T-Mobile G1 launch - first phone on Android is finally released

Everybody was shocked when Google announced its mobile device operating system, called Android. Its huge difference from others is and will be its openness - it is open source, unlike almost every mobile OS. Many Linux geeks celebrated this event, because with help of such giant as Google open source standards will spread faster and wider. We all waited for the first devices that work on this interesting OS, so it happened - first gadget operating on Google Android is here. It is named T-Mobile G1, and is currently sold by T-Mobile. More information about Google smartphone after the break.

October 23 was the day when T-Mobile G1 hit the stores, and it caused hundreds of people to wait almost 10 hours to get this phone. Of course, the hype was not that size as iPhone's was, but it is an amazing result in any case. Many people picked T-Mobile G1 mostly because it is from Google, and it is not iPhone. Yes, it is considered the main competitor for famous iPhone, and it is deserves this title - Google and HTC tried very hard to make a worthy opponent. Let's look closer and find out, what it has to offer to its users.


T-Mobile G1 was developed by HTC, well-known manufacturer of Windows Mobile devices. It codename was HTC Dream, and it surely deserves such title. It is fully packed with features - 3G support, 3.2 inch LCD with 320 x 480 resolution, Qualcomm 528 MHz CPU, exchangeable (unlike in the iPhone) 1150 mAh Li-Ion battery, 3.1 megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth... One of the main features and advantages over iPhone is QWERTY keyboard that is hidden under the screen. Real buttons are way more comfortable than virtual ones. Unfortunately, it lacks standard 3.5 headphone port, maybe because G1 is not aimed at music?

Google worked hard on their OS, it looks polished and featured. However, there are still things to be done. For example, all text input now can be done only via QWERTY keyboard. Yup, no on-screen virtual one. It's a shame that this feature wasn't included right from the start, let's hope it will be added in future updates. There are two main features that make Android superior that iPhone's Mac OS X - task switching and copy / paste support (ok, ok, three - with third being the Android openness). iPhone users are begging for copy / paste right from the start, and nothing was done in this direction yet. Maybe Apple keeps this feature in its sleeve to "amaze" users in the future, however it is shame that such advanced phone doesn't have such simple ability. 192 MB of RAM makes multitasking on G1 a breeze (iPhone still lacks task switching options), it will be enough even for very memory-hungry applications.

When it comes to applications, there is all you expect from Google phone - tightest integration with all Google applications and services: Gmail, Google Maps, Google Search, Google Talk... Web-browser is already famous Google Chrome, which was stripped down to work on the Android. Due to open platform it is very likely that soon there will be a ton of different applications for G1, no information about possible digital signatures from Google - if Android is open-source based, maybe apps will be open-source too?

In any case, T-Mobile G1 is only first phone with Android, there are planned more releases with Google OS, so iPhone will be seriously rivaled by the whole G lineup. Currently G1 lacks some serious applications and a sleek design - while first is correctable, second will be corrected only in next Android phones. It will be interesting to see how situation will develop, we'll expect some moves from Apple too - it is unacceptable when its direct rival have some features iPhone doesn't. T-Mobile G1, like iPhone, is sold only with carrier's contract and costs 179 dollars with a two-year voice and data agreement.

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Microsoft is launching a mouse that can be used on any surface

BlueTrack represents the most advanced tracking technology as Microsoft says. Microsoft confirmed assumptions in connection with Say Goodbye to Laser company by launching a new mouse technology called BlueTrack.

American company says that this one combines the power of optic technology with the precision of the one based on laser, allowing to this new type of mice usage on almost any kind of surface excluding mirrors and transparent glass.


This technology is based on the combination of two modern technologies - a LED with a blue light that has a pack light, which is more than 4 times wider than a laser on a simple mouse, and a special optical architecture in addition with a new image sensor, created by Microsoft and new pixel geometry also. This combination produces an image with a high contrast of the surface on which the mouse is used. It allows a very high accuracy for the movement detection of the mouse.

So, this mouse can be used on the surfaces that were inaccessible until now as a carpet or the surface of the marble or granite. Microsoft affirms also that this kind of mouse is less predisposed to accumulate dust and cloth.

