New Product review

Averatec 2260-EK1

2006-08-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

A handsome and affordable thin-and-light that doesn’t last long enough on a charge.

The Averatec 2260-EK1 is an affordably priced notebook with sleek lines and a nice 12.1-inch widescreen display. Its dual-layer DVD burner is a nice perk for the price, but the poor battery life makes this system less than ideal for anything but the shortest of road trips.

Weighing in at 4.2-pounds, the 1.4-inch–thick 2260 is quite easy to tote around. The exterior casing has an attractive black matte finish with silver trim. The inside is all silver, including the full-sized keyboard, which was responsive and roomy. The scrolling touchpad maintains the same aspect ratio as the display and supports four-way scrolling. The mouse buttons were intermittently sluggish, requiring several clicks to get the job done.

The 12.1-inch, widescreen display has a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800. The LCD is brightly lit, courtesy of the company’s AveraBrite LCD technology, and provides a nice viewing angle for watching movies.

A dual-layer/multiformat DVD burner shares space with a FireWire port and the power jack on the left side of the notebook; three USB ports and a 15-pin VGA video output are on the right. A 4-in-1 memory card reader, a Wi-Fi switch, and two audio jacks are located on the left front bezel.

An 80GB hard drive provides ample storage, but it’s a slower, 4,200-rpm model. The 2260 handles up to 2GB of memory, but you can’t order a maxed-out configuration on the company’s Web site.

The 2260 is powered by a 1.8-GHz AMD Turion 64 MT-32 processor, which is designed specifically for thin-and-light notebooks. This CPU coupled with 1GB of DDR memory enabled this system to turn in a respectable MobileMark 2005 score of 193, not bad for a non dual-core system. With a 3DMark03 score of only 443, the 2260 simply won’t be able to handle 3D graphics.

The 2260’s biggest weakness is its lack of endurance, as it lasted only 1 hour and 38 minutes on a charge with Wi-Fi enabled. That’s two hours below average for a thin-and-light notebook. When we enabled the Power Saving feature, we got 2:22, but that dropped the MobileMark score to 129. You can also buy a spare battery to have on hand, but it will cost you another $100.

Another knock against this system is that it comes with an Express Card slot instead of a PC Card slot. The former technology is so new that very few peripherals are yet available to support it, including mobile broadband modems and 802.11n Wi-Fi cards. As for the built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, the 2260 performed admirably in our tests. It delivered throughput of 18.4 Mbps at 15 feet from our access point and 17 Mbps at 50 feet.

Averatec backs the 2260 with a one-year warranty covering parts and labor, and you get one year of toll-free 24/7 telephone support. The battery is covered for six months. In addition to Windows XP Professional, the system comes with CyberLink’s DVD Solution burning software and Zone Alarm’s Internet Security Suite.

The Averatec 2260 will handle your everyday home or office workload without breaking your back or emptying your bank account. However, this system’s short battery life may not be worth the savings if you spend much time on the road.

Asus W7J

2006-08-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

A stylish and powerful traveling companion that gets better with the optional extended battery.

The moderately priced Asus W7J offers a powerful dual-core engine, discrete Nvidia graphics, and dual-layer DVD burning in a stylish, portable package. Unfortunately, you'll need to spend $1634 if you plan to do spend much time away from an outlet.

The W7J is encased in a smooth, black body with subtle silver highlights that accentuate the 12.4 x 8.9 x 1.1-inch frame. Weighing in at a light 4.2 pounds, the W7J won't bog you down on the daily commute. The notebook features a good-looking 13.3-inch widescreen with 1280 x 800 resolution. Asus Color Shine technology minimizes screen glare, which makes watching movies from a variety of angles enjoyable. The screen displays rich colors and doesn't suffer from heavy reflections.

Three nicely spaced USB ports are housed on the right, left, and back sides of the machine. This spacing prevents overcrowding when you have multiple gadgets plugged in at once. The W7J also features a PC card and ExpressCard slot, as well as a 4-in-1 memory card reader.

A full-sized keyboard offers good tactile feedback. Below it resides a touchpad that works adequately, although it doesn't feature a scrolling area. To the upper left of the keyboard is a Wi-Fi On/Off switch.

Just above the screen is the Asus Video Security webcam. The 1.3-megapixel webcam doesn't have the swivel feature as found on the Asus W5F, or the image editing package, but it does contain motion sensing technology that can send e-mail alerts when it detects movement. The motion sensing was so effective that the camera snapped a picture when we merely rocked back and forth in a chair. The webcam combines with the built-in microphone to make the W7J a solid video conferencing machine. The video we sent and received was a bit choppy, but on par with other notebook webcams.

The W7J scored a strong 264 in out MobileMark 2005 test, which is well above the average of notebooks in this class. Despite this strong showing, the 1.83-GHz Intel Core Duo T2400 chipset didn't multitask like a champ. When we watched a DVD while running a virus scan, we noticed a few audio skips, something we haven't encountered with other dual-core notebooks.

Powered by the Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 graphics card, the W7J delivered a score of 4,039 in 3DMark03, which is acceptable for notebooks in this class. F.E.A.R averaged 48 fps on the very low resolution of 640 x 480, but it choked when we ran at the game at maximum resolution of 1024 x 768, averaging an unplayable 5 fps.

Wireless strength remained fairly consistent with throughput, at 12 Mbps from 15 feet and 11.3 Mbps from 50 feet. Bluetooth is also included for connecting wirelessly.

The biggest disappointment is the W7J's battery life. The included six-cell battery managed a paltry 2 hours and 15 minutes—barely enough for one movie. Road warriors will want to plunk down the extra $135 for the nine-cell battery, which should provide around two more hours of power.

Asus continues to offer limited tech support, with 19 hours offered during weekdays and only 9.5 hours on weekends. If you're willing to live with that compromise, and fork over the cash for the bigger battery, the Asus W7J will satisfy.

Serious Magic Ovation

2006-08-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

With Serious Magic's Ovation, slide shows suddenly become animated productions

Closely watch any TV news show and you will probably see something moving. No, certainly not those stationary anchor people—they don’t have names like Stone Phillips for nothing. Look closely behind the graphic images or the weather map and you will probably see vague images moving in the background in intriguing ways. This subtle animation makes an ordinary chart seem to come alive. Too bad you can’t do that to your PowerPoint slides. Actually, you can.

A PowerPoint add-on program called Ovation from Serious Magic enables presenters to liven up their presentations in amazing ways. Serious Magic is known as the publisher of Visual Communicator 2, a groundbreaking program for producing professional-quality video. The new Ovation takes some cues from VC2 and brings the same level of professionalism to PowerPoint; it quickly and easily transforms presentations from boring, static slide shows into exciting, lively productions.

Being a new and ambitious software program, Ovation should not surprise anyone when it reveals a few rough edges, some of which pop up in the installation process. On one laptop, the program waited until the end of the installation before informing us that we did not have enough memory. We installed Ovation on a Tablet PC only to find on the Ovation Web site that these types of machines were not officially supported. When we installed Ovation on a third laptop, we discovered on that same Web site that the driver for the Intel video accelerator had to be updated.

After installing Ovation, you’ll notice that PowerPoint has a new toolbar with two buttons: Save and Go to Ovation and Ovation Help. When you finish working on a traditional PowerPoint slide show, simply click the Save and Go to Ovation button, at which point the program begins to load your presentation. After about 30 seconds, the Ovation window appears with your title slide in a bold new animated look. The slide show now looks like it is slowly flying through a cloud bank. Pretty cool.

Ovation replaces the tired slide design templates and layouts of PowerPoint with one of its dynamic PowerLooks, which are prepackaged combinations of designs, layouts, transitions and a subtly animated background. There are over 100 PowerLooks from which to choose, with more available for free online. Most of these looks are variations in color on about 20 basic designs. You can quickly change from one PowerLook to another. You can even change PowerLooks during a show. Note, however, that showing a palette of all PowerLooks takes a while.

Most of the designs are very attractive. Some have vague shapes moving slowly in the background. Other PowerLooks enable you to embed dynamic content: words or images of your choice that appear faintly in the background and move slowly about. Also, the title text font in each PowerLook is much fancier than any font in PowerPoint. The letters have a subtle gradient fill, a border, and a dramatic drop shadow.

The true power of Ovation is released when you have your notebook connected to a projector and your PC’s Display control panel is set to extend the Windows desktop onto the second monitor. A few expert presenters may already have their computers set up this way and are taking advantage of PowerPoint’s little known Presenter View option (found in the Slide Show/Set Up Show dialog box).

Going through these steps enables you to show your slides on the projector and see your speaker’s notes on your laptop’s display. Ovation enhances this presenter view window by adding an animated speaker’s notes window with a teleprompter-style scrolling capability. In addition to showing the elapsed time, this view can show the real time and the remaining time. To help you keep on pace, there is even a handy bar graph that shows you when you are spending too much time on a slide.

Ovation sports a number of other nice features. For those slides that might occasionally inspire requests for additional information, you can attach an optional hidden slide to provide parenthetical data. To display this extra slide, just click a button. Adding a logo is exceptionally easy. You can also add a picture to the background and easily set it as transparent so that the image will not interfere with your slide’s text or the background of the PowerLook.

We do have some complaints. For one, those amazing designs and layouts are relatively fixed. You cannot easily change the size or position of text or other objects in Ovation. Nor can you easily change the color, which is unfortunate because some of the Ovation fonts have practically the same color as their dramatic backgrounds. Often the text of bullet points is too small and seems bunched up near the top of the slide. The only design options you have are to let the original PowerPoint layout, font, font color, or background override the Ovation designs.

Ovation works better if you design your PowerPoint presentations with Ovation in mind. In fact, the best way to work is to use one of the PowerPoint design templates that Ovation has included, one for each of Ovation’s PowerLooks.

We were disappointed to see a few bugs. In one of our shows, the program would not display a certain slide, perhaps because it contained a large, ornate text box. In fact, Ovation seems to be allergic to text boxes. In another slide, the text of a text box was moved up so that it looked like part of the bullet points. Any lines drawn on their own or as part of a text box or callout do not show up. On a few occasions, the bullet points of a slide would not appear.

Serious Magic’s Ovation is a valuable tool and is well worth the money. We can’t wait to use it in our next presentation. If you have the time, download the trial copy. By the time you read this, the company says most of the bugs noted above will be ironed out. Just keep in mind that to get the most out of Ovation, you will have to design (or redesign) your PowerPoint slide shows specifically for Ovation.

Network Magic

2006-08-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

Network Magic provides an easy way to manage and secure your home network.

Tweaking a wireless network for security or speed rarely works like magic. In fact, you almost have to be a wizard to understand the sometimes convoluted process. While the configuration is relatively painless—connecting cables, power, and synching with Windows XP—the confusion comes when you try to start sharing folders, enabling security options, or attempting to make your internal wireless network available beyond the four walls of your home. It’s a little like buying a new car; you can easily find the accelerator and brakes, but finding out how to change the clock’s time takes serious effort.

That’s what makes Network Magic so compelling. For an annual $29.95 (or $3.99 per month) subscription fee that covers three computers on your network, you can start sharing printers, block hackers, remotely access your files, share files on your network without the usual hassles, and perform simple diagnostics on broken connections. One of the most useful features is the colorful network map view that displays all connected devices, even webcams and music streaming devices.

The tool goes deeper than just simplifying Windows XP tasks and the cosmetics of seeing how your network looks graphically. Network Magic also includes a useful network activity log, a detailed list of all connected device settings, and a powerful wireless security feature. Most of the settings are highly intuitive: sharing a printer means clicking on one option; Network Magic figures out the complexity.

Understanding the benefits of Network Magic requires a quick summary of the tools you would need to perform some of the same functions. For starters, you would need a client manager such as BVRP Connection Manager Professional from Avanquest ($29.95) or JiWire SpotLock ($39.95 per year). For intruder detection, you would need a package such as TrendMicro PC-cillin Internet Security ($49.95) or one of the Norton or McAfee offerings. For sharing files over the Internet, you would need GoToMyPC ($20.24 per month) or another remote access solution. Plus, there is a photo sharing application, Web hosting (from your own PC instead of an Internet Service Provider), and an RSS feed. Each of these features has an ancillary shareware or commercial equivalent.

Network Magic doesn’t perform each of these specific tasks as well as those dedicated tools. However, it does make those tasks much easier. Let’s start with the basics. Network Magic’s Net2Go feature supports over 150 routers (a full list is available at www.networkmagic.com/product/supportedrouters.php), including the two models we tested: the Belkin Pre-N F5D8230-4 and the Linksys WRTG54. Network Magic works with almost every major router except the Apple AirPort.

To start using Network Magic, there’s a simple installation and activation process for each PC. You can then see a colorful network map, print to any shared printers, access shared directories (and a Network Magic shared folder), and get more information about the connected devices on the network, such as whether a webcam is working properly or if another PC has recently started sharing a new folder or added new music files.

In many ways, Network Magic replaces the front-end program that you use to configure wireless router settings. Typically, you type the router’s IP address into Internet Explorer to access security settings, see options for using Dynamic DNS (for sharing files over the Internet), and view any connected devices. Network Magic does a much better job of showing icons that represent devices, letting you see much more detailed information, such as the manufacturer’s phone number and Web site, available setup programs, and any intrusion alerts.

Printer and file-sharing functions were easy to use and understand, bypassing the more complex Windows XP method. A Beta version of the client manager was added to Network Magic in early July. This tool is especially useful, allowing you to set a profile for a preferred hotspot that reconnects your notebook as needed without switching to another network, accessible from an intuitive Favorite Networks tab in the client pop-up. An in-browser alert tells you when a signal has faded and you’ve lost a connection.

Network Magic’s remote access functions pale in comparison to a tool such as GoToMyPC; it is purely just for accessing your files. The remote access doesn’t let you screen-share, run programs, or check your system for problems. If you forget that you left an important file in a private folder on your home computer, there’s no way to enable a folder-share remotely.
The intrusion detection monitors ports correctly and looks for new PCs and devices on the network; however, the activity monitoring functions are quite basic. A tool such as SpectorSoft eBlaster 5 is 100 times more useful for monitoring all Internet activity on connected PCs, tracking peer-to-peer downloads, instant messaging logs, and Web visits. Network Magic merely shows which devices are online and secure.

In terms security and encryption, Network Magic provides a few options that you can configure, including network name broadcasting and MAC Address filtering (which it calls a Network Lock), for your router. You can see which encryption method is enabled, and use Network Magic to access security settings on the router, but the program only fires up the router configuration page in Internet Explorer for you to configure encryption. The level of detail for most connected devices is robust, but in some cases, such as with the Sonos Digital Music System, there was very little diagnostic detail.

We would have liked a main console that allows you to add the program to other connected computers, as opposed to having to install Network Magic locally. Yet, simplicity wins out over advanced features in every category. Network Magic is worth the price for the network map alone. It makes wireless networking a breeze, instead of a complex chore.
www.networkmagic.com

Sony Vaio XL2 Digital Living System

2006-08-14T04:34:00.000-07:00

The Sony VAIO XL2 Digital Living System ($2,699.99 direct) is an update to the slickly designed and unique VAIO XL1 system I looked at last year. It continues the company's path toward Media Center nirvana. Like the XL1, the new XL2 is a MCE PC that easily replaces your TiVo, CD changer, DVD player, and more. It's perfect addition to your home theater, particularly if you own an HDTV with an HDMI port.

Like its predecessor, the XL2 comes in two parts. There's the sleek PC unit, which houses the usual PC components such as processor, memory, and hard drives; and then there's the 200-disc DVD/CD changer, also known as the XL1B. The changer is designed to itemize, scan, and store humongous CD collections. For example, you can load up to 200 CDs into the VAIO before you go to sleep, and by noon the next day, you'll have all 3,000-odd songs ripped to your hard drive. The XL2 even catalogs the ID3 tags (song title/album/artist info) and album art for you automatically. I discovered, however, that the settings in Windows Media Player govern the way your music files are handled: WMP is set to rip to WMA in the My Music folder by default. You'll need to change things manually if you want only MP3 files or for your files to sit in another folder.

This media changer is noticeably quieter than the first edition. It still makes noises when accessing discs but is much less disturbing in a living-room environment. The XL1B is also available separately for $799.99 (direct) to any MCE PC users with Update Rollup 2; this update from Microsoft will work on any MCE 2005 PC and includes support for the FireWire/i.Link based changer. You can connect up to five changers to the XL2, for a total of 1,000 discs, if you need that sort of capacity.

The wireless keyboard, which has a built-in touchpad, and the 802.11b/g wireless networking are holdovers from the XL1, and they are most welcome. I especially like that the XL2 ditches the usual ugly USB dongle in favor of a built-in IR port for the MCE remote. All these features help the XL2 avoid wire clutter.

The XL2 PC isn't much faster than the XL1 it replaces, since the Intel Pentium D 920 processor's 2.8-GHz clock speed is the same as the Pentium D 820's. The D 920, though, has twice the amount of L2 Cache, so it is more efficient. System memory is also improved to 1GB (up from 512MB), and there is more hard drive space. All these tweaks help improve performance. The XL2's 320GB drive space is roomier than the XL1's 200GB, but since the XL2 comes with an HDTV tuner, I really think the system deserves at least 500GB or, better yet, 1TB of drive space, especially considering that it costs $500 more than the XL1.

In addition, the XL2 has an nVidia GeForce 6600GT graphics card, which is much more capable than the XL1's older GeForce 6200 graphics, and should be able to handle Windows Vista's new, snazzy Aero UI. On my tests, the 6600GT let the system play Doom 3 at a decent 55 frames per second. The XL2's Windows Media Encoder score of 9 minutes 31 seconds is also good for an MCE PC, and its Adobe Photoshop CS2 score of 1:25 is above average. Certainly the XL2 has enough power to do just about all the multimedia tasks expected of it in the living room.

Compared with Media Center competitors such as the HP z556 Digital Entertainment Center, the Sony VAIO XL2 Digital Living System measures up well. Both machines have horizontal form factors that are living-room friendly. The z556 is much less expensive, at under $1,500, but it is not as well configured, with only 512MB of RAM, an ATSC/HDTV tuner and 250GB of hard drive space. The VAIO XL2's dual-core D 920 processor is more versatile, which helps keep performance levels stable when the machine is recording and encoding. That said, the z556 is more expandable because of its HP Personal Media drive, a removable cartridge hard drive; the XL2 has two 160GB hard drives for storage.

The Viiv-compatible Sony VAIO XL2 is a great choice for the DVD and CD collector in your family, and it's one of the best ways to convert your CD collection over to MP3 or WMA effortlessly. It fits well in the living room too, and it can sit near your DVD player and A/V receiver without standing out. It's the sleekest living-room Media Center PC I've seen.

See how the Sony Vaio XL2 Digital Living System measures up to similar systems in our media center comparison chart.

Pharos Traveler GPS 525

2006-08-14T03:46:00.000-07:00

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Skype in one of the smallest PDAs ever.

Apparently, it’s not enough to add GPS navigation to a PDA anymore. The deceptively tiny Pharos Traveler GPS 525 includes not one, not two, but three radios: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Want to travel light? Leave your mobile phone at home and use Skype instead, which comes bundled with the device.

The Traveler GPS 525 is refreshingly smart and powerful. Arriving after a parade of me-too GPS PDAs, Pharos really put some thought into what would make a good navigation device. It starts with a solid bedrock of Windows Mobile 5.0 with 64MB of SDRAM. The 300-MHz processor is on the low end these days, but the device was fast enough most of the time. It has an infrared port on the side near a digital voice recorder button, a five-way navigation stick, and four quick-access buttons. The 2.8-inch QVGA screen may not be the biggest on the block, but it’s amazingly bright and easy to read (even outdoors).

On the navigation front, the first thing you’ll notice is that Pharos doesn’t defeat the GPS 525’s tiny footprint by adding a bulky foldout antenna. The GPS antenna is completely contained in the small frame of the PDA. Does that affect the system’s performance? Not at all. Acquiring a satellite lock took about 90 seconds, and the GPS 525 kept us locked onto the right roads during navigation in and around the Seattle area. It even kept a solid lock indoors when many other GPS receivers we’ve tested would simply lose the satellite connection.

You’ll find Ostia to be among the better choices when it comes to GPS software, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing on this device. Sometimes GPS companies seem to try to outdo one another with terrible map-loading packages, and Ostia is no exception. You can load maps directly onto a memory card using the included SD Card and SD Card reader or load maps directly from the CD to the Pocket PC, but either way, the CD should not ask which CD drive contains the maps while it’s installing the software. Another glitch occurred whenever we tried to switch maps on the GPS 525: Ostia simply displayed an error message. To change maps, we had to reset the device.

Aside from these annoyances, using the GPS 525 is a joy. You can choose from various map views (like overhead and 3D), navigate to addresses, intersections, and points of interest, and even navigate directly to an address from Outlook. You can add up to ten intermediate stops to any route and save a home destination and a slew of favorites.

Whenever you’re using a PDA as a navigation tool, a bigger screen is always better than a small one, so we’d prefer more real estate than the GPS 525 offers. That being said, this device makes good use of what’s there. You can easily switch among the map, a road diagram with turn guidance, and a split screen showing both views.

The GPS 525 features some unexpected goodies, like the ability to record your own voice prompts if you don’t like the default female voice, as well as navigate the return trip with a click. The Ostia software offers a handful of Smart Navigator subscription services that leverage the GPS 525’s wireless capabilities to download local maps, information on points of interest, and real-time traffic information.

Everything you need is in the box. Pharos includes a soft carrying case, car mounting hardware, and a car power adapter. The GPS 525 comes with a big 512MB SD Card, already loaded with maps for 50 major cities. However, there’s no docking cradle; the mini-USB port plugs into your PC or the AC adapter but not both at once. Nonetheless, this is an impressive GPS-enabled PDA that gets almost everything right.

Cobra NavOne 4500

2006-08-14T03:45:00.000-07:00

Cobra's NavOne 4500 sports a large display and offers traffic info, but this costly device isn't as smart as it looks.

Most low-cost GPS devices have one glaring weakness: a tiny display. Cobra answers the call for legibility with its NavOne 4500, whose face is consumed by a five-inch LCD touchscreen. It stays bright and readable even in direct sunlight. This standout feature makes the 4500 worth considering, especially for those with aging eyes, but other weaknesses hold Cobra's navigator back from greatness, or even mediocrity.

The 4500's mounting arm is fixed and stable, provided you rest the device on the dashboard. Controls are fairly simple, and the user interface, while not overly intuitive, is decent. We miss not having a dynamic zoom function based on car speed (slower speed zooms in), but one nice touch is an indicator bar showing distance to the next turn.

We like that the 4500 gives you the option of the fastest and shortest routes, showing both on the map during planning. The device is trilingual (English, French, and Spanish), but in English only one voice is available: a clear-spoken, no-accent female, and the volume is plenty loud without distortion.

Satellite reception with the built-in antenna is better than most we've tried. The 4500 boasts more than 7.5 million points of interest in the database, but it provides no reviews or information on those POIs, other than basic contacts. Cobra opts for dynamic screen brightness based on day or night conditions rather than an alternate night color scheme, although a free software update that provides both is available.

The NavOne's coolest feature is the FM radio–based real-time traffic data updates, made possible by a wired pod that sits on the dash. Users see problem points, such as accidents, bad weather spots, and slow traffic, and the affected roads are colored for high or medium congestion. Strangely, we saw slow traffic points on our map but not congestion colors on the roads. The 4500 can then intelligently chart new paths around the affected areas. Traffic service is free for 90 days and $59 annually.

Now the bad news. The lack of an internal battery, even a ten-minute one, is negligent. When we pulled over for gas, en route to a destination, we decided to consult the POI database for dinner. However, once the ignition is off, so is the NavOne 4500. All user settings are saved to flash memory, as is all trip data if you're en route during a power loss. However, having to reacquire a satellite signal, tap through that increasingly annoying "Please Drive Safely" message, and get reoriented in Cobra's UI gets tiresome.

The NavOne 4500 is fast on signal acquisition times—about 40 seconds for a lock out of the box and less than 10 seconds from an average power-up. When computing and recalculating, this unit is one of the slowest dedicated GPS units we've seen. The 4500 is often sluggish to sense when the user has deviated from the prescribed route, and on several occasions we didn't obtain a fresh course until passing the new route's first turn, thus requiring another rerouting.

