Saturday, January 31, 2009

Killzone 2

Killzone-2



Product Features

  • Assume the first-person perspective of special forces soldier Sev in the assault on Helghan

  • Take on an inhospitable planet along with enemies backed by impressive AI

  • Experience cinematic effects, smooth animations, and detailed environments full of realistic lighting

  • Stay immersed with music and effects rendered in 7.1 surround sound

  • Master 11 levels on your own or engage in online play with 2-32 players

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Get ready to take on the full strength of the Helghast war machine from a dramatic first-person perspective with Killzone 2 for PS3. From Guerilla Games, this much anticipated follow-up to Killzone for PS2 and Killzone: Liberation for PSP drops you right into the boots of battle hardened special forces soldier Sev. Set two years after the aborted Helghast assault on Vekta, the action opens with your ISA Legion squad deployed behind enemy lines on the Helghan's unforgiving home turf


mSooth animation and improved AI give the

Helghans a terrifying, realistic presence. View larger.







Realistic lighting and detailed environments add a cinematic quality. View larger.


Combat Lifelike AI and Inhospitable Terrain

Despite the smooth character animations and swift-thinking AI behind each individual Helghan, their planet itself may be the most deceptive opponent that you face. Unlike other game environments that serve as nothing more than a visual backdrop, the devastating Helghan climate takes a notable toll. And, worst of all, the Helghans know exactly how to use the planet against you.

The in-your-face perspective comes to life as you take aim with exotic new weapons and mainstays from the previous games, including the M82-G assault rifle. And you can now drive an array of rugged, sometimes strange, vehicles that expand the gruesome possibilities of war.

Guerilla Technology in a Terrifying, Realistic World

Guerrilla's unique visuals and deferred rendering technology ensure that even the ugliest situations on Helghan are beautifully lit. Ambient occlusion and accurate shadow casting from a variety of light sources combine with gritty textures, detailed environments, and studio-grade special effects to help complete the realistic, Hollywood experience of this first-person shooter.

Real-time cutscenes, full-screen anti-aliasing, motion blurs, and internal lens reflections all bring you into the fold and work to maximize the hardware capabilities of the PS3. And the audio experience is no less impressive. 7.1 surround sound capability lend a truly dynamic sound element to your experience, while audio occlusion with wave tracing means that you can hear the difference between indoor and outdoor firefights.

Chaotic Multiplayer Drama Online

While single-player mode lets you take on the unique challenges of 11 fully developed levels, online play lets you engage with up to 32 players at a time, bringing the gritty, realistic chaos of war to a whole new level.


Other multi-player friendly enhancements in Killzone 2 include in-game clan management, a match wagering system, and the ability to integrate new information and track friends and enemies with the community at Killzone.com.

Product Description

Two years after the Helghast assault on Vekta, the ISA is bringing the fight to the enemy's home world of Helghan. Taking the role of Sev, the battle-hardened veteran of the special forces unit known as the Legion, players will embark upon a mission to the planet Helghan to capture the Helghast leader, Emperor Visari, and bring the enemy's war machine to a halt. For Sev and his squad, the invasion of Helghan is just the beginning. Tasked with securing Pyrrhus, the Capital City, the team quickly discovers that the Helghast are a formidable enemy on their home planet. Not only have they adjusted to the planet's hostile conditions, they have also harnessed a source of power from the environment that can be used against the ISA. Sev and his team soon discover the fight is greater than simply addressing the enemy forces; the Legion must also learn how to handle the effects of the fierce enemy planet.


Killzone-2




Motion blurs and studio-grade special effects bring battle to life. View larger.




First-person viewpoints and 7.1 surround sound keep you immersed. View larger.

Friday, January 30, 2009

The Sims 3

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Product Features


Edition: Standard



  • New Seamless, Open Neighborhood—Explore the neighborhood freely.

  • New Create A Sim—Create any Sim you can imagine.

  • New Realistic Personalities—Every Sim is a unique person, with a distinct personality.

  • New Unlimited Customization—Everyone can customize everything!

  • The freedom of The Sims 3 will inspire you with endless possibilities and amuse you with unexpected moments of surprise and mischief.




Product Description


Edition: Standard

Amazon.com Product Description

The freedom of The Sims 3 will inspire you with endless creative possibilities and amuse you with unexpected moments of surprise and mischief. Create millions of unique Sims and control their lives. Customize their appearances and personalities. Build their homes - design everything from exquisitely furnished dream homes to quaint cottages. Then, send your Sims out to explore their ever-changing neighborhood and to meet other Sims in the town center. With all-new quick challenges and rewarding game play, The Sims 3 gives you the freedom to choose whether (or not) to fulfill your Sims' destinies and make their wishes come true.















'The Sims 3' game logo

Create like never before.

New seamless neighborhoods in 'The Sims 3'

New seamless neighborhoods.

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New create a Sim functionality and personality traits in 'The Sims 3'

New create a Sim and personalities.

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Extreme home customization in 'The Sims 3'

Extreme home customization.

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Key Game Features:



  • New Seamless, Living Neighborhood


    • Explore the ever-changing neighborhood—and take your Sims to meet friends in the park, go on a date at the bistro, visit neighbors’ homes, converse with less-than-savory characters in the graveyard and more. Who knows what might happen?

    • Admire the natural beauty of the beach, the mountains, and more.


  • New Create a Sim Functionality


    • Create any Sim you can imagine with easy-to-use design tools that allow for unlimited customization of facial features, hair color, eye color, and more.

    • Fine tune your Sims’ body shape from thin to curvy to muscular.


  • New Personality Traits


    • Create over a million different personalities with traits such as evil, insane, kleptomaniac, romantic, and more.

    • Influence the behaviors of your Sims with the traits you’ve chosen. Will you create a neurotic romantic with a heart of gold, or a geeky super-genius with an evil streak?


  • New Unlimited Customization


    • Everyone can customize everything—design and build your dream house and decorate it to fit your Sims’ personalities.

    • Customize everything from floors to décor, shirts to sofas, wallpaper to window shades.


  • New Gameplay That’s Rewarding and Quick


    • Face short and long-term challenges and reap the rewards.

    • Your Sims can pursue random opportunities to get fast cash, get ahead, get even, and more.

    • Choose whether, or not, to fulfill your Sims’ destinies by making their wishes come true. Will your Sims be thieves, rock stars, world leaders? The choice is yours.


  • Get Connected and Share Your Creations with The Sims 3 Online Community


    • Get free bonus content—download Sims, outfits, furnishings, houses and more.

    • Create and Share Sims, houses, movies and more with anyone.

    • Join The Sims 3 community to share ideas with fans of The Sims from around the world.




































