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Sony DPF-D70 Review: Contemporary Design and Fun
2008-03-21 10:51:00
For you that like to display photo at desk, this is the time move to more sophisticated media, namely digital frame. One of them is Sony DPF-D70. Besides having great full color display, your photo can be saved with secure in digitally.Through 7 inches color LCD, with high resolution (800x400 pixel) plus aspect ratio 15:9, photo displayed seen so contrast and more life. You save until 500 pictures. Because this digital frame already planted with big enough (256 MB) internal memory. To maximize storage space, it’s available image resizing ability.This peripheral provides multiple display, nine styles slideshow, clock, calendar and single image and index view mode. Moreover, most of memory card format is supports by this digital frame. This photo gadget can present 48 MB and 100MB picture, including JPEG and RAW format (SRF, SR2, ARW is preview only).Sony DPF-D70 Review :Features :- 7" Digital Photo Frame with 800x480 resolution, 15:9 aspect ratio LCD Screen.- 256MB of internal memor...
More About: Design , Contemporary

GPS Mio DigiWalker C230 Review: Max Navigation Gadget
2008-03-21 10:43:00
Personal navigation peripheral become has more variant. One of it is C230 Car Navigation System from Mio Technology Corporation. The product which has got prestigious award from IF Design Award 2008 has elegant oval form, packed with grey nuance exterior.This minimalist style GPS intentionally designed for entry level segment. But don’t be wrong, at Mio C230 is already planted with intuitive touchscreen interface, so it can guide the user optimally. Start from direction, destination until routes.Through it compact form and dimension (9x8,4x2,4 cm), Mio C230 is so portable and comfort if inserted to pocket. This peripheral can be said flexible to be used everywhere, including in car. Mio C230 also provides alternative mode for navigation in bus, bicycle or when brought to walks.Another feature of Mio C230 is the voice guidance feature that will assist to point the user towards location which will be accessed. Without need to see the screen, user eye can be focus to drive.GPS Mio Di...
More About: Review , Gadget

SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus: Flash Drive with Online Data Backup
2008-03-21 10:28:00
Fear of valuable data loss for USB flash drive user, of course is reasonable. But, the present of new series ‘Cruzer Titanium Plus' from SanDisk, at least can be made as anticipation.This data storage peripheral is equipped by automatic ability to back up the data by online to BelnSync server via Amazon Web Services technology.For securities problem, this service supported with device password protection and hardware AES encryption. So, you can easily access it from the peripheral directly and also by online.With the assist of special software planted, Cruzer Titanium Plus can restore back the data which accidentally deleted from memory. Moreover, newest flash drive technology, namely Windows® ReadyBoost® also planted to increase it performance when connected to Windows® Vista.At physical sector, titanium metal selected to protect this flash drive from various extreme conditions. So it’s unnecessary that it will fast to broken because fall, or crashed by hard object.In sale ...
More About: Flash , Backup , Flash Drive , Drive , Data

Motorola EQ5 Review: Mini Portable Speaker
2008-03-21 10:16:00
Motorola starts to enter the portable speaker market. This phone vendor launches a Portable Wireless Speaker , called Motorola EQ5. Not far different with the other competitor, the gadgets which relying on Bluetooth connectivity can place forward freedom of activity without cable disturb.Motorola EQ5 offers stereo voice quality allied by stylishly display. Black color and thin box body, makes it nice enough to see. Some buttons which placed in front, facilitates user to use its function maximally.With dimension 11,6x6,5x1,5 cm and weight 100 grams, likely represents what a compact of Motorola EQ5 to be brought everywhere. This thing, at the same time express how easy enjoying music and receives a call even we are n the middle of activity.When sited side by side with phone, Motorola EQ5 can functioned double-duty as speakerphone with echo-cancellation and noise-reduction, so that clear voice quality will be gotten when receiving a call. The integration between this music control and c...
More About: Motorola , Review , Mini

