AH - New ELECTRONIC and GADGETS

Nikon today announced its Nikon 1 series cameras - a new line of compact mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lens, and launched the first two models in series - J1 and V1. The highlights of the Nikon 1 series cameras are the newly developed CX format (13.2 x 8.8 mm, 2.7 crop) CMOS sensor. Expeed 3 image-processing engine. Nikon 1 mount lens system. The CX format is a new addition to Nikon's existing FX (36.0 x 23.9 mm) and DX (23.6 x 15.7 mm) imaging formats for digital-SLR cameras. The 10.1 MP, CX format CMOS sensor in the J1 and V1 is the world's first with built in phase-detection AF, making the J1 and V1 the first interchangeable lens cameras to offer focal plane phase detection AF . The sensor offers standard sensitivities of ISO 100 to 3200, with the ability to further increase sensitivity to an equivalent of ISO 6400 with a Hi 1 setting. They also support matrix metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering. The V1 actually uses an advance...

Intel demonstrated its next generation Haswell microprocessor at the Intel Developer Forum (IDFf) on Tuesday, September 14, 2011. Haswell CPU will start shipping on ultrabooks from 2013. To begin with ultrabooks will be powered by Ivy Bridge CPUs. Like Ivy Bridge, Haswell chips will use 22 nm architecture and Intels's recently announced power-saving tri-gate 3D transistor technology. In addition, Haswell CPUs will feature a totally redesigned cache, fused multiply add (FMA3) instruction support, and an on-chip vector coprocessor. Haswell will offer a 20x reduction in power consumption when idling as a result of power optimization, enabling devices to run the whole day on battery, and remain on standby for upto 10 days with a single battery charge.

Canon's PowerShot SX40 Super Zoom (35x) supersedes PowerShot SX30 Super Zoom (35x), with a new DIGIC 5 image processor, Full HD video capture, High-speed Burst HQ and Intelligent IS. Like its predecessor, the SX40 has an incredible 35x optical zoom range (24mm-840mm) with image stabilizer. The new image processor has improved noise reduction and advanced Multi-area White Balance optimizing color tones of both subject and background under multiple light sources. The SX40's supports for full HD video capture is an improvement over the 720p, 30fps video capture on the SX30. P-mode continuous still photography is also faster at 2.4 fps, as compared to 1.3 fps on the SX30. Effective pixel count in the SX40 CMOS sensor is down to 12.1 MP, from 14.1 MP on the SX30 CCD sensor. The SX40 features more shooting modes and has a wider ISO range at 100-3200, as compared to 80-1600 on the SX30. Weight and dimension of the SX40 are identical to those of SX30. The estimated sellin...

Canon's S100 high end compact camera is a successor to the S95 introduced in September 2010. The S100 features a 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor and a 24-120mm, f/2.0-4.9 wide angle lens with 5x optical zoom. With, f/2.0 at 24 mm, it's a bright lens, so you can count on good low-light performance and the ability to shoot shallow depth-of-field portraits with dynamic, soft backgrounds. In comparison, the S95 featured a 10 MP CCD image sensor and a 28-105mm, f/2.0-4.9 lens. Other important new features include the DIGIC 5 image processor (DIGIC 4 on S95), HS SYSTEM, Full HD video capture (720p, 24fps on the S95), High-speed Burst HQ and Intelligent IS for clearer, smoother looking images. It has GPS to map the location of a photo and an improved ISO range of 80-3200 (80-1600 on the S95). A large 3.0-inch, 461K wide LCD screen (same as on the S95) makes viewing of those images and menu options easy. The camera comes with a full range of shooting and recording mod...

If you haven’t disposed yet of the habit – or the necessity – to use paper for drawing sketches or taking notes and want your drawings and/or jottings in the digital format as well, there’s the Inkling by Wacom that is the perfect gadget to meet these requirements. The solution is both simple and neat – Wacom offers you a $199 set with a pen and attached paper which transforms into the digital format whatever you put down with the pen in the real time mode. Having finished your session, you connect the Inkling to your PC and download your material for further processing. A professional artist is also sure to appreciate the small device that, when attached to the paper, activates the layer function that provides later-date editing abilities for software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. The wonderful toolset will hit the stores within the next two weeks.

Apple is expected to reinforce the iPad's status symbol appeal with a slimmer and sleeker iPad 3, going by the company's recent tie-ups for supply of batteries for tablet computers. Taiwan Economic News reported on Tuesday that the Cupertino based company has tied up with Simplo Technology Co. and Dynapack International Technology Corp. to supply battery packs for the iPad 3 that are thinner and lighter than those used in earlier iPads, and also feature a longer service life. The iPad 2 is already impressively thin (0.34-in) and light (601g), but is currently not the slimmest, or the lightest 10-in tablet. The new batteries are reportedly 20-30 percent more expensive than the earlier batteries; they will start shipping in Q4 of 2011. According to current speculation, Apple will launch iPad 3 in Spring 2012. It was recently revealed by LG Display CEO Young Soo Kwon that the iPad 3 will feature LG's Retina Display like the one on iPhone 4. Apple hasn't ...

What would you say a USB flash drive can resemble most? This week’s answer is – a vibrator. If you guessed right, you can treat yourself to the Duet stick that combines the functions of a USB drive and a vibrator, provided by women ’s-needs-mindful designers from San Francisco. You never thought how entertaining may be your favorite films and music or, for that matter, a bunch of necessary documents. Ti Chang and Michael Topolovac discovered a new use you can put your stick to – with five power and four vibrator options it sounds quite impressive! Crave’s spokesperson described the electronic and physical Duet as a toy made from metal and body-safe silicone with two motors and great abilities to customize the vibs by differentiating intensities on the tip and edges, both inside and outside. “Powerful and precise vibration exactly where you want it” is guaranteed. The Duet is available in a leather case and is said to be waterproof. If you’re going to use it as a flash drive...