Claim check—Nikon D90: The first SLR with hi-def video

The 12-megapixel Nikon D90 SLR, $1,000 (body only), claims to capture HD video with a "cinematic" 24 frames per second rate and resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). But the frame rate is too slow for many uses, and in our tests, resulted in flickering with horizontal panning or horizontal subject movement.

And while it's true that the D90's file resolution is 720p, images recorded at that setting contained far less detail, even in the best lighting conditions, than what most HD camcorders capture at similar settings. Those images were no better than those a VHS tape typically captures. In fact, the D90's video image quality fell short of that produced by the lowest-rated HD camcorder in our Ratings (available to subscribers), the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000. Because the Xacti records video at 60 fps, more than twice the frame rate of the D90, it doesn't display the flickering effect that's noticeable on video taken with the D90.

Another drawback of the D90: When we recorded video, most of its controls, including autofocus, were disabled. So, if your subject goes out of focus, the D90 won't automatically refocus. You can manually refocus, however.

Bottom line. Although the D90 lets you record HD video, its capabilities and performance are middling at best. It isn't a substitute for a decent HD camcorder. We'll report on the D90's still-camera capabilities soon.

Claim check—Nikon D90: The first SLR with hi-def video

The 12-megapixel Nikon D90 SLR, $1,000 (body only), claims to capture HD video with a "cinematic" 24 frames per second rate and resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). But the frame rate is too slow for many uses, and in our tests, resulted in flickering with horizontal panning or horizontal subject movement.

And while it's true that the D90's file resolution is 720p, images recorded at that setting contained far less detail, even in the best lighting conditions, than what most HD camcorders capture at similar settings. Those images were no better than those a VHS tape typically captures. In fact, the D90's video image quality fell short of that produced by the lowest-rated HD camcorder in our Ratings (available to subscribers), the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000. Because the Xacti records video at 60 fps, more than twice the frame rate of the D90, it doesn't display the flickering effect that's noticeable on video taken with the D90.

Another drawback of the D90: When we recorded video, most of its controls, including autofocus, were disabled. So, if your subject goes out of focus, the D90 won't automatically refocus. You can manually refocus, however.

Bottom line. Although the D90 lets you record HD video, its capabilities and performance are middling at best. It isn't a substitute for a decent HD camcorder. We'll report on the D90's still-camera capabilities soon.

Buffalo Tech's Shinobi: An extremely thin external hard drive

Portable external hard drives are my laptop's best friends. Although my personal notebook has a (once-more-than-adequate) 160-GB drive, often times I've found myself running out of digital storage space—especially for the huge high-definition video files I need to transfer from my HD camcorder to my computer for editing.

I already have several "pocket-sized" external hard drives to help manage critical back-ups as well as off-load some of the larger, completely-edited video files from my notebook. And it's a hassle to remember to tote those drives on long, weekend video shoots. But at a recent press event, I saw perhaps one of the smallest USB-powered drives that would be simple to carry—and doesn't skimp on digital storage space.

Buffalo Tech's "Shinobi" (a Japanese term closely tied to "ninjas" and "one skilled in the art of stealth," according to Wikipedia) is a scant 5-mm (0.2-inches) thick and weighs a mere two ounces.

The official press release pictures (Click on them for closer looks.) don't convey how truly "stealthy" the Shinobi is—especially when compared to more conventional USB external drives. But it's about the size and heft of a small stack of business cards, which is a form factor usually associated with external memory devices that use flash memory.

The Shinobi uses a 1.8-inch disk drive, similar to the hard drive found in the super-slim MacBook Air, said a Buffalo spokesperson at the press event. And drive makers (such as Toshiba) are ramping up capacities of both tiny 1.8-inch hard drives as well as solid-state flash memory devices to 250-GB or more, rivaling the storage space found in traditional PCs.

Claim check—Nikon D90: The first SLR with hi-def video

The 12-megapixel Nikon D90 SLR, $1,000 (body only), claims to capture HD video with a "cinematic" 24 frames per second rate and resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). But the frame rate is too slow for many uses, and in our tests, resulted in flickering with horizontal panning or horizontal subject movement.