Additionally, Cobra falls prey to some of the same nonsensical turn instructions we've seen from its competitors. For example, when targeting a local library located in a strip mall, the 4500 had us pass the side entrance closest to the library, turn right onto the main road, and rather than turn right again into the main mall entrance, the device suggested an inexplicable left U-turn.

Even though the 4500 was the first GPS device we've used that gave accurate directions to this author's two-year-old house, the database would not recognize the street number. Similarly, on some occasions the 4500 failed to recognize established residential streets, and in one instance the device refused to recognize the local ZIP code.

There's a USB port on the back of the 4500, which seemed strange at the time of the review because Cobra lacked software for connecting the device to the owner's PC. By the time you read this, however, the company plans to have a free software update with more viewing and traffic options available from its Web site.

Bottom line: We've seen much smarter GPS devices from Garmin and TomTom for significantly lower prices. The large screen is a plus, but we're not sold on the utility of the traffic service yet, and Cobra makes trip planning unnecessarily difficult.

Voodoo Envy u:909

2006-08-14T03:35:00.000-07:00

With Voodoo's blazing red-hot 19-inch gaming rig, you can get your game on and be the life of the LAN.

Design/Features
One look at the Envy u:909, and you know Voodoo means business. It weighs a taxing 16 pounds and at 19 x 13.7 x 2.1 inches is nearly as big as a side table. Opening the metallic painted cover reveals a titanic 19-inch widescreen. With such a large display there’s always a fear of damage, but this is the sturdiest 19-inch notebook we’ve held. The keyboard panel is uncluttered, and the base has enough space to include a full layout with number pad without having to squish keys. Speakers adorn the top corners, and the increasingly standard series of quick-launch buttons rides above the keyboard. Though no self-respecting frag artiste would use the touchpad for gaming, it’s at least large enough to make the action possible. Voodoo also keeps the garish gaming aesthetic to a minimum, offering instead custom colors and decals to create an individual stamp.

Performance
We were impressed when Dell’s XPS M1710 ran up a 3DMark03 score of 18,319, but the Envy decimated that result with a score of 23,702. In 3DMark06 the Voodoo performed equally well, notching a score of 5,478. With autodetect settings and 1024 x 768 resolution, F.E.A.R. averaged a hefty 115 frames per second (good enough for a first-place tie with the Vigor) while performance dipped only slightly to 84 fps with anti-aliasing maxed. Alongside the visual performance, the u:909 delivers possibly the best sound we’ve heard in a notebook of any type. The eight-speaker system and imbedded subwoofer are loud and very clear; details popped right out of music, DVD audio, and games with almost no distortion. This won’t replace your home sound system, but when lugging the rig to LAN parties, you might be tempted to game without headphones just to show off. Unfortunately, the noise and heat levels were higher while gaming than with the competition.

Verdict
The Vigor edged out its performance numbers by a slight margin, but the Voodoo Envy u:909 never slipped, stuttered, or implied any weakness. The build quality is exceptional; the screen big, bright, and clear; and the sound system unimpeachable. For its price, we expect to be able to render our own cinema-ready Gollum for $6,000. For those ready to lay out that much cash, the Envy u:909 is very nearly able to grant that wish and is certainly enough PC to tackle today’s

Pioneer AVIC-Z1

2006-08-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

When we got our first look at the Pioneer AVIC-Z1 head unit at CES 2006, we were impressed. The double-DIN in-dash system incorporates a 7-inch touch screen and brings in all the functions you would expect to see in a top-of-the-line factory-installed head unit: Bluetooth cell phone integration, voice-activated GPS navigation, and a range of audiovisual media playback options.

And the AVIC Z-1 goes one better by incorporating a built-in 30GB hard drive enabling users to rip CDs to disc to create a mobile media library. There are those who will question the value of such a function, considering the fact that most people who are interested in creating music libraries will probably already have one on their computers and/or on their iPods. The AVIC Z-1 addresses the latter by offering a dedicated iPod interface, which enables those in the car to devolve control of their iPods to the touch screen while driving. (As usual, we expect there will be howls of disapproval from owners of portable digital music players other than the iPod, but at the moment it looks like Apple is the only one making the vendor deals.)

For our test-bench review of the AVIC Z-1, we got a number of the available add-ons, including the Bluetooth and iPod adapters. Wiring up the main head unit is pretty straightforward, and we managed connect it to four main speakers and its additional media modules without the need for any special equipment. In addition to the four standard speakers, the unit has separate RCA connectors for two more pairs of speakers and a subwoofer, all of which require separate amplifiers. There are also RCA connections for a rear video display, external video components, and a rearview camera, which is sold separately.

As a multimedia receiver, the AVIC Z-1 supports a broad range of formats: as well as being an FM/AM receiver, the head unit supports standard RedBook CDs; MP3- and WMA-encoded files; the aforementioned iPod input; and DVD video and -ROM, with video playback via the 7-inch display in one of three screen configurations. There is also an optional satellite radio connector and a dedicated XM NavTraffic module to provide real-time traffic data in conjunction with the navigation system.

Making a mobile library is worth the wait
The first thing you notice when you fire up the AVIC Z-1 is the amount of time the Pioneer-branded start-up screen stays on--we counted at least 30 seconds before we were given a menu, putting it down to initial calibration, but we found that this wait is compulsory every time it is turned on. This start-up delay did give us time to configure the screen angle to our satisfaction--a process that requires you to hold down the eject button to bring up the screen enabling forward and backward tilt.

Use of the AVIC Z-1 as a car stereo is straightforward: hard buttons on the base of the double-DIN bezel let you skip through radio frequencies and CD tracks and control volume, with all other functions carried out using the touch screen. Discs are loaded into the unit by pressing a hard Eject button on the bezel, which causes the screen to retract, revealing a single CD slot. After loading a standard CD, the screen reverts back to its original position automatically, while the head unit digests all the information it can from the disc. An icon appears on the screen informing you that the AVIC Z-1 is equipped with Gracenote, an embedded software and metadata service, which enables devices to identify and catalog audio files for the purposes of building digital media libraries. The default on the AVIC Z-1 is for Autorecord mode, which sets the unit to automatically start ripping audio files from store-bought CDs as soon as they are inserted for playback. As with Apple's iTunes, the music files are then simultaneously played and recorded to disc.

Each track takes about one minute to record to the hard drive, then it can be played back at any time. One small frustration we found with the unit set to Autorecord was the delay that precedes playback of the disc as the reader prepares itself. In addition to Auto mode, the record function can be set to Single and Manual modes, which respectively record the first track of a disc and allow users to choose recording on a track-by-track basis. Using the touch screen to control audio--either directly playing from discs or an iPod, or from the library--is relatively straightforward, with dedicated buttons for random playback, repeat, and search. For homemade digital audio discs (such as MP3s and WMAs), a search button enables navigation of music by folder, track, and artist.

Voice recognition avoids putting the brake on
While its music capabilities are plentiful, Pioneer markets the AVIC Z-1 primarily as an in-dash navigation system. Destinations can be entered via the touch-screen keypad or by voice command using the included microphone, which is activated by a voice icon on the screen. Destinations can be entered by address, by phone number, by manually selecting a point on the map, or by searching a database of more than 11 million points of interest. We found the voice-recognition capabilities to be flawless, despite a few initial misgivings about the basic appearance of the mic. Unlike some factory-installed units that we've reviewed, the AVIC Z-1 does not require users to push the voice-command button for each stage of the destination-entry process, opting for a more user-friendly succession of beeps. The system does, however, make users push an onscreen button for final confirmation of a destination. Another quirk of the navigation system is that the parking brake has to be engaged for many of the features to be operable. While this is admirable in its safety-consciousness, it means that users of the system will be unable to reprogram a route while stopped in traffic unless they crank on the parking brake to activate the screen--a practice that will soon become frustrating. Some functions, including Address Book, are enabled without parking-brake engagement, presumably because searching a database is deemed less distracting than inputting new information: a case of differing shades of gray in our opinion.

The optional integration of XM NavTraffic overlays real-time information on the AVIC Z-1's map screens.

When on the road, the AVIC-Z1 has text-to-speech voice guidance, letting it tell you the names of roads you need to look for. Trip routing is also adaptive so that if you consistently choose a different route than that suggested, the nav system will set your preferred route as the default. Maps are clear and bright and can be configured in a variety of views. One feature of the AVIC Z-1 that we especially like is the option of integrated live traffic data from XM Satellite Radio. This function, which requires the addition of the GEX P10XMT module, as well as an active subscription to XM's NavTraffic service, works by acquiring traffic information up to 100 miles in diameter from the vehicle's current location. As well as giving information on the location and nature of potential traffic disruptions, NavTraffic provides a clear indication of affected areas by color-coding roads according to the severity of congestion: red denoting an average speed of 5 to 15mph, yellow denoting 20 to 40mph, and green showing roads with an average speed of 45mph and over. A list of icons also serves to inform drivers of the nature of a traffic disruption.

The final major function of the AVIC Z-1 is its voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling function. Pairing our phone to the system was not as easy as we have found with some factory-installed systems, due to an extra step of phone registration. Users are given the option of pairing a phone using their handset or the head unit itself. We found it easier to let our BlackBerry 8700g search for the head unit, which it discovered quickly. When paired, calls can be made in variety of ways: by using the same effective voice-recognition system as with the navigation (say, "Call, number," then punch in the digits), by using a numeric keypad on the touch screen (although, as with the navigation, the parking brake must be on for this to work), by dialing favorites (no parking brake required), or by selecting point-of-interest icons on the map that have registered a phone number. Incoming calls to the phone can also be answered using the AVIC Z-1: a single ring and a cartoon graphic on the screen notify users of inbound calls, which can be answered by pressing a green phone button. Sound quality through the front speakers was good, if a little tinny, and we were assured that we were coming through clearly on the other end of the line.

Sound was clear from both ends of the line when using the AVIC Z-1's Bluetooth hands-free calling feature.

The AVIC Z-1 has come down significantly in price since its release in May. Including $200 for both the ND-BT1 Bluetooth adapter and the CD-IB100 iPod adapter, and another $200 for Pioneer's GEX-P10XMT for XM NavTraffic, the unit with all its main features can now be had for less than $2,500. At that price point, the AVIC Z-1 looks very competitive when set against factory-installed options with a similar number of features.

Dv Office - Document Management

2006-08-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

Can't find a document?

Misplaced it?

Misfiled it?

Is it the correct version?

Has it been modified?

For close to a decade now, document and drawing management has been our business. We've certainly come to intimately understand each and every problem that has to be addressed. And, even more importantly, we have developed an enviable reputation for delivering powerful, innovative and elegantly simple solutions to effectively meet all of those critical challenges.

Such document management solutions are, in fact, now being used in some 31 countries, with private and public sector

clients including ABN Amro, Australian Central Credit Union and Hutchinson Telecom.

For these, and the many other users of the Dv family of solutions, we are now helping to ensure that:

Documents are no longer lost, misplaced or misfiled.

Valuable staff time is no longer wasted in the never ending search for documents. There is no longer any confusion about which is the correct version of a document and which version has been sent to whom.

A single access point can be automatically created to contain all electronic documents, files, emails, notes, spreadsheets and presentations that relate to, say, a particular activity, customer or project.

Legislative requirements for document storage are scrupulously met.

Security is substantially enhanced by controlling access and by minimizing the risk from things such as fire damage.

But of course that is only a part of the overall picture. And the following small sample of Dv Office document management facilities and features may help to give a much clearer idea of what we can do for your organization specifically.

Seamless Integration – Gives you the ability to interact with all your existing applications.

Mail Routing – Enables you to automatically route incoming hard copy mail. By scanning that correspondence, and using identification sheets, Dv Office will simply send an electronic link to the recipient.

Forms Routing – Lets your system recognize different forms and then automatically route them using the appropriate workflow directory.

Archiving – You can archive all projects or transactions knowing that all information, including emails, is stored in a single project location.

Legacy Documents – Facilitates the quick and accurate indexing of all your existing documents into Dv Office.

Risk Management – Ensures that you can confidently locate the correct document and lets you apply the levels of access control that you require.

Email Indexing – Dv Office will securely index all your email messages and attachments preventing loss, misplacement or unintended deletion.

Content Searching – You can search for text contained in any document even when this was not part of the original index.

Graphical Workflow – You can visually plan and implement the path a project takes by simply drawing lines. With Dv Office doing the rest, workflow can be easily streamlined for greater efficiency.

Water Marks – Automated watermarking can be an effective way of maintaining the security and integrity of your documents.

Web Interface – Gives you the ability to operate Dv Office through your internet browser.

File Security – Gives you total control over your documents, as you decide who moves, copies, deletes or edits each and every file.

Import Windows Network Names – You can synchronize users with Windows LDAP and deliver ‘one click' login, conforming to password standards. Security – Document by document, you decide who is permitted to access, view, edit or print. Menu Templates – By simply clicking on the desired icons and menu items you can decide what information individual users have access to. This greatly speeds training and ensures users are not distracted by features they do not need.

Dv Office Links – You can email information without the need to send the actual document. All the recipient needs to do is click on a URL to view the document in question.

Version Control – Effectively controls document revision processes so that your organization's agreed procedures are rigorously adhered to.

Check In/Check Out – Gives you a predefined methodology for checking in and out documents.

Full Audit Trail – Gives you a record of all significant document activities.

Download Free Trial Version

Vigor Atlantis

2006-08-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Vigor delivers pure, unadulterated performance to match the Atlantis' brut physical size

Design/Features
It’s not quite as imposing as the Voodoo Envy u:909, but at 18.7 x 13.5 x 1.9 inches and 14.8 pounds, the Vigor Atlantis is epically proportioned. While some gamers will love the giant SiN decal that adorns the lid, others will rightfully want a more demure decoration. Vigor also offers five different colors or four decals for those who want a less gaudy design. A quartet of quick-launch buttons is the only distraction from the full-sized soft-touch keyboard. The centerpiece is a 19-inch WSXGA (1680 x 1050) display with excellent color depth and enough brightness to allow gameplay in well-lit rooms. The right side of the case carries four USB 2.0 ports, a card reader, and a mini FireWire jack; the left side houses the DVD drive and sound ports, while the rear offers two more USB ports, S-Video in and out ports, and a DVI and RGB port. Vigor also packs in a cushioned backpack capable of swallowing the Atlantis, as well as a power pack and accessory mouse.

Performance
When it comes to benchmarks, the Atlantis is head and shoulders above other gaming notebooks. Its first-place 3DMark03 score of 26,057 was unthinkable only a year ago, and Vigor’s rig tied the Voodoo for a first-place F.E.A.R. score of 84 fps at the highest settings. In practice, the scores come to life, as the Atlantis is easily one of the best platforms for F.E.A.R. and Quake IV. The games glided along on maxed-out settings, and the heat output was less intense than the Voodoo and Widow models, even though Vigor packs an SLI configuration. But the Vigor is purely a gaming rig. DVD playback was acceptable but hardly impressive, and the average PCMark05 score of 3,717 (average for such a powerhouse, that is) reflects the rig’s orientation toward stellar 3D performance and little else.

Verdict
Vigor delivers pure, unadulterated performance to match its brut physical size. Amazingly, the price is more than 30 percent less than the fully tricked-out Voodoo Envy, the next-best performer. At the same time, Vigor’s machine is entirely based on performance, and for that price you’ll sacrifice elegance and portability.

ZyXEL P2000W V2

2006-08-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

Make inexpensive (or even free) calls using this Internet-based phone.

A bit bigger and heavier than the UTStarcom F1000, the blue backlit ZyXEL P2000W V2 scores points for its normal-sounding ringtones. It's a bit thinner than the F1000, so it's a better fit for your pocket despite the added length. Unfortunately, that's pretty much it for the pluses.

The recessed keypad makes for a smooth profile, but the stiff keys and lack of key edges mean that you'll have to look at the P2000W V2 as you dial. There are some interface issues. Once you enter the menu system, you can't exit by pressing the hang-up button like you can on regular cell phones; you have to press the Back soft key.

We were shocked to find that the P2000W V2 couldn't connect to our usual, WPA-encrypted wireless network, which is a huge downer. This handset supports the outdated WEP standard, but that's not enough; the UTStarcom F1000 supports WPA encrypted networks without a problem. Call quality was decidedly muffled; worse than the F1000 (its direct competitor) and not as clear as the three Skype phones.

If you're looking for a good VoIP handset and don't want to use Skype, go with the UTStarcom F1000.

Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z1000

2006-08-12T00:51:00.000-07:00

Casio's 10-megapixel shooter sports a huge display and lots of useful features.

Apparently, no one told Casio that the megapixel race was over. The Exilim Zoom EX-Z1000 packs a whopping ten megapixels of resolution, an antishake DSP, lots of manual options, and 37 Best Shot scene modes into a camera no bigger than a deck of cards (3.6 x 2.3 x 0.9 inches).

The EX-Z1000 feels solid, with a sturdy, all-metal 4.9-ounce body. A large 2.8-inch LCD fills most of the back, along with tiny buttons for switching among still camera settings, movie recording, Best Shot modes, and controls to tweak the display. Battery life isn’t an issue—the EX-Z1000 takes a rated 360 shots per charge—but like other Casio models that we’ve tested, you need to take the docking cradle along on vacation or buy an external travel charger to recharge the camera.

With 37 Best Shot scene modes, you can choose from traditional options like Portrait, Scenery, and Sports, or very specific modes like Autumn Leaves, Food, and Sundown. Using the Illustration setting, you take a picture and the EX-Z1000 automatically converts it into a comic book like drawing (not particularly useful, but cool nonetheless). Like the EX-Z850, this digicam includes the eBay Best Shot mode, which employs a special macro setting for close-ups and then automatically resizes photos before you upload them onto the online merchant’s Web site.

With a quick boot-up time, the EX-Z1000 was ready to take our first pic within two seconds; the time between shots was also speedy (a lightning-fast shutter lag of only 0.002 seconds). Most of the snaps we took looked good with accurate colors and decent saturation. However, we wish that Casio included a zoom bigger than 3X. When we pushed the zoom to close in on buildings across the Hudson River, photos became grainy and significantly blurred.

One of the real benefits of shooting 10-MP photos is the ability to make large prints that are suitable for framing. When we snapped a shot of several Manhattan buildings with the EX-Z1000 and a 4-MP digicam, the difference was clear. The EX-Z1000 didn’t lose any of the details, including some of the brickwork of the buildings, while the 4-MP model’s shot looked relatively blurry.

Images captured at the maximum resolution take up a lot of space on the memory card (up to 4.2MB each), which means you can store only two 10-MP shots out of the box. We recommend springing for a 1GB card if you want to keep shooting without having to unload frequently.

Like many cameras, the Casio EX-Z1000 captures video as well. It records VGA clips (640 x 480 pixels) at 25 fps. Our footage was crisp (even when shooting at night) with few artifacts, but it looked a little distorted when we shot in bright sunlight at a pool.

The Casio EX-Z1000 takes great photos, which is what matters most. It has more scene modes and a higher resolution than you’ll ever need, but you won’t find a more feature-packed point-and-shoot camera under $400.

Panasonic Toughbook CF-74

2006-08-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

Just as you wouldn’t wear cowboy boots to a black-tie ball, you would probably never carry a rugged notebook into a mahogany-paneled boardroom. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 is an exception. This semi-rugged sytem is made for highly mobile people who are tired of replacing less-durable notebooks but want something that still looks, acts, and runs like a mainstream machine.

In fact, except for the sturdy handle that forms this model’s front panel, you would probably never know that this is a rugged notebook, semi or not. The CF-74 has no large bumpers on the corners, and the sturdy magnesium-alloy case is as fashionable as it is functional. We also like the 13.3-inch display, which is relatively large for a semi-rugged system.

A closer look at the display reveals some special capabilities. The bezel is unusually thick (0.67 inches versus the typical 0.5 inches), suggesting better-than-usual durability for this expensive component. As expected for a notebook unafraid of the outdoors, the screen stands up quite well to direct sunlight, where ordinary LCDs would go black.

There are three aspects of this CF-74’s design we don’t like: One is the bulge on the bottom panel that’s required to house this model’s capacious battery. This bulge not only adds extra thickness, it also tends to press a groove in your thighs while sitting on your lap. Speaking of bulk, its 1.7-pound AC adapter is the heaviest we have seen in quite a while. Finally, we understand that the doors over each of the connectors may deter dirt and moisture, but they may confuse some users. They offer no indication of what’s behind each one.

Creature comforts tend to be lacking on semi-rugged notebooks, but not here. The keyboard has a good feel, the Synaptics touchpad works well, and the touchscreen does not require a stylus; you can use your finger. Of course, if you do want a stylus, Panasonic has supplied one, along with two storage sheaths, thoughtfully located on each side of the notebook. It’s not a unique feature for this class of system, but the CF-74’s carrying handle is particularly useful, even for carrying the notebook short distances. In fact, after a few days, we began to wonder why every notebook doesn’t have one.

Inside, the CF-74 packs some impressive components. Like most newer notebooks, this Toughbook features a 1.83-GHz Intel Core Duo processor supported by a fast 667-MHz front-side bus. The shock-mounted hard drive provides 80GB of storage space. Memory options range from 512MB (included in this configuration) to 4GB. A good chunk of memory (128MB) is shared by the Intel 945GM integrated video accelerator. We suggest an upgrade to 1GB of RAM ($165) to better handle Windows Vista Premium when that OS launches early next year.

This system scored 245 on our MobileMark 2005 benchmark test, well above the average mainstream notebook. Because of Intel’s integrated graphics solution, the CF-74 turned in a low 3DMark03 score of 1,224, although it managed to beat the Itronix Hummer. The most impressive score for this Toughbook was its battery life. In our benchmark tests, the CF-74 lasted 5.5 hours. That’s still short of the advertised seven hours but impressive nonetheless.

Although the CF-74 does not offer GPS like the Itronix Hummer, it more than holds its own in the communications department. Standard equipment includes an 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi adapter. Our test unit was also equipped with a new wireless WAN adapter from Sierra Wireless, which forms a slight bulge on the back of the display, used for accessing Verizon’s high-speed EV-DO network (a $600 option). In our tests, this adapter was able to connect at speeds of approximately 425 Kbps, not far from the Dell Latitude D620’s top score. A Bluetooth wireless adapter is also available.

Like all rugged and semi-rugged notebooks, the Toughbook CF-74 is expensive. Its list price of $2,999 matches that of the Itronix Hummer, but the Toughbook has a three-year limited warranty, two years longer than the Hummer’s. There’s also a 24/7 telephone support line, which the manufacturer claims has a wait time of less than a minute (in our test, they answered in 25 seconds). After seeing two or three mainstream notebooks destroyed, many forward-thinking buyers would rightly consider this semi-rugged Toughbook one of the best bargains on the market.

ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite

2006-08-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

Intuitive, easy to use, and highly effective, ZoneAlarm's all-in-one suite rises to the top.

ZoneAlarm’s superb firewall is a fixture on many PCs because of its uncanny ability to guard a system without pestering the user with alarms permissions. The ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite includes network, program, and operating system firewalls. These shield the Windows OS kernel and Registry, integrate into the network, and protect against invaders of specific applications.

The rest of the suite is the usual collection of anti-spyware/virus tools, privacy controls, anti-spam, and anti-phishing utilities. In fact, ZoneAlarm now has pretty much what McAfee and Norton have, only it wraps it all into a more understandable package that makes it less intrusive and more accessible than other suites.

ZoneAlarm loves to teach. At installation it politely asks which settings to activate and even includes a tutorial. ZoneAlarm does not try to lump all the suite operations into just a few buckets, but has separate control tabs for firewall, e-mail, virus/spy protection, personal ID, parental controls, etc. This organization makes it easier to locate the operation you want to tweak, from attachment scanning to ad-blocking.

Unlike some of the big-name competition, every operation in this console is clearly labeled and explained in plain English when you click on it. Pressing the contextual Help button provides great detail about the current operation.

ZoneAlarm is fairly intrusive, with more frequent firewall alerts than current versions of McAfee or Norton. Nevertheless, the upside is smoother integration with Outlook and a generally lower performance hit than the competition. ZoneAlarm seemed to add little extra time to our boot sequence, and its background scanning of e-mail and document loading was negligible. The anti-spam program weaves easily into Outlook and adds a self-explanatory toolbar for ID-ing spam.

One of the most polite and instructive suites we have seen, ZoneAlarm is clear and effective. It is the all-in-one solution we recommend for all notebook owners.

Western Digital My Book Premium (500GB)

2006-08-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

Not all hard drives are ugly. Get 500GB of storage in a small, sleek package.

