Voltaic Launches Solar Charger for iPad

New York, NY – June 23, 2011 - Voltaic Systems today opened up opportunities for grid-free computing with the availability of its iPad solar charger, the Spark Solar Tablet Case.

Perfect for mobile workers and global travelers, the Spark provides an hour of iPad video playback for every hour in direct sunlight. In addition, it will charge the Blackberry Playbook, T-Mobile G-Slate, Samsung Galaxy Tab, the ASUS Transformer and most handheld electronics. When the sun is unavailable, the internal battery holds one complete iPad charge. The battery can also be re-charged from a wall or car charger.

"Voltaic set out to design a lightweight case that could charge a tablet quickly, but also match the sleekness and simplicity of the many of the tablets," said Shayne McQuade, CEO of Voltaic Systems. "The Spark Solar Case is a powerful and compact way to carry and charge an iPad."

Voltaic is also launching today the V39 USB Battery, which provides backup power for iPads, other tablets and smartphones.

8 Watts of Power for Fast Charging
On the front of each case are four two-Watt solar panels. Solar charge times are determined by the total area and efficiency of the solar cells -- the Spark uses high-efficiency monocristalline cells which will charge an iPad from about 10 hours of sunshine. The cells are encased in a clear, UV and scratch resistant coating. The rugged panels are waterproof and built to withstand the abuse of everyday use.

High Output, Dual-Port Battery
Many tablets, including the iPad, can charge quickly from high-powered USB ports which output 2Amps, four times the current of a standard USB port. The Spark's 39 Watt hour battery has both a high-powered USB port for tablets and a standard USB port for phones and other handheld electronics.

Power for Digital Cameras
Fast charging for a tablet also means fast charging for professional DSLR cameras. Users can connect a car charger cradle for their camera battery to the solar output of the Spark, which is switchable between 6 and 12 Volts.

Protective and Lightweight Case
The Spark case is fully padded and lined for a snug and soft fit. It can be held by its handle, carried using the removable shoulder strap, or placed inside a backpack or other bag.

Key features and specifications of the Spark Solar Case include:
+ 8 Watts solar power, switchable between 6 and 12 Volts – panels available in silver or charcoal
+ 39 Watt hour battery with low-power and high-power USB ports
+ Charging cable with 5 standard adapters to connect to most handheld electronics
+ 13.5" high x 10.5" wide x 2" inches
+ About 2.5 pounds including solar panels and battery
+ Waterproof fabric manufactured from recycled PET

Availability
The Spark Solar Case and V39 External Battery are available now on www.voltaicsystems.com and with select retailers. To purchase and for more information, go to www.voltaicsystems.com/spark and www.voltaicsystems.com/v39

Voltaic was founded in 2004 to develop energy solutions using environmentally-intelligent designs. For more information please visit www.voltaicsystems.com, or contact us at 1.877.304.6861 x701 or media@voltaicsystems.com. Hi-Resolution photos are available upon request.

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FinePix X100 Firmware Update Ver.1.10

Applicable model: FinePix X100

• Detail of the update
The firmware update Ver.1.10 incorporates the following issues.
The contents of the owner's manual will be partly changed along with this update.

Please check them in detail.

