Tech, electronic, gadget Discussion

Summer: Sun; beaches; bikinis; picnic lunches; frosty libations. And vacation. Oh yes, vacation.

We all need a good summer reprieve from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. But in the technology-centric modern world,
where do all of our gadgets and other electronics fit in?

The answer to that question varies, of course, for all of us. But for the folks who live and breathe technology, as I do,
and who want to truly free themselves from as many electronic chains as possible while on vacation, the answer should be simple:
The less tech the better.

Here are some ways to help you get the most out of your summer vacation, the old fashioned way, without technology–or at
least with as little technology as possible.

Now, I realize that a truly “techless” vacation just isn’t possible for many modern businesspeople even if we wish we could
leave all of our gadgets at home. And some of us can actually benefit from bringing technology along with us–think: tablets
for watching movies on the plane, or smartphone-based GPS navigation to help find the hotel. Even if this is the case, or
if you simply don’t want to totally disconnect, the following tips and tricks will still help to balance your technology usage
while on holiday.

Slideshow: 15 Summer Vacation Ideas for Geeks

1) Leave that Smartphone at Home…or At Least Hide It

You love your smartphone. You take it everywhere. But as such, it’s a constant reminder of your professional life, even if
you use the device for both work and play. Ideally, you will leave your smartphone at home, so you can’t check it while on
vacation, even if you want to. (Trust me, if you bring your phone, it WILL call out to you, even if it’s buried in a hotel
drawer somewhere.)

But many of us, understandably, don’t feel comfortable traveling, whether it’s across the country or just across the street,
without a cell phone. So bring a backup cell phone if you have one–not your work phone. Or agree to only use your significant
other’s phone if need be.

If you absolutely have to carry your smartphone with you on vacation, it is possible to minimize your exposure to work-related
applications, services and content. For example, you can deactivate e-mail accounts. You can sign out of applications that
remind you of work or disable related notifications. You can hide work-related materials in “folders” or move them to screens
you won’t see if you need to quickly use your device. And you could simply turn off the mobile network so you can’t send or
receive any data, make phone calls or send texts.

Some smartphones, including BlackBerrys, even let you turn off your data services, so your smartphone can still be used to
place phone calls and send text messages, even though you won’t receive e-mail messages or other application updates.

It’s also a good idea to set specific periods of time when you will check your smartphone, if you do decide to bring it along
with you on vacation but not necessarily carry it, so you don’t feel any temptation to continually check for new messages
or updates. For example, if you need to check your e-mail or messages, for work reasons or otherwise, simply schedule 15 or
20 minutes of phone time at, say, noon and 6 PM each day. That way, you can still check your e-mail to make sure there aren’t
any fires that need extinguishing, but you’re still in control of the time and duration that you’re “connected.”

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Apple, Inc. (AAPL)
is piling on patent infringement complaints against Android giant HTC Corp. (TPE:2498) in hopes
that it can convince the U.S.
International Trade Commission to block the import of
“personal electronic devices” by HTC into the U.S.  

The complaint, “In the Matter of Portable
Electronic Devices and Related Software, Complaint NO. 2828, U.S. International
Trade Commission (Washington)”, is the second in the case and follows the
original complaint, “In
the Matter of Certain Personal Data and Mobile Communications Devices and
Related Software, and the HTC case against Apple is In the Matter of Portable
Electronic Devices, 337-721” [PDF], filed 16 months ago, in 2010.
 It is unclear why Apple filed a second complaint — the ITC website does
not list the contents of the complaint, merely the filing date, July 8.

On August 5 a federal judge will rule on whether
to suggest that the ITC ban HTC’s electronics imports, pending the outcome of
Apple’s two lawsuits against HTC [1][2].
 That suggestion would be reviewed by the full presiding panel of judges
before any final decision was made.

A blockage on U.S. shipments would be akin to
financial disaster, if not outright death for the Taiwanese phonemaker.
 The U.S. is HTC’s most lucrative market, and without a steady supply of
product it would see its revenue plunge.

