AVIC-F90BT
(Credit: Pioneer)Pioneer's AVIC Z-Series has set the standard for in-dash navigation devices over the past couple of years, and so the release of a new line of a new family of products in the AVIC series is big news for car tech fans. The line-up starts with the entry-level AVIC-F700BT, which features a single CD/CD-R/RW playback mechanism, followed by the AVIC-F900BT and the AVIC-F90BT, which are both capable of reading MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC, and WAV audio formats as well as DVD, DivX, and MPEG4 video files.
AVIC F900BT
(Credit: Pioneer)
AVIC-F700BT
(Credit: Pioneer)Unveiled this week, all of the F-Series include flash-memory-based navigation and the capability to deliver real-time traffic, weather, and gasoline prices via a connection to MSN Direct. Each of the three new in-dash units features a 5.8-inch high-resolution WVGA touch-panel display; a USB interface for quick connection to iPod music players, portable media players, and USB memory devices; and an SD-card slot for loading additional Points of Interest information or compressed audio and video files. The devices also feature an advanced speech-recognition interface for hands-free calling and media playback selection. Developed by VoiceBox, the voice-recognition system is able to understand conversational directions for making phone calls and selecting audio playback options. Pioneer claims that the interface can even discern a voice command that is complicated by pauses or hesitation, such as a command like: "I want to, ah, play artist, um, Black Eyed Peas." If it works as advertised, the technology will go one better than Ford's Sync system, which holds the current crown for voice-command usability.
Look out for the AVIC-F700BT, the AVIC-F900BT, and the Premier AVIC-F90BT to hit the shelves in June with price tags of $850, $1,100, and $1,200 respectively.
With Face Detection 3.0, sensitivity up to ISO 3,200 at full 12MP resolution, and a 5x optical zoom lens, the F100fd carries on the tradition of the company's feature-rich F-series compact cameras.
(Credit: Fujifilm)
One of the hidden gems in Fujifilm's compact camera line has always been its F series cameras, which offer high sensitivity, manual exposure controls, and a conveniently small form factor. New to the line this year is the F100fd, which carries on the long tradition boasting a sensitivity of ISO 3,200 at its full resolution of 12 megapixels, as well as ISO 6,400 with resolution limited to 6MP, and ISO 12,800 if you don't mind being limited to 3MP. Fuji has also extended the zoom range, with a 5X optical, 28-140mm f/3.3-5.1 Fujinon zoom lens. Like the F50fd it replaces, the F100fd includes sensor-shift image stabilization as well as ISO-boosting picture stabilization to combat blurry images due to camera shake or fast moving subjects.
Fuji has been at the forefront of face detection from the start. In the F100fd, they take it a step further with Face Detection 3.0. While Face Detection 2.0 was able to find faces in profile, this new version can even see a face if it is upside down, sideways, or anywhere in between. Plus, the camera uses the face detection system to help power its automatic red eye removal function.
Another of Fuji's specialties is a wide dynamic range, thanks to their Super CCD sensors. The F100fd includes an 8th generation version of that sensor which uses two special types of pixels-- one specialized to capture highlight detail, the other to capture shadow detail. These two types of pixels work together to provide a wider dynamic range than a normal sensor would. You can choose from three levels of enhanced dynamic range with the F100fd.
As mentioned above, the F100fd includes manual exposure controls, as well as the usual array of auto modes and scene presets. It has a 2.7-inch, 230,000 pixel LCD screen, records images to either an xD Picture card or an SD/SDHC card, and includes IrSimple, so you can transfer images between the camera and another IrSimple-equipped device (if you can find one). Fuji expects the F100fd to hit stores this March with a price of about $380.
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