Publication History For : Paul Smart
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To me this is my discovery of the year. One of the items I saw during the Xmas In July round of events and if anyone is interested its top of my wish list for Christmas this year. It gave me lots of good workouts during its testing.
A simple seat and back arrangement it will fit on almost any chair. I remember seeing a similar thing at the Harrods Technology Department launch, that however was built into a dedicated armchair and it cost a lot of money. To have a Shiatsu massage to your back and at the same time Thai compression on your lower back and or upper thighs is amazing. Should you want you can also incorporate heat treatment. The massage and compressions both have three levels of intensity.
iLuv have a range of earbuds and now it includes headsets. Here I am looking at myMusic a flat wire (no tangle) earbud with hands free microphone and second Sweet Cotton a 2 in 1 with Speak EZ Remote over ear headphones.
The silicon earbuds are nice and soft meaning they should mould into most ear canals. As seems the norm they come in three sizes. The cord length is 1.3metres. 20cm from the earbuds to the phone control switch and a further 20cm till the separate cords join. Perhaps the biggest single advantage is as the cord is flat it is far less likely to tangle.
Roberts products are always towards the higher quality end and therefore cheaper alternatives are always available. So what exactly does this stereo iPod dock with clock and DAB and FM radio offer that others do not?
It is semi circular in shape with the front being a flat edge. The dimensions are 15cm deep with power lead inserted, 17cm across and 7cm tall. Whatever iPod or iPhone you insert will add to the height as the dock is on the top. The rear has aerial socket, auxiliary input, headphone/earbud socket, USB (for upgrades) and finally the DC input. The power lead is 1.5metres which is okay, the aerial lead is .
After recently reviewing a couple of light offerings that had SSD to give rapid booting, its back to a larger business notebook but as its high end you lose that horrible shiny black screen surround that shows all the fingermarks.
It is 38x24.5x3cm and weights just over 2.5kilos. It is dark grey apart from the area behind the keyboard that is a mushroom colour. The 106 keyboard has full size keys – apart from the top line function keys – which have a nice feel when pressed. There is a 4.5cm strip behind the keyboard that has five well marked buttons in a line at the right edge. The area in front on the keyboard is a 9.5cm strip with the 10x7.5cm trackpad fitted 8.5cm from the left and 19cm from the right.
Doro have long focused on phones for people with hearing and or sight disabilities. These days most want more than just to make calls; recently they have produced a GSM phone and here a unit that also has a camera.
The clamshell design of the phone means its small in the pocket or bag. It is 9.5x5x2cm when closed, double the first figure when flipped open. The outside of the unit is black and the face is white with the individual push points are black with white numerals 1.2x.7cm. The initial setup allows you to change language, time, date, ring tone, volume, text size and theme. All can be changed later individually should you wish or even rerun the setup from the Settings menu all one finger operations.
The first allows you to connect your device Wirelessly, the second is a speaker dock for your iPod or iPhone that can be powered by AAA barriers or mains. The first in traditional black, while the seconds come in four striking colours.
While I think ‘Street Party’ is a little optimistic for the use of this small unit, it can certainly enhance the sounds from a device connected to it either wirelessly or via a 3.5mm lead. You can even answer phone calls on it. It is 19x10x7cm the last figure the height is at the front the sloping back nature means the rear is only 6cm. If you are taking around and about then weight is important and that is 560grams, a good bit of that is its inbuilt battery.
These days people do not want to put their camera away when it rains and here a unit that goes one stage further with special modes for use under water. However it still takes decent images and movies in more normal conditions.
The Pentax Optio WG-2 measures 12.5x6x2.5cm, the last figure the width does not vary and the zoom is internal (periscopic) and the bright red face could help you find a dropped unit underwater. However this should not happen if you use the very strong fabric wrist strap which is the best part of 2cm wide, another useful feature for those underwater users.
Fancy viewing UK TV anywhere in the world? Fancy viewing live TV anywhere in your home even when the aerial is nowhere near -? Want to record but not use the PVR in or near your TV? All these things are more are possible with the PCTV Broadway 2T.
