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SmartWatch from Sony connects to Android smartphones via BluetoothTM giving you the ability to control key functions without removing your smartphone from your pocket or bag. With just a tap, touch, and swipe, SmartWatch turns from a watch displaying the time to a remote information center for your Android smartphone.

A growing number of apps are available for download through Google Play – including those for social updates, workouts and music – all customized for the 1.3-inch OLED SmartWatch touch screen. While SmartWatch works with these existing apps, Android developers can create apps specifically for the device. SmartWatch works with most Android (2.1 and above) smartphones.

“SmartWatch is the first of many Smart Extras that seamlessly connect and expand the smartphone’s reach and user experience,” said Paul Hamnett, President and Head of Customer Unit, North America, Sony Mobile Communications. “Designed to break free from the single screen experience, SmartWatch provides access to live content and entertainment on the go.”

The durable SmartWatch is dust proof and splash proof and comes with a black rubber wristband included in the box. Wristbands in five additional colors are available for purchase. SmartWatch’s design includes a rear mounted clip, so it can be removed from the wristband and attached to clothing or a belt.

At launch, SmartWatch has a suggested retail price of $149.99 and will be available at http://www.sony.com/smartwatch and Sony stores. SmartWatch availability at additional retailers will be announced soon.

SmartWatch is part of Sony Mobile Communications’ strategy to create Smart Extras that make Android smartphones smarter.

Key Features of Sony XperiaTM SmartWatch:
Dimensions: 1.42 X 1.42 X 0.3 in
Weight: 0.55 oz
Display: 1.3″ OLED display, 128 x 128 pixels
Compatibility: BluetoothTM 3.0 and AndroidTM 2.1 or above Connectivity: Standard USB charging
Battery life: Up to 4 days
Language support for: English, Spanish, French, Chinese (Traditional), Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Danish, Polish, Japanese, Czech, German, Modern Greek, Dutch
Notifications: Display notification or vibration
Apps: All events (displays in chronological order), Messaging (SMS/MMS), corporate E-mail (for SonyTM and Sony Ericsson Android phones), Gmail (for all other Android smartphones) Calendar Notifications, FacebookTM, TwitterTM, Music Player, Call handling (call, mute, reject, or answer and send pre-defined SMS), Pre-defined SMS, e.g. missed calls – I’m busy, messaging – call me, email – ok, Battery strength, Find phone, and Weather widget. Plus lots of apps on AndroidTM market.

Additional SmartWatch bands available in pink, white, mint, grey and blue

For full details on all products news, please visit the press room and the product blog: http://blogs.sonymobile.com/products/. For full Android smartphone compatibility, please visit http://sonymobile.com/smartwatch

New smartwatch features daylight-readable e-paper display, iPhone and
Android compatibility, sports and fitness apps and 7+ day battery life

Palo Alto – Allerta, the company behind the inPulse smartwatch for Blackberry, today introduced the next generation Pebble smartwatch. It is the first smartwatch to offer full iPhone and iOS compatibility. Pebble features a 1.26″ electronic-paper display that delivers a crisp, high resolution text and images while enabling the watch to last for over 7 days on battery.

Pebble is the first watch built for the 21st century. It’s infinitely customizable, with beautiful
downloadable watchfaces and useful internet-connected apps. Pebble connects to iPhone and Android smartphones using Bluetooth 2.1, alerting you with a silent vibration to incoming calls, emails and messages. While designing Pebble, we strove to create a minimalist yet fashionable product that seamlessly blends into everyday life.

Many apps are being built to run on Pebble. Cyclists can use Pebble as a bike computer, accessing the GPS on a smartphone to display speed, distance and pace data. Runners get a similar set of data displayed on their wrist. The music control app allows users to play, pause or skip tracks on their smartphone with the touch of a button. Golfer can feel free to bring Pebble onto the course. Pebble has partnered with Freecaddie to create a great golf rangefinder app for Pebble that works on over 25,000 courses world-wide. Instead of looking at a smartphone app, golfers can view current distance to the green right on their wrist.

