Archive for October, 2009
Monday, October 26th, 2009
It almost the end of October, meaning that Christmas is only seven weeks or so away, and the shopping season can begin. If you are clueless of what to buy to your close friends and close family members (parents, grandparents), or if you want to make a good impression to your boss, the please do torn your attention this year to digital photo frames.
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This is an unique, yet neat present, which will not only provide a great way to see all the best photos, but it will also provide a good way for the future owner to keep the photo database safe and in order. Depending on who you want to give the digital photo frame present, you have to chose between 7 inches, or 8 inches digital photo frames (which are considered one category) or 9 inches, or 10 inches digital photo frames (the second available category).
As you can imagine, both categories includes several more models. Today I am going to write about the first category of digital photo frames, the 7 inches or 8 inches type. If money is no concern to you when it comes to presents, then you should take a look at the high end digital photo frame offered by Sony, the VAIO Wi-Fi photo frame with the unique model number of VGF CP1U. This model is advertised intensely, but even with the excellent design and good features the sale numbers are by far at the roof level.
A nice touch to this digital photo frame is that you can personalize it, by engraving it. Even more you get some key features that must be underlined, such as the 7 inches screen sporting a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, the 128 MB onboard memory, memory card slot, MP3 enabled, Wi-Fi enabled, and the excellent design.
The excellent design is easy to spot, since it boasts a glossy black body with a silver – white metallic underline. Overall the design is more exclusivists, than stylish. It basically looks like a small TV. With a height of 2.25 inches, wide of 6.97 inches, deep of 1.3 inches, the VAIO Wi-Fi photo frame weights (including the stand) about 1.17 lbs. The build quality is impressive; nothing makes weird noises even with the glossy case. On the back side of this digital photo frame you get one compact flash, one memory stick media slot, one 2.0 USB port, and one secure digital slot. The front side sports the Kensington Lock, the Light Sensor and the LED, which is basically a visual alert for RSS feed.
The display sports a 7 inches diagonal, with an 800 x 480 pixels resolution, capable of rendering about 16.77 million colors. Whatever you do, just don’t let this digital photo frame under direct sunlight, because the images will become really washed, even with the incorporated light sensor. Sony didn’t exactly give too much thought about the brightness of the screen under direct sunlight, since the photo frames are designed for indoor use only. Since this digital photo frame enables the MP3 rendering files, Sony also included stereo speakers. Because the design is so light weighted and thin, the speakers offer weak power, with obviously no bass (offering bass is not the brilliant idea for a digital photo frame because of the balance it can create).
In case the 128 MB will not be sufficient (because we all know that is not sufficient to hold 10 songs and a photo library) Sony included one memory card slot compatible with both Memory Stick memory card and Memory Stick PRO memory card, basically up to 4 GB (but it works with the 8 GB model as well). One of the most interesting features is the Wi-Fi enabled with the IEEE 802.11 b/g profile. This feature should really help you stream music, stay up to date with the latest events, and get real time updates from Google Picasa web albums. Even more good news for anyone who wants to buy this device, the VAIO Wi-Fi Photo frame is currently on sale for $249.99 price tag (which basically means $50 less than the asking price of $299.99). if you are interested in buying it you should make an order.
However, if you still think it is too expensive just wait a few more weeks, because with the economic crisis, the manufacturers are going to drop the prices closer to December. A different digital photo frame, not only in design, specs, but also in terms of price is the 7 inches digital photo frame with the DPF V700 model number. This digital photo frame also sports several key features such as the 15 to 9 aspect ratio, HDMI port, auto image correction, auto image rotation, Bluetooth enabled, and memory card slot. Sony offers this digital photo frame in two colors, black or white. Even so, this frame looks wonderful. However, the black will certainly make it look more stylish, thanks to the glossy finish.
Because this is a digital photo frame I believe that a glossy finish is not so much of a problem, since you don’t touch every hour or two the frame. Therefore, you will not get any any fingerprints or minor scratches on the frame. The glossy finish can be considered a drawback in case of the mobile phones, multimedia devices, and laptops.
This digital photo frame it doesn’t just look good but it also sports a solid build. You can use it in either portrait mode or landscape mode, and easily control every setting with the remote control included in the sale package. Even the remote control is solid built offering a good user experience (it includes several navigational buttons, but also several editing buttons for a better rendering of the photos). With a height of 162 mm, wide of 245 mm, and deep of 38.5 mm (including stand 145 mm), this digital photo frame weights about 800 grams.
