Canon PowerShot G9 12-megapixel digital camera
Canon’s PowerShot G9 shoots still photos at a maximum resolution of 12.1 megapixels. That results in huge file sizes. At the best quality you are looking at about 5MB per file, sometimes more, sometimes less. Shooting at that quality gives you the potential for getting prints at up to A2 size: large enough for you to make posters from your photos.
You can, of course, scale things down in several increments, to 640 x 480 if that’s what you want. And you can scale up too, with the camera capable of shooting uncompressed RAW format files.
Video footage comes in at a maximum of 1,024 x 768 pixels and 15 frames per second, or 640 x 480 and 30 frames per second. (more…)
Tagged Under : Camera, Canon, Digital, Digital Camera, LCD, megapixel, powershot, USB
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
Sony - PlayStation 3 review
To be fair to Sony, the actual hardware was never really going to be in much doubt. And after your first few hours in the company of the PlayStation 3, you’re likely to be impressed.
Several initial thoughts went through this reviewer’s head. Firstly, the machine’s really quite heavy. Secondly, aesthetically, it’s really quite smart. And thirdly, and surprisingly, is that given the immense processing grunt under its glossy, buffed-up exterior, it’s very quiet in operation. It certainly puts the Xbox 360 in the shade in that department.
When we switched on for the first time, following as simple a connection procedure as you’d expect with a games console, we signed up for the PlayStation Network and downloaded an advised, albeit not compulsory, update. This involved us getting the machine online, which was thankfully straightforward. A built-in wireless receiver or the Ethernet port at the back are your two choices, and we tried both, finding the machine adapted to either at breakneck speed.
The download and application of the upgrade took care of the first five minutes or so, but eventually we got to spend some time with the browser interface. This bears striking similarities to the one Sony employed with the PSP, and given that the two machines have a degree of interoperability, that’s perhaps unsurprising.
It was interesting to note, going through the menu, just how Sony has made it easy to support elements you’d usually not expect it to be so welcoming of. The option for an OS install took us aback, and we were pleased to see the Folding@Home client built in too. But on top of that, the likes of keyboards, mice, Web-cams and such like - all of which can hook up via the assorted USB ports - are very easy to add. (more…)
Tagged Under : Arcade, Blu-ray, Console, games, Playstation, PS2, PS3, Sony, USB, Web cams
Canon EOS 40D
You’ve got to the stage in your photographic development where you’ve outgrown the teenage point-‘n’-shoot crowd and have maybe thought seriously about composing shots where you have more say in the settings, effects and lighting conditions. You might even be thinking about stepping up to pro status, but are nervous about spending thousands of pounds on high-end SLRs that might prove just too complex.
The best compromise is to head for a sturdy, semi-pro DSLR which will still have some features that remind you of what’s important, and where you can switch to auto when you’re in doubt, whilst still giving you much more control. This is where Canon’s eagerly awaited replacement for the EOS 30D comes into its own. (more…)