Panasonic’s Thin, Colorful New Lumix Cameras Get Price Tags [Lumix]

Posted on by

Panasonic's new Lumix point and shoots were introduced earlier this month at CES and they caught our eye with their skinny design. We've always found Lumix to be nice gear, so we're glad to see that the FH and FP series cameras are available at several price points, from $110 for the F2 up to $229.95 for the FP3, with the rest all falling somewhere in between.

The cameras are slated to ship in mid-February. For full details, check out the press release below.

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR 2010 LUMIX DIGITAL CAMERAS, FOCUSING ON STYLE, FUNCTION AND CONVENIENCE

SECAUCUS, NJ (January 25, 2010) – Panasonic today announced pricing for its new line of LUMIX digital cameras, which include the LUMIX FH-, FP- and F- Series – all which will be available in mid-February.

The LUMIX FH-Series including the FH1, FH3 and FH20 are all slim, pocket-size models that pack a powerful 28mm wide-angle lens. All of these models also record High Definition video and feature Panasonic's hallmark, iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, a suite of technologies that engage automatically – with no setting changes needed by the user. The LUMIX FH1 will be available for a suggested retail price of $159.95, the LUMIX FH3 for $179.95 and the LUMIX FH20 for $199.95.

The FP-Series, featuring the LUMIX FP1 and the LUMIX FP3, have a 4x optical zoom with a folded optics design, making the camera design stylish and sleek. The series highlights a newly-adopted lens cover which protects the lens and also serves as the camera's power switch. The FP3 features an intuitive 3.0" touch-screen LCD for easy-to-use operation. New to the FP-Series is High Definition (HD) video recording capability allowing for both beautiful still and motion images. The FP1 will be available for $149.95 and the FP3 for $229.95.

In the LUMIX F-Series, the LUMIX F3 and LUMIX F2 have been designed with simplicity, style and performance in mind. Both models record High Definition video and are equipped with 28mm wide angle lenses and an Extra Optical Zoom function to extend zoom power from 4x to 7.8x. Both models also feature Intelligent ISO Control, which prevents the blurring of a moving subject; Face Detection, which helps to clearly capture registered faces; and Intelligent Scene Selector, which automatically selects one of six scene modes that best fits the shooting
situation. The LUMIX F3 will be available for $129.95 and the LUMIX F2 for $109.95.

For more information on all Panasonic LUMIX digital camera models, please visit http://www.panasonic.com/lumix.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In its commitment to provide consumers with extensive imaging resources, Panasonic LUMIX established the Digital Photo Academy, a series of nationwide workshops designed to instruct consumers how to optimize the features on their digital cameras and produce high-quality photos. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Company information for journalists is available at http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

For more than 20 years, Panasonic has been proud to support the Olympic Movement as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category and, beginning in 2009, in the Digital Imaging category as well. Panasonic has also renewed its partnership with the International Olympic Committee for an additional eight years through the 2016 Summer Games. For more information, visithttp://panasonic.net/olympic/.


So What’s So Great About Scientific Literacy Anyway? | The Intersection

Posted on by

In the new version of the Unscientific America talk, I also tried to make more explicit the reasons why we think “scientific literacy,” broadly defined, is essential to American democracy, and something every citizen should strive for. What’s so great about it? Well, here are my answers:

1. Knowledge is a good in and of itself. The more anyone has of it, the better.

2. Empowerment: The more Americans know about science, and the methods of critical thinking about evidence that it imparts, the better off they’ll be when it comes to making choices in their own lives, e.g., in the medical arena.

3. Citizenship: The more scientifically literate our citizens are, the more they’ll be able to access and engage with the scientific aspects of key public policy issues like climate change.

4. Policy: There is a reality out there, and we need our decisions to be aligned with it. Ultimately, 3 should lead to 4, as more citizen engagement with science reverberates in the decision-making process. And that’s what matters most of all.

Any questions or objections? Or does that about encompass it?

I think that traditionally, most of the emphasis in “scientific literacy” discussions has been on 1 & 2. What I like think is different about the approach that we take in Unscientific America is that it much more strongly stresses 3 & 4.

