eK-gadgets info

Canon has introduced the new EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital SLR. The Mk IV doesn’t just take photos — it takes HD videos too, at a variety of resolutions and frame rates. Here are the highlights:EOS-1D Mark IV

• 16.1 Megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor
• Supports all Canon EF-mount lenses with a 1.3X crop factor
• Sealed, weather resistant magnesium alloy body ; shutter rated to 300,000 cycles
• Dual DIGIC 4 image processors with 14-bit A/D conversion
• 3-inch LCD display with 920,000 pixels and live view support (with both contrast detect and phase difference AF)
• Optical viewfinder has 0.76X magnification and 100% coverage
• New 45-point AF system, with 39 cross-type focus points; new AI Servo II AF mode improves focusing performance when your subject is moving
• Continuous shooting at up to 10 frames/second (28 RAW, 121 JPEGs when using a UDMA-enabled CF card)
• Full manual controls (obviously)
  • Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus bulb mode
  • Standard ISO range of 100 - 12,800, expandable to 50 - 102,400 (!)
  • Three RAW sizes to choose from
• Hot shoe and flash sync port for using an external flash; X-sync speed is 1/300 sec
• Auto Lighting Optimizer improves contrast, Peripheral Illumination Correction reduces vignetting, Highlight Tone Priority protects highlight detail
• Records Full HD video (1920 x 1080) at 24p, 25p, or 30p
  • Can also record 720p or VGA movies at 50p or 60p
  • Full manual control available
  • Records monaural sound, with support for an optional external mic
• Dust reduction system
• Dual memory card slots: CompactFlash Type I/II and SD/SDHC
• HDMI output
• New Wireless File Transmitter (price TBA) supports numerous Wi-Fi protocols, Ethernet, and can be connected to a GPS; User can control up to ten other cameras, access the camera remotely, and more
• Uses LP-E4 lithium-ion battery; 1500 shots per charge using viewfinder
• Ships in late December for $4999 body only

Nikon has announced their new D3S digital SLR, which is an update to the popular D3. While the D3S uses a newer FX-format CMOS sensor than its predecessor, the 12.1 Megapixel resolution remains the same (interesting, huh?). This new sensor allows you to increase the ISO as high as an incredible ISO 102,400 — and the results are usable, believe it or not (I’ve seen them myself). The D3S also adds HD movie recording, just like on Nikon’s other D-SLRs. Here’s more:

Nikon D3S

• New 12.1 Megapixel, FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor
• Supports all Nikkor F-mount lenses with no focal length conversion ratio to deal with; if you’re using a DX-format lens, the resolution will drop to 5MP and there will be a 1.5X crop factor
• Very rugged, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body; shutter rated to 300,000 cycles
• 3-inch LCD display with 921,000 pixels
  • Live view (now activated by one button) with two AF modes and frame enlargement in manual focus mode
• Optical viewfinder has 100% coverage (97% with DX-format lenses) and 0.70X magnification
• Same 51-point autofocus system as the D3
• Full manual controls (obviously)
  • ISO range of 200 - 12,800, expandable to an incredible 100 - 102,400
  • Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus a bulb mode
  • Six different RAW options to choose from: 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed
  • User can bracket for exposure, white balance, and Active D-Lighting
• Can take up to 36 RAW or 82 JPEGs at a whopping 9 frames/second with FX lenses and 11 fps with DX lenses
• New 1.2X crop mode gives you a small telephoto boost with a modest decrease in resolution (drops to 8.4MP)
• Dust reduction system (which the D3 did not have)
• Hot shoe + flash sync port
• Same virtual horizon feature as D3
• Records HD movies at 1280 x 720 (24 fps) with monaural sound
  • 5 minute recording limit
  • New algorithm “severely reduces the phenomenon of rolling shutter while panning”
  • Stereo microphone input allows for better sound quality
  • High sensitivity movie mode allows video recording in near-darkness
• Dual CompactFlash card slots with overflow, backup, and file format separation options
• HDMI output
• Compatible with Nikon GP-1 GPS unit and WT-4A wireless transmitter
• Uses EN-EL4a li-ion battery; 4200 shots per charge (!)
• Ships in November for $5200, body only

Malata is putting out a very intriguing netbook with the R108T. It has a 10-inch swivel touchscreen, as well as Windows 7.

If that isn’t enough to sell you, then you should consider the 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB hard drive, not to mention the 1.3 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VGA output, 3-in-1 card reader, and 2 USB ports.

There is no word on the availability date, but it should have an asking price of about $439.

We have no idea when the Dragon is actually coming but it looks like the handset is currently being tested by Google. In fact rumors say that “senior Android guys” are currently carrying the Dragon/Passion and testing it. According to TechCrunch the phone should arrive in the following months and it’s supposed thinner than the Droid or the iPhone 3GS. Also of interest is the 1GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm which is rumored to power all our mobile needs on an HTC Dragon.

The phone hasn’t been officially confirmed by either Google or HTC. No carrier has leaked any plans regarding the Dragon so we might not see it in stores this year. But the fact that Android execs are currently playing with the Dragon/Passion is all we need so far. We know the phone exists and we hope to see it, if not this year then maybe early next year.