Misc

Browsing the web using a mobile phone used to be a painful experience. Low-fi ‘WAP’ sites were a pathetic shadow of the real internet and the cost could be astronomical. It's good to see that things are changing!

When is a mouse not just a mouse? The answer, as I discovered recently, was when the mouse is also a presenter’s tool.

First a Digital Luggage Scale that is easy to use and it could save you pounds of money by not having an overweight case. Second a Solar recharger for USB devices that comes from Brando those clever USB people in Hong Kong.

Bamboo has many uses but I never thought I would come across one that would involve my computer and various software mini-apps.

Turn a standard mouse upside down and you have an inactive piece of kit but this is not the case with a new product from Kensington.

As the computer mouse develops and expands its functionality, there is still a market for the more basic model.

It is only after one has been using a machine for quite a while that you start to wonder whether the memory can be upgraded and whether there would be any benefit in doing so. This is one upgrade that can be relatively straightforward and within the grasp of many technically aware PC users. It is made simpler by the informative web sites of memory suppliers Crucial and Kingston.

Mobile devices, such as the popular iPod, rely a great deal on battery power which has a habit of running out at inconvenient moments. One solution to this type of problem could be a battery pack.

Online storage, sharing capability and a backup option from a USB Flash stick – it is possible.

Once you go beyond 2GB the SD card limit then choosing SDHC cards becomes more difficult as there are a number to choose from. Obviously a brand name like Kingston, Dane-Elec or San-Disc is half the battle but beyond that there are various Classes.

Recently I was invited to the launch of a new product that was described as a personal sharing device. This was the Leyio PSD.

The title of this book is really a misnomer as it is really suitable for all beginners to digital photography irrespective of whether or not they have previously used film.

Despite being a firm believer in the "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" mantra, I was recently tempted to carry out an upgrade.

Not one item but two, first a battery powered screwdriver from Black and Decker and second a nice powerful USB torch from Brando in Hong Kong and as you would expect it does have another function, read on to find out what.

You could say that I am one in a billion. Well not exactly me but rather the subject of this next review.

First a device that allows you to charge up to five USB devices from a single 13amp socket. Second two ‘AA’ and two ‘AAA’ rechargeable batteries from Vatra, they come with a Free dual recharger unit.

To paraphrase a Lionel Bart song of yesteryear, “Toys ain’t what they used to be.”

This is claimed to enable one to get connected in over 150 countries worldwide. Consequently, it will meet most people’s needs and yet only weighs around 150gm and so is an ideal travel accessory for the computer user.

These two objects give you a sample of what can be purchased using USB. First a speaker shaped light a bulls head to give a decent volume from an iPod or MP3 player. Second an SD Card reader that comes in standard and micro sizes.

This may seems like a strange mix but such is life. The first a clock that runs on water. The second maybe suitable for anyone with back problems special ribbed socks, while running is not on my agenda if you were fitter you may be able to.

Once known as the Mouse Company, Logitech has not forgotten its roots and regularly updates its collection of pointing devices as can be seen with this offering.

sometimes wonder whether you need to have had at least “one dead battery” episode for a mobile device before you really qualify for being a road warrior.

No matter how much storage space you have available for your computer, an additional wedge, presented in a stylish box, will always be welcome.

A stress ball shaped like a pear but is not new but having USB abilities is another clever item from Brando in Hong Kong. The second item is from Belkin a device that enables up to five people to fit their ear buds and listen to the same content.

While I was listening to some music as I reading this book I realised that I had not told you about it so here I will tell you about Adobe Photoshop CS4 ‘After the Shoot’ ideal for anyone using Adobe Photoshop CS4.

Yes here it’s two further useful USB devices from those people in Hong Kong. While the dollar is higher than last summer their prices and still good value as is their $3 standard delivery charge for shipping anywhere in the world. The two items from their huge USB repository today are a Micro Mini Wireless Keyboard and a Business Portable Recorder.

The greater majority of remote controls tend to have an over abundance of control keys covering as many features as possible. However, for some, these devices tend to be complicated.

Maybe due to the current economic climate, this year’s Toy Fair definitely seemed smaller. One product that caught my eye was a helicopter manufactured in China.

One of my favourite episodes of Last of the Summer Wine involves bulky walkie talkies. Nowadays units are much smaller and more portable as can be seen with t product from Doro.

Adobe’s Photoshop Elements 7 is a major enhancement of over the previous version and is widely recommended for anyone who wants to go beyond basic image editing. A useful complement to it is Photoshop Elements 7 for Dummies which is much more than being just a guide to the application.