iPhone unboxing video - this guy is excited
Saturday, June 30, 2007
We are not going to suffocate you with iPhone coverage… I promise, but this guy was so excited to bring you the first coverage of unboxing this little wonder. Straight from the store to what looks like a hotel lobby, you can just feel the guys anticipation. Many thanks to the author for shooting this video.
Labels: Apple iPhone
Ouch! iFixit take apart iPhone
Well that didn't take long did it! I love these guys and have looked at their website so many times. Head on over to iFixit where they have taken apart an iPhone already. They seem to do things so carefully and the pictures are fantastic. Their website is definitely a great resource for information of this kind.Labels: Apple iPhone
iPhone out - now on 2-4 weeks shipping
Friday, June 29, 2007
So the iPhone is finally in users hands, and there is some great footage over the internet. We tried to stay clear of lots of iPhone news, there was just so much of it elsewhere. However, we noticed that on the US online store, it is now showing as 2-4 weeks delivery… wow, this baby is gonna fly off the shelves.Let us know in the comments or via email about your first experiences.
Labels: Apple iPhone
Apple offers up MacBook Pro Software Update
If you own one of the new Santa Rosa based MacBook Pros, then head on over to the Apple website to download Software Update 1.0, which should also appear when you use the OS X Software Update app. Not a lot of details on the website, other than it provides important bug fixes and is recommended for all 2.2/2.4GHz MacBook Pro models. The update requires Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later.Labels: Apple News
Alien Skin Eye Candy 5 : Impact - Review
Over the past week I have had the chance to take a look at Alien Skin Software's Eye Candy 5 'Impact', which is a collection of ten filters for Adobe Photoshop. The latest version of the software is a universal application and as such works very nicely with the latest CS3 incarnation of Photoshop. There are other collections available in this range of software, including Nature and Texture filters, which I will be looking at over the coming weeks.Installation of the software is very straightforward, with an Alien Skin folder installed within the plugins folder where Photoshop resides. You can then gain access to the various filters and effects through the drop-down 'Filter' menu with your Photoshop application.
I can personally remember years ago using other Alien Skin products and loved the effects I could achieve with text and the like, so I was keen to delve in to see what was on offer.
Within the Alien Skin Impact menu, you have the choice of ten filter, including chrome, bevel, gradient glow, and glass effects, plus the ability to add bevels, reflections and shadows. Impact has three new filters called Backlight, Brushed Metal and Extrude.
Backlight produces exactly what you would expect, but with a very dramatic effect. You can choose from factory presets in the left panel of the filter window (I chose Forward Fog Streaks) or you can create your own custom settings and save them to the User Settings panel (bottom left). You can control the angle and the intensity of the effect within the preview window, as well as zooming in, panning around an image and altering the preview background before you commit to a filter. When you do click OK, the effect is rendered onto a new layer within your Photoshop document.What amazed me was the ease of creating great effects, and with just the Backlight filter alone, I could have spent hours trying out new effects. The speed of applying the filters were impressive too.
The Extrude filter (shown here) was almost instant with my PhotoShop running on a 2GHz MacBook Core2Duo, imagine what it would be like on a good desktop machine. Again, Extrude offers a lot of presets, and is great for adding depth to text or any graphic element. I can certainly see it being a great tool for web designers and graphic artists alike.The last of the three new filters is Brushed Metal, which as the name suggests makes your graphic element look like metal. On offer are various types of brushed effect; handbrushed, circular, and linear, all available in different colours and intensities. Even a Vinyl Record effect has crept into this section, hardly metal, but I loved it and will definitely be using that one in the future.
Of the filters I have note yet mentioned, Super Star adds some freaky and funky star effects, Motion Trail adds some very effective swishes and sweeps to your artwork, and Glass is pretty self explanatory (and very effective). Perspective Shadow does a lot of what Photoshop can do anyway, but within this filter the various Reflect presets allow for some great effects. My last image shows 'Reflect in Front - Sharp' and I must say, this alone impressed me. It is not just the end result that is impressive, but the speed in which Alien Skin allows you to be creative.
So, who should this product appeal to? Well, if you are a graphic artist, creative professional, or web designer, then Alien Skin Eye Candy 5 Impact is a must. It offers up some great filters that will save you a great deal of time, whilst giving you clients that wow factor with ease… and that is before we even look at the pricing. If you are an everyday Photoshop user, then again, this collection of filters will allow you to experiment and create some great artwork, that may well have been difficult to achieve without it. The pricing makes this a must buy product; just buying impact by itself will only set you back £49, which in my mind is a bargain. If you would like to save some money, then take a look at the bundles. You can pick up the Eye Candy 5 Bundle, which contains the Impact filters reviewed here, plus the Textures and Nature collections for just £79, this is a fantastic bargain, but things don't stop there. The Eye Candy Effects Collection contains all of the above, plus Snap Art and Xenofex 2 (which retail separately for over £70 each) for the paltry sum of £239 (currently on special offer for £199 at XChange International), at this price, I know which package I would buy.If you need to increase your creativity and productivity then look no further. Adding some or all of these Alien Skin filter collections to Photoshop will be money VERY wisely spent.
Note: check back soon for reviews of Alien Skin Eye Candy 5 Textures and Nature, plus Snap Art and Xenofex 2.
Product: Alien Skin Eye Candy 5 : Impact
Price: £49
Collection Price: £239 ($399) as part of the Eye Candy Effects Collection
Supplied by: Alien Skin Software
Telephone XChange International: +44 (0)20 7490 4455
Email: info@xchangeuk.com
Labels: Mac Software, PC Software, Reviews
Geekanoids upgrade complete
In preparation for our increased video review content and ever growing number of visitors to the site, we whiled away the hours last night moving all the content over to new server space.This gives us even more space to upload great content for you, and over the coming months you will be able to enjoy tonnes of video reviews, as well as our regular news and editorial features.
Due to the move, some links may have changed… if you experience any difficulties then please pop us an email. We think we picked up on everything, but the odd file may have slipped through the net.
We hope you enjoy the new performance and new content. Keep those comments coming, so we can continue to develop Geekanoids into the leading UK (and worldwide) technology website.
