Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator Headset Review
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
If you are really into your gaming, or perhaps you spend most of your day communicating with others on Skype. You really should take a look at a classy headset, something like this offering from Razer. Check out the video review below and see what you get for your money.
Product: Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator Headset
Price: £49.99 (average UK)
Supplied by: Razer USA Ltd
Contact: saleseu@razerzone.com
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
Geekanoids News Video #006 - 29th Sept 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Another week has flown by and some interesting bits have caught my attention this week. Japan iPhone sales update, Adobe Creative Suite 4, an interesting eBook reader, plus an alternative to the iTunes Store. Check out the video below.
Labels: General News
Geekanoids News Video #005 - last week
Why do I keep forgetting to post these. I guess my schedule is so busy that it slips my mind. Anyway, here is last weeks news for you to catch up on.
Labels: General News
Griffin Announces Simplifi - Smart charging for iPod & iPhone
Friday, September 26, 2008
Griffin Technology Inc., creator of all things iPod, today announced availability of Simplifi, a desktop solution that allows users to reclaim their desktops by consolidating an iPod and iPhone dock, media card reader and USB hub into a single, attractive device.I post a lot of news like this, but when I got this news of the Simplifi I was amazed. This is the one iPod device that I could have done with years ago... expect to see a review soon [Dave].
"At Griffin, we know that users are syncing and charging more than just iPod and iPhone on their desktops," said Paul Griffin, founder of Griffin Technology. "With all the cables and connectors used today, the desktop can easily be overrun with clutter. Simplifi gives the iPod and iPhone enthusiast a stylish and easy way to consolidate all of their peripherals with a single, convenient device."
Simplifi charges iPhone and all dock-rechargeable iPod models that charge via USB. Additionally, Simplifi boasts a USB mini cable for syncing the iPod or iPhone with a computer. Its USB ports can handle keyboards, printers, cameras, flash drives, scanners, external hard drives or anything USB 2.0-compatible. Simplifi also includes an AC adapter for those USB devices that need a powered port.
- A simple, versatile way to de-clutter the desktop
- Sleek, anodized aluminum design
- 2-port powered USB hub; includes AC adapter
- Charge/sync hub for iPhone and USB chargeable iPod models
- Reads and writes the most popular digital media cards, including Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD, SDHC, xD and CompactFlash (CF)
Pricing and Availability
Griffin's Simplifi, $69.99, is now available at major retailers and on Griffin's website here.
Labels: Apple iPod
Stuff.tv vidcast entry - I love my Stuff!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Don't worry guys and gals... Geekanoids will continue to run and run, bringing you news and reviews for your consumption. However, I do aspire to greener grass, or errr fruitier pastures. Having been a reader of Stuff magazine for a long time, I just had to enter their Vidcast competition... wish me luck.
You can watch the video below, or by clicking this link.
Labels: General News
Quark announce a slew of products inc. Server 8
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Quark announced today the simultaneous fall release of Quark Publishing System® 8, QuarkCopyDesk® 8, and QuarkXPress® Server 8, marking the complete compatibility of Quark’s enterprise solutions with QuarkXPress 8. With the release of these offerings, customers can leverage the superior design capabilities of QuarkXPress 8 with the flexible, automated workflow of QPS® in their publishing environments. Together these offerings connect key publishing tasks and technologies to help customers lay the groundwork for Quark® Dynamic Publishing Solution.Built on an open standards-based architecture, QPS 8 provides a flexible framework for marketing departments, agencies, and magazine and newspaper publishers to manage their publishing workflows. Through compatibility with QuarkXPress 8, QPS 8 delivers greater design capability for the delivery of print, Web, and Flash® output, and - through the universal file format of QuarkXPress 8 and QuarkCopyDesk 8 - allows publishers to preview, edit, and output high-fidelity documents created anywhere in the world.
QuarkCopyDesk 8, Quark’s text and picture editing software, and QuarkXPress Server 8, the composition and rendering engine that powers publishing workflows and business applications - both core components of QPS - are also compatible with QuarkXPress 8. QuarkCopyDesk 8 inherits QuarkXPress 8’s new intuitive interface, advanced typographical control, and support for East Asian text, as well as improved page and baseline grid features, and operating system-level drag-and-drop functionality.
