Must have GIZMOS

Must Have GIZMOS editors’ review: Epson Artisan 835

2011-02-10T15:09:59-05:00

We have a home office that we use for my internet business, for a non-profit volunteer program, and for my wife’s job in which she works about 70% of her hours from home. As you can probably imagine our office requires printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. For the past few years we’ve been using our trusted Epson Workforce 635 All-in-One Inkjet Printer for our office equipment, which served us well but does not even come close to the quality of the new flagship (photo-oriented) modal Epson Artisan 835. The Epson Artisan 835 is a beautiful piece of office equipment with dimensions of 18 x 18 x 8 in storage and 18 x 26 x 8 inches with output tray extended. Although the Epson Artisan 835 is not designed for office use, it does have early every feature a home-office user would want including print, copy, scan, fax and photo.

The Good: The world’s fastest 4" x 6" photo printer^;Produces Ultra Hi-Definition 4’ x 6” 6-color prints as fast as 10 seconds. Quickly print documents at speeds of 9.5 ISO ppm (black) and 9 ISO ppm (color). Quickly copy or fax documents a 3 seconds per page. Print straight from your mobile device with Wi Fi. Allows you to easily customize photos, presentations, cards, calendars and direct CD/DVD printing with the touch of a few buttons. The Artisan 835 even includes Auto Photo Correction, so you get stunning photos every time. Both stylish and elegant, the sleek and compact Artisan 835 includes everything you need to take your creativity to a whole new level. It also comes with a special Epson Preferred program offering a two-year warranty with toll-free support and other exclusive benefits.

If you are in the market for an amazing photo printer and does much more you will want to read this review.

The Bad: Yet to determine anything bad with this printer during my testing.

The Bottom line: With all the features included in this all-in-one (built-in networking with Wi-Fi, built-in memory card reader, automatic duplex (front/back), 120 sheet paper cassette, 30-sheet ADF, standard faxing, CD/DVD prints, separate photo tray, easy to use software, low energy consumption and great photo quality) and at this price you cannot find a better piece of office equipment on the market for both your professional use and personal use. The Epson Artisan 835 is a beautiful piece of office equipment and at a sleek 18 x 26 x 8 inches looks great on our office desk.

Reviewed By: Bruce Downs Reviewed On: December 15 – February 10 (8 weeks)

The attraction of the Artisan 835 is its ability to Produce Ultra Hi-Definition 6-color 4 x 6 inch photos at blazing fast speeds, at just under 6 ppm. This quality is achievable through Epson’s exclusive MicroPiezo print head with DX5 technology which delivers up to 5 ink droplet sizes per nozzle, as small as 1.5 picoliters, to produce extraordinarily smooth gradations, amazingly accurate skin tones and sharp, grain-free photos. And Artisan 835 feature 6 color Claria inks for photos that resist smudges, scratches, water and best of all, fading is basically non-existing lasting up to 200 years in album storage, as well as four times longer than photo lab prints.

Features/Benefits

Smart, 7.8″ touch panel — large display lights up only the buttons you need; includes a 3.5″ LCD to preview, edit and print photos
Ultra Hi-Definition prints from the world’s fastest 4″ x 6″ photo printer — brilliant 4″ x 6″ photos in as fast as 10 seconds; DX5 MicroPiezo technology provides the finest color and detail without sacrificing speed
Built-in wireless and Ethernet networking — built-in wireless (Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n) and wired networking; print, scan, and access memory card slots from any room in the house
Send faxes fast, even in color — fax in as fast as 3 seconds per page; store up to 60 speed dials and receive up to 180 pages in memory; also faxes legal-size documents; includes PC-Fax software
One-of-a-kind projects — easily create coloring books, personal note paper, invitations and greeting cards using your own photos
Results ready to share — lab quality photos are smudge, scratch, water and fade resistant
Perfect photos made easy — Auto Photo Correction and red-eye removal
Versatile paper handling — automatic two-sided printing with two paper trays, plus 30-page Automatic Document Feeder to quickly copy, scan or fax stacks of originals
Bring old, faded photos back to life — easily restore the color to faded photos
Print directly from your cell phone — supports iPhone and other mobile devices
Individual ink cartridges — replace only the color you need
Professional looking CDs/DVDs — print right onto ink jet printable CDs/DVDs without labels
Easily charge portable devices — free up a power outlet; charge cell phones and MP3 players
Epson PreferredSM program — one-year warranty and free lifetime customer phone support
ENERGY STAR® qualified
Designed to be Recycled
Save up to 50% of your paper supply with automatic, two-sided printing
Estimated power consumption for one year is less than two dollars
Save even more by printing multiple pages on a single sheet
PC-Fax eliminates the need to print before sending a fax
Supports printing on recycled paper
Epson America, Inc. is a SmarWaySM Transport Partner
Packaging Specifications (W x D x H) – Dimensions: Printing 18.3″ x 25.8″ x 7.8″, Storage 18.3″ x 18.0″ x 7.8″ and Weight 24.9 lb.

