The Full Review of Nokia N8

Symbian v3 brings some improvements, just not quite enough...

The quick review of N8 has been posted on September 20, 2010. Nokia’s time in the doldrums has been well-documented, but with a revised UI and a boatload of top-end tech, it’s hoping the new N8 will catapult it back to the sharp end of the smartphone game.

With the N8, Nokia has seemingly thrown all the tech it can think of at the new handset in a bid to rival the likes of Android and the iPhone – a 12MP camera with ‘proper’ Xenon flash, XVID and DIVX support, HD video capture, Dolby Mobile sound and an HDMI-out port are just the tip of the iceberg.

It’s also got the stylish anodised metal shell and an OLED screen, along with a dedicated graphics processor, so from the outset Nokia is clearly looking to rival the big boys when comparing spec sheets.

The new Symbian^3 offers up a newer user experience, albeit one that many previous Nokia users will be familiar with.

There are now three home screens to play with, with a large number of widgets to on offer as well. However, you can’t litter the icons across the screen willy-nilly, instead being forced to put them into specific icon-based widgets.

While Symbian^3 is designed to be a more ‘next-gen’ smartphone platform, right from the outset it’s clear that it’s more of a re-tooled and re-badged version of Symbian S60 rather than a new OS.

Things like swiping across home screens and having to wait for the phone to catch up, rather than it moving under your touch, as well as having to drill through so many menus to get to some applications and options show that Symbian still has a long, long way to go to catch up with Android or iOS.

Nokia N8: Screen and camera

However, the hardware provides a number of positives – the capacitive OLED screen really shows of colours nicely, and although the 640x360 screen isn’t as impressive as its higher-res rivals, the contrast ratios are still excellent and web pages and video look crisp enough.

The display also shows up fairly well in bright light – it’s not jaw-dropping, but certainly performs better than the HTC Desire, which might as well be transparent on sunnier days. We’re also excited by the camera. If you’re a photography buff you’ll obviously prefer a dedicated DSLR or dedicated compact, but for a quick snap here and there, the combo of a 12MP sensor, Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash really offer up some crisp shots.

There are a number of options to alter your photos, including contrast and exposure correction and a variety of scene modes to improve picture quality.

Nokia has included a dedicated camera button on the N8 too, which has a staggered press to allow you to activate autofocus. Hitting this button when not in photography mode will start up the camera, but it does take a while to boot up – best hope it’s not a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot.

The 720p video mode is similarly good – not only does the noise reduction really help with elements like windy scenes, but the HD video is clear and crisp, especially when you output it to a larger TV. However, it doesn’t have the same wow factor as the iPhone 4’s HD recording, despite packing nearly identical specs.

Music is also well catered for on the N8, with a dedicated music widget and easy to user interface. When used in landscape mode, album cover flow whips along particularly well, and the on-screen music control buttons are similarly easy to hit.

The inline headphone remote included in the box is good quality too, and with 16GB of internal memory it’s easy to think this could be your dedicated MP3 player.

However, video is not as impressive – some file types (such as m4v) won’t play back correctly, and many others will play in 4:3 rather than widescreen as the pixel count is too high to stretch – despite managing to do so easily on the like of the Samsung Galaxy S or the Apple iPhone 4.

Nokia N8: internet

The browser on the N8 is supposed to have been given the Symbian^3 treatment to help take it to the next smartphone level, but sadly that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

On paper it seems like it will be one of the best: pinch to zoom and Flash video support (via Flash Lite 4) promise a decent experience. But it’s a touch slower than the other mobile browsers out there (although on a par with the BlackBerry Torch) and the pinch and zoom is very laggy indeed. Plus when you zoom in the text doesn’t reform to fit the screen, so you have to scroll left and right to see the words at the right size.

Menu options are hidden two button presses away, so reloading a page is a real pain – although the Flash video generally works well, despite being a little choppy, especially on the heavier sites.

