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This is a small 32 key keyboard that connects via USB to your PC. The software is what makes this small keyboard something that really stand out it is Sibelius First a slightly cut down version of the full product that costs several hundred pounds.
The keyboard is 42x10.5x2cm, so the keys themselves are smaller at 7x2cm and the black keys 4.5x1cm in size. You have 19 white keys and 13 black keys however with the aid of the seven buttons on the left side of the keyboard you can raise of lower octaves to get a full keyboard. Here you will also find a volume knob to control sound. The box describes it as ‘32 note ultra-portable keyboard controller’ which although a bit of a mouthful describes it.
Two items that I saw recently at a press event called Digital Winter, other requested items from various other manufacturers have yet to arrive so these two stocking fillers get pride of place as their PR person is on the ball.
These are in ear earbuds, they come with soft silicone buds that enable them to fit to most ears – two other sizes are provided – the sound quality is reasonable with a good base just using it with MP3 or iPods, on a proper audio system they were fine. The lead is white and 1.3metres long so you are dying to know how are they ‘non tangle’.
While you may have built up an impressive collection of digital images, are you forgetting those negatives and slides carefully stored away a few years ago? honestech believes it can help in this matter.
As older technology gives way to more modern approaches so the need arises for a means of transferring the content produced by the old method into a format that is recognised and usable by the latest technology. One example of this can be seen with the more traditional photography that relied on negatives and slides for storing its content and today’s digital images.
First a mono noise cancelling offering from Jabra. Then what Plantronics call a smart headset for your smartphone. Both these Bluetooth offerings fit into the ear and are secured over the ear to allow all-day comfort.
It is 9x3x2cm and weights only 18grams. So when fitted over your ear the weight is not a factor in wearing it all day. There are three methods of charging the headset, mains power, USB power or car cigar lighter and all the required leads are in the box. Perhaps best of all it supports either ear as the over ear part flips to allow left ear wearing. This feature is vital for anyone who is either hard of hearing in one ear or has a hard or arm problem.
When taking part in strenuous activities you might prefer to have an appropriate communication device with you/
While one of the numerous modern stylish smartphones will be the preferred communication device of many as their day-to-day companion, there are some occasions when such a device is nor the most suitable. If you are the adventurous, outdoor type then you might prefer to have a more robust handset to hand. One possibility could be the Samsung Solid Immerse which comes with the promise of being built for strength and ready for adventure.
Why stick with one body when reincarnation can switch you between characters in a Collectors Edition game?
Joining the popular Hidden Object Adventure genre is the Big Fish Reincarnations 2. Now available in Collector’s Edition format from Focus Multimedia and subtitled Uncover the Past, Reincarnations 2 includes the main game and a Strategy Guide. You also get a bonus Reincarnations story dealing with the Rainbow Circus, wallpaper, screensavers, concept art and a musical soundtrack but these only become available when the main game has been completed.
This tiny handheld unit has probably got more capture power ability than a full size tripod mounted film unit of not that many years ago, so for not that much money you can capture HD movies and sound without any real effort.
Its been a while since I have looked at a Camcorder – as opposed to a ‘Flip’ type unit or the ability of a digital camera – and even though externally it looks similar the guts and how it captures and deals with video has changed. It is 11.5x6x6cm when closed and it weights 305grams. The viewing and capture screen opens on the left side and this can add up to another 9cm to the 6cm width. The screen can rotate up to 270 degrees, 180 degrees away and 90 degrees towards.
A recent visit to a trade show re-introduced me to a company that produced some of the early audio tapes I used for recording my favourite music from the radio. Those were the days. Now I have the opportunity to test another of the companys products, this time for listening to my current favourite music.
Established over 50 years ago, Maxell original was best known for the different types of recordable media that it produced. It was this aspect that I had my first dealings with the company. However a recent search through my collection of audio tapes failed to turn up even one of the Maxell products that I had purchased in my youth.