•Knowledge is a good in and of itself.
•
•Empowerment: “Scientific” Americans will be better equipped to make the right choices in their lives, e.g., in the medical arena.

•Citizenship: Greater science literacy = greater engagement in the science underlying public policy issues, like global warming, stem cell research, etc.
•
•Policy: There is a reality out there, and we need our decisions to be aligned with it….


NYT, Condé Nast Working on "Large-Screen" iPhone Apps For the Tablet [Rumor]

Posted on by

According to the Times (the LA one), the Times (the NY one) has been working on a tablet app in recent weeks. Also: Condé Nast basically admitted to the same in a press release. Familiar? Sure. But intriguing!

In September, we reported through two sources at the paper that the NYT had been approached by Apple to develop content of some sort for the tablet. As the paper of record, they're the obvious choice for an inaugural app demo—remember the the wave of iPhone commercials, where the floating hands navigate to the NYT homepage?—and they already have tablet-appropriate software available for download. In that sense, the LAT report is just more corroboration; of the NYT's involvement with Apple; of the tablet's penchant for the written word; and obviously, of the tablet's mere existence.

More interesting, though, is a quote highlighted in the report from a Conde Nast press release last week, which was supposed to tout the (moderate) success of the GQ iPhone app, but which may have also revealed it to be a not-so-subtle prelude to a tablet app. Quoted directly:

In addition to developing more content for the iPhone and the anticipated tablet from Apple, Conde Nast has formed a strategic partnership with Adobe to collaborate on creating technologies that will allow the company to design and produce a new generation of digital magazines.

Normally it'd be prudent to just ignore this kind of thing, since the Apple Tablet, even as a rumor, has ingratiated itself so far into the media's consciousness that print ombudsman and PR people can't seem to squeeze out a public statement or press release without mentioning it, but at this late stage in the game, and from the company most likely in the world to be involved with such a venture if it does exist, these words are worth hanging on.

On another note, I tend to think people are overstating the role that print media text content will play in this device, and vice versa! Discuss.

UPDATE: Peter Kafka at AllThingsD isn't convinced that Conde Nast will be in the tablet demo lineup. [LAT]


Oppo’s Sub-$300 BDP-80 Blu-ray Player Plays Whatever You Throw At It [BluRay]

Posted on by

We've long been fans of Oppo, makers of high-quality, universal Blu-ray players, but that quality always came at a price. Their new BDP-80, announced today, plays Blu-ray discs, DVDs, SACDs, MKVs, MP3s, and more for only $289.

The last we heard from Oppo, their BDP-83 was getting near-perfect reviews. The only problem was the price: $500. Now, you can bring a high performance Oppo player to your home theater for under $300.

The BDP-80 shaves off some of its more expensive older brother's higher end features, like 24p DVD conversion and in/out IR ports, but it still looks like it's a great option if you're looking for a high-quality, versatile BRD player. To check out a full comparison chart or place your order head to Oppo's site. [Oppo via Engadget]


Alt-med purveyors show their true colors | Bad Astronomy

Posted on by

At some level, I understand the motivations of people who promote "alternative medicine". They may very well be altrustic, seeing what they perceive as a massive failing of so-called Western medicine, and feeling strongly that they know how to fix the situation, if only people would seek alternatives. I know that when I feel strongly enough about an issue, I feel morally obligated to speak up.

The problem is that for a lot of this so-called alternative medicine, there is no evidence it works, and in fact evidence it doesn’t work. Worse, a lot of its biggest purveyors actively try to denigrate real medicine, the stuff that, y’know, works, in an attempt to bolster their alt-med claims. And you have to be a little suspicious when they hawk their wares on their sites, too.

So I question the motivations of some of these people, including one Mike Adams, about whom I wrote a couple of days ago. When called out for what is apparently voter fraud for a Twitter Shorty Award, he threw an epic tantrum that displays a decided lack of grip on reality (assuming he honestly believes what he’s selling). After that fact-free diatribe he followed up with a rant about skeptics that’s so far off the mark that it’s hard to believe anyone could post something like that honestly. Steve Novella takes him down on that one.

