GadgetSpeak Articles
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While a lot of people totally rely on their phone to know the time I am not one of them I still prefer a watch. This offering from Fossil is made with around sixteen recycled plastic bottles that go to make up the five straps supplied with the watch. The watch itself has an outer ring that is a solar cell so this and other things help protect the planet.
The watch has a 42mm dial so suitable for both men and women to wear, However they also do a 34mm dial version. It comes with five interchangeable straps which come in two pieces and an ingenious fitting mechanism with the lugs fitting top and bottom on the face of the watch. At the connecting end of the strap is a finger nail movement that means no knife or other sharp implement is required to fit into the watch. Each of the two pieces are doubled over and fit into a metal centre piece.
It is time to visit the world of Sacra Terra and rescue those trapped by a succubus,
Available in both Standard and Collector's Edition versions, "Sacra Terra - Kiss of Death" is a Hidden Object Adventure game that has been developed by Alawar Five - BN. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition which comes with a few bonus items. Along with an extra chapter that becomes available once the main game has been completed, you get Concept Art, Wallpaper and a Strategy Guide. Prior to entering the Sacra Terra gaming environment.
This is a voice and audio recorder from Olympus who while they are probably best known for high end cameras also do extremely good voice/audio recorders so any new device from Olympus be in photographic or audio is always of great interest.
The Olympus LS-P4 is called a Videographer Kit. I am surprised my spell checker did not have a fit over Videographer a clever word new to me but one that describes it use very well for a photographer who wants top quality sound. This with the right camera taking video would give excellent results far better than what was the option a few years ago a Camcorder. The recording unit is 11x4x1.5cm and weighs only 75grams with the supplied ‘AAA’ rechargeable battery inserted.
Time can pass quicker when distractions are available to view.
While featuring a wolf and grandmother, there is no Red Riding Hood in this next game.
The Curse of the Werewolves is a Hidden Object Adventure game. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of a game developed by Nordcurrent. Along with the main game, involving the mystery of a missing grandmother and an evil influence, this Collector's Edition comes with three different wallpapers and three jigsaw puzzles using scenes from the main offering.
This is a small and light 14inch screen notebook with an AMD processor from Honor. It is a fast product, so what if anything is there that could be improved, first it is not that cheap but then all the components are high end, second there is only a single SSD drive of 256GB divided into ‘C’ and ‘D’ and on an office desk you could be short of connections.
The Honor MagicBook 14 measures 32x21x1.5cm the last figure is the maximum, it weighs 1371 grams. The only other things in the box are a 1.7 metre USB ‘C’ to USB ‘C’ lead and a 13amp plug with USB ‘C’ out on the top. This however is a 65 watt fast charge module so a 70% charge from empty takes 70 minutes and in my tests a discharge rate of 10% per hour when streaming music and keeping the screen live takes place.
With a kidnapped detective, investigating daughter and a helpful dog, this next game sets you on the trail of missing relics.
During the coronavirus pandemic, with its associated lockdown and self-isolation, I have sometimes been reduced to watching repeats of some early black & white television programmes. These programmes are based on Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason stories. The reason for this confession regarding my viewing of a very early crime based series is due to the appearance of a Penny Macey Mystery game on my review list. This game is entitled Relics of Fate.
When the end of Lockdown arrives, what are you intensions and do they include a celebration?
Since the introduction on the 24th March, the UK has been in Lockdown and this situation has greatly influenced the lives of many, including myself. While I have generally coped with the effect of Lockdown and self-isolation, there have been some occasions when time does seem to have been running at a slower rate than would appear normal. Maybe you have noticed something similar.
This 24 inch flat panel from Philips is one of their ‘B Line’ range. It gives 1920x1080 HD resolution and has a range of connections which includes USB ‘C’. Other reasons to purchase include a small stand, very easy assembly, the ability to swing it from side to side on the stand and narrow bezels.
This Philips monitor measures 54x32x2cm and its stand is 20.5x20.5cm and this raises the panel by between 4-20cm from your desk when in landscape mode. The stand is a single piece, the connecting arm is a single piece that attaches to the stand by a fitted twist screw, then the stand and arm click into place in the back of the panel very simple and no tools are required to assemble.
Looking to brighten your view of the virtual world, TCL offers a new range of handsets.
