This-N-That

I Phone 3gs ( I pod feature) C-net's Opinion

Sandwiched between all the iPhone's features lives Apple's most amazing iPod yet. The display, interface, video quality, audio quality--all of it is meticulously refined and beautiful. Unfortunately, it's trapped within a device that will cost you more than $1,000 a year just to own. CNET recently reviewed a Rolls-Roycethat had a top-notch umbrella hidden inside its passenger door. Buying the iPhone for its iPod feature is a lot like buying that Rolls-Royce for its umbrella. Regardless, the iPhone is an exciting glimpse into what Apple hopefully has planned for its sixth-generation iPod. Apple has redeemed itself following the Motorola Rokr E1debacle.

The Apple iPhone's music player lets you view album art.

On paper, the iPhone's iPod doesn't offer any features not already on a fifth-generation iPod: podcasts, videos, music, and playlists are all here, and content management with iTunes is identical. The difference rests entirely in the iPhone's interface. We've used other MP3 players that use touch interfaces, such as the Archos 704, iRiver Clixand Cowon D2, but the iPhone's unique integration of multitouch technology and a graphic user interface put it in a category all its own.

From an iPod perspective, Apple's biggest triumph with the iPhone is the fact that it has returned album artwork back into the music experience in a way that goes beyond a token thumbnail graphic. Physically flipping through your music collection in the iPhone's Cover Flow mode really brings back the visceral feel of digging through a CD or record bin. It's a tough feeling to quantify, but the real music lovers out there will appreciate how well the iPhone reconnects their digital music to a form that is both visually and physically more vivid. Even iTunes users who may already be jaded about using the Cover Flow mode on their personal computer will be surprised at how the experience is changed by using the iPhone's intuitive touch screen.

Truth be told, there is one feature that is new to the iPhone's iPod--the integrated speaker. While the iPhone's speaker sounds thin and is prone to distortion, it works in a pinch for sharing a song with a friend. Apple was also smart enough to manage its speaker volume independent of the headphone volume, so if you're listening to the speaker full-blast and then decide to plug in your headphones, you won't be deafened.

The bad news is that the iPhone's iPod leaves out the ability to manually manage the transfer of music and video content. Unlike any previous iPod, the iPhone does not allow an option for manually dragging and dropping content from an iTunes library directly to the iPhone device icon. Instead, the iPhone strictly uses defined library syncing options for collecting and syncing content from your iTunes library to the device. This should work out fine for most people, but for a device with limited memory the inability to manually manage content seems like a misstep. Our 8GB iPhone was already a quarter full after only a few hours of testing, giving us the impression that users will need to be vigilant at grooming their iPhone library. An external memory card slot is another one of those "nice to have" features.

The iPhone's music sound quality seems right in line with our experience using the 5G iPod. All the same EQ presets are available, only now they are found on the iPhone's main Settings tab. The included iPhone earbuds did a passable job for casual listening in a quiet environment. Unfortunately, the iPhone's recessed headphone jack prevented us from using many of the test headphones we're familiar with. We were just barely able to squeeze the plug of our Etymotic ER6i earphones into the jack to do the comparison.

Watching video on the iPhone is not quite as luxurious as a Creative Zen Vision: Wor Archos 504, but its wide screen and bright contrast beat the fifth-generation iPod by a mile. As with previous iPods, video playback is automatically bookmarked so that playback resumes where you left off. And because the iPhone is a phone, it includes an airplane mode that will keep the music player activated while turning off the call transmitter. Thanks to the January 2008 update, you can also browse movies by chapter as well as view subtitles. Other changes include the lyric overlays on music tracks, support for the new iTunes movie rentals, and the ability to redeem iPhone gift cards from the device using the wireless iTunes store.

Cash For Clunkers: Review

Cash for Clunkers:

In an effort to spur new-car sales, President Obama has signed into law a program that will allow owners of cars and light trucks rated at 18 mpg or less (EPA combined) to scrap those vehicles in exchange for $3,500 or $4,500 credits toward the purchase of more fuel-efficient new vehicles. The program isn't scheduled to be finalized until July 23rd, but it appears most of the eligibility requirements have been worked out. The following rules are incorporated into our clunker calculator at www.kbb.com/cashforclunkers.