And while it's true that the D90's file resolution is 720p, images recorded at that setting contained far less detail, even in the best lighting conditions, than what most HD camcorders capture at similar settings. Those images were no better than those a VHS tape typically captures. In fact, the D90's video image quality fell short of that produced by the lowest-rated HD camcorder in our Ratings (available to subscribers), the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000. Because the Xacti records video at 60 fps, more than twice the frame rate of the D90, it doesn't display the flickering effect that's noticeable on video taken with the D90.

Another drawback of the D90: When we recorded video, most of its controls, including autofocus, were disabled. So, if your subject goes out of focus, the D90 won't automatically refocus. You can manually refocus, however.

Bottom line. Although the D90 lets you record HD video, its capabilities and performance are middling at best. It isn't a substitute for a decent HD camcorder. We'll report on the D90's still-camera capabilities soon.

Buffalo Tech's Shinobi: An extremely thin external hard drive

Portable external hard drives are my laptop's best friends. Although my personal notebook has a (once-more-than-adequate) 160-GB drive, often times I've found myself running out of digital storage space—especially for the huge high-definition video files I need to transfer from my HD camcorder to my computer for editing.

I already have several "pocket-sized" external hard drives to help manage critical back-ups as well as off-load some of the larger, completely-edited video files from my notebook. And it's a hassle to remember to tote those drives on long, weekend video shoots. But at a recent press event, I saw perhaps one of the smallest USB-powered drives that would be simple to carry—and doesn't skimp on digital storage space.

Buffalo Tech's "Shinobi" (a Japanese term closely tied to "ninjas" and "one skilled in the art of stealth," according to Wikipedia) is a scant 5-mm (0.2-inches) thick and weighs a mere two ounces.

The official press release pictures (Click on them for closer looks.) don't convey how truly "stealthy" the Shinobi is—especially when compared to more conventional USB external drives. But it's about the size and heft of a small stack of business cards, which is a form factor usually associated with external memory devices that use flash memory.

The Shinobi uses a 1.8-inch disk drive, similar to the hard drive found in the super-slim MacBook Air, said a Buffalo spokesperson at the press event. And drive makers (such as Toshiba) are ramping up capacities of both tiny 1.8-inch hard drives as well as solid-state flash memory devices to 250-GB or more, rivaling the storage space found in traditional PCs.

Blu-ray to get boost from new players, lower prices, and 3D?

If you've been considering a high-definition Blu-ray DVD player, this holiday season is shaping up as a good time to buy. More Blu-ray players are steadily arriving, with models from Denon, Insignia, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, and Sony now in stores (and in our Ratings of high-definition DVD players, available to subscribers). In addition, you can play Blu-ray discs on Sony's PlayStation 3 game consoles, which have an integrated drive. A growing number of notebook and desktop computers either come with, or can accept, Blu-ray drives.

Two reasons for delaying a purchase, high prices and a still-evolving format, will be less of an issue as we head into the holiday buying season. We’re already seeing prices for the most basic players, so-called Profile 1.0 models, heading toward the $200 mark. Sony's BDP-S300, for example, has been selling for $229 at Amazon. Predictions from sites such as DealNews call for some even more aggressive doorbuster specials, such as players for $149, and player/movie bundles for $199. As we've seen previously, prices can often bump back up after the three-day Black Friday shopping period (Thanksgiving weekend), but they rarely return to pre-holiday levels.

Claim check—Nikon D90: The first SLR with hi-def video

The 12-megapixel Nikon D90 SLR, $1,000 (body only), claims to capture HD video with a "cinematic" 24 frames per second rate and resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). But the frame rate is too slow for many uses, and in our tests, resulted in flickering with horizontal panning or horizontal subject movement.

And while it's true that the D90's file resolution is 720p, images recorded at that setting contained far less detail, even in the best lighting conditions, than what most HD camcorders capture at similar settings. Those images were no better than those a VHS tape typically captures. In fact, the D90's video image quality fell short of that produced by the lowest-rated HD camcorder in our Ratings (available to subscribers), the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000. Because the Xacti records video at 60 fps, more than twice the frame rate of the D90, it doesn't display the flickering effect that's noticeable on video taken with the D90.

Another drawback of the D90: When we recorded video, most of its controls, including autofocus, were disabled. So, if your subject goes out of focus, the D90 won't automatically refocus. You can manually refocus, however.

