iLife Gets Better; Just Don’t Ask It to Find a Face
Walt reviews the new features of iPhoto, GarageBand and iMovie in Apple’s iLife ’09.
Personal Technology
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Even in Test Form, Windows 7 Leaves Vista in the Dust
Walt previews the public beta of Windows 7 and finds that even in beta form, it’s better than Vista.
Shortcovers, Iceberg Put Latest e-Books On Your Cellphone
Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader has been a solid success. The device can access a catalog of over 200,000 digital books, including most current best sellers, according to Amazon. Its sharp screen, built-in downloading and long battery life have overcome a relatively high price and some poor hardware-design features.
BlackBerry’s Storm Presses Into the Touch-Phone Fray
Walt reviews the hotly anticipated BlackBerry Storm, the first BlackBerry model without a physical keyboard. Typing and navigation require tapping on glass, just as users do on the iPhone. Verizon will be selling the Storm for $250 with a two-year contract, though a $50 mail-in rebate can bring the price down close to the $199 that Apple charges for the base model of the iPhone.
Wi-Fi on Wheels Is Steady, but Has a Speed Bump
Wi-Fi wireless Internet connectivity has become nearly ubiquitous. Whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or even on some commercial airliners, you can get online with a Wi-Fi-equipped laptop, smart phone or portable game machine. Now, Wi-Fi is making its way into your car.
Netbooks Come Into Their Own
Walt reviews the latest entrants in the “netbook” category–devices that are between a laptop and a smart phone in size and versatility–and finds some compelling choices.
Google Answers the iPhone
In the exciting new category of modern hand-held computers — devices that fit in your pocket but are used more like a laptop than a traditional phone — there has so far been only one serious option. But that will all change on Oct. 22, when T-Mobile and Google bring out the G1, the first hand-held computer that’s in the same class as Apple’s iPhone.
Dell Remote Access Keeps Your Files at Your Disposal
Dell Remote Access allows users to transfer, or stream, or share files, using a broadband connection.
Apple’s iPod Touch Can Act as Remote For Music System
With an iPhone or iPod Touch, Apple’s new program Remote can convert an MP3 player into a sophisticated remote control for digital-music collections.
Microsoft Live Labs Creates Web ‘Synth’ For 3-D Photo Tour
Microsoft Live Labs’ Photosynth turns multiple photos of a site into a 3-D scene you can virtually “walk” through on the Web. The service is a dramatic new way to use your photos and to share them with others, writes Walter S. Mossberg.
Newer, Faster, Cheaper iPhone 3G
Smart-phone shoppers who have been waiting for a cheaper iPhone that runs on faster cell networks might want to take the plunge on the iconic device’s latest iteration, but service costs have risen and battery life has dropped.
The TouchSmart Has Improved–But Not Enough
Hewlett-Packard is rolling out a new TouchSmart, a desktop computer with touch-controlled software. The hardware and software are better. It’s attractive, more versatile and fun to use. But the latest effort still has some problems.
Internet-a-Gogo: Airlines to Offer In-Flight Access
This summer, Wi-Fi access will arrive in the passenger cabins of some commercial U.S. airliners with a new system called Gogo. For travelers who want to stay connected in the air, Gogo does the job, but it has its limitations.
Samsung’s Instinct Doesn’t Ring True as an iPhone Clone
The parade of iPhone lookalikes continues, and the latest to arrive is the Samsung Instinct. While it isn’t a bad phone and has some features the Apple product lacks, it’s no match for the iPhone.
No BlackBerry? Your Cellphone May Do the Trick
Here is a guide to checking your email, looking up information and updating your calendar, just by sending text messages. You can use any cellphone, but you’ll need a generous text-messaging plan.
Guest columnist Vauhini Vara is filling in this week for Walt Mossberg, who returns June 5.
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