Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New Toothbrush Equipped With Tiny Spy Cam]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/new-toothbrush-equipped-with-tiny-spy-cam/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/new-toothbrush-equipped-with-tiny-spy-cam/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/new-toothbrush-equipped-with-tiny-spy-cam/#commentsFiled under:

For the spy with a thing for dental hygiene, may we present the perfect gift: It's overpriced ($243), electric, and it'll record grainy video while polishing pearly whites. The Pinhole Spy Toothbrush Hidden Camera DVR proves that there's nothing that can't house a tiny camera and be sold to the masses. This gizmo can record about four hours of video at 640-by-480 pixels before needing a recharge, and stores the resulting footage on its 8 gigabytes of internal flash memory.

Usually, we don't want to watch any footage that was recorded in a bathroom, but this spy camera could really help solve some perplexing mysteries. Wondering who used all the shampoo? Or what's the cause of that dried toothpaste in the sink? Or, worst of all, can't figure out who peed on the seat? Well, now you can.

OK, maybe that's wishful thinking. But this might make a nice addition to your collection of weird bathroom gadgets. In fact, we think the spy cam toothbrush would look quite nice sitting next to the accelerometer toothbrush. [From: Gizmodo, via Ubergizmo]

SwitchedNew Toothbrush Equipped With Tiny Spy Cam originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameranoveltyspyspy cameraSpyCameratoothbrushtopvideoweirdThu, 12 Nov 2009 07:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder Camera]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-leica-m9-digital-rangefinder-camera/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-leica-m9-digital-rangefinder-camera/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-leica-m9-digital-rangefinder-camera/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder Camera (Gadget Head, Cost No Object)

The Leica brand has represented the ne plus ultra of photographic excellence for nearly a century, and continues to burnish its impeccable rep with its new M9 ($7,000). As beautiful a piece of gadgetry as any we've come across, the M9 is somewhat of an oddity in the digital realm: it's a rangefinder camera (meaning you don't see through the lens to focus), is essentially all manually controlled (including focus) and is the smallest camera around to pack a full 35mm CCD image sensor. That giant sensor also explains why the M9 can capture positively massive (and gorgeous) 18.5-megapixel images -- which, at about 36-megabytes (MBs) a snap, also means you might want to look into a new hard drive before you get snap happy. Nicely, the M9 can also accommodate any existing M-series lenses dating back to 1950s, a further enticement for any film Leica enthusiasts who are still sitting on the digital bench. Any devout shutterbug would kill or die to have one (and considering its $7,000 price tag, it'll surely cross some minds), though casual shooters who aren't comfortable messing with ISO, aperture and shutterspeed settings should likely opt for a DSLR with more automatic controls.

SwitchedGift Guide: Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder Camera originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hgghgg-cnohgg-gadgetheadleicaleica m9LeicaM9luxuryphotographyprorangefinderFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Silk-Silicon Implants Could Connect to Your Brain, Enable LED Tattoos]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/silk-silicon-electronics-could-redefine-neural-circuitry-led-ta/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/silk-silicon-electronics-could-redefine-neural-circuitry-led-ta/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/silk-silicon-electronics-could-redefine-neural-circuitry-led-ta/#commentsFiled under:

Biology and technology are increasingly crossing paths these days, so it comes as no surprise that researchers have found a way to literally fuse the two, creating implantable technology for the 21st century.

Researchers have developed a new type of super-thin silicon transistor, which can be embedded on a dissolvable silk-based film (pictured). Brian Litt, associate professor of neurology and bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, told Technology Review, "Current medical devices are very limited by the fact that the active electronics have to be 'canned,' or isolated from the body, and are on rigid silicon." These new silicon-silk implants are much easier to place within a body: the silk sheet "melts away," and the transistors are small enough that they don't irritate tissues.

