Google has dropped the source code of Chrome OS into the wild, so we thought we'd take a look and see if it lives up to the lofty hype that's been placed upon it. Depending on who you believe, Chrome OS could either sink without trace or obliterate Microsoft, Apple and Linux wholesale.

The truth, as always, is neither. Well, not just yet anyway. Chrome is still at a very early stage. It runs, but there's not a whole lot you can do when it's running - other than log in, browse the web, check your battery status, and turn network adaptors on and off.

When you first boot up the OS you'll be faced with a login screen. Put your Google address and password in and it'll confirm them and let you enter the operating system. You'll then be faced with a browser window showing your GMail, and Google Calendar. These work exactly how they do in any other OS's browser window.

Up in the top right, there is a couple of icons that let you access the browser menus, see your network connectivity status (turning on and off wireless or Ethernet, for example) and monitor your battery. These seem to work mostly as advertised, but a few of the menu items - like "options" - are duplicated in the browser.

There's a Start Menu-esque icon in the top left that takes you to a page inviting you to sign into Google Short Links. This didn't recognise our username and password, so we couldn't get any further on this page. It doesn't appear to be treated as a regular browser window, though - we couldn't close or unpin it like we could with the mail and calendar tabs.

Hitting the new tab button, or using the Ctrl-T shortcut, brings you to Chrome's default new tab page complete with "quick-dial" shortcuts to your most-viewed web pages. There's links to themes from a wide range of artists that can skin the OS, though the Google ones are almost universally more attractive than the artist-created ones.

There's also a link to the extensions gallery, though this isn't working at the time of writing - just giving a "Coming soon..." message. By the time the Chrome OS makes it into a full release, there'll likely be a host of extensions to choose from that'll offer a bunch of additional functionality that isn't built in to the platform by default.

We did find a few bugs. Going into the bookmarks manager got us stuck until we created a new bookmark and double-clicked it. That took us back to the browser window. Also, unpinning the mail and calendar tabs with a right-click and closing them took us to a blank desktop that we couldn't access anything from. Only a reboot of our virtual machine fixed that.?

Verdict:

For the moment, Chrome OS is pretty much just a browser in a Linux shell. That isn't going to set the world on fire, free or not. It's fast - it boots in just 7 seconds - but it's not exactly functional. Overall performance was difficult to judge, due to running it in a virtual machine, but it didn't seem too painful.

Chrome OS has potential because Google may well be making a play into netbooks and smartbooks in the same way that it has with Android and smartphones. If that's the case, then the fruits of the project could be some way away - Android is only just starting to make waves, more than a year after its release.

Chrome OS is one to watch, but we wouldn't recommend you switch to it as your primary operating system just yet.

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Tags: Software Operating Systems Google Chrome OS

Google Chrome OS - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:45:43 +0000

It seems strange to think that one-time MP3-player market leader and current "catch-up merchant" Creative has only just arrived with its first touchscreen player, but in an attempt to appeal to the tactile generation it has upgraded its impressive Zen X-Fi for just this purpose.

The X-Fi 2 ditches the keypad that used to sit alongside the display and now simply offers a "home" button to return to the main menu. The rest of the controls are?operated via the touchscreen interface and aside from a microSD card slot for expanding the generous internal storage (the X-Fi 2 is available at capacities from 8 to 32GB) there are no other notable external features.

Creative has gone the whole hog with touchscreen operation then, and it wasn’t long before we were cursing the lack of a dedicated volume adjustor to avoid the rigmarole of unlocking and trawling through menus. Unfortunately this isn’t too easy to do as this is far from the most responsive touchscreen on the market, paling in comparison to Apple’s (admittedly far more expensive) recent efforts.

While things do improve once you get used to the pressure and angle at which you need to browse the features and settings, it’s fair to say that we were a little let down by what should have been the headline feature of this new player.

Creative appears to have taken a rather token approach to the new operation, preferring to rely on its strengths – namely the X-Fi sound schemes and value for money – to appeal to the modern consumer. Luckily it certainly knows what it’s doing in this area, and the audio quality available by tweaking the range of different effects is excellent. We were also pleasantly surprised by the solid, well-rounded ear-buds supplied, which are far better than you would typically find on a portable player.

One advantage touchscreen adoption does bring is a larger display, and the 3-inch (400 x 240) LCD is certainly clear and colourful enough to do justice to video and photo content, being just about big enough to enjoy feature-length clips on the move.

File support is also very good here and the X-Fi 2 is able to handle a range of conventional formats as well as less common FLAC and AAC audio. There are also a healthy range of additional features that include an FM radio, clock, alarm, calendar, task and contacts list along with a voice recorder via the built-in microphone.

A decent battery life allows for around 20 hours of audio playback and just over 4 hours for video, and it’s fairly slim and light weighing in at 75g.

We were extremely impressed by the audio quality on offer with the X-Fi 2 and suitably comfortable with the large, colourful display, but it’s a shame that the touchscreen operation wasn’t given more attention, particularly as this (along with the slightly larger display) will be the main draw for most. Creative still offers a versatile, solid player at a very reasonable price but those who are expecting it to compete with Apple’s superbly responsive iPod touch from an operational point of view will have to accept this sacrifice for the admittedly substantial savings on offer.

Verdict:

Creative is up there with the best on the market in terms of audio quality with its X-Fi range, and this new model would certainly suit those who prioritise the viewing of video or photos on the move. These factors are its saving grace as the headline touchscreen isn’t great, and though this would have been forgivable if common operations such as adjusting volume were catered for using dedicated controls, we can’t help but think Creative missed a trick with its first ever touchscreen player, even if it is significantly cheaper than similar rivals.

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Tags: Audio MP3 players Creative Creative Zen X-Fi2

Creative Zen X-Fi 2 MP3 player originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:49:52 +0000

While Governer A. Schwarzenegger summons up all his legendary might and braces himself for battle with feisty eco-warriors over his inability to protect California’s salmon stock, the fate of the Terminator franchise now lies in the hands of bolshy method man Christian Bale and excitably trashy director McG and their reboot of the legendary spectacle factory.

Moving the battleground from the present to the future, Terminator Salvation find the adult John Connor (Bale) seeking an end to the war between man and machine, while seeking to ensure the time-travelling events of the previous movies aren’t halted, thus throwing a spanner in his whole saviour-of-mankind routine.

Into the mix comes Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a condemned man who gave his body over to the Skynet Corporation while on death row. Part-man, part-cyborg, Marcus seems to hold the key to the resolution of the war and the fate of John Connor – but can he be trusted?

The Terminator movies have rightly achieved iconic status. While being symptomatic of the puffed-up grandeur of the 80s, they also helped to shape the modern event movie – Terminator 2 set a high watermark for CGI that others followed. But as movie-making technology has accelerated in recent years, has it ironically left no room for the daddy of techno-futurism?

With James Cameron away from the project, Charlie’s Angels director McG calls the shots. While other music video director-turned film directors have shown an imaginative flair for storytelling – think of Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine and Spike Jonze’s Being John Malkovich – McG sadly only appears to have a propensity for highly glossy, well-framed visuals that mask a lack of depth or character.

This isn’t helped here by the casting – Bale’s now-legendary meme-inducing antics during the filming of this paint him as an unlikeable individual in real life, and on-screen his performances all seem to hover around the blandly sullen mark – here he goes for blandly sullen with a gruff voice.

Such is his tepid turn that he increasingly becomes an irrelevance throughout the film, marginalised by a showing from Worthington that grows as the movie progresses – he redeems the film by neatly giving nuance and a sense of depth to the angst-ridden manborg trapped between the warring factions.

With a story that lacks any mental depth beyond the logic conundrums that underpinned the originals, Terminator Salvation is reliant on its set-pieces for impact – and even here it falls sadly short. There’s a lack of dynamism to the pyrotechnics – the sole defining feature of the SFX here is often the size of them, not the impact of them. As monumental terminators and ships come crashing down, there’s little in the way of invention to sell them, you’ve seen it all done better elsewhere, from the Matrix right up to Transformers – in short, jaws will stay firmly in the upright, non-dropped position.

Verdict:

For all its flaws, Terminator Salvation is still a totally watchable actioner that clocks in under a comfortable 2 hours. But sadly, given the heritage, that’s not quite enough – in an era of CGI saturation, people like Peter Jackson and Sam Raimi have proved that blockbusters can be epic, spectacular and compelling, McG is not a man to handle anything bigger than the lightest of fluff, while Bale needs a time out to take stock of where he’s going.

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Rating: 12

Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington

Directed by: McG

Extras: Trailers

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Tags: Home Cinema DVD

Terminator Salvation - DVD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

We looked at the TomTom iPhone app a while ago and that application has just received an update to bring along a few more functions. But the elephant in the room is how you attach your iPhone to your car to use the application. Of course, the TomTom Car Kit for iPhone.

The Car Kit features a number of elements that make it appealing. First up is TomTom's EasyPort mount, so you just have to offer it up to your windscreen and twist and it is secured. You need to know this is going to stay put, as the last thing you want is to see your iPhone heading into the footwell when you hit the first speed bump. Fortunately, TomTom know what they are doing in this area.

You are then presented with a slidey-swively mount in which your iPhone will be held. This bracket means you can have your phone either in landscape or portrait, with the sliding aspect letting you adjust the position relative to the rest of your car, so you don't have to worry about the angle of the windscreen to the dashboard.

Connecting both pieces is a hinge so you can set the phone at the best angle for viewing.

It still sounds expensive for ?99 however. But the TomTom Car Kit for iPhone does bring a little bit extra. It's a Bluetooth device, so you'll need to pair it with your iPhone on first use. Once connected it will act as a handsfree kit with an onboard speaker, as well as giving commands using this speaker, rather than the iPhone's built-in one.

The results are much louder audio commands whilst you are driving, with the added advantage of being able to take calls whilst motoring. Incoming calls break through the TomTom app, although unfortunately they don't appear in landscape if that is how you happen to be using the phone.

There is also a rocker switch which can change the volume, although once your iPhone is mounted, it's tucked around the back and not within safe reach to use whilst driving.

The Car Kit is hiding another secret, which is its own SiRFstar III GPS receiver chipset, so you don't have to rely on the one built-in to the phone. This is designed to boost the performance and help clear up troubles encountered in built-up areas. This it certainly did in our tests, however performance will depend on a number of real world factors as it will with all satnav devices.

We found that it noticeably boosted the GPS reception staying in touch whilst in multi-storey car parks and the like, making it a much more seamless experience, avoiding the "Poor GPS reception" notification.

As the Car Kit contains these elements that need power, you'll have to plug it in to benefit from them. A Mini-USB on the bottom of the cradle arm connects to a 12V power supply in your car, cable provided. This sits next to a 3.5mm audio out jack, so you can connect to a car stereo, if you have a 3.5mm input that is. Unfortunately the Mini-USB only provides power and you can't use it to connect to any other devices, i.e., you can't sync or get access to your music through it.

Once connected you have the added benefit of your iPhone being connected to the power all the time, so you aren't depending on the iPhone's battery to run the show. Whether you are using the TomTom application or not doesn't matter, you still get a decent mount and charge for your phone.

Verdict:

Overall it is difficult to fault the TomTom Car Kit for iPhone on anything other than price. The TomTom application for iPhone is good too, except that it does come in rather too expensive. Once you've paid for the TomTom mount and the application, you feasibility could have purchased a standalone unit, so don't think that adding TomTom to your iPhone is a way to save money.

For those that must follow through with convergence, this does its part to overcome the GPS reception and small speaker problems that you encounter without it. But once you've parted with the cash, we'd have rather bought an independent TomTom unit with greater functionality.

Read our TomTom for iPhone review here.

Tags: Car And GPS GPS TomTom TomTom Car Kit TomTom for iPhone iPhone iPhone accessories Apple Mobile phone accessories

TomTom Car Kit for iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The official availability maybe some time off, however that hasn't stopped us from getting a hands-on with the Android sporting Xperia X10 for a second time (this time in New York) so we can bring you a First Look (over two sittings) of the new handset from Sony Ericsson. Will it be a game changer that will bring the company back into the spotlight? Read on to find out.

On the surface the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is another Android 1.6 handset with a large screen and yet another user interface or User Experience (UX) as Sony Ericsson calls it, promising to improve the usability stakes over everything else.

The hardware sees you get a 4-inch touchscreen display that dominates proceedings. Beneath this there are three additional buttons that allow you to access menus, the home screen, and skip back a step, and in between this there is even two white tiny LEDs that give you notifications as to what is going on although you will no doubt loose track over time. A dedicated camera button and volume controls pepper the side.

For the Droid or G1 fans out there, there is no slide-out keyboard. Get over it.

Around the back you'll get an 8.1-megapixel digital camera top centre and beneath that a flash - something not present on the HTC Hero or Apple iPhone.

Although impressive, specs are nothing out of the ordinary, certainly not for your top-of-the-range model and that means you get virtually every tech acronym you can think of including HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA, A-GPS, 3.5mm jack and Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Storage is provided by an 8GB microSD card in the box and connects to your computer/charger via Micro-USB on the top. Unfortunately we weren't able to confirm what the storage allocation for applications is, but let's hope it is more than 256MB as with the Motorola Droid.

It is large, comparable to the Apple iPhone, but not as big as the HTC HD2. Underneath all that User Experience you get Android 1.6. Sony Ericsson are currently sending out mixed messages as to whether or not the handset will sport Android 2.0 when it eventually launches in February, with some spokespeople for the company saying it will and others not so sure.

What this means is that you will miss out on some features, like the ability to search the contents of your phone at the press of a button and Google Maps Navigation (US only). With a strong integrated interface in the guise of what Sony Ericsson is calling Nexus, you get, like the Sense UI from HTC, a lot more friendly functionality than Google offers as standard.

Of course you do get that "standard" approach. The Nexus UX Platform sits on top of Android 1.6 meaning you can run all the standard Android apps as well as apps designed for the phone and UX.?Unlike Motorola and HTC, both of whom have also decided to customise the Android experience, Sony Ericsson is hoping for further development by releasing a WebSDK.

The move means that developers will be able to develop applications specifically for Sony Ericsson handsets (the X10 is the first of many) that work only for Sony Ericsson. It's a brave move and one that will be interesting to watch. As a developer are you really going to be bothered to develop an app for an as yet unproven smartphone when you've got Apple, Android, Palm's WebOS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Samsung's Bada and BlackBerry to develop for as well?

Either way in reality it seems that Sony Ericsson are playing the "you can play with us too" card and regardless of this forging on with their own apps to impress and improve on the Android OS.

In steps Timescape and Mediascape. Timescape is a communications app, which aggregates email,?Facebook, Twitter, IM, and SMS into one big lifestream that you can navigate through. Each "event" is represented by a tile, which you can tap to view in more detail, or long-press to get a preview of. The experience is very "Aero" from Windows Vista and in practice not the easiest thing to read.

Each tile has a button marked with an "oo" infinity symbol. Hitting that will take you to related content - which could be content from the person in question, or it could be web content related to whatever is on the tile. It's a bit like HTC's contacts feature that shows you all the contact you've had with that person, however it's no Xobni. The list can be filtered by medium, and you can reply to individual messages within the application.

Mediascape is the other "signature" application. It's built around music, video and images and organises all three on your device. It incorporates players for all three, too, and can hook into various bits of online content. YouTube was named explicitly, but we'd expect Last.fm and perhaps Flickr to show up here too with talk of Spotify being banded around at our briefing (something that might be harder to do than Sony Ericsson realizes thanks to Spotify's poor API).

Items in Mediascape also have an infinity button and pressing this will again summon related content. For a band, that could be songs on your device, YouTube videos, or even other artists that are similar to whatever you're listening to. The overlaid controls of this section looked quite similar to the Zune HD's UI, though that's only a good thing.

Then there is the image viewer in Mediascape that supports facial recognition. What this means is that you can tag up to five people in a photo and then the handset will attempt to identify those people in other images too - the more you tag, the more accurate it is, very much like Apple's face recognition feature in iPhoto. The feature can also hook in with your contacts list - you can tap a person in a photo to call them, for instance, however won't talk to Facebook or Flickr.

Those apps, and others for the Nexus UX, will be available from the PlayNow store.

Elsewhere and it's pretty standard Android fare for the handset. The software is, and acts, as you would expect for an Android 1.6 handset, however for some reason, one that continues to baffle us, is no multi-touch support.?With a touchscreen so large with no keyboard we think it's a catastrophic move, but then hey, what do we know?

As for performance? Well it's a little too early to say. The models we looked at both in London and New York have all been pre-production, and early builds at that. It certainly wasn't as zippy as we would have hoped, certainly for a device with a Snapdragon chipset, but then its too early to tell whether this is just because it's early code, or because Sony Ericsson has baked in so many graphical, almost PS3-like niceties, that it's buckled under the weight. We expect it's the former.

Verdict:

So is this going to be the Android handset that you wish you waited for? At the moment it's too hard to say as the software wasn't (we hope) working at full speed. That said on the hardware front it really is just a screen with some buttons and every acronym you can think of, looks good and has the potential to perform well.

We get the feeling though, that as soon as HTC announce an HD2 with Android, probably called the HD3, that shininess – i.e., the 4-inch screen - will soon disappear.

So how can Sony Ericsson hope to win your hearts? By getting developers to embrace the Nexus UX platform or for Sony to roll out as many apps as it can including dedicated apps like a PlayNow store, PSP emulator and PS3 Remote Play. Now wouldn't that be nice?

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is expected to be available in February 2010.

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Related links:

• Photos - Sony Ericsson Experia X10 hands on

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Sony Ericsson Android First look Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mobile phone - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

HP have finally bitten the bullet and made what many have been waiting an age for: a MacBook clone. It's been in the back of consumer's minds for a while. Why can't PC manufacturers follow through with the design leads laid down by Apple? Why redesign the wheel? We've seen many models that pick up some Mac-alike elements, but the Envy perhaps goes further than most. In fact, the Envy adds detailing that brings some interest where the Mac is just a little too minimalist for some.

The Envy 15, as the name suggests features a 15.6-inch widescreen display. The resolution stands at?1366 x 768 so it qualifies for the HD tag, but not the Full HD variety, unlike the US versions, which do get a higher quality screen (as well as more RAM in their models). However, the LED backlit HD display looks glorious as it is, with nice bright colours. It doesn't have the same wow factor as the Mac's edge-to-edge panel and the black plastic bezel around the screen is perhaps the only part of the notebook design that we'd criticise. It has a gloss finish which is great for movies at home, but suffers reflections if you sit near a window or are out and about.

It is a compact notebook for its size, measuring 38 x 24.4 x 2.65cm and weighing in at only 2.35kg.

The substantial hinge on the screen lets it drop over the back of the body of the notebook, so it will fit into cramped spaces, although unlike the Envy 13 little brother, it is probably a little too large for Economy Class tray tables on planes or trains. There is a small amount of flex in the screen, but the solid construction means it is well protected from the rear. A light sensor to adjust the brightness of the monitor, the webcam and mic sit in the bezel of the screen too.

The Envy gets a great premium look thanks to liberal use of aluminium in its construction, with the keyboard keys neatly poking through their holes, the same, ahem, as a MacBook. The etching on the back of the screen and on the palm rests might not be for some, but we liked this little addition, giving something of a tactile feel whilst you sit and drum your fingers. The trackpad is larger than you'd normally find on a PC, with HP offering some multi-touch functions -? the pinch zooming works well enough, but the scrolling is a little hit and miss. This is one area where they can't quite match the MacBook Pro. At the bottom of the trackpad are two built-in button sections in lieu of real hard buttons. We like this move as they are still perfectly functional, but give a smoother, cleaner finish, and allow you to move the cursor on-screen across the entire area of the trackpad.

The keyboard is a definite strong point of the Envy. There is no sign of flex at any point, and the travel and response of the keys was very good - we were soon typing up to full speed. There is a full complement of keys however, including shortcut keys down the left and function keys across the top which offer various media controls. We're pleased to see that HP has not resorted to dubious touch controls for these media functions. Unfortunately there is no backlit keyboard option.

Ominously missing from the Envy is a optical drive, although an external USB 8x DVD rewriter is supplied in the box. Opinion is divided on whether this is an acceptable omission on a notebook of this size, but by bundling a drive in the box, you can at least install software or play movies at your desk, but it's an extra lump to carry around on your travels. The drive worked perfectly well for use, but can be a little noisy when spinning. With a 320GB hard drive inside, you've a fair amount of space to store your content, perhaps even a few movies.

Around the body of the Envy you'll find all the connections are located on the right-hand side. You get Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, 2x USB 2.0, a shared eSATA/USB port and a 3.5mm jack which is both an audio input and output. The leading edge features an SD card slot, with a little hinging door, giving a neat finish. When a card is inserted it slots in flush too, so you can stick in a card and leave it in there without worrying about it getting caught on things. The Envy 15 comes with a 2GB SD card containing the user guide.

Of course these are all merely external trimmings. Sitting at the heart of the Envy 15 is the Intel Core i7-720QM, running at 1.6GHz and backed by 4GB RAM (expandable up to 16GB), making this a veritable powerhouse indeed. Our review model came running Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) which ran very smoothly. Dedicated graphics are handled by the ATi Mobility Radeon HD 4830, giving you 1GB of dedicated graphics memory.

The results are impressive. Switching between documents and everyday computing tasks are handled in a flash. Movie playback is fantastic too, with Full HD content playing smoothly both on the screen or output via HDMI onto a larger display. You also have the power on hand to play most modern games and we found that Crysis ran smoothly on medium settings. Sound quality from the onboard speakers is a little on the tinny side, but we've heard much worse. There is plenty of volume on offer to provide the sound FX for your gaming or movie watching needs, or merely to keep you in touch with colleagues via Skype or similar.

One thing that is noticeable is the cooling fan located on the left-hand side of the Envy. When going gets tough, it will spin up to life to cool things down. The Envy doesn't get too hot to be used on the lap, but you'll feel a noticable warmth throughout the notebook when in use. Ventilation holes are liberally spread around the edges, but this does seem to be an issue.?

Unfortunately the battery life isn't too impressive. If you plan on stepping away from the mains for any longer than about 1 hour 20 minutes, which we found to be the average battery performance for general office tasks, you might want to look at getting an extra battery, or the accessory "slice" battery, which claims to extend the life up to 7 hours. The limited battery life does push the Envy 15 towards the desktop replacement end of the notebook market, rather than being a truely portable powerhouse.

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Verdict:

The HP Envy 15 has some real strengths: the design is sensational, the keyboard is excellent and the power on offer makes this a really versatile machine. This has to be balanced against the lack of internal drive and poor battery life, which means that this is a PC that will complement your plush office or home better than it will accompany you on your travels. There is no doubting the style on offer however and it will look good wherever you put it and whatever competitor you sit it next to.

It is a bit of a gripe that the UK version of the Envy doesn't get the same specs as the US market, something to bear in mind when it comes to purchase.

We love what HP have done from a design perspective and the time and effort they have put into creating a great looking notebook will appeal to some users, who will be happy to pay the premium price this notebook commands. For some though, the asking price might just be too high.

Related links:

• Link - HP Envy homepage

Tags: Hardware Laptops HP HP Envy 15

HP Envy 15 1060ea notebook review originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:56:22 +0000

With wireless charging being the current crazy, its no surprise to see GEAR4 putting forward a solution for the iPhone.

The unit consists for two elements, the first is the inductive charging pad, on which you'll have to place you iPhone. The second element is a case into which you'll have to place your iPhone. Put one on the other and you have wireless charging.

The case is needed because the iPhone doesn't contain the necessary technology to support wireless charging. The case has a rubberised effect on what is otherwise a plastic body, which splits into two pieces. The top removes so you can slide your iPhone into the case, connecting with a dock connector at the bottom, which is how it makes contact with the battery.

Adding the dock connector does extend the length of your phone, with the rest of the case adding bulk – although you do have the added benefit of the protection that the case brings. The case measures approx 127mm in length (compared to 115.5mm) and is 19mm thick (compared to the iPhone's 12.3mm).

It doesn't contain a battery of its own, so it won't extend the battery life of your iPhone.

The PowerPad itself is constructed from plastic with a depressed matte area where you place the phone. It is otherwise finished in black gloss and looks minimalist enough. The power pack plugs in around the side and four rubber feet on the bottom stop it from sliding around.

GEAR4 claim that the PowerPad will charge your iPhone at the same rate as a regular charger and we found this to be true. You simply place your iPhone onto the correct place on the pad and off it goes.

A blue LED illuminates showing that the charger is working, but you won't necessarily need that LED, because of the noise. Yes, the PowerPad might be wireless, but it isn't silent.

Place your iPhone on the PowerPad and you'll hear and excited chirping coming from the pad, which then slows down into a regular chirping about 4 times a second. If you have the PowerPad on your desk in a quiet office it may well drive you mad.

We tested the PowerPad initially in the kitchen and it could be heard over the sound of the fridge. Then set on a desk next to a Mac and it was a distraction. If you was going to put this in the hallway and not spend much time near it, then fair enough, but for us, the noise was irritating.

And that's not all. We also found it clicking away, albeit faintly, whilst there was nothing on the pad. A handy reminder to turn it off at the wall.

Verdict:

The PowerPad is an effective wireless charge if you happy with the increased size that the case brings to your iPhone. The case will also give you a degree of protection, but it would have been nice to see options over the standard black plastic.

But the noise that comes with this charging solution might be too much to bear. In a noisy environment, like an office with aircon, heaps of computers, phones ringing, or even music, it won't be much of a problem. But in a quiet home office, or next to the bed a night, and it might just be too irritating.

Tags: Gadgets Phones Chargers iPhone Apple GEAR4 Gear4 PowerPad

GEAR4 PowerPad wireless iPhone charger originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Italian coffee giants Lavazza have thrown their hat in the coffee pod ring to compete with the likes of Tassimo and the current champions Nespresso, but will the A Moda Mio serve up a quality crema or just leave a bitter taste in the mouth?

At just 20.5cm wide the Mio is pretty dinky for a fully featured espresso maker, especially as it features a steam arm for milk heating, 1-litre water tank and decent size used pod holder and drip tray.

As for styling the Mio is undoubtedly retro, but the cute curves, high-gloss two-tone finish in silver with red, black or white mean it will sit happily in the sleekest of modern kitchens. The plastic body construction isn’t the best – the Nespresso models we’ve tried feel substantially more robust – but it's sturdy enough not to look cheap.

Once filled with water and turned on it takes about 40 seconds to heat up ready for use. Pop your chosen coffee flavour in the flip-top slot, pull down the silver lever and push the button. A double espresso will take around 35 seconds, longer than both the Tassimo and Nespresso systems, and be warned, we only wanted a single shot, but the espresso button is manual, so it’s up to you how much coffee you want in the cup.

Sluggish speed aside the espresso tastes fantastic; rich, smooth, and equally as good as the Nespresso and on a par with the best restaurants have to offer.

While Tassimo and Nespresso both boast an impressive range of drinks and coffee flavours, the Lavazza has only four basic blends to choose from – light, medium, dark and decaf - all 100% Arabica beans.

But there’s more to the Moda than just espresso, you can also knock up a macchiato or cappuccino using the handy steamer. Usually the Achilles heel of budget coffee makers this steam arm was surprisingly simple to use and heated/frothed milk with a satisfying whoosh and gurgle. Our only niggle with the steamer is that the arm is about 2 inches too short and as a result most standard mugs were awkward to use, while the classic espresso cup fitted perfectly it didn’t hold enough milk for a latte or cappuccino.

The steam is controlled via a dial on the side of the machine, that can also be used to produce hot water for tea, but the water flow comes through such a narrow opening it’d be far quicker just to boil the kettle.

The Mio is easy to keep clean, the used pods fall automatically into a container and the excess water drains through into a separate drip tray. The whole unit pulls out as one making trips to the sink drip proof.

Coffee pods cost ?3.59 for 16 from Waitrose, Tesco or www.lavazzamodomio.co.uk, that’s 22p per cup and, while not as cheap as a vat of Mellow Birds, you really do get what you pay for.

Verdict:

We’re chuffed with the Lavazza coffee machine. For under ?120 it punches well above its weight in both looks and performance. The coffee is of seriously high quality, and if you consider the steam arm as an added bonus to a really good espresso maker you can’t fail to be impressed.

We admit that the casing it a touch plasticy and the machine lacks the clunk-click of more luxury machines, but the fact that the pods are available in supermarkets (unlike Nespresso) and the machine is child’s play to use (and clean) should mean more people get to enjoy proper coffee at home without unnecessary mess, fuss or expense.

Tags: Home And Kitchen Kitchen gadgets Coffee machines Lavazza Lavazza A Modo Mio

Lavazza A Modo Mio coffee machine originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

If you've ever been on a long journey with kids in the back of the car you'll know that after a while your kids will get restless and that means your journey quickly descends into a nightmare.?Qualcomm, the company behind most of the chipsets in smartphones around the world, believe it has the answer with the?FLO TV, a spin off from the technology it's already dabbled with in mobile phones from companies like LG and HTC.

The concept is that you get a small portable dedicated device for watching television on without having to plug-in aerials (it's a mobile signal that is transmitted digitally over UHF channel 55), worrying about tuning-in stations or not having anything stored to watch.

