Buying your first iPhone is a long process, longer than you could have initially expected. It does not only involve the actual purchase of the iPhone, you have to acquire various iPhone accessories, to be able to become the really trendy owner of your new gadget, and in some cases, to protect it, or to maximize its capabilities. Iphone accessories are simply things from which you will always seek more of.

Here are some of the basic ones…

iPhone Cases

Have you ever wondered why you are actually purchased your third iPhone case in half a year? Even these iphone cases, the simplest iPhone accessories are always becoming better, until you see something new. You can have reddened and hard cases, leather cases, metal cases, red, yellow, pink and black cases, cases that actually protect your iPhone and the ones that just look good on it or that go with your new dress. Well, it is just natural that Apple as a leading force and its partners, should substance a wide variety of iPhone accessories, and it is just natural that you will eventually own more of these cases, to meet the occasion or your mood, or just to protect you iPhone from nearby children.

iPhone Headset and Travel Charger

Your next purchase after an iphone case should perhaps be an iPhone Bluetooth Headset, to be able to answer your calls wirelessly, easily and elegantly and you will also need to get a travel/car charger, to be able to charge your phone when you are on the move. When you get bored with these basic iPhone accessories, having purchased earphones and perhaps some speakers as well, you might be interested in what they have on substance outside the realm of customary accessories for iPhones.

Well, as could be expected, the list is literally endless. You can purchase for example mini screen wipers for your iPhone, to clear the smudges on your screen. Or to prevent even these smudges, you can acquire a arrange of phone fingers in different sizes, that you can just fit on your fingers patch using the touch screen and it will stay totally clear. You might also want to try the iPhone travel pillow, with built in speakers, this way, you will have a pillow for your flight, and your ears won’t be hurting from the earphones.

Any iPhone accessory could basically come handy once, though it’s quite manifest that a unify of mini screen wipers for your screen is slightly less essential than a decent case, so try to grab this latter first. However, purchasing an iPhone will generally just introduce you to the magical world of iPhone accessories.

Have fun with your iPhone, for this is only the beginning.

Apple has a lot more in store for its knight in shinning armor, and am sure they have some pretty cool new iphone accessories in the works for you hard core iphone users.

It still amazes me to this day how they can pack so much into something so little.

Today people are switching over from film cameras to digital models. The obvious reasons are the ease with which objects are framed and shot, pictures are stored, recorded, and displayed. To top it all you can download at the comfort of your home and print the pictures.

However if you are buying one for the first time, there are chances that you will be literally lost reviewing the specifications and features offered by the numerous brands out there in the market. Do you go by mega pixels or do you go by manufacturers or by price range or by….well, there are many more classifications possible. The following guide is prepared with the intention to help you arrive at a practical model of your choice.

Various Features

Weight

This factor depends a lot on the usage of the digital camera. You want one to carry around in your pocket or purse, go for the light weight ones. No doubt they are convenient, but the have tiny buttons, controls and dials which may make the handling a little difficult. The bigger ones weigh more and have more features too.

Resolution

Cameras are categorized as mega pixels of resolution. It narrows down the range of cameras and helps you sort out beginners, intermediate and advanced groupings from these. The range is 0.1 mega pixel to 18 mega pixel and some even more. The key to choosing the right pixel camera depends on how close you wish to get to target.

2 mega pixels and less- you get reasonably sharp images and enough details for prints of 8×10s and smaller. Prints are not of very high quality but suitable enough to be posted on emails and web sites. These cameras are inexpensive.

2 to 6 mega pixels- As the resolution keeps increasing in this range, the picture quality keeps getting better. You get sharper images all at an escalated price.Eg Canon PowerShot S3, Fuji FinePix V10 etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?resolution=0.1-to-5.1

6 mega pixels and more- More aren’t always good. Keep in mind higher mega pixels mean larger image sizes, expensive memory cards, and take more space of your computer’s hard drive.Eg. Canon PowerShot Pro1, Canon PowerShot S80 etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?resolution=6.37-to-8.32

Zoom

Optical zoom lens- Image gets magnified by lens-3x, 4x, 10x and more, however keep in mind that very long zooms are prone to camera shake. Use a tripod to cover up for this problem. A 3x optical zoom means it can make a subject appear thrice as close. An optical zoom produces the best quality images. You can’t get too close to the object, but then a photo editing software can help you crop the image. It gives better result than using the digital zoom.

