ProductWiki

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:22:54 -0500

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the third video game in the Call of Duty Franchise. It is available on Xbox 360 Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, DS and Microsoft. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a first person shooter that is based in a fictional future where there is a conflict between American and Russian forces. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has a heavy focus on multi-player gaming and includes new features such as 2-player co-op and improved weapons. New game modes include collecting dog tags, team defender and survival mode. The single player mode continues the campaign from where Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 left off. With the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Call of Duty: Elite will supplement game play as a service that offers free and subscription based levels of access, a mobile app, social networking options and more.

Features

Exciting Single-Player Campaign
More Multi-Player Options
Pointstreaks and Strike Packages
Weapon Proficiencies
Modes and Match Customization
2 Player Co-Op Special Ops Survival mode
Call of Duty: Elite Service
Available on a Variety of Platforms

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:54:15 -0500

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet is designed for users looking for flexibility in their tablet. With a mobile docking station attached to its keyboard, the Transformer Prime can be both a touchscreen tablet and a notebook, and can provide up to 18 hours of battery life when in the docking station and up to 12 hours on its own. Powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 3, the world's first mobile quad-core processor, this tablet is able to offer both high performance and low power consumption through the use of a fifth "companion core." At a thickness of 0.33 inches and weight of 1.29 pounds, this tablet is ultra-portable. An 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and back-illuminated CMOS sensor captures 1080p resolution allowing for high quality photos and videos, while a 1.2 megapixel front camera allows for video conferencing. Finally, equipped with the Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS, this tablet is also upgradable to the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

Features

Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS
NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad Core CPU
32GB Storage and 1GB of RAM
1280x800p Resolution
178 Degree Viewing Angle
8MP Rear Camera
Polymer 25W/h Battery
1.29 Pounds

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:28:15 -0400

The Galaxy Nexus is a touchscreen smartphone from the Samsung company. Developed in conjunction with Google, this model runs the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and features a large 4.65-inch Super AMOLED 720p display (1280x720). Available in 16GB and 32GB storage capacities, the phone packs a 1.2GB dual-core processor as well as high speed LTE or HSDPA+ connectivity (depends on carrier and region). A 5-megapixel digital camera is included that offers 1080p HD video capture and automatic panorama stills, with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing component for videoconferencing via Skype or Google Talk. Offering a cutting-edge alternative to numeric-based password systems, the Nexus incorporates "Face Unlock" technology that enables the user to access their handset by simply looking into the front camera lens. Files, links, directions, applications and more can be shared between two NFC (near field communication) radio equipped devices running Android 4.0 via "Android Beam", offering instant file sharing by simply touching the two units together. Native support of the Google+ social networking client is available in addition to all other Google Mobile Services, including YouTube, Gmail, Google Chat and the classic Google Search. Text-based communication is greatly simplified through voice-to-text capabilities, triggered through a single prompt for true simplicity.

Features

Gloss black aesthetic (matte back panel)
Developed in conjunction with Google
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS
4.65-inch Super AMOLED 720p display
1.2GHz dual-core processor (TI OMAP4460)
5-megapixel rear-facing digital camera with LED flash
1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
1080p HD video recording
16 or 32GB internal storage options

Roku Streaming Stick

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:51:03 -0500

The Roku Streaming Stick is Roku's attempt at making your Smart TV smarter, without the added box. It connects to your TV through an MHL-enhanced HDMI port. MHL-enhanced HDMI ports are the newly proposed standard for all new TVs. The ports will power any device that's plugged in. This is an interesting choice for Roku as you'll essentially need a new TV to use the streaming stick, so it's hard to see where the advantage comes in. This will appeal to people who want to keep their home theater setups clean, without a lot of extra "boxes", while allowing them to keep up to date on new streaming software that comes out.

Roku's real advantage with the Streaming Stick will come with travelers who want to keep their Hulu and Netflix streams readily available while on the road. The caveat, of course, that hotel TVs will be upgraded to include the MHL-enhanced port. It would be nice to carry around a small USB-thumbdrive-sized device around rather than a set-top box or watching on your laptop.

The Roku Streaming Stick won't be available until the second half of 2012 and should cost between $50 and $100.

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:26:03 -0400

The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook is the first-ever enterprise-ready, 7” tablet released by Research in Motion (R.I.M.), and it’s designed to compete directly with the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. It differentiates itself first by using an entirely different and proprietary operating system known as the BlackBerry Tablet OS, which supports OpenGL, POSIX, HTML5, and Flash 10.1 (which is blocked on the iPad/iPhone). Another notable functionality is the parallel connectivity between devices, as a BlackBerry Torch (for instance) can be tethered by Bluetooth, after which users can work seamlessly from one unit to the other. One big difference compared to the iPad is that the Playbook has a front-facing 3MP cam and rear-facing 5MP cam that support high-definition video capture and video conferencing.

Additional Information

Like the iPad, the Playbook uses an LCD screen, which means it’s better suited for using on bright, sunny days. Mind you the Playbook’s screen is 7” like the Samsung Galaxy. Power/memory-wise, the Playbook comes out at top with double the processing power and a huge slab of RAM. As for the storage, the Playbook offers 16/32GB plus microSD, versus the iPad which goes up to 64GB. Connectivity is a loss though, as the Samsung Galaxy has WiFi + 3G + Bluetooth 3 + DLNA. But the Playbook has HDMI and USB, both of which you don’t get with Apple.

Features

BlackBerry Tablet OS w/Multiprocessing
7” WSVGA Capacitive Touch Screen
Full Multi-Touch/Gesure Support
1GB Dual-Core Processor
1GB RAM
Dual HD Cameras (3MP Front, 5MP Rear)
1080p HD Video Recording
1080p H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV Playback
Draft N / Bluetooth wireless Connectivity
HDMI Video Output
microHDMI, microUSB Charging
Supports Adobe Mobile Flash
Enterprise-Level Security

4moms Origami Stroller

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:05:39 -0500

The 4moms Origami stroller is the first power-folding stroller. It folds into a compact and portable size by pushing a button. You can also power-unfold the stroller by pushing a button. The stroller has a built-in generator that recharges as you walk. It needs a "short walk" to regenerate, although there is no mention of how short the walk needs to be or how long the charge lasts. It does have a manual override so you'll never be stuck with a folded (or unfolded) version of the stroller. Once the stroller is folded, it has hidden luggage-style wheels for easy transport.

This is definitely a stroller for the tech-minded parent. It comes with an LCD screen that gives you some stats about your walk. The most notable being whether or not there's a baby in there. It also shows you the temperature, battery life, and your current walking speed and distance. The safety sensor ensures the stroller is never allowed to fold when there is a baby seated. It also has built-in daytime running lights and pathway lights.

Folding Demo

This is not just a tech-specific stroller, it was designed by moms, afterall, so it does have most standard high-end stroller features. It has 4(!) cup built-in cupholders and plenty of storage space. The seat does not recline completely flat (they have a separate bassinet for newborns) but does recline to respectable 40 degrees.

Features

Stroller weight: 29 lbs
Holds child up to 40 lbs
Car seat adapter for Graco infant bucket seats
Bassinet sold separately
LCD screen for temperature, child sensor, battery life, lifetime & trip odometer, speedometer
Sunroof with a mesh see-through window
4 Built-in cupholders
Storage baskets
Four-wheel suspension
Manual override
Child safety sensor
Rechargeable generator

Coby Kyros MID7016

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:32:05 -0400

The Coby Kyros MID7016 is a low end tablet that builds off the MID7015. This 7-inch tablet improves on its predecessor with a more powerful processor, though still running at 800MHz and comes with Android 2.3 software as opposed to the 2.1 version that comes with the MID7015. The resistive touch screen display has a native resolution of 800x480 and the tablet has 4GB worth of flash memory. The tablet also comes preloaded with two essential apps, an e-book app (Aldiko e-reader) which allows the user to download and read thousands of books found in the app's library and an apps marketplace (AppsLib). The MID7016 comes packaged with a protective pouch, stylus, earphones, USB cable and a power adapter.

Features

7-inch resistive touch screen display | 800x480 resolution
800 MHz Telechips ARM 11 processor
4GB Flash Memory
WiFi enabled
Android OS 2.3
2650 mAh rechargeable Li-poly battery
Dimensions | 7.56" x 0.39" x 4.8"
Weight | 0.87 lb

Lenovo G570

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:11:59 -0500

The Lenovo G570 is a mid-range to high-end notebook laptop similar to the Lenovo G470. The sole difference between the two laptops is screen size--the G570 boasts a 15.6" LCD display, the G470 a 14" display. Otherwise, the G570 and G470 sport the same basic features, including: Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2 technology, 2nd generation Intel Core i processor options, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 750GB of storage and AMD Radeon 6370M graphics.

The G570's Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2 technology is designed to work with Windows 7 to improve multimedia performance while speeding up shutdown and startup times. Its 2nd generation Intel Core i processor options allow the G570 to easily handle typical day-to-day and multimedia use even at the lowest configurations while consuming less battery life than 1st gen Core i processors. Meanwhile, the G570's AMD Radeon 6370M graphics offer high definition media playback while offering light to moderate gaming performance.

Features

15.6" LCD HD display (1366 x 768)
2nd generation Intel Core i processor options
Up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM
Up to 750GB of storage
AMD Radeon 6370M graphics
Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2 technology
2.0 megapixel webcam

Ferrero Rocher

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:10:19 -0500

A spherical, chocolate and hazelnut treat wrapped in its signature gold wrapper. At its core is a single hazelnut enveloped by a layer of creamy nutella and a solid shell of milk chocolate with hazelnut chunks. These delectable treats are very popular during the holiday season. The brand is famous, especially in the UK, for a TV spot opening with "The Ambassador's receptions are noted in society for their hosts' exquisite taste" that has subsequently been parodied by many comedians.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:52:39 -0400

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2011) is a high-end laptop that is essentially an upgrade of Apple's 11" MacBook Air model; the 13" model features a larger screen, a more powerful processor, a greater amount of installed RAM, and of course more storage space.

The Apple MacBook Air is designed to provide both portability and function; the form factor is similar to a netbook while the installed hardware allows it to be as powerful as a laptop computer. The Apple MacBook Air can be customized by the consumer when ordering (there are two distinct 13" models), the installed hardware can either be more powerful, or individual upgrades can be sacrificed for a lower price tag.

The MacBook Air includes 128GB-256GB flash storage (depending on model purchased), and is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor combined with 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM. For graphics and enhanced visuals the MacBook Air also includes an integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 384MB DDR3 shared memory. Additional MacBook Air features include an integrated FaceTime HD camera, a built-in SD Card slot, WiFi 802.11n support, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless functionality, and of course complete customization and hardware installation options (better hardware means a higher price tag).

The 13" MacBook Air display features a native resolution of 1440 x 900, and an aspect ratio of 16:10 or 4:3 (depending on operating resolution selected). Also included is the Thunderbolt port, a unique data transfer technology that allows pairing with Thunderbolt enabled devices that is designed to allow simultaneous peripheral use through a single port.

The 2011 MacBook Air model includes several alternate features from the previous Air model such as a thinner form factor, an Intel Core i5 processor as opposed to the Core 2 Duo, an Intel HD 3000 graphics adapter with shared memory as opposed to the Nvidia GeForce 320M, and Bluetooth 4.0 functionality as opposed to Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. It's worth noting that the highest model available for the older MacBook Air laptop can be purchased for nearly the same price as the lowest model of the new MacBook Air.

Features

13.3" Laptop Display
LED backlit display with glossy finish
Thinner body and form factor (see dimensions below)
Integrated FaceTime HD camera
Omnidirectional Microphone (Multiple direction pickup)
MagSafe and Thunderbolt ports and compatibility
Stronger Battery Life
- Rated by Apple at 7 hours with constant wireless web use
- Rated by Apple at up to 30 days in standby
Integrated stereo speakers
DVD or CD sharing support with iMac and alternate Mac computers
Fully backlit keyboard
Multi-touch and gesture support Trackpad
Integrated SD card slot
Pre-installed Mac OS X Lion
- Includes iLife Software (iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand)

Technical Specifications

Display:
- Native Resolution: 1440 x 900 (16:10)
- Supported Resolutions:
  - 1280 x 800 (16:10)
  - 1152 x 720 (16:10)
  - 1024 x 640 (16:10)
  - 1024 x 768 (4:3)
  - 800 x 600 (4:3)
- External Display Support
  - Simultaneous use with device and external display
  - Maximum Resolution: 2560 x 1600
Processor
- 1.7GHz dual core Intel Core i5
- 3MB shared L3 Cache
Storage
- 128GB Flash Storage
Memory
- 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM
Graphics
- Intel HD Graphics 3000
- 384MB DDR3 SDRAM (shared)
Peripheral Connections (Expansion Ports)
- USB 2.0 (2) up to 480Mbps
- Integrated SD Card Slot
- Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack
- MagSafe Power Adapter Port
- Thunderbolt Data Transfer Port
WiFi
- Native: 802.11n
- IEEE 802.11 a/b/g compatible
Includes OSX Lion Software

Apple MacBook Air 13" Models

There are two separate models of the MacBook Air (2011) available which offer various upgrades and alternate hardware choices when purchased through the Apple web store.

Model: $1299
- Storage: 128GB Flash
- Processor: 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 (dual core)
- Memory: 4GB 1333MHz DDR3
- Graphics: Intel HD 3000 384MB Shared DDR3
Model: $1599
- Storage: 256GB Flash
- Processor: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7 (dual core)
- Memory: 4GB 1333MHz DDR3
- Graphics: Intel HD 3000 384MB Shared DDR3

Alternatively Apple allows consumers to choose various upgrades individually instead of upgrading the entire device model, prices will vary and must be viewed via the official Apple store.

1.8GHz Dual Core Intel i7 Processor
Up to 256GB Flash Storage
Additional Adapters
- Apple USB Ethernet Adapter
- Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
- Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Samsung Galaxy S II

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:05:01 -0500

The Samsung Galaxy S II is a smart phone built to balance multimedia functions with support for business applications. It runs the Android operating system (version 2.3, aka Gingerbread) on a 1.2Ghz dual-core CPU (Samsung Exynos), and uses a 4.3 inch "Super AMOLED Plus" display that uses less energy than a regular AMOLED display with more pixels and a thinner profile. The built-in web browser is full-featured for a high-end mobile browsing experience. The DLNA wireless protocol is made available for high-definition streaming of content to external displays at full 1080p through the preinstalled "AllShare" application. The built-in 8 megapixel camera can also record in full 1080p. Connection to business applications include full VPN support via Cisco AnyConnect, Sybase's secure remote device management, device encryption, and complete support for Cisco WebEx.

Features

OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with Samsung TouchWiz 4.0
Predictive text input (Swype)
4.3 in Super AMOLED Plus display
30% more pixels per inch over regular AMOLED display
Gorilla glass
High-end mobile web browsing experience
HSPA+ 21Mbps cellular data (850/900/1900/2100MHz)
8MP camera, LED flash
2MP front-facing camera
1GB RAM
16GB or 32GB internal memory storage
microSD memory card expansion (up to 32GB per card)
DLNA compatibility
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
microUSB
TV-Out (with MHL port)
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
Li-Ion 1650mAh battery
Adobe Flash 10.3 support
Samsung Kies 2.0 & Kies air syncing
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
Full 1080p HD @ 30fps recording & playback
Voice Recognition & Voice Translation
Dual-core 1.2GHz CPU (Samsung Exynos)
VPN (Virtual Private Network) compatibility
MDM (Mobile Device Management)
Cisco WebEx
Weight: 116g

Ubuntu TV

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:12:32 -0500

Ubuntu TV is a software platform developed by Canonical Ltd. (a commercializing partner of the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution). Ubuntu TV runs on Smart TVs and provides an enhanced viewing experience allowing you to search, browse and navigate online, personal, and live TV content. It was announced at CES 2012 in Las Vegas and is a competitor to Google TV and the upcoming Apple iTV. To date, no specific deals with TV manufacturers have been announced.

