Ultra Cool Gadgets

For the ultimate in wireless freedom, look no further than the Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset, which represents a generational leap in Bluetooth headset technology. The 510 is comfortable and light enough for all day wear, and it offers unprecedented clarity and sound quality. These are great features, but the real revolution involves Plantronics’ exclusive “Multipoint” technology, which allows the headset to function as a powerful communication solution for up to two Bluetooth devices. With Multipoint technology you can switch between your voice-enabled Bluetooth mobile phone, PDA or laptop. The headset’s “smart” technology knows which device you are using and allows you to take calls from any device at the touch of a button. With the optional Plantronics Bluetooth Deskphone Adapter you can even switch between your office phone and your Bluetooth mobile phone. You’ll never need to use a dedicated “landline” phone headset again.
The 510 features a noise-canceling microphone for clearer conversations, and it folds for easy storage. The boom also swivels for perfect positioning on either ear. One-touch call control buttons are placed for easy access, and you can easily redial the last number dialed and initiate voice-activated calls from the headset. Because the 510 is Bluetooth-enabled (it supports the Bluetooth 1.2 specification) you can roam up to 33 feet from your Bluetooth device. Meanwhile, the 510 supports adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) which helps avoid interference from wi-fi networks. Ample talk time is provided by the built-in rechargeable battery; you’ll get up to 6 hours talk time and up to 100 hours of standby time.

Customer feedback:

1. At last I have found a usable headset, the Voyager 510. The audio quality of this headset on the user end of things is absolutely phenomenal. It is several magnitudes louder than any other bluetooth headset I have tried. I have good hearing so I don’t expect a headset to be super loud, but most bluetooth headsets are so low that conversation from a caller can almost be unintelligible. This Plantronics headset produces clear, loud, largely static free sound.
The headset also transmits audio extremely well. I spoke to several people on the streets of Manhattan and they couldn’t tell I was even on a headset. I also left several voicemails for myself and the audio quality was quite good. Moderate wind is not a problem for this headset at all. However, I don’t believe that this headset employs the same type of DSP as the the nXZEN or Jawbone, so if you are on a noisy street the person you are talking to may hear the background noise. However, even with back ground noise you will be reasonably easy to understand—the headset just doesn’t actually block the noise as much as one that uses DSP as much as the nXZEN or Jawbone does.
2. I’ve been using this headset for about two weeks with a Blackberry 8700C. The headset has a very comfortable fit and the volume is nice and loud. The downside is that the battery life seems a bit sub-standard. I have been caught several times using it and running out of batteries. I also have some random disconnects with my Blackberry. Tough to say whether these disconnects are phone or headset related. I think this is a great value for the money though and prefer it over the Motorola’s and Jabra’s (better fit, louder sound). There is some difficulty pressing the buttons on this headset too – nothing that I could not work around though.

Product features:

* Windsmart Technology allows you to seamlessly switch between two Bluetooth® devices
* Noise-canceling microphone for superior sound quality
* Up to 6 hours talk time and up to 100 hours standby time
* One-touch call answer/end, last number redial and voice activated dialing
* Compatible with Bluetooth devices supporting the headset or hands-free profile

For the first time, record High Definition directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo media card. The HDR-CX7 includes a professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens and Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization, so you can capture the detail and clarity of high definition. Plus, you can take still images and video at the same time, all with exceptional battery life so you’re sure to capture every moment.
Features:
- 3.2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS senso
- Switchable HD/SD format recording
- 10x optical/20x digital zoom
- Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Sonnar T* lens
- 2.7-inch widescreen Hybrid touch-panel Clear Photo LCD Plus display
- Smooth slow record
- Memory Stick PRO Duo Media slot
- Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization system
- Tele Macro function
- Super NightShot infrared system

Customer feedback:

