Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon, but no longer rare, cancer that is difficult to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases.



A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.



The mesothelium helps protect the organs by producing a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around. For example, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the pericardial cavity (the "sac-like" space around the heart) is called the pericardium.



Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.



Mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700's. However it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor was described in more detail and even more importantly, its association with asbestos exposure was recognized. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J.C.Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since then, the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world.



The incidence of mesothelioma in the United States remains very low, with 14 cases occurring per million people per year. Despite these numbers, the noticed threefold increase in mesothelioma in males between 1970 and 1984, is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly in areas of asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities.



Although the disease is much more commonly seen in 60-year-old men, it has been described in women and early childhood as well. The cause of the disease is not so well understood in these latter two groups, but there is some evidence of possible asbestos exposure for some of these cases as well.



Malignant mesothelioma is divided into three main types. About 50% to 70% of mesothelioma occurrences are the epithelioid type. This type has the best prognosis (outlook for survival). The other two types are the sarcomatoid type (7%-20%), and the mixed/biphasic type (20%-35%). Treatment options for all three types are the same.



About three-fourths of mesothelioma occurrences start in the chest cavity and is known as pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% to 20% begin in the abdomen and is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, starting in the cavity around the heart, is very rare. The covering layer of the testicles is actually an outpouching of peritoneum into the scrotum. Mesothelioma that affects this covering of the testicles is quite rare.

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Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Treatment Information
treatment of malignant mesothelioma
GENERAL Rx
• Operable patient (epithelial type, no positive nodes, confined to pleura, adequate PFTs): the two surgical techniques for therapeutic intervention are decortication (pleurectomy) and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Postoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide and subsequent external beam radiation are used in some centers with limited success.

• Inoperable patient (disease too extensive, sarcomatous or mixed histology type, poor PFTs): supportive care plus/minus radiation therapy for symptoms or supportive care plus chemotherapy. Combined modality therapies (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biologics) have also been used to reduce both local and distant recurrences. The combination of pemetrexed (an antimetabolite that inhibits enzymes involved in folate metabolism) and cisplatin is used for chemotherapy of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma .



• Intrapleural instillation of cisplatin or biologics (e.g., interferons, interleukin-2) is generally limited to very early disease because it can only penetrate a very limited depth of the tumor and there is a propensity of the pleural space to become progressively obliterated with advancing disease.

• The role of radiation therapy in the treatment of mesothelioma remains uncertain. It is often used for palliation of local pain despite lack of trials to prove its utility.

• Obliteration of the pleural space (pleurodesis) with instillation of tetracycline, bleomycin, or biologic substances such as C. parvum into the pleural cavity is often tried in attempting to treat recurrent symptomatic pleural effusions.

DISPOSITION
Median survival for patients undergoing pleurectomy ranges from 6.7 to 21 mo, for extrapleural pneumonectomy 4 to 21 mo. Survival is better for patients with epithelial form.
Mesothelioma Treatment Information
Mesothelioma Cancer

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Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Treatment Information
treatment of malignant mesothelioma
GENERAL Rx
• Operable patient (epithelial type, no positive nodes, confined to pleura, adequate PFTs): the two surgical techniques for therapeutic intervention are decortication (pleurectomy) and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Postoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide and subsequent external beam radiation are used in some centers with limited success.

• Inoperable patient (disease too extensive, sarcomatous or mixed histology type, poor PFTs): supportive care plus/minus radiation therapy for symptoms or supportive care plus chemotherapy. Combined modality therapies (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biologics) have also been used to reduce both local and distant recurrences. The combination of pemetrexed (an antimetabolite that inhibits enzymes involved in folate metabolism) and cisplatin is used for chemotherapy of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma .



• Intrapleural instillation of cisplatin or biologics (e.g., interferons, interleukin-2) is generally limited to very early disease because it can only penetrate a very limited depth of the tumor and there is a propensity of the pleural space to become progressively obliterated with advancing disease.

• The role of radiation therapy in the treatment of mesothelioma remains uncertain. It is often used for palliation of local pain despite lack of trials to prove its utility.

• Obliteration of the pleural space (pleurodesis) with instillation of tetracycline, bleomycin, or biologic substances such as C. parvum into the pleural cavity is often tried in attempting to treat recurrent symptomatic pleural effusions.