Western Digital updates its external storage line with the My Book external hard drive, available in two versions: Essential (80, 120, 160, 250, 320, 400, and 500GB) and Premium (160, 250, 320, 400, and 500GB). With the Premium version, you get backup software, diagnostic utilities, Google Desktop tools, and a graphical capacity gauge, plus a slick drive management feature that powers down the drive when the host PC is turned off.

The My Book sports a sturdy, fanless design and measures 6.8 x 5.6 x 2.2 inches. It vaguely resembles a squat, thick, black hardback tome with two blue LED indicator rings on its spine, encircling a one-touch backup button.

Our unit was up and running with the software installed in about one minute. A 1GB collection of assorted work documents and media files transferred via USB 2.0 (the drive also offers FireWire 400) in 2 minutes and 5 seconds, which is fairly slow for a unit based on a 7,200-rpm internal drive with 16MB of cache.

For a unit lacking LAN connectivity, the My Book is attractive and extremely user friendly. It’s worth the price for those looking to add a lot of capacity to their notebooks without taking up much desk space.

Maxtor OneTouch III, Mini Edition

2006-08-09T23:28:00.000-07:00

Maxtor's 7.2-ounce mobile hard drive, the OneTouch III, Mini Edition, earns high marks for its sleek aesthetics, ever-welcome OneTouch button, and blissfully simple software. The drive won't set any speed records, but this product is meant for backups, not blazing fast video editing work.

Compared with other 2.5-inch external hard drives, the Mini feels light and compact. The thin silver plastic feels a bit flimsy, but Maxtor never could have pulled off the Mini's 7.2-ounce weight with crushproof metal. On the plus side, this drive is shockproof, so your data will be safe if the Mini takes a tumble.

Setup is very straightforward: Plug in the drive and install Maxtor's software. Using the bundled USB Y-cable, we timed 1GB file transfers at an average of 1 minute and 32 seconds, or just shy of 11 MBps.

The real star of this show is Maxtor's included software, which features an easy user interface. Two levels of security–password protection and encryption–help keep your data safe should someone swipe your drive. Maxtor makes the encryption available as a right-click option within My Computer.

The Mini also supports Maxtor's much-anticipated Maxtor Fusion Web sharing service, which will give you and anyone else you deem trustworthy remote access to your files from any Web browser. The standalone appliance of Maxtor Fusion is expected this summer, and the online service portion of Maxtor Fusion will be bundled with the Mini later this year.

Maxtor's mini hard drive leads the way with lots of storage and simple software for backing up, securing, and synchronizing your files.

Pressing the white, smartly recessed OneTouch button performs file and folder backups, although you can program these backups to happen automatically. Users can reassign this button to launch any program on their PCs.

Other welcome features include the ability to perform system rollbacks to a prior configuration and synchronization of data between multiple PCs. In practice, synchronization of work files between a desktop and two laptops proved to be our favorite feature. There are plenty of free software tools that perform these functions, but the Mini makes them much more accessible and user friendly.

Reasonably attractive, a good performer, and bundled with smart and simple software, Maxtor's OneTouch III, Mini Edition is well priced and deserves a place in your laptop bag.

Apple iPod (30GB)

2006-08-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

Grab this portable and watch your favorite shows anytime, anywhere.

If you want a one-stop solution for everything—music, video, podcasts, and more—the Apple iPod is your player. Unlike most PMPs, we'd use the iPod as our primary music device.

Videos and TV shows we bought through the iTunes Music Store ($1.99 each) looked good on the iPod's 2.5-inch, 320 x 240-pixel screen. Apple has really beefed up its TV content in recent months, offering everything from 24 and The Office to Lost and South Park. To move other kinds of video onto the iPod, you'll need to have conversion software, such as Apple's own $29.95 QuickTime Pro. In our tests, colors looked more muted than on the Zen Vision:M, though playback was butter-smooth.

The only strike against this device is its 2 hours and 42 minutes of battery life when watching video. For sheer ease of use, however, the iPod is our favorite pocket-size pick.

Linksys Wireless-N Broadband Router WRT300N

2006-08-06T02:02:00.000-07:00

The possibilities of 802.11n are certainly enticing. With it, you can move massive digital photo collections onto a network hard drive in seconds instead of minutes, stream high-definition movies stutter-free over Wi-Fi to a beautiful plasma TV, and share MP3s with other people on your network in the blink of an eye. Enter Linksys' Wireless-N Broadband Router WRT300N, which aims to satisfy all of your speed-hungry networking cravings.

The router is based on the draft specification for 802.11n, effectively one-upping previous MIMO models by using three antennas on the router, plus three receiving antennas on the matching Linksys Wireless-N Notebook Adapter WPC300N ($119). In addition to adding serious throughput gains to home networking, the WRT300N uses new MIMO technology to scatter a wide signal over two 20-MHz channels–twice as many as previous MIMO models. The result is the best wireless speed of any router: about 120 Mbps of constant throughput in a typical home environment. That data rate jumps even higher (to about 140 Mbps) in a setting where there are no other wireless signals present–which is, admittedly, highly unusual.

The WRT300N does an excellent job of pushing its signal around a typical home environment, even one with sheetrocked walls, textured ceilings, competing signals from nearby access points, and portable phones. In our tests, the WRT300N even outclassed the Belkin Pre-N in terms of making sure a powerful signal was available in all corners of a 3,000-square-foot home, on every level. High-definition video files never stuttered when we played them from a network storage device, and even when multiple users connected, the signal stayed strong.

Making the jump to 802.11n now comes with some early adopter caveats. For one, there's no guarantee that the routers and cards being sold today by Linksys and other vendors will be upgradeable to the final standard, which is scheduled to be ratified in mid-2007. If it turns out that this router is firmware-upgradeable, we'd suggest Linksys first address the impact legacy devices can have on the network. With an 802.11b-enabled laptop connected to the WRT300N, throughput dropped from 120 Mbps to about 40 Mbps. On the other hand, we didn't notice any degradation when we used a Palm Treo 700w outfitted with an 802.11g card.

Other than the much stronger signal and new three-antenna design, the WRT300N is nearly identical to previous Linksys routers, including the simple installer program and configuration screens, as well as basic SPI firewall protection.

Linksys may have a short-lived position at the top of the wireless networking hill. Competing draft-compliant 802.11n routers and cards from Belkin, Buffalo, and Netgear are all starting to hit the market, and we'll be able to tell you how those models stack up in upcoming issues.

For now, however, the Linksys WRT300N is the whole-house speed champ. It's the first router on the market to consistently beat a 100-Mbps wired Ethernet connection, even from 50 feet, making it a good choice for multitaskers who use their network for more than only surfing.

Pinnacle Studio Plus 10.5

2006-08-06T01:56:00.000-07:00

When amateur filmmakers are ready to graduate from the basic movie editing and DVD burning tools bundled with multimedia suites like Roxio or Nero, they will look to a more substantial editing deck like Pinnacle Studio Plus 10.5.

Pinnacle simply gives you more of everything. We love the pop-up editor that isolates a clip from your timeline and uses oversized splicing bars and a preview window to shorten or split the clip, and then slip it right back into the mix. What we like most about the tabbed interface of this deck is its consistency; the timeline stays in front of you at all times, and the menus of transition sequences, title options, and effects in the upper left quadrant can be dragged and dropped into the timeline.

The depth of effects is impressive, including a Chroma Key tool that superimposes someone into another scene. For about $20 more than a multimedia suite, you get more effects and greater precision, plus granular control over every aspect of the movie and soundtracks. New features in version 10.5 include the ability to export video directly to the Apple iPod and Sony PSP.

Not all is well with the software, however. Pinnacle is buggy, sluggish, and forces the user to jump through way too many hoops to access all of its features. Basic things like MPEG-2 encoding require a free "activation code" from Pinnacle that forces you through registration and multiple online and e-mail steps, some of which didn't work consistently. Thumbnail menus of transitions and effects come up blank on screen, and the program crashed repeatedly.

Pinnacle Studio failed to open many file types and tended to choke regularly when it came time to transcode clips onto burnable discs, even on our very capable system that boasted a 3-GHz Pentium 4 processor, 1GB of memory, a BenQ 16X DVD burner, and an ATI All-in-Wonder 9800XT video card. We say stick with more capable video editing applications like Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0.

Toshiba A105-S4014

2006-08-06T01:47:00.000-07:00

Users that frequently play music or watch movies on their notebooks will find Toshiba's A105-S4014 an enticing choice for their entertainment needs. It doesn't have stellar battery life, but this notebook more than makes up for it with robust multimedia features and dual-core performance.

The A105-S4014 black-and-silver color scheme isn't particularly eye-catching, but the contoured edges give the notebook a streamlined look despite weighing six pounds and measuring 14.2 x 10.5 x 1.1 inches. The 15.4-inch TruBrite screen staves off harsh reflections and looks great from multiple angles–perfect for watching DVDs.

The A105-S4014's keyboard is a mixed bag. It's quite spacious and provides an extremely comfortable typing experience for users with large hands but the keys feel hollow and light. To the left of the keyboard is a multimedia control panel. The dual quick-launch button opens two programs, depending on where you press it. The left side opens the Web browser; the right portion boots Media Center. This button is customizable and can be remapped in the Control Panel to launch any other program.

Below these buttons are standard CD/DVD playback controls: play/pause, stop, and fast forward/rewind. Although all of the buttons are easily accessible, we wish they were raised a bit higher. Nestled above the keys are twin Harman Kardon speakers that provide decent audio quality. The Media Center button launches the Express Media Player that plays CDs and DVDs without booting into Windows.

The touchpad is small but performs well. Located along its perimeter are several quick launch areas, where you can open your e-mail, print a document, or adjust the notebook's volume. For the peripheral-happy, the A105-S4014 boasts connections a-plenty, including four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, and S-Video. On the right side of the unit is a dual-layer DVD drive.

Under the hood is Intel's Core Duo processor, which is designed to keep the machine running smoothly while multitasking. We tested this dual-core muscle by playing a DVD while performing a virus scan. The A105-S4014 performed without a hitch, even after we added the additional challenge of running an instant messaging program and checking e-mail. The notebook scored an above-average 238 in our MobileMark 2005 test.

The A105-S4014's battery lasted a little over three hours with Wi-Fi turned off, which is a bit below average. The runtime dropped by about 20 minutes with Wi-Fi turned on. The data throughput averaged 14.5 Mbps from 15 feet and 14.7 Mbps at 50 feet, which is good. 3D games are not on the menu for this system; the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 scored only 1,482 in our 3DMark03 tests.

In addition to the Media Center OS, the A105-S4014 comes with Windows Digital Media Enhancements software and Protector Suite QL. Windows Digital Media Enhancements offer such options as Windows Party Mode, a full screen skin for Windows Media Player that enables users to use this notebook as a jukebox. Windows Audio Converter allows users to change the format of music tracks (from MP3 to WAV, for example). The security-conscious will appreciate Protector Suite QL, which works in conjunction with the fingerprint reader to keep prying eyes from accessing your system.

We wish Toshiba offered a configuration with discrete graphics to satisfy gamers, but the Toshiba A105-S4014 provides almost everything you could want in a portable entertainment notebook. At a very reasonable $1,399, you can't go wrong with this system.

QUICK SPECS

Toshiba A105-S4014 www.toshibadirect.com
CPU	1.83-GHz Intel Core Duo M T2400 processor
Operating System	Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
RAM/Expandable to	1GB/4GB
Hard Drive	5400-rpm 120GB
Optical Drive	4X DVD+R DL 8X DVD+R 8X DVD-R 8X DVD+RW 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM 8X DVD-ROM 24X CD-R 16X CD-RW 24X CD-ROM
Display/Resolution	15.4-inch/WXGA TruBrite TFT Active LCD
Graphics/Video Memory	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950/8MB-128MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory
Wireless Networking	Integrated 802.11a/b/g
Ports	Four USB 2.0, FireWire, S-Video, RGB, headphone, microphone input, integrated microphone, Ethernet, modem
PC Card Slots	One Type II, PCMCIA R2.01, PC Card 16 CardBus
Memory Card Slots	5-in-1 card reader
Weight	6 pounds
Size	14.2 x 10.5 x 1.1 inches
Service and Support	One-year standard limited warranty/toll-free 24/7 technical support
MobileMark 2005	238
3DMark03	1,482
Battery Life (Wi-Fi On/Off)	2:38/ 3:01
Wireless Performance (5/50 feet)	14.5 Mbps/ 14.7 Mbps

Sony Reader

2006-08-05T03:35:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time during CES 2006, Sony introduced its new e-book device, the Sony Reader. The ultraportable device features a cool technology called E Ink that creates an experience in which you feel like you're reading an actual book--except it's electronic. Plus, it has the storage capacity to hold a nice library of books, and when you're tired of reading, it can also play MP3s. The Sony Reader has yet to hit store shelves but is expected to ship sometime in September. Till then, here's an overview of what to expect.

Upside: The Sony Reader boasts an extralarge 6-inch (diagonal) screen with a sharp 800x600 pixel resolution, but perhaps most impressive is the E Ink technology that produces paperlike pages on the display. We've been able to play with prototypes of the Reader on several occasions, and we're consistently impressed by how much the digital renderings look like pages from a real book. Unlike CRT and LCD technology, E Ink microcapsules appear as either black or white (no color), depending on a positive or a negative charge determined by the content. We saw it firsthand, and we have to say it's pretty amazing. The text was easy to read at any angle, but more impressive was checking out comic books on the device--awesome. You can also increase the text size by 200 percent.

Part of the allure of the Sony Reader is its portability. It's lightweight (9 ounces) and fairly compact (6.9 by 4.9 by 5.8 inches), so traveling with the device, whether you're going on a long trip or just commuting to the office, will be a breeze. Plus, the Reader holds up to 80 average-size books at a time, and if you're an avid reader, there's optional Memory Stick storage media or SD card slot (yes, SD) for more. You're not just limited to books either. The Reader can access blogs and RSS newsfeeds when docked to a PC, and you can also view JPEGs, personal documents, and PDFs. As a bonus, you can also listen to MP3s on the device. Sony says the Reader's battery will last 7,500 page turns on a single charge.

Downside: The Sony Reader is designed to work with the Sony Connect online store, where you'll be able to purchase and download DRM-protected e-books, but this part of the service isn't ready for launch, so we have yet to see the catalog of content. Also, in question is how much the e-books will cost. With the Sony Reader costing a pricey $299 to $399, we hope the e-books are offered at a discount or a reasonable price. Also, since there's no backlighting, we're curious to see how the device reads in darker environments.

Outlook: There's no doubt that the Sony Reader is an übercool and travel-friendly device, but we wonder how many people are willing to make the move from paper to digital books. E-book readers haven't exactly taken off in the past because of the convenience factor and price. That said, if any device is going to put the technology in the mainstream, we think it's the Reader, as long as Sony can back it up with a competitive selection of e-books and pricing. Check back soon for our full review and find out if it's destined to be a best seller.

Full specifications

Nokia 6210 Phone Peatures

2006-08-05T03:15:00.000-07:00

The Nokia 2610 helps you take control of your communications. Making notes is easier with the Voice Recorder function. Bring your messages to life and get yourself heard: with Nokia Xpress Audio Messaging you can now let colleagues and friends hear exactly how you feel.

Access news, information and email on your way to work or play via the WAP browser shortcut key. A richer visual experience is promised by the Nokia 2610’s large fonts and display.

More power to communicate – with the Nokia 2610.

Phone Features

Nokia Xpress audio messaging
On the move connectivity via WAP, email, and MMS support
MP3 ringing tones
Voice recorder
Ergonomic classic design with large display
Available in three stylish colours

Full Specifications

Operating Frequency

Dual-band GSM phone E900/1800 or E850/1900 (for some markets)

Size

Weight: 91 g
Dimensions: 104 x 43 x 18 mm

Display and User Interface

Large 65,536-colour display
Menu screen with grid layout
Personalize your phone with themes and wallpapers
Intuitive user interface with dedicated shortcut keys, Go-to-menu, Recently Used numbers, and quick access to WAP Browser with "0" key
Easy-to-read larger fonts
Ergonomic design with improved grip

Messaging

Nokia Xpress audio messaging
SMS, MMS, instant messaging, and email
Common inbox for MMS and text messages
Recently used list to access last used number in Message Editor

Connectivity

Easy flash connector

Language Support

Language support depends on location. The complete list of supported languages is presented below. Check with your Nokia dealer to see which languages are supported in your location.
Europe, Middle East, and Africa:
- Menu text and predictive input in English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, French, German, Turkish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Serbian, Czech, Slovakian, Croatian, Romanian, Latvian, Russian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Arabic, Urdu, Hebrew, Swahili, and Afrikaans
- Menu text only in Farsi, Sesotho, Xhosa, and Zulu
Asia Pacific:
- Menu text and predictive input in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Thai, Philipino, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia, and Hindi
- Menu text only in Sinhalese, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, Punjabi, Kannada, and Malayalam
China:
- Menu text and predictive input in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
North America and Latin America:
- Menu text and predictive input in American English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, and Dutch

Games

Coin Flipping

Voice Features

Voice recorder
Set voice clip as ringing tone
AMR audio specification for better audio quality
USSD & Cell Broadcast

Other Phone Features

Power organizer – review by week or month with local calendar
Expense manager – manage your finances effectively
Converter II
Calculator
Built-in hands-free speaker
300 contact entries in Phonebook

Sales Package Contents

Nokia 2610 phone
Nokia Battery BL-5C
Compact User Guide
Nokia Standard Charger ACP-7, or Nokia Travel Charger ACP-12 (depending on region)

Power Management

Battery	Capacity	Talk time	Standby time
BL-5B	970mAh	Up to 3 hours	Up to 300 hours

Operation times vary depending on the network and usage.

The availability of the product and its features depends on your area and service providers, so please contact them and your Nokia dealer for further information. These specifications are subject to change without notice.

Air Force Fighters Screensaver

2006-08-05T01:25:00.000-07:00


Version	2.2
Developer	Always Great Software, Inc.
Size	5.1 MB
Price	$14.95

�Top Gun school is waiting for young talents

�. Such phrase could be seen in early sixties, nowadays it

�s impossible. The U.S. Air Forces are based on people, highly professional pilots, who are real top guns and who are good at conducting space combats. America has many organizations to be proud of, but its air forces are something more than just an element of army

� they became rather a religion than anything else.

Air Forces Fighters Screensaver will be a good amusement for people with a good sense of aesthetics. Beautiful images of powerful military planes on unbelievably great landscape backgrounds are great. Different models of planes, different war campaigns, different countries, different landscapes and so on

� all that was created to bring you joy of watching this glorious set of pictures when you are having a rest in front of your computer. Patriots will be impressed by this breathtaking screensaver. People with good imagination will associate these pictures with the current events in Afghanistan, and, I should admit, such images are worth associating!

Download Air Force Fighters Screensaver

Good Things Come in small cameras

2006-08-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

These ultracompact digital cameras pack in cool features you won't find everywhere.

Ultracompact digital cameras are great for travel—they're super portable and easy to throw into your bag on the go. But don't let their diminutive size fool you. These small machines pack a lot features and megapixels, ensuring don't have to sacrifice quality for convenience. We chose the best of our recently reviewed models for you to bring along on your next summer adventure. The three cameras highlighted here have fun features and extras you won't find everywhere, all in a small, lightweight package.

The 8.2-megapixel HP Photosmart R927 ($399.99 direct) sports a brand new built-in Slimming effect. You can easily counteract that "camera adds 10 pounds" adage at the touch of a button. It also offers a 3X optical zoom, automatic red-eye removal, 17 shooting modes, and image advice that displays on its 3-inch screen.

If gaming's more your speed, the Fuji FinePix V10 ($349 list) could help you get your game on. It boasts a large 3-inch 230,000-pixel color screen that nearly covers the entire back of the camera. And to combat the boredom of waiting in line for one of those amusement park rides, it comes with four games, including the addictive Block Buster, in which you literally bust blocks with a ball and paddle. The 5.1-megapixel camera features 3.4X optical zoom and stores image and movie files on xD memory cards.

Not sure what you want? Then the Kodak EasyShare V610 may be the camera for you. After all it's trying to be three things at once: an ultracompact, a superzoom, and a wireless camera. The 6-megapixel camera is a dual-lens model (and both lenses can zoom). It includes Bluetooth, allowing you to send images wirelessly to and from the camera and a PC, a PDA, Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, or a Bluetooth-enabled printer.

So, don't weigh yourself down with a clunky old camera. Pack one of these lightweights for your next hiking trip, take one out on the town, or send your kids to camp with one, it's your choice.

In This Roundup:

HP Photosmart R927
A solid camera that offers myriad features, from capture options and shooting modes to an unusual "tummy tuck" feature.

Fuji FinePix V10
The V10 takes very good photos, offers useful shooting features, and includes four games for curing those traveling blues.

Kodak EasyShare V610
The Kodak EasyShare V610 blurs the boundaries between ultracompacts and superzooms—it's very sleek with nice video features, and Bluetooth capabilities.

Dell XPS 410 (Core 2 Duo E6600)

2006-08-04T01:51:00.000-07:00

Dell is jumping aboard the Core 2 Duo bandwagon, sticking Intel's new Core 2 Duo E6600 CPU inside its XPS 410, a sequel to the company's midrange XPS 400. While our XPS 410 review unit's $2,405 price, which includes a 20-inch wide-screen LCD, may seem a bit high, especially compared to a budget Core 2 Duo system, such as the $999 Velocity Micro Vector GC Campus Edition, the Dell XPS 410's powerful processor and entertainment-friendly feature set provide everything you'll need to watch and record TV programs, create DVDs, and manage multimedia files. The XPS 410 provides brand-name shoppers with a reasonable way to get into the next generation of CPUs without jumping all the way up to Dell's $4,000 XPS 700 gaming monster.

The Dell XPS 410 is housed in the same glossy white BTX case as the XPS 400. It features a silver front bezel and black drive-bay covers. The midtower design is inoffensive enough to fit in with home office or den decor, but it will look out of place mixed in with your home-entertainment components. A DVD burner and a DVD-ROM drive occupy the full-size external drive bays, and one of the two 3.5-inch bays contains a multiformat card reader. Two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port, and headphone and microphone jacks are mounted below the drive bays. Six additional USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet port, and 5.1 audio jacks are located at the rear of the system. The XPS 410 can be configured with a high-end Creative Audigy 2 or X-Fi audio card; our test system included neither, relying instead on an integrated audio solution. For most users, even home-theater users, the integrated audio will be fine.

The system's chassis is completely tool-free, making it easy to install and remove drives and expansion cards. The XPS 410 relies on two system fans and a BTX airflow scheme to keep components from overheating. We slid off the side panel of our review unit to find a tightly packed interior. The single x16 PCI Express slot holds a 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7900 GS graphics card. Two PCI slots hold a dual TV tuner card and a dual-port FireWire card, leaving two x1 PCI Express slots and one PCI slot available for future expansion. The two hard drive bays mounted at the bottom of the case hold dual 320GB Serial ATA (SATA) drives in a DataSafe (RAID 1) configuration for added data protection. If you'd rather skip the redundant protection, you can have Dell configure the drives for RAID 0 and reclaim the extra drive space for storing recorded TV programs and other hefty multimedia files.

Powered by Intel's Core 2 Duo E6600 processor running at 2.4GHz, the Dell XPS 410 performed as expected. Compared to the other Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme systems we've looked at, it falls right in the middle. We expected it to run significantly slower than the tricked-out XPS 700, which has the high-end Core 2 Extreme X6800 CPU, but it was easily faster than the bargain-price Velocity Micro Vector GC Campus Edition, which has a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo E6300. Despite the performance boost, bear in mind the Velocity is literally half the cost and is still our best bang-for-the-buck Core 2 Duo system.

While it can't hold a candle to the gamer-centric XPS 700, the XPS 410's included 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7900 GS is a good choice for casual gamers who don't want to invest a lot in a video card. It churned out a very playable framerate of 111.1fps in Quake 4 at 1,024x768, and it will perform even better with high-end options, such as antialiasing, turned off. Stepping up to the $3,900 Falcon Northwest Mach V, which uses an overclocked 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo E6700 and an overclocked GeForce 7950 GX2, gave us 114.2fps in the same game, although at higher resolutions the differences would have been more pronounced.

Our XPS 410 shipped with a solidly built, Dell-branded, wireless Bluetooth multimedia keyboard and mouse. It also shipped with Dell's 5650 100-watt 5.1 speakers, which are a decent choice and retail separately for $80. The monitor that came with our review unit was an UltraSharp 2007WFP 20.1-inch wide-screen LCD. Dropping the monitor will cut $400 from the total system price.