Here are the rules for the "trade-in" vehicle:

• Must be in drivable condition
• Must have been continuously insured and registered in the same owner's name for the one-year period immediately prior to the trade in
• Must have been manufactured not earlier than 25 years before the date of trade in (some 1984 and 1985 model year vehicles won't qualify; see the manufacturing date on the driver's side door or door frame)
• Must have a combined fuel economy value of 18 miles per gallon or less (work trucks don't have a maximum fuel economy requirement, but must be model year 2001 or older)

While there's no value limitation included in the requirements, the max credit is $4,500 and the car has to be scrapped. So now matter how tough a time you're having trying to unload the $400,000, 14-mpg Rolls-Royce Phantom you picked up last year right before Bernie Madoff stopped returning your calls, this isn't the shortcut for you.

Here are the rules for the new vehicle:

• If you want to buy a car, you can scrap most any car, truck, SUV or van. If the fuel economy improvement is 4 mpg or greater, the credit is $3,500. If the fuel economy improvement is at least 10 mpg, the credit is $4,500. (The new car has to have a minimum combined fuel economy of 22 mpg.)
• If you want to buy an SUV, minivan or non-full-size pickup truck, you can scrap most any car, truck, SUV or van. If the fuel economy improvement is 2 mpg or greater, the credit is $3,500. If the fuel economy improvement is at least 5 mpg, the credit is $4,500. (The new car has to have a minimum combined fuel economy of 22 mpg.)
• If you want to buy a full-size pickup or large van, you have to scrap one or the other. If the fuel economy improvement is 1 mpg or greater, the credit is $3,500. If the fuel economy improvement is at least 2 mpg, the credit is $4,500. Alternately, you can trade a qualifying "work truck" for a $3,500 credit. (The minimum combined fuel economy for the new car is 15 mpg.)
• If you want to buy a work truck, you must trade-in a qualifying work truck for a $3,500 credit.

Is your Car a Clunker?

One of the first things we did when program details started to surface was tap into the Kelley Blue Book supercomputer for a list of cars and trucks that might be eligible under the current proposal.

KBB Provisional Clunkers List

Here are a few highlights from the list:

1994 BMW 750iL:Once, a premier V12-powered luxo-cruiser. Now? Clunkerific.
1994 Ford Bronco: O.J.'s "getaway" car. Toss in a Heisman Trophy and it might be worth a couple extra bucks.
1995 Jaguar XJ12 and XJR: These models still had the Jaguar "Leaper" hood ornament. Or should that be "Clunker?"
1999 Acura SLX and 2002 Honda Passport: A pair of gas-guzzling clunkers from Honda? These short-lived models were actually re-badged Isuzu vehicles.
1999 Land Rover Range Rover: A royal family favorite and the official vehicle of the Duke of Clunkersford.
1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEL: A former staple of world leaders is now the choice of discerning clunkeristas.
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Grand Clunker, perhaps?
2002 Nissan Xterra: You can cash-in your '02 Xterra, but what would you do with the kayak and mountain bike and parachute you bought to go with it?
2004 Land Rover Discovery: The starting sticker price on a 2004 Land Rover Discovery was about $35,000. Some of them are now worth less than $4,500. Clunk.

To be Fair...

Sub-par fuel economy and low current market value do not necessarily spell "clunker," and we'd be happy to drive good examples of any of the vehicles we identified above. But if we happened to own a shoddy example of a vehicle on the list and had our eye on a new car, we'd let the government call it whatever they wanted in exchange for a $4,500 credit toward a new car.

The Biggest Winners

Our preliminary list goes back to the 1990 model year, but the program as proposed would include vehicles manufactured within the past 25 years. Of the cars on our list, the 1990 Isuzu Amigo promises to deliver the biggest win to its owners. With a Kelley Blue Book Trade-in Value of $425 -- and that's in Good condition -- '90 Amigo owners might realize a market-based gain of more than $4,000 if they buy a new car that gets 10 more mpg.

A New Car for $6,000

The most affordable way to take advantage of the program? The 2009 Hyundai Accent, the lowest-priced car in America (MSRP: $10,665) and one rated at 29 miles per gallon. Trade in any qualifying car and you can have an Accent for barely more than $6,000 out of pocket (plus tax, title and license, of course). You'd also save around $750 per year on gas. And the 2009 Nissan Versais available for a mere $45 more.

