Technical Itch

Best Sat Nav Systems 2009

Dean — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:27:32 +0000

The following list shows the best selling sat nav systems purchased by our readers this year on Amazon.

Garmin dominate this year with Navman the only other manufacturer to make the list. 7 of the top 10 are priced at £105 or less which shows the budget systems are proving as popular as ever.

Garmin Nuvi 1490T Sat Nav Review

Dean — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:53:10 +0000

This review looks at the Garmin Nuvi 1490T. This system is one of several new releases by Garmin this year. The Nuvi 1490T is aimed at the higher end of the market offering features like lane assist, junction view, route planning, speed camera warnings, traffic alerts, bluetooth, ecoRoute, public transport and pedestrian modes. It also sports a large 5 inch screen.

Box Contents

This is what you get in the box.

Garmin Nuvi 1490T with preloaded maps of UK and Europe
Suction cup holder and cradle
Power cable
TMC traffic antenna and suction cups
USB cable
Dashboard disk
Quick start guide

First Impressions

The Nuvi 1490T looks a nice system out of the box and is well constructed. Despite the large 5 inch screen it is surprisingly easy to carry around with you and is only 15mm thick.

The suction cup, cradle, power cable and traffic antenna are the same design as other recent releases by Garmin. The traffic antenna and power cable are two separate cables, with the traffic antenna plugging into a small socket on the power cable. This means you have the option to take the Nuvi 1490T out on the road without the traffic antenna cluttering up your windscreen if you wish. This is an improvement over earlier models like the Nuvi 770 where the traffic antenna and power cable were one unit.

Setup in the car was a hassle free process and we found the suction cup and cradle easy to use. Initial satellite acquisition was also quick.

Navigation

One of the features offered by the Nuvi 1490T is junction view and lane assist. When approaching a complex junction the screen will switch to junction view for a few seconds to help you get in the right lane.

Out on the road we found the lane assist worked well. Signposts displayed on screen were identical to the real ones on the road and plenty of warning was given when required to change lanes.

The Nuvi 1490T includes a subscription-free traffic alert service. This service will warn you of any traffic problems on your route giving you the option to take an alternative route.

As with other systems we’ve reviewed over the years we found the traffic alerts to be a bit hit and miss. Sometimes it would be spot on in warning of upcoming delays. On other occasions it would warn of queuing traffic ahead only for there to be no delays at all.

It is also worth noting that on a couple of occasions the traffic receiver was unable to pick up a signal, and this lasted for several miles before reception was regained.

So our advice would be to not expect perfection from the traffic alert service.

As far as speed camera alerts are concerned the Nuvi 1490T was very good. It excels best with fixed cameras, in our tests it passed with flying colours in this department.

It did a pretty good job spotting mobile and temporary speed cameras too, but there were times where it could have done better. This is to be expected though. Temporary speed cameras, such as those in motorway roadworks, are always on the move and it is important to update the speed camera database on the Garmin from time to time.

Speed camera updates can be done via the Garmin web site. There are also a number of 3rd party web sites offering the same updates, often at a cheaper price, such as the Garmin speed camera plugin from SCDB.info.

You can also see in the screenshot above that the Nuvi 1490T displays the current speed limit for a given road in the bottom right of the screen. This can be useful, especially when driving on unfamiliar roads where you’re not sure of the speed limit. In our tests the Nuvi 1490T did an excellent job displaying the correct speed limit.

Points of Interest (POI)

As with all Garmin systems we’ve reviewed the Nuvi 1490T includes an extensive points of interest (POI) database.

The Nuvi 1490T also includes a feedback feature where you can report any anomalies you find, such as a point of interest in the wrong location. This is a fairly new addition to the Garmin range and was introduced to compete with similar offerings from TomTom, like the TomTom Go 740 Live we reviewed earlier this year.

Issues

We tested the Nuvi 1490T over the course of a week. During this time we ran into a number of issues. None of these are major but when put together it does raise concerns over the build quality.

