iMac Project 2008 - New iMac & edits = better videos
Monday, June 30, 2008
It has been a whole year since we started producing video reviews on a regular basis. Last June we managed to purchase a MacBook Pro which we had sponsored and laser etched with various company logos. This was a great success, not only did it get great exposure, but it also performed admirably with the video crunching we threw at it.
This year we needed some extra processing power, which came in the shape of a new 24-inch 3.06GHz iMac. This time around we had the sponsors logos thermally printed and applied to the back of the iMac. We also created a desktop wallpaper displaying the logos too. The new iMac is superb, really fast, quiet and stable. We have upgraded our software to Final Cut Express, so we can edit together some more attention grabbing video reviews for you this year. As well as the iMac, a new Audio Technica AT2020 mic, an Alesis Multimix 8 USB2 mixer, and some new studio lighting. I hope you start to see an improvement in quality and keep coming back to the Geekanoids website to check out our great reviews.
A big thank you goes out to the sponsors, who are listed below;
Academy Class
BMI Solutions
Crucial Technology
Eazydraw
Maccast
Make
Mamut (MYOB)
Miglia
Proporta
Quark
Roxio
Labels: General News
Jungle Disk & Amazon S3 - first thoughts
Over the past week I have been testing the latest version of Jungle Disk, working alongside Amazon S3. I have never used either before, but the small price-point of Amazon S3 was very attractive to at least see if the service is a viable solution for me.In simple terms, Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a storage solution 'in the cloud'. I am starting to dislike the 'in the cloud' term, but we are all stuck with it. It equates to uploading and storing your files on a server at Amazon HQ, hidden away behind some security wall. The S3 service is pretty complicated and you need to use an application (either built by yourself or pre-made) to give you a GUI and some way of getting your files uploaded. One such solution is Jungle Disk.
The application is available for Mac, Windows and Linux, so everyone is catered for. You can get a 30-day trial download, or pay $20 for all three platform versions, with unlimited free upgrades, plus the ability to install on as many computers that you own. This is fantastic value for money. Setting up the software is really easy. It asks for your Amazon S3 log-in details and hidden key. Once logged in, you can set up your first upload. This again is really straightforward, simply ticking boxes for what you want to include or exclude. You can schedule automatic backups, or click the 'start' button manually. You get a nice progress bar, so you always know how far your backup has progressed.
My only niggle was user error. I had forgotten to uncheck some larger files, such as my email database. So this large file had been included in the backup. Not a massive problem, there is a 'cancel' button that effects just the individual file (rather than the whole backup). The button is very responsive and worked straight away. Subsequent backups check the Amazon server and look for changed files only, so in my first test, only the initial backup was just under 2GB. The great thing is, that I checked my Amazon account today and it cost me 18pence so far. The monthly charge will be slightly less than this, but as you can see, this is fantastic VFM. I will keep you updated and bring you more news about the Jungle Disk application further down the line.
Labels: Mac Software, Opinion
Courts Design Finds Formula for Success with OKI
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Courts Design is a small multi-disciplinary creative agency based in the quiet Hampshire town of Hartley Wintney. Its core business involves the design, construction and installation of exhibition stands and display interiors. Increasingly, however, it is focusing on graphic design work for clients in the IT and pharmaceutical sectors.In delivering these services, Courts Design faces the twin challenges of growing competition and increasing constraints on time. To combat these pressures, the company is always looking for ways to raise the quality of printed output while ensuring it consistently meets tight deadlines.
As Mike Abbott, Head Creative of Graphics, Courts Design explains, “in a busy design agency, you need to produce visuals and artwork as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, our previous printer was increasingly unable to deliver the quality of output or delivery speeds we were looking for.”
As a result, Courts Design decided to upgrade to a flexible colour printer from OKI Printing Solutions that can be configured to handle either A3 or A4-sized paper. Delivering 36 pages per minute (ppm) in colour and 40ppm in mono A4, the printer is one of the fastest printers in its class.
Courts Design now uses the printer extensively for all its graphic design work, including brochures, direct mail documentation and marketing flyers as well as for client reports and presentations.
Flexibility
One of the most compelling benefits of the printer is its flexibility. The printer is Mac compatible. This is crucial to Courts Design which makes extensive use of the devices in its daily work.
