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If you count your characters at the beginning of a game, the number left could decrease by the end especially if Agatha Christie is involved.
And Then There Were None is a point & click adventure game based on an Agatha Christie novel.  Developed by AWE Games and published by The Adventure Company, this title places you in the company of ten virtual strangers who have been invited to spend time on an isolated island that becomes cut off from the mainland following the combination of a bad storm and their boat being wrecked.  In some cases their stay should not last king.
This flat panel from AOC is for those who want to see a bit more on their screen as its 3840x2160 and it allows you to connect HDMI or Display Port as well as USB ‘C’. To fulfill the first requirement without you having to have 20:20 vision it’s just that bit larger at 27inches from corner to corner but still takes up little more space than a smaller panel.
The AOC U27P2CA flat panel screen measures 61x36x1.5cm; the viewable screen is 60x35cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 27inches. It weighs 4.42 kilos. There is almost no margin at the top and the sides – called frameless - and the bottom margin is 2.5cm. Towards the right are the five buttons to control the panel to their right is a white LED. Its stand is 19x22cm and raises the screen in Landscape mode by between 2.5 and 17.5cm.
When the call comes are you up to the task of representing the people in performing a religious ceremony.
Angkor - Celebrations, developed by Ironcode Gaming, is a Match 3 title.  This game is based on a ritual that is carried out every hundred years by the people of Angkor in order to commemorate their humble beginnings.  This ceremony involves a Chosen One collecting and assembling the Ceremonial Kila which can be used to open the temple doors.  Not surprisingly, you have been selected to be the Chosen One who has to carry out the ceremony.
894969 Shure AONIC 40 Over Ear Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphone

Shure Aonic 40 Headphones

These headphones are rather nice, well-padded for good noise reduction and for those follicly challenged like me good padding on the headband. They are not small as they are over ear offerings and are also useful on cold winter days as ear warmers and just for good measure the Shure App gives you just the sounds you want through its equalizer.
There is 3.5cm of expansion on each side and when fully expanded it is 21cm from the tip of the earpieces to the centre of the extremely well padded headband. The distance between earpieces when vertical is 19cm. They come with a solid zip up case and the headphones fold and sit in the case one way only to give extra protection. Also in the box are a USB to USB ‘C’ cable to charge the headphones and a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable to connect to MP3 or other such devices.
Step back in time and try to defeat an evil witch with Hidden Object game play.
Adding to the world built around Echoes of the Past is "The Castle of Shadows".  This is a Hidden Object Adventure game developed by Orneon.  I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of the game which comes with a selection of bonus items.  Along with a Strategy Guide that is immediately available, there is a bonus adventure, concept art and wallpaper which are only released for access when the main game has been completed.
Giving you a choice of first or third person action, can you help Holmes solve the mystery?
894961 Devolo Magic 2%E2%80%932400 Wi Fi

Devolo Magic 2 Wi-Fi 6

With the exception of last year Devolo bring out updates and improvements to speed and performance of their product, be it in the Wi-Fi or even the connection over power line. So there is plenty to tell you about as 2021 had everyone more interested in not catching Covid than improving the speed of their below par Internet connection.
You plug their unit into a power socket somewhere near your Modem then at another point – on the same ring main – plug into another power socket. Whatever speed you are getting near your Modem should also be the same at the second – or third unit, so no long Ethernet cables which could otherwise be a trip hazard.
Can you assist Emma to find the Emerald Tear to help cure her husband from a mysterious illness.
Describing itself as "The Most Beautiful Hidden Object Game Ever", the Curse of the Emerald Tear forms part of the iWin series of Jewel Quest Mysteries.  This Jewel Board / Match-3 game combines 18 different locations for Hidden Object searching with puzzle solving and manipulating resources within an Egyptian environment. Allowing different people to take on the challenge of playing this game, you can create individual profiles to record their progress.
While I get to review all sorts of PC’s from entry level to very high end my own PC’s tend to cost somewhat less and after a while they become museum pieces like my Windows 7 offering which when Microsoft ended support was working but soon after that the power supply went ‘phutt’. So I struggled on but when Windows 11 arrived my Windows 10 PC was deemed ‘not worthy’ of it. So with not a lot of spare cash available I then started looking for a replacement.
This i5 offering with 8GB of memory fitted the bill and providing you have a flat panel that supports Display Port as I did, it fitted the bill. Free next day delivery was another plus so before another bill dropped into my inbox I ordered it. At 11AM next day DPD delivered it. This is just the unit and a kettle style power lead but it does come with 12 month warranty. So locate a keyboard and mouse and I was in business. This PC is a Desktop unit that was manufactured by HP/Compaq.
This next Hidden Object game is often available bundled with another title from the same source.
A missing father, who is an archaeologist, forms the central plank on which this next game is based.
Developed by Artogon, The Mystery of the Crystal Portal is a Hidden Object game.  Allowing you to create profiles that record the progress of different players, the game also provides the player with options to adjust the volume levels for background music and sound effects.  Other options allow the game to be played in full screen mode with a custom cursor.  There is no choice of difficulty and you need to play the game in standard mode.
894940 dottir in ear headphone

