Onkyo CD-D1: mini HiFi with iPod and Wireless PC Connectivity

For those with an iPod, lots of MP3s and yet a finer taste in audio, here's Onkyo's latest bookshelf system, the CR-D1, which comes with an iPod dock and a module to stream music from your PC to the system wirelessly. The system pumps out the goods via a 60W x 2 VL Digital amp with a Wolfson DAC and has the regular CD player, FM tuner, optical and RCA outputs, subwoofer and headphone outputs. Out exactly one month from now for around Rs. 40,000 if you neglect the duty and other taxes.

Sony's new HDD-based NetJuke Hi-Fis

I remember the times when we would all go gaga over integrated stereo systems with gimmicks such as 'DJ sound effects' and the like. The audience for such extremely consumer audio systems may have reduced slightly as more and more people become aware of the benefits of component systems, but it’s still a huge market and any innovation in that space is sure to catch the consumers attention. Take for example, the new NetJuke line of Hi-Fis from Sony. These do your regular CD playback, MD playback and pretty fancy lights, but they also integrate a hard drive into which you can rip music from your CDs into MP3 or ATRAC on the HDD, so you don’t have to be too old school with the discs. They also support AnyMusic, so you can download tracks directly from the online service if you’re in Japan.

The NetJukes also come with a 4.3-inch color display, an optional WiFi adapter that connects via USB and around a massive 3,50,000 pre-loaded CD infos from Gracenote CDDB. The NAS-M90HD with a 250GB drive will sell for around Rs. 37,500, the NAS-M70HD with an 80GB drive will sell for around Rs. Rs. 30,000 and the MiniDisc-deprived NAS-D50HD will go for around Rs. 24,500. Ah, what I wouldn’t have done to get my hands on one of these if I was in school right now.

Panasonic Develops 1.5mm Thin Speaker!

Panasonic has just chopped off a chunk of their then-thinnest (2.5mm) speaker to make way for a new version that's no more than 1.5mm thin. The new Panasonic Electronic Device (spot-on, isn't it?) or PED is not only 40% smaller than their older design, but it also outputs the same quality of sound.


The main application for such a small speaker is obviously the mobile phone (and hopefully not more of those boom-box style MP3 players), but there's no word on which mobile phone brand we're likely to see this in first. The mass production of the new PED begins in May 2007.

Boston Innovative Introduces iPod boomboxe

Boston Innovative Products has introduced the iMep line of iPod boomboxes recently — MP-701-388, MP-702-388R and 388B. The boomboxes come in three models and offer the same features.


These boom boxes feature a 7-inch LCD screen and an integrated NTSC TV tuner and dock connector. Apart from playing MP3-CD playback, it also has an AM/FM tuner, RCA inputs, USB port and SD/MMC/MS memory card slot. The black MP-701-388, sports a front-mounted screen and uses a light-absorbing coating to reduce glare. The other two, the MP-702-388R and 388B feature a flip-up screen and come in red and black, respectively. All three models are priced at $300.

iPhone Part IV - Features and Connectivity

Connectivity
I expected the iPhone to really shine when it came to connectivity. Unfortunately it doesn’t even meet some of the most basic needs. For example the iPhone supports Bluetooth but without A2DP compatibility. You can use just a normal earpiece but not a stereo Bluetooth headset.

Secondly, there doesn’t seem to be any option for sending data via Bluetooth either. In fact, when you switch on the Bluetooth radio and start looking for devices, I’m not sure it’ll ever find any other device. The reason I have this impression is because I tried for almost half and hour with 5 mobiles around me with Bluetooth active. And only 2 mobiles detected the iPhone but couldn’t pair with it nor could any data be sent across. So that sucks!


The Safari browser is a delight to use. It allows you to open multiple pages so you don’t have to worry about checking out information one page at a time. The gyroscope screen will also allow you to view the page in landscape mode. You can also zoom in to the screen using the pinch method. The iPhone supports GPRS and EDGE and also has Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s easy to set up and there are no issues with connectivity when using either of the options. There are also options for setting up various mail accounts through Google, Yahoo and AOL to name a few.

The iPhone also has a separate option for hooking up to YouTube directly. Here too you have the option of viewing the pages in landscape or normal mode simply by tilting the screen. You can bookmark the links of your favorite videos so you can access them quickly. This may actually be the best feature in the whole phone.

