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On our cover;

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Jennifer Robinson, six-time Canadian figure-skating champion

CyberWalker: A vaccine for obsolescence

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Getting into the game Bring home your own digital hub

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The gift of WiFi Home theatre for the holidays

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Thumbs up kids picks

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Organization{and fun) on the go

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Tuning into holiday sounds

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Digital gifts for the shutterbug

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Ringing in the season

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Dreaming of a Blue(tooth) Christmas

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Gifts for your notebook PC

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E di t;o r i a l By the time this issue hits the streets, it will be a week into the biggest shopping season of the year. For some it's a reason to rejoice, for others it's a reason to recoil as they see the annual holiday advertising tsunami heading in their direction once again. To help those troubled soulsas well as for those who embrace their inner consumer — we' ve compiled a Gift Guide[pages 12 to 33) that goes beyond the usual "ideas" culled from press releases that are found in a lot of magazines this time of year. All of the gadgets and gear in this issue have been in the hands of HUB editors and contributors. To signify this, we are introducing the HUB Tested logo this month, which we' ve incorporated into the first page of the Gift Guide. The heavy lifting for this issue was done by Senior Product Review Editor, Sean Carruthers, who coordinated all of the reviews and made sure that we have something for everyone. So, happy shopping, and, more importantly, have a great holiday and best wishes for the new year from everyone at HUB: Digital Living.

— Megan Johnston, Editor

Letters: The gadgets tIou lave We had a lot of feedback on your favourite digital gadgets. Here are a few of our favourite letters: When we were visiting my wife's grandmother in September, I happened to bring my MP3 player with me — it's so small that I had forgotten to take it out of my shirt pocket. Pulling it out, I remembered that I could also record with it, and so we spent the next couple hours talking with Olive,and recording her reminiscences. Not long after we returned to Winnipeg, Olive passed away, and we realized then that the audio captured by the MP3 player was the only recording of her voice ever made, one that will always be precious to the entire family.— Mark Morton, Winnipeg My favorite digital gadget... has to be my hearing aid. Having gone with an analogue unit for the majority of my life, I decided to take the jump in my midlife and purchase a digital unit. The experience is unbelievable, I am able to hear conversation and sound much clearer and at a further distance... and feedback has be reduced.... This digital device pretty well destroyed all of my own excuses of not hearing the individuals, especially my wife. — Luciano Borrello, Vaughan, Ont. It is a tie between by Dell Axim XS[PDA) and myXbox.Both are wirelessly connected to my PC.With this setup I can easily transfer files, play MP3s, play movies, access email, and the Internet(on my PDA) from my PC instantly in my home! The Xbox also acts as a secondary file server, allowing me to store files on its harddrive, which is upgraded to a 120 GB from its regular B GB.The next project is, of course, setting up my home theatre PCand connecting it to a HDTV projector. — Trung Ta,Toronto L etter of the mo n t h oo n t e s t The prize this month goes to Joe Larotta of Calgary: "Thanks for your article on GPS ['I know exactly where I am,' HUB November]. I bought a portable GPS last spring (the Magellan SportTrak Map) and recommend to anyone who is thinking of getting one to go ahead and do so. Especially if you are thinking of Geocaching. My family have become avid Geocachers and have found all kinds of "treasures." Though we are not big hikers, the beauty of geocaching is that there are many caches hidden throughout urban parks here in Calgary(and surely every city in Canada). As we've become more adventurous, we' ve visited some more remote locations, seen some fantastic sights, and have had a great deal of affordable family fun. It sure makes it worth while to wade through thorn bushes and battle mosquitoes when I hear one of my daughters excitedly scream, 'I found it!'"

Fujifilm Canada is giving away a digital camera for the best letter of the issue. The camera is its new pocket-size Fuji FinePix A205, a 2.0 megapixel model, with 3X zoom, and 1.5-inch colour LCO monitor for reviewing shots and navigating the commands. This month, in addition to feedback on the issue, tell us if you' vemade New Year's resolutionsinvolving digital technolgoy.

Drop us a line at lstterslthubcanada.corn.

10

H UB : D i gitaal Lh/inGf — December 2OQS

Vatume 18 4 Number gg

EDITORIAL Editor

Megan Johnston

megan johnstonehubcanada.corn

Managing Editor

Nestor Gula

nestor gulaShubcanada,cern

Senior Product Editor

Se an Carruthers

sean carruthemShubcanada.cern

Assistant Editor

Sharlene Mgers

sharlene mgersehubcanada.corn

Web Editor

Jessica Malone iesstcamaloneehubcanada.corn

Contributing Editor Art Director

David Tanaka Steven Stoner

Graphic Designer

Chris Brockles

Letters Releases

lettemShubcanada. corn

pre ssreleasesehubcanada.corn

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SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscrlptlons 12 Issues $34.95 US $25 in U.S. funds, Overseas $135 Cdn Email sub scriptionsShubcanada.corn Tal. Itog-freel 1-800-465-3517 CanadianPublicationMail, SalesPreduct Agreement 840084828.

Printwlin Canada.ISSR 0840-3929.

Memberofthe BPAOivisionof KAB HUBr Oigtal Living is publishedmonthly bgCCP Media. AB rights reserved, Repmduction in whole or in part withoutthepermission ofthe publisher is strictl9 prahibited. Infermadonpresented here is compiled fromsources believed to beaccurate, however, the publisherassumes noresponsibilitg for errom oromissions.the publisher reserves the

right to refuseads.Theopinions expressedinthe articles andcolumns andadsare those ofthe writer/advertiser andnot necessadlg thoseof HUB: oigtal Livmg.

On the coverthismonth: Jennifer Robinson,six-time Canadian figureskating champion.

Photographer Mir Lads.www.mirlada.corn

Male up andHair Jase Bass,Plutino Group

www.hubcaneda.corn

F ir s t

G la n c e

F irst: glan c e A preview of new and notable digital devices. Look for full reviews in upcoming issues of HUB: Digital Living.

•

•

Do you frequently find your-

self [or rather, your gadgets) powerless2 Rayovac [www.rayWide-screen wannabes whose budget can't quite stretch to plasma have an affordable alternative in Epson's(www.epson.ca]PowerLite Home 10.The $1,999 projector delivers 16:9 widescreen video for home theatres and is HDTV-ready. Users can choose between four projection modes that adjust the display to suit the viewing environment, and the projector can project an 80-inch image from as close as 1.8 m [6 ft.) or a 300-inch image from as far away as 7.5 m (24.9 ft.), according to Epson. A 1.54X optical zoom lens provides flexible positioning. The projector weighs 3.6 kg and comes with a two-year limited warranty that includes expedited telephone support and a replacement program for projectors that need to be repaired.

Banking on the idea that size matters after all, Apple

[www,apple,ca) has added an iMac with a 20-inch display to its Is~ lineup, which includes 15- and 17-inch models, The widescreen display offers 1,680x1,050-pixel resolution, which is 36 per cent more I viewable area than the 17-inch model, according to Apple. The new model is otherwise identical to the 17-inch version, and is priced at $2,999. The company also took the opportunity to expand its Power Mac GS lineup, introducing a dual-processor 1.8 GHz model that starts at $3,499 to complement the single processor 1.6 GHz and dual-processor 2 GHz models already available.

•

www.hubcanada.ccm

•

ovac.corn) boasts its new I-C3 Nickel Metal Hydride [NiMH] battery system can be fully recharged in 15 minutes or less.

Available in AA and AAAsizes, the batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times and will last up to four times longer than alkaline batteries in a digital camera, according to the company, The chargers are available in two- or four-position versions, with a car cord adapter available for the four-position unit. The recharger takes other NiMH and Nickel Cadmium batteries, but the I-C3 batteries are required to get the 15-minute charging time. A Rayovac press release lists prices starting at $13 For a pair of AAAs and $32 for the two-position charger, but a quick look at Canadian online retailers showed higher prices: $19.99 and $49.99 respectively.

Even the most eager shutterbug will have room to spare on SmartDisk's(www.smartdisk. corn)40 GB and 80 GB FlashTrax drives, portable USB 2.0 multimedia players. Both models can be connected to a TV for viewing images, but also unfold to reveal a 3.5-inch LCD. Users can zoom inand out,pan,and view •i . • . i : slideshows ofJPEG and some raw image file formats, as well as play motion picture JPEG files and MP3 files. They accept CF and microdrive cards, with optional adapters available for Smart Media, Memory Stick, SD, MMC, and xD formats.

The 40GB model is $716*, the 80GB is $911*,and the adapter is $65 .

' Converted from US$.

December 2GCX3 — HUB: Digital Lvtng

11

Getting into the game No gift categorg sage holidag better than games, and in the digital world that means consoles, PCs, and handhold sgstems.

Gadgets and gear

Here we look at some recent titles and gadgets, but start with a

Ngko Air Flo EX controller [Xbox)

roundup of consoles.

www.ngko.corn Estimated price: $45~ The Air Flo EX features a dual-speed fan as part of an only slightly bulkier controller. Cut outs on the controlier's handles direct the air and work well to cool the palms, avoiding the dreadedclammy gamer hands.Youropponents will thank you when ending the game with a relatively dry handshake.— AMC

The consoles Song PlagStation 2 www.plagstatlon.corn Estimated price: $250 PS2 leadsthe pack in sales and has signed an online exclusivity deal with EA Sports, the biggest sports game development and publishing company. It also has the most available titles overall and, with this clout gets some of the juiciest exclusive software deals. That said, the PS2 is beginning to show its age where graphics are concerned and its online arrangement leaves the door open for individual games to charge an online access fee.

— Andrew Moore-Crispin

NintendoGameCube www.nintendo.ca Estimated price: $140 Now running neck and neck with the PS2 in sales, Nintendo is the only console not to offer DVD playback, thanks to its proprietary disc format.

Nintendo's focus is on its signature gameplay flair and connectivity with the Game Boy Advance, the incredibly popular handheld game ~4' system. Also, with a recent holiday season price drop,GameCube is head and shoulders above (below?) the competitionwhere price is concerned. GameCube's most notable downside is its somewhat smaller software library.— AMC

Mad Catz RetroCON(for PS2) www.madcatz.corn Estimated price:$35' As the name implies, the RetroCDN PS2controller harkens back to the old rectangular control pads of the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System.

Despite low marks for ergonomics, it scores points for the cool aluminum shell and a lace that lights up in Technicolor. The RetroCDN is a neat peripheral but one that will tire out hands the way old control pads did in their heyday.— AMC

Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad n52 (for PC) www,belkin.corn Estimated price: $65' Part keyboard, part control pad, and a small part mouse, the n52 adds a scroll wheel, quick shifting, and full customizability, Not exactly your standard game controller, the nS2 appeals to a small portion of fanatical PC arners g but is good at what it does, namely, putting all of the game's controls at your fingertips.— AMC

Microsoft Xbox

Ngko iTgpe2 PS2controller (for PS2)

www.xbox.ca Estimated price: $250

www.ngko.corn Estimated price: $50~

The most powerful and largest of the bunch, Xbox has an 8 GB hard drive built in for game savesand music ripping.The console's graphics are noticeably better than those of the PS2, even to the untrained eye.

