First camera with built-in projector! The Nikon Coolpix S1000pj:

Nikon has just announced the new Nikon Coolpix S1000pj - the world’s first digital camera to include a built-in digital projector. The idea is to allow users to enjoy the pleasure of a ‘personal go-anywhere theatre and to introduce a fun new way to share pictures with friends and families.’

The Coolpix S1000pj is the first digital camera with a built-in projector that lets users project photos or movies clips on any flat surface at up to 40 inches in size. A handy projector stand is included, as is a remote control that can be used to operate the projector, release the shutter, and more. This model features an effective resolution of 12.1 megapixels and a 5x Zoom-Nikkor lens with 28mm (equivalent) wide-angle coverage, along with a similar image stabilization system to the Coolpix S640.

The Nikon Coolpix S1000pj couples a 12.0 megapixel image sensor with a Nikkor-branded 5x optical zoom lens that offers 35mm-equivalent focal lengths from a useful 28mm wide angle to a 140mm telephoto. In addition, Coolpix S1000pj can support ISO as high as 6,400. For more details on its spec, please read the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj feature highlights.

The Coolpix S1000pj is expected to be available on the market from September.

Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj Feature Highlights:

Sharper results with five advanced Nikon image stabilizing features. The camera selects and uses only the features required to optimize each image:

Nikon’s Optical lens shift and Electronic VR image stabilization systems combine to help produce blur-free images.

High ISO 6400 capability allows faster shutter speeds when shooting in low light or capturing fast-moving subjects. ISO 3200 and 6400 are available only for image sizes of 3M (2048 x 1536) or smaller.

Motion Detection automatically controls shutter speed and the ISO setting to compensate for subject movement and camera shake.

And, Nikon’s original BSS (Best Shot Selector) function automatically shoots a series of sequential frames and saves the one with the sharpest focus.

Nikon’s Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening. Face-priority AF helps produce more satisfying portraits by adjusting focus and exposure for as many as 12 faces in the framed shot. Skin Softening function detects and analyzes a framed subject’s skin, and then adjusts smoothness to produce enhanced results - a digital plus for beauty-conscious women out there. Smile Timer automatically releases the shutter when the subject smiles, while its Blink Proof function shoots two sequential frames, then saves the one in which the subject’s eyes are widest open. Blink Warning presents an alert when it suspects that someone in the shot has blinked. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically corrects any perceived red-eye effect before saving the image to memory.

Intelligent automated shooting modes that promote carefree shooting. Nikon’s Scene Auto Selector makes it faster and easier to capture the moment by eliminating the need to manually select a scene mode to match the intended shot. This intelligent function determines the subject, analyzes the surrounding settings, and then automatically selects the appropriate scene mode for optimal results. Subject Tracking enhances the shooting experience by following the subject’s movement to ensure clear focus and quick response when that special shutter opportunity presents itself. Subject Tracking even functions if the subject moves out of the frame for a second or two.

Quick Retouch.Quick Retouch automatically adjusts the contrast and saturation of selected photos to create an enhanced copy with the right finishing touch.

Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj Other Features:

• 2.7-in. high-resolution LCD monitor with anti-reflection coated cover
• 16 handy scene modes for optimized shooting in various settings
• D-Lighting
• Active Zoom
• Auto Sort and Favorite Pictures functions
• Four movie modes with sound
• Time zone function for easy setting of multiple locations
• Approx. 36 MB of internal memory
• Hi-Speed USB connectivity

Related articles

• Nikon Unveils a Camera With Built-In Projector (tech.slashdot.org)
• Nikon Coolpix S70 digital camera (ubergizmo.com)
• The Nikon S1000PJ projector camera leaks out along with three other Coolpix models (crunchgear.com)
• Nikon Coolpix S570 digital camera (ubergizmo.com)
• Gadgetwise: Nikon Announces Four New Coolpix Models (gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Greeny Fashion Pics (danielgreenz.blogspot.com)
  