In addition to compatibility with QuarkCopyDesk 8, QuarkXPress Server 8, and QuarkXPress 8, QPS 8 introduces:
- A ready-made adapter for Alfresco Enterprise 2, the leading open source content management system, allowing users to store assets in a single repository and view and update content in real-time
- User interface support for 13 languages including Japanese, as well as hyphenation and spell checking for more than 30 languages, enabling advanced international collaboration
- Improved asset management through QPS Connect Client, including multi-page preview, multiple asset check-in, metadata tagging, custom grouping, and full text search functionality
- QPS Web Hub support for East Asian languages, including the support for Rubi and Group Characters
- Support for native Adobe® Illustrator® file formats, which eliminates the need to switch back and forth between QuarkXPress and Illustrator for editing
QPS is the most flexible and easy-to-use workflow system available today. Unlike Woodwing´s Smart Connection Enterprise and Softcare´s K4, only QPS offers XML-based Job Jackets technology to evaluate design and content accuracy in order to prevent errors early in the production process. Only QPS offers ready-made integration with Alfresco Enterprise 2, the leading open-source content management system. In addition, it is the easiest workflow system to set up because it is configured through a graphical user interface instead of a browser interface or text-based configuration scripts. QPS also works with more desktop applications than Smart Connection Enterprise and K4.
"Quark Publishing System 8 is the most flexible, cost-effective, and easy-to-use publishing system available today," said PG Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Product Management for Quark. "Its compatibility with QuarkXPress 8, combined with the power of QuarkCopyDesk 8 and QuarkXPress Server 8, helps customers build the foundation for dynamic publishing."
Quark will be onsite at IFRA (Booth #10240) October 27-30, 2008 and Graph Expo (Booth #4421) October 26-29, 2008 to demonstrate Quark Dynamic Publishing Solution, QPS 8, QuarkCopyDesk 8, QuarkXPress Server 8, and QuarkXPress 8. While onsite at the two events, Quark will make another significant announcement related to QPS 8.
Quark Publishing System 8, QuarkCopyDesk 8 and QuarkXPress Server 8 will be available in Q4 2008.
For more information on QPS 8 and the entire portfolio of QuarkXPress 8 compliant solutions, please visit here. To learn more about QuarkXPress 8, please visit here.
Labels: General News
Macally BookShell Pro Review
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Protecting your MacBook Pro from bumps and scratches should be high up on your priority list. Doing it in style should be up there too. Check out this video review of the BookShell Pro from Macally.
Product: Macally BookShell Pro
Price: Now £18.95 from Macheaven
Supplied by: Macally Europe
Contact: + 31 24 373 14 10
Labels: Mac Accessories, Reviews
Geekanoids Gaming Reviews - forthcoming
Exciting news today, we have increased our readership so so much over the past year. This has lead to many requests for coverage of the gaming variety. So, it gives me great pleasure to announce that from the beginning of October you will be seeing a lot more game reviews. We also have some awesome gaming accessories too.To kick things off, we will be bringing you reviews of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2009 (PS3), Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3), Baja: Edge of Control (PS3) and the Logitech Driving Force GT steering wheel.
The most exciting product though, is the Raceroom Seat from PlaySeats. This awesome gaming seat is available in loads of different designs, classy black versions, thru to stunning white A1 GP or Takuma Sato version. They have fully adjustable steel frames and a unique folding mechanism so that they pack down to a nice compact size. Well will be kicking things off in style with an in-depth video review of the PlaySeat very soon.
Labels: Gaming, General News
Lexar Offers Kodak-Branded SDHC Memory Card
Monday, September 22, 2008
Lexar Media, today extended its KODAK-branded memory card offering with the introduction of the 16GB KODAK Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC) High-Speed Card. The new high-capacity KODAK-branded card is designed to capture and store large volumes of high-definition video and fast-action photographs when used with today's popular SDHC-enabled digital video and point-and-shoot cameras. The new 16GB KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card is speed-rated at 60x, capable of minimum sustained read and write speeds of 9MB per second for capturing full motion video without interruption. For more information about the 16GB KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card, please visit www.lexar.com/kodak/."As more point-and-shoot digital cameras include advanced features such as HD video recording and rapid-fire picture-taking, a greater number of photographers demand a memory card that is fast enough to enable them to take advantage of their new camera's technology," said Manisha Sharma, director of product marketing, Lexar. "The KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card is an excellent choice for not only Kodak cameras, but all SDHC-compatible digital cameras. The strength of the KODAK brand paired with Lexar's high-speed, high-capacity capabilities enables users of the card to experience the enhanced benefits of today's digital cameras."
Available in October, the new 16GB KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card includes a limited lifetime warranty and 24-hour customer support from Lexar. The KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card is also available in 4GB and 8GB capacities. The KODAK High-Speed line of memory cards also includes the 2GB KODAK Secure Digital (SD) High-Speed Card.
