Features

• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable
• 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available

Asin: B0001A99MO
Sales Rank: 1268
Subjects:  1. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple    2. Portable Audio    3. MP3 MP 3 Player    4. Jukebox    5. MP3 Player (MP 3)    6. Apple    7. (Mac)    8. (Macintosh)    9. Gigabyte    10. 5GB    11. 5 GB   

Features

• Universal remote control to replace all remotes
• Customizable user interface
• Comprehensive electronic program guide
• Instant access to the Internet at your fingertips
• Extensive and easy to install home networking capabilities

Asin: B00009ATTN
Sales Rank: 26391
Subjects:  1. Remote Control   

Features

• Records more than an hour of high-quality MPEG-4 movie clips as distinct files
• 10x optical zoom; 2-inch fold-out LCD screen
• Also functions as digital camera, stereo audio recorder, MP3 player, data storage, and media player with both NTSC and PAL TV compatibility
• Compatible with USB 2.0 for fast, easy transfers
• World's first hard disk drive (HDD) digital camcorder--save video clips on the 1.5 GB HDD or Memory stick

Asin: B0000899LS
Sales Rank: 9489
Subjects:  1. Camcorder (Camcorders)   

Features

• Highly functional phone comes with aFM stereo radio and digital music player/recorder that supports MP3's
• Features a music key which lets you access your music at the touch of a button
• Comes with a full keyboard to make messaging quick and easy
• Large color display supports 4,096 colors
• Supports E-mail and Internet browsing

Asin: B0000CE1H2
Sales Rank: 3078
Subjects:  1. Nakia Nokea    2. Web Enabled Internet WAP Browser Surf   

Editorial Review

Compatible with T-Mobile cell phone service, this Pocket PC phone features Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition, and functions both as a high-quality cell phone and a serious PDA. It features pocket versions of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and IE, as well as MS Reader, Media Player, and Terminal Server. Plus there's a speakerphone, microphone, voice recorder, and a whole lot more, and it's all displayed on a large, 240 x 320, 12 bit 4,096 color PDA screen.

For calling, the dual band phone works on the 1900 MHz band and features call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, any-key answer, auto-answer, auto-redial, speed dial, mute control, no-answer transfer, one-touch 911, vibrating ring, differential ring, and a phone book capacity of 250 entries but expandable via memory card.

As a PDA, the T-Mobile Pocket PC phone offers all the wonders of the 2003 version of Microsoft Pocket PC Phone Edition:32 MB RAM with a 206 MHz StrongARM processor, loaded up with Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and Windows Media Player, so you can play MP3s and movie clips with your device, as well as downloadable WAV-format files for ring tones, a large step above the usual options available for phones to date. The e-mail client supports POP3, IMAP 4 and MS Pocket Outlook, and can be used online, or offline via ActiveSync. Outlook also provides a familiar calendar, datebook, and other organizer functions. Data storage can be expanded via MultiMediaCard (MMC) Secure Digital (SD) cards, and PC sync is accomplished via infrared and ActiveSync software. For getting online, Pocket Internet Explorer supports not only WAP, but also i-Mode, HTML, and AvantGo channels.

This Pocket PC phone weighs 5.2 oz. and measures 4.3 x 2.7 x 0.7 inches. Its batteries are rated at 210 minutes talk time and 150 hours standby time.

Features

• Treo 600 combines a full-featured mobile phone and Palm OS organizer with wireless applications like email, text messaging, web browsing and even a digital camera
• QWERTY keyboard makes entering text and accessing information fast and familiar-perfect for messaging and a must have for email
• Built-in color web browser, Blazer, gives you fast access to nearly all the sites on the web-not just the ones optimized for mobile devices
• Take a picture or share images with others via email-you can even attach a photo to a phone number so you can see exactly who's calling with Picture Caller ID
• Because Treo 600 runs the popular Palm OS, there are thousands of applications you can download and use-like MP3 players, etc.

