Nokia N96

First up on the list is Nokia’s take on the iPhone. With an impressive 16 GB internal memory and an additional slot for Micro SDHC, its possible to get a total of 24 GB memory. The phone features a DVB-H tuner, 5 Mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss Lens, GPS navigation and a 2.8 inch display with 16 million colors. It also features the ultra fast HSDPA data transfer. However, the biggest downsides is the battery which seem to be borrowed from its predecessor. For a feature packed phone like this, it would need certainly an extended battery life. But nevertheless, it is the most anticipated phones of 2008 and will certainly not dissappoint.

Samsung F480 Tocco

Samsung Tocco is one of the many phones Samsung has launched this year featuring touch screens, suggesting the company’s strategy to challenge iPhone. However, unlike the Nokia N96 and the iPhone itself, Tocco doesn’t offer a large internal memory, instead provides a slot for MicroSD slot. In terms of functionality, it offers the same features as the Nokia N96 and comes with a 2.8 inch screen with 262, 144 colours. On the downside, Tocco is reported to drop calls and the voice clarity is a bit poor. If Samsung release new firmware to get around this, it is sure to stand out in this crowded space.

Sony Ericsson C902

In comparison with iPhones, Nokias and Samsungs, Sony always has different tact to entice customers. It has always leveraged its success from its other electronics and steam rolled that into its mobile phones. Be it a Walkman Phone or a CyberShop phone, it has been incredibly good with its products. Sony’s C902 definitely lives upto its expectations. This is an incredibly brilliant phone with a 5 megapixel camera featuring face-detection autofocus, LED flash, and superior camera controls. It also bundles in a music player, FM radio, 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth and plenty of memory. On top of it, the phone is very slim and is available in two different colours.

Slingbox was the first real player on the market and as such was picked up by early adopters but only recently has the concept of ‘place-shifting’ [accessing your media whilst away from home] become a desirable addition for the man on the street.

So what does it do? In simple terms it sends your existing home entertainment to any chosen computer via the Internet meaning you can watch and control your favorite TV shows live whilst away from home and your precious TV subscription. Slingbox Pro separates itself from the past models* by offering a wider variety of in-puts. You can connect one high definition video source and up to three standard definition video devices such as home TV, DVR, basic cable, digital cable box, or satellite receiver. With the optional SlingPlayer Mobile software you can access your Slingbox on a Smartphone. No Support as yet for the iPhone.

*Other models include: Sling Media Slingbox SOLO, Sling Media Slingbox PRO-HD and Sling Media Slingbox AV.

The Pro also includes dual outputs so you can wire the Slingbox between your receiver(s) and the TV, plus with it’s built in digital TV tuner so you can expand your selection of home television if you don’t have a cable or satellite package.

Once you have plugged in all your devices you then need to program your various remotes, this is done by simply pointing Slingbox’s control eye at the IR receivers on your different devices. With support for 5,000 components you won’t be disappointed. Plug the Slingbox into your Internet connection and run the installation CD on your PC and you are ready to experience over-the-air entertainment anywhere in the world.

To watch TV on your computer, turn on the SlingPlayer and select your chosen TV source. This will bring up an image of the relevant remote on the left hand side of the screen allowing you to control the channels, play buttons etc. The best bit is your TV doesn’t even need to be on to watch it whilst abroad!

Once set up the experience is amazing, the stereo audio is outstanding and the video signal is great [max resolution of 640x480]. Not wanting to teach you to suck eggs but this does require a decent Internet connection and you may want to be selective about what channels you watch as the quality of the video is dependant on the upload speed, anything served at below 500kb/sec may break up a little [this tends to be sports shows as the signal is frequently updated] but anything else looks perfect.

Only downsides are the lack of wireless support and no built in DVR to record programs but these are minor drawbacks given that the device works so well under its intended purpose.
Read more about the Sling Media SlingBox Pro (sb200-100)
Average customer reviews 4/5 stars.

