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From finer cloth: Cabriolet

December 5th, 2011

BACK after an eight-year absence, the cloth-topped Golf Cabriolet completes Volkswagen's new model onslaught for 2011.

VALUE the Cabrio mirrors the $29,490 Comfortline hatchback for engine and features but is priced from $36,990 for the six-speed manual, $2500 more for the DSG twin-clutch automated manual.

Among the features are 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and trip computer controls, cruise control, Bluetooth (which proved difficult to link with some devices), six-speaker audio system and dual-zone climate control.

The options include satnav ($3000), leather trim ($3300), bi-xenon headlights ($2100), metallic paint ($500) and alarm ($600). Parking sensors front and rear, teamed with a camera, can also be added for $1400 once you’ve ticked the satnav option box.

TECHNOLOGY VW’s proven turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-litre (118kW/240Nm) provides propulsion. It’s a de-tuned version of the Polo GTI’s 132kW/250Nm engine.

The absence of a roof has been offset by diagonal braces at each corner, as well as reinforcing within the side-sills and around the engine bay, which makes the convertible about 150kg heavier than the equivalent Comfortline hatch.

The electric roof, which accounts for 52kg of that, folds in nine seconds, removing the need for a tonneau. It can be operated at up to 30km/h.

DESIGN the "strawberry basket" look of earlier incarnations has gone, the rollbar is absent but the nose is familiar. the rear is fairly straight and conventional in its look, with a stumpy deck and new-look tail-lights. It’s a conservative, clean design but no headturner. inside is largely carry-over from the hatch – low-key and functional.SAFETY the five-star safety rated Golf Cabrio has anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution and emergency assist, stability and traction control. Having lost the rollbar from behind the front occupants’ shoulders, it has a pop-up rollover safety system that springs from behind the rear head restraints.

There are five airbags – dual front, front-side and a driver’s knee bag – and auto-dimming rear-vision mirror, automatic wipers and headlights. the rear seatbacks fold down to open up the 250-litre boot space, which is not compromised by the top.DRIVE There’s much to like about dropping the top on a Golf. It feels as though the structure has enough rigidity to avoid judders over nasty bumps and the suspension provides decent ride comfort.

Handling from the sports suspension is competent without scaring the GTI or R models through corners. VW says it has no plans for those badges on the drop-top, although a higher-output petrol engine and a turbo diesel are under consideration.

Meanwhile, the $51K folding hardtop Eos stablemate continues with the GTI engine.

The cabrio’s chassis could certainly do with a little more pep. the 1.4 works hard and delivers in a smooth fashion though the extra weight certainly blunts performance. the drivetrain does the job for those more interested in cruising or posing. If you’re in a hurry, be prepared to work the gearbox a little more.

Even when shunting the little ragtop along at brisk country road speeds, the wind buffeting in the cabin over the more sharply raked windscreen failed to ruffle longer-haired occupants when all four windows were raised.

Taller drivers might be looking to go a little lower with the height-adjustable driver’s seat, as the top edge of the windscreen is closer than is ideal, but reach-and-rake adjustable steering makes a decent driving position achievable. Rear seats will be for tweens-and-under, unless the four adults attempting topless transport are vertically challenged – a short trip in the rear with the roof down could be done without serious discomfort but no further.

The manual transmission allows the little 1.4 to be stirred up for brisker progress but the clutch is on the lifeless side and the take-up point is high.

VERDICT Smooth, comfortable and not unattractive, the new Golf Cabrio won’t take sales from the hot hatches in its own family. However it might give second thoughts to those contemplating an Eos ($49,990), Audi A3 ($50,500) or BMW 1 Series ($53,200) ragtop. At a glanceVW Golf Cabriolet TSIRating: 3.5 StarsPrice: from $36,990Resale: 54 per cent (est)Warranty: 3 years/ unlimited kmService: 12 months/ 15,000kmSafety: 5-star Euro NCAP, ABS, BA, stability and traction control, hill start assistEngine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder supercharged petrol, 118kW/240NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 7-speed DSG automated manual; front-wheel driveDimensions: 4337mm (L), 1423mm (H), 1782mm (W)Weight: 1424kg (DSG 1443kg)Thirst 6.6L/100km, 155g/km CO2, tank 55L

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Epson Stylus C84 – Digital Camera Reviews & Photography Tips

February 15th, 2011

Expert Reviews

Coming soon..

Features & Specifications

Designed for versatile printing of both photos and text-based documents, Epson’s Stylus C84 is stylish and fast and packed with user-friendly features. with Epson’s water-resistant, light-resistant, and smudge-resistant DURABrite inks and 357-nozzle design (monochrome plus color), the C84 can print an 8-by-10-inch color photo in less than two and a half minutes (in Photo mode). The printer’s 5,760 x 1,440 optimized dpi ensures photo-quality clarity and detail for your bordered or borderless pictures, text, or graphics. of course, higher-quality settings result in longer print times.

The C84 supports a variety of paper types, including glossy, semigloss, double-sided matte, and inkjet transparencies, as well as large-format sizes up to 8.5 by 44 inches. for photos, DURABrite photo paper gives amazing prints with vibrant color, fine detail in high light and dark areas and smooth graduations. for everyday printing, you can enjoy the same exceptional quality on plain or recycled papers. Due to the special nature of EPSON DURABrite inks, you can print on both sides of the paper without fear of leak-through or page wrinkle, and you can handle the prints as soon as they’re printed.

Convenient individual ink cartridges make ink replacement simple and cost-effective, and USB and parallel connectivity facilitates quick setups on both Windows and Macintosh computers. The C84 is backed with a one-year warranty that includes the Epson exchange program.

