“UH! Yeahhh! Righteous.”

Swype is a new style of text input for touchscreen phones, and is now officially available in Android flavor with the new myTouch 3G 3.5mm smartphone.  It was created by the inventor of T9 predictive text on those phones of yore, you know, the ones with actual keys. The idea with Swype is you slide your finger from key to key on the onscreen keyboard.  Swype figures out the word from your finger path, repeat.  The phrase “it just works” and “sweeeeeeet” came to mind the first time I gave it a shot,  while “goodbye Blackberry” popped into my friends head.

I gave Swype a shot on my Nexus One and haven’t looked back since (it is very fast with no delay on this snappy phone, in the video above Swype is a bit laggy).  It has that wow factor, everyone wants to give it a try- people react just like in the promotional video above.  It took about 5 days for me reach the speed of my arcane two handed thumb typing on the stock keyboard, which was about 30 words per minute.  I am sure with time I will become much more proficient.  Tips and tricks after the break.

One word of warning.  If you fall into the “hunt and peck” category of typists, Swype is not for you.  You need to know how to type, and be very familiar with the placement of keys on a keyboard.  Additionally, in the version I tested there is no Microphone button to use Google’s text-to-speech features.  You need to switch back to the stock keyboard to enable this–  which isn’t too hard, just long press in the text box, select input method, and go back to the Android keyboard.

You can find Swype’s unauthorized APK with a quick Google search… but keep in the Swype Team wants to “remind everyone that Swype does not explicitly or implicitly condone the unauthorized copying and distribution of the Swype software.“  If you are looking for a legal version you can download  Shapewriter from the Android Market.  Shapewriter is similar to Swype though not quite as robust, and in my experience not as accurate.  [Swype]

Any gadget lover will feel tweaks of pain as they watch this promotional video for Google’s new ‘Superphone,’ the Nexus One.  The part that really gets me is the pressure and bend tests, as well as the tumble machine I suppose.  Heck, it is all cringeworthy!

Goes to show HTC takes quality control seriously.  Makes me wonder how the jittery touchscreen issue slipped by them, come on Google, fix this problem for us.  Turning the phone on and off isn’t a solution.

With the EPL-1 you still get the famous Olympus in-body image stabilization, so it will work well with Leica M lenses and the like.  In addition to the new body Olympus has released a pair of new lenses, a much needed 9-18mm (35mm equiv 18-36mm) and 14-150mm (35mm equiv 24-300mm) with variable apertures of f4-5.6.  The focusing mechanisms are reported to be faster and near silent which bodes well for HD video shooting. Full specs and press release after the break. [Olympus]

POWERFULLY SIMPLE: INTRODUCING THE INCREDIBLE 
OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1 CAMERA

Simple Operation + High-Quality 12 Megapixel Images + HD Video + 
In-Camera Creativity + Interchangeable Lenses =
Total Compact Multimedia Package

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 3, 2010 – The new Olympus PEN® E-PL1 is truly greater than the sum of its parts, with a surprisingly small camera body packed with technology normally found in bigger, bulkier and heavier professional Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras and High-Definition (HD) camcorders. This third-generation PEN is built for shutterbugs who always wanted better pictures and considered a DSLR, but were intimidated by the bulky size and complex interface. The new camera’s simple design and easy interface enable consumers to easily create amazing images never dreamt possible. It will make you wonder how Olympus managed to put all of these powerful features inside such a compact camera for only $599.99.

The E-PL1 equals an affordable and powerfully simple all-in-one package that travels with you to capture life in the high quality that your memories deserve.

“Many of today’s consumers want a camera with the professional still image quality of a DSLR and HD video in a compact body that’s as easy to use as a point-and-shoot,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Digital SLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Thanks in part to an image sensor that’s approximately eight times larger in size than what’s inside the average point-and-shoot camera, the E-PL1 delivers outstanding high-quality images. Add the flexibility of high-quality interchangeable lenses, the convenience of a built-in pop-up flash, in-camera creative features and technology designed to produce images effortlessly, and the E-PL1 is the total consumer-friendly, multimedia package.”

EASILY PEN YOUR STORY WITH A BRAND NEW PEN

This third generation of the Olympus PEN series combines powerful features in an easy-to-use package that will make capturing your life more fun. The new direct record button makes taking videos easier than ever and the new Live Guide functionality makes it simple to learn photography techniques without requiring the skills of a pro shooter.

