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Kodak is extending their line of pocket video cameras with the Zx1 weather-resistant camera. It shoots 720p HD video at 30 or 60fps and stores the video on standard SD/SDHC cards. There is built-in software to ease editing and uploading to YouTube. I look forward to seeing how the claims of good quality with low-light turn out.

The new Zx1 is smaller and cheaper than their own Zi6. Another pocket video camera is the Flip lineup.

With a price of $149.95, the Kodak Zx1 will be available Spring 2009 in five different colors.

This new LCD display does double-duty as a TV and when on standby it functions as a 47-inch digital picture frame. Seems to me a very natural use and I think likely to be found in more TV's too.

It will also capture a screenshot of a TV program to display as well. I'm not sure how much this would be used, but it might be possible to grab an image from your home movies. Image quality might be an issue here and with older digital photos that may not display well at 47-inches.

The power used in the digital photo mode is only 10-15% of what is required when watching television.

LG Display will be showing this television and more at CES 2009. No availability or price information at this time.

There's the teen who refuses to turn off her cell phone, the toddler booting the back of your seat and the $5 bucket of popcorn that tastes like it's been around since the silent era. Isn't going to the movies supposed to be fun?

If you'd rather watch movies at home than go to the theater, you're not alone. About 73 percent of your fellow movie-lovers feel the same, according to one Associated Press-AOL poll. The majority of respondents said they would rather watch movies at home, citing crowds, uncomfortable seats, expensive tickets and costly concessions among the aggravations of going out to the movies.

No wonder building a home theater is one of the hottest trends in home improvement, and electronic items like home theater systems promise to continue as hot sellers. If the idea of having your own home theater is appealing, you don't have to pay pros to do the job for you. You can enjoy a home theater experience without the expense of professional installation by doing it yourself.

Here are some basics for building your own home theater:

First, decide where your home theater will be. If you have a basement or spare bedroom you can convert, bravo! If you don't have a spare room, a little improvisation can make a home theater work in your family or living rooms. In wide, open spaces like the basement, consider investing in authentic movie seats, complete with tilting backs and cup holders. If you're setting up your theater in the family room, a comfortable sofa and a few recliners will perform well.

Whatever type of seating you choose, remember to position it so that everyone has a good view of the screen.

A true movie screen - available in various sizes, fabrics and prices - and a projector may be the essence of the movie experience. But if those items are outside your budget, a flat-screen TV makes a great understudy for pricier projection screens. Prices on high-definition plasma or LCD TVs have been dropping over the past year, and retailers are sure to offer some great deals in order to entice buyers.

If you're ready and able to invest in a fabric screen, you'll have plenty of choices. High-end cloth screens can roll up and down at the touch of a button. Or, you can find the free-standing square screens similar to those your high school teacher might have used. The type of projector you buy will play a role in deciding what kind of fabric screen you purchase.

Proper mounting of all components of your home theater system is important for both aesthetics and safety. You'll put a lot of time, thought and some money into pulling together your home theater, so you'll want a better way to store components than to precariously perch them on an accent table or - worse yet - leave them sitting on the floor.

If you've purchased a projector, a ceiling mount will give you the best theater experience. Sanus Systems, a leading manufacturer of mounts for audio-visual components, makes a Universal Projector Ceiling Mount simple enough to be installed by the average do-it-yourselfer.

If you've opted for a flat-screen TV, Sanus also makes a variety of TV mounts that will allow you to put the screen on the wall and angle it to meet your needs. Audio components like speakers also perform best when wall mounted. And you'll want to consider placing components like the DVD player and satellite receiver on the wall too, possibly with a mount from Sanus' line of Vertical Foundations furniture. Visit www.sanus.com to see the range of mounts available for all components of home theater systems.

Once the technical aspects of your do-it-yourself home theater project are taken care of, plug in the carnival-style popcorn popper, pour on the butter and settle down to enjoy the movie theater experience in the comfort of your own home.

SOURCE ARAcontent

Known for creating the first wireless memory card for digital cameras, this iPhone application is a natural extension for Eye-Fi.

iPhone users can send photos to their computer or upload to one of 25 online photo sharing or social networking sites. Photos can also be automatically tagged with location information (geotag).

The application will be shown at Macworld, January 6-9, 2009. To learn more about this application or receive an email when it is available, go to www.eye.fi/macworld.

I have always wanted a Porsche 911, and hope to own one before I die. Now, I must create a list; because the ITC One from SE2 Labs is number two on my (now) list of wants. The Porsche 911 is on my list because I enjoy driving, and going from point “A” to point “B” in a well-made vehicle is what I perceive true happiness to look and feel like. The ITC One was added as the number two item I would like to have because I enjoy good entertainment. Especially when it is a good movie, or the latest episode of NBC’s The Office.

