By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

CANON has recently introduced a new line of camcorders aimed at spurring video enthusiasts to go high-definition. T

Canon’s new HD camcorders are the mid-level HF100 and the higher model HF10. Both feature AVCHD (advanced video codec high definition) recording at 1920×1080 pixels (2 megapixels) and record sound in 2-channel Dolby Digital. The two also have a solid-state drive of up to 16 gigabytes, one of the first camcorders to use internal flash-based memory storage. Likewise, the to also have separate SD card or MMC card slots that could accommodate high-capacity flash cards.

Here’s a video interview I conducted with Canon Southeast Asia assistant systems manager for Consumer Imaging Mohamad Yazid Bin Ali, who gave a demo of the HF10.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

DESPITE the almost non-existence of high-definition signals in the Philippines, Samsung is expecting that the growing demand for audio-visual equipment would push their latest product lines that are geared toward the HD market.

Samsung is already introducing its first Blu-ray standalone player to complement its widescreen displays. HD refers to high resolution digital image processing, usually by LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs, plasma panels and some projectors. Current broadcast signals are still in analog standard resolution, normally at 480p (progressive) and an aspect ratio of 4:3. However, HD can produce better images of up to 1080p with 16:9 aspect ratio.

Samsung Philippines president Spencer Shim said he is confident the company will be among the key drivers in the HD space, citing its performance in the Asian region where it said it had sold about 600,000 widescreen displays in 2007.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

SEAGATE and Creative are the only two Singaporean IT brands that have name recall in the Philippines. However, an upstart firm wants to join its Singaporean brethren.

Axioo International is the latest OEM (original equipment manufacturer) notebook to enter the somewhat saturated laptop market. Nevertheless, the company is confident that there is a market for their product in Asia, including the Philippines.

Here’s a video interview I conducted with Axioo International managing director Stephen Lim, who talks about the Singapore-based company’s decision to launch its laptops in the Philippines.

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By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

CHILL. Blossom. Streak.

Can you imagine calling your Dell notebook by those names?

Apparently, these are the new names of three of the eleven colorful notebooks unveiled by Dell Inc., as it announced that it is entering the Philippine consumer market.

Where did they get the names? Evan Williams, Dell consumer sales and marketing general manager for South Asia, said he is not sure how these names came to be. But he’s sure that they were partly influenced by Dell’s “risky move” of relying on consumer feedback when designing their products.

Check out this video interview I conducted.

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HERE’S another video that INQUIRER.net technology reporter Lawrence Casiraya sent in from the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai of “Fuwa,” a personal robot made by China’s Fudan University, that runs on Intel technology and can follow voice commands. Will this cute robot give Asimo a run for his money?

And here’s a pic of Fuwa that Lawrence took.

If you’re wondering what else Lawrence has been doing in Shanghai, check out his Tales of the Nomad blog post.