Microsoft charges a yearly fee of $79.99 for its Xbox Live online service, with one-year included in the purchase cost of an Xbox Live starter kit. The original Xbox control pad was an assault to the hands but has since been replaced with the svelte and infinitely more usable Xbox Controller S. —AMC

NintendoGame Bog Advance SP

Nyko goes a step further than its Air Flo controllers with the iType. While there are no fans, this controller incorporates a thumb-size, USB keyboard on a slightly larger PS2 controller

base. Garners who do alot of text entry in online games will appreciate the feature.— AMC

The games ESPN NHL Hockeg www.espnvldeogames.corn Estimatedprice:$FO

www.nintendo.ca Estimated ~rice: $140

4 12

NintendosGame Boy Advance SP allbutowns the handheld games market, and with good reason. With a massive software library, compact clamshea design, relatively large LCD screen, and the ability to connect with the GameCube in many newer games, the SP is a good bet for garners on thego.—AMC

H U B: D i g itel Living — December BQCG

3

The best of this year's hockey games is available on PS2 andXbox only.Sharp graphics,numerous play

modes, online gameplay, and excellent presentation make thisgame a good betforhockey fans.— AMC

'Converted from USS. www.hubcariada.corn

The SimpsonsHitand Run

Billtl Hatcher and the Giant Egg

www.thesimpsons-hitandrun.corn Estimated price: $70 Available on all consoles, Hit and Run is perhaps best described as a slightly scaled back PG version of Grand Theft Auto. Fans of The Simpsons will delight at the inside jokes, cars, and characters, and can rejoice that there is finally a good game based on TV's most popular cartoon family.— AMC

www.saga.corn/Estimatedprice:$59.99

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 www.easports.corn Estimated price: $70 Arguably the best golf video game franchise gets even better this year, offering tournament play online for PS2 garners, plusEA'sexcellentGame Face feature on all consoles, as well as the PC. Easy to pick up, but with enough depth to keep things interesting, Tiger Woods 2004 is a great game for any golf and video game fan.— AMC

Tron 2.0 www.tron20.net Estimated price: $50 When the movie Tron was released in 1982, the e computer graphics were revolutionary, and it • spawned a hit video game as well. Now, two decades later, Tron 2.0 takes advantage of even better graphics, right on your PC, This one features a story you can play through, or just jump straight to the lightcycles if you want to race.

— Sean Carruthers

From the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, a hero who saves the world from eternal night by rolling giant eggs around and wearing a rooster suit. If you' re a consolegame player,though,you probably have the suspending-disbelief thing covered and will enjoy the trip through the cool 30 worlds. Fun for Everyone (with mild cartoon violence). For NintendoGameCube only (GameBoy Advance compatible), — Megan Johnston

Games for thegrownups Halo: Combat Evolved www.microsoft.corn/games/Halo Estimated price: $70 The title that helped launch the Xbox now comes to the PC. An alien alliance is determined to wipe out Earth's budding star empire, and you' re marooned on the colony world Halo. Gameplay is fast and futuristic, and this version features new maps, weapons, and online multiplayer. Rated Mature 17+ for blood, gore and violence.— SC

Mac Pagne 2: The FallofMax Pagne www.maxpayne2.corn Estimated price:$70 Available for PC, PS2, and Xbox, it returns to the noir, comic book feel of the first installment. You play Max Payne, an NYCcop, who's lost it all and has to fight mobsters, commandos, and even other cops.

Rated Mature 17+ for blood, violence, language, and mature themes.

— SC

El' Timex Ironman Oata Link USB www.timex.corn Estimated price: $150 PDAs are essential to many people who need access to their schedule and contact list on the go, butsome•' times you don't want to eI have to carry a handheld.

If you just want the basics, Timex's Ironman Data Link USB watch synchronizes with Microsoft Outlook, and can copy calendar and contact information to the watch by connecting it to your PC with a USB cable. You can' t enter data into the watch, just review it, but if you want to travel light for a few hours, it's perfect. Of course, it also has standard Timex www.hubcanada.corn

Ironman features like watch, 200-lap chronograph, countdown timers, multiple alarms, and an lndiglo night-light.

Microsoft Wireless inteilimouse Explorer www.microsoft.corn/hardware Estimated price: $80 Just when you thought they couldn't do anything new with the good ol' mouse, Microsoft has added a new twist — well, a tilt, really. This addition to the wireless line has all of the things you'd expect if you' re right-handed, including an optical sensor on the bottom that allows you to use it on nearly any surface, two buttons up top, and two more within easy reach of your thumb and a scroll wheel. The "tilt" is in that scroll wheel: in addition to the usual up/down scroll, the whole wheel can be tilted to the left or the right, making it easy to scroll around large documents like spreadsheets in any direction you want. It takes two AA batteries.

— SC

December BCXX3 -

H L I B : Digital Living

1S

Br ing home your ow n d igital hub Despite the spread of digital technology into cameras, camcorders, and audio andmultimedia players, the personal computer remains central to sharing, creating, and organizing the content. Here are a few systems we've looked at recently that are fit for a family — whatever their digital work and play needs — and some peripherals that can add a little zip to an existing

system.

Wlndowe XP Media Centre PCs If you want to pick up a nice tech toy for the whole family this Christmas, but you' re deadlocked between a new computer and a media centre, here's your chance to get both in one box. Microsoft's Windows XP Media Centre operating system starts with Windows XP, then adds multimedia functionality, including DVD movie playback, cable TV input, the ability to record your favourite television programs to the hard disk, digital audio playback, and special digital photography slots and software. Throw in a remote control so you can play music or DVD movies from across the room, and it adds up to a nice all-in-one package. Hewlett-Packard was the first company out of the gate with a Windows XP Media Centre, but a number of other companies are now onboard, including Dell, Seanix, and Sony.

HP Media Centre PC nt270n www.hp.ca Estimated price: $2,499 Right out of the box, you can tell that the m270n isn't your typical Windows box: its silver and black finish looks more like a home audio or video component than a PC. The system makes it easy to switchbetween TV,DVO, photos, and PC functions with the remote and on-screen menu or using the buttons on the front of the PC itself. It has USB 2.0 and FireWire ports on the front and rear of the machine, and slots for digital camera memory along the front. The I' s computer has a topnotch graphics component and a speedy CPU, which means it' ll handle whatever you throw at it, from OVDs to photo editing to games. It also has a 160 GB hard drive inside, which means a lot of room for your music, photos, recorded TV programs, and videos.

Because it also has a DVD+RW burner, you can burn your media files to CD or OVO,too. The monitor is sold separately, but the Media Centre PC comes with its own high-quality speaker set.

— Sean Carruthers

Song VAIO PCVRZ44G

ware, Sony has also joined forces with Microsoft for the new VAIO, whichmakes use ofthe Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2004 operating system.

The machine comes with a CD drive and a OVO ~ RWburner, plus slots on the front for Type II Compact Flash, SmartMedia, and Memory Stick Pro cards. The system features a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB ofmemory, and a 160 GB hard drive. It has a total of seven USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire (called i.LINK by Sony) ports onboard. As with other Sony multimedia systems, this one comes with Giga Pocket onboard, allowing you to view TV on your PC and share it with other Giga Pocket accessories.

— SC

SontiVAIO PCV-W500GN1 www.sonystyle.ca Estimated price: $3,000 If space is at a premium, Sony's new VAIOW-series has come to the rescue. Though it's not a Windows XP Media Centre machine, this Windows XP-based system is nonetheless a pretty compelling multimedia PC, featuring a built-in cable TV antenna, DVD burner, inteI< grated speakers, and a 17.S:. I inch widescreen LCD. Even better, it' s integrated into one compact unit, featuring a keyboard that folds up if you' re not using the machine or folds in if you' re using it as a television. The machine changesmodes depending on which way you flip the keyboard.The VAIO comes with Giga Pocket onboard, which manages your multimedia content, from recording TV programs to streaming data to other Giga Pocket-enabled Sony devices like the RoomLink Receiver[$350, sold separately]. A remote control is included so you can put up your feet and control the machine from across the room.

— SC

www.sonystyle.ca Estimated price: $2,499 Previously reliant on its own proprietary mediamanagement soft14

H UB : D i g ital Living - D e c e m ber BQD3

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PC accessories Belkin Mini-Wireless Optical Mouse www.beikin.corn Estimated price: $75 Take a standard mouse, shave off some weight and size, eliminate the ball, and cut the cord. That pretty much describes Belkin's MiniWireless Optical Mouse — no ball, no cord, and about one-third the size of a standard mouse. A USBRadio Frequency module that plugs into the computer[it comes with a USB extension cable) communicates with the mouse at distances of up to a 90 cm. The mouse, while small, is quite comfortable to use and has a scroll wheel and a rubbery coating that improves grip. It's powered by two AAA batteries, and has an off-on switch on the bottom for conserving battery power.

— David Tanaka

Zboard interchangeable keyboard st)stem www.ideazon.corn The Zboard (think "zee" instead of "zed" and it' ll all make sense] is such a simple idea it's surprising it wasn't done before: unlike a standard keyboard, the Zboard consists of a base unit and removable keyboard components that can be swapped out for other configurations. It may be as simple as a module that's relabeled to show you Photoshop or Excel commands right on the keys themselves, or as involved as reconfiguring the keyboard to include huge cursor buttons and regrouped function keys specific to some of your favourite

Humanscale CPU Oollti www.humanscaie.corn Estimated price: $279 One of the best solutions to desktop clutter is moving your computer under your desk [it helps muffle the fan noise, too]. One way to do that is with a CPU stand — preferably on casters. ', 't Not only do the wheels make it easier to clean under the desk, it makes it easier to access the computer's cables.Humanscale's steelCPU dolly is more expensive than most, but it's also one of the lightest, sturdiest, and best-designed out there. Its base accommodates tower-style CPUs up to 22.8 cm wide, and its adjustable handle m akes it a snap to puteven a 62 cm-long CPU on without fear of tipping. Best of all is the simple mechanism that uses the computer's own weight to hold it securely in place — just put it on the dolly and you' re done.

— Emru Townsend

Samsung StlncMaster 191T Plus www.samsung.ca Estimated price:$1,180 If you want a bigger monitor but don't want to use up a lot of your desktop space, check out the SyncMaster 191T Plus, which handles both analogue and digital video signals. The screen itself pivots between landscape and portrait, the whole thing swivels in place, and the screen's height can be adjusted. And of course, since it's a Samsung TFT display, the picture is fabulous.

— SC

www.hubcenede.corn

4t iggt,

At

games. There are currently keyboard inserts for eight different productivity applications and seven different game titles[with more to come). Ideazon also has a generic gaming keyboard called the Zboard Crossfire, which is designed to be used with many different games.The good news is thatw hichever keyboard insertyou choose, all you have to' do is pop it into place, and the software reconfigures the keyboard layout automatically.

