At just 0.5 lbs each, Panasonic’s two new high definition (HD) camcorders are almost half the weight of the company’s first AVCHD offering released in 2006 which tipped the scales at just under a pound. While a pound may not sound like much anyway, any weight loss in a device that may need to be carried at eye level for extended periods of time is good news for tired arms everywhere.

The only difference between the two new models is the choice of recording media. The Panasonic HDC-SD10K records to an SDHC/SD Memory Card, while the Twin Memory Type HDC-TM10 records onto both an 8GB built-in Memory and an SDHC/SD Memory Card. The Twin Memory of the HDC-TM10 also allows for a Relay Recording function, which automatically switches the recording media to the SDHC/SD Memory Card when the built-in memory is full.

As is the way of technological advances, the new cameras haven’t needed to cut features to shed the weight. Both camcorders feature 16x optical zoom supported by an Advanced Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) function to minimize hand-shake while zooming. The new Active mode also extends the hand-shake correction range to allow the shooting of clear, crisp images while walking or moving.

Other features include Face Detection, which adjusts the exposure based on the faces being captured, Intelligent Contrast Control, which helps ensure proper contrast, and Intelligent Scene Selector, which determines the shooting conditions and automatically selects the Scene setting that will provide optimal results. Additionally AF/AE Tracking automatically tracks the focus and exposure of a moving subject for consistent images.

To allow for operation without looking away from the subject the cameras include a touch screen that can be used to operate a variety of functions by simply touching an icon on the screen. Both models also include a built-in video light and flash for low light filming.

Anyone who has ever operated a camcorder knows that just missing a great shot is the height of frustration so the Panasonic HDC-SD10K and HDC-TM10 seek to minimize this with a 1.9 second power on time and Pre-Rec function, which continuously records three seconds of images into an internal buffer memory. When the Record button is actually pressed, the three seconds immediately prior are added to the beginning of the clip.

The HDC-SD10K will be available in black for USD$549.95, while the HDC-TM10 will be released on August 10, 2009 in both black and silver for USD$ 599.95.

Pentax has launched its latest waterproof camera promising to let you “go boldly where none have gone before.”

Called the Pentax Optio W80, the update to the Optio W60 will be more adventure-proof than ever, according to Pentax, and be waterproof, dustproof, coldproof, and now shockproof enough to withstand impact from a fall of more than 3 feet (1 metre), as it plays catch up to Olympus’ successful tough series of cameras.

On the tough specs, the Pentax Optio W80’s waterproof design withstands depths of up to 5 metres, letting you shoot photos and video for up to 2 hours underwater. On dry land, the rugged, shockproof design protects against drops of up to 1m. That coldproof badge means the camera can to be used in sub-freezing temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius).

On the camera specs you get 12.1 megapixels, a 5x internal optical zoom (equivalent to 28-140mm), a slim body and a wide angle 28mm lens. There’s also a 2.5-inch LCD screen and HD movie capture capabilities that record resolutions up to 1280 x 720 pixels at full-speed 30fps.

There is also fast face detection that sees up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, with smile capture and blink detection, for perfect portrait shots.

Available in cardinal red, azure blue and gunmetal grey, the Pentax Optio W80 will be available in July 2009 for US $299.95 in the US with an expected UK price of around £170 and is available now for pre-order.

The Nikon Coolpix S60 is the newest generation of ‘point and snap’ camera, a perfect travel mate!

Roughly the same size (though twice as thick) as the revolutionary iPhone, the appearance and ergonomics of Nikon’s Coolpix S60 will be reassuringly familiar to Apple aficionados.
While the S60 comes equipped with a somewhat standard feature set, what makes it an easy, fun camera to shoot and show is its intuitive and responsive 3.5-inch touchscreen viewfinder.

Some of the features include a massive 10 mega pixel resolution which will enable you to print fantastic quality pictures of up to 16 x 20 inches as well as a 5x optical zoom lens with ‘VR image stabilization’. It has a 3.5 inch high resolution touch panel LCD screen and automatically adjusts the ISO up to 3200. One of the other great things is that you can save to an expandable memory slot in the form of SD/SDHC.

The Nikon Coolpix S60 is small enough to slip into a pocket and has a slightly longer than standard 5x zoom lens for this type of camera.