Bottom line. Although the D90 lets you record HD video, its capabilities and performance are middling at best. It isn't a substitute for a decent HD camcorder. We'll report on the D90's still-camera capabilities soon.

Buffalo Tech's Shinobi: An extremely thin external hard drive

Portable external hard drives are my laptop's best friends. Although my personal notebook has a (once-more-than-adequate) 160-GB drive, often times I've found myself running out of digital storage space—especially for the huge high-definition video files I need to transfer from my HD camcorder to my computer for editing.

I already have several "pocket-sized" external hard drives to help manage critical back-ups as well as off-load some of the larger, completely-edited video files from my notebook. And it's a hassle to remember to tote those drives on long, weekend video shoots. But at a recent press event, I saw perhaps one of the smallest USB-powered drives that would be simple to carry—and doesn't skimp on digital storage space.

Buffalo Tech's "Shinobi" (a Japanese term closely tied to "ninjas" and "one skilled in the art of stealth," according to Wikipedia) is a scant 5-mm (0.2-inches) thick and weighs a mere two ounces.

The official press release pictures (Click on them for closer looks.) don't convey how truly "stealthy" the Shinobi is—especially when compared to more conventional USB external drives. But it's about the size and heft of a small stack of business cards, which is a form factor usually associated with external memory devices that use flash memory.

The Shinobi uses a 1.8-inch disk drive, similar to the hard drive found in the super-slim MacBook Air, said a Buffalo spokesperson at the press event. And drive makers (such as Toshiba) are ramping up capacities of both tiny 1.8-inch hard drives as well as solid-state flash memory devices to 250-GB or more, rivaling the storage space found in traditional PCs.

Blu-ray to get boost from new players, lower prices, and 3D?

If you've been considering a high-definition Blu-ray DVD player, this holiday season is shaping up as a good time to buy. More Blu-ray players are steadily arriving, with models from Denon, Insignia, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, and Sony now in stores (and in our Ratings of high-definition DVD players, available to subscribers). In addition, you can play Blu-ray discs on Sony's PlayStation 3 game consoles, which have an integrated drive. A growing number of notebook and desktop computers either come with, or can accept, Blu-ray drives.

Two reasons for delaying a purchase, high prices and a still-evolving format, will be less of an issue as we head into the holiday buying season. We’re already seeing prices for the most basic players, so-called Profile 1.0 models, heading toward the $200 mark. Sony's BDP-S300, for example, has been selling for $229 at Amazon. Predictions from sites such as DealNews call for some even more aggressive doorbuster specials, such as players for $149, and player/movie bundles for $199. As we've seen previously, prices can often bump back up after the three-day Black Friday shopping period (Thanksgiving weekend), but they rarely return to pre-holiday levels.

The Google Phone, at last

T-Mobile unveiled yesterday the world's first cell phone to run on Google's Android operating system, a modified version of the Linux operating system used on a small, but growing number of computers, set-top boxes, and other devices. Android's claim to fame is that its "open" architecture will encourage a broad community of software developers to create applications that run on the phone. We shall see.

The phone itself, called the T-Mobile G1 and made by HTC, will be available on October 22 at $179, including a 2-year contract. It's a touch-screen model that features a bright, 3.17-in display, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It's also one of the few phones that supports T-Mobile's fledgling 3G data network. Emphasizing Web connectivity, the phone comes preloaded with a full HTML version of the Safari Web browser and icons for launching—not surprisingly—Google Maps, YouTube, and easy access to Google Mail as well as other POP3 and IMAP e-mail services. You can easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of group conversations through threaded text messaging.

The phone (click on the image for a closer look) is a tad on the bulky side, measuring 4.60 in. x 2.16 in.  x 0.62 in.; it weighs a hefty 5.6 ounces. The claimed talk time is an unimpressive 5 hours. But the G1 does have an intriguing array of features, including a GPS-assisted internal compass that aligns Google Maps with the surrounding terrain, regardless of the phone's position. The G1 supports T-Mobile Hotspot @Home service that automatically switches the phone from the cell network to "free" VoIP service whenever it's in Wi-Fi range at home or when you're out.

