Sony releases new portable stereo FM AM radio in Japan

Sony has just announced the availability of its new portable FM/AM radio for Japan. The radio, which is known as the SRF-18, has been touted by the Japanese electronics giant to be designed with the needs of young consumers in mind, due to the growing popularity of various radio program broadcasts among such the younger generation today.

According to Sonys press release, the new SRF-18 will make use of an analogue tuner knob for setting ones desired frequency, instead of the typical digital tuners which are found on most hi-fi systems. In addition, the company has also confirmed that the SRF-18 will support both the FM and AM broadcasting frequency bands, and that it can also be used as a stereo speaker for most devices thanks to the presence of an audio input jack. Last but definitely not least, Sony has also revealed that users can make use of the SRF-18 to record radio broadcasts into compatible devices such as its Walkman line of portable media players via the use of an audio output jack.

No prices for the SRF-18 have been released by Sony yet, although the company has confirmed that Japanese consumers can expect to see the portable radio on retail shelves come October 21 this year.

Source: Sony Japan

Samsung to launch three Bada-powered smartphones this year

So the mobile operating system scene is being dominated by three very powerful players: Google with its Android operating system, Apple with its iOS and lastly, Microsoft with both Windows Phone 7 and to a lesser extent, Windows 7. That is great and all, for choices are always good for both consumers and developers; users are not forced to commit to one particular platform, while competition ensures that developers are kept on their toes in delivering quality products and user experiences.

However, this does not mean that there are only three operating systems available for mobile users to choose from. While it is true that the aforementioned platforms are the most dominant in the market today, there are also other smaller-scale operating systems that fill various niches, and Samsungs Bada is one of them. And it seems that Samsung is going ahead to pull out all the stops to ensure that Bada does not fade away from the competition like a distant memory: a recent leak has indicated that the Korean electronics giant has at least three Bada-powered phones planned for launch this year.

According to a report from Badaworld.net, the first of three phones to launch in 2011 will be known as the Samsung Wave 578 and it will come pre-loaded with a slightly dated version of the Bada OS, namely version 1.1 as opposed to the current version, which is 1.2. In addition, the Samsung Wave 578 will feature a 3.2-inch display capable of WQVGA resolutions, a three megapixel camera and standard wireless communication options such as Bluetooth and WiFi.

Of greater interest though, are the two mobile phones which are slated for launch much later in 2011 (September and November respectively). Based on the image shown above, the model which will be launching in September appears to be a slightly higher-end model, as shown in the 3.65-inch display capable of HVGA resolutions and what appears to be dual cameras. This is in direct contrast to the model slated for a November launch, which features a much lower-res QVGA display and a three megapixel camera.That being said, it is interesting to note that all three mobile phones will feature NFC technology, a trait which has yet to find mainstream acceptance on most existing smartphones on the market today.

Last but definitely not least, no information about pricing and specific release dates have been leaked out yet, so do check back for updates.

Source: Badaworld.net

Test Your Memory with Kingston at WCG 2010

Singapore, Singapore – (July 9, 2010) – Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the kick-off of the on-site activity during the anticipating and exciting World Cyber Games 2010 (herein known as 'WCG') in Singapore.

As the exclusive memory sponsor, Kingston is not only going to rock the hard-core gamers with the premium HyperX 2133MHz memory modules but also to bring excitements for visitors with interesting games. From July 9 to July 11, everyone is welcomed to cheer for the contestants and to be pampered by Kingston with free giveaways! Come to visit Kingston’s booth at: Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Center Hall 6B.

During this three-day event, visitors can get a scorecard at the registration counter or each booth and there will be 10 booths in total for visitors to challenge themselves. Those who conquer all of the games will stand a chance to win a Kingston 32GB DataTraveler c10 USB Flash drive and other hot prizes!

At Kingston’s booth, participants can test their memory by playing the game 'Challenge Your Memory with Kingston' and winners will immediately be rewarded with an exclusive, stylish Kingston pen holder. Visitors can even practice this game on-line before taking the challenge on site (www.kingston-blog.com/challenge_your_memory.com/en)!

Moreover, there is another one-on-one game called 'Viwawa Match It' for visitors to participate in. It is a multiplayer game where two players have to compete to match two identical cards from 4*4 to 8*8 game boards. Participants who achieved the first three highest scores can take Kingston’s high-end HyperX memory kit home! How good is your memory? Show your good memory at WCG 2010 in Singapore!

Aside from the Singapore National Final, the host will also hold the WCG 2010 Asian Championship from July 10 to July 11. All of the 104 national finalists from 13 countries will compete to be entitled as the Asian Champion. Visitors can witness how skillful and brilliant these experts are and cheer for them!

"WCG is the well-known global tournament and has been expected by many cyber gamers every year. We are very delighted to have the chance to join the grand occasion this year," said Wei Wei Yin, Marketing Director, APAC region, Kingston. "Kingston’s HyperX product line aims to bring perfect experience for hard- core gamers. Through this sponsorship, we hope to reinforce the brand awareness of Kingston’s HyperX with the top-rated performance that HyperX brings for gamers."

To discuss Kingston products, please visit http://www.kingston-blog.com/. To try the game “Challenge Your Memory”, please go to www.kingston-blog.com/ challenge_your_memory/en/. To get the freshest information on Kingston, please go to http://twitter.com/KingstonFEPR. To know more about Kingston’s inside stories, please join its Facebook Fan’s page at: www.facebook.com/KingstonAPAC.

To find out if your Kingston product is genuine, Kingston also provides an online verification site: www.kingston.com/asia/verify. To try the game “Search for Genuine Kingston”, please go to http://anti-counterfeit.kingston-blog.com/. For the interesting animation: The Adventures of Rex, please visit: http://www.theadventuresofrex.com/.

