Fifteen Consumer Electronics Design Mistakes

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Fifteen Consumer Electronics Design Mistakes This week let's look at fifteen design problems that have not only bugged me through the years, but that are widespread enough to have bugged many of you too. These problems aren't limited to current technology, but they all fall into the nebulous realm known as "consumer electronics." You know: TVs, telephones, VCRs, DVD players, MP3 players, and more. - Benj Edwards, Technologizer Consumer Tech in the News Why Wal-Mart Wants VUDU Wal-Mart has confirmed that it's buying video-streaming service VUDU and will take on Amazon and Netflix in the burgeoning online-movie business. Plasma TV From LG Sports Skinny Frame New plasma televisions from electronics manufacturer LG take on a skinny look, but are only available in Korea for he time being. 'Hands-Off' Reviews of Microsoft's Project Natal Emerge Microsoft trots out its Xbox 360 motion-detection peripheral at a London event, but lag-related timing issues raise questions. Digital Entertainment on PCWorld Home Entertainment News & Reviews Visit PCWorld for more home entertainment reviews and how-tos. Gaming Central Read news and reviews of PC games and the hottest consoles. Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Get great deals on Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007. Buy Today. Print Without a PC See the world's first Web-connected home printer with web apps. Learn more and watch the demo. Advertisement Worry About One Less Thing Intel(R) IT Director is designed for small businesses to improve data security and network health. Monitor PCs via the intuitive dashboard, ensure anti-malware is running, and more& FREE download at » Product Reviews Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive 500GB 87 Pros Good backup software; Has USB and FireWire ports; Very fast Cons Read Complete Review » Top 10 Portable Hard Drives » Canon PowerShot SX200 IS 84 Pros Excellent zoom lens and image quality; HD video and fun in-camera features Cons HDMI/AV port door is a bit flimsy; Bulky, with no AA battery compatibility Read Complete Review » Top-Rated Pocket Megazooms » Top-Rated Advanced Point-and-Shoots » Creative Vado HD (Third Generation) 90 Pros Excellent low-light performance; Wide-angle lens; Exposure controls; Earbuds can function as external mic Cons No removable storage Read Complete Review » Top-Rated HD Pocket Camcorders » Get Big Savings When you Shop at PCWorld.com Shop online at PCWorld.com, where you can compare product information, read trusted reviews, and find the best prices on consumer electronics. LN32B360 32" LCD TV Price: $379.99 Avg User Rating User Reviews UN46B6000 46" LED TV Price: $1297.00 Avg User Rating 1 User Reviews Browse more Best Prices on Plasma & LCD TVs, Camcorders, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, Best Prices on Projectors, Digital Video Recorders, MP3 Players Top News on PCWorld.com Italy's Google Convictions Set a Dangerous Precedent An Italian court's ruling against three Google employees raises important questions about user-generated content and who's responsible for policing what people submit. 10 Questions About the Bloom Energy Server Bloom Energy's innovative fuel cell technology shows a lot of promise, but is the Bloom box too good to be true? Downloads: Editor's Collection PCWorld's Fantastic Freebies 2010: All-Time GreatsIn the 15 years of PC World's Best Free Stuff articles, some freebies come up time and time again. Here are the ones that meet the gold standard. Adobe Reader    248766 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Browsers & Clients The ubiquitous PDF reader is feature-laden and extremely versatile, and finally loads faster. OpenOffice.org   75563 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Presentation This free office suite includes a word processor, a spreadsheet, a database, and drawing and presentation programs. BitTorrent   134788 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Music & Video Sharing Basic client software offers improvements, simplicity, and a great starting point for peer-to-peer file sharing. See (3) more PCWorld's Fantastic Freebies 2010: All-Time Greats » Browse DownloadsAntivirus & Security • Design & Multimedia • Utilities • Games • Chat, Email, & the Web • Sponsored Downloads Palm Edition Deset Pocket Video MakerSave $5.00! Palm Edition converts movies from DVD or hard disc into movies that can be watched on Palm PDAs. Take your Palm with you on the train, on the plane or on the bus, and watch your favorite movies on the go. 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