Continue reading Silk-Silicon Implants Could Connect to Your Brain, Enable LED Tattoos

SwitchedSilk-Silicon Implants Could Connect to Your Brain, Enable LED Tattoos originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>implantneurologyresearchsciencesiliconetopThu, 05 Nov 2009 07:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 Camcorder]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-jvc-hd-everio-gz-hm400-camcorder/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-jvc-hd-everio-gz-hm400-camcorder/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-jvc-hd-everio-gz-hm400-camcorder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,




JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 (Creative, Under $1,000)

If you aspire for your homemade movies to be more 'American Beauty' than America's Funniest, you'll need to forgo the raft of pocket-sized but underpowered HD camcorders and opt for a higher-end model. Which is where's JVC's newest Everio, the GZ-HM400 HD camcorder steps in. Able to record both crisp 1080 at 60fps HD video, as well 600fps slow-mo shots (you know for when your hero jumps from an exploding helicopter, or, uh, you record a friend sneezing), the HM400 has as built-in 32-gigabyte (GB) hard drive for recording up to 14 hours of AVCHD video, and nicely also an SD slot should you fill up your rig too soon. While we continue to shy away from counting on a camcorder for still shots, the HM400 does take 10 megapixel pictures, or 5.3 megapixels images in the midst of shooting video should you need the option. And taking things to a more prosumer level, an accessory shoe and audio in/out jacks allow for attaching mics and monitoring audio levels on the fly. If a budding filmmaker in your life is in the market for high-end HD, but can't afford to go pro, this camcorder will do just fine.

SwitchedGift Guide: JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 Camcorder originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080avchdcamcorderhdhdcamcorderhgghgg-1000hgg-creativejvcjvc everioJvcEverioTue, 03 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Sues Over Spying Baby Monitor That Picks Up Baby, Neighbors]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/man-sues-over-spying-baby-monitor-that-monitors-baby-neighbors/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/man-sues-over-spying-baby-monitor-that-monitors-baby-neighbors/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/man-sues-over-spying-baby-monitor-that-monitors-baby-neighbors/#commentsFiled under: ,


People get up in arms about unwarranted wiretapping of civilians or even suspected terrorists. Babies, though, have always been fair game. For whatever reason, parents have never had any moral qualms about using baby monitors to invade the privacy of these chubby-cheeked victims. But when baby monitoring goes too far, parents get mad.

At least that's the case for one man in Illinois, who is suing the manufacturer of a video baby monitor that was too effective -- so effective, in fact, the device allowed him to track not only his baby's every move, but the every move of his next door neighbor's kid, too. Wired reports Wes Denkov has filed a proposed class action suit against Summer Infant, which makes the $100 Day and Night Video Monitor, and against Toys 'R' Us.

Continue reading Man Sues Over Spying Baby Monitor That Picks Up Baby, Neighbors

SwitchedMan Sues Over Spying Baby Monitor That Picks Up Baby, Neighbors originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby monitorsBabyMonitorstoptoys r usToysRUsTue, 03 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Video Spy Cam Hidden in Car Key Fob]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/spy-cam-hidden-in-car-key-fob/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/spy-cam-hidden-in-car-key-fob/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/spy-cam-hidden-in-car-key-fob/#commentsFiled under:

It might not be the smallest camera we've ever seen, but the Fake Car Key Spy Camera definitely would be a nice stocking stuffer for an Inspector Gadget in training. The camera is designed to look like a remote device that unlocks a car, shoots video at 29-frames-per-second, snaps photos at a resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels and records sound, too. There's also a slot for a MicroSD card so you can share your voyeuristic, er... spy vids with buddies. All for $63, and Brando even throws in an 8 gigabyte card for the extra paranoid.

Could you really get away with sneaking pics and videos with this thing? The pinhole-sized lens might not be noticeable, but subjects might wonder why you're pointing a car key remote at them. The only place you'll be able to use this unsuspectingly is in a parking garage. Even then, how long could a person pretend to forget where he parked his car? [From: Boing Boing and Brando]

SwitchedVideo Spy Cam Hidden in Car Key Fob originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameracargadgetkeynoveltyphotosspytopvideoSat, 24 Oct 2009 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Wearable Vicon Camera Lets You Log Every Moment of Your Life]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/18/wearable-vicon-camera-lets-you-log-every-moment-of-your-life/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/18/wearable-vicon-camera-lets-you-log-every-moment-of-your-life/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/18/wearable-vicon-camera-lets-you-log-every-moment-of-your-life/#commentsFiled under:

Potentially taking the place of moms and their ever-flashing cameras, a new device allows people to document their lives simply by wearing it. According to New Scientist, U.K.-based firm Vicon has licensed technology from Microsoft Research Cambridge in order to produce the camera, which automatically snaps pictures as users wear it around their necks. The device, which can be programmed to take photos as often as every 30 seconds, whenever light changes in an environment, or when the camera detects body heat, was originally designed to aid the memory of Alzheimer's patients by allowing them to look back on their "lifelogs" at the end of each day.

