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Rockbox: Alternate firmware for iPod, Archos, iRiver, iAudio, Gigabeat and Sansa DAP’s

Dec 27th, 2008 | By Premnath Sah | Category: Operating System, Player, Software

Rockbox is an open source firmware replacement for a growing number of digital audio players. It has been in development since 2001 and receives new features, tweaks and fixes every day to provide you with the best possible music listening experience. Rockbox aims to be considerably more functional and efficient than your device’s stock firmware while remaining easy to use and customizable. We believe that you should never need to go through a series of menus for an action you perform frequently. We also believe that you should be able to configure almost anything about Rockbox you could want, pertaining to functionality. It is written by users, for users.

Another top priority of Rockbox is audio playback quality. Rockbox, for most models, includes a wider range of sound settings than that device’s original firmware. A lot of work has been put into making Rockbox sound the best it can, and improvements are constantly being made. All models have access to a large number of plugins, including many games, applications, and graphical demos.

You can load different configurations quickly for different purposes (e.g. a large font for in your car, different sound settings for at home). You can even customize your While Playing Screen to display only and exactly what you want to see when your music is playing. In addition, Rockbox features a wide range of languages, and all supported models also have the ability to talk to you - menus can be voiced and filenames spelled out or spoken.

It works on following DAP’s (Digital Audio Players)

  • Apple: 1st through 5.5th generation iPod, iPod Mini and 1st generation iPod Nano
    (not the Shuffle, 2nd/3rd/4th gen Nano, Classic or Touch)
  • Archos: Jukebox 5000, 6000, Studio, Recorder, FM Recorder, Recorder V2 and Ondio
  • Cowon: iAudio X5, X5V, X5L, M5, M5L, M3 and M3L
  • iriver: H100, H300 and H10 series
  • Olympus: M:Robe 100
  • SanDisk: Sansa c200, e200 and e200R series (not the v2 models)
  • Toshiba: Gigabeat X and F series (not the S series

 
Latest version can be got here



Tele Zoom point and shoot camera comparison. Canon vs Panasonic vs Sony

Dec 18th, 2008 | By Rosh PR | Category: Camera, Hot, Hot Photo, Photography, Review & Comparison, Reviews & Comparisons, What to Buy

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ18

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5

The ultra-powerful 12x optical zoom on the PowerShot S5 IS means you’ll get the shot you want with no compromise, yet that’s only the beginning of what makes this camera so exciting. The S5 IS is loaded with many of Canon’s latest advanced technologies including the DIGIC III Image Processor, so both still images and movies are rendered with fine detail and luminous clarity. And now ambitious photographers have even greater creative latitude thanks to an included hot shoe adapter that allows you to attach Canon Speedlite EX Series external flashes. If the 10X or 12X lens on your typical ultra zoom camera just isn’t enough, then the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 ($399) might interest you. Based on the DMC-FZ8, the FZ18 packs a whopping 18X zoom lens into a body that’s still relatively compact (by ultra zoom standards). Not only is the zoom powerful, but it has a nice focal range: 28 - 504 mm. Sony’s Cyber Shot DSC-H5 sits at the top of the company’s current crop of megazoom cameras. Fittingly, it has all the specs you’d expect in a camera of its class, including a large, image-stabilized 12X optical zoom lens, a 3-inch LCD screen, a 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor, and a full set of manual controls.Step-up snapshooters, soccer moms, and even some advanced amateurs will find that the Cyber Shot DSC-H5 has a lot to offer. The huge zoom range is great for occasions when you want versatility but don’t want to lug around a DSLR and a ton of lenses. Plus, the wide maximum aperture of f/2.8, along with the image stabilization, helps in low light.

