Canon EOS Rebel T3i

The Canon EOS Rebel T3i caters to DSLR beginners but retains outstanding account quality.

It’s time to absolutely agitate off the winter abasement and booty some photos and video with the new Canon T3i DSLR. Is it account the cruise outdoors? We allegation the array and acquisition out in our abounding analysis below, so apprehend on.

Features and Design

Take a quick glance at the Canon EOS Rebel T3i and you’ll hardly be afraid at its anatomy and style. It looks aloof like abounding added entry-level and mid-range DSLRs on the market. Look carefully at the aback of the T3i, however, and you’ll see one of its coolest features: a 3-inch vari-angle LCD awning rated an absorbing 1 actor pixels (before you go wild, apprehend this is pixel calculation is aloof hardly added than the 921K of Nikon’s D7000). The key point is its adaptability compared to the Nikon, which has a anchored screen. With the Canon, you can authority the camera over your arch or aim low while acute the shutter. This opens a apple of new angles for your photography, and you should absolutely accomplish use of it if you buy this camera. At the actual least, you can about-face it about so the awning is adequate as you shoot with the optical viewfinder.

Like every DSLR, the best important affection on the advanced is the lens mount. In this case, the all-black T3i has a Canon EF arise and accepts over 60 EF-S lenses. Additionally actuality is a alien sensor on the actual adequate anchor with a accurately textured surface, a 4-pinhole mic, lens absolution and depth-of-field examination buttons.

On the top is the hot shoe for accessories, which sits abaft the auto pop-up flash, the approach dial, ability switch, affectation and ISO buttons as able-bodied as jog caster to accomplish agenda adjustments. The bang is angled on the grip. The approach punch is archetypal for Canon, with a mix of accepted arena and chiral options as able-bodied as a cine setting. The newest is “A+” — Arena Intelligent Auto — which is a souped-up acute auto. Actuality the camera analyzes the accountable in advanced of it and adjusts Account Appearance Auto additional the Automated Lighting Optimizer, auto white balance, autofocus and automated exposure. We begin it formed well, but there are affluence of tweaks accessible for Account Styles already you move out of A+.

The aback of the T3i has that abundant awning and an optical viewfinder with 95-percent advantage and 0.85x magnification. It’s not the brightest viewfinder we’ve anytime used, but it’s absolutely workable. It’s amidst by a elastic eyecup and a adjacent diopter ascendancy lets you acclimatize it to your eyesight. You’ll additionally acquisition the accepted blast of buttons including Menu, Info, Live View, Acknowledgment Compensation, Q, Playback and Delete. The four-way ambassador gives quick admission to AF, Account Styles, burst/self-timer and white balance. In the top appropriate bend are two buttons to enlarge or compress the admeasurement of your images during playback. Additionally actuality is a adequate deride blow with a textured accomplishment and tiny speaker.

On the appropriate ancillary of the camera is a alcove for your SD agenda (it accepts SDXC) while the larboard has two rather chiffon doors. One gives admission to A/V and mini-HDMI outs, while the additional has inputs for mics and remotes. The basal of the Made In Japan DSLR has a metal tripod arise and array compartment. The camera measures 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 (W x H x D, in inches) and weighs 18.2 ounces (body only). For comparison, the accepted Editor’s Choice 16-megapixel Nikon D7000 has agnate ambit but weighs 6 ounces added as it has a beefier anatomy and ruggedized build.

The T3i is a well-designed (for the best part) DSLR that’s accessible abundant to aces up and alpha shooting. Mastering all of its intricacies will booty time, of course. If you aloof demand to blaze abroad in A+, by all agency do so, but it would be a abashment not to abuse it.

What’s in the box

The camera anatomy and whichever kit lens you accept (our analysis sample had the 18-135mm counterbalanced lens). You additionally get a ample 324-page owner’s manual, strap, anatomy cap, USB and A/V cables, array and charger. The array is rated 550 shots after the flash, 440 application the beam 50 percent of the time, per CIPA. These are solid specs and unless you’re recording video all day long, the array should survive an continued airing in the field. You additionally get two CD-ROMs. One is the EOS Digital Solution Disk with Mac and Windows software for alteration photos and developing RAW files. The added is the software apprenticeship manual. We answerable the battery, loaded a 16GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC agenda and went on our amusing way.

