Canon EOS 40D digital SLR: First impressions

An SLR (or Single-Lens Reflex) camera is the most complex type of digital camera on the market, providing the most options and control, while producing the highest quality images. As the SLR market has become increasingly competitive, manufacturers continue to expand the feature sets on their SLRs to make them even more powerful, more versatile, and easier to use.

This is just what Canon has done with the 10-megapixel Canon EOS 40D digital SLR (Click on image at right), which runs about $1300 (body only) or about $200 more with a 28-135mm kit zoom lens.

In Canon's product line, the EOS 40D is what you might call a step-up SLR. At first glance, it may seem that there's not much difference between the 40D and Canon’s entry-level, inexpensive ($600, body only), 10-megapixel Canon Rebel XTi. However, aside from sharing the same type of CMOS sensor and including Canon's dust-cleaning system, the cameras are very different. (Canon has two ways to help minimize dust on the sensor: a hardware-based element that the company claims shakes off dust automatically with ultrasonic vibrations, and a firmware/software feature, called Dust Delete Data. Both are used to help avoid dust spots from appearing on images due to any minuscule particles that land on the 40D's CMOS sensor.)

Related information on ConsumerReports.org:

• How to choose a digital camera
• Top-rated digital SLR cameras (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)
• Digital SLR camera Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)

 

Sony Says Goodbye to Rear-Projection TVs

Sony—consistently one of the top-rated rear-projection TV brands in our Ratings—says it will be getting out of that business once its inventories of products are depleted to focus on flat-panel LCD models. The company said it will continue to make front projectors.

With this rear-projection defection, Sony becomes the latest company to leave the microdisplay business to focus on flat-panel TVs. Earlier this year, Toshiba and Hitachi announced they would no longer make rear-projection sets. Philips left the business earlier.

Sony has used two technologies in its rear-projection sets. Lower-priced models used rear-projection LCD (also called 3LCD as its uses three LCD panels), while its higher-priced—and typically better-performing—models used SXRD technology, which is Sony's name for its implentation of LCoS. According to the company, it will continue to support its rear-projection TVs with parts and service for the foreseeable future.

There are still a number of companies, including Samsung, Mitsubishi, JVC and Panasonic, making rear-projection models. Samsung and Mitsubishi both use DLP technology, while Panasonic's sets are rear-projection LCD models. Ironically, there's still quite a bit of innovation going in the category. Samsung has several models that use LED backlights instead of conventional bulbs--LEDs don't require periodic replacement, and they're capable of a wider gamut of colors. At next month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Mitsubishi is slated to unveil the first laser-lit model. Both companies also offer models that can be used to display 3D images when used with special glasses.

We'll be heading out to CES the week of January 7th, so make sure you check out our blogs for news from the show. Among other things, we'll be asking if any other companies intend to abandon the rear-projection business.—James K. Willcox

Nintendo Wii: How to get one—almost

Nintendo's revolutionary video game system is one of the hottest electronic gifts this holiday season. And despite Nintendo's efforts to increase production, it remains one of the most difficult to find items in stores—much like when it debuted last holiday shopping season.

The company has acknowledged that even increasing production to nearly 2 million units per month won't likely ease the shortage anytime soon. So to not completely disappoint holiday shoppers and Wii wanters, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime announced on Friday a Wii "rain check" program with video game retailer GameStop. If consumers pay the $250 for a Wii system at a GameStop store by December 21, they'll get a certificate promising a Wii—sometime in January.

[Dec. 20, 2007 UPDATE: On Dec. 18, GameStop released further details about its Wii rain check program. On Friday Dec. 21 (and only on that day ), each GameStop outlet will have a limited number of Wii certificates that will be given to customers who pay the $250 in advance. (Each store is limiting one certificate per household.) The store will then contact rain check customers when the consoles arrive on January 25, 2008. Readers can find complete details about GameStop's Wii rain check program here on GameStop's Web site. —Ed.]

According to Reuters: "We expect this to be a very strong program and... a great way for consumers who desperately want a Wii to be able to have something to put under the tree—a certificate that guarantees their family will be able to get a system in January," said Mr. Fils-Aime in a telephone news conference.

Still, if having an actual Wii console (and not just the promise of one) under the Christmas tree is what you're really after, here are some tips…

GPS: Deals and advice for last-minute holiday shoppers

If you're still shopping for a portable GPS navigation unit to give as a special holiday gift, there's some good news. Our colleagues who cover Cars for ConsumerReports have unearthed some great last-minute deals. But with Christmas less than 10 days away, you'll have to hurry—especially if you want to take advantage cheap (or even "free") shipping from online retailers such as Amazon.

For more details, check out, "Road map to the best last-minute GPS deals."

Some other resources to help you:

• A closer look at the Navigon 5100 GPS
• ConsumerReports' latest Ratings of GPS units
• GPS info on ConsumerReports' Cars blog
• GPS info on ConsumerReports' Electronics blog

For buying advice, check out "How to buy the right GPS navigation device for the holidays." Or if you have Macromedia Flash software installed, you can watch our free online video in the player below. Just click on the "play" (arrow) button to start. (If you don't see the player embedded in this post, click here to watch our video.)

—Paul Eng

Headphones for the Holidays: More good choices

Headphones are a popular holiday buy, but most advertised models seem to cost $100 or more. If you're shopping for a set, but are resistant to spending so much on a purchase that's likely to be used on the go, and liable to be lost or damaged, our updated tests offer sweet music.

We found new choices in good-sounding headphones of practically all types for under $100. Those supplement the recommended models in our last full Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers). Many of those older models, including those we recommend, remain available.

