Thursday, September 3, 2009

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Review

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is an innovative super-zoom compact camera, offering a 20x optical zoom range (28-560mm) and a G branded lens that was originally developed for the Sony Alpha DSLR family. The 9 megapixel Sony HX1 features a new Sony-developed Exmor CMOS sensor which promises to deliver outstanding images with reduced noise, and the powerful BIONZ image processor supports full-resolution shooting at a remarkable 10 frames per second. Other standout highlights include 1080/30p HD movies, a 3.0 inch tilt-angle LCD screen, and a new Sweep Panorama mode which captures extra-wide landscapes easily and quickly. Retailing for around £480 / $500, we find out if the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 can live up to its promise.

Ease of Use

With its numerous new and intriguing features, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 was one of the surprise announcements of 2009. If we consider it a successor to the H50 of yesteryear, then we can argue that Sony is showing a rare example of megapixel restraint here; as the new model has the exact same resolution as its immediate forebear. Instead of upping the pixel count, Sony decided to endow the HX1 with a new lens, faster electronics and some truly unique features - and this was more than enough for the camera to make the headlines. No wonder we were eager to get our hands on a production model for a review!

A camera with a 20x zoom will never be shirt pocketable, but the Sony HX1 is actually quite compact and lightweight; definitely smaller and lighter than most DSLRs with a typical 3x kit zoom. Interestingly, this does not really affect handling in a negative way. While people with large hands will find that the little finger of their right hand has a more comfortable place underneath the camera than on the right-hand grip; most users will find the grip quite nice actually. It is ergonomically sculpted and the textured finish provides great purchase for your fingers.

Arguably the most remarkable part of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is the lens. As mentioned earlier, this is a 20x zoom that spans focal lengths ranging from 5mm to 100mm (28-560mm in old money). While there are a couple of competitors sporting an even more impressive range, this is still nothing to sneeze at - and Sony are even offering a 1.7x add-on teleconverter as an optional accessory; for those who would like to push the telephoto end to an almost incredible 952mm equivalent. The maximum aperture is a fast f/2.8 at the wide end and a more modest, yet perfectly acceptable f/5.2 at the other extreme of the zoom range. The zoom is of course stepped, but feels surprisingly smooth in action. It is quite fast too, especially for the huge focal range it spans.

The lens proudly bears the G designation, originally introduced by Minolta to distinguish their most prestigious lenses from the rest of the pack. Fortunately, it has lived up to our expectations - you can read more about this in the Image Quality section. Putting such a huge zoom on a camera that is intended chiefly for hand-held use would of course be nearly pointless without image stabilisation - thankfully, the feature is on board, under the brand name Optical SteadyShot. From the main shooting menu, you can specify if you want it to be always on or to kick in only when you are actually taking a picture. In the former case, you get a stabilised live image that helps with your composition, while in the latter, you theoretically get more effective stabilisation and definitely less battery drain. The Optical SteadyShot feature can also be switched off completely, for tripod work.

Above the lens is a bulge that resembles a prism hump, although of course there is no pentaprism to be found on the HX1. You can frame your shots using either the rear screen or the electronic viewfinder (EVF). Switching between the two is done by way of a button to the left of the mock prism housing, viewed from the back. I would have preferred Sony to place eye proximity sensors around the viewfinder eyepiece, so that the switch would occur automatically when you lift the camera to your eye, but you can get used to the button too. The EVF itself is crisp and reasonably fluid, but very small. One gets the feeling that this was one of the areas where Sony cut corners in order to keep the price within reasonable limits.

As far as the rear LCD goes, it is a three-inch, 230,400-dot affair that tilts 90 degrees both up- and downward. This makes it more flexible than the one on the A330/A380 DSLRs, which does not tilt that much down, but it's still not quite as great as the vari-angle design of some competitors. Outdoors visibility is quite good; perhaps not the best we have seen, but definitely a lot better than many other screens.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Front Rear

USB Fingerprint Security Lock Flash Disk

USB Fingerprint Security Lock Flash Disk

If you like the USB Flash drive with OLED display that we mentioned several months ago, then check out the new USB Flash drive with fingerprint security lock. It has comprehensive security features including an easy access to 8GB’s of secure data on the USB flash disk, encryption of files and folders on your computer with your fingerprint, and also enabling fingerprint login when you start your computer or return from a screen saver. You can go to bed tonight knowing your top secret files are completely secured.

USB Mini Panda Speaker

We have already seen a Panda USB hub and a Panda USB drive, here is another fun Panda themed gadget, the USB Mini Panda Speaker.