DISPOSITION
Median survival for patients undergoing pleurectomy ranges from 6.7 to 21 mo, for extrapleural pneumonectomy 4 to 21 mo. Survival is better for patients with epithelial form.
Mesothelioma Treatment Information
Mesothelioma Cancer

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Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs
Mesothelioma diagnosis include X-rays tissue fluid sampling CT, MRI and PET scans
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Metastatic adenocarcinomas (from lung, breast, ovary, kidney, stomach, prostate)

WORKUP
• Staging evaluation includes complete history (including occupational history), physical examination, and testing to determine potential operability (CT, bone scan, PFTs)
• Thoracoscopy, pleuroscopy, and open lung biopsy are useful in obtaining adequate tissue samples for diagnosis
• Pulmonary function tests
• Staging: the UICC staging uses the TNM categories to organize mesothelioma in stages I-IV in a manner similar to that used for non–small cell lung cancer

Diagnosing Mesothelioma can be done through imaging techniques and tissue sampling to find and lung cancer
LABORATORY TESTS
• Diagnostic thoracentesis is generally insufficient for diagnosis because pleural effusions may only reveal atypical mesothelial cells

• Immunohistochemistry is useful to distinguish adenocarcinoma from epithelial malignant mesothelioma ( mesotheliomas are generally CEA negative and cytokeratin positive)
• Thrombocytosis and anemia may be found on initial lab evaluation

IMAGING STUDIES
• Chest radiographs may reveal pleural plaques or calcifications in the diaphragm
• CT scan of the chest/abdomen and bone scan are used to assess the extent of disease

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Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs
Mesothelioma diagnosis include X-rays tissue fluid sampling CT, MRI and PET scans
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Metastatic adenocarcinomas (from lung, breast, ovary, kidney, stomach, prostate)

WORKUP
• Staging evaluation includes complete history (including occupational history), physical examination, and testing to determine potential operability (CT, bone scan, PFTs)
• Thoracoscopy, pleuroscopy, and open lung biopsy are useful in obtaining adequate tissue samples for diagnosis
• Pulmonary function tests
• Staging: the UICC staging uses the TNM categories to organize mesothelioma in stages I-IV in a manner similar to that used for non–small cell lung cancer

Diagnosing Mesothelioma can be done through imaging techniques and tissue sampling to find and lung cancer
LABORATORY TESTS
• Diagnostic thoracentesis is generally insufficient for diagnosis because pleural effusions may only reveal atypical mesothelial cells

• Immunohistochemistry is useful to distinguish adenocarcinoma from epithelial malignant mesothelioma ( mesotheliomas are generally CEA negative and cytokeratin positive)
• Thrombocytosis and anemia may be found on initial lab evaluation

IMAGING STUDIES
• Chest radiographs may reveal pleural plaques or calcifications in the diaphragm
• CT scan of the chest/abdomen and bone scan are used to assess the extent of disease

Read More

Secure Mesothelioma

What is mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Although uncommon, mesothelioma is no longer considered rare. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is particulary difficult for doctors to diagnose and one that does not respond well to therapy.

The chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart are surrounded by a a layer of specialized mesothelial cells. Most other internal organs are also covered by these cells. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.

A special protective lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around is produced by the mesothelium. This protective fluid helps the lungs to move without resistance inside the chest cavity while breathing. The medical name for the mesothelium of the chest is the pleura and the medical name for the mesothelium of the abdomen is the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the "sac-like" space around the heart is called the pericardium.

A malignant (cancerous) tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. As most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma. Tumors of the mesothelium can also be benign (noncancerous) but benign mesotheliomas are much more rare.

Mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700's. However it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor was described in more detail and even more importantly, its association with asbestos exposure was recognized. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J.C.Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since than the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world.

The incidence of mesothelioma in the United States remains very low, with 14 cases occurring per million people per year. Despite these numbers the noticed threefold increase in mesothelioma in males between 1970 and 1984, is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly in areas of asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities.

Although the disease is much more commonly seen in 60-year old men, it has been described in women and early childhood as well. The cause of the disease is not so well understood in these latter two groups, but there is some evidence of possible asbestos exposure for some of these cases as well.

Malignant mesotheliomas are divided into three main types. About 50% to 70% of mesotheliomas are the epithelioid type. This type has the best prognosis (outlook for survival). The other two types are the sarcomatoid type (7%-20%), and the mixed/biphasic type (20%-35%). Treatment options for all three types are the same.

About three-fourths of mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. They are known as pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% to 20% begin in the abdomen. These are called peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, starts in the cavity around the heart, and is very rare. The covering layer of the testicles is actually an outpouching of peritoneum into the scrotum. Mesotheliomas that affect this covering of the testicles are quite rare.