Along with Windows Media Center Edition, the XPS 410 comes with Corel's WordPerfect Office 12 and CyberLink's PowerDVD. Dell's Media Center IR receiver and remote are also part of the bundle.

Dell provides a one-year warranty with the XPS 410, which includes next-business-day onsite service and 24/7 rapid-response telephone support by a team of XPS-certified technicians, which is a different level of service than Dell's non-XPS systems--a.k.a. Dimensions--receive. Also included is DellConnect, which allows Dell tech support to remotely take over your system to solve problems. Selecting the three-year plan will cost $189, and for $49 per year, you can upgrade to an even higher level of service, called XPS Plus Solutions. This gives you 30 days of access to Dell On Call, which provides assistance with general how-to questions.

Intel ViiV vs. AMD Live!

2006-08-01T23:16:00.000-07:00

Introduction

In the war to see who establishes a standard for digital entertainment computers archenemies Intel and AMD present their weapons: at one corner Intel with their ViiV platform – which is the digital home concept that Intel is pushing for ages with a new name – and at the other corner AMD with their Live! Platform. In this article you will learn the main specs for each platform and will see what you will be able to do with them.

A digital entertainment computer proposed by Intel ViiV and AMD Live! platforms is in charge of distributing digital content (data, music, movies, photos, etc) to other electronic equipment such as TVs, notebooks, MP3 players and PDAs. This digital entertainment computer should be able to record TV shows, videos, music and photos in DVD or CD. If you have this kind of PC at home it is possible for one person to watch a DVD movie being transmitted by it at one room of your house and, at the same time, another person listening to MP3 music at another room, also being transmitted by this computer, both using wireless communication.

This digital entertainment computer needs a minimum hardware requirement to be able to process, store and distribute all digital content available. Not all computers can be used as a digital entertainment computer. This computer, for example, must be able to deliver different digital content to several different electronic equipments at the same time.

Keep in mind that ViiV and Live! aren’t isolated technologies, but digital entertainment platforms. Their concept is the same of Intel’s Centrino, where in order to be considered “Centrino” a laptop must meet a certain hardware requirements. On Intel ViiV and AMD Live! platforms a computer can only be considered a digital entertainment computer if it meets a certain hardware and software requirements. In fact, Intel ViiV and AMD Live! define the minimum requirements needed for a digital entertainment PC. Think of these platforms as an “approval seal”, where if a computer meets certain requirements it can be called “ViiV-enabled” or “Live!-enabled”.

AMD Live! platform is based on technologies available on the market and other that will be available soon, while Intel ViiV platform is based on technologies available today.

Let’s now take a look on Intel ViiV and AMD Live! specs.

Intel ViiV Specs

For a computer to be compatible with ViiV platform, it must have at least the following components:

One of the following CPUs: Pentium D (except 805 model), Pentium Extreme Edition or Core Duo.
One of the following chipsets: 975X, 955X, 945G, 945P and 945GT, all using ICH7-DH (82801GDH) south bridge, or 945GM chipset.
One of the following network connections: Intel PRO/1000 PM, Intel PRO/100 VE or Intel PRO/100 VM.
Quick Resume Technology driver for the south bridge ICH7-DH installed.
SATA hard disk drive with NCQ technology.
Intel Matrix Storage technology (i.e. RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 support).
High Definition Audio 5.1 or above. Analog or digital connection can be used. If digital connection (SPDIF) is used, 5.1 or above analog connection is optional.
Operating system: Windows XP Media Center Edition.
Remote control (optional)

If a computer is equipped with these components (CPU, chipset, networking and operating system), it can be considered “ViiV-enabled”.

What is different on this platform from a “normal” PC is the use of ICH7-DH south bridge (DH comes from “Digital Home”), except on the case of 945GM chipset, which doesn’t use this circuit. What is new on this chip is a technology called Quick Resume, which allows the PC to imitate the behavior of TV sets, where by pressing the power button located on the remote control the screen goes dark, the sound is muted and the keyboard and mouse stop responding.

In a ViiV-compatible computer you can access all your digital content (photos, music, movies, videos, etc) thru a remote control (if the computer has one, of course), thanks to Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system. As the name implies, it is a version of Windows XP targeted to entertainment PCs. It allows you to record your favorite TV shows, share your pictures and songs, listen to radio, download music and movies from the Internet, and also install your favorite programs and games.

As you can see, ViiV platform is simply a set of technologies (processor, chipset, network adapter and operating system) combined to make an entertainment PC.

Gigabyte (with their GA-8I945GMH-RH) and ECS (with their 945G-M3), among other manufacturer, have already launched ViiV-compatible motherboards.

For more information: http://www.intel.com/products/viiv/index.htm

AMD Live! Specs

For a computer to be compatible with AMD Live! platform it must have at least the following components:

CPU: Athlon 64 X2 or dual-core Athlon 64 FX.
Motherboard: Socket AM2 or 939
Operating system: Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows Vista Premium
Audio: 5.1 high definition audio with SPDIF output
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet or wireless 802.11b/g (optional)
Hard disk drive: SATA (NCQ technology recommended). Two SATA hard disk drives with RAID on computers based on Atlhon 64 FX.
Memory: At least 1 GB DDR2 667/800 MHz.
Ports: At least six USB 2.0 ports and also Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports.
TV tuner card with remote control: Optional.
Wireless keyboard and mouse: Recommended.
Video output: VGA, DVI or HDMI with HDCP (optional).
Optical unit: DVD±RW
Power supply: high efficiency with low rotation fan.

It is interesting to note how AMD specify several details of their platform, like the amount of RAM memory. It is also interesting to note how several items are optional.

The name way that occurs with ViiV technology, a Live! entertainment PC can be accessed thru a remote control (if the computer has one), since it uses Windows XP Media Center Edition.

AMD Live! platform should be commercially available in the middle of this year – note how AMD specified the use of DDR2 memories, which the current AMD CPUs don’t support.

For more information: http://amdlive.amd.com/

Conclusions

The digital entertainment computer concept is really very interesting. Image the ability to access any kind of digital contents (data, music, movies, pictures, etc) anywhere in your home from a central computer.

Keep in mind that ViiV and Live! aren’t isolated technologies but digital entertainment platforms. They define the minimum hardware and software requirements that a digital entertainment computer must have. Both platforms are based on dual-core processors supporting SSE3 multimedia instructions.

Intel seems to be ahead on the digital entertainment PC standard race, with some products already emerging on the market, like the already mentioned motherboards from Gigabyte and ECS. AMD Live! should be available somewhere this year.

On the technical specs side, we have some important constructive criticisms. AMD and Intel don’t require their platform to have wireless networking – which is in our opinion the main feature of the so-called digital home.

On the other hand, AMD define Gigabit Ethernet (1,000 Mbps) as a minimum networking standard for their platform, while on Intel side the minimum standard is Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps). AMD scored a good point here.

Another point scored by AMD was the Firewire port requirement, since this kind of port is used by video equipments – the kind of product that entertainment PCs are targeted to be connected to.

Both TV tuner card and remote control are optional on both platforms and in our opinion they should be required, since one of the objectives of the entertainment PC is to watch and record TV shows and to control the PC remotely.

A complicated limitation for audiophiles is the 5.1 audio on Live! platform, since on ViiV platform the audio can be up to 7.1. On the other hand we should make it clear that both platforms require the audio to be at least 5.1. Live! Platform required the system to have digital audio output (SPDIF), while ViiV is more flexible, making it optional. But on Viiv the manufacturer can use two-channel analog output if the motherboard carries an SPDIF digital output, so you will need a home theater receiver to use all audio channels if the motherboard manufacturer decided to save some bucks and use only one analog audio output, i.e. two-channel (2.0) output. That’s complicated.

On the storage side Intel requires ViiV motherboards to support their Matrix Storage technology (i.e. RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 support). As Intel requires the use of a specific south bridge chip (ICH7-DH) it is redundant to say that Viiv platform supports RAID (or Matrix Storage, if you will). However it isn’t clear to us if Intel requires this technology to be used on a ViiV computer. On their website is written “Intel Matrix Storage support”, and we don’t know if “support” is a synonym of “has to use” or “has to be available” (i.e. available but not required to be used). Intel requires that you use NCQ-based hard disk drives on ViiV computers, while NCQ is optional on AMD’s Live!. On the other hand, on Athlon 64 FX-based computers, the system must have two hard disk drives using RAID.

In summary, even though ViiV and Live! set minimum requirements for a digital entertainment computer, there will be on the market PCs with better specs than others, all getting AMD or Intel conformity seal. So everything stays like it is nowadays: the user will have to know all the technical specs of the entertainment PC he or she is willing to buy in order to compare competing products.

Microsoft Office 12 (beta 1)

2006-08-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

• See the Office 12 slide show

Overview: Before the final product is expected to hit the shelves late next year, this initial beta version of Microsoft Office 12 reveals radical interface changes that recall the overly ambitious Microsoft Office 97 update. The changes apply to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as Redmond intends to streamline your work flow, particularly for business users. The familiar File and Edit drop-down menus will disappear to make way for functions grouped within a ribbon atop each window. This banner's task-specific tabs attempt to anticipate and surface the functions you need according to your ongoing work. Office 12's apps get a new interface, as well as a fresh graphics engine, similar to that promised in Windows Vista. Visual thumbnail galleries of ready-made layouts suggest formatting options, and templates of your live document are available automatically.

To package the new features, the new default developer-friendly, XML-based file formats promise to be as much as 70 percent smaller than those in Office 2003. Microsoft will tack an X onto the tail of each document extension; DOC files from Word 12 will become DOCX; XLS files within Excel 12 will become XLSX, and so on. The older DOC, XLS, and other formats will remain Save As options. Yet unlike previous versions of Office, which irretrievably mangle data when files become corrupted, Office 12 will separate documents' contents from formatting to allow emergency recovery. Office 12 also hopes to better serve business customers with mobile connectivity and sharing of data via company servers.

Upside: We appreciate the ability of the apps within Microsoft Office 12 (beta 1) to display live previews of formatting changes, so you'll never have to guess again what a font looks like. This system promises many ease-of-use interface tweaks, such as a slider bar in the bottom of each window for zooming in and out of page views. We hope that tabbed toolbar browsing will make navigating through tasks and documents easier and eliminate the guesswork, as it attempts to display the tools you need, such as visual galleries of attributes and suggested layouts. To spare you from annoying interruptions, Microsoft hammered the nail in the coffin of the dorky paper-clip cartoon, Clippy. Right-clicking a mouse will reveal the same task-specific menu choices as offered in the masthead banner. Developers will get the freedom to add their own tabs, items to tabs, and gallery items to Office 12; and companies can build their own toolbars from scratch, if needed. Old, familiar add-ins will also work in the new Office. Users of previous versions of Office will like that Office 12 files are backward compatible through Office 97.

Downside: In the past, Microsoft has sabotaged itself by unrolling too many new features to Office too fast. We're keeping a lookout for problems; after all, Office 12 was in its storyboard stages just a few months ago. If you've spent the past two years mastering Office 2003, prepare for a steep learning curve. The Alt keyboard shortcuts will change; luckily, shortcuts using the Ctrl button will stay the same. While the more visual, tabbed layout may reduce mouse clicks, it eats up more screen real estate and RAM. We're also wary of Office 12's goal to make the ribbon respond to the tasks you're working on. What if, say, options for text formatting that you want to make are hidden because you've clicked on a graphic? Unanticipated consequences could make the ribbon less intuitive than the traditional layout of Office 2003. The new graphics muscle makes icons and charts appear less flat, but our jaws didn't drop at first sight.

We like that Microsoft won't force users to buy the latest, greatest PCs. Office 12 will require Windows XP SP1 or 2003 and will require a minimum of 256MB of RAM and a 512MHz processor. However, we anticipate that you may want an even more powerful system to multitask with the graphics-intensive Office 12.

Outlook: Microsoft Office 12 looks dramatically different from Office 2003. The task-oriented paradigm common to the separate releases of Vista and Office 12 will be new to everyone. The tabbed command layout of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint may be a welcome change if your wrists ache from clicking through the myriad drop-down menus, and Microsoft hopes that the new layout will be more intuitive. But even well-intended software changes that seem graceful at first glance might reveal quirks or hassles during extended use. In the next beta 2 test rollout of Office 12 (expected next spring), Microsoft plans to reveal more about its server work flows for businesses. We also await more details on Microsoft's plans to better integrate multimedia communications, such as e-mail and instant messaging, within Office 12 documents. Peek at the impending changes in our Office 12 slide show, as well as in our separate previews of Word 12, Excel 12, PowerPoint 12, and Outlook 12.

Nokia 6080

2006-08-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Nokia 6080 phone looks so great, you’d never believe how practical it really is. With a distinctive, minimalist design and a range of intuitive features, it fits into any situation, any time of the day and every day of the week.

With flashing light alerts for new SMS messages, missed calls, or calendar reminders, the Nokia 6080 knows how to command the attention of everyone around—which is just the way you like it.

Stay in touch across five continents with tri-band coverage. Take a photo and upload it via mobile Internet connection to share with friends and family. With email access and enhanced contacts, it’s easier than ever to balance work and leisure. You can see it all on the high-resolution, 65,536-colour display.

Phone Features

Turn heads with the stylish design
FM stereo radio with stereo headset (included)
MP3 ringing tones
Stay in touch with email, Instant Messaging, SMS, and MMS
Show what you mean with the integrated VGA camera and video recorder
Get news with the xHTML browser
Download user interface themes, MIDI and MP3 ringing tones, true tones, screensavers, and Java™ games
See it all on the high-resolution colour display
Talk on five continents with tri-band network coverage
Push to talk over cellular network

Full Specifications

Operating Frequency

GSM tri-band 900/1800/1900 or 850/1800/1900
Automatic switching between bands

Size

Weight: 91 g
Dimensions: 105.4 x 44.3 x 18.6 mm

Display and User Interface

True 65,536-colour high-resolution display with 128x160 resolution
Large display with excellent readability
Clear layout and easy-to-use keys
Proven S40 menu navigation
User configurable right and left soft keys

Imaging

Integrated VGA camera for still pictures and videos
Download and upload images and video sequences
Add frames to images, use them as your wallpaper or send them to your friends via MMS or email

Messaging

Common messaging inbox
Email via SMS (IMAP4, POP3, SMTP – TCP/IP based)
MMS 1.2 for image message creation, receiving, editing and sending (100k)
Nokia Xpress audio messaging: Send a spontaneously recorded voice clip via MMS
Push to talk over cellular network
Instant Messaging and Presence-enhanced contacts
Predictive Text Input: Support for all major languages in Europe and Asia Pacific including Indian dialect variants

Multimedia

FM stereo radio
AMR audio specification for better audio quality
Video player
MP3 ringing tones, True tones and MIDI/polyphonic ringing, alert and gaming tones with support for up to 24 voices

Memory Functions*

16MB total memory, including up to 4.3 MB user memory

Applications

MIDP 2.0 java pre-installed games and applications

Connectivity

Pop-port™ connector
Infrared
Nokia PC Suite
Local/remote data sync with SyncML

Browsing

xHTML browser over TCP/IP - Stay up to date on the latest news, and upload images and videos to share
OTA provisioning of browser settings

Data Transfer

OMA DRM 1.0 for secure content downloading
EDGE multislot class 6, up to 177.6 kbps
GPRS multislot class 10, up to 80 kbps
HSCSD (High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data) transfer up to 43.2 kbps in HSCSD networks

* Note: Actual achieved speeds may vary depending on network support

Personal Information Management (PIM)

Missing event indicator: lights flash periodically to alert to missed calls, received SMS messages or calendar alarms
Calendar, to-do list, notes
Alarm clock, countdown timer (normal and interval timer)

Call Management

SAIC (single antenna interference cancellation) to help avoid network interference – fewer dropped calls
Voice dialing
Speed dialing
Logs: Keeps lists of your dialled, received, and missed calls
Automatic answer (works with headset or car kit only)

Voice Features

Push to talk over cellular network
Integrated handsfree speaker
Voice commands
Voice dialing
Voice recording
AMR for better audio quality

Digital Services

OTA download possibility for:
- MP3 ring tones, true tones and MIDI ring tones
- Screensavers
- Download and upload images and video sequences
- Series 40 Java games and applications can be downloaded and used with the device
- Plug and play services
Themes including animated wallpapers, animated screensavers, colour schemes and ringing tones
MP3 ring tones, True tones and MIDI ringing, alert and gaming tones with support of up to 24 polyphony
OTA provisioning of settings

Sales Package Contents

Nokia 6080 phone
Nokia Headset HS-23
Nokia Battery BL-5B
Nokia Charger AC-3
User guide
Cleaning cloth

Power Management

Battery	Talk time	Standby time
Battery BL-5B (820 mAh)	Up to 3.5 hours	Up to 300 hours

Fujitsu Siemens Confirms 3G PDA

2006-08-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Europe. : Mobile phone, notebook, navigation system, digital camera, VoIP headset, PDA, MP3 player, and don’t forget the right power adapter for each device. It’s quite a lot of gear for the business traveler to carry around – the term “unlimited mobility” is hardly one that would spring to mind.

Fortunately, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is bringing an end to all this. Europe’s leading IT company will unveil its Pocket LOOX T Series to the public at the 3GSM World Congress, which started today in Barcelona. Featuring Windows Mobile® Direct Push e-mail and UMTS mobile phone, this all-integrated handheld is a pocket-sized office that eliminates the need for multiple devices.

With Microsoft® Windows Mobile™ 5.0 software and UMTS functionality, Pocket LOOX T series users always have access to their e-mails, appointment calendar and other familiar Microsoft Office applications. And it’s user-friendly, with a standard QWERTY keyboard and brilliant TFT display. Incorporating these devices into the corporate network is straightforward, ensuring secure and reliable data transfer, while the integrated GPS makes sure you never get lost. The new high-end handhelds will arrive at shops in July for prices of approximately €700.

With annual growth rates of 70 percent in the handhelds market* in 2005 Fujitsu Siemens Computers has established itself as a key mobility player in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Fast, efficient digital communication is becoming ever more crucial, particularly in the rapidly growing market for convergence products. With decades of IT and mobility experience, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is extremely well positioned for success in this convergence market. The company recognizes that business users require all-integrated devices, which over time, will replace conventional handhelds and mobile phones.

“It is vital for the mobile workforce to have the information they need at hand anytime and anywhere, and to have the means to respond quickly when it matters,” explained Peter Esser, Executive Vice President Volume Products & Supply Operations at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. “Mobile professionals do not have time to sit around unproductively when there are mountains of e-mails and documents to work through. They do not want to waste time that could be better spent with customers. With the Pocket LOOX T Series, we are introducing a product designed to solve these problems. And the best thing is that all those extra devices and adaptors can be done away with, since everything is now combined into one compact, capable and highly portable package.”

Highlights
? Fully-equipped GSM/UMTS mobile phone
? E-mail push and messaging with Microsoft Exchange and Windows Mobile 5.0 software
? Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN (Wi-Fi certified) with VoIP capability
? Bluetooth v2.0
? Integrated GPS
? Video telephony with VGA camera (Pocket LOOX T830)
? 2 megapixel auto-focus camera (Pocket LOOX T830)
? Ergonomic QWERTY keyboard and brilliant TFT display
? SD I/O / MMC slot for backup and additional applications such as an MP3 player or navigation system
? Powerful, exchangeable battery
? Pocket LOOX Software Suite (includes Connection Manager software from Fujitsu Siemens Computers for easy WLAN access)

Sony Ericson 3G Walkman Mobile Phone

2006-08-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

Europe : A major addition to Sony Ericsson’s family of Walkman® phones is announced today. The W950 is an ultra-slim, ultra-stylish, UMTS-enabled device with 4GB of onboard storage complete with touch screen for simple navigation through music genres, playlists, individual songs or music albums.

More than a music phone, broadband-fast email and Web browsing plus a suite of high performance entertainment applications add to its capabilities, making it one of the most highly specified phones in the Sony Ericsson portfolio.

“Bringing the Walkman® brand to Sony Ericsson phones was one of our outstanding achievements in 2005 and we have now sold more than 3 million Walkman® phones,” said Miles Flint, President, Sony Ericsson, “W950 is our sixth Walkman phone to be introduced since that announcement and listening to music on mobile phones is now an established and growing consumer behaviour. This announcement also demonstrates the flexibility of the Symbian v9.1 and UIQ 3.0 platform to create a consumer focused offering as well as business and the W950 is now our third Symbian based handset to be introduced in 2006.”

The W950’s design will turn the heads of the most avid style aficionados. Its thin, sleek and compact form is finished in Mystic Purple, fingerprint-proof matt with orange accents. The purity of its design is strengthened by the keypad being flush with the surface, and orange backlighting that brings the music keys to life in a stunning, practical way.

The music player within the W950 has the functionality and sound quality of an equivalent standalone device. Its 4GB storage can take up to 4,000 songs and the sound quality, delivered on high quality headphones, makes listening to music a real pleasure. A new graphic-rich interface on the Walkman® player makes it easy to navigate around the music library by song, artist or playlist and now it’s possible to search visually by browsing through album covers using the stylus and touch screen. The W950 has all the benefits of a combined phone and music player, enabling multitasking between listening to music, SMS texting, emailing and browsing the Internet.

Getting music into the W950 is fast and simple and can be done in a number of ways. The supplied Disc2Phone music management software is an intuitive package that handles transfer to the phone of music stored in the user’s PC. UMTS capability also makes the W950 ready for fast direct-to-phone transfers from available operators’ download services.

Beyond music, the W950 is a complete mobile entertainment centre that delivers great speed and exceptional quality sound and vision. Users can now enjoy the complete spectrum of mobile multimedia applications, from web browsing, push email and video streaming to 3D gaming and store-and-share of media files. Besides music, 4GB is enough storage for a wealth of photos, video’s or email attachments in the phone.

Stereo sound through wireless headphones is now possible as the W950 support Bluetooth streaming in stereo. The Bluetooth Stereo Headset HBH-DS970 also announced today and available as an accessory delivers high quality stereo sound through stylish, comfortable headphones.

W950 is the 3rd Sony Ericsson phone based on the new Symbian v9.1 and UIQ 3.0 platform, benefiting from a growing multitude of third party applications. All of these applications are available to download from the Sony Ericsson Application Shop, an online catalogue that is stocked directly by third party developers.

The Sony Ericsson W950 is a Dual Mode UMTS Walkman phone starts shipping during Q3 2006. Regional variations are:

W950i - Dual mode UMTS (2100MHz) - GPRS 900/1800/1900 for Europe, Asia Pacific,Middle East, Africa

W950c - Dual mode UMTS (2100MHz) - GPRS 900/1800/1900 for Mainland China (launch for mainland China dependent on availability of 3G services.)

W950 – Features at a glance:

Music
Walkman® player
Supports MP3, AAC, AAC+, E-AAC+, WAV and m4a
4 GB flash memory
Up to 4.000 songs can be stored when downloading songs from operator networks in E-AAC+ file format
Touchscreen with album art support
Polyphonic ringtones, 40 voices
Graphical equalizer and Mega Bass™
Disc2Phone music management software
Stereo headphones in the box
FM radio with RDS
MusicDJ™
Speakerphone
Streaming Audio/Video
Bluetooth™ stereo streaming support
Java MIDP 2.0
2D and 3D gaming
Music play time – 10 hours

Messaging
Bright QVGA TFT 2.6’’ Display
262K Color display
Video playback , 30fps
SMS, MMS and e-mail
Handwriting Recognition
Touch screen
Word completion and Auto correction

Connectivity
Opera™ 8.0 Internet browser
RSS Feeds
Bluetooth™ 1.2
Infrared port
USB 2.0 Mass storage, High speed (480 Mbps)
USB cable in the box
Modem
WAP 2.0 XHTML/HTML
Dual Mode UMTS 2100 – GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900

Business
Full HTML browser Opera™ 8
External antenna connector
USB charging
PC synchronization
Flight mode
Size: 106 x 54 x 15 mm
Weight 112 grams
Talk time: up to 2.5/7.5 hours (UMTS/GSM)
Standby time: up to 250/340 hours (UMTS/GSM)

Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB, black)

2006-07-31T06:32:00.000-07:00

Although we had fond feelings for Creative's Zen Vision, the portable video player (PVP) with the dazzling VGA screen, Apple's video-capable iPod quickly stole our hearts away. Now Creative has wooed us again with the Zen Vision:M, a decidedly iPod-like device with a better screen, more features, and even more choices of colors. Music fans will find it particularly appealing, as it plays nice with most online stores and subscription services. Admittedly, Apple still has the edge in video content; Creative has yet to land any content providers for TV shows or movies, though video podcasts now stand ready, courtesy of Creative's new ZenCast service. But we're willing to bet it won't be long before you can download Battlestar Galactica or Kung Fu Hustle for on-the-go viewing. Also, video subscription is coming, with Starz Vongo leading the way. And you'll be able to watch longer thanks to the Vision:M's four-hour battery life--a major improvement over the iPod's two hours. Watch out, Apple: Creative's latest is no mere pretender to the PVP throne.

