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fatih on Kamis, 30 April 2009
Assume these things when considering the quality of the Nikon Coolpix S230: the potential buyers for this camera are not looking for a high-end, near DSLR quality compact. They are looking for a camera with a little flair, but they don't want to sacrifice decent image quality. They want a nice set of specs, like the S230's 10 megapixel CCD sensor and 3x Nikkor zoom lens.
Assuming the above, we'll judge the S230 on its ability to deliver adequate image quality and offer a little fun without losing functionality. After spending a few weeks' worth of quality time with the S230, I can say it measured up to these basic criteria.
BUILD AND DESIGN
Physically, the most notable feature on the S230 is the 230,000 dot, 3.0 inch touch screen on the back panel. You won't find an optical viewfinder back here, or much else for that matter.
Two buttons – photo review and shooting mode – plus the shutter release itself are the only ones you'll find on the S230. This means that the user is dependant on the touch screen for all other functions.
The camera itself is available in a few sleek shades, and our particular model is plum. Though the look is finished with a brushed metal design, the camera body is definitely plastic. Not exactly drop-proof, but it does make the whole package relatively light.
Ergonomics and Controls
The S230 measures a trim 0.8 inches wide, making it easy to carry in a coat pocket. The Nikkor lens dominates the front panel, and the LCD occupies most of the back panel. Again, most control is handled through the touch screen. Unlike the S60, the camera you saw Ashton Kutcher wielding in a recent ad campaign, zoom is not handled through touch interface. Instead, a good, old-fashioned zoom toggle is positioned on top of the camera with the shutter button.
Slim cameras are stylish, but an ultra-thin camera can be an ergonomic nightmare. The S230 isn't. A small indentation on the back panel provides a nice thumb grip, making it easy to hold the camera in one hand and operate the touch screen with the other hand. And though the S230 is certainly pocketable, it's not quite as slim as the likes of a Sony T-Series Cyber-shot. Still, this is a modern look and a cool color.
Menus and Modes
Menus are simple, straight-forward, and have slightly enlarged icons for easier use with the touch screen. Pressing the menu icon in the bottom corner of the screen calls up two menus. One offers access to shooting settings, including ISO and white balance, and the other adjusts camera settings. Display, macro, self-timer and flash settings are all at your fingertips on the camera's default display. Menus are, for the most part, straightforward and intuitive.
Shooting modes are accessed through one of the buttons on the back panel. Here's a rundown of the features and shooting modes on board the Coolpix S230:
* Auto: Camera controls most settings, though the user is able to adjust white balance and use the touch screen to lock in an autofocus target.
* Scene: Choose from sixteen different scene modes with pre-set shooting settings, including food and fireworks. Control over functions like white balance and ISO are not available in scene modes.
* Scene Auto Selector: The camera automatically chooses a scene mode based on the shooting situation and adjusts settings accordingly.
* Video Recording: The S230 records video with sound in either TV movie (640x480) or small size (320x240).
Utilizing touch screen interface, the S230 is equipped with a "draw" function, allowing you to embellish photos by adding stamps or doodles to photos. Not a feature for everyone, but the set that's attracted to Nikon point-and-shoots by the Ashton Kutcher campaign might be interested. Other in-camera retouching features include D-Lighting and manupaltions by stretching/skewing images.
Display/Viewfinder
A 3.0 inch display is fairly sizable, but touch interface demands a lot of space. Thankfully, the LCD on board the S230 doesn't feel cramped. As we've noted before, a touch screen is sort of a love-it-or-hate-it feature. Smaller hands are friendlier to touch screens, and those with bigger hands tend to fight with the interface. The S230's touch screen won't be attractive to everyone, but as a person who doesn't mind the touch interface, I found it very responsive.
The screen has a matte finish, which helps cut down on glare, but I wouldn't count on using it in intense sunlight. In low light conditions, the image on the display becomes very noisy.
PERFORMANCE
The S230 isn't going to compete with high-end compacts, but it does provide reasonably fast performance and nice image quality for casual shooting. In good light conditions, auto focus is quick and consistent. As you'd expect, performance declines when light conditions fade.
Shooting Performance
The S230 showed some marked improvements over previous Coolpix cameras in the speed department, turning in low shutter lag numbers and better than average auto focus speed as well.
Focus options include center, face priority, and auto. Shooting in auto mode, you'll be able to use the touch screen to override auto focus and lock in a target by tapping the LCD. An icon appears on the right side of the screen, and the focus is removed by touching the icon.
In good light, the auto focus was snappy. It picked out objects more consistently in shots with higher contrast. Under darker conditions, or a scene with little contrast, the S230 often failed to lock in focus on a target. The focus mechanism is also somewhat noisy. As we expected the S230 focused best in center mode or in scenes with good lighting and contrast.
Selecting Face Priority auto focus mode enables face detection. A small yellow box outlines the faces it identifies and selects one as a focus target. In my experience, it was reliable and consistent. The Smile shooting mode uses face detection and takes this technology one step further by automatically snapping a picture when it detects a smile on the subject's face. Like face detection, the smile shooting mode was fast and reliable.
I encountered some funny problems in the auto scene selector mode. Though the mechanism of switching between scene modes is streamlined, and an icon appears to indicate which scene is being used, it struggled on several occasions to identify the right scene. It would often find something in my shots that looked like a face, such as a configuration of keys on my keyboard, and flip into portrait mode. It usually selected macro mode correctly, and could switch into night mode for a dim shot, but it was wrong often enough to make this a clumsy feature. Manually choosing a scene mode is easy enough, so I'd advise someone with this camera to skip the auto scene selector completely.
Nikon employs their "4-Way Vibration Reduction" system as a form of image stabilization in the S230. It's a combination of automatic ISO and shutter speed adjustments coupled with motion detection technology that aims to reduce blurring in images. Without any form of lens or sensor stabilization, the vibration reduction system only goes so far. I didn't see any noticeable difference in shots using the VR setting – except for some evidence of noise and noise reduction when the camera boosts ISO, of course.
The CIPA standard for this lithium-ion battery is listed as 160 shots. My experience with the S230 confirmed this spec, giving me a couple days' worth of moderate use before it needed to be re-charged.
Lens Performance
The f/3.1-f/5.9 3x Nikkor lens, with a 35mm equivalent of 35-105mm, doesn't pack much zoom power – just enough to bring an object across a room closer. Nikon reserves higher zoom capability for higher-spec S cameras and the Coolpix P series. I also had some difficulty using the S230 for very close macro shots, so it would seem that the ideal focus range for this camera is within a few feet of the shooter. It's also worth noting that operating the lens is a little sluggish and a little noisy, though I wouldn't go so far as to call it unacceptable.
Though the lens carries the Nikon name, it's not immune to same issues that plague most budget compacts. Barrel distortion is pretty obvious in close-range wide-angle shots. The further I moved back from my subject, the less apparent it was. I also saw some pin-cushion distortion at telephoto. To remedy this common symptom, Nikon has included a user-selectable distortion control system. Sure enough, it straightened out some of the nasty distortion we saw, especially barrel distortion at wide angle.
CONCLUSIONS
Did the S230 deliver the basic image quality and fun-factor we were looking for? With a few reservations, I'd say it did. In good light, it captured some nice images. Colors are slightly saturated, but not to an extreme.
When the sun goes down, though image quality declines and the flash becomes a necessity. Aside from that, the 3.0 inch display brought some flair to an otherwise basic point-and-shoot.
Pros:
* Warm, generally neutral colors
* Flashy 3.0 inch touch screen
* Attractive build and design
* Reliably speedy performance
Cons:
* Images are noisy from low ISOs on up
* Some corner softness and fringing in shots
* Only packs a 3x zoom
* Some weirdness with the Scene Auto Selector
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fatih
The Solo Netbook Mini Instant-Messenger bag is designed to carry up to an 11-inch netbook and meets TSA checkpoint-friendly requirements. Is this downsized messenger finally the bag your netbook has been waiting for? Read on for our full review.
We’ve seen our fair share of netbook sleeves, but the Solo Netbook Mini messenger bag counts as the first full-featured netbook bag we’ve reviewed in-house. It certainly offers more storage than a sleeve, and with an airport security checkpoint-friendly design, there’s a lot to like here. Still, we have a couple of reservations about recommending the mini messenger bag.
Specifications:
* Netbook Compatibility: 11.0 in.
* Laptop Pocket Size: 11 x 6.5 x 2 in.
* Dimensions: 11 x 7 x 4.75 in.
