Kickstartnews - Daily News & Reviews

Android? Windows Mobile? Mobile Mac OS? BlackBerry OS?

2009-10-19T14:24:00.000-05:00

It's all so confusing . . . as though we have to know the differences between one smartphone operating system and another in order to select the right business cell phone. It's not important. Remember. You heard it hear first.

Google's Android mobile operating system is now showing up in phones of various descriptions from HTC, Motorola and others (real soon now) but should not distract you from making a purchasing decision for your business needs which is based on practicality rather than trendiness.

Same goes for the iPhone. It's not a business phone, and it won't be one until such time as it grows a hardware keyboard.

There are lots of choices, all of which sync with Outlook, install software which reads Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint and PDF documents, browse the web, run GPS and so on. RIM BlackBerry, Nokia, Sony/Ericsson, HTC, Motorola and others all make excellent devices appropriate for a wide range of business applications. So when the sales rep calls from Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, ComCast, Rogers, Bell, Orange, BT, NTT DoCoMo, Vodafone or whichever, cut them off short and let them know that you're looking for value and functionality, not trends and cachet.

The last thing you need these days is another wireless plan into which you have to sink even more money than the last plan. Sometimes too, the phone you've got now is the best one to have.

Microsoft and T-Mobile Need Data Backup Advice

2009-10-19T11:09:00.000-05:00

Microsoft? Microsoft needs advice about backing up mobile (cellphone and smartphone) user data? Yes! Especially when we're talking about Danger/T-Mobile's Sidekick devices which are designed to essentially store little except for whatever happens to be in the device's active memory while it's still turned on. On Thursday October 15, a catastrophic server upgrade (or change or modification or something) resulted in widespread data loss which, over the past five days, Microsoft has been battling hard to restore. Last week, most news items about this fiasco were stating flatly that user data (address books, logins and password, bookmarks/favorites, notes, etc., etc.) were likely lost forever. Good for Microsoft for not taking 'dead' for an answer. So far, according to Microsoft's Roz Ho no data has been restored.

Word from the always-ready-to-snipe-at-Microsoft AppleInsider seems rather scary, especially the allusions to internecine internal warfare in the mobile development group at Microsoft. Forget the hype though because even a half-volume assessment of internal politics at Microsoft might help to explain why the Windows Mobile operating system has never worked well (or in some cases at all) for me.

If you're using an affected T-Mobile Sidekick, do not turn off the device until such time as data restoration begins. What a mess.

Some may feel it's all a whole lot o' nuthin' going on. Unfortunately, data storage in the so-called cloud (read: on a remote server somewhere as opposed to your own device or Mac/PC or laptop or external hard drives) must be faultless and essentially foolproof, with multiple security checks in place and made in order to ensure that no individual has the power to undertake a change or an upgrade which might endanger customer data, private information and so on. What a mess.

Let the class-action suits begin!

iPhone Blogging

2009-09-19T16:40:00.001-05:00

I'm using an iPhone to post my first post in a long time and I am finding it an easy thing to do ... I haven't actually posted in a while because of new projects I've been involved in, but as my associates here at Kickstartnews are aware of, new projects are often intensive experiences which allow little leaway in the way of time for anything else. Using the iPhone has been interesting, in so much as I've hated the control Apple want to have over the iPhone, though I can certainly appreciate why they desire to do so. Having had the device for some 3 months I'm a fan, but one who wants more flexibility and openess in the device. Blogging on this tool is going to be interesting.

Mobile Blogging from here.

Canon Powershot SD990IS 14.7MP Digital Camera

2009-08-25T22:18:00.003-05:00

When you’re ready to experience a higher level of pacesetting technology and image brilliance, the PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH is ready for you. One glance at the sleek sculptured profile, and you know this is a camera driven by design and features. Style without compromise is the perfect complement to the ELPH model’s most advanced feature lineup--engineering leadership that opens your eyes and imagination to the real potential and boundless pleasures of photography.

Check out this digital camera here!

Back-to-School (and Business??) with a $299 Laptop?

2009-08-17T15:55:00.002-05:00

How do they do this? A $299 laptop? Just in time for a flat-ish economic recovery (uh, hey man, it's not really a recovery) and the kids heading back to high school, upper Forms, college and university, WalMart is flogging a $298 Compaq laptop and Best Buy was flogging a $299 Acer. Why, you ask, and how good/useful/reliable could they possibly be? A fine question, we reply. Our answer is a resounding, "NUH-UH!" We've actually tried the Celeron-underpowered, slow-ish cheap-o laptops and found them, um, somewhat wanting. The keyboards, while larger than the slightly zippier Netbooks that are all the rage right now (but way too small and unresponsive for extended typing), are merely a larger version of the generally sucky Netbook and cheap laptop mushboards - fine for surfing and email, but awful for note-taking, report writing and other important education-like stuff and work.