Multiple watchapps can run on the watch simultaneously. New watchapps can be downloaded and installed on Pebble using the Pebble App available for iOS 5+ and Android 2.3+ devices. Using the free and open Pebble SDK, developers can create their own watchapps that take advantage of the built-in 3-axis accelerometer, e-paper display, vibrating motor, 4 buttons and Bluetooth chip. Developers can also take advantage of the push notification system that Pebble uses to receive and transmit data to the internet.

Pebble is launching on Kickstarter on April 11, 2012. Prices start at $99. Pebble is available in 4 colors: Arctic White, Jet Black, Cherry Red, and a 4th color option that will be voted on by backers of the project. Pebble will retail for $149 when it goes on sale later this year.

Word on the street says Google is gearing up to launch a cloud service of some kind that could bring a host of new features to the desktop, but why wait on Google?

IDrive Online Backup has just released new free software – IDriveConnect – allowing users to access their Google Docs as if they were sitting in a regular folder on their computer. This allows for some simple yet extremely useful functionality:

– Drag-and-drop to easily upload and download within Windows Explorer
– Automatically convert popular document types to Google Docs format
– Share files and folders directly within IDrive Connect

Additionally, IDrive Connect has the option to save items in Google Docs directly to an existing IDrive account. Create an IDrive account and store up to 5GB of documents, and more, completely free of charge.

IDrive Connect is built on IDrive’s EVS platform
EVS is the foundation of IDrive Online Backup, a fast, flexible, and secure cloud storage platform. With public APIs available, developers can take advantage of those same features to create their own applications compatible with the IDrive family. Since EVS was developed in-house by the IDrive team, they are able to offer secure cloud storage at a more affordable rate than plans offered by competitors Carbonite and Mozy.

IDrive Online Backup is available for home and server editions of Windows and Mac OS X and for mobile devices in the Apple App Store and Android Market.

Panasonic announced six new DECT 6.0 Plus telephones that offer an array of convenient features for landline phone users including a simplified keypad layout with oversized buttons, large white backlit display, talking caller ID and amplified handsets. Each of the new 2012 model series are expandable up to 6 handsets, to create a truly robust home communication solution that grows with a user’s needs.

The two new Link2Cell® models, the KX-TG7740 and KX-TG7730 series, allow consumers to make and receive cell phone calls on any of the comfortable Panasonic handsets throughout the home. As an added benefit, iPhone users can import their ringtones to the Link2Cell phone system so that each call rings throughout the home with the same tone as the cell phone.

Link2Cell works with or without landline telephone service. Simply place the base unit wherever cell reception is strongest and then pair up to two Bluetooth®-enabled cell phones to the system. Once paired, cell phone calls will ring on all compatible Panasonic handsets, ensuring that important calls will not be missed. Additionally, since it is Bluetooth compatible users can transfer up to 3050 entries from a cell phone address book to the handset with the touch of a button.

“Panasonic continuously seeks to provide consumers with innovative telephony products that deliver a superior experience for their communication needs,” said Desirae Dolphin, Product Manager, Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America. “With the ever-changing landscape of communication tools, our goal is to deliver phones that are easy-to-use and offer unique features that enhance the home communication experience.”

The Panasonic KX-TG4740 and KX-TG4730 series are expandable digital cordless answering systems which feature a simplified keypad layout with fewer, larger buttons making it easier to dial. Each series is equipped with a side volume key on each handset, similar to cell phones making it easy to users to adjust the volume during a call, and allow for up to 4-way conference calling. The new KX-TG4753B expandable digital cordless answering system with three handsets includes all the great features of the KX-TG4730 series in addition to a range extender which doubles the effective transmission distance between the base unit and the cordless handsets.

The new Panasonic KX-TG4770 series is an expandable digital answering system with one corded and additional cordless handsets which features a large LCD screen on the base unit with a simplified button layout for ease of use. The cordless handsets feature Power Back-Up Operation, a feature exclusive to Panasonic phones, which allows for up to three hours of talk time after the power has been lost.

All six new phones are equipped with Panasonic’s DECT 6.0 PLUS technology which takes the superb sound quality and outstanding range of DECT 6.0 to a new level with an increased frequency of error correction of up to 80 times, improving sound quality and extending transmission range. Additionally, adjustable Tone Equalizer allows users to customize the tone of incoming calls to maximize clarity or accommodate for mild to moderate hearing loss. Depending on their particular hearing loss frequencies, users may boost bass, mid-range, or treble tones, making voices easier to understand.

