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* Photo: Todd Tankersley * Call Your Shot
These cameras pack enough megapixels (5!) and editing options to produce gallery-worthy pics. Oh, they make calls, too. — Daniel Dumas and Steven Leckart
Sony Ericsson K850i
$500, sonystyle.com
Beyond a solid cam, this tidy 118-gram candy bar comes chock-full of programs that let you edit, remix, and publish sharp pics and videoclips on the fly. In minutes, we whipped up a 45-second, 1.7-MB video slide show that looked surprisingly decent online at 320 x 240 pixels. But we never got used to switching between the finicky partial touchscreen and quasi-D-pad. And the keypad's tiny nubs aggravate even the most petite-thumbed.
__Wired: __Truly pocket-size. Accelerometer allows quick flips between landscape and portrait. Always-on Headlight option for dim video shoots. BestPic takes rapid sequence of nine images — and the "best" recommendation is usually right on.
__Tired: __No optical zoom. Sluggish Auto Fix takes 30 to 45 seconds per pic. No Wi-Fi, no GPS. Uses Sony FastPort instead of either 2.5- or 3.5-mm headphone jack.
Photo: Todd TankerslyNokia N82
$629, nokia.com
The N82 is a phone that can make you snap — in a good way. Here's why: It blends solid communication equipment with top-shelf image-capturing technology. The editing options are unparalleled — we were able to spruce up a poorly composed and lit shot in no time. And sharing photos is just as easy. Bluetooth, multimedia, and email options are simple to activate. Posting to the Web is a breeze: one-touch access to Flickr and Vox accounts pretty much ensures you'll never max out the 4 gigs of memory.
__Wired: __Carl Zeiss optics protected by a smartly situated sliding cover. Well-spaced keypad makes text messaging faster than a greased cheetah on Red Bull. Integrated Wi-Fi connects without a hiccup. Accelerometer switches screen from landscape to portrait mode with a wrist flick.
__Tired: __Xenon flash often washes out color. Wi-Fi sucks battery dry in just an hour. Accelerometer randomly switches from landscape to portrait mode even without a wrist flick.
Photo: Todd TankerslySamsung G800
$500, samsung.com
This luxurious silver slider is an import fit for a pimp. Sporting sleek lines, glitzy trim, and a roomy interior (140 MB of memory), it also boasts standard features like a microSD slot good for up to 4 GB. But it could be easier to handle. The sliding lens cover makes for fast phone-to-cam conversion but adds one-eighth inch of thickness. The result? The G800 can't lie flush unless it's facedown on its 2.4-inch LCD.
__Wired: __3X optical zoom. Video editing includes time code. Built-in effects (including negative) work with video. Spacious, comfortable keypad. Versatile image editor for color and contrast tinkerers.
__Tired: __Puny Xenon flash. Laggy shutter. No GPS. Useless red-eye remover. No standard 3.5-mm headphone jack.
Photo: Todd TankerslyLG KE990 Viewty
$500, lge.com
The Viewty's handy scroll wheel not only manages menu navigation and volume control but also serves as a decent manual focus for the Schneider-Kreuznach-lensed, 5-megapixel camera. Hands down, this is one of the best image-capturing setups we've seen on a cell phone. However, looks and touches can be deceiving. The KE990's shutter may not lag, but the 3-inch touchscreen sure does.
__Wired: __Shoots great photos. Bundled headphone adapter actually rocks a 3.5-mm jack. Xenon flash great for low-light shoots. Useful menu shortcuts.
__Tired: __Funky, tiresome interface. Device literally buzzes with every touch of the screen. No 3G or Wi-Fi. Lame stylus resembles a mini mascara tube.
Ridge Racers
Leave your clunky hiking boots at home — trail runners are sturdy enough for a scamper up the Murderhorn yet flashy enough for a stroll down Broadway. We pounded miles of asphalt, gravel, and dirt to find the perfect pair. — Adrienne So
Photo: Todd TankerslyBrooks Cascadia
$95, brooksrunning.com
This exceptionally light shoe is a dream in myriad conditions. The insole provides exceptional cushioning on paved roads, while Brooks' midsole Pivot Posting System lets you easily negotiate even the steepest gravel or mud trails. And the upper is so sheer that we were surprised to look down and see shoes instead of sandals. But woe to the flatfooted: The Cascadia is utterly unsuitable for low arches.
