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Portable computer: Fujitsu introduces the Lifebook MH330 mini-notebook

The maker Fujitsu continues introducing new models of its Lifebook notebooks line. This time, the company has revealed to the public (and media) the Lifebook MH330 mini-notebook, which is a new netbook model that was just unveiled in Asia.

This mini-notebook includes some interesting features: It has a thickness of 18.5 millimeters at the front side and 24.5mm at the back side. Its processor is an Atom N450 at 1.66GHz, similar to other Lifebook models previously marketed by the company.

The Lifebook MH330 has a 250-Gigabyte hard drive, a 10.1-inch WSVGA screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600, LED-backlit system with 400:1 contrast ratio, stereo built-in speakers, and 5-in-1 card reader.

Other features include 1GB of RAM memory, a very strong and robust keyboard, and a weight of just 1.1kg (2.4 pounds). Regarding the connectivity capabilities of the netbook, it supports the Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n standard and Bluetooth 2.1. Fujitsu has launched this computer without a CD/DVD reader/writer in order to reduce the weight but the system includes a software to read shared DVD discs, which will allow you to use an optical disc drive via a wireless connection with other computers.

Will Apple launch a new 27-inch LED monitor and an updated Mac Pro?

Rumors come and go all the time about Apple and its products. This time, some news are appearing regarding a possibility: Apparently, the Cupertino company would be preparing the launch of new 27-inch LED Cinema Displays and, besides that, an update in its Mac Pro line.

As for the displays, there won’t be changes (technologically speaking) because, according to some reports, the new displays will be similar to the 24-inch ones that currently exist in the market, which were introduced in October 2008.

With this, the company would pretend to introduce another additional screen with similar size to the 27-inch iMacs that have had a successful reception. This thinking is really logic, so the introduction of a device with these characteristics to generate some additional money for Jobs and his company is not an unrealistic plan, but rather a reasonable move.

But why now and not before? Well, a possible reason is that Apple would have been waiting for a fall in the high price of LCD panels that support a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, but apparently, the new products are being developed since a long time ago.

On the other hand, regarding the Mac Pro computers, the updates are related to the use of Intel Xeon Processors: The Xeon 5600 Series (12 cores) will be used in new Mac Pro models, while another version will be using a single processor model, with only six cores and a lower price.

Mini computer Sony Vaio M: It will be launched at the end of March in Europe

The new Sony Vaio M will hit the European stores at the end of March. That is a new medium-end netbook whose price has not been revealed yet; however, we think that, as usual with the Vaio lines, the price will be higher than the average prices of other netbooks. The launch was confirmed by some British representatives of the company Sony. The Sony Vaio M will be introduced as a computer with a 10.1-inch screen and a battery that will be able to provide energy during about 8 hours before needing a recharge.

Screen will be LED-illuminated (of course!) and, although at this time we don’t know what resolutions it will support, judging by the size of the monitor, it is very possible that the default resolution will be 1024 x 600 pixels. Once again, a Pine Trail chip will be the heart of the processor for this new netbook. Specifically, we are talking about the Intel Atom N450 at 1.66GHz.

As you can imagine, the operating system of the Sony Vaio M will be Windows 7. The storage capacity is defined by the 2.5-inch hard drive that will be installed by default inside the Sony Vaio M; that is to say: 250GB. In addition, those netbooks will have a single RAM module (pre-installed) with a capacity of 1GB (at least it will be the standard feature for the basic version).

Regarding connectors, there is no surprises; just the regular things of a normal computer. This new Sony Vaio M will come with Bluetooth support (a “must-have” feature nowadays), three USB 2.0 ports, and network card compatible with Wi-Fi systems.

Playstation portable games: Sony to create a smartphone with PSP gaming capabilities

There is an interesting nonofficial announcement coming from Japan: Several journalist have made public that Sony is planning to develop a smartphone where users will be able to play PSP games. In addition, apparently, Sony would be creating a device with a wide range of features, so it would not be easy to define it as a netbook, or an e-reader, or a handheld console (like PSP); actually, it would be a combination of all of them.

These projects are the reaction of Sony to Apple strategies, particularly regarding the iPad and iPhone. So, this is an interesting competition that, hopefully, will benefit the end users. But, at the same time, it could be interpreted as an obvious and meaningful evolution of the PSP, a console that has had strong competitors since it was launched commercially.

