Pure Digital Highway DAB Review
Thursday, July 24, 2008
If you want to get DAB into your car, it normally involves having a new head unit installed. Although this is not too expensive, in modern cars it is sometimes not possible, due to the mouldings and custom-made units they have. The Highway from Pure Digital is an option, allowing your to wirelessly send DAB broadcasts to your existing car stereo. Check out the video review below.
Product: Pure Digital Highway
Price: £59 (average price)
Supplied by: Pure Digital
Contact: +44 (0)1923 277488
Smart Home Protection with Alertme.com - Discount for our readers
Monday, January 28, 2008
AlertMe.com, the provider of people-friendly home security, today announced the launch of AlertMe, an intelligent home security and monitoring system that offers positive reassurance for homeowners wishing to protect their homes and possessions, by mobile phone and the Internet."We like the idea of this product, so much that we will be bringing you a full review very soon." Whilst you are waiting for the review, we are happy to let you know about a special Geekanoids offer. You can grab a £25 discount by simply sending an email to nik"at"alertme.com with "Geekanoids offer" in the subject line, and you will receive a discount code for use during your purchase.
AlertMe allows people to take proactive steps to secure their homes - often their greatest asset and investment - and an aspect of home protection that is often overlooked. It can eliminate the risk of having to make an unnecessary claim on home insurance that often leads to an expensive increase in premiums. For the first time since burglar alarms were screwed onto people's homes more than 30 years ago, home security is finally being modernised.
AlertMe can be self-installed without the need for wires, drilling or waiting for servicemen to turn up which also means the system can move with you. It works by sending ‘alerts’ via text or email and can also be set up to notify nominated friends and family, updating them on potential incidents such as fires or break-ins. It removes any dependence on security call centre operatives who might only know the billing address and that an alarm has gone off. This means people can more easily manage false alarms, and avoid the penalties and blacklisting by the police which often accompany these.
AlertMe goes further than traditional burglar alarms by matching security with safety. The system can send an alert when smoke or carbon monoxide fumes have been detected. For further reassurance, individual key fobs can be given to family members so parents can be alerted when children have arrived home safely. AlertMe can easily be personalised to suit different lifestyles to accommodate pets, visiting guests or a cleaner.
AlertMe is available at www.alertMe.com and is priced at £399 inc VAT for a comprehensive kit, costing 40% less than similar traditional alarm systems.
Commenting on the launch, Nik Rouda, marketing director, AlertMe said, "Our homes and families are most precious to us and are the things we want to protect. By enabling people to keep a close eye on both of these, we are delivering peace of mind. Our new approach provides better technology and excellent value by being much more affordable than traditional solutions.”
Coinciding with the launch, AlertMe released results from a survey exploring people’s relationships with their homes and the community. A key finding of the research suggests community spirit is alive and well in the UK with 80% of respondents relying upon their neighbours to come to their aid in the event of a break-in. Almost half (47%) place considerable faith in their local community to give them reassurance and security while maintaining little or no security measures of their own. Britain’s twenty-something’s were amongst the most concerned (49% of 18-24 year olds) about home security. And yet, despite being tech savvy and having a preference for electronic gadgets, even this group is completely dependent on others for their home security.
Both young and old place their faith in others to come to their rescue, putting only the most simplistic of security measures in place, such as windows locks (79%). This suggests that either traditional systems are too expensive or simply don’t work. AlertMe is an easily installable home security system that is both more affordable and highly effective.
Labels: Gadgets, General News
Nescafe Dolce Gusto Drinks Machine Video Review
Friday, December 14, 2007
As promised, here is our video review of the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Drinks Machine. Our written review can be found here, but to see this wonderful machine in action, take a look below.
Product: Nescafé Dolce Gusto Drinks Machine
Price: £89.99
Supplied by: Nescafé
Contact: 0800 707 6066
Pure Digital ONE Review - DAB for the masses
It seems that the digital TV revolution is upon us, with the UK starting the switch off of analogue transmissions. Where radio is concerned though, we will always have FM, MW, and LW, but for a long time now, if you want that bit extra from the service, then DAB (or Digital Audio Broadcasting) has been the way to go. It has been available to the general public since 1999, so it comes as no surprise that a successor (DAB+) is on the way. DAB+ will offer better error correction coding (so less dropouts, better sound), plus MPEG surround audio, which will be really cool.In its current form, not only does it offer really clear sound, but you also get extra information, such as the DJ you are listening too, or scrolling text with news or current programme information. The choice of stations depends on your area’s coverage, but it is pretty darn good and well worth checking out what you can pick up in your area. Long time leaders in DAB radios are Pure Digital who offer a range of standalone radio, alarm clock radios, and CD combo units, they even do the Chronos iDock which features a dock for your iPod.
