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This article previews the CES 2005 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though the show does not actually start until Thursday, the first event was a well attended CES Unveiled held for the press Tuesday afternoon. A number of digital imaging companies also took the opportunity to make product announcements at the ImageScape reception, held a day before the show officially opened. Though there are plenty of players in this space, most of the pie is split between Kodak, Sony, Canon, and Fuji, who are expected to hold these positions through the coming year. Bill Gates has often given opening CES keynotes, and has used them to introduce new products and initiatives in the past. The new displays at CES 2005 were bigger, brighter, sharper, and faster than ever. Here is a look at a couple that stood out from the crowd and some new technologies that are poised to deliver radically improved color for liquid crystal displays, plasmas, and projectors for both consumers and professionals. The Easyshare One's screen doubles as both viewfinder and handheld portfolio. The camera comes with a whopping 256 MB of RAM, enough to show hundreds of images with Kodak's album software. Noticeably missing at CES was any display of Wi-Max gear or even demonstrations, beyond one wireless SuperSession.

This article presents the author's evaluation of some telecommunication and computing products. Although Nextel pioneered Push-To-Talk (PTT) on cell phones, they no longer have a monopoly on it, as Verizon and Sprint have added PTT service on their handsets as well. Even though you can only talk within your own carrier's network today, interoperability between carriers should be only a matter of time. Normally thought of as a business feature, you would be surprised how handy it can be to keep track of family members or friends out together, or as usually winds up happening, nearly together. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. Though the most expensive of them is the SPC-5500 (VM4500), with its built in 310k still/video camera, my favorite is the 7300, designed for an active lifestyle. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it is just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 gigahertz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of memory (minimum), and a 60-gigabyte hard drive.

This article presents the author's look at some consumer electronics and bluetooth technologies. It is wet in California, where I spent New Year's Eve before going on to cover the Consumer Electronics Show with Alex Pournelle, David Em, and Dan Spisak. There was more than enough cool stuff to see there without getting to many offerings at the Bluetooth pavilion, so I will be getting to that here. If it is wet in LA, it is cold here in Washington, D.C. fifteen degrees this morning. I like the cold myself, but I am from Yankee stock, so go figure. My current mobile suite still revolves around my Sony TR3A ultralight, which just fits into my camera bag's outside pocket. I have had it since the first SpaceShipOne launch last June, and I am still quite pleased with it. The power supply is light enough so that I do not mind taking it along, even though I can get three or four hours out of the battery. What really makes it work on the go though is the addition of a cellular wireless card, because a computer without Internet is a pitiful thing to see. This month I am running an AirCard 775 for EDGE networks using AT&T's network. Its got good coverage and good throughput, and I will talk specifics in a bit. I am also testing a RIM BlackBerry 7100t for my Cell/PDA combo and I have got to say that if you are going to have a smart phone, getting one with Bluetooth is the way to go.

This article highlights the pre-show and the actual events during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2005. The pre-show event was well attended. The room was packed with tables and reporters taking a first look at what they could look forward to on the exhibition floor, including a powerline networking system from Spanish company DS2 that was streaming high-definition television, a personal multimedia display from Tronic, a handheld version of the Princeton Review's SAT tutor, and ATI's TV Wonder USB 2.0, a simple but comprehensive way to hook the television to the computer with digital stereo and PC VCR capabilities. A number of digital imaging companies also took the opportunity to make product announcements at the ImageScape reception, held a day before the show officially opened. Particularly notable was Kodak, who sponsored the event, with its EZ Share One. This sleek camera is considerably more than just another 4 megapixel point and shoot. It has 256 megabytes file storage, a big articulated liquid crystal display (LCD), and Wireless Fidelity printer/file sharing. The new displays at CES 2005 were bigger, brighter, sharper, and faster than ever. These new technologies are poised to deliver improved color for LCD, plasma television systems, and projectors for both consumers and professionals.

This article offers a look at products showcased at the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association's 2004 exhibition held at the Moscone West Convention center in San Francisco, California. Moscone West is a big glass building, and the California sun was high and bright and shining into the press room. There are plenty of new Bluetooth headsets in the pipeline, but Jabra Corporation's BT110 and A-210 adapter were well deserved winners of the show's wireless widgets award. To round out their line, they are also introducing the SP100, a Bluetooth speaker/hands free phone that also runs off AAA batteries. Hewlett-Packard Co. rolled out some nice Bluetooth devices, including the first pair of headphones that uses the technology and a nice little keyboard for use with Bluetoothed iPaqs. Blackberry Incorporated's first business phone is for people who want the utility of a Blackberry in the shape of a phone. In using its Suretype technology, Blackberry managed to combine a QWERTY keyboard and normal sized cell phone number pad to make a messaging device with dialing and messaging experiences that people do not have to relearn in order to use. Danger Inc. launched the fourth generation of its handheld combination device, which will be manufactured by Sharp and is available through T-mobile as the Sidekick2 and through Suncom as the Hiptop2.

Evaluates several mobile and electronic products. Features of the 7300 cell phone from Sanyo; Key strength of the Vaio Z1 laptop from Sony Corp.; Audio quality of the Zire 72 handheld from PalmOne Inc.