What’s in the BoxEpson Stylus C84 ink jet printer, one cyan ink cartridge (T044220), one magenta ink cartridge (T044320), one yellow ink cartridge (T044420), one black ink cartridge (T043120), and printer documentation

Features & Benefits5760 x 1440 optimized dpi with ultrafine 3-picoliter ink droplets * Delivers exceptional clarity and detail for sharp, vivid images and Photo Quality results

Water-resistant, smudge-resistant and light-resistant¹ DURABrite® Inks * Offers long-lasting durability for brilliant, fade-resistant prints, even on plain paper

Convenient individual ink cartridges * makes ink replacement easy and cost-effective

True BorderFree™ printing * Includes access to Epson’s superior technical support

USB and Parallel connectivity * Facilitates fast, simple setup on both Windows® and Macintosh® systems

Networking and wireless options * available with optional accessories including: o 802.11b Wireless Print Server o EPSON Bluetooth Print Adapter o EpsonNet 10/100Base-TX External Ethernet Print Server

Professional performance. Long-lasting results.

A powerful performer, the Epson Stylus® C84 offers exceptional speed and the precision required for sharp everyday results. with exclusive DURABrite Inks, it consistently delivers long-lasting photos, text and more.

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Government Printer accused of sabotage

December 14th, 2010

The Government Printer came under heavy criticism in Parliament on Wednesday as members claimed it was being used by powerful forces within the Government to serve their interests and sabotage reforms.

The role of the department, which is supposed to be independent, came under scrutiny during a heated debate on the now controversial constituencies that have been proposed by the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) chaired by former MP Andrew Ligale.

Responding to a flurry of questions after issuing a statement requested by Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch, Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs assistant minister William Cheptumo expressed confidence in the Ligale team saying it had operated within the law under which it was established.

“The commission is independent and is not subject to any controls from any quarter,” the assistant minister said.

Mr Cheptumo said he had no idea why the Government Printer was yet to publish and gazette the report from the Ligale team, which has proposed additional 80 constituencies now at the centre of a storm from politicians.

The assistant minister confirmed to the House that the Printer received the report from the review commission on Monday, but did not proceed to gazette it until a restraining court order was issued the following day.

Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara accused the Government Printer of causing the country considerable harm and damage by failing to publish the report as asked by the Commission.

Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale said powerful people who have no interest in reforms were using the Government Printer to sabotage progress.

The MP alleged that like the IIBRC, the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission had also faced similar problems from powerful anti-reformists in Government “who do not want the truth to come out and the country to move forward.”

He was forced to withdraw and apologise for remarks that Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo be sanctioned by Parliament for issuing conflicting statements on the IIBRC.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka had complained that the member had imputed improper motives on the minister without moving a substantive motion.

Lands Minister James Orengo, however, held a divergent view saying Parliament has no business discussing the Ligale report, which was yet to be gazetted as required by law.

Nominated MP and chairperson of the committee on Delegated Legislation, Ms Amina Abdalla, dismissed the Ligale report as only a list of names of constituencies without an accompanying report on the boundaries.

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Lauren Joy Handbags Launches Stylish Interchangeable Handbag System That’s Many Purses in One

December 13th, 2010

SOURCE: Lauren Joy Handbags

  Dec 07, 2010 15:30 ET

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwire – December 7, 2010) – LJE Designs today introduced Lauren Joy Handbags, a patent-pending, interchangeable handbag system that lets women change bags at the speed of modern life. The innovative system saves women money and space by providing the components to transform one bag into countless fashion-forward looks to match any outfit. And it’s so fast, you can change looks while stopped at a traffic light.

“Lauren Joy Handbags make style quick and easy,” explained Didem Ellermeyer, Founder and Creative Director of LJE Designs, LLC. “Every woman has left the house with a bag that didn’t match her outfit because she didn’t have the extra time — or has swapped bags only to realize she left her wallet or something else she needed in the other purse. With Lauren Joy Handbags, you never have to sacrifice time for fashion, or fashion for time. It’s the best of both worlds.”

How it started — Identifying a Need to Save Dollars and Make Sense Three years ago, Ellermeyer reached up to a closet shelf for a handbag and ended up being hit over the head with a stack of handbags — and a great idea. The collection of bags that she had amassed over the years was a tangible reminder of the money and closet space she’d invested in her personal style — not to mention the time spent coordinating each ensemble. Out of the chaos emerged an organized solution: an interchangeable handbag system that allows women to customize one incredibly versatile bag in order to save time, money and closet space while making room for fashion.

“With Lauren Joy Handbags, it’s incredibly easy to swap out a strap or add a snakeskin accent on the way out the door,” said Susan Orth, partner at LJE Designs. “You’d never know it’s the same bag. And that’s a lifesaver for women struggling with less disposable income. You don’t have to sacrifice style to fit the family budget, because you get so many handbags for one affordable price.”

How it Works — Interchangeable Handbag Accessories allow for Multiple Looks  Offering an innovative solution to an age-old problem, Lauren Joy Handbags’ patent-pending technology allows women to transform a purse’s entire look and feel in a matter of seconds — without ever having to transfer contents from one bag to another. Use the high-quality main bag; then mix and match by adding, removing or combining attractive accessories to create an unlimited number of different looks.

The Lauren Joy Handbag line includes six introductory sets of main bags, and offers a variety of decorative belts, flaps, pouches, straps and slip covers to quickly change your purse to match any ensemble and occasion. The classic Tricia hobo bag has a durable, spacious interior and features two zipper pockets, a removable key chain, phone holder and card holder. Stylish add-ons ranging from faux animal skin to metallic designs can change the look of your bag’s body, strap, flaps and belts instantly.

From shoulder bags to hobos and totes to clutches, Lauren Joy Handbags is continuously adding to its collections. Find them online at laurenjoyhandbags.com and look for them soon through a major national home shopping network. To learn more, call (949) 933-7073 or send e-mail to contact@laurenjoyhandbags.com. 

ABOUT LJE Designs, LLC: LJE Designs, LLC, is the result of a successful collaboration between Founder and Creative Director Didem Ellermeyer and the company’s Director of Marketing and Logistics, Susan Orth. together they’ve brought the Irvine, Calif.-based company to the forefront of cutting-edge design with the debut of their patent-pending, interchangeable handbag system, Lauren Joy Handbags. created for busy women on the go, Lauren Joy Handbags are stylish and versatile and allow women to change the look of their bag at the speed of modern life while saving time, space and money. Why endure the hassle and frustration of changing bag after bag, when you can learn to love fashion again with interchangeable Lauren Joy Handbags? for additional information, visit laurenjoyhandbags.com or call (949) 933-7073.

