GadgetSpeak Articles
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While most eBooks are using eInk that causes battery power to only be used when a page is turned and I see that Binatone do one of those (higher price) I am looking at a model that uses a conventional display screen and has extra features.
It is 21x13x1cm and weights 305grams. It comes with a leather book style wrap over case that weights 105grams. The viewable screen is 13.5x8.5cm and in a reasonable sized (normal reading) font this gives twenty lines per page and in this font it’s between 40 and 42 characters per line when viewing in portrait mode. In landscape mode this changes to fourteen lines at around characters per line, I will explain how to do this in a bit.
I wake up slow is a song written and performed by Dory Previn. I was reminded of this recording when setting up a new device from Logic 3.
How do you wake up in the morning? Are you the type that prefers to do it naturally without any outside interference? Maybe you opt for some form of assistance such as sometimes happens in my case when my cat decides it is time for me to perform the important task of providing him with food. For many the preferred method is to rely on an alarm clock. Joining the range of possible alarm clock models available is the i-Station TimeCube from Logic3.
Canon has two ranges of small cameras, the Ixus very much a pocket offering and the PowerShot slightly larger and using AA batteries rather than the solid rechargable type. This in itself makes the overall camera larger and heavier.
The Canon PowerShot SX130is measures 300grams and 11x7x4.5cm however the last figure the width can be doubled when the lens is fully zoomed out. 12 seems the number with this unit as it has an impressive 12x optical zoom and the pixel offering is 12.1MP. The right side has the anchor point for the wrist strap and above this a rubberised door hiding the A/V and USB out. The base has the door for the two ‘AA’ batteries and any SD card you might use as well as the tripod screw.
Having purchased a netbook, you might find the lack of an optical drive to be inconvenient. A solution could be to add an external drive
The arrival of netbooks, without any optical media capability, has had the effect of increasing the interest in external devices that can provide the missing functionality delivered by optical media. With the right piece of kit you could access data stored on optical disks and even burned your own data on suitable media. Providing this type of functionality is the slim-line optical writer from LiteOn. This product is the 8X External Top-Load DVD/CD writer with USB connectivity.
In what can be one of the bargains of the year for hidden object adventurers, Avanquest has bundled together three Samantha Swift titles from MumboJumbo priced at under a tenner.
I first met up with Samantha Swift when searching for the Hidden Rose of Athena. Later we got together to explore the mystery of the Midas Golden Touch. Both of these MumboJumbo titles now come bundled together with the third instalment of the Samantha Swift series entitled Mystery from Atlantis. These three titles now form a single package as the Samantha Swift Mystery Trilogy which is available from the Avanquest GSP Click & Play catalogue.
A small wireless laser printer that cannot annoy the lounge police as it can sit in a cupboard of behind the sofa and once you have connected it to a recent PC by a USB lead everything is done automatically no need even to insert a CD.
Installation can therefore be done on a Netbook without having to transfer files to a memory stick. It is just attach the printer via a USB lead the ‘device driver’ is recognised, wait a few seconds and it then installs the required files (on my Windows 7 system it was 10 minutes and 237MB of hard disc space) you are then asked to disconnect the USB lead and you then print a test page, it works, now that is for me finally is some good progress.
Once considered only suitable for the experienced user, networks are now being promoted as being straightforward and easy to set up with products such as this new offering from Cisco.
A name does not always help in explaining a product. This item massages the shoulders and gives massage and heat relief to the lower back, either can be used individually or together however I cannot agree with the all purpose part of the name.
The Oregon i-Comfort All Purpose Massager actually arrived in the autumn after I had some very long working days and together with carrying lots of items in my bag my shoulders were more than ready for a massage or three and it proved to be vigorous enough to help melt the pains and stresses of the day away. The parts it can’t help with are the legs, arms and the feet. It consists of a horseshoe shaped collar; this is quite large and reasonably heavy.
Two separate items the first from Edifier a small soundbar for use with a PC or any device with a 3.5mm output. The second Microsofts LifeCam HD-5000 for those without a web cam so probably for those using a PC rather than a notebook.
There are times when you want sound but earbuds or headphones are not wanted, maybe you are listening for the phone or the doorbell, possibly even you are baby sitting, the TV is too much so possibly the iPod but you need decent sound. It is triangular and 27cm long a maximum of 3.5cm going down to 1cm and 4cm deep. The left side has two connections a mini USB (for power) and a 3.5 to 3.5mm jack lead. The USB lead is 80cm with the 3.5mm lead is 90cm both ends are L shaped.
