Products Share

Nokia scrambles to catch up to the iPhone with its Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone, also known as “the Tube.” While its 3.2-inch haptic touch screen and 3.2-megapixel auto-focusing camera are impressive, our buddy at CrunchGear was disappointed in its confusing, overcrowded menus and second-rate web browser.

At first glance, we like that stylus hanging off the thing, looking a lot like a guitar pick, and think the overall case design is pretty slick, yet derivative. It’s rolling out in Europe first for $227 — expect to see it Stateside sometime next year. Nice try, Nokia, but we’ll hang on to our iPhone 3G a while longer, at least until Android phones gear up.

Is that a high-def camcorder in your pocket? Recently, with new EZ300HD, RCA has expanded its popular Small Wonder line. You’ll get a pocket-sized cam for only $160 that’s capable of shooting 720p HD video and crisp pictures, with easy controls as previous Small Wonder camcorders and with the same 2.4-inch screen, including the ability to toss videos you shoot right onto YouTube. With only 2GB of internal memory, you won’t go very far if you want more than just snippets of HD video, though. Luckily by up to 16GB thanks to its SD card slot you can upgrade that, which RCA clocks as about 10 hours’ worth of HD capture.

The EZ300 is aimed squarely at consumers who aren’t looking to make the next great indie movie, but instead at someone who wants something that’ll capture moments to remember in a format that’ll look good on modern televisions.

A new version of iTunes media playing and shopping software, have been announced by Apple yeaterday, taking it up from version 7.7.1.11 to version 8. The new release is headlining a new Apple sideba calls “Genius,” a software routine that can automatically make a playlist by watching what songs you listen to most and that’s also in the company’s latest music players. It lets you pick a song, and then it builds a list of similar tunes. Its intelligence is enhanced if you choose to send data about your listening habits to Apple’s mother ship, where that’s compared to the preferences of scads of other users. What about your privacy? Steve Jobs says it’ll all be kept confidential.

Sounds great, right? but it’s not anything new. From free web-based music service Pandora Radio, you can get a similar routine with the main difference being that you don’t have to steal or buy any tunes to use it. The field might become less crowded of apps containing similar features, though, if Pandora is sunk by record company honchos and their accomplices.

Apple has finally added HD capability to iTunes, those of us addicted to HD video will like the fact like that. So now you don’t have to have an Apple TV to buy, rent and watch HD content from Apple. Standard-def shows that are normally $1.99 will be $2.99 in HD. The iTunes 8.0 software will be available for free download today.

While everybody, in just a couple of hours, talk about Apple’s announcements of new iPods and other stuff happening, the first rollouts due today we heard about were from Microsoft, accidentally leaking word a month ago of a laser-less Blue Track Mouse. Now the Redmondians a new webcam will also show off, and itwill be an updated Zune as the star of the show.

Microsoft revealed the details (unlike the secretive Apple) of its new Zunes ahead of time, confirming new features before today’s launch of the Fall Zune line. Microsoft annouc that they will expand its hard-drive Zune music player’s capacity to 120GB in price $249, its flash drive-based Zune moves up to 16GB with price $199, and with the ability to download songs via Wi-Fi, the Zune now catches up to the iPod touch. An intriguing new feature is a recommendation engine based on the songs you’ve been listening to.

In this age of emerging tech, if you thought mere to slake the digital thirst of children with instant messaging would be enough, then you haven’t been paying attention. Apparently, even children now must be equipped with multi-function smart devices. That is why Bandai with the overly cute handset intends to fulfill the demand. This called the SmartBerry.

The device offers functions such as a touch screen, virtual business card, game play, keypad interface and instant messaging. This stuff is selling for 10,290 yen or about $94, and for new parents there is no better way to get their children started on the Paris Hilton path early.