When I stop and look back over the past several days, this has been an awesome week for slick new product announcements...it feels like Christmas is already here! Did everyone try to get their product introductions in time for my birthday to make it hard for me to choose? ;-)

The Kindle is on Fire!
Amazon has announced an update to their color tablet offering called the Kindle Fire HD. This new version is available in both Wi-Fi and 4G LTE configurations. And while Amazon plans to go head-to-head with the Apple offerings, their primary strategy on the original Fire was to compete on price but these new tablets also appear to be focused on technology, loads of content and advanced features. Comparisons between this new Fire HD and the iPad will constantly pop up and rightfully so. When you look at who can provide the full value proposition (content, distribution and platform)...it really lands on Apple's and Amazon's capabilities to deliver the broadest range of services.

From a hardware perspective, the first thing you will notice is the new HD tablet is smaller and lighter than an iPad with its smaller 8.9" display running at a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels or 254 pixels per inch. This display is an inch smaller than the Apple offering but essentially has the same pixel density for clearly rendered graphics and text. The Fire HD also has a very impressive array of processing and communications hardware to keep you on the leading-edge of tablet computing. At its heart, it is still an Android tablet but with Amazon's dedicated wrapper, app and content e-store.

But at the end of the day, Amazon still plans to compete on price. We are talking about a 16 gigabyte Wi-Fi version ($299) which is $200 cheaper than a similarly configured iPad 3. But the killer surprise is the $50 annual wireless carrier pricing on their fully-loaded Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE ($499 for the 32 giga-byte) edition.

There is some new content/application support announced by several development organizations but the superior content library of apps is still on Apple's iTune.

Paperwhite Kindle
Amazon also announced this week the introduction of the most advanced e-reader in the marketplace. This new Paperwhite Kindle offers an entirely new high-resolution, bright white display that is also backlit for reading in darker environments.

For those simply looking for a lightweight e-reader for consuming your book and publication reading...this is a wonderful advancement and well worth a look. There is a Wi-Fi version available for as little at $119 and a no-cost 3G cellular version that starts at $179.

Note: There are two versions of each...the lower priced edition has "Special Offers" promotional advertising on it and for an additional $20 you can get rid of the on-screen ads.

Sony's New CyberShot DSC-RX1
I have regularly extolled the merits of larger camera sensors, especially full-frame sensors (an imaging chip the same size as the old 35mm film) and how most cameras except for the professional Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras tend to have much smaller sensors. The camera marketing and product folks have regularly confused the consumer by announcing large 10+ mega-pixel statements about their cameras but fail to discuss how small each of those pixels really are and thus resulting in lower quality imagery. Don't get me wrong, a decent number of megapixels is important but the size of the sensor can really dictate the quality of the capture.

The big issue challenging the camera industry is that phones are able to take a "good enough" picture on most occasions. And thus it is proving hard to justify the need to purchase or carry another camera. Truth be told, I have been seeing more and more people toting around DSLR cameras as those at least offer a major step up from the camera in their phone. But the camera manufacturers are finally catching on. In the past they have held the full-frame sensor for their top-of-the-line cameras costing $1,000's of dollar. But we are starting to see those old-school walls begin to crack and the all-mighty full-frame and its slightly smaller cousin the APS-C sensor showing up in smaller and more convenient packaging.

The latest is Sony's "big" announcement of the DSC-RX1. The camera features a 24 mega-pixel full-frame sensor, a fixed 35mm F2 (equals very fast and bright) lens and a extremely fast focusing mechanism. Quite simply, this is the smallest full-frame camera that fits in the palm of your hand and not surprising...with all that tech in a small size...comes a very big price :-) This small, professional camera is clocking in at a suggested retail of $2,800!