“We also benefit from the printer’s flexible paper handling,” says Abbott. “We use it to print everything from presentations to document details on high-quality CD labels. Unlike our previous device, it switches easily between different paper sizes, types and textures. This allows us to cut the time taken to develop new materials.
In addition, investing in the printer made sound economic sense. Previously, Courts Design would have often outsourced jobs with tight deadlines, such as client presentations, to digital print houses – a process that would inevitably result in overprinting and wastage of resources.
“The OKI printer saves us money by enabling us to deliver high-quality documents cost-effectively and on-demand,” adds Abbott.
A Colourful Future
Printing in full colour is key to Courts Design, especially when it comes to generating high impact visuals. Research shows that readers pay attention up to 82% longer when colour is used and that presentations are 70% clearer when colour highlights the pertinent details.
Investing in the printer has had a positive impact on Courts Design’s business. It has helped the company to deliver a faster, more efficient service for clients. It has also enabled it to keep short-run print jobs in-house and, in this way, boost profit margins.
It’s most far-reaching benefit at Courts Design, however, has been in building competitive advantage. The printer has not only produced beautiful, colour documents for Courts Design but it has done so quickly, reliably and affordably. In so doing, it has given the business a crucial edge on its competitors.
Labels: General News
iPhone 3G - New pouch & StickiT Protector Pre-Order
With the new iPhone launching on the 11th July in 22 countries, it is important that you pop your little baby into a nice carry pouch. The GeekPouch is available for Pre-Order now, with shipping very soon after the iPod 3G launch. It comes in black corduroy, red faux suede and leopard fur effect fabrics and will keep your iPhone protected from light bumps and scrapes. Pricing is very simple, just £5.99 (inc. UK delivery) or £10.99 (inc. worldwide delivery) with a little saving on offer if you buy two.If you are really worried about your new gadget, then you should pop a StickiT on the back. The nice glossy finish to the new iPhones is bound to attract dust and scratches. This thin film will keep the back of your new iPhone nice and shiney. The price is cheap too, just £2.99 (inc. UK delivery) or £5.99 (inc. worldwide delivery). Again, these will start shipping hopefully within a week of the iPhone 3G launch.
Both of these products have been available for a long time now, for the whole range of iPods and the current iPhone. They have proved very popular to date.
Labels: Apple iPhone, News
Altec Lansing T612 iPod & iPhone Speaker Review
Monday, June 23, 2008
It took a while before iPods speakers could work properly with iPhones, but this unit, the T612 from Altec Lansing offers a fantastic build quality. It also offers features like auto mute when a phone call comes in, so really does cater for the discerning iPhone owner. Check out the video review below.
Product: Altec Lansing T612
Price: £139
Supplied by: Altec Lansing
Contact: +44 (0)870 458 0011
Labels: Apple iPhone, Apple iPod, Reviews
Need to know about Scanners?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
If you need to know about scanners, or perhaps you have a document scanner and have a techie question that needs answering, check out this link. Over at the BMI Solutions Community Forums you can ask questions, check out news on the latest products, and you even have the chance to see product videos. The product videos are invaluable, in much the same way as you love our video reviews, it gives you the chance to see the scanners in action before you commit to buy.This new forum looks like it will be an invaluable source of information, so take a look and add it to you bookmarks.
Labels: General News
Prosoft Data Backup 3 Review
Backing up your files is very important. Imagine if you lost all of your photos, or those files and projects you have been working on. Prosoft's Data Backup 3 gives you a cost effective solution. Check out our video review below.
Product: Data Backup 3
Price: £39.99
Supplied by: Prosoft Engineering
Contact: 925-426-6100
Labels: Mac Software, Reviews
Macally Pebble Wireless Portable Mouse Review
Sunday, June 15, 2008
If you need a mouse for your Mac, and it needs to be portable, wireless and stylish, then you need to check out this review. The Pebble Wireless Portable Mouse might be just what you have been looking for.
Product: Macally Pebble Wireless Portable Mouse
Price: £22.00 (approx.)
