The Nikon D3000 is an entry-level DSLR, but don’t let the term fool you. When you place the label “Entry Level” on a camera, it might call to mind a camera with no frills, limited uses, and little more to offer than an automatic shooting experience.
This has been disproved by the latest crop of cameras released in the past two years, and the D3000 continues to set the bar high for an entry-level camera.
This new generation of point-and-shoots and entry-level DSLRs not only push the boundary of low-light performance and mega resolutions, they give that power to a whole new audience of beginning photographers.
Not only do DSLRs offer you manual control over shooting, they give you the advantage of using different kinds of lenses. It’s important to remember when buying a DSLR that you’re also buying into a system of lenses, not just a camera. The power of having a DSLR is that you can place any of your old lenses onto a new camera body in the future.
Enter the Nikon D3000, a new entry-level DSLR with a 10.2 megapixel DX-format CCD APS-C image sensor, 11-point Autofocus system with 3D tracking (which comes on the higher-end D5000 and D90), Active D-Lighting and an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens for $599.
The Nikon D3000 feels and looks exactly like the other DSLRs from Nikon, and is only different from the D90 and D5000, both higher-end models, by a few tenths of an inch. The D3000 measures 5.0×3.8×2.6 inches while the D90 is 5.2×4.1×3.0 inches, though the D3000 weighs a bit less at 1 lb 1 oz, making the Nikon entry-level to prosumer DSLR models almost identical in shape and size as well as overall appearance.
First time DSLR users will enjoy the Guide Mode. It literally walked us through different shoot scenarios via the fixed 3″ LCD screen. An excellent tool, its step by step instructions allowed my niece to move from the operating booklet in no time.
The Nikon D3000 is paired with a Nikkor 18-55mm AF-S DX lens. It will operate with any Nikkor DX and AF-S lens.
Nikon makes it really simple with a thumb dial for tweaking aperture and shutter speed. Metering, focus modes, and exposure compensation are easily controlled via the menu. The D3000 does not shoot in video mode. This model easily shoots over three frames per second in continuous mode. The 3D tracking sensor operates quite well in low lighting.
The Canon S90IS employs a newly developed, 10-megapixel High Sensitivity System by combining a powerful CCD sensor and Canon’s DIGIC 4 Image Processor. Thanks to this technological advancement, the S90 is dramatically more sensitive than cameras with identical megapixel counts, and delivers spectacular images with minimal noise. Increased sensitivity demands a higher ISO speed, and the PowerShot S90 delivers with a new maximum setting of ISO 3,200. Blur and camera shake are notably reduced for the ultimate in sharpness and clarity.
In addition, a new Low Light mode lets you capture images in an astonishing range of conditions.
The Canon S90IS automatically adjusts the ISO speed from ISO 320 to ISO 12,800 in relation to ambient brightness, subject movement and camera shake.
The Canon S90IS’s tag price is somehow more than most point-and-shoots cost in this day and age.
But the amount of picture power this literally slips into your pocket is almost unbelievable: Outstanding low-light performance for a camera this size; a speedy lens; full control rings, plural; and yep, RAW.
It’s the soul of what makes the $500 behemoth G11 great, packaged in a true point-and-shoot.
You lose some power and some pro tools, like the swivel screen, a (shitty) viewfinder, faster burst shooting, hot shoe, some zoom and a custom mode or two, but you’re also shedding a ton of bulk, meaning you’ll actually take it everywhere.
And the best camera’s always the one you have with you - for me, that’s this camera, which just happens to be an excellent one all by itself.
The PSP Pack Limited Edition Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines Entertainment Pack brings together the latest hardware revision of the PlayStation Portable (PSP), with action, adventure, ancient intrigue and overall digital entertainment like you never thought possible. The Bundle includes a “Pearl White” PSP-3000 system, a copy of Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines in UMD format, a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, an “Angels & Demons” PlayStation Store downloadable movie voucher* and a Sony Music Voucher for 10 downloadable songs.
Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines played a PSP-3000. Both included in the PlayStation Portable 3000 Limited Edition Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines Entertainment PSP Pack
Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines on PSP is the first Assassin’s Creed game on the PSP. It follows the story of Altair right after the events of Assassin’s Creed as Altair tracks down the last Templars who fled the Holy Land and retreated to the Island of Cyprus. The world of the assassin is one cloaked in shadow and steeped in danger. Ensnared in a web of revenge and conspiracy, the assassin embraces power at its most elemental, acting as the dividing line between life and death. As an assassin confronted by perilous new challenges and difficult choices, what path will you choose?
Bloodlines Features Integrated with Those of Assassin’s Creed II
Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines contains several bonus features integrated with the PlayStation 3 version of Assassin’s Creed II through a USB link between the two systems. Players who own both games can collect “Templar Coins” in Bloodlines and exchange them for Assassin’s Creed II currency, as well as collect weapons from defeated targets and play with those same weapons in Assassin’s Creed II. Through that same USB connectivity, blade and health upgrades found in Assassin’s Creed II can be transferred to Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines, making for the ultimate Assassin’s Creed gaming experience on both platforms.
2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo
With 2GB of memory, the compact Memory Stick PRO Duo allows you to save your PlayStation Network downloads, as well as store your videos, photos, music and more.
The PSP Pack comes for US $ 199, if you dare to face Altair’s dangers!
The Fujifilm FinePix Z30 is a very compact, fairly inexpensive, 10-megapixel point-and-shoot that’s loaded with automatic controls, playback effects, continuous shooting features, and numerous self-timer modes. It also has a 3x optical zoom and a fairly unique style that should generate significant buzz.
The Fujifilm FinePix Z30 packs a 10-megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom into a very tiny body.
The camera is available in pink, purple, orange, black, and white and should be available soon for around $180. On the floor at PMA we spent most of our time with the orange model, as shown throughout this review.
The Fujifilm FinePix Z30 isa true stylish device and its design makes it an exciting, fashionable piece of technology.
The Fujifilm FinePix Z30 tag price as appealing as well: US $ 79.99 (and that’s 47% off its regular price!!!)
Great gift often come in small packages… and in HD too!
The Flip UltraHD Camcorder combines Flip Video’s signature shoot-and-share simplicity with the power of vivid, vibrant HD video. UltraHD could not be easier to use: just power on and press record, and you’ll be capturing high-quality HD video in seconds.
The Flip UltraHD features 120 minutes of record time and an included rechargeable battery pack, so you’ll never miss another minute of video again. And because it’s ultra-portable, UltraHD lets you capture spontaneous video anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s a lazy afternoon in the park; a family vacation; or simply an unplanned, everyday event, your UltraHD will be charged and ready to go. So you never have to say, “You should have been there.”
Captures 120 minutes of HD video on 8 GB of built-in memory;
high-quality video for its class;
Comes with Flip Video rechargeable AA battery pack (recharges when connected to USB); also supported by standard AA batteries
Large 2-inch anti-glare color LCD screen to play back and delete videos
HDMI output (mini-HDMI connector) makes it simple to watch video on your HDTV
Video: 16:9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second (fps) progressive scan; recorded as MP4 files
snappy flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your PC or Mac to launch FlipShare software
Pre-installed FlipShare software lets you easily email videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, capture still photos from video, and even upload video to sharing sites like YouTube and MySpace
FlipShare software compatible with both Mac and Windows machines.
The bottom line?
The Flip UltraHD may not be the sexiest mini camcorder out there, but it offers a truly respectable feature set and some of the best video we’ve seen from this type of cheap, YouTube-friendly camcorder.
Priced at less than $150.00, the Flip UltraHD is available right now.
Price conscious? Looking for an even cheaper deal? Meet the Flip Mino!
