DOJ Can’t Stop AT&T / T-Mobile’s Monopolistic Marriage

It’s hard to imagine a less-consumer-friendly scenario than the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Justice has labeled this potential union as anti-competitive, so it filed suit to block the marriage. Too bad that it can’t win.(Panasonic Cgr-s602e Battery)

Fewer Choices for More Consumers 

“They compete on price, plan structure, network coverage, quality, speed, devices, and operating systems,” Acting Assistant U.S. Attorney General Sharis A. Pozen said of T-Mobile at a press conference this morning. “Eliminating this aggressive competitor, which offers low pricing and innovative products, would hurt consumers, businesses, and government customers that rely on a competitive marketplace to provide them with the best products at the best possible price.”(Canon Eos-300d Battery)Well, no duh! In T-Mobile, we have a small, scrappy carrier which often strikes first in the marketplace with new technologies like HSPA+ and Android. We also have a carrier that’s experimented with consumer-friendly pricing like its Even More Plus plan, which allowed consumers to save several dollars a month on service if they paid the entire cost of the phone up-front. (Canon Bp-511 Battery)

Sprint Reacts

If AT&T buys T-Mobile, according to the DOJ, the three remaining carriers will control 90 percent of the market. However, we know that the majority of that 90-percent will belong to Verizon and AT&T, not third-place Sprint, which is clearly happy with the decision.(Sony Np-fp50 Battery)
“By filing suit to block AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile, the DOJ has put consumers’ interests first,” Sprint VP of Government Affairs Vonya B. McCann said in a press release. “Sprint applauds the DOJ for conducting a careful and thorough review and for reaching a just decision – one which will ensure that consumers continue to reap the benefits of a competitive U.S. wireless industry.”(Motorola GP340 battery)

Leaked Document Ruins AT&T’s Main Argument

AT&T’s main justification for the $39 billion dollar merger is that it needs T-Mobile’s spectrum to build out its next-gen LTE network. However,  a leaked document that the company submitted to the FCC shows that, on its own, AT&T was already planning to cover 80 percent of the U.S. with LTE, but had decided to avoid the $3.8 billion dollar cost of reaching a full 97-percent of the market. Instead, the company wants spend more than 10x that amount to acquire T-Mobile based on the premise that it needs the other carriers’ resources to get to 97-percent coverage within 6 years. (Sony Np-bg1 Battery)
So let’s be honest here. AT&T’s goal in buying T-Mobile is simply to remove a competitor from the market, the only other U.S. competitor that uses a GSM-style network, as opposed to the CDMA networks provided by Verizon / Sprint. By pushing T-Mobile out, AT&T increases its clout with handset makers, decreases the number of active handsets on the market, and has the opportunity to charge higher prices as consumers are left with fewer alternatives.(Toshiba pa3107u-1brs Battery)

Why AT&T is Too Influential to Fail

But will the DOJ prevail in its case against AT&T? My Magic 8 Ball says “not likely.” As a large company with deep pockets, AT&T has the money and political clout to wage a very effective war against the DOJ.
In 2010, AT&T donated 2.7 million dollars to candidates in both major parties, with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid the leading recipients. And with a major election just over a year away, the carrier may want to delay the appeals process in the hopes that a new congress and possibly a new president take different positions on the merger. AT&T also has plenty of motivation to influence the election through both hard and soft money.(Dell Inspiron 1525 ac Adapter)
Those of us old enough to remember the DOJ’s case against Microsoft in the late 1990s know exactly how this is going to end, with a settlement that allows AT&T to complete the merger in exchange for some very minor concessions, like divesting itself of some worthless assets or promising to cover more rural areas.
Back in 1999 and 2000, President Clinton’s DOJ wanted to break up Microsoft, because of the software maker’s anti-competitive practices. However, when 2001 rolled around, George W. Bush’s DOJ stopped seeking a breakup and instead settled for a light-weight consent decree that simply forced Microsoft to tamp down some of its most infamous practices.  (Kodak Easyshare v530 Battery)
Whether it occurs before the 2012 election or after, AT&T will find a way to get what it wants. And that’s bad news for consumers, handset makers, and other mobile players.
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next blog: Power Your Smartphone by Walking