General
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Model Number: S5 IS DMC-FZ18 DSC-H5
Camera Format: EVF EVF EVF
Currently Manufactured: No No No
Retail Price: $499.99 $399.95 $499.95
Street Price: $326.97 $419.25
Price Update Date: 2008-10-13 2008-11-21 2007-05-31
Date Available: 2007-07-14 2007-09-30
Remote Control: No No No
Remote Control Type: n/a n/a n/a
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes Yes
Tripod Mount Material:
Operating System:
Weight: 574 g

20.1 oz

441 g
15.4 oz
591 g

20.7 oz

Weight With Batteries? Yes Yes Yes
Size: 117 x 80 x 78 mm

4.6 x 3.1 x 3.1 in

118 x 75 x 88 mm

4.6 x 3.0 x 3.5 in

108 x 81 x 91 mm

4.2 x 3.2 x 3.6 in

Warranty in Months: 12
Image Capture
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Image Resolution: 3264×2448, 3264×1832, 2592×1944, 2048×1536, 1600×1200 3264×2448, 3264×2176, 3264×1840, 2560×1920, 2560×1712 3072×2304, 3072×2048, 2592×1944, 2048×1536, 1632×1224
Movie Resolution: 640×480, 320×240 848×480, 848×480, 640×480, 640×480, 320×240, 320×240 640×480, 160×112
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3, 16:9 4:3, 3:2
Imaging Sensor (Megapixels): 8.00 8.10 7.20
Sensor Type: CCD CCD CCD
Sensor Size (inches): 1/2.5″ 1/2.5″ 1/2.5″
Sensor Filter Type: RGBG
Sensor Manufacturer:
Focal Length Multiplier:
Movie Audio: Yes Yes Yes
Quality Levels: 3 2
Lens
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 36 - 432 mm 28 - 504 mm 36 - 432 mm
Zoom Ratio: 12.00x 18.00x 12.00x
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: 4.0x Up to 4x 2x precision
Auto Focus: Yes Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: contrast detection, center / face detection modes Face / 1-point / 1-point high speed / 3-point high speed / Multi-point / Spot autofocus 3-area Contrast Detection
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes Yes
Auto Focus Min Illum: 0.1250 0.0625 0.1250
Auto Focus Step:
Manual Focus: Yes Yes Yes
Manual Focus Steps:
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity

