GadgetSpeak Articles
GadgetSpeak has close to 5,000 product reviews and other articles. You can use this page to find others opinions on anything from mobile phones to computers to the latest kitchen appliance
One for the fashion conscious - a smart way to carry your gadgets around with Urban Bagz
Being the lady journalist on the Gadgetspeak team, I just love to get the girly stuff to review and was happy this week to receive a few samples from Urban Bagz. Urban Bagz are supplied by Belgium company Orkio at . Urban Bagz have designed a wide range of carriers for laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras and MP3 players. They're very stylish and practical at the same time. The fabrics are lightweight, yet durable and wipe clean.
Sometimes meeting up with an old friend after a long period of absence can result in a feeling of disappointment. Sad to say this was one of those occasions.
Back in the last century (alright it was less than a decade ago), most personal computers were run on a DOS (Disk Operating System) platform. Even Windows was underpinned by DOS until very recently. Numerous programs were developed to help users deal with problems that could arise through the interaction between DOS, installed applications and hardware issues.
Why wait for a crime to be committed before solving it? This Minority Report-like approach is the basis of a game in the Mystery Case Files series.
There are a lot of web cams around and somewhat surprisingly few applications to let you make the most of them. Of course to take an image or a video you need little, however should you want to pep up the content then you need something extra such as CyberLink YouCam 3.
Increasingly applications come as downloads as this one did. The problem I find with that is that there is of course no box and no CD so burn one yourself (this download was just over 100MB) and do remember to include not only the downloaded files but also a text file with the all important serial number so if the worst happens and you need to reinstall the product at any time, you can.
Jabra have made their name making quality Bluetooth headsets for the mobile phone market. That market has moved on and so has Jabra, here with their latest Jabra Halo stereo headset.
Very few mobile phones are in fact simply mobile phones these days. Technological progress has lead to that phone in your pocket shrinking in size while vastly expanding functionality. High on the list of roles is that of media player - both for audio and more recently for video. The traditional Bluetooth headset, while suitable for making a phone call, is obviously not up to the task of stereo playback of your favourite music.
Combining its undoubted expertise in the area of graphics applications and experience as a company entrenched in the on-line community, Xara has developed a Web authoring tool appropriately entitled Xara Web Designer
I always enjoy reviewing a Blu-ray player, one because I do not own one but do have several Blu-ray discs including several that will not play in a PC with a Blu-ray player, even experts do not know why and two its an excuse to watch Blu-ray movies.
Half way through the review period I got a new TV in for review from Sony (review in a couple of weeks) so this has been tested not only with my 32inch TV but a brand new 40inch Bravia as well. In a short space of time The Blu-ray player has developed a lot and indeed I hear that stand alone recorders are soon to hit the shops. There are of course a number of stand alone Blu-ray player/recorders available for the PC but they need a powerful PC to run them.
Two further items from those clever USB people in Hong Kong. First a LED torch that gives a good bright light and it has another big plus. Second for those without a built in web cam. A Minocam that works with a PC or Notebook and as you should expect from Brando it is also something else.
The invitation gave little away other than this was to be a new commercial launch. My interest was further aroused when the location and timing was changed just prior to the event.
Arriving, at the Central London location, notebook (the paper variety) and pen in hand, I quickly discovered that this commercial launch involved not one but two companies and the new kid on the block in the mobile phone platform arena. Bringing together the combined development and marketing talents of T-Mobile and Huawei with the Android platform is the Pulse.
Yes the bottom part (pull out) section is transparent and without the light around the touchpad you would probably be guessing where the numbers are so you can dial. However this phone from LG will no doubt be a hit with the stylish.
The LG GD900 touch screen mobile phone measures 10.5x5.5x1.5cm when shut and the first figure increases by 3cm when the numeric pad is open. It weights 126grams and has a very solid feel. I know I am one of only a small percentage of people who regularly turn a phone off but for the others of my persuasion its 20 seconds to the default front screen and around 50 seconds to being able to make a phone call. To switch off from pressing the button is around 8 seconds.
Maybe, like me, when you were a young child you were told not to be grabby when treats came around. Now Terratec wants you to ignore this advice as you use the companys product to convert your analogue VHS tapes into digital content stored on your hard disk or optical media. Appropriately enough this product is entitled Grabby.
Working in conjunction with Magix’s Movies on DVD software, the Terratec Grabby is a USB style flash stick device. The flash stick element measures 96 x 32 x 12mm. LED lights for power and recording feedback are provided along with a button to activate a quick record feature. Permanently attached to one end are leads for connecting to the audio left / right channels and Video In of your VHS player.