It was hardly the most auspicious of meeting. I had to battle through a heavy downpour and then sit through a presentation that was in constant competition with those watching a televised European football match featuring the local team in the next room. This was my introduction to CyberLinks latest media playing software.
CyberLink Power DVD 10 Ultra 3D is the new all-singing, all-dancing version of a product that comes with the tag line of being “The No. 1 Movie Experience on the PC”.
While most will say another iPod dock with radio but the Pioneer NAV1 is more than that. Us older people who still prefer our music on CD are satisfied as it also has a slot loading CD on the top and there are more features so read on.
The Pioneer NAV1 measures 37x21x18cm the second figure the depth is only 10cm for most as only the iPod dock centre front and power lead centre back increase it to the full width, 4cm could protrude over whatever you sit it on as that is the dock width. Mine was white and black but they also do all black. It weighs 3.5kilos. Before some get bored I will add the CD player can also play DVD’s so with the aid of leads and a TV you also have a DVD player.
Over the years I have has the opportunity to try out various versions of Acronis software developed to provide backup and restore facilities. Now it is the turn of the latest version which goes by the title of Acronis True Image Home 2011.
This review is based on the download product which is currently available on a trial basis so that you can test the product on your own system. The full unrestricted product is priced at £39.95. Installing the product is relatively straightforward as you follow a series of on-screen prompts. The full paid for version of the software will require the entry of a serial number.
Time to put away your toys and childish things and get down to some hard gaming with a new headset from Plantronics.
In the past I have looked at a number of headsets, some with an attached microphone, which could be classified as being designed for general purpose use. The latest headset to come my way, however, has been designed specifically for use by hard-core gamers although that should not stop others from making use of this headset. This product is the GameCom 777 which has been designed by Plantronics in close cooperation with Dolby.
Having looked at an earlier model (not HD) this was an eagerly awaited arrival. Very different in size and shape. My first check was the pass-through and that performed correctly, is this to be the unit I have been looking for?
The TVonics DTR-500HD measures 37x20x9cm but the last figure the height is only 3cm at the front. For me anyway that creates a possible problem. Tuning takes around three minutes mine found 72 TV 23 Radio and 11 Data channels. As with most such units almost everything is controlled from the remote control. Here a 52 key model that of course contains the ubiquitous five position joystick. As always various major buttons are in differing places but once used to the layout it’s easy enough.
Not everybody can afford the prices being asked for the market-leading graphics products available from Adobe and Corel. Serif offers an alternative with its DrawPlus product.
Since it was founded in 1987, Serif has continued to challenge the conception that full-featured graphics applications should automatically qualify for a high price tag. Starting with desktop publishing software, entitled PagePlus, before expanding into other areas, Serif has developed and published a series of applications under its Plus brand name covering all aspects of graphics. Each title was released at a price point considerably lower than other titles in that arena.
The days of a household having a single iPod are no more so not only do you need the ability to charge more than one the ability to play the sounds from more than one through speakers is here with this double dock offering from Altec Lansing.
In simple terms the Altec Lansing Octiv 202 is two docks mounted side by side on top of a pair of speakers. However the ability merge playlists is something new and with a downloadable utility you can select what comes from which of the units. The shape is like a quarter of a round cake. It is 27cm across at the front and 3cm at the back. It is 8.5cm tall without whatever iPods inserted in their docks on the top. From front to back it is 14cm.
While these scales do tell your weight they also tell you your fat mass and even your body mass index. Unlike the only other device I have seen that did all this that cost into four figures this one only just creeps into three.
The scale itself is glass and either black or white. It is 32x32x2.5cm with a 6.5x4.5cm display window at the centre top. While the top is glass there is a circular disc in the centre and the back and sides are plastic. There are four plastic feet. The base has a 24x8.
Fans of Nancy Drew will be pleased to hear that the young detective returns for yet another mystery solving escapade, this time in a snow-bound holiday resort.
With the HL-2250DN Brother has produced an entry level mono laser printer to meet the needs of a growing number of homes and small businesses who have a limited budget but need a networked printer to be shared between two or more computers.
It is ideal for those migrating to a laser printer for the first time as it is low cost, only occupies a small amount of desk space and is easy to set up and use. Furthermore, it has an attractive matt black finish so would not look out of place in the living room if it has to be moved to there from the office. Start-up instructions are provided on a double-sided A2 (luckily folded) sheet and there are two CDs -- one with drivers and utilities and the other with documentation.
