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 Take
It Actual Size
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Personally.

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O LY M P U S
DesignedNo Do More?
Editorial
'Trs the season
As I look around my
workstation, it's not hard for
me to make up my tech wish
list. My dual-Athlon hot rod
is now several years old, so
a big ticket item would be a
new CoreZDuo or AMZ
powered computer. And why
don't we throw in a 21-inch
widescreen to replace that 1?-inch LCD clunker. Those
new 10-megapixel digital SLRs also look mighty
attractive. But then what good is a high-res camera
might not be able to afford a computer at home.
Attendees pay a nominal fee and spend a webkend
HUB
putting together a computer from scratch. The icing on D I W H L m
the cake is that they get to keep the computer. These V o l u n - ‘ I B xN u m b - “ t !
aren't full of the latest components, but they‘re usable, EDITORIAL
and the centre is always looking fordonations of used but Editor-ln~thlal David Tanaka
“Miami/AQE'M l com
not too ancient computers from individuals.
Managing Editor Enn Bell
The centre is also part of the Computers for Schools em. E w u o l s h x gu
program s e t up by the federal government in 1993. Editorial Contributora Sea n (Arruthers
Computer for Schools takes donations of old computers Gard Gable
Mike Palermo
from government and industry, refurbishes them and Lee Rickwood
Marc Saltzman
distributes them at no charge to schools. libraries and Chad Sapieha
non-profit learning organizations. Gene Wilbum

without a new wide-carnage photo inkjet? I don't really The tech industry ‐ and I include tech writers in this camp
need a new camera, printer or computer. but what did -‐ has a decidedly lopsided view of the world. The Advertising Sales
Salaa Hanagar Ralph Ventriglta
need ever have to do with it. continuous focus is on the latest, greatest. newest and ralch?;:uhhshmg,zz
I'm sure everyone out there has their own personal must‑ fastest. That's not a bad thing, but what we need to NationalAccount Executlva Marta Favot
N ‘ fl ; ppub'fihvngr:
have list. For we techies, even relatively inexpensive remind ourselves once in a while is that even old AdSales
things are welcome and appreciated ‐ software, games, technology is useful. Somewhere around the Pentium ONlARIU/TDRQNTQ Karim Rizk
hrmgcpum' sb can
ink cartridges. photo inkjet paper, CDblanks and memory Ill/P4 and Windows 2000/XP transition point, the pace of
MONTREAL Brian Hvl!:oat
keys for data storage and soft pens to label them without obsolescence slowed somewhat. There continue t r ) be brook-outlining;
WESIERN CANADA Vivian Jin
damagingthe foil. It's a life of riches big and small. advances, but a five year old P4 running WindowsXP isn‘t anfi'tSfitzi-shl‘rzfl
In stark contrast, I recently attended a meeting of a hampered by age nearly as much as a 488 running
IifelongJearning association. Its member organizations Win95 would have been when that P4 hit the scene. Business Group
Praaldant/Puhllahar Scott Pzeelo
are primarily non-profits and other organizations that In this season ofgiving and receiving, by all means make s:o:1’5;;u:I-shraga
work in what used to be broadly called social welfare: food your wish list long and robust ‐ and may Santa deliver it Art Director Steven Starter
stetess‘molsr- a; ca
banks, soup kitchens, substance abuse clinics, spousal all. But don't just stick that early P4 into a closet when the Production Managar Christie Swazi
abuse support groups, homeless shelters, immigrant new one arrives. There‘s still useful life in that silicon box c“.‐stte3p7.='sr: w i n
Production A u l n a n t Lil Van Der Wee
support groups, etc. One attendee ran a computer drop-in
centre. He said a broad spectrum of people used the ( i n behalf of everyone at HUBzfligital Living, I‘d like to wish Distribution Managar
‘ markstzpaL-‘shngca
centre. He'd often have small business operators that you all the best of the season. A big fat thanks to all our Offica Administrator l-lalen Rajaram
didn't have a clue about computers sitting next to street readers and advertisers for their support this past year. ma'enefinxel-sh war;
l'l' Man-gar Steve Uuinney
people ‐ and the exchange (of information and tech tips steteq‘ipmIlsa-mgr:
went both ways. ' '
One ofthe programs the centre runs is a “build your own Piccolo PublishingInc [ H i - i l i l o - l
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 Big prints from your snaps publisher wanted to use it as a double-page spread 1? inches across, and so
Viewing digital images is so easy. You can use just about any device with a needed the image to be around 23 megapixels.
screen. be it computer, TV set. portable multimedia player or cell phone. Coincidentally l was working with a program called PhotoZoom Pro 2.0,
1 Sometimes though, there's nothing like a big ol' prim to smack you in the from a developer named BenVista [www.benvista.com]. It uses an
I eye. I'm not talking about your measly 8x10 glossy, l mean big‐ asin poster interpolation technology called S-Spline XL. I ran the image through
size or even wall mural size. PhotoZoom and the results were impressive. Of course, clouds from space
Commercial photofinishers often provide this service. You’ll “need an tend to look soft anyways, so there's not a lot of crisp detail to degrade.
‘ original digital file with decent resolution. While it's possible to make a 3 x 4 However the NOAA had superimposed text labels and information panels
foot wall poster from an image taken with a camera phone, the results will over the photo, and even these remained readable after the 17x
probably be disappointing. enlargement. Often in interpolation. geometric forms like letters become
if you have a 1200 x1024 pixel image from a camera phone and blow it up misshapen in odd ways, but with PhotoZoom, although they got fuzzier, they
to a metre wide, those 1200 pixels that define the width become individually kept their recognizable shape.
quite big ‐ almost 1mm across ‐ and very visible. lf you want the pixels to
remain invisible to the naked eye, you need to keep them small, which
means you need more than 1200 pixels to fill up that metre of width.
This is where interpolation comes in. interpolation or “res-up' software
uses an algorithm to make intelligent guesses about what colour and tonal
values those made~up pixels should have. This can take a 1.2-megapixel
image up to two or four or eight megapixele ‐ or more, What's the catch?
Even though your image now has more pixels, what the interpolation
software can't do is create additional detail that wasn‘t there to begin with.
Those crime investigator TVshows where the lab guys take a few pixels from
the photo of a fleeing car three blocks away and magically reveal a license
number in ultra high-resolution is pure fiction.
Nevertheless, blow-ups done through interpolation work because you
normally don't look at a poster from a few inches, and at a normal viewing
distance of a couple of metres. the result can be pleasing. interpolation

subjects than others. There are several different interpolation algorithms,

each offering advantages for certain types ofcontent. Genuine Fractals, one
l of the early “res-up" programs, uses fractal math, and claims that because
fractals appear within natural structures, its fractal~based interpolation
works well for enlarging scenes containing natural elements ‐ a landscape
scene, for example.
I was recently asked by a publisher to work on an image of Hurricane Rita
from space, which it wanted to publish in a book. The original "hi-res' image
obtained from the USNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was
i just 1.3 megapixels, good for a 3x4 inch image in a book. However the

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| Acamcorders buyer guide in plain English
With the holidays rapidly approaching. it's a perfect time to invest in a
camcorder to capture those get-togethers with family and friends.
Adigital camera can do the trick to immortalize precious moments, but why
settle for a still image when you can shoot video and record audio, whether
it's young children ripping open presents. a toast at the dinnertable given by
grandma and grandpa or a baby's first steps followed by a roar of applause.
it's even worth capturing those incriminating scenes, such asa lampshade‑
wearing uncle who enjoyed the eggnog a little too much [there's one in every
family. no?].
Today‘s camcorders - which have gone digital, just like your camera ‐ are
ultra-compact and can record in stunning video clarity. And thanks to
computers. it's a cinch to edit your movie. burn a DVD or post the digital video
[DV] footage to a Web site.
If you’re in the market for anew camcorder. the following are afew features
to “shoot“ for:
Recording media
One of your first decisions will be how you want the footage to be saved in
the camera.
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Currently, the most popular digital format is still a digital tape, namely,
MiniDV. Resembling tiny cassettes. these tapes can store roughly 60 to 90
minutes of video [or 120 minutes on long play] and can be found easily
when traveling at hotel gift shops and convenience stores. They're also
relatively inexpensive to buy. You may also see camcorders that shoot on
HOV, which stands for high-definition video, referring to the ability to record
widescreen high-definition video [1280 x P20 pixels] onto a MiniDV tape
[more on high-def in a moment].
The second most popular format is recordable mini DVDs. Some users enjoy
the ability to pop the disc out of the camcorder and into a DVD player to
watch the footage right away [or into a PCto begin editingli But the
downsides to this technology is that they‘re still relatively expensive,
they‘re harder to find when traveling and they typically don‘t store as much
information as MiniDV tapes.
Newer camcorders may have a built-in miniature hard-drive to store up to
36 hours ofvideo [on a 30GB drive]. Because the hard drive isn't removable,
you must connect it to a PCto copy over the video before editing.
Another trend is camcorders that shoot to postage stamp-sized Flash
memory cards, but this recording format isn't too popular yet.
Keep in mind the recording format won't make too much of a difference in
the quality of the video and audio ‐ it‘s more ofa personal preference.
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DVcamcorders record footage through a "CCD" [Charged Couple Device],
which is made up of a number of little dots known as "pixels" ‐ not unlike
your digital still camera. The rule ofthumb is the higherthe number of pixels.
the better the video image will be.
One decision you need to make is whether you want to shoot video for a
high-definition television [HDTV], which means more pixels make up the
image, or astandard-definition television [SDTV]4 A related choice is whether
gou want to record in a boxg 4:3 aspect ratio (for older TVs) or in 16:9
widescreen aspect ratio.

