The HD camcorders is nice camcorders of the world.

HD camcorders

 

HD's higher resolution, broader color space, and advanced compression algorithms have opened the door for a substantial improvement in video quality, even for the most prosaic of home movies. Though prices for consumer models hover well above the budgets of many wanna-haves, as more units trickle into the market in 2007 we expect the prices to drop into mainstream territory. And pros need HD capabilities to stay competitive: even if you're not quite ready to go HD-only, some of the entry-level pro models are priced reasonably enough to merit an educational investment.


HD camcorders allow to record video in High definition format. Most HD camcorders can record 1080 horizontal lines of an image and offer a huge increase in image quality compared to standard definition camcorders that can only record 400-600 horizontal lines. High definition (HD) is no longer the future. It�s here. With so much new terminology it is frustrating for consumers to make sense of it all. Codecs, media, formats, compression types�it�s all a mess of confusion. This article is meant to help you understand what�s going on in the world of HD camcorders so that you can make sense of it all and make an informed decision on your next purchase.

All the HD camcorders' video looks great. Every one of the latest HD camcorders we've seen�seven in all�delivers kick-ass video, almost as good as what you see coming down a lot of cable or satellite systems from the networks. But it doesn't look as clean and sharp as Blu-ray or HD DVD.

Prices are reasonable. The best HD camcorder I've seen, the Panasonic HDC-SD1, costs around $800. You'd be surprised how prices are plummeting with HDTV camcorders. Since it's not brand-spanking new, you might be able to find an even better deal on that Panny SD1 on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

Catch up on some reviews of the latest HD camcorders to get a lay of the land. Camcorder Info picked as its camcorder of the year the Canon HV20, an HD model that uses old-timey DV tapes and records in the HDV format. We found the camcorder's video spectacular, with very few motion artifacts. It's also nice to be able to output in good ol' DV whenever you want with no further rendering.

The HD camcorders are easiest to use if you plug them directly into an HDTV via HDMI. Almost all the camcorders have HDMI output, so it's easy to just connect that camcorder to your HDTV and use the supplied remote. In fact, it feels like this is what the camcorder.

Hard drive camcorders have many different features, and can vary from one to another. The best ones will have the following features:

Hard Drive Capacity
It�s pretty simple. The larger the hard drive, the more record time you have.

Resolution
It goes without saying that the higher resolution a camera has, the better your pictures will look.

Recording format
One of the most important things to consider when choose a HD video camera is the different HD camcorder formats available. The two most popular storage options are hard disk and memory card. Hard disk camcorders offers the largest capacity where as the memory card camcorders are often the smallest and lightest available. Other options can include Mini-DV tape, DVD and internal memory or a combiniation of two of these.

Zoom
Zoom allows you to get closer to your subject without moving your feet. These days all HD camcorders have a zoom function but the amount of zoom they offer varies from model to model. As a rule of thumb a x10 optical zoom will be sufficient for most budding film maker�s needs. Although, if you�re planning on filming lots of things in the distance, e.g. wildlife then you will probably benefit from a more powerful zoom. But bear in mind, the more you zoom in on a subject the more you will notice the smallest of movements if you hand shakes. This can be negated by using a tripod.

Image stabilisation

Most HD video cameras now come with image stabilisation. A shaking effect can be seen when filming if you hand or arm moves and this can be noticed even more when you are zoomed in. Image stabilisation should remove some of the shakiness from the recording.

Battery Life
What good is having all this storage space to record if the battery is constantly dead? Good camcorders will have a long battery life. Most cameras; however, don�t come with the largest capacity battery. Make sure you include the cost of an extra battery in your budget.

Anti-Shock Mechanism
Let�s face it, your kids are going to drop your camcorder eventually. Good hard drive camcorders will have an anti-shock mechanism to protect the hard drive.

