Category: News

Sony just announced a Cyber-Shot point-and-shoot camera with both GPS and a digital compass, so you can use Google Maps to find the best shooting spot in your area. Plus, it’s packing an impressively high-end sensor.

These cameras are also capable of some pretty impressive video—AVCD in 60i, in full HD resolution. They’re not just gimmicks; these guys have got some game.

SONY UNVEILS FIRST COMPACT DIGITAL STILL CAMERAS WITH

HIGH DEFINITION 1080i AVCHD VIDEO CAPABILITY

Models Also Add High Dynamic Range, TransferJet and GPS + Compass Technologies

LAS VEGAS (CES Booth #14200), Jan. 6, 2010 – Sony took the wraps off two new Cyber-shot® digital still cameras today that create a new standard of mobility with technologies that answer consumers’ on-the-go needs.

Sony has designed two new innovative Cyber-shot cameras (models DSC-HX5V and DSC-TX7) that are the world’s first compact digital still cameras to include full HD (1920 x 1080 60i) Advanced Video Codec High Definition (AVCHD) video capability. They are also the world’s smallest and thinnest AVCHD capable cameras.

These are the first Cyber-shot cameras with an in-camera Backlight Correction High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature for managing difficult lighting situations and TransferJet™ wireless technology for sharing, storing and viewing images. The HX5V model is also the world’s first still camera to include GPS + Compass and Optical SteadyShot™ with Active Mode technologies.

With Sony’s “Exmor R” back illuminated CMOS sensor technology, these cameras provide excellent low-light performance, 10fps burst shooting and the new Intelligent Sweep Panorama™ feature.

In addition to its cameras, Sony introduced three other devices with TransferJet technology at CES, including a Sony Memory Stick® memory card (model MS-JX8G) with a wireless transmitter/receiver, a Sony TransferJet Station (model TJS-1) and a VAIO® F Series notebook.

“Adding to the outstanding low-light performance and impressive Sweep Panorama feature, we are providing high-quality movies with full HD video, stereo sound recording when capturing movies on the go and an in-camera HDR solution for capturing high-contrast scenery. Sony can provide these solutions because of its expertise with other imaging products including Handycam® camcorders and α DSLR cameras,” said Kelly Davis, director of the Digital Imaging business at Sony Electronics. “Our goal is not only to make it easy for consumers to get the best shot-still or video-but also to have the best sharing experience.”

High-Quality Stills and Videos

With the AVCHD format, these new cameras record movies in 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution at 60i in 17Mbps. The AVCHD format captures a high degree of detail and smooth movement, and when footage is burned to disc, it can be played back on your HDTV using most Blu-ray Disc™ players, Sony® PlayStation®3 systems and compatible Blu-ray Disc enabled PCs. In addition to the supplied PMB software for Windows users, it is also possible to edit recorded AVCHD file using iMovie® for Macintosh users.

The camera will also capture videos in the MP4 format (up to 1440 x1080 30p 12Mbps) for online sharing.

Managing Difficult Lighting

The HX5V and TX7 cameras offer in-camera multi-shot High Dynamic Range (HDR), which combines highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one remarkably natural looking image-even without a tripod.

HDR offers a solution for strong backlight situations which typically result in either dark shadows in the foreground or a washed out background. Sony’s “Exmor R” sensor and BIONZ™ processor help to correct these issues.

Impressive Panoramas

The HX5V and TX7 cameras have an Intelligent Sweep Panorama™ feature that captures wide landscapes or tall buildings in one easy “press and sweep” motion. Due to their “Exmor R” CMOS sensor technology, they can take up to 270 and 258-degree panorama shots, respectively, horizontally or vertically with an image size of 7,152 x 1,080 (horizontal wide panorama mode). In addition, these cameras’ Intelligent Sweep Panorama feature, which is comprised of up to 100 separate captures, detects faces and subject motion and intelligently adjusts the width of each picture while stitching them together, resulting in natural looking panoramic photos.

Relive the Experience

Ideal for travelers who take hundreds of photos, the in-camera GPS + Compass feature on the HX5V camera makes it easy to store and share the location and direction of where photos were taken.

With social networking sites becoming more popular, people want to share more details of their experiences. The GPS + Compass feature provides a fun new way to share where they were — beyond the location. Using the free online satellite imagery application, Google Earth™ mapping service, users can view the images from a bird’s eye view or from the direction in which the photo was taken. The GPS function automatically adjusts the camera’s internal clock by selecting the travelling area, without the hassle of setting the time manually.

