January 03, 2009

With the competition so fierce between brands that before you’ve had a chance to look at a new gadget, something better arrives and steals the limelight, Umair Mohsin looks at the ten coolest tools last year which took the Pakistani market by storm

Every year, new gadgets come out that change the way we think and redefine the way we entertain, learn and live. I have played with dozens of cool and not-so-cool gadgets last year and here we will look into the 10 amazing gadgets that I came across. In 2008 we saw the amazing possibilities of science, particularly in the field of multimedia and entertainment. We were able to have better means to capture those fleeting moments of our lives, listen to music differently and got a processor that promises to revolutionise our world.
 

LOVE THAT LAPTOP
 

Apple MacBook Air Zoer (Rs230, 300)

At first, I had a hard time recommending this paper-thin, three-pound laptop. It is way too expensive (you can get a state-of-the-art laptop by any other brand and still have money leftover), has a single USB port and lacks a disc drive. Also, the current versions available have an 80 gigabyte hard drive, a tight squeeze for all the digital content that can overwhelm one’s life. Yet the MacBook Air is ultra thin, ultra portable and ultra unlike anything else.

From a slimmer hard drive to strategically hidden I/O ports to a lower-profile battery, everything has been designed with thinness in mind, all of which makes it a delight for the road and a head turner. If you can afford the luxury, you will not be sorry.

 

THE CAMCORDER
 

Sony Handycam HDR-SR11 (Rs88, 500)

We recommended the DCR-SR220, Sony’s

flagship SD Handycam but even then we mentioned Sony's Handycam HDR-SR11 which is the cream of the hard-drive AVCHD ranges right now.

Sony's Handycam HDR-SR11 hard-drive-based camcorders deliver top notch performance and image quality. The 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.

It also enables you to capture extremely detailed video in full 1920 x 1080 high definition resolution, as well as stunning 10.2 megapixel still photos. Record directly to a built-in 60GB hard drive or your choice of removable Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo media. Now you too can shoot video and still photographs like a pro.

 

GAMING BETTER
 

PSP 3000 (Rs14, 700)

Launched worldwide in August and already available in our markets, the unit has the exact dimensions as its counterpart, the Slim 2000. However, there have been a few upgrades.

Sony’s given the PSP 3000 a new anti-glare screen, which is supposed to make playing the PSP while outside a bit more bearable. This new LCD screen also features a broader colour palette than the older model, which accounts for a brighter, better colour reproduction than that of earlier PSP models.

Along with this new screen, Sony’s added a built-in microphone to the 3000, which will allow many people who have access to WiFi hotspots to utilise the PSP as a phone-like device with the built-in Skype software. There is also improved AV output for video and game playback on TV, plus now a deep line-up of great game titles that offer better graphics than anything else out there.

 

COOL AND COMPACT
 

Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS Images 8.MP aka SD1100 IS (Rs23,100)

We said “The Canon Digital IXUS 70 is a wonderfully stylish ultra compact which offers lightning-quick performance, outstanding low-light ability and a useful range of features“. Since then, Canon has made that IXUS 70 even better by launching the upgraded version of our highly recommended SD1000 camera with the SD1100.

The IXUS 80 is equipped with a 8MP CCD sensor with a Digic processor which enables excellent resolution images and allows one to take beautiful photographs with an ultra compact, reliable and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use. Other Canon PowerShot SD1100IS features include a great resolution of images, good balance of saturation, highlights and shadows, high quality macro mode, good option for low light shooting, optical viewfinder and many others.

The most wonderful camera option is “My Colours”. It is especially meant for creative people who shoot not only for memory but for fun, art and professionalism.

 

THE SCREEN THAT DAZZLED
 

Samsung 6 Series — Samsung LA40A650 Rs199, 000)

Launched around last July/August, the Series 6, with a native resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 progressive, or 1080p, handles high-definition viewing with aplomb with the 40A650 shining out like a star in the series. As one of the company’s higher-end offerings, the panel boasts an impressive-sounding 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and an ultra clear panel coating to reduce glare.