Supplied by: Macally Europe
Contact: + 31 24 373 14 10
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
Apple Backup 3 Disappears
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Am I mistaken, or has Apple removed the link to download the latest version of its Backup application? After the MobileMe announcement, I promised myself that I would make more use of iDisk, for storing some files off-site. It is/was my intention, that when MobileMe is released, I would upgrade my storage space and push some important files into the cloud. This followed considering using Amazons S3 service, but for some reason deciding against it.After logging into my .Mac account and following the route to download Backup 3, I found my browser in a loop. Then I searched and went direct to this page, but all it does is go to a ".Mac will soon be MobileMe page". Nothing would download! So, perhaps in anticipation of MobileMe launching, maybe a new version of Backup is on its way. Yes, I know Backup resides in my iDisk, but I thought it strange that I was unable to find the download anywhere.
Labels: Opinion
Apple Mail - Search not working? Re-index your messages
I recently moved all of my Mail accounts and messages over to our new iMac, using the Migration Assistant that comes as part of OS X. Everything seemed to work fine, in fact, although it took a long time to transfer the files, Mail was up and running with minimal fuss.However, when I came to search for an old email, I could not find it. Mail would only give search results on emails that had arrived or been sent after the transfer. A quick search found this Apple document on the issue. I am happy to say that re-indexing the messages solved the problem. In my case though, I only moved the Envelope Index file and not any additional folders.
Labels: Help, Mac Software
Kensington Slimblade Trackball Mouse Review
If you need a mouse that is as happy on your desk as in your travel bag, then this could be just what you are looking for. The Slimblade Trackball Mouse from Kensington also has a trick up its sleeve. At the press of a button, you can transform this little rodent into a trackball. Check out the video review for a look at how it performs.Product: Kensington Slimblade Trackball Mouse
Price: £61.99 (average price)
Supplied by: Kensington UK
Contact: +44 (0)845 603 1730
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
Mozilla to launch Firefox 3 on June 17
Mozilla has announced that it intend to release the full version of Firefox 3 on Tuesday, June 17. This had been my browser of choice for a long time, before slipping into Camino mode, but this new release will see me going back to Firefox full-time.Help Mozilla celebrate this event, either by holding a party, or by pledging to download the new browser on launch day. They are trying to break the Guiness World Record for the most software downloads in a 24 hour period. If you want a sneak peak, the latest release candidate (RC3) is available here.
Labels: General News
Apples MobileMe to replace .Mac - an Overview
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Following yesterday’s WWDC announcements, I am going to concentrate on the new MobileMe service that will replace dotmac (.mac) for current subscribers. The new service has no firm date for rollout, though I expect we will see this during July. It sounds very exciting, so I am hoping sooner rather than later.Current dotmac subscribers get an automatic update. Renewals fees and new users to the service get very good value for money. A single-user one year subscription costs just £59 and a family pack for up to five users is £89. The single user account also gives you a massive 20GB of storage space and 100GB monthly data transfer allowance. I know that this will certainly encourage me to take advantage of the service for more off-site backup.
Extra storage space is also available, with an extra 20GB weighing in at £30, or 40GB of additional space for £59. So with the figures out of the way, let’s take a look at what MobileMe actually offers on the application and service front.
The announcement for a service like this really does go hand-in-hand with two of Apples other products. Yes, the iPhone will be served well by MobileMe, it makes it easy for the rest of us to have Exchange-type functionality, without the tech know how and infrastructure behind it. Secondly, look back to when the MacBook Air was announced. This was a definite push from Apple that content and files would be stored remotely, available for download wherever you happen to be.
The MobileMe service strengthens this view, and offer up a whole host of ‘in the cloud’ features. For starters you get Push email, contacts and calendars. This equates to a very useful and powerful set of features. For example, if you receive an email whilst out and about, your iPhone would automatically be ‘pushed’ the email, instead of you having to start the Mail application and retrieve your new messages. Push contacts and calendars work in much the same way, but with an added pinch of goodness. Imagine you have a Mac computer back home and whilst you are out you meet a new friend, add their details to your iPhone or MacBook address book and the details are whizzed off through the MobileMe service and again ‘pushed’ into the Web 2.0 application on your desktop Mac. Another scenario would be someone back in the office changing or adding an appointment to your calendar. Within a very short period of time, this change would be reflected on your iPhone. This sort of power is now going to be available to us all. For me, this is a real winner.
