Facebook Phone – Is the wait over?

Facebook phones are actually the concept and the product that has been launched earlier from AT&T.

The names of the phones were HTC Status and HTC Salsa but, they failed to live up to their names, and the concept of the Facebook Phone still remains worth anticipation. The wait finally seems to be over if the report of All Things Digital is assumed to be authentic.

Is it named Buffy?

These reports suggest that Facebook Inc is working with the Cell Manufacturer and, the result could be the ‘Facebook Phone’ which is named Buffy! The name is said to be derived from the Television Serial named Vampire Killer. This is reported to be an exclusively Facebook Phone and will be miles ahead of the phones with Tiny button of Facebook!

Facebook Phone with Android Operating System

Reports also claim that Facebook has tweaked the Android Operating System, this version is said to be the base of the operation of this new Facebook Phone. Facebook was supposed to launch this innovative Gadget with assistance from Samsung earlier, but on some inevitable grounds, Facebook have now approached HTC, Taiwanese Smart Phone maker for the same.

There is no information available about the reasons or the causes behind this decision. When asked about this anticipated product from the Facebook, the official spokesperson of it declined to comment directly on it. However, he mentioned that “We have a simple approach about these gadgets and it is about the Social Value of it.” He also stated that “We are working on the Giant Canvas consisting of the Operating Systems, Manufacturers and the Mobile Operators across the globe.” The other name involved in the news, HTC Inc also declined to comment on this issue. We think it is better to wait and till then enjoy the Android App of the Facebook which is available on the Android Market.

Nokia Nuron 5230

Nokia’s presence in the US market has dwindled tremendously since the explosion of the modern cell phone era came about during the early portion of this decade. Since then, the only segment where we continue to see Nokia’s focus in the US is profoundly noticed in the entry level area where it’s littered with flip and candybar phones – generally doubled for prepaid and postpaid offerings. Every now and then, we truly are greeted to some devices that are a bit outside of the box from Nokia’s known offerings in the US; say like the Nokia Twist and Mural. That’s where the Nokia Nuron 5230 strategically comes into play for T-Mobile as it finally brings forth a carrier branded Nokia touchscreen device. Despite its arrival, the Nokia Nuron has the monumental task of bringing the limelight back to them in the US as it finds itself in the thick of competition.

The package contains:
• Nokia Nuron 5230
• Quickstart Guide
• 4GB microSD card pre-installed
• Charger
• Hands-free Headset
• USB Cable
• Stylus pick lanyard

As we’ve already seen with the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and 5530 XpressMusic, the Nokia Nuron 5230 follows in tradition to those handsets in design. Clad in a white and silver color scheme, the Nuron’s plastic feeling exterior doesn’t exude a high-quality design that would impress anyone holding it for the first time. Granted though it’s extremely light weight when compared to other similar phones, the Nuron is your typical pocketable touchscreen phone that can slip into a pocket unnoticed. Despite it’s plasticy feel, the construction feels solid like it should due to the fact there are no moving parts to make us worry about how it’ll hold up in the long run.

Samsung Diva S7070

We have finally managed to get our hands on the Samsung Diva S7070, a handset of the Diva Collection 2010. Actually, the device is so very womanly that we believe it should be stigmatized by all self-respecting feminists’ organizations worldwide. It is aimed at the fairer sex and people, enchanted by handsets with exquisite style and dainty appeal. At least that´s what the manufacturer says and demonstrates in every possible way. For an instance, the phone box is adorned with fake diamonds (that don´t quite look like the Real McCoy). So, what´s inside, except for the cell phone itself? There is a wall charger, headphone set, USB cable, CD and user guide. We tend to think that an elegant pouch to complement the accessory set would have been a great idea in this particular instance, although Samsung has decided this is irrelevant. Quite odd indeed, given previous models targeted at ladies, like the E500 and E530, did come with similar piece of accessory.
You might be thinking this is not a big deal really and while that´s exactly the case on many occasions, such an accessory is virtually mandatory for the Samsung Diva S7070, because the handset is almost entirely white and gets dirty fairly easy. Its back is one of the distinguishing features of the device, due to its unique, cool rugged (quilt-like) pattern that makes the handset truly hard to accidentally slip out of your hand. The diamond-shaped button that lends color to the front side is another, quite spectacular at that, design element. We do like the fact that you can press it just like any other key, because it features great travel and proved to be trouble-free to use.