Now, Vicon has plans to mass-produce the camera. It will retail for around $820 when it's released to researchers in the next few months, but will hopefully cost less when it hits store shelves in 2010. Dubbed the ViconRevue, the camera can store about 30,000 pictures on its 1-gigabyte memory card, and it's about the size of a pendant. For scientific purposes, we think this device is a great idea. But most folks, ourselves included, don't lead lives so interesting that they warrant dozens of photographs throughout the day. Making the sandwich and sitting on the couch is boring enough. Watching ourselves as we make a sandwich and sit on the couch would be intolerable. [From: New Scientist]

Continue reading Wearable Vicon Camera Lets You Log Every Moment of Your Life

SwitchedWearable Vicon Camera Lets You Log Every Moment of Your Life originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameradocumentaryhealthmemoryphotossciencetopSun, 18 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[New Canon App Lets You Print From Your iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/17/new-canon-app-lets-you-print-from-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/17/new-canon-app-lets-you-print-from-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/17/new-canon-app-lets-you-print-from-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sick of of transferring all those photos from your iPhone or iPod touch to your computer whenever you want to print? A new, free app from Canon, which was launched today, will cut out the middleman, making it easier to turn digital image albums into glossy photos.

According to Digital Photography Review, the Easy Photo-Print App allows users to wirelessly print photos from the devices mentioned above, but only using Canon PIXMA Wireless Photo All-In-One series printers, which include the PIXMA MP990, MP640, and MP560. Print options are basic: you can select the size of your photo (up to 8.5-by-11 inches), the type of paper, and the number of copies (up to 20 at once). There's even an option to place a border around the pic, although we'd imagine most will use other apps, like Adobe Photoshop or Best Camera App, for editing purposes.

Geeky photographers must be thrilled. Combining this app with onOne, which lets you remotely control your camera via your iPhone, would allow you to shoot, edit, and print without ever having to touch a camera. [From: Digital Photography Review]

SwitchedNew Canon App Lets You Print From Your iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In what he says is an effort to combat petty crime, a British businessman is asking wannabe spies to take part in a revolutionary Internet game. Next month, Tony Morgan will launch the crime-fighting service Internet Eyes, which will allow regular citizens to watch for criminal activity through closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) installed in businesses around town.

According to The Daily Mail, if someone spots something questionable, he or she will simply click a button on the Web site, alerting the business owner via text message. Then, the owner will be able to decide whether or not there's enough evidence to report the activity. Players are awarded points for correctly identifying a crime and deducted points for incorrectly reporting one. At the end of the month, the player with the most points will receive a cash prize. It's free to spy play, but businesses will be charged around $31-per-week for each camera they list on the site.

Continue reading Web Game Rewards Voyeurs for Monitoring Real Security Cameras

SwitchedWeb Game Rewards Voyeurs for Monitoring Real Security Cameras originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameracctvcrimecriminalgamesprivacyspytopvideowebTue, 06 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Erin Andrews Stalker Banned From Internet]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/06/erin-andrews-stalker-banned-from-internet/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/06/erin-andrews-stalker-banned-from-internet/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/06/erin-andrews-stalker-banned-from-internet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Even the most casual of male sports fans is probably familiar with the stellar career of ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. When she's not delivering spellbinding, up-to-the-minute reports about the finer intricacies of a coach's halftime speech, or interviewing B-list celebrities in attendance at a Yankees game, she's... well... just looking like Erin Andrews. Which, for most, is more than enough.

Her wide following of devoted fans, though, does include the occasional pervy stalker -- namely, one Michael David Barrett of Westmont, Illinois. Besides having the obligatory three-part name that has become the status quo of so many famous nutjobs throughout history, Barrett has also been charged with videotaping the reporter through a hotel room peephole while she was getting dressed and doing squat exercises. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors claim Barrett filmed the video with a cell phone camera after tinkering with hotel peep holes with a hacksaw (yes, a hacksaw). He then allegedly tried to sell the video to gossip site TMZ.