Whilst we are on the subject of the calendar. For a long time iCal has lacked the ability to add or edit events through the .Mac interface. Now, with MobileMe you have the power to make changes to your calendars from all of the current internet browsers. Whether you are on a Mac or PC, you can take full advantage of the feature rich Web 2.0 interface. The calendars look superb, fully colour coded, with drag and drop functionality. Superb, I waited for a long time for this and it is finally going to be delivered with true style.
In much the same way ‘Gallery’ also pushes changes out to friends, colleagues and relatives. Taking a photo with your iPhone, allows you to upload and share this via the new service. Great for social use, but also from a business point of view, in many jobs this could be invaluable.
Last, but not least is iDisk. Personally, I have underused this great feature in its current version. It seemed very slow to me and the hassle of uploading to it far outweighed it usefulness. This was probably very shortsighted on my part, but I have vowed that I will take advantage of the new iDisk. Not only is it very well priced, but the Web 2.0 interface adds a whole new set of features to it. The interface looks as though it is a local desktop window. You can upload a file and share it with a link that is provided. The file can be openly shared or password protected. This would put an end to me sending out large files via email. Imagine you have an artwork proof that needs to be approved by more than one person. Now, you will be able to just send a link to the file... this will be much quicker and ultimately more productive.
Mac, PC, iPhone or iPod touch, the new MobileMe is a real winner. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. For current .Mac subscribers a useful FAQ can be found here.
Labels: Apple News, Opinion
New iPhone 3G Tariffs O2 UK + PAYG + Free Upgrades
During the exciting announcements for the 3G iPhone last night, it was great news that the UK will be getting the new model on 11th July. It seems that we will also be treated to a PAYG version, so a double whammy of great news. Going for the triple, O2 have also published their costings for the iPhone 3G on various tariffs. The goods news is that the 8GB and 16GB models are free on their highest £75/month tariff, and the 8GB model is also free on the lower £45/month option. Both models are significantly cheaper, with £159 being the most you will pay for the 16GB version on the lowest £30/month deal... I know where my money will be going.Existing users can also upgrade to the new version free of charge. The only requirement is that you sign a new 18 month contract. You will not be expected to complete your current contract or pay for ending it early... fantastic.
Check out the new tariffs here.
Labels: Apple iPhone
Apple announce 3G iPhone - available July 11
Monday, June 09, 2008
Apple® today introduced the new iPhone™ 3G, combining all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast* as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK. In the US the new iPhone 3G is priced at a stunning $199 for the 8GB model, and just $299 for the 16GB model.** iPhone 3G will be available in more than 70 countries later this year, beginning with customer availability in 22 countries—Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US—on July 11.“Just one year after launching the iPhone, we’re launching the new iPhone 3G that is twice as fast at half the price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “ iPhone 3G supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync right out of the box, runs the incredible third party apps created with the iPhone SDK, and will be available in more than 70 countries around the world this year.”
iPhone 3G gives users ever faster access to the Internet and email over their cellular network with quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA for voice and data connectivity around the world. iPhone 3G supports Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE networks and automatically switches between them to ensure the fastest possible download speeds. The new iPhone 3G also makes it easier to multi-task with simultaneous voice and data communications, so with iPhone 3G you can browse the web, get map directions, or check your email while you are on a call.
iPhone 3G includes the new iPhone 2.0 software with both the iPhone SDK and key enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide over-the-air push email, contact and calendar syncing as well as remote wipe and Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to corporate networks. The iPhone SDK allows developers to create amazing applications that leverage the iPhone’s groundbreaking Multi-Touch™ user interface, animation technology, accelerometer and GPS technology on the world’s most advanced mobile platform.
iPhone 3G includes the new App Store, providing iPhone users with native applications in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The App Store on iPhone works over cellular networks and Wi-Fi, which means it is accessible from just about anywhere, so you can purchase and download applications wirelessly and start using them instantly. Some applications are even free and the App Store notifies you when application updates are available. The App Store will be available in 62 countries at launch.
