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Canon SX160 IS SX500

Canon has announced a couple of new superzoom cameras in the SX160 IS and SX500 IS. The SX160 is the successor to the SX150, while the SX500 is new to the lineup. Both cameras pack a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, 720p video recording at 25 fps, and intelligent image stabilization. The higher-end SX500 IS brings with it a 30x, 24-720mm lens with a 32% improvement in autofocus speed and 33% decrease in shutter lag, making it the top model in the SX line.

Both cameras also boast a 3-inch LCD, with the SX500 having one that's twice as pixel dense as the SX160. Both cameras are set to ship in September, with the SX500 IS (black) selling for $330 while the SX160 IS (black or red) goes for $230.

Gallery: Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and SX160 IS superzoom cameras launch in September


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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

The Telegraph briefly had a story up this morning that made mention of new updates to Panasonic digital cameras, the star of which was the Lumix DMC-G5. Boasting a 16-megapixel Venus Engine VII sensor, 3-inch display, and a redesigned shell, the DMC-G5 will shoot full 1080p high definition video and sell for about $940 as an entry-level kit, or $1,375 with extras.

The DMC-FZ200 was also detailed as having a 25-600mm lens that can stay locked at a f/2.8 aperture, as well as the DMC-LX7 compact camera that has full manual controls. We should hear more officially tomorrow, and we will let you know when we do.

Read More | The Telegraph

Gallery: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5, DMC-FZ200, DMC-LX7 detailed early


HP 2311x monitor

We've got a long holiday weekend ahead of us to enjoy, and we figured that while you're in the shopping mood picking up some charcoal to fire up the grill, we'd give you some extra stuff to add to your list. There are a bunch of sales on gadgets, computers, HDTVs, video games, and more, and we've got a whole list of great tech deals for you to perous after the break. Some things that stand out to us are the 23" HP 231x Ultra-slim monitor for $115, Battlefriend: Bad Company 2 for $5, and the 39" TCL 1080p plasma HDTV for $350. Be sure to check out our Newegg promo code thread as well for even more deals.

Click to continue reading Top Memorial Day weekend tech deals: HDTVs, notebooks, video games, and more

Gallery: Top Memorial Day weekend tech deals: HDTVs, notebooks, video games, and more


Dropbox photo upload free space

Dropbox has updated its Mac and Windows apps with the ability to upload photos and videos directly from cameras, smartphones, tablets, SD cards (pretty much anything that can capture photos or media,) directly to your Dropbox account. The feature has been in beta for a couple of months, and has now been rolled out to the masses.

Worried about all those extra pics taking up your storage space? Dropbox has you covered there as well. With the first image you upload, Dropbox will increase your storage by 500 MB. Then, for every additional 500 MB of photos and videos you upload, they'll grant you another 500 MB of space, up to a total 3 GB of extra storage. Even better, if you decide you no longer want your images in your Dropbox, simply delete them--you'll keep the extra 3 GB of space!

Download the latest version of Dropbox to get in on the action.

Read More | Dropbox

Gallery: Dropbox will give you 3 GB of extra free space to upload your photos and images


A few nights ago I found myself, along with two of my friends, shooting the breeze at a local watering hole. All of us come from different walks of life and hold different views on politics and social matters; but our love of good food, cars, and company puts all that aside. If you put us together for an extended period of time, one of us is doomed to end up in a hospital because of another, but it’s all fun and games.

Mid-way into the evening, my friend mentioned that he’s in the market for a new pistol. The other guy highly opposes guns. The bartender chimes in with his two cents, stating knifes kill people, cars kill people, and since people die in hospitals, the hospitals must be killing people, too. With these two bickering back and forth, it got me wondering just how many people get injured, or killed, on a yearly basis due to getting his by a car and how that compared to gun fatalities. Recently the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a bill that would require all automotive manufacturers to include a backup camera in all vehicles by 2014. However, this wouldn’t come out of the manufacturers pocker, as the expense is passed on to the consumer. It would end up raising the cost of a vehicle by about 200 bucks. It's a small price to pay, and would more than likely save a bunch of lives.

Click to continue reading Can the NHTSA make cars safer with mandatory backup cameras by 2014?

Read More | AutoBlog

Gallery: Can the NHTSA make cars safer with mandatory backup cameras by 2014?