Labels: General News
Seagate FreeAgent Pro - new lineup for 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Seagate has announced its Autumn 2008 lineup of the award-winning FreeAgent™ external hard drives. This new generation of the Seagate® FreeAgent™ family includes attractive desktop and mobile options, for both Mac® and Windows® operated PCs that make it a breeze to back up, share and protect valuable digital content like photos, videos and music. I especially like the Go version for the Mac, which has this snazzy little desktop dock. The Mac Desktop version also looks the business... reviews will appear on the Geekanoids website in due course.The remainder of the official press release from Seagate reads as follows;
Seagate’s flagship offering, the FreeAgent Go portable storage solution, is the slimmest external drive available today. At a height of only 12.5mm, the new FreeAgent Go easily fits in a pocket while still including all the advanced shock and vibration protection people have come to expect from Seagate. Another industry first, the new FreeAgent Go is the first external hard drive to offer a docking option, providing a practical way to move from the desk to the road, while leaving the hassle of fumbling with cables and locating USB ports to the history books. With up to 500GB of capacity, the FreeAgent Go bridges the gap between standard portable solutions and desktop solutions with enough storage to carry entire libraries of movies, pictures and music. No longer does one need to sacrifice capacity for portability, Seagate FreeAgent Go provides the benefits and convenience of both in a truly seamless on-the-go package.
“With the amount of content being created and consumed today, the average broadband household will soon need close to a terabyte of storage to account for their personal media collections on PCs, portable devices, and DVRs," said Jane Shields, research analyst, Parks Associates. “With Seagate’s coupling of high-capacity, reliable and easy-to-use solutions with attractive designs, the company is helping more people enjoy the benefits that come with backup and sharing of their digital media collections.”
“The growth of the 2.5–inch form factor external hard disk drive market has been very strong – almost doubling in 2Q08 compared with 2Q07,” said Wolfgang Schlichting, research director, Removable Storage at IDC. “This growth is much higher than the overall market and driven by
the products’ convenient size and connectivity, as well as their large storage capacity and affordability.”
The FreeAgent Go desktop docking station is sold separately and comes paired with a black leatherette carrying case to add style while protecting the drive from the bumps and scratches encountered while traveling in hand bags and during other on-the-road adventures. The FreeAgent Go is now available in a variety of popular colours, including silver, black, red, and blue. The drive also ships with a flexible, thin USB 2.0 travel cable.
The FreeAgent Desk drive and FreeAgent XTreme™ drive are the family’s two 3.5-inch high-capacity desktop offerings, and provide up to 1.5 Terabytes of storage. The sleek and modern design of these drives provides the flexibility to sit horizontally or stand vertically to maximise your workspace. The FreeAgent Desk drive is a brushed aluminum high-capacity solution with a USB 2.0 interface. The FreeAgent XTreme drive is a midnight black, brushed aluminum high-capacity storage solution with a triple interface of eSATA, USB 2.0 and FireWire 400.
“The first FreeAgent storage solution offering introduced in 2007 unquestionably made a mark for Seagate in the consumer space, demonstrating that hard drives can be designed to provide a stylish complement to a computing environment,” said Pat King, senior vice president and general manager of Seagate’s Consumer Solution Division. This second-generation of FreeAgent storage solutions takes the extra step of providing easy-to-use technology in a consumer-friendly package.”
Seagate FreeAgent drives are compatible with Windows® Vista® and Windows® XP® Operating Systems and come equipped with Seagate Manager™ software, an enhanced application that provides scheduled automated back ups and multi-computer synchronisation. The FreeAgent drives for Windows also offer security in the form of software-based AES-256bit encryption and Seagate DrivePass™ password protection for drive access to help keep your information safe and private. The environmentally smart utilities help save energy by putting the drive in sleep mode once it has been idle for 15 minutes. Seagate FreeAgent hard drives include Energy Star 5 rated AC adapters and are now packaged in 100% recyclable materials. And with Seagate’s industry-leading five-year limited warranty, the FreeAgent storage solutions provide the confidence that your digitally-captured memories and life’s work is on a hard drive you can trust.
As part of this product introduction, Seagate will also unveil external storage solutions designed specifically for the Mac community. The Mac community has spoken and Seagate is listening. The FreeAgent Go for Mac and FreeAgent Desk™ for Mac are both formatted for use with Mac OS X out of the box and are Time Machine ready with FireWire800/400 or USB 2.0 connectivity. Seagate understands that Mac customers have specific needs and performance requirements and these demands are being met with the FreeAgent external hard drive for Mac offering.
FreeAgent™ | Go Drive for MacWith a FireWire 800/400 interface and USB 2, docking station and carrying case the Seagate FreeAgent Go drive for Mac is equipped to move seamlessly between the desktop and road. Formatted for use with Mac OS X and Time Machine ready, the FreeAgent Go for Mac is the perfect back up companion for any Apple® computer. Seagate FreeAgent Go for Mac is available this month for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of £94.99 for 250GB and £110.99 for 320GB.