Sony Alpha NEX-6
Okay, that last Sony threw you for a loop with sticker shock. Yeah, I can totally understand that. So let's look at another product Sony announced this week as the latest addition to their NEX small interchangeable lens cameras. The NEX-6 is a 16 mega-pixel (APS-C sensor) camera that features built-in Wi-Fi, in-camera apps and a 3-inch, ultra-bright OLED back-panel display.

While not pocketable, these cameras offer a good-sized APS-C sensor (next size down from a full-frame but still produces excellent image quality) and interchangeable lens in a much more compact package than a full DSLR. And this NEX-6 fits near the top of the product line with includes the NEX-F3, 5N and 7 with a price just shy of $1,000 with an included 16-50mm zoom lens.

Nikon D600
While still in the realm of cameras, Nikon announced its smallest DSLR that includes a full-frame sensor clearly targeting someone interested in high-quality pictures but not approaching professional or even semi-professional status. The D600 features a 24 mega-pixel resolution, 39-point auto-focusing system and the ability to record 1080p high-definition video at up to 30 frames a second.

This latest Nikon is an impressive camera and has the benefit of leveraging the substantial library of quality lens available for Nikon full-frame and APS-C systems. Expect to pay around $2,700 for the camera body and the 24-85mm zoom lens.

Apple iPhone 5 and new iPods
What would a week of cool new product introductions be without some nice new Apple gear to round things out? What about a bigger, badder and thinner iPhone? How does that sound? Well we are getting all that with the new iPhone 5. A 4-inch Retina display with 326 pixels per inch that provides 18% more pixels while maintaining the same width as the iPhone 4s to make it still easy to hold.

The new iPhone is 18% thinner (7.6mm) and 20% lighter (112 grams) than the 4s. And the new iPhone is fast. It's new A6 CPU is twice as fast as the A5 which helps with launching apps, loading larger file attachments and even surfing the web. Even your network is faster...leveraging the latest 4G LTE cellular networks.

RANT WARNING: There has been a lot of "noise" out there in the media that the iPhone 5 was not an "innovation" and they start talking about how the Samsung Galaxy S3 is more innovative. I do agree that the iPhone has similar styling to the 4 and 4s and the S3 is an all-new slick design. But that is about where the "innovation" of the S3 stops. I know Samsung/Android fans will mention how the Near-Field Communications (NFC) aka: tapping to share capability is cool but it has very little support in the universe and I can understand why Apple didn't jump to support it...yet. Seriously, I use both Android and Apple devices and the focus should be on "great design" and this is where Apple has everyone beat. The eco-system of iTunes, AppStore, AirPlay, iCloud and iOS 6...let alone the introduction of the thinnest smartphone in the world is light-years ahead of any competitor. And it is evolving at an amazing pace with the largest active development and consumer marketplace for digital assets.

The biggest "gotcha" in the new iPhone is it's new Lightning connector that replaces the traditional iPod plug we have used for years. Apple needed to make this move to allow the iPhone to get thinner. Apple is offering adapters to allow you to still use most of your current peripherals.


Apple also updated their iPod line-up in time for the holidays. We have a colorful array including a new iPod Touch that takes advantage of the iPhone 5's 4-inch Retina display and iOS6 updates. Apple is sticking with the A5 processor. We also have a completely redesigned Nano that is roughly the same size as a credit card and just 5.4mm thick. It features a 2.5-inch multi-touch display and is available in seven different colors. The new Nano gains Bluetooth 4.0 as well as new EarPods which is Apple new earbuds that they claim rivals high-end headphones as a pack-in.

Nintendo Wii U
I've covered the introduction of the Wii U earlier this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Well, Nintendo has come forth this week with launch details including pricing, configurations and game details.

The Wii U is a unique product that comes with the traditional console you hook up to your TV. You get a "second-screen" tablet-like controller (GamePad) and can use the original Wii's controllers. It is available in two models. A Black (Deluxe = $350) configuration with 32 gigabytes of storage, the GamePad and a copy of the NintendoLand videogame which is a set of 12 mini-games. The White (Standard - $300) version includes 8 gigabytes of storage, the GamePad but no game and no stands/cradles for the devices.