Minimum Specifications:
OS: Windows Vista (SP1)/Windows XP (SP2)
Processor: Vista - 2.4 GHz P4 or equivalent/XP - 2.0 GHz P4 or equivalent
RAM: Vista - 1.5 GB/XP - 1GB
Disc Drive: 8x DVD ROM or faster
Hard Drive: Vista & XP - 8 GB or more
Video Card: 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0. Supported video cards include: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900, FX 5950, 6200, 6500, 6600, 6800, 7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950, 8400, 8500, 8600, 8800, 9600, 9800, GTX 260, GTX 280 (GeForce FX unsupported under Vista); ATI Radeon 9500, 9600, 9800, X300, X600, X700, X800, X850, X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950, 2400, 2600, 2900, 3450, 3650, 3850, 3870, 4850, 4870; Intel Extreme Graphics GMA X3x00 series.
Other: Laptop versions of chipsets above may work, but may run comparatively slower.




Product Description

The Sims 3 lets you immerse truly unique Sims in an open, living neighborhood just outside their door! The freedom of The Sims 3 will inspire you with endless possibilities and amuse you with unexpected moments of surprise and mischief. Your Sims can roam throughout their neighborhood, visit neighbors’ homes, and explore the surroundings. They can stroll downtown to hang out with friends, meet someone new at the park, or run into colleagues on the street. If your Sims are in the right place at the right time, who knows what might happen?! New easy-to-use design tools allow for unlimited customization to make truly individual Sims. Determine your Sims’ shape and size, from thin to full-figured to muscular—and everything in between! Choose your Sims’ facial features, their exact skin tone, hair eye shape and color and select their clothing and accessories. Create realistic Sims with distinctive personalities. Select from dozens of personality traits and combine them in fun ways. The combination of traits you choose—brave, artistic, loner, perfectionist, klepto, romantic, clumsy, paranoid, and much, much more—help shape the behavior of your Sims and how they interact with other Sims. Your Sims can now rise above their basic set of every day needs. They are complex individuals with unique personalities. Build your dream house or design the ultimate home. Customize everything from floors to flowers, shirts to sofas, wallpaper to window shades. It’s fun and easy to change colors and patterns giving you endless personalization options. Or you can populate your Sims’ neighborhood with pre-designed buildings and furnishings. Which of your Sims will live in high-end mansions, cool bachelor pads, ultimate dream homes or low-cost cottages?


Buy on Amazon.com

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

Buy on Amazon.com


Product Review
When I purchased this TV from Amazon.com I had already decided on this Samsung 52" series and was trying to decide between the 650 and the 750. At the time there was a small price difference between the two on Amazon.com. I ended up choosing the 650 because I was placing the TV inside a nook that had limited space.

The 650 has a less bulky frame around the LCD screen and therefore it was only 50.2 inches wide as compared to the 750 which is 52" wide. Both screens have the exact same visual display area. Beyond trying to accommodate my limited space, I felt that the smaller frame looked nicer on the TV than the larger frame.

The other reason I chose the 650 is that it can swivel on the base, whereas the 750 is fixed on its base. Because I have placed the TV in a nook, this swivel feature has come in very handy as I have had to get behind it from time to time to plug in cords, etc.

I have read a lot about screen reflection and was bracing myself for a potentially unpleasant experience during daytime viewing, especially since the room the TV is in has windows all the way across two walls and is full of sunlight daily. I'm happy to report that screen reflection is absolutely no problem. The TV that I was replacing with the Samsung LCD was an older 32" Panasonic Panablack analog TV with the glass screen, which had a lot of reflection. As a point of reference, the Samsung has about 20% of the screen reflection of my old TV (judging from when the TV is off). When the TV is on, the Samsung has about 5% of screen reflection compared with what I used to have with my old TV, which may be due to the incredible brightness of the display.

I spent a number of months on this decision and I feel like I hit a home run with this purchase. Samsung has certainly exceeded my expectations with this model and I have been very satisfied with my first experience of buying a TV online from Amazon.com.

DEC 20, 2008 UPDATE: I've now owned the TV for more than 6 months. No regrets. The TV has survived well in a family with 5 kids under age 10. It's taken some direct hits to the screen with toys thrown by a 2-year-old but any marks on the screen easily rubbed off. It still looks just like the day I first got it and runs perfectly. I'm very happy with this purchase.


Product Description


Manufacturer's Description

Samsung adds a Touch of Color to a blazing-fast 4ms response time and rich connectivity features to redefine the role HDTVs play in the home with its forward-looking Series 6 (A650) and Series 7 (A750) LCD HDTVs. Utilizing the award-winning technologies found in all Samsung HDTVs, Series 6 and 7 HDTVs deliver unparalleled picture quality and enhanced connectivity and networking capabilities that create a true entertainment hub for any home. Series 7 takes networking and multimedia management to a whole new level. Consumers can easily enjoy MPEG and JPEG files stored on external devices by connecting through a side-mounted USB 2.0, turning their LCD into a full-scale home viewing gallery, or connect their MP3 players for a dynamic audio experience.

lifestyleKey Features


  • New -- 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio: up from 25,000:1 on 2007 models (Learn more)


  • New -- Blazing 4ms response time: down from 8ms on 2007 models thanks to a new high-speed liquid crystal


  • New -- Transparent and Opaque Color (TOC) bezel with infused color creates an ultra-sleek shape and appearance (Learn more)


  • New -- InfoLink: Get free RSS feeds of news, weather and sports right to your HDTV with a built-in Ethernet port (Learn more)


  • New -- 4 HDMI 1.3 ports: Simplay compliant, and up from 3 on 2007 models (Learn more)


  • New -- Sports and Game modes boost on-screen performance and interaction with the latest gaming systems

  • New -- Side-mounted USB 2.0 port: connect USB devices directly to your HDTV to view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV's audio system or your home theater system.


  • New -- Compatible with Samsung's Home Digital Media Adapter (sold separately) for playback and navigation of Internet and stored PC multimedia

  • Full 1080p HD (Learn more)

  • Automotion Plus 120Hz image interpolation technology provides smoother motion (Learn more)


  • 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (Learn more)


  • Better clear panel technology for deeper blacks and more vibrant colors (Learn more)

  • Hidden speakers with SRS TruSurround XT audio (Learn more)

  • Cold Cathode Flourescent Lamp (CCFL) and Wide Color Enhancer technology offer a wider color range (Learn more)

  • Picture-in-Picture (PIP) enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources

  • V-Chip system1 allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.

  • Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.


  • Variable sleep timer to turn the TV off in varying time intervals.

  • Auto wall mount compatible: 3-dimensional operation via TV’s remote control; no external IR receiver required.

  • Swivel stand included

  • 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support.


Step-Up Features


  • Series 7: Internal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more, Integrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience, DLNA-Compatibility for better interopability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers (Learn more)

  • Series 8: super-slim 1.9-inch thick profile


  • Comparison of Features for various Samsung LCD HDTV models

  • What size TV should you get?







super clear panel





50,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio/500 nit Brightness







25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio50,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio will give you a picture better than you ever thought possible, with whiter whites, blacker blacks and a nearly infinite subtlety of gradations in between. As two of the most important determining factors in overall picture quality, contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this latest generation LCD panel. Samsung’s new LCD TV’s give the most stunning realistic picture quality ever.