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 A SDcamcorder usually records at a resolution of P20 x 480 pixels. which
looks about as good as a DVD on a standard television. AHDcamcorder may
shoot at 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080 pixels. filling up an entire widescreen
with beautifully detailed images.
Rule of thumb: if you own an HDTV or plan to buy one in the near future,
go with a high-definition camcorder, which usually starts at about 5799.
Be aware. though, if you want HDfootage on a standard TVyou will see bars
at the top and bottom of the picture. 0n the flipside, watching SDfootage on
widescreen television may look odd as it may stretch to fit the image on
the screen.
20011 St more
Most camcorders will have auto-focus [important for novices] and both
optical and digital zoom. Remember, optical zoom is the ‘true' zoom as the
lens will physically get closer to the object. while digital zoom merely
attempts to simulate a zoom by adding more pixels to the image. The higher
the optical zoom. the better. Usually, camcorders offer between 10x and 32x
optical zoom, which is more than enough for most users. Another important
feature to look foris "image stabilization' to prevent the image looking shaky
when you're zooming in on a subject from a far.
Other points to consider
Many consumer camcorders employ one CCD sensor to capture the three
colour channels (red, blue and green], while others offer a 3-CCD system, or
three separate charge-coupled devices, each one taking a separate
i‘l-BlDWUVhQ-TmSecdon - Decerrbergjos
measurement of red, green, and blue information. While there are other
factors to consider [quality and size of the sensor, for example], a 3-CCD
camcorder should yield a better picture than a 1-CCO camcorder.
lf taking still photos with your camcorder is important to you, be sure to
look for at least a 3-megapixel still camera feature [S-megapixels or more is
better), plus, make sure the camcorder has a built-in flash. Most camcorders
write the still photos to a memory card, which you can then pop up and
insert into a port on your PC. printer or external memory card reader,
PCediting software should ship with all digital camcorders ‐ or you could
always use the free Windows Movie Maker program built-in Windows XP‑
but how that video footage gets onto a PCwill vary from camera to camera.
Some use ‘FireWire' cables [a.k.a. IEEE 1394], while others use 058.
Transfer cables will often come bundled with the camcorder. Try to look for a
fast connection type [FireWire or USB 2.0 is preferred) so it'll transfer the
footage onto the computer quicker - roughly 40 times quicker than regular
USB 1.1. (Practically speaking. USB 1.1 is really too slow for video transfer.]
Your PCwill need the appropriate USB or FireWire ports ‐ Newer PCs use 058
2.0 ports, and a few PCmakers include Firewire on specific models.
With Macs you get iMovie as part ofthe included iLlfe software bundle, and
Macs also come with both USB 2.0 and Firewire ports.
Audio will be handled via an integrated microphone, which should do the
trick for most [some even record in 5.1 surround sound!), but more
advanced users might consider a camcorder with the option to add an
external microphone.
By Marc Saltzman
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 That’s a lotta camera for a thousand bucks Some point and shoot cameras implement what's often called “digital
if you are a photo enthusiast about to make the plunge into digital, or are image stabilization" This is a technique that boosts lSU so that the correct
I thinking of upgrading your point-and-shooter, $1,000 [give or take a few exposure can be made at a higher shutter speed ‐ which reduces the
hundred] will put some serious technology into your hands. This is the price amount of blurring caused by camera movement. When really clean
zone that attracts pros and advanced amateurs alike. A thousand bucks is high-ISO becomes a reality, this solution will be" one of the unique
noinsignificant chunk of money, but a couple ofyears ago, cameras in this contributions of digital to photography, but for now, mileage will vary.
category cost double that and had lesser feature sets. And a couple of years Standardized RGB, or sRGB is a universal colour space, recognized by most
before that, one large might have got you a premium point-and-shoot. devices like monitors, commercial print labs, TVsets, etc. With photo inkjet
Technology has definitely moved the mid-range digital SLR up a notch. printers now very affordable, you can make stunning prints in your home.
Most now have sensors of around 10 megapixels. Photographers will find The range of colours that wide-gamut photo inkjet printers can produce
high lSO shooting a more practical choice because camera makers have surpasses what gets defined in sRGB, so camera‘s that capture wide-gamut
made good progress in taming the digital noise that plagued high-ISO colour have benefits that aren't merely theoretical ‐ they are something you
settings in the past. This means images taken in low-light situations will be can observe with your own eyes in a high-end inkjet print. A popular wide‑
cleaner, resulting in fewer of those random, miscoloured pixels polluting
yourimages.
An inherent problem with SLRs is that when you change a lens, you are
opening the body cavity to all sorts of foreign matter like dust. With film
cameras, because each frame uses a fresh part of the film roll, a speck of
dust might affect just one frame. Since the sensor on a digital SLR is
permanently fixed, a single dust spot will affect every photo you snap until
you physically remove the dust by cleaning the sensor - a somewhat
delicate procedure.
Olympus pioneered a solution to the sensor dust problem with a high‑
frequency vibration solution called the Supersonic Wave filter. Now other
camera makers including Canon, Pentax and Sony have implemented sensor
dust mitigation solutions of their own. This is a welcome advancement for
anyone that freaks out at the thought of poking around inside the camera
[and the concern is well placed because you can do some serious damage
in there if you are not careful].
Another truly useful feature that is becoming more common in this class of
camera is mechanical image stabilization. This is accomplished either by a
floating sensor assembly within the cameraporfloatinglens elements within
a lens. Some manufacturers have implemented both. image stabilization
smooths out minor vibrations and tremors that would normally cause
blurriness in a photo. It means overall better hand-held shots. Pentax and
Sony have both implemented sensor-shifting image stabilization, others
manufacturers like Canon and Nikon have ISlenses, and notably, Canon has
had relatively affordable ISlenses for a few years.

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space aswell].
And speaking of Raw, this digital tower of Babel just keeps getting taller,
with every manufacturer pushing new versions of their own proprietary
formats. A big star goes to Pentax for at least paying lip service to
n Manny Back Guarantor: standardization by optionally supporting Adobe DNG [digital negative]. a
1 ernlnss nntlon royalty~free raw format that Adobe offered to the industry as a kind of
universal raw file format.
Brand loyalists will be happy to find competitive digital models from
their favourite camera makers. Even fans of Konica-Minolta, which exited
the digital camera business last year, will find a home for their Minolta
Armount lenses. Sony took over the SLR development that K~M had
begun, and so the A100 Alpha uses A-mount lenses. Samsung formed an
alliance with Pentax, so Samsung's SLRs use Pentax lenses. Olympus.
Panasonic and Leica are working together so each company's cameras
have some common technologies. including the Four-Thirds architecture
and lens mount system. The Leica Digilux 3, Panasonic DMC-Ll and
Olympus 5330 share a close family resemblance, although Leica and
Panasonic have priced their models quite a bit upmarket [both include a
very fine Leica zoom lens].
Here's what a grand will get you from the various manufacturers:
fi w h ‑

looks more like serious gear in contrast to the plasticky aesthetics of

earlier models. And it has a fine s e t of performance specs too, including
Canon's DIGIC lI image processor [same asonthe 300 and 50]. Like other
Canon SLRs, it uses a CMOS sensor [most other camera makers use
ECUS). It now keeps the sensor clean with ultrasonic vibration but also
uses software speck removal. And for big colour, it supports the
AdobeRGB colour space.