A novel capability is Nintendo TVii allowing you to find watch TV content on your GamePad. You can search across Wii U Video Entertainment (Netflix, YouTube and Hulu), TV channels and your own TiVo DVR. Now the storage on these devices does seem a bit anemic but Nintendo announced you can "add your own USB hard drive"! This is a positive direction and hopefully other console providers will follow suit.

Nintendo announced 50 titles at launch but here is where things get a bit off track. Yes, there is a slim few Nintendo first-party titles but Mario Bros. U looks promising, NintendoLand is pretty cool and Luigi's Mansion 2 was a welcome late announcement. Lego City should be a hit for the console also. But most of the other titles are already released on Xbox 360 or PS3. I am sure there is a large community of players that only had a Wii and this new platform seems to open up a world of opportunity (more action titles) for them but those of you with the latest Microsoft or Sony platform might not need to rush out and get this console...not just yet.

The Nintendo Wii U will launch on November 18th, 2012. The Black version preorders seems to be sold out from most of the online stores at this time. You'll have too keep an eye out if you want to pick one up.

Conclusion
Pretty exciting week...huh? I am jazzed. I already ordered my iPhone 5, didn't pull the trigger on the Wii U but will probably pick one up at some point and I really think the Paperwhite Kindle is pretty sweet. I didn't mention the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 because it was announce two weeks ago but I do think that it is a slick piece of hardware and bordered on warranting a mention :-)

Before I jump to the obvious stuff (Apple gear), let us comb the rest of the universe to see what we have coming down the pipe for the remainder of 2012.

Windows 8
Microsoft has a big bundle of "new" heading our way this fall with the launch of Windows 8. This complete makeover will pretty much reinvent the Windows desktop metaphor into a tile setup of icons that Microsoft use to call Metro but now it is just Windows 8. If you have seen the new interface on the latest Microsoft phones, you have a good sense of what Windows 8 will look like on your laptop or tablet later this year. You can expect a gauntlet of new computer hardware to come rushing in behind this OS release.

The Windows 8 category of product I am most interested in is the hybrid tablet with a keyboard configuration. To clearly compete head-to-head with Apple, Microsoft is launching their own tablet called Surface. You can see the launch introduction of Surface in this video...


I've seen prototypes of additional crossover tablets with keyboards from a couple manufacturers and am excited to see a tablet that runs my Windows applications natively. Will this replace my iPad...I'll dig into that more when Surface and the other tablets launch later this year.

Windows 8 also plans to support the Microsoft Kinect gesture technology originally offered as an accessory for the Xbox 360 to help navigate your computer's content. This could be a pretty cool innovation to advance the overall user experience. Very "Minority Report"...

We can look forward to Windows 8 and Surface launching on October 26th.

Canon's New Mirrorless Camera
At the top of my personal list is the recently announced Canon EOS-M. This is a new mirrorless camera that allows you to swap lens in a form-factor substantially smaller than a digital SLR camera.

What stands out about this camera versus those that came before it, is that Canon is offering an adaptor that allows you to leverage their large 70+ lens library on the camera. All of these lens auto-focus and behave well with the camera. It also features a rather large APS-C sensor which is substantially larger than most smaller cameras in this segment. The APS-C image sensor is what you find in most Digital SLR cameras.

Combined, this sensor and array of lens in a small size makes this arguably one of the first serious compact solutions to hit the market. It starts to feel like I am not severely giving up anything yet getting a smaller package to haul around. The only compromise I can see is the lack of a viewfinder and a full-size sensor found in the much higher-end cameras like my Canon 5DM2 or the newer Canon 5DM3 and Nikon D800.