20.4 in to Infinity

30 cm to Infinity

12.2 in to Infinity

50 cm to Infinity

20.4 in to Infinity

Macro Focus Range: 0 - 50 cm

0.0 - 20.4 in

1 cm - Infinity

0.4 in - Infinity

2 - 0 cm

0.8 - 0.0 in

Min Macro Area: 27 x 20 mm

1.1 x 0.8 in

35 x 27 mm

1.4 x 1.1 in

37 x 28 mm

1.5 x 1.1 in

Min Aperture: f/8.0 f/8.0 f/8.0
Max Aperture: f/2.7 f/2.8 f/2.8
Aperture Range Description: f/2.7 (wide) / f/3.5 (tele) - f/8.0 f/2.8 - f/8.0 (wide); f/4.2 - f/8.0 (tele) f2.8 - 8.0
Aperture Step Size:
Lens Thread: 58 mm
Lens Thread Type: Body threads w/ adapter
Display
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Optical Viewfinder: Yes Yes Yes
Optical VF Type: EVF; Color LCD 0.44″ electronic viewfinder w/ 188,000 pixels EVF type; 0.3″ 115k pixel color LCD
Optical VF Accuracy: 101% 100% 100%
LCD Viewfinder: Yes Yes Yes
LCD VF Accuracy: 101% 100% 100%
LCD Size (inches): 2.5 2.5 3.0
LCD Resolution (pixels): 207000 207000 230000
Max Playback Zoom: 10x 16x 5x
Exposure
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
ISO Settings: 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 100, 200, 400, 800, 1260, 1600, 6400 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000
ISO Rating Max: 1600 6400 1000
Number of White Balance Settings: 8 8 7
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Custom Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / Flash / White Set 1 / White Set 2 Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash, One-Push
Manual White Balance: yes Yes Yes
Longest Shutter Time: 15 60 30
Shortest Shutter Time: 1/3200 1/2000 1/2000
Exp Adj Range: 2.0 EV 2.0 EV 2.0 EV
Exp Adj Step Size: 0.33 EV 0.33 EV 0.33 EV
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot Intelligent Multiple / Center Weighted / Spot Multi-pattern, Center-weighted, Spot
Spot Metering: Yes Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes Yes
Self Timer: 2 or 10 2 or 10 2 or 10
Flash
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Internal Flash: Yes Yes Yes
No of Flash Modes: 6 7
Flash Modes: Auto, On, Off (red-eye reduction available) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, Auto w/ Red-Eye Reduction, On, On w/ Red-Eye Reduction, Off, Slow Synch, Slow Synch w/ Red-Eye Reduction,
Flash Guide Number (Meters):
Measured Flash Range, 100 ISO (feet): 16.0 (W) - 16.0 (T) 14.0 (W) - 8.0 (T)
Flash Range Description: 0.7 - 5.2 m (2.3 - 17.1 ft.) (W), 0.7 - 4.0 m (2.3 - 13.1 ft.) (T) 0.3 - 6.0m (Wide/ISO Auto), 1.0 - 4.0m (Tele/ISO Auto) ISO Auto: 1.0-26 ft, (0.3-9m)
No of Flash “Pops”:
Ext Flash: Yes No No
Ext Flash Connection: Hot Shoe n/a n/a
Image Storage
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Usable Memory Types: SD/MMC SD/MMC
Other Memory Types:
Memory Included (MB): 32.0 27.0 32.0
Uncompressed Format: RAW
CCD Raw Format: No Yes No
Compressed Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG (EXIF v2.21) JPEG
Movie File Format: AVI (MotionJPEG / Stereo WAV) QuickTime MotionJPEG MPEG
Connectivity
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Video Out: Yes Yes Yes
Video Mode Switchable: Yes Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder:
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 1.1 USB 2.0 High Speed
Other Connection: DC input DC Input
Included Software: Canon software suite LUMIX Simple Viewer, PhotofunStudio -viewer, SILKYPIX Developer Studio 2.1SE, ArcSoft MediaImpression, ArcSoft PanoramaMaker, USB Driver Cyber-shot Viewer v1.0
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS Windows, Mac OS Windows, Mac OS
Performance Timing
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Startup Time: 1.3 seconds 3.1 seconds 2.3 seconds
Shutdown Time: 1.4 seconds 1.3 seconds 2.4 seconds
Play -> Record: 2.6 seconds 1.8 seconds 0.2 seconds
Record -> Play (max res): 1.4 seconds 0.9 seconds 2.4 seconds
Record -> Play (min res):
Shutter Lag, Full AF: 0.400 (W) - 0.390 (T) seconds 0.400 (W) - 0.500 (T) seconds 0.510 (W) - 0.990 (T) seconds
Shutter Lag, Man. Focus: 0.190 seconds 0.260 seconds 0.510 seconds
Shutter Lag, Prefocus: 0.074 seconds 0.019 seconds 0.011 seconds
Cycle Time Uncompressed Format: 2.77 seconds
Cycle Time Max Res: 1.60 seconds 1.87 seconds 1.60 seconds
Cycle Time Min Res: 1.58 seconds 1.42 seconds 1.47 seconds
Buffer Frames, Max Res: No limit No limit No limit
Continuous Mode Rate (fps): 1.52 3.00 1.10
Movie Mode Rate (Frames/Sec): 30, 60/30 30, 10, 30, 10, 30, 10 30
Movie Sec @ Max Res: 3600
Movie Sec @ Min Res: 3600
Download speed, KB/second: 2419 666 5084
Power
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Battery Form Factor: 4 x AA Proprietary 2 x AA
Usable Battery Types: Alkaline disposable or NiMH rechargeable Lithium Ion rechargeable Alkaline disposable, NiMH rechargeable
Batteries Included: 4 x AA alkaline disposable 1 x proprietary Lithium Ion rechargeable 2 x AA 2300mAh NiMH rechargeable
Battery Charger Included: No Yes Yes
More Information
|

Model Name:

|

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

|

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

|

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5

Notes & Features: Features articulating LCD, 12x zoom with optical image stabilization. MEGA OIS (Optical Image Stabilization); Intelligent ISO mode; Intelligent Auto Mode (combines Optical Image Stabilization, Intelligent ISO, Face Detection and Scene Detection); RAW and RAW + JPEG options
Links
Model Name: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Check Prices: Check Now! Check Now! Check Now!
Review URL: Review Review Review
Device Forum URL: Forum Forum Forum
Manufacturer URL: Website Website Website


NVIDIA Quadro CX Review and its effect over Adobe CS4

Dec 14th, 2008 | By Premnath Sah | Category: graphics card

NVidia’s now kid on the block: Quadro CX review and see how it accelerates everything in Adobe CS4 products. Adobe has joined the GPU acceleration bandwagon with its new CS4 line of products. This will give the industry a move forward and tell others that GPU acceleration is worth it, try it out.

