Samsung NV100HD Review
When your local pub starts advertising 'Credit Crunch Lunches' (it's true!), you know times are hard. But maybe you're not quite ready to give up on life's little luxuries just yet? Maybe you still hanker after a state-of-the-art metal-bodied 14.7-megapixel touch-screen compact with an HD movie mode? Co-incidentally, that's just what Samsung's £170 NV100HD has to offer.
Positives
Samsung's compacts haven't always been the prettiest, but this one's a big step forward. It comes in four different colours, and the red version is particularly striking. The matte metal finish looks and feels classy, and round the back the ugly black buttons of Samsung's Smart Touch control system -- used on the NV24HD, for example -- are gone. The NV100HD uses a new Smart Touch 2.0 system that uses a touch-sensitive 3-inch screen instead. And it's quite a screen. 460,000 pixels make it super-sharp, and it's really bright and vibrant too.
Because all the adjustments are made using the touch-screen, the back of the camera is really clean, with just four buttons -- two for zooming, one to activate the menus and one for playback mode.
Smart Touch 2.0 is a big improvement, too. The previous system used a barmy triangulation system for displaying and activating menu choices via buttons which were far too light. This one's a lot more conventional and easier to operate.
Round the front you get a wideangle 3.6x zoom equivalent to a focal range of 28-102mm, while on the top is a power button, shutter release and mode dial. There are a couple more nice surprises here, including a Manual mode where you can adjust the shutter speed and aperture yourself and a 1280 x 720 HD movie mode.
Gadget fans will be impressed by the face-detection, blink-detection and smile-detection features, and if your portrait subjects have got faces like emery boards, the Beauty Shot function can smooth them over automatically.
The NV100HD's zoom is quite slow, but the AF is excellent and rivals the speed of Sony's CyberShot compacts, previously clear leaders compared to the rest.
Negatives
While the NV100HD is smart, it can't work miracles. Spec-hungry punters will gobble up the 14.7-megapixel resolution, but it's just too much in a sensor this size. The colours are great, but even at ISO 100 the camera's noise reduction system is smoothing over some fine textures, and by maximum ISO it looks like your pictures have been printed on blotting paper.
The HD movie mode's a disappointment too. The resolution's not bad (better than VGA, anyway), but if you insist on walking about while you're shooting, the camera's footage is so jerky it's almost unwatchable.
The touch-screen interface can be a bit of a pain, too. It's all right if you've got delicate little fingers and a patient disposition, but fat-thumbed fumblers will find it's a bit slow, vague and error-prone.
Conclusion
Yes, there's too much noise reduction, the movie mode's not great and the interface can be awkward, but these are all par for the course with super-slim, super-sexy compacts. What's striking about the Samsung is its elegance, its neatness and, most of all, its price. Why would you need to pay more?
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Canon "EOS 5D Mark II"
The Canon EOS 5D has been around for three years and shutterbugs have been eagerly anticipating its successor. The EOS 5D mark II was unveiled at Photokina in Germany to mixed reactions. While some photographers hailed the innovative full-HD (1,920 x 1080-pixel) video-recording function as the benchmark for other similar dSLRs to follow, critics had been skeptical of the minor upgrades such as the mildly improved burst mode.
However, we are sure this Canon will prove to be tough competition to the Nikon D90 which is capable of capturing only 720p-quality (1,280 x 720-pixel) clips. So how does the new EOS 5D stack up against its old man and the other kids on the block? Here are our thoughts.
Upside
Currently, the EOS 5D Mark II could possibly be the most innovative dSLR on the market. Following the trend of HD video capture in some point-and-shoots, Canon improved on that and the dSLR can record full HD-quality clips. Is this a big deal? Well, the industry certainly thinks so, with a US company already manufacturing mounts and rigs to set the Canon up for film-making.
To fully show off the video mode, the Japanese firm collaborated with a photographer to shoot a short film with the EOS 5D Mark II and the clip can be viewed here.
