Sony DSC-HX1

Sony has introduced a superzoom compact featuring the company's newly-developed high-speed 9 Mp Exmor CMOS sensor. Sporting a 28-560mm (35mm-equivalent) 20x zoom lens, the DSC-HX1 is capable of up to 10 frames per second in burst mode using a high-speed mechanical shutter. The new sensor also enables high definition movie capture up to 1080/30p, with sound captured by a built-in stereo microphone. The specification is rounded off by 'Optical Steady Shot' image stabilization, a 3" LCD, an ISO range up to 3200 and a wide array of scene modes and face detection options. There's also an interesting 'sweep panorama' mode that automatically stitches multiple frames in-camera to give one ultra-wide view.

Specs:

Sensor	• 1/2.4" Exmor CMOS Sensor • 9.1 million effective pixel • 10.3 million effective pixel
Image sizes	• 3456 x 2592 • 3456 x 2304 • 3456 x 1944 • 3648 x 2056 • 2048 x 1536 • 1920 x 1080 • 640 X 480
Image sizes (Panorama)	• 7152 x 1080 • 4912 x 1080 • 4912 x 1920 • 3424 x 1920
Movie clips	• 1440 x 1080 (30fps) • 1280 x 720 (30fps) • 640x480 (30fps)
File formats	• Still Image : JPEG (EXIF 2.2), DPOF v1.1, DCF v2.0, MPF baseline • Movie Clip : mp4, MPEG4
Lens	• Sony G lens • 28-560mm equiv. • 20x Optical zoom • f = 5.0-100.0mm • F2.8(W)-5.2(T)
Conversion lenses	Yes, Tele:VCL-HD1757 (Optional)
Digital zoom	Approx. 40x
Image Stabalisation	Optical SteadyShot
Focus	Auto focus, Semi-Manual, Manual
AF area modes	Intelligent
Focus Mode	• Multi • Centre • Flexible Spot
Focus distance	• Normal :W:Approx.1cm(0.03') to Infinity, T:Approx.150cm(4.92') to Infinity • Macro: W: Approx.1cm(0.03') to Infinity, T:Approx.150cm(4.92') to Infinity
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 125 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200
Metering modes	• Multi • Centre • Spot
Shuttter speed	• Auto(2 sec- 1/4,000) • Program Auto(1 sec- 1/4,000) • Manual(30" - 1/4,000)
Aperture	• Auto (F2.8./F8.0(W), • Program auto (F2.8/F8.0(W) • Manual( F2.8/F8.0(W)
Shooting modes	• Mode dial: Intelligent Auto, P Auto, easy, SCN, movie, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual • Scene: High Sensitivity, Twilight, Twilight portrait, Landscape, Snow, Beach, Fire works, Sports, gourmet, ASports, handheld Twilight, Anti-Motion Blur, Sweep Panorama
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Fluorescent • Fluorescent 2 • Fluorescent 3 • Incandescent • Flash • Custom
Self timer	• Off • 10sec • 2sec
Continous Shooting	Approx. 10.0 fps(10 shots)
Flash	• Modes :Auto, Flash On, Slow Syncro, Flash Off • Red Eye Reduction : Auto, On, Off • Range : ISO Auto: Approx.0.3-Approx.9.2m(W) Approx.1.5-Approx.5.1m (T)
LCD monitor	• 3.0 inch TFT LCD • approx. 230,400 pixels
Digital input/output	• USB 2.0 High Speed • Multi-use terminal Type2d
Video output	• HD(1080i) • Composite • NTSC/ PAL
Storage	• Internal memory (Approx. 11 MB) • Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/ Pro HG Duo
Power	InfoLITHIUM H type 6.8V
Weight (no batt)	Approx. 453g (16oz.)
Dimensions	115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4 5/8" x 3 3/8" x 3 5/8")

iPhone OS 3.0

Apple has just debuted its upcoming iPhone OS 3.0. Much of the news seemed developer-centric, but there are certainly plenty of consumer implications down the road, along with long-awaited functions like copy and paste, A2DP, MMS and universal Spotlight search. Improvements include:

App and developer functionality

• Peer-to-peer connectivity over Bluetooth for gaming and other info-swapping.
• Paid apps will have the potential to be subscription fee-based, and can include optional paid content that can be bought from right inside the app.
• Developers can now build apps that call out to Google Maps, and can also finally bring Apple-blessed turn-by-turn to the phone.
• Devs can also connect with hardware accessories over in their apps now, such as a blood pressure monitor -- or perhaps a keyboard? Connectivity works through the dock connector or over Bluetooth.
  
• Long-promised push functionality will at last be included, but apps won't run in the background.
• Developers can add streaming video and audio to their apps, along with in-game voice use.

General functionality

• Cut, copy and paste. At last! You can shake the phone to undo and redo the action, and it works with both text and photos, allowing Mail to send multiple photos at a time.
  
• MMS, along with forward and delete for multiple messages.
  
• A2DP stereo Bluetooth.
• Unlocked Bluetooth functionality on 2G iPod touch.
  
• Spotlight has been added to a new home screen page to the left of existing pages, allowing for universal search on the phone.
  
• Tethering is built into 3.0, and Apple will work with carriers on that -- who will have the last say on its implementation, most likely.
• App Store will be available in 77 countries.
• Parental controls for TV shows, movies and App Store apps.
• Auto-login for WiFi hotspots.

Apple apps

• A new app called Voice Memos which lets you record notes and reminders.
• A revised Stocks app, with news stories and a landscape view.
• Landscape view available for Mail, Text and Notes.
  
• CalDAV support has been added to Calendar, along with subscriptions support in the .ics format.
  
• Apple's major apps have all been expanded with search functionality.
• Note syncing to Mac and PC.
• YouTube account support.
• Form auto-fill.
• Phishing protection.
• Shake the shuffle iPod playback.

A developer beta of OS 3.0 is available now, and the 3.0 update will be coming to consumers this summer as a free update to all iPhone 3G customers. It'll also work for 1st gen iPhone owners, though they won't receive A2DP or MMS due to hardware limitations. iPod touch owners will be able to update for $9.95.