Rain, rain, go away

Rain, rain, go away
by May Chua
05:55 AM Jul 16, 2010
If there's one thing precious gizmos hate, it's water. This makes it a little inconvenient for techies in certain tropical (read: rainy) countries sometimes, especially during the recent spate of flash floods. Gear up with these water-resistant gadgets so that the next monsoon season won't catch you unawares. May Chua



1 Olympus µTOUGH-6020 ($498)

Rainy days are no sweat for this 14-megapixel compact camera, which is waterproof to a depth of 5m. In fact, you can even drop it from heights of up to 1.5m, or bring it to a winter wonderland with temperatures as low as -10ºC - and it will still work. Other features include 5x optical zoom and high-definition video recording at 1,280x720 pixels.




2 Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 ($3,199)

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1's spill-resistant keyboard can survive having up to six ounces (about 177ml) of water poured onto it. This convertible tablet PC has also passed other torturous lab tests, such as a 76cm free fall. The specs are not too shabby - you get a 12.1-inch touchscreen and a 2.40GHz Intel Core i5 processor. This tough cookie will be launched in Singapore in September.




3 Sony Walkman NWZ-W252 ($129)

Ever got caught in the rain while on a run? This water-resistant MP3 player will stick by you in such situations. Joggers will like its wire-free design and accessible button controls located under the earphones. With 2GB of storage and an 11-hour battery life, it can probably last you through a couple of wet, gloomy days.




4 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card ($209.99)

Protect your memories with tough storage devices like SanDisk's 32GB microSDHC card. According to SanDisk, this memory card can withstand up to 72 hours in 1m-deep salt or fresh water. Even if your gadget doesn't live to see the end of the downpour, the data stored inside its memory card will.




5 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card ($90)

Cycling enthusiasts can toughen up their iPhone with this accessory that lets you attach the handset onto the handlebars and literally take it on the road - even when it's pouring. The touch-sensitive membrane on this casing is weatherproof, and the silicone lining inside the hard outer shell protects it from shock. Though you won't be able to call without the help of a Bluetooth headset or earpiece, you can take photos and videos with the encased iPhone. There's also a 360-degree pivot, so you can use your smartphone in portrait or landscape mode. The BioLogic Bike Mount is available from dealers listed under distributor Speedmatrix's website: www.speedmatrix.com.sg.

http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/EDC100716-0000050/Rain,-rain,-go-away

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Sony Walkman NWZ-W252

A jukebox to love

MP3 Player Review: Sony Walkman NWZ-W252
by May Chua
05:55 AM Jun 25, 2010
How time flies. The Walkman has evolved from a chunky rectangular box to a heart-shaped wire-free headset. The newest entry to the wearable W series is even water-resistant.

The Sony Walkman NWZ-W252 ($129) can withstand rain and sweat. You can even clean it under running water. It's a pity you cannot bring it for a swim nor immerse it in water.

The MP3 player consists of a wire-free headset with a jog dial and three buttons as controls. It's a lightweight gadget (43g) that remains comfortable after hours of usage, and the earphones pump out decent audio with good bass.

You can listen to music without having to disentangle wires first, and control everything by pressing the buttons on the headset instead of reaching for your pocket or bag to find the player.

In exchange for this convenience, you forgo a display screen and finer controls like rewinding and fast-forwarding within a track. Thankfully, this Walkman makes up for the lack of a screen in two ways.

Firstly, there's the "Zappin" mode, which plays four- or 15-second clips of each song. Press "Play" to exit Zappin mode when you find the song you're looking for. I find the four-second clips too short for me to press Play on time. And it might take too long to sift through your library using the 15-second option if your Walkman is filled to the max - 2GB worth of tracks.

Secondly, the W252 announces which mode you're in when you press a button, so you know if "Shuffle" is on, or whether it's in "Zappin" mode.

The bundled software (compatible only with Windows) can analyse each song you put into the player and determine the most recognisable segments to play in "Zappin" mode. Analysing and transferring 60 songs takes about 13 minutes. When this analysis is disabled, it takes about two minutes to move an equal number of tracks. If you're familiar with your playlists, forgo the analysis.

I find the battery life of the NWZ-W252 rather short, even though my review unit outperformed the official claim of 11 hours by three hours. The handy Quick Charge feature, which makes the player last 90 minutes on a three-minute charge, compensates for this. May Chua

by May Chua

05:55 AM Jun 25, 2010

http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/Techreviews/EDC100625-0000046/A-jukebox-to-love

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