Pretty much everything you read in yesterday's rumor posts about the Sony Vaio TT are true — the Blu-ray drive, 256 GB SSD, 2.87-pound weight and thickness under an inch. It also has an 11.1-inch, LED-backlit 16:9 LCD panel, Sprint EV-DO mobile broadband, and an HDMI port that outputs at 1080p resolution.

The TT also has 2 USB ports, built-in webcam, Bluetooth and 802.11n wi-fi. The TT will be available this summer in three colors — Black, Red and Champagne Gold — and starts at $2000. Models with Blu-ray start at $2700, while SSD models start at $2750. [Sony]

SONY UNVEILS WORLD’S LIGHTEST BLU-RAY DISC NOTEBOOK

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 23, 2008— Sony today took the wraps off the world’s lightest computer with Blu-ray Disc™ technology— the VAIO® TT Series notebook.
Housed in a lightweight carbon-fiber chassis, this new model weighs just 2.87 pounds and is less than 1-inch thin.

“This engineering marvel packs the power of HD technology into an ultra-light, ultra-portable notebook,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics.

Select models play Blu-ray Disc movies in full HD 1080p resolution when connected to a compatible HDTV. These units can also record, store and play back personal content on high-capacity BD media.
It features an 11.1-inch widescreen display (measured diagonally) with Sony’s XBRITE-DuraView™ LCD technology, delivering 100 percent color saturation for a wide range of vibrant colors and true-to-life picture quality. This technology also produces a brighter screen thanks to an energy-efficient white LED backlight so you can view photos in crystal-clear resolution.

The display is ideal for Blu-ray Disc movies. Since many HD films are shot using a 16:9 aspect ratio, the unit’s extra-wide LCD is constructed with the same dimensions. This minimizes the black bars that typically appear, letting you view movies in their intended format.

For those who prefer to watch content on a big screen television, the TT model also has an HDMI™ output connector so you can connect it to a compatible high-definition TV for a larger viewing experience (connector cable sold separately).

It is equipped with Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology for powerful PC output and energy-conserving features that deliver long battery life.

Select VAIO TT notebooks feature a dual channel 256GB (128GB X 2) solid state drive (SSD) with RAID technology. The result is quicker boot-up times, faster application launches and overall enhanced performance.

The PC integrates wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) technology provided by the Sprint® Mobile Broadband Network and its latest mobile network technology, EV-DO Revision A. For this, a separate Sprint service subscription is required.

The notebook comes with the choice of Windows Vista® Home Premium, Vista Business and Vista Ultimate operating systems. Windows® XP Professional is also available on select models.

All models are ENERGY STAR® 4.0 compliant, hold an EPEAT Silver ranking and incorporates such eco-conscious features as a mercury-free LED backlit LCD.

The TT model starts at $2,000. The BD version will go for about $2,700, while the SSD model (128GB) for around $2,750. It is available in a premium carbon black, silk black, champagne gold and crimson red.

The VAIO TT notebooks will be available online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/tt. They will also be sold at Sony Style® stores, military base exchanges, and select retailers around the country starting this fall.

Over at TmoNews they've gathered together as much leaked info as they know about the Android-powered HTC G1/Dream in one place, and it makes for interesting reading ahead of the launch event. The phone's apparently due on sale "in all stores within 3G boundary area, regardless of whether or not store is in a 3G dead spot" and some stores near 3G zones since customers might have traveled from their home in a 3G reception area to a store outside it. Other stores'll have just a demo unit. Doesn't that make it sound like it'll only go on sale in 3G-capable areas? The full list of leaks and rumors is below.

• One-click Google search and easy access to all Google Applications - Quick and easy access to the Internet in one click.
• One touch access to Google applications:
Maps (including satellite, traffic and street views)
Gmail
YouTube
Calendar
Google Talk

• Size: 4.6 x 2.16 x 0.63 inches
• Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Display: 65K color screen, HVGA (480

That plain old yellowish-green helicopter is the really the first production version of the VH71... the future Presidential Marine One. It's been a year since the prototype took flight, but apparently PP-1 (the first of five in phase one) performed "exceptionally during its 40-minute flight" at the AugustaWestland facility in Yeovil, UK. It'll be shipped stateside by a C17 to U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River sometime in October for more outfitting and testing. Phase two production is due to total 23 more choppers with "increased range and upgraded navigation and communications systems." Who knew the Pres needed 28 helicopters? [LockheedMartin]

Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have come up with this freaky adaptive liquid-lens that can capture 250 in-focus images per second. It's essentially droplets of water in a pair, trapped in chamber and driven by a high-frequency sound wave to oscillate.