Power Your Smartphone by Walking

By James Lee Phillips | August 25, 2011 9:09 PM HKT

Recharging your cell phone simply by walking may soon be a reality, according to a paper in the journal Nature Communications.
In "Reverse electrowetting as a new approach to high-power energy harvesting", researchers Tom Krupenkin and J Ashley Taylor outline the potential for using the energy generated in human motion to power portable electronics.(COMPAQ Presario CQ20-100 AC Adapter)

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"Humans, generally speaking, are very powerful energy-producing machines," writes Krupenkin. "While sprinting, a person can produce as much as a kilowatt of power." This is more than enough to power many of our mobile electronic gadgets -- laptops and cell phones included. Up to now, however, "what has been lacking is a mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion technology that would work well for this type of application."(TOSHIBA Satellite M35X-S1142 AC Adapter )

The answer? "Electrical energy generation is achieved through the interaction of arrays of moving microscopic liquid droplets with novel nanometer-thick multilayer dielectric films."
Or, to put it another way, the mechanical energy (generated by walking, for example) gets converted into electrical energy via a bunch of incredibly tiny drops of fluid 'rubbing up against' layers of an incredibly thin film. (ACER Travelmate 2400 AC Adapter )

Must Read

 

Or you might simply call it "InStep NanoPower", which (not coincidentally) is the name of Krupenkin and Taylor's newly-formed business.
Since these structures are so very small, they can be incorporated into all sorts of things that experience regular movement (such as footwear, for example) without requiring significant and unsightly additions, or even causing any additional effort (unlike that pedal-powered lamp connected to your bicycle, for example).(Sony Dcr-hc19e Battery)
The direct connection between the power-generating footwear would provide the power needed to power or recharge a smartphone, netbook, GPS unit, or any number of other battery-dependent devices. But the report gets even better -- it outlines the possibility that you won't even have to plug your iPhone into your left shoe while you walk.(Universal External Battery)
Using a WiFi hot spot to transfer the power wirelessly, your energy-harvesting sneakers could be able to charge up your phone (or whatever) without being in contact with the device. Technically, this means that you can set your smartphone down on the desk and power it up simply by going about your usual business.(IBM THINKPAD 600E AC Adapter )
Not much of a charge will be provided for the usual cubicle-bound desk jockey, but a few trips to the bathroom, the water cooler, the boss' office -- and voila, your device is good for another few hours.
James Lee Phillips is a Senior Writer & Research Analyst for IBG.com. With offices in Dallas, Las Vegas, and New York, & London, IBG is quickly becoming the leading expert in Internet Marketing, Local Search, SEO, Website Development and Reputation Management. More information can be found at www.buy-laptop-battery.org. Craig Morganson Online was born and raised in Connecticut and then migrated to Nevada in 1980. He is a competitive athlete, musician and successful entrepreneur
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next blog: Samsung W200 waterproof / rugged 1080p camcorder review

Samsung W200 waterproof / rugged 1080p camcorder review

Samsung slid its 'multi-proof' W200 pocket cam out a couple of months back, and we've spent the past few weeks testing it out in a place that's no stranger to water (read: the Big Island of Hawaii). Hailed as a waterproof and shockproof 1080p pocket camcorder, it most resembles a ruggedized version of Cisco's now-deceased Flip HD, and it's definitely a heck of a lot more petite than Canon's PowerShot D10 -- a waterproof P&S that we reviewed back in June of '09. (Sony NP-F550 Battery) Aside from putting high-def recording capabilities in the palm of your pruney hand, the W200's other key selling point is the trifecta of digits to the left of the decimal. At just $150 on the street, it's certainly classifiable as a bargain in the category, but does it deliver results worthy of laud? Read on for our take!(Sony NP-F970 Battery)

