Formally called the Casio G’z0ne Commando 811, the new handset comes with an all-new look on top of the brand new LTE chip. Of course, it’s not the most beautiful phone to look at, but if it’s protection from rain, dust, drops, etc. that you’re looking for. the Commando 811 may be the phone for you.

It’s very similar to our recently-reviewed Kyocera Torque, only this newer version is getting a bigger screen, a front-facing camera, and possibly an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean based on the new navigation-key arrangement at the bottom of the device. And of course, it’s got the black and red color scheme that Verizon is notorious for on its Android handsets.

Nothing is official yet, but we should be hearing from Verizon and Casio with an official announcement sometime soon. It just cleared from the FCC, so it should only be a matter of time before those that need a viable option for a rugged smartphone equipped with LTE will be able to grab the Commando 811 from Big Red.

[via Android Community]

The EX-N5 is available in four colors: black, silver, white, and red, while the EX-N50 is available in three colors: red, blue, and silver. The former features a two-tone lens ring, while the latter has a pinstripe pattern across the body, making it easy to tell them apart. The N50 has a slightly larger body than the N5, weighing in at 132 grams versus the lighter model at 129 grams.

Aside from that, the cameras have the same specs, with both featuring a 16.1-megapixel CCD sensor and a 2.7-inch TFT display. Users can expect to snap about 180 photographs or record about 1.3 hours of continuous HD video per charge. Video can be recorded in up to 720p HD, with the lowest setting being 640 x 480.

Optical zoom is a decent 6x, with an additional 4x digital zoom for a total of 24x when using both. Images are kept clear via contrast detection auto focus, as well as a macro focus mode for up-close images. ISO ranges from 64 to 1600, and there are a variety of white balance options for proper exposure. To keep things simple, both devices support Eye-Fi and FlashAir wifi cards.

[via Casio]

The EX-ZS30 has a 20.1-megapixel CCD sensor, giving a high enough resolution for any average user’s needs. The body itself is made from stainless steel, and is available in five colors: pink, purple, white, silver, and black. All of the functions and features are pretty basic, not surprising considering that the handset itself is aimed at beginners and those who want a simple camera for snapping pictures of their kids, friends, and pets.

To keep things simple, around back users will find dedicated buttons for the most common tasks performed, such as viewing and deleting images. To ensure that images come out as clear as possible, the EX-ZS30 offers Premium Auto mode, which auto-chooses both the mode and the processing necessary for the setting. This includes such modes that typically have to be selected manually, such as macro and night scenes.

To give uses their Instagram-like filter fix, there are eight “artistic effects” that can be applied to images: Pop, Sepia, Monochrome, Light Tone, Soft Focus, Toy Camera, Fish Eye, and Miniature. There’s also something called Dynamic Photo, which according to the announcement allows photographers to select eight moving character presets and combine them with a photograph.

[via Exilim]

Both camera models feature the Exilim Engine HS Version 3, which enables a high-speed burst mode. There’s a Triple Shot function, which – as its name suggests – allows users to take three images per shutter press, ideal for those times when the subject is in action. Photographs that have been taken are displayed on a portion of both cameras’ LCDs while the rest of the display continues to function as a viewfinder, allowing for simultaneous review and image taking. Both models support Eye-Fi and Flash Air for wireless image transfer.

The EX-ZR700 features a startup time of 1.4 seconds, an auto focus speed of 0.18 seconds, a capture interval of 0.26 seconds, and a shutter response speed of 0.016 seconds. The EX-ZR400 is a tad faster, with a startup time of 0.99 seconds, an auto focus speed of 0.14 seconds, a capture interval time of 0.26 seconds, and a shutter response speed of 0.015 seconds. There’s an All-in-Focus Macro mode, which takes multiple images at different focuses, then combines them into a single image where all aspects are in focus. Another similar feature is Blurred Background, which places a soft blur on a photograph’s background.

The EX-ZR700 features a 25mm wide-angle lens, as well as 18x optical zoom and lens shift image stabilization for crisp images. With Multi-Frame SR Zoom technology, the camera’s total zoom is 36x. Casio states that even when using the long-zoom, images still come out blur-free. The model features a 3-inch, 920k LCD display.

The EX-ZR400′s biggest feature is its long battery life, which allows users to take approximately 515 photos per charge, making it ideal for vacations, hiking, or other situations where charging is inconvenient. This model features a 24mm wide-angle lens and 12.5x optical zoom, with a total zoom of 25x via Multi-Frame SR Zoom technology.

[via Casio Europe]

One of this watch’s biggest features is its low energy consumption, something especially necessary given the limited battery space possessed by a watch. It achieves this conservative energy usage via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The G-Shock uses an ordinary watch battery, which lasts approximately 2 years with an average daily Bluetooth usage of 12 hours per day.

The G-Shock features countdown timer, 1/100th second stopwatch, an LED super illuminator, five daily alarms, a mute feature, world time zones, and is shock/water resistant up to 200 meters. The smart watch is compatible with the iPhone 4S running iOS 5.1.1 and 6.0 and iPhone 5. The G-Shock+ app is available for download from the App Store, and is required to use an iPhone with the watch.

Casio’s CEO and Chairman of its Timepiece Division Shigenori Itoh offered this statement. “G-Shock continues to be a leader in cutting-edge technology for timepieces. With the release of the Bluetooth LE Smart Watch collection, we are pushing the boundaries of inspired timepieces for the business savvy, technology conscious consumer.”

That lens supports 24x optical zoom, and the camera has a three-inch monitor on the back for viewing images. Casio integrates CCD-shift image stabilization, and the camera has a number of auto modes for taking quality photos and offers eight photo effects. The camera can also record 720p HD resolution video. Pricing and availability of the camera are unannounced.

The other camera is the ZR1000 also featuring a 24 mm wide-angle lens. The camera offers 12.5x optical zoom and has a tilting LCD on the back for better visibility. The camera is powered by Casio’s EXILIM Engine HS with the goal of eliminating lag time, blur, and camera shake. Casio promises the camera will start up in less than one second.

The camera also features a high-speed night shot mode that eliminates camera shake in dark environments supporting up to ISO 25,600. Casio gave the camera and the ability to shoot 30 frame bursts at six frames per second. The camera also has a macro mode for shooting objects close to the lens and supports HDR technology. It also has a number of automatic functions and artistic filters. Pricing and availability are also unannounced for this camera.

For those of you that love hardcore electronics, congratulations, you’ve found the king of the crop. At the moment this prototype is said to be shock resistant up to 10 feet, water resistant up to 1.0 bar (that being 10 meters), and pressure resistant up to 1.0 bar. You can smash this one, folks, drop it from on high into the watery depths where it hits a rock and comes back to tell the tale! That’s what’s going on here, hardcore people.

You’ve got a metal back casing, the rest is made of plastic with resin around the edges to keep you bumping, and the front is some sort of reinforced glass. Probably Gorilla Glass up there but you never know. The camera on the back has a flash and we’re probably going to see Android 2.3 Gingerbread right out of the box, regardless of when this smartphone is launched inside 2012. Seeya then, bikers and hikers!