Magellan Switch Up

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:16:01 -0500

The Magellan Switch Up is Magellan's first venture into the GPS watch market. Along with it's lower priced sibling, the Magellan Switch, it's a GPS watch aimed at making your training session more interesting. The Switch Up can be used for multiple sports including running, cycling and swimming. The Switch Up has the standard GPS-enabled technologies you'd find on other GPS watches, including a highly sensitive GPS receiver and altimeter, marked locations and pacing.

A big difference between this watch and the older generation GPS watches is that it has basic navigation capabilities to help you get back to your starting point. This would work well if you're in a city or trail you've never run before, almost like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs a la Hansel & Gretel.

The multisport mode will be appealing to triathletes as it allows you to record muti-disciplinary workouts into one session and record your transition times. The 9 activity profiles allows you to customize settings for different sports as well. A multisport mounting kit is included into the price.

The watch only has an 8 hour battery life, although you can get an extra 16 hours through an external battery pack. The 8 hour battery life isn't much if you're planning on wearing this as your everyday watch.

Features

1.26" display; black background, white characters
GPS tracking and elevation
Temperature recording and monitoring
Vibrating alerts for reaching predetermined goals
Multisport mounting kit (onto watch band or bike handles)
60 hours of storage
Customizable screens
9 activity profiles
Activity pacer
Compatible with ANT+ sensors - heart rate monitors, foot pods, bike sensors
Mark locations
Basic navigation to return back to starting point
Calorie calculation
USB charging and data transfer
Web applications

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:28:20 -0400

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is a high-end Android smartphone that doubles as a dedicated gaming device. It features a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor, 512MB of RAM, 1GB of ROM and a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen. The Xperia Play's defining feature, however, is its slide-out dedicated game pad reminiscent of the PSP Go's.

The Xperia Play's slide-out game pad is meant to greatly enhance Android gaming, offering physical controls over touch-only setups. The game pad features the standard Playstation layout: circle, triangle, X and square buttons, a D-pad and shoulder buttons. However, the slide-out section also features a multi-touch touch panel for touch-only games. Meanwhile, the Xperia Play's 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor and 512MB of RAM ensure enough power to handle any mobile game available at the time of its release.

Features

1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor
512MB of RAM
1GB of internal storage
4-inch capacitive touchscreen
Slide-out dedicated game pad
MicroSD card for memory expansion
Google's Android OS

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:36:41 -0400

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a 7 inch tablet running Google's Android mobile operating system (version 2.2 aka Froyo). It uses a customized version (TouchWiz UI 3.0) of Android's user interface similar to the ones used for Samsung's Galaxy S Android handsets. It will most likely have a similar hardware configuration to the smaller Galaxy S handset. With over 60,000 application to choose from in the Android market, a multi-touch on-screen keyboard, gyroscope and accelerometer, the Galaxy Tab competes directly with Apple's iOS-based tablet, the iPad.

The Galaxy Tab as a few advantages over the iPad: the included official Amazon Kindle application for e-books (available on all major platforms), microSD memory expansion slot (up to 32GB per card), front-facing 1.3MP camera as well as 3MP rear camera with flash, Bluetooth 3.0, it is able to make regular phone calls (though without earpiece -> use speakerphone or Bluetooth), higher pixel density display, dual-band (2.4GHz/5Ghz) 802.11n WiFi, HDMI output via the docking station, and a twice as fast graphics processor (PowerVR SGX540)

Features / Specifications

7'' Touch screen display with 1024x600 resolution (higher density than iPad)
Android 2.2 with TouchWiz 3.0 User interface
1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor
PowerVR SGX540 GPU (by far most powerful graphics processor as of 2010)
Gyroscope, Geo-magnetic sensor, accelerometer, light sensor
Bluetooth 3.0
2.4GHz/5GHz dual-band WiFi 802.11n
Android Market (60,000+ Android apps) and Samsung Apps specifically for Galaxy Tab
Swype keyboard preinstalled
Full HD video playback
4,000mAh battery (7h movie replay)

Amazon Kindle Fire

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:19:48 -0400

The Kindle Fire is a touchscreen tablet device from Amazon that offers an alternative to the company's standard Kindle and Kindle Touch models. Functioning similarly to products like the Apple iPad, Blackberry Playbook and HP TouchPad, the Fire incorporates a 7" multitouch display with an anti-reflective coating for for optimal visibility. Movies, TV shows, books, games and magazines can be purchased directly within the unit via integrated Wi-Fi, with a wide variety of Amazon-tested applications available on the company's official "Appstore". The Fire's integrated web browser - Amazon Silk - aims to provide simple, intuitive web browsing powered by a high-speed dual-core processor for seamless multitasking. 8 gigabytes of internal storage is available for keeping the user's favorite content within reach at all times, with free online storage available courtesy of Amazon's Cloud storage service. Wireless battery support is available up to 8 hours when the Fire's Wi-Fi is turned off, with a full charge taking approximately 4 hours to complete via wall adapter. The tablet also features a 3.5mm stereo jack and a pair of top-mounted speakers for full audio playback capabilities.

Features

Matte black aesthetic
7-inch full-color multitouch display
Dual-core processor
Built-in Wi-Fi
8GB internal storage
Amazon Silk web browser
Amazon Appstore access
Free Amazon Cloud storage service
Up to 8 hours of wireless battery life

HTC EVO 4G

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:14:36 -0400

The Evo 4G is a Smartphone from HTC and is one of the first of its kind to be able to connect to Sprint's 4G network. The phone runs on the Android 2.1 operating system using a Qualcomm 1-GHz processor. For storage the phone has 1-GB of ROM, 576-MB of RAM and an 8-GB microSD memory card. It has no keyboard, but is controlled using the 4.3-inch multi-touch screen. The phone has two cameras. The one on the back has a flash and can take 8 megapixel still images and 720p videos. There is also a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front presumably for use as a webcam for live video chats. Unlike many Smartphones, the Evo 4G has a built-in stand so that the user can watch videos hands-free. It also has a mini HDMI output for watching captured, downloaded or streaming video on a full-sized high-definition screen. The Evo 4G boasts many other modern "bells and whistles" including GPS, digital compass, 3D maps, G-sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor and an FM radio.

Features

Processor: Qualcomm 1-GHz
Operating System: Android 2.1
Screen: 4.3 inches, 480 x 800, multi-touch
Memory: 1-GB ROM, 576-MB RAM, 8-GB microSD (capable of up to 32-GB)
Cameras: front: 1.3 megapixels. back: 8 megapixel stills, 720p video, flash
Outputs: headphones, mini HDMI
Navigation: GPS with turn by turn navigation, 3D maps, digital compass
Connectivity: CDMA2000/EV-DO Rev. A/4G WiMAX; 802.16e: 2500MMz; Wi-Fi
(802.11b/g); Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP Stereo and EDR
Size and weight: 122 (4.8) x 66 (2.6) x 12.7 (0.5) mm (inch), 170 g (6.0 oz)

Apple iPhone 4

Tue, 04 May 2010 11:11:57 -0400

The Apple iPhone 4 is the next-generation iPhone which releases June 24th 2010. The major upgrades from the iPhone 3GS are the changed form factor (thinner design), 4x higher resolution, front facing camera for video chat, and upgraded camera system with 5MP photos, and HD recording. Apple touts the largest upgrade with the new video chat features, however there are currently severe limitations to the service that they are calling "FaceTime". Most notably, video chat only works between iPhone 4 devices, and it requires a WiFi connection. Its new processor is an ARM Cortex A8 (ARMv7 ISA) that was developed by Intrinsity and Samsung in 2009, and is either known as the Samsung S5PC110 "Hummingbird" or the Apple A4 (the only difference being the integrated PowerVR hardware graphics accelerator by Imagination Technologies). This line of processors is used in the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy S series phones, and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Other upgrades place the iPhone 4 among the best in class in the smartphone category. The display is the highest resolution available on any smartphone (as of June 2010), it is one of the only phones that can do HD video recording of 720p at 30FPS, and the added gyrosensor gives the software total awareness of the phone's spatial orientation. Among all of these improvements Apple has also been able to reduce the size of the phone compared to the 3GS and increase the battery life by 40%.

Features

9.33mm thick - 24% thinner than iPhone 3GS
the band that forms the structure of the phone is also the antenna
Cortex A8 based ARM processor (Apple A4 / Samsung Hummingbird)
Dual mic noise suppression
802.11n WiFi
Improved 6-axis motion sensing with the addition of a gyrosensor
Hardware features
- front facing camera
- micro SIM
- camera and LED flash on the back
- mute, volume up, volume down on the side
- headset, 2nd mic for noise cancelling, and sleep wake button
Improved display
- 3.5 inch display
- Retina display - 4x the density of pixels - 326 pixels per inch
- 960x640 display
- 800:1 contrast ratio
- IPS technology (same as iPad)
Improved battery over 3GS
- 7 hours of 3G talk
- 6 hours of 3G browsing
- 10 hours of WiFi browsing
- 10 hours of video
- 40 hours of music
Quad-band HSDPA/HSUPA
- 7.2Mbps down
- 5.8 Mbps up
Improved camera system
- 5MP (up from 3MP)
- 5x digital zoom
- tap to focus
- LED flash
- backside illuminated sensor
- records video at 720p at 30fps
FaceTime (video chat)
- iPhone 4 to iPhone 4
- WiFi only
Models
- 16GB for $199 (subsidized with AT&T 2-year contract)
- 32GB for $299 (subsidized with AT&T 2-year contract)
- both available in white and black

Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviator

Fri, 21 May 2010 15:50:01 -0400

The Skullcandy Rocnation Aviator is a product from the collaboration between music artist Jay-Z and Skullcandy. The result is a pair of premium quality (and price) headphones with a distinctive styling inspired by aviator sunglasses. The sound is delivered by a 40mm mylar driver with neodymium magnets. The nylon braided cable should prevent any tangling to the 1.3m long cable. It also has an inline mic enabling the Aviators to be used as a headset for cell phones. Advertised as a premium set of headphones, it uses stainless steel, aluminum, and poly carbonate for various parts of the headphones providing it with a high quality look and finish. It can also be folded and stored in it's provided plush carrying case.

Features / Specifications

In-line music and mic control
40mm speaker
Mylar drivers with Neodymium magnets
Frequency response: 20-20KHz
33 ohms impedance
40mW nominal input power (100mW max)
1.3m Nylon Braided cable
3.5mm Gold plated plug
Plush carry case

Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:54:15 -0500

The Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet is the newest e-reader from their Nook series. Its design is very similar to its predecessor, the Nook Color, and the two readers share a number of features. Like the Nook Color, the Tablet has a 7 inch VividView IPS touchscreen displaying 16 million ultra-bright colors, providing minimal glare and maximum clarity. With over 2.5 million book titles, and the largest digital collection of magazines and newspapers in addition to thousands of apps, these readers are usable for a variety of entertainment. However, with an extended battery life of up to 11.5 hours of reading or up to 9 hours of video, the Nook Tablet provides an additional three hours over the battery life of the Nook Color. Also, with 16 GB storing up to 10,000 books, the Nook Tablet has twice the built-in memory of the Nook Color, though both can be expanded with a microSD memory card with up to 32 additional Gigabytes.

Features

7 Inch VividView Touchscreen
1024x600p Resolution
Built-in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition
8 Text Sizes, 6 Font Styles
Built-in Wireless Connectivity
1 GHz Dual Core Processor with 1 GB RAM
Rechargeable Battery (Approx. 3 Hours Charging Time)
16 GB Built-in Memory

HTC Desire

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:40:17 -0500

The HTC Desire is a touchscreen mobile phone released by T-Mobile in March 2010 and described as a clone to Google’s notorious Nexus One. It maintains its competitor’s ultra-slim design, Qualcomm 1-GHz Snapdragon processor, and Google Android 2.1 operating system. However, the Desire hosts HTC’s improved Sense user interface with Friend Stream, which aggregates all a user’s social-networking data into one place. Plus, the Desire traded in the Nexus’s trackball in favor of an optical joystick that critics haul as “a much more efficient way of navigating.” Included also is Flash 10.1 compatibility for watching flash videos, a 3.7” touchscreen display with multi-touch capabilities, 3G connectivity, wireless networking, and built-in GPS with free turn-by-turn directions.

Additional Information

Additional features include a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash; Bluetooth connectivity; and a 1400mAh battery.

Features

Touchscreen Mobile Phone
Ultra-Slim Design
Qualcomm Processor
Google Android OS
Sense UI w/Friend Stream
Optical Joystick
Adobe Flash 10.1
3G Connectivity
Integrated WiFi
Integrated GPS
Bluetooth
5MP Camera

Specifications

Display: 3.7” AMOLED WVGA (480x800) Capacitive Touchscreen
Platform: Android 2.1 (Éclair) w/HTC Sense
Networks(Europe): GSPA/WCDMA 900/1200; GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Networks(Asia): HSPA/WCDMA 900/2100; GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Processor: 1GHz Snapdragon
Internet: 3G, GPRS, EDGE, IEEE 802;.11b/g
Bluetooth: 2.1+EDR (A2DP, FTP, OPP, etc)
Connectors: 3.5mm Stereo; micro-USB
Sensors: G-Sensor, Digital Compass, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor
Audio Playback: AAC, AMR, OGG, M4A, MID, MP3, WAV, WMA
Audio Recording: AMR
Video Playback: 3GP, 3G2, MP4, WMV
Video Recording: 3GP
Battery: 1400mAh Lithium-ion
Storage: 512MB ROM, 576MB RAM
Memory Expansion: microSD (32GB)

Monster Beats By Dr. Dre Solo HD

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:42:46 -0500

The Monster Beats By Dr. Dre Solo HD are a pair of on-ear headphones that features an inline microphone and integrated iPod controls. It builds from the original Beats Solo by adding only newly redesigned drivers for clearer, higher-quality audio. In all other ways, however, it is a near duplicate. It too features a compact design with full-size circular earcups that swivel and fit over the outer ear. And signature to the Solo HD is that it can also be used to take iPhone calls, as well as operate an iPod. Additional features include an adjustable band, a thick removable cable, and a gold-plated L-plug for hooking up to an audio source.

Features

On-Ear Headphones
Inline Microphone
iPod Controls
Improved Audio Quality
Full-Size Earcups
Adjustable Band
Removable Cable
Gold-Plated L-Plug
Comfortable Fit
Muddy Audio

Included Accessories

Monster Headphone Cable
Monster Clean Cloth
Traveling Case

Vibram FiveFingers Classic

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:29:32 -0400

The Five Fingers takes a new approach to shoes with a patent-pending design. It was developed as an option for people who enjoy going barefoot but still want the protection of a shoe. The low profile stretch polyamide is lightweight and resistant to cuts, while the rubber soles protect your feet and give the wearer more grip over different terrains. The Five Finger shoes have become a popular option for people who follow the pose running technique, most of whom prefer a shoe that is so low profile and unassuming that they're almost running barefoot. The Five Fingers provides a nice option in that case since it has none of the bulk of a typical running shoe while providing you with protection from sticks, glass and other hazards you may come across.

The shoe is quick drying and can be worn for a variety of activities including: yoga, pilates, sailing, kayaking, boating, running and walking. Vibram states that they are machine washable, and should be air dried. For people looking for a more secure fit with their FiveFingers should try the FiveFingers Sprint with hook-and-loop closures.

The Classic uses an elastic strap the runs the rim of the "shoe" that can be cinched at the back. Unless being used in an active setting, this cord can be worn completely "loose" for maximum comfort. Some even remove the elastic on Classic Five Fingers. As Classics are open at the top, they afford ease of entry making them the most casual, sandal-like Five Fingers model.

