According to Camcorder Info, Sony’s HDR-SR12 is continuing to push the AVCHD format forward as a viable successor to HDV. It is, by far, the best Sony HDD camcorder on the market—and with 120GB under the hood, it is unmatched in the AVCHD category in terms of capacity. As far as performance is concerned, the SR12 held its own against even the intimidating Canon VIxza HF10, with only a slight inferiority in picture sharpness. They also noted that Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensor and Bionz processor has improved in leaps and bounds over their top HDV camcorder, the HDR-HD9.
In the end CI believes that the decision on what to buy is going to come down to a combination of what each individual needs in a camcorder and what they can afford. The HDR-SR12 is going to set you back a few at $1399, but you get a ton of capacity and a HDD for those who prefer it. On the other hand, you could always drop down to the 60GB HDR-SR11 and save yourself about $200. If you want to save some money and get a more portable device, the HF10 may still be your best choice at $1100. Hit the link for the full review. [Camcorder Info and Sony]
There is something about glowing products that seem to inexplicably draw people towards them - case in point, the Mini Tritium Glowing Keychain. This keychain uses the same radioactive material found in compasses, gun sights, watches and other items that glow at night. One good thing about using tritium is the fact that you don’t need to purchase any batteries, since it has more than enough “juice” within to glow for year after year even in complete darkness. The Mini Tritium Glowing Keychain will be able to go on glowing for approximately 10 years, ensuring you will never lose sight of your keys even after dropping them in the middle of the forest with the moon being blocked by ominous looking clouds. It retails for $9.80 each and comes in a choice of white or green glows.
Seeing as our high school network hijinks pretty much led to semi-permanent suspension, our barren hearts were actually warmed by the story of 11-year-old Jon Penn, who has been in charge of his elementary school’s 60-machine network since last year. The previous network administrator at the Arkansas school simply up and left, leaving the IT systems in shambles — and in the hands of Jon’s mom, the school librarian. Jon’s since scrubbed the aging Windows 98 machines of their accumulated viruses and spyware, and he’s installed a firewall and virus / spam filter to keep things clean while he works out a plan to move to Windows 2000 and centralized system management. Right now though, Jon’s got his hands busy doing everything from fixing everything from paper jams to revising server configurations, and it sounds like he’s having a ball — he says he’s been testing out virtualization products lately, and he’s studying up for A+ technician certification this summer. Looks like school’s a lot more fun when you’re running the show, no?
A lucky Laptop Mag writer recently got a close up view of the upcoming Motorola Z9 at CTIA and came away notably impressed by the 2.4-inch screen, smooth sliding action and tactile feedback of the keypad. Features like AT&T Navigator support, CrystalTalk noise suppression, and video sharing were also noted. On the negative side, the quality of streaming video on the device was less than stellar—although that could have been a reception issue. All in all, not bad for a first impression, although pricing and a release date remain elusive. Hit the link for the full details. [Laptop Mag]
I was just invited to the beta of the GameFly Trade-In Program because I’ve been a customer for a while, and the whole thing seems like a brilliant idea. You can apply credit toward your monthly payments only (used games would have been nice), and the prices they offer are actually pretty great compared to what you’d get at GameStop.
Examples: BioShock: $23.00 Call of Duty 4: $23.00 Halo 3: $23.00 Lost Odyssey: $31.62 Kingdom Under Fire: $28.75 Rainbow Six Vegas 2: $31.62
The only downsides are that you can only get money off your subscription and you have to pack and ship your own games, but other than that it seems like a good deal if you can get a beta invite. [Gamefly]
HP has rolled out a brand new webcam for all you instant messaging video addicts with the Elite AF webcam. This 3 megapixel unit sits pretty at the top of the range, capable of outputting HD video on a compatible application and features autofocus, tilt, and swivel to keep the subject in view. Needless to say, it is compatible on all HP displays thanks to a custom clip, and it ought to attach to other LCD monitors without too much trouble. Should you prefer to let it just sit flat on a desk, the option is there as well. The HP Elite AF Webcam will ship this April 6th for $99 a pop.
Casio’s G’zOnes are nothing if not sturdy, which is why people who favor ruggedness over any other feature are picking these up. Just how unbreakable are these things? Incredibly. Our buddy Danny from Wired took these outside so both a football team and a soccer team could throw it around. Check out the video to see (spoiler alert) what eventually did the phone in. On a similar note, Danny received a concussion while filming, proving that his head is slightly less durable than the phone. [Wired]
Sony Ericsson has rolled out the Z750a, making it the first 3G/HSDPA handset for the US market to date. This affordable and stylish handset features a reflective mirror clamshell case, complete with a hidden OLED reflective display screen in front which illuminates discreetly whenever there is an incoming call or message. I love such displays, and they have been used in previous Sony Walkmans thus far to great effect. Other features found on the Z750a include :-
2 megapixel camera
3G connectivity
AT&T Mobile Email application support
26MB internal memory
Memory Stick Micro slot
3D gaming capability
Bluetooth connectivity
2.2” QVGA 262k Color TFT display
The Sony Ericsson Z750a will come in Mysterious Purple, Phantom Grey and Rose Pink colors when it arrives in AT&T stores and authorized dealers early this month for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate and a 2-year contract.
Details are still shaky, but GigaOM is reporting that the futures of certain AT&T executives may also be dubious. In addition to a recently replaced CTO and recently departed USi CEO, apparently VPs are being offered exit packages or demotions (their choice!), possibly to trim some of the fat at the top of the pyramid before the US economy gets any crappier. We can’t say for sure, but hey, those billions of dollars in 700MHz auction funds have to come from somewhere — immediately, too, you don’t want the FCC sending over hundreds of goons to kneecap thousands of employees. AT&T had no comment on matters both of downsizing and the FCC’s mafia-like collection practices.
According to Camcorder Info, Sony’s HDR-SR12 is continuing to push the AVCHD format forward as a viable successor to HDV. It is, by far, the best Sony HDD camcorder on the market—and with 120GB under the hood, it is unmatched in the AVCHD category in terms of capacity. As far as performance is concerned, the SR12 held its own against even the intimidating Canon VIxza HF10, with only a slight inferiority in picture sharpness. They also noted that Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensor and Bionz processor has improved in leaps and bounds over their top HDV camcorder, the HDR-HD9. 
A lucky Laptop Mag writer recently got a close up view of the upcoming 
I was just invited to the beta of the 
Casio’s G’zOnes are nothing if not sturdy, which is why people who favor ruggedness over any other feature are picking these up. Just how unbreakable are these things? Incredibly. Our buddy Danny from Wired took these outside so both a football team and a soccer team could throw it around. Check out the video to see (spoiler alert) what eventually did the phone in. On a similar note, Danny received a concussion while filming, proving that his head is slightly less durable than the phone. [
I’ve just decided to mark today