The Flo TV device sports a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display, a built-in speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack, and flip-out stand so you can perch it on your desk.?Made by HTC, the design of the device is fairly simple. Buttons are kept to a minimum (volume, mute, EPG and battery status) with the main control coming in the guise of that touchscreen display.

The quickest way to access stations to watch is either via the EPG (electronic programme guide) or simply by flicking your finger from top to bottom or bottom to top of the screen. Doing so loads up the next channel for you to watch with the system letting you see what is on (via an EPG message) so you can keep scrolling if you don't fancy the station.

Each programme, just like the EPG on your cable box at home, has information about it and the channels available include full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from Adult Swim Mobile, CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News Channel, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go and Nickelodeon. ?

The stations aren't actually exact copies of the actual stations, a legal wrangle thing we're told, and certain stations aren't running all the time (Adult Swim only comes on from 10pm till 6am for example).

That's the theory and in practice the device quickly lets you watch television on the go, lets you switch through channels easily and lets you quickly shut the kids up with Nickelodeon in the back of the car. The in-built speaker is surprisingly good, if not a little tinny, and will fill a room allowing you to treat this as a radio in your hotel room (there aren't actually any radio stations available).

However, it's not all high fives. The quality isn't as good as we would have liked with the screen resolution somewhat lacking.?Then there is the inability to record any programmes, meaning that while you've got used to your PVR and time shifting television in your home you won't be able to do that on the road.

You can set reminders in the EPG, however you've got to have the device on to let it remind you.?We are sure it's a legal thing stopping the recording aspect rather than?Qualcomm?making that decision, but we can't say we wouldn't have wanted this feature.

The final grumble is that while the channel selection is okay it's not amazing, especially considering the Flo TV comes with up to $14.99 monthly subscription on top of the $250 purchase price (you do get the first 6 months free).

The 12 or so channels are a start (Qualcomm promises there will be up to 20 in the future) but for a device aimed at keeping the kids quiet in the back of the car we would have expected more content aimed at children. Nickelodeon is good, but where is Nick Jr, PBS Kids, and all the other crazy channels allowing you to get your fix of Wonder Pets every waking minute of the day?

As for the battery life we managed to get around 5 hours without changing channels too much, pretty much what Qualcomm claims.

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Verdict:

Remember that scene in Wall Street where Michael Douglas is watching TV on a small black and white portable? Well that's what this will enable you to do, but in colour and without the big aerial.

If that's what you want to do, then the Flo TV will be right up your street. Everyone we showed, that wasn't a technology journalist, was impressed. However most did comment on the lack of quality on the 320 x 240 resolution screen.

From a hardware perspective it works, and works well. However while the technology looks and sounds promising, the execution for us isn't there just yet.

A bigger screen, better resolution and more channels are all on our wish list for version 2. For now, take this as a first attempt that could easily be bettered with more content and a higher resolution.

Tags: Home Cinema Qualcomm FLO TV Televisions

Flo TV portable television originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Video-on-demand (VOD) is all the rage in TV and games. The BBC’s Project Canvas should initiate open platform set-top boxes in 2010 with elements of IPTV and video on demand streaming services. Sky needs a plan.

Similarly, Xbox bosses desperately need to combat the PlayStation 3 upcoming movie on-demand service that will sit alongside its existing BBC iPlayer interface. It’s expected to include streaming and downloading of 2000+ movies and many more TV shows.

Step forward the ultimate solution: Sky Player on Xbox 360. You’ll find it in the Video Marketplace on your Xbox 360. Once downloaded and various subs paid, (though it will let you watch a random live TV channel as a demo), the interface works in exactly the same way as its host’s dashboard.

That is, quite brilliantly. Spacious and uncluttered, ducking between the live TV channel slots and those for on-demand content is so easy, and so familiar. There’s rarely any delay, save for an occasional wait for the movies homepage to load.

As for live TV, if you pay your subs and go for the entertainment and sports packages, respectively, you’ll get Sky Screen 1 and Sky Screen 2, and ESPN, ESPN Classic, Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Xtra.

However, it’s unlikely viewers of the basic package will make much use of the live channels provided; iPlayer-envy is sure to set in. Sky channels include only Sky Real Lives, Sky Arts 1, Sky News and Sky Sports News (so no Sky One), plus third-party channels – GOLD, MTV, Eurosport UK, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, History, Eden, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr and the Disney Channel.

The video on demand library is just as easy to navigate, and includes material from Sky One. As usual with Sky, content goes from the sublime to the ridiculous. On one hand there’s exclusive Premiership football and rugby aplenty – as on-demand re-runs, too – while a few flicks away are a stack of Gladiators episodes that cost 98p each. And a lifetime’s worth of Ross Kemp-related material.

For live TV only, it’s possible to watch in a virtual living room. Your avatar, along with your friends’ avatars (if you’ve invited them), sit together on a huge couch staring up at a bigscreen that shows the action. Get a headset and you can talk to your chums, or just click the Emote and you can make your feelings known, albeit in a rudimentary way; for sports TV your avatar can wave, shout, clap or remonstrate over a bad decision, while for movies can express love, fear, or even boredom. Pointless, yes, but fun.

The service works well on a 2Mbps broadband line, though if others are using the bandwidth live channels and VOD do buffer and cut out. There is an option to watch in medium or low quality too if your broadband line is shaky, but this is a last resort; make sure your broadband line is well over 2Mbps meg – 3Mbps should be fine – before considering Sky Player on the Xbox.

Content-wise, Sky subscribers get a similar service to their satellite feed, plus VOD. And if you’ve no Sky subs, there’s a taster trial before you commit to paying a considerable sum: for ?29.99 you an get a Sky Player retail bundle pack that includes a month’s access to Sky Sports, a media remote and a 3 month Xbox LIVE Gold membership card.

Verdict:

For non-Sky converts, you get what you pay for; an expensive though an excellent IPTV solution that fits seamlessly into the Xbox experience. For existing Sky subscribers, it’s a must-have no-brainer; grab yourself Sky in the bedroom, or even in another property, for the cost of Xbox LIVE Gold.

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Tags: Gaming Home Cinema Sky Microsoft Sky Player Xbox 360

Sky Player on Xbox 360 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:16:03 +0000

Dyson's Air Multiplier made waves upon its release in October, promising a highly-efficient non-buffeting fan replacement, complete with the product design that Dyson has made its name on. But with that promise came a hefty price tag. Does the Air Multiplier live up to its lofty goals? Read on to find out.

Firstly, let's go through briefly how it works. A turbine pulls in air through the base, which is then ejected at a speed of 55mph through a tiny slit around the edge of the ring. That air pulls more air with it thanks to friction, resulting in approximately 15 times more energy efficiency.

That bit of engineering isn't new - it's used in cabin air conditioning systems on planes and to dry water-based paint, according to Pocket-lint readers - but Dyson has certainly reimagined the fan as a considerably more efficient device than its contemporaries.

The noise level is about equivalent to a regular fan - maybe a smidge quieter, but not vast in difference. The lack of "buffeting" (caused by a regular fan's blades) is noticeable when it's pointed out, but it isn't really a game changer. There's still a bit of exhaustion on your skin after using it for a while.

The safety aspects shouldn't be neglected, though - no blades means no sliced young pinkies. Speaking as a reviewer who bears a scar from nearly losing a finger by stretching out in the night and colliding with a running metal fan, that's not something you should overlook - particularly if you have young children in your home.

It's hard to say whether the Air Multiplier looks good. It looks distinctive - its magnifying glass shape will attract "what's that?" comments from dinner party guests - but it won't fit into anything but the most modernist, minimalist, interiors. It does, however, look nicer than a normal fan. There's a lot to be said for that.

But the most impressive feature of the Air Multiplier isn't the design or the engineering - it's the price tag. The device will set you back a whopping ?200, compared to less than a tenner for a traditional desk fan. Is it worth that kind of cash? Most certainly not.

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Verdict:

The Air Multiplier is a clever bit of engineering that solves a few problems that no-one really had. It's a luxury product, almost a concept product, and carries a price tag that's representative of that status. It's sorta pretty, and has some nice features, but at the end of the day it's just a fan. It's not going to change your life.

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Link -?How Dyson's Air Multiplier works

Photos -?Dyson's Air Multiplier

Tags: Gadgets Dyson Dyson Air Multiplier Home And Kitchen Office gadgets

Dyson Air Multiplier fan review originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The Navigon 8410 comes in near the top of Navigon's range of satnavs, topped only by the 8450 Live which brings connected features such as live traffic, weather and local Google search to the mix, pitching it against the top of the range TomTom HD device.

The 8410, then, brings you all the other premium elements, without the ongoing costs associated with those "live" features, so you buy the unit and you get all the services, with 2years of Navigon's FreshMaps service included, enabled by hooking up to your PC.

The 8410 is very much a premium device, with a premium price tag to match. With a slim profile and brushed aluminium bezel, the 8410 will look at home in the interior of your BMW. Navigon used to have a beast of a window mount with some previous versions of their navigation devices, but the 8410 has a solid mount that is easy to attach and secure.

The windscreen mount has the added bonus of also including a mini-USB socket, so you can connect the mount to the power, rather than the unit itself, making it much easier to remove. Considering that the 8410 wants to pass itself off as a media player too, this makes sharing it around the car much easier, as well as those moments you have to dive out of the car and want to take it with you.

The 8410 features a 5-inch display, making it among the largest satnav displays available, which really plays to the rich visuals that it provides. The display is gloss in its finish – another nod to media player functions – so will give you more reflections than a matte finish, but at the same time it is bright enough to cope with most driving conditions.

A single power button lies discretely on the top. A nearly invisible hole provides a mic on the front for the Bluetooth phone link, and the bottom edge provides another mini-USB charging hole, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot. It is excruciatingly well designed, making the curvy plastics of a TomTom look like a toy: the Navigon is industrial and sophisticated by its simplicity.

Dive into the satnav itself and all control is handled by the resistive touchscreen display. The icons are generally big enough and first-time responses from the buttons are the norm, but occasionally, we'd find a second press was needed. The layout is relatively simple, but it does take some time to drill down into all the options that are presented.

The opening screen gives you four options: navigation, phone, media and TV. (The TV module is a ?54 accessory that plugs onto the side; we didn't have one to test.) Navigation gives you full Europe (40 country) mapping. You can save destinations, including those that you might import from Outlook or your mobile phone connected via Bluetooth. But be warned, your addresses need to be in the right format, including country, to get the right result, which ours weren't.

Entering an address is simple, you simply tap in the postcode, town, street, number or crossing and the 8410 will calculate the route, show you on the map and give you up to three route options, giving distance and time estimates. Navigon's MyRoute steps in as a rival to IQ Routes, offering up the best route considering the time of day, your driving style and so on. It seems to work, too.

You can also navigate to POIs or get direct guidance to petrol, parking or restaurants. You can add POIs on your route as you go too, and one neat thing is as you approach your final destination you'll get a parking shortcut appear on-screen, to guide you straight to a car park. We also like the option to navigate straight to a definable POI type from the start of the navigation pages – so you can opt for fuel, food or parking within a few presses.

The 8410 also offers voice command, which can be activated by swiping a finger across the display. It is a little inconsistent and you have to learn how to get it to play nice, and we found that some words it just wouldn't recognise, regardless of volume or pronunciation. When voice control is offered, a green icon appears in the corner accompanied by a sound. You simply say what you want after the sound and off you go. This will let you speak a complete address for navigation (town, street, number). It works pretty well too within basic functions.

A correction procedure is available for when it makes a mistake, so it will ask you if the town is correct, etc and you say "no" to change a part. After speaking again, it then presents you with new and similar sounding options in the right area and you can pin down the exact name by saying the number on the list. It's not a perfect system, but it's pretty clever.

A word of caution though. You can use voice commands to access the phonebook too, so you can attempt to navigate to a contact with an address. If the address is incomplete, it makes the best guess it can. A contact in Germany (street name and postcode, but no country), for example, gave us a route to somewhere south of Paris. An extreme case, but one to watch.

You can also use voice commands to dial a number or answer a call too. It lets you speak numbers in phrases and waits for you to say "call" before you go. If that person is in your address book, it displays the contact name too, which is tidy. The same applies to incoming calls, where all you have to say is "accept" to take the call. Very smart.

We found the speaker was plenty loud and it can also be adjusted using voice control although you have to touch the speaker icon to get this to go. Callers reported that the voice quality they were hearing was perfectly acceptable too.

Back to navigation and the driving display is extremely rich. This isn't just a two-tone map. First up you get Real City 3D. This fleshes out your map with 3D building blocks in major cities. Major landmarks or significant buildings are given a full rendering, so Westminster Abbey looks authentic. You might find this a little distracting, but as a tourist, or using the unit on foot, it's great fun and can be turned off if you don't like it.

The second big feature is Panorama View 3D. This is actually one of our favourites, because it is more like driving over a topographical map. You can see the ridges of mountain ranges and have a sense of perspective. It makes the navigation experience more visceral. Again, if you don't like it, you can switch it off. The best thing is that the maps are spread across the large 5-inch display and move around very smoothly, it's a pleasure to watch, which is a good reason in itself to switch it off.

You also get the more useful functions like lane guidance indicators and real signs and some questionable inclusions, like notifications of sharp bends. We turned this off pretty quickly, because you're better off watching the road for sharp bends than a dashboard-mounted device.

The 8410 gives you a rich POI experience. You can navigate directly to these POIs and they also appear on the map as you drive around and not just generic icons – you get the Golden Arches for McDonald's, the Esso logo for their fuel stations and so on. Banks, restaurants, parking and shopping is richly displayed and seems comprehensive.

Turn-by-turn navigation commands are accurate and well-timed, and the map provides all the detail you need for complicated junctions. Spoken street names and road numbers help you to navigate complicated junctions. The lane guidance isn't as rich as TomTom's offering, but it is there. Route recalculation is very fast too. Traffic comes in the form of TMC in this device, with spoken delay notifications so you can make route alterations.

With full European mapping, you'll find that with the language set to English, the spoken interpretation of foreign place names becomes rather too Anglicised. Depending on how well you speak European languages, you might love or loathe this.

Turning to the media functions, the Navigon 8410 offers a media player supporting video, images and music. The music might be a little unnecessary as you probably have a car stereo, but with the 3.5mm jack on the bottom, the kids in the back could use it for entertainment whilst you are driving on a long stretch of motorway.

The media player is a little cumbersome and it won't match your iPhone for simplicity, however you can set a route and then dive into the media player, of course using caution. The system isn't designed to let you drive from Manchester to London watching last night's Eastenders, it's for those moments when you want to shut the kids up or are stuck in a mediocre lodge overnight with no TV.

However, all isn't as rosy as it seems. The media player is rather basic, asking you to explore the microSD card or internal memory in a folder/file system to find the files to then play. It should scan any card, update a library and offer you audio, video or photo options, but it doesn't. We had no problem with viewing photos that we had on a card, but we couldn't get it to work with music or video.

This is likely to be an issue that would be fixed with a software upgrade on the unit at some point in the future, thankfully the device comes with the software onboard, so you can easily install it and upgrade maps and the device software.

Battery life isn't the best unfortunately given the large screen, so you'll only get a couple of hours from it. It is also easy to put it into standby rather than shutting it down, so you'll come back to a drained device if you are not careful.

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Verdict:

Overall we were really impressed with the basics that Navigon have got right in the 8410. The navigation is top notch with timely and clear instructions and the rerouting is lightening fast. Gone are the days of continually asking you to turn around and head back to the old route.

The voice commands won't be for all, but once you know what it is good at, you'll find yourself using it. We found it useful for setting a new destination whilst driving. We like the ease of access to POI and we are totally sold on the rich display. For those moments when you need to look at it and visualise where that elusive restaurant is, it really comes into its own.

The design is also very good with the fantastic 5-inch display, we've found it a wonderful driving companion. Don't buy it for the media features though, not until they work. But without those working media features, you are paying top dollar for your satnav device, so you have to be really sold on size and the slick design, or else you'll find many of the solid features here for less.

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Tags: Car And GPS GPS Navigon Navigon 8410

Navigon 8410 satnav review originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:08:37 +0000

It's fair to say the BlackBerry Bold took the QWERTY market by storm. It was a badge that said you'd made it in business, as commuter trains packed full of suits flashing RIM's flagship device. The last Bold hit as the world economy slumped, so it's perhaps fitting that the new Bold trims off the fat, tightens up and is a meaner machine.

The design is the biggest change you'll notice, as it steps closer to the form factor of the Curve 8900, a handset that's been incredibly popular both in business and among consumers. Touches of the old Bold are still here, not only on the tech spec side of things, but also around the back, with the leather insert meaning your fingertips get to enjoy that textured premium feel.

From the front the BlackBerry Bold 9700 looks like a slightly more mature Curve 8900, with a flash of angle applied to the edge of the screen to make it more Audi than VW. Around the sides you now have the tactile rubberised finish so the 9700 is secure in your hand, with the side buttons getting the rubber finish we saw on the 8520.

The top is slightly more pronounced than previous BlackBerrys, with the key lock and mute "buttons" having a positive and substantial feel to them, where the 8900 is rather unsubstantial. The left-hand side of the 9700 gives you the 3.5mm headphone jack and Micro-USB with a user-defined shortcut button, which we like to assign to launch Twitter. The right-hand side sees the camera shortcut and volume.

The optical trackpad has now moved into the 9700, ousting the "Pearl" trackball that now seems destined to the recycle bin. This is one of the primary interfaces you'll use for menu navigation and browsing on the device, but fortunately the switch is a seamless one and you'll barely notice the difference. We took the sensitivity down a touch to reflect the trackball response we used previously, but it's easy to set it to your preference.

The trackpad sits on a middle belt giving you your calling, back and BlackBerry menu buttons. Above is the 2.44-inch, 480 x 360 pixel resolution display which is beautifully crisp and bright. It might not be the largest screen or pack in touch technology, but it does have the brightness to be visible in bright sunlight, something that we really like.

But the BlackBerry Bold is all about the keyboard and here in the new 9700 it keeps the ridges of the previous Bold and an action that is possibly the best QWERTY keyboard of any mobile phone. With the keys flush together, they are larger than those of the 8900. There is a silky feel to the keyboard. Not only is the choice of materials perfect, but the action is tight and responsive too.

The backlighting shines through so you can happily bash out those midnight emails and there is enough space for some serious two-thumbed action, whilst still letting you reach all the keys with a single thumb for those moments when you have your hands full. Converts from the 8900 will find that that keyboard has less of a click, but it has a softness that is reassuringly premium.

Packed into the BlackBerry Bold 9700 you get all the connectivity you expect. You get HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You get the assisted GPS and the 3.2-megapixel camera with an LED flash. RIM has a habit of differentiating between their devices by omitting some critical piece of hardware and fortunately the Bold 9700 gets the full bunch.

Dive into the interface and the 9700 comes with BlackBerry OS 5, the latest version of their software, carrying the look and feel that was introduced with version 4.6. In essence little has changed here: it is functional and relatively easy to use, but occasionally you'll find yourself digging around in some minor menu looking for an obscure setting.

If there is a criticism of the BlackBerry family of devices, it is that the user interface is tired and doesn't bring with it the wow factor that many of the new touch devices have. Sure, a bigger screen and touch interaction gives you greater visual scope, but you get the feeling that some of the core interaction with social networks or existing online services needs to be deeper ingrained in the BlackBerry ethos in the future.

Yes, BlackBerry App World is bringing together many applications for you to download for free or at a price, but it doesn't compete with Apple's App Store or to a certain extent the Android Marketplace.

But one area that BlackBerry still reigns supreme is email. The optimised push email service is RIMs knockout punch. Setup is incredibly easy and the way it handles attachments just makes your life so easy if you are a heavy email user. It might lack some of the visuals of its rivals, but it is dependable, and this is a key point for those who rely on email.

The 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera doesn't bring any surprises with it and performance is very similar to the 8900. It might not reach the vaulted 5- or 8-megapixel levels, but we feel that 3.2 is enough. It gives you an image that is great for sharing and using online and is better than many other phones in the 3MP range. Video, captured as 3GP is restricted to 480 x 352 pixels, so it can't compete with other devices, except in offering solid 30fps capture, so performance isn't too bad.

The BlackBerry Media Player is reasonable, giving you support for the usual video and music formats. There is only 256MB of memory however, which you'll need to keep aside for your applications that you download. Under the back cover you'll find a microSD card slot to handle expansion, and our review model came with 1GB in the box, although this may vary by carrier.

The BlackBerry browser is pretty good. It does at least let you open most pages in full and the optical trackpad makes navigation easier than previously. If browsing the Internet is the most important thing for you, then this probably isn't the right device. At least you know that when you need to look something up, you'll be able to dive in and quickly jump in to page columns to read the details and so on, with minimal fuss.

The battery in the 9700 is the same as the original Bold. It stands up well against touchscreen smartphone rivals, but the constant data consumption does leave its mark on the phone. In normal use it will get you through a couple of days, but on intensive days you'll find it needs charging every night. But it will also happily sit around for several weeks, picking up emails and still keep charge.

Verdict:

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 feels like the last step in an evolution of devices, bringing together the form factor from the Curve 8900 with the tech specs of the original Bold. It brings with it the two key elements that BlackBerry users love: an excellent keyboard with which to abuse BlackBerry's excellent email service.

This is a device with communication at its core. It is a comfortable handset to use for voice calls, with good quality audio for both the caller and the receiver. It provides an excellent messaging platform for those who use email day-in-day-out with SMS and MMS not ignored. Instant messaging via BlackBerry's own service, or via a more popular download like Windows Live Messenger will keep you in touch with your most important people. Diving in and out of calendar, browser, instant messaging, copy and pasting information is what the BlackBerry is really good at.

But step outside this communication-heavy business-friendly core and the BlackBerry seems to give a nonchalant shrug. Social networking? Well, sort of. By this stage of the game, Apple and Android have a big lead. For business users this might not be a concern, but as the divide between business and social lives narrows, it's becoming much more important.

RIM will certainly evolve their BlackBerry offering and as it stands the BlackBerry Bold 9700 is the best BlackBerry yet: a very comfortable device to use, delivering its core functions with aplomb.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones BlackBerry RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700

BlackBerry Bold 9700 mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:22:12 +0000

The Canon PowerShot S90 was singing to us as soon as it was announced and from our first hands-on with the high-end compact, it was clear that there was something special going on. Having lived with the S90 for a couple of weeks, that special impression is still with us - it's a magnificent compact camera.

It doesn't quite come in as small as some of the other compacts on the market, with dimensions of 100 x 58.4 x 30.9mm, but it is still small enough to slip into the pocket of your jeans. The simple all-black livery brings to mind Leica and Ricoh models and of course the Panasonic Lumix LX3, giving the impression of a compact that is packed full of power.

The most distinctive feature of the S90 is the front-mounted Control Ring, which accounts for some of the depth. The Control Ring gets a corresponding button on the top plate named (rather amusingly) Ring Func, which gives you an extra control option, more on which later. On the side you have AV and (mini) HDMI connections.

Across the top plate you get the power button and the shutter release, ringed by the zoom controls, as normal. There is also the mode dial, letting you switch around from Auto, through Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual and Custom (user defined) modes. The same dial continues to give you access to the Scene presets as well as a separate Low Light shooting mode and finally video.

Splitting out Low Light accepts that hunting through the preset Scenes isn't always the first thing on your mind, so is a real convenience for those less familiar with the advanced features on offer. By contrast, the additional Custom setting (and shortcut button on the back) means you can set it up for certain styles of shot or shooting conditions that you often encounter, something that will appeal to enthusiasts.

The back offers the normal direct controls over the likes of the flash and engaging the macro setting, but also delivers another surprise. The normal four-way controller (with central ok/Set button) is again ringed with a ridged scroll wheel. This offers direct control over exposure compensation in most shooting modes, another little touch that makes you feel a bit more in control of proceedings.

The Shortcut button on the rear can be set to toggle a number of useful features (face select, ISO, metering, white balance, custom white balance, servo AF, digital tele-converter, red-eye correction, i-Contrast, AE lock, AF lock, display off). Some of these functions are easily accessed elsewhere, but things like the i-Contrast toggle is well hidden in the menus. It's a useful addition with the likes of AF lock expanding your creative options.

The 3-inch LCD display on the back gives you 461k-dots, something of a bump over many rivals. The result is that image previews look spectacular on the display and given the control options this camera gives you, that's a good thing. Not only does the screen deliver, but the image playback is really slick, especially as you scroll through images using that ridged scroll wheel.

Sitting at the core of the S90 is a 10-megapixel CCD, backed by Canon's DIGIC 4 processor. It's commendable that Canon haven't just bumped up the pixels on the sensor – 10 megapixels is plenty for a compact and it means things run along at a fair lick, without giving you those huge image files blighted by noise.

Lets talk about that Control Ring. In Auto, you could almost forget it is there, as it gives you focal length setting, duplicating the zoom toggle around the shutter button. But flip into a more advanced shooting mode and it really comes into its own.

In aperture priority mode, for example, the Control Ring will allow you to change the F setting, supported by feedback on the screen. The neat thing is that as you change the focal length, the scale greys out over that part of the aperture range you can't use. This is a great visual reminder that the widest angle offers the largest aperture and draws you into experiment – recompose your shot to use the hardware to best advantage.

The Ring Func button, means that you can change the function of the Control Ring too, using the ridged scroll wheel on the back as a double act. Switch the Control Ring to change the ISO level and the scroll wheel will take over AV function. This sort of creative control really opens up the options the camera gives you and before long you'll be trying things you perhaps wouldn't normally. For enthusiasts it means it is really easy to get to settings and change them as you are shooting; for newcomers it means you can really experiment and any camera that encourages you to do that should be commended.

The same things applies to the shutter speed selection. Too many compact cameras will have you diving into a menu, moving it up and down. Here you can make changes on the fly, making the S90 a powerful compact from a creative point of view.

The flash hides in the body and powers out of the top of the camera when you need it. It has that "premium" look and feel to it, but you do need to make sure you're not gripping the camera at that point when it wants to deploy. We can envisage some will always get in a muddle with this.

If there was another minor design criticism, and we'll repeat minor, it's that we were forever pressing the mode dial over the shutter button in those fleeting point-and-shoot moments. Sure, part of it is a familiarity issue, but we’d have liked a touch more prominence on the shooting button.

The menus are typical of Canon compacts, giving you a main menu and quick access function settings, so you can dive in and change the options available to your shooting mode.

The 3.8x zoom lens gives you a 28-105mm (35mm equiv) range, with F/2.0 at the widest aperture, making this a better performer in lower light than some rivals. There is fairly severe barrel distortion at the wide angle of the lens, although this is effectively corrected by software in the camera. If shooting RAW then you'll have to allow for it and be prepared to change the focal length and recompose your picture, or use it to artistic effect.

The ISO range runs from 80 to 3200. Shadow noise creeps in around ISO 800 and above. Some pictures at ISO 2000 were acceptable however; at ISO 3200 things do look rather mottled, but if you only need a 6 x 4 print or a candid website shot, it should work out fine, which is impressive performance. It's worth acknowledging that the manual controls do at least mean you have other options besides turning up the ISO.

You get RAW shooting, something that enthusiasts will appreciate, where you'll be able to work out more detail if you are that way inclined.

Colour representation is good, if a little flat at times, but reds will sometimes come out a touch over-saturated, we like the punch that this brings so it isn't always a negative. High contrast scenes bring some purple fringing to edges, but this is relatively well controlled.

Shutter lag wasn't a noticeable problem, nor buffering. Start-up to first shot was around 3 seconds. Focusing was generally solid, but once a subject gets close, you'll have to deploy Macro, listed as working down to 5cm. If shooting in the Auto mode, the S90 identifies the scene and selects a setting, although it does tend to flip back and forth, so if you are set on using scenes, then you might want to set them manually. Some work nicely, like the fireworks setting, for example.

Autobracketing is offered, ideal for those who want to indulge in a touch of HDR photography with some post-processing, as well as continuous shooting, but only at around one frame a second. Focusing is limited to centre or face focus through the menus, and the AF lock is a little clunky, not offering a visual indicator of the focal point on the screen, so after the heady highs of getting really stuck into the creative options of offer here, you come down with a gentle bump. But the biggest bump is reserved for those interested in shooting video.

The S90 shoots video at VGA resolution, 640 x 480, which comes as something of a surprise in a camera pitching at this level. Canon explained this away as a pricing issue. However, the results are rather good. It doesn't compete with 720 or Full HD rivals, but there is VGA video capture from devices that is much worse. It holds a nice solid 30fps, so is good enough for passing video clips.

Video does get digital zoom, so best avoided, and the creative controls on offer elsewhere in the camera don't come into play here.

The battery will give you somewhere around 200 shots, which is fairly average performance for this type of camera. To prolong the battery you can turn down the screen brightness and turn off the screen without shutting the camera down, so you are ready to jump into shooting in an instant.

