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
As smartphones, tablets and other devices, upon which we are now totally reliant, get more powerful and have faster processors and more memory they impose a heavier battery demand. Mophie's Juice Pack Powerstation Duo external battery pack has enough capacity to provide a useful safety belt that can be used to increase the time before one needs to use a mains charger.
The Powerstation Duo is rectangular with slightly rounded corners and is just 110 x 58 x 20 mm in size. Its top and bottom faces are of a hard matt black material (which, unfortunately, gets badly smeared with fingerprints) and sides in stainless steel and feels very robust overall. Despite being a 6,000mAh battery pack it is relatively small and only weighing about 220g complete with the supplied 87cm USB cable and can be slipped easily into a laptop or other travel bag .
Two different rather nice value sets of earbuds from very different places, First from Crystal Acoustics their i-40 offering. The second set from a name more known as a motherboard producer the H11 from Gigabyte.
A stylish looking set of ear plugs and because your ears are plugged there is a noise reduction element as well as a bass increase. 15cm down the black lead from your left ear is the normal mute and answer option found to allow you to take phone calls without needing to extract the smartphone from your pocket. The total lead length is 1.2metres and after .35 metres the two flat leads merge into one, this can be adjusted to suit.
You probably do not know much about Grey Mist Lake. Not many do especially since the mysterious fog engulfed the town and when it disappears, so had the town. There were rumours of occasional reappearances of the town with ghost-like inhabitants but now you can check it out for yourself.
Available from Focus Multimedia's extensive catalogue of titles, Strange Cases The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake is a Hidden Object Adventure game. With this Collector's Edition version, you get a number of bonus items. As is the usual practice, items such as a bonus chapter, concept art, wallpaper and music soundtrack only become available when the main game has been completed.
Most radios I have reviewed from Pure rely on mains power, some have worked on batteries if you play extra for a ChargePAK, however this unit is designed to work on its internal batteries charged by USB, no mains lead in sight.
It is 15x8x2.5cm and weights 296grams. In use the second figure the height can be as much as 50cm when the 42cm six piece rod aerial is fully extended. The connections are on the right side at the top a silvered lock button. Below this the micro USB connection, Auxiliary I and Headphone 3.5mm sockets and finally a Pin Hole reset button. The back has an easel type stand that tilts the radio back by around 15degrees when extended. The top and the left side are clear.
Yet another Canon multifunction device has arrived on my workspace for testing.
Decked out in a coating of matte black, the Canon PIXMA MX455 is a multifunction device offering print, copy, scan and fax functionality. There is also a built-in ADF (Automatic Document Feed) facility and a choice of USB or Wi-Fi connectivity. All connection options (power, USB and telephone line) are located at the rear of the unit.
Originally published by Alawar and now available on the Avanquest GSP label, The Worlds Legends Kaschey The Immortal is a Hidden Object Adventure game. Based on an ancient Russian storyline, the game opens with a narrated introduction that involves a magic mirror, a beautiful woman and an evil sorcerer. As you might suppose the evil sorcerer is the Kaschey of the games title and he is in the market for a wife.
This game opens as Kaschey, using his magical powers, kidnaps and spirits away the royal Tsarita. Her eldest son sets out to rescue his mother but he disappears as well. The second son then sets out on the same task but a similar fate befalls him. Now it is the turn of the third and youngest son to ease his father’s unhappiness and rescue the queen and his mother. This is your role in the game.
This is a small but powerful digital camera from Pentax. Having recently tested myself on a DSLR offering I now downsize but not as far as point and shoot as this digital camera has a lot to offer yet it can still fit in most pockets.
It is 12.5x6x6cm the last figure the width is with lens cap on and the unit switched off. Add 3cm to the width when switched on and fully zoomed in. The body is metal and that is why the units weight is 398grams. 12MP may seem small as some less impressive units offer as much as 20MP but its how good the sensor is to give the quality and depth of the overall images taken.