Motorola BACKFLIP

There's a lot to say about AT&T's undeniably slow gallop in joining the Android table, but nonetheless it's finally here to some degree with minimal fanfare surrounding its launch. For a brief time we saw AT&T seemingly knock on Android as they probably were under the mercy of Apple – who of course sees Android as their biggest competitor right now. To that degree, we see the hints of that on-going animosity as AT&T officially announced getting into the Android game with the Motorola BACKFLIP. Instead of following Verizon’s lead in premiering a high-end contender in the Android market, AT&T takes the approach on a slightly different path as they intend on offering a device that sets itself apart from the usual line of Android smartphones we’ve seen. We’ll see how the BACKFLIP can attract AT&T customers that have been stuck on the mindset of seeing the iPhone OS as the carrier’s flagship platform.

The package contains:
• Motorola BACKFLIP
• Quickstart Guide
• 2GB microSD card pre-installed
• Charger
• USB Cable
There’s no question that the BACKFLIP’s strength mostly lies in its unusual form factor that really manages to separate it from all the existing pack of slate/candybar devices – essentially requiring a literal backflip to expose its QWERTY. Taking plenty of design elements from the Motorola CLIQ, the BACKFLIP sports a slightly smaller frame (4.25” x 2.09” x 0.60”) that easily makes it more compact and comfortable when holding in the hand thanks to the rounded soft edges. The silver metallic-like casing feels high quality and constrasts well with the black color that adorns the touchscreen and QWERTY – not to mention it feels light weight (4.69 oz) in the pockets as well. Unlike the CLIQ, with its questionable build quality, the BACKFLIP does exude a higher level of workmanship that doesn’t make us worry about the hinge that holds the two parts of the phone together.

Vodafone 360 Samsung H1

There is no doubt that the Linux-based, open-source Android operating system is flourishing right now, thanks to some pretty good devices like the Motorola DROID and Google Nexus One (and their advertising). However, this is not the case with every other Linux-based OS out there. The young LiMo R2 platform for example, currently found only on the high-end Samsung H1 and the mainstream Samsung M1 is still what someone would call a “no-name”.

In this review we will be examining the LiMo-powered Samsung H1, which is strictly designed for the Vodafone 360 services. It can be purchased either through Vodafone, or unlocked at some stores. We are using an unlocked unit, which means that we aren’t able to check out the Vodafone services, but we can closely examine the LiMo R2 OS and see if it has the potential to become a full-featured mobile platform.
As with many other hi-tech cell phones with large touch-sensitive screens, the first time that you open the box with the Samsung H1, you get surprised by how huge, sophisticated and interesting it looks. With design language reminiscent of the Ultra series, the Samsung H1 is by no means ugly. It’s actually quite bearable, but unfortunately lacks any sense of the fashionable appearance that was a distinctive mark of the Ultra series.

LG Cookie Fresh GS290

As the original LG Cookie, the phone that foreshadowed the era of the budget touchscreen, proved to be quite a success, the manufacturer naturally seeks to keep this trend alive. The appearance of the LG Cookie Fresh GS290 is a proof of this. It is part of the newly-formed Cookie family. However, what place does it take among the rest of the family members is a tough question, as the Cookie Fresh takes some of the newer features found on the Cookie Plus, but sacrifices others that were initially found on the original. In short, it replaces the 3MP camera found on the first Cookie with a weaker 2MP one, and it lacks 3G, but sports a 3.5mm jack. So, in the final analysis, we can say the LG Cookie Fresh GS290 will be the handset of choice for those who enjoy listening to music while on the move, but would pay as little as possible.

For good or bad, the LG Cookie Fresh GS290 is the typical affordable touchscreen phone, in terms of design. Its appearance is by no means breathtaking, but it’s not bad either. LG plans to offer it in a plethora of color variations, trying to suit as many consumer tastes as possible.. The plastic, from which it is manufactured, feels fairly cheap, although not unpleasant to touch. It has smooth curves, which make the LG Cookie Fresh GS290 feel natural in the hand.