Glossary of Terms

asbestos: combination of several minerals that separate into long, threadlike fibers. Because they do not burn, do not conduct heat or electricity, and are very resistant to chemicals, these minerals are often used for making fireproof materials, electrical insulation, roofing, filters, etc. benign: doing no harm, good incidence: the frequency with which an event occurs (usually in a group at risk) pericardium: a thin membrane surrounding the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels.

peritoneum: a thin membrane that covers the abdominal cavity and partially covers some of the abdominal organs.

pleura: a thin membrane that covers the lungs (visceral pleura) and lines the chest cavity (parietal pleura) malignant: harmful, dangerous (a malignant tumor is a cancer).

median: middle number in a series of numbers (for example: median survival of 10 months means that for that specific group of patients the survival varied from probably 2 months to 30 months).

mesoderm: the middle layer of cells in an embryo, from which the muscular, skeletal, vascular, connective etc. tissues develop.

mesothelioma: a tumor of the mesothelium, that can be benign (localized) or malignant (diffusely spread), and that is most commonly caused by the ingestion of asbestos particles.

mesothelium: the thin layer of mesodermal epithelial cells that forms the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium.

metastases: the spread of tumor cells from one part of the body to another unrelated part of the body by the way of the bloodstream or lymphatics.

prognosis: prediction of the probable course of the disease in an individual. Prognostic factors are factors associated with prognosis.

TNM staging: assigning a stage to the tumor based on size, local versus disseminated growth, lymph node involvement and presence or absence of distant metastases.

tumor: a mass of tissue, a growth independent of its surrounding structures and having no physiological function/ a neoplasm. A tumor can be benign or malignant.

Read More

Secure Mesothelioma

What is mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Although uncommon, mesothelioma is no longer considered rare. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is particulary difficult for doctors to diagnose and one that does not respond well to therapy.

The chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart are surrounded by a a layer of specialized mesothelial cells. Most other internal organs are also covered by these cells. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.

A special protective lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around is produced by the mesothelium. This protective fluid helps the lungs to move without resistance inside the chest cavity while breathing. The medical name for the mesothelium of the chest is the pleura and the medical name for the mesothelium of the abdomen is the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the "sac-like" space around the heart is called the pericardium.

A malignant (cancerous) tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. As most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma. Tumors of the mesothelium can also be benign (noncancerous) but benign mesotheliomas are much more rare.

Mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700's. However it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor was described in more detail and even more importantly, its association with asbestos exposure was recognized. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J.C.Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since than the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world.

The incidence of mesothelioma in the United States remains very low, with 14 cases occurring per million people per year. Despite these numbers the noticed threefold increase in mesothelioma in males between 1970 and 1984, is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly in areas of asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities.

Although the disease is much more commonly seen in 60-year old men, it has been described in women and early childhood as well. The cause of the disease is not so well understood in these latter two groups, but there is some evidence of possible asbestos exposure for some of these cases as well.

Malignant mesotheliomas are divided into three main types. About 50% to 70% of mesotheliomas are the epithelioid type. This type has the best prognosis (outlook for survival). The other two types are the sarcomatoid type (7%-20%), and the mixed/biphasic type (20%-35%). Treatment options for all three types are the same.

About three-fourths of mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. They are known as pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% to 20% begin in the abdomen. These are called peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, starts in the cavity around the heart, and is very rare. The covering layer of the testicles is actually an outpouching of peritoneum into the scrotum. Mesotheliomas that affect this covering of the testicles are quite rare.

Glossary of Terms

asbestos: combination of several minerals that separate into long, threadlike fibers. Because they do not burn, do not conduct heat or electricity, and are very resistant to chemicals, these minerals are often used for making fireproof materials, electrical insulation, roofing, filters, etc. benign: doing no harm, good incidence: the frequency with which an event occurs (usually in a group at risk) pericardium: a thin membrane surrounding the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels.

peritoneum: a thin membrane that covers the abdominal cavity and partially covers some of the abdominal organs.

pleura: a thin membrane that covers the lungs (visceral pleura) and lines the chest cavity (parietal pleura) malignant: harmful, dangerous (a malignant tumor is a cancer).

median: middle number in a series of numbers (for example: median survival of 10 months means that for that specific group of patients the survival varied from probably 2 months to 30 months).

mesoderm: the middle layer of cells in an embryo, from which the muscular, skeletal, vascular, connective etc. tissues develop.

mesothelioma: a tumor of the mesothelium, that can be benign (localized) or malignant (diffusely spread), and that is most commonly caused by the ingestion of asbestos particles.

mesothelium: the thin layer of mesodermal epithelial cells that forms the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium.

metastases: the spread of tumor cells from one part of the body to another unrelated part of the body by the way of the bloodstream or lymphatics.

prognosis: prediction of the probable course of the disease in an individual. Prognostic factors are factors associated with prognosis.