* Construction: Twistec Poly
* Weight: 2.3 lbs / 5.8 kgs
Build and Design
The Solo netbook messenger bag is made of black, water-resistant polyester accented in green. A plastic buckle keeps the front flap closed, and a couple of metal clasps hook to the shoulder strap. Open the flap and you’ll find two “Digital Asset” pockets designed to securely stow PDAs and other slim devices.
Being a checkpoint-friendly bag, it has a designated netbook-only compartment to give TSA security officials a clear x-ray view of the computer. The other compartment offers a couple of padded pockets and more storage space.
A Velcro strap along the bottom of the bag releases the dual compartments, allowing them to unfold for TSA inspection. If all goes well, you’ll just unfold the bag, send it through the x-ray scanner, and pick it up on the other side without ever removing the netbook. Of course, TSA has the upper hand here and can always ask you to remove the computer from your bag.
In Use
The Solo netbook bag feels sturdy and the build quality is solid. The Lenovo IdeaPad S10 fits perfectly in the netbook compartment, bulky battery and all. The shoulder strap hooks to the bag with sturdy metal clasps. The adjustable strap is comfortable on the shoulder with a sliding, cushioned shoulder rest. The carry handle is also well-padded and would work well for day-to-day use.
Despite the comfortable strap and carrying handle, the mini messenger bag handles like a lunch box. It's square and bulky even when it's empty. Loaded with the S10, power adapter, and a few devices in the "Digital Asset" pockets, there’s little room for anything else. Likewise, the outer zipper pockets will be best suited to hold very slim devices when the bag is full since they're pretty tight to begin with.
The messenger bag provides enough room for a netbook, power adapter, a couple of slim devices, and not much else. It's best suited to carry only minimum netbook essentials. Unless you travel very lightly, this won't replace your carry-on bag.
We didn’t have a chance to test this messenger in airport security, but my experience with checkpoint-friendly bags has been positive. It seems that as TSA officials see more checkpoint-friendly bags, the more widely accepted they are becoming.
Conclusion
The Solo netbook messenger bag is exactly what it appears to be – a very small bag for a small computer. Despite a boxy design, it’s a well-constructed little case. While it provides all the space your netbook will need, it can’t offer much more than that. If you don’t mind the lunchboxy design, and if all you need is a home-away-from-home for your netbook, then this might be the bag for you.
Pros:
* Quality materials, sturdy design
* Airport security checkpoint friendly
* Comfortable shoulder strap
Cons:
* Bulky, boxy design
* Limited storage space
Pricing and Availability
The Solo Netbook Mini Instant-Messenger Bag is available starting at $39.99 through.
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fatih on Rabu, 29 April 2009
Meet one more universal gadget , one more useful product from GN Netcom – multi-purpose headset amplifier.
New Jabra GN8050 will be very useful for many reasons. This small amazing gadget can easily connect headsets to any telephone type or telephone system.
First of all, it is increasing the quality of calls due to noise cancelling features. User at once can feel the call quality difference, firm volume level which is automatically compressed to deliver to user friendly sound volume, will definitely improve sound quality for voice applications via PC.
New GNP gadget offers additional hearing protection, it comes with special switch between computer and phone, which allows to switch in super speedy mode between IP voice programs and calls. Discussed Jabra gadget is compatible with all Jabra, ACS, UNEX headsets, and also can used with any phone with modular connector.
Key Features:
• GN8000 improves safety and headset output
• Different integrated features to optimize PC or phone system
• Improved sound parameters: compression and voice switching
• High compatibility with different phone types
• Use comfort – light weight, headset and handset switch, silent mute switch, volume controls, on-line indicator, low battery indicator, quick cut protection
• Battery safe feature
GN8000 – is very easy to setup and use, low price is also very attractive – only for 75\$ you can have that useful multy purpose gadget.
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fatih
Looks like on-line gamers are moving to different, more serious stuff these days because of the financial crisis that is going on. If seriously they probably don’t but anyway it could be the truth that Forex Trading is so popular these days because of the tough economic conditions. Why have gamers emerged in my mind? Probably because on-line currency trading via Forex is not any less exiting or thrilling than a quest scenario. Forex Trading Software in hands of a person who has even a smallest insight into world of financing becomes a powerful tool not mentioning professionals or even teams of benefit aimed enthusiasts.
The reason why Forex Trading Software gains popularity is that it does most brokers’ work. Forex charts alone can give a solid piece of information. But currency trading is not limited with charts of course. There are plenty of other features in the CMS. For instance the most powerful are availability of all technical indicators, risk manage, Dow Jones news, etc. Most of user’s helpers are customizable so one wouldn’t suffer from a flow of irrelevant information.
The software package itself is easy to install. 5.5 MB download was flawless and the system requirements are incomparably humble. All this makes me think that with all the knowledge resources hidden in the Web more people will be better off with Forex.
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fatih
If you need a digital frame to view your favorite photos or play videos, you may consider the digital photo frame with Wi-Fi from Buffalo. The gadget named PF-50WG does not differ greatly from iGala Wireless Digital Photo Frame.
PF-50WG is the latest digital frame of Buffalo. It has an 8-inch LCD display at 800 x 600 resolution; it supports Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and is compatible with DLNA. Unlike iGala Wireless Digital Photo Frame that has 1GB internal memory, PF-50WG features 85MB internal memory and, moreover, you can expand it using a card reader supporting SD / SDHC / Memory Stick / CF / x D memory cards. Due to Wi-Fi connectivity, Microsoft Live and FrameIt support you will be able to display your photos or other information on the screen of the frame.
Besides image displaying, the frame allows to play MP3 and AAC music files. PF-50WG supports the JPEG and BMP formats and can be used to play some MJpeg and 3GPP videos.
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fatih
The greatest national symbol of America - Statue of Liberty - acquires new form of use. Now it is an USB flash drive. The idea of this original drive came to the Super Talent Company that tried to make it similar to the statue as much as possible. The USB Flash Drive presents the goddess in her lengthy dress staying on the base. You will see the USB connector if you pull off the statue from its base.
It is reported that the flash drive will come in three sizes: 2, 4, and 8 GB. This is the only information concerning the drive. There are no details on the size or the price.
It will be a great present for the patriots of the USA and not only for them: I think it will be an excellent souvenir for tourists.
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fatih on Selasa, 28 April 2009
If you are fond of tripping by car then Panasonic has something in store for you. It is the CN-HX900D HD movie player for a car. It is a Windows powered GPS, CD / DVD player with 5 channel amplifier. Also player has Bluetooth, One-Seg tuner, 7-inch LCD (1.280x720) and 40 GB hard drive. Good news for the iPhone users. CN-HX900D has iPhone / iPod compatibility.
Also consumers need to hook up the unit with the CY-BB1000D. It is an optional Blu-ray player. CY-BB1000D supports everything except Blu-Live.
The price of the CN-HX900D and the CY-BB1000D are not available yet. They are expected to hit stores by fall 2009.
Diposting oleh
fatih
Siank ini terasa panas bgt, apalagi udah lama g ujan nieh. udah capek, ngatuk, cuaca panas.. huh... tp tiba2 itu smua hilang ... clink ... :D kayak sulap ajah...:P bukan tanpa sebab tuh kayak gitu, siank ini aku dpet award lagie.. kli nie aku dapat hadiah dari
Aily (
www.ailyaily.co.cc) mungkin udah banyak yang tau kan. jelas lah pada tau smua, udah baek cantik pinter, baek pula... :D :p tengkyu banget yach buat
Aily yg udah ngasih aku hadiah istimewa ini, jasamu tak akan aku lupakan sepanjang sejarah... MERDEKA.!! :D kayak lagie perang aja, once again tengkyu buat
Aily ... yang menarik dari award Aily, ini bukan cuma berupa gambar ato design, tp juga mengandung makna yg dlm bgt. pengen tau, baca terus dech :
nahhh ini dia yg aku maksud td, Aily menguraikan makna yg terkandung dlm award itu sbb,.
" Saya membuat gambar award ini terdiri dari Air dan Bumi karena bumi itu tidak dapat dipisahkan dari air........
Banyak makna yang terkandung dalam gambar ini juga sekalian untuk mengingatkan untuk sama-sama kita melestarikan alam ini. Tanpa air, tak ada lagi harapan untuk kehidupan diatas bumi ini "Ucapan salut dan semangat buat Aily...
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fatih on Senin, 27 April 2009
Casio took the theory of high speed digital cameras to the extreme with its 6 megapixel EX-F1 with blazing 60 frames per second continuous shooting and 1200 fps high speed movie mode. Following in the F1's footsteps is the smaller, lighter, and less expensive 9 megapixel Casio Exilim EX-FH20.
