Wize Blog

Apple Releases A Brand New iPod Shuffe

 

What do you think of the new iPod Shuffle? I'm a fan of "The Apple Experience" and just like all of their previous releases, this one is full of all the great PR, display ads, commercials, etc., but this release also has some interesting aspects to it.

First of all the size of the iPod has shrunk even more than the previous ones and is smaller than the size of an average house key! The access controls are now located on the right ear bud headphone cord, which is probably going to be the reason for contention. Let me explain. For now at least, you have to use Apple's own headphones in order to control this device. Oh, but did you just shell out $300 for Beats by Dre? Well as Engadget has pointed out, you'd need to get another $20-$30 adapter to make that work!

I've already spoken to a few people and over and over I keep hearing:

"Sure, but what is apple thinking? It may look super sexy, but where's the usability? You can't just pick it up and start listening to music on it. Also, I doubt people want to pay $20-30 for an adapter to use their existing in-ear or wireless headphones. Two years ago, when people had more expendable income, they could get away with it, but I don't think now.

The one cool feature that has promise is the new VoiceOver feature they've introduced. It's easy to read online reviews about it and to read Apple's own description of the technology, but this to me is just one of those things where you have to try it out yourself. The best way to test this feature and figure out if it's as good as it seems is to get out on a treadmill and determine for yourself whether it's really going to keep the Shuffle as one of the best MP3 players for working out.

Fuji Gets Serious About Image Quality With the FinePix F200EXR

Compact digital cameras have been treated rather poorly by camera manufacturers over the past few years by stuffing endless features into them with marketing being the forefront of concerns. These "features" have lead to a ridiculous number of pixels on a tiny sensor, which results in very grainy images for users. Fuji has just announced a potential powerhouse of a compact digital camera. The F200EXR offers a 12 megapixel sensor that operates in a number of image capture modes. Normally, I would scoff at a 12 megapixel sensor as too much for such a small sensor; however, Fuji's shooting options may make this camera work those pixels more effectively. The key to this camera's potential lies in the 3 modes in which the image sensor operates, which Fuji described in its press release as follows:

Fine Capture Mode (High Resolution) , which deploys all twelve million pixels, and is designed to offer the finest detail of intricate subjects when light is full and even; Pixel Fusion Mode (High Sensitivity and Low Noise) , which caps two adjacent pixels together to produce six million large photodiodes, which are big enough to absorb light in the darkest of conditions, to produce low-light shots of extraordinary quality with minimal noise and grain; and Dual Capture (Wide Dynamic Range), which captures different exposures with two sets of six million pixels, which, when combined, gives an excellent level of detail in highlights and low lights that would otherwise be lost.

While there is nothing truly fancy about the Fine Capture Mode, the Pixel Fusion Mode and the Dual Capture could give consumers what they need in a compact camera. We'll know more once this camera hits the market and real world sample images make their way online from the hands of users. It just might be the next big thing.

Eric is a guest author the Wize blog covering digital cameras. He is the Editor of Photography Bay, which covers digital camera reviews, rumors and news

LG Breathalyzer Cell Phone (LG LP4100)

Drinking and cell phones usually don’t go very well together. Often people get drunk and end up making calls that they later regret. This has been happening since cell phones became an integral part of our culture. Well there is a new cell phone put out by LG that can stop the drunken calls to certain people from happening. The LG LP4100, or otherwise known as the LG Breathalyzer cell phone, is the latest creation to come from LG.

The LG LP4100 allows you to block certain numbers from being dialed if your blood-alcohol level is greater than 0.08. It will prevent the embarrassment of having to see your boss the day after you accidentally “drunk dialed.” It can also prevent you from calling an ex and making a fool of yourself. This is thanks to the anti-drunk dialing feature that has been installed into the phone. This phone has shown that it can be very popular and has already sold 200,000 phones in Korea to date. This is the perfect phone for anyone who has made that great mistake of getting drunk and dialing someone that they regretted in the morning.

