Justin Hubbell's blog

Getac has launched its own version of what Panasonic would call the Toughbook. The Getac 9213 is said to be the smallest and lightest business-rugged notebook. It comes encased in a full magnesium alloy chassis and case. Also, the 9213 comes with a shock mounted HDD and LCD.

Additionally, the keyboard, touchpad and "surrounding surface" are spill-resistant. The 9213 comes equipped with a 45nm Intel C2D Penryn and boasts a battery life up to eight hours, or up to 12 hours without the optical drive.Read more

The new Competition/Plus Challenger from Hurst is an $18,495 package that includes a number of accessories, both performance and style related. Note that the price is after you have already purchased your own Dodge Challenger.

Color options include red, white, silver and blue, and they all come with matte black Hurst graphics. You will also receive a set of forged aluminum wheels wrapped with BF Goodrich KDW tires. The inside is outfitted with a black shift knob and a plaque of authenticity located on the dash.

As far as performance goes, Hurst offers a K&N high-flow air filter, a Magnaflow stainless-steel exhaust, and an Eibach suspension system with coil-over adjustable shocks, springs and a sway bar.

The Challenger is one of my favorite, and few, American cars. This package just makes it all the more desirable.

JVC recently announced the addition of two new models to its line of in-ear headphones, both available in a range of colors. For the active user, JVC offers a new sports clip headphone, the HA-EBX85, which comes with ear hooks for a secure fit and is offered in three colors. Also, the HA-FX20 All Star headphones come in five different popular color combinations. They both come with a slim, gold-plated iPhone-compatible plug.

Both models feature powerful neodymium driver units and friction noise reduction cords of 3.28 feet (one meter) and 3.94 feet (1.2 meters) respectively for the HA-FX20 and HA-EBX85. The earpieces come with soft rubber ear cushions in three sizes to ensure a customized fit and hours of comfort for any wearer. Read more

iBUYPOWER has equipped each Paladin XLC with Asetek's 240mm radiator liquid cooling solution to keep the Paladin XLC running long and cool in a tundra-esque state. The double-sized radiator is paired with 2 massive 230mm fans, which turn at a virtually noiseless 800RPM.

iBUYPOWER offers three different configurations for the Paladin XLC. Each version will feature an Intel Core i7 processor, 6 GB or more of DDR3 memory, and at least a terabyte of storage space. Paladin XLC customers will also have the option of adding an 80 GB solid state drive, a Blu-ray drive, a second 1 TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive, or choosing from one of six iBUYPOWER exclusive custom painted case designs.

The Paladin XLC systems start at $1,399, and are available now at www.iBUYPOWER.com.

Samsung has just unveiled the flagship model of its expanded LED HDTV lineup with the all-new 8500 Series. The new HDTVs combine the award-winning picture quality and thinness of Samsung's previous LED HDTVs, with the latest networking and interactive features, to provide an ideal option to all TV connoisseurs.

The 8500 Series is capable of a stunning 7,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for extreme detail and image depth. Its Wide Color Enhancer Pro ensures that colors are consistently vibrant, while Samsung's Ultra Clear Panel works to improve image clarity and brightness regardless of a room's ambient lighting. The 8500 Series is also compliant with the latest Energy Star v3.0 ratings, and includes an optimized energy savings mode.Read more

The 458 Italia is Ferrari's largest leap forward in technology, performance and emissions ever. Despite having a larger engine and more power, the 458 uses less fuel than the car it replaces, the magnificent F430. Note that this is a completely brand-spanking new vehicle. The F430 was based on the 360 Modena (another amazing vehicle), the 458 Italia has been built completely from the ground up.

The 458 will have a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the directly related to Ferrari's F1 history. E-Diff and 1 traction control can be controlled by the same ECU that governs the ABS system, which helps create a 32% increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models.Read more

The 10.2-megapixel D3000 has features that make it easier than ever to take great pictures, including the new Guide Mode, which lends a helping hand to new D-SLR users by suggesting, and in many instances making, appropriate camera settings for particular shooting situations, and an extensive Retouch Menu, which enables consumers to edit photos, even when away from their computer.

The D3000, which offers an 11-point autofocus system, also leverages proven Nikon D-SLR technologies including exclusive EXPEED image processing, and an Active D-Lighting system, enabling entry-level D-SLR shooters to take stunning pictures even when conditions are challenging.

The D3000 features a 3-inch LCD, 20% larger on screen text, and is able to capture images at up to three frames-per-second. Users can enjoy the benefits of Nikon's Advanced 3D Subject Tracking, which continuously focuses on fast moving subjects throughout the frame, resulting in crisp, clear action shots.Read more

LG Electronics will be the first to introduce broadband HDTVs with the instant-access high-definition (HD) movie service from VUDU Inc., a leading provider of digital on-demand entertainment services. VUDU on-demand movies will be available on LG's LH50 1080p LCD series and PS80 Plasma 1080p series with "NetCast Entertainment Access," beginning this month.

The VUDU service allows consumers to instantly buy or rent from an extensive library of movies and TV titles, including an industry-leading catalog of more than 2,000 high-definition movies - with no monthly fees and without having to buy, install, or connect any additional hardware.

VUDU's streaming movie service delivers a near-instant viewing experience - movies start immediately, including high definition HDX movies, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with slow buffering. The VUDU catalog is updated weekly, and newly released movies from major studios are typically available months before they are available on subscription-based services.

Targeting the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V, the BMW X1 will be a compact SUV offering RWD and xDrive AWD configurations. The X1 will debut in Europe this fall with a choice of four engines - one petrol and three diesels in both RWD and AWD configurations. The most efficient of the range, the RWD sDrive18d, achieves a fuel economy of up to 45.2mpg (5.2L/100km) while still being able to hit a top speed of 124mph. The BMW X1 will go on sale in the U.S. in 2011, with (what most speculate) 2 new engine variants.

Engine specs:

xDrive28i 3.0L petrol engine (standard)

• 258 hp (190kW) and 228lb-ft (310Nm) of torque
• 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds
• Top speed of 127mph
• Fuel economy of 25mpg (9.4L/100km)

The Pioneer DVR-XD09 features the industry's most compact DVD/CD write design to date. The new DVR-XD09 weighs approximately 8 ounces and has an overall size that is slightly larger than a music CD case. Simply connecting the DVR-XD09 to a PC through the USB 2.0 port allows users to easily transport, connect and back up valuable data files in virtually any location setting as well as across multiple computers.

Additionally, owners can archive significant amounts of critical data with the drive's dual layer DVD-R write support that upgrades the storage capacity of a single layer disc from 4.7GB to 8.5GB.

The new DVD/CD computer writer begins shipping in August for a suggested retail price of $79.99. Read more