Pentax preps budget, wide-angle Optio E60

Pentax tonight gave entry-level photographers an extra option through the 10.1-megapixel Optio E60. Its standout addition is a 32-96mm equivalent wide-angle lens that helps frame wide portrait shots, scenery, or other very horizontal subjects. Its beginner focus includes a fully automatic mode that changes all settings itself, though the camera adds face detection and ISO-based blur correction that also help more experienced owners.

The camera's simpler nature also surfaces in its 3X zoom factor and its use of AA batteries rather than a lithium-ion pack for power. Pentax will offer the E60 in just a single black color when it ships in October for $140.

Dell intros $700 Inspiron 13 notebook, 518 tower

Dell tonight is continuing a string of major PC updates with both a new Inspiron notebook as well as a desktop. The Inspiron 13 promises to challenge the MacBook and other 13-inch portables by pushing the cost well below others while also providing dimensions and features that aren't always carried over into budget notebooks. The system weighs a relatively light 4.5 pounds but still finds room for a slot-load DVD drive, touch-sensitive media controls, and a sturdier, one-piece "barrel" hinge versus the two-hinge design of larger Inspirons.

Full specifications aren't immediately available, though the system is known to add an 8-in-1 card reader; better Wi-Fi, a webcam, and Bluetooth are options. The system will be priced at as little as $699 with a unique model tailored for Wal-Mart that ships on August 3rd, while higher-priced specifications ship later the same month from Dell's online store.

A similar move upscale takes place with the Inspiron 518 mini tower. It has a more ornate appearance than the silver of the Inspiron 530 with a glossy black case and chrome trim, but also brings quad-core speed to a relatively low price level with the options of 2.4GHz or 2.5GHz Core 2 Quad processors. A top-mounted two-port USB hub is in place to help users attach peripherals when the tower sits on the floor instead of a desk. The system will hold up to a 500GB hard drive and should be ready as of Tuesday, starting at $349 with 1GB of memory, a 2GHz Intel chip, and a 160GB hard drive.

Fujitsu's Lifebook U2010

We've caught a few glimpses of Fujitsu's Lifebook U2010 in the past, but now we've got a whole handful of new shots of the crazy-versatile device, plus some fresh video and actual, honest-to-goodness specs. According to a Vietnamese forum, the miniature laptop / tablet will feature an Intel Atom CPU (at 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz), a 5.6-inch 1024 x 768 display, an 80GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, a 3G radio, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and will weigh 680 grams (about 1.5 lbs). No word on a street date or regions for the device right now, but the price is said to clock in around a hefty $1300.

Dell explains NVIDIA GPU issues, throws out BIOS updates to help

So yeah, quite a few NVIDIA GPUs have been acting up. Nothing new there. However, Dell's attempting to help its laptop owners out by making a few notable BIOS updates readily available for download. Apparently the issue "is a weak die / packaging material set, which may fail with GPU temperature fluctuations." In order to combat the problem, Dell's BIOS flashes "modify the fan profile to help regulate GPU temperature fluctuations," though the Round Rock powerhouse only promises that the updates will "help reduce the likelihood of GPU issues." Hit the read link and give it a go -- it can't hurt... we hope.

Nokia 5800 gets touched in the wild -- again

At this point, we've seen the Tube from everyone but Nokia -- heck, even Morgan Freeman got a chance to show it off -- and it looks like that trend isn't going to abate any time soon. Another round of in-the-wild shots of the supposed XpressMusic 5800 have popped up (yes, the latest prototype seems to have dropped the "XpressMedia" badge), showing off a pretty uninspiring keyboard that we can only hope has no bearing on the final product. Guess that's why they haven't announced this sucker yet, eh? We hope?

Nikon D700 full-frame DSLR

It's easy enough to drool over the press shots of Nikon's luscious D700. Seeing someone unbox this full-frame beast on video is another experience entirely (bordering on spiritual, really). Unfortunately, the vid waiting after the break is just two minutes long and doesn't show any clicks being depressed, but those looking to get a better idea of the size and build have plenty of reason to click through.

Nokia launches E66 and E71

Nokia is trying to retain its lead in the mobile phone market. The strategy of launching new products at regular intervals has worked well for Nokia. In order to consolidate the Business phone segment, Nokia has launched two handsets in the E Series, E71 and E66.

The E66 is a slider phone and a follow up of Nokia E65. It sports advanced integrated features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS and 3G support. It runs on the Symbian operating system. It is priced at Rs 23,689. The Nokia E71 is the successor of E61 and E61i. It can handle MS Office applications with ease. It has advanced network connectivity in terms of HSDPA, wireless LAN and 3G. GPS along with Nokia Maps are included. It also sports a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, FM radio, music player along with 110 MB internal dynamic memory and 8 GB external memory. It is priced at Rs 23,689.
Devinder Kishore, Nokia’s Director (Marketing), stated, “The launch of two stylish email-optimised devices from the E-series product range reiterates the potential of business mobility in India. The two handsets deliver an unmatched combination of advanced technologies, network connectivity options and stylish design.”