Compared with the Nikon D90 which was announced in late August, the Canon's specifications have definitely overshadowed its rival. While the former is capable of capturing only 720p clips for a maximum of 5 minutes, the EOS can produce 1080p videos up to 12 minutes. Audio recording-wise, the Nikon has a mono-aural microphone. The Canon has that also, but a 3.5mm stereo mini jack for external sonic capture has been thrown in for good measure.
The 35mm full-frame sensor's resolution had been bumped up from 12 megapixels to 21 megapixels. While casual shutterbugs probably won't need so many pixels, the EOS 5D Mark II's target audience are serious photographers who need to print large pictures or high-res images to deliver to clients. To handle the bigger files generated, Canon replaced the DIGIC III image processor with its latest DIGIC 4 engine.
Live View shooting is enabled in the new shooter, and the rear estate houses a 3-inch, 920k-dots LCD which is a far cry from the 2.5-inch 230k-resolution screen used in its predecessor.
Downside
We expected the new camera to boast faster shooting speeds, but the upgrade is so minor that it probably won't make much of a difference when snapping pictures. Some photographers have lamented that the 3 frames-per-second (fps) burst mode on the EOS 5D left much to be desired, and hoped the new shooter would deliver at least 5fps. Well, Canon has disappointed in this department as the EOS 5D Mark II can manage only 3.9fps.
Our brief hands-on showed that focusing was, indeed, speedier, but we wished the company had added more focusing points instead of retaining the nine AF points with six assist zone system found on the older dSLR. This would mean more flexibility while shooting, while chances of missing the focus would be reduced.
Outlook
We anticipate the EOS 5D Mark II to take the digital imaging market by storm when it goes on sale, but will it inflict substantial damage on Nikon? Well, we've heard from people who bought the D90 as they feel that they don't require 21 megapixels or don't have the hardware to efficiently process the full-HD video clips.
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Preview: Nokia E63 Business Phone
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Nokia E63 (Credit:Nokia & Cnet.com)
Nokia introduced the latest model in its E series of smartphones, the Nokia E63. Traditionally, the Nokia E series, which includes the Nokia E71 and the Nokia E66, have been very business focused and slightly on the pricey side, but the cell phone manufacturer is hoping to break that mold and bring in more general consumers by selling the E63 at a lower price point.
The Nokia E63 will start shipping in Europe within the next few weeks for 199 Euros, which is about $248 here. Compare that with E71, which goes for $500 unlocked, and you've got a pretty good deal, especially when you consider that the E63 offers a full QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 2-megapixel camera.
The Symbian S60-based smartphone also includes support for Microsoft Exchange, POP/IMAP e-mail accounts, basic personal information management tools, and a music and video player. Like the E71, you can toggle between two different home views on the E63, depending on whether you're at work or at home. Other highlights include 2.3-inch, 16 million color QVGA display, Nokia Ovi support, 110MB internal memory, a microSD expansion slot (can accept up to 8GB cards), and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In its current form, the Nokia E63 does not support U.S. 3G bands and there is no built-in GPS.
We are still trying to confirm U.S. availability with Nokia, but we suspect it will be a couple of months after the European launch. Chances are you'll also have to buy it unlocked from online retailers or through Nokia, since we don't see it coming to a U.S. carrier for now.
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Now official: 800MHz Asus handset
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CNET Taiwan, first broke news of Asus' upcoming 800MHz handheld a couple of months back, and now the Taiwanese company has finally made it official.
Not only does the P565 have the fastest processor we've seen on a handheld, it also comes with a VGA (480x640) display. As a phone, it has a UMTS radio with HSDPA connectivity up to 3.6Mbps and tri-band GSM. Other common features such as Wi-Fi and GPS are also found in this handset.
Like the P552w, the P565 will come with the manufacturer's own Glide interface. We found this customization reasonably useful in our review of the P552w but not as polished as HTC's TouchFLO. It will be interesting to see if Asus has made any improvements to it in the upcoming device. We have contacted the company for availability and pricing information in Asia and are awaiting a reply.