Size

Size may pay an important part in your choice of HD camcorder. Size varies wildly between models, some are a more traditional size (the size of a shoe or bigger) and others are available that are not much bigger than a mobile phone. HD camcorders that record onto memory cards tend to be the smallest and those that record directly onto DVD or Mini-DV tapes are larger since they have to accommodate the recording media.

Video lamp

Some HD camcorders feature a video lamp that can help to illuminate what you are filming. This feature can be ideal for close-up work and is kind of similar to a still camera flash. Although using this feature for prolonged periods of time can drain the battery faster than normal use.

Recording in low light conditions

HD video cameras can struggle to record a quality image in low light conditions both outdoors and indoors. However, many camcorders now come with features to improve the image quality. Some HD camcorders even have a special night mode which will give you a brighter picture.

Sound Quality

The sound quality from a camcorder recording can vary model to model. Some higher end HD camcorders allows you to attach an external microphone. An external microphone should offer a large improvement in sound quality compared to the camcorders own built in microphone.

Still photos

Many HD camcorders offer the option to take still photos. If you are filming something and spot a nice photo opportunity you can snap the picture from you camcorder rather than having to get you separate still camera out it�s bag. This feature can be useful but the quality is no where near the quality you would expect from a standalone digital camera.

Revolve xeMini Plus

 Revolve xeMini Plus

?

The XeMini Plus from Revolve Electronics has a lightweight and eco-friendly design. It's easy to use and we like that you get several cables in the box. The xeMini Plus is a revolutionary charging system that will simplify your life. This system includes the xeMini charger, the xePico car charging adapter, and the cables you need to keep over 3,000 devices recharged anytime, anywhere. The xeMini has the largest built-in backup battery of any product in its class, with enough power to provide two full recharges to most smartphones. With the xeMini, you'll always have emergency power when you need it, and it can even recharge two devices at once. The xeMini Plus system is perfect for travelers, students, busy parents, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone who uses mobile electronics.

The Ultimate Freedom

Never search for an AC plug in the airport, coffee shop, or at school again! The xeMini has a custom designed 2200mAh internal battery for recharging your devices anytime, anywhere. The xeMini is small enough to fit in a pocket or purse and can carry enough power to fully recharge an iPhone or Blackberry twice without even connecting to AC power! The xeMini can recharge many digital cameras and video cameras on the go, too, so a dead battery will never cause you to miss the shot again. Plus, the xeMini's internal battery is replaceable.

The xePico car charger also offers a powerful 1.2A output, which will simultaneously charge your xeMini and up to two other devices at the same time! The high-quality USB mini and USB micro cables included in this kit provide you with connectivity to over 3,000 devices. At home or on the go, the xeMini Plus kit gives you everything you need.

Light-Assisted Power

xeMini features Revolve's Light-Assisted Power technology that uses sunlight to generate clean energy. The xeMini can capture energy from the sun, convert it to usable energy, and then store it in the internal battery backup system. By choosing to place the xeMini in the sun whenever possible and recharge your devices from the xeMini's internal battery instead of an AC outlet, you can reduce your carbon footprint. Unlike the lower-efficiency cells used in most "solar chargers" that are plastic encapsulation, the xeMini's glass-encapsulated high-efficiency cells ensure many years of use.

Never Run Out of Power Again

• Replaces existing chargers--a complete charging solution for over 3,000 devices, including cell phones, Bluetooth headsets, MP3 players, GPS navigators, digital cameras, and more.
• Powerful 2200mAh built-in battery provides multiple full recharges on the go.
• Recharge two devices at once anytime, anywhere.
• Recharge from the wall, your car, computer, or the sun!
• Retractable AC prongs that plug directly into any AC outlet--no external adapter needed.
• Exclusive Light-Assisted Power uses sunlight to constantly trickle charge the internal battery.