For more help in buying headphones, check our free buying advice, which includes a rundown of two hot headphone types: Noise-canceling models that use sound processing to reduce, though not to cancel entirely, ambient noise to the ear; and wireless headphones, which you can use with a Bluetooth-enabled music phone, laptop, or other device.

Here's some of the best values from our new tests:

Windows world goes all-in-one

Windows desktops are finally catching up to Macs, at least style-wise. HP, Sony, Dell, and Gateway have each introduced all-in-one systems that, like the iMac, wrap all the components into a monitor and eliminate as many wires as possible.

We recently took a first look at Dell's offering, the XPS One. (Click on the image at right for a closer look.) We also have the Gateway One in our labs, but are still in the process of testing that one. (Our latest Ratings of desktop computers, available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers, has more information about other models, including Apple's iMac.)

The Dell XPS One is a fully loaded system. Just because everything is squeezed into the monitor doesn’t mean you won't get most or all the advantages of a traditional tower system. The XPS One we tested included a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, the latest WiFi connection, gigabit Ethernet, and a memory-card reader.

Keeping with the goal of eliminating plugs and wires, the keyboard and mouse are both wireless. Display quality on this system was very good. Its unique features include sensors that light up as you pass your hand over them, allowing you to control video and music playback, volume, and a few other functions.

Sound was only fair on this system, however, and it’s not a good choice for gamers. But if you want a computer that does away with clutter and can add some panache to your den, the Dell XPS One is definitely an option. We’ll have more details in a First Look early next week.

—Donna Tapellini

Digital picture frames: What to focus on

A digital picture frame is an intriguing gift idea for the digital shutter bug on your holiday list. After all, if they've gone film-less when it comes to taking pictures, why not go paperless when it comes to displaying their latest digital snapshots?

This year, there's a plethora of models from both familiar and unfamiliar names, some with wide-screens, some with digital video and/or music capabilities. While some models are priced under $100, our tests found you need to spend at least $125 or so to get a frame that displays images of sufficient size and quality to be pleasing.

We've tested some of these models—mostly those with 7- or 8-inch screens—for our latest Ratings report on digital picture frames. (Available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers.) Here are a few tips from our free buying advice on digital picture frames to help your holiday shopping:

• Resolution. – Look for a screen with a display resolution of at least 800x600 pixels. Images from high-resolution (6-megapixel and up) cameras tend to look better on screens with at least this level of resolution.


• Consider aspect ratios. – Like LCD TVs, some of these small displays are available in "wide-screen" (16:9) formats. But these screens will display the typical square-ish (4:3) format of most digital camera images with either black vertical bars along the sides or "stretch" (distort) the image to fit the wide-screen format.


• Don’t skimp too much on price. – The 8-inch Smartparts SyncPix SPX8 is a top-rated (and a CR Recommended) model among the digital picture frames we tests. At $180, it offers Very Good picture quality (800x600 resolution), a wireless remote control, 256 MB of built-in memory, a motion sensor that automatically turns the display on and off, as well as other features. (Further model Rating information and CR Recommendations are available to subscribers.)
  

  Conversely, the $100, 7-inch Polaroid CPA-00711S was one of our lower-rated models with only Fair picture quality. And if you choose to save $80 compared with buying the SmartParts, you're also losing an inch of screen size and skimping on useful features, such as built-in memory. (That means you'll have to use your camera's memory card or buy an extra card for $20 to $100, depending on capacity.)

  A better option might be another 8-inch CR Recommended model, the Westinghouse DPF-0802, $125. It has a modest amount of built-in memory (128 MB) but the recommended display resolution of 800x600. And it's only $25 more than the Polaroid.

—Paul Eng

Electronic Books: The reality for this holiday season

It's official: If you were considering buying an Amazon Kindle for someone on your holiday list, it's time to make alternate plans. The online merchant says that the $399 electronic book/wireless device is now "sold out." And any new orders will be filled on a "first come, first served" basis. Amazon's site also warns: "Your Kindle will not arrive by December 24th."

There appears to be availability still for the Sony Reader PRS-505, the updated version of the first-generation Sony Reader. At $299, the Sony device is cheaper than the Kindle and has comparable readability. (Both Sony's and Amazon's devices use so-called eInk technology.)

We've taken a closer look at the revamped Sony Reader and one of the things we've discovered: It's harder to use than the Kindle, in part because you need to connect the Reader to a computer in order to download books and other content. (Unlike the Kindle, the Reader doesn't have wireless broadband access to the Net.)

However, Sony is offering a great deal right now for those who want a collection of classic books on their Reader: Buy the device before January 31 and you can download 100 classic titles (a $199 value) from Sony's Connect eBooks store for free. (Click on the "Specials" tab on Sony's Connect Web site for more details.)

If you're looking for last-minute gift alternatives to the sold-out Amazon Kindle—or even if you're just curious about electronic book technology—check out our First Look at the Sony Reader for free on ConsumerReports.org.

—Paul Reynolds

LG Voyager Cell Phone: First impressions

If a new cell phone is on your holiday wish list, wireless service providers and phone makers are more than happy to flood you with dozens of new models that offer a slew of new features and other goodies.

To be sure, one of the hottest wireless phones for holiday shoppers is Apple's iPhone. But if you're a Verizon customer and are hesitant to switch over to the AT&T service, there's good news. The wireless carrier now offers the LG Voyager, a cell phone that closely mimics the iPhone's touch-screen and other capabilities. (Click on the image at right for a closer look.)

