The iPad sports an astonishing 2048 pixels by 1536 pixels. Technically this display doesn’t pack pixels as densely as the iPhone 4 display does. However, with over three million pixels on this display you will be hard pressed to notice. No tablet maker has ever attempted to create a display with such a high resolution. Packing pixels close together can actually create issues with color reproduction. However, Apple has revamped the process and this issue is mitigated.

Put simply, the iPad’s retina display is amazing. I have never seen a crisper picture on a computer monitor let alone a mobile device. Text is dark, tight, and sharp while images are saturated, bright, and gorgeous. 1080p video looks great on the retina display as well. Interestingly, the retina display actually has a million more pixels than 1080p video so content is actually up-scaled to fit on the display.

The big question is: can the retina display be a killer feature? A single feature that causes customers to make the purchase. I say it is. But don’t take my word for it, head over to your local Apple store and see for yourself. But be warned, once you see it your current displays will appear blurry. This is normal: your retina’s have been fried.

Camerabag comes preloaded with a myriad of filters to choose from. From ‘Hipster’ to ‘Italiano’, ‘Magazine’ to ‘Wedding’ you are bound to enjoy the built in styles. What’s even better is the multi-filtering power of Camerabag. Users are able to layer filters creating a nearly limitless array of possibilites. With just a few clicks you can take a simple picture and turn it into a masterpiece.

Although Camerabag is dead simple to use it also has several high-end features as well. Do you need to process a large bundle of pictures? No problem. Simply select an image, make your customizations, and then batch process the entire folder. In addition, have you created the perfect collection of filters and want to use it again? No problem. Simply save it for future use. You can even download custom filters from other users online.

Overall Camerabag is an exceptional application for photo manipulation. For only $19 you can purchase Camerabag 1.5 today with a free upgrade to version 2 (demoed in video) when it is released. Or if you want to try the application before you buy, download the beta build of Camerabag and try out all the features for free. Camerabag is an excellent application saving you time and frustration when editing pictures.

One the hardest things to swallow when going to college is the people staying behind: friends and family you’ve become accustomed to. I would be lying if I didn’t say I miss them everyday. However, it is a very unique experience because you get to see who truly cares for you. It’s interesting to see the people who stick with you when you aren’t having a party or giving a ride or going to a game. When it comes down to loosing someone you realize how much they meant to you. The results may be surprising but you can truly see who was a friend and who was another face in the crowd.

Let’s start with my decision to move here. One of my closest friends in high school is a huge Clemson fan. He talked me into applying and we both got accepted. When I finally visited the campus I was taken back by its majesty. Clemson has a truly a beautiful campus. However I was more impressed by the people. They are so kind. I’ve been told it’s a southern thing but regardless the smiles you see every day make it hard to dislike the school. Sadly my friend decided to bail on Clemson at the last minute but hey, his loose.

Move-in day crept up on me but Clemson makes it extremely easy. There is a plethora of happy faces not only willing to help, but actively asking if you need help. The experience couldn’t be easier. Move-in day also introduced me to my randomly selected roommate. Frankly we couldn’t be more different but it will work out. Conversely the hall I’m on is extremely warm and interesting. I’ve already met several new friends and can’t argue with my dorms location on campus. I don’t know if I’ll live on campus again next year but thus far its been quite good.

I can not wait for the year to fully start because I want to get involved with several organizations. I look forward to pursuing the freshman council in the undergraduate student government as well as Clemson College Republicans and the William T. Howell Pre-Law Society. Additionally I’ve become involved in Clemson FCA and have been very impressed with it. I am also trying to join a couple intramural sports this year to keep my sanity, although I’ve never played ultimate frisbee before. Did you know ultimate is the sport of choice down here? Oh and Clemson football, fuggedaboutit.

I don’t think it would be fair to overlook greek life. Fraternities and Sororities are huge at Clemson. In the first week alone I’ve met several interesting brothers in a few different frats and am looking forward to pledging. There is definitely a good option for everyone on campus and the sense of brotherhood it creates is unmatched. And after the fall semester ends I’ll have three and a half years of smoothing sailing.

Alright alright, I won’t forget about academics. I mean you’re not paying tuition for all the bells and whistles, you are paying for the education. My high school prepared me very well for Clemson as I’m going in with thirty credits from AP coures. Thus far the work load is a little intimidating but it appears manageable. My professors are intelligent and approchable and Clemson offers several free options if I need any help. Hopefully I won’t need it but I do have peace of mind knowing it is available.

