Mobile Magazine » casio

Casio Exilim Offers Kickstand and Motion-Sensing Picture Taking

Andrew Grush — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:33:09 +0000

Casio is far from the leader of the digital camera world, still the Exilim Ex-ZR1000 is certainly worth your attention. Why? It has a built-in stand that keeps it propped in landscape or portrait modes. This is especially useful if you are in to taking vanity shots, or simply want to be in that family photo and don’t have an extra person to hold the camera.

Is that the only thing that makes this Casio camera stand out? While certainly the ‘biggest’ feature for this $450 16.1MP shooter, it’s not the only feature that sets it apart. The EX-ZR1000 also has a motion activated shutter release. This is really cool since all you have to do is wave your arms at the camera and it will snap a photo 2-seconds later.

Ever set a camera, prop it up and try to run to the photo-op, only to have it snap too early? This feature that requires you to wave at it can truly mean that you can take your time and get the perfect shot. The Casio Exilim also has a 12.5x optical zoom, a dedicated mode dial and even zooming through a ring around the lens barrel.

This camera isn’t for everyone, but it’s a pretty solid offering. Of course $450 might be a little rich in cost for just a P&S camera. At this price range many consumers might be better served by dropping a few hundred more and getting a DSRL instead. What do you think?

[ source ]

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Casio G-Shock: The Ronnie Coleman Of Android Smartphones

Leo Xavier — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:57:20 +0000

Waiting for a really, really rugged Android smartphone that looks like it’s from a bond film? The device that you see above might be what you are looking for. The G-Shock smartphone, which is the latest in a range of rugged smartphones from Casio, was apparently one we missed at CES 2012 and it’s full of testosterone.

The Casio G-Shock follows the rugged G’zOne Commando from the company. But the new device is the toughest of the two and a bit ugly as well. But you can’t have everything all at once, right?

As you might have guessed by now, the G-Shock is coming with all kinds of ‘-resistant’ prefixes, such as shock resistant (up to 10 feet), water resistant to 1.0 bar (10m) and pressure resistant to 1.0 bar. And, as you can see, the phone also looks similar to the company’s successful line of durable wrist watches.

The G-Shock features a metal case back and over there you will find exposed screws as well. On the software side, it will be running Android (most probably Gingerbread), but you won’t find the usual capacitive buttons at the bottom. They have been placed on the sides near the corners.

No hints regarding pricing and availability at the moment. But we will keep you updated. In the meantime, don’t drop your current phone to hard.

[ source ]

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Casio Launching A New Bluetooth “Smart Watch” In Japan

Andrew Grush — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:49:33 +0000

Casio Japan is preparing to launch the G-Shock GB-6900 in March. The G-Shock is a special wristwatch that connects to specific smartphone models like the Medias LTE N-04D using Bluetooth LE.

With Casio’s unique “smart watch”, you can be certain that your time is always accurate through automatic synchronization with your phone. In addition to this, it functions as a device that shows incoming calls, emails, and SMS on its display.

The big ‘show case’ feature on the Casio G-Shock GB-6900 is its use of the new Bluetooth LE technology which uses just a fraction of the energy of previous Bluetooth versions. Additionally, the device is blessed with great battery life of about two years with a conventional CR2032 button battery.

Personally, I think that 18,000 YEN (about US $231) is a lot to pay for a Casio watch, but I suppose if you have the cash to burn it could be a unique accessory that could appeal to some users.

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Super sleek Casio TRYX camera unveiled at CES, does slow-mo @ 240fps

Andrew Anderson — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:36:44 +0000

Casio’s new TRYX camera has been launched at CES and oh boy is she ever pretty. With so many point and shoots on the market they all tend to converge into one dog pile, but TRYX is the kind of camera you’d bring home to mom but wouldn’t let her touch.

It comes loaded with a gorgeous 3” 480×320 LCD screen that swivels around so that you can not only get yourself framed correctly in the uber-important self-shot, but you can also effectively swing the camera body out to act as a tripod to get the equally uber-important timer dash shot.

We love that the camera is packing 12.1 megapixels and it also takes 1920 x 1080 full-HD video at 30FPS or even 432×32 slow-mo video at 240FPS! And did we mention it’s pretty?

There’s the usual included: a microphone and speaker for your video, rechargeable lithium ion battery and the SD Memory Card (1GB card included) but no word on built-in memory yet, not that it really matters.