On ConsumerReports.org, we've taken a closer look at this iPhone competitor as well as Verizon's other heavily-promoted phones, the LG Venus and Samsung Juke. Check out our free report all three phones.

The report also has an online video which shows the LG Voyager in action. Click on the player below or go to our most recent cell phones Ratings report on ConsumerReports.org to see the video. (You must have Macromedia Flash software installed to watch our free online videos.)

Low-priced Sony Bravia LCD TVs at Wal-mart and Target

Is it a good buy?

Sony Bravia LCD TVs have earned a reputation for fine performance, and our tests of many of those models have borne that out. But the brand's high profile generally comes with a high price tag. Some of the Bravia sets—typically the most feature-rich—are among the priciest in their size. (ConsumerReports.org subscribers can verify that by just looking through our latest Ratings of LCD TVs.)

Given that reputation, you might not expect to find the Sony Bravia name showing up at Wal-Mart and Target. But there it is. Both chains are selling the Sony KDL-32ML130 at relatively low-prices for a 32-inch Bravia LCD TV. At Target (and via Amazon), the set is selling at Sony's list price of $797. But at Wal-mart's Web site, it's $767.

We decided to take a look at one of these sets to see if it lives up to its family heritage. We're still testing the LCD TV and hope to have more details available soon on ConsumerReports.org soon. But here's what we know so far:

It doesn’t have all the features you'd find on higher-priced Bravia sets, but it does offer fine picture quality, according to our preliminary tests. It did very well for black level, color, and fine detail. The viewing angle was decent—typical for most LCDs, meaning the picture changes slightly when you're off center, in this case losing some contrast.

We were less impressed with the sound, which seemed a bit muffled, but it should be fine for typical TV programming.

The menu is more basic than on many sets, but that actually makes it easier to get around. Among the features it lacks are RGB controls for fine-tuning color, but given the fine color accuracy, that's not a serious omission.

All in all, it's a good buy. If you want better audio quality, additional features, and a wider viewing angle as well as high-quality video performance, check out Panasonic's TC-32LX700 ($950).

More information about the Panasonic set, as well as full access to our latest LCD TV Ratings, is available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only. But we'll have more information about the 32-inch Sony Bravia KDL-32ML130 LCD TV set up on our site soon.

Nikon Coolpix L15: A budget subcompact with smarts

You don't expect much in a camera that costs $150 or less, but Nikon's new 8-megapixel Coolpix L15 (Click on the image at right for a closer look.) offers quite a bit for the money. (List price is $150, but it has been offered online for as little as $128).

Major features include optical image stabilization, limited face recognition (the L15 can keep a face in focus), a 2.8-inch LCD, and in-camera red-eye removal. A feature called D-lighting can rescue dark or backlit pictures by improving brightness and detail.

Related information on ConsumerReports.org:

• Digital cameras: More fun and features for less $
• Buying Advice: How to choose a digital camera
• Ratings: Point-and-shoot digital cameras (available to subscribers only)

To see what D-lighting does, consider this shot I took with the L15 of my colleague, Terry Sullivan. (Click on the image, below left , for a closer look.) His face is brightly lit by the L15's flash, but the background isn't so well lit.

Now here's a JPG of the same image (Click on the image at right for a closer look.)  that the L15 produced when I applied its D-lighting feature. Notice how the background is brighter. (So, unfortunately, is the gray in Terry's hair, which is the price he must pay for technological progress). When you use D-lighting, the L15 preserves the original image alongside the new one.

One feature expressly for novices is Easy Auto Mode, which the user manual says is an automatic mode recommended for first time digital camera users. When I turned Easy Auto on, the camera appeared to behave the same as when the feature was turned off.

I suspect from what little the user manual says about this feature, that turning it on limits which settings are displayed in the menu displayed on the LCD and, perhaps, automatically tweaks them to reasonable values for the shooting situation. Because the user manual doesn't fully explain this feature, it's hard to know exactly what it does.

Another way the L15 tried to make things easy is by automatically setting the ISO sensitivity based on the scene mode you set and the surrounding light level. The ISO range is from 64 to 1000. However, I couldn't find a way to see what ISO the camera was actually using or a way to override it. So when it comes to ISO, using the L15 requires placing your faith in the scene modes and camera's smarts.

We haven't tested the L15 is our labs yet, but Nikon's Web site for the U.S. says that the L15 can take approximately 160 shots using alkaline AA batteries.

—Jeff Fox

Portable DVD players as holiday gifts?

Bigger screens—without busting the budget

If you're planning to buy a portable DVD player for someone on your gift list, there's good news and bad news.

The good news: These laptop look-alikes now start at less than $100 for players with large 7- or 8-inch screens. That's nearly half the price of similar models found on store shelves last holiday season. Even more good news: Shopping for these inexpensive players doesn't mean braving the crowds at a big-box warehouse club or your mega-electronics store. Odds are you'll find one of these wide-screen portables in your local supermarket or drugstore, alongside the batteries and disposable cameras.

Most of the models we've recently tested perform well enough for certain mobile situations—entertainment during long flights on no-frills airlines or to keep kids occupied during the long drive home for the holidays.

But the bad news: Don’t expect the picture quality from any of these new portable DVD models to look nearly as good as from a regular DVD player and TV screen. We hope to have the complete test results and Ratings for six portable big-screen DVD players on ConsumerReport.org soon.

[UPDATE: Dec. 13, 2007: We've posted our latest report and buying advice for portable DVD players on ConsumerReports.org. Subscribers have access to our latest Ratings of portable DVDs and our list of recommended portable players. —Ed.]