Battery is a plus point on the Nokia N8 – given it’s only got a 1200mAh battery we were a bit worried, but the low-powered 680MHz processor clearly helps push things a bit further. We easily managed a couple of days’ use with the N8, although it wouldn’t get very far into a third day; we found that the lack of internet use (due to the poorer performance) helped conserve battery pretty well, so that might change other users’ experiences.

Nokia N8: keyboard

One major downside of the Nokia N8 is the text input. For starters, using the N8 in portrait mode means you can only use the multi-tap method – no mini QWERTY here, despite having the size to do it. In landscape mode you only get a QWERTY option, with an ill thought-out layout (and no auto-capitalisation on the ‘i’) it takes some real effort to achieve any kind of accuracy.

The main saving grace of the Nokia N8 was supposed to be the cost – but now it’s finally landed on the official Nokia website, it’s not that impressive either.

True, in Malaysia it’s only RM 1800 for a 16GB smartphone, which is almost RM 100 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S and nearly RM 400 cheaper than the same priced iPhone, but given the compromises needed to use the Nokia N8 it feels expensive.

In a straight battle, it’s hard to see who (other than devout and die-hard Nokia fans) would take a look at the Nokia N8 when the HTC Desire, iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S and arguably the new BlackBerry Torch all offer a more complete and easy to use experience.

Nokia fans will love the N8, Symbian V3 is an improvement and Nokia has certainly got the hardware right in terms of specs. But Symbian has been overtaken by other operating systems. What we'd really like to see is the N8 on Meego or Maemo 5. 

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Nokia N8 Specifications:

OS: Symbian^3
Processor: ARM 11 680MHz
Storage: 16GB with microSD slot
Screen: 3.5-inch 640x360 capacitive OLED
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, 10.2Mbps HSDPA, a-GPS, HDMI, FM transmitter
Camera (res, flash, focus): 12MP with AF, face detection and Xenon flash
Video (size and frame rate): 720p HD @25fps
3G Talk time: 350mins
Dimensions: 114 x 59 x 13 mm
Weight: 135g

Review of IE9 Beta Version

JAZZED UP: IE9, now available in beta test form, has a more minimalist look and promises to make websites load and run faster. - Microsoft Corp

The beta version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9(IE9) web browser is now available online for users to try out.

Sporting a much cleaner, less-cluttered layout than its predecessors, IE9 promises a speedier and better user experience, the company said.

It is however only available for Windows 7 and Vista operating systems. Not applicable for Win XP operating systems.

According to Microsoft, users can expect trusted and interoperable online experiences that take full advantage of Windows 7 capabilities as well as a tighter integration with the Bing search engine. It supports the HTML5 video and audio tags and the Web Open Font Format.

IE9 introduces a new scripting engine called Chakra that leverages on the common multicore processors in PCs to deliver significant performance gains.

Microsoft said Chakra has a separate background thread for compiling JavaScript and multiple threads can run in parallel, each on an individual core when one is available.

IE9 also supports full hardware acceleration of HTML5, which enables it to use the graphics processor when rendering complex pages, which takes a significant load off a PC's CPU.

On the security front, IE9 includes the SmartScreen Download Reputation feature that identifies safe downloads and will immediately alert users when it encounters untrustworthy files.

MORE SECURE: The In-Private Browsing and In-Private Filtering security features have been enhanced to give users added peace of mind. - Microsoft Corp

Meanwhile, the In-Private Browsing and In-Private Filtering security features have been further enhanced to give users added peace of mind when using the browser.

Other notable new features include a URL address box that doubles as a search bar just like in Google's Chrome browser, and Windows Taskbar integration that allows shortcuts to links or favourites to be pinned to the taskbar.

IE9 also features user alerts that are more discreet - instead of a steady stream of annoying pop-ups like in IE8, a bar will now appear at the bottom of the screen to ask users about what action to take.

Sharp opens books with new devices

MORE CHOICES: Models showing off Sharp's flagship e-readers featuring a 10.8in high resolution LCD display (right) and its mobile counterpart with a 5.5in LCD display for the company's Galapagos service during a press conference in Tokyo. 

SHARP announced it is joining the wave of consumer electronics companies in the e-reader and Tablet marketplace with two new Android-powered devices.