Design

With a 0.28 pounds chassis measuring 2.36- (W) x 4.45- (H) x 0.78-inches (D), the W200 is definitely diminutive for what it is. It's also a familiar form factor, one that slips easily into any pocket and one that doesn't look rugged despite being rugged. Strangely enough, the entire outer ring is constructed of a hard plastic rather than a rubberized bumper. Not only would the latter have played a vital role in making it easier to grip with wet hands, but it would've added a pinch of shock protection that's sorely missing (more on that later).(Canon PowerShot SD950 IS Charger)

The front is graced with a shielded F2.2 lens, which -- much to our chagrin -- has no optical zoom to speak of. The right side is equipped with a microSDHC slot and HDMI port, and the bottom touts a standard tripod socket alongside a flip-out USB socket. That's convenient on a number of levels; for one, that's one less charger you'll need in your carry-on bag (read: it charges over USB), and secondly, it allows you to transfer your captures onto your computer without fiddling around to find a microSD-to-SD adapter.(Canon EOS 350D battery)

Around back, you'll find a 2.3-inch LCD, a D-pad control dial, a smattering of buttons and a microphone port. The LCD is shockingly vibrant even in direct sunlight, and the two-stage shutter / "OK" button is quite the useful beast when you're looking to lock a focus point before firing a shot. Regretfully, the microphone port is placed right where the thumb falls for folks handling this with their left hand. We routinely had to think about where our hand was positioned, and most times, we were left holding it awkwardly in order to not muffle whatever audio was being projected its way. We're struggling to figure out why the mic port couldn't have been installed a little further north -- as it sits, it's right in the line of one's digit, and it's something users will undoubtedly have to remain conscious of.(Olympus LI-50B Charger)

Then, there's the carry strap. An altogether forgettable lanyard is tossed into the box, and compared to the locking carabiner setup on the aforementioned D10, this approach was just woeful. For a device that's destined to end up tethered to your wrist in underwater situations, we would've preferred a far more secure offering than what's here. One wrong twist of the wrist, and this thing's headed for whatever shore it pleases. Frankly, we've seen nicer straps on non-waterproof cameras.(Canon POWERSHOT G6 battery)

Features and performance

Let's start with the user interface. Sammy's done an exemplary job here; it's dead simple to navigate through menus, and we'd guess that most users will have their settings in place and ready to roll within five minutes. Of course, the simplistic nature of the device aids in this. There's no optical zoom, no manual controls at all and just two movie mode options: 1080p and 720p. So, while it's a lesson in simplicity to peruse the menu tree, we can't help but lament the fact that there's no way to specify an ISO ceiling, an aperture setting or a minimum shutter speed. We know, those kinds of things are just now creeping into lower-end cameras, but still -- we would've loved even a buried section that allowed for some tweaking.(Sony CCD-TR717E Battery)

Startup and shutdown were stunningly quick; it took but two seconds to go from off to firing in our testing. Switching back and forth from still to video mode requires but a press of a dedicated button (kudos on that, Samsung), and the amount of remaining stills / minutes of video are clearly displayed along the top of the panel. Speaking of stills, there's a five megapixel image sensor that's capable of grabbing ho hum frames for moments when video just isn't ideal. You'll find practically no settings outside of "shoot," but snaps taken with plenty of daylight tended to turn out decently in our testing. Low-light shots were predictably unusable, generally littered with noise and blur.(Jvc GR-AX200 Battery)

There's also something to be said for the unit's anti-fog lens coating -- that "something" is this: it works. And it works well. We took the device on a snorkel trip to Captain Cook's Monument in South Kona, Hawaii, and not once did fog become an issue. 'Course, the water's about as clear as it gets here, but it's still comforting to know that you won't have to worry over wiping the lens off every so often to ensure a cloud-free capture.(Samsung BP70A Battery)