[via G-Shock Zone]

There’s also the ability to locate your phone, with the PP-SHOCK watch reminding you if you walk away leaving it on a table or down the back of the sofa. Finally, the watch’s time is automatically kept up to date via the smartphone’s connection. The system was initially demonstrated back at CES 2011 in January, taking advantage of Bluetooth 4.0′s advances in reducing power consumption to maintain a persistent link without draining the battery.

Even so, the PP N-01D still brings a decent sized power pack to the party: a 1,700 mAh unit rated for up to 630hrs standby or up to 450 minutes talktime. There’s also a 1.4GHz MSM8255 processor, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth, world phone 3G roaming, and mobile TV support. NTT DoCoMo will also offer wireless file transfers using the inductive charging plate: drop your smartphone down to recharge, and it will automatically transfer your recent photos and videos to your computer.

The DoCoMo NEXT MEDIA PP N-01D phone will go on sale come December 9, and is available to preorder now. The PP-SHOCK GB-6900 watch won’t arrive until the new year, however, pricing tbc.

Update: We’re hearing the GB-6900 will be the equivalent of around $235, and the battery is supposedly rated for a whopping two years based on 12hrs of Bluetooth 4.0 connection per day.

Whether any of those hold any appeal will probably depend on how much of an outdoors person you are; if so, you’ll likely get a kick out of the Commando’s thermometer, accelerometer, A-GPS and other sensors. More mundane are the 5-megapixel camera, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and Android 2.2 Froyo OS.

Verizon is expecting the G’zOne Commando to go down well with industry buyers and enterprise, as well as those who find themselves in warehouses and similar. It will go on sale April 28, priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement.

Press Release:

Verizon Wireless And Casio Introduce The CASIO G’zOne Commando

First Ruggedized Android Smartphone for Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and Casio today announced a new addition to the rugged wireless category and a new Android-powered smartphone in the marketplace, the CASIO G’zOne Commando™. Deployment ready, the Commando is a mobile office with high security features for secure corporate email; Wi-Fi for high-speed Web access; XT9 and T9 trace input for efficient typing; and snap-out menu for customized access to high-use applications.

Designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, the CASIO G’zOne Commando easily transitions from work to play with advanced G’zGEAR software. As the ultimate outdoor tool in a mobile device, G’zGEAR operates in eight modes to enhance the active, adventure-driven lifestyle. With the help of its Triple Sensor technology utilizing direction, acceleration and temperature, G’zGEAR enables adventurers to perform at their peak.

The Casio Commando is ideal for the business environment, especially for fields such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, utilities and healthcare. Workers in hazardous environments, such as construction sites, warehouses and factory floors, need a smartphone that has the capability to download blueprints, files and pictures; update project plans; access field force management, inventory access and corporate applications; and capture signatures.

Key features:

Android™ 2.2
Meets Military Standards 810G for Immersion, Rain, Shock and Dust Resistant, Vibration, Salt Fog, Humidity, Solar Radiation, Altitude, Low and High Temperature Storage
5-megapixel camera with auto-focus, still photo, video capture, LED light
High-security encryption for corporate email
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity
Stereo Bluetooth™
VZ Navigator® for GPS and audible turn-by-turn directions
Mobile Hotspot capable-share 3G connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Lifestyle features:

G’zGear operates in eight modes
Earth Compass – Functions as a standard compass, the GPS shows the distance and direction to several domestic and international landmarks, including Yosemite National Park and Mt. Everest.
Walking Counter – Measures steps, distance and energy consumption, and total steps for the day, week or month. It also provides virtual treks for famous North American trails and roads including Mt. Kilimanjaro, Annapurna Circuit, Torres Del Paine Circuit, John Muir Trail and Transcontinental.
Adventure Training – Takes training to a new level by allowing users to run with virtual opponents, like world-record holders, wild animals, or their own best personal performance stored in the training history.
Trip Memory – Plots and records outdoor activities along with location information to share with friends and family on Twitter™ and Facebook®.
Tides – Showcases the tidal graph for the day; time of tide ebb and flow; and current, past and future sea tide levels. GPS displays the nearest location map.
Thermometer – Displays current temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit with numeric and graphic thermometer readings and compares the current temperature across multiple locations.
Sun / Moon – Checks the time of the next sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset, and tracks the moon phases for your current location.
Star Gazer – Utilizes GPS to display the stars and constellation names based on the current season and time.
Pricing and availability:

The CASIO G’zOne Commando will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on April 28 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. CASIO G’zOne Commando customers will need to subscribe to a data plan. Unlimited data plans are available to customers starting at $29.99 monthly access.
Business customers who want to purchase the device can contact their Business Sales Representatives at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.
For more information on the CASIO G’zOne Commando or for other Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Customers can visit www.CasioGzOne.com to experience the CASIO G’zOne Commando.

 

The camera has a 12.1-megapixel sensor and a 21mm ultra-wide angle lens, and is capable of slow-motion video and 360-degree panoramic stills. However the really interesting aspect is the twisty-flexing design, which allows the 3-inch touchscreen TFT LCD to be rotated 270-degrees and the frame of the camera rotated a full 360-degrees.

Whether that’s enough to justify the $250 price is up to you, but at least you shouldn’t have a problem attracting attention from the people you want to photograph.

Press Release:

New Casio TRYX™ Camera Arrives at Best Buy® Stores Nationwide

Award winning design rethinks the shape of digital cameras

MINNEAPOLIS, MN & DOVER, NJ (April 18, 2011) – Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) and Casio America, Inc. today announced the availability of the Casio TRYX™, the new shape-shifting, high-performance digital camera from Casio. The device comes in black or a white version that is exclusive to Best Buy, and can be purchased at Best Buy stores nationwide and on bestbuy.com for $249.99.

TRYX is an award-winning 12.1 megapixel camera with a sleek, innovative design that allows users to turn, twist, hang and stand the camera to capture images at nearly any angle. Its 21mm ultra-wide angle lens takes slow-motion video and 360-degree panoramic vistas while recognizing moving objects and faces to limit distortion and blurring.

“We’re excited to offer a camera with so many options for easy-to-use customization,” said Lisa Farrell, SVP, general manager portable electronics for Best Buy. “TRYX provides a unique addition to our wide assortment of digital imaging products, and reflects Best Buy’s desire to bring the latest and greatest technology to our customers.”

The partnership with Casio highlights Best Buy’s commitment to supplying a full range of high-quality digital imaging offerings for all its customers, from individuals and families looking to

capture and share memorable moments to industry professionals requiring top performing products and service. The wide assortment of digital imaging products at Best Buy and on bestbuy.com includes camcorders, point-and-shoot cameras, Digital SLRs and a broad array of photography accessories.