As you can imagine, the new smartphone that would be able to play PSP games won’t include slots to insert game cartridges. Instead, they could be connected to the online shop “PlayStation Store” (which is currently accessible by using a PlayStation 3 or PSP console) to download games developed for PSP. Sony Ericsson is working on this smartphone and, most likely, it will impact the mobile market in a strong way. However, it is not clear yet whether the whole PSP catalog will be supported, or only a reduced number of games. Apparently, the original games developed by Sony will be totally supported, but maybe third-party games could have some limitations, at least initially.

For the moment, the only thing we can do is to wait for official announcements and watch for the way how these projects move forward, since Sony is constantly surprising us with innovations and unexpected products. After the launch of the PSPGo, which has had very little success, the company needs a new product with a “wow” factor: That would be an opportunity to recover fans and increase earnings.

HP computer: HP introduces Compaq AirLife 100

HP introduced a new netbook that allows users to use online resources in a novel way when they need to access and use web sites, e-mail, social networks, instant messaging, photos, music and more.

The Compaq AirLife 100 includes a 10.1-inch bright screen, Android operating system (full multitasking support), and a customized touch interface.

Definitely, HP is taking advantage of its legacy and innovation in the touch technology. This way, the customized touch interface offers a new touch navigation experience, an easy system to make zoom in and out on web pages in the browser and a set of additional touch resources and shortcuts menu.

This new netbook also reinforces the strategic agreement signed on November 2009 between HP and the European telecommunications company Telefonica to define a partnership that provides mobile broadband services to markets located in Europe and Latin America. According to the companies, HP and Telefonica have created this association in order to offer an unsurpassable online experience for customers.

New in technology – Splinternet: Gadgets will modify the Internet in a radical way (or maybe not)

For many years, the Internet was simple: All of us were browsing the same global system of interconnected computer networks.

But now in 2010, thanks to the iPhone, the Kindle, the BlackBerry, the Droid and, of course, thanks to the excessively valued iPad, the idea of a basic Internet could be only a charming thing of the past.

Right now, the mobile-connected devices are everywhere and, with each day, there are more and more devices. At the same time, we are seeing a proliferation of contents and apps that are destined to be displayed only in certain gadgets. For example, the application Tweetie (for Twitter) is available only for the iPhone; and some Gmail apps only work on Android-based phones. And, if you buy an e-book for the Amazon Kindle, then you won’t be able to read it on the Apple iPad.

On the other hand, many online contents and web applications are protected by passwords, including, of course, Facebook profiles and news from some online newspapers.

Is this a new age? According to Josh Bernoff (forrester.com), yes, this is a new age: The age of the Splinternet.

However, some people think the contrary is true: According to them, actually, today Internet is more easy to access than ever and more “standard” too. What do you think? Maybe, you want to read an interesting interview with Josh Bernoff… but please, read the comments that are below the interview, too. Maybe they are more interesting than the interview itself.

New tablet PC: Notion Ink Adam has been announced

Hardly three weeks have passed since the iPad was launched, and now some other companies have decided to get down to business in the realm of tablet computers in order to try to win share in this market and compete with the new and interesting Apple gadget. Recently, Dell announced its new Mini 5 (an Android-powered Snapdragon slate), which was unveiled during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. On the other hand, according to some recent reports, Micro-Star International (MSI) will also launch a new tablet.

But, without any doubt, the tablet that could become a real threat for Apple is the one that Notion Ink has just announced (the prototype has been named as Adam), since it would integrate technologies such as Nvidia’s Tegra and ARM. Also it will support Flash and be able to play video up to 1080p. In addition, the new tablet is supposed to have a longer battery life (twice the battery life of the iPad).

It is expected that its launch will take place in the mid-2010 and many people are already speculating about the multiple functions and features that, supposedly, will be better than those of the new Apple tablet.

The Notion Ink Adam will be powered by NVidia’s Tegra chipset (as mentioned before) and will use a Pixel Qi screen with low energy consumption. The fact it will support video playing at 1080p is remarkable if we keep in mind the iPad is limited to 720p. Also, there will be different versions of the Adam with different thickness and that is a good thing because there is people out there who prefer to carry robust gadgets, even if those gadgets are bigger, but also there are other people who are always inclined to buy the thinest and smaller devices.