Zboard base: $27 Gamingkeysets:$15 to $20 Application keysets: $20 to $55 Base and basic keyboard starter kit: $40 — SC

Logitech QuickCam Orbit www.iogitech.corn Estimated price: $225 If you don't live close to friends or family, Web cameras are a great way to stay in touch, allowing you to see each other while chatting online.

With most Webcams, though, if you lean to one side or the other, you may just lean out of the image frame. Rather than spending all your time repositioning the camera, take a look at the QuickCam Orbit. The camera module sits on top of a 22 cm stand, and you can set up the camera to pan and tilt automatically when you move using the FaceTracking feature. The camera captures still images up to 1.3-megapixel, video at resolutions up to 640x320 (including up to 320x240 live streaming in compatible instant messaging programs like MSN and Yahoo), and audio from the built-in microphone. It connects to your computer via USB and is compatible with both Windows[Me, 2000, XP] and Mac [OSX 10.1.5+].

— SC D ecember 2QOS -

H U B : Digicel Living

IS

T he Bitt of W i F i Once youVe tried connecting to the Internet or other networks wirelessly, going back to the world of cables can be mighty dis-

US Robotics SD2.iig Wireless Turbo series

appointing. It may be time to cut the cords, clean up the clutter,

While other manufacturers released 802.11g products before the specifications were finalized, US Robotics held off until it was sure its products were 100 per cent compatible. Not only that, the company's 11g debut offering features 100 Mbps Turbo speed, which is nearly twice that of standard 11g products, even while maintaining backwards compatibility with standard 11g and older 11b products[includingUSR's22 Mbps models ). The Wireless Turbo series features the usual assortment, including a four-port broadband router, an access point, a notebook PC Card, and a PCI card for your desktop machine. All of these feature 100 Mbps speed, and both WEP and WPAForsecurity. There's also an access point with extended functionality, including bridge/repeater functionality for larger offices.

Wireless Turbo Router. $209 Wireless Turbo Access Point: $409 Wireless Turbo PC Card: $129 Wireless Turbo PCI Card: $159

and set up a wireless network. Whether it's in your homeor home office, here are some new wireless networking products

we' ve been looldng at.

Microsoft Sroadband Networking series www.microsoft.corn/hardware Microsoft joined the ranks of wireless networking hardware vendors last year with the release of its 802.11b WiFi products. Now, the company has updated the line by moving the products to the faster 54 Mbps 802.11g standard. The Broadband Networking line includes several models: a notebook adapter, a PCI adapter for your desktop machine, and a base station mode! that acts as an Internet sharing device. The base has four w ired 10/100 networking ports and the ability to handle up to 253 wireless devices. All of these products feature both WEP and WPA security, to keep yourconnections safe.The products are also backwards compatible with slower 11b products. You can save a few dollars by purchasing the Wireless Notebook Kit [a base station and a notebook card) instead of buying the pieces separately.

For garners, there's also an Xbox wireless adapter that allows you to add your Xbox game console to your wireless network.

Wireless Base Station [MN-700): $150 Wireless Notebook Adapter[MN-720): $120 Wireless PCI Adapter [MN-730): $120 Xbox Wireless Adapter [MN-740): $200 Wireless Notebook Kit [MN-820): $250

Aerieiink SD2.iig series www.aerielink.corn Generally, when a motherboard manufacturer branches out into a technology that's not specifically motherboard-related, you know there's a future for the technology. This is the case with Soyo and its Aerielink wireless networking division, whichhas introduced a few new 11g products.We looked at the PC Card and the 1ig Wireless Router.

While the former is pretty typical of PC Cards in this category, the router is very compact but very powerful. Despite a tiny case, it has four wired ports and can handle253 wireless devices.The configuration Web page is welldesigned and easy to configure.

Wireless Router[AWR01403): $185* Cardbus Card [AWPC3101): $105'

www.usr.corn

3Com DfficeConnect iig series www.3Com.corn Also featuring both WEP and WPAfor maximum security, 3Com's OfficeConnect series may be aimed at the business user, but these powerful products are affordable enough to be attractive to the home user.

The access pointand broadband gateway have adjustable antennae, and the gateway features four wired Ethernet ports. A PC Card adapter is also available.

Cable/DSLGateway: $183 Access Point: $198 PC Card: $116

X-Micro %LAN iib series www.x-micro.corn The biggest problem with going wireless is that if WiFi isn't already built into your notebook or PC, it can be pretty expensive to add it. XMicro's new line of wireless products is designed for affordability, sporting standard 11b features like WEP, but at a lower cost. The wireless router works with either DSL or cable modem, comes with an adjustable antenna and features four wired ports on the rear. You' d almost expect value-based products to cheap out on the manual or onboard configuration tools, but it's easy to set the router up and get everything working. continued on page 21

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HL IB : D igital Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; December 2OQB

www.hubcanada.ccm

Microsoft'" is concerned about improving your computer's security and is committed to helping protect your PC from the latest viruses, as well as from f uture threats. Microsoft and leading industry partners are working together to help protect your PC from these malicious

attacks. Please do your part, go to www.microsoft.ca/protect and follow these steps today.

Llse a firewall, like the Internet Connection Firewall already in Windows' Xp.

Use Microsoft速 V/indows' Update to get and keep your PC up-to-date.

Install antivirus software and ensure it's up-to-date.

To get more information and resources about how to help protect your PC and to register for future PC safety alerts from Microsoft, go to:

www.microsoft.ca/protect

H orne t h e a t r e f o r the ho liday e SharpAquos

Panasonic Diga DMR-ESDPP

www.sharpeiectronics.corn

www.panasonic.ca Estimated price: $1,000

Flat's where it's at when it comes to the cutting edge of television, and Sharp's Aquos has been on that edge for a while, The Aquos line has expanded substantially, with standard 4:3 aspect models ranging in size from 13 to 20 inches, and widescreen 16:9 models ranging from 22 to 37 inches. These models definitely cost some extra cashola, but if you' re short on space, they will fit almost anywherep' . you can even hang them right from the wall. Better, with a 170degree viewing angle in all directions, you' ll be able to see the screen from wherever you' re sitting, no matter how small the room. Smaller models feature S-Video, composite, componentand CATV inputs,and higher-end models also feature computer inputs; check the Sharp Web site for a full breakdown of models and their features.

13-in. standard: $1,000 - $1,150 15- in. standard: $1,150 - $1,500 20- in. standard: $2,000 - $2,300 22- in. widescreen: $3,500 30- in. widescreen: $7,000 37-in. widescreen: $10,500 — Sean Carruthers

Panasonic's version of the DVD recorder is a bit cheaper than Sony's, but it only handles DVD-RAMand DVD-R media. In addition to CATV,it features composite and S-Video input for recording from other sources, and it has slots for PC Card and Secure Digital media, so you can record your digital photographs to OVD or play a slideshow right from the machine. It also has a OV input on the front, so you can record your digital videos straight to DVD. — SC

'

Song DVD Recorder RDR-GX7 www.sonystyle.ca Estimated price: $1,300 Hooked on DVD but still want to record your favourite television programs? In addition to DVD movie playback, Sony's RDR-GX7 can record to blank DVDs(-RW or+RW formats). The nice thing about recording to DVD is that you don't have to search for a blank spot on the disc, like you would with a video tape, because the recorder automatically finds it. With CATVinputs, you can record TV programs directly off the wire, but there are also inputs for other components, allowing you to digitize your old videotapes or

movies +44 y g sP>"

directly from your video camera. The discs you record will be compatible

with Sony's DVP-NS725P progressive scan DVD player [$230j, which will also play regular DVD movies and MP3 CDs.— SC 18

H U B: D i c jitalLiving - D e c e m b e r 2 O Q 3

RCA CRCU900 Universal Learning Remote Control www.rca.corn Estimated price: $99 Let's see... big-screen TV? Check. VCR?Check. DVD player? Check. CD player, receiver, satellite dish? Check, check, and check. An end table to hold all the remotes they come with? IAy caramba! Back in the days when four A/V components constituted serious tech, remotes were the only way to keep your sanity. But as gadgets became more complex it became impossible to find a decent universal remote that didn't have either a few hundred buttons for every conceivable function or one that forces you to learn perplexing button substitutions. Thank goodness, then, for universal learning remotes with LCO touch screens. Depending on the device you' re controlling, the display shows only the relevant buttons — the AM/FM button disappears when you switch from the receiver to the TV, for instance.

RCA's CRCU900 is notable because, unlike many multifunction remotes, it's not much bigger than a regular remote, though it's a little heavier. And with the ability to control up to eight devices, there's a good chance you' ll be able to retire most of the other remotes from active service. A macro function makes it a snap to execute a sequence of commands with one button. Other LCD remotes control more devices and offer more features, but for the simple purpose of consolidating your remotes into one easy-to-learn device, it's hard to beat the elegance of the CRCU900.

— Emru Townsend

learning

Kameleon 8 Remote Control www.radioshack.ca Estimated price: $150 The Kameleon 8 remote control can operate up to eight entertainment devices such as a DVD player or satellite, and can be used with a PYR(personal video recorder) as well. It is quite stylish looking, with digital buttons that only light up when in use rather than raised buttons. The Kameleon 8 is available exclusively at Radio Shack.

— Jessica Malone www.hub csnsds.corn

Logitech Z-680 speaker set www.logitech.corn Estimated p~ice: $600 As the home PC gets better and better as a stand-in For a home theatre setup, with DVD playback, surround sound, and high-quality graphics, it's not unthinkable to spend more money on a decent multimedia speaker set. While Logitech's Z-680 is pricey, it's also an amazing configuration: not only is it THX certified, you can hook it up to your computer and your component DVD player at the same time, thanks to multiple inputs on the rear of the volume control pod. In fact, it not only has a trio of 1/8-inch plugs for analogue surround input, it also has optical and coaxial SPDIF inputs, which means you can have three input sources, and cycle between them using the remote. And with 500 watts of room-shaking power, you'd better make sure your house's foundation is sound.

— SC

PanasonicSC-HT8i0 Home Theatre www.panasonic.ca Estimated price: $1„000 There are a number of all-in-one home theatre configurations that come with the surround speaker setup and a DVD player. If qou want an all-in-one but don't want to l give up your videotapes lust yet, '>7 say hello to this bundle, which features both -;F"

DVD and VHS in addition to the SDD-watt 5.1 surround sound speakers. The DVDcomponent handles both DVD audio and video, and wiil play Windows Media and MP3 files too. It can also play back DVD-R and DVO-RAMfiles recorded on other Panasonic recorders.— SC

OVD for the road Cgberhome DVD platier www.radloshack.ca Estimated price: $500 New on the market and priced affordably, this portable DVO player has a 7.inch in 16:9 format screen that can also display movies in 4:3 format. The unit also plays aaVideo CDs tVCDs), as well as audio and MP3 CDs, and will display JPEG images. The battery is rated at four hours but squeezing in two movies before it runs out of juice is very optimistic. Image quality is good and speaker sound is passable„but using headphones is much better. Its controls are fairly intuitive and we got it working fairly quickly without having to consult the manual. The Cyberhome is a good, affordable portable DVO solution. I especially like the jacks for video and audio out, allowing you to plug the unit into a TV, or to connect to digital still or video cameras.

