El Kameleon JVC EXAD KD-AVX77 media player

CNET editors' review

* Reviewed by:
Antuan Goodwin
* Reviewed on: 07/31/2009

When we last saw JVC's El Kameleon car audio receiver, we awarded it our Editors' Choice award for its innovative interface and expandability. However, we wished that the unit featured a touch screen instead of a touch pad.

With the new El Kameleon KD-AVX77, we get our wish. The new El Kameleon features a superwide touch screen that fills up its entire single-DIN faceplate. But is a bigger screen always better?

The superwide screen is awkward for DVD playback, but allows for a fantastic level of customization. You can download custom backgrounds, adjust text and button color and design, and even customize the virtual button layout.

Design
The KD-AVX77 is a single DIN unit with a detachable faceplate. The face is almost completely devoid of physical controls, featuring only a Power/Attenuate button at the top right corner and a button to eject the faceplate at the lower right corner.

The rest of the KD-AVX77's faceplate is occupied by a 5.4-inch superwide (3.32:1 aspect ratio) touch-screen display with a resolution of 800 pixels by 240 pixels. Frankly, a screen this wide is of limited use for displaying DVD movies, because very few DVDs are encoded in a supercinemascope aspect ratio. As a result, movies viewed on the KD-AVX77's screen end up cropped, stretched, or just scaled down with black borders.

The display features a proximity sensor that can be used to, for example, pop up the hidden onscreen controls when your hand approaches the screen during DVD playback. The system can be set to hide the interface buttons by default or black out the inactive screen and respond to proximity or touch.

However, where the El Kameleon's touch screen comes into its own is with the customizable interface. You are able to choose different backgrounds, and virtual button layouts. The KD-AVX77 also features touch gestures for basic commands, such as swirling a finger to quickly raise or lower the volume or swiping horizontally to skip back or forward.

Installation
The KD-AVX77 El Kameleon fits into a standard single-DIN space that many vehicles reserve for car stereos. Basic installation involves making the standard wiring harness connections for power, speakers, etc. Video playback is only enabled when the vehicle is parked, so the e-brake signal lead must be tapped during installation. Additionally, the USB cable pigtail must be routed, as well as the microphone for hands-free calling.

Audio RCA preamp outputs, for stereo front and rear and dedicated center channel and subwoofer outputs, allow for the use of external amplifiers for 5.1 surround sound. A video output and a secondary stereo RCA output allow for the connection of external monitors or a rear-seat entertainment system. A video input either works in conjunction with a reverse-gear signal lead to connect an optional rearview camera, or in conjunction with a stereo RCA line input to add an external video player. Finally, an OE remote input allows for the use of some vehicles' steering wheel switchgear, with the addition of an optional control box.

The KD-AVX77's multiple AV inputs and outputs and the AM/FM radio antenna input are all on pigtails and cannot be removed from the device, which means that even if you're not using a ton of input and output options, you'll have a lot of cables to cram behind the unit, so make sure you have enough clearance to allow for adequate cooling.

Features
The JVC KD-AVX77 features an AM/FM radio tuner and a single disc DVD/CD player behind its motorized faceplate. The optical drive supports MP3, WMA, WAV, and AAC digital audio playback. DVD playback features Dolby Digital 5.1 surround capability, but only if external amps are used for at least the center and subwoofer channels, as the internal amplifier has only four audio channels.

Around back, a USB cable pigtail allows for the connection of USB storage devices and digital media players, including iPods and iPhones. The unit can control and browse media using the onscreen controls, or relinquish control to the connected iPod while maintaining the digital signal using the passenger control mode. Out of the box, you can play back audio, such as podcasts and audiobooks, but not video. However, with an optional iPod video interface cable, you can unlock video playback.

An internal Bluetooth wireless connection allows for the connection of cell phones for hand-free calling or Bluetooth-enabled media players for A2DP audio streaming.

Performance
The KD-AVX77 El Kameleon's internal amplifier outputs 20 watts into four channels (RMS) with a peak output of 50 watts per channel, which is fairly standard for an aftermarket unit these days.

Audio quality can be adjusted with a seven band EQ with 12 presets (3 of which are user customizable), as well as standard fader/balance adjustment, subwoofer level adjustment, and high-pass and low-pass filter adjustments. The internal amplifier can be set to high power or low power--the latter is a good setting for sound without destroying OEM speakers.

Hands-free calling sounds good with the external microphone mounted near the driver's head and audio coming through the vehicle's speakers. Calls weren't completely devoid of road noise in our Chevrolet Aveo test vehicle, but callers were able to clearly hear what we were saying.

Navigating the digital media library on a connected iPod using the touch-screen interface wasn't as intuitive as the dial-based system on some of the Alpine systems that we've tested, but we were able to sort through our Artists, Albums, and Podcasts rather quickly. The interface displays six options at a time that you can scroll through using a horizontal scroll bar along the bottom of the List screen. Touch a location on the scroll bar to jump to that point in the library, which makes it very easy to get to the end of a long list of artist quite quickly.

The gesture controls could be quite useful, if they worked consistently. We had a hard time getting the unit to quickly increase or decrease volume with finger swirl gesture. Fortunately, onscreen buttons for these controls are usually available.

In sum
The JVC KD-AVX77 is a marked improvement over the previous generation El Kameleon unit (the KD-AVX44). The larger screen doesn't add anything to the DVD-viewing experience, as it is still too small for extended viewing, but the customizable interface is quite cool. We especially like that the speed of the iPod/iPhone interface has been greatly increased, but the user interface is still too clunky and requires the you too jump through too many screens to complete simple tasks like changing the playlist.

The expandability and flexibility of the KD-AVX77 makes this a great receiver for system builders looking to build stealthy in-car multimedia systems without a big double-DIN screen in the dashboard. However, anyone who doesn't plan on taking advantage of the KD-AVX77's expandability will probably find simpler, easier-to-use interfaces elsewhere.

Product summary

The good: The JVC KD-AVX77 El Kameleon features a customizable interface and a responsive touch screen. iPod and USB browsing is quick and easy to understand. Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming increase driver safety and add an additional audio source. A plethora of AV inputs and outputs provide many expandability options.

The bad: The superwide touch screen is too small for DVD playback and its awkward aspect ratio means that most films will be cropped, stretched, or shrunken. Gesture controls are inconsistent.

The bottom line: The JVC KD-AVX77 El Kameleon is a great receiver for system builders, but the touch-screen interface isn't as easy to use as some of the competition's physical control schemes.

Specifications: Connections type: 5.1 channel audio line-out , USB , Composite video/audio input , Composite video/audio output , System components control bus

Read More ..

Insignia NS-PDVD8 Review

CNET editors' review

* Reviewed by:
Jeff Bakalar
* Reviewed on: 07/31/2009
* Released on: 04/15/2008

Last year, we took a look at the Insignia NS-PDVD10. While it didn't blow us away, we found it to be a decent bare-bones portable DVD player for the price. Now we're taking a look at another model in the series, the PDVD8.

