Archive for September, 2009
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
Nowadays manufacturers try to create and develop all sort of strange devices in order increase their selling numbers. These products are, however, not always accepted as necessary devices for everyday use. In this category we could include the wrist watches. Sure, they look great, so great you wish you could even be beamed on the Enterprise once you’ve engaged a call through it. But is it really necessary? Is your life easier now with a wrist watch? If yes, how did the wrist watches improve the dynamic of your life? Every answer you might give to the above questions still can’t include the new watch mobile phones in the “necessary for everyday use” category. You can find on the market at least two watch phones, one offered by Samsung, and one offered by LG. The first model is the cheaper version of the LG GD 910.
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It offers less features, a great design, and smaller price tag. However let’s see what the high end watch phone has to offer. The LG GD 910 is a wristwatch mobile phone with great potential. By the interest manufacturers give this type of phone, we just might expect to see in the near future a total separation between mobile phone, and in the far future an annexation of this two phone types.
The first major breakthrough will happen in about five years. The candy bar touch screen phones will probably replace the nowadays net books bringing great features in a single device. The other category will be the small portable touch screen enabled wrist watch mobile phones. This category will also bring good features, but will not be so technological advanced. By having a wrist watch you will also own a digital camera and, probably by then, an iPod (becoming more attractive to population because of the diminished price tags).
In about 10 to 12 years, this to category phones will be combined, offering one single type of phone, a wrist watch touch screen phone with a flexible display. Therefore, you should be able to use it in full form, or just in watch form. Until then we will have to indulge ourselves with the
LG GD 910. The first thing you will notice is the price tag, to high for such a small device. LG GD 910 has quite a lot main disadvantages, including, its large dimensions, no memory card slot onboard, not so great display, no FM radio, and a slow user interface. If it’s one thing you can bet GD 910 has, is its great design.
With a height of 49 mm, wide of 39 mm, deep of 13.8 mm, the GD 910 weight about 84 g. Too much for a device you are going to carry around your wrist. However, if you enjoy watches with these dimensions, you will have no problems with LG GD 910. The leather strap brings an excellent felling and provides even a better look for this phone. The actual display is surrounded by an aluminum case making GD 910 very stylish.
LG included in GD 910 a TFT capacitive touch screen, up to 256000 colors, with a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels and a widescreen diagonal of 1.43 inches. You will need some time to get used to use the GD 910 touch screen, but once you will get the wider picture you will actually enjoy the full process of using it. Above the display you get an earpiece and the VGA camera used for video calling. LG really worked on the touch screen visibility under direct day broad light. You will not have any problems in terms of visibility with the GD 910. On the right side of the GD 910 you can find three buttons, a call key, an end call key, and clear or back button. Overall, the general built of the GD 910 is flawless.
No flex, no squeaks, no nothing, just a solid design. The user interface is intuitive; you should be able to use it without any problems. The only actual problem is the speed of the user interface (it is sort of slow, but then again do remember that the processor used is extremely small and needs time to process a high end interface, especially for a touch screen display). As special features offered in the GD 910, you have the water jet resistant (IPX4 certified, it is not waterproof, only water jet resistant, huge difference, be careful), text to speck capabilities, organizer, T9, and a music player.
The LG GD 910 runs in 2G network (GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900) and in 3G network (HSDPA 2100). The connectivity is ensured by the Class 10 (with the common by now 4+1 / 3+2 slots) GPRS with a speed between 32 Kb per second to 48 Kb per second, Class 10 EDGE up to 236.8 Kb per second, HSDPA with a speed up to 7.2 MB per second, and Bluetooth version 2.0 with A2DP profile. You get a good organizer and a great calendar to use, but the messaging function is tricky to use. It is not about getting used to the input method, it is just difficult and also annoying, especially when you have to write a not so short message, or email.