You can use your iPod’s proprietary USB cable for the iPhone to hook it up to your PC. But this 8GB or 4GB sized phone only allows you to access the images you take from the camera through the normal USB mode. No other drive will be created. The only other way you can access any other information is through iTunes. And the problem with that is, once it’s been synced with one PC it can't be synced to any other without erasing any of the data on it. Ain’t that just dandy. It should have allowed you to access the 4GB or 8GB drive or at least a part of it, to store data. But alas and alack so far.

The Bottom Line
The iPhone is not equipped with too many features to be totally blunt about it. There are no preinstalled games either and as I said the Bluetooth radio is practically a non-existent option. What it has going for it with the existing applications is just the large display and fabulous touch screen that makes the navigation of these features an easy task. But then the question of the day is – Is that all the iPhone is all about? I guess so, is the only answer I can provide at this time. There are plenty of developers out there coming up with third part apps for the iPhone (God bless their souls) that should help enhance the experience of using it. So the silver lining on this cloud is – thank goodness it’s not here. Yet. Hopefully by the time it is, we’ll have the fully loaded, Bluetooth working, third part application rich version. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that happens soon.

iPhone Part III - Features and Connectivity

There’s a completely separate button just for the calculator. I’m thinking this is just some sort of space filler to make the menu screen look evenly spaced with icons. But on the plus side, the calculator is extremely easy to use considering the touch screen interface. The keys are large and clear. So no issues here. The notes function is quite simple to use of course, though, like I mentioned in Part 1, I’m not lot less than thrilled to use the onscreen keyboard. It simply takes too much time to type out a message. The keys are too closely spaced and even though they are large and clear. It makes it quite difficult to use if you don’t have slim fingers. But if you give it enough time it’s possible to get a bit used to the frustration.

There really isn’t too much I can say about the settings except that it's easy to navigate most of the screens within the sub menu easily enough.

The phone function, much like the calculator is easy to use as the keys are quite large. Unlike the Windows Mobile on screen keypad this one is much better. That could also be attributed once again to the iPhone’s large screen. You can also access the other options like the phone Log (for missed calls and made/received calls) and Voice mail etc. The Phone Book can also be accessed from the phone menu. It has plenty of options for storing all kinds of information from the person’s home number to his website address. You can also take a picture and store it directly into the contacts information and the person’s information will pop up when a call comes in.

iPhone Part II - Features and Connectivity

The GPS application is just a full version of Google maps, which can, incidentally, be downloaded onto most phones. However the large screen and ‘pinch’ to zoom feature that the iPhone implements, does make the whole experience a whole lot better. It allows you to get directions, search for particular areas, as well as bookmark certain locations. You can also store information about that location like the telephone number or email address and such, in case it’s a place of business. Of course, you can also view it in map mode with street names and landmarks or in Satellite mode with actual buildings and a fair amount of details.

An application that I personally like is the Weather forecaster. It's a simple iPhone application that will simply tell you the weather. It’s easy to configure, just type in the city’s name and store it.

Next we have the clock function. Again, no different from any other except for the large display. There are options for alarms, a stopwatch and even a World clock that you can adjust to display the time in any four cities of your choice at once. There’s even a timer option.

Something that actually takes the iPhone up a notch in my book is the visual representation used for the application for the timer and date setting is the dial system that can be flicked with your finger and it spins. Just like a slot machine. It’s just a really cool way to make changes with numbers.

iPhone Part I - Features and Connectivity

I’ve already mentioned that the iPhone’s interface is quite extraordinary and Laiq has told you about its Audio and Video capabilities. There is of course plenty more to talk about. But with all the hype created about how futuristic and capable this phone is, let's just see how much of a super phone this is when it comes to its various features.

Misc. Features
The iPhone hype may have been exaggerated a bit in my opinion. The phone, although it has few features, copes well when compared to most high end phones out there at the moment. But the question is – Does it fare better considering the huge amount of attention it gets? The answer is – Not really. Let me elaborate. The iPhone has all the features that any other phone has. From the Calculator and Calendar to the GPS. It’s all there. Or is it? Let’s start from the top and see what the iPhone has.