Asin: B0000SX2U2
Sales Rank: 1038
Subjects:  1. Sprint PCS Wireless Web   

Features

• Analog resistance sensitive touch panel
• Integrated Wi-Fi
• Intel processor at a phenomenal 400 MHz
• 128 MB SDRAM
• Secure Digital and CompactFlash Card slots

Asin: B0000DBJUB
Sales Rank: 11706
Subjects:  1. Portable Audio    2. MP3 MP 3 Player    3. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA, Electronic Organizer)    4. Pocket PC (PCs)    5. Casio    6. Handheld (Hand Held)    7. Toshiba   

Editorial Review

The new Palm-powered PEG-NZ90 Clié handheld pushes the envelope of handheld computing, featuring the new Palm OS 5.0 as well as an ARM-compliant 200 MHz CPU for enhanced overall performance and exceptional multimedia experience.

The built-in 2-megapixel camera supports UXGA resolution (1,600 x 1,200) for high-quality still photos, and includes several enhancements, such as 2x digital zoom, strobe flash, auto focus, and manual exposure adjustment, to help make your photos look their best. You can also record and play back video (MPEG-4) and store it on Memory Stick media.

Built-in Bluetooth technology allows you to pair your Clié handheld with other Bluetooth-compatible peripheral devices. HotSync your Clié handheld with a Bluetooth-enabled Vaio PC, exchange data or play games between Clié handhelds using Bluetooth, or connect to the Internet via a mobile phone with built-in Bluetooth--all wirelessly (Bluetooth-compatible peripherals sold separately and Internet service provider required).

The PEG-NZ90 is also equipped with a wireless communication slot for adding an optional wireless LAN (802.11b) card. Browse the Web, check e-mail, and synchronize data wirelessly with your PC via wireless local area network (LAN access point sold separately and Internet service provider required).

This new Clié also incorporates a voice recorder feature to record and play back voice memos. A 128 MB Memory Stick can hold approximately 535 minutes of voice recording in LP mode. The PEG-NZ90 also includes a slim and stylish multifunction USB cradle, with folding mechanism for portability. It is USB compatible for HotSync operations and printing JPEG still images directly to a printer. You can also display JPEG pictures on a monitor using the AV output.

Another new feature is the removable lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack. The "Smart" lithium battery pack indicates the remaining battery life in minutes. Additional battery packs (PEGA-BP500) sold separately.

Note: Compatible with Sony's wireless LAN card (PEGA-WL100) only. PEGA-WL100 sold separately.

What's in the box

• Clie handheld
• USB cradle (for HotSync operation and printer connection)
• USB cable (for HotSync operation)
• USB cable (for printer connection)
• Stylus
• AC Adapter
• AC Cable
• Stereo headphones
• Remote controller
• Hand strap
• Installation CD-ROM
• Read This First
• Troubleshooting Q&A
• End User License Agreement
• Graffiti sticker
• Limited Warranty Statement

Editorial Review

The Seiko Instruments InkLink handwriting system is the ultimate tool for instantly capturing your handwriting or drawings directly to your handheld, laptop, or desktop PC.

It's easy to use, works on ordinary paper up to legal size, and easily clips onto 50-page tablets. Plus InkLink comes with its own carrying case that fits in a pocket or purse.

Using Seiko's exclusive binaural technology, the InkLink Data Clip continuously listens for communications from the InkLink pen while it tracks the natural movement of your hand. As you write anywhere on the paper pad with the InkLink pen, the InkLink Data Clip reads precisely the location of the pen tip and communicates its exact position to your handheld, laptop, or desktop PC.

Features

• Backward compatible with USB 1.1
• USB 2.0 enabled
• Includes docking cradle
• Requires no drivers
• Stylish Design

Asin: B0000AKVHF
Sales Rank: 62
Subjects:  1. CPU Upgrade Card (Cards, Upgrades)   

Editorial Review

The Seiko Instruments SmartPad2 enables you to instantly capture everything you write or draw using the SmartPad pen on ordinary paper and send it to your Palm OS-based handheld. You can handwrite notes and store them in your Date Book or draw a map with directions and attach it to a contact in your Address Book. It is compatible with Palm III series or later, Sony Clié, Handspring Visor, and HandEra handhelds.

The SmartPad2's adjustable infrared transceiver sends your notes and drawings directly to your handheld via the infrared port. Store your notes as attachments to any of the four Palm OS applications or transfer them via HotSync to your PC. From your PC you can print your notes, and file, fax, or e-mail them. You can also e-mail notes and drawings directly from your handheld with optional e-mail software and a modem or phone.