We ran into the following issues:

Around day 3 of testing the speaker would not work when the unit was switched on. We would be driving several miles and then realise there was no audio for the voice directions. We checked the volume settings and the volume was not muted. We found that by either increasing or decreasing the volume the speaker would suddenly kick back into life. This problem occurred every time we used the system thereafter, even after doing a factory reset.
On one occasion the unit got stuck in USB mass storage mode whilst in the car. This basically means the Nuvi 1490T thought it was plugged into a computer rather than a vehicle meaning we couldn’t navigate anywhere. The Nuvi 1490T just displayed a computer icon on the screen and we couldn’t do anything. We found that once we started driving the unit would reboot itself and then return to normal navigation mode. This problem only occurred once but was not something we expected.
The first time we plugged the Nuvi 1490T into a computer using the USB cable it would not connect properly. The Nuvi 1490T repeatedly rebooted itself and in the end we just disconnected it from the computer, then tried reconnecting and the second time it connected successfully.
We ran into a couple of issues with the mapping. On one occasion it directed us through a town centre rather than using a bypass and another time the directions had the wrong road number. We’ve run into these type of issues when reviewing other systems, so we were not particularly concerned. Over the course of a week of thorough road testing these were the only two mapping issues we discovered. In our experience no sat nav system is perfect in this area, so don’t let this issue put you off.
One other minor niggle. There were a couple of times where we felt the Nuvi announced upcoming turns too early, which in a busy city centre could result in you taking an earlier turn by mistake. For the majority of our tests though we didn’t find this a problem, but worth noting nonetheless.

Part of us would like to think that we simply reviewed a dud model, but we ran into a few issues when we reviewed the Garmin Nuvi 775T earlier this year too, so we feel there are a few question marks over build quality recently, especially when you consider the price tag.

Summary

The Garmin Nuvi 1490T is a nice looking system that performs well as a navigation device. There are a few question marks over build quality though and we’re not convinced this is a good buy when you consider the price tag.

Our advice would be to shop around for something cheaper. If you don’t need the route planning or bluetooth then the Nuvi 1340T is quite a bit cheaper and worth a look.

Get a price on the Garmin Nuvi 1490T from Lemon Digital.

Garmin Announce Nuvi 1690

Dean — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:53:45 +0000

Garmin have recently announced the new Nuvi 1690. Probably the most notable new feature is a built-in wireless module which allows you to access online information like Google search, weather and fuel prices. Garmin have dubbed this nuLink, and it is similar to the TomTom Live offering on systems like the TomTom Go 740 Live.

This is an interesting move by Garmin, who obviously liked what TomTom were doing and decided to compete with their own offering. Unlike TomTom though, who only offer their Live services free for 3 months, following which you pay a monthly subscription, Garmin is offering their nuLink content free for the first year. Once the first year is up it costs 79 Euros per year to continue using nuLink.

One of the nuLink services being offered is Flight Status which gives you the latest information on arrival and departures. Quite handy if you’re on the way to the airport.

The Nuvi 1690 will offer cityXplorer pedestrian navigation, as well as lane assist, junction view, ecoRoute and photo navigation. It comes preloaded with Western and Eastern European mapping.

The Nuvi 1690 also includes Ciao!, a social network application that links multiple social network sites so you can share your whereabouts with friends. Ciao! makes it possible to see where your friends are and you can navigate to their current location. Again this is similar to the existing TomTom Buddies functionality.

The Nuvi 1690 is expected to be available from November 15th 2009. It is available for pre-order from Amazon.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mio Moov Spirit V735 GPS TV Review

Dean — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:17:20 +0000

The Mio Moov Spirit V735 is the first satellite navigation system to include a built-in Freeview TV tuner. The idea is an interesting one, there has certainly been convergence in the electronics industry of late, with devices serving multiple purposes. The V735 is another example of that.

You may also see this product described on various web sites as the Navman V735. This is a result of Mio acquiring Navman.

Specifications

The specifications can be summarised as follows:

7" colour touch screen
Freeview TV tuner
FM transmitter
MP3 and video player
600MHz processor
TMC: optional
Width: 196mm, Height: 105mm, Depth: 16mm, Weight: 320g
Micro SD slot

First Impressions

Opening the box we were surprised at the size of the V735, it is a beast compared to other sat nav systems we’ve reviewed. The 7’’ screen is certainly the biggest we’ve seen to date.

Despite the size it is relatively light at 320g. The V735 seems reasonably sturdy and looks well constructed.

On the left hand side of the device is a USB port. There is also a SD card slot, but disappointingly this is the micro SD variety, rather than the standard sized SD card you may use on other electronic devices.

On the right hand side of the device is a telescopic TV antenna. There is also an external antenna socket which can be used in areas with poor TV reception. Behind this external antenna socket is small plastic flap which hides the TV card. If you slide this flap back you can then slot in the TV card.

