Connectivity
The HMX-U20’s and HMX-U15’s built-in, swing-out style USB connection gives users the ability to forego having to always carry a separate USB cable to connect and upload footage to a computer. The built-in USB connection can also recharge the camcorder’s battery, eliminating the need to transport a separate charger while on-the-go. Furthermore, the HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 offer HDMI connectivity, allowing consumers to enjoy their full HD video on their HDTV.
The HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 also feature Samsung’s play edit sharing program, called intelli studio. This intuitive program allows consumers to turn any computer into a mobile studio, giving them the ability to edit and play their video without having to install supporting software. Sharing is also simplified thanks to a one-touch “upload” button on the HMX-U20 and HMX-U15. When connected to a computer with an internet connection, the one-touch “upload” button links directly to popular destinations such as YouTube™, reducing the number of steps needed to upload footage to content sharing Web sites.
Designed for Portability and Comfort
The Samsung HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 are extremely portable with dimensions of just 2.1″ x .61″ x 4.09″. In addition to their compact size, the HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 are also highlighted by a unique design that’s as ergonomic as it is stylish. Designed to make the camcorders more comfortable to hold, the camcorders’ bodies are angled at seven degrees which encourages a more natural grip reducing overall stress on the user’s wrist and arm.
Specifications
HMX-U15 HMX-U20
Image Sensor • 1/2.3″ CMOS • 1/2.3″ CMOS
Lens • 1X, Auto Focus • 3X Optical Zoom
LCD • 2-inch LCD • 2-inch LCD
Image Stabilizer • Hyper Digital Image Stabilization • Hyper Digital Image Stabilization
Memory • SD/SDHC • SD/SDHC
Interface • USB 2.0 (swing-out)
• HDMI • USB 2.0 (swing-out)
• HDMI
Unique Features • 1920×1080 Full-HD Video
• 14MP Digital Stills
• H.264 Video Format
• Ultra-Compact Design
• Seven Degree Angled Grip
• HDMI Connectivity
• Built-in USB (swing-out)
• USB Charging
• Hyper Digital Image Stabilization
• Built-In intelli-studio2.0 Software
• One-Touch Upload to YouTube • 1920×1080 Full-HD Video
• 3x Optical Zoom
• H.264 Video Format
• 8MP & 10MP Digital Still
• Ultra-Compact Design
• Seven Degree Angled Grip
• HDMI Connectivity
• Built-in USB (swing-out)
• USB Charging
• Hyper Digital Image Stabilization
• Built-In intelli-studio2.0 Software
• One-Touch Upload to YouTube
Color • Black, Silver, Blue, Red Black, Silver, Blue, Red
Availability Spring 2010 Spring 2010
Pricing $229.99 $249.99
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

The Achilles’ Heel of the latest and greatest Nehalem-based Mac Pros seemed to be their trouble handling audio processing—even playing a song in iTunes reportedly caused overheating and sacked performance. Mac Pro Audio Update 1.0 offers sweet relief.

According to MacWorld, the new update, which rolled out last week, seems to help the matter both in terms of cooling temperatures and reclaiming processing power.

In a series of tests, they determined that installing the update resulted in a significantly quicker Aperture import and Compressor encoding with the machine simultaneously running iTunes—19% and 16% improvements, respectively. After the update, the Mac Pro’s CPU was also running 30 degrees cooler and sucking less power from the CPU and power supply.

The update is currently only for Snow Leopard machines, so Leopard users, who have also reported the problem, will have to wait a bit longer to get things sorted. [MacWorld]

Vitra, a Swiss furniture manufacturer, recently completed the Vitrahaus as a presentation space for their collection. Yes, that’s a real photograph. The building’s comprised of 12 stacked “houses,” and if you can believe it, the inside is no less stunning.

Designed by Herzog and de Meuron, Vitrahaus’s large, house-shaped windows provide various views of the surrounding area during the day—it is located on the border of Germany and Switzerland, in the town of Weil am Rhein—but at night the focus flips, with the windows becoming glowing portals into which passersby can peer.

The inside is clean and minimalist which lets Vitra’s colorful furniture take center stage. Each room has a touch screen, on which visitors can browse through Vitra’s catalog, learn more about particular pieces, or purchase furniture right there on the spot. High design and high tech.

We’ve oogled some of the company’s chairs before, but I must say I’d rather be standing in the Vitrahaus than sitting in a Vitra.

DesignBoom, who headed out to Vitra’s campus to take these photographs, has plenty more information and pictures of the exterior and interior on their site. [DesignBoom]

A Cornell University professor analyzed 150 of the highest grossing movies of the last 70 years. The more recent the movie, he found, the closer it adhered to the mathematical formula that describes the human attention span.