 

The World's First Earth-Friendly Electronics

The xeMini has been independently certified to meet the highest global safety and performance standards. Plus, it is made with cutting-edge GREEN materials and processes like:

• Recycled plastics blended with bamboo fiber
• High-efficiency glass encapsulated solar panel for years of service
• Packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials
• Free of hazardous substances
• Long-lasting battery that's also replaceable

Extend Your Play/Talk Use Time

One xeMini charge gives you:
iPhone	~6.5 hours talk time
Blackberry	~8 hours talk time
TomTom ONE (3G)	~9 hours navigation time
Garmin N�vi 200	~7.5 hours navigation time
iPod nano	~75 hours play time
iPod touch	~59 hours play time

Note: All times are approximate.

What's in the Box

xeMini universal charger and battery backup, xePico 12V car charging adapter, USB mini cable, USB micro cable, and USB data cable adapter.

Product Description

The revolutionary hybrid charging system from Revolve, the xeMini Plus is the ultimate accessory for all your rechargeable equipment from including mobile phones, mp3 players, digital cameras and navigation systems. Perfect for travelers, busy parents, outdoor enthusiasts, students, and more! It replaces existing chargers for over 3000 devices and includes everything you need to charge from the wall, car, computer, or sun!

Revolve Electronics xeMini Plus USB Charger and

Battery Backup with 12v Car Charger Feature

1.      Everything you need to charge from an AC outlet, your car, your computer, or sunlight

2.      Recharges over 3,000 different devices, two at a time--including the iPhone, Droid, and Blackberry

3.      Retractable AC prongs plug directly into an AC outlet--no external AC adapter needed

4.      Replaceable 2200mAh battery backup provides emergency power anytime, anywhere

5.      Made with cutting-edge green materials like recycled plastics blended with bamboo fiber

6.      Includes: Car Charger, USB Mini and Micro cables, and a USB adapter

7.      Recharge from multiple sources, including AC outlet, car, computer, or sunlight.

8.      Recharges over 3000 different devices, two at a time including the iPhone, Droid and Blackberry!

9.      Replaceable 2200mAh battery backup -� never be without power again.

10.  Retractable AC prongs, plugs directly into an AC outlet. No external AC adapter needed!

Revolve Electronics xeMini Plus USB Charger and

Battery Backup with 12v Car Charger Specifications

The xeMini Plus is a revolutionary charging system that will simplify your life. This system includes the xeMini charger, the xePico car charging adapter, and the cables you need to keep over 3,000 devices recharged anytime, anywhere. The xeMini has the largest built-in backup battery of any product in its class, with enough power to provide two full recharges to most smartphones. With the xeMini, you'll always have emergency power when you need it, and it can even recharge two devices at once. The xeMini Plus system is perfect for travelers, students, busy parents, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone who uses mobile electronics.

The Ultimate Freedom

Never search for an AC plug in the airport, coffee shop, or at school again! The xeMini has a custom designed 2200mAh internal battery for recharging your devices anytime, anywhere. The xeMini is small enough to fit in a pocket or purse and can carry enough power to fully recharge an iPhone or Blackberry twice without even connecting to AC power! The xeMini can recharge many digital cameras and video cameras on the go, too, so a dead battery will never cause you to miss the shot again. Plus, the xeMini's internal battery is replaceable.

The xePico car charger also offers a powerful 1.2A output, which will simultaneously charge your xeMini and up to two other devices at the same time! The high-quality USB mini and USB micro cables included in this kit provide you with connectivity to over 3,000 devices. At home or on the go, the xeMini Plus kit gives you everything you need.

Light-Assisted Power

xeMini features Revolve's Light-Assisted Power technology that uses sunlight to generate clean energy. The xeMini can capture energy from the sun, convert it to usable energy, and then store it in the internal battery backup system. By choosing to place the xeMini in the sun whenever possible and recharge your devices from the xeMini's internal battery instead of an AC outlet, you can reduce your carbon footprint. Unlike the lower-efficiency cells used in most "solar chargers" that are plastic encapsulation, the xeMini's glass-encapsulated high-efficiency cells ensure many years of use.

