LG Chocolate BL40 revealed

LG Electronics officially revealed today in a press release the full image and key specifications of the new LG Chocolate phone, model LG-BL40.

The fourth handset of the Black Label Series has a distinctive 4.0-inch wide screen high-definition LCD with an 800x345 pixel resolution for a superb viewing quality. The wide screen breaks away from conventional screen designs with a 21:9 aspect ratio for a panoramic, cinema-like quality and optimal mobile computing experience. With the enlarged screen, users will experience a surprisingly convenient and efficient mobile environment.

Browsing the Internet with 800 pixels wide at one’s disposal is quite easy, there is no need to scroll horizontally to read entire web pages. The 4.0-inch display also features a Dual Screen UI that can efficiently display two different types of content simultaneously. The wide HD LCD “Real VGA” screen provides a full range of natural colors for displayed images, making photos more crisp, videos more true-to-life, games more dynamic and documents more readable.

“The initial response to the new LG Chocolate phone has exceeded our expectations by a wide margin,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications. “Although much interest seems focused on the striking shape of the handset, the real surprise will be when people discover the advantages of the 4.0-inch screen in terms of viewing pleasure and ease of use.”

The new LG Chocolate’s wide screen is overlaid with curved tempered glass and is seamlessly encased in a glossy black finish and iconic red highlights. Although the screen may be much wider, the new LG Chocolate makes an incredibly slim and chic style statement that was also inherent in the original Chocolate.

Aside from the great large 4" screen that is very emphasized in the official press release, some of the other features that the new LC Chocolate BL40 include the 5.0 Megapixel camera, Flash-based 3D interface, multitouch, AGPS, WiFi, 7.2Mbps HSDPA and the tempered glass screen surface is apparently scratch-proof. Even so, the thin dimensions of the handset make it impossible to believe that all those things could possibly fit in there.

The new LG Chocolate will be available beginning Q3 in 54 countries. More information is available at www.lgmobile.com.

Samsung R522-52S notebook PC-2.1 GHz

This beautiful notebook is the Samsung R522 R-Series notebook computer features a 16:9 widescreen, so your widescreen movies will completely fill the screen. Movies and images will be sharp and clear with the 15.6" high definition 1366 x 768 LCD screen. Thanks to an LED backlight, the R522 LCD display delivers bright and beautiful colors. HD SRS audio is rich and clear. Performance is fast and powerful too, with a state-of-the-art Intel® Core 2 Duo processor and 250 GB hard drive. And a built-in 1.3 MP web camera makes video chatting / conferencing easy.

It features a shiny blue-rimmed touch pad which boasts an alluring blue light and the smooth rectangular-shaped isolation design gives you an attractive first impression. I also has a 3-in-1 memory card reader and 4 x USB 2.0 ports, so you can seamlessly move data from your digital camera, camcorder, MP3 player or PDA straight to the notebook.

The hard drive disk is a voluminous 250 GB. The R522 features state-of-the-art Intel Centrino 2 processor technology, delivering unrivaled system performance with enhanced energy efficiency and advanced wireless connectivity to keep you working longer. With a standard 6 cell battery, you can surf the web for up to 5 hours on a single battery charge.

The brilliant LED-backlit display offers up to 30 percent more viewing area than traditional screens in an incredible 300 nits of brightness. Using LED technology means screens are thinner, brighter, more durable and power efficient. You can also enjoy photo-like image quality, greater viewing angles and better text legibility, reducing eye strain and boosting productivity.

One thing I noticed and left me baffled is the fact that the Samsung R522-52S notebook has no Bluetooth capability. I find it impossible these days, when more and more electronics producers aim to create total wireless products, that a notebook, which its entire design idea is based on portability and mobility, lacks suck a thing.

One thing that put a smile on my face though is the fact that the oh so old and obsolete RJ11 Modem is not in there anymore. This king of connection has been overused for so long I thought it will never go away.