Wii Fit

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Product Features

  • Wii Fit comes with the Wii Balance Board and requires a Wii console to play. Wii console sold separately.

  • Wii Fit combines fitness with fun and is designed for everyone, young and old. Wii Fit players work towards personal fitness goals and they block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls, and go big on ski jumps to get themselves there.

  • Check your daily progress, set goals, check your Wii Fit Age, and even enter exercise time you've done outside of Wii Fit.

  • Wii Fit Age is measured by factoring the user's BMI reading, testing the user's center of gravity and conducting quick balance tests.

  • Training is at the core of Wii Fit. You can spend as much (or as little) time as you want trying out all of the 40+ activities Wii Fit offers.


Product Details

  • Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.

  • ASIN: B000VJRU44

  • Product Dimensions: 10 pounds

  • Media: Video Game

  • Release Date: May 21, 2008

Product Description

Amazon.com

The active-play phenomenon started by Wii Sports now spreads to your whole body thanks to Wii Fit and the pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board, which comes bundled with it. Used together players will experience an extensive array of fun, dynamic and surprisingly challenging activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and balance oriented games. The focus of these activities is towards providing a "core" workout, a popular exercise method that emphasizes slower, controlled motions, but it's the fun approach to fitness of Wii Fit that will keep players hooked on fitness for years to come.





'Wii Fit' game logo



Have fun while you get fit


















The Wii Balance Board

The Wii Balance Board.

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Calculate your BMI and Wii Fit age

Calculate your BMI and Wii Fit age.

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Enjoy a wide variety of mini-games

Enjoy a wide variety of mini-games.

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Follow your own personal trainer

Follow your own personal trainer.

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Track your progress against friends

Track your progress against friends.

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The Wii Fit Balance Board

The primary tenet of Wii Fit is balance. Your center of balance, the point between your left and right sides when you stand upright, has a lot to do with your health. Those without an even center of balance will be unnaturally compensating for this imbalance, which causes their posture to become misaligned, increasing the possibility of putting unnecessary strain on their bodies. This is where the Wii Balance Board comes in.


Similar in appearance to a step aerobics board, the Wii Balance Board is much, much more. Easily capable of supporting weights up to a maximum of 300 pounds, it is sturdy and precise, able to measure weight and register pressure accurately when placed on a variety of flat surfaces. This advanced level of sensitivity allows for both the wide range of activities found in the Wii Fit software as well as the board's amazing ability recognize individual players by their weight alone.


Getting Started: Create a Profile

Before you jump into doing exercises and activities, you’ll start by creating a profile. This is done easily and intuitively by simply choosing a Mii, entering your height and age information, and doing a few quick tests that will serve as a baseline for your new Wii fitness regimen. These tests are:



  • BMI Check: BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that is the standard used by agencies such as the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health. To check your BMI, you’ll enter your height then stand on the Wii Balance Board and let it read your weight.

  • Wii Fit Age: After you’ve checked your BMI, you’ll do a basic balance test and find out your current Wii Fit Age. This basic balance test measures how well you can control your left and right balance. Based on the results, you’ll be assigned a Wii Fit Age.


Four Categories of Fun

Once you have created your profile it's time to have some fun. Wii Fit features four main categories of exercises to choose from: Strength Training, Aerobics, Yoga and Balance Games. Wii Fit will guide you through the first three with the help of your own virtual personal trainer, while the balance games offer variety and fun to help keep you engaged and excited about your fitness goals. In addition, as you spend time exercising, you’ll earn Fit Credits that unlock additional exercises and activities within your favorite categories that will allow you to continue to push yourself. See more detail on the four categories below:



  • Strength Training: Put your strength to the test with muscle-toning exercises like Single Leg Extension, Sideways Leg Lift, Arm and Leg Lift, Single-Arm Stand, Torso Twists, Rowing Squat, Single Leg Twist, Lunge, Push-Up and Side Plank, Jackknife, Plank and Tricep Extension. Challenges include Push-Up Challenge, Plank Challenge and Jackknife Challenge.

  • Aerobics: Get your heart pumping with fun, interactive Aerobic exercises like Hula Hoop, Basic Step, Basic Run, Super Hula Hoop, Advanced Step, 2-P Run, Rhythm Boxing, Free Step and Free Run.

  • Yoga: Work on your balance and flexibility with Yoga poses and activities like Deep Breathing, Half-Moon, Dance, Cobra, Bridge, Spinal Twist, Shoulder Stand, Warrior, Tree, Sun Salutation, Standing Knee, Palm Tree, Chair, Triangle and Downward-Facing Dog.

  • Balance Games: Get into the action with fun, balanced-based games like Soccer Heading, Ski Slalom, Ski Jump, Table Tilt, Tightrope Walk, Balance Bubble, Penguin Slide, Snowboard Slalom and Lotus Focus.

Keep Track of Your Progress

Because keeping fit is an ongoing process, Wii Fit also tracks the activities you do the most and puts them into your Favorites category. With this information players can note exercises and activities that they are strong in, as well as others that may need to improve at. Some of the ways players can use this information for are to:

  • Keep tabs on your daily progress with easy-to-understand graphs and charts. Using your personal profile, you can set goals, view a graph of your BMI results over time, see how many Fit Credits you’ve earned, check your Wii Fit Age and even enter exercise time you’ve done outside of Wii Fit. It’s all about coming back and exercising a little every day, and the personal profile makes tracking your daily progress simple and easy.

  • Quickly check your Wii Fit Age and BMI without even putting the game in the console by going directly to the Wii Fit Channel.

  • Allow up to eight family members can create their own profiles in Wii Fit. On the profile-selection screen, everyone in the family can see each other’s recent BMI progress and Fit Credit total. This will allow families to have a friendly competition to exercise and get fit.

Variety, fun and progress tracking; Wii Fit has it all. So, Wii owners if you ready to reclaim your balance and get fit all you need is Wii Fit, a few minutes a day to play and the urge to have fun. Get on board today.

Video Game Review by 1UP.com (What's this?)


Wii Fit Review: Can It Really Help You Shape Up?

By Jennifer Tsao -- 12/5/2008




Wii Fit's doing something right. A couple of days into the game's workout regimen, I didn't want to keep playing -- it is exercise, after all. But I persevered, and eventually I improved at the minigames, felt physically challenged on some exercises, and generally felt better after racking up 15 or 30 minutes a day of Wii fitness. But I never really wanted to play. Which, I suppose, is the rule of exercise -- it's exhausting, but keep it up, and you'll feel great at all other times of the day.

That's mostly how Wii Fit is. The yoga and strength training aren't really even games; you just follow along with a trainer, working out in the world's most lifeless, depressing gym. Certainly, lunges and leg lifts are great for developing muscle strength -- and if you can successfully hold plank poses the way your trainer does, you're sure to burn off at least a few of those Mario-themed cupcakes you inhaled last night at dinner.