Image and video quality

We'll start with stills. By all accounts, the W200 is a camcorder first, and a still shooter third -- perhaps fourth, even. There's no optical zoom, no manual controls for ISO / aperture / shutter speed and no flash to speak of. To no one's surprise, the sensor performed dreadfully on indoor shots with low lighting, and even dimly lit outdoor scenes had a decent amount of blur introduced. When plenty of outdoor light was available, most of our test shots were clear and sharp, but the colors were on the muted side and results felt generally lifeless.(Sony NP-FH50 Battery)

However, we couldn't have been more pleased with how the still functionality operated under the sea. Yesteryear's D10 was fairly poor whilst underwater, but the W200 managed to pull out quite a few sharp shots during our time with the fishes. It's worth pointing out that those were shot at high noon with a clear Hawaiian sky, but still, the results are downright impressive for a $150 device. Toss in a bit of Lightroom magic in order to inject a little vibrance into the yellows, and you'd have a gallery of results worth showing your mum.(Nikon D90 Battery)

As for video? We stuck exclusively to the 1080p mode given that we had plenty of room on our 4GB microSDHC card. For those curious, around 35 minutes of Full HD footage can be socked away on a card of that size. Starting and stopping videos couldn't have been easier, but as we mentioned above, we recorded a number of clips that ended up with muffled audio due to the poor positioning of the microphone. By and large, video results in broad daylight were more than acceptable for a unit in this price range, but there's one major gripe that we simply can't gloss over: the jelly effect.(Kodak Easyshare M863 Charger)

If you're unfamiliar with the term, just peek the video above. While outside of the water, the W200 exhibited this wretched phenomenon in practically every video we shot, regardless of how fast (or slow) we moved our hand during shooting. This warped, wobbly effect started cropping up in some of the early video-enabled DSLRs (we're looking at you, D90), and it's tragic to find it here. Weirdly enough, the effect seemed to vanish (or at least, diminish significantly) when shooting underwater. From what we can gather, the jelly creeps in as the camera jostles north and south (as with the movement of a human walking); when this is removed underwater, so is the jelly.(Sony DSC-F717 Charger)

Our underwater captures couldn't have been more stunning given the price point. Colors were relatively vibrant, noise was kept to a minimum, and it generally did a terrific job of reproducing the magic we witnessed with our own eyes down in Kealakekua Bay. Don't take our word for it, though -- have a look at a few (unedited) samples below, but be sure to enable 'HD.'(Canon POWERSHOT G5 Charger)

If you're unfamiliar with the term, just peek the video above. While outside of the water, the W200 exhibited this wretched phenomenon in practically every video we shot, regardless of how fast (or slow) we moved our hand during shooting. This warped, wobbly effect started cropping up in some of the early video-enabled DSLRs (we're looking at you, D90), and it's tragic to find it here. Weirdly enough, the effect seemed to vanish (or at least, diminish significantly) when shooting underwater. From what we can gather, the jelly creeps in as the camera jostles north and south (as with the movement of a human walking); when this is removed underwater, so is the jelly.(Sony NP-F550 Battery)

Our underwater captures couldn't have been more stunning given the price point. Colors were relatively vibrant, noise was kept to a minimum, and it generally did a terrific job of reproducing the magic we witnessed with our own eyes down in Kealakekua Bay. Don't take our word for it, though -- have a look at a few (unedited) samples below, but be sure to enable 'HD.'
(Sony NP-F570 Charger)

Toughness and battery life

Here's the rub. Samsung never specifically says just how rugged the W200 is, and we're here to tell you the truth: not very. Our review unit suffered a single two-foot tumble onto linoleum, and it left a visible scuff and indentation in the top corner. Worse, however, is what said tumble evidently did to the LCD. After around 20 minutes underwater (at around one to two feet deep; far less than the three meters it can stand), we began to see air bubbles emerging from the top right corner of the panel. Within minutes, condensation had begun to build up around every edge of the display, and it got progressively worse as we continued to swim. Now, it's just a matter of time before future treks to the sea render the whole thing useless, or at least the monitor 'round back.(Canon LP-E6 battery)