Apart from its remote control, the Insignia NS-PDVD8 is covered in an all-black rubberized finished. The control buttons are completely flat and apparently splash-resistant and have a strange spring-loaded click to them. Also, that rubberized finish is a real magnet for fingerprints and other greasy residue that's hard to clean off.

The main control buttons are front and center just below the screen, which lets you pause/play and skip chapters forward/back, and (often curiously missing from many players nowadays) fast forward and reverse when you have the screen folded down in tablet mode. This model has an 8.5-inch wide-screen display that swivels 180 degrees and folds flat on top of the unit much like a tablet PC.

While the swivel feature has become more prevalent in portable DVD players, it does offer a degree of flexibility when it comes to viewing options, especially when it comes to in-car viewing. However, Insignia doesn't include a cheap canvas carrying case that could double as a headrest mount for backseat viewing when the player's in tablet mode. Some inexpensive tablet-style portable DVD players (namely, the Mustek MP100) ship with just such an accessory.

Fortunately, the battery doesn't bulge out from the bottom (like the PDVD10 did) nor does it protrude from the rear of the player, an annoyance we've seen on many smaller competing models we've recently looked at.


The included remote is too big and doesn't control volume.

The included remote control is way too large for practical needs, plus it doesn't have volume control functionality. At least with the step-up model, there was a place to store it away when not in use.

The Insignia NS-PDVD8 has all the requisite features, including a set of AV minijack connections (a breakout cable for plugging in composite video/stereo audio cables is included), a cigarette-lighter adapter for in-car use, and a whopping three headphone jacks (more than any player we've recently reviewed).


We were really impressed by the three headphone jacks.

There's no memory card slot or a USB port, but considering that the player doesn't offer digital-file compatibility--there's no support for MP3 music, JPEG image files, or DivX videos--their absence is no great loss. One connection we had a little trouble figuring out was the 5V DC-out; we assumed at first that it was for charging something like a PSP or cell phone, which would have been kind of cool. But the manual just says, "Plug a power-connecting cable into this jack and into the DC-in on the optional TV tuner to watch playback on a TV." We're still not sure what that means.

As far as the picture goes, it's on par with what we've come to expect from players that cost about $140 or less--which is to say, not great. The screen is quite watchable for almost everybody, but discriminating viewers won't necessarily be satisfied. While the color is accurate enough, the picture's a little soft. The NS-PDDVD8 offers some picture control options, but like other models in this price range, shadow detail isn't a strong suit, so you might want to crank the brightness up on darker movies. "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," for example, has a lot of night racing scenes, and we had to take the brightness up from 8--the middle setting--to 11. Likewise, 4x3 (standard) program material can be stretched to fill the 16x9 wide screen, but there's no zoom option available.

Normally we don't say a whole lot about a portable DVD player's sound quality, but it is worth mentioning that the NS-PDDVD8 plays plenty loud at its higher volume settings. The sound is mediocre through the player's small, tinny speakers, but it's loud. Naturally, if you connect a pair of decent headphones, sound quality will improve dramatically. If you have the correct cable, you can use the coaxial output to connect the player to an AV receiver and get surround sound.

As for battery life, Insignia rates the NS-PDDVD8's battery life at 4 hours (with the display turned on) and our tests came in slightly better than that mark, at close to 5.5 hours. We do have one gripe, though: we would have appreciated some sort of battery life indicator, but didn't notice one.

All in all, the Insignia NS-PDDVD8 isn't a bad portable DVD player. It's relatively well designed and its picture quality measures up to most of the other players in its price range and class. The lack of digital media support and a case for headrest mounting hurts its value, but if that stuff doesn't bother you and you like the idea of the three headphone jacks and an 8.5-inch screen, there's enough positives here to give this one a moment of consideration. However, it would be nice if Best Buy could shave another $50 off the list price. That would make the NS-PDDVD8 easier to recommend.

Product summary

The good: Portable DVD player with 8.5-inch screen; screen swivels and folds flat for tablet-style viewing; three headphone jacks; AV inputs and outputs.

The bad: Picture quality is subpar; no notable extras such as a USB port or flash media slot; rubberized plastic housing is a fingerprint magnet; does not include iPod video accessory wire; remote control is too large and doesn't have volume control.

The bottom line: Even though its picture is subpar and the battery doesn't last long, the Insignia NS-PDVD8 should be good enough for someone looking for the most basic affordable portable DVD player.

Specifications: DVD type: DVD player ; Form factor: Portable ; Remote control type: Remote control

Read More ..

Innergie mCube 90

Product summary


The good: The Innergie mCube 90 has solid construction and can power two devices at once.

The bad: The Innergie mCube 90's design is a tad baffling. You must pay extra for phone-charging tips.

The bottom line: If you can afford it, the Innergie mCube 90 is a convenient way to consolidate charging cables for your gadgets.

CNET editors' review

* Reviewed by:
Kent German
* Reviewed on: 07/27/2009

Innergie's mCube 90 isn't quite what you expect at first. Though you might think that it's an emergency charger in the style of the Callpod Fueltank, it's actually a universal charging adapter for powering multiple gadgets at once. You can use it with your cell phone, of course, but it also supports laptops and Netbooks. On the whole, it's a quality product with solid construction. The design is a little perplexing, and we don't like that we have to pay extra for phone-charging tips, but it does its job well. The mCube is $99.99, which is rather expensive.

The mCube 90 and its various parts come in attractive packaging that includes a soft zippered case. The power adapter is a white rectangle that measures 5.07 inches by 2.76 inches by 0.93 inch and weighs 9.28 ounces. Innergie claims that the mCube 90 is the smallest universal power adapter. While that might very well be the case, the mCube 90 isn't exactly featherweight. On the exterior, you'll find a plug for the AC power cord, a USB port and a DC output port for notebooks. There's also a LED indicator.

The adapter actually consists of two parts that separate near one end. The smaller part (the subunit) is used as the conduit for powering your Netbook or phone while in a car or on an airplane. On one end is a proprietary connection that accommodates the DC cable for your car's cigarette lighter. That cable measures almost 2 feet, so it should fit most environments. On the other end of the subunit are the aforementioned ports for the USB phone cables and the DC cable for notebooks. You'll need top purchase the airplane cable separately.

The laptop cable also measures about 5 feet. One end connects with the adapter while the other end has a connection for the various laptop tips. Fortunately, you get seven tips in the box; that should be enough to accommodate most laptops from Acer, Asus, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba. The fit between the tips and the cable is tight, but the tips come in a small cloth bag.

