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Are you ready to set out on a journey to discover the four elements that could save the world?
Temple of Life - The Legend of Four Elements is a Hidden Object Adventure game. Developed by QuickClick, this game casts you in the role of Jane, an archaeology student whose professor has made a discovery that could unleash total destruction of the world. Not unnaturally it is up to Jane to work through numerous tasks and puzzles as she attempts to correct the professor's mistake, restore balance and save the world.
If like me you have negatives from films that the original photographs have long disappeared this device gives you a way to get new photographs. It is made from good quality board and you need to follow the clear – but simple – instructions to erect the scanner, next you download the PictoScanner App and then feed in your negatives focus and then you have a Colour or even Black & White image on your phone, now you can print them out.
The PictoScanner comes in a box measuring 15x10x3cm and the scanner unit folds out from the base so when not required it can be collapsed again to save it from possible damage. You will need 2x ‘AA’ batteries that fit into the unit as shown in the instructions and there is a simple on/off button on the base of the unit to turn the light source on/off. It can take either single film negatives or a strip which can be fed through most of mine seen to be three or four in a strip.
Just how can you save money on your electricity bills.
This is both a landscape and a portrait panel that has plenty of back tilt and some forward tilt as well as side to side movement available. It is close to 24 inches in corner to corner display size and has built in speakers as well as a USB3 hub; so far however it has stubbornly refused to make my morning coffee, oh well I suppose you can’t have everything.
It is 54x32.5x2cm however this is only the screen and surround, the viewable screen has .5cm borders top and sides with a 2cm border at the bottom. The viewable screen is 53x30cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial screen measurement of 24 inches. An arm connects the 20x20cm base to the click in place fitment behind the screen; the arm raises the screen between 4cm and 20cm from your desk when in portrait mode.
Social Services come to the rescue as an evil politician searched for a child with psychic powers.
Paranormal Pursuit - The Gifted One is a title from Alawar's catalogue of offerings. This title, developed by Logris Games, is a Hidden Object Adventure game. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of the title which comes with a number of extra items to add further appeal to the prospective player. Available from the game's main title screen, some of the extra features can be accessed immediately while a couple require progress to be made or the completion of the main game.
Offering to add visual capture facility to your car is a device from a company with strong Korean connections.
When thinking of automobile GPS navigation devices and dash cams, one company whose name does not immediately spring to mind is that of Thinkware. This is probably for the reason that Thinkware has concentrated its effort at developing its profile in the field of automobile accessories in Korea rather than the rest of the world.
I see quite a lot of ladies wearing large watches so this could be considered a unisex offering. However my wrist is not particularly small and I needed to take a link out of the strap to be able to place this near my wrist bone without the removal of it the watch had to be nearer my elbow so a lady may need to take more links out of the strap.
The case is 43mm and has a silver coloured band just outside the viewable dial and then outside this cut metal designed to look like precious stones so quite blingy. The dial is close to 1cm thick. The band on my unit was silver in colour, but there are two other option available. The watch charges by USB and a circular dock fits onto the rear of the watch and it then wakes telling you to download Wear OS from the iOS or Android store.
Looking for the latest smartphone then OPPO has launched a new series of models.
Offering users a choice of models, OPPO has launched its Find X3 series of 5G premium smartphones. The initial release consists of the Find X3 Pro 5G, Find X3 Neo 5G and Find X3 Lite 5G. These three models are expected to be available, in the UK, from the 14th of April at the OPPO e-store and a range of carriers and retailers. With all three models offering 5G connectivity, lets take a look at some of the specifications of each handset model.
If your Wi-Fi is slow – or non-existent in certain areas – then your answer may lay in Powerline adapters so the loft, basement or garage may come into range and best of all not at a snail’s pace but at a speed suitable for those into gaming. Devolo have two solutions that can help, a starter kit (two units) or as reviewed here a whole home Wi-Fi kit.
They are each 15x7.5x4.5cm in size. The plug part is near the base so even those of us with skirting board sockets can use them. They should be plugged into a power socket and not into a surge strip or even a gang socket, you do not lose any sockets as what was plugged directly into that socket can now be plugged into the face of the unit.
Once pandemic restrictions are removed, there might be a need for a new airport.