Design: Considering all the features that are packed into this all-in-one, you'd think it would be a pretty large office equipment, but not so. Both stylish and elegant, the sleek and compact Artisan 835 measures 18 x 18 x 8 in storage and 18 x 26 x 8 inches with output tray extended. and weighs 25 pounds. Color scheme, mixed black finish with silver accents.

The Artisan 835 features a Tilt and easy-to-view smart 7.8” touch panel with a 3.5” LCD glass display that allows you to effortlessly select, copy, enlarge, rotate, crop, and print photos; Preview automatically corrected photos before printing; View and share photo slide shows – all of this without the use of a computer.

The top of the Artisan 835 houses the 30-page auto document feeder. Lift the lid to access the 48-bit color 4800 dpi flatbed scanner. To access the carriage for the six individual ink cartridges; Black, Cyan, Light Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, & Light Magenta, grab and lift the midsection. The front facing panel is well laid out as was the previous models. The adjustable 7.8 inch smart touch screen panel with a 3.5 inch LCD (displays photo prints) lights up the buttons needed while navigating. Below the touch screen and behind the folding panel is the 30-page extendable output tray and the paper cassette. The cassette has a up to 5 x 7 inch photo tray and can hold up to 120 sheets of copy paper. Below the folding tray and on the right hand side you will find the built-in USB port for charging your devices and the card reader compatible with SD, SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Pro DUO, xD-Picture cards, Compact Flash as well as PictBridge enabled devices.

Installation: I installed the Epson software to my Windows XP desktop via the included CD with ease following an easy Start Here guide. Epson offers three ways to link the printer up to a computer: direct using USB 2.0, wired Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. All of the drivers you need to install the printer using a wired connection come on the driver disc, which also includes a network set-up utility that guides you through the process of establishing a Wi-Fi connection right on the front panel. Basically all I had to do was enter my router password and it was configured and ready to go.

Like many other printers on the market, the Epson's setup first asks you to keep the USB 2.0 cord plugged into a computer while it creates an ad-hoc connection to your wireless router. After you establish a connection, you're free to remove the cable and continue printing wirelessly using a PC, Mac, iPhone or BlackBerry (via apps).

Software: The software works like a dream with pop-up menus when you make a selection of what function (photo, copy, scan and fax) you want to do.

Print Quality: As mentioned the Epson Artisan 835 uses six individual cartridges with DURABrite Ultra Ink which provides above drug store lab quality photos. While using the preset settings, the prints produced evenly saturated colors and shapes with good smooth quality line weights without graininess or blotchy facial tones with clear readability with small font size text. Maximum print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi

Print/Copy Test: The advertised speed of 9.5 ISO ppm (black) and 9 ISO ppm (color) and my speed test showed this to be accurate. However the 4 x 6 inch photos did not match the advertised speed of 10-seconds taking almost 20-seconds, but let me tell you that is faster any other printer you will find in its price point. When printing a full 8.5 x 11 inch photo it took about a minute

During my testing, approx 400 sheets of paper, I have not experience one single paper jam.

Scan Test: The Epson Scan software is very easy to operate and offers three scanning modes (home, office, and professional) to choose from. The 48-bit color flatbed scanner has an optical resolution up to 4800 dpi and a maximum resolution up to 9600 x 9600 dpi interpolated that allows the option to scan and save electronic copies of printed reports, or turn forms and documents into editable text with the OCR software included. You can even scan-to-PDF, scan-to-email, -scan to memory card, or scan to PC then quickly archive and search important files. You can do all of this without a computer.