Labels: General News
TechStyle Classic iPod Case - Video Review
Thursday, June 28, 2007
We love our iPods, and we need to protect them, but it is essential that we do this in style. Enter the TechStyle Classic by Speck Products and you have a high quality leather case. Does it fit right, is it useful, what is the quality like. Take a look at our Video Review which gives you an insight into exactly what you get for your money.
Product: TechStyle Classic case
Price: $34.95
Supplied by: Speck Products
Contact: info@speckproducts.com
Labels: Apple iPod, Reviews
Apple post SuperDrive Firmware Update 2.1
If you own any of the MacBook or MacBook Pro models listed below, then head on over to the Apple Download here and update the firmware on your SuperDrive. It is said to improve readability of certain CD media, so can only be a good thing. The download weighs in at 12MB and should show up in Software Update, but can also be downloaded and applied separately by clicking our link above.I installed the update this morning, which went fine and took about two minutes.
System Requirements;
- Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later
- MacBook Pro Core Duo (15 -inch 1.83GHz, 2.0GHz, or 2.16GHz)
- MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo (15 -inch 2.16GHz or 2.33GHz)
- MacBook Core Duo (13 -inch 1.83GHz or 2.0GHz)
- MacBook Core 2 Duo (13 -inch 1.83GHz or 2.0GHz)
Labels: Mac Software
Pentax launch K100D Super digital SLR
Pentax have launched the K100D Super, by way of an update to its entry level model. The K100D Super adds their Dust Removal system, which was previously only available in their higher end models. This model features a 6.1 megapixel sensor, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, and is compatible with all Pentax SLR lenses. The kit complete with 18-55mm zoom lens will come in at under $600, available around August.Labels: Digital Photography
Extensis X1 update for InDesign CS3
Extensis have released an updated plug-in for use with their Suitcase Server X1 Client and Adobe InDesign CS3. The updated plug-in can be downloaded here.Labels: Mac Software
Miglia Dialog+ - handy for Skype & iChat
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
When Skype first hit the scene, manufacturers jumped on board with handsets that resembled regular phones. They were tethered to your computer by a wire, so not very friendly, other than making the user feel more at home by holding something up to their ear. Then came the advent of cordless handsets, followed by wifi enabled units, then dual purpose models that could make regular calls, as well as Skype based calls. Somewhere in between they slipped some totally useless Windows Live handsets in, thanks Philips.Miglia have produced something a little different, with their Dialog+ handset, by making something that will appeal to both the Mac and PC markets. The Dialog+ offers the ability to make wireless Skype calls, compatible with both the Mac and PC. For Mac users they have also built in iChat AV capability. So with the press of a button, you can use this for your iChat contacts too.
In the box you get the handset itself, which is supplied with three AAA batteries. These charge by attaching the handset with the supplied USB cable. To get the Dialog+ to communicate with your Mac or PC you need to install some drivers and attach a USB dongle, which offers a range of up to 25 metres. It is a shame this does not use Bluetooth to connect. I personally hate USB dongles, but I suppose I can forgive Miglia for this. Once the drivers are installed, you need to adjust a few sound settings, connect the handset wirelessly to the dongle, and you are good to go.
You can control Skype and iChat in the normal way using your computer screen, then just use the Dialog+ to have the conversation. The main strength of this product is the ability to sit away from your computer and use it as a normal phone. You have buttons to access your Skype or iChat contacts, plus another one for call history. As long as you are signed into the relevant account on your computer, you can sit back and make calls from the comfort of your sofa.
In my tests, I found that the range was pretty good, I could get about 22 metres before things got a little choppy. The voice quality was pretty darn good, I could hear who I was talking to very clearly, and my guinea pig callers commented on how clear my voice sounded at their end.
The user interface is pretty good and the blue backlit screen is nice too, nothing fancy, but very functional.
In summary, I can recommend the Dialog+ to anyone who uses Skype and iChat a lot. It makes them more accessible and you will find that you use the services a lot more. The handset is well made and the low price makes the Dialog+ fantastic value for money.
Product: Dialog+
Price: £43.00
Supplied by: Miglia
Contact: +44 (0)1442 827222
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals
iPhone Tariffs Ahoy!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Well, the monthly cost for the iPhone is finally online, and whilst not cheap (compared to what UK users tend to spend) it is not too bad. I suppose it is all relative though, with US wages tending to be better than in the UK. So hop on board and let us know how well things go on the 29th.Labels: Apple iPhone
Bluetooth Texter Widget
I stumbled across this neat little Widget on the Apple Website. Bluetooth Texter is a freeware widget from Happymaking Games. It basically allows you to type in a message, select a mobile phone number, connect to your bluetooth mobile phone and send the message via your mobile. This is great, as typing in on a regular keyboard is so much quicker. Give it a try, it is available to download here.Labels: Mac Software
Iomega launch new portable and eSata Pro Hard Drives
Iomega Corporation today introduced two exciting new choices in portable and desktop storage: the stylish Iomega® eGo™ USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive and the speedy Iomega® eSATA/USB 2.0 Professional Hard Drive.Iomega’s Latest Portable Hard Drive
The Iomega® eGo™ Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0 is a fast and fun notebook hard drive that delivers on form and function. Iomega’s new eGo Drive has an elegantly curved chassis with the choice of two colors – cherry-red or burnished gray – and chrome endcaps that sets it apart from other portable hard drives. With the new eGo Drive, Iomega introduces flair and panache to the HDD market, something rarely seen in any competitor’s product. The eGo Drive also packs a lot of storage capability – the 160GB* 2.5-inch drive is USB-powered for simple operation (no power supply required), and it comes with EMC® Retrospect® HD software for automatic backups, scheduled backups, or on-demand backups. DropGuard™ technology protects the drive from accidental damage caused by drops of up to 51 inches so users can carry up to 640,000 photos, over 2,900 hours of music or 240 hours of video** with confidence.
“The Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive calls attention to itself with its beautiful red contoured case, while its automatic backup software works transparently to protect your digital life,” said Peter Wharton, Vice President, Marketing, Iomega Corporation. “The eGo Drive gives users a high capacity portable hard drive as well as a fashion statement that says they’re different than all the rest.”
