Editorial Review

It's a great idea, and, for the most part a great product: a watch that keeps time with atomic clock accuracy and displays useful, timely information. The Smart Watch gives you stock prices, news, and weather, and personal messages, all right on your watch face. You get all that stuff on your cell phone already, right? But the idea of the Smart Watch though is that it offers this information in glanceable form, and on a device that is always at hand. Simplicity and unobtrusiveness are key--you can rapidly navigate through all the different types of information quickly, and immediately read your text messages the moment they arrive with a discreet little beep.

MSN Direct is the subscription service that broadcasts data to the Smart Watch via an FM signal. The first thing you have to do when you get your watch is set up an account and customize your information channels. It's a fairly quick process, though you have to jump through a few Microsoft hoops (like getting a .NET Passport). Immediate gratification junkies should be warned, however, that you most likely won't start getting any data until about 12 or more hours after set up. Also, the channels are very much a work in progress--the news I was getting initially had a random quality to it, but more recently the watch's timeliness has compared favorably with CNN.com in breaking major stories.

Information delivered to your watch includes:

	Stock quotes: Get updates on the stocks you care about, as well as information on the major high-volume stocks and indices.		News: Get headlines and the full text of local, national, international, business, entertainment, sports, health, and travel news stories.
	Time: Wrist Net watches display the current time, automatically updated for different time zones, and include a chronometer, an alarm, and a timer. You can choose from a wide variety of watch faces for just the right look.		Weather: Get the latest reports for cities all over the world. Local city weather information includes current conditions, a three-day forecast, sunrise and sunset information, humidity, barometric pressure, and ultraviolet (UV) index.
	Text messages: Receive messages from friends and family through MSN Messenger version 6.0 or later.		Sports: Continuous sports updates keep consumers current on game times, scores, pre- and post-game stories, and standings for their favorite collegiate and professional sports teams.
	Daily Diversions: Currently, consumers can select from Word of the Day, Quote of the Day, Born on This Day, and This Day in History.		Horoscope: Consumers can receive a personalized horoscope based on their specific time and place of birth.

The need to recharge frequently--a single charge will last two to seven days, depending on usage--has some users unhappy, but for me it is a non-issue. You charge the watch by simply placing it on its cradle, so if you set the cradle up wherever you stash the watch at night, the watch will always be charged.

There are a few real drawbacks, however, most prominent (literally) being the size of the watch, which is on the humongous side of fashionably chunky. Another downer is the strap which is hard to close and, since it contains the watch's antenna, tends to spring open. The most serious complaint however is that reception can be sporadic--there were entire days that I got no new data at all. When MSN Direct improves service--and it has shown signs of doing so since the watch launched--they will have a truly revolutionary product on their hands (and the nation's wrists). --David Stoesz

Pros

• Geek factor is through the roof
• Intuitive navigation
• Recharging is a snap

Cons

• It's HUGE
• Coverage can be sporadic
• Strap is unwieldy

Features

• Listen to MP3 music
• Transfer files to your computer via USB 2.0 or 1.1 interface
• Transfer digital pictures from CompactFlash, IBM Microdrive, and other flash media formats via separately sold adapter
• Store and watch video with audio soundtrack
• View pictures on integrated 3.5 color LCD, or on the nearest NTSC or PAL TV with included video cable and infrared remote control

Reviews (3)

I was very disappointed in this unit.
I was very disappointed in this unit. I was going to take it on two-week trip, where the eight of us could save all of our pictures, and review them in the hotel during the trip, and burn a DVD for all at the end, but after discovering the following deficiencies, I threw it in a drawer instead: (1) power brick and cables were almost as large and as heavy as the unit itself, (2) the unit took 5-7 seconds just to display the next picture - making quick review very frustrating, and (3) the video cable for displaying on a TV did not work, or just barely worked if one jiggled it and held it out 1/16th of an inch and applied pressure - either a defective or poorly designed cable/plug.I'd expect this from a $5 pair of cheap headphones, but this unit cost me almost 600 dollars.

Very good allrounder
I had the need for a product that could be used for: 1. playing MP3, 2. dumping photos 3.Viewing photos and 4. Portable data storage. Along with the Archos products this was the only device which can do it all. I selected this because I prefer the "gameboy" design since it protects the screen well. In fact, I was so impressed with the specs that I was prepared to pay about $170 shipping(to south africa) and run the risk of losing it since there is no support outside US/Europe at all. It all paid off(so far). Fortunately it arrived intact and I have had the device now for 3 problem free months.

It plays music with exceptional quality and photo dumping from all card formats are a breeze with the very flexible optional adapter. TV connection also works well. The video only supports Motion JPEG - MJPEG.AVI files. I have been able to look at .avi videos taken with a Canon camera successfully. However with a downloadeable translation tool from their web site, many other formats can be translated and it works. The translated video takes up a bit more space after translation. Since the device firmware can be upgraded, one hopes that they will come out with more video codecs. The only glitch i found is that the operating system can be very slow when you have large directories. With 80GB of dispace available, a directory can become too large very quickly. That requires a lot of organizing if you have lots of music to store. I also requested from the support people to confirm (before I ordered)whether I would be able to read a Memorystick Duo (with supplied adapter) but there was no satisfactory answer. Battery life is not great, about 3 hours when playing music only, but that should be expected for a device such as this. When only using it for dumping photos, it lasts for days.

