Lenovo is preparing to release a fancy new desktop, the IdeaCentre K210. Featuring specs up to an Intel Core 2 Quad processor, 3GB of RAM, optional Blu-ray drive, multicard reader, webcam with VeriFace recognition and anti-bacterial keyboard, none of the specs will scream ultimate gaming machine, but the PCs start at just $379 (with the 22-inch monitor costing an extra $299). As for the style, it’s pretty much how I picture a sci-fi movie from the early ’90s depicting personal of the future—shiny, but with the same basic shape they’d when Sandra Bullock could pass as a hacker. Read on for the entire spec rundown.

Lenovo Enters Global Consumer Desktop Market With “IdeaCentre” Brand

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Lenovo has announced the launch of the IdeaCentre K210 desktop, marking the company’s global entry into the consumer desktop market outside of China. This announcement follows the current debut of Lenovo’s IdeaPad series of notebooks, which signaled Lenovo’s dramatic jump into the worldwide consumer notebook business outside of China earlier this year.

Lenovo’s IdeaCentre and IdeaPad introductions are timely, as IDC forecasts worldwide consumer PC demand to grow by almost ten percent a year between 2007 and 20111.

The IdeaCentre K210 is designed for user comfort and convenience. For example, Lenovo is the only worldwide PC maker to offer the cutting edge “Bright Vision” technology2, which actually detects how far the user is from the monitor and adjusts the brightness accordingly.

Your face is your password

Among the new technologies the IdeaCentre K210 utilizes is VeriFace™3 facial recognition technology that grants the user to log in by having the camera recognize his/her facial image. The K210 is the only desktop Personal computer to offer this distinctive feature. Additionally, The K210 features an anti-microbial keyboard that uses special material to inhibit bacterial growth. This is especially helpful for families that have numerous people using the same keyboard and are concerned with “keyboard germs.”

For ease of use and system recovery Lenovo offers the Lenovo Vantage Technology (LVT) menu. With just a single touch the user can more easily recover from system crashes or viruses. The File Management feature helps save critical data on a special system partition in the event of system failure. And for the “easy open” experience, Lenovo has built in its tool-free design which allows for simple expansion, serviceability and modifications.

Industry leading system specs include:

* Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Processors

* Intel® GMA 3100 integrated graphics

* Blueray HD-DVD Combo accommodates home theater

* High definition audio 5.1 for reverberating sound

* Gamers will love the optional upgrade to ATI Radeon 2600 XT (512MB)

Pricing and Availability

The IdeaCentre K210 is available on Lenovo.com, at various retail outlets in the United States and through Lenovo business partners. The starting price is $379 (after mail-in-rebate). The L195W, 19-inch monitor is priced at $229 (after mail-in-rebate). The L222W, 22-inch monitor is priced at $299 (after mail-in-rebate).

Via [Gizmodo]

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Sony announced that the breathtaking vibrating DualShock 3 controller will be released in Europe on July 2, 2008. This is a good thing since many of the new games for the PS3 will support the vibration feature. Our good pal David Reeves, the President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe says: We’re delighted to […]

Sony announced that the amazing vibrating DualShock 3 controller will be released in Europe on July 2, 2008. This is a good thing since many of the new games for the PS3 will support the vibration feature.

Our good pal David Reeves, the President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe says:

We are delighted to confirm that DUALSHOCK 3 will be released in SCEE territories in early July. We hope this will add to the intense gaming experience for our fans, as we continue to evolve PS3, its software and its peripherals.”

The DualShock 3 has been available here in the U.S. since April. Also worth noting: the price for the Euro version is $80 once the price is converted to dollars, even though it costs only around $60 here.