This article highlights the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2005 held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. A number of digital imaging companies also took the opportunity to make product announcements at the ImageScape reception, held a day before the show officially opened. Also interesting were industry updates by InfoTrends/Cap Ventures' analysts. They noted that this past year camera phone sales passed cameras, 138 million to 180 million. Another theme that was to become familiar was that over 55 percent of all digital camera purchases were made by people who have already owned at least one camera and are looking for improvements in resolution, liquid crystal display size and speed of operation. On image printing, there was discussion as to whether people will print more or less in the future. The new displays at CES 2005 were bigger, brighter, sharper and faster than ever. Samsung Co. Ltd. has long been a player in the flat display game, but at CES 2005, it established itself as an industry leader. Its astounding, 102-inch diagonal high definition-resolution plasma made its 80-inch models seem small. The most promising new display technology is Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Evaluates several products. SPC-5500 cellular telephone from Sanyo; Vaio Z1 laptop computer from Sony; Zire 72 handheld computer.

This article features several products featured at the trade show of the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association as of November 2004. PalmOne announced the release of its upgraded Treo 650, available at first through Sprint in a CDMA/1xRTT version, but soon through other carriers in GSM/GPRS/EDGE. Though it shares the basic layout of the previous model, it comes with a host of improvements, including Bluetooth; non-volatile file memory; a removable battery; a much improved 320 x 320 display with 65,000 colors; bigger, flatter, backlit keys; a VGA camera; and the ability to play MP3 files. The 650 will be able to support IMAP and POP3 email accounts, and synchronize with either desktops or Microsoft Exchange. Both versions include data access in the 120-40 kbps range, allowing for what should be a useful web surfing and e-mail experience. Initial pricing had not been set, but should be around $500. Motorola's A630 comes with Bluetooth, a QWERTY keyboard on the inside, and a 176 x 220, 65,000 color display. Aimed at the stylish set, it comes with AOL IM and can play rich MP3 ringtones, but that does not make it an MP3 player. Nokia's communicators have been exciting products since they were first introduced back in 2000. The 9300 takes the concept to new heights, slimming down to the point where you can carry it in a pocket rather than a pack, and offering a 640 x 200 pixel Active transflective color display with 65,000 colors.

Evaluates several electronic products. Sanyo SPC-7300 cellular telephone from Sprint; Vaio Z1 laptop from Sony; Zire 72 handheld from Palm.

This article provides information on the 2004 fall show of the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association held at Moscone West Convention center in San Francisco, California. Moscone West is a big glass building, and the California sun was high and bright and shining into the press room. Laptops could barely keep up with the illumination, and visitors could see journalists squinting into their machines everywhere. Visitors could not go two feet without running into a sign that promised Bluetooth with whatever they were selling, stating with the Jabra booth by the entrance. There are plenty of new Bluetooth headsets in the pipeline, but Jabra's BT110 and A-210 adapter were well deserved winners of the show's wireless widgets award. The BT110 is a very basic headset that runs off an AAA battery, and has a volume/call answering control and little else--but it sells for a suggested retail price of $69. Both started selling at Best Buy and other outlets a week before the show. On the high end is the BT800, selling for $119, and including digital signal processing for noisy environments and the ability to charge its AAA batteries in the case. To round out their line, they are also introducing the SP100, a Bluetooth speaker/hands free phone that also runs off AAA batteries. It also includes modes for noisy environments, like offices.

The article reports on the success of the test flight for SpaceShipOne (SS1), Burt Rutan's experimental spaceplane, over the Mojave desert on June 21, 2004. It was financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and flown by veteran test pilot Mike Melvill, it blazed a trail for others to follow into near space and beyond. At some point during the flight a fairing that had been newly installed to accommodate a larger rocket engine nozzle buckled, possibly causing a large bang heard by Melvill during his ascent. There were other flight anomalies. When the engine lit off, the spaceplane rolled left, then right, to nearly 90 degrees in each direction, but Melvill was able to recover from it to continue the flight. Space, as defined by international law, is anything more than 50 miles above Earth. Mojave Airport, America's first inland spaceport, has long been a civilian test facility, and is home to the XCOR aerospace corporation, a developer of reusable rocket engines, and the now defunct Rotary Rocket, whose abandoned hanger looms over the runway like a miniature vehicle assembly building. Melvill, the pilot chosen for the flight, has flown nine flights as part of the program. The flight of SS1 owes more in lineage to the X program of the 1950s and 1960s than to the rocket flights of the space program, whose early critics dubbed the astronauts spam in a can.

Evaluates several mobile and electronic products. Target lifestyle of the 7300 cell phone from Sprint; Key features of the Vaio Z1 laptop from Sony; Audio quality of the Zire 72 handheld from Palm.

This article offers a look at new product releases at the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association's 2004 show in San Francisco, California. There are plenty of new Bluetooth headsets in the pipeline, but Jabra's BT110 and A-210 adapter were well deserved winners of the show's wireless widgets award. The BT110 is a very basic headset that runs off an AAA battery and has a volume/call answering control and little ease--but it sells for a suggested retail price of $69. Parrot Inc., a European Bluetooth developer, announced the launch of their hands-free and installation-free car kit. They also have advance car kits and one with Global Positioning System, all of which are available at Best Buy and other chains. Blackberry's first business phone is for people who want the utility of a Blackberry in the shape of a phone. Motorola's A630 comes with Bluetooth, a QWERTY keyboard on the inside and a 176 x 220, 650,000 color display. It is aimed at the stylish set, it comes with America Online Instant Messenger and can play rich MP3 ringtones, but that does not make it an MP3 player. Darger launched the fourth generation of its handheld combination device, which will be manufactured by Sharp and is available through T-mobile as the Sidekick2 and through Suncom as the Hiptop2.