Features

• Listen to MP3 music
• Transfer files to your computer via USB 2.0 or 1.1 interface
• Transfer digital pictures from CompactFlash, IBM Microdrive, and other flash media formats via separately sold adapter
• Store and watch video with audio soundtrack
• View pictures on integrated 3.5 color LCD, or on the nearest NTSC or PAL TV with included video cable and infrared remote control

Reviews (3)

I was very disappointed in this unit.
I was very disappointed in this unit. I was going to take it on two-week trip, where the eight of us could save all of our pictures, and review them in the hotel during the trip, and burn a DVD for all at the end, but after discovering the following deficiencies, I threw it in a drawer instead: (1) power brick and cables were almost as large and as heavy as the unit itself, (2) the unit took 5-7 seconds just to display the next picture - making quick review very frustrating, and (3) the video cable for displaying on a TV did not work, or just barely worked if one jiggled it and held it out 1/16th of an inch and applied pressure - either a defective or poorly designed cable/plug.I'd expect this from a $5 pair of cheap headphones, but this unit cost me almost 600 dollars.

Very good allrounder
I had the need for a product that could be used for: 1. playing MP3, 2. dumping photos 3.Viewing photos and 4. Portable data storage. Along with the Archos products this was the only device which can do it all. I selected this because I prefer the "gameboy" design since it protects the screen well. In fact, I was so impressed with the specs that I was prepared to pay about $170 shipping(to south africa) and run the risk of losing it since there is no support outside US/Europe at all. It all paid off(so far). Fortunately it arrived intact and I have had the device now for 3 problem free months.

It plays music with exceptional quality and photo dumping from all card formats are a breeze with the very flexible optional adapter. TV connection also works well. The video only supports Motion JPEG - MJPEG.AVI files. I have been able to look at .avi videos taken with a Canon camera successfully. However with a downloadeable translation tool from their web site, many other formats can be translated and it works. The translated video takes up a bit more space after translation. Since the device firmware can be upgraded, one hopes that they will come out with more video codecs. The only glitch i found is that the operating system can be very slow when you have large directories. With 80GB of dispace available, a directory can become too large very quickly. That requires a lot of organizing if you have lots of music to store. I also requested from the support people to confirm (before I ordered)whether I would be able to read a Memorystick Duo (with supplied adapter) but there was no satisfactory answer. Battery life is not great, about 3 hours when playing music only, but that should be expected for a device such as this. When only using it for dumping photos, it lasts for days.

A nice feature is that it can read .M3U playlists created on our PC and you can create playlists on the device itself.

An all in all impressive product which have given me countless hours of joy(so far) and I would recommend it for sure. In fact, I have not seen a device on the market yet for the price that can beat it.

Features

• Removable, high-capacity Li-ion battery -- up to 14 hrs continuous playback per charge
• Compatible with Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP
• 60 GB storage lets you bring up to 16,000 WMA songs (80 kbps) or MP3 songs (128 kbps) everywhere you go
• Use AudioSync to synchronize your music on your player with your PC at work, school and home or on the road
• Load a song a second with ultra fast USB 2.0 port, compatible with USB 1.1 too

Reviews (78)

Go iPod...
This is the 6th month with (or was) my Nomad Xtra. I absolutely loved the product and it was totally worth it... until now. I remember correctly that I didn't drop it even once, and I went extra protection for my Nomad. The cover kept popping off but I didn't care, putting it back on wasn't much of a chore. But the headphone jack went awol and I was in the middle of a song when it went totally blank. I thought it ran out of battery until I realized that I left a few minutes ago fully charged and ready for my day. Then I went everywhere online to see what happened and saw countless ppl with the same problem. I was sad. I lost hope in the product, I even tried calling customer service who advised me to "stick my headphone end into the jack and wiggle it violently" or "bang the jack against the wall." it scratched and scraped my player but i just wanted it to play. After a month of grueling I pondered whether to pay 175 bux to fix a product that wasn't really reliable, or buy an iPod 20GB. I went with the 20GB and to say it still hasn't had any problems. Go iPod or Dell, iRiver at least. Save yourself while you can.

Heavily researched all of them, VERY happy with my choice.
I spent about 8 or so hours online researching all the mp3 players available.I was looking for a 20 or 40 GB player, but ended up getting the 60GB because it was only about $30 more than the 40GB.

Every mp3 player has its pros and cons, I can live with the 'cons' of this player, no problem.I chose the Zen Xtra because:
1-It has the most bang for its buck..