Nikon 000
Body only: 51169
Image size. 10.2 megapixel 3822 x 2592 Weight. 21 oz. [585 g]
When I picked up the 080, what first struck me is how small it is
compared to the 070 or 0200. Fans of Nikon's compact FM film SLR
family of yore may be able to relive that experience digitally with the
080. Some reviewers have compared the 080 favourably to the 0200 ‑
compromises include slower image processing and a less rugged body,

f r o m I OGfr: 1:03.46/11 with CD Dl D or Dl DR

from 13 'l1ini laptops to 17 ' H'Ide’ screens
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wwnhmm
accumulated a lot of CompactFlash memory cards, be aware that the
080 uses only SDcards.
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Pentax K100
Body only: $1100
image size: 10.2 megapixels 38?2 x 2592 Weight: 25 oz. [710 g]
Long anticipated by Pentax fans. the K100 has built in dust removal by n e w / y r ,120W \
what the company describes as a "fluorine coating on low pass filter." It Univers‘t'tlm
Laptop
pairs this with a sensor vibration system. That ability to shift the sensor
rapidly also figures in the camera‘s built-in mechanical image thlilfé-geries gageries Model # C126“
stabilization system. it also uses SDcards and supports Adobe DNG raw once a ones
format or Pentax raw format. The K100 has also been somewhat Cgmpaq 600 Searies Batteries D%n%t=laegt#0légj1r2%srs
ruggedized with weatherproof/dustproof seals.

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Sony A100 Alpha
SNDIIS'TI-T/WINX 14' TFTNIWI ZKOAG
Body only: $1099
Imagine size: 10.2 megapixel 3880 x 2600 Weight: 19 oz. [545 g]
Although Sony has been in the digital still camera [not to mention
camcorder] business for years, the A100 is its first interchangeable lens
SLR model. The A100 Alpha has uses a sensor dust removal Sony has
named "charge protection coating" plus a CCD vibration system. The P4M12-00AH1l512MB/
movable sensor array also allows the A100 to incorporate mechanical
4008 HDDICDllW+DVDI
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image stabilization through sensor shifting. Sony took over development
ofthe Alpha from Konica-Minolta. This may be good news for Minolta fans COUPAQ EVO 0510
as the Alpha uses Minolta A- mount lenses. Like a few other cameras in WMGHIIZSBMBIWGB HDDI
CDRW+DVDINICISNDM|NXP
the category. the Alpha supports the AdobeRGBcolour space. Uses
II
Olympus E330 and E500
“ N E W S “
Body only: $699 [5500]; $899 [E330] P4IZ0GH1§12MBI4OGB HDDI
Image size: 5 megapixel 3548 x 2?38 (£500) or 25 megapixel (E3301 ' c INICISND ‑
Weight: E-500: 15.3 oz. (435 gl; £330: 19 oz. [540 g]
At 7.5 and eight megapixels, Olympus's pair might seem a little
underpowered by others in this class, but the difference between eight truism/muslin“ Am
and 10 megapixels is a relatively small step, plus these cameras are “00/00 IC N05 ' momma
priced lower than the others“in this roundup, closer to what competitors
“91163318.“
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their SLRs too. Olympus pioneered features like the Supersonic Wave 3424
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 L i v i n gw i t h L i n u x
Gifts for a Linux User
t‘s the time of year for gift giving, but what can you get for the Linux user
in your life when nearly everything associated with Linux is free? It's a
l poser, all right, but not hopeless.Youjust need to be creative.
0

Books . , , _ Beginning
Although theres a plethora of online documentation avariable for all facets
of Linux. a good book still has charm and utility. Here are two
recommendations:

j,“n gammy Ubuntu Book, byBanfllilln Mako Hi“ and Others, Prentice Hall,
[NEE 0132435942 843 99 Whether you're a seasoned Linux user or a
Ubuntu Linux newbie. this very pleasant guide tousing Ubuntu'ISanideal From NOViCe 10Professional
companion for anyone following this series. It includes tips for fine-tuning
your Ubuntu system, such assetting up printers and making adjustments to
your desktop.
The Official Ubuntu Book is not an in-depth, complex technical guide; it‘s a
breezy introduction ‐ easy to read and understand ‐ and it highlights many
of the free software products that may be of interest. Best of all, it comes ‘ Akkana Peck
with a Ubuntu Linux CDthat can be used to try out Ubuntu directly from CD,
c r t o install Ubuntu on your computer of choice.

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 Beginning GIMP. From Novice to Professional, by Akkann Peck, Apress, the premier noise reduction programs on the market. Available for Windows,
ISBN 1590595874. $56.67 The GIMP [GNU Image Manipulation Program] is Mac, and Linux, it's a must for anyone who needs to tame noise or film grain
one ofthe best image editors available, and it's free. if your Linux friend is a
in their digital images. Although there are noise reduction plug-ins for the
keen digital photographer, the GIMP is probably his or her software of choice.GIMP that are free. none has the finesse and fine tuning available in Noise
It's a powerful package, rivalling some ofthe earlierversions of Photoshop. Ninja. Pricing ranges from USS34.95 for the home version to 0599.95 for
The problem with the GIMP is that it's big and complex. Getting the most out the Pro Bundle. A nice bonus is that a single license works on both sides if
of it takes study and Beginning GIMP is a fast track to getting proficient. you have a dual-boot machine.
From basic operations for improving digital photos, it proceeds to layer
modes, colour manipulation. masking, compositing, and writing simple
scripts and plugins. The book also covers features of the forthcoming GIMP
2.4 release.

Software
Software? Isn't all Linux software free? True. most of'it is, but there's also
some very:fine commercial software availablein Linux versions. Here are
two products I can highly recommend for digital photographers:
VueScan, scanning software available from Ed Hamrick
film scanners. It comes in t w o versions: Standard, US$49.95 and
Professional. USSBQ.95. If you're unsure which one to purchase, choose the
Standard. It can be upgraded later. Check Hamrick‘s website for scanner
hardware compatibility.
installed Linux" or Bawls Mints. high caffeine candy. This is the place for
geeky T-shirts, hats, pens, calendars and gadgets. Everyone should carry
around a digital WiFr detector/analyzer, don't you think? Happy holidays.
Friends of the Penguin!
By Gene Wilbum
[www.
Gene Wilbum is awriter/photographer living In Port Credit. Ontario. Hecan
be reached at genethiIburnca

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 D V , or- N o t D V
HD On SD: Sanyo Xacti VPC-HDla I controls are comfortably placed right where a thumb can easily reach. The
wmvsanyoca $900 Xacti easily slips in and out of a shirt pocket ‐ or in and out of its small
1 Effective pixel count: Approx. 5.1 megapixels docking unit used for hooking upto aPCor TV,
! cco: 1/2.5 inch, 5.38 megapixel CCU [total] Forsomethingso small, the gadget is packed with features, not the least of
2 Recording media.- SDmemory card which is the ability to record high'definition video (specifically, it records
3 Still pictures: JFEG. 0CF1, 0POF2, Exif Ver 2.23 720 progressive horizontal lines. a recognized H0 specification ‐ less than
! Video clips l50 standard MPEG-4 1080, but much better than standard 480~or~|ess line video].
Audio: AAc [48kHz, 15bit. 2 m ]
Max. till resolution: 3680 x 2750 [10 megapixel interpolated],
2592 x1944(5 mpxl]
Video resolution: High Definition 1280 x 720 [30fps, 9Mbps
or BMbps];
Standard Definition: 540 x 480 [EUfps/EMbps or 3Mbps];
Web (320 x 240 15fps]
Lens 10x optical zoom
Dimensions: 3.1 x 1.4 x 4.7 inches
Weight: approx. 8.3 oz
[including battery and a standard 50 card)

High-definition digital camcorders are moving quickly from the

professionalto the high~end prosumer, and now the mainstream
consumer marketplace. .
The tag 'lifestyle product‘ describes new devices for folks who
want the best video quality and the m o s t operational features
available all in as simple, lightweight and inexpensive a package
aspossible.
One of the reasons new camcorders fit this category is that
they've traded the videotape for a memory device, saving a lot of
expanse and expense.