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HP to roll out Web, mobile-app printing

October 13th, 2010

Virology Journal | Full text | A rapid and efficient method for …

October 4th, 2010

AbstractBackground

Measuring virus attachment to host cells is of great importance when trying to identify novel receptors. The presence of a usable receptor is a major determinant of viral host range and cell tropism. Furthermore, identification of appropriate receptors is central for the understanding of viral pathogenesis and gives possibilities to develop antiviral drugs. Attachment is presently measured using radiolabeled and subsequently gradient purified viruses. Traditional methods are expensive and time-consuming and not all viruses are stable during a purification procedure; hence there is room for improvement. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) has become the standard method to detect and quantify virus infections, including enteroviruses, in clinical samples. For instance, primers directed to the highly conserved 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of the enterovirus genome enable detection of a wide spectrum of enteroviruses. Here, we evaluate the capacity of the RT-PCR technology to study enterovirus host cell interactions at the cell surface and compare this novel implementation with an established assay using radiolabeled viruses.

Results

Both purified and crude viral extracts of CVB5 generated comparable results in attachment studies when analyzed with RT-PCR. In addition, receptor binding studies regarding viruses with coxsackie- and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and/or decay accelerating factor (DAF) affinity, further demonstrated the possibility to use RT-PCR to measure virus attachment to host cells. Furthermore, the RT-PCR technology and crude viral extracts was used to study attachment with low multiplicity of infection (0.05 × 10-4TCID50/cell) and low cell numbers (250), which implies the range of potential implementations of the presented technique.

Conclusion

We have implemented the well-established RT-PCR technique to measure viral attachment to host cells with high accuracy and reproducibility, at low cost and with less effort than traditional methods. Furthermore, replacing traditional methods with RT-PCR offers the opportunity to use crude virus containing extracts to investigate attachment, which could be considered as a step towards viral attachment studies in a more natural state.

Background

The first critical step in the viral lifecycle involves attachment and entry via interactions with one or several cell surface receptors. The presence of a suitable receptor is the main determinant of viral host range, cell tropism and pathogenesis [1,2]. Enteroviruses form one genus within the family Picornaviridae [3] and are important human pathogens causing a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms including meningitis, myocarditis, gastroenteritis, poliomyelitis, common cold and diabetes [4]. The enterovirus genome is a positive single stranded RNA molecule of approximately 7.500 nucleotides starting with a 5′untranslated region (5′UTR) followed by an open reading frame encoding a polyprotein of about 2.200 amino acids and a 3′UTR ending with a poly A tail [5]. Several cellular receptors have been identified as attachment molecules for Picornaviridae, including the poliovirus receptor (PVR) [6], various types of integrins [7-10], intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) [11,12], decay-accelerating factor (DAF or CD55) [13,14] and coxsackie- and adenovirus receptor (CAR) [15,16]. Group B coxsackieviruses (CVB) with its six serotypes, CVB1-6, may enter the susceptible cell by attachment to CAR, a 46-kDa transmembrane protein that also serves as a receptor for many adenoviruses [17]. In addition, some strains of CVB1, 3 and 5 can interact with an additional receptor, DAF, a 70-kDa regulatory protein consisting of four short consensus repeats (SCRs) [18]. CVBs can attach to DAF, but are usually unable to enter the cell in the absence of CAR [19,20] unless the DAF receptors are cross-linked by specific anti-DAF monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) [21]. Thus, binding to DAF is a characteristic feature of many enteroviruses including enterovirus 70 and echovirus 7 [13,14,21-25]. Interactions between a virus and the host cell surface are generally studied using purified radiolabeled virions that are allowed to attach to cultured cells.

The real-time PCR (RT-PCR) technology utilizes the standard PCR method with the addition of measuring the accumulation of amplified DNA in real-time by a fluorescent signal. RT-PCR uses the threshold cycle (Ct) value, i.e. the lowest number of cycles necessary to detect a fluorescent signal above a threshold, to quantify amplified DNA. The recorded Ct value is directly proportional to the starting number of cDNA, i. e. viral RNA, where one cycle theoretically represents the double amount of template. RT-PCR is the method of choice to detect and quantify virus infections in clinical samples, including enteroviruses [26,27]. Amplification of highly conserved regions of the enterovirus 5′untranslated region (5′UTR) is the golden standard to detect enteroviruses in specimens [28,29].

In this report, we demonstrate for the first time the possibility to use RT-PCR to study interactions between enteroviruses and their target cells. RT-PCR is a rapid and sensitive method suitable for attachment studies and allows the use of crude virus containing extracts as well as limited amounts of cells and viruses.

MethodsCells and viruses

HeLa-SoH (provided by M. Rovainen, Helsinki, Finland), CHO, CHO-CAR and CHO-DAF [30,31] cells were maintained in DMEM (Sigma), supplemented with 10% newborn calf serum (NCS) (Biological Industries) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin and L-glutamine (Sigma). 1mg/ml G418 (Sigma) was added to CHO-CAR cells and 0.75mg/ml Hygromycin B (Invitrogen) to CHO-DAF cells. The clinical isolate CVB5 strain 151rom70 was kindly provided by T. Hovi (Helsinki, Finland), while echovirus 7 strain Wallace (EV7W, ATCC VR-37) and CVB2 strain Ohio (CVB2O, ATCC VR-29) were obtained from American Tissue Culture Collection (ATCC). Viruses were propagated and titrated on GMK cells.