A Wireless Way of Sharing, Storing and Viewing

TransferJet technology, which was developed by Sony and is supported by a consortium of other companies, allows you to transfer files between two TransferJet-enabled devices just by bringing the TransferJet marks on each product within one inch of each other without the hassle of hunting for cables or the complication of pairing. To transfer photos, TransferJet-enabled still cameras must each utilize the TransferJet Memory Stick media (sold separately).

TransferJet technology is perfect for sharing on the go. You can select up to 10 pictures and transfer them from camera to camera. For storing images, you can place the HX5V or TX7 cameras on the lower left-hand corner of the VAIO F Series notebook and import photos. For sharing at home on devices which do not have the technology, you can connect the TransferJet Station to devices with a type-A USB port, including your TV, digital photo frame or PlayStation®3.

Designed for Technology Enthusiasts

With the most innovative digital imaging technologies, the HX5V camera is ideal for everyone from travelers to party-goers. The multi-occasion camera features a 10 megapixel “Exmor R” sensor, a 3-inch LCD screen (measured diagonally) and a 10x optical zoom with wide-angle 25mm-250mm equivalent high-quality G lens allowing easy group shots and close ups when on the move.

In addition to its AVCHD video capability, the HX5V camera has Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization with Active Mode, which lets you capture moving subjects such as kids walking or running. It allows a moveable lens element to shift with greater range of motion-10 times the range of the Optical Steady Shot™ feature at wide end in standard mode-during camera shake. The feature reduces camera shake so users can shoot smoother movie footage on the move. The cameras also have an HDMI™ output adapter for easily connecting to an HDTV for viewing pictures and movies (HDMI cable required).

Powerful and Stylish

For those seeking a sleek, compact camera, the 10MP TX7 model is just under an inch thin and is slim enough to slip into a pocket or purse. The 3.5-inch (measured diagonally) high resolution (921K) touch LCD screen offers easy image scroll by simply swiping your finger across the display. The camera’s high-performance Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® 4x optical wide angle 25mm-100mm equivalent zoom lens brings distant subjects closer and Close Focus snaps close-ups in just under a half an inch from the subject.

The DSC-TX7 camera is also compatible with the Party-shot™ (model IPT-DS1) automatic photographer, which pans, tilts, zooms and adjusts composition to capture spontaneous images. Additionally, an embedded touch sensor located on the front edge illuminates when the TX7 camera is attached. By touching the sensor, the camera goes into the “On-demand shot” mode, which allows users to select the shutter timing without losing the advantage of Party-shot’s built-in intelligence.

To give customers greater choice and enhance the overall customer experience, the TX7 and HX5V cameras feature a memory card slot compatible with both Memory Stick® (PRO Duo™) and SD/SDHC formats. Sony is also expanding its industry leading line of consumer media with the addition of SD/SDHC memory cards.

Additional features found on HX5V and TX7 include iAuto, which detects eight and nine scenes, respectively, and optimizes camera settings and Easy Mode, which simplifies the camera menu. Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization reduces blur without impacting image quality, Face Detection and Smile Shutter™ technology, which captures faces and smiles naturally.

A New Way to Share Photos and Videos Online

These models include Picture Motion Browser (“PMB”) software for viewing, editing, organizing and uploading images to many major video and photo sharing Web sites.

This spring, Sony will launch a new service and a new integration with Facebook® allowing users to easily and quickly share their photos and videos privately with friends and family. The service and the integration will be available as a downloadable update to the “PMB” and “PMB portable” software applications that are embedded with bloggie™ and Cyber-shot cameras and bundled with Handycam® camcorders, bloggie cameras, Cyber-Shot cameras and α cameras. The Facebook integration complements the existing sharing capability with such sites as YouTube™ and Picasa® Web Albums.

Pricing and Availability

The HX5V camera will be available in black this March for about $350, and the TX7 camera will be available in silver, blue and red this February for about $400. The TransferJet-enabled Memory Stick media will be available in January for about $100, and the station will be available in February for about $150. Pre-sales begin in January.