The standard battery Lithium Ion used in the
GD 910 will provide about 247 hours of standby time. However, a major drawback is the small talk time offered by GD 910, only 2 hours. If you want to be a trendsetter then you should purchase a wrist watch. It is certainly unique and offers a great user experience. However, if you have a job that requires full communication with the office, you should consider having a regular business phone at hand, and just use the GD 910 for your personal life and not for businesses. Overall, it is all about if you want to buy it and if you can afford it. For the time being, LG GD 910 is a statement regarding your social status, and that’s about it.
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Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
A compact 9 megapixel digital camera with other good features is every man’s (and women’s) dream. With the help of Casio, this dream might just come true for everyone who needs a slim and easy to place, in any pocket, digital camera, without having to accept bad quality pictures. The Casio EX FC 100 is the product everyone was waiting for. It sport a great design, slick matte black cover, with metallic finishes on the keys and logo, excellent dimensions (with a height of 2.30 inches, wide of 3.92 inches, deep of 0.88 inches, the Casio EX FC 100 weight only 5.10 oz). the build quality is great, you get no squeaks or flex under any pressure made on the Casio EX FC 100. So, with a slim look, great build quality, and nice design, Exilim FC 100 Casio ensured some pretty consistent sales.
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On the front of the Casio camera you get the Flash in the right of the Casio logo, an auto focus assist lamp, and the 6.4 to 32.0 mm lens. On the back, the EX FC 100 sports a 3 inches LCD display, a processing lamp, a sort of joystick which is used to record movies and also works as a movie mode switch, playback key, shooting key, four way pads with the SET function (the four way controller has the following functions: up / display, left / customizable, right / customizable, down / flash / delete), menu button and best shot mode key.
On the right side you get the USB port, while the left side lacks both ports and keys. On the bottom, the Casio EX FC 100 WE includes a speaker, a tripod mount, and the cover for both memory card and battery. The top of the Casio model sports too many buttons when you use the camera in a rush. You get the slow motion button, the high speed key, the power on off switch, the shutter and also the zoom scroll.
Casio EX FC 100 WE sport a 9.1 megapixel camera, with a 1 / 2.3 inches high speed CMOS, which boasts the total pixels to about 10.29 megapixels. Casio includes in this camera great lens and an average focal length (F 3.6 – F 4.5 / f = 6.42 mm – 32.1 mm).
The zoom provided by the Casio camera goes up to 5x for optical mode and 4x for digital mode. A special feature that Casio reminds us with is the high definition zoom with a maximum of 27x (only in VGA resolution, and using both digital zoom and optical zoom). Casio EX FC 100 provides a 32 MB onboard memory, but also features a memory card slot for both SDHC memory card, and SD memory card. The pictures taken with the
Casio EX FC 100 are good quality photos. These pictures have a good green and red accuracy. Unfortunately you don’t get a color mode setting. Therefore, the photos might seem a little unbalanced with both yellow and blue. The 9.1 megapixel camera, from the EX FC 100, can take still images in different resolutions, in VGA mode – 640 x 480 pixels, 2 megapixel mode – 1600 x 1200 pixels, 4 megapixel mode – 2304 x 1728 pixels, 6 megapixels mode – 2816 x 2112 pixels, 3456 x 1944 pixels, 3456 x 2304 pixels, and with the full 9 megapixel you get a 3456 x 2592 pixels photo resolution. Casio EX FC 100 saves the pictures taken in JPEG files, DPOF and DCF 1.0. The generally noise made is low, so it will not bother you at all.
The resolution provided features a low distortion, making the photos even sharper. As in any other camera, you will find in the Casio model, several modes for different lighting, daylight mode, overcast mode, shade mode, auto mode, daylight fluorescent mode, tungsten mode, and the manual mode. The latest sensitivity modes are included in the EX FC 100, Auto / ISO 100 / ISO 200 / ISO 400 / ISO 800 / ISO 1600. The
Casio EX FC 100 sports 3 inches TFT color LCD (super clear LCD) with a resolution of 960 x 240 pixels. The LCD will prove valuable when using the menu, or setting the options for the camera. Casio EX FC 100 provides good quality video recording. Another feature is the playback of the videos and the possibility of editing them.
