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Letter from the Editor

10

F'irst Glance

11

On our cover;

22

Jennifer Robinson, six-time Canadian figure-skating champion

CyberWalker: A vaccine for obsolescence

38

Getting into the game

Bring home your own digital hub

14

The gift of WiFi

Home theatre for the holidays

18

Thumbs up kids picks

20

Organization{and fun) on the go

23

Tuning into holiday sounds

26

Digital gifts for the shutterbug

28

Ringing in the season

30

Dreaming of a Blue(tooth) Christmas

32

Gifts for your notebook PC

33

How to; Plan a party with your handheld

30

The three-gear itch: PC obsolescence

34

Letter of the month

10

Digital video contest

33

Photo spree

35

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E di t;o r i a l
By the time this issue hits the streets, it will be a week into the biggest
shopping season of the year. For some it's a reason to rejoice, for others
it's a reason to recoil as they see the annual holiday advertising tsunami heading in their direction once again. To help those troubled soulsas well as for those who embrace their inner consumer we' ve compiled a Gift Guide[pages 12 to 33) that goes beyond the usual "ideas"
culled from press releases that are found in a lot of magazines this
time of year. All of the gadgets and gear in this
issue have been in the hands of HUB editors and
contributors. To signify this, we are introducing the
HUB Tested logo this month, which we' ve incorporated into the first page of the
Gift Guide. The heavy lifting for this issue was done by Senior Product Review
Editor, Sean Carruthers, who coordinated all of the reviews and made sure that
we have something for everyone. So, happy shopping, and, more importantly, have a great holiday
and best wishes for the new year from everyone at HUB: Digital Living.
Megan Johnston, Editor

Letters: The gadgets tIou lave

We had a lot of feedback on your favourite digital gadgets. Here are a few of our favourite letters:
When we were visiting my wife's grandmother in September, I happened to bring my MP3 player with
me it's so small that I had forgotten to take it out of my shirt pocket. Pulling it out, I remembered
that I could also record with it, and so we spent the next couple hours talking with Olive,and recording her reminiscences. Not long after we returned to Winnipeg, Olive passed away, and we realized
then that the audio captured by the MP3 player was the only recording of her voice ever made, one
that will always be precious to the entire family. Mark Morton, Winnipeg
My favorite digital gadget... has to be my hearing aid. Having gone with an analogue unit for the
majority of my life, I decided to take the jump in my midlife and purchase a digital unit. The experience is unbelievable, I am able to hear conversation and sound much clearer and at a further distance... and feedback has be reduced.... This digital device pretty well destroyed all of my own
excuses of not hearing the individuals, especially my wife. Luciano Borrello, Vaughan, Ont.
It is a tie between by Dell Axim XS[PDA) and myXbox.Both are wirelessly connected to my PC.With
this setup I can easily transfer files, play MP3s, play movies, access email, and the Internet(on my
PDA) from my PC instantly in my home! The Xbox also acts as a secondary file server, allowing me to
store files on its harddrive, which is upgraded to a 120 GB from its regular B GB.The next project is,
of course, setting up my home theatre PCand connecting it to a HDTV projector. Trung Ta,Toronto
L etter of the mo n t h oo n t e s t
The prize this month goes to Joe Larotta of Calgary:
"Thanks for your article on GPS
['I know exactly where I am,' HUB November]. I bought a portable GPS
last spring (the Magellan SportTrak Map) and recommend to anyone who is thinking of getting one to go
ahead and do so. Especially if you are thinking of Geocaching. My family have become avid Geocachers
and have found all kinds of "treasures." Though we are not big hikers, the beauty of geocaching is that
there are many caches hidden throughout urban parks here in Calgary(and surely every city in
Canada). As we've become more adventurous, we' ve visited some more remote locations, seen some
fantastic sights, and have had a great deal of affordable family fun. It sure makes it worth while to
wade through thorn bushes and battle mosquitoes when I hear one of my daughters
excitedly scream, 'I found it!'"
Fujifilm Canada is giving away a digital camera for the best letter of
the issue. The camera is its new pocket-size Fuji FinePix A205, a 2.0
megapixel model, with 3X zoom, and 1.5-inch colour LCO
monitor for
reviewing shots and navigating the commands. This month, in addition to feedback on the issue, tell us if you' vemade New Year's resolutionsinvolving digital technolgoy.
Drop us a line at lstterslthubcanada.corn.
10

H UB : D i gitaal Lh/inGf December 2OQS

Vatume 18 4 Number gg

EDITORIAL
Editor

Megan Johnston

megan johnstonehubcanada.corn

Managing Editor

Nestor Gula

nestor gulaShubcanada,cern

Senior Product Editor

Se an Carruthers

sean carruthemShubcanada.cern

Assistant Editor

Sharlene Mgers

sharlene mgersehubcanada.corn

Web Editor

Jessica Malone
iesstcamaloneehubcanada.corn

Contributing Editor
Art Director

David Tanaka
Steven Stoner

Graphic Designer

Chris Brockles

Letters
Releases

lettemShubcanada.
corn

pre ssreleasesehubcanada.corn

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SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscrlptlons
12 Issues $34.95
US $25 in U.S. funds, Overseas $135 Cdn
Email
sub scriptionsShubcanada.corn
Tal. Itog-freel
1-800-465-3517
CanadianPublicationMail, SalesPreduct Agreement
840084828.
Printwlin Canada.ISSR 0840-3929.
Memberofthe BPAOivisionof KAB
HUBr Oigtal Living is publishedmonthly bgCCP
Media. AB
rights reserved, Repmduction in whole
or in part withoutthepermission ofthe publisher
is strictl9 prahibited. Infermadonpresented here
is compiled fromsources believed to beaccurate,
however, the publisherassumes noresponsibilitg
for errom oromissions.the publisher reserves the

right to refuseads.Theopinions expressedinthe

articles andcolumns andadsare those ofthe
writer/advertiser andnot necessadlg thoseof
HUB: oigtal Livmg.
On the
coverthismonth:
Jennifer Robinson,six-time Canadian figureskating champion.
Photographer
Mir Lads.www.mirlada.corn

Male up andHair
Jase Bass,Plutino Group

www.hubcaneda.corn

F ir s t

G la n c e

F irst: glan c e
A preview of new and notable digital
devices. Look for full reviews in upcoming
issues of HUB: Digital Living.

Do you frequently find your-

self [or rather, your gadgets) powerless2 Rayovac [www.rayWide-screen wannabes whose
budget can't quite stretch to
plasma have an affordable alternative in Epson's(www.epson.ca]PowerLite Home 10.The
$1,999 projector delivers 16:9 widescreen video for home theatres and is HDTV-ready. Users can choose between four projection modes that adjust the display to suit the viewing environment, and the projector can project an 80-inch image from
as close as 1.8 m [6 ft.) or a 300-inch image from as far away
as 7.5 m (24.9 ft.), according to Epson. A 1.54X optical zoom
lens provides flexible positioning. The projector weighs 3.6 kg
and comes with a two-year limited warranty that includes
expedited telephone support and a replacement program for
projectors that need to be repaired.

Banking on the idea

that size matters after
all, Apple

[www,apple,ca) has
added an iMac with a
20-inch display to its
Is~
lineup, which includes
15- and 17-inch models,
The widescreen display offers
1,680x1,050-pixel resolution,
which is 36 per cent more
I
viewable area than the 17-inch
model, according to Apple. The
new model is otherwise identical to the 17-inch version, and
is priced at $2,999. The company also took the opportunity
to expand its Power Mac GS lineup, introducing a dual-processor 1.8 GHz model that starts at $3,499 to complement the
single processor 1.6 GHz and dual-processor 2 GHz models
already available.

www.hubcanada.ccm

ovac.corn) boasts its new I-C3 Nickel Metal Hydride [NiMH] battery system can be fully recharged in 15 minutes or less.
Available in AA and AAAsizes, the batteries can be recharged up
to 1,000 times and will last up to four times longer than alkaline batteries in a digital camera, according to the company, The
chargers are available in two- or four-position versions, with a
car cord adapter available for the four-position unit. The
recharger takes other NiMH and Nickel Cadmium batteries, but
the I-C3 batteries are required to get the 15-minute charging
time. A Rayovac press release lists prices starting at $13 For a
pair of AAAs and $32 for the two-position charger, but a quick
look at Canadian online retailers showed higher prices: $19.99
and $49.99 respectively.

Even the most eager shutterbug will have room to spare on

SmartDisk's(www.smartdisk.
corn)40 GB and 80 GB FlashTrax
drives, portable USB 2.0 multimedia players. Both models can
be connected to a TV for viewing images, but also unfold to
reveal a 3.5-inch LCD. Users can
zoom inand out,pan,and view
i . . i :
slideshows ofJPEG and some
raw image file formats, as well
as play motion picture JPEG
files and MP3 files. They
accept CF and microdrive cards, with optional
adapters available for
Smart Media, Memory Stick,
SD, MMC, and xD formats.
The 40GB model is $716*,
the 80GB is $911*,and the
adapter is $65 .

' Converted from US$.

December 2GCX3 HUB: Digital Lvtng

11

Getting into the game

No gift categorg sage holidag better than games, and in the digital world that means consoles, PCs, and handhold sgstems.

Gadgets and gear

Here we look at some recent titles and gadgets, but start with a

Ngko Air Flo EX controller [Xbox)

roundup of consoles.

www.ngko.corn Estimated price: $45~

The Air Flo EX features a dual-speed fan as part
of an only slightly bulkier controller. Cut outs
on the controlier's handles direct the air and
work well to cool the palms, avoiding the
dreadedclammy gamer hands.Youropponents will thank you when ending the game
with a relatively dry handshake. AMC

The consoles
Song PlagStation 2
www.plagstatlon.corn Estimated price: $250
PS2 leadsthe pack in sales and has signed an online
exclusivity deal with EA Sports, the biggest sports
game development and publishing company. It also
has the most available titles overall and, with this
clout gets some of the juiciest exclusive software
deals. That said, the PS2 is beginning to show its age
where graphics are concerned and its online arrangement leaves the door open for individual games to
charge an online access fee.
Andrew Moore-Crispin

NintendoGameCube
www.nintendo.ca Estimated price: $140
Now running neck and neck with the PS2 in sales,
Nintendo is the only console not to offer DVD playback, thanks to its proprietary disc format.
Nintendo's focus is on its signature gameplay
flair and connectivity with the Game Boy
Advance, the incredibly popular handheld game
~4' system. Also, with a recent holiday season price
drop,GameCube is head and shoulders above
(below?) the competitionwhere price is concerned. GameCube's most
notable downside is its somewhat smaller software library. AMC

Mad Catz RetroCON(for PS2)

www.madcatz.corn Estimated
price:$35'
As the name implies, the RetroCDN PS2controller harkens back to the old rectangular
control pads of the Nintendo Entertainment
System and the Sega Master System.
Despite low marks for ergonomics, it scores
points for the cool aluminum shell and a lace that
lights up in Technicolor. The RetroCDN is a neat peripheral but one that
will tire out hands the way old control pads did in their heyday. AMC

Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad n52 (for PC)

www,belkin.corn Estimated price: $65'
Part keyboard, part control pad, and a small part
mouse, the n52 adds a scroll wheel, quick
shifting, and full customizability, Not exactly
your standard game controller, the nS2 appeals
to a small portion of fanatical PC arners
g
but is
good at what it does, namely, putting all of the
game's controls at your fingertips. AMC

Microsoft Xbox

Ngko iTgpe2 PS2controller (for PS2)

www.xbox.ca Estimated price: $250

www.ngko.corn Estimated price: $50~

The most powerful and largest of the bunch,

Xbox has an 8 GB hard drive built in for
game savesand music ripping.The console's graphics are noticeably better than
those of the PS2, even to the untrained eye.
Microsoft charges a yearly fee of $79.99 for its Xbox
Live online service, with one-year included in the purchase cost of an
Xbox Live starter kit. The original Xbox control pad was an assault to
the hands but has since been replaced with the svelte and infinitely
more usable Xbox Controller S. AMC

NintendoGame Bog Advance SP

Nyko goes a step further than its Air Flo controllers with the iType. While there are no fans,
this controller incorporates a thumb-size, USB
keyboard on a slightly larger PS2 controller

base. Garners who do alot of text entry in

online games will appreciate the feature. AMC

The games
ESPN NHL Hockeg
www.espnvldeogames.corn Estimatedprice:$FO

www.nintendo.ca Estimated ~rice: $140

4
12

NintendosGame Boy Advance SP allbutowns

the handheld games market, and with
good reason. With a massive software
library, compact clamshea design, relatively large LCD screen, and the ability to connect
with the GameCube in many newer games, the
SP is a good bet for garners on thego.AMC

H U B: D i g itel Living December BQCG

The best of this year's hockey games is available on

PS2 andXbox only.Sharp graphics,numerous play

modes, online gameplay, and excellent presentation

make thisgame a good betforhockey fans. AMC

'Converted from USS.

www.hubcariada.corn

The SimpsonsHitand Run

Billtl Hatcher and the Giant Egg

www.thesimpsons-hitandrun.corn Estimated price: $70

Available on all consoles, Hit and Run is perhaps
best described as a slightly scaled back PG version
of Grand Theft Auto. Fans of The Simpsons will
delight at the inside jokes, cars, and characters, and
can rejoice that there is finally a good game based
on TV's most popular cartoon family. AMC

www.saga.corn/Estimatedprice:$59.99

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004

www.easports.corn Estimated price: $70
Arguably the best golf video game franchise gets
even better this year, offering tournament play
online for PS2 garners,
plusEA'sexcellentGame
Face feature on all consoles, as well as the PC. Easy
to pick up, but with enough depth to keep things
interesting, Tiger Woods 2004 is a great game for
any golf
and video game fan. AMC

Tron 2.0
www.tron20.net Estimated price: $50
When the movie Tron was released in 1982, the
e
computer graphics were revolutionary, and it

spawned a hit video game as well. Now, two

decades later, Tron 2.0 takes advantage of even better graphics, right on your PC, This one features a
story you can play through, or just jump straight to
the lightcycles if you want to race.
Sean Carruthers

From the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, a hero who

saves the world from eternal night by rolling giant
eggs around and wearing a rooster suit. If you' re a
consolegame player,though,you probably have
the suspending-disbelief thing covered and will
enjoy the trip through the cool 30 worlds. Fun for
Everyone (with mild cartoon violence). For
NintendoGameCube only (GameBoy Advance compatible),
Megan Johnston

Games for
thegrownups
Halo: Combat Evolved
www.microsoft.corn/games/Halo Estimated price: $70
The title that helped launch the Xbox now comes to the PC. An alien
alliance is determined to wipe out Earth's budding star empire, and
you' re marooned on the colony world Halo. Gameplay is fast and
futuristic, and this version features new maps, weapons, and online
multiplayer. Rated Mature 17+ for blood, gore and violence. SC

Mac Pagne 2:
The FallofMax Pagne
www.maxpayne2.corn Estimated
price:$70
Available for PC, PS2, and Xbox, it returns to the noir, comic book feel
of the first installment. You play Max Payne, an NYCcop, who's lost it
all and has to fight mobsters, commandos, and even other cops.
Rated Mature 17+ for blood, violence, language, and mature themes.
SC

El'
Timex Ironman Oata Link USB
www.timex.corn Estimated price: $150
PDAs are essential to many
people who need access to
their schedule and contact
list on the go, butsome'
times you don't want to
eI
have to carry a handheld.
If you just want the
basics, Timex's Ironman
Data Link USB watch synchronizes with Microsoft
Outlook,
and can copy calendar and contact information to
the watch by connecting it to
your PC with a USB cable. You can' t
enter data into the watch, just review it, but if you want to travel light
for a few hours, it's perfect. Of course, it also has standard Timex
www.hubcanada.corn

Ironman features like watch, 200-lap chronograph, countdown

timers, multiple alarms, and an lndiglo night-light.

