Canon PowerShot G9 is the upgraded version of the digital compact G7. It’s a traditional looking camera, but very solid, that just got RAW, a few more pixels and some other improvements.

picture courtesy of khedara

As usual we’ll have to start the review with the brief specs and then go in deeper and deeper to find what’s great and what could have been changed.

• Compact digital still camera with built-in flash, 6x Optical / 4x Digital / 24x Combined Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer System
• 12.1 Megapixel, a 1/1.7 inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD)
• LCD display : 3.0 inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD with wide viewing angle with a real image optical zoom viewfinder
• RAW recording
• DIGIC III and iSAPS
• 7.4-44.4mm f/2.8-4.8 focal length (35mm film equivalent: 35-210mm)
• Focusing range. Normal: 1.6 ft./50cm-infinity Macro: 0.39 in.-1.6 ft./1-50cm (WIDE)
• Face Detection AF/AE/FE
• 9-point AiAF and FlexiZone AF/AE
• TTL Autofocus
• ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
• SD/SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MMC Plus Card, HC MMC Plus Card

Here is what I liked and disliked about it.

Canon PowerShot G9 PROs

- Has a great optical performance
- Allows RAW shooting which is great if you want better image quality
- Allows off-camera flash
- Solid and professional impression (feels great in the hand)

Canon PowerShot G9 CONs

- Image quality is less then expected because it has more pixels than the G7
- Very noise reduced high ISO settings in-camera (don’t use higher than ISO 400 or you’ll regret it)
- No Wireless operation
- It could use a larger wide angle

The price, the features and the specs are really recommending it for a wannabe professional photographer. An unexperienced fella` wouldn’t be able to use the Canon Powershot G9 at its full potential.

More pictures of the camera, below:

Pictures courtesy of khedara

We all know that a new iPhone is soon going to be available. Our buddies from Engadget managed to get some info from a very authoritatively source about the next-gen iPhone so here it is.

• 3G and GPS are the main changes. Lots of people screamed for those features and Apple listened very carefully.
• The new iPhone is going to be all (glossy) black, it doesn’t have a back metal case anymore and should be slightly thicker.
• Apple may start shipping it from July.

Though these are pretty interesting changes, there is still no word on a removable battery but I guess you know that when we talk about Apple, nothing is final. The source seems to be highly credible but even so, take some salt with it.

That’s one good news for GTA fans! Sony has officially announced the Grand Theft Auto 4 PS3 bundle. But… wait! It will be available only in Europe starting on April 29th.

The PlayStation 3 box will contain a 40GB game console, a SIXAXIS wireless controller and of course the GTA 4 game. The Grand Theft Auto 4 PS3 bundle will retail for €439 (or $696).

via Engadget

Yesterday, April 22nd, was celebrated the Earth Day. On this occasion, Michael Dell unveiled at the Fortune Green conference a wooden PC. This eco-device has a bamboo case, and uses 70 percent less energy than a regular PC. Moreover, the bamboo box was built using recycled materials like old bottles, milk jugs and detergent cases. Personally, I am glad that some companies project such devices to protect the environment.

Without disclosing any specs, Dell has announced that the product would come out later this year and would be priced between $500 and $700. As I see it, the eco-PC looks good and it could compete with Apple’s Mac mini. What do you think?

via Earth2Tech

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtufuXLvOok[/youtube]

To be honest, building a computer inside of an aquarium filled with clear mineral oil, seems to be a great challenge and the guys at PugetSystems did it. They managed to submerge, first an old computer and then an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, 2GB of RAM (OCZ), with an NVIDIA 650i Ultra motherboard, a 8600 GT video card and a 74GB Western Digital Raptor hard drive.

They used an Eclypse System 6 Aquarium, Lian-Li motherboard tray, clear acrylic panel, silicon sealant, weather stripping, an air pump and bubble bar for the bubbles of course, and obviously 5-6 gallons of mineral oil.

This is just a fun model and Puget Systems won’t sell it. Here are more info if you want to build your own.

Not exactly the partnership I was expecting but it was unveiled in Milan these days and we need to keep you informed. Giorgio Armani and Samsung Electronics teamed up to create a 46-inch 100Hz full HD LCD display. Except for the “stylish” remote control and the 4-modes power switch that changes the light of the logos, there’s nothing that relates to fashion and I can’t find special elements.