And as if these word spasms from Adams weren’t enough, he posted a third article where he completely gets science wrong, claiming water and quantum mechanics are magic, and then a fourth about the Shorty Awards where he once again ramps up the paranoid conspiracy theories.

Sigh. The irony is that he makes my job easy since he’s self-debunking, but also makes it harder because so many people swallow what he says whole without even giving it a moment of critical thought.

Joe Mercola, the other "victim" professing to have the vapors over this Shorty Award nonsense, decided to jump into the fray as well. Instead of using facts — because why start now? — he thought it was a good idea to say that Rachael Dunlop is fat:

An arrogant group of science bloggers that have vilified me for the past few years have started a campaign to have an Australian shill to win a health award on Twitter. This overweight non-physician has arrogantly bashed nearly every alternative therapy and encourages reliance on drugs.

Rachael is a woman who has tirelessly fought quackery and the dangerous wares of many alt-med purveyors, and of course Adams and Mercola are squarely in her crosshairs. She has called out many an antivaxxer, and was a key player in the travesty involving Dana McCaffery (an infant who died of pertussis) and Meryl Dorey, an antivaxxer who claims no one dies from pertussis anymore.

So when faced with someone like Rachael who has years of experience and who wields science, evidence, and reality, Mercola decided to stick out his tongue and call her fat.

Wow, folks. There’s your alt-med hero.

And yes, I am engaging in an ad hominem, an attack directed at someone instead of their arguments. But it’s not always wrong to do so; in this case Steve Novella, Orac, Rachael, and many others, including me, have already shown that people like Mercola and Adams are full of it. But sometimes that’s not enough. I think it does a lot of good to see how vile these people can be, and something like this is not only warranted, but needed, especially when these alt-medders set themselves up to be victims, claiming to be sympathetic and only wanting to help. They don’t help; they hurt.

Happily, some of Mercola’s followers are starting to see through him.

Look. We’re not talking about goofy nonsense like ghost-hunting or UFOs here. We’re talking about people’s lives. Alt-medders like Adams and Mercola reject treatments that we know to work, that we know can cure illnesses, that we know can relieve pain and suffering on a massive scale, and that we know can save lives. That’s what you’re turning your back on when you listen to them.

And I still endorse Rachael for the Shorty Award in health. Keep fighting the good fight.


Wii Classic Controller Pro Finally Hitting US This Spring [Wii]

Posted on by

The Classic Controller Pro for Wii has been available in Japan for some time already, but it's making its way to these here parts this April.

The controller looks like it came from the PS2 factory, and it won't plug directly directly into your Wii. Instead, you have to plug it into your Wii Remote, which isn't that much of a hassle. It'll ship with Monster Hunter Tri, but will also be sold separately for $20.

The Classic Controller Pro will come in black or white, and be compatible more than 450 Wii, WiiWare, and Virtual Console games. The design includes a second row of shoulder buttons, and an "ergonomic" grip, which sounds like marketing pablum to me. Still, though, looks neat!

The Perfect Bundle for Hunting Season: Monster Hunter® Tri and Wii Classic Controller Pro Come Together for the First Time in North America

Bundle Will Bring the Highly-Anticipated New Controller and Popular Franchise Together for the Ultimate Monster Hunting Experience on the Wii System

SAN MATEO, Calif. & REDMOND, Wash.—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, and Nintendo of America today announced an exciting new bundle featuring one of the most highly anticipated titles for 2010, Monster Hunter® Tri, and combining it with the new Classic Controller Pro™ for the Wii™ system. The Classic Controller Pro's more traditional control configuration will give gamers the ultimate Monster Hunting experience when the bundle becomes available in North America this April at a suggested retail price of $59.99.

"Monster Hunter Tri has made a huge splash in the Japanese market, and we're confident the bundle with the Classic Controller Pro will give fans in North America plenty to get excited about," said Steve Singer, Nintendo of America's vice president of Licensing. "Gamers of all kinds enjoy playing games on Wii. Monster Hunter Tri delivers an incredible new experience on Wii, while the Classic Controller Pro gives players even more control options for their favorite Wii games."