There is also a socket for connecting an TMC antenna and a DC In socket for charging the device from an optional AC charger (not included in box).

On the rear of the device is a small speaker which seemed to do an adequate job.

The following accessories are included in the box:

Car mounting bracket
Car charger
External TV antenna
USB cable
Remote control

Installation

Installation wasn’t a straightforward process. We just found the V735 too big for our liking. It is not easy to find a location on your windscreen to attach a device measuring almost 20cm across. You may find it difficult to find a spot that allows you to view the device without obstructing your vision of the road.

The windscreen mounting bracket is a pretty large piece of kit too, and although it does a good job of holding the V735 in place, it lacks the simplicity and elegance of either the Garmin or TomTom suction cups.

User Interface

The user interface looks very similar to the Navman S100. This is not surprising since Mio now own Navman.

When we reviewed the Navman S100 we were not at all impressed with the GlideTouch interface. It was a pain to use and pretty much unusable.

Thankfully the V735 is an improvement. The screen is more responsive when gliding your finger over the screen, making it easier to move the screen up or down. It can still be fiddly at times though and there were times when the screen seemed unresponsive or lagged behind when we pressed the screen.

If you don’t like the glide interface then you can select button scrolling instead. When this option is selected a set of up and down arrow buttons appear on the right hand side of the screen

But we couldn’t understand why only a down arrow is provided on the main screen. This means if you move past the screen you intended, there is no button to move back to the previous screen. You have to cycle through all the remaining screens, get back to the beginning and start again. It does make you wonder how much usability testing is done with these devices prior to shipping.

Overall we still found the user Interface too fiddly to use and not as easy or intuitive to use compared to Garmin or TomTom systems we’ve reviewed. We’d like to see further improvements in this area.

Map Coverage

The following countries are covered.

Europe (23 countries): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican.

Navigation

Although we found the screen too big from an installation viewpoint, it does offer you a lot of real estate when viewing the maps on screen. We found the maps clear and easy to read.

GPS acquisition after first use is very quick. We were impressed with how quickly it locked onto a satellite.

We were disappointed by the route selection. It is blighted with the same issues as the Navman S100. This is not surprising given that is probably uses the same mapping software.

We use the same routes for all our sat nav reviews so we can form a benchmark and compare how each system performs. The V735 focuses too heavily on motorways. In our tests this resulted in a route calculation over 40 miles longer than an equally fast alternative route chosen by other systems we’ve reviewed.

The V735 offers several routing profiles, but none of them made any difference.

The only routing profile that resembled those of other sat nav systems we’ve reviewed was the shortest route profile, but being a shortest route profile it navigated us through all the back roads and housing estates and was not very practical.

The V735 now includes lane assist and junction views. This was a necessary move to allow it to compete with similar functionality offered by its rivals. It also offers an economical routing profile designed to compete with Garmin’s ecoRoute.

The junction view on motorways worked well. The V735 can also display the speed limit for the road you’re currently on, handy for avoiding a possible speeding ticket on unfamiliar roads. In our tests it did a good job of showing the correct road speed. Pre-loaded safety camera data is also included.

TV

The V735 includes a built-in Freeview TV tuner. Unfortunately we are unable to provide any feedback on this side of the device since we could not get a TV signal. Apparently the TV will only work in areas where the analogue signal has switched over to digital.

Summary

The Mio Moov V735 is an interesting device with potential although it still lags behind Garmin and TomTom, both in terms of usability and routing performance. We also feel this device is too big to use on a day to day basis as a navigation device.

The user interface and routing performance will need to be improved further before it can mount a serious challenge to either Garmin or TomTom.

Prices

Get a price on the Mio Moov Spirit V735 from Lemon Digital.

Compare Mio Moov Spirit V735 prices on Amazon.

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Edifier E3350 Speakers Review

Dean — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:19:41 +0000

Summary

They’re certainly not the best looking speakers out there, and sound quality may not be as high as some other Edifier systems we’ve reviewed, but those other systems are considerably more expensive than the E3350.

If you intend to use the Edifier E3350 as a set of desktop speakers for your PC then they are a pretty good option, but if you’re looking for something for your MP3 player we feel there are better speaker systems out there.

Buy these or similar speaker systems from Amazon.

