GadgetSpeak Articles
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Around 18 months or so ago photo frames were are the rage, the new must have thing well at that time I was given one well almost one by Sony and now another has materialised by AgfaPhoto, so lets look at both.
First the explanation of my statement above. I attended a Sony event in the summer of 2007 where lots of new things were shown and indeed the camera division kept their word and you have heard about their offerings. However – despite numerous reminders – the PC side did not and while I asked for a 10inch photo frame this never happened.
It is only after one has been using a machine for quite a while that you start to wonder whether the memory can be upgraded and whether there would be any benefit in doing so. This is one upgrade that can be relatively straightforward and within the grasp of many technically aware PC users. It is made simpler by the informative web sites of memory suppliers Crucial and Kingston.
Both notebooks and desktop machines are modular in construction. This means that, in general, they can be fitted with different amounts of memory. As, when they are bought, the maximum possible is often not installed it can frequently be useful to increase the available memory. In general it is simpler to upgrade a notebook because the memory slots are just located under a cover on the underside of the machine while, with a desktop, it is necessary to open up the complete machine.
While you may recognise the name of Memorex, you might not be so familiar with the companys new focus on your life with regards to in-home entertainment.
In February this year (23-2-09) I reviewed a pre production version of their 250GB version. Here I am looking at the resale version and the one I have is 500GB and it takes a long time with normal watching to fill this unit up.
The unit looks identical to and even having seen that previously it still takes a while to get used to the display on the unit being only three LED’s. The one dead centre can be either red or green dependant on if the unit is on or off. The right one only shows green when something is being replayed and the left one red when something is being recorded.
First a WebCam that looks like an old style stills camera and second a set of earbuds that is less expensive than a number of those reviewed recently. The latter is also in white so others may just think it is linked to an iPod.
Not quite back to a box brownie but certainly looking like a camera of a long time ago. It is 5.5x4x4cm mounted on a 4cm tall stand with a 6cm round base. The weight is around 70grams. It has a plastic handle that is totally functionless. In fact the only thing that has a function is the wheel on the front of the lens that rotates should what you are capturing not be in focus. It is a simple plug and play device within Windows. Plug in the 1.
Netbooks continue to hold a fascination for both manufacturers and consumers. Since their introduction by Asus some 20 months ago, these mini laptop devices, running either Windows XP or Linux, have racked up impressive sales figures for various companies some more impressive than others.
The latest Asus netbook to come under my gaze is the Eee PC 1000HE model which brings together a 10-inch WSVGA screen with a promised 9.5 hours of battery life and the Windows XP operating system. Encased within a fingerprint-attracting reflective black casing (you do get a cleaning cloth that can be used on the body casing and screen), the Eee PC 1000HE’s dimensions, when closed, are 264 x 190 x 28mm with a weight of 3.2lb.
The normal household upright or cylinder vacuum cleaner can sometimes be just too large and cumbersome for a small job. Dysons DC31 meets the need for a convenient handheld machine when one just needs to do a quick clean up.
Being battery powered and only weighing about 3lb it can be used virtually anywhere around the house or car and, as long as is kept charged, is always ready to go. The machine is simple and convenient to use. Its has a pistol grip and can be used equally well in either hand. With the brush on its combination tool retracted it can be used on carpets and soft furnishings. Then, with the brush slid to its forward position, the DC31 is then ready for use on hard surfaces.
A cry of Ive got a little one is hardly likely to bring a rush of the opposite sex. However a small digital camera is something that can attract attention especially from a quality manufacturer like Nikon, this unit is exclusive to Jessops.
It 8.5x5.5x1.5cm silver in colour and it weights only 110grams it easily fits in the palm of an adult hand, but just because its small do not dismiss its capabilities. The left side is clear and the right side has only the wrist strap anchor point. The base has tripod screw and the solid battery door that also houses the SD card slot. The top has the rectangular on/off button and the round shutter release with wide angle/telephoto control around the edge.
The individual components of your computer system require drivers in order to communicate with each other. From time to time these drivers will need to be updated.
