Digital Home Thoughts - News & Reviews for the Digital Home

When life's circumstances breed new technology, great things happen. The LapDawg X4 is a good example. If you use your laptop to get your email in bed, browse the Internet from the chaise longe, or work in non-office environments, the LapDawg X4 is for you! Or, if you are just looking for the ultimate in ergonomic adaptability, you need to read on. Read more...

"In a world of me-too compact cameras, Fuji has come up with something decidedly different. Their long-awaited FinePix X100 is a rangefinder-style, fixed lens camera with an APS-C sensor and unique hybrid viewfinder. They're not the first manufacturer to do the fixed lens / big sensor combo (Sigma's been at it for several years), but the FinePix X100 is a lot more professional in terms of design, features, and performance."

DCResource has got their Fujifilm X100 review out, the conclusion is not too far from my own impressions on the camera (read my hands-on for a detailed breakdown on the issues I had with the user interface). The photo quality is more impressive than I expected. I wonder if Nikon's D300 follow-up is going to be as good? Read the review to find out more, and check out the high ISO samples: They are very good for a camera using an APS-C sensor!

Product Category: Portable Disk Drive

Manufacturer: Verbatim

Where to Buy: Amazon [Affiliate]

Price: $75.24 USD

System Requirements: USB 3.0 port

Specifications: Available in 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB capacities. Size 121mm x 80mm x 15mm. Weight: 115g. Supplied cable: 62cm.

Pros:

• Small and light.
• Good value.
• Great warranty (seven years)

Cons:

• Not close to "transfer speed up to 10x faster than USB 2.0"
• Supplied cable is rather short.

Summary: At last, USB 3.0 devices are becoming widely available and at prices close to 2.0 disks. With transfer rates theoretically 10X as fast as USB 2.0, should you consider a USB 3.0 disk for backups and data transfer? Yes, but don't get your hopes too high. Your backups won't be going 10 times faster. Read more...

"The D5100 has a very similar 16.2MP CMOS sensor to the excellent one seen in the D7000 but, understandably, loses out on that camera's high-end build and feature-set. So there's no wireless flash control, magnesium alloy build or 39-point AF system but the underlying image quality is all but identical. As has become standard for a Nikon at this price point, the D5100 offers a single control dial, pentamirror viewfinder and no built-in autofocus motor. However, it gains 1080p video capability (at 30, 25 or 24fps), saved using the efficient H.264/AVC codec, and a 920,000 dot fully articulated LCD panel to help shoot it."

Nikon's D5100 looks like a very nice DSLR for the price and feature set. The 16 megapixel sensor from the D7000 certainly helps; with usable results up to ISO 3200, and for non-critical photos, even 12,800 (HI1) can be used with some post-processing. I am not too keen on the revamped layout to accommodate the articulating LCD however. Traditionally Nikon DSLRs have four to five buttons on the left hand side of the camera, where the hinge currently is located. The downside is slightly less refined controls compared to the D7000. Still, I hope Nikon eventually works out the UI for this line, because I would like to see the articulating LCD become standard; that way I can leave the right-angle finders at home!

Engadget has additional coverage if you want a mainstream tech review. Personally, I'm still baffled why 11 AF Points is a minus. In my time, we had just one, and walked both ways uphill in the snow to take photos!

Product Category: Digital Camera (Point-And-Shoot Variety)

Manufacturer: Canon

Where to Buy: Amazon [Affiliate Store]

Price: $143.96

Specifications: Provided by Canon

Pros:

• Pocked-sized - perfect for on-the-go photo ops;
• Wide array of customizable settings;
• Light without feeling flimsy.

Cons:

• Poor performance in low-light conditions;
• Slow processing at times.

Summary: This is not a technical review of the camera. This model has been out for a while, and has been examined in its full photo-taking glory by many experts. Instead this is a review of what it's like for a total amateur to own and operate this camera.

Read more...

"The Coolpix S9100 is Nikon’s third travel-zoom camera, featuring an extended 18x zoom lens with a very versatile focal range of 25-450mm. Other key features of the slim S9100 include a 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, high resolution 921k dot 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p high-definition movies with stereo sound, sensor-shift Vibration Reduction, a shooting mode dial and a fast auto-focus system."

Looking for a compact zoom camera? Not happy with the cameras in the last round-up we linked to? Here is another option; the Nikon Coolpix S9100. Though Nikon is not as well-known as some other companies in the compact segment, I certainly can't fault them for not trying (doing well is another thing). Surprisingly the review is a favourable one, but between a Nikon and a Panasonic, I know which one I would normally go for!