To use the mCube 90 to power your phone or laptop from a wall charger, you must reconnect the sub unit with the main part of the adapter. The AC power cable uses a proprietary connection, but it measures a convenient five feet. We're not sure why the Innergie designed the mCube 90 in this way--we think it would be easier if you kept the adapter in piece no matter what you were charging. Also, we'd prefer if the various cable ports were consolidated.

Unfortunately, the mCube 90 doesn't come with any phone tips in the box. You must purchase them separately for $7.99 per manufacturer. Each package includes a retractable cable and the various tips for that manufacturer. The Motorola kit, for example, comes with mini-USB and micro-USB tips. Other kits are available for LG, HTC, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, RIM and Samsung phones. That leaves a few manufacturers--Apple, PCD, Kyocera, Pantech and Palm--out in the cold.

The phone cable uses the USB port next to the DC power cable jack. The cable stretches to 2.5 feet with the phone tips connecting neatly at one end. We tried powering a Samsung SGH-T349 and a Samsung SGH-A177. Both handsets and an IBM laptop charged in the normal manner. One particularly nice feature of the mCube 90 is that it can power a phone and a laptop simultaneously.

Read More ..

Gyration Air Mouse

Mouse doesn't require a mousing surface

by Blair Hanley Frank, Macworld.com



Gyration Air Mouse
Product:
Air Mouse
Rating (Scale) 5 - Superior
4 - Very Good
3 - Good
2 - Fair
1 - Poor
Pros
Easy, intuitive use in air; long range; can be used by left- or right-handers.
Cons
No Mac drivers; mouse feels cramped when used on a table.
Company
Gyration
Price as rated
$80

MacWorld- Gyration’s Air Mouse feels like the product of a fly-by-night relationship between a Wii Remote controller and a traditional mouse. The Air Mouse sports an internal gyroscope that allows you to hold the mouse like a remote control and direct the cursor by moving your wrist—there’s no need to place the Air Mouse on a surface. It’s a novel idea, and one that’s implemented well. But when you actually use the Air Mouse on a table, the small and portable design makes for a cramped experience.

The Air Mouse is wonderfully designed to fit in either hand. When using the Air Mouse, my hand didn’t so much rest on the mouse as engulf it. My hands fit in men’s medium-sized gloves, and the mouse felt small and uncomfortable when I was using it on a desk.

However, there was no discomfort when I picked up the Air Mouse and waved it in the air. It’s easy to see how the Air Mouse can be handy in a meeting while using PowerPoint, Keynote, OmniDazzle, or some other mouse-intensive program. The presenter has the freedom to stand and work a room, instead of sitting down in order to use a surface for the mouse.

Gyration doesn’t have Mac software drivers for the Air Mouse, so the three auxiliary buttons sitting directly behind the scroll wheel are completely unrecognized by OS X and are useless. If you’ve used Apple's Mighty Mouse ([Image]) before, the Air Mouse will use the behavior you assigned to the scroll wheel and right button on your Mighty Mouse. WIthout the Mighty Mouse software, the Air Mouse will switch to Dashboard when clicking the scroll wheel, and the right button defaults to the same action as the left button.

When setting up the Air Mouse for the first time, I was greeted by Apple’s Keyboard Setup Assistant, and despite the mouse being on and the USB dongle plugged in to my Mac (the dongle is a 2.4GHz RF receiver), the cursor refused to move. I checked the manual and followed the directions to press the “connect” button on the underside of the mouse as well as on the USB dongle itself. I then ignored the setup assistant, and went along my merry, mousing way.

Comfortable with the Air Mouse, I decided to test it with Call of Duty 4’s multiplayer mode, armed only with my keyboard and the Air Mouse. To say that my initial performance was horrendous would be a massive understatement. But, after about a half-hour, I was performing much better. The mouse seemed a decent extension of my body-not nearly as familiar as a typical desk-based implement, but still accommodating. While not as accurate at higher sensitivity levels as a traditional mouse,

My Call of Duty test emphasized that the Air Mouse isn’t really a gaming mouse, but a mouse for general purpose. In order to move the cursor, you have to depress a trigger on the underside of the mouse. When dealing with documents, spreadsheets, or other general tasks, this works fine. However, when playing a first-person shooter, I was squeezing that bottom trigger for several minutes at a time. After a while, the work my index finger and wrist were doing began to wear on me. By the end of my game session, my wrist ached.
Macworld’s buying advice

The Air Mouse is a solid product. Although it’s cramped for on-table use, it’s surprisingly comfortable when used in mid-air. The learning curve is also relatively gentle, and it’s easy to get your mind and muscles around this peripheral.

Read More ..

Garmin nuvi 885T

LaptopMag.com
Garmin’s latest premium GPS navigator offers plenty of bells and whistles, including voice commands and free lifetime traffic.
by Troy Dreier on May 6, 2009



While some GPS devices feel like the developers have crammed in as many features as possible, market leader Garmin keeps things relatively simple with its high-end nüvi 885T ($599). This navigator delivers voice commands and lifetime traffic, but like other Garmin navigators, it’s well made and perfectly easy to use. However, for a high-end unit, it doesn’t push the envelope enough.

Design and Interface

The Garmin nüvi 885T has a 4.3-inch, 480 x 272-pixel touchscreen and a rounded silver case. It comes with an attractively small ball-and-socket window mount, as well as a remote that straps onto your steering wheel to call up the voice command system.

Start up the 885T and you’ll get the same simple two-icon interface as on lower-priced Garmin models: Where To? and View Map. Smaller icons let you access volume controls, settings, and, if you’ve connected a Bluetooth-capable phone, hands-free calling.

Maps and Navigation

The map view on the 885T is boldly colored and easy to follow, although we expect more detail and less of a cartoony look from a high-end device. While the map shows you your speed, next street, and time of arrival, we’d like to see more detail on the map view. Current street name, distance to destination, and volume controls were all missing.

While GPS startup time seemed especially fast, the 885T took 5 to 6 seconds to reroute after a missed turn, which is average. However, we like that Garmin includes two American English text-to-speech voices, both of which sounded excellent (there are also two Australian and two British voices, for a total of six). While the documentation promises lane guidance screens, we only saw one during many miles of highway testing. The leading competitor for this feature, Navigon, offers photorealistic lane guidance images far more often than Garmin does.

Entering an address with the 885T couldn’t be easier. The Garmin interface is simple enough for anyone to grasp. You can quickly enter an address, call up favorites, or look up a point-of-interest from the 6 million–POI database. The 885T seemed to freeze once when we searched the database and other times the search was quite slow. Also, the database could be more current; In our testing, the map didn’t know about a section of Newark Avenue in Jersey City that’s been closed to traffic for more than a year, or the local Staples and Starbucks that have been around for some time.