1. I have had the chance to use this little device for about a week. Is it perfect? No! Does the battery last forever? No! Is the picture quality flawless? No! Is it cheap? No! Are the stills great? No! Is Sony Vegas included? No! Is it light? Yes. Is it easy to use? Yes. Is it fun to use? Yes!!!! Do I carry it everywhere? Yes! Am I worried about AVCHD? Who cares!!! This is not a perfect camcorder. It is not without its flaws. I previously and still own a Panasonic PV-GS250. Is it perfect? no. How many hours did I record with it during the last 2 years? Maybe 4 hours. The best thing about the camcorder is the size. I can carry it or with a holster case without calling attention. The next best thing is NO TAPES! I can jump from scenes instantly! The stills sucks but that’s why I have Nikon DSLRs for.
2. I love this camcorder! I received it in the mail today, so this review is still fresh, but so far, I like what I am seeing. The camera is incredibly light and small, even more so than I originally thought it would be. In fact, it’s almost so small that my hand wraps all the way around it which in and of itself isn’t such a great thing given that the wrist wrap doesn’t really serve that much of a purpose anymore. I find that when holding it, I prop it up with my right hand and balance it with my left. The LCD screen is quite large for how small the camcorder is, which is nice, and all of the buttons, while taking a bit of time to figure out, are easy to use and hit with your finger. The memory stick pro duo slot is small and I can see how it might be easy to damage a duo card, especially when transferring cards in/out if you are doing a lot of filming, but in general it’s not so bad. I haven’t tried the HDMI port since apparently it’s one of those mini-HDMI ports Sony seems so fond of these days, but I have hooked the camera up to my 60″ Sony SXRD via component (via the included Handycam base station). The picture on HD (SP) — the default HD video mode, looks really good, even in low lighting conditions, though I found the footage to be a little bit grainy. When upping the picture quality to XP (highest quality), any and all colors just POPPED out onto the screen, and a bit of the graininess was eliminated. Easy and fun to use, small (great for travelling) and a great picture, I give this one 4 stars not 5 only because of small faults in the picture quality and because of the need and current cost of buying extra components such as extra memory stick duo cards, avchd players for home media setups, etc.

Offering a sophisticated design developed with Italian luxury fashion house Prada that’s mixed with a cutting edge user interface technology from LG, the tri-band PRADA Phone by LG (KE850) brings much more to the party than just stunning good looks. Its minimalist, black-tie industrial design has been complemented by a 3-inch touch screen that enables you to control virtually all the phone’s functions with just your finger–no stylus needed. It’s also loaded with bounty of features you expect from a top-of-the-line mobile phone: 2-megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics, Bluetooth connectivity for stereo headphones, multi-format digital audio player, FM radio, MicroSD expansion, and PIM organizer applications to keep you on schedule.
Amazingly small with a body that measures 3.9 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches, the PRADA Phone weighs just 3 ounces (50 percent less than the Apple iPhone). The candybar has an understated, Avante-Garde design that resembles a highly styled high-definition television. It features a piano-black casing on the back and on the front surrounding the screen, and its features are softened by gently rounded corners. The sides are accented by a polished silver metal.

Customer feedback:

1. 10/10 on form factor…this is a sweet phone, bought it for my wife and she LOVES it, and looks SO hot using it! Slight reception issues outside of major metropolitan areas, some dead spots in small cities due to the tri-band, but overall surprisingly better than expected (we use AT&T/Cingular). No problems with SIM card interface. Not a phone for tech junkies although the whole touch screen is pretty slick. Camera is actually better than I thought. Has flash but not auto. Does come with earphones, a 128MB card and beautiful packaging. USB port works fantastic just like flash drive for data transfer to desktop. You WILL stick out like a sore thumb using this thing – and love every minute of it! Highly recommend it, but do check out tri-band reception in your area first to avoid major disappointment.
2. One of the best phones I’ve owned. Call quality and reception are tops and this phone is a stunner. Finger prints are annoying, but expected. I constantly have people come over and ask about it. For the people that are bashing this phone, it isn’t an Iphone and isn’t intended to be. For those of you that are looking at the Apple “product’ and are desperate enough to use ATT, let me say one thing. I tried the Iphone for a week only because it was a demo. I wanted to see if the reviews were true. They are. The Iphone is the worst phone I’ve ever used. I’m talking about the phone features. Bells and whistles are nice when the phone doesn’t lock up. Terrible call quality and iffy reception in medium strength signal strength areas. The speaker phone is a joke too. terrible sound levels. Too bad Apple decided to forget it was a phone first. I’m still laughing about all of you that overpaid, only to see them discontinue the model and then drop the price. You’ll never learn. Well maybe you will if you buy the LG…..Top notch