In this review we take a look at the very affordable Pure Digital ONE, which is small enough to be used as a portable, whilst just as comfortable as a mains powered unit too. If you are using away from a plug socket, it takes six C-Cell batteries or a ChargePAK. The latter costs £30 and fits into the same compartment. It then charges whilst connected to the mains, and then you have instant battery power when away from home. The ONE is available in white, pink or black, and the white one we have on test is really quite pleasing to the eye. It is an all plastic affair, but does not feel cheap in any way, the standby button is black, with all other buttons finished in polished silver.
So, let’s take a look at those buttons. There are seven small ones arranged in a circle around a larger rotating button, which you turn to cycle through the various menus and then click to confirm your selection. This works very well, apart from I forgot to push it in time and time again... this same large button also controls the volume, so I kept adjusting the volume by mistake. Totally my fault, and after half an hour, I didn’t make the same mistake again. The tiny buttons give you access to the volume, timer, presets (20 in total), info, DAB/FM selection, menu and stations. The arrangement is really nice and makes it very easy to navigate.
The timer works in two different ways. You can either set a sleep timer, to turn the radio off after 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 minutes, or you can use as a kitchen timer. Set the hours and minutes, then an alarm will sound when your cooking is done, which is pretty neat. The DAB/FM button allows you to switch to normal FM radio, if you need to get a station not available via DAB. The information you can choose to have displayed includes scrolling text, time and date, programme type, signal strength and quality, bit rate, plus the multiplex name and info. This is fantastic, so much information on the clear backlit display, but there is more to come...
The Pure Digital ONE also features Intellitext, which gives you on-demand information from the station you are listening to. This includes headlines and news from the likes of Virgin, talkSPORT and BBC Five Live, or any other station that supports it. It is this extra information that sets DAB way above anything FM radio can offer, and the 16x2 display is very clear and delivers this extra info very well.
Now I have given you an idea of what the ONE offers in terms of features, it is time to let you know how it performs. On first switch on, it goes into a set-up mode, which takes about 30 seconds. This grabs the time and date info over the air, and auto-tunes the available DAB stations in your area. I was so excited that I quickly clicked the ‘stations’ button and scrolled through to Virgin Radio and pushed the centre button. The quality was awesome, crystal clear and very rounded. The quality delivered by this small radio really impressed me, and within a couple of hours I was a convert, swearing that I would pick up a DAB radio for myself before the end of the year (which is only a couple of weeks away). The volume goes up really loud and even at its highest, the 3-inch speaker did not distort at all. Music sounds really good, but the vocals are so clear, it makes commentary a real pleasure to listen to. From the offset of the review I had been running on C-Cell batteries, so I could rate the performance. With lots of switching between menus, setting up, tuning, etc, I managed to get 28 hours before the batteries gave up. This is superb, and with just radio listening, I would expect a couple more hours, so this can really be used as a portable radio.
For just under £50 you can pick up a Pure Digital ONE and I can highly recommend it. You can even connect it to your PC via USB to perform product upgrades, so it has some future-proofing built-in. At this price it gives you the opportunity to try DAB on a very small budget. Having spent the money, you probably will not feel the need to upgrade, as the ONE performs so admirably. I was so impressed, that I will most likely make this my first DAB radio (if not, I will look at something from the same company). In fact, I was so impressed that my Christmas shopping list has changed... I am going to buy one for my Mum and my Sister too !