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Verdict:

The Canon PowerShot S90 brings some powerful creative controls in a package that fits right into your pocket. But it is a compact camera first, and as such, delivers impressive point and shoot performance. For those looking for a little more fun, then the S90 delivers it by the bucket load.

It isn't alone in this regard, with Canon taking some of the lessons from the popular G10 and giving you a tighter pocket-friendly (if not wallet-friendly) package. It joins cameras like the Panasonic Lumix LX3 which still stands as perhaps its biggest rival and on paper, perhaps the more attractive package.

But in the hand the S90 is an absolute delight, with the Control Ring flirting with the playful side of photography, putting controls literally at your fingertips. Yes, it costs a lot for a compact, but it really puts power in your pocket.

Tags: Cameras Compact cameras Digital cameras 10 megapixels Canon Canon Powershot S90

Canon PowerShot S90 digital camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:48:52 +0000

The ebook reader market seems to be gaining momentum if you take an increasing diversity of devices as an indicator. The idea of an ebook replacing your collection of dusty novels is still in its infancy, but with the PRS-300, the "Pocket Edition", we see Sony expanding its offerings, alongside the PRS-600, the "Touch Edition".

We liked the PRS-505, the original Reader that we reviewed last year and we've been using one ever since. There is as much a need to understand the limitation of an ebook reader as there is any features it offers: these devices are primarily designed for reading and the real issues are about content delivery and accessibility and how the device performs its core function. In some cases, like the PRS-300, less can be more.

The PRS-300, then, fits well into that convenient slot. The format is largely the same as Sony's other Readers. We reviewed the brushed silver version, which we prefer over the red/rose version, but if you feel the need to make a statement that's the one to go for. It's also worth mentioning that we are a fan of the accessory cover. Sure, it costs ?30 extra, but it does make prolonged use more like reading a book and you can close the cover to protect the Reader when it is in your bag. A neoprene slip cover is supplied in the box.

The device itself features a 5-inch screen, which gives you an 800 x 600 pixel resolution display. Like other ebooks, this is an E Ink display, meaning it doesn't have a backlight and it uses very little power, essentially only when changing the contents of the page. Some criticise E Ink displays, but it fits the purpose perfectly: it doesn't cause eye strain when reading, you aren't left feeling drained from staring at it whilst reading in bed, plus you get a battery life of weeks, rather than hours.

The front and the spine of the PRS-300 are metal, the back and edges are plastic. The back has a slight tactile feel to it, so it is a pleasure to hold in the hand. The plastic edge perhaps looks a little cheaper than the rest of the device, but it doesn’t matter. Overall, it looks good, and feels good in the hand.

Although the screen is only 5-inches on the diagonal, the PRS-300 is approx 7.3-inches overall on the diagonal (107 x 157.5 x 10.2mm). It weighs in at 220, heavier than most mobile phones. It will fit into an average suit inside pocket, whilst the larger PRS-505 was a bit of a squeeze.

The extra real estate on the front is where all the controls live. Below the screen are Home and Back buttons and Bookmark and a Zoom button, flanking a central four-way controller, and "ok" button. Running down the right-hand side of the screen are number buttons, which can be used to enter page numbers directly, or select options from the menu.

In terms of size and weight, the PRS-300 is comfortable to read in the hand. It is lighter than most paperbacks. Given the overall size, we found accessing the main control, the one to turn the pages, fell into easy reach of the thumb, which is an important point.

Around the edges of the PRS-300 you have the contact points. On the bottom is the Mini-USB and the 5.2V DC input. This uses the same charger as the (now old) PSP, so it is worth shopping around as you'll find one for a fraction of the ?25 that Sony would ask of you for the Reader charger.

The top of the device gives you a power slider and small LED indicator that lets you know when it is connected to the power and receiving juice (it takes 2 hours to charge using the charger, 4 hours via USB). Using the charger is preferable, as you can read at the same time, whereas once connect to your PC, the Reader enters USB mode and you can't get to your content.

Connect the PRS-300 to your PC and you'll find that the software – Sony's eBook Library for both PC and Mac – is onboard. It is basic and but allows you to organise your collection of eBooks, provides links to online stores (Waterstones, WHSmith and Borders) so you can buy titles, and move content over to your device or set folders to sync. You can also use it to read ebooks on your PC if you wish.

If you plan on buying content, for example from Waterstones online, you'll need Adobe Digital Editions to handle the DRM, effectively granting you a license to the title. This is free software, which you can download direct from Adobe, or you'll be prompted to when you come to purchase an ebook online. Again, it's simple, but essential for the process and once you have your verified file, you can move it over to the Reader.

You don't have to use Sony's software for the process and some users have reported problems with eBook Library, but we found it worked with no problems on the Mac (we already had Adobe Digital Editions in place).

File support on the PRS-300 is good, letting you read EPUB (the mainstay of purchased content), PDF, TXT, RTF, DOC and BBeB formats. We found it had some difficulty with Word documents, but it copes with PDFs rather well, allowing you to resize text in multiple page documents, although don't then trust the page count you are given. For the most part, however, you'll be using the EPUB format.

Reading feels natural on the PRS-300. The quality of the device in your hand combines with the E Ink screen that just works. It is comfortable reading it in the same situations that you would a book. Some criticise the lack of its own illumination, but that's exactly the same as a real book and that's exactly the point. What you can do is sit next to a window on a train and still read it.

The menu system is easy to navigate. The bookmark button will let you mark a page so you can dive straight back into that point and keep reading. It encourages you to explore multiple texts at the same time. Perhaps you have a biography and a novel on the go at the same time – here you can easily jump to something different as your mood changes.

Inherently E Ink pages do take some time to change the content, down to the mechanics of how it works. So when changing page there is something of a pause, as there is when navigating the menus but we’ve never found this to be intrusive. It's not that often you are in a hurry to jump to a particular book; no, the Reader is designed for when you are about to sit down and relax and enjoy a little time to yourself.

The Zoom button is really useful. Given the size of the display, you might want to see what text size works best for you and each will have a different preference of the small, medium or large on offer. We usually stick to small, which reduces the number of page turns, but when tired, might move up to medium. If you have trouble seeing smaller characters, large might do you justice, but then you'll be "turning" pages with increased frequency.

And therein lies the shortcoming of the PRS-300. The overall screen size doesn't give you that much text on the page, so you'll be turning pages more often than you would with a bigger device. It's a trade-off that has to be made: if you want a smaller, pocketable, device, you are looking at a smaller screen.

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Verdict:

Some might see the PRS-300 as something of a step back. It doesn't have the features that the PRS-505 offers or the more advanced offering of the PRS-600. There is no memory expansion, so you are limited to the 512MB onboard, but still good for over 300 books. You also don't get to play music at the same time, but then we've never really wanted to do that anyway. If there is anything we'd change then it would be to expand the screen size whilst maintaining the dimensions of the device, so you get a few more paragraphs to each page, but we don't miss those features that have been removed.

Getting access to the content you want is a separate issue and it isn't fair to criticise the device because of the immature market. If you are considering investing for the first time, it is worth checking out what you will have access to by browsing the various bookstores online.

The PRS-300 isn't cheap, but it looks and feels like a quality device and does what it is supposed to do, which is let you comfortably read your books, without having to lug around a bag of paper copies.

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Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Sony Sony Reader Pocket Edition

Sony PRS-300 Reader Pocket Edition ebook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:42:06 +0000

For the geeky, sharing files with the world or other devices is all done via the FTP that you've got for your website or blog. It involves a stack of complicated codes, faffing around with FTP software and generally an interest in computers and the way the Internet works to get it to go.?For the rest of us, there is dropbox.

Available for the Mac and PC (the iPhone has an app, and access though a mobile page is also offered) the concept is that it is a centralised folder that you have on all your computers or devices that allows you to automatically see what is in that folder be it on your work or home computer.

Sign up for an account, install the software and you can then instantly share documents, photos -pretty much all files - as long as they are in the that Dropbox folder.?Within the folder itself can be further folders and better still you can give public or selected access to those folders if you want.

What it means for example is that if you save all your documents to that folder whenever you make a change and then save it, it is automatically updated on all your computers rather than just the one you are working on. In turn this means the hassle of transferring it to a USB drive or CD to then take home or in to the office doesn't exist.

Clever huh?

On the Mac the whole system is as if it isn't there. In fact the only way you'll know you've got it installed is the appearance of a Dropbox icon on the menu bar at the top of the screen and a folder that you can drop stuff into on your desktop.

Clicking on the icon in the menu bar gives you direct access to your Dropbox folder, tells you how much storage you've got left (in percentage form) and what the recently changed files are. Unfortunately it doesn't change colour to show you that a file has been changed - something that would have been nice if you were working with others on a number of files - but it's no deal breaker.

While the system is likely to help you if work from home or need to share photos with the family across different computers, where we can really see the success is in the ability to share folders with others.

A quick invite to a folder and companies could easy share work projects without having to email large files around. In our tests we were able to share large (100MB +) documents within the team easily and quickly (based on internet connection).

If you aren't fussed about private access to certain people you've invited there is a "Public" folder that allows you to dump files in and then dish out a URL to anyone. (As an aside, PR reading this review, this is a perfect way to share pictures and press releases with journalists.)

As we mentioned there is an iPhone app as well that allows you to access all the files on the system. We had no trouble viewing word documents or images and you can upload from the iPhone as well, handy if you need to share a picture without docking or emailing the photo.

Of course you might not be at your iPhone or your computer with the software installed. Don't panic, Dropbox appears to have thought of that too.?Connected to the whole system is a simple website that once logged in allows you to view files you've got stored, view recent activity, and organise your sharing options.

It's basic, but it does mean that if you are at a random computer, be it in an internet caf? or someone's office you can still access the files.

It's free, so how can the company survive??

Well it comes down to the amount of storage you want. The basic or standard package, which is free, gives you 2GB of storage.?That storage is upgradable either via paying cash or signing up friends (although that will only give you a maximum further 1GB).

The quickest way to get more storage space is to pay. Part with $8.99 a month and you can upgrade that storage quota to 50GB, opt for $19.99 a month and it jumps to the Pro 100 account that gives you, you guessed it 100GB of online storage to store your stuff, more than enough for most people.

Verdict:

Dropbox is a very clever, but incredibly simple, sharing solution that we can see saving a lot of time for those that use multiple computers or just have the need to access certain files from anywhere without having to carry a USB thumb drive around.

Yes you've worked out how to set up a network storage drive on your home Wi-Fi network a system like this isn't that useful (around the home) but your Time Capsule or NAS drive isn't going to let your work computer play or your iPhone for that matter.

The free 2GB threshold is likely to be more than enough for basic file transfer and we would have no issue recommending this to you and everyone you know.

Storage and sharing files might be boring, but this makes it incredibly easy.

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Tags: Software Online Storage Dropbox Mac software PC software iPhone apps Mobile phone apps

Dropbox originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:37:27 +0000

CoPilot is one of many GPS apps for the iPhone, but at half the price of the rest of the pack is this app any less feature rich, or are they just looking to sell you a good deal? We get in the car and find out.

At ?26 for the UK maps, ?49.99 for the European maps or ?20.99 for the US maps, the CoPilot offering is cheap. Not Google Maps Navigation cheap (it's free on Android 2 handsets in the US), but compared to TomTom which is ?59.99, a considerable saving.

Power up the app and you are presented with a menu system that is straightforward but comprehensive. As you would expect you get Destination, My places (like favourites) the chance to change settings, and handily the mode you are travelling - i.e., on foot, by car, bike, RV, or motorbike - with the directions and view mode (2D or 3D) changing accordingly.?

Opting for Destination gives you the ability to punch in the address via an onscreen keyboard. There is support for 7-digit postcodes or you can grab it out of your contacts if there is an address to grab.?The software also lets you pick a Point of Interest, either nearby, in a different city or on your route, and failing that you can just pick somewhere on a map or punch in the coordinates (Long/Latt or OS) if you are being particularly geeky (handy for geocaching).?My Places, as you might expect, lets you store your most commonly used addresses in case you forget how to get to work or get home. It's also the area you can find your recent trips, as you'd expect.?

What you might not have expected to find here is live services such as traffic, weather and friends, that uses your data connection to update the maps on the fly. Obviously the weather is a bit pointless if you are just looking at your location (look out of the window), but it does let you see weather for where you are going as well so you know to pack a coat or a t-shirt.

Not content with just offering you traffic data, the software will also help you spot speed cameras, or safety alerts as it likes to call them, as well as warning you if you are breaking the speed limit for a certain bit of road (you can turn it off).?We also like the Quick Stop feature that allows you to program in a detour to a petrol station or greasy spoon and then get you back on your route afterwards.

For those who want to use the iPhone's iPod functionality there is also the ability to load in tracks from your collection to be played at the same time. It's a work-around for the fact that the iPhone can't multitask, and it comes across as just that, but it's better than nothing. Voice directions are then played over the music rather than it cutting out - showing this is an after-thought rather than a fully integrated feature.

Get past the multitude of options and the maps are clearly laid out with little to offend. Points of Interest are shown by little icons, the app works in both landscape and portrait modes to take advantage of the iPhone's aspect ratio and the colour can be changed at night to best suit your preferences.

In use and the app is as good as the TomTom and Navigon offerings we've tried, with the software telling you when to turn, etc.?Where it lacks against TomTom's solution is things like IQ routes (which is very handy), however at over half the price we think that most will be able to live without that feature.

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Verdict:

CoPilot 8 for iPhone, like the Android and Windows Mobile versions is incredibly feature-packed considering the price.

As with the other satnav solutions for the iPhone, we would recommend you look for a windscreen cradle and a charging option as the software will eat through your phone's battery fairly quickly.

The only real grumble we had was that the walking mode was a bit lacklustre, but then you've got Google Maps for that.

If you need a satnav, but only on occasion, then at ?26 you can't really go wrong.

Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps Car And GPS ALK Technologies CoPilot 8 for iPhone GPS iPhone apps

CoPilot Live 8 for iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:21:23 +0000

The PSP Go comes in as another reworking of Sony's handheld gaming platform, the PlayStation Portable. As such it is quite a drastic reworking on the original format, but in essence little has changed.

The biggest shift is the placement of a sliding 3.78-inch screen where previously the PSP saw a straight slab-like device. The screen retains the same resolution at 480 x 272 pixels, so despite the change in size, it still looks sharp. The changes mean the unit can shrink down to approx 122 x 66 x 15mm, meaning it is easily pocketable, where the previous versions weren't.

The PSP Go is dependent on the sliding screen which has a precise sliding action with plenty of pop. It feels like a quality device and is free from twist of lateral movement: when open, you don't need to be scared it is going to break off. The same goes for the rest of the build – it feels well constructed.

The exterior finish is mostly glossy, which will attract fingerprints, whilst the inner deck is a matte finish, where you'll find the main controls. These controls are ringed in silver, matching the edge of the unit, giving it a distinctive and premium looking finish. It's a fetching design for sure, and one we like.

One of the effects of moving the controls around is that the bumper buttons now sit behind the screen, with the screen brightness, volume control and mute buttons sitting right behind the screen so in-use they are more difficult to get to. It perhaps doesn't matter, but it does at least keep the device looks clean on the front.

Otherwise we found that we preferred the new layout of controls, with the PSP Go lying in a different grip on the hands, we found it easier to play for longer periods without feeling the thumbs cramp up, which was always a problem for previous editions. But this will come down to personal preference, the size of your hands on so on.

The new design also sees the removal of the UMD drive, so it no longer accepts the discs of previous versions. If you are already a PSP owner, this may be a serious consideration if you are looking at an upgrade – you won't just be able to slap in your existing games.

Those upgrading don't get left totally in the cold – there is an upgrade reward scheme that lets you register your old and new PSP on PSN, then you get access to three reward downloads to get you started. Three? Yes, that's right. Your past loyalty is rewarded with three downloads, rather than the conversion of every UMD you already have.

The move to download also kills the secondhand market so for those on a budget who like to play the trade, you are effectively stuffed.

Sony instead are moving gamers over to a download system using PlayStation Network. It's relatively simple in truth and something that people are now familiar with, especially on the music front. Here you simply visit the PlayStation Store, either on the device itself, your PS3 or a PC (using Media Go) to download games and install them on the PSP Go.

It's not a great process however, especially as you can't download in the background on the console itself, so you'll be sitting there looking at it slowly dripping in, rather than listening to music or playing something else.

To accommodate these games you now have an internal "16GB" of memory, although brand new out of the box you only get to use 14GB of it. An M2 card slot lives around the side for further expansion.

The PSP Go offers the same Wi-Fi as it did previously letting you connect to the Internet, now a core concern for the PSP. The Wi-Fi also lets you dive into Remote Play of your PS3, so you can access content, configure PlayTV or whatever whilst you are on the move. Wi-Fi on the PSP has never been great, compared to the simplicity of modern mobile phones, which will happily dive in and out of connections intelligently, something the PSP Go doesn't seem to want to do.

The new PSP Go also rocks out with Bluetooth, so you can connect to a Bluetooth device, or a new PS3 controller. This means you can tether your PSP Go to a mobile phone to access the Internet on the move using your phone's data connection, or simply go for Bluetooth headphones. We tried the data connection, but it didn't work, so don't get too excited.

There is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack sitting on the bottom of the PSP Go, alongside a new bespoke connector. In the box you'll find a new USB cable, providing your power and PC or PS3 connection. It's a shame to see another bespoke connection, as you'll have to carry around yet another bit of cable.

The PSP Go, with its new format really lends itself to being a PMP, albeit an expensive one. The screen looks fantastic and with the 16GB storage capacity, you can fill it with music and movies to take with you on the move. You'll be more likely to slip into a pocket for listing whilst on your commute, something that the old PSP didn't really excel at.

But in terms of overall functionality, the PSP Go isn't a revolution. Little has changed from previous versions. You still get the XMB interface which makes it easy to get around, but essentially the PSP Go offers you an external format change and little else. For this reason, it is unlikely to appeal to existing users, who will still be able to download games and can use the memory card slots on their existing device to expand storage.

The overall gaming proposition of the PSP Go remains the same as before, which might come as something of a disappointment for some. With the PSP Go closed it is begging to be tapped on the screen, but there hasn't been a move to touchscreen here.

Purists will argue that the screen looks better without touch which is probably true, but with the iPhone and Nintendo DSi enjoying successes in gaming with a touch-interface, it seems like Sony is holding back on something.

Verdict:

Overall we can't fault the handware on offer with the PSP Go. It looks excellent and is a pleasure to play with. The compact format means it slips into a jacket pocket more readily than before, but the removal of UMD means a whole stack of games are sitting in the corner, unloved.

And then there is the price. Launched at ?225, you can pick it up for just under ?200, but it is seriously undercut by the Nintendo DSi, with the iPod touch also offering an alternative. Sure, the PSP Go may be better for pure video, but from a gaming point of view, the Nintendo DS range has been storming.

For those who were just about to put a PSP on their Christmas list then overall they get a better looking device, with expanded memory, but for us we'll be sticking to the old hardware and our old games.

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Tags: Gaming PSP Go PSP Gaming hardware Sony

Sony PSP Go console originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:21:37 +0000

We'll cut to the chase, the?Sonos?music system is one of the best music systems we've experienced here at Pocket-lint, not just because it sounds good, but because it is so damn easy to setup and use. The trouble is, for most, it's an expensive system to get into with the standard bundle costing ?800 in the UK and $999 in the US.?All that has changed however with the introduction of the Sonos S5 ZonePlayer. But does it work? Will it offer you a cheap way into the world of Sonos?

If you haven't heard about Sonos in the past the best way to describe it is that it's a music system that allows you to connect up to 42 zones, allowing you to play music throughout your house from a central music collection - stored on a computer or a NAS drive connected to your network.

You can choose to play the same song by grouping all those zones or different music in every room, so, for example, you could listen to Def Leopard in the kitchen while the kids listen to Disney favourites in their room. If that wasn't enough to whet your appetite, the system also lets you stream around 25,000 internet radio stations from around the world, as well as letting you connect to music services like Pandora in the US and Deezer in the UK.

Back to the S5 ZonePlayer and although you only get the one zone, it is a considerably cheaper option to get you started (?349/$399).

Designed around the impression of a single speaker, the unit actually has a 5-driver speaker system, including two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in subwoofer.

Coming in white and silver, like other elements in the Sonos range, the silver speaker grill "is" the front of the unit and the only controls to be found are the volume up and down and mute button on the top.

Thin enough to easily sit on a kitchen window ledge or lounge sideboard, you will require a power socket and if you aren't opting for the optional ZoneBridge (?80/$99) to get you connected, you'll need an Ethernet port close by.

Around the back there is a line-in so you can connect an iPod or CD player to be shared on the system along with a headphone socket.?In our tests we weren't too impressed with the performance of the headphone socket - we got plenty of static and hiss coming through even when we weren't playing songs, and judging by other comments on the Internet we aren't alone. Still you're unlikely to use it anyway.

If there are only volume and mute controls, how do you control it? It's all down to the accompanying software for Mac or PC and for iPod touch and iPhone owners - which comes in the form of a free app.?The software is incredibly easy to use. For listening to your own music, throw that collection into a folder and then tell the Sonos to scan that folder. You can set automatic scans on a daily basis to keep up-to-date with new music additions, management of playlists, favourite radio stations and music services.

The system will support Last.fm, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody and SIRIUS in the US and Last.fm, Napster, Classical.com and Deezer in the UK. Unfortunately due to the way that Spotify works, you can't get the service here.?Other gems with the software is the ability to set an alarm so you can be woken with your favourite tracks or you even to tweet what you are listening to.

If you've already got a Sonos system, connecting the S5 requires you to press two buttons (it really is that simple) and because the system is setup and remembers the connection, you can drag this around the house (as long as there is a plug) quickly and easily (roll on the summer).

For newbies, and this is clearly where this speaker system is aimed at, set-up is slightly longer - you have to install some software on your computer, but the walkthrough is so basic that we would be surprised if you had trouble.

Back to the S5 and the sound quality is good. It's not Bowers and Wilkin's Zeppelin good, but then the Zeppelin doesn't come with all the connectivity options. That said, it's no slouch, producing a good, if not slightly bassy sound (it can be changed via an on-screen equaliser) that is sure to fill most rooms in your house - especially the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom.

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Verdict:

Where the Sonos S5 ZonePlayer appeals to us is not only in the price, but the ease in which it allows you to get into the system. If you've got a iPod touch or iPhone, the app doubles as the controller and the ability to add more zones throughout your house is so simple you'll want to do it within a couple of weeks.

If you are in the market for an iPod speaker this will likely be better than anything you can get on the market in terms of options. You'll also get to keep your iPod touch or iPhone in your pocket as it's not needed in the dock (there is no docking station).

The system also makes music more accessible. Sonos says that people who own a system listen to music at least twice as much as they did before. As an owner of a BU250 system with two zones already, I would have to agree. Since owning it, my family listens to a lot more music in different parts of the house, sometimes the same, sometimes different.

Where the Sonos S5 succeeds is in its simplicity. It takes all the faff out of listening to music. Combine that with the music services and you are on to a real winner.

Tags: Audio Sonos Networking Sonos Zoneplayer S5

Sonos S5 ZonePlayer speaker system originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:27:58 +0000

You've got days of music stored on your iPhone or iPod, the trouble is once you get in your car you're left with hunting around for a CD or even what's on the radio to remove the drone of the road.

In steps the iTrip, improved and enhanced from its first outings many years ago to offer a chance to stream music from your iPod or iPhone to your car stereo via the wonders of FM.

The size of disposable lighter, the iTrip plugs into your Apple device via the 30-pin dock connector and gets to work transmitting your music to a nearby radio that is tuned in on the same frequency.

The unit itself comes with four buttons, and a mono screen with which to access the rather rudimentary menu system. Pressing Menu a number of times scrolls through the menu options, while three buttons below the screen allow you to scan up and down the airwaves, select presets, or skip to the next track without having to turn your iPod player "on". On the whole the experience is a fiddly one.

Realising that iPod touch and iPhone users want something a little more graphical, Griffin has developed a free app that you can download via the App Store to control all the above with your finger rather the having to get dirty with the hardware. The app certainly makes things a lot easier.

Scanning the airwaves can be done in two ways, manually (normally the easiest) or via something Griffin call SmartScan, which as you might guess scans all available frequencies looking for the cleanest, unfettered, frequency available for you to set-up your mini pirate radio station on.

In the settings option there is a chance to have three preset stations, as well as whether or not to pump out your sound in mono or stereo. SmartSound is a Griffin Technology that enhances the sound and makes it louder. In reality that's what it does - make stuff louder.

In use and the performance of the iTrip, like previous models, will come down to where you live. If you live in a major metropolitan area you are likely to struggle to find a clear enough signal to push your transmission to. We certainly weren't able to run the system in stereo. That means your music will be constantly interrupted and you'll spend most of your drive retuning the iTrip to find a better frequency. Not great.

If however you live in the country or are planning on using this in a static environment around the home placing your iTrip in the right place does get good results. Placement is everything though - we found strangely next to the gearbox worked in one car and on the dash in another.?

As for charging, there is an option to connect a Micro-USB to the iTrip, which in turn will let you charge the iPhone or iPod, however it isn't included in the box.

Verdict:

The Griffin iTrip is a difficult one to mark. The fact that our tests delivered mixed results isn't Griffin's fault, but merely a problem of the cluttered airwaves where we tested it, suggesting you could buy this and experience a far better experience than we have.

If you really must get your music off your iPhone or iPod on your car stereo then this is one way to do it, just don't expect it to be a perfect experience every time.?

Proceed with caution.

Related links:

• Griffin - iTrip

Tags: Audio iPod accessories Car And GPS Griffin iPod iPhone FM transmitters

Griffin iTrip FM transmitter with iPhone app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:08:11 +0000

The term reboot is one that’s becoming more and more familiar to film buffs, a frankly irritating high concept notion that implies Hollywood fat-cats seeking to wring the life out of franchises, rather than adhere to any noble creative impulse.

Only this month we see both Star Trek and Terminator following Batman and Bond down the ctrl-alt-delete path on DVD, while the promise of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes reinvention has fans of the risible reaching for the popcorn.

Amidst all this comes Moon, the debut picture from British director Duncan Jones. Rather than looking to reboot, Jones has tried the opposite – perform a system reinstall on the sci-fi genre. Jones has no time for the Red Bull-tinged pyrotechnics of modern sci-fi, instead he’s drawn on the timeless, thoughtful, brooding quality that marked films like 2001: A Space Odyssey out as genre classics. Smart, human, touching and expansive, Moon is every bit as impressive as the films that Jones so openly chose to pay homage to.

With moon-based mining now able to provide the earth with all the energy it needs, technician Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) mans the moon base alone and, aided by the Hal-like computer Gerty (suavely voiced by Kevin Spacey), manages the flow of raw material back to the planet.

Nearing the end of his 3-year contract and struggling with the isolation and his slowly failing health, Sam begins to look forward to returning home to his wife and child. After a routine check on the mines ends in disaster, Sam comes to in the infirmary, having seemingly been out cold for some time.

Returning to the site of the incident, Sam finds another person in the wreckage – which turns out to be him, or at perhaps a clone of himself. Having had only had Gerty to talk to for some time, socialising proves a problem, and the two Sams struggle to co-exist. But as the ice thaws, the pair slowly begin to uncover the sinister reasons behind their bizarre co-existence and the truth about their lunar tenure.

As mentioned, Jones doesn’t hide his love for films like 2001 – the set design and pacing are instantly recognisable, but rather than impose a template on the film, it puts you at a comfortable ease which allows the story to flourish. The boredom, isolation and antiseptic atmosphere create a mental space for Sam Rockwell to thrive, as the Sams go through a number of different stages of deterioration before ultimately coming to terms with the bizarre situation they find themselves in.

Despite often playing two parts at the same time, both he and director Jones make it seemless and an utterly natural relationship that carries the film to its conclusion. Moon succeeds as it walks the line between the reality and illusion, smartly flipping the perspective of both the characters and the viewer, weaving the sensory-deprived paranoia in with the blurred reality of the Sams’ miserable lives on the moon.

Verdict:

Moon is smart, fresh, timeless and totally entrancing. For a debut picture, and one made on such a relatively small budget, it’s effortlessly grandiose and expertly executed – its design is flawless, from the classic 70s space station chic to the perfectly pitched atmospheric soundtrack. Even the bountiful crop of extras fit the bill, setting a benchmark for what can and should be offered on a standard-def single disc. All in all, it’s hard to go wrong with Moon.

Rating: 15

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey

Directed by: Duncan Jones?

Extras: Commentary, featurettes, short film, Q&As, trailers

Tags: Home Cinema DVD

Moon - DVD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

If you are a regular reader of Pocket-lint this gadget probably isn’t for you. You've already mounted the convergence pony and are riding it hard into the future. Your phone is more than just a device that makes calls: it is the gateway to your digital world.

For us convergence has its place and we can see why you would want it. We want a dedicated camera but a phone should do everything. Your phone lets you check email, surf the web, check Twitter, control your home music system and TV, play games, check your business figures and get you home when lost.

However what if you aren't that way inclined? What if you just want a phone that is a phone? So the idea of a dedicated device that lets you just see and read Twitter is an interesting one, isn't it?