Iomega’s Latest eSATA External Hard Drive
Also announced today is the Iomega® eSATA/USB 2.0 Professional Hard Drive, a slender silver hard drive that uses the new 3 Gbit/second eSATA interface for the fastest possible access to its 500GB storage capacity. Its high performance makes it a perfect match for the demands of advanced graphics software, video editing applications, and small server or network environments. This Iomega eSATA Professional Hard Drive also comes with award-winning EMC Retrospect Express software for automatic backups, scheduled backups, or on-demand backups, as well as other advanced features. For computers that do not have an eSATA interface (PCI eSATA cards are available separately), the USB 2.0 interface offers a universally popular alternative.
“Iomega’s new 500GB eSATA Professional Hard Drive combines blazing speed with high capacity and an industrial design that’s rugged and futuristic,” said Wharton. “In today’s data-intensive world, both of Iomega’s new external hard drives dispense with boring design and give users an eye-catching excuse to focus on safeguarding their digital files.”
Compatibility
Both drives are compatible with Microsoft® Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home/XP Professional/XP Professional x64, and Windows Vista™. The eGo Portable Hard Drive is compatible with Mac OS X 10.1.5 or above; the Professional Hard Drive eSATA is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2 or above.
The eSATA/USB 2.0 Professional Hard Drive requires a system with an eSATA interface for operation as an eSATA drive (PCI eSATA card not included).
Price and Availability
The Iomega® 160GB eGo™ Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0 is now available for 139.00 Euro VAT included. The Iomega® eSATA/USB 2.0 500GB Professional Hard Drive is also now available for 179.00 Euro VAT included. Both products are available from online retailers, VARs, resellers and select retailers, as well as at www.iomega.com.
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals
Burnout Paradise - coming Winter 07
Electronic Arts Inc., are bringing a revolutionary new Burnout™ videogame (currently in development) to the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360™ systems. Players will be able to take their dangerous driving experience to a whole new level when Burnout™ Paradise is unleashed this winter.Burnout Paradise proves that crashing is awesome! Next generation technology has enabled an unprecedented level of crash deformation allowing you to experience the most explosive pile-ups in the series’ history. Now the development team can realise their original vision for the Burnout franchise: an open world environment where you can do anything, anywhere, anytime!
“We have been working towards Burnout Paradise for quite some time. Next generation consoles have opened up a raft of new gameplay opportunities and the Criterion team has leapt at the chance to innovate and raise the bar to an all-new high,” said Pete Hawley, Executive Producer, Burnout Paradise. “There are going to be some big surprises and a lot of new features but the core of the game is still pure Burnout. Instant accessibility will be reinforced by innovative on-line capabilities which will see Burnout Paradise smash racing conventions.’’
Burnout Paradise will ship under the EA™ brand and is developed by EA’s Criterion Studio in Guildford, UK.
Labels: Gaming
Gear4 HouseParty 24/7 Review
Friday, June 22, 2007
When I get sent a product to review, I normally like to test it for a really good length of time, but when Gear4 sent me their HouseParty 24/7 to check out, I had to break that rule, read on to find out why.The HouseParty 24/7 is available in black or white and is a compact speaker dock system, with lots of added functionality. When I say compact, it is by no means tiny, but the design has really been well thought out. About the size of a double height regular clock radio, the 24/7 boasts two nice speakers in the front and a downwards firing bass unit. The front on the unit also has a nice blue LED display for the time, mode you are in, alarms, and frequency of the radio station you are listening to. The top of the unit houses the well laid out buttons and the dock for your iPod. I guess that brief description really gives the game away about what the 24/7 actually offers. To recap, you get an iPod speaker system, clock, alarm clock and an AM/FM radio.
Supplied with the unit are six different size dock adapters. These allow the unit to accommodate every iPod that sports a dock connector, including the 4th, 5th & 6th generation full size iPod, the Mini, Photo, and Nano. Gear4 also supply a slimline remote to control the unit, the iPod and alarms etc. The remote is nothing to shout about, but it does get the job done. You also get external FM and AM aerials, which improve the radio reception a great deal. Whilst on the subject of the radio, reception is really good and easy to tune and store presets.
Sound quality is not of great importance for an alarm clock, but is if you plan to use the 24/7 for regular listening too. I am happy to say that this little unit really does deliver nice quality sound. The 2.1 speaker system creates a nice warm sound, with some real oomph in the bass department. Well done Gear4, this unit really does sound good for both radio and iPod playback.
Unlike some other speaker units, I really like the way this one interacts with my iPod. Whilst testing with my 5th Gen, it charges the unit whilst in use (or switched on). When the 24/7 is turned off, the power is not sent to the dock connector, so the iPod (and its screen) switches off. Other speaker units I have tested keep charging the iPod even whilst switched off, so the iPod screen remains on (not ideal). Thankfully, the 24/7 addresses this matter.
In summary, the HouseParty 24/7 offers great music reproduction. It allows you to wake up to the radio or your iPod, all from the one unit. Both the build and sound quality are brilliant, and well worth the asking price. This review was brought to you so quickly because the HouseParty 24/7 simply is soooooo good.
Product: Gear4 HouseParty 24/7
Price: £99.99
Supplied by: Gear4
Contact: info@gear4.com
Labels: Apple iPod, Reviews
Traps Drums - Big Sound… Small Package
When I was given the task of finding an alternative product to interest our valued readers, one that would take them outside the norm, that would ease the RSI, and offer some fun and exercise at the same time… I must admit that I was stumped. It is a foregone conclusion that a lot of the population surf the net, and when they are not surfing they are watching TV. On top of this, for maybe eight hours of the day they are staring at a computer screen.
Then I stumbled upon a website by Traps Drums, offering a portable drum kit, with a full-size sound. I am not sure why, but it caught my attention, probably because I had always wanted a drum kit as a kid, but never got one. So, a few phone calls later and the kind guys at Alchemy Engineering (the manufacturers) sent me an A400 kit to play with.The whole kit was delivered in one compact box, and my initial reaction was that there was no way this was going to deliver on its promises. The A400 kit consists of tubular frames, that fit together with plastic sleeve clamps. Everything looks a bit confusing, as there are so many parts, and the instructions are a bit hard to see, due to having black and white illustrations. This is something that Traps are working on, so new kits should come with clearer instructions from mid-July.
