What would you pay for the ability to capture cinema quality 4K video? $36,000? $18,000? Try $9,000. That's the expected price of Sony's rumored NEX-FS700E, which could launch at NAB next month with a June ship date. EOSHD reports that the camera will pipe 4K video to a dedicated external recorder over 3G HD-SDI. It will reportedly use the same NEX E-mount as its predecessor, the FS100, and may include a trio of neutral density filters to increase versatility. We haven't been able to track down an image of the rumored cinema cam (the model in that image above looks identical to the FS100), but we wouldn't be surprised to see another detail or two leak out before the broadcast community's annual Vegas gathering kicks off in a little over two weeks. For its part, Canon is also expected to announce a 4K EOS-format DSLR at NAB, as a less-expensive alternative to the $16,000 C300, while RED's Scarlet already has 4K capabilities, and a $9,000 price tag.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Sony to launch NEX-FS700E 4K cinema camera for $9,000 at NAB? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unlike every tablet that looks like every other tablet that looks like an iPad, Microsoft's Courier was bold, imaginative and different. Of course, it got killed and was never released. But the spirit is still alive! The Courier's dual pane versatility lives on with Tapose. More »

Unlike every tablet that looks like every other tablet that looks like an iPad, Microsoft's Courier was bold, imaginative and different. Of course, it got killed and was never released. But the spirit is still alive! The Courier's dual pane versatility lives on with Tapose. More »

Continue reading Samsung Optical Smart Hub SE-208BW review

Samsung Optical Smart Hub SE-208BW review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s no secret that BGR Editor-in-chief is not a fan of the direction Samsung took with its latest smartphone, but he may have been looking at the mammoth handset all wrong. ”The Galaxy Note’s tagline asks if the device is a tablet or a smartphone, but like a girl in Spanx, it’s so much more,” The TechBlock’s Abdel Ibrahim and Jon Dick said of Samsung’s giant Galaxy Note phablet. Smartphone popularity continues to explode around the globe and while these converged devices offer tremendous utility compared to feature phones, no other smartphone on the market can match versatility of the Note. Hit the break for a few images of some of the many functions Ibrahim and Dick found for the Galaxy Note, and follow the read link for a hilarious account of one man’s switch from the iPhone to Samsung’s supersized smartphone.

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Some would say if you only had one arm, you're handicapped. I would like to tell those accusing people that they lack imagination. Think about the versatility you gain! Instead of having an arm, you can have a hook, a tentacle or even a smartphone dock embedded in your prosthetic! More »

Windows 7 has surpassed XP as the most widely used operating system in the world according to new data from StatCounter. The operating system now has a 40.21% usage share of the global desktop OS market, compared to Windows XP, which has a 38.64% market share. Windows XP is trailed by Mac OS X and Linux. Microsoft first released Windows 7 in October of 2009, and its versatility and ability to run on everything from low-powered netbooks that were typically powered by Windows XP, to high-powered desktops and business machines has no doubt contributed to its success. Microsoft will release its next operating system, currently dubbed Windows 8, in late 2012.

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When the Lumix GF1 was released less than a year after Micro Four Thirds first made its debut, it made a huge splash for its size, image quality, and versatility. Problem is, Panasonic set the bar very high for future GF-series models, and has sadly come up short with its latest update, positioning the GF3 ($600 with 14-42mm kit lens) as an upgrade for compact camera owners while leaving enthusiasts longing for much more. DPReview took the GF3 to task, publishing a very comprehensive review while finding that while Panasonic's latest ILC is a good fit for some photographers, more advanced users will likely be disappointed -- especially if they're expecting a rangefinder-like successor to the GF1. We spent a few hours with a pre-production GF3 earlier this summer, and weren't blown away by its performance. When testing against the class-leading Sony NEX-C3, we found the Sony camera to offer faster focusing, better high-ISO performance, more accurate white balance, and better image quality overall. So unless you're really gunning to save 50 bucks on an ILC with a kit zoom (or you already have a collection of Micro Four Thirds lenses), the $650 C3 is definitely the better bet.