HTC Hero

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:23:59 -0400

The HTC Hero is the Taiwanese manufacturer's latest flagship smartphone, a touch-screen device launching in 2009 and attempting to rival Apple's iPhone. Powered by Google's Android operating system, the Hero features a 3.2-inch multi-touch LCD display with a 320 x 480 resolution. Navigation is achieved through a trackpad and onscreen keyboard in addition to the touch screen. The user interface is highly customizable, and aims to integrate basic applications like email and text messaging with social networking services Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter. The Hero enables a variety of multimedia content with support for Flash 9 (and later, Flash 10), not available on the latest iPhone. Other features include a 5-megapixel camera, 3.5mm audio jack, and microSD-expandable storage. Battery life is rated at 420 minutes talk time on WCDMA, and 470 minutes on GSM. It is available in the US via Sprint and Cellular South.

Features

Google Android operating system
3.2-inch multitouch LCD display (320 x 480 resolution)
5-megapixel auto-focus camera
Trackball
Customizable 'Sense' UI
Social networking integration
Flash support
3.5mm audio jack
microSD slot
GSM/WCDMA data interface
Down-link speeds up to 7.2 Mbps
Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
1350 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery
420 to 470 minutes talk time

Apple iPad

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:41:43 -0500

The Apple iPad is a device that has a lot in common with tablet computers but also introduces a new classification of products with its April 3, 2010 release. The intention of the device is to offer a new, comprehensive approach to interacting with many functions and services that are served by several currently existing products; Apple also intends for the iPad to bring similar sweeping, revolutionary changes to portable computing that the iPod brought for the music industry. The iPad makes itself unique from other devices in three main ways: a multi-touch display, an ultra-slim design, and a custom built, reimagined intuitive user interface. The display on the system is capable of real-time configuration between landscape and portrait orientations by automatically detecting how the user is holding the device. The system is also designed to be virtually button-free, with a multi-touch, 9.7 inch LCD with in-plane switching (IPS) and LED backlight for bright, vibrant displays with large viewing angles. The iPad focuses on being highly portable with a depth of only half an inch, a weight of only 1.5 lbs and, due to the 1GHz Apple A4 processor, an in-use battery life of up to 10 hours in order to last an entire day before needing to be charged.

The multi-touch display also means that the iPad is capable of recognizing multiple inputs--multiple fingertips--from the user at once for a smoother, more intuitive and responsive interface during all interaction with the device, including a full QWERTY onscreen keyboard. The menus and applications used have also been either redesigned or tailored specifically for optimal use with the iPad, including updated and customized versions of internet browsers, email clients, picture albums, iTunes, iBooks, and video displays. Most applications have been altered to take advantage of the larger screen and also to function exclusively with the touch interface. In terms of hardware the system has much in common with an all-in-one desktop computer but with all of the portability of a netbook. The price range is $499 for the version with 16GB storage and without 3G up to $829 with 64GB storage and with 3G modem (all prices excluding any necessary accessories).

Features

specifically tailored applications for the system, including:
- internet browsing, email, and online stores (iTunes, iBooks, App Store)
- pictures and photography albums, video, iPod, and YouTube
- maps, notes, contacts, and calendars
- 140,000 available apps
iWork redesigned and optimized
automatic detection of portrait or landscape display
WiFI or 3G network connections available
multi-touch, widescreen display

Technical Specifications

dimensions: 9.56" x 7.46" x 0.5"
weight: 1.5 pounds
battery life: 10 hours in-use
processor: 1GHz Apple A4
storage: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB options
display size: 9.7 inches
display resolution: 1024x768
LED-backlit; IPS wide viewing angle
multi-touch screen; fingerprint resistant coating
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capable
3G model also available
Mac and Windows compatible
chargeable with USB and power adapter
includes built-in speakers, microphone, and 3.5mm jack
warranty: TBA

Ikea MÅNSTAD

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:09:16 -0500

The below section of the report appears to be written as a first-person review.
Please rewrite in original words from a neutral point of view, and if you're the writer, please move this to the comments section.

The Ikea MANSTAD is a small sectional couch. It was created for a small apartment because it provides storage and a sofa bed. Unlike many sofa beds there is no uncomfortable bar to ruin your good night's sleep. As a couch the cushions are a bit firm, like most Ikea couchs, but they are perfect for a bed.

The cushions are not removable so make sure you scotch guard it as soon as you get it home. The dark blue version tends to show a lot of dirt and can be difficult to clean if liquid or odor penetrates the cushions.

Key features

Sofa, chaise and double bed in one
Extra storage space in the end section - a perfect space for bed linens
The pull-out unit is covered in the same fabric as the sofa; pulls out to make a generous chaise.

Canon PIXMA MP280

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:02:13 -0400

The MP280 is an entry-level all-in-one model in Canon's PIXMA series of photo printers. It can print a 4x6 color photo in about 43 seconds at 4800x1200dpi and offers Auto Photo Fix II for automated photo enhancement without a PC, removing red-eye and adjusting exposure. The MP280's scan functionality includes Auto Document Fix, which aims to produce clearer scanned text and images via image analysis and data correction. Mid-range models operate at finer resolutions and add features like PictBridge connectivity, which enables printing directly from certain phones and cameras, and auto-duplexing for easier double-sided printing. They are also generally available with warranties longer than the MP280's 90 days.

Features

Print/scan/copy
4800x1200dpi color printing
2pl ink droplets
4x6 photo in 43 seconds
Hybrid Ink
ChromaLife100⁺
Auto Photo Fix II
Full HD Movie Print
1200x2400dpi scan
Auto Document Fix
Auto Scan Mode
USB connectivity
Easy-WebPrint EX

Canon SX1 IS

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:28:54 -0500

The Canon PowerShot SX1 IS is a successor to 2007’s PowerShot S5IS. This mid-level compact digital camera differs from its predecessor by improving several of the core features relating to image quality and performance. The SX1 IS is the first PowerShot to feature a 10 megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, which allows the camera to offer full resolution continuous shooting at 4fps, as well as 1080p HDTV video capture at 30fps. This camera also features a near-silent 20x wide-angle optical zoom. The SX1 IS also features Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor, which improves the camera’s motion detection capabilities by constantly adjusting the ISO and focus to prevent image blur. This camera comes with full manual controls, allowing for more advanced users to precisely tweak their photos. This camera is suitable for users who want the simplicity of a point and shoot, yet the flexibility of a more advanced manual camera in one package.

Features

20x wide-angle optical zoom
sensor: 10 megapixel Canon CMOS (4fps continuous shooting)
image processor: DIGIC IV
1080p HD video (1920 x 1080)
focus: auto and manual
flash: auto with red eye reduction
2.8" TFT LCD screen (230,000 pixels)
connectivity: HDMI Mini, USB 2.0, AV out
file formats: JPEG (Exif 2.2), DPOF 1.1, AVI video (Motion JPEG compression)
storage: SD/SDHC/MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus
power: AC power adapter and Ni-MH battery charger kit
dimensions and weight: 128 x 88 x 88 mm, 585 g

Nokia 5130 XpressMusic

Thu, 21 May 2009 12:22:42 -0400

The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is a quad-band candybar handset designed to function as an mp3 player as well as a phone. Its music player supports numerous audio file formats, has dedicated music player and volume keys, and also includes an FM radio receiver and 3.5mm headphone port. It includes Nokia Music Manager software and supports the Nokia Music Store downloader. The 5130 XpressMusic also includes a 2.0-megapixel digital camera with video capture and playback and landscape photo capabilities. It also includes numerous messaging options as well as Bluetooth v2.0. Its included internal memory is 1GB and can be expanded via microSD card slot up to 16GB for music or video storage.

Features

Release Date: February 2009
Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
2.0-megapixel digital camera with video capture and landscape mode
mp3 player
3.5mm stereo headphone jack
FM radio receiver
SMS, MMS, email, instant messaging
WAP 2.0/xHTML Internet browser
Nokia Music Manager and Nokia Music Store
1GB internal memory, up to 16GB with microSD card
Up to 6 hour talk time battery life, up to 21 hour as music player

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:55:45 -0500

The Illuminated Keyboard is a super thin wired desktop keyboard from Logitech. Featuring LED backlighting, the keyboard has 4 levels of brightness, and can light up each individual key in a darkened room. With Logitech's proprietary PerfectStroke technology the Illuminated Keyboard provides a smooth key travel similar to a laptop, and makes typing almost silent.

Features

ultra-thin, 9.3 mm profile and transparent frame
one-touch multimedia controls
minimalist design
3 year limited warranty

Chaser 5-hour Energy shot

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:09:12 -0400

The 5-Hour Energy shot is advertised on television as a "burst of energy" that won't make you "crash" when it wears off. The label advises that the high levels of niacin may cause skin flushing and the sensation of heat in individuals not used to such a dosage. Contains 15 calories in each 2 oz. (60 mL) bottle and costs $2.49. Reviews say the drink is palatable, and the energy effects are pronounced well passed the 5 hour mark. Five Hour Energy shot does however sky-rocket your blood pressure to a dangerous degree, which can cause heart problems if used long-term.

Ingredients and Nutrition

Taurine, L-Tyrosine, Malic Acid, L-Phenylalanine, N-Acetyl, Caffeine, B6, B12 (500 mcg)

Nokia E63

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:37:44 -0400

The Nokia E63 is a quadband GSM mobile smartphone from Nokia's business-oriented E Series. The phone is designed with a 2.4" landscape color screen, 5-way scroll key, and a full QWERTY keyboard for messaging and email functionality. It runs on Symbian OS 9.2 and is an upgrade to the E62 since it features 3G broadband internet, Bluetooth technology, and Wi-Fi connectivity with VoIP support. The phone also comes with Nokia maps, office document editors, and supports push email for receiving emails instantly.

The E63 includes an integrated media player, FM radio, Java support, and a built-in speakerphone. The phone also features a 2-megapixel camera with fixed focus technology and an LED flash. It provides up to 11 hours of talktime and includes 120MB of internal memory and a microSD slot for additional storage. The E63 is available in an ultramarine blue, ruby red, or black finish and comes with a 1 year limited warranty.

Features/Specs

GPRS/EDGE GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 850/1900
3G Broadband Internet
Wi-Fi Connectivity with VoIP Support over WLAN
Color LCD Screen (240 x 320 pixels)
QWERTY keyboard. 5-way scroll key
120MB Internal Memory + microSD slot
Symbian OS 9.2, S60
Integrated Speakerphone and Conference Calling
2 Megapixel Camera (1600 x 1200 pixels) with fixed focus and LED flash
Media Player, FM Radio, Java Support
Push Email
Office Document Editor
Nokia Maps
Bluetooth Connectivity
3.5 mm Nokia audio connector
microUSB port
Battery Life: 11 hours talktime, 432 hours standby
Available in Ultramarine Blue, Ruby Red, Black
Dimensions: 113 x 59 x 13 mm
Weight: 126 grams
1 year limited warranty

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:48:26 -0400

Announced on September 16th 2008, the EOS 5D Mark II is Canon's successor to the EOS 5D, the world's first 'compact' full frame digital SLR. The EOS 5D Mark II boasts a new 21MP CMOS sensor, an expanded ISO range of 50-25,600 and a wealth of improvements and new features including full 1080p HD movie recording, live view, 3.0" 920k dot LCD, DIGIC IV processor, increased battery capacity and sensor dust reduction.

A January 2009 firmware update (1.0.7) fixes a problem with vertical banding noise when recording in sRAW1 as well as the "black dot" phenomenon noticed soon after the camera was released to the public.

RIM BlackBerry Bold 9000

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:58:21 -0400

The BlackBerry Bold (aka RIM BlackBerry 9000) is the latest smartphone (available August 21, 2008) from RIM to be released by AT&T on November 4th 2008, for $299 with a 2-year contract. Earlier retail estimates were expected to be around $300 - $400, but this latest release hints that it will probably be much higher. The Bold has high-speed data connectivity with support for 3G networks (quad-band EDGE and tri-band HSDPA) and WiFi (802.11 a/b/g). Other improvements over the BlackBerry Curve including a doubling of CPU speed to 624 MHz and a doubling of screen resolution to 480 x 320 resolution display (Half-VGA). The BlackBerry Bold is a competitor to the latest 3G version of the Apple iPhone announced on June 9th, 2008.

Features

624MHz Intel PXA270/Marvell Tavor PXA930 processor (increase from 312 MHz)
data connectivity: 3G (HDSPA + EDGE), WiFi (802.11 a/b/g)
screen: 480 x 320 (up from 320 x 240) (size ??) with 65,000 colors
operating system: BlackBerry OS 4.6
redesigned keyboard
memory: 1 GB built-in + expandable microSD up to 16 GB
dimensions: 4.5" H x 2.6" W x 0.5" D
weight: 4.7 oz
2 megapixel camera + flash
GPS functionalities
price: $300 - $400
release date: August 21, 2008

Onkyo TX-SR606

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:27:27 -0400

The Onkyo TX-SR606 is the follow-up 7.1 receiver to the hugely popular Onkyo TX-SR605 released in March 2008. The 606 features an upgrade to 4 x HDMI 1.3a inputs, up from 2 in the 605, and will not only transcode video signals to HDMI but will also upscale to 1080i over HDMI. The Onkyo TX-SR606 can decode HD audio sources (Dolby TrueHD, dts HD-MA). The TX-SR606 can deliver 90 Watts (@ 8 Ohms) to each of its 7 channels, each featuring 5-way binding post connectors. The MSRP is $500.

Features

7.1 channel a/v receiver
4 x HDMI 1.3a inputs /w audio support
90 Watts / channel @ 8 Ohms
Transcoding and upconversion of analog video to HDMI @ 1080i
Uses the Genesis Hudson II video upscaling chipset
Digital audio: 2 x optical, 2 x coax
7.1 + zone 2 stereo
Advanced audio format decoding (Dolby TrueHD, dts HD-MA)
Release date: March 2008
Price: $500

Apple Macbook (Early 2008)

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:30:12 -0400

The successor to Apple's consumer laptop iBook line, the MacBook has become popular with students and home users. The biggest drawback is the lack of a dedicated video chip (the iBooks all used some nVidia chipset). However, with the raw processing power offered by the Core 2 Duo, for most, this isn't an issue. The Macbook features a 13.3" glossy LCD screen and comes in two Intel Core 2 Duo processor options: either 2.1 GHz or 2.4 GHz.

Features

CPU: 2.1GHz or 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
800MHz frontside bus
RAM: 1GB (two 512MB SO-DIMMs) or 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB
13.3 in glossy TFT LCD screen
Available in white or black
Battery: 4.5 hours , 5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
Dimensions: 1.08" H x 12.78" W x 8.92" D
Weight: 5.0 pounds (2.27 kg)
Price: $1099 (2.1 GHZ), $1299 (2.4 GHz, 160 GB HD), $1599 (2.4 GHz, 250 GB HD)

Skullcandy Lowrider

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:05:52 -0500

The Skullcandy Lowrider model is a low end headphone set designed with a lightweight structure for use during many different occasions; it is suitable for casual in home/business and travel use. The fully adjustable and reinforced headband ensures a firm fit for users of all ages. The Lowrider model headphone set is equipped with a pair of large size 40mm diameter driver units for enhanced sound. The Skullcandy Lowrider headphones include additional features such as a max input power of 400mW, a 1.2M cord with a 3.5mm gold plated stereo plug for maximum conductivity, and rare earth Neodymium Ferrite Magnets. The headphone set is also available in a plethora of different color sets such as Pink, Black, Native Black, Black-Gold, Black-Silver, Blue, Chrome-Blue, Chrome-Yellow, Green, Lime-Black, Metallic Red, Native Brown, Native Turqiouse, Purple, Red-White, Silver-Black, Silver-Red, Silver and White-Gold.