__Wired: __Neon-green upper lets feet breathe. Pivot Posting System prevents turned ankles. Snug heel grip ideal for narrow feet. Ballistic-shielded soles ensure comfort, even over craggy terrain.
__Tired: __Lack of arch support can be painful. Shoe may dry quickly, but it ain't waterproof — be sure to wear wicking socks.
Montrail Streak
$90, montrail.com
Modest, unassuming, and kind of boring, these shoes are the Volvos of the pack: A little chunky and heavy, they feel like garden-variety running shoes instead of sleek racing flats. But they performed solidly on every surface, from muddy trail to knee-punishing sidewalk. Gryptonite soles kept us from sliding on even the slipperiest gravel, and a stiff rim on the outsole prevented stubbed toes.
__Wired: __Ideal for longer runs over varied terrain. Cozy heel fit. Roomy toe box allows space for swelling. Flexible trail-shell midsole technology makes the transition from sidewalk to dirt nearly imperceptible.
__Tired: __Noticeably less breathable than other models. A snooze to look at and to wear — not a shoe for fashion plates.
Adidas adiZero XT
$80, adidas.com
These red-hot runners provoked admiring whistles when we took them for a spin around the office — for testing purposes, of course. On level ground the shoe performs spectacularly — the adiPrene midsole is luxuriantly soft on asphalt and hard-packed dirt, and our tootsies enjoyed lots of fresh air through the synthetic upper. However, when we took the shoes on steeper, rougher terrain, the too-flexible sole didn't provide nearly enough support.
__Wired: __Fantastic breathability. Lightweight (10 ounces for men's, 8.8 ounces for women's). Snazzy pink accents great for street or bar. Performed perfectly on paved roads.
__Tired: __Performed poorly everywhere else. Ruts, rocks, grade, mud: All spell disaster. Shouldn't trail runners do well on a trail?
North Face Rucky Chucky
$110, thenorthface.com
When we heard that ultrarunner Guillermo Medina loves this shoe, we rejoiced. But the Rucky Chuckys were the only shoe that made us curtail our workout due to foot-strike discomfort on asphalt, hard-packed dirt, and rocks. We blame insufficient midsole cushioning. While glitches in our gait probably contributed, let he who has perfect form throw the first stone — and let someone else step on it. Ouch!
__Wired: __Great traction lets you negotiate steep trails, gravel, and mud (albeit very slowly).
__Tired: __More like wearing a vise grip than a shoe. Poor air circulation through the upper.
Minimus Primus
Setting up a home network and entertainment hub? Check out the latest ultra-mini PCs — these diminutive boxes beam content around your crib, handle most documents, and cost well under a grand. — Nate Ralph
Photo: Todd TankerslyMac Mini
$799, apple.com
To put a desktop experience in a bite-size form factor, Apple hit the Refresh button on its Mac mini. Leopard practically purrs on the 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 1 gig of RAM. Though you won't be gaming much on the 64-MB Intel GMA 950 processor, it's a Mac, so you wouldn't be gaming much on it anyway. There's the slot-loading SuperDrive for all your ripping and burning needs, and a 120-GB hard drive tucked into the 3-pound, 6.5 x 6.5 x 2-inch case. And you're getting Leopard's fixin's out of the box, too, with all its Time Machine and iLife software goodness. Stash it in a nook and use the included remote to control your media from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy command chair.
__Wired: __Beautiful, tiny, and easy to set up. Built-in 802.11g and Bluetooth makes wireless synchronization a brains-free production.
__Tired: __Keyboard? No. Mouse? No. Display? No. Purchase of these nonincluded accessories will obviously jack up your costs.
Asus Nova P22
$849, asus.com
Lusting for an oversize, overclocked, liquid-cooled, game-scorching PC? The Nova P22 is not for you. But if you're looking for a compact Windows media machine, cease your search. The 1.86-GHz Core 2 Duo chip, Intel GMA 3000 graphics processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 160-GB hard drive have enough oomph to run Windows Vista. We hooked up the little rectangle to a TV and used it to pull movies off our home network within minutes of hitting the swank, touch-sensitive power button. Gaming be damned — we're watching leaked HD footage of Watchmen.
__Wired: __Decent price. Analog and digital audio outs. Small and quiet. Hardwired for 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.0. Nintendorks will love the Wii-like shape.