Microsoft Wireless inteilimouse Explorer

www.microsoft.corn/hardware Estimated price: $80
Just when you thought they couldn't do anything new with the good
ol' mouse, Microsoft has added a new twist well, a tilt, really. This
addition to the wireless line has all of the things you'd expect if
you' re right-handed, including an optical sensor on the bottom that
allows you to use it on nearly any surface, two buttons up top, and
two more within easy reach of your thumb and a scroll wheel. The
"tilt" is in that scroll wheel: in addition to the usual up/down scroll,
the whole wheel can be tilted to the left or the right, making it easy to
scroll around large documents like spreadsheets in any direction you
want. It takes two AA batteries.
SC

December BCXX3 -

H L I B : Digital Living

1S

Br ing home
your ow n d igital hub
Despite the spread of digital technology into cameras, camcorders, and audio andmultimedia players, the personal computer remains central to sharing, creating, and organizing the
content. Here are a few systems we've looked at recently that
are fit for a family whatever their digital work and play needs
and some peripherals that can add a little zip to an existing

system.

Wlndowe XP Media Centre PCs

If you want to pick up a nice tech toy for the whole family this
Christmas, but you' re deadlocked between a new computer and a
media centre, here's your chance to get both in one box. Microsoft's
Windows XP Media Centre operating system starts with Windows XP,
then adds multimedia functionality, including DVD movie playback,
cable TV input, the ability to record your favourite television programs
to the hard disk, digital audio playback, and special digital photography slots and software. Throw in a remote control so you can play
music or DVD movies from across the room, and it adds up to a nice
all-in-one package. Hewlett-Packard was the first company out of the
gate with a Windows XP Media Centre, but a number of other companies are now onboard, including Dell, Seanix, and Sony.

HP Media Centre PC nt270n

www.hp.ca Estimated price: $2,499
Right out of the box, you can tell that the m270n isn't your typical
Windows box: its silver and black finish looks more like a home audio
or video component than a PC.
The system makes it easy to
switchbetween TV,DVO, photos, and PC functions with the
remote and on-screen menu or
using the buttons on the front
of the PC itself. It has USB 2.0
and FireWire ports on the front
and rear of the machine, and
slots for digital camera memory along the front. The
I' s
computer has a topnotch graphics component and a speedy CPU,
which means it' ll handle whatever
you throw at it, from OVDs to photo editing
to games. It also has a 160 GB hard drive inside, which means a lot of
room for your music, photos, recorded TV programs, and videos.
Because it also has a DVD+RW
burner, you can burn your media files
to CD or OVO,too. The monitor is sold separately, but the Media Centre
PC comes with its own high-quality speaker set.
Sean Carruthers

Song VAIO PCVRZ44G

ware, Sony has also joined forces with Microsoft for the new VAIO,
whichmakes use ofthe
Windows XP Media
Centre Edition 2004
operating system.
The machine comes
with a CD drive and a
OVO ~ RWburner,
plus slots on the
front for Type II
Compact Flash,
SmartMedia, and
Memory Stick Pro
cards. The system
features a 2.8 GHz
Pentium 4 processor,
512 MB ofmemory, and a
160 GB hard drive. It has a total of seven USB 2.0 ports and two
FireWire (called i.LINK by Sony) ports onboard. As with other Sony
multimedia systems, this one comes with Giga Pocket onboard, allowing you to view TV on your PC and share it with other Giga Pocket
accessories.
SC

SontiVAIO PCV-W500GN1
www.sonystyle.ca Estimated price: $3,000
If space is at a premium, Sony's new VAIOW-series has come to the
rescue. Though it's not a Windows XP Media Centre machine, this
Windows XP-based
system is
nonetheless a
pretty compelling
multimedia PC, featuring a built-in
cable TV
antenna, DVD
burner, inteI<
grated speakers, and a 17.S:. I
inch widescreen
LCD. Even better, it' s
integrated into one compact unit, featuring a keyboard that folds up if you' re not using the
machine or folds in if you' re using it as a television. The machine
changesmodes depending on which way you flip the keyboard.The
VAIO comes with Giga Pocket onboard, which manages your multimedia content, from recording TV programs to streaming data to other
Giga Pocket-enabled Sony devices like the RoomLink Receiver[$350,
sold separately]. A remote control is included so you can put up your
feet and control the machine from across the room.
SC

www.sonystyle.ca Estimated price: $2,499

Previously reliant on its own proprietary mediamanagement soft14

H UB : D i g ital Living - D e c e m ber BQD3

www.hubcanada,corn

PC accessories
Belkin Mini-Wireless Optical Mouse
www.beikin.corn Estimated price: $75
Take a standard mouse, shave off some weight and size, eliminate
the ball, and cut the cord. That pretty much describes Belkin's MiniWireless Optical Mouse no ball, no cord, and about one-third the
size of a standard mouse. A USBRadio Frequency module that plugs
into the computer[it comes with a USB extension cable) communicates with the mouse at distances of up to a 90 cm. The mouse, while
small, is quite comfortable to use and has a scroll wheel and a rubbery coating that improves grip. It's powered by two AAA batteries,
and has an off-on switch on the bottom for conserving battery power.
David Tanaka

Zboard interchangeable keyboard st)stem

www.ideazon.corn
The Zboard (think "zee" instead of "zed" and it' ll all make sense] is
such a simple idea it's surprising it wasn't done before: unlike a standard keyboard, the Zboard consists of a base unit and removable
keyboard components that can be swapped out for other configurations. It may be as simple as a module that's relabeled to show you
Photoshop or Excel commands right on the keys themselves, or as
involved as reconfiguring the keyboard to include huge cursor buttons and regrouped function keys specific to some of your favourite

Humanscale CPU Oollti

www.humanscaie.corn Estimated price: $279
One of the best solutions to desktop clutter is moving your computer under your desk [it helps muffle the fan noise, too]. One way to do
that is with a CPU stand preferably on casters.
', 't
Not only do the wheels make it easier to
clean under the desk, it makes it
easier to access the computer's
cables.Humanscale's steelCPU
dolly is more expensive than most,
but it's also one of the lightest,
sturdiest, and best-designed out
there. Its base accommodates
tower-style CPUs up to 22.8 cm
wide, and its adjustable handle
m akes it
a snap to puteven a 62
cm-long CPU on without fear of tipping. Best of all is the simple mechanism that uses the computer's own
weight to hold it securely in place just put it on the dolly and
you' re done.
Emru Townsend

Samsung StlncMaster 191T Plus

www.samsung.ca Estimated
price:$1,180
If you want a bigger monitor but don't want to use
up a lot of your desktop space, check out the
SyncMaster 191T Plus, which handles both
analogue and digital video signals. The
screen itself pivots between landscape
and portrait, the whole thing swivels in
place, and the screen's height can be
adjusted. And of course, since it's a
Samsung TFT display, the picture
is fabulous.
SC

www.hubcenede.corn

4t
iggt,

At

games. There are currently keyboard inserts for eight different productivity applications and seven different game titles[with more to
come). Ideazon also has a generic gaming keyboard called the
Zboard Crossfire, which is designed to be used with many different
games.The good news is thatw hichever keyboard insertyou choose,
all you have to' do is pop it into place, and the software reconfigures
the keyboard layout automatically.
Zboard base: $27
Gamingkeysets:$15 to $20
Application keysets: $20 to $55
Base and basic keyboard starter kit: $40
SC

Logitech QuickCam Orbit

www.iogitech.corn Estimated price: $225
If you don't live close to friends or family, Web
cameras are a great way to stay in touch, allowing you to see each other while chatting online.
With most Webcams, though, if you lean to one
side or the other, you may just lean out of the
image frame. Rather than spending all your time
repositioning the camera, take a look at the QuickCam
Orbit. The camera module sits on top of a 22 cm
stand, and you can set up the camera to pan and tilt
automatically when you move using the FaceTracking feature. The camera captures still images up
to 1.3-megapixel, video at resolutions up to 640x320
(including up to 320x240 live streaming in compatible instant messaging programs like MSN and
Yahoo), and audio from the built-in microphone. It
connects to your computer via USB and is compatible with both Windows[Me, 2000, XP] and
Mac [OSX 10.1.5+].
SC
D ecember 2QOS -

H U B : Digicel Living

IS

T he Bitt of W i F i
Once youVe tried connecting to the Internet or other networks
wirelessly, going back to the world of cables can be mighty dis-

US Robotics SD2.iig Wireless Turbo series

appointing. It may be time to cut the cords, clean up the clutter,

While other manufacturers released 802.11g products before the

specifications were finalized, US Robotics held off until it was sure its
products were 100 per cent compatible. Not only that, the company's
11g debut offering features 100 Mbps Turbo speed, which
is nearly twice that of standard
11g products, even while
maintaining backwards compatibility with standard 11g
and older 11b products[includingUSR's22 Mbps models ). The
Wireless Turbo series features
the usual assortment, including a
four-port broadband router, an
access point, a notebook PC
Card, and a PCI card for your desktop
machine. All of these feature 100 Mbps speed,
and both WEP and WPAForsecurity. There's also an access point with
extended functionality, including bridge/repeater functionality for
larger offices.
Wireless Turbo Router. $209
Wireless Turbo Access Point: $409
Wireless Turbo PC Card: $129
Wireless Turbo PCI Card: $159

and set up a wireless network. Whether it's in your homeor

home office, here are some new wireless networking products

we' ve been looldng at.

Microsoft Sroadband Networking series

www.microsoft.corn/hardware
Microsoft joined the ranks of wireless networking hardware vendors
last year with the release of its 802.11b WiFi products. Now, the company has updated the line by moving the products to the faster 54 Mbps 802.11g standard. The
Broadband Networking line includes several models: a notebook adapter, a PCI adapter
for your desktop machine,
and a base station mode!
that acts as an Internet
sharing device. The base
has four
w ired 10/100 networking ports and the ability to handle up to 253 wireless devices. All of these
products feature both WEP
and WPA security, to keep
yourconnections safe.The products
are also backwards compatible with slower 11b products. You can
save a few dollars by purchasing the Wireless Notebook Kit [a base
station and a notebook card) instead of buying the pieces separately.
For garners, there's also an Xbox wireless adapter that allows you to
add your Xbox game console to your wireless network.
Wireless Base Station [MN-700): $150
Wireless Notebook Adapter[MN-720): $120
Wireless PCI Adapter [MN-730): $120
Xbox Wireless Adapter [MN-740): $200
Wireless Notebook Kit [MN-820): $250

Aerieiink SD2.iig series

www.aerielink.corn
Generally, when a motherboard manufacturer branches out into a
technology that's not specifically motherboard-related, you know
there's a future for the technology. This is the case with
Soyo and its Aerielink wireless networking division,
whichhas introduced a few new 11g products.We
looked at the PC Card and the 1ig Wireless Router.
While the former is pretty typical of PC Cards
in this category, the router is very
compact but very powerful. Despite a
tiny case, it has four wired ports and
can handle253 wireless devices.The
configuration Web page is welldesigned and easy to configure.
Wireless Router[AWR01403): $185*
Cardbus Card [AWPC3101): $105'

www.usr.corn

3Com DfficeConnect iig series

www.3Com.corn
Also featuring both WEP and WPAfor maximum security, 3Com's
OfficeConnect series may be aimed at the business user, but these
powerful products are affordable enough to be attractive to the home
user.
The access pointand broadband gateway have adjustable
antennae, and the gateway features four wired Ethernet ports. A PC
Card adapter is also available.
Cable/DSLGateway: $183
Access Point: $198
PC Card: $116

X-Micro %LAN iib series

www.x-micro.corn
The biggest problem with going wireless is that if WiFi isn't already
built into your notebook or PC, it can be pretty expensive to add it. XMicro's new line of wireless products is designed for
affordability, sporting standard 11b features like
WEP, but at a lower cost. The wireless router works
with either DSL or cable modem, comes with an
adjustable antenna and features four
wired ports on the rear. You' d
almost expect value-based products to cheap out on the manual
or onboard configuration tools, but
it's easy to set the router up and get
everything working.
continued on page 21

16

HL IB : D igital Living December 2OQB

www.hubcanada.ccm

Microsoft'" is concerned about improving your computer's security and is committed to helping
protect your PC from the latest viruses, as well as from f uture threats. Microsoft and
leading industry partners are working together to help protect your PC from these malicious

attacks. Please do your part, go to www.microsoft.ca/protect and follow these steps today.

Llse a firewall, like the Internet Connection Firewall

already in Windows' Xp.

Use Microsoft V/indows' Update to get and keep

your PC up-to-date.

Install antivirus software and ensure it's up-to-date.

