MMI Software have a great software app called PhotoInfoEditor. Basically it allows you to edit the meta-data so that you can accurately include the longitude and latitude of the digital photo you have taken. This can then display the location of the photo within GoogleMaps. Fantastic!
iClip 4 Released
iClip 4.0 was released today, the long awaited update to the multi-talented, multi-clipboard application for Mac OS X. This new release is now a Univesal Binary, runs a lot faster and has a nice new interface. iClip allows you to have multiple clip boards and scrapbooks to cut and paste various information into. The app is invaluable, and a single user license costs just $29.
iPod Shuffle available in 5 Fruity Colours
CUPERTINO, California—January 30, 2007—Apple today announced that the world’s most wearable digital music player is now available in five brilliant colours: blue, pink, green, orange and the original silver. A hit with customers since its initial shipment three months ago, iPod shuffle is just half a cubic inch in volume, weighs just half an ounce and features a stunning aluminum design with a built-in clip, making it the most wearable iPod® ever. Based on Apple’s pioneering shuffle feature which lets music fans enjoy a continuous mix of their favourite songs anywhere they go, iPod shuffle contains one gigabyte of flash memory, holds up to 240 songs and is available in all five colours for just £55 (inc. VAT).
“iPod shuffle is the world’s most wearable digital music player,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “Music fans can now choose iPod shuffle in one of five brilliant colours, or they can buy one of each.”
iPod shuffle features up to 12 hours of battery life* and lets users shuffle their songs to listen to them in a random order or simply flip a switch to listen to their songs in order, such as when listening to a new album.
Users connect iPod shuffle to their PC or Mac® with the included dock, and iTunes’ innovative AutoFill feature automatically syncs the perfect number of songs from their music library. Seamless integration with iTunes® 7 and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com/uk) allows customers to choose from a selection of over four million songs from the world’s most popular digital music store.
With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Store is the best way for PC and Mac users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.
Pricing & Availability
The new iPod shuffle is available immediately worldwide through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers for £55 (inc. VAT). iPod shuffle includes an iPod shuffle dock and earbuds.
Great source for Dashboard Widgets
This may not be news to you, but I stumbled across a great website today. Since the Dashboard came to fruition, I have been searching for and downloading my widgets from the Apple website. Today I was searching for an iCal ToDo widget and I came across DashboardWIDGETS. They have some great content and news, as well as a searchable database of widgets. The added bonus is that they allow user comments, so it gives you an indication if the widget is any good. Take a look by pointing your browser to this great website.
Olympus SP-550 Ultra Zoom - 18x goodness
The new Olympus SP-550 UZ Ultra Zoom offers the ultimate in power and versatility with a compact, best-in-class 18x optical zoom lens (28-504mm equivalent in 35mm photography), which gives users the ability to shoot telephoto, wide-angle and macro (as close as 1cm) all in one. Crisp, clear images can be captured far and wide with Dual Image Stabilization and the broadest focal range available on any digital point-and-shoot. The camera’s full manual exposure control provides professionals and photo-enthusiasts with unlimited creativity, while its automatic settings and Built-in Help Guides will put novice users at ease.
This revolutionary ultra zoom is equipped with several unique features to deliver near-DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) performance in a compact size, including:
18x Wide-Angle Ultra Zoom Lens Provides Power and Versatility
Featuring the world's most powerful zoom lens, the SP-550 UZ offers maximum shooting versatility for travel, sports and day-to-day use. The 18x super telephoto zoom gets you closer to the action than any compact digital camera on the market. At the same time, the wide-angle lens gets more into your frame – perfect for shooting indoors, landscapes and group shots. The super macro mode is ideal for capturing the most subtle details from as close as one centimeter. The compact, precision-crafted lens combines high-refractive, aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. The bright, f/2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 28-504mm focal length with 100x total seamless zoom (5.6x digital zoom).
Dual Image Stabilization
Dual Image Stabilization technology enables users to take crisp, clear pictures in virtually any shooting situation – adjusting for camera shake and a moving subject. Olympus’ Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD to compensate for camera shake, which often occurs when zooming in on your subject and in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blur caused by a moving subject.