Additional features available with the iPhone 2.0 software include the ability to do real-time mapping and track your progress with GPS technology, mass move and delete multiple email messages, search for contacts, access a new scientific calculator, turn on parental control restrictions for specified content, save images directly from a web page or email them to your iPhone and easily transfer them back to your photo library on your Mac® or PC. iPhone 3G delivers an amazing 10 hours of talk time on 2G networks and 5 hours using 3G, with up to 5 to 6 hours of web browsing, up to 7 hours for video playback and up to 24 hours for audio playback.
iPhone 3G takes advantage of MobileMe™, a new Internet service that pushes email, contacts, and calendars from an online “cloud” to native applications on iPhone, iPod® touch, Macs and PCs. With MobileMe email, messages are pushed instantly to iPhone, removing the need to manually check email and wait for downloads, and push keeps contacts and calendars continuously up-to-date so changes made on one device are automatically updated on other devices. With iPhone, you can even snap a photo and post it directly to a MobileMe Gallery to share with friends and family.
Pricing & Availability
iPhone 3G will be available in the UK on July 11. Further details about pricing and rate plans will be announced at a later date.
*Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions.
**Based on iPhone 3G (8GB) and first generation iPhone (8GB) purchases. Requires new two year AT&T rate plan, sold separately.
Labels: Apple iPhone, Apple News
Apple Introduce MobileMe - replaces .Mac
Apple® today introduced MobileMe™, a new Internet service that delivers push email, push contacts and push calendars from the MobileMe service in the “cloud” to native applications on iPhone™, iPod® touch, Macs and PCs. MobileMe also provides a suite of elegant, ad-free web applications that deliver a desktop-like experience through any modern browser. MobileMe applications (www.me.com) include Mail, Contacts and Calendar, as well as Gallery for viewing and sharing photos and iDisk for storing and exchanging documents online.“Think of MobileMe as ‘Exchange for the rest of us,’” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Now users who are not part of an enterprise that runs Exchange can get the same push email, push calendars and push contacts that the big guys get.”
With a MobileMe email account, all folders, messages and status indicators look identical whether checking email on iPhone, iPod touch, a Mac® or a PC. New email messages are pushed instantly to iPhone over the cellular network or Wi-Fi, removing the need to manually check email and wait for downloads. Push also keeps contacts and calendars continuously up-to-date so changes made on one device are automatically pushed up to the cloud and down to other devices. Push works with the native applications on iPhone and iPod touch, Microsoft Outlook for the PC, and Mac OS® X applications, Mail, Address Book and iCal®, as well as the MobileMe web application suite.
MobileMe web applications are 100 percent ad-free and provide an incredible, desktop-like experience that allows users to drag and drop, click and drag and even use keyboard shortcuts. MobileMe provides anywhere access to Mail, Contacts and Calendar, with a unified interface that allows users to switch between applications with a single click, and Gallery makes it easy to share photos on the web in stunning quality. Gallery users can upload, rearrange, rotate and title photos from any browser; post photos directly from an iPhone; allow visitors to download print quality images; and contribute photos to an album. MobileMe iDisk lets users store and manage files online with drag and drop filing and makes it easy to share documents too large to email by automatically sending an email with a link for downloading the file. MobileMe includes 20GB of online storage that can be used for email, contacts, calendar, photos, movies and documents.
Pricing & Availability
MobileMe, available on July 11, is a subscription-based service with 20GB of storage for £59 per year for individuals and £89 for a Family Pack, which includes one master account with 20GB of storage and four Family Member accounts with 5GB of storage each. Users can sign up for a free, 60-day MobileMe trial at www.apple.com/mobileme and current .Mac members will be automatically upgraded to MobileMe accounts. MobileMe subscribers can purchase an additional 20GB of storage for £30 or 40GB of storage for £59 annually.
Labels: Apple News
MSI Wind in UK end of June - Announcement this week
Having just spoken to MSI Computers in the UK, I have been informed that the MSI Wind will be available in the UK (rather than imports) at the end of June. If you keep an eye on the UK website for the company, they are hoping to publish an update on resellers later this week.Labels: General News
Apple Stores Down - Worldwide
Ahead of todays WWDC Keynote announcements, Apple's online stores are all down. So, I guess, well not entirely guess, that we will be seeing a new product or two today, or at least something new on the Apple Store website. I can't help myself getting excited about this, so credit cards at the ready :-)Labels: Apple News
Apple WWDC 08 - Steve Jobs Predictions
Before I kick things off with my customary predictions for this years WWDC Keynote from Steve Jobs, I wanted to let you know about my 'Mac & Gadget Show'. We had a successful show yesterday, where we talked about what might be coming from Apple this year. Many thanks to all who participated.I am running a special edition of the 'Mac & Gadget Show', tonight at 6:00pm (GMT) or 1:00pm (EDT) to cover the WWDC keynote as it happens. Pulling in news from all over the internet, using various news feeds, expect to hear a great overview of Steve Jobs Keynote speech. Point your browser here to join in, or to listen as things happen. I will try and bring in callers when I can (if you would like to talk live on the show), but please accept my apologies in advance if I rabbit on and miss you. I will try to accommodate your views and questions where possible.