The Casio camera records in high definition 1280 x 720 with 30 frames per second, 224 x 64 with 1000 frames per second, 224 x 168 with 420 frames per second, 480 x 360 with 210 frames per second, and 30 frames per second for both 480 x 360 and 640 x 480. The connectivity is ensured by the Pict Bridge, video output formats (both PAL and NTSC), and the USB / AV port. Other excellent features worth to mention is the face detection feature, excellent focus (contrast detection auto focus, auto focus, macro mode, infinity mode, manual focus). Casio included in the EX FC 100 a standard Lithium Ion battery with 1300 mAh, 3.7 volt (NP – 40 battery types). This battery should last up to 300 shots after a single charge. For a small compact digital camera this battery is a really good feature.
Casio ships in the containing box, beside the actual EX FC 100 and NP 40 battery, manual, Software CD, AV cable, USB cable, strap, battery charger (BC 31 L model), and power cord. If Casio would have included a memory card, then the package would have been complete. Even so for a price tag of $329.99, you get a decent package. Overall, the Casio EX FC 100 is an excellent product, for its range. With a slick compact case, and a stylish design, also packing a great 9.1 megapixel camera with the latest lens and setting features, the Casio EX FC 100 is the best choice, when out looking for an ultraportable, yet extremely good equipped point and shoot digital camera. Also, the
EX FC 100 is the cheapest in comparison with Canon Power Shot SD 970 “IS” ($379.99), and Sony Cyber Shot DSC T900 (with a price tag of $369.99).
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
As you probably noticed, the point and shoot cameras are not the most effective ones. However the main advantage of these digital cameras is the pocket sized design. Unfortunately, the point and shoot cameras lacks the interchangeable lenses and the high quality image sensor from the single lens reflex digital cameras. Olympus saw this as an opportunity to bring to life the PEN series (half frame cameras) introduced on the market in 1959 (and discontinued in 1980).
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The new Olympus E P1 combines the excellent quality sensor (and changeable lenses) from the SLR, with the small size design of a point and shoot camera. Also the new camera is the first from the re-launched PEN family (standing for half frame film cameras). The E P1 is not just a new product branded with a traditional name; this product provides the old retro style with the latest technology delivered in the smallest design possible. Therefore, the first thing you are going to notice, at a first glance, on the Olympus E P1 is the retro case, with some high tech finish. The overall look is rather intriguing, but by far weird or bad looking.
The E P1 camera uses the new standard, Micro Four Thirds, which allows the new high end technology to be included in an extremely compact camera case. For a better understanding of this new dimensions and looks, you have to hold the E P1, and looks at it in comparison with other digital single lens reflex camera. The
E P1 has a height of 69.9 mm, wide of 120.6 mm, deep of 36.4 mm, E P1 weight only 335 g. All the above numbers are excellent values for the specs features included in this gadget. The E P1 sports a full stainless steel case. Other cameras may have matte black plastic on top and bottom, but the E P1 sports great aluminum on both top and bottom. The retro look is kept by making the E P1 rather angular, and also including on the right side of the lens an imitating leather black piece.
Even if the E P1 doesn’t sport a unibody case, it sure feels like it would. The build quality is impeccable, and it feels and looks flawless. Internally the build quality is the best on the market in its range. Externally you don’t get more buttons and keys than a point and shoot camera. On the top of the E P1 you can find on the left side the mode dial wheel (to select form different modes), while on the right side you can find the power on and off button, and the exposure compensation key. On the back you get a few normal controls, like (from top to bottom) the AFL/ AEL button (auto focus mode, or auto exposure mode), playback key, erase key, menu button, info key, four way click pad with a centered OK function, the Fn button, and the zoom scroll. On the front, E P1 includes beside the Micro Four Thirds lens mount, the lens release button, stereo microphone, and a self timer lamp.
