Entertainment

This is a twin tuner PVR (hard disc recorder) with built in Freeview so you can record two channels at the same time, or start watching something from the beginning after it’s started, and, lots more.

If you like Jazz then like me you must enjoy these two offerings from the Naim label the first just released and the second nearly ten years old but still available.

This is more than the title says as it is also a voice recorder, it is also small and gives around 10 hours on a single AAA battery and it is also very light.

You know you love your iPod, so why not make use of it as part of your home stereo system.

Giving ears a rest from headphones might be a step too far for some but Kensington hope its new speaker system might provide a suitable incentive.

First a CD released today and then some recent news of the good things that are available – some for free – in the London area, finally a new EP from Jonny Boston.

To be precise this card gives you analogue and digital TV and just for good measure FM radio all from a PCMCIA card into your notebook.

Fancy a stylish looking DAB/FM unit that also plays CD’s in a quite flat enclosure and all topped off by being in various shades of black.

A string quartet, now you would assume that would be classical, although Naim do a classical section they also have what they call contemporary I just call it good music.

This is described as a portable audio player. Yes it plays MP3 or WMA but it is also a talking stopwatch. It is also shaped rather like an oversized wrist watch.

A lot of people get naff reception for Digital TV so there is still a place for an analogue unit especially when it is USB and not a PCI card.

Want something with Dab radio that doesn't look like it came out of the ark? Want DAB as part of a system with CD player? Want 'stereo' that sounds great? And all at an unbelievable price? That's what we found in the Goodmans Micro 1104SDAB.

This unit is both FM and DAB, it also allows you to replay something from the recent past, in my tests this was up to 262 seconds but this is probably enough for most.

A TV, a Radio, a DVD player, a CD Player and it can also be used as an amplifier. This Roadstar Boombox can do so much from such a small enclosure.

Quite a combination, I first reviewed the iPlayer+ in May, the US Robotics connectivity was immanent but by the time I got the iPlayer+ back it was December and by then a third component.

This looks like a three piece stack system, however it has CD, DAB and FM radio as well as some extra capabilities, a pair of speakers and speaking as a total style nonentity I think it looks good.

This is likely to be my last Dream Toys article for this year as items that have not arrived by now are unlikely to surface, here a handheld Sudoku game plus other Sudoku goodies from other sources.

It’s full name is ‘Goodmans Personal MP3 / WMA Jukebox’ but I think my title tells you more using far less words. It is also a voice recorder.

Although this is a piece of electrical equipment it is not connected in any way to a PC. In fact it looks about the size of an older video recorder but it can store many hundreds of CD’s

Not exactly what you would call a toy but it was on show on the Flair stand at Dream Toys 2005, so something for the much bigger boys – and girls – World Poker Tour, the Tournament Set and just for good measure their Professional Card Shuffler.

This is described as a waterproof DAB radio. Certainly it is ideal for use in a bathroom or other damp environment. The shape is novel with inbuilt handle and for good measure the sound is good as well.

Not perhaps the best of bedfellows but not all the manufacturers from Dream Toys sent the requested items. So while I had everything planned for what goes well with what… such is life.

Accessing Freeview television and surfing the Web can be achieved with one device. That device is the iPlayer +.

More goodies from Dream Toys 2005, this week I have one item very definitely for children and another unit purporting to do more or less the same that will I feel be a hit with adults.

Having recently reviewed another such unit I immediately knew the difference between entry level and deluxe models, you do pay extra but you get so much more.

These two are remote control items one for use on water and one on land. However the good start in my previous review is not totally equalled here.

A TV that can run on 12 or 24volts as well as on mains, and a TV with both analogue and digital tuners built in.

The real things however need feeding, watering and in a lot of cases exercise. Here they are certainly low maintenance an occasional battery is all they need.

When recording your own audio input you should consider a quality microphone in order to get the best results.

Taking your entertainment with you is becoming increasingly popular. Take, for example, the iRiver PMP-120 device.