For those that drive on a daily basis, we’re sure you all have your horror stories to tell, and we’re sure some are just too good to believe. That said, when the issue is pressed can you prove that what you say is true, or will it be our word against yours? We hate to give you a reality check, but the law may not always be on your side; even if you’re not at fault. Here in Washington, if you hit someone from behind, it’s automatically your fault. How could you prove that you were completely stopped and that the person in front of you rolled backwards into you? If you're like the dude in the video above, the answer is simple. Install a dash cam. Sure, it may seem nerdy, but at least it got him out of paying $500 for something that wasn't his fault. Check out the video above for the full story.

Gallery: Dude avoids extortion thanks to having dash cam installed in his car


Where else but on YouTube will you see a high-speed case that’s not VGA dash-cam quality, featuring shots taken using a Traxxas Slash VXL Ultimate R/C car-mounted GoPro Hero, a Canon 5D MKII, strapped to a helicopter, a Panasonic AF100, and a hacked Panasonic GH1? This video features something for all likes, but will definitely be appreciated by those who like a little speed, creative shots, and a little humor. Take a look at what the folks from Icon Motosports have been up to on their spare time.

Gallery: Video: Motorcycle vs. Car drift battle shot with RC car-mounted cameras


The WVIL (which stands for Wireless Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) camera is one of our favorite gadgets from CES 2012, it's just too bad that it's just a concept and not actually real. Still, the concept alone is genius! If you're crazy about photography--or just cool gadgetry in general--this will statisfy your thirst. What you see is a camera with a removeable lens and viewfinder, which allows you to place the lens anyway, while controlling the viewfinder like you would any other mobile phone or tablet device. Meanwhile, we'll try to get ahold of Artefact, the company behind the concept, as they happen to be stationed here in Seattle. We've got one more video after the jump that shows what the camera would look like in a real-world scenario, but don't let it fool you! This is a meticulously planned out demo that isn't actually real. Still, cool concept.

Click to continue reading WVIL: The amazing future camera concept

Gallery: WVIL: The amazing future camera concept


Last minute holiday gifts

[Editor's Note: Andru Edwards of Gear Live and the Ask Andru column joined us on this week's GeekWire radio show and podcast to share his top picks for technology gifts this holiday season. Here's a rundown of his choices, just in time your last-minute shopping.]

Kindle Fire: Amazon's $199 tablet is often compared to the iPad, but in many ways it's more appropriate to compare it to the iPod touch, based on the price and feature set. If you want a cheap tablet that can ship to you by Christmas, the Kindle Fire is it. There are some bugs. In terms of responsiveness and the accuracy of its touch interface, the Kindle Fire doesn't always live up to Apple iOS devices, but for $199 you're not going to find anything else that has this feature set, and many of the bugs will be fixed by software updates.

Crayola ColorStudio HD: This $29.99 accessory is a digital marker for the iPad, turning the Apple tablet into a virtual coloring book when used in conjunction with a companion app, with music and animations. With the digital marker, kids can do more with the iPad than just play games. They can be color, they can make their own coloring book pages. Input styles include crayons, markers and paint. Features include Facebook sharing and printing through Apple AirPrint.

Click to continue reading Ask Andru: Eight last-minute ideas for cool tech gifts

Gallery: Ask Andru: Eight last-minute ideas for cool tech gifts


Soon after Australian amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy discovered a comet in an automated search program using a telescope equipped with a CCD detector on Nov. 27, it became clear that he had found something special.

Follow-up observations determined that the comet belonged to the Kreutz group of sungrazing comets, so called because members of this comet family—which all travel in similar orbits—pass extremely close to the Sun. The brightest Kreutz comets, such as the great comets of 1066, 1843, 1882, and 1965, have been among the most spectacular comets on record. The Kreutz group is believed to be the remnants of what was once a single, larger comet that has progressively fragmented over the past couple thousand years.

Although Lovejoy's comet—now officially known as C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy)—is not expected to rival the greatest Kreutz comets, it’s the first sungrazer to be found by a ground-based observer in over 40 years, and it should put on an impressive show online. It’s now visible in the images of several spaceborne observatories that monitor our star—the twin STEREO spacecraft and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)—and should brighten as it makes what’s likely a suicidal run at the Sun.

Click to continue reading Watch a bright comet head for the sun

Gallery: Watch a bright comet head for the sun


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