Specifications

Type 
Digital, AF/AE single-lens reflex, camera with built-in flash

Recording Media 
SD/SDHC/SDXC card, via external media (USB v.2.0 hard drive, or via Wireless LAN (Eye-Fi card*)) 

*Canon cameras are not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions, including wireless transfer. In case of an issue with the Eye-Fi card, please consult with the card manufacturer. The use of Eye-Fi cards may not be approved in all regions, or from one region to another; please contact the card manufacturer for status of approval in the country/region of use.

Image Format 
22.3 x 14.9 mm (APS-C size)

Compatible Lenses 
Canon EF lenses including EF-S lenses

(35mm-equivalent focal length is approx.1.6x the lens focal length)

Lens Mount 
Canon EF mount

Image Sensor

Type 
High-sensitivity, high-resolution, large single-plate CMOS sensor

Pixels 
Effective pixels: Approx. 18.0 megapixels

Total Pixels 
Total pixels: Approx. 18.70 megapixels

Aspect Ratio 
3:2 (Horizontal : Vertical)

Color Filter System 
RGB primary color filters

Low Pass Filter 
Fixed position in front of the CMOS sensor

Dust Deletion Feature 
(1) Automatic Sensor Cleaning

• Removes dust adhering to the low-pass filter.
• 
  
• Self-cleaning executed automatically (taking 2 sec.) when power is turned on or off. Manual execution also possible (taking 5 sec.).
• Low-pass filter has a fluorine coating.

(2) Dust Delete Data appended to the captured image

• The coordinates of the dust adhering to the low-pass filter are detected by a test shot and appended to subsequent images.
• The dust coordinate data appended to the image is used by the provided software to automatically erase the dust spots.

(3) Manual cleaning of sensor

Recording System

Recording Format 
Design rule for Camera File System 2.0 and 2.30

File Size 
(1) Large: Approx. 17.90 Megapixels (5,184 x 3,456)

(2) Medium: Approx. 8.00 Megapixels (3,456 x 2,304)

(3) Small: Approx. 4.50 Megapixels (2,592 x 1,728)

(4) S2: Approx. 2.50 Megapixels (1,920 x 1,280)

(5) S3: Approx. 0.35 Megapixels (720 x 480)

(6) RAW: Approx. 17.90 Megapixels (5,184 x 3,456)

Exact file sizes depend on the subject, ISO speed, Picture Style, etc.

Recording Functions 
Images record directly to the SD card.

File Numbering 
Consecutive numbering, auto reset, manual reset.

RAW + JPEG Simultaneous Recording 
RAW and Large JPEG images are recorded simultaneously

Color Space 
sRGB, Adobe RGB

Picture Style 
Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined 1-3

White Balance

Settings 
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom

Auto White Balance 
Auto white balance with the image sensor

Color Temperature Compensation 
White balance correction:

• Blue/amber bias: ±9 levels
• Magenta/green bias: ±9 levels

White balance bracketing:

• ±3 levels, in single-level increments

Color Temperature Information Transmission 
Provided

Viewfinder

Type 
Eye-level SLR (with fixed pentamirror)

Coverage 
Vertical/Horizontal approx. 95% (TD)

Magnification 
Approx. 0.85x / 23.8° (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1 m^-1 (dpt))

Eye Point 
Approx. 19 mm (At -1m^-1 from the eyepiece lens center)

Dioptric Adjustment Correction 
Adjustable from approx. -3.0 to +1.0 m^-1 (dpt)

Focusing Screen 
Fixed

Mirror 
Quick-return half mirror (transmittance: reflectance ratio of 40:60)

Viewfinder Information 
1) AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light)

2) Exposure information (Shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed, AE lock, exposure level, spot metering circle, exposure warning)

3) Flash information (Flash ready, flash exposure compensation, high-speed sync, FE lock, red-eye reduction light)

4) Image information (Highlight tone priority, Monochrome shooting, maximum burst, white balance correction, SD card information)

5) Composition information (Grid, electronic level)

6) Battery check

Depth Of Field Preview 
Enabled with depth-of-field preview button

Autofocus

Type 
TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor

AF Points 
9 points (Center AF point is cross-type, vertical-line sensitive at f/2.8.)