HD-on-SD emerges
Panasonic will launch ahigh-definition camcorder this yearthat
uses an SDmemory card for storage, and an HD-on-SD prototype
has been shown overseas. Meanwhile, Sanyo has already
delivered, and l was grateful to get the company's Xacti VPC‑
H01a camcorderinto my hands. _
It's an incredibly compact and lightweight camcorder. its body
shape is a fairly natural handgrip by itself, and many of its

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 ln addition,the Xacti is a SMB digital still camera. audio
recorder, and multimedia playback device.
So, from the lifestyle point ofview. the HOia has it all:
ease ofuse (it fires upquickly, and can beused with the
touch of a single button]; bells ‘and whistles galore
[there‘s a 240+ page manual to explain it all]; and an
unmistakable visual coolness factor.
The Xacti records to SD memory card as opposed to
tape, dist; or hard drive. That fact alone causes some
people to cringe in fear. For several reasons. early non‑
tape-based camcorders just did not have the clarity,
crispness or resolution that users expected. AsSDcard
capacities increase and as digital video compression
algorithms improve, that's less of an issue. Ona 268 SD
card, you can capture 42 minutes of the highest
definition video [more than a thousand SMB digital
stills] with the Xacti; there are new 8 MBcard sizes
available. too. so recording time will not bean issue.
But what about image wality?
Many camcorders are built to deliver strong. saturated
colours that consumers seem to prefer, and on
occasion, Sanyo is cited as one company that goes too
far in this respect. The Xacti‘s rich, deep colours may
appeal to some (I have some great shots from avibrant
flower garden]. while others may see the' richness asa
trade-off with low-light sensitivity [without any extra
lighting, shots taken in my home/officewere a little dull
and slightly grainy].
Aswith many digital camcorders. the more light that's
available, the better‐ especially indoors. and especially
with the higher-resolution video settings. Ona brilliant,
sunny day, the camera's imagery is dynamic, detailed
and definitely very good.
For example, with standard video, shots of a city
skyline an buzz with aliasing, herringbone and jaggy‑
type artifacts, as the camera struggles to resolve the
complex detail and sharp edges of multiple buildings.
The Xactis HOsetting captured it all in a remarkably
clear detailed widescreen shot, without visible artifacts.
The mmera does have a“steadi-shot' mode, thanks to
its built-in digital image stabilization settings, but when
pushed, it can look like a weird strobe setting. Again,
more demanding users will prefer a tripod or external
camera support of some kind, as opposed to the
occasional artifact that the stabilizer adds to shaky
video scenes. [By the way, the docking unit makes a
handy little flat-surface tripod, uhh, unipod.) .
One of the camera's highly-touted features is the
ability to capture a digital still photograph while
recordingvideo. But I found that when the mmera takes
the digital photo, there's a slight pause in the video as
the still image data is dumped to the memory card.
Controls and menus
Most of the camera's functions and settings are aie immediately available to a PC-based editor or video
accessed via an on-screen menu system, but the
navigation devrce itself needs some work. A tiny little
joystick protrudes slightly from the control area on the
back; its delicate feel is unnerving, and it has an
annoying tendency to slip or jump across menus when
pushed (it functions as the “Enter“ button, as well).
recording. have separate buttons, hidden underthe flip
out LEO so they cannot easily beaccidentally bumped.
One thing that's not so nice is a built-in 'talklng"
navigation guide that designed to help first-time users
[and seemingly to bother anyone who uses it more
than once].
The HDlA offers several recording modes. suitable for
HDTV, DVD or Web-based video. At the top top-end,
there's the 18 x 9 widescreen HO-SHO format [1,280 x
720, 30 frames per second. 9 Mbps bit rate). Several
selectable steps down from there is the quarter-screen
size [320 x 240. 15 fps. less than 1 Mbps] for Web
streaming and delivery. The latter setting is also an
iPod-compatible one ‐ and the HOla has added a
direct-to-iPod transfer feature.
Settings like video quality are accessed via t h e
joystick and menu, which gets divided into two main
screens: ShootingSettings and Options.
The Shooting screen is itself split into two pages: Basic
Settings and Advanced Settings. ,
Basic Settings is where you an select video and still
image quality. pre-set Scene modes and Manual
exposure settings, including an aperture priority,
shutter speed priority, and full manual mode.
Advanced Settings covers image stabilization, focus
controls, exposure settings, and auto functions. Here
and elsewhere, the joystick an take on extra functlons:'
it actually was handy to be able to toggle through the
focus range and control depth of field with the joystick
and the manual focus settings.
What was a little confusing was the relationship
between certain image settings and camera functions.
With the image stabilization on, for example, the
framing and composition of a picture is not exactly
what appears on the LCD. Likewise. some filters and
image corrections features are not previewed. ‘
Fully automatic shooting is good and the camera
reacts well; one short-coming might be the sluggish
auto-focus ‐ if Sanyo could fit a little focus assist lamp
somewhere. that would be better. Other features
includes multiple flash settings, noise reduction. self‑
timer, digital zoom and macro settings, as ‘well as
several selections for still image printing. or movie
sequence exporting.
Working and Editing with SDVideo
Asmentioned, one of the touted advantages of storing
video on memory devices like SDcards is that the clips
manipulation program. Unlike video on tape, there is no need for
importing or digitization or encoding the source material.
That‘s the ideal. of course, but as always, there are some surprises in
the reality.
The Xacti records its video in MPEG~4. a scalable compression format
that‘s based on Apple Duick'lime. Aswith other compression schemes,
went out?
there are different flavours within the specification. MPEG-4, Pan 10
is also known as H.284, and can be found in Blu-ray and HU-DVD
[for disc-based playback of high resolution material}, DVB [for satellite
transmission]. 3GPP [for mobile applications] and other digital
media technologies. ll
As a scalable compression scheme. it handles low data rate streams
[50 or60 Kbps for mobile video streaming] right upto full high B u y a u p s from www.upsforless.ca
definition video, in streams ofseven or eight Mbps.
Sofinding an editing software package (and PC] that‘s immediately and and keep y a " , computer running during
consistently compatible with such encoded video can bea challenge. electricity Interruptions.
[The HDla does support in~camera editing and sequencing of saved
video clips, through a basic process of extracting unwanted video or CyberPower GSOVA 350 Watts APC SmartUPS IOOOVA 670 Watts
joining favourite clips together. An Edit Wdeo screen, in the playback
menu, offers simple Cut. Join. and Edit commands, which are applied to
Ai’C'
paused vrdeo in camera.)
When first importing clips into iMovie, i found the .mp4 clips were being
turned into .dv files, which are much bigger. The same clips imported APC Smar‘lUPS l400VA 950 Watts
into Final Cut Pro wanted to be rendered with both audio and video
before finalizing the edit.
But inside iMovre is a project setting menu, with commands to import
files to the Apple Intermediate Codec [Alt] and a 1280 x 720p setting,
which works better ‐ FCP can be told to recognize MC, and edit in
real-time with it.
New plug-ins forthe HDla will allow capture and edit in native formats,
and to authorand burn either HDDVD or standard definition DVDs. UIead,
for example, is including such a plug~in with DVD MovieFactory 5, its
latest consumer DVD authoring and burning package.
UPSforLESS is Canada's largest supplier
in Conclusion of refurbished UPS's
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HDla represents one of the first digital (aka Power backup unis,
camcorders to bring true high definition to the "lifestyle“ or "consumer" Unintermptible Power Supplies, Battery backups)
camcorder marketplace. In the right situations, its imagery is
remarkable for its clarity, colour and resolution. There are some V All UPS’s are installed with brand new batteries.
enhancements that can be added to the inevitable next version, but at V 1 year warranty on all products.
less than $1000, it‘s a strong example of where technology is heading,
V Replacement batteries for most UPS's available
from stock.
and what it can do along the way. V We purchase old UPS units.
By Lee Rickwood

Lee Rickwood is a freelance writer and independent video producer. He

operates Word OnA Wire. an independent company providing editorial. media
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HDCP is only supported by DVI and HDMI connections, so those are the
only types that can guarantee full HDvideo capabilitg into the future. In
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The other option is to get anATSC t u n e r card forjust over a hundred bucks
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e . \
HUB locks at AR's wireless solution Ne

