The Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras are nothing new, they've actually been around for years, but they are such a great tool for photographers, we decided to review them for 'ya.

We want to bring to light (hehe!) the fact that our studio product photographers keep buggin' us to review this speedlight because they love them so darn much. Our studio crew owns two of these SB-600 Speedlights and they do wonders with them.

This Nikon Speedlight is the answer to most lighting problems you would find when trying to flash a group of people. You pop it in to your hot-shoe (that little slot on top of your camera) and you are done. It is an easy step for a flash so powerful. Nikon has really put some thought into their speedlights. The flash can be triggered remotely by using the on-board pop-up flash. Nikon calls this the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS). Take note though, this feature is only available in their mid range to high end DSLRs, though it is known to work with some of the higher end Coolpix cameras as well with the use of some extra accessories.

The flash will work in TTL mode (adjust the flash according to what the camera sees "Through The Lens") and for the more advanced users it can be set to manual mode allowing the user to set the power of the flash in increments.

If you are not that serious into photography and are looking for a fancy flash for your DSLR don't waste your money on the SB-900, it will cost you twice as much for more power than you will probably need. I also wouldn't go for the SB-400 just because it is a minuscule step from the pop-up flash. The SB-400 also doesn't let you bounce light from the ceiling or walls which is one of the best advantages of these external flashes. In all, the Nikon SB-600 falls right in between and it is therefore the one we would recommend.

TIP: Flashes keep a great resale value so, don't be shy to put them on eBay when you want to move up. You can't lose (at least not that much).


THE GOOD
- Good construction
- Excellent flash unit delivers what it promises
- Good battery life
- Wireless capabilities

THE BAD
- Expensive
- As far as we can tell it can't be used as a slave for point and shoot cameras like its bigger brother the SB 900 can.

IN THE BOX
- One SB 600 Speedlight
- 1 Stand for the Speedlight
- User Manual / Warranty papers
- Pouch

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Nikon

We've all been clamoring for a kickstand for the iPod touch and iPhone for years now, but Apple has always failed to deliver. Thankfully we have companies like magneticNorth who pick up the slack with a product like the MoviePeg.

The MoviePeg acts as both a tripod (to keep the shots steady) as well as a kickstand. What are the uses of a kickstand? You can prop the iPod touch or iPhone down on the counter as your nightstand alarm clock or to view movies hands free while sitting at an uncomfortable plane seat.



For only £4.99 you could certainly do worse.

Found at MoviePeg.

Looking for a small, yet decent set of speakers for your laptop, iPod or portable device? We recently tested the Diamond MSP100B Mini Rockers Mobile Speakers at our labs and were very impressed with the sound quality.

The speakers are shaped like a little capsule with all the cables retracting inside the unit. The capsule breaks apart and delivers a pretty crisp sound with a nice hint of bass. We were pleasantly impressed at the audio that came out of these little guys.

The unit has a universal 3.5mm audio plug. Its power output is 4W and has an internal Li-Polymer battery that will give you about 6 hours of playtime on a single charge. The speakers measure 4" x 2" and fit snugly in the included carrying case.


The Diamond Mini Rockers in Action

For around $29.99 we feel the speakers are a good buy.

THE GOOD
- Loud with good bass
- Great price

THE BAD
- Cables do not retract well
- Battery does not seem to be consumer replaceable
- Cables could be a little longer. The cable that connects the left to the right speakers are a little short for comfort.

IN THE BOX
- One set of Diamond Rockers Speakers
- USB Y-Cable for charge while listening
- User Manual
- Pouch

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Diamond

iamhuman fabric skins for your MAC (and other laptops too) will make you an even bigger hipster. They use different fabric patterns like plaid, wool and so forth. Prices vary based on which fabric you fancy. Expect to pay at least $30 a pop.

Found at iamhuman.

Ice cream making, like ice cream, comes in different flavors: You have manual machines, pre-frozen bowl motor-powered machines, and built in freezing mechanism. The Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2 Quart ice cream maker is the pre-frozen bowl variety.

The Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker allows you to create frozen yogurt, sorbet, ice cream, and gelato. For a typical ice cream, the machine will take about 30 minutes to churn your custard to tasty ice cream.

The Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker is housed in brushed stainless steel. At the top you'll find a large ingredient spout, which allows you to add your mix-ins (think crushed Oreo cookies for example) during the churning process. In the lower part of the machine is where you'll find the automatic motor unit and the space for the double-insulated 2 quart freezer bowl. Tucked away underneath the body is the power cord, which can remain hidden until it is necessary to use. We wish however, that the cord was a foot longer than it currently is. Since this is not the kind of device you keep on your counter space (it is BIG!), most of the places where you'll plug this in will be taken away by devices you use everyday. So, having a longer cord would allow easier placement on the counter. Although the device is really heavy, it is very well constructed and does not feel cheap.



To use this machine you'll need to pre-freeze the freezer bowl for at least 8 hours before, so it is always recommended with this kind of ice cream maker that you store the freezer bowl in the freezer. Heed that as a warning, if you have a small freezer, you are better off buying the one of the smaller Cuisinart ice cream makers on the market. You'll also want to prepare the custard or non-custard ice cream before hand to keep the ice cream cool during the whole process. When you are ready, you turn the unit on and pour the ice cream mix slowly into the Cuisinart.

The device is not quiet, but it is not louder than similar devices and it is the nature of a device that has a motor running through a thick liquid like this to make a certain amount of noise.



We made recipes from the included recipe book and the fabulous ice cream book Perfect Scoop: Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, and Sweet Accompaniments by David Lebovits.

