<![CDATA[[MobileRatty] tag: blu-ray]]> http://mobileratty.com/tag/blu-ray Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:30:11 +0000 iRatty Engine http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[A Round-Up of Three Dimensional Tourbillons]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/4aecd97154f2f1421756a42c12287e0d http://mobileratty.com/article/4aecd97154f2f1421756a42c12287e0d
by Alex Doak (exclusively for The Watchismo Times)

Definitive List #1: Tourbillons in space, space, pace, ace, ace…!

There nothing quite like a definitive list of stuff to warm the cockles of a straightforward, slightly obsessive bloke such as myself (or “multi-talented bloke” as certain blog proprietors would naïvely have it…). Much like Nick Hornby’s central character in High Fidelity, I find little else more satisfying than pigeonholing the components of my obsession – in this case watches of course, as opposed to pop songs – into their discrete subsets and arranging things appropriately in chronological, alphabetical, autobiographical, or even aesthetical fashion.

So for Definitive List #1, by way of background, let’s kick off proceedings by listing every tourbillon ever made to date…. No, stupid idea. What about bi-axial tourbillons, then? That’s easier – but still long-winded. Why, there’s Thomas Prescher’s Torkel pocket watch; Franck Muller’s Revolution 2; Jean Dunand’s Tourbillon Orbital; Blu’s Majesty Tourbillon; anything by Greubel Forsey; Panerai’s misplaced new entry to the world of manufacture movements, P.2005; the similar ‘tumbling’ cage mechanism at the heart of HD3’s Vulcania; Girard-Perregaux’s huge SIHH 2008 launch, the imaginatively titled “Bi-Axial Tourbillon”… My quasi-OCD tendencies are nagging at me to complete the list, but that’s no fun. As James Gurney noted in QP’s editorial last year, in reference to Michael Balfour’s joyous new “Cult Watches” book, there’s nothing quite like a list to inspire controversy. Tell your readers that the Swiss watch industry is a cynical, PR-fed cartel, and nothing. On the other hand, dare to omit Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Gyrotourbillon from a list of two-axis tourbillons and watch all hell break loose. (See? I didn’t forget it!)

So, in descending chronological order, here’s my definitive list of three-dimensional, or rather triple-axis tourbillons – with one notable deliberately left out. Send answers->here. The prize is the pride.*

1. Aaron Becsei’s Primus, unveiled this year at the AHCI stand at Baselworld. An extraordinary achievement for someone born in 1979. Puts your life’s work in perspective don’t it…?

2. “TAT”, from Thomas Prescher’s Trilogy – you get a single-axis and double-axis wristwatch in the bargain too! Another sickeningly youthful prodigy.

3. Revolution 3 – much prettier in the flesh than Franck Muller’s perpetually hideous CAD images imply.


4. Richard Good’s carriage clock (Prescher’s inspiration).

Tourbillons rotating in space are not a new thing though. As far back as 1860, American watchmaker Albert Potter constructed a tourbillon with an inclined balance for a carriage clock.
 German watchmaker Walter Prendel drew inspiration from the master horologer Alfred Helwig and tried again in 1928 to place the tourbillon in space, this time in a pocket watch. The balance spring and rotor was inclined 30 degrees from the horizontal and made one rotation in six minutes. In 1980, English watchmaker Anthony Randall – up there with Derek Pratt, Daniels, Dufour et al. – patented the first tourbillon with two perpendicular axes. Over 20 years later, Richard Danners developed a double-axis tourbillon in a large 55mm pocket watch for Gübelin.

*and yes, this does conveniently let me off the hook for not researching thoroughly enough…

Other notables for consideration;

Girard Perregaux Bi-Axial Tourbillon

Greubel Forsey's Quadruple Tourbillon à Différentiel

Blu's Majesty MT3 Tourbillon

Richard Daner for Gubelin

Jaeger LeCoultre's Reverso Tourbillon


]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:29:00 +0000 tourbillon tourbillon orbital bi-axial tourbillon majesty mt3 tourbillon tourbillons majesty tourbillon double-axis tourbillon list definitive list A Round-Up of Three Dimensional Tourbillons <![CDATA[Is Sony Ericsson Headed for Splitsville?]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/e27e92ae54462edb28071675a93a1a43 http://mobileratty.com/article/e27e92ae54462edb28071675a93a1a43 According to Reuters, Sony's joint venture with cell phone maker Ericsson must do better.

Asked whether Sony is planning to end its Sony Ericsson joint venture, Sony head honcho Howard Stringer said: "It's certainly been a difficult year but buying out a partner is never an easy thing."

Sony lowered its group net profit forecast for the year to March by 17 percent, citing a slump at Sony Ericsson and weakening prospects for its electronics division amid tough price competition.

"We have to work together again as we did two years ago. Or the joint venture will have to find its own solution," Stringer said.

He added that it was hard for a company to be as nimble as possible when it works in a joint venture.

Are the bells starting to toll?  And will that be the last ring tone from Sony Ericsson?

Lots more here.