Linksys WRT160N and WRT310N Review: Sexy WiFi Router
2008-03-18 13:15:00
Now it’s the time to make your house as space which full of high-speed internet hot spot without disturbing cable. This hot spot can be yielded through a kind of wireless transmitter which able to be put down everywhere.There is various wireless transmitter brands or which more popular called WiFi in market. The new one is made by Linksys . This one of Cisco division launches a couple of router: Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Broadband Router (WRT160N) and Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WRT310N).Both routers are designed to be compact and good looking. It also portable and easy to attached outside the office room. Its body is made without line and sharp and rigid corner.This outside display makes both routers to differ from the other. Its body dint in the middle and forms boundary like wing. Its RangePlus Antenna is planted in body so that no more "horn" which boosts.Both routers have Wireless Access Point, what has four 10/100 switch full-duplex ports. Through this port, a...
More About: Review , Sexy , Wifi

Sansa Fuze Review: iPod Nano New Competitor
2008-03-18 13:02:00
SanDisk, the company from United States, is more familiar with its flash memory product. But, SanDisk have the other product which more interesting to be discussed. It’s the music player and portable media player which called Sansa .Yes, Sansa certainly has interesting history as Apple iPod competitor. Some times ago, SanDisk adds Sansa line with new product so called Sansa Fuze. This new gadget projected to challenge the third generation iPod Nano .Small Fuze is a smart gadget. It can play music, play video, view photo, listen FM radio (40 channel of radio station), play audio book, and becomes voice recorder.All facility wrapped in a simple, tiny, and thin form. The thickness only 0,76 centimeters. This is the combination from various best feature founded at Sansa products before all, including it sound quality.Actually, this music player design is not so special. It has 1,9 inches screen. Below the screen there is a playback button in wheel form and back button to main menu on th...
More About: Ipod , Review , Ipod nano

Acer Aspire 8920G and 6920G Review: Blue Inspiration
2008-03-18 11:05:00
Acer launches a couple of notebook Aspire Gemstone Blue series: 8920G and 6920G. Both are premium class notebook which equipped by high definition screen and blu-ray player.Named blue because of its body design which covered by blue, black, and silver color scheme and accompanied by exterior light effect. On the other side, blue color becomes blu-ray symbol.Both notebooks has multimedia interface feature in its keyboard left side. This feature is very sensitive at touch and useful to arrange and navigated in entertainment menu, including setting the volume and controls the media.Aspire Gemstone 8920G comes up with stylish body. It has 18,4 inches high definition LCD screen with full resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels. This Notebook powered by Intel Centrino Core 2 Duo processor and PM965 Express Chipset.This Notebook is also equipped with Wi-Fi. Besides, Acer planted a couple of hard disk drive which each has 320 GB capacities.It also equipped by blu-ray drive. But, this notebook is sti...
More About: Inspiration , Review , Acer

Olympus FE-270 Review: One Button One Function
2008-03-18 10:39:00
The simplicity in operation button design makes this camera easy and quickly to operated. So, you can more focusing at moment and photo contents.What is the requirement of an amateur photographer which wish to feel the experience of making a picture with digital camera? Certainly is a compact digital camera which easy to operated and equipped by facility which assisting to anticipate difficult situation in photo occasion.Olympus answers the challenges with their newest camera, FE-270. The buttons represents one function only (one button one function) so facilitates user for quickly recognizes and access it. While the automatic photograph configuration (Scene-SCN) assists the user to anticipate specific photo condition with quickly. There are 15 scenes; some between it is a real useful and often to applied like Sport, Night Scene with Portrait, Sunset, and Portrait. Thereby, you will be able to more concentrating at the moment and photo content than get busy at camera various setting...
More About: Review , Button , Function

Live! Interest Notebook Ultra Review: Compact Web Cam for Your Laptop
2008-03-13 14:57:00
If you wish to do video chat, even on the way, you are needed a web camera (webcam) which not only having good video quality, but also clear voice recording. Creative, computer accessory company which based in Singapore, claims has the solution, which is Live ! Interest Notebook Ultra webcam.This webcam has 1,3 megapixel image sensor which capable to record moving object with 1280 x 960 pixels maximum resolution. There is Auto Tuning features, which will automatically accommodate the contrast and picture brightness level so that your video chat would be more optimal. Video yielded is smooth and has 30 frames per second speed. Moreover, this webcam can produced a photo with 5 megapixel (2560 x 1920 pixels) resolution with software help.For the audio quality, Ultra relies on Live! Audio Technology. You will not afraid anymore about noisy sound when doing video chat. Live! Audio and built-in adaptive array microphone will work together to lessens the background noise to transmitted the ...
More About: Laptop , Review