Developed by the German-based Blue Byte Company and now available from Focus Multimedia is The Settlers: Rise of an Empire. This is the sixth title in the Settlers series and consists of city-building features with resource management and strategic combat encased within a well-drawn, animated interface set in the medieval era.
I have reviewed many DAB/FM units and a few DAB/FM/CD but so far none from Sony. As you would expect it is a quality unit and as you should also expect it is by no means cheap, but then quality never is.
A unit over 3kilos in weight being called portable is perhaps unusual but it can be run of batteries (that weight does not include the six ‘C’ cell required) for this. However my main reason for this statement is the carry handle that goes along above the top of it. Below the handle is on the top is the slot loader CD with eject button on its right side and in front of this a circular silvered volume control and on the left of the CD a silvered push button for on/off.
It is often not easy to remember which data has changed since your last backup, so why not let the software take the strain
As its title indicates, AutoSave Essentials provides automatic backup facilities. Developed by Avanquest Software, AutoSave Essentials carries out its designated task by monitoring its targeted files in the background and then instigating backup operations according to a user-defined schedule for those files that have been altered. Installing the product is straightforward. You will need to enter the supplied 24-character serial number as part of the process.
It's not easy being a consumer these days. There's so much choice and it's very difficult to detect a real bargain. Our job at GadgetSpeak is to review products and bring you our experience before you buy. But with the economy the way it is, it's also interesting to take a look at price comparison sites like Ciao, designed to help you compare value from retailers.
This week I took a good look at the experience. The Ciao price comparison site scans on-line stores to deliver the user the best price it can find at the time of your search. The comparison delivers product descriptions, available stores, prices, delivery details and postage. If you're happy to buy second-hand you can also see product listings from Ebay via Ciao Auctions.
If your singing is better than hair brush standard then this item from Memorex could get you used to a Microphone so that when you progress you do not make the eating/licking the microphone mistake on your first gigs.
The base of the Memorex Sing Stand is circular at 32cm across and it stands 15cm high. The controls and settings are in the base. In the centre of the stand fits a three piece pole that stretches to more than two metres so that the supplied microphone can be at the correct level for all, no matter how tall or short you maybe. The reasonable quality microphone has a 2.7cm lead attached and even an on/off switch on the arm of the microphone.
Most multi function or All In One packages come with crippled versions of OCR software, either full versions of a few years ago or lite versions. However should you want to do more than just convert a few letters to editable text then a full product is what you need.
This offering from OmniPage includes two other full products within the box. So apart from OmniPage 17 you also get PDF Create (sold at £49.95) and PaperPort 11 (sold at £49.95) so in effect that’s all but £100 worth of value before you look at the main product. Of course both have a lot of overlap with the main product. The OmniPage installation (also installs PDF Create) took only 8 minutes on a reasonably fast Vista system. It eats up 1640MB of hard disc space.
Until I wasted over an hour looking for my car keys which, it turned out, had slipped down the side of the armchair, I thought that Doros MemoryPlus 335 Wireless Object Locator was just for those elderly people who are losing their memory. In fact, I have realised that there are many of us who could well make good use of it for example where there is only one set of keys for the car that is shared around the family.
The MemoryPlus consists of three key fobs and one credit card size (but thicker) sensors and a remote control size sender with four push-buttons, one for each sensor. The fobs are then each attached to a set of keys that has a habit of getting lost. Similarly the credit card sensor is placed in a handbag or rucksack. Despite what the makers claim for it, this sensor is far too thick to be slipped into a wallet.
Mention Dyson and you immediately think of vacuum cleaners. Now we have a Dyson cleaner powered by a new engine.
Deep in the heart of Wiltshire, beavering away at their Malmesbury headquarters, are a team of engineers lead by James Dyson. Best known for developing various vacuum cleaners (based on the cyclone principle), this team had recently turned its sights and expertise towards the main component driving these branded Dyson products. That component is the engine.
Our ears are as individual as the rest of us and with TwistJax Atomic Floyd aims to provide a perfect fit for all, combined of course with superb sound.
This is the second set of headphones from Atomic Floyd that I've reviewed, the previous being the . The TwistJax shares many characteristics with it's earlier stable-mate - notably a high quality finish, excellent sound quality and durable design. Each earpiece is solidly manufactured in metal with no external plastic elements. The drum connects to the cable via a metal shaft that is designed to align comfortably with your particular shape of ear.