The three best and most reasonably priced school and small business laptops we've seen (and, more important, tried) in the more quality-realistic price range of US$600-$1200 will take the bumps & bangs of daily use, speed everything along, ease some of the stress of long hours of typing, and provide a a screen that won't burn your eyes out during hours of concentration, and with even a slight amount of care will continue to work just fine for the next couple of school years. Beat the rush at Amazon.com. They're the Compaq Presario CQ60Z, the Toshiba E105-S1602 (everybody's best buy it seems) along with the superb Toshiba L300, the Apple MacBook Pro, and last but not least the Dell Vostro 1500. Why wait? Stick a crowbar in your wallet and lever out enough cash to buy the kid a decent laptop. It's got to be done and, believe us, we share your pain.

Research in Motion Leaks New BlackBerry OS

2009-08-17T15:09:00.000-05:00

Make no mistake about it, it's never accidental these days. Crackberry.com reports that the latest, hottest BlackBerry operating system (OS) has "leaked" out of the Research in Motion (RIM) enclave in Waterloo, Ontario. Like RIM didn't make it available deliberately in order to get a lot of free field testing done? Anyway, there's a version for the BlackBerry Curve and the BlackBerry Bold (which of course already work brilliantly well with their current OS versions). Business users are well advised to wait until the uber-geeks out there have downloaded, tested and pronounced these beta OS versions safe before messing with their own BlackBerry's.

Amazon.com has a bunch of Curves and a bunch of Bolds.

Nikon Releases D300s . . . with Hi-Def Video

2009-08-16T14:59:00.000-05:00

It had to happen. All the talk (yet again) about convergence, combined with the success of the most highly (technically) converged devices yet - Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch - have everybody in a raving tizzy. Nikon was first to the post with its D90 Digital SLR (DSLR) containing a 720p hi-def video option (which I guess makes it a DSLR/V, no?!). Canon followed with the full-frame 5D MKII DSLR/V, Nikon added the D5000 DSLR/V to its entry-level, and now just released the long-awaited successor to its vastly successful D300 - the D300s. It's the top-of-the-line APS-C sensor-based camera in Nikon's lineup (Nikon uses the acronym "DX" rather than APS-C). The camera provides 12.3 stunning, high resolution megapixels, superb handling in a weather sealed, magnesium-framed body, LiveView, the best 3" rear LCD (also high resolution) in the industry, all the semi-pro and many of the pro feature bells & whistles, and, well, what more could you want? I used the D300 for a couple years, as do many other amateurs, hobbyists and pros to this day. It's among the finest cameras ever made. The D300s trumps it. You need this one if you're serious about great still photography and/or combining still and incredible hi-def shooting. Imagine being able to use great Nikon lenses to create the same gorgeously shallow depth-of-field you see in the movies?

Pre-order your D300s at Amazon or B&H Photo.

Crucial 2GB 667 Mhz DDR2 200-Pin SODIMM Laptop Memory

2009-07-07T21:17:00.000-05:00

With laptop memory prices dropping faster than your 401(k) plan it makes sense to upgrade that older unit if you have the room.

Check out the great prices here!

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

2009-07-06T12:20:00.001-05:00

For stunning photography with point and shoot ease, look no further than Canon’s EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and is available in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSi’s refined, ergonomic design includes a new 3.0-inch LCD monitor, compatibility with SD and SDHC memory cards and new accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience.

Check it out here!

Windows 7 Pre-Order Sale

2009-07-04T21:12:00.002-05:00

For a limited time if you pre-order Windows 7 you could save up to 50% or more. This offer will expire on July 11th and then full pricing will take effect.

Order yours now to take advantage of these low upgrade prices!

Klipsch Custom-2 In-Ear Stereo Headphones

2009-07-03T20:16:00.001-05:00

The Custom-2 in-ear headphones from Klipsch bring 60 years of audio expertise into a compact, durable, and lightweight design, perfect for "on-the-go" applications. Exclusive KG534 dual-balanced armatures provide exceptional sound quality with deep bass, smooth midrange, and clear treble.

