Consumer Product Review

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The Apple MacBook  is the latest laptop from Cupertino, serving as the “budget” model in the lineup. While far more expensive than a comparable Windows laptop, it retains Apple’s quality and attention to detail which many feel justifies the premium price. In fact, it does this so well that it will be hard for most users to justify paying more to get an Air and Pro model.

Unlike the MacBook Pro,  the Macbook still uses a plastic case. However, it has similar seamless enclosure, all but eliminating flex while providing fewer places for a spilled drink to reach the electronics. The new MacBook also gets the Pro’s Lithium-Polymer battery that Apple claims will last seven hours on a single charge. Unfortunately, this means the battery isn’t replaceable by the user, but the stated life for this battery is about five years, so for most people this will be a non-issue.

Those migrating from Windows will be pleased to find that Apple has finally added a way to right-click, but not in the way you’d expect. The MacBook gets Apple’s new glass multitouch trackpad has no buttons, instead relying on taps and movements with multiple fingers for input. Tapping with two fingers right clicks, dragging two fingers scrolls, and dragging four fingers switches between applications.

The MacBook, 13″ MacBook Pro,  and MacBook Air all share similar components. Opting to spend an additional £100 for the base-line MacBook Pro gets you an aluminum case, slightly reduced weight, and Firewire and SD memory card ports, but it also comes a smaller hard drive. The Air may be thinner and nearly a kilo lighter, but it also costs £550 more with a slower processor. Unless you must have a larger screen or a smaller overall size, there is little reason to spend the extra money.

Prices start at £799.00 including VAT for an Intel 2.26Ghz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and 250GB hard drive. There is only one model available, and the option list is short, offering only increased RAM and hard disk space, along with a few accessories. Unlike the other Apple laptops there’s no solid state drive option to help keep costs low.

The new Apple MacBook  may not be able to match Windows machines when it comes to price, but it retains the features that people feel justify the expense of an Apple product. Features once exclusive to more expensive models such as the multitouch trackpad and Lithium-Polymer battery make it the sensible choice in Apple’s lineup.

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The JVC GCFM1A Picsio Pocket Camcorder , JVC’s offering to the miniature digital camcorder scene, does everything the best cameras already do and more. It would appear that JVC held back while companies like Creative, Kodak, RCA, Sony rushed to fill the market created by Pure Digital’s revolutionary Flip micro-camcorder. The GC-FM1 is a solid piece of hardware, capable of 1080p video in 4x digital zoom as well as 8MP still shots. It saves video as .MOV files in MPEG-4, AVC, and H.254 formats. Computer upload is via HDMI cables, AV out, and USB, and the PICSIO charges via USB to the computer. SD and SDHC memory cards are compatible with the JVC GC-FM1, though the camcorder is not packaged with them.

Available in Black Ice, Blue Steel and Purple Passion, with geometric patterns reminiscent of holograms and wavy chrome accents around the edges, the GC-FM1 is the perfect choice for someone who wants a stylish, solid, inexpensive digital camcorder that makes it easy to transmit video from real life to the Internet or directly to the television via HDMI. At 97mm x 53mm x 17mm, and weighing only 95 grams, the GC-FM1 is easier to transport than many cell phones or digital cameras, barely making a bulge in your pocket.

In addition, the JVC GCFM1A Picsio  offers a 2-inch LCD screen for instant viewing, making it intrinsically useful to the budding videographer who wants to be able to take instant video whenever the inspiration hits him or her. Built-in video stabilization helps keep videos looking professional and watchable. This little dynamo may look candy-coated, but the tech it offers is undeniable. While it has nothing that isn’t also available in the other digital camcorders, the overall style and seamless integration of each element in the GC-FM1 shows that JVC did its research. Its competitors’ products had their successes and difficulties, and then consciously, purposely, JVC put together a product utilizing everything that worked, discarding everything that didn’t, all within a unique, impulse-buyable style. Looking at the holographic surface, one can’t help but want to touch it.

The interface is easy to navigate, without any complicated menus to scroll through. Every function the camera has is accessible by buttons, for switching between still and video mode, to scrolling through the index of files stored in the camera, to zooming in and out, to a function button for starting and stopping videos, playing videos back, or anything else. Visually, the face resembles an iPod, with its effortless, intuitive design and stylish wow-factor. People are already talking about how it’s the next step in miniature video camcorder technology. Offered just in time to garner excitement before Christmas, the JVC GCFM1A Picsio  is sure to be a staple on many lists this 2009 holiday season. 