Created by Peek, the TwitterPeek is a follow-on device from the company's dedicated email-only handset that emulates the BlackBerry from almost a decade ago. At the time RIM, the makers of the BlackBerry, were criticised and lambasted for making a device that could "only" do email. Why would you want that many asked? Now the BlackBerry is common place around the world, and widely regarded for the email service it does provide.

The TwitterPeek is a slim-line gadget the size of a small notepad with a colour screen (you've got to get that Twitter blue in somehow) and a QWERTY keyboard.

There are two payment options. The first is $99 down with access to your tweets for the first 6 months before having to pay $7.95 a month thereafter. The second is $199.99 down and never having to worry about data costs for the lifetime of the device.

The design is simple, quaint and straightforward to use with a focus on shortcuts for getting you around the system quickly. For the old school BlackBerry fans there is a jog wheel on the right-hand side that can be used by your thumb and a further "back" button beneath this.

The keyboard itself is on the stiff side, but well spaced out and we found easy to use. The hardware is identical to the email Peek. There is also a flashing "envelope" for when you get new tweets and this can be custom set to either tweets from your friends or your DMs and @ mentions.

Connect the device to your Twitter account - as easy as typing your Twitter name and password - and minutes later your Twitter messages will start downloading to your device. Tweets are displayed on the screen just like email in your inbox and you get the author, the first 24 of characters and the time it was received.

The jog wheel allows you to scroll through the list and because the device is always on it makes for a more "all inclusive feed" rather than dipping in and out.

Annoyingly the software is slow in use. Overly slow in fact for what it is and without the shortcuts the process is painstakingly over-designed, but luckily the Peek does offer most of the commands you need as shortcuts. There are shortcuts for looking at tweets, seeing the next, previous, first, or last tweets as well as retweeting or DM'ing.

Frustrations though include the DM forcing you to re-type the persons twitter name again, and the system not just displaying the Tweet in full on the home screen in the first place.

Then there are links. With no browser you aren't going to be able to whizz off onto the Internet to read what's what. However, so you aren't completely in the dark, you can pull the text from the website. It's basic, but it will get you the information you want (just probably not the way Murdoch would want you to).

You can of course see your followers and your following, but can't add more. Search is also limited, to what is on the device rather than Twitter as a whole and features found in applications like Tweetie 2 on the iPhone like translate, location, add pictures, video, search, and trends aren't here either.

One of the best features though is being able to set up a buzzing alert for when you get tweets, @ mentions or DMs. Simple, but lets you know you've got a personal message.

This is for those who want to tweet and check their tweets in the rawest form.

Verdict:

So who is the TwitterPeek aimed at? As we said at the beginning, it's not for anyone who has a smartphone. After all why would you spend up to $200 on a device that an app could do for free? No, the TwitterPeek is for those who've got a basic mobile phone, want in on the Twitter experience, and don't want a regular $30 a month data plan to go with it.

With more and more people using Twitter as a communications and information tool, the idea is certainly interesting. However while the concept (for non-smartphone users) is sound, the realisation of those ideas isn't fully achieved here.

While the TwitterPeek isn't for us (we currently have 12 devices on the desk capable of checking Twitter) I can see why people might want it.

Tags: Gadgets Twitter Twitterpeek peek Phones Mobile phones

TwitterPeek originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:58:50 +0000

After Infinity Ward’s sublime Call of Duty: Modern Warfare astounded all with its representation of up-to-date combat, expectations have continuously soared for the always inevitable sequel. With predictions of multi-millions day one sales (which incidentally proved to be perfectly correct) a raised RRP, and a mass of gamers desperate to get their grubby mitts on the final game, these talented developers have had a lot to ponder.

The single player campaign unsurprisingly fails to deviate too far from the path trodden by its elder sibling. The campaign lasts a mere 6-8 hours; the breakneck speed that the majority of this time flashes past, due to the hectic action on screen, leaves it feeling much less than half that.

Once again you flit between two intertwined stories, one involving US Army privates fighting in their own backyard, with the other starring the group of British favourites you’ll remember from the last Modern Warfare. In terms of an overall story it’s certainly affecting and brutal. But it does force you to take a few liberties with what’s actually possible in the real world.

It plays from the same first person perspective as before, and retains the obsession with cover from the last game. The pace is almost universally set to absolutely frantic, and even on the Normal difficulty settings you’ll regularly find yourself in an area where you suddenly seem completely surrounded, the screen a horrible red blur (with what appears to be strawberry jam smeared on screen in an awful design decision) as you take hits, and achieving an untimely death in order to give it another try. If you tired of the previous game's addiction with urging you to learn enemy routines a few times before passing through with life intact, then you’ll suffer the same fate here.

Though things may not sound as stellar as we’d expected, they’re no better or worse than the original Modern Warfare. With the rose tinted specs removed, even the last game packed a certainly solid single player campaign with some stunning set pieces (which are multiplied tenfold in Modern Warfare 2) but didn’t offer enough to let that offering sell a game all on its own. That was left to the multiplayer component.

Safe to say that Modern Warfare 2 is an absolute joy online, at least on the Xbox 360. The PC version is, by all accounts, obliterated by the lack of dedicated server support, and the PS3 iteration is already approaching its third patch. But for Xbox 360 owners, we’ve had an absolute riot.

Not much has changed but instead multiplied to offer more depth, more customisation, and a whole new level of fun. A large number of your favourite perks from the last game remain, to be added to be a whole new fresh batch looking to spice up the battlefield. Kill Streaks remain with included new flavours, but new Death Streaks, allowing the frequently killed a chance to immediately bite back, really do add a lot to proceedings for both newcomers and rubbish gamers alike.

The 16 new maps are unsurprisingly a mixed bag, with early favourites already obvious with those who’ve already settled in for the long play. All, however, seem to pack much more in than the counterparts. Even for us, who have spent a quite unhealthy amount of time with the multiplayer component already, we still keep finding new nooks and crannies to hide, exploit, and be killed from.

One major new addition is the Spec Ops missions. Played in either single player or two player cooperative, well over 20 short missions are offered up to play through. These are all wildly different, ranging from holding a tower against waves of enemies, through to slowly and methodically sniping your way through great snowy landscapes, and award you stars after completion. This isn’t a last minute gimmick, as it could certainly keep a whole lot of people away from multiplayer for quite a while as they attempt to bag every last star.

As for the mission that’s been so heavily publicised in the mainstream press, we’ve little to add to the debate that hasn’t already been said. Playing through that particular 5 minutes did become a touch difficult, and it’s certainly not something you’ll come back to once you’ve had a go yourself. But the sheer fury levelled towards the game itself and its developers has been on such a ridiculous level, that you’d believe that violent games/films/music/books hadn’t ever existed before. More violent things have appeared in the past, and they will in the future.

Verdict:

While the multiplayer component does deserve a full score (on the Xbox 360 at the moment, anyway) the single player campaign is a step below that level.

It’s a rip-roaring ride while it lasts, but it’s a touch too short, too hectic, and overly reliant on forcing you to learn enemy routines in order to bag the best piece of cover right away. But the multiplayer is by far the best in the business, and it’ll keep you hooked until well into next year.

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Tags: Gaming Action Xbox 360 Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare 2 Call of Duty Activision

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Xbox 360 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:24:09 +0000

Popcorn seemed somewhat superfluous when it was first launched and particularly considering it sat alongside Roxio’s class leading Mac burning software, Toast. Now, Popcorn 4 has matured and the improved format flexibility, YouTube publishing and the price now make it a more complete package and one that’s very easy to use too, so certainly well worth a gander.

Popcorn 4 is the latest iteration of Roxio's CD, DVD and video conversion software for the Mac platform featuring a raft of enhancements that make it a significant improvement on the previous Popcorn package, that allows you to copy, convert and burn video and audio in (almost) any format to (almost) any other format.

In other words, it's a format-free software solution for those out there creating their own video and audio content, copying their video or DVDs and want to export the media for use a cross a range of devices, from Palm's new Pre mobile to Sony's PS3, the new PSP Go, Nintendo's Wii, the iPhone or the Xbox 360.

Popcorn 4 also supports YouTube video, here you can author, set keywords and publish your creation directly to YouTube from the program; Flash Video (F4V) is supported too, MPEG4 and H.264 are also supported formats. Of course and as with previous version's of Popcorn, you can't copy copyright protected DVDs, for example (commercial DVDs you've bought for example), Popcorn 4's features are restricted to video and audio you've created yourself, so your unprotected video or audio can be copied and/or transferred to your iPhone or games console.

Okay, so Popcorn 4 allows you to copy and convert your video and audio to most other media playing platforms, but it also has neat compression capabilities; able to compress a up to 9GB of dual layer DVD content onto a single layer 4.7GB DVD.

To enable this and the improved disc burning, Roxio has cleverly grafted into Popcorn, the meat from the company's Toast DVD authoring software, which means it is both easy to use and will be familiar to any who have used Toast in any of its guises before.

Popcorn 4's interface includes neat media browsers that allows you to quickly sort through your iTunes library, movie folder or files on your hard disc and quickly find the content you want to process. Alternatively, you can quickly drag and drop movies, photos or audio files onto the main Popcorn content area from the finder.

The main Popcorn window has a dual interface – via tabs at the top left: Copy and Convert. Each tab provides contextual menu options for things such as unprotected DVD disc conversion, processing DVD-video Image Files and batch conversion of any video file types including TiVo and EyeTV recordings to name a few options.

Within the Copy tab you get DVD Disc and Image File options and the ability to copy unprotected CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, or create a disc image files, for example. The Image File option allows for the creation of (yep you guessed it) disc image files for burning to DVD, Blu-ray or CD, while the Video_TS Folders option is for creation of DVDs from existing Video_TS Folders.

A Video_TS Compilation mode means you can create a compilation of existing video Video_TS folders to burn on a single DVD, for example while the DVD-Video option is for creating DVDs playable on a DVD set top box or a Mac or PC computer and so completes a broad range of copying and conversion options.

Interestingly, Roxio has also added the ability to browse and extract clips, chapters or just titles from unprotected DVDs, folders or image files. Another funky feature is Popcorn 4 allows you to isolate and extract just the audio from a DVD, say, which can be an easy way to extract audio for separate playback if you need or want to, while the program's interface also provides clear information on the video and audio formats and any specific languages to be copied.

Across the bottom are the space available gauge to show the amount of room left on a given Disc type for example, (disc types can be changed/selected via a small drop down button) and the large red Burn button that initiates the start of the convert/burn procedure and is just like Roxio’s Toast in that regard.

Alongside the main application, you also get three other “Extras”: TiVo transfer, Toast Video Player and Disc Cover 2 RE for creating and burning bespoke CD labels for your creations supporting both Lightscribe and Laserflash burners.

One of the better things about version 4 of Popcorn is its improved video quality preview that helps make assessment of the video you wish to burn, at various quality settings, for example, and it's much faster and easier to use than before. Another similar improvement is the ability to schedule a CPU hungry process to a time when you want, such as when you're away from the computer.

One slight demerit is the new version of Popcorn only supports Intel Macs running OS 10.5 and 10.6 (that's Leopard and Snow Leopard) so those out there with non-Intel based Macs will have to go without.

Verdict:

Popcorn 4 is simple to use, powerful and allows for a greater range of file format compatibility and connectivity. The improvements to the interface (its now Toast-alike) and the powerful burning and converting options certainly make the ?39.99 price look quite good indeed.

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Tags: Software Mac software Roxio Roxio Popcorn 4 Video And Editing

Roxio Popcorn 4 - Mac originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

It you take a lot of photographs then you know that workflows are all-important. Wireless transfer of your files is nothing new: some DSLR systems will let you shoot with a wireless connection to your computer - many will let you shoot with a wired connection, stepping around the need to plug-in and download files. Eye-Fi brings this sort of sophistication to any camera that takes an SD card, using Wi-Fi.

The system has finally made its way to the UK having enjoyed successes in the US and we've always been keen to take a look, as on paper, it sounds like a crazy concept. Open the packaging and you have the 4GB SD card and a USB card reader.

To get started, all you do is plug the card reader and Eye-Fi card into your PC or Mac for configuration. All the software is on-board for both Windows and Mac users, meaning there is no fiddling around finding the right software. Configuration is simply a case of setting your network details and defining your preferences.

Once done, you can remove your Eye-Fi SD card from the reader, replace it in your camera and you are ready to start shooting. You don't need to make any changes to the camera – essentially, the camera has no idea what the SD card is doing, it just writes the data as usual. We didn't find any slowdown in camera performance over a regular card using a Canon PowerShot S90.

The system works by sending the image files from the SD card via your Wi-Fi network to a PC or online, or both. The software interface is browser-based and lets you look at your file transfer history, as well as tinkering with all the settings. The Eye-Fi servers online sit behind the operation and move the image files from one place to another.

The important part of the operation is your camera, as this needs to be on long enough to send the files out via the Wi-Fi network. If you snap a full resolution picture and then turn it off, it won't arrive at your PC. Generally we found that the images were sent before our test camera went into power saving mode and turned off, so as long as you are aware of what you are doing, it isn't a problem.

The Eye-Fi Manager offers a Relay option, which lets you send the images to the Eye-Fi servers whilst your computer is turned off, so they will be delivered when you turn your PC back on again, and/or delivered straight to your online sharing site of choice. It's has great potential, as you don't need your PC sitting around turned on, in fact you don't need your PC after configuration of the card. You could simply arrive at a friend's party, configure the card to send your photos to Flickr via their Wi-Fi network and off you go. Of course, you need to establish general rules for the card via your computer: once set, they stay the same.

The online sharing options include most of the big name sites – Facebook, Flickr, Picasa and so on – and you simply have to plug in your details through the browser and set any permissions that are needed.

The Eye-Fi card could also be useful for the sort of person who takes lots of pictures in a studio environment, without having to return to the computer to transfer files, or who has someone else working on image processing.

The system also works with video, so you can transfer video files and have them uploaded directly again to Facebook or to your YouTube account, as well as others. It's incredibly simple and it just works simply and easily.

The biggest stumbling block might be figuring out how you want to use this new freedom? Given the range of Wi-Fi networks, you could very well be able to roam around a particular venue taking pictures and have them remotely collected at your PC. It might be that you have a studio in a different part of the office building, or you want to take pictures around the school site, or of a particular event.

You can configure numerous locations on a card so if your venue is covered by a number of networks, you can set them all up. In the software setup, the detection of wireless networks is done by the Eye-Fi card, so you can see the contrast to those that your PC finds. From this you'll quickly deduce that the Eye-Fi card is somewhat limited in range compared to say you mobile phone or PC. You'll also find that it takes some time to register on a network and start sending - so if moving around a lot you need to be mindful of this.

For those working in real time with images, it takes a step out of the equation. For some others, it might just mean you don't need to use a USB cable when you return from a day out with a camera. Because it contains and stores the 4GB of photos as normal, the card can work in both ways.

But the potential here is still slightly locked away. Those in the US can also use Wi-Fi hotspots from Wayport to upload images as they go, but you need the Eye-Fi Explore card which gives you a year free Wayport access, but thereafter it will be $14.99 a year. For some it will work, for others, you'll want to guarantee that you'll have convenient access before you part with your cash. For those in the UK, you'll have to wait to see what happens.

A geotagging option is also available at extra cost too, but is a more common feature in modern cameras. The geotagging feature works by identifying Wi-Fi networks (if you opt for this feature) which isn't going to give you the same result as using a camera with a GPS module for a true position, so we probably wouldn't make it a priority.

You can also opt for notification messages so you know the status of a file transfer, so if you are on location and relying on the Eye-Fi to transfer images back to a central controlling computer, you'll know if things are interrupted, as the camera has no way of indicating this. However, after setup, we didn't get these working.

Is it a flawless system? No, it doesn't seem to be. Used with the PC on, we found that images dropped in quickly with no problems, but using the relay to instantly upload, we found that some photos never arrived at our chosen sharing site. They did arrive on the PC when it reconnected to the network, as well as being stored on the memory card, but we're guessing the Eye-Fi server didn't pass it on, or encountered some unreported problem.

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Verdict:

There is oodles of convenience that comes with the Eye-Fi card, but it doesn't come cheap. The basic 4GB card will set you back ?49.99, compared with about ?6 for a standard SDHC card, so you are paying a lot for novelty. If it is going to take a chunk of time or effort out of your workflow, then you might see this as a justifiable cost.

Of course the other consideration is that the card needs power to send, and that power is going to come from your camera battery and reduce the number of shots you can take before you need to swap out or recharge.

We love the technology offered by Eye-Fi and despite a few quirks in the system, we found it cut out lots of connections we'd normally have to make. It may be expensive, but it's impressive none the less.

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Tags: Gadgets Cameras Memory cards Wi-Fi Eye-Fi

Eye-Fi Share Video wireless SD card originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

There are plenty of headphones available, some good, some bad. But when was the last time you saw a pair aimed at younger children? That's the plan with the Griffin MyPhones, a set of headphones that are aimed at the little angels in your life. But do they work? We plugged in our 3 year-old daughter to find out.

The MyPhones main claim is that they feature an always-on volume limiter so your child can't turn the volume up too loud and blow their ear-drums out. Set to a maximum 85dB all the time, they can still get loud, but not loud enough to do any damage.

To put 85dB into context, you and I talk normally at around 60dB while an MP3 player such as the iPod (without the volume limiter turned on) is around 120dB - the same, indecently, as an ambulance screaming past you in the street.

In practice and the headphones look like your average grown-up headphones. They have big comfortable cans on either side and an adjustable head strap to fit different sized heads, but things are kept small for children.?The cans are well padded and replicate what you would expect on an adult "professional" model, leather or faux leather we can't determine, but either way they are good enough to block any noise (not that it gets that loud anyway).

There is a long cable (127cm) with a 3.5mm jack so the MP3 player can be tucked neatly away in a back pack (kids pockets are usually full of stones or tissues), which is an unexpected but pleasant surprise and should see you right on planes and in the back of the car.

Where the Griffin MyPhones headphones aim to appeal to children is with the interchangeable cover inserts. You get two designs in the box - blue or pink - and before you start to think this is just another marketing idea to sell you more, you also get a further two sets of blank templates so you can colour in your own. The templates are easy enough to copy (it's just a circle after all) and that means your kids can colour their hearts out and put their own stamp on them.

So what about performance? After asking the 3-year-old and getting nowhere without a "they sound great daddy", we tested them out (in the interest of reviewing you understand). The sound isn't anything spectacular, however it's not awful either. There is a good balance of treble and bass with the bass, as you would expect, on the light side. Noise cancellation was good and although we weren't able to test them on an aeroplane they did manage to isolate the noise of our washing machine when standing next to it.?

I listened to everything from The Beatles to Berlioz and would be happy enough with the performance to know that my daughter and son won't be complaining any time soon.

Everything is kept in a large strong plastic carry case, and the marketing bumpf can be removed and the accompanying "These myPhones belong to..." panel inserted instead.

Grumbles? There aren't any.

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Verdict:

As a parent you always want to protect your children, but not go over the top and wrap them in cotton wool. Although some MP3 players (iPod included) do offer a volume limiting system, it's sometimes hard to find the setting and fiddly fingers will always turn it off.?

The volume limiting here is done via the hardware and is always on - there is no off switch – so all you have to worry about is plugging them in. Couple that with the ability to customise, and our 3-year-old was excited about not only colouring them in but then wearing them afterwards.

If you're a parent and need a set of headphones for your little one, these are the ones to get.

Related links:

• Learn more - MyPhonesKids.com

Tags: Audio Headphones Griffin Dad Griffin MyPhones

Griffin MyPhones headphones for children originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Sony's PlayStation 3 hadn't quite enjoyed the success it deserved, thanks to lofty launch prices for the original version and strong competition on the gaming front from the Xbox 360. Both consoles have evolved over time, with the PS3 Slim following Sony's trend of trimming down.

The PS3 Slim now measures 290 x 65 x 290mm, so it is more compact overall, especially in height. The overall design is still instantly recognizable as a PlayStation 3, but it is leaner and meaner. The construction materials have changed too: gone is the elegant glossy, to a matte black finish. It is perhaps less showy than the previous edition, but you don't have to spend your time polishing it either.

The redesign brings with it a new price point, which some will credit with its success: a 120GB PS3 Slim retails at ?249, a new entry point for the console. Considering what the PlayStation 3 offers you, it is something of a bargain in its new guise. Those wanting more storage can opt for a 250GB version, currently available for around ?285.

Those who jumped in for the original console will find changes: the lift-up flap housing and array of memory card readers is gone, as are the four USB connections, the PS2 emulation and the ability to install a different OS. These niceties are perhaps not worth premium prices that the older PS3 model asked: whatever you are trying to do, the two USBs on offer will pretty much handle it.

Internally the big guns are still here. You have a Blu-ray disc drive and you have Wi-Fi built-in, something that the Xbox 360 cannot boast. Perhaps this accounts for the current price contrast: the Xbox 360 120GB version comes in at under ?200, but you don't get the benefit of a Blu-ray player, and you'd have to fork out for the Wi-Fi adapter too.

This is one area that makes the PlayStation 3 look like a tempting offer. Now you have your high-definition TV wall-mounted in your lounge, it deserves to be fed a diet of HD content. Blu-ray looks fantastic on the PS3 and it is widely regarded as one of the best Blu-ray players out there, thanks to the easy updatability and connectivity that the rest of the box offers. If nothing else, the PS3 Slim saves you buying a standalone Blu-ray player, which might be ?100 alone.

Before you even approach gaming, the PS3 slim is screaming in with media from all corners. Connect it to your home network, either by Wi-Fi or through the Ethernet connection on the back and it opens a world of media possibilities. It not only lets you take advantage of BD-Live functionality on Blu-ray discs, but it will also find media servers (or other DNLA devices) on your network so you can stream media into your TV. We hooked it up and it instantly found our Cisco Media Hub to stream video, music or photo content into the TV, or you could stream direct from a PC or Mac.

It's blissfully simple, and again, it saves you forking out for some sort of media bridge. File format support isn't fully comprehensive with MPEG4/H.264, MPEG2, AVI (MJPEG), AVCHD, DivX and WMV video support. If you have a diverse collection of video you'll find that there are holes in codec support for some of these file types, but some sort of conversion software will cure those evils and save you repeated "This file is corrupted" messages. Music support gives you WMA, AAC and MP3. The PS3 now offers BBC iPlayer access direct from the XMB too.

In terms of connectivity, besides the networking features we have mentioned, around the back you get an HDMI connection, which will satisfy most users, an optical out, for connecting into your AV receiver to take advantage of the PS3's Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. Finally you have Sony's AV Multi connection which, with the cable bundled in the box, will allow you to hook up to TVs which don't have HDMI.

All that, and we haven't yet mentioned games. For many people gaming is the PlayStation 3's primary calling, but it stands its ground as a home media hub in a way that the Xbox 360 really can't compete with. The PS3 is a hulking great power house of a gaming machine and now is a better time than ever for PlayStation 3 gaming, with the likes of Uncharted 2 receiving rave reviews.

The PS3 admittedly beats the Xbox 360 on raw power, but we've seen over the last few years that this hasn't manifested itself in a mass of better gaming titles. Graphically, there is little to separate the two once you get into big name titles and there is little difference between loading times or response either: both offer a sublime gaming experience.

Exclusive gaming titles will always be a consideration the aforementioned Uncharted 2 being an example. With many big titles coming out cross-platform, exclusives are the exception rather than the rule in many cases, but the toughest decision you might have to make is which camp to set yourself in. There are some great exclusives on both sides and ultimately, if you are going to dive into online multiplayer, the decision might come down to what consoles your friends have.

Control of the PlayStation 3 now comes in the form of the DualShock 3 controller, which adds a little extra oomph over previous versions. The controller is, ironically, one of the points that divides the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3; when it comes to the crunch, we prefer how the Xbox 360 controller feels. This is common among those who have both consoles and if you are lucky enough to be in this position, you'll probably find yourself doing most of your gaming on the Xbox and almost everything else on the PS3. As we've just said, this has nothing to do with how the games look or play, it simply comes down to choice of controller.

Sony's XrossMediaBar lies at the centre of the PS3 and offers an easy to navigate interface. We like the Xbox interface, but the PS3 is more accessible overall. It also gives you access to the PlayStation Network, which isn't as slick as Microsoft's Xbox Live, but at least you don't have to fork out for membership to get full advantage, another cost of ownership that needs to be considered.

One of the biggest changes you'll notice with the PS3 Slim is volume. Not in terms of audio output, but purely in terms of fan noise. This is one area that the PS3 and the Xbox 360 both struggled in the past. The Xbox hasn't improved dramatically, but the PS3 Slim has overcome the heat and noise problem. It is perhaps a little louder than your average Blu-ray player, but it is no longer a distraction. You don't feel like it is pumping out heat into your room like a fan heater either, which makes it much better suited to slipping under the TV. It is more energy efficient too.

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Verdict:

The PS3 Slim makes a number of changes over its forebear, making this the best PlayStation to date. Being more compact and quieter makes it more appealing as a home media hub, reinforcing the solid performance that it delivers.

The new price, though, is really the killer blow. It is more affordable than ever and with stores pushing out game bundles with the new PS3 Slim, if you have been holding off, now is the time to step out and buy one.

The PlayStation 3 Slim is an accomplished piece of home entertainment hardware, with something for everyone from streaming media, to high-definition movies, to adrenaline fuelled gaming, and we love it.

Tags: Gaming Gaming hardware Sony PS3 PS3 slim

Sony PlayStation 3 Slim console originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Gadgets are great, but giving over half the sockets in your house to keep you digital life on track does start to grate. When you have to add the family's gadget's too, it gets a little overwhelming, and a little wirey. There are a burgeoning number of solutions out there, but Messless wins out with a catchy name and an even catchier design.

The principle here is no different to other charging stations we have seen, but the Messless will look much more elegant in your house. It looks more like a miniature designer coffee table than a gadget charger.

It is constructed from plastic with a round base and a round top with a clear overhang that edges things beautifully. You could mistake it for glass, although it's obviously not. The top has the tips protruding through, looking like the shoots of a really techy plant pot.

The top is actually spring loaded, designed so you can push it down so it clicks, then swap the tips around to the configuration you want. The tips unplug and when you remove them, you'll find they are simply connected using USB connections plugged in to the circuit board inside.

Pressing the top once again will see it spring back into the original position, giving you that seamless look around your charging tips. Having the top moving does mean that you aren't pulling the charging tips out by grasping their vital parts, but it does mean the whole device is slightly less sturdy than you want to it be.

Plug it in and connect the power cable to the base of the unit and it sits neatly waiting to receive your favourite gadgets. The selection of tips is perhaps a point of contention. The selection that you receive includes: Nokia large, Nokia small, Sony Ericsson (wide one), iPod/iPhone, Mini-USB, Sony's PSP/Reader.

The glaring omission here is Micro-USB, of course, the standard for smartphones and many other portable gadgets. The PSPGo now uses a new connector, but you can charge one of Sony's Readers on the Messless standing straight up. Before you dismiss the Messless as providing obsolete connections, you can also buy Micro-USB, Sony Ericsson (narrow one), Samsung and Nintendo DS tips; each costs €9.50 from the Messless website. http://onlineshop.yourmessless.com/init

You could, technically, remove the tip and plug in your own cable if you want to charge anything else, but that sort of defies the "messless" idea here.

The Messless is sold "as is" in the pack. We'd have liked to see an order-what-you-need approach, but we guess that wouldn't be cost effective, as each unit would have to be made up individually, so expecting you to buy extra tips is forgivable: not including the now industry standard mobile phone tip is not and we hope that they make an exchange in the future from the current defaults.

In use it all works as you'd expect, you plug in your gadget and it charges, with a blue LED indicating that a connected device is getting its juice. The PSP tip has been designed to accept the PSP on its side so is slightly raised to fit the sculpting of the handheld gaming console, so if you do use it for a Sony Reader for example, it won't be the most stable.

Verdict:

The proof of the pudding, they say, is in the eating, and for us the Messless did more than it deserved. Once it was setup at the end of the desk, it was all too easy to leave it in place to charge various gadgets as and when we needed it. You can realistically fit four devices on the surface of the Messless, and because they mostly stand up, they are easy to grab and go, without disturbing everything else that is charging.

Overall what we love about the Messless is that you can leave it sitting somewhere in your house without it making the place look messy, it can be easily moved around and easily customised to your needs too. It's just a shame about that Micro-USB, which for us, would have made this a winner.

Related links:

• Buy it! - HMV.com

Tags: Gadgets Chargers USB gadgets Messless

Messless charging station originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

We all know that the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS battery sucks, but what can you do about it? Griffin is hoping that its portable solution means you won't have to travel around with the charger wherever you go. But does it work? We got charging to find out.

The concept is simple. You charge the battery accessory, which you can then use when the iPhone is running low on power. Rather than an iPhone case like the Mophie Juice Pack Air, you get a small matchbox-sized battery that plugs into the dock connector. The matchbox battery is charged itself via an AC adapter or cigarette lighter adapter so you can charge it via the wall or in the car.