TNM staging: assigning a stage to the tumor based on size, local versus disseminated growth, lymph node involvement and presence or absence of distant metastases.

tumor: a mass of tissue, a growth independent of its surrounding structures and having no physiological function/ a neoplasm. A tumor can be benign or malignant.

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Safari digital camera

Leica introduces the Safari special edition of the M8.2 digital camera. The Leica M8.2 Safari edition is olive green painted and has silver anodised finish. It has LEICA ELMARIT-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.lens and 10 Megapixel image sensor.
The Leica M8.2 Safari comes with an exclusive Billingham camera case and an elegant carrying strap, bearing an embossed Leica logo. This special edition of the M8.2 is priced at $10,000.

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Leica introduces the Safari special edition of the M8.2 digital camera. The Leica M8.2 Safari edition is olive green painted and has silver anodised finish. It has LEICA ELMARIT-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.lens and 10 Megapixel image sensor.
The Leica M8.2 Safari comes with an exclusive Billingham camera case and an elegant carrying strap, bearing an embossed Leica logo. This special edition of the M8.2 is priced at $10,000.

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MP7 player surfaces — MP3, MP4 shrug

Finally, the world’s second attempt to escalate the neverending MP arms race. This sexy piece is totally standard, feature-wise — plays audio / video, has a 1.3 megapixel camera, FM tuner and voice recording feature — but for just $70, it’s pretty much the best deal ever, right? Right?

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MSI AP1900 Slimmest

MSI lays claim to the slimmest all-in-one LCD PC in the world iwth its AP1900, measuring a mere 35mm in depth. This extremely slim form factor is able to minimize space usage whilst broadening the visual capacity just like other LCD monitors. As for the black bars located on both top and bottom of the screen, those are avoided as well. Features include :-
160 degrees viewing angle
Intel Atom processor
Energy-saving and noise-reduction functions
Adjustable 5° to 15° back-and-forth
Integrated webcam
Dual track quality microphone
Stereo 3W speakers
Multi DVD burner
No idea on how much this 4kg PC will cost you, but it is an idea for those moving into a small apartment and need every single possible square inch.

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IDrive Portable USB Hard Drive

This is IDrive Portable, a 2.5-inch portable USB hard drive. It comes with 320GB capacity with 5400RPM rotational speed and 12ms seek time. The IDrive Portable offers one-click hands-free backup. For $4.95, you can also use the IDrive online backup service to sync your local backup and online backup.

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YP-VP1 voice recorder

Here’s something we don’t see everyday, a sexy voice recorder with a built-in digital camera. Samsung’s YP-VP1 made its first appearance at CES, apparently, and now sees its official Korean launch. The 2GB / 4GB recorder features a directional mic that records up to 30 hours in 192kbps max quality with support for MP3 / WMA playback (up to 50 hours) tossed in for grins. As to the camera, a VoicePix function allows you to tag a recording with a photo — something that should help with searching for specific items later on.

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Lapfit monitors

Samsung’s Lapfit monitors are here to solve a problem most laptop owners are familiar with: the secondary monitor offset. See, a laptop’s integrated display typically sits just a few centimeters above the desktop. That can create an unnatural panning effect when trying to move the mouse or drag a window from your laptop’s display to the higher secondary. Samsung’s solution is to offer these new low-profile monitors that sit at the same height as your (desktop replacement-sized) laptop’s display. The 19- (LD190G) and 22-inch (LD220G) UbiSync Lapfit monitors offer a 10-30 degree tilt, a 1,360 x 768 (16:9 aspect) pixel resolution, 4ms response, and a 20,000:1 dynamic contrast. Great, a physical solution to a problem solved long ago by laptop stands or by your laptop’s OS — way to go Sammy.

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4650 graphics card

Yup, all ’round the globe, economies are taking a hit, and people are losing jobs, houses and investments (take, for instance, the news that Netgear had an unexpectedly bad fourth quarter, as well as the rumors that both Asustek and MSI will be cutting workers). So we here at Engadget are committed to trying to counter-attack a little bit of that suffering by handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we’ve got an ATI Radeon HD 4650 graphics card to offer up. Read the rules below (no skimming — we’re omniscient and can tell when you’ve skimmed) and get commenting!

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1.8 gigapixel digicam

the mythological eye guy and an acronym for Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance - Imaging System) this guy straps a 1.8 gigapixel camera to the bottom of an A-160T Hummingbird robot helicopter. The device is able to hover at high altitude (over 15,000 feet) for up to 20 hours — keeping tabs of an area of over a hundred square miles. The frame rate is 15 fps and the “ground sample distance” is 15 centimeters — each pixel represents about six inches. The sheer amount of data taken in by a camera like this is too large to be completely relayed to the ground, but users are able to define upwards of sixty-five independent video windows within the image and zoom in or out. Additionally, windows can be set to automatically track items such as moving vehicles, individuals, the books you get out of the library, and the items you pick up at 7-11 after a night out with the gang.

