Intel Reader: A device that turns any book into an e-book

The Intel Reader (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Intel]

Today, Intel launches a mobile reading device that converts printed text to digital text and then reads it aloud. The device weighs a little more than one pound, has a 4.3 inch screen and a 5 mega-pixel camera with a flash. Similar to netbook computers, the Intel Reader is powered by an Atom processor and promises long battery life: more than 4 hours of book "reading" or the ability to remain in standby mode for up to 5 days.

This small, portable device will allow blind or dyslexic users to gain freedom and independence by being able to read everything from menus to tax forms without waiting for assistance.

Last week, I got a chance to try out the device and was impressed by its ease of use and versatility. For starters, it is significantly smaller than previous reading assistance devices that were often confined to a desk at a local library. Capturing text from a book or magazine with the Intel Reader was made easy by the fact that the camera faces downward, perpendicular to the screen, allowing the user to hold the device comfortably in front of them. This innovation may spread to cell phones and shopping devices as it is currently very awkward to photograph text or bar codes with the rear facing camera on most cell phones.

Droid vs. iPhone: A 10-round bout

[Update: See the author's response to commenters in his follow-up post: "Droid vs. iPhone: Them's fightin' words'" —Ed.]

The Motorola Droid, available today from Verizon for $200 after rebates, is the latest in series of phones, including the Blackberry Storm, T-Mobile G1, and Palm Pre, to be floated as a potential threat to Apple’s iPhone, the undefeated champion of the smart-phone world. Other media who’ve weighed in on the showdown include Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal, Gizmodo, and Engadget.

I liked what I saw when I put a press sample of the Droid through its paces. (See the Droid review here.) Now, as our testers complete their extensive tests on the Droid, here’s my 10-round preliminary take on how the new Verizon smart phone fares against the iPhone 3G S, which remains—at least for now—the highest-rated smart phone in our Ratings (available to subscribers).

Ding ding:

Round 1. Touch screen. Advantage: iPhone. Both phones have highly responsive touch screens. But the iPhone's is multitouch for all functions, allowing you to zoom in and out of photos and Web pages by pinching or spreading your fingers. The Droid has such multitouch functionality only when running certain applications, according to Engadget.

Round 2. Interface. Advantage: Droid. A tough call, since both phones have a terrific icon-based interface that makes finding and launching their many features a snap. However the Droid, which employs the latest 2.0 version of Google’s Android operating system, allows a higher degree of personalization via widgets and other tools, and you put all of your e-mails from different accounts (except Gmail) under one view.

Extra Extra: Consumer Reports Electronics Buying Guide is on sale

(Click to enlarge.)

It may be a tad early to start your holiday shopping, but there’s a good chance you’ve at least been thinking about it. Maybe you’ve had a big-ticket gift—like a new TV or home theater—in mind for a while now, but are putting off the purchase till November or December. If it’s sales you’re waiting for, you probably know what you want and how much you’re willing to pay. On the other hand, you might just a teeny bit leery of throwing so much cash at something you know very little about. Which is better: a plasma or LCD TV? Should you upgrade to a Blu-ray player or stick with standard-def DVDs?

If you find yourself in need of expert advice, consider the newest edition of the Consumer Reports Electronics Buying Guide. Inside you’ll find a wealth of information on everything from televisions and computers to smart phones, GPS units, and much more. For each product, the Consumer Reports editors walk you through the basics, explaining what’s available, which features matter, brand profiles, and offering tried-and-true shopping tips.

In addition to product information, the guide offers advice on how to shop smarter, including:

• Netting the best deals online, and protecting yourself when you shop on the Web


• When to repair and when to replace a broken item


• How to haggle effectively


• Finding the best electronics retailer based on our comprehensive annual survey


• How to save—and what to be wary of—with refurbished or open-box products on store shelves


• Where to get free office software, free computer security programs, and more useful freeware

T-Mobile Sidekicks lose data, with lessons for phone carriers and users

Phones need to make it relatively easy to back up the data they carry, preferably locally to your computer, and cell phone owners should take advantage of those methods.

Those are among the lessons of the past weekend's T-Mobile sidekick incident, in which Microsoft irreparably wiped out the contacts, call history, and other data for an specified number of Sidekick owners.

