Ed Sutherland - page 85

Sony Thursday introduced three new digital SLRs in its Alpha family. The cameras feature a number of innovative features for both professional and value-minded photographers.

The Sony a850 is the little brother of the a900, a pro unit released last year. Like the a900, the a850 features a 24.6 megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor. Two BIONZ processors enable fast data capture and image processing, allowing you to snap photos at three frames per second.

Unlike the a900, however, the new a850 sells for $2,000 (body only).

More details and photos after the jump.

Have you ever left your MacBook on the train or in a cafe, only to return and find it gone? Maybe the best bet is to hide that sleek know-it-anywhere Apple design behind something more mundane, like a newspaper. That’s the concept behind a zippered laptop case that appears to a passerby as just a discarded newspaper. The advantages of the faux newspapers may be limited to the myopic thief, as Gadget Lab’s Charlie Sorrel notes:

“Spanish readers will note that the name of the paper is spelled wrong (it should be La Vanguardia, with an extra “i” before the final letter).” For English readers, the company also offers “Herold Tribune.” The obvious misspellings are likely due to copyright issues, but it could affect the coverup’s effectiveness. Maybe a licensing deal could be worked out to offer real newspaper front pages?

An alternative is the DIY route, using a common container to hold your valuable Mac. Sorrel puts his MacBook in a Jiffy Bag protected by a Fed Ex envelope. Could these new coverups be the backlash to a plethora of bling iPod/iPhone and MacBook coverings?

[Via Gadget Lab and BBG]

Today’s daily deals are headed by AT&T’s offer on refurbished iPhone 3Gs. The carrier is selling 8GB models for $49 and $16 GB units for $99. Meanwhile, Apple is offering factory-refurbed Intel Mac minis, starting at $499 for the 2GHz Core 2 version. And if that’s not enough to rope you into the hardware tent, Apple is again promoting their back to school sale.

In other gadget deal goodness, we have an arm band face-off, plus ask the immortal question: what’s better? USB on your wrist or a mouse on your finger? For details on these and many other deals, as always check out our CoM Daily Deals page.

Are you looking for options to keep your desk sleek and uncluttered but don’t want to give up the iMac, iPod, Mac mini and associated gadgets you must have nearby? Maybe you need a makeover. Twelve South, a new All-Mac company, offers two choices: the Book Arc and Book Pack.

The Book Arc is a creative way to vertically store your MacBook. The Book Arc accommodates a closed MacBook (up to 17-inches) or MacBook Air in a 10-by-4-inch slip with silicone cushions specifically designed for these laptops.. The product creates a desktop or workstation from your laptop and display. Running your MacBook closed stops your video display from splitting its resources, causing a noticeable operating speed increase in such intensive applications as Photoshop, the maker claims.

The Book Arc costs $49.95 for individuals or $249.99 for six people. Free shipping for a limited time.

UPDATE: The MacBook stand can actually give your MacBook 13″ a speed boost, claims Wired.com’s Charlie Sorrel. Using lower-end MacBooks (those without dedicated GPUs, like the new 13-incher) with the lid closed frees up the CPU from refreshing the screen, boosting the speed of whatever you’re working on.

Today’s deals include more Macbook Pro laptops starting at $999, PowerPC eMacs for $200, a cradle for your iPod or iPhone with remote plus much more.

Details on these and other bargains can be found on the CoM Daily Deals page.

Today’s deals lead-off with hardware. Imacs starting at $99. MacBook Air laptops starting at $1,099 and MacBook Pro Core 2s for $1,898 – plus much more.

Details on these and other great deals can be found on the CoM Daily Deals page.

If you want the feel of a touchscreen monitor for your MacBook but don’t want to wait until Apple unveils its rumored tablet, Mimo Monitors may have an alternative: a 7-inch display with resistive touchscreen for USB 2.0 Intel Macs.

The Mimo 720-S has all of the features of the Mimo 710-S plus a touchscreen. The screen provides 800×400 resolution and is on a 90-degree pivot. The device weighs less than 1 pound.

The monitor also offers an integrated stand and cover. The Mimo 720-S is $229.99 and requires USB 2.0. Mac users must download Mac OS X drivers.

[Via Mimo]

Today’s deals: upgrade to Leopard from your current Mac OS X for just $29; scan the latest App Store freebies for the perfect addition to your iPhone or touch; kick back and listen to some tunes with Logitech’s AudioStation Express iPod speaker system, plus much more.

Details on these bargains and others can be found at CoM’s Daily Deals page.

Today’s deals include Power Stacks for your iPhone or iPod touch free from the Apps Store, the PowerBug AC adapter for free and iPhone cases almost free – 85 percent off.

For details on these and many other bargains, check out the CoM Daily Deals page.

Today’s deals include used classic iMacs starting at $40, a 75%-Off Blowout of Apple products, iPhone 3G or iPhone 3Gs holsters for just a buck and many more items.

Details on these bargains and more can be found on the CoM Daily Deals page.

Ever since the first computer laser mouse rolled out, it has required a reflective surface – meaning you had limited options for your pointer. Logitech hopes to do away with that barrier, unveiling two laser mice using the company’s so-called “Darkfield Technology.”

The Performance Mouse MX ($99.99) and the Anywhere Mouse MX ($79.99) offer the technology which can use microscopic deformities in otherwise absolutely clear surfaces, such as glass. A video shows the mice tracking on glass and a mirror.