• Operating System: Genuine Microsoft Windows® Vista Home Premium
• CPU: Intel™ Core 2 Duo T6500 (2.1 GHz)
• Standard System Memory: 3 GB DDR2
• Screen Size: 15.6" HD LED (1366 x 768)
• Graphic Memory: 384 MB shared
• Graphic Processor: Intel GMA 4500 MHD
• Audio Speakers: 3 W (1.5 W x 2)
• Integrated Camera: 1.3 MP
• Hard Drive: 250 GB, 2.5", 5400 RPM
• Optical Disk Drive: DVD Dual Layer +/-RW
• Wired Modem: No
• Wired Ethernet LAN: 10/100/1000 Base TX
• Wireless LAN: 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth: No
• I/O Ports
  • VGA: Yes
  • HDMI: Yes
  • Headphone: Yes
  • Mic-in : Yes
  • USB 2.0: 2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 2.0 with charging function, 1 e-SATA & USB combo
  • Multi Card Slot: 3 in 1 (SD/SDHC/MMC)
  • Serial: No
  • RJ11 (Modem): No
  • RJ45 (LAN): Yes
  • PC CardBus Slot: ExpressCard
• Keyboard Type: 88 keys
• Touch Pad, Touch Screen: Yes, No
• Fingerprint Reader: No
• AC Adapter: 60 W
• Battery: 6 cell
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 14.8" x 10" x 1.2'' ~ 1.4"
• Weight (including Std Battery): 5.62 lbs.

Mode details and images can be found on the Samsung R522-52S notebook PC-2.1 GHz page at samsung.com.

Samsung 23" F2380 LCD with cPVA Technology

The Samsung F2380 23" 16:9 widescreen LCD displays feature cPVA technology, for accurate image performance and professional-caliber color. With 100% support of sRGB color mode and 178º viewing angles, the color will be smooth and accurate to everyone gathered around your screen. High 3,000:1 static contrast ratio provides subtle transitions in shadows and details in the whites and blacks. The 2.5 mm bezel-to-screen depth and the 15 mm ultra-narrow bezel combine to give you an even, virtually seamless display area when tiling multiple displays. And the Tilt / Swivel / Pivot / 130 mm height-adjustable stands add comfort, while the F2380 offers 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Innovative cPVA technology features a liquid-crystal cell structure that minimizes light leakage for brilliant, accurate color and enables wide viewing angles and high contrast ratios. The 80 series accurately reproduces 100% of sRGB, the recommended color space for the internet and the default color space for many computers, digital cameras and scanners. A high 3,000:1 static contrast ratio adds incredible depth, with subtle shadow transitions and incredible detail, even in the whites and blacks.

Wide 178º viewing angles mean accurate color from every angle and the Tilt / Swivel / Pivot stand along with 130 mm height adjustments add comfort. A 2.5 mm bezel-to-screen depth and 15 mm bezel combine to provide a flat, virtually seamless image area when tiling monitors.

Here are some of the specifications of the F2380 23" LCD:

• Screen Size: 23" (16:9)
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Brightness: 300 cd/m²
• Contrast Ratio: DC 150,000:1 (static 3,000:1)
• Response time: 8 ms (GTG)
• Viewing Angle (Horizontal / Vertical): 178º / 178º
• Sync. Signal: Separate, Composite, SOG
• Video Signal: 2 x DVI-D, D-sub
• Power Consumption: 45 W
• Stand By Power (DPMS): 1 W
• Plug & Play: Yes
• Special Features: Multi Screen S / W, MagicBright, MagicColor, Color Effect, Off Timer, MagicTune, Customized Key, 1080p Full HD, Image Size, DVI with HDCP, Windows Vista Premium Certified, Mechanical Switch
• TCO: TCO 5.0, TUV
• Product Dimension(With stand, WxHxD): 21.5" x 18.8" x 8.5"
• Shipment Dimension: 24.7" x 16.3" x 7"
• Product Weight: 13.9 lbs.
• Shipment Weight: 17.4 lbs.
• Stand Function: Tilt, Swivel, Pivot, height adjustment

For more details and pictures related to the Samsung 23" F2380 LCD, you can visit the product's page located at samsung.com.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 for UK

Research In Motion has announced that the BlackBerry Curve 8520 phone will be coming to the UK in August. The operator / operators that will carry the device are unconfirmed as is the price.

The new Curve 8520 comes in two colours, black and frost and enables easy access to email, messaging and social networking sites. The phone has a full-QWERTY keyboard and comprehensive multimedia capabilities (music, game and other apps).

"More and more cell phone users are choosing to upgrade to a smartphone and the new BlackBerry Curve 8520 will undoubtedly convince many more people to make the switch. It delivers all the great messaging, social networking and multimedia features that have made BlackBerry the top-selling smartphone brand in the United States," said Carlo Chiarello, vice president, product management, Research In Motion.