If Apple is granted an injunction, HTC would
likely be forced to try and settle.  However, given that Apple has fallen
behind Android in sales, it is unclear whether Apple would accept a settlement,
or would merely refuse to settle in order to kill the successful competitor.

HTC does have hope — its recent acquisition,
mobile chipmaker S3 Graphics Comp., beat Apple’s ITC request in a similar case.
 HTC scooped up S3 Graphics for a cool $300M USD in the hopes of
strengthening its lineup of high-end smartphones.

On Sept. 16, an ITC judge will decide on whether
to allow HTC’s similar request to ban iPhone/iPad/iPod imports into the U.S.,
pending HTC’s
countersuit against Apple.

Apple has sued HTC, Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI),
and Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (SEO:005930) – the
three largest Android companies.  The lawsuits come at a time when
Apple has fallen
2-to-1 behind Android in smartphone sales globally.

If you are thinking of logging on to Mazuma Mobile to recycle a Nokia phone have you ever thought of what happens to your phone once you post it off in return for some cash? After all, if the phone is a very old model or isn’t even working anymore, how can you earn money from it? You may be thinking it is just worthless junk, but one person’s junk may be another person’s treasure.

So what exactly happens when a mobile is recycled for cash?

• If the phone is still in good working order but has a few scratches or signs of general wear and tear, it will probably be refurbished. Scratched screens or broken cases will be replaced and the components on the inside of the phone will be tested to make sure they are still working. The phone may then be sold on to a charity.
• Charities usually buy refurbished phones to send them off to developing countries where people will be able to buy them for a small price. Some charities in the UK also turn refurbished phones into phones that can only be used to make ‘999 calls’ making them very useful phones for those living in situations of domestic violence as they can connect with an emergency operator by pressing any button.
• Broken phones that cannot be fixed will probably be dismantled and the components will probably be sold on to be used in other products such as cameras or iPods. The popular parts of the phone that could be sold on include copper, platinum and titanium.

Technology is constantly changing. There’s always a newer, faster, shinier gadget on the horizon. That takes some of the joy out of buying a new computer, HDTV or smartphone. So stores like Best Buy are launching buyback programs.

• 

  Seth Perlman, AP

  Best Buy now offers a technology buy back program.

Seth Perlman, AP

Best Buy now offers a technology buy back program.

It sounds like a great idea. You buy an eligible item like a camcorder, camera or HDTV. When it’s time to upgrade, the store buys it back for a set price. Unfortunately, these programs aren’t so great when you learn the details. Let’s look at how this all works.

Best Buy

Best Buy’s Buy Back Program is available on a wide range of products. You’ll have to pay for it, though. At the low end, it costs $8 for Blu-ray or DVD players priced under $150. At the high end, it costs $180 for televisions priced between $2,500 and $5,000. If you’re buying a computer or tablet, you’ll pay $50 for the program.

• MORE: Komando columns

Best Buy will buy back your item starting 31 days after purchase. This is considered the effective date. Unfortunately, it will only pay you a fraction of what you spent. It varies depending on the time since the effective date. And you will get a gift card, not actual cash.

If you take an item in on the 31st day, you’ll get up to 50% of the original price. That’s certainly not as much as you’d hoped. And remember that few items depreciate 50 percent within the first year.

After six months, the buyback amount falls to 40%. Twelve months from the effective date, it will be 30%; at 18 months, it’s 20%. The Buy Back Program ends at 24 months for all items except TVs. TVs are covered to 48 months at 20%.

These percentages are the maximum you’ll receive. You’ll need to keep all the original parts. Also, the item has to be in good condition, with only normal wear and tear. If the item is in poor condition, these values are cut in half. What constitutes poor condition? If there are dents, scratches, dirt or “other signs of use.” If an item is substantially damaged, you get nothing.

Let’s look at a real-world example. Say you purchase a 64GB iPad 2 with 3G for $829. You take it in after 11 months. The maximum you’ll receive is $332. Subtract the $50 you spent for the program. That leaves $280. This may not sound shabby. But an original iPad with the same specs sells for upwards of $400 on eBay. Clearly, you’d be better to sell your iPad yourself.