BlueTrack will appear in November with two models of mice – Microsoft Explorer Mouse at a price of 99 dollars and Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse at a price of 79 dollars.

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"The Best of the best" gadget reviews

There is a lot of information that we are interested on the Internet. We can find everything from news to jokes, from newspapers to videos online. However, it is very difficult to filter out all the information that appears on the web.

This is where websites like Gadget Advisor come in handy. They filter out the information for us and give us only the best examples of electronics and gadgets produced. For example, engadget specializes on giving us the information about almost every gadget or electronic devices produced, as opposed to filtered information about the most interesting and cool stuff like these network media player and universal remote control.


Here is where you can find all sorts of reviews from gadget reviews to online backup services. The best way to get good information from the internet is reading blogs like Gadget Advisor that give the fullest and newest information about gadgets.

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Samsung reveals Pixon - new phone for photography addicts

Samsung made a bunch of interesting announcements this year, including Samsung Instinct, Omnia and others. This time they announced new cell phone model, Samsung Pixon, which is aimed at camera functionality, and is made in the same form factor as Instinct or Omnia. Not only phone has a camera boosted up to 8 megapixels, it also has a lot of other interesting features, like handwriting recognition and others. Details follow...

Samsung Pixon, previously named Bresson, is a new model in the Samsung cell phone lineup, and carries model number M8800. Although it looks like Omnia, it is a simple phone with no smartphone functionality. However, it is a feature packed phone indeed. It features big bright 3.2 inched LCD with 240 x 400 resolution, Bluetooth, GPS features, microSD slot for memory expansion, office viewer for Office files, accelerometer (it looks like it is a new fashion nowadays - placing accelerometers in mobile multimedia devices).


However, the main function of this phone is its camera, which is by far the most superior part of this gadget. Its resolution - 8 megapixels, is enormous for a mobile phone, and other parameters are amazing as well. Overall, it has 8 megapixel camera with autofocus, double LED flashlight, image stabilization feature, smile and face recognition, geotagging and video recording - ability to record videos in WVGA (720 x 480) and VGA (640 x 480) resolution in 30 FPS. It also has ISO 1600, which is a very high sensitivity for mobile devices. Phone works on a TouchWiz interface, same is on Omnia, except that it is not a Windows Mobile shell.

Music lovers won't be discouraged either: phone is multimedia oriented so there is a FM radio with RDS inside, alongside with a multimedia player that supports many audio and video formats. It is interesting, how such number of features became united in this size - 107.9 x 54.6 x 14.9 mm and weight - 110 g. Unfortunately, it lacks Wi-Fi support, so user is limited to EDGE or 3G connectivity only. Maybe this move was made to promote Omnia, which is almost the same, only it is based on Windows Mobile and has Wi-Fi.

This curious model is scheduled to release in the beginning of November. Announced price is 550 Euros (800 USD) which is pretty expensive. Maybe it is better to purchase Windows Mobile communicator for almost the same price? If you want hugely increased functionality over boosted camera - this is the best choice.

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Sony is launching a900 – first DSLR full-frame camera with 24,6 Mp in the world

DSLR Sony a900 camera sets a new standard for those who are excited with photos and who need an unsurpassed quality and creative photographing.

The top product of aDSLR series benefits of the first CMOS full-frame sensor that has 24,6 mp. Specially developed by Sony this innovative sensor of a very high resolution and big dimensions equivalent with a movie frame of 35 mm offers an extraordinary image details and a wide dynamic range.


a900 offers an unmatched image quality, creativity and performance, criteria that are absolutely necessary for professional photographers.

* Superlative images, full of details with the help of CMOS Exmor full-frame sensor, 24,6 of effective mega pixels.
* Light viewfinder that covers 100 % of the field of vision
* Improved image stabilization - SteadyShot INSIDE that offers
* Very fast photographing and faultless images with little noise due to two BIONZ image processors
* Image visualization on LCD Xtra Fine screen of 3 inches and high resolution
* Very fast and sure auto focus system with 9 points of focus and 10 points of assistance
* Continue photographing on 5 frames per second and 24,6 mp maximum resolution


Sensor of a new generation capture faultless images with an unprecedented loyalty in live colors, with very realistic textures and subtle color tones graduations. Filling a very high native resolution of a sensor, Exmor technology realizes on-chip analog/digital (A/D) conversion of a signal and reduces the noise in two steps. This guarantees an obtaining of images with an extremely low noise that benefit of high-precision lenses.