Product: Pure Digital One DAB Radio
Price: £49.99
Supplied by: Pure Digital
Contact: +44 (0)1923 277488
Sound Asleep Pillow Review - Do Not Disturb!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Do you have trouble dropping off to sleep? I know I do sometimes, and having my earphones in my ears has led to some really uncomfortable awakenings. If you fall asleep listening to your iPod (or other MP3 player) with earphones in, then you certainly know what I am talking about. Painful lobes, tangles of wires, and sometimes being woken up by my beloved iPod falling on the floor. Well, the Sound Asleep Pillow aims to solve all this.Basically, for £20 each, you get a nice comfortable pillow, with a speaker built in. Out of the top corner of the seam there is a wire protruding, into which you plug your iPod, or any sound source with a 3.5mm mini-jack connection. An extension cable is also supplied, that connects between the pillow and the gadget you are plugging in.
I had my doubts about how effective the Sound Asleep Pillow would be, but I was really surprised. At low volumes it is quite hard to hear, but from mid-volume up to full, when you place you head on the pillow you can hear music really nicely. Speech is also nice and clear and overall pretty impressive. Where this scores extra marks is that it does not disturb your partner or the rest of the house. Move you head more than a couple of feet away and you cannot hear the sound. At full volume you can hear it slightly, but certainly not enough to disturb anyone.
This solves a big problem, that I mentioned right at the beginning of this review. It stops you getting tangled wires and more importantly prevents sore ears. This product is ideal to soothe you off to a good nights sleep and the price is pretty good too. It'll make a superb present (something a little different don't you think?) or why not treat yourself. The sound is not astounding quality, but it isn't meant to be, it simply does what it says on the packaging. The Sound Asleep Pillow is available direct or at a good selection of retailers detailed on their website. This is a great fun product and is worth the asking price.
Product: Sound Asleep Pillow
Price: £20
Supplied by: Sleep Limited
Contact: info@sleeplimited.co.uk
Nescafe Dolce Gusto Review - Get All Steamy !
Monday, December 10, 2007
Christmas comes but once a year, but a cappuccino needs to be enjoyed all year through... Most of us lead hectic lives, either in physical jobs, or mentally demanding desk based jobs, so getting that all important wake-me-up drink, or something to set you going at the start of the day, or even winding down in the evening is very important. Popping down to the local coffee shop is an option, but hardly friendly on the pocket. Making a nice, proper tasting drink, with the numerous drinks machines out there, is again an option, but often a chore. So we often settle for a plain cup of coffee or tea, which does the trick, but is a bit boring day in, day out. This is where the Nescafé Dolce Gusto steps up to the block, promising a delicious coffee every time, fast, fresh and instant. The question is, does it deliver? and is it worth your hard earned cash?Personally, I am not a big coffee fan, but I do love Cappuccino and Hot Chocolate, so I was very keen to get this baby set up. Out of the box, it was a simple matter of a few minutes reading the instructions. These are particularly good, in full colour, with nice photos and a step-by-step walk through of how to set up, make a drink and take care of your machine. Setting up was easy, plug in, switch on, top up the container with water and I was almost there. Topping up was really easy, the container lifts easily from the main body of the Dolce Gusto and the fill up cap reveals a really large hole. Once topped up, there is no snapping or awkward alignment needed, you just sit it back onto the base and it slides into place. Now I was ready to make my first drink, which was a cappuccino. The cup holder/drip tray needs to be adjusted in height manually, so I did this for my particular drink.
Most drinks seems to be a two stage affair, so I put the milk capsule into the holder, pushed the piercing pin into it, and slotted it back into the machine. Then the lever on the front is slid over to the red position, and piping hot frothy milk is pumped into the supplied white cappuccino cup. Once you have enough in the cup, you slide that lever back across to the middle position and wait about four seconds for the green LED to stop flashing. Then I popped the used capsule out and trashed it in the supplied tub. The second capsule contains the coffee, so I put this in place, repeated the motions and voila, I had a wonderful cup of frothy cappuccino. The taste was spot on, and I was surprised on two separate counts. Firstly how silky smooth and perfect the drink tasted, and secondly, how stunningly fast I had prepared my FIRST drink. It was just so easy, to say I was totally impressed in an understatement.Taking care of the machine is really easy to, there is really not much cleaning involved. The drip tray will need rinsing every now and again. Plus, if you switch to a different type of drink, it is recommended that you run some plain water through, with the supplied rinsing tool in place. This was really easy to do. You can also purchase a descaling kit, which is probably wise if you live in a hard water area.
