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I decided to take a few shots with both my iPhone 3G and the Palm Pre to give a good idea of how the cameras stack up. The iPhone 3G has a 2 megapixel sensor with fixed focus (the new iPhone 3GS greatly improves on this with 3 megapixels and autofocus) and the Pre serves up 3 megapixels also with fixed focus.

While the Pre's photos are obviously higher resolution and seem sharper at times, the iPhone is much better at processing color, brightness and contrast. The Pre wins points however for having a much faster camera, both in starting the application and snapping photos.

Check out the comparison shots after the jump.… Read more

PhotoShine allows users to place their photos into 700 different templates (the trial limits you to 102). The quality of the templates varies greatly; some look pretty nice and could conceivably be printed and framed for display. Others...not so much.

Though the interface was somewhat ugly, it was uncluttered and easy enough to use. The templates that purport to make your photo look like it is featured on a magazine cover are particularly bad, with terrible text and the occasional spelling error. Many of the other templates seem to be made for teenage girls only, which is fine if … Read more

PhotoPDF Photo to PDF Convertor provides users with a simple way to convert their pictures to PDFs. With an easy layout and fast results, this makes a great choice for anyone looking to change their pictures.

The program is intuitively designed to create a minimum of confusion. As if its simple flow and well-positioned commands weren't enough, the converter's Quick Start slideshow walks users through conversion. In addition, the program offers a Help file, covering any base imaginable. Converting our files to PDF was a snap. Locating the file or folder in question was a smooth trip around … Read more

MagicEffect Photo Editor is an easy, breezy way to add style to your photos. Choose from effects such as Sketch, Star, Amazing, and Dream to make your photos stand out from the rest.

This simple application has a basic interface that includes buttons running down the left side of the program that apply the program's different effects. To the right, the program shows you the original source picture and a preview of what the picture will look like once the selected effect is applied. It shows you 10 versions of what the picture looks like with the effect, ranging … Read more

It seems like just about everyone has a Twitter or Facebook account these days and I find myself checking the so called "status updates" for my friends and family more than I'd like to admit. I never thought when these services launched that a status update could become anything more than a simple yawn-worthy report of personal activity. But as we've seen with these services' growing popularity, and the recent explosion of activity during the aftermath of Iran's election, the idea of a status update has morphed into something much bigger. A simple sentence or … Read more

In the market for a new camera? Best Buy has the 8.1-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z150 for just $99.99. It's new, not a refurb, and a pretty sweet deal considering that it sold for $200 just last year.

I actually own this model, and I reviewed it for Wired last September. Here's a recap of the highlights, along with some updates based on months of real-world use.

The EX-Z150's wide-angle lens absolutely rocks, especially for snapping group photos in close quarters. I also love its mammoth LCD, which has spoiled me for anything smaller, and 4x … Read more

Flickr has made significant efforts at improving its mobile interface over the last year, and has just put out a useful update for iPhone and Android users which builds on that. Through the wonders of the latest iPhone firmware update, the built-in Safari browser can finally acquire the user's location information and pass it off to sites that request it. Google's Android platform has had this as well, but with both operating systems now supporting it, Flickr has gone ahead and added a pocket-sized version of its nearby photo viewer.

Now, whenever visiting the site you can view … Read more

Red Eye Pilot offers to help users eliminate the annoying photo problem of red eye. With controls slimmed down to the basics, this program is a hit, even if it is difficult to navigate at times.

The program's interface mimics full photo-editing suites, but only provides a few simple buttons and command icons. Its biggest asset is the excellent four-part tutorial. Each segment lasts less than a minute, but left us with a feeling of confidence in the program. For anyone still seeking more guidance, there is a well-planned Help file. The program offers one function that works very … Read more

I really dig Eye-Fi memory cards, which wirelessly beam photos from your digital camera to your PC (and/or an online sharing service). But I always thought they were overpriced.

They still are, but at least you can score a deal on one: Costco has the Eye-Fi 4GB Anniversary Edition for $59.99 shipped. Nonmembers pay an extra $3, and nearly everyone pays sales tax.

In case you're not familiar with it, the Eye-Fi is a standard-size SDHC memory card (meaning it's compatible with most cameras) that happens to have built-in Wi-Fi.

When it's in range of … Read more