Posted by CNET Reviews - Top Rated Computer Systems
http://reviews.cnet.com/4566-3000_7-0.html?subj=fdba&part=rss&tag=TR_Computer+Systems
| January 26, 2007 |
Posted by Al W
http://www.techreviews.tv/
The propaganda
Sony’s DVDirect is designed to help you unshackle yourself from the computer when you want to store/backup your digital media. It is specifically aimed at digital camera and camcorder users. You can use it to create DVD slideshows of as many pics as you can squeeze on to various DVD formats including DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, and importantly DVD+R Dual Layer discs. You can also choose from a few menu backgrounds and music to accompany the slide show with.
And, with its multiple inputs (composite audio/video, S-Video, USB, DV and SD, MS, xD, CF, and Memory Stick Duo card slots), the device isn’t strictly limited to backing up photos and camcorder movies. For example, you can also use it to back up old VHSs into DVD format.
The good
The form factor is quite distinctive – pretty typical for Sony – although it does look like two different units have been squeezed together. But at least it should be at home on a desk or table. It also has a weighty, robust feel to it so, even though it doesn’t look particularly ideal for carrying around, should you want to take it out and about instead of weighing yourself down with a laptop, it should hold up pretty well.
Usability is generally pretty good and uses a basic menu structure that lets you choose between the various different functions you can perform – be it recording direct from the contents of a camcorder or transferring pictures from a memory card. One thing you don’t seem to be able to do is directly copy a combination of pics and movies from your memory card. On the other hand, a sensible feature is the option to record a selection of photos to the disc, then add more later on before you finalise the disk. This is particularly handy if you want to get the very most out of a standard single layer disk’s capacity while conserving space on you memory card or camera.
The DVDirect also has PictBridge compatibility, so you can cut out the computer when both storing and printing your pics, as long as you have a compatible printer.
The bad
Although the DVDirect isn’t exactly huge (it measures in at roughly 22.0 x 20.5 x 6.5 cm) it still seems like it’s taking up a lot of space for what it actually is – a DVD burner with a rudimentary interface. In terms of volume, that isn’t much less than most laptops… That would be more forgivable if it was particularly quick at performing its various tasks but instead it suffers from pretty slow loading times, and inserting a disk will usually force you to wait up to 20 seconds while it assesses it.
Another annoyance is that some of the options aren’t actually available in the main menu. When you want to record video direct to DVD you need to plug in the video inputs first, turn on the unit, then enter the blank disk (in that order) otherwise it won’t give you the direct recording option. Oh and it won’t accept rewriteable DVD for some tasks, which is a bit restrictive. In the end, until you are completely familiar with the interface, this tends to mean a lot of switching it off and on again and more time spent watching the loading screens.
Geek Sheet
Compatibility: DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R Dual Layer
Inputs: Composite, S-Video, USB (Handycam), DV (i.LINK)
Card slots: Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick, SD, xD and CF
Four DVD menus, four slide show music tracks
PictBridge compatibility
Five recording quality settings
Overview
Apart from the occasional hoops you have to jump through just to get what you want from the machine, its does exactly what it claims to, and most available actions are very easy to access and perform using the interface. But there isn’t much that the DVDirect can do that isn’t already offered by plenty of alternatives (i.e. a decent DVD drive and some good software), so its only real differentiator is that you can do it all without a computer.
The price tag of around £180 strikes me as a little on the expensive side too, but that at least is a fair bit cheaper than you could pick up a laptop for.
Related stories: Sony's AWG170A - their fastest DVD burner | Sony adds to Cyber-shot W-range with W35 and W55 cameras| Sony's limited edition Casino Royale Spy Gear Set | More Digital Cameras...