Digital zoom is a simulated optical zoom; it enlarges only the central portion of the image. The lens is not used in this case. The digital zooming effect is given by software inside. The result is most often a blurry and digitized picture. You can use both zooming effects in cameras that offer both these features.

Lens

A lousy lens can spoil all that extra resolution and image processing controls. So, before you buy one assess the final image on a computer based on these criteria:

check the lens for overall focus and sharpness, whether corners are as sharp as in the middle

check for flaring, i.e. colored circles and reflections when shooting towards light source

check if the lens offer attachments, you can add wide angle or telephoto attachments to extend the focal length range

whether manual or electronic zoom control, manual zoom offers more speed and flexibility

Memory

Unlike the film cameras the digital cameras store images in memory. Thus each time the memory is full, you can download them and the camera is ready to shoot again. Memory is of two main types: built-in and removable. Most low end cameras have the built-in memory. Removable memory cards have the advantage of upgrading the memory, particularly useful when you are taking lot of pictures in one trip.

Flash Types

It all started with photographers igniting a tray filled with gunpowder to illuminate a scene. Today digital cameras come with built in automatic flash unit combined with a sophisticated light measuring and exposure control system. They are so convenient and easy to use that we often fail to notice it.

Digital cameras are specified by a guide number which basically gives the flash power. Higher the guide number, greater the flash’s useful range. With changes in sensor speed and /or lens focal length, the guide number changes. So manufacturers instead specify the flash’s maximum range with the assumption that flashes is fully charged and the lens aperture is wide open.

Some of the common modes:

Auto mode is well known! Cameras with red eye reduction mode first fires a short burst to close the subject’s irises then the main flash and finally the picture is taken.

Fill flash modes to fill in shadows.

Flash off mode to capture the object in natural light.

Night scene mode exposes the foreground subject without underexposure of background. For maximum flash flexibility select a camera with an external hot shoe.

Some models come with just the external flash units.

Some varieties have both external and built-in flash units.

Some very compact digital Camera models come with no flash units.

Focus Type

Most digital cameras have a combination of different focus modes. In the automatic mode, when you press the shutter-release button half-way down, the focus is locked. It is also confirmed by a change of color of the focus indicator.

The Auto focus is achieved in different modes. The most common of them is the single area focus mode. The focus is on the central area of the image you find on the screen. In the spot focus mode, the focus is precisely on the center area of the screen. For shooting slow moving objects you can use the continuous auto focus mode. Be aware of the huge consumption of power in this mode.

Manual focus- This feature allows you to manually focus on the portion of a scene which may or may not be at the center of the screen. Select the area to be focused by using one of the several focus area indicators by toggling a cursor button to achieve close ups and macro shots. Some models have the focus rings for manual focus, turn it till the subject is in focus.

Fixed focus- This feature can be used to your advantage when there is pre-determined distance between the camera and the object.

The various combinations of the focus types are:

Auto focus and manual focus

Auto focus and fixed focus

Auto, manual and fixed focus

Camera Type

Standard Point and Shoot cameras- Point and shoot models are available with basic features to the ones with advanced controls and options and excellent macro capabilities. The flexibility with which these cameras can be used like in situations where it is hard to frame the subject or shooting at waist levels makes these models much sought after. It is a silent performer ideal for shooting in locations where a loud shutter clack is not appropriate.