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LUMIX

It was but merely a month ago that Samsung introduced two new ones in its blossoming SL series, and now the company’s shooting out four more in the run-up to PMA. Kicking things off are the SL820 (pictured) and SL620, two 12.2 megapixel shooters which sport three-inch LCD monitors and a 5x optical zoom. With the former, users are presented with a 28mm wide angle lens, while the SL620 offers a standard 35mm lens. The pair also touts Optical and Digital Image Stabilization, while the SL820 steps it up with 720p video recording (compared to the SL620’s VGA mode) and HDMI connectivity. Moving on, we’ve got the SL202 and SL30, which both arrive with 10 megapixel sensors and a 3x optical zoom. Beyond that, everything’s about as plain as it gets, so we’ll just skip right to the prices while hosting up the full release after the break. The May-bound SL820 will go for $279.99, while the March-bound SL620, SL202 and SL30 will sticker for $199.99, $149.99 and $99.99, respectively.

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iPhone

No copy and paste here, move along everyone! What you can expect in the new, just-released 2.2.1 software update for the iPhone (and iPod touch) is “improved general stability of Safari” — always encouraging — and a fix for saved Mail images not showing up just right in the camera roll.

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Lumix ZS3

Another release from Panasonic today, the Lumix ZS3 digital camera that features 12x optical zoom. Available in silver, black, blue, and red, this compact camera can record HD video (1280 x 720) at 60 frames/second in AVCHD Lite format. The video can then be displayed on an HDTV via HDMI. Other specs include a large 3-inch LCD with 460,000 pixels, a 12.7MP CCD, Intelligent Auto Mode with “face recognition” features that can remember faces that frequently appear.

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Logitech's

Logitech’s Comfort Lapdesk is made of hard plastic with a padded cushion. While it won’t so much cool your laptop it will protect your legs from laptop heat. You can grab one for $39.99

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Western Digital 2-Terabyte Hard Drive

The arms race is revived today by Western Digital which is shipping its awaited 3.5″ 2-terabyte hard drive. The WD Caviar Green 2TB retails for $299; 1.5TB and 1TB versions will also be available. I love the quote from Mark Geenen, president of Trend Focus “The 2 TB hard drives will continue to satisfy end user’s insatiable desire to store more data on ever larger hard drives.” Instead of an “insatiable desire” it is the “boring necessity” that pushes me to buy larger hard drives. Good marketing is also about not smoking your own dope… next time, what about “orgasmic data storage”. For the full specs go to the Western Digital website.[via]

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ATPL300USB

Audio Technica today introduced the AT-PL300USB turntable to restore your old vinyl to the digital format. The device connects to the PC via USB and record in WAV, MP3 and WMA formats. The rather stylish player supports 33 and 45 discs and has a aluminum die cast frame which controls rotary unevenness. The Audio Technica AT-PL300USB is available only in Japan for around $275. [Audio Technica]

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HD Digital Photo Frame

If you bored with your old digital photo frames, then you can choose the high definition digital photo frame from AgfaPhoto. Measuring only 2.2cm thick, the gadget features a 13-inch HD display, and is able to play still images and videos. Unfortunately, it only has a poor 256MB of internal memory. But, you can use memory card to help you expand this. Pricing info is still unavailable. [Pocket-lint]

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iRiver

iRiver is a famous brand for its range of portable media players. The company comes back with two new gadgets. Known as the Dicple D35 and D31, both models feature DMB support, FM radio recording, handwriting recognition, and a touchscreen display. Unfortunately, these gadgets are available only in Korea. [Engadget via iPod and MP3 Players]

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TEAC HD-1

Teac is proudly announced its first HD radio device, the TEAC HD-1. This iPod docking system comes equipped with HD Radio technology that provides a superior audio experience and compelling new content through HD Radio programming. You can also use the TEAC HD-1 with your iTunes collection via its iTunes Tagging capability. Other features include a remote control, dual alarm clock with a snooze button, five equalizer presets, and an iPod/iPhone charger. If you are interested, you can purchase the Teac HD-1 HD Radio at select Costco stores around the US. It is priced at $129.99 each. [Press Release]

