Gadgetorama

2007-06-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

So...I bought an Xbox 360 - Part 1

If you online my gametag is "smartrich"

I actually went out to buy a wii but was let down by the lack of stock.

ainlly

So over 300 dabs later and armed with every abvailable extra a couple of games (Crackdown and Gears of War) I realised that I'm well out of practice.

After hours of play I think I'm finally an amateur at Crackdown but hopeless at Gears of War.

To be honest I was hoping to see examples of "In Game Advertising" but so far the live targeted ads have evaded me. I actually think this whole market is set to explode but my first experiences are disappointing.

The actually ordeal of getting online was a challenge due to the lack of suitable support for the wireless network adapter - definitely not as simple as plug and play. after over an hour of failing to find suitable help on the xbox site, it turns out the answer is as simple as turning off the security on my wireless router before connecting the xbox and then turning the security back on again afterwards...doddle.

More to follow soon.

2007-02-23T04:19:00.000-08:00

USB Missile Launcher at gadgetshop

Awesome. Simply awesome. And no, I'm not a gadgetshop affiliate!

2007-02-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

LG and Prada unveil the KE850 touch-screen phone - infoSync World

If you want a fashionable phone then forget the iPhone. Official press release here.

Photos here.

2007-01-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

Creative technology from Microsoft...

I'm speechless - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6233433.stm

2007-01-07T03:20:00.000-08:00

Quicker start-up times for PCs in 2007.

Wired News covers the phenomenon that will by extra auxiliary screens on laptops aided by flash assisted memory to allow laptop users to start essential apps without evening starting their computer.

Windows Vista features this "sideshow" functionality but there are few laptops available with the necessary hardware at the moment. I had a quick search for auxillary screens and only came up with the following examples:

Asus w5fe
MSI's Mega Player 529

For a nice little video clip demonstrating side show visit this Scobelizer post.

2006-12-20T13:58:00.001-08:00

DSC00076
Originally uploaded by RichardStuartGregory.

Sony Cybershot DSC T10

I finally chose to get a new digital camera and after much research plumped for the Sony Cybershot T10.

The new camera has 7.2 megapixel reslolution, is slim and light as a feather. To that end the camera features Super Steady Shot® optical image stabilization to remove any "wobble" from detailed photos. I've not been that impressed with the function so i finally found a couple of spare hours to go for a walk and take some photos of the surrounding area and practice using the camera.

2006-09-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

i-mate JAQ - infoSync World

I-mate moves into Blackberry space with this thumboard Windows Mobile 2005 phone.

I think the New Product Development must be getting a little tough for them now since this, the JasJam and the JasJar all operate with similar functionality but just have different designs.

I don't think it's worth changing phones at this stage until then can bump up the ROM beyond 128Mb to improve the performance.

2006-08-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

Orange SPV M3100 pay monthly mobile phone - the Orange shop

Definitely looks like a viable contender for the Jasjar with the addition of the great scroll wheel. Apart from that and the slide out keyboard (rather than the Jasjar's twist and flip setup) it's not much improved.

I think I'll hold fire until the onboard memory is improved to speed things up a little.

2006-08-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Sony - Mylo

New Sony gadget that acts like a PDA but looks like a gaming device?

My initial thought was the device just looks to be missing a phone, but with SKYPE installed and an abundane of wifi zones...maybe this is the first mobile without a network provider!

2006-07-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

Review: Sony Ericsson M600i business phone - infoSync World

Awesome new Ericsson business mobile reviewed on Infosync site. This looks like a potential replacement for my JasJar if it wasn't for the lack of integrated camera that also prevents video calling.

That said the form looks pretty sleek and the integration of the scroll wheel (the biggest thing I miss from my old Sony Clie) makes emails much easier to read.

2006-06-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Nokia E61 vs O2 XDA Exec: Battle of the Business phones - infoSync World

The bottom line is that the Exec (know as the JasJar) wins for heavy internet users, but the Nokie E61 favours the business user with a bias to voice.

2006-06-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

BenQ-Siemens EF51 - infoSync World

Awesome...a phone that looks like an ipod. Why woulnd't ipodders want one of these? Well, aparently it's had to use as an MP3 player and isn't much better as a phone...shame.

2006-05-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

LG KG800 review - infoSync World

"LG's new KG800 slider (aka Chocolate)"

Attractive new mobile from LG that caught my eye when advertised on TV recently. However most of the reviews seem to criticize the limited functionality.

That said I think there is a niche developing for slim and fashionable "after work" phones for people (like myself!) who have function rich work phones, such as the Imate JasJar and any of the new Blackberry phones.

Come Friday night I take the SIM Card out of the JasJar and pop it into my slim Motorola V3i! Best of both worlds.

2006-01-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

VisitorVille: Bring Your Web Site Traffic To Life -- Now in 3-D!

How's about this for crazy analytics software. Bored of spreadsheets? see your data as a SIMS-like model. I wonder what fraudulent traffic will look like?

2005-12-30T15:51:00.000-08:00

Gadgets to save the world

Read a great piece in The Independent on Boxing Day that listed a few gadgets that would help slow down the consumption of electricity and possibly save some pennies in the long-term.

I won't list all of them but my favourites were:

- The Battery Backpack from Voltaic that retails for $239. I might try an pick one of these up in New York next year since my Jasjar needs to be constantly juiced up anyway...not sure how it will cope with UK weather though.

- If that is a bit pricey they why not just get a solar powered charger from Solio?

- Then there is the classic wind-up remote at a bargain Â£20. Save batteries and exercise your arms while sat on the sofa watching the telly! That has to be a must have present for father's day.

- If you can't be bothered and would rather just use the old remote, at least you can do your bit byrechargingg old batteries with the eco-charger.

- Finally, concerned about the lack of pace of deployment of wind turbines? Well get your own personalresidentiall flying wind turbine. These bad boys go into production next year and will cost around Â£7K for a onsuitablele for a house...but beware they're much bigger than they look and the site has a page on all the negatives of turbine power.

2005-12-28T01:43:00.000-08:00

Club i-mate - JASJAR

Let's kick it off with a link to my current phone. Yep the king of all smartphones is the i-Mate Jasjar.

I've had the device for a month or so now and have given it a rigorous test.

Positives
- loads of software
- 3G
- high res camera
- REALLY high res screen
- excellent keyboard

Negatives
- Big and Heavy
- short battery life and no spare supplied
- keep catching the photo button on the side
- not enough on-board memory
- programs don't close so memory gets eaten into quickly

...and here is a sickly sweet review from Microsoft.