Related sites: Sony
| January 23, 2007 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/
Yu-jin Chia reviewed:
Serenity (Widescreen Edition)
| 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:  One of the better sci-fi films around, January 22, 2007 The movie briefly recaps the most important aspects of the series' characters, and proceeds to a rather fantastic conclusion. The plot is unique, full of twists, and memorable. The characters are distinct and superbly acted- in my opinion, one of the best performances in sci-fi to date. You needn't have seen any of the series episodes to understand or appreciate the film, but watching them either before or after the movie does help. If you've seen the series, Serenity brings it to a pretty solid conclusion (there's a bit of room for continuation, but it does have the taste of a finale). If you haven't, this will likely convince you to do so (and you should, the series is also excellent). Visual effects are on par with current sci-fi films, and this looks like a movie theater quality production even though it wasn't shown at any to the best of my knowledge. The only regret I have about Serenity is that it was prematurely cut as a series. I'd never heard of Firefly before (and most everyone I've mentioned it to hasn't), so perhaps it was a result of bad marketing. Hopefully this movie will get someone to make more episodes of the series, since there's clearly a lot of leeway in terms of plot time between the first season finale and the movie. The universe Whedon created here is truly a feat of the imagination, and it would be a shame to leave it. |
| January 22, 2007 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/
Yu-jin Chia reviewed:
Spacecraft 2100 to 2200 AD
| 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:  "The original is better.", January 22, 2007 There's not a whole lot of new material in this book- just a few extra ships (in fact, more seem to have been removed than added) and an updated history section. They also incremented the time period by a century and tried to tie it in with modern events to make it a plausible future. Additionally, the artwork has been redone with computer graphics, and most of the line drawing schematics and diagrams have been removed. This is likely a result of the smaller page layout and shorter general length of this book. First, regarding the change in the history. I don't think anyone really cares how plausible it is, so I'm rather puzzled why the authors thought it was necessary. Also notably lacking are some of the more interesting discussions, e.g. the unknown objects/ghost ships in the original. The main reason for picking up this title, however, is the artwork. The pictures are essentially remakes of the original- most have only minor cosmetic changes. There's a few new pictures, but they are generally small and look a bit rushed. This is where the book really suffers- the original artwork was painted and had gorgeous detail and a distinct style. The new CGI stuff, with the probable exception of lighting, is simply not as good. It's not even up to the quality of what you'd see in common sci-fi shows, and this isn't a motion picture. Coupled with the fact that the pages are smaller, it's definitely a downgrade. The descriptive text is shortened as well, and yes there are typos. I'm not overly bothered by this, but the lack of added material is a bit perplexing. The specifications are unchanged as far as I can tell, but the diagrams that graced the old book are gone. While some of those were a bit confusing, I think they added to the overall feel of the universe. One plus on the text aspect: they make it pretty clear which text block goes with which illustration. In the original, it did require a bit of guesswork at times. I'd advise potential readers to get the original, but chances are that if you want this book you already have the original. As such, it's advisable you just stick with that. It's simply a superior publication, and I'm quite disappointed that the remake is of such mediocre quality. |
| January 22, 2007 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/
Yu-jin Chia reviewed:
Spacecraft 2100 to 2200 AD by Scott Agnew| 12 of 12 people found the following review helpful: "The original is better.", January 22, 2007 There's not a whole lot of new material in this book- just a few extra ships (in fact, more seem to have been removed than added) and an updated history section. They also incremented the time period by a century and tried to tie it in with modern events to make it a plausible future. Additionally, the artwork has been redone with computer graphics, and most of the line drawing schematics and diagrams have been removed. This is likely a result of the smaller page layout and shorter general length of this book. First, regarding the change in the history. I don't think anyone really cares how plausible it is, so I'm rather puzzled why the authors thought it was necessary. Also notably lacking are some of the more interesting discussions, e.g. the unknown objects/ghost ships in the original. The main reason for picking up this title, however, is the artwork. The pictures are essentially remakes of the original- most have only minor cosmetic changes. There's a few new pictures, but they are generally small and look a bit rushed. This is where the book really suffers- the original artwork was painted and had gorgeous detail and a distinct style. The new CGI stuff, with the probable exception of lighting, is simply not as good. It's not even up to the quality of what you'd see in common sci-fi shows, and this isn't a motion picture. Coupled with the fact that the pages are smaller, it's definitely a downgrade. The descriptive text is shortened as well, and yes there are typos. I'm not overly bothered by this, but the lack of added material is a bit perplexing. The specifications are unchanged as far as I can tell, but the diagrams that graced the old book are gone. While some of those were a bit confusing, I think they added to the overall feel of the universe. One plus on the text aspect: they make it pretty clear which text block goes with which illustration. In the original, it did require a bit of guesswork at times. I'd advise potential readers to get the original, but chances are that if you want this book you already have the original. As such, it's advisable you just stick with that. It's simply a superior publication, and I'm quite disappointed that the remake is of such mediocre quality. |
| January 22, 2007 |
Posted by TheTechLounge - Recent Articles: Electronics: Communications
http://www.thetechlounge.com
| January 21, 2007 |
Posted by Al W
http://www.techreviews.tv/
The propaganda
While I was cleaning out the attic the other day I found a neat little stereo. It has all the usual play/pause, volumes controls and stuff, but the weird part is that it only takes these funny looking shiny circular thingies – there wasn’t an iPod connector in sight. That’s just weird.