Although not quite as fast as its older sibling, the FH20 still offers mind-boggling velocity at 40 frames per second continuous shooting and 1000 fps high speed movie mode. At the same time, with its 20x optical zoom the FH20 easily fits into the highly-competitive ultrazoom category. But is the FH20 a one-trick pony, or can the camera hold its own when the high speed factor is removed from the equation?
FEATURES OVERVIEW
At its core, the 9.1 megapixel, CMOS-sensor equipped EX-FH20 meets or exceeds the definition of an ultrazoom camera. Its 20x optical zoom lens starts at what is becoming the wide-angle norm of 26mm and extends to 520mm (35mm-equivalent). Sensor-shift image stabilization helps avoid blur when shooting telephoto. And, like other ultrazooms, the FH20 offers a wide range of manual and automatic settings so experienced-and not so experienced-photographers can easily take advantage of this camera's zoom and speed capabilities.
The FH20 has four basic manual shooting modes, as well as a full auto setting and a unique Best Shot mode.
* Program AE: The camera sets the shutter speed and aperture but the user has the option to set a full range of camera settings.
* Shutter Priority (Tv): Shutter speed is set by the user; aperture set by the camera
* Aperture Priority (Av): Aperture is set by the user; shutter speed set by the camera.
* Manual: Both shutter speed and aperture are set by the user
* Auto: All but a few settings are selected by the camera.
* Best Shot: The camera chooses settings according to one of the 18 scene options selected by the user, including standards such as Portrait, Scenery, and Night Scene Portrait as well as specialties such as Multi-image Motion.
The FH20's Best Shot mode has several functions that go beyond a basic "scene" position. The aforementioned Multi-image Motion option, for instance, captures continuous action images and combines them into one photograph, which is great for capturing the step-by-step swing and hit of your child's homerun or his or her gymnastic moves. You can also create your own Best Shot mode, saving your favorite settings for focus, white balance, flash, ISO metering, dynamic range, color filter and more. Just be aware that since this information is saved on the camera, it will be deleted if/when you format the internal memory.
Other Features
Of course, the main attraction of this camera is its speedy continuous shooting and movie modes. The former presents a great opportunity for grabbing a series of images that, upon close inspection, reveal the minutest differences in a subject's movement from one frame to the next. My first encounter with this feature was at a Casio press conference with three hockey players running some drills on a public ice skating rink.
Shooting with the FH20 was exhilarating but, in some ways, overwhelming since the camera is capturing images so quickly and it's easy to feel like you have no control. And, in some ways you don't have any control since the flash is off, the zoom doesn't work (which really doesn't matter because you won't have the time to operate the lens once you start shooting) and, at 40fps, the resolution is lowered to 7 megapixels. If 40fps is faster than you need, you can adjust the speed in the camera menu and, at about 1-30fps, increase the resolution to 8 megapixels.
After you finish shooting at high speed, you can choose to save all the images shot in a single sequence or pick and choose the ones you want to keep. The latter process is a little time-consuming (as is the time it takes for the camera to write all the images to the SD/SDHC card) but you can also arrange the images into groups that make sorting through them a lot easier. And, for fun, these images can be played back like a short animation.
Another method of capturing sequential action-and to make sure you don't miss the key shot-is the FH20's pre-record shooting mode. Essentially, the camera continuously captures the scene and keeps up to 5 seconds of the latest action in the buffer. When you press the record button, the camera saves the previous 5 seconds and continues to shoot and save images in real time. This feature is not new but it's useful when you're anticipating that something important will happen, i.e. your child is running up the field towards the goal and you want to make sure you get the shot(s) if he or she scores.
Move In CS and Move Out CS options are kind of interesting. Similar to the pre-recording mode, Move In CS automatically captures the scene immediately before and after the subject moves into a shot. Move Out CS works the same way except that it's triggered when a subject moves out of a shot.
The camera also offers continuous shooting with flash. Just pop up the flash, choose if you want 1, 3 or 6 fps image capture and shoot away. You can also set the camera to record up to 10 images in this mode, keeping in mind that the reach of the flash decreases as the number of shots captured increases.
Several movie mode options are also available, including high definition, standard shooting and high speed. There's also a YouTube mode that records movies with a choice of sizes and speed ideal for YouTube. (Casio includes a YouTube uploader application with the camera but the software only works with Windows; Mac users will have to use another method of uploading – not a big deal, though.)
But the high speed movie mode is what really sets this camera apart. You can change the fps count from 30 to 1000fps. Obviously, the 30fps isn't high speed but the other options are. What's so cool about high speed movie recording is that it plays back in slow motion. For example, a 10 second clip shot at 210fps will take about 70 seconds to play back. The only drawbacks are that the higher the speed, the smaller the file size. For example, shooting at 1000fps delivers a 224x56 pixel clip – a very narrow (as though it were letterbox) low resolution video that's good for the web but not for much else. And, there's no audio recording in this mode so you'll have to add your own soundtrack or watch a silent movie. Still, it was fun to record and play NYC traffic in motion, with cabs moving at a fraction of the speed they normally do.
Some of the other notable features on this camera include DNG (a type of RAW file), on-board help, face detection, built-in color filters (b&w, sepia, red, green, blue, yellow, pink, purple) and a myriad of adjustment options. For example, the dynamic range can be adjusted in high contrast shots to help maintain shadow and highlight details and saturation, sharpness and contrast can be tweaked in record mode. If you're not happy with your images, playback mode also allows you to adjust the white balance and brightness and saves a separate file of the corrected image.
For a detailed listing of specifications and features, please refer to the specifications table found at the bottom of the review.
FORM, FIT AND FEEL
Styling and Build Quality
It's no surprise that the FH20, like many ultrazooms, has the look and feel of a small digital SLR.
Ergonomics and Interface
Featuring a nice-sized grip, the FH20 is comfortable to hold and feels pretty solid in the hand. Even with the camera's anti-shake mechanism, it's important to have a substantial size and weight to counterbalance its long zoom and the FH20 provides enough of a grip and weight to help steady the camera when shooting.
When I first unpacked the FH20, there was a huge surprise, though. The mode dial – which usually provides access to shooting options like Auto, Aperture-priority, Shutter-speed priority and Manual – was pretty bare. There are five icons on the mode dial: Single Shot, High Speed Continuous Shooting, Flash CS, High Speed Movie, and HighDef/Standard Movie.
There are a number of dedicated controls scattered on the camera's surface including Display, Best Shot (scene mod) Menu, Set, and LCD/EVF (a button to switch between viewing on the LCD and the Electronic Viewfinder), as well as a green Playback button and a red Record button that, in addition to the standard power button, also can start up the camera. Macro and AE lock buttons are located on the lens barrel.
Most functions, however, are accessed via camera menus. For the most commonly changed settings, all you have to do is turn on the camera's Panel-a vertical, on-screen menu that is operated by the four-way controller and Set button. For example, you can easily change the shooting mode (i.e., Auto, Aperture-priority, etc.), the file size/ format, ISO, white balance, exposure compensation, metering, AF area (spot, selectable, tracking) and flash modes. If you'd rather have the full LCD view with no menu, all you have to do is press the up arrow on the four-way controller to quickly open the Panel.
Display/Viewfinder
Like all ultrazooms, the FH20 is equipped with both an LCD and an EVF (electronic viewfinder). The high resolution (230,400 dots) 3.0 inch LCD is clearly visible under most lighting conditions. My only complaint is that it really didn't gain up under low light.
The EVF is a little small but otherwise works well and is good alternative to the LCD under very bright conditions. Additionally, holding the camera up to your eye provides an extra level of insurance against blurry pictures since you'll have a firmer grip on the camera. While the FH20's sensor-shift stabilization works well, a little extra help keeping the camera steady is a good idea when shooting telephoto.
PERFORMANCE
Timings and Shutter Lag
Obviously, the FH20 is a speed demon when it comes to continuous shooting, although the highest resolution you can attain in burst mode is 8 megapixels. But that's fine, especially when you consider the camera can attain a speed of 30fps at that resolution. The camera will capture up to 40 frames at that speed, which is just a little over a second, but you'd be surprised at how long a second really is considering how much action you can capture in that time.
How does the FH20 perform otherwise? Pretty well, actually. Overall the camera is responsive and, when prefocused, has barely perceptible shutter lag. Start-up time felt about average for a camera of its class: slower than standard point-and-shoot models, but about the same as ultrazooms. If you want to be ready to capture action, don't turn the camera off since you'll have to wait 2-3 seconds for the FH20 to power on and extend the lens.
Auto Focus
Three auto focus modes are available on the FH20: Spot, Free, and Tracking. Spot AF is pretty self-explanatory – the camera focuses on a small area in the center of the image. Free, also known as selectable AF, allows you to move the focus frame to the area of your choice. Tracking, as its name implies, will track a moving subject throughout the frame; all you have to do is half-press the shutter button and hold it down. Face Detection is also available and, like Tracking AF, it works pretty well in most cases.