Overall I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come to Clemson. It is on the smaller side compared to the other colleges I was admitted into but I do enjoy the small town feel. I’ve already ventured off campus and found a couple small restaurants I would never experience in a different region. If you are applying to college I highly suggest checking out Clemson, I’ve only been here a week but I truly love the environment, the people, and the spirit. Go Tigers!

The basic plot of this movie is simple. Lord Voldemort, the epitome of evil, is trying to destroy Harry and take over the world. Harry, driven by love for his friends, is trying to stop the dark lord Voldemort by destroying all of his Horcruxes, objects that contain pieces of Voldemort’s soul. Only when all of the Horcruxes are destroyed is Voldemort rendered powerless.

One interesting aspect of this struggle between good and evil is Rowling’s comment that pure innocence can not exist without evil. Harry who represents everything that is right in society is permanently linked to the dark lord. Therefore his ‘good’ always contains some evil, however, it is Harry’s ability to manage the evil inside of him that is truly noteworthy. It is the ability for an individual to compartmentalize their evil that makes someone pure.

The movie itself was packed with action. The director did a great job representing the immense size of this final battle. The sheer amount of death eaters, Voldemort’s followers, makes it clear that the final battle for civilization is about to occur at the gates of Hogwarts. Although several pieces of foreshadowing spoiled the ending for me, anyone who read the books will find these elements exciting. I don’t want to ruin any of the plot twists for people who have not read the books but I can say they are very well done and are quite exciting.

Overall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a must see movie. Not only because it ends a historic series with a bang but on its on merit. HP7P2 has all the elements needed for a great film: action, quality acting, even comedy all wrapped up into the fantasy world no can deny changed the landscape of witchcraft. Two thumbs up.

Design
The Galaxy Tab is engineered out of plastic. Although not as elegant as the aluminium iPad, this design works well, keeping the device light and durable. I don’t worry about scratches and feel comfortable if the device were to slip out of my hands or pocket. (Read: I experienced no damage when the Tab’s slippery back caused the Tablet to come crashing down onto the floor)

Samsung chose to keep the tablet clean by limiting physical keys and buttons. Bellow the display are four capacitive buttons for menu, home, back, and search (Left to Right). The right side of the tablet sports a power key, volume rocker, and microSD port, while the top features only a headphone jack. Rounding out the device is a Samsung proprietary charging port and speakers.

The Tab is 7.4″ wide by 4.7″ tall by .47″ deep. At .83lbs, the tab is not a burden to carry around or use. In fact, I’ve been able to carry the device in my pocket, pants and shorts not made of denim, surprisingly without issue. Furthermore, this sized device is usable with only one hand, a feat larger devices can only dream of. This makes casually browsing the web and chatting with friends much easier. It also allows the user to wrap their hands around the device, allowing you to almost touch the book or webpage you’re reading.

I’ll admit, I was a little bit concerned about the display. Samsung dropped SuperAMOLED technology from the Tab in favor of a more old school LCD. However, I am happy to report the 1024 x 600 pixel screen is enjoyable to use. The capacitive mutlitouch display is very responsive making software interaction a snap. Viewing angles are excellent as well. Overall, SuperAMOLED is a better technology moving forward, but you are not loosing much with this LCD display.

Performance
The Tab sports a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and 512MB of RAM offering solid performance. A 720p sample clip played wonderfully on the WSVGA screen and I was able to pause and check emails half way through without a hitch.

My concern arises from general sluggishness. I find that at least once or twice a session the device just freezes up and stalls for a few seconds. It’s not a deal breaker but it is a terrible annoyance. Moreover, be weary of flash. Although it is a good idea in theory, Flash dramatically slows down the browsing experience and general stability of the Tab. It’s usable, no doubt, but expect some extra slowdown when browsing flash content.

Battery performance is equally impressive thanks to a 4000mAh battery rated at seven hours of movie playback. Personally, I’ve managed to get almost six hours of SD movie playback on the device, a nice feat but not quite the advertised spec. In lighter tests, I’ve been able to get a few days of use out of the tablet using Sprint’s 3G network, sans WiFi, while in automatic brightness. This device uses very little power while not in use, so feel free to leave it on over night for instance access in the morning hours.