A nice feature is that it can read .M3U playlists created on our PC and you can create playlists on the device itself.

An all in all impressive product which have given me countless hours of joy(so far) and I would recommend it for sure. In fact, I have not seen a device on the market yet for the price that can beat it.

Features

• Removable, high-capacity Li-ion battery -- up to 14 hrs continuous playback per charge
• Compatible with Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP
• 60 GB storage lets you bring up to 16,000 WMA songs (80 kbps) or MP3 songs (128 kbps) everywhere you go
• Use AudioSync to synchronize your music on your player with your PC at work, school and home or on the road
• Load a song a second with ultra fast USB 2.0 port, compatible with USB 1.1 too

Reviews (78)

Go iPod...
This is the 6th month with (or was) my Nomad Xtra. I absolutely loved the product and it was totally worth it... until now. I remember correctly that I didn't drop it even once, and I went extra protection for my Nomad. The cover kept popping off but I didn't care, putting it back on wasn't much of a chore. But the headphone jack went awol and I was in the middle of a song when it went totally blank. I thought it ran out of battery until I realized that I left a few minutes ago fully charged and ready for my day. Then I went everywhere online to see what happened and saw countless ppl with the same problem. I was sad. I lost hope in the product, I even tried calling customer service who advised me to "stick my headphone end into the jack and wiggle it violently" or "bang the jack against the wall." it scratched and scraped my player but i just wanted it to play. After a month of grueling I pondered whether to pay 175 bux to fix a product that wasn't really reliable, or buy an iPod 20GB. I went with the 20GB and to say it still hasn't had any problems. Go iPod or Dell, iRiver at least. Save yourself while you can.

Heavily researched all of them, VERY happy with my choice.
I spent about 8 or so hours online researching all the mp3 players available.I was looking for a 20 or 40 GB player, but ended up getting the 60GB because it was only about $30 more than the 40GB.

Every mp3 player has its pros and cons, I can live with the 'cons' of this player, no problem.I chose the Zen Xtra because:
1-It has the most bang for its buck..

2-It comes with a battery that you can replace, Ipod doesn't and neither do some of the others.

3-It comes with volume normalization, others don't.I have obtained mp3's from all over the place, and some are way louder than the others, this will set them all at the same volume.

4-You can buy a car DC adapter, some others don't.

5-The sound is very crisp...I did buy some $30 headphones, and the sound is fantastic.But even with the earbuds that come with it, the sound is still very good and crisp.

I don't know why people complain about the software, I'm no computer person and I figured it out in no time.It's a bit bigger than the Ipod (and they say you can't run with it), but it's not crazy big at all and I don't run with music anyway.My carrying case (included) has a window for the screen and I've had absolutely no problems with the player.The battery life is about 8-10 hours, depends on how much fiddling you do with it.

Other than that, all I can say is that I'm very happy with this product, no question.I picked it up for $279 at buy.com I think.I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Features

• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Features redesigned and backlit navigation; includes dock, wired remote control, earbud headphones, carrying case, and AC adapter
• 40 GB model holds up to 10,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Included docking station makes charging and synching easy

Reviews (155)

Mobile Jukebox and more
It's great having my entire cd collection (over 550) in one tiny place. Now I'm listening to music I own some of which I hadn't listened to in years.

I was really excited when I got my iPod. From the packaging, to the device itself, the design is outstanding. Very easy to use. Sound quality is very good. Can be used as a back up hard drive too. Software is a no brainer to use.

I also faced the problem of tracks skipping but all I had to do was delete affected tracks/albums and recopy and they were fine.

Was able to get lots of useful advice from other people's reviews, e.g. how to ensure long battery life (try not to let the battery run out completely) and how to copy music files back to your pc which quite a number of people are unaware can be done (change your folder options to show hidden files). I do it all the time.

So why not 5 stars? It's not perfect. Battery life could be better, and it does scratch rather easily. Oh, did I mention the earphones? Not too good I'm afraid, and very painful on the ears, when worn for a bit. Thank God I had some good Sony headphones. Also, the fact that it does not support the much smaller WMA files which take up much less space than mp3s. I've got about 7300 tracks on my iPod, and only about 4gb space left.

Still a cool device that never fails to turn heads.

Not for long distance runners!!!
Talk about frustration!! What I thought was a really great break through, turned out to be a total nightmare.After 25 minutes the Ipod would either completely stop working all together or just skip repeatedly then stop. I found out that it was designed to "catch up" after 25 minutes but it wouldnt even start again most of the time, just freeze up and be completely worthless.Returning it was a even bigger nightmare because no one was able to test it out and see that it would malfunction....I guess if you work for Apple stores you dont run. I had to pay a restocking fee to get rid of this nightmare. NEVER will I purchase another item from Apple.I love my Nomad Muvo that I bought, and couldnt be happier.