FreeAgent™ | Desk Drive for Mac
The high-capacity FreeAgent Desk drive for Mac features a brushed aluminum arctic silver finish that is a perfect match for the current iMac Desktop. With both a USB 2 and a FireWire 800/400 connection and tuned to be Time Machine ready, the FreeAgent Desk for Mac is available this month for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of £102.99 for 500GB and £142.99 for 1TB.
FreeAgent™ | Go Drive
A pocket-sized storage drive that packs a punch, the Seagate FreeAgent Go drive is slim, compact and shipping in four colour options available as of this month in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of £62.99 for 250GB, £79.99 for 320GB and £150.99 for 500GB.
FreeAgent™ | Dock and Case
Protection for those on the go and a dock station for convenient and quick access to your files, these accessories for the FreeAgent Go drive are sold separately. The dock and case will be available in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific for a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of £19.90.
FreeAgent™ | Desk Drive
This convenient desktop storage solution, Seagate FreeAgent Desk drive, is the perfect desktop companion for basic back up and security for all your digital files. This high-capacity USB 2.0 interfaced drive provides enough room to hold libraries of images, music and video. The FreeAgent Desk drive is available as of this month in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific, for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of £67.99 for 500GB, £75.99 for 640GB and £107.99 for 1TB.
FreeAgent™ | XTreme™ Drive
Designed for performance, especially for those who work with high-definition video and graphic files, the Seagate FreeAgent XTreme drive is the perfect fit. The FreeAgent XTreme delivers a 3GB per second transfer rate with the eSATA connection. This drive also includes FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 connection options. The FreeAgent XTreme is available worldwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of £94.99 for 500GB, £102.99 for 640GB and £134.99 for 1TB.
Labels: General News, Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals
Buffalo Technology launch new look DriveStation
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Buffalo Technology today unveils the new look DriveStation external USB storage device, which now boasts power saving functionality. The DriveStation provides a low-cost, easy to use storage option for home and small office users.Power Saving Utility* software provided with the product, allows users to set timings to put the device in a low power “sleep” mode when not in use, reducing power consumption of the idle unit by up to 75 per cent. The unit can be powered up again either manually or by accessing the drive. The DriveStation’s Auto Power On/Off function means it automatically turns on and off with your computer.
Available in five capacities, the drive is equipped with Buffalo’s TurboUSB software to facilitate increased data transfer rates via USB. It also comes with Buffalo’s exclusive Secure Lock Ware Encryption software for Windows, to provide a simple option for securing data on the drive.
“As technology users become more concerned about rising energy costs and the power consumption of their devices, they are demanding more intelligent products which use power more efficiently. The DriveStation not only helps consumers and small businesses more easily monitor and address such an important issue, but is extremely easy to set-up and use,” comments Paul Hudson, Northern European Sales Director at Buffalo Technology.
Backed by a limited two-year warranty, the DriveStation is available now from Amazon, Dabs.com, Misco and Play.com at an estimated street price of:
HD-CE320U2 (320GB) £54.99 (inc. VAT)
HD-CE500U2 (500GB) £65.99 (inc. VAT)
HD-CE640U2 (640GB) £73.99 (inc. VAT)
HD-CE750U2 (750GB) £90.99 (inc. VAT)
HD-CE1.0TU2 (1TB) £119.99 (inc. VAT)
Labels: General News, Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals
Apple's 2nd Generation iPod touch Review
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Yes, I have this new device in my hands already. The new 2nd Generation iPod touch was launched last Tuesday, 9th September 2008. Steve Jobs showed us this new ultra-thin offering, plus multi-coloured 4G iPod Nano (review coming soon). Check out my video review below.
Labels: iPod Touch, Reviews
Geekanoids News Video #004 - 15th Sept 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wow, it certainly was a busy time last week. Take a look at this latest news edition. Lots of news from Apple, plus new products on our Geekanoids Shop. Don't forget to drop by tomorrow for our Tuesday video review.
Labels: General News
New iPod Nano 4G cases from Proporta
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I am really digging the new iPod Nano design and cannot wait to see one in the flesh. Proporta have released details of their new case line-up which will be available really soon. They certainly have been quick off the starting block to provide the latest in stylish (and practical) accessories for your newly designed iPod, whether it be the new iPod nano, the new iPod touch or the new iPod classic.The Mini Maya Pouch (Apple 4G iPod nano) is perfect for housing your 4th generation iPod nano - keeping it safe from knocks, bumps and any nasties lurking in your bag or pockets. It’s also available in enough colours to make a rainbow jealous – just like the new iPod nano.