Maybe the TV emits fragrances?

It was time for us to take a closer look to what the new Sony Ericsson G900 has to offer. This is more like a review because I plan to take it on all sides and look closer to all the details we have about the new G900.

First thing I start with, when I do a preview/review is to see what it has inside and never judge on a first impressions. So let’s start it.

• GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 + UMTS 2100
• 2.4-inch TFT display with 256k colors (240 x 320 pixels)
• 160 MB built-in memory
• Memory Stick Micro (M2)
• GPRS Class 10
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and USB 2.0
• 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, image stabiliser and flash (2592 x 1944 pixels)
• secondary video call camera
• FM Radio
• Busines card scanner, picture editor/blogging, handwriting recognition, document reader and editor
• Li-ion 950 mAh battery for up to 380h in stand by and 12 hours of talking

These are all interesting features to have inside but let’s take a closer look.

Sony Ericsson G900 PROs

Though it’s pretty identical (at least physically) with its G700 brother the new G900 has a few additions and I’m talking about the interesting 5 megapixel camera with auto focus and image stabiliser. Don’t have your DSLR with you one day, take the picture with your phone. The transreflective display is also something that comes in as a nice surprise and makes it extremely legible under direct sunlight just like Nokia and Apple iPhone.

Another thing that got my attention is the fact that not only it weighs the same 99g as the G700 but it also has the same dimensions : 106 x 49 x 13 mm. So how come they managed to pack more features in the same case? Glad they did!

The keys. They are large enough and the navigation D pad offers a nice response. It’s easy to use.

Sony Ericsson G900 CONs

First thing that I didn’t like is the fact that removing and inserting a memory card has not been made easier. It’s still the old game of using something a sharp pointer (the stylus). Another thing is that the card slot is nowhere to be seen: remove the battery to access it. Too bad it’s not telescopic and too short.

The 960 mAh BST-33 Li-Po battery doesn’t seem to be as good as they say. It seems to be a poor battery for such an electricity eater, the G900 is, but it will take time until we have one in hour hands to confirm it in real life.

Design. Just to build it in the same conservative way of manufacturing mobile phones, Sony Ericsson sacrificed a bit on the design and it cost the new G900 on ergonomics and user friendliness.

These are our thoughts on the G900 so if you have your own, let us know.

Were you expecting it? I wasn’t, but I bet those Japanese with their funky ringtones do. Apparently the new mobile phones from NTT DoCoMo will be equipped with fragrance cartridges accessed via IR if and when you want to download a fragrance playlist on your mobile phones. These are all funny words but it’s going to be real.

But wait, the weirdness is not over. NTT DoCoMo is ready to partner with mobile content providers to match the scent with your horoscope, the weather or the music you listen.

Do you think they’re going to get market share? Probably, in Japan!

via TokyoMango

For me the bed I sleep in is very important. I don’t need it soft because I get back pains so I’m always picky when I choose to buy one. A few days ago I noticed that Freshome has a very interesting list of 16 most extreme and modern beds, and at least a four of them got my attention.

1st. The “private cloud”. I liked it because it’s simple but modern at a time and has a nice tough mattress from what I see in the picture.

2nd. The “high fidelity canopy” by Italian designer Edoardo Carlino. It seems very intimate and if your girlfriend allows you it has web surfing, watch movies, play games and listen to music. How fun is this, if you’re a lazy geek?

3rd. The Scoop! This is something that’s not really intended for geek-use but would get you a “lady” for sure. It combines the sofa functions with bed functions to surprise your guests.

4th. The home cinema rack. To be honest it’s fighting for the 3rd place with The Scoop! to get you a “lady” in bed and has a few interesting features. It has (obviously) a big screen for you to watch DVDs or connect your favorite console. It would be hard to play Nintendo Sports from the bed, but it’s still interesting.

Which one do you like the best?

See the full list on Freshome.

Something I always wished for. A watch with crystals that are backlit by LEDs. How fancy would it be and what friends will say, I let you be the judge of it. Designed by Ilya Yakovlev and inspired by the Swarovsky Signity watches the Crystal LED Watch has an interesting feature: you can adjust the color and luminosity to suit your mood. I can’t say for sure if someone will produce it (though I see a ZIMA logo) but I’m pretty confident is going to cost a lot of dough.

via YankoDesign