Internally, the new camera features the company’s Real Image Engine, Dust Removal II system, glass prism viewfinder and 14-bit A/D converter. Users will be able to load two separate card slots, both holding a single SD/SDHC memory card.

Pentax will launch its D-FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL lens alongside the camera body. The lens is equivalent to 43.5mm in the 35 format, while providing weatherproof protection similar to the body. The design is Pentax’s first to feature a completely rounded diaphragm. [via Photography Blog]

The 645D is due to ship sometime in May, with expected prices of ¥850,000 (~$9,500 USD) for the body and ¥100,000 (~$1,100) for the lens. It is unclear when the camera will be coming to the North American market, as initial availability will be limited to Japan.

“Initial data-points were disappointing, possibly due to limited marketing and customer service challenges,” reads the Goldman note.

The mobile analytic group Flurry estimated first-month sales of just 80,000 units for the Nexus One. In the same timeframe, the Verizon was believed to have sold approximately 525,000 Droid smartphones. Many analysts expect Nexus One sales to accelerate once the device is available through Verizon.

“We assume that Google rolls out a second Nexus handset, markets it more aggressively, and makes it available offline, and therefore forecast that Google sells 2 million handsets per year in 2011 and future years,” Goldman concludes.

A recent report suggests Verizon may already be preparing to launch the CDMA-equipped Nexus One. The carrier represents a much larger customer base than T-Mobile, while sales could be further boosted if the devices are sold directly through brick-and-mortar locationshas slashed its sales forecast for Google’s Nexus One smartphone, following lackluster performance in the first few months of availability. The analysts initially expected sales of approximately 3.5 million units through the end of the year, however the figure has now been reduced to just 1 million handsets in the same time period.

“Initial data-points were disappointing, possibly due to limited marketing and customer service challenges,” reads the Goldman note.

The mobile analytic group Flurry estimated first-month sales of just 80,000 units for the Nexus One. In the same timeframe, the Verizon was believed to have sold approximately 525,000 Droid smartphones. Many analysts expect Nexus One sales to accelerate once the device is available through Verizon.

“We assume that Google rolls out a second Nexus handset, markets it more aggressively, and makes it available offline, and therefore forecast that Google sells 2 million handsets per year in 2011 and future years,” Goldman concludes.

A recent report suggests Verizon may already be preparing to launch the CDMA-equipped Nexus One. The carrier represents a much larger customer base than T-Mobile, while sales could be further boosted if the devices are sold directly through brick-and-mortar locations.

Alongside the tablet’s apprearance in the commercial break, Apple CEO Steve Jobs was himself confirmed to be a guest at the event. As is often the case at such events, Jobs chose to wear a suit rather than his characteristic mock turtleneck and blue jeans. He has not usually attended the Oscars in any publicly recognized fashion.

The keyboard, which resembles a smaller version of the Bold 9700, appears to integrate raised edges between each row of keys. A cutout between the primary buttons surround a cutout that would presumably hold an optical trackpad.

Despite the claim that the keyboard is from the Pearl 9100, earlier image leaks show a layout that matches the current 8100 lineup. If the new keyboard will end up in a BlackBerry, it is unclear if the component is designed for the 9100 or another unannounced phone.

The system appropriately has one of the widest-ranging alarm configurations and can wake or sleep with the Apple device, shaker or radio as well as wake up to one of seven different alarm sounds. Alarms can be set either to trigger every day to automatically surface only on weekdays or weekends. iLuv supports most 2004 or later dockable iPods and iPhones, and it can use the time from the iPhone or iPod to update its own time in the event of a power loss.

Black is the only available color for the iMM178, which officially sells for $90.

Inside, the system is also much faster and uses a low-voltage Core i5 or i7 that can still run for up to five hours on a single battery. HP hasn’t given a base configuration but expects the system to start at $1,599 and carry between 160GB and 250GB of disk space as well as up to 8GB of RAM. An 80GB or 160GB SSD is an option, as is a Qualcomm Gobi modem for 3G and a new Ultra-Slim Docking Base ($299) that includes a DVD burner, DisplayPort out and eSATA.

A second EliteBook with a conventional 12-inch display, the 2540p, is also joining the lineup. At just under 3.4 pounds, it’s considered the lightest EliteBook; it should simultaneously be faster as it can use full-power Core i5 and i7 chips in addition to the low-voltage i7. The absence of tablet hardware also gives it the option of desktop hard drives between 250GB and 500GB and a longer battery life that runs up to eight hours on a standard six-cell battery and 10.5 hours on an extended nine-cell unit. Those using the low-voltage i7 also have a secondary drive bay that can either take a DVD burner, a secondary 250GB drive or an empty space to save weight.

An specified base system will start out at $1,099.

The ProBook updates are more conservative but bring the 13.3-inch 4320s, 14-inch 4420s, 15-inch 4520s and 17.3-inch 4720s into the modern era with full-power Core i3, i5 or i7 processors as well as an optional Mobility Radeon HD 4350 for graphics and hard drives between 250GB and 500GB. Prices for the whole line haven’t been detailed but should start at $719.

All of the EliteBooks and the companion dock will be available in April, while the ProBook updates should be available later this month.

The Incredible was recently spotted in Verizon’s inventory system, pointing to an imminent launch, although HTC has yet to announce official details.

Inside, it echoes much of what LG has done before and uses LG’s conventional but customized OS, with the S-Class UI on top. It supports the company’s increasingly common feature set and brings 7.2Mbps 3G, a 5-megapixel camera, GPS and Wi-Fi. LG ships the Mini first to Europe, in March, and will send it elsewhere at a later date with prices to come as each region goes live.

Microsoft in the past few days has quietly cut prices on the Zune HD through an at least temporary promo. The touchscreen media player now costs $190 for a 16GB model at Amazon, or $32 less than the original price; the 32GB model has dropped by a similar amount to $250.

Microsoft’s own store has also dropped its prices by a lesser amount, to $200 for a 16GB Zune HD and $270 for a 32GB edition. Walmart and other retailers are also closely matching Amazon’s prices.

Officially, Microsoft has only said that the new prices are part of “sales” and implied that they may be temporary, although it hasn’t said if or when the promo will end. The cuts, however, give it about twice as much capacity at the same price as an iPod touch or else a significant discount for similar capacity.

They price drops come as an attempt to spur sales post-holidays and suggest sales have cooled significantly since the September release. Microsoft has implemented such cuts in the past when Zune players weren’t faring particularly strongly and suggests as a result that the effective restart of the Zune line has had little direct impact on the company’s ability to increase its market share. Historically, Microsoft has had about 2 percent of the media player market while Apple has had over 70 percent.

Owners will have access to the same 120-plus stations of different genres, and more than 10,000 artist stations. Listeners can also view artist biographies, album art and reviews, as well as look what is coming up on their playlists. Songs can be tagged as favorites or banned altogether.

Users who download the app have a limited number of skips per hour. Slacker Premium removes the restriction for a $5 per month fee.