Additional features of the 2012 lineup of consumer telephones include:

· Intelligent Eco Mode – Automatically lowers the power consumption when using the handset close to the base unit

· Talking Caller ID – Announces Caller ID information in between rings so users don’t have to stop what they are doing to answer unwanted calls

· Light Up Indicator – A visual indicator on the handset will flash brightly when there is an incoming call

· Silent Mode – Program any handset, such as a bedside phone, not to ring during specified hours

· Call Block – Block unwanted calls by entering the caller ID information into the phone’s memory

· Handset Locator – To locate a misplaced handset, simply touch a button on the base and the handset will ring

The new phones are now available at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco and Amazon.com:

· KX-TG4734B expandable digital cordless answering system (4 handsets) $109.95, (3 handsets) $89.95; KX-TG4732B (2 handsets) $69.95;

· KX-TG4745B expandable digital cordless answering system with dial keypad on base (5 handsets) $139.95; KX-TG4744B (4 handsets) $119.95; KX-TG4743B (3 handsets) $99.95; KX-TG4742B (2 handsets) $79.95; KX-TG4741B (1 handset) $59.95.

· KX-TG4753B expandable digital cordless answering system with three handsets: $109.95

· KX-TG7733S Link2Cell® Bluetooth® Convergence Solution ((3 handsets) $99.95; KX-TG7732S (2 handsets) $79.95; KX-TG7731S (1 handset) $59.95.

· KX-TG7745S Link2Cell Bluetooth Convergence Solution with dial key pad on base (5 handsets): $149.95; KX-TG7743S (3 handsets) $109.95; KX-TG7742S (2 handsets) $89.95; KX-TG7741S (1 handset) $69.95.

· KX-TG4771B expandable digital cordless answering system with 1 corded and 1 cordless handset $69.95; KX-TG4772B (2 cordless handsets) $89.95; KX-TG4773B (3 cordless handsets) $109.95.

For more information about Panasonic telephones, please visit www.panasonic.com/phonestuff.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., have introduced the EOS 60Da Digital SLR Camera, a long-awaited successor to the EOS 20Da that is optimized for astrophotography. This DSLR caters to astronomers and hobbyists who enjoy capturing the beauty of the night sky by offering a modified infrared filter and a low-noise sensor with heightened hydrogen-alpha sensitivity. These modifications allow the camera to capture magnificent photographs of “red hydrogen emission” nebulae and other cosmic phenomena.

“The EOS 60Da is a testament to the constant desire to meet the needs of every customer, including those in specialized fields,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A., “This new camera enables an accurate depiction of a part of our solar system which is hard to achieve with conventional cameras but should be enjoyed and celebrated.”

The Canon EOS 60Da camera packs a powerful 18-megapixel CMOS sensor (APS-C) that produces sharp and high-contrast images of astronomical objects, a major enhancement over the EOS 20Da model’s 8.2-megapixel sensor. The improved infrared-blocking filter is a modification suited specifically toward astronomy enthusiasts to achieve a hydrogen-alpha light sensitivity that is approximately three times higher than that of a normal Canon DSLR camera. This produces a 20-percent higher transmittance of Hydrogen Alpha line, or H? wavelength, allowing astronomers to capture crisp, clear images of reddish, diffuse nebulae.

Enhanced Features

Crisp images of the stars and planets can be viewed on the EOS 60Da’s improved 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen with 1,040,000 dots for detailed focusing. The flip-out Vari-angle screen allows photographers to adjust the screen for easy viewing without straining even while the camera is mounted to a telescope via a third-party T-ring adapter. Optimized for stargazing with friends or in an educational setting, astronomy enthusiasts can connect the camera to a TV with the provided AVC-DC400ST Stereo AV Video Cable and display the night sky on a TV monitor using the camera’s Live View mode. Moreover, the EOS 60Da’s Live View mode is equipped with a Silent Shooting feature that eliminates shutter-induced vibration for maximum camera stability when the camera is mounted to a telescope or super-telephoto EF lens.