Fax Test: You can quickly fax Black and White or Color documents with the 30-sheet automatic document feeder as fast as the advertised speed of 3-seconds per page. The memory will hold up to 180 pages. With using the included software PCFax7, you can even send a fax right from your computer without having to print out the sheet and then fax it. It’s a great way to save time and paper!

Performance: After two months of using the Artisan 835 in its various capacities--printing, copying, scanning, and faxing we are very impressed! In terms of general performance, the Epson Artisan 835 is compact, easy to use, and lives up to being the flagship of the Epson Artisan printers.

What’s in the Box: Artisan 835 Ink Jet all-in-one, setup and instruction manuals, CD-ROM with drivers and creativity software, power cord, Ethernet cable (CAT-5), Epson Preferred invitation and free 4x6 photo paper plus coupons with special offers (valid only in the US), 6 Claria Hi-Definition Ink Cartridges, One 98 High-Capacity Black ink cartridge, Five 99 Standard-capacity color ink cartridges: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan, Light Magenta.

Warranty and Support: Epson backs the Epson Artisan 835 with a limited one-year warranty with registration within 60-days of purchase. Added support is offered with a toll-free customer support line (weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT), online through a troubleshooting guide, FAQs, e-mail support, driver updates, and document downloads.

Cost: You can buy the Epson Artisan 835 on the Epson website

Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 v.5.0 $289.77

2010-12-10T06:33:31-05:00

SoftwareMedia.com has the Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 v.5.0 for the Bottom Low Price of $289.77 with no tax and free shipping.

Adobe Premiere CS5 Pro software improves every part of the video production process thanks to the revolutionary 64-bit, GPU-accelerated Adobe Mercury Playback Engine, a highly efficient script-to-screen workflow, and native support for the latest tapeless camera formats that lets you begin editing without delay..

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Apple Final Cut Studio $775.07

2010-12-10T06:30:52-05:00

CheckOutSoftware.com has the Apple Final Cut Studio for the Bottom Low Price of $775.07 with no tax and free shipping.

As the next major release of the leading video post-production suite, the new Final Cut Studio offers powerful new features, dramatically improved performance, and tighter integration. Its six applications give video editors all the tools they need to edit, animate, mix, grade, and deliver - at a price that's more affordable than ever..

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Sony Vegas Pro 10 $499.99

2010-12-10T06:28:23-05:00

Amazon has the Sony Vegas Pro 10 for the Bottom Low Price of $499.99 with no tax and free shipping.

Sony's Vegas Pro 10 offers a suite of professional video and audio post-production tools that let you capture, edit, and export any project recorded in just about any format. From standard-definition DV to high-def XDCAM and 4K RED files, Vegas Pro 10 gives you the power to shape and mold your footage to the highest filmmaking and broadcasting standards..

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Panasonic HDC-TM700 Digital Camcorder $749.95

2010-12-10T06:24:29-05:00

Amazon has the Panasonic HDC-TM700 Digital Camcorder for the Bottom Low Price of $749.95 with no tax and free shipping.

The HDC-TM700 uses the progressive method to record twice as much image data as the interlace method. Whereas interlacing requires two images to produce a complete picture, the progressive method records a single image as a complete picture. Plus, the 60 Progressive Recording of the HDC-TM700 produces 60 images per second. This extremely dense image information creates intricate detail and silky smooth motion. Even when subjects move quickly, afterimages are minimized to create more natural images. The progressive method is most effective when shooting detailed designs where moir patterns tend to occur, or when capturing scenes during sports events where the subjects are intensely moving around. Also, the recorded images are displayed clearly even when they are made into still images, so it is possible to preserve stunning photos when clipping them from videos..

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Sony Handycam DCR-SR200 Digital Camcorder $699.99

2010-12-10T06:21:03-05:00

ABCDEALS has the Sony Handycam DCR-SR200 Digital Camcorder for the Bottom Low Price of $699.99 with no tax and $14.95 shipping.