Claim check—Nikon D90: The first SLR with hi-def video

The 12-megapixel Nikon D90 SLR, $1,000 (body only), claims to capture HD video with a "cinematic" 24 frames per second rate and resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). But the frame rate is too slow for many uses, and in our tests, resulted in flickering with horizontal panning or horizontal subject movement.

And while it's true that the D90's file resolution is 720p, images recorded at that setting contained far less detail, even in the best lighting conditions, than what most HD camcorders capture at similar settings. Those images were no better than those a VHS tape typically captures. In fact, the D90's video image quality fell short of that produced by the lowest-rated HD camcorder in our Ratings (available to subscribers), the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000. Because the Xacti records video at 60 fps, more than twice the frame rate of the D90, it doesn't display the flickering effect that's noticeable on video taken with the D90.

Another drawback of the D90: When we recorded video, most of its controls, including autofocus, were disabled. So, if your subject goes out of focus, the D90 won't automatically refocus. You can manually refocus, however.

Bottom line. Although the D90 lets you record HD video, its capabilities and performance are middling at best. It isn't a substitute for a decent HD camcorder. We'll report on the D90's still-camera capabilities soon.

Buffalo Tech's Shinobi: An extremely thin external hard drive

Portable external hard drives are my laptop's best friends. Although my personal notebook has a (once-more-than-adequate) 160-GB drive, often times I've found myself running out of digital storage space—especially for the huge high-definition video files I need to transfer from my HD camcorder to my computer for editing.

I already have several "pocket-sized" external hard drives to help manage critical back-ups as well as off-load some of the larger, completely-edited video files from my notebook. And it's a hassle to remember to tote those drives on long, weekend video shoots. But at a recent press event, I saw perhaps one of the smallest USB-powered drives that would be simple to carry—and doesn't skimp on digital storage space.

Buffalo Tech's "Shinobi" (a Japanese term closely tied to "ninjas" and "one skilled in the art of stealth," according to Wikipedia) is a scant 5-mm (0.2-inches) thick and weighs a mere two ounces.

The official press release pictures (Click on them for closer looks.) don't convey how truly "stealthy" the Shinobi is—especially when compared to more conventional USB external drives. But it's about the size and heft of a small stack of business cards, which is a form factor usually associated with external memory devices that use flash memory.

The Shinobi uses a 1.8-inch disk drive, similar to the hard drive found in the super-slim MacBook Air, said a Buffalo spokesperson at the press event. And drive makers (such as Toshiba) are ramping up capacities of both tiny 1.8-inch hard drives as well as solid-state flash memory devices to 250-GB or more, rivaling the storage space found in traditional PCs.

Blu-ray to get boost from new players, lower prices, and 3D?

If you've been considering a high-definition Blu-ray DVD player, this holiday season is shaping up as a good time to buy. More Blu-ray players are steadily arriving, with models from Denon, Insignia, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, and Sony now in stores (and in our Ratings of high-definition DVD players, available to subscribers). In addition, you can play Blu-ray discs on Sony's PlayStation 3 game consoles, which have an integrated drive. A growing number of notebook and desktop computers either come with, or can accept, Blu-ray drives.

Two reasons for delaying a purchase, high prices and a still-evolving format, will be less of an issue as we head into the holiday buying season. We’re already seeing prices for the most basic players, so-called Profile 1.0 models, heading toward the $200 mark. Sony's BDP-S300, for example, has been selling for $229 at Amazon. Predictions from sites such as DealNews call for some even more aggressive doorbuster specials, such as players for $149, and player/movie bundles for $199. As we've seen previously, prices can often bump back up after the three-day Black Friday shopping period (Thanksgiving weekend), but they rarely return to pre-holiday levels.

The Google Phone, at last

T-Mobile unveiled yesterday the world's first cell phone to run on Google's Android operating system, a modified version of the Linux operating system used on a small, but growing number of computers, set-top boxes, and other devices. Android's claim to fame is that its "open" architecture will encourage a broad community of software developers to create applications that run on the phone. We shall see.