Features:

* Dual-Balanced Armatures
* Multiple Sizes of Ear Gels
* Durable Construction
* Stable, Comfortable Fit
* Compatible with iPhone and iPod
* Accessories Included

Check out these great headphones here!

Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM Autofocus Lens

2009-07-03T20:12:00.001-05:00

With all the optical brilliance of the larger f/2.8 aperture version, the 70-200mm f/4.0L is a zoom lens with great possibilities for portraiture and travel. All of the features of the bigger lens are present here as well, including ultra-low dispersion glass, internal focus & of course full-time manual focusing override.

Check out this great zoom lens here at B&H Photo Video.

Sony KDL19M4000/S 19" BRAVIA LCD 720p TV

2009-07-03T20:00:00.003-05:00

The Sony KDL19M4000/S 19" BRAVIA LCD TV (Silver) is a fashionable display that brings advanced video technology to your fingertips. Use it as a TV or a computer display, while enhancing your room's decor with its sleek design and stylish silver bezel. The integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner allows for reception of digital cable or terrestrial broadcasts. The KDL19M4000/S has a single HDMI input for a pure-digital one-cable connection with HD components.

Free Shipping & only $279US from B&H Photo Video.

SanDisk Sansa Clip 4GB MP3 Player

2009-07-03T19:53:00.001-05:00

The SanDisk Sansa Clip 4GB MP3 Player (Silver) is a compact player that attaches to your clothing, making it ideal for working out or any time at all. Listen to MP3s, FM radio with 40 presets and audio books on the Clip. And, even though it's small in size, a 1" wide display screen provides for easy navigation.

Check out the special pricing from our friends at B&H Photo Video here!

Zinwell ZAT-970A Digital to Analog TV Converter Box

2009-06-23T10:08:00.001-05:00

Do you have an old TV set the you need to update to get the new OTA digital television signals? Did you miss the June 12th changeover? If so, check out the Zinwell digital to analog TV converter box.

Get more info here.

Kindle DX: Amazon's 9.7" Wireless Reading Device

2009-05-08T06:35:00.004-05:00

The Kindle DX is a new e-book reader that Amazon will be releasing shortly.

Features:

Display: 9.7" diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 1200 x 824 pixel resolution at 150 ppi, 16-level gray scale.
Size (in inches): 10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38".
Weight: 18.9 ounces.
System requirements: None, because it doesn't require a computer.
Storage: 4GB internal (approximately 3.3GB available for user content).
Battery Life: Read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
Charge Time: Fully charges in approximately 4 hours and supports charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable.
Connectivity: EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide U.S wireless coverage via Sprint's 3G high-speed data network (check wireless coverage). See Wireless Terms and Conditions.
USB Port: USB 2.0 (micro-USB connector) for connection to the Kindle DX power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer.
Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, built-in stereo speakers.
Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), PDF, TXT, Audible (formats 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.
Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable, battery. Leather book cover sold separately.
Documentation: Quick Start Guide (included in box) [PDF]; Kindle DX User's Guide (pre-installed on device) [PDF].
Warranty and Service: 1 year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2 year Extended Warranty sold separately.

You can pre-order or get more information about this exciting new product here.

UltraSharp 2407WFP 24-inch Wide-Screen Black Flat Panel Monitor, LCD with Height Adjustable Stand

2009-05-04T20:08:00.002-05:00

The Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP is one of the latest models in the Dell lineup, replacing the Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW. The Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP 24.0-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor is a wide aspect desktop display that redefines the performance of LCD displays with a stylish new Dell industrial design, and advanced functionality. Improve productivity with less scrolling and toggling. The 2407WFP wide aspect Flat Panel LCD also provides an excellent option for video editing and 3D imaging as both source and destination video can be viewed in a single window! With 5.1 inches (130 mm) of height adjustment virtually every user can adjust the display to their exact comfort level and help reduce eye and neck strain. To optimize this monitor's performance, your system must be able to support WUXGA resolution (1920x1200).
Upgrade your old LCD monitor today.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Camera Body)

2009-05-01T14:25:00.001-05:00

Compact, lightweight with environmental protection, EOS 5D successor boasts a newly designed Canon CMOS sensor, with ISO sensitivity up to 25,600 for shooting in near dark conditions. The new DIGIC 4 processor combines with the improved CMOS sensor to deliver medium format territory image quality at 3.9 frames per second, for up to 310 frames. This camera features:

21.1 Megapixel Full-Frame Sensor
3.0" High Resolution LCD Display
Live View Mode
1080p Movie Mode
Dust & Weather-Resistant
Self Cleaning Sensor
Broad ISO Range (50-25600)
3.9 fps Burst Mode

Canon's EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR in now back in stock at our friends and B&H Photo Video.