The cameras, Memory Stick, station, and a range of accessories will be available online at Sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores (www.Sonystyle.com/retail), at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

While it’s only $47 million, the 14 data center efficiency projects that won grants from the DOE and the stimulus package this morning, hold the keys to some real computing power innovation. The projects tackle bleeding-edge technology like liquid-cooled servers, ambient air cooling, modular data centers, software that can dynamically manage power per usage, and […]

Ice and LEDs combine in Harbin, China for the 26th annual Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. We would have headlined this post “City of Lice” all clever-like, but, well, obviously that was a horrible idea. [The Big Picture]

WeFi Inc., just today released a report they did on available hotspot areas in the World and it seems that the USA beats them all. WeFi, for those of you that do not know, is a service with a Windows Mobile application that gives you a live map feed of hotspots around your current location. The report shows that the US has 40% of all hotspots unlocked while Europe is down at a mere 25%. This information comes is  based on just under 50 million Wi-Fi networks that were obtained from WeFi’s database. Belgium and Norway take the cake for the highest available network in Europe , while the highest percentage of locked access points are found in Germany and Spain.

The amount of captive hotspots are also very high in Europe. If you are unsure on what captive hotspots are, they are network that you either have to pay for or the free ones that you get at McDonalds.

This is some good information if you are ever traveling somewhere and want to know where to go. The application is free for the bitters and if you are in the mood you can even go out and find all the hotspots in your area.

Get it
Source:SF

Two things that really keep us going during the snowy winter months are tea and citrus fruit. Naturally, we had to try this recipe. It’s a quick bread filled with fresh grapefruit, nuts and just enough sweetness – the perfect pair to a hot cup of tea.

Read Full Post

The DMP-B500 and DMP-B100 Panasonic portable BLu-ray players have 10.1-inches and 8.9-inches respectively, as well as Wi-Fi for connectivity and an SD card slot for photo shows. They also have a USB port, Dolby Digital, DTS HD and Viera Link, all great for keeping your toddlers—who can’t even tell the difference between SD and HD—entertained in restaurants.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Panasonic (NYSE: PC), a major developer and contributor to the success of the Blu-ray format, introduced the industry’s only second generation portable Blu-ray Disc players at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. Continuing Panasonic’s tradition of presenting innovative entertainment products, the DMP-B500 and DMP-B100 are designed to provide the ultimate high definition experience for those traveling, as well as serving as an additional stand alone Blu-ray Disc player for use with multiple TVs, either in the home, a second vacation home or a hotel room.

Both the DMP-B500 and DMP-B100 feature much of the same state-of-the-art technology found in Panasonic’s stand alone Blu-ray Disc players, including the PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus technology, a proprietary technology developed in collaboration with Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, which assures the highest level picture quality. The PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus is a high quality image-processing technology that precisely processes each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the vertical direction. It reproduces color data with twice the accuracy of conventional systems, resulting in faithful and sharp colors.

The B500 features an increased High Resolution WSVGA screen size to 10.1-inches, an expanded VIERA CAST internet functionality with Wi-Fi wireless LAN connection, an SD Memory card Slot that can playback digital still JPEG images and High Definition video (AVCHD), a USB port, Dolby® Digital and DTS(TM) HD and VIERA Link(TM), a technology that utilizes HDMI to enable control all VIERA Link combatable products with one remote. The B100 features an 8.9-inch High Resolution WSVGA screen, an SD Memory Card Slot for playback of JPEG images, an adjustable position screen, Dolby Digital and DTS HD. Both portable Blu-ray Disc players will be available in the Spring.

“Last year Panasonic was proud to introduce the unique and innovative, DMP-B15, the world’s first portable Blu-ray player and this year Panasonic cements its industry leadership position as a pioneer in the development of audio/video products,” said Richard Simone, Director, Entertainment Group, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “This continues our commitment to provide the consumer with state-of-the-art technology that is created to enhance ones’ entertainment experience. With more people purchasing Blu-ray discs, there is a growing market for this product, a Blu-ray player that allows the consumer to view those Blu-ray titles while traveling. Plus, there is the added bonus that the B500 also provides a second player for use with any HDTV to provide true 1080p quality.”

For 2010 Panasonic’s VIERA CAST’s content, found on the DMP-B500, has been expanded to include Netflix(TM), Pandora, Twitter and Fox Sports. Viera CAST continues to offer access to Amazon Video on Demand(TM), YouTube(TM), Picasa(TM) Web Albums, Bloomberg and a weather channel. VIERA CAST is accessed via an on-board Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi and therefore does not require any external set top boxes. The service is free, though there is a charge for movies streamed from Amazon Video on Demand and Netflix. Furthermore, as additional sites are added to the 2010 VIERA CAST service, they are added automatically.