But the FH20's auto focus isn't nearly as impressive as its continuous shooting speed. While it can hold its own against much of the ultrazoom competition – and will work for most situations – the FH20 doesn't have the zippiest AF on the market. The exception is probably at full wide angle, when the camera does a good job of quickly locking in focus. Also keep in mind that when shooting in high-speed CS, the camera sets the focus in the first shot and it remains fixed for the remainder of the burst.
Lens and Zoom
Like many of its competitors, the FH20 offers a 20x optical zoom with sensor shift stabilization. Starting at 26mm and extending all the way to 520mm, and equipped with macro and super macro options, the FH20's lens meets or exceeds the needs of pretty much all photographers. Those of you who like to photograph close-ups of flowers, insects and other tiny objects will especially appreciate the camera's ability to focus as close as 0.4 inches in super macro mode...you'll need to stay at wider angles for the best macro shots, though.
It's hard to avoid lens distortion when equipping a camera with such an incredible focal range. That said, the FH20 does a pretty good job at keeping barrel distortion (bending outward of straight lines, like a barrel) to a minimum at wide angle. Unfortunately, there's some pin cushion distortion (bending inward of straight lines) at telephoto but in most scenes, you probably won't notice it.
At f/2.8 at wide angle to f/4.5 at telephoto, the lens is relatively fast. Naturally, the camera's sensor-shift stabilization will help if/when you need to shoot at slower-than-average shutter speeds. Use the EVF instead of the LCD to help brace the camera against your eye and body to add a little extra stability under low light conditions.
Flash
The on-board flash provides a decent range for most shooting conditions. At wide angle, the flash covers a range from 1.3 feet to 23 feet, which is more than sufficient for illuminating a group of people in a relatively large space. Coverage for telephoto changes to about 4.3 feet to 14.4 feet.
The FH20 doesn't have a hot shoe, but you can adjust the intensity of the flash output by +/-2 EV, which gives you some flexibility.
Image Stabilization
Casio has equipped the FH20 with three possible options to combat camera shake. The first, and the most desirable, is sensor-shift IS, where the sensor moves when camera shake is detected and the ISO can be set manually to a reasonable (non-noisy) level.
The second anti-shake option boosts the ISO so you can shoot at a higher shutter speed. And, finally, you can utilize both the sensor-shift IS and high ISO anti-shake.
Obviously, you'll get the least noise when using sensor-shift stabilization and, while it's not the best IS system on the market (you might gain one or two stops, especially at telephoto), it's certainly a better option than the noise-producing anti-shake high ISO modes.
Battery
The camera is powered by four AA batteries, and Casio includes a set of AA alkalines with the camera to get you started. However, you're much better off using NiMH rechargeables not only because it's better for the environment vs. using disposable AAs but also because NiMH batteries almost double the number of still images you'll be able to shoot on a single charge to 400. Also be sure to use a high speed, high capacity SDHC card for the optimum performance when shooting since a 1GB card holds only about 4 minutes 22 seconds of HD movies (and only a minute or 2 more in 1000fps mode). I tested the camera with an 8GB SanDisk Extreme III card, which provided more than enough room for a day of still and short movie clips.
CONCLUSIONS
Casio has really pulled ahead of the pack when it comes to high speed shooting with the FH20. This camera is like no other on the market (well, other than the Casio Exilim F1) and, in that regard, is a star.
Unfortunately, as a high speed camera and as an ultrazoom, the FH20's image quality – both still and video – isn't great. But if capturing action is your thing, then you should definitely check out the FH20.
Pros:
* Amazing, and unique, high speed still and movie capture
* Full complement of manual and automatic features
* Image adjustment, including white balance, available in playback
* Generally good shooting performance
* High-resolution, 3.0 inch LCD
* Natural looking colors
Cons:
* Images are relatively soft and image noise creeps in even at mid-ISOs
* Purple fringing is noticeable along high contrast edges
* Lens distortion at telephoto
* Image stabilization offers only slight benefit at full telephoto
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fatih
The Samsung NC20 is a 12.1" netbook and larger brother to the 10" NC10. The NC20 offers a larger nearly-full-size keyboard, large 6-cell battery, WXGA resolution display, and the VIA Nano platform. Since the last VIA-based netbook in our office was the Everex CloudBook with less than stellar performance, the biggest thought on our minds is if the VIA Nano can compete against the trusted Intel Atom platform. In this review we see how well it compares against its netbook brethren, and if it changes our thoughts about VIA processors in notebooks.
Samsung NC20 Specifications:
* 1.30GHz VIA Nano ULV U2250 (800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache)
* 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (2GB Max)
* Windows XP Pro w/ SP3 (Ships with Windows XP Home)
* 12.1" WXGA LED-Backlit Widescreen Glossy Display (1280x800)
* 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* VIA Chrome9 HC3 Integrated Graphics
* 802.11b/g and Bluetooth
* 3-in-1 card reader
* 6-Cell Li-ion battery
* Dimensions: (LxWxH) 11.5 x 8.5 x 1.2
* Weight: 3lbs 5.8oz (4lbs 3.4oz travel weight)
* Price as configured: $549
Build and Design
The design of the Samsung NC20 is very clean with a consistent color scheme inside and outside the netbook with a thin border of chrome around the edges. The pearlescent white on our review sample has the same almost-dirty appearance that the original ASUS Eee PC 701 had. I think a pure white looks better or even better would be going all black. The black configuration of the NC20 looks stunning from the samples I have seen and if I were buying one that would be my only choice.
Build quality is above average with durable feeling plastic throughout the body. Flex is minimal on the lower half of the notebook, usually an added perk of having such a thin frame packed with components. Flex under the keyboard structure is non-existent which adds a level of quality that you notice while typing. The screen lid has some minor flex that when squeezed shows some distortion on the panel.
User upgrades to the NC20 are limited to swapping out the RAM or hard drives. Samsung has a single panel on the bottom of the it that gives quick access to the hard drive bay and single memory slot. No “warranty void if removed” stickers were over the cover or screws.
Display
The 12.1” WXGA display on the Samsung NC20 is above average compared to most notebooks. The LED-backlighting is very even across the screen with barely any backlight bleed around the edges. Image quality is excellent thanks to the glossy surface, with vibrant colors and nice contrast levels. Vertical viewing angles are average with a narrow viewing sweet spot where colors are not washing out or inverted. Horizontal viewing angles are better, staying true at steeper angles. Screen backlight brightness was good for viewing in a bright office setting, but you would be pushing the limits trying to use the NC20 outdoors on a sunny day.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Samsung NC20 has an almost-full-size keyboard that is comfortable to type on and very easy to transition to from larger notebooks. Compared to other netbooks the keyboard is very good, but notebooks still have an edge on it. Business notebooks in the 12-inch form factor have been able to incorporate completely full-size keyboards, but they are generally higher priced. Individual key action is smooth with no sound emitted when clicked. The ability to type covertly in a quiet classroom or office meeting could easily be added as another feature.
The NC20 offers a Synaptics touchpad that is nicely sized for a netbook. Measuring in at 2.75" x 1.63" it is larger than the touchpad on my Lenovo ThinkPad. The surface texture is a fine matte finish that is smooth to slide your finger across even if your hands are moist. Sensitivity is excellent once adjusted, since the default driver settings put the "PalmCheck" adjustment at max, which made movement very twitchy. The touchpad buttons are controlled through a bridged button that connected the left and right side. Feedback from it is shallow with a mild click noise when pressed.
Ports and Features
Port selection is average compared to most netbooks on the market, offering three USB ports, VGA, LAN, audio jacks, and a 3-in-1 multi-card reader. With the increased real estate of the 12.1” frame I think Samsung could have easily fit an additional USB port on without any problems.
Samsung includes an imitation-suede netbook sleeve with the NC20. It works very well to keep the netbook smudge and scratch-free during transportation, but does little to pad it from impacts. I like the suede appearance of it more than the neoprene slip cases, which have that Spandex-vibe.
Performance
Compared to the last VIA-equipped netbook in our office the VIA Nano was a huge improvement. System performance of the NC20 was in-line with the Intel Atom platform, above in some areas and below in others. Day-to-day use the system handled tasks like web browsing or typing documents with ease. Entertainment use was limited to older games or less tasking modern games with the integrated graphics. Standard definition videos played smoothly without any hint of lag, but when you try to play HD movies the limits of the processor were noticed. Standard 720p x264 content played at 15-17FPS on scenes with little motion, but slowed down to 5-10FPS under panning or action. With enough tweaking HD content might be playable at full frame rates, but you would have to ask yourself if it would be worth it. In our synthetic benchmarks the VIA Nano platform scored lower in wPrime and PCMark05, but slightly higher under 3DMark06. Still nowhere near as fast as a full-size notebook with integrated graphics though.