On the left side you the
E P1 sport no keys, buttons, or ports, while on the right side you get all the ports you could need, USB port, AV connector and HDMI port, covered to keep the dust away. Therefore on the bottom, Olympus only included the door for battery and memory card, but also a tripod socket (to make a statement, that this PEN camera can easily be used as a professional SLR camera).
Olympus offers a great menu for the E P1, with a user friendly feeling because of the large display which displays most of the features, without any need of sub menus. The camera settings will appear on a see trough background when taking a picture making the filter selection neat. If you don’t like complicated products, then you are in luck. The E P1 is easy to understand, making the user manual almost unnecessary.
The E P1 packs an excellent 3 inches Hyper Crystal LCD with an anti reflecting coating. You get an approximate 230.000 pixels from this display, with a brightness control up to + 7 levels or down to – 7 levels. The display enables live view mode, with a high speed live MOS image sensor. The E P1 can display the images in various modes, such as normal mode, magnified mode, grid line mode, comparable view mode, histogram mode, comparable view mode, and other.
The see-trough settings that appear when adjusting the camera settings are aperture value, record mode, ISO, AF confirmation mark, shutter speed, AE lock, AF mode, battery check, white balance, face detection, internal temperature warning, and many other picture settings. The effective pixels number found onboard the E P1 reaches up to 12.3 million pixels, with a total number of pixels of 13.1 million pixels, and an aspect rotation of 4 to 3.
The pictures taken with this camera will be saved with the JPEG file format, RAW (12 bit compression) file format, and RAW + JPEG. You can take pictures in RAW format only with the resolution of 4032 x 3024 pixels, while in the JPEG mode the pictures taken can vary from the 640 x 480 pixel resolution to 4032 x 3024 pixel resolution. A RAW picture with 4032 x 3042 will cost about 13.9 MB form your memory card.
The E P1 can take pictures with so many resolutions and with different scale compressed, which is overwhelming. You get a few compressed modes: ¼ (fine), 1/8 (normal), 1/12 (basic), and 1/2.7 (super fine). For each of these compressed modes you can take pictures in 4032 x 3042 pixels, 2560 x 1920 pixels, and 1024 x 768 pixels. You can also find depending on the compressed mode 3200 x 2400 pixel, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 1280 x 960 pixels, and 640 x 480 pixels.
The camera also records in AVI motion JPEG with 30 frames per second. The E P1 has two video encodings: in high definition (1280 x 720 pixels) with an aspect rotation 16 to 9, and in 640 x 480 pixels, with a 4 to 3 aspect rotation. The video movie recorded is limited to a maximum value of 2 GB (it is limited by the AVI format). Other good features of this camera are, the display of face detection, imager shift image stabilizer, shutter speed range from 2 – 1/4000 seconds, digital IS, ISO sensitivity with AUTO mode (ISO 200 – 6400, with default of 200 – 1600), and manual mode (ISO 100 – 6400, 1/3 or 1 EV steps, and in movies mode ISO 160 – 1600). The white balance is nicely implemented in the Olympus E P1 with eight preset balance, shade (7500K), Lamp (3000K), Daylight (5300K), Flash (5500K), Cloudy (6000K), Fluorescent 1 (4000K), Fluorescent 2 (4500K), Fluorescent 3 (6600K).
Also, by using so many white balance modes, the E P1 offers a large variety of parameters and effects for the pictures taken, from filter effect (yellow, green, red, orange filter), picture tone (sepia, blue, purple, green tone), to four gradation levels (auto, high, low, normal). The only drawback you can find for this product is the built in flash that is missing. However, Olympus offers compatible external flash (six external compatible flashes to be more exact). Olympus ships E P1 with a BLS 1 Lithium Ion battery.
Overall, Olympus E P1 delivers exceptional image quality and good video recording performances. For a pocket sized digital singles lens reflex, the E P1 is a great product with an excellent design and a price tag of $799. Still, it doesn’t rise up to the other DSLR performances but it provides a good balanced package.
