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June 27, 2005
Sony XDR-M1 DAB FM WALKMAN
People are saying that terrestrial radio is dead, but don’t believe them. They’re crazy and they smell. DAB—a digital radio standard popular with people “in other countries,” if we’re to believe the media—is very cool and could possibly improve our general listening experience. However, it is not readily available here yet. That said, Sony has introduced a line of portable DAB players including the XDR-M1.
This digital radio has 40 preset stations and an FM tuner in areas that don’t have DAB reception. Now, if they could give us DAB over here instead of non-stop commercials for Trimspa, perhaps I’d turn on my radio every once in a while.
06:46 AM in MP3 players | Permalink
June 24, 2005
Nikon Coolpix S1
Tiny size, image quality that's acceptable but not outstanding, and a lack of manual controls make the ultracompact Nikon Coolpix S1 a good choice for snapshot photographers who want a good selection of fun features but don't want to make many decisions on their own.
This Nikon's strong points are abundant scene modes, a 3X zoom lens that doesn't protrude during use, a postshot fix that automatically brightens dark backgrounds, and a clever Face-Priority autofocus mode that ensures that the closest human to the camera will be sharp and clear. But with its limited shutter-speed range of 2 seconds to 1/350 second, you won't be using it for long exposures or very fast action.
06:42 AM in Digital Cameras | Permalink
June 23, 2005
Nokia N770 Internet Tablet
Is it a phone? A PDA?
As wireless hot spots spring up like toadstools, Internet devices designed to take advantage of this trend are sprouting up as well. Enter the Nokia N770 Internet Tablet (5.5 by 3.1 by 0.7 inches; 8.1 ounces). Not necessarily a smart phone or a traditional handheld, the N770 is designed to provide a mobile user with Internet access either via Wi-Fi or by connecting to a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. Packed to the gills with a host of productivity applications and multimedia features, the N770 is a promising device. That said, while it works with a myriad of multimedia, its lack of support for native Microsoft file formats such as WMA and WMV will limit its appeal. Also, as more robust smart phones appear on the mobile landscape, it remains to be seen how many users are willing to carry two devices when, in many instances, one will suffice. The price should be $350, and we should see it by the second half of this year.
06:38 AM in Cell Phones, Gadgets | Permalink
June 22, 2005
Get a free router (almost)
Get a free router...well, almost free. These routers may not be free, but they're dirt cheap, and an expensive wireless solution that delivers long-range and ultrafast throughput may be more than you need. If you live in a small apartment and have only one computer, consider spending less for a router that may not be top-notch but is up to the tasks in your humble circumstances.
We found three wireless routers that can be had for a song and come equipped with an integrated 802.11g access point and a built-in firewall. Though they may not be the cream of the crop, these routers are perfectly capable of servicing a modest home or small-office network.
06:34 AM in Gadgets | Permalink
June 21, 2005
Nikon D50 SLR Camera Review
All in all the Nikon D50 is an excellent digital SLR camera. Ideal for those who have outgrown their compact camera or for those who want to take their first steps into digital photography. The Nikon D50 may be a so-called entry level model; nevertheless it offers the user almost everything. "
06:01 AM in Digital Cameras | Permalink
June 20, 2005
Three New iRiver Players: U10, T20 and T30
iRiver (ReignCom) showed at a launch event in Korea three new portable media players. Photos and specifications have been posted on the misticriver discussion board. The most interesting one is the new iRiver U10, which sports a cool thumb interface.
iRiver calls its new user interface D-Click. The buttons are on the borders of the screen. Only the border area is touch sensitive.
The iRiver U10 supports MP4 video, Macromedia Flash, MP3, WMA, OGG and ASF music playback. The U10 has a 2.2" QVGA (320x240) TFT screen.
Besides the nice look the iRiver U10 also features FM-Tuner, Voice recorder, Photo album, txt viewer, direct encoding and games. The iRiver U10 will come in 512MB and 1GB storage configurations.
No word yet when the U10 will be available. It looks like a winner.
06:28 AM in MP3 players, Music | Permalink