Philips PSA610

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 3 Feb 2006
This is described as a portable audio player. Yes it plays MP3 or WMA but it is also a talking stopwatch. It is also shaped rather like an oversized wrist watch.

Instant TV

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 30 Jan 2006
A lot of people get naff reception for Digital TV so there is still a place for an analogue unit especially when it is USB and not a PCI card.
Want something with Dab radio that doesn't look like it came out of the ark? Want DAB as part of a system with CD player? Want 'stereo' that sounds great? And all at an unbelievable price? That's what we found in the Goodmans Micro 1104SDAB.

Portal 3 DAB Radio

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 13 Jan 2006
This unit is both FM and DAB, it also allows you to replay something from the recent past, in my tests this was up to 262 seconds but this is probably enough for most.

Roadstar Boombox TVD5004

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 28 Dec 2005
A TV, a Radio, a DVD player, a CD Player and it can also be used as an amplifier. This Roadstar Boombox can do so much from such a small enclosure.
Quite a combination, I first reviewed the iPlayer+ in May, the US Robotics connectivity was immanent but by the time I got the iPlayer+ back it was December and by then a third component.

pure dmx 50 compact DAB hifPure Digital DMX50

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 14 Dec 2005
This looks like a three piece stack system, however it has CD, DAB and FM radio as well as some extra capabilities, a pair of speakers and speaking as a total style nonentity I think it looks good.

Sudoku Heaven

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 9 Dec 2005
This is likely to be my last Dream Toys article for this year as items that have not arrived by now are unlikely to surface, here a handheld Sudoku game plus other Sudoku goodies from other sources.

Goodmans 2GB MP3 Player

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 25 Nov 2005
It’s full name is ‘Goodmans Personal MP3 / WMA Jukebox’ but I think my title tells you more using far less words. It is also a voice recorder.

Store CD’s on a hard disc

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 23 Nov 2005
Although this is a piece of electrical equipment it is not connected in any way to a PC. In fact it looks about the size of an older video recorder but it can store many hundreds of CD’s

Poker via Dream Toys

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 18 Nov 2005
Not exactly what you would call a toy but it was on show on the Flair stand at Dream Toys 2005, so something for the much bigger boys – and girls – World Poker Tour, the Tournament Set and just for good measure their Professional Card Shuffler.

pure oasis DAB radiOasis from Pure Digital

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 16 Nov 2005
This is described as a waterproof DAB radio. Certainly it is ideal for use in a bathroom or other damp environment. The shape is novel with inbuilt handle and for good measure the sound is good as well.

Lego and Bullseye

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 11 Nov 2005
Not perhaps the best of bedfellows but not all the manufacturers from Dream Toys sent the requested items. So while I had everything planned for what goes well with what… such is life.

Freeview & Internet

Published in Entertainment by mfereday on 5 Nov 2005
Accessing Freeview television and surfing the Web can be achieved with one device. That device is the iPlayer +.

iZ and iDog

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 4 Nov 2005
More goodies from Dream Toys 2005, this week I have one item very definitely for children and another unit purporting to do more or less the same that will I feel be a hit with adults.

JVC DVD Recorder DR-MH50S

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 2 Nov 2005
Having recently reviewed another such unit I immediately knew the difference between entry level and deluxe models, you do pay extra but you get so much more.
These two are remote control items one for use on water and one on land. However the good start in my previous review is not totally equalled here.
A TV that can run on 12 or 24volts as well as on mains, and a TV with both analogue and digital tuners built in.

Kids love Pets

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 20 Oct 2005
The real things however need feeding, watering and in a lot of cases exercise. Here they are certainly low maintenance an occasional battery is all they need.

Desktop Recording Kit

Published in Entertainment by mfereday on 19 Oct 2005
When recording your own audio input you should consider a quality microphone in order to get the best results.

iRiver PMP-120

Published in Entertainment by mfereday on 17 Oct 2005
Taking your entertainment with you is becoming increasingly popular. Take, for example, the iRiver PMP-120 device.

The Idaptor

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 16 Oct 2005
This is certainly the best Freeview adapter I have used, it is also the smallest, the easiest to setup and probably one of the cheapest, if case you are unsure I liked it.
Yes this is cheap ‘money wise’, however it is well constructed and gives a good clear crisp sound, for those entering the DAB market this could be a good starting point.

Dream Toys 2005

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 7 Oct 2005
The annual show that tells the UK what the top selling toys will be this Christmas I paid my annual visit to this one day event this week, below is a summery of what I hope to tell you about in detail over the next few weeks.
If you have content, video, images or MP3 that you wish to view on your TV then this product could well be the answer.

DMTECH 17 TV

Published in Entertainment by bigal on 1 Oct 2005
A 17" LCD widescreen TV with built in DVD player for £329.00. Sounds too good to be true???

Introducing StyleFi™

Published in Entertainment by mfereday on 27 Sep 2005
As a company Oregon Scientific like to be regarded as different while still opting for a stylish approach to the appearance of its kit.

alba RDVD1001 dvd recordeAlba DVD Recorder RDVD1001

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 22 Sep 2005
A sub £100 DVD Recorder not so very long ago you would not have found many DVD players in that price bracket.

Goodmans GPS185DAB

Published in Entertainment by paul_smart on 11 Sep 2005
This looks like lots of larger CD/Cassette/FM/AM radio units of a few years ago, there is of course a bonus and that comes in the form of DAB.
Given that you are paying something for the name, and something for the novelty I suppose £49.99 may not be that much for a headset, oh did I say it has an integrated MP3 player.