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Monday, September 28th, 2009
When your life is full of great moments and events, you need to have around a good feature camcorder. If you are familiar with Canon FS100 Camcorder, then you should already know that the new Canon FS200 Camcorder is the FS100 model upgraded. In general, an upgrade (or refresh) is the process of renewing an old model. Basically the refreshed model (like the FS200) is not a new model; it is just the succeeded in line to the old model (FS100). The manufacturer will improve the already good features and diminish the product drawbacks (at least hypothetical, because this is the hardest part in an upgrade). The Canon FS200 Camcorder is an upgrade (a minor one), still sporting great portability, microphone jack, headphone jack, and a full range of color settings.
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For only $299.99 to $329.95, you will understand that the Canon FS200 Camcorder is an excellent product for its price range. Unfortunately, the FS200 is not really photogenic. Sure you can look it up online, but it will probably not say much. Once you will have it in your hand you will be shocked to see how small and light the FS200 Camcorder is. The dimensions are indeed remarkable for a camcorder. With a height of 5.84 cm (2.3 inches), wide of 5.59 cm (2.2 inches), deep of 12.19 cm (4.8 inches), the FS200 weights about 223.94 g (7.9 oz).
On the front cover (if you can call it cover), the
Canon FS200 sports the camera lens. In the right bottom corner you can observe the video light, and to the left of this light you can find the microphone (built in). On the back cover, the FS200 sports a click wheel which will help you select between three available modes: still, dual shot, and video. In the center of this click wheel you can find the red action key with both purposes (start and stop). On the right side you will get the C power port, while on the left you can find the 2.7 inches display and under the display you will get the whole command station. You get a large joystick, two buttons (for displaying information, and immediate video recording), and three ports.
The zoom scroll and the still photo key are situated on top of the Canon FS200, while the memory card slot and the battery port are included on the bottom of the FS200. The overall design not only looks good, but also feels solid. The case is a little glossy, but in a good way. It resist to fingerprints and scratches because of the materials used.
The
FS200 records excellent quality video in MPEG-2 encoding (files will have mod extension). It is strange why Canon didn’t provide the nowadays standard encoding (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264). You are allowed to choose from three recording compression, LP 3 MB per second, SP 6MB per second and XP 9 MB per second. The
Canon FS200 camcorder delivers excellent videos recorded in broad daylight. For an entry level price, this model offers a great lens package. You get a zoom ratio of 41x advanced zoom, with 37x optical zoom, and 2000x digital zoom. Also the zoom speed is variable (even if the FS200 sports a 3xzoom fixed speed). The focal length found on the FS200 lens is f = 2.9 – 96.2 mm (35 mm equivalent: 45.8 – 1695 mm, advanced zoom off), with an aspect rotation of 16 to 9. The Canon FS200 camcorder features a 2.7 inches widescreen color LCD with approximate 123.000 pixels.
The screen is great not only when you record videos, but also when you playback videos. All the videos recorded are saved directly onto the SDHC memory card. The best solution for the device, would be the SDHC 32 GB memory card. In LP mode, you can record up to 20 hours and 50 minutes, in SP mode you can record up to 11 hours and 5 minutes, while in the highest mode (XP), you can record up to 7 hours and 20 minutes. You don’t get a remarkable connectivity with the FS200. Sure, it features AV (composite), USB (2.0 port), microphone input, headphones jack shared with AV out, card slow and DC power, but it lacks HDMI port, Fire Wire, S Video, LANC and others. Canon FS200 camcorder can also take still photos. However, it lacks optical image stabilization, but otherwise the FS200 does a remarkable job.
With a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, the photos have a good quality, and a high detail rendering. You get a medium white balance setting (auto, manual, tungsten, and daylight), but also programmed modes (auto, fireworks, program, spotlight, TV, sunset, sports, beach, night, and snow). Canon included in the FS200 the BP 808 battery pack. Because the FS200 sports a closed battery slot, you will not be able to fit extra battery packs. The FS200 menu is not exactly user friendly.
