Bottom Line: This attractive and well-built TV stand is expensive, but offers an impressive space-saving design in an elegant package.

Verdict: Highly recommended.

Many people are drawn to flat panel TVs for their slim design. Unlike the CRT (”tube”) TVs of old, modern LCD and plasma TVs are only a few inches deep. This has made them attractive targets for wall mounting. Unfortunately, wall mounting isn’t always practical. External walls (walls facing the outside world) can generally not be used). Cables may have to be run through the wall, which can be logistically challenging. Many people are apprehensive about any permanent installation in their hall, particularly if they may change the position of the TV in the future.

Traditionally AV stands offer space for components as well as the TV, but fail to offer the sleek look of wall mounting.

That’s where the BDI Vista 9960 comes in. It’s a sleek pedestal stand that has two strong glass shelves for components and a sturdy metal mount for flat panels up to 50 or so inches in size. The first thing you will notice about the Vista 9960 is the weight. Packed in its box, it weight about 125 pounds (that’s without the TV). You have to assemble it yourself, but the instructions are fairly clear.

In addition to its striking looks, BDI clearly put a great deal of effort into ensuring your equipment is kept safe. The stand feels quite durable, and is nearly completely made of metal. The TV mount is firm, though appeared to mount my Panasonic plasma with a slight downward angle (which ended up being acceptable given the mount height was slightly higher than eye level). Mounting bars are attached to your TV via the included bolts, then the whole contraption is lifted onto the stand. If you have a heavy TV, you will need at least 2 people to safely mount the TV, and a third person to guide the process is helpful. Mounting height is adjustable.

In addition to the TV mount itself, the stand has two glass shelves on which to place AV equipment. Though these stands are typically pictured with only a small component on each shelf, the shelves are actually quite robust. BDI reports they can hold about 50 lbs, which is more than most will need (my fairly heavy Sony receiver is half that). An additional shelf can be optionally purchased, and the shelf heights are adjustable. A shelf-less version of the Vista (the 9950) is also sold, though I think the 9960 looks a bit nicer.

What really makes the Vista stand out is how well designed it is. The main body of the stand is mostly hollow, allowing the stand to easily hide cables that run between components. This makes for a cleaner look overall and avoids the rats’ nest of cables that can typically be seen in the back of AV stands.

The Vista 9960 is not cheap. Sites like Crutchfield sell it for $799 in black and $869 in silver. Some searching will get you a slight discount. However, I have yet to see a TV stand that so cleanly takes advantage of the slim form factor of flat panel TVs and maintains a high quality of craftsmanship. Unless you have an abundance of equipment that won’t fit on the Vista’s shelves, don’t pass up this stylish stand.

Apple’s iPhone has quickly become a popular item in the news, but many people are wondering if it is worth purchasing. It’s a moot point right now: we don’t yet know the final details about the device as it doesn’t ship until June, but there are a few important considerations.

Firstly, the phone will only be available on Cingular (soon to be renamed AT&T) in the US. This will apparently be the case for the first 2 years. You might be able to “unlock” the phone and use it with T-Mobile (though some special features like “visual voicemail” may not work), but since the phone uses GSM technology, it will not work with Sprint or Verizon Wirelses (both of which use a different technology, CDMA). Since purchasing the phone will require a 2-year contract with Cingular/AT&T, it is really not too much of an issue.

The iPhone is expensive: $499 for the 4GB version and $599 for the 8GB version. You’ll want the 8GB version. There may well be changes in the price by June, but it will still be expensive. Though the price is high, it’s not outrageous for what is being offered, particularly if you already use a cell phone and an iPod. Many high-end phones start in this price range, often with far fewer features than the iPhone.

The iPhone has some tremendous technology inside and is sure to blow away most other phones out there with its 3.5″ touchscreen, proximity sensor (that turns off the screen when it’s close to your ear to save power and reduce accidental presses), rotation sensor (it can tell if you are holding it upright or horizontally and adjust the screen), and powerful, easy to use software.

There are a few downsides, however. The iPhone uses EDGE for data when it’s not in the range of WiFi. This is considerably slower than the high speed EVDO networks from Verizon and Sprint. Cingular’s own high-speed HSDPA network is not yet supported (this is sure to change with future iPhones, once HSDPA spreads beyond the few cities its present in now). This is not of great importance for e-mail, but web browsing might be annoyingly slow via EDGE. In addition, though Apple claims breakthrough technology in on-screen keyboards, it is not yet clear how well this compares to hardware keyboards like those found in the Palm Treo. Lastly, the iPhone is not small - slightly larger than a standard video iPod.

If you don’t mind carrying a relatively large phone and using Cingular/AT&T for service, dealing with EDGE speeds, and using a touchscreen for text entry, the iPhone is sure to be a blast to use and a convenient way to reduce the number of gadgets you are carrying. We’ll explore the iPhone more as we get closer to the release date.

Apple’s iPhone is the latest buzz in the cell phone world. Essentially, it’s Apple’s attempt at redifining the iPod while adding phone and internet capabilities.