Design of Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB, black)

Physically, the Creative Zen Vision:M can't escape comparison with the 5G iPod. It's exactly the same height and width (4.1 by 2.4 inches), though definitely a bit thicker and heavier at 0.7 inch and 5.7 ounces. Curved and slightly tapered at the rear, the Zen feels good in your hand--not quite so fragile as the iPod, perhaps--and slips comfortably into any pocket

Creative offers the Vision:M in five colors: black, white, pink, green, and blue. After spending a few days with the black model, we discovered that the entire front face was covered with faint scratches--just like the black iPod and the iPod Nano, though not as extreme. If you want to avoid this problem, choose a lighter color. However, save for white, we couldn't help feeling that the other colors lent the Vision:M a toylike appearance, perhaps because they betray the all-plastic nature of the front face. Ultimately, Creative's latest just isn't as elegant as the iPod, and it will never have the same cachet.

Of course, one could argue that the screen matters more than the container, and here the Vision:M definitely has the iPod beat. Although both devices have 2.5-inch, 320x240-pixel LCDs, the Vision:M's displays a whopping 262,000 colors to the iPod's 65,000. Video and photos positively pop off the screen, which exhibits excellent viewing angles and much better brightness and color than the iPod's--and we thought that screen was good. Now Creative just needs to line up some content to take advantage of it (see the Features section for details).

In the meantime, Creative deserves kudos for making the Vision:M reasonably simple to operate. It has just four function buttons: Play/Pause, Menu, Back, and Shortcut, all flush with the front of the case, not raised. Thus, you actually press the case itself, which feels weird at first (and makes fingerprints inescapable). The buttons are stiff but provide audible, tactile feedback. Some may complain about the buttons' stiffness, but we think they will wear well with use. Plus, they light up blue--a cool touch.

Anyone familiar with Creative's past players, such as the Zen Micro and the Zen Touch, will recognize the Vision:M's touch pad, which improves on the previous models' design but still can't hold a candle to Apple's Click Wheel. It works much like a notebook's touch pad except that it's exclusively vertical: You run your finger up and down to scroll and tap to select an option. You can also press and hold the top or bottom edge to engage rapid scrolling. It's an intuitive control but not always precise. We often found it hard to land on exactly the selection we wanted, though with practice we got better at it. We're actually most impressed with this version of the touch pad, as it does the best job so far in addressing sensitivity. Furthermore, we love the narrow and tactile left and right buttons that flank the touch pad; they serve as the Vision:M's shuttle controls and represent an excellent use of minimal space.

Apple may have an edge in the controls department, but the Vision:M's interface is just as fast and easy to use as the iPod's. Plus, you can customize it in various ways, adding or removing menu options and choosing one of six colorful themes. You can also set any photo as your wallpaper. Creative's best innovation is the Shortcut button, which you can configure to perform a commonly used function: for example, randomly playing all your tracks, starting and stopping recording, adding a track to an on-the-fly playlist, and so on. We preferred using ours for volume, since the Vision:M lacks dedicated volume controls. All portable players should have a Shortcut button, though we would love to see EQ added to the list of possible shortcuts.

Most MP3 players should also have removable batteries, which the Vision:M doesn't. Luckily, battery life isn't quite as problematic as it is on the 5G iPod, as explained in the Performance section. A removable battery would have been a clincher for many prospective buyers.

Connection to your PC comes courtesy of a Sync Adapter: a small dongle that plugs into the bottom of the Vision:M and supplies power, USB, and A/V-out ports. It's too bad Creative couldn't have engineered these ports into the player itself, as the dongle is just one more thing to bring along--and potentially lose. Still, the player charges over USB, so you wouldn't always need to haul an extra cable, but we like how Apple handles this situation with the USB power adapter, though it bugs us to no end that Apple doesn't include it in the iPod package. Creative at least includes the adapter, which might partly explain the Vision:M's higher price.

Features of Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB, black)

In the iPod-vs.-Vision:M smackdown, there's no question which device gets the headlock--at least in regard to features. On top of its superior screen, the 30GB Creative Vision:M has an FM radio tuner and recorder, a voice recorder, and sync tools for carrying around your Outlook data. Equally important, or perhaps more so, Creative's player supports DRM-protected WMA files, meaning you can stock it with songs purchased from any number of online stores. The iPod, of course, limits your shopping to iTunes Music Store. The Vision:M is also Janus compatible, so you can stuff it with tunes downloaded from subscription services such as Napster To Go. At the moment, iPod users have no such option.

iPod users can, however, grab some first-rate TV shows from iTunes Music Store--a prospect Zen owners will have to envy for the moment. Creative has no video store to offer its customers, no episodes of Lost or Battlestar Galactica available for quick and easy download. Nor can it record video from external sources--though the iPod can't either. For that, you need a PVP such as the Archos AV500. Of course, you can pretty easily copy TV and movies from a Media Center PC, and TiVo Series 2 owners can also take advantage of free TiVo To Go software to copy recordings. However, the latter option is a complex and time-consuming process: you have to copy shows from your TiVo to your PC, then convert them with Windows Media Player 10. To make matters worse, Creative doesn't mention this capability anywhere in the Vision:M manual or on the product's Web site; you have to delve into Creative's online knowledge base to find instructions. While the TiVo To Go support is admirable, it's far too cumbersome for most users. Still, it's a capability iPod users don't get (yet), and it's likely just the tip of the video-to-go iceberg.

This year promises to bring any number of Vision:M-compatible services, so it probably won't be long before a few simple clicks stock the player with TV, music videos, and even feature-length movies. A good example is Starz Vongo, a new flat-rate movie-download service that's compatible with Portable Media Center devices. The Vision:M isn't one of them, but we suspect the service will soon broaden its device support to include PlaysForSure devices. In addition, you can currently visit MSN Video Downloads to get free news and entertainment clips for your Vision:M, and you can find content on Google Video as well. The video-content universe for WMV devices is indeed growing.

In the meantime, the Vision:M supports a much wider variety of video formats than the iPod: DivX, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, and XviD among them. Users who already have a library of videos will find it relatively easy to copy them to the player: Creative's software automatically converts the files that require it. What's more, the Vision:M isn't entirely without downloadable-content options. In beta at the time of this writing, Creative's new ZenCast service provides easy access to podcasts (here dubbed ZenCasts, natch) of both the audio and video variety. Armed with a free download of ZenCast Manager, you can stock your player with popular 'casts such as Rocketboom, 60 Minutes, and Tiki Bar TV. If you want a podcast that's not already in the large ZenCast directory, just click Subscribe and paste in its address.

However, ZenCast Manager is symptomatic of a typical Creative problem: scattershot software. Instead of integrating everything under one roof, as Apple has done with iTunes, Creative forces you to use four separate programs: ZenCast Manager, Media Explorer, MediaSource Organizer, and Sync Manager. They're all simple, capable applications, but we wish Creative would unify them into a single program. We also wish the company would provide more documentation. The included 30-page manual covers only the basics, and there's no expanded, supplemental PDF to view on your PC--only a text-heavy help file for Media Explorer. There's no documentation at all for ZenCast, online or elsewhere, though that's likely because of the newness of the service.

Software and documentation notwithstanding, you're sure to enjoy the Vision:M's various secondary features. Its lightning-fast FM tuner, for instance, fills as many of the 32 available preset slots as possible. You can also manually add presets, assign names to the stations (though navigating the onscreen keyboard is no fun), and record any broadcast just by pressing and holding the play/pause button. Alas, the Vision:M lacks a timer for scheduled recordings--a feature we really wish it had. What's more, you have no control over recording quality: all FM recordings are saved as four-bit, 22KHz WAV files. Voice recordings, meanwhile, become four-bit, 16KHz WAV files. The Vision:M has no provision for recording from line-in sources.

The Vision:M does, however, let you listen to your tunes while viewing a slide show of your photos. You can also browse and view photos individually, even marking favorites for a custom slide show. However, when selecting the My Slideshows option, the Vision:M refers you to Creative's Media Explorer utility for creating slide shows on your PC. Problem is, there's no such option in that software. You have to delve into the help file to find out how to create custom slide shows (which, thankfully, is drag-and-drop easy).

Creative's Sync Manager makes simple work of copying your Outlook contacts, appointments, and tasks to the Vision:M, though Sync is something of a misnomer: it's really a one-way transfer, and it doesn't happen automatically--you have to sync each time you want to copy the latest data from Outlook. A newer, system tray-resident version of Sync Manager promises to remedy that issue, but currently, Creative was still shaking out the bugs. You can view your data on the Vision:M itself, but there's no option to edit or sort it. Also, there's no way to password-protect it--something to keep in mind if you're carrying sensitive info.

Lest we forget, the Vision:M is first and foremost a music player, and it's no slouch in that department. It features on-device playlist creation; support for up to 10 bookmarks; eight equalizer presets and a five-band custom setting; and a bass-boost feature. The Vision:M's "DJ" can spin Album of the Day and Random Play All, as well as Most Popular and Rarely Heard tracks. We particularly like the Smart Volume option, which keeps volume levels consistent across all your tracks. As a bonus, the Vision:M displays album art--something its big-screen predecessor, the Zen Vision, didn't do. Also new to the mix is a Lookup Artist option, which takes you to the artist listing for whatever track is playing, and Purchase This, which queues the current track for possible purchase (if you're listening to it on a subscriber basis) the next time you sync with Windows Media Player 10.

In addition to the usual accessories--earbuds, a software CD, and a USB cable--Creative supplies a goofy soft-sided drawstring carrying pouch. We think most users would prefer an armband or a belt-clip case. Missing from the package is an A/V-out cable for connecting the Vision:M to your TV. It's available separately for $18.99.

Performance of Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB, black)

Using the Creative Zen Vision:M is a treat. It takes only a few seconds to start up (though sometimes it takes a bit longer, which we don't understand)--a nice change from its slowpoke predecessor, the Zen Vision. Likewise, its menus are snappy and its controls responsive, even when you're shuffling through subscription tracks--a notoriously processor-intensive process. As with most hard drive-based players, songs and videos don't start the moment you press Play; there's usually a delay of a couple of seconds, but we found it negligible. Even when queuing up 2,500 tracks for random play, the Vision:M keeps you waiting only four to five seconds.

Video playback was buttery smooth, without so much as a dropped frame. Your mileage may vary depending on the source material, but we found that even action scenes in various movies and TV shows played smoothly while maintaining a sharp picture. Many PVPs tend to blur the action.

As we've come to expect from Creative players, the Vision:M sounds outstanding, thanks in no small part to its 97dB signal-to-noise ratio. That translates to audio that can get plenty loud without introducing any noise, and our earsplitting experiences bear out the numbers. Creative's foam-padded earbuds allowed us to listen in relative comfort, though we enjoyed better sound quality when we switched to our reference Shure E3c 'buds.

FM radio came through loud and clear, with better reception than we expected in indoor environments. Even in a basement, we were able to pull in several local stations. And when the signal was good, our FM recordings sounded splendid. In voice recordings, on the other hand, background noise often manifested itself as a faint hum or whine. It's livable, but a bit distracting, especially if you're listening to a long recording.

When we used Sync Manager to copy over our library of 2,500 MP3s, the process took more than an hour--quite a bit longer than we thought it would, given the Vision:M's USB 2.0 connection. Similarly, the newer beta version of Sync Manager seemed sluggish in copying a handful of video podcasts, though this was most likely because it was converting them to the proper format. Raw transfer time of MP3s to the Zen Vision:M was a brisk 5.95MB per second over USB 2.0.

Battery life is rated at 14 hours for audio--a decent but not spectacular number--and 4 hours for video, which is nearly twice the iPod's current video battery life. If you're really into video, that extra battery life makes a world of difference, as we have consistently run out of juice prematurely when multitasking with an iPod. CNET Labs was able to coax 15.9 hours per charge out of the Zen Vision:M when playing back MP3s and with the LCD turning off after 10 seconds (you must activate the hold switch in order to make the screen go dark; otherwise, the screen will simply dim and eat up more battery life). Video playback lasted about 5 hours, another reason that the Zen Vision:M is a prime-time video player. Finally, playing back subscription-based WMA files, the Zen Vision:M's battery life notably came in at 12 hours, about 3 hours less than standard MP3 playback. Subscription battery life is a figure that should become more prominent as the associated services become more popular.

Download Liquid Desktop 3D Screensaver

2006-07-31T06:11:00.000-07:00

On one hand, screensavers are just utilities - helping you save your monitor from burning out. That was their original idea, anyway, though displays have made quite a progress since those days. On the other hand, it's just another form of entertainment and getting the most out of your PC. Liquid Desktop 3D Screensaver is the ultimate experience of a good screensaver. Liquid Desktop 3D Screensaver transforms images and textures into melting waves. The default image is your desktop that gets transformed into gorgeous constantly moving waves. There are a few other preset images and textures, but the free version does not allow one to use a custom image. There are also a few options to customize - complexity of the pattern, wave height, and even screen resolution. The screensaver is amazingly compact, does not require the latest version of DirectX to run (in fact, no DirectX at all is required, which is a plus), and is free. There's the nag window, of course, but that's nothing compared to the beauty of the screensaver.
Download Liquid Desktop 3D Screensaver

Dell XPS 200

2006-07-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

The XPS 200 is the entry-level PC in Dell's upscale XPS computer brand. The one I tested ($980 direct as tested, no monitor) came configured with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, a 250GB hard drive, and a TV tuner. That and its demure size make it an attractive system for the home or dorm. I just wish there were a few more luxuries included for the price.

Though its size resembles a very thin shoebox (about 13 x 4 x 14 inches), the XPS 200 uses a full desktop-level 250GB hard drive, which provides enough storage to record over 100 hours of TV, even after you've ripped hundreds of CDs. It also has a Media Center remote and a TV tuner that comes with an ugly external USB IR receiver. In testing, TV reception was clear and smooth. With the Pentium D 820 dual-core processor, you can smoothly record TV while surfing or doing homework. An integrated TOSlink optical output lets you conveniently hook the XPS 200 up to an A/V receiver or powered surround-sound speaker set for your home or dorm theater setup. Hiding behind a swing-open door on the front of the system are the FireWire port, USB ports, headphone jack, 13-in-1 media card reader, and DVD/CD-RW combo drive. I would have liked to have seen a dual-layer DVD writer instead of the combo drive; this is a serious omission in a video-oriented system like the XPS 200. Without the DVD burner, you can't burn DVDs of the camcorder footage you just took of your latest snowboarding trip, for example. A DVD is only an extra $40, but that will bring the price of the system above the $1,000 price point (a significant psychological barrier).

The XPS 200 proves to be a middle-of-the-road performer. Its Windows Media Encoder score (using our standard test file) of just over 9 minutes is neither fast nor slow, and by completing the Adobe Photoshop CS2 action set in 1 minute 39 seconds, the XPS proves that it can competently let you crop and manipulate your digital photos and videos. It isn't meant for gaming, though; it was only able to manage a stuttering 16 frames per second on the Doom 3 test.

The XPS 200 is built around a BTX chassis that's easy to upgrade. Just pull the lockable slider on the PC's back and the case's painted metal side door pops open. Extra RAM is easy to add (though I'm happy with the 1GB included), as there are two empty memory slots on the motherboard. Also present are two half-height expansion slots, which were filled by a Radeon X600SE card (PCIe x16) and TV tuner card (PCI) in my test unit. This does mean, however, that you can upgrade the graphics later if you want to run more intensive 3D applications and games, like Doom 3.

Taken at face value, the Dell XPS 200 is an attractive Media Center PC for the dorm room, bedroom, den, or living room. But as the system doesn't include components, such as a DVD burner, that have become almost commonplace in PCs at the same price or lower, I have reservations about recommending it to PC Magazine's more demanding readers.

See how the Dell XPS 200 measures up to similar systems in our side-by-side desktop comparison chart.

Panasonic PV-GS39

2006-07-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

Capture crisp video for your widescreen TV without breaking the bank.

The Panasonic PV-GS39 has a unique low-profile design that takes some getting used to but is very comfortable for anyone with larger hands. The control placement is well thought out with a joystick on the mode dial that's easily accessible by your thumb. In fact, "one-handing" this model is a snap. Along with superb ergonomics, the camcorder has a beautiful 2.7-inch widescreen LCD for 16:9 recording, a 30X optical zoom, and a rugged construction. Video on the PV-GS39 showed good contrast and accurate color in daylight but produced some noise indoors in low light. Our only other quibble is that video quality degraded noticeably on the long end of the zoom.

NOKIA 6151

2006-07-30T19:33:00.000-07:00

What's New

No matter how fancy, a phone is still, above all, a phone: a trustworthy, convenient way for you to stay in touch with the people who matter to you at home, at the office, and abroad. That's why the Nokia 6151 is built to make calling, browsing, and transferring data as simple as possible. Plus you'll get a phone with a quality camera and FM radio to satisfy your indulgent side.

Reliable, 3G WCDMA broadband means you'll get great network coverage today and tomorrow. At the same time, the large keypad, clear display, and customizable user interface make dialing, browsing, and messaging a pleasure. And the high audio quality will have you hanging on every word.

Packaged into a smart, classic design suitable for work and play, the Nokia 6151 is a straightforward marriage of form and function that won't furrow your brow.

Phone Features

1.3-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and full screen landscape mode
Improved audio quality for calls
Large, dial-friendly keypad with dedicated keys
Clear and easy-to-read 262,144-colour display
3G broadband network coverage (WCDMA 2100)
Expandable microSD with hot swap
Music player and FM radio
Push to talk

Full Specifications

Operating Frequency

Dual-mode WCDMA 2100/tri-band GSM coverage on up to five continents (GSM/EDGE 900/1800/1900)
Automatic switching between bands for seamless coverage

Size

Weight: 98 g
Dimensions: 108 x 47 x 19 mm, 88 cc

Display and User Interface

Clear and easy-to-read 262,144-colour, 128 x 160 display (active area 28.91 x 35.48mm)
Large, dial-friendly keypad with five-way navigation key, two soft keys (user-configurable), send and end keys
Dedicated key for camera application, side volume keys for camera zoom functionality
Easy access to main used functions (call, camera, messaging, contacts, calendar)
Push to talk key (configurable)
Help functions
Flight mode

Imaging

1.3-megapixel camera: 1280 x 960 pixels, effective resolution 1.23 megapixels, with 4x digital zoom
Familiar landscape (horizontal) camera orientation with full screen viewfinder
Print directly from the phone to compatible picture printers
Drag and drop your pictures from phone microSD card directly to PC with USB cable or Bluetooth technology
Video streaming and recording in QCIF with high quality sound
3GPP H.263 playback+streaming and MPEG4 video and playback

Messaging

Full multimedia messaging for sending and receiving messages including video, photos, and music

Send and receive messages containing text, an audio clip, and an image or video clip to other compatible devices (maximum message size: up to 300 kB)
OMA MMS 1.2, MMS Conformance 3.0, AMR, and SMIL

Nokia Xpress audio messaging: record your own voice message and send to compatible devices
Instant messaging and Presence-enhanced contacts: check the status of your friends before you call them
Text messaging: Supports concatenated SMS, picture messaging, SMS distribution list
Predictive text input: Support for all major languages in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions

Music

Music player supports MP3, M4A, and eAAC+-family format files
Stereo FM radio supports Visual Radio (subject to availability in your region)

Memory Functions*

Up to 30 MB in-built flash memory available for user data including gallery content*
MicroSD card slot for storing pictures and music: supports up to 2GB microSD memory cards (available separately)

Hot swap: change memory cards without turning the phone off

*Specification is subject to change without notice

Applications

Java MIDP 2.0 for over-the-air download of Java-based games and applications
FOTA: firmware update over the air
Preinstalled games (Europe, Africa, and Middle East only): Golf Tour 3D, Rally 3D, Snake III, Soccer
Pre-installed applications (Europe, Africa, and Middle East only):

Calculator
World Clock II
Visual Radio: listen to music and interact with your favorite radio stations www.visualradio.com
Sensor: use Bluetooth technology to improve your networking www.nokia.com/sensor

Connectivity

Nokia PC Suite with USB, Bluetooth, and IrDa connectivity
Bluetooth version 2.0 supporting SIM access, object push, file transfer, dial-up networking, headset, handsfree, service discovery application, generic access, serial port, and generic object exchange profile
Pop-Port™ connector with USB 2.0
Local/remote SyncML data synchronization

Browsing

XHTML browser over WAP 2.0
Browser cache (300 kB)
WAP bookmarks (up to 50 entries)
WAP security cache and certificates (up to 20 entries)
OMA DRM 1.0 protects copyrighted material for secure music distribution services

Data Transfer

WCDMA 2100 for higher data rates and increased capacity compared with 2G networks

Maximum bit rate up to 384 kbps for downlink and 128 kbps for uplink with simultaneous CS speech (12.2 kbps)

EDGE Rel. 4: MSC 10 (RX+TX 4+1, 3+2)
GPRS: Multi-slot Class 10 (max. 53.6 kbps)
EGPRS: Multi-slot Class 10 (max. 236.8 kbps)
*During voice calls or SMS, GPRS/EGPRS service is suspended and resumed automatically
CSD for browsing and as data modem

* Note: Actual achieved speeds may vary depending on network support

Personal Information Management (PIM)

Phone book (up to 1000 entries)
Calendar notes (up to 900 entries)
To-do list (up to 30 entries)
Microsoft Outlook 98, 2000, 2002 and 2003, Microsoft Outlook Express
Lotus Notes 5.0 and 6.0, Lotus Organizer 5.0 and 6.0

Call Management

Speed dialing
Logs: keeps lists of your dialed, received, and missed calls
Automatic answer (works with headset or car kit only)
Conference calling
Call waiting, call hold

Voice Features

Push to talk over cellular (PoC) lets you use your phone like a walkie-talkie

Digital Services

OTA download of ringing tones, themes, wallpapers
Download/upload images and video sequences
Skins (wallpapers, icons, colours)
Video, MP3, AAC, eAAC+, True Tones, and 64-tone polyphonic ringing tones
Plug and play services
Visual Radio

Sales Package Contents

Nokia 6151 phone
Nokia Battery BP-6M
Nokia Travel Charger AC-4
Nokia Stereo Headset HDS-3
User guide, Quick guide
CD-ROM (China only)

Power Management

Battery	Talk time	Standby time
Battery BP-6M	GSM up to 4.5 hours UMTS up to 3.5 hours	GSM up to 250 hours UMTS up to 250 hours

AMD '4x4' technology discussed at analysts' meeting

2006-07-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

San Francisco (CA) - A very small conference, gathering together certain selected AMD technology supporters, including VooDoo PC and Microsoft, was held last Tuesday, the topic of which was the company's upcoming double-dual-core hardware platform, code-named "4x4." Among the few journalists invited to this micro-gathering was John Virata of Digital Media Online. His report on the conference was just published late this week by his sister publication, IT Business Net.

Among the speakers at the conference Virata quoted for his story were Brad Peebler, president of 3D rendering software company Luxology; and Rahul Sood, president of VooDoo PC. Their testimonials provide the first look, independently of AMD Corp., at the possible performance gains of 4x4:

Said Luxology's Peebler, "Our users are incredibly power hungry, and when we started this company, we were betting on threading." Running the company's Modo application on the 4x4 systems, Peebler saw an extreme boost in rendering capabilities. "The end result is we get 90 percent boost as we add multiple cores to handle the rendering tasks. It is all about multiple CPUs. If your app is threaded properly, you'll see near linear rendering."