[Via Logitech]

Have you maxed-out your iPod or iPhone storage? We all likely have a good chunk of the 16GB or 80GB storage still free. Why not put that empty room to use by turning it into backup space? That’s the idea behind Storage Appliance Corporation’s Clickfree Transformer for iPhone and iPod, a device that copies data from your computer’s hard drive to your MP3 player or phone.

Today’s deals include Apple’s back to school sale on free iPods when buying a MacBook or iMac, classic iPods starting at $180, $49 8GB iPhone 3Gs and much more.

Details on these bargains and many others can be found at CoM’s Daily Deals page.

So, you are in college, sharing a dorm room, but don’t want to share your laptop with your roommate? How about a very stylish safe? DormVault is a nine-pound $80 vault which the manufacturers claim provides a “rugged steel” protection for your laptop (up to 17-inches), along with accessories.

The DormVault lets you bolt your laptop inside and once closed can be opened only if you know the lock’s combination. All that’s missing is a television with Cameron Swayze with the vault attached to an outboard motor.

If $80 is too steep, maybe you can simply lock your screensaver or as Wired’s Gadget Lab suggests, buy an inexpensive lock box.

[Via Gadget Lab and Gadget Review]

Today’s deals include iMacs starting at $399, MacBook Core 2’s (with free shipping) for $999 and more MacBook Pros, starting at $1,898. Plus, we have App Store freebies, new iPhone cases and much more.

For details on these bargains and many others, check out the CoM Daily Deals page.

If the average digital camera has become a bit ho-hum, Samsung Electronics America may refresh your opinion. The company Monday introduced three new cameras, one with Wi-Fi and two with touch LCD screens — one on the front and one in the traditional rear position.

Today’s deals include factory-refurbished (they have 1-year Apple warranties) iPods, Bluetooth Stereo, a $5 iPhone/iPod car mount and plenty more.

For details on these and other Apple bargains, check out the CoM Daily Deals page.

We’ve all been in this situation: you’ve just found a great video you want to share with a roommate or you’re at the coffee shop trying to work on a document with a co-worker, but the McGyver-like book/newspaper viewing stand just isn’t cutting it. Well, Agent18 may have the solution with its StandHear travel stand for iPod and iPhone users.

The 2-ounce gadget offers multiple angles for viewing a video or document, plus provides a headphone splitter so that you don’t have to share an earbud. Once done, you can quickly fold up the stand (it’s a half-inch thick and 3-inches wide and tall.

The StandHear travel stand costs $24.95 (there is a 30% off back-to-school coupon) and is available in white or grey.

[Via Agent18]

Today’s daily deals include a 2.26GHz Intel Mac mini for $649, a 75% “blowout” on Mac gear, an 8GB iPod touch for just $160 and many more.

Details on these and other bargains can be found on the CoM “Daily Deals” page.

Today’s gadgets seem perfect for any iCowboy (or iCowgirl) lookin’ to rustle up some deals on Apple gear. For those packin’ an iPhone, we have a leather iPhone holster. If you need some accompaniment on those long cattle drives, there is a $40 deal on iPod speakers from Logitech. Finally, it gets dusty out on the range, so we also have 60 percent off on screen protectors.

For details on these and many other bargains (maybe even a cowboy dictionary) you can belly-up to the CoM Daily Deals page.

iPod/iPhone fans are always in search of the perfect speakers to blast their favorite tunes in the most comfortable, affordable and longest-lasting way. While the search for that holy grail continues, Logitech early this morning provided two new entrants – one boast near ’round the clock music and another promising portability but with booming bass.

Today’s daily deals are perfect for the back-to-school crowd, or anyone looking to own a Mac without breaking their bank account. Remember the iconic CRT iMacs – you can own a piece of the past for $60. Love the sleek lines of a MacBook Air but the price tag disrupted your daydreams – now just $999. Looking for an iPod Video but want some spare change, too? Snag an iPod Video for just $140.

Details of these and many other deals can be found in CoM’s Daily Deals page.

iHome Audio has unveiled its iP1 high-end portable stereo for the iPhone or iPod. The $299 iP1 features the company’s Bongiovi Acoustics’ Digital Power Station (DPS), touted to create richer sound without bigger speakers. The iP1 includes a dock for the iPhone, or iPod, plus a 3.5-inch auxiliary input.

Although not available until October, iHome is taking pre-orders for the stereo. The stereo includes two 40W 4-inch woofers and two 10W 1-inch tweeters.

Along with the iPhone/iPod dock, the iP1 also includes a remote for iPod menu navigation.

[Via iPodNN and iHome Audio]

Today’s deals include iMacs starting at $399, refurbished MacBook Pro laptops at $999 and wake up to your favorite iPhone/iPod tunes with the iHome Clock Radio. Details of these and plenty more can be found on the CoM Daily Deals page.

Who hasn’t splashed coffee on their keyboard or sprinkled water or their candybar phone? After skipping a heart beat or two, you find the gadget seems no worse the wear. But not so for the iPhone – and its great timing for a waterproof life vest for your iconic handset. The vest is inflatable, and protects your screen with a clear plastic cover.

The waterproof cover comes with earphones with a waterproof connection and a lanyard. (Although Wired’s Gadget Lab suggests an arm band would be a better choice.)

While iPhone cases are common, they usually stress the bling or cool factor. This Japanese entry ($34), while not high on anyone’s list for style, actually saves you some money.

The case comes too late for Brian X. Chen, who lost his iPhone earlier this year from water invading the phone’s dock port.

[Via Gadget Lab]