But measuring success is one of Wii Fit's shortcomings. While the Balance Board (the game's packed-in peripheral, which is a bit bigger than a bathroom scale) seems to sense -- quite precisely -- your center of balance and how hard you're pushing, it's sometimes tough to tell whether the game is praising you for performing the exercise right, or doing so just because you managed to keep your heel or toe dug in particularly well on a given move. It certainly lets you know when you're doing something horribly wrong (for example, if you put the wrong leg down because you lost balance), but Wii Fit's definition of "right" feels a bit more vague.


Still, for people who don't exercise (or haven't in a very, very long time), the game's suite of yoga poses -- ranging from very simple bends and stretches to more advanced, challenging fare such as the warrior pose and sun salutation -- serve as a wonderful introduction to the healthy practice. And for the honest gamer looking to get fit (and not "game" the Board's sensitivity), the strength training offers a genuine workout that you won't get from any other videogame. The feedback Wii Fit gives you via its unique controller is unlike anything I've seen, and I've played a few dancepad- and EyeToy-based exercise games in my time.


For pure entertainment, the aerobic- and balance-based minigames (dancing, skiing, etc.) are much more fun and lively. Snowboarding feels real...and once you get the hang of hula-hooping, it gets the heart pumping and makes you look completely ridiculous (always a bonus in my book). Some of the minigames are as great as anything you'll play in Wii Sports, with one notable caveat: Wii Fit doesn't do a whole lot with multiplayer. Obviously, it's unrealistic to expect one household to have multiple Balance Boards, so multiplayer is limited to a jogging minigame, which doesn't even use the board (you put the Wii Remote in your pocket and run in place). Despite that understandable rationale, it's a damn shame that Nintendo didn't incorporate better multiplayer support, which could've made it legitimately more fun for the whole family to exercise together.


All activities in Wii Fit award Fit Credits, which unlock more exercises and minigames. And this unlocking mechanic -- combined with the fact that the game ranks all the players on your Wii on the same leaderboard -- helps motivate you to keep playing. I found myself particularly addicted to certain games (the one where you head soccer balls while avoiding other flying objects, and another where your Mii is in a bubble, trying to navigate along a twisty river), trying to earn more Fit Credits and improve my score (and beat my housemates). Unlocking a new difficulty level or length of exercises ("Woo-hoo, now I can do 20 reps instead of 10!") isn't quite as rewarding, but earning credits to open up new minigames feels fantastic.


For an exercise game, Wii Fit gives you a surprising amount of freedom -- and that's not always a good thing. Yes, you're supposed to weigh yourself each day and test your core muscles to gauge overall progress. And, yes, the game keeps a chart of your weight loss (or gain, as was the case with me) and body mass index trends. But while the Mii integration is positively brilliant -- it scales your Mii relatively fatter or thinner based on your actual stats -- this modicum of structure isn't likely to keep couch potatoes from slacking. I wanted more regulation, more guidance, more demands. When you have complete freedom to choose what you want to do, you might find yourself cheating, despite your best intentions. I mean, c'mon -- this is a workout game. I self-motivated on plenty of challenging activities (running in place, lunges), yet I still found myself doing lots of simple yoga poses and rudimentary calisthenics to unlock more stuff with minimal effort. I guess I'd hoped an exercise videogame would make fitness a lot more fun -- and easier to do. And, though it doesn't quite exceed those expectations, Wii Fit will get you moving -- especially if you're looking for a gentle, fun introduction to an exercise program.


Buy on Amazon.com

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Twilight (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008)

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Product Review

I had heard about the fantasy books by a friend when they first came out but didn't have the time to look into them. By the time the movie came out, I'd nearly forgotten about the book referral, but asked my hubby to take me as it looked like a good vampire romance flick. The scenery of the Pacific Northwest forests, rivers, and coastline was breathtaking and as a native to this area, it was like going out into my own backyard which made the film that more appealing. I was so captivated by the actors portrayal of the characters (the facial expressions and emotions brought out of the characters by Rob, Kristen, Peter, Nikki, and the rest were mesmerizing) and the depth of the back-story left me desiring more! The very next day after viewing the movie in the theater - I raced to the bookstore to grab the first book. I was hooked, read through all four books (plus went to the authors website to read the extra materials she had posted there) in a week. Then, still not satisfied, went back and saw the movie several more times - IN THE THEATER, something I've never felt compelled to do before - because I was so drawn to the characters and the story. This may have been written for the young adult audience but I'm 32 and a parent of four children, and still found the story to be well worth my time.

If you haven't read the stories, I encourage you to do so. Regardless, this film will be a treasured part of your movie collection and one you'll be sure to watch several times before you'll feel satisfied.


Editorial Reviews


Amazon.com

The big-screen adaptation of Twilight, Stephenie Meyer's bestselling vampire romance, is aimed squarely at its key demographic: teen girls whose idea of Prince Charming is a brooding, pale, undead teen who could kill you instantly at any moment. Such a prince is more fascinating than frightening to new girl Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), who moves to the rainy-gray town of Forks, Wash., to live with her dad (Billy Burke), the local sheriff who's puzzled by a series of "animal attacks." On her first day at school, Bella appears to (visibly) nauseate her lab partner, Edward (Robert Pattinson). Turns out the scent of her blood is this vampire's "brand of heroin," and his struggle not to kill her causes an irresistible pull toward her. Whether he's attracted for the normal reasons or because she smells especially sweet to him is vague in the book and even less clear on-screen; nonetheless, Bella falls hopelessly in love with Edward, which sets her on a dangerous path when a few nomad vampires show up in town, one particularly keen on tracking the human. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), Twilight is full of funny moments--not all of which are intentional--and the casting, from Stewart to Bella's self-absorbed friend Jessica (Anna Kendrick) is spot-on. The weakest link, unfortunately, is Pattinson. While he certainly looks the part, his Edward could have used an extra injection of testosterone (Pattinson, who is British, used James Dean as a model for his American accent). In scenes where he growls about the temptation to kill those who would harm Bella, or flitting around a forest warning her how dangerous he is, he comes off more like a whimpering puppy than a debonair monster. The good news is, his chemistry with Stewart (particularly in their big kissing scene) is palpable, which, let's face it, is really what matters to Twilight fans most. --Ellen A. Kim



Product Description

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) doesn’t expect much when she moves to the small town of Forks, Washington, until she meets the mysterious and handsome Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson)—a boy who’s hiding a dark secret: he’s a vampire. As their worlds and hearts collide, Edward must battle the bloodlust raging inside him as well as a coterie of undead that would make Bella their prey. Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling sensation by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight adds a dangerous twist to the classic story of star-crossed lovers.