The super-simple, super-portable Flip Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. Mino weighs only 3.3 ounces and features a sleek, pocket-sized design, allowing you to take it with you everywhere you go. Flip Mino also boasts a rechargeable battery that powers up automatically while plugged into your computer. And while Mino is 40 percent smaller than its already-pocket-sized brother, the Flip Ultra, it’s got all the Flip Video features–simple user interface, one-touch recording, flip-out USB arm, built-in editing and sharing software, instant uploads to YouTube and MySpace–that folks have come to know and love.
While small in size, Flip Mino produces video that is unbelievably high in quality. Its 2 GB of on-board flash memory records up to 60 minutes of full-VGA-quality video that looks sharp when played back on your laptop or television (TV cable included). The built-in microphone captures crisp, detailed audio, whether you’re paddling down the Amazon or rockin’ out at your favorite club. When it’s time to edit or share videos from your latest excursion, flip out the USB arm and connect to any Mac or PC to launch the built-in FlipShare software.
Philips HN 110 Noise Cancelling Foldable Headphones is the ideal travel headphone, and we love noise cancelling technology on the move!
It features smart noise canceling technology that enhances the pleasure of listening to low volume levels in noisy environments such as jet engine noise (or just nasty neighbours), so you can enjoy soft music on flights, or in trains and similar places.
The ear cushions are specifically designed to prevent audio leakage and enhance bass performance too.
The construction material used is Neodymium, which offers a strong magnetic field for crisp sensitivity in a voice coil, enhanced bass response and high overall sound quality.
With acoustically tuned design, this full-size headphone covers your whole ear, and even folds up for compact storage in the soft pouch supplied.
Philips HN 110 is now a real bargain priced at US $ 28.52 (that’s a whopping 59% off regular price!)
We have seen the EyeClops Night Vision Goggles before and they were one of the coolest tech toys last holiday season. A new EyeClops product has been announced that is called the EyeClops Mini Projector.
The projector allows movies, games and more to be projected onto a screen or wall to be viewed.
The EyeClops Mini Projector is pocketsize and lightweight for portability. LED backlighting is bright enough to project games and other sources up to 70-inches in size from any multimedia device from Blu-ray players to game consoles.
Speakers are built-in to the device for sound and it can run for up to ten hours on standard D cell batteries or indefinitely with an included AC adapter.
Get the EyeClops Mini Projector now: tag price is $54.97 (you’re super saving: $45.02 - 45% less!)
It’s been around for a while and it’s well known but, you know, the newest Kindle really rocks!
The biggest and latest e-book gear from Amazon now relies on international wireless support, so you’re never out of touch when it comes to getting new content and e-books (even outside the USA).
Amazon recently started exporting the Kindle to other countries, so you can buy one and use it wherever you are!
Amazon struggled to negotiate deals with European carriers, which was one reason why the Kindle was not already available to the European market, so instead, the Kindle roams from the AT&T network.
The features are fairly similar to those available to American customers. One can subscribe to and download newspapers, magazines and buy and and download books.
Several features set it apart from the others:
1. Amazon’s 130,000+ Kindle-format books are priced around $9.99 (some higher or lower).
2. Built-in wireless (called Whispernet) downloading is also free with purchase of the Kindle.
3. Form factor: the unit is shaped something like a book and is tapered on one side to make it easy to hold. The machine does make it very easy to read for long periods of time without the fatigue you get in your hand from holding a book open and up while reading.
The two major upsides to eBooks are presently: generally lower cost and ease of transportation.
Book addicts like us can literally carry hundreds of books in a unit the size of a typical small paperback.
Another benefit that may not be obvious at first is privacy.
How many times have you found yourself in a waiting room, an airplane, or other public places and wished those around you could not see what you were reading?
The 9.7” e-ink screen (no backlit or LCD) provides a pleasant reading experience. At first, we were afraid that some documents wouldn’t be as readable due to the fixed format of PDF.
But thus far, the Kindle DX seems to solve this very elegantly.
Getting a PDF documents on the device is as easy as you’ve come to expect. Just hook it up on your PC using USB, copy the files and you’re good to go.