Continue reading Erin Andrews Stalker Banned From Internet

SwitchedErin Andrews Stalker Banned From Internet originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you're afraid of heights (or easily nauseated), this story might not be for you. On August 23rd, a group of amateur radio enthusiasts in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, took a high-definition video camera to new heights, literally. Reaching 107,145 feet with the help of a hydrogen balloon, this hi-def footage features some amazing views from the edge of outer space.

According to Gizmodo, the BEAR-4 project resulted in the first amateur footage captured at such an elevation. These amateur engineers housed a Canon Vixia-HF camcorder inside some foam blocks. Then, they attached the unit to an 1,800-gram balloon and launched it into the sky. The flight lasted about four hours, but thankfully, the highlights have been edited into an incredible (and much shorter) 10-minute clip (after the break).

Continue reading Amateurs Send First HD Camcorder Into Space via Balloon

SwitchedAmateurs Send First HD Camcorder Into Space via Balloon originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The world's largest, costliest, and most private yacht, owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, has two heli-pads, a missile defense system, two swimming pools (one doubling as a dance floor), and six-foot wide cinema screens in all 26 of the guest bedrooms. Oh, and to keep out prying eyes, Abramovich has also installed a paparazzi-sensing, picture-ruining laser system.

Infrared devices locate nearby electronic camera sensors, and then fire a direct beam at the intruding camera, ruining any picture an interloper might hope to snap. This isn't the first time light refraction has been used to deter hungry shutterbugs (Remember the hard-to-photograph clutch bag that premiered in July?), but it's certainly the most original use of the anti-paparazzi technology.

Now, if only all that money could buy success for the Russian national football team and the Chelsea football club, which has strong support from the sports-loving Abramovich... [From: TimesOnline.co.uk, via Dvice]

SwitchedBillionaire's Yacht Blasts Lasers at Spying Paparazzi originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lasersluxurypaparazziroman abramovichRomanAbramovichtopyachtTue, 22 Sep 2009 13:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Camera Phones Robbing College Football Stars of Privacy]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/17/camera-phones-robbing-college-football-stars-of-privacy/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/17/camera-phones-robbing-college-football-stars-of-privacy/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/17/camera-phones-robbing-college-football-stars-of-privacy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With camera phones and professional autograph seekers lurking at every party, store, or restaurant, it has become much harder for high-profile college football players to go out in public. There's no quiet campus life for last year's Heisman Trophy finalists and star quarterbacks Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow anymore, says The New York Times.

Tebow told the paper that women try to remove their shirts while posing for a picture with him. McCoy even called the cops because a man was banging on his door and yelling his name late one night. Bradford was repeatedly accosted by an autograph seeker that wanted to profit from his signature.

Continue reading Camera Phones Robbing College Football Stars of Privacy

SwitchedCamera Phones Robbing College Football Stars of Privacy originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameraphonecollegefootballprivacysocialnetworkingsportstopThu, 17 Sep 2009 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA['Good Enough Technology' Means Cheap and Easy Always Wins]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/07/good-enough-technology-cheap-and-easy-always-wins/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/07/good-enough-technology-cheap-and-easy-always-wins/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/07/good-enough-technology-cheap-and-easy-always-wins/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



America, home of the faster, better, brighter, louder. Or it once was. Now, two factors -- the tight economy and the increased reliance on mobile everything -- mean that some shoppers favor cheap, simple, and easy gadgets. Wired.com calls this "The Good Enough Revolution," meaning that consumers want a product to get the job done, not be exceedingly cutting edge, turbo fast, or needlessly high end. Wired writer Robert Capps gives a great example of the Flip video recorder, a cheap, easy, and fairly low-quality hand-held that now has 17-percent of the video market share. He writes, "We now favor flexibility over high fidelity, convenience over features, quick and dirty over slow and polished." Another example he gives is the compressed sound of the MP3, which is nowhere as rich as the tunes played using CD (or as warm as vinyl). Bottom line: Average users don't notice, or particularly care about megapixels or RAM, but they do want ease of use.

