If you've been waiting for Adobe to put Photoshop on the iPhone, you're wait is over. It's about what you'd expect (and certainly all you need) from an editing application on your cell phone. The app is even free, which I found fairly surprising.

The interface is probably the best part of the app. It's simple slider controls for most effects, which include standard adjustments for saturation, exposure, tint, and all that. You can also crop and use filters, which makes it pretty easy to put together a decent looking picture for a quick Facebook upload. Oh, did I mention the app is free?

The app includes integration with Adobe's online system and allows you to upload photos or just save the changes right on your phone. As I may have mentioned, the app is free.

According to a Bloomberg report, Sony's Walkman outsold the iPod in Japan last week for the first time in four years. It's likely no small coincidence that Apple's media event, the one at which they're rumored to unveil a new line of iPod Touch and iPod Nano models with cameras, is just a week away.

One analyst thinks the shift came from consumers looking for less expensive devices. I'm calling bull on that one. It looks to me more like market forces aligned to give Sony the .9 percent jump over Apple in the week ending August 30th. Sony had recently released the W series Walkman, which got some good reviews, and again, Apple is almost certainly launching a new line.

I don't mean to sound so vehemently fanboyish, but let's be realistic. Sony has done anything big enough to really take back the market. Sure, the W series is one of the best looking devices they've designed, but you don't just win back market share with a pretty device because it costs marginally less than the dominant competitor. I hope that analyst isn't getting paid much, if at all.

The iPhone's camera may not be perfect, but it's quickly become the most popular camera on Flickr.

I made a post a while back sharing my impressions from the iPhone 3GS's improved camera, and I was pretty impressed. For a camera phone, it takes some great shots, and really, that's all I need. Some great shots. Here and there. Add to it the fact that I always have the camera with me and you'll find me a very happy consumer.

It seems that's the case with a whole lot of other people too, and they're all sharing their pictures via Flickr. To be certain, the iPhone isn't good enough to replace a DSLR or even a good point-and-shoot. It is good enough, though, for just capturing the moment, quickly and easily, and with some decent results.

When Howard Stringer took over at Sony four years ago, they charged him with a hefty task: revitalize the company and resuscitate the brand. He's been struggling to do so ever since. Today the New York Times reported the number Sony has put to Stringer's troubles: $388 million. In the red. Now it's no secret that Sony has been struggling. They're getting pmeled in the video game market and soundly beaten with just about every other product they meant to sell competitively. Sony's bright light is that they're a world class company and they've made their name on innovative products. They can come back from what's really a mild slump in their massive sales. Thing is, they need to turn things around yesterday. I can't say if that means getting rid of Stringer but Sony needs to take advantage of the fact that everyone is struggling and use their massive resources to turn the brand around.

So far I've taken you through the paces for creating a great work area and a kick-ass entertainment center. Today is the final installment of Pimp Your Dorm Room, the one where I cover all the extra devices that don't necessarily have a specific home in your room but will make your college life that much more enjoyable. This is Pimp Your Dorm Room: Everything Else Edition.

Phone
You probably knew I would start out here, and for good reason. Your phone will likely always be on you, and it needs to keep up with your newly active lifestyle. You'll have more work than ever, probably more fun than ever, and it's one of the rare times in your life that you'll be meeting hundreds and thousands of people your own age. Having a phone that can help manage your hectic lifestyle will save you loads of time and plenty of headaches.

As you also might have expected, I'm going to recommend the iPhone. The new 3GS is simply the best phone on the market for handling college's educational and social demands. Right out of the box you'll have an intuitive contact management system, full email functionality, a calendar that can sync up with your Google account, a way to record quick voice memos, and an iPod. You'll also have access to Google Maps, which will be hugely helpful for learning your new hometown. None of these things are really different from other smartphones, but for undergraduate use, they are some of the easiest to use.

What makes the iPhone a great pick over other phones is the App Store. The iPhone dev community is still the fastest growing in the world, and the App Store is constantly adding new distractions. Whether you need educational tools or Facebook, games for some downtime or access to services like Yelp!, the iPhone has the best selection for applications to choose from.

Did I mention you also get a camera with video capability? Remember, the best camera is the one you always have with you. When it's built into your phone, how could you not? The iPhone 3GS takes great pictures with the new autofocus/auto exposure and you can edit and upload video to YouTube on the fly. You'll truly appreciate capturing video on your phone when you get footage of your friends launching various fruits across the quad from a balloon launcher or filling the campuses main arch to the top with snow. I'm not saying I've done these things, just positing that it may indeed be fun.

