This has been disproved by the latest crop of cameras released in the past two years, and the D3000 continues to set the bar high for an entry-level camera.

This new generation of point-and-shoots and entry-level DSLRs not only push the boundary of low-light performance and mega resolutions, they give that power to a whole new audience of beginning photographers.

Not only do DSLRs offer you manual control over shooting, they give you the advantage of using different kinds of lenses. It’s important to remember when buying a DSLR that you’re also buying into a system of lenses, not just a camera. The power of having a DSLR is that you can place any of your old lenses onto a new camera body in the future.

Enter the Nikon D3000, a new entry-level DSLR with a 10.2 megapixel DX-format CCD APS-C image sensor, 11-point Autofocus system with 3D tracking (which comes on the higher-end D5000 and D90), Active D-Lighting and an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens for $599.

The Nikon D3000 feels and looks exactly like the other DSLRs from Nikon, and is only different from the D90 and D5000, both higher-end models, by a few tenths of an inch. The D3000 measures 5.0×3.8×2.6 inches while the D90 is 5.2×4.1×3.0 inches, though the D3000 weighs a bit less at 1 lb 1 oz, making the Nikon entry-level to prosumer DSLR models almost identical in shape and size as well as overall appearance.

First time DSLR users will enjoy the Guide Mode. It literally walked us through different shoot scenarios via the fixed 3″ LCD screen. An excellent tool, its step by step instructions allowed my niece to move from the operating booklet in no time.

The Nikon D3000 is paired with a Nikkor 18-55mm AF-S DX lens. It will operate with any Nikkor DX and AF-S lens.

Nikon makes it really simple with a thumb dial for tweaking aperture and shutter speed. Metering, focus modes, and exposure compensation are easily controlled via the menu. The D3000 does not shoot in video mode. This model easily shoots over three frames per second in continuous mode. The 3D tracking sensor operates quite well in low lighting.

Get the full Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens bundle for US $458.86 (You Save: $91.09 and that’s 17%!) now!

Even though the Nikon D3000 is really simple to use, do you really want some great advice on using it?

Get the Nikon D3000 For Dummies!

Explore your camera’s creative options and learn to get great shots with your dSLR with this great book!

Get the Nikon D3000 For Dummies for US $ 19.79 (and save up to 34%!)!

Lets face it, there’s a downside to the consumer electronics revolution. A proliferation of black or silver boxes that live under the omnipresent TVs bring with them a multitude of separate remote controls; one to change the volume of the stereo, one to turn on the TV, one to control the DVD player, another for the TiVo; the list goes on.

The Logitech Harmony 890 puts you in control of your entire audio-video system with just one button. It’s home entertainment the way it should be–simple.

Optimized for complicated HDTV and PVR systems, the Logitech Harmony 890 helps you tame tough configurations like switching your television between video aspect ratios depending on the program source. The interactive color display lets you quickly choose a 16:9 ratio for movies and HDTV, or a standard 4:3 ratio for basic television programming.

The new remote control models from Logitech’s Harmony line. Their newest consumer remote, the Logitech Harmony 890, departs from the norm and adds a 128×160 pixel full color LCD display and docking cradle to recharge the included Lithium-ion battery. The entire remote has been completely remodeled by Logitech’s design team. This model is the culmination of the company’s influence and experience being put to the test in an effort to improve upon the past Harmony designs and ergonomics.

The remote’s LCD screen goes to sleep automatically, but is awakened “automagically” when the remote is picked up or when the GLOW button is pressed. The contrast is a bit high on the display, and it cannot be adjusted, but all text appeared to be reasonably easy to read. The Volume, Channel and Navigational buttons are quite easy to reach with the thumb and are very well laid out. Selecting from the eight activities or user controls via the LCD screen’s side buttons is also very easy to do,

The baseline?

Simply press an Activity button, such as “Watch TV” or “Listen to Music,” and your Harmony Remote automatically sets up each of the devices required for that activity. Sleek docking station that remote fully charged Programmable with Windows PC or Macintosh computer / USB Cable included 53 top-mounted hard buttons and 8 on-screen activity buttons 2 MB non-volatile flash memory.

Yes, that’s right, the Logitech Harmony 890 comes with programming software for both Windows and Mac OS X!

Now the Logitech Harmony 890 comes with 50% saving at US$ 199.99!