To disclose the creative potential of a full–frame sensor of 24,6 mp, two advanced BIONZ image processors can manage a huge quantity of information at a very high speed. Powerful algorithms of noise reducing are being applied as before data conversion in RAW mode, so during the image processing, resulting impeccable images, full of details with a minimum noise level. Two BIONZ processors contribute to a very high reaction speeds allowing continue photographing with 5 frames per second at a 24,6 maximum resolution.

Quality without compromises of the camera is highlighted by a high precision focus system that ensures a small number of failed images. 10 points of assistance contribute to detections of subjects, improving of unclear objects detection, all these is for removing lost time for a perfect focus and also a dedicated F2,8 sensor for rising of focus accuracy for very illuminated objects.

A very high resolution of the LCD screen (921.000 pixels) allows clear visualization even in very illuminated spaces. There exist multiple visualization options for simplification of the process of selecting the best images in addition with the possibility of adding of a RGB histogram and other information on photographing.

By pressing a single button, LCD screen passes in Quick Navi – a fast navigation mode and allows camera settings adjusting without interrupting the photographing process. New intelligent preview function simulates the white balance effect, the exposure level directly on the LCD without effective photographing. After a simple confirmation camera uses new settings for next images. It simplifies a sure control on the final image.

Already made images can be watched also on a connected HT TV set. PhotoTV HD mode offers a possibility of image visualization with a fantastic clarity in colors that are very close to reality on compatible BRAVIA TV sets. HDMI connector offers a possibility to watch images in HD format on each compatible TV set.

Designed for a perfect functionality even in challenging environments a900 has a robust design with a very flexible aluminum chassis with edges made of magnesium alloy. Lenses, place for a memory card, buttons and other sensitive zones are protected from dust and humidity by a rubber gaskets, offering an experience of usage without worries. The interior of the device is protected by an anti-dust system that takes care of the full-frame sensor and does not allow infiltration of unwanted particles when you change lenses.

Allowing a stable and comfortable handling as in a portrait mode photographing so in a landscape mode an optional vertical handle can include two high capacity batteries to extend the autonomy of the camera. It offers at the same time an access to all important control functions of the camera and it is designed from the same high quality materials – magnesium alloy and rubber parts.

Today it is available on the market a large number of compatible lenses with what users can make the most of the potential offered by the full-frame sensor of the camera.

Premium G series of optical equipment offered by Sony consists of a high performance SSM telephoto (70 - 400mm) F4-5.6 endowed with a powerful Super Sonic wave engine that is created for a fast and silent auto focus.

Also Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lenses of a 16-35 mm F2,8 ZA SSM is a fast super-angular zoom, ideal for capturing images inside, landscapes and complicate photo-reportages.

The device was completed with a new strong HVL-F58AM (GN58) flash that has an innovative Sony Quick Shift Bounce technology, offering an increased control of the highlights, direct illumination corners during the photographing in portrait mode for the light reflections keeping and obtaining of a more natural and pleasant illuminations of the subject. For photographing in studio Wireless Auto Flash Control function can command up to three flash groups, establishing different illumination reports simplifying by that light complexes set-up management.

DSLR full-frame a900 model will be available since the next month.

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AMD introduces ATI Radeon HD 4600 graphics plaque series

AMD redefines with Radeon 4670 and Radeon 4650 what means mainstream graphic plaques.

AMD fulfill their promises and launches officially a new series of graphic plaques - ATI Radeon HD 4600 that intend to offer an exceptional performance for games and HD multimedia, at power consumption lower than one of a bulb. And all these at a very attractive price for graphic plaques from mainstream category.


