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There are two names you think of to burn CDs and DVDs and Nero is nowadays considered the first. In a lot of cases should you buy a CD/DVD drive a restricted copy will come with it.
I first came across Nero - like most people - when a tied copy was provided with a CD-ROM drive, certainly no DVD's about then. Of course you get to know how to get it to do what you want, you then get a new PC and you need to learn a new product because this one supports another software product. So you have a choice learn another product of bite the bullet and buy a copy of Nero.
With the tag line of Entertainment on the go, the Nokia N81 attempts to broaden the game-playing scope of the mobile phone.
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The Nokia N81 mobile phone has a rather chunky appearance and adopts the slider style of unit. Measuring 102 x 50 x 17.9mm (L x W x D) and weighing 140g, this phone is predominately black with a matt silver band running round the sides. Supplied with 8GB of internal flash memory, the phone features an active matrix 2.4-inch QVGA 320 x 240 colour display capable of showing up to 16.
This is a six ink printer that also has a display and accepts inputs from various card types and USB sticks. However it is not only USB and Ethernet but it can also print via Bluetooth.
This is quite a low slung unit at 45x41x16cm, only the final measurement could be greater if you have the TFT raised vertically it would add 7cm to the height. As paper is stored flat in the base and delivered on top of this store no further space is required. The depth includes the 3cm that the power lead sticks out the back of the unit.
Over the last few years the trend in television has been for ever bigger screens - whether LCD or Plasma. There
is however still a market for the smaller set - either for bedroom, kitchen or den. Humax have addressed this
somewhat neglected market with a range of 19 and 22" highly functional sets.
I'm reviewing the 19" version here. Like it's slightly larger 22" sibling this set is available in either black or white. The display is a 1440x900 wide-screen panel with a wide 160° viewing angle. This sits on an integrated stand that contains the stereo speakers. Dimensions for the whole unit are approximately 500x439x170mm (Width x Height x Depth). The depth is due to the base of the unit that houses the stereo speakers. Weight is a fairly modest 8.2Kg.
It has been a while since I last took a look at a DAB radio. A new model from PURE Digital was my re-introduction to the technology.
Like numerous other devices that I have seen recently, those delivering DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) radio facilities are now adopting a multifunction approach to tempt users into making a purchase. One example of this trend to broaden the scope of a DAB device is that seen with the Chronos product from PURE Digital. This piece of kit brings together iPod dock functionality with standard DAB radio facilities in a product entitled PURE Chronos iDock.
With my strong aversion to heights, I hardly expected to enjoy being in control of a helicopter until I encountered Salvation 1.
Salvation is the name of the game as you are placed in the position of controlling your own helicopter carrying out user-specified missions. Developed by Bladez Toys Ltd, this indoor helicopter is available in four models appropriately numbered 1, 2, 3 and 9. I have been honing my piloting skills on the Salvation 1 which has already distinguished itself by being the winning product from ITV 1's Tycoon and one of the top ten boys' toys listed by STUFF Magazine.
If you live somewhere where extending Ethernet is not feasible or should there be a pressing reason not to use Wireless then the Lindy HomePlug Ethernet Starter Kit could solve your dilemma.
Each of the two plugs is 10x7x4cm when inserted into a 13amp plug socket. The actual power socket is at the bottom of the unit so you could have problems if there is limited clearance above the plug. In fact you need to add 3cm to the 10cm height for the supplied 1.8metre Ethernet cable. So you actually need 9cm of clearance above the socket.
A visit to a recent trade show introduced me to an electronic note taking device that was quickly added to my list of products to review.
Generally a review product's involvement in the actual writing process of a piece, such as this, is minimal especially when that product is a peripheral device rather than a system box or word processing package. All the testing and use of the product will have been conduced prior to the writing stage. Of course there are some exceptions.
I don't think I'm unique in wishing my TV were where I was, rather than in the living room
where the aerial is! There have been a number of solutions to this issue - here we look
at what the SlingBox, from Sling Media can do.
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SlingBox comes in a various flavours - from the original 'Classic' through the the 'Pro', which is the one currently sat underneath my TV. What's a SlingBox? The clue is in the name. In short it takes video and audio from where they are and them to where you - SlingBox.
Multi Function Machines with wireless are not that unusual, what is unusual is that it has USB but no Ethernet. So you can setup for Wireless or USB.
