Cowon iAudio Q5W Cowon’s attempt to steal Archos’s crown
There aren’t many fields in the tech industry that you could argue are dominated by a particular make and model of hardware, but we believe the PMP (portable media player) market to be one of them. So impressive has Archos’s range of players been over the last couple of years that it’s difficult to see how someone else could compete.
A high-profile launch into this market would be a ballsy move then, but it’s one that Cowon hasn’t shied away from with the release of the iAudio Q5W. It’s finished in black with a dominating 5-inch display and a nice range of connectivity that includes a full sized USB port - so you can transfer content from devices such as digital cameras or MP3 players - and a proprietary connection for A/V output through the supplied composite/component lead. The latter is a nice touch since it means you can hook the device up to your TV or audio system directly.
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Tagged Under : Bluetooth, Cowon, mp3, mp3 player, Radio, TV, USB
Fujifilm FinePix Z100fd cool 8-megapixel camera with enhanced features
It was only a few months ago that Fujifilm released its FinePix Z10fd digital camera, which was clearly intended to appeal to the young and style-conscious, with its exotic-sounding colour variations, smooth metal appearance and range of menu settings geared towards party, beach and fun living.
The Z100fd is essentially an enhancement of the Z10fd with a little more style, a little more weight and a few more features that should ensure that this becomes the cool accessory of choice. So the dimensions are marginally greater (92.0 x 55.7 x 19.8mm and weighing a comfortable 138g) and there are four new, funky shades to choose from (Shell Pink, Satin Silver, Cappuccino Brown and Tuxedo Black).
Tagged Under : Camera, Digital Camera, finepix, flash, Fujifilm, LCD, megapixel, photo
Hitachi CP-RX70 budget LCD projector
Hitachi isn’t a name that you usually associate with budget products but in the case of the CP-RX70 LCD projector the low price is a headline-grabbing figure.
It’s no great surprise that the package is fairly basic, so the black carry case is rather ordinary and the remote control is fairly large and clunky. The only other extras are the power cord and VGA cable, so Hitachi hasn’t gone out of its way to spoil us with fripperies. The projector has a silver painted finish that lacks any feeling of luxury and the styling is very plain, but that’s just about the end of the sniping that we can level at this projector.
It’s clear from the photo that the CP-RX70 bears a strong resemblance to a plain box with a heavily perforated front panel, but it’s only when you know the dimensions are 274 x 71 x 205mm and the weight is 1.7kg that you appreciate it’s a rather slender and lightweight box. (more…)
Tagged Under : Hitachi, LCD, Projector
HANNSG HG216DP high-res 22-inch HDMI-capable monitor
If you’ve been holding off buying an HD-ready monitor until you felt the price was low enough for you to afford, then now might be a good time to invest in one. HANNSG has a reputation for producing stylish monitors with a good performance record, and you’d be hard pushed to find many better deals for 22-inch monitors than the HG216DP; it’s officially valued at £179 but has been spotted on the Web for as little as £135.
Once you get it out of the box you’ll be able to appreciate its chic silver and black design and the cool neon blue logo that lights up when you power on, although it’s a lot chunkier than many of its rivals, at 518mm x 230mm x 412mm and 5.8kg.
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Tagged Under : HANNSG, HDMI, LCD, Monitor
Nintendo - Wii
A bit of an odd review, this one, and we should ‘fess up at the start. We’ve not had a Nintendo Wii to review on our own testbed. Instead, we were invited to a house in the middle of London that Nintendo has kitted out with its brave new hope. The following is based on the several hours we spent hammering a number of games to death and generally getting to know the new machine.
Arguably, the Nintendo Wii is the most important console launch in some time. The reason? Its ethos is different. (more…)