DVD features:

  • Presented in widescreen format only

  • Audio commentary by Catherine Hardwicke, Kristen Stewart, and Robert Pattinson

  • Muse music video: "Super Massive Black Hole"

  • Paramore music video: "Decode"

  • Linkin Park music video: "Leave Out All the Rest"

  • Five extended scenes with director introductions

  • Five deleted scenes with director introductions

  • Seven-part documentary: "The Adventure Begins: The Journey from Page to Screen"

  • Comic-Con "fandom" piece

  • Comic-Con NY sizzle reel


  • Three trailers

  • Penelope trailer
Buy on Amazon.com

Apple iPod touch 8 GB

Buy on Amazon.com
Buy On Ebay





Product Review
For those who may be interested in acquiring an iPod Touch as a replacement for a PDA, I have found it to be quite useful. The primary function used in this regard is syncing with Microsoft Outlook, which works flawlessly. Now I can check appointments and find those phone numbers for early morning conference calls without waiting 10 minutes for my laptop to boot up.

The new software improves the functionality by adding the notes capability, and I even find myself frequently viewing video podcasts - something I never thought I would use.

The most important functions for me in a portable device are calendar, music, notes, photos, and Audible book playback, all of which this iPod handles very nicely. I have also used the maps feature for driving directions - load it up while on the home WiFi network, then the directions are retained for reference - in a much more useful format than if you print out the directions on Google. Just bring along a navigator, as I would not recommend trying to read the iPod while driving. The same applies to paper maps, of course.

On the downside, the battery life has not been great - less than two hours if actively using WiFi.

Technical Details

  • This player is the iPod touch, not the Apple iPhone

  • Upgrade your player with the iPhone 2.0 Software Update for iPod touch via iTunes for an additional fee

  • 8 GB of storage provides approximately 1,750 songs; includes earphones, USB cable, dock adapter/connector, polishing cloth, and stand

  • 3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display; battery life provides up to 22 hours of music and up to 5 hours of video

  • New applications include email; maps; and widgets for weather, notes, and stocks

Product Description


Amazon.com Product Description

iPod touch has always been an amazing iPod. With great new applications, now iPod touch is even better. Watch a movie you rented from iTunes. View rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline. Open PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments. With Maps, find your location and get directions from there. See where you are on a map, a satellite image, or a combination of both. Make Web Clips for your Home screen so you can visit your favorite websites in just one tap. Fill up to nine Home screen pages with Web Clips and arrange them however you like. Browse YouTube videos, follow your stocks, check the weather, and take notes. With the new iPod touch, tap into even more.













Glide through albums with the iPod touch's amazing Cover Flow technology. View iPod touch dimensions.




Browse the Web with the included Safari browser. Or fire up a YouTube video and enjoy the show.





































The iPod touch responds to your movements; turn it sideways and your video is presented in widescreen mode.




Incredibly thin at just 8 millimeters.
The mail application lets you view rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline, as well as PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments.
Rearrange the icons on your Home screen. Even change the Dock.
Mark specific locations, find the best route between them, and search for points of interest along the way with Maps.

Music, Movies, and More

Flick through album covers and find your music. Download and watch your favorite movies, rentals, TV shows, and more from the iTunes Store. Tap into thousands of photos. All using incredible multi-touch technology on a beautiful 3.5-inch display.


Music

If a picture says a thousand words, think of what all the album art in your collection might say. With Cover Flow on iPod touch, flick through your music to find the album you want to hear. When you do, just tap the cover to flip it over and display a track list. Another tap starts the music. Even view the lyrics while you're listening to the track.


Video

The 3.5-inch display gives you video like you've never seen on a portable device. Watch your favorite movie or rental from the iTunes Store. Catch up on TV shows anywhere. Enjoy video podcasts. Play music videos. All using multi-touch technology. With a tap, bring up onscreen controls to play/pause and view by chapter. Turn your iPod touch to switch between widescreen or full screen.


Photos

iPod touch holds up to 20,000 photos you sync via iTunes. Flick to scroll through thumbnails. Tap to view full screen. Rotate for landscape format. Or perform some sleight of hand by opening two fingers to zoom in. You can even play slideshows, complete with music and transitions. Set any photo as your wallpaper to personalize your iPod touch . . . with a touch.


iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store

With iPod touch, discover new music anywhere. Its built-in wireless capability gives you access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, where you can buy songs with a tap. Browse New Releases, What's Hot, Genres, and Top 10 songs. Or find exactly what you're looking for with a quick search. Tap a song to preview it, tap Buy to purchase it. Even redeem your iTunes gift cards and gift certificates. All from anywhere you happen to be.


Starbucks Music

You walk into a Starbucks. Order your latte. While you wait, you hear a song wafting from the loudspeakers. You love it. So you get out your iPod touch and buy it over Wi-Fi. Just like that. The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store on iPod touch tells you what's playing in select Starbucks and lets you buy it along with other featured Starbucks content. So you can sip, shop, and listen.


Home Screen

Make the iPod touch Home screen your own. Change what's in the Dock. Rearrange the icons. And make room for even more. You can add up to eight Home screen pages and fill them with Web Clips.


Internet

Surf the web. Send email. Get directions and find your location with Maps. Check stocks, weather, and more. iPod touch is not just an amazing iPod. It's the Internet in your pocket.


Safari

iPod touch is the only iPod with wireless access to the web. Safari is built in, so you see websites the way they were designed to be seen. Search the web using the touchscreen keyboard. Zoom in and out by tapping the multi-touch display. Switch between portrait or landscape view, depending on how you hold your iPod touch. Sync your bookmarks. Better yet, add them to your Home screen. iPod touch can automatically create a Web Clip on your Home screen from any of your favorite websites. So just one tap takes you directly there.


YouTube

Got a bit of a YouTube addiction? iPod touch feeds it from anywhere with a special YouTube player built right in. Watch featured videos, check out the most viewed, search for something specific, then bookmark your favorites for future reference. It's all the fun of YouTube--pocket-size.


Mail

iPod touch is the first iPod with Mail. And it's the best email you've ever seen on a handheld device. This mail application lets you view rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline, as well as PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments.


Maps

Get directions and check traffic with Google Maps. Even find yourself, wherever you are. Using some local Wi-Fi networks (if Wi-Fi is turned on), iPod touch finds your approximate location and gives directions from there. Mark specific locations, find the best route between them, and search for points of interest along the way. With a hybrid map and satellite view, you can see major street names on top of satellite images.


Widgets

Widgets are small, incredibly handy applications you can use every day. Three of the most useful widgets now live front and center on your Home screen:











Weather

Get a five-day weather forecast, including highs and lows, for cities around the world. Save your favorite locations so you can check the weather anytime.


Notes

Take notes, make a to-do list, or jot down a reminder using the easy-to-use touch keypad. Then save or email them.


Stocks

Check your stocks and track the market over one day, one week, one month, three months, six months, one year, or two years.

High Technology

iPod touch features the same revolutionary interface as iPhone, the most advanced software ever engineered, and state-of-the-art technology. With the multi-touch display, you can control everything using only your fingers. If you rotate your iPod touch from portrait to landscape, the accelerometer automatically changes the way the content is displayed. And with wireless technology, you can connect to the Internet from any Wi-Fi network, anywhere you are.