Features

• 192 MB total memory (128 MB ROM and 64 MB SDRAM)
• 4” Transflective type VGA TFT color, 64K colors, LED backlight
• WLAN 802.11b, Bluetooth 1.2, IrDA (FIR), USB and Serial
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software for Pocket PC
• 624 MHz Intel Bulverde technology-based processor

Reviews (27)

hz4700 gets da thumbs up from me
i bought the ipaq in april and i am totally satisfied (first 1), although there r jus 2 minor issues it might only be with mine for the first 1 which is the annoying screen alignment!!!!!!!!!!! takes forever sometimes i have to reset the ipaq and to realign --".and the other thing is that the new os is coming out for the ipaq 5.0 or somtin (im new wit da os stuff for ppc)its seams a whole lot better but dont stress you hp or dell users hp and dell are both going to sell the new os but only for selected ppcs the hp hx4700 is one so dont freak out...

by the way can any one tell me if i can use the 5gig cards???

Great, except...
Overall, I'm very pleased with it, but there is a problem.

HP just published an update on their web site, that limits the volume applied to the internal speaker. Apparently, the internal amplifier is too powerful for the speaker, and without artificially limiting the audio level, the speaker will be damaged.

Mine failed this way, and now it will be two weeks being repaired by HP, assuming that they don't decide to charge me a minimum fee of $85, and there's also the shipping.

So, my nice Ipaq will be out of service for a while.
And I was thinking about having that ram upgrade installed, which would have left me with no warantee..

Features

• Built-in QWERTY-layout wide-pitch keyboard with backlight
• What's in the box: Clie handheld, Charger Cradle, USB HotSync Cable, Retractable Stylus, AC Adapter,Hand Strap, Installation CD-ROM, Instruction manuals
• A new concept in handhelds: an extremely portable personal entertainment communicator
• 6 oz. with stylus
• Integrated wireless LAN (802.11b) and Bluetooth interface

Reviews (30)

Very nice and beautiful clamshell look but some cons
PROS
1. It is a very nice look .
2. has very good features like a camera and can also rotate.
3. It also has both bluetooth and WIFI that is a good for people on the
go.
4. It now has a low price than 2 years ago.
5. will atract and impress many people

CONS
1. bad battery life (can buy extra battery . 3X longer also sold at amazon
very cheap.
2. limited applications

I think this is a very good p.e.o. and you shoud buy it if you like attention or really need it

Love mine, but there are some problems
I bought my UX-50 off eBay for about half the going rate of a refurbished new unit. Since I paid so little, I really don't have much to complain about. However, if I had paid $500 for a new-refurbished unit - or $800 for a brand-new unit when the UX-50s were first released - I probably would not have given a 4-star review.

Here are the positives:
- I don't understand why so many people complain about the UX-50 only having a "landscape" screen option. I got used to using the landscape screen in no time. There are third-party programs you can download to convert some applications to portrait mode if you want, but I really didn't feel the need. Granted, the landscape screen means there's a lot of wasted space on the touchscreen, but I didn't have any problems using the screen as-is. I also think the screen size is AWESOME considering the features packed into this little gadget.
- The functionality is, without a doubt, amazing. The UX-50 can replace your keychain digital camera, digital voice recorder, PDA, MP3 player AND you can check your e-mail with it! They managed to pack a lot of features into this little PDA.
- Sound on the MP3 player is great. I have a Sony VAIO laptop that has a built-in Memory Stick port so it's really easy for me to put a ton of music onto my 512 MB stick and have music wherever I go. I have a Nomad MP3 player but I rarely use it because the UX-50's MP3 player is so easy to use.
- The camera is great and takes good pictures in enough light. The zoom feature is neat.
- The PDA functionality is exactly what you'd expect - it works well. The UX-50 has enough internal memory for you to load lots of programs into it.

Negatives:
- It took me a lot of tinkering and research to get the 802.11B wireless feature to work. Apparently there was some kind of problem with the wireless connection software in most UX-50s, and if yours has the problem you have to download a special program, called Mobile Manager, to get it to work correctly. Not that Sony tells you this - I had to research it for myself on user bulletin boards. After a LOT of tweaking my wireless works - sometimes. The mobile browser, NetFront, won't load graphics-heavy pages and is quick to give "insufficient memory" and timeout errors. Unfortunately there's no way to upgrade NetFront 3.0, which came with the UX-50, to NetFront 3.1.
- Battery life truly does suck. I solved this by purchasing a third-party manufactured case and car kit off of eBay - the case has a USB port integrated, so now I can plug the USB sync cable into the case's port and charge my Clie. The car kit consists of a USB cable and an adapter that fits my car's cigarette lighter. Now I can charge wherever I go, which helps greatly with the battery life issue. And I don't have to use the stupid "charging sled" to do it. Which brings me to my next point...
- I would really like to know why Sony made a PDA that you can't charge with a USB cable. It seems ridiculous to me. Before I found the USB-port case I had to lug the stupid charger and sled around with me. The charger is bulky and the sled makes the UX-50 too thick to fit in a pocket or small purse. As it is, now I can't plug the UX-50 in and let it charge while I sync it throughout my workday, which is always what I've done with other PDAs. This was a really dumb design idea.
- The only other negative thing is that some parts of the UX-50 feel flimsy - I often feel like I am going to break the screen off rotating it back and forth, and the USB sync port has a small cover that feels like it could rip off at any time.