Extra Features

You get a few welcome perks for the high price tag, including MSN Direct services (the first three months are free; afterwards, the service costs $49.95 annually, or $129 for a lifetime plan). We like that the 885T includes lifetime MSN traffic, but the traffic map—which is so zoomed out that it looks like a plate of multicolored spaghetti—wasn’t all that helpful. Also, getting MSN services, such as local theater listings, weather forecast, and events, to work properly took some effort. At first, we thought that the 885T simply didn’t have any listings for our area, but after contacting MSN to reactivate the service on our unit, the navigator displayed a similar number of local events as we’ve seen on other GPS units with this feature.

We had better luck with the voice command system. The steering wheel remote called up the voice system perfectly every time, and the command system could hear us well if the radio was off and we spoke clearly. You can speak any on-screen menu commands, which is easy to remember.

The 885T also comes with a music player, Audible book player, and photo viewer. You can load Panoramio photos with embedded GPS data through the Garmin site, then navigate to them. It’s a bit tedious, though, since you need to create an account first and then download a helper application. Other extras include an FM transmitter, three free games (and eight purchasable demos), a currency converter, and a world clock.
Verdict

For $599, the Garmin nüvi 885T is worth the splurge if you like the idea of barking voice commands instead of digging through menus. However, for this amount of money, we prefer the Navigon 8100T (also $599), which, despite some faults of its own, offers a classier brushed-metal bezel, free traffic updates, and a 3D Panorama view.

Read More ..

WESTERN DIGITAL MY BOOK STUDIO EDITION II

Zippy, Voluminous External Storage



I really liked the Western Digital My Book Mirror Edition, which yokes two 1TB hard drives together to provide a terabyte of mirrored (RAID 1) storage. Think of the Western Digital My Book Studio Edition II as the Mirror Edition's fraternal twin. But while the Mirror Edition emphasizes protected storage, the Studio Edition II is all about speed and capacity. It's just the thing for video-heavy creative types who would enjoy having 2T8 of transportable storage by their desktops. It's Mac-friendly out of the box, though it will work with Windows PCs, too. In terms of dollars per GB, this is more expensive than a single-mechanism drive, but it's cheaper than a portable drive.

Within its case, the Studio Edition II has the same pair of Green Power mi hard drives as the Mirror Edition, and as with that product, the user can replace one of the Studio Edition II's drives if it fails. The Studio Edition II comes formatted for HFS+ (Mac format) and with RAID 0. (You can reformat to FAT32 or MIS if you like.) This means it can fully support the faster FireWire 800 and eSATA interfaces.

The Studio Edition II proved speedy on our test MacBook, taking only 49 seconds to copy our 1.2GB test folder via USB, 38 seconds via FireWire 400, and 32 seconds with FireWire 800. If all you need is a secure, protected place to store your backups, then get the (slightly) cheaper Mirror Edition. But if you have a home business or other small business or are a graphics professional, the Studio Edition II should float to the top of your buy list.—Joel Santo Domingo



PC Magazine April 2009

Read More ..

LENOVO THINKPAD USB PORTABLE SECURE DRIVE

Lockable, Portable Hard Drive




Drive security is getting to be a hot-button issue; witness the recent story about a lost M1)3 player with military data on it being resold in a pawn shop. The problem with so-called "secure" hard drives has traditionally been that they have too many limitations. This Lenovo external drive transcends those limitations by internalizing its security—it looks just like a plain old hard drive to Windows or Mac OS X. It's hardware-encrypted (with 128-hit AES) and easy to use—what more could you as for?

At first glance, the 0.5-by-3.5-by-4.5-inch (I-IWD), 320GB Secure Drive looks like a USB numeric keypad. An LED indicator tells you the drive's status, and the casing is clad in the same rubberized coating that gives Lenovo's Think Pad notebooks their distinctive and sturdy feel. You can add up to ten users (in addition to the administrator),each with a unique access code. That way, the drive can be passed from person to person while remaining secure, with each user having access to all the data on it.



In testing, the Secure Drive scored very well on PCMark05, turning in 3,126—exceptional for an external storage drive. It was also fast in simple dragand-drop copying, taking only 52 seconds to transfer our 1.2GB test folder. 'lb he sure, FireWire and eSATA drives have the potential to be faster, but the Secure Drive pays no performance penalties for its security. At about $0.68/GB, the drive is a bit pricey. You can get a nonprotected 500GB drive for the same total price as the Secure Drive (about $0.44/ GB). But for its target audience, the extra security is worth the money. If you're a businessperson who needs to pass sensitive data physically from one computer to another, or it you want to back up your files with another layer of security, the Secure Drive is a perfect choice.- Joel Santo Domingo

PC Magazine April 2009

Read More ..

Archos 5

Shortcomings limit media player's true potential



THE NEW ARCHOS 5 is the most stylish of the company's media devices. It looks great, comes loaded with features, and performs well. But several flaws hold it back from being the outstanding player it could be.

The device is controlled mainly via its touch screen, a fantastic 4.8-inch, 800x480 display that's bright and clear. The Archos 5 can play back photos, video, music, and PDF files, and it can surf the Web via its Opera browser. It also supports Flash 9, widgets, and an e-mail application. When it comes to media playback, the Archos 5 supports a variety of file formats in addition to often-used ones like MP3 and WMV, and with its built-in Wi-Fi connection, the Archos 5 can stream music and video from Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) servers on your network, as well as music from Internet radio stations.

Both the screen and body design, however, are prone to fingerprints, and unfortunately, the Archos 5 features an entirely new proprietary connector—if you're upgrading from an older Archos player, your accessories will be rendered useless. Be prepared to shell out more money if you want to take advantage of new add-ons. Also, despite the player's many great features, we were disappointed that we couldn't charge it using a standard USB cable. If you are on the go and forget your proprietary cable at home, you're out of luck.


We realize that the Archos 5 needs special connectors for its hardware add-ons, but a standard mini-USB port for charging and PC- and Mac-compatible data transfer would help a lot. —Rich Grech

Computer Shopper March 2009

Read More ..

NEC NP61

Full-auto projector takes sweat out of presentations



DON'T WANT TO FUSS setting up a presentation projector? NEC's fully automatic NP61 is for you. Just plug it in, connect a laptop, and it's ready to go. No fiddling with input buttons, focus controls, keystone correction—nothing.

At $1,299, the compact NP61 isn't cheap, but it's appropriately priced for a 3.5-pound portable model with a native XGA (1,024x768) resolution. An instant-off feature lets you turn it off and pack it up immediately without a lamp-cooling period. Should you need to make an adjustment, its controls are on the top of the unit.

NEC claims the NP61 can be placed as close as 4.8 feet from a wall or as far as 44 feet away to produce an image of 33 inches to 300 inches (diagonal). Its Digital Light Processing (DLP) engine is rated at 3,000 lumens with a contrast ratio of 1,600-to-1.

That's bright enough to use even in a well-lit room. In our tests, we placed the NP61 112 inches from the screen to create an 80-inch image. Image quality was excellent. In a medium-lit room, the image was very bright.