Sure, you could say that our unit is a one-off problem, but it's simply not as rugged as it needs to be. There's a strange and uncomfortable paradox in having a fragile camera that's suitable for underwater shooting. For what it's worth, all of the "doors" (locking water away from ports and slots) functioned as advertised during our testing, and salt water abuse seemed to have no negative consequences beyond the fading of a few logos on rear buttons.(Canon NB-4L battery)

As for Canon EOS 5D Charger battery life? Let's say this: we managed to fill up a 4GB microSDHC card with 1080p footage before the thing croaked, and we had snapped 40 to 50 shots prior to that. Obviously, camera battery life will vary wildly depending on how long you let the LCD remain on in standby, how many shutter presses you have, and how cold your environment is. We'd recommend recharging it after loading up a 4GB card (we had around 35 percent life left), but at least you can get through an average vacation day on a full tank.

Wrap-up

So, is Samsung's "multi-proof" W200 worth its weight in underwater memories? It's tough to say, but we're leaning "yes." $150 is dirt cheap in this category, particularly for a device this small. The 1080p underwater video mode is leaps and bounds better than the VGA mode we saw on the D10 just two years ago, and underwater stills also turned out remarkably well. We've kvetched enough about the lack of manual controls and the awful jelly effect seen in outdoor videos, but none of those nitpicks are apt to bother the target market here. For a buck-fifty, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything as versatile and compact in this segment, but you'll need to keep a couple of things in mind.( Canon BP-511 Charger )

For one, it's most certainly not as tough as it looks, and one bad tumble could loosen its frame enough to ruin it once taken to the pool. And secondly, you'll have to be mindful of where your thumb ends up while recording. All in all, it's a respectable underwater offering for the price, but true argonauts are probably better off spending more for something that's constructed to handle real abuse.
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next blog: Dell Vostro V131 business laptop

Dell Vostro V131 business laptop

Dell makes another splash in the business laptop market with their latest addition – the Dell Vostro V131. Just what the heck makes the Dell Vostro V131 so special? For starters, it will come with up to 9.5 hours of TOSHIBA DYNABOOK SS 3480 AC Adapter battery life, which is pretty decent in this day and age – placing it on par with those long-lasting netbooks. After all, many of us these days are extremely mobile, and it isn’t always convenient to find a power outlet nearby when you need one, so getting all the help you can from a long lasting Dell XPS M170 Battery is always appreciated.
Apart from being powerful, it is also thin and sleek in design, being one of the lightest and thinnest laptops from the Vostro range. It’s main target would be small business customers, where the Dell Vostro V131 can stash away an Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor inside makes sure that you won’t be found wanting when processing power is required.

To make sure you remain well connected, the Vostro V131 sports a wide range of connectivity options where among them include WWAN, WiMax & LTE (US only), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. There is also a standard fingerprint reader for better security of your sensitive information inside, while the Absolute LoJack security software comes pre-loaded to make sure you have peace of mind, even if your laptop is stolen by someone. (DOPOD 818 Pro PDA battery)
While the Dell Vostro V131 is not going to be a gaming powerhouse at any time (Facebook and other casual games are fine), that is because this is an office-centric laptop, where it is suited for everyday office operations such as document editing, presentations and email. Of course, you will also have the advantage of a built-in full HD camera for video conferencing purposes, SRS Premium Voice Pro, digital array mics and built-in Skype. With a couple of USB 3.0 ports, this is one future-forward machine – and the chiclet keyboard with a backlit option certainly suits those who love working late into the night. TOSHIBA PA-1700-02 ac Adapter
You will be able to bring home the Vostro V131 for as little as $449, now is that cheap or what?
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next blog: Droid Bionic said to offer improved battery life

Droid Bionic said to offer improved battery life

The stream of information coming from the Droid Bionic's direction has steadily been increasing its flow over the last few weeks and is now about to flood as the device has reached the hands of testers. It may have been taking its time to reach consumers with its specs looking increasingly less promising the longer it took to get here but according to one tester it may have a saving grace, its SONY NP-FT1 Battery life.

