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
With the functionality now available from various devices such as smartphones and tablets, the manufacturers of SatNav products face an increasing challenge to persuade would-be purchasers to loosen their purse strings. Why should customers spend their hard-earned disposal income on a new SatNav product when they already possess the tools that are capable of providing basic navigational information through the use of GPS and mapping apps? Garmins solution to this conundrum is to bundle free lifetime services with its new SatNav line up of models.
The latest Garmin product line up consists of its nüvi SatNav devices categorised as Essential, Advanced and Premium models. This review is based on the Advanced range of which there are three distinct models. My review sample is the 5-inch version rather than the 4.3-inch or 7-inch units.
Time to enter into the spirit (no pun intended) of the game as you attempt to solve murders committed in two different locations and time periods.
Angelica Weaver is a detective on Chicago’s Special Task Force. This detective has the dual ability of being able to communicate with dead spirits and use super-sensory visions to jump back and forth between crimes committed in a historical London and present-day Chicago. Known as the Psychic Detective, Angelica Weaver sets out to solve the mystery of a murderer who taunts the Special Task Force with the message of “Catch me when you can” in this next game.
Duplicating a drive is something that can normally only be done by specialist software and certainly not from within Windows. Here a piece of hardware that can duplicate two bare drives or a single bare drive and one connected via eSATA or USB2.
It is 14x13x7cm with grey sides and base and black top. The rear has the DC input, USB and eSATA sockets. The other three sides and the base are clear. The top has two flip down lids where you insert either one or two drives and in front of those three touch buttons, power, duplicate and start. All the buttons have LEDs in them and the colour varies according to what is being done.
Normally when I get to see a colour printer, it is an inkjet model but in this case the printer is a laser unit.
Decked out in a rather subdued combination of light and dark grey, the HL-3140CW is a Brother laser printer. Unlike my own Brother HL-2030, which has provided sterling service for several years, this new Brother unit features two major differences which are indicated by the “CW” part of the unit’s model number. The HL-3140CW supports wireless connectivity and is a colour laser printer.
This is a small DSLR unit ideal for the amateur who enjoys their photography or for someone coming on from a Digital Camera wanting to improve. The most different thing for the latter group is that there is a viewfinder available.
It is 12x8.5x12.5cm the last figure with the 18 to 55lens fitted and fully in, fully out it extends another 3cm. It weights 618grams without the supplied neck strap. The right side has a flip door behind which are micro USB and micro HDMI connections. Both sides have anchor points for the supplied neck strap. Moving to the base the flap door has the solid battery and any SD card you might use behind it.
Three different items from Breffo, two that grip, first a Smartphone and second a Tablet. The third device allows your camera to get a hold in places where it normally could not, round a pole on top of something with no flat edge etc.
It has eight legs and these surround the device, either with four extended to make a stand or with two extended to make a slope. This is a simple device that works well to do just a single job. Each leg is around 8cm and each has three joints. My unit was white and the soft touch grippy plastic outer covers a wire inner so it can bend to almost any shape. The box shows it’s obvious use on a desk but also on a bicycle and in a car.
Simple ideas are often the best especially when the solution can be applied to different problems.
I recently came across a company called Mobio at an IT event. This company has launched itself with the strap line of “The smart way to use mobile devices”. With its headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, this American company has set itself the task of developing innovative, high-quality products that have been designed to enhance the use of mobile devices.
Coffee makers seem one of the most popular reviews on Gadgetspeak so when I got my chance to try the Dualit Coffee system it seemed to good a chance to miss. While I prefer white coffee this can make both black and white.
Looking at the unit it seems very like a small version of the soft of unit you see in thousands of coffee shops in the UK. It is 20x26x32cm and is of course chromium for easy cleaning. The exception is the back that has a clear plastic with blue tinge and black lid removable water container that lifts out it can contain up to 1.5 litres of water. Hard wired into the back is a 1metre mains lead.
When was the last time you discovered your mobile device was power deficient when you needed it in an emergency?
For many of us, it is apparent that our reliance on mobile devices is paramount. It seems we can not leave home without the comfort and support that is offered by a range of products whether they are basic handsets, tablets, music players or the all-encompassing promise that smartphones deliver. Even when we are safely ensconced in our dwelling space these devices often take the lead with our communication and entertainment needs.
A trip to India in search of the reason why people are disappearing as you switch between a male and female character is on the cards with this next game.
It is time to meet up with Saraja and Scott who are agents working for the Indian branch of the Mystery Agency. This duo of investigating agents is called upon to track down a powerful talisman and solve the mystery of people who have disappeared from the slum area of an Indian city. The action takes place in the game of Mystery Agency: Secrets of the Orient which is available on Avanquest’s GSP label.
My first flat panel was 1600x1200 and had a 4:3 display. When I moved to 1920x1080 and 16:9 where I have been since it initially looked strange now Philips have a 16:10 and at 1920x1080 this is weird but install the software and view at 1920x1200 its good.