Now, onto my predictions for this years WWDC.
iPhone 2.0 (or 3G)
It seems like a forgone conclusion that we will see the new iPhone launch, or at least announcement of features. If we don't, there will be a lot of disappointed people across the world. The new iPhone is predicted to include 3G technology for faster data transfers, GPS and ho knows, maybe even some sort of partnership with the likes of TomTom or Garmin to bring us true in-car or on-foot navigation.
iPhone 2.0 (or 3G) part 2
There have been images floating around showing a front facing camera on the new iPhone. Whether these are real or not, many 3G mobile handsets offer video calls, so why not Apple's iPhone. With OS X built into this little box of technology, iChatAV is an obvious progression for the device. I think that this new feature, coupled with upgrades to the .Mac service could well round up the iPhone announcements today.
Mac Mini Version 2
For quite a while now, it has been predicted that the Mac Mini will face the chop. Well, CrunchGear have posted these rather tasty (if somewhat blurry) images of Mac Fusion. A new even slimmer miniature Mac. This all-aluminum enclosure certainly looks tasty and if we see a slight ramp up from current Mac Mini specs, along with a slight price drop, then hurrah for Apple... I will buy one for sure.
Why might we not see this? Well, it would hurt sales of both the current Mac Mini (if they keep this line going) and also the AppleTV.
iPhone Goes Large
Over the past few weeks there have been loads of mini laptops (or sub-notebooks) announced from the likes of Acer, Asus, HP, MSI and Dell (to name just a few). Apple must be sitting up and taking notice of this, after all, they would be stupid not to. People love to communicate whilst 0n-the-move nowadays, and the likes of these new devices really do fit the bill. For example the MSI Wind, you get a nice keyboard, Intel Atom CPU, 10-inch screen, 80GB hard drive, all for around £300. The only downside is that it runs Linux or Windows XP.
Apple can do this product right, with the all important Mac OS X operating system. Give us a tablet computer, based around the iPhone, but twice the size. Add onto this a real keyboard, maybe a wireless unit that can sit separate or snap onto the screen and wow, they will sell truck-loads.
Mac OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'
I don't think we will see this, as Leopard in its current 10.5.3 guise is just too new. Maybe I will be totally wrong on this one.
An exciting day for us all. Join me on Talkshoe for the Mac & Gadget Show for the news as it happens.
Labels: Apple News
Geekanoids - Mac & Gadget Show
Thursday, June 05, 2008
I wanted to give you the heads up on my new Mac & Gadget Show. For a long time now I have been wanting to do a show where I could bring fellow Mac users together. Nothing formal, just a chat about the computer platform that we all love. So, every Sunday at 5:00pm UK time (GMT) or 12:00pm (EDT) you can head on over to Talkshoe and catch the show. It is free to register and then you can either just listen, or join in the chat room, or even call in on a regular phone, Skype or Gizmo project and talk on the show. If you use Gizmo Project, you can even call in totally free via SIP.How to join in the show
Go to the Talkshoe page for the show here.
Make sure you are logged into your Talkshoe account (it is free to register using the 'Sign-Up' button toward the top of the page).
Click the 'Join In' button.
You will then be in the chat room and be able to listen to the show and type messages.
Note: you can join in as a Guest, but why not register, it is totally free.
To be able to put your hand-up to talk, the easiest method is Gizmo.
Or you can call in on a regular phone or Skype on (724) 444-7444 - this is a USA number.
To use Gizmo, download it here, for Mac, PC, Linux, mobile phones & Nokia Internet Tablets.
Install and restart your computer.
Sign up for a free account.
Enter this 123@66.212.134.192 as the phone number.
You will then be prompted for the call ID (which is 20249 for the Geekanoids show), followed by the # key.