Samsung cell phone: B5722 Duos is available in India

The Samsung B5722 Duos just was launched in India, after being available in some European countries since last December. In this way, this mobile phone is now the first Samsung phone with touchscreen that supports two SIM cards in India.

The B5722 Duos don’t support 3G, but it allows users to use two SIM cards at the same time. Those SIM cards can be alternated all the time if the user wants so, without needing to turn off the phone.

Features of the Samsung B5722 Duos include: A robust 2.8-inch QVGA touch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, music player, FM radio with RDS (Radio Data System), a built-in 3-megapixel camera, and slot to insert microSD memory cards (up to 8GB).

The B5722 Duos also features easy access to popular social network websites (Facebook and MySpace, among others), as well as to Palringo Instant Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ and AIM.

Camera cell phone: Samsung Trill R520 with a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera

Samsung has confirmed the rumors that arose some days ago. Specifically, the company has announced that its new mobile phone, which is called “Trill R520″, will soon be available in the United States.

The technical sheet of this mobile phone indicates it includes a 1.3-megapixel camera that allows users to take pictures and record video. Besides, it has digital zoom and a night mode.

In addition, other useful features are included, for example: Built-in memory of 1 GB, a slot to insert microSD/microSDHC memory cards, USB connection, stereo Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, headphone jack (3.5mm), Global Positioning System (GPS), support to play music formats (MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ and WMA), and a 2.2-inch TFT display.

With regard to the battery, the specs indicate that the Trill R520 has a Li - Ion battery (880 mAh) and it is supposed to offer up to 270 minutes of talk time and up to 300 hours of standby time.

LCD computer monitor: DoubleSight unveils some new Smart USB screens

DoubleSight Displays has unveiled a new line of LCD display screens which are called Smart USB monitors.

They are available in several versions: 7-inch, 9-inch, and 9-inch with webcam. Each LCD monitor is designed to work with any desktop or laptop computer with an USB port (a VGA port is not needed). And, by using a software called DoubleSight’s Display Link, the user will be able to connect up to six Smart USB Monitors to his/her existing PC.

Like most of USB screens, these screens require no video chipset. Besides, they work in both landscape and portrait modes.

You can buy these monitors by using the online DoubleSigh shop. The 7-inch monitor costs $ 139, the 9-inch one costs $ 169 and the 9-inch one with webcam has a price of $ 199.

The 7-inch monitor has a maximum resolution of 800×480, while the 9-inch version supports up to 1024×600 pixels. All the versions muster a 30ms pixel response time and are compatible with Mac OS X and Windows PCs.

Headphones that are motion-activated for Sony Ericsson mobile phone

With the introduction of the MH907 headphones, Sony Ericsson has become the first company to offer motion-activated headphones.

There are built-in, capacitive motion sensors at the end of the headphones, which are able to automatically start or stop the operation of, for example, a cell phone. This is achieved by using a contact point sends a signal when a user puts or pulls the headphones in/out the ears.

When the user puts the headphones in his/her ears, the music can be listened to. On the other hand, it also allows to answer an incoming call if it is used as a handsfree with a supported cell phone. And when the user pulls the headphones out, the music will be paused or the call will be ended.

The MH907 headphones will be available in Europe first by the end of this week. They will cost 39 Euros (approximately US$ 57) and will come in two colors: black and yellow.

Notebook laptops: Samsung N130 - New netbook

As September wears on, some companies are confirming the launch of new products. And Samsung is one of them. The company has announced to the public that an interesting and tiny netbook called Samsung N130 will be launched into the market shortly. This netbook will be remarkable: it will have an internal battery for an 11 hours estimated autonomy. That is a really high battery autonomy nowadays.

The Samsung N130 has been equipped with an Intel Atom N270 processor and it will come with a 10.1-inch screen, resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam (which is perfect for those people who like or need online video communications all the time), memory cards reader, and a hard drive with a storage capacity of up to 160 GB.

In addition, this new netbook also includes a GMA 950 video card, 3-cell or 6-cell battery (it is up to the user to select the most appropriate) and 1GB of RAM.

Lastly, other features include 3 USB ports, a VGA output, an approximate weight of 1.27 kg (2.8 pounds). The dimensions are 263.8 x 185.5 x 28.5 mm (10.4 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches).