In fact to get the display just insert the CD-ROM and then right click on your Desktop and then Screen Resolution and identify and accept the 1920x1200 offered. I loved my initial 1600x1200 screen and always missed the added screen depth especially when viewing web pages, you might say it’s not much different but it’s close to an extra 13% and that shows a lot more on most web sites.
Up until recently I was of the firm opinion that the living room in my home was of a reasonable size. Now, however, I am not so sure. The arrival of a product from Samsung has put a different perspective on how I regard my personal living space.
You have probably seen the advert and, maybe as I did, wonder just what the heck was going on until the punch-line was finally delivered. You know the advert I mean. It is the one where hordes of people, dressed in all manner of costumes from throughout history, along with animals and vehicles, charge along a beach causing mayhem as they descend on a solitary person sitting comfortably in an armchair.
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9 does what it says on the tin and is aimed at having broad appeal. On the basis that not all users are experts, it incorporates extensive help and guidance which is so important to enable new users to edit their photos and get to work with their drawings. It also incorporates the wide range of features that will satisfy the needs of the advanced user.
Although the opening screen looks very busy it is well laid out with the working desktop having controls on all four sides. As one would expect with a Windows program, there is the title bar and the menu and formatting bars at the top. Then the main toolbar is down the left hand side. Some of these tools have fly-out bars containing more tool icons. The colour “line” along the bottom shows the current line and fill colours as well as providing access to all the colour palettes.
An item from a newish company in the speaker area. This one offers easy Bluetooth and 3.5mm lead connectivity. So in this very crowded area is there space for another company, read on to see what I think of the Damson Oyster.
A week before the Gadget Show in Birmingham where this was launched, journalists were given a chance to hear it in use and meet the CEO of Damson. The place chosen was a large room on an upper floor of an event venue called The Hospital. I got there at the prescribed time and had a long chat the CEO. I was expecting to take away a review unit but these did not arrived until several weeks later. However as soon as I plugged it in I knew this was worth waiting for.
While I have reviewed similar products on a PC there are probably an awful lot of younger people that live with their i device. While the cost of Apps for these devices is minimal if you sell a lot of them then you make a lot of money.
Many years ago before the time of separate Theory and Driving Tests I used to be a Driving Instructor. The Highway Code was a few questions after your practical test, often the questions would be aimed at part of your test that was borderline and the result might have influenced the result. Now of course unless you pass the Theory Test and Hazard Perception modules you do not get to take the Practical Test.
Without wanting to sound sexist, Gigabytes decision to use attractive female presenters for its latest product tour certainly appealed to yours truly
Let me start this review with a question. What type of device would you expect if it was called “Fly”? Maybe you would consider that it might be connected to aeronautics in some way or perhaps entomology might be a more logical theme. In either case this would be an incorrect choice. I just wonder how many of you would be on the same wave length as Gigabyte, the company responsible for naming the subject of this next review.
Its been a while since I have looked at an Freeview HD PVR, in fact I have never looked at any TV device from Pure, a huge name in DAB radio. This unit is a twin tuner PVR and it can also connect to the Internet via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
It is 43x13x4cm but you will need around 4cm more on the 13cm depth to allow for cable insertions in the rear. It weighs 2.9kilos. Before switching on for the first time insert your aerial lead in the rear and also attach the supplied DC lead and HDMI cable. It will then briefly show the Pure logo and then go into tuning mode in the first minute mine found 77 TV channels 25 radio channels and 18 data channels. This will vary according to where you are.
Having destroyed the alien invaders or rescued hostages being held captive by terrorists, you might want to share your achievements with others. This next title offers to help you record your success for posterity.
While the “Prt Scr” key on your computer keyboard can capture the content of certain screens, it is not omnipotent. There are some types of content that this method fails to capture because it is beyond its scope. Two notable examples are those involving the capture of video content and many game playing action scenes. Pressing the “Prt Scr” during these types of scenario generally just product a blank screen which is hardly what you want.
Ever received an invitation for an event that happened years ago? If so then you will feel at home with the opening of this next game.
Forty years ago the place to go to for your entertainment was the Nightingale Theatre. But then this popular establishment was ravaged by a yet fully explained fire. No one knows for sure who started the fire but a prime candidate was your grandfather who was the owner of the building. His disappearance just after the fire helped feed the rumours that he was responsible for starting the blaze.
A name I know for powerful PCs, here a notebook running Windows 8, it does however not have touch. So is it a desirable thing to have a fast powerful notebook that runs an operating system that uses a front end that restricts it?
This Gigabyte Notebook measures 33x27x1.5cm and weighs 1.7kilos. The viewable screen is 31x17.5cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 14inches. The screen display is 1600x900. The lid has a brownish tinge while everything else is silver grey including – hurrah – the screen surround so those fingermarks do not show. In the top of the screen surround is the 1.3MP webcam.
As technology advances, so older formats tend to go unsupported. However sometimes help is available to convert the older formats into one that can be used on modern equipment.