Now there are a couple of peculiarities. Best Buy uses the MSRP when calculating the buyback price for cellphones, not the subsidized price. Also, Best Buy has a trade-in program for some items. It will give you the buyback price or 10 percent above trade-in value, whichever is greater.

TechForward

TechForward offers its Guaranteed Buyback plan. You can purchase the plan from participating retailers like Dell and Wal-Mart, or buy the plan directly from TechForward’s site within 30 days of purchasing an eligible item.

TechForward’s plan works essentially the same way as Best Buy’s. However, the program expires after 24 months for all items. There are also slight differences in pricing. That iPad I mentioned above? TechForward will pay you $10 more than Best Buy will. It’s not significant, but it’s something.

Ultimately, I can’t recommend these buyback programs. In most cases, you’re better off selling your old gear on eBay or Craigslist. Also these programs encourage you to upgrade your gear sooner than is really necessary. And that might be the costliest part of these programs.

Kim Komando hosts the nation’s largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit: www.komando.com/listen. To subscribe to Kim’s free email newsletters, sign up at: www.komando.com/newsletters. Contact her atC1Tech@gannett.com.

Posted | Updated

By Claire Reilly

SYDNEY, NSW: Australians are tech-savvy consumers, and they’re looking for the kinds of electronics products that will fit in with their increasingly gadget-focused lifestyles.

That’s according to Sven Radavics, vice president of worldwide sales for action sports camera brand Contour. Radavics spoke to Current.com.au about the changes in the camera market, and the changing desires of Australian consumers who are become more tech-aware.

Targeted towards professional athletes, sports fans and hobbyists, Contour’s range of cameras are pocket-sized devices that can be mounted on surfboards, bicycles or virtually any surface to capture high-definition action video.

Speaking about Contour’s range of products, Radavics noted that the camcorder market is splitting to cover two key markets – hand-held and hands-free.

“If you look at the statistics worldwide, in North America, camcorder sales were down year-on-year 27%. The biggest camcorder retailer, which was Best Buy, was down 36%,” he said. “The hand-held market we think is ultimately going to be the phone,”

“Hands-free camcorders are growing in a lot of markets, 200% year on year and in some cases it’s more than 100% quarter-on-quarter growth,” he added.

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According to Radavics, these figures indicate that consumers are increasingly turning towards consumer electronics devices that fit in with their lifestyles. While they may not go out and make a big purchase, shoppers might choose to spend money on something that fits their niche interests.

“We’re finding people are putting a lot more money into those passion hobbies, they’re spending more there even though overall they’re spending a bit less,” he said.

As far as digital tendencies are concerned, Radavics was quick to note that Australians are early adopters of technology, and “we do like our gadgets”.

“People are enjoying their gadgets more and more. Gadgets in the past were a man-toy, but with the advent of the phone, the phone has just become the gadget of choice for everybody. Even baby boomers, they’re so attached to their phone because it has everything.

“I think the phone has broken down the barriers for a lot of other gadgets in general. I’m seeing all generations and all consumers and both genders almost equally interested in gadgets that are out there. They’re entertaining or they’re time-saving or they have some sort of life-improving value.”

In light of this, Radavics suggested retailers needed to start looking towards products and trends that are unique and unconventional, especially if they want to survive an ever-changing industry.

“I think the most important thing is that retailers really need to step out of the box a little bit and find innovative brands, do things that are a little different because we can’t keep doing the things the way we’ve always done them. That’s going to be really really important over the next five or ten years.”

To read a full interview with Sven Radavics, turn to the July issue of Appliance Retailer magazine.

While many manufacturers look to the future when designing cameras, Fujifilm and Leica have turned back to the schools of old for aesthetic inspiration. The Fujifilm Finepix X100 and the Leica X1 both jam current DSLR mechanics into an old-style casing, sacrificing functionality and performance for image quality and compactness.

But will punters put up the big baht for a camera that looks older than they are, even though the technology inside is cutting edge? Let’s focus in on the two models and see if old-world charm can still draw a nostalgic crowd.