The ITC One from SE2 Labs is a personalized, multi-function, home entertainment system. That’s right, a “system!” All of your components are built into one box making it the elite home entertainment system. This system can integrate the following components: Cable company DVR (Cox, Comcast, Time Warner, etc.), Game consoles (Microsoft X-Box 360, SONY Playstation, Nintendo Wii, etc.), Dish Network, Direct TV, High-End Video Processor, AMX Netlinx Control System, Bryston Pre-Amp Processor, Ice Power High-End D-Class Amplifiers, Power Conditioner, Apple Video iPod with Dock, all with a touch panel on the front. Check with your installer for all components, as the list is long.

Upgrading is a snap making this purchase future-proof! What I like about this SE2 Labs ITC One is what I like about the Porsche 911 … it is small and powerful. Where the ITC One does not require a special rack for all of your components, and the amount of noise all these components make is gone with the power management of the ITC One.

The attention to detail brought 11 patents together into this one little box. There is nothing else in the home entertainment marketplace like this ITC One. Nice work SE2 Labs! Nice work …

Check them out www.se2labs.com, and if you have everything you want, including the car of your dreams, you can certainly afford this awesome home entertainment solution with an MSRP starting at $30,000.

Jeff Heeren

Originally released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo by Squaresoft, Chrono Trigger received both critical acclaim and a cult-like popularity among gamers. It is undeniable that being created by the same company responsible for the immensely popular Final Fantasy series attributed to Chrono Trigger’s success. To think that is the sole purpose it flourished, however, would be to ignore the strengths it possesses: graphics which, at the time, were awe-inspiring, well developed and likeable characters, a novel plot, and, as with any RPG, plenty of side quests and customizability to keep you entertained for hours. If you didn’t enter the video game world until recently, or if RPGs have never been your forte, you may have missed this jewel.

In this masterpiece, you control Crono, a youth living in 1000AD in Guardia Kingdom. In a fair experiment that goes horribly wrong, you suddenly find yourself four hundred years in the past, having to work frantically to save a new friend! One thing leads to another, and before you get tired of playing, you visit your future and find out the world is facing certain devastation unless you alter history by time travel to save it. Although the “save the world from certain doom” plot is present, the addition of time travel (and, by extension, the fact that you know what will happen in the future) highlights the novelty of Chrono Trigger and the fact that you are “saving the world” feels a lot less hackneyed than you might originally expect.

As with any RPG, along the way you will meet new friends and foes, as well as develop attachments to characters, items, and locations. Further, saving the world is not the only thing to do; Chrono Trigger contains plenty of sub-quests, side-stories, and distractions to keep your attention if the major plot has grown stale. It’s (then-unprecedented) new-game plus feature allowed RPG players to “have their cake and eat it too” by repeating the enjoyable parts of RPGs (the story sequences), while being exempt from leveling up characters, getting items, and learning moves, as all that is carried over from the previous game. This feature allowed Chrono Trigger to feature multiple endings, as ending the game early by defeating the final boss in New Game + mode would unlock one of over a dozen secret endings.

Chrono Trigger got its first port to the Playstation as part of Final Fantasy Chronicles in 2001, roughly six years after its original release. Coincidentally, about six years after its Playstation rerelease, Chrono Trigger is now ported again to the Nintendo DS. Diehard fans are a little disappointed that it was neither completely renovated for 3D like Final Fantasy IV was; the game looks almost identical to its SNES original. Despite the lack of aesthetic improvement, the DS version includes two new dungeons, a multiplayer mode, and a beistary. Furthermore, the DS version makes use of its improved technology by allowing dual screen access, which greatly simplifies menu access. Battles also benefit from the second screen, as your screen is no longer cluttered with command prompts (though players who prefer the nostalgic feel may choose to have everything on one screen).

Players who grew up playing Chrono Trigger on the SNES will find this port very appealing. It’s simple, but adequate. The additions are nice, but not groundbreaking. What is groundbreaking, however, is the ability to now play Chrono Trigger on a long plane ride, and the peace of mind you’ll have knowing that your only way of playing this masterpiece is no longer on an obsolete system which may be irreplaceable once it inevitably dies.

For more information, visit the official website.

John Lentz Jr.

OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown technology has been introduced into 2009 Model Year vehicles. Approximately 30,000 high speed chases happen yearly and almost 300 deaths occur as a result. Now, General Motors and OnStar hope to improve safety on the road by introducing Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. This new technology allows police officers in pursuit of stolen vehicles to connect to Onstar and, once conditions are safe, remotely authorize the vehicle to slow down.

An extension of the already available Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, this new service hopes to make the roadways even safer. Being introduced in nearly two million 2009 vehicles, Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a favorite of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

This technology will be offered as an opt-in service to qualifying vehicles. For more on this new technology check out the webisode here:

When digital photography came on the scene, I gave up on traditional film. I kept thousands of old 35mm negatives, however, and with the best of intentions, I bought a scanner and set about reproducing some of my favorites. I soon discovered that this is a very time-consuming process. After five or six years, I’ve little to show for my time and effort.

I investigated the cost of having my collection scanned commercially, but charges ranged from $1-$2 per negative. With 2000+ negatives lying around the house, I gave up on that idea. Local photo shops or drug stores could do the job for around $.75 each, but I’d have to sacrifice quality – they offer a totally mechanized operation. And, cost and quality issues aside, the thought of sorting through all those boxes to choose which pictures to scan was overwhelming. I wanted someone to organize my huge collection, scan my photos professionally, touch them up by hand if necessary – all at an affordable price. 

Believe it or not, such a place exists, and it’s called ScanCafe. A well-respected Wharton MBA named Sam Allen, along with several partners, has set up a high-tech, sophisticated method of scanning 35mm negatives – for 24 cents a pop! They use top-of-the-line Nikon and Kodak technology in the process. In an innovative take on outsourcing, ScanCafe has its own 175-person staff and facilities in India, where an Indian-born fellow Wharton graduate manages the operations on a day-to-day basis.

Photo without ICE technology

Photo with ICE technology

Simply put, ScanCafe is a photo, negative, and slide scanning service that takes the effort out of digitizing your old photos and negatives – and at a cost that can’t be beat. Simply sign up on their web site and mail ScanCafe your collection of photos, negatives, and slides – what’s amazing about ScanCafe is that there is no need to spend precious time pre-sorting photos, since you only have to pay for those you want (with a minimum purchase of 50% of the images scanned). Only ScanCafe offers this revolutionary level of service. They will be manually scanned on high-end Nikon professional scanners. ScanCafe will then send you to a secure online library to view your newly digitized images. Just select those you wish to keep. All of the items you submit will be returned, nicely sorted and in better shape than when you sent them. The images you choose will be sent back to you on a CD, DVD, or a hard disk drive-- your choice – making it easy for you to share them with friends and family. You can archive, email them to friends, or print them with today's advanced printing technology for better results than you got with the original picture!

ScanCafe also offers additional services aimed specifically for professional photographers. For full information and pricing on scanning slides, photos and other services, check out www.scancafe.com. You will not be sorry!

John Lentz

Maybe you're remodeling to optimize TV watching at home. Perhaps you're gearing up to secure virtual front-row seats to the “Big Game”. It's entirely possible that you're simply using the national conversion to 100-percent digital TV broadcasts at midnight on Feb. 17, 2009, as a good excuse to bring home a shiny, new high-definition TV.

Regardless of your motivation for the purchase, after eagerly unpacking your cherished widescreen DLP, LCD or plasma TV, you'll see there are many different options, tweaks and adjustments to make in pursuit of the best possible viewing experience. One oft-forgotten detail is how to use lighting in your media room or home theater.

Many people assume that the best TV watching occurs in total darkness. After all, commercial theater operators run movies in the dark, right? Not usually. Often theaters fully dim over-head lighting, while operating significantly dimmed accent lights along the walls, the center-aisle floor and on end seats.

According to Joseph Rey-Barreau, a lighting expert and associate professor at the University of Kentucky's School of Interior Design, the lighting design used by commercial theater operators is a good starting point for consumers who want to create a cinema experience in the comforts of home.

"At the theater, when you're only focused on the screen, your eyes will adapt to that particular level of light," Rey-Barreau says. "When you're watching TV at home, you're not usually that focused. Your eyes will move around and you'll probably get up once in a while. If you don't have at least a little bit of light, your pupils will constantly dilate up and down to adjust to a multitude of light levels. It can be disorienting."

Mary Beth Gotti, director of the GE Lighting & Electrical Institute, a customer education facility in Cleveland, says effective lighting design in any room, including media rooms and home theaters, must take into account tasks needing to be handled, visual comfort and overall ambiance.

"In a multipurpose home media room," she says, "a good lighting design will integrate various layers of light that can provide pleasing and variable light patterns for more casual and flexible viewing conditions. It's a bit different than a commercial theater setting where the room is used for a singular purpose."

