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November 26, 2011

Xbox 360 Console

Filed under: Electronics — admin @ 3:14 am

* Two Xbox 360 Limited Edition Gears of War 3 Wireless Controllers
* Includes the standard edition game & custom downloadable content that includes an Infected Omen weapon skin for the 5 starting weapons
* Exclusive Sounds: This is the only console that will have sounds from the actual Gears of War 3 game
* The 320GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music and pictures
* Xbox 360 Headset (black) and Xbox 360 Composite A/V cable.

Just adding to the 5 stars for it really.

First off, packaging is nice. Everything is compartmentalized making it very efficient use of space. There doesn’t really seem to be any empty, unused space in the box meaning that it’s “green” in a way. The box is sturdy though making sure to house it’s contents protectively. The finish is nice and shiny and the colors very vivid.

Next, the contents. A copy of the standard edition of Gears of War 3, 2 Gears of War 3 themed controllers (with 2 batteries for each controller), a Gears of War 3 themed, slim, Xbox 360 console, composite cables, power brick and a black Xbox 360 headset.

A standard copy of the Gears 3 game is most definitely acceptable, but a limited edition version of the game with the limited edition console makes more sense in my opinion. Inside the game case were some Gears of War 3 stickers, the game, 2 codes; one for Adam Fenix multiplayer character and the other for the Infected Omen weapon skins as well as the “Instruction Booklet”. The “Instruction Booklet” is one page, folded in half. Its content is the controls to the game with a picture of the 360 controller as its main imagery. Not much there, but I guess it’s once again being “green” by having practically no content. I’ll leave reviews of the game up to the people who are doing that, but my two cents is that if you liked Gears 1 or 2 or both, then you’ll be happy with 3. If you haven’t played either before, as long as third person shooters are your thing, you’ll like it as well.

The two Gears of War 3 controllers are very nice. I guess the new controllers Microsoft is selling now have a modifiable directional pad. You twist it around and it changes how the D-pad feels; either more like a + symbol or like the original 360 D-pad. I kinda like the + symbol myself. Oh, plus the D-pad is chrome on these Gears controllers. The surface is smooth to the touch (like a piano) where the face buttons are and has some texture on the bottom half (the side where your your fingers go). Just like any Xbox 360, wireless controller, these have great range. The Gears 3 graphics on them are pretty much the same as what is on the console itself, but that’s a good thing as I find it very appealing. The controllers are already synced up to the console too making set up that much easier.

Speaking of the console, it’s quite sexy. I upgraded from a Modern Warfare 2 edition to this one and there are a few things I am enjoying right off the bat. First off, if you still have the older 360, the slims in general are quieter. If you copy the games to the HDD, then it’s almost silent….very nice! Also, with this console also comes the Gears 3 sounds. When you touch the On/Off Power button directly on the console, you will hear a little sound bite from the Gears games (if you’ve played any of them before, it should sound familiar). Also, when you touch the Open/Close button directly on the console, you’ll hear a different sound. The only thing I have found to be an issue with the sound is the built in speaker in the system that plays them is cheap or in a bad spot in the console. When the sound comes out, the system itself or the speaker rattles a little bit making the sounds come out slightly distorted (picture having a radio up to loud). FYI, when turning the console on or off or when opening or closing the tray using the controller, the sounds do not play. The 320GB HDD is more than enough room for all your stuff and can hold plenty of games burned to the HDD if that’s your thing. There are more USB ports on the backside of the console too (I think there are 3 or 4 on the back and 2 in the front). I generally don’t use the USB ports on my 360’s for anything, but the fact there are more is a plus. There’s an HDMI port in the back if you can use it, but you’ll have to purchase your own HDMI cable (you can find them really cheap on Amazon btw). Wireless networking is built right into this thing so you don’t have to go out and purchase an additional adapter to go wireless. And just in case you missed my comment earlier, the same graphics and smooth finish on the controller is also on the console itself.

As for the remaining contents, they are pretty much self explanatory. Overall, I think right now the price is justified considering what you are getting. The only thing that kind of ticks me off is that it took Microsoft so long to get the 360 right. Reports of RROD have fallen (at least from what I’ve seen and read online)and the console seems to be at its peak in performance and reliability. If you haven’t purchased a 360 before, now is the time and getting this edition of the console is a safe bet.

PROS:
1) Gears of War 3 graphics are nicely done.
2) Gears of War 3 sounds.
3) 2 controllers versus 1 (with batteries and synced)
4) Copy of Gears of War 3 (with DLC codes)
5) The Slim 360 is way better than its previous predecessor.
6) 320GB Hard Drive.

CONS:
1) Gears of War 3 themed sounds come out a little distorted (maybe it was just my console too).
2) Gears of War 3 LE should have been included (this is more of a personal preference and I can understand if the packaging didn’t allow for it to fit or if they would have lost money on the deal, just saying….)

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November 22, 2011

Vivitar unveils affordable 3D camera and video recorder

Filed under: Electronics — admin @ 8:31 am

Interested in getting your hands on an affordable 3D camera to record the festive season? Well, look no further as Vivitar has unveiled the ViviCam VT135 and the 790HD. The former is a point-and-shoot camera while the latter is a video recorder that’s pictured above.

