Rating:  

5stars

This may be the coolest iPod accessory ever! The sound is amazing and you can run it on batteries or A/C power. I listened to the Bose and other models before settling on the somewhat larger Hi-Fi, but the extra weight was definitely worthwhile …. you can’t beat the sound quality of the Apple iPod Hi-Fi Home Stereo.

It couldn’t be easier to set up the speaker …. just plug it in or inserting batteries, set your iPod in the cradle on top of the speaker using the appropriate dock adapter, and press play. I put the Hi-Fi in my kitchen about 10 inches from the rear wall and equal distance from side walls. I also made sure to put it as close to ear-level as I possible. This type of placement keeps the sound as smooth as possible and preserves the stereo imaging.

The iPod Hi-Fi ships with the standard Apple wireless infrared remote. Its controls look very similar to those of the iPod shuffle, but with a Menu button in addition to the track skip, play/pause, and volume buttons. The Menu button, however, doesn’t really work with the iPod, though you can press and hold it to switch from the dock connector input to the auxiliary input if you should have two devices connected simultaneously. It also comes with 10 iPod dock adapters for each model with a dock connector, all clearly labeled and set in a nice little box.

I really can’t imagine any more useful iPod accessory than my Apple Hi-Fi Home Stereo! Get yours now from Amazon:

Rating:  

5stars

Sensual, sleek, cool … unlike previous generations of blackberry handhelds, the 8300 Curve delights, with many new features and a full keyboard. The Blackberry 8300 represents everything that the 8700 was and was missing.

Blackberry is the most popular business PHONE out there — for good reasons. They work! And the interface is straight forward to use with the side “wheel” acting like the mouse on your computer.

While Blackberry hasn’t always excelled when it comes to being a cell phone — it evolved from a PDA into a cellphone — it has consistently improved it’s Voice capabilities. With the 8300, the phone capabilities have clearly caught up with other phones that “morphed” into PDAs. The voice reception and sound quality is very solid and with AT&Ts service, I rarely have dropped calls. (I originally was a cingular subscriber and when AT&T took over, I have not experienced any decrease in the level of service). You can use it without a headset which feels a bit clunky — but when you lose bluetooth headsets at the rate I do, it is nice to know that when all else fails, it is very functional by itself.

As a PDA — this is where Blackberry really outshines its competition. It is the most widely supported Enterprise-wide email. It integrates with Outlook which is pretty much a necessity if you live in the corporate world. Now with the addition of GPS, Blackberry solidify’s it’s desire to be a “grownup” phone/device.

To me, a PDA/Phone should help you get through your day. It should tell you where you need to be next. Help you get there. Tell people if you aren’t going to be there. Keep in touch via email when you are there.

I don’t need it to play music — I’ve got my car stereo for that. I don’t need it to take pictures. When I’m at work, there is very little I want to take pictures of — certainly not my coworkers :-O. When I’m waiting in a doctors office — the browser is adequate to kill some time though I generally plan ahead and bring an old-fashioned analog book — you know the type — the one with pages and real ink on it. If you have a notebook, this phone also makes a pretty handy wireless modem — though it is rather slow. That way, you don’t have to worry about where the nearest Starbucks is to connect to the internet.

So I guess it boils down to what do you want your phone to do. If you want it to be a phone and be straightforward to use, then Blackberry is the perfect device. It will keep you connected to home, office and places in between, Blackberry 8300 is what will serve you best. 
 

Buy your Blackberry Curve on Amazon now and save:

Rating:  

5stars

Price: $999 - 2,499 USD

Hands down, the best graphics package money can buy. We reviewed the eight applications that comprise the Design and Web editions of Adobe’s Creative Suite 3, and haven’t given any program a score of less than 4. Mac users should be especially pleased, since all the apps are now available as universal binaries.

If you’re involved with computer graphics (or want to be), Adobe has a program for you. But if more than one Adobe app appeals to you, then you may want to think about purchasing one of the Creative Suite packages instead of buying the apps à la carte. And with six different editions of the Adobe Creative Suite 3, to choose from, there’s definitely one tailored to your needs!

CS3-design-prem-250x250

One of the first things you notice about the BlackJack itself is that style is definitely its watchword. The entire casing is designed with an apparent “clean lines” ethic, with little to nothing protruding from the compact form of the device itself.

Anything that would detract from the aerodynamics — for instance, the USB/audio jack, and the memory card slot — is hidden under a cover of one sort or another.