The Profile Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is made from a thin yet incredibly tough polycarbonate, and covered in stylish embossed leather. The ideal accessory to protect your nano from everyday scratches and impact damage. Available in a variety of styles.
The Compact Mirror iPod Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is stylish, sleek and available in Mulberry, Port or Black. The Compact Mirror iPod Case features an internal mirror. So you can look almost as good as your 4G iPod nano surely will.
Made from an alternative to leather, the Proporta Leather Style Protective Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is custom designed to fit the exact specifications of your new iPod nano. Beautifully designed with a contrast interior. You’ll struggle to find a case this stylish that is so easy on the wallet (not to mention the cows).
The Echo Mirror Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is durable enough to protect your 4G iPod nano and clever enough to double up as a mirror when your LCD is switched off. Making it the envy of anyone lucky enough to be in its presence.
Handmade from high quality leather, Proporta’s Aluminium Lined Leather Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) boasts a perfect, custom fit with maximum protection. Lined with aircraft grade aluminium, the cover offers the ultimate in tough screen protection to save your device from crushing and impact shocks.
The Soft Feel Silicone Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is cleverly precision moulded from impact absorbent Silicone to provide two thin (yet really tough), protective skins to keep your iPod 4G nano safe and sound.
Protect your Apple 4G iPod nano without impairing its sharp, sleek image. The Impact Protective Crystal Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) has a soft-feel back and scratch-resistant top shell making it soft to the touch, but super tough.
And don’t forget the precious screen of your new iPod 4G nano. Protect it with one of Proporta’s Advanced Screen Protectors. It will ensure you never suffer from a scratched screen again.
For the new 2nd generation iPod touch and iPod classic Proporta has released a similar range of accessories to the above. All of which are available to order from Proporta.
Labels: Apple iPod, iPod Touch
Belkin line up new cases for new Nano, touch & classic
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Belkin are readying a whole host of new cases for the just announced refreshed iPod range. Most of the new cases are expected to be available mid-September, they have cases for the iPod Nano 4G, touch 2G and classic 2G. Too many to mention here, but here are my favourite picks, which I hope to bring you video reviews of when they are available.
Sport Armband Plus with Fast Fit for iPod nano 4G (F8Z376eaNBY); iPod touch 2G (F8Z363eaNBY); iPod classic 2G (F8Z388eaNBY) – £24.99- Removable sleeve with low-profile belt clip and key pouch
- Lightweight water-wicking materials
- Includes Cable Capsule for added headphone-cord management
- Fast Fit system for easy one-handed fastening
- Compatible with Nike+
- Clear screen protector allows for easy navigation
- Hand-washable
Clear Acrylic Case for iPod nano 4G (F8Z381eaCLR) – £19.99; iPod touch 2G (F8Z368eaCLR); iPod classic 2G (F8Z393eaCLR) – £24.99- Available from November
- iPod style and form shows through
- Click wheel protection
- Sleek, form-fitting design minimises bulk
Remix Metal for iPod nano 4G (F8Z381ea) – £19.99; iPod classic 2G (F8Z393ea) – £24.99- Metal faceplate
- Slim design minimises bulk
- Click wheel protection
- Available in red, silver, pink, and black
Sonic Wave Two-Tone Silicone Sleeve for iPod nano 4G (F8Z379eaBKI); iPod touch 2G (F8Z364eaBKI); iPod classic 2G (F8Z391eaBKI) – £14.99- Two-tone laser-etched design
- Form-fitting construction allows charging while in sleeve
- Available in the following two-tone colors: black/infrared, cool grey/grapefruit, pink/translucent white, black/blue, black/green, black/white, blue/orange
Sonic Wave Silicone Sleeve, 2-pack for iPod nano 4G (F8Z380eaBKW-2); iPod touch 2G (F8Z367eaBKW-2); iPod classic 2G (F8Z392eaBKW-2) – £12.99- Textured exterior provides better grip
- Packs available in black/white, pink/purple, blue/orange
Labels: Apple iPod, Apple News, iPod Touch
Buffalo LinkStation to support iPhone streaming
Buffalo Technology has upgraded its Web Access feature to allow users of its NAS devices to view and play stored content via their Apple iPhone™. The LinkStation series is the first NAS family to support media access through the Apple iPhone™, using Buffalo’s unique Web Access feature. With Buffalo's Web Access feature, users can seamlessly stream digital content stored on the Buffalo device from anywhere in the world via a web browser with a simple, easy-to-use setup and intuitive interface.Content is accessed via the Apple iPhone™ by running Safari, logging on to http://buffalonas.com and entering the registered name of the LinkStation. Users can then immediately connect to their digital content and choose to view files, stream music and videos, or view photos.