If you want music from a single source like a media centre PCor MP3
player [or a stereo system for you traditionalists] to play throughout your
home. you can either start punching holes in the drywall to run the wiring, ,/
or think wireless. l had the opportunity to look at a wireless solution from
Acoustic Research.
The key component is the Digital Wireless Transmisston Hub [$49.99],
which plugs into your computer's headphone jack (or any audio-out
source] and broadcasts the srgnal over the 2.4 GHz frequency band. lt's a
dome-shaped‘device about one and a halftimes the diameter ofa CD. AR
claims a working range of 45 metres [150 ft). What you need to pick up

those signals are speakers with wireless receivers. and ARsells a few
. different models as well as headphones as part of this wireless family.
One unit is an indoor/outdoor speaker [$179.99]. The weatherproof
enclosure is cylindrical with a handle on top. It looks oddly like an
insulated jug for drinks, but sounds good ‐ not audiophile quality, but ~
good enough to accompany an evening of patio chatter. The two-Wag
design uses a five-inch woofer and two-inch tweeter, and the unit has its
own amplifier. It comes with anACadapter but can be powered by eight C
’ cell batteries for a truly wireless experience.Aswitch allows you to set the
speaker to pick up left, right or both channels. In battery mode, the on“
powers down when it hasn't detected a signal for a period. This means you
can use a single speaker for both channels or a pair, with eaCh unit set to
a different channel for stereo reception.
The flat panel model [$149.99] isn't anelectrostatic design as the name
might imply. but uses traditional cones [two of them]. The "flat panel'
description refers to the fact that speakers are housed in a relatively
shallow enclosure. The enclosure front is nicely curved so you an moul'lt
it ona wall and the low profile design is quite unobtrusive. Audio quality is
good for background listening, movies etc. but audiophiles will find the
quality somewhat lacking.
Like the indoor/outdoor model, the flat panel comes with an ACadapter
but can be driven by Ccell batteries [10 are needed forthis unit] with auto
power-down. It also has the left-right-both switch so you can use it singly
or in pairs for stereo reception.
The headphones [$149.99] are somewhat bulky with full ear cups, but

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 One of the potential uses that ARsuggests is as the rear speakers for a 5.1
powered by three AAA cells, and comes with a cable that connects the surround setup. Given the dangly wire shuffle you normally have to dance
headset to the hub (or chargingthe included NiMH batteries. through to set up the rear speakers, this might well be the killer app for
I live in a sungle level rancher, and with the wireless hub attached to my wireless speaker sets.
notebook computer in the TV room, the speakers and headphone worked The overall experience has been quite pleasant. it reminds meof being'in
pretty much everywhere, including outside on the patio and in the front a conference centre or hotel where the music is piped'in and speakers are
and back yards. The only location where reception was a problem was in the everywhere, so wherever you walk the same music continuously
office. This area was once an attached garage but converted to living space surrounds you. But rather than elevator music, it's stuff of your own
by a previous owner I suspect the degradation was caused by the cinder choosing. That‘s sweet.
block firewall that separates this room from the rest ofthe house. By David Tanaka

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i
I The coming year. 2007. will be a very interesting one for PCgaming. Displays

l
J and the expected flurry of faster and/or better hardware. Let's take a look at the switch. Nolonger are LCUs ridiculously expensive, their response times

millisecond response time would run upwards of 5500,

today scorching Sms models can be found for halfthat.
You need only follow a few simple guidelines when choosing
a gaming-friendly LCD. Most importantly, look for a display
with an Bms or less response time ‐ anything in that range
is fast enough for even hardcore gamers. You‘ll also want to‑
check the native resolution. Unlike CRTs. LCDs have a fixed
resolution [such as 1280x1024 or 1600x1200] that cannot
be altered. Thusly, if you try to play a game that doesn't
support the native resolution of your monitor, the image will
be stretched slightly or banded at the top and bottom or at
the sides. Fortunately, publishers have finally woken up to
the growing popularity of LCDs and are now offering more
resolutions ‐ including several widescreen flavours.
Smart gamers will also select a display that has a digital
(DVI) input ‐ thus eliminating digital-to~analog conversion
altogether. There are other factors too ‐ such as contrast
ratio, brightness, and on-board USB ports ‐ though today

\ only the bottom-of-the-barrel manufaCturers will fail in

these areas.
Solid, gaming-ready non-widescreen [4:3] displays include
the 2ms, 19-inch Viewsonic VX922 {$350}; the Ams, 19-inch
Samsung QSOBF [S300]; and the Bms, 19-inch Dell
_ _ _ p _ ‐ ‐ . ‐ - ‐ ‑
UltraSharp 1907FP [$329 or less at deII.ca]. If widescreen
gaming strikes your fancy ‐ and it should ‐ check out the
Ems. 20.1‐inch Viewsonic VX2025WM [$350]; the 4ms,
19-inch Samsung 9418W [5250]; and the stunning Sms,
20.1‐inch LG L204WT [5350]. And if you‘re happy with a
1?-inch display, consider the 4ms NEC POGXZ, an under‑
promoted model that looks wonderful, No matter which
display you choose, remember that statistics such as
response times aren't all they‘re cracked up to be. Audition
as many as you can.

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 The video cant writing, no such card exists. Therefore, futuristic gamers may want to hold
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o u t on many of the effects and the high-end photorealistic detail of today‘s That said, it will undoubtedly be some time before all the Vista and D30 10
latest PCgames. But is this a good time to upgrade? Not ifyou believe in the kinks are worked out and before games stop supporting the current DirectX
promise of the next version of Microsoft's DirectX. version, DirectX 9. So, if you see yourself sticking with DirectX 9 for the
DirectX is a standardized method through which software, peripherals, and foreseeable future, perhaps now, while the price of non-D30 10 cards is
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ship with Windows Vista in early 2002 031) 10 has been rebuilt from the Video card shopping is no longer “the card with the most memory wins.‘
ground up and promises a future filled with substantially better graphics. Today, you need to examine model numbers. Generally, cards with higher
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resource that compares card performance can be found at www.
tomshardware.com. Click “Graphics 8: Displays‘, then click on ”VGA Charts."
One thing is almost certain ‐ industry giants NVIDIA and All continue to
duke it out, and still there is no clear champ. Suffice to say that a sub-$200
card is entry-level, a 5200-5400 card will do most everything but the most
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world class.
At the very top ofthe price spectrum are SH and Crossfire setups. The latter
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doesn't really begin to show itself unless you play at 1600x1200 or higher
resolutions. Moreover, you'll need a motherboard and video cards that
support dual-card setups. The ideal solution for many may beto buy one SLI‑

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 Controller features two thumb sticks. an eight-way directional pad, nine
buttons on the top surface, and a total of four index finger triggers. This is a
comfortable and intuitive gamepad with more than enough controls for
any application.
If you‘d prefer to go the cordless route. there may be no better choice than
the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 [S55]. Logitech has developed critically‑
acclaimed PCgamepads for many years. and that experience shows in this
extremely capable unit that matches the three directional controls of the
Xbox 360 Controller, features even more buttons, and transmits force
feedback "rumble" effects in supporting games. But unlike the Microsoft
pad. the Cordless Rumblepad 2 isjust that ‐ cordless - thus allowing you to
sit 10 metres or so [30 feet] away from your display.

or Crossfire~capable card now and pick up a second at a later date.
One final thing - before you upgrade, check whether your motherboard has
an AGP or PCI-E video slot. AGP is quickly on itsway out, so most serious gamers
will want to go with PEI-E even if it involves changing their motherboard.
The Gamepad
Arguably the slickest wired PCgamepad is Microsoft's Xbox 360 Controller
for Windows [$45i Wrtually identical to its console sibling, the Xbox 360
Gaming mice
There's currently no shortage of precise, comfortable, gaming-designed
mice for the first-person shooter fan. From Logitech comes the cordless G?
and the corded GS, both of which deliver ultra-precise 2000-dpi laser
engines, in-game sensitivity switching, and fast response times. But
whereas the GSis corded. the G?is free of such constraints ‐ indeed it is the
only high-end gaming mouse to make that claim. Unfortunately for left‑
handed gamers, both are designed strictly for the right hand.
A better bet for lefties is the Razer Copperhead. This sleek unit offers many
ofthe same perks of the Logitech pair, with the added advantage of built-in
memory for game profile storage and a symmetrical design that fits either
hand. What's more, it features a series of super-snazzy LEDs snaking
around its perimeter.

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 Ea:h ofthese mice will run you 570 or more if you're on a budget, check desk space. Hardcore pilots With fat wallets will also love the Thrustmaster
o u t the Logitech MXGIO Cordless Laser Mouse (5501, available in both right‑ HDTAS Cougar [$250], a replica of the real life F-16 controller that feamreg
and left-handed flavours, or the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 all-metal casing and enough programmability to satisfy the most fastidious
{$53}. Neither is as tricked out as the gaming mice above, but each delivers jet jock.
accurate tracking and wireless operation,
Drivmg gear
lf you're a diehard driver, you'll like the Logitech MOMU Racing Force
Feedback Wheel {5100}. It looks good, it feels great, and it's accurate. The
unit features six programmable buttons, a sturdy desktop clamping
system, and credible force feedback. Users can change gears with the
integrated shifter. or. better still, with the nifty rear-mounted paddles.
Step up the price point considerably and you‘ll find mechanical marvels
like the excellent Thomas Super Wheel driving system [available online at
www.thomas-superwheel.com for $300 and up depending on
configuration]. Notch it up even further and you can own Virtual
Motorsports‘ VPP Pedalset ($665 at www,vmracignsystmes.coml, a
stunning creation that could well have been pulled from an actual racecar.
You won't find any plastic here.

