Dell Intros Studio XPS 435
February 26, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Hardware, PC Hardware
Dell has launched a new premier desktop PC, the Studio XPS 435, built around elite performance, expandability and a bold design. The Studio XPS 435 is designed to deliver great value for digital content creators looking for power potential and for tech enthusiasts who demand the latest and greatest at an outstanding price when compared to most other “prosumer” performance systems.
The Studio XPS 435 is available for purchase on www.dell.com with a starting price of $1,099. This system will be available first in the U.S., followed by Asia in early March and select European countries in June.
The News:
- Power and performance unleashed – the Studio XPS 435 features Intel Core i7 processors with Intel Turbo Boost Technology; up to 24GB DDR3 1066MHz Tri-Channel Memory; performance graphics up to ATI Radeon HD4870 GB1 GDDR5 graphics; and a 475W power supply.
- The full-sized ATX tower means immense expandability for future technology upgrades including six DIMMs for up to 24GB tri-channel memory, three hard drive bays capable of up to 4.5TB2 of storage and dual optical options.
- Bold, distinctive design blends style and function for any room of the house – pure white and translucent black bezel accented with brilliant crimson orange trim; recessed media tray with 3 angled USB ports; top-mounted integrated 15-in-1 media card reader; built-in infrared receiver; and optional Blu-Ray Disc.
- Available today in the U.S. on www.dell.com, with a starting price of $1,099.
Visit www.dell.com to discover the latest products and experiences that allow people to express their individuality while connecting with others that share common interests. Dell wants to change the way people think about personal computing.
EA Brings New Sports to the Wii
February 26, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Video Games, Wii
Electronic Arts has announced that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis will ship to retailers in North America on June 16, 2009, and will be the first two products from the EA SPORTS label that utilize the functionality of the Wii MotionPlus. EA Sports has at least five products, including EA Sports Active in May, in development that will launch before the end of 2009 designed specifically for the Wii.
“On the Wii, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 and EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis bring the authentic motion and excitement of championship golf and tennis to life for fans of all ages and skill levels,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “With the new Wii MotionPlus, slicing a winner on Centre Court at Wimbledon or dropping an 8 iron pin high on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass have never felt better. We couldn’t be more excited about the dynamic new EA Sports experiences coming this year to the Wii.”
With the all-new Wii MotionPlus, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 will allow golf fans to experience a near-perfect 1:1 swing – and control to work the ball – from the tee box to the green. The game brings players inside the ropes to experience the drama of PGA Tour tournament for the first time. Feel the intensity and excitement on every swing as you compete against the leaderboard. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, the all-time top-selling franchise from EA Sports on the Wii, will also ship on additional platforms in June.
EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis, available first for the Wii, puts the racket in the palm of your hand and offers the deepest tennis experience ever for the Wii. As the home to all four Grand Slams, and exclusive to Wimbledon, you can take your customized created player on a quest to win the four slams in Grand Slam career mode. Giving gamers a chance to play at Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court adds a level of authenticity that isn’t available anywhere else. EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis delivers an authentic tennis experience that makes you feel like you are playing with and against the sport’s greatest legends and today’s current stars.
Sega and Pyro Studios Partner for Planet 51
February 26, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Nintendo DS, PS3, Video Games, Wii, XBOX 360
Sega Europe, Sega of America, and Madrid-based Pyro Studios today announced a partnership to create a game based on its upcoming animated film, Planet 51. The Planet 51 game will be available in Winter 2009 for the Xbox 360, the Wii, Playstion 3 and the Nintendo DS.
Planet 51 is a galactic sized alien adventure comedy from the writer of “Shrek” and “Shrek 2″, which revolves around American astronaut Captain Charles “Chuck” Baker who lands on Planet 51, thinking he’s the first person to step foot on it. To his surprise, he finds that this planet is inhabited by little green people who are happily living in a white picket fence world reminiscent of a cheerfully innocent American town circa 1950, and whose only fear is that it will be overrun by alien invaders … like Chuck! With the help of his robot companion “Rover” and his new friend Lem, Chuck must navigate his way through the dazzling, but bewildering, landscape of Planet 51 in order to escape becoming a permanent part of the Planet 51 Alien Invaders Space Museum.
Planet 51 is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on November 20, 2009 by Sony Pictures Releasing, and around the world by leading independent distributors.
