tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48819280395337420372024-03-21T16:39:26.869-07:00Gadget StoryOne Stop Gadget reviews, All Brand You Need to SeeErwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-85697361214950262872008-07-11T23:56:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:38.982-08:00LG PRADA KE850:Sophistication made simple<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC7lhiHs_dHeZz3YSWNDoRXyILtYsrjR2zYdv5RQps9NtvnYaJ3VU4NocDKtdvAQlmbH5dqlo-AV2zypGe2x6iGFvmLhjAX0Cv1gvXAd4tLlsE92boeozskfyGMfB8ItsPWDLY3qcbnQ/s1600-h/21517.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC7lhiHs_dHeZz3YSWNDoRXyILtYsrjR2zYdv5RQps9NtvnYaJ3VU4NocDKtdvAQlmbH5dqlo-AV2zypGe2x6iGFvmLhjAX0Cv1gvXAd4tLlsE92boeozskfyGMfB8ItsPWDLY3qcbnQ/s200/21517.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222018322705082338" /></a><br />Key Features:<br /><br />* Exclusive design and slim form factor<br />* Full touch-based Flash user interface<br />* 3" TFT display with a WQVGA resolution (400 x 240 pixels)<br />* 2 megapixel camera with auto focus<br />* Shoots video in WQVGA resolution<br />* Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP stereo support<br />* microSD memory card slot<br />* Office documents viewer<br />* FM radio<br />* Standard 3.5 mm audio adapter <br /><br />Main Disadvantages:<br /><br />* No 3G or HSDPA support<br />* Unimpressive battery life<br />* Really basic web browser<br />* Fingerprint magnet <br /><br />The LG Prada phone is truly unique and thus has no direct competitors. With its touch-based user interface it outranks all current fashion mobiles.<br /><br />When it comes to product packaging LG already have a tradition of offering their products in high-quality retail packages that are visually attractive as the handsets themselves. The LG Prada phone makes no difference to that rule. The Prada phone retail box is a black cube and the contents are positioned on different levels inside the box.<br /><br />The large touch screen display is the centerpiece in this work of technological art. It measures a good 3 inches in diagonal and supports up to 262K colors in a WQVGA (400 x 240 pixels) resolution. The original PRADA theme doesn't seem to take full advantage of the rich colors. But rest assured, there are full color interface themes, too. Above the display there is the PRADA insignia and the loudspeaker grill and below it are three control keys - the two receiver keys plus a Back key in the middle. This middle key is so small that it's hardly noticeable but proves rather comfortable in everyday use.<br /><br />The battery cover is easily removed after you release it with the abovementioned release key. The LGIP-A750 Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 800 mAh is hidden below it. According to the manufacturer, the battery should sustain the handset for up to 300 hours in standby mode and up to 3 hours in constant talking. Now we weren't able to measure the battery life correctly since we used the handset heavily during our tests but under a moderate everyday usage you would probably need to charge the Prada phone every two days or so. The SIM card bed is located above the battery while the memory card slot is buried even deeper - being under the SIM card slot itself. You would have to take out the battery in order to take out the memory card which is a bit of a nuisance.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-50027095143014046712008-07-11T01:16:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:39.147-08:00Epson PictureMate Dash (PM 260) Portable Photo Lab<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3kNQ9BwS88uvf5PDc-k22qKbYhq16akagu0EMKM5QAsfne5XQx9YnaYdHWZYvZHKDt52FjcJSThrkTJCGAeVT-uurK6zaUae3GinBaoDTWtLXMmvpQyzv23wRx06VDBp6KU8dOeKrrg/s1600-h/eps.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3kNQ9BwS88uvf5PDc-k22qKbYhq16akagu0EMKM5QAsfne5XQx9YnaYdHWZYvZHKDt52FjcJSThrkTJCGAeVT-uurK6zaUae3GinBaoDTWtLXMmvpQyzv23wRx06VDBp6KU8dOeKrrg/s200/eps.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221668015642963490" /></a><br />The PictureMate is a lunch boxed sized printer with a handle that you can use to tote it around. This little printer does not require a computer in order to print your photos. It reads your images from its built in card readers, or an attached USB storage device. If you want to connect it to a computer, you have that option too. Drivers are available for Windows and Mac OS X.<br /><br />The front of the PictureMate closes up for transport. To open the paper tray, you just press the spring loaded latch in the upper right corner. When the paper tray is opened, you'll also see the built in card readers. The top reader slot can accommodate MemorySticks and SD cards. The bottom slot is for Compact Flash Type I and II cards. Other card formats such as MicroSD and miniSD can be used if you have the appropriate adapter.<br /><br />If we look at the back of the printer, we will find a USB port for external storage devices, a USB port to use to connect to your computer, a power connector, a battery compartment and an ink cartridge compartment. <br /><br />In addition to loading images from flash cards and USB devices, you can also send images wirelessly from a Bluetooth enabled phone, PDA or computer. Slide the cartridge into the slot, move the locking lever to the lock position and close the compartment door. Totally quick and easy, just the way I like things to be.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-70851567803006453062008-07-07T20:55:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:39.243-08:00Palm TXDA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VnZBms3UaoSgzwW5RqrTUHbcMUZWkfF059J_7gZp6h0msGKbsA6_WbAjJSiC98xw0HQlEy3pu1mE7fnIK0QMUfxYvkRBEz7GkltyAuDz88asI3yXlfElW4igF347K4es6IfbHSaXyOs/s1600-h/palm.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VnZBms3UaoSgzwW5RqrTUHbcMUZWkfF059J_7gZp6h0msGKbsA6_WbAjJSiC98xw0HQlEy3pu1mE7fnIK0QMUfxYvkRBEz7GkltyAuDz88asI3yXlfElW4igF347K4es6IfbHSaXyOs/s200/palm.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220487279827606562" /></a><br />Pros: Size, Wi-Fi, Ease of Use, Price <br /><br />Cons: Seperate Pwr cord, "trickle charge USB" <br /><br />After running around the world with Palm's E2 and having to switch my SD storage card for my Wi-Fi card and not being able to download files I decided to bite the bullet and purchase Palm's T|X. Upon opening the flashy business box the T|X gleems like a new penny. After a 3 hr initial charge I got to play with the T|X's features. Doc2GO, Versimail, and bluetooth connectivity all worked like a champ.<br /><br />The media program played mp3s and showed pictures on a beautiful landscape or vertical screen in millions of colors. The most impressive feature was the ease of use of the built-in Wi-Fi. I detected not only my home's network but 3 others in my neighborhood. I took my T|X on the road for the first time and connected to the hotel Wi-Fi without any trouble. My only complaint would be with the battery life is not a long as I would like it to be but there are ways to get your battery to last longer. (i.e. turn off BT or Wi-Fi when not in use). Also, I am not a big fan of the 2 wire set up on the latest Palm products.<br /><br /> 2 ports on the bottom of the device, one for hotsync and the other for power. What ever happened to the cradle? If your USB port supports 500 mA power you can "trickle charge" your T|X through it's USB cable and not the power charger. Word to the wise though..."trickle charge" takes up to 9 hrs vs 3 hrs on the power charger. The other 2 items I highly recommend is the hard case to protect your purchase and a 1 or 2 GB SD card so you can work and download from you Wi-Fi connections. <br /><br /><br />So, if you don't need to be connected all the time and don't want the monthly cost of a data plan on a smartphone like the 700w or Motorola Q but still want processing power, internet connectivity, and a robust email program for all your email needs then this sleek, beautiful, handheld is for you.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-32557176903261646792008-07-06T20:18:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:39.361-08:00Cowon D2 (8GB)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvxXXZM3nolZyQ5-fr7jvvzmB0PznHh_IllNGvDem2NxB4GXtzf5gyhWhbZqe24obTskY9s4U7EipSavOiC-bXkZZebCXABL3FYCHdZBtqgwhixEh5khjw0uKohwnaRWW3ene-Ui76kA/s1600-h/cow.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvxXXZM3nolZyQ5-fr7jvvzmB0PznHh_IllNGvDem2NxB4GXtzf5gyhWhbZqe24obTskY9s4U7EipSavOiC-bXkZZebCXABL3FYCHdZBtqgwhixEh5khjw0uKohwnaRWW3ene-Ui76kA/s200/cow.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220107040483193554" /></a><br />Photos of the Cowon D2 really don't do the player justice--it has such a nice feel to it, so we definitely recommend some hands-on time with the player before you pass final judgment. The sleek body is wrapped in a brushed-metal border, where you can find some tactile controls: a power/hold slider, volume buttons, and a menu key. On the left edge, hidden beneath a flap, are two USB ports: one standard mini for syncing with the computer and one proprietary for use with the included wallwart power adapter. The bottom of the device features an SD card expansion slot for adding more memory. At 3x2.2x0.6 inches, the player is pleasantly compact overall, though it feels a bit weighty at 2.1 ounces.<br /><br />The D2 is dominated by a 2.5-inch color screen, which makes it look quite similar to the iRiver Clix. Unlike the Clix, however, the D2's display is touch-sensitive, which means the majority of navigation is accomplished by poking at the screen PDA-style. Your finger will do the trick, or you can use the included stylus--which also acts as a nifty kickstand, by the way. The D2's touch screen is responsive, but we prefer tactile controls for MP3 players since a touch interface makes blind navigation impossible. All in all, the D2's user interface is pretty straightforward, with an icon-driven main menu that reminds me of Archos' PVPs, but deeper navigation will take some acclimation. Still, anyone with a bit of tech experience should catch on swiftly.