Nikon D3000s pre-orders!
July 31st, 2009
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Nikon’s friendliest D-SLR ever Motion
Archive
Archive for July, 2009
Lawn and Garden Tools - The unexpected Pollutants
July 28th, 2009
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electric lawn mowing
Most people don’t think twice about mowing and weed eating but did you know that according to the EPA, mowers, weed eaters and other such lawn/garden tools account for up to 5% of the nations air pollution? This is not surprising when you consider the fact that over 80% of all homes mow and/or weed eat their grass. This adds up to over 50 million homes using 800 million gallons of gas each and every year! The problem is that these tools have not been regulated so unlike vehicles, there are no current fuel efficiency standards. This means that the engines in current use are highly inefficient and have changed very little over the years. The good news is that new laws set to take effect by 2011 will mandate that such tools cut emissions by 35%. This is a good start but more can be done.
The fact is that most lawns are between 1/5 to 1/3 of an acre, hardly enough to warrant a riding mower or even a gas push mower. Such a lawn can easily be mowed by either a corded or cordless electric mowers. However, most people don’t even consider them because most big box stores put a much higher emphasis on selling the traditional gas mower. Have you ever even seen a battery powered lawn mower at Home Depot or Lowes? I know I haven’t so I was surprised to learn that there are quite a few models available that have all the power of a regular gas powered mower at comparable prices. So when it comes time to replace that old mower will you make the green choice? Learn more about electric lawn and garden tools at Greenegarden.org.
Categories: Environment, Tech, Tools electric lawn mowing, energy efficient lawn mower, green mowing
More on the Best Low Light Digital Cameras
July 25th, 2009
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It is a rare point and shoot digital camera that can capture high quality low light photographs without a flash. Interestingly enough, it is not so rare that customers demand this feature from their newly purchased cameras. In fact, a recent Consumer Reports poll revealed that nearly 30% of point and shoot digital camera owners often find the need to take low light shots without a flash. Yet over 20% of them were not satisfied with their camera’s capability to capture such shots. Furthermore, nearly 75% of those polled said it was very important that their next camera be able to take good quality low light shots.
Despite such demand, only 4 of the 54 point and shoots Consumer Reports recently tested can be categorized as being able to take good quality low light shots. In an earlier article, we revealed one of Consumer Reports best low light digital cameras (You can read more on it here). Here is a list of additional cameras Consumer Reports found capable of taking a good low light shot.
And the Winners Are :
Best Value - Nikon Coolpix L20. Not only do you get the Nikon name, you get it at a bargain price. Despite the low price, you get a HIGH ISO value (1600), a good 3.6X optical zoom lens and plenty of mega pixels for stunning prints. If price is your main concern, the Nikon Coolpix L20 makes for the best low light point and shoot on the market . If you want the lowest price, we suggest Amazon. Click Here to View Camera at Amazon.
Highest ISO - Nikon Coolpix S620. This camera had the highest ISO value (6400) of the group. With this camera, you will take shots you previously thought were impossible. In addition to high ISO, you get more 12.2 mega pixels and a 4X optical zoom lens so you can take amaizingly detailed low light shots. This camera costs $100 more than the CoolPix L20 but you do get 4X the ISO which means 4X the low light capturing capabilities, slighly more zoom and 2.2 more mega pixels. If you want the lowest price on this camera, again we recommend Amazon. View This Camera At Amazon.
2009 Low Light Point and Shoot Cameras Tested by Consumer Reports. Ordered by Price
Nikon Coolpix L20
 Nikon Coolpix L20 |
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The Coolpix L20 is the lowest priced out of this bunch, yet it adjusts up to ISO 1600 so you can keep on shooting even in lower light. This is by far the best value of the bunch. It comes with the high quality of Nikon and has the best cost to ISO ratio.
Features:
- 10.0 Megapixels for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
- 3.6x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens
- EXPEED Image Processor ensures high-quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness
- Huge, Bright 3.0-inch High-Resolution LCD
- Motion Detection automatically controls the shutter speed and ISO settings
Kodak Easyshare M1093
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Despite the low price, the M1093 has a respectable ISO 800 capabilities which will give you good low light shots. Not quite as good as more expensive higher ISO cameras but still better than the majority of point and shoots. While the price is relatively low, it has a low ISO value. The
Features:
- 10.1Megapixel Effective - 10.3Megapixel Total resolution
- 3x optical, 5x digital zoom
- 3″ lcd screen
- Secure Digital (SD) Card, Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Card
Nikon Coolpix S620
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High ISO 6400 Capability gives you sharper results when shooting in low light or capturing fast-moving subjects.