This is a very good looking camera and has obviously been built for easy usage with the 20MB of internal memory, SD card expansion slot and JPEG, AVI and WAV formats.

The Nikon Coolpix S60 has VR image stabilization which reduces camera shake as well as smile shutter and blink warning which will let you know when a subjects eyes are closed so you can retake the picture.

The Nikon Coolpix S60 is inline with a lot of other smaller digital cameras when you increase the ISO rating. The noise levels at ISO 400 are noticeable, but if it’s the only way to get a picture, then it levels are acceptable.

We like the macro shot. It is very clear and has great definition.

Check the latest price for the Nikon Coolpix S60!

Forget those flash drives with so dull not even your granma would take them around!

Check these EMTEC M300 2 GB Lollipops (and show’em to your granma too!).

EMTEC M300 2 GB Flash Drives feature a whimsical swirl design available in five fun colors. Each Lollipop drive comes with a cap holder, attachable to the drive with a small, beaded chain, so you will never lose the cap! Lollipop USB Drives are fun, functional, and make the perfect gift.

EMTEC M300 2 GB drives are available 2GB to 8GB capacities and the rubber lollipop caps are available in shades of red, orange, yellow, blue and green.

With a 54% off, the price is now US $ 12.99 for the 2GB version.

If you’ve been looking for an inexpensive HD pocket camcorder, then take a look at the Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom.

It has one touch recording with a spacious 2 inch anti-glare display (which is larger than the 1.5″ of the competing Flip MinoHD.
The 8GB hard drive allows you to record up to 2 hours of 720p HD or 4 hours of VGA footage.

It comes with Vado Central software and a pop out USB tab for easy editing and transfer to YouTube or other online sharing sites.

Best of all, it’s pocket sized at 0.6 x 2.2 x 3.9 inches and weighing just 3.5 ounces. The best video camera is the one you actually have with you and not sitting in your closet at home.
The biggest advantage of the Creative Labs Vado HD is that you can have an HD camcorder with you at all times so you’ll never miss a moment.

The battery is removable, so you can pop in a spare if you need it, or charge up via USB. The camera is also the only pocket camcorder to include an HDMI cable for direct connection to your HDTV.

A great little travel and fun camcorder to have.

Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Camcorder is now in stock and shipping for just under $180! (22% off its regular price!)

The Panasonic SDR-SW20 Waterproof Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom combines a rugged, compact body with waterproofing that allows use in water, including seawater, to a depth of five feet, shock-proofing that protects against drops from up to 4 feet, and a dust-proofing design that shuts out airborne dust particles that can lead to malfunction. With a design that protects it from water, dust, and impact, the SW20 is a versatile camcorder that can meet varying weather conditions and shooting environments.

For ease of shooting, the Panasonic SDR-SW20 Camcorder features 10x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD screen and a new design for easy and comfortable shooting. It also has a grip designed so the user can stabilize the unit by bracing the elbow against the body as with conventional camcorders. In addition, a Sub Rec button on the front of the camera, makes it possible to shoot with a pistol-grip style.

The Panasonic SDR-SW20 records to SD or SDHC memory cards, which further contributes to its compact design and also provides extended recording capability. A 16GB SDHC memory card allows up to approximately 13 hours, 20 minutes of recording.

This model offers the High-Picture-Quality Wide Mode, which produces images that make for beautiful, dramatic viewing on a wide-screen TV. The image is processed on 16:9 area of the CCD. Because the image decoded has the same proportions as your wide-screen TV, there is virtually no picture quality degradation. You get beautiful images and all the excitement and dynamism on either a wide 16:9 screen TV or a conventional 4:3 TV. This model also features a wide 2.7-inch LCD, making it easier to frame shots when you’re shooting in 16:9 mode. You can enjoy shooting wide, and viewing wide.

Built with ease of operation in mind, the Panasonic SDR-SW20 Waterproof Camcorder features truly friendly video Editing and Networking.

Choices are multiple, if you have an MPEG2-compatible DIGA DVD recorder with an internal hard disk and SDHC/SD memory card slot, saving your images on the hard disk is as easy as inserting an SDHC/SD memory card into the slot. This saves space you’d otherwise need for storing the recording media, and makes playback easier. And once the data is on the hard disk, it’s easy to copy it to a DVD disc.