Enhanced noise reduction on the EOS 60Da sensor offers photographers the ability to experiment with the wide array of ISO settings and increased ISO speeds up to 6400 expandable to 12800. Other features include an intelligent nine-point autofocus system, full manual controls, and RAW, JPEG, and RAW+JPEG image recording capabilities.

Accessories

The EOS 60Da helps capture the wonders of the night sky with its use of Canon’s award-winning EF and EF-S lenses along with other EOS accessories. Additionally, the EOS 60Da is packaged with Canon’s RA-E3 Remote Controller Adapter, providing the ability to connect a Canon Timer Remote Control such as the TC-80N3 (optional accessory). The TC-80N3 is ideal for controlling time exposures longer than 30 seconds as well as capturing a series of consecutive time exposures that can be composited during post-processing for improved image quality. This is especially useful when the camera body is connected to a telescope[i] or an EF super telephoto lens.

Canon has also included an AC adapter kit with the EOS 60Da, allowing the camera to be powered through an AC wall outlet or a battery-powered inverter, ideal for long exposure image or video capture at home or in the field.

Availability

As a specialized product, the EOS 60Da is only available to order from select authorized dealers. The estimated retail price is $1,499.00 and it is expected to be available this month.

Engadget have posted a HTC One S review with a video at: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/htc-one-s-review/ and a review of HTC Sense 4 at: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/htc-sense-4-0-review/

HTC Press Release:
The HTC One S is for people who want a high-end smartphone in a more compact size. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with up to 1.5GHz dual-core CPU’s. It also includes a 4.3-inch screen crafted from contoured Corning™ Gorilla Glass. HTC One S brings HTC’s innovative metal unibody styling to a new thin 7.9-mm design, making it HTC’s thinnest phone yet. The HTC One S sports two new finishes that break new ground in mobile phone innovation. The first is an ultra-matte black Ceramic Metal surface that is the result of a microarc oxidation (MAO) process originally developed for use in satellites. It transforms the surface of the aluminum unibody into a ceramic, super-dense crystalline structure that is four times harder than anodized aluminum, enabling the HTC One S to look great over time. The second finish for the One S takes anodizing to a new level with a new patented process that creates a light-to-dark gradient fade that looks gorgeous and sophisticated.

Sony is giving video professionals freedom from camera shake with the HXR-NX30U high-definition camcorder, a palm-size addition to Sony’s NXCAM line. The new model uses Sony’s breakthrough Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization technology to significantly reduce camera shake in challenging shooting applications. The new camcorder also offers convenient features such as a built-in projector, all combined in Sony’s smallest, lightest handheld professional camcorder.

“This high-quality yet easy-to-use camcorder is an extremely versatile field production tool,” said Chiyoko Yannette, marketing manager at Sony Electronics’ Professional Solutions of America group. “It’s perfect for documentary makers, video journalists, educational establishments or corporate users, for shooting in many different situations where other stabilization equipment is not practical such as on-board a vehicle or in a crowd.”

Conventional image stabilization systems typically “float” an individual lens element with a motor drive to compensate for camera shake. Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ combines the entire lens and image sensor assembly into one floating element that moves as a unit to reduce the shaking effect caused by normal motion during shooting.

The new HXR-NX30U records at full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution using a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens (35mm equivalent :26.0mm -260mm) for superb optical quality, sharpness and brightness. The camcorder’s 1/2.88-inch image sensor uses Sony’s Exmor R™ CMOS technology, which significantly enhances low-light performance, speeds image readout, reduces rolling shutter artifacts and enables a range of frame rates – 1080/60p, 1080/30p, 24p, 60i, 720/60p.

Using AVCHD recording, the camera has 96 gigabytes of internal memory (approximately 40 hours of HD content), with a slot that accepts either SD or Memory Stick media cards for additional recording capacity. A built-in video projector lets users play back images of up to 100 inches from a distance of about 16 feet (5m) on any flat surface. This feature is ideal for reviewing footage in the field or on a set, when a monitor is either not available or convenient to use.

The HXR-NX30U also features a detachable XLR unit and professional-quality audio, record level control, the option of Linear PCM audio recording, time code, and the ability to reset time code on multiple NXCAMs via infrared remote control.

The HXR-NX30U is planned to be available in June for a suggested list price of less than $2,500.