Samsung Watch Phone Review: The Mobile in Watch
2008-03-13 14:25:00
If DoCoMo launch and calls their watch phone technology as wristphone, hence Samsung also give different name to its product that is Watch Phone .Watch Phone applies GSM 800 MHz and 1800 MHz network. Moreover, Samsung also fully equipped it with GPRS and Bluetooth data network package.With OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display) screen 256 colors, dimension 1,2 inches and resolution 96x64 pixel, Samsung has equipped the watch phone with built-in WAP browser. Watch Phone has weight 2,8 ounces and dimension 1,5x2,5x1,7 inches. Watch Phone also has 40 polyphonic ringtone and speaker-phone. Moreover, this Watch Phone also applies battery which having 80 hours stand-by time and 90 minutes talk time.In Hanover, Jerman, Samsung also introduces "Dick Tracy" watch phone. This gadget also supports the voice-dial application, phone book and equipped with 40 polyphonic ringtone. This telephone has weights 80 grams and dimension 37,8 x 64 x 17,7 mm, supports WAP 1,2, Bluetooth and speakerphone te...
More About: Mobile , Review

LG KF600 Review: Interactive Navigation plus Creative Interface
2008-03-12 07:39:00
Big revolution returns to offered by LG through unique interface touch sensor as supporting facilities for navigation. Not like its senior, LG Chocolate, this new series called KF600 do not only planted 'touch sensitive key' for shortcut button. It’s in the special panel form like Samsung SGH E-950 tiny screen. The other word for it is InteractPad.Not half the battle, this touchscreen technology planted in TFT 262k color screen, at 240x176 pixel resolution. The wideness is 1,49 inches. While it main screen diagonal is 2 inches with QVGA resolution.User interface planted is the collaboration result with graffiti artist from Pennsylvania, Keith Haring. It has interesting animation display in both screens.In feature side, this phone still offers the mid-end phone standard ability. There is 3 megapixel cameras, which come with autofocus ability and flash lamp. Audio/video player and FM radio, Bluetooth and USB port connection is available too.What more interesting, 'CrystalTalk' t...
More About: Creative , Review , Interactive , Navigation , Interface

Samsung SGH-F200 Review: Swivel Music Phone
2008-03-12 07:21:00
The combination between music players and phone is an ordinary thing. In fact, addition feature like this is considered to be a feature which most enthused and easy to applied. But what would happen if music player portion is more dominant compared to phone? The answer is on Samsung SGH-F200.SGH-F200 is the newest member from Samsung F music series. If seen from the number, this is the most economical solution compared to its brother: F300 and F500. Music player ability of course becomes the main appeal. But whose expects if its design which draw the attention.F200 is also recognized as swivel phone. Concept like this has been carried by Sony Ericsson S700. But the miracle of F200 is not only centered at its swivel axis. Its camouflage as portable music player successfully closes over its phone impression. All because the detail designs, small size and its supporting display.The main point, F200 is a candybar phone. But because it axis, we also can call it as swivel phone. Its size ...
More About: Phone , Review

Sony Bravia KLV-32S200A Review: Not Yet Full HD
2008-03-10 09:21:00
Between the line of Sony LCD TV product which has placed Bravia processor, S series is the earlier class of Bravia for 32-40 inches screen choice. Like known before, the other series with Bravia engine is X, W, V, and D. Sony KLV-32S200A (S200 variant) which we have tested has 2 inches screen which supporting HDTV display and it’s the cheapest modeling in it class.This 18 kg product locates maximum resolution at 1366 x 768 pixel which mean has not reached Full HD. Like also one type product from Sony, KLV-32S200A also uses Feature Theater Mode which good for balancing the dark area color and keeps the detail. Its sound is also applied SRS TruSurround XT (S-Force) technology so that even only uses stereo mode but its audio output is thus felt surround.The main strength of this LCD TV lays in Bravia Engine (BE) processor what yields visual display in full color and sharply, for watching movie and also plays at game. Even it panel applied only 8-bit and its contrast ratio only 1300:1...
More About: Review , Sony Bravia

