Showing posts with label Guest Article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guest Article. Show all posts

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Nokia's XpressMusic Series - 5800

I recently bought a new smartphone - the Nokia XpressMusic 5800. I must say its a really sweet phone where you can download apps from the Nokia Ovi Store, sync your contacts, music and other media and a lot of other stuff. 


Today's guest article is a review of the Nokia XpressMusic 5800.



Nokia had previously released the 7710 which is technically it's first touch phone but due to certain unfavorable features and other reasons unknown, the 7710 was a total failure. The 5800 ExpressMusic is a winner from every angle and for once,Nokia fans can rejoice at the 5800 ExpressMusic's brilliance. A hybrid between touch phones and music phones, the 5800 ExpressMusic is doing extremely well in the market and rightly so.

Living up to its music phone tag, the 5800 ExpressMusic has volume keys at its side apart from 3 other keys on the front panel. The screen is a brilliant 3'2 inches which is in fact what most true touch phones are equipped with. The 3'2 inch screen offers a stunning 640x360 display resolution and it's quite unbelievable that a music phone can offer you so much for such little. The 5800 ExpressMusic is also fitted with a stylus which snugly fits in the back and can be used for precision.

Using the latest S60 platform that Nokia has released till date, and with the trademark Nokia Symbian OS version 5, operating system wise the Nokia 5800 is comparable to the larger N97.

An essential of a music phone is a large storage space and the Nokia 5800 ExpressMusic does not disappoint you as it comes with a whopping 8 GB internal memory expandable to 16 GB with the microSD slot that is provided. The camera is the 3.12 usual Nokia affair with the Carl Zeiss lenses, LED flash and autofocus. The inbuilt picture editor comes as a fun bonus and it's a surprise as even many of the so called camera phones don't afford this feature.

You can't expect more from a music phone but the 5800 is further armed to the teeth to take on any phone from the whole range of segments. JAVA and Flash enablement for browsing, and of course Wifi 802.11 and Bluetooth V.2 are also included for easy connectivity and data transfer. Calling the Nokia 5800 ExpressMusic a music phone is actually not justified as it can just as well do everything that a mobile computer can. PDF viewer, Excel and word sheets and TV output complete the 5800 ExpressMusic's awesome arsenal.

The only feature missing in this music phone and yes the only one at all is the Nokia OVI features which allows for GPS navigation but this can be overlooked as voice command navigation and self location is made available with additional software upgrades.

The Nokia 5800 ExpressMusic is arguably the best value for it's money. Weighing a mere 109 grams and providing 35 hours of non stop music playback, I'd go for the 5800 Expressmusic with my eyes closed. Price? $350!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Sony Cybershot DSC W220 Review

I bought a Sony Cybershot DSC W220 digital camera today. Its one of the light blue ones and I was sold on the fact that it was a 12.1 MP camera with 4x optical zoom. Most of the other ones only had 3x optical zoom. 


So far, since I've been playing with it, I think I really like its simplicity and all the features that it has. Here's a review of the Sony Cybershot DSC W220.


The Sony Cybershot DSC W220 is up against some pretty stiff competition. Panasonic, Olympus and Nikon all produce digital cameras that are in direct competition with the Cybershot DSC W220.

This camera is small enough to slip into most pockets. It is mid priced. The design is unfussy and has that typical rectangular look. Sony offers the camera in three different colours: black, silver and light blue.

When looking at the other cameras in this category Sony has added in a fair number of features for the price. These include face detection for better portrait shots and image stabilisation to help compensate for any movements of the camera caused by unsteady hands. The Cybershot DSC W220 is also one of the few small cameras to be able to accept a conversion lens and filters. A conversion lens can increase the length of the lens or increase the wide angle capabilities of the camera. Using filters can add different effects to your photos.

There are resolutions that allow you to take photos that are ideal for printing 6 x 4 inch snapshot photos or for making wide prints or playing back on a widescreen television. For close up work the Cybershot DSC W220 can focus from an impressive 4cm. As well as offering the standard movie modes you are also able to produce High Definition movie clips. This does not make the Cybershot DSC W220 a replacement for your camcorder, but it can come in handy from time to time.