Speakers
Audio performance was limited by the small size of the drivers located on the bottom of the NC20. Bass and midrange were completely lacking and peak volume levels were under similarly sized notebooks. For viewing YouTube clips or watching streaming TV shows this might not be a problem, but I would still highly recommend a nice pair of headphones.
Battery
Battery life was good compared to most notebooks, but when compared to the latest netbooks like the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE, it was hindered by the larger screen. The Samsung NC20 with the processor set to adaptive, screen brightness set to about 70%, and wireless active managed 5 hours and 55 minutes before it went into standby at 4% remaining. A larger battery would definitely improve the runtime, but then you would have to deal with an extended battery sticking out the bottom of the notebook to allow the screen to still pivot.
Heat and Noise
Thermal performance is normal compared to other small netbooks, where the body tends to warm up over time, and develop some hot spots under heavy use. Under light activity temperatures around the palmrest and bottom of the notebook were within reasonable levels and very lap friendly. The left side of the palmrest was higher than the rest, which might be explained by a wireless card located in that region. Fan noise was minimal when browsing the web, but when you tasked the processor it would ramp up to whisper levels.
Conclusion
The 12.1" Samsung NC20 is a netbook that is just on the fringe of being the same size as regular notebooks. It offers a large keyboard, higher resolution screen than most netbooks, and long battery life that you would expect from a ULV platform. With a retail price of $549 it is set to compete against the Dell Mini 12 and HP Pavilion dv2. Overall we were pleased with the performance from the VIA Nano platform, which was a massive step up from the lackluster performance of the older C7 we saw in the Everex CloudBook. My only complaint with our review sample was it not being the much better looking black model, but that can be easily fixed by buying that version instead.
Pros:
* Nice display
* Keyboard is excellent for a netbook
* Modest battery life
* Great performance from a VIA platform
Cons:
* Poor speaker performance
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fatih
Late last week I received the Peek Pronto, Peeks newest and latest. This model boasts improvements over the first iteration of the device which includes an all around faster machine (50% faster), support for up to 5 email account (3 more), support for Push Email and Microsoft Exchange, unlimited text messaging and the ability to search your inbox as well as view images, PDFs and Doc files.
Right out of the box I noticed how simple and elegant the Peek Pronto was. Finished in all black with a silver metal back it could be easily mistaken for a Blackberry. Front and center is a rubberized chicklet QWERTY keyboard, while the right edge of the device sports a clickable scroll wheel and back button just below it. The power button is located at the top of the device and is recessed to prevent unwarranted powering ups or downs. Lastly, the lower left side contains a charging port concealed by a rubber flap that is attached to the device.
Setting up an AOL, GMAIL or Yahoo account couldn’t have been easier. All I had to do was enter my email address and password and the Peek Pronto figured out the rest. After your email box has been added you can start emailing right away or if you so opt download your stored contacts; the Pronto doesn’t have Bluetooth so you won’t be able to sync your computer’s address book. Unfortunately, and probably like many people, I don’t keep my contact list updated on my gmail account so I’m not sure how useful this feature is, but of note the Pronto ’sucked down’ the few hundred contacts I had stored in a matter of seconds and even sent me an email notifying that the process had begun. Adding another email account was simple enough, but once added I wasn’t able to view the account individually or tell which email was to which account from the inbox screen. A frustration some will surely feel, especially those who like to keep business and private separate. Fortunately, when sending out an email, selecting the alternate account(s) is just a quick click away.
I’m an iPhone user (in case you haven’t heard) and as a result typing on the chicklet rubber keyboard left my right hand a bit cramped. But as with any miniature QWERTY keyboard, iPhone included, it takes time to adjust, so be patient. The overall responsiveness of the keyboard is reasonable given its style, but I couldn’t help but notice how the space bar felt as though I was depressing two keys at once. Again, something that probably takes some acclamation. Additionally, the space bar, as with the secondary functions of the numeric keyboard are not backlit, which limits the overall usefullness of the device in dark or dimly lit situations.
Composing an actual email was simple enough, but a few drawbacks had me scratching my head. For instance, Peek failed to add the double space bar tap period function and in order to navigate to, say the middle of the paragraph after an email is written you’ll need to use the scroll wheel while holding the shift button. With that said, the Peek Pronto seemed to be void of a spell check, which to me seems like a must especially if this particular device is intended for the business user.
Email composing issues aside, the Peek Pronto’s screen is bright and easy to read in any lighting condition. It’s backlight length can be adjusted as can the the theme of the overall menus, which are limited to 3 relatively simple colorful patterns. Although the screen is bright and crisp, the device itself can’t display HTML emails and will result in a blank page with no description as to why; you might be left wondering if there is an error in the email or if its encoded with HTML.
I’m not sure what protocol Peek has used for automatically setting up email accounts such as Yahoo or Gmail, but expect to read emails twice or keep tracks of what you’ve viewed on your computer as the two don’t sync up. The Peek Pronto is compatible with Microsoft Exchange, so for those using this on the corporate level won’t have this concern.
Battery life for the device is very solid. Depending on use, I’d expect to get at least, and I stress at least 3 days out of the device. This is probably one of the significant advantages of having a stand alone email device over an all in one, which tend to be battery hogs.
Like all good handheld devices the Peek Pronto features a keypad lock button, but I would have preferred if the dedicated back button also performed this feature when held down. Also, the Pronto lacks a dedicated switch for muting the device, which is something any respectful person could take advantage of.
This particular Peek Pronto contained an early build of the software and as a result I wasn’t able to text message and the scroll wheel was God awful slow, things that should be fixed in the final build. But unlike the multiple email accounts, text messages are denoted by a ‘T’ next to the message. The company does promise unlimited text messaging, which for some might make the $20/month service plan with email well worth it.
At just $30 more ($79.95) than the original Peek, the Pronto brings sexy back to the email only device and is worth every penny.
Pros:
* Sleek and sexy
* Solid battery life
* Bright and crisp screen
* Ultra easy to use and setup (i.e. Mom friendly)
Cons:
* Chicklet style keyboard will take some getting use to
* No dedicated mute/vibrate button
* Only one ‘inbox’ for all emails
You can grab one here for $80
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fatih on Minggu, 26 April 2009
I am as Samsung Instinct owner very proud to have such phone. In fact, my phone is everything I need, though passed some time, I still cannot say that I see any good alternative for it. There one small but very good accessory which helps me to manage my already perfect phone better.
Whenever whatever, I always have my digital camera, camcorder, Web browser, Mobile television and GPS navigation with me, due to my phone. As I have active life style, is very important for me to have always available.
When I saw advertising for Mobile Mounting Kit, I did not hesitated for a second, I already knew it will be perfect gadget. Many times I thought that it would be nice to have a special holder for my phone, which would allow to hold it in certain place. Mobile kit comes with universal cradle, mounting pedestal with suction cup and swivel for wide screen. I can easily say that it is a professional kit, which makes use of mobile in car more pleasant and practice.
Mounting Kit features:
* Kit which provide user with all necessary details to make you able to mount the mobile
* Cradle with side arms will keep the phone at its place, side arms are adjustable and could be extended in width from 1.6 inches to 4.25 inches
* Cradle comes with button, which allows to release fast the phone and to swivel back the screen in necessary angle
* Cradle sides are padded with special dense foam, that ensures strong and secure mobile phone hold
* Suction base for wide screed will provide necessary hold
* Comes with set of vent mount clips
* Solid construction, simple and easy in use
Summary: with this small gadget I always know where is my phone, it is always in field of vision safe and ready to serve. Really good holder, which is capable to ease my life during driving.
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fatih
HP announced a mild redesign of the Pavilion dv3t notebook. Now it is HP’s lightest Intel home notebook. It is 4.9 pounds and has 13.3-inch screen.
The Pavilion dv3t can use up to a 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo. Also it has options for 8GB of RAM and dedicated GeForce 105M G video. Operation time has suffered. Now the notebook will run up to 4.25 hours (with wireless off) on the stock battery and up to 7 hours on an extended 9-cell pack, both thanks in part to an LED-backlit display.
An entry version of Pavilion dv3t starts at 799 USD. It comes with 2GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM and 250 GB hard drive. Also it has a DVD burner and Intel’s GMA 4500MHD for video. There are few features which come with all model. For example, HDMI output is present and provides getting video to an HDTV. Other features are 802.11n Wi-Fi, 500GB hard drive and Blu-ray. Also backlit keyboard and a higher-contrast LCD are included for gourmets.