PS3

I currently own a Playstation 3, and after over a year of reliability it's not working 100% My friends been telling me to send it off to sony for repair, but screw that. Why would I want to send my ps3 off and wait God knows how long until sony sends it back. I cannot see that resolution, I do see myself going to the store and exercising my American Way powers....Buy Another One. That's right in today's right now society who wants to wait. I don't like waiting in lines, in the drive thru, for movies to run after previews, and for my turn in the bathroom. I'm impatient, I want things Now. I'm not going to send off, I'm going to the store and trade it in on the new ps3 with dual-shock. You are probably wondering what wrong with it, well when I play a game the game pauses and stops for a few seconds. But, here's the kicker when I play on-line or a game downloaded to the hard drive, there's no problem. Maybe somebody who's reading this has experienced the same problem and know how to fix it, yeah they bought a New One.

The New Ford Taurus

After being invited to a special viewing of the New 2010 Ford Taurus, I was empressed. I was glad to see American Made cars stepping up to the plate.

Interior:  The new interior is clean, mordern and not cheap looking. The aluminium accents just flow like a water fall on the center stack. Yes..I did say aluminium accents in a Taurus. The feel will make you think you are in a (dare I say it.....) Toyota. Yes the design team put real work into this.

Exterior: The exterior is super slick. Nice crisp edges and smooth lines. It kind of remind of the first Mazda 6, but bigger and bolder. The new Taurus is powered by the automaker's 3.5-liter V6 Duratec engine, mated to one of two available six-speed automatic transmissions, including SelectShift with shift paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. As was the case with the previous model, all-wheel-drive is optional.

The V6 motor delivers an estimated 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque. It earns a ULEV-II emissions certification and comes paired with a choice of two new six-speed automatic transmissions. The regular car is offered in SE and SEL trim levels. Ford also launched performance-oriented SHO EcoBoost model.

Critically, the new 2010 Taurus starts at $25,995 -- the same price as the prior model. The uplevel SEL starts at $27,995 and the top-end Limited sets buyers back $31,995.

"Lightning can strike twice," said Peter Horbury, Ford's North American design director. "Like the 1986 original, the new 2010 Taurus differentiates by combining style with substance."

Taurus features a long list of high-tech features, including: Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, MyKey parental programmability, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert, Rain-Sensing Wipers, EasyFuel capless refueling, Ford SYNC and Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link.

Ford will not offer a Mercury Sable version of the Taurus for the first time since 1986 (not including the brief period when it was renamed Montego to go along with the Five Hundred).

Palm Pre

 The Palm Pre's multitasking capabilities and notifications system are unparalleled. The smartphone features a vibrant display with multitouch functionality as well as a solid Web browser and good multimedia integration. The Pre offered good call quality and wireless options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS

The Pre's keyboard is cramped. Battery life drains quickly and the smartphone can be sluggish at times. Lacks expansion slot, video-recording capabilities, onscreen keyboard, and Flash support. The Pre App Catalog is still in beta with a limited number of titles.

 Despite some missing features and performance issues that make it less than ideal for on-the-go professionals, the Palm Pre offers gadget lovers and consumers well-integrated features and unparalled multitasking capabilities. The hardware could be better, but more importantly, Palm has developed a solid OS that not only rivals the competition but also sets a new standard in the way smartphones handle tasks and manage information.

i phone 3gs

The iPhone 3GS is not an insignificant step forward in the iPhone family. The Nike+ support, magnetometer (compass), video recording, voice command, better camera, better battery life and faster data network are all improvements nobody would call a step backwards. But the biggest day-to-day improvement over the 3G is undoubtedly the increased processing speed, which is why Apple called this phone the 3GS (with the S standing for super fast) in order to designate that it's basically the 3G, but better.

3G users have the unfortunate question of asking themselves whether or not they want to spend the $399/$499 to upgrade to the 3GS right now. If you're eligible to upgrade in July, August or September, AT&T's letting you do so at the full subsidized $199/$299 price. If not, you'll have to wait until your 18 months are up. It's definitely a better phone, but AT&T's plan of making early adopters wait another six months from now until they can get the standard $199/$299 price is frustrating, since we'll already be halfway into the iPhone 3GS lifecycle. And by then, it'll be worth waiting until June 2010 for a true revolutionary jump in iPhone design, instead of just an evolutionary improvement on the 3G.