Choice... is a good thing. The Dolce Gusto does not disappoint here either. Apart from the cappuccino and hot chocolate mentioned earlier, you also have Latte Macchiato, Caffé Lungo, Espresso and a cold option with Cappuccino Ice.For your £80 you get a choice of base colours on the machine (black, red or ivory), plus you get a starter kit to get you going. This includes a white cappuccino cup, a saucer, a taller glass cup, plus a selection of ten drinks. Ongoing costs are really pretty good too, with packs of capsules costing just under £3 for between eight and sixteen drinks (depending on the variety you choose). Shopping around, I found some on special offer at £2 which is even better.
Another option to make things even more appealing is to register on the manufacturers website, where you can then add points to your account for every box of capsules you buy. These can then be redeemed against accessories, like cups, spoons, or even more drink capsules. For example, every box purchase you register gets you 10 points, and to redeem these for a box of capsules would cost you 150 points.
In summary, the Dolce Gusto is the best drink machines I have ever experienced. It is super easy to use, mess free, and most importantly delivers delicious drinks. The quality of the drink can be put down to a combination of the Arabica beans used in the capsules, coupled with the high 14 bar pressure delivered. This really is a serious offering, and it is built to a very high quality. It’ll save you a lot of time and really guarantee you a great tasting drink every time.
Update: Keep an eye on the Geekanoids website over the next two weeks for a video review of the Dolce Gusto. We show you just how easy it is to prepare that perfect drink!
Product: Nescafé Dolce Gusto Drinks Machine
Price: £89.99
Supplied by: Nescafé
Contact: 0800 707 6066
John Adams Chemistry Set Review
Thursday, December 06, 2007
In the run up to Christmas (only 19 days left) we will be bringing you lots of alternative reviews. Last year, our festive reviews went down very well, helped along by some Christmas turkey, so sit back and enjoy our look at John Adams Chemistry Set. We looked at the same manufacturer's Hot Wires a while back, so I was certainly expecting good things from this one.Years ago I had a chemistry set, it had loads of glass tubes and was very exciting. My parents would look very worried when I was using it, and looking back, it did contain some quite potent chemicals. Then for about the last five years or so, I cannot remember seeing any in the shops. They seem to disappear of the face of the planet. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough, but now with the John Adams Chemistry Set the gap has been filled.
This very well presented box comes with loads of goodies. Safety goggles, a beaker, test tubes complete with stand, tongs and a burner. There is a lot more besides what I have mentioned, you can check out their website for a full list. You also get 11 chemical substances; these are Copper Sulphate, Ammonium Chloride, Calcium Hydroxide, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Aluminium Potassium Sulphate, Zinc, Calcium Carbonate, Ammonium Hydrogen Sulphate, Iron Sulphate and Sodium Thiosulphate. I should also point out (before the fun begins) that this set it aimed at ages 10 and over.
The lovely 24-page booklet walks you through each experiment and there certainly is a lot on offer... you get the chance to learn about chemical reactions for a starter. You get to create gases, test for indicators (acid, alkali, neutral), even grow some crystals. With the small burner you get to test for chemicals in everyday objects, like wood shavings and glossy magazines, followed by some heat reactions. There really is too much to cover here, but the booklet explains things so well, that it is hard to fault. You are not just tied to using what is included in the box, it makes suggestions of other items, like sugar, cold tea, and old tin lid, to further expand the experiments you can do. This is really great and adds to the value of the whole package.
The John Adams Chemistry Set really impressed me. The build quality and items included are really fab. It certainly took me back to my childhood, and will certainly make a fantastic present for your children this year. Hours of fun for such a small price is hard to find, plus they will be learning at the same time. This is one of the wisest purchases you will make.
Product: John Adams Chemistry Set
Price: £21.99 (average)
Supplied by: John Adams Trading Co. Ltd.
