Review: Sony Cyber-shot HX5V digital camera

by Scott Carmichael on

Ask a geek to design the ultimate point and shoot camera, and the list of specifications would probably come close to the camera in this review. The Sony Cyber-shot HX5B really does appear to have it all.

Inside the camera is a 10.2 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, sweep panorama mode, anti-blur motion mode, twilight mode (for photos at night), 10x optical zoom. 720p MP4 / 1080i AVCHD HD video, GPS, compass, optical image stabilization, 10fps shooting mode (at full resolution), Memory Stick and SDHC compatibility, HDR mode, scene recognotion, anti-blink option and HDMI output.

As I said – this is a list of stuff I’d describe for the ultimate camera – so, does the HX5V actually manage to deliver what it takes to combine all these cool features into usable camera? Read on and find out!

Lets start with the controls (sorry for the poor shots, I was outside in 12 degree weather). On the top of the camera are buttons for the mode selector dial, zoom/shutter release and power. Right above the lens is the stereo microphone.

On the back is a D-Pad for menu and feature selection, a quick movie mode button, large 3″ LCD screen with an anti-reflective coating. As you can see from the icons, the screen is a bit cluttered, and it isn’t always logical why/where icons are placed.

Using the camera is a treat – albeit one with that may actually require a bit of reading in the manual. Photos turns out perfect – most of the time. If you are like me, you’ll constantly keep the camera in intelligent auto mode – and the intelligence is thankfully enough to never have to worry about what it does to your shots. Advanced photographers can switch it to a variety of other modes. The various modes in the camera are:

  • Easy (intelligent setting with simplified display)
  • Intelligent Auto
  • Program Auto
  • Manual exposure
  • iSweep Panorama
  • AVCHD movie mode
  • Scene selection (high sensitivity, soft snap, sports shooting, landscape, twilight portrait, twilight, gourmet, pet, beach, snow, fireworks)
  • Backlight correction HDR
  • Handheld twilight
  • Anti-motion blur

The iSweep panorama mentioned in the mode list is quite a lot of fun – select the mode, press the shutter, and move the camera from left to right. The end result is a 4080×1080 panorama shot, without the need to manually stich anything together. Just sweep and let the camera do all the hard work.

The 10x optical zoom is fast, and has a great wide angle – as you can see in the photo below.

Things I don’t like on the camera? It needs a special dongle to connect it to anything – USB, HDMI and composite video all come out of a large plug on the bottom. In this day and age, I’d prefer a camera that has regular (Mini) USB plugs and MicroUSB. Canon is a good example of a company that understands this. That said – with the amount of features built into the HX5V, I can see how the designers managed to run out of room for separate plugs. To charge the battery, you need to remove it, and plug it into the (included) wall charger.

As I mentioned earlier – photos turn out perfect – most of the time. When it works, it works very, very well. But every now and then, a photo just randomly turns out quite poorly. For no apparent reason, the camera seems to just give up. Now, this isn’t a huge deal – if you make lots of photos of the same thing, but if you are shooting that once in a lifetime action shot, you may end up disappointed.

And finally, I find the menu system a tad confusing. Normally, I can browse my way around any camera after a couple of minutes of hands-on time, but the HX5V manages to confuse you – which is why you really will need to read the manual before heading out on a trip with it.

Still, at $279.99 you really won’t find a better equipped camera – especially one that performs this well. The HX5V is lightweight, has everything a traveler could need (great lens, GPS, good battery life) and is exceptionally well priced. For more on the Sony Cyber-shot HX5V, head on over to Sonystyle.com.

Review: Livescribe Echo smartpen

by Scott Carmichael on

Don’t let the development in technology in recent years fool you – even though things like books and magazines have started to make the transition to “all digital”, there is still a big market for people who like to keep things old school.

One good example is the continuing popularity of Moleskine notebooks. Another great example of sticking with the old, is the Livescribe Smartpen. This computer pen offers you the best of both worlds – you can take notes on paper, and transfer them “to the cloud” when you are done.

In the past, other companies have offered digital pens and other writing instruments that promised the ability to turn paper notes into digital documents, but as I’ll show in this review, the pens from Livescribe are the first to actually deliver a rock solid product.

The pen itself is relatively bulky, but not to the point where it is uncomfortable to use. In fact, holding the Echo is actually quite nice. And remember, this bulk isn’t for nothing – inside the pen is a battery, a digital camera, display and batteries. How they fit all that inside this small case is nothing short of amazing.