AF Working Range 
EV -0.5 - 18 (at 23°C/73°F and ISO 100, based on Canon's testing standards)

Focusing Modes 
(1) Autofocus

• One-Shot AF
• Predictive AI Servo AF
• AI Focus AF

(2) Manual focus (MF)

AF Point Selection 
(1) Manual selection

(2) Auto selection

* Automatically set (2) in Basic Zone modes and A-DEP mode.

Selected AF Point Display 
Indicated by superimposed display in the viewfinder and on the LCD monitor

AF Assist Beam 
(1) Intermittent firing of built-in flash

(2) Effective range: Approx. 4 m/13.1 ft at center, approx. 3.5 m/11.5 ft at periphery

* With an EOS-dedicated Speedlite attached, the Speedlite's AF-assist beam is emitted instead.

* Compatible with assist-beam (intermittent firing) of 320EX, 270EX II and 270EX flashes.

Exposure Control

Metering Modes 
TTL maximum aperture metering with 63-zone metering sensor

• Evaluative metering (linkable to all AF points)
• Partial metering (center, approx. 9% of viewfinder at center)
• Spot metering (center, approx. 4% of viewfinder at center)
• Center-weighted average metering

Metering Range 
EV 1.0 - EV 20.0 (at 73°F/23°C with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Exposure Control Systems 
Program AE (Shiftable), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Manual exposure, Automatic depth-of-field, Scene Intelligent Auto, Flash Off, Creative Auto, Programmed Image Control modes, E-TTL II autoflash program AE

ISO Speed Range 
Auto, ISO 100 - 6400 (in whole-stop increments), H: 12800

Exposure Compensation 
Manual: ±5 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments (AEB ±2 stops)

* Indicated up to ±3 stops in the viewfinder.

AE Lock 
Auto: Applied in One-Shot AF mode with evaluative metering when focus is achieved

Manual: By AE lock button

Shutter 
Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically controlled. 1/4000 to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/200 sec.

1/4000 to 30 sec., Bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode.)

• Settable in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments.

Soft-touch electromagnetic release 10-sec. or 2-sec. delay (1) The EOS Rebel T3i has a remote control terminal for Remote Switch RS-60E3.

(2) Compatible with Remote Controller RC-6, RC-1 and RC-5.

Type 
Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically controlled.

Shutter Speeds 
1/4000 to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/200 sec.

1/4000 to 30 sec., Bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode.)

• Settable in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments.

Shutter Release 
Soft-touch electromagnetic release

Self Timer 
10-sec. or 2-sec. delay

Remote Control 
(1) The EOS Rebel T3i has a remote control terminal for Remote Switch RS-60E3.

(2) Compatible with Remote Controller RC-6, RC-1 and RC-5.

Built in Flash

Type 
Auto pop-up, retractable, built-in flash in the pentaprism

Guide Number 
Approx. 13/43 (at ISO 100 in meters/feet)

Recycling Time 
Approx. 3 sec.

Flash Ready Indicator 
Flash-ready icon lights in viewfinder

Flash Coverage 
Up to 17mm focal length (equivalent to approx. 28mm in 135 format)

FE Lock 
Provided

Flash Exposure Compensation 
Up to ±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments

• Flash exposure compensation for built-in flash and Speedlite can be set with the camera.

External Speedlite

Flash Metering 
E-TTL II autoflash

Flash Exposure Compensation 
±2 stops in 1/3-stop or 1/2-stop increments

FE Lock 
Provided

Drive System

Drive Modes 
Single, Continuous, 10-sec. self-timer/Remote control, 2-sec. self-timer, Continuous shooting after 10-sec. self-timer

Continuous Shooting Speed 
Max. approx. 3.7 fps [TD] (with One-Shot AF or AI SERVO AF)

* Same as with Battery Grip BG-E8 loaded with size-AA/LR6 alkaline batteries.