“TRYX is more than just a few fun twists and turns. It’s a high-quality camera with innovative features that allow the user to be creative and customize their images instantly,” said Toshi Iguchi, Senior General Manager, Digital Imaging Division, Casio America, Inc. “Best Buy is the perfect partner for us because they have a rich history in the digital imaging space and their employees have the expertise and knowhow to help customers discover all that TRYX has to offer.”

For more information about the Casio TRYX and Best Buy’s digital imaging offerings, visit: www.bestbuy.com

The H30 is a 16.1MP resolution camera with a 24mm wide-angle lens and 12.5x optical zoom. It promises 1000 photos per battery charge and can record 720p HD video. Storage is to SD cards and the camera has a wide range of automatic settings and modes. It will ship in March for $249.99 in silver, black, red, or gold colors.

The last two digital cams are the EX-ZS10 and the EX-ZS5. Both of these cameras are compact units that have lower price points with the ZS10 going for $119.99 and the ZS5 selling for $99.99. Both are 14.1MP resolution cameras and have 26mm wide-angle lenses and 5x optical zoom. The ZS10 can shoot 720p video and the ZS5 gets by with VGA 640 x 480 resolution. Both of the cameras will ship in March.

The camera is called the TRYX and its only 0.59-inches thick. It has a swiveling 3-inch TFT LCD that can be rotated 270-degrees when the frame of the camera can be rotated a full 360-degrees. That allows the body of the camera to be used as a tripod or a handle when shooting over the heads of a crowd. The camera uses the Casio Exilim Engine HS for processing speed an image quality.

The camera can shoot slow motion video with speeds up to 240 frames per second. The lens is a 21mm wide-angle unit with high-speed SR zoom technology and 1.5x single frame zoon and 2x SR zoom. The camera has 12.1MP resolution and can record movies in MOV, H.264, and other formats at up to 1080p. Content is stored to SD cards. The camera will ship in April for $249.99.

The Casio watch is, by and far, still just a concept that Casio is putting a lot of work in. With the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology inside, the watch is utilizing the new low-power-consumption version of the short-range wireless networking standard. The watch is able to power its normal usage through a single button-cell battery, which makes it possible for the BLE-fused watch to consume the same amount of power as a normal wristwatch, even with the extra features thrown in.

Casio is testing the technology now, knowing that the BLE-technology will be implemented in devices in the near future. And that means not just smartphones. No word on when Casio will be trying to get something like this out to market, but the company will be showing the device off at their booth at CES, so stay tuned.

Press Release

CASIO DEVELOPS WATCH THAT COMMUNICATES WITH SMARTPHONES VIA BLUETOOTH® LOW ENERGY LINK

Prototype Features the Latest Wireless Technology with Very Low Power Consumption

LAS VEGAS, JANUARY 5, 2011 — Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today that it has developed a watch using Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) technology, the new low-power-consumption version of the short-range wireless networking standard*. A prototype of the watch, sharing a two-way data link with a smartphone, will be exhibited at Casio’s booth (#11006) at the International Consumer Electronics Show to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 6-9, 2011.

Casio has been redefining the wristwatch for years by applying the latest technologies. Now, Casio’s application of BLE positions the company to create new possibilities for the way people use their watches. Taking advantage of the low power consumption of BLE, the new watch powers wireless communication functions with a single, ordinary button-cell battery, and without consuming any more battery life than a conventional wristwatch. Users can wear it every day just like they normally do, without the hassle of recharging which is required by typical mobile devices. Battery life is estimated at approximately two years based on the prototype model, assuming that the Bluetooth wireless communication function is used for 12 hours per day.

Casio’s new prototype communicates with BLE-equipped smartphones, which will be available in the near future and will connect to networks of various kinds of devices. As the wireless link between smartphones and watches gains in adoption, and as the universe of smartphone applications continues to grow, Casio expects to see new possibilities for watches in everyday life.

Casio aims to produce its first Bluetooth Low Energy Watch in 2011. Meanwhile, Casio will call for partner companies to develop applications compatible with smartphones and other household devices in such areas as sports, health, home entertainment, security, and communication with family and friends.

Overview of Casio’s Prototype Bluetooth Low Energy Watch

Main features:

§ Wireless communication is powered by the button-cell battery used in small devices and watches

§ Battery life with the communication functions is the same as previously released watches

§ The watch case measures a comfortable 53.4 (D) x 44.4 (W) x 12.8 (T) millimeters

Main functions:

§ The alert signal notifies the wearer of calls and e-mail messages arriving on the networked smartphone

§ Alarm and vibration functions of a smartphone can be activated using a watch button

§ A smartphone’s ring and vibration alerts can be stopped by tapping the watch

§ Accurate time information can be transmitted from a smartphone to the watch to ensure correct time

Casio’s demonstration of the Bluetooth Low Energy Watch uses a prototype of a Bluetooth Low Energy smartphone. The demonstration will be conducted at Casio’s Booth (#11006) at 2011 International CES, in cooperation with NEC Casio Mobile Communications.

Main Specifications of the Prototype Bluetooth Low Energy Watch

Communication Specifications
Data Transfer Rate
1 Mbps
Signal Strength
0 dBm (1mW)
Signal Range
2–5 m (may differ depending on surrounding conditions)
Encryption Method
128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
Communication Functions
Time Correction
The watch can be synchronized with time information transmitted from a smartphone
Incoming Call and E-mail Alert
The watch alerts users of incoming calls and e-mail messages sent to a smartphone
Finder Function
Alarm and vibration functions of a smartphone can be activated using a watch button
Watch Functions
Alarm
5 independent daily alarms; hourly time signal; vibration function
Stopwatch
1/100-second; measuring capacity: 23:59’59.99”; split time
Countdown Timer
Measuring unit: 1 second; Input range: 1 minute to 24 hours
World Time
100 cities (35 time zones, daylight saving on/off) and Coordinated Universal Time
Light
Electro-luminescent backlight with afterglow
Other
Full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format; sleep mode
Power Source
CR2032
Approx. Battery Life
(Based on the Prototype Model)
Approx. 2 years (assuming the communication function is used for 12 hours per day)
Size of Case
53.4 × 44.4 × 12.8 mm
Total Weight
Approx. 50g

What a magical assortment of parts – each of them cut with precision to provide you with a greener way to display the time on your wrist. Can you imagine a future where the only thing that’d make you replace a device is a damaged part, and the only power source needed is the sun? Welcome to that future.

[Via Akihabara News]

The four new models all feature Casio’s Innovative Hybrid Light Source technology, which the company says will offer owners a better experience overall, between using the projector itself, and the image being displayed. Two of the models, the A255V and A250, feature native WXGA resolution, at 1280 x 800. The models all feature USB ports, but are also able to communicate wirelessly with your computer. Each of the projectors feature 3,000 lumens of brightness as well.

As far as pricing goes, you can find the A150 for $1,299.99, the A155V for $1,499.99, the A250 for $1,399.99, and finally the A255V will cost you $1,599.99.

[via Ubergizmo]

On the back is a 2.7-inch LCD, while storage combines 14.9MB of internal memory with an SD/SDHC card slot.  There’s an auto mode which analyses the scene and adjusts the settings accordingly, together with face detection and optical image stabilization.