The Latte Café 32 GB Video MP3 Player features amplified dual speakers so you can share music or videos with friends. Throw on headphones for private listening. While some devices limit you with their skimpy format support, the Café will play MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC, and APE music formats for about 8-10 hours on a single charge. Standard play modes like repeat and shuffle are included, and of course the Café supports ID3 tages (versions 1 and 2) for displaying song info while you listen.

Take your favorite videos with you and enjoy them anywhere with the Café’s brilliant screen. You’ll get about four hours of video playback on a single charge.
The Latte Café 32 GB Video MP3 Player supports AVI, RM/RMVB, and FLV formats, so you can enjoy more video with less conversion.

Latte Café is now available with 27% saving at US $ 181.49!

For a limited time, get FREE Two-Day Shipping within the continental U.S. on select Camera, Photo & Video products offered by Amazon.com.

We’re updating all products that comply with this offer!

The first product is one of the best-selling tech product this year: The Flip UltraHD Camcorder!!

Check it right now!

In addition, a new Low Light mode lets you capture images in an astonishing range of conditions.
The Canon S90IS automatically adjusts the ISO speed from ISO 320 to ISO 12,800 in relation to ambient brightness, subject movement and camera shake.

The Canon S90IS’s tag price is somehow more than most point-and-shoots cost in this day and age.
But the amount of picture power this literally slips into your pocket is almost unbelievable: Outstanding low-light performance for a camera this size; a speedy lens; full control rings, plural; and yep, RAW.
It’s the soul of what makes the $500 behemoth G11 great, packaged in a true point-and-shoot.
You lose some power and some pro tools, like the swivel screen, a (shitty) viewfinder, faster burst shooting, hot shoe, some zoom and a custom mode or two, but you’re also shedding a ton of bulk, meaning you’ll actually take it everywhere.
And the best camera’s always the one you have with you - for me, that’s this camera, which just happens to be an excellent one all by itself.

Canon S90IS is available now for US $ 399.00!

Listen to music just about anywhere without the hassle of running unsightly speaker wire! These high-quality, weather-resistant speakers can even be used in wet areas. Powered by 900MHz Phase Loop Lock circuitry which automatically locks in and keeps the audio signal clear and strong within a range of up to 150 feet with no line of sight limitations. The signal works just like high powered wireless 900MHz phones delivering a crystal clear signal through walls or any other obstacles in your yard truly offering endless installation options.

Expansion is Easy

The system transmitter supports all types audio inputs including RCA inputs for home theatre receivers, MP3 players, computers and iPods. Audio Unlimited’s wireless speaker system is the perfect solution for adding music around the pool/spa, on the patio, near the BBQ, in your office, garage, in the garden, or out on the deck during those hot summer nights. With the optional add-on units (sold separately SPK-VELO2) you can spread the sound even further around your garden and they can all work off of the same original transmitter. These stylish portable speakers come with a remote, so you can fine tune without having to play with the unit itself. Have time for fun with your guests, not a bunch of buttons.

Get Audio Unlimited Wireless Speakers now $99.88 (You Save $70.11 , that’s 41% off regular price!)

There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch, but internet radios give you such a great amount of choice, so here’s a couple of the best and latest internet radio devices right in time for Xmas shopping season!

The first-class choice: Logitech Squeezebox Radio

The Logitech Squeezebox Radio is a first class, excellent Internet radio with clock/alarm functions. With the Flickr app installed, it will display photos stored under user’s Flickr account. Other capabilities which are nice to have but not likely to be widely used include its ability to stream audio from a computer or double up as an iPod speaker.

With the rash of recent A/V components integrating the plethora of web related, streaming audio content into their feature set, Logitech has been streamlining their delivery of the same content in their Squeezebox series. The Squeezebox Radio is Logitech’s most recent release into this field. The compact form factor of the Squeezebox Radio is designed for an audience looking to bring their library of music into a smaller room. Additionally, the Squeezebox Radio is ideal for those who have a Wi-Fi network already established for streaming audio files.

The Logitech Squeezebox Radio comes packaged in a small box and wrapped in light plastic packaging. It also comes wrapped in a thin plastic film designed to keep smudges off the finish. The piano black, glossy finish (also available in red) is very susceptible to fingerprints and dust is very visible as well. The only two cords that come with the Squeezebox radio are the AC adaptor (which uses the new detachable plug design) and a 3.5mm cord for connecting other audio sources such as an iPod Touch or another form of audio player.
Squeezebox red version

The Logitech Squeezebox Radio is about 8.5 inches in length, 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep. There is an indention in the rear of the unit to act as a handle if you plan to use the unit as a portable device. The rear of the unit also has the AC power connection port, an Ethernet cord port for a wired connection to your network and the audio-in port. The 3.5mm headphone port is on the right side of the unit.