On opening the package I find the Broadway box, its power adapter, an Ethernet cable, a tiny portable aerial and a couple of bits of paper to cover wall mounting – should you wish – the Broadway box and the usual health and safety stuff, no instructions, no CD. So then its look more closely at the outside of the box to find three things to do. Unbelievably they work and I can watch TV remotely using my Wireless router to output the signal.
Its not often the weight on something is the first thing I mention, this notebook is 1155grams and is also extremely thin. But it still has a 13.3inch screen and good connectivity. The only thing missing is an optical drive.
It is 31x21.5x1cm and that last figure the thickness is at the back, at the front it is only just more than half that. Because of the extreme thinness some connections such as VGA, HDMI and Ethernet are made with the help of adapter cables (all provided). The left side has DC input, USB3 port as well as mini HDMI and Ethernet ports.
This is both a DAB and FM radio but it has an extra twist. This is not the slightly unusual shape, however the upright form factor may give a clue as this could be most often found in the family room or perhaps even the kitchen.
The Roberts MessageR measures 20x12x14cm the last figure with leads inserted in the back. It can be run of 4x‘C’ cell batteries but most will use mains power. The rear has connections for headphones/earbuds, DC input, Auxiliary in and the aerial. The DC lead is adequate at 1.4metres to the power brick that is in the plug. However the .65metre length of the aerial lead is short and most will tie something to the end to allow a decent signal. There is a 7.5x2.
TVs are getting larger and are no longer just a device to take external connections, hence the word Smart as now they do not even have to have an Ethernet connection as a reasonably good wireless link will do it all for you.
My own LCD TV was one of the early ones after the tube was superseded and is now showing its age. So I was glad to have this offering from Samsung during part of the Olympics. Not just for having HD built in but also the BBC app that allows even more streams than the six available with a standard recent TV, so almost anything that is live is viewable. The screen dimensions are 91x52x2cm the only place that is thicker is where the stand connects to the rear of the unit.
MK Astral Home Automation
Published in Homes and Gardens
on
12 Sep 2012
Switching a light on or off remotely via your iPod Touch or iPhone is just a very basic feature available in this product. The ability to do it from one hundred or one thousand miles away makes this a far more interesting feature.
A light is one thing, raising or lowering a blind is just another example and while some may consider this in the realm of James Bond it is not and I have seen it demonstrated and now anyone with a little basic knowledge can bring their home into the twenty first century. Once you have the basics then using Z-Wave the possibilities are huge. Z-Wave is an open standard but it is the base of the switches and controls that Honeywell Astra MK range is built on.
Not just another thin notebook - it is very thin but this has a far bigger selling point. Simple figures, initial boot time 70 seconds, initial shutdown time 25 seconds, once the 16GB SSD second drive gets to work boot is 20 seconds and shutdown 10 seconds
I have not reviewed any other Windows notebook that boots in 20seconds and 10seconds shutdown is also rapid. However before the first set of updates and changing the way Samsung send in their products to go to Standby rather than Shutdown the story was very different 70 seconds to boot and 25 seconds for it to shut down. It weights 1740 grams and measures 33x22.5x2cm.
Desk or Bladeless Fans
Published in Health and Beauty
on
9 Sep 2012
Two more items from Brando in Hong Kong. Who have a huge range of fans available. The first is described as a Desktop Fan and the second as a Bladeless Fan something I have only seen previously from Dyson in a high priced unit.
It is 27x10.5x12cm and can be controlled by USB or by 3x‘AA’ batteries. It has two rotateable fans mounted above each other. The lower fan looks bigger but it is only the surround fitment that is larger, both have three blades and are 8cm diameter.
First is a DAB/FM radio from Pure Digital. It has a retro feel with a padded handle and wipe clean material covering it. Second a portable offering called Blighty with a union jack covering the back so you will be unlikely to misplace it.
The Pure Evoke Mio is 21x12x16cm, mine was blue/grey and cream and one place Pure think this mains/battery unit will be used is in the kitchen as it includes a kitchen timer. The battery side however only works with the Pure ChargePak. As with a lot of recent quality speakers the unit has a hole in the base to amplify the sound quality. The only other connection on the base is a twist screw to cover the dock for the optional ChargePak.
