John Lentz Jr.'s blog

CyberLink’s DVD Suite 7 represents the solution for the computer savvy consumer who wants to get the most out of his movie editing features. Powerful, but easy to use, the high-end “Ultra” edition of Suite 7 offers the ability to view HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs, burn Blu-rays, edit HD content, secure burning to DVDs, duplication of non-copyrighted DVDs, and much more.

People familiar with Adobe’s Photoshop, the image equivalent of this software, might expect prices to be over five hundred dollars. However, the highest end "Ultra" edition is available for fewer than 130 dollars.

For more information visit www.cyberlink.com or read the press release.

If all you want to do is access the Internet and use basic applications, it makes no sense to shell out big bucks for a premium computer, only to have to navigate around the things you don’t care about. Small, inexpensive, and geared toward the user who only wants the essentials, HP’s Mini PC line is easy to travel with and fills a market niche extremely well. Though you won’t be able to do high powered media creation with it, those interested in this machine won’t mind, and they sure will love the price break!

Recommended for: the casual PC user who needs a traveling laptop, the beginning PC user who needs only the essentials

For more information read the press release.

Competition and technological advancement have once again pulled through for the consumer. Just in time for the holidays, Sony announced a new 160GB Playstation 3 (PS3), as well as a price drop for the 80GB PS3. The 160GB PS3 comes as part of a limited time bundle which includes the console, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune the game, a PSN voucher for PAIN and a DUALSHOCK3 controller. The memory upgrade is a doubling of the previous model, and with the extra space, users will be able to store all their photos, videos, games, television shows, and movies with less worry about capacity. At $500, this is a steal. Speaking of steals, the older 80GB model’s price goes down by 100 dollars to 399, what the 40GB model costs. If you were waiting, you hopes just got answered.

All of the Playstation 3’s possess HDMI output, 1080p resolution, and an integrated Wi-Fi connection, as well as the ability to play Blu-ray discs out of the box. The latter almost alone makes the game system almost worth its price. www.playstation.com

When it comes to technology, there is no middle ground. Either our products need to be as large as imaginable (like TVs), or they need to be as small as possible to avoid cluttering spaces and weighing down pockets. Pantech and AT&T’s Slate phone is definitely in the latter category. This phone is less than a centimeter deep, yet still boasts a full QWERTY keyboard. To take advantage of its tactilely pleasant keyboard, the slate offers text message and email capability, as well as the ability to send pictures it takes with its built in 1.3 megapixel camera. You might expect this phone to be out of your price range, but Slate is only $49.99 after a two-year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate.

With the holiday approaching, the Slate might be a reasonable solution for that special someone who has never upgraded from more primitive models.

For more information visit www.wireless.att.com or www.pantech.com

Upgrading to high definition (HD) is non-negotiable for sports fans, and tech experts, but some of the rest of us have put if off. While this may have been acceptable a few years ago, each passing day in this marketplace represents a better day to upgrade to HD than the last. The newest reason, Westinghouse’s 26” W2613 is no exception. Yes, the screen is small, but this also translates into less counter space; imagine what you can do with the extra space your boxy clunker used to occupy. Its smallness also means less out of your pocket; the new Westinghouse is under 500 dollars! Further, the W2613 is digital ready, meaning that you won’t have to do anything to continue receiving your signal after the government imposed deadline of February 19, 2009. Read more

By now, your iPhone has probably become your primary phone and MP3 player, as well as contributing by being a portable camera and photo viewer. Griffin Technologies has added one more arrow to the iPhone’s quiver with its iTalk, a voice recording tool made specifically for the iPhone. With this application, you can record sounds and voices just like Kevin McAlister on Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, only you won’t have to carry a bulky, specifically designed lump of plastic to do so. After you have the recordings, use its companion program, iTalk Sync to transfer the files to the computer, where you can share or edit them as you please. Hurry though, it's free from Griffin for a limited period of time.

For more information visit www.griffintechnology.com/products/italk or read the press release.

Just when you thought Guitar Hero couldn’t get any better, Activision unveils Guitar Hero World Tour, which takes your musical capabilities via video games to the next level. Play with wireless controllers (including the updated guitar and drum controller), online or offline, against friends or solo.

Music from many large stars of the 20th century (The Eagles, Michael Jackson, and Metallica) will appeal to teens and their parents, making this one product that transcends the generation gap. If you think you can compete with these legends, World Tour gives you the framework to try: included in the game is a digital music studio that lets you generate your own song from scratch and then incorporate it into the game. Though the price is steep at 189 dollars, the replay compensates for this and the game is available on all three next generation systems (XBOX 360, PS3, and Wii). Read more