Gadgets Device

Yes, this space does tend to harp on the need to use a tripod or some form of camera stabilizer with many modern digicams, because we see too many baboons trying in vain to get clear shots while hand-holding a huge zoom lens. If price has been your main objection to investing in camera support, how-to blog Digital Inspiration has a video that shows how to make a reliable monopod substitute from a spare bolt and washer and a piece of string.

It’s not going to win you any gear lust points, but it could save a lot of shots.

(Read the full post about ‘Make Your Own Tripod Substitute With String and Washer’…)

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If you were already concerned that the Google Maps Street View service might infringe on your privacy, the following comedy video (which is, at this point, somewhat inaccurate) won’t make you feel any better.

It’s the story of two young men who decide to check out their apartment location on Google Maps, finding its digital photo version on Street View, and following along to the inevitable and terrifying conclusion.

(Read the full post about ‘Viral Video: Google Maps’ Street View Finds its Way Home’…)

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PMA buildup madness continues, with Nikon introducing six new Coolpix point-and-shoots, and there are some intriguing oddities among the bunch. For instance, the S600 (10 megapixels, 4x zoom, $300) has an "active child" shooting mode with autofocus tracking that supposedly can keep up even with the most hyper of tots. We foresee embarrassment and shame if the camera decides your darling doesn’t qualify as "active." All new models also have a "best shot selector" function, a kind of automated crap shoot that squeezes off a bunch of images and automatically picks the sharpest one. And several models include an enhanced "smile indicator" that not only recognizes smiling faces but rates the size of the smile on a scale of 1 to 5. (Read the full post about ‘Is Your Child Active Enough for Nikon’s New Point-and-Shoot?’…)

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Guess Nikon ain’t gonna let up on the digital camera front with the announcement of the Coolpix S550. This stylish new camera boasts high performance as well as advanced functions without sacrificing on aesthetics. One can expect the following features upon picking it up :- 10 megapixels CCD sensor 5x Zoom-NIKKOR lens Electronic Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization Automatic Sensitivity Control 2.5″ LCD monitor Face-priority AF In-Camera Red-Eye Fix SD and SDHC memory card supportThe COOLPIX S550 will be available from February 2008 onwards, retailing for $229.95. Tags: games, technology, computers, amps (Read the full post about ‘Nikon Coolpix S550′…)

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Posted Jan 29th 2008 4:57PM by Nilay PatelFiled under: CellphonesWe’d heard that the iPhone 1.1.3 update was causing major problems with SMS message order, but a new support doc up on Apple’s site points to a relatively simple fix: turning on automatic date / time updates. Apparently the problem is caused when the internal clock doesn’t match up to the carrier clock — which seems like it’ll be a continuing annoyance for frequent travelers, so hopefully a better solution is in the works.[Thanks, Dan]Tags: video games, gprs, dap, cool gear (Read the full post about ‘Apple posts a fix for iPhone 1.1.3 SMS ordering problem’…)

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Long the well of gadget blog content, the FCC website is chock full of unannounced gear ripe for the plucking. Finding these gadgets is a simple process, but for many, knowing where to begin is a difficult task. We’ve decided to throw together this how-to guide so you can find your own treasure chest of undiscovered gadgets…just like the pros!

The Search Page
The first step is knowing when and where to look. New FCC entries pop up every day of the week, but Thursdays seem to be the best day for new stuff. The page you want to search is the Electronic Authorization System.

(Read the full post about ‘How To Discover Secret Gadgets Through the FCC [Search And Destroy]’…)

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The new Vaio TZ has a beautiful, subtly etched case offered in flocked champagne or charcoal finishes. One example has classic Victorian geometric swirls. Another looks like wallpaper from the 1960s. A third looks like an insane laser-wielding spirograph machine has gone awry on it, and a fourth offers a profusion of leafy designs spiraling toward the logo. Some people understand the MacBook Air. If your analysis of it spends more than a few moments noodling on features like cellular modems, processor speed and the cross platform compatibility of its external optical drive, you’re not one of them. Sony, by quickly putting fashion design at the forefront of its TZ subnotebooks, knows exactly what Apple is up to. (Read the full post about ‘Sony’s New Subnotebooks Prove It Gets The MacBook Air’…)

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So how often have you found yourself looking at porn playing Solitaire at work, only to have your boss bust in on you? Well, when you suddenly start clicking like a madman, it’s usually pretty obvious that you weren’t actually working. If you’re really that bored at work on a regular basis, you might consider investing in a new mouse. How exactly is a mouse going to help you out? Well, most mice really wouldn’t do much, however, this little guy has a special red button that could save your job. When the “Phantom button” is clicked, one of two things will happen, depending on how you have it set up. You can either have it minimize all programs, or you can have it bring a particular program to the front of your screen. (Read the full post about ‘Phantom Mouse may save your job one day’…)

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RIM’s response to the market-share-gulping iPhone is to try to appeal to the female consumer by splashing pink paint all over the Blackberry Pearl. Sigh. Why do some manufacturers insist on churning out pink versions of their products for women? Research says women are not particularly into it—unless, of course, she is a crack-addled nutcase who has yet to leave her tweenage Barbie phase behind. [Reuters] Tags: Gadget, video game, buyers guides, cameras (Read the full post about ‘Pink Blackberry Pearl Aimed at Consumer Market as RIM Feels iPhone Heat [Pinkberry]’…)

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Asus has made comments that the availability of their 8G Eee PC may soon be in limited supply. Asus is having some issues with supply shortages, the problem is with the SLC (single-level cell) NAND memory and also a shortage of batteries. Due to the shortages Asus has temporarily stopped shipments of the 8G Eee to Taiwan, but expect that to be a short term solution and hope to be able to resume shipments within about 14 days. Based on the current demand for the Eee, one could imagine that when the sales are able to resume there will be a backlog and those initial shipments will have to fill those first. (Read the full post about ‘Asus Eee PC 8G shortages due to memory, battery supplies’…)

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