The E3350 marks our 4th outing into the world of Edifier speaker systems, having previously reviewed the Luna 5, MP300 and Luna 2..

The E3350 are part of Edifier’s Life Style range of speakers. They are designed to be used either with a desktop PC system or standalone with a MP3 player.

First Impressions

Having reviewed several Edifier speakers before we had high expectations of the E3350 in the design department. Opening the box we were a little disappointed. The E3350 are not a bad set of speakers visually, but they don’t grab your attention like some of the other Luna speakers systems do.

The speakers themselves have a nice sturdy feel to them and are heavy enough to sit firmly wherever you place them. There is also a decent amount of audio cable provided to enable you to place the satellite speakers apart.

The speakers consist of a pyramid shaped subwoofer capable of delivering 32W, two 9W satellite speakers and a wired volume controller.

The speakers have dimensions of 96 (w) x 234 (h) x 118 (d) mm, which we found about the right size when used as a set of desktop speakers. If you want to use the speakers in a living room they are also small enough to fit away somewhere without taking up too much space.

The subwoofer itself measures 248 (w) x 199 (h) x 294 (d) mm, which again we found was small enough to tuck away under our desk.

The rear of the subwoofer provides an input for the wired volume controller, more on that later, a Line In for you PC or MP3 player, Speaker Out for connecting the satellite speakers, and finally a power input.

There is also a dial where you can adjust the amount of bass. We turned the bass up to the maximum level for our tests.

The E3350 includes a wired volume controller.

This volume controller has several advantages and disadvantages.

As a set of desktop speakers the volume controller works well. We could place the controller wherever we liked on our desk. We liked this setup, sometimes it can be difficult to reach over to volume controls directly on a speaker, especially if you those speakers are right at the back of a large desk.

We found the separate wired volume controller an advantage. We could place it in a suitable position where we could control the volume without moving from our chair. It is also small enough so that you don’t lose any valuable desk space.

On the downside the volume controller is connected directly to the subwoofer, again we didn’t find this a problem when the speakers are used with a desktop PC. But if you intend to use these speakers in a living room you may find the amount of cable between the subwoofer and the volume controller insufficient, depending on the audio setup you want. There is also no remote control.

For our first set of tests we connected these speakers to a desktop PC system and played a variety of tracks from our PC hard drive. We found the sound loud and clear, sufficient to fill a room.

We then connected an iPod to these speakers and compared the sound again. We observed quite a bit of distortion in the bass department. Vocals also lacked the clarity we’ve seen from other iPod speakers we’ve reviewed.

Placing the E3350 speakers side by side our set of Cygnett Unison speakers we could clearly hear the E3350 struggle in comparison, although the Cygnett Unison are considerably more expensive.

Summary

They’re certainly not the best looking speakers out there, and sound quality may not be as high as some other Edifier systems we’ve reviewed, but those other systems are considerably more expensive than the E3350.

If you intend to use the Edifier E3350 as a set of desktop speakers for your PC then they are a pretty good option, but if you’re looking for something for your MP3 player we feel there are better speaker systems out there.

Buy the Edifier E3350 speaker system from Amazon.

Technical Specifications

Power output : RMS 2 x 9W + 32W subwoofer
Signal to noise ratio (amplifier) : 85dBA
Gross Weight: 5 kg

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Edifier Luna 2 Speakers Review

Dean — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:19:10 +0000

The Luna 2 marks our 3rd outing into the world of Edifier speaker systems, having previously reviewed the Luna 5 and MP300.

The Luna 2 are a set of USB speakers for connecting to a desktop PC system. They also include 3.5mm stereo and optical fibre inputs which means you can connect other devices to the speakers like an MP3 player.

First Impressions

Having previously reviewed the Luna 5 and MP300 speaker systems we knew that Edifier has a flair for designing speakers that make a statement and stand out from the crowd.

The Luna 2 continues this trend, resembling the looks of its larger sibling the Luna 5.

Out of the box the Luna 2 speakers looked good, they were solid and well constructed. Weighing 2kg each they are certainly the heaviest desktop PC speakers we’ve used.

The speakers have dimensions of 194 (w) x 195 (h) x 118 (d) mm, so they are quite chunky, but fitted well on our desk either side of our LCD monitor.

The rear of the speakers provide a USB port for connecting to your PC, as well as a Line In socket for plugging in an MP3 player.

