Publication History For : Paul Smart
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If I keep saying it long enough I might believe it, its not pink, its not pink its purple. Here I am looking at one of Canons latest Ixus cameras, the 115HS. Its purple but I am very pleased to say that is only one of the colours it comes in.
The Canon Ixus 115HS measures 10.5x5.5x1.5cm and weights 138grams. Mine was pink sorry purple. This full HD offering has 4x optical zoom. The Ixus range has always been small and recently so few controls that you might think that it is a basic unit it certainly is not. Let’s start with the face the silvered lens surround dominates and the tiny 2.7x.4cm flash mounted above and to the side of the lens is only 1.7x.
The first item is from Iomega and is the first 1TB drive that I have seen that does not need external power even on a Netbook. The second is a device around the size of a credit card and as such will probably be kept in a wallet.
While in some quarters size is said to be important, lack of size can in others be desirable. Here a sleek black hard drive the first I have seen at 1TB that does not require external power. I tried it on desktop, Notebook and Netbook the latter two both running on battery and I could both read and write without any problem with the unit.
Often for the person who just does Word Processing, works the family accounts using a Spreadsheet, sends and receives Email, and of course browses the Internet a Netboot is all one will need. One to consider might be this Samsung offering.
I had the Samsung NC110 netbook for a few days before I moved it into daylight and realised it has a violet top. I knew it had a white keyboard with the screen surround make up of black with tiny grey dots and the base is of course the standard black. It is 25,5x17.5x3cm the last figure is the thickness and the 3cm applies at the back that curls down over the battery at the front it is only 2cm thick. The total weight is around 1170grams, this enables one hand to carry it comfortably.
Headsets are very popular ways to listen, here a choice of two. The first both conventional and unconventional as it lets you roam as its Wireless. The second intended more for gaming means you are tethered buts its USB.
Until you try a wireless headphone set you do not know the extra freedom it gives you, you could make a cup of tea, fetch a book from another room or visit the loo while still listening to your favourite music from the living room. It is 20x23x9cm while the sides can be 4cm less if required. The right earphone has five buttons on the bottom edge, all well marked, but of course you will probably use these while on your head so it will be a case of feel.
Pure Digitals Bug designed by Wayne Hemminway is a very futuristic early DAB radio with extras. Some have its Re-view feature but almost none have what is for me its best the ability to save timed recordings to SD card.
I have used it for years to record certain radio programs that I am unable to listen to at the time they are broadcast. I started using a 16MB SD card and this worked fine but on saving it always displayed a spurious error message. Some years later I tried using a 256MB card and this needed a lot of hard work to get it to record but eventually I managed to get reliable saving and all was well but it did still give the same spurious error message.
At the start of last year I told you about an early SSD unit from Kingston. Now around 18 months later the next generation of units are available in sizes giving a much larger capacity and of course the real advantage faster access.
This to me is the ultimate upgrade as once the supplied disc cloning software has done its job you have your original drive available to be formatted and then with the drive enclosure provided a new external drive available. So while you now have a – in this case – 128GB SSD drive installed in your PC the original hard drive is still available in the drive enclosure which can then be connected to any PC you may own as a USB drive unit.
The name Nikon to anyone who knows anything about cameras means quality. Does this quality extend to pocket cameras? Here I am looking at one of their latest that is little more than an oblong black shape how does it perform?
The Nikon Coolpix P300 measures 10x6x3cm, the last figure the width increases to 5cm when the 4.3-17.9mm lens is fully zoomed. It weights 184grams. Given that Nikon made their name in cameras with large and complex DSLR cameras this is a very simple and easy to use unit. Other manufacturers might like to note that you do not need a plethora of buttons to make a decent unit.
Nero Free Software
Published in Software
on
5 June 2011
I think the last FREE software package I reviewed was Skype in October 2004, while this may not be as all consuming as Skype was in those days, for a manufacturer who produces paid software to release a free version
First of course this cannot do all the things that Nero full products can do and just like other such packages from other manufacturers it specialises in sorting and displaying your photos however this can also burn audio CD’s and should you want more functionality you can purchase the bits that you require from their site. The free download (link at the end) was 174MB in size.
Now 1 and 2GB USB sticks are common and cost not a lot, 4GB and 8GB are almost normal but 16GB are still something a little bit special. The smaller sticks are coming in fancy clothing even as a small paperclip type device.
The size of hard discs continue to rise so people expect the size of memory sticks to keep pace. With USB3 starting to attract attention moving larger files quickly is getting ever easier. Of course the more data you carry the more disastrous the outcome should unencrypted files fall into the wrong hands. Here lets deal with size. I have seen two of these such devices at 8GB and 16GB they are not light as they are made of metal and the USB plug slides out of the casing when required.
I know I have a weakness for reviewing flat panels and then buying them. So here I will try to avoid it, lack of funds makes it easier, however when you use a panel without problems for a couple of weeks then you become attached.
The HANNS G HL245 measures 56x33x5cm, the last figure the thickness is only half that at the edges. It sits on a 20cm circular stand that raises the panel by 5cm from your desk or whatever you sit it on. The screen surround is very dark grey but not shiny. The viewable screen is 52x29.5cm giving the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 23.5 inches viewable. Assembly is just a matter of a twist screw to connect the base to the panel arm.