For the two aforementioned features, these are small rubber caps along the sides of the device, which you pry out with a fingernail. These are attached to the casing, so you don’t need to worry about losing them, though they might break off with long term use. Of course, these covers also serve to keep dust and debris from getting inside the connectors when the device is being carried in a pocket. 

The only thing which detracts from the BlackJack’s overall aesthetic is the bump on the top rear of the casing, where we find the 1.3 megapixel camera and the reflective patch which serves as a self-portrait mirror. 

Conclusion

It’s hard to find too much fault with the BlackJack in either specs or design. While I disagree with the selection of a proprietary port for USB and audio, and the use of MicroSD cards, they’re not fatal flaws. It’s got a very nice design, and with the available carrier discounts it’s almost insanely cheap. As far as slim keyboard smartphones go, it’s definitely a major contender.

Pros:

• 3G wireless broadband
• Ultra-slim design
• Solid construction
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Lacks WiFi
• Proprietary USB/audio connector
• MicroSD card 

*CONDITIONAL $250 Equipment Discount Included: Your price paid includes an Equipment Discount of $250 that has been provided to you in exchange for either activating a new, non-substitute line of service or renewing an existing line of service and your agreement that, for the 181-day period following activation or renewal, you will (1) pay your balance due each month and otherwise maintain your account in good standing, (2) not disconnect this new line of service, (3) not transfer this equipment to another line of service, (4) not transfer or port an existing phone number to this line of service, (5) not change your service rate plan to a service plan with a lower monthly service rate, and (6) not use this line of service to replace an existing line of service. If these conditions are not met, you hereby agree to pay and authorize Wirefly to charge your credit card $250 as reimbursement of this Equipment

Everyone should buy one. No seriously, I do reallllllly like the Sony PSP. I don’t say that lightly given the fact that I only have 1 game that I’m playing so far. There’s just something about this device that makes me want to pick it up every time I walk by it. Yeah it’s pretty, but the games are fun. More fun than any handheld gaming device I’ve owned so far.  But there are some big gotchas that go along with my praise. One gotcha is battery life. But maybe the biggest gotcha is just how viable is the PSP in the current handheld game console arean? Even though a device is ‘better’ than another device as far as hardware and features, it always comes down to the games. Will the PSP come out with some excellent games that make this the device to buy? That’s very hard to predict. I don’t feel too confident given the fact that I’ve been here before. I was in love with the Atari Lynx way back when. It was an excellent handheld gaming console. Better sound, better graphics than the Game Boy… but it failed because the Game Boy was already very well established with 100’s and 100’s of games. Will the same thing happen with the PSP? Very possibly. Even probably. I sure hope not though! I have my fingers crossed that this device will enjoy a long life. For those of you considering a handheld game console purchase, in a few months when you go to your electronics store to choose between a Nintendo DS and a Sony PSP, I sure hope you choose the PSP!
 

Pros:
Gorgeous hardware
Gorgeous screen
Games feel like full size console games
Photo, Video and Music features

Cons:
Short battery life
Not available in the US yet
Fingerprint magnet

Extended Talk Time and Reduce Interference
Panasonic introduces the latest in innovative solutions with its new line of low interference DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Communications) 6.0 cordless telephones systems. The major benefits of this new line of DECT phones include up to 17 hours of talk time, substantial handset expandability, and markedly reduced interference.

What are the benefits of Panasonic DECT 6.0 Phones?
Engineered to work in the 1.9 GHz frequency range, these phones will not conflict with other wireless devices such as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi computer routers, wireless keyboards and mousse, microwave ovens, and other common household devices. And because it’s digital, DECT 6.0 technology also provides long ranges, excellent clarity, and helps deter eavesdropping.

Multiple voice paths are used to enable the entire series to provide up to 3-way conferencing, this allows for multiple handsets to be used at the same time and up to 2 handsets can join into a conversation with one outside caller. They also provide for Intercom between handsets and Phonebook Sharing.

Additionally, these systems are extremely comfortable and easy to use, with the handsets featuring large keypads buttons that are almost twice the size of standard phone keypad buttons, and are designed top fit comfortably in both your hand as well as cradled on your neck. all models in the DECT 6.0 line include a base station-integrated digital answering machine with voice menu, digital handset speakerphones, handsets with a clock on the LCD with alarm function, three-line backlit LCD, and incoming call indicator lights.