About easy DVD copying, simply connect the SW20 directly to a DVD burner via a USB cable. You can then copy recordings from the SDHC/SD Memory Card to a DVD disc with easy operation.
The disc you make can be played on DVD players, so playback is easy too.

The Panasonic SDR-SW20 includes Editing Software and USB 2.0.
USB 2.0 compatibility lets you upload a motion picture data to a PC at high speed over a single USB cable.

You never have to finalize an SDHC or SD Memory Card, so you can transfer data to a PC right after you shoot. Just slip the card into the slot on the PC, and you’re ready to upload and edit. The camera comes with MotionSD STUDIO software that lets you add music and words during editing or copy your recordings onto a DVD disc.

It’s now available for US $ 229.99 (and that’s a summer cool 42% off list price!)

Cyanics Portable Swing Speaker with Protective Case it’s a 2 in 1, portable swing speaker system with crystal clear protective case.
Compatible with iPod Nano 4th Generation (8 GB & 16 GB), the Cyanics Portable Swing Speaker and Case works with both vertical or wide-screen mode.

Operation couldn’t be easier: insert your iPod inside the case & swivel the speaker housing into upright position to turn on the speaker.
It’s so lightweight and designed so smart, you’ll be able to sync or charge your ipod without removing your ipod from case.
The Cyanics Portable Swing Speaker features a built-in rechargeable battery (Li-polymer) & plays up to 8 hours of music.

LED displays for charging and operation status and there’s a headphone jack and open port for synching, so in theory you should never need to remove the ipod from its new case with speakers.

Great for indoor and outdoor.
It’s small: 1.75(W) x 4(H) x 0.75(D) inch and weighs in at 2 oz (without iPod) and there’s a USB charging cable included.

Available now for just US$ 26.99!

A great camera and it’s waterproof!
For sure when you think of waterproof digital cameras you wouldn’t think of such a small compact camera.
The POLAROID CTA-00833W is small enough to fit easily into your pocket or purse for easy access.
It’s a great camera for summer too, you can take it to the pool, beach, even out in the rain. Also the waterproofing will protect it against other things like sand and food (which happen to meet happily in everyday life).

This is not just a simple point and shoot waterproof camera either, like most are. You get a 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, 24 different shooting modes and you can even shoot video with it.

The POLAROID CTA-00833W it’s now US$ 141 (38% off regular price!).

Playing with Guitar Hero is pretty good enough but there’s a time for kid and a time for rock’n'roll men (or rock kids as well…).

Get yourself a Behringer iAXE629 USB Guitar and starting playing guitar for real on your PC or Mac!

Plug this amazing USB-guitar straight into your computer and turn your PC or Mac computer into a guitar amp and recording system without the need for any other hardware.

You have a great song in mind and want to record it straight to your computer? You want all your amps and stomp boxes in your computer so you can rock like you’re in the studio or on stage? With the Behringer iAXE629 USB Guitar, you’re just a cable away. The iAXE629 USB Guitar comes with loads of great sounding virtual amps and stomp boxes from Native Instruments. Rock with your MP3, WAV and AIFF songs or backing tracks on your PC or Mac computer and enjoy nifty features such as time-stretching and a metronome. Behringer even included multi-track recording and editing software so you can record your music on the spot. This double-cutaway electric guitar delivers powerful humbucking tones and comes fitted with a vintage tremolo, making it an indispensable piece of gear for modern guitarists. A built-in output allows you to connect your headphones straight to your guitar so you can rock with your favorite bands. Cool, isn’t it? Plug in your new Behringer iAXE629 USB Guitar and rock the world today.

Don’t take our word for granted and see for yourself what other users do with their Behringer USB Guitars on Youtube.

Canon today launches its new flagship compact for advanced photographers: the Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.
The successor to the PowerShot G7 (recently named EISA European Advanced Compact Camera 2007-2008) the PowerShot G9 incorporates improvements driven by market feedback with a range of user-oriented enhancements, including RAW image capture and a redesigned grip and thumb rest for improved handling.
Other advancements include a high resolution 3.0 PureColor LCD II, enhanced Face Detection Technology and Red-Eye Correction in playback.
A wide range of accessories, including optional lenses and Speedlite flash units, now also features Canon’s Speedlite ST-E2 wireless flash transmitter.

