Hanwang's handwriting recognition mouse one-ups Chinese keyboard

It's tough enough to peck and hunt when you've only got 26 or so primary characters to fool around with, but trying to construct something meaningful in Chinese just has to be a tad more complex than we'd like to imagine.

Hanwang's latest mouse is looking to ease the pain suffered while penning an email with wildly elaborate characters by offering a more natural approach to keying in text, as built-in top-mounted screen accepts handwritten input via the integrated stylus (seen after the jump).

As expected, users can actually write characters on the LCD rather than typing it in, presumably making things a bit easier on those who'd rather handle a writing utensil than fight with a keyboard .
No word on pricing or availability just yet, but we're still not entirely convinced a mouse-sized panel would be classified as "convenient" when trying to pen a dissertation.

Casio's Exilim EX-Z11 point-and-shoot looks good in black

Casio releases a new - exclusive for MediaMarkt division - addition to its stylish and high-resolution Exilim digital camera series. The simple to use Casio Exilim EX-Z11 offers 7.2 Megapixel images and a 3x optical zoom packed into a slim body enhanced by rounded edges.

The Casio EZ-Z11 camera features a large, easy-to-see 2.6-inch LCD monitor as well as the Anti Shake DSP, which along with the Auto Macro and Quick Shutter functions considerably reduces the incidence of blurred images due to moving subjects or shaky hands, ensuring that beautiful images can be created and enjoyed by anyone.

The Casio Z11 digital camera comes with many other convenient and user-friendly features, including Super Life Battery.

The Casio Exilim line is a culmination of Casio’s core technologies of miniaturization and digital technology resulting in a smaller, higher resolution camera. Exilim has led the current digital camera trend of stylish, compact and fast action functions.

The Casio Exilim Z11 digital compact camera is an exclusive model for MediaMarkt in Germany and is Casio’s pursuit of a digital camera that is both high tech and hassle-free, bringing the fun and enjoyment of digital photography to everyone.

The Best Shot button enables convenient, one-touch access to multiple scenarios chosen from an image menu and providing the user with a wide range of camera settings for taking hassle-free photos every time.

The new 7.2 Megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z11 model is a stylish and easy to use digital camera that takes high quality images and comes loaded with the latest features and functions.

Casio continues to bring the fun and versatility of digital photography to users everywhere.

Casio EX-Z11compact camera features
• Stylish, Slim, Compact Size High Performance Mode
• 7.2 Megapixel high resolution CCD and 3x optical zoom lens
• Auto focus and Manual focus
• Large 2.6 inch LCD display, 114,860 pixels resolution
• Anti Shake DSP for reduction of blurring
• ISO range of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800
• 95.4 (W) x 60.6 (H) x 19.6 (D) mm, slim compact size (thinnest point: 16.2 mm)
• Slim body and stylish design
• Lithium Ion battery
• Super Life Battery mode

Alienware loading Area-51 ALX with overclocked, quad core QX6700

Hardcore gamers seeking top-of-the-line performance can always look to Alienware for rigs with the latest components -- at a steep premium, of course -- so it's no surprise that the recent Dell acquisition has decided to stuff an over clocked, quad coreCore2 Extreme QX6700 chip into the legendary Area-51 ALX.

The mad scientists tinkering away at AW HQ (a UFO, perhaps?) have stepped Intel's premiere CPU up from 2.66GHz to 3.2GHZ -- a pretty sizable boost, while still giving speed addicts room to push the processor even further.

As usual with this gear, pricing will range wildly depending on the configuration you choose, but expect to pay top dollar for the extra labor and always-pimpin' case.

Xbox 360 Elite: new, black limited edition Xbox with HDMI and 120GB drive

We've confirmed with trusted sources that the black Xbox 360 is indeed coming (the image above is of the original 360 dev kit, FYI), and will be dubbed the Xbox 360 Elite. Here's what you need to know about it:

• The Elite will be limited quantities only; that may be as much or as little as a couple hundred thousand.
• The case, controller, and Live headset will all be black. It will have all new packaging.
• Elite will cost $479, and will be a 3rd SKU; it will be sold alongside Premium and Core packs.
• Eventually Elite hardware (in white plastics) will take the role of the Xbox Premium. That is to say, after the Elite is launched and sold out, future Xbox Premiums will have 120GB / HDMI.
• We do not yet know exactly when 120GB / HDMI will become the standard for Premium, but it is loosely estimated to be late summer or fall.
• Elite models run cooler than normal 360s, but they are not yet confirmed to have 65nm chips.
• Prices may remain the same with the 120GB / HDMI hardware upgrade in the Premium Xbox, but we may still see a price cut on the line when 65nm chips start shipping.
• The HD DVD drive will not be internal or bundled -- Microsoft never did or nor does not currently have plans to put an HD DVD drive in the 360.
• There are no current plans to integrate WiFi into the Elite or future Premiums (although that can always change).