Overall, though, this is a great productivity tool and very nifty to carry around. It has a considerable "cool factor" and there's great functionality to boot. The negatives are bummers, but this thing is basically a mini laptop computer with a camera built in, so I don't expect everything to be perfect. I'm just bummed Sony's no longer going to be selling PDAs in the U.S. - hopefully they will change their minds before my UX-50 dies or becomes obsolete.

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: August 2003. The first PDA to include integrated GPS technology.

With the power of Palm OS 5 and the dependability of Garmin GPS technology, this super PDA redefines multitasking. Its integrated software not only allows you to look up appointments and contacts, it also locates and routes you to them with voice-guidance commands. Feature highlights include: GPS receiver, MP3 player, voice recorder, infrared communication, and vibrating alarm.

GPS The differentiating feature of the iQue 3600 is its integrated GPS capabilities. Garmin's innovative Que technology delivers location awareness, electronic mapping, automatic route calculation, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and map data interface to the iQue 3600. Que technology enables users to see where they are, find a street address, know where the next turn is via visual and voice guidance, get back on track when they’ve strayed off course, and navigate efficiently to their desired destination. Detailed Mapping Users can choose a configurable basemap of North America, South America, Europe, or regions in the Pacific Rim, with generalized information on highways, major city streets, highway exit services, railways, rivers, lakes, and state, provincial, and national borders. The iQue also has the added benefit of detailed street information on the included MapSource® CD-ROM, giving users the capability of looking up restaurant addresses, hotels, local attractions, transportation hubs, emergency services, and much more. Once a desired point of interest is chosen, you have the capability to view more info or even show it on the map screen. The mapping capability of the iQue 3600 makes it a versatile companion for the international frequent flyer who travels, for instance, between New York and London or San Francisco and Hong Kong.

Customizable maps mean never getting lost again

Powerful Organization
The iQue 3600 is built around the Palm OS 5 platform and offers standard Palm applications, such as Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To Do List. And there’s enough processing power to search large databases of stored information and to enhance display graphics with easy-to-read fonts and crisp electronic maps. There's also a voice recorder for making memos, quick notes, and messages. With 32 MB of built-in memory and an expansion slot, you can even store your favorite MP3s.

The flip-up GPS antenna

High-Tech Integration
One of the key benefits of technology integration on the iQue 3600 is its patent-pending contact-locator feature. Enabled by Garmin's Que technology, this feature connects the Palm Address Book and Date Book to the GPS electronic map to give the user the ability to navigate directly to a specific address within the user’s contact database.

System
The Garmin iQue 3600 features the new Motorola DragonBall MXL ARM9 microprocessor, and boasts 32 MB DRAM. This handheld is powered by Palm OS 5, which offers the processing power to take on the most demanding mobile computing tasks, together with advanced multimedia and the wireless connectivity and security that enterprises require.

Display
The iQue 3600 delivers brilliant images with its 2.16-by-3.24-inch display. It has a 16-bit color display with 320 x 480 pixel resolution.

Expansion
Expand your iQue 3600 via its Secure Digital slot.

Software
The iQue 3600 comes with the following Garmin Que applications: MP3, GPS Clock, Address Lookup, Electronic Mapping, Track Log, Trip Computer, Automatic Route Generation, and Turn-by-Turn Voice Guidance, as well as these Palm OS 5 applications: Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Expense, Mail, Memo Pad, Palm Reader, and To Do List. In addition, it includes these third-party applications: Astraware Game Pack, Documents to Go, powerOne Personal Calculator, StarCaddy, SplashPhoto, and Vindigo.

The Nuts and Bolts

 

Included in the box
iQue 3600, protective display cover, metal stylus, USB HotSync cradle, A/C power/charging adapter, quick start guide, installation/application, CD-ROM with manual, and choice of MapSource configuration with full unlock certificate: either 1) North America City Select CD or Atlantic European City Select CD.

Editorial Review

The miniaturized, wrist-worn Wherify GPS Locator combines global position ing system (GPS) and digital wireless technologies to offer a proven safety solution that gives you the ability to locate your children 24 hours a day. Parents, whether at work, home, or traveling, can use the Internet or telephone to identify their children's location to within several feet in about a minute. In the event of an emergency, either the child or parent can contact emergency services and local police will be dispatched.

When you request a "locate," Wherify's Location Service Center sends a wireless transmission to the device. It zeroes in on the optimal GPS satellites and determines its latitude and longitude. With those coordinates, your child's position is pinpointed with advanced mapping software, providing you an approximate street address (if available). You can choose between two formats when using the Internet: a standard street map or a custom aerial photo.

The locator operates on a nationwide PCS (CDMA) wireless network, and it must be operated within the coverage footprint for communication to occur. See the Wherify Web site, www.wherify.com, for coverage information.