Never Run Out of Power Again

1.      Replaces existing chargers--a complete charging solution for over 3,000 devices, including cell phones, Bluetooth headsets, MP3 players, GPS navigators, digital cameras, and more.

2.      Powerful 2200mAh built-in battery provides multiple full recharges on the go.

3.      Recharge two devices at once anytime, anywhere.

4.      Recharge from the wall, your car, computer, or the sun!

5.      Retractable AC prongs that plug directly into any AC outlet--no external adapter needed.

6.      Exclusive Light-Assisted Power uses sunlight to constantly trickle charge the internal battery.

The World's First Earth-Friendly Electronics

The xeMini has been independently certified to meet the highest global safety and performance standards. Plus, it is made with cutting-edge GREEN materials and processes like:

1.      Recycled plastics blended with bamboo fiber

2.      High-efficiency glass encapsulated solar panel for years of service

3.      Packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials

4.      Free of hazardous substances

5.      Long-lasting battery that's also replaceable

Canon Power Shot A3300 IS (Red)

Canon  Power Shot A3300 is (red)

 Canon's A-series Power Shot lineup for 2011 consists of four models priced from $89.99 up to $179.99. Unlike with the 2010 A-series cameras, the feature mix is much better, giving you solid reasons to pick one model over another. The A3300 IS, for example, is the only model with optical image stabilization, a 5x zoom lens, and a 3-inch LCD. (It's also the only one with a 16-megapixel resolution, but that's debatably useful.). The Canon Power Shot A3300 IS has a nice feature set for the money as well as excellent photo quality. The Canon Power Shot A3300 IS offers up nice features and excellent photos while staying simple and affordable.

   

 

Technical Details

• 16.0 megapixel, with a 5x wide-angle optical zoom (28mm wide) with optical image stabilizer
• Record movies with 720p HD video
• Large, clear 3.0-inch LCD
• Smart Auto intelligently selects settings from 32 predefined shooting situations
• Discreet Mode disables the sound, flash and AF beam for use in quiet areas
• 16.0 megapixel
• 3.0-Inch LCD
• 5x wide-angle optical zoom (28mm wide)
• High-definition 720p video
• Optical image stabilizer

Wrapped in a sleek metal body, the Power Shot A3300 IS captures everything in stunning 16 Mega pixel detail. Dynamic Image Stabilizer ensures that HD movies are sharp and steady. Pocket-sized and packed with features 16.0 Megapixels A very high resolution sensor produces stunning quality images, and allows printing of very large prints or cropping the image to achieve the desired composition.28mm wide, 5x zoom lens A 28mm wide-angle view provides greater scope for wide landscapes and indoor shots, while a 5x optical telephoto function allows the user to zoom in on details and frame more creatively.

Optical Image Stabilizer An optical Image Stabilizer makes this camera's performance really stand out. Compensating for camera shake in challenging conditions such as lower light or when shooting with the longer end of the zoom range, the Image Stabilizer helps you capture images in full detail and with less blur at all times.

7.5 cm (3.0") LCD A big screen makes viewing and sharing image �

Apple i pod 32 gb mp3 player

 

The third generation of Apple's iPod Touch is still the king. 

The third generation of Apple's iPod Touch is still the king of the hill when it comes to portable, Wi-Fi-wielding media players. New additions such as Voice Control, graphics enhancements, improved accessibility, higher capacity, and a faster processor help to refine an already excellent product. iPod touch is a great iPod, a great pocket computer, and a great portable game player. Listen to a mix of songs automatically put together by the new Genius Mixes feature. Watch a movie. Surf the web. Download countless apps. to jump down the page and learn all about apps.) View rich HTML email. Find your location and get directions with Google Maps. Discover games and apps you're sure to love with new Genius recommendations for apps. And since iPod touch now comes with the latest 3.1 software already installed, you can start using fun, convenient features right out of the box.