While maybe not as well-known, or on the tip of the tongue, as some high profile companies, TCL Communication does design, manufacture and markets an expanding portfolio of mobile devices and services worldwide. Adding to its range of mobile devices, TCL Communication has launched its TCL 10 series of mobile smartphones. This series is made up of the 5G, Pro and the 10L model which is the subject matter of this review.
Earlier versions had one problem for my door frame they were slightly too wide. This version solves this and indeed another problem that I had never thought of. So the people at Ring have listened to my moans and probably that of others and now both are solved.
The problem(s) are solved by the inclusion of a corner mount and a wedge mount so now if you have narrow door frames or indeed live on a hill the doorbell will sit exactly where required to give you a perfect view and a perfect secure fit. It is 12.6x6x2.7cm and weighs 198grams. It is black and grey, the top part is the camera that has a wide field of view and the lower part the bell push.
Put your Match-3 skills to the test as you take a journey with Confucius on his epic voyage.
This is the latest offering from Motorola the Moto g8; it can work using the three buttons at the base of the screen or after a single click in Settings with ‘Gestures’. Unlike a lot of recent phones this still has a 3.5mm socket for headphones or earbuds. It also comes with a clear cover for the back and sides for protection for the odd drop.
It is 15.8x7.5x1cm with the transparent cover fitted and it weighs 216 grams. The viewable screen is 14.5x6.8cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial screen measurement of 6.4 inches which is the same resolution as most standard computers Full HD 1920x1080. Also in the box a Getting Started guide, 13amp USB plug front, USB to USB ‘C’ lead and the all-important pin to open the side of the case to insert SIM.
The recent pandemic, along with recommendations to self-isolate, has introduced us to the term "Lockdown" and all it entails.
With this concept, our way of living has changed as we deal with the consequences of this new term which, incidentally is not featured in my copy of the Concise Oxford Dictionary. I have used the chance, offered by "Lockdown" to catch up with some game reviews but how are you adjusting to "Lockdown"? Recent research, polling 2,000 adults, on behalf of Alcatel, has come up with suggestions as to how technophobic Brits have made of their time during "Lockdown".
Alexery Pajitnov has a lot to answer for with regards to puzzle addiction with his Tetris offering.
Personal Computer users will appreciate that over time their piece of equipment will often loose its initial fast responsiveness. Tasks that once could be completed at a rate that was more than acceptable during the earlier months, now take their time thus causing degrees of frustration.
Now up to version 5.65, Ccleaner Professional follows a fairly standard pattern. After downloading the software and providing the necessary registration details, such as user name and license key which consists of letters, numbers and dashes, you can access the various features of the product. The opening view will be familiar to users of previous versions of the software as you are presented with a list of categories running down the left side of the screen.
Like everyone I had wondered what exactly was on Britbox that was worth remembering. When I started the month’s free trial I found things I had never watched for a variety of reasons and now with more hours in the day as you cannot go to the cinema or the pub or in my case to my favourite music gigs I started delving into its content.
While I had originally watched some of the later series of Downton Abbey those I did watch were only via my video recorder as all commercial channels are a ‘No No’ for me to watch live. I started with series one which were slightly shorter than later series at only around 45 minutes when there are no adverts to cut out.
Do you consider yourself to be a typical adult? If so then you could find yourself spending around £40,000 on tech during your lifetime.
These various components were not arrived at just because of wishful thinking during a spare moment in lockdown but the results of a research survey commissioned by musicMagpie. So what do the owners of this Aladdin's cave of desirable kit do with items that have passed their best and have been superseded. Well it seems that many, more than a third of the 2,000 questioned, merely hang on to them.
This is a SIM with a difference, it is tuned to your hearing, so your phone conversations in any phone are as clear as they can be, and this service is ideal if you have a little or a lot of hearing loss. The process is simple and they have several plans to suit the amount you use your phone. In these times where meetings in person are not encouraged the phone becomes more important than ever.
I have been testing this service with the range of Emporia phones recently reviewed but I have also tested it with other recent SmartPhones. In fact I would never have heard of Audacious without my meeting earlier this year with the man from Emporia. You go onto the Emporia website and select the service that suits your needs, in fact you can conduct a hearing test before you sign up. They recommend you do the test a couple of times and certainly you should repeat it if you get a new phone.
Where did the crew and cargo disappear to is a mystery you need to solve in this next game.