__Tired: __Accidental shutdowns courtesy of a touchy power button. DVI video outputs only. Built-in pencil holder (?!) is useless if you stand the machine upright. Onboard "hi-fi" speakers could barely fill a mailbox with sound. Cord management is tricky.
Everex MyMiniPC
$500, everex.com
Everex's MyMiniPC hopes to gain a few style points by cribbing its new OS liberally from a certain competitor (cough Apple cough). The operating system, called gOS Space (based on Ubuntu), runs smoothly on the unimpressive hardware: a 1.86-GHz Intel Core Duo and 512 megs of RAM, propped up by an adequate Intel GMA 950 graphics processor. It's also pretty small at 8.9 x 6.7 x 1.7 inches, and the 120-GB hard drive provides plenty of room, since most of the bundled "software" is just links to Web apps. Better open source options are easy to swap in, so at least you're not stuck with this stunted Leopard wannabe.
__Wired: __Two-in-one card reader and slot-loading DVD burner are nice touches. Quiet and slim. Plenty of other Linux distributions to replace gOS Space.
__Tired: __No Bluetooth or Wi-Fi? Free OS and middling hardware specs make it hard to justify the price tag. gOS Space looks awfully familiar and needs a bit more time in the oven.
Pump Up the Ham
Unlike your Aunt Gladys, something full of hot air actually can make dinner. Using compression to enable temperatures well above the boiling point, pressure cookers save time, energy, and all your vittles' nutrients and flavor. — Eric Smillie
Photo: Todd TankerslyKuhn Rikon Duromatic
$200, kuhnrikon.com
The Duromatic is tall, elegant, and cooks like a dream. Hitting maximum pressure faster than any other cooker tested, it also operates with nary a drip due to housing that sits over the pressure valve. Instead of maintaining temperatures by venting hot air through the safety release valves, it adjusts pressure in response to the temperature of your stove. This brings finer control and almost total silence — even when the pressure hits 15 psi.
Wired: Long handle is easy to hold and keeps your fingers away from stovetop heat. Safety latch on lid locks and unlocks without too much fiddling.
Tired: The flip side of all that sensitivity is that it makes the pot a bit finicky, demanding more attention.
WMF Perfect Plus
$209, wmf-usa.com
This responsive hunk of stainless steel lets off only a smidgen of steam and a few quiet wheezes while retaining heat — nothing that will interrupt a predinner conversation. And, in a clever move, WMF built all the delicate valves into a removable handle that's easy to rinse and leaves the lid and pot safe for the dishwasher. Any chef would be pleased to have this handsome worker in his culinary arsenal, but the ergonomic grip and cheery color-coded pressure gauge make it ideal for a casual home kitchen.
Wired: Pleasantly tweakable controls. Solid engineering from a top-shelf German manufacturer.
__Tired:__Attaching the lid is a struggle. Worse, it doesn't lock automatically, enhancing the chance of catastrophe.
Cuisinart CPC-600
$150, cuisinart.com
Hurting for burners as you juggle multiple dishes on a busy stove? This electric cooker just might save you from blowing your top. Set the timer on the LED display, turn on the heat, and then forget about it — the integrated computer does the rest. A top pressure of 11.6 psi means slow cooking, but the Cuisinart makes up for it by giving you the peace of mind to focus on the rest of your meal.
__Wired: __Clip-on condensation collector keeps your counter puddle-free. Includes brown, simmer, and saute functions. Nonstick insert is effortless to wash.
__Tired: __Space hog: 62-square-inch footprint for only six quarts of cooking volume. Take the accompanying recipe book's prescribed water ratios with a grain of salt; some lead to very disappointing, soggy rice.
Magefesa Mageplus
$159, magefesausa.com
When it tops out at 15 psi, this cooker cracks like a pop star under pressure. See, like the Duromatic, the Mageplus holds temperature in direct response to the stove, but it still loses steam in blustery bursts and requires increasing amounts of heat to fully cook a dish. Our food emerged tender without being mushy, but with its snail-like cooking pace, clumsy lid attachment, and confusing instructions, this pot made the whole process a chore.
__Wired: __Well-designed release valves don't need to be removed from the lid for dishwashing.
__Tired: __While everything feels sturdy enough, the short two-year warranty makes us worry about durability. Had the slowest cooking performance of the models tested.
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