As the drops wiggle back and forth, surface tension changes the droplet's shapes, and thus the light-focusing performance each has: images are then captured by a standard sensor placed at the focal point behind the droplet assembly. Bespoke imaging software then coordinates with the in-focus moments and records the images, disposing of the out-of-focus ones.

Basically the system makes photos that're "almost always in focus – no matter how close or far away it is from an object" according to the project leader. And since the tech is cheap and relatively simple to implement, the science team thinks it's the sort of thing you'll see in cellphones in the future, and possibly in UAVs and other gadgets with imaging requirements. [Physorg]

Check out this new variation on Rubik's Cube: instead of colors and symmetrical cubes, this beast has all-mirrored surfaces and a bizarre asymmetric rectangular block setup. As you twist it, the blocks poke out in different ways, and its these cues you're supposed to use to solve the puzzle. Bloody hell it looks hard...the box itself seems tricky. Apparently it's due for release in Japan soon for around $20, but there's no word yet on when it'll bring its fun/screams of frustration/puzzle-induced headaches to the US. [Technabob]

You might not get as amazing a deal as the Olevia TVs from the other day, but since Woot is having another Woot off today you'll see other bargain gadgets: a glow in the dark jumbo universal remote for $5 is tempting me currently. [Woot]

Sigma's new SD15 and DP2 cameras are incremental developments of the original SD14 and DP1 cameras, but without too much in the way of change. The SD15 and DP2 share the same 3-layer 14-megapixel Foveon X3 sensor as their predecessors, but have a new True (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) II image processor aboard for improved image quality and processing speed. The DP2 has a new flare-reducing 41mm-equivalent F2.8 lens, and has adjusted controls, while the SD15 has a larger 3-inch LCD...but these seem to be the main improvements. We'll have to wait for more info from Sigma to see if the changes make a big difference or not, and for pricing and release dates. [DCWatch]

Sigma's new SD15 and DP2 cameras are incremental developments of the original SD14 and DP1 cameras, but without too much in the way of change. The SD15 and DP2 share the same 3-layer 14-megapixel Foveon X3 sensor as their predecessors, but have a new True (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) II image processor aboard for improved image quality and processing speed. The DP2 has a new flare-reducing 41mm-equivalent F2.8 lens, and has adjusted controls, while the SD15 has a larger 3-inch LCD...but these seem to be the main improvements. We'll have to wait for more info from Sigma to see if the changes make a big difference or not, and for pricing and release dates. [DCWatch]

Lensbaby has just revamped its line of creative bendable "distorting" lenses at Photokina, and added a new type. This new Composer disposes with the bellows bend/focus system of earlier Lensbabies and has ball-and socket twisting with a focussing ring at the front to let you select the in-focus sweet-spot in your photos. It's also got a new Optic Swap system which lets you swap out the lenses inside for different options: these include standard lenses and a Holga-alike plastic lens. The Lensbaby original is replaced by the similar Muse, with the new swap system, the Control Freak which replaces the Lensbaby3G has it too. Both Composer and Control Freak will cost $270, while the Muse is $150. Check out the press release below.

On September 23, 2008, Lensbaby, LLC (formerly known as Lensbabies, LLC) is launching an entire new system of selective focus lenses at the Photokina tradeshow in Cologne, Germany (Hall 5.2 C021).

Three new Lensbaby lenses – The Composer™, The Muse™ and The Control Freak™, – make up the new line of products. Each features the new Lensbaby Optic Swap system. The new Muse and the new Control Freak replace the current Original, Lensbaby 2.0, and Lensbaby 3G lenses, which will be phased out immediately. With the Composer, Lensbaby introduces a completely new lens, based on a ball and socket configuration that delivers smooth selective focus photography with unparalleled ease of use and greater precision.