Key features of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone include:

• Full-QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive optical trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation
• 256MB Flash memory and a 512Mhz next generation processor for enhanced performance
• Premium phone features including voice activated dialing, and Bluetooth (2.0) support for hands-free use with headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals
• 2 MP digital camera with zoom and video recording
• Advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, with dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry Media Sync, which makes it easy to quickly sync music from iTunes or Windows Media Player with the smartphone
• Access to BlackBerry App World, featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, social networking and sharing, news and weather, productivity and much more
• BlackBerry Internet Service support for access to up to 10 supported email accounts, including most popular ISP email accounts such as Yahoo!, Windows Live Hotmail, AOL and Gmail; and BlackBerry Enterprise Server support, which provides advanced security and IT administration features for corporate deployments
• Expandable memory via hot swappable microSD/SDHC memory card slot, supporting cards of up to 16 GB today and expected to support next generation 32GB cards when available; a 1GB card is included
• Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) with support for T-Mobile Unlimited Hotspot Calling service
• Quad-band world phone: EGDE/GPRS/GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

For more information related to the yet not released BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone, you can visit the official website at this address.

MAG - the next generation shooter

Sony revealed MAG, the next Playstation 3 game from Zipper Interactive, now in pre-order phase. Although the release date has not yet been announced, this game promises a lot of great action and above all, a really massive action game. The 256 players online the developers aimed to achieve create a realistic battle scene of a futuristic war.

"If you're talking sheer chaos, in terms of, if you drop 256 players into a village square like an arena, that's going to be unmitigated," says creative director Ed Byrne. "So what we wanted to do is build that intensity and use that flow to direct players from small encounters to larger, and to basically make sure that squads link up actually more like a realistic military operation."

Orchestrating battles on this scale involves a light touch, he explains. You need to direct the fight through careful level design, but also leave players freedom to spread out. "It's through level design and through the flow from beginning to end of the map as you go through the objectives that we mitigate the chaos. The other [method] is simply allowing players to have some freedom on where to go, so if a player is basically overwhelmed by the amount of combat that he's seeing, he can not only retreat backwards but he can go laterally and join the areas that are happening on either side of him."

For more information and a preview of the game you can visit the website at www.mag.com.

Samsung Propel SGH-a767

The SAMSUNG Propel SGH-a767 is the slider that makes communication easy. Just slide open up this stylish phone and slide open the possibilities, from texting to email to Instant Messaging – all simplified thanks to a full QWERTY keyboard. The Propel is also packed with fun features like high-speed multimedia access, full Web browsing, AT&T Mobile Music, AT&T Navigator and much more. So slide open the SAMSUNG Propel and get the word out like never before.

The Propel has a slide-out, full QWERTY keyboard that lets you get the word out faster and easier. It gives you all the messaging options you want – email, text messaging, Instant Messaging and picture messaging. With AT&T Mobile Music and the Propel, you can play and download all your favorite tunes and ringtones. And thanks to the built-in microSD memory slot, your play list can go on and on. With AT&T Navigator, the SAMSUNG Propel gives you GPS-enabled turn-by-turn directions, maps, traffic updates and more. Even if you’re hundreds of miles apart, Video Share and your new SAMSUNG Propel make it all possible. Any two Propels (or other Video Share-compatible phones) can share real-time, one-way video of almost anything – all while talking on the phone. It’s nice to share.

Here are a few of the specifications taken from the official page:

• Weight: 3.79 ounces
• Dimension (HxWxD): 3.85" x 2.33" x .58"
• Display: 65k Color TFT Screen (220 x 176)
• Features: Video recording, Video messaging, Music Player, 72 Polyphonic Ringtones, MP3 Ringtone, JAVA™ Download, Voice memo & Voice mail, SMS / EMS / MMS, Email
• User Memory: 50MB Shared
• Phone book entries: Up to 1000 phonebook entries
• Personal Information Management: Calendar, To do list, Worldtime, Alarm, Currency converter, Calculator
• Speakerphone, Dialed/missed/received calls

More information can be found on the official Samsung Propel SGH-a767 page located at samsung.com.