The speakers pack a punch too with a Class D amplifier producing 50W of power. This kind of power is probably too much when sitting right in front of the speakers, but they’re good if you want to setup a music system from your PC.

We found the sound as good as the Luna 5 we’ve previously reviewed. We hooked up an iPod and cranked the volume up and let it bang out a couple of hours of solid dance music and it didn’t disappoint, although again the Cygnett Unison speakers we’ve previously reviewed produce a better performance in the bass department.

The Luna 2 has an interesting set of controls when playing music via a media player on your PC. You can swipe your hand from left to right over the volume controls and it will fast forward to the next track, swipe your hand the other way and you can rewind to the previous track. If you place your hand over the controls for a few seconds you can also turn the speakers on and off.

We found this control setup interesting but thought it was more of a gimmick, we’re not sure people would find it really useful. It’s nice to see a company experimenting in this area though and trying to produce a device that is a bit different.

Summary

The Luna 2 continue the trend of other Edifier products. They look great and deliver very good sound overall. Our only concern is the price. The cheapest we’ve seen them available is around £200. At this price it could encourage buyers to look for cheaper alternatives.

If you’ve got the cash and want some powerful desktop speakers then these are worthy of a closer look.

Technical Specifications

USB 2.0 PC speaker
CapSense touch-sensitive user controls
Input Type: USB, 3.5mm stereo or optical fibre
Solid cast alloy in the base
Class D 50W amplifier
Total Power Output : RMS 30W x 2
Dimensions: 194 (w) x 195 (h) x 118 (d) mm
Net Weight: 4.0kg

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Cygnett GrooveTransmit iPod FM Transmitter Review

Dean — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:19:11 +0000

This review looks at the GrooveTransmit FM transmitter from Cygnett. This small gadget allows you to play your iPod or other MP3 player through your car FM stereo.

Main Features

Play your iPod or iPhone music and audio books through your car FM stereo
Easy auto-tuning technology finds the best FM frequency for optimum sound
Strong & flexible gooseneck cradle for secure & adjustable positioning
Automatically charges and connects iPods and iPhones – no batteries required
LCD display for easy night viewing
Plug in other MP3 Players or Mobile Phones via 3.5mm Audio in Socket
Stores up to 4 of your most used Channels
Wide transmission range (88.1 – 107.9MHz)

Box Contents

This is what the box looks like.

Opening the box reveals the following:

Cradle
Gooseneck for plugging into cigarette lighter socket
Audio cable
Quick start guide

Installation

Setup of the GrooveTransmit firstly involves adjusting the cradle to match the size of your iPod or other MP3 player. The cradle looks like this.

On each side of the cradle are up and down arrows which can be used to select an FM frequency. There is also an auto-tune feature where it will automatically select an available FM frequency on your car stereo.

There are 4 preset buttons for storing favourite frequencies. These can come in useful when driving along if a radio station starts to interfere with the transmission, you can switch to another preset frequency.

At the bottom of the cradle is an audio in socket, using the supplied audio cable you plug your iPod or other MP3 player into the cradle.

At the top of cradle are two small foam pads for keeping your iPod or MP3 player in place. These foam pads retract out as follows to accommodate different sizes of MP3 player.

In the centre of a cradle is a small circular pad which is adjusted from the back of the cradle. This is used to further hold the MP3 player in place.

The back of the cradle looks as follows. There is a small release button for adjusting the foam pads on the front of the cradle. There is also a small turn button for adjusting the circular centre pad mentioned above.

At the bottom of the cradle is a slide in socket for connecting the gooseneck.

Setup of the GrooveTransmit was so far so good with our iPod held firmly in place. Installation in the car was another matter though.

The first problem we found is that the gooseneck was too big for our cigarette lighter socket. We found it a very tight fit, in fact when we tried to remove the gooseneck it literally pulled out the cigarette lighter socket with it.

We’ve tested numerous other gadgets in the same car, such as sat nav devices, and never encountered this type of problem before.

The second issue to bear in mind is that device is not really suited for vehicles where the cigarette lighter socket is next to the gear stick.

In our car it was very difficult to change gear with the GrooveTransmit in place. We tried moving the GrooveTransmit in various different angles but could not find a decent position where you could safely operate the gear stick.

This device is best suited for vehicles where the cigarette lighter socket is positioned on the dashboard, as shown below.

Even though this device wasn’t suited for our vehicle, we were still able to test it out.