Sound and vision allows you to capture the full range of life with the DCR-SR200 Handycam hard disk drive camcorder. The ClearVid CMOS Sensor gives you realistic images and 5.1ch surround sound lets you record the sounds as well as the sights. You can leave the tapes at home, thanks to the internal 40GB hard disk drive that stores up to 20 hours of amazingly clear video (LP) with up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution. An industry leading Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens captures incomparable detail while the dual recording feature allows you to capture 2.3 megapixels still images at the same time as you're filming video. And with the included Handycam Station, you can immediately share your footage with the one touch disc burn feature..

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Sony Handycam HDR-SR11 High Definition Digital Camcorder $1549.95

2010-12-10T06:16:22-05:00

Sears has the Sony Handycam HDR-SR11 High Definition Digital Camcorder for the Bottom Low Price of $1549.95 plus tax and shipping.

Shoot video and still photographs like a pro. Sony's HDR-SR11 Handycam camcorder has everything you need for a superior video and photo experience. Its Face Detection technology, made possible by the ClearVid CMOS sensor (with Exmor technology) and BIONZ image processor, helps make sure people look their best in videos and photos. Capture extremely detailed video in Full 1920 x 1080 High Definition resolution, as well as stunning 10.2 Megapixel still photos. Records directly to a built-in 60GB hard drive or your choice of removable Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo media..

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Must Have GIZMOS editors’ review: Epson WorkForce 635 All-in-One Inkjet Printer

2010-12-07T10:35:13-05:00

The Good: Easy setup and easy to use, quick print speeds with a 250 sheet input tray and built-in automatic two-sided printing.

The Bad: For a small office printer I would like the Auto Document Feeder paper capacity increased from 30 sheets to 100 sheets.

The Bottom Line: The WorkForce 635 is a reliable Epson all-in-one small office printer that is easy to use (retail value of $229.99) that improved the popular WorkForce brand with the addition of the 250 sheet input try and time saving automatic two-sided printing.

Reviewed By: Bruce Downs
Reviewed on: November 1 - December 1 (30 days)

When Epson released the new WorkForce 635 designed for small business owners featuring print speeds up to 15 ppm in black and 7.2 ppm in color, a 250 sheet input tray, with a built in automatic two-sided printing I was extremely interested.

Features/Benefits

Save time — with the world's fastest all-in-one in both one- and two-sided printing¹
Speed through critical documents — ISO print speeds of 15 ISO ppm (black) and 7.2 ISO ppm (color), two-sided print speeds of 7.5 ISO ppm (black) and 4.5 ISO ppm (color)^†
Save paper — save up to 50% of your paper supply with automatic, two-sided printing
Print twice as much — get about 2x more prints with 127 Extra High-capacity Black ink cartridges²
Individual ink cartridges — replace only the color you need
Less hassle — built-in 250-sheet paper tray means you re-load paper less often
Do more — 30-page Auto Document Feeder to quickly copy, scan or fax stacks of originals
Easy wireless printing — built-in Easy Epson Wi-Fi makes wireless setup, networking and printing fast and easy³
PC-Fax — fax documents directly from your computer⁵
Front USB port — insert thumb drive and upload files directly to your PC
High-speed faxing in black and color — as fast as 3 sec per page; speed dial storage up to 60 numbers; fax memory up to 180 pages
Protect important documents — smudge, fade and water resistant prints; documents rival those from a laser printer
Save energy — uses up to 70% less power than laser printers⁴
Product protection you can count on — one-year limited warranty; phone support, without charge, for the life of the product⁶; plus, get free templates and "how to" tutorials
Packaging Specifications (W x D x H) — Dimensions: Printing 17.6" x 21.9" x 9.1", Storage 17.6" x 14.2" x 8.9" and Weight 16.8 lb.

Design: The WorkForce 635 kept the same design as the previous generation (WorkForce 610). The printer is housed in a all black exterior with silver accents, an adjustable 2.5 inch LCD control panel, with a top automatic document feeder. A major improvement over the WorkForce 610 model is now the 250-sheet paper tray, up from 100 sheet was moved from the rear (which took up more room) to underneath the output bin. On top of the WorkForce 635 is an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) that can handle double sided documents up to 44 inches in length.

