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

 
The Allroundo from German company Vonmählen is a USB charging cable kit that is pocketable and offers a useful way of connecting one’s Apple or Android phone or tablet to an appropriate power source.
Available in a range of colours it is 65mm in diameter and 19mm thick with curved edges so that it is shaped rather like my grandfather’s pocket watch and weighs just 46g. It has an elasticated belt loop on it which rather increases that similarity. Opening the hinged lid allows access to the curly cable and the associated adapters. The cable is black in colour and neatly fits around the inside of the shell. One end has a USB-A plug and the other micro-USB.
There are some strange goings-on in Kronville. Can you help?
Mixing together elements of a mysterious fire, a missing school bus with its passengers plus ideas gathered from child-centric stories, is a Hidden Object Adventure game entitled Kronville: Stolen Dreams.
885609 brando11in

USB ‘C’ All the ports you need

As notebooks get smaller something had to go, the easiest to lose was the optical drive, other things were harder possibly the Ethernet connection and then the flood gates opened as some devices have just a single USB ‘C’ and sometimes little else.
So the market for third parties to produce the ability to let your notebook have all the connectivity when in the office and still be as small and light when out of the office. So from Brando those clever people in Hong Kong comes the ‘USB-C Multifunctional Converter’ which gives everything you used to have but no longer do with the exception of the optical drive. It is 28cm long 7.5cm wide and a minimum of 1cm and maximum of 2cm thick, it weighs just 258 grams.
When televisions began to dominate our Living Rooms, neighbours would pop in to view important televised events. But today it does not happen.
But times have changed and we all seem more inclined to indulge ourselves in more individual viewing experiences such as those involving PSP, XBox, tablets or smartphone devices.  Yet according to recent information from Epson we might be about to come across a sea change as the concept of a family viewing  session continues to complete the circle and regains its popularity.
885586 12181061 222467787135801

Adding Iron Man : CableGuts Iron Man

Do you need encouragement to tidy up a work area?
It is surprising how easily and quickly the area given over to your computer system can develop into, what could be described as, a dump site - I am actual looking at my "dump site" now and it is not an attractive sight.  This is especially true when the computer system is home based, rather than within an office environment where it is visible to others who work there or pass through, and you are the one responsible for both its usage and its general appearance.  In such instances.
885599 Acronis True Image 202

Acronis 2020

I have used Acronis for years it has often been able to replace a file or files that would otherwise be lost, earlier this year after a hard disc crash I was able to say ‘thank you’ when I was able to restore everything on a new hard drive. These days Ransonware is one of the most popular tools for thieves and used correctly even that can be thwarted.
On the 20 August they launched the 2020 version – as far as I know this is the first in the rush to be first – but only once version 17750 the March update is installed does this option appear. Acronis is running on both my Windows 7 and my Windows 10 system.
885608 Ring Door View Cam Video doorbel

Ring Door View Cam

The Ring Door View Cam combines a video camera, motion sensor and two-way talk with a traditional wide-angle viewer so as to improve front door security.
The front doors of many houses and flats have a peep hole with viewer fitted. While this is ideal for enabling you to have a quick look before deciding whether or not to open the door, the Ring Door View Cam does a lot more.
Mixing together Match-3 and Hidden Object game play takes you to the Opera.
Not to be confused with the classic Night at the Opera movie, starring the Marx Brother, A Night At The Opera is a murder mystery game designed by Angler Games.  In this particular storyline, the unfortunate victim of the ultimate crime is Prima Donna Madame Agnes who is a travelling opera singer.  No doubt you will be pleased to hear that you are not cast in the role of the victim.
885592 D Link DCS 2670L Full HD 180 Degree Outdoor Wi%E2%80%91Fi Camer

D-Link Outdoor Camera

Having recently told you about a camera that looks like the Star Trek R2D2 droid that is stated as usable outside here a real outdoor offering that needs mains power and possibly Ethernet – read on to find out why I say possibly – or Bluetooth but it can also work indoors.
The measures 9.5cm from back to front, 8.5cm tall and 7.5.cm from side to side, however as the both the lens and the housing can be twisted and it can be wall mounted the figures given can be in almost any combination. It has the ability to record to Micro SD card but as with all cameras the data can be downloaded however most external cameras should be in a position that is not that easy to reach/remove for logical reasons. A single round cable at .
What first attracts you to a game? Is its the title or other issues.
I sometimes feel that the name of the production company to be more appealing than its latest product offering.  Take, for instance, the which failed to really excite me.  However I was amused by the developer's company name which was "Jolly Bears Games". With this particular title, Jolly Bears Games has produced a Hidden Object Adventure game that places the player in the role of an anonymous explorer.  This character has a strong interest in the legend of the Incan Sun.
885512 Polaroid Pop

