Canon has just released a couple of new upgrades to its: point-and-shoot models including the PowerShot S100, the successor to Canon's S95, and the SX40 HS. Upgrades over the S95 in the S100 include a 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor and a 24-to-120-mm wideangle lens with a five-times optical zoom. It shoots RAW and JPEG and allows for manual adjustment of ISO, zoom and focus with a control ring on the front of the camera. Its LCD screen is 7.6 centimetres wide.
While still in the Power-Shot point-and-shoot category, the SX40 has some capabilities that start to bridge that gap for people not ready to make the jump to a full digital single lens reflex camera. It captures long-range shots with a 35-times optical zoom from 24 mm to 840 mm and the same image stabilization of the S100 to help reduce blurry shots. For sports fans or parents just wanting to catch photos of their children's soccer goal or hockey slapshot, there's a zoom framing assist button to help keep moving subjects in focus. The SX40 is out later this month, with the S100 due on store shelves in December (www.canon. ca).
KODAK EASYSHARE TOUCH DIGITAL CAMERA, KODAK CANADA, $170: Another new camera for fall is the socialmedia friendly Easyshare Touch that builds on Kodak's earlier share button. Connect the camera to your computer for auto uploading of photos to sharing sites like Facebook or for emailing to friends and family. It also lets you pre-tag photos to identify the people in them before you upload them to Facebook. The camera, which shoots 16-MP photos or 720 high-def video, also has various shooting modes including Kodak film effects, photo booth and others (www. kodak.com).
EEE PC X101, ASUS, $200: In the world of netbooks, you can never to be too thin and Asus now trumps that category with its newly released netbook, the Eee PC X101. A slim 1.8 centimetres (0.7 inches), it weighs just under a kilogram and comes preloaded with the MeeGo operating system, a Linuxbased, open-source software platform for netbooks, smart phones, smart TVs, automotive entertainment systems and other devices. And while the X101 shines in the thin category, with a $200 price tag, it couldn't be accused of being too rich for the wallet (www. asus.com).
CHEF STAND + STYLUS, BELKIN, $40: There's nothing like splattering hot grease or dropping potato peelings on your iPad to remind you that sometimes culinary endeavours can clash with computer health. Belkin has addressed the pesky problem of keeping track of recipes on your tablet computer while you cook with its new chef stand, which has a rubber base to keep it anchored on countertops and dual angles for easy viewing. It also comes with its own stylus so you don't have to worry about getting greasy fingermarks on the screen. Billed as being compatible with most tablet computers