The one complaint (and we hate to complain about pretty things) is there is no optical zoom but with up to 15.9x digital zoom we hope that’s enough to off-set the optically-disappointed. Let’s face it, this is your trophy camera, the one you take for a night on the town or let slip out when you’re trying to impress someone. If you need optical zoom go buy a clunky SLR and visit the butterfly conservatory and we’ll meet you tomorrow for brunch because me and my TRYX have VIP at Pure tonight.

TRYX retails for $249.99 and should be available in April 2011. If you’re at CES you’ve already seen the 100-foot posters of this lovely camera, but check out their booth to see it in person and let us know if she looks as good as she does in these pictures.

Casio Leverages Ces 2011 To Usher In New Era In Digital Imaging
The Casio TRYX^® Boasts Boasts Radically New Form Factor and Raises Bar for Style and Innovation

LAS VEGAS, NV, January 5, 2011 ― Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today unveiled TRYX^®, a revolutionary new camera that will allow consumers to stand out and be noticed. Strikingly different than any other camera on the market today, TRYX impresses with a distinctive, variable frame design which knows no bounds. With TRYX, consumers can do more and be prepared to capture their photographic lives in ways they were never able to before.

“TRYX truly is a remarkable camera and its announcement is a defining moment for Casio,” said Toshi Iguchi, Senior General Manager, Digital Imaging Division, Casio America Inc. “Unlike anything the industry has ever seen, TRYX brings unparalleled innovation and versatility straight to consumers’ hands with a radical new design. This is a camera which was designed specifically to meet the needs of the creative and connected consumer, looking for a unique digital imaging experience and a camera to compliment their lifestyle and personality.”

Tricked-Out Design

Thanks to its super thin (.59-inches thick), variable frame design, TRYX can adapt to fit the user’s preferred shooting style or to help them capture an image from just about any angle or in any environment. Users can hold the camera horizontally, in a traditional point-and-shoot style to capture still images or flip out the rotating, three-inch, touch-screen LCD and swivel the body to experience countless other positions. The frame rotates 360-degrees and can be adjusted so that the body can act as a tripod, allowing TRYX to stand on its own, or the LCD screen can be rotated up to 270-degrees so that users can perfect their own self portrait and see themselves in the frame. Users can even flip out and rotate the body so that the camera can hang from a hook, doorknob or other surface. The Casio TRYX’s body can also be adjusted so that users can record full-HD, 1080p video (30fps) with the traditional feel of a dedicated camcorder, either in a left‑ or right-handed grip or use it vertically, like a pocket camcorder.

High-Speed and High-Performance

In addition to its good looks, the Casio TRYX also boasts an equally impressive feature set. At the heart of the camera is a 12.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor which will help capture stunning images thanks to its enhanced sensitivity and low-light performance. The TRYX’s CMOS sensor is also coupled with dual core processors as well as Casio’s state‑of‑the‑art EXILIM^® ENGINE HS, which add significant processing speed and enhance the overall imaging experience. Together, they power many of the camera’s unique creative functions, including High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging, High-Speed SR Zoom, and slow‑motion video.

Expressing One’s Creativity

TRYX is fully-loaded and packed to the brim with a full range of functions, such as Slide Panorama and slow-motion video recording, which users can take advantage of to boost their creativity and truly express themselves through images. With Slide Panorama, users can effortlessly capture 360-degree panoramic images, and with slow-motion video, users can record events that are ordinarily too fast for the eye to see, at speeds up to 240 fps (432×320). TRYX also incorporates Casio’s revolutionary HDR-ART technology, which gives users the ability to effortlessly transform any photo from ordinary to extraordinary, all with just the touch of a button. HDR-ART works by combining continuous shots with differing exposures and performing highly-precise image analysis to locally change the contrast and level of color saturation. Users can select from three different processing levels to suit their artistic tastes and produce results that are guaranteed to impress.

Empowering the Fingertip

Housed within TRYX’s rotating, three-inch LCD screen (460K pixels / 3:2 aspect ratio) is the camera’s intuitive touch-screen interface which puts all camera controls right at the user’s fingertip. Through the touch-screen LCD, users can activate TRYX’s touch-shutter, which can focus on an area or subject in the frame and capture the photo, just by touching the screen. TRYX’s advanced self-timer can also be activated using the touch-screen LCD. Featuring a clever little twist, the self-timer can be triggered using the camera’s built-in motion sensor. Users can configure the self-timer using their finger to designate an area in the frame on the LCD where TRYX needs to monitor for motion. When motion is detected in the specified area, the self-timer will be triggered, enabling users to take pictures of themselves or allowing them time to get in the photo with a group of friends after placing the camera in just about any location, whether it be hanging it from a wall or setting it on a tabletop.