The new Apple iPhone™ Web Access functionality will be included in firmware on all new LinkStation Live models from September. Users of Buffalo’s LinkStation Pro Duo and LinkStation Mini devices can download the updated firmware free of charge from www.buffalotech.com
Labels: Apple iPhone, General News
Loving the new iPod Nano Advert
The more I look at the new 4th generation iPod Nano, the more I love it. Those guys and gals at Apple are pure genius (more so than the new iTunes feature). The colours are funky and I cannot decide my favourite, so may have to just buy more than one. Loving the new advert too.
Labels: Apple iPod, Apple News
Apple ditches two iPod classics, sticks with one
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The biggest surprise for me that came out of tonights "Let's Rock" event from Apple was the iPod classic announcements. It seems that they have not listened to users. My take on the iPod classic is that people loved the mammoth 160GB model. It was for media junkies that just have to carry everything around with them.Well, gone is the 160GB model. Apple also discontinued the 80GB model. They replaced both with one thin 120GB model. Okay, so you get a thin iPod, but what about the capacity?
The new iPod classic 2nd generation is available in just that one 120GB capacity. Either in silver or black (as before) and for the price of £169. So the price is really good. I know this thing will still sell, but I was hoping for a little more. Maybe some of the things like Wi-Fi and a slightly larger screen would have taken this too far away from its 'classic' moniker. That said, adding some new frills would have been easy and getting rid of the 160GB model is just daft.
Size, weight & battery
Height:4.1 inches (103.5 mm)
Width:2.4 inches (61.8 mm)
Depth:0.41 inch (10.5 mm)
Weight:4.9 ounces (140 grams)
Display 2.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight
320 by 240 pixels at 163 ppi
Up to 36 hours of battery for music
Up to 6 hours of battery for video
Labels: Apple iPod, Apple News
New iPod touch launched today by Apple
Well, Apple have done what seems like a nice revision to the iPod touch.Main changes include the addition of side mounted volume buttons (like the iPhone), polished curved aluminum back, and the inclusion of the Nike+iPod receiver built into the unit. No news yet of if the transmitter is included in the box (as this is still a requirement), although from reading the specification it says 'Nike+ iPod Support', so this suggests that an additional purchase is still required.
Creating Genius playlists actually on the device is a nice touch. I am not too keen on the highly polished back. The brushed finish of the original iPhone was much nicer, at least the fingerprints that so many complain about on Apple kit were not a problem.
At £169, £219 and £279 for the 8GB, 16GB and 32GB respectively, this is a nice, but not essential upgrade. However, if you are in the market for an iPod, then the 'touch' really is a nice proposition.
Size and Weight
Height:4.1 inches (110 mm)
Width:2.4 inches (61.8 mm)
Depth:0.33 inch (8.5 mm)
Weight:4.05 ounces (115 grams)
Display 3.5-inch (diagonal)
Multi-Touch color LCD
320 by 480 pixels at 163 ppi
Up to 6 hours video playback
Up to 36 hours music playback
Labels: Apple iPod, Apple News
New iPod Nano 4G from Apple - launched today
Just gathering my thoughts and the details of the new iPod Nano, just launched today, Tuesday 9th September 2008. Available today in an 8GB capacity or 16GB by the end of the week.Size and Weight
Height: 3.6 inches (90.7 mm)
Width: 1.5 inches (38.7 mm)
Depth: 0.24 inch (6.2 mm)
Weight: 1.3 ounces (36.8 grams)
Display 2-inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight
320 by 240 pixels at 204 ppi
Up to 24 hours music playback
Up to 4 hours video playback
This looks like a worthwhile upgrade, with the 8GB costing £109 and the 16GB costing just £149.The accelerometer is pretty neat too, so when you flip the Nano onto its side, the screen display rotates too. Shame that they didn't push the technology one step further by doing something with the click wheel. As you can see, the controls are not orientated correctly when you are viewing something in widescreen.
The colour line-up is very nice. Silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink. This is a nice selection and nice to see no special edition with a premium price. What really amazes me is the size of this thing. When you take into account that it is just over 6mm thin, with those sexy tapered edges. The device practically disappears when viewed from the side. Also, pictured here, I really like the silver colour, with contrasting click wheel... this one might just get my money. The difficult decision is on the pricing, £149 for a 16GB Nano or add £20 for the entry level 8GB iPod touch? What would you do?Labels: Apple iPod, Apple News
Apple Let's Rock Event - San Francisco 9th Sept 2008
Wickedly exciting event tonight, Apple are hosting this launch event entitled "Let's Rock" in San Francisco. Carry on reading for the rundown of the exciting announcements as they happen. All timings are GMT (UK time).
