Have Camera, Will Travel: Samsung SL310W

Lauree — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:30:04 +0000

Since buying my first digital camera in 2004, photography has become a passion of mine. I take my camera with me everywhere – to the grocery store, during long walks, and on vacation.

So when I had the chance to review the Samsung SL310W for Qwowi’s Tech Gift Guide, I was psyched.

I should say upfront that I have only owned Canon digital cameras in the past. I’m not prejudiced against other cameras, but my comments and thoughts are based on a comparison of my previous experience with Canon cameras.

Judging by the price ($199.99 MSRP, $129.99 Amazon.com ), the size, and ease-of-use, this camera is designed with novices in mind. It’s a good deal, especially when you consider that not only is it is very straightforward to use, but it also happens to take very good photos.

The SL310W has the features you come to expect from a camera:

13.6 mega pixels
Large LCD monitor
Face recognition and smile recognition (that was new to me)
Image stabilization
Ability to record movies or take still images

Thoughtful Design and Layout

Taking the SL310W out of the box, it looks like your typical digital camera. Small, light form factor – around the size of a deck of cards. My review copy was black and silver, but this model comes in other colors as well.

Most impressive about the Samsung SL310 is that the buttons and dials are surprisingly intuitive. Too often with digital cameras, the most frequently used functions are buried 2 or 3 layers deep in the menu system. What got my attention right away was the button to toggle between taking photos and viewing them. Simply genius. This feature, no doubt among the most frequently used, should be easy to find. It is.

I also appreciated how easy it is to delete a photo. While it should never be so easy that you delete your images by accident, when your memory card is full and you need to make a decision fast, it’s nice to know you can. When you press the Delete button while viewing your photos, a message appears on the monitor to ask if you want to delete it. You have to toggle over to the Yes option, so if you happen to hit a button by accident, or the camera gets bounced around in your pocket or purse, you’re unlikely to lose anything.

Some of us like capturing photos with different colors effects. It adds a nice touch without requiring any sort of special photographic skill. The SL310W allows you to take negative photos – which is a very cool option that I hadn’t seen before. It’s a great addition to the familiar sepia and black & white options found on most digital cameras. And again, this feature is easily accessed via a single button on the back of the camera marked with an ‘E’. You’ll never risk losing a shot while hunting through an overly complicated menu system.

The self-timer feature is also only a touch away. I don’t use this function often, but it’s a big help at family gatherings; this time of year especially. It’s labeled on the right side of the dial on the back of the camera.

A Few Knocks

It’s hard to find something wrong with this gem of a digital camera. My only qualms are based on my level of use, which is slightly above novice.

To ensure Samsung could provide the largest monitor possible, the SL310w doesn’t have a viewfinder. Many digital cameras today are forgoing them, because many consumers no longer want them. I’m old school about these things and like the viewfinder for certain shots. There are some times, like when the sun is really bright, that it becomes difficult to see your subject without one. Even if I don’t use it all the time, I like to know that I have the option. I also realize that I’m probably in the minority.

The camera does not offer manual settings. Again, this is not one of those features I typically use, but I like to know I can. Of course, considering the target market for the SL310, it’s not a surprising omission.

Finally the buttons, while convenient, are bit on the small side. Definitely go to an electronics store to see how it feels in your hands before buying the camera.

Recommendation

The Samsung SL310w is a great little camera. It’s made for novices who want basic functions without too many bells and whistles. It’s affordable and offers enough mega pixels to allow you to keep the camera for a while. If I were buying a digital camera for a ‘tween or my parents, the Samsung SL310 is the one I would chose.

The Samsung SL310w is availabe from Amazon.com for $129

While you’re here, check out all of the reviews that are part of Qwowi’s 2008 Tech Gift Guide.

MediaFLO IS Live TV For Your Phone

Anthony — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:02:06 +0000

What Is MediaFLO?

Video on your cell phone isn’t all that new, but MediaFLO’s take on video for your pocket is the real deal. This is not grainy YouTube video, or 30-second clips of buffering video. This is live TV, the same as you get at home. It even uses the same technology as digital television, and includes a program guide just like your cable box. Picture quality is excellent, and battery life was also very impressive on our test model, the Samsung Access from AT&T. What’s more, because it uses the same technology as TV and not cell towers, you pay one fee and watch as much as you want since it won’t count against your data plan.

Service Coverage

The Samsung Access is just one of a handfull of MediaFlo capable phones offered by AT&T.

I recently took my MediaFLO subscribed device for a test drive on a road trip from New York to Miami. Overall I was very impressed with their coverage. Even in my home city of Albany, NY it works fantastic wherever I go. The only real coverage gaps I found on my trip were in North Carolina, and then again from Orlando to Miami where. My guess is the coverage holes exist because these areas still have a TV broadcast on UHF channel 55, which is what MediaFLO uses to do what it does. Since these are larger markets, it’s possible MediaFlo will have full coverage shortly after the analog shutoff in February. Full coverage maps are available from each service provider, but although Albany, NY is not listed on the coverage map it works great, so perhaps testing it out yourself isn’t a bad idea.

Channel Offerings

Both Verizon and AT&T offer similar channel packages. AT&T offers a full-time movie channel called “PIX” which is really cool. Verizon offers MTV’s Latin Music Channel “TR3S” exclusively. Other than that, they both offer “mobile” versions of CBS, FOX and NBC which include their primetime shows all day long.

There are also live simulcasts of all the popular news channels including MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC and CNN. Other offerings include Comedy Central, Fuel TV, Food Network, ESPN, MTV and an exclusive “Victoria’s Secret TV” (very popular with the guys in the office) as well. For the kids, there is Nickelodeon.

The first weekend (Saturday) I fired it up, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were 3 different live college football games spread between ESPN, FOX and NBC. Very nice!

Where Can I Get It?

MediaFLO is available as “VCAST Mobile TV” on Verizon and “AT&T Mobile TV” on AT&T but the service quality is identical for both providers. Both providers offers the service on 4 of their popular phone models. We would like to see the number of MediaFlow capable phones increased, but for now it’s good to know that the service is available on very modest phone models. Both offer service plans starting at $15/mo., and Verizon offers a deal for $25/mo. including VCAST, their on-demand video service as well.

Check out all of the reviews that make up Qwowi’s 2008 Tech Gift Guide.

Qwowi.com » Samsung