But you know, plugging your player into a stereo is soooo last year – Bluetooth is what 2007 is all about. In fact, Orange revealed it special Bluetooth Stereo Loudspeaker System back in October, but it should come its own this year as more and more handsets start to offer the latest stereo Bluetooth standard, called A2DP, which has been designed specifically to stream high quality audio wirelessly.
The speakers fit together as a single unit, or you can separate each speaker off from the main unit, with a little under 1m worth of speaker cable to play with on each. The controls are pretty basic and consist of a single volume dial, which acts as the power switch as well, and the essential Bluetooth button. There is also a 3.5mm line in.
The good
Acoustic Energy is the company that actually makes Orange’s speaker set. It has a good reputation for making decent speakers and that really shows here. The sound has a pleasingly warm feel to it with a good balance of bass power and definition. You can really pick out a lot of the subtleties in what you’re listening to and you can crank the volume up to full and never experience any kind of distortion.
Pairing with a Bluetooth handset is very straight forward as you would expect – you just hold the Bluetooth button for a few seconds to start the pairing process. Testament to the simplicity of the design is the fact that all the instruction side of an A4 sized instruction leaflet.
The bad
The flipside to that very basic design is that the looks are a bit unexciting and it lacks any kind of playback controls. In its defence, the AVRCP standard necessary for remote control of playback functions isn’t particularly widespread yet, but you will need to bear in mind that you’ll have to turn to your phone handset (or whatever you’re using) to control the tracks. But that’s not a particular hardship and the range is pretty good.
I’m also not much of a fan of how it looks when the speakers are separated out from the main unit. What you can’t tell from the picture is that there are two hooks pointing out of each side that keep the speakers firmly attached. It ends up looking like someone has drive four giant nails into the central section, which is a bit naff. And there doesn’t seem to be any way to remove them, other than perhaps going at them with a pair of pliers – something I wasn’t that willing to try.
Geek Sheet
Dimensions: 373 x 133 x 156mm approx.
A2DP Bluetooth
3.5mm line in
Detachable speakers
Overview
If you have been using the A2DP Bluetooth standard to listen to music through compatible headphones, Orange’s speakers might well prove a very neat way of upgrading your sound to something more powerful. While they fall slightly short in the style and functionality departments, there is little to fault in the sound quality. The price tag of £90 isn’t too bad either and given that there aren’t currently all that many alternatives to them, it seems all the more worthwhile.
Related stories: Jabra BT8010 Bluetooth headset - and headphones | Review: Parrot Wireless Speakers| Is the end nigh for DAB? | More Mobile Phones...