Media
Thanks to Android, the Tab can play nearly all the major audio and video formats. I’ve watched SD content all the way up to HD content on the tablet without hassle. From my testing, it seems like everything worked as advertised. Also, thanks to Flash support in Froyo (Android 2.2), I was able to enjoy several online videos my iOS devices can only dream of.

The Tab comes with a built in 3.5mm headphone jack and bluetooth to support your higher grade audio equipment. However, I was impressed by the built in audio. The stereo speakers produced a crisp sound, albeit a little soft, that made consuming media very enjoyable. You may want a nice pair of headphones for a noisy room, but otherwise the speakers do the Tab justice.

Unlike the iPad it’s main competitor, the Tab features two cameras for creating content. The 3MP rear camera with LED flash works but it is disappointing when compared to it’s younger Galaxy S brothers and sisters. Video recording is limited to 720×480, not quite HD, but is definitely passable on Youtube or Facebook. The front facing camera is fine for video chat over Qik, but don’t expect clean self portraits. Obviously having a camera is better than not, but don’t leave your DSLR at home during that next trip.

Third-Party Applications
The majority of Android Market apps will scale to the Tab’s larger 7″ screen. Neither Pandora nor Twitter are optimized for 1024 x 600 pixels, but the apps looked good enough. In fact, my friends have become completely addicted to “Angry Birds” and have yet to complain about scaling.

However, there are several applications that don’t scale, leaving a lovely black border around the content. Again, the app is still good enough to use, but it is completely disgraceful that more developers aren’t supporting this new bread of Android. As iOS developers have learned, the extra space can yield some incredibly powerful and useful features, but until Google optimizes their SDK for tablets, third party expansion will continue to lack.

Conclusion

The galaxy tab is an extremely impressive tablet providing several exciting and useful features. However, the killer applications that make iOS devices so popular have yet to reach the Android tablet market. Most apps scale decently but streching a smartphone app is not condusive to an excellent tablet experience. Native applications are critical for the success of a hardware platform, just ask Nokia’s quickly depreciating smartphone niche. Until developers start coding high quality applications for tablets, Android will continue to lag behind iOS for larger screens.

However, the Tab’s extensive feature set is nothing to scarf at. It is by far the best Android tablet on the market. The device is well built and runs efficiently. I quite enjoy spending time on the Tab, and therefore recommend it for all ‘iOS-hating’ tablet seekers out there. You can pick up a Sprint Galaxy tab for $600 ($400 on a two year contract) now or wait for WiFi only models in the future.

Chassis:
The iPhone 4 is compact. At 4.5″ by 2.31″ by .37″, the iPhone 4 is smaller than previous generation iPhones. In fact, the phone feels much more ergonomic than other devices on the market making it easier to use. Although a little heavier than previous models, at 4.8 ounces the iPhone is not a brick. In fact, it feels much better in my pocket than other smartphones I’ve used, including the Nokia N97 and the HTC Touch Pro2.

Regardless of size, the biggest cosmetic improvement comes in the form of materials. The days of plastic are finally gone. The back of the phone is now formed with scratch resistent glass, a welcome upgrade from the weak plastic of previous models. Sadly, there are reports of minor scratches on this glass leading users to suspect a lower grade glass than the front touch screen. The phone is then incased in a band of stainless steel to round out the professional appeal.

Speaking of the screen, the new Retina display is majestic. At 326 pixels per inch, the Retina display has by far the highest resolution screen on the market. But is the Retina screen a useful feature or marketing hype? Although it’s hard to imagine, the screen is breathtaking. The level of detail seen in pictures and images is remarkable. In fact, when you load a complex webpage like the New York Times and you can read all the text without zooming, you can more easily understand the usefulness of the Retina display. In fact, thanks to the new IPS technology found in the Retina display, the iPhone 4 has much wider viewing angles from all directions.

Also on the exterior of the phone are the antennas. Perhaps the biggest talking point of the iPhone 4 isn’t what it does well, but its reception woos. As early as launch day, left handed users were noticing signal degradation when holding their phones. As more reports hit the internet, it became clear something was wrong. Apple responded in a press conference designed to highlight the problem and showcase the issue in other device.