All Lensbaby lenses provide photographers with a new way to control depth of field by bringing one area of a photo into sharpest focus with that Sweet Spot™ surrounded by graduated blur. By bending the Lensbaby lens, the photographer moves the sharp area around the photo for customized creative effects.

The new Composer retains its position after being bent and is easy to use even with one hand. Photographers do not squeeze the lens to focus, but can simply tilt the lens to a desired angle and then focus with a barrel focusing ring. The Composer stays in the desired bent position without requiring a locking mechanism and features the new Lensbaby Optic Swap System. The Composer’s barrel focusing ring has a unique design that becomes more sensitive (requiring greater rotation to move the optic in and out) as you approach infinity, making it easer to focus on subjects from 10 feet to infinity.

“The Composer introduces a new level of ease and precision to selective focus photography,” said Craig Strong, Lensbaby president and co-founder. “We developed the Composer because our photographers are interested above all in creating powerful, interesting photos. With its greatly enhanced ease of use and more reliable results, the Composer will make it more intuitive for photographers to realize their personal creative visions.”

The Muse replaces the Original Lensbaby and Lensbaby 2.0 lenses while being very similar in appearance and functionality. Photographers will still focus by compressing the lens and move the sweet spot by bending the flexible lens tubing. The key update for the Muse is its new Lensbaby Optic Swap System.

The Control Freak updates the Lensbaby 3G by adding the Lensbaby Optic Swap System. With The Control Freak, photographers compress to focus, bend to move the sweet spot, and then push a button to lock the lens in place. Once locked, photographers can adjust the fine focus with a barrel focusing ring and fine tune the tilt by rotating its three metal posts.

“While we expect the new Composer, with its smooth and precise operation, to be our most popular lens, we continue to offer the Muse and the Control Freak because each photographer has their own shooting style. The Muse is for photographers who shoot fast and loose and The Control Freak is best for shooters who have a step-by-step approach,” said Strong.

All three lenses - the Composer, Muse, and Control Freak – feature the Lensbaby Optic Swap System and will ship with one optic installed. Additional optics are available as optional accessories. When a photographer wants to change the optic in their Lensbaby, they will simply pop the optic out and drop in a different optic using an Optic Swap Tool supplied with the new optic. Each optic has different features and image qualities, allowing photographers to choose the look that fits their creative style.

At launch, the Lensbaby Optic Swap System will include four interchangeable optic options:

1) Double Glass: A 50mm multi-coated optical glass doublet that is the same optic that was in the Lensbaby 2.0 and Lensbaby 3G lenses. Retail price: US$85.00
2) Single Glass: a 50 mm, updated, uncoated optical glass singlet similar to the optic that was used in the Original Lensbaby. At f/2, the Single Glass Optic is one full stop brighter (2x as bright) than the previous Original Lensbaby Optic. Retail price: US$35.00
3) Plastic: a 50 mm f/2 plastic singlet that maximizes blur and diffusion in a dreamy way that Holga™ and Diana™ camera lovers will especially appreciate. Retail price: US$35.00
4) The Pinhole/Zone plate: an optic cup with an f/177 aperture hole to allow for pinhole photography and an f/19 Zone plate opening. Users can slide a toggle inside the optic to change to back and forth between Pinhole and Zone plate mode, allowing further artistic exploration. Retail price: US$35.00

The first three optics listed above are all 50mm fixed focal length. They all feature magnetically levitating interchangeable aperture disks that allow aperture settings from f/2 to f/22.

The Single Glass, Plastic, and Pinhole/Zone plate optics will be sold individually as well as in an Optic Boxed Set to retail for $95.00.

Lensbaby President and Co-Founder, Craig Strong, stated, “Lensbaby photographers tend to be very creative. The new Lensbaby Optic Swap system will give photographers greater freedom to take photos that reflect their unique visions.”

Strong continued, “With the new Composer lens and the Lensbaby Optic Swap System, photographers will be able to choose a lens body that fits their bending style: fast and loose, smooth and precise, or step by step. Then photographers can choose an optic that expresses their individual artistic vision.”