The front face of the WorkForce 635 is well laid out as was the previous models. From left to right; on the left side of the front face you will find will find the built-in memory card reader and front side USB/PictBridge slot. The WorkForce 635 is compatible with CompactFlash, MicroDrive, Memory Stick, MagicGate Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD, SDHC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus and xD-Picture Card (Type M, M+ and H). In the center is the adjustable control panel runs across the front of the WorkForce 635 with a 2.5-inch LCD nearly dead center along with a navigation pad, numerical key pad, device quick keys and a power button.

On the back of the printer you will find all the connections including the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and Ethernet.

The carriage for the ink cartridge can be found under the scanning bed.

Software: The software works like a dream with pop-up menus when you make a selection of what function (photo, copy, scan and fax) you want to do. But if you do need help with a project the software even includes a flash animation video that will walk you through common jobs and projects.

Print Quality: The Epson WorkForce 635 uses four individual (cyan, magenta, yellow, and a 127 high-capacity black ink) cartridges with DURABrite Ultra Ink which provides instant-dry smudge, fade and water resistant documents instantly. The printer also doesn't dissatisfy in terms of photo print quality in fact I would say that the WorkForce 635 more than lives up to the quality of the Epson name. Plus with many printer options to choose from, Epson makes it easy to cater to your prints in the most efficient way possible. While using the preset settings, the prints produced evenly saturated colors and shapes with good smooth quality line weights without graininess or blotchy facial tones with clear readability with small font size text.

Print Test: In my speed tests, the WorkForce 635 did good job when it comes to printing 4x6 photos, in about 1 1/5 minute, and an 8x10 photo in a little less than 3 minutes. The photo quality was a little above good but not great – the colors were not as bright as I was expecting and the blacks not as deep. Since the WorkForce 635 was developed with the small business owner in mind the photo printing quality is office standard. When printing black and white text documents produced 15 pages per minute (ppm) with the first page printing in 8 seconds, but in draft mode the output speed increased to 20 pages per minutes on 20-pound white paper; first page in 6 seconds. Speaking of draft mode, I would recommend using the draft mode for black and white printing (without images) for everything except display work, or final production documents. When printing images in text mode I was only able to produce 5 ppm with decent image quality.

During my testing, approx 300 sheets of paper, I have not experience one single paper jam.

Scan Test: The Epson Scan software is very easy to operate and offers three scanning modes (home, office, and professional) to choose from. The 48-bit color flatbed scanner has an optical resolution up to 2400 dpi and a maximum resolution up to 9600 x 9600 dpi that allows the option to scan and save electronic copies of printed reports, or turn forms and documents into editable text with the OCR software included. You can even scan-to-PDF, scan-to-email, -scan to memory card, or scan to PC then quickly archive and search important files. When you use the WorkForce 635 to scan in a document, and you're connected wirelessly, you can specify which computer you'd like to send the file to. Use the front-side USB port on the printer to upload files from any thumb drive straight to your PC.

Fax Test: With using the fax software, you can send a black and white or color fax from a file you have on your computer without having to print the document first, which saves you time, ink and paper. If you use the 30-sheet Auto Document Feeder the output fax speed is as fast as 3-seconds per page. The fax memory is an impressive 180 pages and you can store up to 60 speed dial numbers.

Specifications:

4-in-1 inkjet (print, scan, copy and fax)
Print speeds: up to 15 ppm in black, 7.2 ppm in color

Print resolution: 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi
2.5-inch LCD with expansive control panel
30-page ADF
Built-in card reader with USB/PictBridge slot
Paper capacity: 250-sheet paper cassette
Connectivity: Hi-Speed USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Energy Star, RoHS compliant
1-year limited warranty

What’s in the Box: Instruction manual, CD-ROM with drivers and software, power code, telephone cord, and 4 DURABrite Ultra Ink cartridges; one 97 Extra High–capacity Black ink cartridge and three 68 High–capacity color ink cartridges: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow.

Warranty and Support: Epson backs the Epson WorkForce 635 with a limited two-year warranty with registration within 60-days of purchase. Added support is offered with a toll-free customer support line (weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT), online through a troubleshooting guide, FAQs, e-mail support, driver updates, and document downloads.