Multi-touch

iPod touch features the same revolutionary interface as iPhone. Built to take full advantage of the large 3.5-inch display, the multi-touch interface lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flick through photos and enlarge them with a pinch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page. And iPod touch features a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard perfect for browsing the web in Safari, getting directions on a map, searching for videos on YouTube, finding music on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, or adding new contacts.

Ambient Light Sensor

The iPod touch display has an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness to suit the ambient light in your surroundings. The result? A better experience for you and battery-saving efficiency for iPod touch.

Wireless

Connect to the Internet anywhere there's a Wi-Fi network. Send email from a coffee shop. Surf the web at the airport. Browse, buy, and download music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at select Starbucks locations or other wireless hot spots in your area. iPod touch finds wireless networks and connects you to the Internet.

Accelerometer

An accelerometer detects when you rotate iPod touch from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display, so you immediately see the entire width of a web page, your music in Cover Flow, or a photo in its proper aspect ratio.

What's in the Box:

8 GB iPod touch, earphones, USB 2.0 cable, dock adapter, polishing cloth, stand, quick start guide

Product Description

(not the iPhone) With the Apple iPod touch, Apple has married the iPhone's revolutionary multi-touch interface to their popular digital media player. So instead of a Click Wheel, you just use your fingers to flick through your music, photos, and video. Two fingers can be used in a pinching or spreading motion as well, which zooms in and out of photos and web pages. That's right, the iPod touch is the first iPod to offer web access. It does this via built-in Wi-Fi support. There's even a special iTunes Wi-Fi Store, so you can browse and purchase new music and video while you're on the road. The latest iPod touch now offers a suite of new applications, including email, maps, and handy widgets for weather, notes, and stocks. The new iPod touch also features a customizable home screen that lets you rearrange buttons and create your own Web Clips. Ports - Dock Connector & Stereo Minijack Connects to a PC or Mac through USB (using the dock connector) 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Wireless / Safari web browser Charge Time - about 3 hours (1.5 hours fast charge to 80% capacity) Audio Support - AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, & 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, & AIFF Photo Support - Syncs iPod-viewable photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats Video Support - H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4, and. mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4, and. mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4, and. mov file formats Unit Dimension

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Nokia N96 16 GB Unlocked Cell Phone with 5 MP Camera, 3G, GPS, Media Player Micro SD Slot

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Product Review
I upgraded from the N95 8Gig (also a seriously great phone) to this. I love both, but I prefer the N96 because it has a bigger memory plus the ability to expand. I added an 8Gig card SanDisk 8GB MicroSD Card ( SDSDQ 008G A11M)and have loaded lots of music and movies. In preparation for a trip I am loading other movies on additional cards so I can switch them out. Although watching on such as small screen takes some getting used to, this expansion feature is enough for me to favor this over the N95. The quality of videos is excellent, but I don't recommend you try to watch films with subtitles :-).

The only minus of this v. the N95 is that the N96 has a noticeably shorter battery life (only on standby and voice calls). I only had to charge my N95 every few days; this one needs it every day or two at the most.

The camera is excellent. In fact, it is the only camera I used on a recent trip and the still pictures and videos are as good as my very expensive (and very heavy) camera. Having only one thing to carry in my pocket without sacrificing picture quality was wonderful, (and the phone/camera was envied by all who saw it).

The phone has lots of useful features even if, like me, you don't subscribe to a data package. I use the phone to attach to wi-fi when out and check my e-mail, shop at Amazon, etc. This does not use the cell service and so there is no data charge.

I still haven't figured out the GPS system, but then again I haven't spent very much time on it. Not everything on these phones is intuitive and the written instruction book is lacking, but Nokia has an excellent web site with all the information I have needed to answer my questions.

This phone is really expensive, but it is worth it. Highly recommended for anyone with the desire for a great smart phone the ability to buy it.

Product Features

  • Unlocked quad-band GSM cell phone compatible with 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies and US 3G compatibility via 850/1900 HSDPA plus GPRS/EDGE capabilities

  • 5-megapixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss Optics, autofocus, digital zoom and Flickr support; DVD-quality video capture (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps)

  • Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g); A-GPS for navigation with Nokia Maps app; Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity for both handsfree communication and stereo music streaming

  • 2.8-inch screen; 2-way slider design reveals keypad on one side and media controls on other; access to personal email; full PIM features

  • Up to 3.7 hours of GSM talk time, up to 220 hours (9.2 days) of standby time.

Special Offers and Product Promotions


  • starFree Offer: Get a free international GSM SIM card from Mobal, ($20 bonus airtime included), with the purchase of any unlocked phone from Amazon.com, and talk on your cell phone in more than 170 countries. Just add both items to your Shopping Cart and use this promotional code at checkout: FREESIM3. The savings will be deducted from your order total. Offer valid while supplies last. (Applies only to products sold by Amazon.com. Limit one per customer. Does not apply to products sold on our site by third-party merchants or through third-party areas such as Amazon.com Marketplace, Auctions, or zShops.)
    Product Details
  • Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.2 x 0.7 inches ; 4.5 ounces

  • Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

  • Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.

  • Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.

  • ASIN: B001DN5030

  • Item model number: N96

Product Description


Amazon.com Product Description

REVIEW: The followup to the sensationally popular N95, the Nokia N96 is a veritable Swiss Army knife packed with all the mobile communication, multimedia, location and computing tools you need. With a large 2.8-inch screen, 16 GB of internal memory, additional MicroSD expansion, and support for high-quality videos in a wide range of formats, the dual-slide Nokia N96 represents an exciting new chapter in mobile media.



















The Nokia N96 multimedia computer has a large 2.8-inch screen.




Its face slides up to reveal an alpha/numeric keypad.

The quad-band Nokia N96 GSM/EDGE phone makes it easy to roam globally and stay in touch with voice and text messaging, and this model is also ready to run on 3G networks here in the US (850/1900 MHz HSDPA), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, at home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots. You'll also be able to connect to a wide variety of peripherals--including stereo headphones--with the Bluetooth 2.0+EDR capabilities.


It's based on S60 software operating on the Symbian OS, enabling you to personalize the N96 by choosing from a wide choice of compatible applications that can be downloaded--including games, navigation, entertainment, and productivity titles. Other features include a 5-megapixel camera/camcorder with Carl Zeiss optics, assisted GPS (A-GPS) for navigation using the Nokia Maps application and geotagging of photos, FM radio, USB 2.0 connectivity, TV-out capability for displaying photos and videos on external televisions, access to live TV (operator service using DVB-H or streaming over 3G, where available), and up to 3.7 hours of GSM talk time.


This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.