Digital Experience Media at Metro Pav

The annual Digital Experience Media exhibit which was hosted by Pepcom was held last June 24 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City. Around 45 exhibitors offered their latest and coolest consumer electronics and software products. For this holiday season of June and July you may start early shopping with these new products to buy:

Marvel showcased its plug computing products. Unlike other networking products, a plug computer is designed to offer PC-like performance. The company’s SheevaPlug is an embedded computer that plugs into the wall socket and can run network-based services that normally require a dedicated personal computer. Featuring a 1.2 GHz Marvell Sheeva CPU with 512 MB of flash memory and 512 MB of DDR2 memory, the SheevaPlug provides enough processing power and resources to run any embedded computing application.

As shown below, Energizer showcased Energi To Go Portable Power for Cell Phones. It now includes rechargeable power packs that use lithium polymer battery technology to power a wide variety of mobile electronic devices including smart and cell phones, iPhone, iPod and MP3 players, GPS units, digital cameras and camcorders, netbooks and laptops.

The company Wi-Ex showcased its zBoost cell phone signal boosters. zBoost Your Life Holiday Profiles products included zBoost-ONE PCS, zBoost-ONE UMTS, and zBoost International. According to the company zBoost devices reduce dropped calls and improve cell phone signal indoors, as well as increases signal and speed of aircards, EDGE and 3G technology.

Plantronics featured its latest wireless headsets for unified communications, PC multimedia and mobile use. Shown at their booth was the Savi Office and Savi Go wireless headsets for office workers and provides a single wireless headset for mixing desk phone calls with PC audio and softphone calls. Savi Office gives you the freedom to talk hands-free and work without the hassles of a cord, up to 350-feet away from the desk. Very impressive! In addition Savi Office is built on digitally encrypted, voice-dedicated DECT 6.0 technology. What I liked about The Savi Go headset is that it allows users to switch between their mobile phone and PC calls with the touch of a button (multipoint technology). Both headsets feature PerSono Suite software to help manage PC audio and calling.

HTC showed its newest range of Android and Windows Mobile smartphones that are available now and for this year’s upcoming holiday season.

HP ( www.hp.com/personal) showcased the TouchSmart IQ800 series PC, which will officially be available on June 28, 2008. With just a touch of a finger it is very easy to use.

One of the products Kingston Technology displayed was the SSDNow V Series. It is available in 128 GB and 64 GB capacities.

MWV presented the Natralock security packaging, a paperboard-based alternative to plastic clamshells that combines sustainability and protection into one environment-friendly packaging solution for the consumer electronics industry.

NVIDIA showcased how its Tegra and ION technologies bring the power of advanced visual computing to a broad range of handheld and mobile platforms—from smartphones, MP3 players, and PNDs to mobile internet devices (MIDs), notebooks, and netbooks. Shown below is the Tegra module. Tegra-based devices deliver desktop-class Internet browsing with Flash video and animation acceleration, and up to 1080p video playback.

If you are looking for a unique holiday gift, I recommend the ioDIGITAL vertical spa from Moen . It features simple dials (one for temperature/one for flow) – allowing you to quickly and accurately set the preferred combination of temperature, flow and spray outlets. It also features easy-to-read LED indicators which alert the user when the shower matches the settings.

Among the phones, Blackberry displayed the recently introduced BlackBerry Tour Smartphone.

Just in time for summer fun, DeLorme showcased the new handheld GPS models (with support for Navionics lake and coastal charts). The Earthmate PN-30 handheld GPS receiver (see image) offers top-end GPS capabilities, plus the PN-Series’ exclusive aerial imagery display features, but it’s also affordably priced and easy to use.The PN-Series topographic map DVDS are included for transfers to the device; users can load the maps they need and be ready to go within minutes of opening the package. In the field, users will discover lightning-quick satellite acquisition, thanks to the high-sensitivity 32-channel Cartesio chipset. Signal retention is ultra-reliable even in dense forests. A powerful dual-core processor renders map and imagery screen views with instantaneous speed. The PN-30 is waterproof and WAAS-enabled for superior accuracy, and has a bright-color TFT screen for readability in any light conditions. With all those features, the PN-30 is offered for $299.95 (suggested retail price-available in July)

