Sony Ericsson does Xperia arc

Sony Ericsson decided that they will no longer release smartphones that are far behind in terms of OS updates compared to the rest of the mobilemanufacturers, hence their latest addition to the Xperia family – the Xperia arc. This is one handset that will definitely stun you whenever you take a look at it, running on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. First unveiled at the recently concluded CES 2011, it is the first of a new generation of Xperia smartphones, so you can be sure that there will be more to come!

As we mentioned above, the design is what makes the new Xperia arc a looker, where it is super slim and hence, extremely light. Measuring a mere 8.7mm at its thinnest point, it will not sacrifice anything when it comes to performance, boasting an extra wide 4.2” multi-touch screen display. Sony Ericsson has certainly not gimped on material since they used premium materials to form its stunning arc body, so while you might think that this is going to break far more easily than a Hershey chocolate bar, it is still strong enough to fit nicely into your hand. One word of advice though – if you’re going to wear a really tight pair of jeans, we would suggest that you not put this in your rear pocket – you never know when it is in there and just jump onto a hard seat somewhere!

As for its innards, expect the best of Sony technology to be found, from its Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine for exceptional visual brilliance and a crystal clear image, to Sony’s award-winning Exmor R for mobile sensor (at 8.1-megapixels) with the f/2.4 lens that is capable of shooting high quality, bright pictures and HD videos even in low light conditions. Of course, all images shot can be viewed over a HDTV (preferably a Sony one) using the built in HDMI-connector. Needless to say, other specifications are pretty standard such as a 3.5mm audio jack, aGPS navigation, Bluetooth and DLNaconnectivity, and Wi-Fi support among others. There is no word on pricing or availability though.

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Nikon D5100 digital SLR camera

Targeting a new digital camera? If a DSLR is your cup of tea, then Nikon might reel you in to their camp with the D5100 DSLR. This will be a new 16.2-megapixel shooter, as it will definitely come with a wide range of innovative features that will offer photographers the tools to go beyond creative constraints and let one take visual storytelling to another level – not to mention the ability to shoot HD movies as well, just like any other self-respecting DSLR camera ought to be able to do these days.

For starters, the Nikon D5100 will come with an impressive 3″ super sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen, full HD (1080p) movie recording capability with full-time autofocus, as well as in-camera effects which you can apply right on the spot to photos and movies so that everyone else can follow your creative expression all the better.

With the D5100, it doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or not – regardless of your level, you can be confident of pulling off difficult shots as well thanks to the aforementioned swing-out style Vari-angle LCD display, giving you access to new angles that you would not have managed to pull of using a standard DSLR. This extremely sharp LCD display comes with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution, where you can rotate it 180 degrees horizontally and vertically to boot.

If you love being in control, then the Nikon D5100 is one versatile puppy, coming with advanced camera features that will include full manual controls (P,S,A,M on the modedial), letting one control the camera’s aperture and shutter speeds in a jiffy. The moment you capture that Kodak moment, you will be able to take advantage of the flexible retouch menu which allows you to apply extra in-camera effects and editing options.

Sporting a wide ISO range of 100-6400 (which can be expanded to a staggering 25,600 ISO) ought to be a confidence booster for photographers as they attempt to shoot in outdoor and indoor low-light situations – heck, you can also use just your hands sans tripod in low noise conditions. Nikon’s Active D-lighting feature will also do its part in keeping shadows and highlights consistent for even exposures.

Expect the Nikon D5100 DSLR to arrive in the US from the middle of this month onwards, where it will retail for $799.95 for the body only, and $899.95 for the body and lens outfit which comprises of the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VRlens.

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Sony Walkman NWZ-W252 Review

The Sony Walkman NWZ W252 is a new type of MP3 player. It has a cord-free, wearable design, which is perfect for people who want a music player for the gym and unlike the previous version, it is water resistant. It can be quite uncomfy if in use for a prolonged amount of time as the ear buds are fairly heavy, which is understandable considering the controls and battery are attached to the side.

Despite the wearability flaws, the concept of the design is pretty good. It has no cables – meaning that you have more freedom to move – easy to master controls – featuring shuffle, pause, play and volume. It also incorporates ZAPPIN™ technology which allows the listener to scan through their collection of songs by listening to a small/long clip of each song, making it easier to find the song you want to listen to.

When fully charged (taking an hour and a half), you are provided with 11 hours of continuous playback, but if you are in a rush or you simply don’t want to be waiting around, you can plug it in to charge for three minutes for three hours worth of music. The product comes with a USB cable for charging and no AC adaptor.

It has a few songs on it to start with, and it is quite simple to transfer your own music files, (I didn’t need the instructions) and once they’re on, the sound is great! The background noise is blocked out very well and the volume can get quite loud! Compared to the iPod, I think that the Walkmans sound quality is better, but the headphones are not as comfy as the Apple ones as they are not as light. It has open format, meaning that it can accept WMA, MP3 and AAC files. You can transfer your entire library by dragging and dropping.

If you have long hair (like me), it can get irritating putting the device on as you have to move your hair out of the way, although if you’re at the gym (which is what it is intended for), you will most likely have your hair tied back so this is not a problem.

It is available in four different colours (black, white, pink and green) at £49.99 ($59.95) from Amazon and on the Sony website. The box contains:
● Holder
● Operation guide on software (stored in the built in flash memory)
● instruction manual
● Stand with USB cable
● Content Transfer software (stored in the built in flash memory)
● Earbuds (small, medium and large)

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