The auto-tune feature worked first time. The GrooveTransmit selected an available frequency, we tuned our car FM stereo to the same frequency and we were then able to listen to our iPod. Sound quality was excellent with no interference.

Summary

This is an interesting looking device that works well, but if the cigarette lighter socket in your vehicle is anywhere near the gear stick then we’d recommend not buying it.

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Ricoh CX1 Digital Camera Review

Dean — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:10:16 +0000

For the last few weeks we’ve been testing out the Ricoh CX1 digital camera which is one of the new additions to the Ricoh camera range.

Features

The key features of the Ricoh CX1 are as follows.

9.29 megapixels
7.1x zoom lens featuring a focal length in 35mm format equivalent to 28-200mm
Movie mode
Vibration reduction function
Face recognition
Macro shooting at 1cm
Continuous 4fps shooting mode
Dynamic range double shot function
Multi-pattern auto white balance
Multi-Target AF
Easy mode for beginners
3 inch LCD display
Edit pictures directly on camera

Looks

Out of the box the Ricoh CX1 looks well constructed and feels solidly built. It looks like the type of camera that could survive a few knocks. It is compact too measuring just over 101mm wide and 28mm wide, just about the right size to fit in your hand. Weighing in at only 180g it is also light and easy to carry around.

The top of the camera features a function dial where you can select various shooting modes, power and shutter release buttons and a small microphone.

The side of camera holds a small plastic flap, which when pulled back reveals a USB port and AV output terminal. There are two eyelets for attaching a camera strap.

On the underside of the camera is a sliding flap which tucked underneath holds a rechargeable battery and SD card. There is also a tripod screw hole.

The rear of the camera contains a 3 inch LCD screen. There is also a small joystick control which allows you to perform functions like toggling macro mode and changing the flash settings. There are also playback, menu, self-timer/delete and function buttons. A small speaker is located at the bottom right of the camera.

Usability

Overall the Ricoh CX1 seems well designed with just enough buttons to perform most common actions, but not too many to baffle beginners.

Time taken to switch the camera on and off is pretty quick, useful if you want to quickly snap a photo. Time taken to focus was fast too.

There are a few touches we like, including the image auto-rotate feature. If you view a photo in landscape and then rotate the camera 90 degrees, the photo will automatically shift into a portrait position.

When viewing photos there is an option to delete either a single photo or multiple photos, you can also delete photos within a given range by selecting a start and end photo. This can be useful for deleting multiple photos in a single batch.

The Ricoh CX1 includes a built-in spirit level which is designed to help you take level photos, rather than the camera pointing up or down. A visual display on the LCD screen indicates when the camera is level. We’re not convinced this is a useful feature, or that people will take much notice of this, but it is there if you need it.

The small joystick button on the back of the camera allows you to perform various functions:

Exposure compensation – this option allows you to compensate for photos that are either over or under exposed. You can dial in between +2.0 and –2.0 to increase or decrease the exposure. There is also a very useful histogram displayed on the screen.

Anyone who has used a DSLR camera is probably already aware of the histogram but it is nice to see it appearing in a point and click camera like the Ricoh CX1.

The histogram is basically a graph on the screen which you can use to determine if a photo is under or over exposed. You can then use this to adjust the exposure for your next photo.
White Balance – here you can use one of the preset WB modes: auto, outdoors, cloudy, incandescent lamp, fluorescent lamp or manual.
ISO – you can select IS0 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600.
Image Quality – you can select various sizes for your photos, from VGA up to 9 megapixels.
Focus – you can choose between AE/AF, AF, AE and Off. There is also a crosshair on the LCD screen which you can move with the joystick. This enables you to tell the camera which part of an image to focus on. Quite a useful feature if the camera won’t focus on the area you want.

There is a button on the back of the camera for viewing photos.

There is a display button which you can use to view more information about a photo. Pressing this button will display the exposure histogram, focal length, f-stop, shutter speed, ISO, flash mode and the date and time the photo was taken. Pressing the display button again allows you to view white saturation.

We liked this information screen and thought it was well designed, providing a quite overview of the photo metadata.

The camera supports an “easy” mode for simple point and click photos, plus there are manual options where you can customise some of the camera settings. These are obviously not on a par with the manual controls offered by a DSLR, but they do at least offer you some flexibility in getting the picture results you want.