Maximum Burst 
JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 34

RAW: approx. 6

RAW+JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 3

* The number of possible shots and maximum burst apply to a 4GB card based on Canon's testing standards.

* The image file size, number of possible shots, and maximum burst will vary depending on the shooting conditions (3:2 aspect ratio, subject, memory card brand, ISO speed, Picture Style, Custom Functions, etc.).

* "F" indicates that continuous shooting is possible until the card becomes full.

Live View Functions

Shooting Modes 
Still photo shooting and video shooting

Focusing 
(1) Autofocus (Same as focusing with Live View shooting)

Before shooting a movie, 1, 2, and 3 below are possible.

AF during movie shooting is possible with [AF w/ shutter button during video]. When this is set to [Enable], 1 and 2 below are possible:

A. Live mode

B. Face detection Live mode

C. Quick mode

* If 3 has been set when you start shooting a movie, it will switch to 1 automatically.

(2) Manual focusing

* Magnify the image by about 5x or 10x and focus manually.

* Magnified view not possible with digital zoom nor during movie shooting.

Metering Modes 
(1) AF point-linked evaluative metering

* Used when the AF mode is Face detection Live mode and a face has been detected.

(2) Center-weighted average metering

* Used during manual focus, when the AF mode is Face detection Live mode and a face has not been detected. Also used in the Live mode and Quick mode.

* Metering range: EV 0 to EV 20 (At 23°C/73°F and ISO 100, with 50mm f/1.4 lens)

Metering Range 
EV 0 to EV 20 (At 23°C/73°F and ISO 100, with 50mm f/1.4 lens)

Grid Display 
Two grids provided (not displayed during movie shooting):

(1) Grid 1: Pair of vertical and horizontal lines

(2) Grid 2: 5 vertical and 3 horizontal lines

Exposure Simulation 
Provided

Silent Shooting 
Not provided

LCD Monitor

Type 
TFT color, liquid-crystal monitor

Monitor Size 
3.0 in. (Screen aspect ratio of 3:2)

Pixels 
Approx. 1,040,000 dots

Coverage 
Approx. 100%

Viewing Angle: 170°

Brightness Control 
Adjustable to one of seven brightness levels

Interface Languages 
25 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Romanian, Ukraine, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese)

Playback

Display Format 
(1) Single image display

• Single image, basic information, detailed information, histogram display

(2) Index display

• 4-image index and 9-image index.

(3) Jump display (Image jump w/ Main Dial)

• 1/10/100 images, shooting date, by folder, movies, stills, rating

Highlight Alert 
On the detailed information and histogram displays, highlight areas with no image data will blink.

Image Protection and Erase

Protection 
Erase protection can be applied/canceled for a single image, all images in a folder, or all images in the card.

Erase 
Erase single image, erase selected images, erase all images on folder, erase all images in a card, or erase only unprotected images.

Direct Printing

Compatible Printers 
PictBridge-compatible printers

Printable Images 
JPEG images complying to Design rule for Camera File System

• RAW images printable.
• Movies cannot be printed.

DPOF: Digital Print Order Format

DPOF 
Version 1.1 compatible

Customization

Custom Functions 
11 Custom Functions with 34 settings settable with the camera

Camera User Settings 
Not provided

Power Source

Battery 
Battery Pack LP-E8 x 1

* With the AC Adapter Kit ACK-E8, AC power is possible.

* With BG-E8, two battery packs (LP-E8) can be used. Or six size-AA/LR6 batteries can be used.