With tuned-in generations getting younger and younger, the amount of gadgets the average individual owns increases, but not the amount they pay to obtain them. Parents, or twenty-somethings striking out on their own, don't want to reach deep for must-have tech. Now, we need cell phones, MP3 players, clear TVs, quick cameras, lightweight entertainment, fast Internet. Paying for the high end version of all of these devices and services would render the average consumer broke, so something low-end that "gets the job done" suffices. The market, initially reticent (for instance, the record industry laughing off MP3s), is now embracing the fact that buyers will cut corners if it means a lower price.

Continue reading 'Good Enough Technology' Means Cheap and Easy Always Wins

Switched'Good Enough Technology' Means Cheap and Easy Always Wins originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgeteconomygoodenoughiphoneLCD tvLcdTvnetbookspointandshoottopyoutubeMon, 07 Sep 2009 09:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Cell Phone Pic Leads to Arrest of Subway Perv]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/14/cell-phone-pic-leads-to-arrest-of-subway-perv/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/14/cell-phone-pic-leads-to-arrest-of-subway-perv/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/14/cell-phone-pic-leads-to-arrest-of-subway-perv/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yesterday, New York City police identified and arrested a man wanted for public masturbation, thanks to one concerned citizen and her camera phone.

According to the New York Daily News, 41-year-old Harlem resident Cileane White was minding her own business as she sat on the Number 3 subway train last Friday. Out of nowhere, from across the aisle, Kevin Bishop, 44, of the Bronx, exposed himself to the woman and began to pleasure himself, White told police.

An FBI employee, White displayed a much cooler sense of judgement than we would, using her cell phone to snap a few pictures of Bishop in the act. (Taking a picture of something that foul would be the last thing on our minds.) White later headed to her local police precinct to report the crime. When she tried, though, a female officer apparently told her that the situation "was not a police matter."

Continue reading Cell Phone Pic Leads to Arrest of Subway Perv

SwitchedCell Phone Pic Leads to Arrest of Subway Perv originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today in New York, Samsung announced three new touchscreen point-and-shoot cameras: the TL225, TL220, and CL65. While the CL65's network-connected capabilities are impressive (discussed below), the TL style's 1.5-inch LCD screen on the front of the camera seemed to be Samsung's biggest announcement.

Going after the social networking crew, Samsung has placed a tap-activated screen on the front of the TL220 ($299.99) and TL225 ($349.99) so that you can frame your self-portraits while holding the camera at arm's length. While it might seem like the seven-blade razor of the camera world, the front screen also displays a countdown for timed shots (instead of a flashing light) in hopes of getting blink-free group photos. In case you just can't keep your kid entertained and focused on the camera while snapping photos, the screen will also display an animated clown (or other downloadable images).

Continue reading Samsung Unveils Front LCD-Screen and Wi-Fi Cameras

SwitchedSamsung Unveils Front LCD-Screen and Wi-Fi Cameras originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewscl65handsonsamsungTL220TL225Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[The Olympus E-P1 Is Sexy, But Is It Worth the Hype?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/the-olympus-e-p1-is-sexy-but-is-it-worth-the-hype/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/the-olympus-e-p1-is-sexy-but-is-it-worth-the-hype/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/the-olympus-e-p1-is-sexy-but-is-it-worth-the-hype/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



What it is: The Olympus PEN E-P1 is the company's first Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera -- a miniaturized alternative to a digital SLR (DSLR) based on a tech standard developed in cooperation with Panasonic. The physical design and name are throwbacks to the half-frame film cameras Olympus produced from the '50s through the '80s. The E-P1, priced at $799, includes a 14-42-millimeter, f3.5-5.6 zoom lens (equivalent to 28-84 mm on a traditional film camera).

Why it's different: The E-P1's retro styling stands out among other DSLR and point-and-shoot cameras. The compact body is a result of the MFT system, which reduces bulk by forgoing an SLR's internal mirror and prism for through-the-lens viewing. The result is a camera significantly smaller and lighter than a DSLR, but with the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and the photo quality that comes from a large image sensor. The only other MFT cameras on the market are Panasonic's G1 and GH1, which boast similar size reductions, but have a traditional DSLR shape.

