24 April 2007

Sony HDRHC7E HDV Handycam


Are you looking for a digital video camera? Is your pocket deep enough? Do you want to record all your important moments in HD? If your answers are “yes” to all questions, the Sony Handycam HDRHC7E HDV will be a good option.

The Sony HDRHC7E has high performance features include Optical Super SteadyShot, 6.1 Mega Pixel still image capture and HDV video recording. The video quality is excellent and photo quality is satisfying as well. It has a decent set of manual controls for leisure shooters and bundled FireWire cable (very helpful!). Some people don’t like the touch screen interface, but if you do like it, this video camera will be perfect for you.

Let’s have a look some of its features:
  • High resolution 3.2 Mega Pixel ClearVid CMOS Sensor and Enhanced Imaging Processor for low picture noise, wide dynamic range and smear free images with vibrant colours
  • Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens
  • Super SteadyShot Optical for stable recording and superior image quality for both video and still images without loss of data quality
  • 2.7inch Wide Clear Photo LCD Screen with Touch Panel
  • HDV/DV Compatible
  • x.v.Colour a new international colour standard delivers true to life colour reproduction
  • Easy Handycam mode to simplify operation for first time users
  • Active Interface Shoe for easy connection of accessories
  • 6.1 Mega Pixel still photo capable
  • Memory Stick Duo slot for Still Photo storage
  • Dual Record feature enables simultantous recording of high resolution photos without interupting your video recording.
  • Smooth Slow Record with audio to capture motion that is faster than the human eye. Ideal for sports training and action shots captures 3 seconds and plays it back over 12 seconds
  • HDMI connection for highest quality HD video and audio transfer
  • Picture Motion Browser software and i.LINK cable included
Click the link for more information and pricing – Sony HDRHC7E HDV Handycam.

SanDisk Sansa Connect


SanDisk has just introduced the new Sansa Connect MP3 player. It’s a well designed MP3 player with lots of features and advanced wireless technology (the most interesting part). The Wi-Fi capability lets you access Internet radio for free and the entire Yahoo! Music catalogue with a subscription (of course, you have to be in the Wi-Fi network). You can also browse Flckr’s online photo catalogue on the go.

Apart from the wireless feature, it’s a high-quality MP3 player by itself, with user-friendly interface, good audio quality and 2.2” TFT colour screen. It even offers MicroSD card expansion slot and a built-in external speaker (although I personally don’t really think a tiny external speaker helps).

There must be something imperfect about this little device. Yes, it cannot communicate wirelessly with your PC and it cannot get past certain open Wi-Fi networks' "Terms and conditions" pages. The Wi-Fi battery life is also not very impressive.

The RRP is US$249.99 (NZ$340) for the 4GB model. However, it’s not here yet. We currently have the following SanDisk Sansa models in New Zealand market, if you don’t really need the Wi-Fi function:
Click the above links for more information and the latest pricing.

13 April 2007

VAIO Digital Living System


It looks like a stereo receiver, but it's a PC from Sony. The rack-style new Sony VAIO Digital Living System (VGX-XL3) is a full high definition 1080 Media Center PC with Blu-ray Disc technology and DVR capability. It's designed to integrate with your living room entertainment system and has a wireless keyboard and remote control, HDMI for single-cable connectivity and Windows Vista Home Premium. Apart from the normal PC functions, you can use it as a HD player and video recorder which records directly to the hard disk or Blu-ray discs.

Here are hardware specs:
  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6400 2.13GHz
  • Memory: 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 (3GB max.)
  • Hard drive: 500GB 7200rpm SATA
  • Optical drive: Blu-ray drive
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GTL with 527MB Video RAM
  • Networking: Gigabit Ethernet and IEEE 802.11abg
  • Operating system: Windows Vista Home Premium
It will be available in the U.S. market from mid-April with the price tag of US$3,300 (NZ$4,500). The closest one we have here is the new Sony VAIO Lifestyle Panel PC.

02 April 2007

Adobe Creative Suite 3


Adobe has announced the new Creative Suite 3 family last week. It's the biggest release ever for Adobe with all the new CS3s. The family now has 6 different editions and let's have a look what they are:

Adobe Creative Suite 3 - Design Standard - RRP: NZ$2,462.20
  • Adobe InDesign® CS3
  • Adobe Photoshop CS3
  • Adobe Illustrator® CS3
  • Adobe Acrobat® 8 Professional
  • Adobe Bridge CS3
  • Adobe Version Cue® CS3
  • Adobe Device Central CS3
  • Adobe Stock Photos
  • Adobe Acrobat Connect™

Adobe Creative Suite 3 - Design Premium - RRP: NZ$3,688.66
  • Adobe InDesign® CS3
  • Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended
  • Adobe Illustrator® CS3
  • Adobe Acrobat® 8 Professional
  • Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional
  • Adobe Dreamweaver® CS3
  • Adobe Bridge CS3
  • Adobe Version Cue® CS3
  • Adobe Device Central CS3
  • Adobe Stock Photos
  • Adobe Acrobat Connect™

Adobe Creative Suite 3 - Web Standard
- RRP: $2,053.38
  • Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional
  • Adobe Dreamweaver® CS3
  • Adobe Fireworks® CS3
  • Adobe Contribute® CS3
  • Adobe Bridge CS3
  • Adobe Version Cue® CS3
  • Adobe Device Central CS3
  • Adobe Stock Photos
  • Adobe Acrobat Connect™

Adobe Creative Suite 3 - Web Premium - RRP: $3,279.84
  • Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended
  • Adobe Illustrator® CS3
  • Adobe Acrobat® 8 Professional
  • Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional
  • Adobe Dreamweaver® CS3
  • Adobe Fireworks® CS3
  • Adobe Contribute® CS3
  • Adobe Bridge CS3
  • Adobe Version Cue® CS3
  • Adobe Device Central CS3
  • Adobe Stock Photos
  • Adobe Acrobat Connect™

Adobe Creative Suite 3 - Production Premium - $3,484.25
  • Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended
  • Adobe Illustrator® CS3
  • Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional
  • Adobe After Effects® CS3 Professional
  • Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3
  • Adobe Soundbooth™ CS3
  • Adobe Encore® CS3
  • Adobe Bridge CS3
  • Adobe Version Cue® CS3
  • Adobe Device Central CS3
  • Adobe Stock Photos
  • Adobe Acrobat Connect™
  • Adobe Dynamic Link
  • Adobe OnLocation™ CS3 (Windows only)
  • Adobe Ultra® CS3 (windows only)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 - Master Collection - RRP: $5,119.53
  • Adobe InDesign® CS3
  • Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended
  • Adobe Illustrator® CS3
  • Adobe Acrobat® 8 Professional
  • Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional
  • Adobe Dreamweaver® CS3
  • Adobe Fireworks® CS3
  • Adobe Contribute® CS3
  • Adobe After Effects® CS3 Professional
  • Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3
  • Adobe Soundbooth™ CS3
  • Adobe Encore® CS3
  • Adobe Bridge CS3
  • Adobe Version Cue® CS3
  • Adobe Device Central CS3
  • Adobe Stock Photos
  • Adobe Acrobat Connect™
  • Adobe Dynamic Link
  • Adobe OnLocation™ CS3 (Windows only)
  • Adobe Ultra® CS3 (windows only)