2-It comes with a battery that you can replace, Ipod doesn't and neither do some of the others.

3-It comes with volume normalization, others don't.I have obtained mp3's from all over the place, and some are way louder than the others, this will set them all at the same volume.

4-You can buy a car DC adapter, some others don't.

5-The sound is very crisp...I did buy some $30 headphones, and the sound is fantastic.But even with the earbuds that come with it, the sound is still very good and crisp.

I don't know why people complain about the software, I'm no computer person and I figured it out in no time.It's a bit bigger than the Ipod (and they say you can't run with it), but it's not crazy big at all and I don't run with music anyway.My carrying case (included) has a window for the screen and I've had absolutely no problems with the player.The battery life is about 8-10 hours, depends on how much fiddling you do with it.

Other than that, all I can say is that I'm very happy with this product, no question.I picked it up for $279 at buy.com I think.I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Features

• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Features redesigned and backlit navigation; includes dock, wired remote control, earbud headphones, carrying case, and AC adapter
• 40 GB model holds up to 10,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Included docking station makes charging and synching easy

Reviews (155)

Mobile Jukebox and more
It's great having my entire cd collection (over 550) in one tiny place. Now I'm listening to music I own some of which I hadn't listened to in years.

I was really excited when I got my iPod. From the packaging, to the device itself, the design is outstanding. Very easy to use. Sound quality is very good. Can be used as a back up hard drive too. Software is a no brainer to use.

I also faced the problem of tracks skipping but all I had to do was delete affected tracks/albums and recopy and they were fine.

Was able to get lots of useful advice from other people's reviews, e.g. how to ensure long battery life (try not to let the battery run out completely) and how to copy music files back to your pc which quite a number of people are unaware can be done (change your folder options to show hidden files). I do it all the time.

So why not 5 stars? It's not perfect. Battery life could be better, and it does scratch rather easily. Oh, did I mention the earphones? Not too good I'm afraid, and very painful on the ears, when worn for a bit. Thank God I had some good Sony headphones. Also, the fact that it does not support the much smaller WMA files which take up much less space than mp3s. I've got about 7300 tracks on my iPod, and only about 4gb space left.

Still a cool device that never fails to turn heads.

Not for long distance runners!!!
Talk about frustration!! What I thought was a really great break through, turned out to be a total nightmare.After 25 minutes the Ipod would either completely stop working all together or just skip repeatedly then stop. I found out that it was designed to "catch up" after 25 minutes but it wouldnt even start again most of the time, just freeze up and be completely worthless.Returning it was a even bigger nightmare because no one was able to test it out and see that it would malfunction....I guess if you work for Apple stores you dont run. I had to pay a restocking fee to get rid of this nightmare. NEVER will I purchase another item from Apple.I love my Nomad Muvo that I bought, and couldnt be happier.

Features

• 4x digital zoom
• Creates Internet-ready video
• Fits in a pocket or purse
• Records up to 1 hour on 32 MB SmartMedia card (4 MB included)
• Takes still images at 640 x 480 dpi

Reviews (14)

Language Selection
Sharp VNEZ1 MPEG-4 is a great little camera until the batteries fall out when the power is on, and then when you put them back in you find your menus are in Japanese.Then you get a Japanese person to look at it to change it back to English and they tell you there is no menu option to change the language selection - which rings a bell because I never saw an option to change the language selection when it was in English!!!

Works With my MAC
Yeah, the discription says for pc users, mac users are out of luck. Well I have a MAC, so I can break the rules! All you need to do is purchase a smartmedia flash card reader compatible with MAC and you will also have to download a free windows media player for MAC, thats it! I use a multi flash reader thats compatible wih my os9.2 . Unfortunately my reader does not work under osX.2, but, there are readers that will. I can still share my files with osX.2, or drag n drop into my Virtual PC, so whatever os I use, I can still view and send my visuals over the net!
MAC users, no need to worry, you have a MAC. And you know you cant stop THE MAC!