A small digital camera from a company that does a whole raft of electrical items which naturally include cameras. This is perhaps one of their smallest as they also do a range of DSLR units apart from the pocket Lumix range.
The Panasonic Lumix TZ30 measures 10x6x2.5cm and weights 206grams. Almost anyone of a ‘certain age’ will have heard of Leica lens and Panasonic still use them. This small unit has a 24mm wide capture ability 20x optical zoom and takes a 14MP image. The right side has a door behind which is an HDMI out socket above this is the anchor point for the supplied wrist strap. The left side is clear. The base has a door which hides the solid battery and any SD card you may use.
A small black unit that can print, copy and scan. If it does not suit the colour scheme then it can sit in a cupboard or behind a sofa as not only can you use it with USB but also by connection to a wireless router if you wish.
It is 39x36x15cm, if you allow another 5cm to the last figure the height then this is all the space that this unit requires. There is a paper input tray (printing stock face down) at the base and printed output is delivered face up just above it. The four printer cartridges are input behind a door just to the right of the paper trays.
A small unit that can be left to record movement and also record sound. It sounds like a James Bond type device. Well now it is available at a price that can tell you who came to your door while you were out or even while you slept.
The CATs-i Mini Video Recorder measures 7.5x4x3cm and weights less than 50grams. It can be placed somewhere in a sort of rubberised chair and its position adjusted for the best angle. Alternately there is a tripod screw in the rear of the unit to help correct placement. The instructions I saw were on an A3 sheet of paper and needed a little refining which I am told has taken place. It comes with a wall plug USB charger in the box but can also be charged via USB.
Not a DSLR but not a unit that fits easily into a pocket. This is larger than most digital cameras as it charged by AA batteries and therefore the right hand has a solid grip should you decide not to use the supplied neck strap.
The Nikon Coolpix L310 weighs 440grams and measures 11x8x7.5cm (WxDxH) when the camera is closed. A fully extended lens adds 3.5cm to the depth and pop up the inbuilt flash and that adds 3cm to the height of the unit, both those extensions would only be when shooting. The left side has DC in and AV out behind a rubber bung and the flash pop up is on the left edge of the flash pop up.
This 22inch LED backlite unit has a circular base and support arm that allows much more adjustment than with other such units. It also has a range of multiple video modes for those who like the colour set to go with changes.
The screen surround is 51x30.5cm and the screen is 2cm thick. The base is 24x22cm and in its shipped format raises it 12cm from the desk. There is a pin in the back of the stand remove this and it can be as much as 21cm above your desk. There is no side to side or forward movement but there is plenty of back movement available. Looking at the rear of the unit there are four connectors under the overhang from the screen mount. Power, speakers, VGA and Digital.
Due to a rearrangement in the way Acer contact their press relations it has meant an extended period with no new products being available for review. Here the first to emerge an Intel i5 2450m bearing the Acer Aspire V3 571 name.
It is 37x25x3.5cm. The viewable screen is 35x19.5giving a 15.6inch diagonal imperial measurement and the screen display is 1366x768. The weight of this full featured unit is just under 2.6kilos. It is –sad to say– shiny black. The left side has DC input, Ethernet port, VGA out, HDMI out, USB3 port and external headphone and microphone connections. The front edge has SD card port and a line of four pin hole LED’s.
First a rucksack that charges items while on the move, second a four gang surge strip that also allows you to charge USB devices. The first uses light to charge the second normal mains power but protects your items from surges.
Keep all your electrical devices powered and charged even when you are miles from a mains supply. This rucksack has power tips to fit most devices and can store quite a lot of items, sadly the solar power only relates to charging and not to carrying the rucksack, which you still need to do yourself. It is a very solid rucksack which weights close to two kilos before you place your laptop and change of socks in it. The straps are wide and comfortable and the adjustment is good.
The Doro PhoneEasy 614 is the first 3G phone from Doro. While it may seem rather late in the 3G lifespan it does mean a Doro phone user can benefit from what Doro is good at, loud ring tones, bright and large displays and now the things other phones have.
