Sony Reader Update

Here at the Canadian Reviewer we are big believers in the possibilities of E-ink technology and eBook and eReader devices like Sony’s Personal Reader System and Amazon’s infuriatingly Insular and unavailable Kindle. These devices do one thing simply and well, they allow you to carry and read hundreds of books in electronic format – saving entire forests of tress and cutting down substantially on packaging, transport and storage resources. We’re happy to report that Sony is taking this initiative seriously – slowly adding more content to its eReader store (still limited to US and Canada based users with stores in France and England opening up soon) and it continues to launch new devices. More on the Sony Reader after the jump. The latest Sony Reader, named the PRS-700, integrates touch controls for navigating pages, the ability to highlight text as well as make notes with a stylus. It also comes with a built in reading light which illuminates the surface in those less-than optimal lighting situations. At US $399, it is a hundred dollars more expensive than the current model, the PRS-505, which we have in our labs and have been using extensively. In other news, Amazon’s next Kindle device has been leaked in a series of pictures. The new Kindle seems to have improved on certain aspects like the built-in keyboard but is still awkward. Amazon’s big win is that its device works wirelessly so you can buy books without a computer, its biggest failure is that it is only enabled for US users so even if it has access to more books it still serves a limited amount of users and does not have a global presence. We advocate electronic books, their portability, reduced footprint and cheaper prices. We only hope this movement gains ground as people begin to see the value of eco-friendly book production.

Click to read more ...

Nikon D60 – Prosumer and Pro Fun - Review

Nikon has been very busy these past two years securing their foothold in the consumer and prosumer DSLR market. Its popular D40 line of cameras introduced DSLR photography to legions of non-professionals and made it easy for them to take amazing photographs. More after the jump. As a replacement to the famed D40 line, the D60 offers all the benefits of the Nikon system but adds a number of fun features to make photography less technical and much more enjoyable. Nikon’s focus for this segment of the DSLR market is on creativity rather than technical expertise and we believe this will attract even more users to the D60. Rocking a 10.2 Megapixel resolution, a new lens, an innovative dual dust reduction system and enhanced performance features like an orientation sensor for horizontal/vertical shooting, the D60 is well on its way to being the new crowd favorite. Nikon listened to its users and made a list of features and improvements that went into the D60. While the camera body of the D60 is very similar past models, the included lens seems a bit bigger. This is because the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G lens now comes with vibration reduction technology that ensures fewer blurred photos and missed opportunities. There is also an eye sensor that saves the batter while the LCD turns on or off when it senses the proximity of the users eye. Fun features abound in the D60 and include a number of photo color and effect filters that simulate the more expensive screw-on versions and a stop-motion movie mode that stitches 100 JPEGs into short movies for an interesting time-lapse effect. The D60 utilizes Nikon’s aptly named EXPEED technology to maximize image quality and processing speed. The camera also offers creative features that are designed to allow the optimization and adjustment of images without the need for a computer. Image optimization is achieved through functions like Active D-Lighting (which compensates for strong shadows), and the automatic correction of false eye color when using the built-in flash. With its software, Nikon has essentially removed the tedious process of altering images with programs like Adobe Photoshop and given users the ability to create interesting images on the camera before they even reach a computer. We have used the Nikon D60 and its sibling, the D40 here at The Canadian Reviewer for the past two weeks and love the ease of use, sturdy build quality and the amazing pictures we've been able to take. The D60 is a very capable DSLR which is thoroughly enjoyable to use and is perfect for those who are seriously considering getting into DSLR photography for the first time. The D40 may be simpler but it would be a better choice for a first time DLSR buyer. Black's Photography recently had the D40 body on sale for $329. Canadian - a great bargain for a great camera. Inheriting a lot of the technology found on more expensive DLSRs, the Nikon entry level DSLRs D40 and the D60 offer first time buyers a great package and many easy ways to take amazing pictures while learning the intricacies of DSLR photography.

Click to read more ...