MSI launches its GT660 series notebook PCs in the US. Two models will be released, the GT660R-003 and the GT660R-004, both equipped with Core i7-740QM 1.73GHz processor, 6GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX285M with 1GB video RAM, 500GB hard drive. They have 16-inch LCD display and supports WiFi.

One of the main features of the MSI GT660 is the Dynaudio Premium Sound audio enhancement technology. Both models are listed at Amazon.com for pre-order.

• MSI GT760 and GT660 Notebooks
• MSI GT660, GX640 and GX740 Gaming Notebook
• LG LH90 series LCD HDTV Hits US
• Acer Aspire Timeline Series Notebooks
• Sony VAIO W Billabong Netbook Hits US

Samsung and US Cellular are planning to release the Acclaim SCH-R880 Android smartphone in the US market. No details of the new phone are available yet but we can expect a side-slide QWERTY keyboard with number row and a touchscreen display.

[samsung][engadget]

• US Cellular Samsung Gloss u440 Clamshell phone
• Samsung Delve for U.S. Cellular
• US Cellular Samsung Code i220 QWERTY Phone
• Samsung i7500 Android Phone Hands-on Video
• Samsung i5801 Entry-Level Android Phone (Video)

Pioneer launches the VSA-LX53 3D-capable 7.1-channel AV amplifier that is compatible with iPod/iPhone. The amp offers a maximum of 190Wx7-ch output and features PQLS Multi-surround. It supports the iControlAV that allows users to control the amp from iPhone or iPod via Bluetooth, using a dedicated app.

Pioneer VSA-LX53 also offers HDMI 1.4a.

[pioneer]

• Pioneer VSX-920-K, VSX-1020-K and VSX-1120-K AV Receivers with iPhone Control
• Pioneer BDR-03J 8X Blu-ray Burner
• Pioneer XW-NAS3 and XW-NAS5 iPhone Speakers
• Logic3 i-Station Rotate iPhone / iPod Dock
• Pioneer BDP-V6000 Blu-ray Player and HD-V9000 HD Video Player

Samsung’s UK site shows another smartphone, the Galaxy Apollo, alongside the Android-based Galaxy S and the Bada-based Samsung Wave. The new Apollo is also running Android OS and is probably the world version of the Korea-only SHW-M100S.

We can expect the Galaxy Apollo to get a 800MHz processor, a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a 5 Megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth. It will also support DivX playback.

• Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite Touchscreen Phone
• Samsung Galaxy S heading to Asia in June
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Revealed
• Samsung Galaxy Lite i5700 is now Spica
• Samsung Galaxy A Android Phone for Korea

Christie LWU420

Projector maker Christie announced the new LWU420 and LW555 widescreen 3LCD projectors. The LWU420 features 1920×1080 WUXGA Full HD resolution and 4200 lumens brightness while the LW555 offers 1280×800 WXGA resolution and 5500 lumens.

Christie LW555

Christie’s LWU420 and LW555 are based on 3LCD display technology and includes 10-bit video processing. The former boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio while the latter has 800:1 contrast and is designed with 3D Keystone technology, a new four corner geometry correction tool for easy image alignment and set up. They both offer HDMI 1.3 input.

Christie LWU420 and LW555 will be released soon.

[christie]

• Christie to launch 4K DLP Cinema Projectors in 2010
• Epson EB-X6 and EB-W6 3LCD Projectors
• Hitachi CP-X206 and CP-X306 3LCD Projectors
• Sanyo LP-XM150 and LP-XM100 3LCD Projectors
• Christie Entero LED DLP Projector

Panasonic is launching the new AW-HE50 series compact multi-format HD/SD cameras with integrated pan-tilt-zoom. Two models will be released, the AW-HE50H with HDMI and component outputs, and the AW-HE50S with HD/SD-SDI and component outputs plus genlock.