FUJIFILM FINEPIX X100

Fujifilm has stated its new X100 was designed by photographers, for photographers. Although a cliche, it appears to ring true in this case. It has realised there is a market for a compact, technically capable and classic model, but it comes at a price.

SPECIFICATIONS

Inside, the camera houses a 12.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, which is rarely seen in a compact. A hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder is especially useful when shooting outside as the 2.8-inch LCD isn’t great in direct sunlight. The substantial 450g weight can be justified by the nuggety sturdiness of the model.

PERFORMANCE

The 23mm prime lens (equivalent to 35mm) doesn’t offer the range that interchangeable-lens compact models do, but the quality of results speaks for itself. The camera outperforms all of its less-expensive peers, and the results sit snugly in the middle DSLR range, where it is priced. It also shoots 720p HD video with adjustable aperture and continuous autofocus. It picks up sound with stereo mics too, offering decent but not professional-standard clips. The battery offers 300 shots a charge, which is about average.

On the down side, the X100′s shooting speed is slow, especially with autofocus in use. Professsional users will notice shot lag that much cheaper models avoid. Burst shooting is available at five frames a second, but only for two seconds at a time, which rules out certain styles of shooting.

VERDICT

The X100 is an interesting combination of modern camera possibilities. It incorporates excellent image quality in a sturdy retro body. But it is not without its performance issues. Users will like the impressive image results, compact classic design, and hybrid viewfinder, but will be put off by the lag time, menu structure and substantial price. With its eclectic characteristics, the X100 will find a niche market, rather than widespread appeal.

LEICA X1

Like the X100′s big brother, the Leica X1 set the pace for the high-performance classic design compact when it was released in late 2009. It boasted great performance, and an exorbitant price tag, but has found a cult following among enthusiasts.

PERFORMANCE

The X1 is known for its excellent results, even at high ISO settings, which has traditionally been a weak area for compact cameras. Inside is an 12.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS chip, which means DSLR quality. This is the ultimate dream for manufacturers and users, but it comes with the sacrifice of other functions. The lens is fixed at 24mm (equivalent to 36mm) for a start, and no video shooting is available.

It weighs in at a very manageable 286g, but the battery offers only 260 shots, which isn’t overly impressive.

VERDICT

The X1 stands out from the crowd thanks to its exquisite pictures, but its price tag is likely to deter most potential buyers. Those who take the plunge will enjoy the brilliant results, the timeless design and the smoothly integrated operation of its functions, but will be put off by the lack of versatility and video. The X1 emerges as a hobbyist indulgence for those with too much disposable income. It is important to have a manufacturer pushing boundaries and the existence of a compact that offers better image results than most DLSRs is an interesting addition to the market. But while it outperforms its competitors, other models such as the Fujifilm X100 show much greater value and will triumph at retail outlets.

The Fujifilm Finepix X100 is available for 32,990 baht, visit www.fujiflim.co.th. The Leica X1 is available for 73,500 baht, visit www.leica-camera.com. Email richardm@bangkokpost.co.th with any gadget queries.

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About the author

Writer: Richard Mcleish
Position: Reporter

(CNN) — Having recently traded in their chunky tubes for high-definition flat-screens, most consumers aren’t finding a compelling new reason to go out and buy more TV sets.

And that’s starting to spell trouble for TV makers, who are just coming off their HD high.

Television manufacturers are thinking up all kinds of incentives and cramming a bevy of extras into their high-end product lines. In larger sets, three-dimensional viewing (with special glasses included), multimedia Internet features (using a built-in Wi-Fi chip) and bright screens with LED backlighting are quickly becoming commonplace.

A decade ago, the sales pitch for an HD, flat-screen, digital television was fairly straightforward: It opens up space in the living room, it’s equipped for the national shift to digital broadcasting and the picture is sharper, see?

But to witness 3-D, a salesman hands the shoppers a pair of thick plastic glasses, usually attached to a string to prevent theft. The potential buyer frets over buying special glasses for everyone in the family, over having to buy a 3-D Blu-ray player and discs and over the motion sickness that some people experience when viewing 3-D entertainment.