When you think of label printing you tend to think of Dymo, as I discovered earlier this year Brother makes label printers and now I find so do Epson, here I am looking at their latest offering the Epson LabelWorks LW-400.
Of course early label printers were onto impressed metal and you stamped them out one at a time with a revolving wheel, yes I know even Dymo moved into the 21 century but this unit is more like a tiny computer as you are able to store designs, templates and it can even print barcodes all on adhesive tape strips. It is 17x12x6cm and weights 456grams. Mine was a creamy white with black keyboard and a sort of lime green button on the side.
First a set of Headphones that are better than they look and represent a type of music that passed me by many years ago and then some rather nice earbuds that are called noise cancelling stereo headphones I agree they are noise cancelling.
These are on ear headphones with a basic looking design. The earpieces are nearly round at 7x6.5cm and sit on the ear. They come in either black or white. The gold plated connector is at the end of what seems to be a 1.5metre lead but this has fifteen curles in it (like the old telephone cords) and this extends the lead to around 1.9metres when fully extended before you pull the plug.
Aimed at users on a limited budget, Samsung feels a new member of its Galaxy family could be what you are looking for.
I’m tempted to ask just where the subject of this review fits into the Galaxy scheme of communication according to Samsung. After all this Samsung product is named the Galaxy Fit with the code designation of GT-5670. However on second thought perhaps I should just state that this handset is aimed at those users without deep pockets who want to indulge themselves in the smartphone experience. With dimensions of 110.2 x 61.2 x 12.
During my review of the Motorola XOOM Android 3.1 Tablet I found no real problems but the one discovered very near the end. It is a fast unit running what is currently the latest version of Android; it is rapid and far more intelligent than some other such units.
The Motorola XOOM measures 24.5x16.5x1.2cm and weights 705grams. The viewable screen is 21.5x13.5cm which gives the diagonal imperial measurement of 10.1inches which gives the 1280x800 resolution. You will need to read on to find what the only thing was that I found against this unit. Unlike a Windows PC an Android tablet has its own way of touch even those running the same version of Android.
There cannot be many users of power-hungry portable devices such as iPads and smartphones, who have not seen a warning message that their battery is getting very low or have even had it stop working when the battery dies on them. The Proporta TurboCharger 7000, which is not much larger than a smartphone, can make this a thing of the past.
The TurboCharger 7000 is an external rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that, when fully charged, has a capacity of 7,000mAh. This is well over four times the capacity of many smart phones. Just connect it to your phone and, as well as recharging, it provides instant power so you are back on-air without delay. It is roughly 120 x 70 x 15mm and sits comfortably in one’s hand and weighs just 240g when stowed in its draw-string bag with its accessory connectors.
With its policy of providing systems for different needs and pockets, Acer presents its Aspire 5755G model for your delectation.
The Acer Aspire 5755G joins the already well-populated 15.6-inch laptop sector. This particular model weighs in at 2.5kg which is hardly lightweight but still makes it portable when the need arises. The unit’s dimensions are 381 x 254 x 28mm (W x D x H) in its closed state. While the laptop’s gleaming black casing has that initial “pick-me-up” appeal, it isn’t too long before unsightly finger smears begin to decorate the top cover.
If you have ever wondered what a toys eye-view would be like then Mattels latest Hot Wheels product could provide the answer.
Is it a toy? Or maybe it could be considered as a desktop decoration that could double as a surreptitious security device for keeping a watch while you are away from your computer. Actually it could be both but I have a strong suspicion that it will be cast in the former role in most households. I am referring to the latest addition to the Hot Wheels brand of racing toys from Mattel UK Ltd which goes under the banner of Video Racer.
Here I am looking at three different tripod type devices to allow you to let go of your camera. First the Hybrid that works with DSLR or pocket cameras. The other two are smaller the Micro250 for the pocket offering and the Micro800 for the larger pocket offering or the smaller DSLR.