New Direct Button for HD Movies
Recording HD movies with the E-PL1 is simple, thanks to an easy-to-reach red “direct button” (red record button) on the back of the camera body. If you’re about to snap a photo and you realize a video would capture the spirit of the scene even better, simply press the record button and instantly you’re capturing videos! Easily toggle back and forth between capturing stills and videos by using your index finger to press the shutter button or your thumb to press the red record button. Having the ability to shoot still images and videos opens up a world of imaging possibilities.

New Live Guide Sets the Scene Before You Shoot
The E-PL1′s new Live Guide interface simplifies great photography and gets the results you desire at the touch of a button. Want more vivid or muted color in your shot? Want warmer or cooler color? Want a brighter or darker subject, or a sharper or softer background? Or maybe you want to capture the fast-moving action of your subject with a little artistic blur, or perhaps freeze the action? Simply select Live Guide and press the up and down arrows on the back of the camera to slide through numerous photographic effects. Make adjustments and watch the LCD as the effects are made live – before the image is captured! Don’t worry about learning technical things like f-stops, shutter speed and white balance; jump right in by composing, adjusting exposure and more before the shot is taken.

Seeing the results before snapping the image ensures you are getting the shots you want, and it will change the way you photograph. Shooting Tips are also included with Live Guide, so you can leave the manual at home.

Automate Everything
Live Guide is just the start of automated technologies on the E-PL1 designed to free you up to focus on your subjects instead of focusing on your camera’s settings.

19 Scene-Select Modes: From portraits to sunset shots, the E-PL1 is equipped with 19 Scene-Select modes for effortless picture taking, including Fireworks, Sunset, Children, Macro and Panorama, to name a few. Capturing beautiful portraits is easy with the ePortrait Mode that enables you to smooth your subject’s complexion.

Intelligent Auto (iAuto) Mode: When you don’t want to use the scene-select modes, the iAuto mode automatically identifies what you’re shooting and adjusts settings for you to capture the best result depending on the situation.

Face Detection: Reduce the chance of blurred subjects in images by recognizing up to eight faces, tracking them within the image area, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure for sharp portraits.

In-Camera Panorama: Capture three images and stitch them together to create one amazing, seamless panoramic picture. Or use the included OLYMPUS [ib] software to stitch up to 10 images together for the ultimate panorama.

iEnhance: With this mode the warm yellow and orange colors of a sunset are heightened to a dramatically lifelike color that’s truer to what you see with the naked eye. iEnhance can be used in any mode, and automatically engages when using iAuto to enrich color in any subject.

Share: Just connect the camera to an HDTV with an optional HDMI cable and use your TV remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera’s menus from the comfort of your personal front-row seat. The E-PL1 records to SDHC (Class 6 recommended) media cards that can be plugged directly into many devices and accommodate large files, including videos.

New Powerfully Simple Pop-Up Flash
The E-PL1 is the first camera in the Olympus PEN series with a built-in pop-up flash that makes it easy to illuminate low-light subjects, reduce red-eye and fill in dark areas. The camera is also compatible with a range of optional external flashes, including the Olympus FL-36R and FL-50R, which can be controlled wirelessly by the E-PL1 so you can dynamically control lighting as your photography skills grow.

PRO-QUALITY IMAGES

How do professional photographers capture the stunning images you see in the pages of glossy magazines and coffee-table books? Talent matters, of course, but you also need the right equipment. Rest assured that the E-PL1 has everything you need to produce vibrant, professional-quality images: a large image sensor, in-body Image Stabilization, Imager Autofocus, the proven Olympus Dust Reduction System and the TruePic™ V Image Processor.

Big Sensor, Not a Big Body
At the heart of the E-PL1 is a large-size image sensor that’s the same sensor as the one inside the Olympus E-30 and E-620 DSLR models. The only difference between this sensor and what the pros use is that this big sensor is inside the much smaller body of the E-PL1. This high-performance 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor (eight times larger than the average point-and-shoot camera sensor) delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.

Stabilize All of Your Lenses
Instead of selling more expensive lenses that have image stabilization inside them, Olympus takes a different approach by having image stabilization built right into the body of the E-PL1. This means that any lens (Micro Four Thirds™, Four Thirds and any third-party lens) attached to the E-PL1 will deliver blur-free images thanks to three modes of In-body Image Stabilization that automatically compensate for camera shake, including in low-light situations or when shooting without a tripod. Since the PEN cameras are the world’s smallest interchangeable-lens cameras with image stabilization built inside the body, you can take the E-PL1 with you and capture great images, and it won’t weigh you down.