Garmin nüvi 265WT GPS $109.99

2010-12-07T06:42:35-05:00

TigerDirect has the Garmin nüvi 265WT GPS for the Bottom Low Price of $109.99 with no tax and $1.99 for shipping.

Get the big picture and big features for a small price with nüvi 265WT. This wide screen navigator takes you there with preloaded maps and turn-by-turn directions that call out streets by name. It adds a crisp, wide screen display to the nüvi 265WT and comes with lifetime traffic and hands-free calling to simplify life on the go. Like the rest of the nüvi 205-series, this portable navigator is priced right and ultra-easy to use. Like the rest of the nüvi 205-series, nüvi 265WT sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot. With its "Where Am I?" emergency locater, you always know your location. Simply tap the screen to get your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations..

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Toshiba Camileo S20 Digital Camcorder $93.83

2010-12-07T06:27:47-05:00

Amazon has the Toshiba Camileo S20 Digital Camcorder for the Bottom Low Price of $93.83 with no tax and free shipping.

(Flash Memory, Memory Card - 3" Color LCD4x Digital - 128 MB Flash Memory - MPN: PA3792U1CAM) The S20 fits in every pocket! At 2/3 thin and 3.5 oz this tiny video camera is about the same size as a Smartphone and can go wherever you do. Don’t sacrifice size for power! High Definition made easy. The Camileo S20 sports 1920x1080p Full High Definition Video, 4x digital zoom, and video stabilization in 720p mode. The S20 also doubles as a 5 Megapixel still digital camera. The S20 has 4 different recording modes: Macro mode for close up shots, motion detection mode for surveillance, slow motion for sports, and time elapse mode. Don’t be constrained by a device’s built in memory! The S20 takes SD/SDHC memory cards up to 32GB (not included) for extended recording time. Each 32GB card will record an estimated 5 hours at 1080p. The S20 can also charge with a standard USB 2.0 cable so you won’t need to bring extra cables or power adapters on your travels. Capture, Edit, Share. Previewing, watching and sharing your videos doesn’t get any easier. Camileo S20 is equipped with a large 3swiveling LCD for previewing and controlling your videos and pictures. Share your memories with your family and friends with the one-touch YouTube button or watch them directly on your screen with the included HDMI cable..

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Life’s too good to let a single second pass you by. So don’t.
Our Camileo^™ line of compact, HD camcorders has what you need, and what you’ll find nowhere else. Thin, lightweight, go-anywhere designs. In-demand yet simple-to-use features that capture life, right when it happens, with high-definition video and stills. Effortless uploads and sharing. All at a price that makes them easy to take home—and bring everywhere.

The S20 fits in every pocket!
At 2/3” thin and 3.5 oz this tiny video camera is about the same size as a Smartphone and can virtually go wherever you do. Don’t sacrifice size for power!

High Definition made easy.
The Camileo^™ S20 camcorder supports 1080p. Full High Definition Video and 4x digital zoom and video stabilization*. The S20 also doubles as a 5 Megapixel digital still camera. The S20 has 4 different recording modes: Macro mode for close up shots, motion detection mode for surveillance, slow motion for sports and time elapse mode.

Don’t be constrained by a device’s built in memory!
The S20 takes SD/SDHC memory cards up to 32GB (not included) for virtually unlimited recording time. Each 32GB card will record an estimated 5 additional hours** at 1080p or 12 hours at the lowest setting giving you great flexibility with recording time. The S20 also charges with an included USB 2.0 cable so you won’t need to bring extra cables or power adapters on your travels.

Capture, Edit, Share.
Previewing, watching or sharing your videos doesn’t get any easier. The Camileo^™ S20 is equipped with a large 3” diagonal swiveling LCD monitor for previewing and controlling your videos and pictures. Share your memories with your family and friends with the one-touch YouTube^™ button or watch them directly on your favorite HD TV with the included HDMI^™ cable.

Dropbox 1.0 RC

2010-12-07T06:20:17-05:00

Dropbox, a popular online storage solution that also helps you keep files across multiple computers in sync, has just hit a milestone. The team has released Dropbox 1.0 RC for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux – more than two years after the first beta hit the tubes.

Dropbox 1.0 contains numerous bug fixes, performance improvements and should consume less CPU resources than the previous versions.