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Samsung 460DRn

Here is the latest outdoor display from Samsung that is specially build for commercial use. Dubbed as the 460DRn, the 46 inch display comes with a brightness level of 1,500cd/m2 and has touchscreen support for a greater level of interactivity with customers. The 460DRn also has an integrated computer allowing you to select programs without the need of PC. What makes this all-in-one display more special is that it is water, dust and moisture proof. [Newlaunches]

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Averatec D1133

Averatec offers a new all-in-one PC in the form of the Averatec D1133. Priced at $600 upwards, this 18.4 inch (1680×945) all-in-one (AIO) computer is powered by AMD Athlon X2 running at 1.5Ghz, 1.3 Megapixel webcam, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, DVD drive, four USB 2 ports, eSATA, Audio in/out, 10/100 Ethernet, DVI, 4:1 flash reader, WIFI-G, ATI Radeon HD 3200 GPU, and Windows Vista Home Basic OS. [cnbc]

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Wind Nettop

MSI has announced the availability of their new Wind Nettop, the CS120. This mini desktop features a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 CPU, 1GB RAM (expandable to 2GB), 160GB SATA hard drive, 4-in-1 card reader, slot-in DVD super multi, 7.1 channel audio support, WiFi and Windows XP Home operating system. The CS120 retails for $299. [MSI]

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Zypad WR1100

Parvus has rolled out another of its rugged wrist wearable wireless computer in the form of the Zypad WR1100. Weighing at just 23 ounces, this lightweight device is made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon/magnesium alloy case that is capable to withstand water, dust, extreme temperatures and other harsh operating conditions. As for the specs itself, it comes with a 3.5-inch 640×480 touchscreen display with an automatic contrast mode (readable in direct sunlight), Linux OS operating system, WiFi, Bluetooth/Zigbee interfaces, a GPS receiver, electronic compass, biometric fingerprint sensor, and a tilt and dead reckoning system. For more details check out Parvus official website. [OhGizmo]

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Mouse Computer

Priced less than €400, the EGPA33DR32XP from Mouse Computer is powered by an Intel Atom 330 powered nettop with 2GB of RAM, 320GB of HDD, a DVD Super Multi, Wifi B/G, and Windows XP Home SP3 OS. This computer is perfect for home or office use. [Akihabara]

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Wolverine

While the fictional Wolverine’s claws are supposed to cut through metal like a hot knife through butter, good thing his additional skeletal extensions in this cable management system isn’t that sharp, or he could be using the blunt end of the claws to keep your rogue cable in place. At least even after dropping $15 for this, you can always turn it into a toy should you decide to go all out and live the wireless lifestyle. Nice to know that little Wolverine here is made from 100% recycled stuff.

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Sotec

Sotec might not be as famous as Asus when it comes to netbooks, but that doesn’t mean it cannot join in the fray when it has the resources to do so? Their latest model is the Sotec C103 that comes with the following rather staple specifications :-
Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor
10.1″ display at 1,024 x 600 resolution
160GB hard drive
1GB RAM
Wi-Fi connectivity
It will come in boring black and white color options - would be nice to see Sotec throw in a myriad of other rainbow colors for a more appealing look.

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CRICKETtoy

Ever had fellowship with your family and friends, where there is the inevitable pause of silence that could go on for a minute or two? Well, if you’re the resident joker of the home, we’d strongly recommend you picking up the theCRICKETtoy - pressing it will immediately kickstart the playback of cricket noises. At just $5 a pop, these are dirt cheap and could prove to be one of the more enjoyable prank toys to date, although we don’t really see the need for such a thing to exist.

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Nokia E71

If you’re in the market for a white Nokia E71, then might we suggest hopping over to the Rogers network (if you haven’t done so already) as the carrier is offering a white version of the much loved E71. The smartphone isn’t exactly the newest kid on the block, but at least the additional color option ought to see a smal spike in sales for those who have been holding out thus far. You will be able to pick up the white Nokia E71 for $99.99 on a 3-year contract with a minimum $45 Voice and Data plan. For those who think they can’t commit to such a lengthy amount of time, there is always the 2-year contract that will cost $374.99 for the phone, while a 1-year contract with the phone will set you back by another $20. At least, it’s an option in Canada…

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ALpine PND-K3msn Ships

Alpine’s latest GPS navigation system, the PND-K3msn will now ship to include a wide range of functionality such as text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth and highway junction view. What makes this better compared to the vanilla PND-K3 model is the inclusion of MSN Direct services. MSN Direct aims to help you arrive at your destination faster and within a much more cost-effective manner, offering real time information, traffic, weather forecasts, gas prices and even the local movie schedule if you’re looking to serenade your date with a blockbuster that evening. In addition, you can always make use of the “Send to GPS” feature which enables the user to hunt down addresses and businesses from your PC via Live Search maps, followed by sending them wirelessly to your GPS. Each $299.95 purchase of the PND-K3msn comes with a complimentary three-month subscription to MSN Direct services.