To get more information and resources about how to help protect your PC and
to register for future PC safety alerts from Microsoft, go to:

www.microsoft.ca/protect

H orne t h e a t r e f o r
the ho liday e
SharpAquos

Panasonic Diga DMR-ESDPP

www.sharpeiectronics.corn

www.panasonic.ca Estimated price: $1,000

Flat's where it's at when it comes to the cutting edge of television,

and Sharp's Aquos has been on that edge for a while, The Aquos line
has expanded substantially, with standard 4:3 aspect models ranging
in size from 13 to 20 inches, and widescreen 16:9 models ranging
from 22 to 37 inches. These models definitely cost some
extra cashola, but if you' re short
on space, they will fit
almost anywherep' .
you can even hang
them right from the
wall. Better, with a 170degree viewing angle in
all directions, you' ll be
able to see the screen
from wherever you' re sitting, no matter how small
the room. Smaller models
feature S-Video, composite,
componentand CATV inputs,and
higher-end models also feature computer inputs; check the Sharp Web site for a full breakdown of models
and their features.
13-in. standard: $1,000 - $1,150
15- in. standard: $1,150 - $1,500
20- in. standard: $2,000 - $2,300
22- in. widescreen: $3,500
30- in. widescreen: $7,000
37-in. widescreen: $10,500
Sean Carruthers

Panasonic's version of the DVD recorder is a bit cheaper than Sony's,

but it only handles DVD-RAMand DVD-R media. In addition to CATV,it
features composite and S-Video input for recording from other
sources, and it has slots for PC Card
and Secure Digital
media, so you can
record your digital
photographs to OVD or
play a slideshow right
from the machine. It
also has a OV input on
the front, so you can record your digital videos straight to DVD.
SC

'

Song DVD Recorder RDR-GX7

www.sonystyle.ca Estimated price: $1,300
Hooked on DVD but still want to record your favourite television programs? In
addition to DVD movie playback, Sony's RDR-GX7 can
record to blank DVDs(-RW or+RW formats). The nice thing about
recording to DVD is that you don't have to search for a blank spot on
the disc, like you would with a video tape, because the recorder automatically finds it. With CATVinputs, you can record TV programs
directly off the wire, but there are also inputs for other components,
allowing you to digitize your old
videotapes or

movies
+44 y g sP>"

directly from
your video
camera. The
discs you record
will be compatible

with Sony's DVP-NS725P progressive

scan DVD player [$230j, which will also play regular DVD movies and
MP3 CDs. SC
18

H U B: D i c jitalLiving - D e c e m b e r 2 O Q 3

RCA CRCU900 Universal Learning Remote Control

www.rca.corn Estimated price: $99
Let's see... big-screen TV? Check. VCR?Check. DVD player? Check. CD
player, receiver, satellite dish? Check, check, and check. An end table
to hold all the remotes they come with? IAy caramba! Back in the
days when four A/V components constituted serious tech,
remotes were the only way to keep your sanity. But as gadgets
became more complex it became impossible to find a decent universal remote that didn't have either a few hundred buttons for every
conceivable function or one that forces you to learn perplexing button
substitutions. Thank goodness, then, for universal learning remotes
with LCO touch screens. Depending on the device you' re controlling,
the display shows only the relevant buttons the AM/FM button disappears when you switch from the receiver to the TV, for instance.
RCA's CRCU900 is notable because, unlike many multifunction
remotes, it's not much bigger than a regular remote, though it's a little
heavier. And with the ability to control up to eight devices, there's a
good chance you' ll be able to retire most of the other remotes from
active service. A macro function makes it a snap to execute a
sequence of commands with one button. Other LCD remotes control
more devices and offer more features, but for the simple purpose of
consolidating your remotes into one easy-to-learn device, it's hard to
beat the elegance of the CRCU900.
Emru Townsend

learning

Kameleon 8 Remote Control

www.radioshack.ca Estimated price: $150
The Kameleon 8 remote control can operate up to eight
entertainment devices such as a DVD player or satellite, and can be used with a PYR(personal video
recorder) as well. It is quite stylish looking,
with digital buttons that only light up when
in use rather than raised buttons. The
Kameleon 8 is available exclusively at
Radio Shack.
Jessica Malone
www.hub csnsds.corn

Logitech Z-680 speaker set

www.logitech.corn Estimated p~ice: $600
As the home PC gets better and better as a stand-in For a home theatre setup, with DVD playback, surround sound, and high-quality
graphics, it's not unthinkable to spend more money on a decent multimedia speaker set. While Logitech's Z-680 is pricey, it's also an
amazing configuration: not only is it THX certified, you can hook it up
to your computer and your component DVD player at the same time,
thanks to multiple inputs on the rear of the volume control pod. In
fact, it not only has a trio of 1/8-inch plugs for analogue surround
input, it also has optical and coaxial SPDIF inputs, which means you
can have three input sources, and cycle between them using the
remote. And with 500 watts of room-shaking power, you'd better
make sure your house's foundation is sound.
SC

PanasonicSC-HT8i0 Home Theatre

www.panasonic.ca Estimated price: $1000
There are a number of all-in-one home theatre configurations that
come with the surround
speaker setup and a
DVD player. If qou
want an all-in-one
but don't want to
l
give up your videotapes lust yet,
'>7
say hello to this
bundle, which
features both
-;F"

DVD and VHS in addition to the SDD-watt 5.1 surround sound speakers. The DVDcomponent handles both DVD audio and video, and wiil
play Windows Media and MP3 files too. It can also play back DVD-R
and DVO-RAMfiles recorded on other Panasonic recorders. SC

OVD for the road

Cgberhome DVD platier
www.radloshack.ca Estimated price: $500
New on the market and priced affordably, this portable DVO player
has a 7.inch in 16:9 format screen that can also display movies in 4:3
format. The unit also plays
aaVideo CDs tVCDs), as well
as audio and MP3 CDs,
and will display JPEG
images. The battery is
rated at four hours but
squeezing in two movies
before it runs out of juice is
very optimistic. Image
quality is good and speaker
sound is passablebut
using headphones is much
better. Its controls are fairly
intuitive and we got it working fairly quickly without
having to consult the manual. The Cyberhome is a good, affordable portable DVO solution. I especially like the jacks for video and
audio out, allowing you to plug the unit into a TV, or to connect to digital still or video cameras.
Nestor Gula

X'
DVD corner
Once your hometheatre is all set up, you' ll want something to
play on it. Here are a few ideas.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine sets

Paramount www.startrek.corn Estimated price: $150 to

$200 per season

For the Star Trek geek on your list, Paramount has released all seven
seasons of the series Deep Space Nine this year. In addition to all of
the episodes, each set comes with
a number of "hidden"
interviews, short
features, and
behind-thescenes looks for
that season. Each
set squeezes
seven DVDs into
www.hubcsnsds.corn

an attr
active and compact package thatwon'ttake up much space on
your DVD rack.
SC

Alien I3uadrilogtl
Twentieth-Centurjj Fox, www.foxhome.corn/allenq/
Estimated price: $1,40
The nine-disc Alien box set is bound to be at the top of many for scifi fan wish lists: all four of the movies are included(with extended
Director's Cuts]. The extra discs are filled to bursting with extras,
such as behind-the-scenes looks at the pre-production, fil ming,
and
post-production required for all of the movies, design and artwork
galleries, trailers, short features, and even Sigourney Weaver's original screen test. Because there are so many discs crammed into this
small box, the packaging is somewhat unwieldy, but for true fans, a
bit of package wrestling is a small price to pay for having this comprehensive set.
SC
For more top DV0 p>cks:
D ecembe r 2 O C G

- HL J B : OigitelLivin g

1B

looks for kids

old parents
Awesemninternet
Sites far IQtls
www.smcrk.corn

Estimated price: $20

This 155-page, kid-fr iendly title
catalogues children's sites worth
visiting. Best thing, it includes a
Web version, so you won't have
to typein UFIL atterURL

llnmewarkllelp 4 {Quan
Nnl I: gratias 1-3;
Vnl 2: grndan4-Sl
kepablekidz.corn
Estimated price: $20
Ycu might want to consider these
books as you ponder how to successfully integrate the Internet
with your child's education. Each
section is prefaced with guidelines from the Onterio Elementary
School Curriculuin and provides
an endless selection of Web sites
for learning end practice.

Professional
toy testers
Here are some piofessionel toy
tester s whose aim is to help you

makesenseofthepre-Christmas
onslaught.

CnnntlinnTayTesting Cnuncil
www.toy-testing.org
For the past 50 years, the
Canadian
Toy Testing Councilhas
been giving kids, ages three
months to 16 years, six to 12
weekstotaketoys home and test
their design, function, durability,
and play value. The final result is
age-appropriate ster ratings in
various categories. Children' s
Choice Awards go to new toys
that ei e "Iun, innovative and the
absolute best in their area
of play."

IgnighSnnrhaaii
TayStares ofCnnmhi
www,neighbourhoodtoystcree.ca/
goldsterwiririers,htrn
If you have a favourite toy store,
chanceseie it has helped the
Neighbourhood ToyStores of
Canadadetermine what toys
deserve Gold Star Awards. The
criteria'/ "Top quality toys that
give the bast play value to
childreii."

BO

Thumba up kida picka

for the h o lidaya
Here's e sampling of some of the new smart
toys,technologies,games, and books we've
tried out for the under-12 set.

Hands-on
Ltlra RDiDPi
www.rca.corn Estimated price: $200
RCA's media relations guy suggested 10 year-olds
could easily use this MP3 player, but after witnessing an eight gear-old transfer tracks and sit
mesmerized for an entire Saturday, I'm lowering
the bar. It's incredibly easy to use and the 128 MB
memory isexpandable.

PowerTouch Learning St)stem

www. fisher-price.corn/us/pawertouch
Estimated price $80
This Fisher-Price product is meant for kids three
years and up and is a direct competitor to the
highlysuccessful Leap Pad Learning System. The
main difference is that kids use their fingers, not a
stylus, to spell out words, which is easier, but not
always as precise. Unlike the Leap Pad, there's no
need to press "go" to identify a pagePowerTouch magically determines what page it' s
on. My testers point out that the handle "makes it
easier to carry." More than 60 learning activities,
and a library of books featuring popular characters
like Clifford, Blue, and Arthur.

Manctl Drew: Danger

on Deception Island {pc)
www.herint
aractive.corn/prod/ddi
Estimated price: $33
Nancy's vacation is cut short in this ninth title in
this game series. It turns out there's an orphaned
crea whale in the harbour and some distress and
mystery concerning what should be done about it.
For ages 10 and up.

PlumO at the Park {PC/Mac)

www.cognisclancaine.corn
Estimated price: $25
Here's a delightful Canadian surprise that my
testers were already familiar with, since they' ve
played the first two titles at school. Playable in
English, French, and Spanish, although once into
the game, language is of gttle importance. For
ages three to seven.

Learn to Plati Chess with Fritz

and CheSSter {f C/Mac]
www.viva-media.corn Estimated price: $40
My chess-playing nephew could hardly restrain
himself when he saw this winner of the 2003
Bologna New Media Prize. It includes an entertaining story with lots of opportunity to learn about
and practice chess-playing skills.

{vila's Language Adventure:

Pixter 2.0
www.fisherprice.corn/us/pixter/
Estimated price: $F5
Unfortunately, Pixter Color isn't avaiiable in
Canada, but you can get your hands on the 2003
[third) version that lets kids four years and up
beam pictures they' ve drawn on the screen to
other Pixter owners, just like Palm-owning parents,
albeit from a maximum 1.5 m distance. Older cartridges run on the new device.

The KidnaP CaPer {PC/Mac)

www.kutokn.corn Estimated price: $30
This latest adventure of the[Canadian] mouse Mia
focuseson learning French orSpanish as a second language. As always, Mia has to find sparklies,
solvea mystery, and stay away from the nasty
rats. For ages six to 10.
Mare Guiana

Cool programs
Barbie Horse Adventures
Mystery Ride {pc)
www.vugemes.corn Estimatedprice:$30
Barbie
becomes Nancy Drew as she sets outon
the trail of a prize horse. Besides solving the mystery, players get to ride and groom their horses,
and try on a series of what elsey beautiful
Barbie outfits.

H LIB : D igital Living - D e c e m ber BOOB

Powertouch e
Larning
System
www.hubcanada.ccm

The gift of WiFi continued from page 16

Wireless router: $80
USB adapter: $45
PC Card adapter. $40

Kensington NiFi Finder

www.kensington.corn Estimated price: $34
Now that you' ve added a wireless card to your laptop, how do you
find WiFi hotspots when you' re on the road'? You can fire up your laptop and walk around until you get a signal or, for a mere $34, invest
in Kensington's WiFi Finder. Just press the button and the LEDs tell
you if you' re in an open hotspot: red for no and green(a series of
three lights indicating the strength of the signal) if you are. It' ll only

give you a positive result if you' re in an 11b or 11g area that isn't protected by encryption, which means you won't waste time firing up
your notebook only to find out that you need a WEP key. The two
user-replaceable CR2032 watch batteries are designed to last up to a
year, It does come with a keyring attachment, but it's probably a bit
big for that just make sure you have a jacket pocket handy and
you' re set.
Sean Carruthers
*Converted from US$139(Aerielink Wireless Router) US$79
(Aerielink Cardbus Card)

Untangle and
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Visit www.usr.corn/rebates for details or call 1-877-532-8464 for more information.
Want to learn more about wireless networking? Visit www.keating.corn/usr to download
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ara for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respecbve companies. Product specificsbons subject to change without nofice. 04-21 43

O ecernber ECXX3 HUB: Digibel Living

B1

Q n ou r c o v e r

J enn ife r R o b i n e o n
Six-time Canadian champion Jennifer Robinson has been figure skating for 20 years and has been a member of the national team For the
last 10. In January, she' ll be trying for her seventh Canadian charnpionship in Edmonton.
Robinson grew up in Windsor, Ont., although she now calls
Barrie home.
"I actually wanted to play hockey before I wanted to figure skate, but
they didn't really have leagues [for girls] back then. So I took up figure
skating after I went to the Ice Capades with my mom and saw them
skating," says Robinson. "I liked all the costumes and the speed
and jumping."
She was an athlete at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where she watched
the judging scandal surrounding Canadian pairs figure skaters Jamie
Sale and David Pelletier unfold.
"We didn't realize how big it actually was, because in the[athletes']
village you only get the two official broadcasters, so we didn't realize
how worldwide it was. That night, when they came back after winning
the silver medal, a whole bunch of us slipped some notes under their
door and congratulated thein. It was so in the public eye, but that' s
helping our sport because if it didn't happen our sport would still be
the same."
That scandal actually resulted in a new judging system that employs
a range of new technologies.
"It's really cool. It's all touch-screen. There's instant replay, you have
your own little monitor, and if there is something you want to review,
you just call it up and it will instantaneously show you the take off
and the landing and the jump. It shows you in slow mo, fast, anything
you want. You put your marks in and it is just so much faster."
From a skater's point of view, Robison says this system is better.
"If you looked at skating in the past, you would see a skating champion, for example, who would do a double axle. You'd get, say, five
points. Then you'd see a skater from another little country, or who is
skating in their first group, and they'd do the same element, just as
good, and they would get no points for it, so there was no consistency, So this way with the new system, if you do a double axle, you get
12 points. That's what you' re guaranteed to get."
Robinson says she enjoys the fact that her Web site(www.skatinginc.corn/Skater
s/Robinson ] allows her to keep her fans apprised of
what she is doing and answer fan mail more efficiently.
"I' ve had that Web site for about two and a half years. I write little
journal entries, and then there's a form where [fans can submit] letters, and then I' ve got a special way that I can write them back.
"I really like the Web site because a lot of people used to w~ite fan letters, but now this has just totally changed that sort of aspect and it' s
great a lot of people want to know what you are thinking as you are
skating, and if it didn't go well, why didn't it go well, and they just
want to know, as well to[give] a lot of support."
Because she travels so frequently, Robinson says she relies on
email to stay in touch. There is often a computer set up for the athletesatevents,and Robinson says she makes good use ofher
Hotmail account.
Robinson says one of her favourite gadgets is her portable Sony
DVD player, which she takes with her on all her trips.
"I love it! I got it from my parents for Christmas two years ago
and it's just the perfect thing when you' re traveling, especially
BP

H U B: D i g ital Living - D e c e m b e r BOCH

where there's a time change. I watch it on the plane all the time too."
At home,Robinson has a DVD player and she and herhusband are
saving for a big-screen Sony Wega this Christmas. As well, Robinson
uses her HP computer to check her email and surf the Web.
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps
gave all of the Canadian athletes a BlackBerry. Robinson says she
continues to use the wireless email device and PDA to manage her
schedule.
"Every Olympic athlete [got] one. It was awesome because the
Canadian team in the Olympics is massive, so they gave you a book
with pictures and bios and everybody's email address. It was a great
way to meet people during the Olympics that you may not have the
courage to go up to and introduce yourself to. You could just send an
email."
Robinson's next competition is the National Championships in
Edmonton, followed by the Four Continents Championships in
Hamilton later in January,
CheckSkateCanada's Web site atwww.skatecanada.ca form ore
information.
By Jessica Malone

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Notreading as much asyou usedto2 Foryears,
commuters, road warriors,andloggers have
done their reading on the go with audio books on
cassette tape and later COs.With the boom in
digital audio formats and delivery and online
services, there are some new chapters in the
audio book story worth noting.

emplyaudlpboeks.
cpm
ThisToronto-based company runs an audio book
service that is akin to online OYD
rental services
like U.S.-based Netflix.corn or MoviesForMe.ca.
Users pay a
e~
'+>+~ + ~
monthls fee

l$24.95],
select audio
book titles
through the

R+

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compa ny's

.online listings,
and receive the
audio book COs
in the mail.
Included in the package is a prepaid mailer for
the discs. For the fee, they can borrow
returning
as many titles as they want, two CDs at a time.
The company sends out the borrower's next
selections when the first discs are returned. And

users can cancel the service at any time.

