Airun + - at last an alternative to Nike+

I previously covered the Nike+ iPod at the 2006 Mac Expo and it seems that whilst this product has stood still, other companies have been developing this technology to a new level. Airun have launched a new and rather snazzy looking trainer, that records a lot of vital exercise stats. Not only is speed recorded, but also the weight you are putting down through your right foot. Your BMI and daily calorie burn is also calculated. Not only does this look like a very promising product, but the trainers look very stylish too.

From the company press release... The first product to launch out of the Airun lab is Airun +. Featuring the latest in Weighted Technology, on board Smart Technology Controller and a world first in Sensory Technology, Airun + is a serious contender in the motivational fitness market and a leader in the demand for healthy footwear.

When the creators of Airun Plus researched how many people knew what their goal or calorie burn should be when exercising, 99% of people studied didn’t know. The truth is, most of us fail to maintain our exercise plans and don’t achieve our optimum fitness and weight because we lack goals, guidance and motivation.
Based on this problem, the developers of Airun Plus designed a trainer that would offer all levels of wearer, from first timers to professional athletes, the structure, information and statistics necessary to begin a successful exercise plan or up the intensity of a previously planned workout. By using the Smart Technology Controller to calculate current fitness levels andexercise stats, Airun Plus aims to put the motivation back in to exercise.

The Airun+ trainers are going to set you back £125 and are available in yellow or black, in UK sizes 3.5 to 10. Well worth checking out, if you are serious about your training.

Eee Monitor - challenge to iMac

Over at Laptop Mags blog we found some really snazzy photos and brief details of the Eee Monitor. Please check out their gallery and article here.

I find this news very interesting for many reasons. Firstly, with my recent acquisition of an Advent 4211, I have been reading with great interest about users getting Mac OS X running on it. My proposed use is to also install Linux (Ubuntu) on this little unit.

Secondly, I have an Asus Eee PC 1000H on winging its way to the Geekanoids office. Why? I hear you ask. Well, I know that we cover primarily Mac based news, but these new mini-PCs or Netbooks, give users the chance to have a really portable device. In my day-to-day use, there is often times when I pop out, to a meeting, or perhaps to a local café for a change of scenary and I don't want to take my 15-inch MacBook Pro with me. I am sure a lot of people have the same thing happen to them, where a cheap 8.9-inch or 10-inch laptop would be ideal.

This leads me to my interest of the Eee Monitor (sorry it took so long to get to the point). For a long time now, if I wanted a second desktop based Mac, perhaps for myself, or another room in the house, my only choice due to price was the Mac Mini. The iMac is just too expensive for a secondary or luxury purchase. Well, if the Eee Monitor comes in at around the £300 mark, they will get my money. It looks very impressive. I am sure the 19-inch monitor will be of a decent quality and the Linux OS will suit me very well for the intended internet browsing and email use. Add into the equation the slim possibility of being able to install Mac OS X and you have a win win situation. The question of whether this is intended to be a monitor for an Eee PC netbook or a standalone all-in-one computer... I favour the latter. It has no VGA or DVI port to accept another computers video signal. Also, if you look closely at the back, it has one ethernet and a modem output, hinting that it has networking built-in. Last, but by no means least, the front of the uit sports an infrared receiver, triggering this would enable the built-in tuner, surely controlled by the units OS. Oh, and one more thing, around the back you can see some fans underneath the central grill... these must be to cool a processor.

I will be watching the Eee Monitor very closely. It really looks as though it is challenging the iMac on the design front and absolutely smashing it on price... interesting!

iMac Project 2008 - New iMac & edits = better videos

It has been a whole year since we started producing video reviews on a regular basis. Last June we managed to purchase a MacBook Pro which we had sponsored and laser etched with various company logos. This was a great success, not only did it get great exposure, but it also performed admirably with the video crunching we threw at it.