<br /><br />Getting started with the Cowon D2 is a simple task on Windows XP. (The player also works with previous Windows versions back to 98, as well as Mac and Linux operating systems.) You can simply connect the player to your computer using the included USB cable and begin transferring content, either via drag-and-drop in Windows Explorer or by using Windows Media Player (WMP). Cowon also includes a software CD that includes JetShell for transferring files and JetAudio for media playback and conversion. We prefer WMP to JetShell for syncing, but JetAudio is a worthwhile install--and necessary if you want to convert video for playback on the D2. Transcoding takes time, but it proved easy to do in testing, and the resulting files played back flawlessly on the D2. However, we had to use drag-and-drop to transfer it over--WMP gave an error message. <br /><br />As with all Cowon players, the D2 is teeming with features. It offers support for multiple audio codecs, including MP3, Ogg, WAV, FLAC, and WMA--including subscription tracks. We tested the player with Urge and the D2 had no problem playing back the tracks and recognizing prebuilt playlists. (You can also create a dynamic playlist on the device itself.) Music playback options include shuffle and repeat modes, six EQ presets as well as a user-defined mode, and BBE sound effects (Mach3Bass, 3D Surround, and Stereo Enhance). You can also view photos and videos on the device. It supports WMV and AVI natively, and the aforementioned JetShell can help you with other formats, such as DiVX. There's also voice and line-in recording, as well as an FM tuner with autoscan and a seemingly limitless number of preset slots. <br /><br />And how about that ever-pressing performance issue? As I've come to expect from Cowon players, the D2 sounds great when paired with a decent pair of headphones, such as the Shure E4c. You'll definitely want to replace the set that comes with the player--they sound pretty awful. The multitude of sound-adjustment options should help you find the perfect balance for your tastes. Overall, tunes sounded rich, warm, and detailed with a thumping low-end to satisfy bass-freaks. The stellar sound quality remained consistent across all genres of music. Photos looked crisp and detailed on the bright, color screen, and it's kind of cool to see the chunky, pixilated effect just before an image comes fully into focus. Video playback also proved more than acceptable--we wouldn't mind watching a 30-minute clip on the D2, though we still think the screen is too small for feature-length movie watching.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-74767405324137564762008-07-04T19:26:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:39.607-08:00E61i: billed as Nokia's communicator device<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7k-RFh-e-7qmf6whjR2nbZVwBUO4VPSqpRIPbWqvLX4hheSjw_Ds52PXSdNfmCW0MppvaRrtYh5viJk6_p5O9LmPGxsAx72qjrYeFWMD9hqeCdMdl8o2bQzfodRd3nw4hlvviNZHzpk/s1600-h/6327.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7k-RFh-e-7qmf6whjR2nbZVwBUO4VPSqpRIPbWqvLX4hheSjw_Ds52PXSdNfmCW0MppvaRrtYh5viJk6_p5O9LmPGxsAx72qjrYeFWMD9hqeCdMdl8o2bQzfodRd3nw4hlvviNZHzpk/s200/6327.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219351620542204450" /></a><br />smartphone communicator segment. This is where QWERTY thumbboards, an emphasis on messaging, and all around usablity are the keys to success. Devices such as RIM's BlackBerry 8700/8800 and Palm's Treo 680/750/755p models head out this group as the benchmarks for usability and style. <br />view large image<br /><br /><br />Nokia's initial forray into this arena was the E61. As its first QWERTY communicator device, it was received well by only a few. Problems with usability and an unclear product focus made it a hard peg for consumers to fit well. It didn't help that in bringing this smartphone to the U.S., Nokia stripped the E61 of Wi-Fi and a few other programs, making an essentially underspeced model in the E62.<br /><br />The E61i was released in an effort to correct issues with the original E61, and also to give the world audience something not named Treo or BlackBerry to consider when looking for a solid smartphone communicator.<br /><br />Here are a few other points about the E61i that I found cool/interesting:<br />When you put your SIM in and turn the E61i on, the Settings Wizard comes up guiding you through the process of setting up the data features of your phone. The only niggle here is that some carriers might be asked for gateway information that most users just do not know.<br />Microsoft Exchange integration comes through Nokia's Mail for Exchange. This is a free download, and will sync calendar, contacts, and email with your Exchange Server. It also supports direct push. I liked using this program, and it made it feel just like my Treo as soon as my calendar and contacts were synced over.<br />The E61i connects to your computer thru PC Suite. This is a complete device manager as you can even go as far as removing contacts from your phone or making a full backup of your contacts and other data. It will sync, install, connect to Nokia LifeBlog and update your E61i software if there is an update to be had.<br />Bluetooth (BT) functionality was simple and tenacious. Between my jawbone BT headset and my Moto BT headphones, the E61i would get a hold and not let go. Because it supported A2DP, it was just as simple as pairing the headset and then I could hear music over it. <br />The E61i takes microSD cards. I liked that it could take the cards, just not that I had to remove the battery cover to get access to the slot. Once the cover was off, I could remove the card without having to remove the battery (which is not the case for the SIM card). Much like the recent reports of the N95 supporting SDHC, I would hope that the E61i also gets this support, because having a number of fingernail-sized memory cards is not a good proposition.<br />Much of the E61i is made of a hard plastic, but the battery cover is made of metal and feels no differnt than the rest of the device. Compared to even the N95, the E61i feels like an expensive device, and a sturdy one.<br />As with many mobile devices, the E61i uses a propriteory interface connector for syncing, the Nokia pop-port. Much like Palm's multiconnector, this is a sure connection, but can make you uneasy when trying to take the cable from the device. A syncronized up and out motion seems to be best, but that didn't work all the time either.<br /><br />Specifications<br /><br />Symbian S60 Feature Pack 1<br />Quad band (850, 900, 1800, 1900), EU WCDMA (2100)<br />Display: 320-by-240 pixel (QVGA), 16 million colors<br />802.11b/g WLAN<br />Bluetooth 1.2<br />60 MB RAM<br />microSD card slot (up to 2GB)<br />2.0 Megapixel camera, with video capture<br />Battery: 1500 mAhErwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-74890281658624042222008-07-03T21:35:00.001-07:002008-11-06T22:08:40.082-08:00Canon PowerShot S3 IS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTpmYApJxaC17lfwu1Qsdd2FHT6ZUDaiNiT8m6EETkuzui0rfIDjdiMlXy41PMRmbEzS1xEq6AUgDqkXKa1keIjaGnrbT8sF1PGHcmUt-Sf2i9qdz5bZfJc6N10Ez4O0ndcAVmx1-k-4/s1600-h/31740582-2-120-camera+on-1.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTpmYApJxaC17lfwu1Qsdd2FHT6ZUDaiNiT8m6EETkuzui0rfIDjdiMlXy41PMRmbEzS1xEq6AUgDqkXKa1keIjaGnrbT8sF1PGHcmUt-Sf2i9qdz5bZfJc6N10Ez4O0ndcAVmx1-k-4/s200/31740582-2-120-camera+on-1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219013153497870866" /></a><br />The Canon PowerShot S3 IS's aesthetic seems to be a cross between those of a classic Volkswagen Beetle and a Busy Box. Granted, it's the same body as its predecessor's, but the silver bits stand out more against the current version's iridescent, dark gray plastic than they did against the previous model's silver coloring. As with the S2, there's certainly enough here to keep you busy for a long time, though, and loving every minute of it. (For more details about the S2/S3's basic design and features, read the PowerShot S2 IS review.) <br /><br />For the S3, Canon upped the size of the flip-and-twist LCD to 2 inches from 1.8, which is still disappointingly small. The company also added a ludicrous 16:9 aspect mode: not only does it simply crop and letterbox the standard 4:3 image, but the LCD is too small for a functional letterbox display. More useful is the new 320x240 60fps movie-capture mode, which produces slick little movies, as does the VGA, 30fps mode. Unfortunately, the camera still lacks raw format support. <br /><br />Oddly, despite the different sensors--or perhaps because they use the same f/2.7-to-f/3.5, 36mm-to-432mm lens and Digic II imaging processor--the S3's photos look almost identical to the S2's. They display a broad tonal range, albeit with some clipping in the highlights and shadows, very good color accuracy and saturation, and acceptable edge-to-edge sharpness. Its noise profile follows suit as well: low until about ISO 200, then increasingly bad. Though the camera can now boost ISO sensitivity to as high as ISO 800, either manually or by enabling ISO Boost in a programmed-exposure mode, the noise at that setting is quite obtrusive. In general, the S3's photos look good but can't really shake the digital look, either onscreen or in print.<br /><br />Performance, while not identical to the S2's, is either the equivalent or better. Start-up to first shot takes only 1.5 seconds, which is quite zippy overall, and extremely good for a camera that has a long lens to extend. Shutter lag in bright light runs about 0.4 second and doubles to 0.8 second when the lights get low. The S3 is also relatively responsive: 1.1 seconds typically from shot to shot, plus another second if the flash needs to recycle. Though it maxes out at 1.5fps in continuous-shooting mode, there's no buffer-constraint on the number of sequential shots at maximum resolution; I find that much more useful than a fast but limited burst mode. It was certainly sufficient to capture active dogs and children playing in the park, including kids spinning in a tire swing.