Currently, the Simplyaudiobooks.corn library is
fairly slim, but the company says it is adding
new titles "continuously," and customers can
submit requests for titles they'd like to see.
Books are listed in six categories: business, kids
titles, comedy, fiction, non-fiction, and self-help.
Fiction includes popular authors like Robert
Ludlum, Jonathan Keilerman, John Grisham, and
Margaret Atwood. Comedy inciudes titles by Bill
Cosby, Dennis Miller, and Robin Williams. Most
titles listed are fairly recent, including Atwood's
Dryx and Crake. With audio book CDs running at
about $30 each for newer titles, this can be an
affordable option if you plan to listen to a
iot of books.

American. Thevariety of books, however, has a

more international Aavour and includes recent
works by several Canadian writers: Douglas
Coupland, Yann Martei, and, of course. Atwood. It
also has representation from bestseiling authors
like Grisham and Stephen King. Customers can
purchase books
%eh,
individually for
about US$20 to ':= ~4
$32 each (for
newer,
unabridged
titles) about

SBiI5%aIII 'ar'nII"
"o~co:'p;,

of the same
title. Or they can sign up for a monthly memberAudible.corn
ship. The Basic L.istener plan is US$14.95 per
U.S..based Audible.corn is the literary equivalent
month, and allows the member to download one
of music download sites like Puretracks.corn and
book and a one-month audisypenodicaI or radio
iTunes. Unlike iTunes, it is not limited to U.S. lisprogram. For US$19.9S, they can download two
teners. Canadians can use the service to downaudiobookseach month.Audible's system
load books in audio format, They can listen to
requirements for downloading files are fairly
them on their PC or load them onto an MP3 playwide: any Mac or Windows PC. Aswell, it says
er. in addition to books, the company distributes
compatible portable players include Apple iPods,
a wide range of what it calls spoken audio conHP iPaqsand otherPocketPCs,Palm PDAs,
tent which includes magazines, newspapers,
and more,
and radio programs, almost of which are

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Asus 9520Msgic 128MB
Midtower case w/300 PS
IA4 Floppy Drive
40GB HD 7200RPM
LG CDRW 52X32X52
MS Optical Mouse
MS Internet Keyboard

EagleP4 3,0GHz
Gigsbyte 81PK1000P2
Intel P4 3.0GHz
512MB DDR Ram
Midtower case w/300 PS
Asus 9520TD 128MB
1.44 Floppy Drive
80GB HD 7200RPM
LG CDRW 52X32X52
MS Optical Mouse

OUR NEW LOCA'noN

tress' oa
rr s
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MS Internet Keyboard

$1099

Catge 3'
Cat5e 6'
Cat5e 10'
Cat5e 15'
Catge 25'
Cat5e 50'
Cst5e 75'
Cat5s 100'

$2.95
$3.95
@.00
$6.00
$8.00
$12.00
$20.00

Santuno ML-1750
17pprtt, 8MB

st

s
s

EagleAMD XP3000
Gigsbyte 7N400P2 MB
AMD XP3000 Box
512MB DDR PC3200
Asus 9520TD 128MB
Midtower case w/300 PS
I A4 Floppy Drive
80GB HD 7200RPM
LG DVD/R CDRW
MS Optical Mouse
MS Internet Keyboard

Monitor

II

Ssmsung191T+ $695
s

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A OC 17" 7F
$1 6 9
AOC 17" 7ELR $159
AOC 19" 9KLR $229
We Carry NEC, LG, Samsung
6' M/M Monitor Cable $8.95
*
6 M/F Monitor Cabie $8.95
15' M/F Monitor Cable $15
15' M/M Morstor Cable $15

II
I

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II

USBDrIV0$11 9

PCIICIAt0 IDE to US82.0

Vantee 420VI'3Fsn

USBg O

$279
LG DVD/R-R, +R

Kingston

EnerlTlax

DDR Pc2700 512M st0935

DDR Pc3200 512M Sttsas

ASVII,

D-LINK
DSS+ 8 Port Hub switch
DSS+ 16 Port Hl switch
Dl-604 4 Port DSL/Cabin
Di-714P 4 Port
wireless router 4P 614+
wireless Lsn USB DWL120
wireless Lan PCI DWL520+

Stot Fan Case Fan CPUFan

$ 15.95 S T .S S S.S S

$69

$7.95
$6.95
$9.95
$6.95
$9.95

HubsISwitchs

69

I F an

$25.00

IREE 1384 Csbtss

6PX6PS'
$13
6P X 4P 10'
$13
6P X4P 12'
$18
6P X 4P 15'
$22
4P X4P6'
$15

3.5/5.25 g

~$45

25 IIB

USS Cables
6' A-8 2.0
10' A-8 2.0
15' A-8 2.0
10' A-8
15' A-8

LCD
AOC 15" LM520 $365
AOC 17" LM720 $525
AOC 19" LM914 $875
Samsung 171N $599

ll

RJ45 Csbts
Cat5e 1'
$1.95
Cat5e 1.5'
$2.25

30635s27

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KVM Switches
2P Auto PS/2
$ 6g 2P Auto PSI2+CBL
$126 4P Auto Switch
$6g 4P Auto PS/2+CBL
$139 4P Auto USB+ CBL

$79.95
$99 . 9 5
$124,95
$14 4 .95
$169.95

$114 Speakers
$95 Edlfire R202 26pk
$79 Edifire R451 Sspk sub $99.95

'I

IIicro Plus

IDE to US82.0 2.5"

IDE to US82.0 3,5'
IDE to USB2.0 3.5/5.25
IDE to 1394 2.5"
IDE to 1394 3.5"
IDE to 1394 3.5/5.25
IDE to US82/1394 3.5
IDE to USB2I1394 5.25

$64
$79
$79
$79
$89
$69
$109
$109

Asus
V7100 INX008MB
$65
VSS20TD FX5200 128m $138
VS5201tiaglc FX5200128m$114
VS520VS FX5200 't2Sm $163
V9560TD FX5800 128m $285
V9580TD FX5600256M $274
ATI Radeon 9800Pro128IN$25
ATI Rsdaon 9800XT128M $264

Bustness Hours: Monday to Saturday l e res A.M . to 6 PM . C l ose Friday from 8 tse PM. t o 3:00 P M.
payment by c asb or cheque only: pntsnv subject rn chancre wtabnut nnrlcn. please catt for updated prlee and avastabnlty.

www.hubcarsadss.corn

D ecemtxar 200 3

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CA 15

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PC ISO P C 133
PC 2100 P'C2700 '.,', 20GB ... . $13S
40 G B . . . . $ 1 75
120MB from...$65 ...$59
120NB jrom. ,$45,.. . . .
.
31 2S6NB... . . . . $ 90 .. . $09
254MB.. . . . . $60 . . . . . . $75 j,, '30GB .. . . $ 1 50 6 0GB . . . .$ 2 0 0
512MB.. . . . . . Call .. .$129
512MB.. . . . . $ 105 . . . . $120
FOR CURRENTPRICINO

PLEASE
VISIT
WWW jUJIERTACOMP
UTER,COM

SQOMHz 1066NHz DDR ECC PC 2100 PC 3200

254NB ..$149 , . . . . . $169'
120NB .. $79 254NB . . .$69
512NB ..$299 .. . . . . $309
2S6NB ..$115S12NB . .$1 IS

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Cel tgr CCCS-e~

pasturer:guiecyeaseruerre Ceaeel

rearer Supply.nerhrar psalter. Sate

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45O V f AT T . . . .$ 9 9
SspOWATT . . . $ I 8O

INTEL

Pi Colsron 2,4GHE
' P4 Cdaron 1.4 GHa
ATI Raison lOPO
44HS..... . . . . Sip
P4 Cebron 2.7 GHa
:; tisb 3,5"Is,15" External snciosoro ...from Sye.tt v r o lan Rrtrron $$GE .$lye
ATI Raison 9100 SE 12IMb ..... Stt P4144 GHE S33
VVeb Camera ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S i t .'$9
.'; Removablo 1.44 MS Floppy Drive Usb ... . .Sit.ss ssraGATE Ilsos . ... . .$1$$ ATI Raison tiN PRO 12IHS... 4210 141 2.N GHE S33
ATI Radaon tIPO XP 254MS DDR $430
Removable HDD Rack ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . 5 14.'tt
141 3.0 GHE 333
,.; USS tp pci Card . ... . . . . . . . . . . . .
$399$ S EAGATE laeoa... . . . . $
NIAIRI Radaan
tONPIO 40uB DDR $3ris
' PCI ATA 133 Card.... . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s i t .tt
ATIAIVV Radoon t400 11IMS....$339 141 iA GHE 000
KVM Switch APort .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1st
ASUS Radaon ti005E 12IMb DDR$14S 141 2.0 GHE SN
paartTGR lssos ..... . .$$4$ Sapphira Radeon 9000 12ulb DDRS30$ Pi LOGHa IOO
'!; Laser LEDS/Neon Li ht . ... . . . . . . . . St.ttIS It.tt
Msl Gi FX51N 11IMS ..... . . . . Stt
Pi 3.2 GHa 000
Msl G4 FX51OPVTD 11IMS DDR 4140
MSI G4 PX54N TD 12IHS DDR 4220
:- Drodter HL 1230 .
. .$250 E pson CS4.... .
...SI 50 Mti G4 FXSSNVTD 254MS DDR .$240

..$270
..$559

rr. Samsung ML l750

SamsungIviL2I SO .

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:, eATX Case
-'' 3.S" Floppy Dhk Delve
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52X CD RON
PS2 Boyboard
. PS2 Mouse
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LQ F700P
LGI T7IOENC

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LG 52X CD Rom .... . . . . . $25

LG S2X24X52 CDRW .....$50
I.G 32XI OX40/16X DVD
C ombo ..... . . . . . . . . . .$70
LG 14XDVD ... . . . . . . . . . ,$40
LG CDIDVD RW
$170

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$34S
$145
$199
0375
$550

ATHLON

SB Live
Value 5,1 OEM ....$49
2PCS Spoaloars .... . , . . . $ 5.99
A ltos Lansinb AVS 300.. . . . $ 4 5
' rhmaha MS201 ... , , . . . , $ 7 0
intel P4 2.4OHr CPLll
Craauva Inspire 4.1 4400 .,$40
AND XP 2400+ CPLI
OlbabytaINSIIASUSIRCS Nalnboaoe Croauvo Inspire 5.1 S200 $105
ATX Casa

:, AOC7F 17
' ROC 9KLR 19"
:,: rSIOC IPI520 15"
-:;. AOC LN720 17AOC IPI 9 14 19"
, ;: S~ N N t t 1 N
:f; SOEEENsnt 170N

...$109 Msl G4 FxstNYTD 12IMb .... 4550

..,S199

LS" Floppy Dlab Drive

101100 Rthomss Care
44MB SVGAAGP Carel

H P 3650
H P 56SO

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Lei $2X CDILOM
4048 I ) DNA Hare Drive

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$110
$130
$155

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Upgrade Special

AiyIDDuten I3 GIIR Cpll wlfan

': irialnDoard ATM Casewlpower sup I

Fll Sclccgieef

ENERNAX POWER IllPPLY

3 OOWATT . . . . $ 4 9
3 SOVfATT . . . 4 l7 5

irlotiIerl3ogjrd CPU d)ICase ".'.

SBBO
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S2FS
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SBB$
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GA TVT40OL.....
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XP 2100

XP - BIO

$110

XP 25N barton

4DO

XP 1400

$150

XP - 1NO Sanon

0110

XP 3550 barton

0195

XP - 3100 Sarttm

0455

MP 1050

0140

MP BIO

Sits
51st

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.... 4110
E)CNssss $105 $130 0105 01SO
Seagate
S t o $1 10
$135
nbnhn tptshi495 Si 10 $150 $195 $140
$125/$15S iI~
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..., 4200,
.....$170

.....$1 St
ASUS
ATV600 UAX, .

$125

P4CNO DELUXE

K S V DELUXE

$205

I 0/100 Ethernet Card.... . . . . . . $9.99

D-Link 4Pert Rouser ...,. . . , . . . . $ 4 9
L 757A2 SIS,.... . . . . . . . . . . . . , $00 D-Link Wireless ltouter .. . . . $ I 2$
. L450A2 .... , . . . . . , . . . . . . $99 . e
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(Acr ossfrom Petro Canada Truck Stop) Calgary,AB T2G OY I
(Cor nerof 9th A ve. Il9th St.) Calgary,ABT2F 2S9
Pill (403) %43 m99$3 F ax; (403) S43-9932
Ph: (4O$) $41 9 5 ) I F ax; (403) 242-59I d
Hours: iulonday - Friday 10 B.ITI - 5 p.lTI. Closed Sat. & Sun. Hours: Monday - Friday IO a.m - 5 p.m. Sat. Noon - 5 p.m. Closed Sun.
Pre reserve the right t o li mi t q uantity. AII prices ers for coshllnteroc only end sr subject to c hange without notice.