Do you enjoy using new hardware, software and accessories, then sharing your experience with others? Then join us on the Thoughts Media Review team! We're looking for individuals who find it fun to test hardware, software, and accessories then give their honest opinions about them.

Our areas of focus include laptops, netbooks, slates, tablets, Windows Phones, the Microsoft Zune, Android phones, the iPhone, iMacs, Macbooks, iPad, and other digital devices such as digital cameras, video cameras, photo editing software, printers, scanners, video editing software...and pretty much anything else related to creating, editing, and sharing anything digital. Oh, and don't forget about headphones and nearly any other gizmo out there from portable batteries to memory cards to power bars. We focus on the Windows and OSX platforms, along with Windows Phone, iOS, and Android for mobile platforms.

If it's technology-related, odds are good that it can be covered on one of our sites - and that means you can write about it. It's important to understand that you won't be writing for a single site - you can review any product you want as long as it fits into one of the areas of focus that our network covers. That gives you a lot of freedom to cover exciting stuff!

We're looking for people with a solid grasp of the English language, but you don't have to be the next John Grisham to qualify. Impressive writing skills are less important than having an appetite for thoroughly testing technology and sharing your thoughts with others. Part of the review team application process is writing a trial article, and we'll get a good feel for your writing ability from that.

Interested? We have more information on this page, including a FAQ that's worth looking at. I'm looking to add at least a dozen new faces to the review team, so if you're interested, please apply! I'm also happy to answer any questions you might have that aren't covered in the FAQ, so please post them here and I'll respond.

"The 1100D takes a series of familiar-sounding components and folds them together in a distinctly conventional but still capable-sounding package. So there's a 12MP CMOS chip that is likely to date back to the 450D/XSi, coupled with Canon's now-standard 9-point AF system and the 63-area iFCL (Focus, color and luminance sensitive) metering system first seen in the EOS 7D."

The Canon Rebel T3/EOS 1100D is something I thought I would never see. After letting the predecessor languish in obscurity for a good two years, it looked like Canon had given up on the ultra-budget DSLR. With the T3/1100D, it looks like they have not. On paper it looks like a competent if slightly rehashed. Still, the low price means it should sell well. I am rather amused by the red; pity Canon did not come up with a matching lens! For you die-hard 1st gen Zune lovers, there is also... brown. Coloured up versions available at our affiliate store.

"One of the most popular digital camera genres in recent years has been what some have called the "travel zoom". These compact cameras have typically featured lenses of around 10X - 14X, large LCDs, and HD movie modes. In 2011, camera manufacturers really put the "travel" in travel zoom, by adding GPS receivers to their cameras. So, not only do you now have a camera which can go anywhere, but you'll know exactly where you took the photo."

One advantage of dedicated cameras is the ability to offer a zoom lens, so huge zoom factors are still pretty much a selling point. Combine that with a compact size and the result is a camera that still sells pretty well in this age of smartphones. I was a bit surprised at the winner of this shoot out, but I won't spoil the surprise, other than saying that the initial debut of the line was very lacklustre to begin with. Well done C... I mean, camera company!

Product Category: Photo Books and Printing

Manufacturer: VIOVIO

Where to Buy: VIOVIO

Price: $5.99 USD and up (varies)

System Requirements: Internet Browser, Laptop or Desktop computer

Specifications: N/A

Pros:

• Massive library of templates;

• Excellent customer support;

• Impressive printing and pricing options.

Cons:

• Internet based application can be slow;

• May not be compatible with some browser plugins;

• Finished project may not have the printing option you want.

Summary: Am I the only one who has gigabytes of photographs gathering digital dust on my hard drive? I'm not, right? And why? Because ink and photo paper is expensive, and it would take me forever to print them out! And then what? Invite the family over for a sit-down where you pass one photo hand-over-hand to the person on your right, over and over? No, no, this can't go on, and that's exactly what went through the brilliant minds over at Viovio. What if you could pick up a book, and inside have your photos displayed on high quality photo paper? And what if it had interesting notes and text, amid a visual playground that didn't just display your photos, but presented them? Viovio turns Family-Vacation-Photo-Night into an upper scale gala, thick with praise and hyperbole, but more importantly with love. And speaking of love, hidden in this review is a 20% off coupon for you to use! Read more...

"The new kid on the block can most succinctly be described as a 550D with an articulated screen, that also incorporates many of the beginner-friendly features we first saw on the more enthusiast-orientated EOS 60D. Perhaps most notable of these is 'Basic+', a simple, results-orientated approach to image adjustments in the scene-based exposure modes, that allows the user to change the look of their images and control background blur without needing to know anything technical about how this all works."