Samsung Signs Agreement With Microsoft For Windows Phone 7

Talking about Samsung and Windows Phone 7 may come across as being a little out of place. This can probably be attributed to the fact that the Korean electronics giant has been extremely keen in exploring alternative operating systems for its line of smartphones, even though it already has a Windows-based smartphone lineup known as the Omnia.

However, it appears that Samsung has no plans let its Windows-based smartphone lineup die out anytime soon. Instead, the company has announced in a press release that it has just completed an agreement with Microsoft to use the “Windows Phone 7 platform for its smartphone portfolio”.

WP Hong, Executive Vice President and Head of Product Strategy Team said “The addition of Windows Phone 7 smartphones to Samsung’s smartphone portfolio is a significant milestone for us. Samsung’s new Windows Phone 7 based smartphones will play a key role to reinforce Samsung’s leadership in smartphone market. The new Windows Phone 7 smartphones will provide an unparalleled entertainment experience on the go.”

And if anyone had doubted Samsung's commitment to its Windows smartphone lineup, leaked images of what appears to be an Omnia 7 should easily quell those doubts. More interestingly, the images also show the supposed Omnia 7 running on Windows Phone 7 while showing off the OS's new calendar view.

Unfortunately, there isn't more information about the Omnia 7, such as its specifications, or release date. However, thanks to the company's recent announcement, we now know that a WP7 phone from Samsung is a definite certainty.

Sources: Korea NewsWire, SlashGear

Thermaltake expands Toughpower and SMART PSU series

Several new models in Thermaltakes Toughpower and SMART series of power supplies are due to arrive this month. These include 80Plus Gold certified PSUs in the Toughpower 550 W, 650 W and 750 W as well as a couple 80Plus Bronze certified offerings under Tts SMART lineup; a 750 W and 850 W.

Thermaltakes eco-friendly Toughpower Gold Series of PSUs comprise 100% high quality Japanese capacitors throughout along with active CLAMP circuitry with various protection levels including over current and voltage, under voltage, over power, over temperature and short-circuiting. Costs are kept to a minimum on the Toughpower GOLD range by using a non-modular design while maintaining high efficieny for mainstream users.

The new SMART 750 W and 850 W units boast flat modular cabling along with a range of industrial-grade protections not unlike the Toughpower family. The 750 and 850 W models in particular sport 100% high quality Japanese capacitors and four 6+2pin PCIe connectors for dual graphics support.

For further details along with individual product page links, head over to Thermaltakes website where the full press release resides. Were not yet made aware of pricing or exact dates of availability at this time.

Swine Flu survivors have boosted immunity, might lead to new Flu vaccine

The Swine Flu (H1N1) strain of influenza left a scar on the world when it struck two years ago. Many people, especially in Southeast Asia suffered from the pandemic. Though the spread of the infection was large, it is reported that only an estimated 18,000 died, out of the 6 million that were infected.

Researchers have discovered that a person's body develops a vast variety of influenza antibodies in response to the H1N1 virus. Though none of the antibodies produced actually fend against the H1N1 Flu strain, said antibodies are large amount in variety to fight off just about any other flu.

According to researchers, five types of the antibodies released are able to fight off the common seasonal influenza strains, as well as the Spanish Flu virus that killed as many as 50 million during the 1918 pandemic. The antibodies are also potent enough to fight off the potentially deadly H5N1 Bird Flu strain.

Researchers also say that the uniqueness of the Swine Flu strain is the main factor that triggers this response. The foreign Swine Flu strain makes the body create plenty of different antibodies (based on memory of previous flu encounters) in response, as it is unsure about the nature of the new flu strain.

Though progress made is promising, Oxford University's virus expert Dr. Sarah Gilbert says that a vaccine based on the H1N1 flu strain may take as long as up to five years to be widely available. Now, five years may seem like a long time, but considering that half a million people die yearly from the common flu, thevaccine is definitely worth the wait.

Source: io9

The Walking Dead rises in North American retails

If you are a fan of the AMC series, The Walking Dead, or anything to do with zombies,you’ll be happy to know the game based on the series is now available. Aptly named The Walking Dead, this new point and click RPG will be sure to excite those of us who love anything to do with killing zombies. Developed by Telltale games, the RPG will be based on episodes taken directly from the series with the same chronological timeline, however, new characters are introduced to the game.

Interestingly, your movements and decisions in the game will directly affect which way the games timeline will go. It will allow the user to interact with characters and things needed in order to survive, rather than puzzle solving. In a 2011 Entertainment Weekly interview, Robert Kirkman who developed the story for the comic stated that the game will be focusing more on character development.

“…One of the key aspects ofWalking Deadis it focuses on characters and the emotion,” said Kirkman. “And that theme is very much alive in the game, and luckily with modern games you can actually do that.”

The Walking Dead first appeared in comic form in 2003 by Image Comics. Written by Robert Kirkman, the story was based on the life and times of character, Rick Grimes. Grimes is forced to search for his family and other survivors of a zombie apocalypse that he awakes to while he is in a hospital. In 2010 AMC picked up the comic and turned it into a live action weekly series based on Kirkman’s concept in the comic. However, the TV series is a bit different and it doesn’t follow the character timeline quite in the same way.

The Walking Dead is filmed entirely in Atlanta, Georgia and is in its third season on AMC. Along with other zombie films and franchise, the series has been quite the ratings hit and has received numerous nominations and awards, which includes a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Television Series Drama. The season 3 premiere received nearly an 11 million-viewer count by Nielsen ratings, which is said to be the most viewed cable TV program in history.

Editors Note: The Walking Dead was previously only available through digital distribution. The boxed version of this title recently hit North American retails, and is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC for $29.99.