 

Technical Details

Capacity: 32 GB

• IMPORTANT: To get started using your iPod, charge your player using the USB cable for at least 2 hours
• 32 GB capacity for 7,000 songs, 40,000 photos, or 40 hours of video
• Up to 30 hours of music playback or 6 hours of video playback when fully charged
• 3.5-inch widescreen Multi-Touch display with 480 x 320 pixel resolution
• Supports AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV audio formats; H.264 and MPEG-4 video formats; JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF
• NOTE: The iPod touch comes with the Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic; to activate Voice Control using the headphones, just press and hold the center area of the Apple headphone remote
• One-year limited warranty with single incident of complimentary telephone technical support

Cover Flow : What a song does for your ears, Cover Flow on iPod touch does for your eyes and fingers. It's a virtual party for the senses. Turn iPod touch on its side and glide through your music by album art with the flick of your finger. Tap an album cover to flip it over and display a track list. Tap again to start the music.

Genius Mixes : Now the Genius feature is even more powerful. Introducing Genius Mixes. All you do is sync iPod touch to iTunes, and Genius automatically searches your library to find songs that sound great together. Then it creates multiple mixes you'll love. These mixes are like channels programmed entirely with your music.

Genius Playlists : Say you're listening to a song you really like and want to hear other tracks that go great with it. The Genius feature finds other songs on your iPod touch that sound great with the one you were listening to and makes a Genius playlist for you. Listen to the playlist right away, save it for later, or even refresh it and give it another go. Count on Genius to create a mix you wouldn't have thought of yourself.

Shake to Shuffle : Shake things up a bit. Musically speaking, that is. The next time you're listening to your tunes, turn on Shake to Shuffle, then give iPod touch a shake to shuffle to a different song in your music library.

Bluetooth : Look, no cables. iPod touch includes the iPhone 3.1 software, so you can pair Bluetooth stereo headphones with it. Keep your iPod in your bag or charging on your desk across the room and still listen to your music. 

Movies + TV shows : A feature film. A video podcast. Your favorite TV show. Now appearing on a subway train or a plane near you.

Widescreen Viewing : Carry hours of video with you and watch it on the crisp 3.5-inch color widescreen display. Shop the iTunes Store and choose from thousands of movies, TV shows, and video podcasts to load up your iPod touch. From Hollywood blockbusters to independent favorites, there's something for everyone. Download and watch movies with a few taps. Prefer TV shows? Get a single episode or an entire season's worth all at once.

Onscreen Controls : While watching your video, tap the display to bring up the onscreen controls. You can play or pause, view by chapter, and adjust the volume. You can also use the volume controls on the left side of iPod touch. Want to switch between widescreen and full screen? Simply tap the display twice.

Genius Recommendations, Download & Update for Apps : There are tens of thousands of apps in the App Store, with more added every day. A new feature of iPod touch makes finding cool new apps even easier. It's Genius for apps, and it works just like Genius for your music. Tap the Genius icon and get recommendations for apps that you might like based on apps you and others have downloaded.

When you find an app you want, buy and download it wirelessly to your iPod touch from anywhere over Wi-Fi, and start using it right away.iPod touch tells you whenever an app update is available, so you'll always have the latest versions of your favorite apps.

Shop Anytime, Anywhere : The built-in Wi-Fi capability in iPod touch gives you access to the iTunes Store, where you can choose from millions of high-quality iTunes Plus songs and thousands of movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and free podcasts and iTunes U lectures. Browse New Releases, Top Tens, and Genres. Or find exactly what you're looking for by typing in a quick search. Play a preview of any song or video, then tap once to buy it. Not sure if that movie is worth owning? Just rent it. Everything you buy on iPod touch is the same price you pay on the iTunes Store on your computer.

