MacLiveExpo 2008 London - MyGlove

There was certainly not a lot of iPod goodies at the MacLiveExpo 2008. Compared to last year, where the iPod and iPhone ruled, the only gem that stood out from the crowd was MyGlove. They were selling a range of iPod cases that are made from really supple leather. Each case looked really unique, with printed designs that were a nice refreshing change from the mainstream cases. Hopefully I will be able to bring you a video review of a couple of their cases soon.

MacLiveExpo 2008 - Gallery Photos

As promised here is the gallery photos from the MacLiveExpo 2008 in London. All of the photos were taken with the Ricoh GX200 digital camera. The majority of which were taken with the GX200's square format mode. This is ideally suited for the Geekanoids website, as the square format not only looks superb, but also means that the images do not need to be cropped before uploading them. A full review will appear of the Ricoh GX200 in a couple of weeks, but early impressions of this compact unit are very good. It handles very well and performed admirably with the awkward lighting in the exhibition hall. (click the link at the end of this article to see the full gallery). This gallery is sponsored by Clifton Cameras.






























MacLiveExpo 2008 London - Event Roundup

The MacLiveExpo 2008 started today in London and this time around you will find a different event. It is being held in association with CreativePro and LinuxLive, so on the show floor there is a much wider variety of exhibitors. Whether or not you think this is a good thing really depends on your main area of interest. Apple fans may well come away disappointed, with Mac exhibitors and resellers somewhat lacking. There are a few gems to be found, but that Mac feel has been lost. However, the diverse range of stands means that you may well discover something new, perhaps a flavour of Linux may take your fancy.

Of interest to myself were the likes of Academy Class, who have some very special show offers. Adobe had a great presence, with the new Creative Suite 4 being shown. Konica Minolta also had their 4650 laser printer on display, that could be picked up for a fantastic £260 from Cancom with a free 160GB Formac hard drive thrown in for free. Iomega also had their full range of storage devices lined up. These included their ultra smooth and stylish eGo Helium 320GB hard drive, that looks so curvy and matches the MacBook Air perfectly. Other stands of interest included Planet Video, MyGlove and onOne Software all of which I will cover in separate articles.

MacLiveExpo 2008 Starts Tomorrow

My annual trip down to the Olympia National Hall in Kensington, London starts tomorrow for this years MacLiveExpo. This year it is running in conjunction with CreativeProExpo and LinuxLiveExpo for a combination of the latest technological treats. With the likes of Adobe, Canon, Iomega and Samsung there, we are sure to be in for a treat.

Geekanoids sponsor Academy Class will also be at the exhibition, so I will be sure to bring you some news of their latest offerings. Plenty of photo opportunities no doubt, and this year we have a new sponsor... Clifton Cameras and Ricoh and supplying a Ricoh GX200 digital camera, which will be used to take all of the exhibition photos. I will be testing this camera's abilities throughout the show and reporting back to you all with 'gallery photos' and a full review of the GX200 over the coming weeks.

Stuff Live starts REALLY soon

As you are aware, I have attended Stuff Live for many years. It is a great opportunity to see some of the latest in the tech world. Well, Stuff are once again bringing the UK’s premier home cinema, gadget and technology show to London. Yes that’s right, put the dates in your diary for Stuff Live 2008, in association with What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision, from 31st October – 2nd November 2008.

Highlights of the event include the Guitar Hero Stage where they will be hosting the first ever UK competitions throughout each day. There will be great prizes for the winners so ROCK IT TO WIN IT! So come and show off your skills in front of a live audience at the UK's leading technology show!

The show will also feature a Chill-Out Lounge where the Games Room Company will be providing the best and most luxurious games equipment you can buy. Challenge your friends at Pool, Air Hockey, Pinball, 'old Skool' Arcade games and much more in a specially tailored Chill-Out Zone. There will also be the world’s first hovering chair worth £5,000, and product showcases from the likes of Canon, Sonos, Tom Tom, Tvonics, LG, Jolida, Asus, Archos, Pure Digital and many more.

The winners of the What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision annual awards and the Stuff magazine 2008 Awards will also be exhibited at the show. The winners are announced at an annual awards ceremony in London, this October.

The new website to point your browser to is www.stufflive.co.uk. It is packed with more information on exhibitors, activities, competitions and show information than ever before. Highlighting the very best products on show this year, from hi-fi and home cinema entertainment packages, digital cameras to robots, as well as providing advice and tips on new product launches, and what to see and do at this year’s show... I might even see you there.

Ticket sales
Tickets, which cost £20 for adults, and £10 for children under 16 years of age plus a £1 booking fee, on sale the website now www.stufflive.co.uk or by calling 0870 040 0383.

Griffin Announces Simplifi - Smart charging for iPod & iPhone

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.

 

Stuff.tv vidcast entry - I love my Stuff!

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.

Seagate FreeAgent Pro - new lineup for 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 Mac
With 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.

Buffalo Technology launch new look DriveStation

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)