Apparently, the formula used to display the signal bars is completely wrong. Apple goes on to say that the reason for signal loss is poor mobile data coverage and suggests that the original bar reading may have been artificially increased. A software update has been released and Apple will supply free cases to combat these problems. Although I can reproduce this issue, I have yet to drop a call or loose connection. Either way, a free case is a nice gesture.

Finally, I’d like to address colors. When Apple announced the iPhone 4, they demoed both a black and a white unit. Unfortunately, just hours before launch Apple officially stated that white iPhone’s would not be available until late July 2010. Personally, I have no interest in this white model. However, the absence of a white iPhone has increased demand for the black model making it more difficult to purchase a unit. Apple says manufacturing issues forced their hand, but it seems to me Apple used this situation to artificially boost demand.

Camera:
One of the reasons I was so quick to jump on this new iPhone was the improved camera. At five megapixels with a larger sensor and an LED flash, pictures look much better than before. Images are crisper and autofocus continues to work wonders. I’ve been particularly impressed with macro shots taken by simply tapping on the screen. And although there isn’t an optical zoom you do have the option of using up to a 5x digital zoom, although I tend to steer clear of this method.

Moving on, video recording is very important to me. Sporting 720p HD video capture, the iPhone 4 is great mobile device for aspiring film makers. The idea of having a viabile capture option wherever you are is extremely appealing, and one of the major selling points of this device. In terms of quality, video look great. Resolution is sometimes marketing hype but Apple’s implementation of video recording works very well and creates excellent video. And if you want to edit your high definition clips on the go, iMovie has gone mobile and works quite well.

Moreover, Apple has added a VGA resolution camera to the front of the phone. Useful for taking self portraits, this camera has another great feature: FaceTime. FaceTime is Apple’s mobile video chat solution allowing iPhone 4 users to speak, see, and hear their contacts. FaceTime is limited to iPhone 4 and is currently WiFi only. Apple has said they plan to make FaceTime utilities public allowing developers to create their own solutions on top of the FaceTime API’s. I’ve yet to determine the practicality of video chat, but having the option to see my friends when I call them is appealing.

Battery Life:
Since the dawn of time, smartphone users have been crippled by poor battery performance making it difficult to last the entire day on one charge. The only solution was to disable services, forcing many users to cripple their new devices to last throughout the day. As of late, Apple has made great strides in battery performance offering powerful laptops with legitimate eight hour batteries and the iPad which lasts for over ten hours on a signal charge.

Without a doubt, the iPhone 4 takes queues from its brothers. With a battery now rated at 1420 mAh, the iPhone takes usage in stride. I’ve been able to complete a day of heaving usage while staying above 40%. Simply amazing. What’s more, Apple’s battery technology is expected to last for one thousand recharge cycles meaning you can expect quality battery performance for a long time.

Calling:
Often overlooked on smartphones, the core function of these devices is calling. Although I’ve personally moved away from voice chat in favor of SMS, MMS, and Email, I still think it is truly important to purchase a phone with solid calling abilities. I’m happy to say the iPhone performs extremely well. I’ve both made and received calls from the iPhone 4 and can honestly say it sounds life like. Words are audible, voices are clear, and I’ve noticed fewer dropped calls.

New to the iPhone 4 is a second microphone, located on the top of the device, for active noise cancellation. In simple terms, the second microphone picks up background noise and removes it from your outgoing audio making your conversations less noisy and distracting. Furthermore, Apple has greatly improved the speakerphone making calls louder and crisper while also enhancing the music listening experience.

Apple has also implemented a software feature to help AT&T’s desperate network. The device actually switches from band to band to connect to the frequency with the least amount of congestion and interference. Don’t get me wrong, if the signal is too weak the iPhone won’t connect to it, but there are other variable in play to make your experience the best it can be.

Conclusions:
You can read as many overviews and walkthroughs as you want but eventually you need to make a decision: should I buy this device? I’m sure you have discovered this by now, but I am extremely pleased with my iPhone 4. I’m always connected and the iPhone is a solid device that drives my communication: whether that be social media or direct conversation. iOS 4.0 is a great software package that makes using the device simple and reliable while also expandable with over 200,000 third party applications.

