Top Gear Guide

Canon Launch LEGRIA FS22, LEGRIA FS21 and LEGRIA FS200 Digital Camcorders

ben.hoffman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:14:00 GMT

Canon Australia is putting the fun back into moviemaking, releasing its smallest and most stylish Standard Definition digital video cameras ever: the LEGRIA FS22, LEGRIA FS21 and LEGRIA FS200. Using ultra-compact and incredibly power-efficient flash memory, each model can shoot continuously for up to three and a half hours on a single charge.

The LEGRIA FS22 and FS21 are Dual Flash Memory DV cameras recording to memory cards and internal flash drives of 32GB and 16GB capacity, respectively. The LEGRIA FS200 available in four colours – shoots straight to memory card, a great way to share movie clips immediately.

Key features:

Lightweight and stylish design, weighing around 230g: Canon’s lightest ever DV cameras Full range options:

Dual Flash Memory models record to SD/SDHC memory cards as well as internal memory: 32GB (LEGRIA FS22), 16GB (LEGRIA FS21)
Direct to SD/SDHC recording with the LEGRIA FS200

Several new features that make moviemaking easy:

Video Snapshot: a fun way to create movie montages in-camera
Pre REC: ensures that key shots are never missed

Simplified controls with the new Dual Shot option: video and still images can both be captured without the need to switch shooting modes, allowing users to keep their eyes on what they are shooting

Advanced Zoom gets closer to the subject without sacrificing image quality: 45x (LEGRIA FS22 and LEGRIA FS21) or 41x (LEGRIA FS200) reach

New Quick Charge feature for super-fast battery recharge times; 3x normal speed means up to one hour’s shooting from just a 20 minute charge

Microphone input and headphone jack for superior audio capture

Easy sharing: compatible with Canon’s standalone DW-100 DVD Burner and Player (available separately); Software Solution Disk and PIXELA ImageMixer™ video editing software supplied as standard

Flip MinoHD is Launched the Worlds Most Compact HD Camcorder

ben.hoffman — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:07:00 GMT

Today, Flip officially takes the wraps off of its new Flip Video MinoHD . The $229.95 camcorder retains the compact Flip design, but adds the ability to capture up to one hour of high-definition video.

Video quality isn’t the only thing that gets an upgrade: The Mino HD will come with the FlipShare software, which gets a new name and some new features. It allows you to organize, edit and upload videos to YouTube, MySpace, or AOL Video, and share them via e-mail. You can also use it to add music and title and credit sequences to your videos. Pure Digital (the company behind the Flip) says the new software features an easier-to-use drag-and-drop interface and is compatible with both Mac and PC.

Retail giant Amazon already have the Flip Video MinoHD on sale for US$206.99

The maker of Flip Video™ – the best-selling family of affordable and simple-to-use digital camcorders – today introduced its latest breakthrough product: the Flip MinoHD. The world’s smallest high definition camcorder at just over three oz., this remarkably slim camcorder makes capturing and sharing HD video easy and affordable. The stylish Flip MinoHD from Pure Digital Technologies, priced at $229.99 (MSRP), records up to 60 minutes of HD video and features Flip Video’s new FlipShare software, also announced today. This advanced on-board software platform allows consumers to plug the camcorder’s signature flip-out USB arm into any computer for easy drag-and-drop video organizing, editing and sharing on YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video or via email.

This latest innovation from Pure Digital Technologies builds on the success of its wildly popular Flip Video camcorder line. Since its launch last year, Flip Video has sold over 1.5 million camcorders and currently has the number one best-selling camcorder in the U.S., according to the latest rankings from leading market research firm The NPD Group.

“Consumers have embraced Flip Video because it delivers on the promise of making video simple, affordable, and fun,” said Jonathan Kaplan, Pure Digital’s chairperson and CEO. “Flip MinoHD, along with our new FlipShare software, now make it easy for anyone to capture and share their stories in stunning HD quality.”