Nothing too dramatic, then, but Casio aren’t asking too much for the EXILIM Z-16.  It’ll drop later this month for $99.99.

Press Release:

CASIO INTRODUCES SLEEK ENTRY-LEVEL EXILIM Z-16

Stylish Design Blends with Easy Functionality for Outstanding Pictures

DOVER, NJ, September 20, 2010 — Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today the addition of the entry-level EX-Z16 to its EXILIM® family of digital cameras. Marrying Casio’s sleek design with a host of easy-to-use capabilities – including Easy Mode, YouTube™ capture and a simplified user interface – the EX-Z16 makes taking great pictures amazingly simple.

This newest member of the EXILIM family boasts superb 12MP image quality, as well as 3x optical and 4x digital zoom capabilities. The Easy Mode interface offers a simplified menu, dedicated movie button, and a YouTube capture feature that enables users to record and share live-action videos with just a few clicks.

“We wanted to round out our Exilim digital camera line to include simplified functionality that is beneficial to consumers, and the EX-Z16 definitely achieves this goal,” said Toshi Iguchi, Senior General Manager, Digital Imaging Division, Casio America Inc. “The EX-Z16 doesn’t just take outstanding photos and videos, it captures beautiful, natural and organic shots that you’ll share and cherish with friends and family.”

EX-Z16 Features

Sleek, Stylish Design
Casio EXILIM has redefined digital camera “style” by introducing the world’s first super-slim and sleek camera models. The new EX-Z16 is no different, embodying the smooth design and functionality that EXILIM is known for. It fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and features smooth lines and an array of beautiful colors to choose from.

New Simplified Easy Mode User Interface Makes Taking Great Pics a Snap
Even the most inexperienced photographer can take gorgeous photos with the EX-Z16’s Easy Mode User Interface. The only settings you have to adjust on our 2.7-inch LCD screen are image size, flash and self timer – the camera does the rest! Best of all, your options are displayed on a simplified menu, making your adjustments quick and easy. Add in automatic Face Detection technology that automatically provides optimum focus — even in less than optimal lighting — and the EX-Z16 can help you take the best shots of your life.

Integrated YouTube Capture Mode for Easy Video Sharing
This feature enables you to easily record family moments or fun times with friends. Video is optimized to a web-friendly 640 x 480, H.264 format for quick transfer to YouTube, through Casio’s YouTube Uploader software. Then simply share with a few clicks of your mouse.

Big, Bright LCD Screen Brings Your Scenes to Life
Our 2.7-inch LCD (230K) screen provides an increased brightness and higher contrast, which gives you better image contrast, even in bright light situations. The wide 180 degree viewing angle makes it easy to line up your shots from any perspective, ensuring that what you see is what you get.

BEST SHOT Function Produces Beautiful Photos with Just a Touch
The EX-Z16 also offers BEST SHOT technology, which automatically analyzes your scene and applies the best settings for capturing perfect images and video. This feature applies face detection, auto focus and exposure settings to a total of 23 types of scenes, offering optimal configuration in just about any setting or situation.

The EX-Z16 will be on store shelves in September and retail for $99.99.

To do that it has all manner of accelerometers and motion sensors, which work from the most recent GPS fix and estimate your current indoor position.  When you step back outside and get a new GPS fix, it’s all updated again.  Nifty power management means you’ll have enough battery life for more than one or two shots, the company claims, and there’s a preloaded database of over 140 cities (and even 10,000 preloaded shots of sightseeing landmarks) stored on the H20G itself.

Otherwise it’s pretty much as you’d expect from a modern compact: various auto modes, a 3-inch LCD preview display and a panorama mode for 360-degree shots.  The Casio EXILIM EX-H20G will drop in November, priced at $349.99.

Press Release:

CASIO RELEASES COMPACT EXILIM® CAMERA WITH HYBRID GPS

World’s First Camera Combining GPS with Motion-Sensor Driven Autonomic Positioning

DOVER, NJ, September 20, 2010 — Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today unveiled the world’s first Hybrid GPS enabled digital camera, the EXILIM® EX-H20G. The latest model to join Casio’s EXILIM Hi-Zoom lineup, the EX-H20G offers an impressive feature set as well as Casio’s state-of-the-art Hybrid GPS technology, which makes the camera perfect for traveling. Thanks to Casio’s Hybrid GPS system, the EX-H20G offers ultra-precise location data for the geotagging of photos and videos and is also the first camera able to geotag indoors. Additionally, the EX-H20G can display the user’s current location – as well as geotagged photos and videos – on a map which can be viewed right on the camera itself.

“Geotagging has increased in popularity, especially with the advent of photo-sharing Web sites and as consumers look to do more with their images,” said Toshi Iguchi, Senior General Manager, Digital Imaging Division, Casio America Inc. “With the new Exilim EX-H20G, Casio is taking the geotagging experience to a new level by incorporating exciting technologies which consumers can now leverage to make the process fun, easy and completely seamless. No matter where in the world you take an image, whether it is indoors or out, the EX-H20G will know exactly where it was taken.”

The EX-H20G’s Hybrid GPS system sets a new standard for geotagging and offers exciting new ways to use a digital camera. Casio’s Hybrid GPS system combines GPS with autonomic positioning, which is made possible by an internal motion sensor. This enables the EX-H20G to track a user’s last known satellite-acquired position against map data stored in the camera’s internal memory, even while the user is indoors. In addition to these features, the camera is pre loaded with information regarding 10,000 sightseeing photo spots around the globe. When in the vicinity of one of these photo spots, the EX-H20G will automatically alert the user, identifying the locations as points-of-interest.

The industry-leading GPS and geotagging capabilities of the EX-H20G will dramatically change how people use their digital camera when traveling. The EX-H20G’s on-screen map allows users to plan their travels before departing as they can view destinations, points-of-interest and photo locations. While on-the-go, users can then confirm their present location and utilize the EX H20G’s digital compass to determine the best route to their next destination. After returning home, users can manage and share their geotagged photos and videos captured with the EX H20G using popular photo-sharing Web sites and software which offer geotagging functionality, such as Picasa, Panoramio, Google Earth, Flickr and iPhoto. These platforms will utilize the precise location data embedded into each image’s EXIF file to plot exactly where they were captured on a world map, giving the photographer, as well as their friends and family, the ability to vividly imagine their travels by making the connection with the locations visited and images. By integrating camera and map as well as location data and photos, the EX-H20G creates a whole new way to enjoy traveling.

Equipped with the new EXILIM Engine HS, the EX-H20G features all of the essential capabilities expected from a camera. When used with Casio’s Single Frame SR Zoom function, the 24mm wide-angle, 10x optical zoom lens actually offers a 15x zoom range that maintains the image quality needed for 14.1-megapixel high-resolution photography. This represents 1.5 times the range of the optical zoom, with virtually no loss in quality. Other features include 720p HD video recording (30fps), as well as a three-inch, high-resolution 460K super clear LCD that is easy to view even when outdoors. The EX-H20G also comes with Casio’s advanced, fully automatic Premium Auto function for taking beautiful shots of scenery and people with just a press of the shutter button, and various useful functions for traveling such as Panorama Photo mode, which can take 360-degree photos, as well as auto-time adjustment which will automatically synchronize the camera’s date and time with that of the user’s current location and time zone.