This is not a large unit it is cream in colour so it just may pass the lounge police. The dimensions are 44x30x20cm the last figure the height increases by 13cm when the vertical paper tray is lifted and paper inserted. This is a printer, scanner, copier and fax. The scanning can be either sheet fed or flatbed and the printing can be duplex. For a novice the excellent software can guide you with wizards to do everything.
With Christmas and the New Year both a distant memory, and the belt needing to be tightened by several notches any saving is worthwhile, so making your own greetings cards is certainly a possibility.
This product comes in a full sized software box. It is also heavy enough to contain a meaningful manual. In fact this is a paperback sized book of 260 pages all in English. The box does list the requirements on the side but a sticker is applied to the front modifying those to state you need a DVD-ROM as this is supplied on a DVD. The install is not quick but then it is transferring over 3GB of data to the PC.
Some like navigation buttons while others prefer a touch screen approach; with a new product from Archos you get both options.
Archos has a long establish presence within the area of PMP (Personal Media Player) devices that have the capacity to provide a range of entertainment features. Forming part of the company's latest range of PMPs is the Archos 605 WIFI. As its title implies, this PMP has built in support for WiFi 802.11g connectivity to add to the provision of music, video and still image playback and viewing.
This is a standard mouse connected via USB that has a thermal printer inside. It can print on a range of sized roll media. Certainly something that you do not come across everyday.
The mouse itself is a standard three button mouse plug it in and it works. However to use the printer inside you first need to install the software. For me this took four minutes and after a reboot you plug in the mouse. Total hard disc space taken was 53MB. I found two problems it wants to install a system file but the installer can't find it, it's there but you need to navigate to it. You now have a line of six icons just above the tray.
I've been looking forward to reviewing this product - from a brief reading of the literatiure sent to
me I was hoping it would be an ideal product for my multimedia and data backup requirements. An
inexpensive video recorder and network attach storage unit with the ability to stream my video
across my home network.
Just after this review was published Emtec came back to us with answers to some of our concerns with this product in the form of a new software release.
have recently been introduced to Jawbone. This is not, as you might suspect, a bone in the human body but a device to improve mobile communications.
Developed by Aliph and designed by Yves Behar, this latest version of the Jawbone headset makes use of Bluetooth for connecting to your mobile phone. Totally agnostic in its support, the Jawbone Bluetooth headset works with any Bluetooth enabled phone. For the purpose of this review I have been using the Nokia 6125 and Nokia N81-1 models.
In one of my breaks from playing the highly addictive Gemsweeper, I took the opportunity to check out another Lobstersoft title.
Not all games require high-powered systems and complicated commands and controls to grab the interest of players. Falling into this friendly approachable category is Arcade Lines from Lobstersoft. This game is based on the old, but popular, concept of creating lines of balls that are of the same colour in order to clear the playing area and improve your score. The game's interface could hardly be more straightforward in its appearance.
This is a pull along unit, however unlike most other cleaners on that type this still packs enough punch to actually lift a fitted carpet and therefore the dirt and dust has no chance.
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To begin with this is no ordinary pull along cleaner. As you might expect it is not that light at close to ten kilos. Giving measurements is not easy as although it is a basic rectangle I can only give the maximum it is 24cm from side to side 45cm from front to back and 35cm tall.
While better known for their ability to mimic human speak, a parrot of our acquaintance can display your images.
Judging by recent experiences Digital Photo Frames have taken on an attribute normally associated with buses. You do not see one for ages but then two or three turn up in close proximity. Following the Polaroid 10-inch model reviewed not so long ago, it is now the turn of a 7-inch Digital Photo Viewer from Parrot to take centre stage.
This unit can record two streams at the same time, or as more likely to happen record one item and start a second recording before the first one finishes so its a twin tuner.
It is 30x25x5cm and black and grey in colours. You need another 4cm on the 25cm depth to allow for connection of cables. So unpack and plug your coaxial into the rear and the provided SCART lead also. Next plug the 13amp plug into the mains. Your TV should automatically tune to the SCART channel if not do so manually, you will now see a screen where you set the aspect ratio 4:3 or 16:9 and then tell it to search for channels.
Flash memory is a small miracle - but it doesn't come without problems. Unlike the veritable floppy that has remain
unchanged now for over a decade, flash emory formats change more frequently than government ministers.