The new Classic Controller Pro includes a second row of shoulder buttons and ergonomically friendly grips. The Classic Controller Pro plugs directly into the Wii Remote™ controller, and until now, has been available only in the Japanese market.

The Classic Controller Pro will be compatible with more than 450 Wii, WiiWare™ and Virtual Console™ games. The Classic Controller Pro bundled with Monster Hunter Tri will be black, while both black and white versions of the controller will also be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The game will also be available without a controller at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Making its North American debut on Wii this spring, Monster Hunter Tri is one of the most strikingly beautiful titles developed for Nintendo's Wii system. Pushing the hardware to the limit, Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where humans co-exist with majestic monsters that roam both dry land and brand new sub-aqua environments – a first for the series. Offering the player varied control configurations to suit their style of play, players can choose between the Classic Controller Pro, Wii Remote™ and Nunchuck™, or Classic Controller™ to slay the monsters that inhabit the world.

The Monster Hunter series has sold over 11 million units worldwide and has become a social phenomenon in Japan giving rise to training camps, dedicated festivals and numerous licensed products. According to Media Create, Monster Hunter Tri sold 520,000 units in its first week of release in Japan and became the leading title sold across all platforms for the week of its release.


PS3 at HKG? ORLY? ZOMG! [PS3]

Posted on by

Well, this is a nice thing that Sony and Hong Kong International Airport have done: there are now 14 PS3 "Game Poles" (read: kiosks) distributed throughout the airport for travelers who've exhausted the entertainment potential of the Duty Free shop.

Curiously, the games that they've chosen to provide—like Final Fantasy XIII, Avatar, and Uncharted 2—have the kind of long story arcs that don't exactly lend themselves to a two-hour delay. But hey, that's probably the point! The first hit's free, etc.

It's a great thought, but if the lines are anything like those at the sports bars at JFK during a snowstorm, I'm not sure the riots will be entirely worth it. [The Moodie Report via Kotaku]


And For Your 60th Anniversary, A Friggin Gold-Plated Leica [Gold]

Posted on by

I doubt Leica would make a 24-carat gold-plated camera for my 60th anniversary, but they did for China.

Each one of the 60 limited edition cameras costs 199,900 yuan (about $30,000), and is individually numbered from 1949 to 2009. I'm pretty sure you're going to have to be someone pretty important (and in China) to get one of these, but if you've got 30 grand and a connection, Leica's probably not going to say no. [Itechnews via Engadget]


Belkin TuneCast Auto Radio Transmitter Hijacks Your Radio With the Power of App [Belkin]

Posted on by

Right, so FM transmitters are generally terrible. Not just because they sound worse than direct line-in connections and even tape adapters, but because they're a pain to control. Belkin has solved at least one of these problems, for iPhone users.

As promised, the Belkin TuneCast Auto Live transmitter, seen below looking like pretty much every other Belkin FM transmitter ever, has a single, massive trick up its sleeve: an iPhone app that actually controls it. It basically turns your iPhone into a smart remote for your transmitter, which doesn't just modulate your broadcast frequency but actually finds the best one, and which in concept seems kind of backwards, but makes plenty of sense. It's digital + analog - car crashes! Got it.

Anyway, the TuneCast transmitter/app combo is available today, with a price of $80. [Belkin]


AMD’s Fastest Dual Core Processor is $99 [Amd]

Posted on by

AMD's making a strong budget play today, releasing its 3.2GHz Phenom II dual core desktop processor for under $100. It comes as part of a broader release that also includes the Phenom II X4 910e, clocked at 2.6GHz but energy friendly at 65W, as well as three new Athlon II processors that range from 65W-95W and $74-$119.