Track Your Subjects Wherever They Roam
The E-PL1′s Continuous Autofocus (C-AF) Tracking and Autofocus (AF) Target Registration locks your subject into focus and constantly adjusts focus and brightness whether you or your subject is moving. With this mode, a simple push of the shutter release enables you to keep moving subjects in focus – tracking them from left to right and from front to back – within the frame, automatically ensuring that even active subjects, like kids playing sports, are captured clearly.

The E-PL1′s Imager Autofocus in Live View enables you to compose, focus and capture the shot quickly and easily without ever taking your eyes off the camera’s large, 2.7-inch full-color, high-contrast HyperCrystal LCD for an easy, seamless viewing experience when shooting still images or videos. The LCD also provides a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees, which ensures that images can be composed from even the most obscure angles.

This Camera Leaves Others in the Dust
If you’re just starting out with a camera that has interchangeable lenses, you don’t have to worry about dust spots on your sensor ruining the perfect image every time you change lenses. Spend more time shooting with the E-PL1 and less time worrying about dust with the proven Olympus Dust Reduction System that produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter™, a patented ultrasonic technology that vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor, capturing them on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on.

True-to-Life Color
The E-PL1′s Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus’ TruePic™ V Image Processor, which produces clear and colorful photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible. The image processor is noted for accurate natural color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal expression; it also lowers image noise in photos shot at higher ISO settings (ISO 100 to ISO 3200), enabling great results in low-light situations.

EASILY EXPAND YOUR CREATIVE HORIZONS WITH BUILT-IN EFFECTS

Express yourself with in-camera creative features. Professional images are rarely unedited images. Video and still image pros use computer-editing software to render their images with effects that set their shots apart from the pack. Olympus appreciates that you may not have hours to spend retouching your images at the computer, so the E-PL1 incorporates editing effects inside the camera to save you time. Whether you apply in-camera creative effects while shooting an image, or apply them later to images captured without the effects, all are inside the E-PL1, so you can achieve dramatic results on the go without a computer or editing software.

The E-PL1 has six in-camera Art Filters, including a new filter called Gentle Sepia. This filter gives your images and videos a soft, warm sepia cast similar to historical images from the early days of photography. The sepia tones are softer and the blacks are a true black, unlike traditional sepia images. The new filter joins Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pin Hole, Grainy Film and Diorama (the filter that makes everything look as small as the E-PL1).

With the E-PL1′s Multiple Exposure function available for still image capture, you are free to tell a visual story your way. The image capture options enable you to shoot one shot, then another and combine them in real time, or capture both shots separately and combine them within the camera later. Take a shot of your significant other, and overlay your self-portrait on top to figure out what your kids will look like. If you have kids already, overlay your kid’s face on top of a shot of his or her favorite cartoon character for laughs. Your ability to manipulate space and time makes this new creative multimedia device a veritable time machine.

You often can achieve greater photographic expression by framing a scene in a unique way. The E-PL1 provides four aspect ratios that serve as masks to frame your image to the desired proportions, including the standard 4:3 aspect ratio that is suited to an 8 x 10-inch enlargement; the 16:9 aspect ratio that will display beautifully on a widescreen television; and other popular aspect ratios, such as 3:2 and 6:6. The Multi-Aspect Shooting further expresses your creative vision when combined with in-camera Art Filters and Multiple Exposures.

With the E-PL1, you have your own living library of still images, HD video and audio to remix at your command. In playback mode, you can seamlessly mix stills and movies inside the camera to create a multimedia slideshow, and dub in one of three built-in dramatic background music options to provide a soundtrack for your cinematic creation. With so many creative options, there’s no limit to what you can create. Choose whether or not you want to play back just pictures, just movies or a combination; also control playing back the whole movie or just a clip.

OPEN SYSTEM EASILY GROWS WITH YOUR ABILITY

With a basic point-and-shoot camera, you get one lens built into the camera. One lens, that’s it. And it’s likely a small lens, which doesn’t allow a lot of light through to hit the image sensor. So, you may have a difficult time in low-light conditions. And without the option of adding more lenses, you’re limited to what that one point-and-shoot lens can do. The E-PL1 solves these issues by accepting a variety of lenses to maximize its functionality. Whether shooting still images or HD video, you can add everything from an extreme wide-angle fisheye lens to a super-telephoto lens for a wide range of expressive options.

