Ngadgeti Blog

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3

TomTom GO 720: A GPS that’s Always Up to Date
2007-10-19 12:59:00
Keeping GPS maps and POIs (points of interest) up to date is a gargantuan task. TomTom tries to alleviate this problem with its innovative Map Share technology, along with a little help from drivers like you.When you first power up the TomTom GO 720, you notice a new Map Corrections icon in the main menu. From here, you can make edits such as reversing traffic direction, changing a street name, and adding or augmenting POIs. You can also specify which types of changes you’d like to download: yours, those verified by TomTom, or ones from “trusted sources.” The included USB dock makes it simple to connect to your PC for updates.The 7.8-ounce GO 720 sports a sleek new design, too: a 4.3-inch WQVGA touch screen display and a Bluetooth speakerphone interface. Its GPS receiver performed on a par with those of other devices using the ubiquitous SiRFstarIII, and there were no surprises in my road tests.The TomTom Jukebox media player is the best I’ve seen in a PND, offering a variet...
More About: Always

Fuji FinePix Z5fd: Ultracompact With Awesome Auto Controls
2007-10-19 12:20:00
A sturdy build, quick performance, and useful advanced automatic features give this Fuji 6.3-megapixel ultracompact a big competitive edge.Stylish and available in four colors, the Z5fd has a sliding front cover that acts as the power switch and also protects the lens and built-in fl ash. Geared toward auto-shooting, the camera features 12 scene modes, as well as a mode that takes a quick pair of shots—one with fl ash and one without—and lets you save the one you prefer. Its 3X zoom lens has a focal length of 36mm to 108mm, with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 on the wide end and f/4.2 when zoomed in. The Z5fd’s 2.5-inch LCD is flexible in that you can adjust its brightness and refresh rate.In both daylight and flash shots, images were well exposed and exhibited realistic color. One serious problem, however, was the heavy processing that left visible noise in my images. At the camera’s maximum ISO setting (1600), this noise made images look more like pastel drawings than like ph...
More About: Awesome , Auto , Some

Apple Ipod Touch: A New Player Masterpiece
2007-10-17 16:21:00
When the iPhone came out in June, many people (including me) loved it but wanted it without the phone—and without that pesky two-year AT&T Wireless contract. With the new iPod touch, the company has answered our prayers and even added a Wi-Fi version of the iTunes Music Store. Now you can download tracks anywhere there’s Wi-Fi.Apple has announced a partnership with Starbucks that enables iPhone and touch owners to purchase songs they hear in Starbucks stores via Wi-Fi. It would be nice if the Wi-Fi store offered video purchases—currently its music only. And, yes, the earbuds still suck. But these are my only complaints, and they’re minor. The relatively hefty prices don’t bug me either. Why? Because this is probably the best portable media player ever made.On the iPod touch and iPhone, navigation of the music, video, and photo menus is identical, as is the excellent combo of the multitouch screen and the Safari Web browser. Both players load and sync with iTunes and ca...
More About: Ipod , Player , Touch , Masterpiece

Sony PSP (model 2000): Slimmer, Faster Mobile Gaming
2007-10-17 15:39:00
Slimmed down and souped up, Sony ’s latest handheld gaming device offers some welcome improvements over its predecessor. It boasts more RAM to make game load times a little faster, and it’s now able to output video straight to your TV.At 2.8 by 6.6 by 0.6 inches (HWD) the new PSP has been streamlined, and its sleekness is noticeable when compared with the original (which measures 2.9 by 6.7 by 0.9 inches). The major difference between the two devices, however, is that the new PSP feels much lighter. Weighing 6.7 ounces, it’s a third lighter than its predecessor. Those seasoned by hours of game play on the original model will feel the difference instantly.A new A/V port serves two purposes. Since the port uses the 3.5mm minijack format, it can be used with any standard headset for listening. The port also doubles as a video-out: A special cable (sold separately for about $20) lets you output your PSP games, videos, movies, and photos directly to your television or any LCD monito...
More About: Gaming , Mobile , Model , Bile

HTC Advantage: Phone, Laptop in One
2007-10-17 15:03:00
At 12.7 ounces, this massive device is meant to be an über-PDA—a handheld for adventurous computer enthusiasts who wish they could inject their Treo with steroids. It can replace a laptop in more situations than any other smartphone on the market, but it doubles as a phone only when you wear a headset or use the speakerphone.Though the Advanta ge’s top-end 624-MHz Marvell PXA270 processor aced our benchmark tests, the unit still felt pokey. But built-in HSDPA and Wi-Fi didn’t disappoint, grabbing speeds approximating 700 Kbps on the AT&T network. The device’s keyboard is big, but fl at and soft.The Advantage makes a handy in-car GPS, thanks to its big 5-inch screen and TeleNav’s built-in GPS Navigator 5.1 software. One button press gets TeleNav to reroute you around tie-ups. The device runs Windows Mobile, so you can sync e-mail, calendar, and contacts with Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007, and the unit can receive push Exchange e-mail. Office Mobile still needs work, t...
More About: Phone , Laptop

