Greenville Business Magazine 2010 March issue : Page 46
››executive lifestyle g gadgets izmos & We are suckers for slim and portable camcorders, and the latest release from Samsung offers us something new along with it’s good looks.Now,we can shoot in full HD, 1920 x 1080 with image stabilization – and get this – a 3x optical zoom. This camera, as well as it’s new and slightly cheaper sibling, also capture still images and offer a time lapse recording feature. With the time lapse mode turned on, you can set intervals of one image every one, five, ten, or thirty seconds. This allows capture of very long events, condensing them into a shorter timeline either for analysis or artistic effect. Like it’s competitor, the Flip, this Samsung camera comes with an easy-to-deploy, swing-out USB connector that will work on most computers without need for a separate cable. The camera also supports HDMI output so it can be connected directly to a monitor or projector and deliver full HD video. Video files are captured up to 30 frames per second in standard H.264 mp4 format. In addition to all the features just mentioned, there is one thing about this camera that stands out to us. The lens is angled seven degrees from the body allowing for a more natural and comfortable grip when shooting video. Those few degrees reduce the unnatural twisting of your forearm required to shoot video from most cell phones. Those few degrees make shooting video a lot more comfortable. Just announced, the HMX-U20 is expected to be widely available in US in April for around $299. BY PHIL YANOV This is probably not the computer you’re looking for, but it may well be the ultra cool touch screen display and second computer you’d like to have on your desk next to your main computer. The HP Touch smart is all about the gloriously big – that is 23 inch – display. Loaded with Windows 7, the giant computer/monitor is just begging you to touch it. Thankfully, that’s what it’s designed for. HP has included their own menuing system which is quite a bit like working with a Mac, but everything is HP black rather than Mac white. The screen is mult-touch and perfect for watching movies or viewing pictures, updating Twitter messages,or watching Hulu movies. The computer comes with a TV Tuner, webcam, and slots for every digital media format imaginable. The Wireless N adapter will move high def movies over your network without stutter, and the build in DVD-Writer with Lightscribe will let you share your media with those still watching their movies on a DVD player. The HP TouchSmart is super cool and beautiful. For some, it might even make a good personal computer. For us, it’s a great second machine, although it comes at something of a premium price. 46 GREENVILLEBUSINESSMAG.COM | MARCH 2010 HP TouchSmart 600 PC Samsung HMX-U20
>>executive lifestyle - Gizmos & Gadgets
Phil Yanov
Samsung HMX-U20
We are suckers for slim and portable camcorders, and the latest release from Samsung offers us something new along with it’s good looks. Now, we can shoot in full HD, 1920 x 1080 with image stabilization – and get this – a 3x optical zoom. This camera, as well as it’s new and slightly cheaper sibling, also capture still images and offer a time lapse recording feature. With the time lapse mode turned on, you can set intervals of one image every one, five, ten, or thirty seconds. This allows capture of very long events, condensing them into a shorter timeline either for analysis or artistic effect. Like it’s competitor, the Flip, this Samsung camera comes with an easy-to-deploy, swing-out USB connector that will work on most computers without need for a separate cable. The camera also supports HDMI output so it can be connected directly to a monitor or projector and deliver full HD video. Video files are captured up to 30 frames per second in standard H.264 mp4 format. In addition to all the features just mentioned, there is one thing about this camera that stands out to us. The lens is angled seven degrees from the body allowing for a more natural and comfortable grip when shooting video. Those few degrees reduce the unnatural twisting of your forearm required to shoot video from most cell phones. Those few degrees make shooting video a lot more comfortable. Just announced, the HMX-U20 is expected to be widely available in US in April for around $299.
HP TouchSmart 600 PC
This is probably not the computer you’re looking for, but it may well be the ultra cool touch screen display and second computer you’d like to have on your desk next to your main computer. The HP Touch smart is all about the gloriously big – that is 23 inch – display. Loaded with Windows 7, the giant computer/monitor is just begging you to touch it. Thankfully, that’s what it’s designed for. HP has included their own menuing system which is quite a bit like working with a Mac, but everything is HP black rather than Mac white. The screen is mult-touch and perfect for watching movies or viewing pictures, updating Twitter messages, or watching Hulu movies. The computer comes with a TV Tuner, webcam, and slots for every digital media format imaginable. The Wireless N adapter will move high def movies over your network without stutter, and the build in DVD-Writer with Lightscribe will let you share your media with those still watching their movies on a DVD player. The HP TouchSmart is super cool and beautiful. For some, it might even make a good personal computer. For us, it’s a great second machine, although it comes at something of a premium price.
Nook
When Barnes and Noble first released the Nook, we weren’t quite convinced. Sure, it has exactly the same eInk display and access to a lot more books than Amazon’s Kindle. We acknowledge that giving up the keyboard for a full color navigation display was something that actually set them apart from the Kindle. What we didn’t care for was that the system seemed sluggish and a bit rough around the edges in terms of user interface. We are happy to report that our concerns have been answered. Barnes and Noble recently released an over the air update to the software on the Nook which now marks a considerable improvement for the device. Icons have been updated, clunky sorting problems have been fixed, and the machine just plain feels snappier. The color screen now has bigger buttons for navigation making moving through your library much easier. All in all, we think the Nook is a real winner. Because it allows loading of the Barnes and Noble format as well as EPub and PDF formats, there are now over 1 million books available for loading on the device. Internal memory is 2 GB which the website says will load up to 1500 ebooks. Memory is expandable up to an additional 16GB though an SDHC micro card which allows for loading of books, images, and music you can listen to while reading. As for form factor, the Nook is very slightly smaller, although thicker, than the Kindle. The rolled edges and wide buttons should make it for an easy transition from book to Nook, and the display is a dream to read in bright sunlight. The Nook has won awards from a variety of other consumer and tech magazines and is now our favorite electronic reader as well. Priced at $259.
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