I think this was the first to offer gripping of a non flat surface; in fact it can grip round a pole. Here the Hybrid can raise your camera by up to 24cm from a flattish surface like a wall. Not only does it have a ball and socket joint on top to allow you to use camera at any angle but a built in spirit level if level is what you need. The joint will tilt at any angle to 90degrees and it will pan through 360degrees. The total weight of the Hybrid is 190grams. It will support up to one kilo.
From their base inGermany, the people at Nero have been busy developing the latest version of the companys multimedia software which is the subject of the review.
The latest version of Nero’s multimedia software is available in Standard and Platinum flavours. This review is based on Nero II Platinum which contains a tool set that allows you to rip, burn, convert, edit, backup and organise your media to suit your individual needs.
This is a wide screen pivot enabled 1920x1080 display. You have a choice of VGA or DVI connection and for good measure it has a four port USB hub built in. Is this the sort of display to give your office that extra wow?
The screen is 54x32cm; the viewable area is 51x28.7cm giving the notional imperial diagonal measurement of 23inches. It certainly looks nice and a telescopic arm means it could be anywhere between 11 and 26cm above your desk in landscape mode. The depth of the unit is between 6 and 11cm and the fixed circular base that it sits on is 24cm across. The connections are all on the rear under an overhang from the thickest part so nothing connected shows below the screen level.
Did you realise the iPod first appeared over ten years ago? What started as a music player to challenge other manufacturers MP3 offerings has now become a brand that has spread its wings and gone on to be far more than that?
Here are twelve musical facts about those years. Do you know the year in which each of these happened? Check your answers with those at the end of the following review to see if you got them all. While I have not had an iPod for more than half that time it has still got lots of duplicates, untitled tracks and as for missing artwork …. So here Real Networks bring you Rinse that utilises the Gracenotes database to remove duplicates, give tracks correct titles and find that missing artwork.
Once again Bosch choose December and the location known as Home Sweet Home to demonstrate some of its latest and best selling products. One slight difference with this years event was the lack of snow which I certainly appreciated as I made my way to the centralLondonlocation
While my first port of call was the same room as last year, this time it was not set up as a bedroom but as a more general work area Taking the lead position for this product roundup is a piece of kit that is not due to be launched until May. This is the new and improved Bosch IXO IV unit that features 30% more power than the previous version of the world's best selling power-tool. Weighing just 300g, this small device can handle all kinds of screw-driving projects using a range of bits.
This seems to be the season for people to launch and renew their earphone offerings. Today I am looking at two such items from a new name to me iGo. There are four in the range and here I am looking at the Miami and the City.
These are over ear headphones, not large but they do have a good amount of adjustment 5cm on each side. My head is largish but there is still another 1.5cm of adjustment available for those with an even larger head area. Described on the box as white and red they are white everywhere but the 3.5mm lead and the stitching around the headband. The lead 1.4metres long and the plug is gold plated the inline microphone is red matching the lead. In the box is 3.5mm to phono lead 20cm long.
Generally Smartphones tend to come with a price tag that makes you think twice. Alcatel has bucked the trend with its One Touch series of handsets.
The Alcatel One Touch 665 is a clamshell handset that is available on contract or as a pay as you go product. This handset has been developed for those on a limited budget with simple and uncomplicated needs.
PCTV are part of Hauppauge who have been making TV cards to fit into PCs for many years. Of course with notebooks the solution had to be USB, here something that works on PC, Android (2.2 or later) and iPhone and iPad as well as the iPod Touch.
Why would you walk round your house watching TV on an ‘i’ anything, of course you probably would not, but from a Wi-Fi hotspot this could be very acceptable and not only does it work in the UK but anywhere in the world via your own router and the Internet. So the PCTV is far more than just a simple wireless enabled TV box. It is 12x14.5x4cm, which has two aerials that can add another 11cm to the last figure the height of the PCTV unit.
