Fruity phone
It seems as though ages had passed since the new iPhone 3G was announced until the time it actually arrived on our shores. The iPhone is basically an iPod with phone capabilities built in – everything on the phone is controlled via finger gestures, and there is even a GPS built into the device. It features a large 3.5-inch display which can be used to watch movies, browse the Internet, or play games. The iPhone can also make phone calls, check your email, and takes photos using its built-in 2 megapixel camera. It is available in two versions: one features an 8GB drive while the other has a 16GB storage capacity. The iPhone is the must-have gadget for 2009 and is available on a variety of contract packages from Vodacom. Price dependant on your Vodacom contract
Smooth operator
Samsung is no stranger to the world of smart phones and their latest product is aimed squarely at the iPhone market. The Omnia features a 3.2-inch touch LCD and sports an innovative touch pad that works very similar to the trackpad on a notebook, albeit much smaller. The Omnia runs on the Windows Mobile 6 operating system but Samsung also developed a range of proprietary applications that were designed to be operated by finger gestures. Unfortunately the stylus does not slide into the body of the phone and is attached externally which makes using it a little cumbersome. The Samsung Omnia is a very capable multimedia device and it can play virtually any music and video format, over and above making phone calls. It is available in two flavours, an 8GB and 16GB model. R5,999 from your cellular provider
High-speed snaps
Unlike your traditional compact camera, Casio’s Exilim EX-F1 has a little trick up its sleeve. While this camera only boasts a 6 megapixel image sensor, it is able to take images at a whopping 60 frames per second. This allows you to capture any action in a way you have never seen before. The movie capture capability is also rather impressive and at a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, it is fully HD compliant. Casio also put a lot of effort into creating a camera that would work well under flashlit conditions. The Exilim EX-F1 also has the ability to capture up to 7 frames a second using the flash, so shooting ultra-slow motion images in low light is now possible for the first time on a compact camera. As a compact camera it does a stellar job as a high-speed action camera – no other compact comes close to what this one has to offer. R9,999 from the Casio Shop (thecasioshop.co.za).
NAVIGATION MADE EASY
The recently launched TomTom Go 720 GPS (Global Positioning System) features a large 4.3-inch touch sensitive LCD but its form factor is small enough to fit in your pocket. While GPS devices are traditionally used for navigation only, the Go 720 also features an FM transmitter that allows you to transmit music wirelessly to your car’s radio. Its Bluetooth capabilities also mean that this GPS device can be used as a hands free car kit for your cellphone. TomTom also perfected the map share technology it runs on its devices that allow you to update the map data and share that with the rest of the community. This ensures the most accurate maps at no extra cost to you. The TomTOm Go720 also bundles with a car charger, cradle, and desktop docking station. R4499 from shopandship.co.za
Just plug and play
Sharing your digital media in the family or living room has always been tricky if your computer is in another room or if your house is not networked. While there are numerous products on the market that will allow you to view your movies and TV shows on your TV, none of them work as effortless as the new Iomega Screenplay TV Link. This little black box simply needs a power socket and either an open HDMI or composite port on your TV. Then you simply plug in a USB flash disk or hard drive containing the multimedia content you wish to view, sit back, and enjoy. The Screenplay TV Link is able to read most of the popular file formats and the simple user interface will get you watching in no time. The kit also bundles with a remote control and all the cables you need. R1195 from Incredible Connection