Plemix

Inheriting the position from its greater brother, Canon EOS 1100D stands tall and firm in the entry-level digital SLR market. The price is especially palatable with a satisfactory specification. No wonder it appeals not only to beginners with limited budget, but many potential consumers of higher-ends counterparts. Let’s take a closer look at it!Inside the box you can find: a Canon EOS 1100D DSLR Camera, a LP-E10 Battery Pack, a LC-E10 Battery Charger, a Data Cable (USB), a AV Cable, a CD-ROM, and an User's Guide.

It is actually not surprising for one to mistake it as its brother 1000D, as the most obvious changes of the design is perhaps a larger screen. Indeed, only subtle modifications are made instead any great changes. Yet, 1100D has replaced the brother’s texture plastic with rigid polycarbonate resin, which is some sort of smooth materials with somewhat lower density.

1100D has a built-in flash with a guide number of 9.2 at ISO 100, coverage up to 17mm focal length and a recycle time of 2 seconds.Though it is less powerful than its brother and some other cameras in the same line, still it can sync up to 1/200sec and is equipped with an electronic pop-up release as well.

The 2.7-inch LCD screen is a rather small one with low resolution (230k dot). This is perhaps a practical way to achieve the appealing budget. And still it’s slightly larger than that of its predecessor, which enables more pleasant live viewing and image reviewing experience. The menu system is clear to read and easy to navigate as well.

Take a closer study, you will then realize Canon’s efforts in designing the controls. The buttons are made larger with adequate space in between. Even if you are wearing gloves still it won’t be difficult to handle.

On the top of the camera houses the mode dial. Movie Recording mode as well as the Creative Auto are something new here, contributing to the ease to use.

The camera can be purchased together with the non-IS Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens.

You can find the connection ports under a rubberized flap: a remote release terminal, an USB port and a HDMI socket. (from top to bottom)

All in all, given the solid improvements over its powerful predecessor, the Canon 1100D is really a great value for money with such a palatable price. The camera is a very easy to use one especially for beginners yet still capable of quality performance.

Among the first launch smartphones equipped with Microsoft Windows Phone 7 OS, HTC 7 Surround is born to be a unique one as it rids itself of the typical setting of a landscape slider. What beneath the screen are not an expected QWERTY keyboard, but a speaker bar and an integrated kickstand! Let’s take a closer look at it!
Inside the box you can find: a HTC 7 Surround Phone, a battery, a charger, a handsfree, as well as an user’s guide.

With a HTC signature appearance, we can find the 3.8-inch capacitive LCD touchscreen with WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels) dominates the front of the device. While the screen is bright and vibrant enough to display stunning detail, it seems natural for us to expect higher resolution since video playback is available.

The grey front is match with the soft-touch matte black rear. Since the device is equipped with the slider mechanism, you may find it a little bit thicker and heavier than its counterparts.

So the tiny little stereo system promised by the aluminum speaker bar and integrated kickstand is obviously what draws our attention. Sliding the phone open you will see the speaker bar, where a pair of drivers and a lone button located. While the kickstand experience is also unique and interesting enough.

At the right side harbors the two-level camera shutter button (which is in a decent size) together with a narrow and stiff volume control.

While on the top edge, we can find a typical 3.5mm headset jack together with the slightly raised power button.

Though capacitive buttons on smartphones are often found not so welcome, yet the HTC 7 Surround has nicely placed the three buttons far enough from one another as well as the edges of the device. Annoyance brought by accidentally pressing the keys is avoided.

At the rear you can find a 5-megapixel camera with flash. It proves to be really fast and responsive together with the function of Windows Phone 7’s camera app. Both shots speed and image quality are good enough.

All in all, the HTC 7 Surround manages to stand out among the homogenous WP7 brothers. The semi-sliding speaker and kickstand helps the rich and powerful smartphone to further differentiate itself. The little stereo system surely makes a difference and, indeed, worthy of a try.