The amount of storage is amazing. you can practically put your entire library on there without running out of space.
It also has a very long battery life. We’ve been using it for about two weeks now and so far did not have to recharge the battery.
If you want a 2001 H.A.L. relationship with your Kindle, check the Read-To-Me Feature!
With the experimental Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read English newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder made the feature unavailable. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can choose from both male and female voices which can be sped up or slowed down to suit your preference. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
The Amazon Kindle goes for US $ 259.00 right now, happy reading!
Compact cameras usually sacrifice usability, features for design’s sake, to reduce weight, to be simpler.
Here’s a trio of digital cameras that may well be the perfect choice for all amateur photographers, as well as being the second best friends to photo-pros.
The sport features, accessories compatibility and megapixel count usually found in higher - DSLR cameras, so don’t judge them by from their category: they’re compact cameras on steroids!
The third-generation Canon Powershot G10 is a stunning successor, loaded with uncompromising specs like 14.7 megapixels, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for notably improved face and motion detection. This is a camera that supports and nurtures creativity, with a full range of shooting and recording modes and compatibility with exciting accessories including Speedlite flashes.
Full range of shooting and recording modes including RAW + JPEG
The Canon Powershot G10’s RAW mode lets you shoot images without JPEG compression. It gives you clearer images and complete creative control in editing. RAW images are transferred directly to the computer where they can then be edited using image adjustment software or a processing application to adjust your images as you please. The camera can also be set to allow the simultaneous recording of both RAW and JPEG images while shooting.
Also, with 26 Shooting Modes including 17 Special Scene Modes, you’re ready for whatever shot comes your way.
The Canon Powershot G10 gives you an extra-large 3.0-inch LCD screen for excellent control when framing your shots. But size is only part of the story. Canon’s PureColor LCD II offers more spectacular color, resolution and contrast even at an angle (compared to PureColor LCD). The screen is highly durable and easy to see in any light with a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating. It is a perfect feature for gathering friends and family around to see your images.
The PowerShot G10 is compatible with the Speedlite EX series that is for all EOS series SLR cameras. Attach a Speedlite 580EX II to the hot shoe, then you can set and control the flash on the “Flash Control” menu in the camera. With the 580EX II, the G10 is given extra functions such as autoflash metering, FE lock and Flash exposure compensation; continuous shooting with external flash. Also Canon’s Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 enables you to have multiple slave flashes and wireless control. A Tele Coverter lens designed for the G10 and High-Power Flash designed for all PowerShot cameras are also available.
Designed for easy, creative shooting, and high-performance in low-light conditions, the Panasonic DMC-LX3K features a F2.0 24mm Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens, 10.1 megapixels and an ultra-sensitive 1/1.63-inch CCD developed specifically for this model. By combining a high-quality lens and sensor ready for a variety of shooting conditions with a wide-range of accessories and manual controls, the DMC-LX3 is ideal for professional photographers and serious amateurs looking for a compact digital camera that furthers their creative photography.
At the heart of the Panasonic DMC-LX3K, is its 1/1.63-inch CCD. Making the intentional choice to limit the number of megapixels to 10.1 on its CCD, Panasonic was able to give more space for each pixel and also redesigned the peripheral circuits and other components to further minimize noise generation. As a result, sensitivity is almost 40 percent higher and saturation is increased by 35 percent when compared to Panasonic’s 10 MP digital cameras, giving the Panasonic DMC-LX3K outstanding image quality and a wide dynamic range, and meeting the demand for a camera that works optimally in low-light environments. The CCD is also capable of reproducing images in three aspect ratios — 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9. The new Multi Aspect mode allows the camera to take an image in all three aspect ratios simultaneously, allowing users to choose the version that best suits their needs.
