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SONY
40" BRAVIAŽ XBRŽ Series
KDL-40XBR4
LCD
Flat Panel HDTV
This is my 'first look' review.
I have been testing this HDTV with
a
HD rooftop antenna, a HDTV cable
box and input from my standard
definition Tivo. Its ability to upscale
a standard
definition picture is one
of its best features as is the quality
of the sound which is nothing short
of outstanding,
providing you use
all of the audio controls available.
My impression of the sound quality
stems from placing the
Sony in a
corner. If the Sony was placed away
from a wall or a corner, I'm sure it
wouldn't sound so impressive,
but
I can't swear by it because a
lot of new technology is making
its way into todays modern
electronics. The picture
quality is
Sony all the way. Why opt the more
expensive XBR Series? It's all about
getting the best Sony has to
offer,
and it delivers.
Much more coming soon.
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CANON
VIXIA HF100
High Definition
Camcorder
I got this Camcorder in May '08. It does
feel right at home in my right hand.
An
elegant piece of fine art just crying to be
taken out and and shown a good time.
That's exactly what I did
in Kyoto, Japan
in June '08. My first impression is based
on testing it both hand-held and with
the TrekPod Go!
Walking Staff, Monopod.
(See its the review on this site).
Having now tried the HF100 in Kyoto
and in Vermont
during foliage season,
I have a better impression of the quality
and drawbacks of this mostly excellent
device.
After viewing the video on my
Sony XBR, as far as picture quality goes,
all I can say WOW !!!
(The
following text if from Canon's
website.)
From Canon's long history of optical
excellence, advanced image processing,
superb performance and technological
innovation in photographic and
broadcast television cameras comes the
latest
in high definition camcorders.
Now, with the light, compact Canon
VIXIA HF100, you can have stunning
AVCHD
(Advanced Video Codec High
Definition) format recording with the
ease and numerous benefits of Flash
Memory. It's
used in some of the world's
most innovative electronic products
such as laptop computers, MP3 players,
PDAs and
cell phones. Add to that the
VIXIA HF100's Canon Exclusive features
such as our own 3.3 Megapixel Full HD
CMOS
sensor and advanced DIGIC DV II
Image Processor, SuperRange Optical
Image Stabilization, Instant Auto Focus,
our
2.7" Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid
LCD and the Genuine Canon 12x HD
video zoom lens and you have a Flash
Memory
camcorder that's hard to beat
and unmistakably Canon.
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NEUROS OSD
Media Center
My
first look review will post
as soon as I have had a
chance to test it.
(The following text
is from the
Neuros website.)
The Neuros OSD connects to your
TV or home theater system and
allows you to
archive all of your
DVD and video content.
Plug the Neuros OSD into your TV,
connect your DVD Player or VCR,
and hit play. Your movie will be
safely and legally transferred into
a digital library! It works with
home
movies too. Just plug your
video camera into the OSD,
push play, and your memories
are digitized.
With the
Neuros OSD, you can
store hundreds of hours of video
in one location (like an external
hard drive), get rid of
those bulky
cases, put an end to DVD
damage, and instantly access
any of your videos with the
push of a button
on a remote.
You can even transfer your video
content to a portable device
(video iPod, PSP, mobile phone,
etc.)
to watch on the go, or
email your home movies to
friends and family.
V
V
V
V
V
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LOGITECH
Cordless Desktop
S
530 Laser for Mac
Logitech is probably best known for
making excellent sounding and
affordable
home + PC speaker systems.
They also have a large assortment of
cordless mice and keyboards.
I have been using
this specifically for
Mac Keyboard + Mice Combo for quite
a while and enjoy the sleek and sturdy
design. I especially
like the mute
button which comes in handy to mute
commercials while listening to streaming
media. Buttons along
the right side of
the keyboard allow you to start iTunes
and control play/pause, forward and
reverse. The volume
up/down and mute
buttons work for all sounds on your Mac.
The mouse's scroll wheel features
assignable control,
like zoom or
up/down and tilt left and right to move
sideways in your browser and when
using Photoshop, wow what
a
time-saver, not to mention your wrist!
Why use your wrist when you can just
use your index finger. You also have
two
assignable buttons on the thumb
side that work very well in a browser,
as page back and page forward
control.
Logitech
also makes a Windows version
of the Cordless Desktop S 510 using the
same keyboard. However, It includes the
LX5
Cordless mouse which doesn't have
as many features as the MX 600 cordless
laser mouse that comes with the Mac
Combo.
I guess us Mac owners are just
lucky.
Whether you're a Mac or Windows user,
once you own a Logitech product
you can
count on excellent customer service from
a knowledgeable staff who don't ask for
your date of purchase
and don't want
your credit card number because they
stand behind their products in a way that
I wish the rest
of the consumer
electronics industry would take notice
and try to emulate.
Slim Devices, a Logitech company,
also
makes some very interesting products
such as the Squeezebox digital music
player that I have known about
for quite
a while even before they became a part
of the Logitech family.
I also had one of the first Harmony
Universal Remotes that has also become
part of the Logitech family.
Logitech has a keen eye for interesting
products that add a lot of luster to a
already impressive line of Logitech
products.
I will be adding more
details to this
review in the next few weeks. For now I
will use details from Logitech's website.
(The
following text is from the Logitech
website)
Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac
Superior comfort and precision
with
one-touch controls designed specifically
for your Mac.
One-Touch Mac Controls: Instantly access
iTunes,
iPhoto, Safari, Mail and more.
USB Mini-receiver: Get reliable wireless in
an instant, and remove the clutter of
wires.
Power Management: Go longer with a
low-battery light and auto-off.
Flatter Keyboard Design: Be slim,
sleek
and comfortable.
Silver and White Styling: Designed
specifically for your Mac
(consumer and Pro).
ZERO-DEGREE
TILT: Reduce fatigue with
a remarkably natural typing feel.
SCULPTED LASER MOUSE: Rest your
hand on gently
contoured sides and
soft rubber grips.
LASER ENGINE: Get exceptional mouse
control in all applications on virtually
any surface.
TILT WHEEL PLUS ZOOM:
Go side to side or in and out on photos
and spreadsheets alike.
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