(Source: Crave Asia via Engadget)
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Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder
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Introducing MinoHD: The World’s Smallest HD Camcorder
Flip Video MinoHD--the newest camcorder from Flip Video--puts the power of HD video in your pocket. Flip MinoHD offers all the signature Flip Video features you love--sleek design, simple user interface, flip-out USB arm, rechargeable internal Li-ion battery, built-in editing and sharing software, instant uploads to YouTube, MySpace, and AOL Video, plus stunningly crisp, clear HD-quality video. Weighing only 3.3 ounces and featuring a slim, sleek design that fits into any pocket or purse, super-small Flip MinoHD enables you to capture life in HD anywhere you go.
Flip Video MinoHD Highlights
Stunning HD Video
Flip MinoHD is the world’s smallest HD camcorder. But, in this case, small in size translates to high in quality. Flip MinoHD produces vibrant HD 720p (1280 x 720, 16:9 widescreen) video that can be enjoyed on any HDTV. Flip camcorders have earned a reputation for high-quality video, and MinoHD combines that signature Flip quality with the latest in HD technology. Its 4 GB of built-in memory lets you capture an hour of brilliant HD video, even in low-light situations. Plus, premier AAC audio means your videos will sound clearer than ever.
The Power of HD Video in Your Pocket
Flip MinoHD offers the same features that have made Flip Mino a huge hit. Weighing only 3.3 ounces, Flip MinoHD features a super-sleek, super-portable design that truly puts the power of HD video in your pocket. This portability allows you to capture HD video almost anywhere you go: a morning hike, a lazy afternoon at the park, a late-night party, and everything in between. Like other Flip Video camcorders, MinoHD offers a simple user interface with one-touch recording, making it easier and more fun than ever to take HD-quality video. Simply power on and press record, and you’ll be capturing HD video in seconds. When it’s time to edit or share your videos, flip out the USB arm and connect to any Mac or PC to launch the built-in FlipShare software.
Built-in FlipShare Software
MinoHD comes equipped with FlipShare--Flip Video's new video-sharing solution. FlipShare lets you:
- Save and Organize: Watch your videos on your computer whenever you want, and create your own folders to organize your videos, or simply use the automatic date-stamp system.
- Publish Online: Upload your videos instantly to YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video and many other websites, all with the click of a button. It’s never been this easy to publish online!
- Email Videos: Send your videos privately to friends and family, and select from a wide assortment of included greeting cards to personalize your message.
- Edit and Create Movies: Edit individual clips and create custom movies--complete with your favorite music. FlipShare even allows you to capture snapshots from your videos.
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Seagate FreeAgent Go (500GB)
The Seagate FreeAgent Go ($239.99 list) is a new breed of portable hard drive: one with a prodigious capacity—500GB is larger than many internal desktop drives—as well as a convenient ability to dock the drive to a PC like you might with an iPod. The Go has a wealth of features that make it easier to back up your data than other drives do, which is one reason why I'm giving it the Editors' Choice for portable hard drives.
Too many people don't back up their important files (pictures of the grandparents with the kids, that rare CD they ripped and then lost, 15 years' worth of résumé updates). All of this data is irreplaceable but is also a hassle to back up using traditional CDs or DVDs. A 500GB drive has enough space to keep multiple copies of each file. Thanks to the optional dock ($29), which is a must-have, and the software, backing it all up is a breeze.
The Go's tapered silver case deliberately evokes last year's FreeAgent series of drives. Seagate has spent a lot of money on branding, and the design ID carries over to the company's desktop-class hard drives and the drives they're building for Mac users as well. The Go is available in 250GB, 320GB, and 500GB capacities and a choice of silver, black, red, and blue—colors no doubt designed to pop on the store shelves and complement other consumer electronics products like the iPod nano. The Go's optional dock is worth the additional money. It lets you easily connect the drive to your PC and keep it connected via a very long dual-head USB cable. The dock kit also comes with a slipcase for the drive, so it will stay relatively scratch-free in your travel bag. One big plus with the dock is that it is hot-swappable: You can remove the drive without having to use the "Safely Remove Device" command in Windows.