Starting with the EX-H20G, Casio is positioning the EXILIM brand as “Amazing Gear” — a brand that never fails to deliver new surprises and excitement. Casio intends to revolutionize photography, creating new value by developing digital cameras that go beyond the limits of cameras in the past.

EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-H20G
A Traveler’s Camera Equipped with a Hybrid GPS System

The first digital camera with autonomic indoor positioning through Hybrid GPS
The EX-H20G is equipped with a Hybrid GPS system that combines a GPS engine with autonomic positioning made possible by a motion sensor. Even if no signals are received from GPS satellites when indoors, the system consecutively tracks the user’s location by employing an original algorithm using a three-way accelerometer and a three-way direction sensor. When the user goes back outside, the system automatically updates the positional information of the indoor location based on the exact location determined by GPS reception. Even when the camera is powered off, the GPS system continues to search for satellite signals at 10 minute intervals. This is an ideal system for a digital camera, allowing it to immediately track location data at any time and any place.

Highly accurate and speedy position tracking with low power consumption
The EX-H20G employs Casio’s advanced low-power technology, which ensures that the camera consumes only a small amount of power. Power consumption is suited for the various situations in which the EX-H20G will be used, including power on and power-off, satellite acquisition and even while the three-way accelerometer and direction sensor are working in the background while the camera is off. With the EX-H20G, users can rest assured knowing that they won’t need to sacrifice battery life to enjoy highly precise and speedy position tracking.

Complete with a wide range of functions useful for traveling
• Contains world atlas data including detailed maps of 140 world cities and 12 cities in Japan
• User’s location and photos and movies taken are displayed on a map
• Photos are saved with the location information, including longitude and latitude, shooting direction, and place names
• About 10,000 photos of popular sightseeing spots around the world are included in the internal memory
• Users can leverage the camera’s digital compass and map to determine the most appropriate route
• A location name database with approximately one million items is included , enabling the camera to display the name of the shooting location on the screen
• Location name and other data can be embedded in the photo when taken
• H.264 video format grants longer recording time for 720p HD Movies
• Travel memories can be reproduced vividly on a large-screen TV in a slideshow with a map using an HDMI terminal

Premium Auto function produces beautiful photos with just a press of the shutter button
Premium Auto enables the camera to automatically analyze the scene being photographed — including distinguishing night scenes, back lighting, a blue sky, green trees or a sunset — as well as sensing whether there is a face in the frame, the movement and position of the subject, and whether a tripod is being used. It simultaneously optimizes settings for exposure, ISO, sensitivity, focus location, photo blur correction, tonal range and color balance, and level of noise reduction. Images are analyzed pixel by pixel to apply different correction to people and backgrounds. Premium Auto delivers an advanced level of full auto photography, ensuring high quality photos with just a press of the shutter button. Landscape Makeup processing, which creates clearer landscape photographs, operates automatically.

Equipped with newly developed EXILIM Engine HS
The newly developed EXILIM Engine HS for advanced image processing boasts a multi-CPU and two parallel image processors, enabling the EX-H20G to accurately capture the genuine character of photo subjects with high-speed.

Powerful zoom that maintains high-resolution image quality through 15x
The EX-H20G is outfitted with a 24mm ultra wide-angle, 10x optical zoom lens which offers a 35mm film equivalent focal length of 24mm-240mm. To enhance the zoom range even further, Casio incorporated its Single Frame SR Zoom in the EX-H20G, which extends the camera’s 35mm film equivalent telephoto focal length to 360mm, for 1.5 times the optical zoom or a total zoom range of 15x. Furthermore, the EX-H20G features built-in CCD-shift image stabilization to help reduce photo blur from hand movement. These features allow users to photograph any kind of scene, from enormous structures in sightseeing areas to scenic views at a distance.

Dynamic Photo function for creating composite moving images
These EX-H20G also features Casio’s Dynamic Photo function, which makes it easy for users to create “moving photos” right on the camera by cutting moving subjects from the background in images taken with continuous shooting, and combining those images on a different still or moving image background. With Dynamic Photo, it is possible to make multiple characters move independently of each other against a background of moving images up to as long as 20 seconds. These capabilities encourage users to explore their creativity and make it more fun to create images. Sharing is also simplified as included software makes it easy to upload images to YouTube™ or post them to a blog.

The EX-H20G will be available November 2010 for $349.99.

And considering the Exilim EX-S200 is only 14.9mm thick at its thickest point, Casio may have a point here. Though, you’ll have to be the judge on whether or not that’s too small. Casio also claims that it’s the same size as a credit card, which we may have to see to believe. At the moment, we’ll just call ourselves skeptics of that claim. But, whether or not you can put it into your pocket and forget it exists doesn’t matter. What matters, is the tech inside.

It’s featuring 14.1-megapixels, and it has a 4x optical zoom. However, Casio points out that thanks to the SR zoom technology in the camera, that’s the equivalent of a 6x optical zoom. Probably more noteworthy, though, is the super intelligent software. The auto-focus gives the camera the ability to literally analyze the scenes in which you are taking a picture. That means, it can register how many faces are in a picture, a person’s position and movement, back-lighting, green trees and blue skies, and the ability to distinguish night scenes. Basically, it knows where you are, what’s going on, and it can adjust the shot accordingly. You may as well not even be there.

It can also tell whether or not it’s on a tripod, too, which is pretty neat in of itself. The camera should be released some time this month, and it will cost £199.99 over the pond. We’re still waiting to hear whether or not this little guy will be making it over to the States, but we have no reason to think it won’t.

[via Pocket-Lint]

Scott Dual Cassette Deck

For my thirteenth birthday, back in 1988, my father bought me a real stereo system. It was an upgrade from my older boom box, and it included my first CD player. There was a receiver, a CD player and a dual cassette deck. Of course, CDs would become much more important to me over time, but for more than a decade, the cassette deck got most of my attention.

Like many folks my age, but not many folks younger, I was a mix-tape fanatic. I made mix tapes for every road trip and every special occasion. I made them as keepsakes for friends, and gifts to woo women. I once tasked myself with creating a collection of 24 hours worth of mix tapes. To create the set, I catalogued every interesting song in my possession on index cards, then checked them off one at a time as they were used in my set. 24 hours of mix tapes, no repeats. Most of my taping was from CD to cassette, but some was deck-to-deck dubbing. Even so, I rarely dubbed at high-speed.

Some people miss LP records. Some people miss CDs, and lament the failure of hi-fidelity audio formats, like SACD, to truly catch on. Some people, rightfully so, miss albums, and wonder if the album concept is slowly fading as singles and compilations become the norm. Me? I miss mix tapes.