The company unveiled the Tablets during a press event in Tokyo. The two devices are flagship e-readers for the company's newly-announced cloud-based e-book and media service, Galapagos.

The first is a pocketable tablet with a 5.5in, 1,024 x 600-pixel LCD display. It is designed to be a portable "paperback book-like" device that can be easily carried. It comes with a track ball feature that helps users navigate through content and "flip the pages with one hand."

The second model has a 10.8in, 1,366 x800-pixel HD LCD touchscreen display (slightly bigger than the iPad's 9.7in, 1,024 x 768-pixel LCD display) and has been crafted as a stay-at-home consumption device. The larger screen is tailored for reading materials that require more screen real estate, such as the two-page spreads found in magazines.

The devices will be equipped with a Wireless LAN connection so users can browse through reading material from the around 30,000 newspapers, magazines and books in Sharp's new e-book store.

The devices' full colour screen, "rich graphic capabilities" and customisable Android operating system are elements that have been carefully selected for Japan's visually-rich book culture - where traditional e-readers such as Amazon's black-and-white Kindle lack the ability to display graphic novels in all their splendour.

In addition to e-books, users can also view PC data, documents, maps, images and websites on the displays. A built-in social networking service application also lets readers share comments and e-book lists with their friends while game lovers will be able to battle against the computer too.

Sharp's e-book service is due to launch in December. The company is yet to announce launch and pricing details for the two Tablets but is confident that it will be able to sell around one million units in 2011.

Review: Logitech Wireless Trackball M570

Veteran trackball owners will find the M570's shape very familiar. Logitech makes this clear that it was on purpose: even on its promo page, the company showed that the design is a dead ringer in many ways for models several years old or more. There's a good reason for it, as the heavily sculpted shape is designed to fit a right hand almost perfectly. The trackball, buttons and scroll wheel all fall to hand very easily. Left-handers who can't use a mouse right-handed will want to stay away, but that's true of most trackballs.

Whether or not it's comfortable over long periods is partly dependent on your desk and mousing position. When we first tried the M570, it was actually less comfortable than Apple's Magic Mouse, which itself is known for not being especially friendly to wrists. After adjusting our position, however, we found that it was good for several hours of work.

Our chief issue over a long period is simply noise: the trackball is silent as you'd expect, but the buttons all make relatively loud clicking noises compared to some mice, including some of Logitech's own. If you often listen to music or work in a noisy office you won't mind, but it may be distracting to someone in a quiet room.

Actual motion for the trackball is pleasant; it feels much like a marble and is as price as you'd expect. Be prepared to adjust sensitivity, since your first experience will invariably result in overshooting the target. You may also need to modify your habits for selecting text or other tasks that need drag-and-drop behavior. We also liked that the scroll wheel has clear detents -- a must-have for gamers and anyone else who needs precise scrolling -- though it definitely isn't as polished and pleasant-feeling as the metal wheels on Logitech's MX and VX mice. It would have been appreciated if Logitech had tried to rival its best mice in at least this area.

Read more: http://www.electronista.com/reviews/logitech-wireless-trackball-m570.html#ixzz10sJRnHHg

Quick review of Nikon Coolpix P7000

Top of the line is the Coolpix P7000, which is aimed at the advanced amateur.

Equipped with a 7.1x zoom lens equivalent to a 28-200mm lens, the 10.1-megapixel P7000 has a number of features specifically tailored for advanced users.

For one thing, the camera has most of its important controls easily accessible via dials and custom buttons - exposure compensation, for example, has its own dedicated dial.

P7000

The camera also allows the user to shoot in RAW format in addition to JPEG, which means that all the picture information captured by the camera is retained in a lossless format.

Other interesting "pro-level" features include auto-bracketing, macro photography from as close as 2cm from the lens, and even a virtual horizon display (taken directly from Nikon's high-end DSLRs) for helping the user keep the camera level when shooting landscapes.

ISO settings range from 100 to 3200, with an ISO boost setting of up to 6400.