To be frank, there is no better device on AT&T at this point. The hardware of the Palm Pre Plus is dated and the few android devices are limited by AT&T’s restrictions. I’m a fan of the Tilt 2 (Touch Pro2) but at this point I’d stay clear of Windows Mobile devices, at least until Windows Phone 7 launches. If you are on another carrier, you are not excluded either. If you have good AT&T coverage, I highly suggest you switch to the iPhone, you won’t be disappointed. However, if AT&T 3G is lacking in your area I suggest you look for a different device on your network. The iPhone is a quality smartphone but if you don’t have reception the whole point of an always connected mobile device is lost.

To begin, let’s talk about coverage. Both the GSM operators in the United States have notoriously bad 3G service. Don’t get me wrong, AT&T has the largest footprint in the USA, covering about 97% of all Americans with their Edge service. However, 2G networks such as Edge make anything more than simple text emails impossible. Moreover, T-Mobile is quickly expanding the footprint of their 3G network, a network which only a short time ago didn’t exist, but has yet to make it widely available. As such, consistency and HSDPA don’t go together in the United States. And don’t even get me started about basements, office buildings or parking garages. Can you say “No Service” with any more certainty?

CDMA carriers fair a little better, although they aren’t immune to the same pitfalls as AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon Wireless loves to boast their reliable network as much as any carrier I’ve seen. Although more constant than AT&T, I’ve experienced network fluctuations and lack of coverage in my area. Sprint is equally inconsistent, particularly with the extremely limited coverage of their ’4G’ WiMax network.

In addition, none of the current mobile data networks available to the public even come close to DSL, cable, or fiber optic broadband speeds. I routinely get bellow 1Mbps download and average about 250Kbps upstream on AT&T’s 3G network. A reality simply unacceptable when you have content to share with the world. Verizon and Sprint, CDMA Rev. A, are comparable in real world situations although they have lower theoretical maximums. T-Mobile, on the other hand, continues to play catch-up with their HSPA+ rollout.

The combination of poor connectivity and slow speeds illustrate the overall terrible quality of these mobile data networks. In fact, whenever you really need to get some work done it seems the network gets even worse. I was trying to upload a picture from my iPhone the other day and AT&T’s 3G network refused to cooperate. Three times.

Let’s talk about some applications for a moment. The Evo 4G touts video chat with its front facing camera as a key feature of the device. Unfortunately, the service doesn’t work very well. Over WiFi the quality is VGA on a good connection and the frame rate is decent at best. Over 3G, you’re lucky to even keep the conversation connected. In fact, Apple is specifically blocking Facetime video messaging over 3G.

Video streaming is another example. Services such as MLB At Bat and the ABC player tout high quality video streaming to your mobile device. Over WiFi, watching my Yankees or my favorite episode of Castle is very enjoyable. When I tested the services over Sprint’s 4G network during a car ride, all I got was extremely low quality video streams and major lag. Essentially, the video wasn’t even watchable.

Of course, we aren’t always using our mobile devices in such strenuous situations. Some times sending an email or checking twitter is all we desire. Reading text isn’t too troublesome for 3G but when more advanced content, like images, come into play, expect delays. In fact, the gods at AT&T sometimes decide just to ignore this media all together and refuse to load the content. Don’t you just love passive censorship?

Even worse is the pricing structure for mobile data. Of course, specifics vary from carrier to carrier but generally speaking mobile data is over priced. For relatively slow speeds and connection issues it is hard to justify $30/month for unlimited data. In fact, AT&T recently removed unlimited data usage in favor of a 2GB, $25/month price tag. Even if your carrier still offers ‘unlimited’ data, remember unlimited really means a 5GB limit before your account gets flagged.

Overall, in today’s society I find it inexcusable that the major telecoms have no gripes with offering such a poor service. Obviously I’m a big user and therefore am critical of a product I use very frequently, but there is definitely merit to the argument. It’s 2010 for goodness sake, we can make big screen televisions an inch thick and we can drive completely electric cars for miles on end. Mobile data is undoubtedly years behind, a travest that irritates me day in and day out. If only one carrier went out on a limb and launched a powerful and consistent option I’d switch in a heartbeat. I mean, we can dream right?