That’s an expensive, risky proposition, especially in a sputtering economic climate.

Conventional wisdom in the TV industry has been that 3-D would drive most new TV purchases now that HD sets have saturated the market. For confirmation look no further than the two most recent Consumer Electronic Shows, the annual industry spectacle in Las Vegas, where 3-D TVs have been hugely hyped.

Sure, more 3-D TVs are being bought versus last year, according to research firm NPD Group. But that’s because 3-D is more affordable and more widely available than it used to be. In the United States, overall TV sales are up slightly, but revenue is flat, the study says. Globally, TV shipments are mostly flat, and demand appears soft, according to a report from NPD’s DisplaySearch.

“The LCD panel industry remains in the midst of a secular slowdown that is likely to only deteriorate further over the next couple of years,” Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White wrote in a recent report.

Still pinning hopes on 3-D

So now the top TV makers are starting to revise their game plans. As it turns out, 3-D isn’t the big sales draw it was thought to be.

“Here’s what we learned last year,” said Mike Abary, a senior vice president for Sony Electronics’ home division. “Three-D as a technology wasn’t necessarily a primary driver for why a customer would want to buy a TV.”

Even with that insight, TV makers aren’t about to give up on 3-D. For Sony, 3-D is integral to the other parts of its business. For example, Sony Pictures can sell 3-D movies at a premium, and the company’s gadget designers are thinking up crafty ways to package 3-D recording into digital cameras and camcorders.

So Sony and the other giants, including Samsung Electronics, have reduced the entry price for 3-D TVs, cut the cost of the glasses by about half and added the function to more models. In Samsung’s case, about 60% of its lineup now includes 3-D.

Companies also are placing less focus on 3-D in their advertising campaigns.

“What customers are looking for is the best TV picture quality that they can buy,” Abary said. “And if that TV happens to also have 3-D capability, that’s just icing on the cake.”

Great, but where will the TV industry’s next savior come from?

Smart TVs to the rescue?

Abary is betting on bundled Internet platforms, sometimes called IP or “smart” TV, that provide access to Web-based services such as Netflix and Pandora. Sony offers TVs with the Bravia Internet Video software, and others with Google TV, which, by the way, “has not performed to our expectations,” Abary said.

“Of all the technologies that have been introduced recently, we think that the game changer is probably the IP TV capability,” he said.

Samsung says it has sold 2 million smart TVs worldwide, and more than half of customers make use of the Internet functionality. Vizio says 70% of customers connect their smart TVs to the Web. The rest may not be aware that it’s built into the set.

But so many set-top boxes, from video-game consoles to dedicated, inexpensive Google and Apple entertainment units, already do the same thing. So consumers aren’t exactly rushing to stores to buy all-new TVs just so they can get Hulu on the big screen.

(Does this seem like a sector that the high-margin-loving Apple would want to get into?)

Samsung is hoping the full package of 3-D, Internet, LED lighting and sleeker designs (e.g., thinner bezels) together will spur purchases, said David Das, the company’s vice-president of marketing for displays. The recent softening of TV sales doesn’t necessarily indicate doom, he said.

“When you look at the advent of HD or something like 120-Megahertz refresh rate or LED, many of those technologies did not exceed 1 million units” initially, he said.

But the HD advantage was clear and well-timed. Consumers in 13 large U.S. markets on average said LED, 3-D and Internet capabilities each aren’t important drivers for replacing their TVs, according to a recent DisplaySearch study. Consumers showed very little interest in the features, with LED ranking slightly higher than the others, the study says.

Looking ahead, organic LED lighting produces even more vivid colors and viewing, while the ultra-HD standard, 4K resolution appears promising. But these technologies are still a way off from widespread adoption and won’t necessarily be groundbreaking, said Ross Rubin, an NPD consumer-electronics analyst.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything on the scale of HD in the foreseeable future,” Rubin said.

So for now, perhaps the only compelling reason to replace a set is when the old one is on the fritz.