18:00 Steve Jobs has taken to the stage.
- Screen shows text "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated", hilarious joke, well done Steve.
18:05 Covering off the content on iTunes. 8.5 million songs, 30,000 TV shows, 125,000 podcasts and 3,000 applications.
18:08 New content being added to iTunes. High Definition TV Shows for $2.99 whilst Standard Definition will be $1.99.
18:09 New iTunes 8 is launching today with the grid view (rumored) and Genius (also rumored) for making automatic playlists and suggestions of tracks.
- Genius sends your artist, track names, play count etc to the cloud anonymously. Then feeds suggested tracks back to you. Info is analysed against other iTunes users... sounds clever.
18:20 New 120GB iPod classic at $249, this replaces the 80GB which is no more. 160GB model also discontinued (strange decision, won't be liked by everyone).
18:25 New iPod Nano. Yes, this is the slim, curved shape one that was rumored. New user interface on this too, akin to the iPhone and touch.
- New Nano has accelerometer, so turn it on its side and the screen display rotates.
- 8GB at $149
- 16GB at $199
- New colours, silver, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red & green
- 8GB in stock today, 16GB next week
- Very environment friendly. Arsenic-free glass, BFR-free, Mercury-free, PVC-free & highly recyclable
- Battery lasts for 4 hours of video, 24 hours of music
18:30 New headphones for the Nano too, with a click, double click, triple click trick to control the Nano and a built-in microphone for recording, $29.
18:35 Redesign to the iPod touch. All steel back, curved like the iPhone. Built-in speaker (yes!). Volume controls on the side (yes!) and Nike+iPod built right into the touch (wow!). Genius playlist creation is also possible on-the-go.
- Seems like the Nike+iPod receiver is built into the new touch, so all you need is the transmitter in your shoe. The older iPod touch will also need the receiver plugged into the bottom.
18:42 Phil Schiller now on stage demonstrating new Apps. Kicks off with Spore Creature Creator, then moves on to Real Soccer 2009. Phil likes his games. Last up is Need for Speed, great graphics apparently.
18:45 Steve is back on stage. (Where oh where is the 'One More Thing' everyone is waiting for?).
- New Nano battery life is 36 hours when playing music and 6 hours for video.
- 8GB at $229, 16GB at $299 and the 32GB model is $399.
- All three models available today!
18:50 iPhone and iPod touch software 2.1 (which includes the Nike+ software) is also available today. Free for iPhone (from this Friday), but $9.95 for iPod touch owners.
18:53 Wrapping up with music from Jack Johnson.
Well, that's it. I am sort of OK with the updates, pretty much as expected. Just a big shame that there was no really big announcement of a brand new product. I guess we all expect too much nowadays.
Labels: Apple News
Macally Turtle Mouse Review
It is that day of the week again, 'Review Tuesday'. This time around you can take a look at the video review of a cleverly designed mouse from Macally. The Turtle has a tale, yes a wired portable mouse, with a trick up its sleeve. Enjoy!
Product: Macally Turtle Mouse
Price: £21.59 (average)
Supplied by: Macally Europe
Contact: + 31 24 373 14 10
Labels: Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
New iPod Nano 4G - LED lit Click Wheel
Monday, September 08, 2008
I was just looking at these mockups by Miguel Suárez and came to the conclusion/prediction that this could well be a possibility. However, take a look at the click wheel. What happens when the user turns this new Nano on its side to watch a video. My prediction is that the click wheel will be a smoked black (in this case) or a semi-translcent finish. The menu, play/pause, and skip symbols will be tiny OLED screens being the fascia and light up according to which way you are holding the device.If this is how Apple design the new Nano, they certainly win my vote.
Labels: Apple iPod
Geekanoids News Video #003 - 8th Sept 2008
Sunday, September 07, 2008
It gives me great pleasure to bring you the third installment of Geekanoids News. This weekly roundup shares the news that has really excited me over the past week. Kevin does it again, "Let's Rock" with Apple tomorrow my prediction, nice picture from San Francisco, Zune (what!), and some exciting Adobe news. Remember to join me again tomorrow (Tuesday) evening for some extra special news coverage.
Labels: Apple News, General News
Coming soon to Geekanoids
A quick update for you all... there is a busy week ahead. Check the website tomorrow for the next installment of Geekanoids News. It certainly is going to bring you some food for thought. Tuesday will bring you the newest of our Video Reviews in the morning, followed by a special news update in the late evening.