In addition the design of the B500 and B100 has been refined. With a mono-arm design, the display angle of the B100 can be freely adjusted, while the photo stand-like design of the B500 allows for comfortable positions.

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Bugatti, Design/Style, Luxury

The car you see here is not the latest special edition Bugatti Veyron, nor is it a Chinese knockoff of the extreme hypercar. It is in fact a 1999 Bugatti Veyron design concept built by then-SEAT head of design, Walter de’Silva. It seems Walter was asked to submit a design concept by then-head of Volkswagen Design, Hartmut Warkuss. Word came that VW head honcho Ferdinand Piëch was working on the revival of the Bugatti brand and he needed some proposals. This full-scale mockup was built and presented, but ultimately rejected in favor of Hartmut’s own design. Thank goodness.

The de’Silva concept car languished in some dark corner until Quattroruote uncovered it and printed a spread on the car in August. Scans of that article have found their way onto the interwebs and ultimately into our own grubby little hands so we could share them with you. While there are some similarities between the de’Silva concept and the production Veyron, we’re glad VAG decided to go with the Warkuss design. Based on the Giugiaro-styled Chiron 18.3, the Veyron ultimately looked much more sophisticated and elegant. Still, this concept lives on as a footnote in the long story of the world’s most outrageous supercar.

[Source: Quattroruote via Coachbuild.com and ryanokeefe]

Walter de’Silva’s forgotten 1999 Bugatti Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Today Sony showed off a few new VAIOs and finally some of the users prayers were answered – a backlit keyboard is featured in certain VAIO models.

Let’s start with a power-house VAIO F series. This one is great for HD enthusiasts. The F Series brings PC functionality solidly into the multi-media entertainment and gaming arena.  The F Series will feature a 16:9 full HD display on select models, Blu-ray Disc playback throughout the line as well as an HDMI™ output for connecting to compatible HDTVs.

•       16.4-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen display; Up to Full HD (1920×1080)
•       Intel® Core2Quad technology for sizzling performance
•       Backlit keyboard (select models)
•       HD multimedia powerhouse/ gaming notebook
•       Blu-ray Disc™ playback and HDMI

Transfer Jet technology will also find its way into Sony’s VAIO notebook line, starting with the F Series. The TransferJet™ feature, a wireless high-speed data transfer technology that allows two TransferJet-enabled devices to communicate and transfer files simply by touching the TransferJet marks on each product together.

Joining the F Series is another new high-performance notebook, the Z Series, weighing in at just three pounds (with standard battery).

•       13.1-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen display with LED backlight
•       Dynamic hybrid graphics—three modes: Auto, Speed, Stamina
•       Backlit keyboard
•       Noise cancelling headphone supplied  for music and video conferencing
•       Ultra-portable SSD notebook weighing under 3 lbs with durable carbon-fiber/aluminum chassis

Sony also introduced a new line to its VAIO family – the Y series. This is a very affordable light weight notebook with a nice battery stamina. Sort of a nice contender to the X series, only on the cheaper side:

•       13.3-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen display with LED backlight
•       Less than 1.3 inch thin
•       Up to 7 hours of standard battery life
•       Both standard and large battery supplied for the total of 17 hours battery life (select models)
•       HDMI™ output for enjoying movies, photos and more on a compatible HDTV

An updated VAIO W netbook also is here to grab your attention, as it is eco-friendly if that matters to you:

•       10.1-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen display with LED backlight (1366 x 768)
•       Eco-friendly PC– chassis made from recycled plastic/ comes in carrying case using recyclable materials
•       Functional keyboard with springy and responsive isolated keys
•       Kidzui and Online Family Norton software to safely manage kids online activities
•       Microsoft® Windows® 7 Starter operating system

Stay tuned for more hands on experience and other news in the VAIO world…

Sony is making a big push with Playstation Network, finally bringing their breadth of media ownings and hardware together. We’re talking PS3, Vaio, Blu-ray, Bravia TVs, everything—it’s all going to play nice now.

Reverser decoupage is a process where you apply the decoupage material on the inside of an object. When I saw this project, I knew I had to give it a try. I always have fun when trying something new and this project was no exception. If you like to decoupage, or even if you’ve never decoupaged before, I hope you will give this project a try.