Photo and video images were a touch darker than they appeared on our laptop screen, but they still looked impressive. Our only real disappointment is that the monaural speaker delivered, at best, low volume. Also, the constant whir of the projector's fan is noticeable, and it may even grow annoying to the person adjacent to it. Setting the projector to economy mode drops the noise level to about 5dB while delivering an image that's still plenty bright. —Jamie Bsales

Computer Shopper March 2009

Read More ..

Eurocom L390TP Uno

All-in-one has limited abilities, but needs little space, electricity



EUROCOM'S L390TP UNO is an all-in-one PC that spurns TV capabilities in favor of simple PC functionality. (A tuner is an option in other configurations; none was included in our $1,750 test model.)

The system's distinguishing feature is its 19-inch touch screen, but the screen's shortcomings make the Uno seem more like a tablet PC with desktop pretensions. For instance, you can use a finger to navigate the screen, but you'll find the system better suited to tried-and-true pointing devices.

Since the panel has no digitizer, you'll need practice to master the precise movements necessary. Plus, it takes quite a bit of force to activate buttons (and patience to cope with a jittery mouse cursor).

At 12.Sx18x2.7 inches (HWD), however, the Uno could be a space-saving option for those living in cramped quarters. It's also wall-mountable. Lightweight (20 pounds) and convenient to carry, it's easily transportable between rooms. Eurocom also touts the compact system as extremely energy-efficient and claims it pulls a maximum of just 70 watts of power.

The nun-of-the-mill components include a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a DVD±RW drive, and an integrated Webcam; the OS is the 64-bit version of Windows Vista Business.



You do get lots of connectivity options: a multiformat card reader, an ExpressCard slot, USB, four-pin FireWire, HDMI, external SATA, and more. But the Uno's performance is mostly unexceptional, lagging behind HP's TouchSmart line of PCs, which feature a more exciting and useful implementation of touch technology. If space and power usage are concerns, the Uno might be sensible; just don't expect it to be a powerful, well-rounded problem solver. —M.M

Computer Shopper March 2009

Read More ..

Sony VAIO VGC-RT150Y

Outstanding performance, exorbitant price



MOST OF THE TV-FOCUSED all-in-ones we've seen so far have been more about potential than performance. All have offered basic Media Center functionality, and some have aimed slightly higher, but to accomplish any serious tasks, you've generally had to look elsewhere. Sony is trying to capture the enthusiast sector of the all-in-one market with its very appealing, high-end VAIO VGC-RT150Y, which has many of the benefits of other do-it-all systems at a price we can charitably describe as prohibitive.

First, the good news. The VGC RT150Y, which is equally well-designed inside and out, seems poised to fit into any user's lifestyle or décor. The 17.3x26.1x9.3-inch (11WD) unit is solid black and has sharp-angled corners, the embodiment of I-mean-business elegance. The only colors come from the white Sony logo—which glows when the PC is turned on—and the screen itself, an attractive, glossy 25.5-inch expanse.

You can place the system on either the desk, using the included stand, or on the wall with the help of the included VESA mounting bracket. The components, too, are unusually serious for an all-in-one: a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 processor, 8GB of DDR2 RAM, two 500GB hard drives in a RAID Level 0 configuration, a Blu-ray burner and DVD±RW combo drive, and 512MB of Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics. The system was designed with video editing in mind, so its components are not exactly surprising—nor are the media features that complete the package. Of course, there's a dual-band (ATSC/NTSC) TV tuner for capturing video.

The OS is the 64-bit version of Windows Vista Ultimate, providing backup features beyond those included in Home Premium. You get four separate card readers for importing content: ExpressCard, CompactFlash, Memory Stick Pro, and SD, all aligned on the display's left edge. Other connectivity options are just as plentiful: four-pin FireWire, USB, external SATA, headphone, microphone, and audio-input jacks, also on the left side; two more USB ports on keys (which double as touch volume controls), and OK button let you interact with the display's settings as if it were a full- fledged TV.

A toggle switch near the bottom of the screen lets you switch off the built-in 802.11a/b/g/n Wi Fi, and a button below lets you connect to the wireless mouse and keyboard. Sony takes things still further with software, offering not just the expected (trial versions of Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft Works, and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007) and its own proprietary media software (for burning discs, creating movies, and streaming music and other media), but also full versions of Adobe's major consumer editing apps, Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements.

These packages give you a lot more functionality than just about any free software we've seen and are exactly what someone serious about using the VGC-RT150Y would need. Running them shouldn't be a problem: While the Sony displayed very good image quality while watching high-definition Blu-ray movies, it also placed consistently near the top in our all-in one and media-PC rankings.

Usually, only better-equipped—and pricier—PCs can turn in results as good as the VGC-RT150Y's 11,164 in the 64-bit version of Cinebench 10, 3 minutes and 58 seconds with Windows Media Encoder, the right side; and an A/V input, S-Video, infrared transmitter out, optical out, Ethernet, two more USB ports, HDMI out, and HDMI in.

The system allows for easy control over all its functions, most of which you can manage from the right edge of the display. At the top is a power button, and immediately below it is a button that will turn off just the display, leaving the PC on. Below that are the optical drive and then the HDMI-select button, for choosing to accept input from the HDMI port instead of from the PC. The display menu, arrow all on the rear of the unit.



3 minutes in our Mines conversion test, and 5,242 in Futuremark PCMark Vantage. This system excels within its class. Still, the $3,999 price is excessive even by all-in-one standards and not quite in line with what the system delivers. (HP's TouchSmart IQ816, by way of comparison, has the same-size screen and a Blu-ray reader—and costs $2,099.) Unless you desperately need or want the Sony brand, you're better off buying an even more powerful desktop and connecting it to an HD-ready monitor of this size or larger—you'll spend less money, even counting the Adobe software, a Blu-ray burner, and more. We love the VGC-RT150Y's power and extensibility, but we can't blindly recommend it unless you have money to burn. —Matthew Murray

Computer Shopper March 2009

Read More ..

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Excellent single-lens solution for photo enthutiast

THE CANON POWERSHOT



SX10 IS ultrazoom digital camera offers an impressive 20x optical zoom lens. This 10-megapixel model's focal length of 28mm to 560mm resembles that of a digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) camera and gives one-lens convenience for everything from group shots to wildlife photography.

The SX10 IS resembles a small SLR, with a large grip on the right holding four AA batteries. The 2.S-inch LCD may seem small compared with the 3-inch screens on some competing cameras, but it can swing out and swivel to shoot from unusual angles.

Overall, still-image quality is excellent. Details are very sharp, and colors are accurate without being overly vibrant. Noise levels are very low, yet little detail is lost to in-camera sharpening at higher ISO settings. The camera's optical image stabilization remained effective even at the farthest reaches of the zoom range.

