| Mobile World Congress--Take That, Apple!
If press conferences from Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung are any indication, it's that Apple's one-size fits all approach to the market with its popular iPhone is doomed to failure. Executives at the major phone makers made absolutely no mention of Apple in their speeches, but they clearly appeared to be moving to address the perceived gap in lovability between their phones and the iPhone. Nokia and Samsung had nearly identical mesages, suggesting that they alone were capable of producing a mobile phone for every lifestyle—including all you old-timers who (shudder) simply want a phone to make calls. On the high end where they currently are competing with Apple for mindshare and marketshare, the phone makers opted mainly for evolutionary updates on existing models. Nokia's new dual-band HSDPA N96, for instance, doubles internal memory to 16GB from the N95, while adding LED lights to the 5 megapixel digital camera for flash and video lighting.
Good Housekeeping's best Web cam picks
If you can't visit relatives as often as you'd like, or you've got a kid away at school, you might want to get a Web cam for your computer.The Good Housekeeping Research Institute just tested dozens of Web cams. The institute's technical director John Kupsch says the new breed of computer Web cams deliver video images that are clearer than ever. "Web cams, which really enable you to talk over the Internet and see who you are talking with and allow them to see you, have really come down dramatically in recent years in price, where now you can get some really good units for substantially under a hundred dollars," he said. At the end of the institute's tests, there were three standouts. Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 -- $100 The institute's engineers tested 22 web cams and found that installation has become very easy.
Review: Nikon Coolpix P50 digital camera
Nikon's P50 high-end digital compact camera swims against the tide of wafer-thin devices. The camera's 3.6x zoom lens and the fast Expeed processor borrowed from Nikon’s SLRs are encased in a traditional-looking, relatively bulky, body. Clearly, then, this is a camera for those who look for good value and appearance, with online stores offering the P50 at around £150. Power comes courtesy of two regular AA batteries, providing 140 shots. Even with batteries and an SD memory card inserted the P50 feels lightweight, despite its looks. It does boast features such as a spongy, leather-look grip, and both an optical viewfinder and a 2.4in screen. A light sensitivity range from ISO50 to ISO2000 is broader than most in its class.
Nikon announces its latest D-SLR camera called the D60
Nikon is one of the largest and most successful makers of digital cameras on the market and has made a full line of D-SLR and point-and-shoot digital cameras for years. Today Nikon announced the newest member if its D-SLR line called the Nikon D60. The camera will sit in the line between the D40x and the D80 in both price and features. While Nikon has declined to comment on pricing at the moment, we can get an idea of the price range the D60 will retail in be looking at the D40, D40x and D80. The Nikon D40 sells for $549.95 in kit form, the D40x sells for $699.95 in a kit and the D80 sells for $999.95 all with a kit 18-55mm lens. That would likely put the new D60 in the $800 price range. The New D60 has a 10.2 megapixel DX-format CCD sensor and exclusive EXPEED image processor.
Samsung Announces Availability of DM-S105, DM-S110 in the Disney ...
RICHARDSON, Texas, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung), an innovator in the mobile industry, today announced the availability the DM-S105 and DM-S110 on the Disney Mobile network (http://www.disneymobile.com/), the first comprehensive mobile phone service specifically designed for families. The slim, curved clamshells, available in soft pink (DM-S110) or metallic silver (DM-S105), offer an array popular features, as well as family-focused services available for Disney Mobile subscribers. Users can capture pictures with the phones' integrated digital cameras and share those images via multimedia messaging. In addition, both handsets are equipped with Bluetooth(R) wireless technology and speakerphone for easy, hands-free communication. "We are proud to introduce this line of Samsung handsets to Disney Mobile subscribers," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president, Samsung.
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