Best Gadgets World

JVC is giving us loads of HD camcorders with the launch of 3 new models under its HD Everio camcorder series - the GZ-HD40, GZ-HD30 and GZ-HD10. These new camcorders ushers in JVC’s entry into the market for AVCHD compliant camcorders with their support for recording videos in the said format.

Two of these camcorders were designed to answer the needs of high-end users with their high-capacity storage feature, the GZ-HD30 with 80GB capacity and the GZ-HZ40 with 120GB capacity. Both camcorders aside from recording AVCHD video also records in MPEG-2 TS format at 1920×1090 resolution at an average 17mbps for AVCHD video and at 27mbps maximum for recording MPEG-2 TS video. In addition both camcorders boast of 2.68 megapixel 1/3 inch CMOS chip.

The GZ-HD10 on the other hand was designed to compete with entry-level HD camcorders with its 1.84 megapixel 1/4-inch CMOS which can record in 1440×1080 resolution AVCHD format.

All three JVC Everio camcorders are slated for August release with SRPs of $999, $1299 and $799 respectively.

Via [Camcorder Info] Read [JVC Press Release]

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by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 6:37AM
Comfy, she-dork? Good, because you’re quite possibly slopped atop Thanko’s most foolish product yet, the Lazy Geek’s Cushion. That’s saying something from the company that brought you the USB mask, slippers, and Gold Ingot Hub. While it promises to alleviate neck and back pain, somehow, looking at these pics, we find that hard to believe.

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Filed under: Misc. gadgets, Household

A couple of days ago of a flash demo of Nokia’s two new handsets, the E66 and E71 have surfaced and we all speculated that an official announcement from Nokia is imminently happening soon. Well, that soon is now as Nokia officially announced the E66 and E71, two new e-email optimized devices geared for the business-oriented mobile users.

So aside from what we already that both handsets will feature a GPS and 3.2 megapixel camera, we are now officially informed that they will also feature easy-to-install and easy-to-use professional and personal email with support for major web-based email including Gmail, Yahoo! mail and Hotmail as well as Nokia’s Intellisync Wireless Email solution. In addition, both handsets would also support Nokia’s Ovi services that include maps, music and media sharing, HSDPA, Wireless LAN and 3G connectivity, Nokia Maps for navigation, and a music player. Additionally, both handsets will also feature a built-in encryption functionality for the device memory and memory card, an integrated mobile VPN for access to company intranet, and the lock and wipe technology for protecting corporate information.

The sleek-looking E71 boasts of a full QWERTY keyboard while the stylish E66 a slide-to-open mobile phone beauty. Both handsets are slated for a mid-July release with SRPs starting at around $534 (350 euros).

Via [Nokia Press Release]

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It’s June, after all, so let’s talk weddings. Simple weddings specifically. And let’s be clear up front that there’s no such thing. Some weddings are simpler than others, maybe, but the possibility of a truly simple wedding is a myth.

My suspicion is that simple weddings aren’t possible because that’s the way we like it. Nothing about marriage is simple. Why should the initiating event be any different?

Case in point: a wedding I attended a few weeks ago. The bride insisted she wanted things simple, but her idea of simple was to skip the caterer and have her mother do all the cooking. For 200 people. Including the wedding cake. And hold the wedding and reception, and feed all those people, at home.

The mother of the bride is an old friend, so all Spring I heard a great deal about the burdens of putting on a biggish wedding at home, and preparing all the food as well. But the MOB is an excellent cook who gives big parties featuring her food. Even though I thought it was demented, it was quite clear that she loved the challenge of putting on this wedding pretty much single-handed.

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 6:37AM
Comfy, she-dork? Good, because you’re quite possibly slopped atop Thanko’s most foolish product yet, the Lazy Geek’s Cushion. That’s saying something from the company that brought you the USB mask, slippers, and Gold Ingot Hub. While it promises to alleviate neck and back pain, somehow, looking at these pics, we find that hard to believe.

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Filed under: Misc. gadgets, Household

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 6:48AM
First came makeup designed to shield talking heads from looking too realistic while on HDTV. Now, we’ve got makeup that does half of the work for you. In the coming months, both Estée Lauder and Lancôme are planning to launch vibrating mascaras, both of which require batteries and promise to cover way more ground than your unstable hand ever could. The former company will be introducing the TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara, which will retail for $30 at Sake Fifth Avenue and buzz along at 125 micropulses-per-second; the latter will be churning out the cleverly named Ôscillation, which aims to provide “a 360-degree coat around each and every lash” when it launches this fall. We know — we just got way too kit ‘n kaboodle for most of y’all, but your lady friend(s) would appreciate the gesture.

[Via CNET]

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Filed under: Wearables

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 5:51AMGo get it kids, Firefox 3.0 has just been released. We’re out of beta and looking at web page loads 3- to 4-times faster than Firefox 2.0 and more than 7x faster than IE, according to its makers.

Update: Looks like we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Although a file titled, “Firefox 3.0″ (without the RC# associated with previous release candidates) is active and available to download, it looks like it’s just the RC3 installer placed in the final 3.0 folder.

[Thanks, James D.]

Download — FF 3.0 all versions [Warning: FTP, will not be counted in world record attempt]
Download — FF 3.0 to be counted in world record attempt (active at 10am PDT)
Read — 10am PDT translated into local times
Read — Release progress

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For a single Benjamin Franklin bill (hundred that is), you can pick up the CarMD Handheld Engine Code Reader that interfaces with your car’s computers to tell you what’s wrong with your car in seconds.

This little gem works with all 1996 and newer model cars and provides complete diagnostics on your car’s engine and whatever else your car’s computer tracks. CarMD comes with Windows software that helps you track up to 3 of your cars’ health. In addition,the website www.CarMD.com has an online database of thousands of problems and their solutions as seen by auto techs over the past 10 years.

Naturally, it has a USB hookup to your computer for easy connectivity and data dumping. If you’ve got a car that gives you any sort of trouble, or you want your very own second opinion, in this time of rising gas prices, then this gadget may just pay for itself the first time your mechanic tries to hoodwink you.

Gimme!

Price: $99.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Posted in Automotive, Gizmo of the Day

CNET has a very useful guide on their site showing how much RF energy your body absorbs from specific cell phone models when held up to your ear. While my phone (the now practically ancient Treo 700p) isn’t in the top 10, it’s still way up there with a 1.48W/kg SAR rating. SAR = Specific Absorption Rate.

Note to self - get a Bluetooth headset pronto. BTW, if you live in California, you have 2 weeks, before the “hands-free” law goes into effect banning driving and talking on a cell phone using your hand.

Posted in Phones, Portable

ASUS representatives have released their pricing figures on the latest line of ASUS notebooks in the market – the Eee PC Series. Officially labeled as the ASUS 901, 1000, and 1000H, they are priced at $599, $699, and $649, respectively. We were surprised at the high cost however the ASUS Eee PC 1000-series are still subject for price changes.

The latest ASUS series are running either Linux or Windows XP. Both the 1000 and 1000H models have 10-inch computer screens, while the Eee PC 901 has a smaller frame of 8.9-inch display. All three run notebooks are powered by Intel’s 1.6GHz Atom processor. The ASUS laptops are available in two color variants: black and white casings.

The pricing for the ASUS Eee Series are perceived to be too high for their specs. Competing brands of the same range of notebook category, such as the MSI Wind, and the Linux Wind are cheaper than the ASUS notebooks leaving us to wonder what the leader in the niche is up to.

Read [SlashGear]

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