AMD Introduces Sub-$100 AMD Phenom™ II Processor, and AMD Athlon™ II Processors, for Mainstream Desktop Computing Market

New AMD Phenom™ II processors and AMD Athlon™ II processors deliver advanced computing per dollar for multiple desktop product form factors

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -1/25/2010
What:
AMD (NYSE:AMD) today expanded its AMD Phenom™ II and AMD Athlon™ II processor families for desktop with several new processors designed to give mainstream consumers advanced performance capabilities from their desktop PCs at increasingly attractive price points. As desktop PCs continue trending toward smaller form factors, AMD remains committed to maximizing the user experience by bringing platform technology integration, efficiency and performance benefits to consumers. Examples of the new processor offerings from AMD include:

The new AMD Phenom™ II X2 555 Black Edition processor, AMD's fastest dual-core desktop processor to date at 3.2 GHz, is an ideal choice for the budget-conscious consumer's Microsoft® Windows® 7 system platform at an affordable $99 Suggested System Builder Price (SSBP).1
The new AMD Athlon™ II X4 635 processor is designed to provide exceptional quad-core performance to handle the demands of multitasking and multi-threaded applications.
Why:
Continuing its commitment to providing high performance at affordable prices, AMD meets the computing needs of mainstream consumers with these new processors - from gamers to social media devotees. This variety and value enables OEMs and system builders to develop compelling PC solutions optimized for Windows 7.

Who:
The new additions to the AMD Phenom™ II and AMD Athlon™ II processor lines are great choices for consumers interested in HD entertainment,2 casual gaming, digital file editing and social-media networking.

Benefits:
When combined with the latest generation of ATI Radeon™ 5800 Series graphics cards and AMD 7-series chipsets, these new AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processors can provide consumers with optimal user experience and capabilities such as:

Brilliant HD entertainment experience2
Support for DirectX® 11 gaming feature
Exceptional energy efficiency with dynamic power management
Socket AM3 compatibility for flexibility and compatibility with motherboards based on the upcoming AMD 800-series chipset
Advanced multitasking performance
Optimized for Windows 71 and the latest sleek desktop designs
Pricing:
CPU Name TDP Frequency 1ku Price
AMD Athlon™ II X2 255 65 W 3.1 GHz $74
AMD Athlon™ II X3 440 95 W 3.0 GHz $84
AMD Athlon™ II X4 635 95 W 2.9 GHz $119
AMD Phenom™ II X2 555 80 W 3.2 GHz $99
AMD Phenom™ II X4 910e 65 W 2.6 GHz $169


Testing a Neck Strap

Posted on by

Does anyone know a way to test the weight distribution of a neck strap or shoulder harness. I have 2 different types and I want to run an experiment that will prove which one is more comfortable to wear. Any ideas?

Ape Auteurs: BBC to Premiere Documetary Shot Entirely by Chimps | Discoblog

Posted on by

chimpanzeesIf you thought a zoo chimpanzee’s life was a simple sequence of “see banana… peel… eat,” then think again.

The BBC is set to air a new documentary titled “The Chimpcam Project,” that has been shot entirely by chimpanzees at Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo. We’re guessing it won’t quite match the high-tech joys of “Avatar,” but the film is expected to provide fascinating clues as to how chimps view the world around them.

The movie was primatologist Betsy Herrelko’s idea. She introduced video technology to a group of 11 chimps living in a newly built enclosure at the Edinburgh Zoo. At first she just wanted to see if chimps could use a touchscreen to select different videos, thereby offering her a chance to study what images chimps liked.

The BBC reports:

Initially, the chimps were more interested in each other than the video technology, as two male chimps within the study group vied to become the alpha male, disrupting the experiment. But over time, some of the chimps learned how to select different videos to watch.

Then, Herrelko wanted to gauge if chimps could record images with a chimp-proof camera–a camera enclosed in an orange bash-proof box.

When the chimps were handed the “chimpcam” as a group, they carried it around the enclosure and were fascinated by the viewfinder. However, the BBC reported that the apes were not likely to have actively filmed any particular object or to have understood that they were making a film. But the researchers are confident the chimpcam will help garner new info on how chimps see the world.

The film will premiere this Wednesday on the BBC, but here’s a sneak peek at the list of chimps who made the end credits: Cindy, Ricky and Louis from Africa, Emma from Bedforshire, UK, and David, Kilimi, Kindia, Liberius, Lucy, Lyndsey, and Qafzeh who were all born at the Edinburgh Zoo.