Over the next couple of weeks you will see some really great reviews. Including a series of Quark Xpress 8 New Features, the Elgato EyeTV DTT Deluxe, and the Slingbox Solo. Until then, happy computing :-)
Labels: General News
Griffin Nu Form Case for iPhone 3G Review
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Protect your new baby, but remember this must be done in style. The Nu Form case from Griffin Technology does just that. It also offers something a little different. For a long time I have hated cases that I have to remove my iPod or iPhone from to dock it. Well, the Nu Form addresses this problem. Check out the video review below.
Product: Griffin Technology Nu Form for iPhone 3G
Price: $24.99
Supplied by: Griffin Technology
Contact: +1 (615) 399-7000
Labels: Apple iPhone, Reviews
Sony Ericsson W890i Review
Monday, September 01, 2008
I love my iPhone, there is no denying that. To compliment it, I was really looking for an ultra-thin mobile phone with loads of features. One essential feature on my list is Skype, as I am a bug user of this application. The latest mobile in my hands is a Sony Ericsson W890i, purchased from Hutchison 3G or 'three' as they are better known. The cost to me is £15 per month for 300 minutes/texts, plus 300 bonus 3-to-3 minutes. The handset was an additional £3 per month, so a total of £18 per month.
It was important that my second mobile phone had to be very slim and pocketable. At just 104x47mm and 10mm thin, this certainly meets my requirements. With battery installed it is just over 80g in weight, so very light. The casing has a metal finish and feels very luxurious, no fingerprints show and it is a nice size to hold in the hand.The back of the unit sports a 3.2 megapixel camera and in my tests this performs OK. You activate it using a dedicated camera button on the right hand edge of the case. This side of the case also has the zoom in/out buttons (which double as volume when using as a phone). No optical zoom here, just 3x digital zoom. No flash either, so poor low light performance, but very good outdoors. So not a camera phone, but OK for the occasional snap.
The front of the unit sports the second front facing camera for video calls... not that I plan to make many of them. The screen, whilst a little on the small side, measures about 2-inches on the diagonal. It is nice and clear, with very vibrant colours. When you are playing a video back, or viewing a photo, you can set the screen to landscape mode, so it makes it pretty decent for viewing your multimedia files.
Under the screen you have the control keys. These consist of call start and end buttons on the left and right. These are surrounded by a funny shape key, where the top edge of this key are the soft keys for using in the menus. The bottom edge of the keys are for shortcuts and the 'c' button for clearing entries. In the centre you have a play/stop button, which also acts as an OK button. This is surrounded by another weird shape key for going up/down/left/right in menus or for skipping back and forth in music tracks. This configuration is a little fiddly and not the best design, but you get used to it.
The numeric keypad is pretty good. The previous W880 had tiny keys. This new model has larger keys, they are just the right size. My only complaint is they are plastic.
The menu is beautifully set out. Navigating around the menu gives you some vibrating feedback, so you know when you have moved the cursor or selected something. This is nice for some things, but when your cursor moves, you know it anyway, so why vibrate? There are a tonne of features though and everything is very easily configured, it all just makes sense.
The 'w' designates this as a Walkman phone. As such the music playback is very good. The user interface is clear and easy to understand. When playing a track back it displays mini album artwork, track title and artist. It displays the track length, time left and an animated progress bar. The speaker is pretty darn good too. Even if you are not happy with the sound, you can delve into equalisation settings and stereo widening, which both work quite well.
Wow, this phone really should have that 'w' at the beginning of the model number for 'w'ow or 'w'onderful or 'w'ealth of features. On top of all the built in stuff, three offers some truly awesome applications. Google search, Messenger, Youtube and ebay are amongst the choices. For my first application download I chose Skype. This allows me to call other Skype users free of charge, right on my mobile, how cool is that.
Before I sign off, other positives include the excellent call quality, superb selection of ringtones and excellent email management. On the negative front, the power adapter has an awful connector, so difficult to remove from the handset. To end on a positive... how many hours will this battery last... 48 hours of testing and quite heavy use and it is still showing half full... 'w'ow!
Product: Sony Ericsson W890i
Price: £18 per month minimum on three
Supplied by: Hutchison 3G
Contact: 0800 358 1410
Labels: Mobile Phones, Reviews
Geekanoids News Video #002
The second installment of Geekanoids News. This weekly roundup brings you details of what has caught my attention over the last week. New software for iPhone, something special at the Regent Street Apple Store, an iPhone contender and a brilliant product for MacBook Pro owners... enjoy.
Labels: Apple News, General News
Geekanoids News Video #001
I am so sorry, apologies to all my readers. Having done the short video for my 'news' last Monday, I was certain that I had shared it with you all. Just this morning I finished editing episode 2 and found that I had not published last weeks to the website. Without further ado, here it is.
Labels: Apple News, 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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