The included display is a LCD panel with a Wide VGA resolution of 800 x 480 pixels (the screen size is 152 mm x 91 mm, with 7 inches screen diagonal). The DPF V700 includes one Type A USB port, and one Type B USB port. The LCD panel can display maximum 48 megapixel photos. Beside the USB ports, the connectivity is also ensured by the Bluetooth 2.0 with the enhanced data rate, HDMI port (to share images and slideshows on a HDTV LCD using the full high definition 1080 quality) and also available is a memory card slot (compatible with 23 memory card such a Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MMC, RS MMC, MMC Plus, xD picture card – all types, and many other more). The onboard memory of 512 MB, 400 MB available for photo library should be enough for 1000 photos.
You are also available to copy any photo between memory card and internal memory (both directions are available). Beside the action buttons found on the actual frame (such as power on and off, or menu, and enter), you get several other functions available by using the remote, such as zoom in and out, delete, rotate images, auto touch up, full screen, fit screen, and portrait mode, landscape mode, and auto orientation.
The compatible photos are the ones encoded in JPEG, TIFF and BMP. If you are a MacBook user you should be aware that a proper connection between this digital photo frame and your laptop might never happen. However, the rest of the Microsoft users will have no problems if using the Windows Vista, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows 2000 Professional with either Service Pack 3 or Service Pack 4. Overall this digital frame has enough features to offer in a great design for only $139.99 price tag. Overall, both of these two products are good. In the future articles I am going to write about others digital photo frames, so that you can chose the proper one you would like to buy as a present for this Christmas.
Posted in Electronic Gadgets | 1 Comment »
Saturday, October 24th, 2009
Many people believe that there is no step further in displays for either TV or computers. However, this is nobody’s fault that some people literally have no clue about technology, the current direction and the future trend. Few people have access or desire to prospect the current science projects which will determine the future television for instance.
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This example is, however, too commercial, since the implications of new technology (even for something apparently small as displays) could represent a milestone is our further technological evolution. I understand that nowadays people are more interested in simple daily objectives, like waking up in the morning, having breakfast, go to work, work out or shop for relaxations, do house work and so many other logical and everyday elements included in everyone’s daily routine. However, we must be open-minded when it comes to the future.
We just can’t overlook what is going on in the world and not just for political and economical world but also science and medical world. This process of acknowledging only takes 10 minutes a day. For instance how many of you know the latest
Sony first OLED TV product, how it works, what it is, and why is so important. My guess is that only fans or pros know all the answers. This
Sony TV sports not only the title of
OLED TV but also the name. Unusual at least, but then again we are talking about Sony.
Therefore, strange names and excellent designs are a common feature. The key features for this TV are the outstanding contrast (with an unreal and unseen by now contrast ratio of 1.000.000 to 1, making the movies scenes extremely real with the black and white contrast), the color reproduction (tanks to the latest Sony technology, Super Top Emissions), high brightness (never seen before within the OLED technology), extremely fast response time, unusual yet excellent resolution, eco friendly (by boasting an energy efficiency program), organic material, and the tilt feature (allowing you to tilt the screen 55 degrees backward or 15 degrees forward).
The
Sony OLED TV boasts an excellent form factor and beautiful stylish design, the OLED panel being suspended by a slim stainless steel pedestal (flexible to allow tilt of the screen). The actual screen is a work of art not only when used but also when closed with an incredible depth value of 3 mm. The base of the OLED TV sports several nice features. In terms of design it is well built with excellent materials completing the design.
Sony offers an impressive design package not to mention the hardware specification. In case you were wondering, OLED is also known as
Organic Light Emitting Diode. There are two types of OLED technology by this day, the polymer OLED and the small molecule OLED. The OLED TV sports the second type of technology mainly because this means a better screen life. The future holds a merger between the OLED technology and the TFT technology, called Organic TFT.
This technology will allow the creation of flexible plastic displays, which will significantly improve all the devices on the market not only in form factor but also in tech improvement. The Sony OLED TV includes within its base unit several connections, improving the normal connection department. Therefore, you get not one but two HDMI ports (supports 1080p/60, CEC capable), a DMe Service, the DC in jack, the analog and digital audio out, the VHF, UHF cable, and a memory card slot compatible with Memory Stick PRO memory cards.