Features

• Includes 512MB SD memory card and remote control
• Rechargable battery provides up to an hour of video recording time
• Pocket-sized MPEG-2/MPEG-4 SD video camera and 2-megapixel still camera--weighs just .34 pounds
• 10:1 optical zoom lens with 25x digital zoom and super image stabilizer
• 2.5-inch LCD rotates a full, 270 degrees

Reviews (19)

So do SanDisk cards work or not?
I just purchased my SVAV100 and am looking forward to using it. Obviously it would be nice to have greater storage than the 512 MB card that is included.Previous reviews are contradictory. One person says the SanDisk Ultra II (with 10 mb speed) works fine for MPEG 2 recording while another says the SanDisk Extreme III (with 20 mb speed) does not work. Before I spend the money for a 2 GB SanDisk card, it would be nice to know if it really will work for MPEG 2 recording on the SVAV100.Can anyone confirm?Thanks.

Great Little Camcorder
I have 2 other MPEG4 camcorders but the SVAV100 beats them in MPEG4 recording.In MPEG2 recording, nothing comes close. This unit is really amazing. I could not believe the quality of the video!I bought this camera after reading all the posts in JackBrown's forum which, incidentally has been down for over a week now -- I started a website forum of my own at http://forums.merinotv.com to help those who may be thinking of purchasing this item.Please feel free to post anything like comments, help, etc.I did not find any difficulty other people have claimed regarding not being able to play the MPEG2 video.In fact I tested it in my 2 PC's, 2 laptops andPC tablet, never did I have to rename the .mod file to .mpg. MS Video Player, Elecard and QuickTime as well as other players were able to play the video.For editing, I only use Sony's Vegas and did not have any problems editing. So all you people who have been holding purchasing this product, you can now get the SVAV100 at very good discounts.I got mine for $499.00 plus tax with free shipping.

I am just adding this to my review.I just purchased a Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD and I am able to get 45 minutes of recording in MPEG2.That is enough recording time for most.I heard 4GB SD's will be coming out too but will be in the $400-$500 range. You can find 2GB SD's priced between $179-$199.

Editorial Review

Since MiniDV has entered the mainstream market, users can now demand extra features in addition to regular digital video performance.The Sony DCR-TRV80 is well equipped with technological additions, such as a 2-megapixel digital camera and wireless Bluetooth networking capabilities. The camcorder also features a 10x optical zoom, 16:9 widescreen mode, a 3.5-inch LCD with touchscreen control, and a color viewfinder.

Step-up Value
Here are two Sony features that adds value to this digital camcorder and differentiate it from other models in the Sony lineup.

2.0 Megapixel Sensor: Of all the world's consumer camcorders, Sony was the first to break the megapixel barrier. Working with high-resolution recording and high-precision Sony custom optics, the benefits are dramatic. You'll see amazing detail on everything you shoot. Every blade of grass. Every strand of hair. The names on the back of player uniforms. And megapixel resolution is also a great benefit in Sony's Digital still camera function (Memory Mode). You'll be able to shoot images at 1600 x 1200 pixels, for prints up to 8 x 10nches.

Digital Still Memory Mode: Capture digital still images directly onto Memory Stick media for easy transfer to e-mail, printing, or sharing with compatible Memory Stick devices. Digital still images can be captured while in Memory Mode, or images from the videotape can be captured onto Memory Stick media. This feature provides the Dual Function of having one camera for video and still images, and provides the user with a whole new world of imaging possibilities.

Image Stabilization
Sony's SteadyShot picture stabilization keeps your images smooth and steady without degrading picture quality. The technology uses motion sensors, which tend to be more accurate than most other systems used in the camcorder market.

Optics
The multicoated Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens ensures balanced and clear contrast. The advanced HAD CCD sensor records images accurately in vibrant color and sharp resolution. The TRV80 has a robust 10x optical zoom that fits most purposes, but for extra distance the camera can reach 120x through the digital zoom. A hologram autofocus system and several autoexposure modes allow for automatic operation while achieving ideal images for the situation.

More Features
You can record video in low- to no-light situations with Sony's NightShot system, which uses infrared light to capture images invisible to the human eye. With the function on, subjects up to 10 feet away can be seen in total darkness. You can also use the color slow shutter for color night shots instead of the regular green night-shot hue.

Sony's Stamina power management system and InfoLithium battery give the TRV80 a long operating time. To keep you informed of current battery life, Sony's AccuPower meter displays the number of minutes remaining right in the viewfinder.

You can take digital stills and record small MPEG EX movies using the included 8 MB Memory Stick. This is where the 2-megapixel resolution CCD really shines, creating images that can be printed at sizes of up to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels for prints up to 8 by 10 inches. The intelligent pop-up flash keeps your images well-lit and visible.