Picture Quality

The lens supports a 35mm equivalent focal range of 28-200mm which should satisfy most people. There is also a digital zoom which can take you up to 960mm although it is quite fiddly to use. It also has a decent 1cm macro mode too.

Macro mode delivered some pleasing results with an excellent level of detail, even picking up the tiny indentations of an individual key on a computer keyboard as in this example.

Picture quality at both the 28mm and 200mm of the focal range was pretty good and seemed on par with other point and click photos we’ve used.

These two examples show photos at 28mm and 200mm respectively. These were taken out of the box using the default settings.

Noise was noticeable in low light conditions, and at the longer focal range the flash struggled to compensate. Although to be fair our test photos were merely point and click photos taken at the default ISO-200, hardly an ideal setting for low light. So it is worth experimenting with the settings to get better results.

These two photo show picture quality with and without the flash.

Summary

The Ricoh CX1 looks solidly built, has a decent set of features and on the whole is pretty easy to use. Picture quality out of the box is pretty good too and if you’re prepared to spend some time tweaking the settings then you can be rewarded with good results. Overall this is a pretty good camera with some nice touches.

We feel it is a little on the expensive side though for a point and shoot camera with prices around £270. At this price range it could encourage buyers to seek cheaper alternatives.

Buy the Ricoh CX1 from Amazon.

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Detailed Specifications

External Dimensions
101.5 mm (W) x 58.3 mm (H) x 27.9 mm (D)
Weight
Approx. 180 g (excluding battery, SD memory card, strap), Accessories approx. 23 g (battery, strap)
Number of pixels
9.29 megapixels
Image Sensor
1/2.3-inch CMOS
Interface
USB 2.0 (High-Speed USB)
Lens Focal length
f=4.95-35.4 mm (equivalent to 28-200 mm for 35 mm film cameras. With Step Zoom set, option of seven fixed lengths: 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm, 135 mm, and 200 mm)
f-aperture
F3.3 (Wide) – F5.2 (Telephoto)
Zoom Magnification
Optical: 7.1x zoom (equivalent to 28-200 mm focal length for 35 mm cameras)
Digital: 4.8x up to 34.1x (equivalent to 960 mm) when used with optical zoom
ISO Sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity)
AUTO, AUTO-HI, ISO80 / ISO100 / ISO200 / ISO400 / ISO800 / ISO1600
White Balance Mode
AUTO / Multi-Pattern AUTO / Outdoors / Cloudy / Incandescent / Incandescent 2 / Fluorescent / Manual, White Balance Bracket Function
Flash
Built-in flash mode
Auto (during low light and when the subject is backlit), Red-eye-Reduction, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off
Built-in flash range
Approx. 20 cm – 3.0 m (Wide), approx. 25 cm – 2.0 m (Telephoto) (ISO Auto/ISO 400, from the front of the lens)

Flash compensation
+/-2.0EV (1/3EV Steps)
Shooting Mode
Auto Shooting Mode / Easy Shooting Mode / Dynamic Range Double Shot Mode / Continuous Shooting Modes (Continuous, M-Continuous Plus, Ultra-High-Speed Continuous) / Scene Modes (Portrait / Face / Sports / Night Portrait / Landscape / Nightscape / High Sensitivity / Zoom Macro / Skew Correction / Text) / My Setting Mode / Movie Mode

Edifier MP300 2.1 Speaker System Review

Dean — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:54:32 +0000

The MP300 are the second set of speakers we’ve reviewed from Edifier, having previously reviewed the Luna 5.

The MP300 is a set of portable 2.1 speakers suitable for a laptop, notebook or MP3 player. It comes with a slim subwoofer, 2 satellite speakers and a protective carry case.

Technical Specifications

Total Power Output: L/R: RMS 3.5W x 2
SW: RMS 15W
Frequency Response: L/R 230Hz-20 KHz
SW 45Hz-200Hz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >=85dBA
Input Ports: 3.5 mm stereo line in
Bass Unit: 2” woofer, Magnetically Shielded, 4 ohm
Tweeter: 1.5” Magnetically Shielded, 4 ohm
Input Voltage: DC 12V (positive inside/negative outside)

First Impressions

Out of the box the MP300 looked a stylish set of speakers. It comprises a brushed metal aluminium tube 9 watt subwoofer, two globe shaped satellite speakers with metal weave speaker grille, protective carry case, power supply and audio cables.

The subwoofer had a nice solid feel to it and looked well built. Both speakers are lightweight, with one featuring an on/off button and volume controls.