Yesterday, T-Mobile said that Microsoft—whose operating system, with the now-ironic name of "Danger," developed a glitch that caused the mishap—was still working to retrieve data from affected Sidekicks. Meanwhile, sales of the popular smart phone have seemingly been halted. (T-Mobile's Web site was this morning listing Sidekick models as "temporarily out of stock.") T-Mobile also said those whose data proved irretrievable would receive a $100 gift certificate to apply against their monthly service charges or any other T-Mobile expense.

The company has also posted tips on how at least some Sidekick owners might be able to recover some of their data, even as the T-Mobile/Microsoft data-recovery efforts continue. The tips include ways you might be able to retrieve old messages containing contacts or obtain contact information that was sent via vCards, electronics business cards that are sometimes attached to e-mails.

T-Mobile has also warned Sidekick owners not to allow their phone to lose power as Microsoft struggles to retrieve data.

Movie streaming: Vudu can do HD

A comparison of HDX (left) and SD (right) streaming video quality, provided by Vudu, for the movie "Chronicles of Riddick." One might argue the quality of the picture exceeds the quality of the film. (Click to enlarge.)
[ PHOTO: Courtesy of Vudu ]

We recently had a chance to try out some of the newer streaming movies services that are available to owners of newer Internet-enabled TVs (as well as some Blu-ray players). What we've found, as we did several month ago when we tested a number of standalone streaming players supporting services such as Blockbuster OnDemand, Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand, is that all of the services are capable of sending decent-looking, DVD-quality video streams. However, none lived up their their HD billing.

The sole exception was Vudu's HDX-format video. When we tested it previously, it did look like real HD but was available only as a download, which could take several hours to process before it was stored on the playback device's internal hard drive. More recently, however, HDX video has become available as a stream on TVs from LG and Mitsubishi, as well as on LG's BD390 Blu-ray player. So naturally we were curious to see if the streaming version of HDX could match the picture quality we saw as a download.

Much to our—well, at least my—surprise, our preliminary tests showed the Vudu HDX movie streams continue to be head-and-shoulders above the other streaming offerings in terms of picture quality. They also include the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 soundtracks that were available on the downloads. During our preliminary testing of streaming HDX, performed on LG's 60-inch 60PS80 plasma TV, the HDX version of "Lord of War" started up quickly, and image quality was impressive. We were able to pause, rewind, and fast-forward with no buffering delays, just as you do on a disc player or DVR, and return to the movie at the point we left off.

Hands on: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj—the first projection camera

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj digital camera.
(Click to enlarge.) [ Photo: Courtesy of Nikon ]

The 12-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S1000pj is the first camera that lets you beam images or video clips onto any surface. Like any pioneering product, it's pricey at $430, twice the price of most subcompact cameras. Here's what we found in our preliminary tests:

• Decent by dim projections. Projected images, of VGA quality (640 x 480), are acceptable in quality but less crisp than the same images viewed on a computer, HDTV, digital photo frame or camera LCD. When we projected the Nikon's LED (rated at just 10 lumens) at a distance of 6¾ feet from a white surface, the farthest Nikon recommends, the 40-inch (diagonal) images were bright enough to view only if the room was dark. With the lighting merely dimmed, we had to reduce the projection distance to create an image of no more than about 20 inches, barely enough for five people to comfortably view.


• Passable sound and battery life. Sound volume for videos is a bit low. For louder sound, you must connect your own external speaker via the camera's AV out jack. And a fully charged battery will be spent after about one hour in projector mode; we recommend spending $25 on an extra battery. (You can also buy an AC adapter for $20.)

Does the Samsung Instinct HD really shoot HD video?

The Samsung Instinct HD.
[PHOTO courtesy of Samsung]

The Samsung Instinct HD, available from Sprint for $250 with a two-year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate, is the first cell phone we've seen that claims to make high-definition video recordings. It also boasts a 5-megapixel still camera with flash. That camera is a step up from the flashless, 2-megapixel camera found on previous Instincts, also from Sprint, including the S30 version now in our Ratings, available to subscribers.

We’re evaluating the Instinct HD now, and will post full test results on it to our Ratings later this month. Meantime, our initial results on its imaging are promising, albeit with a few quibbles.

The new Instinct’s camera is easy to access, thanks to a dedicated camera button, conveniently located on the lower right side of the phone. Pushing the button activates the camera’s still mode. Tapping a camera icon on the upper left of the largish (1.78 x 2.66 in.) display switches the camera to video mode. Tapping again summons controls for auto-focus, exposure, and other camera functions.

