Here's a point & shoot camera that adds a unique feature - you can project your images!

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010, Netcast 1218 

Just about one year ago on the Daily Giz Wiz, the gadget of the day was the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj. This was a point and shoot camera with a built in projector so you could share your images with friends by projecting them on a darkened wall. That model has just been replaced with the Nikon Coolpix S1100pj. This new model is a 14.1-megapixel camera with a 5x wide-angle optical zoom-NIKKOR glass lens with a versatile 28-140mm range. This camera can also record HD (720p) movies. But the most unique feature is still the ability to project photos or watch recorded movies in-camera, on TV or on the computer. The new camera is said to project a picture 40% brighter than the older model. Another new feature introduced in the S1100pj is the ability to connect the camera to a computer and project whatever's on the computer's screen on the wall. A Touch Control Display makes it easy to write or draw on your pictures — even while they're being projected. Then there’s Nikon’s Best Shot Selector (BSS), which automatically takes up to ten shots while the shutter is pressed. Then it selects and saves the sharpest image. For on camera viewing there’s a 3-inch touch screen color HD display. In camera Picture Editing includes Quick Retouch, D-Lighting Draw, perspective control, Soft Focus, Selective Color, Cross Screen, Fisheye effect, Miniature effect and built-in slide show with music. But wait, there’s more! The Smile Timer automatically releases the shutter when your subject smiles. (I guess if you have friends who refuse to smile you’ll be there all day until they do!) The camera ships with a remote control. The newer model still has just about one hour of battery life in the projection model, but there’s an optional AC adapter available. Or just buy a second battery. $349.95. Both models are still for sale at the same price, so make sure you get the S1100pj for the latest features. And of course do a web search for the best price! 

More info at the Nikon website: http://is.gd/i6thb 

Hear or see this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1218

Leo buys another __________. (Fill in the blank.)

TTTT Tuesday, November 9th, Netcast 1217 

Close on heels of "build it and they come" is "build it and Leo will buy it!" That’s the case with the brand new MacBook Air. He had one in his hands shortly after it went on sale. Leo loves it and said it’s really fast because of the all-flash storage. And start up is almost instantaneous. He also said that the triangle design is ingenious because viewed from the front it looks impossibly thin. I don’t own one of these gizmos, so I’ll rely on the Apple website for some details. (Surprising as it might seem, I don’t keep notes when we record The Daily Giz Wiz.) The MacBook Air has a glass multi-touch trackpad that lets you interact with everything from the web to your photos using over 10 different gestures. Battery life is estimated to be up to 5 hours of battery life on the 11-inch MacBook Air. (There’s also a 13” model, which has up to 7 hours of battery life.) Leo also commented on how great the screen is. It’s a high-resolution display that houses an super thin built-in camera, perfect for making FaceTime calls. (I use FaceTime on my iPod Touch and it’s great.) Prices start at $999, but Leo of course bought some upgrades. He added an additional 2GB of ram for an extra $100. You’ll have to listen to the Netcast to get the rest of the details. Better yet watch the video version because Leo had the unit in hand while we recorded this episode! 

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/  

Hear or SEE this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1217   

Here’s a tripod that pretty much sets itself up - in seconds!

Daily Giz Wiz, Monday, November 8^st, 2010, Netcast 1216 

This week I’ll be talking about a couple of neat gadgets I found at the 2010 PDN PhotoPlus Expo that took place at the Javits Center. At the show I walked by a booth where a man was demonstrating a unique tripod. He set it up just by unsnapping a tiny bungee cord and holding the tripod a few feet off the floor. In seconds the ZipShot tripod unfolded and was ready for use. I asked if he could do the demo again and he said: “better yet, you do it.” He handed me the folded tripod, I unsnapped the bungee cord and yep – the tripod automatically unfolded and became a steady tripod. This ultra-compact, ultra-lightweight tripod, weighs just 11 oz. and measures only 15" when folded. In the open position it’s 44” tall. Unlike other tripods, however, the height is no adjustable. It can hold DSL cameras with lens attached up to 3 pounds, and most point & shoot cameras, and compact camcorders. Cameras can be positioned at any angle so vertical and horizontal shots are easy. The aluminum ZipShot tripod easily attaches to the handle of a camera bag, backpack, travel bag, or it can be slipped into a purse or luggage. Folding it up is a two handed operation, but it’s very easy and fast too. It’s from the folks at Tamrac and it’s under $50 at Amazon. (I haven't shopped at the link below.)

http://tinyurl.com/37o3bbq 

Video demo & more info: http://zipshottripod.com/ 

Hear or SEE this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1216

A 3-in-1 digital device from seven years ago with an amazing 1.3 mega-pixel digital camera and audio recorder.

Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse, Friday, November 5^th, 2010 Netcast 1215 

The Argus DC3300 digital camera, audio recorder came out early in 2003. To show how unique this device was back then, let’s look at the manufacturer's description: When it comes to digital photography, the average consumer has often been ignored, as most of the major manufacturers aim for a market that will buy their multi-mega pixel devices. Argus is aiming to reverse that trend with the release of its DC-3300 Digital Camera, which is packed with the features everyone wants at an affordable price. The DC-3300 is a full-featured 1.3 mega-pixel camera boasting 32 megabytes (That's megabytes, not gigabytes) of internal memory and a 1.5-inch color LCD display, so you can preview your pictures before you decide to keep them. But it's more than just a camera. The DC-3300 is for people that need more than just an image. It is capable of recording up to four hours of audio, allowing you to "caption" your photos with commentary on each shot, which is especially useful for people in the real estate or insurance business, or to use the device to record memos or interviews. The voice recording capability, which is unique to the DC-3300, also enables you to add comments to photos you send to friends and relatives via e-mail or the web. The camera also features a smart media expansion slot, a 3x digital zoom lens, and can record up to five-minute videos.  --- Did you get that? You can record up to five-minute videos! Wow! And the cost back then? Suggested retail was $199.99, and it retailed for about $160. Imagine what you can get today, digital camera-wise for $160.00. 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1215

Here’s a way to watch and record HD video content directly to your laptop - provided you have one with an ExpressCard slot.

Daily Giz Wiz, Thursday, November 4^st, 2010, Netcast 1214

It’s from AVerMedia and it’s their just released MTVEXHDVR. Since the interface on this particular product is an ExpressCard, I couldn’t actually try it. I was so excited about the idea till I realized neither of the computers I travel with have an express card slot. But if you have a laptop that does, here are the features. You can capture HD video up to 1080i. It offers digital recording in MPEG-2, AVI, and H.264 (iPhone, & iPod, PSP.) It’s compatible with Microsoft Expressions Encoder 4 and Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder 3.1 and it supports Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. The device has Component Video (YPbPR) and Stereo L/R Audio in. And of course you need to have a decent computer to be able to record HD. Here’s what AverMedia lists as System Requirements: Processor For Real-time Capturing: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz or Equivalent AMD processor. For Real-time HD H.264 Capturing: Intel Core i7 920XM 2.0GHz or Equivalent AMD processor. Graphics Card: Discrete Graphics Card that supports DirectX 9.0c or above. Plus 2GB RAM or more. But wait, there’s more! Of course you need a computer with an available ExpressCard (34mm or 54mm) slot. (The card comes with an adapter if you have the wider 54mm slot.) Runs on Windows 7 / Vista / XP (32 and 64 Bit). You also get a carrying case for travel. As I’m writing this in early November, this unit is in very limited distribution. It sells at Newegg for $159.99. 

http://tinyurl.com/37wtzl7  

Hear or see this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1214