Sun
1. Canon PowerShot G7 digital camera, $875, available now.
Sporting a retro look — complete with a black matte finish and a leather-toned (whatever that is) grip and analog-style (in other words, you can get your fingers on it) ISO speed dial and shooting mode dial — the new 10-megapixel G7 is Canon’s flagship model in its super-popular PowerShot lineup. Brain of the camera is the new DIGIC III chip for faster startup, autofocus and shutter-response. Noise reduction is described as aggressive and the claim is that the G7 can shoot from 80 to as high as 1600 ISO to eliminate shake and blur. It also comes with image stabilization.
2. Nokia 7370 wireless handset, $450, can be used on Rogers and Fido networks in Canada.
When Holt Renfrew is selling a cellphone you know it’s (a) making a fashion statement and (b) not inexpensive. The 7370, part of what the folks at Nokia refer to as their L’Amour collection. Nokia says: “For the busy socialite, the swivel design and one-handed opening makes dialling easy, freeing up the other hand for shopping bags or to peruse the latest design magazine.” In comes with decorative tassels and an in-box silky pouch. And, oh yes, you can make phone calls with it, take photos, play MP3s, etc.
3. Ultrasone Edition 9 headphones, $1,500 US, coming sometime soon.
Let’s not kid ourselves, these upscale headphones aren’t for the average user, but for the audiophile who wouldn’t listen to an MP3 if you paid by the second. Hey, these have Ethiopian sheep leather in the ear and headband pads, and they come in a metal attache case so you can carry them in comfort. Ultrasone uses what it calls S-Logic technology to reduce sound pressure on your sensitive eardrums by 40 per cent while at the same time delivering natural surround sound. The drivers are titanium plated and, in case you were worried, electromagnetic field radiation has been reduced by up to 98 per cent.
4. ViewSonic ViewDock widescreen LCD monitor for the iPod. The 19-inch VX1945wm and 22-inch VX2245wm models will have a street price of $369 and $499, respectively, available Dec. 1.
Built-in 2×2.5-watt stereo speakers and a 1×3-watt subwoofer are part of the package when you get the ViewDock, which will allow you to play your favourite videos straight from your iPod — with a screen that ViewSonic says is more than 65 times larger than what you get from Apple. Both models include four USB 2.0 ports and an 8-in-1 card reader.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