Battery Life 
1) Camera body only:

Shooting Method	Temperature	Shooting Conditions
		AE 100%	AE 50%, FA 50%
Viewfinder Shooting	At 73°F/23°C	Approx. 550	Approx. 440
	At 32°F/0°C	Approx. 470	Approx. 400
Live View Shooting	At 73°F/23°C	Approx. 200	Approx. 180
	At 32°F/0°C	Approx. 170	Approx. 150

2) With Battery Grip BG-E8:

Shooting Method	Battery	Temperature	Shooting Conditions
			AE 100%	AE 50%, FA 50%
Viewfinder Shooting	LP-E8 x 1	Same as (1)
	LP-E8 x 2	At 73°F/23°C	Approx. 1100	Approx. 880
		At 32°F/0°C	Approx. 940	Approx. 800
	Size-AA/LR6  alkaline batteries	At 73°F/23°C	Approx. 470	Approx. 270
		At 32°F/0°C	Approx. 130	Approx. 80
Live View Shooting	LP-E8 x 1	Same as (1)
	LP-E8 x 2	At 73°F/23°C	Approx. 400	Approx. 360
		At 32°F/0°C	Approx. 340	Approx. 300
	Size-AA/LR6  alkaline batteries	At 73°F/23°C	-	-
		At 32°F/0°C	-	-

The figures above are based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) testing standards

Battery Check 
Automatic battery level check when power is turned ON.

Battery level indicated in one of four levels on LCD monitor.

Power Saving 
Power turns off after the set time of non-operation elapses

* [Auto power off] settable to 30 sec., 1 min., 2 min., 4 min., 8 min., or 15 min.

Date/Time Battery 
Built-in secondary battery. When fully-charged, the date/time can be maintained for about three months.

Start-up Time 
Approx. 0.1 sec. (Based on CIPA testing standards)

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions (W x H x D) 
Approx. 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in./133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7mm

Weight 
Approx. 18.2 oz. / 515g (body only)

Operating Environment

Working Temperature Range 
32-104°F/0-40°C

Working Humidity Range 
85% or less

Canon EOS Rebel T3

Although it occupies the entry-level position in Canon's SLR lineup, the Rebel T3 has a adequately affluent affection set, and offers a cogent footfall assiduously from the beforehand Rebel XS. Administration is good, with a adequate grip, although those with beyond easily may acquisition the anchor aloof hardly bank for their liking. The capital controls are able-bodied located, and an arrangement of ample buttons of capricious appearance accomplish it accessible to accomplish the camera by touch, already you've had a little while to accustom yourself with the layout. As you'd apprehend of a consumer-oriented camera with what--by SLR standards, anway--is a almost bunched body, the cardinal of alien controls isn't excessive, and there's absolutely a bit of button-sharing activity on, but the key acknowledgment variables can all be adapted after defective to access the card system. Friendly touches like the Quick Menu's Affection Guide advice beneath accomplished photographers body the aplomb to leave their chiral at home.

The abridgement of a automated dust abridgement arrangement is initially somewhat of a surprise, but in some means does accomplish sense. While it's entry-level buyers who're best acceptable to feel out of their abyss with sensor cleaning, they're additionally added acceptable than best to leave the kit lens on their camera at all times, affairs a DSLR for its administration and large-sensor angel quality, rather than for the adeptness to change lenses. Likewise, the rather bloodless burst-shooting acceleration and abyss in raw approach can to some admeasurement be overlooked, accustomed that about customer behavior will be to shoot JPEGs best of the time, if not exclusively. The T3's new viewfinder is a rather added cogent disappointment. We don't like to see blueprint actuality bargain in a newer camera, but that's what has happened here. To be fair, the abatement in deepening is alone slight, but the aforementioned can't be said of the bargain diopter alteration range, and this change may able-bodied account some eyeglass-wearers to attending to a altered camera.

At the end of the day, however, SLR angel affection is apparently the capital acumen an entry-level client is attractive to footfall up from a bunched or arch model, and actuality the Canon T3 does a appealing acceptable job. With the barring of a rather balmy auto white antithesis in calm shooting, the T3's authentic blush and acceptable detail accomplish for about adorable results. While the T3's sensor resolution ability not battling that of added big-ticket cameras, it matches its capital entry-level rivals, and offers affluence of befalling for acceptable book sizes, or a fair amount of post-capture agriculture to fine-tune your framing. Compared to its predecessor, the Canon T3 has additionally taken a actual advantageous footfall assiduously in agreement of aerial ISO performance, not to acknowledgment the accession of high-def cine abduction capabilities.