Branching out from its normal target market of the older generation, Doros latest handset is aimed at those working and enjoying the outdoors.
Described as an easy-to-use durable unit for a user who enjoys an outdoor lifestyle, the Doro PhoneEasy 520X is a 3G candy-bar style of handset. Predominately black in colour, with a silver trim running around the front face, my review sample of the 520X has dimensions of 118 x 53 x 13 mm (H x W x D) and a weight of 95g (including the battery pack).
This is another quality panel from a company in Holland who produce excellent panels but as they do not sell them under a well-known name you the user get the benefit without the added price that a known name carries in a premium.
It is 52x32x1.5cm the last figure at the edges, this however does increase to 5cm further in. The stand is circular and raises the panel by 6cm from your desk. The unit weights 3855grams with stand attached so side to side movement is possible as the whole unit moves comfortably. There is around 20% of backward tilt and around 10% of forward tilt. The unit is stable in whatever position you have it. The viewable screen is 50.5x28cm giving the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 23inches.
PowerDesk is the file manager that Windows Explorer should have been. It is easy to use and has a wide range of features that make it a valuable tool for the serious PC user. The recently released version 9 adds even more features and is also compatible with Windows 8.
Even though it is more advanced than Windows Explorer the interface is straightforward and the basic search, find, delete, copy and move file management tools are easy to use. In addition, there is the Go menu that enables one to navigate directly to a specific folder. The file viewer, which supports a very large range of file formats allows one to view the contents of a file in a preview pane or as a thumbnail even when one does not have the original software.
Bluetooth speakers both from iLuv. The first a near cube called the MobiOne. The second looking more like a standard speaker the MobiTour. The lady who sent them must have a wicked sense of humour as they were suggested for Fathers Day one was lipstick red and the other pink.
It is 8x7x7cm and thickest just above the rubberised base. While the speaker itself outputs through the top the base is always a tad tacky and so grips whatever you sit it on. While it is not resonating the tone does vary according to what surface you place it on. The on/off slider is on the base while the area just above it has the two external connections micro USB for charging on the back and 3.5mm Auxiliary input on the right side. A line of five buttons take the width of the front.
Often it is easy to recognise an Edifier speaker system just by looking at its usual design concept.
I know I am guilty of repeating myself but it has to be said that the company Edifier has never been constrained by the usual conventions when it comes to the design and shape of its various speaker systems. In the past I have set up and checked out Edifier systems that have been based on a cylindrical, spherical, decapitated pyramid and the large one-eyed monopod unit shape. Now with the latest 2.
For anyone of a certain age this was an iconic brand when you still paid 7 shillings and 6 pence deposit when you got a syphon of soda from the off licence. Long before you could buy a bottle of soda water from a supermarket.
Yes a name that seemed to disappear from most people’s vocabulary. In fact when the courier delivered it to me he said ‘I thought this was a name from the past but I have delivered lots of these just recently’. Of course it’s very different from the upright chromed offering only now seen in antique and collectables stores and auctions.
Backward compatible with previous versions of the technology, the latest incarnation of USB offers various enhancements that might appeal.
Originally developed back in 1996, the Universal Serial Bus (commonly referred to as USB) was meant to be the panacea for the connection issues between computers and attached peripherals that were causing users headaches. As often happens, especially in the field of computing, the first incarnation of the technology promised more than it could deliver as it struggled to cope with compatibility and the ever-increasing demands for more speed. USB 2.
Bringing together The Maze, Paranormal and the Guardians, Focus Multimedia has come up with a Haunting Mysteries Triple Pack. Originally published by Big Fish Games, these three titles of Urban Legends: The Maze, Paranormal Criminal Investigations: Brotherhood of the Crescent Snake and Guardians of Beyond: Witchville will need to be installed separately. Each title will add its own icon to your desktop.
When tackling Urban Legends: The Maze you are called into action to investigate the disappearance of the contestants who were taking part in the final of the televised The Maze. Actually I thought that the whole idea of such televised reality programs was for the contestants to gradually be eliminated and disappear. However in this case the disappearance was a wholesale vanishing and not part of a planned schedule. As a result your skills are required.
