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A Week With the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:32:52 PDT

The tablet market is crowded, and with seemingly no slowdown to the quick pace that manufacturers churn out new gadgets, it's a confusing space to know where you're getting the most for your money. Hitting store shelves April 22, Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is an almost perfect solution for a mix of Internet browsing, video watching, reading, and home entertainment control hub. For $250, the tablet comes with 8GB storage, dual-core processor, microSD card slot, and 3MP camera.

Compared to the high-quality cameras we've become used to on smartphones and the Apple iPad, the poor camera of this tablet might be a major point of contention for some. Still, after the week we spent with Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, there's a lot to love at a very attractive price point. Click through for our favorite features of Samsung's newest addition to their tablet family.

Nokia Lumia 900 Review: 5 Reasons You'll Love It

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:00:09 PDT

I couldn't get the Nokia Lumia 900 off my mind after getting a look at this year's CES, and now that I've spent a few days with it as my main device, it appears it was worth the wait. The Lumia 900 is a fantastic device for those who just can't get into Android and don't want to drop hundreds on an iPhone. The easy-to-use Windows OS is visually appealing, and paired with the Lumia 900's design, it's a match made in heaven.

Jumping on the Lumia 900 bandwagon is easy, but here are five features that will lure you in right off the bat.

The New iPad vs. the iPad 2: Camera Head-to-Head

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:20:15 PDT

While there aren't that many upgrades coming with the new iPad, there are a few that geeks will love: a higher-resolution Retina display and a 5MP camera. Considering a purchase? There are some tempting features, and if the camera is a deciding factor for you, take a look here: a side-by-side comparison of the new iPad (on the left) and the iPad 2 (on the right).

You can see that the new iPad camera allows a better range of colors and the iPad 2 photo is more pixilated. It's an obvious upgrade, but one that I'm not sure is worth a purchase alone.

Getting Some Hands-On Time With the Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 in Sedona, AZ

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:20:40 PDT

There's nothing like an outdoor adventure to get you in the Springtime mood. Add in some sweet camera gear, and I'm all over it. I got to experience both during Sony's recent Sedona Outdoor Excursion, when the company sent me off to explore the red rocks of Northern Arizona, all in an effort to get to know its lineup of new Cyber-Shot, Bloggie, camcorders, and NEX cameras.

While you couldn't capture a bad photo of Sedona (it's so beautiful!), this rugged 16.2MP pocket-friendly shock-, water-, freeze-, and dust-proof Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 ($329) was one of my favorites to use on the trip, and stayed in my bag the whole time. Coming in five different hues (PopSugar pink was my obvious choice), this camera packs quite a punch in such a small package. Great in both bright-light and low-light situations, the TX20 comes with seven different picture effects - HDR Painting, Richtone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy Camera, Pop Color, Partial Color, and Soft High-Key - to heighten the mood and add some extra personality to your shots. It's kind of like adding an Instagram or Hipstamatic filter to your pics as you take them. Not only is the picture quality fabulous, but the video isn't too shabby either. The microphone isn't as sensitive as ones you'd find in say, the NEX models, since the TX20 can be used underwater; an expensive mic in a waterproof camera wouldn't hold up well anyway.

The TX20 will hit in May for $329, and is the perfect camera for light packers traveling to far-off locales, and budding photogs that want a portable and reliable camera to tote around for day-to-day image capture. Check out some of my unedited sample images in the gallery, some of which were captured using the cool TX20 picture effects.

Equipment Lab: Manual Citrus Juicer

Camilla Salem — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:33:25 PST

Honestly, at this time in my life, I'm just not ready to shell out hundreds of dollars or give up precious counter space in my tiny kitchen for a massive juicing machine. But that doesn't mean I'll never get to enjoy a glass of freshly pressed orange or grapefruit juice from the comfort of my breakfast table. I swear by the manual citrus juicer that was passed down to me from my grandmother. It's a solid piece of equipment that is incredibly easy to use, store, and clean. And if you're a fan of pulp like I am, then you'll really appreciate the juice that this little contraption produces. To find out the benefits and drawbacks of this affordable juicer, keep reading.

Equipment Lab: Hurom Slow Juicer

Sara Yoo — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:23:52 PST

I've never been much of a juicer. Perhaps it's the intimidation factor of learning to use a new appliance or the ugh factor of sticky, pulpy cleanup when I'm done, but I've resisted the juice movement despite the amazing health benefits its proponents espouse. So when we received a Hurom Slow Juicer as a Christmas gift from my in-laws, I was awfully skeptical about its future as a kitchen fixture. After some balking on my part, my gadget-loving, juice-guzzling husband convinced me to give it a try. Would I become a juicing convert? Find out when you keep reading.

Does The Lorax Live Up to Dr. Seuss' Book's High Standards?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:18:49 PST

In our family, The Lorax is put on a pedestal. When my firstborn was younger, its rhythmic verses lulled him to sleep, making it a favorite for this tired mama. Now it is part of our weekly rotation, with my son reciting lines from memory as we make our way through Dr. Seuss's tale of overindustrialization and environmentalism. We have a special bond over The Lorax, so there was no question which parent would be taking him to see the film when we both gasped upon first seeing the trailer. The only question was if it would live up to our very high expectations.

