5 great NetBooks

No1 - Samsung NC20 NetBook
If you're looking at a netbook as a full laptop alternative, the Samsung NC20 is what you need. It offers a full 12.1in display with a resolution of 1,280 x 800 - higher than many lower end full notebooks and its screen is bright and clear and a genuine pleasure to work on. The main downside is that the 1.52kg weight is relatively portly for a netbook, but compared to most full laptops, you're still travelling light and the six-cell battery should see you good for a not too shabby six hours, making it our top choice. Check price

No2 - Samsung N110 NetBook
The N110 is Samsung's update to the very well received N10 - offering a 10.1in screen, and 1.25g weight. It employs a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 and should give you at least seven hours of Wi-Fi connected use, helped by an upgraded battery over its predecessor. Video performance is boosted by the presence of the Intel 950 chipset. As ever, Windows XP and 1GB of RAM are in place, as is a 160GB hard disk - though this is conventional rather than SSD. Check price

No3 - Sony P-Series NetBook
Trust Sony to create a netbook like the P-Series – the epitomy of the cliché, 'small and perfectly formed'. In fact, Sony refuses to refer to it as a netbook, preferring 'LifeStyle PC'. Bravely, Sony has chosen Vista rather than XP, which is why it feels a little sluggish in use as it strains the Intel Atom Z520, which runs at only 1.3GHz. Build is also not quite as good as you’d hope at the price and at £700 before VAT, this is a genuine executive toy - which probably means Sony was right about the 'not a netbook' tag. Check price

No4 - HP Mini 2140 NetBook
The HP Mini is one of the better-looking netbooks, with a brushed metal affect lid and hewn look to the keys, which are offset nicely by the sleek rounded bezel, which features a tiny camera embedded in the top. We also noted the Express card slot on the side - a rare feature for a netbook. Also unusual though is the resolution - at 1,024 by 576 it offers less vertical space than most. Check price

No5 - Acer Aspire One D-150 NetBook
When it first came to market, Acer's Aspire One was known as one of the better netbooks on the market, but while the D-150 has no major flaws, it does little to stand out. Our unit had a fetching blue livery, which really was the only distinguishing feature. The 10.1in screen is now standard and the keys were slightly taller and tapered than the likes of the Samsung and Toshiba's, which meant our fingers slid off a more easily. Check price

Smallest FULL HD Camcorder on Earth Samsung HMX-R10

Features of the Samsung HMX-R10 include 25 degrees skewed lens for a more ergonomic hand grip position, 9MP CMOS sensor, 1920 x 1080 Full HD recording, 5x optical zoom, 2.7 inch touchscreen and SD memory card support up to 32GB. The measurements of the HMX-R10 are 125mm long and a width of 40mm. the HD Camcorder weighs 229g (excluding battery). The Samsung HMX-R10 is a stunning new HD camcorder that will impress with its Soda can size.

Technical Details:

• 1920 x 1080 Full HD recording; superior image quality appears clear on your HDTV
• Capture HD video to SDHC/MMC cards
• Intelli-zoom lens with 5x zoom
• 9-megapixel digital still photos (up to 12 megapixels with Pixel Rising feature)
• High resolution, 2.7-inch touch-panel LCD

More details on Amazon.

The Best Digital Photo Frames to Showcase Your Pictures

by Kathleen Cullen, PC World
These days, digital photo frames do a lot more than simply showcase your memories. The best frames can do everything from music playback to Internet content streaming--and look great in any home.
Today's digital picture frames, even more than the frames of 18 months ago, make it easy to keep loved ones and memorable events close to your heart--and visible on your desk or wall. Here are our picks for the best digital photo frames currently available. Note that frames come in a multitude of shapes and sizes; and even though all of them will display your photos, they're far from equal. The ten photo frames presented in this slideshow are the best we've seen, but keep these important points in mind before you buy a frame:
1. Resolution: A higher resolution will do a better job of reproducing images.
2. Aspect ratio: A widescreen (16:9) format might be an attractive way to display images in an nontraditional manner; but a standard (4:3) format may match the size of your images more closely (depending on the camera you're using).
3. Built-in connectivity: Look for Wi-Fi capability if you want the frame to access content that lives on a PC or comes from the Internet. Consider cellular broadband if you want to interact with and send content to the frame.
4. Audio: Built-in speakers enable viewers to enjoy slideshows set to music.