Pay attention to location, "layers" and dimming capability.

Soft, recessed over-head lighting that's dimmable is ideal, according to Gotti. It allows you to maintain focus on the TV, while keeping an eye on your popcorn and having enough light to see when entering or exiting the room. She recommends:

• Halogen PAR38 or PAR30 floodlights operated with a dimmer;
  
• Smaller-sized Precise MR16 floodlights run on a low-voltage dimmer;
  
• Dimmable 15-watt R30 and 20-watt R40 GE Energy Smart CFL floodlights; or
  
• Recessed fixtures equipped with low-wattage GE Vio LEDs, the latest in efficient, infinitely dimmable lighting.

Another tactic, the lighting of walls with track lighting or sconces, creates a pleasing glow in a room. Washing clean, beautiful halogen or LED light over stone, weathered wood or textured walls can add pop, visually expand the space and improve visual comfort. Illuminating artwork on walls with halogen PAR floodlights or MR16 recessed, adjustable accent lights or track lighting adds visual interest.

For a more theatrical-themed look in coves or architectural reveals, use halogen lights or LEDs, which provide white light, a variety of colors and even a color-changing capability.

Rey-Barreau agrees with Gotti's assessment and product suggestions. He emphasizes that using a minimum of two lighting concepts is crucial to media room and home theater lighting design as well as variety of lighting (layers of light) and lighting controls. "Remember that you're not finished preparing for the ultimate TV viewing experience until you've addressed your lighting design," he says.

SOURCE ARAcontent

Phenom Communications brings us this "do everything" gadget. The Phenom Watch Phone is an unlocked GSM cell phone in a wrist watch package.

But they don't just have a basic version. There is a model for everybody, even a double-naught spy. From pink to black, kids to adult there are many to choose from. All versions have 2 hr talk time/120 hr standby and MP3 player using a micro-SD card. Some have a camera as well.

Control is by touchscreen with external buttons too. The SpecialOPS version has a keypad on the watch band. The fashionable Stylista also has external number keys. There is Bluetooth for use with a headset. It does have a built in microphone and speaker for that Dick Tracy style though. You can also transfer files via USB, which is convenient instead of requiring a separate card reader.

Pricing starts at $195. Check them all out at www.phenomwatchphone.com.

As Apple continues to update its products it's no wonder that the iPod and the iPhone continue to headline around the tech world. With the release of the iPhone and the iPod Touch options where communication and portable media were concerned changed forever. With the recent updates to both the iPod line and the 3G iPhone, understanding both the features and fallbacks of each device becomes more important when it comes down to purchasing. The iPod Touch and the iPhone make look the same, but they're not.

To start with the basics, there is always price. The iPhone comes in two models (with two color choices) 8GB and 16GB in either white or black. The 8GB sells for about $199 and the 16GB for $399. The real pricing trick comes with the obviously required AT&T service plan (that can usually go from $60 or above). As of right now there is no way around a two-year contract with AT&T.

The iPod Touch, on the other hand, comes with a much simpler price tag, $229 for 8GB, $299 for 16GB, and $399 for the 32GB (and no color options). If your wondering what the standard color is, it’s silver. A silver back with a sleek black front (just like it's iPhone cousin).

Features, too, vary from phone to MP3 player. Bluetooth capabilities, GPS, and a camera function are only available with the iPhone (as is the ability to call people). Otherwise, most basic functions are equal. Both the Touch and the iPhone have music and video playback, both can access and use the iTunes Application store (just like music, you can buy applications for your wireless device) and about 95 percent of the applications are said to be both iPod and iPhone compatible. Internet access, while a feature, does vary with each device.

The iPhone is connected to the AT&T network and thus, for a price, can access the internet from almost anywhere. The iPod Touch also has internet access, for free, but only where wireless WIFI service already exists. College campuses, airports, and Starbucks are a few of the more convenient iPod Touch internet locations.

In terms of size and shape the two are evenly matched. The iPhone boasts a slightly better battery life than the Touch (by about two hours for audio as well as video). The iPhone is also slightly larger than the Touch in width, depth, and height. If you're looking for the most pocket sized of the two, that would be the iPod Touch.