Overall, the Canon Rebel T3 offers a adequately acute amalgamation for abecedarian photographers attractive to footfall up to their aboriginal SLR, and some absolute Rebel owners may additionally acquisition the T3 to be a aces upgrade. Added accomplished shooters, however--especially those who tend to shoot alone in raw format--will demand to attending at alternatives with greater burst-shooting performance. To be fair to Canon, though, they're not absolutely the ambition bazaar for this camera. For the entry-level client absent to footfall up to an SLR for the aboriginal time, the Canon T3 offers a appealing acute amalgamation that earns it a Dave's Pick.

Basic Specifications
Resolution:	12.20 Megapixels
Kit Lens:	3.00x zoom 18-55mm (29-88mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	Optical / LCD
LCD Size:	2.7 inch
ISO:	100-6400
Shutter:	30-1/4000
Max Aperture:	3.5
Dimensions:	5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in. (130 x 100 x 78 mm)
Weight:	24.8 oz (702 g) includes batteries, kit lens
MSRP:	$600
Availability:	03/2011

Realtek Ac 97 Audio Device

Realtek ac 97 audio accessory disciplinarian now!

In the afterward quick commodity i would like to accommodate you with an amazing tip on how to locate and get a Realtek ac 97 audio accessory disciplinarian - like you've never apparent before. Downloading drivers from alien or apprehensive websites can betrayal your pc to causeless threats such as computer viruses. Let me advise you a little ambush about drivers; it is activity to save you both time and frustration.

You are apparently accustomed with the bearings area you look for a specific disciplinarian and a quick web look brings up 10 altered results... How continued did it booty you the aftermost time you searched for a accurate disciplinarian for one of your installations? For your accepted knowledge, a disciplinarian is a baby appliance that communicates amid your windows and a accessory - anniversary accessory has its own specialized driver. A new band-aid that i afresh apparent enables you to ascertain the latest and best reliable adaptation of about any accessible driver. When i aboriginal acclimated it, it took me about 40 abnormal to acquisition the disciplinarian that i needed.

Drivers are important apparatus that charge your attention, absolutely the aforementioned way that you advance your windows system. You may not accept it, but some of these accoutrement can alike download a disciplinarian to your system, alike if it's not currently accessible on the manufacturer's website. Whatever you do, i acclaim you to accumulate a advancement of your drivers on an alien accessory (cd, usb beam driver, etc.), aloof to be on the safe side.

Only afterwards application this band-aid in adjustment to get a Realtek ac 97 audio accessory driver, you apprehend how alone your arrangement is as far as it apropos these analytical files. Baby tip - if you acquaintance absurdity messages, try to brace all your drivers as there are aerial affairs it'll fix these problems. Now that you accept how this technology works, try it; i'm abiding you'll apprehension some added advantages that i may accept missed. There are abounding aspects that we charge to accumulate in apperception during the lifetime of our computer - no agnosticism that this affair needs our abutting attention. Although there is abundant added to acquaint about this new solution, i accept that this quick advice is acceptable for you to accept the abeyant that it offers.

Samsung Helix YX-M1

If you like the song you're listening to on The Joint, XM's reggae channel, just hit the big XM button, and the Samsung Helix YX-M1 will record the song. Because the unit has a 10-minute buffer, chances are you'll get the whole song, although it can't go backward in time more than one song, nor can you reverse in the current live song. You may also pause a song in midstream. By the same token, you can bookmark any XM song for later reference on the PC. Whether it's a live event or a BBC radio documentary, the Samsung Helix can schedule a recording, but unlike the Inno (as reviewed), it all went off without a hitch, consistently recording exactly what we wanted. Playlists are a snap to make, edit, and move back and forth between the computer and the Helix.