Palm Pre Plus

With minor changes in hardware the newer version of palm pre comes up with patch up keyboard and some little changes in user interface. It contains 3.1 inch multi touch screen with 320×480 resolution with HVGA display. In order to capture amateur video capture, it contains 3MP camera with LED flash. Palm Pre Plus will be coming up with Verizon. It runs on WebOS in its smartphone platform, which gives applications like Hotspot Tethering. You can get Palm Pre Plus for just 150 $ with two years Verizon contacts with their data plans.

PlayStation Phone by Sony

Sony, the leader of innovative technologies is ready to launch playstation phone code named “Zeus” in early 2011. Zeus would have Andriod 3.0 Gingerbread operating system. It also contains SD slot card having 8GB of memory with 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor. It comes up with 3.8 display and graphics processing unit of Adreno 205. This superb phone also contains 1GB ROM and 512 MB RAM. 3.8″ touch screen and its touch pad is just like gaming console of PSP. Through PlayStation Phone you can also download different games. So for those who love games, it is going to be a best product.

RIM BlackBerry Presenter

As many of you have already noticed that micro and mini projectors will be available soon. Manufactures like 3M, Microvision and other. Thank God this handy 3.4-inch x 2.4-inch boxlike accessory is designed, so that it can be used with BlackBerry smart phones. It is very simple in use. What you have to do is that, simply connect it with a projector or monitor and you can use Blutetooth connectivity in order to display Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 and 2007 slides directly from your handset. You can pause images, set slides to automatically swap at prearranged intervals and in this way you can enjoy the benefit of accurate reproductions with most visual and animated effects.

A Few Sony PSP Games and Accessories!

Sony is on the seventh cloud with the popularity of the Sony PSP games and accessories. It is the third consecutive success of Sony at gaming consoles after the Sony PS2 and PS3. The PSP is portable you can carry it wherever you go.

It is three in one equipment you can not only play games on it but also listen to songs and watch videos. Sony PSP games and accessories are available in a wide range. You can select the best you need.

Here are a few very good PSP accessories found useful and attractive by the people. A carry case is a must have PSP accessory. It will ensure that your PSP is safe even if it falls. You can also go for a case-type accessory called Logitech Play Gear Pocket. It not only keeps your PSP safe but is also customizable as you wish.

Another important PSP accessory is Hori Protective Filter, it is anti screen scratch. It gives you a clear view and also has anti-glare shield.

Laptop Accessories and Use!

The market is flooded with Laptop accessories of different shapes sizes and price. These accessories help in better use of the laptop. Some of the accessories give high level unimaginable performance. They are also designed amazingly to suit their need and performance. The look of many laptop accessories is sure to catch your attention.

The standard company laptop is accompanied by a laptop bag, charger and a manual. The other laptop accessories to add on include keyboard, mouse, stand, key cover, microphone, USB flash drive, web cam and others.

Each laptop accessory has its unique usability to facilitate easy use of laptop as below:

1. Laptop bag makes it easy to carry and protects against scratched.
2. The screen cover keeps the laptop screen clean and tidy.
3. Microphone and web cam help in online chats and listening to songs. Added benefit of web cam is we can even see the person on the other end.
4. USB mouse and keyboard make it more convenient to click on the destined folder or link and type large

Sony Unveils the Alpha DSLR-A380 14.2 megapixels camera with 2.7-inch LCD screen

Sony, company with a brand name in digital cameras and similar tech gadgets has once more thought to concur the market by unveiling it latest Alpha DSLR-A380 14.2 megapixels camera. This means you can take real clear pictures of real things around you.

You can view the images even more clearly on the 2.7-inch LCD screen which can be tilted in various direction so that you are comfortable shooting. Alpha DSLR-A380 comes with a BIONZ processor which gives it ability to respond fast. It also a self timer drive mode which can be set to quickly take snaps of the things you want to capture. There are many more features to be explored which will surely delight you.

Electronic Gadgets is So Important

All around us technology is really changing at a fast pace.

Technology is responsible for shifting our attention from simple tools to machines, and finally, towards numerous contemporary gadgets.

We see a lot of amazing gadgets in Hollywood films like the James Bond series, Spy Kids, and various action films. But the use of gadgets is not limited to the film industry alone. It has expanded its wide arms to every sector of society, increasing the demand for new and useful gadgets like never before.
It is very common to find an iPod in a student’s pocket or a kid attaching his wristwatch to the computer via a USB port.