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• A Glass vase
• A picture to decoupage (I love roses, so that’s what I chose)
• Clear drying craft glue or Modge Podge
• Cream color paint
• Taupe color paint
• Scissors
• Water
• Paper towels
• A window cleaner with ammonia
• A craft knife
• A cutting mat
• A sea sponge

When you are working with glass, always clean it with an ammonia type window cleaner to remove debris, grease or finger prints for a beautiful finished product.

If you don’t have a picture or a card with a photo that you want to use then look on the web to find a graphic you like and print it. Using a craft knife, cut out the picture being carful to keep it looking clean.

Place the picture in a bowl of water. At first it will curl up, but then it will flatten out. When it flattens, remove it from the water and place it on a paper towel. Pat it dry with the paper towel. This process will prevent the paper from wrinkling when you apply it to your vase.

Apply glue/Modge Podge over the entire surface of the graphic and place it where you want it on the inside of the vase. Make sure the picture show through the glass. Once you have the picture where you want it, apply an even coat of glue/Modge Podge over the back of the image and let it dry completely.

When the glue is dry, remove any excess glue from the glass with a little bit of window cleaner. Allow the vase to dry. When the vase is dry, apply the taupe colored paint with a sea sponge on the entire inside of the vase. Allow this to dry and repeat the application with the cream colored paint, with the sea sponge,  to the entire inside of the vase. You may need to repeat this a few time until you can no longer see through the vase.

Since you are painting the inside of the vase, to put flowers in the vase you will need to fill a glass with water, place it inside the vase and insert the flowers into the water filled glass.

Post from: Blisstree

Reverse Decoupage Vase

The biggest news so far today wasn’t from the early CES news.  No, came from the normally friendly Netflix folks.  The two companies just created what the biz calls a DVD rental window – and not the good kind.

Today Netflix and Warner Brothers announced that they inked a deal for Netflix to wait for 28 days after the actual DVD release to make that DVD (and Blu-ray) disc available for Netflix rental.  In return Netflix gets a discount on those Warner DVDs and also gets more access to Warner Brothers movies and TV shows for streaming.  This is something Netflix has been offering the Studios since November and Warner is the first to bite.

The only positive here is that more content will be available for streaming from Netflix.  But the negative in this day and age is much more important.  This is likely the beginning of a delay for movie rentals beyond the movie purchase availability & watch for other movie studios looking for similar deals.  The next question is, what will Blockbuster and Redbox do here?  Does this create an opportunity for others to move in against Netflix?

I see this as further evidence of the media companies not caring what the customer wants and instead looking for more ways to deliver paid content to their customers in ways the customer wants they are saying too bad…

Press Release

via HackingNetflix

I actually like the rainy season – good thing since I’m an Oregonian. Having grown up in the gray and rain I enjoy it. It’s cozy and soothing. However, all of us get the winter blahs once in a while and then some color would be nice. If you need a mid winter pick-me-up and spring feels too far off, an online journey through the historic Keukenhof gardens may be just what you need. The Keukenhof, located in the Netherlands is filled to the brim with blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other spring bulbs and images of the Keukenhof are a fast winter blahs fix when you need to see some color.

Where to browse images:

• You can check out the Keukenhof website for many gorgeous images.
• Webshots has some good pictures.
• There’s an amazing Keukenhof Bulbflower garden – Holland group at Flickr.

[image via Keukenhof]

Post from: Blisstree

Got the Gray Winter Blahs

Charlie Sheen’s Christmas Day arrest has prompted Hanes to pull the plug on the actor’s ad spots for the underwear brand. The Two & A Half Men actor was collared last month after allegedly assaulting his estranged wife, Brooke Mueller, and holding her at knifepoint as the couple’s nine month old twins rested nearby.

“We suspended the commercials on Dec. 28,” Hanes spokesman Matthew Hall told PEOPLE this afternoon. In fact, the company tried to yank Sheen’s ads before then. “Some were seen on the 25th, 26th, 27th as we could not reach the networks over the holiday weekend,” Hall explained.

The ads, which support Hanes’ “Comfortsoft” line, also feature sports legend Michael Jordan. Sheen’s contract with the brand ends in mid-2010. No new ads are planned.

There are some lingering Week 17 thoughts in my head, let’s get them down for posterity’s sake.

