Lenovo launches a netbook

Lenovo has announced its entry into the "netbook" market. The Linux-based IdeaPad S9 and Windows-XP-based S10 feature 8.9- and 10-inch displays, respectively, plus 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processors, 1.3 megapixel webcams, 802.11b/g wireless networking, and up to 160GB of storage, says the company.
Lenovo, best-known for the business-oriented ThinkPad product line it acquired from IBM, launched its consumer-focused IdeaPad product line in January of this year. The new IdeaPad S9 and S10 now extend this line down in both price and size. For example, the S10 measures just 9.8 x 7.2 x 1.08 inches, and will start at approximately $400 in the U.S.

The basic recipe is similar to other netbooks, starting with Intel's 22mm x 22mm, 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor. The N270 has a 533MHz FSB and 512KB L2 cache, and it operates with the 945GSE chipset, which gives devices based on it enhanced graphics and power-saving capabilities, according to Intel.

Like netbook pioneers such as Asus, with its Eee, Lenovo offers its S9 version of the device with an 8.9 inch screen, 4GB of solid-state storage, and, for "certain overseas markets," a version of Linux (Linpus, in this case -- also Acer's distribution of choice for its Aspire One netbook).

For the U.S., Lenovo's sole netbook is the S10, featuring Windows XP Home Edition, a 10.2 inch screen, and 80GB or 160GB of hard disk storage. In this configuration, it competes squarely with other devices such as MSI's Wind NB U100, and Acer's Aspire
The S10 -- and presumably the S9, though Lenovo did not release separate details -- includes a keyboard that's "85 percent of full size," and a case that comes in white, black, or a red-and-white combo. It includes an LED-backlit screen, a 10/100 Ethernet port, 802.11b/g wireless networking, a VGA port, and a "4-in-1" card reader (possibly supporting SD, MMC, Memory Stick, and Memory Stick Pro formats, although these were not specified). The device offers 512GB of RAM on 80GB configurations, and 1GB of RAM on 160Gb versions.

Like many netbooks, the S10 is available with either three-cell or six-cell batteries, providing a claimed life of either three or six hours, respectively. And, like HP's HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, it also includes an Express Card expansion slot, likely useable with third-party cellular modems. The S10 also offers optional Bluetooth, according to Lenovo.

Lenovo claims the IdeaPad S10 netbook has been engineered to reduce the heat emitted on key contact areas, such as the bottom of the PC, the palm rest, and the keyboard. Additionally, an included "OneKey Rescue System" utility is said to help users recover data at the touch of a button should a system error or virus occur.

Features and specifications listed by Lenovo for the IdeaPad S10 include:

• Processor -- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
  
• Memory -- 512MB or 1GB of RAM (rumored to be expandable to 2GB, though not confirmed by Lenovo)
  
• Display -- 10.2-inch display (S10); 8.9-inch display (S9)
  
• Storage -- 4GB solid state drive, 80GB hard drive, or 160GB hard drive
  
• Camera -- 1.3 megapixel
  
• Networking:
  • LAN -- 1 x 10/100 Ethernet
    
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g wireless
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth (optional)
    
• Other I/O:
  • 2 x USB
    
  • 1 x VGA
• Expansion:
  • Four-in-one card reader
    
  • Express Card slot
• Battery type/life:
  • three-cell, three hours
    
  • six-cell, six hours
• Dimensions -- 9.8 x 7.2 x 1.08 inches
  
• Weight -- 2.4 pounds (S10, with three-cell battery)

Bling it on with vBling

In keeping with its youthful image, Virgin Mobile has introduced the vBling offer; a combination of the vBling handset and perks such as lifetime validity plus prepaid connection -- at an affordable price.

vBling adds bling with a stylish mirror finish; it's a dual-display clam shell of size 85 by 44 by 18mm with a 65K color 128 x 128 pixels 1.52-inches main display, and a 96 x 64 pixels sub-display. The vBling comes with a speaker phone, FM Radio, 32 polyphonic ring tones, and 500 contacts in the phone book. vBling also offers one-touch access to Virgin Mobile's suite of value-added services (VAS).

Apart from the handset itself, the highlight is that it comes with a bundled offer that includes a lifetime validity voucher and a prepaid connection (at an affordable price).

Speaking at the launch, P Madhavan, chief sales and distribution officer of Virgin Mobile India said the new handset had a perfect blend of style, substance, and competitive pricing, just right for the style-conscious youth of today.

vBling is available across 15,000 outlets nationally, and over 1,000 modern retail outlets including The Mobile Store, Univercell, Croma, Convergem, Big C, Vishal Mega Mart, Vijay Sales, and Sangeetha to name a few. The handset will also be available at 34 kiosks in high-traffic malls across the country. The handset and the bundled offer come for a price tag of Rs 2,199.

Newest Sony Ericsson Cyber Shot in India

Sony Ericsson is out with its latest Cyber Shot, the C902.

The slide-out lens cover of the C902 opens to reveal its 5 mega pixels camera with 16x zoom, auto-focus, and face detection. There are eight illuminated camera touch-keys allowing users to select between camera modes, photo flash, face detection, auto-focus, etc, without having to remove their fingers from the shutter button.

he photo features of the new Cyber Shot include photo flash for low-light conditions, BestPic for clicking nine photos in quick succession, x-pict story for creating a slide-show, and so on. Users can add music and transitions to the photos to automatically create multimedia slide-shows.

Cyber Shot C902 is available in two color options -- Swift Black and Luscious Red. It is priced at Rs 20,995.