Polaroid Pop 2

This is both a camera and a printer all in one unit, you can take pictures on it and print them on Zinc paper or as it has Wi-Fi to your phone take images on your phone and send them wirelessly to the units printer for immediate printing while still out and about.
This unit can not only print images taken on the Polaroid Pop 2 but also print images already captured on your phone using Wi-Fi. It is 14.5x12x3cm and weighs 441grams a tad under 1 lb. Its display is 8x5cm which allows you to see what you will capture before pressing the shutter. The image is shown at close to 4.5cm square and this is important as the images will be 1:1 and if printed on the Polaroid Pop 2 They will come out at 3 inches square even though the ZINC paper stock is 11x9cm.
885539 Corel Pinnacle Studio 23 Ultimat

Corel Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 23

Adding to its range of graphics software products, Corel has released version 23 of its Pinnacle Studio offering. I was fortunate to have been sent a free version of the top of the range Ultimate product rather than the standard Studio or Studio Plus products.
Without a doubt, the fact I had been sent the Ultimate version of the product added to the time required for the downloading of the software and its installation on my work system.  The size and length of time required by the tasks can be judged by the number of desktop icons that were created.  Normally you would expect a product, even one involved with graphics, to make do with a single desktop icon.
885537 OnePlus 7 Pro Android Smart Phon

OnePlus 7 Pro

Around eighteen months ago OnePlus had a major worldwide launch in the UK for their OnePlus 6. Then at the start of this year they launched OnePlus 6 Pro. So what as the autumn creeps in does the OnePlus 7 Pro have to offer.
It is 16x7.5x.7cm and weighs 204 grams. The viewable screen is 15.4x7cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 6.67 inches. Going around the outside has a lock button on the right side with the on/off button below this. The base has a reasonable speaker, pin hole microphone and USB ‘C’ charging connection. The left side has the volume rocker and SIM entry point. The back has the three cameras in a column 1.5cm down from the top with the LED flash below them.
Amazon started life as a book seller, now it sells EBook readers.
Books, a valuable source of information and entertainment, whether in hardback or paperback format, have been around and will continue to do so for many years.  However this should not mean that new, or more recent concepts with regards literature, should be ignored.  Not only does the digital format of text presentation provide the means to read literature but it also delivers additional information concerning the story and its author.
While most will think of Brando as the King of anything USB this is a slightly different offering as it actually takes power from your phone for those occasions when the end of the day is a long way away but your beard needs some attention to make you look as though it is still 9AM.
Phones run for a day or so and then they need recharging. This tiny shaver takes power from your phone and fits onto its base. It would take a while to do a full shave especially for those with a vigorous beard however before you buy you need to select the type of method your phone charges either micro USB or USB ‘C’ as they are different items, I was sent the USB ‘C’ version. The shaver itself is 4.7cm long thickest at the head end where it is 2.
When computer problems arise, do you ask others for help? If so who do you ask?
Chromebooks have been a Windows alternative for a while and dependant on the tasks you want to carry out can be all you need. Certainly you would not get a Windows touch panel unit for anywhere near the price of this Chromebook offering.
It is 29x20x2cm and weighs 1350 grams. The viewable screen is 25.5x14.5cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 11.5inches. At the centre of the top above the screen is a camera. Bootup is 14.5 seconds and by default if you shut the lid it remains live – screen off – so unless you set a password on wake up then you can be working again at the point you left it as soon as you raise the lid.
885501 kain vulcan 121 gaming keyboar

Gamescom Announcements

Winging its way from a German Gaming show is news from Turtle Beach.
Adding to its range of gaming accessories, Turtle Beach announced the release of its ROCCAT's all-new Kain mouse series at the recent Gamescom 2019 event.  This particular series has been  designed to provide the best "click" and "aimed" experience offering maximum precision and performance for the game player attempting to improve their performance.
The latest version of this ‘gadget’ for Windows is now available. I sometimes get into trouble for calling an item a gadget but when people say our product is not a gadget I say fine, please define ‘gadget’ and while they are thinking I add, a tool to make a task easier? Very few people disagree with my definition and this certainly makes some Windows tasks easier. They also do a MAC version but as I do not have a MAC I can only tell you about the Windows items.
Some of the things that Parallels 3.5 for Windows does can be already done in Windows but they take more than a single action to be completed so Parallels is often quicker or easier to complete. Archive, select the files and archive it’s as easy as that and of course Unarchive is just as easy. Block Camera, a lot of people are worried about being spied on and it’s a neater solution than sticking something over the camera.

