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July 29, 2003 |
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Is Palm's new Tungsten T2 handheld twice as nice as its predecessor? We give you the skinny. Plus, CNET readers are looking for news on the latest pay-to-play music player BuyMusic.com and AOL's upcoming 9.0 Optimized. |
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Tungsten T2
Despite news reports of slipping handheld sales, the latest handhelds are still a hot topic with you readers. The newest, hottest PDA to hit the streets is Palm's follow-up to its business-minded Tungsten T, the Tungsten T2, which adds more in the multimedia department for work and play. The T2 builds on its predecessor's strong points by adding an updated OS, better software, a great-looking screen, and twice the RAM. Plus, this PDA includes integrated Bluetooth, which lets you communicate with other Palm users and a growing number of Bluetooth-enabled devices such as cell phones, handhelds, printers, laptops, and desktops. The only weak spot we found in this Tungsten was its battery, which just doesn't get the same mileage as the Palm Tungsten C's. |
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BuyMusic
Never thought you'd pay to get music online? With all the mania over the RIAA's subpoenas and impending lawsuits, suddenly folks who used to get most of their digital music via file-sharing networks are starting to reconsider, especially as better services emerge. Most recently, Apple has created a stir with iTunes, its Mac-only service that boasts high-quality downloads and a huge selection of songs. But iTunes' hype has Windows users wondering which other service is their best alternative. Last week, BuyMusic came on the scene, touting its catalog of more than 300,000 songs and its price of 79 cents per downloaded song, one of the lowest rates for digital, downloaded music. Plus, Windows-only BuyMusic has launched an aggressive ad campaign against iTunes, putting itself in a head-to-head comparison with the ultrapopular Apple service. So how does it measure up? In our early look, we've found some quirks with BuyMusic, but we like the interface and low cost. Look for our full review coming soon. |
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AOL 9.0
Wow, how the mighty have fallen! Remember the good old days when dinosaurs such as America Online users roamed the Net? Well, there are still fans (and haters) of this all-in-one service out there, looking for info or a sneak peek into the new options in the latest update, AOL 9.0 Optimized. More importantly, they want to know how it stacks up against its biggest competitor, MSN 8.0 Update. Luckily, our editors got an early look at this new version and are happy to deliver their first impressions. On the upside, it's good to finally see handy tools such as antivirus protection, spam filters, and a built-in firewall. Plus, there are plenty of broadband bells and whistles such as streaming content and voice-over-IP calls. Families and chatters will welcome cosmetic tweaks, such as 3D buddies and stricter e-mail parental controls. But the verdict is still out on the downside; you'll have to wait for the full review for that. |
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Hitachi G1000
Traveling with a notebook is often a necessary evil; you need to get work done while on the go, but the bulk can strain your shoulders. Smart phones, which build PDA functionality into mobile phones, are getting smarter by the day and may be just the ticket for hard-working, weight-weary travelers. The latest that readers are seeking this week is the just-released Hitachi G1000. This beefy handheld may be big for a PDA, but it includes many features you love in a notebook: a handy keyboard, a built-in camera, wireless Internet, and a decent software package. And useful phone features, such as a speakerphone and direct dialing from Outlook, make the G1000 a good ringer as well. We had gripes only with the the fact that it uses older versions of Microsoft's OS and Outlook and had mediocre performance results in our tests. Looking for more smart-phone options? Check out our editors' top picks. |
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Gateway
There's been plenty written about how the PC market is lagging these days, so it's no wonder that traditional PC makers are branching out into the home electronics space. One of the first on this trend was Gateway, which started its migration out of the home office into the living room last year with its $3,000 42-inch plasma TV. This year, the company is planning more TV arrivals: 46-inch and 50-inch plasmas, both priced to move at $3,799 and $6,999, respectively, and 17- and 18-inch LCD TVs. Plus, Gateway has just released a networked DVD player. So far, we've gotten an early look at the 46-inch plasma and the DVD player. The TV sports good specs, a 20 percent bigger screen, and the lowest price yet for a plasma of this size. But we'll hold off on judging image quality until we run this big boy through our tests. Meanwhile, the Connected DVD Player earned our Editors' Choice award for excellent streaming access to computer-based audio, video, and photo files, as well as good progressive-scan DVD playback. According to news stories, Gateway has pledged to deliver 50 new products in 15 new categories this year. We can't wait to see what the company comes up with next. |
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