In the video department the
Sony OLED TV includes beside the over 1.000.000 to 1 contrast ratio, a native resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. For a better picture adjustment Sony included several settings, in terms of mode, picture, color, temperature, noise reduction, sharpness, brightness, and other settings, more advanced such as clear white, live color, black corrector, gamma, and color space. In the audio department you get other interesting features such as the audio and video synch, the excellent Dolby Digital audio, stereo decoder, surround sound system, three different sound modes dynamic, custom, and standard, and the steady sound volume control feature.
The actual screen sports a diagonal of only 11 inches with an aspect ratio of 16 to 9. Most of the features from the video department are shared with the ones from the audio department. The audio power output is only of 2 Watts. So, are you impressed? You should be impressed, this technology is the future. Unfortunately is still too early to say if the
Sony OLED TV is a solid investment, with only one year of warranty. In general the first revolutionary devices are the ones who break the easiest and are the hardest to repair. If you are in general a lucky person, then you shouldn’t have any problems with this TV since it is made by Sony.
The retail box of this product includes beside the actual
OLED TV, the remote control, battery, AC power cord, AC power adapter, cleaning cloth, operating instructions, the 75 ohm coaxial cable, and the warranty card. As you can see this means a full retail package. By the way, the remote control is truly a piece of art, probably one of the best looking and well build remote controls ever made by Sony. Beside the fact that this product is still experimental, yet in a couple of years it will be considered a milestone, there is still another factor to take into consideration, the price.
As you might already thought the
OLED TV doesn’t come cheap, at all. Actually as an objective remark, there are few devices created by Sony with small price tags. In the last years Sony decided to improve its devices by bringing excellent performances and stylish, solid build, designs. Even so, the production costs were so high (since all this evolution process happened overnight) that the final price tags off all the new products, especially the ones which include new technology, were substantially raised, making Sony an expensive product manufacturer.
These can easily be implied only by revealing the Sony’s OLED TV price tag, $2.499.99, which in these economic crisis means poor sales, and probably discontinuing this line for a few years until the technology will become more affordable. Whatever the future might hold up, Sony’s OLED TV is truly an important device in the display direction and future technologic evolution.
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Friday, October 23rd, 2009
No matter if you are a gadget hunter, or you just want a special present for your friend’s birthday, I think that UsefulThings can help you. This website offers a range of gadgets, which can be purchased for personal use, but very good offered as gifts too.
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UsefulThings, as the name suggests also, is an online shop where you can find a lot of useful items, for house, office, travel, kitchen. The special thing is that all of these objects have something different from the common version of the same object. Even if the difference is about the color, the shape or it has an improvement, I think that these items are special in their own way. You can find objects which make the place you live in more friendly, or they add a crazy note to your office. You can also find funny useful kitchen gadgets too. These items are great gifts for gadget fans, who want to have strange and useful (not all the time useful) things.
The best thing about these items you can buy on
UsefulThings is that they can be offered to a wide range of people, beginning with your friends and family, and in last instance, you can find a cosy and elegant present even for your boss.
Personally, I would like to have in my house or in my office a Conceal Bookshelf, because it is such an elegant solution for storing books. I think you can place there all types of books, but if you have that shelf next to the sofa or the place where you spend some relaxation time, you can place there your favorite books, or those you are currently reading.
Another interesting item is the Glass Measuring Cup, which on one hand shows the quantities and their values, and on the other hand brings some interesting facts in front of our chef eyes. If have ever wondered how much 5,000 drops of water is, you can easily find out with this measuring cup. It’s cool and geeky!
Check out their products, and let us know which one you liked most!
Posted in Funny Gadgets, House Gadgets, Office Gadgets | No Comments »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
If you like photography, and especially if you like exposing images around, then you might want a special type of frame for your cool photographs. GrowFrame is the latest concept of photo frames, and it is an innovative idea which allows you to expose images grouping them somehow. The frames are made of wood and they can stick together due to a magnetic insertion, which is invisible, and actually, the whole sticking process is described by the producers as…magic.
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This concept allows you placing photos in new forms and new places in your house or office. If you don’t have, for example, a picture with all your friends together, you can put an image of a friend in one frame, and then “stick” them together so you can have a group photo.
There are three main types of grow frames: squares, standard and panoramic frames. Each square can hold a 2.5x 2.5 inch photograph, and I could say this is the most modular
GrowFrame.This original frame can be purchased only from the GrowShow frame store. You can use this square frame alone or combined with other squares or even with the other shapes to get a unique framing solution. These frames are held together by the powerful hidden magnets and they can be arranged in limitless vertical, horizontal or multi-dimensional configurations, in order to decorate any space.