The front of the unit is split in half, the left side being the built-in speaker (a 3-inch driver with a ¾ inch tweeter) and the right side containing all the buttons to navigate around your music collection. There are 6 preset buttons that surround the 2.4 inch color display. Simply holding down one of the buttons during your favorite streaming station OR audio file on your server will make that a quick way to get to that music.

The color screen is quite clear and I would equate the quality in image similar to my iPhone. It loads up track information, album covers and the Wi-Fi connection strength on the screen during playback. It will also auto-dim the screen after a period of non-use. Below the screen, you will find the standard music playback tools, volume controls and menu navigation buttons. The main menu navigation tool is a large dial just below the screen. This scroll wheel makes for quick navigation as well as item selection by pushing the dial into the unit.

The Logitech Squeezebox Radio retails for US $ $182.56 (saving is about 9%!)

Aluratek AIRMM01: simple and smart

Aluratek AIRMM01 brings the clock-radio into the 21st Century. It connects to your Wi-fi at home, and delivers almost any radio station you want from around the world.

Choose between more than 11,000 radio stations worldwide via built-in vTuner with no monthly cost!
The Aluratek AIRMM01 is compatible with universal Plug-n-Play audio servers such as: Microsoft Media Player 11 (WMP11), Microsoft Media Connect and MusicMatch Jukebox.
It features Wireless access - WIFI 802.11 b and g, Ethernet LAN port and USB 2.0 (host only) connectivity
You can access music files (MP3, WMA, WAV file formats) stored on a USB 2.0 flash drive, MP3 player or Hard drive through the unit’s USB port and has an alarm clock function with 2 programmable alarms wakes you up to internet radio, FM radio, digital music, or choice of several alarm tones.

It’s that simple and affordable too!

Get the Aluratek AIRMM01 now for US $ 89.99 (that’s 40% off regular price!)

Kodak Company has introduced the KODAK Pic Flick App, a new, free Apple iPhone and iPod touch Device that enables consumers to upload pictures to a KODAK W1020 Wireless Digital Frame or print them wirelessly on the Kodak ESP 5250 Wireless networking multi-function printer/scanner/copier, which saves consumers an average of $110 a year on ink(1) and offers the lowest total ink replacement cost in the industry.(2)

“Pictures are a way of sharing the unique moments in our lives,” said Randy Brody, Vice-President of Marketing Inkjet Systems, Eastman Kodak Company. “The KODAK Pic Flick App provides a fast, easy and fun way to print, display and share within seconds of capturing a moment at home or away from home. Consumers can simply upload pictures to a nearby KODAK W1020 Wireless Digital Frame or send them to the KODAK ESP 5250 AiO Printer using their Apple iPhone or iPod touch.”

The KODAK Pic Flick App features include:

Print photos from 2×3 to 8.5×11 inches on the Kodak ESP 5250 Wireless networking multi-function printer.

“At Kodak, we believe pictures are meant to be shared and are committed to helping people do more with their pictures by providing solutions to make, manage and move images easily and effortlessly,” continues Brody. “With the KODAK Pic Flick App, we are helping consumers to print and share moments in the time it takes to make a simple phone call.”

The KODAK Pic Flick App is free and is available on the App Store.

Click here for more information and to download the app

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]]> http://www.techmanor.com/2009/11/kodak-creates-print-and-share-app-for-iphone/feed/ http://www.techmanor.com/2009/11/pentax-k-7-a-top-pentax-dslr-camera-now-with-more-affordable-than-ever-with-huge-savings/ http://www.techmanor.com/2009/11/pentax-k-7-a-top-pentax-dslr-camera-now-with-more-affordable-than-ever-with-huge-savings/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:22 +0000 Lord of TechManor.com http://www.techmanor.com/?p=314 Another winner from Pentax announced just before this summer: the Pentax K-7, is now available with a substantial price saving - up to 44% off!

