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
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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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