Look the most populars Digital Photo Frame:
Kodak EasyShare W1020
SmartParts SPX8WF
Hewlett-Packard DF820A4
Sony S-Frame DPF-D80
Pandigital PAN1002W02T
D-Link DSM-210
Ipevo Kaleido R7
InTouch IT7150
GiiNii GN-812

Triangular buttons key to touchscreen typing success - inventor

By James Sherwood
A British inventor has submitted a patent application for a wacky touchscreen keyboard design which, he claims, could spell the end for accidental key presses.
David Baker’s Crocodile Keyboard is so named because its keys are shaped like the reptile’s sharp teeth.
Baker told Register Hardware today that each triangular key has significantly more dead space around it than you’d find on a standard Qwerty layout. Consequently, users are more likely to press the correct key each time they tap.
Although originally designed as a physical keyboard for the Palm Pilot – the project was speared due to manufacturing costs, says Baker — the inventor is adamant that a virtual Crocodile Keyboard could be successfully ported onto the iPhone. Apple's publicly available iPhone OS software development kit makes this possible.
Full article...

Laptop Rugged Devices - Dell Latitude XFR D630

pcmag
Today the Dell Latitude XFR D630 makes its debut as the company's first fully rugged laptop that delivers extreme durability. So how's this different from Dell's current Latitude ATG D620? The ATG series is a semi-rugged laptop that meets half of the requirements of the MIL-STD 810F spec, a standard set forth by the Department of Defense for products that operate in extreme environmental conditions. The XFR D630, on the other hand, meets all of the requirements of the MIL-STD 810F spec.
The XFR D630 is built like the Panasonic Toughbook CF-52, with a thick die cast magnesium alloy chassis, a sealed keyboard, and port covers along the sides. It brings to the table features that are similar to the ATG series: Solid state drives are offered in 32GB and 64GB capacities. Dell's ExpressCharge technology claims to charge batteries 30 minutes faster than the competition. The XFR D630 also comes with a 14-inch widescreen that is outdoor-viewable, with a brightness rating of 500 nits. For scenarios where using a finger is faster than the keyboard, the screen has built-in touch capabilities.
The XFR D630 is built on the Latitude D family, so it maintains commonality with the Latitude D630 series. In other words, the system is highly configurable with a rich selection of processors, RAM configurations, and graphics options. All of the AC adapters, batteries, and docking stations are also compatible across the Latitude family. As you can imagine, this heavy duty piece of machinery doesn't come cheap. Prepare to drop at least $3,899 on the base configuration.
Available on amazon shop...

Hard Drive Rugged Devices - Iomega eGo BlackBelt Portable

iomega
Kick your digital storage up a notch with the new super rugged Iomega® eGo™ BlackBelt Portable Hard Drive. The Iomega Drop Guard™ Xtreme feature provides unparalleled protection and protects your drive from a 7' drop - over twice the industry average! You'll have lots of room for all your photos, music and important files. Plus, the Iomega eGo BlackBelt Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply and includes free EMC® Retrospect® and MozyHome™ Online backup software (2GB Free). Software available via easy download. Includes Iomega Power Grip band.
Iomega eGo BlackBelt Portable Hard Drive

• USB 2.0/power cable
• Iomega Power Grip Band
• Quick Install Guide
• HTML User Manual and Help Files
• Backup software license included, software via download (PC only)
• One year warranty

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Bluetooth headset Rugged Devices - Plantronics's Explorer 370

Bluetooth headset
If you thought Bluetooth headsets couldn't be built to last, think again. Plantronics's Explorer 370 Rugged is a lightweight, water-resistant Bluetooth headset with good sound and a rugged design. Just how rugged is it? After being left outside in freezing temperatures and drizzling rain, and after being run over twice with an SUV, it still worked! The Explorer 370 is an in-ear design, which may bother folks who don't like in-ear stereo earbuds.
Available on amazon shop...