Motherboard
AMD
Gl~npge
7VM400MP
7N400-L
7N400 Pro2

Gc~ab e
~

BIG1 OOO
MK

SIPE1000-L
SS655FX

ASUS

AtsUS

A7V600
A7NSX
A7NSX-Deluxe

$179.95

Uideo Cards
ATI

$139.95
$139,95
$139.95

P4SSOO
P4PSQO
VM
P4PSOODeluxe

$139.95

065PE Neo2

$15 4 .95

MSI
$169.95

NF7-S

Motherboard
INTEL

ASIT

$159.95
$199!t5

$34.95
$29.95

Rsdeon7000
$79.95
PC Radeon
92MSK
$9 9 , 95
CDRWS
Sapphirc9200RETAIL $119.95
Ltteon24X$2X$2X $59.95
PC 96M 128hlBRETAIL $199.95
Sapphire9600RETAIL $199.95
LG$2X32X $2X
Sapphire 9600PraRKTAIL$229..
PC 9600pra 128MBRKTAII,
$239.95
PC 9600Pro256MB RETAIL
$249.95
Sapphire 9800XTRETAIL

26985

HARD DRIUES
Msxtor 4OGB
$043t5
Mmter 80GB
$99.95
Maxtor 120GS
$129.95
WD OOGB
$99.95
Wn OOGB
OMBCache $119.95
$129.95
Smgste SOGB
ScsgctcOOGBOMBCache $1393t5
SccgstcIIOG B
8149.95
Seagste t2OGB MB Cscheg'l69.95
Master OOGB
SATA
S I3 9 . 95
SesgsteOOGBSATA $ 1 3 9.95

Sesgate 12OGB
SATA $159.95
Wn 36.7 ns tor SATA 1 0 9.95

CRT Monitors

LG 7008

LG TytOBR

0159.95
$219,95

Semsuug133DF
Samsung
OSODF
Ssmsong
OSSMB

$179.95
8299.95

AOC 7F

s'l69.95
0229!s5

AOC 9KLr
Vlewsonic 81OF
ViesvcerdcG11F+
VtewmntcGOO
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VlcwsontcPOOF

8329.95

$209.95

$259.95
$349.95
8429,95

Processog s
INTEL

XP 2000+ RETAIL $993t5

XP 2200+ RETAIL $114.95
XP 2400+ RETAIL $119.95
XP 2500+ RETAIL $129.95
XP 2600+ RETAIL $149.95
XP 2700+ RETAIL $109.95
XP 2800+ RETAIL $229.95
XP 3000+ RETAn. 5319.95
XP 3200+ RETAIL $469.95

P4 1.0 RETAIL
$19 9,95
Celeron 1,8 RETAIL $94.95
Celeron 2,0 RETAn. $99.95

XP 3200+(64-bit) RK'fAIL

$599.95

$149.95

CDROMS

Liteon $2X
LG52X

Processors
AMD

AOpen $2X24X52XRET
$69.95
AOpen 4$XExternal CDRW
$139.9$

POW E R SUPPLIES
$39 tt5
Generic 350W
TopCom350W Dual Fan $69 95

DUD-ROMS

Llteon 16X
LG I6X

LCD Monitors

Samsung
152B

Samsung 760V
Samsang171N
Samsung
191N

$379.95
$629.95
$679,95

$3 7 9,95

CDRWS/DUD Combo

Llteon 40X/16X DVD $79.%

LG 52X/I OX DVD
$79 .'6

DUDRWS

LG 4X +/~
Be i ge $179,9
LG 4X +/-/RAM Blach $1$9,95

AOC LM 720

$499.95

16-bit $ 24.95
$168 $ Generic
5.1
$2 9 ,95
$34 . 9 $ Generic Bve
c II Lr
25 Pack DVD-R
m auve yct lxa
$33 . 9$
5O Pack DVD.Rs
$79 . 9$ C rcsuvc tive S.l
$49. 9 5
C
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Aodlgy
1
$74 . 9$
128MB Compact Flash $69 ti5
cvccuvc
Aud!ay2
511 4 .95
256MB Compact RashsibL95 Crecuve
Aadlgy 2StKTAtL
128MB Secure Dsgstal $79.9$
$169.9$
256MB Secure Digital SI 0985 Cresuvc
gsugy
$19 9 .9$
CreativeAadlgy2Plcuaam ZO
128MB Smart Media $69.9$
$249.9$

si'79,9$

Sony 4X+/- Beige

Sony 4X+/- Black
P ioneer 4X+/-

$229.9$
$229.9 32MB Smart Media

Keyboard/Mice

Printers
Lcsmark Z33
L csmark ZtsSK
L cxmvk Z66N

Lesmsrk Xtlgo

$3$.9$ CsvcuvcAnion 2 Platlalna Pfe ZS

$329.9$

$219 . 9

Cases

Standard Mense
89.95
Opticalideate
$29.95
Logltcch
Optical Mouse 024.95

S tandard Speakers

Ihcrmcttskc Kcv/MemeCsmhe
$79.95 !
aectesctt Kcy/Meats CemheSS9.95
Log!tech
Key/MeaseCombo$5985
Leg!techatX Dce
812'a,
LegltcchCordlessFrccdsm 879.95
LegttechCordlessFcedamPro
$99.95
Leg!tech
Cerdluo Elite nne $129.
Wireless /Moose Combo849.95

Crecnve Zi 310
Crcauve Et 660

Networkinp

$09.95
$109 . 9 5

$204 . 95
$149.95
$199!15

8299.95

Samsuag 176O
Samsung1150

8289.95
$2993t5
$549.tn3

SsmsangSF-555P

$479.95

$119.95

SOUND CARDS

MEDIA

NEC4X+/-

Lesmsrk X5150
$499tt5
Lexmcrk X6150
$58 9 .95
$79 9 .95 Semsuag 1110

Samsung
IMT Plus $899.95

P4 2.4C RETAIL
P4 2.6C RETAIL
P4 2.0C RETAIL
P4 3.0C RETAIL

MX 440 oem
$69,9S
MSI MX 440 RETAIL
$79.95
ASUS 520064MB RKTAIL$99.95
ASUS 02M 120MB RETAIL

MSI 5200RETAIL SI 09.95

MSI 5600 120MB RETAI5239.95
$ 2 593t5
MSI 5600 256MB RKTAIBZ69 95
$ 2 59.95 ASUS 5600 12OMB RETAIL
$249.95
$ 3 09.95
$ 3 99.95
MSI 5700 120MBRETAIL
$259.95

$$9 ti$ 5 0 Pack CD-Rs

$44.9$ i OO Pack CD-R

Generic with 308% $29.9$

Standardwith350W $69.95
K aermax 300W
$39. 9 5 Chenbro GamingBomb $$9.9$
$124.9
Knermax 300W Doal Faa$69.95 Chenbro Xpider
K aermox
350W
$74. 9 5 Lansre
$199.
Enermax MOW Whisper $79.95 Pbaser III
$229.9
Enermax 450W
$11585 Pbascr Ill Aluminum $259.95
Eaermax450W Whisper$119.95 Scorpio
$139.
Scorpio Aluminum $199.95
Sonata
Case aadPowerSopply
$149.95
Faas Starung at $9,95
Lanboy
$139.9

LG 566LM
I.G L1715S
LGL1720B

Celeron 2.5 RETAIL $129.95

Celeron 2.7 RETAIL $159.95
P4 2.4B RETAIL
$249 cts

Uideo Cards
NUIDIA

4 Port Router
Y49.98
nnak 4Pert Beater
$69.95
Llnksys 4Port Router $79.95
Wireless 8 Router

Llaksys BRouter
Llaksys G
Router

869,90
899.95
$159.95

Ethernet Card

819.95

WirelessPCI Card
WirelessUSBCvd
Wlrclcm PCCard

$99.95
889.95
889.95

$19. 9 6

$39.95
AO?m atSOIO
tdutuaudh Spcckcrstt.l) 849.95

Crcstlve
6.i esse

879.9O

8129.95
8139.96

Legttech 23

089,95
879.95
$149.98

Attcc isa

Oxo.ou

Altec I' ll

859.95

tatitcch
Xxta

Log!tech
Zase

Leg!techZdse

$2IMI5

Network Cables

3FI' Patch
%T Patch
lOFT Patch
ISFf Patch
25Ff Patch
SOFT Patch
100FT Patch

$3sm

6Ff Crossover

84.93
$7 ctg

1OFf Crossever
16FT Cremever
25FT Crossover
SOFT Crossover
100Ff Crossover

84.90

$7.95
$9.95

814.95
$19,95
$29.95

Sp.og

814.95
819.90
829,95

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DELL PII 400NHz

IBN Pill 500NHz

DELL Pill 66FNHz

DELL PIII T33NHz

128Nb Ram
8.4Gb Hdd
CD-Rom
Sound
10-100Lan
KB & Nouse

128Nb Ram
8.4Gb Hdd
CD-Rom
Sound
10-100Lan
KB & Mouse

128Mb Ram
10Gb Hdd
CD-Rom
Sound
10-100Lan
KB & Mouse

128Mb Ram
20Gb Hdd
CD-Rom
Sound
10-100Lan
Win98SE COA

sees
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AMD ATHLON XP2400+ TOWER SYSTEM

IAMD ATHLON XP2400+ PROCESSOR

I512MB PC2700 DDR RAM
ISOGB 7200RPM HARDDRIVE
l52X CD-RW
l10X DVD ROM
ilNTERGRATED VIDEO IL AGP SOCKET
ilNTEGRATED 10-100LAN
IATX CASE w/300WATT POWER SUPPLY
lKB S MOUSE INCLUDED

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Q r Qanizatiun (and fu n )
u n th e B o
digital sidekick.

this handheld is the bright 3.5-inch screen, which makes any multimedia come to life. It has a headphone jack, but you can also listen to
audio via the built-in speaker. A microphone for making voice notes is
also included.
Nestor Gula

Pocket PC

Palm OS

Dell AXiiTI X3
www.dell.ca Estimated price: $549

PalmOne has added new models to its consumer and business lines,
providing gift ideas for Santas in all budget ranges. All of the following
models have rechargeable internal batteries, run Palm OS 5.2.1, and
are Windows and Mac compatible.

For the organized oreven better, the organizationally

impaired aPDAls a great gift idea. If your giftee is already
toting a handheld, there is a wide-range of add-ons, software,
games, and cases that will help them get the most out of their

With 64 MB and a 400 MHz processor, the lightweight [140 g] Dell Axim X3 Pocket PC has
enough memoryand computing power to
handle all applications [it comes with versions
of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Explorer
on board]. Though it isn't exactly a replacement for your desktop or laptop PC, you can
use it to work on spreadsheets, play games,
send and receive email, and surf the Web(via
integrated WiFi connectivity), The Axim X3
connects to your computer via sync cradle,
cable [both are included], or Bluetooth (using
an SD card, available separately). A standout in

Zire 21
www.palmone.corn Estimated price: $149
This very affordable model is also very basic. It has a 160x160-pixel
monochrome display, B MB of built-in memory, two buttons(calendar
and contacts] combined with up and down navigational controls clustered below the display, and comes in an attractive white plastic case
with plastic stylus and blue rubber cover flap. The Bre 21 syncs via
Mini-USB cable or infrared link. It has no media card slot for adding
memory. It's very basic, but it's a good choice for those making the
leap from a paper-based organizer.
continued onpage24

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continued
from page23

Tungsten E

exceptions are the Palm Zire 71 and Tungsten T.

David Tanaka

Estimated price: $299

Though it's a business-oriented line, the multimedia features in the
Tungsten models make them appealing for
non-businessuses too.The E model,w ith 32
i
MB of built-in memory, a 320x320 colour
screen,headphone jack,and SO card slot,
connects to a PC via a Mini-USB cable or
infrared link. It has a shiny metal case and
five-way navigator with four control buttons
l el a
[calendar, contacts, to-do list, and notepad).
With its card slot, colour screen, and headphone jack, the Tungsten E does triple duty
as an organizer, photo album, and audio
player (MP3 and Real Audio formats). A good
tool for those who want a POAthat mixes business and multimedia
features.

Tungsten T3
Estimated price: $599
With a 4DDMkz processor (the others use 126 Mkz processors), 64
M B of built-in memory, and

I !i j7; i
~.,e e

f a 320x320-pixel display
that slides open to
', 320x480,thesleek
,' brushed-metal T3 is a very
, .' nice device that expands on

,' the E's multimedia features.

The extra screen real estate,
and ability to change the view from vertical to horizontal, means
wide-format photos aren't downsized to fit the screen and there' s
plenty of room for the on-screen keyboard for text entry. Like the E, it
can beused as an MP3 player,butthe T3 adds voice recording and
video playback to its multimedia arsenal, It has a five-way navigator
and four control buttons, and has Bluetooth as well as USB[via the
included cradle) and infrared connectivity.
Megan Johnston

St tilusCentral PDA Aluminum Hard Cases

www.styluscentral.corn Estimated price range: $25-49
You' ve spent a lot of money on a sleek-looking handheld, so why let
it get dinged and scratched? StylusCentral's
series of anodized-aluminum cases are
designed to protect your POA while fitting
comfortably around it, holding it snugly in
place with a neoprene lining. I tried the
model for the Palm Zire 71, which
includes storage slots for two spare
SO cards and openings for easy
access to the Zire 71's various slots,
connectors, and even the reset button. In lact, once you put the PDA in
the case, there's not much reason to take
it out. The only thing missing? A belt clip.
Emru Townsend

Palm Executive Multifunction

If you switch between pen and Palm and presentation, you may
wish you didn't have to juggle different pen-shaped items. The solution? Palm's Executive Muitifunction Stylus. With a twist of your
wrist, the pen tip changes into a plastic Palm stylus; flip the whole
thing around and you can use it as a laser pointer or a flashlight.
Even better, despite the Palm logo on the side, it can be used on any
touch-sensitive screen, piece of paper, or meeting-room wall.

Sean Carruthers

Belkin St tilus Multi-Pack

www.belkin.corn Estimated price: up to $12'

Accessories
Belkin Wireless PQA Ketlboard

+*

www.belkln.cern Estimated price: $75

There's a wireless keyboard from a company called Pocketop that
uses a clever mirror system to
reflect the keyboard's infrared signals to a Pocket PC or Palm handheld's IR port. This wireless PDA
keyboard from Belkin uses the
same principle, although it's noticeably bigger overall than the
Pocketop. The trade-off is that this
model's keys are closer to those of
a standard keyboard, which many people will
find easier to use. The CD included with the keyboard has both Palm and PocketPC driversIwhich can also be found
on Belkin's Web site). Most handhetds are supported, but notable
2%

HU B i O i gioel Uving - O e c e m ber BQCK3

Stylus

wwwyalmone.corn Estimated price: $30

If, like me, you tend to lose your PDA stylus on a

regular basis, you may want to check out
Belkin's stylus multi-packs. Each package contains several replacements, so you always have
another ready when one goes missing. There are
replacements for several Palm and Pocket PC
models. I See the POAaccessories section of the
Belkin Web site for your model.]
SC

Games in your palm

Yahtxee
www.handrnark.corn Estimated price: $27
If you are a fan of Yahtzee and Palm, download the electronic version of Yahtzee. The game looks great on a high-resolution colour
screen. The scorecard is on the left and dice are on the right, with a
big oval Roll button just below them. When you hit Roll, the animated
www.hubcanada.corn

dice tumble and realistic audio adds to the

effect. The play is true to the originalbut no sneaking an extra roll. Handmark
alsomakes Scrabble and Monopoly under
license from Hasbro.
DT

5.0+,Pocket PC 2002+, and No kia N-Gage operating systems.