Now housewives can cook as well as chat with friends with the help of a Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone.
Those with health issues can check and maintain their blood sugar level, heart rate, or blood pressure with the help of the medical gadgets at home. This is a huge benefit for senior citizens.

Gadgets like handheld GPSs, PDAs, LCDs, cell phones, and laptops have already entered our daily life. The latest electronic gadgets greatly impact the lives of men, women, and children of all ages, and we can hardly imagine living without them. The latest in spy cameras and video monitors have helped us to improve home and office security.

However, with so much of technology all around us, it becomes important for us to select the best gadget that suits our budget and requirements.

We here at electronicgadgetsbuyingtips will provide you with the best tips on buying the most popular electronics items.

You know, buying a gadget can be a big commitment. You invest a lot of money and then realize, ‘Damn! There’s a better model, ‘then you have the agonizing decision of whether to replace it or not.
We will focus on the most popular electronic gadgets and gizmos used in our daily life at home and office. You can read about the quality, durability, and prices of each particular model. This allows more freedom and options to you, the buyer, so that you can invest your money in better products that will enhance your lifestyle.

We have selected only well-known, top-end products from top brands so you can know exactly what to expect from the latest models of those devices without really using them.

This is one market where it is not a good idea to buy impulsively. Hence, it is recommend that you read and research the good and bad points of a particular gadget that you’re interested in, which can help you in making the important decision about purchasing that particular gadget.

Learning all the inside buying tips is important when considering purchases such as electronic gadgets like TVs, computers, phones, GPSs, etc. We first consider usability of the products along with technical maintenance, safety, and cost.

You can learn from actual users’ experience and opinions that will help you to know if the gadget really works in real time and is something that is worth the money you will be spending.

Rolex Ref. 116000 PVD Black

Estimated Price: 5000 – 10000 USD

Hammer Price: 9000 USD

Description

36mm in case dimeter, 12mm thick. Ref. 116000, automatic movement, central seconds hand, waterproof, stainless steel case plated with black PVD, Rolex Oyster bracelet with black PVD plated, screw-in case back and crown, matte black dial, luminous stick hands and Arabic hour markers, accompanied by a guarantee card and hang tags. To be sold without reserve.

3130 movement, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 31 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperature and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, balance wheel with screw regulator, hack mechanism, dial, case and movement are all signed.
Sweeping Seconds, no date 3130, which is the basic movement of other Rolex series except the chronograph movement equipped in Daytona. Rolex’s entry-level model Air King adopts this movement in its all production line. To farthest cut the cost, most Air King watches haven’t been certificated by COSC. This special edition Oyster watch is a bit larger than the Air King in case diameter(Air King is 34mm, is the smallest Rolex model). The movement is COSC certified, the case is rare black PVD. Don’t miss it when you see a special Rolex watch, because it will certainly rise in price in the future.

Rolex Explorer Date Ref.5701 Cal.1530

The picture is my ref.5701, 14K gold Explorer Date, equipped with Cal.1530(1535), different from general Air-King Date, the letters on this special dial are EXPLORER DATE, Explorer dial 5501, 5506 and 5500 are very rare and hard to find, they are only sold in North America, Canada or some special area, the most common AIR-KING EXPLORER black dial is ref.1002 and 5500, but most are fakes(generally Cal.1570 is fake), the easiest way to identify is the willow leaf-shaped hands and the letters on the upper dial, four lines of words: 1, ROLEX, 2, OYSTER PERPETUAL, 3, EXPLORER, 4, DATE, or three lines: 1, ROLEX, 2, OYSTER PERPETUAL, 3, EXPLORER DATE.

The watch features a very attractive black dial with silver and gilt text. The words Rolex Oyster Perpetual are in gold type and the text, Explorer Date and Precision are printed in silver type. The dial also features steel arrowhead markers and steel dauphine shaped hands. Note the slight patina on the dial visible in the photos.

The movement fitted in the watch is a rugged workhorse from Rolex, the calibre 1530 automatic wind 25 jewel movement. The watch was just serviced by my Rolex trained watchmaker and is keeping excellent time.