Contact: 01235 833066
John Adams Hot Wires Review - Exciting Stuff!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
In a world where the news reports that children play too many video games and watch too much television, I tend to agree, though I do succumb to the virtues of the electronic world myself. What is missing today, is toys that the kids can interact with, so when a John Adams Hot Wires set landed on my desk, it felt like my Christmas had come early.The John Adams Hot Wires set is a big bumper sized box, so straight away, if this was under your Christmas tree this year for your son (or daughter), they will be blown away by the size and exciting design on the box. Delving inside reveals an awesome electronics set, consisting of a base board and stacks of components. You get fuses, connectors, battery units, transistors, a bulb, microphone, buzzer, recording IC, the list goes on. Where the Hot Wires set is very clever is that all of the components simply snap together. No fiddling with tiny screws and no hot soldering, which would ultimately mean adult supervision and put the excitement out of the reach of many kids. It is aimed ate ages from 8 upwards, which I feel is about right, though some technically minded 6 & 7 year olds could also have a great time.
There are over 100 experiments, or things to build, including an FM radio, lie detector, burglar alarm and even a voice recorder. The instruction books really shows how things should be done. It is large in size and illustrated with full colour photographs of each and every experiment. Having such a wonderful and easy to follow book included makes this really stand out from the crowd.For my test I chose to build the ‘Sound Activated Burglar Alarm’. All of the components are colour coded, so selecting the correct ones was really easy. The book shows where everything needs to be connected, and in under 10 minutes I had an alarm that went off every time the tiny microphone picked up a sound. Changing a few components allowed me to alter this to a ‘Light Activated Burglar Alarm’. With most reviews, by this point I am always aware that I need to get some writing done, but I just couldn’t put the Hot Wires set down. I went on to build a ‘3 Note Electronic Organ’, followed by a ‘Morse Code Generator’ and last but not least a ‘Lie Detector’. This was great and I used it to ask my kids some questions about their homework... the results were quite revealing.
I then handed this over to my two children (8 and 10 years old), and they loved it. Without any help they built some of the other projects, only calling for attention to show me the results. In all, I had whittled away with Hot Wires for almost 4 hours and the kids were in their 3rd hour without wanting to stop. I think it kept their attention because the results of each project once complete were intriguing. It added something back into their activities that had been missed for many years... that all important interaction that I mentioned at the start of this review!
The John Adams Hot Wires set costs just £39 and in my opinion offers great value for money. Don’t just buy the kids another computer game this Christmas and stick them in front the TV. Get them something they can get stuck into. This comes highly recommended, I cannot really put into words just how great Hot Wires really is. You will not be disappointed.
Product: John Adams Hot Wires
Price: £39.99
Supplied by: John Adams Trading Co. Ltd.
Contact: 01235 833066
T3 Awards 2007 - iPhone, iPod & XBox 360
Thursday, October 11, 2007
T3 Awards 2007 recognised the Apple iPhone as the 'Most Anticipated Gadget' and the iPod as the 'Top Computer Gadget'. The iTunes Store also got 'Best Download Service', so it seems like Apple got a triple whammy. Hold your horses! Apple also got 'Best Music Gadget' and 'The Best Gadget of All Time' for the iPod. The MacBook Pro got their 'Drop Dead Gorgeous Award'. Wow, I think it goes without saying that T3 loves Apple stuff.There were other awards too, including the XBox 360 which was crowned 'Best Gaming Gadget'. Head on over to take a look at the full rundown.
Labels: Apple News, Gadgets, General News
Dahon D7 Vitesse Bike - Ease your Fatigue
Sitting at your desk all day? Tapping away at your keyboard 'til your wrists hurt? If this sounds familiar you need to break away from your computer for a while and get some fresh air. With winter drawing nearer, now is a good time to get out early morning and go for a cycle. Or, perhaps you want to reduce your carbon footprint, so that short drive to work could be done in about the same time, whilst creating less pollution... oh, and did I mention you can get fitter at the same time!Enough of this cheeky banter, the Dahon Vitesse D7 is a snazzy 7 gear bike that turns up in a very compact package. When the courier drops it to you, it will leave you wondering how a bike can fit in such a small box. Pop the box open, unfold the frame, pop the handlebars up, adjust the seat height, and away you go. It really is that simple and the preconception that folding bikes look 'girly' or 'silly' is null and void. The Vitesse D7 looks great in the supplied grey stone colour and it is amazingly easy to use.
