Burning in a Heat Wave? Let Mr. Dyson’s Latest Fan Blow You Away

Product: Pedestal Fan Manufacturer: DysonWired Rating: 8Let’s just get this out of the way upfront: This thing looks an upgraded version of the Guardian in the classic Star Trek episode “The City on the Edge of Forever.” And I’m pretty sure sticking y…

Feature-Laden GPS Camera Has No Sense of Direction

Product: HZ35W Manufacturer: SamsungWired Rating: 5Take a compass on a trip and you’ll spend a lot of time wandering around trying to find out which way is north. Take a camera with a built-in GPS receiver and you’ll get tons of tasty geotagged photos …

Take the Plunge for Swiss Army’s Dive Master Watch

Product: Swiss Army Dive Master 500 Chrono Manufacturer: VictorinoxWired Rating: 8Who needs concrete shoes to sink a body to the bottom of the ocean when there’s the Victorinox Swiss Army’s Dive Master 500?

This quarter-pounder (actually 4.7 ounces…

High Performing Laptop Is Stuck Squarely in the Past

Product: Clevo W880CU Manufacturer: AVA DirectWired Rating: 6Seeing — and lifting — the AVA Direct Clevo W880CU brings back fond memories of days gone by. Those were the days when laptop makers didn’t give a flip about how big and bulky the…

GPS Cameras Give Your Shots a Sense of Place

Product: View Finders

Manufacturer: Roundup:

Wired Rating: 0

Forgot where you snapped that pic of a giant green French lady hoisting a torch? You need a GPS-enabled camera. We took the four newest models for a test drive.

1. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V

If not for the picture of a satellite on the side, you’d never guess this camera is location-aware — the GPS functions are buried that deep in the menus. But once we activated them, the 10.2-megapixel HX5V geotagged our sharp shots with sniperlike accuracy.

WIRED Sweep Panorama mode intelligently captures oversize subjects — you know, the Grand Canyon, LeBron James. Just press the shutter and sweep the camera across the vista. Records 1080p video with stereo sound. GPS automatically sets the clock. Digital compass.

TIRED GPS signal defeated by buildings and overhanging trees. Doesn’t display nearby place-names or points of interest during playback. Confusing menus.

$350, sony.com

2. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

The ZS7 not only embeds latitude and longitude data in your shots, it also displays city, state, and country — along with points of interest — right on the 3-inch LCD. Too bad it’s sometimes a step behind: When we were taking night shots of the East River in Queens, the ZS7 thought we were still in a Brooklyn park we had visited earlier. It had the best image quality of the batch, though, capturing crisp photos with bold, natural color.

WIRED Embeds location data in HD video, too. Fastest cam tested — blazing autofocus, no shutter lag. Landmark library spans 73 countries. 300-shot battery life.

TIRED Misidentified some points of interest. If you don’t reset the GPS, you get info from your last trip. Lots of menu-digging to activate GPS.

$399, panasonic.com

3. Leica V-Lux 20

The main difference between this camera and the Panasonic ZS7 is the price: That red dot on the handgrip commands a $300 premium. Otherwise, the specs are almost identical: 12.1-MP sensor, 12X optical zoom, even built-in GPS that sometimes gets confused. On a positive note, the V-Lux 20 matched the superior image quality of the ZS7; on a sour note, it was a second (or two) slower on the draw. But maybe your subjects will be so dazzled by the Leica logo that they’ll hold their poses indefinitely.

WIRED Ships with Adobe Photoshop Elements 8. Snazzy all-black design.

TIRED Took up to a minute to initially locate GPS signal. Records 720p HD video in Motion JPEG format, which produces larger file sizes. Slightly bigger body than the ZS7.

$699, leica.com

4. Samsung HZ35W

Is Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in Kyrgyzstan? This 12-MP Samsung thought so, placing Coney Island’s culinary landmark in Central Asia. Luckily, iPhoto was able to decode the cam’s location-babble and tag the imported photos correctly. Even so, this chunky rig had the best GPS controls of the group, including a topside activation switch and a Map View mode to pinpoint your whereabouts on the 3-inch screen. Unfortunately our pictures suffered from oversaturated color and blurry edge detail.