Another major upgrade to the LX3 is the F2.0 24mm ultra wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens. The F2.0 is about twice as bright as a F2.8 lens and can shoot at higher shutter speeds to capture clear, blur-free images in dimly lit environments. In addition, the 24mm lens captures approximately a 213-percent larger viewing angle than a normal 35mm camera and 136% larger compared to a 28mm wide-angle lens. The lens unit consists of eight elements in six groups with four aspherical lenses with four aspherical surfaces. As a result of the F2.0 lens, the LX3 produces high resolution and minimal distortion and artifacts — such as chromatic aberrations, ghosting and flaring.
The DMC-LX3 has the ability to record High Definition (HD) video in 1280 x 720p at 24fps. With the newly added HD component output capability, still and moving pictures can be viewed by connecting the camera to a TV via an optional component cable (DMW-HDC2). In addition, the LX3 features Image Leveling, so when a captured image “leans” to the right or left because the camera was held at a slight angle when the photo was taken, this feature rotates the image to straighten it and crops the unnecessary edges.
Nikon’s classically compact Coolpix P6000 combines 13.5 effective megapixels with a 4x wide-angle optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens for stunning prints as large as 20×30 inches. Nikon’s EXPEED image processor and Image stabilization make for sharp pictures. The incredible, bright 2.7-inch LCD and optical viewfinder make it easy to compose and share pictures. Get the ultimate in control and creativity with Program, Shutter, Aperture and full Manual exposure modes. The Nikon Coolpix P6000 also has a Wired LAN port and GPS geo-tagging capability to upload your pictures to Nikon’s my Picturetown photo storage and sharing service.
What does this mean?
Simply put, wired LAN support offers easy access to the Internet for automatic and secure online image storage using the Picture Bank service of my Picturetown, which also provides the ability to send images directly to a blog or other websites. And a new built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) unit can record the location of shots when taken and attach ?geotags” with information about latitude and longitude to each image file. This adds the fun of being able to view the location on maps available in ViewNX or my Picturetown, or to edit or add geotag information.
The HT-X710 Bluetooth Home Theater System from Samsung features a single-disc capacity DVD/CD player, a 2.1 channel speaker set, HDMI output, USB Host capability, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity. In addition to these key features, Samsung also touts the stylish design of the HT-X710.
The system, which can be mounted on the wall, has been styled to complement the design aesthetics of Samsung’s Touch of Color series of High Definition television sets.
Microsoft has released a new game which finally makes use of the Xbox Vision Camera in You’re in the Movies Xbox 360, which is basically a collection of mini-games to try and put the camera to use on the Xbox 360.
You’re in the Movies Xbox 360 is a collection of mini-games which will have you doing a variety of tasks on-screen. When you take part in all of these tasks, they are then pieced together at the end, and you are presented with a movie trailer of sorts.
You are given certain tasks to do in front of the camera, which will then be recorded and played back to you. If you are in the mood to do a little acting, you can definitely take part in that type of stuff, and it is good fun.
Going beyond the basic acting and instructions you will be given, there are also a variety of mini-games that you are going to be taking part in, such as doing a hula hoop motion, among other things.
There are 30 different sets of these you are going to take part in to create your different movies. There are plenty of different types of films here, such as action movies, sci-fi movies, among other things.
The whole way in which the game is set-up is very interesting, as you have the ability to follow the basic set-ups of films, or take part in the Director Mode to basically allow you to piece together your own scene-creation.
The Samsung i900 Omnia 16GB runs atop of version 6.1 of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Professional operating system.
It supports quad-band GSM/EDGE as well as 2100MHz UMTS/HSDPA (7.2Mbps) network connectivity, with WiFi thrown in for good measure. Highlights of the Samsung i900 Omnia include a large, 3.2-inch WQVGA (240×400 pixel) touchscreen display with stylus support. The display supports auto-rotation for apps and there is a TV-out function for when 3.2-inch just isn’t large enough.
The Samsung i900 Omnia supports many different music and video formats, including Ogg Vorbis music and DivX and Xvid video.
An FM radio is also included in case you forget to load up the i900’s 16GB internal storage with your favorite music, and you don’t have a microSDHC card lying around. Music can be enjoyed with wired or Bluetooth wireless headsets, thanks to the i900’s A2DP stereo Bluetooth capability. The Omnia also sports a high-spec camera, as well.
