Publication History For : Michael Fereday
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Older articlesThe Return of Lex
Published in Software
on
28 Oct 2009
Lex, the cute and friendly bookworm, returns for his third outing in a Popcap developed word creating game. This time Lex stars in the sequel to Bookworm Adventures which, appropriately enough in the style of Hollywood blockbusters, is entitled Bookworm Adventures 2. Yet again your ability to form words from alphabetical tiles, while managing health and power resources, is put to the test as Lex takes on another batch of characters in a series of one-on-one (well some of the time) contests.
When a game plan proves popular, it makes sense to return to fertile ground (especially when the subject matter involves farming) by creating further titles for the enjoyment of users. The result of this type of approach can be seen with Farm Frenzy 3 from the Alawar Entertainment and Melestra stable.
Kodaks pocket sized HD camcorder has been my recent companion when on my travels.
Like many of my generation, my first camera was a Box Brownie. Since those early days, cameras have changed out of all recognition with regards to their shape, size and functionality with the latter showing the greatest change as digital dominates the scene. The latest such device to come under my gaze is, in fact, not a camera but a camcorder from that doyen of all things photographic, Kodak. This is the Kodak Fx1 which is a HD pocket camcorder model.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet and editor who is best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre such as The Raven. Now he has become the focal point for a new game from MumboJumbo.
Those creative people at GameHouse have been at it again. This time you are abandoned with amnesia.
As a personal mobile device, it makes sense to use your iPod for your in-car music entertainment when making a road trip.
Although not exclusively so, the vast majority of products available from Griffin Technology have been designed with the Apple Mac and iPod in mind. One such product is the RoadTrip. As you might suppose from its title, the RoadTrip is an in-car device that could help when you need to make long distant journeys. The RoadTrip designated task is to send music from your iPod or iPhone to your car’s stereo FM radio kit.
It seems like only yesterday that I took a look at Magix Movie Edit Pro 14 (actually it was around six months ago but who is counting) yet here I am sat watching version 15 install itself on my system.
Installation is not the quickest operation but at least it gives me the opportunity, as I wait for the procedure to complete, to tell you that currently this latest version of the product comes bundled with a copy of Photo & Videoshow Soundproof 6. This is on top of the various items, such as Photo Manager 8, Mufin Music Finder, Xtreme Photo Designer, Vasco da Gama 3Magix Edition and iClone 3 SE, that are supplied on the DVD media found in the Movie Edit Pro 15 Plus box.
The hidden object genre of game play continues to be popular as yet another example finds from Popcap its way on to my hard disk and keeps me entertained and occupied for many hours.
As a Private Detective (PI) you are used to being offered all manner of cases but this is the first time that you have been hired to track down a missing will. This will belonged to a fun-loving New York billionaire and has been hidden somewhere in New York City. Speed is of the essence as you have to complete the task within 17 hours otherwise the billionaire’s fortune will go to the Cat & Dogs’ Home.
Garden Restoration
Published in Misc
on
14 Oct 2009
My lack of horticultural skills is such that my only chance of success is with virtual gardens such as those found in a new title from Playrix Entertainment.
While there are numerous examples of the Hidden Object genre currently available, it is unusual to come across one that has fully integrated the hidden object element into the actual storyline. Usually you just need to identify a list of objects in order to move on to the next scene or maybe receive an inventory item as a reward. One exception to this is a new title from Playtrix Entertainment entitled Gardenscapes which involves you in the restoration of a garden.
Taking on the role of the companys first WiFi enabled Walkman handset is the Sony Ericsson W705 product.
The Sony Ericsson W705 is a slider phone that weighs 98g. In its closed state the handset measures 95 x 48 x 14mm (H x W x D) with the height increasing to 128mm when slid open by a smooth movement under the control of your thumb. The review unit has a brushed metallic silver fascia with gold trimmings and a black back. A red version is available. As you would expect, the front of the closed handset is dominated by a 2.5-inch screen.
Garden Restoration
Published in Software
on
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My lack of horticultural skills is such that my only chance of success is with virtual gardens such as those found in a new title from Playtrix Entertainment.
First it was the Ultra then the Mino came along. Now we have an enhanced version of the Mino that promises improved image quality.
Adding to its family of pocket sized camcorders, Flip Video has produced the latest version of its Flip Mino product. This is the Flip Mino HD. As its title implies, this product adds high definition capabilities to the video capture and display features found in the original Flip Mino device.
If you were to line up all the different mobile phones end to end, I wonder how long the line would stretch. Sony Ericsson has added to this length with a new Cybershot model.
A recent addition to the Sony Ericsson product portfolio is the C510 mobile phone. This is a candy bar style handset belong to the Cybershot range. Predominately black in colour with a silver band running around the edges, the review unit measures 107 x 46 x 13mm (H x W x D) and weighs in at around 98g. A silver version of this phone is available. Dominating the front of the handset is the 2.
Beneath the Waves
Published in Software
on
7 Oct 2009
As its title indicates, Silent Hunter 4 follows on from three earlier offerings. I have to admit that all of the previous titles managed to escape my attention. As a result I came to this submarine simulation, subtitled Wolves of the Pacific, without any preconceptions regarding the game play, graphics, storyline or audio aspects.
Sometimes a products title can cause some initial confusion as happened with kit developed by Bluelounge
Space Station! You have to be kidding! Why would you expect anyone with a fear of heights to tackle this particular subject? While experiencing zero gravity might do wonders for my troublesome back; the training involved would be extremely strenuous. These were just some of the thoughts that flashed through my mind when I glanced at the review schedule and saw that I had been pencilled in to review a Space Station.
