More convergence news, this time featuring computer manufacturer Acer. The company has recently launched its first 8-megapixel digital camera, with a sleek look and affordable $352 pricetag. The CR-8530 shoots up to 3264×2448 pixels and includes a 64MB SD card, 2.5-inch LCD display, 3x optical zoom lens, optical viewfinder and a built-in flash with different shooting modes. Also comes with a leather cover and USB cables.

From Gizmodo and Bios Magazine

Phase One has started to begin shipping the highest quality digital camera back ever. The P45 is the world’s only digital camera back with a 39-Megapixel sensor, allowing you to capture images that are sharper and more detailed than ever before.

It is the latest release of Phase One’s revolutionary P-series digital camera backs. Promising unsurpassed image quality, the P45 is the ultimate in medium and large format digital photography equipment.

With the release of the P45, Phase One once again rises above its competition and stands alone in fulfilling the aspirations of professional photographers. Commercial photographers in the advertising and marketing fields can achieve incredible speed and efficiency through the P45’s capture rate of 35 frames-per-minute and write speed of up to 20MB/s. Whether shooting for giant billboards or high-end fashion magazines, the P45’s 117MB per file size capabilities should provide industry-leading image quality.

Using Phase One’s Capture One software with the P45 enables professional commercial photographers to capture, adjust, prepare for print and archive high-quality images. This increased workflow efficiency and image quality should significantly decrease the amount of time spent in post-production, enabling studios to take on more clients and ultimately increasing studio profits, claims the company.

The P45 digital camera back also includes Phase One’s secure storage system (3S) technology. The 3S technology eliminates the risk of writing to damaged storage media by first checking the validity on every compact flash storage card inserted in the camera back.

Henrik Håkonsson, CEO of Phase One said, ‘Today is a landmark in digital photography. The availability of the P45 throws off many technical limitations experienced by professional photographers. Photographers using the P45 will achieve exceptional image quality never before possible in professional photography. They will also spend less time in post-production and can focus more on their craft and creativity.’ More information can be found at visit www.phaseone.com.

From Biosmagazine and Gizmodo.com

If you want one of Virgin’s now-discontinued Pringles can-esque Boomtube portable speaker systems, you have two choices: you can pick one up at bargain basement prices from shops that still have them in stock. Or, starting later this month, you can buy a newly resurrected Boomtube from Think Outside, which has taken over the brand. The Think Outside Boomtube H2O1 will have specs on par with the Virgin Boomtube EX, including 40 watts of power, MaxBass bass-boosting circuitry, and an integrated subwoofer. No word on pricing, but the Virgin version (please say that 10 times fast) listed for $140 and now goes for about $60, so we expect this to go for a little bit more than that low end. Also no word on whether Think Outside has kept the Boomtube’s most unique feature: a volume control that really does go to 11. Considering that Think Outside has lined up David Lee Roth and not Nigel Tufnel to endorse it, we fear this function may be gone. Then again, given the recent trajectory of Diamond Dave’s career, he may be auditioning for Nigel’s band pretty soon, so hopefully Think Outside has kept the dial as-is.

Fro Engadget.com