Then you will have to type in your PIN that you set-up when you registered on the Talkshoe website.
Once you have done that, you are in the voice chat. At first you will be muted, but put your hand up and you will join the queue to talk. If you also type into the chat where you are from and what you want to talk about, that helps me a lot.
So, I hope that you can join me. The next show is on Sunday, 8th June 2008 at 5:00pm UK (GMT). There might even be a special show on the Monday whilst Steve Jobs is delivering his keynote, to bring you the news as it happens.
Labels: General News
Sanyo announce HD Xacti DMX-HD1010
I just love new technology. When I first started putting together the video reviews for Geekanoids I even found myself using one of the earlier Sanyo Xacti models. It really wasn't that long ago, and in under a year things have really moved on. Sanyo has just announced its next compact, light-weight Full HD Xacti digital movie camera, the DMX-HD1010, housing advanced and improved features*1 for even more beautiful video and still recording, simple playback and storage with the ‘Xacti Library’ through intuitive menus and functions, and featuring a new ‘Slow-motion video’ function, increasing the usage of digital movie cameras. The SANYO Xacti DMX-HD1010 is the camera of choice for anyone who enjoys taking high definition videos and high resolution stills with one unit, and will be on sale in Japan from June 20, 2008. On the new product launch, Hideki Toyoda, General Manager of the SANYO’s DI Company Products Planning Department, said, “With the HD1010, SANYO has brushed up many of the features from the previous model, making it easier to use while advancing the image quality. With a SANYO Xacti, you have instant access to both high quality photos and high definition movies with one simple, stylish unit.”
The unit is capable or recording full HD at 1920x1080 resolution, at 30fps. Of note, the new 'Xacti Library' allows the backup of your recorded content to a USB2 hard drive, without the need for a computer. There is a digital image stabilizer, plus support for up to 3200 ISO sensitivity. You also get Samungs take of face recognition with their 'Face chaser' function.
Other features include a 230,000 pixel TFT-LCD monitor, in-camera editing, red eye reduction, webcam functions, built-in flash, support for 48kHz 16-bit, two-channel sound, a headphone jack, and a 1900 mAh Lithium-ion battery (DB-L50). No UK price yet, but the US gets it in July 2008 for around $800.
Labels: General News
Apple Brings Movies & Rentals to iTunes Store UK
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Apple today announced that movies from major film studios including 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Sony Pictures Television International and Lionsgate UK are now available on the UK iTunes Store. Movie purchases and rentals feature iTunes’ legendary ease of use, which makes discovering and enjoying movies as simple and easy as buying music on iTunes has always been. The iTunes Store in the UK features over 700 films available for rent or purchase, with titles available for purchase on the same day as their DVD release, including favorites such as “Hitman”, “I Am Legend”, “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets” and “Into the Wild”. iTunes Movie Rentals also features over 100 titles available in stunning high definition, perfect for viewing on a widescreen TV with Apple TV. “We’re kicking off movies on the iTunes Store in the UK with over 700 films for purchase and rent”, said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We think customers in the UK are going to love being able to enjoy their favorite movies on their iPod, iPhone or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV”.
The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting directory, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.
With iTunes Movie Rentals, once a movie is rented, it starts downloading from the iTunes Store directly to iTunes or Apple TV, and users with a fast Internet connection can start viewing the movie in seconds. Customers have up to 30 days to start watching it, and once a movie has been started customers have 48 hours to finish it — or watch it multiple times.
Pricing & Availability
Movie purchases and rentals from the iTunes Store for Mac or Windows require iTunes 7.6.2, available as a free download from www.apple.com/uk/itunes/. iTunes movie purchases and rentals require a valid credit card with a billing address in the United Kingdom. iTunes movies are available at £6.99 for library title purchases and £10.99 for new releases. iTunes Movie Rentals are £2.49 for library title rentals and £3.49 for new releases, and high definition versions are priced at just one pound more. Movie rentals can be previewed, purchased and watched on iPod classic, iPod nano with video, iPod touch, iPhone and on a widescreen TV with Apple TV.