SC

Calypso

www.fun4palm.corn Estimated price: $20e

Calypso is a downloadable Tetris-like
game [falling pieces you fit into a grid).
The base is a hexagonal grid with tinted
areas that change colour when you successfully fill them. Like Tetris, it can be
highly addictive, and you need your wits
about you because the pieces fall faster as
the game progresses.
DT

PalmPak Game Essentials

www.palm.corn Estimated price: $50
If you' re not into the old arcade classics, this SD card features a variety of other games, including SimCity, Atum, Shanghai, Billiards, and
Vegas VIP Casino. It's compatible with all Palm OS devices with an
SD slot.
SC

Atari Retro
www.gomdm.corn Estimated price: $50
There's something about vintage video games that never gets old.
Atari Retro features versions of classics such as Asteroids, Breakout,
Centipede,
Missile Command, Yar's Revenge,Adventure,and Pong.
They all come on a single SD card, which is compatible with Palm OS

*Converted from US$9.25[stylus multi-packs),

US$20 [Yahtzeej, US$15 [Calypso)

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www.hubcenede.ccm

D ecember 2 0 0 3

- H LI B : Digitel Living

25

T uning into h u l iday a o u n d e

if your holiday music tastes lean towards the Pogues'
Falrytale of NewYork" or anything from the Boney MChristmas
album, you may have been barred fromusing the home stereo
system. Happily, with a portable music player you can play
anything you like without offending those around you. Here are
a few tools to help get your solo party started.

storage device and all you have to do is drag and drop the files on its
desktop icon. It sounds great, the user interface is simple and battery
life is good a single charge lasts up to eight hours. The Lyra
RD2760 is a great portable music device and proof that MP3 players
will be continue to get smaller, more powerful, and more affordable.
Nestor Gula

Portable MP3 players

Accessories

Apple iPod 20 and 40 GB

Belkin iPod add-ons

www.apple.ca Estimated price: $5?9 and 729

Still the coolest MP3 player going, Apple has introduced new iPods,
in'20 and 40 GB capacities. Both come with
a FireWire dock (USB 2.0 dock/cable
sold separately] and wired remote
control. The new iPods are compatible
with both Mac and Windows right out
of the box. Yeah, an iPod costs a bit
more, but it's still hard to beat its elegance and ease of use.(See HUB
September 2003 for more on the iPod.)
Sean Carruthers

CreativeNomad MuVo NX 128 MB

www.nomadworld.corn Estimated price: $230
The Nomad MuVo NXis a tiny flash-based player that doubles as a
128 MBUSB memory key.Although the NX version
of the player is the same size as the standardMuvo, itadds an LCD window
and a full menu system, which
means that not only can you
see what's playing, you can
delete files, adjust EO settings,and more. The MuVo
NX can also be used as a
voice recorder, thanks to a
tiny built-in microphone. The
whole thing runs on just one AAA battery. A 256 MB version of the
MuVo NX is also available.
SC

Lyra R02760
www.rca.corn Estimatedprice:$379
This model is similar to other Lyras except that it's thicker thicker
because this player is loaded. It has a
miniature 1.5 GB internal hard disk that
can store about 25 hours of music in
MP3 format or 50 hours in MP3Pro
format. It's still quite small, measur-

ing 5.8x5.8x2.8 cm, and weighs

just 91 g. It comes with an armband but is small enough to tuck
into a shirt or jacket pocket.
Transferring files is easy: most computers will recognize it as an external
2B

H U B : D i g i tal Living - D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3

www.belldn.corn Price: $149 (Media Reader), $75 (Voice

Recorder), $40~ (TuneDok)
Belkin checks in this Christmas season with a trio of accessories for
youriPod.
If your digital camera is getting full but you have no
way to offload the images, Belkin's new Media
Reader for iPod allows you to stick your camera's
memory card into the appropriate slot, then
copy the files to your iPod's hard drive. It uses
thedock connector found on new iPod models
and is powered by four AAA batteries. It' s
compatible with
1/
CompactFlash,
SecureDigital/MMC,
Memory Stick, and
Smart Media cards, and has
a sliding door to cover the
slots when they' re not in use.
The hitch: you have to upgrade
your iPod's firmware to version 2.1.
The Voice Recorder attachment hooks to the top of your iPod, and if
you have v2.1 of the firmware already installed, there's nothing else
to do just attach it and select "voice memos" in the Extras folder.
You can't use it at the same time as your headphones, but it's easy to
attach and remove, and has a protective cover for its connectors
when not in use.
If you like to take your iPod on the road, the Tune Dok is a great companion for the car. It includes a base with a pivoting stand that fits
into a cup holder in your car. Once you' ve put your iPod in the
TuneDok, you can adjust its height with the ratcheting neck design,
and use the suction cup to hold it in position.
SC

Ettimotlc ER-6 Isolator headphones

www.headphonezone.corn Estimated
price:$198
If you want a really compact set of headphones for your MP3 player
that also cancel out noise and
sound great, take a listen to
Etymotic's ER-6 Isolator earphones, They' re designed to fit
right into your ear canal, like
earplugs, and you have your
choice of silicon or foam tips. The
great news is that because they
block out ambient noise[15 to
l!"

www.hubcanada.ccm

20 dB reduction), you can listen to music at a much lower volume,

protecting your hearing. They' re certainly pricey, but once you' ve
tried them out, the sound quality speaks for itself. SC

an interesting way to get surround sound while keeping it to yourself.

[If you can't find this locally, check out www.neo-eshop.corn.I
SC

MMGear MSOOFL5.1headphones

Sennhesier PXC 250 headphones

www.mmgear.corn Estimated price: $90

www.sennheiser.corn Suggested retail price: $1?'9

If you' re a frequent traveller even if it's only a daily walk/train/bus
to work you probably plug yourself in
to a Walkman or MP3 player for
some personalized zone-out music,
and crank the volume up to get
past the ambient noise of engines
and other people. Save your ears:
Sennheiser's padded PXC 250 headphones not only look good and feel
good,they sound good especially
when much of the outside world is fil
tered out via the NoiseGard compensation
system. I tried the headphones sitting in the
noisiest part of a bus and on Montreal's metro
system; in both cases, activating NoiseGard
eliminated most of the din so I could hear my music
clearly without having to turn it up. Only one problem:
they' re so good at shutting out traffic noise, you' ll have
to be extra careful on the street,
Emru Townsend
*Converted from US$30.

The great thing about 5.1 surround sound audio is that you feel like
you' re right in the middle of the action,
but when you have to switch to
headphones you end up going
right back to stereo. Not so
with MMGear's new 5.1
headphone set, which
comes with three separate 1/8-inch plugs for
front, rear, and centre
channels. Inside the headphones, are three mini
speakers in each earpiece, placed one in front
of the other to simulate front center, and rear. The downside is that
you have to plug your headphones to the rear of your PC, or use
adapters to connect directly to the rear of your DVD player[if its
audio is even configured that
b ut with a 3 m cable you
I
have a long leash. They' re not audiophile quality by any means
there's some distortion at top volume and you won't feel the
bass like you would with a subwoofer but they' re certainly

way],

OMuhlE

www.walmariphotocenfre.ca

tr!'I
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4 xs"print '
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www.hubcenede.ccm

D ecember BOO S

- H L i B : D igitel Living

3 0 620721

27

Digit;al Bifte fo r t: he
ahut:t:er bug

.-=Iielett~ h a rd ='=;==;,;,;<-'i.''r.-;"

Icie Jet 4810 -:.-===,

- '-'-'='-;--~,'-;='===
naiieahpwa=-'=--=
Eatiatatad prfa
re: $800 . "."
Ifyou need to add yourolder
photo prints,:slides, or docu='=.'-~;,'f'i..'-;"
:
.",=
ments to your digital:-:;:
archives, you' ve probably been" '=
considering a scanner. They've
beenprett
y standard for sev- :="
eral years now, esseiitially
consisting of e box with a flipup-jid,
butHPs new ScanJet
sh'akesup the.design.II;hes a
scanningcomponent that
resembles e picture frame
that:.
opens up like e book:
drop your document or photo
inside, close it up, and-then
watchae it,scans.through the..
clear window. If you have a
bigger item, or one that' s
hanging on a.wail, just lift the '.,"I':.
scanningwindow outofthe
base,hold itup to the item
you want to sean, and press
thebuttonon the side ofthe '"'-'
-'
scanner,
The downside is that
you have to stay within about,
=-

1.25:m of your computer

thanks to the length of the
UBB cable, but the new
design gives you e lot more"'""I!r'~;
flexibility than the old-school
flatbed. There'e even a slide
attachment.
:;"'
'
~p ,
:";; ';,
"'::.,"g.
;,

In November, we reviewed more than 20 digi-

tal cameras for a range of budgets [online at

www.HUBcanada.corn). Since then, we' vehad
a chancetolookatafew more models and
some photographg-related tools worthg of
consideration for the digital photographer' s
holldag wish list.

Digital cameras
FujiAlm RnePix FP00
www.fuiifllm.ca Estimated price: $899
The Fujifilm F700 uses SuperCCD
technology to
achieve a res~'
! olu t ion level

y~

~ :5

(megapixels).
Th e lens is

sharp and has

a 3X optical.
Fujifilm's cameras have always had a very good
user interface and this continues in the F700. The
menu is clearly laid out, easy to use, and intuitive,
with single-button access to the most commonly
used features. Encased in an elegant aluminum
body, this camera is surprisingly lightweight [195
g), even with the proprietary rechargeable Lithium
lon battery pack, xD card, and strap.
Nestor Gula

Kodak EasgShare DX6490

I
dilital camera? -:Read this firstl,-.~ --;,;,';:,-;,
='::-'
='=':;';~='-,

There is a dizzying ariay of

digital
cameras on the ma rket
today.Whether you're looking

for a simple point-and-shoot:"--"'"'-,'.

er something
more advanced,
hereare e few things to keep, r,
=

The atelapixel riliyth:Don' t

assume that the more
megepixels (MPl a cemeia Iq'j',,",
hes, the better it will be. You '
will get bigger images with

mare,megapi
xeis,butthey'lt,-:,".;=
:
.
take up more spaceend take
longer to write to memory. A
3 MP image will make very
good'Bx10 prints, and P.MP
images are firie for use on the
Web, email, aod 4x6-inch::.--.-, i'4:,.-:;:

www.kodak.ca Estimated price $730

Distinguishing this 4 MP model is a 10X optical
zoom lens [equal to a 380
mm telephoto at full
zoom). Its design, a
departure from
Kodak's consumer
line, has an edgy
prosumer SLR look.
It uses an electronic
viewfinder system and
offers
a number ofexposure modes,
including fully manual. The 2.2-inch LCD screen on
thebacklooks even biggerbecause the camera
itself is surprisingly small. Despite its compact
dimensions, the handgrip is comfortable. Adding to
the favourable ergonomics is a set of controls that
are simple and efficient: a combination scroll
wheel/switch just under the shutter button allows
you toquickly run through menus and sub-menus
using just your index finger. On the back, a circular

dial with a four-way toggle in the middle controls

the main modes, while close-up, flash, and timer
m odes have
dedicated buttons.Overall,im age
quality is very good: Bx10-inch enlargements will
be no problem with this camera. The camera uses
SD memory cards, but also has 16 MB of built-in
memory.Itcomes with an EasyShare 6000 dock,
and can be used with the EasyShare Printer Dock
6000 [sold separately) to make prints without firing up the personal computer.
David Tanaka

OlgmpusC-S060 Nde Zoofn

www.olympus.corn Estimatedprice: $1,000
For some, the main complaint about digital cameras is that the lens just
doesn't have a wide
enough angle to get
those shots that require
it, especially indoors.
The 5.1 MP C-5060
has a 4X zoom lens
that's equivalent to
27 mm in 35 mm
photography, which
means you can fit
more in the frame. The
camera also offers a lot of manual control over
your shot, has a flip-up LCD that can be spun
around for self-portraits, and comes with a remote
control. Flash is built in, but there's a hot shoe for
an optional Olympus flash. It's a bit pricey but the
configuration is bound to please the more
demanding prosumer.
Sean Carruthers

Song Cgber-shot OK-U60

www.song.ca Estimated price: $399
Encased in a solid plastic shell, the 2 MP Cybershot DSC-U60 is a rugged waterproof digital camera that can be submerged underwater[up to 1.5
m). As a beach accessory it is excellent sand
can't get into the lens and spilling a
drink on it won't require extensive repairs. If it gets dirty,
you can just run it under the
tap. There is no zoom, but
you get a really nice wide
i angle that is perfect forunderwater or group photos.
The camera's slightly skewed look

continued on pageZe
col

HU B : D i g i t al Living

D ecember 2 0 0 3

www.hubcanada.ccm

continued from page ze

seems strange, but makes it easy to operate with

one hand with all of the buttons controls easily
accessible, Weighing in at about 195 g with batteries (a pair of AAAs), Memory Stick, and strap, the
camera is lightweight, too.
NG

Sidekicks
PhotoFit Premium
www.tpfit.
corn Estimated price: S3PSa
You canfind examples ofpanoramic scenes
made by piecing together individual prints dating
to the mid-1800s. Panoramas are popular again,
and that same process of making big scenes fram
small frames is still used today. Thanks to computer software, photos can be stitched together so
accurately that the joins are all but invisible.
PhotaFit can work with single rows(or columns)
of images to make wide(or tall) composites, or
multiple rows and columns to make them tall and
wide. The program will render the panoramic
image as a normal-looking photo where straight
lines remain straight, as a 380-degree image in
the round(which requires a special viewer like
DuickTime) or as a pseudo dome to approximate
the image taken with a fisheye lens. PhotoFit
organizes panorama making into five steps, from
gathering the source images through to printing.
Each step is shawn within the PhotoFit Manager
window, which is context sensitive so relevant
options are available to you during each step. The
program includes a colour balancer that works
quite well to equalize the brightness levels of the
photos.
Just make sure you have a capable system: on my dual-Athlon test system with 1 GB of
RAM, the rendering of four photos into one panorama took a few minutes. Note; both a freeware version and a "light" version called PhotoFit Harmony
($70*) are also available if you find the price of
the Premium version too daunting.
DT

MicroSolutions RoadStor
www.micro-salutiuns.corn

Estimated price: $429

More memory is a sure hit for any digital photographer, but the RoadStor
might be the gadget
they didn't know they
wanted. Accompanied
by its own carrying
case with slots for
the remote control,
rechargeable battery,
and its cables, the
RoadStor is about the size of a hardcover book,
and operates as a standalone CD burner that will
back up the contents of memory cards onto CD-R
or CD-RW discs. But this eager-to-please unit does
muchmore, Hook it upto a TV or a desktop PC
f USB 2.0 capability required) and it plays DVDs
and displays pictures fram cards or CDs. It serves
as an external card reader and CD burner for your
computer; and it will play audio CDs and MP3 files
on either CDs or memory cards, with or without a
TY or PC connection.
The RoadStor iscomp
atiblewith SecureDigitai,
CompactFlash (Types I and II), MultiMedia Card,
SmartMedia, Memory Stick, and microdrive formats. It will copy to and from the CD, but only
reads one card at a time, so you can't copy directly from one card ta another. It supports multi-sessionburningso you can keep shooting and backing up the pictures until the CD is full.
The included manual has easy to follow instructions and photos to show the proper connections;
the unit offers RCA audio/video input jacks and an
S-Video input jack. The audio jack will accept standard headphones [not included), but you' ll need
the remote to control the volume. The RoadStor is
compatible with Windows 98, Me, 2000 (SP3) and
XP, and Mac DS 10.1.3 or above.
Sharlene Myers
*Converted from US$277(PhatoFit Premium),
US$52 (PhataFit Harmony).