Binding assays

CVB5 151rom70 was labeled by growth in GMK cells in the presence of 35S-methionine and 35S-cysteine (Perkin-Elmer). Virions were purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation as described elsewhere [8]. Binding assays, using both purified radiolabeled viruses and crude virus extracts, were carried out in suspension as described by Arnberg et al. [32]. Briefly, cells were detached with versene solution, pelleted and washed twice in binding buffer (DMEM supplemented with 2% NCS and 1% penicillin-streptomycin and L-glutamine). Cells and viruses, 2.5 × 105 cells per tube if not stated otherwise, were incubated for 2 h on ice or at room temperature and washed twice with ice-cold or room temperatured binding buffer before re-suspension in 200 ?l serum-free media, all in triplicates. For measures of radioactivity, the radiation was determined by liquid scintillation counting, while non-radioactive samples were frozen for further applications.

Two-step RT-PCR

RNA was extracted using QIAamp viral RNA extraction kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer’s instructions and used for reverse transcription. cDNA synthesis was performed using Applied Biosystems TaqMan reverse transcriptase kit according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Assay conditions for quantification of extracted viral RNA were optimized using the Applied Biosystems 7500 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems), by using a two-step RT-PCR and SYBR Green detection method as previously described [33]. Obtained Ct values were recalculated into RNA copies, i.e. virions, by the use of a standard curve previously described by Jonsson et al. [33].

Statistical analyses

Individual data pairs were analysed by the unpaired t test, and one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnetts post-test was used to compare groups vs. controls. Data were considered statistically significant if p < 0.05.

Results and DiscussionComparison of purified and unpurified viruses

Interactions between a virus and the target cell are generally studied using radioactive labeling, and subsequently gradient purification of viruses. The purified and labeled viruses are allowed to interact with cultured cells and the amount of bound radioactivity is used as a measurement of the viral attachment capacity. In this article, we demonstrate that RT-PCR is an alternative, rapid and efficient method to study viral interaction with the cell surface. RT-PCR can complement or replace the expensive and time-consuming methods presently employed.

A clinical isolate of CVB5, CVB5 151rom70, was analysed for validation and comparison between the standard method with labeled viruses and the RT-PCR, with the assumption that one enterovirus genome is equivalent to one virion. 3 × 104 dpm 35S-labeled virus (corresponding to a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.05 TCID50/cell) or MOI 0.05 TCID50/cell of crude virus extracts were incubated with cells in suspension on ice for 2 h. The attached virus was measured using scintillation counting (purified, radiolabeled virus) or RT-PCR (purified and crude virus extracts). Using radiolabeled viruses (Figure 1A) the clinical isolate of CVB5 demonstrated similar affinity for HeLa and CHO-DAF, which could be expected due to approximately equal amount of expressed DAF on the cell surfaces determined by flow cytometry (data not shown). Comparable results were recorded using RT-PCR (Figure 1B), thus supporting the applicability of RT-PCR in viral affinity measurements. In addition, the interaction between CVB5 151rom70 and the cell surface were studied using crude virus extracts (Figure 1C). Although the binding of CVB5 to CHO cells was higher using crude extracts, the specific binding to HeLa and recombinant CHO-DAF cells were statistical significant compared to CHO cells.

Figure 1. Attachment studies using a clinical isolate of CVB5. A) 3 × 104dpm (corresponding to MOI 0.05 TCID50/cell) was incubated with 2.5 × 105 cells in suspension at 4°C for 2 h. Attachment was measured using scintillation counting. B) MOI 0.05 TCID50/cell of the labeled, purified virus and C) MOI 0.05 TCID50/cell of unpurified virus incubated as described in A) and the amount of virus bound to the cell surface was measured with a two-step RT-PCR. Results are presented as mean ± SEM.

The relative binding (fold difference) of viruses attached to HeLa in comparison to CHO was calculated for the results presented in Figure 1. Considering the purified virus, the RT-PCR present ~3000 fold difference (Figure 1B), while the difference in dpm is ~700 fold (Figure 1A). Crude virus give a ~550 fold difference (Figure 1C), which demonstrates that unpurified viruses and RT-PCR give results that are comparable with labeled and purified viruses, but with less effort and expense.

Altogether, these results clearly indicate the capacity of the RT-PCR technology in studies of viral attachment. Furthermore, RT-PCR gives the opportunity to study viruses that are not purified through differential ultracentrifugation and therefore enables attachment studies using virus in a more natural environment. Binding assays described and discussed from this point were therefore carried out using crude viral extracts.

The data obtained did not distinguish between binding to CHO and CHO-CAR using the clinical isolate of CVB5, although an indication of attachment to CHO-CAR was observed when measuring interactions at the cell surface using purified viruses (Figure 1A). CVB prototype strains have been shown to utilize CAR as receptor [15,34]. Several low-passage clinical isolates of CVB5 are less affected by antibodies directed against CAR [23], indicating that some CVB strains may use alternate receptors. Attachment of crude virus extracts, analysed by RT-PCR, showed a higher proportion of binding to CHO than labeled viruses, which is consistent with previous reports. Martino et al. [35] showed that several unpurified isolates of CVB have an affinity for CHO cells. Newcombe et al. [36] reported that unpurified coxsackievirus A20 (CVA20) binds to RD cells, cells that do not express its major receptor ICAM-1, whereas labeled and subsequently purified CVA20 have no affinity to RD cells. Similar observations were reported by Pash et al. [31], where two strains of CVB3 demonstrated no affinity for CHO cells when purified virions were used, while both strains interacted with CHO and HeLa cells at comparable levels when crude virus extracts were used. Hence, our observations that a higher degree of binding to CHO cells is obtained with crude viruses are in accordance with these previous reports. These observations by others and us indicate that gradient purification may alter the structure of the virion or remove components that affect the interactions with the cell surface. The observed differences suggest that the interaction between virus and host cell differs in an environment that resembles infection in its natural state in comparison to the highly purified radiolabeled virus. Hence the use of RT-PCR that enables to measure attachment without any purification could be an advantage.