Features:
- 12.2 Megapixels for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
- 4x Wide-Angle Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens
- EXPEED image processor ensures high-quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness
- Incredible, Bright 2.7-inch High-Resolution LCD
- Nikon’s Optical VR Image Stabilization compensates for the effects of camera shake with elements built into the camera’s lens
- Motion Detection automatically detects moving subjects and adjusts the shutter speed and the ISO setting to compensate for camera shake and subject movement
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37S
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37S has High ISO Sensitivity Mode : Auto(1600 - 6400). This is another camera that will give high quality low light images.
Features:
Best Laptop for Around $300
July 23rd, 2009
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Finding a good sub $300 can be tough. There are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Outside of some Black Friday deal, just about every sub $300 laptop is going to be a Netbook style. Before you jump into one of these however, pay close attention to what you are getting.
There have been several new models that while they boast a very low price, you do not get Windows XP. These ultra low priced machines are sold with a version of Linux. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it is best to avoid these unless you are somewhat familiar with that Operating System. That being said, there are some low priced Windows XP Netbook laptops that can be had for under $300. One thing to watch for is that you will need to purchase a separate external DVD/CD drive. This will drive the price up to around $350. View More Laptops/Netbooks for around $300
Best Value Laptop for Around $300: Compaq Presario 15.6″ CQ60Z . Unlike the Netbooks, this is a full and complete laptop. In fact, this laptop is actually cheaper when you factor in a purchase of external DVD/CD burner on a Netbook. Now this laptop is normally $450 but right now you can get $100 the purchase price on the base configuration at HP. Click Here for $100 off the Compaq Presario 15.6″ Laptop
Brand Name Netbook/Laptops Around $300 With Windows XP
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The Acer Aspire AO751h-1192 11.6″ Netbook is
excellent Windows XP preloaded Netbooks in the sub $300 segment. In fact, it was
selected #2 Best Buy in the Consumer Reports Netbook tests. This little laptop
is plenty powerful, with its Intel Atom 1.6Ghz processor, to run just about any
Windows application. In addition, it comes with 1 gig of Memory and a 160 gig
hard drive, so there is plenty of space to store multi media files like movies,
music and pictures. Another nice thing about this machine is that it has the
largest viewing screen in this segment. Of course, like all Netbooks, it is
light weighing in at only 3 pounds. Despite this small size, it features a
market leading battery life of 7 hours. Note that like all Netbooks, it does not
come with a CD/DVD rom drive so one must be purchased separately. Even with that
added cost, this excellent laptop is still one of the cheaper ones on the
market. If you are not familiar with Acer, it is one of the top market share
gaining PC makers for 2009, so don’t be afraid to pull the trigger on this one.
Features:
- Genuine Windows XP
- 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom Processor
- 1 gig DDR2 SDRAM
- 160 Gb Hard Drive
- 11.6″ Screen
- 3 USB ports
- Multi Media Card reader
Compaq Presario 15.6″ CQ60Z
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The Compaq Presario 15.6″ CQ60Z a complete all
around Windows Vista laptop. Unlike Netbooks, the CQ60Z is complete with a DVD
rewritable drive and a full 15.6″ viewable screen. This machine also comes with
a 2.1 ghz AMD processor and 2 gigs of DDR ram so there is a lot more power in
this Compaq than in any Netbook on the market. The Compaq offers tremendous
value over any Netbook because the base configuration from HP comes with
everything that a Netbook offers and more. Of course, you can add other options
if you wish making it more expensive, but a BASE configuration would be the way
to go. HP is currently discounting this machine with a $100 instant rebate so no
other coupons will apply
Features:
- Windows Vista
- 2.1 Ghz AMD Sempron Processor
- 2 gig DDR2 SDRAM
- 160 Gb Hard Drive
- 15.6″ Screen
- Lightscribe rewritable 8x DVD +/-RW
- Weighs 6.57 pounds
mini masseuse to cope with daily stress
July 19th, 2009
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It’s a known axiom that we all have stress and life involves stressful situations. There are stressors everywhere some of which really take a toll on us and others which we can handle easily and with nearly zero affect on us. Stress can have both negative mental and physical effects on us to the point where our defenses get lowered and we are more prone to disease including heart attack, stroke, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, ulcers, and poor teeth health (grinding due to nerves).
How to master your stress can mean the difference between success and failure. While this is a general way of looking at stress, it pretty much boils down to how you handle stress and how you let stress affect your decisions and your daily outlook on things.
There are a few things you can do to control stress and keep it at bay during difficult times:
1. Convert bad stress into good stress
This may sound strange but if you take a potentially negative situation and turn it into an opportunity, you have done just that! You have taken bad stress and changed it to good stress.
2. Work on breathing
Breathing!? Yes breathing! Slow deep breaths can help your concentration and you could become less accident and poor decision making prone. Use a technique called diaphragmatic berating. This involves slow deep and rhythmic breaths.