Upgrade yours today!

Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm lens

2009-04-19T07:41:00.009-05:00

A remarkable blend of simplicity and highly-advanced DSLR capabilities, the compact and powerful D5000 offers breathtaking 12.3-megapixel image quality, along with a flexible, Vari-angle, Live View monitor for fresh picture-taking perspectives. Nikon’s EXPEED image processing further enhances performance, contributing to split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4 frames-per-second to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly.

The D5000’s 24-fps HD D-Movie mode with sound captures video clips with amazing clarity--offering new and exciting creative opportunities. Fast, accurate 11-point autofocus with 3D Tracking, teamed with famous NIKKOR optics, assures incredible image sharpness, while active image sensor cleaning combats annoying dust automatically. Featuring a convenient built-in flash, 19 automatic exposure Scene Modes to make the impossible easy and 23 Custom Setting options to fit your preferences, as well as 14 in-camera image retouching functions, the D5000 is the perfect DSLR, beginning with performance to meet your picture-taking tomorrows.

This bundle includes the 3x AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens with image stabilization and legendary NIKKOR optical quality.

Available for Pre-Order Now!

Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm VR zoom lens

2009-04-08T22:26:00.005-05:00

Built on 90 years of optical expertise and decades of award-winning camera designs, the Nikon family of cameras covers every type of picture-taker -- from seasoned professionals to travelers on vacation. The D60 is the latest example of Nikon innovation, transforming complex technology into a fun, powerful and easy-to-use camera. Nikon delivers the cutting-edge technologies you would expect from a digital SLR -- fast response, creative versatility, and breathtaking image quality -- while eliminating complications and frustrations so that taking pictures is enjoyable and stress-free. With 10.2 megapixels, the D60’s image sensor delivers high-resolution pictures with rich, faithful color and detail that are ready for stunning enlargements. It also gives you the freedom to crop pictures exactly as you want them. And with Nikon’s 3D Color Matrix Metering II, you can expect beautifully exposed pictures under almost any lighting condition, with Nikon’s original digital image processing concept, EXPEED, comprehensively optimizing your pictures, shot after shot.

Get yours today!

Linksys Wireless-G router

2009-03-31T12:58:00.004-05:00

The Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router is really three devices in one box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect both screaming fast Wireless-G (802.11g at 54Mbps) and Wireless-B (802.11b at 11Mbps) devices to the network. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Connect four PCs directly, or attach more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection.

Check out this top seller here!

Casio Exilim EX-S5 Digital Camera

2009-03-30T20:54:00.004-05:00

The Casio Exilim EX-S5 Digital Camera can produce high quality images with a resolution of up to 10 megapixels for stunning prints with lots of detail. The camera can also capture still images and video in the popular 16:9 widescreen format. Add to this the cameras 3x optical zoom lens, extensive exposure settings, and easy to use Best Shot Functions along with the specialized YouTube Shooting feature - all in a compact camera body that is less than one inch thick, and you'll have an incredibly versatile camera that is ideal for travel, business uses, or just about anything. See it here.

Epson Stylus Photo R280, Photo Quality, Letter Size, Inkjet Printer

2009-03-28T20:55:00.002-05:00

The affordable Epson Stylus Photo R280 Ultra Hi-Definition Photo Printer is the fast, easy way to print brilliant, 4 x 6" photos or text documents. It delivers amazing results, when printing anything from family photos to web pages and more.

Pick up one today!

G-Technology G-Raid2 1TB 2-Disk Triple Interface External Hard Drive Array

2009-03-28T20:52:00.001-05:00

The G-Raid2 1 TB 2-Disk Triple Interface External Hard Drive Array from G-Technology is a high-capacity external RAID that features two 7200 rpm drives striped together in a hardware RAID 0 configuration and an interface that allows it to be connected via FireWire-800, FireWire-400, or USB 2.0.

Check it out here!

Clickfree 160GB Automatic Backup External USB Hard Drive

2009-03-27T19:57:00.007-05:00

The 160GB Automatic Backup External USB Hard Drive from ClickFree is a bus-powered USB hard drive, designed to be used for data backup purposes. The drive offers a user-friendly backup solution, as there is no software to install or configuration required. Simply plug the drive into your Windows system and it will automatically backup your system.

Get yours here!