Camera
As much as I stress getting an iPhone, you'll probably still want a camera for serious picture taking. The iPhone has no flash, and frankly, a lot of you won't end up with an iPhone. Get yourself something slim and portable, something you won't forget when you're road tripping to visit friends or just making trouble on campus.

For average day to day shooting, get yourself a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The camera is small and well-built with enough features to take great pictures. It's a 10-megapixel compact with decent lens capable of taking 640x480 video at 30fps. The ZS1 starts quickly, so you're taking pictures just 2.5 seconds after firing it up. Average shot-to-shot time is also excellent for the class, meaning you won't miss the moment you want to capture most. J&R has the ZS1 for just under $270.

Fridge
Ah, the staple of any dorm room. You will want a minifridge. Whether it's beverages you need to chill or pizza you've pilfered from the cafeteria to get you through a late night study session, something has to preserve your perishables, and it won't be the smell coming from your hamper.

Check out the Deluxe Mini Fridge-Warmer from ThinkGeek. It can both cool and warm, which is adjustable via digital thermostat, from 44 degrees to 140 degrees. Perfect for the pizza/beverage-of-choice crowd, no? The fridge has a see-through door so you know when it's time to restock and there's an On/Off switch for easy defrosting during breaks. Best of all, the fridge comes in under $100.

Alarm Clock
Several of the gadgets I've listed in our Pimp Your Dorm Room guides could technically double as alarm clocks, but sometimes those devices just can't get the job done. There are few worse feelings than staying up late to study or finish a paper, only to wake up well after that class is over. Avoid the scrambling, the sprinting across campus, the nauseating amount of ass-kissing to make up for your blunder, and get yourself a decent alarm clock.

I recommend the Sonic Boom Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker, again, from ThinkGeek. This puppy cranks out 113-decibel alarms, which even the dead can't sleep through. If for some reason you don't waken with bleeding ears, the accompanying bed shaker is bound to rouse you. Slip the little piece under your mattress and just when your alarm shocks you out of that restful slumber, your bed will nearly dump you as well. You can pretty much forget about hitting the snooze button. Why would you want to do that to yourself twice in one morning? The Sonic Boom will run you a pair of Jacksons.

That does it for our this edition of Pimp Your Dorm Room and the Pimp Your Dorm Room guide series. Be sure to check out how to Pimp Your Desk and Pimp Your Entertainment if you missed those. To all of you budding college freshmen, I wish you good luck. The next four years (five or more for some of you) will be some of the best of your life. Enjoy them, and if you've taken anything from these guides, enjoy them in style.

In years gone by, Fujifilm was the name in digital photography. They pioneered the first digital still camera in 1988 and held almost 30% market share. That was then, and unfortunately for Fuji, now is a time in which they hold less than 7% of the market and face stiff competition from companies like Nikon and Olympus.

Fuji is releasing a new camera with hopes of getting their mojo back. Called the FinePix Real 3D System, their new camera is (omg!) a 3D still camera, the first of its kind for a consumer market. The camera works by employing two lenses that sit approximately the width of a pair of human eyes apart. The result is binocular vision that recreates depth perception in the same way your brain does. The only problem is that the left and right images have to be directed to your left and right eye for the effect to work.

That's part of Fuji's strategy for the Real 3D. As the first 3D consumer camera, they're the first with a real need for 3D media that doesn't involve a pair of red and blue glasses. For starters, they're looking at a 3D picture frame, which would direct each image at the viewer's appropriate eye, and 3D film, which functions as a lens overlay for a photo print, achieving the desired effect.

I went to an art exhibit last year where a physical media photographer was showcasing photos he had take by sort of hacking this method. He shot the images and then put them into one of those viewfinders you see at Niagra Falls and other popular tourist destinations. The pictures were incredible, especially the dead bird splayed out on the pavement.

Success of this kind of product really depends on the success of the media, though. If the frame and the film are overpriced, it doesn't matter how cool the pictures are. No one will be able to appreciate them. Fuji seems to be aware of this and plans to price at least the film under the $5 mark. The camera will run you a cool $600.

Energizer's Energi To Go line has some pretty sweet stuff, including a solar battery charger for just $50. They're adding another device to the line later this year that's turning some heads - the DSLR/camcorder battery USB charging clip. I really hope they have a better name.

This nifty little toy looks great. Two prongs hang from the top of what is essentially a chip clip with a usb stick attached. The prongs line up with the contacts on most DSLR/camcorder batteries, giving you an ultra portable way to charge on the go.