One area that digital cameras struggle with is the dynamic range of a photo. This is how well the camera can bring out detail in the lighter and darker areas of a photograph, especially when there are high levels of contrast in a shot. To try and help the camera Sony has introduced a dynamic range enhancer that can be turned on and off. Other features include being able to boost colours with a vivid colour setting as well as being able to switch to black and white or sepia.

More advanced features include a burst mode that allows you to fire off up to 100 high speed shots. There are also three types of metering at your disposal (Multi Pattern, Centre weighted, Spot).

When it comes to picture quality one of my biggest concerns was that Sony has packed so many pixels onto such a small sensor that some areas of my pictures were prone to show pixilation. This is where pixels start to look jagged and if you blow the picture up to a large size you can start to make out groups of pixels. This can detract from the overall smoothness of a shot. You may find that picture quality actually improves when shooting at lower resolutions.

The 12 megapixels Sony has packed in can come in handy if you are thinking of cropping any photos before printing. Another advantage is that additional zoom becomes available when shooting at lower resolutions.
The 4x zoom lens is a little wider than most digital cameras offer. This helps you when taking wide scenes such as landscape shots.

Picture quality fell below what some direct competitors offer. As well as the pixilation I noticed purple fringing could become an issue. I could see purple lines added to the tops of trees for example or if I was taking close up shots of shiny objects. The sharpness of the pictures was also a little down on what I am used to seeing. In fairness these problems only really become an issue if you are planning to make larger prints. At snapshot size you are unlikely to really notice these imperfections.

Andy writes and reviews digital cameras for Cameras.co.uk. See his test shots and ratings for the Sony Cybershot DSC W220

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Your Hip Hop Beat Creator Should Have These 3 Things.

Trying to make some beats for that new demo? Todays article points out 3 important must haves for choosing a beat creator. You could be the next respected hip hop producer like Dr. Dre or DJ Premier.

The production of hip hop beats has advanced tremendously since the old days. Especially with the quality hip hop beat creators out there. Today, it has never been easier to create quality hip hop beats. When your looking for a hip hop beat creator you must make sure it has certain characteristics.

First of all it should have quality midi drum patterns. Good rap beats have different drum patterns playing at the same time that compliment each other. Your beat creator should allow you to do the same. This feature will allow you to separate your beats from the other average ones.

Secondly, your beat creator has got to give you the ability to implement quality basslines into your beat. A rap beat without a strong bassline sounds dead. You have to put some life into your beats and using a basssline is the right way to do so.

Your beat creator should allow you to adjust and tweak your bassline because you want your bassline to sound just right. You don't want your bassline too strong or it will over power your song and you don't want it too weak or you won't even hear it.

Finally, your beat creating software should allow you to use many samples as your heart desires. Your beat maker should also allow you to use a remote storage bank to store as many samples as you need so your limit is endless.

So if you want to produce your next classic rap beat you have to make sure you have a good hip hop beat creator. Your beat maker should also have a few other features as well, but if it has these 3 things then you should have no problems making the best beats possible.

Click Here to take a look at the Best Hip Hop Beat Creator and check out all the resources a producer needs to improve his/her skill level at Programs To Make Beats.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Are Side Effects a Concern With Resveratrol?

Today's guest article is about the effects of Resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in grapes and red wine that can help prevent heart disease and slow signs of aging as well as other health benefits. But are there side effects to this naturally occurring wonder?


Resveratrol side effects are a topic of some discussion as this naturally produced chemical has been incorporated into a number of comprehensive dietary supplements. As with any supplement, vitamin or medication, possible complications are a legitimate cause for concern, but the more you can learn about Resveratrol the more you'll be able to ease your mind.

Resveratrol is a plant chemical found in red grapes and grape seeds and the products made from them, including juice and red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol lowering properties, making it an important addition to any health regimen. With its range of helpful properties it is known to do everything from preventing heart disease and some cancers to lowering cholesterol levels and even slowing the progress of Alzheimer's Disease.