Features

Over the head headband design with Closed/rest on ear speaker design
Fully adjustable, reinforced headband
1.2M cord with a 3.5mm gold plated stereo plug
Available in many different color sets; Pink, Black, Native Black, Black-Gold, Black-Silver, Blue, Chrome-Blue, Chrome-Yellow, Green, Lime-Black, Metallic Red, Native Brown, Native Turqiouse, Purple, Red-White, Silver-Black, Silver-Red, Silver and White-Gold
Driver Unit Diameter: 40mm
Magnet: Neodymium Ferrite
Frequency Response: 100 - 18,000 HZ
Impedance: 32 ohms
Max input power: 400 mW
Includes Skullcandy Lifetime Warranty

Apple iPod Nano (2007)

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:00:16 -0400

According to Apple the iPod Nano is the most successful portable music player in history. Up until now the device lacked many of the features found in its bigger sibling. The new generation of iPod Nanos remain smaller, thinner but now include video playback and photo viewing features. To accommodate the new display intensive features the form factor of the Nano is substantially different. Known on the street as the "phatpod" the new Nano is wider and stubbier with dimensions coming in at a boxy 2.75 inches high and 2.06 inches wide. The thickness is reduced to a depth of 0.26 inches, or 6.5mm.

The Nano's screen at 320x240 is the same resolution as the fifth generation iPod Video and the iPod Classic. At a screen size of 2.0" Apple states that the Nano's pixel density is the highest in the world. All iPod compatible videos and photos are viewable on the Nano and are accessed with the new "Enhanced" user interface. Apple has upgraded the interface to make full use of the extra screen real estate. Now there is more information and graphics displayed when browsing through the music, photo, and video library. The unique Cover Flow navigation system where you "flip" between albums is also a new addition.

Similar to the bigger iPods custom games are supported on the Nano. Three different games are bundled with the device stored in the memory, with more games available for purchase from the iTunes store.

Despite the new form factor the Nano retains the same data connection port making it compatible with all current iPod accessories. Furthermore a new arm band will be released for runners to use with the Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

Apple rates the battery life for the Nano at 24 hours for audio playback, and 5 hours for video.

iPod Nano Versions

4GB version retails for $149 and comes in only one color: silver.
8GB version retails for $199 and comes in five different colors: black, red, silver, blue, and green.

Apple iPod Touch (2007)

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:45:37 -0400

The Apple iPod Touch was announced in an event hosted by Steve Jobs on September 5th, 2007 along with the release of all the next generation iPods. The Touch borrows a lot of the technology found in the Apple iPhone and repurposes it as a standalone portable media player. The iPod Touch features the same multi-Touch interface and operating system as the iPhone. It also becomes the first WiFi enabled iPod with a built-in 802.11b/g wireless access allowing you to browse the Internet with the included Safari browser, and access the iTunes store directly from the iPod Touch.

The Touch includes a flash drive coming in either a 8, 16 or 32 GB capacity. This means that you can store, in any combination, up to (1) 1750, 3500 or 7000 songs, (2) 10,000, 20,000 or 40,000 photos, or (3) 10, 20 or 40 hours of video. Any extra space can be used for data storage. Transfer data to the iPod touch using the included USB cable and an available USB 2.0 port on your Mac or PC. You'll need to be running iTunes version 7.4 with at least Mac OS X v10.4.10 or Windows XP with Service Pack 2 installed. Alternatively, datahouse can be transferred to the Touch via the WiFi interface through the iTunes online store.

Features and specs

multi-Touch interface
3.5" color touch screen display
480 x 320 pixel resolution; 163 pixels / inch
WiFi 802.11b/g wireless access
capacity: 8 GB or 16 GB
battery life: audio - 22 hours, video - 5 hours
dimensions: 4.3" (H) x 2.4" (W) x 0.31" (D)
weight: 4.2 oz (120 g)
price: 8 GB - $299, 16 GB - $399, 32GB - $499.

For battery life, Apple claims 22 hours of audio and 5 hours of video playback. Expect it to take 3 hours to charge the batteries completely to a Full-charge, and 1.5 hours to do a Fast-charge to 80% capacity. Charging is done through USB or with a AC power adapter (sold separately). There is no word on the expected battery life for browsing the Web or using the built-in WiFi connection.

What's in the box

iPod Touch
Earphones
USB 2.0 cable
Dock adapter
Polishing cloth
Stand
Quick Start guide

The iPod Touch was first released on September 7th, 2007 with 8 GB and 16 GB version retailing for $299 and $399 respectively. In February 2008 Apple released a 32GB model for $499. Coinciding with the Touch's initial September release the 8GB Apple iPhone saw a $200 price drop to $399 leading to minor backlash from the early adopters. Steve Jobs subsequently gave the first iPhone owners a $100 store credit for their troubles.

D-Link DIR-615

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:04:14 -0400

The D-Link DIR-615 is a wireless broadband router, allowing users to share a broadband internet connection across their home or small business network. The DIR-615 features Wireless-N technology, but is still compatible with Wireless-G and –B technologies. It also allows four wired 10/100 Megabit connections. The DIR-615 boasts dual built-in firewall protection, using SPI and NAT firewalls. The D-Link DIR-615 uses WPA and WPA2 security encryption, and allows VPN pass-through as an option. Released May 2007, the D-Link DIR-615 retails at $50.

Features

Wireless-N Technology
Supports up to four wired 10/100 Megabit connections
WPA / WPA2 wireless encryption
Allows VPN Pass Through

Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:56:51 -0500

Darth Vader has nothing on this voice changing helmet. While Darth's mask is limited to speaking like James Earl Jones, this helmet from Hasbro modifies your own voice to make it sound like a robotic transformer. At the touch of a button you can channel the Autobot leader's own voice to make the helmet say various catch phrases. And lastly, through the touch of another button you can emit the unique sound of an actual transformer transformation.

Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:21:10 -0500

The Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 model is a mid-grade desktop webcam designed specifically for casual and in-home use. The VX-3000 supports high resolution 640 x 480 pixel videos at 30 frames per second, and takes high resolution (640 x 480) still photos as well; the lens also includes a 2x digital zoom. The VX-3000 also boasts several quick access features such as one touch blogging through Windows Live Spaces, a Windows Live call button and a special photo swap function which allows quick access to an internet video call. For audio the webcam includes a built-in microphone which Microsoft claims will deliver "crystal-clear sound" through an automatic audio control. The VX-3000 webcam also includes additional features such as a universal attachment base meaning its able to snap to any computer monitor, a flexible 6 foot cable that provides more room to move, special video effects built into the LifeCam dashboard, automatic face tracking software to keep your face on the computer screen at all times, a Microsoft 3 year limited warranty, and broad IM compatibility (Works with: Windows Live, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Microsoft Office Communicator, and Skype).

Features

High resolution 640 x 480 pixel videos at 30 frames per second
Takes High-res (640 x 480) still photos
Lens includes a 2x digital zoom
Automatic audio control with built in microphone
Flexible 6 foot cable to provide more room to move
Universal attachment base
One touch blogging, Windows Live call button, Photo Swap and internet video call features
Includes built in special video effects through lifecam dashboard software
Automatic face tracking software to keep your face visible on screen at all times
Microsoft 3 year limited warranty
Broad IM compatibility; Works with: Windows Live, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Microsoft Office Communicator, and Skype

System Requirements

Windows Vista® or Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later
Intel Pentium III 700 MHz (Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz recommended) or later
256 MB of RAM or higher
300–700 MB hard drive space free
Windows-compatible speakers or headphones
Broadband Internet access required
USB 1.1 port or higher
CD-ROM drive
Display adapter capable of 16-bit color depth or higher, 2 MB or more video memory
Internet Explorer 6 or later browser software required for installation

UFC Undisputed 3

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:22:56 -0500

UFC Undisputed 3 is a video game that features UFC style martial arts fighting. The game is the third in its series. UFC Undisputed 3 features various modes of game play including pride mode where players compete for the first time within the legendary pride environment with official announcers and Japanese MMA league rules. UFC Undisputed 3 features moves such as soccer-style kicks, head stomps and ground knees to the head. Players are invited to finish the fight with punishing new moves and submission system and an increased focus on presentation. In UFC Undisputed 3 players have more options than ever before to take out a downed opponent. Other game features include fighting in the octagon and new player entrances and a variety of camera angles. Users can choose from over 150 UFC fighters including the addition of featherweight and bantamweight divisions.

Features

More Finishing Moves
New Pride Mode
Improved Facial Animations
Japanese MMA League Rules
New Entrances
Fight in the Octagon
Choose from over 150 Prolific UFC Fighters
Improved Camera Angles
Addition of Featherweight and Bantamweight Divisions

Guinness

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:45 -0400

Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of ArthurGuinness (1725–1803) at St. James Gate, Dublin Ireland. Brewed in almost 50 countries and available in over 100, Guinness is one of the most popular beers in the world.

Guinness has a distinctive flavor burnt flavour which is derived from the use of roasted unmalted barley. The thick creamy head is the result of the beer being mixed with nitrogen when being poured. Guinness is frequently used as an ingredient in recipes.

Olympus VG-120

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:17:30 -0500

Olympus' VG-120 is an entry-level point-and-shoot digital camera, and is the first in the 2011 V-series models. It was released at the same time as the VG-130 and VG-140 models, and has totally identical features with a .01" thinner body frame that includes some plastic regions, whereas the other models have full metal casings. The only other differences are in colour availability. Available in grey, silver and red, this camera has 720p video capture, a 14-megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom. Two useful shooting features are "intelligent auto" that automatically detects which preset scene selection to use, and autofocus tracking which helps keep fast-moving subjects in focus. Another feature is an internal filter program that can apply stylized filters to images or video after they're taken. There are also built-in help guides that appear onscreen if desired. It uses a rechargeable battery and has a card slot for SD and SDHC cards.

Features

5x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom
14-megapixel sensor
Intelligent auto scene selection
720p video capture
AF tracking
Up to 1600 ISO
25 preset shooting modes
Playback photo editing (e.g. red-eye reduction)
f2.8-6.5
Portable and lightweight (120g without battery)
Available in black, silver and red

BlackBerry Curve 8900

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:20:31 -0400

BlackBerry Curve 8900 is the newest edition to the Blackberry smartphone Curve series. Released on Feb 11th, 2009, this device is sleeker, more solidly constructed and offers a much better resolution than its predecessor (480x360 pixels, supporting over 65,000 colors). The phone has wi-fi, Bluetooth, GPS, wireless mail, a full HTML browser and a 3.2 MP camera. However it lacks the 3G support and can occasionally be sluggish. It has a 5.5 hours talk time and a 15 day standby time. Screen size is 2.44 inches and has a 109x60x13.5mm dimension, with a 109.9g net weight. The media player supports a wide array of video formats including DivX, XviD (MPEG4 Advance Simple Profile), H.263, and WMV3. Audio Formats includes: .3gp, WAV, MIDI, AMR-NB, G711u/A, GSM610, PCM, MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, and WMA9/10 Standard/Pro. It allows for microSD external memory.

Features

Camera (3.2 MP)
Wi-Fi® Support
Built-in GPS
Media Player
- Video: DivX, XviD (MPEG4 Advance Simple Profile), H.263, WMV3
- Audio: 3gp, WAV, MIDI, AMR-NB, G711u/A, GSM610, PCM, MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA9/10
BlackBerry® Maps
Wireless Email
Full HTML Browser
Organizer
Corporate Data Access
SMS/MMS
Dimensions: 09x60x13.5mm
Weight: 109.9g
QWERTY keyboard
MicroSD external memory

IKEA Malm bed

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 14:05:49 -0500

An aesthetically pleasing, straight-line, classic Scandinavian design. The assembly is straightforward and instructions easy to read. It comes in several veneer color finishes and starts at a $99 for a single and $199 for King size. Because of this low price and the broad appeal of IKEA, this bed is a very popular choice. Some owners have complained of knocking their shins on the frame because of it's low unorthodox profile.

Features

Made primarily from renewable and recyclable materials
Dimensions: Length: 212 cm • Width: 209 cm • Footboard height: 30 cm • Headboard height: 77 cm • Mattress length: 202 cm • Mattress width: 193 cm

Contruction Materials

Bed frame: Renewable raw material (wood). Veneer - not from intact natural forests.
Slatted bed base: Renewable raw material (wood). Solid wood - not from intact natural forests.
Bed frame: Fiberboard, Particleboard, Birch veneer, Clear acrylic lacquer, Birch veneer
Bed base slats: 100 % polyester, Solid pine
Midbeam: Galvanized steel

Le Coq Sportif Escrime

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:12:47 -0500

Vintage fencing-inspired shoe has a low profile and cushiony, perforated leather upper.

SUBWAY

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:29:37 -0500

Subway is an American restaurant chain that sells primarily submarine style sandwiches. It is the largest single-brand restaurant chain globally and can be found in 98 countries worldwide. Subways head office is located in Milford, Connecticut however they have administrative offices around the world to support different regions. Subway restaurants have been consistently ranked in Entrepreneur magazine's Top 500 Franchises, and Subway was selected as the No.2 overall franchise in 2008. At end of 2010, Subway restaurant surpassed McDonald's restaurant with 33,749 restaurants across the globe and 32,737 restaurants respectively, but by revenue McDonald's was still ahead of Subway.

LEGO Star Wars Rogue Shadow

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:03:00 -0500

The LEGO Star Wars Rogue Shadow is a 482 connecting block addition to the LEGO series designed after the Star Wars: Force Unleashed video game. Featuring figures of an Imperial Officer, pilot Juno Eclipse, battle-damaged Darth Vader, and Vader's Apprentice, this sleek black starship has rotating wings, folding landing gear, blaster cannons, hidden missiles, and a lever-action firing rocket.

This model is based a starship featured in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game released in 2008. It's piloted by Darth Vader's apprentice Galen Marek and in his personal training droid PROXY. It boasts an advanced hyperdrive, cuttin-edge sensory arrays, medical bay, crew quarters, workshop, and a meditation chamber. It's name comes from the fact that it can conceal itself with a crystal cloaking device.

Monster Beats By Dr. Dre Studio

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:43:04 -0500

The Monster Beats By Dr. Dre Studio are a pair of high-powered over-ear headphones that received critical acclaim from the media, including Time Magazine and hiphop mogul Pharrell Williams. It utilizes spacious earcups that deliver room-shaking audio while canceling out unwanted ambient noise. Users of the Studio describe the audio quality and deep and clear, making it feel as if they are at the club. Included also with the Studio is a Monster iSoniTalk cable with an embedded call-answer button and an inline microphone; it’s designed for hooking up to an iPhone or Blackberry. Additional features include a foldable design, a large carrying case, and an included cleaning cloth.

Features

Over-Ear Headphones
Spacious Earcups
Booming Bass
Clear/Deep Audio
iPhone/Blackberry Cable
Foldable Design
Carrying Case

Included Accessories

Beats Studio headphones
Monster Cable headphone cable (1.3 meters)
1/8 to 1/4" adapter
Monster iSoniTalk™ cable for iPhone, Blackberry
Touring case
Monster Clean Cloth with advanced Aegis Microbe Shield technology
Anti-microbial cleaning cloth
Two AAA batteries

Rockstar Energy Drink

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:14:42 -0500

ROCKSTAR is scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars. Enjoy super chilled.

Onkyo TX-NR709

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:06:25 -0400

The Onkyo TX-NR709 is a flagship 7.2 channel AV receiver with a broad range of features. It supports 3D video input through HDMI as well as analogue to 4K (3840x2160) digital video up-scaling thanks to the Marvell Qdeo video processor. Like many Onkyo receivers, the TX-NR709 offers automatic speakers calibration and room corrections by Audyssey MultEQ XT. It offers a wide range of audio and video inputs which include network connection (for streaming), HDMI, composite, component, optical, and coaxial. An increasing number of receivers - high-end and low-end alike - offers supports for consumer devices, the TX-NR709 provides an USB port compatible with popular external audio devices such as iPods and iPhones. It also supports a variety of lossless audio codecs such as Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The Onkyo TX-NR709 is a good option for audio enthusiasts who are looking for a complete home theatre solution.

