New Gadgets

For many photographers, in-camera WiFi may be an attractive feature before you leave the store, but confusing setup and limited functionality reduce its appeal once you actually go and try to use it. Panasonic sets out to better take advantage of wireless connectivity with its Lumix FX90, adding Android and iPhone app support for transferring pictures and video directly to a mobile device, then uploading them to Lumix Club — a cloud-based photo-sharing service — and on to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

You can also share photos directly from the camera — a dedicated WiFi button launches a menu prompting you to select a sharing service — but app support brings the added benefit of your phone’s data connection. Beyond those new wireless features, the FX90 includes a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, 5x, 24-120mm optical zoom lens, 3-inch touchscreen, and 1080i AVCHD video capture. The FX90 will ship this fall with pricing yet to be announced, but jump past the break for the full rundown from Panasonic in the meantime.

Source: Engadget

When the Lumix GF1 was released less than a year after Micro Four Thirds first made its debut, it made a huge splash for its size, image quality, and versatility. Problem is, Panasonic set the bar very high for future GF-series models, and has sadly come up short with its latest update, positioning the GF3 ($600 with 14-42mm kit lens) as an upgrade for compact camera owners while leaving enthusiasts longing for much more. DPReview took the GF3 to task, publishing a very comprehensive review while finding that while Panasonic’s latest ILC is a good fit for some photographers, more advanced users will likely be disappointed — especially if they’re expecting a rangefinder-like successor to the GF1.

We spent a few hours with a pre-production GF3 earlier this summer, and weren’t blown away by its performance. When testing against the class-leading Sony NEX-C3, we found the Sony camera to offer faster focusing, better high-ISO performance, more accurate white balance, and better image quality overall. So unless you’re really gunning to save 50 bucks on an ILC with a kit zoom (or you already have a collection of Micro Four Thirds lenses), the $650 C3 is definitely the better bet.

Sure, these days nearly all digital cameras can shoot video, but only a small handful give you the power to manually select aperture and shutter speed while doing so. The Lumix FZ47 is Panasonic’s latest high-end point-and-shoot to sport this functionality, providing full control over both video and still photo capture with its Creative Control mode. The 12.1-megapixel superzoom can shoot 1080i HD at 30 fps, though it’s notably lacking in the 1080p department.

There’s also a 3-inch LCD, 24x Leica zoom lens with a 25mm wide-angle focal length, and an option to shoot 3.5-megapixel stills while recording video. For photographers wiling to settle for a good deal less power, Panasonic also just announced its entry-level Lumix LS5, which includes a 14.1-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization, and 720p video, all powered by a pair of AA batteries. The $400 FZ47 will ship next month, while the LS5 hits stores in November, with pricing yet to be announced. Jump past the break for the complete rundown from Panasonic.

You know the drill: Panasonic introduces a perfectly capable camera, and a few months later Leica tweaks a few angles, paints it black, and slaps its iconic logo on its own version of it — admittedly, changes that make all the difference in terms of design. In this case it’s the Panasonic ZS10 that’s gotten revamped as Leica’s new V-LUX 30, a followup to its V-LUX 20 compact.

At $749, this is actually one of Leica’s more affordable offerings, but that will still only buy you the exact same guts as its $400 (or less) Panasonic counterpart: a 15.1 megapixel sensor, 16x optical zoom, 1080i video recording, a 3-inch LCD ’round back, and built-in GPS for geotagging. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and look for the camera to be available in June.

There are digital cameras that you simply must have! The pink Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 point and shoot digital camera has a flat and compact design but packed with features. It has 4x optical zoom and up to 7.8 extra optical zoom plus sonic speed auto focus to help you quickly take photos of moving objects or action shots. You can also shoot HD movies or videos using this camera. Most of all, this pink digital camera has extended battery life which is a feature that comes in handy when traveling or being on the go.

Panasonic has unveiled a new wireless Chargepad, which it has added to its range of products, and allows you to wirelessly charge your mobile charges, by simply placing the mobile charger on top of the Chargepad. Allowing you to easily grab them when you leave the house or office and keep them handy just incase your main mobile phone battery should dry up.

Together with the Qi-certified Chargepad, Panasonic also unveiled two new compatible chargers the 5,400mAh model QE-PL201-W will be priced at $67, while the QE-PL101-W with 2,700mAh will cost $49.