Rather than a book this is a software package that will work on Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8. It has text to read this can also be read out and things to do after it has explained them using a dummy Windows 8 interface.
It will not proceed until you have clicked the correct item and whatever you are then meant to do correctly, a good way to learn. At this point let me say I have used Windows more or less since it first came out and gone through all the incarnations since. Yes I admit that Windows 8 is very different but I would liken it to driving an automatic car after driving a manual one for years.
While A3 printers can easily print A4 documents, it is unusual to come across an A4 printer that can produce A3 documents unless it is a Brother unit.
Like the Brother MFC-J4510 reviewed recently, the DCP-J4110DW belongs to the breed of A4 multifunction devices that adds the capability to print A3 documents along with its more basic scan and copy functionality. In order to achieve this expansive print option, Brother has turned the accepted print orientation through 90 degrees by opting for a landscape orientation rather than portrait paper delivery to the print mechanism.
Certainly a crossover device, as Samsung makes smartphones and Samsung also make digital cameras. So in theory anyway a digital camera that looks like a smartphone with a quality lens added to it has a good chance of being a winner.
If you add a micro SIM then the Samsung Galaxy Camera can be your device for use everywhere. Using Wi-Fi without the micro SIM means you can do most things that a computer can anywhere where there is a signal. So is it a camera or a smart phone, you decide. The camera measures 13x7x3.5cm but the last figure the width can expand by over 5cm when the lens is fully extended, the zoom can be up to 21x. The viewable screen is 10.5x6cm. Going round the unit there is little to see.
Over the years satnavs have got more user-friendly and more sophisticated. Garmins 2598LMTD is a vast improvement over products available even just one or two years ago. It comes with maps covering 45 European countries and free lifetime map updates so will meet the needs of the traveller both today and into the future. Consequently, as well as the first-time buyer, many existing users could well consider that it is s worthwhile upgrade.
The 2598 is matt black in colour with the exception of the silver styling strip below the 5 inch screen. It is provided with a windscreen suction mount and a 170cm “traffic-compatible” power cable terminating in a mini-USB connector at one end a cigar lighter plug at the other. The mount has a quick-release catch that it would be possible to leave the mount permanently on the windscreen and just quickly detach the unit itself.
Two companies offering devices to let you extend the range of your router by using Ethernet over your ring main, this means that if you have dodgy conectivity in part of your property it can be solved by using a plug in adapter.
I am looking at two solutions the first a basic offering from TRENDnet that does what it says. The second from Devolo that works faster and allows you use of a gang socket, and also has Wi-Fi. Of course the second is more expensive. These units are small at 7x5x4cm and on first glance look exactly like a slightly large 13amp plug. The base has an Ethernet socket with a small reset button beside it. The face has three LEDs on the right edge.
This next game offers you the choice of a male or female character as you set out to locate and explore the mysteries of a pyramid.
It was one of those typical dark, stormy nights so beloved of forthcoming catastrophic world defining events. You are relaxing, along with your business partner, in your Private Detective office contemplating whether to depart for the day when a knock is heard at the office door. At this point in time you get to choose which of the two detectives will be your role in the game and lead investigator in the next job.
Having recently looked at some 23inch and 27inch flat panels, here is a 22inch (21.5inch) offering that still supports 1920x1080 but is a lighter and cheaper unit, still this seems perfectly usable and if your budget is more limited
It is 52x31x5cm, only 2cm thick at the edges. It comes with a simple 22x9cm oval stand that raises the screen 9cm from your desk. There is around 12 degrees of back tilt and a couple of degrees of forward tilt available, there is no side to side movement but as it weighs only 3375grams on the stand it is very easy to turn when required. The viewable screen is 47x27cm giving the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 21.5inches.
With its stores within a store, Kobo is certainly making an impression within its designated field of eBook readers.