Sync with iTunes : When you connect iPod touch to your computer, the music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and podcasts you downloaded on the go sync to your iTunes library on your Mac or PC. If you've partially downloaded something on iPod touch, your computer completes the download automatically.

Voice Control : Voice Control on the new 32 GB and 64 GB iPod touch gives you the ability to control music playback with spoken commands. You say it. iPod touch plays it. And shuffles it, pauses it, or names it.

Say and Play : Voice Control knows the music in your iPod touch. Want to hear something specific? All you have to do is ask. For instance, say "Play artist Bob Dylan," and iPod touch does just that. Ask what song is playing and hear iPod touch answer. Tell it to play your favorite album, artist, or playlist. Speak simple commands such as "shuffle," "next song," and "pause." Even have iPod touch play more songs like the one you're listening to

Language Support : Voice Control features support for the following languages: Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (China), Chinese (Taiwan), Dutch, English (UK), English (US), Finnish, French (Canada), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), Swedish

Photos : With storage for up to 90,000 of your favorite photos, iPod touch lets you flick through and share all those remember-that-day moments.

Share Photos : Show thousands of photos from the palm of your hand. Flick to scroll through thumbnails. Tap to view full screen. Play slideshows, complete with music and transitions. Email a photo to a friend or share it in a MobileMe Gallery.

Save Photos : If you receive a great image in an email, save it to your photo library on iPod touch. Once there, it acts just like any other photo. You can set it as your wallpaper, share it on the web, or pass it on.

Home Screen : Maybe you want Maps as the first app in the second row. Or Mail down in the Dock. Whatever the arrangement, make iPod touch your own with customized Home screens.

Customize Your Home Screen : Arrange the icons on your Home screen any way you want right on iPod touch or from your computer using iTunes 9. Move an app one row up, two apps over, or even to another Home screen. Create up to 11 Home screens for quick access to the games and applications you download from the App Store and to your Safari web clips.

Home Button: No matter where you are on iPod touch, one press of the Home button at the bottom of iPod touch takes you to the main Home screen. You can also take a shortcut from any Home screen back to your main Home screen by pressing the Home button.

Spotlight Search: Looking for something? Search the entire contents of your iPod touch, all from one place. On your main Home screen, just swipe to the right to bring up Spotlight. Once you start typing, Spotlight begins searching all of your music, videos, contacts, email, calendars, notes, and even your audiobooks and podcasts.

Browse Anywhere : iPod touch is the only iPod with built-in wireless access to the web. Whenever you're connected via Wi-Fi, you can access your favorite websites to read news, check scores, pay bills, and go shopping. And if you're using the new 32 GB or 64 GB iPod touch, you'll notice that web pages load even faster than before.

Search the Web : iPod touch syncs your bookmarks from your PC or Mac, so you can access your favorite sites quickly. It has Google and Yahoo! search built in, so it's easy to find what you're looking for on the web.

Web Clips : If you check a website frequently--a favorite newspaper, blog, or sports site--why not create a Home screen icon, or web clip, for it? Make web clips with Safari, and your favorite sites are always just a tap away.

Zoom :Get a closer look at any web page by zooming in and out with a tap or a pinch of the Multi-Touch display. View websites in portrait or landscape. Rotate iPod touch 90 degrees a Hardware

Physically, the new (64GB) Touch is identical to it's 2nd generation brethren. It's polished crome backplate is slightly curved, making it fit your palm perfectly. As before, the fact that it's made from polished chrome will guarantee that it attracts fingerprints and scratches almost magically. I'm no friend of any kind of protective covers, and my last (32GB) Touch had to live in my pocket with my keys, coins, and other stuff I threw in with it. After a year, the backplate did pick up a lot of scratches, and I expect that the 64GB to fare no better. Personally, I would have preferred a brushed finish for the backplate. This may have caused problems with the readability of the customized engraving that Apple applies to the Touch on the backplate for no additional charge (a nice 'touch' that becomes increasingly important as the Touch becomes more ubiquitious). This custom engraving you can only get if you order the Touch through Apple (it's also not available in the Apple Stores).