With its introduction, MinoHD also becomes the first and only “designable” HD camcorder. Using Flip Video’s next-generation personalization platform, launched last month on TheFlip.com, consumers can choose from thousands of professional designs or custom-design their own Flip Mino or MinoHD at no extra cost. Additionally, consumers have the option to share their designs on TheFlip.com to earn commissions for themselves or non-profit causes.

Flip MinoHD Features:

Weight: 3.3 oz.
Resolution: HD 720p
4 GB of internal memory to record up to 60 minutes of HD video
1.5 inch anti-glare LCD display
Internal, lithium ion battery recharges when USB arm is connected to computer
One-touch recording with 2x digital zoom
Touch-sensitive buttons for recording, playback, fast forward, rewind, pause and delete
FlipShare software:

On-board application installs directly when connected to any PC or Mac
Drag-and-drop interface for easy browsing, playback, organizing and video archiving
Integrated online video publishing to YouTube, MySpace, and AOL Video
Free, unlimited private emailing of videos and video greeting cards
Custom movie editing, with the option to use your own music and add titles/credits
Capture still photos from any standard or high definition video
Order DVDs online and have them shipped anywhere in the world
TV connection for instant viewing (cable included)
Tripod Mount

Available in black at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, WalMart.com, TheFlip.com and leading retailers
“Designable” at TheFlip.com
Suggested retail price: $229.99

Nokia N97 Mobile Computer Launched

ben.hoffman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:05:00 GMT

Nokia today launched theNokia N97, which they claim is the worlds most advanced mobile compter, the full press release can be read below:

Tilting touch display, QWERTY keyboard and personalized home screen - a true mobile computer

Barcelona, Spain - Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N97, the world's most advanced mobile computer, which will transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. Designed for the needs of Internet-savvy consumers, the Nokia N97 combines a large 3.5" touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard, providing an 'always open' window to favorite social networking sites and Internet destinations. Nokia's flagship Nseries device introduces leading technology - including multiple sensors, memory, processing power and connection speeds - for people to create a personal Internet and share their 'social location.'

"From the desktop to the laptop and now to your pocket, the Nokia N97 is the most powerful, multi-sensory mobile computer in existence," said Jonas Geust, Vice President, heading Nokia Nseries. "Together with the Ovi services announced today, the Nokia N97 mobile computer adjusts to the world around us, helping stay connected to the people and things that matter most. With the Nokia N97, Nseries leads the charge in helping to transform the Internet into your Internet".

Sensing your 'So-Lo'

The Nokia N97 introduces the concept of 'social location'. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the Nokia N97 mobile computer intuitively understands where it is. The Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social networks automatically with real-time information, giving approved friends the ability to update their 'status' and share their 'social location' as well as related pictures or videos.

Widescreen - Internet and entertainment

The home screen of the Nokia N97 mobile computer features the people, content and media that matter the most. Friends, social networks and news are available by simply touching the home screen. The 16:9 widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently updated widgets of favorite web services and social networking sites. The Nokia N97 is also perfectly suited for browsing the web, streaming Flash videos or playing games. Both the physical QWERTY and virtual touch input ensure efficiency in blogging, chatting, posting, sending texts or emailing.

The Nokia N97 supports up to 48 GB of storage, including 32 GB of on-board memory, expandable with a 16 GB microSD card for music, media and more. This is complemented by excellent music capabilities, full support for the Nokia Music Store and continuous playback time of up to 1.5 days. The Nokia N97 also has a 5-Megapixel camera with high-quality Carl Zeiss optics, 16:9 and DVD quality video capture, and support for services like Share on Ovi for immediate sharing over HSDPA and WLAN.

The Nokia N97 is expected to begin shipping in the first half of 2009 at an estimated retail price of EUR 550 before taxes or subsidies.

Sandisk Launch 16Gb MicroSD HC & Memory Stick Micro (M2) memory cards

ben.hoffman — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:01:00 GMT

Sandisk have launched the 16 GB Micro SDHC & Memory Stick Micro (M2) Memory cards, the world largest capacity Memory card, designed specifically for mobile phones Video Cameras, MP3 Players and GPS receivers.