Panasonic  will start shipping its new Chargepad on June 24th from around $61 in Japan. Unfortunately no information on pricing or worldwide availability has been released as yet, but as soon as it becomes available we will let you know.

Remember that Panasonic Jungle  handheld from last year that was supposedly already in testing in the US? No? Well, don’t feel bad the thing was destined to fail. Back in November Panasonic went so far as to send out emails to some geeks telling them they had been chosen to test the Jungle in the US. If you were one of those chosen ones, Panasonic has apparently realized the other portable consoles coming like the 3DS and NGP that are actually cool and killed off the Jungle.

Reuters  reports that Panasonic said today that it has stopped the development of the Jungle handheld gaming device. The only details offered by Panasonic as to why it ended development was an official statement that said, “Panasonic decided to suspend further development due to changes in the market and in our own strategic direction.”

I guess Panasonic finally realized that the Jungle really had no chance against the popular Nintendo 3DS and other portable systems already on the market and coming to market. I think this is a project that won’t really be missed. The console was going to focus on MMORPG titles only and the sole game to have been spoken of was a Battlestar Galactica game.

In the age of the new technologies ordinary home telephones have changed beyond recognition. About 10 years ago nobody could even imagine that he/she could speak on the phone and walk around the house or flat, but 5 years ago, telephones with cordless handsets became very popular. Today buying a cordless phone can be afforded by every family.
For example, take the model Panasonic KX-TG8226RUB has a caller identification and voice mail. In the complete set 2 tubes are given once, which can be used simultaneously. The phone has a color display; you can select and place a call from some 32 polyphonic ring tones.

In addition, you can connect additional 6 handsets. The phone displays date and time. There is a phone book with 200 rooms, which can record numbers and names of people. With this phone you do not need an extra alarm clock, because the handset itself has a built-in alarm clock. In offline mode the battery can operate up to 150 hours and in talking mode – up to 12 hours.

Have you ever argued, during watching television, with someone for a remote control? To avoid this, you can buy a remote control for each family member, but then again everyone will watch what he/she wants.

This is a new special panel, which is suited to all televisions. You can simply lock the other remote controls. A very useful thing for the head of the family.

This gadget has also two other advantages: first, it can replace a lost remote control, and second, you can turn off the TV, so that others have not been able to switch it on.

There are times that the remote control is lost, and you can’t find it. This special remote control has an on/off button, volume increase/decrease button, also changes channels, switches off the sound, switches the TV/AV. And this is quite enough for a full remote control.

The second method is the use of general interest. Imagine that you punish the child and order him/her not to watch TV, but you have to leave him/her alone for some time. Then you just turn off the TV and pick up the remote control. Now your child will not be able to switch on the TV with other remote control.

In order to control your TV with this panel you just need to click “Mute” and hold a few seconds. The gadget works with many TV-sets – Toshiba, Sanyo, Aiwa, Mitsubishi, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, JVC, Sharp and others.

It is small and compact, so that you can even play tricks on your friends who can not understand why their remote control doesn’t work…

Its price is only 15 dollars, size 5.8×3.6×0.6 cm. The manufacturer is Ninja.

The LX Series, the eldest line of compact cameras of Panasonic, has long attracted the attention of serious photographers. Indeed, all the amenities, lightness and compactness usually end when it comes to the image quality; and the advanced digital mirror is no less and no light than its film predecessors. A photographer needs something light for a walk, only a rare device will be able to please him in terms of the results of shooting. Class hi-end in the compact segment is extremely small – perhaps technologies developed too quickly, and companies thought uneconomical to invest a high amount of development model, which would inevitably become obsolete in six months. Now, when a certain technological level is already achieved, these camcorders are beginning to appear slowly. From the undisputed applicants in this elite class is the hero of today’s test. 

Let’s start with the design. Lumix DMC-LX3 impresses immediately: a stylish and compact metal case stand out from the total mass of handheld cameras and careful elegance of execution. The lens is bigger than usual and many buttons and switches are made extremely well. The device is small, but its design and layout of controls, is easy to use. Almost all of the back cover the camera is occupied by the 3-inch LCD screen, so all the buttons gathered on a small space on the right side of it, but you can quickly get used to the management.