The Instinct HD claims it can record video resolution of 1280 x 720p, which is a true HD format—although, as we often point out, HD format alone does not assure images of pristine, high-definition quality. To assess quality, we shot a series of videos on the Instinct and hooked it up to a 50-inch Panasonic plasma television using the optional ($30) HDMI cable.

Our findings: Color was good in the MPEG4 videos, though they lacked fine detail and texture. They blurred even more when we panned the camera to the left or right. In short, they couldn’t rival the image quality you’d enjoy from full-sized HD camcorders in our Ratings, available to subscribers.

But such camcorders are much bigger and pricier than the Instinct HD, and do nothing except shoot video and stills. The high-def video quality of the Instinct was comparable to what you’d get from a standard-definition pocket camcorder, such as the Flip. And that's still way ahead of the video we've seen any other camera phone.

AT&T to allow VoIP apps for iPhone—but you may still have to pay

The brouhaha that’s been brewing since AT&T and Apple squelched the Google Voice app for iPhone back in July just took an interesting turn. In an apparent reversal, and capitulation to an FCC inquiry, AT&T now says it will permit iPhone VoIP apps—those phone services that allow you to place voice calls over the Internet at little or money—to operate over its 3G and 2G networks.

iPhone (and Touch) users already have the ability to make VoIP calls via Skype service when they're within range of a Wi-Fi hotspot—but not over AT&T's 3G network. AT&T has a history of curbing iPhone access to its network for fear of overloads. Only in late September did it begin allowing iPhone users to send text messages with pictures (MMS).

This issue of allowing people to bypass their networks to make phone calls has been far more contentious. Many consumer groups, including Consumers Union advocates, contend that blocking such innovative apps is unfair to consumers. 

The announcement, CU advocates say, is a step in the right direction. However, AT&T's new VoIP offer may yet prove to be a very limited victory for consumers. Blackberry users can already make VoiP calls via Skype and other providers on AT&T's 3G network. However, the calls go over the voice portion of the network, so consumers use up their minutes. The only time it pays to use Skype over 3G is when calling foreign countries, which will be charged as domestic minutes rather that the much pricier foreign minutes.

No details of permitted apps or app rollout have been released. —Mike Gikas

CEDIA 2009: New 1080p front projectors aim high and low

Sony Bravia VPL-VW85 (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of Sony]

Been waiting to pull the trigger on a new front projector, but were wondering if prices are going to drop further? The answer is yes, as companies such as Epson, JVC, Mitsubishi, Samsung, and Sony—whose projectors have typically done well in our Ratings (available to subscribers)—announced new, lower-priced models that will arrive over the next two months at the recent CEDIA electronics trade show. While there were no low-price bombshells—that happened a several weeks ago when both Vivitek and Optoma debuted the first sub-$1,000 1080p models—we did see some new, lower-priced entry-level products from these companies, plus step-up models at lower prices than we've seen so far. Here are some of the front-projector highlights from the show:

Sony aimed high and low with its newest 1080p SXRD (LCOS-based) front-projection models. At the upper end is the Bravia VPL-VW85, an $8,000 model that will be available later this month. Among its features is Sony’s Motionflow 120Hz anti-blur processing, and a mode for using an anamorphic (2.35:1) lens. Targeting a more budget-conscious customer is an entry-level SXRD model, the $3,000 Bravia VPL-HW15. Both models arrive later this month.

Mitsubishi unveiled two new lower-cost models. Priced at $1,500, the HC3800 is an entry-level 1080p DLP projector (most recent Mitsubishi projectors we've reviewed have been 3LCD models). It will be available during the third quarter. A step up is the $2,300 HC6800, a 3LCD model that features a motorized lens shift (both vertical and horizontal). The projector has a snazzier design and matte-black finish. Both have a pair of anamorphic lens modes.