Motorola RAZR2 V9 Review: HSDPA in Clamshel
2008-03-10 08:56:00
Another V3 follower presence and offers the thing that can’t be said new anymore. V9 which is the second edition phone from RAZR2 family returns to offers slim design, HDSPA and better interface. Remind us to Motorola previous products.V3 is really phenomenal. Slim design which that time has not been thought is applied so get the best phone award during its time. That thing always used till come out the V3xx which carrying HSDPA high-speed internet connection.Then come up the innovator which called RAZR2 family. This group is famous with more flexible interface. It already planted K-Java OS and also same qualities two displays. V8 was the firstly product.Then now the new edition in V9, all features which mentioned above tried to offer again. It’s come up without variation and just new product with complete feature.RAZR2 V9 is supported by great designs. Form factor of RAZR series which usually applied, clamshell, remain to uses. Not only that, material chooses and glossy effect ...
More About: Review

LG Pearl Black 32LB9R Review: LG LB9 series
2008-03-10 08:38:00
If Samsung have the Bordeaux Plus series, hence LG offers Pearl Black that said have the same quality. The newest model from LG is present through LB9 series which available in 32”, 42”, and 47” size. Our laboratory has an opportunity to tries 32LB9R model (32 inches).Pearl Black 32LB9R figure looks nice in luxuriant glossy black color wrapping. A red color ring in its stand part makes this monitor thus so unique and sweet when put down in desk. This stand also enables the monitor pointed to left and right according to point of view direction. Even so, this 200XD processor monitor display applies In Plan Switching technology which makes picture detail and color seen so clear from every direction. This clearly better if compared to conventional panel which tend seen rough or white if seen from it side.Other interesting facility is the Dynamic Movement which is useful to quicken the change between TV channels. It’s only requiring 5 milliseconds to change the TV channel. LG als...
More About: Series , Review

Cowon D2 Review: Great Design and Performance
2008-03-08 12:08:00
It’s compact, elegant, and less of button. Cowon D2 MP4 player present with white color and silver line which looks so classy and at the same time minimalist. But minimalist impression not means it has minimalist facility. This device which it interface dominated by 2,5” screen carries touch screen like at PDA to operate it. You can use a stylus pen or your finger.What about its performance? Actually, its sound quality is good enough, but it will better if uses better quality earphone. Especially the absence of internal speaker makes you must use earphone. When playing video, the picture also looks clear and bright. Scene run smooth enough. Unsatisfied with the picture size presented? Just connect the player to TV with A/V cable which unhappily must be bought separately.As the complement there is also FM radio, voice recorder, picture viewer, and text reader. This gadget has 2 GB memory capacity (available also 4GB) and can be added again with external memory card. It’s potent...
More About: Design , Performance , Review , Great

Fuji Xerox DocuPrint C3290 FS Review: Multifunction Color laser
2008-03-08 12:01:00
Recently Fuji Xerox just launches new multifunction color laser for small office through DocuPrint C3290 FS. This product suited to do many duties because can do a printing office all at once with scan and fax process. Documents scan process also can be share directly to a number of acceptors at the same time so that more efficient.From its design, DocuPrint C3290 FS gives quite a lot of button but it informative function categorizing makes navigation seen compact. A 4 line LCD is function as information or multifunction status for various menu and toner indicator. Even included a business product but this 41 kg product is including multifunction laser which economizing in electrics consuming (500 watts) compared to model as of its class.For print processing, DocuPrint C3290 FS uses MIPS 400MHz and ARM Twin (ARM9 150MHz x2) processor with 256MB standard memory which able to be added again becomes 768MB. Because this processor, DocuPrint C3290 FS print performance is assuring enough ...
More About: Color , Laser , Review