Features

• The first Pocket PC with a built-in mini keyboard
• Color display with 65,536 colors (240x320 pixels)
• Features large touchscreen for easy usability
• Built-in swivel camera always you to take pictures
• Operating system: Pocket PC Phone Edition (400 MHz Intel Xscale Processor / 32 MB RAM)

Reviews (15)

So far...NOT so good...
I've had this thing for 3 days so far, & spent most of today at the SPRINT PCS service center trying to get this monster working properly! I wish I would've read some of these reviews first! After going through 3 Handspring Treo 600's in 9 months,(No joke! 2 broken ear speakers & 1 bad OS) I thought that this would be a Godsend. After spending the better part of today at the service center, I was told that they would have to send me another phone! I immediately asked if it would be a reconditioned phone, & was told "YES"...but it will still have a SIX month warrantee. My 3 day old phone came with a ONE YEAR WARRANTEE! I said absolutely not!
After much back & forth, I got them to agree to provide with a brand new unit of any manufacturer & price of MY choice when the new line of phones came out this fall. ...& yes, I got it in writting! Dealing with them, or ANY carrier for that matter is at very best difficult. If you can keep your cool, & keep "pressing in", you'll eventually come across someone who has the ability to say "YES", when all others have said no. Keep in mind that you don't need to take "NO" from anyone who can't tell you "YES". Good luck! (& wish me luck too! LOL!)

this phone is ok but sprint really sucks
i love the hitachi g1000 but it still has problems like every other phone, it is really difficult to get new ringers because the plan that i am on doesnt support it and it lasts only a day but it still is a kickass phone i wouldnt get the trio and i would go with this phone i had to call sprint tech support a bunch of times first it was about the internet and then i called about the msn messenger thing and that was a pain in the ass they kept on sending me to retards that didnt know anything and the pethedic part about it is that is sprints best phone and when you talk on it you look really dumb

Editorial Review

Sporting a large, 4,096-color display screen and an unconventional, rotary-style keypad, we found the sturdy, feature-rich Nokia 3650 cell phone one of the best designed phones on the market, with excellent ease-of-use, crystal-clear reception, and a camera, video camera, and Internet access.

Take and share pictures with the 3650. (See detail)

In our tests, we found that the comfortable rounded base of this 5-inch phone rested easily our palm, and the clever retro button display took only a moment of getting used to. The buttons and disc navigation felt quite durable, with a nice, solid action. Menu navigation involves two thin buttons on the top left and right that allowed us to move in and out of menus; then the standard 4-point clickable disc provided more detailed selection. There's a separate button for the main menu prominently below the disc, and the faux-rotary layout of the number buttons helped keep the navigation buttons out of the way during dialing. The requisite call and hang-up buttons are intuitively marked, and a futuristic-looking blue light shines through the numbers on all the buttons for easy keying in low-light areas.

The 3560 delivered consistent, excellent reception in a variety of testing environments, including a basement-level room that typically causes trouble with similar phones. The default ring tones were a bit too gentle for their own good; they were hard to hear in busy outdoor environments. The tones that we created using the composing feature, however, were quite audible, even in the midst of lots of noise. The vibrate alert was also quite effective and hard to miss. Nokia has also preloaded a variety of other polyphonic ring tones for alternate use, as well as a voice-dialing feature, which stores 25 numbers and was easy to use.

In Calendar, you can keep track of your appointments, meetings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other events. You can also set a calendar alarm to remind you of upcoming events. (See detail)	With the video recorder you can record video clips, and play video clips stored on your phone or on a memory card. Also, the video recorder is integrated with the messaging features allowing you to easily send created clips. (See detail)	Nokia 3650 provides various functions, in an-easy-to use interface, such as Camera, Video recorder, Messaging, e-mail, Clock, alarm clock, Calculator, and Calendar. (See detail)

Thanks to high-speed GPRS connection, users can access a variety of Web content, such as news, travel information, and entertainment specifically designed for mobile phones via an XHTML browser, which supports pages written in both HTML and WML (Wireless Markup Language). The 3650's calendar, phone book, and to-do list can all be synchronized with a PC using Nokia 3650 PC Suite software. This phone also supports Java for downloading business applications, and built-in Bluetooth and infrared connections empower users to send photos and text in either e-mail or MMS format to a PC or to another compatible wireless device. Some of the downloadable Java and Symbian applications provided by Nokia through their website include Merriam-Webster Word Search, and games like Racing Fever, Avant Go, and Terminator.

The phone's digital VGA camera is cleverly built in to the back of phone, and can store up to 1,000 photos at 640 x 480 megapixel resolution on its (upgradeable) 16 MB memory card. Also, the Nokia 3650's photo capability is immediately accessible from the top-level display menu, so unlike other phones it was easy to snap a photo at a moment's notice. The camera records images in standard, portrait, and a nighttime mode.

With the same basic set of controls, RealOne software lets the video recording function capture short, low-fidelity sound and video clips for immediate MP4 video playback on the generous screen or for sending to another Web-enabled user. The 15-frames-per-second video recording rate delivers stuttering, delayed images that look sort of like Neil Armstrong's transmissions from the Moon. We found this all very entertaining, and potentially useful for transmitting small bits of information, but hard to take seriously as a true video recording device.