By Gord Goble

Joysticks
There was a time when several high-grade PCjoysticks were released
every year. But now, with specialized peripherals eating i n t o the joystick
market, some of the finest all-purpose sticks are already a few years old.
One of the best continues to be the Saitek Cyborg Evo [550], a feature-laden
device that adapts to lefties and righties as well as it does to those with
large or small hands. The Logitech Freedom Cordless 2.4 Joystick [560]
looks similar to the Cyborg but offers wireless operation. It is not, however,
the ideal stick for left-handed gamers Our final 'standard' joystick of note
hails from CHProducts. The CHFighterstick USB [570] has been around for
years, and for good reason ‐ it delivers all the controls a good pilot needs
and great build quality to boot.
The best of the current batch of flight control systems is arguably the
Saitek X52 [$150], a sophisticated, multifaceted unit with a control-laden
arcing throttle for the left hand, an equally busy joystick for the right, and
full programmability. lt's a big device though, so get ready to open up some

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 T e n g a m e s t o d i e for- (or- i n ]
t h i s holiday
HUB's official guide to giving the gift OFelves and explosions massive armies hailingfrom authentic historical regimes, and nothingthey
The gamer in your life is probably pining for a Sony PlayStation 3 or a don't, such as tedious exercises in resource gathering. And it all looks
Nintendo Wii right about now, but there are plenty ways to satisfy their betterthan eventhanksto ashiny new graphics engine.
videogame cravings this holiday without spending hundreds on a new
console, starting with these ten terrific PCtitles. H o m e “ ! 2' mm v1.11

Dark Messiah Might and Magic

Developer: Arkane Studlos Publlsher: Ublsoft
The Might and Magic franchise moved beyond left turn~based strategy
territory and is breaking new ground with this incredible looking first‑
person fantasy/action game. The single player quest allows players plenty
of room to experiment with play styles, ranging from magic to stealth.
Meanwhile. the multiplayer portion of the game takes a page out Of EA's
Battlefield games, letting dozens of players to fight it out on sprawling
battle grounds.

r-ledleval 2: Total War

Developer: Creative Assembly Publisher: Sega
ll’the person you're buying ( o r has any previous Total War games sittingon
his or her game shelf. then your search for the perfect gilt is over. Medieval
2: Total War has everything fans of the series want and expect, including

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 Microsoft Flight SimulatorX
Developer: Microsoft Game Studios Publisher. Microsoft Game Studios
Vtcroscfts mission to make the perfect flight simulator continues in this, provrded [optional] goals, like saving workers from a burning oceanic oil rig.
he tenth installmenti n the longest running franchise in the PCgaming
“ a n d The aircraft ‐ including planes, helicopters. and a couple of less
. ,_ ..--‐.~_
recognizable aeronautical machinations ‐ are, as always, stunningly
realistic, inside and-out. And for the first time ever players have been
Company of Heroes
. A ~ 7 Developer: Relic Publisher. THO
Far from your typical war strategy game,
Company of Heroes boasts tremendous
graphics, ground-breaking tactical game play,
and outstanding presentation. It puts players
in the American trenches on the Western
Front ofthe Second World War. often focusing
on the drama of smaller groups of soldiers
within the larger battlet It's completely
original, and it will be a great treat for any
strategy game fan you happen to be
buying for.

Battlefield 2142
Developer/ Publisher: Electronic Arts
This holiday's installment in one of the most
popular first-person shooter franchises in the
world puts players at the helm of giant
military robots and waging war on massive
mother ships called Titans as they fight for
Microsoft Flight Simulator X control of North Africa, the only place left on

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 Nights 2 delivers a lengthy single-player
campaign as well as a complete online
experience.

Sid Meier's Railroads!

Developer: Firaxis Publisher: 2K Games
Whether it’s pirates or golf, space colonization
or world history, Mr. Meier knows how to do
simulation games. And now he’s brought his
considerable talent to bear on the world of
trains, delivering an accessible, compelling,
and enormously entertaining imitation.of the
real world process of laying track. But there's
more to this Slmulallon than just locomotives.
As your railroad empire expands you'll be able
to see cities start to flourish as trains provide
them with the goods they need to prosper.

DEFCDN: Everybody Dies

Developer: lntroversion
Earth that isn't covered by ice. Just keep in mind that ifyou bestow 2142 as Publisher: lntroversion
a gift on Christmas morning you probably won't see the recipient again lntroversion ‐ the videogame world‘s version of an experimental indie
until the new year... band ‐ has released yet anOther ground breaking title in DEFEDN;
Everybody Dies. It's a simulation of a thermonuclear war (a la WarGames]
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell; Double Agent that threatens civilization as we know it. The “winner" of the war is the
Developer: Ubisoft Publisher: Ubisoft nation that counts their civilian losses in the millions - as opposed to the
Gamedom's most famous spy is nearly unrecognizable in his fourth hundreds of millions. Indeed, it's that rarest of things in the interactive
adventure as he goes undercover and infiltrates a mysterious new terrorist entertainment world: a game with a conscience.
organization. His familiar black duds are nowhere to be seen as he escapes
from a maximum security prison, and players will be forced to make hard Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War ‐ Dark Crusade
decisions (do you kill some poor shmoe to convince the terrorists you’re on Developer: Relic Publisher: THO
their side or let him live and lose their trust?) that will have an impact on The name alone ‐ awkward though it may be ‐ will be enough to send
how the game eventually plays out. chills down the spine of many sci-fi/fantasy strategy video game Players.
This expansion to the two-year old original is actually a standalone game
[which means the person you give it to doesn't have to own the original in
orderto play it]. and it's packed with fresh content, including new factions
and afresh campaign.

By Chad Sapleha

Sud Meier is Railroads’ .

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u s i n gy o u r computer‑
if you enjoy creating things, you‘ll find your computer a handy tool to
support your art. It can be put to work to help create a myriad of fun and
useful projects.Asthe holidays are a time we're all searching for the perfect
and unique gift idea. it‘s an ideal time to see just what your computer can
really do.
Much of your inspiration for holiday gifts will come from the papers and
fabrics you can print on. When you're thinking of gifts, look at and beyond
the world of plain white copy paper and photo paper. The most well known
specialty paper is probably T-shirt_transfer paper, which can beprinted and
then ironed onto T-shirts as well as a range of other fabric surfaces such as
cushion covers, canvas bags, aprons, baby clothes and even bed linen.
However, this is just a taste of the specialty papers you can find; for
example, look for puzzle paperthat you can print onto create instant jigsaw
puzzles, and for printable fabrics ranging from organza to silk and cotton.
There are tattoo papers for creating instant tattoos and papers suitable for
making bumper stickers. I love water slide decal paper such as Lazertran

Use puzzle paper like this iron on felt puzzle pack to make
personallzedjlgsaw puzzles for the kids.
Printed and placed in a simple store-bought frame. it will be admired and
enjoyed by everyone.
If photos make great framed art. they also make neat photo frames too.“
Open a photo in your favourite photo-editing software and apply an artistic
filter to it. Print it onto matte photo paper and then tear it into pieces to glue
around a wide wooden photo frame. Use 30°d'quafi‘9 decoupage glue like
Modge Podge forthis. You can then add other elements to it such as a swish
of glitter glue or items like buttons or ribbon.
If you‘re handy with a sewing machine then you'll love printable fabrics.
Light fabrics like silk, organza and cotton come with a backing sheet to keep
them rigid when they're being printed. When the ink is dry, peel off the
backing sheet and you have a printed and hand washable fabric. I like to

Printafavouritephotoandaddlttoeplastlckey-ringblanklike
thisoneshewnhere. '

Water Slide Deal paper for inkjet printers. This is a two-part paper that you
print on and set aside for a few minutes to dry. You then drop it into water
where the printed transparent film lifts off the background paper. You can
adhere the image to glass, metal or any shiny, smooth object simply by
placing it on it and allow it to dry.
Other interesting papers include printable shrink plastic. This paper is
loads of fun - you print onto it and cut out your project then place it onatray
in the oven. When heated, the paper shrinks to one third its original size and
thickens up so you can use it to make rigid objects such as key-rings
and jewellery.
if you're a digital photographer, you have an immediate source of unique
art for your projects in the photos you take. Turn a photo into a one-off piece
of art by printing it on high quality photo paper or printable canvas and
frame it. If you love working with photo-editing programs, why not take a
favourite portrait or even a photo of someone's house or new car and turn it , Turn a favourite photo Into a series of Warhol style Images,
into an Andy Warhol style series of multicoloured versions of the image? printthem onto photo paper and frame them for 1 personal glft.,

T038 M z c i q ‘ t h v ' n g - T o r m t o S e c fi o n - m e c c a W W W D O ’ “
 edges witha piece chontrastingtrim. Keep an eye out for the myriad of printable papers available at your
' Photos printed onto shrink plastic can be cut out and shrunk and then stationer and craft supply store and join the ranks of us who will be proud
adhered to key chains or earring blanks that you will find in the jewellery this festive season to say "I made that myselfl'.
supply area of any reputable craft store. Just make sure you punch the By Helen Bradley
holes you'll need in the shrink plastic before you shrink it - it's too hard to. Resources: Lazcrtioncom Papci”a c r t o m
work with later on. Junetailomem Printcdtrcasuresxom

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 Tired of mousing around? You could memorize a slew of keyboard
shortcuts or (gasp. shades of UNIX] go back to the command line. But with
most of today's computer interfaces being graphical, a pointing device
makes computing life much simpler. And there are alternatives to mus
computicus.