On top of the pen is a MicroUSB jack and a headphone plug. On the from is a microphone, OLED display and power button. On the bottom is of course the pen itself, next to a small window where the digital camera hides.

Using the pen is extremely simple – you turn it on, and start writing. A sensor at the rear of the ink cartridge knows when you are writing, and the camera picks up your scribbles. The trick to this lies in the special paper. Each page has a micro-dot pattern, which allows the pen to detect every single bit of writing, and the position of that writing on the page.

Once you have written something, you can transfer it to the Livescribe Desktop software package. Once inside the desktop software, you can file them, add notes, and even send the files to the Livescribe online storage.

Fans of Evernote can take things one step further, thanks to one-click Evernote uploads. End result is all your written notes available in Evernote, and its web client or desktop/mobile apps. The character recognition feature in Evernote means your notes can be searched. Alterntively, you can enhance the Livescribe Desktop with the MyScript software package, which is designed to convert all your writing into regular documents.

The fun doesn’t end there – the microphone inside the Livescribe pen is part of the Paper Replay feature, and can link audio recordings with your writing. Imagine making notes in a meeting, and recording the meeting at the same time. Once you upload your notes, the audio transfers with it. But best of all, once inside Livescribe Desktop, you can point to any portion of your writing, and the audio picks up exactly where you want it.

Untitled from Scott C on Vimeo.

Still not convinced how amazing this thing is? Because this is more than just a dumb pen, you can actually download apps to it – adding a variety of handy features to its arsenal of tools. Built in are a calculator, a translator demo and a fun piano. In fact, the piano is probably one of the coolest tricks inside Livescribe – and one I always use to convince people just how fun it is. In the video above, you’ll see a short video showing some apps in action.

Other (paid) apps include silly tools like soundboards, but also travel phrasebooks and chemical reference guides. Apps start at just $1, and can be loaded through the desktop software.

Because the pen only has a power button, you browse its menu using printed commands on paper. Inside most Livescribe notebooks are the arrow buttons required to access the menus, and the box includes a cheat sheet with more handy command buttons. Buttons printed on paper include Paper Replay commands, playback speed, volume, battery life, time and date and remaining storage.

Like making the switch back to a Moleskine notebook, once you get used to living your life on paper (like we all did just one decade ago), you’ll learn to appreciate how easy and efficient things can be. But the best part is that you make the switch to paper without any compromises.

Smartpens are available in a variety of sizes – from 1GB to 8GB. Prices start at just $69.95 for a refurbished pen from the previous generation, to $199.95 for the new 8GB Echo.

Because you need to use special paper, you will need to invest in notebooks or flip pads. Prices for these start at $7.95.

My Livescribe pen has become an integral part of how I do my job – I make lots of notes every week, and many of them end up in Evernote. I can access voice recordings, and pull up anything I completely forgot I had planned to follow up on.

To learn more about Livescribe, or to find out how to order your own, head on over to Livescribe.com.

The Gadling gift guide for the outdoor traveler

by Scott Carmichael on

In our third gift guide this season, we’ll show off some of the best gear for the traveler who loves the great outdoors, or at least for those travelers that pretend they do, because most of these gadgets will work just as well for someone who thinks of a Holiday Inn as “camping”.

Other guides in our 2010 lineup: gifts for iPhone/iPad owners and gifts for the business traveler

T-Mobile Motorola Defy

The Motorola Defy (on T-Mobile) is the first rugged 3G Android phone. This smartphone will actually survive a swim, or a drop on the ground. Its Gorillaglass screen means it won’t shatter when impacted.

Price: $99.99

Product page: T-Mobile

Gadling review

Scottevest Pack Windbreaker

Imagine a lightweight and waterproof windbreaker that folds into a package compact enough to also act as a small pillow. Now imagine that jacket with handwarmer pockets, an integrated cable management system and 17 different pockets. That is, in a nutshell, the Scottevest Pack Windbreaker.

Price: $75

Product page: Pack Windbreaker

SteriPEN Traveler

Only able to find “questionable” water? Once passed through a filter to remove particulate matter, stick the SteriPEN in your container, and lets its UV light purify it to drinkable quality.

Price: $59.95

Product page: SteriPEN

Pelican i1015 rugged Phone case

Who says enjoying the great outdoors means you can’t travel with some music? The Pelican i1015 iPhone case will let your device survive just about anything your throw at it. A pass-through headphone jack means it can stay in its case, while you enjoy your tunes.