At the bottom of this review there is a small gallery showing the folding procedure. As I described above it is very straightforward. In its folded state, there is a simple but very effective magnet (small circular disks) that hold the whole thing together. A lot of thought has gone into keeping things compact, even the pedals (shown below) fold. The quick release mechanisms need to be quite tight, otherwise you might find the saddle slipping, but the tightness of them is the only real caveat. Once unfolded and the height adjusted, the Vitesse D7 is a joy to ride. The 20-inch wheels are smaller than regular road bikes, but just the right size to deliver the stability of a full-size bike. The riding position is pretty much spot on, with the reach being suitable (in my opinion) for anything between a 5ft and 6ft tall person. A real shorty might find a 16-inch wheeled Dahon a better fit.
The Suntour 7-speed gears are nice and smooth, not missing a single change during testing. The Promax V aluminium brakes, coupled with the rest of the aluminium parts, and Dahon's own developed parts, all add up to a very slick package. The bike is pretty light, coming is at just under 25lbs. This makes it very easy to ride, and just as easy to lift into the back of your car when folded.
During my test ride I found that the Vitesse D7 performed very well. My seatpost did initially slip, until I tightened up the quick release. The saddle also felt as though it could do with a bit more padding, but then that might just be my rear end not having much of its own.
The ride itself, some six miles, was a joy though. Road riding was ultra smooth and the gears ate up flats and steady inclines. Then onto some gravel lanes and again the Vitesse coped with ease. When I venture onto some ground more suited to a mountain bike, the bumps and stones were coped with very well. Yes, the bike jumped around a bit, but it was a more than comfortable experience.
So, for your £339 you get what feels like a full size bike, that folds down nice and small for sticking in the back of your car. Perfect for leisure or commuting use, and easily usable for eating up the miles with those smooth Suntour gears. You get mudguards, a rear rack and a dinky bell to complete the package. The build quality and folding mechanism are superb, so easy, yet very safe. If you need a new bike that draws some attention and is ultimately very good for a lot of different uses, then the Dahon Vitesse D7 should definitely be on your shortlist.
Product: Dahon Vitesse D7
Price: £339.99
Supplied by: Fisher Outdoor Leisure
Web: www.dahon.co.uk
Contact: +44 (0)1727 798345
DataWind - PocketSurfer 2 Pricing and Dates
Thursday, July 19, 2007
DataWind, today announced the launch of the PocketSurfer2, an ultra-thin, ultra-portable internet communications device. PocketSurfer2 is a handheld device that delivers the full power and original graphic intensity of the internet rapidly and wirelessly to the palm of your hand, for free.The PocketSurfer2 allows you to browse the web in its original HTML layout, with full graphics, Java support and other complex web functionality on a 640 x 240 colour widescreen display. An integrated mouse pointer and a full format, backlit QWERTY keyboard makes it the most usable hand-held web device around. PocketSurfer2 fits easily into a pocket or bag and delivers the real web, just like you’re used to at home or at work. The rich user experience of the PocketSurfer2 offers a real alternative to consumers tired of the limited functionality, unfamiliar content and small screens on mobile phones or smartphones.
It doesn’t hang about either, with page-load times of under seven seconds over GPRS thanks to DataWind’s patented acceleration technology, you’ll be flying around the web just as you would at your desk. Comparative devices regularly take up to two minutes to download similar web pages. At its launch event and select trade shows, DataWind even offers an industry-wide speed challenge to illustrate its claim as the fastest mobile handheld web access device.
Suneet S. Tuli, CEO of DataWind, commented, “Our goal was to deliver the real web, fast and free. With PocketSurfer2 mobile users can surf the internet anytime, anyplace and enjoy the same rich media graphics and browser functionality of the desktop experience. This device is going to revolutionise the way we work, play, communicate and take advantage of the wireless web.”
Pricing and availability
The PocketSurfer2 is priced at £179.99 and will be available in high street stores, and independent consumer electronics and mobile phone stores throughout the UK starting August 16th, 2007. Additionally, the PocketSurfer2 will also be available through online retailers and television direct marketing. From July 25th, 2007, pre-orders can be placed through Amazon UK to obtain first delivery before high-street availability.