Panasonic’s AW-HE50 features Full HD CMOS image sensor and a 18x HD optical zoom lens. It includes the DRS (Dynamic Range Stretch) and Hybrid 2D/3D Noise Reduction processing to produce smooth, sharp HD video and 10 digital zoom. These cameras provide a wide range of motion (+/- 175° pan; -30° to +90° tilt) and support support 1080/59.94i, 1080/50i, 720/59.94p, 720/50p, 480/59.94i and 576/50i.

The Panasonic AW-HE50H is priced at $4500 and the AW-HE50S at $5500.

The HE50H is ideal for such applications including HD videoconferencing and distance learning; the HE50S (with HD/SD-SDI and genlock) is a great choice for multi-camera systems and demanding applications such as television and cable production, sports video, A/V and conference facilities, houses of worship, and professional staging applications.

[businesswire]

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS30 and DMC-FS33 Compact Cameras
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ10 and DMC-LZ8 Cameras
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS3 and DMC-FS5 Digital Cameras
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20 Camera
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS80 Digital Camera

Panasonic introduces the new AG-HMC80 professional AVCCAM HD shoulder-mount camcorder that features both solid state DV as well as HD recording capabilities. The HMC80 features a professional 3-chip 3 Megapixel 3MOS imager for capturing 1920×1080p Full HD or 1280×720p AVCHD video and 10.6 Megapixel still images.

The AG-HMC80 uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 high profile encoding and offers four professional AVCCAM HD recording modes, including the highest-quality PH mode (average 21 Mbps/Max 24Mbps), the HA mode (approx.17 Mbps), the HG mode (approx.13 Mbps) and the extended recording HE mode (approx. 6 Mbps). It can also records standard-definition DV directly onto SD cards in the AVI Type 2 file format and offers squeeze, letter box and side crop options.

The Panasonic AG-HMC80 has a built-in stereo microphone. It supports SD/SDHC memory card up to 32GB and offers HDMI output, USB 2.0, composite output, analog component (BNC x 3) and IEEE 1394 output. HMC80 will be available in September for $2895.

[panasonic]

• Panasonic AVCCAM AG-HMC45U Professional Full HD Camcorder
• Panasonic AG-HMC40 Professional AVCCAM Camcorder
• Panasonic AVCCAM AG-3DA1 Full HD 3D Professional Camcorder
• Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional micro43 Camcorder
• Panasonic AG-HSC1U – First AVCHD Pro Camcorder

Meep is the latest in a looong line of freeware video downloaders, but with a difference, in that it comes with a full search engine, the ability to download and save MP3 audio from video and direct export into iTunes. [...]

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Do you ever look at a YouTube video and think, “That’s a work of art?” Yep, so do we—and now, so does the Guggenheim.

In five years, YouTube has redefined media culture by changing the way the world creates, distributes and watches video. Online video is exploding not just as a medium, but as an art form, and we’re proud of the originality and innovation that YouTube has fostered among our users. Our community has produced some of the most creative and celebrated works on the Internet, videos that have been viewed by millions of people around the world.

We want to celebrate phenomenal video-makers and recognize the creative potential of the medium. So today we’re collaborating with the Guggenheim Museum to discover the most creative video in the world, and showcase exceptional talent working in the ever-expanding realm of digital media: YouTube Play: A Biennial of Creative Video. This global online initiative is presented in collaboration with HP.

We’re looking for animation, motion graphics, narrative, non-narrative, or documentary work, music videos and entirely new art forms—creations that really challenge the world’s perceptions of what’s possible with video. We want to elevate the debate. This presentation, we hope, will garner some of the finest creative work from every corner of the globe—not only to showcase it on one of the biggest stages online, but also in one of the most iconic artistic venues in the world, the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, and throughout the Guggenheim network of museums in Bilbao, Venice and Berlin.

Participants must submit their videos to YouTube Play to enter. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2010, after which the Guggenheim will assemble a shortlist to be evaluated by an international jury of experts from the worlds of art, design, film and video. Up to 20 videos will be presented at the Guggenheim Museum in New York on October 21, with simultaneous presentations at the Guggenheim museums in Bilbao, Venice and Berlin. The presentations will also be viewable to on the YouTube Play brand channel at youtube.com/play.