This year we needed some extra processing power, which came in the shape of a new 24-inch 3.06GHz iMac. This time around we had the sponsors logos thermally printed and applied to the back of the iMac. We also created a desktop wallpaper displaying the logos too. The new iMac is superb, really fast, quiet and stable. We have upgraded our software to Final Cut Express, so we can edit together some more attention grabbing video reviews for you this year. As well as the iMac, a new Audio Technica AT2020 mic, an Alesis Multimix 8 USB2 mixer, and some new studio lighting. I hope you start to see an improvement in quality and keep coming back to the Geekanoids website to check out our great reviews.

A big thank you goes out to the sponsors, who are listed below;
Academy Class
BMI Solutions
Crucial Technology
Eazydraw
Maccast
Make
Mamut (MYOB)
Miglia
Proporta
Quark
Roxio

Jungle Disk & Amazon S3 - first thoughts

Over the past week I have been testing the latest version of Jungle Disk, working alongside Amazon S3. I have never used either before, but the small price-point of Amazon S3 was very attractive to at least see if the service is a viable solution for me.

In simple terms, Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a storage solution 'in the cloud'. I am starting to dislike the 'in the cloud' term, but we are all stuck with it. It equates to uploading and storing your files on a server at Amazon HQ, hidden away behind some security wall. The S3 service is pretty complicated and you need to use an application (either built by yourself or pre-made) to give you a GUI and some way of getting your files uploaded. One such solution is Jungle Disk.

The application is available for Mac, Windows and Linux, so everyone is catered for. You can get a 30-day trial download, or pay $20 for all three platform versions, with unlimited free upgrades, plus the ability to install on as many computers that you own. This is fantastic value for money. Setting up the software is really easy. It asks for your Amazon S3 log-in details and hidden key. Once logged in, you can set up your first upload. This again is really straightforward, simply ticking boxes for what you want to include or exclude. You can schedule automatic backups, or click the 'start' button manually. You get a nice progress bar, so you always know how far your backup has progressed.

My only niggle was user error. I had forgotten to uncheck some larger files, such as my email database. So this large file had been included in the backup. Not a massive problem, there is a 'cancel' button that effects just the individual file (rather than the whole backup). The button is very responsive and worked straight away. Subsequent backups check the Amazon server and look for changed files only, so in my first test, only the initial backup was just under 2GB. The great thing is, that I checked my Amazon account today and it cost me 18pence so far. The monthly charge will be slightly less than this, but as you can see, this is fantastic VFM. I will keep you updated and bring you more news about the Jungle Disk application further down the line.

Courts Design Finds Formula for Success with OKI

Courts Design is a small multi-disciplinary creative agency based in the quiet Hampshire town of Hartley Wintney. Its core business involves the design, construction and installation of exhibition stands and display interiors. Increasingly, however, it is focusing on graphic design work for clients in the IT and pharmaceutical sectors.

In delivering these services, Courts Design faces the twin challenges of growing competition and increasing constraints on time. To combat these pressures, the company is always looking for ways to raise the quality of printed output while ensuring it consistently meets tight deadlines.

As Mike Abbott, Head Creative of Graphics, Courts Design explains, “in a busy design agency, you need to produce visuals and artwork as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, our previous printer was increasingly unable to deliver the quality of output or delivery speeds we were looking for.”

As a result, Courts Design decided to upgrade to a flexible colour printer from OKI Printing Solutions that can be configured to handle either A3 or A4-sized paper. Delivering 36 pages per minute (ppm) in colour and 40ppm in mono A4, the printer is one of the fastest printers in its class.

Courts Design now uses the printer extensively for all its graphic design work, including brochures, direct mail documentation and marketing flyers as well as for client reports and presentations.

Flexibility
One of the most compelling benefits of the printer is its flexibility. The printer is Mac compatible. This is crucial to Courts Design which makes extensive use of the devices in its daily work.

“We also benefit from the printer’s flexible paper handling,” says Abbott. “We use it to print everything from presentations to document details on high-quality CD labels. Unlike our previous device, it switches easily between different paper sizes, types and textures. This allows us to cut the time taken to develop new materials.

In addition, investing in the printer made sound economic sense. Previously, Courts Design would have often outsourced jobs with tight deadlines, such as client presentations, to digital print houses – a process that would inevitably result in overprinting and wastage of resources.