But if you are shopping for one now to give as a holiday gift, we'd recommend keeping an eye out for the LG DP781 (about $160). We found its 8-inch LCD screen was capable of displaying excellent video quality.

Another shopping tip: Pick up a set of decent headphones. We've found the audio performance of most players' built-in speakers to be mediocre, at best.

ConsumerReports.org has other tips and buying advice on portable DVD players if you need more help. And check back on our Web site for the latest Ratings of portable DVD players (available to subscribers).

Canon PowerShot G9: An SLR wannabe

Today's entry-level, point-and-shoot digital cameras do much of the "grunt work" you used to have to do yourself. Almost all include autofocus, auto exposure, and auto modes. A few can even set the camera in the appropriate scene mode for the subject you're shooting. Sony recently included a model that detects when your subject is smiling before snapping the shot. At the same time, many new cameras have fewer external dials, buttons and controls on their body, which further enhances this zeitgeist of relinquishing control.

However, there are some shutterbugs who want to take back the controls without stepping up to a bulkier digital SLR, the ultimate camera for the control freak. If you're one of them, consider the Canon PowerShot G9. It's not that you can't shoot in auto mode on this PowerShot. You can. But if you're looking to immerse yourself in options, the G9 gives you ample opportunity.

Like its predecessor, the PowerShot G7, the G9 has a 6x zoom lens, an image stabilizer, manual controls, manual focus and a hot shoe (for an external flash). But it has increased the megapixel count to 12 (from 10 megapixels) and also expanded the LCD to 3-inches while still maintaining an optical viewfinder, which many camera manufacturers are doing away with. It has lots of dials, buttons and controls that make it easy to set up your camera the way you want to.

(Since we haven't fully tested the G9 yet, it isn't in our digital camera Ratings, available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers. Its predecessor, the G7, which has been discontinued, did very well in our tests and was a CR Quick Pick, also available to subscribers. We hope to add the G9 to our Ratings soon.)

Amazon Kindle: First Impressions

In the shifting world of electronics, no one's staying neatly in their allotted corner these days. Witness the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Once strictly a hardware showcase, it's promoting the participation of movie studios and TV networks in this January's event.

So it's almost unsurprising that the newest e-book reader, the Amazon Kindle (click on images for a closer look), bears the name of a retailer rather than an equipment manufacturer. The branding actually makes sense, since a seamless link between the Kindle and Amazon.com is the most interesting aspect of the device, which Amazon began selling last week for $399. I tried it out over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The Kindle comes preloaded with your Amazon account information and with software that links, automatically and at no ongoing cost, to Sprint's high-speed cellphone data network. If all goes well, Amazon says, you simply turn it on and start browsing and ordering. Even when your account doesn't appear, as mine didn't, signing on took only seconds.

[Nov. 28, 2007 Update: We corrected the reference to the network Kindle uses; as a reader noted, it's Sprint's data network not its cellphone network. —Ed.]

(While I had no problems with the service when using my Kindle these past few days, Sprint was among the worst providers of cell phone service in our survey of Consumer Reports readers in 20 cities. If you're a ConsumerReports.org subscriber, you can check our Ratings of cell service providers to see the details.)

Then I was off and "kindling" (yes, Amazon really does "verb" the name of the device), using the Kindle's unique rolling wheel navigation device and next- and last-page bars on each side of the 6-inch screen. Orders bill seamlessly to your Amazon account—maybe too seamlessly, depending on your self-control; there isn’t even a checkout to slow you down. Downloading a book to the device took me less than a minute, as Amazon promises. There’s no ongoing monthly fee to use the Kindle.

The Kindle doesn't offer all of Amazon's features; there are no extras like author's videos or search capability. But it offers free sample chapters, which download in a matter of seconds. And it's more natural to read book pages on the Kindle than on a computer, where you must scroll through them using a cursor and read them on a screen that isn’t designed for prolonged reading.

In a fantasy world where books were read mostly on computers, the Kindle would be a must-buy. In the real world, where books remain stubbornly analog, using the device falls well short of the pleasures of holding and reading a book. The type, charcoal-colored on a light-gray background, lacks the contrast of typical book pages. The screen briefly turns black during page turns. And the display is monochrome only, and lacks the grayscale variation even to render, say, black and white photos as accurately as in print. (The Kindle shares the use of patented eInk technology with its main competitor, the Sony Reader, $299, which has been updated since we tested it last year on ConsumerReports.org.)

So is the Kindle worth $400 to you, or anyone on your gift list? An obvious pre-qualifier is a willingness to try new technology that's almost bound to drop in cost, improve in performance, or both in subsequent iterations. Then there's mobility; a book reader probably makes sense only if you often read on the move. Beyond that, here's my initial take on prime candidates for the Kindle:

Heavy hardcover buyers. It costs $9.99 to load a hardcover best-seller to the Kindle—an all-but-unbeatable price, in any format (most older titles cost more, though some venerable classics go for as little as a dollar or two). So, if you buy more than 40 hard-covers, you'll more than make up the cost of the device. But, the Kindle is also significantly smaller and lighter (at 10 ounces or so) than a single hardcover book (see image). And it holds up to 200 books, Amazon says, and so would free up some serious luggage space for a serious reader on a long trip.

News junkies. The Kindle offers subscriptions to 11 newspapers, including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, and a number of magazines. And there's free access to a host of bookmarked websites, including those of BBC Radio, MSNBC, and ESPN.