A few years ago I would spend my time when travelling on the tube either observing other passengers reading newspapers, books or, like me, being squashed by the early morning or evening rush hour crowds. Nowadays, however, newspapers and traditional style books are being overtaken by an influx of e-book readers, tablets and other electronic devices that provide distractions to many travellers.
For those with a strong interest with taking on the challenge of the Undead, Focus Multimedia has brought together three titles that originally appeared as part of the Alawar extensive catalogue of games.
With CCTV being everywhere perhaps it is time to consider it for inside or outside your property. This offering from Swann offers a wide angle view from a single static camera so you should be able to know who has called.
It is quite a small unit at 12x7x5.5cm and this includes the sun shield. The bracket is 9x4.5x3cm this is fixed to the units base.
There are three wires emerging from the back of the bracket and with a permanent fixing these would be channelled through a wall. For a less permanent fixing it could go through a door frame or perhaps even a window surround. The unit has an 80% sweep, the Connection Guide suggests you mount it high up as this will allow looking over obstructions and also deter vandalism if mounted outside. For inside use it is recommended to be placed on the longer wall so the widest area is covered.
The Epson Expression Photo XP-850 is a multi-function device that is aimed more at the photo enthusiast than a general purpose user.
The Epson Expression Photo XP-850 combines print, copy, scan and fax features with double-sided ADF (Automatic Document Feed) capability. With regards to connectivity, you have the choice of USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The latter option can make use of an automatic set up that can connect direct to other Wi-Fi devices without the need of a wireless access point. Decked out in lacquered black, this unit has dimensions of 390 x 338 x 191mm (W x D x H).
Having looked at a couple of larger Android tablets from Gemini here its the turn of one that can fit into a larger pocket. So for those who want something bigger than the screen on a phone but not one as large as a notebook.
It is 19x11x1cm, the last figure is less at the edges. The viewable screen is 15x8.5cm giving the notional imperial diagonal measurement of 7inches. It weights 276grams. This unit immediately has an advantage on others being handled by novices in that all the connections are on one landscape end. So first you are less likely to touch a button or connection and second less likely to suffer a non-requested ‘auto rotate’.
It only takes a moment of carelessness to break ones smartphone. A drop onto a hard surface that breaks the screen would result in a large repair bill and, even worse, one would have to manage without it while it was away being repaired. The Impact Shield multi-layer screen protector from Tech21 is claimed to offer the best available impact protection that doesnt inhibit a devices performance.
The Impact Shield screen protector is much more than just a surface veneer and is built up from three layers each of which has a particular function. There is a hard outer layer which spreads the impact; BulletShield impact protection inter-layer with BASF absorption polymer, which is also used in bulletproof glass, to absorb impact; and finally a soft base layer to further absorb impact force.
The first is something to aid the placing and fitting of hook in walls etc, in fact its the perfect complete kit of items. The second is something I will never wear in anger but maybe if you are half my age these are serious trekking shoes.
In crude terms its looks like a stapler for walls and what it sends out is pins, pegs and hooks. It is 17x10x4cm. I am sure we all have - at the very least - banged a finger with a hammer when trying to hang a picture on a wall. With Hang Buddy Pro it’s as simple as ‘Load’, ‘Level’ and ‘Press’.
Focus Multimedia has bundled together three titles originally published by Big Fish Games in a Dark Mysteries Triple Pack. The three games are The Secrets of Arcelia Island, Secrets of the Dark: Temple of Night, and Written Legends: Nightmare at Sea. In each case the game belongs to the Hidden Object Adventure genre. From a single front-end, each of the titles can be installed in turn. A separate desktop icon will be created for each game.
Your role in The Search of Arcelia is that of a young woman who embarks on an expedition with her father and a small crew to discover more about the mysterious island of Arcelia. Following a storm you find yourself anchored just off the shore of the island while all the crew members and your father have disappeared. You then need to embark on an adventure to discover what has happened and learn the secrets of the island.
Older articles
Main Menu