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Psytar

Psystar, despite facing a crushing lawsuit in court from Apple, isn’t going to drop everything else they’ve been working on. The result? The Psystar Open(3) compact mini-tower that is able to hold a range of Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processors, an optional NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT graphics card while being powered by Apple OS X. Guess they’re doing all they can to irk Apple executives, although we’re not too sure why. Prices start from $599 upwards, and could eventually touch $2,000 should you decide to settle on maximizing your upgrade options.

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Violet Mirror

The US will finally be able to get hold of the Violet Mir:ror home-based RFID reader that looks really cute, all going for $59 that will come with a couple of extremely cute Nano:ztags (bunny lookalikes with a tag inside each) as well as three Ztamp:s (adhesive tags in real life) which enable you to specify computer functions to trigger whenever one of those RFID tags come close to the Mir:ror. For example, you can always place your keys on the Mir:ror, where the device will alert you on whether your keys are located there or not just before you head out from home. An additional dozen Ztamp:s will retail for $20 just in case you want to expand its functionality to more stuff in your home.

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Dell

Dell is a more noted name for notebooks and computers, so it is not a surprise to see them usher in the 4210X DLP projector quietly. What makes the 4210X special is the inclusion of dual VGA connectors that allow you to hook up a couple of computers simultaneously, letting you switch between presentations without a glitch. In addition, you can also view your Blu-ray movies using the 4210X since it comes with an HDMI input, although we’d recommend a dedicated audio setup considering the 10W stereo speaker system isn’t going to bring down the house. Other features include a brightness level of 3,500 lumens and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, an Ethernet jack, component, RCA and S-video connectivity options. You can place an order for the Dell 4210X for $1,099.

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GPS

Japanese will be able to get their hands on a new GPS navigation system from Sony, where it’ll be interesting to see who’ll pick one up since virtually every car sold comes with their own GPS unit. The device in question is the Sony NV-U3C that features a 3.5″ QVGA touchscreen display with an aspect ratio of 4:3, 4GB of internal memory and compatibility with PetaMap data to offer information as well as announcements regarding a store or restaurant of your choice.

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Audience-table

All offices should come with a conference room as it exudes a certain degree of professionalism, but designer Albert Holz decided to go one up by merging every aspect of media technology required for an impressive presentation into a single piece of furniture known as “Audience”. It actually serves the functions of speakers and comes with a vertically retractable power socket and a fold-away projector unit. Heck, if you happen to have a pretty healthy bank balance, you can also customize it to fit a double-sided screen for each participant should you decide to ditch video projection in your routine presentations. All purchases come with a remote control for one-touch controls.

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Red light camera

Everyone living in a big city knows that car owners are not so different from milking cows, but there’s one more thing that might add onto the existing ticket traps: cameras could soon detect the uninsured. InsureNet, a camera provider, claims to have a solution to the City’s budget:
“a simple yet complete answer that delivers totally accurate, instant insurance status verification. An additional unique advantage is that this system is also non-invasive, ensuring protection for every insurer and policyholder.”
InsureNet pitches that the system could generate about $200M, of which, the company would take a 30% share… juicy! Times are tough, but is this the right time to squeeze this lemon? Surely, there’s something more productive to do, right? Next, San Francisco might clean the streets twice a week to issue more tickets… wait, they are already doing it… [via Chicago Sun-Times]

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Pod

Apple is asking Pivotal to remove Pod from their Podium product name via a cease and desist (C&D). Podium is a hands-free iPhone stand. Here’s an extract of the C&D:

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Fly-Goodbye

As the weather for those living in the northern hemisphere get better and better, you’ll start to notice an increase in the local insect populace. Instead of messing up a perfectly good rolled up magazine to swat at these pests, why not use the Fly-Goodbye instead? This device is will definitely test your skill as it helps trap the fly in the tube with some glue, making you as some sort of Fly Jabba the Hutt. The entire thing works like a vacuum that sucks the fly withn whenever the trigger is pushed, but you’ll need to remain within a 1cm to 3cm range for it to be effective - chances are the fly might have flown away by then. The Fly-Goodbye will be out this May for approximately $30.

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Fujitsu caters

Fujitsu caters to both PC and Mac crowds with a couple of new scanners - the ScanSnap S1500 and the white ScanSnap S1500M. Both scanners are faster compared to its predecessors as expected, capable of doing 60ppm when scanning black and white documents while color documents will command a scan speed of 20ppm. Image scanning speeds have been rated at 40 images per minute, where both models are able to automatically detect page size, orientation, color setting and whether both sides of the page are printed. The maximum optical resolution currently stands at 600dpi. Interestingly enough, both the Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 and ScanSnap S1500M will retail for $495.