The Coolpix P7000 has a recommended retail price of RM1,598.

Nikon Coolpix P7000 Key Features

• 10MP CCD sensor
• 720p HD video recording with mic jack for external microphone
• ISO 100-3200
• RAW capture option (.NRW format) and NRW+JPEG (fine)
• 4 x Digital Zoom
• 7x zoom (28-200mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.6 with 2 ED elements and built-in ND filter
• 720p (1280x720) movie mode with AF and lens zoom during recording
• 3.0 inch 921k dot LCD screen
• 4 Picture Control preset modes + custom mode
• EXPEED C2 processor
• Active D-Lighting
• Electronic virtual horizon
• HDMI output
• Zoom memory function
• i-TTL compatibility with Speedlight SB-400/600/800/900 flashguns
• Dual IR receivers (front and rear) for wireless remote control ML-L3.

Quick Review on Nokia C7

Here is a phone with the same features as the C6, such as an 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash, 720p HD video-recording capability and WiFi. But the C7 comes in a more premium casing, with rounded edges and sporting a slightly bigger 3.5in AMOLED (640 x 360-pixels) display screen.

It has 8GB of internal storage with MicroSD support that is expandable to 32GB.

Expect to pay 335 euros (about RM1,340), excluding taxes and subsidies, for it.

The E7, C6 and C7 should be available in Malaysia before year end, according to Nokia.

Quick Review on Nokia C6

THIS is a candybar-style phone in a steel and glass design that is targeted at the mid-range market. It comes with a 3.2in AMOLED (640 x 360-pixels) display with full touch capabilities and Nokia's CBD technology for improved outdoor visibility.

It is described as an ideal phone for heavy social network users as it features live feeds from popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter on the phone's home screen itself.

On paper, the C6 is also a pretty decent device for taking photos and videos, as well as for mobile entertainment. It has an 8-megapixel camera, 720p HD video-recording capability, and 340MB of internal memory with up to 32GB of storage via MicroSD card (2GB card bundled).

In terms of connectivity, this model comes with WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, Nokia AV connector and A-GPS for navigation. It is expected to cost 260 euros (about RM1,050), excluding taxes and subsidies.

Quick Review on Nokia E7

NOKIA took the audience at Nokia World down memory lane before announcing the E7, by showing clips of its Communicator 9000 being used in the 1997 movie The Saint.

Indeed a lot has changed since that seminal smartphone was launched in 1996. While the 9000 had a monochrome screen, the latest Communicator sports a large 4in AMOLED touchscreen display with Nokia's latest Clear Black Display (CBD) technology for improved outdoor visibility.

The touchscreen can be tilted up to reveal a full Qwerty keyboard for faster and easier typing.

Touted as the ultimate business smartphone, the E7 comes with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync that provides direct and secure access to corporate e-mail inboxes and other personal applications as well as those that allow users to view and edit Microsoft Office files.

For corporate peace of mind, a combination of business grade security solutions is available, Nokia said.

As expected from a premium class smartphone, there is also the usual host of entertainment and connectivity options thrown in. Examples include an 8-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording, 16GB storage, A-GPS, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi.

The E7 will have an estimated retail price of 495 euros (about RM2,000), excluding taxes and subsidies.

Quick Review on Nokia N8

Nokia N8

Spearheading Nokia's fightback to regain the spotlight in the smartphone race are four models - the previously announced but not yet available N8, the E7 Communicator, C6 and C7.

The N8 was billed by company executives at Nokia World here as the "ultimate entertainment smartphone and the world's best camera phone."

Nokia said the phone has received the highest-ever demand for online pre-orders, suggesting that the company may have a hit on its hands.

The phone is due to be available in selected markets next month and in Malaysia before Dec 31, 2010. Expected price would be around RM 1800.00

It has a 12-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus and Xenon flash, 720p HD video recording, Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound, HDMI connection, 3.5in capacitive multi-touch AMOLED screen (640 x 360-pixels), 16GB internal memory and a microSD card slot (up to 32GB card supported).