The phone itself, called the T-Mobile G1 and made by HTC, will be available on October 22 at $179, including a 2-year contract. It's a touch-screen model that features a bright, 3.17-in display, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It's also one of the few phones that supports T-Mobile's fledgling 3G data network. Emphasizing Web connectivity, the phone comes preloaded with a full HTML version of the Safari Web browser and icons for launching—not surprisingly—Google Maps, YouTube, and easy access to Google Mail as well as other POP3 and IMAP e-mail services. You can easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of group conversations through threaded text messaging.

The phone (click on the image for a closer look) is a tad on the bulky side, measuring 4.60 in. x 2.16 in.  x 0.62 in.; it weighs a hefty 5.6 ounces. The claimed talk time is an unimpressive 5 hours. But the G1 does have an intriguing array of features, including a GPS-assisted internal compass that aligns Google Maps with the surrounding terrain, regardless of the phone's position. The G1 supports T-Mobile Hotspot @Home service that automatically switches the phone from the cell network to "free" VoIP service whenever it's in Wi-Fi range at home or when you're out.

Flat-panel TVs to Black Friday: We're back!

If you've held off buying an LCD or plasma TV in hopes of lower prices this holiday season, it looks like your gambit is going to pay off. According to several analysts, LCD and plasma TV prices once again will be significantly lower this year compared to last. That's especially true for Black Friday, which kicks off the weekend after Thanksgiving, when you might encounter some never-before-seen deals. Among the reasons for the price drops are an oversupply of LCDs and competition between LCD and plasma in more screen sizes.

According to Austin, Texas-based market research firm DisplaySearch, LCD TV prices will drop 15 to 20 percent on average below last year’s prices, while plasma sets could sell for 20 to 25 percent less than at this time last year.

You’ll find even bigger bargains in certain size categories. For example, DisplaySearch predicts the average selling price of 40-inch and larger LCD sets could drop by 25 to 30 percent. As a result, the average price of a 52-inch 1080p set will drop from about $2,800 in the fourth quarter of 2007 to just under $2,000 by the end of 2008, while a 46- or 47-inch 1080p sets will fall from about $1,800 to just over $1,350. The average price for a 40- or 42-inch 1080p set will drop from nearly $1,400 at the end of last year to $991 this year. Those looking for a smaller set could also be in for some bargains, as DisplaySearch sees prices falling about 23 percent for 32-inch TVs, and 21 percent for 26-inch models.

Claim check—Nikon D90: The first SLR with hi-def video

The 12-megapixel Nikon D90 SLR, $1,000 (body only), claims to capture HD video with a "cinematic" 24 frames per second rate and resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). But the frame rate is too slow for many uses, and in our tests, resulted in flickering with horizontal panning or horizontal subject movement.

And while it's true that the D90's file resolution is 720p, images recorded at that setting contained far less detail, even in the best lighting conditions, than what most HD camcorders capture at similar settings. Those images were no better than those a VHS tape typically captures. In fact, the D90's video image quality fell short of that produced by the lowest-rated HD camcorder in our Ratings (available to subscribers), the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000. Because the Xacti records video at 60 fps, more than twice the frame rate of the D90, it doesn't display the flickering effect that's noticeable on video taken with the D90.

Another drawback of the D90: When we recorded video, most of its controls, including autofocus, were disabled. So, if your subject goes out of focus, the D90 won't automatically refocus. You can manually refocus, however.

Bottom line. Although the D90 lets you record HD video, its capabilities and performance are middling at best. It isn't a substitute for a decent HD camcorder. We'll report on the D90's still-camera capabilities soon.

Buffalo Tech's Shinobi: An extremely thin external hard drive

Portable external hard drives are my laptop's best friends. Although my personal notebook has a (once-more-than-adequate) 160-GB drive, often times I've found myself running out of digital storage space—especially for the huge high-definition video files I need to transfer from my HD camcorder to my computer for editing.

I already have several "pocket-sized" external hard drives to help manage critical back-ups as well as off-load some of the larger, completely-edited video files from my notebook. And it's a hassle to remember to tote those drives on long, weekend video shoots. But at a recent press event, I saw perhaps one of the smallest USB-powered drives that would be simple to carry—and doesn't skimp on digital storage space.

Buffalo Tech's "Shinobi" (a Japanese term closely tied to "ninjas" and "one skilled in the art of stealth," according to Wikipedia) is a scant 5-mm (0.2-inches) thick and weighs a mere two ounces.