At the other end of the extreme megatasking spectrum stood Rahul Sood, president of game PC maker Voodoo PC. PC gamers are always at the cutting edge of the PC market, buying the latest and fastest components money can buy, a market that AMD is obviously going after with 4x4. "Hardcore gamers are about the bare minimum," Sood said. They want all the processing power directed at the game they are playing, and not allowing the CPU to perform other tasks. With 4x4, game players will be enabled to perform multiple tasks, he said. "Most visionaries in the industry see 4x4 as the next step in gaming," Sood said. "Multitasking on the enthusiast platform is the next big thing."

WinBook T230

2006-07-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

It's about to be pushed aside by Intel's release of the all-new-architecture Core 2 Duo processor, but the first Core Duo has accomplished a lot in its seven-month life: The Pentium M successor not only brought dual-core power to portable PCs (well ahead of AMD's Turion 64 X2), but did so with little or no price penalty.

That's why WinBook, the Micro Electronics Inc. house brand known for value pricing, has been able to launch a pretty-well-equipped dual-core laptop for less than many of the single-core configurations still on retail shelves.

Of course, those shelves also hold plenty of stripped-down starter notebooks priced below the WinBook T230's tag of $1,300. But good luck finding a Core Duo CPU in a closeout special -- or, for that matter, 1GB of memory, a 120GB hard disk, DVD±RW burner, and a handsome wide-aspect-ratio, 14-inch screen, all in a reasonably easy-to-carry 5.5-pound package.

Pretty Perky Performance

The T230 uses a Core Duo T2300 processor, whose twin cores are clocked at 1.66GHz rather than the 2.0GHz of the T2500 chip in the Lenovo V100 we tested a few weeks ago, so it fell short of the Lenovo's benchmark numbers. But the chip's 667MHz front-side bus and 2MB Level 2 cache are the same, so the 10.8 by 13 by 1.0-inch notebook acquitted itself nicely on the Labs, Weather, & Sports Desk -- about as nicely as the 3.0GHz and 3.2GHz Pentium 4 desktops we thought were hot stuff not long ago.

The WinBook strode to a score of 183 in BAPCo's SysMark 2004 (Internet Content Creation 235, Office Productivity 142), with a Futuremark PCMark05 rating of 2,657 (CPU 3,883; memory 2,655; hard drive 3650; graphics 783). The tough image-rendering test of Cinebench 9.5 showed the difference an extra core makes, finishing the job in 0:48 with both cores working versus 1:29 in solo mode.

Like the Lenovo, however, the T230 relies on the Intel 945GM chipset's integrated video, which is no match for the speedy CPU. Old-school gamers may be satisfied with 86 frames per second in Quake III Arena, but 22 fps in Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory and 6 fps in AquaMark3 put the WinBook firmly in the word-processing rather than gaming class. Its 3DMark05 (XGA resolution) score of 375 is nothing to write home about; its native-resolution 3DMark06 rating of 93 is nothing to admit to.

Speaking of screen resolution, we're turning into big fans of 14-inch-diagonal widescreen displays as successors to previous middleweight notebooks' 15-inch flat panels -- some, like the WinBook's, offer 1,280 by 768 pixels while some make room for 1,280 by 800, but we consider both a good balance of size (both screen and system size) and readability.

The T230's LCD makes even small text sizes and icons sharp and legible; colors were crisp, though as with most laptops we found ourselves liking only the top two or three of the backlight brightness settings.

Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000

2006-07-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

Technologically speaking, it's our job here at HardwareCentral to be all-knowing: up to the minute on what's on the market, ready to explain details and differences to advise buyers about every PC-related purchase.

Take you, for example. You're interested in a Microsoft mouse but aren't sure which model suits you best? Right this way, friend. Let's take a quick peek at the vendor's Web page. As you see, Microsoft ... um, Microsoft has ... Microsoft sells 23 different mice? Oh, to hell with this, pal, you're on your own.

Well, OK, not quite. If you look at just a few models at close to the same price point, it's possible to tell how each is positioned in terms of features. Last fall, for instance, we reviewed Microsoft's Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, a top-of-the-line pointing device with extra-precise laser instead of the LED technology of most optical mice.

The 6000 also offers a scroll wheel that's not only clickable but tilts for horizontal as well as vertical scrolling; two left-side-mounted buttons including a magnifier to zoom in on any part of the screen; and ergonomic design sculpted for the right hand, with a thumb scoop on the left side and grooves or troughs on top to cradle the index and middle fingers. It's priced at $65 -- with most retailers, as with most mice, willing to take $5 or $10 off the sticker.

Today we're focusing on a newer entry: the Wireless Laser Mouse 5000. As you might guess from the model number, it's positioned one slot or one rung of the ladder below the 6000; as you might guess from the name, it uses the same -- what Microsoft calls high-definition -- laser design, shared only with the desktop and notebook versions of the 6000, and the same cordless interface, with a radio receiver that plugs into your computer's USB port.

Cased in dapper black to its sibling's silver, the 5000 shows a more symmetrical style, with curved thumb rests on both sides, instead of flaunting ergonomics that exclude left-handed users. It puts its extra buttons -- the mouse's fourth and fifth, following the primary left and right buttons and clickable scroll wheel -- one on each side, instead of both at the left. (More on them in a second.) Finally, the Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 is positioned as Microsoft's most affordable path to laser precision -- at $50, it's priced $15 below the flagship model.

Gliding Along

Two AA alkaline batteries (your first pair included) tuck into position beneath a hatch on the mouse's bottom; after inserting them and plugging in the receiver -- as with previous Microsoft wireless rodents, we found that putting the receiver on the floor or otherwise well away from your monitor and other electromagnetic interferers makes a big difference in performance -- setup is done, with no signal-sync or connection-button-pushing rigmarole.

Like other high-resolution mice, the 5000 may oblige you to spend your first hour practicing greater precision, since the cursor can easily zip across the entire screen with the motion your previous mouse required to move from one icon to the next. The laser tracks surely across surfaces ranging from a bare desktop to cardboard and from pants leg to plastic wrap; the only surface we tried that stymied the sensor was glossy photo paper. The cursor -- or Microsoft Paint's pencil or brush -- didn't skip or stumble even when whipping the mouse back and forth at top speed.

Ergonomically grooved it may not be, but the mouse felt quite comfortable to us, with just the right indent or concave side curve to support your thumb; ultra-smooth clicking for the two main buttons and scrolling for the wheel; and the left-side thumb button placed perfectly for a gentle squeeze.

Our only road-test disappointment was the right-side button. While from above it looks perfectly aligned with its left-side sister, its trigger or press-to-click zone proved to be half a button's length to the rear, so clicking it required a slight lift or slide backward of the middle or ring finger compared to just tapping an otherwise stationary thumb.

Without the IntelliPoint 5.5 software driver, tilting the wheel left or right for horizontal scrolling doesn't work, but clicking it enters auto-scroll mode and the left- and right-side buttons perform browser Back and Forward moves as you'd expect.

Have It Your Way

With the driver installed, the default setting for clicking the scroll wheel switches among open applications (think Alt-Tab). The left side button remains a Back button for Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer, but its counterpart on the right side activates Microsoft's Magnifier, which lets you drag a zoom pane around the screen to see details blown up to jumbo size. The device works pretty well, although the controls for resizing the pane or increasing or decreasing its zoom require awkward moving and scrolling while continuing to press the wheel down.

If you don't like the default button functions -- wishing to change Internet Explorer's Back and Forward to the Alt-Left and -Right Arrows that do the same for Mozilla Firefox, say -- the driver offers an easy array of pull-down menus and alternative shortcuts, from Cut and Paste to launching a favorite program, from custom keystrokes to toggling a Precision Booster that lets game navigators or image editors slow the mouse's response speed to anywhere from 10 to 90 percent of the usual.

It's no trouble to set up different button actions for different applications, so Back in your browser equals Undo in your word processor or whatever. We still grumble a bit, however, that even when there's no need for horizontal scrolling, Microsoft's driver doesn't let you assign a different action to a left or right tilt of the wheel as Logitech's does.

Except for that and the imperfect right-side button, we like the Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 a lot. In fact, we daresay we like it better than the more ritzy 6000. Both work fine, but testing Microsoft's top, then next-to-top, mouse felt a little like seeing Volkswagen, after the poor sales of its high-priced, Mercedes-wanna-be Phaeton luxury cruiser, get back to its roots with solid, bread-and-butter Passat and Golf cars.

HP OfficeJet 7410

2006-07-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

If you're willing to gamble on an all-in-one at double the price of its lesser-endowed peers, your bet is safe with the HP OfficeJet 7410 All-in-One. You'll shell out less dough for a smaller network-ready all-in-one such as the Brother MFC-420cn, but you'll reap fewer returns in functionality and fun than with the HP OfficeJet 7410. Like many low-cost all-in-ones, this pricier device will print, copy, and scan from digital-media cards and PictBridge slots and will send faxes through your PC's software. But the 7410 also prints on both sides of a page, makes legal-size scans and copies, connects to a wired or wireless network, and accepts a stack of pages to copy through its automatic document feeder (ADF). You can even add a Bluetooth adapter for $49.99. Oh, and its input trays fit 400 pages, so you don't have to keep adding paper. If the HP OfficeJet 7410 had individual color and black ink cartridges like the Epson Stylus CX4600 does, and if it had a removable scanner lid like the Lexmark X7170's for bulky items, we'd be tempted to rate it a 10. As it is, the HP 7410 is hard to beat, especially if network printing and scanning are mandatory and you have a passion for sharing photos with friends, family, or business associates.

Design of HP OfficeJet 7410

The HP OfficeJet 7410 All-in-One is a broad-shouldered, no-nonsense, two-tone gray all-in-one. Before you lug it home or to the office, make sure to spare room for this 22-inch-wide, 18-inch-deep, 14-inch-tall, 31-pound deluxe device. Blame the 7410's extra width on the legal-size (8.5-by-14-inch) flatbed scanner and copy bed, which any lawyer will appreciate. Atop the lid is a 50-sheet-capacity ADF with a built-in envelope guide for up to 20 envelopes. The 7410's lid opens easily, but the hinges won't open wide or detach, so forget about scanning books or bulky items.

Because it can perform so many feats, the HP OfficeJet 7410's control panel appears awash in silver buttons, but they're well-organized, so you won't drown figuring them out. A pale-silver rectangle frames the central 12-key alphanumeric keypad and the 2-by-1.5-inch color LCD, alongside an OK button ringed by four arrow buttons for navigating the menus. Functions are split by task, with Scan and Fax keys on the left and Copy, Photo, and Print on the right. In each category, you can use one-touch function buttons with the LCD. For example, pressing the Scan To button calls up a nine-item list of destinations such as Scan To E-mail or Scan To Photoshop. Once you've made your pick, just choose the number of your selection and press OK. Other helpful buttons include Collate, Auto Answer (for faxes), Two-Sided (for copies, faxes, and prints), and Proof Sheet (for photos).

If you lift the control-panel ledge from below, the top opens backward to expose two ink-cartridge holders: one for tricolor printing and another for black text, grayscale photo, or color photos. Unfortunately, each time you alternate between text and photo printing, you'll also have to swap cartridges. This can be a pain, especially if you're using a networked HP OfficeJet 7410 from afar. You'll also wind up paying more to replace photo ink than if this machine kept separate cartridges for each color. At least the print driver on your computer will show you how much ink is left in each cartridge.

Two input trays, one holding 150 sheets and another for 250 pages, reside at the bottom of the 7410, just above a 50-sheet capacity tray for receiving faxes, copies, and prints. (If you don't want a 250-sheet paper tray or Wi-Fi, knock $100 off the price and step down to the HP OfficeJet 7310.) To the right of the paper trays rest built-in slots for digital-media cards and a PictBridge port for connecting a digital camera. At the back of the HP OfficeJet 7410 are the automatic duplexer and ports for Ethernet, USB 2.0, and two phone jacks. Alongside them is the power cable.

Features of HP OfficeJet 7410

The HP OfficeJet 7410 All-in-One doesn't take its title lightly. We've praised the versatile Epson Stylus CX6600, but at less than half the price of the HP 7410, it also offers a fraction of the features. This HP can perform as a standalone copier and photo printer with a roomy 96MB of RAM for storing documents and images. Direct digital-photo printing at up to 4,800x1,200dpi comes courtesy of a PictBridge port for connecting to newer-model digital cameras, and of slots for Compact Flash, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, SmartMedia, and xD-Picture digital-media cards. The legal-size scanner flatbed scans in grayscale and color at up to 2,800x4,800dpi, compared to the 1,200x2,400dpi scans of most other all-in-ones.

As if that weren't enough, the HP 7410 works with Macintosh and Windows computers and ships ready to join an Ethernet or 802.11b/g wireless network. Two more benefits: the 7410 has a built-in duplexer for double-sided printing and an automatic document feeder (ADF) for multiple-page faxing, copying, and printing. You can also fax in color without PC software by using the 7410's well-powered 33.6Kbps modem. If you're itching to print photos straight from your camera phone or PDA, you can spring for a $49.99 Bluetooth adapter.

The HP OfficeJet 7410 All-in-One accepts a variety of paper types up to legal size, including cards, envelopes (up to 20 at once), transparencies, and photo paper. Once you get over the disappointment of not having individual cartridges for each ink color, nor for black and photo inks, you'll be pleased to know that ink costs, while still pricier per ounce than fine champagne, are less lavish than for other inkjet printers.

Color cartridges run $24.99 for 7ml or $34.99 for double the capacity. HP predicts that you'll get 450 printed sheets out of the 14ml cartridge, for an affordable color cost per page of 8 cents. The black cartridge costs $19.99 for 11ml or $10 more for 21ml, with an estimated page yield of 800. That brings the cost per grayscale page to 4 cents, which is decent for an inkjet. If you use the 13ml photo cartridge for $24.99, HP estimates you will get 135 pictures at 4x6-inch size, averaging 19 cents per image.

HP includes its ImageZone and InstantShare software for Windows or Mac users. ImageZone helps you organize, enhance, and print photos. With the 7410 hooked up by USB cable to your PC, you can use InstantShare to send scanned photos or images from your camera card to someone in the printer's network or over the Internet to a friend's e-mail address, an online photo album, or a Web photo-development service. If your 7410 is networked with an Internet connection, any friend or relative who also uses HP InstantShare can send you photos or scans, and you can program your machine to automatically print photos from certain senders. As a bonus, you can download the HP remote printer driver and send print jobs to your 7410 from any Windows PC with drivers installed, whether your laptop is in a cafe or on a desktop in a copy shop.

For all that, the HP OfficeJet 7410 is easy to set up with a recent operating system. PC users need Windows 98 or later; Mac users will need OS 9.1 or later, OS X 10.1.5, OS X 10.2.3 or later, or OS X 10.3.x. The 7410 does not support MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, 95, or NT 4.0, or Mac OS 9.0 and earlier. It also neglects Mac OS X 10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2.

Software and drivers take about 10 minutes to load, though installation could eat up more than half an hour on older PCs. A glossy, 16-page guide provides color-coded instructions for USB, Ethernet, and wireless setup. The guide also provides PC and Mac installation guidelines, and HP supplies a CD-ROM of software for each platform. HP adds a 239-page printed user's guide, a 60-page Wireless and Wired Network Guide, and a pamphlet on using the duplexer and the 250-sheet plain-paper tray.

Performance of HP OfficeJet 7410

Quality
Overall, the HP OfficeJet 7410 All-in-One performed well and quietly in CNET Labs' tests. The text prints in our samples looked excellent. Printed at the maximum resolution of 1,200x1,200dpi on coated inkjet paper, the text in our test document came out dark, smooth, and easily legible, even at tiny 3.5-point font sizes and smaller.

Color graphics were less impressive but still good. Also printed on coated inkjet paper at 1,200x1,200 dpi, the test prints showed copious detail but looked undersaturated and suffered from color banding in the gradients.

The HP OfficeJet 7410 printed some of the cleanest photographs we've seen in our Labs. Color photographs came out slightly cool with a slight cyan cast, but detail was good. The ability to reproduce minute details, such as the bright sheen of a tiny egg, was impressive. Skin tones and other colors looked smooth.

Sadly, scans were less notable. Our black-and-white test scan was pale and overexposed, though accurate and detailed. The color scan was worse: light areas disappeared completely, and colors strayed from the original.

CNET Labs' inkjet speed tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Copy speed

Color scan speed

Grayscale scan speed

Photo speed

Text speed

HP OfficeJet 7410

1.79

3.15

3.02

0.52

7.06

Epson Stylus CX6600

3.85

1.64

3.84

0.35

4.67

Brother MFC-420cn

2.27

3.10

2.95

0.15

3.19

Lexmark X7170

0.75

4.68

5.34

0.10

1.12

Speed
Printing text, the HP OfficeJet 7410 All-in-One was one of the fastest all-in-one machines we've tested. It produced seven pages of black text per minute, edging out the popular Epson Stylus CX6600 and more than doubling the speed of the Brother MFC-420cn.

The 7410 also beat the Epson Stylus CX6600 in photo-printing speed. It spent just under two minutes producing an 8.5x10 glossy photograph, against nearly three minutes for the Epson all-in-one.

The HP OfficeJet 7410 was less zippy when scanning--an area in which the Lexmark X7170 excelled. But overall, the 7410 scored very well in CNET Labs' tests for its ease of use and robust features as well as its impressive speeds at most tasks.

CNET Labs' inkjet quality tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Color scan

Grayscale scan

Photo

Graphics on inkjet paper

Text on inkjet paper

Epson Stylus CX6600

Excellent

Good

Excellent

HP OfficeJet 7410

Fair

Good

Excellent

Good

Excellent

Brother MFC-420cn

Fair

Good

Lexmark X7170

Poor

Excellent

Good

Poor

Nokia 6111

2006-07-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

Slide open the Nokia 6111 phone for fast and easy access to the menu, applications, browsing, music, pictures, videos and other phone functions.

Capture, show, and share pictures and video – all in landscape mode with a 262,144-color display, megapixel camera, 6x digital zoom, and camera flash.

When you need to get files from one device to another, the Nokia 6111 phone gives you true versatility with Bluetooth technology, infrared, Pop-Port™, and USB. Phone Features
Megapixel camera with 6x digital zoom and landscape camera mode
262,144-color display
Video streaming and recording (up to 1 hour)
Visual Radio
Media player with stereo sound and MP3 and AAC ringing tones
Nokia Xpress audio Messaging
Push to talk

Full Specifications

Display and User Interface
Active TFT 262,144-color, 128 x 160 pixels (29x35mm) display
New UI look and features

Integrated Digital Camera
Megapixel camera with landscape camera mode
Camera flash
6x digital zoom
Video streaming and recording for more than 60 minutes at 40 kbps (memory dependent)

Messaging
Xpress audio messaging: New, easy-to-use interface for audio messages. Record your own voice message and send to compatible devices.
MMS OMA 1.2: Combine image, video, text and voice clips and send as MMS to a compatible phone or PC; use MMS to tell your story with a multi-slide presentation. The MMS OMA 1.2 specification allows you to send/receive messages up to 300 kB in size.
Text messaging: Supports concatenated SMS, picture messaging, SMS distribution list
Predictive text input: Support for all major languages in Europe and Asia-Pacific
Email: Access your work and private email accounts; supports SMTP, POP3, and IMAP4 protocols
Presence: Includes Wireless Village, Instant Messaging, and Dynamic phonebook; know someone's status before you call

Multimedia
Integrated video player for download and playback or for streaming: 3GPP, H.264 video, MPEG-4, and AMR
Video encoding and playback in QCIF format with sound
Use AAC/MP3 tracks for ringing/game/alert tones, as well as MIDI/polyphonic tones
FM stereo radio
Visual Radio

Push to Talk
Push to talk over cellular (PoC) lets you use your phone like a walkie-talkie
Easy access with dedicated key

Memory Functions
Approximately 23 MB available for video, audio, image files

Games
Champ Rally 3D
Golf Tour
Backgammon II
Solitaire
Download new Java™ games

Applications
Visual Radio
Improved calendar (with week view)
World Clock II
Java™ MIDP 2.0 with Bluetooth API makes downloading new applications easy

Connectivity
Transfer images, video clips, audio files, and other files
Bluetooth wireless technology: Wide range of profiles and APIs for seamless connectivity
Infrared
USB port
Easy remote or local synchronization with a PC or other compatible device
Full OMA DRM 1.0 protects copyrighted material

Browsing
Integrated XHTML browser connects over TCP/IP stack
3GPP video streaming
Smart content download: OMA DRM 1.0, MMS 1.2
OTA provisioning

Data Transfer
EDGE multislot class 8 (4+1): speed up to 236.8 kbps
GPRS multislot class 8 (4+1): speed up to 85.6 kbps
HSCSD (high-speed circuit-switched data) transfer up to 43.2 kbps in HSCSD networks
TCP/IP

Call Management
Speed dialing: Up to 9 names, with keys 2-9
Last number redial from dialed calls list (Dial key brings out the dialed calls list)
Automatic redial (max 10 attempts)
Automatic answer (works with headset or car kit only)
Call waiting, call hold, call divert, call timer
Automatic and manual network selection
Caller identification with image
Conference call (up to 5 participants)
Vibrating alert

Voice Features
Voice dialing (25 preset)
16 voice commands
Voice recording up to 60 minutes
Integrated handsfree speaker
Manual volume control

Digital Services
MP3/AAC ringing tones
Downloadable themes
Up to 64 channels of polyphonic ringing and gaming tones and true tones

Nokia N73

2006-07-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

Dimensions

• Weight: 116 g

• Height: 110 mm

• Width: 49 mm

• Thickness (max): 19 mm

Operating frequency

• Dualmode WCDMA/GSM and quadband GSM coverage on up to five continents (WCDMA2100/EGSM850/900/1800/1900 networks)

• Automatic switching between bands and modes

Memory Functions

• Up to 42 MB* internal dynamic memory for contacts, text messages, multimedia messages, ringing tones, images, video clips, calendar notes, to-do list and applications

• Support for miniSD memory card (hot swappable)

• Approx. memory capacity indication with 1GB miniSD memory card

• Video (MPEG4 CIF @ 15fps AAC audio) up to 175 min

• Photos (3.2 megapixel) up to 1219 photos

• Music (eAAC+) up to 1092 tracks

* Changes to product details are possible without prior notice. Application offering may vary. Dynamic memory means that the available memory is shared between dynamic memory functions. When any of these functions is used, there is less available memory for other functions which are also dependent on dynamic memory.

Display and User Interface

• Active standby main services always on top

• Active toolbar interface in camera and gallery

• On device photo editor and video editor (manual & automatic)

• Large bright 2.4 inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) TFT color display with up to 262,144 colors

• Ambient light detector - used to optimize display brightness and power consumption

• Review key provides direct access to photos and videos

• Multimedia key provides direct access to predefined application

• Slideshow from gallery with Ken Burns effect (automatic zoom and pan) and 3D sound effect stereo speakers

• S60 software on Symbian OS

Call Management

• Speed dialing

• Voice dialling and commands

• Nokia PoC (push to talk)

• Contacts: advanced contacts database with support for multiple device and email details per entry, also supports thumbnail pictures and groups

• Call logs: keeps lists of your dialed, received, and missed calls

• Automatic redial

• Automatic answer (works with compatible headset or car kit only)

• Supports fixed dialing number, which allows calls only to predefined numbers

• Conference call

Camera Specifications

• CMOS sensor, 3.2 megapixel (2048x1536 pixels) with autofocus and digital zoom up to 20x

• Carl Zeiss Optics, Tessar™ lens

• Focal length 5.6 mm

• Focus range 10 cm ~ infinity

• Macro mode with 10 cm focus distance

• Mechanical shutter with 1/1000~2s shutter speed

• Active slide cover for lens protection

Photography

• 3.2 megapixel camera (2048 x 1536 pixels) with up to 20x digital zoom

• 2-stage capture key for autofocus control

• 2.4 inch camera viewfinder in landscape orientation and with active toolbar

• Slide for camera protection and activation

• Integrated flash (operating range up to 1m)

• Modes: auto, off, on, red-eye reduction

• Advanced camera modes: still, sequence, video

• Scenes: automatic, user defined, close-up, portrait, landscape, sport and night

• White balance: automatic, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent

• Color tone: normal, sepia, B&W, vivid, negative

• Light sensitivity: high, medium, low, automatic

• Settings for brightness adjustment, image quality, self-timer, white balance and color tones

Video

• Video: play, record, stream

• Audio recording AAC stereo

• Video stabilization

• Video clip up to 1.5h (limited by available memory)

• File format .mp4 (high), .3gp (normal, MMS)

• Video capture: 352x288 (CIF) at up to 15 fps MPEG-4

• Automatic white balance control

• Scenes: auto, night, close-up, snow/beach, cine, old film

• Digital zoom CIF up to 4x / QCIF up to 8x

• Two-way video call capability

• Second VGA camera (640 x 480 pixels ) with up to 2x digital zoom

• Real time video sharing to another compatible mobile device

Editing

• On device photo editor and video editors (manual & automatic)

• Home photo editing on compatible PC with Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition

Nokia XpressPrint

• Print digital photos directly from the device

• Transfer photos directly to a compatible printer, printing kiosk via Bluetooth wireless technology, a compatible miniSD card or to PictBridge-compliant printer via USB cable

• Built-in application is quick and easy to use; no installation, no fuss

• Print tag tag photos for later and easy printing

• Photo quality prints up to 10x8/25x20cm

• Find out more at www.nokia.com/xpressprint

Nokia XpressShare

• Easy sharing of captured photos and videos directly from the gallery or straight after capture via email or Bluetooth wireless technology while retaining full image quality or via MMS with automatic resizing of images to fit MMS

• Two-way video call capability

• Video sharing for one-way live video or video clip sharing within the voice call

• Image/video uploading from gallery to pre-defined online album

• Find out more at www.nokia.com/xpressshare

Nokia XpressTransfer

• Transfer and organise photos and videos between your device and compatible PC

• Connect to compatible PC and images are automatically transferred with Nokia Image Store feature in Nokia PC Suite, and photo albums created on the device are saved in similar albums on the PC

• Organise and edit photos and videos on a compatible PC with Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition

• Deletion or resizing of the images and videos transferred from the device. Resizing means you can carry a large collection of photos and videos on your device and full quality versions are stored on the PC

• Gallery preserves a view of photos and videos transferred to PC

• Find out more at www.nokia.com/xpresstransfer

Music Features

• Digital music player: supports MP3/AAC/eAAC/eAAC+/WMA with playlists and equalizer

• OMA DRM 2.0 support for music files

• Stereo FM radio (87.5-108MHz /76-90MHz)*

• Visual Radio support, find out more at www.visualradio.com

• Integrated stereo speakers with stereo music

• Nokia Music Manager application in Nokia PC Suite for music transfer

*Stereo sound can only be heard with a compatible stereo headset.