Related Content:
80beats: Chimps Don’t Run From Fire—They Dance With It
80beats: Chimps Catch Contagious Yawns From Cartoons
80beats: New HIV Strain Came to Humans from Gorillas, Not Chimps
DISCOVER: Chimps Agree: A Bird in Hand Is Worth Two in the Bush
DISCOVER: An Embarrassment of Chimps

Image Credit: iStock Photo


New Digital Music Format, MusicDNA, Bundles Extra Content With The File [File Formats]

Posted on by

Fighting back against the downloaders, a new music file format by the name of MusicDNA has been introduced by the people who created the MP3, which will bundle a heap of bonus content with the music file.

When downloading a song or album in the MusicDNA format, the buyer will also recent videos of concerts, album artwork and sleeve notes, blog posts and tweets from the band, and concert/merchandise information. It's all about giving the buyer a greater incentive to download legally, just like Apple's iTunes LP which was announced last year—though I've never met a single person who's actually paid money for some pretty digital pictures before.

The MusicDNA team has already signed deals with indie labels, so bands such as Radiohead and the Arctic Monkeys will soon be offering downloads in the format, though for how much, nobody seems to know. We'll start seeing a lot more about MusicDNA, with the launch expected to be spring time—but will a few videos and tweets make you give up BitTorrent for good? Nah, didn't think so. [The Guardian]


Coffee Rituals | Cosmic Variance

Posted on by

We’re long overdule for an open-type thread around here, so let me provide the excuse by asking one of the world’s great questions: what’s the best way to make coffee?

I’m an eclectic coffee drinker; I like espresso but also enjoy a really good cup of American coffee, and I prefer coffee black but am willing to adulterate it with milk if I suspect the quality is not going to be that high. (Sugar under no circumstances.) For the past few years I’ve relied on the lowest-effort method I know of that is guaranteed to produce a good cup: freshly-ground dark roast beans, placed in a simple cone filter and hot water poured right in. Practically instant coffee, but a result that can be as good as the beans allow.

S1CO But I’d like to start mixing more espresso into my home coffee experience, so I’m in the market for a new espresso machine. If I were a physicist of means, I might go for a work of art like the Elektra Micro Casa Lever on right. Or would I? This is a spring-action lever machine, which is to be contrasted with the manual levers, not to mention the automatics and super-automatics, and then there’s the matter of boilers, switches, heat exchangers … a complete mess. The pumps are certainly elegant, but I’d also like something that is functional and doesn’t require constant pampering. So I am in the unusual position of being frozen with indecision about what kind of espresso machine to get. Any opinions out there?

The ground rules here are:

  1. There’s no such thing as right or wrong; different people have different tastes, for which different approaches are appropriate.
  2. Answers with specific comparisons of advantages and disadvantages are more useful than simple insistence on truth.

I do understand that this is the internet and rules are unlikely to be followed, but I feel I should try.

Obviously not all advice on such a topic is too be trusted. The Engineer’s Guide to Drinks thread featured a sobering (as it were) number of people who think a “martini” should just be chilled gin rather than a proper cocktail, and were proud to admit it in public! So caveat lector. And if you want to talk about something other than coffee, be our guest.


Barack Obama "Uses the Internet Like a Normal Adult" [The Internet]

Posted on by

We know he's a BlackBerry fanboy, an international iPod evangelist, and a prolific YouTube vlogger, and a general nerd, but now we have a new label for our POTUS: Internet addict.

In 2010, to "use the internet like a normal adult" is to give in to a terrible, emotionless symbiosis from which you can never withdraw, so what's said here—that the president reads blogs, that he spends a lot of his day online, that he's the first president to have an internet connection at his desk—is less interesting that what's left unsaid: Does he laugh at memes? Does he comment? Does he troll?

And as the WaPo's anonymous source so obviously wanted the world to ask, or else he/she would have worded things differently: Porntube or xHamster? [Washington Post via Ed Bott]


Email Clients

Posted on by

Dear All;

How can I get details (like incoming/outgoing server address, port numbers, etc) of my an email client (mail.com) to enable me configure an email push client on my nokia phone.

Kindly assist.