Phone Features

Offering a design similar to the N95, the N96 has a large 2.8-inch LCD screen with a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and support for up to 16 million colors for terrific depth when viewing photos or playing immersive 3D games. The screen also offers Auto UI rotation based on the integrated accelerometer. The innovative 2-way slide concept makes it easy to switch between different modes, going from reading maps to watching a video with a simple slide. A numeric keypad slides out from one end of the device while dedicated media keys slide out from the opposite direction, converting the display into full screen landscape mode. In addition to the internal 16 GB memory, the N96 also offers memory expansion via optional MicroSDHC media up to 8 GB in size--providing a whopping 24 GB of mobile storage, enough for up to 40 hours of high-quality video.











The phone also slides down to reveal media playback controls, and the screen auto-rotates from portrait to landscape for optimal video viewing.











Capture vivid still imagery with the 5-megapixel Carl Zeiss lens, as well as smooth DVD-quality video.

The Nokia N96 actually has two cameras, a high-resolution, 5-megapixel camera on the back of the device and a lower resolution camera on the front (VGA resolution, 640 x 480) on the front of the phone for video calls (requires network compatibility). The main camera on the back of the N95 supports an image capture resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. You can use both cameras to take still pictures and record videos. It allows DVD-like quality video capture at 30 frames per second at VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels). Further, with the integrated A-GPS, you can now "geotag" pictures with location data and share them with online communities.


With the Carl Zeiss optics on the 5-megapixel camera, you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips. Carl Zeiss, a world leader in high quality camera lenses, brings an award-winning legacy to the Nokia N96 with state-of-the-art optics for mobile photography and mobile video. The Zeiss name has been associated with cameras from Hasselblad, Rollei, Yashica, Sony, and Nikon. This auto-focus Carl Zeiss Tessar lens has a 5.2mm focal length, F2.8 aperture, focus range as close as 10cm. The camera also features a flash, video light, auto-focus assist light, self-timer, white balance and exposure compensation settings, scene settings, and digital video stabilization.


Images are saved as JPEG or EXIF files while videos are recorded in the MPEG-4 file format with the .mp4 file extension, or in the 3GPP file format with the .3gp file extension (sharing quality). Photos and video clips can be enjoyed on a compatible television thanks to the device's TV out feature and support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology.


Accessing internet videos is quick and simple. The Nokia N96 supports common video formats including MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video, making favorite videos easy to view. The Nokia Video Center also offers one place to discover and access a variety of mobile content ranging from movie trailers and comedy to news from world-leading content brands such as YouTube, Reuters, and Sony Pictures. Transferring and accessing videos is even faster with the high-speed USB 2.0 connection and WLAN and HSDPA support. In select markets, the integrated DVB-H receiver offers live broadcast TV with an automatically updating program guide. For added convenience, the Nokia N96 features a "kickstand" on the back cover that allows for hands-free viewing.


For a superb music experience, the Nokia N96 features media keys, a 3.5 mm headphone connector and built-in 3D stereo speakers. You'll easily be able to control playback with the dedicated media keys, and the digital music player supports playlist editing, equalizer and categorized access to your music collection. You'll also enjoy podcasts, Internet radio, and access to FM radio with RDS.












The back of the phone includes a kickstand for easy handsfree viewing of videos.




Side profile of the N96.

This smartphone has an integrated Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), enabling seamless connectivity with wireless networks at work, at home, and on the roam via Wi-Fi hotspots at airports and coffee shops. Because the N96 is Bluetooth enabled (with version 2.0+EDR), wireless communication headsets can be configured with the phone for total hands-free operation. It also offers Bluetooth stereo audio support (A2DP), enabling you to enjoy your music without any wires. If your laptop is Bluetooth enabled, you can connect wirelessly and enjoy dial-up networking (DUN)--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.


With A-GPS functionality, you'll be able find your route quickly and easily, whether walking or driving (A-GPS is a network dependant feature that requires a data plan; additional charges may apply). The Nokia Maps application offers richer maps with urban details and satellite views and the ability to search and download information about points of interests, such as restaurants, hotels, companies, travel agencies, airports, and more. It also provides optional upgrades such as City Guides, turn-by-turn pedestrian mode and voice-guided car navigation.


The N96 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. It also enables you to check your email on the go (supporting POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols). T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile text messaging users.


View web pages as they were originally intended with the integrated Nokia Web Browser, which enables you to zoom out to a full screen view of the entire page using the Mini Map feature. Find the section you want and then zoom in to the content you need. The text instantly adjusts to the size of your screen. The browser also keeps a history of your browsing so you can quickly get back to where you started.


Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology means that this Nokia phone will discover, interact with, and control other compatible home electronic devices. This includes PCs, media centers, home entertainment systems, new smart appliances, home automation systems, networked peripherals, and Web-based services. With compatible equipment, you can stream video from your Nokia device directly to your TV, or hear music tracks stored on your PC through your living room's sound system.


Other features include:


  • Supports the Ovi family of Nokia internet services, including maps, music, media sharing and more

  • N-Gage application with try-and-buy games

  • Music playback: MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA

  • Video playback: MPEG-4 / SP and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, up to 30 fps, up to VGA resolution (scaled max QVGA on device, SDTV on TV-out); RealVideo up to QCIF at 30 fps

  • Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures)

  • 128MB RAM, 256MB system memory (operating system plus dynamic user data area)

  • 3.5mm stereo headset plug , TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)

  • Wi-Fi supports WEP, WPA, and WPA2 security settings

  • Speaker-independent voice commands

  • Document viewer (compatible with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PDF, ZIP)

  • Flight mode

Vital Statistics

The Nokia N96 weighs 4.4 ounces and measures 4.06 x 2.17 x 0.71 inches. Its 950 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.7 hours of GSM talk time (2.5 hours on 3G networks), and up to 220 hours of GSM standby time (200 hours on 3G networks. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as the 850/1900 MHz HSDPA 3G frequencies found in the US.


Product Description

**Authorized Nokia Dealer** **Guaranteed By Nokia**

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Samsung Eternity a867 Phone

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Product Review

If you're looking for a cell phone with multimedia-rich, Samsung Eternity a867 Phone, Black (AT&T) is the answer for you. Samsung Eternity for AT&T provides one-touch access to AT&T Mobile TV and a full-touch QWERTY keypad access via its large, vivid 3.2-inch touchscreen. With AT&T's Mobile TV offering, you can watch TV-quality programming from Comedy Central, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and more. This quad-band GSM phone also runs on AT&T's dual-band HSDPA/UMTS high-speed 3G network, making it easy to download music purchased from AT&T Mobile Music. This GPS-enabled phone is compatible with the AT&T Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions as well as its Video Share service, which enables you to send video of yourself to another compatible phone while making a voice call. Other features include Samsung's intuitive TouchWiz interface, a 3.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth for handsfree communication and stereo music streaming, MicroSD memory expansion to 8 GB, access to personal email and instant messaging, and up to 5 hours of talk time.