PocketSurfer2, Key Features:
- Independent self-contained unit with built-in GPRS modem and SIM
- GPS location information
- Lithium polymer battery
- 5 hours battery life for active usage, and 5 days standby
- Built-in high performance antenna
- Transreflective backlit display
- 640 x 240 VGA colour
- Mini USB charger
- Mouse pointer
- Backlit QWERTY keyboard
- Sub 7 second page-load
- Web browsing in original layout
- Weight – 174 grams
- Dimensions - 152 x 75 x 15 m
Labels: Gadgets, Mobile Phones
Pure introduce GREEN Siesta
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Pure have introduced the new Siesta, an affordable and stylish DAB and FM clock radio that looks good, sounds great and has significantly reduced environmental impact too.Despite costing just £49.99 (SRP) Siesta is stylish and fully-featured. It boasts a large auto-dimming display and an easy-to-find snooze button. There are three independent alarm settings; owners can wake to tone, DAB or FM, and set different alarm times for weekdays and weekends. Users can browse extra broadcast text from participating stations thanks to Intellitext and pause and control scrolling text with TextSCAN.
Siesta is available in black, charcoal or silver, and has been designed to minimise environmental impact, with a standby power consumption of less than 1W, packaging made from a minimum of 70% recycled material, finished with water based varnish, and documentation printed with soya-based ink on 100% recycled paper.
For more information, please go to www.pure.com or call +44 (0)1923 277488
Labels: Gadgets
Moixa USB Cell Review
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Have you ever wanted to go on holiday and carry one less USB charger. Well, check out the Moixa USB Cells. These neat batteries come in a variety of sizes and I take a look at the AA variety here. They are NiMH batteries that charge from a USB port, how cool is that!?!
Product: Moixa AA USB Cell
Price: from £10.99
Supplied by: Moixa Energy Ltd
Labels: Gadgets
Traps Drums - Big Sound… Small Package
Friday, June 22, 2007
When I was given the task of finding an alternative product to interest our valued readers, one that would take them outside the norm, that would ease the RSI, and offer some fun and exercise at the same time… I must admit that I was stumped. It is a foregone conclusion that a lot of the population surf the net, and when they are not surfing they are watching TV. On top of this, for maybe eight hours of the day they are staring at a computer screen.
Then I stumbled upon a website by Traps Drums, offering a portable drum kit, with a full-size sound. I am not sure why, but it caught my attention, probably because I had always wanted a drum kit as a kid, but never got one. So, a few phone calls later and the kind guys at Alchemy Engineering (the manufacturers) sent me an A400 kit to play with.The whole kit was delivered in one compact box, and my initial reaction was that there was no way this was going to deliver on its promises. The A400 kit consists of tubular frames, that fit together with plastic sleeve clamps. Everything looks a bit confusing, as there are so many parts, and the instructions are a bit hard to see, due to having black and white illustrations. This is something that Traps are working on, so new kits should come with clearer instructions from mid-July.
That said, putting the kit together is pretty straightforward, if you take things one step at a time, there is only a certain way that the parts can fit together.Once the frame is up and the kick bass drum in place, the remaining toms and cymbals all clamp firmly in place. As standard the kit comes with a 12-inch snare drum, 10, 12 & 14-inch Toms, a 20-inch kick (bass) drum, 13-inch hi hat cymbals, 14-inch crash cymbal, 18-inch crash ride cymbal, two pedals, a stool and drum sticks. It is pretty conclusive that you do not need anything else to get started.
Before I move onto the performance, I must emphasize that the A400 kit is of a very high build quality. Everything fits together perfectly and oozes a perfect finish. The stool is a little flimsy, with the mount nut needing to be tightened every now and again, but apart from that you couldn't ask for much more. You also get Remo heads on this kit, with the traditional multi screw tuning system, just like on full size kits. This is superb, as it allows you to individually tune each drum for that perfect sound. It also allows for new heads should you need to replace them in the future.
Now, I have played around on a Yamaha HipGig kit (around £700) before and I thought that there was no way that the A400 Traps would sound anything like them, after all, they take up half the space and cost almost half the price. To say I was astounded is really an understatement, the sound was full, accurate, and the responsiveness of the heads was great. Close your eyes and listen to the Traps and you really could not tell the difference… well maybe a little, but it is certainly not a worse or better sound in comparison to a full size kit.
Traps also supply bags for the A400, allowing you to easily transport the A400 to a gig, which is really useful. No need for a small transit with this kit ! You can also customise and add to the A400 with an extra 8-inch Tom, and move things around on the rack to get everything perfectly positioned for your individual style.