You can manage it all on a Windows PC with XM/Napster software for downloading music and moving it to the Helix, but there aren't versions of Macs and Linux PCs. The service's 1.5 million songs is second rate, and ripped CDs come through at a maximum data rate of 128Kbps--hardly high fidelity. The Napster interface is similar to iTunes, with the ability to drag and drop songs, move them between the PC and the Helix, and burn CDs, although not with any XM recorded content. Unfortunately, the Napster software takes forever to notice that a new CD is in the drive and sometimes requires a restart.

The Samsung Helix YX-M1 comes with all you'll need for home and personal use, with earbuds, a tiny remote control, a desk dock, an antenna, an AC adapter, a USB cable, a holster, and cables, but it lacks a car kit, which Samsung sells for $70. While the Helix was sensitive enough to grab signals that the MyFi couldn't pick up, it ran for nearly 10 hours of digital playback, but only half that for listening to XM radio--far short of Samsung's 16-hour claim, although similar to our experience with the Inno. Happily, it charges in between 1 and 2 hours, and the battery is removable, so you can always purchase an extra.

The Samsung Helix YX-M1 feels good in the hand but gets warm after a few minutes of use, and unfortunately, it doesn't work with Altec Lansing's XM3020 speaker set but will work with a new drop-in speaker that's coming out in June. As far as filling it with music, it took a tedious 2 minutes, 50 seconds to load it with 10 tracks that add up to 48.3MB. The Napster interface counts off the transfer but oddly starts at 50 percent, and if you run out of space on the Helix, the software just stops, with no indication that something's wrong.

Asus J502

ASUS J502 ¡V a "slim-slide" design phone that incorporates a crisp aluminium outlook with emphasis on communication and entertainment functionality. With a large 2.4 inch colour display, easy-to-use function keys and a host of exclusive features, the ASUS J502 is able to combine sleek aesthetics with total entertainment functions. The ASUS J502 is equipped with the largest 2.4¡¨ QVGA panel among feature phones in the market to bring the user a spectacular and vivid visual experience. With this 2.4 inch screen, combined with the high resolution 3 Mega Pixel Auto Focus camera and the powerful flash, users are transformed from an amateur user into a professional photographer.

At just 14.7mm, the J502 is trendy and slim and brings out users¡¦ fashion style with its dual-front ID and its camera-like design. The upper portion of the ASUS J502 incorporates the large 2.4¡¨ 262k color display with large function keys that aid the user in utilizing the camera. Sliding up the unit reveals the refined numeric keypad design ¡V providing users efficient text inputs for SMS and MMS. They will also find it easy to navigate all these functions via vivid 3D icons included in the innovative 3D User Interface.

The ASUS J502 is able to provide users with many multimedia entertainment options. One such option is the TV Out function. Users will be able to output pictures and videos taken on the ASUS J502 directly to a TV via a connection to share memorable memories with friends and family. With its large screen, users will find that reading words on the screen to be more comfortable for their eyes. Real-time RSS feeds will provide users with the latest news, sports, politics and international affairs while E-Books will give users the convenience to view favorite books without the need of a PC or a Notebook.

The ASUS J502 contains a full range of innovative features that provide users with convenience and versatility. A powerful feature the ASUS J502 has is data security. If users happen to lose their phone or leave it at home, they can send a specified SMS to remotely control the ASUS J502 to ¡§¡¨, ¡§call forward¡¨, ¡§phone lock¡¨, ¡§send V-card¡¨ and ¡§format¡¨. This keeps the user from ever worrying about data disclosure should the unexpected happen.

The J502 also supports Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR high-speed data transfers, Bluetooth A2DP stereo headsets, Webcam and Skype Phone functions. With such comprehensive Bluetooth function support, users will not be bothered by the hassle of connecting cables to transfer data or communicate with friends anymore. They can also utilize the Bluetooth Skype Phone function to save costs for calls by dialing and answering Skype calls with the ASUS J502, as well as send Skype SMS. Users will thus have the freedom to move around and have no need to stay in front of PCs to utilize these Bluetooth functions.