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-24667424684556710602008-06-30T21:24:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:40.232-08:00Giga-Byte G-MAX TA4 Mini PC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJXKo9PPG_p9s-Xg2XAsgZLySDQny6Hh1EHTTgg8f1oXfG6Omvt2J8Yf9Nkhw6tpWrN8vRGo3ChBgYqi717cVPK0VYPMswZPrpAZ2VeOXxzrCZ4XUowcwD5CF6_qVARWWuXZySPsA5zE/s1600-h/TA4.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJXKo9PPG_p9s-Xg2XAsgZLySDQny6Hh1EHTTgg8f1oXfG6Omvt2J8Yf9Nkhw6tpWrN8vRGo3ChBgYqi717cVPK0VYPMswZPrpAZ2VeOXxzrCZ4XUowcwD5CF6_qVARWWuXZySPsA5zE/s200/TA4.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217897825472552178" /></a><br />The market for the small form factor (SFF) PC, also known as the Mini PC, is one that has been steadily growing since Shuttle first shipped the SV24 in 2001. Other companies have since followed suit, answering consumers’ pleas for smaller (and quieter) computers by making alterations to the original Shuttle design. Taiwanese PC manufacturer, Giga-Byte, known best for their popular motherboards, entered the Mini PC market with the G-MAX TA1, a barebones kit noted for its incredibly small size. Its success with the TA1 has led them to follow up with other Mini PC models, such as those in the SA and TC lines.<br /><br />The G-MAX TA4 (version 2.0) is one of the latest in Giga-Byte’s offerings, although it has recently been joined by the SA4 and TC4. It is, like its predecessors, a barebones kit, although there are enough options to flesh out an almost-complete system right out of the box. It’s encased in the G-MAX Mini PC form factor casing distinctive of all Giga-Byte Mini PC offerings, such as those listed in their Mini PC product page, as well as some offerings by others who’ve licensed the design, such as AMD.<br /><br />in the package is the following:<br />PC Case and system <br />Specialized Heat Sink* <br />External Power Supply Unit <br />24X Slim CD-ROM or DVD-Rom (Optional) <br />PCMCIA Slot (Optional) <br />2.5-inch Slim Hard Drive (Optional) <br />Power Cord <br />Keyboard and Mouse (Optional) <br />Flat Screen to CRT Adaptor <br />System Assembly Manual <br />Windows Driver CD <br />Ribbon Cable <br />Screws for the Slim Hard Drive and CR-ROM.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-75294948640102484762008-06-30T21:16:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:40.422-08:00Mio c310x<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCSHQiFqRZzh22z5TIBUKowfI9erlOXPnOjQROOroii3mC_gxGtI6eFOZnGRnG-Doha1ziaUOWHONLCHuPLysR2JQn6DQ9_pVNonl9-lt4w-sLYiUyECsgK4g7lVjyjlqwsqky_BqYZY/s1600-h/resize.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCSHQiFqRZzh22z5TIBUKowfI9erlOXPnOjQROOroii3mC_gxGtI6eFOZnGRnG-Doha1ziaUOWHONLCHuPLysR2JQn6DQ9_pVNonl9-lt4w-sLYiUyECsgK4g7lVjyjlqwsqky_BqYZY/s200/resize.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217895192221020914" /></a><br />Mio made what I consider a typical mistake of placing the power connector (in this case the mini USB plug) at the bottom of the device. This makes it harder to have the GPS sit low on the dash. With the device higher it is more prone to vibration and may obstruct your forward view a tiny bit more than if it could rest on the dash completely like the Nuvi can.<br /><br />The process of routing to an address works very well. You click ‘Menu’ –> ‘Address’ then select from either your current city, a list of recent cities you navigated to, or another city. As you enter in the city name, a number to the right side of the display indicates how many cities match what you have typed in so far. This gives you great instant feedback and will let you know when you have typed enough so that you can select the city from a list based on what you have typed in so far. A similar search function is provided for the street name.<br /><br />There are a couple of other issues I have with the interface. The preferences are located in various locations all over the device and can be difficult to find. For example I couldn’t remember how to force day/night modes. At first i went to the settings button on the side, then hit the ‘Tools’ button and looked in ‘General’ with the gear icon. Not there. Then I went back to the settings button on the side, hit ‘Tools’ again, and this time clicked on ‘Advanced’ with the tools icon. Not in there either. Finally I went back to the ‘Cockpit’, clicked on ‘Menu’, then clicked on the tiny gear icon, and clicked the icon with the sun/moon on it. It would be much easier if all of the preferences for the Map mode were in one place.<br /><br />Like other devices at this price point, there is no Bluetooth hands-free calling, no traffic receiver, no text-to-speech, and no option to add a traffic receiver later. However at this price those features are not expected. There is an MP3 player, however. It works like most other GPS MP3 players and if you are not going to use it with headphones like an iPod then the quality of the speaker isn’t good enough to replace your car stereo anytime soon. The Mio c310x also comes with the SiRFstarIII chipset which makes signal acquisition fast and reliable.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-20080874408427225842008-06-30T21:05:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:40.609-08:00Affordable 8GB flash drives from Kingston<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6VtONIF2-3t3GZrgf5wCWgtuq4BNgglzVa-hhWplfpUFoAC9HOaAVmv6raYl5rnoEDlD1JZsKYZKuJUIkTMo2tFZDiaOFrKxJE_vLgGzcvaBCw-St5XPGaW-Pe233SIheaAqLc0EMrE/s1600-h/kingston_datatraveler_ii_plus_pt00.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6VtONIF2-3t3GZrgf5wCWgtuq4BNgglzVa-hhWplfpUFoAC9HOaAVmv6raYl5rnoEDlD1JZsKYZKuJUIkTMo2tFZDiaOFrKxJE_vLgGzcvaBCw-St5XPGaW-Pe233SIheaAqLc0EMrE/s200/kingston_datatraveler_ii_plus_pt00.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217892138830371282" /></a><br />Focusing mainly on storage capacity, Kingston today introduced two new 8GB flash drives in the $100 range.<br /><br />Skipping advanced options, Kingston's new DataTraveler 100 flash drive offers up to 8GB of storage capacity and comes with a retractable design. The new flash drive is compatible with Windows Vista, Mac OS 10.x and above and Linux 2.4 and above. It's also fully compliant with high-speed USB 2.0 specifications, ultimately offering a transfer speed of 480 Mbps/s. <br /><br />The Kingston DataTraveler 100 is available now in 1, 2, 4 and 8GB capacities, and the 8GB drive retails for $116. <br /><br />Kingston today also introduced another 8GB flash drive. The password-protected DataTraveler II Plus - Migo Edition offers synchronization software that enables users to work on multiple PCs in different locations, using the contents of their own desktop's e-mail, internet settings, favorites, cookies and history, plus files and folders. This flash drive supports Microsoft Vista and XP, and retails for $154.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-52325156453316540722008-06-29T21:49:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:40.792-08:00Panasonic DVD-LV70 DVD player<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaVp4-xOnmmlf93HENeIMh7xa9UhDB0omI_Df1kpvkZOj_lN8IvmLFP5amJzbsdxCNq7BBS3wPwuX-W6AV7clxPjZZ66OpRwl3i__zCjyj4rXT4JFfvA9M9IISTJX1A0jw0Yjy2LnIvQ/s1600-h/2535-177x150-0-0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaVp4-xOnmmlf93HENeIMh7xa9UhDB0omI_Df1kpvkZOj_lN8IvmLFP5amJzbsdxCNq7BBS3wPwuX-W6AV7clxPjZZ66OpRwl3i__zCjyj4rXT4JFfvA9M9IISTJX1A0jw0Yjy2LnIvQ/s200/2535-177x150-0-0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217533757202619570" /></a><br />This lightweight portable player has a handsome, silver case that opens like a laptop computer. Check out our photo gallery for pictures of this model. Open the DVD compartment by pressing on the "Push Open" button at the left bottom corner of the base and the disc lid pops up. <span class="fullpost">Press the disc (DVD-Video, Video CD, or audio CD) into the spindle until it engages into the hub clips, close the lid, press and hold the "Play" button and the unit turns on automatically and starts playing the movie. As soon as the image appears on the built-in 7-inch color LCD screen, you can't help but be amazed with the detailed, sharp, bright and colorful image. It's simply stunning! And with this player's full host of features and very notable performance, it should easily pull double duty as your primary home theater DVD player as well.<br /><br />LCD Screen. The LCD screen is sufficiently bright for comfortable viewing even under the brightest sunlight conditions. The screen brightness can be adjusted for comfortable viewing under darker conditions. Color is saturated and also adjustable. A feature we found particularly useful is the built-in LCD screen which can serve as a display for an external video/audio feed. For example, we connected our camcorder (Sony Digital8 camcorder model DCR-TRV103) to the DVD player and watched the Digital8 videotape playback on the 7-inch LCD screen. The image was equally astonishing as that from DVD, since the source is digital video. Our videos looked great on the Panasonic's widescreen LCD, since we chose to shoot our video in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen format. It's a little troubling that the advertised 7-inch screen really measures 6 7/8 inches diagonally. That's an 1/8 inch shy of what's advertised. Hmmm. Anyways, as a final testament of quality for the LCD display, we did not notice any dead pixels on the LCD screen of our sample.