Alcatel 3 -- 2019

The Alcatel 3 (2019) is aimed at the competitive middle ground where buyers are looking for a feature phone in a very price-conscious market.
Staying awake should not be a problem when playing a game that involves exploring a character's sub-conscious
885415 Motorola moto one visio

Motorola One Vision from Vodafone

This latest phone has some nice little extra features, it also is Android 9 and has a pure Android operating system so no skin added this is called Android One but this means with no extra skin to slow it down it is really fast.
It is 16x7x.9cm and weighs 198grams; this includes a clear silicon case that covers the back and sides. The viewable screen is 15.7x6.4cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial screen resolution of 6.3inches. Going around the outside has volume rocker with on/off button on the right side. The base has its speaker, USB ‘C’ and microphone. The left side has SIM entry point and the top has 3.5mm headphone socket.
If your computer seems slower than usual then maybe it is time for a spring clean.
885372 D Link DCS 8515LH HD Motorised Pan and Tilt Wi Fi Camer

D-Link Pan and Tilt Camera

I suspect most people know of ‘R2D2’ a droid in Star Trek, this camera looks rather like it, it can pan and tilt so unless there is something solid in its line of vision whoever is there gets seen and unlike most other cameras this continues to see where the suspect goes as it can track their movements.
It is round at 10cm across and 12cm tall. There is just one connection a micro USB lead that fits in the back near the base. Like almost all recent cameras it is controlled by an App either iOS or Android. Download the App register and then find the best place to place your camera, as part of the setup routine it will move through 360 degrees and produce an image of what it sees so you can select the area to cover.
As a long established fan of a product originally developed as a file conversion utility and launched in 1991 by Robert Voit's JASC company, it is that time of year when I can look forward to the arrival of the latest version of PaintShop Pro. Now firmly entrenched as part of the company's family of graphic software, Corel has sent me a copy of PaintShop Pro XX to review for Gadgetspeak.com
While this current version of PaintShop Pro package is available in either Standard or Ultimate editions, I was in the fortunate position of working with the Ultimate version of this photo editing and design graphics software.  As you might suppose, the Ultimate version of PaintShop Pro 2020 comes bundled with a number of bonus items that add extra value and functionality to the product.
This is a small leather wallet with a push action that partially ejects up to six credit cards each to a slightly lesser extent so you can select the one you need at the checkout of hole in the wall easily, quickly, and more securely.
The wallet is 11x6x1.5cm and also has two additional pockets for things like an Oyster card on the opposite side to the main wallet so you can touch in without having to open the wallet, and as the shape is definitely weighted to one side so no chance of card problems as you know which side you are touching on the reader. For those times when cash is still required notes can also be stored in this section, or indeed under an elasticated strap.
This 27inch QHD Philips monitor, model 272B7QUBHEB, has been designed to provide high performance and to incorporate a range of features such as USB-C docking which are aimed at improving ease of use and enhancing business productivity.
The monitor, which employs an IPS panel with WLED backlight has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. The high resolution of the QHD panel will be appreciated by many business users as it can display 70 rows of a 30 column spreadsheet – if you are happy to view 10 or 11pt type. It has a frameless black bezel on three sides with the lower one being just one inch.
Join the Penguin family as you create mosaics.
Checking back over my recent reviews of game titles, revealed that I had been neglecting one of my favourite genre of gaming playing activity.  The neglected genre was that of nanograms.  Since I last took a look at the family of penguins and their close affinity with challenging the player with nanogram puzzles, several different versions of the game have appeared.
885298 alcatel 1x android smart mobile phon

Alcatel 1x

This is a cheaper Android phone but it looks anything but that, around £100 should secure this SIM free and some might keep this as a second unit or one to take to festivals or night clubs and the like where security is less than perfect.
It is 14.5x6.6x.7cm and weighs 129 grams. The viewable screen is 12.5x6.5cm with the selfie camera above the screen. The diagonal imperial measurement is 5.5 inches. The screen resolution is 720x1440. Going around the outside finds the volume rocker towards the top of the right side with the on/off button below this. The base has the micro USB socket for charging and connection of an OTG device. The left side has SIM and micro SD card entry point. The top has a pin hole microphone and 3.
Time does not stand still especially when a company take-over is involved as part of the process. In some cases favourite projects can suffer the short-end of the straw as it is ignored but this is not always what occurs. Take for example the Parallel's Toolbox and how the company reacted to a take-over..
DFollowing Parallel becoming a Corel Business unit, you might have suspected that the Toolbox development being put on the back-burner but instead version 3.5 of this collection of one-click, time-saving productive tools has been released for the Windows and Mac environments.  This review is based on the Windows version of the Parallel Toolbox product as the tools offer the user a range of features.
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