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fatih
Internet and high-tech gadgets have already penetrated in our life to an unbelievable level: cameras in belts, Bluetooth watches, electronic car keys finders and high technology is coming to our kitchens and bathrooms. iHouse presents a new gadget along its cell phone controlled bathtub that prepares an excellent bath with an only one phone call – SmartFaucet - which is one of those devices that are necessary, but the word “smart” makes it different from the ordinary faucets.
The SmartFaucet by iHouse is highly convenient due to its characteristics: it has a face recognition technology. The essence of this technology is the following: the camera recognizes you and the faucet remembers different temperature settings for each member of your family and automatically adjusts the temperature of the water to the preferred level.
The water is heated with a built-in internal heating coil, and, moreover, there are LEDs which change the color of the water from blue to red to show its temperature.
Additionally, a completely new feature, the users will have the access to their e-mail. There is a touchscreen display on the faucet which enables you to check your calendar, e-mail and the outside temperature.
There is no information concerning the SmartFaucet availability and price, but we may suppose it would be rather expensive.
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fatih
Good news for LG fans. New LG Viewty Smart wouldn’t displease anyone. It has a stunning eight megapixel camera and can record videos in DVD quality. Also the Viewty Smart plays DivX videos as well. And this is not all. Other features include 3-inch display, GPS and HSPDA. Also it has a fantastic user-friendly interface (S-Class).
The LG Viewty Smart is just 12.4 mm thin. So fitting all those good things into consumers pocket won’t be a problem. The Viewty Smart is expected to hit European markets first.
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fatih on Sabtu, 25 April 2009
The power of the sun is an excellent source of energy and summer is a perfect period when people can use gadgets based on the sun-power. Keeping with the trends and necessities of the modern world, Sharp in collaboration with Japanese cell phone company AU KDDI announced the release of its new waterproof phone that can be charged using sun-power. This idea is by no means new: LG has already announced creation of solar-powered phones. Samsung comes with its Blue Earth solar-powered touch phone. Moreover, Intivation Company has already released the ZTE Coral-200 and Commtiva Sola solar-powered phones.
It is little known of the new phone: the only information is connected with its capability to use the power of the sun. The phone, which is yet unnamed, offers one minute of talk time or two hours of standby time after being under the sun for 10 minutes. So, if you are on the beech, you may sleep for an hour or two and then you will be able to talk for 10 minutes. The phone receives up to 80% of its charge from solar power. The solar panel is placed on the top of the handset. However, it is not very convenient, for you will have to wait for a long time in order to talk a little. Thus, this is another attempt to produce environmentally friendly gadgets. Additionally, it is waterproof.
However, some of the phones mentioned above, have advantages concerning talk-time: LG phone offers three minutes of talking after 10-minute sunlight charging. But while Sharp announced the release date of the phone – June, 2009 – there is no information from LG Company concerning the date. Thus, Sharp phone may be considered as the first waterproof solar-powered handset.
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fatih
The SpacePilot Pro is a professional 3D mouse which is ideal for those using 3D applications. The SpacePilot Pro turns out to be more than just a regular mouse. You can see 3D connexion cap which is a big know with a capacity to be pulled, pushed, rotated or sloped. 3D connexion big button enables you to easily navigate your 3D interface. Additionally, there are some special navigation keys for “quick view” capacity along with CTRL, ALT, ESC and SHIFT keys available so that you could easily operate your 3D applications.
Another good piece of news is its new full color LCD display with perfect visual feedback. If you or one of your friends is a genuine 3D software lover, it can be a very nice gift, but it is up to you whether or not you can afford it as it retails for 9. Thanks to this miraculous 3D controller as well as its function keys, high performance and comfort became easier and more pleasing. LCD as well as its function keys makes it possible to visualize outlook, e-mail, calendar etc. It proves to be very useful feature.
Error detection is improved due to new “quick view” navigation keys, with a comfortable one touch access feature. There are 32 possible views whether you need a 90-degree view rotation or clockwise rotation. The SpacePilot Pro is able to automatically define the application. In addition, there is a soft wrist rest which is very useful, no matter if you a left-handed or right-handed user. You will see a very intelligent function keys layout for your easy finger access.
New technologies 3D mouse does not mean you have to get rid of your regular mouse. They can be operated in tandem with each other, making it possible for your sustainable workflow. 3D mouse is supported by more than 130 3D applications. 3D controller has a three year warranty and comes with different drivers including Linux, Windows XP and Vista, Solaris 8 and 10. 3d applications have never been used in such an easy and attractive way.
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fatih on Jumat, 24 April 2009
When it comes to making rugged notebooks and tablets, Getac is one of the most respected names in the business. As impressive as the fully rugged Getac V100 tablet might be at first glance, there's one thing that makes this tablet really special ... a screen rated at 1,200 nits brightness! By comparison, a good notebook screen might only be rated as a 250 nit screen. We're talking about a rugged tablet that can not only be used in the middle of the desert, but that has a screen you can still read when the desert sun is beating down from above. Read on to see how well the Getac V100 holds up against our testing.
Getac V100 Rugged Tablet Specifications:
* Processor: 1.2GHz (ULV) Intel Core 2 Duo Processor U7600
* Memory: 1GB DDR2 (expandable to 2GB)
* Storage: 120GB hard disk drive, removable, shock-mounted
* Display: 10.4-inch XGA (1024 x 768) TFT Touchscreen LCD with digitizer and 1,200 nits brightness
* Graphics: Intel 945GMS, 128MB shared memory
* Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC
* Expansion Slots: PCMCIA Type II x 2 or Type III x 1
* Memory Card Reader: SD card reader
* Smart Card Reader: Optional smart card reader (occupies one PCMCIA type-II slot)
* Communication: 10/100/1000 base-T ethernet, 56K ITU V.92 modem, Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 a/b/g, Bluetooth (v2.0+EDR class 2), Optional GPS (either GPS or webcam), Optional EV-DO/GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA
* Security: TPM 1.2, Kensington lock
* Battery: 11.1v 7800mAh
* Weight: 4.9 lbs. (2.2 kg) including battery
* Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 1.9 inches (285 x 222 x 49 mm)
* Evironmental Spec:
o Operating temp: 0°C to 55°C / 32°F to 131°F
o (Optional low temperature: -20°C / -4°F)
o Storage temp: -40°C to 70°C / -40°F to 158°F
o Humidity: 5% to 95% RH, non-condensing
* MSRP: $3,550
Build and Design
The design of the Getac V100, like virtually all fully rugged notebooks is extremely boxy. There's nothing "consumer friendly" about this design. The V100 means business, and the magnesium alloy construction and rubber bumpers covering the edges are enough to strike fear in the hearts (or processors) of average notebooks. The V100 is almost twice as thick as a standard 12” notebook or tablet and a price tag to match it's rugged build.
At first glance it might look like the V100 is missing all its ports, but when you take a closer look you see that every external port has its own waterproof cap or door. This keeps dirt and moisture out when not in use, and also protects the fragile connectors in the event something might hit that area of the notebook when the tablet is dropped. The only potential negative to having all the ports covered in this way is that you have to move the port covers out of the way every time you need to plug something into the tablet.
The bottom of the V100--where you might expect to see easily replaceable components like a battery-you find access panels held in place with large screws and more weather-sealed doors. The docking station connector is hidden behind a sliding door and even the battery and hard drive are protected by rugged metal doors with hinges on the side of the tablet.
When we describe the Getac V100 as "fully rugged" we don't expect average consumers to understand that this convertible notebook is built with MIL-STD 810F and IP54 compliance. What should be easy to grasp is the fact that the V100 features a full magnesium alloy chassis, sealed ports and connectors, a shock-protected removable hard drive, a is overall vibration and drop-shock resistant.
The durability of the screen on the V100 is quite impressive. Not only are the back of the screen and screen bezel impact resistant, but the screen itself can withstand a direct impact from a fist (or the edge of a table as you drop the tablet) without any damage.
One minor problem with the design of the V100 is the integrated carrying handle. The handle seems to be more of a last-minute addition to the V100 rather than a fully integrated handle like what we see on the Getac B300 rugged notebook. The loose nylon strap and metal retention clips just hang off the front edge of the notebook. To make matters worse the metal clips started to wear some of the matte black paint off of the tablet next to where the clips connected to the chassis. Despite the fact that a fully rugged notebook needs to have a handle we would rather have a sturdy handle built into the design of the tablet (at the expense of size and weight).