This paper reports on the success of the test flight for SpaceShipOne (SS1), Burt Rutan's experimental spaceplane on June 21, 2004 over the Mojave desert. It was financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and flown by veteran test pilot Mike Melvill, it blazed a trail for others to follow into near space and beyond. At some point during the flight a fairing that had been newly installed to accommodate a larger rocket engine nozzle buckled, possibly causing a large bang head by Melvill during his ascent. There were other flight anomalies. When the engine lit off, the space plane rolled left, then right, to nearly 90 degrees in each direction, but Melvill was able to recover from it to continue the flight. Space, as defined by international law, is anything more 50 miles above Earth. Mojave Airport, America's first inland spaceport, has long been a civilian test facility, and is home to the XCOR aerospace corporation, a developer of reusable rocket engines, and the now defunct Rotary Rocket, whose abandoned hanger looms over the runway like a miniature vehicle assembly building. Melvill, the pilot chosen for the flight, has flown nine flights as part of the program. The flight of SS1 owes more in lineage to the X program of the 1950s and 1960s than to the rocket flights of the space program, whose early critics dubbed the astronauts spam in a can.

This article provides an account of the latest technology and products that were featured at the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association's fall show in San Francisco, California, in 2004. The show was held in San Francisco's Moscone West Convention center. Moscone West is a big glass building, and the California sun was high and bright and shining into the press room. Laptops could barely keep up with the illumination, and one could see journalists squinting into their machines everywhere. Hewlett-Packard rolled out some nice Bluetooth devices, including the first pair of headphones and a nice little keyboard for use with Bluetoothed iPaqs. It is a simple layout which folds over, but has one of the best feels that can be seen in a portable keyboard. Parrot Inc., a European Bluetooth developer, announced the launch of their hands-free and installation-free car kit. The DriveBlue could not be simpler to install, since one just plugs it into a cigarette lighter outlet and it is ready to go, or to go with to another car. The other trend that is clearly taking off is the convergence of cell phone and personal digital assistants. The maturing of both mini-keyboard devices and post Generation Y users means that the time is right for the converged devices to take off.

This article offers information on new products exhibited at the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association show in the fall of 2004 in San Francisco, California. The Jabra BT110 is a Bluetooth headset that has a volume/call answering control. Using its Suretype technology, Blackberry has managed to combine a QWERTY keyboard and normal-sized cellular-telephone number pad to make a messaging device with dialing and messaging features. Danger launched the fourth generation of its handheld combination device, which will be manufactured by Sharp and is available through T-mobile as the Sidekick2 and through Suncom as the Hiptop2. Sprint will be selling the Vision Smart Device PPC 6601, a Pocket PC cellular telephone that features a slide-out keyboard that lights up as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

This article highlights the 2004 Cellular Telephone and Internet Association's exhibition held at the Moscone West Convention center in San Francisco, California. A number of new Bluetooth headsets were presented, but Jabra's BT110 and A-210 adapter were well deserved winners of the show's wireless widgets award. The BT110 is a very basic headset that runs off an AAA battery, and has a volume/call answering control, but above all, it sells for a suggested retail price of $69. On the high end is the BT800, selling for $119, and including digital signal processing for noisy environments and the ability to charge its AAA batteries in the case. To round out their line, they are also introducing the SP100, a Bluetooth speaker/hands free telephone that also runs off AAA batteries. It also includes modes for noisy environments, like offices. Three AAA batteries offers 12 hours of talk time. Blackberry's first business telephone is for people who want the utility of a Blackberry in the shape of a telephone. Using its Suretype technology, it managed to combine a QWERTY keyboard and normal sized cellular telephone number pad to make a messaging device with dialing and messaging experiences that people do not have to re-learn in order to use. It includes a list of 30,000 words for predictive typing and spelling, Bluetooth and Universal Serial Bus access, and a 240x260 pixel display, and it is compatible with AOL, Yahoo, and ICQ messaging services. PalmOne announced the release of its upgraded Treo 650, available at first through Sprint in a CDMA/1xRTT version, but soon through other carriers in GSM/GPRS/EDGE. Though it shares the basic layout of the previous model, it comes with a host of improvements, including Bluetooth; non-volatile file memory; a removable battery; a much improved 320x320 display with 65,000 colors; bigger and flatter backlit keys; a VGA camera; and the ability to play MP3 files.

This article provides information on several products featured at a Cellular Telephone and Internet Association's trade show in the U.S. in 2004. There are plenty of new Bluetooth headsets in the pipeline, but Jabra's BT110 and A-210 adapter were well deserved winners of the show's wireless widgets award. The BT110 is a very basic headset that runs off an AAA battery and has a volume and call answering control and little else, but it sells for a suggested retail price of $69. On the high end is the BT800, selling for $119 and including digital signal processing for noisy environments and the ability to charge its AAA batteries in the case. To round out their line, they are also introducing the SP100, a Bluetooth speaker and hands free phone that also runs off AAA batteries. It also includes modes for noisy environments, like offices. Hewlett-Packard rolled out some nice Bluetooth devices, including the first pair of headphones to use the technology and a nice little keyboard for use with Bluetoothed iPaqs. Parrot, Inc., a European Bluetooth developer, announced the launch of their hands-free and installation-free car kit. The DriveBlue has noise reduction and echo cancellation, operates in full duplex mode and has upgradeable software. They also have advanced car kits and ones with Global Positioning System, all of which are available at Best Buy and other chains.