Among the new features, Dropbox 1.0 includes Selective Sync – you can instruct Dropbox to keep certain file folders in the cloud only and not download them to your computer’s hard drive.

To give you a practical example, let’s say you have a 500 MB file on computer A that you only want to backup online and not sync across computers. You may configure Selective Sync on computer B and that particular file won’t download on the second computer thus saving you plenty of bandwidth.

The other very useful enhancement is that you may now share even non-public folders on Dropbox with anyone outside. Just right-click on the file in Windows Explorer and choose “Get Shareable Link” to get a secure (https) short link powered by db.tt that anyone may use to access that file.

However, you’ll be a bit disappoint to know that the Dropbox team has skipped the most-requested “Watch any Folder” feature in the 1.0 release even though it was in the initial plan as per the Votebox. That means you’ll still have to copy your files to the “My Dropbox” folder for keeping them in sync.

I have been using Dropbox v.0.8.x for some time on Windows and have found it to be pretty stable so far. The 1.0.0 RC is a direct jump from 0.8.x builds.

Your copy of Dropbox will auto-update once 1.0 final is available but meanwhile, you may download the first release candidate from Dropbox forums.

See more Dropbox tips.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology $139

2010-12-06T06:57:08-05:00

Amazon has the Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology for the Bottom Low Price of $139 with no tax and free shipping.

Kindle is Amazon's #1 bestselling item for two years running. It’s also the most-wished-for, most-gifted, and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon.

"Kindle's winning combination of noteworthy upgrades—an improved screen, better battery life, lighter weight, and lower price—vaults it to the top of the e-book reader category… The other upside to e-ink displays is that they aren't backlit, which not only is supposed to reduce eye strain but it allows you to see the screen—better, in fact—in brightly lit environments, including direct sunlight. By contrast, the iPad is hard to read outside because its LCD gets washed out in direct sunlight and the glass covering the screen is reflective and creates glare issues.".

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Pentax K-x Black SLR Digital Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens $

2010-12-06T06:48:26-05:00

Beach Camera has the Pentax K-x Black SLR Digital Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens for the Bottom Low Price of $489 with no tax and free shipping.

(12.4MP, SDHC Card Slot - MPN: 16301) Pentax K-x 12.4 MP Digital SLR with 2.7-inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens (Black). The Pentax K-x offers high-end features including Live View, HD video and photographic performance that challenges higher class models. Since there?s no rule that SLR cameras must come in one color, try the K-x in a choice of white or black, as well as special, limited edition red and navy. With a one-handed shooting design that is extremely compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use, the very affordable K-x is perfect for users stepping up from a point-and-shoot digital camera to their first digital SLR..

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Choose a camera that redefines the entry-level digital SLR category. The Pentax K-x offers high-end features including Live View, HD video and photographic performance that challenges higher class models. Since there’s no rule that SLR cameras must come in one color, try the K-x in a choice of white or black, as well as special, limited edition red and navy. With a one-handed shooting design that is extremely compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use, the very affordable K-x is perfect for users stepping up from a point-and-shoot digital camera to their first digital SLR.

Pentax K-x Features & Highlights

High-resolution 12.4-megapixel CMOS image sensor features sensor-shift Shake Reduction for stabilized image and video capture up to 4 stops max.

Large 2.7-inch LCD features Live View with contrast, phase difference, and Face Detection autofocus (up to 16 faces).

Capture widescreen HD video in full 720p resolution (1280x720) at 24fps cinematic framerate, using any Pentax 35mm lens.

Highly compact DSLR body design allows for 1 handed operation and comfort when travelling.

Powerful automatic modes, including Pentax Auto Picture and scene modes, ensure the perfect shot in any situation, while helping new photographers learn DSLR photography.

Creative processing and filter modes produce high quality finished images, while offering the ability to explore artistic freedom through unique special effects.

True HDR image capture blends 3 bracketed images into a single picture with outstanding shadow, highlight, and midrange detail.

Fast 4.7fps capture speed and 1/6000 second maximum shutter speeds are possible with the Pentax PRIME II image processing engine.

Responsive 11-point wide-angle SAFOX VIII autofocus system focuses quickly and accurately, and can easily track moving subjects.

