PENTAX Optio VS20 Finger-Friendly with Two Shutter Buttons

by David Novak on Fri, 2012-02-03 15:22


PENTAX Optio VS20

When you position your camera vertically, getting the perfect shot can mean a stretch of the fingers to the shutter button when not holding the camera horizontally. PENTAX has the solution with its new Optio VS20 digital compact camera. The 16-megapixel camera packs an accelerometer, which will flip your image to the correct orientation and a second shutter release and zoom lever on the topmost side of the body for easier snapping. The company also thoughtfully included a second tripod mount, so there's no fussing with your stand required.


PENTAX Optio VS20 vertical

Other features include a 3-inch LCD, automatic picture modes including fish-eye. It'll capture 1280 x 720 movies with its independent video button (also recording in fish-eye) and variable aspect ratio.

Unlike most point and shoot, the two shutter release buttons - one on the top for landscape shots and one on the side for those portrait snaps - is a pretty useful invention. That said, don't mistake the VS20 as a one trick pony. It boasts a massive 20x optical zoom, which is very unorthodox for a camera of this size.Read more

Iconosys Debuts Four New Alternative Fuels Apps


Iconosys Alternative Fuels Apps

"Alternative Fuels" apps from Iconosys give you a GPS guide to find refueling locations along your travel routes.

February 2012 - Iconosys, Inc., a leader in mobile safety communication and life-style applications, recently announced the release of a suite of four new "Alternative Fuels" directory apps, designed to empower you and your family to do your part to fight our nation's dependence on foreign oil.

"Alternative fuels" are vehicle fuels that aren't made from petroleum. There are many kinds of fuels that vehicles can run on that are not made from petroleum. Indeed, the United States Department of Energy officially recognizes following list of alternative fuels:

  • Alcohols - ethanol and methanol.
  • Compressed natural gas (CNG) - natural gas under high pressure.
  • Electricity - stored in batteries.
  • Hydrogen - a very special type of gas.
  • Liquefied natural gas (LNG) - natural gas that is very, very cold.
  • Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (also called propane) - hydrocarbon gases under low pressure.
  • Liquids made from coal - gasoline and diesel fuel that doesn't come from petroleum.
  • Biodiesel - a lot like diesel fuel, but made from plant oil or animal fat.
Read more

Best Buy: Purchase a Mobile Phone; Get a $50 Best Buy Gift Card

by jessica on Fri, 2012-02-03 14:07


smartphones

Shopping for a new mobile phone? Best Buy has announced that they are giving consumers a $50 gift card to anyone who registers and then purchases and activates a mobile phone at Best Buy by December 31, 2012. The offer is valid on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile phones activated with a new two-year agreement at Best Buy or online at BestBuy.com (excluding T-Mobile activations requiring a deposit).

The offer is simple:

  • Step One: Consumers register their phone number at www.bestbuy.com/phonefreedom by Feb. 12, 2012
  • Step Two: Consumers activate the registered phone number with the purchase of a new mobile phone with a two-year agreement at Best Buy or BestBuy.com any time before Dec. 31, 2012
  • Step Three: Upon purchase and activation, customers will receive their $50 Best Buy gift card

There is no obligation once a phone number is registered. Best Buy Reward Zone program members may register their phone number online between Wednesday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 12 to qualify. All other customers may register their phone number online between Sunday, Feb. 5 and Sunday, Feb. 12 to qualify.Read more

Super Savings on Westinghouse HDTVs

by jessica on Fri, 2012-02-03 12:06

Westinghouse HDTV

The Big Game takes place this weekend and we're still running across HDTV deals from retailers banking on that last-minute purchase. One company in particular, Westinghouse Digital, is being promoted now more than ever before, thanks to their wide range of affordable, yet high performance HDTVs. Check out the Big Game deals below…

Westinghouse specials this week include:

Best Buy:

Target:

Read more

FUJIFILM's X-Pro1 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Gets Priced

by jessica on Fri, 2012-02-03 09:45


X-Pro1

FUJIFILM unveiled the X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera at CES last month, and now we know just how much this bad boy will cost. Available at the end of February 2012, you can pick up the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 (body only) for a hefty $1,699.95.

The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 boasts a brand new, custom developed 16MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, new color filter array and Fujifilm's EXR Processor Pro technology which work together, as the company says, "to deliver superlative image quality that will rival currently available mid and high-end DSLR models."

The camera also features a new 2nd Generation Hybrid Multi Viewfinder and three prime interchangeable FUJINON lenses – the 18mm (27mm equivalent) f/2.0, 35mm (53mm equivalent) f/1.4 and 60mm (90mm equivalent) f/2.4. Read more

Best and Worst Things to Buy in February


shopping online

The short month of February is here, and just because it's a mere 29 days long doesn't mean it's any less chock full of deals. Check out the list of the best and worst things to buy in February, which the dealnews editors compiled after poring over their extensive archives of sales, coupons, and individual products from years past. If you're curious about Presidents' Day sales, gifts for Valentine's Day, or prices on electronics, outerwear, and more, then read on.