WIRED 15X optical zoom pulls back as wide as 24 mm. Map View highlights nearby Starbucks cafès and BofA ATMs.

TIRED Map View maps must be downloaded from Samsung Web site and stored on the memory card. Slowest shooter in test.

$349, samsung.com

Wireless Home-Theater Headphones Kind to Your Neighbors

Product: Mobile ‘Phones

Manufacturer: Roundup:

Wired Rating: 0

Are your neighbors screaming at you to turn down Gladiator … again?! Plug into a pair of wireless home-theater headphones. They let you crank up the Roman blood sport without getting the thumbs-down from anybody.

1. Pioneer SE-DIR800C

These Pioneer ‘phones have Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround effects to make you think there are five speakers inside your head. Not as painful as you might imagine: It really does sound like there are five separate sound sources, and tripping out on that was enough to keep us engaged. These are better suited to movies than music, though: If you stray more than 26 feet from the transmitter — like if you dance into a different room — the normally sharp sound loses its edge.

WIRED Great sound reproduction is perfect for action flicks. Super-comfy headband.

TIRED NSFW (or anywhere but your house) — these giant cans look ridiculous. You have to remove the batteries and put them into the transmitter dock to recharge. Priciest of the bunch.

$399, pioneerelectronics.com

2. Sony MDR-DS3000

These sleek earmuffs are like a hug for your head — by far the most comfortable pair here. Alas, the DS3000s also have the worst range: Infrared signal requires line of sight and makes it only about 20 feet before degrading. The surround sound was good but no aural nirvana. The fit was so comfortable, though, we didn’t mind.

WIRED Headset recharges in its cradle. Did we mention how wearable these are? Even after a marathon session, we had zero fatigue or swamp-ear. Included optical audio cable enables the best possible sound.

TIRED Bulkiest base station in the test. Hissing during quiet scenes or when you amble too far from the base.

$230, sony.com

3. Acoustic Research AWD210

At 200 bucks retail, the AWD210s are a serious bargain (and we found ‘em for just over $100 on Amazon). Sound quality is nothing to w00t about — great bass, but range is lacking. The leather-covered headband and supple ear pads are comfy, but they don’t sit on your head as naturally as the others, making them feel heavy after a while. The poor fit also let outside noise leak in.

WIRED Cheap! Volume and power controls on the left earpiece. Headphones charge with an AC adapter (no batteries required).

TIRED Plastic earphone casing feels flimsy. Some electronic interference; probably a good idea to keep your cell phone in a different room. Random dead zones when you move away from the transmitter.

$199, acoustic-research.com

4. TDK WR700

Road trip? Take the WR700s with you. Their compact size and the choice of 3.5- or 6.3-mm jacks means you can make any audio source wireless. Buy another pair, switch on Multi-User mode, and share sound with a friend. With Kleer transmission technology, they’ll beam CD-quality streams. But even with a lossless source, the sound was tinny. And because the ear pads are smallish, noise isolation was only so-so — you shouldn’t have to tell roommates to keep it down when you’re the one blasting a movie.

WIRED Mini and standard stereo jacks. Volume buttons on right earpiece. Best range in test.

TIRED Transmitter just a box with a plug — a few inches of cord would make it infinitely easier to hook up. BYO batteries — two AAAs for the headphones, two for the dongle.

$249, tdk.com

Fetish: Toshiba Netbook Ditches Keyboard for Second Touchscreen

Product: Libretto W105

Manufacturer: Toshiba

Wired Rating: 0

Dedicating half your laptop to 80-odd keys is such a waste of space — at least, that’s the message we’re getting from the new Toshiba Libretto W105. With two 7-inch touchscreens, the 1.2-GHz machine does triple duty as a notebook computer, media player, and e-reader. Juggling serious work? The upper screen presents a typical Windows 7 OS while the lower pane hosts one of six keyboards. Catching up on Modern Family? Fill the top window with Hulu while you cruise Wikipedia for spoilers below. And if you’re feeling literary, turn the Libretto sideways and load up Toshiba’s ebook software. It shows one page on each side, just like the printed books Grandpappy used to read. For those not quite ready to surrender their physical keyboard, Toshiba will still sell plenty of models equipped with those clickety-clack contraptions. Perhaps you’d like one with a floppy disk drive and a 2,800-baud modem?