Over the years, of which there have been many, I have built up a collection of LPs featuring some of my favourite recording artists. Some of the LPs were purchased as new while the more recent additions were found as a result of visits to local boot sales. Despite my best efforts, even with the new products, these LPs are showing signs of their age in both appearance and the audio performance that is delivered from these treasured possessions.
This is an Android phone, however if you can cope with the smaller size it can do quite a number of things that you would expect to need a larger device to complete. This is a 112 gram device that slips easily into a pocket or purse.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is of course a touch device, the regular creamy white colour means fingermarks do not show apart from on the screen. The official colour is Ceramic White and other colours are available. It is 12x6x1cm. On the right side is the on/off button and on the left side the volume up/down rocker. On top is the earbud connection via 3.5mm jack. The base has the only other connection a micro USB one to charge the unit.
This is a device that could persuade me to clean windows more often. As I live in a bungalow height is not a problem, the main problem is that previously when cleaned they look no different than they did before I cleaned them.
There are currently three models in the Karcher range WV50, WV60 and WV70. I have been sent the WV50 and WV70. The WV50 is the cheapest at around £50 and has the least in the box basically a wiper blade attached to a handheld vacuum. Of course there is more to it than that but just looking that is what you see. I am old enough to remember newsprint, rather different to the newspapers of today as the print could come off onto your hands as it was printed ink onto a press.
As technology advances, data stored on legacy devices needs to be transferred to the latest format to ensure the content continues to be readily available.
You may remember that the last Honestech product that I reviewed was entitled Audio Recorder 3.0 Plus. This product’s aim was to help you transfer and convert audio content from analogue format stored on cassette tape to digital audio on your computer for later transfer to optical media. Now the company has released a product which performs a similar task but this time aimed more at video content that is stored on VHS media and various devices. Entitled VHStoDVD 7.
Doro are the biggest UK name in phones for the hard or hearing or those with limited sight. I have looked at at several designs and shapes over the years. So when one arrives with a new feature it immediately gets my interest.
The Doro PhoneEasy 520X measures 11.5x5x1cm and weights 93grams. Things you now expect and get from Doro, are different colour schemes for those sight is poor, very loud ring tones for those who hearing is poor, big buttons for ease of use for those who have difficulty in being precise with movements and now a back that is simple to remove using a coin twist mechanism to easily remove the back by turning a screw through 90 degrees. A simple thing that I am sure others will soon follow with.
A last minute invitation saw me attending the launch event for Kobos latest eReader device.
Adding to is range of eReader products, Kobo has developed its Aura HD Reader. Described as being designed for the world’s most passionate book lovers, the Kobo Aura HD unit is available in luxurious Ivory, Expresso and Onyx. The sample under review is of the Ivory hue. Built around a 6.8-inch WXGA+ Pearl E Ink touch-screen, the Aura HD comes with the claim of offering the highest resolution currently available of 265 dpi at 1440 x 1080. With dimensions of 128.3 x 175.
Witches never seem to rate highly on most people's popularity lists. Part of this unloved quality could be down to the actions of the Snow Queen, a central character in this next game.
Originally published by Big Fish Games, Dark Parables Rise of the Snow Queen is now available from Focus Multimedia in Collector's Edition format. As is usual in such cases, the bonus items making up this title, apart from the Strategy Guide, only become available once the main game has been completed.
While I saw a prototype unit a couple of years ago at Google, earlier versions of Chromebooks have passed me by. Rather different to a PC notebook and also different from a Google Tablet a Chromebook is a category of its own.
When I first saw one the things you noticed were that the keyboard had no function keys, this is still true. No local storage was possible and so therefore if you had no Internet connection you had a unit that could do nothing, this is no longer true. Not surprisingly it is chrome in colour and of course this has a huge advantage over a normal black screen surround in that your fingermarks do not show. The Samsung Chromebook, series 3 measures 29x20.5x1.5cm and weights 1090grams.
The Boxee Box could be regarded as a hybrid product. D-Link, the source of this particular offering, has combined the free Boxee media software with its own hardware kit in order to offer the user a solution to the conundrum of creating a home-based media centre for their entertainment needs.
Recently I have been checking out the Boxee Box as part of my home network computer set up. The results were not always as positive as I would have liked as the Boxee Box proved to have a temperamental side to its make-up. Lets start with the actual kit before getting down to the performance.
This is a multi-function unit which means it also has fax as well printing, scanning and copying, I actually recently found a business that still uses fax, my local Pharmacy as urgent prescriptions can be sent from doctors surgeries.
The HP PhotoSmart7520 measures 48x35x21cm, you will need a few more centimetres on the last figures to place items on the flatbed but not if you use the page feed. However anyone thinking of placing it on a shelf should make sure it’s strong enough. While this is capable of working on USB some of the features are only available via Wi-FI and this includes scanning to PC although you can scan to USB memory stick or SD card on the unit and then transfer the file to the PC.
Older articles
Main Menu