Productivity

• Quickoffice document viewers (Quickword, Quickpoint, Quicksheet)

• Adobe PDF reader

• PIM (Personal Information Management): Contacts, Calendar, To-do, Notes, Recorder, Calculator, Clock, Converter, Printing

• PC synchronization with Nokia PC Suite - Local/Remote (Windows 2000, XP)

• Data: Calendar, Contacts, To-do, Notes, Email

• PC applications: Microsoft Outlook (2000, 2002, 2003), Outlook Express, Lotus Organizer (5.0, 6.0), Lotus Notes (5.0, 6.0)

• Anti-virus

• Yahoo! Go

• Email client with attachments and mobile VPN support

• Settings Wizard/Access Point Configurator

Browsing & Messaging

• Internet browser: XHTML, HTML

• Email (SMTP, IMAP4, POP3), MMS, SMS

Connectivity

• Pop-Port ™ interface with USB 2.0 full speed

• Bluetooth wireless technology 2.0

• Infrared

Data Transfer*

• WCDMA 2100 with simultaneous voice and packet data (PS max speed UL/DL= 128/384kbps, CS max speed 64kpbs)

• Dual Transfer Mode (DTM) support for simultaneous voice and packet data connection in GSM/EDGE networks

• WCDMA packet data rates: UL 384kbps, DL 384kbps

• Circuit data to 64kbits/s for video call

• EGPR class B, multi slot class 11 (UL 118.4 kbps, DL 236.8 kbps)

• Speech codecs supported: FR, EFR, WCDMA, and GSM AMR

• Data transfer application for moving data from compatible old Nokia S60 device over Bluetooth connectivity

*Actual achieved speeds may vary depending on network support.

Add-on Software

• Operating system: Symbian ver. 9.1

• User interface: Nokia S60 3rd Edition

• Java: MIDP2.0, CLDC 1.1, 3D API, PIM API, File access API

• C++ and Java SDKs

Stream media files from compatible media portals
RealPlayer media player

• Stream media files from compatible media portals

• True Web experience with Nokia Web Browser (secondary browser)

• RealPlayer media player

• Download and play multimedia files (video and music)

• Stream media files from compatible media portals

• Full-screen video playback on the device to view downloaded, streamed or recorded video clips in larger size

• Played formats: AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AAC, RealAudio, RealVideo, H.263, MPEG-4

Sales Package Contents Available colors: Silver Grey/Deep Plum, Frost White/Metallic Red

• Nokia N73

• Nokia Battery BP-6M (1100mAH)

• Nokia Charger AC-4

• Nokia Charger Adapter CA-44

• Nokia Classic Stereo Headset HS-23

• Nokia Connectivity Cable CA-53

• Wrist strap and lens cleaning cloth

• CD-ROM: Nokia PC Suite & Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition

• User Documentation: User guide, Get Started guide, Get Connected guide & Additional Applications leaflet

Operating Times*

• Talk time (ECTEL): up to 226 min (WCDMA) / 246 min (GSM)

• Standby time (ECTEL): up to 370 hours (WCDMA) / 350 hours (GSM)

• Still images : up to 800 pictures (3.2 megapixel)

• Video capture up to 186 min (CIF, 15fps)

• Video call up to 150 min

• Video playback up to 366 min (CIF, 15fps)

• Music playback up to 12.6 hours (offline mode)

* Operation times may vary depending on radio access technology used, operator network configuration and usage.

Sony Vaio UX180P..

2006-07-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

Thus far the UMPC concept has been just that, a concept. The hardware has been less than compelling, as manufacturers worry more about price point than producing something people want. To be fair, I enjoyed the Samsung Q1 at times and think it has a future with certain niche markets. Now Sony has come out with a second or third attempt at the UMPC market, depending on how you count their machines, and in typical Sony way, paid less attention to price than to features and functionality. Where the Samsung Q1 skimped, Sony splurged, releasing the most full featured UMPC, or Micro PC as they call it, to date. Say hello to the Sony Vaio UX180P.

Specifications

Dimensions - 5.91"(W) x 3.74"(H) x 1.27-1.50"(D)
Weight - 1.2 lbs.
Intel Core Solo Processor U1400 (1.20 GHz , 2 MB L2 Cache)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 128 MB dynamically allocated shared RAM/Video memory
Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 2)
4.5" Wide SVGA LCD, Touch Screen (1024x600)
Intel 945GMS Chipset
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (802.11 a/b/g)
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) accessing Cingular Wireless National EDGE Network
Integrated Bluetooth Technology
30 GB 4200 rpm Ultra ATA Hard Drive with G-Sensor Shock Protection
512 MB PC2-3200 400 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Microphone jack, Headphone jack, Built-in microphone
Memory Stick Duo Media Slot
1 USB 2.0 port, port replicator connector, DC-in
64 keys with 0.15 mm stroke and 8.6 mm pitch keyboard
Thumb-pointer
Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
Mouse Left, Mouse Right, Scroll, Magnify Screen (Zoom In/Out), Capture, Center Button, Wireless LAN On/Off, VAIO Touch Launcher
Standard Capacity Lithium-ion Battery (Standard Battery: 2.5-4.5 hours)
2 Built-in Cameras (front: 0.3 megapixels and back: 1.3 megapixels)
Supplied accessories: Cingular SIM Card, Standard Lithium-ion battery, AC Adapter, Port Replicator, 4-pin i.LINK interface, 3 USB 2.0, Ethernet, VGA-Out, A/V-out and DC-in, Soft Carrying Case, Power Cord, Stylus, VGA/LAN Adapter - Ethernet, VGA-Out and A/V-Out, Strap

Form and Design

As is the case with the entirety of Sony's product line, the UX180 is all about style. There's not a person, young or old, that I showed this to, who wasn't blown away. The entire package is tremendously sleek, given all the features that are jammed into this tiny package.

Front of the Sony UX180

Looking at the UX from the top down, the most obvious feature is the 4.5" display, which in traditional Sony fashion, is fantastic. We'll go into more detail later, but they continue to set the standard for small computing devices like this. Down the left side of the face are the, left, right and center mouse buttons, launcher button for Sony's management console and the wireless on/off switch. Across the top of the face are the speaker, biometric scanner and the front camera. Down the right side is the pointer, zoom in/out buttons, power switch (with hold function) and built in microphone.

Of course one of the greatest design features of the UX180, is the fact that the face slides up completely to reveal a 64-key QWERTY keyboard.

The bottom of the display also houses a status panel for the battery, hard drive, number lock, caps lock, scroll lock, Bluetooth, WLAN and WWAN.

Left side

The left side of the UX houses a USB port, SIM card slot and an air vent, something this model has a lot of. The SIM card cover can be removed by taking out the screw. The UX comes with a Cingular card already installed, so if you have current data service on another SIM card, you should be able to swap them out without a problem.

Top side

The top of the unit features an air vent, focus selection switch for the camera, Memory Stick Duo card slot and the capture button for snapping pictures. Of course the use of the Memory Stick Duo slot is going to rub some buyers the wrong way. Sony has licensed the Secure Digital format for other machines and it would have been nice to see here too, though they probably couldn't fit both and when it comes down to it. They have much more invested in the success of the Memory Stick than SD. It doesn't bother me much since I have a few Duo cards, but I understand the complaint.

Right side

The right side is the most plain on the UX, there are two strap loops and a slot for the battery.

Bottom

The bottom of the UX contains the DC in port, air vent, I/O connector, headphone jack and microphone jack. Since they're on the bottom you might fear losing the audio jacks when the UX180 is docked, but Sony carved out a slot for those cords, so they can stay connected. Though cords with L tips or other abnormalities might not work that well or may obstruct the keyboard when docked.

Back

Odd for most portable computing devices, the back of the Sony UX180 has quite a bit going on. The sliding mechanism reveals a second integrated digital camera. The main area features a stylus silo, additional vents and a swing out antenna for the Cingular data service. The antenna appears to be very durable, but is not accessible while cradled. The back also has a few rubber feet that keep the UX from sliding when sitting on a desk.

In general, the UX180 fits in the hands about right, clearly designed for two-handed use. The materials are strong, there's no bending or creaking when torqued. The slider mechanism for the screen is a potential problem, but early on that seems solid too. We'll get into the details of all the features highlighted above, but in terms of build and design, the UX180 is very solid.

Screen

As usual, Sony shines when it comes to the display. The 4.5" LCD is gorgeous; the only real downside is there's no hardware buttons to manage brightness. You have to do this through an application, which is a little bit of a pain for a device like this. The screen performs flawlessly inside, but even does a respectable job outside, in full sun.

Screen in the dark

The 1024x600 resolution is a little non-standard, but is welcome nonetheless. At 800x600 the device would have really suffered in terms of web browsing and certain productivity tasks like spreadsheets. At 1024x768, the screen probably gets too tight. So while it might sound weird, the decision to go with 1024x600 ends up being pretty solid in my book. I found it to be perfect for the way I used the device. Others I shared it with also found the resolution to be about right, though if you have troubled eyesight, long-term use of this display is going to result in eye strain.

One of our sites on the UX

Of course the LCD panel is touch sensitive, so it works well with stylus input and even the occasional fingernail or fingertip, though both are discouraged throughout the manual. The screen is fully exposed at all times, so you're going to want to use the included case and those who are more nervous about these things definitely need to invest in a good screen protector.

Processor and Performance

The Sony UX180 uses the Intel Core Solo Processor U1400 (1.20 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache). It's nice to see Sony going with a more powerful processor than Celeron based competing devices. For productivity uses, the processor and the included 512 MB RAM, will be sufficient. In fact, I could see this being a primary machine for those who do little more than use an office suite, the web and email. If you do any heavy work though, like Photoshop and the like, you'll find the UX struggling to keep up.

The included hard drive is a 30 GB 4200 RPM unit. Of course the down side is there's no way to upgrade with a faster unit, one of the compromises with a device this small. Sony did do some good though with what they had to work with. They included disk drive shock protection, which in a nice small droppable unit like this, is much appreciated. They offer three levels of protection, the more protection, the less performance. The default is at the medium level, I dropped mine to low since I plan on cradling it like a baby at all times.

The blue bars indicate drive stress

The biggest problem with the hardware is that it's very difficult, it not impossible to upgrade the components. While this capability is expected with traditional notebooks and Tablets, it's not with PDAs and the rest of the UMPC market is about the same. So it's just something that's part of the deal with this type of machine.

Performance Benchmarks

We used SuperPI to calculate the number Pi to 2 Million digits in this raw number crunching benchmark. This open source benchmark application allows the user to change the number of digits of Pi that can be calculated from 16 Thousand to 32 Million. The benchmark, which uses 19 iterations in the test, was set to 2 Million digits.

Machine	Time to Calculate Pi to 2 Million Digits

Sony Vaio UX180P (U1400 1.2 GHz)	2m 2s
Samsung Q1 UMPC (900 MHz ULV Celeron)	3m 6s
Fujitsu LifeBook P1500D (1.2 GHz ULV Pentium M	2m 23s
Fujitsu ST5000 Tablet PC(1.1 GHz ULV Pentium M)	2m 37s

Generally we would include results from PC Mark, but more tests failed than succeeded with that software as it had trouble handling the UX. In general terms though, the UX is capable for productivity tasks but should not be expected to do well with gaming, or other high load activities.

Keyboard and Input

The UX180's keyboard is revealed by sliding the display up, or the body down, depending on how you look at it. The keyboard contains 64 keys with 0.15 mm stroke and 8.6 mm pitch. Upon revealing the keyboard a blue backlight comes on, which illuminates it well. When in use the backlight stays on for roughly 15 seconds after the last button press. Sony did a good job getting as many dedicated keys in place as they could. Then they gave secondary functions to almost all of them.

Keyboard revealed

In terms of usability, I'm sort of mixed on the keyboard. I generally like it, but would prefer more definition to the keys. They're flat, making it difficult to tell where you are without looking. There's also not enough feedback, so I found at times I didn't know if I actually registered a button press or not. I would often find myself typing, only to stop to peek at the screen and notice I'd left a few letters behind. This issue will get better with usage though, as you train your fingers how to use the keyboard.

Backlit keyboard

The UX also includes a very capable analog pointing stick. It works similar to a pointing nub on a notebook, controlling the direction of the mouse. Tapping the pointing stick also acts as a single click. I found the pointer to be very responsive with default settings; of course you can tweak these in the control panel. It's also pressure sensitive, so the harder you push the faster the mouse will move. Coupled with the three mouse buttons on the left, this is actually a really great way to interact with the UX. Sony has executed here where others have stumbled for whatever reason. If you use the pointer as much as I have, you'll be happy to know that Sony includes a few backup nubs should the included one wear out. The only down side is that I noticed it can pop off a little too easily, so be careful when taking the UX out of the included case, I lost mine in there more than once.

Another key interaction mechanism is the touch panel display. While you can poke the screen with your finger, it's ideal to use a stylus since it's more accurate and less messy. If you don't have experience with Tablet PCs or PDAs, it's absolutely critical to use a proper input device here. Anything else may damage the display, making your UX180 very unhappy. The included stylus is pretty good, a telescoping model that reaches 3 5/8" when extended.

Using the touch screen and stylus isn't much different than a mouse. A quick tap is the same as a mouse click and a double tap acts as a double click. Sony has also included something called touch commands, which give you even more control when using the stylus. For example, you can drag the stylus to the left to go back to the previous page in your web browser.

There are a few other buttons that are appropriate to discuss in this section. The launcher button on the left side is mapped to launch the Sony management application by default. This button can be mapped to something else if you like. The magnifying glass buttons on the right let you zoom in and out at any time. There are a few cases where the high resolution might be a strain, so being able to zoom in on a small section of a document or website might be helpful to some.

Docking

Sony really delivered where Samsung and others are completely missing the boat. They've offered, scratch that, included a fully functional docking station that makes a huge difference. Instead of being a stand alone computer, the UX180 becomes what can be a base computer for most users. The UX can just drop into the dock and get power, IEEE 1394, VGA, 3 USB, Ethernet, and AV out ports. The cradle is small enough to travel too, which is nice.

Front shot of the UX180 in the docking station

Rear shot of the dock

Side shot of the dock

If the dock is too much though, Sony also tossed in a dongle that ads VGA out, Ethernet and AV out. These two included accessories are critical for this platform. The UMPC as a stand alone device is too niche, accessories like this are point on, expanding the functionality of the device exponentially.

VGA/Ethernet dongle

Battery and Power

The battery in the UX180 is small, as it has to be by design, and it has to power a great deal of equipment. So it's not much of a surprise that when we ran Battery Eater Pro we busted through the battery in 95 minutes. The good news though, is that's the minimum effective life of the battery, so no matter how hard you try you shouldn't get much less. The reality is, battery life under normal conditions should be in the 2.5-3 hour range, depending on usage. In addition to the Windows power schemes, Sony includes an application of their own that's fairly robust, and will help you milk the maximum battery life out of this machine.

Power brick

There's often a lot of worry about the power brick with units like this. Sony did well with this one, it's reasonably sized. Perhaps the coolest thing about it though, yes, something cool about a power cord, is the tip. It glows bright green when plugged in. It's a small touch, but a very nice one indeed.

Glowing green power cord

Wireless

One of the best things about the UX is the triple threat wireless. They've got the standard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but also included access to the Cingular data network. The latter is absolutely critical in my mind for a device like this; at least the option is anyway. By design this computer is extremely mobile, so it needs to be able to access the Internet anywhere and sometimes Wi-Fi just isn't enough.

If you're new to the Cingular data network, Sony includes a free 30-day trial for the service if you sign up for a year at $79.99 (for unlimited data). You can cancel any time within those 30 days though at no cost. They also have a discounted rate for those with current Cingular phone service, at $59.99.

The utility of the Cingular service will depend on coverage in your area and how often you find a need to be online where hotspots or other connectivity options don't exist. I would prefer Sony work out a deal with Verizon, but they don't offer this, they have an exclusive arrangement with Cingular at the moment.

The wireless LAN is powered by Intel's 3945 ABG card. One of my major gripes about Intel's card is the included wireless management software, which I think is terrible. I was thrilled to notice that by default Sony uses the Windows zero configuration network manager. They give you the option to switch to Intel's though if you're into pain. As to connections, I found the wireless to be acceptable. It connected easily to a few different access points and the speeds were generally very good. I don't see any downside in terms of performance as a side effect to the tiny size of the UX. Perhaps if you're on the edge of the network range you'll see more significant drop off, but if you're in the main coverage area you'll be in good shape.

The integrated Bluetooth radio uses the Toshiba stack. I was able to pair a few devices with the UX180 with no trouble.

Biometric Scanner

The Sony UX180 comes with an integrated biometric scanner. This of course gives you another layer of security. The fingerprint scanner can be used at both the BIOS and Windows levels. Registering my fingers was very easy, compared to other integrated scanners I've used. I registered four fingers in the time it normally takes to do one with Fujitsu's application. It's also quite fast and generally recognized my finger on the first try.

The biometric scanner also has additional functions. You can use it to log into accounts online, access the encrypted My Safe folder on your system and it can even be assigned to launch a program when you swipe your finger over it. These additional functions are actually significant, given the small size of the UX makes it more prone to loss or theft. I know I'll rest a little easier knowing my information is secure.

Sound/Audio

The UX180 includes an integrated microphone, mono speaker and jacks for headphones and microphone in. The built-in speaker leaves much to be desired, but given the form factor, it's acceptable. I would like to have a hardware control switch for the volume, since with an ultra portable device like this, it's nice to be able to quickly make it silent. As it is, the volume is controlled on screen, which is a mild hassle. The built-in microphone works well, recorded voice comes out clearly.

Camera

The UX180 comes with two, yes, two integrated digital cameras, one in front, and one in the back. The one in front is a .3 megapixel sensor that is designed to be used for video in chat clients and the like. The rear camera is 1.3 megapixel and exposed by sliding up the screen. It's designed for taking stills or video. Sony also includes a nice application for handling the cameras and taking shots and video.

Of course the camera quality leaves a lot to be desired, but that's true in almost every case for computers or PDAs that use low resolution digital cameras. On the upside, stills are snapped very quickly, with no lag. On the downside image quality is poor and there are no manual controls to handle white balance, zoom or the like, something we're seeing in even basic smartphones at this point. Following are image samples to give you a better idea of what the UX camera is capable of. These are all from the rear camera as the front camera is designed for instant messaging.

Camera sample shots

Regular shot inside with good natural light

Close with macro

Close without macro

The flower samples show that the white balance is pretty bad on the camera. The couch in the background is beige but comes out almost green and the painted trim should be white. The flowers are also noisy, which means they appear grainy.

Regular shot outside in full sun

Close with macro

The truck example shows the colors to be over-saturated, the truck should be red and yellow, with the mulch a deep brown. The camera also appears to be pretty soft in the non-macro shots, notice the right side of of the full truck shot.

Regular shot inside, good light

Close with macro

These shots came out pretty well, the macro image being the best of the three.

The UX also shoots video at up to 320x240. If you crank the quality up to the maximum, one minute of recorded video will take 2.23 MB, using WMV encoding at 30 FPS. The UX supports taking up to 2 hours of continuous video, though the default is set at one minute.

Software and Documentation

The UX180 comes with a moderate amount of garbage software and a bunch of included Sony software tools. The latter are actually pretty useful, especially since the interface of the UX is somewhat limited. Their extra power profiles, camera management software, security software, backup software and the rest are welcome additions. On the documentation side, Sony did a pretty poor job. There is no paper manual, which is a shame, since the PDF manual is actually very helpful and a must read for any buyer of this device. At only 190 pages, it seems like something that should be included in the box.

Conclusion

Of course it depends on what you're after, but I really have enjoyed the Sony UX180. It's the first of the new batch of UMPCs that makes me think the platform has any chance of success. Sony did a bunch of things others aren't, most notably including a real processor, access to Cingular's data network, a fully functional docking station and an integrated keyboard. Sure, the $1,800 MSRP is going to scare many away, and comes in at several hundred more than the competition, all with a smaller screen. At the end of the day though it's about a machine addressing a specific computing need, and I think this Sony has more flexibility and more potential than anything else in the class.

Hard core PDA buyers are going to be pretty excited about all the hardware The UX brings to the table. You have to lug a little more weight than a PDA, but the terrific screen, keyboard, bevy of wireless options, capability for a full Office suite and a fantastic browsing experience will be surefire winners. Of course the cost is three times more than the highest end PDA, but that's part of the balancing act.

Notebook buyers looking for something in the ultra ultra-portable category will have to give the UX serious consideration. This is largely due to the docking solution Sony provided and the fact that the hardware is good enough to keep up with most productivity related tasks. Sony is even calling the UX180 Vista ready, so you've got that going for you too. In this case cost isn't much of an issue; in fact the UX180 comes in less than other ultra-portable machines and includes accessories that generally cost $150 or more. As a user of an ultra portable machine, I would have to give this strong consideration as a permanent solution. Of course there's no optical drive, but many ultra ports don't offer this anyway and such a drive can easily be added via USB or 1394.

Tablet PC buyers won't get the full Tablet PC experience since the UX comes with Windows XP and there is no option for the Tablet PC flavor. While there is stylus interface, it's more about navigation and manipulation than input. Still, if you're looking for something tiny that you can use a stylus and small keyboard with, this might be worth consideration.

Pros:

WLAN, WWAN, Bluetooth
Vibrant display
Integrated keyboard
Biometric security
Plenty of power
Included docking station

Cons:

Expensive
Camera quality is lacking
Battery life is a little short

Bottom Line:

Sony did a ton right with the VAIO UX180 and little wrong. I've been pessimistic about the commercial viability of the UMPC, but this gives me reason to think there's still some bubbles left in the soda. If Microsoft were wise, they'd tout this machine as the prototypical UMPC, and not it's under-performing, lackluster, $1,000 rivals

Sony PlayStation 3

2006-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Even by the considerable standards of past next-generation consoles, the Sony PlayStation 3 has been subject to almost ludicrous levels of prerelease hype and hyperbole. The system was unveiled at E3 2005, where it faced derision for having a glut of unsubstantiated CGI demos of games that weren't running on any specific hardware. Information trickled out over the course of the next year until the company's press conference at E3 2006, where Sony presented the system's final design, release date and price, and first wave of titles--to once again face derision. The PlayStation 3 is due out November 17, 2006 in North America, Europe, and Australia (Japan gets it about a week earlier) in two different configurations: a $600 model with a 60GB hard drive, built-in wireless networking, and an HDMI video output and a $500 model with a 20GB hard drive but no Wi-Fi or HDMI. We've collected the positive and negative points for Sony's third stab at console dominance.

