Modeled after award-winning LaCie Rugged Hard Disk, design by Neil Poulton
Tough and durable aluminum casing, with external and internal shock absorbers
Performance hard drive with Hi-Speed USB and eSATA interfaces
Complete software bundle for easy formatting and backup

LaCie announced the Rugged XL, a super-sized expansion to LaCie’s award-winning line of Rugged hard drives. Showcasing more than just its extra-large exterior, the Rugged XL doubles capacity to 1TB, and will surely amplify the style of any creative desktop.

Rugged XL leverages the design and durability of the popular Rugged drive, offering aluminum casing for superior protection on your desktop, as well as the signature orange rubber sleeve. Taking advantage of the Rugged’s reputation for resilience, the Rugged XL also features an internal bumper and heat dissipating features, making the LaCie Rugged XL able to withstand the challenges and blunders that can occur on anyone’s desk.

Suited for speed-intensive applications or for large-scale backups, the Rugged XL is versatile and compatible with both Mac and PC environments. In addition, it supports two key interfaces: Hi-Speed USB for universal compatibility, and the extreme speed of eSATA 3Gb/s. The new drive also includes a complete software bundle for easy formatting with LaCie Setup Assistant, as well as Genie Backup Assistant software for Windows users and Intego Backup Assistant software for Mac users.

“Since the launch of the original Rugged drive, users have shared stories of admiration for the robust materials, functionality and design of the Rugged family of hard drives,” said Lise Manteau, Desktop Hard Disk Product Manager. “It was a natural progression to expand the Rugged family and offer customers the same durability and style in a solution suited for safeguarding data in the desktop environment.”

The LaCie Rugged XL makes a statement on your desktop, combining a durable design and colorful presence. Its warm orange LED strip on its underside underscores LaCie’s dedication to superior design and functionality. With its unconventional, uncomplicated, and usable design, the Rugged XL stands above other desktop solutions.

Availability
The LaCie Rugged XL will be available in a 1TB capacity, through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+ or LaCie Storage Partner starting at the suggested retail price of $159.99 (excluding VAT).

For more information, visit www.lacie.com.


New Low Cost GPS Simulator Packs a Powerful Punch

As in-car navigation and GPS mobile phones become more widespread, Racelogic’s new GPS simulator, LabSat, released this week, is set to transform the way manufacturers test and develop navigation devices.

With its ability to record and replay real-world data, the new product answers the demand for efficient and accurate testing of the increasing numbers of professional and consumer GPS featured products in the market.

One of the problems with conventional GPS simulation until now has been the inability to reproduce real world conditions accurately. The need to understand the effects of phenomena such as multipath reflections, atmospheric effects, and dropouts on devices has therefore meant that products must be taken out into the field and laboriously tested. Because conditions are always changing, there is little consistency between tests.

The capacity of LabSat to record and replay real-world data means that common conditions can be repeatedly reproduced on the bench, cutting development times as manufacturers no longer need to undertake multiple, often unreliable physical tests in the field. Using a computer with a USB 2.0 connection, it records raw signals from a GPS antenna directly to hard disk, with no limitations on the number of satellites being tracked or the length of the recording. When the data is replayed, the GPS engine under test will re-create all the movement and satellite reception encountered, including all original multipath, satellite obstructions and atmospheric effects.

Alternatively, for data without artefacts, it can simulate dynamic scenarios anywhere in the world using the optional Signal Architect software. External modules allow additional signals to be recorded, such as inertial, serial or CAN data, and replayed at the same time, perfectly synchronised with GPS.

Incorporating all these features into a product the size of a paperback book, LabSat is highly portable. For use out of the box, it comes bundled with a 250 GB USB drive with pre-loaded recordings included. And with prices starting from GBP5,950, LabSat is a worthy competitor to larger, more expensive systems. For more info, go to http://www.labsat.co.uk/.

Racelogic designs and manufactures innovative electronic systems for the automotive and GPS industries. Based in the UK, they have developed GPS data-loggers, Video-overlay systems, and GPS Simulators since 1992.

Source: Racelogic


HTC Smartphone Delivers Advanced Technology with a Stylish Design to Business Professionals

Verizon Wireless and HTC Corporation today announced that the HTC Touch Diamond(TM) will be available tomorrow through business sales channels and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The ideal productivity tool for busy professionals, the HTC Touch Diamond combines a fashionable mobile design with the added benefit of the nation’s most reliable voice and data network for fast e-mail and Internet connectivity.

