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Dell XPS media machine traps competitors in headlock, taps thrice

If you liked last year's Dell XPS 420 media-centric computer but decided to wait for something a little lighter on the digital video end, you might find a mate in the XPS 430-121B. You can consider it a younger cousin to the 420, maybe even once removed from some of the unnecessary add-ons that pushed it over the top.

This new model takes away the Windows SideShow LCD and instead adds a host of components like a dedicated graphics card, a TV tuner, and a quad-core processor that's sure to satisfy even the most insatiable media monger. You'… Read more

Toshiba handheld hits 1GHz with 'Snapdragon'

Has the era of the 1GHz smartphone arrived? It has for Toshiba, which has tapped Qualcomm's new Snapdragon silicon.

The Toshiba TG01 Windows Mobile phone was unveiled Tuesday, according to reports. Based on Windows Mobile 6.1, it is designed to take on the iPhone 3G.

Only 9.9mm thick, it uses a 4.1-inch WVGA 800 x 480 384k pixel resistive touch screen and comes with support for 3G HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS and assisted-GPS.

The TG01 is slated to be available in Europe this summer. The price, at this time, has not been disclosed. (Acer and Asus are … Read more

Options are few

ResizR is a free Firefox add-on that lets you resize images that you see on the Web. While it did perform its function, we found it awkward to navigate.

After reading the publisher's description, we were disappointed to find that it only works for JPEG images. However, once we found a Web image, all we had to do was right-click, and select the ResizR option from our context menu. But instead of letting us resize the image from the same Web page we found it, it took us to a new Web page. The resizing options were few, and … Read more

Works, with no bells or whistles

The name of this free Firefox add-on says it all. Show MyIP keeps your IP address in constant view as you browse the Web.

As soon as it's installed, your IP address appears in your status bar. To refresh the address, all you do is click on the address. There aren't any extras, such as the capability to copy the address to your clipboard, but Show MyIP performed its sole function well nonetheless.

If you like keeping tabs on your IP address, Show MyIP unobtrusively keeps it on display. Any one who can add a plug-in to Firefox … Read more

Numark takes you from vinyl to digital

We covered the Numark X2 Hyrbrid turntable back in 2007. Now, after adding some killer features, Numark announced that the PT-01USB turntable is now available for a MSRP of $149.

Chief among the new features is the ability to convert songs on vinyl straight to digital. You'll also get:

Plug-and-play USB connection to Mac or PC Protective dustcover and integrated carrying handle Fits inside a standard 12-inch record case Wall-powered with included AC adapter or battery-powered (six "D" cells, not included) Built-in monitoring speaker Belt-drive motor with 33, 45 and 78 RPM settings +/-10 percent pitch control … Read more

Pioneer launches new Elite AV receivers

Pioneer has unveiled four new AV receivers in its high-end Elite line for 2008. The VSX-01TXH ($750) and VSX-03TXH ($1,000) will be first out the door in June, followed by the SC-05 ($1,800) and SC-07 ($2,200) in August. (A 2007 model, the VSX-94TXH, remains in the lineup as well and is widely available for 25 percent off its $1,600 MSRP.) In addition to all of the cutting-edge features (HDMI 1.3; upscaling of analog video sources to 1080p HDMI output; on-board decoding for the Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution, and lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks found on Blu-ray Discs; multi-source output for up to three zones; Pioneer's top-notch MCACC auto-calibration), the SC-05 and SC-07 boast network connections for streaming digital media from DLNA-compatible network sources, including PC hard drives. The 05 and 07 also offer some super-tweaky features that will potentially appeal to audiophiles, including the Precision Quartz Locking System (PQLS) that's said to offer optimal CD playback from Pioneer's new Blu-ray players by eliminating audio jitter.… Read more

Net radio for the streaming n00b

Intempo's new GX01 is an attractive and affordable little networked music streamer and Internet radio device. At 129 pounds (about $271) it's a few tenners shy of the excellent Squeezebox's price tag, so it has potential to snag the interest of media-streaming newbies. The crucial thing, therefore, is ease of use--if the GX01 is even remotely difficult to use, n00bs, no matter how l33t, may pay dearly for paying less dearly.

The system's pretty pleasing to the eye and looks like something DAB specialists Pure Digital would produce--the pine finish and and single speaker makes the … Read more

Toshiba debuts two new smart phones with HSDPA

The 3GSM news just keeps on coming, and Toshiba wows us with an impressive set of two new Windows Mobile smart phones that are geared to take advantage of HSDPA-level speeds. The G900 has a jaw-dropping 3-inch WVGA display, a 2-megapixel camera, a video conference camera on the front, 64MB of internal memory, miniSD expansion, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, USB, video calling, USB storage, and the aforementioned triband HSDPA. The G900 also features a biometric scanner that can be used to secure Toshiba laptops via Bluetooth. The Toshiba E01 is not nearly as fancy, but it does feature a 2-megapixel … Read more