More about the Panasonic KX-TG1032S expandable digital cordless answering system with two handsets:

• Up to 17-hours of talk time
• Comfortable, easy-to-use, large-button handset
• DECT 6.0 technology means less interference
• Spanish LCD and voice prompt
• Expandable up to six handsets³
• Up to 3-Way conference capability³
• Wireless network friendly
• Phonebook sharing³
• Light-up indicator with ringer/message alert
• Built-in clock with alarm on handset
• Call waiting caller ID¹
• 50-station phonebook and dialer
• 16-minute all-digital answering system
• Wall-mountable base unit
• Total of two handsets, one base and one chargers included

Until Harman Kardon released its Drive+Play, iPod owners that wanted to use their player in the car had a couple of basic options that were less than elegant: an FM transmitter or a cassette adapter. (A few lucky souls had a direct input jack, but until recently, those were rare.) The choice between these options left most people wanting much more.

With the Drive+Play, Harman Kardon gave users of most automobiles the option to hardwire their iPods directly into their car’s audio system, providing both better sound quality and easier in-car control.

Hooking it up

The Drive+Play allows users to connect it to your car in three ways: It can connect directly to any car stereo with an auxiliary input jack (via a standard audio cable); to most stereos with a CD changer connecter (using an optional third-party adapter); or, for those who don’t want to go to the trouble of a more complex installation, via the Drive+Play’s built-in FM transmitter.

Drive+Play’s components

Even though my car is only two years old, I was not able to connect the unit directly to my car’s stock stereo—it has no auxiliary input jack, and the CD changer connection is already taken up by an in-dash 6-disc changer. Fortunately, I have a built-in entertainment unit with DVD and all the extras, so I was able to test the Drive+Play using that.

How does it sound?

I was most interested in how the Drive+Play’s sound compared to what my CD and DVD player produces. Most iPod car solutions I’ve tried have provided poor audio quality, leading me to not use them. While ease of use is very important to me, I would be willing to go through a little hassle for superior audio. With the Drive+Play, I had to make no such sacrifice.

The first connection approach I tried was the Drive+Play’s built-in FM Transmitter. As expected, the audio quality was less than stellar. I’m not a fan of any FM Transmitter solution—perhaps it’s where I live, but none of them seem to work well for me. I have talked to a couple of people that found the Drive+Play’s FM Transmitter worked fine for them. I just wouldn’t rely on a unit that only had the FM option.

Next, I connected the Drive+Play to my entertainment unit. This turned out to be a real plus for testing the system’s sound quality because I was able to use headphones to listen, switching between CD, DVD and Drive+Play inputs.

Using the standard iTunes settings for the songs on my iPod and music CDs and DVDs that I burned, I was hard pressed to tell the difference. The Drive+Play performed remarkable well, even surpassing my initial expectations. I tested it against store-bought discs as well and while there was a slight difference in sound quality, it was just that—slight. In other words, the sound quality your iPod is likely to be limited by the quality of the music files on it and by your car’s stereo, not the Drive+Play.

Drive+Play’s click wheel knob

When it comes to ease of use, the Drive+Play easily beats the other in-car solutions I’ve tried. A small screen mounted on your dashboard gives you the familiar iPod interface to navigate through your music. The included click wheel knob (which you also have to mount—preferably somewhere comfortable for you to reach) mimics the functions of the iPod click wheel for navigating the device.

Scrolling through a large amount of songs is very smooth and quick. I have about 4,500 songs on the iPod I tested, and I was able to scroll through songs, artists, and genres, quickly jumping between the lists. The Drive+Play was able to keep up with me the whole time. Of course, if you are scrolling through that many songs, finding one at the end of the alphabet will still take some time.

The only thing I was disappointed in with the Drive+Play is the screen. Although the screen is functional, its monochrome interface isn’t nearly as crisp and clear as the iPod’s own screen. A crisp color screen would have elevated the Drive+Play to untouchable heights. Still, that is a small issue when you consider all of the things the Drive+Play brings to the table.

The Lowdown

With a Drive+Play, you won’t have to fumble around, reaching awkwardly for your iPod as you drive down the highway at 70 miles an hour. The Drive+Play solves many issues iPod users have had from the first time they wanted to incorporate their music player into their car. From sound to safety, if you want an iPod in your car, there is nothing like the Drive+Play.