3. Attitude
How you perceive things can make a big difference on the end result. If you think you are going to do poorly, then you have already lost.
4. Stay healthy
This includes diet, relaxation, and exercise. Join a gym if you have time or take up jogging or even some home training can help improve your physical and mental health. Take a look at this portable masseuse for less than $60.00.
5. Put things into perspective
Often times stress can make our problems seem much bigger than they really are. If you put things into perspective, you may find while problems still exist, they are not as bad as you first thought they were.
Overall, learning to control stress can greatly improve lifestyle and overall well being.
Teen Safety and Cell phone texting - Recover Deleted Text Messages
July 8th, 2009
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You have just purchased your teen a brand new cell phone, or perhaps they have had one for quite some time, but do you know who they are talking to and texting? Chances are, they know much more about the workings of their cell phone than you so they are probably one or several steps ahead of you when it comes to you spying on their phone usage. If your teen is texting inappropriate messages, they are probably deleting them long before you sneak into their room to look at their phone. Maybe you even have surprise cell phone audits from time to time but again, your teen is probably way ahead of you and deleting any and all messages they do not want you looking at. Yet another possibility is that you trust your teen and you are sure they are not doing anything illicit with their phone, but are you sure? Consider these statistics, nearly 40% of all teen cell phone users are sending, receiving or posting sexually suggestive messages. 20% of all teen cell phone users are sending, receiving or posting nude or semi nude pictures of themselves. Of those 20%, nearly a quarter of them say they have sent such pictures to those they only knew online. Even if your teen is not sending messages of sexual nature, nearly 50% of them admit to having received them.
With these statistics in mind, how do you find out if your teen is engaging in such texting activities when chances are they are already deleted? Unfortunately most phones do not support recovering deleted text messages directly from the phone. Fortunately, there is good news because incoming and outgoing text messages are written to the phones sim card so just like a PC, the text messages can still be recovered from the sim even after they are deleted. So as long as the phone has a sim, you can still get to this data provided you have the right tool and software which up until recently, was unavailable to the public. Luckily, Brickhouse Security (the maker of the Brickhouse Child Locator featured on the Duracell commercials) has introduced the Cell Phone Spy. This handy little device/software combo, allows you to retrieve the majority of deleted data from a cell phones sim card. This device is so effective, that Brickhouse guarantees that you will be able to retrieve any and all deleted text messages that still reside on the sim. So if you have a teen would like to monitor their text usage more closely, this device is an absolute must. Click here to visit Brickhouse and learn more about this device.
Consumer Reports Best Low Light Digital Camera FinePix F200EXR
July 2nd, 2009
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Compare Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR Prices
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| Price: $364.00 | Price: $379.88 | Not Available |
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Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR
Click Here for more Low Light Digital Camera Info
Tired of those horrible low light digital pictures with your current camera? Well, Fujifilm has just the camera for you. Best of all, Consumer Reports tested it and prooved that the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR really does seamlesly adapt to just about any light situation. Unlike other cameras, you can take anything from bright light to low light pics without fiddling with the usual light settings. This camera has an extraordinary flexible image sensor that will seamlessly take those difficult low light pics.
The F200EXR has three operating modes which you can either set manually or allow the camera to control. The camera was tested by manually setting it to each of the 3 modes as well as letting it automatically select them. In high sensitivity mode, the camera captured the image with smooth texture, natural brightness and minimal noise. In wide dynamic mode, images showed subtle shades and details even in high contrast lighting. In high res mode, images contained great detail. Finally, in auto, the camera was more than capable at selecting the proper setting for different lighting situations.
All in all, this camera was quite adept at taking those pesky low light shots and still producing a great image. If you are in the market for a new digital camera, then this is one of the main things to consider as it is typically one of the weakest points in many other models. Click Here for more Low Light Digital Camera Info
Consumer Reports Shock Proof Olympus 10mp Stylus Tough 6000
July 2nd, 2009
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The Olympus 10 mega pixel Stylus Tough 6000 is one of the most rugged cameras on the market. Consumer reports recently tested this camera against the Olympus claim that this sub compact is shock proof and can sustain a 5 foot drop without adverse effects. To test this, the camera was repeatedly dropped from a height of 5 feet. Tests revealed that this camera is indeed quite shock proof. The camera functioned flawlessly after being dropped several times. In fact, the camera did not even show any major scratches or dents. That is not to say that the camera is indestructible, but it does show that it is quite rugged and will survive your average abuse just fine.
According to a recent CR survey, many customers cite the need for a rugged camera as one of their main requirements. So if you are active digital photographer, the Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 may be the camera for you.
Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 Best Price
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