Logitech diNovo Mini Review

When we first played with the Logitech diNovo Mini, we loved the concept and it looked like it solved all our Media Center remote issues as it features a mouse and a QWERTY keyboard in a small and elegant package that can actually stay on the living room table without looking bad. In this review we will give you our verdict about the strengths and the weaknesses of this device and we will tell you whether or not you should get one. Installation

The diNovo Mini connects to the PC via Bluetooth. Even if your computer is equipped with a Bluetooth receiver, we recommend using the USB dongle that is provided in the box. It is easier because it is pre-paired with the remote, so upon connection, it will find the remote by itself, without requiring you to discover it "by hand".

And voila! The remote should work, but if you want to customize additional shortcuts, you will have to install SetPoint, the software provided by Logitech.

Unlike infra-red (IR) remotes, the diNovo Mini does not need to be pointed at the receiver and does not stop working if something (or someone) is in the way. We tested at a distance of 7 yards (about 7 meters) and it worked fine.

Usage

While Windows Media Center is mostly OK using a traditional remote, I have to admit that I sometimes like using the living room computer for a quick search, change some settings, show something to a friend, or even search a movie by title in Media Center. That gives me plenty of reasons for wanting to have a full keyboard and a mouse, without the bulk of a traditional set. The diNovo Mini is a very good solution for that. If you like QWERTY smart phones, you will like this keyboard.

The mouse function could be better: the motion is choppy and it might test someone with little patience. I suspect that it's because the mouse pad has a double purpose: it can be used as digital direction buttons and as a mouse pad. Also, the pad surface is very small, so the cursor has to accelerate quickly, leading to choppiness.

From my point of view, the only big mistake is the lack of media center "guide" button. I use that one all the time. Fortunately, I solved this by assigning the "guide" function to the FN+Music combination, but it is weird that a Media Center remote does not have such a guide button. Unlike many remotes, this one is backlit and it is smart: if you are only using the controls, the QWERTY section is not lit until you touch the keyboard. It is good for the eyes and it saves the battery to some extent.

Conclusion

In the end, our experience with the diNovo Mini has been excellent. It is everything that we wanted in a Media Center controller and it is the perfect blend between a remote, a keyboard and mouse, in a beautiful package that looks good on the coffee table. Of course, it has a few shortcomings, but there is nothing else like it on the market today.

If you are happy with your traditional MCE remote, or if you are OK with hiding your keyboard and mouse under the couch, there is no need to upgrade. However, if you are a moderate mouse and keyboard user on your living room PC, you should definitely take a look at the diNovo Midi. It costs around $150

source ubergizmo.com

Nokia is now more “beautiful to use”

Nokia unveiled three new handsets under the motto "Beautiful to use". The Nokia 6600 fold, Nokia 6600 slide and Nokia 3600 slide combine exclusive design and materials with nice functionality.

The Nokia 6600 fold is considered the flagship of the trio at least according to Nokia. The clamshell offers a one-click electromagnetic opening mechanism with dampened hinge for smooth motion and flaunts an unusual combination of material such as the smooth back and the high-gloss front. The Nokia 6600 fold has a QVGA 2.13-inch 16M color OLED display and a 2 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash.

Nokia 6600 fold

Thanks to the built-in accelerometer, a double tap on the Nokia 6600 slide can snooze an alert, silence or reject a call or simply wake up the hidden external 128 x 160 pixel display in order to visualize the clock. The Nokia Arte had a similar functionality but there it was limited to only displaying the clock.

In terms of network connectivity, the Nokia 6600 fold is able to offer quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support plus dual-band UMTS support with video calls. The device is based on the Nokia Series 40 user interface and will have support for microSD memory cards with a capacity of up to 4GB.

The Nokia 6600 fold will be available in Q3 2008 in Mysterious Black and Sophisticated Purple at an estimated price of 275 euro before subsidies and taxes.

The Nokia 6600 slide builds on the same well-known name but again doesn't offer the smartphone functionality of the original Nokia 6600. The new slider has the same double tap feature of the 6600 fold and also has some interesting materials used such as glossy surfaces and steel covers.

Nokia 6600 slide

The Nokia 6600 slide is again based on the S40 user interface and has a QVGA 2.2-inch 16M color TFT display. In the same time it remains compact enough. The 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera is also capable of recording VGA resolution video clips at 15fps (in 3GP format). The Nokia 6600 slide also has a FM radio and some dedicated music keys.

Connectivity features include quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support and dual-band UMTS with video calls, Bluetooth and a microUSB connectivity port.

The Nokia 6600 slide will be available in Q3 2008 at an estimated price of 250 euro before subsidies and taxes.

Last of the bunch, the Nokia 3600 slide also has some neat features in store for would-be owners. Its sliding body again has some high-gloss surfaces with gradated colors, metallic elements and soft ceramic paint. Beside the 2.2-inch QVGA 16M color TFT display, the 3600 slide also boasts a 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera capable of capturing VGA MPEG4 videos at 15 fps and a two-step camera key.

Nokia 3600 slide

The Nokia 3600 slide doesn't have the double-tap command feature but it's the first Nokia handset to feature Background Noise Cancellation for superior sound quality. It's got a 2.5 mm standard audio jack which serves the double purpose of a TV-out port.

Connectivity-wise, the Nokia 3600 slide packs quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support (no 3G) and Bluetooth. The microSD memory card slot is capable of using cards with a capacity of up to 4GB.

The Nokia 3600 slide will be available in Charcoal and Wine colors in Q3 2008 at an estimated retail price of 175 euro before taxes and subsidies.

source gsmarena