The TRV80 features a huge 3.5-inch color LCD and a color viewfinder. The menu is accessed via a touchscreen display on the LCD, reducing the clutter of buttons on the camera. A stylus is also included for ease of use.

The USB streaming feature can turn the TRV80 into a video-conferencing tool or a Webcam, and the standard IEEE 1394 connection can be used for digital video editing on a computer. The TRV80's improved Bluetooth technology enables wireless peer-to-peer data transfers and Internet connectivity with an optional adapter or Bluetooth-enabled cell phone.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: November 2003. The world's first portable DVD player with a 12-inch LCD screen.

Pushing the limits of portability, Samsung's widescreen DVD-L1200 DVD player manages to pack a laptop-rivaling 12-inch TFT LCD screen into a chassis standing a mere inch high when folded. Enjoy the best of your movies, music, and digital photography through the player's multiformat playback abilities, including MP3 and JPEG image CD-Rs and CD-RWs as well as standard DVD-Videos, DVD-Rs, and commercial CDs.

The whole family can listen, too, through either the unit's inline stereo speakers or its generous three .125-inch headphone jacks. Spatializer virtual surround simulates enveloping sound effects through two channels, and motion zoom allows extreme magnification of selected screen areas, without distortion, even while a movie is playing.

The screen displays discs using 480p progressive scanning (named for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image), creating a high-resolution picture with sharper images and fewer motion artifacts than conventional portables.

Other great features include screen inversion, which flips the widescreen picture vertically so you can mount the player upside down, as in a kitchen or an RV, and Samsung's Smart Screen Brightness Control, which monitors ambient light and adjusts the LCD's backlight accordingly to improve clarity and contrast and extended your battery life. The unit's rugged disc bay ensures that the show goes on no matter how you position the player.

Composite- and S-video outputs let you hook the player up with your home television, while its coaxial digital-audio output will channel discrete, 5.1-channel Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound to a range of audio/video receivers and surround speaker setups. For extra convenience, the AV output doubles as a switchable AV input, letting you hook up a camcorder or gaming device for portable big-screen viewing.

Editorial Review

It's a great idea, and, for the most part a great product: a watch that keeps time with atomic clock accuracy and displays useful, timely information. The Smart Watch gives you stock prices, news, and weather, and personal messages, all right on your watch face. You get all that stuff on your cell phone already, right? But the idea of the Smart Watch though is that it offers this information in glanceable form, and on a device that is always at hand. Simplicity and unobtrusiveness are key--you can rapidly navigate through all the different types of information quickly, and immediately read your text messages the moment they arrive with a discreet little beep.

MSN Direct is the subscription service that broadcasts data to the Smart Watch via an FM signal. The first thing you have to do when you get your watch is set up an account and customize your information channels. It's a fairly quick process, though you have to jump through a few Microsoft hoops (like getting a .NET Passport). Immediate gratification junkies should be warned, however, that you most likely won't start getting any data until about 12 or more hours after set up. Also, the channels are very much a work in progress--the news I was getting initially had a random quality to it, but more recently the watch's timeliness has compared favorably with CNN.com in breaking major stories.

Information delivered to your watch includes:

	Stock quotes: Get updates on the stocks you care about, as well as information on the major high-volume stocks and indices.		News: Get headlines and the full text of local, national, international, business, entertainment, sports, health, and travel news stories.
	Time: Wrist Net watches display the current time, automatically updated for different time zones, and include a chronometer, an alarm, and a timer. You can choose from a wide variety of watch faces for just the right look.		Weather: Get the latest reports for cities all over the world. Local city weather information includes current conditions, a three-day forecast, sunrise and sunset information, humidity, barometric pressure, and ultraviolet (UV) index.
	Text messages: Receive messages from friends and family through MSN Messenger version 6.0 or later.		Sports: Continuous sports updates keep consumers current on game times, scores, pre- and post-game stories, and standings for their favorite collegiate and professional sports teams.
	Daily Diversions: Currently, consumers can select from Word of the Day, Quote of the Day, Born on This Day, and This Day in History.		Horoscope: Consumers can receive a personalized horoscope based on their specific time and place of birth.