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]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:22:55 +0000 sony ericsson sony ericsson sony ps3 joint venture gadgets blog aug gadgets blog home jul Is Sony Ericsson Headed for Splitsville? <![CDATA[Is Sony Ericsson Headed for Splitsville?]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/e6f62b12b161ed834674d89699841488 http://mobileratty.com/article/e6f62b12b161ed834674d89699841488 According to Reuters, Sony's joint venture with cell phone maker Ericsson must do better.

Asked whether Sony is planning to end its Sony Ericsson joint venture, Sony head honcho Howard Stringer said: "It's certainly been a difficult year but buying out a partner is never an easy thing."

Sony lowered its group net profit forecast for the year to March by 17 percent, citing a slump at Sony Ericsson and weakening prospects for its electronics division amid tough price competition.

"We have to work together again as we did two years ago. Or the joint venture will have to find its own solution," Stringer said.

He added that it was hard for a company to be as nimble as possible when it works in a joint venture.

Are the bells starting to toll?  And will that be the last ring tone from Sony Ericsson?

Lots more here.

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]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:22:55 +0000 sony ericsson sony ericsson sony ps3 joint venture gadgets blog aug gadgets blog home jul Is Sony Ericsson Headed for Splitsville? <![CDATA[Is Sony Ericsson Headed for Splitsville?]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/5d4841660030f09e4d62bbd3091ef420 http://mobileratty.com/article/5d4841660030f09e4d62bbd3091ef420 According to Reuters, Sony's joint venture with cell phone maker Ericsson must do better.

Asked whether Sony is planning to end its Sony Ericsson joint venture, Sony head honcho Howard Stringer said: "It's certainly been a difficult year but buying out a partner is never an easy thing."

Sony lowered its group net profit forecast for the year to March by 17 percent, citing a slump at Sony Ericsson and weakening prospects for its electronics division amid tough price competition.

"We have to work together again as we did two years ago. Or the joint venture will have to find its own solution," Stringer said.

He added that it was hard for a company to be as nimble as possible when it works in a joint venture.

Are the bells starting to toll?  And will that be the last ring tone from Sony Ericsson?

Lots more here.

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]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:22:55 +0000 sony ericsson sony ericsson sony ps3 sony laptops joint venture gadgets blog aug gadgets blog home Is Sony Ericsson Headed for Splitsville? <![CDATA[Everything in the World's Going Wireless]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/525c28770214b68d7c94ba7d1dc27468 http://mobileratty.com/article/525c28770214b68d7c94ba7d1dc27468 Fachbesucherempfang.jpgIn Singapore, the Dutch consumer electronics maker Philips is designing a multimedia server to stream audio and video through the air, from the Internet to any device in the home.

In Munich, a former unit of Siemens envisions a cordless phone that would double as a music player, wirelessly drawing music from home computers.

In Japan, members of Sony's global "digital home team" are redesigning 90% of the company's home electronics components to connect wirelessly to the Internet by 2011.

Across the consumer electronics industry, the leading players are revamping their audio and video equipment for a future centered around the Internet, a world in which televisions, stereos, computers -- even kitchen appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators -- can communicate with each other over a wireless home network.

Some industry executives say the new focus on Internet content and wireless networks reflects a fundamental shift in home entertainment. 

Expanded lines of "networked entertainment equipment" took center stage this week at the Internationale Funkausstellung in Berlin, the largest consumer electronics convention in Europe, with 1,200 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors.

Sony is introducing plug-in adapters to enable some of its Bravia television sets to connect to the Internet wirelessly. Philips is demonstrating a line of hard-disc stereo systems that can wirelessly read and play music stored on personal computers or laptops in other rooms, streaming music selectively through the house.

Pioneer, Samsung and Sharp are presenting flat-panel TVs that hook up to the Internet, some with wires, some without. Hewlett Packard's MediaSmart LCD TV will wirelessly stream high-definition video. 

More at the International Herald Tribune.

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]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:02:55 +0000 wireless home home computers team digital home team wireless home network home electronics components internet wirelessly wirelessly Everything in the World's Going Wireless <![CDATA[What Economy? TV Sales Surge Anyway]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/d387ef5c7da407576f723a2917ee4f55 http://mobileratty.com/article/d387ef5c7da407576f723a2917ee4f55 TV shipments for North America hit record growth levels in the second quarter, despite a weaker U.S. economy.

According to research firm DisplaySearch, TV shipments rose 28% compared to the same quarter last year to more than 9.3 million units, marking the strongest quarterly results since the research firm began tracking TV shipments in 2004.  

(No money to go out, so let's spend more time on the couch ...)

Samsung was the leading brand for the quarter, with a record share of approximately 19% of all TV unit shipments in North America, and Sony took the No. 2 spot. Vizio also saw strong gains in PDP market share, ranking it the No. 3 supplier in total TV shipments.

LCD and plasma TV technologies both had strong sequential gains over the first quarter this year of 30% and 35%, respectively, with PDP growth influenced by strong initial shipments of Vizio's 32-inch HD PDPs and LCD growth also very strong at 32 inches (that's one of them above).

LCD TV shipments rose a stronger-than-expected 52% over the second quarter last year, to nearly 7.5 million units. Much of the growth came from small- to midrange screen sizes, such as 19-inch, 22-inch and 32-inch models, where price points are lower and easier on family budgets. 