The front plate is made from one of the most impressive glass enhancements I've ever seen. After a year of heavy abuse, my old Touch's glass front has not a single scratch - not one. I don't know how Apple does it, but this is really impressive. Remember, I don't use any protective covers or films. The screen itself is brilliant, bright, and can easily be read outside, wich is a feat in itself. The Touch has an ambient light sensor, so it can dim the screen when the surroundings are darker.

This time around, the screen's color temperature has remained unchanged (the 2G shifted all colors from a blueish to a more golden tinge). Movie playback is simply astonishing. The image is crisp, and the on-screen controls natural. Again, there are niceties such as double-tapping the screen to change aspect ratio, or placing bookmarks etc. You still can't set a movie's contrast, but beyond that small issue, movie playback is perfect. Viewing movies on the Touch simply works great, but personally I think that the screen is too small to watch a full movie. Last week, I tried watching a TV episode while on a plane enroute to Hamburg (a 75 minute flight), but quickly decided against it, opting instead to play a game of 'Luxor'. Somehow I prefer a larger screen for consuming video, while I have no problems doing something interactive on it. Still, video plays great on the Touch.

Button and interface lay-out has remained the same from the last generation: volume controls on the left side, top holds the 'exit/on' button, buttom has dock and phones connectors, and the front holds the single home button. There is one thing that can be improved here: I would have preferred the audio connector to be on top (or either side), as the current configuration precludes the use of many applications (e.g. News- and eBook readers) when you want to place it upright -- for example in the Gym. Some apps do use the accelerometers and can be used positioning the Touch upside down, though.

The built-in speaker is unchanged from the last version. It's weak, tinny, mono, produces horrible sound, has no volume to speak of -- and yet it's one of the best additions to the Touch (the original didn't have it, the 2nd gen did). It simply makes casual gaming so much more fun. I don't care about the bad sound quality, I just love the fact that it's there.

The signatory white earphones that Apple sells with the Touch may look good, but I don't like them. In my ears they are too uncomfortable. Since I'm no audiophile, I can't comment on their audio quality other than that it's good enough for me. Anyway, I replaced them with my favorite non-Apple version. The hitch here is that Apple now delivers the 64 GB (and 32 GB) with earphones that sport a built-in mic and remote. And my head phones don't have that. While the remote is nothing much to write home about (the way it works is just too complex), the mic works well, and has just the right fidelity to pick out voice over the background noise. So, for now, I keep the white buds with me in case I want to use the IP-telephony capabilities.

Battery life appears to have been reduced somewhat from the 2nd gen - at least on paper. During the past few days the new 3rd gen Touch certainly performed as well as or even better than my 2nd gen - but then again, that one's battery is already one year old. One fact that I've become very fond of is the quick-charge ability, which works really well.

The built-in wireless connectivity is really nice, with astonishingly well executed integration. The touch does all it's wireless networking over WiFi and Bluetooth. WiFi works really well (especially here in Switzerland where Hotspots are particularely dense), and Bluetooth integration (which I tried on the 3rd gen for the first time) is flawless. WiFi reception (range) lags somewhat behind that of a Wintel laptop (no doubt due to the metal backplate) and is pretty much on par with that of a 15" Macbook Pro (which is also somewhat lacking in WiFi reception range). WiFi is still the 'g' variant though [interestingly enough, the built-in hardware does support 11n, but so far Apple has chosen not to activate it, presumably to conserve battery. This is interesting also from the fact that in the 2G Touch, Apple initially included Bluetooth capabilities, but only activated it with a later OS release. Perhaps the same can be expected for 11n]. Bluetooth now also works with headphones and BT-based car integration kits (works well in mine). I would have loved to try out BT-based printing from the Calender or Addressbook app, but hit a snag: it appears no Touch app supports printing...