We did notice some chromatic aberration (purple fringing) in areas of high contrast, but this was mostly evident when we zoomed in on deep or heavily cropped images. Also, we found that skies and other bright image elements were sometimes blown out in our shots. One other nit: The SX10 IS captures 10-megapixel, 3,648x2,736-pixel images in JPEG format only; there's no RAW support.

As for speed, the camera takes 1.6 seconds to start up. Shutter lag was well under a tenth of a second in our tests. The camera shoots 1.4 images per second in continuous-shooting mode; normal shot-to-shot delay is about 1.8 seconds. The SX10 IS will also shoot VGA-resolution video at 30 frames per second.



There's a dedicated Record button for video, and the resulting Quick-Time-format movies look good, though we noted an audible clicking sound in the video if we changed the zoom level while filming. The VGA-quality video isn't as impressive, however, as video from comparable cameras that shoot HD footage, including the similar Canon SX1 IS, which hasn't yet been released to the North American market. (One other interesting video feature: You can shoot full-resolution stills while recording video, though the image will black out for a second while the photo is captured.)
Overall, the SX10 IS is a marked improvement over earlier cameras in Canon's ultra-zoom line, offering a very flexible zoom range and shooting options, plus overall good image quality.—Denny Atkin

Computer Shopper March 2009

Read More ..

SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-T77

Sony's Sexy Cyber-Shot




In simple terms, the DSC-T77 is a beauty. Its compact design, metallic features, and touch screen make it feel like a luxury item. Aside from color fringing in the corners of images, most users will find this camera's shots dazzling.

The DSC-T77's 3-inch LCD touch screen is very responsive, and the uses interface is more intuitive than those of competing touchscreen models, such as the Nikon Coolpix S60 and the Kodak EasyShare v1073. But as with any camera that employs a touch screen, battery life suffers.

The T77 has a very slim build, measuring just 2.4 by 3.8 by 1.3 inches (1-1WD), but feels rock solid. The lens has a focal range of 6.18mm to 24.7mm, with corresponding maximum f-stops of f/3.1 and f/5.9, and a 4X optical zoom. Sony has jam-packed this shooter with features, including face and smile detection, an assortment of in-camera editing options, and fun effects like soft focus, fish-eye lens, radial blur, and retro.

TheT77 is also a reasonably quick camera, with good boot and recycle times (and little shutter lag). Sony's touch-screen interface works well, displaying a lot of information without overcrowding. Sony also includes physical buttons for the most commonly used operations: on/off, shutter release, playback/ shoot, and zoom in/out. As with most point-and- shooters, you'll find distortion at both ends of the lens, but no more than is tolerable. In the wide-angle position, barrel distortion is evident.



At the full telephoto position, there's a bit of pincushion distortion. Video shot with the177 looked and sounded good, but I wish it could record widest Teen SD video. Also, battery life was much shorter than expected.

Overall, the 177 offers good speed, solid imagery, and exciting in-camera editing tools. Just don't forget to bring along an extra battery.-PJ Jacobowitz

PC Magazine February 2009

Read More ..

MITSUBISHI XD500U-ST

Big Pictures for Small Rooms



Mitsubishi calls the XD500U-ST an ultra-short-throw projector. I'd call it a short-throw projector instead, but the truth is there's no hard-and-fast definition for either term. Whatever you call it, it's a more than reasonable choice for anyone who needs an XGA (1,024-by-768) projector that can project a fairly large image in a tight space.

This projector displayed our 2-meter-wide (98-inch diagonal) test image from just 4 feet 6 inches away. That's a lot closer than the 9 to 13 feet that most projectors need, but it's still more than the 15 inches needed by our current Editors' Choice in this category, the Hitachi CP-A100.

Yet one clear advantage the XD500U-ST has over the Hitachi unit is portability. At 4.0 by 13.1 by 9.8 inches (I1WD) and 7.3 pounds, you might not want to lug it with you on regular basis, but it's small and light enough to bring along at least occasionally. There are also plenty of connection options, including two VGA, one pass-through VGA, S-Video, composite video, RCA phone, USI3, and a stereo mini jack.



On my tests, setup was easy, with the projector automatically syncing perfectly with the incoming signal. And you can unplug the projector and pack it up as soon as you power off, a nice feature. Although the menus and controls are somewhat obscure and the image quality suffers from a few (relatively minor) shortcomings, this is a more than reasonable choice for those who need a projector for cramped spaces.—M. David Stone

PC Magazine February 2009

Read More ..

Western Digital WDTV

Can this barebones jukebox compete with feature-rich rivals?



The WDTV from Western Digital is a digital media accessory that, unlike most rivals in this field, doesn't offer network access or built-in storage. Instead, you must connect external storage to one of the two USB2 ports to view media. With an HDMI and digital optical port alongside standard composite at the back, it's well prepared for modern HDTVs and supports playback of resolutions up to 1080p. Media files stored on attached devices are separated automatically into video, music and photo menus, with each offering a nice degree of control over how files are sorted and browsed, including a search function to filter large collections

The WDTV offers some impressive file support that includes standards such as H 264, Mov and MKV and Ogg and Flac for audio, alongside more traditional formats, and is one of the most impressive we've seen in terms of handling the wide range of file types prevalent in today's market. Performance is also good, with little or no buffer time when a file is opened or during playback. Responsive pause, resume and browse controls make it a true joy to use. The interface is excellent and in addition to being
well designed and easy to navigate, it offers a nice degree of control, both through the settings menus and during playback to zoom, pan, adjust subtitles and audio support, with repeat and shuffle functions for audio and slideshow control for photos.

The only real issue we have with the WDTV is the lack of support for digital rights management-encoded content, but then again few rivals include this.


Overall, this is an excellent device that's well designed and reasonably priced enough to make a genuine argument for using your own external devices for storing and playing back media and should be considered a serious competitor to more feature- packed streamers in this market. Paul Lester.

Contact Western Digital www.wdc.com
Specifications Audio support: MP3, WMA, Ogg, Wav/PCM/LPCM, AAC, Flac, Dolby Digital, MKA • Video support MPEG-1/2/4, WMV9, AVI (MPEG-4, Xvid, AVC), H.264, MKV, Mov (MPEG-4, H.264) • Photo support: JPEG, GIF, TIF, Lifv1P. PNG • Connectivity: HDMI, Digital optical. Composite. USB2 • 303g • 40x100x125mm (hxdxw)

Personal Computer World February 2009
Visit my other blogs:
All of Pics, Business Things, Cellphones Info, Fun Gadgets, Fun of IT, Handphone News, Laptop Review, Laptops Reviews,
Motherboard World, More IT News, More of ITs, More Techs, Netbook News, Software Review.

Read More ..

Ricoh R10

The latest Ricoh camera offers subtle improvements over the popular R8

At its launch, the R8 brought with it many new features, not least of which was a complete physical redesign. However, upgrading from an R8 to an R10 is much like playing one of those spot the difference games in your local free paper.