Following on from titles that include Survivor, Farmer, Marina and Sushi Chef, Youdagames has gone all at sea with its latest offering which is entitled Youda Fisherman. This is a time management game that puts you in charge of a fleet of ships and all the relevant issues and activities that come with this particular role in life.
Developed by I Sioux Game Production BV, a company that is based inHilversumin theNetherlands, Youda Fisherman’s opening screen gives you the opportunity to enter your profile name and adjust various settings. You can select from various languages with each one represented by a national flag plus adjust the volume level for sound effects and background music.
Available in a choice of lime green, champagne silver or black (as in the case of the review model), the Ricoh PX is a waterproof, shockproof and dust-resistant digital camera. Perhaps I should have included the word compact into that description as the camera certainly qualifies in this respect. The cameras dimensions are 100 x 55 x 21.3cm in whatever mode or zoom level is currently being used.
This 16 megapixel camera features a 2.7-inch transmissive LCD rear-mounted screen displaying 230,000 dots. The screen has a protective coating and is your only means of lining up a scene for capture. The protective coating was not very effective as there was a small scratch on the screen by the time the review model made its way into my hands – the coating also did not help with keeping finger smears to a minimum.
Abbyy Finereader Professional 11 is the latest incarnation of a very effective OCR (optical character recognition) package. It is easy to use in its basic form as it comes out of the box and is readily configurable to meet particular needs.
Finereader, as well as being available ‘shrink-wrapped’, can be downloaded from the Abbyy site and installs easily in just a few minutes. It is equally useful for dealing with odd sections of text or in reconstructing the native formatting of multi-page documents as well creating electronic books. Although it will work in a vast number of languages, understandably, I selected English. However, that is not set in stone; this can be changed at will.
The arrival of a battered box is not always bad news, the arrival of a box with space in it probably is. This unit had been doing the rounds and when it got to me all I got was the system box, not even a power lead or any instructions.
Looking at the various DSG websites it seems there should have been also a wired keyboard and a mouse apart from a ‘Welcome Pack’ and of course the power lead. First switch on was not an improvement as I had to do ‘Windows Repair’ as it would not boot. However this story of doom and gloom does start to become a happier tale. A lot of people would have just boxed it up and said take it back.
My first thought was good breathe but then everyone would think about the mouth and teeth and keeping them clean. These two products help you to breathe better first one for Asthma and second one to benefit others.
While I mentioned Asthma above it is stated to help with Hay Fever, Allergy, Pollen Allergies, Sinus Problems, Bronchitis, Breathing Difficulties and Respiratory problems caused by smoking as well as Asthma. While I am Asthmatic and that was the reason I asked to review it I do also have Sinus problems so can it help with both? The pipe is 12x4x4cm and weights 85grams. When you move the pipe it rattles as it is has what is claimed to be five years worth of salt crystals in it.
While out-and-about listening to your favourite music, your enjoyment can be reduced by outside noise elements. Noise cancelling headsets offer to reduce this problem.
While Paul Simon wrote and sang about the Sound of Silence, Wolfson Microelectronics was more interested in Digital Silence. With its headquarters located inEdinburgh, Wolfson Microelectronics is an audio and noise cancelling specialist supplying high performance mixed-signal semi-conductor solutions to the consumer electronics market worldwide. Digital Silence™ is the retail brand of active ambient noise-cancelling stereo headphones and headsets.
Whatever device you want to transmit the signal from it can be transmitted by around 15-20metres to an output device providing both devices have an HDMI port; my home has a lot of solid walls and it works end to end.
I tried this with a Blu-ray player, a video recorder, a Freeview recorder and two different PC one with only a Display Port the latter using a plug adapter also from Lindy part number 41018 that converts DisplayPort to HDMI. The kit consists of a transmitter, a receiver, two DC power bricks, one HDMI cable and an IR extender as well as a user manual.
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