Dottir Sports Earbuds

While a lot of earbuds claim ‘secure fit’ these certainly are that as the design pushes them into the ear with the fin fitting behind the ear they will certainly never fall out. They are somewhat larger than most other buds I have recently tested simply because the holding fin is part of the unit and not an optional extra as with most.
With a good part of the bud actually in the ear the biggest difference you notice is that it is 5cm from top to bottom, 1.5cm wide without the fin that has the flex required to fit most ears and this can more than double the width. The actual gel protrudes upwards from near the base of the unit meaning the flex pushes it further into the ear.
By looking around, up and down, you could find clues to solve a mystery based in the London of a past era.
Available from Big Fish Games, Mystery in London sets you on the trail of Jack the Ripper.  This offering is a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure with a distinct difference.
Matching tiles can earn money to repair the buildings of Crimson Valley.
Putting together elements such as looking after a donkey, playing a slot machine, creating portals and restoring a castle with Match-3 game play produces the result of MatchVentures 3 .  This game, produced by Placadamy, casts you in the role of an itinerant traveller.  You are set various tasks that can be completed by playing Match-3 grids that are often linked together into groups.
A visit to a museum can take you on a journey around the world as you complete a range of jewel boards,
Jewel Quest III, developed by iWin, is a game that is set in a museum.  While the museum offers various options to attract your attention, you can also add your own options to the gaming environment.  You can adjust the volume levels for background music and sound effects plus select full screen viewing.  There are also options to display useful hints and opt for high detail graphics.
Over the years I have reviewed a lot of scanners, all previous units required installation not so here, just open the box plug the USB lead into your PC or Notebook, plug the other end into the rear of the unit. Open the lid that forms part of input tray add a sheet of paper and press the button. You now have a .PDF copy of that sheet of paper on your Desktop.
The Canon Portable Scanner ImageFormula R10 measures 28x9.5x4cm when closed; add another 10cm to the depth and 8cm to the height when open. The weight is something that with Desktop items I normally do not give but here as its portable I will, it is just on a kilo. The outside of the unit has the mini USB connector on the rear with a Kensington Lock Port to its right. Flip open the lid and towards the right is the start button that is it, there are no more controls.
Moving between England and America you can search for Hidden Objects in a variety of locations.
The Hidden Mystery Collection consists of three titles that fall into the Hidden Object genre. Published by Game Mill Entertainment, these titles are entitled The White House, Buckingham Palace and Civil War.  Two of the titles have been developed by Gunnar Games with the third title coming from Plug Games.
894901 Zhiyun Smooth XS 2 Axis Compact Handheld Gimba

Zhiyan Smooth XS Gimbal

While a Gimbal can give you smooth movement when hand held it is possible to get even smoother movement if you use the tripod provided attached to the Gimbal and control the movements of it even from a second phone so the Gimbal on the tripod just needs a firm footing to achieve results even professionals will admire.
The Zhiyan Smooth XS Gimbal has a minimum of 30cm from the base of the grip handle to the top of your landscaped phone, this can increase by up to another 25cm by extending the units arm, so 55cm should enable you to capture video above the tallest person, even then the unfurled tripod could give you another 13cm so now you have a possible 68cm.
Rather than a metal detector, you will need to use your eyes to find this store of pirate treasure.
With a female lead character in each game, this triple collection has you searching for objects in a variety of locations.
Like a lot of people of my age I have problems with my back, I often find that laying down helps, even the old fashioned hot water bottle gives some assistance. So anything that can keep me upright and reduce the discomfort gets my vote. This item is a large strap that fits round the waist and heats up whilst you are wearing it.
The ThermoDR Body Wrap is one metre in length and 15cm wide. This is stated as ‘one size fits all’ well if your waist is 36inches of less then yes. However there is another piece of the material that is 50cm long and with the aid of the Velcro straps can I am told fit all waists up to 52 inches.
A journey to Peru could reveal the Sun Princess legacy as you tackle this Hidden Object title.
894920 Apple iPhone 13 Pro Ma