<br /><br />This unit comes with a compact, low-profile remote control, with color-coded buttons (gray, green, blue, and red) that are logically organized. The buttons are just big enough to operate with ease, though they might be a tad small for those with larger hands. Buttons for disc transport controls (e.g., play, stop, pause, scan, skip) and menu navigation buttons (e.g., arrow and enter buttons) are well placed for good ergonomics. Also included are direct access buttons for subtitles, audio tracks, and angle change. Unfortunately, the remote control can't be used to control other audio or video components (such as a receiver or TV, Panasonic or otherwise).<br /><br />Obviously the mass appeal behind portable DVD players is that you can take it with you anywhere. So you would naturally ask, how long does the standard Lithium Ion battery (same battery technology as in state-of-the-art laptop computers) last between charges? Of course, this depends on how you use the unit. For example, whether you use headphones vs. the built-in speakers, what volume it is set at, and the LCD screen's brightness setting. When we tested the DVD-LV75 last year, we got an astonishing 4 hours and 50 minutes of play time for one charge. Our test was conducted with headphone volume set to a typical listening level ("6" on the volume dial), and LCD screen brightness set to "0" (from a scale of "-5" for dimmest to "+5" for brightest). In our test this year for the DVD-LV70, using the exact same settings as described above, we got an identical 4 hours and 50 minutes of play time. </span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-22970412214195505782008-06-29T21:41:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:40.997-08:00Dell Inspiron 530<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwObE9jNsTZqqY5XYRpz9WFvHheiZ0oN0yRHqU8ZeRhK1BMuW1k6N49btUy0OBCloIqYjfK4PW_tnhTjFJAqn7i3TsMqp-kLjCbUnmRmoUVfpTEguBAkXX24gQ8965HKV8DpEedcQD_R0/s1600-h/821223013.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwObE9jNsTZqqY5XYRpz9WFvHheiZ0oN0yRHqU8ZeRhK1BMuW1k6N49btUy0OBCloIqYjfK4PW_tnhTjFJAqn7i3TsMqp-kLjCbUnmRmoUVfpTEguBAkXX24gQ8965HKV8DpEedcQD_R0/s200/821223013.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217530530835756642" /></a><br />Dell's first Inspiron desktop computer system really is geared more towards the budget oriented consumer than the performance minded. That doesn't mean the Inspiron 530 can't be configured as a mainstream PC, it just means that it requires more customization. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />The highest level of processor currently offered on the Inspiron 530 is the Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 dual core. This is actually a quite powerful desktop processor and is a step up from what many other companies are offering in their mainstream PCs. One gigabyte is offered standard, but users are advised to opt for the 2GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory so that applications run smoothing in the Windows Vista operating system. <br /><br />There are a wide range of storage options for the Inspiron 530, but most users will probably find sufficient space with the base 320GB 7200rpm hard drive. Large 500GB hard drives or multi-drive configurations are available if you need more. A standard 16x dual layer DVD burner comes standard. <br /><br />What Dell does offer with the Inspiron 530 that many other companies don't include is a monitor. In the case of this unit, the SE198WFP 19” widescreen is included. While not as nice as the UltraSharp, it still is a decent monitor. The upgrades GeForce 8600GT graphics is also a nice option for those potentially looking to use their system for PC gaming. Although not really powerful, it can still handle the task. <br /></span><br /><br /><br />Overall, the Inspiron 530 desktop is a very strong offering, but consumers will need to put up with the customization processor to get the system that they want.Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-63116160210865805062008-06-29T21:29:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:41.108-08:00Nokia N800 Internet Tablet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8_1pqHJyTjgjR8oDP3BPSvBuddLcazW-wWuwl8SzCtLWbteinQ9xB2Ir8Et7hyphenhyphen0KtPI3ftJLBADtiEvdM839bnmdXOo-xe-sQzGAASLVTUo4RSolH55Z3k-mclZe_ezcEgE7ghnjEfU/s1600-h/2607338127.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8_1pqHJyTjgjR8oDP3BPSvBuddLcazW-wWuwl8SzCtLWbteinQ9xB2Ir8Et7hyphenhyphen0KtPI3ftJLBADtiEvdM839bnmdXOo-xe-sQzGAASLVTUo4RSolH55Z3k-mclZe_ezcEgE7ghnjEfU/s200/2607338127.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217528590546081282" /></a><br />The N800 is an evolutionary step above the older model, the N770. It features a (rumored, faster 320 Mhz ) TI CPU, two SD slots, 128 MB RAM, 256 MB flash storage, 4.1" 800x480 touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphones jack and mini-USB port. On the top of the device you will find the zoom buttons, the fullscreen on/off button and the microphone while on the front of the device there is a 5-way joypad and 3 additional buttons: close application/window, application's menu and task-switch. On the left side there is a retractable VGA video-call camera. <span class="fullpost">Below the device you will find a very practical kickstand, which is very nice if you are using your N800 to watch movies.<br /><br />The screen has seen an upgrade is terms of quality. It still has the same res/size, but the screen is more clear and easy to read. Upgrade has seen the RAM (128 MBs from 64 MBs), while there is now easy to use swap support to the SD card when running out of memory (e.g. on some huge web pages). The speed of the device is also higher than in the N770, everything feels a bit faster now. The two SD slots (reportedly) support the SDHC protocol now and this means that you should be able to go up to 16 GBs of flash storage using the N800.<br /><br />The battery life is pretty good too: it reportedly manages 10 days in always-ON standby (the device is actually ON, and with only a few hardware elements OFF), and it managed here about 5 hours of WiFi usage (screen in low backlight mode). It is my estimation (I only had the device for just a day and a half so far) that having the Gizmo or GTalk clients ON and leaving WiFi ON while in standby mode, you should get about 4-5 days of battery life which is better than the second best such device, the Nokia E61. My Nokia E61 has GSM OFF as I use it exclusively as a SIP VoIP device with GizmoProject and manages about 3-4 days of battery life (with WiFi OFF and GSM ON it can last 15 days as the E61 has one of the best battery lives out there, but WiFi is by design more power hungry than the GSM or Bluetooth antennas). <br /><br />The software has seen an upgrade too, including Opera that now has Macromedia Flash support. Unfortunately, both YouTube's and Google's Flash videos are unwatchable because of the lower CPU power, and this is really a shame, because I bet the biggest reason why Nokia had to work with Adobe and ask them and port Flash to the N800 is because of YouTube... (update: speed is better in latest firmware) You can use a Windows server running Orb to stream Flash video in the .ram format which it plays back fine, but this is not easy to do and can not be expected from normal users to do so. Opera crashed twice while using Hotmail, but other than that it worked admirably.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-81300909031291366032008-06-12T20:48:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:41.322-08:00Acer AcerPower FH 4401 Budget Desktop PC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Hoq6vtw2n9mI6qQwIzVvhWU3oSskDqfgUBU-3BafmX-mAnm1wwqWOr4UlUyL_VCDQ5cCsPXiFcHa-z0GpJxl8a6NcZe2bxS-oF1F6Z827-lEdEPrEPXpIjvcSvv1p27Qtn4O9uu-V38/s1600-h/image.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Hoq6vtw2n9mI6qQwIzVvhWU3oSskDqfgUBU-3BafmX-mAnm1wwqWOr4UlUyL_VCDQ5cCsPXiFcHa-z0GpJxl8a6NcZe2bxS-oF1F6Z827-lEdEPrEPXpIjvcSvv1p27Qtn4O9uu-V38/s200/image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211208728962355186" /></a><br />The AcerPower FH lineup of desktops is very clearly directed at businesses looking for a low cost desktop option. That doesn't mean that this can't make a very usable home desktop system. Some of the features are very clearly targeted at business use. Take the Windows XP Professional operating system over the newer Vista. <span class="fullpost">This may actually be a bonus for many people who don't want to migrate to the new OS yet. <br /><br />In terms of performance, the AcerPower FH 4401 has lots of it for the price. Rather than using older Pentium D or Duo models, Acer has elected to use a newer Core 2 Duo E4400 dual core processor. This gives it an edge on most available budget desktops. Combine this with two full gigabytes of memory and the Windows XP Professional operating system and it should have no trouble handling multitasking. <br /><br />Storage does suffer a bit over a traditional consumer system. Most budget desktops have 300GB or more of hard drive space, but the AcerPower FH comes only with a 160GB drive. This is large for a business system but still quite low overall for the market segment. At least they included a dual layer DVD burner over the more traditional CD-RW/DVD combo drive found in business PCs. <br /><br />While performance is quite good, the business nature means that many smaller peripheral interconnects are missing. The system has six USB 2.0 ports, but lacks any FireWire connector or a media card reader for digital peripherals. They also elected to not include a modem with the system even though they are not used as frequently as in the past. <br /><br />What this ends up with is a system that is a good fit for those needing strong performance but don't require much in terms of storage space or peripheral connectivity.