That said, putting the kit together is pretty straightforward, if you take things one step at a time, there is only a certain way that the parts can fit together.Once the frame is up and the kick bass drum in place, the remaining toms and cymbals all clamp firmly in place. As standard the kit comes with a 12-inch snare drum, 10, 12 & 14-inch Toms, a 20-inch kick (bass) drum, 13-inch hi hat cymbals, 14-inch crash cymbal, 18-inch crash ride cymbal, two pedals, a stool and drum sticks. It is pretty conclusive that you do not need anything else to get started.
Before I move onto the performance, I must emphasize that the A400 kit is of a very high build quality. Everything fits together perfectly and oozes a perfect finish. The stool is a little flimsy, with the mount nut needing to be tightened every now and again, but apart from that you couldn't ask for much more. You also get Remo heads on this kit, with the traditional multi screw tuning system, just like on full size kits. This is superb, as it allows you to individually tune each drum for that perfect sound. It also allows for new heads should you need to replace them in the future.
Now, I have played around on a Yamaha HipGig kit (around £700) before and I thought that there was no way that the A400 Traps would sound anything like them, after all, they take up half the space and cost almost half the price. To say I was astounded is really an understatement, the sound was full, accurate, and the responsiveness of the heads was great. Close your eyes and listen to the Traps and you really could not tell the difference… well maybe a little, but it is certainly not a worse or better sound in comparison to a full size kit.
Traps also supply bags for the A400, allowing you to easily transport the A400 to a gig, which is really useful. No need for a small transit with this kit ! You can also customise and add to the A400 with an extra 8-inch Tom, and move things around on the rack to get everything perfectly positioned for your individual style.
My suggestion to you all… get away from that screen for a while and use your creativity to learn to play the drums, you will love it. To all you budding musicians, the A400 kit is very compact and sounds great, so put it at the top of your list. Finally, to any readers who currently play the drums… if you need something compact, that still sounds great, either for gigging or for practicing at home, then the A400 will deliver all you could want, plus much more. The attention to detail, the build quality and sound, not to mention to superb aftersales support, all adds up to a stunningly good package.Product: Traps A400 Drum Kit
Price: £299-£325
Supplied by: Alchemy Engineering Design Ltd
Contact: +44 (0)1202 476027
Email: support@trapsdrums.com
Keep your kit Crisp n Dry with Overboard
A little bit late for Glastonbury this year, but what the heck, the great British summertime is upon us, so we are bound to get wet one way or another. If you take part in any type of water sport, or just fancy walking around the rainy UK, then the products sent to me by OverBoard may well be of interest to you.
OverBoard make a range of waterproof technology cases for a whole range of items. Varying in size and shape for mobile phones, cameras, iPod, handheld games consoles and the like. They use what is referred to as a Slide Seal System™ which really does seal the item in the bag, so it is nice and safe. The small waterproof phone case that I tested with my beloved K800i is a perfect fit. 
The phone pops into the case, then the top closes together over two sliders, which you push towards the centre of the case to seal your prized possession. Once inside, I bravely put my K800i into a bowl of water, dunked it about a bit, pulled it out and dried the case off. I can honestly say, that no water entered into the case at all… very impressive. According to the specification, you can get away with up to 6m of water, so if you did accidentally drop your kit into the swimming pool, it should remain nice and dry. Apart from water, the case also protects against dirt, sand and dust. It is also supplied with a neck lanyard, which securely clips onto the case.
I also had a 15 litre Dry Flat Bag to test, which measures 35cm by 37cm and holds a lot more kit. It has an adjustable shoulder strap for comfortably carrying around, and when not in use it packs down to a nice compact size. The Dry Flat Bag is a different prospect, and is not a submersible bag. Instead, if it is dropped into water it floats. Again, out came some of my trusty gadgets, a camera, iPod, mobile phone and a rain jacket. All fitted in with no problem, and ten minutes later I had a bath full of water to drop the bag into. Sure enough it floated, and when I checked the contents all was fine and dandy.
The OverBoard range has highly impressed me. The design is nice and clean, with a modern touch. Most importantly, the product works, doing exactly what the manufacturer claims. Another massive plus point is the price, which has been kept very low, so the whole range certainly offers excellent value for money. If you want to protect your kit, then I urge you to check out the range at www.over-board.co.uk and get yourself protected !
Product: OverBoard Small Waterproof Phone Case
Price: £14.99
Product: OverBoard 15 ltr Dry Flat Bag
Price: £17.49
Supplied by: OverBoard Accessories Ltd
Contact: +44 (0)1932 232126
Labels: Apple iPod, Digital Photography, Gadgets, Reviews
KDE 4 news: Plasma icons, plus more
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Plasma introduced interactive icons, Solid now takes over the media, and the first taskbar mockups have been revealed.via liquidat read more | digg story
Labels: Linux News
Users strike back against corporate customer service
Unhappy about making 10 phone calls to customer service only to have problems go unsolved, consumers are increasingly adopting sneaky tactics to get their problems solved. Small claims court, it turns out, is a wonderful resource.via arstechnica.com read more | digg story
Labels: General News
MetroLite - nice carriage for your laptop !
Brenthaven has launched its MetroLite range, a selection of laptop shoulder bags perfect for the professional market. Now 17% lighter, the MetroLite range are sleek, lightweight cases with a patent-pending CORE Protection System that protects the screen from impact throughout. At just £49.95 it comes in green and black and fits laptops from 12-inches to 15.4-inches.The MetroLite range is a protective yet extra light solution for anyone who travels with their computer, it has improved handles and ergonomic padded shoulder strap to balance weight comfortably. It includes a front organiser pocket, which is a perfect fit for your iPod, PDA or mobile phone. Brenthaven has included an innovative grommet and storage pocket for headphones or a mobile phone headset plus an AC Adaptor pocket with easy access. A back slip pocket is built in for all your loose paperwork or newspapers. The MetroLite range even incorporates a soft faux-suede lining.