Now this setup isn't cheap and is definitely targeting consumers looking to upgrade from the point and shoot category. For $799 you get the camera and a slim-profile, 22mm pancake lens which is a good starting point as long as you don't need zoom. This configuration is great for just walking around, street photography and intimate settings like dinners, parties or other get togethers. You can order a 18-55 zoom lens (pictured on the camera above) for $299 and the M-Mount adaptor will allow you to connect Canon's larger Digital SLR lens for $199. I have already preordered this...can't wait for its arrival.

Pocket Power - Sony RX100
This very small but powerful camera just launched but I thought it warranted a mention. I have talked about how the best camera is the camera you have with you! I regularly am let down by the camera in phones...sure I use them in a pinch but prefer to have a more capable camera whenever possible. Something that can handle lower light situations, fast moving objects or offers an optical zoom. That said, it still needs to be small and pocketable unless I plan to haul a larger DSLR. Today that "go to" camera is the Canon S100 but this new Sony RX100 is causing me to consider switching.

Why? Well the primary reason rests in Sony's substantial image sensor that is 3x larger than the Canon...while still packaged in a similar "pocketable" size overall body. Typically, the bigger the sensor, the more light the camera can capture resulting in more vibrant, clearly lit and better detailed images. This 1-inch sensor also offers double the pixel resolution versus the S100 at 20.2 megapixels. While this image sensor is smaller than the really big Digital SLR cameras...it is still substantially larger than any point and shoot you are probably looking at. This camera also has a fast focus, high resolution display and an f1.8 lens that lets you shoot in very low light environments. This is the largest sensor in a pocketable camera available...pretty amazing.

The biggest hurdle that you will need to settle on is the price difference. The Canon S100 is still a camera I would "HIGHLY RECOMMEND" that easily justifies its premium $360'ish price. The Sony RX100 clocks in at a whopping $650! Now it is a lot of camera and if you want what is arguably the finest pocketable camera, I would also "HIGHLY RECOMMEND" this little beauty!

Now Let's Talk Apple...

Credit: 9to5Mac

iPhone 5
This product is so hotly anticipated it is negatively affecting Apple's sales of their current iPhone offerings. What's so new? We'll for the full story we will need to wait until September 12 when everything will be announced. But the highlights assumed right now is that the phone is a bit taller to accomodate a slighter bigger display. There is a new 8-pin connector on the bottom of the iPhone replacing the existing 30-pin that has been standard for so many years. Yep...that means all your peripherals that had docking connectors will need to be replaced...unless someone comes out with an adaptor???

We should expect a more powerful CPU at the heart of the new iPhone...most likely something like the A5 found in the new Ipad. Better camera? Probably. Near Field Communications (NFC) - A new wireless solution that could be leveraged to allow you to make purchases easily with your phone by simply swiping in the area of a retail scanner? 50/50 chance of that showing up.

All I know it Apple needs a new phone. Something that will help it compete with the latest crop of cool Android Phones like the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Credit: 9to5Mac

Mini-iPad?
This rumor has persisted since the introduction of the iPhone and iPad. Every year it seems to pop up as we get closer to either products refreshes. Steve Jobs mentioned that the 3.5" form-factor of the iPhone was great for portability and the 9-inch form factor was great for broad-based reading and extended use applications. And with these two size formats, you create unique and distinctive user experiences. Steve thought that a middle-sized form factor would be a bit of a compromise, either just stretching the phone experience or shrinking the iPad experience to "too small" proportions. But I am sure Apple is looking for a new, mass-market format to drive sales revenues forward and this is obviously a category to crack.

Apple looks to be locked in to a September 12th set of announcements that should include a new iPhone, a potential mini-iPad and definitely some iPod announcements. Another project in the wings but it is doubtful it will show it's face this year...is an Apple television. That will probably show up next year. I am also waiting until next year for an update to their very aged MacPro desktop computer. A new version looks to be slated for later next year.