“We are delighted to have Sega on board,” commented Ignacio Perez Dolset, CEO of Pyro Studios and Ilion Animation Studios. “Pyro strives to produce high quality games and we are pleased to have the right partner for worldwide publishing. Sega´s expertise in the video games industry, together with the quality of the game will make Planet 51 a Thanksgiving blockbuster.”
“Sega is very excited about our new partnership with Pyro Studios,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing, Sega of America, Inc. “Pyro Studio’s exceptional pedigree, combined with the fantastic story of Planet 51 allows this project to appeal to a global audience of all ages.”
The Planet 51 game will take the form of an entertaining mission-based driving game, with various characters from the film available to play. The game allows audiences to immerse themselves into this amazing vibrant world and truly experience the hours of fun that Planet 51 has to offer!
AT&T Debuts Pantech BreEZe Handset
February 25, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Cell Phones
The Pantech BreEZe C520 by AT&T, lauded by leading consumer advocacy groups, media and customers, starts reaching AT&T stores this week in a new black finish and is also available online at www.wireless.att.com. The latest version sports a sophisticated black exterior and a silver and black interior. Available in the new color, this reliable phone responds to customers’ lifestyle needs as an uncomplicated handset that incorporates the same convenience features that have won the Breeze line of products such high praise.
The Breeze was designed with one thought in mind – provide users of all ages an easy and enjoyable mobile experience. As evidenced by its popularity, quality performance and favorable industry feedback, customers appreciate the phone’s ability to deliver a streamlined mobile experience. Whether staying in touch with loved ones and caregivers, or friends and classmates, communicating on-the-go has never been easier. In addition to the Breeze’s smooth and uncluttered, user-friendly design, large keys, camera and bright display, key features include:
- 1-2-3 Quick-Call Keys — Three pre-programmable quick-call buttons are located below the screen. Users can easily select one of the three quick-call contacts and press the send button to start a call.
- Simplified Menu — Navigating the phone’s features is trouble-free with the simplified “Breeze menu,” which prioritizes the features that customers want to access most.
- Large Font — Menu screens on the Breeze use a highly visible large font. Additionally, the font of SMS messages is enlarged, and the date and time of messages sent is at the beginning rather than at the end of a message.
“Customer experience and industry response to this product continues to be tremendous,” said Patrick Beattie, vice president of Sales and Marketing, Pantech Wireless, Inc. “This is an exciting time for Pantech as evidenced by the diverse range of handsets we currently offer. The Breeze is a great addition to the product lineup and another example of the company’s commitment to delivering compelling and quality products to our customers.”
The Pantech Breeze is currently available at select AT&T company-owned stores and online at www.wireless.att.com. The Pantech Breeze is $29.99 after a two-year service agreement and mail-in-rebate1.
Mobile Search Engine Use Jumped 14% Between 07 and 08
February 25, 2009 by Doug
Filed under Cell Phones, News, News/Events
According to surveys conducted by ABI Research in 2007 and 2008, 70% of respondents used their mobile phones to access information through Internet search engines last year. That represents a substantial 14% increase over 2007. The consumption of mobile data services, including search, has steadily increased year over year as indicated by the use of email and web from a mobile phone.
That jump in mobile search usage is nearly double the increase in users who said they accessed mobile websites generally. “Mobile search represents a utility for information anytime and anywhere,” says senior analyst Jeff Orr. “With a few keywords, one can quickly identify movie times, the discography of a musical artist, recommendations for a local eatery and so much more.”
Some types of content accessed via mobile phones rose in popularity from 2007 to 2008. These included news, game downloads, music downloads, and especially video downloads. A significantly lower percentage in 2008 reported downloading a ringtone than the prior year, while the interest in location information, social networking and sports remained about the same.
“Use of the mobile phone goes well beyond voice calls,” says Orr. “A significant percentage of respondents say they use their handset for mobile email and web access, reflecting the broader access to inexpensive or all-you-can-eat mobile data services in the US.”
The surveys, each of which sampled more than 1000 mobile phone users in the United States aged 14-59 and across a wide range of demographic profiles, were conducted in November 2007 and December 2008. They queried users’ preferences with regard to a variety of mobile email and web usage questions.
“US Mobile Email and Mobile Web Access Trends” compares results of the two surveys, and includes survey methodology, responses laid out in charts with additional summaries and analysis, and respondent classification/demographics.
It is one of a series of Research Briefs comparing the results of ABI Research’s 2007 and 2008 consumer mobile content surveys. Other titles in the series cover blogging and social networking, embedded cameras and navigation functionality, mobile music, mobile phone purchasing, mobile TV and video viewing, and smartphone feature and usage trends.
