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 Blockbuster video
Most compact digital cameras shoot video clips. But it would take nearly a full-fledged video camera to match what Sony will put into the palm of your hand with the new Cyber-shot DSC-M1. This 5.1-megapixel still camera also captures 30-frames-per-second, 640x480 MPEG-4 video with stereo sound. How long it records is limited only by the size of your Memory Stick Duo PRO card. A 512MB card holds 27 minutes, and Sony’s new 1GB Duo PRO gives you up to 54 minutes. The M1 has a “hybrid” mode that records five seconds of video before snapping a still picture, and then takes another three seconds of video. Useful for those blowing-out-birthday-candle-type moments when you want a short video clip, plus a snapshot for your scrapbook. The still and moving images are stored as separate files, but are played back in sequence when viewed on the camera. Shooting from odd angles is made easier by the 2.5-inch LCD, which swivels away from the camera body and rotates up to 270 degrees. The f/3.5–4.4 3X optical zoom lens is a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar. The DSC-M1 hits stores this month, at an expected street price of $600. (Sony; 877-865-7669; www.sonystyle.com)
 Digital Mixed Media
Ever wish you could paint on, or make a painting from, your digital photos? Corel Painter IX ($429 street)—the Adobe Photoshop of painting programs—has all the brushes, paints, and tools you need to make professional-level, digital mixed-media artwork. Painter IX lets you import and manipulate layered Photoshop files, and paint with colors selected from your pictures. Plus, it supports ICC 4.0 color profiles, to manage your color from screen to print. With the sketch function, you can turn photos into color-by-number paintings. Print them on canvas and no one will know the difference. You can also create animation, complete with frame-rate control. Combined with a decent burst mode on a camera, it’ll bring your digital slide shows to life. (Corel Corporation; 800-772-6735; www.corel.com)
 Photo Album To Go
Want to store your photos digitally and see them clearly…and do it anywhere? Check out Epson’s new P-2000 photo viewer ($499 expected street). Measuring 5.8x3.3x1.2 inches, and powered by a built-in, rechargeable Li-ion battery, it packs a 40GB hard drive that stores thousands of images and music files. You can upload and download pictures fast with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connection, and view all sorts of formats, including JPEG, TIFF, and RAW (Nikon, Canon, and Epson) image files. It even plays MPEG-4 and motion JPEG video files, MP3, and AAC audio files. The 3.8-inch screen is the clearest and most accurate LCD we’ve seen on a portable viewer. And, as further proof of how fast technology is roaring forward, the new P-2000 has four times the capacity, double the battery life, and costs $100 less than the older P-1000, which came to market earlier this year. (Epson; 800-463-7766; www.epson.com)
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