Starting with the VT135, the point-and-shoot camera features a 12.1MP image sensor with a 5x digital zoom and a 2.7” display at the back. Next up will be the 790HD which a 5.1MP video recorder with 4x zoom and a 2.7” display at the back. Both devices will be able to capture and record in 3D, so if you want those holiday photos and videos to stand out, either the VT135 or 790HD could be considered.

The good news is that both the VT135 and 790HD will cost $99 each, so if you’re interested in picking up either device, they will be available from your local Target store.

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November 21, 2011

Viewsonic VA2248M-LED 22-Inch Widescreen LED Monitor Reviews

Filed under: Electronics — admin @ 10:34 pm

ViewSonic’s new VA2248m-LED widescreen monitor features a LED backlit 22″ (21.5″ Visible) thin bezel display with integrated speakers. The VA2248m-LED is mercury-free, and offers a full HD 1920×1080 resolution. This beautiful display has a 10,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, DVI and VGA inputs, 5ms response time, and a VESA mountable glossy finish design. The VA2248m-LED features an automatic aspect ratio adjustment, which senses the input single and will not stretch a 4:3 signal but instead, it will position the image in the middle of the screen with side bars. With a 3-year warranty, Energy Star 5.0 certification, the industry’s best pixel performance policy, and energy saving Eco mode, the VA2248m-LED is a great long-term investment.

I wall mount my monitors to clear space on the desk. This usually works out well, but the problem with this setup is it is right beside my conventional 27″ LCD.
Uh. Bad idea. The other monitor just appears so LAME and FEEBLE next to this thing, I’m ashamed of it, and cannot imagine how I read or viewed anything on it. And it IS a decent LCD monitor. Or was a few days ago.
This will spoil you.
The images and text are so crisp and sharp, colors are pure and brilliant.
This is like going from a CRT. A dirty one. (Same video card as the system next to it, so the systems had nothing to do with the comparison.)

One does have to do a little groping to find the buttons on the right side (They are actually on the rear edge) to adjust the brightness and contrast..Which you will want to do unless you have set the system up on the beach, or unless you habitually wear welding goggles.

The vendor shipped instantly. It arrived the day before my new computer. No-brainer plug and play. Windows 7 recognized it instantly.
At the low price, I cannot imagine anyone being dissapointed..It’s a great value.

A benefit to LED illumination is that the most frequent cause of failures in LCD monitors I have had over the years has been the backlighting. When that fails, it usually ends up being the end of the product life.

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November 20, 2011

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera Reviews

Filed under: Electronics — Tags: Canon EOS 5D Body, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 60D, Canon EOS 60D Body Only, Canon EOS 60D CMOS Digital SLR Camera, Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 7D Body, Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Canon EOS Rebel T2i Body, Canon EOS Rebel T3 Body, Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Canon EOS Rebel T3i Body Only, Canon EOS Rebel T3i CMOS Digital SLR Camera, Canon G12, Canon PowerShot A495, Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS, Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS Full HD, Canon PowerShot ELPH 310 HS, Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, Canon PowerShot S100, Canon PowerShot SX150 IS, Canon PowerShot SX230HS, Canon SX30IS, Canon VIXIA HF M40, Canon VIXIA HF M400, Canon VIXIA HF M41, Canon VIXIA HF R200, Canon VIXIA HF R21, Fujifilm FinePix S2950, GE Power Pro X500-BK, Kodak EasyShare Sport C123, Nikon COOLPIX L24, Nikon COOLPIX P30, Nikon COOLPIX S3100, Nikon COOLPIX S6100, Nikon COOLPIX S8200, Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera, Nikon D7000 Body, Nikon D7000 DX-Format, Nikon D90 CMOS Digital SLR Camera, Panasonic DMC-FH25A, Panasonic DMC-FH25V, Panasonic DMC-FZ150K, Panasonic HDC-TM900K, Panasonic HDC-TM90K, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8, Samsung EC-PL120, Sony Bloggie Touch Camera, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 Pink, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W560, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W570, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9, Sony DCR-SX65 — admin @ 6:23 am

I’ve been using a 5D Mark II since it’s introduction back in late 2008. I preordered one as soon as it was available and have been using it since the beginning for wedding and portraits. I’ve used this camera along side the original 5D and 1Ds Mark II. I’ve also loaned a 1Ds Mark III on occasion.

After extensive experience with this camera as well as lower end cameras and higher end cameras, my summary of the 5D Mark II is that they almost had a perfect camera. This camera is like the superstar athlete with a bum knee. The bum knee in this case is the focusing system. In order to protect sales of their higher end cameras, Canon intentionally held back the focusing capabilities of this camera relative to its higher end offerings. The focusing system is basically the same 9 point AF system as the original 5D had (which is the same as the 30D AF), only with faster hardware. The digic 4 processor will calculate focus predictions quicker than the previous 5D. The AF hardware is limited though and no more accurate than the 5D that came before it. For a $2500 camera this is very disappointing.

