Canon has officially announced the PowerShot G7, the latest camera in the G-series which was last updated with the launch of the G6 way back in 2004. The key new features of the G7 are its 10 megapixel CCD sensor and the new 6x zoom lens with a f/2.8 to f/4.8 focal aperture, a 35mm-210mm focal length, and hardware optical image stabilization. Canon decided to drop the G6′s 2-inch foldout LCD screen, instead opting for a fixed 207,000 pixel 2.5-inch screen. The G7 is internally different too, with a Digic III image processor that enables improved noise reduction, better color rendering, faster response times and most importantly, ISO 1600 sensitivity. There are also 25 different shooting modes — including a manual mode and an impressive 1024 x 768, 15fps video capture mode — along with support for SDHC cards as well as the usual MMC and SD cards. If you think the G7 is the right camera for you, then you’ll have to wait until next month to part with the $599.99 that this one’ll cost ya.

[Via Dpreview; thanks, spiky-haired]
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from engadget

As expected, Microsoft is busting out the Zune today, and we’ve got the rundown. Not a lot of surprises in the specs department, but they’ve confirmed the basics we’ve known for a while, like WiFi, 30GB of HDD, built-in FM, a 3-inch screen and the basic music, pictures and video playback. They also finally let slip the screen res — an unsurprising QVGA — and some better news on the codec front: the Zune supports h.264, MP3, AAC and WMA. As for ballyhoo, wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing is where the real action is at, and it works pretty much like we’ve been hearing: you can share a full-length track with a friend, and they’ve got three times to listen to it over a three day period, after which they can flag the song for purchase on the Zune Marketplace — unless they’re an unlimited “Zune Pass” subscriber, of course. You can also share playlists and pictures with your buddies, along with what we suppose are “unprotected” homemade recordings. So far Microsoft isn’t mentioning Live Anywhere functionality, but they do hint heavily at future software updates to take even better advantage of the wireless capabilities. Of course, it all really comes down to matching your Zune with that snazzy new fall wardrobe of yours, and to that end the Zune comes in black, brown and white. Sadly, Microsoft still won’t spill the beans on pricing and availability, so we’ll keep an eye out for that just like always. Keep reading for all relevant pr0n.

From Engadget
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The iPod had to move over (even if only a little today), and now it’s turn for iTunes to move as well. Zune’s software is, of course, called Zune, and it encompasses everything you’d expect from your standard single-shot media player, download, and management console. You’ve got the usual: genre exploration, top songs, albums, artists, new releases, featured stuff; they’re definitely on the indie bend with this one, no doubt about it. The media manager will also handle photos, though, which is certainly a nice addition (and one less iApp for Microsoft to compete with). Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace store will have a library of “millions of songs” in “many popular formats” (no word on what) will also, naturally, accept Microsoft Points so you can purchase without the use of a credit card. The Zune software will be able to import both iTunes and Windows Media Player files, but, of course, you won’t be able to play those files that you already plunked a few dollars for from the iTunes Store (at least not yet). The Zune player itself comes with songs pre-loaded from various labels including DTS, EMI Music’s Astralwerks Recordsl, Virgin Records and others, but once you’re bored of the standard stuff, you can wirelessly share songs, playlists or pictures between you and your friend’s Zune. Shared songs can be fully played up to three times over three days and then can be flagged for purchase direct from the online store, but we still don’t have prices yet. Microsoft is also bringing some all-you-can-eat love with a Zune Pass subscription, available a flat rate (again, we don’t know how much) — we’re hungry to take it for a spin.

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Why helllooo there Olympus E-400. So, you’re the world’s smallest and lightest 10 megapixel Digital SLR camera huh? Announced today, this new digital shooter shares the looks of its film-based Olympus cousins and brings that fancy Supersonic Wave Filter to keep the CCD sensor dust free, Zuiko Digital lens, 2.5-inch LCD, 3fps continuous shooting, and dual-memory card slots for xD-Picture Card and CompactFlash. Oh, and the E-400 will work any of those FourThirds-compliant lenses you might have lying around including the complete range of Olympus E-System accessories. Let’sGoDigital got their mits on a pre-production unit and came away with a “very good impression” of the “remarkably compact” E-400 which will certainly sway many first timers looking to move from compact formats to DSLR. Scheduled to drop in Europe come November and the US… wha, it’s not coming to the US? Oh Olympus, why? A couple of more teaser shots after the break.

[Via Digital Camera Review, Thanks Joshua]
from Engadget
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Three really is the magic number, or at least Canon seems to think so: the company has just unveiled three new Digital ELPH cameras (Digital IXUS in Europe) with the SD900, SD800 IS, and SD40 all featuring an array of new features. Starting with the highest spec camera, the SD900 is a 10 megapixel 3x zoom jobbie, with a 2.5-inch LCD screen and 18 shooting modes, including that 1024 x 768, 15fps video capture mode that the G7 recently acquired. Stuck in the middle with you is the 7.1 megapixel SD 800 IS, the first ELPH to carry an image stabilized wide angle 28-105mm 3x zoom lens. Finally there’s the SD40, the smallest model in the range that packs a 7.1 megapixel CCD and a 2.4x zoom lens into four differently colored titanium cases. All three new cameras feature the Digic III image processor, which means they’ll all reap the benefits of face recognition (even higher definition warts ‘n’ all!), faster start up and general response times, as well as lower power consumption. Each one is also capable of super sensitive ISO 1600, although Canon’s press release mentions that there’s an ISO 3200 shooting option somewhere in the special scene modes. Pricing is set at $499, $399, and $349 for the SD900, SD800, and SD40 respectively, and all three should be available in October.

[Via Dpreview]
from Engadget
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This little laser beam safe won’t let anyone near your stash unless they punch in a secret code and slice off a fingertip to unlock the biometric security system. If the laser beams break, it cries like when you take candy from a baby. (Even if it’s not as fun.)

It’s just under 7 inches on each side, so you won’t be able to hold much more than your stack of ultra-rare Magic The Gathering cards. Yes, we know about those. $30 bucks at the Discovery Channel store.–Brian Lam

Discovery Laser Beam Safe [Via Crunchgear]
from gizmodo

This Windows Mobile 5.2 Pocket PC Edition phone from sprint has a PXA272 520MHzIntel Processor, EVDO, GSM, GPRS, 64MB internal memory, a QWERTY keypad, and tethering capabilities. The keypad slides out vertically instead of horizontally, like HTC’s phones, and comes in a silver and blue finish. This actually looks pretty sexy, and if you were on Sprint and needed a WM5 phone, this could be it.

No price or availability yet. – Jason Chen

Sprint announces IP-830w Worldphone [Mobility Today]
from gizmodo