Kindle critics have bashed the cost of the subscriptions—$5.99 to $13.99 a month for each newspaper, for example—when the publications are mostly available for free online. But the Kindle allows you to view news on a screen, albeit a black-and-white one, that's bigger than any smart phone and on a network that's faster than the sluggish AT&T network the iPhone uses. And there's no requirement to pay for a monthly high-speed data plan.

[Nov. 29, 2007 UPDATE: As a reader pointed out, some newspaper subscriptions are available to Kindle owners for $5.99 per month. —Ed.]

A caveat for the free sites: They're part of the "Basic Web" functionality, including a rudimentary browser, that Amazon lists under a link titled "Experimental." Translation: Web browsing, and access to the news sites, may not be a permanent feature of the Kindle, and so is a risky reason to buy one.

A final note on gifting: As of today, the Kindle is "temporarily sold out" on Amazon (the device’s only vendor, unsurprisingly).

We'll have more on the Kindle, probably next week on Consumer Reports' Electronics section, as our testing continues.

—Paul Reynolds

GPS: The deals on Cyber Monday, and beyond

If you missed the Black Friday deals on portable GPS navigation systems, there's still some hope—online. If you're still shopping for one of the hottest gadgets for this holiday season, our automotive colleagues at Consumer Reports have uncovered the latest Black Friday-like bargains that can still be found on the Web. Check out their latest post, Cyber Monday deals on GPS navigation systems, on the Consumer Reports Cars blog.

And for more advice on GPS and portable navigations systems:

• How to choose portable GPS navigation systems
• Video: How to buy a portable GPS device
• Product close-up: Magellan Maestro 4050
• Latest GPS units unveiled
• Consumer Reports Ratings of GPS units (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers)
• Beware of GPS thieves breaking into your car

—Paul Eng

Microsoft Zune: First Impressions

Microsoft's first MP3 player, the 30-gigabyte (GB) Zune, debuted last year, boasting a then-rare feature among players: Wi-Fi capability. But the player was bulky and you could use its wireless connection only to share music with other nearby Zunes.

We've completed initial tests on the revamped Zunes. There's an 80GB hard-disk version (holding up to 20,000 songs) that costs $250 (Click on the image at right for a closer look.); and 8GB and 4GB flash Zunes (holding 2,000 and 1,000 songs, and costing $200 and $150, respectively).

The bottom line: These successors are better than the original Zunes, though they retain some quirks.

If you're shopping for a portable player this holiday season, check out our buying advice on MP3 players and on portable digital video players. (ConsumerReports.org subscribers have access to our latest Ratings of MP3 players, Ratings of portable video players and CR Quick Recommendations of portable media players.)

We'll have a full report on Microsoft revamped Zune digital media player up on the Electronics section of ConsumerReports.org soon. [ Nov. 29, 2007 UPDATE: We've conducted more test on the new Microsoft Zunes. Read our report, Microsoft's revamped Zunes: First Look for more details. —Ed.]

In the meantime, here are some highlights from our initial tests of the Zune:

The new 80GB Zune is about the same size as the old 30GB Zune, which is still available for about $150. Battery life is improved: the 30GB Zune poops out after 14 hours where the 80GB model claims 30 hours and the flash Zunes 24 hours, all with the wireless turned off.

The controls have been made more responsive and the user interface further improved. In our tests of the 80GB Zune, picture and video quality were slightly sharper and brighter than on the smaller screen of the first Zune. Picture quality was equally good on the 8GB model (Click on the image at left for a closer look.) we tested, though it has only a relatively tiny 1.8-in. screen.

For the first time, you can share music beamed to you from other Zune players—though transfers were slower in our tests than with the old Zunes. Also, you can use the Zune's wireless capability to sync with your PC over your home's Wi-Fi network—€”though not to browse the Web or purchase music online. When you do buy music, via your PC, you must still pay in Microsoft "Points," the company's bizarrely complex currency.

Despite their quirks, the new Zunes are more worthy alternatives to the iPod family than their older siblings. The best bet is the 80GB Zune, which offers a much larger screen than the iPod Classic, or any other player with similar capacity and price. While the flash Zunes also match evenly against the Nanos in price and capacity, many people will prefer the Nano's smaller, sleeker design and slightly larger display.

—Mike Gikas

HDTVs: Best Black Friday Specials

To help you get the best TV at the best price the day after Thanksgiving, we've scoured countless Black Friday circulars, websites, and online forums to find the best deals available.

You may want to begin your shopping before Friday if you have time. As we've noted, a number of retailers have already jump-started Black Friday with pre-holiday specials—like a $99 price for Toshiba’s HD-A2 HD DV, an offer that was immediately matched by Best Buy, and Sears' $770 price on a 42-inch Hitachi "1080" (1280x1080) plasma (model P42H401). Other such deals may crop up before the doors open on Friday; check retailers' websites.

Without further ado, here are our best Black Friday deals on HDTVs. We list only brands that have had one or more recommended models in our Ratings over the past year, though untested models, of course, may differ. In some cases, as noted, we've tested the model, and comment on its performance. (Note: Our test results and comments on those models are accessible only to ConsumerReports.org subscribers. Click here to subscribe and get instant access to that detailed information, as well as to our latest LCD TV Ratings, plasma TVs Ratings, rear-projection TV Ratings and Ratings for front projectors.)