When I made a 90-minute mix tape on cassette, I listened to 90 minutes of music. I didn’t just pick titles from a list and press the “Burn” button. I listened to a song while it recorded to tape. Then, near the end of the song, I started thinking of what would be a perfect next track. What would be unexpected? What could I hear a hundred times and always enjoy? As a good DJ will tell you, you can’t create a mix without listening to the music and how it all flows together.

When I was in grad school, I got my first CD burner. It didn’t speed the process much, because I wasn’t using compressed music files at the time. So, a 700MB CD required that much space on my then-2GB hard disk drive. I didn’t have storage for a collection of ripped digital music files, so every time I created a new mix CD, I had to copy then burn. It probably took 30 minutes or so to create a 70-minute disk. Still, something was lost. I had stopped listening to the music.

I don’t remember the last mix CD I ever made, but I do remember the first one I didn’t make. I had a long distance friend in High School, but we lost touch for a couple years in college. We used to trade mix tapes often. She introduced me to Led Zeppelin. I introduced her to Les Miserables. We both dove into “Achtung Baby” at the same time. My mix tapes were epic. I’m talking about a diverse mix of genres and tempos, some nice classics and a few new tunes on every tape. Dramatic irony and clever use of cover tunes. Her mix tapes were pretty good, too.

We started talking again after she had a major surgery and she sent a blast e-mail from the hospital. She forgot to remove me from her blast e-mail list. I called her, and we reconnected. Our rekindled friendship didn’t last. I asked her if she wanted a mix. She said she did, with loads of songs, to make up for lost time. By then, I was on my way to a collection of thousands of digital files. I started to imagine CDs, box sets, even.

But there was no art in it. It was just a collection of tunes I liked. There was no narrative, no flow. Looking at the five hours of music I could have burned for her, it was like looking through a photo album of a trip to Italy, instead of actually taking the trip myself. I dropped the issue; she never brought it up again. The mix tape, as a concept, was over.

Casio SK-1 Keyboard

There were better sampling keyboards on the market at the same time for less money. Yamaha made a keyboard that seemed to do more, maybe sound better, but I picked the Casio SK-1. It was a wise choice. Not because the Casio SK-1 was a better keyboard, but because I had used it before. I knew I wanted it because a friend brought one to camp the past summer, and I had a chance to play around on it. I was familiar, comfortable, and happy with that keyboard.

The salesperson tried to argue with me. I was probably 11 years old at the time, and he argued that my $100 would be better spent on a Yamaha. My father took my side. If I was familiar with it, it was a better choice.

Years later I’d ask a camera guru which camera I should buy. I don’t remember who the guru was exactly, and I know the advice wasn’t original, but it was the best buying advice I ever heard. He told me that the best camera to own is the one I’ll actually use. I could get the one that was smallest, the one with the best quality imaging, the one with the longest zoom lens. But if I didn’t like the camera enough to take pictures, what’s the point?

I love that advice. I am a proponent of the idea that the emotional component of a buying decision, even in a supposedly pragmatic or analytical decision like a technology purchase, is just as important, perhaps more so, than the logical component.

So, what makes the Casio SK-1 special? It was the first sampling keyboard I’d ever tried. I had no piano ability, but I liked fooling around on a portable keyboard, especially the newer ones with funky beats and automatic chords. The Casio SK-1 included a microphone so you could record a sound, or your own voice, and the keyboard would play it back on a polyphonic scale. You could play a song melody or chords using a recorded sound.

Sure, as an 11 year old, I spent the first year playing burps and fart noises. Then I got creative. The keyboard was small, and I took it everywhere. It showed up in camp skits and singalongs, at youth group slumber parties, and late at night in my dorm room. It sang harmony on folk songs, and it provided sound effects on skit night. I had plenty of toys, but the Casio SK-1 was the first piece of tech gear that opened my eyes to new creative possibilities.

I bought it not because it made sense, but because it made me happy.

Part two of Philip’s “5 Gadgets” column will be published tomorrow

Casio has made their Green Slim Projectors available for consumption. What you get, is a projector that can display a projected image to 100 inches or more. Even better, the Green Slim can also project that image in a full 1080p HD signal, coming from either laser or LED hybrid light sources. Those will last somewhere in the ball park of 20,000 hours, too, so you should have plenty of late nights playing your favorite games.

You also get the ability to zoom in two times, making sure that if you want the full immersion environment, you get it. Thanks to the LED and laser lights, Casio has also made sure that the color representation is as pure as it gets. There’s obviously the HDMI port, making sure that you can plug your favorite game console, which has to be HDMI-equipped itself, into the projector. Prices range from $799 to $1,099, which you can pick up from many electronics retailers, like Best Buy. Are projectors something you’d consider? Or is an HDTV still something you’d rather buy?

[via CrunchGear]

The Casio G-Shock GW-3000 fall into the company’s new “Gravity Defier” range, and while that might sound like they’ll make you float, in actual fact they’re capable of resisting centrifugal gravitational force. Aimed at aviators who might require a watch that can withstand up to 15Gs, that doesn’t mean regular people like us won’t find some appeal; having bumped the chunky timepiece on a few occasions, we particularly appreciated the raised urethane bezel which helps protect the watchface.

Casio have three versions of the GW-3000: the GW-3000B with a resin strap and the GW-3000D and 3000BD with silver or black metal straps. All three are solar powered yet also automatically check themselves against radio wave broadcasts and adjust for accuracy. A particularly sharp bump, which might knock the hands out of alignment, can also be automatically corrected without your needing to open the watch up and tweak with tweezers.

The rest of the functions are pretty much par for the G-Shock course, with 29-zone world clock, stopwatch, daily alarm, day/week display and an automatic calendar. Casio reckon the GW-3000 can last for almost two years on a full charge, though the display will automatically shut off to save power in the dark. The resin-bodied GW-3000B is also reasonably light, at 74g (the metal versions are 148g). Despite the fact that there’s no shortage of information on display, the GW-3000 is suitably glanceable with big, bright numbers (orange in our review model, but they also do blue and green).

As for the Casio G-Shock GA-100, looking ominous all in grey, that packs both analog and digital displays, a 29-zone world clock, five independent alarms, stopwatch and countdown timer and day/month/year display. It’s also anti-magnetic along with – as you’d expect – shock-proof, and can be used underwater to up to 660 feet (200m).

Casio bill the GA-100 as having “auto LED lighting”, though we found we still preferred hitting the button ourselves. We also can’t help but wish Casio had fitted brighter LEDs, too; the watch’s face is pretty gloomy, and the standard lighting only goes part-way in addressing that. Similarly, while the analog dial has luminous markers at each of the hour points, the watch hands themselves do not.

Still, the buttons are sizeable and easy to hit, and it’s a considerably cheaper timepiece than the G-Shock GW-3000 at around $99. The matte finish surround and resin strap proved scuff-resistant, and while it’s undeniably chunky we didn’t worry about accidentally knocking it. At 70g it’s surprisingly light, too. On a level playing field we’d rather the solar convenience and glanceable face of the G-Shock GA-3000, but at around $260 for the resin-banded 3000B (or $350 for the metal-banded versions) our wallet would lean toward the GA-100 instead.