Sanyo’s Latest Mini-High-Def Camcorder: Xacti HD2

It's deja vu all over again: at almost this exact same time last year, Sanyo unleashed the world's smallest HD camcorder in the form of its VPC-HD1 and now the company has stepped up its game with the brand new Xacti HD2.

Maintaining the same pistol-grip form factor and 720p resolution as its predecessor, the HD2 kicks the stills up to seven megapixels, delivers 75% better low-light sensitivity, and perhaps best of all, ships with a docking station that sports HDMI out.
Like theHd 1 a, this new model boasts support for SDHC, and Sanyo claims that a big fat 8GB card will store almost three full hours of footage.

Other notable specs include 16:9 mode, a 2.2-inch LCD, 10x optical zoom, and spoken directions to help newbs get shooting right away. Expect the HD2 to drop sometime in March, and even though you're getting a number of improved features, Sanyo managed to knock $100 off of the HD1's initial price of $800.

Check out the gallery below for some hands-on action...

HP Photosmart R837 Digital Camera

Take stunning 7.2-megapixel photos with the powerful, easy-to-use HP Photosmart R837 Digital Camera. This camera features a large 7.6cm (3-inch) image display and an extra-wide viewing angle – up to 170 degrees – perfect for viewing photos indoors and outdoors.

Enhance photos in-camera with HP touch-up for the removal of blemishes and the latest generation of HP Real Life technologies, including HP Design Gallery with slimming and industry-leading in-camera red-eye removal.(1) The HP Photosmart R837 Digital Camera also features pet-eye fix and HP steady photo anti-shake to help prevent blurred photos.

Key Features and Benefits

• 7.2-megapixels for beautiful prints and enlargements up to poster size.
• Zoom in for dramatic, close-up shots, using 24x total zoom - 3x internal optical zoom lens, 8x digital.
• Big, 7.6cm (3-inch) image display for framing and viewing photos and menus – indoors or out.
• First HP digital camera to offer HP touch-up for the removal of blemishes.
• HP steady photo anti-shake feature helps to prevent blurred photos in lower light accounting for hand shake and moving subjects.
• Enjoy quick photo organisation for easy sharing – simply tag your photos using in-camera menus.
• Take photos using 32MB internal memory, or expand the camera’s memory using an optional SD memory card(2) and never miss a shot.
• High-quality VGA video with audio shoots at 24 frames per second.
• On-camera menu to easily order and share photos on Snapfish(3) using HP Photosmart Express.
• Features a slim design to fit easily in a pocket or purse.
• Microsoft Windows Vista™ ready.

Additional Features

HP Real Life technologies help take the guesswork out of digital photography, making it easy to produce great photos that are crisp, realistic and true-to-life. HP Real Life technologies include:

• Industry-leading in-camera red-eye removal and pet-eye fix.(1)
• Adaptive Lighting Technology automatically adjusts high-contrast photos to bring faces out of shadows and details out of backgrounds.
• HP Design Gallery adds artistic effects and borders to photos right on the camera – apply slimming effect, remove blemishes, brighten photos and more — no PC or software required.
• In-camera panorama stitching allows the user to align, capture and review a panorama image on the camera and stitch up to five photos together to save as one image for easy printing before downloading to a computer.
• HP Photosmart Express makes sharing, printing and saving digital photos easy – users simply take a photo and select its destination right on the back of the camera.
• HP Photosmart Premier software allows users to edit, organise, print, share and archive digital photos.
• Meets HP’s general specification for the Environment, which includes compliance with the EU ROHS Directive (focus: lead, cadmium, mercury, PBDE, PBDP).(4)
• Easily transfer photos, save, view, print and share photos on a PC, Snapfish and TV, and recharge in-camera battery, plus a spare, using optional HP Photosmart 6221 Premium Camera Dock.
• Spend more time shooting and sharing photos by quickly charging the HP Photosmart R837 Digital Camera’s included high-capacity, lithium-ion battery in one hour or less(6) with the optional HP Photosmart Quick Recharge Kit for R-series cameras.(5)

Technical Specifications

• 7.2-megapixel resolution
• 24x zoom - 3x optical, 8x digital
• Dimensions/Weight: 10cm (3.91 in) (W) x 2.7cm (1.06 in) (D) x 6.4cm (2.54 in) (H) (includes protrusions) 155 grams without battery
• PictBridge support
• JPEG (Exif 2.2)
• Support/Connectivity: USB Connectivity, USB-compatible PC with Windows Vista, 2000, XP Home, XP Professional, XP Professional x64, USB-compatible Macintosh computer with Mac OS X v10.3.9, 10.4 and later

Standard one-year limited hardware warranty. Warranty and support options vary by product, country and local legal requirements.

Pricing and Availability

Estimated street price €229.99. Price stated is EMEA Manufacturer’s Recommended Selling Price (MRSP) including VAT and is subject to change – actual price may vary by country.

Expected to be available for purchase April 2007 in EMEA.