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JBL Duet II

Most standard desktop speakers come with the usual 3.5mm plug that in turn makes it compatible with just about any MP3 player or portable media player in the maraket. While there are some that rely on a 2.5mm jack, 3.5mm ought to do the trick across a wide spectrum. JBL’s Duet II desktop speakers certainly look their part when it comes to space age design, putting to shame other speakers that seem to have their designers suffering from a bottleneck. For those who want the JBL Duet II desktop speakers, be prepared to fork out a Benjamin (or thereabouts) - definitely much more compared to other generic models on the market.

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Boomcooler

Check out what could possibly be the coolest, er, cooler ever - the BoomCooler that packs in 700-watts of raw audio power, thanks to the integrated Sony Xplod components. Not only does it serve ice cold drinks during the big game, it also boasts Sony’s Xplod CD/radio player, 4-channel 700-watt amp, 400-watt handling 3-way speakers and 1,300-watt handling subwoofer. For those who love their music when outdoors and cannot live without it, there is always the Speed Charge feature that let’s one reload the unit battery when required. Great for playing back your team’s anthem while you treat yourself to a cold one.

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Tanita-Garmin

Who would’ve thought that Tanita and Garmin would strike up an alliance, where the former’s BC-1000 Body Composition Monitor is used to measure various physical aspects of yours, including muscle mass, overall physique rating, daily caloric intake, metabolic age rating, bone mass and visceral fat levels. All these health information is then transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth to your Garmin FR60 Fitness Watch, where it will then take on the tracking chores from there. Perfect for those who want to see instant results after each tough and tiring workout, although the $300 to $400 price point might be a wee bit too much for some in a bid to lose those love handles.

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RAmos T10 Boasts Seemingly Superior Display

The RAmos T10, when compared with the iPod touch, does seem to be the better purchase at first glance until you go through the list of features and realize that the T10 is not all it seems to be. Well, at the very least, you can always fall back on the 800 x 480 resolution 4.3″ display. Apart from that, there is nothing that would make the RAmos T10 superior to the iPod touch, especially when the latter has just had its Bluetooth chip enabled via the latest firmware update.

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Canon

Canon has just released a trio of new LV-series multimedia projectors that will see action in both classrooms and boardrooms. The tremendous trio in question are the LV-8300 which features a native 1,280 x 800 widescreen resolution and 3,000 lumens brightness, while the 3,000 lumens LV-7370 and 3,500 lumens LC-7375 multimedia projectors will come with 1,024 x 768 resolutions. The LV-8300 is able to display the whole screen of widescreen notebooks and computers without the user suffering from any form of distortion. Other shared features include a 1.2x zoom lens, a whiteboard modeand a screen color correction mode. They should be shipping by now with the LV-8300 going for $1,399 while the LV-7375 and LV-7370 are going for $1,799 and $1,299, respectively.

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iPod touch Bluetooth Enabled At Last

For iPod touch owners who have taken the plunge by purchasing the $9.95 iPhone 3.0 firmware will finally be able to take advantage of the Broadcom BCM4325 Bluetooth chip that is found inside every iPod touch (from second generation onwards of course). At last, you’re able to take advantage of A2DP connectivity as well as wireless gaming as and where supported. Do you think this firmware upgrade will increase the desirability of the iPod touch now as the perfect non-phone mobile device.

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Share

The word on the street is that Sony is trying to buy Ericsson’s 50% share in the joint venture, a share that Ericsson would be interested to sell, Manager-Magazin.de reports. If true, that would potentially turn Ericsson into a supplier for Sony’s phone division. It might be that both company have different opinions on what to do next and while we’re talking about wild speculations, why not imagine a PSP phone? As of late, Sony Ericsson posted a loss of $187M.

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StorCenter ix2 Gets New Firmware

Just when you thought that your StorCenter ix2 was the bomb, along comes a firmware upgrade that makes this delectable device all the better - it allows the Iomega ix2 to offer remote access to stored files via the Web as well as support for peer-to-peer file-sharing services such as BitTorrent. This does away with the need to install an Iomega client on remote computers so that one can remotely access the ix2, and you can now gain leeway to the ix2 in the form of a personalized web address. Year one of access is free with the box, where subsequent years will retail for $10 annually. Torrent files can be transferred straight to the StorCenter which will be the place where download processes are handled, hence one no longer has to leave a spare computer turned on overnight.

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