While high-end specs are always good there's no doubt that the more powerful a phone and its mobile internet connection the less likely the SAMSUNG VP-L700 battery is to last a day. According to YodaDroid over at the Android Forums the phone managed to last for around 15 hours of what sounds like a reasonable amount of smartphone activity, which this particular user classes as "decent usage throughout day. push email checking in, multiple widgets pulling content all day long".

If accurate then this would be very impressive for a smartphone and should be one reason for investing in the Droid Bionic. Another user at the same forum contributed to fuelling some hype about the Bionic by posting images of a speed test app which shows the device offering some very respectable download speeds, though it isn't clear whether this is from a Wi-Fi network or a mobile data connection. (PANASONIC VDR-D150 battery)

The key specs of the phone are a 4.3" qHD display, dual-core 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, it will also feature a rear-facing 8mp camera and a front-facing VGA camera for video calling. It will of course also offer LTE connectivity but it would have been nice to have seen it delivered with a larger screen and more RAM. It is known that it will be arriving at some point next month and is rumoured to be released on September 1.

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next blog: Canon LP-E6 Battery

Canon LP-E6 Battery

Buy Canon LP-E6 Battery in UK professional battery store www.camera-battery.co.uk, this Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack is a high capacity replacement digital camera battery for original Canon LP-E6, 100% OEM compatible. Now the high capacity Canon LP-E6 Replacement Battery is at discount price

Replacement for Canon LP-E6 Battery ! The rechargeable Li-ion Canon LP-E6 Spare Battery (1400mAh high capacity) is specially designed for the original Canon LP-E6 Camera Battery. Meet or exceed the original specifications, keep your Canon digital camera powered up for a longer time.

Buy Canon LP-E6 camera Battery in UK professional battery store www.camera-battery.co.uk now, we offer best price for Canon LP-E6 replacement batteries, and our product warranty is as the following.

If you are looking for the best brand new Canon LP-E6 Digital Camera batteries at the most preferred price, you have come to the right place. We provide the highest quality Digital Camera batteries at the lowest price with the highest level of service, all in a secure and convenient platform.

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The Canon LP-E6 Battery is an additional rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack for the Canon EOS 5D MKII and EOS 7D digital SLRs. Will allow up to 850 shots in normal usage, 200 shots using the Live-View facility or up to 2 hours of HD Movie (based on Canon tests).  

This canon lp-e6 battery is made specifically for your canon digital camera and to meet or exceed the original manufacturer specifications. With a fully charged canon replacement rechargeable Li-ion 7.4V , 1400mAh lp-e6 battery pack, you will never miss the important snap moment when you're just about to capture the perfect moment! Best choice to get extra power for your digital camera. Our digital camera battery for canon lp-e6 provide a full 1 year warranty and 30 days refund! Why go somewhere else and pay more? Get the quality and reliability that you need at the fraction of the OEM cost.

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next blog: Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR review

Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR review

Looking for a versatile and affordable camera to take on your travels? With a 15x wide-angle zoom lens, built-in GPS, 1080p video recording, raw support, an HDMI output and a raft of creative, automatic and manual functions, the Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR superzoom is positively bulging at the seams with photographic goodness. It's reasonably priced too, costing £230 or thereabouts. (ACER Aspire 5100 ac Adapter)

Portable and tough

The F550EXR is housed in a serious-looking, rugged outer shell. It might not be the lightest camera in the world, weighing around 215g with the Canon mv890 Battery and memory card included, but it's still extremely portable.
The massive zoom has surprisingly little impact on the size and shape of the unit. The lens housing is raised above the rest of the camera's body, but only by about 6mm when the device is in standby mode.
The all-black metal and plastic shell is moulded into an appealing, modern style and has some useful touches, such as a rubber grip on the front to help you hold the camera steady. The large, 3-inch screen on the rear offers a high resolution of around 460,000 pixels. Alas, we found its colours to be rather garish, and there's no way of toning them down. (Toshiba Satellite Pro 2100-203eb Battery)

Bold colours stand out well, and there's plenty of detail in the frame. But some shots can be spoiled by picture noise, visible here, at ISO 160, in the area of solid grey (click image to enlarge).