Studies regarding binding to DAF and CAR

Due to the fact that binding to DAF, but not to CAR, was recorded using the experimental conditions described above and RT-PCR, two additional well-characterized enterovirus serotypes were included in the study, EV7W and CVB2O. EV7W utilizes DAF as receptor [13,14] and CVB2O uses CAR [15,16,34,35]. In a first set of experiments, MOI 0.5 TCID50/cell of each virus were allowed to attach to HeLa, CHO, CHO-CAR and CHO-DAF cells at 4°C. EV7W and CVB5 demonstrated equal binding to HeLa and CHO-DAF, a result in accordance with previous reports [20,37]. However, the RT-PCR analyses of CVB2O attachment showed no statistical significant difference in attachment between any of the cell lines at 4°C (Figure 2A). The observed lower affinity of CVB2O to susceptible cells could be due to the fact that DAF is ten times more abundant than CAR on HeLa cells [38], and that CVB2O previously has been shown to have a significantly slower attachment rate to cells than CVB5 [39]. The increase of MOI (MOI 5 TCID50/cell) of CVB2O and attachment carried out at 4°C or at room temperature (Figure 2B) showed that increasing the temperature is an important parameter using our experimental setup. Binding of CVB2O to CHO cells was reduced at room temperature demonstrating that incubation at a higher temperature reduced unspecific attachment of this virus to CHO cells, while attachment to CHO-CAR, CHO-DAF and HeLa remained at the same level. Thus, a significant difference in attachment to CHO-CAR and HeLa in comparison to CHO was observed performing the measurements at room temperature.

Figure 2. Binding studies for DAF and CAR. A) MOI 0.5 TCID50/cell ofCVB2O, EV7W and CVB5 was incubated with 2.5 × 105 cells in suspension for 2 h at 4°C and virus attachment was subsequently measured using RT-PCR. B) MOI 5 TCID50/cell of CVB2O was incubated as described in A) at 4°C or at room temperature and attached virus was measured by RT-PCR. Results are presented as mean ± SEM.

Interestingly, these studies indicate that CVB2O has some affinity to CHO-DAF cells, thus suggesting that CVB2O may have a capacity to interact with DAF at the cell surface. Although, presented results give indications of an affinity for DAF that was not affected by temperature, this novel finding needs to be further explored. Further investigation using the RT-PCR method to quantify binding of CVB2O and CVB4 may reveal that these viruses have some affinity for DAF, which may explain why CVB2O could be adapted to cytolytic replication in RD cells despite the absence of CAR [40].

Using RT-PCR for sensitive studies of viral host cell interactions

To explore the implementations of RT-PCR in viral binding studies the limitations in MOI and cell number that could be used to generate recordable affinities using SYBR green and two-step RT-PCR were investigated. A fixed number of HeLa and CHO cells (2.5 × 105) were incubated with various amounts of CVB5, starting with MOI 0.05 TCID50/cell to a final ratio of MOI 0.05 × 10-4 TCID50/cell.A significant difference in binding to HeLa in comparison to CHO could be observed even at a MOI of 0.05 × 10-4 TCID50/cell (Figure 3A). These results demonstrate the potential to measure specific interactions with very low amounts of viruses using this RT-PCR approach.

Figure 3. Sensitivity studies to measure viral attachment with RT-PCR. A) Decreasing amount of virus, MOI 0.05-0.05 × 10-4 TCID50/cell, was incubatedwith 2.5 × 105 cells and bound virus was analysed with RT-PCR. B) Decreasing number of CHO and HeLa cells, 2.5 × 105-2.5 × 102, were incubated with MOI 0.05 TCID50/cell of CVB5 and attached virus was measured with RT-PCR. Results are presented as mean ± SEM.

Investigating viral binding using labeled and purified viruses is usually conducted with high virus to cell ratio, high concentration of cells and virus in a small sample volume [31,32,37,41]. We have demonstrated, using well-characterized enteroviruses, that RT-PCR is a powerful method to quantify interactions between a virus and the cell surface. The options to use unpurified viruses, low MOI and cell numbers indicate the opportunity to study virus host cell interaction even when the amount of cells and viruses are limited.

Conclusion

This article describes a straightforward, rapid and robust method that with high accuracy can be used to quantify viral attachment, as an alternative to traditional methods. We present data that demonstrate the opportunity to use crude virus extracts and RT-PCR to study binding of viruses to cells. This is an important step towards studying viruses in their natural state rather than using highly purified viruses for these types of studies. The potential to circumvent purification and radiolabeling of viruses gives the possibility to study viral attachment with less effort and at low cost. In addition, it gives the opportunity to investigate binding of viruses that are not stable during the purification process by differential ultracentrifugation and viruses that can not be cultured in cell culture.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

NJ planned the experimental setup, prepared virus stocks, carried out the binding assays, RNA extraction and real-time PCR analysis. NJ drafted and wrote the manuscript. MG developed the protocol for the binding assay, radiolabeled and purified the clinical isolate and performed the radioactive measured binding assay. SI participated in handling and analysing recombinant cell lines. AML was involved in the study design, draft and revision of manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Merja Rovainen and Tapani Hovi for providing cells and virus. Britt-Inger Marklund, Sven Tågerud and Jeffrey Bergelson for help and technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Knowledge Foundation.

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    Virology 1994 , 203:357-365. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

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    Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1994 , 91:6245-6248. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text

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    Embo J 1994 , 13:5070-5074. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

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    Science 1997 , 275:1320-1323. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

  16. Tomko RP, Xu R, Philipson L: HCAR and MCAR: the human and mouse cellular receptors for subgroup C adenoviruses and group B coxsackieviruses.

    Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997 , 94:3352-3356. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text

  17. Roelvink PW, Lizonova A, Lee JG, Li Y, Bergelson JM, Finberg RW, Brough DE, Kovesdi I, Wickham TJ: The coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor protein can function as a cellular attachment protein for adenovirus serotypes from subgroups A, C, D, E, and F.

    J Virol 1998 , 72:7909-7915. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

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    Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 1992 , 178:7-30. PubMed Abstract

  19. Bergelson JM, Mohanty JG, Crowell RL, St John NF, Lublin DM, Finberg RW: Coxsackievirus B3 adapted to growth in RD cells binds to decay-accelerating factor (CD55).