Archos 704 WiFi Review: WiFi Portable Media Player
2008-03-08 11:37:00
The presence of Archos 704 WiFi Portable Multimedia Player can be said fills the losing gap between multimedia players and mobile computer. Armed with 40 GB internal harddisk (available also 80 GB) and 7 inches touch screen, makes it as phenomenal gadget which promising various great entertainment facilities.Compared to the previous series, Archos 704 WiFi design still having similarity (including it weight), only minus of button at main interface. In left side there is two power button and TV/LCD output choice which located beside adaptor and earphone port. It internal speaker performance which present below the screen is can be said standard.The other main feature, Archos704 is equipped by wireless connection so that can be applied to browsing in internet. Looks for hotspot and set the Wi-Fi connection is done easily. You can direct connected to internet and browsing or download file through Opera browser. Unhappily, this gadget doesn’t support flash.Moreover, Archos704 WiFi gre...
More About: Media Player , Media , Portable Media , Review

Nokia N96 Review: Big Capacities from Nokia
2008-03-07 10:33:00
Successfulness must be continued. Maybe that’s the reason why Nokia launch this new product. The presence of N96 of course is expected can repeat the successfulness which have been reached before by N95. As its predecessor, Nokia nicknames N96 as multimedia computer.The architects in Nokia make N96 with slimmer body. The design is the combination between N95 and N81. It has double slider form, what provides media control button and keypad.The body is covered by glossy black skin. Not seen slider rail in keypad side, as the predecessor. N95 keypad button which made from rubber is replaced with button that will glow when pressed.N96 is still using TFT screen which has same size with N95. The 2,8 inches screen contains 16 million colors and 240 x 320 pixels resolution.As for the data storage media increases twofold becomes 16 GB. The capacities reserved to accommodates video data and high quality music with various formats.It can present MPEG-4 format video, Windows Media Video, and ...
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ASUS HDTV-SUITE HDMI Review: Computer Monitor become HDTV
2008-03-07 09:36:00
Wish to watch high definition television (HDTV), but you don’t have plasma TV or HDTV? ASUS gives the solution. It’s a device which able to change standard resolution computer monitor becomes HDTV device with maximum resolution 1920 x 1200 pixels. The peripheral called ASUS HDTV-Suite HDMI.Just launched by ASUSTek Computer Inc, HDTV-SUITE HDMI is standalone TV box. In this mini CPU measuring box consists in a high definition TV machine with consumer electronics quality. To ascertain picture yielded is extraordinary, this TV machine applies various modern technology, among others is Advanced 3D Comb, Flash Tone Correction, Dynamic Deblocking, and Dynamic Anti-flicker Brightness Adjustment.The user is just need to connecting this box with the computer monitor. Is not required any software installation. Acceptable monitor is 15 inches size and above or having resolution start from 1024 x 768 pixels. Not only becomes full HDTV device, monitor which connected with this box can become...
More About: Asus , Review , Monitor

HTC TyTN II Review: HSDPA, GPS, BlackBerry, 3MP Camera
2008-03-06 12:27:00
HSDPA, GPS, BlackBerry, till 3 megapixel camera is available at this gadget. No wonder if TyTN II called as most sophisticated PDA phone nowadays.Formerly it called Dopod, now so called HTC. But whatever its name, their product always successfully draws attention because of its more complete ability. This thing also can be seen in the newest PDAphone, TyTN II. This product equipped by all facilities which PDAphone need, starts from HSDPA network support, GPS, BlackBerry, 3MP camera until integrated keyboard.HTC TYTN II user can use integrated keyboard – beside the touchscreen- for the input. Stylus is hidden in under side phone, dorsal cleft right side. Qwerty Keyboard will seen if we slide the under side to the right. When shifting this key pad, we can make it have a voice with choose Sliding sound in keyboard Sliding Sound. Unfortunately, we have not found way to adding other sound file for this setting.Which looks different is the existence of axis so that position of screen pa...
More About: Camera , Blackberry , Review , HSDPA

HP Pavilion HDX Review: Emperor Notebook
2008-03-06 11:41:00
A lot of notebook manufacturer calls them self as multimedia notebook, but nothing do it as extreme as HP Pavilion HDX.Notebook concept as reliable multimedia device is not a something new, but what done by HP with Pavilion HDX can be said unique and revolutionary. Not Only its 20,1 inches screen size, but also because it fascinating design of two unique axis. First axis functions to open notebook cover, while the second axis to setting screen declivity. This is non something new, because we have seen the same thing in Dialogue Flybook VM. But Flybook VM only have 12,1 inches screen size, thus HP success do the same thing in 20,1 inches screen must be appreciated.Moreover, Pavilion HDX also extravagances the user with lot of facility which you hard to find in other notebook. Its optical device already uses HD DVD-ROM, so you can enjoys high definition video directly in this notebook. But need to be noted that the optical device only reads HD-DVD disc, not like HD-DVD Writer applied ...
More About: Review , Emperor