The M. ZUIKO DIGITAL Micro Four Thirds lenses are designed to be more compact and portable like the E-PL1. Choose from the ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens (28-84mm equivalent in 35mm cameras) sold with the E-PL1, the ED 17mm f2.8 lens (34mm equivalent), the new super wide-angle zoom ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 lens (18-36mm equivalent) or the high-power wide to telephoto zoom ED 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 lens (28-300mm equivalent).

If you want to have even more options, the MMF-2 Four Thirds System Lens Adapter makes the E-PL1 compatible with all Olympus ZUIKO Digital Specific™ lenses and other Four Thirds System lenses from Sigma, Panasonic and Leica. Olympus OM film-based lenses can be attached to the E-PL1 with the MF-2 OM Lens Adapter, and there are third-party adapters developed for lenses from most other manufacturers.

SOFTWARE AND ACCESSORY OPTIONS WHEN YOU’RE READY

The E-PL1 incorporates an accessory port for connecting the optional VF-2 live-finder, a detachable electronic viewfinder, or the new optional SEMA-1 external microphone adapter set (which includes the EMA-1 adapter, the ME-51S stereo microphone and a cord) for those who want to capture enhanced audio with any microphone that has a 3.5mm plug. These optional accessories easily slide into the camera’s accessory port and hot shoe.

Consumers who wish to hold the E-PL1 up to their eye rather than use the LCD will appreciate that the optional VF-2, which provides 1.15x magnification and a 100 percent field of view with sharp resolution, brightness and contrast. The viewfinder refreshes quickly to minimize image ghosting on fast-moving subjects. It also rotates up to 90 degrees to enable photographers to look down into it, which is useful when shooting subjects from challenging angles. The built-in diopter adjustment and high magnification offer easy viewing with and without glasses.

The E-PL1 offers OLYMPUS [ib] software that includes photography workflow, browsing, editing and unique photo-organizing functions. You can organize your photos by person with automatic face-recognition technology, by location with a Geotagging function or by event. You can easily view photos on an HDTV or on the camera’s LCD with the Photo Surfing or Slideshow functions. The name [ib] stands for image bridging, image browsing and image brightening. The software will be available for Windows operating systems only.

Underwater Housing for Aquatic Adventures
The new camera’s compact design makes it the perfect companion for all of your dive trips. The PT-EP01 underwater case has been specially customized for the Olympus E-PL1 and is waterproof to a depth of 40 meters (approximately 130 feet). With its durable, high-quality polycarbonate construction, this Olympus housing protects the camera from water while also cushioning it from knocks and bumps on land. The housing enables viewing from either the camera’s LCD screen or an optional electronic viewfinder. The flash connectors allow optional use of up to two UFL-2 underwater flash units via fiber optic cable. A nonremovable front lens port accommodates multiple Micro Four Thirds lenses.

New Exterior Design, Same PEN DNA
The E-PL1 streamlines the Olympus Micro Four Thirds PEN series form and is available in three new body colors, including Black, Champagne Gold and Slate Blue. Thanks to its compact size (4.51″ W x 2.84″ H x 1.63″ D excluding protrusions) and light 10.4-ounce body, the E-PL1 won’t weigh you down when you’re on the go.

AVAILABILITY

The Olympus E-PL1 will be available in March 2010. It includes the E-PL1 Body, M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zoom, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLS-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCS-1), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS [ib] software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card.

U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations
E-PL1 Body with M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zoom Lens
Estimated Street Price: $599.99

Google have added multitouch support for pinch zooming in maps, photos, and interwebs.  As well as other updates like 3G improvements, Google Goggles, and added Google Maps features.  The multitouch update also leaves the  -&+ buttons of yore in case you feel nostalgic.  More information on the updates by clicking on the full article.

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of multitouch… it makes one handed operation of the phone difficult.  Difficult for those time when, you know, you only have one hand available to clutch your gadget.

Can we finally all admit that the N1 is better than the iPhone 3Gs?  Thank you, it is settled.

Google’s Nexus One update list:

Google Goggles:
This mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps:
The Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:
Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer
Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before
Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving
Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

The Parrot AR (augmented reality) drone is a remote control flying quadricopter designed in France.  Using WiFi  it links with your iPod touch or iPhone, and you fly it by tilting your hands! Being an amateur R/C helicopter pilot I am amazed at the stability of the device,  which takes the fun challenge out of flying.  The stability is due to the 3-axis gyro and microprocessor which auto stabilizes the drone.