Standard GrowFrame is designed for 4”x6” prints in a practical and innovative manner. Just like the other two frames, the frame can be used alone or in combination with other Standard frame, or even with the other shapes, for all panoramic and long format prints. GrowFrame Standard offers a flexible framing solution both for desk and wall applications. All frames are made of hardwood, which offers the frame rich finishes.
The panoramic frame, or on its “scene” name, Timelapse frame, is handcrafted out of solid wood. This frame can be used to display photographic sequences and it can display 6 photos (in the 12” model), but there are also 24” and 36” lengths constructions. These frames offer a real panoramic experience in one place. All Timelapse frames have magnetic endcaps which allow you to add other frames, if you want to continue the sequence began in one frame. The Timelapse frame can be purchased only in combination with the slideshow of images you can create on producer’s website. The general idea and I think that the basic concept is that you can display images which illustrate children’s growth process or evolution generally ( a flower blooming, a tree growing and of course, a child growing).
All three frames, when purchased, come with 2 additional component pieces:Â a solid easel stand, which allows frames to stand on a desk, a table, or any flat surface, and an angle segment, which allows multiple frames to be angled in various positions on the table, without the easel stand.
You can purchase any of these frames online, on producer’s website, and they offer a great opportunity to create your “grow” slideshows too. If you want to illustrate your children’s childhood, this is the best idea, because you can expose as many images as you wish, in an original manner.
Posted in Funny Gadgets, House Gadgets, Office Gadgets | No Comments »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
It is remarkable how much technology evolved so fast. In about five years most of the existing devices have gotten a serious upgrade becoming more high tech that we could probably expected. However, new gadgets are still not released on the market, most manufacturers waiting for the economic crisis to diminish its proportions, and also most manufacturers wait for 2010 before releasing new products (Apple for example who is still yet undecided when in 2010 will release the Apple tablet, trying to reinstate the success of the iPod in the beginning of 2001).
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In a previous article I have presented the Sony’s Webbie HD line which is the entry level line in the camcorder line. However, the Webbie’s are not exactly camcorders, but more a point and shoot video camera.
On the opposite side of
Sony’s portfolio you can find the high definition video camcorders, some with normal features, and some with features you couldn’t probably imagine a few years ago. In this line, with a normal design for a camcorder and average specs (although for many, this camera could be considered the high end model) you can find the
120 GB High Definition Handycam camcorder.
In terms of keys features, this Sony camcorder includes high definition video recording in 1920 x 1080 pixels, 120 GB onboard memory, GPS receiver, 12 megapixel photo resolution, and the CMOS sensor: 1 / 2.88 inches Exmor R. in terms of design this 120 GB Handycam sports a solid design. With an all black matte plastic body (which doesn’t feel cheap at all, basically because is a superior plastic), this camcorder looks quite good because of the metallic silver finishes.
The opening panel sports all the necessary logos,
“HD”, “Sony”, “Handycam“, and the light grey inserts with “12.0 megapixel” and “HDD” logos. On the case you still get some interesting touches like the metallic look on the top side of the camcorder, the “Sony” logo under the 12 megapixels lenses, and the list could go on. Overall, Sony didn’t try to create the most stylish camcorder on the market, but it did create a nice looking design with an excellent build which not only looks solid, but feels solid also.
You get no flex or weird noises when you press the camcorder more than you should. With a height of 71 mm (or 2 7/8 inches), wide of 75 mm (3 inches), deep of 137 mm (5 ½ inches), the 120 GB High Definition Handycam camcorder weights about 580 grams (or 1 lb 4 oz) with the battery. Regarding the battery department, Sony included a NP FH60 Lithium Ion battery with Accu Power Meter System.
While using the camcorder the power consumption should only arise at 4.4 Watt. An important feature in any camcorder is the LCD screen. Sony included in this model a 3.2 inches wide screen diagonal LCD, with the Extra Fine technology and an aspect ratio of 16 to 9. This LCD is not only bright under any environment conditions, but it also provides vibrant colors, including excellent image rendering, with almost one megapixel resolution, to be more exact 921000 pixels. Even more, the viewing angles are quite good offering good user experience under any necessary video or photo conditions.
In regarding the inputs and outputs on the 120 GB Sony camcorder, you should probably guessed by now that there are a lot of slots, ports and jack, since this camcorder has to be extremely well featured. Therefore, you get the S Video, Audio and component with the remote option into the same Audio and Video remote terminal. Also, the Audio output and Video output share the same jack, while the digital HDMI port only accepts HDMI connectors.