— Nestor Gula

X' DVD corner Once your hometheatre is all set up, you' ll want something to play on it. Here are a few ideas.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine sets Paramount www.startrek.corn Estimated price: $150 to

$200 per season For the Star Trek geek on your list, Paramount has released all seven seasons of the series Deep Space Nine this year. In addition to all of the episodes, each set comes with a number of "hidden" interviews, short features, and behind-thescenes looks for that season. Each set squeezes seven DVDs into www.hubcsnsds.corn

an attr active and compact package thatwon'ttake up much space on your DVD rack.

— SC

Alien I3uadrilogtl Twentieth-Centurjj Fox, www.foxhome.corn/allenq/ Estimated price: $1,40 The nine-disc Alien box set is bound to be at the top of many for scifi fan wish lists: all four of the movies are included(with extended Director's Cuts]. The extra discs are filled to bursting with extras, such as behind-the-scenes looks at the pre-production, fil ming, and post-production required for all of the movies, design and artwork galleries, trailers, short features, and even Sigourney Weaver's original screen test. Because there are so many discs crammed into this small box, the packaging is somewhat unwieldy, but for true fans, a bit of package wrestling is a small price to pay for having this comprehensive set.

— SC For more top DV0 p>cks: D ecembe r 2 O C G

- HL J B : OigitelLivin g

1B

looks for kids old parents Awesemninternet Sites far IQtls www.smcrk.corn

Estimated price: $20 This 155-page, kid-fr iendly title catalogues children's sites worth visiting. Best thing, it includes a Web version, so you won't have to typein UFIL atterURL

llnmewarkllelp 4 {Quan Nnl I: gratias 1-3; Vnl 2: grndan4-Sl kepablekidz.corn Estimated price: $20 Ycu might want to consider these books as you ponder how to successfully integrate the Internet with your child's education. Each section is prefaced with guidelines from the Onterio Elementary School Curriculuin and provides an endless selection of Web sites for learning end practice.

Professional toy testers Here are some piofessionel toy tester s whose aim is to help you

makesenseofthepre-Christmas onslaught.

CnnntlinnTayTesting Cnuncil www.toy-testing.org For the past 50 years, the Canadian Toy Testing Councilhas been giving kids, ages three months to 16 years, six to 12 weekstotaketoys home and test their design, function, durability, and play value. The final result is age-appropriate ster ratings in various categories. Children' s Choice Awards go to new toys that ei e "Iun, innovative and the absolute best in their area of play."

IgnighSnnrhaaii TayStares ofCnnmhi www,neighbourhoodtoystcree.ca/ goldsterwiririers,htrn If you have a favourite toy store, chanceseie it has helped the Neighbourhood ToyStores of Canadadetermine what toys deserve Gold Star Awards. The criteria'/ "Top quality toys that give the bast play value to childreii."

BO

Thumba up kida picka for the h o lidaya Here's e sampling of some of the new smart toys,technologies,games, and books we've tried out for the under-12 set.

Hands-on Ltlra RDiDPi www.rca.corn Estimated price: $200 RCA's media relations guy suggested 10 year-olds could easily use this MP3 player, but after witnessing an eight gear-old transfer tracks and sit mesmerized for an entire Saturday, I'm lowering the bar. It's incredibly easy to use and the 128 MB memory isexpandable.

PowerTouch Learning St)stem www. fisher-price.corn/us/pawertouch Estimated price $80 This Fisher-Price product is meant for kids three years and up and is a direct competitor to the highlysuccessful Leap Pad Learning System. The main difference is that kids use their fingers, not a stylus, to spell out words, which is easier, but not always as precise. Unlike the Leap Pad, there's no need to press "go" to identify a pagePowerTouch magically determines what page it' s on. My testers point out that the handle "makes it easier to carry." More than 60 learning activities, and a library of books featuring popular characters like Clifford, Blue, and Arthur.

Manctl Drew: Danger on Deception Island {pc) www.herint aractive.corn/prod/ddi Estimated price: $33 Nancy's vacation is cut short in this ninth title in this game series. It turns out there's an orphaned crea whale in the harbour and some distress and mystery concerning what should be done about it.

For ages 10 and up.

PlumO at the Park {PC/Mac) www.cognisclancaine.corn Estimated price: $25 Here's a delightful Canadian surprise that my testers were already familiar with, since they' ve played the first two titles at school. Playable in English, French, and Spanish, although once into the game, language is of gttle importance. For ages three to seven.

Learn to Plati Chess with Fritz and CheSSter {f C/Mac] www.viva-media.corn Estimated price: $40 My chess-playing nephew could hardly restrain himself when he saw this winner of the 2003 Bologna New Media Prize. It includes an entertaining story with lots of opportunity to learn about and practice chess-playing skills.

{vila's Language Adventure: Pixter 2.0 www.fisherprice.corn/us/pixter/ Estimated price: $F5 Unfortunately, Pixter Color isn't avaiiable in Canada, but you can get your hands on the 2003 [third) version that lets kids four years and up beam pictures they' ve drawn on the screen to other Pixter owners, just like Palm-owning parents, albeit from a maximum 1.5 m distance. Older cartridges run on the new device.

The KidnaP CaPer {PC/Mac) www.kutokn.corn Estimated price: $30 This latest adventure of the[Canadian] mouse Mia focuseson learning French orSpanish as a second language. As always, Mia has to find sparklies, solvea mystery, and stay away from the nasty rats. For ages six to 10.

— Mare Guiana

Cool programs Barbie Horse Adventures Mystery Ride {pc) www.vugemes.corn Estimatedprice:$30 Barbie becomes Nancy Drew as she sets outon the trail of a prize horse. Besides solving the mystery, players get to ride and groom their horses, and try on a series of — what elsey — beautiful Barbie outfits.

H LIB : D igital Living - D e c e m ber BOOB

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J enn ife r R o b i n e o n Six-time Canadian champion Jennifer Robinson has been figure skating for 20 years and has been a member of the national team For the last 10. In January, she' ll be trying for her seventh Canadian charnpionship in Edmonton.

Robinson grew up in Windsor, Ont., although she now calls Barrie home.

"I actually wanted to play hockey before I wanted to figure skate, but they didn't really have leagues [for girls] back then. So I took up figure skating after I went to the Ice Capades with my mom and saw them skating," says Robinson. "I liked all the costumes and the speed and jumping."

She was an athlete at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where she watched the judging scandal surrounding Canadian pairs figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier unfold.

"We didn't realize how big it actually was, because in the[athletes'] village you only get the two official broadcasters, so we didn't realize how worldwide it was. That night, when they came back after winning the silver medal, a whole bunch of us slipped some notes under their door and congratulated thein. It was so in the public eye, but that' s helping our sport because if it didn't happen our sport would still be the same."

That scandal actually resulted in a new judging system that employs a range of new technologies.

"It's really cool. It's all touch-screen. There's instant replay, you have your own little monitor, and if there is something you want to review, you just call it up and it will instantaneously show you the take off and the landing and the jump. It shows you in slow mo, fast, anything you want. You put your marks in and it is just so much faster."

From a skater's point of view, Robison says this system is better.

"If you looked at skating in the past, you would see a skating champion, for example, who would do a double axle. You'd get, say, five points. Then you'd see a skater from another little country, or who is skating in their first group, and they'd do the same element, just as good, and they would get no points for it, so there was no consistency, So this way with the new system, if you do a double axle, you get 12 points. That's what you' re guaranteed to get."

Robinson says she enjoys the fact that her Web site(www.skatinginc.corn/Skater s/Robinson ] allows her to keep her fans apprised of what she is doing and answer fan mail more efficiently.

"I' ve had that Web site for about two and a half years. I write little journal entries, and then there's a form where [fans can submit] letters, and then I' ve got a special way that I can write them back.

"I really like the Web site because a lot of people used to w~ite fan letters, but now this has just totally changed that sort of aspect and it' s great â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a lot of people want to know what you are thinking as you are skating, and if it didn't go well, why didn't it go well, and they just want to know, as well to[give] a lot of support."

Because she travels so frequently, Robinson says she relies on email to stay in touch. There is often a computer set up for the athletesatevents,and Robinson says she makes good use ofher Hotmail account.

Robinson says one of her favourite gadgets is her portable Sony DVD player, which she takes with her on all her trips.

"I love it! I got it from my parents for Christmas two years ago and it's just the perfect thing when you' re traveling, especially BP

H U B: D i g ital Living - D e c e m b e r BOCH

where there's a time change. I watch it on the plane all the time too."

At home,Robinson has a DVD player and she and herhusband are saving for a big-screen Sony Wega this Christmas. As well, Robinson uses her HP computer to check her email and surf the Web. During the 2002 Winter Olympics, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps gave all of the Canadian athletes a BlackBerry. Robinson says she continues to use the wireless email device and PDA to manage her schedule.

"Every Olympic athlete [got] one. It was awesome because the Canadian team in the Olympics is massive, so they gave you a book with pictures and bios and everybody's email address. It was a great way to meet people during the Olympics that you may not have the courage to go up to and introduce yourself to. You could just send an email."

Robinson's next competition is the National Championships in Edmonton, followed by the Four Continents Championships in Hamilton later in January, CheckSkateCanada's Web site atwww.skatecanada.ca form ore information.

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Though essentially a resource for students and teachers in that state, it can M be accessed by anyone with a Web browser, and includes energy-related news, profiles of energy pioneers, energy conversion calculators, inter,<,,9 ' 'PQactive ga'mes, an'd links to .-.,'«;,:.;„„', additional resources.

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this handheld is the bright 3.5-inch screen, which makes any multimedia come to life. It has a headphone jack, but you can also listen to audio via the built-in speaker. A microphone for making voice notes is also included.

— Nestor Gula

Pocket PC

Palm OS

Dell AXiiTI X3 www.dell.ca Estimated price: $549

PalmOne has added new models to its consumer and business lines, providing gift ideas for Santas in all budget ranges. All of the following models have rechargeable internal batteries, run Palm OS 5.2.1, and are Windows and Mac compatible.

For the organized — oreven better, the organizationally impaired — aPDAls a great gift idea. If your giftee is already toting a handheld, there is a wide-range of add-ons, software, games, and cases that will help them get the most out of their

With 64 MB and a 400 MHz processor, the lightweight [140 g] Dell Axim X3 Pocket PC has enough memoryand computing power to handle all applications [it comes with versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Explorer on board]. Though it isn't exactly a replacement for your desktop or laptop PC, you can use it to work on spreadsheets, play games, send and receive email, and surf the Web(via integrated WiFi connectivity), The Axim X3 connects to your computer via sync cradle, cable [both are included], or Bluetooth (using an SD card, available separately). A standout in

Zire 21 www.palmone.corn Estimated price: $149 This very affordable model is also very basic. It has a 160x160-pixel monochrome display, B MB of built-in memory, two buttons(calendar and contacts] combined with up and down navigational controls clustered below the display, and comes in an attractive white plastic case with plastic stylus and blue rubber cover flap. The Bre 21 syncs via Mini-USB cable or infrared link. It has no media card slot for adding memory. It's very basic, but it's a good choice for those making the leap from a paper-based organizer. continued onpage24

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continued from page23

Tungsten E

exceptions are the Palm Zire 71 and Tungsten T. — David Tanaka

Estimated price: $299 Though it's a business-oriented line, the multimedia features in the Tungsten models make them appealing for non-businessuses too.The E model,w ith 32 i MB of built-in memory, a 320x320 colour screen,headphone jack,and SO card slot, connects to a PC via a Mini-USB cable or infrared link. It has a shiny metal case and five-way navigator with four control buttons l el a [calendar, contacts, to-do list, and notepad).

