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Is it us, or has Apple truly cultivated a cozy, nice-guy image in the consumer's world of technology? That funny commercial with the uptight PC nerd versus the laid-back Apple innovator type aside, it seems as if Apple's trying to live up to the image. Get this: A model actually wrote her memoir in New York's SoHo Apple Store over a period of three months.

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Verizon Wireless recently released the FlipShot by Samsung, a snazzy new 3-megapixel (MP) camera phone with swivel 'technology.' The crisp 240x320 pixel phone display swivels 180 degrees to allow for different viewing angles and easy sharing of multimedia with friends. To activate the camera, you just open the clamshell halfway and swivel the display 90-degrees towards you and begin shooting (similar to the Nokia N93 camera phone). The pictures can be resized from the high-end of 2048x1536 to the low end of 160x120 for ease of sharing videos through text messages and MMS (multi-media messaging), or you can even print them wirelessly using PictBridge. Most phones coming out from Verizon these days support the EV-DO high speed data networkm, and the FlipShot is no exception. You can stream music and video from Verizon's V Cast Music and Video service or even quickly download songs that catch your fancy. You can then store your downloaded songs and video on up to 4 -gigabytes (GB) of memory via the MicroSD slot provided (card sold separately of course).

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Continue reading Switched Reviews the Gibson Robot Guitar

For those who need screen real-estate for High-Definition graphics manipulation (or maybe just some home video- or picture-editing), the new $1,700 Gateway XHD3000 LCD 30-inch monitor is perfect -- it's not only huge for a computer monitor, but it also up-converts video to 1600p, a startling four times higher than standard 720p high-definition video. With state-of-the-art connections, including HDMI, VGA, DVI, composite, S-Video and six USB ports this monitor can handle any kind of source you might want to plug into it. The HD Picture-in-Picture technology lets, say, shutterbugs be productive on Adobe Photoshop while they catch up on their woefully long classic movie list. Although this baby hooks up to surround sound systems quite easily, it's not really required, since it since comes with an eight-speaker soundbar at the bottom that emits a 3-D-like sound. Ideal for creative multi-taskers.

From Gateway Computer

Now that Skype and Logitech have unveiled upgrades to their video calling software, it's time to start videocalling over the Internet in High-Definition. With the QuickCam Pro 9000 and its snazzy Carl Zeiss lens, travelers can finally make those 30--frames-per--second calls to their buddies (or significant others) and do lightning-fast karate moves with no frozen frames! It's small and compact, which makes it ideal for the traveler's laptop. And even though it shoots and displays in state-of-the-art HD, the QuickCamPro 9000 is virtually dummy-proof, since it has built-in face-tracking technoloogy to keep you focused in the center of the frame. It's a steal at $99.

From Logitech

Let's face it: The iPhone is amazing but it does have some limitations -- for one thing, its camera is lacking (no flash, no zoom) and you can't shoot or send video. By contrast, the $699 Nokia N95 boasts a Carl Zeiss lens with a 5-Megapixel (MP) camera (with flash), a built-in camcorder, up to 2-gigabytes (GB) of external memory, quad-band GSM, GPS location technology, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The latest U.S.-optimized iteration of the N95 is optimized for the high-speed 3G HSDPA networks of AT&T, so you don't have to depend on Wi-Fi hotposts to get fast Web surfing and uplodoading/downloading.

With the N95 you are given the opportunity of creating excellent images and videos and sharing them almost instantaneously with friends or fans. For example, the built-in Lifeblog application allows for instant uploading of text, images, and videos via your high-speed data connection to a personalized blog or to Flickr.com or almost any other blogging entity out there. For those with a keen eye and artistic bent, the N95 could be the perfect multimedia device for getting their creative voices seen and heard. And, of course, the N95 lets its owners listen to music, including FM radio, or watch videos, if they still want iPod-like features.

From Nokia

Got a DJ in your life? Here's the perfect gift: The recently-upgraded Numark's iDJ2 improves upon the original by bringing some of its more advanced functions from CD DJ units to this iPod docking DJ station. With some fancy technical maneuvering, Numark has been able to allow DJs to play and mix two songs simultaneously from a single iPod via the central color LCD display. With a complete line of inputs including USB, RCA, S-video, and phono, the iDJ2 can handle almost any stereo/digital input as well as output. The unit lists for $900, but can be had for considerably less online. Either for the professional DJ or the home stereo iPod fan, the iDJ2 provides the connectivity and portability they both need.

From Numark