LCD HDTVs

• Olevia 32-inch LCD (no model listed) for $420 at Kmart
• Vizio 32-inch LCD (VXLHDTV32) for $599 at Sears
• Olevia 37-inch LCD (537H) for $600 (a tested model, image above, that we recommend) at CompUSA
• Olevia 37-inch LCD (237T) for $549 at Target
• Vizio 37-inch LCD (unspecified model) for $600 at BJ's
• Sharp 42-inch 720p LCD (LC-42D43U, a larger sibling to a 37-inch Sharp that performed decently in our tests) for $800 at Circuit City
• Olevia 42-inch LCD (242T) for $700 at MicroCenter and BJ's (unspecified model)
• Sharp 46-inch 1080p LCD (LC-46D64U) for $1,300 at Circuit City
• Sony 46-inch Bravia LCD TV for $1,500 at Sears. LCD sets from Sony have consistently been among the best performers in our tests.
• Olevia 47-inch 1080p LCD for $1,000 at BJ's
• Westinghouse 47-inch 1080p LCD TV (TX-47F430S, a tested model with very good picture quality) for $1,300 at Best Buy
• LG 47-inch 1080p LCD TV (47LC7DF) for $1,500 at CompUSA
• Vizio 52-inch LCD TV (unnamed model) at Sam’s Club for $1,889
• Sharp 52-inch 1080p LCD (LC-52D64U) for $2,200 at Circuit City

Plasma HDTVs

We saw a lot of deals on Panasonic models. Though we have not tested all of the sets on special, models from this brand have consistently been among the best in our tests.

• Panasonic TH-42PE7U 42-inch 720p plasma for $900 at Best Buy
• Panasonic 42-inch TH-42PX75U 720p plasma (its 50-inch sibling was a CR Best Buy) for $1,000 at CircuitCity
• Panasonic 50-inch 720p plasma (unspecified model) for $1,200 at MicroCenter.
• Panasonic 720p 58-inch plasma (unspecified model) $500 off at Costco

Other good deals in plasmas:

• LG 42-inch 720p plasma (42PC5D, a CR recommended model) for $900 at Sears
• Philips 50-inch 720p plasma (unspecified model) for at Wal-Mart for $1,398
• Samsung 50-inch 720p plasma (HP-T5044) for $1,300 at CompUSA ($100 cheaper than Best Buy, Circuit City, or Sears)
• Vizio 50-inch 720p plasma (unnamed model) for $1,000 at Costco

Rear-projection HDTVs

• Mitsubishi 65-inch 1080p DLP rear-projection HDTV (WD-65733, a follow-up to a discontinued model) for $1,500 at Best Buy

It's likely that many retailers will follow Black Friday promotions with still more sales. If you don't get the deal you're looking for, keep checking our Electronics Blog, ConsumerReports.org site and others for new deals, additional promotional events, and online specials as we get closer to Christmas. And next year, it will likely pay to start checking for Black Friday bargains two weeks before the actual holiday.

—James K. Willcox

GPS: The best deals on Black Friday

Black Friday may hold many surprises for eager bargain-hunters this year. We've previously covered some of these anticipated "door busters"—the outrageous deals in consumer electronics that retailers hope will woo you to come and shop at ungodly hours on the day after Thanksgiving.

Still, if you're looking for a GPS unit one of the hottest items this holiday season), our colleagues who cover Cars for Consumer Reports have brought together all their latest information on GPS units and scoured circulars for the best sales prices on standout devices. Check out their post on Best GPS deals for Black Friday.

Of course, if you're looking for more Black Friday and other gift-buying-related info, check out:

• Hot HDTV deals
• The latest deals in Electronics
• Consumer Reports: 201 Best Gifts for the Holidays
• Consumer Reports' Shopping Blog

And our Electronics Blog will have the latest news, deals, and tips throughout the 2007 holiday season. So, check back often. Better yet, subscribe using our blog's free RSS feed and you never miss a thing! (For more information about RSS, see this link to Mozilla and Firefox or this Google search on "What is RSS?")

—Paul Eng

PCs: Best Black Friday Specials

The end of the year is the peak period for computer sales. Computer makers and dealers are jumpstarting this run by offering Black Friday and holiday discounts of hundreds of dollars each on select brand-name laptop and desktop PCs. In some cases, they're sweetening offers by throwing in a printer or digital camera.

• Most offers we found online and in flyers were accompanied by fine print stating that supplies were limited.
  
• Some listed the minimum number of discounted computers available in each local store. Don't expect to find those machines unless you're at the store when it opens.
  
• Not all offers were easily found at the company's site; some were promoted primarily through flyers.

Here are some outlets and select Black Friday specials:

Best Buy

eMachines desktop (Celeron 420), 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, 17-inch LCD, with a Canon all-in-one color printer, $199.97. Though we’ve never tested this particular model, its specs fit our criteria for a budget desktop, save for a relatively slow CPU.

Toshiba Satellite A135-S7403 15.4-inch laptop (Celeron M processor 530), 512MB RAM, 80GB HD, with Canon Pixma MP210 all-in-one photo printer, $229 We've recommended the A135 in the past, though Toshiba has since downgraded some of its specs. If you buy this version, we'd recommend upgrading its RAM.

Related information:

• Consumer Reports' Shopping Blog
• Hot HDTV deals for the Holidays
• Best Holiday deals for consumer electronics
• ConsumerReports.org: How to buy a computer
• Latest Ratings of desktop PCs (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)
• Latest Ratings of notebooks and laptops (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)
  

Sony's Smile Shutter Seizes the Moment

Many cameras now offer face detection technology, a feature that tries to set the focus, exposure, and color balance so that faces appear sharp, well exposed, and the proper color.