Macbooks are one of the first systems to use Intel’s dual core processors, enabling the computer to multi-task efficiently while ensuring that it doesn’t heat up quickly. It features a brand-new Nvidia graphics processor, the GeForce 8600M GT available upto 512 MB of video memory, higher capacity hard disk up 250 GB, 8x DVD combo drive, Bluetooth, 802.1 wireless connectivity which is twice the range of 802.11g and five times better in terms of performance. It also includes Multi-touch key pad, allowing you to pinch and swipe just like you do on an iPhone and a built in iSight video camera which is far superior than any of those available in the market. The highlight of a Macbook is MagSafe power adapter that safely disconnects if there is an accidental strain on the cable. Macbook comes with an illuminated keyboard for dimly lit environments and an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the display brightness for optimal visibility as well as a built-in microphone and stereo speakers. To top this all, Macbook comes with a free upgrade to a glossy screen.

Apple has realised that for even Mac users there is an occassional need for running Windows and probably understood that users have been struggling to get Windows on Macs through emulation software. With the new Macbooks shipping with Intel based processors, it makes perfect sense to offer an official software release allowing users to port between OS. To encourage users who need access to Windows, Apple has released a product called Boot Camp, which allows users to boot a Macbook either from Apple’s OS Leopard or Windows. Also, there is third party software called Parallels Desktop, which allows users run Windows as an application within Leopard. A Parallels installation needs a minimum of 512 MB RAM. All in all, Macbook is an incredible toy, which encourages users to unleash their creative side.

On a final note, there has been plenty of speculation these days about a new version of Macbook Pro. A leading German retailer recently published pictures of a new Macbook Pro which doesn’t look any different than the existing Macbook Pros except for a missing latch and a black screen enclosure. The specifications match the existing line of Macbook Pros and don’t offer any radical change. Is this new Macbook coming out soon? We’ll have to wait and see.

Buy Apple Macbook Pro Here

New Apple iPod Nano 4g

So what is it that makes the new iPod Nano 4G so special? It’s certainly not one thing alone, although the new wider screen does jump right out at you when you first hold it. You quickly see that Apple have used the launch of the new iPod Nano as a way of displaying what makes them the best at what they do, all in one neat little package.

Seasoned veterines of the MP3 market, Apple have taken the best bits from the iPod family, added a touch of ‘designed in California’ magic along with a few new toys and created one desirable little player.

The 2 inch screen is the first thing that hits you and the fact that it is widescreen instantly makes you want to rotate the device to view it landscape - thus activating the next new addition to the Nano the accelerometer!

2 inch widescreen

Adding the accelerometer seems an obvious choice given the success of the iPod Touch and iPhone so as you would expect you can flip photos and view cover flow in widescreen. But that’s not all, whilst shuffling your music you can give the Nano a little shake and it will skip to another track - clever!

When connected to the new iTunes 8 you can choose to turn on spoken menus. Designed to help people with vision difficulties you can now ‘ask’ for your favorite track.

This leads me nicely to what has to be the best new feature: Genius. Activating the Genius feature finds music in your library that work well together. Those of you who use sites like Pandora will know how cool this is. Genius is managed via weekly updates from Apple as they update the algorithm via iTunes. I tested the feature and found that it works very well. I selected ‘Eyes wide open’ by Snow Patrol and pressed the Genius button and it returned 25 songs from my library by artists including Kean, Coldplay, U2, Jose Gonzalez and Red Hot Chili Peppers (to name a few). Genius also returns songs that you may like but don’t yet own.

All new toys aside, Apple do like to redesign something even perhaps when it worked very well before. The return to this vertical design is testament to that fact. The last Nano did just disappear in your pocket which was handy but the new Nano feels no different and in fact it is very light, weighing in at only 1.3 ounces. When I first heard that Apple were about to launch a new version of the Nano I remember someone saying that it was curved and immediately I began thinking of all my accessories that I would have to replace. However the curve is more a refined rounding of the past design so that it fits more comfortably in your hand.

curved design

Lastely, I couldn’t write this post without mentioning all those colours. Apple do like their colours and why not - so do we apparently. Whilst I tend to prefer my gadgets in black or silver I know that Apple are appealing to a wider audiance than the early adopters with the new Nano. My children are just as anxious to get their hands on the latest Apple gadget and the fact that it comes in pink only makes their need greter. God help me!

Nine amazing colours

The new nano comes 8GB and 16GB

Buy the Apple iPod Nano 4G 8GB

Buy the Apple iPod Nano 4G 16GB