RaW

Baal PhoteF)t Premium punorurma stitched from uix images measures 5,400x2,QQO
p)xels,
www.hubcansda.corn

December 2QQ3 -

Phguicul diuiuuuiuuu:Go to a
stare and see how the camera fits your hand. Is it too
heavy? Dace it fit in your
pocket? Can you operate the
controls
comfortably? The
physical aspects will be very
importantto yaurenjoyment

af a camera.
Optical uu. digital uuuuuNearly
all digital cameras have both
optical and digital zaoms.
Optical
zoom means a lens
magnifies the image, while a
digital zoom is an effect created in the camera's software,
Avoid buying a camera based
soleiy on the digital zoom as
it's a poor indicator af the
camera'squality.
feature muuu:How simple is
it to access the features af
the camera? Some can be
very complex, so it's worth
spendingsome ti
me in a cam erastaretrying ta navigate
the featureson the models
you'
re considering before making your choice,
Shutter Iug:Some digital cameras have a longish lag
betweenpressing the shutter
buttan and actually captur ing
the picture. Before purchasing
yourcamera check it outta
see if you can live with
this lag.
gguuiurg:A (ew cameras have
interne!
memory, butm ost
use either CompactFlash (CF),
Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard
(SD/MMC), xD Picture Card
(xD), Memory Stick, ar
SmartMedia (SM) r emavable
memor.(SM is no longer used
by the mein manufacturers).
The hutteriuu:Typically either

propr
ietary orAA;somehigh-

end cameras will also accept

lithium ion batteries meant far
film cameras. Proprietary batteriessometimes have a
longer life, but you have to
take a charger or spare batter ice (expensive) when you
travel.
AA batteries are readily available (and affardable)
and if you buy a set of Nickel
Metal Hydride (NiMH)

rechargeab
les,youwillhave
plenty of lang-lasting power.
Same cameras already ship
with rechargeable AAs.
giuutur Outs
H U B : Digital Living

BB

Ringing in the season

Want to stag connected with gour loved oneswherever theg
mag wander?Ifso,here area few new wireless phones and
services we' velooked at.

Nokla 3600
www.nokia.ca Price: $580, $349 [with two-gear contract)
Nokia's 3600 shines when you' re using it for the basics: voice calls,
emailing, and text messaglng. It also surfs the Web, but at a glacial
pace. Despitethat, it does allow you to download Symbian and Java
applications [including games] on the go. With the built-in camera,
you can take still pictures or
video clips, and send
them out immediately
via email. A cool feature, but at a top
resolutionof
-..~+. rr '
640x480 pixels,
$5
you probably won't be
printing them. Because
Q
there is no stylus, you enter information using the round keypad. The
3600 can connect wirelessly to your computer via infrared or Bluetooth, and comes with a 16 MB
SD card for storing pictures and programs. It also has a TTY/TDD
(Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) with a phone adapter, and
has hearing aid support with a LPS-3 Loopset. Not bad for a phone the
size and weight (135 g) of an average cell phone. It's available from
Rogers ATBgT
.
Nestor Gula

<

LG 5450camera phone from Telus

www,telusmobllitg,corn Price: $380, $230 (with
three-gear contract)
Telus has leapt into the world of camera phones
with the new LG 5450, which features a 0.3 MP
camera along the top edge of the phone, as well
as a tiny mirror so you can take self-portraits.
Once youcapture images, you can send
them to friends with camera phones(on
Telus Mobility's 1X service], email
them, or post them on your own pieture site on Telus' server. It costs
$0.25 per image sent, in addition to monthly voice and
data plans.
Sean Carruthers

Messenger, Web service, and an organizer for

daily tasks. The phone comes with a removable
battery, charger, and SIM card. The service portion of the totalphone combo allows for easy
setup for anyone with a bank account. No
credit checks or contracts required: the user
makes pre-authorized monthly payments or
top ups through their bank account or credit
~< '4 0, card. Also, no deposit, activation fees, or separate system access fees are required. Monthly
fees start at about $30. The handset comes
with a one-year warranty. The package can be
purchased and service activated at Rogers
Video outlets across Canada or via the totai phone
Web site.
Jessica Malone

Song Ericsson P800

www.songericsson.
corn Estimated price:$1,000
What can the PHOO
do? A better question is what this PDA/phone
combo can't do. All the must-have features are
there, including a built-in camera, Web browser,
and high-resolution colour screen. It also
adds handwriting recognition (much like
Palm's Graffiti], a voice recorder, and MP3
player (visit the Web for a stack of other
downloadable applications). The very
cool stylus makes you feel like
you' re working on a PDA, and
Bluetooth means wireless cannectivity.
Does this spell the
iu:ig
beginning of the end of Pocket
PCs? Not quite yet: it's a bit overwhelming, and the wealth of features
may have new users running for a paper, pen,
and landline.(Note: For syncing PDA data, a PC running Windows 98
or later is required.) The PBOO is available from Fido (www.fido.ca) for
$950 with new service activation.
Mars Gulens

Kgocera Slider from Bell

www.bell.ca Price: $224, $99 [with twogear contract)
Like clamshell designs, the Kyocera Slider[the

Rogers totalphone
www.totalphone.ca Estimated price: $140
The totalphone package from Rogers ATBgT
debuted in October in the
form of the sleek, silver Motorola C256. The small, lightweight (under
80 g] GSM/GPRS
cell phone has a 96x64-pixel colour display, and features like email, voice dial, games, text messaging, AOL Instant
BO

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reveal its keypad in this case sliding open
instead oiunfolding.
The CD MAphone weighs
lessthanttggand includesaspeaherphone
feature, voice dialing, WAPWeb browser, and
text messaging, as well as a scheduler, calcula-

tor, alarm clock, and stopwatch. Thespeaker

phone is excellent, with call receipients saying
they were unable to tell the feature was being
Used,
Megan Johnston
www.hubcanada.corn

TechTV's Annual

HOL" DAY BUY" NG GU 'OE

Throughout the month of December
TechTV will bring you up to speed on coolest and latest
Tech items to GIVE and GE7 this Holiday Season.
Here is just a taste of what some of your favorite shows
will be covering all month long.

RESH
'AEKKokrs 0-:r M ET

~ Best Games for all gaming consoles

Ultimate Games for the Holidays

EAR

TucsoAvs 8:30r ~-9r v, ET

~ Hottest gadgets on the market

~ Favorite tech gadgets to give or to get
;@~A

techlive
WssxrAvs 8.8:30rv ET

+ Top gifts under Sgo

~ Gift givlflg tips and advice

Staff holiday tech wish list

~ User type buyer guide

Great holiday DVD picks,.

' ..d
V

techtv
To order TebTV au your cable or sate l l it e pr o vider

Er

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wan,! eclat vcrrnada.ca

Dr e a m i n g n f a
B lue(t n n t h ) C h r i s t m a s
With the number of Bluetooth-enabled gadgets available this
holiday season, lt seems like this wireless technology is finally
coming into its own. Here are a few wechecked out.

Actiontec USB Bluetooth adapter

www.actiontec.corn Estimated price: $55
If you want to get rid of some of the wires around your
computer, adding Bluetooth is as simple as plugging in
an adapter like this USB model from Actiontec.
Wirelessly connecting with Bluetooth.enabled devices
like printers and handheld computers is the bestknown function, but Bluetooth also allows you to wirelessly link computers. For example, I used Actiontec's
USB adapter to set up a simple network between two
PCs, and easily transferred files back and forth.
Bluetooth used to be a pain to set up; it's still not completely transparent, but getting better.
David Tanaka

Belkin Bluetooth Wireless Optical Mouse

www.belkin.corn Estimated price: $100
As the name suggests, Belkin's latest wireless mouse connects
using Bluetooth. It comes with a USB Bluetooth adapter that can be
used for other purposes,
like file sharing with
another Bluetoothequipped computer.
The right-handed
design is very comfortable, with a contoured side that's covered in a rubbery non-slip surface For your thumb, Belkin calls it a four-button mouse: there are two
normal buttons, a scroll wheel switch, and a side button for your
thumb, The scroll wheel is made of a soft translucent plastic that
flashes blue at different rates to indicate discovery mode, normal
mode, or low battery. DT

HP DeskJet 450 CBi

www.hp.ca Estimated price: $499 ($429 without Bluetooth)
The DeskJet 4SO is a battery-powered portable printer that is also a
photo printer in its own right, with a print resolution of 1,200 dots per
inch and six ink colours. It handles letter-size sheets(including photo
paperand card stock up to 3 m m thick]and connects to your PC via USB, parallel,
infrared, or even Bluetooth
with an optional Bluetooth
card. This DeskJet is quite
beefy for a portable
(33.8x16.3x8.2 cm and 2.2 kg]
but like HP's previous portable,
feels like it will stand up well to life
on the road. Print quality is very respectable, as is speed, especially
for text only, DT
32

H lJ B: D i g itel LMng - D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3

Logitech Bluetooth familtl

www.logltech.corn
Logitech has gone heavily into Bluetooth with its new line of products. There's a new version of the Cordless Freedom
Desktop MX ($250], which comes with a wireless
keyboard, optical mouse, and a mouse recharging
base that doubles as a Bluetooth hub for use with
other Bluetooth devices. The MX 900 Bluetooth
Optical Mouse, with the
recharger/Bluetooth
hub base, can be purchased separately
($140). The Mobile
Bluetooth Headset
(price to be announced] can be used with a number of Bluetoothcompatible phones; it comes with its own recharging base and can
lastup to seven hoursbetween charges,The mouse and headset
come with rechargeable batteries; the keyboard comes with four
standard AAs(if you want rechargeables, you' ll have to buy them separately].
Sean Carruthers

Logitech diNovo Media Gesktop

www.logltech.corn Estimated price: $325~
Part of the sales pitch for Bluetooth is its ability to connect a number of devices over short distances,
but mostcompanies haven'tgone
beyond connecting a phone and
PDA, or a notebook PC and a
printer. Logitech's di Novo goes
Iy
beyond the traditional
Bluetooth configuration,
with several pieces that are
designed to work together:
a keyboard, mouse, and
a Bluetooth hub that
doubles as the charging
base for the mouse. The major innovation here is that the keyboard
module splits into two wireless components: the main keyboard and
the number pad, which has an LCD screen at its top. Dubbed the
Media Pad, the latter acts as a regular number pad when used with
the keyboard, but doubles as a remote control when you' re away
from the PC. It shows track information when you' re playing MP3 or
CD audio, displays instant message notifications, alerts you when
you receive new email, and even functions as a standalone calculator.

SC
For more information on Logitech's Bluetooth strategy, and a compatibility chart, seewww.logitech.corn/bluetooth for the details.
'Converted from US$250.

vwwv.hubcenede.ccm

S ifts fo r y o u r n o t e b o o k P C
At the desk

Getting carried awaLI

More people are using notebook computers instead of desktop PCs,

which means they are likely spending hours hunched forward to
squint at badly elevated screens and putting their hands in uncomfortable positions to reach awkwardly placed keyboards. Two solutions exist, though both require an external keyboard and mouse a
small price to pay for physical well-being.

KensingtonSkgrunner Contour Case

iCurve Invisible Laptop Stand

www.griNntnchnology.corn Estimated price: $45
Griffin's transparent, sturdy iCurve stand raises your notebook 14 cm,
bringing the screen closer to eye level. Its arms are padded to keep
the notebook from sliding off. The base is smooth enough to easily
rotate it with a notebook on it, but optional feet are available if you' d
rather it stay put. Another bonus: the space under the iCurve makes
for a good spot to slide your keyboard when you' re not using it.
Emru Townsend

Humanscale LPTHLOOdp
l.aptop Holder
www.humanscala.corn Suggested retail price: $315
Humanscale's stand is pricier but has a built-in document holder,
adjustable height[five levels), a pass-through for cables, and provisions for a notebook security cable, It doesn't rotate, but the L2
Notebook Manager, due in early 2004 from Humanscale, does.
ET

www.kensington.corn Estimated price: $100

If you travel regularly with a lot of different gadgets, you want something that has room for all your toys but that you can carry comfortably. Kensington's Skyrunner Contour Case is designed to make the
travel experience better, from a side panel contoured to curve against
the side of your body, to a padded shoulder strap and comfortable
carrying handle. It has several large compartments inside and zippered compartments on the outside. It's made of lightweight ballistic
nylon,which means the case doesn'tadd to yourburden.
SC

APC TravelPowerEiackpack
www.apc.corn Estimatedprice:$180
Carrying gadgets is one thing, but packing all your power cords too
can be just plain annoying. APC's TravelPower line gives you one big
transformer with multiple adapter tips and adjustable voltage, so you
can leave all of the other power cables at home; it even has USB ports
on the side of the power brick, so you can charge gadgets that get
power via USB. Previously only available in a traditional notebook
case, APC has added this backpack version to the series. It has tons
of small pockets as well as larger compartments. The back panel and
straps are padded and it has an adjustable sternum strap.
SC

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Software Used:
December 2 0 0 3

- H UB : D i g ital Living

33

8 e

Sci lh it clean

T he t h r e e - y e a r

Now that the pace of PC replacement is speeding up,

old Pentium IIIP

You wouldn'
t sella car caked
Wha< dO We dO Wff;h ghe
with dirt, would youP If you' re
planning to give away or sell,, = So you bought a top-of-the-line
your computer, take the time ": c o mputer with ample hard drive
to scrub it clean first. Earlier
space, a blazingly fast processor,
thisyear,two MIT graduat~
bucketsofRAM, and up-to-thestudents searched 158 se,
minute software. You spared no
ond-handcomputersanddisexpense,dropping almost $3,000
covereda wealth ofpersonal
on your dream sys
information left behind, includBut that was 199B, and now that
ingcreifjtcard numbers and
233 MHz Pentium II is barely
financial and medical records.
keeping up with your kids' $249
Seed the lireac release at
IittliJhiiieb.iait.eda/aewaofPlayS t ation 2.
fice/ar/2083/diahlrlcea.htiall
In the modern era, few things
Simply dragging all your files
symboiize the idea of obsolesintothe Recycle Bin orTrash
Can isn't goad enough; neiuPgrade treadmill, and anyone
Ifyouwant ta make
who's been around computers
sure your infarmatian is safe ,
fromprying eyes,you'llneed long enough knows that atsome
samething that rewrites the
poin t you just can't upgrade the
harddrive's data completely, processor orbeefupthe memory
N pe info,
part of Sym antec's
anymore.
Norlzin Utilities end Norton
In a sense, this is where the eSystemWorks,
is ane such
waste problem begins. Thanks to
utility; you can find iess
the accelerating pace of hardware

and software develoPment, comsearching faf d ak wipe Qr

"diskshred"at freewarel
puters just don't last as long as
they used to. In Environment
sharaware download sites.
Canada's 1999 Information
Technology [IT] and
Telecommunication(Telecom) Waste in Canada report, the authors
estimated that 60 per cent of the personal computers then in Canada
were expected to have a first-use lifespan of four years, with the rest
lasting five; looking ahead to 2003, they extrapolated that computers
with three-year lifespans would make up 60 percent of the total, with
the rest reaching only two.
Hard to believe? Think about it: printers, scanners, monitors, and
other components also become obsolete, but none of them have as
short a lifespan as the PCs they' re connected to.[Out of curiosity, I
sifted through my collection of receipts and discovered that the monitor I'm currently looking at has been connected to four different
computers so far.)
That means a lot of computers, more so
than any other components, are currently
lurking in basements and closets, just
waiting to be thrown out if they haven' t
already been. But if you want to keep them
out of landfills, what can you do?
The best solution, when possible, is to find
yourcomputera new home, Assuming
-g==-"
==-=
:you' ve already tried to give it away to family or friends, you still have some options.
My favourite solution happens to be the
one requiring the least effort: donate it.