Display
The screen on our review unit of the Getac V100 Rugged Convertible Notebook is a 10.4” touchscreen with 1024 x 768 resolution that is bright enough to be easily read outside under bright sunlight. Getac also offers the V100 with a 12.4" widescreen display. Colors are bright, but have a washed out look due to the combination of the touchscreen surface and an amazingly strong backlight. As listed in the specs, the V100 includes a screen with a backlight rated at 1,200 nits brightness. To put that in perspective, many of the giant displays in New York's Time Square are rated at 1,500 nits. Unfortunately, one negative side effect of having the 1,200 nit screen option is that the minimum screen brightness is still quite high. Even if you turn the screen brightness down to the lowest setting it is still brighter than many standard notebook screens at nearly maximum brightness.
Performance and Benchmarks
The V100 has an Intel U7600 Core 2 Duo Merom processor, running at 1.2GHz. This might sound unusually slow compared to the latest notebooks and tablets on the market, but the V100 uses a sealed chassis that is passively cooled. Any excess heat is dissipated through the metal chassis and not through a vent.
The V100 might not shatter any benchmark records, but it's still more than powerful enough to handle regular work in Microsoft Office, do some light Photoshop editing, or browse the web and respond to emails in the middle of a combat zone. Bottom line, you don't buy a V100 for the fastest performance ... you buy it because it can keep working in just about any environment.
We also decided to benchmark the video and graphics performance of the V100 with 3DMark06 just for the sake of running a complete suite of tests. The V100 produced a 3DMark06 score of only 107 ... an extremely low score, but that is to be expected from all tablets in this class.
Wireless
Wireless performance on this rugged notebook was average, losing a connection to wireless access points at roughly the same distance as other notebooks. That said, it's hard to complain considering the range of connectivity options that the V100 offers; everything from a modem to GPS and EV-DO/GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA broadband.
Heat and Noise
Since the V100 is a passive cooled notebook the only noise you can hear is the faint seeking of the hard drive inside or the system chimes coming from the built-in speaker.
Heat is minimal at worst, even without active cooling. Like most passively cooled rugged notebooks, the entire chassis structure acts as a gigantic heatsink, evenly spreading the heat around inside. Even after stressful benchmarks the tablet's external temperatures stayed between 87 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
Battery
Battery performance was less than impressive, but it's safe to say that the lower-than-expected battery life is due to the insanely bright display. Again, having a screen rated at 1,200 nits is like looking into a spotlight ... a spotlight powered by the tablet's battery. With the screen set to the minimum brightness setting (still brighter than a 250-nit screen at maximum brightness) the V100 ran for just a little more than 4 hours. When you cranked the screen up to maximum for use outside, battery life was less than 2 hours with the 7800mAh battery in our review unit. In the interest of full disclosure, it's worth mentioning that we were never able to get the battery in our review unit to register a full charge (the maximum charge ended up being somewhere between 90 percent and 96 percent), so actual user results may vary. Still, spare batteries are probably a good idea for those who need longer battery life.
Conclusion
As a ruggedized convertible notebook, the Getac V100 is an exceptionally strong choice. Granted, you can find tablets with better processor and graphics performance for less money, but none of those cheaper tablets can withstand the daily abuse the the V100 will take in stride. Toss this tablet at a brick wall and the only thing that might be damaged is the brick wall.
At the end of the day, if you need a rugged tablet with a screen that's so bright you can see it from outer space then the Getac V100 is probably the perfect choice for you. The pen, screen rotation, and handle present some minor headaches, but this is still a very impressive tablet if you've got that budget to support a fully rugged convertible notebook.
Pros:
* Cool and silent
* Rugged and waterproof design
* Sunlight readable LCD ... extremely sunlight readable
Cons:
* No pen silo or retention clip
* Screen orientation can only be set in three of four directions
* The 1,200-nit screen option means the minimum screen brightness is still very bright
* Poor carrying handle design
* Expensive
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fatih
AT&T's agreement that makes it the exclusive U.S. provider of the Apple iPhone reportedly expires next year, and not surprisingly this wireless carrier wants to extend it.
The two companies have always made it clear that this exclusivity agreement exists, but both have kept the details hush-hush. When it's supposed to expire hasn't been officially announced, but it will currently come to an end next year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The iPhone has been a huge success for AT&T, and so it's not surprising that the WSJ is also reporting that this carrier wants to extend the exclusivity agreement.
Whether Apple feels the same way isn't covered, but there have been no public signs of dissatisfaction with AT&T.
Following Apple's Plan
There are a great many people who are interested in an iPhone but refuse to switch to AT&T, and this group keeps hoping that the exclusivity agreement between Apple and this carrier will come to an end.
A few of these people mistakenly think that Apple is somehow trapped in this agreement, and if it could just get out then the iPhone would soon be available from Verizon, Sprint, etc. The problem with this theory is that it has been Apple's strategy from the beginning that its smartphone be available from just one source in each country.
The company wanted unusual control over how this device is distributed and serviced, and in order to get that it had to give a wireless phone company unusually exclusive access. Also, limiting the number of carriers that offer a phone greatly simplifies the development and support processes.
Read a ReviewAT&T for at Least Another Year
Whether or not Apple and AT&T agree to extend their cooperation until 2011, AT&T will still be the exclusive provider of all iPhone models until next year.
This means that it will be the only mobile phone company that will offer the next-generation iPhone that is expected to debut this summer.
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fatih
It wasn't all that long ago that a 12 megapixel sensor was the exclusive domain of the DSLR, but now there are any number of compact digitals packing 12, and in some cases even more megapixels. One of the latest to enter the compact "digital dozen" club is the Pentax Optio P70.
Announced on January 5, 2009 as a "high performance model featuring fast, advanced functions to make high-quality digital photography simple and effortless", the P70 becomes the pixel count flagship of the Pentax line with the discontinuation of the Optio A40. Our test subject was the P70 in matte silver with chrome highlights version, but fashionistas will no doubt be pleased to know this slim shooter can also be had in white and red versions. Do good things really come in pretty, small packages? Let's find out.
FEATURES OVERVIEW
Pentax touts the P70 as the lightest Optio in the line, weighing in at 4.4 ounces in shooting configuration (battery and memory card onboard). The camera measures out at 3.8 x 2.1 x .8 inches - the first two figures are nothing unusual in the compact ranks, but that .8 makes the P70 a bit slimmer than a lot of competitors, and that translates into better pocketability (or at least a reduced unsightly bulge).
The camera features a 4x Pentax zoom lens covering a 35mm film equivalent focal range of 27.5 to 110mm. Here's what that lens range looks like in the real world:
Besides the 12 megapixel sensor, there's a 2.7 inch LCD with 230,000 dot composition, a nominal 64 to 1600 ISO sensitivity range (with 3200 and 6400 ISO available at a reduced resolution of 5 megapixels), new Pixel Track Shake Reduction technology, Advanced Face Recognition that tracks up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, and both Smile Capture that automatically releases the shutter when subjects smile, and Blink Detection to alert you if your subject's eyes are closed. The camera accepts SD or SDHC memory media, and there is about 33.7MB of built-in memory.
Pentax includes USB and AV cables, a Li-Ion battery and charger with AC plug cord, wrist strap and CD-ROM software with each camera.
Pentax lists 24 shooting modes for the P70, but for our purposes we'll identify four primary modes:
* Auto Picture: The camera chooses from 8 of the shooting modes, including the standard auto screen, night scene, night scene portrait, landscape, flower, portrait, sport or candlelight. The user may have some inputs available (such as image quality, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity) depending on the mode selected by the camera.
* Program: The camera sets shutter speed and aperture, and the user has a multitude of inputs available to impact image quality.
* Shooting Modes: 21 scene-specific modes, including all but the standard auto screen previously mentioned under auto picture as well as half-length portrait, surf & snow, digital SR, kids, pet, food, fireworks, frame composite, party, natural skin tone, text, blog, digital wide and digital panorama.
* Movie: Captures HD images (1280x720p) at 15 fps or 640x480 and 320x240 options at both 15 and 30 fps. Recording size is limited to 2GB with no time constraints.
FORM, FIT, AND FEEL
The P70 follows the current trend of most cameras in the class with overall dimensions resembling a somewhat slim deck of cards or pack of cigarettes.
Styling and Build Quality
Our review camera featured an aluminum body in a matte silver finish with chrome accents, with subtle rounding on all camera edges. The camera seemed solid and well put together, the equal of competitive cameras in the class.
Ergonomics and Interface
The camera layout is simple and straightforward - the power switch and the combo zoom ring/shutter button sit atop the body, with the camera back taken up by the LCD monitor, four buttons and the rotary controller. Controls are spaced to insure no accidental activations occur, and the flash location did not conflict with either a horizontal or vertical shooting grip.