Features / Specifications

HDMI Support for 3D Video and Audio Return Channel
Marvell Qdeo Video Chip for 4K Upscaling and Processing
Network Capability Delivers Internet Radio and Network Streaming
THX Select2 Plus Certified
Direct Digital Connection of iPod/iPhone via Front-Panel USB Port
Audyssey MultEQ XT Advanced Room-correction and Speaker Calibration
Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz Add New Dimensions to Surround Sound
Inputs: HDMI, optical, coax, USB, ethernet, composite, compoenent, S-video
2 year warranty

2007 Honda Civic Coupe

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:32:49 -0400

The coupe is the smaller 2-door model of Honda's ultra-popular Civic line of cars. Internally, the coupe is no different than the Sedan model, featuring the same engine and features, the difference is all on the outside, and less storage capacity for people in the back seat as well as a smaller trunk. The 2007 model stays in the eighth generation of Civics which follows the bold and futuristic styling that has garnered mixed reactions.

On the interior the coupe has an unconventional split dashboard. The speed and distance meters lie inside the top dash which is viewable above the steering wheel. The tachometer (RPM gauge) sits by itself in the lower dash which is viewable through the outside of the steering wheel. The civic also includes a central dash system for the higher end models that is used for touchscreen navigational systems and other features.

Under the hood the coupe has a 4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC engine, which provides competitive performance with 140HP at 6300RPM. For the 2007 year Honda has maintained the same level of performance as previous years while lowering emissions and reducing fuel consumption. The 2007 coupe is rated as an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle, which means it emits less than 50% of the emissions than other comparable vehicles released in 2007.

Similar to the Sedan, the Civic coupe standard model comes in 3 different trims, DX, EX, and LX. There also exists the Civic Si Coupe which features an upgraded model and other improvements that are targeted towards the sporty market.

Common to all trims is the 5-speed manual or automatic transmission, front and side airbags, daytime running lights, anti-lock braking with electronic braking distribution.

Difference in trims

DX ($14,810) - 15" wheels, no stereo system (160 watt stereo system is included in the DX for Canadians)

LX ($16,760) - wheels are enlarged to 16" full covered, 6 speaker 160 watt stereo system with MP3/WMA input and playback, security system with remote entry, passenger-side memory system.

EX ($18,710) - 16" allow wheels, 4-wheel disc brakes, moon roof, second 12v outlet, 350 watt speaker system that is XM ready, and an exterior temperature indicator.

Sony BRAVIA KDL-40EX520

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:38:06 -0500

The Sony BRAVIA KDL-40EX520 is a mid-cost LED TV. This TV is equipped with a Presence Sensor feature, which detects the people in the room and what they are doing to automatically switch to Normal mode (when people are in the room and awake), Picture Off mode (when body heat but no motion is detected) or Standby mode (for when no one is around), a process that minimizes wasteful power consumption. The display of the BRAVIA KDL-40EX520 is forty inches of full HD (1080p). The LED is distributed using Sony's Edge design, which allows for a thin TV. The X-Reality Engine of the BRAVIA KDL-40EX520 utilizes Sony's Intelligent Image Enhancer technology to separate incoming video into constituent parts (outline, texture, and color/contrast). The engine then makes the appropriate image enhancements. The X-Reality Engine also uses Intelligent MPEG Noise Reduction to automatically detect the incoming sources and noise level, and then apply the appropriate amount of noise reduction for each scene. This model differs from the lower cost BRAVIA KDL-32EX520 model in that the BRAVIA KDL-32EX520 has only a thirty-two inch display. This model differs from the higher cost BRAVIA KDL-46EX520 model in that the BRAVIA KDL-46EX520 has a forty-six inch display. The BRAVIA KDL-40EX520 LED TV is WiFi ready, but you must purchase the USB wireless LAN adapter separately.

Features

40" full HD (1080p) display
Edge LED backlight
Intelligent MPEG Noise Reduction
X-Reality Engine
WiFi ready (USB wireless LAN adapter sold separately)
Skype ready in 720p high definition (w/ addition of CMU-BR100 camera)
BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity
Presence Sensor minimize power consumption

SMART Board 600

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:38:12 -0400

The SMART Board 600 is a interactive whiteboard that works with your existing projector and computer. Hook up the SMART Board to your computer using USB, and aim your projector on to the surface of this high tech white board. The SMART Board has a touch sensitive surface that allows you to interact directly with your computer from the whiteboard's surface. You can use the included digital ink pens to write on the surface, or use your fingers.

The SMART Board is designed to be used in an office or school setting to improve your presentation, meeting, lecture, or lesson; you can access all of your standard applications, but the real power of this technology is with the included software. Some of the software and features included with the SMART Board:

intuitive interface - including simplified toolbars, quick tool access, tab views, page sorter, and more
object control - allows you to create, move, flip, and lock digital objects that are placed on top of your workspace. All elements on your workspace can become objects
text/drawing - the software recognizes handwriting and converts it into text with formatting options, and the ability to use mathematical and scientific notation
sharing - your workspace can be exported, saved, and distributed in many formats so you can access your work later

The 600 series of interactive whiteboards is available in several models of varying size, with the 600i series including a projector that mounts on top of the SMART Board. Rounding out the series are the following models:

Model #	Size (in.)	Price ($)	Notes
640	48"	$0.01	they throw in a few thousand dollars free!
660	64"	$0.01	4:3
660i	64"	$0.01	4:3, includes projector
680	77"	$0.01	14:3
680i	77"	0.01	4:3, includes projector
690	94"	$0.01	16:9

Each of the SMART Boards in the 600 series can be wall or stand-mounted with the purchase of an optional stand. Hook up the board to your computer with the included USB cable or you can opt for a wireless connection at an additional cost. The SMART Board features a durable polyester surface, a pen tray with four different color pens, an eraser, and a 100 year warranty. YAY! Have funn!

Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:32:54 -0400

The GeForce 8800 GTS is an upper-tier model in Nvidia's 8 series of mid-range, consumer desktop graphics cards. The SLI-ready 8800 GTS is available with 320, 512 or 640 MB of memory. With DirectX 10 support, even the 320MB GeForce 8800 GTS should run most of 2009's mainstream PC games with ease, although perhaps not at the highest detail settings, while the 640MB model would be more suited to today's most demanding graphics applications. The unit features 96 processor cores, a 256-bit frame buffer to maintain high frame rates, and a second-generation PureVideo HD engine, which Nvidia claims enhances picture quality for PC Blu-ray playback. Compared to the 8800 GT, the unit compensates in part for lower clock speeds with a greater, 320-bit memory interface, but lacks PCI Express 2.0 support.

Features

512 MB memory
96 processor cores
DirectX 10
SLI-ready
256-bit frame buffer
PureVideo HD
PCI Express
500MHz graphics clock
1200MHz processor clock
800MHz memory clock
Texture fill rate: 24 billion/sec
71W power consumption

Team Fortress 2

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:37:31 -0400

An update to the 1999 Team Fortress Classic, Team Fortress 2 is a team/class based multiplayer game. Based on Valve's updated source engine, the game was originally released as part of Valve's Orange Pack in October 2007 - but later as a stand-alone game in April 2008. The game invloves 2 teams made up of individuals that get to choose 1 of 9 classes of character. Each character has their own specialized skills, giving the edge to the team with the best cooperation as well as individual skill. There are many modes of gameplay - from capture the flag to attack/defend senarios that involve moving a bomb into the opponents base.

The most recent update occured on February 25th 2009. This update added new wepons and items for the Scout character, as well as new official maps. To celebrate the price of the game was also cut in half to 9.95 until the weekend.

Linksys WRT54G

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:11:48 -0400

The Linksys WRT54G series of wireless routers, that includes variants: WRT54GS, WRT54GL, and WRTSL54GS, is an extremely popular among computer enthusiasts because of it's ability to run third-party open-source firmware such as DD-WRT and Tomato Firmware as it's firmware source code was released publicly under the GNU GPL. The first version was released in December 2002, but many different versions with hardware/firmware variations have subsequently been released. All feature two external antennas, 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN ports, and 802.11b/g support. The most recent version in the series is the WRT54GL, which returns to a Linux-based firmware, allowing for upgrades from third-party firmwares. It retails for around $65.

Upgraded Third-party firmware

The popularity of this router is largely due to the ability to unlock advanced features, tweak power settings, and view advanced QoS statistics by running third-party firmware. By flashing the firmware, you void all warranties, and likely cannot return the router for any store refund if you inadvertently damage it.

Note: Most WRT54G and WRT54GS models (not WRT54GL) sold in stores right now are the v5.0+ variety running the VxWorks firmware instead of the Linux-based version and cannot be flashed.

Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP-3000)

Sat, 08 May 2010 07:25:44 -0400

The previous version, the PSP slim (PSP-2000) was a big improvement over its predecessor. It was a lighter and thinner handheld machine that enabled us to watch higher quality UMD video and view pictures and movies straight off a memory stick duo. With the new version it was also possible to charge the battery from a USB connection. There are fewer changes this time with the PSP 3000, but the enhanced screen is a major improvement and for PSP1000 owners the PSP3000 will be a major step up.

Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:25:54 -0500

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the eighth game released under the Call of Duty franchise, and true to its name, is the fourth main game in the series. While COD3 was developed by a separate studio, COD4 is developed by the game's original designers: Infinity Ward. Thus far the Call of Duty franchise has focused exclusively in the World War 2 era, with the fourth release being the first happening in modern times, and also the first to achieve a mature rating. Similar to the other main releases in the series, COD4 places a heavy emphasis on both the single player campaign and multiplayer portions of the game. Both sides feature new additions to the series, and some new additions to the FPS genre entirely.

Gameplay

Call of Duty is a traditional first person shooter set in a real world setting. You use real guns and fight in realistic areas and locations. Unlike other modern FPS games releasing in 2007, COD does not feature a dedicated cover system, but instead uses the same crouch/prone positioning system in earlier COD games. New to the series is the introduction of a ballistics model, this means that bullet strength is analyzed and can impact the environment, even shooting through certain materials making cover a relative thing.

Campaign

Following the tradition of the franchise, COD4 has you take control of multiple infantry-men fighting from different perspectives of the same war. You'll take control of an American and a British soldier as they try to take down a rogue Arab terrorist, and corrupt Russian military general. Most of the action sees you taking a role in a tight squad in battles that aren't as big as WW2 ones, but still involve dozens of enemies at any one time. The story takes place over the course of 12 different levels and is told through the use of realtime cutscenes, events unfolding during the levels, and certain details fleshed out in the briefings between missions. Level events can occur even if you're not around to see them, meaning you can miss parts of they story if you're not at the right place in the right time. After the main campaign has been completed an arcade mode unlocks that is scored based giving you multipliers and extra points for stringing kill combos together. This is similar to Halo 3's metagame.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer has been a huge part of the Call of Duty series since the beginning, and Modern Warfare is no different. One of the big new changes with COD4 is the introduction of upgrades. As you play more games and accomplish goals such as killing certain number of enemies, you'll rise in military rank - from a lowly soldier to Captian and beyond. As you rise in rank you gain access to more abilities and "perks" as they're known in the game. You have three slots for perks, each slot with its own set of perks that are unlocked as you rise in ranks. Weapons can level up as well. The more you use a particular weapon and gain more kills, the more experience you get with the weapon which unlocks more upgrades and accessory options letting you add more ammo or lower the recoil. All of these upgrade options come together through the game's custom class mechanism where you can choose every aspect of your character's loadout including weapons, grenades and abilities. Similar to other games there are preset classes available, though the main focus is on creating your own that suits your playstyle the best.

Multiplayer is competitive only with no co-op modes available. Action takes place over 16 different maps that support between 16 and 18 players. Six different game types are available ranging from standard deathmatch to more objective based modes that are reminiscent of bombing runs and assault. And similar to Halo 3 each game type can be further customized with various options to increase longevity. One of the modes available is known as "Hardcore" in this mode you have no HUD, and bullets deliver more damage to give a more realistic feel.

Finding matches in Modern Warfare is again similar to Halo 3. It uses a lobby system where you can group up with some friends and go between matches together. You can also search for custom games that are unranked. Both the PS3 and 360 version feature the same matchmaking system, with the only difference being the 360 version uses Microsoft's TrueKill metric to aid in bringing players of similar skill level together.

Version details

Infinity Ward stresses that all three versions of the game are nearly identical. If you have a top of the line PC, then that version will look the best, but for the most part they all look the same running at a constant 60 frames per second. The PS3 version supports both USB and Bluetooth headsets, but does not support the upcoming Dualshock 3 rumble, with no plans in the future.

Google TV

Thu, 20 May 2010 20:27:29 -0400

Google TV is a software platform that combines the web experience on your TV. It was announced on May 20th, 2010 and is found integrated in certain Sony TVs and standalone Logitech products. It is built on Android (Google's mobile operating system), and, because of this, will run any Android app from the marketplace. Google is attempting to make finding video content easier while also adding the ability to personalize how you organize such content. Google TV 2.0 was released October 28, 2011 and features the Honeycomb build of Android 3.1. It's interface has undergone a significant overhaul, however it still lacks access to much of the available online content. It will interface directly with Dish Network DVRs only, allowing you to search and record to your DVR directly from the Google TV interface.

Sony BDV-E280

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:13:28 -0500

The Sony BDV-E280 is one of three 3D-compliant home theater systems (BDV-E780W, BDV-E580, and BDV-E280) released together in early 2011. All three models feature an integrated Blu-ray disc player that can handle 3D and 2D BDs, as well as DVDs, SACDs, and CDs. In particular, this system is a 5.1-channel one with support for a 1000W power output, Internet streaming through the BRAVIA platform (Sony Video On Demand, Netflix, HuluPlus), and 1080p 2D and 3D video playback. The system is also WiFi compatible, though a separate USB wireless LAN adapter is required. Additional features include an iPhone/iPod touch dock, two HDMI inputs, and a simple web browser for browse Internet pages.

Features

5.1-Channel Home Theater System
4x Satellite Speakers
1x Central Channel
1x Subwoofer
Receiver w/3D BD Player
1080p 2D/3D Playback
BRAVIA Internet Video
iPhone/iPod Dock
Simple Web Browser
Wireless LAN Ready
HD Audio Codecs
USB Playback
Dual HDMI Ports
1000W Output

Microsoft Xbox 360 Original

Sat, 26 Nov 2005 00:44:40 -0500

The successor to Microsoft's first video game console, the Xbox. The Xbox 360 expands upon the original's strong PC roots while being positioned as the complete center of media integration with many built in functions and a high level of Internet connectivity. The 360 is the first next-gen console in what Microsoft touts as the HD-Era, the seventh generation of consoles, which includes the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii.

With the Xbox 360 Microsoft has advanced graphical capabilities to the next-generation featuring a 3-core CPU from IBM and a new custom-built graphics card from ATi. Out of the three seventh generation console from a hardware perspective the 360 shares the most similarity to consoles in the sixth, there are no drastic changes to the controller, a standard DVD drive and the use of memory cards. One of the biggest changes that Microsoft made in its transition from Xbox to 360 is in removing the standard hard drive and making it optional. The Premium and Elite versions of the console come with a 20GB hard drive and 120G hard drive respectively, but the Core does not come with a hard drive at all.

While the hardware hasn't changed much aside from the graphical and processing capabilities, the 360 features a major advancement in its software, online integration, and other services such as iPod playback.

Xbox 360 Hardware

Wireless is common to all three seventh generation consoles. The 360 supports up to four connected controllers at the same time, these can be connected either wirelessly or wired through one of the three USB ports. Connecting to your LAN or the Internet is done through either the standard ethernet adapter, or optionally through wireless. You can use the official wireless adapter, which is the only adapter that connects through USB, or through an ethernet to wireless bridge.