Product Pricing and Specs:

The Composer – Smooth and Precise

* Priced at US$270
* Ships with the Double Glass optic installed (a multi-coated optical glass doublet)
* Features the Lensbaby Optic Swap system
* Focal Length: 50mm
* Focus Type: Manual
* Features a unique barrel focusing ring that becomes more sensitive (requiring greater rotation to move the optic in and out) as you approach infinity, making it easier to focus on subjects from 10 feet to infinity.
* Aperture Type: Interchangeable levitating aperture disks
* Apertures: f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22
* Minimum Focus: about 18” (46cm) / Maximum Focus: Infinity
* Size/Weight: 2.5” (6.35cm) high x 2.5” (6.35cm) wide / 5.5 oz (155.9g)

The Muse – Fast and loose

* Priced at US $150 with the Double Glass optic installed; US $100 with the Plastic optic installed
* Ships with either the Double Glass optic installed or the Plastic optic installed.
* Features the Lensbaby Optic Swap system
* Focal Length: right around 50mm
* Focus Type: Manual...Fingertip, actually
* Aperture Type: Interchangeable levitating aperture disks
* Aperture: f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8
* Minimum Focus: approximately 12” (30 cm) / Maximum Focus: Infinity and beyond
* Size/Weight: 2" (5.08cm) high x 2.5" (6.35cm) wide / 3.7 oz. (104.9g)

The Control Freak – Step-by-step

* Priced at US$270
* Ships with the Double Glass Optic installed
* Features the Lensbaby Optic Swap system
* Focal Length: 50mm
* Focus Type: Manual/Fingertip, with barrel fine focus
* Aperture Type: Interchangeable levitating aperture disks
* Aperture: f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22
* Minimum Focus: approximately 12” (30 cm) / Maximum Focus: Infinity
* Size/Weight: 3" (7.62cm) high x 3" (7.62cm) wide / 5.7 oz. (161.6 grams)

[Lensbaby]

100GB CF cards.... holy moly that's huge. Pretec's saying it's the world's largest capacity CF, and I'm not going to argue. It's a 233x speed card, capable of access rates at 35MB/s and it, along with its smaller sibling, is being shown at Photokina this week. Not satisfied with that though, Pretec's also extending its range of ultra-fast cards (apparently the world's fastest) with 333x speed and 50MB/s data rates in 32GB and 50GB capacities. The 333x 32GB and 233x 64GB are due to ship now, for $630 and $400, and the 233x 100GB and 333x 50GB by the end of the year. But Pretec's being shy about pricing those, or indeed even showing a product pic. Press release below.

COLOGNE, Germany & TAIPEI, Taiwan —(Business Wire)— Sep 22, 2008 Pretec, creator of the highest capacity and fastest CompactFlash card in the world, will demonstrate even higher capacities including a 64GB CF card, in the Leaf booth (West Hall 4.2, B009) and CFA (Hall 5.1, G-019) at Photokina 2008.

Pretec today releases 64GB and 100GB, 233X CF cards with access speed of up to 35MB/s, overtaking the Pretec 48GB CF card, the previous world's record holder; and super high speed 333X 32GB and 50GB CF cards capable of running up to 50 MB per second of Read/Write speed, the highest speed CF card in the world.

Pretec CF 233X and 333X CF cards use metal housing and ruggedized construction to provide extensive ruggedness. Pretec 64GB CF cards can be configured or reused to make a 256GB SATA, the highest capacity 2.5" SSD, by using Pretec Q-SATA, a patent-pending technology of flexible, scalable and modular SATA/PATA design based on up to 4 CF cards.

Pretec CF cards will be demonstrated together with high performance digital cameras from Leaf, a business unit of Eastman Kodak. Their new Leaf AFi-II system delivers the fastest shooting speeds of any camera in its class. These speeds are enabled by advanced communication and CF technologies and Leaf Capture software. "We are pleased to have chosen Pretec as our exclusive storage partner at Photokina 2008 and to witness the excitement as Pretec breaks the CF card speed and capacity world records," said Seth Greenberg, Leaf Marketing Director.

Pretec 233X 64GB and 333X 32GB CF cards with suggested retail price of $399 and $630 are slated to start delivery by Photokina 2008.

[Pretec]