The official press release pictures (Click on them for closer looks.) don't convey how truly "stealthy" the Shinobi is—especially when compared to more conventional USB external drives. But it's about the size and heft of a small stack of business cards, which is a form factor usually associated with external memory devices that use flash memory.

The Shinobi uses a 1.8-inch disk drive, similar to the hard drive found in the super-slim MacBook Air, said a Buffalo spokesperson at the press event. And drive makers (such as Toshiba) are ramping up capacities of both tiny 1.8-inch hard drives as well as solid-state flash memory devices to 250-GB or more, rivaling the storage space found in traditional PCs.

Blu-ray to get boost from new players, lower prices, and 3D?

If you've been considering a high-definition Blu-ray DVD player, this holiday season is shaping up as a good time to buy. More Blu-ray players are steadily arriving, with models from Denon, Insignia, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, and Sony now in stores (and in our Ratings of high-definition DVD players, available to subscribers). In addition, you can play Blu-ray discs on Sony's PlayStation 3 game consoles, which have an integrated drive. A growing number of notebook and desktop computers either come with, or can accept, Blu-ray drives.

Two reasons for delaying a purchase, high prices and a still-evolving format, will be less of an issue as we head into the holiday buying season. We’re already seeing prices for the most basic players, so-called Profile 1.0 models, heading toward the $200 mark. Sony's BDP-S300, for example, has been selling for $229 at Amazon. Predictions from sites such as DealNews call for some even more aggressive doorbuster specials, such as players for $149, and player/movie bundles for $199. As we've seen previously, prices can often bump back up after the three-day Black Friday shopping period (Thanksgiving weekend), but they rarely return to pre-holiday levels.

The Google Phone, at last

T-Mobile unveiled yesterday the world's first cell phone to run on Google's Android operating system, a modified version of the Linux operating system used on a small, but growing number of computers, set-top boxes, and other devices. Android's claim to fame is that its "open" architecture will encourage a broad community of software developers to create applications that run on the phone. We shall see.

The phone itself, called the T-Mobile G1 and made by HTC, will be available on October 22 at $179, including a 2-year contract. It's a touch-screen model that features a bright, 3.17-in display, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It's also one of the few phones that supports T-Mobile's fledgling 3G data network. Emphasizing Web connectivity, the phone comes preloaded with a full HTML version of the Safari Web browser and icons for launching—not surprisingly—Google Maps, YouTube, and easy access to Google Mail as well as other POP3 and IMAP e-mail services. You can easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of group conversations through threaded text messaging.

The phone (click on the image for a closer look) is a tad on the bulky side, measuring 4.60 in. x 2.16 in.  x 0.62 in.; it weighs a hefty 5.6 ounces. The claimed talk time is an unimpressive 5 hours. But the G1 does have an intriguing array of features, including a GPS-assisted internal compass that aligns Google Maps with the surrounding terrain, regardless of the phone's position. The G1 supports T-Mobile Hotspot @Home service that automatically switches the phone from the cell network to "free" VoIP service whenever it's in Wi-Fi range at home or when you're out.

Flat-panel TVs to Black Friday: We're back!

If you've held off buying an LCD or plasma TV in hopes of lower prices this holiday season, it looks like your gambit is going to pay off. According to several analysts, LCD and plasma TV prices once again will be significantly lower this year compared to last. That's especially true for Black Friday, which kicks off the weekend after Thanksgiving, when you might encounter some never-before-seen deals. Among the reasons for the price drops are an oversupply of LCDs and competition between LCD and plasma in more screen sizes.

According to Austin, Texas-based market research firm DisplaySearch, LCD TV prices will drop 15 to 20 percent on average below last year’s prices, while plasma sets could sell for 20 to 25 percent less than at this time last year.