Price:$26

Product page: Pelican

Otterbox cases

Otterbox cases provide protection in several levels – their basic case will protect against scratches, and their top of the line cases will handle water, drops and more. Best of all, the cases look great and are reasonably priced.

Price: from $19.95

Product page: Otterbox

Cannondale Jekyll bike

If you are looking for the ultimate bike for outdoors, then you won’t find anything better than the Cannondale Jekyll. This bike also has the honor of being the most expensive product in all of our gift guides, and at $4,249 it may not suit those that usually settle for the $200 bike at the local mega-mart. Its dual shocks, torsion control and carbon or alloy frame make it the ultimate in outdoor pedal power. Other models in this range start at $2,999, up to $7,999

Price: $4,249

Product page: Cannondale bikes

Gorillatorch Switchback lantern/headlamp

Gorillapod made a name for themselves with their neat flexible camera tripods, but this year they expanded their assortment with flashlights. One of the most impressive additions is the Switchback. This ultra-bright headlamp turns into a powerful lantern. Its five different LED’s can switch from a red night vision lamp to a 130 lumen floodlight.

Price: $59.95

Product page: Gorillatorch

ContourGPS

The new ContourGPS HD camera is at home in outside – but it really gets in its element when you strap it to your helmet and take it downhill, or when you try to record a really stupid stunt to show off on Youtube. But best of all, the camera also records your location, making it easy to plot your trip on a map.

Price: $349.99

Product page: ContourGPS

Goal O solar panel

Need some REAL power on the road? There are plenty of small solar power kits that promise to recharge your phone when they get a day or two of sunshine, but the Goal 0 Nomad 7m delivers 7 watts of power in 5 volts (USB) or 12 volts (DC plug). This will charge your phone just as fast as a wall outlet, assuming you get enough sun.

Price: $99.99

Product page: Goal 0

New Google Chrome OS notebook comes with free 3G access

by Scott Carmichael on

This morning, Google took to the stage to announce several new Chrome related developments. After showing off their newest Chrome browser and Chrome OS, they unveiled the Cr-48 Chrome powered notebook.

Under the hood is a machine powered by Chrome OS – an operating system designed by Google specifically for mobile cloud based computing. The machine features a full size keyboard, 12.1″ screen, dual band Wi-Fi, 8 hours of use and a global 3G broadband modem.

But perhaps most importantly, for the first two years of ownership, Verizon Wireless will provide 100MB of free 3G access a month. Alternatively, you can get unlimited access for $9.99/day, without any contracts or activation costs.

Sadly, the machine won’t be available mass market just yet – you can sign up to be added to an early adopters list, and Google will then select people to get their hands on one of these. Still, if you want to take your chance at being selected, head on over to the Google product page for the Cr-48 Chrome Notebook. I think it is pretty safe to say that Chrome OS is in for a very interesting future – Google already took mobile phones by storm with Android, and they have a great chance at repeating that success with Chrome OS. Time will tell whether they have what it takes.

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The Gadling gift guide for the business traveler

by Scott Carmichael on

The business traveler is a hard one to shop for – you don’t want to give them something that will make them have to work harder, but you also want to be sure you give them something “cutting edge”. So, we’ve collected a sample of some of the best business travel friendly products on the market.

If you need other ideas, check out our gift guide for the iPad/iPhone owner.

Toshiba Portege R705 ultra-portable notebook

Unless your office supplies you with a corporate laptop, you’ll be on your own when it comes to shopping around for the perfect machine. As far as we are concerned, perfect is how we describe the Toshiba Portege R705. At a tad over three pounds, this machines has it all – built in optical drive, HDMI, VGA, plenty of storage space, eSATA expansion port and impressive battery life. Combine this with a price tag under $1000, and you’ll understand why we like it so much. The R705 lineup includes all kinds of combinations – including models with a fingerprint reader and processors options up to an Intel i7.

Price: from $899

Product page: Toshiba Portege R705

Gadling review

iDapt charging kit

Traveling with more than one gadget? the IDAPT line of device chargers can take care of all your needs in a single product. With a variety of charger plugs, this product can be placed on a desk, and just one outlet, you’ll have all your gadgets at 100% before you know it.

Price: from $34.99

Product page: IDAPT

Pogoplug

Ever been on a trip only to discover that you forgot to copy a really important file to your laptop? Pogoplug could be the one product you need to fix that for good. Plug the Pogoplug into your network (or let it connect to Wi-Fi), attach a storage device, and you instantly create a network storage system that can be reached anywhere in the world. Access can be gained through a browser, desktop software or one of the various mobile clients.