Both the AC adapter and car adapter are as compact as they can be and both come with a USB socket allowing you to charge a second device - handy in the case of the AC adapter because it means you can charge your iPhone's battery at the same time. A small magnet in both the chargers and the battery pack keeps everything in place when charging.

The battery pack itself as five green LED lights so you can see the status of the charge. You can only see the charge status when the battery is plugged into a charger or an iPhone/iPod. It isn't a big thing, but it would have been handy to be able to see if it needs charging without having to connect it to your iPhone.

In use and the battery offers a full charge as promised, but unlike the Mophie Juice Pack Air, we wouldn't be comfortable using this on the go and especially when it's in a pocket.

While it easily fits into the dock connector, attaching a matchbox-sized device to the base of your iPhone makes for a long phone. It isn't practical having something so long and fragile in your pocket. We were constantly worried that it would snap off and leave the dock connector in the iPhone rendering everything useless.

The end result is a battery that you feel you can only use at your desk or in the car, or basically anywhere you know you are going to be sitting for the next hour. It that's the case, you might as well just plug the iPhone in to a wall socket and be done with it.

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Verdict:

The idea of offering a charging solution of the go is handy, however this isn't the way to do it. Griffin's matchbox-sized battery is impractical in the field, making it redundant before it gets out of the box.

Those looking to boost their iPhone's performance on the go would be better off either opting for the Mophie Juice Pack Air or packing their charging cable with them.?

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Tags: Phones Phone accessories iPhone Griffin Batteries Griffin PowerDuo Reserve

Griffin PowerDuo Reserve iPhone battery originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Do TVs need Bluetooth? LG thinks so, and has packed its latest LCD TV with this aging wireless tech. Activate Bluetooth via the onscreen menus and it’s then possible to pair the TV with either a set of wireless headphones, or a mobile phone. The latter makes it possible to send photos to the set wirelessly, though it’s the former that’s the most useful. It's a unique feature to LG's TVs, and essential; the wired headphones slot is hidden away on the back of the panel in a less-than-practical position.

Presented in a two-tone grey and maroon high-resolution graphics, and second-guessing whatever it is the user is trying to do (shortcut buttons ate regularly, but subtly, presented at every stage), the 32SL8000’s icon-based system is a joy to use.

Honestly, any idiot could perform an ISF-standard calibration, something that used to be the reserve of eggheads only. Via a comprehensive Picture Wizard that covers everything from colour gain to contrast - but in a very simple, picture-led way - it’s possible to get an excellent image on the 32SL8000 from almost any source.

Before we leave the onscreen menus, it’s worth mentioning the 32SL8000’s onboard media capabilities. Instead of supplying a USB port that can play MP3 files and a DLNA networking module that makes a hash of streaming (some) video files from a PC, LG has instead opted for a very clever USB port. Not only does it treat JPEG and MP3 files with due care (slideshows can very simply be set to music, or music set to pictures), but it’s able to playback everything from MOV and MP4 to AVI and MKV - including DivX HD files. All that’s missing are MPEG and WMV files, though it does warn you in advance if it doesn’t support a file type; instead of presenting a moving thumbnail of the video file, a lightning crack is shown.

All very impressive, and playback of DivX HD files is as impressive-looking as it is reliable. Yup, it’s obvious that media whores will love the 32SL8000.

Those after exacting high-def may not. Although it doesn't an admirable job with all kinds of video, Blu-ray in Full HD on the 32SL8000 is not as mind-blowing as it should be. There's plenty of rich colouring and images are always immaculate. Contrast and detailing within black areas is decent, too (if not benchmark) and its TruMotion 200Hz does remove virtually all judder and blur from quick camera work and high-octane scenes. It’s worth remembering to turn TruMotion 200Hz down to its "low" setting for best performance - "high" can introduce some video nasties.

Verdict:

If it lacks ultimate Full HD sharpness - and that's about all it does lack - there's nothing wrong with the 32SL8000's interpretation of Freeview, which is classy and clean. Sound quality is nothing to shout about, but the onboard underslung speakers do an adequate job. The TV itself is too small to appreciate any kind of stereo separation on, and movie soundtracks are bereft of low frequency effects, but regular TV audio is handled just fine.

A good, if not a great TV in terms of pure HD picture quality, the 32SL8000's multimedia features and addictive digital TV pictures help make this exceptionally user-friendly TV one to cherish.

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Tags: Home Cinema Televisions LCD televisions LG LG 32SL8000

LG 32SL8000 television originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Damn you, Sports Interactive. We’d just about managed to wean ourselves off FM09 and re-emerge into civilised society, one that doesn’t care about how well our under-18s did in the Youth Cup or whether a 4-2-3-1 formation is the way forward, when along comes the latest update of the footy management classic to again make its needy demands on our personal lives.

As football has its fierce rivalries, so too does football gaming. With FIFA and PES just having had their annual cockfight for supremacy, this year saw the renewal of the management sim scrap, with Championship Manager moving back into the market after an absence of 3 years.

Without any competition during that time, the FM series coasted a bit, with the only upgrades feeling only cosmetic or tweaky; only with the introduction of the 3D game engine last year did there seem to be a truly weighty improvement that piqued any curiosity beyond wondering what the new stats for FM legends Carlos Vela were.

So with CM to contend with again, the onus is on Sports Interactive to stay on top of their game and keep the franchise fresh. Having already revamped the graphics on such a grand scale last year, any changes this time round could have inevitably seemed less impressive in comparison.

One thing we like about SI is that they tend to leave what works and tinker with anything that could improve the package. FM10 sees a major attempt to overhaul the interface, aiming for a more intuitive experience that improves the flow between the vast number of aspects, and the gameplay itself, adding new touches and expanding key ones.

The interface is now less reliant on breadcrumb icons, which could have been harder to navigate for newbies, and instead uses a more logical tab system that allows each page to branch of into a number of other sections. For example a player’s page now has clearly visible links to his training, transfer, contracts – though stylistically similar to previous years, visually it packs in more info and links.

Perhaps the sheer weight of customisable views is a tad overwhelming, but it doesn’t hamper the basics. One of the neater customisable aspects is the newsfeed – this can now filter out unwanted mail, after all, updates on the England squad are of little use when you’re toiling away in the Blue Square leagues.

The tactics have also had a going-over. There’s now a tactics wizard that’ll help you set-up how you play and players can now be assigned more specific roles – strikers can now be poachers, deep-lying forwards, among others, hell, keepers can even be sweeper keepers. This really does make it easier for those who have neither the time nor the inclination to get ball-deep into it and prefer a less demanding game. Possibly the suavest tactical addition is the touchline instructions, which allow you to pick a number of standard tactical instructions which can be done without stopping the match.

The geekier gamer will heart the new post-match analysis, which offers a thorough Opta-stlye breakdown of each player’s performance, allowing you to pinpoint weaknesses. The backroom staff advice, introduced in FM09, has been made more humanistic too – your coaching team offer up handy suggestions, from tactics to scouting, meaning that you don’t have to be mindful of the myriad of tactical aspects the game has to offer.

That’s the key success to this version of FM – they’ve added a bewildering degree of new depth to a number of parts of game, but have also matched that with an attempt to make it as user-friendly as possible. Even last year’s improvements have themselves been improved. Neat touches have been added to the 3D match graphics – the crowd responses are more lifelike, while the state of the pitch is rendered in greater detail. Nothing, it seems, has been to chance in the fight to remain market leader.

Verdict:

Despite seemingly being less of a trumpets-blaring upgrade than last year’s 3D engine, this is actually the better version – the changes are more fundamental and positive, making the game more logical and realistic. The gamer is at the heart of the changes – as SI both expands the game while making it more enjoyable at the same time.

It may feel like the default setting to praise the series and others may have been playing it longer than this reviewer's 5 years, but due to the significant changes they’ve made and the ease with which they’ve been integrated, this very well may be the best Football Manager yet.

Tags: Gaming Sports games Sports Interactive Football Manager 2010 PC games Mac games Sega

Football Manager 2010 - Mac originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:22:29 +0000

When we first heard what Ricoh was planning with the GXR we had to stifle a giggle. One of the things we like about using a DSLR is swapping components around to best suit your environment, but the idea of sliding off the front of the camera seemed a little odd to us.

But the Ricoh GXR system gives enthusiast photographers a degree of control over components that is missing from compact cameras. High-end compact units such as the Canon PowerShot G11 will let you add a flash, but you are restrained by the focal length on offer.

The Ricoh GXR goes up against Micro Four Thirds more directly, hitting not only a similar price point, but offering a similar principle of interchangeable lenses. The first Micro Four Thirds models we saw – the Panasonic Lumix G1 and GH1 – sit in a slightly different category with their mini DSLR appearance. But the recent Lumix GF1 and Olympus Pen models both compete in this compact enthusiast area.

Micro Four Thirds has a distinct advantage over the GXR, in that it uses a fairly conventional lens connection system, so you aren't depending on Panasonic or Olympus to launch a whole new range of lenses, as an adapter ring will give you access to existing system lenses.

One thing that Ricoh has in its corner is an existing range of compact cameras that reside in the higher end, so the GXR is likely to appeal to those who want a little more flexibility, but don't want the burden of a full DSLR rig.

The body of the camera measures 113.9 x 70.2 x 28.9mm excluding any protrusions. It won't compete in the pocketable stakes alongside many compact digital cameras, but it comes in smaller than the Micro Four Thirds options out there. The body, in effect, is the power and control for the camera.

Around the back is a 3-inch 920k-dot LCD display with the controls sitting to the right-hand side and across the top. At first glance it resembles Ricoh's GR models. The main controls fall under the right thumb without too many problems, although there isn't a great deal of space for your thumb to lie.

The grip is a decent size, however, and the first observation would be that depending on what lens you put on the front (and whether you add any accessories, such as a wide angle converter), the extent of your grip will change as the balance of the camera shifts.

So on to those lens units. On the front of the camera you'll find a release catch which will allow you to disengage the lens unit. It slides away easily, but the catch is plenty secure. When in place, there's no rattle or movement – it feels like a complete one-piece camera. Aligning a new lens unit for the first time takes a few goes, but once you have the action, you can switch lens in a matter of seconds. The tracks on the back stop you from getting it wrong, so it is relatively simple.

The electronic viewfinder is excellent quality, as we've seen previously from the likes of the Panasonic GH1. We still prefer using an optical viewfinder, but the high-resolution 920k-dot EVF does give a 100% field of view. It is also vari-angle, so you can tilt it up to make those low-angle shots easier to compose. It's a shame it costs ?219 on top of the camera price.

One of the big elements that Ricoh is pushing with the GXR is its simple Direct menu, which gives you easy access to your most often used controls. Main shooting modes are controlled through the Mode dial on the top, however it doesn't have a movie mode on it, despite the camera offering movie recording (at variable quality depending on the attached lens).

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Verdict:

We didn't have long with the camera, and Ricoh wouldn’t let us take it out of the briefing room, so we weren't really able to give it a thorough testing. However they were happy for us to take away the memory card with a few test shots, as long as we declared that the software wasn't final, so there will be tweaks before the camera comes to market.

The Ricoh GXR seemed easy enough to use, however the focusing did seem a little slow in our tests with the 24-72mm lens. The camera is happy enough to snap away indoors without resorting to the flash, with acceptable results in Auto mode in the few test shoots we took. We've included a test shot below shot using the teleconversion kit and hood, handheld at F/2.5, 1/30sec exposure, ISO 400 and there seems to be a good deal of punch to blues on the bottles, and sharp reflection detail.

We'll have to wait until we get our hands on the Ricoh GXR to evaluate the true performance and image quality in a full review. From what we've seen from our initial hands-on, however, the idea of changing lens units no longer seems so laughable.

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Related links:

• Photos - Ricoh GXR hands-on
• News - Ricoh GXR interchangeable unit camera system launches
• News - Understanding the Ricoh GXR

Tags: Cameras Compact cameras Digital cameras Ricoh Ricoh GXR

Ricoh GXR digital camera - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

The pocket camcorder market has enjoyed successes over the past year, more recently taking the step up to high definition and offering better overall quality and performance than many mobile phones would offer. Medion have now joined the race with the Life S47000, an all-weather pocketable which appears to be a reskinned DXG model.

To differentiate itself from the likes of the popular Flip Ultra HD models or Creative's Vado HD, the S47000 pitches itself as a sports camcorder, offering a degree of protection against the ingress of moisture. Despite this, the dimensions are still relatively compact measuring 65 x 105 x 23mm.

The overall design makes it comfortable in the hand and it looks good too, with sporty touches like the top attachment point a practical consideration. Grip seemed secure enough too thanks to the profile of the black trim edging the camera, although we'd have perhaps chosen to make the main recording button a touch larger to make it more appealing to those using gloves. The bottom of the camcorder has a standard tripod mount.

The S47000 offers a usable internal memory of 85MB, which equates to less than a minute of video capture. Your main memory option is provided by the SD card slot hiding under the flap on the side, sharing the same bay as the rechargeable li-ion battery. A memory card is not provided, so you'll have to consider one at the point of purchase.

In terms of accessories in the box, the S47000 really does Medion credit, expect for the lack of SD card of course. You get the camcorder itself and the battery, the battery charger and a case. On top of this you get an HDMI cable, AV cable, USB cable and a set of headphones, which rounds out the package nicely.

The camcorder therefore offers connection points for all these cables, with the mini variety of HDMI lurking under a flap along with the AV/USB connection. You don't get an onboard USB plug proper like the flip offered but the trade-off is a more compact overall package.

A 3.5mm headphone jack will let you check the quality of the recorded audio, or playback your movies without disturbing others, but it doesn't let you do live monitoring of the audio – it's a playback feature only. And before you get excited, no, it doesn't double as an external mic input.

The screen on the back is 2-inches, so you have plenty of space to see what you are doing and watch back your movies. It will playback MOV files from other cameras as well as view JPGs from the SD card, but we found the folder interpretation was rather random. Dumping MP3 files in a Music folder will mean you can playback tracks as well, so if you need something to keep you entertained whilst sitting on the chairlift, this should sort you out.

On the back you get a central four-way controller, with the main record button in the centre. A Mode button lets you switch between playback and recording, with a power and delete button for erasing files. Menu entry is toggled through a simultaneous press of the Mode and Del buttons.

Menu choices are kept to a minimum, which keeps things simple. You get regional options so you can switch between NTSC and PAL and 50 or 60Hz, set the date or format the memory, but chances are you'll not touch these options once the camera is set-up.

Video capture is fixed at 1280 x 720 pixels, so qualifies as HD, if not earning the Full HD tag. You don't get the option to turn down the resolution, but its unlikely to deter anyone and does save you from accidentally recording at settings lower than optimum. The output is 16:9, so it will fit nicely on your HDTV at home via the HDMI.

It is a fixed focus camera, which does limit your creative options, but suits recording on the fly. There is no option for macro focus like on the Kodak Zi8, so you won't be able to get too close, but for everyday shooting that might not be a problem. A digital zoom gives you 2x zoom, but as with most digital zooms, you probably want to leave it alone.

Startup is relatively fast, so you'll be recording in about 2 seconds. The S47000 copes with changing light conditions fairly well, but as with most camcorders of this ilk, there is a slight delay as it adjusts from dark to light. It is a F/2.8 max aperture lens, so low light performance is pretty standard for this class of camcorder. Shadow noise is prominent and noise shows all over as the light drops.

The S47000 records at a fairly solid 30fps, so the results are generally fairly smooth and free from judder. Purple fringing and highlight blowout seem to be the biggest problems that the camera faces in normal shooting conditions, with high contrast scenes presenting the biggest problem, but that's no different to rival devices.

Quality is good overall, giving you a noticeable boost over the VGA offering of most mobile phones give you. Colours are reasonable, perhaps lacking the punch that the Flip HD offered, but supplying vibrancy and definition.

Audio capture is generally good, with some noise coming in from manipulation of the S47000 in the hand. The range on the mic is limited, meaning that audio capture drops off over distance but works fairly well for close subjects. The mic is exposed, however, so wind noise will soon blight things.

We managed to get a couple of hours from the battery, which is average for this class of camcorder.

Verdict:

Overall we were impressed with the performance of the S47000. If offers a slightly different proposition to some rivals, giving a touch of environmental proofing and a complete package in the box that comes in at an affordable price, offering better value for money than rivals.

Music and JPG support means that you can do a little more than on some other devices. The move away from the convenience of the type of device that comes with an integral USB connector is perhaps less of an issue because of the use of an SD card.

Sure, better quality HD or Full HD video is offered by some of the more expensive rivals, but at under ?100, the Medion Life S47000 looks like a winner.

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Related links:

• Buy it! - Medionshop.co.uk

Tags: Cameras Camcorders Medion Medion Life S47000

Medion Life S47000 pocket camcorder originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Sony’s VAIO CW1S1E sits smack in the middle of the company’s laptop range, offering impressive value for money without compromising on features or style. With a 14-inch screen and weighing 2.3kg, it’s slightly larger than Sony’s ultra-portable laptops, but it offers better usability as a result.

The screen has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, which is average at this price point. Images are crisp, and LED backlighting offers bright and vivid colour reproduction. That said, it was possible to see the individual LEDs at the bottom of the display on our review sample – which affected colours and also proved distracting.

The design is attractive and cohesive, with a range of bright colours on offer. The palm rest stands higher than the rest of the chassis, giving this machine an individual appearance, and is the same colour as the lid – including deep red, blue, black and light pink. The area surrounding the keyboard is a slightly more subtle colour – from light pink on some models, to black.

Identical in style to most recent VAIO keyboards, the CW’s chicklet style board offers a decent and comfortable typing action. There’s plenty of space between each of the keys, and it’s a responsive and firmly attached interface. The touchpad is larger than many of those found on rival laptops, offering a precise way of navigation, and the mouse buttons are also large and comfortable. ?

The Nvidia GeForce GT 230M graphics card is a surprise inclusion in a machine of this size, giving the compact Sony serious 3D power. With the relatively low screen resolution, it means that even the latest games will run without issue, along with regular home and office applications. As a result, you’ll be able to use the VAIO CW as your sole PC.

Office performance is equally adept, with a mid-range 2.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 processor in place. It’s backed by 4096MB of DDR3 memory, and we found this an excellent machine to carry out office work or run a host of applications simultaneously. The 320GB hard drive offers more than enough space for most music and photo collections.

There are a trio of USB ports for adding peripherals, with two on the left-hand side of the chassis, and one on the right. Other ports include VGA and HDMI, offering connectivity for analogue and digital displays. As with most other VAIO models, there are two card readers on the front of the chassis, supporting Sony’s Memory Stick and SD formats. 802.11n Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet provide decent networking options, but it’s a shame to see 3G/HSDPA omitted.

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Verdict:

The VAIO CW may not be Sony’s most desirable laptop, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great choice. The combination of size and power make it an ideal machine for all types of user, and that it’s just at home on the commute, in the living room or in the office is testament to just how good an all-rounder it is.

PHOTOS: Sony Vaio CW

Tags: Hardware Laptops Sony Sony Vaio CW1S1E Sony Vaio CW

Sony VAIO CW1S1E notebook review originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:39:08 +0000

Of all the bands that have a difficult relationship with digital music, The Beatles stand above AC/DC, Metallica and Pink Floyd as the most troublesome. Apple Corps has a long-standing dispute with EMI that prevents the Fab Four's music from being available on services like iTunes, Spotify and Last.fm.

But after George Harrison's son Dhani met MTV's president, Van Toffler, in 2006, and suggested a Rock Band game based around The Beatles' catalogue, both parties worked to overcome logistical difficulties and the cult of protectionism that surrounds any use of The Beatles' image.

Harrison worked to win over Apple Corps, talking to McCartney, Starr and Ono about the idea. Toffler went off to convince Harmonix. In the end, following the production of a five-song demo, and an agreement that songs from the entire career of the band would be showcased, a deal was signed.

During development of the game, McCartney, Starr, Ono and Harrison all provided feedback on various aspects of the title, even down to demanding that The Beatles' hair blew about in the wind more when they perform on the roof of the Apple Corps' HQ, as it did on the day in 1969.

That sense of careful control of the image of the band is everywhere in the game. At no point is it possible to make The Beatles look bad, or affect the songs in any way other than to quieten a single instrument temporarily if you miss a note.

The ability to play drum beats before the start and after the end of a track are gone. So too is the ability to do wildcat drum solos in the middle of tracks to active "Overdrive" for extra points (which happens to be renamed "Beatlemania" in B:RB). The control is over every tiny detail, even down to the fact that attaining an extra star doesn't make the little "ding" sound it does in Rock Band 2.

But in its place is boatloads of extra content for Beatles fans. Attaining three and five stars on an individual track will unlock a photo and anecdote about the recording of that track. Each song is bookended by real studio chatter from the original recordings, all the way down to Ringo shouting "I've got blisters on me fingers!" at the end of Helter Skelter.

One benefit over previous versions of the game is that all 45 songs are unlocked from the start. You don't have to play through "Story" mode to get access to every track. If you do, however, you'll find an artfully crafted chronological journey through the band's history, starting at the Cavern Club, and ending on the aforementioned rooftop.

Between each chapter of the band's career, you get a lovely little animation depicting record sleeves, and covering famous episodes that occurred in that timeframe. The game is visually stunning, especially on a big HD display, and very in-keeping with the legacy of the band - particularly when it comes to the "Dreamscapes" that accompany several tracks from The Beatles' studio years.

In terms of features, though, there's very little difference between this game and last year's Rock Band 2. The only major addition is that of harmonies, which you'll need multiple USB mics for, along with a mic stand for singing and playing at the same time. Headset mics won't work, unlike in previous games.

The harmonies aren't easy. In fact they're doggone tough, unless you're a practiced vocalist in real life. Luckily, a trio of vocalists can sing any of the harmony parts without having to worry about who's singing what. As long as you're in tune with at least one of the melodies, you'll score well.

The enhanced plastic instruments are pretty awesome too. Well, the guitars are. The Rickenbacker 325, Gretsch Duo Jet, and Hefner bass are all fantastic representations of the original instruments, and will look great even if you're playing another game in the Rock Band range.

The Ludwig drum kit isn't quite as good, though. It's the same kit as from Rock Band 2, but has a big Beatles logo that stretches across the back of the set, mimicking the bass drum skin, and new pearl-edged drum pads. It looks flimsy and fake compared to the quality of the other Premium instruments.

Difficulty is reasonable throughout - it's easy to see how tricky a particular song is and adjust accordingly. One criticism that could be levelled, however, is that the game is relatively short. The 45 songs can be played through in a couple of hours, making this more suited to perfectionists who'll want to 100% every single song.

More content is on the way, including songs left over from Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper and Rubber Soul that didn't make it into the game. The slow approach is due to the difficulty of splitting apart the content from the old 2-track and 4-track master tapes at Abbey Road. Music from The Beatles' various solo projects will not be included.

Verdict:

The Beatles Rock Band is a fantastic reminiscipackage of musical and visual content that should be firmly in the collection of any Beatles fan. But a question mark hangs over the value of this title for people who aren't so passionate about the band's catalogue.

Little niggles, like not being able to put in your own drum fills, grate considerably when compared to the relative freedom of Rock Band 2. The controlled, and relatively brief, experience puts a slightly bitter aftertaste on a game that is - in every other regard - fantastic fun.

The Beatles Rock Band is an absolute must for Beatles completists and Rock Band completists, but a music fan who hasn't yet dipped a toe into the world of music videogames like Rock Band and Guitar Hero would be better off starting with the excellent Rock Band 2 instead.

Tags: Gaming Xbox 360 Music games Beatles The Beatles Rock Band Rock Band Harmonix EA

The Beatles Rock Band - Xbox 360 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Memorex, yes, the people who made those see-through audio cassettes back in the day, have unleashed their latest iPod dock on the world in the form of the Memorex Sound System. But should this grab your attention?

The Memorex Sound System is conservatively designed and constructed from solid-feeling plastics, but lacks the premium looks that some docks give you. It stands approx 15cm high, is 35cm wide and 12cm deep, so is larger than some others too.

It does have an output of 30 Watts RMS, however, from stereo drivers and tweeter domes, which sit behind the front grill. The front also features a reasonably large display and a slot-loading CD drive.

The remainder of the controls can be found on the top of the Sound System and there are plenty of them. In the centre you have the iPod dock that also supports the iPhone, and your main power, mode and volume controls. To the left are five more controls that allow you to set the time, change the EQ and switch the the auxiliary input. Then there are a further four controls to select sleep, dim the display and set repeat and shuffle.

Across to the right you have 5 radio preset buttons, and then play/pause, stop and track forward and back controls. If you like buttons, you are well covered. This covers all the controls that you'll find on the remote, except those that you'd use to navigate the menus on your iPod.

With the controls clearly labelled, the Memorex Sound System is easy to use and we like the big iPod, CD and Radio buttons so you can just punch the button and listen to what you want. Several inserts are provided for the iPod dock at the top so that your iPhone will sit securely.

Navigating and controlling your iPod presents no problems at all, with an additional "B" button the remote to briefly but the iPod backlight on so you can see the menus. The remote is a little on the cheap side, with small buttons, particularly the volume controls which could have been more prominent.

In use and the sound quality is pretty good, with plenty of volume on offer and it remains relatively distortion even up at top higher volumes. The sound isn't perhaps as clear as some more expensive rivals, lacking the premium definition to your music that some docks offer. Bass is well represented with easy adjustment through the EQ settings so your tunes have a good meaty quality to them.

The FM tuner also performed well picking up local stations as expected. There is no auto scan feature, so you'll have to program in your 5 presents from the off and we would have preferred a DAB option to be included. The CD player takes a little time to get going after inserting a CD, but it isn't a major drawback.

Around the back of the Sound System you get an aux in, so you can hook up any other devices using a standard 3.5mm cable.

Verdict:

Unfortunately, despite the presence of a clock and a sleep timer, there is no alarm function, so as a single box solution for a bedroom or dorm room, you'll be missing this feature. However, you could always use the alarm on your iPod or iPhone. There is no headphone jack either which may deter those who on occasion want to keep their music to themselves.

Overall we were impressed with how easy to use the Memorex Sound System was. The audio performance was impressive without being exemplary, perfect for casual use.

There are a great number of iPod docks available and the Memorex is an inoffensive middle-of-the-road offering. You'll be able to get units that are cheaper or have a more interesting design, but there is little go wrong with here.

Tags: Audio iPod docks iPod speakers iPod iPhone Memorex Memorex Sound System

Memorex Sound System iPod dock originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

How thin is thin? That's the question Dell has asked itself with the launch of the Dell Adamo XPS. The answer it seems is 9.9mm, but has the journey to make a laptop thinner than a CD jewel case meant corners have been cut? We grabbed a gander at the new model ahead of the official announcement.

The first thing you'll be thinking is "where did it all go?" the Adamo XPS is thin, very thin. To get an idea of how thin it really is you need to stop reading for a second. Yep you heard that right. Now go find a CD jewel case you've probably got floating around the office or your house and awe that a computer can be thinner. At its thinnest point it's 9.7mm at its thickest its 10.3.

To give you the full dimensions they are 340 x 273.9 x 9.9mm with a weight of 1.44kg.?To achieve that thinness, Dell has done something drastic, it's taken the keyboard and made it fit into a recess the size of the 13.4-inch screen.

In real terms it means that the hinge isn't at the base of the screen, as it is in normal laptops, but slightly further up - say by about 100mm (see pictures). The payoff in placing the hinge higher up in the design is that the metal chicklet keyboard doesn't actually sit flat on your desk - a rather strange experience - but at a 30 degree angle. In use it's surprisingly comfortable and reminiscent of how keyboards used to be before they became super flat.

Back to that design and you'll find that when folded, the keyboard slots into a recessed screen area, allowing it to claim the overall thinness and enabling you to gloat at your friends. It's very clever.

To keep things to a minimum the Adamo XPS isn't loaded with ports, sockets, buttons or other paraphernalia. You get a DisplayPort socket, power socket, headphone, line out jack and two USB ports that are neatly placed down either side. Like the MacBook Air, it loses the Ethernet socket as well as an optical drive, both of which (Blu-ray included) are offered as external devices.

Aside from the ports, the laptop is fairly void of detail. The aluminium casing oozes MacBook Pro chic. Big brash logos are left to be etched into the underside of the device rather than blazoned on the back of the screen. There is branding of course, but it's small and discrete, just like the button to open it.

We say button, though that's not strictly the case as there isn't actually one. Instead you'll be expected to stroke your finger in a certain place to release a latch. What happens when the power runs out? You can't open the laptop, but then Dell's response is logical - why would you want it open, the battery is dead.

Back to the underside and you get a couple of fan holes, a webcam and a removable battery that Dell says will give you a rather disappointing 2 hours 36 minutes. Those looking to hit the road should go elsewhere.

So we've got past the design, but is that it? Luckily not. The specs read quite nicely too.

The glossy screen is a 13.4-inch HD WLED 720p (1366 x 768) offering, while Dell has turned to Intel bringing its Intel Core 2 Duo ULV (1.4GHz) processor to power this size-zero machine. Memory comes in the guise of 4GB DDR3-800MHz and the hard drive is a Solid State 128GB model as standard.