    J Virol 1995 , 69:1903-1916. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

  20. Shafren DR, Bates RC, Agrez MV, Herd RL, Burns GF, Barry RD: Coxsackieviruses B1, B3, and B5 use decay accelerating factor as a receptor for cell attachment.

    J Virol 1995 , 69:3873-3877. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

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    J Virol 1998 , 72:9407-9412. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

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    J Gen Virol 1998 , 79(Pt 7):1707-1713. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

  23. Bergelson JM, Modlin JF, Wieland-Alter W, Cunningham JA, Crowell RL, Finberg RW: Clinical coxsackievirus B isolates differ from laboratory strains in their interaction with two cell surface receptors.

    J Infect Dis 1997 , 175:697-700. PubMed Abstract

  24. Karnauchow TM, Dawe S, Lublin DM, Dimock K: Short consensus repeat domain 1 of decay-accelerating factor is required for enterovirus 70 binding.

    J Virol 1998 , 72:9380-9383. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

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    Virology 1964 , 22:580-590. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

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    J Clin Virol 2002 , 25(Suppl 1):S39-43. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

  27. Verstrepen WA, Kuhn S, Kockx MM, Vyvere ME, Mertens AH: Rapid detection of enterovirus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid specimens with a novel single-tube real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay.

    J Clin Microbiol 2001 , 39:4093-4096. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text

  28. Mohamed N, Elfaitouri A, Fohlman J, Friman G, Blomberg J: A sensitive and quantitative single-tube real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR for detection of enteroviral RNA.

    J Clin Virol 2004 , 30:150-156. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

  29. Dierssen U, Rehren F, Henke-Gendo C, Harste G, Heim A: Rapid routine detection of enterovirus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid by a one-step real-time RT-PCR assay.

    J Clin Virol 2008 , 42:58-64. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

  30. Selinka HC, Wolde A, Pasch A, Klingel K, Schnorr JJ, Kupper JH, Lindberg AM, Kandolf R: Comparative analysis of two coxsackievirus B3 strains: putative influence of virus-receptor interactions on pathogenesis.

    J Med Virol 2002 , 67:224-233. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

  31. Pasch A, Kupper JH, Wolde A, Kandolf R, Selinka HC: Comparative analysis of virus-host cell interactions of haemagglutinating and non-haemagglutinating strains of coxsackievirus B3.

    J Gen Virol 1999 , 80(Pt 12):3153-3158. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

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    J Virol 2000 , 74:42-48. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text

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    Microbiol Immunol 2009 , 53:149-154. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

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    J Virol 1988 , 62:1647-1652. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

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Using the Samsung Galaxy S mobile phone camera

September 9th, 2010


Samsung Galaxy S, it came, it saw and it conquered. Samsung Galaxy S is the most popular phone next to the Apple iPhone. Galaxy S comes with a powerful 1GHz processor that delivers amazing speed.

One of the amazing features of the Samsung galaxy S mobile phone is the 5.0 megapixel auto focus camera. The camera features different modes such as the Action Shot, Cartoon Shot, Self Shot, Smile Shot and many other options, effects. Whats more the Galaxy S camera can also record videos in HD mode.

Though the Samsung Galaxy S mobile phone does have a superb camera some of the excitement is lost because of the missing flash option. This means that it will be a bit difficult to get that perfect shot especially in low light conditions.

But the Galaxy S camera comes with host of effects and features that may make you forget that the phone does not have a flash option.

Samsung Galaxy S users can take multiple shot by simply enabling the camera and entering into landscape mode. Then choose the continuous option and make sure every subject is in focus and then click.

Galaxy S supports gif animation or also called the stop frame animation. To use this option put camera into landscape mode, choose stop motion, then start taking pictures then select finish and enter the edit mode where you can save the images as animated gif.

You can also take a vintage shot with your Samsung Galaxy S, to do so go to camera landscape mode, choose vintage option then select the colour filter by selecting the N symbol. Choose subject, focus and then click.

Galaxy S also features the panoramic picture option. To use this feature enable the camera mode and enter into the landscape mode, then choose the panorama option get the picture in focus and click, it is the first image. You will then find a green frame that acts as a reference; all you need to do is move the device either left or right and align with green frame. The camera will automatically click when it senses the green frame and the image to be clicked are lined up. The process needs to be followed until the panoramic shot is completed.

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Plustek outs SmartPhoto P60 portable photo scanner

August 24th, 2010

Quality and the setup processThere’s not much to say about the iAdapt HDMI V2′s design other than that it’s well-built; it’s clear …

HardwareLike most notebook docks, this Targus model is designed to sit underneath a portable and expand the ports beyond what the …

Design and the Super AMOLED displayIt used to be that Samsung had a reputation for plain phones; in some areas, it still does. Th …

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ViewSonic DPX802WD-BW 8-Inch Digital Photo fame with High 800 x …

July 7th, 2010

My husband and I bought two of these as valentine gifts for each other. We are very satisfied with the resolution, clarity, color, and the size of the internal memory (256 mb). We used the USB cord to connect directly to our computer in order to transfer files.

We edited the size of our pictures so that they matched the 800×600 pixel resolution (versus the 7 megapixel original images). The remote works well, but only a few of the features are available on this model.

As for the battery life – between 1 and 2 hours is the best we have seen. Not enough to make this feature very useful. Someday you should be able to hang a big 15? digital frame on the wall and only have to change batteries once a year or so. Sadly, given the power gulping state of these frames now, that does not seem to be a near-term possiblity.

The size (8-inch diagonal) and angle of the frame are perfect for sitting on a desk where your eye is above the frame. If you place it on a shelf above eye level, it could be difficult to see (basically due to the viewing angle limitation of most LCD screens).

Once quirk of the frame is that the power button needs only a very quick tap to turn the unit on. If you press it longer than about a second, it will not turn on.