Labels: Mac Peripherals
Apple Updates - New iPhone Gallery
With only days away from the iPhone launch, we must remind ourselves not to get tired of the news. After all, this is going to be one of the biggest products launches for Apple in a long time. They have updated their iPhone pages with a snazzy new gallery, showing this little darling in various poses, complete with dock. Check out the new gallery here.Labels: Apple iPhone
Griffin TuneJuice 2 Review
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
If you use your iPod a lot and would like to extend its playback time a little, then you really should check out the TuneJuice 2 from Griffin Technology. The simplest ideas are often the best, and this little device takes standard AAA batteries, then connects to any iPod with a dock connector. It is available in the US for $29.99 and in the UK the average price is around £10. It is well made and comes highly recommended. Check out the video review below… oh, and enjoy the pout at the start of the video :-)Product: TuneJuice 2
Price: $29.99 (US)
Average UK Price: £9.99
Supplied by: Griffin Technology
Labels: Apple iPod, Reviews
Cocktail 3.8 released - look after your Mac
Cocktail… the popular maintenance utility for your Mac has just been upgraded to version 3.8. This new version has an improved interface and some addition features, such as being enabling and disabling spotlight searches for certain disks. A demo of the application is available and the full version costs $15.Labels: Mac Software
Apple Improves iPhone Specs for June 29
Monday, June 18, 2007
Apple today announced that iPhone™ will deliver significantly longer battery life when it ships on June 29 than was originally estimated when iPhone was unveiled in January. iPhone will feature up to 8 hours of talk time, 6 hours of Internet use, 7 hours of video playback or 24 hours of audio playback.* In addition, iPhone will feature up to 250 hours—more than 10 days—of standby time. Apple also announced that the entire top surface of iPhone, including its stunning 3.5-inch display, has been upgraded from plastic to optical-quality glass to achieve a superior level of scratch resistance and optical clarity.“With 8 hours of talk time, and 24 hours of audio playback, iPhone’s battery life is longer than any other ‘Smartphone’ and even longer than most MP3 players,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve also upgraded iPhone’s entire top surface from plastic to optical-quality glass for superior scratch resistance and clarity. There has never been a phone like iPhone, and we can't wait to get this truly magical product into the hands of customers starting just 11 days from today.”
Read the full press release here.
Labels: Apple News
Apple UK open new shop in PC World
This came as a surprise to me, but news has appeared on Apple's website detailing a new shop they have opened within PC World at Enfield, Middlesex, UK. My previous experiences with buying Apple kit from a PC World has left a lot to be desired, so this news is very welcome. The page on the Apple website explains how the full range of desktops and laptops are on display, with regular demonstrations of the kit and related software. Good move, let us hope this helps to spread the word.Labels: Apple News
Wacom Bamboo Graphics Tablet Review
Sunday, June 17, 2007
The Wacom Bamboo is a pen driven graphics tablet aimed at the consumer market, but like the professional Intuos product line, really oozes oodles of quality. Straight from the box, you can see that this compact sized tablet is well made and will be a lot more useful than just signing the odd document.The active area of the Bamboo is just under A5 size, and above the active area are four customisable ExpressKeys, to which you can assign various functions. There is also a rather cool looking TouchRing for zooming into and scrolling around documents. The supplied pen offers 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, has a double switch rocker button and an eraser tip.
Where the Intuos tablet from Wacom is aimed at the graphic design professional, the Bamboo has been designed with the regular consumer in mind. Offering up the extra features for ease of navigation, I really wanted to see if I could get used to using the Bamboo instead of my mouse. To start off with it was tricky, the main adjustment is in the exact positioning of screen pointer. With a mouse you move your pointer around the screen, if you run out of room a quick reposition of the mouse and off you go again. With the Bamboo, the active area is mapped to directly relate to your screen real estate. You put the pen in the top left of the tablet area and that is where your pointer goes on your desktop. Of note; if you are running dual screens, you can restrict the Bamboo to the work area of just one screen or have it mapped across your dual screen area.
So navigating your desktop is very quick and precise. The ExpressKeys, which are lit up in blue when your Bamboo is connected, also help a great deal. Within the Pen Tablet system preference pane (on Mac OS X) you can assign each of the four buttons to different actions, keystrokes, modifiers, or even to launch certain applications. The top two buttons have a default assignment of Back and Forward, so this is really handy for surfing and general use. The TouchRing is also pretty neat, if you move your finger in a circular motion on it, you zoom in and out of your current application. Tapping to the top and bottom of the area scrolls you up and down. I found this really neat and it soon became a very fast way of navigating my documents.Apart from general day-to-day use for common tasks, I wanted to try the Bamboo out in PhotoShop and Illustrator. Whilst not giving the work area of a larger Intuos tablet, the Bamboo performed really well. The pressure sensitivity allowed me to be really creative in PhotoShop and the accurate mapping allowed me to manually trace something in Illustrator. So for the occasional bit of professional work the Bamboo really does hold its own.
For under £70 you get a superb piece of kit, quite how Wacom do it for this price baffles me, you even get a two year warranty, which in my mind adds value. If you don't spend all your time in PhotoShop, but want to give those wrists a rest from constant mouse use, then give this tablet a try. The Bamboo is well made, and very user friendly indeed. I really hope my review model does not have to be sent back, otherwise the credit card will have to come out to play.