The need to recharge frequently--a single charge will last two to seven days, depending on usage--has some users unhappy, but for me it is a non-issue. You charge the watch by simply placing it on its cradle, so if you set the cradle up wherever you stash the watch at night, the watch will always be charged.

There are a few real drawbacks, however, most prominent (literally) being the size of the watch, which is on the humongous side of fashionably chunky. Another downer is the strap which is hard to close and, since it contains the watch's antenna, tends to spring open. The most serious complaint however is that reception can be sporadic--there were entire days that I got no new data at all. When MSN Direct improves service--and it has shown signs of doing so since the watch launched--they will have a truly revolutionary product on their hands (and the nation's wrists). --David Stoesz

Pros

• Geek factor is through the roof
• Intuitive navigation
• Recharging is a snap

Cons

• It's HUGE
• Coverage can be sporadic
• Strap is unwieldy

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: August 2003. The first PDA to include integrated GPS technology.

With the power of Palm OS 5 and the dependability of Garmin GPS technology, this super PDA redefines multitasking. Its integrated software not only allows you to look up appointments and contacts, it also locates and routes you to them with voice-guidance commands. Feature highlights include: GPS receiver, MP3 player, voice recorder, infrared communication, and vibrating alarm.

GPS The differentiating feature of the iQue 3600 is its integrated GPS capabilities. Garmin's innovative Que technology delivers location awareness, electronic mapping, automatic route calculation, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and map data interface to the iQue 3600. Que technology enables users to see where they are, find a street address, know where the next turn is via visual and voice guidance, get back on track when they’ve strayed off course, and navigate efficiently to their desired destination. Detailed Mapping Users can choose a configurable basemap of North America, South America, Europe, or regions in the Pacific Rim, with generalized information on highways, major city streets, highway exit services, railways, rivers, lakes, and state, provincial, and national borders. The iQue also has the added benefit of detailed street information on the included MapSource® CD-ROM, giving users the capability of looking up restaurant addresses, hotels, local attractions, transportation hubs, emergency services, and much more. Once a desired point of interest is chosen, you have the capability to view more info or even show it on the map screen. The mapping capability of the iQue 3600 makes it a versatile companion for the international frequent flyer who travels, for instance, between New York and London or San Francisco and Hong Kong.

Customizable maps mean never getting lost again

Powerful Organization
The iQue 3600 is built around the Palm OS 5 platform and offers standard Palm applications, such as Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To Do List. And there’s enough processing power to search large databases of stored information and to enhance display graphics with easy-to-read fonts and crisp electronic maps. There's also a voice recorder for making memos, quick notes, and messages. With 32 MB of built-in memory and an expansion slot, you can even store your favorite MP3s.

The flip-up GPS antenna

High-Tech Integration
One of the key benefits of technology integration on the iQue 3600 is its patent-pending contact-locator feature. Enabled by Garmin's Que technology, this feature connects the Palm Address Book and Date Book to the GPS electronic map to give the user the ability to navigate directly to a specific address within the user’s contact database.

System
The Garmin iQue 3600 features the new Motorola DragonBall MXL ARM9 microprocessor, and boasts 32 MB DRAM. This handheld is powered by Palm OS 5, which offers the processing power to take on the most demanding mobile computing tasks, together with advanced multimedia and the wireless connectivity and security that enterprises require.

Display
The iQue 3600 delivers brilliant images with its 2.16-by-3.24-inch display. It has a 16-bit color display with 320 x 480 pixel resolution.

Expansion
Expand your iQue 3600 via its Secure Digital slot.

Software
The iQue 3600 comes with the following Garmin Que applications: MP3, GPS Clock, Address Lookup, Electronic Mapping, Track Log, Trip Computer, Automatic Route Generation, and Turn-by-Turn Voice Guidance, as well as these Palm OS 5 applications: Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Expense, Mail, Memo Pad, Palm Reader, and To Do List. In addition, it includes these third-party applications: Astraware Game Pack, Documents to Go, powerOne Personal Calculator, StarCaddy, SplashPhoto, and Vindigo.

The Nuts and Bolts

 

Included in the box
iQue 3600, protective display cover, metal stylus, USB HotSync cradle, A/C power/charging adapter, quick start guide, installation/application, CD-ROM with manual, and choice of MapSource configuration with full unlock certificate: either 1) North America City Select CD or Atlantic European City Select CD.