It’s a Water War! ‘Cuz You’re Never Too Old for a Squirtfest!

Product: H₂Open Fire!

Manufacturer: Roundup:

Wired Rating: 0

The wimpy squirt guns of your youth have been overthrown by sting-your-face water cannons. You’re never too old for a soakfest, so choose your weapon.

1. Water Warriors Vanquisher

If you’re going into battle, this is the artillery you want to be packing. The Vanquisher holds 108 ounces of liquid and blasts streams up to 40 feet. Choose one of three shooting modes to conserve ammo, make a chilly statement, or all-out drench your opponents. Pressurized by a shotgun-style hand pump, the Vanquisher is as mean as it looks.

WIRED Comes with a shoulder strap for easy toting. Large-capacity tank minimizes trips to the hose for a refill.

TIRED When fully loaded, this baby weighs about as much as a real baby (8.75 pounds). Trigger is placed awkwardly at the top of the gun, so you kinda have to hold it like a purse.

$20, buzzbeetoys.com

2. Nerf Super Soaker Shot Blast

When most people think water guns, they think Super Soaker. But the cheery-colored models are ancient history. The new battalion of plastic liquidators look like they came straight outta Halo. And Master Chief would approve: The Shot Blast will launch bulleted streams about 25 feet, and its 38-ounce reservoir will last you to the end of most engagements. But beware the point-blank head shot: It stings.

WIRED Adjustable shoulder stock for optimal positioning. Powerful blasts will have your challengers running for dry land.

TIRED No trigger — you have to pump it every time you shoot, which is a lot of work for playtime. Don’t drink from the nozzle unless you want to lose your face.

$20, hasbro.com

3. OF2000 Water Sports Stream Machine

Those looking to truly douse their friends (or enemies) should get their hands on one of these. Sure, it’s an extremely simple design, but its ability to soak foes is incredible. To fill the gun, stick the nozzle in any pool of water and pull back on the handle. To fire, push the handle forward. Rocket science. The 36-inch-long barrel holds approximately 32 ounces, which is enough to cause almost anyone to raise the white flag.

WIRED Ridiculously light and easy to carry around. The thick stream is unrivaled.

TIRED Needs almost constant refilling. You have to either tote along a bucket of water or stage your battle on the beach.

$20, instantfun.ws

4. Saturator Electric Water Gun AK47

The most realistic-looking shooter of the bunch, the Saturator AK47 is also the noisiest. Its piston moving back and forth sounds like an automatic towel dispenser on the fritz. But that cacophony is the sound of violence: Powered by four AA batteries, the Saturator rattles off 240 bursts a minute. Each spritz is pretty light, but the rapid fire provides adequate soakage.

WIRED Just hold the trigger and the gun does all the work. Stream is tame enough to serve as an impromptu drinking fountain.

TIRED The clip holds only 10 ounces, and the tiny hole in its top makes for awkward refills. On second thought, it sounds like a dying cat.

$20, kapowwe.com

Dell Streak Smears Line Between Phone and Tablet

Product: Streak Manufacturer: DellWired Rating: 7Ed. note: Dell has not announced a price for the Streak.

Here’s what you need to know about me. I spend more time checking e-mail, playing with apps and browsing on my smartphone than actually talking…

Electro Grill Stokes Our Hearts, Exceeds Expectations

Product: Q140 Electric Grill Manufacturer: WeberWired Rating: 6Normally we think grills with electric heating elements are a dumb idea. That was until we used the Q140.

After we got over our prejudice against a grill that uses neither gas nor char…