The only setback is that the clip may require one of Energizer's USB-equipped battery packs, but even so, it's USB, and that's awesome. Now if we could just get universal charging adapters for our cell phones.

Energizer has yet to release pricing and availability for the clip, but I'd guess it'll fall somewhere around $20. Watch for it in Q3 this year.

Source: Gearlog

One of the most lauded features of the 3GS is the new and improved camera, which saw a 50% megapixel bump (2 up to 3). The magic isn't in the megapixels, though, it's the autofocus/auto exposure functions at the tip of your finger.

I took all of the photos you see in the gallery at a cemetery near my apartment (I realize that sounds a little odd, but it's a historic site) or just down the street, and I was shocked at the quality. It's not just that the photos focused well on the objects I chose, but that the camera could also automatically adjust for exposure and white balance, turning typically mediocre photos into some decent shots.

The best feature of the whole thing is that it's built into the phone. Sure you can take better pictures, but carrying a point-and-shoot everywhere isn't appealing for most people. I always have my phone, though, so I'll be able to take great shots whenever the mood strikes. Having those shots on the iPhone also means I'll be able to share them with remarkable ease. Emailing is fast and simple, and MMS should make things even better.

My only wish now? A Picasa app, developed by Google. As it stands I can view my albums online, but there's no uploading unless you use something like AirMe or Shozu, both of which are more complicated than they need to be. Neither of apps make clear when your photo is uploaded, and AirMe just drops the photos you upload into an album titled AirMe. I'll do some more serious digging for this later.

With improvements like Apple has made with the 3GS, I won't be buying a pocket camera any time soon. The iPhone now fills the point-and-shoot gap in my life. If I want something to take truly great photos, you'll see my with a DSLR.

Enjoy the gallery. The photos have not been edited in any way, save orientation for the two portrait shots.

[gallery]

Just a few days before the iPhone 3GS hits consumers, Pure Digital Technologies, who makes the Flip series of digital camcorders has updated their software for improved sharing support. The Flip has been the camcorder of choice for many, especially for YouTube enthusiasts.

The new Flip software adds the ability for users to create channels with individual security settings, allowing them to share their videos privately, instead of relying on YouTube and other social networking sites to do so. Private sharing does not support HD playback, but for many that's not the draw of the Flip. It's ease of use they're after.

Pure Digital has also announced an app for the iPhone that will allow iPhone owners to view the privately shared videos right on the phone. It's an interesting move from Pure Digital, particularly with the video recording and editing features available on the new iPhone. Add to that the App Store approval process, which the Flip app will have to pass before making it to consumers, and it sounds like Pure Digital is pretty worried about their market share.

Their concern is probably reasonable, though the Flip line still offers enough benefits to keep them in people's hands. For now, at least.

You're going green, trying to reduce your energy footprint, but that damn iPhone of yours keeps dying. Tremont Electric has your solution.

Called the nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator), Tremont's newest device harnesses kinetic energy to generate electricity and power your devices. According to the company, the PEG is capable of charging an average device up to 80% capacity in just an hour of average movement, like walking. Because the PEG comes equipped with a USB 2.0 jack, it's compatible with just about every device on the market.

I've seen this type of thing before, usually in the style of a belt worn around your hips for maximum shaking on impact. The PEG, though, doesn't need to be worn. Trow it in a backpack, a purse, even just across your passenger's seat. Virtually any movement will start to generate the juice you need to keep your gadgets at max capacity.

According to Tremont Electric, "If our entire target market used the PEG to recharge their cell phones for an hour each day, instead of plugging into a wall outlet, they would reduce the amount of electricity needed from the grid by 25.4 million kilowatts. That's enough energy to power 21,000 households for an entire year." Pretty huge change for a small device.

The nPower PEG is just 9 inches tall with a 1.5 inch diameter and weighs 9 ounces. A release date remains to be announced, but you can sign up and be one of the first to get preorder information.

Wouldn't you love to have a camera with a .0000000005 second shutter speed? You could shoot anything in the lowest light imaginable. That's exactly the speed of the STEAM camera, a new super camera in use by scientists reporting in the journal Nature.

How does it work? You guessed it, LASERS!!! (Seriously, what can't lasers do.) The Serial Time-Encoded Amplified iMaging (you see the STEAM, yes?) essentially detects the reflections of lazorz micropulses that are less than a millionth of a millionth of a second long. By reading the 2-D rainbow these reflections project, a detection device can then create an image. The best part of the camera, though, is that the 'shutter' can fire continuously, allowing researchers to capture events that are apparently random, or at least so freakishly rare you couldn't plan for them. One possible application? Watching neurons fire. Awesome.