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Sony DSCWX1S Cyber-shot Digital Camerais a sleek, quick performing snapshot camera. It has a great design with useful features.  It works well in low light conditions and provides good overall performance.  The camera is ultra compact with a resolution of 10.2 megapixels, optical zoom, and Exmor R CMOS optical sensor. It retails for GBP 183.7-GBP 212.9.  The Sony DSCWX1S Cyber-shot Digital Camera is known for its stylish, high performance advanced image shooting features. Sweep Panorama mode is a picture shooting mode in which many images can be captured simultaneously by moving the camera from one side to another. The images produced are automatically stitched together to create a single panoramic image.  The Exmos R CMOS sensor is known to create sharp and clear pictures.  It reduces picture noise, increases image resolution and improves image quality.  The Party Shot feature allows you to shoot pictures of everyone in a room including the photographer. Landscapes, building architectures, room interiors, and also family pictures are possible to be shot with this camera.  You can shoot video at 30 frames per second similar to camcorders.

  
The quality, resolution and clarity of the images are comparable to Sony camcorders available in the market.  A large and clear 2.7” LCD screen with wide viewing angle makes all this possible.  Burst shooting of up to 10 frames per second. 720p HD movie recording enables capture of detailed HD video.  Stereo sound is possible at 30 frames per second.  The Handheld Twilight mode is capable of producing low light images and combining 6 images into 1 single image with clear imagery.  Anti Blur mode reduces blur and combines 6 images into 1 with reduced image noise.  The BIONZ processor in this camera is responsible for the fast image processing, high resolution shooting and instinctive shooting capabilities.  The processor is the engine of the camera that makes it perform these functions with speed and efficiency.  The Ultra-Fast auto focus has more responsive picture shooting.  The Smile Shutter captures images by detecting facial movements and fires the shutter automatically. The Optical SteadyShot image stabilizer is designed to reduce image blur during hand held shooting of images. ISO 3200 high sensitivity is available for better images and no flash in low light conditions.

Face Detection is a feature that detects facial features of image subjects and automatically adjusts the focus as well as the white balance for clear pictures.  In Auto Mode, the camera shoots pictures in a wide range of situations.  The camera is available in a wide range of colors.  The Picture Motion Browser software is designed to view images, search for images and store them on your PC.  The camera has high quality f/2.4 Sony G Lens with 5x optical zoom with 24 mm wide angle.  The Tottenham Court Road Sony Centre has this model readily available and retails for GBP 329.99.  The camera accessories include the accessory kit, Battery chargers (BC-TRG Battery Charger and NP-FG1 Rechargeable Battery), camera cases (high grade hard carrying case LCH-TW1 and soft carrying case LCS-CSF, among others), docking stations & cables, flashes & lights, GPS, Party-Shot, Sports & Marine Packs, and Tripods.

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Garmin has been at the top of the navigation market for quite some time now and they’ve recently unveiled another product that looks poised to keep them there. The Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS is aimed at the upper end navigation market and it carries a pretty hefty price tag. Though the cost might be high, the Nuvi 1450 brings a ton to the table in terms of quality. Garmin has been known for revolutionizing the way the GPS world operates and they have set the bar high for competing companies once again. So what makes this product such a good one?

The display
When you are picking out a GPS, you will want to get the one with not only the biggest screen, but also the highest quality display possible. One of the best things about the Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS is that it features a really creative display design. It has a five-inch display, which is incredibly large by industry standards. That gives you a very real opportunity to pick out your locations and get there safely. The display itself is touch screen, which has been the standard for Garmin devices in the past. Its resolution is 480×272, a number that accentuates the power of the device. It also features a white backlight, which gives it much more power.

Many of today’s GPS shoppers are more interested in this type of display, because it looks good and is quite functional. Garmin seemed to focus on that with this design, and they’ve hit a home run in terms of satisfying customer needs.

Important additional features
Many users have commented on the decently long battery life that comes along with the Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS. It can last up to four hours without being recharged, which obviously gives you a measure of flexibility in terms of what you can accomplish. In addition to that, it has some of the newest technologies in the market that have been developed and perfected by Garmin. The lane assistance technology is one of those features, and that’s not all. You can save as many as ten journeys on your Garmin, which should be more than enough to keep your favorites at the touch of a button. Likewise, you can select special routes such as eco-routes to save fuel on your journey.