XPS might have been Dell's gaming line once, but no more. With an Intel GS45 integrated graphics card, this isn't going to be a gaming machine, but then gamers are not the target here. Dell has confirmed to Pocket-lint that XPS now means power over gaming and with the Alienware brand going strong they've got that market sector covered.

Connectivity is offered via Wi-Fi a/g/n standard and there is Bluetooth 2.1 in there too.?Power the machine up and you'll get Windows 7 Ultimate edition as standard. Windows 7 is leap years ahead of Windows Vista or XP and therefore by no means a negative.

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Verdict:

Our play was brief, which is why this First Look focuses on the hardware and design implementation rather than speed and performance of the laptop in a real-life situation.

As we move away from CDs and DVDs the need to have an optical drive isn't as vital as it once was. We can't actually remember the last time, apart from installing the OS, we actually used our laptop's optical drive anyway.

There is a concern that the battery life will be the Achilles heel here, but at least you can replace or swap it out if you are attempting a road warrior moment. Yes it should last longer, but that is clearly a payoff to the size and weight. There is a larger 40WHr battery that promises 5 hours 17 minutes.

So what's the bottom line? If you want to impress, this is clearly going to be the device to do it with. The decision to give it a powerful processor over the Intel Atom offering and the ability to swap out the battery, for us, makes this one to watch if you are after style and want substance.

Tags: Hardware Laptops Dell Dell Adamo XPS Intel First look

Dell Adamo XPS notebook - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Another carrier, another handset, that is pretty much the story with the?Droid Eris, now on its third iteration from the?HTC Hero?launched in Europe back in May. So what has?Verizon?brought to the table and for American's, should you opt for this one over the?Sprint HTC Hero?

We haven't seen the official press release, but no doubt when it does arrive on our desk it will say the new design oozes a black finish never before seen, and one that is tactile to touch over the silver shimmers of the Sprint offering.

In reality there is very little between the two in terms of design. The Verizon Droid Eris sports a black shell with a slightly more rounded bottom curve. The Home, menu, back and search buttons are now in a single line. Touch-sensitive, they've been built into the same casing as the screen. The only physical buttons underneath the multi-touch screen are a call and hang-up buttons an a trackball as found on the MyTouch 3G and G1 handsets.

That trackball is very responsive, not that you'll find yourself using it that much.?Why? The touchscreen above.

The screen remains at 3.2-inches, the same as the Sprint model. Compared to other smartphones on the market it is slightly larger than the Palm Pre's 3.1-inch screen and slightly smaller than the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen. Either way the smaller hyptic-enabled screen means a more compact phone that won't take up as much real estate in your pocket, but one that is still very usable.?

Like the Sprint handset the phone offers a 3.5mm jack, volume buttons and a 5-megapixel camera on the back. There is no flash. Slip the case off and you'll find a microSD slot.?

Keeping on the technology front, you'll get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity as well as GPS so you can find your way home. This being Verizon the handset runs on the CDMA network. However with no GSM support you won't be able to travel to Europe with it. This is not a world phone.

Of course this isn't just an identical phone in a different colour for a different operator. HTC doesn't do that. So the offering is slightly thinner, which in turn means that the battery is slightly smaller. While HTC wouldn't, in our play, be drawn on what this would mean to the overall performance, it confirmed that users would notice very little difference (it's 1300mAh compared to 1500mAh for those wanting the numbers).

On the upside the company has fixed one of the underlining bug bears from the original version and added a proximity sensor so when you put it up to your head the screen turns off. Handy.?

Running Google's Android 1.5 OS, the Droid Eris is Verizon's second handset, the Droid by Motorola is the other. Like the Sprint HTC Hero, HTC has once again taken the Android OS as a starting point, and put their own special sheen on the operating system. Called the Sense UI it basically gives you a graphical skin over the Android OS giving it a more grown-up experience.?

In reality you'll mostly experience this through a series of customised screens giving you quick access to a number of the key features. Whether it's work, play, social networking or all of the above, the screens are incredibly easy to use, stylish and the key to the phone's simplicity.?

In our brief play the Droid Eris was quick and nimble, most likely benefiting from the HTC Hero update recently rolled out to the Sprint variant. It's fast enough that you won't find yourself struggling with whether or not you've pressed the button or flipped a screen. And as flipping through screens is something that you'll find yourself doing a lot, it only fair to expect good performance. We weren't disappointed. ?

Software-wise you'll get all the usual apps, with Verizon only choosing to install its Visual Voicemail service on the phone. Like the Motorola Droid, this is a clean handset.

Verdict:

Software wise there is very little different between the HTC Hero released in Europe, the HTC Hero on Sprint and the Verizon version. Where the difference appears is in the hardware and cosmetic design of the handset.

Whether you choose the Sprint HTC Hero or the Verizon HTC Droid Eris is going to be down to networks and what you are happier with. Both carriers have left the handset pretty unfettered, both haven't done anything crazy with the hardware to make them stand out from each other either.?

One deciding factor however is likely to be the price. The Droid Eris is at the time of writing $80 cheaper.?

For the non Apple or Palm believers, this is one to strongly consider.?

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC Verizon HTC Hero Droid Eris First look

Droid Eris by HTC mobile phone - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

AVG has been one of the most popular free antivirus tools for many a year, and updates its software for 2010 with the new AVG 9. We’ll kick off by summarising the different versions of the software, which still includes a free version for those who already have a firewall or other security on their system. This includes all the basic tools you need but omits a web shield, anti-rootkit protection, a game mode and technical support, which is all found on the ?27.99 standard edition. This version is also available with a firewall for ?35.99, though stepping up to the most comprehensive "Internet Security" option would be sensible at this stage, as for ?39.99 you get system tune-up tools, anti-spam and identity protection thrown in.

The first thing users of previous versions will notice is that there aren’t a lot of obvious changes here, and though the interface is slightly cleaner, it retains the multi-component layout and stripped down menus that has become synonymous with the software. Most improvements have come in the form of tweaks and enhancements, improving the firewall, phishing protection, anti-spam and in speeding up scans.

This area has seen a distinct improvement in recent times, but it’s worth highlighting that AVG has never been the quickest so it still lags quite seriously behind some of the competition. During our tests it achieved a standard scan time of around 4 minutes, and this doesn’t speed up much during subsequent repeats. By contrast, the excellent Norton AntiVirus 2010 initially took 1 minute to scan the same test system, with subsequent scans dropping to just 10 seconds.

AVG is fairly light on resources and a straightforward approach does make it easy to get to grips with, which should appeal to less experienced users. The firewall has also been improved to allow the software to better make decisions automatically, so you’re not often bugged for confirmation of actions during operation.

AVG has also done pretty well in terms of independent certification recently and though the results aren’t in yet on version 9, we’re confident it is capable of maintaining this standard.

Official Windows 7 compatibility just about rounds off the improvements here, so it seem as though AVG is happy to offer some fairly standard tweaks and enhancements to placate existing users and upgraders rather than attempt to drag in any new business. The free version still has obvious appeal and it’s still one of the best around in this light, but none of "pay" packages are cheap or revolutionary enough to compete against faster, sleeker and more comprehensive software from rivals such as Norton and BitDefender.

Verdict:

AVG has tweaked its software to bring it in line with new threats and improve efficiency, but it still lags behind many rivals in terms of scan times and doesn’t really bring enough to the table to encourage new users to ditch their existing internet security in its favour.?

Tags: Software Security software Viruses And Malware AVG AVG9

AVG 9.0 security software originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:21:03 +0000

Anyone familiar with the use of graphics pad or tablet will know the more precise and controlled advantages offered by working on photos or video, say, with the more natural “drawing” interface a tablet allows than the blunt instrument that is a mouse will be very happy indeed with this update of Wacom’s Intuos range.

Let’s get this clear at the outset; the new Intuos4 tablet is quite simply excellent (incidentally it has by the way, already been awarded TIPA’s best digital accessory in Europe award). We had the Medium sized model to play with (there are Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large variants) with an active area of 223.5 x 139.7mm and the first standout feature of note is the brilliantly simple ambidextrous design.

The new layout has all controls on one side of the tablet; the advantage here is it makes it easier to use all the features since the detachable USB cord and dual USB ports then allow you to turn the tablet 180 degrees and plug it back in for left and/or right-handed use.

Add to the mix new LED backlit labels for the programmable ExpressKeys, (though the bottom model in the range, the cheaper “Small” version, disappointingly lacks these LED labels) means the problem of forgetting what ExpressKey is programmed to do what is eliminated since the LEDs allow you to see what is programmed even automatically switching between applications, which is very neat indeed.

It is the customisability of the Intuos4 system that provides its real power as the new Touch Ring feature demonstrates. The Touch Ring allows you to use it like the ExpressKeys, but can be programmed to zoom and scroll or change brush size in a photo editing package such as Photoshop. Alternatively, it can be used as a scrubber if video editing is more your thing.

The new Grip Pen has also received significant enhancements with new Tip Sensor technology that provides for almost weightless sensitivity in terms of pressure. It has 2048-levels of pressure compared with the 1048-levels of the Intuos3 series tablets, making it much smoother and more precise for brush strokes and the like.

The weighted pen stand has been revised in that it is a storage compartment for replacement nibs and the nib removal tool too. But one of the other significant enhancements is the redesigned mouse. The mouse does not need a battery but is oh so much more precise to use than on previous versions and overall, while the Intuos4 is an evolution on the previous very good Intuos3, it provides a set of updates and new features that make it so much better.

One sticking point however must be mentioned, it may look a bit overpriced at a penny shy of ?330 but after using the Intuos4 Medium for a few days, it’s hard to argue against owning one, assuming you have the budget, of course.

Verdict:

It’s hard to improve on something that’s already brilliant, but Wacom have obviously had a good head scratching session and come up with just that. The brilliant just got, well, erm … brillianter? But at a price, because the Small is priced at ?199.99 with the price rising through the range to the Extra Large being priced at a rather startling ?699.99.

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Tags: Hardware Tablets Wacom Wacom Intuos4

Wacom Intuos4 Pen Tablet originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:38:24 +0000

HTC knows how to steal the show. On the day that Microsoft "officially" unleashed Windows Mobile 6.5 on the world, HTC pulled the covers off the HD2, their flagship Windows Phone and one that leaves other Windows Mobile devices in its wake.

HTC have a history of customising interfaces from previous iterations of Windows Mobile to more recent Android devices. A large part of the HTC Hero's success was down to HTC's Sense UI, which now finds its way onto the HD2, although visually it is close to previous TouchFLO layer that HTC have used.

With a massive 4.3-inch 480 x 800 pixel resolution display, it steals the crown from Toshiba's poorly-received TG01. Unlike the TG01, however, HTC have designed this handset well, with neat industrial-looking lines.

It measures 120.5 x 67mm but it is only 11mm thick, so despite the large footprint, it is still pocketable. We've been carting it around in the hip pocket of our jeans, but with such a large glorious screen, you can't really put anything else in the same pocket for risk of scratching. It is perfectly suited to an inside jacket pocket, however, which is where we suspect HTC see this phone heading: a corporate world of finely tailored suits.

Running across the bottom of the screen you get the usual suspects in terms of control buttons: calling, Home, Windows and back. As we saw on the HTC Touch2, the Home button takes you to the front of HTC's Sense interface, whilst the Windows key takes you to the front page of Windows Mobile 6.5 and the new honeycomb interface (which can also be accessed through the "Start" option in the top left-hand corner on all pages except in "full screen" viewing modes).

Around the body of the handset you have a volume control on the left-hand side, but that's the only other hard button on offer. On the bottom you'll find the Micro-USB and 3.5mm connections. Around the back is the 5-megapixel camera, with a dual LED flash, sitting next to the outlet for the built-in speaker, which is rather good.

The phone itself is edged in a rubberised finish which neatly caps the top and bottom, as well as running around the edges making it feel secure in the hand. The neat metal backplate removes to give you access to the battery, microSD and SIM slots. It all feels and looks like the premium product that it is. One slight disadvantage, like the iPhone, is that you get a hard edge across your ear when actually using it for phone calls.

Power on and you are greeted with familiar setup pages from HTC, helping you to swiftly hook-up to a Wi-Fi network and taking you on to register on your social networks (if you want to), so you are instantly jacked-in to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Ominously missing is a connection to Google, which the Android siblings thrive on.

As we saw in the First Look of the HD2, the HTC Sense in this form is similar to previous iterations of HTC's TouchFLO customisation, but that's no bad thing: it is user friendly. Instead of being greeted with Microsoft's rather boring opening menu, you have the luscious HTC gloss on everything.

From the Sense front page you can swipe across like you can on the Hero, but rather than having 5 pages, here you move across the shortcut bar at the bottom, giving you access to what is essentially a range of widget pages. You can customise some pages as well as adding and removing widget pages, so you can dump Stocks, or Twitter, if you don't think you'll use them.

The more you dig through, the more it does look like Sense as we know it from the likes of the HTC Hero. You don't get the same visual pop as the screen changes, but it is easy to get around and you can run your finger across the bottom shortcut bar to land you on what you want to access.

On the front page you have three visible shortcut spaces, which you can add contacts, applications or bookmarks for instant access. The front page, though, has hidden depths. Swipe it up and the clock neatly folds away and you are into a customisable grid of shortcuts, so you can dump your favourite apps, contacts or bookmarks in here, so you never have to press that Windows button.

Contacts offers the same luscious visual experience. Arrive at the Contacts page and you again have a customisable grid where you can select your frequent contacts for one-press access. A great thing about this shortcut list is that you can choose what that shortcut does – take them to that person's contact details, or call one of their numbers, or perhaps directly into email.

You can have a regular list of contacts under "All people" which you can either flick to scroll through, or run your finger down the right-hand edge to jump to a letter of the alphabet. Of course, once you've pulled in Outlooks contacts from your PC via ActiveSync, the HD2 will pair them up with your Facebook friends - but you'll have to nudge it to do so – bringing in more info and populating the images and so on. It's a far cry from the bland Windows Mobile default Contacts display lurking in the back somewhere.

From a contact's details page you can pull up the Google Map of their location to instantly get directions, or move sideways to view their messages, emails, updates and call history too, which is a great person-focused approach and the very essence of the Sense UI.

The same experience ranges through messages and emails, with easy access to multiple accounts, be they POP, IMAP, or Exchange. Moving through to photos you can flick through your photos with a finger swipe, with pinch or double-tap zooming. Photos and videos can be quickly shared right from the off, with Facebook and YouTube links already established.

The Twitter widget page in Sense is pretty much like the Android version, letting you view, or enter Peep proper. If you are a heavy Twitter user, you might as well just add a link to Peep right from the front page to head straight into your Twitter feed, rather than scrolling across, but each to their own. The widget pages in Sense can be rearranged too, if you prefer.

Pressing the icons across the top of the screen will bring up your notifications area, which will tell you if you have missed calls, messages and so on, as well letting you view the mobile operator, Wi-Fi and battery statuses, so you can kill Wi-Fi or whatever you choose. Like Windows Mobile 6.5 proper, the lock screen on the HD2 also gives you notifications, so you can see with a tap that you have emails, missed calls and so on and get right to them.

What HTC have done with the HD2 then, is taken the pain out of Windows Mobile and they have done it in a way that takes the integration their own interface very deep indeed. In fact, in most daily tasks, you don't have to touch a Windows Mobile page – even the Settings menu as been reskinned. It's a beautifully refreshing experience as a result.

There will be occasions then you get a frightening reminder of what is lurking underneath, when you'll get a rough Windows Mobile 6.5 page punching through. For example if there is an error in your email setup or something like that, you get a glimpse back into the dark ages. Depending on how you use the phone, you may experience more of less of this, of course.

You also get those benefits that Windows Mobile brings, and with the HD2 packing in a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, Microsoft's operating system runs with a fair lick. Opening applications is swift and it copes with skipping around without getting bogged down. Copying and pasting multiple files from the memory to an inserted microSD card, for example, was quick and easy in File Manager.

The size of the HD2 also neatly sidesteps one of our gripes about Windows Mobile, and that's the occasional need to press a tiny "X" or "OK" to close a page. Here the icons are big enough to tap with a finger. Ditto the two options presented that the bottom of the page, usually to access the menu or make a selection. Here you can actually do it reliably first press.

And that is due to the HD2's capacitive touchscreen display. It means that presses are so much more reliable than before and you don't find yourself pressing away with no response. That response is essential when you move over to the keyboard.

The keyboard is HTC's own keyboard supported by their predictive entry which helps to iron out any mistakes that you introduce whilst bashing in a message. It is responsive enough to actually use at speed too and we found the experience to be very close to the HTC Hero – high praise indeed.

You get options for a full QWERTY, a compact QWERTY, or a standard 12-key phone keypad, but with the space on offer here, you never really need to dive out of the full thing, even in portrait mode. It will also spell check as you go, if you want it to.

The screen lends itself to photos and video viewing, which we’ve already mentioned and a YouTube app is ready installed to get you off to some online video viewing. With so much space available it also lends itself to browsing the Internet too.

You get multi-touch browser support in the form of pinch zooming, but once we really set it to task, we found it was not as reliable as the Palm Pre, occasionally stuttering around the edges of pages and bouncing back to the centre. Double tap zooming is also present, quickly snapping in and out of pages. Dragging pages around is also relatively smooth, not quite as good as some other rivals, but the best we've seen on a Windows Phone. This is partly due to ditching Internet Explorer Mobile in favour of Opera, so you get great full screen browsing which is relatively quick, with support for multiple pages.

The 5-megapixel camera around the back performs well but does suffer from some shutter lag. Autofocus will pick-up on your subject, or you can touch to focus, with touch and hold to take a picture, so saves you from the shake of moving your finger. The dual LED flash gives some hope to indoor snappers and ISO runs up to 800, but with noticeable noise.

Video capture comes in at 640 x 480 and seems to hold a regular 25fps fairly well, and we found the results were good – better than many mobile devices seem to achieve.

Another headline feature of the HD2 is its Wi-Fi router feature. Our Mac found it and hooked up with no problems at all, drawing data through the mobile phone network. Apparently on some phones you'll be charged for tethering, which isn't a problem here.

The battery life is also surprisingly good. You'll get a full day of average use from it. Yes, it will need charging every night, but with calls, plenty of data and a bit of everything else, it's seen us good. Those who plan to use it as a Wi-Fi router and make plenty of calls might want to look at getting a second battery however.

Verdict:

The HTC HD2 gives you a full smartphone experience from all angles. The tech specs are fully loaded, giving you HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a digital compass, accelerometers, proximity sensors (so it knows when it is next to your face…). You get that 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, video capture that actually looks ok and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Then there's the responsive 4.3-inch high-resolution capacitive touchscreen display.

It wouldn't be fair to mark the HD2 down simply because it is a Windows Mobile device, despite that OS having a number on inherent problems. If anything, HTC should be praised for what they have achieved with the HD2 through their customisation.

But you do have to consider that when you push beyond what HTC Sense offers you here, you are back to Windows Mobile and that unfortunately includes a rather basic Windows Marketplace, which still looks a little sparse at present.

Another downside, of course, is that you have a giant phone. If you spend most of your time moving from home to desk via the train, this might not be a problem, but slip it into a pair of shorts come summer and you might want something smaller.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC HTC HD2 HTC Leo

HTC HD2 mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:52:38 +0000

The first thing that strikes you about the agent V5 is just how good looking it is. In a world where many webcams are black plastic, the V5 is lovingly wrapped in chrome, so it jumps out as a premium looking product.

Out of the box it has that Mac look and feel about it and in a design-conscious world it certainly attracts a few passing glances. You are also well catered for in terms of accessories, as out of the box you'll find a fixed stand, notebook clip and? larger flexible to attach to LCD displays, or your AIO computer. There is also a bag, cleaning cloth and cable donut to keep things tidy.

All the accessories screen into the underside of the webcam, where a flexible swivel mount provides and attachment point. This is the same size as a standard tripod, so you can attach the V5 webcam to other accessories, for example a Gorillapod.

The design is minimalist. The chrome barrel is free from buttons and lights, with the front ring bring used for focusing the camera and a small microphone hole in the underside. It looks nice and clean but it does mean that you don't get the customary LED indicator when it is active.

It works on both Mac and PC, with software bundled on the CD to cater for both. Applications supplied for the Mac, include Webcam Monitor, CamGrabber, CamTwist, Gawker, iVideo, PhotoStickies, QuartzCube, Simple Video Slicer and VLC video player. However, the chances are that you'll stick to native applications like PhotoBooth, QuickTime and iMovie and we did encounter some problems installing and testing the bundled software. Importantly though, on the Mac you don't need to install anything if you don’t want to.

On the PC you'll need to install the driver software and you are also offered CAMagic, Ulead Video Studio 7 SE and various others. Again, after the drivers, there's a strong chance you'll be using your webcam for video chats online, so your application for example Skype will probably take care of things.

On to performance itself and the first thing you'll have to contend with is the lack of autofocus or fixed focus. So it isn't a great cam if you want to record anything that changes distance to the camera, but for normal web chatting, that isn't a problem. What it does mean though, is that once you are sat and the camera set up, you can focus and you get a really crisp image.

Thanks to the 5-layer glass lens, the images are crisp and clear and when using the camera over Skype, people commented how sharp the image was. In standalone video capture, you also get a nice crisp result. Of course the video capture results depend very much on what software you use and the PC you are using too. It will give you Full HD video capture if you have the software and a computer that will handle it.

Low light performance is reasonable, retaining colours when some webcams will start to lose them, although the image does have a stippled noise pattern over it. There was also some black speckles that looked like dust on the lens, but after cleaning they stayed, so we can only assume it was dust on the sensor.

But before you get carried away with the Full HD aspects of the aGent V5 you have to deal with the sound quality, which isn't so good. With the microphone opening hidden on the underside of the camera barrel, we had to turn the input up all the way so that we could reasonably hear anything and then it was blighted by hissing and interference.

This came across both in Skype conversations we were having and in test captures we did. Mid conversation in Skype we had to switch back to the Mac's internal mic to save the ears of a colleague who complained about the quality. If you have a separate mic, or use a headset for voice communications this might not be a problem, but it is a problem with the package as a whole.

Verdict:

We like the look of the aGent V5 webcam: it looks like good quality and in our tests the video came out good too. The dust on the sensor may just be a problem with our test sample, but did detract from the otherwise good video performance.

You do get a lot in the box, with the various mounting options, but unfortunately the sound quality really let us down. If you are one of those sorts that doesn’t need the sound for whatever reason, you might still be tempted by its glorious looks alone.

Related links:

• Buy it! - Liquid Digital Solutions

Tags: Hardware Webcams Liquid Digital Solutions Liquid Digital Solutions aGent V5

Liquid Digital Solutions aGent V5 webcam originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:14:37 +0000

Panasonic’s first two Micro Four Thirds system cameras – last year’s G1 and this spring’s GH1, which added high-def video – based their designs on that of traditional digital SLRs. Even though technically they weren’t, having junked the integral mirror box mechanism in order to bring lens and sensor closer together.

In theory this promised more diminutive camera bodies and lenses, yet in practice neither G1 nor GH1 are much smaller than the latest entry-level DSLRs based around regular APS-C sized sensors.

But that aspect is about to change. As the advertising blurb runs, the new Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 is like a DSLR – in that lenses can be changed and image quality is a step up from a bridge camera – only smaller.

Its styling is closer to a compact camera, albeit one that will be a snug fit for even the deep pocket of an overcoat; the busy top plate control layout recalling the look of a high-end rangefinder camera. It is the manufacturer’s answer to, and direct rival of, Olympus’ E-P1, otherwise known as the Pen.

While that camera’s hybrid nature was deemed revolutionary on release, it omitted a couple of fairly crucial features for the photo enthusiast – especially one spending ?600 on a body without lens.

Fortunately the similarly solidly built (but fractionally lighter) GF1 has shoehorned in one of its rival’s omissions – a flash of the pop-up variety to maintain the Lumix’s boxy lines – whilst, doubtless partly due again to size, still failing to deliver an optical viewfinder.

However it does offer an electronic viewfinder (EVF) like those incorporated on the G1 and GH1, as an optional extra that clips onto the vacant top plate hotshoe. This costs around ?160, compared to ?100 for an optional optical viewfinder for the Olympus Pen.

Photos are composed on the GF1 in its absence via the 3-inch, 460k-dot resolution LCD with Live View; double the resolution offered by the E-P1, which in our eyes makes for a much smoother, more life-like display image.

Headline resolution is otherwise nigh on identical, at 12.1 effective megapixels from a 13.1 megapixel LiveMOS sensor, and, like the Pen is basically a concertinaed Olympus E-series DSLR, so the GF1 squeezes the functionality of its G1 and GH1 forebears into a more manageable shape.

This includes a mono HD video mode with a dedicated recording button, and a choice of AVCHD or (more widely compatible) Motion JPEG compression, resolution being the lower 1280 x 720 pixels rather than the Full HD 1920 x 1080. A side mounted HDMI port is also provided for hooking the camera up to an HD TV, though the required cable costs extra.

If you really want the most compact camera solution, then opt for the 20mm non zoom "pancake" lens we had on test, equivalent to 40mm in 35mm terms, which, when bought in conjunction with the Panasonic body, will set you back a not-so-cool ?800. We found it works best for shooting portraits and close ups, where a shallow depth of focus, blurring distracting backgrounds, proves a specific aid to creativity.

If we’ve one true criticism it's that the blocky, rectangular GF1 lacks anyway in the way of a decent grip, with only a thin raised strip on the front providing purchase for the fingers when shooting handheld. Still, it’s also possible to use the camera as a gloried point and shoot courtesy of Panasonic’s reliable intelligent Auto (iA) mode, whereby it recognises common scenes and subjects and adjusts settings automatically, saving the user otherwise fiddling around with controls and dials to achieve similar results.

With the GF1 powering up for action with DSLR-approximate swiftness in just over a second, other built-in aids to creativity include its "My Colors" modes that come across as Panasonic’s re-interpretation of the Olympus Pen’s Art Filters. They even include a pop art style "Dynamic Art" option.

We also get film simulation modes "borrowed" from its G1 and GH1 siblings and a Peripheral Defocus Mode that blurs potentially distracting backgrounds – even when you’re not shooting with a 20mm lens. Left on standard default settings colours are rendered beautifully natural and life-like with a crispness few standard fixed lens compacts could match. Impressive stuff – though of course it comes at a price.

Verdict:

So does the GF1 beat the Pen as the best, most affordable DSLR/compact hybrid to date?

Of course the answer depends on your personal requirements, but used as a tool for general purpose photography, the clearer, smoother LCD for shot composition and review, plus built-in flash inevitably take the Panasonic up a notch.

It therefore gets our vote as the current most successful marriage of DSLR functionality with compact portability and usability. But with further incarnations of the Pen promised very soon by Olympus, it’s unlikely to stay that way for long.

It’s also worth noting that for the near ?600 UK asking price for the GF1, one could buy a very capable APS-C sized DSLR with lens included.

PHOTOS: Panasonic Lumix GF1 digital camera

Tags: Cameras Micro Four Thirds Compact cameras DSLR cameras 12 megapixels Panasonic Panasonic Lumix GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

A brand usually found in the lower echelons of the flatscreen TV market, Toshiba is making a bid for the big time with this huge LED screen. The trouble is, the 55SV685DB's very large price heaps on the pressure; is it much better than a 50-inch plasma, which now go for under ?1,000?

However unlikely that might seem, Toshiba has strived to make the 55SV685DB seem good value by packing in some new features. The first, and most important by far, is LED backlighting. The 55SV685DB uses perhaps the most comprehensive form of the new tech, called "local dimming" or "full LED" by some brands. Instead of a backlight that's always switched on, rows of tiny LED lights line up behind the LCD panel. Capable of switching on and off individually, it's possible for the screen to show total darkness in one area of an image, and bright white in another.

The second crucial feature is Active Vision M200, a 200Hz anti-blur system, though a film stability mode (aimed at removing that annoying judder in all Blu-ray discs) Toshiba's much-hyped Resolution+ upscaling tech for digital TV and DVD is just as important on a screen of this sheer size.

The 55SV685DB's other features seem frivolous in comparison. Take its SD card slot, an unusual find away from Panasonic's Viera TVs. It's there to provide JPEG photographs for the Picture Frame mode, though the TV itself has so little onboard memory that instead of a slideshow, just a single picture can be transferred – and it's slow to load, too.

Just as distracting is the 55SV685DB's stilted stab at DLNA networking. Fetching digital media from a PC or Mac on the same home broadband network is a fantastic idea, but, like a lot of brands, Toshiba hasn't got anywhere near perfecting it. After quickly finding a networked computer, a slow and rather brutal process begins; a file type must be selected, then a specific file, before finding out whether it's compatible (only AVI and MPEG videos seem to be). The system gets ahead of itself by trying to display thumbnails photos/videos, but they never load and just slowdown the process further (Toshiba may have solved this issue on its Japanese-only Cell Regza 55X1, which offers 143 times more processing power).