Overall A Pretty Awesome Year in Tech
This year we have seen a lot of great new products including Apple's new Macbook Pro's with Retina displays, the New iPad, Samsung's Galaxy S III, Canon's 5DM3, Nikon's D800, etc. These are just some of the headline grabbing product. We have seen some wonderful travel compact cameras, a wide range of smart-devices, a slew of new home appliances...the list goes on.

We are truly in the eye of the storm and should see some pretty amazing product announcements starting in September and October...leading into the holiday season. Keep your eye on our site and we will endeavor to keep you abreast as these product stories unfold!

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

I need solutions for the everyday commute, something to haul my camera gear for an afternoon out and about or when traveling abroad, luggage for an overnight or week-long excursions. The scenarios are endless and so are the options. I can easily see a half-dozen bags I typically use each and every month. So the following is a selection of luggage I have or wish I owned after some extended research and tested.

Everyday Carry Along
Okay, let's start with the everyday solutions. Now, I have the usual laptop, iPad and some small gadgets I carry between home and work. Most days I like a casual piece that is rugged, trusted and secure...but when I am heading off to a meeting or something I like a more professional solution. Depending on your needs, I will provide a few everyday bags to get you and your stuff to the office (or Starbucks)!


No list of a cool briefcases that are truly designed to "live the life" is complete without including the Filson's Padded Computer Bag. This piece is constructed from an industrial-weight rugged twill that is designed to carry quite a load of gear. You'll find a padded laptop pocket that can safely carry most laptops except for the 17"+ variety and 3 other full-length sections to hold your other papers, tablet computer and the like. You also have a front zipper compartment that accommodates your cellphone, pens, business cards and other accessories. All your stuff is shut tight by beefy two-way brass zippers and a leather snap closure. This is a bag that matures with you. It only gets better with age. Owning one of these comes at a price...I mean a decent amount of money. Now the adage goes, you get what you pay for...especially if it is a Filson! ($315'ish 16 1/2" x 14" x 7 1/2")

If you are more of the backpacker variety and are looking for that pack to make your daily commute with...I love the Crumpler line of products from Australia. Not only are they an incredibly quality piece of work, they also have personality. These pieces speak for themselves. While they have a wide assortment for every conceivable application your laptop, travel and camera gear...for the backpack folks looking for a general laptop commuter or travel bag I would lean toward their newer Crumpler Dry Red No. 5.

If you have read any of my other write-ups, you know I am particularly interested in the products that do what they are meant to do as efficiently as possible...all the while making me look cool ;-). When it comes to these types of bags I am looking for the smallest, lightest and most effective in carrying my stuff and getting that stuff in and out with ease. This backpack does that for me. The number one thing I am looking for is a padded compartment that can hold a 15" laptop (and room to spare for a iPad) and is easily accessible as I travel through security at an airport. The laptop storage compartment is accessed through a convenient side zipper. The main compartment holds your books, papers and the front zipper pocket has a good selection of pockets and slots to hold your other gadgets. And if all that isn't enough, the pack comes with a cables accessories pouch so you don't have chargers and the like all over the place. Nice, neat, well organization and light! A great backpack...as a matter of fact, I like this backpack so much I am even considering this series of pieces as my next set of luggage due to their light weight and quality construction...I just wish they had a wheeled suit bag! ($175 18" x 13 1/2" x 6")

Wheeled Cases
I would be remiss if I didn't talk about my trusty Tumi wheeled laptop bag, I have the previous version of their latest Alpha Deluxe wheeled laptop case for many years and can't speak more highly of it, the company or their service. This is my go to bag for extended travel and needing to carry a fair amount of gear and materials. I can really load this thing down with some heavy stuff which could includes a large 17" laptop, iPad, camera gear, portable game system (or two), cables, chargers (when are we going to get to a universal standard for charging devices!) and probably a few backup print outs of presentations or reading material for the flight. And all this can go with me onto the plane and will even jam under a seat in extreme cases or easily go in an overhead bin. It is only too big as a carry-on for those really small commuter flights and a few small regional jets I find in remote parts of Asia and abroad. Beyond that, this is it. If I am heading off to London or Sydney...this is the bag going with me.


