As any child will tell you, toys have a habit of moving from where ever they were left at the end of play time.  In some cases this movement is as a result of mum doing the tidying up but not always.  Rather than being returned to a central storage area such as a toy box, some toys simple disappear altogether.  One theory is that these missing toys reappear in a mysterious location known as Neverland.

Joining the numerous keyboards that have spent time on my desktop and being unjustly blamed for my poor typing skills is the Wireless Touchpad Keyboard from Sandberg.  This is a USB device that combines standard keyboard facilities with multimedia and application short-cut keys plus the touchpad feature that is standard on notebook / laptop units.

During the past 17 years, the Adobe Acrobat software has undergone various changes and make-overs as user demands and competition from third-parties has increased. The latest version of this software, Adobe Acrobat 9, is no exception. In fact it could be said that this version is the result of a major overhaul with regards to new features and improved performance. As is standard with Adobe Acrobat, users have a choice of products depending upon their individual needs.

The Lexmark X4875 is a box-shaped multi-function device that describes itself as a Wireless 3-in-1 unit.  Combining various shades of grey with a reflective cream topping, the X4875’s measurement are 178 x 454 x 351mm (H x W x D) and the unit weighs in at 7.1kg. As is the standard arrangement, the flatbed scanner unit is mounted on top of the printer.  Paper is loaded at the rear, with the paper slot capable of holding up to 100 sheets, and ejected from the front of the unit.

The T303 is a Sony Ericsson slider phone.  This particular model is available in either Shadow Black or, as in the case of the review sample, Shimmering Silver.  The phone’s dimensions are 83 x 47 x 15mm (L x W x D) when closed while its weight is 93g. In its closed state, the phone’s appearance is dominated by its 128 x 160 pixel screen capable of displaying 65,536 colours.

As our personal complement of mobile devices continue to grow at a pace, the problem can arise as to which leads we take with us in order to recharge the various pieces of kit when on our travels.  The problem can be further exacerbated when these travels take in other countries.

The Discovery 925 is a Bluetooth earpiece from Plantronics “signature” range of designer headsets.  The kit consists of the earpiece unit with a medium ear tip already to place.  You also get a small and large ear tip enabling you to match the earpiece with your particular ear size; a leather-clad case for charging and protecting the earpiece when not in use; leads for charging the earpiece via USB or mains; and a small User Manual.

It has been said that my sense of style could be described as a crime of fashion.  In my defence I would plead guilty with extenuating circumstances and change the subject to Masters of Mystery.  So what, you may ask, links Masters of Mystery with a crime of fashion?  The answer is a new title from Big Blue Bubble Inc.  As a leading Canadian video game developer, Big Blue Bubble has built up a portfolio of over 30 games for the console and Windows platforms.

Made almost entirely from aluminium, a new headset has been launched by Bluetrek, a part of the ModeLabs Groups which specialises in mobile phones using new generation technology.  This product is the Metal and it arrives with the claim of being the world’s thinnest and lightest Bluetooth headset.  When you consider that this headset weighs just 5.5 grams with a thickness of 4.2mm, it would be difficult to doubt this claim.

Several years ago I came across a wireless mouse that was able to recharge itself by being docked on the receiver unit.  If memory serves me correct, this was the Logitech MX700 unit.  I was reminded of this piece of kit by the arrival of a wireless keyboard set from Sandberg.  Like the earlier Logitech mouse, the Sandberg product featured a rechargeable mouse using a docking station.

With the preponderance of mobile phones, DECT devices and even VoIP handsets, it is easy to forget that the standard landline desktop phone can still play a part in modern living.  It is not everybody who needs the ability to be in constant communication range with every Tom, Dick or Harry.  Some people just need the ability to call a friend or receive a welcoming call from their nearest and dearest in the comfort of their own home.

Predominately black in colour with occasional touches of orange, the W350 is a sort of a cross between a candybar and clamshell model.  While the 1.8-inch colour screen remains visible at all times, the main keypad layout is concealed behind a cover which can be flipped out when necessary.  This is the first Sony Ericsson handset that I’ve seen with this particular design feature and it certainly appealed.