Further Readings

• As prices fall, smartphones make consumer gains (cbc.ca)
• Mobile Phones Beat PCs for Young Women (marketingvox.com)
• Gizmodo, Engadget, and Now GDGT (nytimes.com)
• The Eight (Seven...Six?) Information Devices I Can't Live Without (xconomy.com)
• Opinion: Why the iPhone can't be killed (macworld.com)

Ecogadgets Gifts for Christmas

Wanna hit a bargain for the great gift for the geek this Christmas? Not for the money this time. With all the attention given to eco-friendly lifestyle, the technologically inclined have been hard at work making this easier to achieve – with gadgets. There is quite a long line of supply out there that will help you trim down your effect on the environment, so a pick over them all can be a challenge (for one who’s not tech savvy like myself). Found below is a short list of of the most useful, eco-friendly or utterly remarkable modest innovations that have freshly snatched my attention.

Hymini - a device that collects solar and wind power, so you can charge your portable electronics anytime, anywhere. Just leave it someplace sunny, or strap it on the front of your bike, and your Hymini will power up and be good to go. Plus, for those times when you're traveling all day -- in and out of airports, without any access to the bountiful power-generating resources of Mother Nature -- you can still plug it into the wall.



SolarRoll - a green gadget that allows you to finally have a truly "mobile" laptop. There has been lots of talk flying around recently about how much energy computers consume and waste, so if you feel like opting out of the "computer drain," this might be the ticket. It's obvious that this thing is a turn-on for the backpacker who has to have it all, but I get way more excited when I think about its practical applications: using my laptop at the park or in remote locations, not needing to sit in a coffee shop to work. If you don't own a laptop, the SolarRoll comes in other sizes and outputs, so it can support devices like your cellphones, 2-way radios, digital cameras, or even your car battery.

Water powered alarm clock - Need more juice? Simply add more water right from the tap. Features include the time, an alarm, a countdown timer, the temperature, and a gravity sensor that lets you switch from function to function just by changing the clock's position. Plus the whole thing is recyclable and you'll never have to buy batteries again.

Wattson - this gadget could save you plenty of money on your electric bill while using only a little bit of juice itself. All you do is plug a transmitter into your electric meter or fuse box, and it will send information wirelessly to your Wattson unit, which will display the amount of electricity you're currently using. It sounds simple, but having an ever-present color-coded reminder in the house could really change the way you use electricity. The Wattson also has a ton of other useful features. It can store 4 weeks of energy data, which you can download to your computer for analysis. It can display your energy use in Europs, Dollars, Pounds, Stirling, and Yen. If you're not using much electricity, the Wattson will glow a calming blue color. If you're using the microwave oven, vacuum cleaner, blasting the stereo, and typing away on the computer at the same time, it will glow an angry red color.

Wind-up phone charger: This incredibly clever gadget does just what you'd think -- charges your phone with nothing more than elbow grease. Just spend a minute or two rotating the crank (which, as you can see in the photo, works more or less like a fishing reel), and presto! -- your phone has juice. Now you can rotate between your solar charger, your wind-powered charger, and your Wind Up charger (for real emergencies), and power your phone from now until eternity without ever plugging it in.

Solar Bluetooth headset: The Iqua BHS-603 SUN offers complete freedom from chargers, wires and delays allowing for 9 straight hours of talk time and up to 200 hours of standby. Plus, it's compatible with everything from the iPhone to LG to Motorola and more! The perfect holiday gift for those who are on the go and wanting to take a small green step for 2008 -- plus if you are like me and traveling for the holidays this will easily fit in your carry-on.

Further Readings

• Denmark to power electric cars by wind in vehicle-to-grid experiment (guardian.co.uk)