In the 1990s, researchers at University of Texas in Austin determined that our attention spans could be described by the 1/f fluctuation, a pattern representing the ebb and flow of our concentration over a period of time. In a new study, professor James Cutting found that the more recent the blockbuster, the more closely the length of its shots followed that same fluctuation.

Whereas Detour, made in 1945, has shots that only vaguely correspond to the 1/f fluctuation, the 2005 King Kong remake stays surprisingly snug with the attention span wave.

As Cutting explains, this increasing correlation means that films “resonate with the rhythm of human attention spans,” but just because movies are increasingly pleasing to our subconscious minds doesn’t mean that we will necessarily like them more: the Star Wars prequels strictly followed the formula. [PhysOrg and PopSci]

In what may be a precursor to the hippie/robot showdown we’ve always hoped for, musician Patrick Flanagan has founded Jazari, a three-piece robotic drum circle with some impressive grooves. If that’s not fun enough, it’s all controlled by two Wiimotes.

Last week we looked at Marv, a robotic vibraphone that banged out an impressive rendition of “Flight of the Bumblebee.” This week’s robotunes come courtesy of an ensemble.

Flanagan wields two Wiimotes to control the rhythm, volume, and pitch of the three different drums. The D-pad determines which part of the drum is struck (and thus the sound it makes) while turning the Wiimote side to side controls the tempo of the notes and pointing it up and down controls their volume. Other buttons allow Flanagan to record loops on the fly and manipulate those patterns live.

Flanagan’s software even allows the other drums to analyze the grooves he’s creating and improvise their own patterns, though he doesn’t spend too much time talking about this capability. I think, as frontmen often do, he likes the control. [PopSci]

Yesterday HP announced the V1020h, a 720p-recording, SDHC card-reading pocketcam. It has a built-in USB plug and an HDMI port for sharing, but the real noteworthy tidbit here is the pricetag: $109.

There’s not much more info on the V1020h’s specs quite yet, but at $109 it’s a good $30 cheaper than the least expensive pocketcams we tested in our most recent Battlemodo. It’s purple and it’s slated to hit shelves this summer. [Nexus404]

In today’s Remainders: a celebration. Photoshop turns 20 and reminds us why we love it with laser-eyed babies and an Earth with AT-ATs. We’ve also got possible iPad preorders, definite MobileMe and Chromium OS improvements, PMA bummers and more.

RIP PMA
Pentax is the latest manufacturer to bail from PMA, joining Canon and Leica who have also announced that they will not be attending the gigantic photography trade show this year. It could be in protest of the show’s relocation from Las Vegas to Anaheim, though you’d think they’d take the vacation anywhere they could get it. [Electronista]

iPreorder
Charge your MacBooks, grab your sleeping bags, and make your peanut butter and jellys—iPad preorder time is drawing nigh. According to the website AppAdvice, “a reliable source of ours familiar with the matter” claims that preorders for the tablet will start next Thursday, February 25. Though the source says the initial preorders will be limited to Wi-Fi models, I’m sure that won’t stop the foam that’s already accumulating at the corners of the fanboys’ mouths. [AppAdvice]

MobileMeep
Apple has quietly rolled out a number of improvements for MobileMe, specifically enhancing its accessibility from the iPhone and iPod Touch. In the main, the improvements come by way of new set-up links in the Contacts, Mail, and Calendars sections, as well as the ability to use the Find My iPhone feature from another iPhone instead of just a computer. So thieves should take note: MobileMe and its phone-finding abilities are now actually mobile. [Yahoo!]

Got My Eye-On Chromium
A new build of Chromium OS, dubbed Flow, features a few important updates: improved battery life, better automatic updating, and full support for machines running NVIDIA Ion. So if you’ve got a rig running on Ion and your eye on Chromium, now’s your chance to tinker away. [Engadget]

Photoshop Strikes Back
Photoshop turned 20 today, and while it’s not old enough to legally drink it can still seamlessly blend our world with those of Star Wars, as seen in these unsettlingly realistic images of Star Wars characters, vehicles, and villains hanging around out on Earth. Might be time to enlist in the Imperial Academy, just to be safe. [This Blog Rules]

Lasers, Baby
We see Photoshop’s (re)touches everyday without even realizing it—in print ads, book covers, billboards and the rest—but those of us who spend countless hours on the internet see things that wear their Photoshopped status as a badge of honor on a daily basis. The latest in a long line of unabashedly unrealistic memes is Babies With Laser Eyes. Sure in the real world babies are cute and cuddly and adorable, even when they’re poopy and crying. But in Photoshop world, all babies are potentially deadly robots whose eyes can scorch anything with a single glance. I like Photoshop world. [Babies With Laser Eyes]