Overall, both make sense for certain lifestyles. As iPods go, the Touch is an excellent edition, especially with the growing popularity of video on the go. The iPod Touch boasts the largest screen on any iPod to date and it's also the only one with internet access. The iPhone also plays music and movies very well, and if you are in need of a new phone, are already an AT&T customer, and feel like an iPhone would be a more convenient travel companion than a laptop, then it's certainly the phone for you. Just remember that it's only necessary to buy a phone that can do everything if "everything" consists of things that you actually feel the need to do.

by Jessie Atkin, writer for Digital Landing

Last year marked a record-setting ski season for American resorts with 60.5 million skier visits, according to the National Ski Areas Association. This year, many ski enthusiasts are faced with tighter budgets and new economic challenges that have them searching for ways to save without giving up their annual trip to the mountains.

When looking to cut vacation costs, it all starts during the booking process.

Top travel experts share the following tips for ski savings:

• Consider your lodging location. While "ski in/ski out" locations offer the convenience of walking out the door and hopping on the lift, opting for lodging a little further from the mountain can save you cash. And most ski resorts offer free shuttle services with stops throughout town, so getting to the slopes is not a hassle.
  
• Look for alternative lodging. For families and groups, alternative lodging like vacation rentals - homes, condos, cabins - can be much less expensive than booking multiple hotel rooms. Check out vacationrentals.orbitz.com for more than 30,000 properties around the world.
  
• Ski on off-peak dates. Busy holiday weekends, including Martin Luther King and President's weekends, can be more expensive and very busy. If you want to save money and avoid long lift lines, think "off peak." Consider weekday versus weekend trips and you'll save even more.
  

Online travel Web site, Orbitz has pulled together a list of the top ski destinations for the 2008-2009 ski season. Lake Tahoe takes the top spot while Colorado makes a strong showing with six of its most popular destinations on the list.

The good news is that popular doesn't always mean expensive. For example, even as Lake Tahoe continues to remain skier's favorite destination, it still offers the lowest average daily hotel rate of any ranking destination.

Top destinations and their average daily hotel rate are:

1. Lake Tahoe - $116
   
2. Breckenridge, Colo. - $225
   
3. Park City, Utah - $239
   
4. Vail, Colo. - $286
   
5. Aspen, Colo. - $227
   
6. Keystone, Colo. - $149
   
7. Winter Park, Colo. - $193
   
8. Whistler, British Columbia - $292
   
9. Banff, Alberta - $189
   
10. Steamboat Springs, Colo. - $204
    

With ski season lasting well into the early months of spring, there are many opportunities to grab up the perfect ski vacation package at the right price. By searching for deals in even the most popular ski locations, every traveler's budget can be accommodated this ski season.

SOURCE ARAcontent

The main strength of the HP MediaSmart Server is central storage and media streaming for music and photos over your home network. Special iTunes support allows iTunes playback on connected computers that use iTunes.

You can serve photos directly from the MediaSmart server or upload photos to Facebook, Picasa or Snapfish. I do not see Flickr support in the announcement though.

In addition to media center type serving of music, videos, and photos the server also performs a network backup for Windows and Mac computers on a home network. To add additional redundancy you can add Amazon S3 for offsite storage. The HP Media Collector can schedule centralizing files from the other computers on the home network.

The HP MediaSmart Server ex485 will have 750 GB of hard drive space at $599 and the ex487 will double the hard drive storage to 1.5 TB and a price of $749. Storage can be expanded to 9 TB later. They both contain a 64-bit 2.0 GHz Intel Celeron processor and 2 GB of RAM.

Starting January 5, 2009 the server can be pre-ordered from Amazon, BestBuy, Buy.com, Fry's, and NewEgg. Expected shipping date is in February. It will also be available from hpshopping.com. The first 200 who order there between January 5-11, 2009 and use the coupon code "AC5674" will get a $50 discount.

By Jeff Zbar 
www.chiefhomeofficer.com

“Where are my freakin’ keys?!…

“Would someone please call my cell phone so I can find it?”

“Where’s my stinkin’ earbud?”

“My wallet. What’d you do with my wallet?!”

And it’s only Monday.

Sound familiar?

So much stuff, so few homes for it. If I could recoup a fraction of the time I spend looking for lost stuff, I could spend it looking for other stuff I’d invariably lose in the interim.

But now, there’s organization salvation. There’s a home office productivity solution. There’s The Sanctuary, actually.

This power charging station from BlueLounge Designs (about $120 online) creates a very stylish repository for all your power-hungry tech gear. This of it as home office furniture for your stuff.

With adaptors for up to 1,500 different products — MP3s, cell phones, data devices, GPSs and the like — it’s an effective de facto “home” for those of us who our wives are keen to note we’d LOSE OUR HEAD IF IT WASN’T ATTACHED. (yes, dear…).