You get to many entry levels on one page. It is not a neat menu. You need so much attention, to learn all the details that should just have been included in a sub menu. Canon ships the FS200 along with the battery pack, wrist strap, USB interface cable, stereo video cable, compact power adapter, music CD, editing software, and digital video solution disk. Overall, the
Canon FS200 camcorder is an obvious choice for anyone that wants excellent video and still pictures in a small product (easy to handle), with no other high features for less than $350.
Posted in Cam Gadgets, Electronic Gadgets | No Comments »
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
Even if all the manufacturers provide nowadays from normal printers, copiers, scanners to all in one product, it is still extremely hard to find a lightweight, excellent designed (not only esthetically, but also technically – individual toner cartridges) color laser printer among discount gadgets. Even harder, is to find a good balanced wireless color laser printer. One of the best device manufacturers comes with an intriguing product, the Samsung CLP 315W Wireless Color Laser Printer. The CLP 315W Wireless Color Laser Printer is part of the new Samsung line (CLP 315, line that offers small dimension laser printer with individual toner cartridges). By adding the laser printing technology and the individual toner cartridges, Samsung delivers one of the most economical printers on the market. Because this is a Samsung product you can’t expect something lower than an excellent design and quality materials.
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The CLP 315W is not a perfect cube, but from several angles, you might have that impression. It is stunning, not as stunning as the Samsung SCX 4500W Wireless Multi function Printer, Scanner, Copier, but stunning enough for this price range. The overall design is made out of matte black solid plastic. You also get some small finishes of glossy black trim around the perimeter.
The build feel solid, and you won’t hear any funny noises when pressing the case, or while printing. The design doesn’t present too many buttons; making it more sophisticated under the latest believes that “less is more”. The dimensions make this printer extremely compact. It has a height of 9.6 inches (24.3 cm), wide of 15.3 inches (38.8 cm), deep of 12.3 inches (31.3 cm), it weight a solid 11 kg (24.3 lb), making the Samsung CLP 315W Wireless pretty heavy for a laser printer. On the top of the Samsung CLP 315W you get a single power on and off button and a few LED lights. These LED lights will provide important information that usually is presented by other printers on a LCD display (the wireless connection status, toner shortages, or even lack of paper in the paper tray).
The biggest drawback in terms of usability is the lack of a cancel button, and I think this is a must for
discount gadgets. Therefore, in order for you to cancel a printing you have to go through your computer. However, we all know that the printer responds better to a cancel button, than to a software cancel command (it will probably mean a page of printing between the two cancel modes). The paper tray sits on top of the CLP 315W. It is easy to use when you are on your feet, and not that great when you sit down (you might not see, when the printer runs out of paper). Samsung ships the CLP 315W with four cartridges. The black toner cartridge should last for about 1000 pages (for the black toner cartridge shipped with the CLP 315W), and about 1500 pages with a standard model. The color toner cartridge includes three colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan. If your color printing is average with all three colors then the shipped color toner cartridge should last for about 700 pages, while a standard color toner cartridge used average with all three colors will last you for about 1000 pages.
If you are interested in noise level, then you should now that the CLP 315W make less noise when printing color (45 dBA) than when it prints in monochrome (47 dBA). The declared monthly value of the Samsung CLP 315W is 20000 pages. Only small businesses can use this printer without harming it. You will not be able to use any memory cards with this printer, because the CLP 315W doesn’t have a slot card. However, it provides an internal memory of 32 MB.
The connectivity department is ensured by the high speed USB 2.0 port, and the Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g profile. The Samsung CLP 315W is not the most faster in print speed. It can only provide a black print speed of 17 pages per minute, and a color print speed of 4 pages per minute. The maximum resolution is 2400 x 600 dpi. Samsung ships the CLP 315W along with the two toner cartridges, a software CD, power cord, and a quick install guide. You get no USB cable, which means that Samsung encourages you to you the Wi-Fi connection, rather than the cable one. So, the Samsung CLP 315W is a well designed wireless laser printer, with a slow print speed, not so many features (manual duplex printing, and no cancel button), but an affordable price (form $169.99 to $259.99) for its range.
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