While the inclusion of a comprehensive daily supplement including Resveratrol in your regular routine can be very beneficial, Resveratrol side effects do exist and it is important that you be aware of any potential risks. On the plus side, direct adverse reactions to Resveratrol have yet to be reported, but there are some specific areas of caution which should be heeded.

Since Resveratrol has some estrogen related properties, women with estrogen sensitive conditions should consult a doctor before taking it. Also, Resveratrol can act as a blood thinner, so anyone taking blood thinning medications is strongly urged to consult a doctor before beginning to take a supplement which contains Resveratrol. As with any supplement or medication, nursing or pregnant women and anyone taking prescription medications should also use caution when taking Resveratrol.

While Resveratrol side effects are relatively limited, the benefits of this natural substance have been shown to be wide spread, affecting everything from circulation and joint function to respiratory health. Resveratrol is particularly effective when used in combination with other natural substances as part of a comprehensive dietary supplement.

When combined with the effects of other minerals, amino acids, enzymes and anti-oxidants, Resveratrol can be part of a long term regimen to combat the signs of aging. Dietary supplements containing natural substances such as these can help to bolster the body's natural defenses and even reverse damage caused by environmental irritants.

As part of a healthy lifestyle which includes a balanced diet, proper exercise and adequate hydration, a daily natural supplement can be your best weapon in the fight against aging. Not only can natural supplements leave you feeling energized and strong, they can help to reverse the effects of aging on everything from your internal systems to your skin and hair. Despite possible Resveratrol side effects, this can be the most important step you'll ever take in terms of your overall health.

You should never put anything into your body that you don't trust, but studies show there is no reason not to trust Resveratrol and other natural substances. Just take the time to research and make sure you are using the best possible product for you and you'll be looking and feeling better in no time!

Charles Strong has done extensive research on resveratrol and has more to share at his site http://healthy-supplements-now.com. Visit it now for more resveratrol research.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Horney Goat Weed - The Cure for a Languishing Libido

The most natural way to increase libido is to use ancient methods. I don’t mean to go into bawdyhouse, but there’s the Horny Goat Weed, a three thousand year old marvelous plant, which restores the man's sexual strength and power. In ancient China many medical writings were “published” about its efficiency but Epimedium has the same qualities even today.

-“Believe it or not the horny goat weed was useful” – whispered my girlfriend Shiny. She had a problem with her sexual performance for months. Horney Goat Weed is sold on the Internet, in herbal and esoteric stores in many forms: leaves, powder or capsules, pure or in combination with other aphrodisiacs. Epimedium increases vitality, stimulates brain cells and has an overall beneficial impression on human body.

For thousands of years, Horney Goat Weed has been well known for its positive effects. This mysterious plant was recommended by Chinese physicians for male sexual enhancement.

Unlike prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction the Horney Goat Weed isn’t a chemical, it makes the human organism stronger and not weakens it. So if somebody takes it regularly he shouldn’t be afraid for it’s side effects, or that it will cause dependency.

Chinese scientist successfully used Horny Goat Weed for bronchitis treatment, and in curing fertility problems. The positive effects are caused by polysaccharides, the antiviral and antimicrobial compounds of Horney Goat Weed.

Horny Goat Weed's curing effects on lounge and circulatory problems are still researched, also the property of Horny Goat Weed increasing muscular volume.

Epimedium it’s an endemic plant in all Far East countries forests, not only in China but also in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Recently in these countries Horney Goat Weed is artificially cultivated.

The mystery of Horny Goat Weed is still studied by scientists however everybody agrees that Epimedium has no harmful influence only positive impact on human health. It’s especially effective in curing male impotence but increases female libido too. There are many reasons for men to switch from the popular blue pills to the time tested and natural Horny Goat Weed.

If women will start to use Horney Goat Weed too, at least they won’t forget the purpose of the bed other than sleeping.

Alex Pentorf invites you to find out more about epimedium and provigrax, a formula based on horney goat weed on his associated websites.