On 27 March, Microsoft Corp. said it will begin selling a new version of its Xbox 360 console that transmits high-definition video and is packed with a larger hard drive to position the video game machine as a “Digital Media Hub”.

Microsoft’s new Xbox 360 Elite will be available on 29 April in the US and Canada for $479.99. It comes along with a 120-gigabyte hard drive that is six times bigger than the current high-end Xbox 360 model, which retails for $399.

“Today’s games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft.

For existing users of Xbox 360 systems, Microsoft is ready to offer detachable 120-gigabyte hard drive for $179.99.

Packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:

Xbox 360 Elite console
Xbox 360 120GB hard drive
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black)
Xbox 360 headset (black)
Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Xbox Live Silver Membership
One-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold

The following accessories for the Xbox 360 Elite console will only be sold:

Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit
Xbox 360 rechargeable battery pack (black)

Xbox 360 Elite

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It’s tough when we have 26 characters to play around for writing a mail or otherwise. But the complexity of characters is beyond imagination when we think of constructing something meaningful with Chinese alphabets.

For penning down the mail, Hanwang’s latest mouse offers an ordinary way to keying in text with the help of built-in top-mounted screen that accepts handwritten input via the integrated stylus. Hanwang Technology have made use of a mouse together with a handwriting input to solve the limited special-character keys problem on keyboards. Now its possible to write chinese alphabets by drawing out the character into the middle of the mouse with the provided stylus, and it will translate into a text.

This allows the user to simply write a alphabet, which the recognition system of the mouse picks up. Realising the difficulty to type chinese characters on an English keyboard, It seems Hanwang mouse is a nice idea.

No word on pricing or availability as yet, but we’re still not entirely convinced about is convenience for penning a dissertation. The question remains can we expect these conceptual mouse in other dialects as well?

Fashion Funky

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The new Sony Ericsson W880i Walkman phone with great looks and compact design.
Sony Ericsson today (21 March) announced the launch of an exciting new addition to its Walkman range of music phones. Widening its WALKMAN® series portfolio, W880i features a stylish compact design with 9.4 mm width with an unbelievable 1GB memory that can store upto 900 tracks which makes it easier than ever to carry a single device by combining the best of mobile communication and music. W880i comes with a premium steel finish in Flame Black & Steel Silver colors and weighs just 71 grams.
Dedicated music keys and Music player with Track ID application enable consumers to easily control their 1GB worth of music playback. For a quality music experience, consumers can plug in the headphones by simply connecting them to the Sony Ericsson W880i. The Sony Ericsson W880i can also swiftly transfer albums and music collections from a PC using a standard micro USB connector.Â
Sony Ericsson W880i also comes with the latest messaging functions complemented by a 2 megapixel camera with 2.5x digital zoom and a 1.8inch QVGA LCD with 262k colors screen. Also, the clicked pictures can be instantly shared with the loved ones with W880i supporting picture blogging. Incoming calls can be enhanced with mp3 ring tones on the high quality sound playback. The Sony Ericsson W880i is expected to retail for approximately INR 24,000.

Music & Entertainment
o Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
o Media Player
o MegaBass™
o Melody composer/MIDI (MusicDJ™)
o Music tones MP3, AAC
o PlayNow™
o TrackIDâ„¢Â
o 3D games
o Java
o Video Clip
o Video streamingÂ
o Sound recorder
o VideoDJâ„¢Â
Messaging & Communication
o MMS (Multimedia Messaging)
o Predictive text input
o Push email
o SMS long (Text Messaging)
o Conference calls
o Polyphonic ringtones
o Speaker phone
o Vibrating Alert
o Video callÂ

Connectivity
o Tri-band GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 Mhz
o WAP 2.0 XHTML
o 3G
o Bluetooth™ wireless technology
o Fast port
o GPRS
o Modem
o UMTS 2100Mhz
o USB mass storage

Those who are crazy about new, funny, power-packed and designer gadgets should also know how to respect them by keeping them safe in the designer cases. Now your hunt for such cases is over as the huge variety of colorful products at Golla Finland is spell bounding. These colourful cases at Golla’s website are been designed to offer a design statement to your much-valued laptops, camera, ipod, nanoand any other gadget under the sun.

As per the changing trends, what catches consumers’ eyes is these cases that help them decide which gadget they want to buy to fit in comfortably and not vice versa. Also young ladies embrace it as an emblem of their beauty that defines the elite standard.