The USB Mini Panda Speaker measures 45 x 45 x 42 mm and weighs in at just 50g, it has a built in rechargeable battery than can be recharged via USB, and it can be connected to your iPhone, iPod or Mp3 player via a 3.5mm audio jack.

USB Mini Panda Speaker

Canon announces Pixma MP560 and MP490 printers

CANON U.S.A. ANNOUNCES NEW AFFORDABLE PIXMA AND SELPHY PRINTERS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF USERS


Wireless Capabilities, Auto Photo Fix II, Duplex and USB Direct Printing are among the Features Found on the New Additions to Canon’s Award Winning Line-up

Lake Success, N.Y., July 7, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the addition of two new PIXMA Photo All-In-One (AIO) Printers along with one new SELPHY Compact Photo Printer. The two new PIXMA printers utilize Canon’s FINE print head technology, which has been recognized by consumers for its ability to deliver quality and performance simultaneously, whether printing images or business documents since its inception 10 years ago. Furthermore, with the overall ease-of-use, innovative design and affordability of these new printers, consumers will have many different options to choose from when deciding on how best to fulfill their printing needs.

Printronix L7032 Laser Printer User Manual


Printronix L7032 Laser Printer User Manual
Overview

The L7032 is a 32 page per minute (ppm) continuous-form laser printer. It features 600 dots per inch (dpi) address ability, high toner capacity, user-replaceable and long-life components, a reversible drive system, and a leading-edge sensor to reduce forms waste. The printer supports three emulations: PCL, PGL, and VGL.

Location of Printer Components

The illustrations in this section show the mechanical and electronic components of your printer. Please review the illustrations so you will be familiar with the printer’s components when you operate the printer, clean and maintain it, and replace consumables.The paper fold switch tells an optional power paper stacker how to stack the output paper. This switch is used only with power paper stacker (see list of models in Appendix A, Specifications). If you do not have the power paper stacker, you do not need to use this switch. See Section 3.4 Loading Paper for information about how to use this switch with an optional power paper stacker.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

LG BL40

L G Mobile

, a innovator in mobile communications, officially revealed the full image and key specifications of the new LG Chocolate phone, The LG-BL40 handset. The fourth handset of the LG Black Label Series boasts a distinctive 4.0-inch wide screen high-definition LCD with an 800x345 pixel resolution for a super viewing quality. The LG BL40 wide screen breaks away from conventional screen designs with a 21:9 aspect ratio for a panoramic, cinema-like quality and optimal mobile computing experience.
> Lowest retail prices for LG BL40 Chocolate
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LG BL40 Chocolate phone
With the enlarged screen of the LG Chocolate BL40, users will experience a surprisingly convenient and efficient mobile environment. Browsing the Internet is made incredibly easy because with 800 pixels at one's disposal, there is no need to scroll horizontally to read entire web pages. The 4-inch display also features a Dual Screen User Interface that can efficiently display two different types of content simultaneously. The wide HD LCD "Real VGA" screen provides a full range of natural colors for displayed images, making photos more crisp, videos more true-to-life, games more dynamic and documents more readable.


LG BL40 multimedia phone
"The initial response to the new LG BL40 Chocolate phone has exceeded our expectations by a wide margin," said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications. "Although much interest seems focused on the striking shape of the handset, the real surprise will be when people discover the advantages of the 4-inch display in terms of viewing pleasure and ease of use." The new LG Chocolate will be available beginning Q3 in 54 countries

Nokia N900

Nokia marked the next phase in the evolution of Maemo software with the new Nokia N900. Taking its cues from the world of desktop computing, the open source, Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device. The Nokia N900 has evolved from Nokia's previous generation of Internet Tablets and broadens the choice for technology enthusiasts who appreciate the ability to multitask and browse the internet like they would on their desktop computer. Running on the new Maemo 5 software, the Nokia N900 empowers users to have dozens of application windows open and running simultaneously while taking full advantage of the cellular features, touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.
> Lowest retail prices for Nokia N900
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Nokia N900 internet tablet
"With Linux software, Mozilla-based browser technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile multimedia experience," says Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia. "The Nokia N900 mini-computer shows where we are going with Maemo and we'll continue to work with the community to push the software forward. What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer, the internet and the mobile phone, and it is great to see that it is evolving in exciting ways." Designed for computer-grade performance in a compact size, Maemo complements Nokia's other software platforms, such as Symbian, which powers Nokia's smartphones.