Among the scores of additional features on this phone are text messaging templates, where you create a basic message (like "Let's eat at --- ") then fill in the blank as you wish; a foreign currency and units converter for the jet set crowd, and a "favorites" folder to store Web shortcuts and links. For hearing-impaired customers, Nokia even provides TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) compatibility. The headset included with this phone is functional, and Li-Ion battery comes rated for up to 4 hours of digital talk and 200 hours of digital standby time. The phone comes with a refreshingly well-written manual. While decorative faceplates and other accessories are available, we found that even without them, the Nokia 3650 is one of the most coolest phones we've ever laid our hands on. --Erik Hammen

Pros:

• Great reception
• Excellent, intuitive user interface
• Feature-rich
• Solid build and large display screen
• Fun camera and video features

Cons:

• Large phone size to accommodate large display screen
• Default ring tones a bit quiet.

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phonebattery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency(including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, andbattery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handsetmanufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings,they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer tothe times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery liferanges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience atleast the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital andanalog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, asanalog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone.Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to themanufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phoneon, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook.When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when thephone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped thecalls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately andcontinued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged thebattery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength,this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting thatseveral phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers'ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established acarrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out.Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, againassuming consistent carrier signal strength.

Features

• The all-in-one MPEG-4 & MPEG-3 multimedia solution that fits in the palm of your hand. Enjoy your entire collection of videos, photos, music and data wherever you go.
• Store up to 100 hours of your favorite movies in near DVD quality and view them on the high resolution 3.8" color LCD or on a TV
• With the Digital Video Recorder, your AV380 becomes a portable VCR. Record directly from VCR, DVD or camcorder or from TV thru VCR or DVD connection.
• Store up to 1,200 hours of MP3 music
• Digital photo wallet: store up 800,000 digital photos

Reviews (15)

A Great Media Player!
I bought my AV380 a few months ago (on 6-15-2004). I expected it to be a good gadget but it is not good, it is great!

This gadget is everything you'll ever need to store all the information you have. From music, photos, videos, and all kinds of data; it is the best Media Player I could ever find. You can vew your videos or photos right on the screen or use the cables that come with the unit to watch them on any television (with video and audio inputs). You can listen to all of your music, record your voice directly to the unit, record FM radio (with the optional FM Module), or even edit your own recordings (like removing some parts of the recording without affecting the original). When you record from the FM Module, you can decide to record the past 20 seconds of broadcast (which is great for recording music after it has already started); you can always edit the music later and take only the parts of the recording you want. Also, you can edit the videos you record from any of the available sources to the unit.

You can also browse all the information you have in the unit by using the Browser. In the Photo Viewer, you can select a Slide Show of your photographs (you can change the Picture Pause) or watch them individually. In the Audio Player you can play MP3 or WAV files, create your own playlists, browse other music while playing a file, change the bass, treble, loudness, balance, bass boost, and pitch (which is the speed of the music). You can also change the settings on the Play Mode (Single Song, All, Folder, Repeat, Shuffle, etc). In the Video Player you can slow the playing in 4 different Slow Modes. You can also record directly from your VCR or DVD into the unit. It also has a Clock and a timer to start and stop recording at the time you want. You also have the ability to change most of the settings (like if you want to turn off the screen after a few seconds of inactivity to conserve battery when not using DC-Power).

The AVCam 300 (optional) could be used to take pictures and videos to be stored in the unit. If you have your own digital camera, I recommend you get the Card Readers Adaptors to transfer your photos to the unit without the need of a computer.

The only thing missing from the unit is a speaker to listen to movies when showing it to your friends. Also, the unit does not come with a carrying case, you'll need to get one from Archos to protect the screen when not in use. Otherwise, the unit is perfect!

Great Gadget, but Archos Customer service is the worst ...
At first I was impressed with my AV380, but then I realized my battery life was defective - approximately 90 minutes on a full charge. My AV380 is still under warranty, and Archos doesn't return my emails, and doesn't even have a telephone support line, so I'm at a loss how to get help!!I can not reach anyone at Archos, and my warranty is running out.
Before buying mine, my friend had warned me, and I had read reviews before that Archos customer support is known for being the worst in the business. But I figured I would take my chances - I did - and now I'm paying for it!
Incredible that this company is still doing business here in America... I understand they are based out of France.... Maybe that explains the lack of customer service... Buy at your own risk - Peeved in Hawaii!

Much easier than dragging all those DVDs around
This thing is exactly what I was looking for to take on long trips.First, it replaced a portable DVD player and the need to take all my movies on DVD disks with me.Next, it replaced an electronic film vault as I can load JPEGs in from my CF cards, and the screen is much better to share photos with friends.And the size and weight of the AV380 compared to lugging around a laptop is pure joy!

I was concerned that movies would be "jerky" or "pixilated", but nothing could be further from the truth.Maybe it's not DVD quality, but it's so close I can't tell the difference.

This product is going to turn heads wherever you go.I see that Archos is releasing the AV400, which has CF built in, but it's not hard to do with this unit.Synchs right up to Win XP, and the USB 2.0 is great for moving files around.

Anything I don't like?I believe we'll see these PVPs really take off in the next year.On my wish list would be removable battery packs, a speaker, and a built in CF reader (all now available on the new AV400 which should be shipping soon, and more file acceptance TIFF, PDF, etc.A flip cover for the screen would also be nice, as the unit doesn't come with a case.Recording movies into the unit is a snap, but the process of doing file conversions on movies I've made with Pinnacle was more daunting than I was prepared for (no, I didn't major in computer science).Much easier to just output to disk or camcorder and then re-record into the AV380.