Get more at TWICE.

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]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:12:40 +0000 tv plasma tv technologies tv sales surge lcd tv shipments tv unit shipments plasma tv total tv shipments lcd tv shipments What Economy? TV Sales Surge Anyway <![CDATA[What Economy? TV Sales Surge Anyway]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/8711d11bf48ad423c22a13477f37c326 http://mobileratty.com/article/8711d11bf48ad423c22a13477f37c326 TV shipments for North America hit record growth levels in the second quarter, despite a weaker U.S. economy.

According to research firm DisplaySearch, TV shipments rose 28% compared to the same quarter last year to more than 9.3 million units, marking the strongest quarterly results since the research firm began tracking TV shipments in 2004.  

(No money to go out, so let's spend more time on the couch ...)

Samsung was the leading brand for the quarter, with a record share of approximately 19% of all TV unit shipments in North America, and Sony took the No. 2 spot. Vizio also saw strong gains in PDP market share, ranking it the No. 3 supplier in total TV shipments.

LCD and plasma TV technologies both had strong sequential gains over the first quarter this year of 30% and 35%, respectively, with PDP growth influenced by strong initial shipments of Vizio's 32-inch HD PDPs and LCD growth also very strong at 32 inches (that's one of them above).

LCD TV shipments rose a stronger-than-expected 52% over the second quarter last year, to nearly 7.5 million units. Much of the growth came from small- to midrange screen sizes, such as 19-inch, 22-inch and 32-inch models, where price points are lower and easier on family budgets. 

Get more at TWICE.

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]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:12:40 +0000 tv plasma tv technologies tv sales surge lcd tv shipments tv unit shipments plasma tv total tv shipments lcd tv shipments What Economy? TV Sales Surge Anyway <![CDATA[PlayStation Home Beta Up for Grabs]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/765058f3e7524b41a9829070384c518f http://mobileratty.com/article/765058f3e7524b41a9829070384c518f PlayStation Store will reportedly be updated with the addition of the PlayStation Home theme.

By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community. This will be an inside experience test driving something that could be very cool -- and your input will help make it so.

Sony will be using a variety of criteria, including activity on the PlayStation Network, to determine who is eligible for the Beta community. 

Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta.

Interested? Check it out here.

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]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:14:38 +0000 playstation home beta beta playstation home playstation playstation home theme theme playstation store sony ps3 boo-boo sony PlayStation Home Beta Up for Grabs <![CDATA[Dells Studio Hybrid]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/1b1cf42df32e0a3025743cb55fa011bf http://mobileratty.com/article/1b1cf42df32e0a3025743cb55fa011bf dell_hybrid_front.JPG

dell_hybrid_slot_load_cd.JPG

Dell’s smallest computer is boasted as the greenest! Made from recycled material this little computer is quite capable. More flexible than a typical PC, the Dell Studio Hybrid is an anywhere-you-want-it-desktop. Our smallest desktop, it looks great in the living room, on the desk, or anywhere else space is at a premium. And because sleeves are available in 6 colors or Bamboo, you know it’ll match your sense of style. Plus, it uses energy-efficient Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Mobile Processors, so you can enjoy its power while helping to preserve the planet.

Features

  • Personalize with 6 interchangeable color sleeves or bamboo
  • Ultra-compact design with Intel mobile technology performance
  • Features include slot-load DVD, HDMI, and optional Blu-rayTM
  • Dell’s greenest, most power-efficient consumer desktop

The back’s got connectors for HTPC functions.
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Colors for your life style
dell_hybrid_colors.JPG

Introducing the new Studio Hybrid desktop starting at only $499!

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]]> Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:03:05 +0000 power-efficient consumer desktop desktop dells sleeves power studio hybrid desktop interchangeable color sleeves life style dell studio hybrid Dells Studio Hybrid <![CDATA[Is Now the Time for e-Book Readers?]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/0cb07d0448a1d5fe06f408632e71fb08 http://mobileratty.com/article/0cb07d0448a1d5fe06f408632e71fb08 Sony ReaderPRS505SC.jpgWith Sony announcing today that its Reader Digital Book will be able to read electronic books published using the .epub format -- the same that many of the largest book publishers are using -- ring in a new age for e-books?

Until now, Sony's e-book reader could only read books available from the Sony e-book store, PDF documents and digital rights management (DRM)-free text.

Starting next month, the new PRS-505 Sony Reader will be able to access secure DRM- and non-DRM-protected content in the .epub format, formerly called the Open eBook format.

The Sony Reader Digital Book is the first e-book reading device to support the .epub format, which is the XML-based standard format proposed by the International Digital Publishing Forum. It allows publishers to convert books to different formats, protect the copy using DRM and adds the ability to resize PDF e-books and other text to better fit the reader's screen size.

Such publishers as Harper Collins, Random House, Simon & Schuster and Penguin are offering texts in the .epub format.

CNet has more on this development here.


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]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:30:11 +0000 sony ps3 boo-boo sony e-book sony e-book store e-book readers ebook format ebook prs-505 sony reader reader Is Now the Time for e-Book Readers?