Motorola Q9m (Verizon): Sophisticated, but Sluggish
2007-10-17 13:55:00
This latest smartphone for Verizon pairs excellent call quality with a top-notch keyboard, making it a strong Windows Mobile choice. I just wish it felt a little quicker.The Q9m’s keyboard is the biggest change from the old Motorola Q. The larger, rectangular keys are easier to settle your fingers on (which helps prevent mistyping), and they depress with satisfying clicks. All but the most ham-handed will fl y over this smartphone's keyboard.A superior phone, the Q9m has very strong reception. The earpiece and especially the speakerphone are unusually loud and clear, and ringtones sound terrific.Verizon has updated the Q9m with a lot of useful new software. At the head of the pack is DataViz DocumentsToGo for Windows Mobile 6, which lets you view PDFs and view, edit, and create Microsoft Offi ce documents. Also, it’s Word-, Excel-, and PowerPoint-compatible apps are refreshing oases of cutting and pasting. Verizon’s new media-player home screen is less accommodating, but you ...
More About: Izon

Samsung i450: Dual Slider Smartphone
2007-10-16 14:14:00
After representing their newest fashionable phones some times ago, now Samsung is trying to present the smartphone portfolio. The newest product is Samsung i450.The design concept is adopting Nokia N95 construction: “dual of slider”. Its mean, the up and bottom folder can be shifted at the opposite direction. Bottom side is present the key pad, while the upper is ornamented by great power speaker.Do not like Samsung i620 which using Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Standards Edition for the Operation System, Samsung i450 is uses Symbian Operation System 9.2. And it’s including 60 v3.1 series. TFT screen with 262.000 colors sharpness uses as information display, while the phone resolution is 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA).This smartphone can run in 3G/ HSDPA network, and has two cameras. The main it’s already powered with 2 megapixel cameras, meanwhile the addition camera has VGA type to execute video call feature.Samsung i450 is provides 1 GB capacities storage media. There is also ava...
More About: Smartphone , Slider , Dual

Philips Xenium 9@9z: Simple Feature with Powerful Battery
2007-10-16 13:42:00
Reliable battery endurance and elegant designs still becoming reference for Philips in presenting the newest models. Through its newest series: Xenium 9@9z, Philips tries to offering the simple communication services but still at best quality.The phone physical display reminding us to previous Xenium series: 9@9w and 9@9f. Candybar form with silver list in the navigation button. The circular construction with dimension 9,6 x 4,2 x 1,7 cm, makes Xenium 9@9z looks more tiny.Not many feature can be exceeded from this dualband network phone. Xenium 9@9z only figure the FM radio and MP3 player as its main feature. The phone screen is still relying on CSTN type, but its sharpness already has 65.000 colors.On this series Philips not integrated with the camera and the internet browser. To accommodate the message feature, Xenium 9@9z power is supplied by 890 mAh Lhitium Ion battery. For once times charging, this battery claimed ready to provide 1 month.Check This Out:LG KG280, LG KE500, LG K...
More About: Battery , Feature , Simple , Feat

EIZO FlexScan S2111W: Stunning Monitor for Imaging Pros
2007-10-16 13:10:00
Not your typical 21-inch widescreen monitor, this 1,680-by-1,050 resolution LCD offers outstanding image quality. Just fire up the EIZO FlexScan S2111W and you’ll see one of the brightest monitors around, with color and grayscale reproduction perfectly suited to the graphics professional.The S2111W’s superior performance comes from using a Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (SPVA) panel instead of the Twisted Nematic (TN+) film technology in must LCDs. Although the pixel response times of an SPVA panel don’t quite match those of a TN+ panel, the SPVA panel does allow the S2111W to display even the subtlest shades of light and dark gray, as well as primary and secondary colors that are vivid and rich in tone. Other EIZO technologies such as Outline and Contrast Enhancers make still images even sharper and more detailed.Supporting the S2111W is an ArcSwing2 stand, which lets you tilt, swivel, and adjust the height of the screen but not pivot it to portrait mode. Two HDCP-complia...
More About: Monitor , Stunning , Imaging , Eizo

Nikon Coolpix P5000: Compact Camera with Control
2007-10-15 18:46:00
With a wide range of exposure controls and a comfortable and efficient design, the 10-megapixel Coolpix P5000 is an ideal everyday companion for experienced photographers.The P5000has a nice selection of modes, including High ISO and Anti Shake, either of which can be used to reduce blur in low-light or action shots. You get a lot of flexibility when shooting at the wide end of the camera's zoom range – 36mm – with ten aperture settings. This combined with the P5000’s effective lens-based optical image stabilization and its maximum ISO of 2000, make it a versatile low-light photographic tool. The camera includes a hot shoe and a variety of flash settings as well. Whatever the lighting situation you're dealing with, you’ll appreciate the P5000’s high-quality LCD- particularly its wide viewing angle.In testing, I found that colors were realistic, and the automatic white balance didn't produce any color casts. Video quality was quite good for a compact camera, although aud...
More About: Camera , Nikon , Control , Compact