Price: $99.99

Product page: Pogoplug

Sewell VGA adapter

Got a laptop without a regular video output? The Sewell VGA to TV adapter can turn your VGA signal into a normal composite signal, which means you can then watch Netflix movies or PowerPoint presentations on the old hotel TV.

Price: $34.95

Product page: Sewell Direct

Gadling review

Black Box retractable cable kit

With six different laptop cables and accessories in a single kit, the Black Box retractable cable kit has everything you need to be a real efficient road warrior. Includes USB and Ethernet cables, a retractable power cord, headphones, LED light and an optical mouse.

Price: $38.95

Product page: Black Box

Gadling review

Pelican 1510LOC rugged overnight laptop case

Scared of the airlines breaking your laptop or other gadgets? Teach them a lesson with the Pelican 1510 rugged overnight laptop case. When your luggage has its own “pressure relief valve”, you just know you are dealing with something special. If you are concerned about its strength, just remember that the U.S. Military trusts these cases with their weapons.

Price: $200

Product page: Pelican cases

Briggs & Riley BRX line

Looking for some budget friendly luggage that doesn’t scream “PowerPoint presentation master”? The BRX line from Briggs & Riley has it all – great looks, rugged frame and tons of internal storage space. Plus, because the top isn’t rigid, it’ll expand nicely.

Price: from $160

Product page: Briggs & Riley BRX line

Gogo Inflight Internet 6-pack

What better product to treat the road warrior to than the ability to get even more work done inflight! Of course, inflight Internet access through Gogo Inflight doesn’t always have to involve work – just don’t tell the boss.

Price: $49.95

Product page: Gogo Inflight pricing options

Gadling review

[Photo from Flickr/Peterbartsch]

Jawbone ICON headset

Lets face it; business travelers love their Bluetooth headsets. Anyone that has sat at an airport staring at all the people walking by will know how important the headset is in the road warrior arsenal. So, if you are going to wear a headset, at least let it be a decent one. One great contender? The Jawbone ICON headset. Besides fantastic sound quality, the ICON also supports Jawbone apps and different voices for text to speech.

Price: $99

Product page: Jawbone

Gadling review

Balanzza Mini luggage scale

Sooner or later, even the best packer will need to hand their bag over to the airline to be checked in the luggage hold. For these times, a portable luggage scale could mean the difference between just under, or just overweight. And sadly, overweight means costly charges. The Balanzza can weigh bags up to 100lbs and hooks to almost any piece of luggage.

Price: $24.95

Product page: Balanzza

Gadling review

Wilson Electronics MobilePro signal booster

Being stuck in a bad hotel for a business trip is no fun, but things get worse when you are stuck somewhere with little to no signal. Suddenly, you are not just physically in the middle of nowhere, and when your Blackberry displays “no signal”, you’ll be in for a long stay. Thankfully, the MobilePro signal booster kit by Wilson Electronics can turn any dead zone into a 5-bar location. Its internal antenna picks up your signal, and boosts it to a magnet mounted antenna outdoors.

Price: From $184.99

Product page: Wilson Electronics

Gadling review

Livescribe Echo Smartpen

If the switch to “all digital” hasn’t made you any more efficient, consider the Livescribe Smartpen. This pen records your writing, and records audio in meetings or more. Best of all, the pen can be outfitted with handy pen based apps. Once written, you can transfer writing and recordings to your computer, or send them out on the web to Livescribe or Evernote.

Price: from $149.95

Product page: Livescribe store

The Art of Shaving travel kit

Just because you are on a business doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself a little. The Art of Shaving kit contains everything you need for a professional style wet shave, plus a stainless steel Gillette razor.

Price: $150

Product page: The Art of Shaving

Gadling review

AAXA M2 portable projector

During the day, you can give presentations, and at night, you can use this projector to watch a movie. The AAXA technologies M2 portable projector is one of the best on the market, with a 100 lumen LED lamp, hi-def resolution, HDMI input and a built in 1GB media player, things don’t get more compact or more entertaining. But the best part? Its insanely low price!

Price: $369

Product page: AAXA Technologies

AVIIQ laptop stand

Not many travel products can claim German engineered hybrid composite materials and “lightest in the world” in a single product. But the AVIIQ laptop stand does work hard to justify its $79.95 price tag. When not in use, this laptop stand folds up into a neat little package and unfolds into a full size ultra-light stand.

Price: $79.95

Product page: AVIIQ Laptop stand

Gadling review