Samsung SGH-D880 Review: Samsung Dual on GSM-GSM
2008-03-05 02:15:00
After launching dual SIM GSM-CDMA dual on, now Samsung gives the alternative through its newest series: SGH-D880. Different from the same type phone which available in the market, this “Samsung Duos” comes up stronger.Samsung SGH-D880 uses dual standby GSM technology. If compared to a kind phone, the price of D880 of course not cheap. But, feature presented noted far better.Slider concept is selected as a basic form. Like unites two phone, Samsung D880 body dimension is not slim like Samsung D900. The thickness reaches 1,89 cm. Not so fatty.Body shape, include D880 sliding construction can be said adopts it old brother form, SGH D900. Unhappily, its slide mechanism does not as good as D900. Moreover, touch area to access the slide-up and slide-down felt few slippery, bothering enough.Its four direction navigation button (D-Pad) is comfort enough to accessing the menu. “Yes” button placed in its middle side, which also able functioned as internet access shortcut. It’s funct...
More About: Review , Dual

Philips 9@9w xenium Review: Durable Battery at Multimedia Phone
2008-03-05 01:46:00
Philips phone is identical with long duration battery. Because its xenium products, Philips can give extra power to a phone, so it can live longer than other phone in once charging. But, old xenium product always sacrifices some power inefficiency feature so that phone felt too ordinary.That time, the requirement of long live battery phone is more take a part compared to the requirement of multi function and rich of feature phone and however according to the trend in market. Now, Philips tries releases the negative assumption to xenium. 9@9w is one of the answers. Carry xenium label, this phone still be come up beloved, elegant, and rich of feature.This phone is come up in candybar form. But with wider and thinner dimension, its candybar appearance is seen more elegant. Differs from the old xenium which seen sturdy, Philips 9@9w is more accommodatingly the fashion side, but still in business phone corridor.Nothing special in this phone material chooses. Mostly are dominated by ordin...
More About: Multimedia , Phone , Battery , Review , Philips

Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 150d Review: High Capacity, Low Price
2008-02-29 03:11:00
Your small or midsize business will get a whopping 3TB of storage from the four hot-swappable 750GB SATA II drives in the Iomega StorCenter 150d—and the price is certainly right. The NAS device—which uses an embedded Linux operating system, supports external USB drives (with two ports in the front and two in back), and has a Gigabit Ethernet port in the back—very nearly beats Ngadgeti's current SMB NAS Editors’ Choice, the Netgear ReadyNAS NV+.The included and easy-to-use management console software comes in both Windows and Mac versions and lets you perform the setup—a simple process—from any PC on the network. The 150d fully supports Linux, Mac, and Windows file shares as well as Active Directory, so you can import users and groups from an Active Directory store. And I especially like the way you can make any share available in multiple protocols: By simply checking a box, you can open the NAS to AFP, FTP, and NFS in addition to CICS.What you won’t find is the easy ...
More About: Review , Price , High

Do It Yourself: Make a USB Guitar For Your PC
2007-12-01 12:03:00
Why would you want a USB port in an electric guitar? The answer is simple: convenience. By putting a small USB port and audio codec in a guitar, you’re adding an extra sound board. So when you record, your guitar is digitized locally and the signal is transmitted to your computer over a USB cable. The guitar retains all its standard analog capabilities but outputs to USB as well. Now you can rock steady until your hard drive is full. Here’s how to do it.1. Select a Guitar For this project I’ve selected a simple, well-made electric guitar and the Micro USB interface that’s bundled with M-Audio Session, a flexible home-recording package with many of the features of GarageBand (though it records only one track at a time).The guitar is an SX STL Ash, a decent, inexpensive Telecaster inspired guitar from Rondo Music. A Tele-style guitar is ideal for my purposes: it has a bolt-on neck and lots of room in the control panel and under the pickguard if needed. The thickness of the lowe...
More About: Make