Via [crunchgear]

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For those of you who have seen the Angelina Jolie/James McAvoy violence-fueled campfest Wanted, Wired has an expose up on how they filmed some of their craziest scenes. Russian director Timur Bakmambetov used his own Moscow-based special effects company to create the movie’s non-stop, over-the-top action. At his disposal was everything from a European high-speed train equipped with hydraulics that rotated 360 degrees to scanned digital stunt doubles. Warning: If you haven’t watched the motion picture yet and actually want to, the article contains a load of spoilers. [Wired]

Via [Gizmodo]

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According to Instinct-Samsung forum poster lrosenman, Sprint is getting ready to push out a software update on 6/30/08. No idea what the software update will entail if there’s one at all, but we’ve got a couple Instincts floating around the office, so we’ll check on it in a couple days. I apologize for your […]

According to Instinct-Samsung forum poster lrosenman, Sprint is getting ready to push out a software update on 6/30/08. No idea what the software update will entail if there is one at all, but we’ve got a couple Instincts floating around the office, so we’ll check on it in a couple days.

I apologize for your disappointment regarding some of the software. We will have a software upgrade available 6/30/08. You can request a software update on your phone on that date. Press the home icon and tap main. Tap settings, then tap general, scroll down and tap update software.

Via [crunchgear]

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Well, it’s nice to know that T-Mobile will be upgrading BIE to 2.5 tonight, but without the upgrade to OS 4.5 it’s pretty much useless. I would love nothing more than to finally have HTML e-mail, but it’s simply a waste of my time for T-Mobile to upgrade because none of us are running OS […]

Well, it’s nice to know that T-Mobile will be upgrading BIE to 2.5 tonight, but without the upgrade to OS 4.5 it’s pretty much useless. I would love nothing more than to finally have HTML e-mail, but it’s simply a waste of my time for T-Mobile to upgrade because none of us are running OS 4.5. It’s more of a nuisance to have the downtime, right? So don’t anticipate to receive or send e-mails starting tonight at 11PM PT until 3AM PT along with a few other features.

I sure as heck didn’t receive notification of this downtime as the image implies we should have. Did you? I expect this sort of treatment from RIM since it’s widely known that they hate bloggers and wouldn’t bother telling us, but I would have thought T-Mobile would have given us the heads up.

Here’s what to expect from OS 4.5. BGR’s gallery doesn’t seem to be working.

* You can save attachments including audio and video formats.
* Full list of supported downloadable attachments are: .doc, .ppt., .xls, .wpd, .txt, .html, .pdf, .zip, and the aforementioned audio / video formats.
* File size of attachments is limited to 3MB.
* The 4.5 OS will be “available for all BlackBerry’s in September.” This includes the 8100, 8800, 8820, 8300, 8310, 8120, and the 8110. No 8320 love?
* “If a BlackBerry launches before September, it will have 4.5 software.”
* Addition of push AOL email and Hotmail/MSN accounts.

Via [crunchgear]

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As if you didn’t already know. These “Reflect” tables have built-in microphones and they light up depending on who’s talking, for how long, and probably some other metrics. While the idea is kind of cool, it’s really very ridiculous as well and I seriously can’t imagine these any place but possibly in a committee room […]

As if you didn’t already know. These “Reflect” tables have built-in microphones and they light up depending on who’s speaking, for how long, and probably some other metrics. While the idea is kind of cool, it’s really very ridiculous as well and I seriously can’t imagine these any place but possibly in a committee room in Congress or something.

It’s supposed to fade into the background, but if that’s the case why are they using bright, candy-colored lights? Why not have subtle, diffuse white light fade in near the person? And of course, scoring a conversation might be counter-productive in the first place. [via MAKE]

Via [crunchgear]

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Google Media Server is a Google Desktop add-on that provides a way to get Personal computer media content onto your Television. With the help of a UPnP device, Google Media Server collects all the relevant media files from your Computer and makes them available over a local host. While it doesn’t seem as direct as a device like SlingCatcher, it’s probably a whole lot cheaper. Google Media Server is available for download here. [Google Media Server via Crunch Gear]

Via [Gizmodo]

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Here we find the Time Harp, a harp that makes music electronically by rubbing plastic disks against a set of strings. Here’s how they built it in case you want to agitate some hyenas on your own. N.B. This is just the thing for a hangover. via Make

Here we find the Time Harp, a harp that makes music electronically by rubbing plastic disks against a set of strings. Here’s how they built it in case you want to agitate some hyenas on your own.

N.B. This is just the thing for a hangover.

via Make

Via [crunchgear]

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