Cost considerations
As mentioned previously, The Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS is an upper end device, and it’s meant for those people who want serious GPS power. The price tag reflects that, as it retails for between £250 and £330 at most locations. Though this might seem like a high cost, it is actually in line with the quality of product that you’re getting. When Garmin puts all of its resources into designing something new, you can bet that it is going to have some exciting features. This not only has those features, but it also runs smoothly and reliability. Add to that its durability and you have a complete GPS device.

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Though T-Mobiles G1 and AT&Ts I-phone have ruled the smart phone market, the new HTC Magic Mobile phone is just the second Google android phone every created. The new HTC Magic provides everything you could possibly want from the internet right at the touch of your fingers with the built in Google search function. Complete with a 3.2 megapixel camera, built in GPS system, 3.2 inch touch screen, and built in Wi-Fi connection, the HTC Magic definitely provides some impressive features.

A very light and smooth design, the HTC Magic left out the QWERTY keyboard, making the phone only 14 millimeters thick, and a nice fit for any pocket. Many of the previous kinks in the Android software has been worked out and re-modified, improving the internet quality and touch screen responsiveness of the phone. An improved security feature keeps the phone locked at all times while in your pocket or purse. To lock or unlock the handset, a pattern must be drawn using a system of nine dots on the touch screen. The applications are easy to use, and shortcuts can be created for your favorite online apps, making them quicker to access for anyone on the go. Your email can be synced with the phone, making receiving and responding to emails a quick and easy task. Obviously improved from the last Google android phone, the HTC Magic offers many great mobile features for just about any consumer.

Though the HTC Magic is quite remarkable, there are still some questionable aspects to the device. The lack of a QWERTY keyboard miffs some consumers; however the touch screen keyboard is actually quite responsive, and the handset is made to fit comfortably in two hands, improving typing ability. The only primary set back would be the 3.2 megapixel camera, which does not have a flash function. Although some pictures come out very nicely, others are often blurred, or very dark due to no flash function. If a nice camera is important to you on a mobile phone, then there are other models that can provide better than this handset. The lack of a standard head phone jack is a little bit confusing; however not very surprising after noticing how average some of the multimedia functions were. Despite these minor downfalls, the HTC Magic is still a state of the art internet smart phone.

With only the I-Phone for a rival, the HTC Magic adds some freshness to the smart phone market. Complete with state of the art design, user friendly applications and functions, and improved security, the HTC Magic is capable fitting the needs of almost any consumer. If you are in the market for a new phone, and want to upgrade from standard to state of the art, you cannot go wrong with the updated HTC Magic, only the second Google android phone ever placed on the market.

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The Apple iPod nano has been the most popular mp3 player on the market for years, but until recently major changes have not been made. While some would say that you should not “mess with success”, the iPod nano has made a couple of major changes in its 5th generation which have actually made it more impressive and user friendly than ever.

8GB versus 16 GB

The 5th generation nano comes in two types; the 8 GB and the 16 GB. With the 8 GB you will have space for 2,000 standard length songs or 8 hours of video. Those who seek a massive storage capacity will appreciate the 16 GB model, which can hold 4,000 songs or 16 hours of video. Both models are identical in terms of ability and features, only differing in the amount of storage space. The 16 GB model is outselling the 8GB because the dramatic difference in capacity translates to only about £20 more in price, which makes the 16 GB a far better value for the money.

What Is New For The 5th Generation

The 5th generation Apple iPod nano brings with it some great new features which have never been seen on such small mp3 devices. The most talked about new feature is the video. It is now possible to take live video with your iPod nano just as easily as you can take a photo. With the built in video camera you can spontaneously shoot video in nearly any circumstances, giving a new degree of flexibility to the nano. This can virtually eliminate the need to carry a digital camera with you everywhere.

The screen size for the 5th generation iPod nano is 2.2 inches, the largest screen yet on an iPod. This much improved viewing area makes for easier viewing of photos, playlists, and videos.

The new anodized aluminum finish is highly polished, and comes in nine different eye-catching colors. This finish is more scratch-resistant and resists minor dings better than the previous models, while looking sharp at the same time.

Another new feature is the “Genius Playlists”. These playlists are customized just for you, but you won’t have to compile them yourself. This feature will choose songs which go well together and make custom playlists for you. If you love the custom mix you can save it, but if it’s not quite what you wanted you can have a new playlist made immediately.

The 5th generation Apple iPod nano has brought some new features into the mix, and they have resulted in a nano that is far superior to any of its predecessors. For slick new features, eye-popping colors, and previously unheard of capabilities, this new generation of nano is truly the best of its kind.