Ultra-Wide Angle Lens Makes it Easy

Taking a self-portrait, group shot, or an image of a landscape is typically a hassle with a standard lens and narrow focal length. With a standard lens, consumers are forced to sacrifice what they can actually capture, as they can’t fit exactly what they want in the frame. That’s no longer an issue with TRYX, as the camera offers an impressive, ultra-wide-angle, 21mm lens. With such a wide-angle lens, users can fit more of their desired scene into the frame, ensuring that they’ll be able to capture their own image as well as the background they’re in front of, or even a large group of family and friends.

TRYX’s 21mm ultra-wide-angle lens is also outfitted with Casio’s state-of-the-art High-Speed SR Zoom technology. Significantly more advanced than traditional digital zooms, High-Speed SR Zoom captures multiple still images at high-speed and combines them to produce sharp and clear photos. Image quality can be maintained up to two times the range of the focal length.

Social Media Simplified

Casio also preloaded the TRYX with software that facilitates the uploading of images and video directly to the Internet, including many of today’s most popular social networking platforms such as Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. Users can simply select which photos and videos they would like uploaded from the camera beforehand, and upon connecting it to a computer, the files will automatically be sent to each specified destination.

The Casio TRYX will be available April 2011 for $249.99.

TRYX Specifications

						TRYX
Number of Effective Pixels						12.1 megapixels(/million)
Image Sensor						1/2.3-inch high-speed CMOS(back-illuminated type)
	Total Pixels					12.75 megapixels(/million)
File Format	Still Images					JPEG (Exif Ver2.3), DCF2.0
	Movies					MOV format, H.264/AVC, IMA-ADPCM (monaural)
Built-in Memory						TBA
Recording Media						SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card compatible
Number of Recorded Pixels		Still Images				12M(4000×3000)、3:2(4000×2656)、 5M(2560×1920)、VGA(640×480)
		Movies				FHD : 1920 x1080(30fps) , HD：1280×720(30fps) HS : 432×320(240fps)
Recording Capacity		Still Images			SD Memory Card 1GB*¹	TBA
		Movies			Recording Time	TBA
					SD Memory Card 1GB*¹	TBA
Lens		Construction				5 lenses in 5 groups, including aspherical lens
		F-number				F2.8
		Focal Length				F=3.8mm
			35mm-Film Equivalent			Approx. 21mm
Zoom Ratio						1.5X Single Frame SR Zoom, 2.0X High-Speed SR Zoom (10M), 4X digital zoom, 15.9X maximum digital zoom (in combination with HD Zoom, VGA size)
Focus		Focus Type				Contrast Detection Auto Focus
		Focus Mode				Auto Focus, Macro, Infinity Mode
		AF Area				Spot(Intelligent for Premium Auto)
		AF Assist Lamp				None
Focus Range (From Lens Surface)		Auto Focus				Approx. 3″~Infinity
		Macro				Approx. 3″~ 20″
		Infinity Mode				Infinity
		Manual Focus				None
Exposure Control		Exposure Metering				Multi pattern by CMOS
		Exposure Control				Program AE
		Exposure Compensation				-2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps)
Shutter						CMOS electronic shutter
		Shutter Speed^*2		Auto		1/8 to 1/40000 second (not fixed)
Aperture						F2.8
White Balance						Auto WB, Daylight, Overcast, Shade, Day White Fluorescent, Daylight Fluorescent, Tungsten, Manual WB
ISO Sensitivity (SOS^*3)	Still Images					Auto/100/200/400/800/1600/3200
	Movies					Auto
Other Functions						HDR, HDR ART, BEST SHOT, Premium Auto, Motion Shutter, Slide Panorama
Self-Timer						10 seconds, 2 seconds, 2～10 seconds
Built-in Flash		Flash Mode				None
		Flash Range				None
Monitor						3.0-inch TFT color LCD ( Super Clear LCD ), 460,800 dots (960 x 480) , Touch screen
Timekeeping Function		Date and Time				Recorded with image data
		On-image Time Stamp Function				Yes
		Auto Calendar				To 2049
		World Time				162 cities in 32 time zones, City name, date, time, summer time
External connection terminal						USB port (Hi-Speed USB compatible), HDMI^TM^4 output(Micro/Type D)^5
Microphone						Monaural
Speaker						Monaural
Power Requirement						Rechargeable lithium ion battery (Built-in)
Battery Life						TBA
Dimensions		W × H × D (CIPA Standards)				4.83” x 2.32” x .59”
Weight (CIPA Standards)						Approx. 5.54oz (Including Memory Card^*1) / Approx. 5.47oz (Excluding Memory Card )
Bundled Accessories						USB-AC Adapter, AC Power Cord, USB Cable, Strap