<br /><br />Description<br />Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Dual Core Desktop Processor<br />Two Gigabytes PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory<br />160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive<br />16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner<br />Intel GMA 3000 Integrated Graphics<br />HDA 7.1 Audio<br />Gigabit Ethernet Interface<br />Six USB 2.0 Ports<br />Windows XP Professional<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-689514225437387912008-06-12T20:43:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:41.552-08:00Motorola HS820 Bluetooth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQMiFviiOTQVwvgeDesBHnKAeBLz4X4lBt9J6SC5OpUft_kE__Y3w3n-usmCsUFC7G1TLMZV2cZefw1fqlC8cbEWPQKPGM72itTtLH50ACmQAkipxi_-RmSReVfh5XzyjCe8ybRH5swo/s1600-h/images.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQMiFviiOTQVwvgeDesBHnKAeBLz4X4lBt9J6SC5OpUft_kE__Y3w3n-usmCsUFC7G1TLMZV2cZefw1fqlC8cbEWPQKPGM72itTtLH50ACmQAkipxi_-RmSReVfh5XzyjCe8ybRH5swo/s200/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211207108981375842" /></a><br />General Performance:<br />The sound quality is excellent. No delays, no reverberation.<br />The weight is so insignificant that I often forget I am wearing it. In fact, the only clue I have is that the ambient sound hitting my right ear is slightly muffled.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Outgoing calls:<br />Keypad dialed: I hear every key-press on the headset.<br /><br />Voice dialed: After pressing the MFB (Multi-Function Button) once, I hear two tones and then I speak the voice-tag name. I hear a confirmation of the tag and it dials. (Sometimes I don't hear the 2nd tone and have to re-initiate the sequence again.) If the system doesn't recognize the tag, it beeps once.<br /><br />Network activity:<br />This struck me as odd the first time I heard it. The only conclusion I can reach is that I must be hearing something to do with "markets" As I travel south on Hwy 680 coming up to 580, I hear several low-tone beeps at about 1 beep per second. I hear the same thing as I am coming into the Tracy area on hwy 205 around the Mountain House exit. Looking at the phone, it shows nothing. In that I am being passed off to several other towers in that 35-mile distance, I am assuming it has something to do with the markets I am traveling through. (Anyone know??) I have never been on a call when this happens so I don't know if I would hear the tone if I were on a call. The phone is on but no activity.<br /><br />One hiccup:<br />Once on the way home, I decided to drive the backroads. Its 10 miles longer but (commuters will understand) at least you "feel" like you moving. Anyway, I was in an obvious dead spot when all of sudden the headset turned itself off. When I turned it back on, I couldn't get it sync with the phone. The phone kept demanding the password. Even after entering the correct pswd, it wouldn't link. I finally cycled the phone's power and everything came back just fine.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-88465181972618458782008-06-12T20:38:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:41.954-08:00Samsung Pebble SyncMaster 2232BW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXbpvYnmXNhgK4o1o8jJ4BYG8cn8-IljN1WYkr6uKS0zIyuRrgaiIkAUH295AeiVegrhwpBi9l1Xcw0V5WWnQ8yx2jm7_Ba9p8iJXZioRSCBWTCpKBTSMW-qby2utG1bk5xVxhXtnZdk/s1600-h/image.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXbpvYnmXNhgK4o1o8jJ4BYG8cn8-IljN1WYkr6uKS0zIyuRrgaiIkAUH295AeiVegrhwpBi9l1Xcw0V5WWnQ8yx2jm7_Ba9p8iJXZioRSCBWTCpKBTSMW-qby2utG1bk5xVxhXtnZdk/s200/image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211205883149535682" /></a><br />Pebble: a small, rounded stone, often worn smooth by the action of the elements. Or so you would think. Of course, in this case, Pebble: a rather large, rounded PC monitor, worn smooth by the action of designers and marketeers. Indeed, Pebble is the standout name Samsung has chosen for part of its recent LCD monitor and television range. <span class="fullpost">Inevitably, this monitor still carries the name SyncMaster, and model number (2232BW), but there's just something cool about being able to say you're browsing the net or playing a game on a Pebble.<br /><br />So what can another 22in monitor do to distinguish itself in an already overcrowded market? Perhaps offer a superb quality IPS or MVA panel as opposed to the usual cheap TN? Or how about full-HD resolution? Not quite. However, what the 2232BW supposedly does bring to its corner is a dynamic contrast system and fast 2ms panel in a gorgeous package. To find out if this is enough to compete against the contenders in its size-class, read on.<br /><br />This iteration of the SyncMaster comes with all the cables to match its inputs, VGA and DVI, and thankfully a nice cleaning cloth. I say thankfully because this is one accessory you will be using a lot - the 2232BW's finish is remarkably resistant to fingerprints, but dust shows like a fluorescent flea on dark carpet. For its Pebble monitor range, Samsung has decided to port some of its rather spiffing television styling to computer screens, and the results are very pretty indeed.<br /><br />Featuring the same hard curves and smooth edges as its namesake, I am tempted to compare the Pebble to some sports-car or other. Its looks are that sleek, with a piano-black mirror finish that mercifully doesn't extend to the panel's coating. Overall, it's not hard to see why the 2232BW won Samsung a 2007 iF Product Design Award. The only thing that spoils its svelte curves slightly is the Samsung logo in white lettering across the lower bezel.<br /><br />The OSD buttons are labelled on the front of the monitor across the lower bezel, but before you cheer at how much easier this makes operating the settings, or groan at the aesthetic crime of it, let me tell you that they're a mixed blessing. On the one hand, they're just clear enough to read in bright light without being in your face, therefore leaving the Pebble's looks unmolested. On the other, in dimmer light they're simply illegible. But kudos to Samsung for daring to stick them on the front of a designer monitor nonetheless, and saving us some neck-ache.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-41866134822300174712008-06-11T20:25:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:42.134-08:00Motorola Q8<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1hNjvZNtb3dPFWm4hgrAY3eB1m4tsPcpZC6Rf7hMGFsTw86OgusgEI8i-3opE-KrzFlIiv6pnPM2YmVg-GrQpL00lIC-01cCp-tDTW4LByG2pa1Jvm-fjv-fYkbcH83eG6KKoEoElyY/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1hNjvZNtb3dPFWm4hgrAY3eB1m4tsPcpZC6Rf7hMGFsTw86OgusgEI8i-3opE-KrzFlIiv6pnPM2YmVg-GrQpL00lIC-01cCp-tDTW4LByG2pa1Jvm-fjv-fYkbcH83eG6KKoEoElyY/s200/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210832100215752018" /></a><br />Beauty, power and intelligence collide with the Motorola MOTO Q? ?an elegant all-in-one device that merges business with pleasure. Boasting a full QWERTY keyboard, the feature-rich MOTO Q? keeps your life with you in one sleek device by combining powerful business productivity applications via Windows Mobile with multimedia entertainment. <span class="fullpost">From stereo Bluetooth?wireless technology? astounding audio sound and a 1.3 megapixel camera to blazing fast Internet connections? convenient WiFi through optional miniSDIO card connectivity?and the ability to view and edit Microsoft Office documents from anywhere in the world 2,3 there’s no need to compromise when you can have it all in one device. <p> <b>Always Connected</b><BR> With MOTO Q?, you’re connected regardless of where travels take you. Send and receive text messages, emails and attachments worldwide using quad band GPRS and high speed EDGE data networks, or at WiFi hotspots through miniSDIO.2,3 <p> <b>All Work AND Play</b><BR> MOTO Q? makes not only viewing but creating and editing Microsoft Office documents a snap. The optimized QWERTY keypad design allows for easy and fast email or text messaging.?Take advantage of downtime with Windows Media Player to listen to your favorite music, watch videos or view your favorite photos on its large color screen. MOTO Q? includes a 1.3 megapixel camera for shots on-the-go, and up to 1GB of storage with optional miniSD card so you can take your photos and music along with you. <p><b> Get Noticed</b><BR> MOTO Q? turns heads both in the boardroom and on the beach, with its ultra-thin profile and sleek, black exterior. It’s designed with beauty and intelligence in mind, offering a simple, seamless layout in a device that fits naturally in your hand. A soft-touch material provides an easy, comfortable grip. MOTO Q?’s precise and clean construction lends to the phone’s visual elegance and solid feel. <p> <b>SUMMARY OF FEATURES:</b><BR> <li>QWERTY tablet form factor <li>Global GSM quad band access <li>High-speed data transfer using GPRS class 10 and EDGE class 10 <li>128MB Flash memory, 64MB RAM (approximately 40MB user memory), plus miniSD slot for up to 1GB of optional storage of music, pictures and other media <li>Vivid 2.4? 64K TFT display <li>1.3 megapixel fixed-focus camera with LED photo indicator light <li>Enhanced music experience featuring Windows Media Player and integrated music player that supports multiple audio files: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV. <li>2.5 millimeter headset jack <li>Video capture and playback with sound using Windows Media Player supporting MPEG4, H.263, WMV formats <li>Connectivity using USB 1.1 Full Speed, Version 1.2 Class 2 Bluetooth wireless technology, 802.11b/g through optional miniSDIO connectivity <li>Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard Edition <li>Email via IMAP4, POP 3, SMTP, Exchange with Push email Clients; also RIM and Good support Messaging via SMS, MMS, Microsoft IM applications <li>Full web browsing with Microsoft Explorer <li>Support document viewing and editing.