Upside: Like the PS2 did for DVDs, the PS3 hopes to give a boost to the nascent Blu-ray movie format. The console's built-in Blu-ray drive allows it to double as a high-def movie player, making its otherwise hefty $600 price tag seem like a bargain compared to that of dedicated stand-alone Blu-ray players, which bottom out at $1,000. Blu-ray will be the format of choice for PS3 games, and the high-density discs offer much more storage space than those of Sony's competitors; Blu-ray discs max out at 50GB and can theoretically go to 100GB or 200GB, while the Microsoft Xbox 360 and (as far as we can determine) Nintendo Wii use standard DVDs, which top out at a comparatively cramped 8.5GB. The end result? The PS3 has the potential to offer more expansive games, with better graphical textures, more full-motion HD video, and plenty of extra content. Sony is also planning to do away with region coding for games, partly because multiterritory releases (with region-specific languages, for instance) will fit all the versions on one disc. The PlayStation 3 will be the first commercial device powered by the ballyhooed Cell processor, a 3.2GHz chip that Sony developed with help from IBM and Toshiba. The chip's seven synergistic processing elements (SPEs) will work in parallel to churn out a staggering 218 gigaflops, or 218 billion floating point operations per second. In practice, that should make the PS3 especially adept at such processor-intensive activities as upconverting video and emulating past PlayStation games. You'll be able to play your PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games, right out of the box, on the PlayStation 3. Even though it seems as though every household on the planet owns a PS1 or PS2, it's still a pretty big coup for the system to have such an extensive backlog available from the start; comparatively, the Xbox 360's backward-compatibility list is being built from the ground up in a piecemeal fashion, and Nintendo is offering GameCube disc playback but will likely charge for downloading games from the company's earlier consoles, including the Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo systems.

Like the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii, the PS3 supports multiple wireless controllers. Sony gets props for supporting up to seven simultaneous gamepads, as well as the Bluetooth wireless standard; the controllers will likely employ an internal battery that can be charged via mini-USB cable. The controllers use the same Dual Shock design as the company's customary PS1 and PS2 controllers, with a few notable differences--the PS3 controllers utilize motion-sensitive movement as a method of control, much like the Nintendo Wii, while the force-feedback rumble technology has been removed. There will be some connectivity between the PS3 and Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld system via USB (and possible Wi-Fi). The most novel usage shown so far was for F1 06, a racing title where the PSP acted as an external real-time rearview mirror.

Downside: As great a price $600 will be for a Blu-ray player, it's awfully high for a console. It's twice the price that the PS2 was at launch in 2000, and its $200 more than the high-end Xbox 360, which may very well get a price drop before the PS3 launch. Another pricing flub that Sony's been fleeced for was the decision to include a neutered PS3 for $500. While the company originally explained the difference as a simple memory disparity, further research has uncovered that the $500 model will have no HDMI port, no built-in Wi-Fi, and no built-in flash-memory reader. The lack of an HDMI output means Blu-ray movies will not play at their full high-definition resolution if studios decide to activate the so-called Image Constraint Token on their Blu-ray movies (they're said to be holding off on doing so in early releases but could reverse themselves at any time). While Microsoft caught some flak for releasing a bare-bones Xbox 360 Core System, that version was easily upgradable to the exact same specs as the more expensive deluxe version with the purchase of a few key accessories. By contrast, there's no way to add an HDMI port to the basic PS3, and despite some positive early indications from Sony, the upgrade path for the hard drive, the flash-memory reader, and Wi-Fi compatibility remains vague.

While the six-direction motion sensitivity of the PS3 controller worked well when we tried it, it pales in comparison to the Wii's more fully realized 3D motion control. It probably didn't help that Sony announced the PS3's new controller the day before the Wii's playable debut. Moreover, Sony's Warhawk was the only motion-based game on display at its E3 booth, compared to the two dozen or so Nintendo games that utilized the Wii remote.

The PS3 games shown at E3 2006 looked really good, but quite frankly, we expected better. Perhaps it's a case of the overambitious prerendered videos from last year's show coming back to haunt the company, but none of the dozen or so PS3 games showcased looked much better than second-generation Xbox 360 titles. Granted, that system is hitting its stride while this one's still incubating, and the PS3 should be capable of much better visuals further down the line.

With nearly all of the specs and release info nailed down, Sony's been relatively quiet about the PS3's online functionality, specifically the available downloadable content. Sony will be joining Nintendo and Microsoft in the microtransaction market, but the company's entire backlog is already playable on the system in its current form. Nintendo's Virtual Console has garnered an unprecedented amount of hype, and the Xbox Live Marketplace is one of the surprise success stories of the Xbox 360. If Sony's last in implementing it, the company may have a difficult time establishing an online economy. On the plus side, unlike Microsoft, Sony has indicated that its online service will be free for online competition (Xbox Live requires a $50-per-year fee for Gold membership to play games head-to-head).

Even though the company promises a decent launch allocation, recent console release history is not on Sony's side. It set a precedent by chopping initial shipments of the PlayStation 2 in half roughly a month before the console's release, and Microsoft's Xbox 360 faced similar shortages. The fact that Sony's own BDP-S1 Blu-ray player was delayed two months from its original prospective August launch doesn't bode well for the company's ability to get Blu-ray integrated into a large number of consoles before November. Even more distressing is the attitude Sony has taken post-E3. In what may be the worst case of damage control ever, Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi has made many a distressing prognostication regarding the PS3--one of the more poorly received ones being that he believes the system will undergo evolving specifications. Other execs haven't been immune either; Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO David Reeves claimed that the PS3 will sell out on brand recognition alone, and Sony CEO Howard Stringer assured gamers that their $600 was "paying for potential." This odd blend of bizarre business practices and cockiness in the face of tough competition could sour the public's image of the current king of console development.

Outlook: Last time around, the original Xbox came out later than the PS2 and, thus, wielded a significant hardware advantage. This time, PS3 seems to have the technological edge, but Xbox 360 will have a 12-month head start in the marketplace. But the release dates, gigahertz comparisons, and Blu-ray boasts will likely take a backseat to the two most important factors: games and pricing. The Xbox 360 is slowly but surely amassing a roster of impressive titles and will have even more when the PS3 becomes available. Furthermore, the 360 will also be priced at least $200 less than the high-end PS3. The burden is now on Sony to justify the massive price tag (for a gaming console) while it captures an exclusive, must-have freshman title that sells the system. The most likely candidate for that honor lies with Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4. The company didn't do itself any favors by drawing undue comparisons with the (likely) much cheaper Wii when it incorporated less impressive motion-sensitive technology in the controller. Sony's betting that hard-core gamers--and high-def fanatics looking for a sub-$1,000 Blu-ray player--will be happy to run up their credit card debt come November 17. But for parents searching for a holiday gift, the cheaper Xbox 360 and Wii will be tough competition, indeed.

Full specifications

General

Name
Sony PlayStation 3

Type
Game console

Media Type
Blu-ray

Processor

Type
IBM Cell 3.2 GHz

Instruction set
RISC

Memory / Storage

RAM installed size
256 MB

Video

Video Output
NVidia RSX

Video RAM installed
256 MB

Memory

RAM technology
XDR DRAM

Connections

Input/Output connections
6 x USB (4 pin USB Type A)

Microsoft Xbox 360

2006-07-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

Console and PC gamers have long been divided into two camps. Sure, there are those of us who play on multiple platforms, but hard-core PC gamers tend to be, well, hard-core PC gamers and eschew "mainstream" console games, while committed console gamers can sometimes be heard bashing PC gamers as elitist nerds. While there's nothing wrong with drawing your own distinction, what's clear--at least for the moment, anyway--is that Microsoft's Xbox 360 makes the line between PC and console gaming a lot fuzzier. Yes, this is a console, with game controllers and A/V cables that are designed to interface with your TV--preferably of the HD variety--but Microsoft has essentially packed a high-end PC gaming rig into a relatively small box that fits into any A/V rack or cabinet. That the Xbox 360 also has a user interface that rivals TiVo's in terms of slick presentation and ease of use, plus a host of digital media and networking features, helps elevate the already-good Xbox experience to a whole new level. Naturally, the 360 is not without its flaws. Many launch titles simply rehashed their PC or console counterparts, and we're only now seeing developers shift focus away from the PlayStation 2 and Xbox1 and creating truly next-gen looking games. While Microsoft is finally amassing a good library of games, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii will launch in a few short months. At this point, the $400 Xbox 360 has a major price advantage over the PS3--its premium package will cost $200 less than Sony's (the company is planning on selling $600 and $500 models of the system), though the Wii may boast just as big a price differential in the opposite direction. Whether either or both will be better is anybody's guess. All we can say is that both companies better hurry because the Xbox 360 will be a hard temptation for gamers to resist for too long.

Design of Microsoft Xbox 360

When laid horizontally, the 8.8-pound Xbox 360 is 12.15 inches wide, 3.27 inches high, and 10.15 inches deep and is actually slightly smaller than the original Xbox, which also weighed in at 8.8 pounds. Unlike the original, the Xbox 360 can also be propped up in a vertical position and, as you're probably aware, can be customized with interchangeable faceplates that cost up to $20. Neither the original Xbox nor the 360 are terribly sexy, especially compared to the slimmed-down PlayStation 2, but at least the 360 is less boxy than the original, and you can always slap on a funky faceplate to liven things up. Custom faceplates aside, it's worth pointing out that the beige color of the system tends to clash with the silver and blacks of typical A/V components.

One of the reasons Microsoft was able to keep down the 360's weight is that instead of building a standard, desktop-style hard drive into the unit itself, it's gone with a smaller--and more expensive--laptop-style hard drive that's detachable from the main unit. The hard drive (included with the $399 Xbox 360 premium bundle, sold separately for the $299 Core System) is 20GB, but we assume significantly larger capacities will become available from Microsoft--or more likely--third-party manufacturers.

As part of the $399 bundle, you'll also get a wireless controller--the 360 has built-in wireless capabilities but only for controllers, not Wi-Fi (more on that faux pas in the Features section). Each 360 console can support up to four wireless controllers, and unlike with third-party wireless controllers for earlier consoles, you won't have to have to plug any dongles into any ports. You'll also like that a green LED on both the 360 itself and the controller indicates exactly which controllers (1 through 4) are connected. This is also true if you are playing with a mixture of wireless and wired controllers; you know who has which controller. All in all, we really like the design of the new controllers. They feel good in hand, and the shift of the Start and Back buttons to the top middle of the controller is a good move, as is the addition of a set of shoulder buttons on top of the right/left trigger buttons. And no, Xbox1 controllers do not work with the 360.

On the front of the unit, you'll find two USB ports hidden behind hinged doors in the faceplate, as well as two memory-card slots that allow you to take saved games and other content on the go. Those ports are where you'll plug in any wired controllers and other USB accessories that will become available, as well as cables to connect a digital camera, MP3 players, or even your iPod or Sony PSP. Many USB keyboards are compatible, but for the most part, they are strictly relegated to communication and data entry functions, not gameplay. While Microsoft clearly hopes you'll go wireless and thereby free up USB ports for other accessories, we were disappointed there was only one USB port on the back of the unit--and that one is meant for Microsoft's optional wireless networking adapter, which conveniently clips on to the back of 360. Another small design gripe: You won't be able to connect some thumbdrive-style MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod Shuffle, to the USB port in back. You'll need a USB extension cable to connect them because the entryway to the port is too narrow.

The 360 sports an infrared (IR) port on the front panel, which lets you use compatible remote controls without the need for an external dongle. Furthermore, you can power the console on and off and open the disc tray with a remote or a controller--another convenient improvement over the old Xbox.

The Xbox 360's onscreen Dashboard interface is truly stellar, and it's clear that the folks at Microsoft looked less toward Windows and more toward the vaunted TiVo interface for their model. Yes, the 360 interface certainly has some ties to that of Windows Media Center PCs, but it's slicker and more user-friendly, with color-coated tabs for the system's various features, including gaming, media, system settings, and Xbox Live. To page through the various activities, you simply move the directional keypad on your controller (or the remote) left to right. With the increased processing power, windows open quicker than they do on the original; the system and interface as a whole just feels zippier. Like the faceplates, the Dashboard is customizable, with a host of themes preloaded on the hard drive and many more available to download.

Continuing the Xbox 360's customization kick is the Gamer Card, which consists of a personal avatar--a picture chosen from a batch of Microsoft approved images--as well as a motto 21 characters or less in length. The centerpiece of the Gamer Card is the Gamerscore: a point-total representative of predetermined goals, known as Achievements, met in each and every game. It's a nice way to foster offline competitiveness between gamers, as even completely single-player games such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion include Achievements.

Not to end the Design section on a down note, but we would remiss not to mention the Xbox 360's power supply. There's a reason they call these things power bricks--this one truly is the size and weight of a real brick. We're not kidding. Furthermore, the 360's exhaust fan is audibly noisy in a quiet room--not a problem when gaming, but it could be a factor when you're using the 360 for media playback.

As mentioned previously, there are two versions of the Xbox 360 available. The $299 Core System delivers the bare basics: the console, a single wired controller, and a standard composite A/V cable. The $399 "premium" bundle (known officially, and confusingly, as simply the Xbox 360) includes the console, along with several key accessories that you'd otherwise have to purchase separately: a wireless game controller, a communications headset for Xbox Live, a component A/V cable, an Ethernet networking cable, and--most important--a snap-on 20GB hard drive. Though it's more expensive, the premium bundle is easily the better deal in our book. With it, you're getting at least $210 worth of accessories for only $100 more. The hard drive--which alone retails for $100--is a must-have accessory. Not only is the 20GB hard drive a far more capacious solution than the memory cards that will set you back $40 apiece and hold only a paltry 64MB of data, it's absolutely necessary if you want to play games designed for the old Xbox console and enjoy the 360's more advanced media features.

Unlike previous game consoles, the Xbox 360 was designed from the ground up to be ready for the HDTV era. As such, all the games have been designed to at least 720p resolution (1,280x720 wide-screen), which the system can also upscale to 1080i (1,920x1,080 wide-screen). In order to see the graphics in HD, of course, you'll need to be connected to an HD-ready TV or monitor via the component-video adapter, which is included in the premium $399 Xbox bundle. Alternately, you can pick up VGA video adapters from Microsoft ($40) or Joytech ($20), which let you connect to HDTVs and PC monitors that offer a standard 15-pin VGA/RGB connector. The VGA adapter offers a handful of other PC monitor-friendly high-def resolution choices, including 848x480 and 1,024x768. At this point, however, the 360 offers neither DVI nor HDMI digital video connections, nor a 1080p resolution option. By contrast, Sony has pledged to include 1080p support and an HDMI output on the console's $600 "deluxe" package when it's released in November 2006. Don't worry if you don't have an HDTV--the Xbox 360's component adapter includes a fallback composite output, and the system can output good ol' standard 480i resolution with formatting for squarish 4:3 (non-wide-screen) sets.

Just like the old Xbox, the new system offers top-notch Dolby Digital audio. In-game soundtracks are rendered in full real-time surround, creating an immersive sound field that envelops you in the game world. All of the A/V cables include an optical audio output, but you'll need to supply the optical cable, as well as the compatible A/V receiver or home-theater system. Each A/V cable also comes with standard analog stereo connections for connecting to a TV or stereo, but you'll lose the surround effect, of course.

While it's primarily a game machine, the Xbox 360 is a formidable digital media hub as well. Plug a digital camera, a flash card reader, a thumbdrive, or a music player into the Xbox 360's USB port, and if it's compatible with a Windows PC, you'll likely have plug-and-play access to browse your photos and listen to your MP3s. Digital media on your home network are similarly accessible: just install Microsoft's Windows Media Connect software (a free download) on any PC running Windows XP, and the 360 will be able to stream music and photos from the remote PC. If your PC is running Windows Media Center Edition, the integration is even tighter. The 360 doubles as a Media Center Extender, letting you access your TV recordings--including those in high-def--from the networked MCE PC.

One of the major successes of the original Xbox was Xbox Live. The online gaming and communications network is an even more intrinsic part of the Xbox 360. Every model (assuming access to a broadband Internet connection and a storage option--either the hard drive or a memory card) has a base-level membership called Xbox Live Silver. That offers the ability to create a list of friends, view their gamer cards, and communicate with them outside of a game via voice chat and voice messaging using the headset; text messaging is also possible. Later this year, an EyeToy-like video camera will be released for the 360, allowing face mapping and video chat in a few games. Silver members also have access to the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's online bazaar. In order to play multiplayer games, you'll need to upgrade to Xbox Live Gold, which is basically the same $50-per-year service from the old Xbox. Existing Live subscribers can easily transfer their subscription to their new 'box. While the Xbox 360's online experience is quite impressive, Sony promises to deliver a similar-scale service for free on the PS3, though it remains to be seen whether the company can deliver (a few of the PS3's original features have been scrapped). For its part, Microsoft periodically offers free full subscription weeks and weekends to Xbox Live Silver members.

The Xbox Live Marketplace offers up free movie trailers and game demos, as well as premium content, such as Dashboard themes, gamer tag pictures, and extra content for full-featured games. Items are purchased by using Microsoft points, which is the proprietary 360 currency that's purchasable through the system or via prepaid cards (the going rate for 1,600 points is $30, for example).

Arguably the biggest draw for the Xbox Live Marketplace is the wide range of titles available for Xbox Live Arcade. There's a healthy mix of completely original titles and classic PC and arcade games freshened up with high-def visuals; some even include online multiplayer. Each of the games are playable as free demos, but in order to compete online and earn achievement points, you're going to have to pony up the Marketplace dough.

While the 360's library is slowly growing after a long, postlaunch lull, it can also play more than 200 games designed for the original Xbox. The backward compatibility is enabled through downloadable emulation profiles; they're free, but you'll need the hard drive to install them. In fact, the software for Halo and Halo 2 compatibility is preinstalled on the hard drive. Unfortunately, while 200-plus sounds like a high number, that leaves more than 400 old Xbox titles unplayable on the 360 for the time being. Microsoft is working to broaden the list--it's added about 10 new titles since launch--but there's no announced timetable as to when the remaining games will be ported over, and it certainly seems as though not every game will be included.

Performance of Microsoft Xbox 360

The guts of the Xbox 360 comprise what is, for all intents and purposes, a very powerful computer. The customized IBM PowerPC CPU boasts three processing cores running at 3.2GHz each, each offering two hardware threads, while the ATI graphics processor is said to be able to pump out 500 million triangles per second. We could go on, recounting the 360's supposed 16 gigasamples-per-second fill rate using 4X antialiasing and 48 billion shader operations per second--not to mention, of course, the 48-way parallel floating-point dynamically scheduled shader pipelines and the 9 billion dot product operations per second. But, frankly, even if we understood what half those impressive-sounding specs meant, we'd have no way to verify or benchmark them.

What we can say is the Xbox 360 graphics varied widely from game to game. With its amazingly lifelike cityscapes and photorealistic Ferraris, Project Gotham Racing 3 offers what's probably the best example of the 360's HD-enabled graphical prowess--you could almost smell the exhaust of the cars as they darted over a dead-on re-creation of the Brooklyn Bridge. Similarly, Call of Duty 2 had us ducking for cover as we slogged through some of the toughest firefights of World War II. Meanwhile, the boxers in Fight Night Round 3 looked astonishing--when a knockout blow was landed, a close-up replay would reveal the copious amount of spit, sweat, and blood emanating from the victim of pugilistic brutality. On the flip side, though, was Tony Hawk's American Wasteland; what was an average-looking game on the Xbox1 and PlayStation 2 suffers in the translation to the 360, with every low-res texture and graphical glitch painfully apparent on the unforgiving high-def screen.

The backward compatibility on the Xbox 360 has its benefits and drawbacks. Microsoft claims that it's pumping up the resolutions and adding antialiasing effects to the older games, and both tweaks seemed in evidence while playing Halo 2. Also, playing an online-enabled Xbox1 game (such as Halo 2) lets you seamlessly interact with other Xbox Live players still using the old console. On the other hand, some games such as Fable: The Lost Chapters have brought along new graphical glitches and none of the Xbox1 custom soundtrack-enabled games (for example, the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy) will recognize the songs imported onto your 360. Finally, there is no way to transfer your Xbox1 saves to the 360, so you'll have to reconfigure your workout regimen in Yourself Fitness.

Xbox Live is much more integrated throughout the 360 than it was in the old Xbox. At any time, you can punch the Home button on your controller to bring up the Live message center. In theory, you can be playing an offline, single-player game of, say, Condemned: Criminal Origins, get an invite from a friend (think instant messaging), and quit out back to the Dashboard while you swap over to Burnout Revenge.

The in-game Xbox Live experience hasn't changed drastically, but then again, the service was already near-impeccable on the Xbox1. By virtue of the system's processing power, games should be able to support more players online. Perfect Dark Zero, for example can handle 32 players, more than all but a few Xbox1 games. Some games, however, offer up paltry multiplayer options, such as Quake 4's eight-player deathmatches, while others, most notably Dead or Alive 4, have some problems with lag. As developers learn the ins and outs of the 360's hardware, expect to see more players and less lag.

On the media front, the 360 worked as advertised. We were able to pull photos from several digital cameras, as well as a camera phone Memory Stick Duo plugged into a stock Lexar USB card reader. We were also able to stream music from our Samsung YP-U1X flash MP3 player. And true to its word, Microsoft is playing nice with its competitors; we were able to stream MP3s from the 20GB Apple iPod and the Sony PSP. Unfortunately, you don't get access to the iPod's playlists, and you can't play back copy-protected songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store--the result of Apple's intransigence, not Microsoft's. Digital media streamed just as easily from XP PCs on our local network, but those with Media Center PCs will find the best experience: the 360 is a full-fledged extender, giving you access to the Media Center's look and feel, as well as access to its recorded videos, music, and photos.

Of course, the 360 is a capable CD/DVD player as well. You can't copy music files from connected or networked devices, but you can rip CDs straight to the 360's hard drive, then use those songs as soundtracks for pretty much any native Xbox 360 game. On the DVD front, the 360 finally plays movie discs in 480p progressive scan and without the need for an additional remote à la the Xbox1. But 480p is so 2002, especially for a box that touts its HD street cred. This is where the lack of HDMI or DVI output hurts because those connections would offer the possibility of upscaling DVDs to 720p or 1080i resolutions. Moreover, DVDs represent the pinnacle of the 360's optical disc capabilities, meaning these next-gen games will need to be squeezed into just 8.5GB of space unless they're supplemented by downloadable content or made into a multidisc game. By comparison, the PlayStation 3 will use the next-generation Blu-ray format, which holds at least 25GB per disc--the potential for significantly more high-def graphics, gameplay, and so forth. The Xbox 360 won't work with Blu-ray or HD-DVD discs in a game-playing capacity, although movie fans can look forward to the 360's forthcoming external HD-DVD drive, which will be out before the end of 2006. No price was specified, though Peter Moore claimed at E3 2006 it would be "a better bargain than anything else in this new entertainment format," which leads us to believe it'll be less than the $500 Toshiba HD-A1. The bigger mystery remains in regard to the HD-DVD player's output--no HDMI or DVI cable was announced for it, leading many to believe that Microsoft may be hoping that studios don't use image constraint to clamp down on component-enabled next-gen video.

Since it was announced, the knock on the Xbox 360 has been that it's really more of a 1.5, rather than a 2.0, version of the Xbox and that Microsoft was pushing it out the door so quickly to get the jump on Sony's PlayStation 3. The truth is probably less dramatic. The fact is, the original Xbox is still a great gaming machine, with a massive library of fantastic titles and formidable processing power. The old Xbox is a like a comfortable old shoe for software developers; even cutting-edge PC games such as Half-Life 2 can be ported over to the four-year-old console with admirable results. The exact opposite is true for the Xbox 360--most of the first wave of games hadn't tapped into its full power; some games, such as Madden NFL 2006 sacrificed gameplay features to ensure a graphically powerful game at launch. With titles such as Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion available now, though, it's obvious developers have become more accustomed to the challenge of programming for the 360, and we'll see much more impressive titles as a result. Once those games begin to comprise the majority of the new releases, the Xbox 360 will be ready to strut its stuff and hit its stride just in time to go up against the freshman lineups for Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.