1 When using Panasonic Pro High Speed 1GB SD Memory Card.

2 May differ according to camera settings.

3 SOS: Standard Output Sensitivity.

4 HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

5 1080/50i output is not supported for PAL output using an HDMI™.

EXILIM and TRYX are trademarks or registered trademarks of CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. YouTube is a registered trademark of YouTube, LLC. Any other company or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

About Casio America, Inc.

Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions, established in 1957. Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution” through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit http://www.casiousa.com orhttp://pressroom.exilim.casio.com.

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Casio prototype Bluetooth watch pushes phone information onto your wrist

Andrew Anderson — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:43:04 +0000

So we’ve seen a few attempts to meld cell phones and watches in recent years and usually the result is expensive, clunky and never really takes off. But engineers at Casio are taking the iterative approach with a new prototype.

Rather than try and smash the two together, their new prototype pulls a few bits of information from your smartphone and puts them on your wrist. Bluetooth technology weds alarm information from your phone and can notify you of email alerts. And we really like the feature that lets you press a button to stop your phone from ringing. It also syncs up with your phone to set the date and time which is kind of cool.

The technology on the backend is the new Bluetooth Low energy standard (aka Bluetooth 4.0) which thanks to its low energy demands provides a reported battery life of two years! On the downside it won’t work with existing smartphones as none of them have the new hardware required to support this standard.

So while we think some of these features are kind of cool and we’re thankful that Casio didn’t try and ram a watch-based twitter app down our throat it should be noted that it’s just as rude to check your watch in the middle of a meeting as it is to check your phone when an email comes in.

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 x 44.4 x 12.8 mm
Total Weight		Approx. 50g

###

About Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
Casio Computer Co., Ltd. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics products and business equipment solutions. Since its establishment in 1957, Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution” through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. Today, Casio’s offerings include timepieces, digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, calculators, musical instruments, system equipment, and electronic components such as LCDs. The Casio Group employs more than 12,000 people worldwide, shipping over 100 million products per year, with net sales of 427 billion yen (approx US $4,601 million) in the fiscal year ended March 2010. News and product information from Casio is available at http://world.casio.com/

About NEC CASIO Mobile Communications, Ltd.
NEC CASIO Mobile Communications provides innovative mobile handsets for major wireless providers in Japan and the U.S.A. The company was established in 2010 after spinning off from NEC Corporation’s mobile handset business. Later that year, it merged with Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. a joint venture between Casio Computer Co., Ltd., and Hitachi, Ltd. NEC CASIO Mobile Communications aims to build an enriched communication linked society utilizing mobile handset solutions crafted from imagination and creativity. For more information, go to http://www.nec-casio-mobile.com/

Bluetooth is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., U.S.A. Other company and product names are generally trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

[Gizmodo, Akihabara via Casio]

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Casio watch face with solar panel shown at ECO fair

Michael Kwan — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:13:34 +0000

I always thought that those kinetic watches were pretty cool. You just have to give them a little bit of motion every once in a while and the battery would get recharged. Casio is going even simpler with a couple of its watches, hiding a solar panel behind the clock face. This way, unless you live in a darkened basement and never emerge, the watch will keep ticking pretty much forever.

This comes by way of the Eco Product 2010 event where Casio is showing off its popular G-Shock and Oceanus series watches. More specifically, they’re offering an “exploded view” of a G-Shock watch, showing each of the individual components and how they work with one another. We saw this technology back in May with the likes of a solar green Hulk looking watch. What’s really cool about it is that the solar panel is placed behind the watch face in order to collect the sun’s rays, and keep on ticking.

In the case of the Oceanus, the watch only consumes 6.2-watts (the same as a single LED light) to keep on ticking, providing up to 860,000 watch movements. I’m not really sure how that translates into actual time, ironically enough, but I’d imagine that’s a while.

It would be really neat if they could implement this kind of technology into LCD of smartphones, but I’m thinking that the small solar panels wouldn’t provide nearly enough power for power hungry devices to be worth the trouble.

[SlashGear via Akihabara News]

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World’s smallest LCD will full HD resolution is 4.8-inches

Michael Kwan — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:59:37 +0000

You know how you get to enjoy fantastic 1080p action with your Blu-ray player and your 48-inch high-definition television? Well, you just may be able to do the same thing on this 4.8-inch display. Yes, about the same size as the Dell Streak.

The screen comes by way of ORTUS, a joint venture between Casio and Toppan Printing. The Hyper Amorphous Silicon TFT (HAST) screen rocks an impressive 1920 x 1080 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 458ppi. To put that into perspective, the Retina Display on the iPhone 4 has a pixel density of 326ppi. The HTC Droid Incredible? Just 252ppi.

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think that they took a giant HDTV and shrunk it down to handheld proportions. In addition to the full HD resolution, the ORTUS screen rocks 16.8 million colors and 160-degree viewing angles. I can’t imagine it being all that cheap, though, so I wouldn’t expect to find it in an iPhone 5 or a Droid OMG any time soon.

It may not show up on a phone and they say that it’ll likely be used for security monitoring, but I think it’d be great for mobile TV or even Streak-sized tablet devices. That’s a heck of a lot better than the lowly QVGA resolution screen on my Nokia E71, that’s for sure.

SOURCE: CrunchGear via OrtusTech Japan

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The Casio G’zOne is back on Verizon with Ravine variant

Michael Kwan — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 03:49:26 +0000

Wait a minute. They still make Casio G’zOne phones? What is this? 2008? Believe it or not, these phones are still very much around and they even have a new version coming down the chute in the form of the Casio G’zOne Ravine with Verizon Wireless.

In a day and age where nearly everyone wants a smartphone, this is an interesting release, especially considering the $150 (after $50 mail-in rebate) price that they want along with a two-year contract. That’s about the same amount of money you’d spend on a much more powerful device with way more functionality.

The kicker, I suppose, is the ruggedness. The G’zOne Ravine will resist dust, shock, humidity, altitude, salt, extreme temperatures, water, and your standard suite of abuse. The core features are a little dated, though, with a 3.2MP camera, voice recorder, and multiple messaging options.

There must still be a market for this kind of thing, since the delicate touchscreens of modern smartphones aren’t exactly the most rugged of things.

[Mobile Burn via IntoMobile]

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If the Hulk was Going to Buy a Watch

Justin Fox — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:56:04 +0000

Who says being green is for hippies anymore! Casio is the latest company to jump on the money train and “green-wash” its products with the introduction of the Pathfinder PRG110C-3.

In addition to telling you how late you are for work, the watch sports an altimeter, barometer, thermometer and digital compass if you should ever find yourself flying an airplane and all the instruments suddenly fail.

No batteries you say? With a photo voltaic cell built right into its face to ensure that it’s still running long after you’re not, we don’t need such archaic technologies. Casio claims that this will help cut down on the approximately three billion batteries Americans toss in the trash each year. But watch batteries are tiny and how often have you ever changed a watch battery? Exactly.

As far as being on the cutting edge with its eco-friendly tech, I know that Timex & Citizen watches have had the solar feature for years, way before Al Gore said it was considered cool.

To really drive the point home, they decided to make it available in the most obnoxious green color that is sure to make a bold statement about your desire to help mother earth while clashing with even the best planned outfits. To Casio’s credit, the Pathfinder does do its part for our blue marble by being packaged in recycled materials.

If you consider $250 a small price to pay to let everyone know you love the Earth, this teched-out watch is for you – exclusively available from Amazon soon.

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Casio hybrid GPS camera prototype with triple-axis accelerometer

Colleen McColl — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:25:40 +0000

Casio has revealed its first compact digital camera and integrated ‘Hybrid GPS’ with the announcement of the Exilim EX-H10HG; basically a modified Exilim EX-H10 prototype camera.

The camera has a 32bit CPU, uses three-axis accelerometer and three axis orientation sensors, this calculates how far it has traveled since it was last able to receive a signal. This allows the use of the GPS when indoors or away from the GPS transmitting signals.

The “hybrid GPS” camera does the regular geotagging with the onboard GPS, but when signal is weak, the camera realigns the location with calculated estimates from the onboard accelerometers.

Source Digital Camera Watch

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