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LASplash.com: Tech Talk Tech Talk Holiday Gift Guide By Lawrence Davis
Casio Exilim EX-S770
The sexy EX-S770 shoots 7.2-megapixel still images and records high-quality movies in MPEG-4 format. In addition, it features Casio's Super Bright 2.8-inch wide-screen LCD (the world's first), but still retains the ultra-slim credit card size of its predecessors at only 11.3mm, the slimmest in the world. You can loose this camera in your pocket or purse. Its impressive wide-screen display employs a 230,000-pixel LCD that clearly displays images and information down to the smallest detail, and boasts a maximum brightness of around 1100cd/m2 - that is over 2 times brighter than current industry averages making it easier to see outdoors on a sunny day. My review unit was Blazing Red but it also comes in Premium Silver and Graphite Blue. The all stainless steel case made me feel very comfortable as I took about 1,000 photos on my recent trip to Peru. The battery life is great and you can take up to 550 photos per charge! The 'Best Shot' custom settings were easy to use which was helpful as I switched from standard mode to landscape, to macro, to portrait, to taking photos of food and back to standard throughout the trip. The video was so very easy to use, it recorded easily in high-quality VGA-sized movies in MP-4 format by the push of a button and uses image stabilization in a 16:9 wide format. I only wish I had remembered how easy it was to shoot the videos and I would have shot many more. The ladies who were on the trip with me all wanted to buy one. The small size, huge bright screen, ease of use and photo quality made me grab for the EX-S770 for most of my shots. Casio has also added new functions to make the most of the EX-S770's new wide screen. There is even the ability for data storage which allows computer data like emails, documents, web pages etc. to automatically be converted to JPEG format and transferred to the camera. That way with the push of the 'Data' button you can transfer important information to your camera such as maps, tourist attractions, itineraries etc. and have it readily available without the need to carry your laptop! The estimated price is $349.99 but I found it as low as $269 Learn more at http://exilim.casio.com/
TomTom® GO 910 GPS Receiver
Motorola Bluetooth®
Canon DC40 DVD Camcorder
I got to test Canon's top of the line DVD camcorder offering one of the highest resolution camcorders in its price range. I had the loan of a Canon DC40 which offers a 4.3 Megapixel CCD and so much more! The Smooth Zoom feature ensures smooth, steady zooms automatically, while Level Shot helped me keep the camcorder level. A large widescreen LCD makes it easy to compose and review the video. The DC40 even let me record and show High Resolution Widescreen images on a standard TV, in letterbox format. All this in a compact size whose design makes it easy to operate, carry or put in your my pocket. Unlike the tape variety, this camera records direct to DVD which offers all the convenience and functionality of DVD technology, which includes a wide array of options for shooting and sharing your video. Only 3" (8cm) in diameter, the DC40's DVD -R/-RW discs are compatible with most DVD players and can store up to 30 minutes of video in standard mode and 60 minutes of video in long play mode. That's 120 minutes on a double-sided disc!
With the DC40's DVD technology, you no longer have to worry about mistakenly taping over a once-in-a-lifetime piece of video. Whenever your shoot, the DC40 automatically records onto a blank part of the DVD. The DC40's DVD functionality also makes it possible for you to review your footage quickly and easily without the bother of rewind or fast-forward searching. With the camcorder's Visual Index, you can review your footage at a glance and play the selection you want. You can even select shots and arrange them into a playlist. It's like editing your video right in your camcorder! The DC40 records true High Resolution Widescreen for picture perfect video. Canon's Widescreen HR Mode uses the entire width of the image sensor, capturing true 16:9 widescreen. So why is the way you record widescreen images so important? Because you want an image made for widescreen, not adapted for widescreen. Widescreen is the future -- every HD television is widescreen. If you haven't made the move to HD the DC40 also lets you show your great Widescreen HR video on a standard television in letterbox format.
Canon camcorders use the entire width of the image sensor to capture your precious video in true 16:9 format. What difference does this make? It's simple. With more pixels captured, you get better image quality. Other camcorders force the wider picture into a smaller space on the sensor -- giving you a less than true image, with fewer pixels and lower quality. With High Resolution recording on a Canon camcorder, the canals of Venice will be as grand as you remembered seeing them. The viewfinder of your DC40 displays the image in a "letterbox" view -- from side to side and top to bottom, what you see will be what you get. No guessing and extra work when looking at an image that's distorted like a fun house mirror. Not only that, but the DC40's big, 2.7" LCD screen lets you see exactly what you're recording. Plus, to make it even easier, a Widescreen Button lets you switch from standard 4:3 to 16:9 Widescreen Mode at the touch of your finger. The widescreen feature can also be used in both Program Mode and Easy Recording Mode, as well as with the camcorder's advanced image stabilization.
