SiPix StyleCam DV100 Digital Video Camera

SiPix StyleCam DV100 Digital Video Camera
Manufacturer: SIPIX
Product Type: Photography

Editorial Review:
Product Description
The SiPix StyleCam DV100 is a multi-functional pocket-sized DV camera that captures motion pictures, still images and voice annotation. The StyleCam DV100 is comparable to the size of a soap bar, so that you can take it anywhere, anytime to capture clean, crisp digital video with sound. The StyleCam DV100 also performs as a point-and-shoot digital camera. Take outstanding still images at 1.3 Mega Pixel resolution and playback both digital video and pictures using the 1.6" color LCD monitor. The StyleCam DV100 comes with 8 MB built-in flash memory that stores up to 80 photos or 180 seconds of digital video. To expand storage capacity, the StyleCam DV100 accepts a Secure Digital or a MultiMedia Card memory card up to 256MB. Featuring 2X smooth digital zoom, you can zoom in on your subject at the precise magnification and get the perfect picture. The StyleCam DV100 has TV output feature that allows you to playback your video clips, pictures, and audio recordings on a TV screen with the supplied A/V cable. Sit back, relax, and share your fun moments with friends and family.
Amazon.com Review
There are two things that stand out immediately about the about the StyleCam DV100--size and price. A digital still camera, digital camcorder, and audio recorder in one, the DV100 is about the size of a bar of soap and is priced at a fraction of the cost of next cheapest digital camcorder. Too good to be true? Not at all. The camera is everything it claims to be, is easy enough to be used right out of the box, and overall makes a decent entry-level digital camcorder.

So what's the catch? The big one is that without a memory card (and it does have a slot for either a MMC or SD card), the camera will be maxed out before you've even really started. How many photos and how much video the camera can hold depends on the level of quality you choose. At the lowest resolution (640x480), you can take a respectable 80 still shots, but at a more standard resolution level (1280x1024) that number is less than half, and if you take even two minutes of video, you won't get more than ten or so shots off before the dreaded "Memory Full" message. Purely as a camcorder, it is not very useful without external memory since you won't get much more than about ten minutes of footage. And the fidelity of the video, at 8-15 frames per second, is not exactly HDTV-ready (although we are actually kind of fond of the low-budget indie film look).

Another minor drawback that should be mentioned is that the shutter button is awkwardly positioned just to the right of the viewfinder so your index finger must bend nearly in half in order to reach it. A quick word about the software that comes with in the package, PhotoImpression and VideoImpression: It's not junk (call us cynical, but we've come to expect this). The software's big, friendly graphic interface let you do quickly and easily do all the basics: crop, adjust contrast, re-size, etc. Unlikely to be mistaken for Adobe PhotoShop, but perfectly usable nevertheless.

Sure, this camera has its limitations, but these must be weighed against its combination of price and size, which is nothing less than astonishing. --David Stoesz

Pros

• Easy to use
• Ultra compact
• Great value

Cons

• You are liable to get a cramp in your finger trying to reach the shutter
• Limited built-in memory
• Video fidelity likely to remind you of The Blair Witch Project

Average customer rating: 5.0 The best for text messages

Nokia 3390 Phone (T-Mobile) Manufacturer: Nokia Product Group: Wireless Binding: Wireless Phone ASIN: B00005IAYY

Amazon.com

Here's the tale of the tape: the 3390 measures 4.4 by 1.9 by 0.8 inches, and it weighs 4 ounces. This means the phone is slightly longer than a business card and weighs the same as today's ultracompact phones. It also has an internal antenna--which people either love or hate--though we never had trouble with call reception. To us, everything about this phone is executed correctly; the keypad is well-spaced, it has salient features (even though it can't access the Internet wirelessly), and it's inconspicuous while in use.

Three buttons handle most of the menu navigation: a central oval-shaped key activates the main menu and lets you select options as they appear; the roller-bar navigation key scrolls through menu options; and the "C" (clear) button jumps back a step and erases text-entry mistakes.

Menu choices are: Phone Book, Messages (SMS and voice-mail alerts), Call Log, Profiles (so you can choose how your phone behaves in different environments), Settings (for calls, phone, and security), Forwarding, Games, Calculator, Calendar, Composer (for DIY ring tones), and Keyguard Lock. With the backlit, five-line display (three lines of text, two lines of icons and indicators), we found it easy to navigate through menus and make selections. And here's a definite design improvement on the 8260: the 3390's power button, located on top of the phone, is raised a bit so it's easier to use (and find).

Like other phones, the 3390 has a full roster of call and messaging features. If offered by your service plan, it supports caller ID, call waiting, SMS, voice mail, numeric paging, multiparty calling, and e-mail. Call logs maintain the last 10 dialed numbers, 10 most recently received calls, and 10 missed calls. PIM functions include a clock, currency converter, calculator, calendar with room for 50 appointments and reminders, and a 250-entry phonebook.

But, as we said, the 3390 offers a couple of new features (at least for Nokia phones). We stored eight different voice-activated dialing numbers (a simple process), and logged on to VoiceStream Wireless's site from our PC so we could download additional ring tones. The 3390 also has eight preset images you can e-mail to your friends--but in order to take advantage of it both people need to have a 3390 that supports picture messaging. You can also download additional images from VoiceStream Wireless's site, provided your service plan supports this action.

The front and back faceplates are separate, so you can have a two-tone phone if you desire. It was a minor challenge to remove the faceplate on the first try, but it was worth the effort. And while the phone's included games weren't enough to take us away from PlayStation 2, we enjoyed Space Impact (sort of Defender meets Space Invaders), one of the 3390's four new games. It also features Snake II, Bantumi, and Pairs I.

The 3390 offers five basic security features: an initial phone lock, keypad lock, SIM card lock, call-restriction modes, fixed dialing (allows you to store secret numbers on the SIM card), and the ability to change access codes at any time.

The NiMH battery is rated for up to 160 minutes of digital talk time and 7.5 days of digital standby time. In our tests, we got the phone to hold a call for just about three hours, and it lasted for a full seven days in standby mode.

We highly recommend the 3390, and we don't want to give our sample phone back. It looks different from the rest of the herd and has the features we want and need on a daily basis--all for under $100.

--Arno Kazarian

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