Not every cell phone on Earth needs to pack in all the bells and whistles found on ultrahigh-end models like the iPhone. But for those who still want a fair amount of extras at an affordable price, there are handsets like the Samsung Smooth (aka the SCH-U350). This basic mobile for Verizon Wireless costs as little as $29.99 with a contract and comes with some handy extras, such as Bluetooth and a simple Web browser. It doesn't offer the best call quality, but budget-minded users with a hankering for something simple may be willing to overlook this drawback.
Samsung Smooth
(Credit: Verizon Wireless)We missed this bit of news last weekend, but Samsung has recently started selling its new Smooth clamshell, available from Verizon Wireless. The Samsung Smooth may be smooth, but it's definitely a low-end phone, with only a VGA camera offering, GPS, Bluetooth, speakerphone, voice command, and not much else. Still, the $29.99 price is hard to beat, and will be just fine for folks who mostly want a phone for making calls.
On Sale Now: $19.99
View the latest prices for Samsung Smooth (Verizon Wireless)
Pioneer's 2007 plasmas have a de-judder mode.
(Credit: CNET)Hi David,
Based on my price range and the reviews I've read, including yours, I'm very interested in the Samsung PN50A550 and the Panasonic TH-PZ85U series. However, when I went to see them in the shop, I was very impressed with the video quality of the Sony KDL-XBR4 and the Samsung LN-T4671F. The first two are plasmas and the second two are LCDs, but I was most impressed with the smoothness of the latter two. You commented on that smoothness in your reviews and made it seem like it's a feature that can be turned on/off. Anyhow, I was just wondering if that feature is available in the plasmas I was interested in. You seemed to comment how it can be unnerving at times and it seems like a feature than can be adjusted. There isn't much of a mention of it in the Samsung A550 review and I just wanted to know if that smoothness can be turned off/on in the plasmas. Thanks, Jon
Hi Jon,
That smoothness I mentioned in my reviews is the result of a de-judder video processing mode. Pioneer put a similar mode on its 2007 plasmas, including the PDP-5080HD (pictured), but it's not as smoothing and it introduces a lot more artifacts compared with the LCDs I've tested, so we preferred to leave it turned off. More recent reviews of de-judder-equipped LCDs include the Samsung LN52A650 and LG 47LG60. To answer your original question, I don't know of any plasma TVs available now aside from Pioneer's models that have de-judder processing.... Read More
(Credit:
Smooth Creations)
If you're not sure whether an outfit's colors go together, we've always been told, don't take a chance. But, as this PC ensemble proves, the monochromatic look isn't a slam dunk either, unless it's all black.
The "Diablo" custom gaming system from Smooth Creations can be ordered with a matching monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers and iPod, according to Chip Chick, in the hues of your choice. But we do hope that the color pictured here doesn't become too popular, as it appears to have produced the computing incarnation of Goldmember.
No matter how atrocious it may look on the outside, the system will still contain an impressive set of components including an Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Processor, 2GB of memory and a pair of 250GB hard drives, as well as two GeForce 8800 GTX cards. Still, at at a the price of $5,000, we think they should throw in a fashion consultant as well--for everyone's benefit.
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