But it’s not about the place. It’s about the power. Instead of just putting your cell or Jawbone or iPod on The Sanctuary, you plug it into the wall, and it has nine separate adapters for your stuff (mini & micro USB, two Nokias, two Samsungs, “various brands”, Palm, LG, Sony Ericsson, iPod/iPhone, and a traditional USB plug come standard). They’re all hidden from view. Just snake the ones you need up through a side slot, and — Eureka! — you have power.

In stylish white with a black platform and black foam top, it suits most modern decors. Sure, the nine-inch-square size will consume it’s own chunk of real estate. But it’ll look damn good — and functional — doing it. But with its raised lip around the foam base, according to the folks at BlueLounge, The Sanctuary will become a home for all your stuff, including change, watch, shades, business cards, jewelry. Alas, not your head.

With The Sanctuary in place (slogan, “Now your things have a place to rest and recharge”), even Tuesday will be a breeze…

Since the '80s, Jeff Zbar has been a writer, speaker and spokesman on all facets of working from home and entrepreneurship. His columns and blogs have appeared via Entrepreneur, Success Magazine, Home Office Computing and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and he has been a small business expert on national television and radio. Learn more at www.chiefhomeofficer.com.

Samsung recently released the latest generation of a very special projector, the SP-A800B, a stylish design that features the rare combination of professional quality video at a reasonable price (under $10,000). This projector combines the latest DLP chip technology, 1080p broadcast quality video, and the ability to correctly project 24 frames per second motion pictures just as filmmakers intended.

For the technically inclined, the projector uses the latest TI DLP chip set featuring a native resolution of 1920x1080, a spectacular lens with adjustable iris settings, and superb on-board deinterlacing. It also is the only projector in this price range that provides (accurately) the three most popular worldwide color standards right out of the box: HDTV, EBU, and SMPTE-C at no extra charge. If you do not know what all this technobabble means, don’t worry. What you will know after seeing the projector in action is that it provides virtually unmatched color fidelity, deep blacks, and a picture that’s better than what you would see at your local cinema.

How did Samsung do this? They teamed with world-famous video guru Joe Kane throughout all stages of this projector’s development. In fact, this is the fourth-generation product of Kane and Samsung’s collaboration to produce a reference-standard projector. The SP-A800B is now used extensively in Hollywood studios for mastering DVD and Blu-Ray releases. This projector has been “a well kept secret” as Samsung has put its considerable marketing resources into its excellent flat panel displays, and chosen not to emphasize its prowess in front projection technology. However, if you are in the market for a superb front projector, and a really big home theater experience, you owe it to yourself to check out the SP-A800B. For more information, check out: www.samsung.com.

Kane is also well known for his highly regarded “Video Essentials” discs, each available both on DVD and Blu-Ray. These discs are used as reference tools by many custom video installers when adjusting television displays in order to get the most accurate picture possible. They are simple to use and even the most clueless among us can follow the simple directions for a guaranteed better picture. This is one of the best investments you can make if you enjoy watching TV, and really want the best picture your set can deliver. “Video Essentials” discs are sold at Amazon.com for under twenty dollars each. www.amazon.com or www.videoessentials.com.

John Lentz Jr.

The Final Fantasy series is one of the most long-running, well-known, profitable, and entertaining lines of video games in the industry???s short history. Starting with Final Fantasy (later known as Final Fantasy I) for the NES in the early 90???s, the series has had twelve titled "sequels" (though they are not continuous in their story or even occur in the same "universe"), and numerous non-sequels such as Mystic Quest, Tactics, Adventures, Legends, and Chocobo Racing. This admittedly incomplete list does not include the times a Final Fantasy is ported or remade for another system (which has happened quite frequently as aging gamers want to keep their classics and upgrade simultaneously).

It should be no surprise, then, that Squaresoft has announced another Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, which continues the Crystal Chronicles Series. Echoes of Time will be released in the Spring of 2009 on both the DS and the Wii, allowing all of Nintendo???s next-generation owners to join the party. And it is a party, literally, as both versions have multiplayer capability in the game world. No longer are RPG fans forced to play in solitude or give up their passion. Wii owners won???t have to give up the control scheme they???ve gotten used to, either.

For those unfamiliar with the role-playing game (RPG) genre (which Final Fantasy games are a part of), the player controls a group of characters through battles and dialogue in order to accomplish goals or tasks (usually to save the world from something imminent and dangerous). RPGs generally, and Final Fantasys specifically, have hours and hours of playing time and are very customizable in the sense that you can always vary the items your characters use or whether or not you want to go on any extra missions (side quests). It would literally take hundreds of hours to fully complete many games in this genre.