Continue reading The Olympus E-P1 Is Sexy, But Is It Worth the Hype?

SwitchedThe Olympus E-P1 Is Sexy, But Is It Worth the Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshypecheckmftmicro four thirdsMicroFourThirdsolympusolympus e-p1OlympusE-p1photographytopTue, 11 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[What's the Best Digital SLR Camera for Beginners?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/07/whats-the-best-digital-slr-camera-for-beginners/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/07/whats-the-best-digital-slr-camera-for-beginners/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/07/whats-the-best-digital-slr-camera-for-beginners/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Question: I see more and more people carrying digital SLRs these days. And when I look at the great photos, I understand why. I'd like to upgrade from my point-and-shoot, but the choices are overwhelming. What's a good beginner SLR that can also grow with me if I want to get more serious?

Advice: Our current favorite among beginner models is the Nikon D5000. It's not the cheapest -- even from Nikon -- but it has great room to grow. The D5000 is very similar to the company's pricier D90 camera and comes with one significant upgrade: An articulating, 2.7-inch LCD screen allows you to frame the photo while holding the camera above your head, down at your waist, or even facing towards you for a self-portrait. That gives it a leg up on Canon's Digital Rebel line of entry-level SLRs.

The LCD is especially handy when using the D5000's video-capture feature, since you don't have to hold the camera right up to your nose while shooting. The 720p HD movies it takes don't match the crisp images you can get with a dedicated high-def camcorder, but they make a fun supplement to the excellent 12-megapixel still photos.

Continue reading What's the Best Digital SLR Camera for Beginners?

SwitchedWhat's the Best Digital SLR Camera for Beginners? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d5000featuresjusttellmewhattogetnikonnikon d5000NikonD5000topFri, 07 Aug 2009 12:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Brings New Low-Light Tech to Cyber-shot Pocket Cams]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/06/sony-brings-new-low-light-tech-to-cyber-shot-pocket-cams/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/06/sony-brings-new-low-light-tech-to-cyber-shot-pocket-cams/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/06/sony-brings-new-low-light-tech-to-cyber-shot-pocket-cams/#commentsFiled under:



"After Midnight...We're gonna give an exhibition," promised Eric Clapton in his famous goodtime-party song. But if you bring your digital camera, you probably won't get any good pictures of shows that take place in backstage lairs, smokey clubs, or other dark, dusky hep-cat hangouts.

Until now, promises Sony, thanks to its new WX1 and TX1 Cyber-shot models with a new, 10.2-megapixel sensor that's billed to be twice as sensitive to light. The tech, called "back-illuminated CMOS" basically takes a bunch of wires that used to partially obscure the pixels and moves them to the back of the sensor. Sounds like a no-brainer, but Sony spent years figuring out how to do it.

Continue reading Sony Brings New Low-Light Tech to Cyber-shot Pocket Cams

SwitchedSony Brings New Low-Light Tech to Cyber-shot Pocket Cams originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuressonytopThu, 06 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[British Government to Install CCTVs in 20,000 Homes]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/04/british-government-to-install-cctvs-in-20-000/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/04/british-government-to-install-cctvs-in-20-000/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/04/british-government-to-install-cctvs-in-20-000/#commentsFiled under:

Brits Turn Family Turmoil into Reality TV for Government Agents
On July 23rd, the British Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, announced a plan to spend a potential £400 million (over $675 million) on the installation of closed circuit cameras (CCTVs) in the homes of 20,000 "problem families" -- which include homes with truant children, alcohol abuse, or reports of malnutrition -- according to the Daily Express.

The program would put the families under 24-hour surveillance and subject them to surprise checks by government agents (in some circles, they might be called "thought police"). Balls believes this is essential to preventing youth with unstable family lives from turning to crime and drugs. Amazingly, Conservative party member Chris Grayling believes these strong measures to be "much too little, much too late."

The so-called "sin bins" have been tested in 2,000 homes so far, and supporters hope to expand that number to 20,000 within the next two years. That's 20,000 houses with government agents watching every move, 24/7. It's good to know that Orwell was generally right, even if he was off on the date a bit. [From: Daily Express, via Wired]

SwitchedBritish Government to Install CCTVs in 20,000 Homes originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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