3Dconnexion SpacePilot: Interact with Your PC in a Completely New Way
2007-12-01 02:34:00
Virtual worlds-3D environments that you interact with just like the real world-have been a futuristic dream of computer users for years. (Remember the 1992 film The Lawnmower Man?) But with the current popularity of MMORPGs (massive multiplayer online role-playing games), Second Life, and other apps, 3D tech is swing something of a renaissance. Sure, virtual worlds aren’t as immersive as the goggles- and-earphones vision of 15 years ago- which may be for the best, considering how the movie turned out. Still, today’s 3D landscapes offer a fascinating diversion.But getting around a 3D space with the ordinary 2D tools of mouse and keyboard is, by definition, less than ideal. Why not use an interface device designed for 3D navigation?Installing the SpacePilot 3D Mouse is as easy as plugging in any USB device. Getting accustomed to it is another matter. 3Dconnexion has its own lexicon of navigation terms (pan, tilt, spin, roll) rather than just requiring you to move a cursor around. ...
More About: With You , Interact

Wacom Cintiq 21UX: Touch a Screen for Instant Creativity
2007-12-01 02:27:00
The flashiest upgrade for any computer is a big, beautiful LCD monitor. It’s something everyone will notice. But not everyone will catch on that the Wacom Cintiq is so much more than just a 21.3-inch looker-at least, not until they see that cordless stylus next to it. Then you can reveal the truth: It’s, an interactive, pressure-sensitive (to 1,024 levels), pen-driven display that you need for your art.Upgrading is easy. Just plug the Cintiq into your DVI (Digital Visual Interface) port (or VGA port with the included adapter) and into an open USB port - it uses the latter for data communication with the computer. The stand lets you orient the Cintiq like any monitor, or place it almost flat on the desk for some serious work by hand, whether you’re using it as a tablet for writing or illustrating the next great Web comic. As with any drawing tablet, the harder you push with the stylus in a paint program like Adobe Illustrator, the darker the line. But with the Chitiq, your line...
More About: Screen , Creativity , Touch

Canon Selphy CP740: Good, Cheap Photos
2007-12-01 01:26:00
Looking for a bargain-basement photo printer? The Canon Selphy CP740 is hard to beat. This dedicated small-format photo printer offers compelling extras-such as the ability to print on a variety of paper sizes up to 4 by 8 inches, and a color LCD-at a low price. Just be prepared to make do with a 2-inch pReviews LCD and no battery option.Geared for travel, the CP740 weighs a mere 2.1 pounds and measures 2.5 by 7 by 5 inches (11WD). There’s a 2-inch LCD for pReviewsing photos and a red-eye reduction feature.Setup is simple for printing from a memory card or a PictBridge camera, but you have to run the fully automated setup program to print from your computer.TheCP740 produces photo-quality output that is usually a match for what you’d get from your local drugstore, though the results can be a little uneven. Some of our test photos printed slightly dark, losing detail and edging toward muddy-looking colors. Prints are reasonably waterproof and scratch resistant.The speedy CP740 av...
More About: Photos , Good , Cheap , Anon

Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000: Blur Sullies Colorful LCD TV
2007-12-01 01:20:00
Finding an HDTV at any price that delivers near-accurate color right out of the box is rare, but the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 did exactly that. The set further impressed me with its ink-like black levels and dark screen material, which together produced a well-contrasted picture in both sundrenched and low-light environments-that is, if you stay in the set’s narrow viewing sweet spot. Unfortunately, when displaying scenes depicting lots of motion, the KDL-46V3000 was among the most smear-prone sets I’ve seen.The KDL-46V3000 features a native screen resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels progressively scanned (1080p) and provides picture-sizing settings that eliminate video overscan with 1080i and 1080p video signal- ensuring a clearer, more detailed image. Of all the HDTVs I’ve measured, in Cinema mode the KDL-46V3000 was the most color-accurate right out of the box. Also, the set’s dark-colored screen material and antireflective properties allowed it to maintain a well-...
More About: Colorful , Blur , Sony Bravia