Trackballs
The trackball has long been a popular alternative to the mouse. Early
mouse designs used a rollerball to track movements and the trackball is a
kind of an upside-down version ofthat. Rather than activating the roller ball
by moving the mouse, the trackball housing remains stationary and you
move the rollerball itself with your thumb or a finger. Like mice, most
trackba!ls are now optical The ball is imprinted with a fine pattern so the
optical sensors can easily capture even slight movements. Trackball
advocates say they are easier to control, and aren’t as likely to cause
repetitive strain injuries.
Microsoft and Logitech make
trackballs that you can usually
find in electronics or office
supply stores. Other brands
such as Kensington are harder
to find but can be found in
stores and on web sites that
specialize in? ergonomic
accessories. I'm on my fifth or
sixth trackball ‐ I love em.
Track pads
lf you enjoy using that built-in touch-sensitive pad that replaces a mouse
on your notebook, you can bring that experience to the desktop. Cirque is a
pioneer in touch technology and builds products for cell phones, touch
sensitive computer screens etc.
For mouse alternatives, the company has the Easy Eat, Smart Cat and
Smart Cat Pro.These have a touch sensitive pad and you control the pointer
by moving your finger around the pad. Buttons on the unit work the same
as left and right mouse buttons, and dependingon the model, you can also
have additional buttons that work the same as the ones on multi-button
mice. As well, zones in the track pad area are dedicated to certain functions
like scrolling or zooming.
Graphics Tablets
Tablets are conceptually similar to track pads, except you need a stylu5
rather than your digit to move the pointer. As the name suggests, these
producrs are somewhat specialized for graphics applications. If you like to
draw in Illustrator or CorelDraw, or do touchup work in Photoshop, 3
graphics tablet is far more efficient, accurate and less fatiguing than a
mouse. One of the other cool things you can do with a tablet is cursive
writing - so you can actually sign a document in your own handwriting
without having to first print out a hard copy.
There used to be many graphics tablet makers but the field has thinned so
that in mosr computer and electronics stores you‘ll find just the Wacom
brand. This is not a bad thing because these products are well priced and
well manufactured. Graphire4 is the consumer line; lntuos is geared to
professionals. Both also come with a mouse that works on the digitizing
surface, and a suite of applications.
Wireless 30 _
One interesting product that came to my attention during this gift guide
roundup is the Gyration Air Mouse from Thomson Inc. The mouse is unlike
any l’ve seen, being closer to a game controller: You can hold it like a pistol
grip, and thus held, yourtri'gger finger sits right against atrigger‐or mouse
button in this case. Wave it around in your hand, twist yourwrist to and fro,

7-"U POWER
vurwispgroupusacom
 and the pointer on your computer screen follows your antics. By default
when you hit the trigger button the pointer moves and when gou release it
the pointer locks at that spot. You can then hit the mouse buttons on the
top ofthe unit with gourthumb to invoke the usual mouse commands. This
sgstem works well because I found that otherwise with mg hand in the air,
the pointer would drift off the target as I went to hit one of the mouse
buttons with my thumb. The hand controller can also be used on a flat
surface like a regular mouse, but I found the shape a bit narrow.
The unit also comes with a compact keyboard [the keys are full size, but
there's no separate numeric pad]. Both communicate with the computer
using a 2.4GHz radio frequency, and a USB transceiver handles the comm
duties.

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 PCspeakers from Editiel Some big names in audio have stepped in, joining tech companies like
High fidelity from PC speakers? To audiophiles, that might be a Creative/Cambridge Soundworks and Logltech plus a whole slew of less
contradiction in terms. but that hasn‘t stopped speaker makers from trying. familiar brands. The happy consequence for us digital denizens is all-round
better sound - for our desktop computers and portables as well as digital
content devices like iPods and multimedia players.
When a company called Edifier contacted HUB:DL to see if we were
interested in reVlewing its speaker line, I wasn't expecting too much. I've
gone through my share of mediocre no-name speakers, and who'd ever
heard of Edifier? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. These compare
favourably with the Acoustic Research, Logitech and Creative/Cambridge
Soundworks systems I have set upat home.
The company has a broad product range with more than three dozen
models for portable and stationary use. Some are recognizable as your
typical PCspeakers while others are styled like traditional hi-fi bookshelf
speakers The company has 2.1[left and right satellites plus a subwooter)
and 5.1 surround sound [five satellites and a subwoofer] models plus a I
line of headphones. I
Welistened to four samples. With the tone controls set flat,they sounded I
fairto good [dependingon the model), but went from OKto darn good with I
a bit of tonal contouring with an equalizer. In fact for music listening. I'd I
recommend using a player with a graphic equalizer such as WinAmp to get
the most from these [and PCspeakers in general].

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52.10 MPBOO
“ICC: 5199 99 ii-J.” " ‘ J S‘v'izulj Fuze “ o r the cornea-y s cn' n».- sic-141115379 93
The $2.10 reinforces the argument that size matters. The 65-inch driver This 2.1 portable product has style galore, and sounds pretty good too. The
in the subwoofer enclosure gives very good sound. The woofer box itself is subwoofer is shaped like a tube with the port at one end. The satellites are
as big a mini-tower case. The satellites are two-way designs housing a globes slightly smaller than tennis balls, and one of them holds the simple
three-inch midrange and 0.?5~inch tweeter. This unit sounds very good, power/volume buttons. The satellites are quite directional so placement
even with tone controls set flat. will affect your experience. The permanently attached cable lets you
separate them by as much as a metre. With no tone controls, these benefit
greatly from a player with a graphic equalizer. The frequency response is
75-20,000 Hz so don‘t expect bone shaking bass response. Nevertheless,
they'll definitely enhance the aural experience from your. notebook or
portable music player. A bonus is that they come in a zippered fabric
The $2.10 includes a 96KHz 24-bit digital processor, Channel inputs are carrying case.
standard RCA jacks, so you could use these with a stereo receiver. It also
accepts digital inputs through a coax RCAjack or an optical SPDIF pon. MPZDU
F'IlCe {ham the company's online store]: USSZ?
trllillll This all-in-one portable unit follows the rounded block design that has
l ‘ l i t r liit‘lll ti-L‘ w ' n g v r Ll“. L v i ' n z ; ~.Tp!1' L i x g s g g g become quite common for MP3 player speakers. The two 15-inch cones
There are currently four products in the ' e ' line. These are 2.1designs. The sound pretty mediocre without tonal contouring but respond well to a bit of
133100 uses a five-inch cone in the subwooferwhile the satellites contain a low-and high-end boost ‐ a definite improvement over my ThinkPad's built‑
three-inch midrange and DPS-inch tweeter. Frequency response is rated at in speakers. These require an external power source but come with an AC
48-20,000 Hz. Separate volume, bass and treble rotary knobs are located adapter as well as a cable that lets you tap into the USB port [the two other
on the subwoofer enclosure, along with a power switch. These sounded models in this series can also berun onAAbatteries].
great for a variety of music although the subwoofer gets a bit boomy on
some music ifthe bass control is cranked up By David Tanaka

m
E21
t m
it"? 5
o m
KEIT 2022 Sheppard Ave. E.
Tel: (416) 493-3300 i
Finch Ave. E