Evaluates several laptop and wristop computers. Vaio TR3A from Sony Corp.; C Series Lifebook 2300 from Fujistsu; n3 Smart Watch from Suunto.

This article reports on the DigitalLife exhibition at the Javits Center in New York City in 2004. This event is aimed squarely at young, hip consumers eager to outfit their lives and homes the latest in computer games, gear, and ideas. Best Buy's chief executive officer Brad Anderson spoke passionately at the keynote about the changes in lifestyle experience that have taken place in a single generation. He talked about the eye opening experience of going into a Hi-Fi audio store in Minneapolis to listen to stereo headphones for the first time and what a revelation it was to hear lifelike sound. Cathy Marting, senior vice president of Internet Telephony for AT&T, followed with a keynote that also talked about the past and the future, and how voice over Internet protocol will reinvent the telephone and give people back time. She showed a nice commercial, which seemed odd, then brought out the engineers from the commercial out to talk about the technology, which was actually kind of cool, although they failed at their imitation of spontaneity. She also talked about our screen centric lives, where managing devices is done through an endless set of displays that you need to learn. Wireless-Fidelity is a key technology for the next decade, she offered, which also fits into the voice over Internet protocol idea. Using technology to be reachable when and where we want rather than when and where the world wants to get hold of you is another point that she stressed as an important feature of coming devices and services.

This article provides information on laptop and wrist computers. The Sony TR3A Picturebook laptop includes a VGA camera, a high resolution display and a built-in optical drive. The 3.1 pound weight no longer seems ultralight, but considering it has an optical drive built in and the Centrino chipset makes an extended life battery no longer something you cannot do without. The 10.6-inch display's 1280 by 1024 pixel display is bright and sharp and the high resolution really makes text and photos show up clearly. The standard Lithium-ion battery is rated for three to 5.5 hours and can be replaced with a large capacity battery good for six to 11 hours. Fujitsu C Series Lifebook 2300 is 13 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and weighing in at just under eight pounds. Battery life is less than spectacular, with an estimate of a bit over two hours, though the high capacity battery will double that. It also has a 15-inch Crystal View Screen and multimedia capabilities. The full size keyboard has fairly good feel. The Suunto Smart Watch starts out as a good idea. Even without the network updates, the idea that a watch should be programmable makes great sense. Basically it is a low-res display on your wrist.

This article provides information on the products featured in the 2004 TechXNY computer show. TechXNY focuses on three markets: people looking for small and medium business solutions; offshore outsourcing; and a little something to turn a McMansion into a Cyber Castle. Iomega has released its Network Hard Drive, which share most of the same features as the NAS, but in a package about the size of a hardcover book, and without wireless capabilities. After plug and play install, it shows up on computer desktops as a locally attached drive, simplifying access for users. Meanwhile, the internal video board of the Super DVD QuikTouch Video Burner 16x Dual-Format USB 2.0 External Drive lets it transfer video, photos, and music directly from a variety of devices. Pelham Sloane was showing the next generation of its all-in-one computer based on either a Pentium M or Celeron Processor and integrated within a flat screen display that can be wall mounted wherever you would like to use it as a home control system and media center. Unlike those that simply combine other controllers into one unit, Logitech's Harmony universal remote controller actually makes them all work together. First you connect it to the USB and log onto its web site to answer questions. then let it download the custom program which does everything else for you, turning on multiple devices and selecting the right settings for each.

Evaluates computer laptops and wristwatches. Vaio TR3A Picturebook laptop from Sony Electronics Inc.; C Series Lifebook 2300 laptop computer from Fujitsu Ltd.; n3 Smart Watch from Suunto USA.

The article looks at computer and electronic products featured at the 2004 TechXNY exhibition. TechXNY focuses on three markets: people looking for small and medium business (SMB) solutions; offshore outsourcing; and a little something to turn a McMansion into a Cyber Castle. My first stop was at Iomega, where I wanted to see the final version of its 160 and 250 gigabyte Wireless Server, the network attached storage 100d. It looks to be ideal for SMB operations providing high level data encryption, plug and play simplicity, and automatic backup of your network computers. In the digital home there are two battlefronts heating up: one for digital media management and the other for space on the coffee table. Some, like Microsoft's MSN TV2, are trying to fight on both fronts at the same time, while others, like Logitech's Harmony universal remote, are happy to do one thing brilliantly. Moving from couch to kitchen, or elsewhere in the house, Pelham Sloane was showing the next generation of its all-in-one computer based on either a Pentium M or Celeron Processor and integrated within a flat screen display that can be wall mounted wherever one would like to use it as a home control system and media center.

This article focuses on evaluating two laptop computers and a wrist computer. The TR3A Picturebook laptop from Sony includes a VGA camera and has a new high resolution display and a built-in optical drive. If you buy one in the store the best you can get is the CDRW/DVD version, but you can order the killer combo TRA5AP with DVD-RW drive online at SonyStyle. If you need the DVD burning capability, the $2999 price tag might not put you off, but if you can do without it, you can buy the base unit for $2199.99 with 512 MB RAM CD-RW/DVD drive. Another is the C Series Lifebook 2300 laptop from Fujitsu. For about $1500, you get a lot of notebook: one nearly 13 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and weighing in at just under eight pounds Battery life is a bit over two hours. The 2300 improves over previous Lifebooks by adding a 15-inch Crystal View Screen and multimedia capabilities. The n3 Smart Watch wristwatch computer from Suunto. Basically it is a low-rest display on your wrist; in effect, it is a programmable watch with news, weather, amusement and sports scores features. Reading the display is no problem; getting news alerts works pretty well. One good things about the n3 Smart Watch is that you can synchronize the watch with your copy of Microsoft Outlook.