The Parrot AR Drone also has two cameras (unlike the iPad) which relays back to your iPod Touch or iPhone.  They mention there will be augmented reality games which you fly missions in a virtual world, while actually flying the drone.  But we know most people will be using the camera to spy on their neigbors look at trees and flowers with anonymity.   [ARdrone.parrot.com]

Apple got a lot wrong with the iPad, but it isn’t as terrible as one might think… IPad is a platform, that is it.  It is a leisure device with good apps.  ITunes is the only reason why the iPad is going to sell well.  Steve Jobs says the device must be “better at these tasks (web, mail, etc) than a smartphone or laptop, otherwise it has no reason for being”.

But it doesn’t do these things better…  the iPad has no phone, no multitasking, no camera, and no keyboard?!  Maybe it is just that certain time of month for Steve.  But seriously, no CAMERA, are you kidding?  Honestly, this must be some sort of joke.  According to iFixit even an “expensive” camera like the excellent 5mexapixel model on Google’s Nexus One only cost $12.50.  Most mobile cameras costs pennies.

As much as I gripe about the device, I can see the iPad being nice for casual web browsing, checking blogs, etc… but iPad for reading a novel, no chance.  An LCD screen is essentially a light shining into your eyes, and this doesn’t bode well for extended reading.  Apple’s app store is also fantastic, and the iPad is a great platform for these apps– games should be lots of fun.

Maps are just silly for a tablet, are you going to carry this thing around with you on the street?  No, you use your phone.  How do you type on it, on your lap, hunched over?  Hold it with one hand while pecking with the other?  Even Steve Jobs looked awkward typing on stage yesterday.

The pricing is the best thing about the iPad.  If it was $1,000 it would be a hard sell.  But at $499 for the base model, it really isn’t so bad at all.  If it is jail-breakable (hackable), I will probably pick up the $499 model for use at home and when traveling.    It is a sexy device (other than the terrible thick black bezel) and this is why it will sell.  People will hold it, touch it, stroke it, and they will buy one.  Then they will wish it had a camera, multitasking, and a better screen… so they will by iPad 2.0!

I’ll leave you with this specs comparison:

I doubt you could conquer the world with this little guy.  But he is cute– although not $3,000 cute.  I can make my dog dance like that for free.  For real.

Give me a RC car or helicopter controlled by wifi or bluetooth and i’ll bite.  Reminds me of the famous Sony Ericsson Car-100 from back in the day.  I still have mine sitting on the shelf, it is amazing… I want “an app for that“.

I loved my iPhone when it was new and innovative.  That was three years ago.  Now it just feels clunky and outdated.  Exiting in and out of apps with no background services is plain silly… it is a smartphone, and by definition should multitask…. out of the box, not with a jailbreak that risks bricking your phone.  However, one thing in favor of the iPhone is the robust app store, but in that same tune, who needs 358 iFart apps?  A tad redundant.

Let me just get this let this out, there is no comparison between these two devices…  other than that fact that they both have large capacitive touchscreens.  Even that is a stretch, because Google’s Nexus One (N1) has the most beautiful display on any current mobile device, due to OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology and a high pixel count (800 x 480)… which is not only brighter and more vivid, but also saves battery life.  Additionally, queezed into the organic-feeling shell of the Nexus One is a fantastic 5 megapixel camera with a flash!  The camera is no longer clunky and slow like on the HTC Hero or HTC Magic.

Multitasking is where the Nexus One really shines.  Chat programs run in the background so you don’t have to be in the application to stay online.  All your notifications swing down from the top of the screen, and you can be in ANY application to access them.  Slide down the notification bar, read an email, press the back button and you were right back where you left off, browsing the internet or playing a game.  This is in stark contrast to the iPhone where you are forced to switch back and forth, homescreen, load, finally back where you were.

Not to mention stability.  I had the HTC magic, a prerealease, and it only crashed on me once.  It rebooted.  Other than that, no Android device has ever crashed on me.  My iPhone would crash daily, especially in Safari.  Infuriating!

I strongly recommend the Nexus One over the iPhone.  But if you are not in a hurry, you might want to wait a few months to see what apple comes out with their iPhone 4.0 software and hardware.

Perhaps even more exciting is the Leica X1 (above), a compact and retro-styled APS-C sensor based camera, which will support Leica’s M lenses.  Could be a good “poor mans M8″, for those people not capable or willing to shell out for the M9.