The Anti-counterfeit Label in Rolex Crystal Glass

To prevent the increasing number of fakes in recent years, Rolex used high technology and carved a watermark-like crown mark with laser light at 6 o’clock. It is almost invisible to the naked eye, you must use a magnifier to confirm the very small watermark.

Some important information about this laser etched crown:

In 1999, Rolex Yacht-Master 16622 first adopted it.

In 2000, Rolex applied it on the new Daytona.

In 2001, the Rolex models like EX I, SUB/(SUB-DATE) and AIRKING that are equipped with Cal.3130 all adopted this feature.

In 2003, other sports model and standard Rolex watches adopted.

Today, most Rolex watches used this anti-counterfeit label, but you can’t assert that all models have.

LG Nitro HD hits AT&T

It does seem as though a new smartphone is released every other week or so, and with so many models to choose from, how are you going to be able to make a decision? Well, for those who are part of the Android camp will be pleased to know that AT&T has just announced the availability of the LG Nitro HD, which is the the latest handset from South Korean manufacturer LG that will deliver a high definition display, in addition to a speedy processor as well as support for AT&T’s 4G LTE capabilities.

This is the third 4G LTE smartphone for AT&T, and is also the first smartphone in the AT&T stable that will feature a true high definition display. Out on December 4th next month, it will require you to sign up for a 2-year contract apart from handing over $249.99 to AT&T’s coffers in the process. Let us take a closer look at what the LG Nitro HD can deliver so that you can show off your new phone to the rest of the visiting family this Christmas.

iMobifone hits the US

It goes without saying that even though there are reports of cell phone radiation being a possibility of a cancer risk, no one is going to ditch their handsets anytime soon. After all, the phone has already turned into an indispensable everyday tool, where it holds your wallet (for some countries that have systems which support a mobile wallet idea), not to mention is your calculator, pedometer, carries your grocery store list, tells you the weather, stashes your email, and many more – it really depends on the kind of apps that you install on the handset.

Having said that, surely you would have spent far more time on your smartphone than you would have on a regular feature phone (which was the only choice back then, really) back in, say, 1995. Well, if you still have some second thoughts about whether you might just grow another appendage due to the amount of time spent talking on your latest Android smartphone, then perhaps it is time you checked out the iMobifone.

Nokia X2-02 carries two SIM cards

Nokia is still king of the hill when it comes to feature phones as well as entry level models, especially in the developing market and third world countries, as these handsets typically cost less than $50 a pop, where doubling that amount would see you enjoy decent features without breaking the bank. How about those who have a couple of phones that they carry around always? If you prefer to travel light, then you might want to consider getting the Nokia X2-02 – where this handset sports an Easy Swap Dual SIM feature, letting you manage your costs without losing connection to your friends and family.

Apart from that, this handset will also feature an internal FM antenna, a built-in MP3 player, dedicated music keys, recording capability, an integrated loudspeaker for music playback, and 32GB of storage space, letting you stash away a whole bunch of tunes without batting an eyelid. This music-centric phone will also come with a special audio processing feature that will let you enjoy the clearest sound in its class. There is also the “Play via Radio” feature that lets you record songs directly from the radio, now how about that?

Sony Ericsson Xperia active is one tough cookie

I know that we’ve seen tough and rugged phones in the past, but none of them are definitely as attractive as this particular Android-powered offering from Sony Ericsson – the Sony Ericsson Xperia active. The name alone does give some of the game away, as those who indulge in a particularly active lifestyle will definitely have moments where they might fall or stumble, or make mistakes, dropping their precious smartphone to the ground (or another classic, sending it for a swim in the loo). Well, glad to say the Xperia active will be able to shrug all of that off non-chalantly, thanks to its water resistant and dust proof case.

Yes sir, another plus point of this unique Android-powered smartphone would be the unique incorporation of wet finger tracking that will make sure that the phone works perfectly, never mind if you have just plunged headlong into a rainy hike, trudging along snowy slopes or getting your adrenaline rush through mud-splattered bike trails. Another interesting point is this – the Xperia active is able to remain under three feet of water for up to half an hour, which is far longer than what any human (or most phones, for that matter) is able to do. Having said that, what’s a wee bit of rain or snow?