DVD playback comes standard, and if you connect to a display through VGA or HDMI (Elite only) then the 360 will perform upconversion to high-definition resolutions.

Audio/visual output possibilities are very broad as the 360 supports composite, component, S-Video, VGA and HDMI. Both stereo and optical audio out are also supported. If you're using component, VGA, or HDMI outputs then high-definition resolutions are available with the built-in scaling chip performing the scaling options instead of your television. The standard resolutions of 720p and 1080i are supported, and with the latest firmware 1080p is possible. With a VGA connection a variety of non-standard resolutions are supported as well.

For backwards compatibility no Xbox controllers or peripherals are supported on the 360. Xbox games are compatible only through software updates which are automatically downloaded from Live if your Xbox 360 is connected to the Internet, or you can download a CD with the proper software and install the update manually (full details at Xbox.com). Due to the nature of the emulated compatibility only a subset of Xbox games are properly working with updates to the list coming sporadically, the list of working Xbox games can be found on Xbox.com.

Xbox 360 System Software

Access to all of the services and media functions that the Xbox 360 offers is accomplished through the Dashboard interface. Various options are categorized according to their function and placed inside of "blades" which can be "flipped" through.

Playback of digital media such as mp3s, videos and photos is accomplished directly from the Dashboard interface and allows playback from media stored on the 360 hard drive, devices connected through USB, and media streamed from networked computers. The 360 can also act as a Media Center Extender which enhances media functionality. In the future Microsoft has stated that the 360 will act as an IPTV set top box, working with various IPTV providers around the world.

Xbox Live is prevalent throughout the entire Xbox 360 experience as the Dashboard Guide can be brought up at any time through the press of the Guide button. From the guide you can interact with all of the people on your friends list, track your downloads, and play custom soundtracks. Both voice and text messaging are supported standard, and if you have the Xbox Vision Camera then you can also send video messages.

Xbox Live Marketplace is a feature similar to the Playstation Network Store and the Wii store. From the Marketplace you can download free playable demos, game and movie trailers, and gamer pictures and themes to customize the look of the dashboard.

Xbox Live Arcade is accessed from the Marketplace or through its own Dashboard blade and allows you to play classic games that have been upgraded with new features, or new games that have been developed solely for the XBLA service.

Available only in the United States with the promise of a worldwide release, the Xbox Live Video Marketplace was added in the fall of 2006. High definition and standard definition television shows and movies are available for purchase and playback. Television shows are owned and can be redownloaded an indefinite number of times with the same GamerTag, while Movies expire after 24 hours.

All Xbox Live Marketplace content is purchased through the use of Microsoft Points. Microsoft Points themselves can be purchased in 500, 1000, 1600, and 2000 segments at an exchange rate of $1.25US for every 100 points.

Xbox 360 Versions

The Xbox 360 is available in three different configurations, all with the same graphics and processing capabilities, the differences being mainly in some extra features and what comes in the box. Xbox 360s that are manufactured after July 4th, 2007 contain an HDMI port built-in, and cooler and quieter running hardware.

Xbox 360 Arcade ($199) - contains the Xbox 360 console, wired controller, 256MB memory, composite cables and no Hard Drive.

Xbox 360 20GB Premium ($279) - contains Xbox 360 console with chrome trim, wireless controller, wired headset, component/composite shared cable, 20GB hard drive. Discontinued. The drop to the $299 price is to clear stock and make room for the 60GB premium.

Xbox 360 60GB Premium ($299) - releases August 1st, 2008 contains everything from the 20GB premium except the included hard drive is larger at 60GB.

Xbox 360 Elite ($399) - released April 29th, 2007 the Elite version comes with a 120GB hard drive, is all black. A component and HDMI cable is included in the package.

Hardware Issues

Since launch the 360 has been plagued with complaints of shoddy hardware construction, resulting in a defect rate that some reports are putting as high as 25%. In 2006 Microsoft extended the original 90-day warranty to a full year making it equal to Sony and Nintendo's warranty periods. As of July 5th, 2007, the Xbox 360 comes with a 3 year manufacturer's warranty. The warranty is retroactive and any payments given to Microsoft to fix a console previously will be refunded.

Consoles manufactured after July 4th, 2007 contain chips based off of a 65nm process. This results in the console running at much lower temperatures. Reports indicate that a quieter DVD drive is included in these new versions as well. These consoles also ship with an HDMI port built in.

Motorola Droid RAZR

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:28:15 -0400

The Droid RAZR is a touchscreen smartphone from the Motorola company. Featuring an ultra-slim 7.1-milimeter design, this model includes a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display with Gorilla Glass coating for optimal durability. Running Google's Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, the RAZR is fitted with a 1.2-gigahertz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM for smooth software operation and application multitasking. 16 gigabytes of internal storage are included for keeping a users picture, video and music files on board, with an additional 16GB offered via MicroSD card support. Still photos can be captured via an 8-megapixel rear-facing digital camera, also capable of recording 1080p HD video content with instant playback. Users can maximize battery life by accessing the unit's SmartActions settings, a series of customizable software controls that help to reduce over-exertion of components that don't require constant use. Competing with cloud services from the like of Apple and Amazon, Motorola has included access to its "MotoCast" web storage service with the device for instant streaming of documents and multimedia content. The phone can also be paired with a number of Motorola accessories for increased functionality, such as the Lapdock 100 and 500 Pro models as well as various wireless keyboards and headsets.

Features

Gloss black aesthetic
4.3-inch Super AMOLED display
Gorilla Glass coating
Android 2.3 OS
1.2GHz dual-core processor
8-megapixel rear-facing camera
1080p HD video capture
16GB internal storage
32GB maximum storage via MicroSD support

Samsung UN55C8000

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:22:30 -0500

The Samsung UN55C8000 is one of four 3D-capable LED TVs (UN40, UN46, UN 55, UN65) released in 2010. They each feature a built-in 3D processor and emitter that enable compatibility with multiple 3D standards. The 55” UN55C8000 sits right underneath its larger sibling, the 65” UN65C8000. Both units utilize a temporary design with LED edge lighting. More importantly, they host Samsung’s recently expanded Internet@TV service, which now allows users to stream content from Blockbuster, Netflix, USA Today, and VUDU video on demand. Plus users can access other Internet applications/services like Twitter, Pica, AccuWeather, and Pandora either by the integrated Ethernet connection or via an optional WiFi adapter.

Features

3D-Capable LED Television
Built-In 3D Processor/Emitter
Compatibility w/Multiple 3D Standards
Slim/Contemporary Design w/LED Edge Lighting
Expanded Internet@TV Service
Access to Internet Applications/Services
Integrated Ethernet Connection
Optional WiFi Adapter

Apple iPhone 3GS

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:08:12 -0400

The iPhone 3GS is the successor to the iPhone 3G that features the same outer design but offers redesigned and upgraded internals. Apple claims the "S" stands for Speed (iPhone 3G Speed) and sees more powerful internal processing to offer a faster experience. According to Apple the apps open twice as fast as regular 3G, and web browsing is up to 3 times as fast. The other aspects of the iPhone that have undergone upgrades are the camera, internal battery and more built-in features such as Nike+.

Differences between iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S

upgrade to 3MP camera with auto-focus and white balance
video capture support, up to 30FPS in VGA resolution with Audio
voice commands
faster processing, open up apps twice as fast, and browse up to 3x as fast
built-in compass
built-in Nike+ support
longer battery, upgrade from 6 hours to 9 hours of WiFi browsing
32GB model available
uses greener materials
its like totally awesome dudeeee

Features

3.5" multi-touch screen
480x320 resolution with 163ppi
WiFi B/G access
UTMS, and HSDPA connectivity (GSM only)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
3MP camera
Assisted GPS
Battery
- 12 hours 2G talk
- 5 hours 3G Talk
- 300 hours standby
- 9hrs Wi-Fi browsing
- 5 hours 3G browsing
- 10 hours of video playback
- 30 hours for audio
Price: $199 for 16GB | $299 for 32GB. Contract required.
Firmware 3.0
Release date: June 19th, 2009

Asus Eee PC 701

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:12:13 -0400

The Asus Eee PC is a value priced ultra-portable notebook series based off of Asus' own hardware and software specifications. The Eee PC is a fully operational computer, however the budget price and small form factor limit the performance capabilities. Various configurations are available, with the standard being a 900MHz Celeron M processor, 512MB or RAM and 4GB of solid state memory. More recently Asus has released models based on the new Intel Atom processor, that, with its improved chipset has improved overall performance and cut power consumption. The series has also seen a move to larger 9 and 10" models with larger keyboards, batteries, and screen resolutions to appear more attractive to average consumers that found the miniature keyboards and resolutions lacking compared to full laptop alternatives. Other value priced portable computers are being marketed by companies like Intel (Classmate) and by the One Laptop Per Child non-profit (see the XO-1) but those are targeted towards developing countries, while Asus is offering the Eee PC to everyone.

Hardware Design

At just over an inch thick, the notebook flips open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard and a 7, 9 or 10" screen. The keyboard buttons are justifiably smaller than regular keys, though Asus decided to make the letter larger than the functional keys like "tab" which end up being much smaller than their traditional size. A 1.75" touch pad is included for mouse control with one button available, similar to the Apple's Mighty Mouse, the left side of the button controls left click, with the right side controlling right click. Not unlike Apple's various touch interfaces, the EEE includes advanced (arguably superior) multi-touch support. Around the bevel housing the screen are found two speakers on the sides, and on top is a webcam for video conferencing. Internet is available through the 100 M-bit ethernet port or the included A/B/G WiFi adapter (no modem). All models support SDHC cards.

Included Software

A customized version of Xandros Linux is used to power the Eee PC and give access to its various programs. Many standard programs come bundled in the package, and being a variant of Linux lets you download and install more applications if you wish. On the productivity side, OpenOffice 2.0 ( not 2.3? ) is included which lets you interact with all the usual Microsoft Office documents. A media player, Firefox web browser, and Skype round out the productivity applications available. Asus also includes a suite of casual games accessible under the "play tab".

Configurations

Eee PC 2G Surf (700) - $249

900 processor which has 512KB cache RAM
Intel G915 chipset
Integrated graphics chip with VGA output
7" LCD LED backlit screen, 800x480 resolution
256MB of DDR2 RAM
2GB solid-state storage
1 PCI Express Mini Card connector
10/100 Ethernet, B/G WiFi adapter
3 USB ports, multi-card reader
Built-in stereo speaker; built-in microphone
Colors: White, black, green, blue, pink
estimated 2.8 hours battery, 4400mAh
estimated availability end-of-November

Eee PC 4G Surf (701) - $349

The 4G Surf model includes everything from the 2G Surf model with these changes:

4GB SSD storage
512MB RAM

Eee PC 4G (701) - $399

The 4G model includes everything from the 4G Surf model with these changes:

0.3MP camera
5200mAh battery, rated for 3.5 hours

Eee PC 8G (701SD)

The 8G model includes everything from the 4G model with these changes:

8GB SSD
1GB RAM

Eee PC 9-inch screen (900, 901, 900A, 900HA, 904HA)

Various 9 inch models have been introduced with a movement to larger, more usable, higher resolution screens. Beginning with the EEE PC 900 with the same Celeron processor and internal SSD, the series has more recently expanded to cheaper 900H and 900HA models that include the higher performance atom processors and cheaper storage options (a slower SSD in the 900A and a cheaper 160gb hard disk drive in the 900HA).

Eee PC 10-inch screen (1000, 1000HA)

Various 10 inch models have been introduced to allow users larger screens, keyboards and higher capacity batteries - pushing the runtime of these higher costing EEEs to 6-7 hours. All of these contain the newer Atom processors. The 1000 contains 40GB of SSD, and is more expensive than the newly announced 1000HA that contains the same 160GB HDD found in the 900HA. The 1000 series contains a physically larger 10" screen which becomes easier to use despite using the same resolution as the smaller 9" screens.

The devices are Microsoft Windows XP compatible, with drivers available from support.asus.com. Asus link for this special project is: eeepc.asus.com/en/product.htm

Sony Ericsson W205

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:04:54 -0400

Sony's Ericsson W205 is an entry-level dual-band slider mp3 phone that uses Sony's Walkman interface and an FM radio receiver. It has an intuitive media management program that allows files to be easily transferred from a PC to the phone and vice versa. There is also a Track ID feature that automatically identifies song titles and artists. The camera has a resolution of 1.3 megapixels and can zoom in up to 2x, digitally. The phone has an internal memory capacity of 5MB, and this can be expanded up to 2GB with an M2 stick. Other features include an Opera-based web browser, several organizer tools, speakerphone and Bluetooth.

Features

Dual-band GSM 900/1800 (850/1900 North American edition, W205a)
Walkman player
FM radio
MediaGo transfer software
Track ID
1.3-megapixel camera, 2x digital zoom
Opera web browser
5MB internal memory, expandable up to 2GB with M2 stick
Bluetooth 2.0
Up to 9 hours talk time, 13.5 hours music play battery life

Asus K50IJ

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:56:12 -0500

The Asus K50IJ is a 15.6" notebook PC from Asus' multimedia-oriented K-Series for 2009 and is the lowest of the three 15.6" models from the series, the other models being the K50AB and K51AB. The laptop features an LED backlit display with a native resolution of 1366 x 768. It is equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor along with an Intel integrated GMA 4500M graphics card. The K50IJ includes up to 4GB RAM and an up to 320GB hard drive. The laptop comes with a built-in DVD burner, webcam, and Altec Lansing speakers with SRS surround sound support. It also has a 6-cell battery to provide a battery life of up to 3 hours.

Features/Specs

15.6" LED Backlit Display (1366x768 resolution)
Intel Core 2 Duo processor
Intel Integrated GMA 4500M graphics
Up to 4 GB RAM
Up to 320 GB HDD
DVD Burner
Built-in webcam
Built-in Altec Lansing speakers with SRS surround sound
Up to 5 hour battery life with 6-cell battery
MSRP: ~$650

Pepsi Cola

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:37:47 -0400

Pepsi Cola is a carbonated soft drink that is manufactured by PepsiCo. The drink was first introduced in the US in 1898 and is now sold in stores, vending machines, and restaurants worldwide. The original formula of the beverage contained pepsin to aid in digestion and kola nuts for flavouring, leading to the name Pepsi. Besides the original Pepsi Cola, PepsiCo is now available in a variety of other flavours, the most popular being Diet Pepsi. Other variations include caffeine-free Pepsi and Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Pepsi One, as well as Wild Cherry, Lime, and Vanilla Diet Pepsi.

Variations

Diet Pepsi
Caffeine-Free Pepsi
Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi
Pepsi Max
Pepsi One
Wild Cherry Pepsi
Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi
Diet Vanilla Pepsi
Diet Pepsi Lime
Diet Pepsi Jazz

DD-WRT

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:20:00 -0400

DD-WRT is not actually a product, it is a 3rd party firmware for routers, which, in many cases, adds much more functionality to the router. More information can be found here.

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate

Mon, 08 May 2006 11:17:52 -0400

It was more than five years ago that Microsoft released Windows XP, and on January 30th, 2007 Microsoft is launching Vista, the latest operating system in the Windows family. The most notable improvement is the development of Windows Aero (Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, Open); a new graphical interface and visual style featuring eye candy such as window transparencies and animations. Other new features include tightly integrated search and a Windows Sidebar as a space to put desktop gadgets like a clock, calendar, weather, RSS, and other small applets.