Hidden objects, puzzles and a touch of adventure are brought together in the next episode of MumboJumbos Samantha Swift story.
This is the second Blu-ray drive notebook from Asus that I have reviewed recently. Outwardly it seems to have everything you could want providing you have transport to ferry it about as the weight of just over 3kilos might make public transport a chore.
It is 36x28.5x4cm the depth is a maximum at the back and it is .5cm less at the front. The exact weight is 3.070 kilos. The front has headset and microphone sockets front and centre along with an E-Sata slot. The right side has the multi DVD drive (including Blu-ray) a single USB port and Kensington lock socket. The rear has nothing as the edge of the screen ducks under the back so this area needs to be clear.
Mobile devices, such as the popular iPod, rely a great deal on battery power which has a habit of running out at inconvenient moments. One solution to this type of problem could be a battery pack.
Since its original introduction in 2001, a healthy industry has been built up on the back of the iPod as various companies have set about developing a range of accessories for the different iPod devices. In the past I have checked out a number of these accessory products.
Just over a week ago I told about two ways of listening while unconnected, here are two different types of quality earbuds. The first from Shure and the second from a company that designs earbuds to suit your Genre of music.
A nearly conventional set of earbuds. There is a choice of three ends that stuff into the ear. However the rubber tips do expand somewhat in the ear so there is good noise cancellation properties. These are of course not up to the Etymotic ones with the precision resin made earpiece but these are considerably cheaper.
First an ingenious device called the Deco Mandala Designer and second something say it very quietly educational from the History of Art series, that dare I say is fun as well as educational what used to be called Edutainment.
This is stated to be for age 6-12 what worries me as certainly an ‘over 18’ is that I enjoyed using it immensely with one exception its pink!! As stated it is two tone pink and around 35x35x6cm. You are provided with a range of stencils and the object is to make a design on paper using one or more of the provided stencils. However here is the clever bit you can repeat the design as many times – within reason – as you like.
Sport sponsorship continues to be popular with telecommunication companies but some sports object to you using a companys products when play is in progress.
Microsoft has made the release candidate (RC) of Windows 7 available for free download in advance of its October scheduled launch. If one has a suitable spare machine, this provides an opportunity to try out what, as many people have suggested, Vista should have been.
But what are the key dates? RC will be available for download at least until the end of July and will expire on 1 June 2010. This means that there is some 3 months to gain experience before the Win 7 scheduled launch date of October 22. However, starting from 1 March 2010 RC will begin shutting down every two hours. The user will be given two weeks warning and so will have time to decide whether to revert to a previous operating system or install a “non-expired” version.
This is a little larger than the very popular Ixus range but still a good deal smaller than a DSLR or DSLR size type of unit. It certainly feels a little more meaty in the hand than its smaller sibling.
The PowerShot SX200is from Canon measures 10x6x4cm and weights 237grams, mine was a chocolate brown colour with chrome edges and lens surround. The lens moves out by up to 5cm and when the flash opens it is a minimum of 4cm from the lens. The 12x zoom is quite impressive and while it works well items taken at full zoom will need either a very firm hand or a tripod to get razor sharp images.
Online storage, sharing capability and a backup option from a USB Flash stick it is possible.
While you may not recognise the name of Gemalto, the chances are that you have probably used at least one of the products that have been developed by this company. In its B2B (Business to Business) persona, Gemalto produces a large percentage of subscriber identification modules (SIMs) and smart cards in use today. Developing a more consumer orientated approach, Gemalto’s latest product is entitled YuuWaa – now there’s a name you are not going to forget in a hurry.
Putting aside my fear of heights, after this was to be a virtual rather than actual expedition, I put my hidden object seeking skills to the test at altitude.
Once you go beyond 2GB the SD card limit then choosing SDHC cards becomes more difficult as there are a number to choose from. Obviously a brand name like Kingston, Dane-Elec or San-Disc is half the battle but beyond that there are various Classes.