Chumby’s software could be used in other gizmos and gadgets

Chumby is a computer system designed to perform a few dedicated functions. It can provide access to Internet or an Intranet by using a Wi-Fi connection in order to run some software widgets with different purposes such as browsing pictures, playing streaming audio, working as an alarm clock, among others. Its software is a really interesting system that controls and allows to run all these functions.

Actually, this software is the component that Chumby Industries, Inc. (the company that makes the Chumby) would like to see included in other digital gadgets intended to be used in our houses.

Chumby Industries representatives are in conversations with major makers such as Samsung and Sony in order to define the terms of some agreements. Those agreements would allow to use Chumby’s software in different devices including TVs, audio systems, and portable players. In this way, the applications and features of the original Chumby would be present in those devices.

The Chumby maker have admitted that the company are not interested in developing new hardware lines. Instead, they want to be focused on making software applications, especially mini-applications and widgets, which nowadays have a growing demand from the consumer electronic industry. And honestly, Chumby Industries have demonstrated that it can be a good provider of useful and complementary applications (judging by the features and utility of its star product).

Apparently, a digital photo frame is the first product based on Chumby’s software that will be launched to the market. Some remarkable features of this new gadget would be: Data synchronization with social websites like Twitter or Facebook and an user-friendly way to access other online places (websites, directories, etc.) where the users have stored their photos. Other features include the possibility of enjoying online radio stations or getting weather and traffic reports. Definitely, it might be a very attractive photo frame! And, of course, we hope the original Chumby concept will be preserved: In that way, the users will be able to create and distribute their own applications to expand the features of the new gadgets that will be launched. That would be great! We’ll see.

Best digital camera and phone for fashionistas: Sony Ericsson Jalou

Sony Ericcson has unveiled another gadget in the mobile industry. Its most recent product is called Jalou, which is a mobile phone designed by the Italian luxury fashion house “Dolce & Gabbana” as part of an exclusive agreement.

The design of this phone is unconventional in a supreme manner. This gadget will be one of the most stylish items included in the Sony Ericsson catalog and, apparently, it is not intended to be just a simple phone: It looks like a fashion accessory.

Main features of the Sony Ericsson Jalou (clamshell) include:

* A built-in 3.2-megapixel camera
* Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
* FM radio tuner
* A multimedia player
* 2-inch screen
* Tri-band HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) capability
* Quad band GSM
* Video recorder
* And, believe it or not, a built-in mirror

The earphones that comes with the Sony Ericsson Jalou have a beautiful design. They are a sample of the great style and good taste that Dolce & Gabbana owns. No doubt, this is a cool device for fashionistas.

At this time, there is not official information about the price of this phone, or when it will be available in the stores, or what countries will be the first ones where it will be launched. So, here in MyDDNetwork, we will be alert for news related to the upcoming launch.

Plasma and LCD TV reviews: TG Sambo introduces four Full HD 16:9 monitors

From time to time, we heard about new interesting products from some not very well-known brands. Although those brands are not popular, their products are designed to please the targeted public by having a great design, or a good performance, or features that make the life easier. Besides, usually those brands offer products with affordable prices and a good quality standard.

One of those brands that are not very promoted in the media (at least in some countries) is TG Sambo. Its products catalog has been updated by adding four new Full HD 16:9 monitors. The new items of the list are:

* TG 2300A, which is a 23-inch diagonal monitor.
* TG 2400A with 24 inches.
* TG 2250A with 21.6 inches
* And TG 2000A

All these items have a built-in digital TV tuner, 20000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, HDMI connector, 2ms response time, DVI connector, VGA output, and some menu presets to use the monitors in online mode (of course, the users can modify some configurations).

So far, there is not much information except that the TG 2400A (24-inch monitor) would have a price of approximately 236.90 euros (US$ 335.60), while the other models have not an established price yet (or at least a public price). So, we have to be patient and wait until the maker (TG Sambo) reveals some additional details.

Asus review - Moblin netbooks coming soon

When Asus inaugurated the boom of the netbooks by launching the Asus Eee PC, it was made with a computer equipped with a version of a Linux distribution. Later on, this distribution was gradually replaced by Windows XP because the public preferred to have this operating system as the pre-installed option.

