Gadget corner

Curved edge
Research In Motion's latest smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 (below), is its thinnest and lightest to date, weighing 110 grams and measuring 109mm by 60mm by 13.5mm. The handset sports the same stylish design as its big brother, the 3G BlackBerry Bold, but without the leather case. It features quad-band Edge cellular network support, Wi-fi, a Global Positioning System function, a 2.4-inch display and a 3.2-megapixel camera with a flash and a digital zoom. Multimedia features include advanced e-mail, messaging, organiser, Web browser and Facebook applications. Its expandable memory card slot supports up to 16 gigabytes per card. The BlackBerry Curve 8900 costs HK$1,580.

Handycam to have
Sony has continued to up the ante in consumer camcorders with its latest Handycam-brand device. The HDR-X100 (above) has been designed to capture both high-definition videos and 4-megapixel- equivalent, high-resolution still images. It features so-called hybrid recording technology, so users can shoot and transfer video or still photos onto multiple media formats. More than three hours of high-definition video can be saved on the camcorder's 8GB internal memory, while up to 9 hours and 45 minutes of HD footage can be transferred to an optional 16GB Pro-HG Memory Stick. Like its predecessor, the HDR-CX12/E, the HDR-CX100 features 'smile shutter' technology that detects smiles while recording and automatically captures still images, even when on standby. Available in silver, red and black, the Handycam HDR-CX100 is priced at HK$5,980.

Beat feat
Most in-ear headphones, such as those commonly used with MP3 players, do not reproduce the low-audio frequencies of digital music or prevent ambient noise. Consumer electronics accessories maker Monster Cable says it has resolved those issues with the Beats Tour headphones (below). Monster claims these deliver clear natural vocals, detailed highs and deep, powerful bass without distortion. Included are five pairs of earbud tips: three pairs of cone tips and two pairs of triple-layered tips that help isolate a user from unwanted external noise and provide a comfortable, secure fit. The Beats Tour headphones sell for HK$1,380 at HMV.