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People have been demanding more from their notebooks for a long time, and Nividia hopes to deliver with the Acer Aspire Revo. It promises to bring better overall performance, including enhanced web performance and gaming capabilities, but how well does it fare? Here is an overview of the Acer Aspire Revo.

How it looks

I recall reading comments a few months ago about the Acer Aspire Revo  looking eerily similiar to the acclaimed Wii gaming system, and I can see how the comparison could be made. They are a similar shape, but the Revo is black and trimmed with silver, as opposed to being snow-white like the Wii. The base of the Revo is sturdy, and apparently it comes with a small power brick. All in all it is considerably smaller than traditional desktop computers, so you should have no trouble finding space for it. Personally, I think the small Revo looks very sleek.

The Revo has just about everything that you’d expect to see on a PC – there are a total of six USB 2.0 ports, one on the top and one on the front right corner, as well as four on the back. The front also has a headphone and microphone jack; a SD card reader and an eSATA port. The back also provides an Ethernet, VGA and HDMI port. It also has internal Wi-Fi. I was pretty impressed by how well everything was laid out, especially considering how much is included.

How it runs

Start up can be a bit sluggish, due, in part, to the processor. Other factors include the factory extras that come with the Revo, but you can always go into msconfig and disable these things from popping up at start up, which should help speed things up a bit.

The Revo handles lower-end games well. Games will work, but you will probably have to lower your resolution and turn down all the graphics just to get them to play, and some games that demand higher specs will crash and burn. Despite this, I think the Revo is a huge step in preparing notebooks for hardcore gamers – it’s impressive what the little box can do.

The next step was starting up the web. It came up in a decent amount of time, and so I started browsing the web. The speed is acceptable, and I had no trouble watching streaming movies – as long as I didn’t try to maximize the video. Once maximized the video became a bit choppy, but I’m sure after a few updates everything will run more smoothly. While running a video I decided to pull up Word to see how well the Revo could handle multitasking, and while it was a little slow switching between windows I think it was sufficient.

Overall the Revo, while it has drawbacks, is very good. I wouldn’t recommend it to a hardcore gamer, but for everyday computer needs I think it is a good choice, especially since it sports a nice price tag.

For more articles relating to the Acer Aspire Revo please click the following links;

• Acer Aspire Revo 3600 hits back at Eee Box | Electricpig – Just a day after Asus redefined what a budget computer box could do, Asus has upped and unleashed its own overhaul, announcing the Acer Aspire Revo 3600, which.
• Acer Aspire Revo 3600 Has Dual-Core Atom 330 Processor – Pulse 2.0 is a technology-focused news blog that covers all aspects of Web 2.0, including investments and acquisitions. Pulse 2.0 is available via daily RSS.

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Serious photographers looking for a camera that prices in under £1,000 but still provides the amazing picture clarity, full-frame photography, and professional quality control over their pictures will want to take a look at the Sony DSLR A850 Alpha Digital Camera .   Featuring 24.6 megapixel resolution, A850 owners will have all the options available to them from the big boys with a lower price tag to boot.

The only camera better than the A850 in Sony’s line is the A900, which preforms slightly better but has an additional £350.00 on the price tag. For what amount to extremely small differences, customers can save themselves a paycheck or more by purchasing the A850 instead. With the same damage resistant body, the two even look almost identical. Customers deliberating between the two will probably find the A850 the better purchase unless they require faster continuous photography.

The Sony DSLR-A850 Digital Camera comes with the Steady Shot image stabilizer. Mounted on a movable table within the camera, this allows for auto-correction and all but eliminates blurry shots. This stabilizer out preforms all other comparably priced cameras on the market, making it one of the best tools for photographers on the move.

And if you are the type who doesn’t get back to the office to charge the camera as often as you’d like, that’s not a problem either. With a battery life that covers up to 880 shots, the A850 should provide hours and hours of photos under normal use. If you’re the type who regularly uses the continuous shooting feature, you might see your battery wearing out quite a bit faster, however.

With a magnesium-alloy based body, the A850 is large and sturdy. It can get a bit heavy, but with its large view finder and interior technology, there’s a lot to hold in this impressive camera. Don’t forget, after all, that a film-based 35mm camera would probably weigh even more. On the back of the camera is a 640×480 resolution screen. Featuring digital outputs as well as all the spec and setting information, this invaluable output makes it easy for users to quickly switch modes and settings without any confusion.