Compared to the rest of the field the $79.00 price was very competive. We both would recommend it.
Rating: 4 / 5

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Lens Adapters Put Leica, Nikon, Canon Lenses on Sony NEX

June 17th, 2010

One of the biggest (and most overlooked) advantages of mirrorless cameras is that they can be adapted to work with almost any lens there is. The short distance between the throat of the lens-mount and the sensor means that there is a lot of space for an adapter. Rayqual, a Japanese manufacturer, has just announced a range of these adapters for the new Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 cameras.

Lens adapters for 35mm SLRs don’t really work well as the extra thickness pushes the lens forward and prevents it from focusing at infinity (you can still shoot close up, though. In fact, macro-extension tubes exploit this focus shift to do their job). But there is a good inch of room to play with on mirrorless cameras, so the adapters work well. I use one on a Panasonic GF1 to attach Nikon lenses. You lose auto-focus, but otherwise it works great.

Rayqual’s new adapters let you mount Nikon, Canon FD, Pentax and Leica lenses onto the Sonys. If you are using modern lenses designed for crop-sensors, you will have minimal changes to the focal length, as the NEX cameras also have APS-C sized sensors.

Shipping next month, the adapters will run from ¥19,950 to ¥25,200, or $220 to $275.

NEX adapters [Rayqual via DP Review]

See Also:

  • Hands-On With the Diana F Lens Adapter and Fisheye: As Bad As You …
  • Adapter Puts Leica Lenses on Micro Four Thirds Cameras
  • Adapter Puts Nikon and Pentax Lenses on Micro Four Thirds Cameras …
  • Sony’s NEX Mirrorless Cameras Are the Smallest in the World …

nikon Cases ,

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Image …

June 2nd, 2010

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) 4GB BP4L Battery BigVALUEInc Accessory Saver Bundle

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) 4GB BP4L Battery BigVALUEInc Accessory Saver Bundle Feature

  • Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP (Black) Digital Camera w/ Supplied Manufacturer Accessories Brand New USA
  • 4GB SDHC Secure Digital Memory Card + USB Card Reader
  • Extra Rechargeable BP4L Lithium Ion Battery + External Rapid Quick-Charger
  • Padded Carrying Case w/Strap + Memory Card Wallet
  • Pack of LCD Screen Protectors + Lens/LCD Cleaning Kit + MORE!

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) 4GB BP4L Battery BigVALUEInc Accessory Saver Bundle Overviews

This Kit Includes:
1- Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP (Black) Digital Camera w/ Supplied Manufacturer Accessories Brand New USA
1- 4GB SDHC Secure Digital Memory Card (Dont Miss a Memory!)
1- USB SD Memory Card Reader (Download Images Quicker!)
1- Lithium Ion Rechargeable BP4L Battery (Not Original Canon) (Shoot Longer and Stronger!)
1- External Rapid Travel Quick-Charger (Always Have Your Spare Battery Ready to Go for Any Occassion!)
1- Padded Carrying Case w/Strap
1- Memory Card Wallet (Stay Organized!)
1- Pack of LCD Screen Protectors (Protect from Dust & Scratches!)
1- Lens/LCD Cleaning Kit
1- Mini Table Top Tripod
More about this camera:
The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH captivates the senses with bold saturated colors and a daringly original design that matches the intensity of Canon’s innovative camera technology. Even when picture-taking conditions seem pretty unforgiving, you have got Canon on your side. So the shots you used to miss are the images you will now be sharing, and the movies you never took before will be HD unforgettable.
Supplied Manufacturer Accessories in addition to mentioned above:
Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (NB-4L) Battery Charger (CB-2LBV), USB Interface Cable (IFC-400PCU), A/V Cable (AVC-DC40), Wrist Strap (WS-DC7), Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, User Guide, 1 Year Canon USA Warranty.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored:Jun 02, 2010 08:50:19

Available at Amazon

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Top five photo processing tips from Which?

June 2nd, 2010

Poorly processed photos can lack detail and appear washed out

Which? has put professional photo printing services through its tough lab tests and found that some big high street names fail to impress with the quality of their photo processing.  

Which? tested 14 online and high street photo processors – including Boots, Tesco, Snapfish and Photobox. Just two companies made it as Which? Best Buy photo printers, producing consistently good quality, well exposed prints with a good colour balance. 

Several other companies produced poorly exposed photos, resulting in loss of detail and washed-out or unnatural colours. And two big names failed to impress our testers with overall scores of just 42% apiece.  

Find out which processors to trust with your digital photos in the Which? review of photo printing services

How to get cheap photo prints

Once you’ve checked our photo printing review to avoid the risk of poorly processed pics, use Which?’s five top tips to reduce the costs of getting your photos printed. 

  • Get free photos online. Many online photo processors, such as Photobox, offer between 20 and 50 prints free for new customers. All you’ll need to pay is postage. 
  • Print photos in bulk. The cost per print usually drops the more photos you get processed, so rather than printing off a few photos regularly, you’ll save money if you save them up to print out lots at once.
  • Shop around. We’ve found that if you’re printing 50 or more photos, the most expensive services can cost more than twice as much as the cheapest. 
  • Online isn’t always cheapest. If you only have a handful of prints to process, don’t assume that online is cheapest. If you only want to print 10 photos or less, the cost of postage for online processing could mean that a high street photo processor, such as Boots Photo or Asda Photo, is better value. 
  • Go for a 24 hour rather than 1 hour turnaround. If you prefer to get your photos printed on the high street, it can be up to three times cheaper to choose a 24-hour service rather than a one-hour service.

Looking for a new digital camera to make the most of your digital photography skills? Take a look at the Which? digital cameras buyers guide. 

Get involved with Which? using Twitter, email and RSS

If you’d like news via RSS subscribe to the Which? news RSS feed. If you have an older web browser you may need to copy and paste which.co.uk/feeds/reviews/news.xml into your newsreader. More details on RSS news feeds.

On Twitter you can follow WhichTech for regular tech tweets.

Get email updates - keep your finger on the pulse of digital technology with the weekly email from the Which? Technology team. 

Every Tuesday we’ll send you the latest news and reviews of MP3 players, mobile phones, cameras, high-definition TVs and other gadgets. 