High-Speed Sequential Shooting & Pre-Capture
Capable of capturing images at an incredible 15 frames per second, the SP-550 UZ offers the highest burst rate of any compact digital camera. The inclusion of Pre-Capture technology, which works in conjunction with High-Speed Sequential Shooting, enables users to capture the action before and after fully pressing the shutter button. Pre-Capture begins working as soon as the focus is locked, automatically archiving five frames in the camera’s buffer memory prior to the shutter release – virtually guaranteeing that none of the action will be missed even if the user’s reaction time is slow. Perfect for situations where timing is essential, such as photographing a tennis player serving, children playing or a whale breaching.
Full Manual & Automatic Control
The Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes give users versatility and control for optimal performance in any situation. Users can express their creative vision – adjusting the f-stop for detailed portraits with softened backgrounds, or slowing the exposure speed to create the blurred effect of motion, or just sit back and let the camera do the work with the automatic settings. Full manual and automatic control options allow advanced users to maintain creative control and novices to point-and-shoot their way to beautiful images.
30 Shooting Modes Including TV-Quality Video with Sound
The SP-550 UZ makes it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations with 30 shooting modes, including television-quality video with sound (640x480/30fps) up to the capacity of your xD card. Simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action, macro and more.
7.1-Megapixel Image Sensor
The 7.1-megapixel CCD image sensor delivers superior image quality for consistently capturing sharp, vivid details even in large-format or cropped prints. The SP-550 UZ records in both JPEG and RAW file formats and is perfectly suited for a wide range of users – from new photographers to advanced users who require maximum creative control.
Other features include:
The SP-550 UZ will be available in March 2007. We use digital cameras a lot for the production of the Geekanoids website, so we hope to bring you a review as soon as the finished product is made available. Check out the full details on the Olympus website here.
Apple UK - Regional "Get a Mac" Adverts
It was nice to see the UK get their own regional "Get a Mac" ads posted on the Apple UK website. The ads star David Mitchell and Robert Webb of "That Mitchell & Webb Look" fame. The ads seem to be re-films of the US versions, but are well worth a look, with some great facial expressions from the duo. Tentacle, Office at Home, Restarting, Virus, Trust Mac, and Pie Chart can be seen here.
Bluetooth for your Wrist - Abacus MobileWear
Widget UK Ltd, a leading supplier of mobile technology and accessories, today announced the availability of the first mainstream Bluetooth fashion accessory, the Caller ID wristwatch.
The watch sports Bluetooth wireless technology, and will simplify how people interact with their mobile phones. Combining fashion forward technology with added functionality and efficiency, the Bluetooth watch enables users to stay connected without compromising style. The watch designs were adapted from top selling Fossil models.
The analog/digital watch links effortlessly via Bluetooth to certain mobile phones allowing users to view incoming caller ID information on the watch face. Users are notified when their phone rings and when a text message is received. When users are unable to answer their phone, a single button press can mute or reject an incoming call. When a voicemail or text message is received, users are alerted by an icon of an envelope that appears on the watch accompanied by a slight vibration.
Partnering with Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, a global leader in the mobile handset industry, Fossil’s new wireless product boasts a fashion-forward design that is as attractive as it is capable. “Combining Fossil’s fashion and watch expertise with Sony Ericsson’s Bluetooth technology expertise helped us to create a smart, dynamic and fashionable watch that keeps you connected in all situations and eliminates the need to fumble through your pocket or handbag each time someone calls,” adds Geiser.
Additional features include a two-hand analog for easy timekeeping, vibrating alert of incoming call or SMS/MMS, Caller ID or number displayed, out of range warning (after 10 meters the watch vibrates when phone goes out of range), view phone’s time/date, simple two-button auto pairing operation, bright OLED display, reject/mute incoming calls (one button push mutes the phone’s ringer, two button pushes rejects the call), water resistant to 3 ATM, and compatibility with most Sony Ericsson Bluetooth phones. The watch also features a lithium rechargeable battery that lasts approximately 5-7 days based on conditions of use. The battery can be recharged through a USB or universal AC adapter.
The ABACUS branded product (MobileWear™ by ABACUS) comes in two styles: one with a stainless steel case and bracelet (style AU6001) and the other with a stainless steel case and black PU strap (style AU6002).
In stock now at Widget for £119.99 to £149.99.
This looks like an interesting (and rather nice looking) device, expect to see a full review on Geekanoids soon.
What has stayed on my desk & desktop
Over the past few years I have reviewed many many products. I thought it would be nice to mention the ones that I ended up purchasing myself. The software, hardware and accessories that were just too good to let go of. So here goes with my favourites that I use every day.