Match-3 game play is a popular genre. Often the game will send you on a quest to restore ruined communities or break an evil spell cast over an area. However in this next example of the genre, you are placed in the role of building an airport while, at the same time. solving a murder mystery as you defeat various attempts to distract you by thwarting those who do not want you to succeed. This then was my expectation when I decided to check out "100 Days without Delays".
I have recently been informed that Marshall is launching its new in-ear headphone product.
Well know for its expertise in the development and product of audio listening equipment, Marshall has announced the launch of its Mode II product. This is the company's first rue wireless in-ear headphone set. The product sets out to combine the Marshall music legacy with forward thinking technology to enhance the listener's experience. The Mode II in-ear headphones, as it becoming the normal trend, come packaged in their own charging case to help expand listening time.
Having recently told you about the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite now I get the change to test the 10T Pro. This is a larger offering and my ruler tells me it is 6.5 inches from screen corner to corner. As you might expect for such a large screen it is also somewhat heavier.
The Xiaomi 10T Pro measures 16.5x7.7x.7cm and where the camera block protrudes on the back as much as 3mm the viewable screen is 15.6x7.4cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 6½ inches, the claim is 6.67 inches but as the corners are rounded that is not possible on the screen. The screen is 1080x2400 pixels. It has a 5000mAh battery so all but the very heaviest users should be able to get two days of use between charges.
Helping you breathe easily is the announcement of an air quality monitor.
While some may be content to listen to music on their phone or in their car there are those who want more from their streaming service like better quality output to be enjoyed through quality headphones or speakers and there Deezer have solutions for you with their Hi-Fi service that also offers some recordings in 360 degree surround sound.
I have looked at Deezer several times over recent years, the reason I keep looking is that they continue to enhance their offerings. They have long had a feature that allows you to find the title of a playing tune from the playing notes – providing the innovation is not too far from the original - now they have a new feature that allows you to find the title when all you have is some of the lyrics.
Can you answer the call and stop the threats affecting the Livingstone family?
Rite of Passage - Bloodlines is a Madhead Game developed title that belongs to the Hidden Object genre. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of the game which includes a number of bonus items that are available from the game's main title screen. These extra items include wallpaper, soundtracks, characters, concept art, basic and ultimate Hidden Object game play, jigsaw puzzles plus a bonus chapter.
With today's technology, terrestrial television viewing could easily be lost in the mix.
With the latest version of their Fire TV Stick product, Amazon has paired a 3rd generation Fire TV Stick unit with a 2nd generation Alexa Voice Remote unit. Included in the package are a HDMI extendable cable, USB cable, power adapter, two AAA batteries and a mini concertina type Welcome booklet.
A pair of good quality speakers sold as ‘True Wireless Speakers’ which they are but they can also be used with RCA sockets, Optical, 3.5mm socket and even USB stick. Or course you still need power but by default when you power on they will default to receiving their signals via Bluetooth. Here they can also be used separately should you wish to.
The speakers are each 23x15x24cm the last figure the depth allows for connection of the power cable. Each speaker weighs 3.3 kilos. While there are controls on top of each speaker, they can also be controlled from your phone or other unit and there is also a remote control supplied. The User Guide suggests ramping the volume to maximum on the speaker and assuming your SmartPhone as the input then turning the volume down from that.
Not everybody requires a watch that can do everything including impressive friends.
This Desktop offering is very different to the small and compact offering that I had previously reviewed on 10th February this year. While that could sit quietly and just do its job this is big and not only has a large illuminated ‘V’ on its front the left side has lots of holes that show the inside and also omit a good amount of light to its surroundings.
It is 36x17x33cm with the best part of another 5cm needed behind for cable insertion. The front of the unit has a strip down the right side beyond the proud ‘V’ that has on/off button near the top and then below this an always on USB and an always on USB ‘C’ and further down two 3.5mm audio sockets. The rear has a line of four USB3 sockets and below this two USB sockets with an Ethernet socket and below this a line of three 3.
Keeping you busy while visiting European cities is the game of Mahjong.
Sometimes your eyes may not be up to the task of reading text. This next product could help.
Having recently had cataracts removed from both my eyes just before COVID-19 and the pandemic kicked in, my interest was piqued by news of a product entitled OrCam Read. This product comes with the claim of being able to provide assistance to those with mild to moderate vision impairment or specific reading issues.