This post was written by Devicepedia, guest author of the Wize Blog

Trekstor i.Beat Organix Limited Edition Gold MP3 Player

Music is something that is universally known and shared. The way we listen to music has changed from something big as a way of listening to something that can fit in your hand. We first only had big and bulky stereos but now technology has advanced to being able to listen to music on devices that can fit anywhere. MP3 players are widely found because they are small and can be taken anywhere. If you are one of the lucky few, you can order custom MP3 players that can be tailored to anything you desire. The Trekstor i.Beat Organix Limited Edition Gold MP3 player is an example of a custom order.

It was custom ordered by a Russian-Canadian billionaire. The MP3 player has 63 diamonds and covered in 18-karat gold. It is a 1 GB memory, can play multiple forms of music files (including MP3, WMA, WAV, ASF and OGG files), has two headphone jacks, a radio, alarm clock, stopwatch and a voice recorder. It is being sold on Amazon but does come with a hefty price tag. This MP3 player is considered the world’s most expensive MP3 player. They are a limited edition so if you want one, you must act now before they are all gone!

This post was written by Devicepedia, guest author of the Wize Blog

Nikon D700 vs. Canon 5D Mark II

The Nikon D700 and Canon 5D Mark II are two of the latest, cutting edge DSLRs offered by the top camera manufactures. The key attraction to each of these cameras is the use of a "full frame" sensor. The term "full frame" references the dimensions of the old 35mm film that those of us born in the 80s (or earlier) still remember using. Digital camera sensors have typically been very small over the past several years, even most DSLRs have been smaller than full frame. The sensor size of compact cameras are tiny (about the size of a pencil eraser) compared to full frame sensors. The full frame sensors in the Nikon D700 and Canon 5D Mark II allow the cameras to take full advantage of light, which is crucial for smooth images. The Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D700 have another thing in common - a hefty price tag. Both ring in at around $2700, though the Nikon D700 is starting to see a bit of a discount at some retailers. These cameras are not for the faint of heart, or the light of wallet. If you are shopping for one of these, then you should have a good understanding of photography and understand the difference that a $2700 camera can make in your images. There are pros and cons to each of these cameras when evaluated against the other.

Image Size and Quality

The Canon 5D Mark II, for instance, has a 21.1 megapixel sensor, which means you can make 20x30" prints all day long and not worry about needing more resolution. The Nikon D700 has a 12.2 megapixel sensor, which is plenty for all but the select few who do huge prints.

Low Light Sensitivity / Noise

Both cameras produce stellar images in low light. You can boost the ISO (sensitivity to light) all the way up to 25600, which was unheard of prior to the introduction of the Nikon D700's predecessor (the profession grade Nikon D3). Both cameras perform excellent up to ISO 6400 and then the images start to look noisy in both. I have successfully shot with each camera at night handheld and gotten relatively clean images. Indoor shooting without a flash is now possible in just about any light with the D700 and 5D Mark II.

Autofocus

I give Nikon the edge in autofocus capability. It has 51 autofocus points, whereas the Canon only has 9 AF points. Having shot with both of them, the Nikon is simply more sensitive in autofocusing, particularly in low light.

Conclusion

I hate to do it, but I have to say that it depends on you and your shooting style as to which one should win out the battle between these full framed beasts. If you are looking for speedy autofocus and don't need the huge files, go with the Nikon. If you want to print big, it's a no brainer, go with Canon. Obviously, if you are tied to a system with a bag full of Canon or Nikon lenses, then you have to keep it in the family. I don't think you would be too disappointed with either one. Me? I'm a Canon kind of guy, so I went with the Canon 5D Mark II - and I love it!

Eric is a guest author for the Wize blog covering digital cameras. He is the Editor of Photography Bay, which covers digital camera reviews, rumors and news.

T-Mobile Launches Android Phone

Today's the day. The Google-run G1 phone, the Android, has arrived, which means people have actually seen the phone in real life after months of anticipation. 

The first thing you might wonder is why do they call this phone an Android. Well, Android is a software platform for mobile phones and other devices. Google and a slew of other companies, including Intel, Motorola and Qualcomm, developed the platform, which is based on a Linux operating system. Android includes a browser similar to Safari, Apple computers' browser; a media support platform for handling audio, video and still pictures and a GPS navigation system. The Android platform is open source, which means it can run 3rd party applications. For example, a developer will be offering GoCart, a program that scans a barcode with the phone's camera. After scanning the product, the program finds comparable prices of that product at nearby stores. 