Product: Wacom Bamboo Graphics Tablet
Works with: Mac OS X, Windows 2000, XP, Vista
Price: £69.99
Supplied by: Wacom Europe
Contact: info@wacom-europe.com
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
7Digital Cheaper Music Downloads in the UK
Saturday, June 16, 2007
A new service from 7Digital offers users a chance to download MP3, AAC and WMA music tracks from leading artists (and some exclusives) starting at just 50p per track. It is great to see an iPod friendly, DRM free service that can save some pennies for users. Another great feature is that your download history is stored in your account, so you can access your downloads from anywhere you have an internet connection. Of note, video downloads are also available.Labels: Apple iPod
Loads of iPhone apps including gas.app
There are new applications for the iPhone springing up everywhere now, but how about checking this one out. Gas.app improves googlemaps and adds more gas stations (amongst other things). Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments.Labels: Apple iPhone
Coverflow for Files in Leopard
Monday, June 11, 2007
There are lots of new Finder enhancements in Leopard, but one that interested me was Coverflow, which works in much the same way as it does in iTunes, but gives you large previews of your photos, PDF files and other documents. Flick through them just like you would in iTunes. Looks really good !Labels: Apple News
Check out Apple's new site
Wow, even though we didn't get any new hardware announcements from WWDC, the new site design is superb. Check out the expanding sidebars on the Apple website for starters, very cool.Labels: Apple News
Safari 3 Beta for Windows & Mac - download
Steve Jobs just announced the beta version of Safari 3 for both the Mac and, big surprise, for Windows too. You can download it here.Labels: Apple News
Apple Mac OS X Leopard - Official
Apple today unveiled a near final version of Mac OS X Leopard, the sixth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system. Scheduled to ship in October, Leopard introduces over 300 new features, including a new Desktop and Dock with Stacks, an intuitive new way to organise files; an updated Finder featuring Cover Flow™ and a new way to easily browse and share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to rapidly preview most files without opening an application; Time Machine, a new way to easily and automatically back up and restore lost files or a complete Mac®; Spaces, a powerful new feature to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; and enhanced iChat and Mail applications, which easily allow users to communicate even more creatively.
“Leopard is the best release of Mac OS X to date, surpassing even Tiger, and will further extend Mac OS X’s leadership as the most advanced and innovative operating system in the world,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think current and prospective customers are going to love Leopard, and that it will help make the Mac even more popular.”
Leopard includes a completely new Dock featuring Stacks, which can help manage a user’s desktop clutter caused by browser and email downloads. With the click of a mouse, users can instantly fan out the contents of a stack to easily see each item. Leopard’s Finder has been completely redesigned, adding Cover Flow as an innovative way to quickly browse and locate files and applications. Finder’s new Sidebar simplifies the organisation of files on a Mac, and adds easy access to shared Macs and PCs on a home network. Subscribers to .Mac can also use the new “Back to my Mac" feature to browse and access files on their remote Macs over the Internet. Also new in Leopard is Quick Look, an innovative new way for users to instantly preview almost any file, and even play media files, without opening an application.
With its unique ability to let users travel back in time to find deleted files, applications, photos and other digital media, Time Machine is a revolutionary way to protect your digital life. With just a one-click setup, Time Machine automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on the Mac. In the event a file is lost, users can use Mac OS X’s Spotlight™ to search back through time to find and then instantly restore the file. Time Machine can automatically back up a Mac to an external hard drive connected with a FireWire® or USB cable, to a server, or wirelessly to an AirPort Extreme® base station with an attached hard drive.
Leopard also includes three new technologies that take full advantage of the latest developments in processor hardware: full native 64-bit support to enable applications to take complete advantage of 64-bit processing while still running side by side with existing 32-bit Mac OS X applications and drivers; easy multi-core optimization and scheduling to take advantage of the latest Intel hardware; and Core Animation, helping developers easily create animated user experiences as amazing as Leopard’s Spaces and Time Machine in their own applications.
Other new features in Leopard include:
• Leopard Mail, offering more ways to customise and add personal style to email than ever before, with more than 30 beautiful stationery designs and layouts that look great on a Mac or Windows PC; Notes, making it as easy to take and organise notes as it is to compose and read emails; To Dos, for creating lists viewed directly in Mail and automatically sync them with iCal®; and data detectors that automatically sense phone numbers, addresses and events so they can be easily added to Address Book or iCal;
• Leopard iChat with iChat Theater, letting users present photos, presentations, videos and files in a video conference; Photo Booth effects, enabling users to transform their iChat video in real time with fun distortion and colour effects; and video backdrops that allow users to choose any photo or video that makes them appear to be anywhere in the world, or out of it;
• Leopard iCal, introducing powerful group calendaring features based on the open CalDAV standard that make it easy to organise and coordinate schedules with other people;
• Spaces, giving users a powerful new, clutter-free way to create customised spaces on the desktop with only the applications or files needed for each project, and the ability to quickly switch between them with one click of a mouse or keystroke;
• Web Clip, bringing anything that a user wants from a web page to Dashboard as a live widget;
• Boot Camp, making it possible to run Windows natively on Intel-based Macs*; and
• new development tools, including Xcode® 3 with a next generation editor; an all new Interface Builder for easier integration of advanced animation effects into an application; simpler debugging; and support for Objective-C 2.0; DashCode, a better way to create new Dashboard widgets without writing a line of code; and Xray, a new application for optimising application performance.
Pricing & Availability
Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard is scheduled to ship in October and will be available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com/ukstore), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers for a suggested retail price of £89 (inc. VAT) for a single user license. The Mac OS X Leopard Family Pack is a single-residence, five-user license that will be available for a suggested retail price of £139 (inc. VAT). Volume and maintenance pricing is available from Apple.
Labels: Apple News
Apple US Store gets revamp
With the WWDC keynote just finished, the US Store (online) is back up and running. It has had no new products introduced to the site, but does sport a completely new look. What do you all think?Labels: Apple News
Apple WWDC 2007 Coverage
Well, it is about 5 minutes until the WWDC 2007 starts and Steve Jobs takes to the stage. We will be giving you as much coverage as we can here, from the various feeds we are following, including some live audio feeds that we have access to. I hope everyone enjoys the announcements to follow.
6pm GMT (10am San Francisco): the Keynote is starting, lights dimming. New commercial playing, sounds very funny, joking about Vista.
6.03pm: Steve takes to the stage.
6.05pm: Announcements about attendance and ADC members, going over Intel switch.
6.06pm: Intel CEO Paul Otellini on stage.
6.07pm: Apple Store worldwide is down. Paul Otellini given special Apple Award designed by Ive.
6.09pm: Eleectronic Arts, developing for Mac again. This includes Command & Conquer, Need for Speed Carbon, Harry Potter and Battlefield 2142 - all in July.
