Saturday, March 18, 2006
Samsung SCH-A950: review
Ben Patterson has reviewed this cell phone from Samsung, the SCH-A950. It ranks as one of the most affordable 3G phones we've seen from a major carrier, he says.
Pro's:
- features speedy EV-DO performance with access to V Cast videos and the Verizon Music Store
- 1.3-megapixel camera
- Bluetooth
- speakerphone
- convenient jog dial on the front for music playback
- TransFlash expansion slot
Cons:
- Keys are small and slippery
- Bluetooth is restricted to wireless handsets
- You must convert MP3s to WMA format for playback on the phone
Read more at cnet
Friday, March 17, 2006
Sony debuted its first Blu-ray Disc
These next generation devices include a home player, VAIO desktop and notebook computers, an aftermarket internal computer drive, and recordable/rewritable media. All will offer the highest-definition experience available from a five-inch optical disc.
"We're in a unique position to be unveiling a full line of HD products that capitalize on Blu-ray Disc's technological advantages," said Hideki "Dick" Komiyama, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics Inc. "Blu-ray Disc will set the bar for the high-definition lifestyle that consumers have been anticipating."
Headlining Sony's new product debuts are the BDP-S1 Blu-ray Disc player and the VAIO RC desktop computer. The player is targeted to ship in July for about $1,000. The VAIO PC with Blu-ray Disc will be available for about $2,300. Both the VAIO RC desktop and notebook with a Blu-ray Disc drive will be available by early summer.
In April, Sony plans to begin shipping 25GB BD-R (write once) and BD-RE (rewritable) discs for about $20 and $25 respectively. The 50GB BD-R and BD-RE dual-layer discs will come in subsequent months for about $48 and $60 respectively
"We're in a unique position to be unveiling a full line of HD products that capitalize on Blu-ray Disc's technological advantages," said Hideki "Dick" Komiyama, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics Inc. "Blu-ray Disc will set the bar for the high-definition lifestyle that consumers have been anticipating."
Headlining Sony's new product debuts are the BDP-S1 Blu-ray Disc player and the VAIO RC desktop computer. The player is targeted to ship in July for about $1,000. The VAIO PC with Blu-ray Disc will be available for about $2,300. Both the VAIO RC desktop and notebook with a Blu-ray Disc drive will be available by early summer.
In April, Sony plans to begin shipping 25GB BD-R (write once) and BD-RE (rewritable) discs for about $20 and $25 respectively. The 50GB BD-R and BD-RE dual-layer discs will come in subsequent months for about $48 and $60 respectively
Olympus Stylus 710 Digital Camera: review
Ben has reviewed this digital camera from Olympus, the Stylus 710.
Pro's:
- Very stylish and weatherproof at the same time
- High quality construction
- Nice LCD, visible in direct sunlight (adjustable brightness, gains up)
- Full Auto and Program Auto mode (you can change ISO, white balance, etc)
- 3.7 fps high speed continuous shooting mode
Cons:
- Hard to hold
- High noise levels above ISO 100
- Low frame rate on movies
- Battery life unimpressive
Read more at digitalcamerareview
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Olympus E-500 D-SLR: review
Doug Harman has reviewed this digital camera from Olympus, the E-500 D-SLR.
Pro's:
- lightweight and easy to use
- excellent image quality
- comprehensive control options
Cons:
- Styling is a bit on the blocky side
Read more at pocket-lint
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Asus MyPal A636: review
Brian Nadel has reviewed this PDA from Asus, the MyPal A636. It's a PDA with a build-in GPS receiver that puts maps and directions on an equal footing.
Pro's:
- An excellent example of integrating GPS into a PDA
- Includes North American maps, a loud speaker, and excellent battery life
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Windows Mobile 5
Cons:
- thicker and heavier than competitors
- 3.5-inch screen that's too small for viewing driving directions
- the included 256MB SD card holds the bare minimum of maps
- no map updates available at this time
Read more at CNET
Sunday, March 12, 2006
SanDisk Sansa e270 (6GB): review
James Kim has reviewed this digital audio player from SanDisk, the Sansa e270.
Pro's:
The SanDisk Sansa e200 series combines copious features such as subscription compatibility, an FM tuner/recorder, voice recording, and photo and video playback into a compact and durable device. We like the tactile navigation wheel, as well as the well-designed software interface. ...
Cons:
The buttons surrounding the SanDisk Sansa e200's scrollwheel can be difficult to press; the mechanical scrollwheel can tire out some thumbs; photos and video must go through conversion with bundled software; ...
Read more at cnet