Music Madness

Get down, get funky, get out of the house with a portable satellite radio.

Cathy Lu, Digital World

Cathy Lu is contributing news editor for Digital World magazine.

My daily mail usually includes a couple of credit card solicitations, home refinancing pitches, and if I'm lucky, less than three catalogs filled with stuff I'd never buy. So I love it when something that actually interests me arrives on my doorstep. A few days ago it was the new MyFi portable XM satellite radio player--a gift (well, a 30-day loaner) from Delphi's public relations department.

The Delphi MyFi gives you get-up-and-go access to satellite radio. This is the first device of its kind. Before MyFi, to listen to XM or Sirius radio programs, you had to do so in your car or at home, or buy a clunky boom-box speaker shell to use for outings. Delphi's pocket-size device is truly portable, with a built-in antenna and a battery that lasts for 5 hours between charges.

For the past few months, I've been swearing to start training for a half-marathon I'm planning to do in May. (And by planning, I mean mentioning it to friends whenever they tell me about their latest triathlon.) But the problem is, I haven't had much incentive to get out and do it. The rain here in Seattle's got me down, and with only eight or so hours of daylight, who wants to waste it sweating?

I was hoping that the MyFi would be the kick in the pants I needed to start my training, but when I opened up the package, I realized it was way too big to carry for 13.1 miles (or even one mile, for that matter). Although it offers more music choices than I could ever want, if I were to clip the PDA-sized MyFi to my shorts, they would be on the ground before I ran 50 feet. And that's not a sight for even the sorest of eyes.

I haven't tested the MyFi extensively, but I can't help but notice that it offers a lot of features that are hard to overlook if you're not a marathoner, or marathon poseur like me. You can record up to five hours of programming, and the device comes with car and home kits so you can use it wherever you want. Plus there's a stock ticker so that I can keep track of how filthy rich all my Google friends are.

While the MyFi is less than ideal for athletes, Apple's recently released IPod Shuffle is the perfect size and weight to take as a running buddy. Unfortunately, it can't give you access to the awesome music selection that satellite radio offers, but I'm impressed by its light weight and slim lines.

I've got to hand it to Apple. Most companies wouldn't want to point out its products' flaws, but Apple is marketing the hell out of the IPod Shuffle's biggest weakness: the lack of a built-in screen. Now, an LCD is useful for choosing what you want to listen to--which is a good thing. How is Apple pulling this off? It's touting the randomness of life--and your music. But whether you buy the spin depends on whether you like playing Russian roulette with your music. Read the details in our review of the IPod Shuffle.

Mini Me Mac

While we're on the subject of Apple, how about that Mac Mini? For those of you who aren't up to speed on it, the Mac Mini is a tiny computer that comes all by its lonesome. It's a BYOP machine, meaning Bring Your Own Peripherals: as in display, keyboard, mouse--and booze too, if that makes everything a little easier. But that's okay when the company's charging you only $499 for the computer.

PC World got its hands on a Mac Mini the second it came out, and our reviewer was pleased.

I know I'm not alone when I say that the first thought that popped into my mind when I saw the Mac Mini was, "That would look so nice in my living room!" It's small; it's pretty; and it has a DVD player, a hard drive, and a DVI connector for connecting it to my TV.

Speaking of connecting Mac Minis to TVs, if this is something you're actually thinking about doing (because really, I'm all talk--I still haven't quite bought into this marriage-of-computer-and-TV thing yet), then you'll want to read Engadget's how-to on the topic.

Easy Video Editing

Have you ever had a daunting task hanging over your head for years? I've got two: cleaning out my childhood closet (I swear, someday I will need my old Madonna bracelets), and finishing my wedding video.

Speaking frankly, when we got married a year and a half ago I was too chintzy to spring for a videographer. But when my boss-at-the-time offered to film the whole thing for free (probably looking for a way to not fall asleep at the nuptials), I agreed. Unfortunately, once he handed over 60 minutes of footage, I was at a loss. What software should I use to edit the thing? Do I want to use slow-mo? How do I cut out the part when Uncle J passed out drunk behind the buffet? (Just kidding, Uncle J!)

In a Digital World Online exclusive, author Helmut Kobler takes you through the ins and outs of digital video editing, from getting footage into your computer to exporting it to DVD. He talks about different software options, editing, titling, and effects. About the only thing he doesn't do is come to my house and edit my stupid video for me. (Maybe that should be his next assignment.) In any case, his "Video Editing Made Easy" is a good primer for beginners.

Cameras on Trial

So it's clear that I'm no great videographer. Recently, though, an artist/photographer friend of mine told me that she loved the pictures I took when I went to Thailand last year. So that got me thinking that maybe I'm more artistic than I thought: Maybe I can ditch this writing thing in favor of a more lucrative career in photography.

In any case, if I'm fairly capable with my 5-megapixel Canon PowerShot point-and-shoot, imagine what I could do with a digital SLR camera--you know, the ones with interchangeable lenses that make you look all serious and hot-shottie whenever you take a picture. Like every other piece of technology, digital SLRs are coming down in price. They've now dipped below a grand.

PC World Executive Editor and resident camera expert Tracey Capen reviews two sub-thousand-dollar digital SLR cameras--one from Pentax and one from Olympus--and tells which model gives you and your pictures that professional look. And who knows? You may someday see me toting one of these babies around, looking like I know what I'm doing.

CES Bits and Bobs

So it's been about a month since I got back from the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, and to be honest, I'm still recovering. My legs have only recently regained feeling, and my e-mail inbox is somewhat tidy again.

But for those of you who were nursing a bad New Year's hangover rather than following the world of technology that week in early January (and kudos to you), I've gathered up some of the highlights.

Next-Generation MP3 Players: The world of digital audio players got even more crowded with the introduction of more 5GB players, more color-screen players, more teeny-tiny players, more everything. Read "CES Wrap-up: Less is More With Next-Gen MP3 Players" for details on the new players. And make sure you check out the May issue of PC World, where we'll be featuring a Top 10 chart on digital audio players, including some of the models we saw at CES.

Huge Flat-Panel HDTVs: Big HDTVs were also hot, especially the 102-inch plasma display that Samsung was showing off in its booth. Personally, though, I say enough is enough. I may think Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are sexy, but I really don't need to be able to count their pores. Looking for something a wee bit smaller? Then keep an eye out for April's Digital World for our comparison of three affordable 42-inch plasma HDTVs.

Higher-Def HDTV: Also all the rage were up-and-coming 1080-progressive displays. A number of companies have announced that they'll be releasing these higher-resolution HDTVs later this year. But are they worth saving your pennies for? Read "High-Def TV Gets Higher-Def" before making any plans. And of course, as the new HDTVs become available, we'll be testing them in Digital World.

Cheap Camcorders: High-def was everywhere at CES--except when it came to consumer digital camcorders. Several companies showed off new camcorders, yet no one announced a nice, affordable, HD-capable consumer-level model. A review of these camcorders is on the docket for PC World--just as soon as the manufacturers get their acts together and start shipping them.

CES Roundups: Finally, head straight to our post-show "Picks and Pans" if you just want the highlights. Our editors tell you what they loved, what they hated, and what they think of Vegas and obnoxious show attendees. If you think a picture's worth a thousand words, visit our CES photo gallery.