Labels: Apple News
EeePC (or MacBook Air) Contender from Dell Mini Inspiron
Monday, June 02, 2008
It seems like every Joe is trying to get into the mini-PC market these days. Ever since the EeePC from Asus came onto the marker, there have been new announcements from HP (with the MiniNote), MSI (ahem, with the Wind) and now Dell sneak us a peak of their mini Inspiron (pictured here). A lot of websites are saying that it competes with the EeePC, but if you look at how things are developing, these new miniature PC's are getting a little larger with each incarnation. They also seem to be making sure that they have more ports than the MacBook Air.
Now, I am not saying that any PC, let alone the rather nice looking offering from Dell, would ever be better than a MacBook Air, but it does make me take notice. Wouldn't it be fantastic is Steve Jobs took notice and released the MacBook Air 2 at WWDC 2008 with two or three extra USB ports, a removable battery, and maybe an extra option or two on the hard drive front.Labels: Opinion
Iomega Professional Desktop Hard Drive Review
Storage is all important, whether you need it for your day-to-day work, or for backing up those important files, you can never have enough of it. A lot of users are now turning to off-site storage solutions, such as Amazons S3 service. However, if you need something fast and reliable, then there is no other option that a desktop hard drive.Iomega have been in this game for a long time. I remember with a warm glow, the day when the original Zip Drive was released. Wow, all that data on a tiny little disk, the size of a fat 3.5-inch floppy. Well, they kindly sent me there Professional Series Desktop Hard Drive, with triple interface to review. Offering up 500GB of storage, with USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and two FireWire 800 ports lined up across the back panel. It is also nice to see an on/off switch on the back too (many drives don’t come with one now, they just turn on and off with the computer system they are connected to).
There is not normally a lot to get excited about with devices of this nature, but I must say that the feel of this unit is superb. Plastic front, back and sides, but a lovely brushed aluminum top and underside panel, gives it a really nice solid feel. It also comes supplied with all the cables you need (although my sample was missing the FireWire 800 cable), you should get USB, FW400 and FW800 cables in the box. The power supply is a small brick type affair, into which you plug a figure 8 cable for your particular country. A Quick Start Guide is also enclosed in printed form, along with a software CD that also includes EMC Retrospect backup software. There is also a small plastic stand included, so you can stand the unit on its side to save valuable desk space. If you prefer to put the unit down flat there are four small rubber feet to dampen any vibrations.
In use the Iomega drive performed flawlessly. The noise generated is pretty darn good, seeming quieter than some hard drives I have previously tested. This has a lot to do with the decent enclosure, build quality and no doubt damping on the hard drive. On the speed front, it performed as expected on USB 2 and FireWire 400. Using the FireWire 800 connection (if possible) is definitely the way to go. Data transfer was very fast indeed, and although this is not a comparative review, the Iomega was faster than a Freecom Pro hard drive, but a little slower than the Western Digital MyBook Studio edition.
The flexibility of the triple interface on the Iomega Pro Desktop Drive, coupled with the rock solid build quality, make this a very sensible choice. If it comes down to brand, then you cannot go far wrong with a manufacturer that has been around for so long. If you need 500GB or more of storage (this particular drive from the professional series goes up to 750GB with the triple interface, or 1.5TB with eSATA and USB2 interface), then this drive should definitely be on your shortlist.
Product: Iomega Professional Desktop Hard Drive (#33648)
Price: £119.99
Supplied by: Iomega Europe
Contact form here
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
New iMac 24-inch Lands - iMac Project 2008
It seemed appropriate to let you all know about our new acquisition. You may recall that last year some very supportive companies sponsored our laser etched MacBook Pro. Well, we have gained many many more readers and viewers since then, so most of the existing sponsors and some new, dug deep into their pockets again this year.Not quite ready for public consumption yet, our investment went on a new 3.06GHz, 24-inch iMac. This beautiful machine landed at Geekanoids HQ late last week. The screen is gorgeous and gives a massive amount of creative workspace. The processor just eats its way through our video review processing, so will be a really productive addition for getting great content out there for you all. Of note, the iMac runs very quietly, has a massive 500GB hard drive, and 512MB of video memory. A really stunning machine. Expect to see it in it full glory, along with a list of sponsors toward the end of June.
We had a little funds left in the bank at the end of the day. This has been invested in new studio lighting, so much more accurately exposed videos for all. We also purchased an Audio Technica AT2020 microphone and an Alesis Multimix 8 USB2 mixing desk, so my dulcit tones will be more palatable.Labels: General News
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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