When only the best will do...


 Leica M9 black

Perhaps the most storied and revered name in all of photography is Leica. The company was at the forefront of the movement away from big bulky cameras to smaller 35mm cameras that almost all enthusiasts and professional photographers adopted. Along with Leica cameras, Leica lenses also enjoy exemplary specifications and reputations. My first "real" camera was a Leica M3 and I used it for countless photographs over a 30-year span. It slowly got less and less use when digital cameras achieved quality on par (or even better than) 35mm film. And as of this year, my favorite film, Kodachrome, is no longer even being manufactured.

After a few near misses, Leica has produced a camera of exceptional quality that Leica owners expect. I was fortunate to get a hands-on look, and short use of the camera from one of Leica's US representatives. The new M9 is a physically beautiful camera. It is the world's first digital rangefinder camera with a full-format 24 × 36mm digital sensor sporting 18 megapixels. As the most compact 35mm full-format camera now made, the M9 extends the legendary heritage of the Leica rangefinder M series and unites over 50 years of continuous technical improvements with the best in cutting-edge digital technology. Read more

HD Radio Comes to the iPhone, iPod Touch


 Gigaware Navigation Control HD Radio Receiver

This week it was announced that iPhone users can receive HD radio stations with the new Gigaware Navigation Control HD Radio Receiver from iBiquity. Sold only at Radio Shack, this device allows iPhone and iPod touch devices running Apple 3.0 software to receive HD Radio.

The device acts as an antenna to receive HD Radio signals. To use, just plug it into the dock connector on your iPhone or iPod touch and HD Radio FM stations will play on your handheld's headphones. The device works in conjunction with the free Gigaware app (available at Apple's app store) which includes iTunes tagging, favorite station bookmarks, as well as Twitter and Facebook integration.

The Gigaware Navigation Control HD Radio Receiver is available now for $79.99 at RadioShack stores and the RadioShack Web site. The Gigaware application is available as a free download at Apple's App Store.

Loop Pointer In-Air Mouse Changes the Way You Control the Internet


 Loop Pointer

Many people are gravitating to the living room to view Internet entertainment on their televisions. Hillcrest Labs created a device with these people in mind, the Loop pointer. The Loop pointer is a wireless in-air mouse that lets you control an on-screen cursor with hand motions. Different from any mouse you've seen before, it has a round, ergonomic shape featuring just four buttons and a scroll wheel. To use, simply hold the device in any position, and control online video sites, photo sites, music sites, and more on the computer or TV screen.

Because of the Loop's innovative design and technology, the device was just named an International CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree. Congrats, Hillcrest Labs!

The Loop pointer can be purchased at www.hillcrestlabs.com/loop or www.amazon.com for just $77 (regularly $99) as part of a current promotion.

New Saturday Night Live Opening Shot with Canon EOS Digital SLRs


 SNL cast, crew using Canon EOS DSLRs

What camera company does NBC's Saturday Night Live turn to when they want to shoot a new opening title sequence? None other than Canon. The entire opening montage for the new season was shot using the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the new EOS 7D digital SLR cameras.

For the opening, the director and crew wanted to capture characters that make up the New York City nightlife…and they wanted it to look as natural as possible. The EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D Digital SLR cameras were the answer, thanks to their low-light performance, small size, and amazing depth-of-field, which let the crew shoot without using big lighting gear. Another plus, the crew could easily shoot around the city without drawing a crowd.Read more

Best Buy Unveils $250 Laptop (and it's not a netbook!)


 Acer Extensa EX5230E-2177

Best Buy just announced their lowest priced laptop computer ever, the $249.99 Acer Extensa EX5230E-2177. Available starting today (November 11), this laptop features an Intel Celeron 900 processor, 2GB memory and a 160GB hard drive. It will be available both in-store and online.

If the $250 Acer laptop isn't your thing, with more than 30 laptops, 6 netbooks, 17 desktops and 4 all-in-ones available from brands such as Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Gateway, HP, Sony, Toshiba, and Lenovo, you are sure to find a computer to meet your needs.

Also, throughout the holiday season, six months of anti-virus protection will be free with the purchase of any laptop/desktop/netbook from Best Buy, and one year of Napster will be included free with any Dell computer purchase. Read more

New Book Helps You Improve Your Photography


 Shoot to Thrill:  A Hard-Boiled Guide to Digital Photography

Like most people today we're a hack photographer. Not by choice it just turned out that way.

Yes we have burned through a number of cameras and now own two digital cameras, one a super cool DSLR (digital single lens reflex) beauty that captures brilliant images. Problem is they always lack a certain punch. They don't quite tell the story we thought we were going to get. They were just…OK.

On the other hand our daughter and daughter-in-law shoot beautiful stuff. Our daughter-in-law seems to have that innate ability to make even the simplest of subject almost breathe. Translation – a work of art.Read more

Sony Gives BRAVIA Buyers Early Rental of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs


 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Sony has announced they will offer owners of BRAVIA HDTVs and Blu-ray players the opportunity to rent "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" a month before it is available at retail stores.

Those who purchase a networked BRAVIA HDTV or Blu-ray Disc player and register the device between Nov. 9, 2009 and Jan. 4, 2010, will receive a free 24-hour rental of the movie in HD. The movie will become available on December 8, 2009.

If you already own a networked BRAVIA HDTVs or have earlier BRAVIA models equipped with the BRAVIA Internet Video Link, the movie will be available to rent from Dec. 8, 2009 through Jan. 4, 2010, for $24.95. Read more

ViewSonic VPD400 MovieBook Plays HD Videos, Music, eBooks and More


 ViewSonic VPD400 MovieBook

ViewSonic today announced a new palm-sized media player, the VPD400 MovieBook. It features a 4.3-inch high-resolution screen, 8GB of internal memory, an extendable Micro SD storage slot and features a battery life of up to 12 hours of audio and up to six hours of video.

The VPD400 MovieBook plays HD movies and video (with optional subtitles), as well as lets you share photo albums, read digital books, record voice memos, and of course, listen to music. It supports the following video and audio formats: AVI, MKV, FLV, MPG, MOV, MPG, VOB, RM/RMVB and H.264 for video and MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC and DTS/AC3 for audio.

The ViewSonic VPD400 MovieBook is available today for $129.99.Read more

Bowers & Wilkins Announces the P5 Headphone


 Bowers & Wilkins P5 Headphone

Bowers & Wilkins just announced their first ever headphone, the P5. Featuring a noise isolating design, closed-back construction and ear pads made from the softest available sheep's leather from New Zealand, these headphones were made for extended listening with comfort.

Bowers & Wilkins didn't forget about the sound quality either. The P5 features specially developed ultra-linear neodymium magnets and Mylar diaphragms to give you the best possible sound.

No need to worry about outside noise. The design and construction isolates as much noise as possible thanks to the closed-back design with a metal faceplate and sealed-leather ear pads.

The P5 comes with a Made For iPod cable, with speech and device control. It also includes a standard audio cable with gold-plated plugs. The P5 will be available in January 2010. Pricing has not been announced.

There Are Things More Important Than Size...Just Ask Flash


 Emperor Ming, Flash Gordon

"I'd much rather see you on my side, than scattered into... atoms."The Emperor Ming, Flash Gordon (Universal Pictures – 1980)

We like things that spin, things that go fast. You know, like flying saucers and rocket ships…drives and flash memory. It's a good thing, because with all that business and the Web have to offer, you need every bit of space you can find to store all the stuff.

First of all, there are a few classes of people on Earth:

  • those who swear a millisecond is too long
  • those who have to "know" everything
  • those who will make trade-offs.
  • those who don't have a clue!
Read more

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