Capture up to 1900 shots with universally available, easy-to-find AA lithium batteries (also compatible with AA NiMH rechargeable and alkaline batteries).

Expanded ISO range covers sensitivities from 100-12800 for extreme low light photography.

What's in the Box

USB Cable I-USB7
Strap O-ST53
Hotshoe Cover FK
Eyecup FQ
Body Mount Cover
Software CD-ROM S-SW99
AA Lithium Batteries (x4)

Must Have GIZMOS editors’ review: dB Logic Earphones

2010-12-03T15:35:12-05:00

The Good: The dB Logic earphones offers exceptional distortion free sound and comfort with healthy listening at a competitive price.

The Bad: When using the dB Logic earphones while running the cable doesn't seem quite long enough, when using them with a waist belt on a 6’ frame body. Note this is not an issue when running with the more popular armband.

The Bottom line: The The dB Logic earphones offer up sound quality on par with and better than sets that cost many times as much; they are a spectacular choice for anyone looking for new earphones with healthy listening in mind (more on healthy listening) in the review.

Reviewed By: Bruce Downs
Reviewed On: 10/25/2010 - 11/30/2010

Review: There's nothing like good, old competition to keep tech prices in check especially, in this case, with earphones. The earphone market is heavily saturated, and we can all thank that fact for the existence of many worthy earphones contenders in the sub-$75 price range. Still, despite having come across plenty of decent earphones with reasonable pricing, nothing prepared us for the dB Logic earphones. The dB Logic earphones, designed with SPL2 technology, protects users from long-term hearing damage. SPL2 stands for “Sound Pressure Level Limiting,” the patent-pending technology from dB Logic that manipulates sound waves and selectively lowers the volume while still keeping the shape of the sound wave curve. By maintaining the integrity of the sound wave, the limiting is virtually transparent to the users, and the audio content does not sound warped or distorted.

The dB Logic earpieces offer a tapered, double-flanged shape that fit our ears perfectly sealing out external noise. dB Logic includes 4 sizes of double-flanged buds, which you will find a fit for most/all teens and adults users without issues.

I tested the earphones across a variety of situations including mowing the yard. This is where I was shocked at how much damage I was putting on my eardrums. First, I started the lawn mower and then placed my standard iPod earphones on and adjusted the volume to a level that I could enjoy the music while mowing. After 10 minutes I removed the earphones and replaced them with the dB Logic earphones without adjusting the volume. With the lawn mower still running I could barely hear the music. So, I switched back to the iPod earphones and I could hear the music as before so I thought that maybe the dB Logic earphones were not working properly so I turned off the lawn mower only to partially blowout my eardrums. I was shocked at how loud I had to play the music to hear it over the lawnmower and thought of how much damage was I doing to my hearing with this volume. I again placed the dB Logic earphones on at a volume that I could enjoy the music and started the lawnmower and could hear music. The double-flanged shape earpieces do seal out most of the ambient sound of the lawnmower.

In all honesty, I have trouble believing that the The dB Logic earphones only cost $29.99. dB Logic somehow managed to create healthy listening with exceptional sound for very little money, and I would be surprised if anyone was not impressed by what these offer for the money.

Technical Specifications::

Patent pending SPL2 technology
Speaker Diameter – 9mm
Frequency Range – 20Hz-20kHz
Max. Input Power – 40mW
Cable Length – 1.2m
Plug Type – 3.5mm
Gold Plated Plug

Onkyo TX-NR808 Receiver $798

2010-12-02T12:35:17-05:00

BestBuy PCS has the Onkyo TX-NR808 Receiver for the Bottom Low Price of $798 with no tax and free shipping.

If you're a home theater enthusiast who's ready to step up to a higher level of audio/video reproduction, the TX-NR808 Network A/V Receiver from Onkyo. Onkyo's flagship A/V receivers with network capability, the TX-NR808 delivers performance, features, and capabilities. The TX-NR808 features expanded 7.2-channel capabilities that include multi-zone playback and the surround-sound formats from Dolby, DTS, and Audyssey. In addition, the TX-NR808 boasts advanced networking capabilities that PC-based audio and Internet radio..

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