VERIZON WIRELESS HTC TOUCH DIAMOND(TM)

Available color: Black

Key features:

  • Brilliant 2.76-inch touch screen display for navigating Web pages on the built-in Opera browser
  • 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera
  • microSD(TM) card slot that can support up to 16 GB of memory for extra storage of pictures, videos and music
  • Customers can choose either the familiar Windows Mobile(R) home screen or the intuitive HTC TouchFLO(TM) 3D user interface
  • Supports the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Office applications

Lifestyle Features:

  • Visual Voice Mail to help customers prioritize their messages
  • VZ Navigator(SM)-capable to provide customers with audible turn-by-turn directions to more than 15 million points of interest and get directions to any address in the U.S. and share the directions with others
  • Mobile IM to stay connected to colleagues when away from the office

Price:

  • The HTC Touch Diamond will be available for $299.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
  • VZ Navigator is available for $9.99 monthly access, and Visual Voice Mail is available for $2.99 monthly access. Other charges may apply when downloading or using applications.
  • For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.

Source: Verizon Wireless


iBowl Top 20 App of All Time

Apple’s Countdown to a Billion Apps puts iBowl in the top 20 downloaded Apps of all time

SGN’s most successful game for the iPhone and iPod Touch, iBowl has been announced as one of the top 20 apps of all time as Apple counts down to 1 billion apps downloaded. With its high quality 3D graphics, live multi-synchronous challenge, multiple bowling alleys and bowling balls to choose from the integration of Facebook Connect, iBowl, since its launch in October last year has stayed a favorite among iPhone and iPod Touch users. www.apple.com/itunes/billion-app-countdown

“iBowl, continues its universal appeal to all iPhone and iPod Touch users. Our passion and drive to deliver high quality game play experiences for everyone has led to over eleven million downloads and established SGN as a leader in social mobile gaming,” said Shervin Pishevar, Founder and CEO of SGN. “We continue to innovate with iBowl; it was the first sporting game to enable real time, multi-synchronous game play, to include Facebook Connect and developed the vital social nature of the game with, the Challenge Menu. All these features have contributed to this game reaching the top 20, I am proud SGN is at the heart of this historic moment for mobile gaming. Now with the upcoming launch of iPhone OS3 we can unleash an even more creativity and even greater consumer experiences across all our games.”

3D graphics and the option to choose from three different bowling alleys, a ‘Random Match’ setting, or selecting to join a ‘Competition’ the game simulates live gaming for up to four people in a single bowling booth. . Players can face random opponents or interact with people they know from around the world These play modes allow players to see their opponents take a turn to play in real time which then displays the scores and progress of your opponent. iBowl is the first sporting game to enable real time, multi-synchronous game play for iPhone and iPod Touch users.

“iBowl continues to flourish, as part of a stable of eight SGN games developed in house for the iPhone, it is bucking the trend which affects many apps which often have a steep drop off after launch,” said Shervin Pishevar. “We continue to expand our collection of groundbreaking social games from the cross platform i(fluff)friends to the most recent game from our library, the hugely popular Agency Wars. We continue to engage through the power of the network effect with games designed to entertain and engage.”

The company recently enhanced the already popular suite of available games with updates for iBasketball and iBowl, other sporting games include and SGN Golf, iGolf Pro, iBaseball, as well as text based Mafia: Respect and Retribution and the growing Agency Wars, i(fluff)friends and the most innovative use of the accelerometer technology iFun, turning your iPhone into a Wii like controller.

The recent news from Apple launching the iPhone OS3 will unlock many more opportunities for innovative game development for social mobile gaming. SGN has already made huge strides with existing releases to optimize them for in game monetization through virtual goods available in Agency Wars, Mafia: Respect & Retaliation and with the proven model (fluff)friends on Facebook.

Source: SGN


Kingston Technology Releases Intel-Certified DDR3 XMP SO-DIMMs

Modules Support Latest Generation XMP-Ready Notebook Computers

Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, announced the release of its first XMP-ready HyperX(R) DDR3 SO-DIMMs for notebook PCs using Intel’s Cantiga mobile chipset. The 1066MHz CL5 Kingston(R) ultra-low latency memory kits have passed Intel’s XMP certification process and come pre-programmed with both JEDEC and XMP profiles.

KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY HYPERX DDR3

“Kingston worked closely with Intel to certify the new HyperX SO-DIMM memory for new DDR3 XMP-supported, Intel(R) Centrino(TM) 2 Processor Technology systems,” said Erik Reid, Director of Marketing for Intel’s Mobile Platforms Group. “We laud Kingston’s efforts in the area of extreme mobile performance and expect that PC gamers will love the way XMP delivers next-generation notebook PCs with unrivaled performance.”

“The HyperX DDR3 XMP SO-DIMMs were tested on the Flextronics W840 DI notebook PCs with great success,” said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston. “DDR3 notebook users can now enjoy the same benefits such as lower latencies and voltages that enthusiasts and gamers have had for years with HyperX memory for desktop computers.”

HyperX is backed by a lifetime warranty and free 24/7 technical support. For detailed information please visit the Kingston Web site at www.kingston.com.

Kingston HyperX DDR3 XMP SO-DIMM Specifications

Part Number Capacity and Features MSRP (U.S. only).
KHX8500S3ULK2/4GX 4GB 1066MHz Ultra-low latency $212.00
(CL5-5-5-15 @ 1.5v) kit of 2

Source: Kingston Technology Company, Inc.