iRobot Roomba 560: A Better Robot Vacuum
2007-10-13 04:33:00
The latest robot vacuum from iRobo t takes a while to get the job done, but it does boast a slew of new features and improvements.Though it still relies on a floor-situated Home Base for charging, the Roomba 560 is now beefier in size and weighs a full 8 pounds. The 560’s round, flat body is propelled by two primary wheels, each with its own motor and suspension system. The wheels are larger than in previous versions, allowing the 560 to ride higher off the ground. In addition, iRobot claims that the wheels’ motors provide more torque than ever before, helping the 560 power over plush carpeting and area rugs.Other upgrades include a bigger dust tray (30 percent bigger, in fact) and a redesigned spinning wall brush for a longer reach. Better yet, the main chassis housing the Roomba’s sensors is now sealed, protecting against overload from dirt and debris. Also new; an onboard scheduler that lets you program the 560 to clean automatically, and a multi-room cleaning function that ...
More About: Vacuum

Netropa Intellinav 3: GPS That’s Priced to Move
2007-10-13 04:10:00
Not only does Netropa’s latest navigation device cost less than many other GPS products, it also comes with plenty of features usually found in pricier machines.Measuring 3.2 by 4.0 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and weighing 6.8 ounces, including the built-in lithium ion rechargeable battery, the Intellinav 3 is relatively slim and trim. Unfortunately, though, the device’s 3.5- inch touch screen has a reflective surface, making it difficult to view the display under bright, sunny conditions. Running the system is the Windows CE 5.0 OS and a SiRFstarIII GPS receiver.A fat 2GB memory card holds a POI (points of interest) database with six million entries and includes data for Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as for the U.S. Historical traffic patterns are also stored and can be used for calculating more efficient routes. The device also offers a pedestrian profile.On the road, the Intellinav 3’s text-to-speech engine did a good job of pronouncing street names, and ...
More About: Move

Samsung LN-T5265F: An HD Detail Destroyer
2007-10-13 03:47:00
Here’s a set that proves that 1080p resolution doesn’t always guarantee a great picture. Though on paper this colorful and high-contrast 52-inch LCD HDTV has everything needed to produce a stunningly sharp picture, out of the box its high-def imagery was fuzzy, and efforts to solve the problem through a software upgrade further complicated the situation.Removing the LN-T5265F from its factory-sealed cardboard box revealed a fully assembled HDTV complete with a rectangular-shaped swivel stand. The LCD’s glossy black bezel sports an unobtrusive Samsung logo and soft blue light centered along the lower edge. But when checking the viewing ingle, I saw noticeable loss of color saturation at 15 degrees off-axis that became worse at 20 degrees.Samsung’s new T-series LCD now contains some menu options that were long overdue. At the top of the list of new items is a Just Scan picture size mode that attempts to display every pixel of an HD video signal. I say “attempts,” because i...
More About: Destroyer

Canon PowerShot SD750: Stylish Simplicity
2007-10-13 03:13:00
Like the PowerShot SD1000, our current Editors' Choice for compact cameras, the SD750 features 7-megapixel resolution and a 3X optical zoom, and it has a similar “box and circle” design. The differences between the two models are subtle: For example, the SD750 lacks the optical viewfinder found on the SD1000. In addition, the SD750 is a bit bigger and sports a more contoured, stylized design plus a larger, 3-inch LCD.On my tests, color was excellent and vibrant, though not quite as sharp as on the SD1000, and there was just a small amount of fringing. Otherwise, the camera had very good dynamic range, with good contrast and a strong flash that didn't blowout highlights. When recording video, the SD750 showed pleasing color and good contrast too, picked up sound well, and adjusted quickly to different lighting situations. It also performed well, registering a very speedy 1.6- second boot-up time and virtually no shutter lag. In burst made, the came can shoot continuously to the...
More About: Canon , Stylish , Simplicity , Canon Powershot , Powers

B&W Zeppelin: Stratospheric Sound and Design
2007-10-11 10:02:00
B&W’s graceful new iPod dock provides excellent audio, but it's large and heavy. Yes, this Zeppelin sports a glowing LED behind its cloth grill. But for $600, most consumers expect a ferature- packed dock like Chestnut Hill Sound 's George, which has an excellent remote that replicates the iPod's interface, radio, programmable alarms, and very customizable EQ settings.The Zeppelin weighs 16 pounds and measures 8.2 by 25.2 by 6.8 inches (HWD). Though it looks and sounds amazing, it doesn't offer much in the way of extras. There's no radio or alarm clock, and don’t expect to browse your iPod's library on the egg-shaped. screen-less remote. But S-Video and composite-video outs let you view iTunes videos on your TV while listening through the Zep. Bass from the 2.1 system is powerful without getting muddy, and each left and right channel has a woofer and tweeter to ensure that frequencies from the low midrange and higher tight and clear.The main reason to buy this dock, how...
More About: Design