In today’s Global TV Morning News with co-host Mike Sobel, I talked about my take on BlackBerry PlayBook and showed a cool new DSLR from Canon.
Since RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook launch last week, many folks have been asking me how good it is and whether they should buy it.
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html?releasePID=5Vr6CX4AEhWh_BuB4m5Ax6vYRplFLgcB
I have been using the PlayBook before and after launch and feel comfortable enough to say exactly who should consider buying it.
Let me keep this short. You can read all the other PlayBook nice features online, OK? Here what is unique and well thought out for the PlayBook.
1. Only if you own and like using a BlackBerry smart phone, the PlayBook is a perfect fit for current BlackBerry OS 6X owners who want to have some fun with a larger screen. They can also do their BlackBerry email, calendar, tasks, notes, contacts and soon to come BM Messenger on their PlayBook securely connected to their BlackBerry via BlackBerry Bridge using Bluetooth. The BlackBerry is actually keeping all the information and changes. When disconnected, the PlayBook keeps none of what you just did with these office apps. That is smart, even though the PlayBook is simply a large dumb screen in this mode. I did however find that I was still doing these work functions on my Torch.
2. The PlayBook has a rock solid browser when online, buying stuff or booking flights on a nicely sharp and bright screen. For this it uses WiFi or Internet Tethering, again via Bluetooth you’re your BlackBerry device. Unlike most other tablets that have their own cellular data capability, the PlayBook uses your nearby BlackBerry smartphone to go online…just as fast. This is good for thrifty users or tight budget workplaces.You only need to have one cellular data plan and since most folks keep their cellphones nearby, your PlayBook can be online whenever you want.
3. Apps. Now that the PlayBook will be able to run Android Apps later this year, along with its several thousand strong and growing, PlayBook apps, you will have more than enough apps to get by. You can also connect the PlayBook to your PC via USB and directly drop and drag media like songs, movies and photos or use the BlackBerry desktop software for more sophisticated synchronization.
iPhone, Windows 7, Nokia or Android phone users should simply look elsewhere. The PlayBook is a BlackBerry family device. Converts to the most slick, efficient work smartphone, are welcome.
For more information go to: http://ca.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet/
Check out my www.globalnews.ca Q&A on the PlayBook last week at:
http://www.globalnews.ca/Tech+talk+reviewing+PlayBook+tablet/4637355/story.html
And Globals National PlayBook launch day special report:
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html?releasePID=5Vr6CX4AEhWh_BuB4m5Ax6vYRplFLgcB
NEW CANON DSLR ROCKS
Canon deserves credit for starting the consumer DSLR revolution with an under-$1000 6.3 megapixel digital SLR EOS Rebel way back in 2003. Today you can buy new DSLR cameras for under $600 but for $999.99 you can get Canon’s new 18 megapixel EOS Rebel T3i. The T3i has all the DNA of the original REBEL but now it’s on steroids, offering value for consumers who want a long-time investment in a camera system that is easy to use, yet produce professional results.
Here is what makes the T3i so good.
-It’s loaded with features like the new onscreen EOS Feature Guide that includes detailed camera setting descriptions, including guided recommendations on when to specific settings…great for first-time users.
-You can grow with the camera’s many functions buy easy to get to ways to start changing basic auto settings with personal choice functions like changing ambience and coilour balance, the two most important parameters that make for a technically good photo.
– A fresh approach to Scene Intelligent Auto technology A+ setting does all the work is all youwant is the best photo under any conditions.
-For enjoyment and fun, the T3i is armed with large Vari-Angle three-inch Clear View LCD screen with a very impressive 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution. This means you can shoot and see the image onscreen and not the almost invisible screen pixels. Canon’s Creative Filters include Soft Focus, Grainy Balck and White, crazy effect Toy Filter and Miniature Effect filter add spice to your photos. These fileter can be applied to already taken pictures, on-camera in a second file copy, preserving the original.
-I big features is the HD video quality, a full capture at 1920×1080 at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second that rival cameras selling at twice the price. Compared to video-only camcorders, the larger C-size sensor of the T3i captures HD video with the same detail and richness of its still photos.
–One very cool video feature is the ability to zoom in even closer than the kit EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens than you can keeping the same HD quality video. This smart technology takes advantage of the fact that the camera’s 18 megapixel sensor for still photos can use only part of its surface to zoom in closer maintaining the 1920-1080 HD video resolution. This means you don’t have to buy a second long zoom lens for your once in a lifetime family close-up movies.
–One of the smartest movie features I have ever seen is Canon’s Video Snapshot, burrowed from Canon’s VIXIA line of camcorders. It lets you select to shoot a series of short two, four or eight second scenes (it stops recording automatically) and assembles this short snippets into one long professional video of “tightly” edited scenes for playback on a TV or computer. You will be amazed what a great videographer the T3i will make you become!
–But can the T3i walk the walk? Like I said, it’s on steroids with a 18-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, 9-point Autofocus system and a 63-zone dual-layer metering system, 34 consecutive full resolution JPEG action shooting. I was disappointed with the paltry 9 consecutive RAW frames I could shoot, even when using Lexar’s speedy 64 GB SDXC 133x SD card. Needless to say the T3i shined in its ability to shoot the most challenging photos. One example of challenging scene for a DSLR camera is shooting in near pitch dark in my backyard, which the T3i passed with flying colours.
Although I didn’t review it, Canon’s T3i sibling, the 12.2 megapixel Rebel T3 DSLR, $599.99 with the Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 DC III, shoots 1270p HD video and features the same processing capabilities of the T3i. Other reviewers note that the exceptional low light capability of the T3 makes sense since it uses a similar sensor as the T3i, but each pixel is larger, making the T3 a great choice for budget minded DSLR shoppers with a gteat selection of lenses to grow with.
For more info go to: www.canon.ca
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