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-12883208279060080632008-06-11T20:16:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:42.262-08:00Nintendo Wii<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNTYq5mgOramhB_7Dc7QhvYUqAQT1qN32XydctQajT6uatQD6fhreSxl8m-ZqMUXrbhJBkqrMa-oLLTmH79fLQlC3dEsoClkexIvTkL2C73H5OcSasBbIVp5k25KXG4F6Pw6kVhJ0-rA/s1600-h/25522_g1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNTYq5mgOramhB_7Dc7QhvYUqAQT1qN32XydctQajT6uatQD6fhreSxl8m-ZqMUXrbhJBkqrMa-oLLTmH79fLQlC3dEsoClkexIvTkL2C73H5OcSasBbIVp5k25KXG4F6Pw6kVhJ0-rA/s200/25522_g1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210828843121306738" /></a><br />The Wii is the most compact of the next-generation consoles. It weighs just 2.7 pounds and measures 8.5 inches long by 6 inches wide by less than 2 inches thick. It has clean, sharp lines and an Apple-like glossy white finish, though we'll undoubtedly see units in black and possibly other colors at some point.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Like the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, The Wii can be oriented horizontally or vertically, thanks to its angled plastic stand. Once you've positioned it, your next step is to plug in the power supply (which is about the size a laptop brick), and connect the bundled composite audio/video cables to your television. To output content at the Wii's maximum 480p resolution in 16:9 wide-screen format, you'll have to purchase the optional component cable separately.<br /><br />Next you must set up the included controllers: a Wii Remote and a Nunchuk--a joystick-style controller that connects to the remote for additional game control. I first hooked up the supplied sensor bar to the console and placed it just under the display of my TV. The sensor bar allows the console to communicate wirelessly (via Bluetooth) with up to four Wii Remotes at a time. The Wii Remote works for games within a radius of about 30 feet and functions as a cursor-type pointing device within about 15 feet. In my testing, the on-screen pointer jittered slightly when I tried to use it from farther away.<br /><br />The final setup steps are to place two AA batteries into the Wii Remote, rearrange your furniture as necessary to clear plenty of space in front of the TV (to avoid any "Wiinjury"), and fire up the console.<br /><br />Our colleagues over at GamePro have scanned in the Wii's manual, and it's worth a look to get an even more complete idea of the Wii's setup routine and overall features.<br /><br />PC World also has a detailed account of a test drive of the PlayStation 3; and a review comparing the PS3 and the Wii.<br />The Wii Menu and Online Features<br /><br />The first time I powered up the Wii, I had to create a gamer ID, which the system uses to save your games and also to identify you online. After creating my log-in and entering the date and time, I was presented with the Wii Menu. This interface, which uses a television/channel metaphor, is where you access the Wii's mostly free online features.<br /><br />The first thing I wanted to do was jump online. I was particularly interested in the "sleepless" WiiConnect24 service that lets the console automatically download information, even when it's on standby.<br /><br />The Wii includes a built-in 802.11b/g wireless network adapter, but you can also go online by using extra-cost options such as a LAN adaptor or a Wi-Fi USB adaptor that shares a PC's Internet connection. I tested the integrated Wi-Fi, and setup was a snap. The Wii scanned for and found my wireless ADSL router, and it let me type in the network's WEP key via an on-screen keyboard. I found that I could select letters and move around the Wii Menu using the Wii remote in the same way that I'd use a computer mouse. The remote even vibrated subtly in my hand as I hovered over menu options. Tactile feedback: great!<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-16425441084336759142008-06-11T20:03:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:42.521-08:00AOPEN Mini PC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjbId_4hxhqmD0iCuzzAwmTzt5SlCOJZgMM0MQONZcHS1mAKwMBjP5Ww31ud4ewNDEkH65WyH45RKCwVgRjURp5SfuFlGc7Jogfgoo5FOn3Q3-d0oRW81TJTu2LvQeczTtJiKICAMD8c/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjbId_4hxhqmD0iCuzzAwmTzt5SlCOJZgMM0MQONZcHS1mAKwMBjP5Ww31ud4ewNDEkH65WyH45RKCwVgRjURp5SfuFlGc7Jogfgoo5FOn3Q3-d0oRW81TJTu2LvQeczTtJiKICAMD8c/s200/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210826492159286770" /></a><br />Apple has produced some of the simplest yet elegant designs for computers, MP3 players, displays, and even little accessories such as the iSight. Every time Apple launches a product there?s always another company attempting to make a pseudo look-a-like?Lian Li?s 1000, various MP3 players, and now the AOpen Mini PC. <span class="fullpost">AOpen?s Mini PC first appeared at Computex 2005?five months ago. There was plenty of interest in the Mini PC and it was only a matter of time before AOpen would start selling the Mini PC to consumers.<br /><br />Details of the shipping product started appearing at the beginning of the month with an expected availability of November 12th, 2005. It was reported the system would start out at $399 for the base configuration with a Celeron M and Linspire while Windows XP equipped systems start out at $499. Supposedly the system will also be available as a barebones?although there has been no confirmation on pricing or availability yet. <br /><br />Barebones or not its quite clear AOpen is aiming to keep PC users from making the /switch/ by directly targeting the Mac mini in terms of size, price, and usage. The target market isn?t the hardcore gamer or engineers. Instead the primary target markets are the general consumer and possibly business?. These buyers aim to use a computer for internet surfing, word processing, and instant messaging on a daily basis. 3D performance isn?t too much of a concern in this market as most buyers could care less if they can play F.E.A.R. or not.<br /><br />While the AOpen Mini PC and Apple Mac mini are based on totally different architectures and use different operating systems, they?re both entry-level personal computers for those seeking a simple box for surfing, chatting, interfacing with a digital camera, making home movies, and office applications. As there are no other similar systems on the market, we?ll be comparing the Mini PC to the Mac mini in a different manner than usual. Usually we?d run a bunch of benchmarks, make some pretty graphs and make a conclusion but this time around we?ll be comparing them as complete systems, evaluating the software, hardware differences, and its usability as an entry level system.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-20487789880511633252008-06-10T20:35:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:42.675-08:00Dell XPS 630 Gaming PC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4NX189n0WuEQQiQgOPARo0aeiKbCNe43x8KleaBTHTsLR7sooKAJJYTj7nVn4q2t8nMkE0K-nIFEhBxXZN4arHRHaDIvolwBdWuSnBc3kY8BLhwVMp3bwmCDICrdjphOdW5zwB69tiY/s1600-h/7785-IMG3509s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4NX189n0WuEQQiQgOPARo0aeiKbCNe43x8KleaBTHTsLR7sooKAJJYTj7nVn4q2t8nMkE0K-nIFEhBxXZN4arHRHaDIvolwBdWuSnBc3kY8BLhwVMp3bwmCDICrdjphOdW5zwB69tiY/s200/7785-IMG3509s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210462951030209058" /></a><br />When Dell took over Alienware in 2006, there was much speculation as to what would happen to Dell's XPS gaming range, and some relief when it appeared they would peacefully coexist. Recently, however, that future looked unsure, with rumours of the Dell XPS range's demise. Thankfully, these rumours were greatly exaggerated. I say thankfully not because Alienware's gaming PCs are bad, but because having the XPS range alongside them affords the customer more choice - and surely that can't be a bad thing.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Especially since the target customer group in this case is gamers, and gamers like their individuality. They're basically the reason PCs are no longer boring beige boxes, as at some point the industry in general copped on to the fact that people were investing large amounts of time and money on prettying them up, and decided to do it for them - at a premium, of course.<br /><br />Dell, being the second-largest PC manufacturer in the world, has obviously got in on this action, offering custom looks across its entire XPS desktop and laptop range. And though personally I've not always found Dell's XPS desktop designs the most attractive, I must admit its current case line-up (420, 630 and the high-end 730) is rather gorgeous. What we have before us today is a 630, falling between Dell's budget and extreme lines. The 630 is quite attractive, despite lacking features like the LCD panel, front mounted video ports and rubberised recess that are found on its lower spec sibling, the XPS 420.<br /><br />But before getting onto the case, let's first examine what you get. The core specifications are impressive, comprising a 2.4GHz Intel Quad Core QX6600, dual nVidia GeForce 8800GTs running in SLI, 2GB of RAM, twin 500GB hard drives striped in RAID 0 and a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer soundcard.<br /><br />In the box you'll also find a full user manual in English, multi-lingual electronic safety instructions, and a full-colour quick-start guide. All of these are contained in a lovely leather XPS folder with pockets for 16 DVDs, two Velcro cable ties and a textured XPS cleaning cloth. You also get Roxio Creator DE 10.1, Microsoft Works 9, an OS re-installation disc, Dell drivers and utilities, and the SoundBlaster X-Fi CD.