First off, the iPhone’s calendar function. Although it obviously looks a wee bit different from the calendar function of any other phone, it’s not dissimilar in any way. But then again, how different could they make it right? It serves its purpose well. It allows you to see tasks or reminders scheduled in choices of per day, week or month. You can edit them, set alarms etc. Nothing new here at all.


Next up is the Stock market option. I’m not entirely sure why it’s here. My guess would be to Business-ize the iPhone. Since I’m not one to play around with the Stock Market, it doesn’t make much of a difference to me. My issue with this application is – this phone is not directed to strictly the business sector so having a dedicated Stock Market application doesn’t really make too much sense. But never the less (sigh) it’s there in case you do want to check your stocks.

LG Reveals 5 Megapixel Camera Phone

LG’s KU990 5.0 megapixel camera phone was revealed in Berlin at IFA. It’s equipped with a Schneider-Kreuznach lens. That’s saying a lot (literally). But quite like the Prada model it also has a touch screen (3 inches) with a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels. The camera has auto focus with image stabilization technology, 120fps, video recording and an ISO sensitivity of 800.

The KU990 is a 3G enabled phone with HSDPA. It has 170MB of internal memory and but we’re not sure if and how it accepts external memory.


Unfortunately there’s no idea of the cost or availability. Yet.

Via Akiabara News.

Nokia Launches 6555 Clamshell

Nokia has announced their new 3G enabled WCDMA and Quadband GSM handset – The Nokia 6555. This clamshell features a QVGA 16 million color internal display. The resolution of the screen is 240 x 320 pixels. It has an internal memory of 30MB and supports external memory through microSD cards.

"Mobile-savvy consumers expect superior quality and design. We understood that need, and so created the Nokia 6555. The Nokia 6555 is a sophisticated accessory delivering the outstanding features that you expect from Nokia," said Markku Suomi, Product Group Director, Mobile Phones, Nokia.


Nokia doesn’t mention what type of camera is present but they did mention that it has 6x zoom. It also has an option for self-portrait and video sharing. The 6555 also has Bluetooth capabilities.

It’s priced at just around Rs. 11,100 (€200) and should be available next month.

Samsung UFO Gives 7.2Mbps Download Speed

Samsung has launched a new mobile with the weirdest name – The UFO. What? Contrary to what the name may suggest, the phone is not round, nor are there little green men inside. It’s actually a slim slider phone and the model numbers are SCH-W300 and SPH-W30000. Yes, I found those difficult to go by either so we should stick to UFO.

I’m not sure how true this is, but according to some, the UFO was derived from "Unimaginable, Fast speed and Oh, 7.2Mbps" which in reality is what this HSDPA phone is designed to provide – up to 7.2Mbps of download speed. This GSM handset is just 12.9mm thick and is equipped with a 2.0 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and allows for external memory support.

As of now it’s available in Magic Silver and Black Pearl and although the price is not correctly known, it’s estimated to be around Rs. 26,000. Hopefully we’ll get to see it soon here.

Via Gizmodo.

Mass Effect Delayed Again?

All those eagerly awaiting BioWare’s Unreal powered RPG, Mass Effect will be pleased to know that there is a small chance that the game may be pushed back from November to the 7th of December 2007. While no official announcement has been made by BioWare at this point, news regarding the delay started trickling in once people who pre-ordered the game started receiving mails from retailers informing them about the delay.

First we hear about the BioShock delay (for us Indians) and now this?
/slits wrists...

Skate Demo Hits Xbox Live

EA’s answer to the Tony Hawk games has finally hit Xbox Live in the form of a single player demo weighing in at around 1 GB. The demo features certain tutorials and gameplay challenges that'll allow players to familiarize themselves with the game’s revolutionary Flickit controls. The demo also ships with the Skate Reel feature by which players can record their wicked sick stunts and share them online with friends.


Skate releases for the Xbox 360 by the 21st of September 2007 while the PS3 version will hit shelves by the 12th of October.

BioShock

surrounding it, but it becomes a benchmark of sorts for other games in that particular genre... BioShock is one such game! Now I never managed to play System Shock 2 back in the day and Nikhil’s constantly been reminding me on how I was missing out on an extremely atmospheric experience but only after playing BioShock (which by the way is hailed as the spiritual successor to System Shock 2) do I finally understand what the brother was talking about all this time. BioShock is by far one of the most intense and atmospheric games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing and is every reason to invest in an Xbox 360 or a beefed up PC.