The new VAIO® P Series Lifestyle PC

The world’s lightest 8" notebook, the 1.4-pound VAIO® P Series Lifestyle PC does more than you could imagine–with impeccable style. Email at the airport, IM from the park, or just show it off when you want some attention. Traveling to a new city? Turn-by-turn GPS navigation will get you there faster. Best of all, it fits right in your purse or jacket pocket.

Keep moving and stop waiting. The instant-on, ultra-bright 8-inch LED-backlit screen of the Lifestyle PC means you never have to wait for it to warm up. Plus, its extra-wide 1600 x 768 resolution easily displays the width of an entire page, putting an end to side-to-side scrolling that can slow you down.

Looking for a place to eat? Type the word "restaurant" and let the Lifestyle PC be your guide. Using built-in GPS technology and featuring Microsoft® Streets & Trips software, your current location is found and real-time, on-screen directions lead the way. And you don’t even need an internet connection. Just step outside and type in where you want to go. You’ll get turn-by-turn directions displayed right on the map. It’s that simple.

Connect and go. Featuring built-in wireless access, the Lifestyle PC puts the internet in your pocket. And this is no stripped down version of the web, either. Everything is there, displayed just like it is on your home PC. Video chat with your friends, download music or do some online shopping—from virtually anywhere. The Lifestyle PC lets you browse the web in more places with Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In.

Here are a few specifications of the Vaio P Series Lifestyle PC:

• Intel® (1.86GHz) processor
• Up to 256GB Solid State Drive available
• 2GB DDR2 SDRAM
• Estimated Battery Life: Up to 4 hours (standard capacity battery)
• Up to 8 hours (large capacity battery)
• Power Requirements: 68W + 10%
• Memory Stick PRO™(Standard/Duo) media slot with MagicGate® functionality
• SD memory card slot
• Wireless LAN: Atheros 802.11 b/g/n
• Integrated Stereo A2DP Bluetooth® technology
• Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In
• QWERTY keyboard, 82 keys with 1.2mm stroke and 16.5mm pitch
• Built-in MOTION EYE® camera and microphone
• Pointing Stick
• 8.0" Screen
• 1600 x 768 Resolution
• LED backlight
• XBRITE-ECO Technology
• Intel® High Definition Audio Sound System

More information about the new VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC can be found on the official SonyStyle.com website here.

PHP 6 comming soon

PHP 6, the next major revision of the popular Web application development language, looms on the horizon and promises many changes. It isn’t yet available as a pre-built package, but you can download and install a development snapshot of PHP 6 now to check out the new features and verify your scripts remain functional. Since it removes some backwards-compatibility features you should test your existing code thoroughly.

To compile, install, and run PHP 6, you must have the GNU make utility, a compiler such as gcc, some additional libraries to power new PHP features, and a Web server. Compiling and installing PHP 6 requires:

• Apache with development headers, such as apache-prefork-dev. The threaded MPM version of Apache is not recommended for use by the PHP group for production use.
• An International Component for Unicode (ICU) library, like libicu-dev
• The XML2 development headers, libxml2-dev

Since PHP 6 removes some backwards compatibility features, your main concern is to make sure that your PHP scripts are up to date before upgrading your system. Following the tips in this section—like discontinuing the use of register_globals and magic_quotes—will not only help you get ready for PHP 6 but will also help you to make your code more secure.

In PHP versions prior to version 6, the register_globals setting allowed you to register “EGPCS” (Environment, GET, POST, Cookie, and Server) variables as global variables. For many reasons, using register_globals is a poor security practice that could lead to cross-site scripting holes. An attacker could populate a variable using a query string parameter (GET) where your script was originally looking for cookie values or POST variables. As a developer, you should be sure where your variables are coming from, whether it’s from a GET or POST method or from a cookie. As of PHP 5.3.0, the register_globals feature is deprecated, and as of PHP 6 it is completely removed.

PHP 6 offers Unicode support for Unicode characters in input, output, processing files, and for PHP scripts themselves. The most common of the Unicode encodings is UTF-8, which is the default encoding for many of the PHP 6 functions.

In addition to function changes, PHP 6 will not support compatibility for the PHP 4 object model. If you have objects in your PHP code, make sure they’re PHP 5 objects. The PHP 4 object model compatibility was only available after 5.0.0 and was removed in PHP 5.3.0, so any object that works in 5.3 later versions will work fine in PHP 6.

More information about installing and configuring the yet not officially released version of PHP 6 you can visit the following link: Get ready for PHP 6 on linux-mag.com.