By Jay Dedrick and Lesley Kennedy, Rocky Mountain News
Remember that dazzling digital camera you found under the Christmas tree last month? The iPod plucked from your stocking?
Don't tell us those shiny-as-tinsel toys already are gathering dust.
There's no shame in being a late adapter to the new technology that inspired an electronics-heavy gift-giving season. But don't let your technophobia delay you from exploring your new gear's possibilities any longer.
With this guide, novices can make a push toward:
• getting the photos out of your camera and into view;
• making the most of your media on an iPod or other MP3 player;
• dialing up all the best your cell phone has to offer;
• taking full advantage of the high-definition TV.
On top of the practical info, you'll find suggestions for the next purchase that'll make your new gear all the more fun. After all, Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away. So set your heart on falling in love with your gadgets.
The gadget: digital camera
• The lowdown: They're in about half the households in the country now, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Amateur shooters have become empowered by the high-capacity storage and photo-editing possibilities.
• The inside secrets: Many new owners just let the digital images accumulate on the camera's memory card, never to be displayed beyond the tiny viewing screen. You can practically hear the little images screaming to be freed.
"A lot of people have the way we worked with film stuck in their heads," says Brett Larson, host of the Gadgets Guide at about.com.
One of the easier ways to get started sharing your digital photos, he says, is to sign up with a free online service. They make it easy for you to post your photos and share them with friends and family via computer. They also offer print services. Some worth checking out: shutterfly.com; snapfish.com; kodakgallery.com
Because film and negatives are out of the equation, it's important to back up your photo files, Larson says. Using your PC, you can burn photos onto CDs, or you can order CDs of your photos from online services like those above. Or take your camera's media card into a drug, discount or grocery store that offers photo services. They can create a CD of your photos for you, and you can order prints, too.
Software included with personal computers and digital cameras makes printing at home relatively easy. But if you find the process cumbersome, Larson says, consider a printer with a media-card slot built in. It will enable you to print images directly without going through your computer.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Consider a handy camera case. Longmont-based Case Logic's products, about $5 to $25, are widely available. Or try a media card with more memory. Most media cards included with new cameras store only a dozen or so photos. Larger-capacity cards, starting around $30 to $60, hold hundreds of pictures - something the ol' Brownie never could do.
Larson also suggests rechargeable batteries, because digital cameras tend to be thirsty for juice. "I always like to recommend two sets of batteries and a charger, so you always have a fresh set," he says. Prices vary widely, but Kodak offers a new kit around $30 that includes four AA batteries and a charger that gets the job done in an hour.
The gadget: iPod
• The lowdown: We're now an iPod nation. Apple's MP3 player was one of the season's hottest holiday gifts, with the newer iPod Nano(a pencil-thin version of the original)and the video version topping sales.
• The inside secret: The iPod has evolved to store much more than just music. You can read audiobooks, view photo slideshows and watch video podcasts and TV shows. One cool feature you may not be using is the iPod's ability to update your calendar. We went to the Apple Website for advice and foundiPod supports industry-standard iCalendar and vCalendar files,whichcan be exported by many applications such as Microsoft Entourage,Microsoft Outlook and Palm Desktop. iCal,a desktop calendarapplication from Apple, also works with the new iPod calendar.Just drag your iCalendar or vCalendar files to your iPod, and you canaccess your personal agenda away from your computer.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Having an iPod isn't enough. It's all about the accessories. One top seller is the iDog, a palm-size pooch with speakers that barks, lights up and wags its ears to the music when you hook it up to your iPod ($29.99). And, of course,the iDog has its own accessories, including the iDog Chill Set, which includes a hat, sweater, scarf, socks and ear warmers($9.99) and its own carrying bag($19.99). At www.amazon.com.
The gadget: high-definition TV
• The lowdown: One of the sexiest -and priciest- gifts of the season. Sleek flat-panel plasma and LCD sets hang on the wall like paintings. Bigger DLP or LCD projection sets may look like old tube TVs, but they're skinnier and lighter, with pictures comparable to flat panels.
• The inside secret: Many proud new owners aren't taking full advantage of the high-resolution images available to them."You've got to make sure you're getting a high-definition source, "says Phil Murray, marketing manager of Listen Up Audio/Video. The best bet for many viewers is Comcast Cable, which provides a lineup of high-def channels,including local stations, via digital cable, for $5 a month. Another mistake Murray sees customers making: They get the high-def cable but fail to tune in the correct station. For instance, if you punch up 4, you'll get the standard CBS4 telecast. You must tune in CBS 4's high-def number -654- to get the whole picture. Don't forget the sound, either. Most HD TV stations broadcast a 5.1 Dolby surround-sound audio track. If you don't have a surround sound system hooked up, you're short-changing yourself.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: If you've got the whole shebang - high-def TV, digital cable, surround-sound receiver and DVD player- you've also got a collection of remote controls. Do yourself (or your loved one) a favor by getting a universal remote that controls all your devices. Some connect to your computer and communicate via the Web to determine which commands you need. They range from affordable ($50) to 'did we pay this much for the original equipment?' ($5,000).
The gadget: the of-the-moment cell phone
• The lowdown: Using your cell phone to simply callhome is so passe. The hottest phones have all kinds of bells and whistles, including cameras, MP3 players and Internet access.
• The inside secret: What are some of the featuresyour phone can provide? It depends, of course, on whether your phone is compatible. Once you determine that, there are lots of options at avariety of costs(some are charged as a monthly fee, others as a one-time download cost). We went to Cingular's Cool Tools Webpage for thelowdown on top tools:
MobiTV ($9.99 a month): Transforms your wireless phone into a wireless TV, giving you access to news, sports and TV shows whereveryou have service coverage. It offers the same broadcast and premium channels you get from your home TV.
MatchMobile ($4.99 a month): Match.com provides wireless dating for singles, allowing you to connect with other singles through the phone.
MovieGoer ($2.99 a month): Get up-to-date movie listings, reviews from nationally known critics integrated with movie posters, driving directions and detailed color maps.
Nascar.com to go ($2.95 a month): Get news alerts, standings, results and live leaderboards during races. Driver stats, weekly schedules.
Calorie Counter ($4.99 one-timecharge): Includes listings for calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and kilo joulesfor hundreds of common foods.
Mileage Tracker ($5 one-time fee): Record distances driven for business, with data transfer via e-mail to an Excel file. Review entries by mileage amount or value, assign type fields to entries and easily record odometer settings.
My-CastWeather ($1 to $3.95 a month): See current U.S. weather conditions, including real-time Doppler radar and satellite imagery. View temperatures, wind speeds,dew points and sky conditions displayed over regional, national or local weather maps. Also get 12-hour and seven-day forecasts and severe weather alerts.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Single friends might appreciate a subscription to the MatchMobile feature. Formates, think about a cool accessory. If they have a compatible phone, a Bluetooth wireless headset ($49.99 at www.cingular.com) will keep them hands-free while on the go.
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