Panasonic GF3 reviewed: aging 12 MP sensor, good upgrade for current compact users originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grilling anything but meat can be a painful process, but it's something the Stok Quatrro Grill and its insert system make easy. The interchangeable grill inserts allow you to switch between a grill grate, griddle, pizza stone and vegetable tray. More »

Has the iPad 2 not proven its versatility to you yet? Well, buy one of those "don't call it a case" Smart Covers that Apple launched with it and you'll be able to turn your new dual-core slate into a bona fide FridgePad. Just add fridge.

Visualized: Smart Cover magnets can turn your Apple tablet into a FridgePad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After being announced in early June, Anandtech recently put the Western Digital WD TV Live Plus through its paces and discovered the Netflix enhancement works as advertised. Like many Netflix-enabled devices though, the TV Live comes up short compared to the full PC experience since access is limited to only the Instant Queue. Its presence also sacrifices firmware hackability -- a quality which previously made up for the WD TV Live's lack of versatility as an HTPC. The ability to move, copy, and manage locally stored media files via the interface, on the other hand, was praised as a unique advantage over competing models -- exciting, we know. Sadly, video quality was docked as being "significantly less than the HTPC counterparts they've seen so far." However, it's possible this could be improved in the future via firmware updates, since its Sigma Designs processor features noise reduction and deinterlacing algorithms that strangely aren't currently enabled. File format-wise, DVD ISOs worked flawlessly, while Blu-ray ISO and some WMV video formats experienced issues that users may want to read up on before buying. Gripes aside though, Anandtech was still willing to place it "around the top of the list" for media player devices, thanks to its wide file compatibility and robust features. For more details, hit the review source link.

WD TV Live Plus gets reviewed, lauded for value originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nine days before release, the Super AMOLED packing Samsung Captivate — from AT&T — has been given its very own hype video. The 2:21 short emphasizes the gorgeous display that accompanies all Galaxy S devices, as well as the speed and versatility of the device. The Captivate will be available for purchase from Ma’ Bell on July 18th for $199 on-contract. If your interested hit the jump, we’ve got the video queued up for you.

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Don't act like you haven't thought about it, every slate device is just begging for the perfect keyboard accessory that can also function as a hard case. Some industrious souls have gotten on the case of building just such a contraption for the iPad, titled it the LapDock, and given it no lesser a goal than to completely obviate the need for laptops. Shh, no need to ruin their halcyonic existence with talk of the added connectivity, functionality, and versatility of laptops, just let it slide. As to the current state of affairs, well, the LapDock looks like a nicely carved wooden case with room for your iPad and Apple Bluetooth keyboard and that's about it. Not the highest of high-tech implementations, but it's still at the, ahem, prototype stage. Go after the break to see if it catches your fancy.

Continue reading iPad LapDock asks why you'd ever need a laptop, we can think of a few answers (video)

iPad LapDock asks why you'd ever need a laptop, we can think of a few answers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola claims they're coming out with a couple dozen Android phones in 2010, and with a crop so big a few of them are bound to be pretty weird. This render suggests that the MOTOSPLIT might be one of those.

Like the Samsung Alias 2 before it, the MOTOSPLIT shown here sports a keyboard that has tiny touch screens for keys, though this one has the unique ability to slide out in landscape or portrait orientation. Depending on the way its being held, or maybe the application its running, the mini screens update on the fly. Neat!

Not so neat is the part of the report that claims its specs will be more or less the same as the Backflip's, which means its essentially relegated to Motorola's junior varsity smartphone squad.

Still, Android Community's rumors are just that, and it's possible that come the season—Motorola expects the phone to be ready for Q3—MOTOSPLIT will have the power to match its versatility. [Android Community via SlashGear]