My suggestion to you all… get away from that screen for a while and use your creativity to learn to play the drums, you will love it. To all you budding musicians, the A400 kit is very compact and sounds great, so put it at the top of your list. Finally, to any readers who currently play the drums… if you need something compact, that still sounds great, either for gigging or for practicing at home, then the A400 will deliver all you could want, plus much more. The attention to detail, the build quality and sound, not to mention to superb aftersales support, all adds up to a stunningly good package.Product: Traps A400 Drum Kit
Price: £299-£325
Supplied by: Alchemy Engineering Design Ltd
Contact: +44 (0)1202 476027
Email: support@trapsdrums.com
Keep your kit Crisp n Dry with Overboard
A little bit late for Glastonbury this year, but what the heck, the great British summertime is upon us, so we are bound to get wet one way or another. If you take part in any type of water sport, or just fancy walking around the rainy UK, then the products sent to me by OverBoard may well be of interest to you.
OverBoard make a range of waterproof technology cases for a whole range of items. Varying in size and shape for mobile phones, cameras, iPod, handheld games consoles and the like. They use what is referred to as a Slide Seal System™ which really does seal the item in the bag, so it is nice and safe. The small waterproof phone case that I tested with my beloved K800i is a perfect fit. 
The phone pops into the case, then the top closes together over two sliders, which you push towards the centre of the case to seal your prized possession. Once inside, I bravely put my K800i into a bowl of water, dunked it about a bit, pulled it out and dried the case off. I can honestly say, that no water entered into the case at all… very impressive. According to the specification, you can get away with up to 6m of water, so if you did accidentally drop your kit into the swimming pool, it should remain nice and dry. Apart from water, the case also protects against dirt, sand and dust. It is also supplied with a neck lanyard, which securely clips onto the case.
I also had a 15 litre Dry Flat Bag to test, which measures 35cm by 37cm and holds a lot more kit. It has an adjustable shoulder strap for comfortably carrying around, and when not in use it packs down to a nice compact size. The Dry Flat Bag is a different prospect, and is not a submersible bag. Instead, if it is dropped into water it floats. Again, out came some of my trusty gadgets, a camera, iPod, mobile phone and a rain jacket. All fitted in with no problem, and ten minutes later I had a bath full of water to drop the bag into. Sure enough it floated, and when I checked the contents all was fine and dandy.
The OverBoard range has highly impressed me. The design is nice and clean, with a modern touch. Most importantly, the product works, doing exactly what the manufacturer claims. Another massive plus point is the price, which has been kept very low, so the whole range certainly offers excellent value for money. If you want to protect your kit, then I urge you to check out the range at www.over-board.co.uk and get yourself protected !
Product: OverBoard Small Waterproof Phone Case
Price: £14.99
Product: OverBoard 15 ltr Dry Flat Bag
Price: £17.49
Supplied by: OverBoard Accessories Ltd
Contact: +44 (0)1932 232126
Labels: Apple iPod, Digital Photography, Gadgets, Reviews
Uniden UBC3500XLT Review
Thursday, March 29, 2007
We are complete gadget heads at Geekanoids, with around 95% of our time spent in front of some sort of screen, so getting away from all that LCD brightness is a good thing, if somewhat scary. However, it is important to still bring you something that fits it with the geek flavour and the guys at Radioscan kindly agreed to lend us a Uniden radio scanner.The Uniden UBC3500XLT conjured up thoughts of listening in to robberies in progress, that boeing 747 having to make a landing at an alternative airport, and maybe even the odd ship having to avoid an iceberg (or two). So with great excitement we cracked open the box, plugged in to start charging the unit and turned it on.
Before we share what came next, a little bit about the UBC3500XLT. This is one of Uniden's latest scanners, with its full title being the Uniden Bearcat UBC3500XLT, from herein we will call it the 3500 for ease. It covers a very wide range of frequencies from 25MHz all the way up to 1.3GHz. This promises to cover the citizen band (CB's, breaker breaker, that's a big 10-4), air band (for listening to aircraft), land mobile, analogue phone, and other amateur bands. This should give you the scope to pick up the various local emergency services, for some interesting listening. The 3500 also features Unidens Close Call RF capture technology, which listens for nearby transmissions, a