It looks like some internal Dell material has spilled out onto the internet, but am I the only one who finds this stuff suspect? I see lots of spelling errors and some questionable features. The vagueness of some of the specs and the very un-Dell phrasing of a lot of this stuff makes me think this is an outside contractor pitching Dell with some design ideas. If they are real, I’m guessing this is a mockup team inside Dell that’s pitching mobile division higher-ups with their idea of where Dell should be heading in the smartphone world. At any rate, there are pretty pictures, so let’s take a look.

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Anyone feeling particularly frisky this morning? ‘Cause it doesn’t take too much work to find what is supposed to be Windows 7 SP1 beta as it’s appeared on numerous torrent sites. We hear it’s the real deal, too.

GeekSmack as a gaggle of screenshots for your perusal, but even that’s not enough to convince me to install it on my system. Windows 7 runs great as it is and I can wait for the official release even if SP1 promises an exclusive dancing unicorn background. But…maybe a few of you could install it and report back with your findings. It is supposed to have a new remote desktop client. Anyone? Here’s the official build string: 6.1.7601.16537.amd64fre.win7.100327-0053.

Verizon’s not going to be too happy about this one. From everyone we’ve spoken to, they really wanted to keep details surrounding the Android-powered HTC Incredible underwraps for a while longer. That’s understandable, given that the Incredible blows their current flagship Android device, the Motorola Droid, to smithereens on just about every count.

Alas, all it takes is one device to slip into the wrong hands — and fortunately for us, it has! A bunch of new shots of the HTC Incredible (with brand new, Verizon-brand-friendly colors) have just leaked out, and a gaggle of spec details came with it.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Hmmm, unannounced digital cameras. Got to love the Internet. Anyway, LetsGoDigital dug up details about four tasty FujiFilm FinePix cameras. These aren’t just Wal-Mart specials, either. Oh no, take notice, these boys are nice, especially the S2500HD with an 18x optical zoom and 720p recording mode. Hit the jump for pics and details.

The S2500HD is equipped with a mechanically stabilized CCD sensor and that massive 28-504 mm lens. No word on MP count, pricing or target launch date, though.

The S1730 forgos the 18x zoom for a 15x kit. However, this model has dual image stabilization and a 12MP CCD sensor capable of capturing images up to ISO 6400 and recording video at 720p.

The S1600 is a bit more compact but still manages a 15x optical zoom and 12.2 MP sensor. This model can also shoot 720p video.

Then there’s the pocket JX530. 14MP, wide-angle 5x optical zoom, digital image stabilization, & 720p video. Pass.

[LetsGoDigital.org via Photo Rumors]

I believe that headline contains what’s known as a gaggle of acronyms. TMOS (time-multiplexed optical shutter) is a new display technology that claims brighter, thinner, longer-lasting, higher-resolution displays. Hey! I hear you giggling out there. “Yeah, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.” Okay, so extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I’d say their pitch is somewhere short of extraordinary, but if there’s anything to the technology, it really may just be all that they say. The company and technology have been around for a while, but they’re actually approaching the market at this point and you might want to know something about it before you start seeing the name pop up all over.

The idea is that by taking out as many layers of the display as possible, you reduce light interference (increasing brightness), power draw (better battery life) and component number (allowing for more pixels per square unit). But what to strip out? Uni-Pixel, the people behind TMOS note that instead of having three dots per pixel (red, green, blue in varying intensity), you could just have one, but with the dot changing color so rapidly that your eye only perceives the aggregate color. I’m not going to get all neuroscience on you here, but allow me to just say that there are biological reasons both for and against this technology, which I’m sure Uni-Pixel is aware of.

Micro-mirrors would direct light from side-mounted LEDs, which sounds clumsy to me, but they say it’ll result in refresh rates far above current displays’. They would also be simpler to manufacture, more durable, and more flexible. Anyhow, the engineering challenges are serious, but they say they should be able to put one in a product in 2010. Guess we’ll just have to wait!

In the grand camera company tradition of releasing your products all at once, at midnight, Fujifilm has dropped a cartload of new gear on us this hot night, from entry-level point-and-shoots to a big ol’ ultrazoom. DSLRs and micro four-thirds cameras may be making that last genus extinct, but as long as there are Best Buys, there will be a market for that sort of thing.

Let’s see what we’ve got here, in order of interestingness.

(Some of these have that sweet little sensor with its special pixel binning modes (pro-low light mode). Many also include some dubious “film effect” modes (do your own color correction, it’s fun and easy) and a “pro focus” mode that combines three shots, each with a different focus, into one, creating an enhanced depth of field effect. I question the wisdom of using this last mode, which is essentially a way to get around the slowness of their lenses, and suggest that if you’re interested enough in photography that you want to mess with depth of field, do the right thing and get a DSLR. Face detection etc is also standard.)

Moving on:

The Ultrazoom
S200EXR

• 14.3x Fujinon optical zoom lens (30.5mm-436mm equivalent)
• 50% improved battery life over its predecessor (hmm)
• 1/1.6” 12 megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor
• New 2.7” high contrast 230k-pixel LCD
• .2” 200K-pixel electronic viewfinder (expensive and useless)
• RAW (EXR)/JPEG shooting – handy
• EXR sensor
• Full manual control, bulb setting

A nice big ultrazoom. I never have supported these things, but if you’re scared of DSLRs, there’s not much else to do. Take it from me, though, you’re never going to be able to adequately take advantage of that 436mm equivalent lens. This thing costs $600, people.

The Luxury Compact
F70EXR

• 10x optical zoom (27-270mm equiv.)
• 230K-pixel 2.7” LCD
• 22.7mm thin (nice)
• 10 megapixels
• 1/2″ EXR sensor
• “Dual stabilization,” not adequately explained

The best deal of the bunch, I’d say. 10x zoom is enough for most, it’s got the EXR sensor and modes, and the design is understated. It’ll set you back $280. A bit pricey but almost certainly a great camera.

The One They Think Teens Will Want
Z37

• 10 megapixels
• 3x zoom
• 2.7″ LCD
• Comes in teen-friendly blue, green, or violet (AKA purple)
• 19mm thin, not bad

The highest-end offering that doesn’t use Fujifilm’s secret sensor sauce. This should not be considered under any circumstances. $150.

The Budget One
J38

• You like that white space?
• 10 megapixels
• 3x zoom
• 2.7″ LCD
• The usual

The capabilities of the Teen camera without the freaky body (I like this one better anyway) and minus a couple non-essential features. A solid budget camera if you’re looking to save a little scratch. $130.

The Really Budget Ones
A170 and A220

• Don’t buy these

I advise strongly against buying at the very bottom of the spectrum. Who knows where they cut corners?

My advice:
Fujifilm has some good cameras here, but mainly because of their cool EXR sensor, which lets you do things even DSLRs don’t. If you can afford the F70EXR ($280, I know), get that one. If you can’t, the J38 is your best bet, but I would shop around for other cameras in the same price range from Canon, Panasonic, etc. They focus more on the basics and you’ll get a better deal.