This article evaluates several electronic apparatus and appliances products. First, the NAS 100d its 160/250 GB Wireless Server of Iomega. It looks to be ideal for SMB operations--or even the networked family--providing high level data encryption, plug and play simplicity, and automatic backup of your network computers. It can either join your wireless network, create one for you, or even opt not to go wireless at all. It is Iomega's first Network Attached Storage device to be sold through retail channels and goes for $499 or $599. Second, Microsoft's MSN TV2. It is a set top box that comes with network input, USB ports for Wi-Fi or card reading, and audio and video outputs, and runs on Windows CE. It costs $199.95 and requires subscription to MSN TV for $9.95/month. Next, the Pepper Pad 2 computer from Pepper Computer. It has an invisible embedded operating system based on MontaVista Linux and Java and a suite of basic applications already built in. It has a built in 800 x 600 resolution display so you can surf web pages without resizing them. Then comes Logitech's Harmony universal remote controller. . Unlike those that simply combine other controllers into one unit, the Harmony actually makes them all work together--hence the name.

The article features laptop computers, cellular phones, wristops and other technologies introduced in the U.S. market as of September 2004. The Sprint/Sanyo 5100 cellular phone works tolerably as a speakerphone, but it's not nearly as good. Typically cruising the ether at 115 kbps, the AirCard 550 high speed wireless card from Sprint works well with either laptop or Windows CE Pocket PC devices and the PCS Connection manager is easy to use once it's set up. The Downside is that Sprint doesn't have an unlimited service plan, requiring users to figure out how much data they'll be up and downloading, and signing up for a year at rates up to $100 a month for 300 MB of transfer. The Vaio TR3A Picturebook laptop from Sony includes a VGA camera, but it also has a high resolution display and a built-in optical drive. The 3.1 pound weight no longer seems ultralight, but considering it has an optical drive built in and the Centrino chipset makes an extended life battery. The C Series Lifebook 2300 laptop from Fujitsu costs about $1500. Nearly 13 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and weighing in at just under eight pounds. Battery life is less than spectacular, with an estimate of a bit over two hours, though the high capacity battery will double that.

The article features the laptops and wrist computers available in the U.S. market in September 2004. The author claims that Sony makes some of the coolest toys in technology. not the toughest ones, or the ones he want most to support as an information technology manager, but Sony does style better than anyone else. The TR3A Picturebook laptop is a case in point. Sony's latest Picturebook still includes a VGA camera, though the author claims that he'd take a little more vertical screen space and gladly give it up, but it also has a new high resolution display and a built-in optical drive. If users buy one in the store the best they can get is the CDRW/DVD version, but they can order the killer combo TRA5AP with DVD-RW drive online at SonyStyle. If they need the DVD burning capability, the $2999 price tag might not put them off, but if they can do without it, they can buy the base unit for $2199.99 with 512 MB RAM CD-RW/DVD drive. The author states that the Lifebook 2300 laptop computer from Fujitsu, which costs about $1,500, gives users a lot of notebook: one nearly 13 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and weighing in at just under eight pounds. Battery life is less than spectacular, with an estimate of a bit over two hours, though the high capacity battery will double that. The n3 Smart Watch from Sunto starts out as a good idea and grows on users. Even without the network upgrades, the idea that a watch should be programmable makes great sense. Basically, it's a low-res display on the wrist.

This article evaluates three portable computers. Enter the TR3A. Sony's latest Picturebook still includes a VGA camera, though I would take a little more vertical screen space and gladly give it up, but it also has a new high resolution display and a built-in optical drive. If you buy one in the store the best you can get is the CDRW/DVD version, but you can order the killer combo TRA5AP with DVD-RW drive online at SonyStyle. If you need the DVD burning capability, the $2999 price tag might not put you off, but if you can do without it, you can buy the base unit for $2199.99 with 512 MB RAM CD-RW/DVD drive. That is the unit I got to play with, and I found quite satisfactory with one or two reservations. Not everyone cares as much as I do about saving weight, especially if they are happy to use a laptop for their desk computer as well as for travel. So, in the spirit of fair play, I asked Fujitsu to loan me a full size laptop with everything built in, and it sent me the Lifebook 2300, which it introduced this spring. For about $1500, you get a lot of notebook: one nearly 13 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and weighing in at just under eight pounds. Battery life is less than spectacular, with an estimate of a bit over two hours, though the high capacity battery will double that. This is not a machine you are going to take everywhere, but one you are going to take from one desk to another, and for that role, it does quite nicely.