Not one but two Kensington Wireless mice, both using a tiny Nano receiver that fits almost invisibly into any USB port. The two being looked at are the SlimBlade and then the catchily named Ci95m, both of course are free to move without wires.
The SlimBlade mouse is 9x5.5x2cm the last figure is maximum. It is all back with the exception of a grey surround for the scroll wheel. It weights 70 grams with the supplied two ‘AAA’ batteries inserted. It is just oblong with no curve and the highest point is just behind centre. There are no distinct mouse buttons with the whole front portion of the sides able to be depressed for the mouse actions. This of course means it is suitable for almost any hand size.
System Suite Professional brings together a number of utilities developed to protect, maintain, tweak and optimise your Windows system.
Now up to version 9, System Site Professional has been around for a good number of years. Checking my records, I note that my first experience of System Suite dates back to 2001 when the software was published by Ontrack. Along with the last few versions, this latest edition of System Suite bears the Avanquest brand. As is fairly standard with some Avanquest products, you will need to enter a 24-character serial number as part of the product’s installation procedure.
When searching for a missing professor, especially one involved in magic, it is a good idea to take precautions as the heroine of a game from Alawar discovered.
I get the chance to look at a lot of A4 multi function machines but very few A3 ones often because of the size; those I do see are normally laser units here just for a change is an A3 ink jet offering from Brother.
It is 53x47x30cm and it weights around 16kilos. While few would try to put it in the lounge if you have a large cupboard this is possible as it not only has USB and Ethernet but also Wireless. It is black with a grey trim around the front edge. It does support duplex printing but only for A4. There are two trays so up to 400 sheets of paper can be accommodated.
Kensingtons versatile notebook dock : Kensington notebook expansion dock with video model K33367EUB
The Kensington notebook expansion dock with video model K33367EUB is easy to use and brings a number of the advantages of a desktop machine to the notebook user. It provides the user, when at home or in the office, with a quick and simple means of connecting their notebook to an external monitor as well as full-size keyboard, mouse, the network and other peripherals.
Although one of the advantages of a notebook is its portability there are downsides and, as far as I'm concerned, it is a tool but not one of choice when I have an alternative. I prefer a full size keyboard, a proper mouse and, ideally, two screens. Obviously, I cannot have these while on the move.
Over the past few months I have looked at a number of phones, mainly of the DECT variety, from Doro. As a result I am almost tempted to paraphrase a popular advert and say that Doro makes an exceedingly wide range of phones but perhaps not.
The latest Doro DECT phone to come under my gaze is the Form 35R model which combines a digital cordless phone with an answer machine. This two-piece unit, consisting of the handset and base station, has a sand-silver fascia with black backing. The handset measurements are 140 x 48 x 24mm (H x W x D) while the base unit’s dimensions are 147 x 97 x 90mm (W x H x D). Leads are provided for mains power and telephone line connection.
When we found ourselves in a new home with none of the usual white goods, we were very pleased with the versatility of the Morphy Richard Intellichef multi-function cooker and the Intellisteam.
The IntelliChef is billed as "A versatile 9 in 1multi cooker". I have put it through its paces, along with its partner, the IntelliSteam. We recently moved into a new home with no conventional cooker or microwave for a couple of months. Boy were we glad to have the Intellichef and Intellisteam to help us through. Between these two machines and a small George Foreman grill, we were able to make a wide range of meals for a family of 4.
As I am sure everyone knows the Digital Changeover is coming (in fact it has already arrived in some places), so to keep perfectly good Analogue TVs working set top boxes were made to translate the signals, then the PVR (to replace the video recorder), then the PVR had Freeview built in. Now something slightly different.
Here not one but two exciting precision tools for the home hobbyist. First do not confuse these items with toys they are definitely not, these items are tools for the home hobbyist. First an engraving stylus and then a quality soldering iron.
First the dual tin that it comes in, the top part is divided into various compartments to store bits and pieces while they are a work in progress. The second larger part is what holds the stylus and the charger as well as various parts to fit on the stylus. It is powered by a Lithium-Ion battery to enable you to work in restricted areas. The stylus itself is shaped like a backward facing gun. The holding arm is 10.5x3.5x4.5cm.
The proliferation of mobile devices using different video standards has created a market for companies to develop video conversion product such as the subject of this next review.
You may remember that a few months ago I took a look at a product that had been developed to aid the conversion and transfer of multimedia content from one format to another. Unfortunately I was less than impressed with the results I was able to achieve with this title which shall remain nameless. Now a competitive product, offering similar functionality, has appeared. This product, from Avanquest, is entitled TransferMy Video.
Older articles
Main Menu