One thing I need to clear out before we dive into the review is that BioShock is not an RPG, so if you’re expecting somewhat of an underwater Oblivion you will be disappointed. BioShock can best be described as a survival horror cum action adventure that takes place from a first person perspective with copious amounts of RPG elements thrown in. The game is pretty linear since it forces you to abide by the story line but at the same time it grants you the freedom to tackle a particular situation any which way you feel fit. But before I start discussing gameplay mechanics, let’s take a quick look at the game’s central plot.

Make Your Own Animated CS:S Spray

There was a time when ‘Lan Gaming’ was synonymous with Counter-Strike in India. Back when Warcraft III was brand new and almost no one out here played it, all of us were FPS fanatics and CS was all we played in gaming cafés. So no matter how many Battlefields we fight on, or how many matches of DotA (Defense of the Ancients) we play, CS will always have a special place in our heart.



Now before this article sounds like a tribute to CS of some kind, let me get to what I wanted it to be about – Making your own animated Counter-Strike: Source spray. For the clueless that play CS like a brain-dead frag-fest, Sprays are the images you can, well, spray on a wall in CS. Why are they so important you say? Well they're the only thing you can customize in CS, so this is your ticket to set you apart from the crowd.

To get started you’ll need a copy of Adobe Photoshop (I used Adobe Photoshop CS3, but older versions should get the job done too) and this program (which is made by SMiDDY). Next on your list is an image of something you’d like to animate and use as a spray. Keep in mind that the spray is going to be quite small, so don’t choose a very detailed image. If you can’t find an image just animate text like I did...



Before you start making your image, decide how many frames your animation should have. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, a frame is a still image from an animation; after all an animation is nothing but a series of still images that create the illusion of motion. The reason you’ve got to decide how many frames you need before you get started, is that your maximum spray size is restricted to 120KB. If your animation has 5 frames or less, your image resolution or canvas size should be 128x128 pixels. If you’ve got more frames, you’ll need frames of 92x92 pixels which is really small. For this tutorial, we shall open a new frame of 128x128 pixels by clicking on File-> New...

Augmentix Launches 'Mission-Critical' Laptop

Normally we would not be carrying a product like this on Tech2, since it's intended at a vastly different market. However being the tech-heads that we are, we couldn’t help ourselves. Just have a look at the product below and you will realize why

What you see above you is Augmentix’s new "mission-critical" laptop. This heavy-duty baby is designed for military use and in extremely rugged conditions. It comes with an Augmentix Armored Protection System which includes a dense magnesium exoskeleton, over-mold protection system, and an innovative QuadCool thermal management system.

Furthermore it is based on Intel’s Santa Rosa platform, features a Core 2 Duo processor (up to 2.4GHz), a 14.1 screen with a native resolution of 1280x800, max 4GB RAM, Intel GMA X3100 graphics and an 80GB hard drive. The laptop also goes has full support for Bluetooth, a/b/g wireless, GPS, EDVO Rev A, HSDPA 3.6, and runs on Windows Vista.

Lenovo Unveils New Laptop - 3000 Y410

Lenovo has unveiled the 14'1" widescreen 3000 Y410 laptop.


The laptop features multimedia capabilities such as front facing Dolby Home Theatre speakers, an integrated microphone, webcam, DVD recordable drive and shuttle Centre along with the latest edition of Audio DJ that allows users to play music while laptop is turned off.

The laptop has the Audio function panel encased in a stylish unique design outside the top cover and the slot-in ODD at the side panel.

The Y410 also incorporates a 5-in-1 multi-card reader for downloading digital pictures from multiple types of memory cards, three USB ports, IEEE1394 Interface which allows high speed communication between two devices . In addition, it also has Easy Capture, a multimedia software application for easy photo editing and Power to go, for reading and recording data.

The laptop also features biometric face recognition technology and one touch recovery.

"PCs today go far beyond being just a business tool. With the Lenovo 3000 Y 500 series, we defined TV on the go. Now with the Lenovo 3000 Y410, we define music on the go, offering customers a truly high-end entertainment experience. With the Audio DJ feature, the user can choose to listen to music even while the laptop is turned off. The Lenovo 3000 Y410 promises high performance as well as high quality entertainment, all rolled into one sleek package.We are certain this product will provide the ultimate entertainment experience to our consumers," said Anil Philip- Executive Director, Transactional Business, Lenovo India.