Now, Linux could make a strong return to this market segment with Moblin, which is a distribution developed by Intel and targeted exclusively for mobile devices (such as netbooks) in order to improve their performance and speed the start-up time of these devices. In fact, the start-up time is one of the disadvantages of netbooks.

But in the coming years, it is probable that Moblin becomes just one of the Linux-based operating systems offered with the Asus netbooks, since the computer maker could also sell some netbooks with Chrome OS, a new operating system expected to be released next year. Of course, users preferences will dictate how the market will evolve.

It is not clear yet what kind of netbooks will come with the Moblin operating system, although some people suggest it would be very appropriate for the touch netbooks or for the Asus Seashell. Anyway, we hope the company will choose Moblin 2.0 as the initial version because it has an excellent interface and it would be great for users.

Nikon digital camera lens now also works as a projector lens - CoolPix S1000PJ

Nowadays, it seems that there is a strong trend to combine multiple functions in a single device. For example, cell phones have an extensive list of functions (radio receiver, digital camera, audio and video player, clock, alarm, organiser, etc.). And that list is growing more and more.

Nikon, the multinational corporation specializing in optics and imaging, has just announced the launch of its Nikon CoolPix S1000PJ: the first camera-projector (or projector-camera) that will be available soon in the stores. This new product, as can be supposed, will be able to work as a digital camera or a projector to display images and video clips on the go.

Surely, this gadget will open the doors for more developments in the imaging industry in order to produce more and better devices.

The Nikon CoolPix S1000PJ has a 2.7-inch screen with anti-reflection coating, 1/1.23-inch 12-megapixel CCD sensor, EXPEED digital image processing, Hybrid VR Image Stabilization, 5x Zoom-NIKKOR lens, approximately 36 MB of internal memory, a built-in LED projector with a brightness of up to 10 lumens, endurance (battery life) of about 1 hour (when using the projector), and SDHC support (Secure Digital High Capacity, SD 2.0). It also includes a remote control to manage the projector in a more convenient way.

The camera-projector will be available for sale in the coming months and will cost about US$ 430, which is an affordable price if we keep in mind its versatile functions.

Harmony adapter for PlayStation 3 game

It has a compact and discreet design. The Harmony adapter can be perfectly integrated with your multimedia game console or, more exactly, with your PlayStation 3. This is a cool novelty because, until a few days ago, the Harmony remote control didn’t work for the Sony console since it was not able to “understand” the commands supported by the PlayStation 3 console. However, now it acknowledges the whole set of 51 PS3 commands. So, if you are one of the lucky gamers who are going to use this adapter, then you will be able to control DVD or Blu-Ray Disc movies, browse the XrossMediaBar (XMB) interface, and turn on / turn off the console without the need of using the switch included on it.

After connecting the Harmony device to the PlayStation 3 console, a wizard program will be started automatically. That wizard will guide users through a step-by-step process in order to configure the new element.

This device uses a Bluetooth wireless connection that allows an uninterrupted communication to be alert to and prepared for commands between the console and the remote control, even if the PS3 console is turned off. Also as an additional feature, the device can be connected with other different devices, since it has USB ports.

The retail price of the Harmony remote control is USD$ 59.99 (approximately 43 euros).

Zune MP3 player: New HD version confirmed for September 15

Today, after many rumors about the release date of Zune HD (some rumors claimed that it would be launched at the beginning of September), Microsoft stopped all these speculations. The Redmond company announced to the whole world the Zune HD would be available in United States on September 15, 2009. It is not a surprise because, anyway, September was always the expected month for this launch.

Recently, many blogs and news websites have been mentioning this interesting portable media player that has captured the interest of hundreds of people around the world, due to the expected features and design. In this way, the expectation caused a lot of rumors and even a picture of a display stand was leaked yesterday on a website without having official confirmation. So, apparently, there are a lot of potential buyers.

The cost per unit of the upcoming Zune HD will be about $220 for the version that can storage up to 16GB. On the other hand, the 32GB version will cost about $290. And some people think a 64GB version could be launched too, but there is no official word about that.

At the moment, these prices are confirmed only for United States. But, of course, there will be new announcements about the launch of this gadget (and its prices) in Europe and other regions around the world.

By the way, if you want to buy a multimedia player, then you can compare some features of different options in this Wikipedia page (it includes the upcoming Zune HD).