As we did with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, we hope to build an aspirational place for some of the world’s best artists to showcase their works and talents. For more information about how to enter, go to youtube.com/play.

Posted by Ed Sanders, Senior Marketing Manager

How has video become such an important part of human rights advocacy worldwide?  In the past, we mainly saw these kinds of images in the nightly news or in documentaries – and even then only occasionally. But now that access to the Internet is much more widespread (even in many developing countries), and billions worldwide have access to ever more powerful cellphones and digital cameras, we encounter human rights images much more directly – on YouTube, in Google searches, in Facebook feeds, through links shared on Twitter.

Today the YouTube blog begins a series of posts exploring the issues around human rights and video in partnership with WITNESS, an international human rights organization that supports people using video to document and expose human rights violations. We encourage you to learn more.

Posted by Steve Grove, Head of News & Politics, YouTube

Today, many schools are teaching their first graders the basic computer skills I was learning at 13. Teens have always been the quickest adopters of new technology, as parents and teachers struggle to keep up and equip teens to make good decisions online.

When I visited Dunne Technology Academy in South Chicago earlier this week, most of the students were getting ready for their summer break, but we paused for a bit to talk about what they’re doing online. The majority of these tech-savvy teens had all encountered cyberbullying at some point, had seen pictures and information on profiles they thought were inappropriate, and had had someone try to trick them through a phishing scam.

We spent the day discussing ways to avoid being scammed, how to create an online profile that can be an asset rather than a liability, and actions you can take if you’re being bullied, harassed or see inappropriate content. Most students seemed to understand that their online identity and their “real world” self were one and the same, and that they have choices in managing their content and reputation online. We agreed that by applying the rules of good citizenship online, the Internet would be a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone.

So while teens have more difficult choices online today than to ford or to ferry the river in Oregon Trail, we can prepare them to make smart decisions online. Check out the educational materials from our Digital Literacy Tour in our Google For Educators site at www.google.com/educators/digitalliteracy.html.

Posted by Mandy Albanese, Online Safety team

Blogger Template Designer is a way for you to easily customize the look of your blog without knowing any HTML or CSS. You can select from a variety of templates, images, colors and column layouts to make your blog an expression of you. See our post on Blogger Buzz for the highlights on this new tool.

You can try the Template Designer on your blog now by going to the “Design” menu, then selecting “Template Designer.” Even if you don’t have a blog — or weren’t planning to redecorate the one you have — you can try out the Blogger Template Designer and play around with potential designs. If you like one, you can apply it to a new blog or to an existing blog.

If you want to learn more on how the Blogger Template Designer can help you create your own unique blog designs, watch our video and check out the Blogger Buzz blog.

Posted by Chang Kim, Blogger Product Manager

Today, we’re announcing the completion of a new web indexing system called Caffeine. Caffeine provides 50 percent fresher results for web searches than our last index, and it’s the largest collection of web content we’ve offered. Whether it’s a news story, a blog or a forum post, you can now find links to relevant content much sooner after it is published than was possible ever before.

Some background for those of you who don’t build search engines for a living like us: when you search Google, you’re not searching the live web. Instead you’re searching Google’s index of the web which, like the list in the back of a book, helps you pinpoint exactly the information you need. (Here’s a good explanation of how it all works.)

So why did we build a new search indexing system? Content on the web is blossoming. It’s growing not just in size and numbers but with the advent of video, images, news and real-time updates, the average webpage is richer and more complex. In addition, people’s expectations for search are higher than they used to be. Searchers want to find the latest relevant content and publishers expect to be found the instant they publish.

To keep up with the evolution of the web and to meet rising user expectations, we’ve built Caffeine. The image below illustrates how our old indexing system worked compared to Caffeine:

Our old index had several layers, some of which were refreshed at a faster rate than others; the main layer would update every couple of weeks. To refresh a layer of the old index, we would analyze the entire web, which meant there was a significant delay between when we found a page and made it available to you.