Weighing 2.54 kg, Lenovo 3000 Y410 is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 Processor 1.8Ghz, 2GB RAM, a 160 GB HDD. The notebook also comes with discrete graphic nVidia GeForce Go 8400M GS. Pre-loaded with Microsoft Vista Home Basic and the Premium edition, the Y410 also offers connectivity features such as integrated 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN and 10/100 Ethernet and Bluetooth.

The Lenovo 3000 Y410 notebook is available in all Lenovo authorized storefronts with prices starting at Rs. 50,000.

Lenovo is offering buyers of select Lenovo 3000 products assured of gifts such as Philips VoIP earphones, or Philips wireless headphones and the jackpot gift of 20 Philips home theaters - till offers last.

Samsung NV3

What will they think up next? I bet this company really does have its employees working overtime, specifically, the guys in their Think Tank. These days it seems like having a device dedicated to one feature it can perform is a rather lame idea. Hence, the Samsung NV3.
Design
Being part of the ultra compact series, the Samsung NV3 is just that - Ultra Compact. Its dark purplish-brown and silver finish gives it a certain elegant styling. Even though it seems a wee bit heavy it really isn’t, weighing in at 155g. When you switch the camera on the little cover clicks back in the blink on an eye revealing the lens.

Now the top appears a bit strange at first and if you get confused as to which are buttons and which aren’t, it’s ok. We had the same problem at our end. But let me ease you into it.

From Left to right – The first round "thing" is, well… nothing! It seems like an overgrown bolt and is of no technical use. Then you have the power key and the Jog Dial followed by the microphone and Shutter Release button. And then to balance it out I'm thinking, there's another one of those odd-doesn’t-serve-any-purpose round "things".

On the side is the 2.5mm earphone socket just above the slot for the camera strap.



The rear panel sports the 2.5-inch 230,000 pixel display. What I’m most pleased about, is the button placement. The delete key is right near the main menu dial. This really makes it easier and a helluva lot quicker for deleting images. Even the zoom key is different from your average digicam. The bottom has of course the battery and MMC card compartment and the propriety cable slot.

Sony Launches Compact Digicam With 6x Zoom

Sony has launched the Cybershot S800, a copact digital camera with a powerful 6x optical zoom.

Pulling you closer to the action, the 6x optical zoom lens offers the highest magnification ever from a compact Cyber-shot model—boosted further still to 12x with digital zoom. In macro mode it's possible to focus right down to 2cm for fantastic close-up views of any subject.

The 6x zoom lens is naturally complemented by the camera's imaging capabilities. Experienced photographers will value the 8.1 effective megapixel resolution 1/1.8 inch Super HAD CCD sensor for crisp, clear images that look great even when enlarged to A4 sized prints.

Novices and photo experts alike will also appreciate the camera's high sensitivity that makes it easier to grab blur-free images with fast-moving subjects or when shooting in low light without flash. The S800 features a special high sensitivity mode of ISO 1250, selectable via the mode dial.

Despite its imaging capabilities, you don't have to be a photo enthusiast to get the best out of the S800. The easy-to-follow Function Guide offers simple advice on picking the optimal shooting mode for any subject. There’s also on-screen guidance that shows a suggested size for printing paper and the number of images remaining, dependent on remaining memory space.

The supplied NiMH AA battery pack allows 390 shots between charges. 54MB of internal memory provides plenty of capacity for storing your shots and is expandable by adding Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick PRO Duo removable media for even more shooting space.

The Cyber-shot S800 will be available throughout Europe from end of May 2007. No price or Indian launch date has been announced yet.

Casio Unveils 12.1MP Digicam

Casio and its parent company, Casio Computer has announced the release of the newest model in their EXILIM series of digital cameras, the EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1200. The new camera is Casio's flagship EXILIM Zoom, equipped with 12.1 effective megapixel and 3X optical zoom. It's also equipped with a 2.8-inch Wide LCD display.

"The newest addition of the slim, stylish EXILIM line represents Casio's continuing objective to produce innovative products fit for everyone’s needs," said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio's Digital Imaging Division. "The EX-Z1200 incorporates the same characteristics from the EX-Z1000 and adds new features such as face detection and motion analysis technology which make photographs more life like."