Canon, the masters of the incremental upgrade, have done it again. I think the above paragraph sums up the EOS 600D nicely: A 550D with a swivel LCD and some software changes. Still, that makes it a pretty decent camera, as the 550D was no slouch to begin with. For someone looking for a new DSLR in the Canon camp, it is hard to go wrong with it. I wonder though, if Canon is going to make anything exciting ever again...

"Our goal is to figure out which of these three is the best vehicle for navigating cyberspace. We’ll be paying particular attention to new features, security, privacy, and of course performance. We’ll even throw in a few power user tips for each one. And for those of you who roll with Opera and Safari, don’t worry, we’ll cover the latest versions of those, too. In the words of Michael Buffer, “Let’s get ready to rumble!” "

There are a lot of people that do not really care which web browser they use. It could be argued that you could change the browser on them and they would not even notice. This review is not for them. Some of us are quite picky about our browser. We like things a certain way, with certain plug-ins or features. After a while, the browser, which we probably use more than any other application at this point, becomes like a comforting friend who holds your hand while you travel through the wonderful world of the Internet. Of course, there are also times where we have second thoughts. The magic has faded and we start to find ourselves frustrated with our companion. Frequent crashes. Laggy behaviour. Rendering problems with specific websites you visit. So you eyes start to wander and look for something fresh and tasty. Then this review is right up your alley! A good overview of all the major browsers (admittedly only for Windows users) lets you taste each one before you commit to a new relationship. Personally, I have been using Firefox for many, many years and it has served me well, but lately, I have been finding that it is becoming a bit bloated and taking up considerable amounts of memory. The new release of Firefox 4 may help with that. If not, I guess I will have to find something better! Do you have any preferences? What browser do you evangelize?

Product Category: Network Attached Storage

Manufacturer: Synology

Where to Buy: Amazon [Affiliate]

Price: $1,360.80 USD

System Requirements: Gigabit Ethernet for maximum throughput

Specifications: Holds up to 5 3.5" or 2.5" SATA drives with connectivity for two further 5-drive bays. Size: 157mm x 248mm x 233mm. Weight: 4.25kg. LAN: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet. More specifications available.

Pros:

• Very fast;
• Very flexible;
• Very capable.

Cons:

• Quite expensive;
• Doesn't completely go to sleep if unused.

Summary: A solid unit delivering up to 45TB of network attached storage, with some additional functionality that makes it useful to both home and business user alike. Read more...

"World Backup Day isn't an official holiday, but it is a day of remembrance-as in, if you don't back up your important data, you will be remembering one day how stupid you were for not doing so."

Have you ever lost a file? Or worse, a whole drive? If you have, you know how crucial it is to have a proper backup plan. If you haven't, consider yourself lucky.

Today is World Backup Day. Its a great time to familiarize yourself with the different types of backup available. Take a look at Lifehacker's article to see which option works for you.

"Matt's not alone, either—we're coming to a point where everyone and their dog has at least a digital music and photo collection, and tons of folks (especially folks in the Ars reader demographic) have collections of ripped movies and TV shows on top of that. All that stuff has to reside somewhere, and to that end there's a huge array of network attached storage devices—NAS boxes, as we in the biz say—that can keep the data safe, with redundancy and protection that you wouldn't get from storing the collection on your computer's main hard drive or on a single external disk."

I have always tended to think of Drobo as a higher end NAS solution from a consumer perspective. However, with the apparent death of my reason to go with Windows Home Server, a careful re-evaluation of my options makes Drobo a strong consideration, despite its cost. There are cheaper options, but many of them tend to require a certain amount of tinkering or upkeep, and I am that point where I just want something that I can set up once and not have to worry about managing. Do you have a preference for a NAS solution? Do you like one where you get down and dirty, or do you prefer one that is more hands-off?

"With Amazon's recent entry into consumer cloud storage, we've got quite a few competitors offering great and varying options-but which one is the best? Here's a look at Windows Live SkyDrive, Dropbox, and Amazon Cloud Drive, and our top pick for storing you files in the cloud."

VS. VS.

The field of cloud storage services is getting more competitive everyday. A few of the more well known names are Microsoft's Live SkyDrive, Dropbox and the recently released Amazon Cloud Drive. Lifehacker has posted a comparison between the three services in order to help you decide which service suits you best.