To keep this topic as straightforward as possible, I’ve created a list of five reasons you should consider the iPad. Although the iPad can do much more than what’s on this list, I wanted to focus on specific elements of the device and steer clear of marketing jargon. So without further ado, the iPad:

1. App Store
   The app store revolutionized the market. It allowed third party manufacturers a centralized place to index all the wonderful applications available for the iPhone and iPod touch. There are now countless apps in the app store to satisfy your hunger. Essentially, the app store allows users to expand their mobile devices to match their limitless and changing needs. What’s great about the iPad, unlike other devices on the market, is this device will launch with a massive app catalog. Most of the apps currently in the app store will work on the iPad at launch and apple has already opened the SDK so developers can build iPad specific apps prior to launch. Essentially, the app store will keep your iPad fresh and new for as long as you use the device.
2. eBook Reader
   Kindle or Nook? These devices costs around $260 and do one thing really well, books. They allow you to discover, purchase, and read books on the go. Unfortunately, beyond reading these products are very limited in functionality. Along with the iPad, apple is launching the iBookStore. Basically, the iPad will have all the functionality of a Kindle in one, easy-to-use application. Function specific devices be damned, there is a new sherif in town, and it does so much more.
3. Digital Picture Frame
   The dark horse on this list. Have you ever looked into purchasing a digital picture frame? High quality digital picture frames can cost $500 or more and only serve one purpose. With the iPad, users can easily sync all their photos to display on the high resolution, vibrant 9.7inch screen. Plus, the iPad can connect to the web so you can display photos from flickr or picasa as well.
4. iWork
   Apple understands a device like this cannot always be used for fun and games. Built from the ground up and optimized for touch, Apple will be releasing pages, keynote, and numbers for the iPad. These apps, which correspond to word, powerpoint, and excel respectively, allows users to easily credit, edit, and email critical assignments all from their portable tablet. Whether it be PDF’s, microsoft office documents, or iWork files, the iPad can manage them all.
5. Price
   Prior to the iPad announcement, bloggers expected the apple tablet to cost just bellow $1000. With the base model actually starting at $499, the iPad is much less expensive than expected. I cannot tell you the last time I saw a high quality, touchscreen tablet for $500. Although the iPad cannot multitask, it’s power will rival similarly priced netbooks allowing the iPad to compete with both tables and netbooks. A high quality 9.7″ touch screen tablet, 16GB of flash storage, a great music player, and more for $500 is a steal.

Unfortunately, Pure Digital has been slow to respond to their competitors. With other products offer 1080p recording, external memory expansion, and more, Pure Digital is behind on the spec sheet. Working to their advantage however is usability. The Flip line has always been easy to use and remains the easiest way to go from camera, to computer, to DVD or social network. With all that in mind, I’ve formulated a list of five ways the Flip can, and should be, improved within the next few months to continue to aggressively compete with other low-cost, easy to use camcorders.

1. Memory Expansion:
   You will never be able to get enough storage. Point blank. I’m always looking for more storage to record video content to so allowing users to install large and inexpensive SD cards on the fly is a great attribute. This won’t impact the quality of your content but it will provide peace of mind on vacations and long events.
2. Increased Battery Capacity:
   The Flip Ultra HD allows users to swap rechargeable battery packs or standard AA battery’s pretty quickly which makes longer events easier to manage. Unfortunately, the device will power down during the swap so you won’t be able to record extra long video clips. For me, user replaceable batteries aren’t a big issue but improving battery life to easily get through a day on the trail is a big request.
3. Still Shots:
   The Flip line isn’t able to take pictures. You can use the included software to export a freeze frame as an image but the hassle isn’t worth the degraded quality. Simply put, these pocket camcorders should be able to quickly snap a photo. There is no reason your nearly $200 product cannot take pictures.
4. Improved Video Quality:
   I specifically didn’t say 1080p recording. Often, resolution is marketing hype and most consumer cameras in the market fall under this label. Pure Digital needs to improve the vividness of recorded video, low light recording, and perhaps include an auto-focus, optical zoom lens. It’s a hassle to use a camera that doesn’t focus on the subjects you are recording. Granted, the fixed-focus lens on current cameras works, but it’s too hard to fit the scene into the proper distance while focusing on capturing the scene in all it’s glory.
5. Image stabilization:
   Pocket camcorders are meant to quickly capture the moment or preserve your memories on a budget. With this in mind, the camera is constantly in your hand as you walk and talk. The issue is, there is so much judder in the videos you record it’s nearly unwatchable. A true, high quality optical image stabilizer is a must on the next incarnation of these camcorders. Without this upgrade, it will be hard to continue to recommend the flip line.