The article features new laptop computers and wrist watches released in 2004. The Sony Vaio TR3A Picturebook laptop includes a video graphics array camera which has a high resolution display and a built-in optical drive. The 3.1 pound weight no longer seems ultralight, but considering it has an optical drive built in and the Centrino chipset makes an extended life battery no longer something you cannot do without. The 10.6-inch display's 1280 by 1024 pixel display is bright and sharp and the high resolution really makes text and photos show up clearly. The 83 key, 17 millimeter pitch keyboard is not bad. About the only type of connectivity it does not come with is Bluetooth, though you can get a universal serial bus (USB) adapter for that. It does have 100 Base T, 802.11b/g wireless LAN, iLink (IEEE 1394), and USB 2.0 interfaces, as well as a V90 modem. The Fujitsu C Series Lifebook 2300 costs $1,500. It measures 13 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and weighing in at just under eight pounds. Battery life is less than spectacular, with an estimate of a bit over two hours, though the high capacity battery will double that. The 2300 improves over previous Lifebooks by adding a 15-inch Crystal View Screen and multimedia capabilities. The screen itself is both bright and viewable though a wide angle; this, coupled with a good set of speakers, makes watching DVD and gaming on it a pleasure whether you are alone or hanging out with friends. The Suunto Smart Watch has a low-resolution display on the wrist. Reading the display is no problem.

The article features several wireless communication systems and portable computers released in the U.S. market in May 2004. Although Nextel pioneered Push-To-Talk (PTT) on cell phones, they no longer have a monopoly on it, as Verizon and Sprint have added PTT service on their handsets as well. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. Though the most expensive of them is the SPC-5500 (VM4500), with its built in 310k still/video camera, the author's favorite is the 7300, designed for an active lifestyle. The suggested retail price is $129 with new line of service and 2 year contract. It's dual-band/tri-mode--digital: 1.9 GHz, 800 MHz; analog: 800 MHz. Talk time with standard battery is three hours. Two-way SMS, e-mail, notifications, and voicemail messaging is supported. The Sony Vaio Z1 (suggested retail price: $2,299.99) packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it's just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 MB of memory (minimum), and a 60 GB hard drive

The article evaluates electronic products. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. The most expensive of them is the SPC-5500 (VM4500), with its built in 310k still and video camera, while the 7300 is designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective, which would have been a nice touch considering its take me anywhere style . The speakerphone works nicely, and quickly becomes indispensable. The Sony Vaio Z1, suggested retail price: $ 2,299.99, packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it is just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of minimum memory, and a 60 gigabytes hard drive. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. The Zire 72 has a 1.2 megapixel camera and MP3 player. Though it does not have Wi-Fi, it does have Bluetooth. It does not have a cradle. One has to start a Hot Sync from either the Palm's desktop or by pressing the star by its writing area.

The article evaluates electronic products. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. The most expensive of them is the SPC-5500 (VM4500), with its built in 310k still and video camera, while the 7300 is designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective, which would have been a nice touch considering its take me anywhere style. The speakerphone works nicely, and quickly becomes indispensable. The Sony Vaio Z1, suggested retail price: $ 2,299.99, packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it's just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of minimum memory, and a 60 gigabytes hard drive. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. The Zire 72 has a 1.2 megapixel camera and MP3 player. Though it does not have Wi-Fi, it does have Bluetooth. It does not have a cradle. One has to start a Hot Sync from either the Palm's desktop or by pressing the star by its writing area.

This article evaluates several high technology products. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. The SPC-7300 is designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective. The speakerphone works nicely and quickly becomes indispensable, especially to someone who spends a lot of time with technology support getting other things to work. Sprint requires all their phone manufacturers to use a standard 2.5 millimeter earpiece jack. The Sony Vaio Z1, suggested retail price is $2,299.99, packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it is just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 gigahertz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of memory and a 60 gigabyte hard drive. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. Ironically, desktop systems keyboards are slowed down by the long travel people expect from them. The Zire 72 handheld features 1.2 Megapixel camera and MP3 player. Though it does not have Wireless Fidelity, the Tungsten C being the only Palm to come so equipped, it does have Bluetooth.

This article presents the views of the author on the latest gadgets. Although Nextel pioneered Push-To-Talk (PTT) on cell phones, they no longer have a monopoly on it, as Verizon and Sprint have added PTT service on their handsets as well. Even though you can only talk within your own carrier's network today, interoperability between carriers should be only a matter of time. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. The most expensive of them is the SPC-5500. With its built in 310k still/video camera, the 7300 is designed for an active lifestyle. It is drop tested to the standard of 4 ft. on concrete. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display isn't transflective, which would have been a nice touch considering its take me anywhere style, but it's bright enough to get by. The speakerphone works nicely, and quickly becomes indispensable, especially to someone who spends a lot of time with tech support getting other things to work. Sprint requires all their phone manufacturers to use a standard 2.5 mm earpiece jack, which annoys the manufacturers but makes things a lot easier for users.

This article evaluates several products from the computer industry. The SPC-7300 cellular phone from Sprint is designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective, but it is bright enough to get by. The speakerphone works nicely, and quickly becomes indispensable, especially to someone who spends a lot of time with tech support getting other things to work. Sprint requires all their phone manufacturers to use a standard 2.5 mm earpiece jack, which annoys the manufacturers but makes things a lot easier for users. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it is just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 megabyte of memory and a 60 gigabyte hard drive. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. Ironically, desktop systems keyboards are slowed down by the long travel people expect from them. The display is driven by a ATI Mobility Radeon chipset. Ironically, at 14.1 inches with SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) graphics, the TFT display's text is considerably smaller than SVGA on a 1024 x 768 machine even on a 12.1 inch screen.