The Pentax K-7 entered the Pentax range as a high-end model targeted at photo enthusiasts because its complexity made it most suitable for experienced SLR photographers.
Featuring a solid metal body, weatherproof sealing and a wide range of user-adjustable controls, it also supported high-speed continuous shooting at up to 5.2 frames/second and HD video recording at 30 frames/second.

The low-down: This 14.6-megapixel camera came fitted with the Pentax 18-55-millimetre lens. This is at the top of the company’s camera range. It has a magnesium-alloy body and is smaller than the K20D. It is weather-sealed and sports an excellent 920,000-dot LCD and 100 per cent viewfinder. It has an HD movie mode. Image stabilisation is by sensor shift. There are body-top and LCD information displays. All important controls are immediately accessible on the camera body, including a nifty white balance adjustment tool. This white balance tool itself is not unique to Pentax but the accessibility is. Among all the desirable features for serious photography is a killer innovation: true in-camera HDR (high dynamic range) processing.

Like: The in-camera HDR processing works by taking three exposures at widely spaced exposure values and then merging them into a single jpeg. Of course, it can really only work with the camera tripod mounted but that is true of any HDR sequence. The results from the Pentax K-7 are splendid and, unlike some HDR output from Photomatix or Photoshop, completely realistic.

High-quality movie recording at 1280 x 720 pixels; 30-frames-per-second
The Pentax K-7 adds a new movie recording function, extending the benefits of SLR photography to the world of movie shooting: For instance, reduce the depth of field to make the subject stand out, or use different lenses to create distinctive visual effects. Beautiful movie clips can recorded at different sizes–640 x 416 pixels, 1536 x 1024 pixels, or 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9 high-definition TV proportions)–at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. The K-7 is also equipped with an HDMI terminal and an external microphone input terminal for high quality sound to match your videos.

Pentax K-7 Technical Details

• High-resolution, 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor; compact, magnesium alloy body
• Weather resistant, dustproof, and coldproof (14 degrees F, -10 degrees C)
• Fast 5.2 fps shooting with the new PRIME II Image processing engine; top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec freezes even the fastest action in well-lit settings
• 3-inch LCD; Live View mode, with contrast AF, Face Detection, and optional histogram, grid, and bright/dark area display
• Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Pentax K-7 is available now (body only) for US $1,031.89
This means you save $822.12 (that’s 44% off regular price!)

]]> http://www.techmanor.com/2009/11/pentax-k-7-a-top-pentax-dslr-camera-now-with-more-affordable-than-ever-with-huge-savings/feed/ http://www.techmanor.com/2009/10/bowers-wilkins%e2%80%99-400-zeppelin-mini-ipod-sound-system-ships-next-month-up-for-pre-order-now/ http://www.techmanor.com/2009/10/bowers-wilkins%e2%80%99-400-zeppelin-mini-ipod-sound-system-ships-next-month-up-for-pre-order-now/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:42:12 +0000 Lord of TechManor.com http://www.techmanor.com/?p=306 Bowers & Wilkins has never been one to play the bargain game, and the $399.95 price tag on its new Zeppelin Mini is evidence of that very fact.

Joining the award-winning B&W Zeppelin family is B&W Zeppelin Mini. It gives you everything you love about Zeppelin–incredible sound, intelligent design, elegant connectivity–in a smaller, compact package that’s perfect for desktops and bedside tables. Because even when your space is limited, it doesn’t mean your sound has to be.

The somewhat miniaturized iPod sound system is up for pre-order as we speak on Amazon, and we’ve heard directly from the company that it’ll be shipping out to US-based consumers in “early November.”

So, is a flashy design, a pair of 3-inch drivers, 3.5 millimeter auxiliary input jack, USB 2.0 port and a promise of a better tomorrow enough to pry those four Benjamins out of your hand?

B&W Zeppelin Mini’s new features? USB Streaming!

Music can be streamed direct from a PC or Mac via the USB socket. This means that any computer system can benefit from the improved sound quality and digital sound processing, offered by Zeppelin Mini’s Digital Sound Processing (DSP) and drive unit technology.

The USB connection in the back of the B&W Zeppelin Mini allows for:

• Audio streaming from iPod via docking arm
• Audio streaming from PC/Mac via mini USB connection located on back of the unit
• iPod/PC/Mac sync (when Zeppelin Mini is in standby): Synchronize iTunes and the docked iPod
• Firmware upgrades to keep product up-to-date with new iPhone/iPod releases

Pre-order here your Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini Docking Speaker for iPod!

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