Now several new Sony Cyber-shot point-and-shoots come with something extra, a new feature called Smile Shutter mode, that fires the camera when it recognizes a smile. To see how well this works, we bought one of the new cameras, the Cyber-shot DSC-T70 (Click on the image at right for a closer look), and tested Smile Shutter in our labs. We'll be posting our findings by Thanksgiving, on ConsumerReports.org. Check back and see if Smile Shutter made us grin or grimace.

[Nov. 22, 2007 UPDATE: We've completed further testing of the Smile Shutter function of the Sony DSC-T70 digital camera. You can freely access our "claim check" report on ConsumerReports.org by clicking here on this link. —Ed. ]

Be sure to also check out our newly updated digital camera Ratings (for subscribers only) of the latest point-and-shoot digital cameras. Find out which will make your favorite shutterbug smile this holiday season.

—Terry Sulllivan

Wal-Mart Black Friday Ads Lack Last Year’s Fireworks

After weeks of speculation, Wal-Mart unveiled its Black Friday ad early this morning, and while it isn’t short on great buys—including, for example, a sub-$800 42-inch 1080p LCD and a sub-$1,400 50-inch 720p plasma—it seemed to lack the punch of last year’s promotion, which triggered severe price drops on a highly rated Panasonic 42-inch plasma HDTV.

This year, TV promotions are centered largely on models from Polaroid, a secondary brand whose models haven’t done particularly well in CR’s HDTV Ratings. For example, as part of a Friday-only, 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. doorbuster sale, Wal-Mart is offering a 42-inch 1080p Polaroid LCD TV for $798, while a 32-inch 720p Polaroid LCD TV is priced at $448. Other TV deals good only during that time include a $448 26-inch Polaroid LCD TV/DVD combo, and a $198 Emerson LCD TV.

For those looking a set from a major brand, Wal-Mart has a 50-inch Philips 720p plasma for $1,397, a $1,196 46-inch 720p LCD model from RCA, a 37-inch Sanyo LCD TV for $847, and a 32-inch Samsung LCD set for $796. While we don’t know the specific models, Samsung has consistently been one of the top-rated LCD brands, and Philips’ plasma models have typically been very good. LCD models from RCA and Sanyo haven’t done quite as well, although both have been solid performers that are often good values.

Other electronics sale items include:

• a $198 Panasonic DVD camcorder
• a $145 Magnavox DVD recorder
• a $30 Magnavox upconverting DVD player
• a $50 8-inch portable DVD player from an unspecified brand
• a $129 Garmin StreetPilot c330 portable GPS
• a $199 8.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S51 digital camera
• a $149 Polaroid 8-megapixel camera and 6-inch digital photo frame bundle
• a $50 8-inch digital photo frame from Venturer
• a $119 HP digital camera (5megapixel) and printer bundle
• a $398 Compaq Presario desktop PC with 1GB of memory and a 17-inch monitor
• and a choice of either a 15.4-inch AMD Turion-powered notebook PC or an Athlon-powered desktop PC with a 19-inch widescreen monitor—both from Dell—for $598.

In addition to these advertised specials, Wal-Mart says it will have “secret” in-store specials for both Friday and Saturday, which will be revealed on the walmart.com website on Thanksgiving day. The chain’s Black Friday specials are good only while supplies last, and a disclaimer mentions that brands could vary by store.

—James K. Willcox

Black Friday HDTV Deals from CompUSA, Staples

Black Friday ads leaked for computer chains CompUSA and Staples show that both stores will have a select number of TV deals available during special limited-hour in-store sales events.

CompUSA is running a two-day pre-Thanksgiving sale this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 16 and 17), during which you can get a 50-inch Zenith plasma HDTV (Z50PX2D) for $1,000 and a 19-inch Envision LCD monitor for $140.

The store will open on Thanksgiving for just three hours, from 9:00 p.m. until midnight, then reopen at 5 a.m. on Friday morning. Specials include the 37-inch Olevia 537H LCD TV for $600; this model did very well in our tests. Other electronics deals include a $500 Athlon-based HP notebook PC with 2GB of RAM, a 22-inch Envision widescreen LCD PC monitor for $150, a $45 7-inch digital photo frame, a $60 7-inch portable DVD player, and a $148 Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS.

On Black Friday, TV deals from CompUSA include a 47-inch 1080p LCD TV from LG Electronics for $1,500 after a $500 instant savings. While we haven’t tested this model, the LG 47LC7DF, another 47-inch LG 1080p TV did very well. A 26-inch LG LCD TV will cost $600 after $150 instant savings, and Sharp’s 46-inch 1080p LC-46D64U LCD set will cost $1,700 after $800 instant savings. Samsung TV deals include the 50-inch HP-T5044 plasma for $1,300—$100 less than at Best Buy's or Circuit City's Black Friday sales. We haven’t tested this particular model, but Samsung plasma TVs have consistently done very well in our tests. Samsung’s 46-inch LN-T4661F, CR’s top-rated 1080p LCD TV, will be $2,000.

You’ll have to be an early bird to get a deal at Staples’ sale, which runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Friday. If supplies last, you could walk away with an unspecified 42-inch LCD TV for $800, while a 32-inch model is $450. Both sets appear to be Envision models.

Other Staples deals include a $350 Intel-powered Compaq notebook computer with 1GB of RAM and a 17-inch Acer LCD monitor for $90.

—James K. Willcox

Plasma TVs on Black Friday: How Low Can You Go?

A sneak preview of the Black Friday circulars from the largest electronics retailers shows that plasma TVs will once again be at the center of promotional activity this Thanksgiving weekend. And you won’t have to settle for a little-known off-brand to get a great deal: Leading the Black Friday charge are sub-$1,000 42-inch plasmas from Panasonic, consistently one of our top-rated brands.