Amongst other things the Logitech Squeezebox Radio is a rather good Internet Radio with the quickest connection (almost no buffering delays) whether you connect using Ethernet or Wireless. Plug In, turn on, select Internet Radio, choose you station and listen.
It is quite small at 21x10x13cm. Mine was black, unfortunately that shiny black that shows every finger mark. The right side has a headphone socket. The rear in an indent the power lead input, Auxiliary input and Ethernet port but even with items plugged in nothing protrudes over the stated 10cm total depth of the Squeezebox. The left side, base and the top are clear leaving only the front of the unit to describe.
Keeping your computer running at its optimum capacity is a never-ending task. Why not take the approach of letting software do the job for you.
With a choice of first or third-person action, Sherlock Holmes joins the Focus Multimedia catalogue of games.
Two solutions for those who do not have a Blu-ray player and those who do not have USB3 ports that are required to run the first solution. Buffalo provide the USB3 Blu-ray drive and Lindy provides the solution for those needing US3 ports.
We tend to forget that a radio is a wireless device. As such it could access the Internet and your computers digital content.
Bringing together FM, DAB and Internet radio with the ability to access a cloud-based music service is the EVOKE Flow from PURE. In the past I have looked at a number of FM/DAB radio offerings from various manufacturers (including PURE) but this is the first time that I have come across this particular combination of features and services.
The Netgear RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Modem Router DGND3300 offers both versatility and high performance and, despite lacking Gigabit Ethernet, should meet the needs of the majority of users. In addition to its connectivity, security and other features its USB port allows external storage to be shared by attached PCs.
The first thing that one notices is the absence of wireless antennas. In fact, Netgear explains that the unit has eight internal antennas and that, for optimal wireless network performance, the unit should stand vertically using the provided clip-on stand. The Smart Wizard on the “start here” CD has illustrations which provide guidance and simplify the basic task of connecting the router prior to configuring the internet connection and then configuring the wireless network.
This seems to be the main push in the UK for Packard Bell at the moment given the amount of advertising I am seeing in newspapers and magazine. So is it all hype or is the Easy Note a Notebook to go on a very short list.
It is 37x25x3cm, mine was red with creamy whiter surrounding the screen, wonderful as this does not show fingermarks. The viewable screen is 34x19.5cm giving the diagonal measurement of 15.6inches; the default display is 1366x768. The left side has power brick lead input, VGA outlet, Ethernet port, HDMI outlet, USB port and the two audio sockets for microphone and headphones. The front has a multi card port.
As the whole countrys population continues to age tools like these allow older members of the community to still lead an independent life. First a phone whose one number dialling is dependant on a picture. The second is a walkie talkie set that can work over several miles.
This consists of a slightly slanted panel with two columns of letters A-C and D-F, each has a cover that can be removed to be replaced with a picture and in this form then can be used to allow six numbers to be dialled with a single touch. It is 17x13.5cm with the height varying between 3and5cm (front to back). You can remove a door in the base to program these six numbers and indeed to use as a normal phone should it be required for that purpose at any time.
Combining the ability to take digital notes while recording audio is a product that could be said to have its finger on the pulse.
For those unable to justify the cost of the full Photoshop package then the Elements offering has a good percentage of the same content at a small percentage of the price of the full products. If you need both still and movie editing then save again by buying the joint package.
Today the space between Movie and Still editing is shrinking so while these are still two products they are closely linked. However it is still two different DVD’s and also separate installs. Photoshop Elements 9 took ten minutes on a reasonably fast PC and used 2,740MB of hard disc space. Premier Elements also took ten minutes but used only 1,412MB as there is some shared code, officially called ‘shared technologies’.
Currently occupying a portion of my available workspace is the Canon PIXMA MP640. This is an All-in-One device that offers print, scan and copy capabilities while giving you a choice of USB or 802.11bg WLAN connectivity when connecting to your computer system which can be either a Windows or Mac machine. Also included with this product is a duplex feature for those jobs that require printing on both sides of the paper.
Setting up this All-in-One device is straightforward. Included in the box are multi-lingual guides for Getting Started and Network Setup Troubleshooting. The PIXMA MP640 uses a five ink cartridge solution to cut down on waste. You get cyan, yellow, magenta and black dye-based cartridges plus a black pigment cartridge for sharp black text.
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