Image Stabilization
The DC40's built-in high-quality image stabilizer allowed me to shoot rock-steady video, even while bouncing along in a small boat. It even works while panning and zooming. Stunning Digital Photography - With Canon's DoubleShot technology and the DC40's many advanced photo features, you get both a digital video camcorder and digital still camera -- all rolled into one. What's more, the DC40's photo features make it a still camera that rivals other state-of-the-art digital cameras with its 4.3 Megapixel CCD that ensures sharp, vivid video also gives you brilliant digital photographs as well as offering:
I was impressed that a video would offer such sophisticated 'Special Scene Modes'. These are a wide selection of automatic exposure modes makes it easy to capture great photos -- and video -- under any conditions. Portrait mode ensures shallow depth of field for a pleasing background to your shots of friends and family. Sports mode stops the action with faster shutter speeds. Night mode is designed to give you great shots after the sun goes down. Snow and Beach modes compensate for bright surroundings and give you the proper exposure on your subject. Sunset mode results in vibrant, well-exposed colors for one of the toughest subjects to capture. Use Spotlight mode when your child is on stage and in the spotlight -- literally -- and you want to make sure the exposure is right for them. And, Fireworks mode records brilliant images of another tough subject: the holiday fireworks display. To learn more Click Here To see a video on this camera Click Here
SplashTravel - Tools for the Palm and Treo Traveler
15 must-have tools when you travel -- or anytime you have to deal with different time zones, currencies, measurements or country codes. When you are on the go, you need information at your fingertips. SplashTravel includes clocks, timers, calculators, converters, and all sorts of data that you'll find handy while catching a flight, waiting for a train, or sitting in a cab on your way to a meeting. SplashTravel is the virtual Swiss Army knife for road warriors! Website http://www.splashdata.com/splashtravel/index.htm IRISPen Express and IRIS Card mini
When you're jet-setting and don't want to forget a name or a face, the following products, available through I.R.I.S., are ideal for keeping track and can even teach you to speak a foreign language! IRISCard mini: lets you scan business cards in black and white or greyscale. It includes OCR software that automatically reads the card, and sends the data to their appropriate fields, then exports the data to contact management tools, recognizing business cards from up to 54 different countries. The IRISCard mini ships out compatible with both Mac and Windows. IRISPen Express: designed to work like a highlighter, scan the IRISPen express over printed text and numbers and they are automatically retyped into an application. Scanning at up to 1,000 characters per second, the product is the fastest and most accurate pen scanner for PC and Mac platforms, and works in more than 55 languages.
SAFEKEEPER
How to Wow - Photoshop Elements Fundamentals and Creations
Learn the Basics of Adobe Photoshop Elements from Software Cinema.
Loc8tor
Don't Lose It - Locate It. With its miniaturized tags that can be attached to almost any item and a range of up to 600 feet, Loc8tor blends a combination of new and traditional technologies to help find your most important possessions actually guiding you in to even the most hard to find places. Loc8tor can even help stop your possessions from getting lost in the first place. Loc8tor's versatile nature enables use around the home, in the office, or out and about. Loc8tor is conducting a special holiday promo of 10% discount and a '14-Day No Quibble Home Trial. For more info and to pick up the Loc8tor, visit their website at www.loc8tor.com
G-Tech Wireless Smartphone Keyboard
Solar Charger for Cell Phones, iPods or PDAs
Our solar chargers act like solar powered portable reusable power sources for your cell phone, your iPod or your PDA. Solar Style solar chargers and portable batteries are great for saving energy, worry-free and converter-free travel, in an emergency and can increase personal security. Imagine if you could listen to the radio and still power-up your cell phone while you were waiting for help in the aftermath of an earthquake, a hurricane like Katrina or a Tsunami like the on experienced in Indonesia? Or imagine if you never have worry about your cell phone quitting in the middle of an important deal, or getting stuck by the side of the road without the power to call for help! Take advantage of the free power provided by the sun in order to stay wired on the go, anywhere, any time, no matter what the local ampage or outage. Website www.solarstyle.com
Website www.adstech.com HP CD/DVD Tattoos
LINKS TO MORE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE SUGGESTIONS: Published Dec 31, 2006 © Copyright 2003-2004 by LA Splash.com |




