The camera uses a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor with an autofocus lens and has such high end features as face and smile detection, image stabilization, wide dynamic range mode, and an automatic panoramic mode. A built-in GPS module with nav and geotagging capabilities is also on-board.
The Samsung i900 Omnia uses Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface extensions on top of Windows Mobile.
This means that users are free to navigate with taps, sweeps, or drags and drops as well as use the built-in optical mouse controller.
Text input is handled by an on-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard.
Even if you never used a vinyl album, barely remember VHS cassette or never troubled with audio compact cassettes, you may fall in love with these (now ancient media) and want to convert them to MP3 or whatever.
Or you may have tons of valuable albums and want to preserve that sound for eternity (or something like that).
Let’s look at three different solutions to the problem:
ION has created a revolutionary USB dual cassette deck allowing you to convert your cassette collection to CD or MP3 with included recording software. (no special drivers needed).
Ion Tape2PC comes bundled with EZ Tape Converter by MixMeister, which converts your audio cassette recordings directly into iTunes.
In just a few mouse clicks, you’ll be up and running with digital versions of your tapes.
Upgrading your favorite recordings has never been easier.
The AT-LP2D-USB stereo turntable comes equipped with a USB output that allows direct connection to your computer.
The system also offers: state-of-the-art recording software¿Cakewalk PYRO (for PC use) and Audacity (for MAC or PC); an integral dual-magnet Audio-Technica phono cartridge; and a USB cable and adapter cables.
The turntable also features a built-in switchable phono/line preamp that allows connection to a stereo system equipped with either a phono or line-level input.
VCR 2 PC’s transfer technology saves home movies, family videos, and personal tapes directly to a PC. Imagine never having to dig for tapes again or worry if they will work.
Once you save your precious memories to your computer, they will be saved forever in pristine digital format. Included EZ VHS Converter software can even export your video in MPEG4 format for compatibility with select mobile phones and portable multimedia devices!
Connect a VHS, VHS-C, or 8MM camcorder to the front panel jacks to backup your camcorder videos. When you’re finished archiving your videos to your computer, ION Audio VCR 2 PC
is the perfect VHS player for any room in the house.
Included software lets you burn your home movies to DVD, watch on your PSP, iPod or laptop computer. Player Features RCA audio/video inputs to archive from external sources like video cameras Composite video output and audio line output Auto tracking, variable speed slow-motion, playback, and rewind Soft-touch backlit buttons PAL version features SCART output Software.
What’s best next to a (already gorgeous) PlayStation 3?
PS3-level accessories and hit games! Rock Band 2 for PS3, for example! Rock Band 2 lets you and your friends take your band on an even more expansive and immersive world tour - in person or online - and continue your rock and roll fantasy.
Harmonix, deliver Rock Band 2, the next step to the platform that lets audiences of all ages interact with music in an all-new way. Rock Band 2 lets players vicariously jam out as some of the best guitarists, bassists, drummers and singers of all time.
Featuring a track list with more than 100 on-disc and downloadable tracks from some of the most hallowed bands of the rock pantheon, Rock Band 2 by challenges rockers to master lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals.
Wanna get pro with rock music? Get yourself real instruments such as the Rock Band 2 Double Cymbal Expansion Kit!
Mad Catz Rock Band 2 Double Cymbal Expansion Kit provides the means for you to drum like the pros do with velocity- sensitive Crash, Ride, and Hi-Hat cymbals. With the easy-to-install mounting brackets, you have total control and can setup your drum kit in any configuration you see fit. Once your drum kit has been customized to your standards, you¿ll be all set to attack your song library with new vigor and achieve the next step in drumming perfection.
All products names and icons are trademarks of their respective holders. SourceCrowd.com is not responsible for the availability and correctness of the information provided nor responsible for any damage that may occure to your equipment or you by using the published information.