The NVIDIA Quadro CX is billed as “the accelerator for Adobe CS4 Suite” and it is in fact just that.  In nearly every respect in fact, the Quadro CX is identical in features and hardware to the Quadro FX 4800 graphics card with the exception of support for SDI output in Premiere Pro and After Effects as well as the RapiHD plug-in for video encoding.  Those added features are really what make the Quadro CX stand out from the crowd.

As for each Adobe application and how the Quadro CX actually enhances the experience, do the benefits warrant the cost of the card?

Photoshop CS4 Enhancements: it works on nearly all graphics cards on the market today.

Premiere CS4 Enhancements: users will see approximately a 2x speed up across their H.264 encoding results versus a high-performance quad-core QX9650 processor. the RapiHD GPU-accelerated encoder is currently ONLY available with the purchase of the NVIDIA Quadro CX graphics card.

more here



Addonics introduces NAS Adapter: NASU2 for $55

Dec 14th, 2008 | By Premnath Sah | Category: Gadgets, nas

The Addonics NAS Adapter is a convenient and economical solution for adding any USB storage devices onto your LAN (Local Area Network). Once on the network, the USB storage can be shared by any network user, just like an ordinary NAS device.

Come built-in with a USB 2.0/1.1 connection and a fast Ethernet 10/100Mbps connection, the NAS adapter supports both SMB (Server Message Block) and the open source Samba network protocols, allowing for cross-platform access of all shared data for most versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and various Linux distributions. For remote users who are not connected over the LAN, the NAS Adapter provides FTP access for up to 8 simultaneous users anywhere in the world with an internet connection. In addition, the NAS adapter can also be used as a print server or as a Bit-Torrent downloading appliance.

Features:

  • Convert any USB 2.0 / 1.1 mass storage device into a Network Attached Storage device
  • Great for adding Addonics Storage Tower, Storage Rack or any Addonics USB storage device onto the network
  • Great for creating a custom Network Attached Storage appliance.
  • USB port can be used to power most 2.5″ USB hard drives or any low powered USB storage device.
  • Support Fast Ethernet 10/100Mbps.
  • Simple to install
  • Small and light weight. Size slightly longer than a C size battery. Can be installed practically anywhere
  • Can be set as DHCP server or client.
  • Support Samba server for up to 64 concurrent clients.
  • Support FTP server for up to 8 concurrent users.
  • Can be set as a print server to attach any USB printer to the network
  • Built-in Bit Torrent client for direct download to the attached USB storage device
  • Can be set as a UPnP AV server to share photo/music files stored on the file server with XBOX 360 video game consoles connected to the LAN
  • User management to allow read only or read/write access to folders
  • Administrative management access via web browser with password security.
  • Compatible with all Windows OS, Mac OS, Linux 2.6.x and above

more here



Acer Aspire One now with integrated 3G wireless technology

Dec 13th, 2008 | By Premnath Sah | Category: 3g, Gadgets, Subnotebook

acer aspire one with 3G

The Acer Aspire one netbook with integrated 3G wireless technology, is available starting Dec. 14 exclusively at RadioShack stores nationwide for $99.99 when combined with qualifying AT&T mobile broadband service. (RadioShack Corporation)

The Acer Aspire one 3G netbook comes equipped with the following features:

    --  Weighs 2.44 pounds
    --  Ultra-compact size measuring 9.8" x 6.7" x 1.1" (W x D x H)
    --  Stylish piano-black finish
    --  Built-in 3G capability
    --  802.11b/g wireless (Wi-Fi)
    --  8.9-inch LCD screen
    --  Built-in Web cam
    --  Intel(R) Atom(TM) processor
    --  Windows XP(R) Home
    --  1GB memory
    --  160GB hard drive
    --  Built-in memory card readers (dedicated SD and 5-in-1)

more here



Lenovo’s OMS (Android) based OPhone

Dec 13th, 2008 | By Premnath Sah | Category: Gadgets, Mobile, android, google

Lenovo is building phone for China Mobile (service provider). It is based on China Mobile’s proprietory operating system OMS(Open Mobile System) which inturn is based on Android and TD SCDMA (China’s home-grown 3G standard).

more here