Nokia's N8 also has an accelerometer and proximity sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth, A-GPS, Ovi Maps, digital compass, full Qwerty virtual keyboard and a dedicated social client for live updates from Facebook and Twitter.

Nokia strikes back

NOKIA'S HOPEFULS: (l-r) The Nokia C6, C7, N8 and E7. Nokia is banking on these four Symbian ^3-powered smartphones to regain the lead in the smartphone race.

Nokia brushed off its recent top management reshuffle and used its annual Nokia World conference here to signal that it is not ready to give up in the high stakes smartphone battle despite being overshadowed by the competition, such as Apple's iPhone and Google Android devices.

In fact the company came out swinging and took some well-aimed digs at the two competitors, its fiercest rivals in the smartphone space now.

Apple was first in the firing line as Nokia made fun of its senior vice-president of iOS software, Scott Forstall, for inadvertently using the Finnish company's well known tagline "Connecting People" in a video.

"For us, it is not just a feel-good tagline, it's our mission," said Nokia executive vice-president for markets Niklas Savander in his opening keynote.

The company also said that it sold more smartphones than Apple and Android combined in the last quarter.

"On average people buy 260,000 Nokia smartphones every day - that's more smartphones sales than any other company by far. Period," Savander added.

Ever since Nokia started making Symbian 60-based smartphones, it has shipped 300 million devices to date and currently holds just over 40% of the market share, the company said.

Savander also reinforced Nokia's strategy to continue making handsets to cater to different market segments and user experiences despite opinions that the company should concentrate on just the high-end smartphone section.

"We will continue to expand the availability of smartening features because everyone - not just the well-off - should have easy access to the Internet and modern mobile communications," he said.

Savander added that Nokia was not going to apologise for the fact that it wasn't Apple or Google or anybody else. "We're Nokia and we're unique," he said.

He also spoke about the company's push into the mobile location and navigation space and said that - contrary to popular perception - it is Nokia, not Google, that is the leader in mobile navigation.

He said that Ovi Maps is far less data hungry than Google Maps because it is optimised for mobile use. In terms of global reach, he said Ovi Maps is available in 78 countries and 46 languages.

The reason that Nokia is intent on "owning" the mobile location and navigation space is because more than 800 million people will have access to GPS-enabled phones by 2013, Savander said.

"Your phone will be able to analyse your location, friend's locations and take into account your tastes and needs. This 'science fiction' story is now in place and soon everyone will have a coordinate. The impact of this is huge," he said.

The fightback

Despite delivering stinging ripostes to Nokia's competitors, Savander admitted that the company hasn't been as competitive as it wants to be in the smartphone space.

But he quickly added that all that was about to change as the company is about to shift into high gear to regain the spotlight in smartphone leadership.

"Nevermind the past. Today is about the here and now, about three words: Nokia is back."

Spearheading the fightback are four new models - the previously-announced N8 entertainment phone, the C6 and C7 for social network users, and the E7, which is the successor to the business-centric Communicator (see sidebar).

At the heart of these new phones is the new Symbian ^3 operating system, which was talked-up by outgoing Nokia executive vice-president for mobile solutions, Anssi Vanjoki.

He began his keynote by vigorously defending the new Symbian OS against criticism that it is the same old system by those who have just looked at screenshots of it.

"It's like dismissing the performance of a new car with a new turbo-charged engine before driving it just because the dashboard looks familiar," Vanjoki told the audience.

He said the majority of improvements are under the hood with over 250 new features and enhancements such as support for multiple home screens, visual multitasking, gesture-based interactions and a noticeable reduction in prompts.

The new devices, which are also tightly integrated with enhanced Ovi services and apps, reinforce the company's vision of a mobile industry that is increasingly being defined by socially connected, location-based devices and experiences.

The phones will include a completely updated Ovi Store that promises a friendlier user interface and a new collections feature to quickly access popular apps and games available now, or soon, such as Foursquare, Angry Birds and Need for Speed Shift.

There will also be free access to the latest beta release of Ovi Maps which amongst others, adds visibility to subways, trams and trains in 85 cities around the world, real-time traffic, safety alerts in or out of navigation mode and speed limit warnings.