There’s plenty of room for expansion on the Sony DSLR-A850 Digital Camera as well. With two flash card ports, space for an external flash, and USB computer connections, all of the users bases are covered. Although it is primarily for photography, the A850 also has the ability to take digital video on the go as well.

Overall, the A850 is an excellent camera for the photography geek who isn’t quite prepared to be spending over £1600.00 on a camera. When purchasing the A850, make sure you also have a decent flash as it lacks a flash bulb of its own. However, the A850 compares favorably with just about any digital camera from any manufacturer on the market. If you’re looking for a new digital camera, this could be the one.

For more articles on the Sony DSLR A850 then please click one of the links below;

• Sony launches DSLR-A850 full-frame digital SLR: Digital … – Sony DSLR-A850 specifications. Price (body only). • US: $ 2000 • UK: TBC • EU: € 1999. Price (with 28-75mm SAM lens), • US: ~$ 2800 • UK: TBC • EU: € 2688. Body material, Magnesium Body. Sensor, • 35.9 x 24.0 mm CMOS sensor ‘Exmor’ …
• New Sony Alpha Full-Frame DSLR-A850 Camera With Dual BIONZ Engines … – The newest Sony DSLR-A850 camera which measures 156 x 117 x 82 mm and weights in at 850g is scheduled to be available in coming September for around $2000 (body only). In addition, Sony also announced its new 28-75mm F2.8 SAM lens …
• Sony Dslr-A850 Review: Overview – Sony Dslr A850 Review.
• Sony DSLR-A850 reviews – Sony DSLR-A850 digital camera reviews and ratings by expert sites, overall ratings, conclusions …

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The new Nokia Booklet 3G is a stylish new notebook product that makes the versatility of the compact notebook computer even more portable and manageable. The notebook’s chic design will be turning heads in your favorite internet café or giving you and your employees that extra reliability factor on business trips and around the office.

The Nokia Booklet 3G is truly a revolution in notebook technology, as it manages to combine all the previous functionality of your typical notebook computer with a battery that actually lasts! As any notebook owner can tell you, when you do anything on your notebook computer you can literally watch the battery life draining away in the battery control panel. You are lucky to get two hours of battery life even doing tasks as simple as word processing. The Nokia Booklet 3G, however, sports a battery life of up to twelve hours, so it is entirely possible to shed your power cord for the entire day while you run around town or bring your notebook into work with you.

Nokia has truly struck upon a new meaning of mobility in this new notebook, as you can connect to the internet almost anywhere you will be able to take your computer. The Nokia Booklet 3G comes equipped with a built-in 3G card, allowing you to take advantage of mobile services that offer simultaneous voice and data solutions that are able to achieve megabit transfer speeds, even on mobile network services. This technology rivals even that of strictly mobile designed hardware, and has never before been seen in a notebook. The Nokia Booklet 3G also comes equipped with built in Wi-Fi for ease in setting up a home wireless network and in taking advantage of the already extensive Wi-Fi network across the United States. This notebook also has a built in GPS component that will truly connect you to the world. You can use the GPS to track friends, employees, or clients, to help with navigation on the road or on foot, or to assist in tracking down the computer if it is ever lost or stolen.

The appearance of the Nokia Booklet 3G is hip enough to match the astounding technology that is encased within. The entire system is incredibly small, which will leave your friends and coworkers astounded at how you manage to have so much computer packed into such a sleek package. The computer is extremely thin as well, allowing it to fit into binders and backpacks or other carrying cases with ease. The sturdy aluminum design will protect the system from unintentional damage, allowing this system to survive the mobile lifestyle that notebook computers were designed for, but many simply cannot live up to. Its aluminum fabrication is also designed for maximum dissipation of heat to prevent any unfortunate over heating incidents that could land your system in the repair shop.

For more articles relating to the Nokia 3G Booklet please click the links below;

• Nokia’s 3G Booklet: Missed Opportunity? | AnalystXpress – the … – Nokia unveiled the technical specifications of its new netbook, the Booklet 3G, at the Nokia World conference last week. Aside from a few grumbles about the.
• Nokia 3G Booklet Specs Unveiled – Nokia today at Nokia World 2009, unveiled the specifications and pricing of their upcoming Nokia 3G Booklet. The 3G Booklet will be priced at 575 Euro’s.
• BrainStrom! Gadgets World » Blog Archive » Booklet Nokia 3G … – The Nokia 3G Booklet fitted with Atom processor, and design and battery with a long duration (even 12 hours!) Wants to give a jolt to direct competitors, and do you notice that Acer advertises the new battery with 8 hours Timeline Apple …

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