The focusing system will give you the most trouble in these situations:
- Using fast aperture lenses (F1.4 or so)
- Using the outer focusing points
- Using AI servo to track subjects

The focusing system will give you the least trouble in these situations:
- Using slower lenses
- Using the center focus point
- Using one-shot auto focusing

So the wildly varying opinions on this camera’s focusing system exist because different users use the camera in different ways. Some users will love the focusing performance while others will loathe it. Odds are, they are both justified opinions.

That said, this focusing system is better than any Canon camera costing less. If are you upgrading from any digital rebel or 10 series body (10D, 20D, 40D, etc), you will NOT be disappointed here. If you are using this as a second body to your 1-series camera, the focusing system will be a bit of a letdown. Remember that this camera costs about $2000 less than a current generation 1D camera.

Now with that caveat out of the way, there is VERY little to pick at with this camera. Image quality is stunning (on par with the $7000 1Ds Mark III). Noise is low across the board. Even at higher ISOs (3200-6400), it cleans up very well in Adobe Lightroom and is very usable. H1 (12,800) and H2 (25,600) are mainly for “show” and are pretty bad. At lower ISOs, noise is exceptionally low and the images are sharp and clean. Even almost 4 years after its introduction, this camera is still has the best image quality money can buy for $2500 and that is saying a LOT.

Functionally the camera is excellent. In-camera processing and image review is VERY quick (high speed CF cards recommended). Menus are accessible and easy to understand. Microadjustment makes ill focusing lenses far less problematic. HD video is beautiful and great for *basic* video needs (advanced videographers might look elsewhere). Build and durability is generally very good, though I wouldn’t recommend dropping it. I’ve dropped mine twice (broke something both times) and had it repaired. Today it runs like a champ though. The automatic sensor cleaning generally works good, though I would recommend picking up a bulb blower for the stubborn particles.

As a professional tool, this is an exceptional camera, just be aware of the limitations of the focusing system. Overall though Canon did an awesome job with this camera. Nearly 4 years after it’s introduction, it’s still the tool of choice for many professionals.

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November 19, 2011

Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera Reviews

Received this for Christmas 2010. Love it! The shutter speed is great for capturing a fast moving child. I have so many great shots that I would never have gotten if I was still using my old small point and shoot.

I love my new camera. I’ve has it for over a month now and it takes awesome shots. I never had a DSLR before, only point and shoot, so I did a lot of research before I chose this one. The price on Amazon is literally unbeatable. It’s really lightweight, and easy to use for someone who had no idea what she was doing. Still some things I have to get used to but I really do love it. It takes very crisp and awesome shots. I’ve used it at a concert in NYC where I was in the front row and the shots were incredible. I’ve also taken shots in central park and everything came out beautiful. I highly reccomend!

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October 6, 2011

Sharp LC40LE830U LED-LCD HDTV Awesome TV!! Great picture, super thin..

Filed under: Electronics — admin @ 11:11 pm

I originaly started my search for a LCD TV Black Friday with a top end Samsung in mind. I’ve had many friends with samsung’s and they all spoke highly of them. However, owning a Sharp bought back in 2006 that is still going strong, made the sharp brand an obvious 2nd pick. I was looking for something thin, great picture, 120hz and internet(smarTV) connectivity. I went to best buy to begin my search and was really only looking for a 32″ (for the 32″ price range). It wasn’t until I came to Amazon to do a review search that I filtered for top reviews that I came across the sharp quattron. At first I was hesitant, not that I didn’t believe that sharp was a good brand, considering I already owned/own one, I was just flooded with positive reviews about the samsung’s. But when I found that the Sharp Quattron had the highest reviews in best buy AND Amazon and to top it all off best buy had a sale for $500 for the 40″ I jumped on it. I have not at all been disappointed.

First off, Picture quality is phenomenal. Netflix streamed flawlessly. VUDU has several apps (pandora, NETFLIX, CNN, etc) that are very useful and work perfectly.

Sound quality is “iffy”. I will say it is being used for a master bedroom (15′X18′)and at 1/3 volume it is” enough to be almost loud. It is plenty for a medium or even large bedroom. But if this is going to be your main Living or entertainment room LCD TV Black Friday then I suggest you get a seperate sound system. Im not even the least bit upset about the sound quality however. Even mentioning sound quality on a LCD TV Black Friday that is literally 1.3″ deep is almost picky. Considering most of these new super thin LCD TV Black Friday’s have speakers probably no bigger than 2-3″ Im surprised it is as loud as it is. If you even have a LCD TV Black Friday for a common room that doesn’t not have even a cheap sound system you are an idiot if you complain. One little feature that it does have that I like is an analog audio out (3.5mm). I connected a cheap logitec speaker system to it and I can have a whole complete range of sound, however you can’t control the volume from the remote….whatever. Eventually I will get a cheap sound system for the bedroom until then I will take the cheap route.

Long story short, this LCD TV Black Friday is outstanding. I’ve only had it roughly a month and I haven’t found anything I dislike about it. I even bought a cheap “picture hanger” style wall hanger for it on ebay ($29) that works perfectly. All the research paid off. Again Awesome TV!!!

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