Editorial Review

The Basics:
Overwhelming power is definitely not the strong suit of Electrovaya's SC800 Scribbler Tablet PC, so if you regularly challenge your notebook with high-end business software, the latest 3D games or demanding graphic design suites, you should look elsewhere. However, if you require extraordinary battery life and the freedom to input your data like you would with a pen and paper, the SC800 Scribbler may be just what you need. Incredibly compact, remarkably power efficient and equipped with both a detachable USB keyboard and a display screen that doubles as a writing/drawing pad, Electrovaya's midlevel tablet is an affordable and adaptable mobile solution for those who believe the pen is mightier than the keyboard.

Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The SC800 Scribbler features an Ultra Low Voltage Mobile Intel Pentium III Processor–M operating at 866 MHz. In the world of modern notebooks, this is not a particularly potent processor. But for most common mobile tasks -- such as word processing, contact management, light 2D graphics, photo organization, email and Internet surfing, it is certainly sufficient. Moreover, it's incredibly easy on the batteries. More on that later.

Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The SC800 Scribbler incorporates 512 MB of RAM. This is the standard allotment for high-end notebooks, and a surprisingly generous amount in a unit of this size.

Video:
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output, particularly that of 3D graphics, to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). When shopping for a computer, it's good to remember that a video controller with "dedicated" built-in video memory is preferable to one with "shared" video memory wherein the graphics controller borrows a portion of the all-important main system memory. This system's graphics controller is an Intel 830MG with a maximum of 48 MB of shared video memory. Thusly, the unit shouldn't be counted upon for 3D games or complex 3D animations, though it will efficiently display 2D and midlevel 3D applications and graphics.

Display:
Being a subcompact computer, the SC800 Scribbler features an understandably smallish 10.6-inch XGA TFT display. But it's more than just a display -- it's also the screen you'll use to enter data with the enclosed stylus. Merely grab the stylus as you would a pen and write or draw as you would on traditional notepaper. Built-in handwriting recognition software takes care of the rest.

Hard Disk:
In a time when some notebooks offer hard drives of 100 GB and more, the 30 GB hard drive inside the SC800 Scribbler may not seem overly spacious. However, in the miniscule world of ultra-compact tablets, 30 GB is a common size. Though you won't have enough room for a library of space-gobbling multimedia files, you will have space for a typical number of mobile apps and user-created files.

Optical Drive:
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system does not feature an optical drive in its stock configuration, though you can connect external CD and DVD drives via its two USB ports. It should be noted that the unit supports older USB 1.1 technology rather than the much faster new standard of USB 2.0.

Audio:
The Scribbler SC800 is equipped with two miniature stereo speakers, a mini microphone jack and stereo mini headphone jack.

Keyboard and Controls:
Most users will control the SC800 Scribbler by touching "virtual" controls displayed on the screen and utilizing the built-in scroll button, though a USB-connected keyboard is also enclosed.

Connectivity and Expansion:
The SC800 Scribbler offers an assortment of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, a 10/100 Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and an integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi wireless connection for cord-free e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. Other key amenities include two USB 1.1 ports (substantially slower than today's USB 2.0 standard) for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and a PC Card Slot.

Operating System and Software:
Electrovaya will pre-install a copy of Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system. Other applications include the pen-based business graphics software solution Corel Grafigo, and trial versions of Alias Sketchbook and FranklinCovey's Tablet Planner.

Dimensions and Weight:
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The SC800 Scribbler is exceptionally small and comfortable at a mere 3.9 lbs and just 10.8 by 8.9 by 1.0 - 1.1 inches.

Editorial Review

Marginally larger than the Portege 3500 Tablet PC it replaces, Toshiba's Portege M205-S810 Tablet PC is also more adaptable, more battery efficient and substantially more powerful. Though substantially costlier than comparable non-tablet portable computers, the unit nevertheless blends the speed of a midrange notebook with the convenience of stylus-based, handwritten input and subcompact portability. Few tablet PCs pack this much power into a profile this petite.

The Portege M205-S810 is most at home when used to enter, store and share notes and concepts that might otherwise be entered in handwritten format. In fact, measuring just 11.6 by 9.8 by 1.3/1.5 inches and tipping the scales at a scant 4.5 pounds, the system is not significantly more bulky than some conventional paper-based notepads. Users input data in one of two ways -- either by sketching directly on the swiveling, double-duty 12.1-inch poly-silicon SXGA+ TFT color LCD display screen (maximum resolution 1400x1050) or via the system's 84-key keyboard.

Sporting an Intel Centrino-based processor (1 MB Level 2 cache) running at 1.5 GHz, a whopping 512 MB RAM memory and an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 graphics processor with 32 MB of dedicated DDR video memory, the Portege M205-S810 will easily handle most day-to-day mobile computing tasks and the majority of today's most popular 3-D apps, with the exception of ultra-complex 3-D games and graphic design packages.