The Go comes with a relatively easy-to-setup Seagate backup utility, and like many similar programs, it defaults to saving your files to the My Documents folder. You can customize the backup routine and set the system to automatically back up most folders on the PC. The drive also comes with a folder sync utility, which lets you designate a folder on two PCs, which the software and drive will then keep current on both machines. That way, you can bring your work folder home with you and keep up-to-date copies of its contents with you at all times. I would've liked to have seen a disaster-recovery software package, like the one on Maxtor's OneTouch 4 Mini drives, but for most external drives it's not a deal breaker.
The Go comes with a dual-headed cable, which gives the drive additional power when you use it with a laptop. (Some laptops have trouble powering certain power-hungry drives through the USB ports; the dual-headed cables ensure against that.) The newer, larger-capacity portable drives tend to need more power than they can get through just a single USB port. Nonetheless, I was able to power the Go from a single USB port on both my test beds, an Apple MacBook Pro and Dell desktop.
The drive is a speedy one: Dragging and dropping our 1.2GB test folder took only 56 seconds, and the Seagate backup utility was right behind at 1 minute. PCMark05 returned a hard drive score of 2,779 points, which is par for a portable 2.5-inch hard drive. You shouldn't have any trouble waiting for the drive to complete your backups; you'll likely just leave it in its dock so it's always ready.
The Go is a little more businesslike in its design than competing drives, such as the SimpleTech Signature Mini Black Cherry. (We reviewed the 320GB model, but SimpleTech now also offers the 500GB capacity.) The SimpleTech comes with a free online storage subscription, but it's only 2GB. The Western Digital My Passport Elite is also stylish, has a built-in port protector, a capacity indicator, and comes in several colors, but with its dock ability, the Go's trumps the other two. The WD and Seagate have long-life five-year warranties, but the SimpleTech is shorter at only three years.
The Seagate FreeAgent Go (500GB) is the portable hard drive to beat. Its innovative dock, stylish design, generous five-year warranty, and included software give you just about all you need from a portable external drive. Half a terabyte is more than enough to back up a computer or two for most average users. The dock and software make the backup process easy—and the easier it is, the more likely you'll use this often ignored but very important safeguard of your digital life.
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HTC Fuze (AT&T)
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There’s a new smartphone coming to town from HTC and it has a Fuze. The wizards at HTC have been working on revamping their entire line of Microsoft Mobile devices based on their own TouchFlo technology. With the iPhone being the new standard for high tech handheld devices, most manufacturers have been scrambling to imitate the technical features of the iPhone. This is a welcome change for the smartphone industry which had not seen any real innovations for some time until Apple showed up. The new Fuze will sport some impressive features such as a 2.8“ flush touchscreen, 512MB of ROM memory (288MB RAM), a redesigned slide-out keyboard, the all new TouchFlo 3D interface, 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, TV out capability, and an accelerometer. Some other features that round out the list are: The Fuze runs WM Pro, yet has a familiar smartphone look and feel. On the front of the phone, it has a ‘Home’ and ‘Back’ button instead of the usual Windows ‘Start’ and ‘OK’ buttons. At the bottom are the Send and End buttons. Neatly packed in the middle is a deceptively flush 4-way navigation pad that was hard to find at first. HTC chose a more minimalist look to the phone keeping the number of buttons to a minimum and having most of them flush to the device. Like the iPhone, the Fuze has a glossy plastic body that loves fingerprints. A screen protector is included and highly recommended as you’ll be touching the screen quite a bit. Overall the device performs well though power users may balk at the smaller screen size and smaller keyboard. This device is aimed less for the road warrior and more at the consumer level. The Fuze will be available through AT&T and is expected to launch near the end of October.