This article evaluates the Sanyo SPC-7300 cellular phone with push-to-talk technology from Sprint, Sony Vaio Z1 laptop computer, and the Zire 72 handheld computer. The SPC-7300 is designed for an active lifestyle. That means it is drop tested to the standard 4 feet on concrete that so many of my devices wind up suffering sooner or later. It does not have a camera and is a bit bulkier than others in the line. It is comfortable to carry on an external clip. The only problem was that there are a lot of buttons on the outside. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 MB of minimum memory and a 60 GB hard drive. Though I did not benchmark it, I was completely happy with the unit's performance. As far as I'm concerned, unless you're doing editing of 12 Mega Pixel digital camera files, there is not much this laptop will not breeze through. Even then, you can expand the memory to 1 GB. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. Ironically, desktop systems keyboards are slowed down by the long travel people expect from them. While the Z1 has a full sized (18.5 mm pitch) key layout, the key travel is only 2mm: short, crisp and responsive. The Zire 72 does not have a cradle, and that may throw you for a bit as you try to figure out hot to Hot Sync the unit. You start a Hot Sync from either the Palm's desktop or by pressing the star by its writing area. You have to go through Palm's applications to transfer information to the device, and it baffles me that Palms doesn't make it a regular USB storage devices.

This article presents information on mobile devices. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. Though the most expensive of them is the SPC-5500, with its built in 310k still/video camera, the 7300 is designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective, which would have been a nice touch considering its take me anywhere style, but it's bright enough to get by. The speakerphone works nicely, and quickly becomes indispensable, especially to someone who spends a lot of time with tech support getting other things to work. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it is just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. Z1 features a 1.7 gigahertz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of memory, and a 60 gigabytes hard drive. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. Ironically, desktop systems keyboards are slowed down by the long travel people expect from them. While the Z1 has a full sized key layout, the key travel is only 2 millimeters: short, crisp and responsive.

This article presents information on mobile devices. Although Nextel pioneered Push-To-Talk (PTT) on cell phones, they no longer have a monopoly on it, as Verizon and Sprint have added PTT service on their handsets as well. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. The Sanyo SPC-7300 phone is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective and the speakerphone works nicely, and quickly becomes indispensable, especially to someone who spends a lot of time with tech support getting other things to work. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it is just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 gigahertz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of memory, and a 60 gigabytes hard drive. Zire 72 is a handheld device with a 1.2 Megapixel camera and MP3 player. Though the Zire 72 does not have Wireless-Fidelity, it does have bluetooth. If someone got a bluetooth enabled cellphone, he can configure his email and web surfing wherever he goes.

This article features several cellular phone functions. Although Nextel pioneered Push-To-Talk (PTT) on cell phones, they allegedly no longer have a monopoly on it, as Verizon and Sprint have added PTT service on their handsets as well. Even though one can only talk within one's own carrier's network, interoperability between carriers should be only a matter of time. Normally thought of as a business feature, one would be surprised how handy it can be to keep track of family members or friends out together, or as usually winds up happening, nearly together. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. Though the most expensive of them is the SPC-5500 (VM4500) model, with its built in 310k still/video camera, the 7300 unit is outstanding, which is designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open its Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective, which would have been a satisfying feature considering its take-me-anywhere style, but it is bright enough to get by. The speakerphone allegedly works fine, and quickly becomes indispensable, especially to someone who spends a lot of time with technical support getting other things to work. Sprint requires all their phone manufacturers to use a standard 2.5 millimeter ear piece jack, which makes it easier for users.

This article focuses on the success of the space launch of SpaceShipOne, the experimental space plane of Burt Rutan, which was financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and flown by veteran test pilot Mike Melvill. Reaching just over 100 kilometers, hitting a speed in excess of Mach 3, the test flight was allegedly a great success, though the flight was not perfect, as designer Rutan pointed out. At some point during the flight a fairing that had been newly installed to accommodate a larger rocket engine nozzle buckled, possibly causing a large bang heard by Melvill during his ascent. Allegedly, there were other flight anomalies. When the engine lit off, the space plane rolled left, then right, to nearly 90 degrees in each direction, but Melvill was able to recover from it to continue the flight. Also, the trim controls failed to work at hypersonic speeds, and the pilot had to switch over to his backup systems, and causing him to go outside the box of airspace they had planned for the flight. In addition, after 75 seconds of thrust the automatic cutoff shut down the engine and it coasted into space. Space, as defined by international law, is anything more 50 miles above Earth.

This article presents information on the author's encounter with ringtones, MP3 players and computer games. I have gone over to the dark side of the cellular force. It happened at CTIA in May 2004, when I started playing Asteroids, the classic arcade game, on a Blackberry. Long ago, in a bar far, far away, I promised myself that if I ever made it, I would buy my own Asteroids machine. It is a fairly mindless game, but I still like it, and I have installed it on most every computer I have owned. Now I have played it on a cell phone I realize that I am as much a mobile gamer as my nephew, something I had been denying. Then over at Sprint's booth, where they were demonstrating their $9.99-per-month MobiTV, I got hooked on video content. Though the image is jerky, the screen small and its battery appetite considerable, I can get channels on it I can not even get on my cable. Like many technically oriented people, especially those over forty, I am fiscally conservative. I have been accused of being cheap, but they never made it stick. I prefer to think of myself as value oriented. I like to buy a thing and use it up. Unfortunately, current business models are about sustainable cash streams, not durable goods.

