Wize Blog

Wize Announced as AlwaysOn Global 250 Winner

We're honored to have been announced as a winner of 2009 AlwaysOn Global 250! Our CEO, Tom Patterson will be speaking at the main event on Wednesday July 29, 2009, so please be sure to reach out to us if you will be there. Here's a link to the event itself: http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/32096

Fuji Gets Serious About Image Quality With the FinePix F200EXR

Compact digital cameras have been treated rather poorly by camera manufacturers over the past few years by stuffing endless features into them with marketing being the forefront of concerns. These "features" have lead to a ridiculous number of pixels on a tiny sensor, which results in very grainy images for users. Fuji has just announced a potential powerhouse of a compact digital camera. The F200EXR offers a 12 megapixel sensor that operates in a number of image capture modes. Normally, I would scoff at a 12 megapixel sensor as too much for such a small sensor; however, Fuji's shooting options may make this camera work those pixels more effectively. The key to this camera's potential lies in the 3 modes in which the image sensor operates, which Fuji described in its press release as follows:

Fine Capture Mode (High Resolution) , which deploys all twelve million pixels, and is designed to offer the finest detail of intricate subjects when light is full and even; Pixel Fusion Mode (High Sensitivity and Low Noise) , which caps two adjacent pixels together to produce six million large photodiodes, which are big enough to absorb light in the darkest of conditions, to produce low-light shots of extraordinary quality with minimal noise and grain; and Dual Capture (Wide Dynamic Range), which captures different exposures with two sets of six million pixels, which, when combined, gives an excellent level of detail in highlights and low lights that would otherwise be lost.

While there is nothing truly fancy about the Fine Capture Mode, the Pixel Fusion Mode and the Dual Capture could give consumers what they need in a compact camera. We'll know more once this camera hits the market and real world sample images make their way online from the hands of users. It just might be the next big thing.

Eric is a guest author the Wize blog covering digital cameras. He is the Editor of Photography Bay, which covers digital camera reviews, rumors and news

Wize Releases New "Best List" Widget!

Wize has just released a new "Best List" widget and is allowing publishers with a unique opportunity to add relevant and engaging content to their websites and blogs. Wize is also allowing interested publishers to monetize their widget by sending an email to hshah@wize.com and requesting a Partner ID! Visit: Wize Best List Widget for more information.

Here are a few examples of what the widget looks like:

Wize Rumor Report: AT&T & Samsing Quietly Recalling Blackjacks

Word to the wise.  According to AT&T's official support forum, Samsung's Blackjacks that were released between November 2006 and February 2007 are quietly being recalled.  These Blackjack victims to the recall showed signs of dropped calls and poor signal strength due to a loosened antenna that was prone to disengage. 

Newton Rehash Rumor

It is believed that someone (unnamed) at the computer company Asus, has told CNet that Apple is developing a new tablet computer.

If you'll recall the life and times of the Apple of yesteryear, the Newton, was an early line of a PDA model that was developed between 1993 to 1998. Based on the ARM 610 RISC processor, the Newton featured handwriting recognition software.

Rumor has it that the new Newton-like computer will have a new design, different from the old Newton, and will be released next year. It is also believed that the new Newton-like computer will carry a mobile-optimized version of OS X and have a touch display.

Slashdot.com also writes of the rumor and guessed that the tablet PC will:

1. be based on Intel Core architecture.
2. operated on a tweaked version of Leopard, the new operating system from Apple.
3. will have a multitouch similar to that of the iphone.

After all the hype of the iphone, many are convinced that this device could be a success, even if it does nothing more than other similar devices.

Do you think a Newton-type computer is a good bet to make it in the marketplace?

GPhone Rumors Heat Up: Possible Ties with Verizon and Sprint

I have been monitoring the GPhone Rumor mill and according to the Wall Street Journal, Google is in "advanced talks" with both Verizon and Sprint.  Supposedly in addition, they have made "significant progress" with T-Mobile.  If this is the case, which I have no reason to not believe, within 2 weeks we should hear an announcement further detailing this news. 

Not surprisingly, Google's stock took a jump today based on this news to $700 and climbing.

Still, what is unclear is whether Google is simply developing software, or whether they will release a entire handset. 

LG F92000 Photos Finally Out

Take a good look because to the left is the first image we have of the new LG F92000, dubbed as the "non-smart phone smart phone." 

Newlaunches.com states,

"It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard that helps it to be a messaging-centric device. The QWERTY keyboard slides out of the side and is kind of a take-off on the LG F9200. It features a 1.3-megapixel camera and a music player too. It provides instant access to Facebook right from the Messaging menu."   

The phones is not one that we would recommend for web-surfing, however, since it only has 1xRTT speeds. 

Could There Be a Skype Phone Coming?

Rumors are swirling that perhaps a Skype Phone could be making its way to the surface, and soon.

Details are emerging that suggest a recent partnership between 3 and Skype, which would create a little bit of hardware called the 3SkypePhone.  Rumors go on to state that this new phone will be readied for a pre-release on October 29th, and officially will be available on November 2nd... maybe in the States, maybe only in UK.  Time will tell.

The 3SkypePhone is said to have free calling to other Skype members, a 2 mega-pixel camera, video capturing and MP3 player. 

No Price Drop for Nintendo's Wii

While Sony and Microsoft continue to plan and announce for various price cuts and bundles of their consoles this holiday season, Nintendo says, "No way, Jose."  That is at least for now.

Speaking to Reuters, Nintendo senior marketing VP George Harrison said that the Wii's price isn't budging. "We'll stay at $249 for the foreseeable future. We are still selling everything we can make," he said. 

That's some confidence, which in fact is quite well founded.  Nintendo Wii inventory has and continues to sell out immediately as it hits the shelf, and likely the demand will not meet supply this holiday season.  Well, let the console games begin!

Apple to Annouce Official iPhone Approved Apps

While Apple is remaining tight sealed and still not budging on opening up their latest and greatest toy/smart phone/the hottest item all the "cool people" crave, they are going to release a list of "Apple approved" applications.  The list is said to appear on the Apple website as soon as today.

If this is the case, this does indicate that a real Apple SDK is still quite a long way off.

Despite this news, I assume 3rd party developers will continue the good fight waiting for the day Apple gets a clue from Facebook and opens up the elusive iPhone.