Squaresoft releasing another Final Fantasy isn???t groundbreaking news. Neither is the fact that almost all of them are good, if not excellent. What sets Echoes of Time apart from its highly esteemed predecessors is that it is released on both the Wii and the DS simultaneously and incorporates in-game multiplayer. It is sure to be fun for anyone with the time and willingness to give it a try.

John Lentz Jr.

Atdec's Visidec Freestanding range is the ultimate mounting solution

You often see pictures of busy professionals, be they graphic artists, stock exchange mavens, medical professionals or other professionals surrounded by a number of computer displays. The market for multiple displays amongst professionals is exploding and Atdec, a leading visual display mounting company, offers the ideal multi-monitor mounting solution for 12" to 24" LCD displays. The company just released its new Visidec Freestanding range for those who work with data-intensive applications and are busy juggling large quantities of information at once.

The new Visidec Freestanding range includes three models that house anywhere from 2 to 4 monitors in either vertical or horizontal configurations. This new series of high quality mounts offers a complete set of unique product features including:

• An advanced integrated cable management system (the cables are concealed inside of the pole compared to most of the competitive products that only offer clips)
  
• The ability to support LCD monitors from 12" to 24" with a carrying capacity up 25.3lbs. per monitor
  
• Offers horizontal and vertical adjustments
• Features +/-40 degrees angular adjustment
  
• Offers Portrait and Landscape rotation
  
• Features a small footprint of just 16" wide by 12" deep
  
• Supports 3" x 3" and 4" x 4" VESA mounting hole patterns
  

This new series is quite affordable with prices ranging from the $300-$500 level. For more information on these new Visidec mounts, go to www.atdec.com

John Lentz

It's the time of the year when meals are shared and holiday memories are made, but are you taking the best photos to share with friends and family? If you do not feel confident behind the lens and your pictures stay trapped on your camera, these tips will help you take photos you'll be proud to share with others.

Here are five tips to best capture and share your favorite holiday moments:

Tip 1: Use the flash indoors and out
For the best outcome, use the flash when taking photos outdoors. This applies to photos taken outside -- no matter what the season. The flash will lighten the shadows on the subject's face caused by the sun. If subjects are under a tree, or have a shadow cast on them, this trick is especially helpful to lighten them. A flash can help neutralize the lighting source even during the high noon period of the day when the sun casts deep shadows.

Tip 2: Take plenty of candid shots to capture the real magic
Take a combination of posed and candid shots to capture the spirit of a holiday event. Record meaningful moments such as your family greeting one another on Thanksgiving Day, friends singing holiday carols in December or children tearing through presents. Try following a child and capturing candid shots at their height-level. Don't be shy in snapping the shutter; taking several photos will ensure you catch the magic of the evening and increase your chances of getting a few perfect shots, although you may end up with a lot more photos than you are used to.

Tip 3: Practice the rule of thirds
Add personality and balance to your photos by dividing the frame into three equal parts. Imagine two imaginary horizontal and two vertical lines in your viewfinder. Some cameras offer a setting to automatically place these lines to make it easier. Position the subject at one of the four points where the lines intersect. Composing your shot using this rule of thumb will create a nicely-balanced, eye-pleasing photo.

Tip 4: Make photo sharing effortless by adding wireless to the camera you already own
Imagine sharing photos of your favorite holiday moment with out-of-state relatives and friends before your children even finish opening holiday presents. By using Eye-Fi's wireless SD memory card, you can turn the camera you already own into a wireless camera. Eye-Fi will automatically upload photos from your camera to your home computer and favorite online photo sharing site. Storing photos online is important to keep them safe in case you lose your photo albums in a fire or if your computer is ever stolen or infected by a virus. Backing up your photos online offers you the peace of mind that your life's memories are safeguarded somewhere other than your home. Plus, you control who can view your online albums by adjusting the privacy settings on your photo sharing account.

Tip 5: Organize your photos with "geotagging"
Geotagging, or adding a "tag" to your photo with the location of where it was taken, helps keep your images organized within your online photo sharing site or on your computer. As photo memories accumulate within your gallery, you can organize them by location and provide context that will last for years to come. The Eye-Fi Explore wireless memory card automatically tags photos with location information, eliminating the time and hassle of manually doing it yourself. You can also use this information to help plot your photos on a map to record your holiday travels.