6.12pm: Wow, Mac games will come from EA at the same launch date as PC titles. Madden 08 and Tiger Woods 08 in August.
6.14pm: John Carmack from iD Games on stage, showing some new technology for the first time. A game can be built first, then the graphics get done.
6.16pm: Moving on to Leopard. 22 million active OSX users at present. Leopard will ship in October with 300 new features. Showing 10 new features now.
6.19pm: New features include; Transparent menu bar and dock. Dock is also thinner, or should I say narrower. New 3D look. Dock allows 'stacks' which are like folder organisation right in the dock. Stacks pop out into a neat window or column that has transparent background, can be used to open files or even applications.
6.27pm: New finder windows look similar to iTunes. You can navigate through files like in Coverflow.
6.29pm: New .Mac feature 'Back to my Mac"… Seems like .Mac is automatically updated with your Macs IP address, so it knows where you are. Allows you to easily get files from your work Mac through your .Mac service.
6.35pm: New feature, Quick Look, allows you to preview most file types without opening the application you used to create it. Quick Look even plays movies!
6.39pm: Leopard is fully 64-Bit, but works with both 32 & 64-Bit applications. Massive speed improvement shown opening a large image. Running filters on the image, almost 3x faster in 64-Bit.
6.41pm: Core Animation. Stunning animation effects whilst searching for a video.
6.44pm: Boot Camp. Built right into Leopard. Runs XP and Vista. Comments on Parallels and VMWare, saying that users have three solutions to run Windoze. Quite funny as the screens on those Windoze show it running Solitaire :-)
6.47pm: Spaces… (we have seen this before). Group alike apps into their own space. Re-arrange with ease with drag & drop.
6.49pm: Dashboard. New Movie Time widget, plays trailers right in the widget. Web Clip (which we have seen before) lets you clip bits from the web and make widgets out of them, very clever.
6.55pm: Feature 9 - iChat. Better audio, backdrops, effects and tabbed chats (yes!). Demo with Phil Schiller. Sharing right from within iChat (with iChat Theater), they are sharing a slideshow. If it works in Quick Look, it seems that it will share in iChat. Even sharing a video.
6.59pm: Now using a backdrop. Phil with fishes swimming behind him.
7.00pm: Time Machine. You can back up more than one Mac with a Network Attached Hard Drive. Search back in time (seen it all before).
7.07pm: Developer copies of Leopard available today.
7.10pm: Safari 3 (that will ship with Leopard) announced for Windows. Runs on XP and Vista. Faster than Internet Explorer. Public Beta of Safari 3 released today.
7.16pm: iPhone. Will ship June 29. Custom apps will be possible, no Software Developers Kit required, just need to be written as a web application. Apps run on the iPhone within Safari.
7.25pm: Keynote is over.
Labels: Apple News
New Apple Store in Munich, Germany - photos
Thanks to AppleInsider, who has an article and loads of photos showing the work on the new Apple Store due to open in Munich, Germany, during the second half of 2008. Check out the superb photos and if you have any you would like to send to Geekanoids, please feel free to email them in.Labels: Apple News
The Night Before WWDC 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
So, it is the night before the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off. All is quiet on the news front at the moment, but is this the calm before the storm (this is the only type of storm I really like). Hopefully, Steve Jobs will really mix things up this year. Yes, we are going to get the iPhone, Leopard release date and full details, and most likely iWork 07, but what else is he going to throw in.One more thing…
Hopefully, there will be more than one 'One more thing'. Will it be a new aluminium iMac, a revised Mac Mini, full screen iPod, or perhaps something completely new on the software front. Will the 'One more thing' announcement be connected to the iPhone, with YouTube video streaming direct to the device. This may sound selfish, but I hope that not too much is centered around the iPhone, as being in the UK we cannot really get too excited yet.
Keep checking back on Geekanoids tomorrow, we will bring you the latest WWDC07 news from Steve Jobs keynote speech as it happens… I personally cannot wait.
Labels: Apple News
Apple MacBook Pro Speedbump + HD Screen
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Not delving too deep, but the Apple Store is now back up and running with revised MacBook Pros. Same sizes, but with speeds starting at 2.2GHz and topping out at 2.4GHz. You also get the new NVidia GForce 8600M GT graphics card sporting either 128MB or 256MB.This BIG NEWS is that the 17-inch has an option to include a 1920x1200 glossy or matt finish screen. This is a £60 option ($100 US). In addition, the 15-inch model has the new LED back-lighting, whereas the 17-inch does not.
**UPDATE** You also get 2GB RAM as standard, well done Apple.
Labels: Apple News
Apple Store Down Around the World
In true Apple style, the online store is down, preparing us all for last minute predictions and the imminent introduction of something new. Will it be MacBook Pros, a new Mini, or something to surprise us all? Check back regularly, we will bring you the news as it happens.Labels: Apple News
Fuji Finepix Z5fd Review
Monday, June 04, 2007
The Fuji Finepix Z5fd is a compact 6.3 megapixel digital camera. This baby is really compact, small enough to fit in your shirt pocket. The 2.5-inch LCD screen is pin sharp too, which is a good thing, as you use this for framing up your shots as well and viewing playback of your photos.A quick rundown of the specification of the Z5fd will help you to see just how featured packed this camera is. As previously mentioned you get a 6.3 megapixel resolution, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, picture stabilization and natural light modes, face detection, up to ISO 1600, 3x optical and 6.2x digital zoom. The camera has 26MB of internal memory, but no xD memory card supplied. It also has 14 quick scene modes, for things like portrait, night, and sports shots.
The Good
The z5fd has a lot going for it. The size is a massive selling point of this camera, it is not the thinnest on the market, but easily fits into a shirt pocket. The design is pretty much spot on too. The front cover slides to turn the camera on, and at the same time reveals the lens and flash. The 2.5-inch LCD is gorgeous, and make framing up an viewing photos a real pleasure. The focus is very quick and the pictures right up to ISO 800 are more than usable.