Well, being hot I have picked one red case for my apple i-pod and am now hunting for a red back less top to catch eye-balls in the party being organized at my office in the coming weekend.

Via Geek Sugar

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This is an interesting full size Bluetooth keyboard that folds up to just 5? x 3?. It gets fold up to a remarkably slim, pocketable slice of metal. When unfolded, it automatically turns on and connects to a paired Bluetooth device.

It works with a huge array of products including plug-n-play with any Bluetooth-enabled PC (the OQO, Sony UX, etc.), smartphones/PDAs and is comfortable to type on. The stowaway keyboard is available from dynamism for $149.99.

>> Coolest Gadgets

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Wooden USB pen drive is an artistic concept developed by Dutch company OOOMS (artist Karin van Lieshout ). It brings the beauty of natural wood to your everyday life. Available in sizes ranging from 256 mb to 1 Gb, each Novelty fresh USB 2.0 Storage device is a unique piece.

Those tired of conventional forms of USB drives can now change their taste by trying out this contemporary Wooden USB Drive. The USB Drives are manually converted into this form. Its available at Dynamism.

Source

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An added advantage of the Pull-to-Charge LED Forever Flashlight torch is that the same pull cord mechanism is accessible to charge one’s cell phone with a variety of different adapters. Simple connect your phone with the supplied adapter.

The charging through this can be done by pulling a cord. It will never require new batteries and can be charged by just a couple of pulls on the cord. The flashlight is available from Gadget Universe for $29.95.

Via Gadget DNA

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Like any other mouse, the ECO100 mouse also has a usual left and right buttons and scroll wheel. But what makes it different is that you can hold it like a pen unlike vertical mouse or other mouse, which we reported earlier.

I am sure it is a great gadget for new users as well as for techno masters. This will make them at ease as they must be familiar with writing implements. Though no price dtails has been rvealed yet but the product is available at dynamism.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Here I have picked 5 out of the 10 strange yet useful gadgets posted by Tech E Blog.Do comment which one you liked.

DVD Rewinder

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Now rewinding DVD’s is no more a boring task that will eat your time if it’s done manually. The easily available “DVD Rewinder”, will spin discs backwards and plays a ‘rewind’ sound. Also, you can record your own “rewind” sound of your favorite beat. It can be purchased here for $16.49.
Just snap the disc on top, press the button and watch the way the disc spins up. The credit goes to the “Centriptal Velocity Spindle.”

Toilet Paper Dispenser with iPod Dock

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This gadget has been designed for all those who cannot imagine their life without music. Their fresh morning in their “LOO” can be refreshed by the presence of Atech’s “iLounge hybrid toilet paper dispenser/iPod dock” in bathrooms. The iLounge supports all iPod models that have a dock connector and has an integrated USB slot for the Shuffle. Speakers are fitted in the dispenser’s arms with navigation buttons located conveniently on top for easy access.

Source

Bra That Doubles As Shopping Bag

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This bra is one of the “Strange Japanese Inventions” invented by a well known lingerie manufacturer in Japan. It doubles as a shopping bag named the “Kawaii Bag”. Have a look at its double-edged functionality.
When the bra is being worn, the “shopping bag” portions are folded away inside the bra cups, where they serve as extra padding. The bra quickly converts to a shopping bag by removing the bag portions from the cups and connecting the hooks on the bra’s underwire. The lace cups serve as decoration along with the shoulder straps, which are disconnected and tied to the top of the bag as ribbons.
This wacky invention can prove to be of great use in the much needed time when the ladies can go to the mall, take off their bra, and use it to put stuff in it. To go along with the classy concept, the bra even sports a very elegant name Shopping Bag Bra.

Via Oh Gizmo

360-Degree Camera

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The camera has been designed to take the ultimate panoramic picture. This is known as a 360-degree camera as it fits comfortably on your head, captures your left-right, north-south and conveniently uses disposable cameras.

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USB BBQ

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A group of Japanese modders decided to make their own custom USB-powered BBQ using lots of USB cable, six PCI USB Adapter cards, and countless hours of hacking. Lots of pictures here.

Via Tech E BlogÂ

These peripherals featuring the Superman logo is a great sign to turn your computer into a super-computer.

The usage and impact of this mouse is expected to be two-fold in sharp juxtaposition to the movie Superman Returns (2006)

Product page for Superman Keyboard
Product page for Superman Mouse
Bonus: Superman Returns USB2.0 4port hub and Superman Returns memory card reader

Mainframes V/S Supercomputers