4600 graphic plaque series are practically limited versions of 4800 series, with what AMD succeeded to overcome those from Nvidia. They are based on TeraScale graphic processor, realized in 55 nm and with 320 stream processors that is a modified RV770.

ATI Radeon HD 4670 works at a 750 MHz nuclear frequency, 2 GHz memory frequency, has a memory interface on 256 bits, and can include 512 MB or 1 GB of GDDR3 memory.

Less powerful version, ATI Radeon HD 4650, has a 600MHz nuclear frequency, 1GHz memory frequency, memory interface on 128 bits and includes 512 MB of GDDR2 memory.

Both of these plaques have 320 stream processors, 32 texture units and support DirectX 10.1, include Unified Video Decoder (UVD) 2.0 for HD video processing and HDMI 7.1 surround sound audio.

Plaques have a reduce power consumption, 60 W for 4670 and 50 W for 4650. Prices are extremely attractive, being smaller than initial estimations. So, HD 4670 with 512 MB of memory costs 80 dollars (version with 1 GB will appear later), and HD 4650 has a price of 60 dollars.

From initial reviews performance of these gadgets seems to be excellent, considering low power consumption and price. So HD 4670 is situated somewhere among Radeon HD 3650 or GeForce 9500 GT and Radeon HD 3850 or GeForce 9600 GT/GSO in some tests even overcoming them.

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ASUS presents R50 gadget – a powerful and ultra-mobile mini-computer

New ASUS R50 sets a new performance level in portable equipment operating. The gadget weighs just 520gr and benefits of a spacious LCD screen with a diagonal of 5,6 inches and being of a dimension of a passport.

ASUS R50 represents a sure and powerful mini-notebook which offers an invaluable portability and advanced communicative facilities (as WiFi and HSDPA 3.5G).


R50 integrates facilities for a global communication, orientation and entertainment anywhere where it is placed on the glob. Mini-computer integrates a Premier GPS gadget thanks to navigation in real time is extremely easy.

ASUS Photo Navigator allows to the users to process images even during the travel. Users will have calculating power, portability and optimum performances to operate in any place in the world.

R50 offers work and entertainment environment without constraints. Integrating all the power and functionality of a notebook, this miniature gadget weighs just 520 grams and allows Internet navigating due to complete communicative facilities. R50 presents a Sun Read touchscreen which is able to show clear and contrasting images, as in open spaces, in sunshine, so in illuminated offices. An incorporated video camera allows to the users to communicate visual with friends and family without any complications anywhere it can be connected online.

R50 represents an ideal solution for those who want to work and to travel in any place as in chaos of urban traffic, so in the country roads or in a very special mountain landscape. It is enough to put out of the pocket your R50, to set it on the windscreen and to get immediately the details about the arriving to the destination. ASUS R50 is always prepared to work near the user to which it allows to photograph and to register through the camera with a sensor of 2 mega pixels and an auto focus function. The pictures that are made can be immediately digitally processed and can be associated to the other information.

R50 is a mini-notebook with which you can entertain even on the road. Due to mobile theater system and with an optional TV tuner users can watch TV programs and favorite movies in conditions offered by the Microsoft MCE system. The panoramic screen improves the quality of visual experiences offering a multimedia entertainment satisfaction during the travel.

R50 uses one of the surest methods of recognition of identity, protecting the information by using of a fingerprint reader. This integrated gadget will immediately recognize the authorized person, the security system is being almost impossible to penetrate. The user can be relaxed in connection with data security.

Specifications:
* Platform Intel UMPC Menlow
* Processor Intel Silverthrone 1.33G
* Network connection Intel 3.5G WWAN /or DVB-T
* Operating system Microsoft Vista Home Premium/ Business/Ultimate
* Touchscreen 5.6” WS.VGA 1024*600 LED-backlit
* Storage capacity 1.8” SSD 32GB
* RAM memory DDRII-400, integrated memory: 1,024MB
* Connectivity without cable: 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
* Integrated GPS
* 0.3MP+2MP Dual Camera
* 3 USB ports (Keyboard/Slave/STD); 1 microSD slot
* Dimensions: 19.9 x 9.7 x 2.84 cm, 520g (with 2 cells battery)

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