SOURCE ARAcontent

Verbatim has unveiled four new keyboards and six mice to its PC/Mac Accessory line. The new keyboard line includes a Speaker keyboard, Wireless Multimedia and Wireless Slim keyboard/mouse combinations, and a USB Keyboard with Vista hot keys. Verbatim’s new line of mice includes wireless, laser and Bluetooth notebook models as well as wireless, rechargeable wireless and laser desktop models.

With its next-generation keyboards and mice, Verbatim makes advanced technologies and sleek-looking designs affordable for budget-conscious consumers. Ideal for people who want to optimize their computing experience, the new units also appeal to consumers who want to update the look of their laptop or desktop systems.

The CEA, which tracks sales from manufacturers to resellers, projects sales of 8.4 million keyboards in 2008 - an increase of 8 percent over 2007. Mice sales are expected to expand to 13 million - an increase of 6 percent over 2007.

With solutions that meet the needs and lifestyles of both Windows and Mac systems, Verbatim’s new keyboard line includes a USB Speaker Keyboard which will be displayed at Macworld Booth #2617 in a few weeks.

Featuring integrated, dual stereo speakers that deliver crystal-clear sound, Verbatim’s Speaker Keyboard can be used as a personal music station without cluttering up the desktop with speakers and cords. In addition to including backlit keys that can be turned on to improve key visibility in low light, it also features multimedia keys, hot keys and software for both Windows and Mac users. The Mac version integrates with iTunes for controlling music playback. The Windows version integrates with Windows Media Player. Equipped with a built-in mini-microphone, the Verbatim Speaker Keyboard is fully compatible with Skype and other VOIP software.

The new keyboard line also includes a USB Keyboard with Vista hot keys for fast, direct access to the Internet and Vista functions like Gadget, 3D Flip and Media Center.

For cord-free mobility and precision, Verbatim offers a wireless multimedia keyboard/mouse combination and a space-saving wireless slim keyboard/mouse combination with a convenient volume wheel and hot keys.

Verbatim’s new notebook and desktop mice range from models that are integrated with the latest wireless technology (2.4Ghz) to high-resolution (laser sensor) solutions and a Bluetooth-based notebook model. The wireless and Bluetooth models include Mac and Windows software for increased functionality and added value. All of the sleek-looking mice (except the Bluetooth mouse) feature silver as the base color and are colored to complement Mac systems. The Bluetooth mouse is a metallic ice blue color.

All of the new Verbatim mice also include laser sensor tracking for improved cursor control and more precise on-screen navigation; tilt wheel navigation for easy scrolling and a 3-setting speed control that lets users select the cursor speed that matches their activity. With the wireless mice models, users have the reliability and performance of a 2.4Ghz connection to ensure that there are no delayed cursor movements.

Consumers can enjoy all of these features plus the ability to customize their mouse and their computing experience with the following Verbatim mice:

Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse: The Slim USB receiver included with this model is designed to fit securely under the mouse for easy, on-the-go storage.

Notebook Laser Mouse: Featuring a textured comfort grip, this model can be used by people who are right- or left-handed. With its convenient retractable USB cable, this compact mouse can be easily carried in a backpack or computer bag.

Bluetooth Notebook Laser Mouse: Designed to work with an Apple MacBook or Bluetooth-enabled laptop, this model offers easy, quick set-up with Bluetooth-enabled computers.

Desktop Wireless Laser Mouse: This model offers a textured comfort grip for right- or left- hand use and provides one-click access to key functions with 3 programmable buttons.

Desktop Laser Mouse: Features 5 programmable buttons for setting up one-click access to the functions used most and a textured comfort grip for right- or left-hand use.

Desktop Rechargeable Wireless Laser Mouse: With a receiver that doubles as a charger, users can dock the mouse in the receiver to charge it, saving time, batteries and money. Ergonomically designed for comfort and usability, it’s a perfect fit for right-handers and offers 3 programmable buttons for one-click access to functions used most.

Verbatim’s new keyboards and mice are available through leading retailers, Internet resellers and distributors for use with Windows XP, 2000 and Vista systems as well as Mac OS 10.4.X and higher systems. Street prices start at less than $20 for the USB Keyboard with Vista hot keys and about $20 for the Notebook Laser Mouse.

In addition to the new mice, Verbatim continues to offer its Wireless Laser Mouse, Wireless Optical Notebook Mouse, Laser Desktop Mouse, Desktop Optical Mouse and an Optical Mini mouse.

Roku's $99 set-top player now supports streaming HD content.

Netflix is the first service to deliver HD content to the Roku player. They are adding many HD titles to the catalog available for streaming. There will be more content providers announced fairly soon.

If you already have one, no need to worry. Roku will deliver the new software to you free of charge.

To get started, order one directly from Roku.