The remote control doesn't help; it's unable to cancel commands and return to the previous menu, extending the agony. It's a similar story with the Media Player feature that reads files from a USB stick.?

Resolution+ also fails. The 55-inches of LCD screen just cannot display DVD or digital pictures coherently – digital artefacts and fuzzy edges are everywhere – which leaves the 55SV685DB looking rather forlorn and in need of a phenomenal performance with Blu-ray.

And it makes a respectable stab at greatness. Its LED backlighting is endlessly tweakable, with dynamic bars showing ambient light (plotted on a graph, even!), alongside the light output of each pixel.

And a high-def picture is indeed worthy of such examination. Black areas of the picture are jet-black, with plenty of subtle detail within. And subtlety is everywhere; bright whites, incredible colours and entrancing detail make for a picture that's lusciously cinematic. It's helped by an effective film mode that helps create a smooth image with sharp, well-defined edges even when objects are moving rapidly across the screen.

Verdict:

Toshiba has created a Full HD marvel that uses its LED backlighting to create astonishingly deep blacks and rich colours for a LCD TV, but its ?4,500 price tag proves it's downfall. However well it deals with high-def, it's impossible to forgive the 55SV685DB for its lack of versatility because how many of us just want to watch 1080p Blu-ray? For now, a ?1,500 plasma remains a better deal.

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Tags: Home Cinema Televisions LCD televisions Toshiba Toshiba Regza 55SV685DB

Toshiba Regza 55SV685DB television originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:30:22 +0000

The Vax Mach Air boasts that it is the lightest full sized multi cyclonic upright vacuum cleaner in the world at 4.9kg, taking the fight right to the likes of Dyson. It looks very much like some of Dyson's models with a modular modern design, finished in Vax's signature orange and silver.

Generally speaking the orange elements of the design identify the working parts, so the buttons and switches are finished in orange, as well as the brush, the central cyclone unit and things like the cable stay and hose connector.

To save space the handle is adjustable, meaning you can stow it easily under the stairs or in a cupboard, and then extend it in use. It has eight height settings, so should cater for a range of users although we did find in vigorous action it did sometimes change positions. At its most compact it is 96cm tall; fully extended it is 112cm.

The cable is 6 metres which we found to be too short to roam from room to room cleaning. We would have liked a few more metres to save the number of times we had to move the plug around.

Switch on and you'll immediately appreciate the cleaning power on offer here. The Vax Mach Air rivalled our regular Dyson in terms of performance, coping easily with carpeted floors. There is a neat option for hard floors; press a button and the brush stops spinning, which is great for just using the suction to pickup dust and dirt, without flicking it across the floor.

The extendable handle can be released from the body for attachment to cleaning tools. Once the handle is removed, the hose has to be detached from the bottom of the Mach Air and clipped onto the handle. It is simple, although you will have to reach down and disconnect it, so you'll be scrabbling around the bottom of the vacuum cleaner to do this.

The hose unfortunately is not really long enough for the job, only giving you a few metres at full stretch, so it can't really cope with carpeted stairs, which is where the Vax Mach Air comes unstuck. It might be light, but it doesn’t really have the range for cleaning a staircase without moving the thing halfway through. A three-way cleaning tool clips to the back, offering the usual brushes and nozzles.

The capacity of the chamber is 1.5 litres which fits the compact nature of the Mach Air, but we found it needed emptying to complete a clean of a two-bedroom fully-carpeted house. Emptying is fairly easy, you simply detach the chamber from the main body and depress the catch on the bottom which lets the contents out. It is a two-handed job however.

You also get easy access to the filters for cleaning and the Mac Air is a HEPA certified device. You can also easily open the covers to clean the brush and there is a safety feature which cuts off the brush in the case of an obstruction to stop things getting damaged. A small red reset button lets you re-commission the brush once you've cleared the offending article (in our case a USB stick on a lanyard).

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Verdict:

The Vax Mach Air is easy to move around thanks to its light weight and compact dimensions. On occasions it does feel a little unsteady, with the two rear wheels being close together, but overall we found it easy to get around furniture and under edges. Being able to switch off the brush is also of great benefit.

The mechanical process of moving the hose to use the tools might not suit those with limited mobility, as you'll have to reach right down to ground level to use it and the two-handed emptying process could be made easier.

Overall though, if you are short on space but don't want to compromise on suck, then the Vax Mach Air is an impressive cleaner and will get pretty much anything out of your carpets.

Tags: Home And Kitchen Vacuum cleaners Vax Vax Mach Air

Vax Mach Air vacuum cleaner originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:32:56 +0000

Back at Mobile World Congress 2009 Sony Ericsson introduced us to the concept of Entertainment Unlimited, typified here by the Aino. The phone drops to the Walkman and Cyber-shot branding, but punches hard in both the camera and multimedia sectors, including Remote Play on the PlayStation 3.

Out of the box you get a slider handset measuring 104.0 x 50.0 x 15.5mm. You'll find a 3-inch widescreen display with a 432 x 240 pixel resolution. The screen is touch-enabled, but the Aino is a hybrid device, meaning sometimes you can touch and sometimes you can't, which we'll come to later.

The design of the phone is pretty sleek: the front is free from buttons with the screen closed and moving around the body the only other buttons are the lock on the top and the volume rocker and camera button on the right-hand side.

Slide the screen up and it opens with a nice crisp action, exposing the 12-key keypad and usual range of control buttons across the middle. The keyboard is pretty average for Sony Ericsson's handsets, giving a reasonable response, but not the best for fast action messaging. It does feel like a good quality keyboard and feels like it will last the length of your contract. Our review version was finished in black throughout and it looks like a cool phone overall.

The menu system is typical Sony Ericsson stuff, with a main menu divided into icons giving you access to all the main areas. It is looking a little tired, as essentially the layout and content of these menus hasn't changed over the years, it's just expanded. With Apps now taking centre stage on many phones, Sony Ericsson still has "Applications" languishing in "Organiser".

You get the feeling that things are no longer cohesive: you have Entertainment, Media, Music Player menus, but they don't contain all the options for media control. The main media menu employs Sony's XMB, which is great to use and mirrors the PSP and PS3 layout.

You also get a separate media interface that is operated by touch control when the phone is closed. This is the only time that the Aino does accept touch however (except to take incoming calls and set camera controls), and gives you access to the camera, photos, music, video and radio. Sadly, this touch menu has its own design, dropping the XMB, but it does give you access to media without opening the phone.

It is a shame that you can't do more via touch. Whilst being able to access your media and use the camera is nice, it seems like a missed opportunity not letting you browse your messages for example.

Our Aino came with an 8GB microSD card in place, so it is ready and willing to get funky with all your tunes on the move. It is perhaps a surprise to find that the Aino doesn’t feature a 3.5mm headphone jack given that it is pitched squarely as a multimedia beast. But our rage was thwarted by the inclusion of the MH100 Bluetooth adapter, meaning you can simply plug your headphones into the Bluetooth dongle and stash your phone in your pocket. The MH100 even gives you volume controls, play/pause and track skip functions and a mic for when you need to make a call.

The bundled headphones can be bettered if you have a decent set of your own, which will really get the most out of your music, but the bundled set aren't too bad. Taking things a step further you also get a neat dock to sit both the handset and the MH100 on, meaning you can charge and sync your phone with your PC with minimal hassle.

One of the big headline features in the Aino is the PS3 connection. In reality it isn't that exciting and isn't very reliable as you are given little guidance for configuration. However, once you have made your connection you can connect over 3G or Wi-Fi. You don't get to remote play games, but you can access content on your PS3, if you have any, or drive PlayTV whilst you are away from home.

You can also connect up to UPnP servers to play music over a network, if you have such a service available. The handset is DNLA certified and also supports BBC iPlayer, so you can download programmes you've missed and watch them on the train, or stream them.

The second big headline feature of the Aino is an 8-megapixel camera. But hold your horses and remember that 8 is just a number and not a gauge of performance. In fact, the 8-megapixel sensor here inhibits the performance terribly.

The camera interface is fairly clean, with controls selected through on-screen options. You can capture an image either through the button, or by pressing the screen, which in reality is a bit of a pain, as the slightest touch and you'll be taking a picture of something you didn't want.

Writing a full-resolution file to the memory card takes about 10 seconds, so this is time you'll just be sitting and waiting. Better performance is offered by turning the thing down to a more reasonable 3-megapixels, which will save you standing around for such a long time waiting, at least. Unless you have perfect lighting and a perfectly still subject, it isn't worth using the full resolution anyway as there is a lack of detail to offer opportunities for large scale prints or cropping, so best to stick with something more manageable.

The camera suffers not only lag on buffering, but also in the shutter, with noticeable delay. The shutter speeds are often slow, even with the LED "flash", so any movement in low light, or even average lit indoors scenes, result in blur and high contrast scenes attract a great deal of fringing around edges.

Video is offered at a top setting of 640 x 352, giving you a widescreen aspect, or 640 x 480 for 4:3, captured in MPEG4. The results aren't too bad, but there is a noticeable lag on the display when filming. It captures at 25fps, so copes with moving subjects better than some but low light shots can be very noisy. Given the phones media "sharing" angle, we'd have expected a higher video resolution, but as it is it performs well enough.

In terms of data you get HSDPA and Wi-Fi, so you can enjoy the rich media experience whilst on the move or at home. There is a GPS too with Google Maps doing the usual business. The browser does leave you wanting however, so if browsing the Internet is high on your list of priorities, you might want to look elsewhere.

The Aino doesn't really step to the plate against smartphones. It doesn't give you access to thousands of applications to further expand what the phone will do. You do get a Facebook app pre-installed, with Facebook links appearing in photos and messages for example, and a homescreen status update "widget" that although nice, took about 3 days before it would show us any info.

We also found that the battery life was surprisingly poor for a slider handset. We found ourselves charging it every day during testing.

Verdict:

The Sony Ericsson Aino offers features galore, but fails to wrap them into a package that really wows. There is a lot on offer here, but you feel like you have to work for it at times, finding the best route to get to the content you want. The link to the PS3 is a nice addition, but doesn't feel like a reason to buy the phone.

The same can be said for the 8-megapixel camera offering. It is just a number and comes with limitations not found on your compact camera, so don't choose the Aino because you think it will replace your compact camera – it won't.

The Sony Ericsson is something of a premium handset too, because it comes in a quite a price, comparable with smartphone rivals, which will ultimately offer greater flexibility and a better user interface.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Sony Ericsson Sony Ericsson Aino 8 megapixels PS3

Sony Ericsson U10i Aino mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:35:02 +0000

Toshiba’s Satellite U500-178 is a highly portable laptop that’s great for either home use or a life on the move. With a 13.3-inch screen, it’s small enough to slip into most laptop bags, yet also packs in a powerful Nvidia GeForce G 210M graphics card.

The screen offers impressive colour reproduction, and the 1280 x 800 pixel resolution also provides sharp images. Unlike most of the Toshiba’s rivals, it’s not a 16:9 widescreen panel, so isn’t quite so ideally suited to movie playback, but those using spreadsheets will appreciate the extra height. The glossy finish won’t suit all users, but reflections aren’t too problematic unless you’re working in direct sunlight.

The U500 features a compact and attractive design, using textured plastics to good effect. Our review sample featured a distinctive dark brown finish, and quality throughout was very impressive. All of the plastics are tough enough for daily use and, although the weight of just over 2kg isn’t the lightest we’ve seen on a machine of this size, it’s easily light enough for the commute.

The keyboard offers excellent levels of comfort, with large and responsive keys. It’s let down by a spongy typing action, however, with the board flexing under pressure. Backlighting on our range-topping sample makes up for this slightly, making it easy to work in any lighting conditions.

Despite the compact footprint, this is a machine you’ll be able to use for any task – from video editing to playing the latest games. The powerful Nvidia GeForce graphics card can draw upon 512MB of dedicated video memory, with everyday performance further boosted by the inclusion of 4GB of system memory. Helping to offer value for money, a speedy 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 processor provides quick responses, and helps the system to run smoothly at all times.

Networking features are comprehensive, including 802.11n Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth. Unfortunately, 3G/HSDPA isn’t an option, which may be an issue for those wanting to work on the move. On the left-hand side of the chassis, there are two USB ports and an ExpressCard slot.

There’s a further USB/eSATA port on the right-hand side, supporting Toshiba’s USB Sleep-and-Charge technology. Letting you charge other devices – such as your iPod or mobile phone, even when the laptop isn’t turned on, it’s a feature we’re quite fond of. Most popular memory card formats are supported, via a 5-in-1 card reader. An HDMI port rounds off the specification.

Verdict:

Although the quality of the keyboard lets it down, the Toshiba Satellite U500-178 is a great machine for those wanting to combine their desktop PC and laptop. It’s easily small enough to take to work with you each day, yet provides outstanding office and multimedia performance. A great all-rounder, and well worth a look.

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Related links:

• Photos - Toshiba Satellite U500

Tags: Hardware Laptops Toshiba Toshiba Satellite U500

Toshiba Satellite U500-178 notebook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:41:32 +0000

When Google released its first Google phone with T-Mobile in 2008 the industry had high hopes. Here was an open source platform that would change the face of the industry and give Microsoft, Apple and anyone else who happened to be interested, a run for their money.

The problem was, that while the concept was there, the execution was poor. The G1 was a dog of a handset with a poor design and while sporting a promising interface, was lacking in many ways.?Here at Pocket-lint we gave it a 5/10 citing the handset as a "not consumer ready device" and one that you should steer clear of:

"Our suggestion would be to wait 6 months to a year and by then you'll have so many handset choices (perhaps even the Touch HD) that will offer a far better, sexier, more consumer focused, offering that this will be old news and look, well, rather crap. A great OS let down by a shoddy handset design."

And guess what? 6 months down the line we started to get those far better handset choices in the guise of the HTC Hero and Samsung i7500. Now a year to the day since we posted our G1 review, has Android, Motorola and Verizon brought a handset to market that is any better? Read on to find out.

As a quick background, it's worth pointing out that this handset has been created by three parties, all hoping to get something out of the deal. Motorola has built the hardware, which we will come to in a moment, Google provides the interface and Verizon the network.

Motorola or Verizon have, it seems, been allowed to interfere with the software implementation. There is no Motoblur, no operator bloatware and certainly nothing that isn't Google.

Motorola might have been "allowed" to slap a user interface on the CLIQ (DEXT in the UK) but here, they haven't even been allowed so much as nuance. Its job has been hardware, and hardware alone. Even the name, Droid, is going to be used by Verizon to create a family of handsets from a range of manufacturers.?Motorola is very much an OEM player in this threesome.

Sporting all the exciting features that you would expect (more in a moment) all of these features have been shoehorned into a handset that is surprisingly compact, but distinctively retro in its appeal. While the iPhone and iPhone 3GS is all about curves, the Droid by Motorola is about angles. It's not dainty by any stretch of the imagination.

Slightly thicker than the iPhone, it is weighty in the hand and comfortable in the pocket. It's not small, but its not HTC HD2 massive either.

Rather than opt for a white or silver, it's black and "brown sugar". That "brown sugar" will come across as "bling gold" though, and it's the first time we've seen gold on a phone that wasn't attempting to charge us thousands for the privilege. We're sorry to say that it's a bit too ostentatious for our liking. Luckily it's really only kept to three small details: the speaker grill on the rear, the d-pad on the front and the dedicated camera button.

There is a reason it has been called the Droid: the design, like a robot, has no emotion.

So what have they put inside? The key tech specs include a massive 3.7-inch screen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Android 2.0 and a processor fast enough (550MHz) to power it all. Storage is offered by a 16GB microSD card that comes pre-installed (not hot swappable) and there is of course the usual bevy of connectivity technology such as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Quad-Band and, because of Verizon, CDMA.

There is a 3.5mm jack and speaker for the music savvy and a small green light that flashes when you've got a message or alert of some sort. You can turn it off, but it will keep the BlackBerry switchers happy.

Gaming-wise the processor is powerful enough to cope and with built-in Open GL support for the games we played (Robo Defence amongst others). With only 256MB of available memory for apps, the move could limit what games (i.e., high octane graphic-filled) will work. It will certainly make developers lives harder.

On the camera front you get a 5-megapixel camera with the ability to capture video at DVD quality up to 24fps and zoom in 4x via a digital zoom. There is a dual LED flash and it features automatic focus.

Within the camera application itself, which is turned on by pressing the dedicated button on the side of the handset, you have some control over the way the camera acts. There is of course the usual still and video modes and a quick access point to the photo galleries. There is also the ability to change the settings of your images like White Balance, Scene mode, Flash mode, Color effect, Store location, Picture size, Picture quality and Focus Mode.?Scenes offered include Portrait, Night, and the like but there is no Macro.

In use and the camera struggled to autofocus on our subjects. You get a warning and the ability to take an image still, but what's the point if it's blurry? This is a nice addition rather than a reason to buy just like most phones that aren't camera focused. Dedicated compact cameras don't have too much to worry about just yet.

Then there is the slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Used landscape it instantly reminds us of the HTC Touch Pro from 2008. The keys are arranged across four rows and lay flat. You'll either love or loathe this as it doesn't give you any indication of where you are on the keyboard - one of the key reasons for going QWERTY over touch. Next to the keyboard there is an overly-large d-pad.

Of course you don't really have to ever slide-out the keyboard as the phone's 3.7-inch touchscreen combined with Android's landscape and portrait keyboards, don't need you to. The screen is bright and as crisp as any other screen in the market that isn't OLED. Beneath the screen are four quick shortcut keys: back, menu, home and search and they get you to where you want to go quickly. All are touch-sensitive and all are built into the glass screen so it's a continuation, like the BlackBerry Storm 2, rather than four separate buttons.

Physical buttons, aside from the hidden keyboard, are kept to a minimum: dedicated camera, volume and lock. Even though it has a QWERTY keyboard, those keys are really just for that. There is no "Mail" key or five ways of accessing the home screen as can found on your average Nokia.

Power it on and the fun starts. Someone, somewhere, clearly has a sense of humour. While the notion of a HAL-esque eye looking out at me sends shivers down my spine every time I've booted the system, the fact that is plays an audio clip that says "Droid" in a robot accent does make you giggle. Expect yourself, if you sign up for this handset, to be boring you friends for days, if not weeks.

If you've used Android before you will know what to expect. As we said at the beginning, this is very much a Google experience. There are no tricks, no Sense UI elements, no Motoblur. You get a desktop, and the slide-out draw for your applications and that's it.

Sporting Android 2.0 there are a number of new features that have been added to the mix to justify getting this over the HTC Hero - for the time-being (HTC have confirmed 2.0 will be coming to the Hero). The OS is quick and nippy in use.

Android 2.0 offers more functionality improvements over 1.6, rather than visual flair or excitement in the same way that perhaps Apple concentrates on. But it's the little things that can soon add up to make it better than the sum of its parts.

One of those is the ability to mute the handset with a swipe of your finger before unlocking it. The other is the search box that like the Palm Pre and iPhone allows you to search the phone, and its data straight away. Where it beats the iPhone is that it automatically starts searching the web for you, integrating those results into the mix as well.

Among the improvements will be email and contact syncing with multiple?accounts from multiple sources, Exchange sync support, a combined inbox for those multiple email accounts, better calendar, improvements in address book UI, loads of camera improvements including flash, digital zoom and a macro mode, a better virtual keyboard, improved graphics, three-point multi-touch, a better browser and Bluetooth 2.1.

Setting up email was (almost) straightforward. Gmail users will be able to punch in their username and password, while Google Apps users will have to make sure they are running all the right software on their domain. We had to enable Google Talk (Chat) before it would allow us to sign in to the service - cunning.

If you are a Google Apps user it will automatically sync everything to the phone. Contacts, Calendar dates, the lot. It's very pain free, In fact the most pain-free install we've ever experienced. Multiple calendars, multiple contacts, and over 10,000 emails accessible in about 60 seconds. This is very much the essence of Android for those already in the Google system.

As for browsing the phone as you covered too. It's not iPhone easy yet, but there are lots of impressive new features. The main one is that when you load up a page you get a full "desktop" view of the page you are looking at. Double tapping zooms you in to the page, but frustratingly there is no pinch zoom or multi-touch support. We aren't sure why as it's on the HTC Hero and the lack of it makes the browser harder to use. You do get zoom buttons, but they aren't the same.

We also noticed some strange page layout issues with the browser (see picture) that while not impeding your browsing experience completely, isn't how those pages were designed.?YouTube videos are playable and loaded into the handset's media player. It's a painless experience.

One of the biggest elements to gain excitement on the launch of the Droid by Motorola and Android 2.0 was the introduction of Google Maps Navigation. Currently only available on the Droid, it brings true turn-based GPS to the phone for free.

The new offering aims to take on the GPS hardcore from TomTom and Garmin by offering a fully-functional GPS device in your phone. Users can speak their directions to the handset rather than having to type them in and access maps and Points of Interest via the "cloud", suggesting mapping updates and new features needed to be downloaded will be a thing of the past.

In practice and it's as good as it sounds. Telling a phone to "Navigate" to a destination is very Start Trek.?Feeling peckish, our first request was to "Navigate to pizza in Hoboken". After it analysed our dulcet tones, it then offered us a number of pizza restaurants in Hoboken with the option to click on one to give us directions. No multiple menu systems, no working out where they were - just a phrase and off we go.

While the system waits for the GPS to kick in you get a run through of the route and then there are a series of different views you can catch including 2D, 3D, and Street View. You can also overlay layers on to the maps such as live traffic (where supported), Satellite, and Points of Interest like ATMs, Gas Stations and Car Parks.

The software does take some getting used to, we struggled at first, and it doesn't seem to be as intuitive from the outset as TomTom or Garmin. It lacks that experience of helping people out get from A to B, like easily finding recent destinations. There also is valueable information that is missing from the "dashboard", like estimated time of arrival, the ability to block roads, and other niceties that you just expect from even the cheapest PNDs. The voice is pretty ropey as well, and of course, you are dependent on downloading your maps too.

The performance is good, but Google has a long way before the dedicated manufacturers should really start the firesale.?This is a free GPS solution and therefore one that isn't to be sniffed at, just don't expect to ditch your dedicated device just yet.

Being the most advanced Android handset on the block currently has its benefits, mainly that you have full access to virtually all of the apps in the Android Marketplace. While our recent review of the HTC Tattoo found that there is currently plenty missing from the lower end phones, this didn't seem to be the case here.?

So you've got your new phone, it's a funky new shape and there isn't the massive eco system. While the Droid doesn't come with speaker docks and cases, Verizon is offering two accessories that make perfect sense. The first is a docking station for your nightstand, the second is a windscreen cradle so you can use the Google Maps Navigation. Both cost $30 and really are just cleverly designed bits of plastic with magnets in the right place to activate software on the phone - hence the cheap price.

The docking cradle loads a dashboard style interface that lets the phone become a glorified alarm clock. It works too. You get a big clock, the weather, access to your music and photos as well as the ability to dim the light so you can sleep. There is also a quick button to the alarm settings. We really like it. It's a neat idea first seen on the BlackBerry Bold and one that is welcomed here. The car mount does a similar thing and loads the navigation interface. It doesn't however go the one step further - like the TomTom for iPhone cradle - and boost the GPS signal, but Google has confirmed to us that it would be possible within Android to do it if a manufacturer wanted to.

Verdict:

It's the question that everyone will ask, so we might as well get it out of the way now - is this an iPhone or HTC Hero killer? And the answer is no.

Where the Droid by Motorola or Motorola Droid, as it will no doubt be known, succeeds is that it offers you a state of the art experience of Android 2.0 on a network that has flawless telephone reception across the country. Against the iPhone, which is a multimedia internet device first and a telephone second, that will be a deal clincher for many.

In tests around New York, a notorious AT&T blackspot, the Droid outperformed the iPhone when it came to network connectivity every time.?Get past the small detail of making phone calls and there are some really nice features here. The docking station, the ease of setup and the sheer list of tech specs make this no slouch.

But there are issues. The QWERTY keyboard isn't that great, no multi-touch in browsing is frustrating, and the Google Maps offering is close but not quite there yet.

In fact the best way to think of this handset is the true sequel to the T-Mobile G1. For some, especially those who don't like the idea of their OS being meddled with (a la the Sense UI) this will be their calling. To others looking for that graphical eye candy you won't get it here.

This is a fantastic phone, but would we personally choose it over the Hero? Not if the Hero, as suggested by HTC, will be getting Android 2.0.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Motorola Verizon Google Motorola Droid Android

Droid by Motorola mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:09:29 +0000

Valve is widely regarded as one of the best videogame developers active today. As creators of Half-life, Half-life 2, and Left 4 Dead, and buying up the mod teams responsible for Portal, Counterstrike, Team Fortress and Day of Defeat, the company has established itself a firm place in the pantheon of game creators, as well as in the hearts of gamers.

Valve launched its co-operative zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead, to a rapturous reception in late 2008. Gamers loved its balance, the way the game adapted to good or poor performance from the players, and its visceral combat. However, earlier this year, Valve pulled out a surprise - a prequel, less than a year after the original was released.

While many gamers welcomed the news, a minority were incensed. Why was Valve building another full-price game, when this was content that could have been put into a cheaper expansion? Or free downloadable content for the original? A full-scale boycott was called, with Valve eventually quelling the riots by flying out the leaders of the boycott to their offices to play the game.

It's not clear what happened to those kids in Valve's HQ, but they returned with smiles on their faces, gushing about how incredible the prequel was. Despite initial disbelief from their followers, eventually the mob subsided - trusting Valve to get things right. But was their trust misplaced? Is Left 4 Dead 2 more of the same, or a genuinely different title worth shelling out the extra cash for? Read on to find out.

Left 4 Dead 2 has a totally different setting to its predecessor. The original game was set all over the place - airports, farms, hospitals, and towns. L4D2, on the other hand, is set firmly in the Deep South, in the swamps of Georgia and Louisiana. We were able to get hands-on with a couple of levels of one of the campaigns - The Parish, which takes place in New Orleans - on both the Xbox 360 (including some co-op action) and the PC.

The environments seem to be better constructed than the original's. There are multiple routes to wherever you're trying to go, and you'll uncover extra rewards by exploring rather than hurtling full-pelt towards the exit. More difficult paths will be rewarded with better equipment, including new ammo types. Also of note is that there's now daytime settings - torches aren't as compulsory as they were in the first game.

As well as a different setting, there is a whole new set of "Survivors" who you can play as. There's Rochelle, a news reporter for a TV station, Coach, a high-school football coach who bears somewhat of a resemblance to Uncle Phil from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ellis, a white-trash mechanic, and Nick, a professional gambler and con-man who mistrusts the other survivors totally.

One of the delights of the original game was the banter between characters that matched the situation you were in. That system has been expanded considerably, and your avatars - when not in the middle of combat - will joke, argue and snipe at each other with an alarmingly realistic uneasy tension.

But the real stars are the new zombies. In addition to the original game's cast of Hunter, Boomer, Smoker, Witch and Tank, there's now the Spitter, the Jockey and the Charger. The Spitter is a long-range attacker who shoots acidic phlegm that splatters over an area and hurts anyone standing in it. Not good when half your team are lying incapacitated on the floor.

The Jockey a tiny, dwarf-sized creature that skitters around emitting a horrible giggle. If it manages to leap on you, then you lose all control of your character - it takes over and steers you around - into traps and hordes of common infected. Lastly, the Charger is a mini-tank that moves very quickly, knocking you down, and can grab a survivor and slam them into the ground.

On their own, they're relatively trivial to deal with. But the problem is that they come in groups. A hunter might pounce on one survivor, while a charger grabs another, before a spitter then covers the ground with acid so that the other team members can't reach their buddies.

The regular infected have had a graphical upgrade too, and location-based damage has been added. If you shoot off an arm or a leg, that zombie's going to still be coming at you. Headshots are imperative, and when a particular infected goes down, you're never totally sure that they're not going to get up again.

As a result, battles seem considerably more intense. Instead of staying back and keeping the hordes at bay with assault rifles, it's now difficult not to get drawn into a scrabbly melee that you only just survive every time - and sometimes you don't survive at all. But it never stops being fun, even after the fifth or sixth attempt. The stories where you don't make it are almost more fun than the ones where you do.

Thankfully, the survivors get a few new tricks. There's the aforementioned ammunition types - incendiary rounds can set zombies on fire, and explosive rounds deal more damage. You can also pick up Boomer bile to throw on enemies (very useful against the tank) and resurrect fallen survivors with the defibrillator.

There's also a much wider range of weapons. AK-47s, scoped assault rifles, Uzis, silenced submachine guns and Desert Eagle pistols are available on the ranged front, and a whole pile of melee weapons can replace your pistol. Those deal considerable damage up close and include saucepans, baseball bats, machetes, and even, quite ridiculously, a guitar.

Verdict:

But, despite all the changes detailed above, Left 4 Dead 2 is still the same game as Left 4 Dead 1. There's piles of new content - weapons, enemies, levels, survivors, but if you didn't enjoy the first version then you'll almost certainly not enjoy the new one.

That said, it seems like everything that was great about the original (the characters, the pace of play) has been enhanced, and a few of the little niggles (like being able to stand in a corner meleeing and survive anything) have been removed. It's most definitely a better game than the already-excellent original.