We do have a couple of gripes with the camera's design, though. First up is the motorised pop-up flash, which emerges every time you switch the camera on, whether you need the flash or not. It's a thundering nuisance, particularly since it happens to be situated just where your left forefinger naturally rests when holding the camera. (Toshiba pa3420u-1brs Battery)
There's also nowhere for your right thumb to sit comfortably without risking accidental button presses. We found some of the buttons -- particularly the power switch -- small and fiddly too. Not only that but the raised mode dial can be hard to use, since your fingers naturally attempt to twist the fixed mount it rests on rather than the dial itself. (Canon Lp-e10 Battery)

Picture noise nuisance

The F550EXR uses Fujifilm's back-illuminated EXR CMOS sensor, with a resolution of 16 megapixels. This may sound good but we've noticed that many compact cameras with resolutions this high tend to exhibit picture noise, especially when you use them in environments that aren't evenly lit. (Hp 338794-001 Battery)
This proved true of the F550EXR's images, which start to look too grainy whenever the sensitivity is set above ISO 400. You may even notice some noise in areas of solid colour at lower settings, as our photo above shows. This is a shame, since the camera offers high sensitivity settings of up to ISO 12,800. In auto mode, the F550EXR is quick to adjust to higher-sensitivity settings, which means you could be more affected by this issue than you think, even if you mostly take outdoor shots in daylight. (FUJITSU Amilo D5100 ac Adapter)

The F550EXR is as good for close-ups as it is for long-distance zoom shots. Natural tones, such as wood, are reproduced well (click image to enlarge).

Despite the noise issue, there's plenty to commend in the F550EXR's images. Colours are terrific, with bold tones and high contrast handled particularly well. The camera's great for nature shots, although we wouldn't put much trust in the 'foliage' mode, which tends to overly pump up greens. (FUJITSU Amilo D5100 ac Adapter)
Whether you're taking a picture of something far away or up close, the F550EXR delivers a sharp, detailed image. Macro shots are a particular highlight and the wide-angle lens lets you fit more into the frame for group shots. At the long end of the zoom, the image holds its sharpness well, thanks to a sensor-shift image stabiliser. You may notice some chromatic aberration along the edges of high-contrast subjects, such as dark buildings with cloudy skies behind them, but this is normal for a camera of this type. (Kodak Easyshare v1273 Battery)
There are loads of different shooting modes available, including one for taking 360-degree panoramas. Film-simulation options are offered and there are several different high-speed continuous-shooting modes to choose from if you're shooting fast-moving subjects or want the option of taking photos in bursts.
We should point out some of the limitations of the F550EXR's features. It takes much longer to store raw images than standard JPEG files, for example, so be prepared to wait between shots if you want to make use of this format. (Canon Eos-300d Battery)
Similarly, the HD video quality is pretty good, and you'll benefit from not only stereo sound but also full use of the zoom while filming. Unfortunately, however, the camera's autofocus struggles when using the zoom and we found that much of our test footage was blurry and unusable.
It's also worth mentioning that, for those who aren't interested in geotagging their photos, a GPS-free version of the camera is available in the shape of the FinePix F500EXR, which costs about £200. (Canon E-620 Battery)

Conclusion

A number of niggles prevent the Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR from achieving greatness. But, at its current price, it still represents good value for those seeking an advanced set of features in a fairly compact camera.
Edited by Charles Kloet
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