Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Well, it looks like the good times that are the Ubuntu alpha testing process hit a bit of a snag recently, as one of the latest kernels apparently had the nasty side effect of irreparably damaging some users’ hardware — specifically, certain Intel network cards. So far, it seems that only laptops have been affected by the bug, which corrupts the NVRAM used to store data like MAC addresses, but folks don’t seem to be ruling out the possibility that it could affect desktops as well. What’s more, while a warning has been added to the ISO download, it hasn’t been pulled altogether, with the only explanation given being that it would delay the 8.10 release schedule too much. Not entirely surprisingly, that has prompted at least a few folks to give up on testing alpha versions of the OS, at least until this whole thing gets sorted out.

[Thanks, JagsLive]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony’s Alpha A700 has been pleasing (or displeasing, we suppose), users for just over a year now, but those that have stuck with it in spite of a few issues can now smile brightly. Sony has just unleashed a firmware update for the DSLR which reportedly adds in an option to select auto exposure bracketing (single and continuous) with 3 shots in 2 EV steps and gives the choice to nix the High ISO NR feature. Furthermore, it supposedly improves the image quality in a high ISO setting, the auto white balance and D-Range Optimizer performance and the reliability for communication between camera body and vertical grip. Any owners out there care to give a shout on how their rig is performing post-update?

[Via DPReview]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Been saving all those pennies for something really special? If you’re a DSLR aficionado (or just general gadget lover), you’ve probably glanced in the general direction of Sony’s monster Alpha A900 DSLR. At a price-point of $2,999, this isn’t for everyone, but if you’re in the market for a full frame shooter with a handful of enviable features — you might want to turn your eyeballs in this direction.

[Thanks, Jose]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Apparently, not only is Sony’s fancy new full-frame DSLR — the A900 — showing up in ad leaks all across the interblogs, but it’s been caught with its lens cover down in real life. An eagle-eyed forum poster managed to snag shots of what appear to be the camera in action, taken in Belgium this August doing what it does best… snapping pictures. There’s not much more to say, but this should thoroughly whet your whistle for the model’s forthcoming introduction, which we can only imagine will be happening sometime around the upcoming Photokina.

[Via Digital Photography Review; Thanks, Douglas]

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Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

There are times when form overcomes any missteps in function, and we’d probably say this is one of those times. On the downside, Brionvega’s 19-inch Alpha LCD / DVD combo display tops out at 1,280 x 1,024 and obviously boasts a 4:3 aspect ratio, but it can be equipped with a digital DVB-T tuner. Beyond that, you’ll find a 1,200:1 contrast ratio, 350 nits of brightness, five-millisecond response time, 160-degree viewing angles and a small array of ports. There’s also a pair of three-watt stereo speakers in there, and the integrated DVD player even handles VCD, SVCD and MP3 discs. If you’ve found yourself overran with disposable income, you can grab yours in orange / silver / black for €1,950 ($3,016) and up.

[Via RetroToGo]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

For some, tossing around phrases like “live preview” and “flip-out swivel screen” would be enough to sell Sony’s Alpha A350, but we know you’re more discerning than that, right? Right. Truth be told, Sony’s feature-packed Alpha only turned out okay — not great — during a review session with the folks over at CNET. Still, the unit did offer a sturdy feel, a fantastically useful LCD monitor and satisfactory color / dynamic range. Unfortunately, the extra $200 or so you pay for 14-megapixels (over 10MP on the A300) wasn’t deemed worthwhile, as the extra processing “exacted a performance toll” in real-world use. The bottom line? These critics felt the Rebel XSi would be a better bet if you’re just looking for a nice resolution bump, but for the vast majority of folks, you’re likely better off snagging the A300 and putting your leftover dough towards a decent piece of glass.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Although the A200 has been on store shelves for a tick since its US debut at CES, we wouldn’t blame you for clutching that $700 / $900 tight until a handful of reviews hit the ‘net. Thankfully, that time has come, and here’s what we’re hearing. Overall, the highly anticipated successor to the A100 was deemed a “solid entry-level DSLR that doesn’t really stand out in its very competitive field,” but that’s not to say it’s not worth checking out. When viewed in isolation, most reviewers found the build quality, built-in image stabilization, battery life, dust reduction system and respectable image quality to be above average, but those already slinging an A100 will find very few reasons to upgrade. Still, critics on the whole found more to love than despise about Sony’s A200, so be sure and give those eyes a workout on the review links below if you’ve been fiddling with the idea of picking one up.