That prototype replaces the power button with a presence sensor, turning on the display only when there are people around to enjoy it.  Meanwhile there’s also a more complex image processing unit than you’d usually find in such a frame; that’s because the Casio DPF can convert regular photos into painting-style artwork on-the-fly.

Meanwhile there’s also WiFi connectivity and – despite the passivity premise – support for Flash Lite 3.0 widgets.  There’s also talk of more advanced user-recognition systems, rather than solely presence, which could be used to automatically pull out images to display based on who is looking at the screen.  No word on when – or if – we can expect the prototype to reach production, nor for how much it might retail.

The cams both use the new EXILIM Engine 5.0 for lower power consumption and high image quality. The lower power consumption is important for longer battery life, meaning more images taken per charge. The EX-S7 has 12.1MP and a 3x optical zoom lens with a 2.7-inch rear LCD. The camera can record 720p HD video and stores to SD and SDHC memory cards.

The EX-Z35 digital camera also has 12.1MP and a 3x optical zoom lens. The big feature of the Z35 is its svelte 0.8-inch profile. It can record video, but only at a max resolution of 848 x 480. Both of the cameras have software for uploading video to YouTube. The S7 will sell for $139.99 later this spring and the Z35 will ship in March for $109.99.

The EX-10HG has a 12.1-megapixel sensor and optical zoom, but the real interest is in its hybrid-GPS system.  Unlike regular GPS geotagging, which simply uses a GPS chip to attach positioning information to an image’s metadata, the Casio system offers full PND-style functionality complete with Google Maps.

That means you can browse your photos, pinpointed on a map, directly on the camera itself, but also see other photographer’s images that were taken nearby.  It will also offer directions, a digital compass and wayfinder functionality, and Casio are expected to switch out the regular display for a more usable touchscreen.

The camera has built-in software that analyzes your posture and improves your swing by helping you to improve the placement of your elbows, arms, or head. I guess those things are all a big deal to golfers. When it comes to old-fashioned picture taking, the EX-FS10S isn’t bad.

The camera has the capability of burst shooting at up to 1000 fps, 410 fps, 210 fps, and 30 fps modes. That super fast burst mode is intended to help improve your swing by capturing shots of each step. The camera has a 9.1MP sensor and 31.9MB of internal memory. The camera can also record 720p video in full motion 30 fps and has 3x optical zoom. The big downside is that the camera is only available in Japan.

As for the Riki Watanabe design, that’s a little more subtle (as long as you ignore the peach and lime color versions) but still pretty distinctive.  It retails for $117.97, while the Casio models range from $89.56 for the Cubic Puzzle through to $163.42 for some new DualShock models.

As for Tokyoflash themselves, we’re told they’ve been busily working on a new Bluetooth product based on the fruits of their research earlier this year.  That’s tipped to arrive sometime next month.

For the customer looking for an entry-level camera, Casio has unveiled a couple new cams that are low cost and still record HD video. The new cameras include the EX-Z280 and the EX-Z33. The 280 is a point-and-shoot with a resolution of 12.1MP. The cam uses Casio’s Exilic Engine 4 processor and can record 720p HD video. The lens of the camera is 26-104mm equivalent and has 4x zoom.

The Z33 camera records video at a resolution of 854 x 480 and has 10MP resolution. The Z33 has an ISO of 1600 max while the Z280 will go up to ISO 3200. The Z280 will sell for $180 and the z33 will go for $120 with both shipping in September.

There’s also 1280 x 720 video recording, together with the ability to make Motion JPEG animations complete in-camera from a sequence of images.  The EX-Z450 is the larger of the two cameras and packs a 4x optical zoom and 3-inch LCD; meanwhile the EX-Z90 is a more compact model, and while still getting the same sized LCD only manages a 3x optical zoom.

Both cameras will arrive in Japan come September 11th, with the Z450 available in gold, pink, red, silver and brown, while the Z90 comes in gold, silver, pink, blue and black.  No confirmed pricing as yet.

Specs include a brightness of 2,500 lumens, a 1,280 x 800 resolution, a 1,800:1 contrast ratio and a super slim form factor, measuring in at only 1.7-inches at the thickest spot. Inputs include HDMI and VGA.

You can scale up images to 300-inches if you’d like, or shrink them down to just 2.8-inches. You should be able to get your hands on the Casio XJ-S43W starting in September for $999.

In fact Casio are claiming to have created the thinnest and lightest camera of its class, which basically means other 10x optical zoom models.  If marketing hyperbole doesn’t excite you, then perhaps the 1,000-shot battery life or automatic Motion JPEG animation tool will tickle your fancy.

Elsewhere there’s a new “Landscape Mode” which will automatically juggle the settings depending on whether you tell it you’re snapping a misty or a vivid scene, and a “Dynamic Photo” mode in which you can piece together a person or object from one shot into the background of another.

The Casio EXILIM EX-H10 will begin shipping in mid-July, with an MRSP of $299.99.

Press Release:

CASIO RELEASES EXILIM HI-ZOOM COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA WITH ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE 24 MM, 10X OPTICAL ZOOM LENS

World’s Thinnest and Lightest*1 Camera in its Class Features Battery Life of 1,000 Shots,*2 and an Advanced Dynamic Photo Function

DOVER, NJ, June 11, 2009 – Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today announced the release of another groundbreaking digital camera, the EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-H10. With a thin, compact body and an ultra-wide angle 24mm, 10x optical zoom lens, this new model can take up to 1,000 shots*1 on a single battery charge — making it the perfect travel companion.

At the heart of the new EX-H10 is the EXILIM Engine 4.0, which delivers higher image quality and lower power consumption in an even more compact package. The new Engine’s Multi-CPU*3 is specifically designed for high-speed image processing. Reflecting Casio’s quest for perfection, the new camera provides the best in basic photography functions — beautiful imaging with reduced noise and long battery life for many hours of use. A high-performance 12.1-megapixel model, it also boasts a lens with outstanding optical capabilities — from wide angle to telephoto — and it features a number of Casio’s totally original photographic functions.

Ultra-wide angle 24 mm, 10X optical zoom lens

Only Casio could find a way to pack a 10X optical zoom lens, large 3.0-inch monitor and a CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism into such a slim, compact camera body, just .95” thin, convenient for travel. With ultra-wide angle starting at 24 mm (35 mm film camera equivalent) all the way up to 10x telephoto zoom, the photographer is ready for any scene — from huge buildings and other wonders at tourist destinations to distant figures in a landscape.

*1. As of June 11, 2009, based on a Casio survey of digital cameras with a 10X or greater optical zoom lenses.

*2. When photos taken in accordance with Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards.

*3. A package comprising a high-speed dedicated image processing CPU in addition to the usual high performance CPU.