Sony Alpha SLT-A77

The 16-50mm lens is a pleasure to behold and to use. Adhering to the straight, cylindrical design of other Sony lenses, the lens looks somewhat incongruous against the A77's smooth organic shape, but the two work together very well. The stout, perfectly ridged rubber rings turn smoothly, though the action requires a little more pressure than normal. It gives a sense of solid design, with tight weather-sealing and a robust internal mechanism. Though there's a lock switch to hold the lens at 16mm, I have yet to experience any lens creep. Point the lens down all you want, it won't creep.

The mode dial is plastic with a knurled rubber band around it. It's comfortable to turn, and yet doesn't turn too easily for my taste. Front and rear control dials are also rubber, and both comfortable and responsive. Between the pop-up flash and hot shoe is a curved grille that conceals the stereo microphone. The grille is designed to minimize noise from the lens focus mechanism.

The Status LCD is handy to have, something the A700 lacked. All of the buttons are either smooth domes or concavities and give with clean, clear pops when pressed. Top deck buttons essentially mirror what you'll find on older Canon SLRs, including Drive mode, White Balance, ISO and EV. Since all of these are adjusted via the Status LCD, it makes sense. The shutter button has a fairly clear half-press, followed by uncertain mush. I quickly learned when it would fire, though.

Best Enthusiast dSLR

This is a tough one to pick, and a ton of readers will complain about this choice, no doubt. The truth is, the Nikon D7000 and Pentax K-5 are ridiculously evenly matched in just about every aspect. The D7000 has slightly better autofocus but resides in a bigger and less-refined body. The K-5’s control layout is impeccable and, while this is subjective, feels wonderful. Thankfully, Nikon has added Easy ISO to map ISO to a control wheel, so that major annoyance has been put to rest. The K-5 shoots at a slightly faster 7 frames per second and is the better performer at ISO’s above 3200. Yes that’s right, these cameras perform admirably up to ISO 6400 and even beyond. Though it costs $200 more than the D7000, the K-5 has in-body stabilization, which will save you a lot of money in the long run if you decide to invest further in the system (with Nikon, you pay for stabilization every time you pay for a lens). We haven’t really mentioned Canon’s 60D, and that’s not a knock against it. The 18 megapixel sensor is really great at low ISOs but can’t keep up at higher settings. It does have a great design, though; its articulating LCD complements its excellent video mode quite well. The prosumer dSLR market is a tight race, and all these cameras offer fantastic value. Pentax has just done something right with the K-5, and we feel it’s the one to beat next round.

Best Mid-Range dSLR

There’s simply nothing else that comes close to the Sony A55. If you’re willing to drop the conventional optical viewfinder of a dSLR and use a very good electronic viewfinder, the A55 provides performance far beyond its price bracket. The SLT design means that the camera doesn’t direct light away from the autofocus sensor at any time, resulting in continuous autofocus while firing 10 frames per second bursts and shooting 1080p video. Compare that to the 3.7fps and 4fps bursts found on Canon’s T3i and Nikon D5100, respectively. All the models in this category have articulating screens but the A55 is the only one, due to the electronic viewfinder, to feature 100 percent viewfinder coverage. The A55’s 16 megapixel sensor is up there with the best: Resolution and noise characteristics are competitive throughout the range. The closest competition comes from Sony’s own A580, a dSLR that trades the SLT and resulting autofocus tricks for a much better battery life and true optical viewfinder. Oh yeah, the A55 can also use that 10fps to automatically overlay photos for HDR, reducing noise, or crafting in-camera panoramas. Beast mode

Best Entry-Level dSLR

The Nikon D3100 is aimed squarely at first-time and casual dSLR users, and is a perfect match. It's still a strong camera, upping the ante with 1080p video with relatively fast autofocus. The live view autofocus doesn’t compete with the likes of Sony’s A33 (or any mirrorless cameras, for that matter), but it trounces the Canon 1100D, Pentax K-r, and Sony A290. The 14 megapixel sensor ekes out a little more detail than the 12 megapixel sensors found in the Pentax and Canon models, though noise performance isn’t quite as good. While the Pentax K-r has faster continuous shooting, a higher resolution LCD screen, and in-body stabilization for every lens, the D3100 just feels like a more beginner-friendly dSLR, in no small part thanks to its in-camera Guide Mode. For those new to photography and moving up from a compact camera, this mode simplifies photography by allowing the user to choose shooting settings based on intent without photographic technical knowledge. We know that this sounds like a standard scene mode, yet guiding menus are far more specific and malleable than a single scene mode can be. Frankly, all the cameras in this segment will take great photos; the K-r is in many ways the better choice for more experienced photographers (and it just happens to cost a similar amount), but the D3100 comes out ahead for appealing to the target market and making the picture-taking process a breeze. The Nikon system is also more universal than Pentax’s and offers more room for future growth.