Below is an excerpt of their press release:

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory products, today announced it is bringing to market its 16GB* microSDHC™ and Memory Stick Micro (M2)® mobile memory cards - the world’s largest storage capacity for mobile phones. Crazy John’s stores will be the first retail outlets in Australia to carry the 16GB capacity.

The fingernail-sized 16GB memory cards allow consumers to “wake up” the many storage-intensive features offered by today’s portable handsets such as music and video playback, high-definition digital camera functions, gaming and GPS applications.

In addition to the mobile phone, consumers can use the 16GB microSDHC card in a multitude of other devices, including video cameras, GPS receivers or MP3 players with a microSD slot, such as SanDisk’s Sansa™ players.

"Handsets have become far more than just phones - they’ve become mobile jukeboxes, mobile offices, even mobile movie theatres," said Avi Greengart, Research Director for Mobile Devices at Current Analysis. "Flash memory cards have increased in storage capacity, but even an 8GB card may be too small for anyone with GPS map data, a few movies, a game or two, a presentation file and other applications. There is an acute need for more mobile storage capacity. 16GB gives consumers the ability to carry their digital content with them and still have room to do more with their mobile phones."

iPhone 2.1 Firmware Update Released and Ready for Action

ben.hoffman — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:57:00 GMT

iPhone 2.1 Firmware Update Released: The big news for any IPhone 3G user over this weekend was that Apple have just released the latest firmware update for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G firmware version 2.1

The list of new and improved features is quite extensive:

Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
Significantly better battery life for most users
Dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
Faster installation of 3rd party applications
Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third party applications
Improved performance in text messaging
Faster loading and searching of contacts
Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
Genius playlist creation

Last week I wrote a review for The Business Travel Guru outlining some of the short comings of the IPhone 3G for corporate email users - iPhone 3G 7 Day Corporate Email Challenge a flop or a Windows Mobile killer?, the list was quite extensive, but from the looks 2.1 does not address many if not any of the short coming noted in my article, once I have this iPhone 3G update installed I plan to post a follow up of what if any corporate email i.e. Microsoft Exchange Activesync improvements have been included.

So if you have an iPhone 3G why not upgrade it to the latest firmware iPhone 3G 2.1, oh one thing to see and download this firmware you will first need to install iTunes 8.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II specifications leaked 24 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS Sensor

ben.hoffman — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:15:00 GMT

The latest and greatest Canon EOS camera models the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is on the brink of being launched, with this release just around the corner information of both the Canon EOS 5D Mark II’s Specifications and launch details have been leaked. So what can we expect from the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II:

24 Million Pixels
25600 ISO
HD Video recording at 720p & 1080i
New battery with autonomy recognition
New Grip BG-R 6
DIGIC IV Processor
Live View
Magnesium Alloy Body
Dust Removal System
Compatible with both EF Lenses & EX speedlite

As for the official of the launch of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II date Tuesday 16 September 2008, has been indicated or leaked as the likely announcement from Canon, and the expected cost to be around the 2600 Euro mark.

With the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera launch along with last weeks and then the future camera released from Canon later this year, it has and will be an exciting time in the professional digital camera world.

For more information see the original post here Canon EOS 5D Mark II: Canon EOS Full Frame 5D Replacement Leak the Canon EOS Mark II

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Canon announce the Canon EOS 50D 15 megapixel CMOS Sensor EOS 40D Replacement

ben.hoffman — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:17:00 GMT

Canon have just announced the Canon EOS 50D the big brother of the hugely popular ¾ frame 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor EOS 40D.

As opposed to the rumors leaks about the future full frame EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 6D, EOS 7D (or whatever they will be called) the 50D had been nearly nonexistent release nearly nonexistent, with an un-expected announcement.

Here is the low down on the Canon EOS 50D with a side by side comparison against the Canon EOS 40D.