In addition, there are improved search capabilities and users can share their location immediately via text messages or e-mail to other browser-enabled phones.

Developer focus

With the smartphone business being predominantly about apps, Nokia is also taking steps to make it easier for developers to create more applications for the Symbian platform.

With Symbian ^3, Vajonki said that the fragmentation of the old Symbian system would be a thing of the past and that Nokia is developing strategies to ensure development consistency and a broader distribution base for applications.

For instance, developers can now write an application on the Nokia Qt platform and it will work on all of the company's smartphones without any further fuss. Nokia also said its development tools are now more efficient and reduce the lines of code needed to write an app by as much as 70%.

Other methods to attract more developers include enabling in-app purchases and introducing a wider range of app pricing options such as subscription models, micro-transactions, or "try and buy."

Nokia has also removed the time consuming and costly step of app signing - developers can now get their Symbian and Java apps signed at no cost just by the click of a button, the company said.

In addition to the refinements to the Nokia Qt software development kit (SDK) for smartphones, Nokia also announced an SDK for its Series 40 Touch and Type feature phones.

Currently Nokia said Ovi Store has 13,000 apps with about two million downloads a day. In comparison, the Apple App Store has 200,000 apps and the Android Marketplace is home to 80,000 apps.

However, Nokia executives pointed out that Ovi Store is just one of the many channels available for Symbian apps and that many thousand more are available at other sites.

GPS Gophers Visi-O Lite: Reviewed

It's a basic GPS car navigation device but the affordable Visi-O Lite will still get you where you wish to go.

The first thing that you would notice about the Gophers Visi-O Lite GPS car navigation unit is its large 5in touchscreen.

The large touchscreen made it easy to use the device - it was a breeze to type using both thumbs.

The icons are also large and you can't help but notice how closely they resemble Apple icons.

The Visi-O Lite, which runs on Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 operating system, has 2GB memory for ­storing maps and multimedia files. There is also an SD/MMC slot for expanding storage capacity.

The GPS unit comes bundled with an in-car USB charger, A/C charger, mounting unit and USB cable.

The Visi-O Lite uses Powermap Z9 navigation software and has maps for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The device takes about 30 seconds to get a satellite lock which is reasonably fast.

Before using the device for navigation, it's best to set the routing option - Shortest Distance, Toll Preferred or Toll Avoided. I chose to go with the Shortest Distance.

There are several ways to search for your destination. You can search by road name, POI (point of interest), and longitude and latitude co-ordinates.

At the moment you can't search by house numbers but Gophers plans to introduce this feature for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor by year end.

EASY ACCESS: The Visi-O Lite's ports are on the right side.

The GPS also displays popular places, bridges and flyovers on the map, which make it easy to find your destination.

In any case, it's not a problem if you take a wrong turn because the navigation system will find an alternate route in just a matter of seconds.

I got lost in Subang Jaya once and the GPS was really quick to get me back on track. The voice ­navigation is available in six languages - English, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien and Thai.

Minor drawbacks

The device uses a resistive touchscreen which isn't great for using your fingers to navigate. The GPS does come with a stylus, but it's a hassle to take it out and use it.

Also, the virtual Qwerty keyboard isn't easy to use and it's very easy to hit the wrong letter. It's especially frustrating when you are in a hurry.

The keyboard is also a little quirky as it doesn't have the "/" symbol and you have to use a comma instead. For instance, if you are searching for SS7/6, you will have to input SS7,3. Oddly enough, it will appear correctly on the screen as SS7/3.

This is expected to be fixed in a future software update.

In terms of battery life, the GPS lasts about about three hours on a full charge. The battery can be recharged via the car charger or AC adaptor.

Conclusion

The Gophers Visi-O Lite GPS car navigation unit is an easy to use device that's affordable.

At only RM598, the device has all the important features you need as well as a media player.

Overall, the Gophers Visi-O Lite is a decent basic GPS car navigation device.

Pros: Easy to use; 5in screen; clear voice navigation; affordable.