Best Compact Mirrorless

The mirrorless or “interchangeable lens compact” class is coming into its own as a worthy alternative to traditional entry-level and mid-range dSLRs. Brands have developed identities and the camera-buying public is finally showing some interest in these compact dSLR alternatives. Sony’s NEX series seems to get the most attention thanks to an aggressive advertising campaign and prominent in-store placement. But the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system is still the genre leader, and the Olympus PEN E-PL2 is our favorite compact mirrorless camera. It’s a close call between the E-PL2 and Panasonic GF2 and both are very good cameras, but we’re siding with the PEN because it handles the dynamic range better, is more affordable, and has in-body image stabilization, which will save money on lenses down the line. The GF2 is more compact -- pocketable, almost, with a 14mm pancake lens -- and has a more solid build quality, so if you’re looking for more of a street-shooter type camera, it’s possibly a better option. One of the great aspects of MFT is that they can accept pretty much any lens every made with the help of an adapter, so if your lenses from the film era can’t fit on any of the current crop of dSLRs, they can find new life with these cool new compacts (in manual focus mode, of course). Users stepping up from point-and-shoots will feel more immediately comfortable behind one of these cameras than behind even a basic dSLR, so they make for excellent “step-up” shooters.

We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention the Panasonic GH2 in this writeup. It’s a Micro Four Thirds camera, but significantly more advanced than the GF2 and pretty much in a class of its own. It’s the best MFT stills shooter on the market, yet it’s a truly excellent video camera as well.

Best Advanced Compact

The advanced or "pro-sumer" compact market really heated up this year, and it seems every manufacturer wants a piece of the action. Larger sensors, bright lenses, RAW capture, and a wide array of external manual controls define these cameras and set them apart from their cheaper brethren. Enthusiasts love them, and pros are known to tuck one away in their dSLR bags. While the competition is stiff, the Olympus XZ-1 stands apart due to its exceptionally bright f1/8-2.5 lens. We should be clear here, the XZ-1 isn’t far and away the best camera out of the bunch: Almost all the prosumer compacts (Nikon P7000 excluded) are about equal in image quality, but Olympus has managed to include just about every feature a photographer could want, all in a relatively compact package. The lens on the Samsung TL500 is actually just as fast as that on the XZ-1, but it can’t keep up with the XZ-1’s versatile 28-112mm range, doesn’t shoot HD video, and is a much heavier camera. The XZ-1 not as small as the Canon S95, but makes up for that by being 4x brighter at the long end of the zoom. The Canon G12 offers extra zoom range and an optical viewfinder, but the lens is slower and the body much bulkier. The LX5 is the closest competitor here, it’s only 1/3 of a stop slower throughout the lens range, boasts a bit wider range, and costs less, but the XZ-1’s control ring and high-resolution OLED screen make up for the price difference. Any of these cameras will do the trick, but the XZ-1 is arguably the most well-rounded, and should work well for just about any photographer in just about any situation.

Best Extended Zoom

Extended zooms, commonly known as superzooms, are the closest to all-in-one cameras as you can get, with enormous zoom ranges and stacked feature sets; though they're really just point-and-shoots on steroids, they offer out-of-the-box versatility that similarly priced dSLRs can't approach. Though it was released in 2010 and leaves plenty of room for improvement, the Panasonic FZ100 remains the best superzoom out there. It sports an ample 25-600mm (24x) lens with a handy 3-inch articulating LCD, hi-res electronic viewfinder, solid 1080i video mode, and speedy all-around performance including an 11fps burst mode. Overall image quality is solid, though JPEGs can look soft at large sizes. Thankfully, it's one of the few superzooms to support RAW capture, so the blemishes can be worked out in post-processing. No, it isn't a perfect package, but we haven't seen any compelling reasons to believe that any new models are any better, all things considered. There are some worthy options, though. The Nikon P500 is impressive mostly for its lens, sporting a class-leading 36x zoom range, starting at a class-leading 22.5mm. While reviews have knocked its image stabilization (but think of that telephoto!) and out-moded interface, its out-of-camera image quality is quite good, even in poor lighting. And for the best possible image quality, there's no better option than the Fujifilm HS20EXR. Unfortunately, reviews indicate that it's hampered by design issues, a wonky interface, and amateurish video mode. And if you really must fall into the budget-superzoom trap, lean toward the Nikon L120, the only cheap superzoom that doesn't feel like a toy.