This article provides information on the success of the space launch of SpaceShipOne, Burt Rutan's experimental space plane, financed by Microsoft co-fonder Paul Allen, and flown by veteran test pilot Mike Melvill. Reaching just over 100 kilometers, hitting a speed in excess of Mach 3, the test flight was allegedly a success, though the flight was not perfect, as designer Rutan pointed out. Apparently, at some point during the flight, a fairing that had been newly installed to accommodate a larger rocket engine nozzle buckled, possibly causing a large bang heard by Melvill during his ascent. In addition, there were other flight anomalies. For one, when the engine lit off, the space plane rolled left, then right, to nearly 90 degrees in each direction, but Melvill was able to recover from it to continue the flight. Also, the trim controls failed to work at hypersonic speeds, and the pilot had to switch over to his backup systems, and causing him to go outside the box of airspace they had planned for the flight. Further, after 75 seconds of thrust the automatic cutoff shut down the engine and it coasted into space. On the other hand, space, as defined by international law, is anything more 50 miles above Earth.

This article presents the experience of the author with ringtones and MP3 players. I have gone over to the dark side of the cellular force. It happened at CTIA in May 2004, when I started playing Asteroids, the classic arcade game, on a Blackberry. Long ago, in a bar far, far away, I promised myself that if I ever made it, I would buy my own Asteroids machine. It is a fairly mindless game, but I still like it, and I have installed it on most every computer I have owned. Now I have played it on a cell phone I realize that I am as much a mobile gamer as my nephew, something I had been denying. Then over at Sprint's booth, where they were demonstrating their $9.99-per-month MobiTV, I got hooked on video content. Though the image is jerky, the screen small and its battery appetite considerable, I can get channels on it I can not even get on my cable. Like many technically oriented people, especially those over forty, I am fiscally conservative. I have been accused of being cheap, but they never made it stick. I prefer to think of myself as value oriented. I like to buy a thing and use it up. Unfortunately, current business models are about sustainable cash streams, not durable goods.

The article features electronic systems. The Sanyo SPC-7300 from Sprint is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The suggested retail price is $129 with new line of service and 2 year contract. It's dual-band/tri-mode--digital: 1.9 GHz, 800 MHz; analog: 800 MHz. Talk time with standard battery is three hours. Two-way short messaging services, e-mail, notifications, and voicemail messaging is supported. You get 300 contact entries. PCS Ready Link can join up to 5 people simultaneously. The internal display is a 2.1 inch, 65,536 color TFT liquid crystal display (LCD), and the external display is a one inch, 65,536 color TFT LCD. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it's just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. It features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of memory, and a 60 gigabyte hard drive. The Sony X505 laptop has a carbon fiber/nickel case, 1.7 pound weight and 38 inch thickness at the front, which builds up to a still svelte .86 inch in the rear. It also has a memory stick port. The new Zire 72 has a 1.2 megapixel camera and MP3 player. Though it does not have Wi-Fi, the Tungsten C being the only Palm to come so equipped, it does have Bluetooth.

This article evaluates several electronic devices such as cellular telephones and computers. The Sanyo 7300 is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display isn't transflective, but it's bright enough to get by. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it's just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The Sony X505 has a carbon fiber and nickel case, weighs 1.7 pounds and 38 inches thick, it is the only Sony not to have a memory stick port. The new Zire 72 cellular phone has a camera and MP3 player and has several flaws. Though the Zire 72 does not have Wi-Fi, it does have Bluetooth.

This article highlights the products featured during the electronics exhibition CeBIT America 2004 held at the Javits Center in New York City. Much to the disappointment of the organizers, the show did not have many attendees compared to others held before it. Targus introduces a new line of USB Flash Drives. Transmeta's low power Crusoe processor showed up in booths across the show floor, and the list of companies who have adopted it for ultra portable computing attest to its success. The OQO is a fully featured computer sized to fit into a pocket, running Windows XP on a Crusoe processor. HP was showing the HP Forms Automation System optical recognition pen and paper microgrid system, which transfers writing to a computer.

This section comments on cell phones, laptops, handheld computers, and books on technology. Although Nextel pioneered Push-To-Talk (PTT) on cell phones, they no longer have a monopoly on it, as Verizon and Sprint have added PTT service on their handsets as well. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. Though the most expensive of them is the SPC-5500 (VM4500), with its built in 310k still/video camera. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it's just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 MB of memory (minimum), and a 60 GB hard drive. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. Though the new Zire 72 with its 1.2 Megapixel camera and MP3 doesn't have wireless fidelity, it does have Bluetooth. Cory Doctorow's Eastern Standard Time is set fifteen minutes into the future, while Bruce Sterling's The Zenith Angle is set fifteen minutes into the past, but they're both about technological innovation and mobile computing figures prominently in both stories.

The articles describes telecommunication systems. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. Though the most expensive of them is the SPC-5500, with its built in 310k still and video camera, the 7300, designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The suggested retail price is $129 with new line of service and 2 year contract. It's dual-band/tri-mode--digital: 1.9 GHz, 800 MHz; analog: 800 MHz. Talk time with standard battery is three hours. Two-way SMS, e-mail, notifications, and voicemail messaging is supported. You get 300 contact entries. PCS Ready Link can join up to 5 people simultaneously. The internal display is a 2.1 inch, 65,536 color TFT liquid crystal display (LCD), and the external display is a one inch, 65,536 color TFT LCD. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 megabytes of memory, and a 60 gigabytes hard drive. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. The new Zire 72 personal digital assistant has a 1.2 Megapixel camera and MP3 player. Though the Zire 72 does not have Wi-Fi, the Tungsten C being the only Palm to come so equipped, it does have Bluetooth.