They share an almost identical body, both use 10-megapixel sensors and both are fitted with 28mm wide-angle lenses with 7.1x optical zoom, while significant features such as dual mode image stabilisation and face detection were already available on the R8.

Once you've convinced your eyes to accept the idea that the two cameras really aren't the same, the subtle differences start to pop out at you — as long as you're looking at the back of the camera, that is. Perhaps the most noticeable feature is a larger, 3in LCD which shares the high-quality 460,000 dot resolution of its predecessor.

There's also an extra button, labelled 'Fn'. While this button doesn't add any new functions per se, it does provide a very quick way to change certain key settings while shooting. For example, you can use it to move the autofocus target without moving the camera.

To find other improvements you'll have to search within the camera menus. With a feature borrowed from Ricoh's high-end CR Digital II and GX200 cameras. the R10 is now equipped with an accelerometer which is able to provide a digital 'spirit- level' display showing you when you're holding the camera level. It also provides an automatic rotation function when viewing your images.

Solidly built, the R10 feels like a real camera, not a toy or a fashion accessory and takes pictures of a correspondingly high quality. Ideal for enthusiasts who like a little creative control, it's also very easy to use despite its large range of features.

Perhaps the best improvement of all is that the R10 costs £50 less than the R8 at launch. Paul Monckton

Contact Ricoh www.ricoh.co.uk
Specifications 10-megapixel, 1/2.3in sensor • 7.1x optical zoom (28-200mm 35mm equivalent) • 1cm macro • CCD-shift vibration reduction; 1/2,000 seconds — 8- second shutter speed • ISO 64-1,600 • 3in TFT monitor with 460,000 pixels • 12 scene modes • Auto level sensor • SD/SDHC compatible • 54MB internal memory • Movie mode • Face recognition • Anti-shake system • USB2 Hi-speed interface • Audio/Video out • 300-shot battery life • 102x26x58mm (wxdxh) • 168g

Personal Computer World February 2009

Visit my other blogs:
All of Pics, Business Things, Cellphones Info, Fun Gadgets, Fun of IT, Handphone News, Laptop Review, Laptops Reviews,
Motherboard World, More IT News, More of ITs, More Techs, Netbook News, Software Review.

Read More ..

MOTOROLA MOTOZINE ZN5

The Hi-Res Camera Phone Gets Affordable

Developed by Motorola and Kodak, MotoZINE ZN5 for T-Mobile succeeds admn ably at its two primary goals: to excel as both a camera phone and a voice phone This is the first 5-megapixel camera phone offered by a U.S. carrier, and with the contract price and mail-in rebate, it's a terrific deal. But to hit this price point, Motorola had to make some sacrifices, such as 3G capability and decent video recording. Still, if you just want to make calls, send text messages, and snap good pies, the ZN5 is the way to go.


From the front, the 4-ounce ZN5-4.65 by 2.0 by 0.6 inches (WD)—looks like your average high- class slab-style handset. It's got a large, bright, 2.4-inch, 320-by-240-pixel screen over a flat keypad with small tactile bumps on the number keys. Various parts of the keypad light up to activate special functions, such as photo reviewing or editing, when needed. With a combination of hard-and soft-touch plastic, the ZN5 feels comfortable. Call quality is excellent: Voices are clear even in extremely noisy locations. The speakerphone also sounds good. The phone's RF reception, on the other hand, didn't stand out from the crowd of 2G T-Mobile phones on my tests.

The ZN5's connected without a problem. As stated, the phone's camera is responsive and produces good shots, even in low light. You can store your photos in the 350MB of memory or on a microSD and download them via the included micro USB cable or over Bluetooth.



Overall, the Motorola MotoZINE ZN5 is a solid device, and its super-low price makes it an amazing value—the most affordable camera phone you'll find in the U.S , in fact. It fell just short of winning our Editors' Choice award; that prize still belongs to the Sony Ericsson TM506, which uses Jr-Mobile's new 3G network.—Sascha Segan

PC Magazine February 2009

This article is published on More Techs, Handphone Reviews, Fun Gadgets and Cellphones Info.

Read More ..

RIM BLACKBERRY STORM 9530

A Troubled Storm




Verizon's BlackBerry Storm 9530 is a radical new direction for BlackBerry, but it's imperiled by a difficult-to-use QWERTY keyboard and widespread reports of serious bugs.

The decidedly sexy 5.5-ounce Storm is a 4.4-by-2.4-by-0.5-inch (HWD) slab dominated by a 3.3-inch, 360-by-480-pixel touch screen. The screen is capacitive, meaning it detects the electricity from your fingers, thus requiring less effort to press. It is also transflective, so it's easy to view outdoors in bright light.

Below the display are Pick Up and End call buttons, a Back button, and the familiar BlackBerry menu key. On the sides of the handset, you'll find Camera, Volume, and a programmable multifunction button. RIM has again transformed keyboard design with the Storm's click screen, which you click by pressing down. Although this method gives you actual feedback, the learning process for the new interface is challenging. Furthermore, the keyboard had some serious accuracy problems.

The Storm showed zippy performance when it wasn't overcome by software bugs. It is a world phone, running on Verizon's EV-DO Rev A network here in the U.S. and on dual-band CDMA, quad-band EDGE, and 2,100-MHz HSDPA networks abroad. On our tests, the Storm registered fine reception, and earpiece and speakerphone volume are both very loud. In a straight-up talk time test, I got an excellent 7 hours 25 minutes.



Overall, the Storm is an exciting device Nonetheless, I can't recommend it strongly until the software bugs are fixed.—Sascha Segan

PC Magazine February 2009

This article is published on CellPhones Info, Handphone Reviews, Fun Gadgets, and More Techs.

Read More ..

Humax Foxsat-HDR

The first hard drive recorder for Freesat

The Humax Foxsat-HDR is the first device for Freesat+, the branding being used for hard disk recorders on the BBC/ITV-backed Freesat satellite service (www.pcw.co.uk/2224159) It's a slim standard-width device with a front panel featuring just a bright display that shows channel and recording names. There's also a standby button and a power switch on the rear, along with the connectors. Inside is a 320GB hard disk and one of the latest system-on-a-chip PVR designs.

For full functionality you'll need two satellite feeds; the Humax detects whether you have them or not during initial installation, then asks you for your postcode — so you get the right BBC and ITV regions — and scans for channels, of which there are around 140 so far. including radio and regional variations.

Picture quality is, on the whole, excellent via HDMI. though little can redeem the low bit rates on some SD satellite channels. And with two feeds, you can record two channels simultaneously; with just one, the box dims out those channels you can't select. Picture quality from BBC HD is stunning, but the claim of space to record 80 hours of HD content is a bit optimistic — we reckon it would be around half that.