The bag is well organized into some discrete sections that allow me to make sure everything thing is easily found when needed and can compress down to 10" deep for a lighter load. You have a section for files, a padded laptop section, Tumi's Tracer feature that includes a unique code in each case to help locate it in case of being lost or stole. You have several exterior pockets to make accessing cellphone, smaller gear (passport, pens, business card)...even a water bottle holder! The exterior of the bag is also very rugged as Tumi really pioneered the use of ballistic nylon to the consumer market 30 years ago. And you get a second case/sleeve to carry your laptop in situations when you don't want to haul the entire set. Again, all this comes at a premium but your years of use should help balance the cost over time. ($795 17 1/2" x 15 1/2" x 10)

As a side note, I have in recent years pick up several pieces of Briggs & Riley luggage for assorted members of the family. While my personal luggage is currently Tumi, I have been very impressed with the B&R pieces. They are very well constructed, thoughtfully laid out and from my perspective seem to wear better than my Tumis. Keep in mind that I travel a great deal and anything will show wear and tear but I have a few more frayed pieces of string and loose screws on the Tumis. So, I would wholeheartly recommend B&R as well I just haven't had much time with their computer cases and the like. I think if I was going to buy a new wheeled, professional case...I'd lean toward the Briggs & Riley Medium Executive Rolling Brief. Inside you will find three sections (computer with airport security checkpoint separate sleeve, organizer and a file section) to help keep everything organized. Will haul laptops up to the 15.4" variety and padded pockets for your other tech. And the bag can be expanded two inches to make sure you have everything with you and it is all protected behind an exterior of ballistic nylon. ($399 16" x 14" x 8")

Hauling Camera Gear
Some times I just need to throw a Digital SLR and lens in a suitcase and go. I don't need to bring the full setup of lens and the like. In those cases, the Crumpler Haven is a wonderful solution. This protective bag can house your camera and a lens or two depending on which size you get (S, M or L) and then put the whole set in your backpack or luggage and you are ready to go. This isn't rocket science but a simple, padded bag to safeguard your camera gear is totally worthwhile. Inside the bag are two velcro dividers to help keep your fragile camera gear from banging into each other. The top opening folds closed to keep everything snug and the exterior material is water resistent for added protection. (Large size: $60 10" x 9" x 5 1/2")

Still in the "small zone", let's look at the very cool CaseLogic SLRC205 Camera Sling. This is a beautifully sleek bag that can hold most consumer-level Digital SLR cameras. It features a very innovative sling what you slide the camera lens first into the slot inside the bag and the camera is suspended from there. The back of the pack is a padded air-mesh that makes it comfortably breathable. The sling design makes it easy to access your camera by just sliding the strap around until the bag is in your hands. My only issue is that the sling function only works off of your left shoulder. This also happens to be the shoulder I run my camera sling off of. So this case didn't work well for me as is but for others this most likely is not as big of an issue. From there it is an easy step to open it up and snatch the camera quickly. Even though this is a very small case, it can accomodate a small tripod mounted on the outside. ($45 8 1/2" x 4" x 5")

Moving up in size you have two primary camera bag options; 1) backpack or 2) shoulder/messenger. In the small backpack zone, my current "walking around for the day bag" is the Lowepro Flipside 200. Again, I favor small, compact and lightweight over having all my gear. I prefer to force myself to "just enough" equipment...maybe I'm just lazy? ;-) Anyway, what I love about this bag is that it will accomodate my full-size Digital SLR camera with a very large 70-200 zoom lens plus a second or even third lens as well as some other small gear. Mind you, this is not a big bag...you will need to get down to what you will need for the day. What is great about a small bag, is that you can move with ease through crowded streets, jumping onto a subway, entering buildings and at no time have to overly worry about hitting people with your backpack. And the Flipside has the added security that access to the bags contents is from the back. There is also a hideaway tripod holder that helps you haul that small tripod you might need for those night shots and the like. You also have a handy mesh side pocket for some personal items or a bottle of water. Speaking of water, this bag is pretty tough and water resistent. ($60 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" x 16 1/2")