The TV also includes the Wide Colour Enhancer 2 which "adds depth and intensity to the reds, greens and blues". The display features DNIe Pro which Samsung claims produces an incredible depth of detail that captures your eyes and unlocks your senses. It’s advanced ‘colour and motion optimisers’ deliver incredibly lifelike images, and ‘contrast and detail enhancers’ combine to provide you with deeper depth of colour and precise pictures. LCD TVs have been criticised for bluish-tinged black levels, but in this set Samsung delivers deep, rich blacks that allow for detail, even in night-time or otherwise shadowy scenes.

 

FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SHUTTERBUGS

NIKON D90 (RS134, 000)

Launched in Pakistan around September 2008, Nikon’s flagship dSLR packs a full-frame 12-megapixel sensor and is a highly versatile imaging powerhouse that lets photographers create images previously impossible to capture. Some of the improvements the D90 offers over the previous Nikon DSLRs include 12.3 megapixel resolution and live view capability.

The D90 is also notable for being the first DSLR to offer video recording, with the ability to record HD 720p videos, with mono sound, at 24 frames per second (for up to five minutes or 20 minutes for smaller videos). If it is professional quality you want, than the D90 is the way to go.

 

DIGITALLY FRAMED
 

Sony DPF-V900 Digital Photo Frame (Rs20, 700)

Sony is at its aesthetically best with the DPF-V900, a sophisticated, beautiful looking digital frame which is also one of their top of the line product.

The picture frame is solid glossy black and the Sony logo glows bright white when turned on.

The 9-inch frame offers a vibrant display you would expect from a Sony, with enough integrated memory to hold 1,000 pictures. Sony has also added an HDMI port, which lets you display your pictures on an HDTV. The picture quality is crystal clear, bright and sharp.

The viewing options are plentiful and fade in and out flawlessly, kind of drawing you in the show. I also loved the calendar and clock settings which add to the utility of the frame.

 

MUSIC GOES MOBILE
 

Nokia 5310 Xpress (Rs15, 200)

This is a good music phone from Nokia that has rivalled the Sony Ericsson's Walkman range. We love the ultra slim, lightweight design, the practical keypad and the hot looks. The 5310 has a fully loaded music player and FM radio, up to 4 Gbytes of memory for storing songs, a 2 megapixel camera and Bluetooth connectivity. The battery life is below average, but this phone is definitely worth a look as your ultimate music companion.

 

SMARTER THAN BEFORE
 

Apple IPhone 3G ( Rs54, 900) / Apple IPod Touch 8 GB (Rs25, 000)

Call us Apple’s fans, but the coolest gadget launched last year in Pakistan has got to be the iPhone 3G or the IPod Touch. Neither is new for 2008, yet hardware tweaks combined with a software upgrade kept each on the top.

The iPhone 3G is a big improvement over the original model delivering on its promises by adding critical features and sharper call quality. Yes, many features are still missing and the battery depletes quickly under heavy use, however, it is still one of the best mobile phones in Pakistan.

The only other phone we would have considered as must-have would have been the Samsung ‘Instinct’ (had it been launched) but settling for those gadgets that were, the recently launched ‘Samsung Omnia’ (Rs59, 100) gets that honour. The iPod Touch is an iPhone minus the phone, with WiFi for Web surfing and e-mailing and is the coolest way to listen to music or for on-the-go use.

 

THE PROCESSOR
 

Intel Atom (Rs5, 600)

It is one thing to claim ownership the fastest processor in the world – the Core i7 – and it is another thing to launch a revolution. Launched early last year, the Intel® Atom™ processor is the name for a new family of low-power processors designed specifically for mobile internet devices (MIDs) and a new class of simple and affordable internet-centric computers arriving in 2009 being dubbed ‘NetBooks’ and ‘Micro PCs’. One of the products already launched has been the Asus EEE (Rs26, 000 for the ‘Netbook’).

The Atom is revolutionary because it enables “PC-like capabilities, an uncompromised internet experience and long battery life in smaller devices.” Atom can provide advanced low-power 3D graphics capabilities, hardware accelerated 720p and 1080i HD video decoding, Intel High Definition Audio, and a combination of PC and handheld I/O features such as PCI Express, USB Host and Client, and SDIO. The mobile nature of Intel’s Centrino Atom technology also means that equipped MIDs will be able to draw upon existing cellular and WiFi connectivity and also the upcoming wireless broadband WiMAX technology.