This is the first of a recent series of inkjet ‘three in one’ units from Canon to arrive with me. Rather different from any other inkjet offerings that Canon have previously produced it has ink tanks rather than ink cartridges so the cost per page of the ink should be a lot less, as there is a saying around that printer ink is more expensive than Champagne.
Canon are not the first to change from cartridges to tanks, in the past I have had problems transferring ink from the bottles to the tanks. So it was with more than a little trepidation that I followed the instructions, I need not have worried not a drop was spilt so my precautions of putting newspapers under the G2560 was not required. Canon have put a lot of thought into the design of both the ink bottles and the ink tanks.
Sitting between a desktop and laptop viewing area, this next product reminds me of a cup of coffee.
Do you remember your first computer monitor? I can certainly remember mine with its bulk and weight causing my back to complain whenever I needed to move it to a new position. Fortunately, nowadays we have access to models that have much larger viewing areas yet are considerably lighter in their weight. When moving a modern monitor, if I listened carefully, I would probably hear my back utter a sigh of relief.
Unlike other ‘rugged’ notebooks I have reviewed this one is a Tablet as it has no cover, and no keyboard other than an onscreen offering. It is not light as it weighs 2619 grams and the screen is 14 inches, totally touch operated either with finger, glove or the provided stylus. It has eight touch controls below the landscape screen.
The dimensions are 35.5x33x3.5cm with the carry handle extended. The viewable screen is 31x17.5 which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 14inches this display is Lumibond 2.
The Spirit of Revenge - Unrecognised Master is a Hidden Object Adventure game set in a village under the control of a malevolent spirit. This review is based on the Collector's Edition of this game developed by Vendel Games.
As usual with Collector's Edition, this title comes with a number of bonus items to add extra appeal to the game player. These items are made up of Concept Art, Wallpaper, Music, Video Clips, Mini Games, Strategy Guide and a bonus chapter. In some cases, such as Concept Art, Wallpaper, Music and Strategy Guide, you are granted immediate access while with other extra items you will need to complete the main game.
Keeping your data safe even when on the move is possible with this next product.
About 18 months ago I took a look at a security conscious, portable, external hard drive from Apricorn. This was the company's Aegis Fortress L3 product. Now it is the turn of the Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3NXC offering. Like its bigger brother this small pocket-sized device offers the user automatic protection as part of its feature set.
Having recently looked at one of the previous models in the range 23-9-20, I now get my chance to test the latest version from Apple. Out of the box it seems to me to be rather chunky compared to other phones, this of course may help it to survive the odd drop, while the corners are shaved off the sides are a perfect sandwich shape. This is not the Max or the Mini it’s the iPhone 12.
The Apple iPhone 12 measures 14.7x7.2x.8cm apart from its two cameras that protrude on the back slightly from the raised square that contain them and the LED flash. It weighs 162 grams. The box is small because normal things like a charger and ear buds are not included, I read somewhere that Apple consider most people don’t need them. You do get a Lightning to USB ‘C’ cable and of course the Pin to insert your SIM.
As computer-targeted threats continue to grow. so antivirus software companies need to offer users appropriate protection.
As one of the oldest producers of IT security solutions, F-Secure has built up a reputation in the field of developing both hardware and software solutions to face the threat of unwanted attacks on computer set ups. In the past I have looked at some of the company's hardware products, such as F-Secure Sense, now it is the turn of F-Secure software. This product is the company's F-Secure TOTAL which is available on a subscription basis to suit the needs of the customer.
While this is a Smart Watch it can also be a standard watch but it has a battery that may only need recharging around once in two weeks. However link it to your mobile phone and you can get all sorts of notifications, play music and even view your favourite Apps and still have a standard watch face should you wish, or let it tell you far more.
The Skagen Hybrid HR smartwatch has a 42mm face mine was black with similar strap. It has three buttons on the right side which can do a range of things. Like a lot of recent watches it is controlled when you link it to your phone with an App available from the Apple or Google Play store.
When packing your holiday case, don't forget your Hidden Object skills.
The title of this next game, Our Beautiful Earth, does not give a clue as to the genre of this particular offering. In fact Our Beautiful Earth belongs to the Hidden Object style of game play. Developed by BD Studio Games, Our Beautiful Earth takes you on a trip to 30 different locations from around the world as you locate various objects and complete mini games in order to continue your travels. Allowing different players to take part in this game, you can create named profiles.
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