Other small backpacks I currently like include the Kata 3N1 series (v20 - $80'ish), ThinkTank Streetwalker ($150) and the Crumpler Karachi Outpost (S - $230). And if I had to pull the trigger tomorrow on a new bag to replace my Flipside 200...it is a toss-up between the ThinkTank and Crumpler. I really need to play with those some more to get a better feel.

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

The Retina display is Apple's branding for a monitor in which the individual pixels making up the images on the screen are not discernable when viewed at a normal reading distance. That all the dots vanish into one continuous image. This technology was first introduced on the relatively small iPhone 4 monitor, then on to the slightly larger iPad display.

Apple has made the leap and introduced this technology onto the Macintosh Macbook Pro laptops. Showcasing an amazing resolution of 2880 x 1800 (or 5.1 million pixels), you can expect text and high contrast graphics to appear crisper and cleaner. I am talking about a notably cleaner representation on screen. I invite you to check out the incredible amount of detail and screen real estate that you will have on this desktop via the Apple Macbook Pro product page. The negative is that as you start to work with higher resolution imagery and the like to fill up the screen, you will see files sizes continue to grow. Just something to keep in mind!

Not only is the display gorgeous but the entire Macbook Pro has been redesigned from the ground up! The product is impressively thin...just .71 inches and 4.46 pounds to be exact. Included in this sleek package is a quad-core Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor running at speeds of 2.7GHz and support for 16 gigabytes of RAM. You also get the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M to push those 5.1 million pixels around in real-time.

Other Macintosh thing announced?
Mountain Lion is Apple's next Operating System release which is expected to launch in July via the Mac App Store for $19.99. This update centers around better internet services integration such as improved iCloud support to make it easier to share your files across your Mac, iPhone and iPad. And the more interesting addition is the substantial integration directly with Facebook's services. This includes syncing your contacts, sharing directly from the Safari web browser and Notifications screen updates. All the Apple Macintosh apps are updated to leverage the new high resolution display including Mail, Safari, iPhoto, etc.

Another exciting enhancement for me is the AirPlay Mirroring feature that allows you to display your Macintosh's screen with a TV connected to an AppleTV device for simple, wireless presentation sharing.

If you'd like to see a video that highlights all the updates coming next month...check it out on Apple's website.

Other things that happened but were not announced?
New Smart Case for iPad!!!  As you probably know from previous posts, I have loathed the magnetic Smart Cover the Apple offers. It leaves the back of the device exposed AND the magnetic part slips and disconnects all the time. Finally Apple is offering a full case now that is similar to the cover but adds a protective backing.

The case is extremely well fitted as you would expect from Apple and is made from polyurethane and offers the low-profile angle for keyboard-like typing on the screen. Would have liked a leather option and am not blown away by the six color choices but this could be the nicest offering I've seen in a sleek case offering.

Lame Mac Pro Update...what more can I say? Maybe a little history first. The MacPro is the full-sized desktop computer that Apple has sold for many years. The current version was introduced in 2006 and I am typing this write-up on that computer. What I like about the desktop computer over the iMacs is that ability to add new capabilities to the platform. This specific MacPro has a ultra high-speed Serial ATA interface to drive my RAID drives and an updated videocard for enhanced graphics. I utilized the half-dozen USB and Firewire ports, the four internal hard-drives and a slew of other peripherals.

So what has Apple done? Pretty much nothing. The update included some new processor options which doesn't even include the new chips Intel introduced last quarter? The package still utilizes the same video card launched in 2009!!!!! This update was not even worth doing. I get it. This package is not mass market and doesn't warrant support when they can sell you an iMac that will last a few years and then you just junk that and buy a new one. They don't like that I am operating on the same system for 6 years!