As a regular user of an Acer TravelMate laptop, I was pleased to receive one of the companys 8000 Timeline series for review. This was the slim-line TravelMate 8371 which is aimed at the business users and currently comes with Windows Vista Business.
Decked out in a matt black case (not everybody needs or wants a reflective sheen) with dimensions of 323.6 x 228 x 26mm (W x D x H) in its closed state, this laptop is not going to show you up when you bring it out in company whether in the home, office or local coffee shop. I was a little concerned at the lack of a holding switch to keep the lid down in its closed position.
What do Beyonce Knowles, Stephen Fry, Oprah Winfrey, Stella McCartney and Miley Cyrus have in common? They all use a Flip Video pocket camcorder.
In the beginning there was the Flip Ultra. This pocket sized camcorder quickly grabbed the public attention and numerous competitive products quickly made an appearance. Flip Video, the company behind the initial release, quickly followed up its original product with the Flip Mino and then came the Flip Mino HD. You might at this point suppose that the Ultra version would have passed into history but you would be wrong.
Words as Weapons
Published in Software
on
30 Sep 2009
Following his experiences at word creation in Bookworm Deluxe, Lex, the worlds friendliest bookworm, returns as the central character in Bookworm Adventures from those creative people at Popcap.
While colour will often enhance a document, sometimes all we really need is a crisp monochrome document such as delivered by a mono laser.
In the past I have checked out and worked with a number of Lexmark printers and multi-function devices. All these various models were based on inkjet technology. Now it is the turn of a Lexmark mono laser product, namely the E260dn, which is currently taking over my general printing tasks. The E260dn is network ready via a Fast Ethernet connection. Decked out in two-tone grey, this box shaped unit measures 260 x 406 x 370mm (H x W x D).
Backups, as has been stated many times, are important; not only for your peace of mind but also to ensure you have the appropriate tool to help you recover when disaster strikes.
The value of data can decrease if it is not immediately available. A portable USB storage device will allow you to take your data with you on your travels.
Diamonds from Amsterdam
Published in Software
on
23 Sep 2009
While Amsterdam means different things and brings back various memories to different people, when Youdagames is involved this location means diamonds and curses as portrayed in the game of The Curse of the Amsterdam Diamond.
Before concentrating on the game of The Curse of the Amsterdam Diamond, perhaps a few words about Youdagames would be appropriate especially, if like me, you are unfamiliar with this company. Youdagames is a publisher and developer of casual games. The company is based in Hilversum, the Netherlands, and was established as recently as 2006 as the publishing arm of I Sioux Game Production. Previous titles from Youdagames have included Governor of Poker and Red Cross: ERU.
When did you last perform a backup? You do backup your data, dont you? Perhaps this next product might help.
Joining the numerous packages currently available for carrying out a backup of your important data is the Clickfree Traveler. Developed by Storage Appliance Corporation, the Clickfree Traveler Card is the first flash memory-based solution that uses the Clickfree technology. This technology has been designed to allow a backup to be carried out by simply connecting the storage device to a computer without the need to set up or configure the software unless, of course, you want to.
Not everybody needs a full featured notebook and so the netbook was developed. In the same way not everybody needs a high end desktop computer.
Adding to its impressive range of products, Acer has developed the Aspire Revo product which is based on the Intel Atom CPU 230 running at 1.60GHz. As a netbook is a king of notebook sub-species, so the Revo could be regarded as a sub-species of your desktop system. In other words the Aspire Revo falls into the category as a small, low powered desktop unit known as a Nettop.
Keeping your computer safe from outside influences is always recommended but occasionally it can bring a sting in the tail.
One of the longest established names within the field of personal computing is that of Norton. Ever since Peter Norton revealed that deleted files were not exactly deleted but just had their reference altered in the FAT (File Allocation Table), the name of Norton has been linked with various software utilities. The name of Norton is so well respected that Symantec continues to use it as a brand identifier for the company’s various security products such as Norton 360.
According to my Concise Oxford Dictionary, a bookworm is a person devoted to reading. Bookworm is also the subject matter of a series of games, published by Popcap, that involve creating words from a selection of letters.
Recently I have been testing my word creation skills with Bookworm Deluxe. The game gives you a choice of the more relaxed Classic game play or the faster moving Action mode. You are represented on-screen by a worm that has literacy tendency. This worm is named Lex, presumably short for Lexicon, and stands guard over the grid of letter tiles that can be used to create words. When creating words within this game, there are a couple of limitations that you need to follow.
The concept of a paperless office continues to be a myth as can be seen with this next product which combines traditional elements with modern day technology.
Aimed more at the budget end of the market, the Sony Ericsson W302 handset is both lightweight and small in size.
My recent mobile phone companion has been a review sample of the Sony Ericsson W302 handset. Aimed more towards the budget end of the market, this mobile phone is of the candy bar variety. Decked out in midnight black (I believe there is also a white model) with silver embellishments, this handset has a rather unassuming presence due mainly to its small size. The phone measures 100 x 46 x 10.5mm (H x W x D) and weighs in at a fairly lightweight 78g.
Sometimes meeting up with an old friend after a long period of absence can result in a feeling of disappointment. Sad to say this was one of those occasions.
Back in the last century (alright it was less than a decade ago), most personal computers were run on a DOS (Disk Operating System) platform. Even Windows was underpinned by DOS until very recently. Numerous programs were developed to help users deal with problems that could arise through the interaction between DOS, installed applications and hardware issues.
Why wait for a crime to be committed before solving it? This Minority Report-like approach is the basis of a game in the Mystery Case Files series.
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