Technology Trends in 2010

eReaders and eBook Players

eReaders and eBook Players

The year 2009 was witness to the rise and fall of technology and gadget trends. It was characterized by intensified video gaming blow outs, a new approach to mobile phone use and computer portability, and an endless quest to create better and more advanced gizmos.

As the New Year unfolds, video game expert and technology analyst Scott Steinberg unveils at Digitaltrends.com a sneak peek on the "what’s what" in technology for 2010.

1. The year 2010 may be the time for eReaders and eBook Players — digital tablets designed to simulate the customary reading-on-paper experience — to come into their own. Expected innovations in 2010 include selections powered by Android OS, more affordable models and full-color eReaders with touch screen and wireless 3G support.

2. Smartphones will continue to shine in 2010, but with added surprises. Android-run and Windows Mobile-powered smartphones will create an established market. Cell phones will likely be run by applications that offer more power and flexibility, allowing these devices to evolve and potentially replace laptops. Adapting to lifestyles, Smartphones will be must-haves in 2010, and Google’s Nexus One Smartphone is to watch out for.

3D TV

3D TV

3. The household names in television manufacturing are keen at beginning a new era of TV viewership. Shops filled with a display of cutting-edge three-dimensional TVs, as well as Blu-ray players that power 3D flicks, will be anything but extraordinary in 2010.

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Top 5 Tips to Fully Enjoy Your SLR


When I was new to the DSLR world, I basically just used my Canon EOS1000D as a point-and-click camera. My DSLR had pre-set settings that made it easier to take pictures without having to worry about ISO, shutter speed, and other terms that were alien to me. But then, I started feeling guilty about decimating my savings and not putting it in full use. So I started to tinker with the camera, and lo and behold! I learned to really love it. If you have a DSLR that you’re just beginning to use, here are some tips to fully enjoy the gadget.

5. Experiment.
The key to being at home with your DSLR is to experiment with it. Read the manual. Tinker with every setting and option that you have. Do not worry; most DSLR cameras out now have a simple one-button option to restore your settings to default or original.

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The Top 6 Coolest Old School Games

Below is the first batch of the coolest and rockiest top 6 old school games. And why 6? Coz we can’t get enough out of 5.

6.) Zone of the Enders for the Playstation 2

Personal rating: 5/5

I admit it. I am a mecha freak. I practically go braindead as I wait for the next episode of Gundam 00 to come out. The thrill of having to fend off scores of enemy mechs while evading hundreds of missiles heading your way while trying to reach the command ship of an armada is every mecha fanboy’s dream. Hideo Kojima-sama has done just that when he gave the world Zone of the Enders for the Playstation 2. Featuring stunning graphics, fast-paced gameplay, and great story telling — this game is a must have. Nuff said.

Zone of the Enders

 

5.) The Suikoden Series for the Playstation

Personal Rating: 4/5

At the time of its release Suikoden was considered to be one of the best RPGs on the Sony PlayStation. It was not groundbreaking in any way, however, the gameplay was very much enjoyable and there was never one moment that I was ever bored. What I loved about it was that the game centered around the political intrigue of this world’s fictional empire and how the struggles of individual people might affect that. This comes with emphasis on how having the right support group can make the difference between (the game boasted of over 90 playable characters) life and imminent bankruptcy. What I found funny was how you were often given choices by some NPCs, only to find out that you are only allowed to make one choice to get the story moving.

The Suikoden Series for the Playstation

 

4.) Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation

Personal Rating: 5/5

There probably isn’t any hardcore gamer in the world that has not played Metal Gear Solid. This stealth action video game directed and written by Hideo Kojima is the third canonical title in the Metal Gear series, and the direct sequel to Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (which was for the great Nintendo Entertainment System or Famicom to some of you). Although, looking back, the game did have a copious amount of cinematic cut scenes (which was rendered using the in-game engine and graphics); it was a welcome addition to how plots and sub-plots are weaved into a video game. What’s so good about MGS is that it was the first game of its kind that made the gamer truly feel like he was a part of a big-budget action movie — Think: Mission Impossible, without Tom cruise, with bigger explosions, greater thrills, and a better hero (I did say "without Tom Cruise" right?).

Metal Gear Solid 2

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW…

Top 5 Must-Have Gadgets in Your Bag

Many of us have developed such a love for gadgets that we simply can’t leave home without it. Get your toothpaste and toothbrush out of your bag to make way for these:

1. iPhone 3Gs.
The iPhone is just about the most kickass phone on the planet right now. What’s more, it’s really more than just a phone, it’s jam-packed with more apps than I care to fiddle around with, it organizes my schedules, it allows me to get work done on the road. It provides full Web browsing at a much faster pace than my old Nokia phone. And not to mention SatNav, it goes with its impressive GPS capability. What else could a man ask for?

iPhone 3Gs

2. THE Digicam.
With the iPhone’s 2 megapixel camera, the pictures are just not going to be what one hopes it to be. So a Panasonic Lumix comes in handy. I like my photos to be very crisp, the colors have to be just in real life. Lumix uses Leica lens, and I think that speaks for itself. Still, this camera produces great quality pictures even at high zoom ranges. It’s great when you’re on the road trying to snap at something moving too.

panasonic_lumix

3. The Other Digicam.
Probably one of the best tech gadgets to have is the Kodak Easyshare Z612. This super refined digicam is impressive with a ton of features that you just don’t get from other point and click cameras. It’s actually a sub-SLR but I don’t get to use it much often. The menus are kind of tricky and so it functions like an instamatic for me.

Kodak Easyshare Z612

4. PSP.
This is great for those times you’re stuck in traffic, or waiting for a date. Sure, there are not much games coming out of the PS3 recently, but most PSP fans are happy with the games that they already have. My friend who’s an avid (rabid?) gamer recommends Nintendo’s DS Lite, but I just can’t see myself forking over that much money for another portable console just to while my time away.

psp

5. The Music Player.
Sorry Apple lovers, but while I’m bowled over by the iPhone, I pretty much hate the iPod. I find Creative’s Zen X-Fi better in a lot of aspects. For one, it has excellent sound quality, much better the iPod if I may say so. And that’s all that matters with music players, isn’t it? Zen also comes with a lot of other add-ons that makes it a more logical buy. It has a good FM radio and a nice screen. It came with great headphones. And it has Wi-Fi, but it’s thoroughly limited.

Creative Zen X-Fi

Now, what’s in your bag?

Gadget of the Week: Taser MPH

Taser and MP3 Player in One Gadget

Taser and MP3 Player in One Gadget

Listen and Zap!

One of the many quirky gadgets that were recently unveiled in the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is the Taser MPH. And I tell you, it is one gadget that gives a whole new meaning to “stunning music.”

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