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Like a lot of recent SmartPhones this was one of a range of models. Having told you about one of the lower specification’s model I now get to test the top of the range model – the one they use in the TV ads – so what does this latest offering from Apple have to temp you away from your current SmartPhone?
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max measures 16x7.8x1cm the last figure the thickness at the top left the square where the cameras protrude, the rest is .8cm thick, the weight is a substantial 240 grams probably due to using surgical grade stainless steel for the body. The viewable screen is far larger than the other models in the range with the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 6.7inches the other items in the range are no more than 6.1 inches.
Join a female team who are assigned to solve a series of murders with the victims bearing a Chinese tattoo
From the pen of the best-selling author, James Patterson, comes Death in Scarlet.  Forming part of the Women's Murder Club series seen on television, this title is based on a series of murders that seem to have a Chinese connection.  Using the original plot and storyline created by Patterson, I-play and Floodlight Games have produced a mixture of Hidden Object sequences, C.S.I. style adventure action and crime solving detection with this game.
Step back to Victorian times as you help Conan Doyle created characters to solve and remove a family curse.
Back in the Dark Ages before Corvid, lockdowns and the advent of telephone scammers and the like, gaming was a less trusted world.  Any game, purchased legally with our hard earned cash, would often require the entry of a specific serial number as part of its installation process in order for the game to be able to run on your computer.
894895 Creative Outlier Air V3 TW

Outlier Air V3

Having previously told you about the Creative Outlier Gold and the Creative Outlier Air V2 offerings the latest to come my way is Creative Outlier Air V3. The strap line for V2 was ‘True Wireless Sweatproof In-Ears With Touch Controls’ while with V3 its ‘True Wireless Sweatproof In-Ears with Ambient Mode.
Outwardly the boxes look the same but the V3 has two more iconized points on the back – twelve instead of ten – under power packed features. Open the flip open lid and the text on the reverse is the same. So just fit the buds into the 7.5x4.5x2.8cm push open case and plug the supplied USB to USB ‘C’ lead into the end of the case to power up the buds.
894909 Mystery Case Files Ravenhears

Ravenhearst Manor

Avoiding the distraction of its Tower and a display of light decorations, you need to pay a visit to the Blackpool area following a royal request.
Over the years Ravenhearst Manor, located near Blackpool, has built up a reputation of being a house of mystery.  Recent evidence has come to light regarding one of the house's residents with the discovery of a diary written by Emma Ravenhearst who took up residence and lived in the house during August 1894.  Even with numerous pages missing from the diary, this document piques the interest of the Queen of England.
When mountain spirits are angered, you need to step in and bring calm to the area.
Developed by MD Studio, Cave Quest Deluxe describes itself as a Match-3 game.  But this only covers part of the delivered action that will face you when tackling this game.  There is a multi-layered environment to explore with collections of items to find, shopping expeditions to be conducted, monsters to fight and family members to be rescued in order to complete this Cave Quest Deluxe offering.
Adding a different look to its playing field, this next title sets you on the trail of a missing professor.
Back in my youth, a popular entertainer of that period often featured a song entitled "Bring me the moonlight".  I mentioned this merely as a lead-in to the next game title under review which is entitled Moonlight.  Actually the game's full title is Magic Encyclopedia Moonlight but I will stick with just Moonlight to save on the wear & tear of my typing fingers.
894872 nero_platinum_box_to

Nero Platinum Suite

Nero used to be the best and quickest way to create a CD or DVD; now with so few PC’s even coming with an optical drive they have widened the net to include other things. I counted eighteen items in the grouping all accessible under the Nero Start icon. For some reason they include one other that needs to be downloaded separately to make it nineteen.
The initial download was quite quick but once you enter your serial number you find there is more work to do. I let it install everything and this took around 15 minutes. Not everything went to plan and neither my PC or Notebook would let me install as one item the main Nero component goes to the 335MB download which shows as 50% then restarts in a continuous process. Both these units have had Nero on in the past but I always remove any earlier version and restart.
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