SLR/Professional- More interesting features like interchangeable lenses, flashes, sophisticated controls and other accessories, these models are specifically designed for photographers and professionals. Eg. Nikon D40, Nikon D40x etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?cameraType=SLR%2FProfessional

Compact- The features are moderate, yet small enough in size to slip it in to your pocket before you go for the party. These models are comparatively higher priced than the similarly featured standard sized cameras. Eg. Canon PowerShot SD800, Kodak EasyShare V550 etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?cameraType=Compact

Ultra compact- With technology improving at a fast rate the size of the cameras is getting smaller and smaller. Cameras of the size of credit cards, slightly thicker shoot amazing pictures. No compromise on features like LCD screens (as small as 2 inch), optical viewfinder, good resolution (some with even 7 mega pixels), and good battery life too. Eg. Casio Exilim EX-S500, Samsung NV3 etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?cameraType=Ultra-Compact

Battery

There are two types: rechargeable ones and disposable ones. Since digital cameras consume power very fast, especially if you are using a LCD, it is best to invest in the rechargeable ones. Some digital cameras come with AC adapters, if yours doesn’t have one, purchase one separately.

Some batteries are:

NiMH batteries are the most sought after ones today. They are rechargeable, last long, and come in various compact designs and no memory problems.

Alkaline ones are not rechargeable and don’t last long.

Lithium ion batteries are small and recharge quickly.

NiCad batteries if not charged properly can have loss of memory.

AC adapters enable you to keep shooting long after your batteries are dead!

Price

Luckily you don’t have to spend huge amounts to own one.

Low range

Even a couple of hundred bucks can fetch you a very good camera with video capabilities and nice zoom. And they are not the sub-par models of yester years. Eg. Nikon COOLPIX S5,Canon PowerShot G7 etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?Price=0.01-to-237.49

Mid-range

A lot more features get added, more of mega pixels, and more powerful lenses are available in this range of cameras. Eg. Nikon D80, Nikon D200 etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?Price=237.49-to-599.84

High range

These ranges of cameras are mostly for professionals with superb image rendering capacity and produce excellent photos. Eg. Nikon D2Xs, Canon EOS-1D Mark III Body Only etc.

http://www.reviewgist.com/digital-camera-reviews?Price=1437.12-to-7999.99

The iPAQ hx2795 Pocket PC is among the most popular iPAQ models in the last year or so. This specific model has had quite a stir around it, as some users reported it as “buggy” (has bugs that disturb it’s operation), and I thought it would be better to set the record straight about this device. First, let’s take a look at its’ features:

1.3.5″ TFT Active Matrix screen with 16-bit color. This touch screen is very handy, and has become the leading standard in the PDA industry. It doesn’t require you to use any of those stylus pens the Palm One has become famous for. This is actually a good thing as the pens get lost all the time.
2.IrDA, Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11b data link protocols
3.Includes touch-screen, five-way navigation button and stylus input sources
4.Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system usually comes with the device. This operation system is quite an improvement if you compare it to it to it’s predecessors.

Now that’s a pretty basic feature list. NO phone integration ability like the HP iPAQ H6315 PDA Pocket PC Phone, and not even a SVGA color set – you only get 16-bit platform with this device. By the way – the lower color quality help the PDA performance, so this can work out well for you if you’re not into colors in a big way. So we’re looking at a pretty basic set of features, aimed at people with basic needs.

Now let’s take a look at a few of the more common complaints people had with this PDA:
1.The most common complaint that people have is that the device doesn’t sync well with PC’s that have a Windows XP system installed on them. This can be quite a problem if your computer has the XP OS. Anyway, if you have problems with that you can always contact HP’s support and they should help you out.
2.The basic set of features may be disappointing to people who are looking and expecting for more.

To conclude, the HP iPAQ hx2795 Pocket PC is a standard device that does the standard operation of an average pocket PC. If your budget is low – about $280, and your demands are not too high, this may be the device for you.
If you are not a techie in any way, you may want to avoid this device, as technical problem seem to rise more often with it. These problems are related mainly to the operating system and the synchronization with a PC.