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-44059959460797716082008-06-10T20:30:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:42.863-08:00iPhone 3G<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYS3J7bdhLY604UfBQFlBFtRzagRFNJ4vnk4xh8T4d-dKWbCntGaLBFTJaxyx-JR7ayiNczQUJLhi6GN4XOKZbrqQciynKhdLhK_KJh2DPrUCWCL0Nyul1X3XqqxVi1Sa7POcNvHh8YM/s1600-h/7830-prodheroblackcopy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYS3J7bdhLY604UfBQFlBFtRzagRFNJ4vnk4xh8T4d-dKWbCntGaLBFTJaxyx-JR7ayiNczQUJLhi6GN4XOKZbrqQciynKhdLhK_KJh2DPrUCWCL0Nyul1X3XqqxVi1Sa7POcNvHh8YM/s200/7830-prodheroblackcopy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210461772523377234" /></a><br /><b>The Good Stuff</b><br />3G is here<br />GPS is onboard too,<br />Battery life hasn't suffered. It is up to 10 hours for 2G calls, five hours for 3G. Standby up to 300 hours, video playback up to seven hours and music playback 24 hours.<span class="fullpost"><br />3.5in screen remains contrary to rumours of it being shrunk<br />A white edition (the back is white) - for those find this important<br />Flush headphone jack - at long last<br />Weight is cut 2g (most likely by scrapping the metal back in favour of a plastic one - see below)<br />Price - it's cheaper: $199 for 8GB and $299 for 16GB black and white versions and Steve promises it won't cost more than $199 in any country.<br /><br /><b>The Bad Stuff</b><br />It IS fatter 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3mm verses the original's 115 x 61 x 11.6mm<br />The sleek metal back is now plastic. It may be less slippy to hold but what about durability and build quality?<br />GPS is rudimentary working from a top down view, no 3D mapping<br />Screen resolution remains unchanged at 480 x 320 when many rivals have adopted VGA<br />Incredibly Bluetooth A2DP is still left off so no wireless music enjoyment<br />Video recording unbelievably remains absent<br />No front mounted video camera, no 3G video calling<br />Camera unchanged at two megapixels and no mention of any upgrades (flash, autofocus, etc) this one is a huge let down.<br />No details of offline mapping. It's likely to cost a pretty penny it seems<br />8GB and 16GB capacities remain, no 32GB edition for now<br />Steve didn't define the 3G (7.2Mbit had been rumoured) and it isn't specified even now<br />No wider codec support (AVI/DivX/Xvid remain a distant dream)<br />The dock has been removed from the bundle as Apple strips out costs just as it did when the iPod evolved (it seems unlikely the old dock will fit the curvier profile too)<br />No announcement of Flash for the web browser<br /><br />In all then something of a letdown. The expectations were impossible but the unchanged camera, continued lack of A2DP and Flash support, same capacities, removal of the bundled dock and (arguably) the move to a more plasticy finish aren't welcome. Bulk has also gone up which is understandable but we're not blown away as we were first time around.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-33036581211741587782008-06-10T20:22:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:42.964-08:00Bose SoundDock Portable<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD0bFBNsHUay6C95kIllq2SdOUPoHQeKPEgQfsIKGIPnlVHVqyPxcCfYCSHeQL5t91BDRiDsGQvPeV7XKlJbUpDvEm9UpXhwyu-6W4kSUJm05L3hlzSMOBgbAs7nkte5gw2w31slIlfo/s1600-h/bose.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD0bFBNsHUay6C95kIllq2SdOUPoHQeKPEgQfsIKGIPnlVHVqyPxcCfYCSHeQL5t91BDRiDsGQvPeV7XKlJbUpDvEm9UpXhwyu-6W4kSUJm05L3hlzSMOBgbAs7nkte5gw2w31slIlfo/s200/bose.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210459709017911042" /></a><br />The growth of people with all or most of their music collections on iPods has led to a massive explosion in the number of accessories on the market. But the rush to make money out of iPod owners has become a little silly of late. The infamous iPod bog-roll holder is an example of technology gone mad, but other companies producing otherwise serious products are just as guilty of iPod obsession. It makes me grind my teeth whenever I see an ad from a car manufacturer proudly boasting that the latest model of its 20-grand family hatchback is iPod enabled. It's a 3.5mm audio input socket, for goodness sake!<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />One of the biggest growth areas, however, has been in the eminently more sensible iPod-enabled hi-fi category. The best we've seen so far has been the B&W Zeppelin that Riyad reviewed earlier in the year. The daftest has been the TwinMOS Boom China, with its vase-shaped sub-woofer.<br /><br />Now it's the turn of another big name - Bose - to get involved with its SoundDock Portable. And, thankfully it's far from foolish. It's not adorned with silly flowers and it doesn't have bright flashing lights. In fact the SoundDock's sloping, slightly curved frontage is pleasingly minimalist. The only light is hidden away behind the speaker grille: it activates when the dock is switched on and off, when the volume is increased and reduced and hides itself at other times. The only controls are a pair of touch-sensitive volume buttons on the right hand edge - and if you didn't know they were there, you'd probably not notice those either.<br /><br />The SoundDock is eminently practical in ways other than plain aesthetics. Though it's quite wide and tall (307 x 175mm) from the front, it's only 103mm deep. This means it's easy to pop down at the back of a kitchen worktop or on a mantelpiece without having to clear much space. It's a clever, flexible and unobtrusive design.<br /><br />The speaker's rear-firing bass port doubles up as a handy carrying handle at the top rear of the unit making it extremely easy to pick up and carry around from one location to another. And the iPod docking cradle itself smoothly rotates and locks into the main chassis for transport - once you get to where you're going just press the drawer in and leave it to glide luxuriously smoothly back out into place. The latter takes pretty much any iPod you care to throw at it too (apart from the Shuffle), charging it while playing back. If you don't own an iPod you can connect any other player you fancy via the 3.5mm stereo line input on the rear.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-16500425372133111762008-06-09T01:16:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:43.172-08:00Canon Selphy CP760 Photo Printer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATRDivn6ggauH1cGRa_Ajh_ly6TgkYg0v2_xkleVin8dYT-j3fg88puhJv8gwFr74Xk4Pw82AYhgmNTeS-qTvh_Z0ZnyNyDQzvRoxsPIiFe3PtN_o1NG56YGgJdlzkszH1zNbj7WjMrQ/s1600-h/7800-192CanonSelphyCP760controls.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATRDivn6ggauH1cGRa_Ajh_ly6TgkYg0v2_xkleVin8dYT-j3fg88puhJv8gwFr74Xk4Pw82AYhgmNTeS-qTvh_Z0ZnyNyDQzvRoxsPIiFe3PtN_o1NG56YGgJdlzkszH1zNbj7WjMrQ/s200/7800-192CanonSelphyCP760controls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209793134969908450" /></a><br />The dye sublimation technology Canon uses in its Selphy range of printers is now mature, so to keep sales buoyant the company has to update other aspects of its dedicated photo devices. The Selphy CP760 is close to the entry-level device in Canon's new range, but still provides most of the features seen in its more expensive siblings.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />It's simple, rounded lines, finished in pure white with colour accents on the control buttons, mean it can fit in a living room as well as a study. In fact, it will probably be used as a standalone printer as often as a PC-connected one.<br /><br />The most obvious feature in its top panel is the 63mm colour LCD panel, deep-set into the surface and slightly angled for easier viewing. This is complemented by the usual diamond of control buttons, with just four others for power, menu, back-out and print.<br /><br />The main features in its front edge are three memory card slots, which take SD, memory stick and CompactFlash, though support for Fujifilm's xD format requires an optional adapter. On the left-hand side are sockets for a PC connection and for a PictBridge cable from a camera.<br /><br />The right-hand side has a flip-down cover concealing the film cartridge, which is the only consumable in the machine, apart from paper. A similar cover slips down from the front so you can engage the paper cassette, which nearly doubles the footprint of the printer, when in place. As with previous Selphy printers, there's no convenient way to carry this cassette.<br /><br />If you intend to use the CP760 to print from memory cards or a camera, the only installation required is to slot in the film cartridge, load the 15 by 10cm paper blanks into the cassette and plug the cassette into the front of the printer. Power is supplied from a separate ‘black block' power supply, though in Canon's case it is white, to match the printer.<br /><br />Canon supplied us with an early evaluation sample of the printer, which came with no software CD, but the company confirmed it will normally be supplied with copies of Ulead Photo Express LE for photo editing, with Canon's own ZoomBrowser EX doing the photo housekeeping. This effective partnership has been seen before in previous Selphy printers.<br /><br />Canon claims to have improved the firmware in the printer, to automatically detect faces and correct their brightness. You can also remove red-eye without having to use a PC.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-58015055452389050432008-06-09T01:08:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:43.381-08:00iRiver E100 Media Player - 8GB<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mUVuTca8G90kPSxzFWpsV0QEsa_L3j-2jjXOaevH_95YmPFjJCr8L-gJFLkyqkt6t4t7CPBTURwEe1PDKKyFBgrfU5QHUpIi2uPilJRVGp4NGyx3E7bfyFMR9Id49Jv6POUBmlCxwKE/s1600-h/7801-iRiverE100img1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mUVuTca8G90kPSxzFWpsV0QEsa_L3j-2jjXOaevH_95YmPFjJCr8L-gJFLkyqkt6t4t7CPBTURwEe1PDKKyFBgrfU5QHUpIi2uPilJRVGp4NGyx3E7bfyFMR9Id49Jv6POUBmlCxwKE/s200/7801-iRiverE100img1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209791259386877138" /></a><br />Despite the obsession of modern society with appearance, appearance, appearance, good looks don't always mean top quality. The most attractive of supermodels occasionally, turn out not to be rocket scientists; the most fantastic looking minimalist flats can turn out to be completely impractical to live in and million dollar special effects don't always mean an entertaining movie.