While an FM Radio is included a camera is not so while you can email and send and receive messages not photos. Booting time is only 12 seconds and shutdown less than 3 seconds. It is 10x5x2cm when it is closed; flip it open the first figure becomes 18.5cm. The weight of the unit is 116grams.
Not entirely new as I am told this first launched more than eighteen months ago. However at an event specifically to showoff its larger sibling I left with one of these smaller units to review. The brand new larger unit will follow later.
It is 15x4x5.5cm and weights 340grams. Mine was orange top and bottom and black metallic grill over the four sides. Very like an ice cream brick - not that I think you can still get them – they do a range of other colours. The centre of the top has three buttons – also in orange – ‘O’ ‘-’ ‘+’. The last two control the volume wired and wireless.
Many older people do not want or need lots of texts and mobile use as well as mountains of calls a month. So a service that offers some of everything at little or no cost seems nirvana. I have been testing one such service from Ovivo.
Many years ago a single PAYG call cost 49p a minute but in the early days your credit was still there if not used straightaway. I remember one such service that charged 15p a minute for the first five minutes in a day and then 5p a minute after that. Nowadays the main problem – for a lot of people – is using their allowance before the month comes to an end.
High Quality Downloads
Published in Entertainment
on
19 Aug 2012
A while ago someone who knows more about audio than most, told me that the CD would become niche like vinyl I was unaware such a revolution was taking place, but it does mean that higher quality audio is now downloadable.
I selected four albums from the Linn and Universal offerings that have been remastered. I am told there are over 400 currently on offer. While my passion is Jazz there are some popular and a lot of classical with a few other genres available. With MP3 downloads you may get a picture of the sleeve so your player can display it, with these you get the sleeve (printable format) and in some cases the booklet as well. I have an original recording of this so was able to compare the two.
A multi function unit as it has Fax, when I speak with manufacturers they still claim there is demand, my findings are somewhat different, this is rather like the PX730 recently reviewed but this is black rather than cream.
The Epson PX830 MFU measures 44x50x20cm the rather large depth figure is solely because of the built in Duplex that adds to the depth, the colour may put some off but if it resides in a cupboard then it need not be seen. The wireless option works very well. The whole control panel 30x8cm flips from vertical to horizontal hinging on the top so is viewable from any angle. With the exception of the on/off button which is to the left of the huge 21x6cm screen everything is controlled by touch.
A while ago I reviewed another high quality device from Audyssey. Here a Wireless device that can also be attached via 3.5mm cable. However this is mainly Wireless and I mean Wireless not Bluetooth and can be used in several ways.
It is 21x12x20cm and each side has cloth covering where the speakers sound emerges. At the base of the back is the power input, a 3.5mm Auxiliary input and the ‘Pair’ button. The top has a large circular volume button and behind this two small LED’s. The front has a 3.5mm socket for headphones or earbuds when the speaker may be inappropriate. While not as heavy as the last Audyssey I reviewed it still weights over two and a quarter kilos.
Just that little bit smaller than most current Android Tablets. This has the advantage of the latest version of Android (Ice Cream Sandwich) 4. Being that bit smaller can increase battery life and is that bit easier to handle.
The Gemini JoyTAB measures 15.5x21x1cm and weights 500grams. My unit had 8GB of memory (but according to documentation) 4GB and 16GB are also available. Apart from in bright sunlight it is easy to read, great in poor light but the screen is reflective. The viewable screen is 16x12cm. I shall mention where thing are assuming you are using it in portrait mode.
Having recently discovered the Bayan 3 I am looking at its bigger sibling the Bayan 7. This is the biggest and they also do a Grand however it is still designed as an iPod player but you would definitely not move it too often.
The wooden body is 26x27x23cm but that only contains the main speaker, two more sets of speakers are in the Perspex surround so the overall width is 44cm and the height is 27cm, the Perspex which contains the speakers is 1cm thick. Need I say it’s not that light, moveable yes but as it is mains powered certainly not portable. While some will say an iPod or anything connected by a 3.5mm jack is not likely to sound great for a small system this is pretty good.
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