Feature	Canon EOS 50D	Canon EOS 40D
Sensor Type/Size	15 Megapixel	10.1 Megapixel
Image Processor	DIGIC 4	DIGIC III
ISO	100-12800	100-3200
Noise Reduction	4 Levels	2 Levels (On/Off)
Autofocus Micro Adjustment	Up to 20 lenses	No
LDC Screen	3.0” 920K Pixel TFT	3.0” 23K”Pixel TFT
Live View	Phase, Contrast, Face Detect	Phase Detect only
Peripheral illumination Correction	Yes	No
Max Shot Speed	6.3 FPS Up to 60 Jpeg large fine	6.5 Fps up to 75 Large/Fine
Weight	730 g no Battery 822 g with Battery	740 g no battery 836 g with Battery

Table 1: Canon EOS 50D vs Canon EOS40D specs

Mmm the specs for this camera are great, almost tempting me to jump online and purchase, but given Canons new full frame EOS 5D replacement launch is only moments away, I am holding off as a full frame is what I want & need.

The Canon EOS 50D has a street price of US$1399 and can be purchased from any of the following reputable online Camera dealers.

Canon EOS 50D from Amazon

PLANE Quiet Platinum Noise Cancelling Headphone Review

ben.hoffman — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:06:00 GMT

The Plane Quiet Platinum Noise Cancelling Headphones are a totally awesome set of high quality US designed set of Noise Cancelling Headphones, with a price that will appeal to the budgets of all travellers and lovers of music.

Trying on the Plane Quiet Platinum noise cancelling headphones for the first time, to be honest I was a little sceptical as to if this $99 set could deliver would deliver both the noise cancellation and quality found in other the other sets I own and have tried in the past. But after slipping my set for the first time my scepticism evaporated, firstly the comfort, padded well enough to see you thru a long international flight or an entire day in the office without feeling uncomfortable.

Noise cancellation and quality of the PLANE quiet cancelling headphones

My next flight is a few weeks away so I really did not have a chance to test in a real flight scenario, but I had the next best thing a room of noisy computers, so how did they perform after putting on the Plane Quiet Platinum Noise Cancelling headphones and activating the noise cancelling function I was totally blown away by the level of noise cancellation. As with other sets of have tried both from Bose and Sennheiser the noise cancellation also improved the quality of my IPod music by removing the unwanted external repeating low frequency noise, allowing me to hear the full range of sound from my music.

What comes in the Plane Quiet Noise Cancelling headphone set box:

One set of Plane Quiet Noise Platinum Noise cancelling headphones

2 X AAA batteries

Zippered Carry case

1/8 in to ¼ in adaptor

Dual pin airline adaptor

So the verdict? The Plane Quiet Platinum noise cancelling headphones are a Top Gear Guide Highly recommended buy for anyone who wants a decent set of noise cancelling headphones. With a recommended retail price of $99 and free delivery (in the US) for users who take up this offer when purchasing from Pro Travel Gear you won’t be disappointed.

Nikon D700 limited supply expected to push up inital eBay price

ben.hoffman — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:45:00 GMT

Nikon have announced the new 12.1MP Full Frame FX Nikon D700 With the Nikon D700 already on many Nikon enthusiasts most wanted list, the first batch which should hit shelves later this month is already highly sought after, so much so that it is expected, some of this initial batch will hit eBay and more than exceed the US$3,000.00 RRP, that is seen at many online stores online stores such as:

Amazon - Nikon D700
Adorama – Nikon D700

The stand out features of Nikon’s highly sought after monster is:

12.1MP Full Frame FX CMOS Sensor

3 Inch VGA (640 X 480) LCD Screen

5 fps (8 fps with Optional Battery Pack)

Weather Proof sealing

51 Point Auto Focus System

ISO Range: 200 to 6400

Image Sensor Cleaning

DX Cropping mode (Use both DX and FX lenses)

Built-in flash with wireless commander function

Since this announcement I have been contemplating this purchase but since I am already in the Canon camp I am going to wait it out what will be offered with Canon’s 5D Mark II, 3D, 6D or whatever they decide to call it.

Some great posts and review of the product can already be found on the following sites:

DSLRAnswers - Nikon D700 Entry Level Full Frame DSLR but Is it a Canon killer?

Kenrockwell

DPreview

sSLRGossip

ePhotoZine