Denon AVR-1612

Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:55 -0400

The Denon AVR-1612 is a 5.1 channel AV receiver designed to support modern high-definition and 3D content. This expands on the Denon AVR-1312 with Audyssey MultiEQ support, automatically measuring the acoustics of the room and adjusting the speakers accordingly. Also new in this model is Dolby Pro Logic IIz support, which offers an additional vertical dimension to the audio with the use of an optional external amplifier. 24-bit encoding of analog audio to digital formats is also now handled at 192kHz, as it continues to be for the rest of the series. The model that follows, the 7.1 channel Denon AVR-1712, expands the capabilities with a Component video output and RS-232 port for third party remotes. Common features between all three include 3D video format support through the HDMI v1.4a inputs, and full 3D pass-through to ensure an undistorted image. Full HD audio content support is provided through Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats.

Features

5 discrete 120-watt channels
3D video format support, with 3D Pass-Through
Deep Color/x.v.Color content support
4 x HDMI v1.4a inputs
Audio Return Channel
GUI overlay
HD audio format support including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
Dolby Pro Logic IIz
Audyssey MultEQ Support
2-year warranty

Linksys WRT120N

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:11:42 -0500

The Linksys WRT120N is an entry-level wireless 802.11n router, or access point designed for users with basic network connectivity needs. This router is not certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance as a Draft 2.0 802.11n product due to its single-stream capabilities. Therefor the WRT120N is limited to a maximum bandwidth of only 150 Mbps when used in 40MHz mode. This router is backwards compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g connections, and includes 4 Ethernet ports for wired connections. In terms of security WPA and WPA2 are fully supported with 128-bit encryption. WiFi Protected Setup mode is also available for those with limited security knowledge. Other features include QoS (Quality of Service) for prioritizing user applications plus parental controls for limiting and monitoring internet usage. The Linksys WRT120N can be configured and maintained through any modern web browser.

Features

802.11b/g/n capabilities
4 wired Ethernet ports
WEP/WPA/WPA2 128-bit encryption
WiFi Protected Setup mode
QoS (Quality of Service)
WMM (Wireless MultiMedia)
HTTPS secure admin access
Access Restrictions (10 deny or allow-based policies)
Logging (Linksys Logviewer recording)

There seems to be a flaw in the administration software. If the NAT setting is changed then the unit can fail, adminstration become unavailable (HTTP 404 error) and the reset disabled. Linksys Cisco support knows about this problem but won't consider a recall. Don't buy if you intend to use the Admin screens.

Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:37:35 -0400

The Electronic Banking Edition of Monopoly forgoes the original green, orange, pink and yellow money in favor of the more modern plastic debit card. Each player has their own debit card, and the banker now has an electronic swiper to credit and debit your card. The jury is still out on whether this makes it easier or harder for the banker to cheat. Other updates include: modernized tokens, newer, more relevant landmarks, and higher property values so the sums are more in the millions (versus thousands) range. For example, Boardwalk for $400 is replaced with Times Square selling for a cool $20 million.

Game Includes:

6 tokens: flat screen TV, dog in a handbag, Segway personal transporter, Altoids tin, space shuttle and baseball cap
Title deed cards with higher property values
Chest and Community cards
6 debit cards
1 card swiper
32 houses
12 hotels
2 dice

Casio CTK700 Portable Musical Keyboard

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:42:15 -0500

The compact keyboard features Sing-Along function, musical information system display, and on-screen icons. Built-in mic input jack and volume controller. 3-step lesson to help you learn to play with the correct notes. Two 10 cm speakers. Supplied microphone and adapter. It also features general MIDI In and Out, but there's no mention in the specifications if this is using MIDI over USB, which newer Yamaha's feature, or if it has the standard midi connectors. The PDF manual for this keyboard is available at Casio's website, though it doesn't specifically mention midi over USB making it safe to assume that it is standard midi ports. The manual does have quite a bit of technical information concerning the midi programming however.

This keyboard is featured at large retailers. It is sold as a "portable" keyboard and as such, does not come with a power supply. Some retailers will bundle a power supply with it; for instance, Costco currently bundles it with a power supply (useful) , a stand (useful) and an electronic chord reference gadget (marginally useful).

Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:22:28 -0400

Canada Dry Ginger Ale is a popular ginger ale produced and available in countries around the world. The word "Dry" in the name refers to the drink not being overly sweet, similar to a dry wine. Canada Dry has become very popular as a mixer base for alcohol, mainly used with rye/whisky. Canada Dry is available in a variety of flavor variations.

Brands with limited availability in the United States include:

Pineapple Canada Dry
Peach Canada Dry
Black Cherry Wishniak
Island Lime
Wild Cherry

Sony MDR-ZX100

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:19:42 -0400

The Sony MDR-ZX100 on-ear ZX Series stereo headphones offer cushioned ear pads for extra comfort, and a noise-canceling, closed dynamic supra-aural design. With these features, as well as a 47 1/4 inch long Y-type connector cord, they are designed for flexible use at home, in the studio, or in heavy traffic areas with high levels of background noise. These headphones also come with a frequency response of 12-22,000Hz and 30mm dome type driver units, offering optimum bass-response performance and an extended low to high range. With an impedance of 24-Ohms at 1 kHz, the low resistance allows for more efficient conversion of electrical energy into sound. This is especially useful when used in low output voltage units, such as portable players, because it maximizes the sound available in an otherwise low-power unit. Finally, with an adjustable over-the-head, monitor headband and swivel ear cups, these headphones offer lightweight portability as well as sound quality.

Features

100 dB/mW Output Sound Sensitivity
Multi-Layer PET Diaphragms
Closed Supra-Aural Hardware
Power Handling Capacity of 1000 mW
High-Energy Neodymium Magnets
CCAW Voice Coil
120g/4.23 oz leightweight design
L-Shaped Stereo Mini Plug

Monster Beats By Dr. Dre JustBeats

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:32:53 -0400

The Monster Beats By Dre JustBeats are headphones endorsed by singer Justin Bieber. These headphones are designed to be the first high quality headphones owned by Justin Bieber's target demographic, enabling them to hear music in high definition. They are being released in two model variations: one on-ear model that has a matte purple finish and one in-ear model finished in purple and chrome. The on-ear model has plush ear padding for comfort, while the in-ear model uses flexible ear-tips to fit snugly in the ear canal.

Features

On-Ear and In-Ear variations available
Matte purple finish (On-Ear model)
Plush ear padding (On-Ear model)
Purple and chrome finish (In-Ear model)
Flexible ear-tips (In-Ear model)
High quality audio

Model Variations

Monster Beats By Dre JustBeats, On-Ear - MSRP $199.95
Monster Beats By Dre JustBeats, In-Ear - MSRP $119.95

Apple iPhone 4S

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:13:14 -0400

The iPhone 4S is a touchscreen smartphone from the Apple company. Functioning as the successor to the company's standard iPhone 4 device, this model incorporates a number of hardware upgrades and never-before-seen software features in effort to appeal to a wider variety of users. Available in black and white color options just like its predecessor, the 4S adds a 64GB storage option in addition to the existing 16 and 32GB capacities. Retaining the 3.5-inch IPS retina display, the unit's rear-facing camera has been upgraded from 5 to 8 megapixels with an f/2.4 aperture lens for brighter, bolder shots. Video recording quality has been boosted to full 1080p from the previous 720p standard, with 30 frames-per-second rendering added to the iPhone's front-facing VGA camera. The inclusion of a dual-core A5 processing chip provides a considerable boost in computing performance, nearly doubling the phone's graphical support for the improvement of videos and applications alike. Perhaps most notable amongst the 4S feature set is the addition of the Siri voice assistant, an intelligent software peripheral that responds to questions and commands prompting call and text support, maps and weather information, scheduling, directions and more. Running the fifth-generation of Apple's iOS platform, the unit also introduces iCloud online content storage for instant wireless access to the user's music, photos and documents.

Featuring

Available in gloss black and gloss white color options
Available in 16, 32 and 64GB storage capacities
Dual-core Apple A5 processor
Siri voice command assistant
8-megapixel digital camera with with flash, autofocus and f/2.4 aperture
Front-facing VGA camera at 30fps
1080p HD video capture
FaceTime video calling
Accelerometer, digital compass and gyroscope
Micro SIM card support

Toshiba Excite (AT200)

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:21:04 -0400

The Toshiba AT200 is the slimmed-down successor to the Toshiba Thrive tablet. Like its predecessor, it is 10" in size and runs Google's Android Honeycomb tablet operating system, however ditches the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor in favor of the TI OMAP 4430 at 1.2GHz. This TI processor is the same that is used in BlackBerry's PlayBook and Motorola's Droid Bionic, and is a close sibling to the the one found in Google's Galaxy Nexus phone (TI OMAP 4460). As perhaps its most visible change, the AT200 is ultra-slim at only 7.7mm, making it 1.1mm thinner than 2011's thinnest tablet (Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1). The appearance has also changed drastically from a rubberized back to a brushed metal look. Its display is a 10" high-resolution LCD at 1,280 x 800. The tablet can be ordered between 16GB and 64GB of on-board storage, but can be expanded by up to 32GB microSD cards. It also retains its venerable selection of ports, featuring micro-HDMI and a microUSB.

High resolution 25.7cm (10.1’’) IPS LCD panel with LED backlight, 1,280 x 800 pixels (16:10)
Capacitive multi-touch screen
CPU: TI OMAP 4430, 1.2GHz
RAM 1GB DDR2
Internal memory with up to 64GB
Micro-USB, micro-SD, micro-HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), docking port
GPS, 3D Accelerometer, gyrometer, electronic compass, ambient light sensor
5.0 MPixel camera (rear), 2.0 MPixel camera (front)
Stereo speakers (2x 1.5W)
Toshiba Media Player supporting a wide selection of video, picture and audio formats
Weight: 558g
Size: 256mm x 176mm x 7.7mm
Battery life (backlight 60nits): 8h (100% video playback). 8h (65% web browsing via WLAN 10% video playback 10%; 25% standby)

Sony BDV-E780W

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:13:27 -0500

The Sony BDV-E780W is one of three 3D-compliant home theater systems (BDV-E780W, BDV-E580, and BDV-E280) released together in early 2011. The top unit in the series, this 5.1-channel system features two rear wireless speakers, two 2-way front speakers, a central channel, and a subwoofer. Together they output 1000W of power in a surround sound format. Plus an included one-touch auto sound setup button allows users to arrange their speakers in a flexible manner. Like its peers, the Sony BDV-E780W offers 1080p playback of 2D and 3D Blu-ray sources, as well as standard playback of DVDs and CDs. Plus it comes with integrated WiFi with DLNA compliance for streaming from a PC, smartphone, iPhone/iPod (dock included), or directly from the Internet.

Features

5.1-Channel Home Theater System
2x Rear Wireless Speakers
2x Front Speakers
1x Central Channel
1x Subwoofer
Surround Sound Audio
One-Touch Sound Setup
Receiver w/3D BD Player
1080p 2D/3D Playback
BRAVIA Internet Video
DLNA Streaming
iPhone/iPod Dock
Simple Web Browser
Integrated Wireless
HD Audio Codecs
USB Playback
Dual HDMI Ports
Advanced Media Remote
1000W Output

Beats In-Ear Headphones

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:10:36 -0500

Introduced in early December 2008, the Beats In-Ear Headphones are the second in a line of Monster headphones endorced by Dr. Dre. Featuring tangle-free cables, three sizes of tips and a good deal of isolation, Dr. Dre claims that they "sound so big, you'll think you've got speakers in your ears".

Monster Energy Drink

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:11:26 -0500

Monster Energy Drink is a citrus flavored energy drink with twice the caffeine of a regular energy drink. Monster packs a punch with a smooth flavor that you can really enjoy. This drink does not taste as strong as some other energy drinks on the market. Though it is not marketed widely in the mainstream media Monster receives a large amount of publicity from sporting events. Monster Energy consists of approximately 10mg/oz(33.81mg/100mls) of caffeine or 160 mg for a 16oz can.

Nokia N9

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:15:24 -0400

The N9 is a medium to high end smartphone from Nokia, running the open-source, Linux-based MeeGo operating system. MeeGo is a joint development effort between Nokia and Intel, though Nokia has substantially reduced its commitment to the platform after the announcement of the partnership with Microsoft and its Windows Phone software. Lacking staunch support from its own manufacturer, it is likely that application development for the N9 will lack substantially. However, the N9 convinces with a few innovations. For instance, it has a buttonless design (apart from volume and shutter), and instead wholly relies on swipe gestures that switch between a graphical task manager, a notifications view, and the app launcher. This makes it extremely easy to navigate to the most accessed features, even with just one finger. Reviews also applaud the extremely smooth, speedy, and polished user interface implementation, as well as Nokia's excellent maps and offline GPS navigation at no extra cost. Other highlights are a Gorilla Glass protected AMOLED screen, a high-quality 8MP camera with LED flash & Carl Zeiss optics and shutter speed beating point-and-shoot cameras, HD video recording, unibody design, up to 64GB internal storage, WebKit/HTML5 web browser, and NFC (like Google's Nexus S). Whilst the N9's OMAP3630 processor and PowerVR SGX530 GPU might not be up to smartphone enthusiasts' standards, Nokia has a tradition of highly optimised mobile software; meaning the MeeGo 1.2 operating system and applications will have no trouble running on the N9's somewhat dated hardware.

Features / Specifications

MeeGo 1.2 Operating System
OMAP 3630 SoC, PowerVR SGX530 GPU
3.9'' AMOLED capacitive touch screen (854x480), Gorilla glass
16 or 64GB internal storage
1GB RAM
HSDPA, HSUPA
Wifi b/g/n
Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP
8 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics
A-GPS
MicroSIM only
NFC
Dolby sound enhancement
Swype keyboard

Denon AVR-1312

Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:55 -0400

The Denon AVR-1312 is a 5.1 channel audio and video receiver for home use. This is the most basic model in the series, and is followed by the Denon AVR-1612. While most features are the same between the two models, it should be noted that the 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion is sampled at 96kHz in this case, rather than 192kHz, and this system doesn't have an auto-setup calibration system. Most other features are consistent between the two models, including the use of HDMI 1.4a standards that support both 3D video content and Deep Color and x.v.Color support for a larger color range than standard-definition systems. High-resolution audio formats are also supported, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. Audio is output over 5.1 channels using discrete amplification, ensuring that the 110 watt output per channel is as clear and distinct as possible.

Features

Supports high-resolution audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD
Dock connectivity option for iPod and iPhone
5 discrete 110-watt channels
4 x HDMI 1.4a inputs
GUI overlay and remote control
Quick Selection buttons
3D Pass-Through
Deep Color and x.v.Color Support
3D video format support
Stereo Mini Jack and iPod Connectivity
Compressed audio restorer
Includes remote control, AA batteries, AM loop antenna, FM indoor antenna, and owner's manual
2-year warranty

Apple iPad 2

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:31:34 -0500

The first upgrade to Apple's mainstream tablet device, the Apple iPad 2 was announced on March 2nd 2011. Featuring an improved dual A5 processor for double speed and 9x the graphical performance the iPad maintains the original's spectacular 10 hour battery life while being 33% slimmer and 13% lighter.

Bringing the iPad closer to the iPhone 4 spec, the device now includes dual front and rear facing cameras for video capture and use with Apple's FaceTime video chat service, as well as a gyroscope for full motion game controls.

The one major new feature of the iPad 2 is the new magnetic cover system. Magnets built into the device now allow for covers to attach and protect the device without needing to be manually fiddled with. The magnet system also allows for the device to know when it is being covered or opened - making it automatically sleep and wake up without any other user interaction. The device will launch with plastic and leather covers available directly from Apple.

Nike 6.0 Air Mogan Mid

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:54:38 -0400

The Nike 6.0 Air Mogan Mid is a men's sneaker designed for skateboarding, streetwear, and other action sports. The shoe features a leather, suede, and nubuck upper to support the foot and is higher than the Air Mogan for better ankle support. It has a full-length Phylon midsole for cushioning with an encapsulated Airsole unit in the heel for shock absorption. The shoe also has sure-fit tongue straps and an optional internal lacing system which the Air Mogan lacks. The 6.0 Air Mogan Mid is designed with a stitched forefoot cupsole for durability and has Nike's 6.0 plus/minus tread pattern for improved traction. It also includes perforated holes at the forefoot to provide better airflow. The shoe is available in men's, women's, and youth sizes and colors and has a suggested retail price of $75.