With its card slot, colour screen, and headphone jack, the Tungsten E does triple duty as an organizer, photo album, and audio player (MP3 and Real Audio formats). A good tool for those who want a POAthat mixes business and multimedia features.

Tungsten T3 Estimated price: $599 With a 4DDMkz processor (the others use 126 Mkz processors), 64 M B of built-in memory, and

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f a 320x320-pixel display that slides open to ', 320x480,thesleek ,' brushed-metal T3 is a very , .' nice device that expands on

,' the E's multimedia features.

The extra screen real estate, and ability to change the view from vertical to horizontal, means wide-format photos aren't downsized to fit the screen and there' s plenty of room for the on-screen keyboard for text entry. Like the E, it can beused as an MP3 player,butthe T3 adds voice recording and video playback to its multimedia arsenal, It has a five-way navigator and four control buttons, and has Bluetooth as well as USB[via the included cradle) and infrared connectivity.

— Megan Johnston

St tilusCentral PDA Aluminum Hard Cases www.styluscentral.corn Estimated price range: $25-49 You' ve spent a lot of money on a sleek-looking handheld, so why let it get dinged and scratched? StylusCentral's series of anodized-aluminum cases are designed to protect your POA while fitting comfortably around it, holding it snugly in place with a neoprene lining. I tried the model for the Palm Zire 71, which includes storage slots for two spare SO cards and openings for easy access to the Zire 71's various slots, connectors, and even the reset button. In lact, once you put the PDA in the case, there's not much reason to take it out. The only thing missing? A belt clip.

— Emru Townsend

Palm Executive Multifunction

If you switch between pen and Palm and presentation, you may wish you didn't have to juggle different pen-shaped items. The solution? Palm's Executive Muitifunction Stylus. With a twist of your wrist, the pen tip changes into a plastic Palm stylus; flip the whole thing around and you can use it as a laser pointer or a flashlight.

Even better, despite the Palm logo on the side, it can be used on any touch-sensitive screen, piece of paper, or meeting-room wall.

— Sean Carruthers

Belkin St tilus Multi-Pack www.belkin.corn Estimated price: up to $12'

Accessories Belkin Wireless PQA Ketlboard

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www.belkln.cern Estimated price: $75 There's a wireless keyboard from a company called Pocketop that uses a clever mirror system to reflect the keyboard's infrared signals to a Pocket PC or Palm handheld's IR port. This wireless PDA keyboard from Belkin uses the same principle, although it's noticeably bigger overall than the Pocketop. The trade-off is that this model's keys are closer to those of a standard keyboard, which many people will find easier to use. The CD included with the keyboard has both Palm and PocketPC driversIwhich can also be found on Belkin's Web site). Most handhetds are supported, but notable 2%

HU B i O i gioel Uving - O e c e m ber BQCK3

Stylus

wwwyalmone.corn Estimated price: $30

If, like me, you tend to lose your PDA stylus on a regular basis, you may want to check out Belkin's stylus multi-packs. Each package contains several replacements, so you always have another ready when one goes missing. There are replacements for several Palm and Pocket PC models. I See the POAaccessories section of the Belkin Web site for your model.]

— SC

Games in your palm Yahtxee www.handrnark.corn Estimated price: $27» If you are a fan of Yahtzee and Palm, download the electronic version of Yahtzee. The game looks great on a high-resolution colour screen. The scorecard is on the left and dice are on the right, with a big oval Roll button just below them. When you hit Roll, the animated www.hubcanada.corn

dice tumble and realistic audio adds to the effect. The play is true to the originalbut no sneaking an extra roll. Handmark alsomakes Scrabble and Monopoly under license from Hasbro.

— DT

5.0+,Pocket PC 2002+, and No kia N-Gage operating systems.

— SC

v

Calypso

www.fun4palm.corn Estimated price: $20e Calypso is a downloadable Tetris-like game [falling pieces you fit into a grid).

The base is a hexagonal grid with tinted areas that change colour when you successfully fill them. Like Tetris, it can be highly addictive, and you need your wits about you because the pieces fall faster as the game progresses.

— DT

PalmPak Game Essentials www.palm.corn Estimated price: $50 If you' re not into the old arcade classics, this SD card features a variety of other games, including SimCity, Atum, Shanghai, Billiards, and Vegas VIP Casino. It's compatible with all Palm OS devices with an SD slot.

— SC

Atari Retro www.gomdm.corn Estimated price: $50 There's something about vintage video games that never gets old.

Atari Retro features versions of classics such as Asteroids, Breakout, Centipede, Missile Command, Yar's Revenge,Adventure,and Pong.

They all come on a single SD card, which is compatible with Palm OS

*Converted from US$9.25[stylus multi-packs),

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D ecember 2 0 0 3

- H LI B : Digitel Living

25

T uning into h u l iday a o u n d e if your holiday music tastes lean towards the Pogues' Falrytale of NewYork" or anything from the Boney MChristmas album, you may have been barred fromusing the home stereo system. Happily, with a portable music player you can play anything you like without offending those around you. Here are a few tools to help get your solo party started.

storage device and all you have to do is drag and drop the files on its desktop icon. It sounds great, the user interface is simple and battery life is good — a single charge lasts up to eight hours. The Lyra RD2760 is a great portable music device and proof that MP3 players will be continue to get smaller, more powerful, and more affordable.

— Nestor Gula

Portable MP3 players

Accessories

Apple iPod 20 and 40 GB

Belkin iPod add-ons

www.apple.ca Estimated price: $5?9 and 729 Still the coolest MP3 player going, Apple has introduced new iPods, in'20 and 40 GB capacities. Both come with a FireWire dock (USB 2.0 dock/cable sold separately] and wired remote control. The new iPods are compatible with both Mac and Windows right out of the box. Yeah, an iPod costs a bit more, but it's still hard to beat its elegance and ease of use.(See HUB September 2003 for more on the iPod.) — Sean Carruthers

CreativeNomad MuVo NX 128 MB www.nomadworld.corn Estimated price: $230 The Nomad MuVo NXis a tiny flash-based player that doubles as a 128 MBUSB memory key.Although the NX version of the player is the same size as the standardMuvo, itadds an LCD window and a full menu system, which means that not only can you see what's playing, you can delete files, adjust EO settings,and more. The MuVo NX can also be used as a voice recorder, thanks to a tiny built-in microphone. The whole thing runs on just one AAA battery. A 256 MB version of the MuVo NX is also available.

— SC

Lyra R02760 www.rca.corn Estimatedprice:$379 This model is similar to other Lyras except that it's thicker — thicker because this player is loaded. It has a miniature 1.5 GB internal hard disk that can store about 25 hours of music in MP3 format or 50 hours in MP3Pro format. It's still quite small, measur-

ing 5.8x5.8x2.8 cm, and weighs just 91 g. It comes with an armband but is small enough to tuck into a shirt or jacket pocket.

Transferring files is easy: most computers will recognize it as an external 2B

H U B : D i g i tal Living - D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3

www.belldn.corn Price: $149 (Media Reader), $75 (Voice Recorder), $40~ (TuneDok) Belkin checks in this Christmas season with a trio of accessories for youriPod. If your digital camera is getting full but you have no way to offload the images, Belkin's new Media Reader for iPod allows you to stick your camera's memory card into the appropriate slot, then copy the files to your iPod's hard drive. It uses thedock connector found on new iPod models and is powered by four AAA batteries. It' s compatible with 1/ CompactFlash, SecureDigital/MMC, Memory Stick, and Smart Media cards, and has a sliding door to cover the slots when they' re not in use.

The hitch: you have to upgrade your iPod's firmware to version 2.1.

The Voice Recorder attachment hooks to the top of your iPod, and if you have v2.1 of the firmware already installed, there's nothing else to do — just attach it and select "voice memos" in the Extras folder.

You can't use it at the same time as your headphones, but it's easy to attach and remove, and has a protective cover for its connectors when not in use.

If you like to take your iPod on the road, the Tune Dok is a great companion for the car. It includes a base with a pivoting stand that fits into a cup holder in your car. Once you' ve put your iPod in the TuneDok, you can adjust its height with the ratcheting neck design, and use the suction cup to hold it in position.

— SC

Ettimotlc ER-6 Isolator headphones www.headphonezone.corn Estimated price:$198 If you want a really compact set of headphones for your MP3 player that also cancel out noise and sound great, take a listen to Etymotic's ER-6 Isolator earphones, They' re designed to fit right into your ear canal, like earplugs, and you have your choice of silicon or foam tips. The great news is that because they block out ambient noise[15 to l!"

www.hubcanada.ccm

20 dB reduction), you can listen to music at a much lower volume, protecting your hearing. They' re certainly pricey, but once you' ve tried them out, the sound quality speaks for itself.— SC

an interesting way to get surround sound while keeping it to yourself.

[If you can't find this locally, check out www.neo-eshop.corn.I — SC

MMGear MSOOFL5.1headphones

Sennhesier PXC 250 headphones

www.mmgear.corn Estimated price: $90

www.sennheiser.corn Suggested retail price: $1?'9 If you' re a frequent traveller — even if it's only a daily walk/train/bus to work — you probably plug yourself in to a Walkman or MP3 player for some personalized zone-out music, and crank the volume up to get past the ambient noise of engines and other people. Save your ears: Sennheiser's padded PXC 250 headphones not only look good and feel good,they sound good — especially when much of the outside world is fil• tered out via the NoiseGard compensation system. I tried the headphones sitting in the noisiest part of a bus and on Montreal's metro system; in both cases, activating NoiseGard eliminated most of the din so I could hear my music clearly without having to turn it up. Only one problem: they' re so good at shutting out traffic noise, you' ll have to be extra careful on the street, — Emru Townsend *Converted from US$30.

The great thing about 5.1 surround sound audio is that you feel like you' re right in the middle of the action, but when you have to switch to headphones you end up going right back to stereo. Not so with MMGear's new 5.1 headphone set, which comes with three separate 1/8-inch plugs for front, rear, and centre channels. Inside the headphones, are three mini speakers in each earpiece, placed one in front of the other to simulate front center, and rear. The downside is that you have to plug your headphones to the rear of your PC, or use adapters to connect directly to the rear of your DVD player[if its audio is even configured that b ut with a 3 m cable you I have a long leash. They' re not audiophile quality by any means — there's some distortion at top volume and you won't feel the bass like you would with a subwoofer — but they' re certainly

way],

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Icie Jet 4810 -:.-===, - '-'-'='-;--~,'-;='=== naiieahpwa=-'=--= Eatiatatad prfa re: $800 . "."