The CanoScan 8800F comes with both power and USB leads.  This model has recently taken over the desk space, normally the home of my CanoScan LiDE 90 unit, for the purpose of this review.  Decked out in matt silver and reflective black, the CanoScan 8800F has an attractive stylish, if solid, appearance with its bevelled edges.  The effect is diminished a little by the reflective black’s tendency to collect and display finger smears.

Measuring 92 x 49 x 16mm and weighing 100g, the Sony Ericsson W380 is a clamshell device with a slopping aspect at either end.  The review unit is predominately electric purple in colour with silver embellishments and the familiar Walkman “W” logo in magenta. One immediately obvious feature is the positioning of the handset’s camera.  Rather than the standard rear location, this camera is sited on the front of the unit.

When it comes to memory cards, it could be said that you are almost spoilt for choice.  However you could also be confused over the various formats when it comes to accessing the data stored on the different card formats.  Fortunately most modern systems come with multi-format card reading facilities built-in as standard.

Trends, whether they are fashion-based or of a more environmental orientation and social awareness, tend to come and go over time. Currently the trend is to emphasise the importance of implementing a Green approach especially with regards to power consumption. Add into the mix the demands made by various portable devices and you have the rationale behind the rather unusually named powermonkey-eXplorer product. Developed by Powertraveller Ltd.

While the design concept followed by for the greater majority of mobile phones manufacturers concentrate on aspects of size, weight and features with varying degrees of style, there is a place for a more rugged approach for both industrial and outdoor use.

While you may enjoy listening to music, watching videos and playing games with enveloping sound effects on your desktop or notebook computer, the audio output will not necessarily appeal to others who are in the vicinity.  Of course you could turn down the volume level so as not to disturb others but this might reduce your listening pleasure and all-round entertainment of the current activity.

Mistakes can happen and, as is usually the case, they occur at the most inappropriate times.  When the mistake is an accidental deletion, or in certain cases the overwriting, of an important file from your hard disk, then the results could cause a great deal of trouble and heartache.  Diskeeper, best known for its defragmentation software, has turned its expertise on file management towards the task of rescuing files that have been deleted by mistake.

Games generally slot into genres such as Adventure, First Person Shooter, Puzzle or Simulation.  Occasionally, however, a title comes along that ventures into new territory either in the form of game style or the resources required by the software.  A recent example of this is Audiosurf, a game developed by Dylan Fitterer and published by Ascaron Entertainment. Audiosurf has been categorised as being a puzzle racer which is really only half the picture.

While you may consider a jawbone to be part of your skull, Aliph, a market leader in noise cancelling Bluetooth headsets, prefers to regard the Jawbone (note the capital letter) as “earwear”.  In other words the Jawbone is an ear-piece style headset for hands-free communication when linked to an appropriate Bluetooth-aware device.  Aliph has now upgraded the original product with its replacement being entitled, not surprisingly, Jawbone 2.

This review is based on Studio Plus 12 which consists of a DVD, 300+ page User Manual and a Getting Started Guide. The installation routine supplied with this product offers you the options to install the main Studio Plus software and select from additional titles that include Instant DVD Recorder, SureThing Labeler and Adobe Reader 8.1.2.   As part of the Studio Plus installation you will need to enter a 25-character serial number.

Earlier this year I took a look at a digital device that allowed you to make notes and draw diagram using a pen and pad.  The data could then be downloaded onto your computer with the minimum of effort.  This product was the DigiMemo A402 developed by AceCad and supplied by Selwyn Electronics.

Although notebooks are sometimes regarded as desktop replacement units, they are designed to be easily portable.  However the means to carry the notebook is not considered to be part of the standard package.  This omission has given the opportunity for various manufacturers to come up with cases and bags for carrying notebooks of different sizes. One such company is Brenthaven which based in Bellingham, Washington.