Read - PhotographyBLOG (4.5 out of 5; Highly Recommended)
Read - Steve’s Digicams (”…a worthy competitor in the entry-level market…”)
Read - CNET (7.0 out of 10; Very Good)
Read - Digital Camera Resource Page (”…reminded me a lot of my experiences with the Pentax K10D…”)

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We already spent some time grappling with Sony’s monster full-frame Alpha A900 prototype at PMA, but the company’s displaying an updated version at the Photo Imaging Expo in Japan, and reps are apparently now saying that the 24.6 megapixel DSLR will be launched during IFA in August or Photokina in September. Other than that, there’s not much we didn’t already know — which means there’s really not that much at all — but there are some more shots of this nifty clear-bodied display unit at the read link for your ocular delight.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We’re not sure why Sony didn’t give its 25 megapixel full-frame DSLR a name other than “Flagship,” but we can see why they’d want to invoke ocean-faring vessels when referring to this thing — it’s freaking huge. Check it out in the gallery below.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We knew they were coming, and here they are — say hello to Sony’s Alpha A300 and A350. The 10.2 megapixel A300 and 14.2 megapixel A350 are just as we’d heard, with flip-out 2.7-inch swivel screens and live preview that retains the ability to autofocus. The CompactFlash DSLRs also go up to ISO3200, and feature burst modes of 3fps (A300) and 2.5fps (A350). Both cams will hit in April, the A300 with a 18-70mm kit lens for $800, and the A350 in a $900 kit or an $800 body-only package. There are also a couple new lenses, but no word of the mysterious A900 yet.

Read - Alpha A300 and A350
Read - New Alpha lenses

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

With just days to go until PMA, it looks like security’s starting to slip a little bit — a little creative sonystyle.com URL trickery led Beline at the Dyxum forums to images of those Sony A300 and A350 DSLRs we’d heard about. The A300 is an update to the A200, adding in live preview and a flip-out swivel screen, while the A350 looks like it’ll be a 14.2 megapixel unit and probably includes live preview and the swivel screen as well. We’re hearing that an A900 is also in the works, but that’s a just a whisper — looks like there might be some surprises in store this week after all.

Update: Tons more pictures here, for the curious.

[Thanks, Mike]

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Filed under: Desktops

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/hardware/HP_Blackbird_002_alpha_hits_with_intel_core_2_quad_processor’; Drop five grand on a HP Blackbird yet? Good, that means you don’t have to start crying right now, because HP just unveiled its “best of the best” alpha system, complete with a Core 2 Extreme QX9650 processor, for a cool $5,499. There’s also a PhysX card inside, and Dual CrossFire ATI Radeon X2900 XT 1GB graphics, but you still have to spring a few more hundies if you want Vista Ultimate and 4GB of ram — Home Premium and 2GB come standard. Oh, and you’ll also be thoroughly depressed the moment HP unveils some sort of “alpha alpha” system with that upcoming QX9770 processor inside. Good thing everything’s upgradeable.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Unfortunately, details are still thin on this one, but apparently Sony is looking to introduce not one, but three new DSLRs next year. At a recent press event at Sonimagfoto in Barcelona, Spain, it was reported that the firm is hoping to crank out an all new flagship model, a true A100 successor and another flavor that’s likely to hit at a lower price point than its higher-end Alpha siblings. Additionally, it’s looking to increase its lens collection from around 24 to 40 within the next two years, many of which will be new designs from Carl Zeiss. Beyond that, we’re simply left to speculate, so be our guests in comments, would ya?

[Thanks, Jakob G.]

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