Ifyou need to add yourolder photo prints,:slides, or docu='=.'-~;,'f'i..'-;" : .",= ments to your digital:-:;: archives, you' ve probably been" '= considering a scanner. They've beenprett y standard for sev- :=" eral years now, esseiitially consisting of e box with a flipup-jid, butHPs new ScanJet sh'akesup the.design.II;hes a scanningcomponent that resembles e picture frame that:. opens up like e book: drop your document or photo inside, close it up, and-then watchae it,scans.through the.. clear window. If you have a bigger item, or one that' s hanging on a.wail, just lift the '.,"I':. scanningwindow outofthe base,hold itup to the item you want to sean, and press thebuttonon the side ofthe '"'-' -' scanner, The downside is that you have to stay within about, =-

1.25:m of your computer thanks to the length of the UBB cable, but the new design gives you e lot more"'""I!r'~; flexibility than the old-school flatbed. There'e even a slide attachment. :;"' ' ~p , :"„;; ';, "'::.,"„g. ;,

In November, we reviewed more than 20 digi-

tal cameras for a range of budgets [online at www.HUBcanada.corn). Since then, we' vehad a chancetolookatafew more models — and some photographg-related tools —worthg of consideration for the digital photographer' s holldag wish list.

Digital cameras FujiAlm RnePix FP00 www.fuiifllm.ca Estimated price: $899 The Fujifilm F700 uses SuperCCD technology to achieve a res~' ! olu t ion level

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(megapixels).

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sharp and has a 3X optical.

Fujifilm's cameras have always had a very good user interface and this continues in the F700. The menu is clearly laid out, easy to use, and intuitive, with single-button access to the most commonly used features. Encased in an elegant aluminum body, this camera is surprisingly lightweight [195 g), even with the proprietary rechargeable Lithium lon battery pack, xD card, and strap.

— Nestor Gula

Kodak EasgShare DX6490

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There is a dizzying ariay of digital cameras on the ma rket today.Whether you're looking

for a simple point-and-shoot:"--"'"'-,'. er something more advanced, hereare e few things to keep, r, =

The atelapixel riliyth:Don' t assume that the more megepixels (MPl a cemeia Iq'j',,", hes, the better it will be. You ' will get bigger images with

mare,megapi xeis,butthey'lt,-:,".;= : . take up more spaceend take longer to write to memory. A 3 MP image will make very good'Bx10 prints, and P.MP images are firie for use on the Web, email, aod 4x6-inch::.--.-, i'4:,.-:;:

www.kodak.ca Estimated price $730 Distinguishing this 4 MP model is a 10X optical zoom lens [equal to a 380 mm telephoto at full zoom). Its design, a departure from Kodak's consumer line, has an edgy prosumer SLR look.

It uses an electronic viewfinder system and offers a number ofexposure modes, including fully manual. The 2.2-inch LCD screen on thebacklooks even biggerbecause the camera itself is surprisingly small. Despite its compact dimensions, the handgrip is comfortable. Adding to the favourable ergonomics is a set of controls that are simple and efficient: a combination scroll wheel/switch just under the shutter button allows you toquickly run through menus and sub-menus using just your index finger. On the back, a circular

dial with a four-way toggle in the middle controls the main modes, while close-up, flash, and timer m odes have dedicated buttons.Overall,im age quality is very good: Bx10-inch enlargements will be no problem with this camera. The camera uses SD memory cards, but also has 16 MB of built-in memory.Itcomes with an EasyShare 6000 dock, and can be used with the EasyShare Printer Dock 6000 [sold separately) to make prints without firing up the personal computer.

— David Tanaka

OlgmpusC-S060 Nde Zoofn www.olympus.corn Estimatedprice: $1,000 For some, the main complaint about digital cameras is that the lens just doesn't have a wide enough angle to get those shots that require it, especially indoors.

The 5.1 MP C-5060 has a 4X zoom lens that's equivalent to 27 mm in 35 mm photography, which means you can fit more in the frame. The camera also offers a lot of manual control over your shot, has a flip-up LCD that can be spun around for self-portraits, and comes with a remote control. Flash is built in, but there's a hot shoe for an optional Olympus flash. It's a bit pricey but the configuration is bound to please the more demanding prosumer.

— Sean Carruthers

Song Cgber-shot OK-U60 www.song.ca Estimated price: $399 Encased in a solid plastic shell, the 2 MP Cybershot DSC-U60 is a rugged waterproof digital camera that can be submerged underwater[up to 1.5 m). As a beach accessory it is excellent — sand can't get into the lens and spilling a drink on it won't require extensive repairs. If it gets dirty, you can just run it under the tap. There is no zoom, but you get a really nice wide i angle that is perfect forunderwater or group photos.

The camera's slightly skewed look

®

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HU B : D i g i t al Living

D ecember 2 0 0 3

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continued from page ze

seems strange, but makes it easy to operate with one hand — with all of the buttons controls easily accessible, Weighing in at about 195 g with batteries (a pair of AAAs), Memory Stick, and strap, the camera is lightweight, too.

— NG

Sidekicks PhotoFit Premium www.tpfit. corn Estimated price: S3PSa You canfind examples ofpanoramic scenes made by piecing together individual prints dating to the mid-1800s. Panoramas are popular again, and that same process of making big scenes fram small frames is still used today. Thanks to computer software, photos can be stitched together so accurately that the joins are all but invisible.

PhotaFit can work with single rows(or columns) of images to make wide(or tall) composites, or multiple rows and columns to make them tall and wide. The program will render the panoramic image as a normal-looking photo where straight lines remain straight, as a 380-degree image in the round(which requires a special viewer like DuickTime) or as a pseudo dome to approximate the image taken with a fisheye lens. PhotoFit organizes panorama making into five steps, from gathering the source images through to printing.

Each step is shawn within the PhotoFit Manager window, which is context sensitive so relevant options are available to you during each step. The program includes a colour balancer that works quite well to equalize the brightness levels of the photos.

Just make sure you have a capable system: on my dual-Athlon test system with 1 GB of RAM, the rendering of four photos into one panorama took a few minutes. Note; both a freeware version and a "light" version called PhotoFit Harmony ($70*) are also available if you find the price of the Premium version too daunting.

— DT

MicroSolutions RoadStor www.micro-salutiuns.corn

Estimated price: $429 More memory is a sure hit for any digital photographer, but the RoadStor might be the gadget they didn't know they wanted. Accompanied by its own carrying case with slots for the remote control, rechargeable battery, and its cables, the RoadStor is about the size of a hardcover book, and operates as a standalone CD burner that will back up the contents of memory cards onto CD-R or CD-RW discs. But this eager-to-please unit does muchmore, Hook it upto a TV or a desktop PC f USB 2.0 capability required) and it plays DVDs and displays pictures fram cards or CDs. It serves as an external card reader and CD burner for your computer; and it will play audio CDs and MP3 files on either CDs or memory cards, with or without a TY or PC connection.

The RoadStor iscomp atiblewith SecureDigitai, CompactFlash (Types I and II), MultiMedia Card, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, and microdrive formats. It will copy to and from the CD, but only reads one card at a time, so you can't copy directly from one card ta another. It supports multi-sessionburning„so you can keep shooting and backing up the pictures until the CD is full.

The included manual has easy to follow instructions and photos to show the proper connections; the unit offers RCA audio/video input jacks and an S-Video input jack. The audio jack will accept standard headphones [not included), but you' ll need the remote to control the volume. The RoadStor is compatible with Windows 98, Me, 2000 (SP3) and XP, and Mac DS 10.1.3 or above.

— Sharlene Myers *Converted from US$277(PhatoFit Premium), US$52 (PhataFit Harmony).

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December 2QQ3 -

Phguicul diuiuuuiuuu:Go to a stare and see how the camera fits your hand. Is it too heavy? Dace it fit in your pocket? Can you operate the controls comfortably? The physical aspects will be very importantto yaurenjoyment

af a camera.

Optical uu. digital uuuuuNearly all digital cameras have both optical and digital zaoms.

Optical zoom means a lens magnifies the image, while a digital zoom is an effect created in the camera's software, Avoid buying a camera based soleiy on the digital zoom as it's a poor indicator af the camera'squality. feature muuu:How simple is it to access the features af the camera? Some can be very complex, so it's worth spendingsome ti me in a cam erastaretrying ta navigate the featureson the models you' re considering before making your choice, Shutter Iug:Some digital cameras have a longish lag betweenpressing the shutter buttan and actually captur ing the picture. Before purchasing yourcamera check it outta see if you can live with this lag. gguuiurg:A (ew cameras have interne! memory, butm ost use either CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard (SD/MMC), xD Picture Card (xD), Memory Stick, ar SmartMedia (SM) r emavable memor.(SM is no longer used by the mein manufacturers).

The hutteriuu:Typically either

propr ietary orAA;somehigh-

end cameras will also accept lithium ion batteries meant far film cameras. Proprietary batteriessometimes have a longer life, but you have to take a charger or spare batter ice (expensive) when you travel.

AA batteries are readily available (and affardable) and if you buy a set of Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)

rechargeab les,youwillhave plenty of lang-lasting power.

Same cameras already ship with rechargeable AAs. — giuutur Outs H U B : Digital Living

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Ringing in the season Want to stag connected with gour loved oneswherever theg mag wander?Ifso,here area few new wireless phones and services we' velooked at.

Nokla 3600 www.nokia.ca Price: $580, $349 [with two-gear contract) Nokia's 3600 shines when you' re using it for the basics: voice calls, emailing, and text messaglng. It also surfs the Web, but at a glacial pace. Despitethat, it does allow you to download Symbian and Java applications [including games] on the go. With the built-in camera, you can take still pictures or video clips, and send them out immediately via email. A cool feature, but at a top resolutionof -..~+. rr ' 640x480 pixels, $5 you probably won't be printing them. Because Q there is no stylus, you enter information using the round keypad. The 3600 can connect wirelessly to your computer via infrared or Bluetooth, and comes with a 16 MB SD card for storing pictures and programs. It also has a TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) with a phone adapter, and has hearing aid support with a LPS-3 Loopset. Not bad for a phone the size and weight (135 g) of an average cell phone. It's available from Rogers ATBgT .

— Nestor Gula

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LG 5450camera phone from Telus www,telusmobllitg,corn Price: $380, $230 (with three-gear contract) Telus has leapt into the world of camera phones with the new LG 5450, which features a 0.3 MP camera along the top edge of the phone, as well as a tiny mirror so you can take self-portraits.

Once youcapture images, you can send them to friends with camera phones(on Telus Mobility's 1X service], email them, or post them on your own pieture site on Telus' server. It costs $0.25 per image sent, in addition to monthly voice and data plans.