Setup was straightforward. You just connect the MP300 to your laptop or notebook, position the speakers as you want, then plug into the power supply. Once setup the speakers looked nice.

Using our laptop we noticed a definite improvement in sound quality over the built-in speakers on the laptop. Audio was clearer with the subwoofer delivering a deeper bass. We got similar results using a notebook too.

The speakers are not overly powerful though, and once we hooked them up to an iPod the lack of power was noticeable. These speakers are not really a match for a pair of dedicated iPod speakers like the Luna 5 or Cygnett i-X5. There is no docking cradle either to charge your iPod.

The MP300 also comes with a sturdy zip-up protective carry case so you can transport the speakers around with you.

Summary

After reviewing the Luna 5 and now the MP300, it is clear Edifier like to produce audio equipment that is stylish and stands out from the crowd.

We personally wouldn’t recommend the MP300 as a set of iPod speakers unless you’re on a really tight budget, they lack sufficient power and bass.

But for laptop or notebook users who want a better audio experience than the built-in speakers that a laptop or notebook provides, the MP300 would be a good choice, and with prices around £50 they are not bad value either.

Buy the Edifier MP300 2.1 portable speaker system from Amazon.

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Edifier IF500 Luna 5 iPod Speaker Review

Dean — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:02:31 +0000

The Luna 5 marks our second outing into the iPod speaker market, having previously reviewed the Cygnett i-X5 speakers.

Before delving into the review this is how the specifications stack up.

Technical Specifications

Suitable for iPod, iPhone and MP3 players, charges iPod when docked
Five driver speaker system. Magnetically shielded 14.6cm woofer, two 7cm midrange drivers and two 6.3cm tweeters
Total power output: 55W
Digital FM radio tuner with preset stations
Aux input for MP3 players
Remote control with full function iPod control and navigation
Headphone Jack
Integrated Amplifier
Dimensions: 24.5 cm(D) x 39cm (H) x 40cm (W)
Weight: 5.4kg

First Impressions

Out of the box the Luna 5 speakers felt solid and well built. The large round speaker with a dark black shiny exterior is certainly different from other speaker systems we’ve reviewed. Setup in the office it certainly grabbed our attention.

The Luna 5 speakers are pretty big too, measuring 39cm tall and 40cm wide. If you want some speakers that will get noticed in your living room then these are a good choice, but for a smaller place like a bedroom then make sure you have enough space for the speakers first.

Installation was a hassle free process. Simply plug the speakers into the mains, slot the appropriate plastic adapter into the dock that matches your iPod, slot the iPod into the dock and away you go. The dock will also charge your iPod. The dock is also compatible with an iPhone.

The Luna 5 includes a decent sized remote control which you can use to fully control your iPod. We found the remote easy to use and much better built than the one supplied with the Cygnett i-X5 speakers we reviewed.

With the volume cranked up the Luna 5 speakers performed well with no noticeable distortion. The 14.6cm woofer, two 7cm mid-range drivers and two 6.3cm tweeters delivered a pleasant sound.

The speakers are not quite as powerful or produce the deep bass we experienced when reviewing the Cygnett i-X5 speakers, but unless you’re going to crank the volume right up you probably won’t notice. For day to day listening the Luna 5 should serve you well.

It may not be the best kid on the block with regard to bass, but it does include an integrated FM radio tuner which was a nice addition. We would like to see some improvements in this area though.

The radio controls can be a bit fiddly to use, programming in the presets is not very intuitive, but once setup the radio worked fine. Signal strength for our nearest local radio station was good, although it did not tune into as many stations as we were expecting, so if you live in an area with iffy reception it may struggle.

The LCD display is very basic too looking more like a device built in the 1980s, perhaps that was a deliberate design move on the part of Edifier.

The radio also lacks an RDS tuner which means it is unable to display the name of the radio station you’re listening to. With only a number on the LCD display giving us a visual clue to what radio station was tuned in, it was a bit of shame.

Summary

The Luna 5 speakers sport an interesting shape that is designed to grab your attention. The speakers are big, well built and produce good sound overall, maybe not the best in the bass department, but more than acceptable for day to day use. With prices currently around the £150 mark it is not a bad price.

If you’re looking for some speakers that stand out from the crowd then take a closer look.

Buy the Edifier Luna 5 speakers from Amazon.

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