There are quirks, though; press the Record button when in the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and you just get a single recording of that programme. To get a series recorded you press OK instead, then answer successive questions about recording the series and the HD version if available We'd like this to be simpler and to be able to delete programmes more easily and faster. You can't customise the EPG either.



But there are plenty of good touches; you can archive programmes (though riot presently BBC HD) to a USB hard drive and the Ethernet port will allow iPlayer access in future. There are configurable 'skip' options that mean you can avoid adverts easily too. In day-to-day use we had few problems and no missed recordings — but as with Freeview+ you will be at the mercy of the broadcasters sending the right signals for series and programme over-runs. Nigel Whitfield.

Contact Humax,
wwvv.humaxdigital.com/uk
Specifications Twin satellite tuners • HD and SD reception • USB2 host • 320GB hard drive • HDMI • 2 Scart • Optical audio output • Ethernet • SD upscaling to 1080i

This article is published in More Techs, Fun Gadgets and Fun of IT.

Read More ..

Nokia N85

Good looks and an OLED screen in a small package

The N85 is the sleeker younger brother of the N96; it's similar in size to an N95 without the slider and its own slider feels positive and well built. The case is largely black. with menu, application. cancel and media keys lighting up when they're active and fading away the rest of the time, giving a very polished look. Push the slider down and the buttons will either light up in media player mode or N-Gage mode for gaming. The phone's a little heftier than the N95 and feels more solid, despite being smaller.

It has an OLED screen, rather than LCD, which helps with battery life and gives great, vivid colours - though as it's OLED, you'll find the scrcensavcr glows. It's also great for movie playback.

At first the keypad looked similar to the N96, which felt flat, but in use it's actually much closer to the N95, with good tactile feedback, so you can text quickly and accurately. The navigation pad can also double as a scroll wheel, though it takes a little getting used to. The software - S60 Third Edition Feature Pack 2 - is much the same as on the N96, with support for WebDav, and you can connect to services such as Apple's 'Disk and browse them in the file manager. There's Internet radio support (as long as it's MP3), as well as the standard FM, and you can even share your music in the car, thanks to a built-in FM transmitter .

We do have a few gripes - the usual Series 60 browser isn't up to par. USB charging is a welcome addition, but the micro USB port means another cable, and there's no socket for an ordinary Nokia charger. The camera is OK, but needs pretty good lighting for best results. And there's no edit button - if you want to copy and paste, you need to call up the menu.

But those are mostly minor issues; this is a nice phone - it's compact, has good battery life, good build, and a great screen. The N96 may have DVB-H, which is probably pointless in the UK, but it's the N85 that's really the flagship in our book - and arguably what the N95 should have been. Nigel Whitfield.



Price £405 SIM free;
free on contract
Contact Nokia
Specifications 50x16x103mm (wxdxh) • 128g • 2.6in QVGA OLED screen • Quad-band GSM & 3G • 802.11b/g Will • Bluetooth • FM transmitter • FM radio • USB2 • Micro USB connector • Micro SD slot (8GB card included) • 74MB memory • Five-megapixel camera with geotagging • Video capture up to VGA 30f ps • WMV, WMA, AAC, MP3 • Flash video, Real Video playback • Assisted GPS • Symbian S60 Third Edition Feature Pack 2

Personal Computer World February 2009

This article is published in More Techs, http://handphoneku.blogspot.com/2009/03/nokia-n85.html, Cellphones Info and Handphone News.

Read More ..

Lenovo Thinkpad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive

Protect your data from prying eyes




Encryption systems such as Vista's Bitlocker, or third-party products such as Deslock, offer a high level of protection but generally require a correspondingly high level of configuration — usually by trained IT staff.

The Thinkpad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive requires no special drivers or software to work. It's a self-contained unit comprising a small external USB enclosure containing a 5,400rpm hard drive, protected by 128-bit AES encryption. The top of the enclosure houses a numeric keypad and a single status LED.

Plug in the hard drive to a free USB socket and nothing happens, save for the status LED lighting up red to indicate the drive is in Standby mode This is how the drive will appear to anyone without the correct credentials. In this mode, the PC won't even recognise that a drive has been attached, so there's no way of attempting to access the stored data from the PC.

Keying in a valid password — in reality a Pin of between six and 24 digits — switches the drive into User Mode. The status LED turns green and you can then use the drive as normal. Up to 10 passwords can be set To do this, you must use a special key combo to enter Admin Mode If you manage to forget all your passwords, you will have no choice but to erase the drive and start again. You can do this by using a special key sequence — unfortunately, so can anyone who may wish to destroy your data. Using the drive also requires a little thought as it will lock itself if the PC is put to sleep, effectively causing an unsafe removal when the PC wakes up.



The Thinkpad USB Portable adds a lot of security with only a little inconvenience. Recommended for anyone working with sensitive data. Paul Monckton.

Price £99.99 (160GB) or
£129.99 (320GB)
Contact Lenovo
Specifications USB-powered external hard drive • Buill-in USB cable • 5,400rpm drive • Numeric keypad, 128-bit AES encryption in hardware • Up to 10 user passwords plus Admin password • Bootable • Non-skid anti-vibration pads • 193g • (wxdxh) 88x122x22mm • Three-year warranty

Personal Computer World February 2009

This article is published on More Techs, Fun Gadgets and More IT News.

Read More ..

PIONEER XMP3

To-Go Satellite Radio



Pioneer's XMp3 is the sequel to the Inno, XM Radio's laudable stab at integrating its satellite radio service into an MP3-player-size device. It was a terrific concept. and now Pioneer and XM have upped the ante with the XMp3, which is smaller, lighter, and features a microSD slot and new recording features. As its name suggests, the player also handles MP3s (and unprotected WM A files), but the screen has no video or photo capabilities—other than displaying station graphics. The XMp3 isn't without its flaws—spotty reception (especially indoors) and a jumpy control wheel, for example—but it's worth considering if you're into satellite radio.

Looking like a cell phone with a stubby, oldschool antenna, the 3.1-ounce XMp3 measures 3.6 by 2 by 0.6 inches (HWD). Its 2.2-inch screen displays still graphics only. The player conies with mediocre earbuds. a dock with an attaching antenna and a line-out-to-RCA cable, a remote control that's larger than the player itself, and a USB cable for PC file transfers. You get only 2GB of integrated storage. but there's a microSD slot on the top panel.

The controls and user interface are simple and intuitive, and the recording features are top-notch. The player can record up to five channels simultaneously and has a built -in DVR-like function to pause a live radio program and replay up to 30 minutes of it. One drawback is that you can't move recorded content from the player to your PC. Another shortcoming is that indoor reception is very poor unless you use the dock and external antenna. But for outdoor use it's an ideal choice for XM subscribers—albeitan expensive one. -Tim Gideon

PC Magazine January 2009

This article is published here, here and here.

Read More ..