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Elementary schools and charitable organizations often have a need

for PCs, and usually don't need the latest multimedia speed demon to
get things done. However, bear in mind that yau can't just waltz in
carrying your hardware and drop it off, expecting to be rewarded for
your kindness; call first, explain the situation, and ask if they even
need any computers. If so, find out if they have any minimum system requirements.
If you'd rather not do your own legwork, Computers For Schools
takes donated computers and puts them to use in classrooms and
libraries across Canada. You can visit the Computers For Schools Web
site [cfs-ope.ic.gc.ca/] for more details.
Your other option is to sell your computer, as a unit or by individual
components. There are many stores in or near metropolitan areas
that sell older computers at reasonable prices; most buy from companies clearing out dozens or hundreds of computers at once, but some
also buy from individuals.
You can also try selling online. There's eBay, of course, but you can
also try using Usenet newsgroups. Using a free newsreader like
Outlook Express, Netscape News, or the online Google Groups, search
for newsgroups with the words "forsale" or "marketplace" in their
titles and post a for<ale notice on all that apply.(Oon't, for example,
past on ont.forsale if you' re in Alberta.]
You shouldn't expect to get rich selling even a year-old computerlower your expectations to at least being compensated for your time,
and knowing that you' ve kept your machine out of landfill just a little

bit longer,
At some point, however, a computer is simply of no use to anyone.
And that raises new issues I' ll discuss next month.
By Emru Townsend

vvww.hubcanada.corn

L et y o u r i m a g i na t i o n
( end c a m c o r d e r ' ) ~
~

Submit up to 3erfgtxnl digital videos, along with the form below, byFebruary 23nl, 2004.Anything gom, but keepIt clean.AII videos mustbeburnt to a CD,and must benomore
than 5 min. in lenglh.Winnerswill be announcedIn the March 2004issue.Must be in QuickTime or Windows Media Player format. All elements of thevideo must beoriginal and
not irdnging onanycopyrights.
J

&

T he 17-inch i M a c
Designedaroundan ugra-compact base,the Apple iMacfeatures astunning 17-InchwldescmenLCDgmt
appears to float in mid-str, allowingusemto effortlessly adjust gs height or anglewith just a touch. The
17-inch IMacpackspowerhl features like a speedyt sitz G4processor, exhumeIIIDIA graphics, andafast
OVO-burningSuperDrlvewhich lets youburn your ownmovies andphotos onaDVDdisc that plays In almostany
standardDVDplayer. TheiMac also offers twoFireWlreie 400 andgve USSports for fast, simple,pl ugged-play
connecgons todigital devices suchasdigital cameras, DVcamcorders andiPoddigihd music players.

F inal Cuj. -Expr e s s

Featuring thesameinterface as the EmmyAwant-winning Final Cut
Pro, FinalCut Express is ambust ediTingsolution for diglhd video
enthusiasts. It providesprofessional-level editing, compcsigng and
real-time effects for full-featured DV
edigng. Final CutExpressIs an
innovahvecombination of power andeaseof use. It's optimizedfor the DV
format andcomeswith all the high-quality composiTing,gtling and effects
capabilities youneedfor professional-level video.

, yvj,,p.
\

VIdeo editors canuseFinal CutExpmssto captum, manage and edgdtgihd

video; apply transT
ions, filters and effects in real-time; create titles,
composite layers,andproduce high~uality graphics andanimations; and
perform colourcoirection. Final Cut Expressprojects can beexported hir use
in IDVD~ or OVD
Studio Pro, savedbackto tape,or exported to any
QuickTimetp format, induding MPEG
-4.

W I N N I N G V I DE O S
w ill be fe a t ; u r e d o n

Cps

W ebM a n i a

HOE-MAILEHTRIES.Thosee-mailing entries could be subject to visits from angry HUBnetwork admins(and trust us, you don' t
wantthatto happen).Forcompletem les and regulagonsgo to wwwhubcanada.comldvc
Hljg's digital video contestEntry Form.Deadline February23rd,2004
Name:................................... ........... .... .... ..-..-..........-.-.. .-----. Occupation/school:..................................................................................
Address:...............................................--...................................-.-----. Title of Vjdeo:..............................................-------.-.--...-----.----E-Mall:...................................................................----------------- - C amera used tc film your video...............................................................

Phone Number:.....................................................------------------ Hardwam used to

ganarute your video...............................................
~u

mn, M'

,'-.'p-:.,;,."."~ Nail your entries to: NllS, Digital Video Contest, 825 Church Street, Suite tjOO,Toronto, ON, N4Y RG1"'+~'~'>l>-,."'.I<%
<,;,'"
.:

How to : P lan holiday

p art iea w it h y ou r h a n d h e ld
'Tls the season for entertaining, and whether you' re hosting a

ther into specific menu items that can be assigned their own start
' and finish date especially handy if some items need to be purchased or
made in advance.As you complete each task,you can
check it off, or if you set the program to project mode, you can mark
items partially complete, using a percentage. Completed leaves automatically complete their branches.
The program has a timeline view that lets you see all of the designated tasks on a calendar, so you can balance out the workload if you
notice you' ve planned too much for one day. Plus, each item can
include an attached note, so I' ve broken down the budget into Food,
Drinks, and Entertainment, then attached notes to enter all the

dozen people or a hundred, it always means there's more to do,

and more to remember, with each approaching day. This is
where a handheld can really prove, well, handy. Here are a few
tips on getting the most out of your handheld as you plan
your holiday party.
Setting up a plan
The To Do list in the Palm OS is fine for everyday chores, but sometimes you need a little more organizational finesse, such as when
you' re planning a special event. This is where project-planning software can help for the purposes of this project, I'm using
BrainForest 3.0 Mobile Edition for the Palm OS[UltraSoft, www.ultrasoft.corn, US$19.9S*, 30-day free trial available). With BrainForest, I
can set up all the aspects of the party (or any other project) in one
outline, breaking each down into its respective tasks and assigning
individual start and finish dates to avoid a last minute crunch.
BrainForest consists of outlines called Trees, Branches, and Leaves.
I' ve set up a party plan tree that includes four
branches: Food, Guests, Entertainment, and
Budget. Under each branch are other
branches breaking down what needs to
be done for each aspect of the party.
For example, under Food there
are separate branches
for food and drink,
and each leaf
breaks it
down fur-

expenses for each one.

Using your contact list
If you plan to send out invitations, there are a few tricks you can use
to speed up the process. If you use Palm Desktop for Windows, pull
up your addresses, and then select all of your guests by clicking on
each one while holding down the Ctrl key. Once you' ve made your
selections, you can email everyone at once by clicking on Edit, then
E-mail, which will open a new message with all of the invitees' names
and email addresses entered. Or, if you'd prefer to mail invitations, click Edit, then Send to, then Microsoft Word. A dialogue will open to ask you if you'd like to turn the
resulting address table into form letters, mailing
labels, or envelopes (you' ll need Word 2000 or
newer to make this work).
If you' re using Palm Desktop for Mac, open the
addressbook and click the checkbox beside
your potential guests, then click Print. A dialogue
box will pop up to customize your printing, with
choices to print the addresses as mailing labels
or envelopes. Be sure to designate only marked
addresses for printing, or you' ll end up with labels
for everyone in your address book. The dialogue
box provides a preview button so you can check the
final product before printing.
By Sharlene Myers
*Downloadable products, only available in US$.

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"Have your say and get 5000!"

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Influence NllB:Qigital liuing

HUB:Digital Living is ofFering you the opportunity to contribute to the magazine's content by participating in

the eVox panel. By becoming an online panel member, you will be asked, periodically, to share your opinions
on issues relevant to the digital community.

and get 55008

In addition to giving you a platform to share your views, you will have the opportunity to receive cash. Panel

members participating in these opinion surveys will be eligible to win $5000, drawn at random by Decima
Research. Draws will take place each quarter, starting in September,

liow it Worba
By agreeing to join the eVox panel, you are giving permission to
HUB:Digital Living to provide your email address and name to
Decima Research Inc. This is the only information HUB;Digital
Living will provide to Decima and any other information provided to
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You will then be sent an email from the eVox panel inviting you to
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complete a p

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No Ubiigationo. No llaaole.
Readers can choose not to join the panel at any point and can cancel
their panel membership at anytime. No questions asked.

Uow Reader
information bo Uaed
Reader information will always be reported in aggregate, meaning
verbatim comments will not contain any information that could
identify a specific panehst, and
all other information will be combined with several panelists to
ensure anonymity.
Whenever possible, reader information and opinions will used as the
basis for editorial content in HUB:Digital Living. In addition, HUB

may also share information with other stakeholders in the digital market. This could indude manufacturers, retailers, and other associations.

Protecting Veer Privacy

To ensure the privacy and security of your personal information,
HUB: Digital Living has partnered with Decima Research Inc to
administer the eVox paneL As an independent third party, specializing
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As a member of CAMRO (Canadian Association of Market Research

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C y b e r N/ a lk e r
A vaccine for ob solesenc e
Velsame 18 s Number 13

AOVERTISINGSALES
emag
sajesLahubcanada.corn
General Salas Manager Ken McMiiian
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OHTARIO/TOROHTQ
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Joanna Dickie

SuPaltrlasr j o anna dickisCahubcsnsds.com

Ontario

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Ad Sales

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ClaseifiedAds:

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MOHTREAIarATLAHTIC
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BUSINESS GROUP
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General Manager/Publisher Rob Crawford

rob cmwfordehubcsnsds.rom

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There you are in the

electronics superstore
eyeing 27 different
audio players. "It' s
MP3 compliant!"

announces one big

yellow sticker."It' s
WMA ready!" declares another.
WMA or MP3 are both digital music file types.
The former is a Microsoft technology and the latter a more widely used format.
So whathappens when the music player makers
decide in, say, three or five years that MP3 and
WMA are obsolete and should be replaced by
something newer? Well, walk out to the curblike you did with your eight-track player and
Betamax 1Syearsago and dump the device on
the sidewalk. Then head for the electronics superstore where you will eye 27 different audio players and read their big yellow labels again,
This time you look at them with fresh
eyes. One says: "Ha, ha, you' re
back. We gotcha!" Another
saysuHooray for
obsolescence!"
What if I
told you that
might change?
What if I told you
that any technology you
buy from this day forward will
upgradeable from here on in? It
could happen if the OSGiAlliance has
its way.
OSGi stands for Open Services Gateway Initiative.
It's a mouthful and even though I' ve spelled out
the acronym for you, my guess is you' re still
scratching your head, Yeah, that's what I did,
But, after talking to three people from the OSGi
Alliance, I managed to figure it out.
Here's what it does. It's a technology that allows
for two things. First, it slows obsolescence in consumer electronics, It's the plumbing that allows
updates to the embedded programming that runs
a device. You probably know that inside every
electronics device are chips that make it work.
And in those chips are programs. In most cases
the program can't be updated, but in an OSGicompliant device it can be. And that update can
come from the Internet and find its way onto a
device and completely upgrade it to fix problems
or extend the device's life. OSGi also allows for the
addition of new functions, allowing the device to
do new things.
This doesn't mean an update via the OSGi frame-

H LJB : D j gitaaj Living - D e c e m b e r 2 OCX3

work [as it is calledi will turn your MP3 player

into a camcorder, If the hardware can*t handle a
task because of its physical limitations, OSGi can' t
help.
"The benefit the consumer will see is that
devices are less likely to become obsolete," said
Oan Bandera, IBM's program director of emerging
device standards and strategy. "There's also the
ability to add new features after you bring it home
from Best Buy or Sears," explained Bandera, who
is also an OSGiAlliance board member.
Let's say your phone is simple. Maybe it has a
screen that shows the time and date and can ring
and is able to dial out, but that's alL One day,
caller IO is invented. So the phone gets a soAware
upgrade using OSGiand suddenly it can display a
caller IO on its screen. That's the power of OSGi.
Beyond new features, OSGi can also act as an
intermediary between devices. It can help one
device talk to another. In future, your
alarm clock might use OSGi
~@f+-.
techn o logy to alert
Lrl -"
the toaster that
you' re up and about.
I
To get new data, a
device will need some connection in and out maybe
via a home network or Bluetooth
R.: but once it has that, updates can
find their way to the device from the
Internet.
A lot of companies are participating in the
OSGi Alliance, including Motorola, Philips, IBM,
Toshiba,
Samsung, Siemens, and Nokia.So it
appears as if OSGi will become a certainty.
Philips is one of the first companies to produce
an OSGi-compliant device, called the iPronto
[shown], which is an oversized remote control for
your TV that can also control the heating, display
video from the security camera at the door, and
plenty of other home control functions. Of course
with OSGi, it' ll be able to do all kinds of other
things in future.
The biggest challenge for the OSGiAlliance is to
get the word out to people like you. But it struggles with clarity.
When I asked a rather befuddled PHd-powered
OSGispokesperson what OSGiwas,he responded:
"It's middleware based on Java, so we extend
the Java environment and that allows us life
cycle management and definition of common
interfaces."
Imagine that on a big yellow sticker.
Andy Walker is a Canadian
journalist based in California.
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