Over the years I have been one of Nortons fiercest critics. In fact I could not even manage to complete a review of an earlier version. Windows still warns of incompatibility but with this version I have yet to find them.
I am not a fan of the ‘licence’ principle but for certain products like anti virus being able to get updates is essential. The product I was sent is a licence to use Norton 360 v5 on up to three PC’s for a year, hopefully without nagging. I have reviewed numerous PC’s, Notebooks and Netbooks that all have 60 or 90 day trail versions, what used to be the main problem was access to and closing down took far longer with various versions of Norton installed.
Yes the Hong Kong USB kings have produced a small real fish aquarium but of course it does much more. Second a small phone and other portable devices charger that uses solar power to provide the power to charge.
This unit is a small real tank but it is likely that most will use it for effect and the other features of clock and thermometer. It is 24x10x21cm, all the non fish activity is on the right side with the clock display, light and the water pump. The mini USB to USB lead is 80cm long. The aquarium part comes with pebbles and even some plastic greenery. There is a six LED light on toughened wire that allows it to be suspended either above the aquarium of to shine elsewhere even towards the clock.
Prestigio 330CZ
Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple
on
27 May 2011
A lot of men are obsessed with size; here perhaps the ladies will like this because of its lack of size. This computer from Prestigio is tiny and can be shipped either with Windows 7 or as was here with a version of Linux.
It is 17.5cm from front to back and 18cm from top to base, the width apart from the bottom 1.5cm is only 2cm, should you fit the metal clip that acts as a stabilizer this extends the width to 6cm. I was also supplied with a USB DVD drive that does not add to the overall footprint as it clips onto the side of the computer and fits above the 1.5cm bottom piece, this requires no external power as a USB to USB clip is supplied that supplies power.
Often not being the first to market is a plus as is the case here. The Flip has long been the best pocket camcorder around; many have tried to copy or improve. Here with the best bits from several is this offering from GE.
GE have been in the small –pocket size- digital camera market for a few years now, last year they brought out a DSLR like unit that was a good bit larger. Here they go smaller with a pocket camcorder that has bags of features. It is 10x5.5x1.8cm and weights 146grams. It is stated to take full HD movies (1920x1080) but importantly it can take lesser sizes. It is stated to be shockproof with a 1.
This is a small All In One unit, it can print, scan and copy. For anyone needing to do all three then an All In One unit has the biggest advantage of stating the oblivious being a single unit, so only one power plug and one PC connection.
The Canon Pixma MG6150 measures 47x37x17.5cm, the last figure increases to 32cm when paper is loaded in the rear upright tray, for standard plain paper there is a small internal tray in the base of the unit, so unless you use letterhead or print on photo paper the initial figure is the space required with or course some space in the front for paper delivery. Other things it can do that often get missed are the ability to print direct from cards, mobile phones and onto CD or DVD.
External USB drives like internal ones are getting larger in capacity while in a lot of cases are getting smaller in dimensions. Until recently external drives over 500GB required an additional power source, not so here.
This is another from the range of small pocket cameras produced by Canon. The Ixus range normally has solid batteries and the PowerShot range as with this normally are controlled by AA batteries to power the unit.
The Canon Powershot A800 9x5.5x2.5cm and weights 184grams; mine was a muted crimson with a black band around the top and the sides. By recent standards it would be regarded as entry level as its 10MP and only has 3.3x optical zoom capability. The right side has a rubber bung covering A/V out and Digital and two holes that allow you to thread the wrist strap through, the left side is blank.
Most would love a robot to do the washing up, ironing and vacuum cleaning. Well here is a circular device that can do the last named, some would class a dishwasher as the first that leaves the ironing yet to be sorted out.
This unit is not designed to replace your vacuum cleaner but to work alongside it, lets assume that once a week everything gets a thorough vacuum, this could then be used for the in between time to do the light work. I have used it like this for the last few weeks and my carpets never now look dirty, the only problem I have found is if you have something that it can just get under it can possibly get stuck.
I see only a few A3 printers mainly because of size but after the recent offering from Brother this Epson unit was offered, it is bigger (wider) than the Brother and is only a printer and not an All In One but it can print A3+.
The overall dimensions of the Epson B1100 A3 printer, when the paper input and output trays are open, is 61x45x34cm when closed it is 61x20x32cm. The top front edge has a round on/off button with internal LED and three rod buttons are the rest of the unit’s controls. The back right is where the power lead enters and about 1/3 of the way along the back from the left is where the USB lead enters.
Not as yet a single product, the first an analogue clock that looks like it is a phone, the second a device that is likely to more required as global warming increases even in the UK for removing the discomfort of insect and mosquito bites.
This looks like a rather shinny telephone of around 60 years ago, the dial is an analogue clock controlled by batteries in its base it has a sweep second hand and an alarm (however remember being analogue it’s a 12 hour clock). It is 20cm wide (the length of the receiver), 15cm deep at the base and 14cm tall, the clock dial is round at 6cm.