With the lengthy title of "Left in the Dark - No One on Board", this is a Hidden Object game. Developed by Moonrise Interactive, this game places you in the role of Detective Charlotte Austin. You are summoned by the Mayor of Providence to investigate the strange case of a sailing ship which left Providence with a full crew and plenty of cargo. It then disappeared for a while before reappearing but without crew or cargo.
While hardly what you would call the ideal circumstances, the period of self-isolation has provided the type of situation that can help with the setting up and checking out of a home security device. By taking on the role of an intruder, you can see how the product works.
The home security device in question, and the subject of this review, is the YI Home 1080p camera. For the benefit of those readers who are perhaps not so familiar with YI Technology, to give the company its full title, is an organisation that has set out to provide enhanced safety and productivity on a worldwide basis for consumers and business users.
These buds actually fit into your ear, the controls are all by touching the back of the buds. As regular readers will know some buds give me problems after as little as an hour of wear, these seem better than most and allow longer wear without discomfort.
The buds are around 2x2cm at the front end and up to 2.5cm deep dependant on the size of the silicon bud you fit onto them. The weight of each bud is around 5.5grams. They are designed to fit into the ear and certainly will not fit in comfort if put into the wrong ear, each bud is marked either ‘L’ or ‘R’.
With more puzzles than you could shake a stick at, this next game tells the story of a town that can only be visited once every 300 years.
This is an indoor security camera, the colour option works in lower light than a lot of others and while easy to setup once you have decided what ‘password’ it wants you to enter to link, then it offers a great deal more options in the settings than almost any other such camera and for those who want them it can provide so many choices over the basics.
It is a round offering on a flat base 9x9x11cm the latter is with the supplied micro USB to USB lead inserted in the back of flat base. It can also be hung via screws and an attachment to the base. The camera rotates to any position so via a setting it can then follow whatever moves and another setting allows this to be human, to explain the last part this can stop it following your pet such as a cat and then avoid false positive notifications.
"As the sequel to the "Ghost of Maple Creek", "Enigmatis-The Mists of Ravenwood" is a Hidden Object Adventure game. Developed by Artifex Mundi, the game casts you in the role of a female detective on the trail of a demonic preacher who was featured in the original title.
I have been using the Collector's Edition of "The Mists of Ravenwood" which contains a number of bonus items categorised as Extras. Some of the bonus items give immediate access while a couple require the main game to be completed before you can enter them. In the case of the former you can check out Concept Art, Wallpaper and Achievements.
While always looking for new titles, sometimes dipping into the past can bring rewards.
I never sleep well, for a while now I have been looking for a new mattress; then the problem is what to do with the old one. This all became worse now the Pandemic is here with no courier or delivery driver coming further than the front doorstep. The solution I hit upon was to try a memory foam mattress topper on top of the mattress that I already have.
It arrived via Amazon three days after ordering. Packed in a large blue outer bag and then the inner bag with the mattress topper rolled inside, there is also a supplied cover. It has an A5 ‘Care Instructions’ sheet saying that there will be a residual smell that will disappear after a period of time and that the mattress will expand to original shape in around 8-10 hours.
With time on your hands, you could create a robotic pet to keep you company.
In the past, the Fereday household has been home to a collection of various pets. I can distinctly remember a cat (actually my grandparents when they ran a pub in Wolverhampton), several dogs, a gold fish, a couple of budgies ( including one that told me to "drop dead"), a white mouse, gerbil, hamster and at least three cockatiels. I am now about to add yet another creature to this list.
This is the last of the recent batch of new SmartPhones from Emporia. This brand of phones looks like a normal SmartPhone but gives the user extra help be it more volume for those of us with hearing loss or brighter and more distinct displays for those with sight problems; however they can also be used as a standard Android SmartPhone.
It is 15x7.4x.7cm and weighs 177grams. The viewable screen is 12.3x6.5cm with the normal three control buttons below the screen in the surround, the centre home button is a slightly raised solid button. Going around the outside has the volume rocker buttons with the on/off button below these. The base has USB ‘C’ for charging as well as the contacts for the supplied charging dock. The left side is clear and the top has 3.5mm socket for earbuds.
You are about to join a family of explorers on their quest to locate the City of Mists.
It all began with Great Grandfather who spun many tales of this strange island which, like the town of Brigadoon, would only become visible and accessible to mere mortals once every twenty years. On one of these infrequent occasions, Great Grandfather claimed he discovered that the island was home to a mysterious vault that contained treasures untold. As proof of this claim, Great Grandfather was happy to show off a mysterious charm required for access.
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