Shooting mode, flash, self-timer, continuous shooting settings and focus mode can be accessed via the rotary controller, but most other camera settings require use of the internal menus. There is a "green button" that comes with a set of default camera settings that can be instantly called up no matter what shooting mode the user is in, or the button may also be programmed to bring up a specific function from the following list: recorded pixels, white balance, AE metering, sensitivity, EV compensation, focusing area, sharpness, saturation, contrast or voice recording.
Display/Viewfinder
The 2.7 inch LCD is of approximately 230,000 dot composition and adjustable for seven levels of brightness, none of which makes it easy to use for image composition, capture or review in bright outdoor conditions. Pentax does not list the coverage afforded by the monitor, but it appears fairly close to 100%. There is no viewfinder.
PERFORMANCE
Remembering that Pentax calls the P70 a "high performance model" and then noting an MSRP of just under $200 (with an additional $20 rebate being offered as this is written), I was curious as to just how much performance could be had for less than two bills. The answer depends on what your idea of performance is.
Timing and Shutter Lag
The P70 powers up in about 1.5 seconds and I was able to acquire focus and shoot in about 3 seconds. Shutter lag with pre-focus is a very satisfying .05 seconds, but the camera doesn't acquire focus as quickly as some competitors in good light and press to capture times without pre focus ran about .87 seconds. There is no focus assist lamp for dim light and acquisition times in those conditions will lengthen.
Shutter lag with flash enabled comes in a bit slower, about .09 seconds, and all bets are off with red eye reduction as the P70 fires a pre-flash before shooting for real. The shutter has a nominal range of 1/4 to 1/4000th second, but can stay open as long as 4 seconds in night scene mode.
Single shot-to-shot times (shoot, write, acquire focus and shoot again) ran about 3 seconds in some instances, but a bit over 5 seconds in others. This one had me going for a while as flash shots all wrote at the quicker speed, while some non-flash wrote quickly but others lagged. The culprit here seems to be the P70's pixel track shake reduction technology - with that feature enabled the times varied; with it off they were all quicker. We'll talk more about pixel track shake reduction in the Image Stabilization section, but suffice it to say it appears that when shooting in single shot mode with pixel track enabled, if you don't get a good crisp image that the camera goes to work fixing it and won't let you shoot again until it finishes.
Continuous shooting rates are nothing to crow about, at least at full resolution. At the 12 megapixel high quality setting the P70 took over 16 seconds to make six captures. Times improved a bit by switching to the basic 12 megapixel setting, (12 megapixel high quality files are about 3.6MB, 12 megapixel standard are about 1.9MB) but it still took about 2 seconds per shot for a series of six. There is a high speed burst setting that shoots at 3.2 fps (5.8 fps with ISO set to 3200 or 6400) at 5 megapixel resolution for up to six shots.
Lens and Zoom
The P70's smc Pentax zoom lens comes with maximum apertures ranging from a nicely fast f/2.6 at the wide end to a fairly slow f/5.8 as you move towards telephoto. That 27.5 to 110mm focal length range is "ideal for landscape, indoor and group photos" according to Pentax, and they'll get no argument from me. The P70 works on big subjects somewhat far away and smaller subjects up close, but small subjects at a distance are not its strong suit. However, the 12 megapixel sensor gives you some leeway for cropping and, depending on the nature of the original image, may provide some fairly decent crops. Here's a macro shot of a watch and a cropped 8x12 from the original shot. The cropped version came out at about 197 dpi, which is not the 300 dpi you'd like for photo printing, but still enough to provide for an OK print.
Auto Focus
The P70 comes with a default setting of a "multiple" AF area, which selects a point of focus from nine points situated across a fairly large area at the center of the image. There is also a "spot" AF option for Program and the shooting modes (including movie) that uses the central focus point of the nine, and an automatic tracking AF mode for use with moving subjects that will make use of any of the nine points to try and hold focus on the initial subject. Spot was my method of choice for the most precise determination of point of focus in any particular image.
There are also standard (16.0 inches to infinity), macro (4.0 inches to 20.0 inches), pan (entire picture from front to back is focused), infinity and manual focus modes.
Flash
The flash on the P70 produced good and accurate color rendition. Pentax lists a maximum flash range for the camera as 15 feet (at auto ISO), but folks who shoot at 64 ISO in dimmer conditions would be advised to get closer than that. A lot closer. I couldn't get the flash to give me a good exposure of a medium brown cat about four feet away in dim conditions and had to go to 200 ISO to make the shot.
There are the standard flash options including red eye reduction, and a soft flash option that reduces flash intensity while still firing the flash. Here are macro shots at the flash and soft flash setting.
Flash recycle times are pretty good, ranging from 3 to 5 seconds. If those times sound familiar it's because they mimic the best single shot write time range with the pixel track shake reduction feature enabled. As a practical matter I found flash recycle times rarely came into play - the flash was usually ready to go again by the time the camera finished writing - but at worst you might encounter a 5 second recycle time with a 3 second write time and have to wait a couple seconds before shooting again with flash.
Image Stabilization
With image stabilization, the magic words we like to hear are optical or mechanical, which tell us the camera is stabilizing by moving lens elements or the sensor. Neither word is applicable to the P70.
Pixel track shake reduction, according to Pentax:
"When recording still images, the Optio P70's new Pixel Track SR (Shake Reduction) mode effectively compensates for camera shake by processing the amount of image blur with a dedicated ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). Pixel Track SR tracks motion blur at the pixel level and calculates blur volume in real time. After exposure, the recovery filter centers the motion effect around each pixel to compartmentalize the blur. Then, an adjustment filter sharpens the pixels to help remove the blur effect. Pixel Track SR results in sharp images without adding high ISO noise."
The P70 also ramps up ISO as high as 6400 (in digital shake reduction mode) to help keep shutter speeds up as a means to try and minimize camera shake and/or subject movement.
Finally, there's a movie shake reduction mode that Pentax is a bit more close-lipped about, but their U.K. press release does mention it is the result of using "exclusive software."
Stabilization? Not in the classic sense, and certainly not my favorites with regard to ramping up the ISO to maintain shutter speed or using software to try and fix a blurry shot.
Battery Life
Pentax rates battery life in the P70 for about 200 shots and my usage approached this figure with minimal flash and chimping activity. Carry a spare battery or two for all-day shooting sessions.
IMAGE QUALITY
P70 images at default settings were generally color accurate, but a bit soft for my taste. There are settings available to increase or decrease sharpness, saturation and contrast from the default level, and my personal preference was to maximize all three. Here are the default, minimum, and maximum settings.
CONCLUSIONS
Pentax describes the P70 as a "high performance model," and if lens quality and/or shutter lag are the criteria then it fits the bill on those counts. For me personally, the most frustrating aspect of digitals are pokey shutters, and if a camera takes the shot promptly after I push the button then it's off to a good start in my book.
The P70 provides nice image quality with generally accurate color and shooting options that remind me of Henry Ford's Model T: "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black." With P70, the camera will shoot in any mode so long as it is automatic.
ISO performance is comparable to the competition but the camera lacks stabilization. Of course, it also lacks the higher price tag that is the entry fee for stabilization. Continuous shooting rates at full resolution are disappointing but exposure calculation is good. All in all, the P70 offers fairly middle of the road performance in most categories wrapped around a lens with very good optical qualities.
Pros:
* Good shutter lag under normal shooting conditions
* Minimal lens faults
* Good exposure calculation
* Good image and color quality
Cons:
* No stabilization
* No AF assist lamp for dim light
Assume these things when considering the quality of the Nikon Coolpix S230: the potential buyers for this camera are not looking for a high-end, near DSLR quality compact. They are looking for a camera with a little flair, but they don't want to sacrifice decent image quality. They want a nice set of specs, like the S230's 10 megapixel CCD sensor and 3x Nikkor zoom lens.
The S230 measures a trim 0.8 inches wide, making it easy to carry in a coat pocket. The Nikkor lens dominates the front panel, and the LCD occupies most of the back panel. Again, most control is handled through the touch screen. Unlike the S60, the camera you saw Ashton Kutcher wielding in a recent ad campaign, zoom is not handled through touch interface. Instead, a good, old-fashioned zoom toggle is positioned on top of the camera with the shutter button.
The S230 showed some marked improvements over previous Coolpix cameras in the speed department, turning in low shutter lag numbers and better than average auto focus speed as well.
Did the S230 deliver the basic image quality and fun-factor we were looking for? With a few reservations, I'd say it did. In good light, it captured some nice images. Colors are slightly saturated, but not to an extreme.
