We've been keeping tabs on the Nokia Lumia 928 for a while, but it has never been confirmed in any official capacity until today. The Lumia 928 quietly made an appearance in a two-page advertisment spread in Vanity Fair, as well as on a simple page on the Nokia Web site. It appears that the 928 is focusing on the camera:

Nokia exclusive PureView technology, with Optical Image Stabilization and high-end Carl Zeiss optics let you capture and share amazing blur-free photos and videos, even in low light conditions.

As expected, Verizon Wireless will be the carrier for the Lumia 928. Expect a nice, official unveiling to take place a week from today, on May 14th. We aren't expecting the internals to be too different from the Nokia Lumia 920.

We're sure you've witnessed it in the past. You may have even done it yourself. Even worse, you may still do it. Vertical Video Syndrome, or VVS. Shooting videos on your smartphone vertically used to be a common annoyance that has, thankfully, been on the decline as people realize just how absolutely ridiculous the end result looks when trying to view the content on anything other than the smartphone itself. There are still some stragglers out there though, and if you know any, point them to the video that we've embedded after the break. It should drive the point home. Please, rotate your smartphone.

The nice thing about smartphone cameras is that you can instantly share photos using your data plan--but the quality of a point-and-shoot like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5K trumps your phone shots, and we're recommending it in our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide. Even better? The SZ5K packs onboard Wi-Fi that allows you to take great pictures, and then share them immediately to your smartphone for sharing (it works with both iOS and Android devices.) You can a 14.1 megapixel sensor with 720p video recording and 10x optical zoom. They sell for $199.99, but you can pick one up on Amazon for $189.99, saving yourself 5%.

Read More | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5K ]]> 2012-12-05T21:22:11+00:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/target-cyber-monday-week-deals-q412/ Cameras, Handhelds, HDTV, Hot Deals, Household, Video Games  

Target is following up its Black Friday deals week with Cyber Monday Deals Week. All week long, Target will be featuring some killer deals in its Cyber Week section, and we're already seeing some nice discounts, particularly on video games and consumer electronics. Here's a sampling:

• Westinghouse 46" 1080p LCD HDTV - $379.99
• Save 25% on all Dyson vacuums
• Acer Aspire One - $199.99
• Nikon COOLPIX S3300 - $79.99
• Buy one, get one 50% off on select video games

Read More | Target Cyber Monday & Cyber Week sales ]]> 2012-11-26T19:37:35+00:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/will.i.am-iphone-camera-14-megapixel-q412/ Accessories, Apple, Cameras

Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame apparently doesn't think his iPhone is smart enough, so he's planning to do something about it. He's even received a development license from Apple to produce and sell what he claims will turn the iPhone into a "genius phone" under his new i.am+ brand.

We have our own sensor and a better flash. You dock your phone into our device and it turns your smartphone into a genius-phone. We take over the camera...

"I was just hanging out [after a photo shoot], and one of the models took an iPhone picture, which circulated the planet before the shoot was even over... I took one of the photographer's lenses and held it up on my [phone] and said "imagine this one day". Then I said: "I'm going to do this"."

The camera attachment will clips onto the iPhone, bumping the 8 megapixel camera to 14 megapixels. A website is currently being produced (www.i.am) where users will be able to create profiles and assumedly share pictures and other content created with Will.i.am's app.

I.am+ is scheduled to make it's debut in London later this week, where pricing will also be announced.

Read More | The Telegraph ]]> 2012-11-26T17:28:07+00:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/black-friday-2012-best-buy-q412/ Cameras, Cell Phones, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Household, Movies, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video, Video Games

Details of Best Buy's Black Friday 2012 sales have just been released, and we've got a links to all the highlights you can expect to see throughout Thanksgiving weekend. Doors will open right at midnight on November 23rd, and tickets for the doorbusters will be handed out as early as 10:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day. If you'd rather do all your shopping online (which is what we're doing,) here's your guide to all the Best Buy deals, after the break.

Disclaimer: this is pure speculation based on rumors, track record, and wishful thinking. So, no hurt feelings if it doesn't come to pass.

The way we see it, Apple methodically has been updating its entire Mac lineup with HD front facing cameras. The first to receive it was the iMac in mid-2011, quickly followed by last year's Macbook Pro lineup and subsequently the newly refreshed generation of MacBook Pros and Macbook Air; the lineup includes the 11-, 13-, and 15-inch as well as the flagship Macbook Pro with Retina display. The result is 720p high-definition video chat. The missing ingredient is the inclusion of HD FaceTime chat for iOS devices. Sure, the back of an iPhone 4/4S, iPad 2, and new iPad are technically HD cameras, and one could switch to that camera with a quick toggle, but it's still not ideal for most video chat interactions. I'm postulating that Apple could potentially introduce its first HD front-facing camera for iOS devices with the iPhone 5.

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.

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 ]]> 2012-07-17T21:12:31+00:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/top-memorial-day-weekend-tech-deals-q212/ Accessories, Cameras, HDTV, Hot Deals, Movies, PC / Laptop, Video Games

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.

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 ]]> 2012-04-27T17:00:38+00:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/nhtsa-cars-mandatory-backup-camera-2014/ Cameras, Editorial, Transportation

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.

Read More | AutoBlog ]]> 2012-03-01T00:02:13+00:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/dash-cam-save-money-q112/ Cameras, Transportation, Videos

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.

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.

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.

[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.

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.

We bet a few of you are wondering what an SD card is doing on our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide, but give us a moment to explain. Eye-Fi cards are the bomb. What you're getting here is freedom and convenience, as these cards will sync and upload the content stored on them without the need for a cable. In other words, put this thing into a camera and snap away. When you get back home to your Wi-Fi network, the images will be transferred to your computer right over the network, over the air. You can also optionally tell it that you'd also like the images uploaded to your favorite social network, like, say, Facebook. Even better? Your images get geotagged too by the Eye-Fi card. These things are straight up awesome, and you can get one on Amazon for $88 (a 17% discount.)

Here's a more unique entry for our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide. This is the Lomography Sprocket Rocket. The plastic-bodied Rocket camera has a wide-angle frame that exposes the film all the way to the edges, out past the sprocket holes. It also lets you rewind the film for those cool double exposures. They typicalls sell for $89, but you can grab one on Amazon for $78.50, a 12% savings.

Details of Best Buy's Black Friday 2011 sales have just been released, and we've got a list of all the highlights you can expect to see after the break. Doors will open right at midnight on October 25th, and tickets for the doorbusters will be handed out as early as 10:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Click through for a look at the goods.