10 Rugged Devices for the Outdoors for all conditions

pcmag
Before you venture on that kayaking or beach trip this summer, you may want to leave your precious Apple iPhone 3G or Canon EOS Rebel T1i at home. It's not that these devices weren't highly rated by PCMag analysts, earning our Editors' Choice award, too; it's just that they're not the type of device you'd want to bring along if there's water, sand, or dirt involved. What you need is a device that can withstand the outdoors. Thankfully, there are plenty of rugged tech products to choose from, whether you need a Bluetooth headset, a laptop, a camera, and more.
1. Phone - Sonim XP3.20 Quest
2. Keyboard - Adesso Flexible Full Sized USB Keyboard
3. Bluetooth headset - Plantronics's Explorer 370 Rugged
4. High-end camera - Pentax K-7 D-SLR
5. Laptop - PeeWee Pivot Tablet
6. Video Camera - Kodak Zx1 Pocket
7. Portable Hard Drive - eGo BlackBelt
8. Laptop - Dell Latitude XFR D630
9. Digital cameras - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1
10. GPS - Garmin Oregon 550t

Top Five Digital Cameras for the New Graduate

With commencement speeches abounding, it’s time once again to think about what to get for your favorite new graduate. At the top of many lists (just below Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!“) is a new digital camera. What recent graduates wouldn’t want a flashy new gadget to document the new journey on which they are about to embark? So, herewith, are some of my top picks for the various grads in your life:
(you can buy it on amazon.com)
1. Canon PowerShot SD880 IS
2. Olympus Stylus Tough-6000
3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
4. Nikon Coolpix S230
5. Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Sony to launch smaller, lighter PSP

TOKYO (Reuters)
Japan's Sony Corp plans to sell a smaller and lighter PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld game machine later this year, according to video game websites which cite what they say is Sony's own promotional video clip.
The video clip, which game websites including IGN say was first distributed through Sony's online game information distribution service for paying U.S. subscribers, has been posted on YouTube.
The new device, dubbed the PSP Go, is 43 percent lighter than the current model and comes with a 3.8-inch display, compared with a 4.3 inch screen now, according to the video clip on YouTube.
A spokesman for Sony's game unit, Sony Computer Entertainment declined to comment on the video clip, saying that any announcement on the PSP will be made at the E3 video game trade show that starts on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
According to the video clip, the PSP Go will go on sale this autumn, although the current model, the PSP 3000 will remain in the market.
The newer model's key pad slides out from below the screen, the clip shows. With the PSP 3000, the keys are placed on either side of the screen.
Sony aims to sell 15 million units of the PSP in the financial year to March, up from 14.1 million units a year earlier. The PSP competes with Nintendo Co Ltd's DS.
Shares in Sony rose 2.6 percent to 2,560 yen, outperforming the Nikkei average, which gained 1.6 percent.

Our Favorite Photo Scanners

by M. David Stone, pcmag
Five years ago, many predicted that the days of inexpensive standalone scanners were numbered. Yet largely thanks to the need to preserve photos, flatbed scanners are doing just fine. When inkjet-based all-in-ones (AIOs) first started taking over from single-function inkjets in a big way—starting about five years ago—lots of people predicted the end of the low-cost flatbed scanner. Ironically, however, it's the single-function inkjet printer that's all but disappeared, while flatbed scanners are surviving just fine.
What happened, in large part, is that scanner manufacturers started focusing on photos. In many cases, they've added the ability to scan film (slides and negatives), and have increased scan resolution and other features so they can scan film reasonably well. The result is that although any flatbed scanner is potentially an all-purpose scanner—simply because you can scan anything that will fit on the flatbed—standalone flatbed scanners today tend to focus on photo scanning. More important, they tend to do the job better than inexpensive AIOs.
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Amazon.com to ship Kindle DX ahead of schedule

by Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service
Amazon.com's new large-screen Kindle DX e-reader will ship earlier than expected, the company said Monday.
Amazon will begin shipping the product to customers on June 10, earlier than the third-quarter release the company had planned.
Amazon unveiled the new e-reader and allowed customers to begin pre-ordering it on May 6. The product, a follow-up to February's release of the Kindle 2, features a larger screen and more memory than either that product or its predecessor, the original Kindle released in November 2007. Kindle 2 also shipped slightly ahead of schedule.
The Kindle DX features a 9.7-inch screen, aimed at making it easier to read newspapers, textbooks, magazines and business documents. Other Kindle products have a 6-inch screen and were aimed mainly at reading paperback novels.
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