Product features:

* Unlocked for use with tri-band GSM/GRPS 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, or 1900 MHz service provider and SIM card (Note: phone does not come with service or a SIM card)
* Elegantly designed mobile phone inspired by Prada fashion with revolutionary touchscreen controls
* 2-megapixel camera (with video capture) featuring high-end Schneider Kreuznach optics; multi-format audio and video player
* Bluetooth connectivity for streaming stereo audio; multimedia streaming via fast EDGE network
* Up to 3 hours of talk time, up to 300 hours of standby time; weighs just 3 ounces

The HDC-SD5 uses the AVCHD format to record full-HD video with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. It employs Panasonic’s original 3CCD camera system, a professional broadcast feature, which renders vivid, true-to-life colors, outstanding detail and rich gradation. The SD5 also boasts Panasonic’s new Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), minimizing the effect of hand shake. This technology helps produce crisp, clear images, which is especially important for viewing on large-screen high resolution TVs where image imperfections are easily visible.
The HDC-SD5, which records video onto SDHC/SD Memory Cards, debuts as the world’s smallest palm-style 3CCD full-HD camcorder. It is even smaller than its predecessor model, HDC-SD1, giving the SD5 superb portability. The SD5 also features a new USB Host function that significantly improves data storage and playback ease. With an optional newly released DVD burner (model VW-BN1), users can copy or play back video recordings in the original AVCHD format to deliver the ultimate high-definition viewing experience on a large-screen TV.

Customer feedback:
1. I was thrilled with how small this camera is. It fits in your hand as if it were a half full 12 oz. can of soda. It’s very light, but fortunately the image stabilization makes it shoot like it was a heavier camera. I ran into an issue with iMovie ’07 (part of Apple’s iLife ’08) that caused the screen to stretch wider, making people look fat. This will likely be resolved soon by Apple, and for now I’ve taken to using the 1440 X 1080 resolution which imports just fine.
I’ve also fitted a 37mm mount size aftermarket wide angle lens which really helps for shooting indoors. Some have complained that the video is a bit more grainy while indoors and in darker conditions than the HD1, but I can’t complain. So far, the battery life seems to run an hour and 10 minutes, which is better than the 55 minutes it’s rated for.
2. I am not particularly techie, but was heading off to Disney World with my kids in November and my old digital tape Canon camcorder was dying. I did a fair bit of research and decided the flash drive standard made sense – compatible with my Nikon SLR and such an improvement over digital tape, I figured I would be satisfied. I am. The quality of the video, especially when outside, is extraordinary. I’m really blown away. I have a five year old 1080i TV and this is the first HD image I have seen on it. The camera is small, easy to cary (even on rollercoasters!), and very intuitive – even for me!
Down strokes are the wind noise and low light performance (though I think that goes with the territory). Inside shots are fine. Inside shots at night with marginal light are pretty grainy. But I think this needs to be compared to my old digital tape camcorder. By comparison, the Panasonic does much better. I’d be interested in hearing how the comparable Sony does (didn’t want to deal with the Sony sticks).
Transfer to the included DVD burner is easy enough, though the connections are awkward (a casualty of the small size). Battery comes out to hook up AC jack. Various covers come off to access USB, etc. It all works fine, it just isn’t so convenient.

Product details:

* Record HD video direct to SDHC cards; up to 1 hour on a 4 GB SDHC card
* 1920 x 1080 full-HD recording; HD Advanced Pure Color Engine
* Leica Dicomar lens with 10x optical zoom; built-in Advanced O.I.S.
* 2.7-inch wide-angle LCD monitor; 170-degree viewing angle
* Intelligent Contrast Control