— Sean Carruthers

Messenger, Web service, and an organizer for daily tasks. The phone comes with a removable battery, charger, and SIM card. The service portion of the totalphone combo allows for easy setup for anyone with a bank account. No credit checks or contracts required: the user makes pre-authorized monthly payments or ® top ups through their bank account or credit ~< '4 0, card. Also, no deposit, activation fees, or separate system access fees are required. Monthly fees start at about $30. The handset comes with a one-year warranty. The package can be purchased and service activated at Rogers Video outlets across Canada or via the totai phone Web site.

— Jessica Malone

Song Ericsson P800 www.songericsson. corn Estimated price:$1,000 What can the PHOO do? A better question is what this PDA/phone combo can't do. All the must-have features are there, including a built-in camera, Web browser, and high-resolution colour screen. It also adds handwriting recognition (much like Palm's Graffiti], a voice recorder, and MP3 player (visit the Web for a stack of other downloadable applications). The very cool stylus makes you feel like you' re working on a PDA, and Bluetooth means wireless cannectivity.

Does this spell the iu:ig beginning of the end of Pocket PCs? Not quite yet: it's a bit overwhelming, and the wealth of features may have new users running for a paper, pen, and landline.(Note: For syncing PDA data, a PC running Windows 98 or later is required.) The PBOO is available from Fido (www.fido.ca) for $950 with new service activation.

— Mars Gulens

Kgocera Slider from Bell www.bell.ca Price: $224, $99 [with twogear contract) Like clamshell designs, the Kyocera Slider[the

t

Rogers totalphone www.totalphone.ca Estimated price: $140 The totalphone package from Rogers ATBgT debuted in October in the form of the sleek, silver Motorola C256. The small, lightweight (under 80 g] GSM/GPRS cell phone has a 96x64-pixel colour display, and features like email, voice dial, games, text messaging, AOL Instant BO

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SE47] is a compact handset that expands to reveal its keypad — in this case sliding open instead oiunfolding.

The CD MAphone weighs lessthanttggand includesaspeaherphone feature, voice dialing, WAPWeb browser, and text messaging, as well as a scheduler, calcula-

tor, alarm clock, and stopwatch. Thespeaker phone is excellent, with call receipients saying they were unable to tell the feature was being Used, — Megan Johnston www.hubcanada.corn

TechTV's Annual

HOL" DAY BUY" NG GU 'OE Throughout the month of December TechTV will bring you up to speed on coolest and latest Tech items to GIVE and GE7 this Holiday Season.

Here is just a taste of what some of your favorite shows will be covering all month long.

RESH 'AEKKokrs 0-:r M ET

~ Best Games for all gaming consoles • Ultimate Games for the Holidays

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TucsoAvs 8:30r ~-9r v, ET

~ Hottest gadgets on the market ~ Favorite tech gadgets to give or to get ;@~A

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techlive WssxrAvs 8.8:30rv ET

+ Top gifts under Sgo

~ Gift givlflg tips and advice

• Staff holiday tech wish list

~ User type buyer guide

• Great holiday DVD picks,.

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techtv To order Te«bTV «au your cable or sate l l it e pr o vider

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8

Dr e a m i n g n f a B lue(t n n t h ) C h r i s t m a s With the number of Bluetooth-enabled gadgets available this holiday season, lt seems like this wireless technology is finally coming into its own. Here are a few wechecked out.

Actiontec USB Bluetooth adapter www.actiontec.corn Estimated price: $55 If you want to get rid of some of the wires around your computer, adding Bluetooth is as simple as plugging in an adapter like this USB model from Actiontec.

Wirelessly connecting with Bluetooth.enabled devices like printers and handheld computers is the bestknown function, but Bluetooth also allows you to wirelessly link computers. For example, I used Actiontec's USB adapter to set up a simple network between two PCs, and easily transferred files back and forth.

Bluetooth used to be a pain to set up; it's still not completely transparent, but getting better.

— David Tanaka

Belkin Bluetooth Wireless Optical Mouse www.belkin.corn Estimated price: $100 As the name suggests, Belkin's latest wireless mouse connects using Bluetooth. It comes with a USB Bluetooth adapter that can be used for other purposes, like file sharing with another Bluetoothequipped computer.

The right-handed design is very comfortable, with a contoured side that's covered in a rubbery non-slip surface For your thumb, Belkin calls it a four-button mouse: there are two normal buttons, a scroll wheel switch, and a side button for your thumb, The scroll wheel is made of a soft translucent plastic that flashes blue at different rates to indicate discovery mode, normal mode, or low battery. — DT

HP DeskJet 450 CBi www.hp.ca Estimated price: $499 ($429 without Bluetooth) The DeskJet 4SO is a battery-powered portable printer that is also a photo printer in its own right, with a print resolution of 1,200 dots per inch and six ink colours. It handles letter-size sheets(including photo paperand card stock up to 3 m m thick]and connects to your PC via USB, parallel, infrared, or even Bluetooth with an optional Bluetooth card. This DeskJet is quite beefy for a portable (33.8x16.3x8.2 cm and 2.2 kg] but like HP's previous portable, feels like it will stand up well to life on the road. Print quality is very respectable, as is speed, especially for text only,— DT 32

H lJ B: D i g itel LMng - D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3

Logitech Bluetooth familtl www.logltech.corn Logitech has gone heavily into Bluetooth with its new line of products. There's a new version of the Cordless Freedom Desktop MX ($250], which comes with a wireless keyboard, optical mouse, and a mouse recharging base that doubles as a Bluetooth hub for use with other Bluetooth devices. The MX 900 Bluetooth Optical Mouse, with the recharger/Bluetooth hub base, can be purchased separately ($140). The Mobile Bluetooth Headset (price to be announced] can be used with a number of Bluetoothcompatible phones; it comes with its own recharging base and can lastup to seven hoursbetween charges,The mouse and headset come with rechargeable batteries; the keyboard comes with four standard AAs(if you want rechargeables, you' ll have to buy them separately].

— Sean Carruthers

Logitech diNovo Media Gesktop www.logltech.corn Estimated price: $325~ Part of the sales pitch for Bluetooth is its ability to connect a number of devices over short distances, but mostcompanies haven'tgone beyond connecting a phone and PDA, or a notebook PC and a printer. Logitech's di Novo goes Iy beyond the traditional Bluetooth configuration, with several pieces that are designed to work together: a keyboard, mouse, and a Bluetooth hub that doubles as the charging base for the mouse. The major innovation here is that the keyboard module splits into two wireless components: the main keyboard and the number pad, which has an LCD screen at its top. Dubbed the Media Pad, the latter acts as a regular number pad when used with the keyboard, but doubles as a remote control when you' re away from the PC. It shows track information when you' re playing MP3 or CD audio, displays instant message notifications, alerts you when you receive new email, and even functions as a standalone calculator.

— SC For more information on Logitech's Bluetooth strategy, and a compatibility chart, seewww.logitech.corn/bluetooth for the details.

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Getting carried awaLI

More people are using notebook computers instead of desktop PCs, which means they are likely spending hours hunched forward to squint at badly elevated screens and putting their hands in uncomfortable positions to reach awkwardly placed keyboards. Two solutions exist, though both require an external keyboard and mouse — a small price to pay for physical well-being.

KensingtonSkgrunner Contour Case

iCurve Invisible Laptop Stand www.griNntnchnology.corn Estimated price: $45 Griffin's transparent, sturdy iCurve stand raises your notebook 14 cm, bringing the screen closer to eye level. Its arms are padded to keep the notebook from sliding off. The base is smooth enough to easily rotate it with a notebook on it, but optional feet are available if you' d rather it stay put. Another bonus: the space under the iCurve makes for a good spot to slide your keyboard when you' re not using it.

— Emru Townsend

Humanscale LPTHLOOdp l.aptop Holder www.humanscala.corn Suggested retail price: $315 Humanscale's stand is pricier but has a built-in document holder, adjustable height[five levels), a pass-through for cables, and provisions for a notebook security cable, It doesn't rotate, but the L2 Notebook Manager, due in early 2004 from Humanscale, does.

— ET

www.kensington.corn Estimated price: $100 If you travel regularly with a lot of different gadgets, you want something that has room for all your toys but that you can carry comfortably. Kensington's Skyrunner Contour Case is designed to make the travel experience better, from a side panel contoured to curve against the side of your body, to a padded shoulder strap and comfortable carrying handle. It has several large compartments inside and zippered compartments on the outside. It's made of lightweight ballistic nylon,which means the case doesn'tadd to yourburden.

— SC

APC TravelPowerEiackpack www.apc.corn Estimatedprice:$180 Carrying gadgets is one thing, but packing all your power cords too can be just plain annoying. APC's TravelPower line gives you one big transformer with multiple adapter tips and adjustable voltage, so you can leave all of the other power cables at home; it even has USB ports on the side of the power brick, so you can charge gadgets that get power via USB. Previously only available in a traditional notebook case, APC has added this backpack version to the series. It has tons of small pockets as well as larger compartments. The back panel and straps are padded and it has an adjustable sternum strap.

— SC

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Now that the pace of PC replacement is speeding up, old Pentium IIIP

You wouldn' t sella car caked Wha< dO We dO Wff;h ghe with dirt, would youP If you' re planning to give away or sell,, = So you bought a top-of-the-line your computer, take the time ": c o mputer with ample hard drive to scrub it clean first. Earlier space, a blazingly fast processor, thisyear,two MIT graduat~ bucketsofRAM, and up-to-thestudents searched 158 se, minute software. You spared no ond-handcomputersanddisexpense,dropping almost $3,000 covereda wealth ofpersonal on your dream sys™ information left behind, includBut that was 199B, and now that ingcreifjtcard numbers and 233 MHz Pentium II is barely financial and medical records. keeping up with your kids' $249 Seed the lireac release at IittliJhiiieb.iait.eda/aewaofPlayS t ation 2. fice/ar/2083/diahlrlcea.htiall In the modern era, few things Simply dragging all your files symboiize the idea of obsolesintothe Recycle Bin orTrash Can isn't goad enough; neiuPgrade treadmill, and anyone Ifyouwant ta make who's been around computers sure your infarmatian is safe , fromprying eyes,you'llneed long enough knows that atsome samething that rewrites the poin t you just can't upgrade the harddrive's data completely, processor orbeefupthe memory N pe info, part of Sym antec's anymore.

Norlzin Utilities end Norton In a sense, this is where the eSystemWorks, is ane such waste problem begins. Thanks to utility; you can find iess the accelerating pace of hardware « and software develoPment, comsearching faf d ak wipe Qr "diskshred"at freewarel puters just don't last as long as they used to. In Environment sharaware download sites.

Canada's 1999 Information Technology [IT] and Telecommunication(Telecom) Waste in Canada report, the authors estimated that 60 per cent of the personal computers then in Canada were expected to have a first-use lifespan of four years, with the rest lasting five; looking ahead to 2003, they extrapolated that computers with three-year lifespans would make up 60 percent of the total, with the rest reaching only two.

Hard to believe? Think about it: printers, scanners, monitors, and other components also become obsolete, but none of them have as short a lifespan as the PCs they' re connected to.[Out of curiosity, I sifted through my collection of receipts and discovered that the monitor I'm currently looking at has been connected to four different computers so far.)