Epson Pro Cinema 9500 UB (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of Epson]

Epson headed to the show with four new 1080p 3LCD home-theater projectors, all in its PowerLite line. Two are PowerLite Home Cinema (HC) models, and the other pair are PowerLite Pro Cinema (PC) units. The HC8100 ($1,600) is an entry-level piece, while the HC 8500 UB ($3,000) is a step-up model with claimed better contrast thanks to a dual-iris system and Silicon Optix's Reon-VX video processing/upscaling. In the Pro Cinema series, the PC 9100 is a $2,600 1080p LCD model that features ISF calibration and a 2.1x optical zoom with manual focus. It will be available next month. The step-up model is the Pro Cinema 9500 UB ($4,000, November), which adds THX certification, the dual-iris system, an anamorphic lens mode, and Reon-VX video processing. Epson throws in a ceiling mount and cable cover with the unit.

Samsung has a new, lower-priced DLP projector, the A600, which will retail for $1,800. The projector is relatively lightweight (13 pounds) and features a gloss-black finish. It has a short-throw lens, so it can be placed on the floor or ceiling-mounted closer to the screen.

InFocus showed off its first projector since new management took over in April. The ScreenPlay SP8602 ($5,000) is a 1080p DLP model available at the end of the month. The unit uses a DLP's DarkChip technology, Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processor, and 120Hz technology. Unlike many less expensive DLP projectors, this model has a lens shift (both vertical and horizontal) for easier placement, and optional colored "skins" are available to match room decors. It also has a 5-year warranty.

JVC DLA-HD550(Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of JVC]

After wowing the crowds with its $175,000 "4K" home-theater projector—a "Quad HD" model with 4096x2400 resolution, four times that of a 1080p model—JVC then served up six new D-ILA (LCOS-based) front projectors in the $5,000 to $10,000 price range. Three models— the DLA-HD550 ($5,000), HD950 ($8,000) and HD990 ($10,000) are Procision consumer models, while the DLA-RS15 ($5,500) RS25 ($8,000) and RS35 ($10,000) are Reference-series projectors sold by its pro division. Common features include claimed higher native contrast ratios (without the use of an auto iris), 120Hz Clear Motion Drive, motorized horizontal and vertical lens shift, four screen-type (anamorphic) modes, and HQV Reon-VX video processors/upscalers from Silicon Optix. The four pricier models also get THX, and the top two get ISF certification and a longer 3-year warranty.

We'll also be filing a Blu-ray wrap-up from the CEDIA show, so stay tuned. —James K. Willcox

New iPods expected from Apple's conference

[PHOTO: Courtesy of marco.ziero]

September is the time of year when Apple refreshes its iPod line, so it's fairly safe to assume the press conference Apple is holding Wednesday, starting at 10 am Pacific time, will include news on the company’s media players.

We'll report on the event later in the day. Meantime, here are my predictions on what those announcements will be:

Higher-capacity iPods. Probably double the capacity of what's available now, for about the same price. That means a 64-gigabyte (GB) Touch, 32GB Nano, and 8GB Shuffle.

A camera and GPS capability for the iPod Touch. Speculators have been disappointed before on this topic, but this time the stars are properly aligned for adding a camera to at least one iPod. The company’s iPod Touch, essentially an iPhone without the cell-phone carrier connection or camera, is the natural first candidate, especially given that the latest iPhone boasts a 3.0-megapixel camera with editing capability. Also, the multiple GPS apps now available for the iPhone, including one from TomTom, could work on the Touch, were it to add a GPS chip, which reads position via satellite without need for a cell network connection.

Goodbye hard-drive models. Except for some niche portable video players made by Archos and iRiver, hard-drive MP3 players have all but disappeared from the marketplace. (Microsoft is dropping hard-drive models from the refresh of its Zune line, scheduled for mid-September.) The demise of Apple’s 120-GB Classic iPod seems likely.

An update to iTunes. Apple often combines iPod announcements with updates to its music-management software. Back in July, the Financial Times reported that Apple was working with major record labels, whose CD sales have steadily slipped, to spice up album downloads with more compelling extras that include "interactive" album material. Look for an announcement of iTunes album downloads that will insert a digital booklet of photos, lyric sheets and liner notes.

There’s also been speculation that the Apple event, being the same day as the Beatles catalog is re-released in remastered form (more on that in another post), will include a long-awaited announcement that the Fab Four’s music is being added to the iTunes Store.

Anything’s possible tomorrow from Apple (including announcements unrelated to iPods or iTunes), but it’s worth noting that the invitations for the event include the line “It’s Only Rock and Roll But We Like It.” Borrowing from a Rolling Stones song to help in announcing a Beatles deal seems odd, to say the least. —Mike Gikas