They are all included in the firm’s “The Mobile Consumer” Research Service
Nintendo Asks U.S. Trade Representative to Help Fight Piracy
February 25, 2009 by Doug
Filed under News, News/Events, Nintendo DS, Video Games, Wii
Nintendo has outlined a list of countries around the globe that remain leaders in denying adequate and effective protection of video game products. In its annual comments to the U.S. Trade Representative under the “Special 301” process, Nintendo has singled out countries where piracy is rampant and has asked the United States to take further steps to combat it. Nintendo’s filing listed People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Paraguay as problem states.
Nintendo reports that piracy of its most popular products, the Nintendo DS and Wii systems, has increased during the year. Nintendo attributes this increase to the availability of circumvention devices, such as “game copiers” and “mod chips.” These devices skirt the product security embedded in Nintendo’s famous products and enable the play of illegal Nintendo software.
“It is important for parents to note that if users of circumvention devices are children, they may be exposed to unsuitable content downloaded from the Internet and played on their Nintendo systems,” said Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America’s senior director of anti-piracy.
Corel Painter 11 Unveiled Today
February 24, 2009 by Doug
Filed under PC Software, Software
Corel today introduced Corel Painter 11, the newest edition of the leading painting and illustration software. Corel Painter has ben one of the programs which set the standards for painting and illustration software. New pressure-sensitive brushes allow a fluidly to produce brushstrokes that have strong texture and precision. Enhanced drawing tools and customizable media allow users to create distinct art.
“The cornerstone of Painter’s success has always been our loyal user community. During the development cycle for Painter 11, we listened closely and carefully to what these talented artists were saying about our product – the features they loved and the new features they needed as they worked with Painter on a day-to-day basis,” said Rob MacDonald, Product Manager for Corel Painter. “With Painter 11, we’ve successfully addressed many of the key areas our users highlighted while also delivering some exciting new features that will further expand artists’ creative options.”
In developing the newest version of Corel Painter, the Corel team focused on four key areas:
Enhancing the Creative Process
Painter 11 offers artists the ability to enhance their creativity through the freedom to create and customize brushes and media variants to their precise specifications. With unique new tools including new artistic media, new hard media brushes, and new selection tools, Painter 11’s unique toolset enables users to create art that would not be possible working with traditional media.
Going Beyond the Digital Darkroom
With Painter 11, artists can expand their digital toolset with painting media designed to extend the capabilities of digital photography programs such as Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo and Adobe Photoshop. New color management improves color recognition when importing files from other applications and individual color profiles per document create greater color accuracy for each file.
Learning from Unlimited Experimentation
For those looking to embark on an artistic education, Painter 11 offers the ability to experiment with color theory and composition much faster than in a traditional environment, and without the toxins and mess. With the option to undo brushstrokes and other effects, this digital art studio provides the ability to experiment in an unlimited capacity.
Increasing Performance and Productivity
Artists using Painter 11 can enjoy creating in an inviting environment that is optimized for their workflow. Enhanced brushes perform up to thirty percent faster than in previous versions, making this the fastest, most responsive version of Painter yet.
For more information about Corel Painter 11 and to see a detailed list of new and enhanced features, and to view art created using Corel Painter, please visit www.corel.com/painter. To learn more about how Corel Painter is used worldwide, please visit the product’s community site at www.painterfactory.com.
SanDisk Ships Next Generation USB Memory Card Readers
SanDisk Corporation today announced that it has shipped the latest editions of its popular SanDisk ImageMate memory card readers, which provide enhanced user experience through increased efficiency and faster data transfer rates. The new readers have shipped to retailers in North America and are available for purchase at this time.
Faster, smaller and sleeker than their predecessors, and featuring upgraded software applications, the new ImageMate All-In-One and Multi-Card readers quickly and conveniently transfer data between a wide range of memory card formats and a host computer. The All-In-One memory card reader can reach speeds of up to 34 megabytes per second (MB/s)1 when using a SanDisk Extreme IV 45MB/s CompactFlash card, and the Multi-Card reader is capable of up to 30MB/s2 read and 27 MB/s write data transfer rates when using a SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC card. Sporting a glossy black and metallic silver design, each reader’s tripod base is detachable for portability.
In addition to the traditional drag-and-drop method, the new SanDisk ImageMate readers streamline the process of transferring digital content by including a transfer button that automatically launches a user-defined application or web site. A single press of the reader’s button will open a designated application such as Adobe Photoshop or a flickr.com account, and from there the user can transfer or edit photos. SanDisk’s updated ImageMate software bundle enables customers to utilize the advanced features of both readers, simplifying the most common tasks that they want to perform—transferring photos to a PC, archiving and sharing them.