It’s packed with the latest product launches, First Look reviews, expert advice and some incredible deals – can you afford not to be the first to find out?

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Leather Camera Bag and Cases, the Height of Luxury and Style – All …

May 22nd, 2010

Leather Camera Bag and Cases, the Height of Luxury and Style

Spending eight hours or even more in your workplace is quite a task; you do this routine for five days a week, not to mention your overtime. But it doesn’t matter much since you have to work and earn money to finance all your expenses. If you have a family, you have to work even harder. But life is not just about working, you also need to play and rest.

Though you need to spend a lot of time for work, you should not forget that you should also take time for your other activities. Photography is a great hobby; in fact, there are those who make a living out of it. If you love photography, then it’s time that you reward yourself a little for being too hard working. Why not purchase a leather bag for your camera?

Bags made from leather are top quality. It will last for a long time especially if it’s maintained properly. Leather is quite popular, you can find many items made from leather like shoes, belts, wallets, etc. and the most common are bags.

Here are famous leather camera bags brands available in local stores or in online stores:

1. Canon
2. Olympus
3. Leica
4. Sony
5. Billingham
6. Targus
7. Icon
8. Nikon, and many more

Aside from leather bags, there are also camera cases made from leather.

You can find leather camera cases for less than twenty dollars; but if you want to buy the expensive ones, you can actually find camera cases with costs reaching over three hundred dollars.

For people who are worried if the camera case will match their outfits, there is no need to worry. There are camera cases which you can show off, instead of hiding them in your coat. Camera cases from RedEnvelope can actually coordinate with your outfit. You find one in shades of red, green, and many more.

Finding the right camera bag or case is easy if you know what you really want. If you’re a beginner, you don’t have to carry a lot of accessories, so a basic leather camera bag will be enough. But if you do need to carry a few accessories, you can choose a larger leather bag with many pockets to hold your valuable accessories.

Just make sure that the bag you choose will give you easy access to your camera and other accessories when you need it; and most important of all, the bag should not be a hassle when you carry it around. For some people color is not that important. It’s even better to get a camera bag or case that is middle toned because if it catches dirt, it will not be noticed easily. And besides, it can avoid overheating during hot weather conditions.

Now that you know what important things to consider when purchasing a camera case or bag, start your search now. Give yourself a break from work and find that camera bag/case that you need.

It’s not bad to spend a little amount of money for your camera bag. Besides, you don’t want to damage your precious camera. Your camera is a worthy investment so you need to protect it whenever you carry it around. Find a camera bag or case now; a bag made from leather is probably the most excellent choice you’ll ever make.

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Toshiba Journe Air 801 digital photo frame review | Electricpig

May 19th, 2010

The Toshiba Journe Air 801 digital photo frame from Toshiba is an ambitious product that strives to show what’s possible within this nascent gadget genre. So does it deliver? Or leave us with the frustrations of the early adopter? Read our Toshiba Journe Air 801 review now and we’ll tell all.

Its 8.4-inch, 800×600 screen is bright, and the viewing angle of 65 degrees from above and either side (45 degrees from below) is well suited for viewing on a shelf or with friends on the couch – the rechargeable battery can power the frame for just under an hour. But picture detail seems even worse than the 400:1 contrast ratio would suggest and colour reproduction is atrocious – dithering was evident in all content we viewed. Despite the surprisingly clear internal speaker, the unacceptable picture quality precludes even attempting to play videos on this device.

The clumsy interface on the Toshiba Journe Air 801 doesn’t help matters, resembling a 1990s era BIOS in appearance and an unintuitive arrangement of touch-sensitive buttons making navigation and text input a chore – it took us three minutes to enter an email address to sign in to Picasa.

Read our LightSleeper review now

Read our SmartControl universal remote control review now

Frustratingly, we had to input our details quite often as integration with Picasa and Flickr is buggy and half-baked. We had to create a brand new Flickr account just to get the device to recognise the Photostream, and photos must be publicly available to be imported, which not all users will be comfortable with.  Pulling photos from online services is a manual (and with the slow interface, laborious) process requiring you to individually select the new photos you’d like transferred to internal memory, SD card or attached USB storage.

This could have been done so much better: with support for up to 32 Flickr or Picasa accounts, automatic synchronisation on the Toshiba Journe Air 801 would have enabled this device to surprise you with new photos as friends and family uploaded them.  Sigh.

In theory, the Subview feature allows you to connect the Journe Air 801 to a Windows PC for use as a second monitor, but why you’d want to use an 800×600, low colour device to display content – when a far superior screen is likely right in front of you – is beyond us. If this feature functioned over WiFi, we’d see the point. Sigh again.

However, we were impressed with the bundled 3D Albums software, which pre-renders your photos as a stylish MPEG video that can then be transferred to the digital frame. The included themes – which show photos on pages turning in a book or as pictures hanging in a gallery – are an easy way to really show off your shots. At least, they would be if the rest of the Toshiba Journe Air 801 wasn’t such a shambles.

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HowStuffWorks "How Digital Cameras Work"

May 18th, 2010

In the past twenty years, most of the major technological breakthroughs in consumer electronics have really been part of one larger breakthrough. When you get down to it, CDs, DVDs, HDTV, MP3s and DVRs are all built around the same basic process: converting conventional analog information (represented by a fluctuating wave) into digital information (represented by ones and zeros, or bits). This fundamental shift in technology totally changed how we handle visual and audio information — it completely redefined what is possible.

The digital camera is one of the most remarkable instances of this shift because it is so truly different from its predecessor. Conventional cameras depend entirely on chemical and mechanical processes — you don’t even need electricity to operate them. On the other hand, all digital cameras have a built-in computer, and all of them record images electronically.

The new approach has been enormously successful. Since film still provides better picture quality, digital cameras have not completely replaced conventional cameras. But, as digital imaging technology has improved, digital cameras have rapidly become more popular.

In this article, we’ll find out exactly what’s going on inside these amazing digital-age devices.

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