Best Compact Zoom

Compact zooms (also known as travel zooms) are as close to an all-in-one camera as you can get: Feature-packed, pocketable shooters with huge zoom ranges that can shoot wide-open landscapes as well as candid close-ups from across a plaza. It's tough to choose a “best” compact zoom because so many different groups of photographers use them and each groups prizes different qualities. But, the compact zoom that promises to make the most people happy this year is the Canon SX230 HS, a 14x zoomer with 1080p video, a sharp widescreen LCD, GPS capability, PASM manual modes and, yes, the same 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor as our favorite ELPH models above. There are travel zooms with longer zooms, more features, and better image quality, but each one seems to have a critical flaw. Despite a few irritating design quirks (the same that hurt its predecessors), the SX230 wins this category mainly by not messing up. There are other options sure to appeal to subsets of users: Enthusiasts will gravitate toward the Fujifilm F550EXR, which has the best still-image quality and most manual control (including RAW capture) in the class, though the video mode and interface are hampered with usability issues. The Nikon S9100 will enjoy some attention thanks to its class-leading 18x zoom and low-light images that pop, though it takes a few liberties in color reproduction. And for a more budget-oriented option, the Panasonic ZS8 offers an impressive 16x zoom, intuitive interface, and consistent image quality, though its performance is not quite as speedy. Since a wide swath of camera buyers are interested in the compact zoom class, expect to hear tons of conflicting opinions; that said, we're confident that a large number of folks will side with the consistency of the Canon SX230.

Best Point and Shoot Over $200

The Canon ELPH 500 HS is basically a 'Lite' version of an advanced compact like the Canon S95 or Olympus XZ-1. The sensor is smaller -- 1/2.3”, like most point-and-shoots -- but it's a backside illuminated CMOS sensor (like the ELPH 100 above), capable of relatively clear low-light shots. More importantly, it's paired with an f/2.0 lens, which makes low-light shooting even easier. All the other trappings are here too -- speedy performance and continuous shooting, 1080p video, and all of Canon's fun filters and effects. The interface is entirely touch-based, and a mediocre one at that, which is sure to deter some prospective buyers. If that’s the case, the Nikon P300 is another worthwhile option. It’s also a CMOS/bright-lens combo, though the $329 price tag is a little bit steep. And for the sleekest, most affordable (though photographically least impressive) of the bunch, check out the Sony WX10. It sports a somewhat bloated 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, which has taken some flack for its performance in other new cameras, but the f/2.4 lens should mitigate some of those issues. Like most Sony cameras, it’s packed to the gills with “extra” features too.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS:

For about a decade now, Canon ELPHs have been the standard-bearers for point-and-shoot quality. They’re small, they’re affordable, they’re easy to use, and they take great pictures. What they lack in exciting, headline-grabbing features, they make up for with consistent quality.

Yep, consistency has been the name of the game thus far, but this year’s lineup got a big redesign -- at least internally. The 2011 ELPHs are all built around backside-illuminated CMOS sensors, a trend we’ve seen deployed with mixed results over the past year, but one that has the potential to lend a huge performance boost to the ELPH lineup.

At this moment, the entry-level ELPH 100 HS is the most affordable CMOS-based compact on the market. On specs alone, it has the potential to out-class every other compact in its price range in terms of low-light image quality (which seems to be increasingly important to camera buyers), video resolution, and performance speed. But we’ve also seen promising cameras fall victim to their CMOS sensors, with fine details smeared into mush. Read on to see if the new ELPH lives up to its potential and maintains its standing as one of the finest affordable point-and-shoots for another year.

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