Pricing and Availability
The ImageMate All-In-One reader supports virtually every industry-standard memory card format currently available, and multiple cards can be inserted simultaneously for card-to-card data transfers. Each card slot features a blue LED light, which indicates data transfer activity. Supported formats include SD, SDHC, miniSDHC, microSDHC, MMC, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro Duo, xD and CompactFlash, among others. Suggested retail price is $29.99.
Featuring more format options than a single card reader, the ImageMate Multi-Card reader easily transfers files to and from multiple memory card formats, including xD, Memory Stick, SD, SDHC, and MMC. Suggested retail price is $19.99.
Both the ImageMate All-in-One and Multi-Card readers come with a two year limited warranty.
MacSpeech Releases Dictate 1.3
February 24, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Mac Software, Software
MacSpeech today announced the immediate availability of MacSpeech Dictate 1.3, a significant update to their speech recognition solution for the Macintosh.
Now, people can use MacSpeech Dictate to work with any document, including those that were not created with MacSpeech Dictate. MacSpeech Dictate 1.3 features a new “Cache Document” command that allows MacSpeech Dictate to read a document’s contents, in order to navigate the document, and to enter and edit text.
MacSpeech Dictate 1.3 also introduces an extensive new Help Book system, two new visual microphone status indicators, and new commands for “Cache Selection,” “Press The Key,” “Press The Key Combo” and “Cancel Training.” MacSpeech Dictate 1.3 also fixes reported issues, adds several enhancements and is free of charge to all registered customers, using the “Check for Updates” feature.
“MacSpeech Dictate 1.3 now lets you use speech recognition with any document you already have,” explained Andrew Taylor, founder and CEO of MacSpeech, Inc. “We’re also thrilled with how the Help Book system turned out and are proud to provide this helpful resource to our customers.”
MacSpeech Dictate uses a cache to keep track of the text in the window and where the selection or insertion point is located within that text. The new “Cache Document” and “Cache Selection” commands both repopulate the cache from the document or selected content, respectively. Two new microphone status indicators, a Menu Bar status item and a MacSpeech Dictate Dock icon badge, provide a quick visual cue of whether the microphone is “on” or “off.”
MacSpeech Dictate is the only desktop speech recognition solution for the Macintosh. MacSpeech Dictate provides unprecedented speech recognition accuracy with minimal training and works with existing Mac applications. MacSpeech Dictate delivers a truly Mac user experience, and conforms to behaviors already familiar to Macintosh fans worldwide. Beyond dictation, MacSpeech Dictate lets people perform basic navigation of their Mac and control it with their voice to launch applications, open new windows, execute menu commands, etc.
Compatibility and Availability
MacSpeech Dictate requires Intel-based Macintosh hardware and requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or Mac OS X 10.5.2 and higher. MacSpeech Dictate is currently available in English at http://www.macspeech.com/ in the U.S., at http://www.macspeech.co.uk in the U.K., and in other English-speaking countries through International resellers and distributors listed at http://www.macspeech.com/resellers.
MapQuest Mobile Has Your Places
February 24, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Applications, Cell Phones
MapQuest announced the addition of My Places to MapQuest 4 Mobile, MapQuest’s free, downloadable application. My Places lets registered MapQuest users save maps and routes to their profile from the MapQuest site and access them via MapQuest.com, or their mobile phone. My Places on MapQuest 4 Mobile is currently available on select BlackBerry smartphones, with additional handsets and major mobile platforms coming in the months ahead.
With My Places, users can set up an account at MapQuest.com and view their saved locations using MapQuest 4 Mobile. Expansion of the service to the MapQuest 4 Mobile application lets users seamlessly extend their MapQuest experience from the desktop to the handset.
“The launch of My Places on MapQuest 4 Mobile further extends the MapQuest.com experience to mobile handsets,” said Christian Dwyer, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MapQuest. “We’re pleased to be the first to market with this unique service, that allows our users to access saved maps and routes they’ve generated at MapQuest.com.”
To download the free MapQuest 4 Mobile application with the new My Places integration, go to m.mq4m.com on your mobile device. Existing MapQuest 4 Mobile users will be prompted to upgrade to the latest version of the application, which includes My Places, when they launch the application.
For more information about My Places, please go to http://www.mapquest.com/myplaces.