1. The following functions can be rocked during shooting by holding down [MENU / OK] button over 3 sec. DRIVE / Flash / White balance / Macro (set on the Command Dial - 4 direction key)
2. "CORRECTED AF FRAME" menu is added in "SET-UP" menu (the last line on menu page 6) to display additional AF frame (corrected AF frame for reducing parallax) which can be effectively used for macro shots. (Factory default value is set to "OFF")
3. Adjustment in1/3 step increment for shutter speed or aperture setting is enabled in Shutter-Priority AE and Aperture-Priority AE mode, on top of those in Manual Exposure mode. Shutter-Priority AE : Adjustment is controlled by rotating the command dial Aperture-Priority AE : Adjustment is controlled by moving left / right on the command control lever
4. In the post-view mode (display after shooting), focused area is magnified in the LCD (EVF) display when the command control lever is pressed. Cf. "IMAGE DISP." Setting must be set to "CONTINUOUS",
5. Setting of the role for "Fn" button is enabled by holding down "Fn" button over 3 sec.
6. Actual ISO sensitivity for shooting is displayed just after pressing shutter button halfway, when "ISO AUTO CONTROLL" is set to ON.
7. When "eye sensor" is activated by pressing "VIEW MODE" button, "EYE SENSOR" is displayed on EVF / OVF or LCD just a while to notice the status.
8. Macro mode ISO sensitivity, Drive mode, Dynamic range, Self-timer mode, flash mode is maintained even if shutter speed setting or aperture setting is changed. Also, even after changing viewing mode into shooting mode or turning of the camera, these values are maintained.
9. The size of focus frame set through viewing EVF / LCD is maintained even after changing display mode between OVF and EVF (LCD).
10. When "SHUTTER SOUND" is chosen, each shutter sound is performed in each menu setting.
11. In viewing mode, the last viewed shot is maintained as even after changing into shooting mode. Cf. After another image is shot after viewing former image, memory of viewing the image is cancelled and the last shot is displayed as the latest image.
12. When the aspect ration of the image size is set to 16:9, the line of bright frame line on OVF is displayed with aspect ratio 16:9.
13. Viewing mode with Photo Information on EVF / LCD is maintained even if another image is shot. On top of this issue, deleting picture directly is enabled even in viewing with Photo information by pressing the command dial up, or MENU operation is also enabled.
14. Occasionally, preview image on EVF / LCD after pressing the shutter halfway might be darker than live view, according to aperture setting or brightness of shooting target. This phenomenon is improved.
15. When "DISP. CUSTOM SETTING" is set to OVF or EVF / LCD, the setting value is maintained even after customizing the menu.
16. Even for only RAW data recording mode, "RED EYE REMOVAL" setting is selectable among ON or OFF.
17. In MF (manual focus) setting with OVF mode, OVF viewing is activated after pressing shutter half way, even if "FOCUS CHECK" (magnifying center of the image) is displayed in EVF by pressing the center of the command control lever.
18. Displaying period after pressing each command dial (Macro / Flash) is prolonged from 1.5 sec into 2.0 sec for confirming correctly.
20. For resuming from AUTO POWER OFF setting, the shutter release button was required to hold down halfway for a few second. For quicker operation, resuming is activated by just pressing the button.
21. Image quality captured by Velvia / ASTIA mode is improved on mainly shadow tone (dark area), when dynamic range is set to 200% or 400%.
22. When "OVF POWER SAVE MODE" is set to ON and "Fn" button is set to "MOVIE RECORDING", the camera may be unstable occasionally. This phenomenon is improved.
23. Histogram display on OVF during exposure compensation is improved.

The firmware up date ver.1.01 incorporates the improvement against inadequate operation shown in the following.
1. If the images are shot with ISO Bracketing mode when "QUICK START MODE"(*1) is set to "ON" and turn off the camera,the camera cannot be turned on again even with ordinary operation.
*1 Menu of "QUICK START MODE" is set to "OFF" as factory-default value.

Precaution
1. If firmware updating fails, the camera may no longer operate correctly in some cases. Carefully read the notes provided here.
2. Always use the fully-charged NP-95 battery when updating the firmware as a basic manner. Never turn the camera off or attempt to use any of the camera controls while the firmware is being overwritten.
3. Firmware updating requires approximately 90 seconds.
4. Once the firmware has been updated, the previous version cannot be restored.

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Google's drawn the ire of the Federal Trade Commission before for failing to follow its own privacy policies. Now, however, the Mountain View crew is apparently facing a formal inquiry from the FTC as it seeks information about Google's search and advertising business. The civil investigative demands are set to be sent out within the next five days, according to the Wall Street Journal, and the commission will be looking into whether Google's search engine illegally routs all those internet eyeballs scanning its site to its own services instead of those offered by competitors. Sound familiar? It should, because Google's under investigation for similar anticompetitive accusations made in Europe -- somewhere Steve Ballmer is smiling. 

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Driverless cars are still a way's away from hitting the mainstream, but when they do, the glorious state of Nevada will be ready for 'em. This week, the state passed a new law that will require its Department of Transportation to "adopt regulations authorizing the operation of autonomous vehicles on highways within the State of Nevada." More specifically, the DOT will have to cook up a set of safety standards for self-driving vehicles, and designate specific areas in which they can be tested. Invisible drivers immediately hailed the decision as a watershed victory in their ongoing struggle for civil rights.

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In the event you got lulled into a groovy seat dance by that most excellent muzak above, let us repeat - this app does not protect your lockscreen. That said, Visidon's Applock will prevent the privacy-adverse from messing with your personally curated app collection. Have a nosy significant lover? No sweat -- snap a pick with your front-facing cam, enable the face-lock in your settings, and those sexts are as good as blocked. It's far from foolproof, however, as some comments indicate an extended bit of facial-wriggling tricks the app into unlock mode. Oh well, you're so vain, you'll probably think this Android market link is for you -- don't you?

[Thanks, Matti]

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