I'm sure they will kill this category...they probably already have and that is why we got this lame update that just helps them clear out inventories??? But it is a shame, I really like the option to support new features and capabilities via PCI cards and the like.

Okay...after writing all that...Tim Cook just sent an email confirming a new MacPro is in the works and is expected next year! He says, "something great" for the Pro's. I guess we are back to the usual Apple waiting game :-)

There was a slew of iOS (iPhone/iPad operating system) updates but those get a bit geeky and I will cover that when iOS6 gets released.

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

I've compiled some video highlights from Nintendo's Electronic Entertainment Expo Wii U game introductions. The video gives you a quick sneak peak at some of the games and features you can look forward to on this new gaming platform launching later this year.

Overall the Wii U's game graphics looks like higher resolution versions of what you are use to on the original Wii. But it is clearly a more powerful system and does feature some 3rd party games similar to what you see on an Xbox 360 or Sony Playstation.

While it wasn't announced, Microsoft and most likely Sony will have their new gaming systems at next year's show for launch during the 2013 holiday season. So for a brief period of time, Nintendo's graphics will be on parity but we'll have to wait and see just where Microsoft and Sony take their platforms to see if Nintendo will once again lag on the platform wars.

Now Nintendo has proven time and time again...it is all about the games and not graphics BUT the issue is that a 3rd party publisher like Ubisoft, EA or Activision want to release their titles on all platforms and Nintendo typically suffers from the fact that it's platforms are not able to accomodate a port of game from the other systems. So 3rd party content tends to be limited to what companies want to make Nintendo original content or heavy-duty/stripped down version.

For launch, since the Wii U is in the ballpark of Xbox 360 we are seeing some ports like Assassin's Creed 3. But this will probably dry up after the first year.

So check out the video to see some of the games in action...

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

I don't even know where to begin. What was Sony thinking? They bring out a a killer new piece of hardware in the form of a mobile gaming powerhouse called the PS Vita and then pop out some uninspiring games to go on it? Did they think developers would jump on to a platform they are not even supporting with their own killer content to drive sales?

Okay, I will give you that Uncharted on the PS Vita was a very good game. And there is some nice "online arcade" quality titles available that are worth playing if you have the device. Highlights of the show were Little Big Planet, Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation and Soundshapes...all very solid offerings. But after that, your kinda looking at 25 mediocre titles from the demos at the show. Just not enough excitement to pull the trigger on another piece of hardware to carry around.

What was I hoping for? How about a handful of top-tier 1st party titles like an original God of War? Instead I get Playstation One classics? Come on! You are killing me! This is a powerful device that I am going to play 10+ year old games on? IF that was the caliber of content you were going to push...you should have lower the specs on the hardware and sold it for $100!

I realize the economics of the thing. Small installed base...doesn't justify development dollars. But then you shouldn't build the thing and sell it to me! It is kinda a self fulfilling situation as it stands. Make the bet or don't even try.

This was definitely not the year of the handheld gaming console. Sony largely forgot to talk about the platform in their press conference and Nintendo pretty much did the same thing??? Mobile smart devices are clearly winning out here and that is a very sad state of affair. Having a quality mobile gaming device with physical controllers makes all the difference. But the device needs to have the content to justify owning it and carrying it with you.

I really don't know what to expect at this stage but if you are remotely considering buying a PS Vita...don't! I guess Sony has "one last chance" to resolve this at the Tokyo Game Show in September. But I am not holding my breath.

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

Here are some sneak peaks at some of the top "potential" games at E3 this year...



Ubisoft delivers another amazing demo...


Aassassin's Creed finally evolves from 2 to 3...new additional settings and characters...


Laura deserves a good return to gaming and I'm hopeful that this product delivers...

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry