The TV market is currently focusing on large display models. Currently, two technologies are in competition, the LCD and the plasma. But a third player is preparing to enter the game, the SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display). This technology codeveloped by Canon and Toshiba is promising. The expected contrast ration is amazing : 100000:1. One can expect really bright SED display while maintaining deep dark rendering. If LCD is a power-saver when compared to CRT, the SED-based displays are expected to require 3 times less power than equivalent LCD.
A prototype featuring a 50" panel with a 1920x1080 resolution should be presented soon.
To know everything about this technology :
http://www.canon.com
In France we have to pay the SORECOP tax (a taxation on copy means, created for remuneration of artists) for buying the l'
iPod nano, and it represents an extravagant amount: as much as 10% of the price of the 2 Go model, and more than 15% for the 4 Go. Many people will choose to order in on the Web in the Euro zone instead, hence impairing the French Apple Store results. Both the SORECOP, who will lose the product of this tax, and the French State that will lose VAT, will also be affected.
Situation is so absurd that if you buy a ticket for the the Eurostar, that currently offers a rebate on a trip (from Paris to London and back, for 50 Euros), and couple it to an iPod nano 4 Go, that costs £179 (265 Euros VAT included) in London Apple Store, you will even have change left for tube tickets for the same price :)
Of course, if the Apple Store has big enough stocks!
(Beware though, we don't really know if it will then require the iPod to be declared in France and to pay the tax then. We wouldn't be held responsible for any illegal action).
[Upd.] Germany sell ths the cheaper nano, with 199 Euros and 249 Euros TTC. And there's still a tax on MP3 players... off 2.74 Euro.
To know more about this tax (in French), read this
official text.
On flash memories designed for audio purposes, it is of 1.05 Euros for 100 Mo.
To retrieve the sum Apple asks for a 4 Go nano, multiply it by 40.96, which is 43.008 euros then count VAT on top of it, and with this tax on a tax... you'll reach a final, extravagant 51.44 Euros.
After the iPod U2, Apple will roll out on October 11th a special edition Harry Potter iPod, with the seal of Hogwarts on it, when the 6 audiobooks of the la series will be put online.
Some more news here:
-
Harry Potter
Laurent has sent us a photo taken from the are surrounding the Paris Exposition Center, Porte de Versailles.
Keynote or no keynote, Q&A conference or not, we are just excited and waiting for this big event.
If the
iPod nano has replaced the
iPod mini on the AppleStore, on can still find on European AppleStores via some tricks the original iPod mini:
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore?family=iPodmini
It is of course not clear yet if the order will be processed...
Yours truly went the extra mile (well, 3 stations of Ginza line...) to go straight to the Apple store at its opening to bring you the first pictures of the
iPod nano :
It was a rather busy Thursday morning in the Apple Store Ginza.
I reckoned I would find an empty store, but there were people aplenty.
All of the iPods on display/demo were replaced by iPod nano(s).
The little dude is funny to hold, makes you feel like a giant holding a baby's toy for a few seconds.
The scrollwheel is as usual very easy and smooth, the screen is crisp and bright.
At 42 grams, you'd easily forget it is in your shirt pocket or in the back pocket of your trousers.
Transfer speed is disappointing. Can you say thank you USB 2.0 ? I tried to plug the nano with my iPod mini's FW cable, but it simply didn't work, as you are greeted with a message on the iPod screen saying that FireWire transfers are not possible.
Sound quality is the same as we've been accustomed to with the previous generations of iPod.
I cannot vouch yet for the announced 14 hours of battery life, but with my apple lossless files, I do not think I am very representative of the majority, but I think I can expect 6-7 hours tops with those files in there. With AAC 160kbps files I do think Apple's claims are reasonable.
All in all, a nice little "jewel".
thanks to w00kie for helping me getting those pictures to you guys.
update
Our friends at Kodawarisan
have cracked the little dude open. (thank you dr-mip !)