• For two months we were forced to watch Larry Johnson(notes) slog through unproductive carries in Kansas City. When the Chiefs finally kicked Johnson to the curb, his YPC was a miserable 2.9. Then Jamaal Charles(notes) got his chance to run with the starting unit and the rest is fantasy history; that shiny new (virtual) trophy on your mantle probably might have come courtesy of the Charles explosion.

What can we learn from all this? For one thing, most power backs are reliant on a capable offensive line; if you take away any semblance of quality blocking, those runners won’t go far. Charles clearly proved he’s a better player than Johnson at this stage of their careers, but he also succeeded because he fits the Kansas City spread attack better. Charles has better quickness, reads blocks better, is worlds-better in the screen game (LJ was forever lost in the passing game, catching or blocking), and has better balance and lateral agility.

Can an undersized back like Charles (199 pounds) handle the consistent pounding that a No. 1 back takes? Probably, assuming team and player continue to play it smart. The Chiefs need to realize that backs take far less physical punishment when they’re used as receivers; Charles saw 17 percent of his touches as a pass-catcher this year and Todd Haley should work on increasing that number next year. And Charles can prolong his career (and increase his utility) by continuing to be smart about his body, knowing when to call it quits on a run and go into self-preservation mode. Warrick Dunn(notes) had this skill, Tiki Barber(notes) had this skill, and Charles, from what I’ve seen to this point, understands it as well.

Forget Charles being merely a first-round pick in 2010, I’m starting to view him as someone who’s worthy of a Top 6 selection. Who’s with me? If you wouldn’t take that plunge, tell me everyone you’d prefer to Charles going forward.

• Very quietly the Packers have solved their sack problem – after watching Aaron Rodgers(notes) take 41 sacks over the first nine weeks of the year, he was only dropped nine times in the last seven games. Part of this was better play from the pass blocking of course – getting Mark Tauscher(notes) back at right tackle was a notable key – but in general QB sacks are more about the quarterback than the public believes. For all of Rodgers’s physical gifts – and I’m very high on him – his pocket awareness has been a work in progress during his second year as a starter. By the end of the year we can safely say he’s arrived as an elite quarterback in all facets.

• The Colts didn’t seem to care about going 16-0, but getting Dallas Clark(notes) and Reggie Wayne(notes) to the 100-catch level was really important. Explain that one to me.

• Although Shonn Greene(notes) was coming on like gangbusters at the end of the year (5.3 YPC in the second half), it was telling that the Jets continued to use Thomas Jones(notes) as the goal-line option. This reflects two things at play – there’s a lot to be said for being quick and decisive at the goal line, and when a back shows a fumbling tendency (as Greene did), teams are often hesitant to trust you in the scoring area. Greene nonetheless has a bright future in front of him, but Jones isn’t going away without a fight. Look for Jones to go in the late-second or third round next year, with Greene an upside play around Round 5.

• The NFL doesn’t need to add any gimmicky rules to try to legitimize Week 17. Any team that’s run away from its conference – as the Colts did – has earned the right to shut things down if it prefers to. I’d suggest some small tweaks to address the Week 17 issue; for starters, open up playoff seeding so a divisional title only guarantees you a spot in the tournament, not a Top 4 seed. Had this been in play this year both the Packers and Cardinals would have played to win last week. It’s also a good idea to stack as many divisional games and conference games as you can for the late weeks; keep those races open.

Somewhat related to this theme, it would be a gross error for the NFL to adopt an 18-game schedule. The players already pay enough of a tax with their bodies and a longer season will only add to the possibility of meaningless late-season games. If Roger Goodell wants a longer season, why not give everyone two bye weeks?

• I grew up in New England and I’m a Patriots fan from way back (the Steve Grogan years), but let’s be fair about Tom Brady’s(notes) season – he wasn’t the best pick for Comeback Player of the Year award (Vince Young(notes) and Carnell Williams(notes) were much better choices) and his Pro Bowl bid belonged to Ben Roethlisberger(notes). Popularity goes a long way.

• Up in the Air was the best movie I’ve seen since Sideways.

• There’s a simple lesson with the Jim Zorn era – promoting a coach multiple levels at one time is pretty much a guaranteed mistake. Zorn had never been a coordinator or a play caller before the Redskins gave him the head coaching gig. Okay, the idea wasn’t for Zorn to get that spot immediately – he was initially hired to run the offense, then got the big chair when several others passed – but the rule of thumb still applies.