Overall, the Flip line is a great blend of quality, simplicity, and price. At this point, pushing the market forward are competitors with more powerful and beefy devices. Flip has the opportunity to retain their dominance in this niche but Pure Digital must fight proactively to continue to be the perennial powerhouse.

What does this mean?
If you are paid to review the product or if you receive the product free for review you must disclose the relationship. Basically, if you benefit from the review you must keep your auidence informed.

What are the legal consequences?
The FTC could file legal charges against you if you don’t comply. Keep in mind this is legal legislation and is punishable under federal law. Now most likely the FTC won’t target you and file charges if you don’t comply with the rules. However, they have the power and authority to sue you so I strongly recommend you follow these rules.

I’d just like to note that you have most likely been following these rules already. Personally, I try to disclose when I receive a product to review but remember it is now the law. Plus, if you want to have any authority and respect in your community you need to be honest. If you are not honest no one will listen to what you have to say and you won’t be reviewing products much longer.

For all the details check out the official FTC statement on these guidelines.

This product is unique in the sense that it uses a flat-bed design. I’m sure you can picture rabbit ear antennas but according to RCA this new design picks up more channels than the old design. This antenna support all digital and analog frequencies (VHF and UHF) giving you the best chance to find a station that you like. It also uses extremely low noise circuitry to preserve the purity of your feed.

The 1450b, rated between excellent and superior by RCA, includes a removable amplifier as well. But what does this amplifier do and is it necessary? To being, the included amplifier “enhances performance of passive antennas and optimizes signal for the best possible reception.” In essence, it enhances the antenna to get the best possible content for the viewer. Now the short answer is no you don’t need the amplifier. If you live in a densely populated area you should be fine receiving all the ota content you want. If you live in a more suburban area the amplifier will allow you to view more stations and experiences better quality on the stations you do receive. In my opinion though, just screw on the amplifier and forget about it.

With the amplifier attached and the antenna placed without obstructions, I was able to pick up around 36 channels [including several in HD]. I was lucky to have a feed from all the major networks, in HD, allowing me to record any programs, with the elgato, I wasn’t able to watch live. Of course some channels looked better than others but for basically no money I’m able to watch any program I want.

In conclusion the 1450b antenna is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. With it’s unique design and included amplifier you are not going to get better results from any other indoor antenna. Of course if you don’t have any signals coming your way this device will be useless so use antennaweb to check the OTA content available to you. For under $50 I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed with this product and recommend it to anyone in the market for an indoor antenna.

The Nokia N96 NAM, the older brother of the N95, is a more polished version of it’s predecessor. Although most components are the same, the N96 has a new look that makes it more stylish and in some cases more functional. But is this model worth the price, we shall see soon enough.

The N96, which measures 4.1″ x 2.2″ x .7”, is a dual slider with a full number-pad and media controls. These media controls are just four black plastic buttons, there is no text or symbols on them. What Nokia did was put lights under the plastic to make the media controls light up when accessed. This little touch adds a lot to the design. The backlit number-pad supports T9 predictive text which works very nicely. However, each row of numbers sits on the same strip of plastic which decreases usability.

Nokia went on to drastically improve the look of it’s product. The primary buttons on the front are no longer oddly designed chrome but flush, touch sensitive keys. Media controls also appear on the front of the device in the same fashion as the primary media controls. The 2.8” screen, which has a resolution of 240×320, looks great with its sharp colors and popping video playback. Overall, the spring loaded slider feels solid and well made and the device fits comfortably in my hand. (Hardware Tour)

Just like the N95, the N96 has all the connectivity you need. HSDPA networking, wi-fi, and bluetooth all work nicely. The N96 also has a good built in browser that, although a little slow compared to other devices, supports flash. However, the device consistently asks me what network to connect to even though I am already connected. It gets pretty annoying after a while and I have yet to find a way to disable those pop-ups.

This phone was designed with media in mind and Nokia didn’t skip a beat. The device allows you to listen to your content in three ways: the duel external speakers, from headphones connect to the 3.5mm jack, or wirelessly with bluetooth stereo headphones. Want some more music? The device also allows you to listen to internet radio as well as FM radio with an external, but included, tuner. There is even a plastic stand on the back of the device which makes it easier to watch your videos.

