High-tech product releases announced the week ending May 2 include Sony’s first ultrabook, Samsung’s desktop replacing laptop, the Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale, the Nokia 808 PureView, and Jawbone’s Big Jambox wireless speakers.
A smartphone with an incredible high-resolution camera
The Nokia 808 PureView is somewhat of an amazing anomaly in the smartphone world with its massive 41MP image sensor and in-house-developed pixel over-sampling technology. It features a 4” display, DLNA, NFC, 1080p video recording, a 4X lossless zoom and is the world’s first smartphone to record audio at close to CD quality with Nokia Rich Recording. Unfortunately it runs the aging Symbian Belle operating system and not Windows Phone. Consumers in Russia and India will be first to get their hands on the device in May. The Nokia 808 PureView is priced at €450.
http://europe.nokia.com/pureview
Sony’s first ultrabook
Sony has finally joined the ultrabook party with its VAIO T Series laptop. The Vaio T Series ultrabook sports a Sandy Bridge Intel core i3-2367M processor and up to nine hours of computing all packed into a light (1.6kg), thin (17.8 mm) and robust aluminum and magnesium chassis. The laptop is made for frequent trips out of the office or home and comes in 11.6” and 13.3” display variants (the T11 and the T13 respectively). It also features a built-in HD webcam, SD/MMC media slot, a large button-free touchpad, xLOUD and Clear Phase audio technology and fast startup times. The Vaio T Series Ultrabook will be available in May. Pricing has not been announced.
http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/vaio-laptops
High-performance laptop that wants to replace your desktop
Samsung’s Series 7 Chronos 17 is a desktop-eating monster in the world of ultrabooks. While it sports the same clean lines and light aluminum chassis as its ultrabook brothers, the laptop oozes power with the Intel’s 3rd generation Core i7 processor. It has a huge 17.3” SuperBright Anti-Reflective Full HD + LED display, HD Audio, JBL Speakers, a 1.3MP camera, and will run for up to 8 hours on one charge. The laptop weighs in at 2.98 kg and has a profile of 25.4mm. The Samsung Series 7 Chronos 17 will go on sale in June for €1499.
http://www.facebook.com/Samsungnotebook
A WiFi smart scale that uses technology to help you lose weight
Fitbit’s Aria WiFi Smart Scale doesn’t just tell you how many kilos you’ve put on over winter, it also records your body fat and body mass index and automatically uploads them to fitbit.com so you can keep track of your progress and celebrate when you achieve your weight loss (or gain) goals. It teams up with your smartphone for on-the-go monitoring, helps you set and manage weight goals and calorie intake and is programmable to keep track of up to seven different family members. The Fitbit Aria Smart Scale is available now for $129.95.
http://fitbit.com
Wireless mobile speakers get a sound boost
Jawbone has recreated its popular Jambox wireless portable speakers for consumers who want to fill a larger space with their mobile sound. Called the Big Jambox, the portable speaker is designed to deliver powerful aural experiences in large rooms or outdoor settings. Like its smaller sibling, the Big Jambox connects wirelessly to smartphones, tablets and computers and streams music, sound and phone calls. It sports a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which will last for up to 15 hours of continuous playback on one charge or up to 500 hours of standby time. The Big Jambox is available from May 15 in the US and in additional countries this summer. Prices start from $299.
http://jawbone.com/