I first saw this when USB3 was very new, now a number of months later it still seems new. However the thing that stuck out for me then and still does now when I finally got to review it are the superb Bang & Olufsen speakers.
The Asus Notebook N53J measures 39.5x26x4cm and weights just on three kilos. It is not just a straight back meeting a straight keyboard as the area behind the keyboard is hollowed out and the area below the screen is slightly curved at the ends for the hinges. The viewable screen is 34.5x18.5cm giving the diagonal imperial measurement of 15.6inches, the screen resolution is 1366x768. There is a rather nice webcam built into the top with an on/off switch to protect privacy.
This was one of the few interesting items to emerge from this years BETT show. While it of course has its use in education in schools and colleges it could well have a use in the workplace as well as providing a fun use in the home.
Almost everyone is drawn to a cartoon type character that has a human look be it whole body or just say head and shoulders. It needs a GB of hard disc space and on a Windows 7 machine took just eight minutes to complete its installation. According to the box the main users of CrazyTalk Animator are Movie & Video Creators, Cartoonists & Illustrators, Web & Game Designers, Educators & Students and for me anyway anyone who wants to have fun.
Unlike the Tefal Actifry that is almost totally for potato type products this can work with a whole range of products including meats and fish, perhaps the only restriction is that they should be large enough not to fall through the grid.
The Philips HD9220/20 Air Fryer measures a maximum of 37cm from the handle at the front to the plug at the back; it is 26cm from side to side and 31cm tall. All cooking is done in the basket that pulls out from the lower part of the front of the unit; it is a basket within a basket. The outer dimensions are 25x23x8cm while the inner basket is 19x19x5cm the substantial handle on the front does not get hot.
First a name that has been around for longer than me but here with a new and totally different product, the second used for decorating and the third when a quick and fast join is required, all worth a try for their own tasks.
If I mention the name Brasso it is synonymous with a rather abrasive product to clean brass. Here they have produced a product that does clean but certainly without any abrasive content. In fact I fear for their sales because of the name.
This is the latest offering from TVonics, the 500GB machine has what some would describe as a bare interface with the front showing up to three pin hole LEDs these appear in different combinations of red and green.
The TVonics DTR-Z500HD measures 18cm long by 22cm deep (with cables inserted) and it's 7cm tall. The unit is black and the corners are rounded off. It is totally controlled by the remote – so don’t lose it – the only connection on the front is a USB socket.
To me this name makes it sound large and it certainly isnt, in fact I am fairly sure its the smallest DAB, FM and iPod dock unit that I have seen, it is of course a tower shape but only very little, however the sound it gives is not small.
The maximum height of the Magicbox Tower is only 16.5cm tall (1.5cm less at the front) 8cm wide and 6.5cm deep, these figures do not include any iPod or iPhone that gets inserted 2cm below the top. The unit I reviewed was metallic red apart from the front and top that was black. I see that purple, blue and all black are also available. The front edge of the top has volume – and + buttons with a snooze control between them.
On first inspection the Melody 2 looks very like the machine I reviewed in December 2008. In fact the only differences are inside the machine as all the controls for it are in the same places; however I do not remember the first unit being called Melody.
The Nescafé Dolce Gusto Melody 2 coffee maker measures 30cm from back to front, 20cm from side to side and 33cm from base to the top of the silvered hot/cold switcher. The part number is all but the same with just the forth digit varying the original was KP210040 and this is the Melody 2 being KP210640 and this could be important as stocks of the old one are certainly still available in shops.
The first is a roll up keyboard designed to be used with Bluetooth devices. The second is even smaller but certainly preferable to using those phone keyboards, the first is possibly touch typeable and the second could be if you have small fingers.
This is 25.5x9x1.5cm the last measurement the thickness is only at the left end for just over 4cm, the rest is less than .5cm thick. It has 84 keys and as it is rollable it is made of rubber but there is a feeling when you depress a key. The alpha numeric keys are black with white lettering and are 1x1cm with around .3cm between keys. The function and other keys grey with white lettering and the function keys are rather small at 1x.5cm with around .3cm between keys.
While some software is now purely a licence to use for a period of time, most is still sold as yours for life. However more and more families have more than one computer so multi installation packs now have a bigger place.
Corel have always been innovators, in the early days when software came on floppy discs they bundled extra floppies with clip art. When CD’s first came in they gave a CD player and of course their CD was crammed full. So now it is no surprise that Corel are one of the first to allow you to install special versions of their software on up to three machines. Here I am looking at their first product CorelDRAW Home and Student Suite X5 (version 15).
This is a DAB, FM, Internet radio that also has Flow technology that allows you to purchase what you are listening to. However there are other goodies from Pure Digital, this includes the ability to Media Stream and the Lounge.
The Pure One Flow measures 22x14x9cm, the unit is covered with a rubberised material so it could withstand the odd knock and even be able to withstand a wipe over with a damp cloth if you choose to use it in the kitchen. You can power it with a ‘ChargePAK’ or by mains; it comes with a 1.95metre lead to a small power brick plug. It does of course have alarms (both wake up and kitchen) sleep timers and more.
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