“The development of the ultra-wide angle 24mm continues Casio’s dedication to creating digital cameras that are packed with innovative features and new technology,” said Toshiyuki Iguchi, Senior General Manager of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division at Casio America, Inc. “This new feature gives our camera enthusiasts the opportunity to capture their extraordinary moments in a variety of shooting environments.”

Advanced Dynamic Photo function

Casio’s original Dynamic Photo function, which creates composite moving images using the camera’s own high-speed image processing technology, now does even more. When a moving subject is cut out of a number of images and combined with a different still shot that forms the background, the size of the subject can be changed to suit the background image. Next, the Dynamic Photo video can easily be converted in-camera into a Motion JPEG movie file. Moreover, moving graphics such as hearts and bouquets of flowers are included so that users can have fun decorating their still images using the Dynamic Photo function. Casio not only allows users to have fun taking and viewing photos, but also provides innovative new ways for them to create original images, right on the camera.

1,000-shot long battery life

Casio has reduced energy consumption by improving the circuitry and operational controls and designing a higher capacity battery, enabling the user to take 1,000 shots on a single full charge. The EX-H10 provides a convenient solution for people on the go. It’s possible to take 100 pictures every day of a 10 day vacation, without ever needing to recharge, eliminating the need to pack a charger. The long-life battery gives users approximately 11 consecutive hours of viewing on a single charge.

New Landscape Mode

The EX-H10 also features a new Landscape Mode for capturing beautiful scenic photography. Unlike earlier landscape photography modes, which enhance the saturation of an entire hue, users can now select between the Vivid Landscape option that uses image analysis to determine and vividly enhance only the most important colors in the landscape or the Mist Removal option that makes weather-affected misty scenes look clear and bright.

The new camera will begin shipping to retail in mid July. The EX-H10 will have an MSRP of $299.99 and will be available in black.

The new feature looks fairly simple to operate – Select the “Dynamic Shoot” function to capture images with subject against a background, and another with the background without the subject. The camera will automatically extract subject from the background, create a cut out moving subject to be placed into a variety of backgrounds during playback. The placement of the subject can be easily adjusted to match the scene of the background. Also, you can select one or up to twenty moving frames for each task. An online data conversion service, available at no extra cost, will further optimize the resulting motion image for the uses of digital media devices or formats such as photo frame, e-greeting, auction or mobile phone.

The service for US site is still listed at “coming soon” but the Japanese version is up and running now according to Impress.

The web service supports OSX and Windows platforms browsers from IE6/7, Firefox 2/3 and safari 3, and require flash player 9 installed. Mobile phones formats are available from 3GPP, 3GPP2 addition, FLV, MPEG-1, MOV, MPEG-4 and animated GIF. User has options to choose video qualities, bit rate and frame rate. A 16 seconds video is reported taken about one minute to convert and can be stored online for up to 30 days for streaming or sharing purposes.

The Casio EXILIM EX- Z400, EX-Z270, and EX-S12 are available this March, and have suggested retails of $299.99, $229.99 and $249.99, respectively.

However little else about the device is known at present, including perhaps the most interesting feature: the camera.  Given that Exilim is the brand under which Casio markets its standalone digital cameras, it’s reasonable to assume that the NX-9250 will have a high megapixel count and, hopefully, decent optics. 

Other than that, all we know is that the handset has Bluetooth.  Earlier this year, Casio’s 8.1-megapixel W63CA, for Japanese carrier KDDI, was cleared by the FCC for roaming purposes.   

[via Mobile Burn]

The camera also features face detection and anti-shake, together with a flash, and given Casio’s expertise in point-and-shoot digital cameras it’s likely to take a decent picture.  The W63CA measures 110 x 50 x 17.4-22mm and will go on sale in Japan in November, price unknown.

As OLED-Info point out, the 3.1-inch AMOLED display used in the Casio Exilim W63CA is actually the same screen KDDI demonstrated back at the beginning of the month.  It will also be used in a more basic cameraphone, also for KDDI, the Hitachi W63H AU.

David prioritized functionality over appearance, and ended up with something somehow even more cool.  Scientific calculations are the very least the μWatch can do: since it has a programming port, universal I/O port, optional IR interface and 60 x 1024 step macro memory, there’s a vast variety of things you can load up in its 64KB of flash program memory.  MAKE suggest a TV remote control, wrist-mounted games console, or controller for other user-designed devices.

A shortage of parts is holding up David’s sales of the watch – the first two batches sold out already – but he’ll also eventually be offering a full parts kit for $115.  Alternatively, download the complete schematic and the GPS source code and make your own.

[via MAKE]

Casio Japan has today announced an unprecedented high density two-inch LCD with 546 pixel-per-inch. The compact LCD uses a a-Si TFT (amorphous silicon thin-film transistor) color liquid crystal display combines with company’s proprietary HAST (hyper-amorphous silicon TFT) technology; boasts a higher resolution and a higher aperture ratio display with resolution of Quarter High Resolution (960×540). The QHD LCD module is capable to display 16.77milion colors and has a view angle of 160 degrees.

This watch features world time with 29 time zones, auto daylight savings time adjustments, a dual electroluminescent backlight, a timer, alarm functions and a stopwatch. As if that weren’t enough, this G-Shock lives up to its name, being both shock and water resistant.

The best part has to be the price. You can pick up your very own watch for just $99, and that’s really not too bad for the included features and overall look.

[via Oh!Gizmo]

The XJ-SC210 and SC215 both have 2500 lumen brightness, together with a new high-fidelity color-rendering light engine algorithm and improved color wheel that expands the chromaticity region by 10-percent over current models.  The XJ-S52 and S57, meanwhile, have 3000 lumen brightness.

Both the SC215 and S57 have a built-in USB host port for plugging in memory sticks directly or, alternatively, a WiFi adaptor for wireless use.  All models have RGA D-Sub and composite connections.  They’ll launch in August, priced from $1,299 to $1,599.

Blanview panels are described as fully-transmissive, whereas existing LCDs are in fact semi-transmissive.  That means the pixels are mixed between transmissive and reflective, reducing picture quality and requiring a stronger backlight for indoors use.  Blanview uses thinner wiring lines between pixels and an altered, white color filter, together with different LCD chemicals.

Starting this month, Casio will be shipping samples of numerous small-size transmissive Blanview LCDs: 2.7- and 3.5-inch vertical models (240 × 320 pixels); 3.5-, 4.1-, 5- and 5.7-inch horizontal models (320 × 240 pixels); and a 6.5-inch horizontal model (640 × 480 pixels).  Initial applications are expected to be industrial, such as portable terminals for outdoor workers.

This new model stays true to the user-friendly features that have become standard to the EXILIM Zoom series like the 2.6 inch LCD display, anti shake, ability to record YouTube-compatible videos, 23 Best Shot Modes and face detection technology to assist novice photographers with best possible quick snaps.

It has a 18.6MB buil-in memory and takes SD/SDHC, MMC,MMC plus flash type memories. The EX-Z9 will be available March, in pink, black, silver and orange for $160

[via casio]