Other features of the G1 phone include: touch screen platform; 3 MP camera with auto-focus; customizable screen; QWERTY keyboard; Google applications such as maps, instant messaging, calendar, G-mail and YouTube; Google search, video playback, 3G network and WiFi access and access to Android Market, where you can get those nifty applications. 

The G1 phone comes out in a month (Oct. 22). It will sell for $179 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile. The G1 phone uses 3G networking in major metro areas and G1 for areas outside the 3G service. Both services offer different capabilities. More info here.

All Eyes are on Photokina

Will Pentax be coming out with a new dSLR? Is that new "Destined Evolution" Web site ad put out by Canon an intro to a new model of the 5D as Engadget prognosticates? Just where is digital photography's new technology headed? Many answers to these questions will be provided during Photokina from Sept 23 to 28 in Cologne, Germany.

Photokina is a big deal. It happens only once every two years and it's the place where many new products are staged and introduced. How important is it? Well, 6000 journalists join 160,000 visitors to review everything there is to know about image capture, storage, processing, transmission and output.

The range of imaging products and services displayed at Photokina is dizzying--cameras, camcorders, digital storage media, printers, kiosk system, home cinema, digital frames and albums, lighting systems, studio equipment, publishing, labs, interactive presentation systems, networks and video/audio technology. For more about Photokina 2008, there's a daily, updated report on the fair with interesting product entries such as the LG KC910, the only 8 megapixel multimedia phone with a full touchscreen interface, the Nikon D90 and the Sony DSLR-A900.

Canon 50D Due Out in October

At $1399 the new Canon EOS 50D has a whooping 15 MP of resolution. Compare that to the 10 MP of the model it replaces, the 40D, and you've got some notable improvement. What's most remarkable about the camera is that its ISO speed goes up to 12,800. It used to be that the highest ISO speed a camera would go to would be 3200. CNET has pointed out ISO 3200 is "now part of the ordinary range."

What you do have to remember is that like the 40D, the 50D does not have a full-sized sensor (the 5D has). It's sensor is 22.3×14.9 mm (a full-sized sensor is 36×24 mm). InfoSync has reported that the sensor has been improved. It uses "newly designed gapless microlenses over each pixel to reduce noise." Canon's also touting the fact that the camera has 14-bit conversion for smoother color tones and gradations.

Other notable features of the camera include: faster image processing, a 3-inch LCD screen with "smudge protection," automatic brightness correction, updated sensor cleaning system (the camera self-cleans its sensor using vibration), an auto lighting optimizer that makes dark subjects lighter.

The camera comes out in October.
 

Palm Launches Treo™ Pro Smartphone

Palm officially announced the new Treo™ Pro smartphone by Palm after being leaked earlier this week and spreading like wildfire across the web. The Treo™ Pro smartphone is 4.4 by 2.3 by .5 inches, and it weighs 4.6 ounces, making it small, sleek, and light. Available only in black, it has a bigger full keyboard and a 320x320 color flush touch-screen with crisp resolution. The Treo™ Pro comes with 128 MB of memory that can be expanded up to 32 GB via a microSD slot.

The Treo™ Pro offers many features such as built in Wi-Fi, push e-mail capabilities, Windows Mobile 6.1, 2 Megapixel camera, video and music capabilities, rechargeable 1500mAh lithium-ion battery with a 5 hour talk time, and Bluetooth Wireless Technology.

Palm is selling the smart phone at $549 without a carrier.

Video Phones are Here, but Expensive

Tandberg is touting its new video phone, but it looks as if it’s not for home users. The phone costs a whooping $1,499.

 

It does have some interesting features, though, like a 10.6-inch LCD screen and a 5MP camera not to mention that the video it transmits is DVD quality.

 

Tandberg lets all know that the phone is for “enterprise” markets. Nice term.

 

Other performance features include: Ultra wideband 20kHz speaker phone, Tandbert acoustic echo cancellation, high res Tandberg camera with integrated privacy shutter and up to 1152 kbps bandwidth.