The HP iPAQ RX1955 is a modestly priced PDA, and as anticipated it’s also quite modest in it’s abilities. This standard device is of course no match for the more advanced iPAQs, such as the HP iPAQ HX4705 Pocket PC or others. But it does give a very reasonable return for the amount of money it costs. Let’s take a look at some of this PDA’s features and you can decide for yourself if this model is something you would consider investing in.

1.The screen is a pretty standard 3.5″ TFT Active Maxtrix screen with 16-bit color. This screen is not of the most advanced, but it will do just fine for most people. The MS Active Sync works pretty well enough for all reasonable uses. Of course, if graphics and sharp images matter to you more than to most, you may want to consider the HP iPAQ HX4705 Pocket PC, which has a superb 4 inch screen with VGA 64K color display. Of course, that PDA also costs 3 times the RX1955.
2.The Integrated 802.11b wireless LAN makes it possible for you to surf the Internet and read emails while connecting wirelessly with every hotspot available.
3.The Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium for Pocket PC Professional Makes it possible to view and edit Microsoft Office documents, including working with Excel charts and Power point presentations with custom animations and slide transitions. This makes this PDA useful for people who want to do some work on their PDA’s and not just use them as advanced calendars or gaming platform. MS Active Sync has been reported to work pretty well, enabling you to sync your PDA with your PC.
4.This PDA comes with a Lithium-lon 1100 mAh removable/rechargeable battery. A lot has been said about this battery. This is the latest technology development in batteries, and it will enable you to enjoy days of smooth operation with your RX1955, without needing to charge it again.
5.GPS integration. IF you’ve heard of GPS (Global Positioning System), than you can imagine that this works great with a PDA. It’s so much easier to use a GPS along with a map software to find your way than with a regular paper map. The iPAQ RX1955 will enable you to connect with a GPS system. For example, the SDIO GPS system costs around $120, and is reported to work very well with this PDA. You will also need the MS Streets and Trips/Pocket Streets software to complete the GPS.

As you can probably see, this is a pretty standard PDA which gives very good value for it’s cost. The price as of this writing is around $175 on Amazon. If your expectations from a PDA are standard, and you don’t have any special needs, the PDA will serve you well.

HP is one of the most recognized brand in the personal computing field. Over the years, the company have successfully made and maintained an enviable reputation in personal computing scene with many leading computers, consumer electronic goods, notebooks, computer peripherals and accessories in its product portfolio. As the world of personal computing rapidly merging with mobile computing, HP’s entry to the mobile phones and PDA market was an widely anticipated move.

Palm tops and pocket PCs manufactured by HP are clubbed together as iPAQ series. Each hand-held from this manufacturing giant offers their user a definitive edge over other mobile phones with their enhanced mobile computing skills. All of HP PDA phones features Windows Mobile 5.0 or higher as their operating system, thereby opening up new vistas of opportunity for its user. One could have a better idea of HP PDA phones’ capabilities when they compare them to the ones available in stores today.

HP PDA phones‘ functionality could be assessed by its built quality and its specification. The low budget HP iPAQ rx4240 is a great device for connecting, entertaining and organizing. The handset is fitted with a 400 MHz Samsung processor and works on Windows Mobile 5.0. Endowed with premium features like touch screen, integrated WLAN 802.11b/g and Bluetooth wireless technology, SD slot and one year warranty, the HP iPAQ rx4240 is almost at par with the best of other manufacturers.

Similarly, other handsets like HP iPAQ 510, HP iPAQ hx2495, HP iPAQ hx2795 and HP iPAQ rx5915 exhibits the best of mobile computing. Each handset signifies HP’s emergence as a major player in not just PDAs but the whole mobile phone fraternity. Among the most recent offerings of the company, the HP iPAQ hw6945 Mobile messenger deserves a special mention. This powerhouse is equipped with an Intel PXA270 processor (416 MHz) and Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition. From WiFi to Bluetooth, GPS receiver to multi megapixel camera – this HP PDA phone has it all to make it to the top, much like the company itself.