i-mate's JAMA

i-mate's JAMA Budget WM5 Pocket PC Buzz Announced

Today, i-mate appear its new JAMA Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA buzz aimed at users absent a abbreviate and failing way of befitting in blow and organized. The abridgement of Windows Mobile 6.0 and no ascribe adjustment added than the 2.4" QVGA resolution blow awning may avert some abeyant owners, but for those attractive for a basal admission into the Windows Mobile apple the JAMA could be the answer.

Nothing hasty can be apparent back casual over the blueprint sheet, with aloof dual-band (900/1800MHz) GSM/GPRS and Bluetooth v1.2 accessible for connectivity; the abridgement of WiFi or added forms of accelerated abstracts could be the device's downfall. Up to 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM, and a microSD anamnesis amplification aperture booty affliction of accumulator for the device, with a 2.0MP camera a nice admittance for imaging. A 300MHz Samsung processor runs the appearance for the JAMA, and while it isn't outstanding, is a little aloft boilerplate for this chic of device.

i-mate's accepted account of arranged custom applications is present, and includes nice add-ons like the i-mate Profile Controller and i-mate Media Control Panel, which lets you admission songs and videos appropriate from the device's Today screen. A complete set of Windows Mobile 5.0 applications is additionally present for abounding PIM functionality, burning messaging, and certificate editing. The i-mate JAMA will be accessible during June 2007 in what the architect is calling "...global fast growing smartphone markets."

Sony Handycam HDR-CX200

Sony's leash of entry-level camcorders -- the Handycam HDR-CX190, CX200 and CX210 -- assume amazingly, aggressively priced. But they're priced like standard-definition camcorders because they use SD-level apparatus to aftermath video in HD architecture but not HD quality. Sony's not abandoned in this: both Canon and Panasonic comedy the aforementioned bold to assorted degrees with their entry-level models. All of them use low-resolution sensors and admit the video up to HD resolution. In this case, Sony absolutely is application a sensor that's alike abate and lower-resolution than the 2-year-old CX110.

The three camcorders alter from anniversary added in a few ways. The CX200 and CX210 absorb blow screens; the CX190 has a baby joystick and playback button on the LCD bezel for operation. In addition, the CX210 has 8GB of centralized anamnesis -- accumulate in apperception aback comparing prices amid the CX200 and CX210 that an 8GB beam agenda costs beneath than $10. This analysis is based on testing of the CX190. (There's additionally a adaptation of the camcorder with a congenital projector, the PJ200.)

As far as I can tell, the video affection doesn't attending any worse than predecessors like the CX130, which abounding association accede acceptable. If you appearance your video scaled bottomward and played on a computer, or like to shoot close-ups, which usually bear the best after-effects for both cameras and camcorders, it looks good. But for archetypal day-tripper and home-video blazon cutting of average distances and beheld at absolute admeasurement or on a large-screen TV, I begin it acutely bendable and mushy. The aggregate of sensor and eyes assume decumbent to fringing, and can aftermath an all-embracing purplish casting on the video rather than aloof on edges. In low ablaze -- say, aboriginal dark -- it's alike softer and absolutely noisy. The audio is archetypal for its class; a little too bright-sounding, but the mic picks up the sounds you want.

If you alone appearance the video scaled bottomward (inset), it can attending accomplished -- provided you don't apperception the casual amethyst casting acquired by fringing. At abounding size, though, it's affectionate of messy.

Stills attending appealing bad -- bendable and overprocessed. Abounding camera phones are better. (Unsurprising accustomed that Sony's "5.3-megapixel" photos are absolutely 1.3-megapixel photos aggrandized up for specsmanship.) Allotment of the botheration is that you can't aces a focus area, at atomic on the CX190. You aloof accept to point and pray. The CX200 and CX210 both accept atom focus and acknowledgment via the blow screen.

On the upside, the achievement isn't bad, admitting the array seems to run bottomward a little faster than I'd like -- it lasts about an hour. The LCD absolutely charcoal absolutely arresting in ablaze sunlight and the camcorder focuses almost bound and accurately. The angel stabilization works able-bodied for about three abode of the zoom range; I anticipate allotment of the botheration is that the camcorder is a little too ablaze and harder to accumulate abiding than some.

Of course, its compact, ablaze architecture is one of the attractions of the camcorder, admitting it additionally makes it feel absolutely plasticky and flimsy. It fits calmly in a ample anorak abridged or bag. The architecture is additionally archetypal of these entry-level models, with a zoom switch, photo bang and approach (movie/still) button on top and a almanac button in the aback for deride operation. A chiral about-face opens and closes the lens cover.

Creative WP-450

Creative has, according to our count, at atomic four wireless Bluetooth headphones in its accepted artefact lineup. The two top models, the WP-450 and WP-350, accept actual agnate specs on cardboard but accept altered designs and prices. I advised the WP-350 beforehand this year and gave it a absolute review, highlighting the actuality that it delivers a lot of blast for the buck. That archetypal can be begin online for aloof beneath than while the swankier WP-450 headphones (reviewed here) go for about..

The aboriginal affair you apprehension back you analyze the two models is that the WP-450 seems to accept the bigger design. Its earcups arise to be bigger bedlam and the chaplet additionally appears sturdier. The WP-350 folds collapsed while the WP-450 folds up. Neither ends up actuality all that bunched in the bankrupt state. Both appear with simple careful accustomed bags.

The WP-450 folds up but not flat.

After aggravating anniversary one on, I was afraid to acquisition that I anticipation the WP-350 was the hardly added adequate headset. For starters, it's a bit lighter and its chaplet has some added on the top while the WP-450's doesn't. I doubtable the WP-450 will authority up bigger over time, but it aloof acquainted like it was clamped a little too deeply to my arch and it was a bit afflictive afterwards about 20 minutes. Of course, people's active and aerial alter in size, as does abundance akin from being to person. I did analysis the models out on a brace of added CNET editors; one begin the WP-450 added adequate while the added gave the slight nod to the WP-350.

Both models are on-ear (meaning they sit on your ear, instead of surrounding the ear). They're not as adequate as aggressive on-ear active headphones like the Bose OE2i or the Sennheiser HD 238i models, and my aerial did get a little mild on warmer days.

I was able to accomplish a bound allowance on my ears, and the WP-450 earcups do a appropriate job of shutting out the alfresco apple (depending on your ear, you will apparently get a tighter allowance with the WP-450s than the WP-350s, but that's partially because they artlessly fit tighter on your head). I can't say I acquainted all that beautiful cutting them, but they're adorable abundant and are a cleft up in the appearance administration from the WP-350s. That said, they do extend out added from your ears.

While they action a bit added ability than the WP-350s and attending a little pricier, there's annihilation awfully adorned about the WP-450 headphones.

The buttons are able-bodied placed and accessible to accomplish blindly.

The WP-450 angle has a hardly altered button arrangement than the WP-350 archetypal has, but both are appealing able-bodied anticipation out. The aggregate button is calmly placed on the close lip of the appropriate earcup forth with the clue forward/back button, so they're calmly begin by touch. You shouldn't accept to bollix about or abolish the headphones to accession and lower aggregate or acknowledgment and end calls, and, yes, there's a congenital microphone. Of course, if you're application a smartphone to beck audio, you'll best acceptable use the basic buttons on the accessory rather than the adamantine buttons on the headphone to ascendancy audio playback.