eK-gadgets info

As expected, the biggest news with Apple’s second-generation iPod Touch is its drastically reduced price. The 8GB version of the iPod Touch is now $229 (down from $299), the 16GB is $299 (down from $399), and the 32GB is $399 (down from $499).

The latest firmware for the iPod Touch (version 2.1) is available for both the first- and second-generation players, and adds support for on-device Genius playlist creation, Microsoft Exchange push e-mail, multi-language keyboard and dictionary support, MobileMe, multiple calendar management, contacts search, and a scientific calculator.

On the hardware end of things, we’re happy to see that the new iPod Touch’s lower price does not mean cut-rate construction. In fact, the new iPod Touch 2G feels sturdier and sexier than its predecessor, with a rounded chromed-steel backing that seamlessly wraps around the back and sides of the device much like the iPhone 3G. By popular demand, the iPod Touch 2G now includes a volume rocker switch just like its iPhone cousin, for making quick volume adjustments without fussing with the touch screen. A built-in speaker is also included, concealed within the body of the Touch.

Just like the iPod Nano 4G and iPod Classic 2G, the second-gen Touch now accepts microphone input through its headphone jack, by way of compatible iPod accessories such as the newly announced Apple In-Ear headphones. That may not seem like a big deal at first glance, but when you add in the iPod Touch’s built-in speaker and App store compatibility, the Touch is starting to look like a ripe platform for VoIP communication over Wi-Fi. Time will tell.

Apple has also bundled Nike+ hardware and software directly into the iPod Touch 2G, leaving you to only need the Nike in-shoe transmitter hardware to activate the feature.

Apple rates the new iPod Touch at 36 hours for music (up from the first-gen’s 22 hours) and 6 hours of video (unchanged), although mileage will vary based on screen brightness and Wi-Fi usage.

When I first glimpsed the leaked photos of Apple’s skinny, rounded-screen redesign of the iPod Nano, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. It seemed so unlike Apple to revisit the older designs of its first- and second-generation Nano, and the wing-shaped form seemed a bit odd. Holding the Nano 4G in my hand, however, I’m starting to think that last year’s squarish design was just an awkward, forgettable phase in the Nano’s development. This year, Apple has set the Nano back on track with the thinnest, lightest design yet, and features that are hard to ignore.

Offered in a wide range of colors (nine total) for both the 8GB ($149) and 16GB ($199) capacities, the latest iPod Nano strikes a great balance of price and features. The iPod Nano 4G uses the same high-resolution 2-inch screen found on last year’s model, only now the included screen uses a portrait orientation covered with rounded glass. Video playback requires you to turn the iPod Nano 4G on its side, much like the Flash-based Microsoft Zune MP3 players. Unlike the Zune, however, Apple has included an accelerometer within the 4G Nano that reorients the display based on how the player is held, making it easier to view photos or switch the player into Apple’s Cover Flow music mode. The accelerometer also enables a new “shake-to-shuffle” feature that will automatically shuffle music playback when the player is deliberately shaken (a casual shake won’t trigger the feature). The shake-to-shuffle feature can be switched off under settings and the button-hold switch at the top of the player will disengage it, as well.

Accelerometers are neat, but the big new feature rolled into the iPod Nano (as well as the new iPod Touch, iPod Classic, and iTunes 8), is a new intelligent playlist feature dubbed “Genius.” Using the Genius feature, you can take a single song from your collection and create an instant playlist of 25 songs that share similar musical characteristics. Of course, the performance of the Genius function is proportional to the size of your available music collection–so mileage may vary. It is a novel new feature, however, and it’ll be fun to test over time.Other smaller features on the 4G Nano include the option to create voice recordings using an optional set of headphones that include an inline microphone (much like the headphones included with the Apple iPhone), and increased accessibility features for vision-impaired users (font size adjustment and the ability for menus and media information to be read aloud from a built-in synthetic voice). Previous Nano features such as music, photo, podcast, and video playback are unchanged, and extras like games, alarms, calendars, contacts, stopwatch, and notes are all still there.

The only bummer so far regarding the new iPod Nano is that despite the similarities of screen size and features, Apple is not offering an upgrade path for iPod Nano 3G users to get their hands on features such as on-device Genius playlist creation or increased accessibility features. Otherwise, sound quality seems to be about on a par with previous iPods, and battery life ratings of 24 hours for music and 4 hours are nearly identical to last year’s specs, which promised 24 hours of audio and 5 hours of video.

Now this is very interesting. HP announced a new laptop featuring up to 24 hours of continuous operation on a single battery charge. The HP EliteBook 6930p, when configured with an ultra-capacity battery, delivered nearly a full day of performance. Of course, it goes without saying that this is an optional accessory.

The EliteBook combines several energy efficient components including Intel solid-state hard drive and mercury-free LED display. Being a launch customer for the Intel X25-M and X18-M Mainstream SATA SSDs, the EliteBook will be available starting October.

Weighing in at 4.7 lbs (2.1 kg), the EliteBook 6930p is equipped with a 14.1 inch widescreen display. It protects against bumps, drops and slips, and is designed to meet MIL-STD 810F military standards for reliability and operation at extreme temperatures.

We have seen two cell phones that can boast of a 8-megapixel camera as of now, but the LG KC910 has another trick up its sleeve, a touchscreen. Built along the lines of LG’s successful Veiwty, the KC910 is endowed with a 8-megapixel camera with a Xenon flash, auto and manual focus, face tracking, and smile/blick detection. It can also record videos at a whopping 120 frames, although that would probably mean recording in QVGA instead VGA resolution. Apart from the camera, the KC910 is also a multimedia behemoth, being capable of playing DivX and Xvid movies while putting out excellent sounds by way of Dolby technology. Coming to its connectivity options, this touchscreen cell phone has WiFi, 3G/HSDPA support, and built-in GPS for turn-by-turn navigation. There’s also a Jogging Buddy feature for the fitness fanatics, which uses GPS to track the user’s jogging routes and provide useful information. Photogs won’t have to wait long to get their hands on this device, as the KC910 is scheduled for an October release with an undisclosed price tag.