SkyDrive gives you 25GB of space for free, the feature set is fairly sparse, files are limited to 50MB and there is no pathway for expansion. Dropbox gives you an initial 2GB for free with 250MB extra for each person you signup. Additional storage is available but at a fairly steep price. Dropbox also has the advantage of having client software available on the most mobile platforms. Amazon Cloud Drive users are given 5GB with an 20GB available if you buy a music album from the Amazon MP3 store. Additional storage is relatively cheap but there is no client for iOS devices.

Each service have their own advantages and draw backs. Ultimately, there is no definitive answer as to which service is best as it is really up to what your own individual needs are.

"The Canon EOS 1100D (also known as the Digital Rebel T3) is the new entry-level model in Canon's extensive range of digital SLR cameras, replacing the 3 year old 1000D model. Aimed at first-time DSLR users, the 1100D inherits features from both the equally new and more expensive EOS 600D and the previous 1000D."

If you are a beginning photographer looking to purchase a DSLR, you may want to take a look at photographyblog's review of the Canon EOS 1100D (Digital Rebel T3). The EOS 1100D is a 12 mega-pixel DSLR designed with the beginner in mind. It is constructed of mostly plastic but at the same time feels very sturdy. The controls are grouped together on the right side of the camera instead of around the body as in typical DSLRs for ease of use and to facilitate transitions from point and shoots. Despite the beginner features, the EOS 1100D is responsive and takes high quality images.

Click the link for the full review.

"Synology is one of the rapidly rising players in the SMB (Small to Medium Businesses) / SOHO (Small Office & Home Office) NAS market. This market is a highly competitive one with many players like QNAP, Thecus, Netgear, Drobo, LaCie, Seagate and Western Digital. Consumers with a necessity to store and backup their home media collection are also amongst the customers in this market."

The way I see it, with Microsoft ceding the SMB and SOHO NAS market to other businesses (Yes, that is what you did when you got rid of Drive Extender, Microsoft.) the market just got much more interesting. While a two-drive system may not seem like a lot at first, keep in mind that three TB drives are becoming more accessible. Unfortunately, while hard drives are cheaper than ever, it seems that the cost of a well performing NAS is not cheap. While power consumption is always a concern, it has often made me wonder, where for the cost of one of these performance NAS devices, you can purchase a low end desktop computer and load it up with NAS software like FreeNAS. Doing so would not be that much more work than setting up something from Synology or Drobo either. Anyone think these are worth the price?

"The Olympus E-PL2 ($599 with lens) is a consumer-friendly interchangeable lens camera that uses the Micro Four Thirds standard. It's the successor the to E-PL1, and has a fairly modest list of improvements. They include a more ergonomic design, a larger/sharper LCD, refinements to the user interface, and a new kit lens. The E-PL2 retains the same sensor, image processor, movie mode, and overall design of the E-PL1."

Digital Camera Resource Page has a review of the Olympus E-PL2, and it is mostly a competent little camera. The most interesting thing about the E-PL2 to me is the Bluetooth PENPAL accessory, and there is a paragraph or two talking about it. The functionality is rather basic as all it does it transfer the image over, so it still does not quite bridge the ease of use and easy sharing of photos that make camera phones so popular nowadays. I am not sure if another stand-alone app to help achieve that functionality is needed though; perhaps a bridging app of some kind?

"I am very particular when it comes to small (pocketable) cameras and I wanted to find out how good (or bad) the top of the line Coolpix S8100 really is. I ignored the P7000 because it is in a different category - I wanted to see what a "real" point and shoot Nikon camera is all about. A natural choice for my comparison was the Canon S95 which is the top of the line compact camera currently offered by Canon. I know this is not fair fight since the Canon S95 can shoot RAW, has manual mode and costs $100 more."

Not fair indeed - NikonRumors.com has decided to pit a S8100 against the S95, a camera designed for more serious use (the sensor on the S95 is already better on paper). I think stating the outcome is unnecessary, but the statement on Nikon needing to put out something more serious than their recent (or last seven years) compact cameras is quite a bit more debatable. Given the squeeze between phones with cameras and mirrorless large sensor compacts, as well as the competitors (Panasonic, Canon, Samsung, Olympus), I wonder if there is still space in the market for another entrant. There is only brand-name recognition for Nikon to rely on as an advantage here, as there will be little system compatibility with the F-mount system.

Nikon also has to take some of the blame here in getting into this situation in the first place. They are now far behind in the game with Panasonic's LX series on its 4th iteration, and even when attempting to compete, the P7000's execution left quite a bit to be desired. What is frustrating is that Nikon can do it. See the D3 and D300 launch as proof that Nikon can do it at a higher level.

If you are still interested in the S8100, here's another review.