The new flagship EX-Z1200 with it's 12.1 megapixel resolution is the highest available in any compact digital camera. The EX-Z1200 incorporates CCD-shift image stabilization and the latest EXILIM Engine 2.0 image-processing module with motion analysis technology. These features work together to help prevent blurry shots due to shaky hands, subject movement or poor focus when photographing moving subjects such as children or pets.


In addition, the auto-tracking AF system now combines both face detection and motion analysis technologies. With this new system, once the focus is locked in, it follows a moving subject's face, maintaining both sharp focus and correct exposure.

Exclusive to the Casio EXILIM line of digital cameras in the U.S., is the eBay Best Shot mode. The eBay Best Shot mode is one of 34 Best Shot Modes featured in the EX-Z1200. eBay Best Shot takes photos at a size that is image optimized for display on eBay, allowing picture takers to more quickly and easily create photos for selling items on eBay. eBay Best Shot mode also includes Auto Macro, an ideal setting for capturing images of small items such as jewelry, tags, etc., thus automatically adjusting the focus from acquiring fine details in close up shots to capturing large items from a distance. eBay Best Shot mode allows users to capture optimized images at an ideal size for eBay. For ease of use, eBay photos are stored in a special eBay directory.

The EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1200 will have a suggested retail price of approximately Rs. 16,248 ($399.99) and will be available at retail in mid-July in two colors – silver and black.

Casio for Breast Cancer Awareness

Casio USA is getting ready to launch a pink version of its already launched Exilim EX-Z75 digital camera, in honor of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this October.

The EX-Z75, a 7.2 megapixel digital camera, will be available as a special bundle in the month of October to help raise awareness of NBCF's mission - Help for Today...Hope for Tomorrow. "The National Breast Cancer Foundation was founded to give help, support and hope to those facing breast cancer," said Janelle Hail, Founder and President of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

"We thank Casio, Inc. for joining us in helping save lives through education and early detection." The EX-Z75 is packed with a 2.6-inch wide LCD display, Anti-Shake DSP for reducing photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects and eBay mode which allows for photographs to be easily uploaded at the appropriate size for selling on eBay or for personal web use.


"We are proud to be a sponsor of the National Breast Cancer Foundation," said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio's Digital Imaging Division. "We hope that by purchasing the EX-Z75 in honor of breast cancer patients and survivors, users will capture every valuable moment with their friends and family."

The special-edition pink EX-Z75 will be only available in the US at an MSRP of $179.99, and will sponsor the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Canon Unveils 2 PowerShot A-Series Digicams

Canon U.S.A., Inc. recently announced two new PowerShot A-Series digital cameras, including one with the highest resolution in the series to-date - 12.1 megapixel PowerShot A650 IS and the 8 megapixel PowerShot A720 IS.

Both cameras maintain many of the features of this line, with improvements to better meet the needs of users who want a solid and smart point-and-shoot with user-friendly manual capabilities. These features make it good for an enthusiast looking for a full feature-set and imaging benefits, or a casual user looking for an easy-to-master point-and-shoot.


"By enhancing the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS digital cameras with advanced, yet user-friendly feature-sets, at a reduced price point, the A-series will continue to stand-out from the competition," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

The estimated selling prices of the PowerShot A650 IS digital camera and the PowerShot A720 IS digital camera models are $399.99 and $249.99, respectively. Both models are scheduled to be available in American stores in September. No news about their Indian launch yet.

Canon Launches EOS 40D D-SLR

Canon has just launched the EOS 40D D-SLR camera. From the camera's newly enhanced, 10.1 megapixel CMOS imaging sensor and its Digic III image processor, to its completely redesigned autofocus sensor and fast, 6.5 fps continuous shooting capability, the EOS 40D SLR puts the fun in functionality and makes serious photo business a positive pleasure.


At 6.5 fps the EOS 40D is ideal for shooting (and actually capturing) speed-sensitive outdoor and wild-nature shots as well as a wide variety of action and sports scenes. The speed of the EOS 40D SLR comes from Canon's combination of its Digic III processor, DDR SDRAM high-speed memory, four-channel-per-line sensor readout, and two separate motors for shutter and mirror operation.