Instead of the traditional iPod interface with a click-wheel placed below a smaller screen, the iPhone’s face is almost completely replaced by a 3.5″ rectangular touchscreen. Apple has come up with a slick new interface for listening to music and watching videos using the device, and all the controls are driven by touching the screen. The device can be used in the traditional upright (or “portrait”) orientation or in the horizontal “landscape” orientation. The device can sense how you are holding it and adjust the screen orientation and functions to match. For example, if you hold the iPhone vertically, the list of music is presented in a list format that most iPod users are familiar with. Rotate the iPod 90 degrees and now that list becomes a flippable catalog of album art which Apple calls “cover flow”. Not call functions can be rotated like this (movies, for example, only play in widescreen mode), but many can.

In addition the the traditional iPod functions (music, movies, and videos), the iPhone acts as (surprise) a cell phone, using the large touchscreen to make the interface easy to use. Granted, most people don’t have too much trouble using a phone, but a large interface can make complex tasks like conference calling and browsing call logs considerably easier. The iPhone also synchronizes contact information with a desktop computer, allowing for easy storage and browsing of a large collection of contacts. Apple has found a creative way of dealing with one annoyance of voicemail by introducing a feature they call “visual voicemail”. Instead of dialing into a voicemail line, you see a list of your voicemails on the screen along with the name of the sender if it is known. You can listen to the voicemails in whatever order you want, simply by pressing the screen.
The iPhone will also offer traditional organizer functions, such as a calendar, to-do’s, and notes. These will synchronize with a computer as well. Current iPod’s can synchronize a photo collection for viewing on the device, and the iPhone will be no different. Because of the additional features, the iPhone allows its owners to manipulate the size of pictures by “pinching” the image with two fingers.

Most cell phone providers allow for internet access via the phone for an additional fee, and the iPhone will be able to take advantage of this functionality on Cingular’s EDGE network. A fully functional web browser (Safari) is included, and allows for easy zooming in and out of a web page, as well as handling multiple web pages simultaneously. Email is built in to the device as well. If a WiFi network is available, the iPhone can take advantage of it. It is not yet known what software will be available for the iPhone beyond what I have described above, but there are currently no announced plans to allow companies other than Apple develop software for the iPhone. Apple includes their own “widgets” including a weather forcast program, Google maps, and software that displays stock quotes.

One obvious concern is that the iPhone’s screen may be prone to scratches and fingerprints. Apple has apparently taken steps to minimize this risk, though I’m sure plenty of cases will be available by the time the device ships. There is no physical keyboard on the iPhone. Instead, a virtual onscreen keyboard appears as needed.

The iPhone will be available in June for $499 (4 GB version) or $599 with a 2 year contract from Cingular.

Bottom Line: Philips’ high quality digital picture frame is a surprisingly effective way to appreciate your digital photo library.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Most people have made the switch from traditional film cameras to digital photography. There are simply too many advantages to digital cameras. The images can be instantly appreciated, they can be shared rapidly and inexensively, and there is no cost of film, making mistakes affordable. Digital photography has also brought with it new challenges. While email and photo websites such as Flickr have offered new ways to share your photos, sometimes the computer screen is not the most practical place to appreciate photos. The Philips 7FF1M4 is an attempt to bring back casual enjoyment of photos without requiring printing. In fact, the 7FF1M4 goes one step further - it adds a new dimension made possible by its electronic nature: it can switch between multiple different photos on demand.

The 7FF1M4 is basically just a high quality backlit LCD screen; essentially it is a small computer monitor. It requires power so is plugged into an electrical outlet. To get photos from your computer into the 7FF1M4, you have two options. You can connect the device to your computer via the included USB cable, which is certainly a reasonable option. Philips claims you can store up to 60 photos using the frame’s built-in memory.

I have found that a more effective solution is the take advantage of the SD card reader in the frame. SD cards are quite cheap now, so it’s easy to get one that can store a large number of photos. SD card readers are cheap, so you can connect one to your computer and plug in a card. Copy over the photos you want, pop the card into your 7FF1M4, and you are good to go. It’s surprisingly convenient. Once the card is loaded into the frame, you can either choose to manually select the active photo, or have it rotate between them automatically using whatever schedule you like. The frame even can be set to turn itself on and off and prespecified times, so you don’t waste electricity while everyone is asleep.

The frame is simple and attractive, and should fit in with most decors. A clear plastic border surrounds a white frame, and the screen sits within this. A stand in the back props up the 7FF1M4, much like a traditional picture frame. If white doesn’t match the setting, the 7FF1M4 comes with grey, black, and red frames that can be used in its place.

The screen has a resolution of 720×480, which is impressively high for a screen of this size, and it shows. Pictures are crisk and have just the right amount of backlight to look natural in indoor lighting. Many people don’t even notice its digital until the picture changes. The inability to obtain a rich, deep black hampers contrast on many LCD screens, but the 7FF1M4 doesn’t seem to suffer from this problem.

The 7FF1M4 is not cheap: at $199 it’s a more serious purchase than most picture frames. However given the versatility and its ability to help you appreciate that digital photo collection that is accumulating on your computer, I think its worth it for many people. Though 6.5 inches is a good size, a larger 8 inch version is available for $50 more.