With Caffeine, we analyze the web in small portions and update our search index on a continuous basis, globally. As we find new pages, or new information on existing pages, we can add these straight to the index. That means you can find fresher information than ever before—no matter when or where it was published.

Caffeine lets us index web pages on an enormous scale. In fact, every second Caffeine processes hundreds of thousands of pages in parallel. If this were a pile of paper it would grow three miles taller every second. Caffeine takes up nearly 100 million gigabytes of storage in one database and adds new information at a rate of hundreds of thousands of gigabytes per day. You would need 625,000 of the largest iPods to store that much information; if these were stacked end-to-end they would go for more than 40 miles.

We’ve built Caffeine with the future in mind. Not only is it fresher, it’s a robust foundation that makes it possible for us to build an even faster and comprehensive search engine that scales with the growth of information online, and delivers even more relevant search results to you. So stay tuned, and look for more improvements in the months to come.

Posted by Carrie Grimes, Software Engineer

It seemed like the next logical step was to ask the world’s best storytellers to get involved, so I called up my friend at Pixar. He liked the idea, the writers at Pixar were into it—and a few days later, we were brainstorming with the minds behind WALL-E, Finding Nemo and, of course, Toy Story. We’re huge fans of their work, so getting to explore what the Toy Story gang would discover using Google has been pretty special. Together, we ended up creating a short video that looks at Google through the eyes of Andy’s toys and how they deal with the fact that Andy’s about to leave for college.

A big thank you to the nice folks at Pixar for their spirit and their sense of collaboration. Check it out now online and in theaters nationwide kicking off Toy Story 3, opening June 18.

We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did making it.

Update 5:55PM: Clarified that the YouTube video is currently only available in the U.S.

The guy behind Spirit untethered jailbreak tool for iPhone , iPad and iPod touch has now managed to run “real” Flash content right on the iPhone or the iPod touch. Even though its only a preliminary release, but it looks promising, specially because its coming from non other than well … — full article at redmondpie.com

Related Stories:

• A preview (video) — youtube.com

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• HTC Aria Unboxing – AT&T Android Product Manager (video) — youtube.com

— full article at youtube.com

Samsung’s bada, heard of it? Samsung sure hopes so as it’s betting heavily on the OS in its battle with Nokia to make cheap smartphones globally accessible. Today Samsung is introducing the Wave 2 (S5250) and Wave 2 Pro (S5330) QWERTY slider at CommunicAsia 2010. Both handsets are quad-band GPRS/EDGE (yup, no 3G) with 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.2-inch TFT LCD, 3 megapixel camera with video recorder, A-GPS, and 80MB of memory with up to 16GB of microSD expansion. The all important user experience is handled by the TouchWiz 3.0 UI and bada’s “social hub” that tightly knits together all your communications with contacts, be that over email, IM, or social networking sites. Both phones will be available in Russia and South East Asia starting in August.

Continue reading Samsung’s Wave 2 and Wave 2 Pro slider join the bada OS party

Samsung’s Wave 2 and Wave 2 Pro slider join the bada OS party originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re gonna level with you, internet at large, we jumped at the chance to be on camera for our hands-on with Dance Central for Xbox 360’s Kinect. It’s not because we think we’re good dancers — we don’t — but it was subsequently decided that a lack of shame was more fun. So let’s get on with the details. Menu navigation was a little janky at times, but selection was a simple swipe from the extreme right to left of an arm’s length. As we saw earlier, the game is a progression of dance riffs you have to emulate with the on-screen dancers. It took until the first chorus of MIA’s “Galang” to really get a feel and comfort for the pace; by that point it was easy enough to keep an eye on future moves and correct past mistakes of similar grooves. Frankly, inherent embarrassment notwithstanding, it was very entertaining. Pictures below and video after the break — and don’t you worry, we’ll be going back for seconds.

Continue reading Kinect Dance Central preview, or how we learned to stop caring and love the groove (video)

Kinect Dance Central preview, or how we learned to stop caring and love the groove (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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