A really cool media extra is the ability for you to output what is on the screen of your device right to a TV or computer monitor. All you need is an input on the TV and the included component cables. This video can give you more information.

To store your media, the N96 ships with 16gb of internal storage. Plus, you can expand that with a microSD card. Just like the N95, the music player supports all the formats you would expect: W4A, AAC+, WMA, AAC,MP3, and eAAC+ files, as well as a few DRM-protected formats. Real player, the default video player on this device, can play MPEG-4 and 3GPP video. You can also play Divx video clips if you download divx mobile, which is free, to your phone.

But what kind of content can this device make on it’s own? Well, it can record video at 640×480 resolution at 30fps and with it’s two LED’s dark videos are extremely bright. You have auto and night modes as well as scene modes, white balance, and color tone options. One problem with video recording is that there is a slight hiss on all recorded videos which I assume is from the lens autofocusing. (Video Test)

Taking pictures with the 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens is amazing and is leaps and bounds better then any other mobile phone I have used. Colors pop, pictures look great, and the duel LED flash makes dark pictures possible (Image Sample). Nokia gives you total control over the camera so that you can take the perfect picture. From white balance, color tone, exposure, sharpness, contrast, and ISO settings as well as several scene modes and shooting modes. You can even geotag your pictures or video with the included A-GPS.

Moving on, the N96 has everything you need for email with IMAP4 and POP3 email support. However, from my usage I have found email is displayed as text only which is a bummer. Making up for it though is the ability of the phone to read you your email or SMS messages. Speaking of messaging, the N96 supports IM and MMS messaging right out of the box

A big concern for me going in was the battery which is rated at 950mAH. Nokia claims that the N96 can get up to 220 minutes of talk time and 220 hours of standby time. From my testing, you can get about 5 consecutive hours of video and 14 consecutive hours of music playback. The device has yet to die on me during the day.

To maximize the battery, Nokia under-clocked the CPU which does show in performance. Menu’s are somewhat slow to respond and apps take a good 4 seconds to simply start. You can have applications run in the background, which is cool, but this decreases performance even further.

So is this device worth the $600+ you are going to spend on it? If you are in the market for a mobile media power house then yes, it is 100% worth the price. It does media extremely well and content it produces is superior to other mobile phones. If you are just the casual user I still recommend the phone but it’s not going to be as great a value for you. Still check it out, but there are other less expensive models for you, the casual user.

Now for the meat of this post, the breakdown and comparison of the Nokia N95-4 8GB NAM and the Apple iPhone 3G. The phones are compared in five different categories spanning design, navigation, features, multimedia, and call quality. Although in the end one phone must win, both are quality devices and should not be taken lightly.

Design
The Nokia N95 has a very sleek look.The glossy black front and matte-black finish on the back looks quite nice. The dual slider looks good too. The screen is pretty bright and everything looks like it belongs. However, it would have been nice if Nokia updated the look of the buttons and made the device a little skinnier. As for the iPhone 3G, Apple has once again created a device which has no competition. The screen is amazingly bright, responsive, and large while the sleek finish on the back continues the unique design from the front.
Winner: Apple iPhone 3G

Navigation
The N95′s weakest attribute is its navigation. Finding a particular application or function takes a while when you have to dig threw the file structure of this phone. Plus, you are limited by the button navigation that is far less efficient than a touch screen or scroll ball. As for the iPhone, everything you need is with-in a fingers tap, as you can store anything you need on the home screen. Plus, the touch screen works so well. Nothing currently on the market can match the sensitivity and accuracy of that screen.
Winner: Apple iPhone 3G

Features The Apple iPhone 3G is loaded with features. You have the app store which is an amazing resource for free and commercial applications, Eight or 16 GB of storage, and friendly support at your local apple store. (If you ever need it) Plus, thanks to the great interface, web-browsing on the iPhone is amazing. (Both phones have HSDPA and UMTS for 3G networking.) The N95 doesn't have a great service for finding application on the go however you can run almost anything on it. With the iPhone, Apple decides what you can put on it, the N95 however does not have any such limit. (It can even run unsigned applications.) The N95 also has some basic features the iPhone is missing including MMS messaging, the option for turn by turn directions (although that costs extra), and the ability to tether your phone's data connection to a computer. It even has copy and paste functionality.
Winner: Nokia N95