You’ll find even bigger bargains in certain size categories. For example, DisplaySearch predicts the average selling price of 40-inch and larger LCD sets could drop by 25 to 30 percent. As a result, the average price of a 52-inch 1080p set will drop from about $2,800 in the fourth quarter of 2007 to just under $2,000 by the end of 2008, while a 46- or 47-inch 1080p sets will fall from about $1,800 to just over $1,350. The average price for a 40- or 42-inch 1080p set will drop from nearly $1,400 at the end of last year to $991 this year. Those looking for a smaller set could also be in for some bargains, as DisplaySearch sees prices falling about 23 percent for 32-inch TVs, and 21 percent for 26-inch models.

iPhone 3G: Apple recalls faulty chargers

Apple announced a very important recall of the power adapters used to charge its new iPhone 3G. It seems that the metal blades or "prongs" may have a tendency to break off when the adapter is pulled out of the wall outlet, creating a potential electrical shock hazard.

According to Apple's official recall announcement, only some iPhone 3G adapters have this defect. The image above shows the adapters that are affected by this recall. If your adapter has a green dot (see image below), you're ok—there is no problem, and you can continue using the product. (Click on both images for closer looks.)

If you have one of the defective adapters, Apple advises that you immediately stop using the adapter. Apple will provide a new, redesigned adapter starting Oct. 10. You can request a replacement online (https://supportform.apple.com/200809/) or exchange a faulty adapter at any Apple retail store.

In the meantime, here’s how affected iPhone 3G owners can recharge their phones, according to Apple:

"...charge their iPhone 3G by connecting it to their computer with the USB cable that came with their iPhone or by using a standard-sized Apple USB Power Adapter (with fold up prongs) or with a third party adapter designed to work with the iPhone, such as a car charger."

This charger recall is the most recent problem affecting Apple's hot iPhone. Earlier this month, Apple announced a firmware upgrade for the iPhone to fix several issues, including dropped calls, e-mail reliability, and battery life.

Claim check—Nikon D90: The first SLR with hi-def video

The 12-megapixel Nikon D90 SLR, $1,000 (body only), claims to capture HD video with a "cinematic" 24 frames per second rate and resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). But the frame rate is too slow for many uses, and in our tests, resulted in flickering with horizontal panning or horizontal subject movement.

And while it's true that the D90's file resolution is 720p, images recorded at that setting contained far less detail, even in the best lighting conditions, than what most HD camcorders capture at similar settings. Those images were no better than those a VHS tape typically captures. In fact, the D90's video image quality fell short of that produced by the lowest-rated HD camcorder in our Ratings (available to subscribers), the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000. Because the Xacti records video at 60 fps, more than twice the frame rate of the D90, it doesn't display the flickering effect that's noticeable on video taken with the D90.

Another drawback of the D90: When we recorded video, most of its controls, including autofocus, were disabled. So, if your subject goes out of focus, the D90 won't automatically refocus. You can manually refocus, however.

Bottom line. Although the D90 lets you record HD video, its capabilities and performance are middling at best. It isn't a substitute for a decent HD camcorder. We'll report on the D90's still-camera capabilities soon.

Buffalo Tech's Shinobi: An extremely thin external hard drive

Portable external hard drives are my laptop's best friends. Although my personal notebook has a (once-more-than-adequate) 160-GB drive, often times I've found myself running out of digital storage space—especially for the huge high-definition video files I need to transfer from my HD camcorder to my computer for editing.

I already have several "pocket-sized" external hard drives to help manage critical back-ups as well as off-load some of the larger, completely-edited video files from my notebook. And it's a hassle to remember to tote those drives on long, weekend video shoots. But at a recent press event, I saw perhaps one of the smallest USB-powered drives that would be simple to carry—and doesn't skimp on digital storage space.

Buffalo Tech's "Shinobi" (a Japanese term closely tied to "ninjas" and "one skilled in the art of stealth," according to Wikipedia) is a scant 5-mm (0.2-inches) thick and weighs a mere two ounces.

The official press release pictures (Click on them for closer looks.) don't convey how truly "stealthy" the Shinobi is—especially when compared to more conventional USB external drives. But it's about the size and heft of a small stack of business cards, which is a form factor usually associated with external memory devices that use flash memory.

The Shinobi uses a 1.8-inch disk drive, similar to the hard drive found in the super-slim MacBook Air, said a Buffalo spokesperson at the press event. And drive makers (such as Toshiba) are ramping up capacities of both tiny 1.8-inch hard drives as well as solid-state flash memory devices to 250-GB or more, rivaling the storage space found in traditional PCs.

Blu-ray to get boost from new players, lower prices, and 3D?