So what exactly do things like Class 2, Class 4, and, Class 6 mean and do they make any difference apart from the larger Class number meaning the memory is likely to be more expensive to purchase? In fact a visit to certain sites like say give you the information as to what class the card you are selecting is and certain other sites just tell you the make and maybe a card name like say Ultimate or Elite Pro and on their own this means little other than the manufacture has dug into a thesaurus
Recently I was invited to the launch of a new product that was described as a personal sharing device. This was the Leyio PSD.
Bluetooth technology has been around for quite a while. During this period it has allowed us to transmit and share personal data, such as found on a business card, between mobile devices. Thinking back, I can only remember using this facility on one occasion.
This is the second Nikon offering I have reviewed, the first was extremely popular and I see no reason why this mid sized unit will not be equally so with anyone wanting to progress that bit beyond point and shoot.
The Nikon Coolpix L100 measures 11x7x8cm, the latter figure the width can increase by 2cm when the lens is out. It weights 445grams. It is black with silver colour clips for the neck strap and around the shutter area. The left side has an anchor point and a rubber bung to cover the A/V out and DC in. The right side has only the anchor point. The base has tripod screw and battery/SD card door.
Wireless speakers are one such method and outdoor speakers are another. Here I am looking at both. First some rather natty speaker cubes from Griffin. Second an outdoor speaker that works by wireless from wherever.
The last time I ventured into Londons Battersea Park was to visit a fair ground. That was years ago now it its modern technology that is the featured attraction.
The title of this book is really a misnomer as it is really suitable for all beginners to digital photography irrespective of whether or not they have previously used film.
The opening section “Getting started with your digital camera” starts with how one should go about choosing a camera, and then takes one through the basics under the heading “taking your first photos”. This is ideal as one is always impatient to get started. This is followed by a chapter on adjusting the various settings and menus.
Just one week ago I told you about the first mobile phone sized HD camcorder from Kodak, this offering from Flip is an obvious competitor, I suggest you read this and last weeks review to make your own comparisons.
This is the third Flip I have reviewed the first was a little garish the second quite smart aimed at the younger market but the Flip Mino HD is their first HD offering. It is the same size as the Flip Mino at 10x5x2cm and that is perhaps major problem. The screen was always small at 3x2.2cm and with HD recording you have bands top and bottom and the playback/capture image is 3x1.
Adding to its range of MP3 devices, SanDisk has released the Sansa Fuze model for those wanting both video and music mobile playback facilities.
Measuring 50 x 7 x 78mm, the Sansa Fuze, with its ability to play MP3 and WMA audio tracks plus video clips, is the company’s obvious challenger to the market leading iPod nano device. Positioned between the excellent Sansa Clip and Sansa View units, the Sansa Fuze is available with 2, 4 and 8GB storage capacities in a choice of blue, red, pink, black or silver. This review is based on the 4GB version of the product. Taking over the top half of the unit’s front is a 1.
Its time to get into survival mode as you need to escape after being washed ashore on a mysterious island.
Following a storm at sea you are shipwrecked on a remote and mysterious island. You appear to be the only survivor. Although hardly the most hospitable location, you are at least alive and on dry land. There is also enough evidence to show that there have been inhabitants at one time or another. However, for no apparent reason (maybe you just want to get back home to watch the next episode of Lost), your first priority is to escape.
This is the second notebook I have seen recently that has a Blu-ray drive. The drive itself is not that special but its the power needed in the notebook to drive it so you can watch the latest movies with the special Dolby sound quality and therefore the speakers provided are.
The Acer Aspire 6935G measures 38x27x4cm and weights 3.2Kg. It measures 28cm from front to back with the lid open this may sound strange but the hinge opens behind the rear of the unit. The left hinge is where the power plug goes in – novel – in front of this is the modem port (anyone still use dial up?) VGA port, Ethernet port, E-SATA and HDMI along with three audio ports complete the left side. Under the front edge is a card port.
Despite being a firm believer in the "If it aint broke, dont fix it" mantra, I was recently tempted to carry out an upgrade.
While it might seem illogical, I have always regarded my notebook as a totally different beast from my workhorse desktop machine even though both systems use the same operating system. I should explain that the difference I am referring to relates to adding certain hardware enhancements to the computer’s make-up.
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