You get one 2.0 USB slot which will enable the camcorder’s connection to any computer that sports the compatible operating system. Also, added around the camcorders case are the component video outputs, headphone jack, microphone input, S video output, and the active interface Shoe (which basically allows you to connect any compatible accessories, like special microphones, or external lights, which will expand the camcorder’s capabilities).
Other excellent features, which are not lenses or optics related, are the
120 GB embedded hard drive, which can easily provide up to 48 hours of high definition video recording. Also, you can save even more hours depending on the recording format chosen. Therefore, let’s take a closer look to the available recording formats.
Basically all the recorded video can be stored (depending on the recorded format) with the following video encoding, MPEG4 with the H.264 / AVC (for the high definition video format), or the MPEG2 (for the slow definition recording format). The embedded 120 GB memory can store about 870 minutes with the FH (HD), 1770 minutes with the HQ (HD), up to 2150 minutes in SP (HD), 2870 in LP (HD), up to 1770 minutes HQ (in SD), 2620 minutes in SP (SD), and up to 5020 minutes in LP (SD). If the embedded memory is not enough you can always expand the memory with an memory card, Memory Stick PRO Duo Media. Another excellent feature is the built in GPS receiver.
Therefore, you can easily take this camcorder in any travel or trip since it will be more useful than you might think. Also, beside pointing the right direction or showing the current location, this GPS receiver will also tag (if you wish) the photos with not only the date and time, but also with the location. Other excellent features, beside the soon to be mentioned optics, are the face detection feature, the excellent optical image stabilization (Steady Shot), the smile shutter technology, Dynamic range optimizer, the preset scene modes for a better user experience (such as the snow mode, portrait mode, auto mode, candle mode, twilight mode, firework mode, landscape mode, spotlight mode, sunrise mode, and sunset mode). Probably one of the most important features offered by a camcorder is the dual record capture.
Basically this feature only works with the lenses set at 8.3 megapixels, but even so, isn’t it extremely practical to take images while recording videos without pausing anything. Just take pictures with one shooting mode and with the other shooting mode record continuously videos. Another smart move from Sony is the Dolby Digital 5 in 1 channel recording. Therefore, you are not only getting excellent videos but also great digital sound to complete the recording experience, pushing this camcorder beyond any limits from the average amateur camcorder line to almost high line.
If you are only interested in overlooking a recent video recorded, just open the LCD display (the camcorder will power on automatically) and user the great user interface to find the specific video by searching it by selected criteria. In terms of handling and usability you should have no problems in recording or using special controls since they are all well added on the LCD cover.
As a general view of the technical features, this camcorder sports a 1 / 2.88 inches Exmor R CMOS sensor, with the BIONZ image processor. The effective still resolution is about 12 megapixel, with G lens, and in 16 to 9 aspect ratio 43 mm to 516 mm, while in 4 to 3 aspect ratio 52 mm to 624 mm. the aperture included is varying from F1.8 to F3.4, while the total digital zoom reaches 150, with a focal distance starting from 5.5 mm up to 66 mm.
The available optical zoom is about 12x, while the shutter speed can vary depending on the scene selection form 1/8 to 1/800. The maximum video resolution is limited to 1920 x 1080 pixels, with to video aspect ratio, 16 to 9 or 4 to 3.
No need to worry about further editing of all your photos or videos since you get several important features for a good camcorder, such as low light capability, face index, x.v color, fade effect, slide show mode, and even Bravia sync technology (just use the HDMI port and connect your camcorder to your
Bravia LCD for a full user experience).
This Sony device is compatible with several operating systems, such as Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4, Windows XP 32 bit Service Pack 3, and the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (both 32 bit and 36 bit). However, if you own a Mac computer don’t bother connecting this camcorder to your Leopard operating system or Snow Leopard operating system, since it won’t work. In this case your only solution is to install boot camp and use the Windows operating system when connecting the camcorder to your Mac computer.
Sony added in the shipping box beside the actual camcorder and battery pack, the AC adaptor, the component audio and video cable, the CD software, the audio and video connecting cable, the USB cable, and the remote commander. Overall, the Sony 120 GB High Definition Handycam camcorder is an excellent device packing more than enough features and specs to please anyone who is looking for a good balanced amateur – professional camcorder. However, this device doesn’t come cheap at all, with the $1299.99 price tag, you should really think twice about your budget before purchasing it.
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