Best Buy, for example, is offering Panasonic’s TH-42PE7U model at a doorbuster special price of only $900. We couldn’t find that model number within Panasonic’s model listings (apparently it’s a Black Friday special made especially for Best Buy), but Panasonic plasma TVs in our Ratings have been top-notch. If you venture to Circuit City for its six-hour special, you’ll see the TH-42PX75U—the smaller sibling of a CR Best Buy model—for $1,000.

If you want to buy either of these plasma sets, plan to be among the first in line when the stores open at 5:00 a.m. on Friday. Best Buy says it will have at least 15 sets per store, while Circuit only states that quantities are limited. Neither chain will offer rainchecks or substitutions on promotional items like these.

You won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for a bigger screen. At both Circuit City and Best Buy, the 50-inch Samsung HPT5044 plasma set will be $1,400, while a 50-inch Zenith (Z50P3) will be only $1,000. We haven’t tested this particular Samsung, but its plasma TVs have consistently done very well in our tests. We haven’t tested any Zenith plasmas.

LCD sets will be well-represented in the stores as well. Among the sale items you’ll find at Circuit City are the Sharp 46-inch LC-46D64U, a 720p set, for $1,300 and the 52-inch LC-52D64U with 1080p resolution for $2,200. (All TVs mentioned in this blog are 720p unless specified as 1080p.) Several LCD sets from Sharp, one of the biggest names in LCDs, have done very well in our recent Ratings, though others—especially older sets—have been middling.

[11.15.07 Update: As pointed out in the comments below, the Sharp LC-46D64U is a 1080p set.-Ed.]

Here are some additional HDTV deals at Circuit City for Black Friday:
• a 42-inch Sharp LCD (LC-42D43U, Sharp’s budget line) for $800
• a 32-inch Sharp LCD HDTV (LC-32SH12U) for $600
• a 40-inch Polaroid LCD (PLD 4011-TLXB) $700 (Polaroid has been a lower-rated brand in our tests)
• a 32-inch Element LCD TV, $400
• a 50-inch Samsung SlimDLP rear-projection HDTV (HL-T5075S), $800 (Samsung has been one of the better-rated rear-projection TV brands)
• a 65-inch Toshiba rear-projection DLP set for $1,500 (Toshiba has been a top-rated rear-projection brand in our tests)

In other deals, Circuit City will be offering a Samsung Blu-ray player (BDP-1400) for $378, a $180 JVC MiniDV camcorder, a $100 Mio portable GPS, and $300 Compaq Pentium notebook PC with 1GB of RAM and a free printer and router, and $230 Acer Pentium D desktop PC with a 17-inch LCD.

Here are some additional Black Friday HDTV deals being offered at Best Buy:

• a 47-inch Westinghouse 1080p LCD (TX-47F430S) for $1,300 (a CR-tested model, this one has very good overall picture quality)
• a 42-inch HP 1080p LCD (LC4276N) for $997 (a low-rated CR model)
• a 37-inch Dynex LCD for $630
• a 32-inch Philips LCD (32PFL5332D) for $600
• a 26-inch Magnavox LCD TV/DVD combo $480
• a 65-inch Mitsubishi 1080p DLP rear-projection HDTV (WD-65733) for $1,500 (we recently tested a step-up model, the WD-65734, which did very well).

Other electronics deals include:
• a $200 Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD player (with 7 free movies)
• a $400 Samsung BD-P1400 Blu-ray player (with 7 free movies)
• a $150 Panasonic MiniDV camcorder (PV-GS80)
• a $400 Sony notebook computer with a 15.3-inch screen, 1GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive
• a $200 eMachines Celeron desktop PC with a 17-inch monitor, 1GB of RAM and a free a Canon all-in-one color printer
• a $400 Compaq Pentium desktop computer with a 17-inch widescreen monitor and Canon all-in-one color printer
• a $120 TomTom One LE GPS
• a $75 Samsung 1080p upconverting DVD player
• a $99 500-watt 5.1-channel Sony receiver
• a $200 300-watt Harmon Kardon 5.1-channel 1080p receiver

As always, we’ll continue looking out for the best deals on our best-rated HDTVs.

—James K. Willcox

Digital photo frames, portable GPS join TVs as Black Friday doorbusters

TV deals on Black Friday generally garner the most attention, but the latest Black Friday ads on sites such as www.gottadeal.com and www.theblackfriday.com show that digital photo frames and handheld GPS devices are also being singled out for star treatment.

The best deals we’ve seen—so-called “doorbuster specials”—generally occur in the early-morning hours (typically starting at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.) and last for several hours. The sale items are generally offered in limited quantities, which could be as few as 10 per store. Make sure you read the fine print in the ads to see if there’s a chance you can actually get one of these deals, especially if you’re not one of the apparently large number of people willing to camp out overnight to ensure a good place in line.

That said, here are some of the latest Black Friday leaks we’ve seen. It’s quite possible that these and other stores will add more late-breaking deals and web-only specials as we get closer to the Black Friday period.

Target
Target is closed on Thanksgiving, but it’s holding a two-day sale starting bright and early Friday morning and continuing on Saturday. Among the deals being offered: a 37-inch Olevia LCD TV (237T) for $549, a 22-inch Westinghouse flat-panel LCD computer monitor (LCM22W3) for $167, and a 19-inch TruTech widescreen LCD TV (PLV31199S1) with a built-in DVD player and PC inputs for $199.

Other deals include an Audiovox kitchen LCD TV with integrated DVD player for $199, an