Cons: Quirky virtual keyboard.

VISI-O LITE
(Gophers)
GPS car navigation unit
GPS chipset: SiRF Atlas V 500MHz
Display: 5in touchscreen
Memory: 64MB
Storage: 2GB
Battery: Lithium polymer
Operating System: Windows CE 6.0
Other features: Digital speedometer, e-book reader, media player
Dimensions (W x D x H): 139 x 90 x 17mm
Weight: 240g
Price: RM598

Canon unveils new scanners and AIO printers

LiDE 210

Canon has launched its latest CanoScan flatbed scanners models - the LiDE 210 and LiDE 110.

The LiDE 210 has an optical resolution of up to 4,800 x 4,800dpi (dots per inch) while the LiDE 110 offers up to 2,400 x 4,800dpi. To scan a colour A4 page at 300dpi, the LiDE 210 takes 10 seconds while it takes 16 seconds for the LiDE 110 to complete the task, Canon said.

To scan efficiently, both models feature an auto-scan mode, which recognises the type of original documents - from standard-size documents, photographs and business cards. It then crops and scans with the appropriate image optimisation settings, and saves the images on the computer automatically.

New AIO printers

Canon also unveiled two wireless photo all-in-one (AIO) printers - the Pixma MG 6170 and Pixma MG 8170; and a monochrome laser printer, the Laser Shot LBP 6000.

The MG 6170 and MG 8170, which have a print resolution of up to 9,600 x 2,400dpi, support the 802.11n wireless standard.

MG 8170

One of the highlights of the two models is the ability to print any frame from high-definition video footage captured with a Canon digital camera.

With the Easy-PhotoPrint Pro plugin for Adobe Photoshop, users can edit images with greater ease, Canon said. There is also the Auto Photo Fix II feature with colour cast correction for optimisation of images before printing.

Both the MG 6170 and MG 8170 feature tilt LCD screens that measure 3in and 3.5in respectively. The MG 8170 is also capable of scanning 35mm film and slides.

Monochrome laser printer

The LBP 6000 prints at 18ppm (pages per minute) with print quality at up to 2,400 x 600dpi. This model uses Canon's Advanced Printing Technology 3.0 printing software, where the file size of a print job is compressed on the computer before it is sent to the printer.

LBP 6000

According to Canon, this improves the efficiency of the printer without the need to increase memory capacity.

The LiDE 210 (RM523), LiDE 110 (RM298), MG 6170 (RM988), MG 8170 (RM1,688) and LBP 6000 (RM468) are available now.

Other other products launched at the same event include the Laser Shot LBP 6750dn monochrome laser printer (RM4,688) and two AIO Pixma printers - the MG 5270 (RM888) and MG 5170 (RM698).

Small wide angle lens: M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6

This Olympus Micro Four Thirds lens offers a very wide view in an amazingly tiny package.

IN THE PALM: The M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 is an incredibly tiny zoom lens that easily fits in the palm of the hand.

THE Olympus M.Zuiko 9-18mm is made specifically for Micro Four Thirds cameras and it's really small.

At just a 155g, the lens is so small that it can be hidden inside the palm of even the smallest adult hands - now that's small!

This makes it one of the smallest wide-angle lenses in its class, and together with an E-PL1, makes it quite an attractive option for landscape or street photographers who don't want to carry a big, obvious DSLR around.

In Four Thirds terms, the 9-18mm focal length is about equivalent to an 18-36mm zoom lens in the 35mm format.

We had an opportunity to put the lens through the paces and here's what we think of it.

Olympus actually has a Four Thirds lens with a 9-18mm focal length, but this Micro Four Thirds version is about half the height, weight and girth, yet retains the f/4.0-5.6 maximum aperture of the Four Thirds version.

However, in its fully collapsed position, the lens can't be used (similar to Olympus' 14-42mm Micro Four Thirds kit lens) and you have to rotate the zoom ring and extend the lens to nearly double its closed length when you want to shoot photos.

Being more of a mass consumer lens, it's largely plastic, but build quality is good nevertheless.