Other innovative features on the ASUS J502 include the useful Call Filter, which filters calls to avoid unnecessary interruptions during meetings or inconvenient times; and the built-in Longman Dictionary with a database of 80,000 English words for ease in looking up obscure English words.

Asus V88i

Asus V88i is a bar type phone having weight of 80 grams and really a light device to be used. The physical dimension of the phone is calculated as 101 x 45 x 16 mm. this mobile device operates at frequencies of UMTS 2100 and GSM 1900 / 1800 / 900.

In its screen details, it has TFT resistive touch screen with 256000 colors. This 2.0 inches touch screen has imaging resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. Loudspeaker and headphone jack is absent for the phone and it has very limited options its sound profile like ringtones and vibration only.

The phone can also run the micro SD memory card through its memory card slot. This slot is provided because the internal memory of the phone is small and has size of 35MB which is not sufficient for keeping plenty of music, videos and apps. The keypad of the phone is also very amazing due to its numeric characters which are best for typing and navigation in phone’s menu is comfortable with its joystick navigation key.

In data connectivity it lacks only WLAN and infrared otherwise it has almost all the data options like 3G, USB, 2.0 Bluetooth, EDGE and GPRS of version 10. It is also equipped with 2MP camera with auto focus ability and 1200 x 1600 pixels resolution. It has secondary video calling camera on its font side.

Audio video player, file manger, MMS, SMS, games, FM radio, JAVA, CLDC 1.1, MIDP 2.0, WAP 2.0 internet browser, organizer, predictive input text and java apps are also part of this phone. This phone has standard black color only available in market for sale.

Asus M530w

The thing about QWERTY handhelds is they can be anal to use sometimes especially when the keys are not comfortably spaced apart or they don't provide tactile feedback for prolonged typing. Fortunately, Asus did that right for its first Windows Mobile 6 smart phone--the M530w. Expected to be available in Asia come July, the M530w came after the announcement that some of the company's PDA handhelds will receive free WM6 upgrades. We have a prototype unit with us right now to give you our first impressions of the M530w.

Upside:
Frankly, most of the QWERTY smart phones are all starting to look alike with the trend toward black casings, except for the Nokia E61 and E61i. But we're not complaining; black rules the night. In hand, the Asus M530w's weight gives it a very solid feel which we like.

The individual keys on the QWERTY keyboard are well-spaced apart so we can actually feel it when we're moving from one button to another. We're nitpicking but we'd have preferred the keys to be a bit larger, like those on the Nokia E61. That said, we didn't have a problem typing a lengthy message on the M530w.

In a nod to BlackBerry devices, the M530w comes also with a thumbwheel for quick scrolling. But unlike the Samsung Ultra Messaging i600 which has the wheel on the right edge, the scroller on the Asus is on the left instead. So that may cause a little inconvenience for right-handed users.

One of the things we like best about this Asus is the center strip of control buttons which are large and easy to press. The volume buttons on the left edge are also well-pronounced so it's easy to adjust the volume with the phone to the ear.

The Asus M530w is the company's first smart phone that runs on the Windows Mobile 6 Standard. So unlike the WM5 Smartphone Edition, it will come with Office Mobile by default and other nifty applications like Live Messenger and Windows Live services.

Not too long ago, we did a take on another WM6 smart phone--the Dopod C730--and it seems the Asus has two ups over the Dopod. The inclusion of a VGA front-facing camera makes it possible for 3G video calls and there's also a 2.5mm audio jack for earphones--both of which were ostensibly missing on the C730.

Other features on the Asus M530w are a 2-megapixel camera with LED flashlight, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) and Bluetooth connectivity. The device is powered by a 416MHz processor with 256MB of built-in flash memory and 64MB SDRAM.

Downside:
There's also 3G, but unfortunately the M530w is missing the faster HSDPA (3.5G) connection which the Samsung Ultra Messaging i600 has.

Outlook:
At the time of writing, six Windows Mobile 6 smart phones have been announced, with two of them--the Dopod C500 and C730--currently available in the market. The other WM6 smart phones are the HP iPaq512 Voice Messenger, Moto Q 8 and Moto Q 9.