• There must be more to David Segui HOF vote story, right? Is this a clerical error? Is it a joke of some sort? A clerical error? There’s really no rational case to be made for Segui to even be on the ballot, let alone pulling votes. Pat Hentgen and Kevin Appier have no right to be grabbing votes either, but they’re several rungs above the Seguis of the world.

• There’s nothing quite like a football game in the snow. Don’t let the outdoor stadiums in cold-weather cities die out, NFL.

Phone Arena‘s got leaked specs for Verizon’s Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus. There’s not much being revealed for Verizon’s Web OS Phones other than the Pre getting 16gb storage and the Pixi getting WiFi. [Phone Arena via Engadget]

Sony just announced the Dash (or as they call it, the “dash”) is a crazy convergence of what we think of as a tablet with a stand-up widget device like the Chumby. It looks badass. Update: Hands-on!

It’s pretty interesting—not just a slab like a giant iphone, but an angled screen that stands upright, sort of like a Chumby with the power of a true tablet. Here are some more details on the tablet.

Update: So I got to play around with the Dash, and it’s not bad at all—but it’s almost disturbing how much it’s just a “Sony Chumby”—in fact, after asking the reps, we’ve confirmed that it actually runs a somewhat flashier version of Chumby OS. The screen is bigger and better than the Chumby One, and it must have a little heftier processor to be able to handle full-screen streaming video. It works almost exactly like the Chumby (makes sense, since it runs the same OS)—it’s got a homescreen with a clock and some basic info like weather, in which a large rotating screenshot progresses through your apps (weather, Facebook, Twitter, NYTimes headlines, email, music, whatever). You tap on the app you want when it’s pictured, and it opens up. It retains Chumby’s best features, like being able to set just about anything as an alarm (music, Pandora, and now YouTube, if for some reason you want that), although it is significantly bigger. I like it, but it doesn’t have any of the vintage cutesy charm of the Chumby, instead looking big (comparatively), black, sleek, and, well, Sony. It costs $200.

SONY’S NEW “DASHTM” PERSONAL INTERNET VIEWER OFFERS PERSONALIZED WEB EXPERIENCE AT A GLANCE

New product provides instant access to news, weather, Internet radio and other applications

LAS VEGAS (CES Booth #14200), Jan. 6, 2010 –Sony confirmed its commitment to providing consumers with innovative networked products with the introduction of the new dash™ Personal Internet Viewer.

Featuring a vivid 7-inch color touch screen (measured diagonally) and access to over 1,000 free Internet apps, including news, calendars, weather, sports, social networking and more, dash utilizes an existing home wireless connection to continuously deliver Internet content to its viewers.

“In today’s connected world, Sony continues to look for ways to help enhance consumers’ entertainment experiences throughout the home” said Brennan Mullin, Sony Electronics’ senior vice president of the personal imaging and audio business. “dash empowers consumers with a fun, interactive way to stay connected with their news, entertainment, interests and ultimately, their lives.”

By bundling favorite pieces of the Internet together, dash provides always fresh, personalized content at a glance. The new product offers free access to all apps from chumby industries, inc. as well as the robust audio and video content from Sony’s Bravia™ Internet video platform, including YouTube™, Pandora® Internet radio, Epicurious, Crackle, Livestrong™, Blip.tv and much more.

Other content includes a NAVTEQ® app for easily accessible traffic updates on a customized route, and a Cozi™ app for simple management and synching of family calendars. Further, Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment will be contributing exclusive dash apps for movie trailers, music videos, custom user themes and more, including an app from Dr. Oz offering daily health and exercise tips.

In addition, Sony dash can run multiple sources of content simultaneously, so for example, Internet radio can be enjoyed while browsing through online photo albums. Or, the alarm clock can be set to play selected online videos from music, sports and other news feeds. The device also allows users to choose apps either directly from the device or online through a PC, and new content for dash will continue to be added moving forward.

Within the device, an internal accelerometer supports vertical flip, allowing for two optional viewing angles: upright, ideal for a table or nightstand; and tilted, perfect for a countertop. It also supports multiple user profiles and channels, allowing several members of the household to create and maintain their own customized view of the Internet.

dash also features built-in stereo speakers as well as a USB port for simple connection to a variety of external electronic devices. An headphone output jack gives users the option to listen privately through headphones or through external speakers.
Sony’s dash will be available this April for about $199 at www.sonystyle.com, Sony Style® retail stores and a variety of authorized dealers nationwide.