That means a lot of computers, more so than any other components, are currently lurking in basements and closets, just waiting to be thrown out — if they haven' t already been. But if you want to keep them out of landfills, what can you do?

The best solution, when possible, is to find yourcomputera new home, Assuming -g==-" ==-= :you' ve already tried to give it away to family or friends, you still have some options.

My favourite solution happens to be the one requiring the least effort: donate it. «

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If you'd rather not do your own legwork, Computers For Schools takes donated computers and puts them to use in classrooms and libraries across Canada. You can visit the Computers For Schools Web site [cfs-ope.ic.gc.ca/] for more details.

Your other option is to sell your computer, as a unit or by individual components. There are many stores in or near metropolitan areas that sell older computers at reasonable prices; most buy from companies clearing out dozens or hundreds of computers at once, but some also buy from individuals.

You can also try selling online. There's eBay, of course, but you can also try using Usenet newsgroups. Using a free newsreader like Outlook Express, Netscape News, or the online Google Groups, search for newsgroups with the words "forsale" or "marketplace" in their titles and post a for<ale notice on all that apply.(Oon't, for example, past on ont.forsale if you' re in Alberta.]

You shouldn't expect to get rich selling even a year-old computerlower your expectations to at least being compensated for your time, and knowing that you' ve kept your machine out of landfill just a little

bit longer, At some point, however, a computer is simply of no use to anyone.

And that raises new issues I' ll discuss next month.

By Emru Townsend

vvww.hubcanada.corn

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Submit up to 3erfgtxnl digital videos, along with the form below, byFebruary 23nl, 2004.Anything gom, but keepIt clean.AII videos mustbeburnt to a CD,and must benomore than 5 min. in lenglh.Winnerswill be announcedIn the March 2004issue.Must be in QuickTime or Windows Media Player format. All elements of thevideo must beoriginal and not irdnging onanycopyrights.

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T he 17-inch i M a c Designedaroundan ugra-compact base,the Apple iMacfeatures astunning 17-InchwldescmenLCDgmt appears to float in mid-str, allowingusemto effortlessly adjust gs height or anglewith just a touch. The 17-inch IMacpackspowerhl features like a speedyt sitz G4processor, exhumeIIIDIA graphics, andafast OVO-burningSuperDrlvewhich lets youburn your ownmovies andphotos onaDVDdisc that plays In almostany standardDVDplayer. TheiMac also offers twoFireWlreie 400 andgve USSports for fast, simple,pl ugged-play connecgons todigital devices suchasdigital cameras, DVcamcorders andiPoddigihd music players.

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F inal Cuj. -Expr e s s Featuring thesameinterface as the EmmyAwant-winning Final Cut Pro, FinalCut Express is ambust ediTingsolution for diglhd video enthusiasts. It providesprofessional-level editing, compcsigng and real-time effects for full-featured DV edigng. Final CutExpressIs an innovahvecombination of power andeaseof use. It's optimizedfor the DV format andcomeswith all the high-quality composiTing,gtling and effects capabilities youneedfor professional-level video.

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VIdeo editors canuseFinal CutExpmssto captum, manage and edgdtgihd video; apply transT ions, filters and effects in real-time; create titles, composite layers,andproduce high~uality graphics andanimations; and perform colourcoirection. Final Cut Expressprojects can beexported hir use in IDVD~ or OVD Studio Pro®, savedbackto tape,or exported to any QuickTimetp format, induding MPEG -4.

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HOE-MAILEHTRIES.Thosee-mailing entries could be subject to visits from angry HUBnetwork admins(and trust us, you don' t wantthatto happen).Forcompletem les and regulagonsgo to wwwhubcanada.comldvc Hljg's digital video contestEntry Form.Deadline February23rd,2004 Name:..............................•..... ••...•...•..... • .•... •.•... •..-..-..•....•....-.-.. • .-----. Occupation/school:.......................................................•...........................

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How to : P lan holiday p art iea w it h y ou r h a n d h e ld 'Tls the season for entertaining, and whether you' re hosting a

ther into specific menu items that can be assigned their own start ' and finish date — especially handy if some items need to be purchased or made in advance.As you complete each task,you can check it off, or if you set the program to project mode, you can mark items partially complete, using a percentage. Completed leaves automatically complete their branches.

The program has a timeline view that lets you see all of the designated tasks on a calendar, so you can balance out the workload if you notice you' ve planned too much for one day. Plus, each item can include an attached note, so I' ve broken down the budget into Food, Drinks, and Entertainment, then attached notes to enter all the

dozen people or a hundred, it always means there's more to do, and more to remember, with each approaching day. This is where a handheld can really prove, well, handy. Here are a few tips on getting the most out of your handheld as you plan your holiday party.

Setting up a plan The To Do list in the Palm OS is fine for everyday chores, but sometimes you need a little more organizational finesse, such as when you' re planning a special event. This is where project-planning software can help — for the purposes of this project, I'm using BrainForest 3.0 Mobile Edition for the Palm OS[UltraSoft, www.ultrasoft.corn, US$19.9S*, 30-day free trial available). With BrainForest, I can set up all the aspects of the party (or any other project) in one outline, breaking each down into its respective tasks and assigning individual start and finish dates to avoid a last minute crunch.

BrainForest consists of outlines called Trees, Branches, and Leaves.

I' ve set up a party plan tree that includes four branches: Food, Guests, Entertainment, and Budget. Under each branch are other branches breaking down what needs to be done for each aspect of the party.

For example, under Food there are separate branches for food and drink, and each leaf breaks it down fur-

expenses for each one.

Using your contact list If you plan to send out invitations, there are a few tricks you can use to speed up the process. If you use Palm Desktop for Windows, pull up your addresses, and then select all of your guests by clicking on each one while holding down the Ctrl key. Once you' ve made your selections, you can email everyone at once by clicking on Edit, then E-mail, which will open a new message with all of the invitees' names and email addresses entered. Or, if you'd prefer to mail invitations, click Edit, then Send to, then Microsoft Word. A dialogue will open to ask you if you'd like to turn the resulting address table into form letters, mailing labels, or envelopes (you' ll need Word 2000 or newer to make this work).

If you' re using Palm Desktop for Mac, open the addressbook and click the checkbox beside your potential guests, then click Print. A dialogue box will pop up to customize your printing, with choices to print the addresses as mailing labels or envelopes. Be sure to designate only marked addresses for printing, or you' ll end up with labels for everyone in your address book. The dialogue box provides a preview button so you can check the final product before printing.

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and get 55008 In addition to giving you a platform to share your views, you will have the opportunity to receive cash. Panel

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liow it Worba By agreeing to join the eVox panel, you are giving permission to HUB:Digital Living to provide your email address and name to Decima Research Inc. This is the only information HUB;Digital Living will provide to Decima and any other information provided to HUB will not be shared.

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may also share information with other stakeholders in the digital market. This could indude manufacturers, retailers, and other associations.

Protecting Veer Privacy To ensure the privacy and security of your personal information, HUB: Digital Living has partnered with Decima Research Inc to administer the eVox paneL As an independent third party, specializing in research, Decima will never share your personal information with any other organization.

As a member of CAMRO (Canadian Association of Market Research Organizations), Decima Research strongly supports CAMRO's Standardsand Rules of Practice regarding Internet research. In order to gain your trust and ensure that your privacy is held to the highest standards in the market research industry, Decima Research welcomes any questions, concerns or comments that you may have regarding our privacy policy. Please feel free to contact us by e-mail at info@decima.corn

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There you are in the electronics superstore eyeing 27 different audio players. "It' s MP3 compliant!"

• announces one big yellow sticker."It' s WMA ready!" declares another.

WMA or MP3 are both digital music file types.

The former is a Microsoft technology and the latter a more widely used format.

So whathappens when the music player makers decide in, say, three or five years that MP3 and WMA are obsolete and should be replaced by something newer? Well, walk out to the curblike you did with your eight-track player and Betamax 1Syearsago — and dump the device on the sidewalk. Then head for the electronics superstore where you will eye 27 different audio players and read their big yellow labels — again, This time you look at them with fresh eyes. One says: "Ha, ha, you' re back. We gotcha!" Another saysuHooray for obsolescence!"

What if I told you that might change?

What if I told you that any technology you buy from this day forward will upgradeable from here on in? It could happen if the OSGiAlliance has its way.

OSGi stands for Open Services Gateway Initiative.

It's a mouthful and even though I' ve spelled out the acronym for you, my guess is you' re still scratching your head, Yeah, that's what I did, But, after talking to three people from the OSGi Alliance, I managed to figure it out.

Here's what it does. It's a technology that allows for two things. First, it slows obsolescence in consumer electronics, It's the plumbing that allows updates to the embedded programming that runs a device. You probably know that inside every electronics device are chips that make it work.

And in those chips are programs. In most cases the program can't be updated, but in an OSGicompliant device it can be. And that update can come from the Internet and find its way onto a device and completely upgrade it to fix problems or extend the device's life. OSGi also allows for the addition of new functions, allowing the device to do new things.

This doesn't mean an update via the OSGi frame-

H LJB : D j gitaaj Living - D e c e m b e r 2 OCX3

work [as it is calledi will turn your MP3 player into a camcorder, If the hardware can*t handle a task because of its physical limitations, OSGi can' t help.

"The benefit the consumer will see is that devices are less likely to become obsolete," said Oan Bandera, IBM's program director of emerging device standards and strategy. "There's also the ability to add new features after you bring it home from Best Buy or Sears," explained Bandera, who is also an OSGiAlliance board member.

Let's say your phone is simple. Maybe it has a screen that shows the time and date and can ring and is able to dial out, but that's alL One day, caller IO is invented. So the phone gets a soAware upgrade using OSGiand suddenly it can display a caller IO on its screen. That's the power of OSGi. Beyond new features, OSGi can also act as an intermediary between devices. It can help one device talk to another. In future, your alarm clock might use OSGi ~@f+-. techn o logy to alert Lrl -" „ the toaster that you' re up and about.

•I To get new data, a device will need some connection in and out — maybe via a home network or Bluetooth R.: — but once it has that, updates can find their way to the device from the Internet.

A lot of companies are participating in the OSGi Alliance, including Motorola, Philips, IBM, Toshiba, Samsung, Siemens, and Nokia.So it appears as if OSGi will become a certainty.

Philips is one of the first companies to produce an OSGi-compliant device, called the iPronto [shown], which is an oversized remote control for your TV that can also control the heating, display video from the security camera at the door, and plenty of other home control functions. Of course with OSGi, it' ll be able to do all kinds of other things in future.

The biggest challenge for the OSGiAlliance is to get the word out to people like you. But it struggles with clarity.

When I asked a rather befuddled PHd-powered OSGispokesperson what OSGiwas,he responded: "It's middleware based on Java, so we extend the Java environment and that allows us life cycle management and definition of common interfaces."

Imagine that on a big yellow sticker.

Andy Walker is a Canadian journalist based in California. wow.hubcartada.corn

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