<span class="fullpost"><br />It's sometimes the way in the world of technology, too. Slim and sleek design often masks a neglect of basic features - the Meizu MiniPlayer SL 8GB I reviewed in these pages looked great but sadly failed to match those looks with sound quality. It was brilliantly easy to use too, which made the poor sound all the more frustrating.<br /><br />The latest player from iRiver - the 8GB E100 - comes from the opposite school of thought, putting practicality before looks. It's certainly not the greatest piece of hardware design I've ever come across, clad entirely in plain black plastic. Click over to the iRiver website and you'll see all sorts of sexy stock shots of the player, but don't let that fool you; apart from the fact that you can also buy it in a range of colours, there's nothing at all here that provides any kind of visual highlight. There's no aluminium anywhere, no-soft touch surfaces, no gloss finish or subtle sparkle; in fact the standard plastics don't even feel that nice in the hand.<br /><br />The five-way directional button panel occupies an unnecessarily large proportion of the front panel making the E100 quite a chunky player, too. Even though it has the same-sized screen as the Meizu - a 2.4in 240 x 320 TFT - it feels much bigger. It's certainly much, much thicker at around 14mm (compared to the Meizu's 10mm) and that button panel adds a good inch to the length of the player.<br /><br />Flip the E100 over and you find the reason for that extra bulk. On the rear is a pair of speakers, and as with Creative's latest range of pocket Shuffle-style music players, if you unplug your headphones the E100 produces noise. I say noise, because these speakers are barely worthy of the name. They're very quiet and sound horrible. Even the speaker on the much smaller Creative Zen Stone players is better than this.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-30747437487593818702008-06-09T00:32:00.000-07:002008-11-06T22:08:43.477-08:00RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8120<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf1UUxUgIKN_Vn_QYGKnBN2FS4iDV71jone4XeFl1IeGvUpG9t5FjyEiuMHRtWI5RRzUKUm9WykZqoqdovX0eNqcjRUhrn9KijVGMCiil9Ce8HMO5x_Qzx-ewEchcCw38mx75gsgu7KM/s1600-h/6101-BlackBerry8120c.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf1UUxUgIKN_Vn_QYGKnBN2FS4iDV71jone4XeFl1IeGvUpG9t5FjyEiuMHRtWI5RRzUKUm9WykZqoqdovX0eNqcjRUhrn9KijVGMCiil9Ce8HMO5x_Qzx-ewEchcCw38mx75gsgu7KM/s200/6101-BlackBerry8120c.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209788754055747218" /></a><br />There was a time when anyone looking to a BlackBerry to deliver their mobile email was going to have to carry a fairly large and not too pretty device around, and know that while their pocket computer was good at email it wasn't good at much else. No music playback and no camera, for example. <span class="fullpost">The combination of staid looks and feature-deprivation was enough of a double whammy for some to avoid the BlackBerry altogether.<br /><br />Then BlackBerry maker Research In Motion decided it could do more. It started adding features to devices and making them prettier too, in a bid to appeal to out-and-out consumers and those business people who like a bit of style. So, this year we've seen the arrival of the QWERTY-keyboarded Curve and, just before the that, the candybar style BlackBerry Pearl.<br /><br />But RIM has taken on board a lot of the criticisms I and others made of the original Pearl, and of BlackBerry handhelds in general, and the Pearl 8120, while not perfect, is an improvement I think many people could live with.<br /><br />Also, regardless of the feature improvements, this new Pearl is a cute looking device. The colour scheme is dark blue and chrome with the latter used for the left, right and upper edges and various highlights, while the front and back fascias are predominantly blue. It is comfortable to hold, being a slimline candybar handset. The actual dimensions are 107mm tall, 50mm wide, 14mm thick and just 91g. Its metal-like finish means it feels lovely in the hand.<br /><br />The small miniature trackball that sits under the screen and is used for navigation within and between applications remains as delightful as ever. It rolls comfortably under either left or right thumb. I'd like to see an auto-scroll mode implemented so that longer emails can be run through without to much ‘thumb action', though.<br /><br />To the left and right of the trackball are the BlackBerry menu and back keys, and to their left and right the Call and End keys. The arrangement is unchanged from the original Pearl, and it works fine. There are also two ‘convenience keys', one on the left and one on the right edge. You can configure these to launch whichever application or device feature you want.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881928039533742037.post-87471919321154846622008-06-04T19:32:00.001-07:002008-11-06T22:08:43.569-08:00Asus Lamborghini VX1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVIi_1ci7w6lmvPFfRCAG0y9MjFlutx-UHd3gfKgGQBtDzJEj4Dqthw1rbns3vuynLhGzEnGUw4DQuzlXGcchIU2LoOWgxeuTTNvK5Try44v3OfOQaQY_LKdSSvzravNzOmHVlZ0IZck/s1600-h/asus_vx1_b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVIi_1ci7w6lmvPFfRCAG0y9MjFlutx-UHd3gfKgGQBtDzJEj4Dqthw1rbns3vuynLhGzEnGUw4DQuzlXGcchIU2LoOWgxeuTTNvK5Try44v3OfOQaQY_LKdSSvzravNzOmHVlZ0IZck/s200/asus_vx1_b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208219736865804930" /></a><br /><b>Design</b><br />The VX1 comes in two flavours: black, and the more traditional Lamborghini yellow. Both are attractive, but our yellow review sample makes an instant retina-searing impression straight out of the box, making it the more suitable poser's accessory. Asus says the laptops use the same paint finish as the iconic cars, incorporating subtle golden paint flecks that catch the light of the sun, as well as the famous Lamborghini logo.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The lid of the VX1 has a moulded plastic section that is reminiscent of a car boot spoiler, but it's actually inspired by the engine cover slats of a Lamborghini Gallardo. It's a nice touch, giving the laptop a sleek overall look. Unfortunately, the 'spoiler' section of our review sample was a slightly different shade of yellow to the main body of the laptop -- a flaw which Asus says won't be present on final retail models.<br /><br /><b>Features</b><br />Any laptop bearing the name of a high-performance sports car deserves high-performance components, and the Asus Lamborghini VX1 doesn't disappoint. It's not the most insanely well-equipped laptop we've seen, but its 2GHz Intel T2500 CPU and 2GB of DDR2 RAM give it a very potent foundation from which to build. <br /><br />We'd have preferred if the laptop used the 2.2GHz T2600, the fastest CPU in the Centrino Duo range, but this is an acceptable alternative. Graphics performance comes courtesy of a custom Nvidia chip, the Geforce 7400 VX. This is essentially a GeForce 7400 that was renamed for Asus' use, but it's a welcome and capable inclusion for a laptop that doesn't tout itself as a dedicated gaming machine. <br /><br />Unusually, Asus has opted not to use a widescreen 16:9 display on the Lamborghini VX1. Instead, you get a 15-inch screen with a native resolution of 1,400x1,050 pixels. This is fine for everyday use, but its 4:3 aspect ratio limits the number of windows you can view side by side, and means you get a letterbox view when playing 16:9 widescreen movies. Some may take exception to the screen's glossy coating, which is a tad too reflective to use in direct light, but aside from this, we were very impressed with the image quality. Colours were recreated faithfully, and the screen was able to accurately display the subtle tonal differences.<br /><br />Also impressive was the capacious 160GB hard drive. It's the largest laptop drive on the market and is perfect for storing a wealth of games and other multimedia content. You also get a dual-layer DVD rewriter drive that lets you burn up to 8.5GB of data per DVD disc. Unfortunately it's quite slow at 4x, and is a tray-loading model. We'd have preferred a slot-loading drive to help maintain the sleek lines of the laptop.<br /><br />The Lamborghini VX1 features the usual assortment of ports, including three USB ports, a 4-pin Firewire port, plus a Gigabit (1,000Mbps) Ethernet port. You also get a 5-in-1 memory card reader which supports all major formats, but there's no sign of a modem -- you'll need to buy your own USB modem, as is the case with most new laptops.<br /><br />All told, the VX1 has a strong specification, but its AU$4199 price tag is in excess of what you'd pay for a laptop without the Lamborghini badge.<br /><br /><b>Performance</b><br />As a high-end laptop, we expected a lot from the VX1, and it delivers in most respects. Its 2GHz CPU helped it reach a commendable PCMark 2005 score of 4,212, which isn't quite enough to catch the all-conquering Acer Travelmate 8204WLMi's tally of 4,236, but the difference between these two systems is marginal.<br /><br />Where the Lamborghini trails slightly is in its graphics performance. It clocked up a 3DMark 2006 score of 1,403, which again is lower than the Travelmate's score of 1,999. In real terms this equates to 48 frames per second in Doom 3 versus the Acer's 56.6fps, both at a resolution of 1,024x768 pixels. <br /><br />Ultimately, the VX1 isn't as potent in this department as many of its rivals, but it provides sufficient graphics horsepower to run most games, albeit at modest resolutions and image quality settings.<br /></span>Erwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795964841807502442noreply@blogger.com