If you've been considering a high-definition Blu-ray DVD player, this holiday season is shaping up as a good time to buy. More Blu-ray players are steadily arriving, with models from Denon, Insignia, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, and Sony now in stores (and in our Ratings of high-definition DVD players, available to subscribers). In addition, you can play Blu-ray discs on Sony's PlayStation 3 game consoles, which have an integrated drive. A growing number of notebook and desktop computers either come with, or can accept, Blu-ray drives.

Two reasons for delaying a purchase, high prices and a still-evolving format, will be less of an issue as we head into the holiday buying season. We’re already seeing prices for the most basic players, so-called Profile 1.0 models, heading toward the $200 mark. Sony's BDP-S300, for example, has been selling for $229 at Amazon. Predictions from sites such as DealNews call for some even more aggressive doorbuster specials, such as players for $149, and player/movie bundles for $199. As we've seen previously, prices can often bump back up after the three-day Black Friday shopping period (Thanksgiving weekend), but they rarely return to pre-holiday levels.

The Google Phone, at last

T-Mobile unveiled yesterday the world's first cell phone to run on Google's Android operating system, a modified version of the Linux operating system used on a small, but growing number of computers, set-top boxes, and other devices. Android's claim to fame is that its "open" architecture will encourage a broad community of software developers to create applications that run on the phone. We shall see.

The phone itself, called the T-Mobile G1 and made by HTC, will be available on October 22 at $179, including a 2-year contract. It's a touch-screen model that features a bright, 3.17-in display, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It's also one of the few phones that supports T-Mobile's fledgling 3G data network. Emphasizing Web connectivity, the phone comes preloaded with a full HTML version of the Safari Web browser and icons for launching—not surprisingly—Google Maps, YouTube, and easy access to Google Mail as well as other POP3 and IMAP e-mail services. You can easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of group conversations through threaded text messaging.

The phone (click on the image for a closer look) is a tad on the bulky side, measuring 4.60 in. x 2.16 in.  x 0.62 in.; it weighs a hefty 5.6 ounces. The claimed talk time is an unimpressive 5 hours. But the G1 does have an intriguing array of features, including a GPS-assisted internal compass that aligns Google Maps with the surrounding terrain, regardless of the phone's position. The G1 supports T-Mobile Hotspot @Home service that automatically switches the phone from the cell network to "free" VoIP service whenever it's in Wi-Fi range at home or when you're out.

Flat-panel TVs to Black Friday: We're back!

If you've held off buying an LCD or plasma TV in hopes of lower prices this holiday season, it looks like your gambit is going to pay off. According to several analysts, LCD and plasma TV prices once again will be significantly lower this year compared to last. That's especially true for Black Friday, which kicks off the weekend after Thanksgiving, when you might encounter some never-before-seen deals. Among the reasons for the price drops are an oversupply of LCDs and competition between LCD and plasma in more screen sizes.

According to Austin, Texas-based market research firm DisplaySearch, LCD TV prices will drop 15 to 20 percent on average below last year’s prices, while plasma sets could sell for 20 to 25 percent less than at this time last year.

You’ll find even bigger bargains in certain size categories. For example, DisplaySearch predicts the average selling price of 40-inch and larger LCD sets could drop by 25 to 30 percent. As a result, the average price of a 52-inch 1080p set will drop from about $2,800 in the fourth quarter of 2007 to just under $2,000 by the end of 2008, while a 46- or 47-inch 1080p sets will fall from about $1,800 to just over $1,350. The average price for a 40- or 42-inch 1080p set will drop from nearly $1,400 at the end of last year to $991 this year. Those looking for a smaller set could also be in for some bargains, as DisplaySearch sees prices falling about 23 percent for 32-inch TVs, and 21 percent for 26-inch models.

iPhone 3G: Apple recalls faulty chargers

Apple announced a very important recall of the power adapters used to charge its new iPhone 3G. It seems that the metal blades or "prongs" may have a tendency to break off when the adapter is pulled out of the wall outlet, creating a potential electrical shock hazard.

According to Apple's official recall announcement, only some iPhone 3G adapters have this defect. The image above shows the adapters that are affected by this recall. If your adapter has a green dot (see image below), you're ok—there is no problem, and you can co