Compiled by Ciara O'Brien
Apple iPhone 4, from €599 sim-free
If you missed it, the iPhone 4 was launched last Friday, with three networks – Three Ireland, Vodafone and O2 – getting on board. Apple’s latest handset is sleeker than its predecessor and ramps up the speed too, so running apps and web browsing is that bit easier.
The new camera is also a vast improvement on the 3GS, with the front-facing camera included for video calling – although this is limited at present to Facetime over the WiFi network. The video camera gives you high-definition movie clips, which you can view on the handset’s Retina screen. Much has been made about the resolution on the iPhone 4 display – it has about four times the pixels of the 3GS screen – but in this case, the reality really does live up to the hype. Text is crisp, images are sharp. Aside from its well-documented reception problems, it is a good upgrade.
http://www.apple.com
Grace Digital Eco Extreme Rugged All Terrain speaker case, $49.99
It is a well-documented fact that water and electronics players do not mix. There are times, though, every now and again, where phones, music players and other portable gadgets are put in close proximity to oceans, river and even puddles.
With the cost of replacing such electronic items quite steep, the Grace Digital Eco Extreme Rugged All Terrain Speaker Case seems like a good investment. It works with mp3 players and mobile phones including the iPhone, iPod Touch and BlackBerry. The waterproof case is built to take a few knocks and connects to your phone or music player through a headset jack inside the case. This will amplify the audio through the built-in 3 watt speaker, allowing you to enjoy your music wherever you are.
www.gracedigitalaudio. com
Panasonic HDC-SDT750 $1,400 approx
3D is everywhere these days, in TV, gaming, movies, and Panasonic has decided it is time the world had a consumer 3D camcorder. The HDCSDT750 uses the knowledge Panasonic gained from its work on broadcast technology and brings it into the home, ready to record all your memories. The SDT750 uses a 3D conversion lens that records right-eye and left-eye images simultaneously through two lenses. Of course, you’ll need all the extras, including the TV and a Blu-ray disc player/recorder to take full advantage of the technology. Remove the conversion lens and it works as a regular camera, with added technology such as improved noise reduction that helps to capture better images in poor lighting and produce impressive colour. 3D enthusiasts will have to wait a while for its release though.
http://www.panasonic.co.uk