Valentine's Day Deals Are Predictably Not Great
Since this is the time of year in which jewelry, flowers, and perfume are in their highest in demand, it shouldn't surprise anyone that you probably won't get the best price possible on these items; perfumes, for example, generally see better discounts in late February after Valentine's Day and March. That's because there's less incentive for retailers to offer truly great deals on these items when they're selling so well due to circumstance. Try buying your sweetheart a less routine Valentine's Day gift in a category that's more likely to see a fair discount.Read more

Atari Revs its Engines with the New Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends


Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends screenshot

Atari and Rombax Games Bring Ferrari Fans the Ultimate Driving Experience

February 2, 2012—Atari, one of the most recognized names in interactive entertainment has announced the upcoming release of Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends. The latest chapter of the Test Drive saga focuses exclusively on the storied Ferrari brand, bringing over 70 years of the world’s most recognizable performance cars to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. Development of the title will be handled by world-class developer Slightly Mad Studios, bringing their extensive experience in the driving category. Production/Publishing partners Rombax Games and Bigben Interactive are proud to work with Avalanche, who has a partnership with Ferrari, thus ensuring that Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends delivers the ultimate track based racing experience.

Since its inception, the Ferrari brand has been synonymous with speed, performance and prestige. Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends brings this legacy to life; delivering detailed racing physics that underpin a huge variety of entertaining drives spread throughout the brand’s storied history.

Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends explores the legacy of Ferrari Racing, recreating Ferrari's most beloved and coveted performance racers, from today's latest models to the legendary vehicles that have dominated racing history.Read more

Orbitz.com Launches Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone

Free "Must Have" Travel App Lets Consumers Search and Book Hotels Effortlessly

Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the popularity of its powerful suite of mobile travel planning services, Orbitz.com (http://www.orbitz.com) today announced the launch of the Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone, a native application that gives customers an intuitive search-and-book experience designed specifically for iPhone and offers travelers powerful comparison tools, secure booking in just three taps and Orbitz Mobile Steals – exclusive, mobile-only discounts of up to 50% off hotel stays in popular cities worldwide.(1)

The Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hotels-by-orbitz-for-iphone/id494394928?ls=1&mt=8 and takes full advantage of iPhone's unique capabilities, providing a streamlined, fast and friendly interface for travelers to find, compare and book hotels.

"Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone allows customers to book a hotel in just three taps and is a must have app for travelers on the go," said Chris Orton, president of Orbitz.com. "Since we know that 65 percent of hotel reservations made through Orbitz mobile channels are for same-day stays , we designed the app so that when it is launched, it immediately shows available rates for same-day check-in at nearby hotels. As an additional benefit, the Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone also gives customers access to Orbitz Mobile Steals, which offer exclusive, deeply discounted mobile-only rates offering savings of up to 50% on hotels around the world." Read more

PENTAX Unveils the Marc Newson Designed K-01

by jessica on Thu, 2012-02-02 14:02


PENTAX K-01

PENTAX on Thursday announced its second interchangeable lens camera – the K-01. Designed by Marc Newson, the PENTAX K-01 features a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor and is compatible with most of the lenses the company has ever made – and that's a bunch, folks – we're talking over 25+ million K-mount lenses!

This mirrorless camera also features a 3-inch LCD with 920,000 dots, sensor-shift image stabilization, it can shoot at up to 6 frames per second, and has an ISO range of 100-25600 for noise-free imaging in almost any lighting. In addition, the K-01 captures Full HD 1080p video at 30 FPS with h.264 compression (60 FPS at 720p). What you won't find on the K-01 is an optical viewfinder or quick-return mirror – the elimination of these components gave Marc Newson more freedom when it came to the camera body's design.


PENTAX K-01 top

PENTAX is also releasing a new lens for the K-01. The smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS interchangeable lens is said to be the world's thinnest interchangeable lens (as of February 1, 2012). The PENTAX K-01 will be available in black, white and Newson's signature yellow colors, and it features the designer's autograph logo stamp on the bottom of each camera. Read more

Karotz: The First-Ever Facebook Hardware


Karotz

Violet launches its latest Smart Rabbit Robotic companions called Karotz- the only Facebook hardware in the world. It turns social networking into a natural way of life allowing people to interact without a computer or smartphone.

February 2012 – The Karotz "smart" rabbit is the first-ever hardware device tailor-made especially for Facebook. It is the third generation of the multipurpose, internet-connected rabbits which first launched in 2005 as Nabaztag, and has since become an Internet icon. The immensely popular robotic companions transform daily life by providing a link to family, friends and the world. Karotz is now compatible with Facebook-- a wonderful addition to its already extensive range of features.

"We are excited to launch the new Karotz smart rabbit which is compatible with Facebook, to allow people to interact both with their new companion and with their friends wherever they are", Fabien Bardinet, CEO of Violet. "Following the successful launch of Karotz in the US at CES this year, we are confident that it will also do very well in Europe as Karotz already has a strong fan base of people who like to keep in touch with their friends and family via social networking sites on a daily basis. The concept behind Karotz is to make communicating with friends and sharing information both an interactive and fun experience."Read more

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