M o n - F r i : 10:30‐19:00 Fax: (416) 493-3308 1

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Email:
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 i S m a r t p h o n e s spectacular‑
L‘ell-ing the inevitable upgrade
It 5 t i m e to finally ditch your aging cell phone for one of these sleek new
sma'tphones.
“These digital Swiss Army Knives n o t only place and receive phone calls
more also an efficient messaging solution, Web companion, MP3 player.
dig:ta! camera. portable television. gaming console and personal digital
ass:ss tant {FDA}
5 3 .e can even shoot and edit highres video will help you get from point
15.0: " m t h integrated GPS reception or download hugei
files with blazingly
- 5‘2 speeds thanks to HSDPA 36 technology
.,._
1cronym soup aside. here's a quick look ata few ofthe newest - and
l smartest ‐ mobile phones on the market. P; Q
. s: I
A pearl or‘a phone
i The latest BlackBerry Pearl ($249.99 with three-year Rogers Wireless
contract] is the first consumer-focused "push email" solution from
Waterloo. 0nt.~based Research in Motion. 'Push' means messages are sent
from the server to your handset in real-time instead of logging onto the Net
to ‘pull' messages down to the phone. Not only is this Bluetooth-enabled
phone smaller and thinner t h a ni t s businessbased brethren, but this Pearl
aso offers an integrated MP3.1.3-megapixel digital camera and a teeny

white trackball to navigate through all of its features. Add as much memory
as you need through Pearl's mini~SD storage slot. While not a QWERTY key
[one letter per button]. the Pearl uses a condensed SureType keyboard
[two letters per button] that works well after a bit of practice.

Thin isin
Powered by Windows Mobile 5.0, the Motorola 0 [$249 on a three-year
contract with Telus Mobility or Bell Mobility] is billed as the thinnest
(11.5mm] handset in the world with a full QWERTY keyboard, which is ‘
perfect for writing emails or text messages. The Razr-inspired D, perhaps ‘
named after James Bond's gadget guru. also offers BlackBerry-like .
thumowheel navigation to quickly scroll through your inbox and reply to a l
message, plus it offers a 1.3-megapixel camera, high-resolution colour l
screen and a mini-SD memory card slot to store files, games or MPas. Web 1
surfing. emails and handheld downloads will all benefit from the high‑
speed EV-DO high-speed network.

Power users, rejoice

While not as svelte as the 0 or Pearl, the new BlackBerry 8703e [$499.95
with three-year contract) with Bell Mobility is designed for serious
workaholics on the gothanks to its suite of wireless functions ‐ push email
and text-messaging, high-speed Web access, CDMA phone and organizer‑
complete with full Microsoft Outlook synchronization for all your contacts,
calendar entries and tasks. The big, bright and high-resolution LCD colour
screen is easy to read indoors or outside, while the ergonomic and backlit
QWERTY keyboard and trackwheel makes it a cinch to navigate through
programs and then email, IM, surf or work on documents. Hands-free
options include speakerphone or Bluetooth 2.0 support for wireless
headsets.

11 3 4 4 w s z o i g ‘ t z a l L N ' r g - T m S e c fi m - D a w n - fi b e r m W M - h b c e f ' l fi d a - C o m
Delicious pick
Talk about a sweet phone ‐ the LGChocolate [LG 8500] phone enjoys
a dark, minimalist look with a touchpad that glows red when activated.
Available through Telus Mobility [$99.99 with a three~year contract],
By Marc Saltzman ~
this sleek slider handset also offers an integrated MP3/WMA music
player, 1.3-megapixel camera [with built-in flash. zoom and up to one
hour of video recording] and 8luétooth 1.1 connectivity. You can also
send text messages with user-generated sound, photos or videos. all
stored on removable and upgradeable microSD memory cards. The LG
Chocolate has sold more than a million units since its international
launch outside Korea, and is the winner br two global design awards:
the 2008 iF Design Award and Reddot Design Award.

World mate
if you're in the market for apush-email solution, but decrde against a
"CrackBerry," the Nokia E62 [$249.99 with a three-year Rogers
Wireless agreement] offers real-time push email. delivered by Rogers
MyMail. so you can get your personal or corporate email, whenever and
wherever. Thanks to its bright 2.8'inch display [with 16 million
colours], Web surfing or document viewing/editing is also ideal on this
QWERTY-based handset Traveling around the world? No problem ‐ this
quad-band phone can be used in more than 200 countries, while EDGE

BlackBerry

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 Mobile m e d i a m a d n e s s
A look at 5 hot portable players
it you want to see how far consumer tech has evolved over the past few
years. look no furtherthan the portable MP3 player.
i it wasn't too long ago we were buying 32MB devices that stored a mum“
} whopping 10 songs (can you imagine?) Fast-forward to today and 8058 09
l iFods not only carry up to 20.000 tunes. but they also play videos and
3 games, display photos and mix a mean martini [ok, so we made up the _
i last one]. ’ JBCk Johnson
‘ Whether you're in the market for your first (or next] iPod. or another ”""°”'°"'h:
. _ . _ llrcn Delealco
i portabie media player, the followrng ISa look at a few rocking suggestions.

i
l
Still the king
Often imitated but never duplicated. the Apple iPod ‐ available in 3058
(5299) or 8068 [S399] ‐ lets you carry and enjoy thousands of media
files, be it audio (music, podcasts, audiobooks]. video [TV shows, movies,
music videos, camcorder footage] and photos which you can view one by

one in or in aslideshow set to music. The new iPods also offer a handful of
improvements over past iterations, such as longer battery life [up to 20
hours for audio], a much brighter LCD screen and new ways to quickly
search through all ofyour media. What's more, youriPod can now download
games ($5.99 apiece] from the iTunes store, including Zuma, EAMini Golf,
Pac-Man, Bejeweled and Texas Hold'em.

Wear your stllettos

XM Satellite Radio subscribers had it good this year as they could carry
their runes (or talk] with them wherever they were thanks to the Pioneer
lnno, a handheld sat radio and MP3 player in one. Now. Sirius Satellite Radio
subscribers can do the same thing ‐ and on a much cooler device. The
Stiletto 100, which refers to how many hours of satellite radio you can record
and playback at a later time, also offers integrated Wi-Fi to stream Sirius
radio when indoors [wireless network required]. Hear a tune you Ilke and

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press the Love button underneath the 22-inch colour screen and you can without earphones. The slide-out speaker is also used to prop up the device
save these individual songs separately. You can also play your favourite MP3
or WMA files. Price for the Stiletto 100 is $449.99. plus $14.99 a month for a couple of button presses? Load up your tunes and enjoy your photos on
Sirius Canada subscription. its bright 1.71-inch full colour 0LEO screen [128 x 160 pixels). Other features
include a super slick interface, FM radio, alarm function and audio support
Widoacroon wonder for MP3, WMA, 058 and ASP files. Bundled accessories include a software
Media lovers who want a big screen experience out of their pocket player CD. earphones and USB cable. The YP-KS is available in 168 or 468 sizes;
should opt for the new Creative Zen Vision W[$359.99 for 3068, $479.99 for available for $179.99 or $299.99 respectively.
8068]. Unlike the iPod's 2.S~inch display. the Vision W offers a stunning
high~reso|ution. 43-inch colour widescreen [16:9 format] display to better Coming lune
enjoy your videos and photos Other features not found in the iPod include: In early 2007, Microsoft will launch its first digital media device. While price
a built-in microphone; FMradio; loud external speaker [when you don't feel is still to be determined, the Zune ‐ available in black. white or brown ‐ is a
like wearing earphones]; video out jack to connect to a television; a Compact 30GB hard-drive based media player with a 3.0-lnch screen [viewable in
Flash memory card reader to view or copy photos from a digital camera over portrait or landscape modes); the pocket-sized player supports up to 7,500
to the Zen W's hard drive; and support for multiple video codecs [including songs. 25,000 photos orupto 100 hours ofvideo, but more importantly, the
MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 SP, DivX 4 and 5, MD, WMV and [WI]. The 5068 Zune is determined to separate itself from the pack by encouraging sharing
player supports upto 15,000 songs or upto 240 hours ofvideo [depending between friends. That is, integrated wireless technology means you can
onthe codec and quality of compression]. share selected lull-length songs or custom playlists to a nearby Zune. Ro
prevent piracy, the recipient of the song can listen to the track up to three
Loud and proud times in three days. After that you can flag to purchase it online the next
Samsung's “nano killer" is the YP-KS, a tiny [98 x 47.5 x 18.1 mm] and time you sync with your P0 The Zune will also have a built~in FMtuner.
stylish Flash memory player that has a surprising little twist: a hidden
stereo speaker that cleverly slides up so you can enjoy your favourite music By Marc Saltzman

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