Source: BBC

In case you missed it, here’s what's Bouncing Around the Web:

Nikon has released what seems to be a wonderful new DSLR. It combines a 12.3 megapixel still camera with a video camera that shoots 720p video at 24fps. The best part? It starts at $730. From a high level, it looks like the D5000 is a consumer’s D90 at a more affordable price point. Well done Nikon… well done.
Via Wired

Who doesn’t love a good rumor? Or better yet, a good Apple rumor? Or better still, a new iPhone rumor? Or best of all, a new iPhone rumor backed by actual data? Yes, the new iPhone’s features may have been leaked with the release of the iPhone OS 3.0. In the OS, developers have found several interesting things like: a video recorder, auto-focus, an iPhone locator, voice control and more. Yum!
Via Wired

Nintendo has announced the release date for their new Wii MotionPlus accessory. If you haven’t heard yet, MotionPlus is supposed to give a more true 1-to-1 experience on the Wii. Things like swinging a golf club or handling a sword will act more like the real thing than ever before. It’s a pretty cool concept and I expect the final product to be solid. So look to pick one up for $19.99 on June 8 or bundled with Wii Sports Resort for $49.99 a few weeks later.
Via IGN

I’ve owned a pretty dependable laptop bag for about five years, so when SLAPPA’s Aura Pro-Tour backpack arrived at my doorstep, it had some big shoes to fill. Not that my previous backpack was without its flaws, mind you; it just…worked. Well, the Aura Pro-Tour works even better, and my old bag has officially been retired to the basement.

This thing is solid, which is to be expected from a SLAPPA bag. Made of Ballistix water- and tear-resistant nylon, the Pro-Tour will keep your laptop and all your gear well protected, which is of course priority #1 for any quality bag. And with 1700 cubic inches of available space and six storage pockets, I had no problem fitting all my junk inside, with room to spare: 15-inch laptop, iPod, headphones and earbuds, network cable, more random chords and cables, some DVDs, two books, a notepad, a couple of magazines, and several pens and pencils. That may seem like a relatively short list for such a big backpack, but the Pro-Tour sets itself apart by offering a removable inner bag for digital gear and/or SLR camera storage. I loaded the bag up with my Nikon D40, additional lens, point-and-shoot camera, Flip video camera, extra batteries and memory cards, and two chargers, slid the bag into the backpack’s main compartment behind the laptop storage area, and I was ready for anything. I can’t tell you how cool this feature is, considering in the past I wasn’t able to bring my SLR with me on a plane unless I checked my suitcase, because I had to carry my laptop and the camera/accessories in separate bags. Having one bag for both makes the Pro-Tour a keeper for any photographer, aspiring or otherwise, plus it’s still small enough to qualify as a carry-on.

I should mention that, when I had my laptop and camera equipment both loaded into the Pro-Tour, there wasn’t a whole lot of extra room for some of the items I previously listed, since the removable gear bag fits in the area where those things would otherwise be stored. That, of course, isn’t a complaint, just a reminder that this do-it-all bag has its limitations. As purely a laptop bag, the Pro-Tour offers great protection and should be plenty big enough for all of your extra items. As an all-in-one travel bag for gadget geeks with a bunch of equipment to lug around, SLAPPA’s Pro-Tour backpack is unbeatable.

It’s time to break through the clutter and get down to business. This weekly post is going to list not the top 10, or the top 5, but the top 3 of anything gadget related. Why the top 3? Because anything more would be watered down.

So without further ado, here are the top 3 compact digital cameras.

3. Nikon Coolpix S610

Armed with up to 1600 ISO, 4x optical zoom, and the ability to take wide-angle shots, the Nikon Coolpix S610 is sure to please. Oh, and taking pictures in 10 megapixels doesn’t hurt either. My only real complaint is the price. It’s not the cheapest compact camera around but as you know, you usually get what you pay for.

2. Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS ELPH

I heard someone was looking for a less expensive compact camera? Well, you found it. If you make a small sacrifice here and there, the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS ELPH is the way to go. With 8 megapixels and 3x optical zoom, you’ll still get great shots from this small camera. Add in face detection and you’ve got a great camera at an affordable price.

1. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300

For those of us who want the best of the best, look no further than the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300. Check this: 13.6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, smile shutter mode, face detection that can differentiate between adult and children’s faces, and adjustable noise reduction. The fact of the matter is; all the cameras on this list will take good pictures. But if you want great pictures from a compact camera, look no further than the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300.