A month after seeing the flick, I can honestly say, "Yes" - but with some caveats. As many have noted, the creators of Despicable Me (while working with Audrey Geisel) took some creative license to extend the classic tale into a love story. Ted (now the name of the lil boy from the book, as a nod to Theodor Geisel, who is voiced by Zac Efron) is trying to win the heart of Audrey (a new character voiced by songstress Taylor Swift), whose dream is to see a real-life tree, rather than the fake, robotic versions that currently populate their town. To win her heart, Ted's enthusiastic grandmother (voiced by the always-amazing Betty White) tells him to visit the Once-ler (voiced by an equally charismatic Ed Helms) on the outskirts of town. It is here that the film follows Dr. Seuss's familiar story, while throwing in some new obstacles such as greedy mogul O'Hare (voiced by Rob Riggle) and some song and dance numbers that get the whole town up and moving.

Much bigger and complex than the original story, the film version definitely conveys Dr. Seuss's earth-friendly message, you just have to peel back the layers to get there. As the lil orange Lorax with the big mouth, Danny DeVito makes that message abundantly clear. It just takes a backseat to the love story that is unfolding.

But the big musical numbers (really, they are toe-tappingly great), fun animal characters (the Bar-ba-loot bears are particularly fun), and amazing graphics (the Truffula trees look amazingly soft and cuddly) all come together to create a fun movie experience for kids who know the book and don't want to (or are too young to) know anything about love stories.

As for the 3D experience - I know it is expected in this day and age, but it really isn't necessary. I actually found it more dizzying than enjoyable and would have rather focused on the dialogue than any objects that were seemingly flying my way. But 3D or not, when the Once-ler utters his most famous line - "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better. It's not" - it's like a call-to-action for a new generation ready to carry on the environmental mission.

Trade the Ikea Prints For Instagram Wall Art

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:21:34 PST

Blame it on the dozens of downloaded photo apps and high-quality cameras in smartphones for our obsessive photographing and documentation of everyday life. Since there are tons of ways to print Instagram photos, I wanted to see how the square lo-res images translate to wall-worthy prints. Using CanvasPop, I turned an Instagram print from a memorable weekend into gallery-style canvas art as seen here.

Available in two sizes: a 12-inch stretched canvas square ($30 for a limited time) and a 20-inch stretched canvas square ($60 for a limited time), each canvas comes outfitted with a sawtooth hook for easy at-home hanging. The entire CanvasPop ordering process was as simple as taking an Instagram itself. Select a canvas size, a white or black canvas edge (which is not seen from a head-on view of the print), then the image itself by signing into your Instgram account on the site. If a retro border is what you want, be sure to select a photo from your Instagram library created with a filter that has a built-in border like Lomo-fi or Earlybird.

My 12-inch print was ordered during the hectic holiday season, but even with national holidays accounted for, it only took about two weeks for the finished canvas print to arrive nestled in a very secure cardboard box. I'm eager to make a few more prints for a pretty wall vignette while the introductory price deal is still on, since it's hard to rationalize $80 per print, despite the expert craftsmanship. The photo and filter colors on the canvas were nearly spot-on to the original image, just slightly more saturated, which actually seems appropriate considering I usually only see Instagrams in their tiny phone-sized resolution.

Whether it's a college dorm room or your first "grown-up" apartment, the CanvasPop Instagram print is a high-quality and affordable way to decorate with favorite memories.

The Diana+ For Digital: First Impressions and Sample Pics!

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:49:40 PST

Photojojo was kind enough to send me the plastic Diana+ lens and digital adapter ($60) last week, allowing me to ditch the film while still getting that lo-fi feel to my images. Coming with three distance settings (1-2m, 2-4m, and Infinity), the Diana+ lens is a fun addition to your digital lens arsenal. Good news, plastic camera fans: if you already have a Diana+ lens, you can get the adapter for just $15.

Snapping on the lens is a breeze - just attach the adapter to your Canon or Nikon DSLR, then twist the lens on to the adapter and away you go. I found that the Diana+ works best when shooting in natural light outside, as opposed to indoors, and capturing pops of color. If you do grab this lens for your digital, don't bother trying to get close-up and macro images; that's not what this lens is for. It definitely creates a dreamy ambiance for your pics, so strap it on next time you're at the park with your friends, watching a parade, or taking a walk around town.

Want to see a few unretouched sample images? Click through the gallery!

One Day With the Samsung Focus S

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:15:37 PST

You may have noticed how excited we've been about the Windows Phone operating system around these parts, so of course, I jumped at the chance to review the Samsung Focus S ($200) on AT&T. This lean and mean phone comes with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen and is only 8.5 mm at its thinnest point. But take away all the impressive specs and the cool features that come packed in Windows Phone Mango, and it's simply an enjoyable device that can become quite the addiction.

I spent one day with the Samsung Focus S, using it instead of my iPhone 4S during a typical workday. Check out my first impressions (and stay tuned for a full review) in the slideshow!