Apart from the obvious problems with knowing which format you need for a particular product, you're also often
left having to buy different card for each of your gadgets. Even ignoring competing formats, individual formats
have now spawned whole families of related standards sharing confusingly similar names.
Just over a year ago Vista was launched and memory sticks got a new job as fast storage for temporary files. When it was launched I told you about a 2GB offering from SanDisk.
There are of course others some others produced by different manufacturers some call their offerings ReadyBoost another calls it ReadyFlash. Either way they are still High Speed Flash Drives.
Verbatim USB Drive 4GB This looks like a conventional USB stick drive, just for a moment think that not long ago a 4GB hard disc would be large. It is quite able to do the job of speeding up Vista and indeed does carry the ReadyBoost name. However apart from part or all of the available space being allocated to Vista it comes with a £16.
While some tend to change their mobile phone as often as their socks, others wait to see what the latest batch of new handsets has to offer.
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Sony Ericsson X1i Never the one to sit back and rest on its past achievements, Sony Ericsson has
announced a number of new models to its range of mobile phones. These new models join
the existing Cyber-shot, Walkman, web-enabled and current range of touch screen organisers
plus the new Xperia brand.
Its small size and low price make Lindy's USB DVB-T tv receiver worth looking at -- especially for the notebook user.
Having cut through the plastic of its display package I found that, in addition to the DVB-T Stick together with its USB extension cable and remote control, which weigh less than 100g altogether, there is a stick aerial attached to a 1metre cable, an aerial connector adapter and the driver CD. Where I expected to find the quick-start guide there was, in fact, a fold-out leaflet advertising a whole range of Lindy products. All documentation, drivers and installation software were on a mini CD.
The Bluetooth headset is the first comes from Parrott their Minikit, and, the second comes from the USA the quality V-Moda Vibe Duo earbuds.
Parrot Hands-free Speakerphone This is designed to fit over a sun visor enabling almost any Bluetooth phone to be used hands free. The unit is 10.5x6x2.5 and is two tone shiny black plastic and matt black rubberised for the edges and side of the end knob.
Rather than ask TomTom the way to go, this device could keep the children entertained.
Although SatNav or GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) devices can prove extremely useful when it comes to providing navigational assistance to travellers as they get from A to B, these types of devices often remain unused for long periods. You maybe an infrequent traveller or perhaps you stick to routes with which you are familiar and as a result navigation instructions are not required.
Whether you are a frequent or infrequent visitor to hotels, do you ever think about what goes into making your stay a pleasant experience?
Developed by Enlight Software, Hotel Giant belongs to the business management game genre. As its title indicates, this game deals with creating and running your own hotel. Now available as part of the budget White Label from GSP, Hotel Giant is one of those games that insists on the product CD being in the drive before it will actually load and start.
This is an even smaller version of the Quick Cam Pro 9000 that I reviewed last year. It is designed for use with notebooks and the clip is designed to fit on the edge of the screen.
It is 4.5cm tall and the width and depth to the back of the clip are both 4cm. The lens itself is less than a centimetre across. The USB lead is 70cm again designed for use only on notebooks. I stress the notebook angle as even if you have a flat panel the jaw of the grip of the camera is unlikely to stretch to fit as it is only 1.5cm when fully open.
Taking your favourite MP3 tracks with you on a long car journey certainly helps reduce driving tension.
It was not all that long ago when using a FM Transmitter device would have been considered illegal although you could purchase one without impunity. This unusual state of affairs was brought about by regulations that had been set up during the Second World War. Fortunately these restrictions relating to low power FM transmitters have been removed.
No - not a review! Our November competition was a little special - the chance to drive a Formula One race car, or have the use of an Aston Martin AMV8 for the weekend. Our winner, member 'Terfyn' chose the AMV8 - an experience he could share with his family. I asked whether he'd take a few pictures that we could post here - he went one better and wrote up the whole experience for us.
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Please do click on the pictures to see them more clearly - they are worth it! ----- The Aston Martin Experience started at 4.
A single speaker that manages in a way to produce something a bit like stereo sound. I first saw a surround sound speaker from Yamaha several years ago that was for placing in front of a TV this is for a similar effect for your notebook it is of course considerably smaller.
I never did get to review the larger unit designed for a TV despite asking again only a few months ago but at least that did bring this offering for a notebook. Unfortunately this unit had been elsewhere and the English instructions had been lost the box had instructions only in a foreign language but after saying my knowledge of this language is non existent I was sent a PDF file in English.
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