“The OKI printer saves us money by enabling us to deliver high-quality documents cost-effectively and on-demand,” adds Abbott.

A Colourful Future
Printing in full colour is key to Courts Design, especially when it comes to generating high impact visuals. Research shows that readers pay attention up to 82% longer when colour is used and that presentations are 70% clearer when colour highlights the pertinent details.

Investing in the printer has had a positive impact on Courts Design’s business. It has helped the company to deliver a faster, more efficient service for clients. It has also enabled it to keep short-run print jobs in-house and, in this way, boost profit margins.

It’s most far-reaching benefit at Courts Design, however, has been in building competitive advantage. The printer has not only produced beautiful, colour documents for Courts Design but it has done so quickly, reliably and affordably. In so doing, it has given the business a crucial edge on its competitors.

iPhone 3G - New pouch & StickiT Protector Pre-Order

With the new iPhone launching on the 11th July in 22 countries, it is important that you pop your little baby into a nice carry pouch. The GeekPouch is available for Pre-Order now, with shipping very soon after the iPod 3G launch. It comes in black corduroy, red faux suede and leopard fur effect fabrics and will keep your iPhone protected from light bumps and scrapes. Pricing is very simple, just £5.99 (inc. UK delivery) or £10.99 (inc. worldwide delivery) with a little saving on offer if you buy two.

If you are really worried about your new gadget, then you should pop a StickiT on the back. The nice glossy finish to the new iPhones is bound to attract dust and scratches. This thin film will keep the back of your new iPhone nice and shiney. The price is cheap too, just £2.99 (inc. UK delivery) or £5.99 (inc. worldwide delivery). Again, these will start shipping hopefully within a week of the iPhone 3G launch.

Both of these products have been available for a long time now, for the whole range of iPods and the current iPhone. They have proved very popular to date.

Need to know about Scanners?

If you need to know about scanners, or perhaps you have a document scanner and have a techie question that needs answering, check out this link. Over at the BMI Solutions Community Forums you can ask questions, check out news on the latest products, and you even have the chance to see product videos. The product videos are invaluable, in much the same way as you love our video reviews, it gives you the chance to see the scanners in action before you commit to buy.
This new forum looks like it will be an invaluable source of information, so take a look and add it to you bookmarks.

MSI Wind in UK end of June - Announcement this week

Having just spoken to MSI Computers in the UK, I have been informed that the MSI Wind will be available in the UK (rather than imports) at the end of June. If you keep an eye on the UK website for the company, they are hoping to publish an update on resellers later this week.

Geekanoids - Mac & Gadget Show

I wanted to give you the heads up on my new Mac & Gadget Show. For a long time now I have been wanting to do a show where I could bring fellow Mac users together. Nothing formal, just a chat about the computer platform that we all love. So, every Sunday at 5:00pm UK time (GMT) or 12:00pm (EDT) you can head on over to Talkshoe and catch the show. It is free to register and then you can either just listen, or join in the chat room, or even call in on a regular phone, Skype or Gizmo project and talk on the show. If you use Gizmo Project, you can even call in totally free via SIP.

How to join in the show
Go to the Talkshoe page for the show here.
Make sure you are logged into your Talkshoe account (it is free to register using the 'Sign-Up' button toward the top of the page).
Click the 'Join In' button.
You will then be in the chat room and be able to listen to the show and type messages.
Note: you can join in as a Guest, but why not register, it is totally free.

To be able to put your hand-up to talk, the easiest method is Gizmo.
Or you can call in on a regular phone or Skype on (724) 444-7444 - this is a USA number.

To use Gizmo, download it here, for Mac, PC, Linux, mobile phones & Nokia Internet Tablets.
Install and restart your computer.
Sign up for a free account.
Enter this 123@66.212.134.192 as the phone number.
You will then be prompted for the call ID (which is 20249 for the Geekanoids show), followed by the # key.
Then you will have to type in your PIN that you set-up when you registered on the Talkshoe website.
Once you have done that, you are in the voice chat. At first you will be muted, but put your hand up and you will join the queue to talk. If you also type into the chat where you are from and what you want to talk about, that helps me a lot.