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China's Android launch slated for Q1 2009
Plans are in motion for the much anticipated launch of an Android device for China between February and March 2009, but unlike the US launch of the T-Mobile G1 handset, China Mobile has decided not to work with Taiwanese PDA manufacturer HTC and has instead opted for working with Lenovo Mobile to release it's first Google powered phone.
Looking at Lenovo Mobile's website though, we are finding it hard to get excited about the announcement as their current range of phones looks a lot like the other Chinese mobile phone manufacturers and the site lacks the flashy eye candy of the major international players like Nokia, Blackberry and of course Apple.
As the fourth largest PC manufacturer in the world, we can't help thinking that this move might be a little ambitious given the unpopularity of PDA style devices from PC makers like the Dell Axim and the HP iPAQ which now holds only 3.3% of the global PDA market share behind RIM, Nokia, HTC and even Sharp.
Let's hope that the 50 workers in Lenovo's headquarters that will be losing their jobs this week are not responsible for product development.
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PlayStation 3 160 GB Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Pack
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As DVD playback made the PlayStation 2 more than just a game machine, hefty multi-media features make the Sony PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Features such as video chat, internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video will likely make it the central component of your media set-up. Still, it is first and foremost a game console--a powerful one at that.
Under the Hood
The PS3 features IBM's "Cell" processor and a co-developed Nvidia graphics processor that makes the system able to perform two trillion calculations per second. That's approximately 320 times more calculations per second than the PS2. Along with the traditional AV and composite connections, it also boasts an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port, which delivers uncompressed, unconverted digital picture and sound to compatible high-definition TV and projectors. The system is capable of 128-bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution for a full HD experience.
Blu-Ray Is the New Way
Sony's PlayStation 3 games are encoded onto the Blu-Ray disc media format, which can hold six times as much data as traditional DVDs. This increase in capacity, combined with the awesome power of its processor and graphics card, promises mind-blowing games once developers have learned how to fully harness the new console's power. The PS3 will also support CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats.
In addition, PlayStation 3 system software update version 2.20 and up includes BD Live support. With this you can now play discs that support Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 (BD-LIVE) and you can also connect to the Internet while playing discs that support this format so that you can obtain additional features. Features that are available vary depending on the software in use.
What's in the Box?
Game system with 160GB HD, Internet ready built-in Wi-Fi, and 2 USB ports
Dualshock 3 wireless controller
Voucher for downloadable PAIN game
Free PlayStation Network membership
Product Description
This limited edition bundle includes Uncharted: Drake's Fortune game, new Dualshock 3 wireless controller, voucher for downloadable PAIN game, free PlayStation Network membership, internet ready Wi-Fi, and 160 Gb of hard disk storage for all your games, music, videos, and photos. Every PS3 comes with a built-in Blu-ray player to give you the best high-definition viewing experience and pristine picture quality. Plus, the PS3 can play your entire catalog of CDs and DVDs.
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Motorola goes glam with the Aura
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Motorola thumbed its nose at the shaky economy Tuesday when it introduced a high-end luxury cell phone called the Aura. Sporting a swivel design reminiscent of the Motorola V70 (now there's a blast from the past), the Aura features a range of unique and posh design touches.
The display supports 16 million colors and a 300dpi resolution; the skin is stainless steel and shows a textured pattern (it takes two weeks to make sculpt, etch, and polish says Moto!); the lens is made from 1.62-carat sapphire crystal; the gears are tungsten carbide coated; the finish has a mirror polish that's used on luxury watches; the keypad is aluminum; and the swivel mechanism is custom engineered with 130 precision ball bearings made by the Swiss. Now that's a lot of bling.
The Aura's features aren't nearly as impressive. Inside, you'll find a 2-megapixel camera, 2GB of user-accessible memory, a music player, stereo Bluetooth, quad-band GSM support, Moto's CrystalTalk feature, messaging, e-mail, a speakerphone, and an open-source browser. The Aura will be available in an unlocked version starting December 4. So if you're looking for a stocking stuffer, you can pre-order now for just $1,999. Now there's a bargain.
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