The unit features today's most desirable connectivity options, including an integrated 56K modem for low-speed e-communications, a 10 Base-T//100 Base-TX Ethernet connection for fast LAN and Internet access, and Wi-Fi compliant wireless LAN technology for those times when you can't plug in. The system also sports a surprisingly large 60 GB hard disk and facilities for an external CD and/or DVD drive, a pair of ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals such as scanners and digital cameras, an integrated TouchPad, a speaker and microphone and full 16-bit stereo sound. Battery life is estimated at an impressive 4.34 hours.

Editorial Review

The RTV5532 personal video recorder, or PVR, delivers the ability to pause and replay live TV while recording and storing a whopping 320 hours of digital, tapeless audio and video--nearly two solid weeks' worth of entertainment. Enjoy a broadband or phone-line connection to the ReplayTV service and convenient home networking through a built-in Ethernet port--there's no extra hardware required. Subscription to ReplayTV service is available either as a $12.95 monthly fee or one-time lifetime fee of $299.99; a discounted $6.95 monthly fee is available for consumers with more than one active unit .

ReplayTV's 5500 Series is the most powerful and flexible PVR yet.

With the RTV5532 and the other models in the 5500 Series, ReplayTV has made major revisions, enhancing its feature base while removing certain contentious features found on previous models. ReplayTV's 5.0 software adds four powerful features: recording priority, which identifies recording conflicts and lets you decide which shows to record; network recording, which identifies conflicts and automatically assigns recordings to a home-networked ReplayTV with available hard-disk storage; pause and resume, which lets you pause a movie in the living room and finish watching it in the bedroom; and First-Run Recordings, which records only the new episodes and skips the repeats.

A PVR makes it simple to record favorite shows without the complicated programming requirements of VCRs and without videotape hassles. A PVR frees you from fixed TV schedules so you can watch what you want, when you want. Because ReplayTV uses digital recording to store television and/or cable broadcasts on a hard drive as you're watching, you'll also be able to control live television. You can pause live TV to take a telephone call, rewind to see a scene again, use instant replay to jump back seven seconds, or watch a scene in slow-motion.

Remote is well laid out and easy to read.

ReplayTV connects nightly to the ReplayTV Service to download the latest channel-guide information. Use this intuitive guide and the main system menu to follow simple--and in many cases, one-button--prompts. A feature called theme record automatically records shows using keywords or themes that you supply. You can also search for programs by keyword, helping you discover programs you might not have known about otherwise. If you forget to program your receiver to record a show before you leave for vacation, no worries: you can access your ReplayTV over the Web and program it from anywhere using MyReplayTV.

With multiple ReplayTV 5500-series models in a home connected via their built-in Ethernet ports, you can bounce programs around the house to different PVRs or to send digital photos between your PC and your ReplayTV units. And, like the 5000 Series, the 5500 Series still offers the option for broadband connectivity, which at this time consists of the future potential (via upgradeable firmware) to send non-copyrighted material across the Internet to other ReplayTV units and, possibly, to computers. The 5500 Series units network seamlessly with 5000 Series units.

And while ReplayTV has removed the Send Show and Automatic Commercial Advance features, the 5500 Series retains the QuickSkip and high-speed fast-forward buttons, so you'll still have considerable flexibility in your playback viewing. At the touch of a button, QuickSkip hops through a recorded program in 30-second increments--great for news features you don't care to watch and, yes, for bypassing the less interesting commercials out there. The fast-forward button scans at up to 20 times normal speed.

Built-in Ethernet port allows for convenient home networking.

Other features include room-to-room streaming between networked ReplayTVs, a progressive-scan output (for seamless, flicker-free displays on high-definition and HD-ready TVs), an optical digital-audio output (for direct connection with a compatible AV receiver), parental control (including channel blocking), show organizer, manual record, show extender (which lets you manually extend the start or end times of a recording).

Editorial Review

Panasonic's DMR-E55K DVD player/recorder grants unprecedented recording time on double-sided 9.4 GB recordable DVDs--up to 16 hours, or 8 hours per side (and on standard 4.7 GB discs, in EP mode). The DMR-E55K's joint support of DVD-RAM and DVD-R media provides the best of both worlds: DVD-R for the highest compatibility (letting you share video recordings with virtually anyone with a DVD player) and DVD-RAM (for rewritability and benefits like TimeSlip, chasing playback, and simultaneous play and record). DVD-RAM offers the perfect method for recording and rerecording favorite programs--over 100,000 times on the same disc. Using DVD-RAM, you can also edit your videos on a multimedia computer with video editing/production software.

You can take DVD-RAM discs out of their protective cartridges and play them on PCs equipped with a 4.7 GB/9.4 GB DVD-RAM drive or DVD-ROM drive that's compatible with 4.7 GB/9.4 GB DVD-RAM. In addition to an attractive price tag, the feature-rich DMR-E55K offers the benefits of progressive-scan video playback (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs), MP3 CD playback, enhanced time-shifting, and instant access times.

With instant recording onto a DVD disc, there's no need to have to find blank space, as with a VHS tape. Just press record and the unit will automatically find space on the disc, much like a computer's disk drive. Panasonic's Time Slip feature lets you replay a scene recorded earlier while a program is still in progress, without disrupting the recording process. And chasing playback lets you watch from the beginning a show whose recording is still in progress.

You can easily transfer your favorite VHS tape recordings to space-saving discs. Personal movie libraries and family videos can be archived, preserved