If you like your ice cream smooth, rich and creamy, this machine delivers in spades. As the machine churns, the custard slowly starts thickening. You should add your mix-ins about 5 minutes before you think you'll stop churning the ice cream.

One other note about the pre-frozen bowl before we go. To clean the bowl you'll need to run it through warm water and let it sit to essentially melt before being able to freeze it again. If you plan to make back-to-back ice cream, you should buy a separate bowl.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker over other pre-frozen bowl home ice cream markers -- specially when you can find it online for less than $70 dollars.


Watch our video review:


THE GOOD
- Makes soft creamy ice cream
- Good built quality
- Great price

THE BAD
- Heavy
- Long re-freezing times for the bowl
- The power cord is too small

IN THE BOX
- The Cuisinart ICE-30BC Ice Cream Maker
- 2 Quart Freezer Bowl
- Recipe Book

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Cuisinart

Apple's iPad will be hitting the market in about 60 days. It is cross-breed that lies somewhere between an iPod touch and a netbook. Apple hopes it will sweep the market like the iPod touch and iPhone did, but we are not sure that Apple will have a repeat success with the iPad.

The iPad is basically a netbook without a physical keyboard (it has a software keyboard). The cheapest version (16GB flavor) will run you $500 dollars without a 3G AT&T data connection. We find it real hard for Apple to make this product as popular as their iPod touch, after all, it's just a super-sized iPod touch. You can't really install full-blown applications on it like you can on a laptop or a netbook -- only apps that appear at the Apple store. Realistically though most of those apps are basically for fun and lack real meat and bones we need for real productivity. We also feel as if 16 gigs is mediocre for a device that costs $500.

Sure the Apple iPad acts as a movie player, music player, and web browser, but are you really willing to pay that much money for that use only? The real question is, will the Apple iPad be a product you use vigorously for a few weeks and then toss it in your pile along your endless Wii accessories?

Only time will tell if we are wrong about this one.

I sometimes don't know what to do with my MacBook when it is not in use. It ends up taking a large portion of my already cluttered desk and like an idiot I put stuff on top. The result? A few tiny scratches on its body that make my soul cry. The BookArc measuring just 10-by-4 inches and cushioned by soft silicon footpads should be your MacBook's new home. The product takes your MacBook vertical taking up only a fraction of the space it would otherwise take. In the end, you'll have more space, less scratches, and a cleaner soul.

Does anyone know if going vertical does any damage to the internal hard drives?

Found at Amazon.

This unique LED ambient lamp from Philips can produce a total of 16 million colors allowing a user to set the lamp to display a huge range of colors based on the desired effect. The brightness can be reduced or increased and the color can be selected at will with the included remote control. The results is an amazingly customizable light experience unlike any other we've ever seen.

Check out the light in action here.

Found at Amazon.

The iDesign Cube Clock iPod/iPhone Radio is an aesthetically pleasing iPod alarm clock/radio, but the devil, as with all electronics, is in the details.

For starters, the iDesign Cube Clock Radio and iPod player has a sophisticated look with a slightly gray face sporting a large digit LED display. Unfortunately, the LED display was really bright even in the low setting, forcing us to turn the unit slightly to the side so it would not affect us during night time. You can also turn the display off then temporarily turn on the display for about five seconds by pressing the SNOOZE button once. However, it was a lot easier to move the unit the side when we went to bed as opposed to fumbling through settings every time.

The iDesign Cube Clock Radio let's you install a back-up battery (CR-2032 button cell battery) to keep track of your settings and time if the power goes out.

On both sides of the unit a soft fabric hides and protects the stereo speakers. At the top you will find a docking station for your iPod (also works with iPhone by the way, though it is not advertised as such) and the unit's radio, alarm, and play controls. At the back, there are inputs for AC, AM/FM Antenna connections, and auxiliary.

The AM/FM features on the iDesign Cube Clock Radio are abysmal. The FM receiver is not very powerful and at my location (even with the use of the included FM Pigtail Antenna), it missed some FM stations other alarm clocks easily pick up. The iDesign Cube Clock also does not have preset buttons for setting your favorite FM/AM stations. Instead, you'll need to press the forward and back buttons to scroll (search) for the stations. This can and will be tedious if you have a variety of FM/AM stations you like to listen to. Clearly this device was made with the iPod in mind.

So how does it fare as an iPod player? It works. You can use the on-board controls to play, pause, and skip songs as you would on your iPod, there is nothing revolutionary here, but it gets the job done. The iDesign Cube Clock Radio does charge your iPod when you plug it into the dock -- a feature that always makes us happy.

As far as sound is concerned, the iDesign Cube Clock iPod/iPhone Radio left a lot to be desired. The speakers felt weak when compared to other alarm clock radio players on the market. There just wasn't a lot of oomph in the sound.

If asthetics are your number one priority, the iDesign Cube Clock iPod Radio is one of the better looking iPod alarm clock radios on the market. However, the AM/FM features on this device seem like after thoughts and the sound quality is very poor. For the asking price of about $100, you could certainly do better.

THE GOOD
- Beautiful compact design
- Nice set of included accessories

THE BAD
- Weak FM receiver
- Below average sound quality
- Lacks features for price point

IN THE BOX
- AM Antenna
- FM Pigtail Antenna
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm Cable
- AC/AC Adapter
- 4 iPod Dock Adapters

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Brookstone

Designed by Greg Wolos, Emily, a sleek brushed aluminum alarm clock is meant to go sideways on your wall so you can read the clock naturally as you lay on your side while in bed. The red LED clock compliments the rich walnut wood construction.

Found at Furni's shop.