Yojimbo
This is a great piece of software, it lives in my dock and is running all the time in the background. If I come across something interesting on the web, I pop it into Yojimbo for later viewing. When I get a new piece of software and need to make a note of the serial number, again Yojimbo does the job for me. The notes feature is good too, before Yojimbo, if I took a phone call and had to write something down I often found that I sent an email to myself. Nowadays I just write the note down in Yojimbo, giving it a meaningful heading. When I move over to my desktop Mac, all my Yojimbo items come with me, thanks to the syncing over .mac support.
Griffin Technology
Although a recent addition to my kit, the Elevator, which I reviewed a couple of days ago, will be staying. I used an iCurve before, and this new stand is just superb. It helps me a great deal by raising my MacBook up to eye level, so it is much more comfortable to use.
Signature Suit
I love my Apple gear, so when it comes to protecting something from knocks and scratches, I am all for it. The Signature Suit from Case-Mate has stayed on my MacBook ever since I reviewed it. It is made of read leather and lined in soft material. The great thing about the Signature Suit, apart from the quality feel, is that it does not add much bulk to my laptop. So this one comes highly recommended.
Other items I use everyday include my MacBook, a Samsung 215TW monitor, 5th Gen iPod, and on the software front Quark Xpress 7, PhotoShop CS3, Adium, Skype, GarageSale, Firefox, NetNewsWire, Cyberduck, Toast Titanium 8, Downsize and Overflow (review of these last three soon).
Upcoming Reviews - Toast 8, Suitcase Fusion +
A little update for you all of the reviews planned for the next couple of weeks here at Geekanoids. Check back regularly or subscribe to our RSS feed to keep up-to-date with Geekanoids News and Latest Reviews.
Here is the rundown:
- Herman Miller Mirra Chair
- Roxio Toast 8
- Griffin Elevator
- Extensis Suitcase Fusion
- Stunt software's OverFlow and DownSize
- Pinnacle SoundBridge
- Crumpler Cheesy Disco Big Logo Bag
- Palm Treo 680 Smartphone
- Lindy HDMI Switch
- Panasonic DMR-EX85 DVD/HD Recorder
- Ixos Cables - too many to mention
- Griffin iTalk Pro
- Adobe PhotoShop CS2 Classroom in a Book
- All this plus much much more
iSkin launch ProTouch protection for MacBook
iSkin have launched their ProTouch keyboard protectors for the Apple MacBook. Available to order online now, these custom fit covers keeps all those nasty bits out of your keyboard.
Colours available are frosted blue and pink, frosted clear, opaque black and 'Ghost' a glow in the dark affair. For $24.99 they seem like a good value for money buy. Check out the full details here and also check back on the Geekanoids website soon for a full review.
LG prepares launch of iPhone competitor
LG Electronics is readying the launch of the LG-KE850 mobile phone. Due to launch in February, little is known about the phone, apart from images showing a large touch screen on the front of the device making it look very similar to the iPhone. I am not expecting it to offer the massive features demonstrated by Steve Jobs at the MacWorld 2007 Keynote, but if it has a nice interface and offers good music playback, I think it will sell very well.
LG did very well with the launch of their Chocolate and the new KE850 is expected to offer some great features and a wicked design too. The LG handset will be slightly smaller than the iPhone, 99mm by 54mm, with both being around 11mm thick. There are more images over at Mobil Portal.
Apple iPhone will cost $230 to make
The cost of manufacturing each 4GB Apple iPhone will cost $230 according to research by iSuppli and reported on over at the EETimes website. This could equate to over 50% gross margin for Apple Inc and Cingular Wireless. Great news for Apple and Cingular, but not being sure myself how such deals are cut, I would not draw any real conclusion from this. Do Apple get the majority of this profit, or is it shared equally with Cingular? Your guess is as good as mine.
The report goes on to say "iSuppli estimates that 14 music-enabled mobile phones with features that compete closely with the Apple iPhone already are shipping from manufacturers including Nokia, Motorola Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and LG.
Shipments of music-enabled mobile phones will rise to 618.1 million units in 2007, up 39.9 percent from 441.7 million units in 2006, iSuppli predicts. By 2010, shipments of such phones will increase to 1 billion units."
You can read the full report here.