The Canon PowerShot G9 features:

The accessory market surrounding Apple’s best selling music player is vast and ever expanding: today Sourcecrowd takes a look at two of the latest gadgets promising to further the enjoyment of your mp3 player and help you take it to new places!

Altec Lansing inMotion iMV712 is a portable mini-theater and speaker system for iPods. It has a built-in 8.5-inch wide-screen LCD, surrounded by a pair of 3-inch speakers and a 4-inch subwoofer. Clean black lines make up for a stylish design, with the iPod dock sitting on top of the display, and a supplied credit card-sized remote to easily control all the functions. Measuring 18.5 inches long, 8.2 inches wide, and 7.7 inches high, the unit weighs just 8.4-pound, offering a video input and S-Video output, as well as an auxiliary jack for non-iPod portable audio devices.

The iHome iH20W Hidro-Fi is a Water-Resistant Shower Speaker System for the iPod, nano, and shuffle. Designed to be hung from a shower hook or rod, this clever gadget lets you enclose your player in its waterproof casing, connect it via iPod Dock or auxiliary input port (for the shuffle or other mp3 players) and listen to your music from two integrated speakers. Easily accessible controls on the front give the user access to track and volume control, while an AC adapter is provided for use away from water and to double as an iPod charger.

Ok, we all love the image quality offered by DV video cameras (or even the latest model High Definition ones): but what’s better than a pocketful of simplicity? SourceCrowd.com is bringing you a small roundup of higly portable, take-everywhere gadgets that bring the FUN factor back into taking a snapshot or a quick movie and sharing it with friends and family. Forget about having to carry bulky battery packs, winding tapes or anything of the sort: just point, shoot, copy, watch & share!

These tiny videocameras, aptly called Flip Video, allow you to record a maximum of 60 minutes of digital video (on 1GB of storage, 512 MB on the 30 minute version) that can be copied straight into your PC as an AVI file. The camcorder has a 1.4 inch color screen for instant viewing, full 30 fps MPEG-4 video quality at VGA (640×480) resolution, video-out capability for viewing on your TV, built in mic and speakers, and a flip-out USB 2.0 arm for connecting straight into a computer.

Also of note, the RCA EZ105 Small Wonder, a small and sleek minicamcorder capable of recording 60 minutes of standard quality MPEG4 video or 30 minutes of high quality video. At the back of the slim enclosure is a 1.5 inch LCD display to view your footage, and the lens is capable of 2x zoom. It has the same video out capability as the Flip Video, and sports a built in tripod mount. This really is a bring-everywhere piece of kit, running on 2 standard AA batteries.

You can now record your videos anywhere and never worry about dust, sand or even kids crushing a $1000+ videocamera: these solid-state camcorders will get you through the most dangerous missions! All your birthdays, rave parties or whatever you get involved into, can be just a snap away from online viewing & sharing on youtube or e-mailing to your friends.

SANYO has introduced the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 6MP Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom , a waterproof camcorder aimed at active families, vacationers and water sports enthusiasts. Encased in a colorful compact design, the E1 can record high-quality MPEG-4 video (using the H.264 standard) and doubles as a 6-megapixel stills camera under water to a depth of five feet for up to one hour at a time. The device records to a standard SD memory card or high-capacity SDHC card (up to 10 hours of 640 x 480 pixel, 30 fps video on a 8GB card). Moreover, the Xacti E1 sports a flip-out 2.5-inch LCD color display, 5x optical zoom and an anti-shake digital image stabilizer. It measures 2.8 x 4.4 x 1.6 (W x H x D, in inches) weighing in at 8.3 oz. SANYO does away with the need of a bulky underwater housing and is counting on the easy, one hand operation of the camcorder to allow users to take it everywhere all year round: the beach and the lake for snorkeling and water-skiing enthusiasts, and the snowy slopes for skiers and snowboarders. And of course it is handy for recording all the fun at parties, children’s school or sports events and family outings.

The SANYO Xacti E1 will be available in the U.S.A. in a choice of blue, yellow and white colors in mid-June 2007 at $499.99 MSRP.

More Tech-Summer stuff here.