Related sites: Orange
| January 19, 2007 |
Posted by CNET Reviews - Most Recent PDAs
http://reviews.cnet.com/Handhelds/2001-3127_7-0.html?subj=fdba&part=rss&tag=MR_PDAs
| January 19, 2007 |
Posted by Al W
http://www.techreviews.tv/
The propaganda
As one of the largest (i.e. widest) standalone GPS systems to grace the UK, the ViaMichelin X-980T unsurprisingly packs in a wide array of features. The list includes real-time traffic info via FM-TMC, Bluetooth connectivity, Full UK post code search, maps of 20 European countries and a unique set of Points of Interest (POI) locations that includes restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions (more on that on the turn).
The unit itself is fairly bulky, especially thanks to its 4.3” LCD screen, and the full dimensions are 150 x 82.5 x 26.8mm and 260 g. A 416 MHz Intel processor backed up by 64Mb RAM and a SiRF Star III GPS receiver power the device.
The good
One of the strengths of the ViaMichelin X-980T POI system is that it
integrates the complete Michelin guides to Europe for 2006, which
includes some 19,00 tourist sights and 2.5 million addresses. The
particularly clever part is that the full information list includes a
brief text summary, other relevant information and phone numbers. So
picture the scene – you’re heading out for a posh meal with your missus
and you want to book a table at some swanky Michelin starred restaurant
but you’re already in the car, driving along. No problem, you can pull in safely at the side of the road
pull down the list of the nearest restraints to you location or
destination or wherever, select one you like, double tap the phone
number and have the call begin automatically using the X-980T’s
integrated handsfree Bluetooth. That’s very slick.
Menu layouts and route programming is also one of the unit’s stronger points and that nice clear widescreen LCD is definitely used effectively to display both a decent sized map and clear direction instructions. The predictive text entry system is well designed too and allows you to either keep typing until you get down to one match, or get half way and select from a list if several.
Although the X-980T looks fairly unusual in the pics, it has a kind of quirky style that appeals to me and is undoubtedly helped along by the robust feel to it. Should you ever feel the need to part it from your vehicle and subsequently drop it or something, I’m pretty sure it survive a decent tumble.
The bad
I always take it as a bad sign when a touch screen GPS includes a stylus. Sure we all know that you’re not supposed to program it while screaming along the outside lane of the motorway, but come on, meet us halfway. The X-980T includes a stylus inconveniently tucked away at the back making hard to reach when attached to the window mount and sure enough, the touch screen sensitivity is quite up to par either. I found its responsiveness to be quite variable, probably depending on the outside temperature, which means that sometimes you can get by just fine by jabbing away with your finger, but at other times it continually takes a few hits to recognise where you’re pointing.
My only other gripe is that it really is a bit too big. That means that if you don’t want to leave it in the front of the car all the time, you’ll have quite a lot of gadget to lug around. And possibly as a result of the size and large screen, the battery life isn’t that wonderful either at around 3 hours – probably not enough for any serious on foot excursions.
Geek Sheet
Size: 150 x 82.5 x 26.8mm
Weight: 260 g
Screen: 4.3"
Processor: Intel 416 MHz
RAM: 64 Mb RAM / 256 Mb ROM
Operating system: Windows CE.net 5.0
Software: ViaMichelin Navigation DVD-Rom Europe
GPS: Integrated GPS receiver (SiRF Star III technology)
FM-TMC
Bluetooth
Overview
Overall I have been pretty impressed by the performance and usability of ViaMichelin’s GPS and if you’re into your Michelin rated restaurants, this small differentiator does do a good job of setting it apart from most of the other Sat Navs on the market.
At £450 it is one of the most expensive models available too but at least with that you get a alright selection of accessories including a carry case and one of best window mounts I’ve ever used.
Related stories: Roadstar Navigazione satnav system | CES 2007: Handheld navigation Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX N100| Review: Mio C710 | More Satellite Navigation systems...
Related sites: ViaMichelin
| January 19, 2007 |
Posted by CNET Reviews - Top Rated Computer Systems
http://reviews.cnet.com/4566-3000_7-0.html?subj=fdba&part=rss&tag=TR_Computer+Systems
| January 18, 2007 |