Features

Leather, Suede, and Nubuck Upper
Sure-Fit Tongue Straps
Optional Internal Lacing System
Ankle Support
Forefoot Ventilation
Full-Length Phylon Midsole
Encapsulated Airsole Unit
Forefoot Cupsole
6.0 Plus/Minus Tread Pattern

Color Options

Black/Aquamarine-Sable Green
White/Black-Baltic Blue-Glass Blue
Black/Tourmaline-White-Radiant Green
White/Classic Charcoal-Black-Varsity Red
Pure Purple/White-Medium Grey

Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR/HS22EXR

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:33:14 -0500

Fujifilm's FinePix HS20EXR/HS22EXR is a bridge camera that stops short of being a full DSLR while using an SLR-style body. it is a high-end point-and-shoot with full manual controls and priority modes, and includes a telephoto lens that ranges from 24 - 720mm, for about 30x magnification. It uses Fujifilm's new CMOS EXR sensor, which improves contrast range and color fidelity, and is also very sensitive to different scene conditions. The flash detects scene settings and attempts to reduce washout, and there are a variety of shooting convenience features like multiple frames per second, auto release on face recognition, and a continuous mode that allows selection of the best shot to be saved. This camera uses CMOS shift image stabilization, and has a high sensitivity to reduce blurring at long zooms or in low light. Images can be viewed, organized, and searched on the camera with an integrated library assistant.

Features

30x optical zoom
24mm wide-angle Fujinon lens
27 scene presets
Auto-detect scene and flash
High-speed autofocus (less than .2 seconds)
3.0-inch LCD display
Up to 12800 ISO
CMOS shift image stabilization
16-megapixel resolution
CMOS EXR sensor and processor
HD video
Program, Shutter, Aperture and Manual exposure modes
Face, pet, red-eye, detection
Intelligent flash
1 cm focal length macro capacity

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:58:13 -0400

Modern Warfare 2 is the upcoming first-person-shooter sequel to the critically-acclaimed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, in development at Infinity Ward. The story begins several years after the end of the original, as the player takes on the role of a member of an elite multinational commando unit, tasked with countering an ultranationalist organization gaining strength in Russia. Missions will take place in varied locations, including an Afghan desert and Rio de Janeiro. The game is scheduled to be released in November 2009 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Features

First-person shooter
Special Forces mode with non-story-based missions
Two-player cooperative option in Special Forces mode
Varied locations
Varied, innovative gameplay elements
Online multiplayer

Yamaha NS-10M

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:07:13 -0400

The Yamaha NS-10M studio reference monitor speaker (aka NS10M) is widely popular amongst audio professionals, and is notorious for its very flat frequency response even to the point that they are not pleasant to listen to. The wants and needs of the audio engineer are different than the typical consumer, so this is a welcome thing as the NS-10M monitors will reveal the truth of mix. The NS-10M studio monitors are almost an industry standard for mixing and are easily recognized by their standout white mid-range driver.

Features

2-way studio reference speaker
mid/woofer: 18 cm (7") sheet-formed white-cone
tweeter: 3.5 cm soft dome dome tweeter
frequency response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
input power: rated for 25 Watts (max. 50 Watts)
impedance: 8 ohms
sensitivity: 90 dB SPL (1W, 1m, on axis)
crossover point: 2 kHz (12 dB/oct)
enclosure: wood, black finish
volume: 34 L
dimensions: 382 x 215 x 198 mm (15" x 8-1/2" x 7-7/8")
weight: 6.3 kg (13 lbs 14 oz)
price: ~$550

Tissue Paper Phenomenom

Engineers unhappy with the "ugliness" of tHe NS-10M speakers in their studio have devised a scheme in which they cover the tweeter driver with tissue paper to reduce some of the high frequencies, giving them a warmer sound. Bob Hodas has done an in-depth analysis of this practice. A redesigned NS-10M Studio model appeared later that rectified the problem with the tweeter, making the tissue paper solution obsolete.

Availability

Originally released circa 1982, Yamaha discontinued the production of the Yamaha NS-10M speakers (somewhere before 2003, reference needed), and replaced them with the Yamaha MSP5, and Yamaha MSP10 studio monitors. In spite of being discontinued, the NS-10M are still widely used in studios and even won Yamaha Corporation a Grammy in 2007 for their technical excellence and impact on the recording industry. You can find them online sold as a balanced pair on eBay selling for around $550.

Nokia Asha 303

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:00:30 -0400

The Nokia Asha 303 is an entry-level smartphone running Nokia's budget Series 40 edition 9.2 OS similar to the Nokia Asha 300. The 303 differs from the 300 in a few key areas as it offers a full QWERTY keyboard rather than a basic dial pad, a larger 2.6" capacitive touchscreen (rather than a 2.4" resistive), 3.5G data with WiFi (rather than just 3G data) and a 3.2 megapixel camera (as opposed to the 300's 5MP camera). Otherwise, both phones sport a 1GHz CPU, customizable home screens and the Nokia Web Browser.

The Asha 303's full QWERTY keyboard offers users a quick and comfortable way to text while its 2.6" touchscreen makes navigating the UI much more comfortable. Its 1GHz processor allows the Asha 303 to easily handle more demanding applications and games while making UI navigation smoother. Meanwhile, the Asha 303's Nokia Web Browser compresses Internet traffic by up to 90% for reduced data usage. The Nokia Asha 303 is available in red and graphite black.

Features

Series 40 edition 9.2 OS
Full QWERTY keyboard
2.6" capacitive touchscreen
3.5G data with WiFi
3.2 megapixel camera
1GHz CPU
Customizable home screen
Nokia web browser compresses web traffic

Sodastream

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:17:20 -0500

Sodastream is a small appliance that transforms your tap into carbonated water in under 30 seconds. It achieves this by introducing carbon dioxide gas into the water through a cylinder where it's stored. The product includes a machine, a carbon dioxide cylinder, flavor syrups and one or more reusable beverage bottles. When a cylinder is empty, it is returned to a supplier and a replacement cylinder is rented. By using the appropriate variety of concentrate, different flavours of soft drink can be created.

Sharp AQUOS LC-60E79U

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:54:07 -0500

The Sharp AQUOS LC-60E79U is a 60 inch LCD TV capable of 1080p Full HD resolution. It is an enhanced version of the similar AQUOS LC-60E69U, offering Active Color and Active Contrast display technology and Vyper Drive gaming mode which adds further video processing to reduce lag times. It also adds an extra HDMI input bringing the total to four, extra HD component and composite video inputs, S-Video input, RS-232C input, an extra pair of RCA stereo audio inputs and it retains the same PC VGA input. The audio system has been slightly upgraded as well from 8 Watt stereo to 10 Watt stereo speakers which are bottom mounted. What it shares with the LC-60E69U is 120Hz Fine Motion Enhancement for fast motion picture quality, 4ms response time, ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners for reception of digital and analog stations and OPC Optical Picture Control which automatically adjusts brightness when the light levels in the room change. AQUOS Advantage Support is also included with this line, providing a 3 year limited warranty extension that includes free online and phone support.

Features

Basic Specifications

Screen Size Class: 60" Class (60-1/32" Diagonal)
Panel Type: High Performance LCD Panel
3D: No
Pixel Resolution: Full 1920 x 1080 HD Resolution
Backlight System: CCFL
Viewing Angles: 176º H / 176º V
Audio System: 10W + 10W
120Hz Frame Rate: Yes plus Dejudder Technology
Tuning System: ATSC / QAM / NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Response Time: 4ms

Features

AQUOS Series: Yes
Quattron quad pixel technology: No
AQUOS Advantage Support: Yes
Game-Optimized: Yes

Inputs

HDMI: 4
HD Component: 2 (1080p compatible)
Composite Video: RCA (A/V) x 2
S-Video: 4-pin DIN x 1
Audio Inputs (L/R): 4 RCA
RS-232C: 9-pin x 1
PC: 1 (15-pin D-sub)

Power

Power Consumption AC (watts): 390W (0.4W Stand-by)
Power Source: 120V

Weight & Dimensions

Dimensions (wxhxd) (inches): 56-5/8" x 35-11/64" x 4-45/64"
Dimensions with Stand (wxhxd) (inches): 56-5/8" x 37-29/64" x 17-9/16"
Product Weight (lbs.): 81.6
Weight with Stand (lbs.): 92.6

Additional Specifications

Cabinet Color: Black
Limited Warranty: 1 year parts and labor from date of purchase
Remote Control: Yes
Table Stand: Yes

RIM BlackBerry Curve 9360

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:47:23 -0400

The Blackberry Curve 9360 is a smartphone from RIM that offers an alternative to the other models in the company's Curve series. Fitted with an optical trackpad or responsive control, this model runs the Blackberry 7 operating system and incorporates a number of appealing modern features. A 2.44-inch transmissive TFT LCD display is included, with dedicated function buttons and a full QWERTY keyboard enabling fast, intuitive communications. Internal memory can be expanded up to 32 gigabytes via hot-swappable MicroSD card, ideal for users who wish to store and access music, video and picture files. A 5-megapixel digital camera is included that offers full VGA video recording, supplemented by a flash, image stabilizer, face detection technology and a 4x digital zoom. Wi-Fi connectivity provides users with access to the Blackberry Enterprise server, featuring high-speed internet browsing with a number of natively-optimized applications. In addition, A-GPS technology provides accurate triangulation data, and works in conjunction with the Blackberry Maps feature to provide turn-by-turn driving directions to users on the go.

Features

2.44" transmissive TFT LCD display
Blackberry 7 operating system
Full QWERTY keyboard
Optical trackpad control surface
5-megapixel digital camera with flash, video recording, image stabilization and 4x zoom
WiFi-enabled
Bluetooth compatibility
Full audio, video and picture playback support

Sony VAIO S Series VPCSB11FX

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:19:50 -0500

The Sony VAIO S Series VPCSB11FX is a laptop designed to be thin and portable. This model comes before the Sony VAIO S Series VPCSB1AGX, which increases HDD access speeds, memory, main CPU speeds and has a faster video processor. This system runs an Intel Core i5 at 2.3GHz, and comes loaded with 4GB of RAM in the base model. In other ways they are the same, including the use of a thin 0.95 inch design and 3.8 pound weight. A built-in camera and microphone enable video conferencing, and networking is handled through a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port or through 802.11b/g/n WiFi. External displays are also supported through VGA and HDMI outputs, and Intel's WiDi protocol is also supported for wireless video connections. The screen itself is 13.3 inches, and can show video in 1366 x 768 detail.

Features

Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.04 x 0.95 x 8.84 in
Weight: 3.8 lbs (with Standard Capacity Battery)
HDD: 500GB, 5400rpm
Speed : DDR3-1333MHz
Backlit Keyboard
Built-in HD camera and microphone
Keyboard: QWERTY, 82 keys with 2.0mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch
Multi-Finger touchpad
Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
Bluetooth Integrated Stereo A2DP (2.1 + EDR)
Ethernet Protocol: 10baseT/100baseTX/1000baseT
WiDi Ready: Yes - Intel Wireless Display technology
WiFi Adapter: Intel 802.11b/g/n
Sound System: Intel High Definition Audio
Average Boot Time: 60 seconds
Average Resume Time from Suspend: 2 seconds
Processor: AMD Radeon HD 6470M, 512MB dedicated
Intel Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.90GHz
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Screen: 13.3 in, 1366 x 768 resolution
DC-In, HDMI Output, Headphone Jack, Memory Media Slot, Microphone Input, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, VGA Output
ENERGY STAR 5.0, ROHS Compliant
1 Year Limited Warranty

Amazon Kindle Touch

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:19:49 -0400

The Kindle Touch is a touchscreen eBook reader from Amazon that offers an alternative to the company's standard Kindle and Kindle Fire products. Available in both WiFi-only and WiFi+3G variations, this model features a 6" multitouch display for fast, responsive navigation. Smaller and lighter than its predecessors, the Touch includes 4 gigabytes of internal storage capable of housing up to 3000 eBooks. An updated version of the advanced E-Ink technology helps to further prevent glare even in bright outdoor conditions, significantly reducing eye strain through paper-like text rendering. Reading material can be browsed and downloaded from the Kindle Store directly from the unit itself, with most titles taking less than one minute to transfer. Pages are turned by tapping the display instead of requiring the dedicated hard buttons of previous models, while text-to-speech functionality provides spoken-word playback of English content to the user's headset or the built-in stereo speakers. Free Amazon Cloud backup is available to all customers for additional storage of digital files in a secure online environment, and up to 2 months of wireless battery life are available on a single charge. A 1-year limited warranty is included with purchase.

Features

Matte grey aesthetic
Available in standard (WiFi-only) and 3G variations, with or without "Special Offer" advertising
6-inch multitouch E-Ink display
8% lighter, 11% smaller than original Kindle model
Built-in Wi-Fi
Text-to-speech support
Free Amazon Cloud service storage
Up to 2 months of wireless battery life
3.5mm audio jack, rear external speakers

Motorola Atrix 4G

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:32:41 -0500

The Motorola Atrix 4G is a high-end smartphone running Google's Android operating system. It brings not only dual core processing power, but also a unique set of features that sets it apart from many smartphones on the market today. The Atrix 4G has two main accessories, a desktop dock and a laptop dock. The desktop dock has USB and video output connections which allows for peripherals such as mouse and monitor to be connected to the dock. The laptop dock is essentially a laptop shell with a screen, a keyboard, and a touch pad; as you would expect from a standard laptop computer. The important part is that the Atrix 4G acts as the core unit; when connected to either of these docks, users can boot into the phone's Linux operating system and use it like a real computer. The Motorola Atrix 4G is a one of a kind device that pushes the powerful hardware to its full potential with a set of unique accessories.

Features / Specifications

Android OS
Linux OS with full internet browser (Firefox desktop)
Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual core application processor
1GB RAM
qHD display
16GB internal storage
Wifi b/g/n
Dual microphone (with noise cancelling)
Desktop dock, laptop dock

MITTONS by ONS GEAR

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:19:28 -0500

What parents are saying about MITT-ONS:

"Just wanted to say thanks, the mitts are fantastic, you should get this product on the Dragon's Den!"

"ONS Gear MITT-ONS™ are what I would consider one of the single best parent invented mittens on the planet! No snow will find its way in these suckers! "

"The verdict: My kids loved them; they liked the softness and warmth of the sleeve and as promised, no snow got inside! They also stayed on really well; even my two year old couldn’t yank them off! These mittens will be well used all winter."

"Just received my MITT-ONS and I absolutely LOVE them! We most definitely need these in Saskatchewan!"

"I also really liked the adjustable strap because M's wrists and hands are really small... so that strap helped keep her hands stay in the right position."

"The fit is fantastic, warm and what more could you ask for. These are great for children!"

"An especially great product for us Canadians and our Canadian winters! "

"I proceeded to help her out of her snow gear. There was snow in her boots, under the elastic of her snow pants and up to her knees. Her arms, however, were dry! The MITT-ONS went up to her elbows and their elastic end held securely through their entire winter adventure that afternoon. When I took them off I found her hands toasty warm inside. Needless to say they definitely stayed on!"

"They are brilliant! I am so excited to have found this product and to be able to send my little guy out to play and know that he isn't going to be turning around and coming back in in 5 minutes because of snow up his sleeve."

"I came across these amazing mitts that are the answer to all my problems."

"THEY LOVE EM!!! We wear them daily. Absolutely wonderful...no more cold, wet arms! Thank you again!!!!!"

"I've got to tell you - best invention!!! They keep my son's hands nice and toasty :)"