So, I hope that you can join me. The next show is on Sunday, 8th June 2008 at 5:00pm UK (GMT). There might even be a special show on the Monday whilst Steve Jobs is delivering his keynote, to bring you the news as it happens.

Sanyo announce HD Xacti DMX-HD1010

I just love new technology. When I first started putting together the video reviews for Geekanoids I even found myself using one of the earlier Sanyo Xacti models. It really wasn't that long ago, and in under a year things have really moved on. Sanyo has just announced its next compact, light-weight Full HD Xacti digital movie camera, the DMX-HD1010, housing advanced and improved features^*1 for even more beautiful video and still recording, simple playback and storage with the ‘Xacti Library’ through intuitive menus and functions, and featuring a new ‘Slow-motion video’ function, increasing the usage of digital movie cameras. The SANYO Xacti DMX-HD1010 is the camera of choice for anyone who enjoys taking high definition videos and high resolution stills with one unit, and will be on sale in Japan from June 20, 2008.

On the new product launch, Hideki Toyoda, General Manager of the SANYO’s DI Company Products Planning Department, said, “With the HD1010, SANYO has brushed up many of the features from the previous model, making it easier to use while advancing the image quality. With a SANYO Xacti, you have instant access to both high quality photos and high definition movies with one simple, stylish unit.”

The unit is capable or recording full HD at 1920x1080 resolution, at 30fps. Of note, the new 'Xacti Library' allows the backup of your recorded content to a USB2 hard drive, without the need for a computer. There is a digital image stabilizer, plus support for up to 3200 ISO sensitivity. You also get Samungs take of face recognition with their 'Face chaser' function.

Other features include a 230,000 pixel TFT-LCD monitor, in-camera editing, red eye reduction, webcam functions, built-in flash, support for 48kHz 16-bit, two-channel sound, a headphone jack, and a 1900 mAh Lithium-ion battery (DB-L50). No UK price yet, but the US gets it in July 2008 for around $800.

EeePC (or MacBook Air) Contender from Dell Mini Inspiron

It seems like every Joe is trying to get into the mini-PC market these days. Ever since the EeePC from Asus came onto the marker, there have been new announcements from HP (with the MiniNote), MSI (ahem, with the Wind) and now Dell sneak us a peak of their mini Inspiron (pictured here). A lot of websites are saying that it competes with the EeePC, but if you look at how things are developing, these new miniature PC's are getting a little larger with each incarnation. They also seem to be making sure that they have more ports than the MacBook Air.
Now, I am not saying that any PC, let alone the rather nice looking offering from Dell, would ever be better than a MacBook Air, but it does make me take notice. Wouldn't it be fantastic is Steve Jobs took notice and released the MacBook Air 2 at WWDC 2008 with two or three extra USB ports, a removable battery, and maybe an extra option or two on the hard drive front.

New iMac 24-inch Lands - iMac Project 2008

It seemed appropriate to let you all know about our new acquisition. You may recall that last year some very supportive companies sponsored our laser etched MacBook Pro. Well, we have gained many many more readers and viewers since then, so most of the existing sponsors and some new, dug deep into their pockets again this year.

Not quite ready for public consumption yet, our investment went on a new 3.06GHz, 24-inch iMac. This beautiful machine landed at Geekanoids HQ late last week. The screen is gorgeous and gives a massive amount of creative workspace. The processor just eats its way through our video review processing, so will be a really productive addition for getting great content out there for you all. Of note, the iMac runs very quietly, has a massive 500GB hard drive, and 512MB of video memory. A really stunning machine. Expect to see it in it full glory, along with a list of sponsors toward the end of June.

We had a little funds left in the bank at the end of the day. This has been invested in new studio lighting, so much more accurately exposed videos for all. We also purchased an Audio Technica AT2020 microphone and an Alesis Multimix 8 USB2 mixing desk, so my dulcit tones will be more palatable.