There are also some nice features for getting images ready for a website built right into the camera. When viewing photos, pressing the 'F' button presents you with a menu for 'Trimming for Blog' and it does just that. You can crop your image and then transfer it to your communication device or laptop over infrared. This is a nice feature that some users may find invaluable.
Picture quality was very good, with nice colour saturation and detail. The face detection is also a nice feature which ensures that faces are correctly exposed when taking group shots. I tested this out on more than one occasion and it actually does work, it is not a gimmick.
The Bad
There really wasn't anything to put in this category, other than something that effects most cameras of this type. The lack of optical viewfinder is a shame, I am sure with the technology available these days Fuji could have squeezed one in. It is not essential, but something that I personally like on ALL my cameras.
The Ugly
On first use, I put the battery in the camera and connected to the main power to charge. A few hours later, when I went to switch on, the unit would not turn on. After a quick bit of investigation I found that the battery was in the wrong way. Now, I should emphasise that I put it in the way the arrows printed on the battery indicated, but this battery fits and clicks into place both ways. Turning the battery round corrected the problem, so no big deal, but most manufacturers make their batteries so they are fool-proof and only fit in one way around.
Overall I was very impressed with the Z5fd. It fits into the compact sector of the market and is a very good quality digital camera that you can carry everywhere you go. You will have no excuse of missing that chance photo again.
Product: Finepix Z5fd
Price: £149.95 (Amazon)
Supplied by: Fujifilm UK
Contact: +44 (0)870 084 1310
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Apple iPhone Adverts - Confirm June 29
Apple have posted three iPhone adverts, which can be found here. They confirm that June 29 is the day and that a 2 year contract will be required for the iPhone. So, things are hotting up, let us hope they do offer a contract free iPhone too. For an alternative ad, check out this mix from peteryan.netLabels: Apple iPhone
The Sims Life Stories Review
The Sims Life Stories is a welcome addition to the Sims storyline and will certainly make you sit up and take notice. Right from the outset, you should know that if you like the Sims, you will get the most of out this offering, it is definitely a game that you will play for hours and enjoy minute of it. Of note, this is not an add-on or expansion pack to Sims 2, it is a full standalone game.The graphics on this game are fantastic. As soon as you see the little clip at the beginning of the game, you think wow! The intro is great, and makes you want to get into the gameplay as quickly as possible. But then, when you look at the options and click on the graphics option, you can make the pictures even more detailed! Adjusting the graphic detail makes a big difference to your enjoyment of the game, so if you system will handle it, put everything up to max.
Next up is the sound. The Sims may not speak English but their own language is very entertaining. The sound is very life like and somewhat comical when they speak. When they take a bubble bath, it really does sound like a bubble bath, or when they are cooking something, it really does sound like your cooking and sizzling something tasty. As I said earlier, it really is life like.
Right, let's move on to the story. Well first of all there is Riley's Story. You get to play Riley who is staying at her Aunt Sharon's house since she lost her job. Riley wants to bounce back into action by, getting a brand new job and searching for a new guy to start a family with. Finding out that her high school ex-boyfriend is about town, she starts to fall for him again. Will her love series end in a happy ever after? I won't spoil that part for you, only you can decide the outcome.
Next there is Vincent's story. At the age of 9yrs old his Uncle bought him a kite. He attached a couple of plates and wrapped the kite in foil. He also added two rockets, filled with fuel or helium to the end to make his very own satalite. In his adult years he is a billionaire! Now that his job is being a business tycoon, the millions are rolling in. At the start of Vincent's story he is coming back from a two week business trip. Vincent left his house in the hands of his trusted girlfriend Samantha. As soon as he gets out of the helicopter, Vincent is greeted by Samantha, with a great big hug. They have been dating for just three weeks in total and Samantha bursts out a surprise marriage proposal. Vincent says no, so you have to help him on biggest challenge of all, E-Dating…There really isn't just a single brilliant part in Life Stories, since the whole game is superb. The Sims Life Stories is one of the best games I have ever reviewed, and I will continue to play it for a long time to come! There is a whole new range of clothes and outfits for the Sims to wear, which are fantastic. Plus, the new objects and inventory you can buy for your Sim to enjoy and use for their aspirational needs. This game is definitely worth every penny and I would recommend that anyone (young or old) would love to play this fantastic game.
Review by Pamela Cryer
Product: The Sims Life Stories
Price: £29.99
Supplied by: Aspyr Media Europe Limited
Contact: +44 (0) 1923 200 940
Email: info_europe@aspyr.com
Sennheiser PX100 Headphones Review
Having an iPod or another brand MP3 player is great, but it normally goes without saying that the bundled headphones aren't normally the best. A decent upgrade need not set you back lots of money, so here I take a look at the Sennheiser PX100 headphones.The first thing that struck me about the PX100 was the very well designed folding action. These babies fold into a really neat plastic case, with a cable wrap to keep things extra tidy. When unfolding them, they lock into position and feel very robust. Rather than being an in-ear design, they sit on your ears like regular headphones. The band that touches your head is nicely padded and very comfortable. The PX100's are so light, that you soon forget that you are actually wearing them, so top marks here.
I tested the PX100's with both my iPod and regular CD system, as they really ought to deliver on both fronts. The iPod sounded rich, with plenty of mid range and bass, and stacks of detail, being pleasantly surprised is an understatement. The delivery from the CD system was just as good, the music sounded very rounded and warm, but still delivered every nuance of the music too. After prolonged use I was really enjoying these little wonders.
The PX100's from Sennheiser deliver on many different counts. Firstly, they work great with MP3 and the iPod is a perfect partner. On a full blown system they also hold their own, delivering really great sound. Add to this the fact that they are ultra comfortable and cleverly fold down into a really portable package and you have a winner. If you don't like in-ear earphones, then the PX100's are available in white or black and come highly recommended.
Product: Sennheiser PX100 Headphones
Price: £35.00
Street Price: £19.98 (Amazon)
Supplied by: Sennheiser UK
Contact: info@sennheiser.co.uk
Labels: Apple iPod, Reviews
The Authors
Dave
Dave has been in the graphic design industry for 14 years. Long time reviewer of technology related products, he is Owner/Editor of Geekanoids.
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