"This newest member of Canon's Digital SLR family takes mid-range Digital SLRs to exciting new heights with enhanced resolution and image quality, faster shooting and processing speeds and better overall functionality than ever before," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A."The EOS 40D Digital SLR Camera incorporates many Canon innovations and advancements that differentiate our products from the competition, while respecting and reinforcing our long-standing traditions of providing superior value and innovative imaging technology."

Although it is based on the image sensor used in the EOS Digital Rebel XTi, the EOS 40D Digital SLR's 10.1 megapixel CMOS APS-C size image sensor has been significantly improved thanks to the use of larger microlenses over each pixel to reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 3200.

Previously the province of the EOS-1D Mark III DSLR (one of Canon's top-tier professional cameras), the Live View function now gives EOS 40D camera users an expanded set of shooting options.

The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR is scheduled for early September delivery and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated selling price of $1,299.00i. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated selling price of $1,499.00.

I thought these things were off the market by now, but I guess I was wrong. Genius has just launched their new 5 megapixel CMOS sensor based digicam. So if you want the camera of Nokia N95 without the big price tag (or the smart phone part), then this, I guess, is as close as you can get to it.

Considering that it's a CMOS camera, don't expect it to match the quality of the regular CCD sensor based cameras. The advantage however is that you can use this as a webcam as well. It comes with a 32 MB memory card and can be upgraded to 1GB.

Yours at the MRP of Rs. 6,900.

Nikon Coolpix L10

It seems like the photography bug has bitten the whole world. Camera manufacturers are going all out to cater to every consumer need as well. No more is a digital camera out of reach for the average man. I remember a time when buying a digital camera meant shelling out at least Rs. 15,000 plus for the most basic of digicams, but now with the obscene amount of options and variations available, you the consumer, can have your pick at a price that you can afford. The Nikon Coolpix L10 is just such a camera. It's not out of reach, money-wise, and it's perfect for just carrying around for you snap-happy people out there.


Design
There's nothing new about the design of the L10. As digicams go, it's purely average in looks. One of those you've seen one you've seen 'em all designs. But it's conveniently small and light. Again, much like the Pentax M20 (LINK), it uses normal AA cells, so no charger is required. But the batteries do tend to add a bit to the weight. But on the whole the camera weighs just 125g.

On the top you'll see the speaker, the power button and the shutter release button.

The rear of the camera has a 2.0 inch display. Although it's clear maybe it could have been bigger. I mean do they really need so much space at the bottom to write their name? But realistically the reason is that it reduces the cost. So thats a good thing. If you want a larger screen, be prepared to fork over some more dough people. The other function buttons are spaced quite well though. That's very important for easy navigation.

On the bottom you'll find the battery compartment and unlike most other models, the SD card slot has a separate compartment oh the side right next to the
strap loop.

Ricoh Announces the Caplio RR750

Beginners rejoice (or don’t) as Ricoh has just launched their starter level 7.1 megapixel camera - Caplio RR750.

The features are pretty much what you can expect from a camera in this category, namely 3x optical zoom, a number of scene modes, video shooting mode, 32MB internal memory etc. Here’s a little excerpt from the press release:
"Ricoh is proud to announce the release of the new Caplio RR750. This trim new entry-level digital camera adds several exciting and useful features to its extremely popular predecessor, the Caplio RR730. The crystal-clear 2.5” color TFT-LCD monitor now has even higher resolution for clearer viewing during picture taking and playback. And greater lens power resolution gives even higher quality images."
You can read more about the camera at the Photography Blog , but make sure not to pay too much attention at the adjectives. No pricing information announced yet.

Samsung Launches New Budget Digicam

Samsung seems to be on a roll with its digicam releases this year, the latest of which is the new Samsung S750.

This 7.2 megapixel budget digicam sports all the predictable features like 3x optical zoom, Pict-Bridge, scene modes, etc. This is what LetsGoDigital has to say about the camera:
Convenient features like auto mode and scene programmes like Auto, Program, Manual, Scene, Movie, ensures the entry-level photographer hassle-free digital photography without the need to worry about settings like aperture and shutter speeds. And due to the high resolution of 7.2 Megapixels the user has enough digital information to post process the image or print it large format.


Doesn’t seem like it has anything revolutionary, but then again none of the lower-end cameras do. No pricing announced as yet, but you can head over to LetsGoDigital for more information.