Microsoft's 2nd gen Surface, SecondLight, gets a second projector

Microsoft is playing it straight with the next generation of its Surface table. Called SecondLight, it will be just that — an upgraded Surface table with a second projector. The added projector will allow the Surface to layer one screen over another, so a satellite overlay could be projected onto a city map, or a render of a completed building over a set of blueprints, and so on.

In addition to the second projector, Surface 2 will also have higher definition cameras and infrared sensors that can interpret gestures, so you may not even have to touch the table at all. Really, though, it's that added projector that sounds exciting — but tossing a lot more of those in there would probably bump the Surface 2 up higher than its predecessor's already high $10,000 price tag.

If you forgot how fun it is to throw pictures around on the Surface, click Read More to see a video of just that.



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Super Talent debuts UltraDrive SSDs up to 256GB

Super Talent has released the UltraDrive ME and UltraDrive LE families of solid state drives (SSDs), with capacities ranging from 32GB to 256GB. The UltraDrive ME is claimed to offer read speeds of up to 200MB per second and write speeds of 160MB per second. The UltraDrive LE features improved transfer rates, with a maximum read speed of 230MB per second and write speeds up to 170MB per second. Internal testing indicated sequential read IOPS of over 13,000 and sequential write IOPS of almost 16,000.

The UltraDrives connect via SATA-II and are designed for notebook computers or other applications requiring 2.5-inch drives. Compared to standard hard drives, SSDs potentially provide improved shock and vibration resistance, along with a wider tolerance to extreme temperatures. The devices also integrate edge error correction (ECC), wear leveling and bad block management to protect against malfunction.

The UltraDrive ME is available with capacities between 32GB and 256GB and street prices ranging from $130 to $645, while the LE family offers capacities between 32GB and 128GB. The drives are compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux systems and come with a manufacturer's warranty.


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Ricoh launches high dynamic range CX1 camera

Ricoh has taken its turn at pre-PMA introductions today and has unveiled the CX1. Rather than solely increase the resolution, the company has opted to give the 9.3-megapixel camera an emphasis on image quality. By using a 1/2.3" CMOS sensor instead of a typical CCD and including a new imaging engine, Ricoh hopes to significantly reduce the amount of noise and also to expand the dynamic range. An algorithm that interpolates pixel color values from the sensor gives the camera about 1 EV (exposure value) more of range than typical cameras.

The company also has a double-shot mode designed to generate high dynamic range images and creates the equivalent of 12 EV by overlapping two shots from the same scene. Action photography is also given an assist through continuous shooting modes that capture between 15 and 120 frames per second for the last one or two seconds before the shutter release and can appropriately catch exact moments.

Other touches include a relatively powerful 7.1X, 28-300mm equivalent lens as well as a unique multi-target autofocus mode that detects seven different AF points and shoots a sample of each, helping in macro shots or other situations where the automatically detected focal point isn't necessarily ideal. Ricoh hasn't detailed full availability, though the camera should be available in both the company's native Japan as well as Europe in mid-March. UK pricing sits at about £299 ($426) after tax.

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Verizon leak shows LG Versa, Nokia Intrigue

Verizon appears to be preparing to launch the LG 9600 Versa, Nokia 7205 Intrigue, HTC Touch Diamond and a CDMA version of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip, according to a leaked presentation caught by Engadget. An earlier report suggested the Versa initially would launch at Best Buy Mobile on February 22nd, with a Verizon Wireless release expected around the same time. The handset can be used as a clamshell with a full QWERTY keyboard and a small external display, or the keyboard can be detached to use the device as a touchscreen phone only.
The Intrigue offers a cross-shaped directional pad similar to the Toshiba Gigabeat. Leaked information suggests the handset supports EVDO Internet access, a 2-megapixel camera, 180MB of internal memory and a microSD slot for expansion.

The Pearl Flip 8230 should offer many of the same features as the GSM variant, the 8220. Exact specs and pricing have not yet been announced, but the 8220 offers Wi-Fi, EDGE data and a 2-megapixel camera. The EDGE data would likely be traded for EVDO support, while recent CDMA BlackBerries have swapped Wi-Fi for GPS functionality.

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Nokia outs new Comes With Music phones

Nokia on Friday used one of the last days before Mobile World Congress to add multiple new phones to the Comes With Music roster. In addition to existing phones that come with the year-long unlimited music subscription, such as the N96, an introduction of the service into Singapore is also bringing both high- and low-end phones into the mix with the N79, N85, 5800 XpressMusic, 5320 XpressMusic and 5220 XpressMusic all getting the same option. The addition has the same rights as in other countries and lets owners keep any music they've downloaded once the subscription is over.

The cellphone maker has so far had a limited rollout of Comes With Music and has mostly focused on the UK, where the 5310 XpressMusic, N95 8GB and N96 are currently the only devices that support the feature. The US and other areas are expected to get the option later this year.In addition to the new phone choices, Nokia has also launched its music store in Austria and Switzerland. Those in either country can now buy songs both directly from their phones or from a PC, where they can be sideloaded to phones later. Songs and albums cost 1 and 10 Euros respectively in Austria; in Switzerland, the equivalents cost 1.50 and 15 Francs.

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Seagate intros 2TB Constellation enterprise HDD

Hard drive manufacture Seagate has introduced its first 2TB hard drive on Tuesday, which is part of the 3.5-inch, 7,200RPM Constellation ES family that also includes versions with 1TB and 500GB capacities. At the same time, Seagate has announced the release of two 2.5-inch, 7,200RPM Constellation drives with the lowest power consumption in their class and 500GB and 160GB capacities. All five drives in both new lines are meant for enterprise applications, working under heavy workloads in business servers.
The Constellation ES drives are the first 7,200RPM, 3.5-inch units to be offered with an SAS 2.0 interface for 6Gbps transfer speeds. They can also be had with a 3Gbps SATA connection.

Of the two regular Constellation drives, only the 500GB model can be had with the SAS 2.0 interface, with either available with the SATA connection. Seagate promises the 500GB Constellation will be the first SAS 2.0 enterprise drive on the market when it launches this quarter. To achieve their record-low energy consumption, the drives include Seagate's PowerChoice management that is said to reduce energy use by some 54% in enterprise environments.

The SAS models of these drives can be ordered with government-grade Self-Encrypting Drive security software.

While pricing for any of the new Seagate products has not been announced, the Constellation ES drives are expected to start shipping sometime this summer initially in Xyratex storage equipment, while the Constellation drives will be available before April, at first in Dell computers. Western Digital recently announced the release of its own 2TB drive, the Caviar Green 2TB, pricing it at $299.
Seagate Constellation

Seagate Constellation ES

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Blu-ray disc player prices to drop to $150 in 2009

The prices of entry-level, off-brand Blu-ray disc players are expected to fall to the equivalent of about $150 during 2009, according to a Tuesday DigiTimes report. Lite-On IT, Taiwan's largest maker of half-height optical disc drives, will enter the market of standalone Blu-ray players with its own entry and price it at about $150, says local Chinese daily, the Economic Daily News.

The daily paper turns to research numbers that say about five million Blu-ray disc players were sold worldwide in 2008, and the number is expected to more than double for 2009, rising to 11 million units. During this past holiday season, many Blu-ray palyers were priced at or near the $200 mark, with as many as four Blu-ray movies included as part of a bonus bundle.


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