This AT&T phone can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network, which is available in most major metropolitan areas. The AT&T 3G network uses the dual-band UMTS 850/1900 MHz network, which provides download speeds ranging from 700 Kbps to 1.7 Mbps, and upload speeds ranging from 500 Kbps to 1.2 Mbps. This makes it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services, and it gives you the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services.

AT&T Mobile TV with FLO is a revolutionary video service that delivers full-length television content and sporting events from top networks to your phone while you're on the go. Joining with MediaFLO USA's award-winning FLO TV service, AT&T Mobile TV with FLO provides an intuitive program guide that makes it easy to flip from one channel to the next. The service includes more than 150 simulcast and/or time-shifted programs, as well as live sports events, from CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, MTV, NBC 2GO, NBC News2Go and Nickelodeon.

Product Description


Amazon.com Product Description

The multimedia-rich Samsung Eternity for AT&T provides one-touch access to AT&T Mobile TV and a full-touch QWERTY keypad access via its large, vivid 3.2-inch touchscreen. With AT&T's Mobile TV offering, you can watch TV-quality programming from Comedy Central, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and more. This quad-band GSM phone also runs on AT&T's dual-band HSDPA/UMTS high-speed 3G network, making it easy to download music purchased from AT&T Mobile Music. This GPS-enabled phone is compatible with the AT&T Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions as well as its Video Share service, which enables you to send video of yourself to another compatible phone while making a voice call. Other features include Samsung's intuitive TouchWiz interface, a 3.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth for handsfree communication and stereo music streaming, MicroSD memory expansion to 8 GB, access to personal email and instant messaging, and up to 5 hours of talk time.










The touchscreen-enabled Samsung Eternity offers one-touch access to AT&T Mobile TV and a full-touch QWERTY keypad.

AT&T Service

This AT&T phone can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network, which is available in most major metropolitan areas. The AT&T 3G network uses the dual-band UMTS 850/1900 MHz network, which provides download speeds ranging from 700 Kbps to 1.7 Mbps, and upload speeds ranging from 500 Kbps to 1.2 Mbps. This makes it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services, and it gives you the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services.


In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it's fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go. You'll also enjoy quad-band GSM connectivity, which allows you to make calls in more than 190 countries and access data applications in the more than 135 countries where AT&T offers international data roaming.


With 3G connectivity, you'll be able to access AT&T's Video Share service, which enables you to send a live, one-way video stream to another compatible phone during a standard voice call. The service also allows you to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call. (Customers must be in an area served by the company's 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone.) A majority of users in the architecture, engineering and construction industries rated the ability to share live video through Video Share highly, according to research commissioned by AT&T. Video Share lets you see progress on a job site or review the day's work without having to drive from an office or other site to do so.


You can take advantage of the AT&T Navigator GPS software and service, a full-featured premium navigation application that includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options, and 3D moving maps (additional charges applicable). AT&T Navigator offers several other features to make your commute more enjoyable and reliable, including mobile access to Yellowpages.com. Additionally, AT&T Navigator is the only mobile phone-based GPS service that provides integrated speech recognition for address entry and points of interest search.


With 3G connectivity, you'll be able to access AT&T's Cellular Video (CV) service and the Internet while on the go. Cellular Video features content from CNN, The Weather Channel, iFilm, Comedy Central and exclusive premium content from HBO and much more. And you get access to AT&T Mobile Music, which enables you to buy tracks while on the, access the Napster and eMusic subscription music services, stream music video, discover what's playing with Music ID song-recognition software, and find out what's hot with The Buzz music news portal. (A MEdia Max subscription bundle is recommended for accessing AT&T's Internet, video, and music services.)


The phone has a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. AT&T's MEdia Net service enables you to receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more.


AT&T Mobile TV

AT&T Mobile TV with FLO is a revolutionary video service that delivers full-length television content and sporting events from top networks to your phone while you're on the go. Joining with MediaFLO USA's award-winning FLO TV service, AT&T Mobile TV with FLO provides an intuitive program guide that makes it easy to flip from one channel to the next. The service includes more than 150 simulcast and/or time-shifted programs, as well as live sports events, from CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, MTV, NBC 2GO, NBC News2Go and Nickelodeon. Additionally, the Mobile TV service includes two channels exclusive to AT&T users:



  • PIX, from Sony Pictures Television, offers a variety of contemporary films, including comedies, cult classics, action films and family favorites from the studio's vast library.

  • CNN Mobile Live provides users with access to 24 hours of breaking news with live streaming anchored coverage from CNN.com Live as well as CNN's most popular programs, including American Morning, Lou Dobbs Tonight, CNN Election Center, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360°, and CNN International.


AT&T provides several packages for accessing Mobile TV, and it offers parental controls that provide content filtering and purchase blocking on your phone so that you can restrict access to content that may be inappropriate for younger viewers.



It's packed with a 3.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth stereo music streaming, and MicroSD expansion up to 8 GB.

Phone Features

An attractive black and chrome device with a large, vivid 3.2-inch touchscreen, the Eternity features three dedicated keys--call, end call and back--on the front of the device under the touch screen. It has an accelerometer that automatically detects motion and the orientation of the device, allowing for autorotation of the display, motion sensing games and photo scrolling by tilting the device. It also has haptic support, enhancing your sensory connection with the phone and providing subtle vibrations that confirm your selections.


The Eternity also provides quick and easy access to a your favorite features through Samsung's innovative TouchWiz user interface, which has specially designed widgets to customize and personalize your phone. The quick and simple drag-and-drop feature provides instant access to your favorite functions, such as the clock, music player, instant messaging photos, and AT&T Mobile TV--all from the home screen.


The Eternitiy has an internal 200 MB memory that is shared between the address book, MP3 player, and camera, and it's expandable via optional MicroSD memory cards up to 8 GB in size. The internal phonebook can store up to 1000 contact entries, with support for caller groups, photo/ringer ID, and 8 one-touch dialing numbers. It also displays the last 30 outgoing/incoming/missed numbers.


Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.


The 3.2-megapixel camera can shoot still photos up to 2048 x 1536 pixels in resolution--great for creating 8 x 10-inch prints. It also features a 3x digital zoom, multi-shot capability (up to 9), brightness adjustment, and self-timer with three settings. You an also capture up to 60 minutes of video.


The 6650 offers a full range of email, text, and multimedia messaging options. It includes support for mobile email services such as AOL, Yahoo!, and Windows Live. You can also keep up with your instant messaging buddies using the built-in IM application that connects to those same services. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for entering text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.








Other features include:



  • Organizer tools: Calendar, tasks, memo, calculator, converter, world clock

  • 72-chord polyphonic and MP3 ringtones

  • Vibrating alert

  • Multi-lingual text display (English, French, Spanish)

  • USB connectivity

  • Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), SPP (serial port profile)

Vital Statistics

The Samsung Eternity weighs 3.88 ounces and measures 4.3 x 2.2 x 0.5 inches. Its 1300 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 240 hours (10 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's 850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA 3G frequencies.


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