It'd be even better if the two games were merged somewhat and you could get the original's maps with the new zombies and weapons, or the original characters in situations with the new ones, but it seems like Valve wants to keep the experiences separate.

Is it worth a full game's price tag? From our play-throughs so far, we'd umm and ahh, and probably come out on the side of yes - but only just. It's clear that Valve hasn't rushed L4D2 - it's just been able to build quickly on the successes of the original to create an even better zombie-slaying game. There's a whole tonne of new content, and a more focused experience, but this doesn't seem, in our time with it so far, to be a revolution. Just a (very large) content pack.

Tags: Gaming Xbox 360 EA Left 4 Dead 2 Horror

Left 4 Dead 2 - Xbox 360 / PC - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:15:30 +0000

Charging must be this year's buzzword. We've seen increasing numbers of charging stations, docks and wireless solutions as the accessories manufacturers realise we are all walking around with a number of gadgets that need charging, and have a house full of chargers and cables.

The BlueLounge Refresh looks to keep things clean, by bringing all this charging under control. The premise is simple: combine all your device charging into one unit and power it from a single plug socket.

To achieve this, the Refresh has two major parts. The base is a hollow wedge-shaped box, with a DC input on the back and six cables on the inside. These internal cables give you 2x iPod/iPhone, Micro-USB, Mini-USB and two standard female USB connections.

The base itself is constructed from plastic, but feels solid enough. It has rubber feet to give you a reasonably secure setting once it is sited on a desk. Inside a single green LED will confirm that it is connected to the power supply.

The second component of the Refresh is a rubberised black plastic plate that sits in the top of the base. This provides the platform on which your charging devices will sit, with the tactile finish providing enough friction to stop them sliding around. A cut-out section at the bottom of this plate allows the relevant cables to come through from the base to charge your selected devices.

It really is as simple as that. You plug it all in, select the correct cables for your chosen devices, place the top plate back on and connect your gadgets. Voila! You are charging without the usual tangle of wires.

The two female USB connections give you scope for selecting any other bespoke connections you need, for example if you have a phone that needs something different, you can simply connect the cable you'd normally use with your PC, bearing in mind that unless you have spare cables, you'll have to disconnect it to sync with your PC. It is also worth checking that your device will charge from USB and not just exchange data.

We tried a number of different devices, with three being a comfortable number given the space to rest them on the top plate. All the devices we tried charged without any problems, although potentially there is the chance that if you draw too much (by connecting too many devices) then some might not charge.

Once setup and sitting securely on a desk or table, the BlueLounge Refresh looks tidy enough. Pick it up and the spare cables inside will rattle around a bit and the top plate isn't held in place by anything other than gravity.

Verdict:

There is little to dislike about the BlueLounge Refresh. It looks smart enough and does the job it sets out to do. Once you have a charger of this type, you'll probably wonder how you lived with the mess beforehand.

It is expensive though, coming in at ?70, which sounds like a lot for a plastic box with six wires inside.

Tags: Gadgets Bluelounge Refresh Bluelounge Chargers USB gadgets

BlueLounge Refresh charging station originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:12:03 +0000

Director Michael Mann, he of Heat and Collateral glory, return for yet more tough guy hilarity with this old-school tale of guns, gals and gangsters

The ever-reliable Johnny Depp ventures into a dark era of modern American history, playing John Dillinger, a notorious 1930s criminal who led a wave of headline-grabbing bank robberies during the Great Depression. Cocky, connected and seemingly unstoppable, his success and penchant for escaping from prisons stands as an affront and embarrassment to the authorities.

Keen to take Dillinger and his cronies down, FBI chief J Edgar Hoover declares a War on Crime, appointing hotshot cop Melvin Purves (Christian Bale) head of a crack unit, tasking him with the job of bringing Dillinger to justice. Employing modern crime-fighting techniques, the case offers the newly formed FBI the chance to become recognised as a national power, and for both Purves and Dillinger their success requires the downfall of the other.

Though a hard man to pin down, Dillinger does have one link to the real world, his girlfriend Billie (Marion Cotillard), a feisty sort who has little fear of her other half’s lifestyle. Left behind while he’s on the run, Billie holds the key to Public Enemy No.1’s capture. With Dilliinger looking for that one big bank job that’ll fund their escape route from America, the race is on for Purves and his boys.

As with all of Mann’s work, there’s a reliance on simmering tension punctuated by violence, yet here the balance feels out of whack. Usually, the characters carry off the film, but here it all feels like the outlines haven’t been filled in. Depp is his usual charming self, which gives Dillinger some appeal, but beyond a cheeky smile and a few soundbites there’s little of interest. Bale fares even worse, his G-Man being nothing more than starchy template, what doesn’t help matters is Bale’s default setting, a stern, unflinching fa?ade that he tends to be sporting whichever role he takes.

More confusing is the film’s inability to decide what it wants to be – Public Enemies is supposedly based on a true story, and seems preoccupied with the historical details of the pursuit, yet plays it loose with actual events. The nature of his relationship with Billie deviates wildly from his real-life marriage – which is fair enough, but as it’s made a key aspect of the film it fudges the veracity.

Though hardly short on action, Public Enemies feels weirdly melodramatic - no matter where the plot turns, it always returns to the bond between the gangster and his moll, passing over the interest in crime-fighting methodology (with its subtext reference to the recent naughtiness of the US government) and the urban folklore the bank robbers inspired.

Verdict:

Undoubtedly suave, beautifully shot and smoothly put together, Public Enemies still weirdly fails to hit the spot. Blandly hollow, it lacks any feeling of depth, but mercifully, Mann’s trademark high-gloss style means it’s an affable enough journey to the end credits.

?

Rating: 15

Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard.

Directed by: Michael Mann

Extras: Commentary, featurettes

Tags: Home Cinema DVD

Public Enemies - DVD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

If I asked you to describe a mouse you would either tell me it's a small rodent or you would tell me it's an input device for a computer that has two click buttons and a scroll wheel.

The creation of the scroll wheel re-invented the way we interacted with computers. The wheel allows us to move quickly through long pages at the spin of a wheel. But its time in this world could be over if Apple has anything to do with it.

In steps the Magic Mouse (they lost the Mighty Mouse name in a trademark issue) professing to be the end all to your mousing issues, not that you realised you had any.

Rather than buttons or a scroll wheel to mess up the smooth lines, the Magic Mouse looks more like a pebble or one of those Philips "personal" massagers than your average mouse. A gloss white plastic moulded piece of plastic sits on a aluminium base: there are no buttons, no indents, no wires.

In reality there are two buttons - left and right click - while the scroll is done by touch.?That's right - the technology found in the trackpads for the MacBook and MacBook Pro line has found its way into the mouse so you can flick your way down pages.

The concept is simple and the execution for downward scrolling incredibly simplistic. Strangely your finger knows exactly what to do.

Not so easy is left to right scrolling. Here you have to use two fingers while somehow managing to hold the mouse underneath still. As the mouse isn't that heavy - the main weight comes from the two AA batteries - it's an awkward affair. Still if you can master it, you can scroll forward and backward through internet pages in Safari for example, which can be quite handy. ?

The mouse doesn't support rotating, or other features at the moment, but that might change with later software updates, who knows?

What do you get though, is plenty of control options within the mouse management software. Not only can you adjust the tracking, but the scrolling and double click speed, you also get to determine whether the scroll comes with momentum or not.

Back to the hardware, and rather than opt for a wired option that would take away from the "magic" Apple has opted for Bluetooth to connect the mouse to your Mac. With all Macs now shipping with the wireless technology you shouldn't have any issues to connecting to your computer. Apple say you'll get around 4 months battery life from the two AA batteries hidden inside, we aren't going to wait 4 months to test it out, but that's comparable with other mice on the market.

Verdict:

So what's it like to use? Well so far so good, although it's by no means perfect. The lower than expected profile means that it won't sit comfortably in the palm of your hand like those made by Microsoft or Logitech and that for some will either be a good thing or a bad thing. We can see why Apple has done it - sweat. Anyone that gets hot hands knows that pressing it against a bit of plastic isn't that nice. Here you don't get that sweaty palm feeling which is nice. It also means that you feel like you are controlling something rather than the mouse becoming an extension of your arm - borg style.

While the laser sensor is very accurate and fast, the black strips on the underside seemed to grate on a desk or mousepad. It's not a massive complaint, but considering the smoothness of the flicking action from the touch controls we aren't 100% happy with it - maybe only 90% happy. We also suspect that it could pick up dirt quite quickly.

Worth the $77 or ?55? In short, no.

This is a nice idea and one we were very tempted by when we heard the news. While touch certainly is the future of the mouse, the Magic Mouse isn't that future just yet, well not unless all you are interested in is scrolling up and down with your finger.

Tags: Hardware Mice And Keyboards Mice Apple Magic Mouse

Apple Magic Mouse originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:38:45 +0000

The appliance brand has absolutely nothing to do with super cars, but is the Casa Bugatti kettle the Veyron of the kitchen or just another overpriced worktop ornament?

Kettles have been getting technical of late – rapid boiling elements, clever water saving devices, Brita filters to name a few – but the Casa Bugatti takes water boiling high tech. We’re talking digital water level readers, adjustable temperature settings, programmable timers and one of the slickest LED displays we’ve ever seen, on anything.

But let’s start with the design – according to the product blurb the 1.7 litre conical stainless steel body has been engineered to speed up the boiling process and reduce energy consumption by an eco-friendly 25%. Clever stuff, but the real action happens in the handle. Plug the kettle in and LEDs spark into life showing the time, how much water (in ml) and how hot the water is.

Yes people, this kettle has a full-on digital interface and it’s not just for show; the three buttons at the base of the handle let you to programme the kettle to boil as a specific time and select a temperature between 45 and 98?C to reduce unnecessary boiling when making herbal teas and instant coffee.

Programming is easy, if not a bit fiddly. If you’ve ever owned a digital watch or set a VCR you’ll know what we mean; lots of button pushing and menu searching but you get there in the end.

But can it boil water? Firstly, the elongated conical shape and small opening meant it was a tight fit getting under the tap, and those with smaller faucets might struggle. Secondly you can’t judge the water level inside until you’ve put the kettle back on the base and the LED gauge lights up. We love the idea of being given a digital readout but as the minimum level is 800ml, far more than your average cup, we can’t help but think the 25% energy saving design will be cancelled out by needless over-filling at the tap.

Gripes aside, we can’t argue with the Bugatti’s ability to boil. The 2.4kW concealed element is lightening fast and a (self measured) cup of water took less than 30sec to boil. We also loved watching the temperature level rise on the LED display.

We’re smitten with the design, how couldn’t you be? But like a trophy bride we’ve got a nasty feeling the novelty will wear off, long after the credit card bill comes in.

Verdict:

The Casa Bugatti Kettle is a step-up in class from any other kettle available. It has "design classic" stamped all over it but is it really worth ?185?

It’s far and away the most drool-worthy hi-tech and downright desirable kettle we’ve ever seen and the Pocket-lint worktop is looking depressing without it, but having lived with it for a week we’re sadly not convinced.

It looks fantastic, and we challenge anyone not to be impressed with the LED handle and flashing gizmos, especially the programmable timer, but as an everyday appliance it’s just not practical enough. Yes, we know practical is boring, but when you can’t tell how much water is inside and resort to filling it up with a measuring jug to avoid scratching it and the tap we think even die-hard fashionistas would have to admit defeat.

Tags: Home And Kitchen Kitchen gadgets Kettles Casa Bugatti Casa Bugatti Vera

Casa Bugatti Vera Kettle originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:07:29 +0000

INQ caused something of a wave when it dropped its INQ1 handset into the mobile phone pond last year. Taking an approach that focused on software, the INQ1 was one of the first devices to offer out-of-the-box access to social networks and online services, fitting closely with 3's move towards offering the likes of Skype on their handsets.

The mobile phone world has changed significantly in the last 6 months and some might credit INQ for ushering in this change: we now have the likes of Motorola's Motoblur and HTC's Sense UI picking up your social networks and delivering an enhanced connected experience, but at a much higher price than INQ.

The INQ Mini itself is a compact candybar handset, measuring 102.9 x 45.8 x 12.8mm, small enough to slip into any pocket and at 128g, it is pretty light too. At first glance it looks like a number of entry-level devices from the likes of Sony Ericsson or Nokia, with a 12-key keypad, a central bad on control keys and a 2.2-inch display above. The display is 240 x 320 pixels, a typical resolution for entry-level devices.

Buttons are kept to a minimum around the body: on the right-hand side you'll find a camera button and a shortcut button that will take you to the Switcher banner, containing instant access to apps or websites. A volume rocker sits on the left-hand side.

The top of the devices sees the Mini-USB connection next to a small catch to release the back cover, which comes in red, but can be swapped out for a number of other colour options available separately. Ominously missing here is a 3.5mm jack, so you'll be left using the bundled headset unless you go for a Bluetooth option.

The bundled headset is of the hard plastic earbud variety which doesn't do your music justice. We've questioned many manufacturer's decisions in the past to omit a standard headphone jack, and with the INQ Mini pitching straight to the youth market, it seems almost criminal here.

Around the back of the phone is a 2.0-megapixel camera, which is an average performer and nothing more. It is fine for candid shots and sharing on the phone, but lacks the quality for prints. Images lack detail, the colour is poor and fringing is abundant around high contrast areas. Video capture is also offered, at a miserable 176 x 144px at 10fps, which is fine for sharing on a phone, but lacks the quality these days for much else. Also sitting on the back is the external speaker, which is relatively good considering its size.

The keyboard itself is positive enough in use, although the tactile finish wasn't to our taste. It doesn't feel nice under your fingertips and is reminiscent of running your fingernails down a chalkboard, for those old enough to remember what a chalkboard is. For the most part it doesn't matter, but the placement of the two keys beneath the screen is too cramped, especially when you are frequently using these to selection on-screen options.

INQ could have given more space over to the controls if they shrunk the logo'd "ok" button in the centre of the four-way controller.

Based on the Brew OS, the INQ Mini 3G is really all about the interface. It doesn’t have the same luscious visuals as some of the latest releases, but that is partly due to the lower resolution screen and the need to keep the cost down.

Out of the box you have access to Twitter, Facebook, Skype and Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger, which for many will cover their major social networking bases. You also get the Gmail app, which runs reasonably well, and also provides access to your Google Contacts. The INQ Mini doesn't ask you to integrate your Google Contacts from the off, but you can then call people using your Google Contacts via the app if you wish.

Missing Google Contacts is a shame as it is a simple way to get all your contacts from one central place like you do on rival services. So to get a truly centralised Contacts book in the INQ you'll need to bring in your numbers, then make the connections with other networks, merging contacts into one form. From Contacts you can dive over to a Facebook profile or call via Skype or just use regular messaging.

The clever thing is being able to send Facebook messages direct from contacts as you would a text message, which for heavy Facebook users will save plenty of time. Equally, you'll get access to received Facebook messages via Messages. Messages pulls together your various communications nicely, without having to rely on the different apps.

The menu system is interestingly designed, giving you a nice bright look and feel. It can sometimes be a little sluggish, refusing to respond to button presses, which reconfirms the budget status of the phone.

Dive into the menu and all the usual suspects are here, so you get access to your applications (most of which you'll probably access through the shortcut Switcher), but you'll also find access to music, photos, videos, etc. Sadly there is no radio.

You'll want to take advantage of the microSD card slot hiding under the back cover to expand on the minimal internal memory, especially if you are looking to carry around any quantity of music.

Getting content on to your phone is a breeze too, thanks to some thoughtful inclusions on the INQ. Connect the phone to your PC and options open up allowing you to use your INQ Mini as a 3G modem for your PC on the move, sync, transfer files or use DoubleTwist to manage your media. Mac users are also catered for, which is a rare thing indeed.

You can also customise the homepage with a number of widgets, so you can have weather, or a Google or Yahoo search right from the off, without having to dive into the browser. The browser experience isn't great, constrained by the size of the screen and although it renders full web pages, it is slow to do so, preferring mobile versions instead.

In terms of hardware, as the name suggests this is a 3G device, giving you HSDPA connectivity, but you don't get any backup for that: there is no Wi-Fi to continue your browsing without drawing on the mobile phone connection. There is no GPS either, although Google Maps is included, offering triangulation location and easy map searches.

Battery life in practise is reasonable, although if you make a lot of calls you'll find the battery might not last you the day. We found that standby was better and we got a couple of days from it before we needed to be charging again.

Verdict:

There are things we don't like about the INQ Mini 3G when you stack it up against what larger devices are doing, but then when you compare it to some of the current offerings outside the "smartphone" category, it copes very well indeed.

Sure, you don't get all the hardware specs, but we like the OS and the way it integrates aspects of your digital life in an innovative way. It's becoming more common, but stacked against rival Symbian S40 devices, it's a breath of fresh air. We mention S40 devices because the INQ Mini 3G also comes in as good value for money: the handset is free on a ?15 a month tariff from 3, or ?59.99 on pay as you go.

For those who want a compact and affordable phone, which offers the integration of the major social networks, then the INQ Mini 3G is well worth a look. But do try the keyboard as we found this the most annoying aspect of the device.

Related links:

• Photos - INQ Mini 3G and INQ Chat 3G

Tags: Phones Mobile phones INQ Mini 3G Inq

INQ Mini 3G mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:24:37 +0000

The Wildcharge comes in the form of a slim black pad with silver conductive strips running along its surface and can either be picked up by itself or bundled with an optional adaptor depending on which device you’re primarily looking to use with it.

Skins are available for the Apple iPhone/touch and Blackberry Curve/Pearl and a range of additional adaptors are available for various other devices, along with a "PowerDisc" multi-adaptor solution that includes Mini- and Micro-USB along with attachments for most popular mobile phones.

You’ll need one of these skins/adaptors before you can use the Wildcharge, since there still needs to be a bridge between the power supplied by the pad and the power port on a handheld. In essence then, this is not so much a truly "wireless" charger as a way to bypass a simple cable.

With this in mind we can see the compartmentalised solutions on offer to Apple and BlackBerry owners as being far more appealing than connecting using a multi-adapter, and even though you can charge multiple devices at once using the pad we wonder how eager people will be to shell out for the necessary hardware in order to avoid plugging a phone in at the wall.

Setup and operation is very straightforward however, and a phone or other gadget is charged in the same way as it would be conventionally, and in about the same time. It really is as easy as placing a device down on the mat if you’re using a skin-solution, though the PowerDisc does involve fishing out the right adaptor and plugging this in manually.

The Wildcharge pad itself comes in at just under ?50, a multi-charger will set you back ?14.99 and dedicated "skins" start at ?22.99, though bundles are available for a significant saving. Still, it’ll be a simple assessment of cost versus benefit for most consumers and while gadget aficionados will no doubt laud the convenience of the WildCharge we’d question its appeal to the mass-market in its current guise.

Verdict:

The Wildcharge works well in an optimum environment and to an extent does what it says on the tin. There are conditions however, such as the fact that you have to employ a dedicated skin for Apple and BlackBerry devices or plugging a gadget in manually using a multi-charger, which kind of defeats the point. Those willing to shell out for what is ultimately a mild convenience should enjoy the benefits, but we can’t see it taking off quite yet.

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Tags: Gadgets Wildcharge Chargers Wireless Phones BlackBerry iPhone Phone chargers

Wildcharge wireless charger originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:34:40 +0000

The new EOS 7D is a fully redesigned EOS with high performance in mind so the new, extremely well-specified, EOS marks a step change for Canon's EOS models featuring an 18MP APS-C sized sensor and HD video to name two of the key features.

At first glance the EOS 7D seems to be like many other Canon EOS DSLRs with the familiar, slightly swooping top plate design and deeply recessed handgrip. The pentaprism housing hosts a useful pop-up flash unit and it is this that starts to mark the 7D out as being a little different from recent EOS models, such as the 5D Mark II, to which it is closely allied.

However, the 7D is a quite radical departure for the EOS marque, one designed to slot between the 50D and 5D Mark II and a not insignificant price tag of just shy of ?1700 may need some justifying for many tempted by its treats.

It is also a camera designed to help Canon pull back market share that competitors have been nibbling away at over recent months, to provide a professional level of control and performance within a body priced at the semi-professional level.

Headline changes are impressive, a new APS-C sized, 18MP CMOS sensor and 19 zone (all cross type) AF setup, which sports its own processor making AF accurate and blisteringly fast, particularly when tracking fast moving subjects.

8fps sequence shooting is very good indeed, the AF tracking across the frame proving no problem. However, slightly more challenging were subjects moving directly at the camera, which were less well handled.

However, given the camera is shooting at a class leading 18-megapixels at 8fps - for up to 126 JPEGs - that's not bad. Though to get that speed and buffer power, you'll need to use UDMA CF Type I/II storage.

This is key when shooting RAW; the buffer starts to bulge at 15-images but the camera's all new image engine, dual DIGIC 4 image processors, means that while the frame rate does drop as the buffers fills, it'll continue to shoot at around 3fps as the camera gulps down the huge, (up to) 30MB gobbets of RAW image data. Still, the only camera to compete with it in terms of speed is the 10fps professional-level EOS 1D Mark III.

You can fully customise the AF set-up; the AF points used for both camera orientations as well as the AF mode used can be changed or tweaked to how you want them; you can also build-in specific AF tweaks for specific lenses if required. The 7D’s AF makes use of the camera's accelerometers, which also provide data for the camera's rather natty built-in electronic spirit level system.

One caveat to the AF speed is when shooting in Live View, which has three focus modes of Live mode, Face AF Live mode and Quick mode. The latter is relatively fast, as you'd expect, but the other two settings are slower and of course when shooting in Live View, you have to factor in the time needed to get the mirror up and out of the way; then back again and between each exposure.

One of the best things about the 7D is its new, clear and bright viewfinder; the 7D is the first EOS offering a 100% field of view finder, at 1.0x magnification and it's probably the best APS-C DSLR viewfinder we've come across.

We particularly like the transmissive LCD used for a clever heads-up-display for framing and AF point selection indication, and it provides a comprehensive level of shooting data that helps make this finder a joy.

A 22mm eyepoint makes using the finder excellent when wearing spectacles, but only just, as the bottom extremes of the data information are only just visible. The large pentaprism “hump” denotes the camera from its older 50D sibling and hides the aforementioned pop-up Speedlite, a useful addition for those moments where a puff of flash can lift a backlit shot, say.

One disappointment centres on the otherwise superb 3-inch Clear View II LCD screen, with its 920k-pixel resolution. It is not articulated and while it features a wide 160-degree viewing angle (Canon has stripped away the air gap between the protective cover and liquid crystal found on previous iterations of such screens to improve contrast and reduce glare, which it does) reflections can still be an issue in bright conditions when using the screen at such oblique angles.

A magnesium alloy body has a suitably tactile covering, so holding the thing is reassuring and making it easy to hang on to in the rain –?while environmental seals ensure the camera is in no way compromised by such shooting conditions.

Wireless flash control means the 7D has another EOS first. It's the first EOS to have an integral Speedlite transmitter, allowing remote control of (up to) three groups of four flashguns - an impressive pro' level of performance at the price.

In terms of the physical controls, the most obvious thing is they are larger than on both the 50D and 5D Mark II, ideal for use wearing gloves in inclement weather and, now there's a dedicated switch for Live View and movie shooting with an integral Start/Stop button for recording. This marks a step change because at last the camera's movie mode is an integral camera system, part of the default kit and operations, as opposed to a seemingly add-on feature as on previous EOS models.

Otherwise, the layout is typically EOS, though the control dial lock and power switch have been separated; the on/off switch now nestles below the mode dial on the top plate, along with other adjustments, a much more logical - and welcome - handling enhancement.

A couple of new controls include a dedicated button to quickly change the selected image quality setting to RAW + JPEG and a new “Q” button, which activates an interactive display of your control options on the screen, which you can browse and select using the control dial, the multi-selector control and the Set button.

This is nice since those familiar with the physical controls of an EOS, and the menus, can carry on as before, while those less familiar to the camera (or EOS models, if trading up or across to the 7D) can still get at everything, quickly and simply and importantly, learn the controls and what they do as they go.

And it is here that we get even closer to the beating heart of the 7D since, despite all the new kit and the 1080p movie making frills, it still looks quite pricey. Yes, it has significant enhancement over the 50D, but the question is simply this: “Should I consider trading up to this model?”

If you looked at the 7D as an EOS 5D Mark II “lite”, it might not look good value. The APS-C format means there is a 1.6x field of view adjustment needed for any focal length you use compared with the full frame 5D Mark II. Although the additional depth of field control this provides, certainly where portrait or macro work is involved, and the extra leg it gives any telephoto optics or zooms, arguably outweighs this as a possible niggle, compared to the full frame 5D Mark II.

However, throw in the fact the 5D Mark II costs around ?1000 more, and you realise that much of your hard-earned cash would make a great fund towards more (or better) optics; it is certainly not as straight forward an equation as it might at first seem. So now consider this…

Compared to the ?4000 (body only) EOS1D Mark III, the Canon it most closely resembles in terms of speedy performance, say, and suddenly you get another complexion completely. You could buy two 7D bodies for the price of one 1D Mark III and have plenty of change over for another lens.

Okay, so you loose a couple frames per second continuous shooting compared with the 1D Mark III but then you gain a greater sensitivity range; ISO 100 to a boosted ISO 12,800. And you get Full HD movies (with stereo sound when using optional stereo microphones) plus a superb new viewfinder.

Also bear in mind, the build quality is on a par with the 1D Mark III but the camera control is (arguably) better than the more expensive Mark III sibling. Oh! And you'll have a spare back-up 7D body into the bargain.

Metering and exposure control are pretty faultless, a new Focus Colour Luminance system measuring (as the name suggests) focus, and colour and luminance across 63 zones, while switching between the four metering modes of evaluative, partial, centre-weighted average and spot metering, provide differing “looks” to the same scene, depending on where you meter in a scene. On balance, my preference was for centre-weighted average, which gave the best overall metering balance overall.

Detail and colour are excellent; shooting RAW+JPEG gave superb results though the auto WB setting left things looking a tad warm. Processing the RAWs (I shot RAW + JPEG throughout) using the supplied Canon Digital Photo Professional software was easy, even if said software is a tad slow, particularly when exporting the RAWs as JPEGs.

One of the most impressive aspects of the 7D is the low noise performance at higher ISOs. Shooting between ISO 100 and ISO 2000 was a delight, since noise is non-existent at the lower end of that scale and almost invisible at the higher end.

A series of ISO test images show the amount of detail retained up to ISO 2000 is good, above ISO 3200 details starts to drop away but noise is still well controlled. Above ISO 6400 and detail is stripped away making images seem rather fuzzy, which is a shame.

The dual DIGIC IV engine really struts its stuff in the 7D, but arguably overdoing it a bit at ISO 5000 to 12,800. Noise processing can be adjusted (as can much of the camera settings) to your preference.

The only other slight niggle is some purple and blue fringing on some high contrast subjects shooting using the cameras new EF-S 18-135mm IS zoom; in RAW you can process this away if needed, but the net effect otherwise, is to give a slight softness to the images in which the fringing is present and add another level of work to post shoot processing.

The EOS 7D is the third EOS to sport Full HD at 1920 x 1080-pixels after the 5D Mark II and EOS 500D. Shot at 29.97fps the 7D provides superbly smooth widescreen video with sound. Stereo sound can be recorded with optional stereo microphones that can plug straight into the camera. Clips up to a second shy of 30-minutes can be shot in HD, providing you use UDMA CF cards. Otherwise the longest clip possible is of a lowly, 5 seconds duration. You also get full manual control over shutter speeds and aperture settings during shooting, though focusing adjustment needs to be done manually.

The camera's custom control interface is another example of how this camera's handling has been enhanced. Here, a simple diagrammatic representation of the camera control layout is shown providing a fast ready reckoner of what button does what. Each camera control location has a highlight and a range of adjacent options to change the behaviours of the buttons or control in the display, and that makes sorting your preferred custom camera control very easy and provides an almost endless range of options.

I shot around 1300 images for this test and all of that on two charges of the LP-E6 battery pack. The last charge is still at 80%, checked from within the camera's menus system; after a full, 2 days of shooting, I still had 23% of power to spare on the first charge and that after plenty of reviewing on the screen, frequent Live View shooting and a modest amount of (built-in) flash photography. This is very impressive power performance indeed.

Verdict:

Well made, quickly intuitive to use, fleet-of-foot across most performance measures and able to produce stunning results, even at high sensitivity settings, all means the Canon EOS 7D is both a cleverly realised combination of professional specification and semi-professional pricing.

The EOS 5D Mark II is the step down model for those social photographers working on a tighter budget compared against the 1Ds Mark III, here, the EOS 7D provides the same job for sports or wildlife photographers compared with the EOS 1D Mark III.

The 1.6x APS-C field of view crop boosts your lens focal lengths, helping you help tuck your subject tight into the frame, while the smaller 18MP CMOS sensor (than the full frame chip in the EOS 5D Mark II) means it can be blisteringly fast too.

There's no compromise on image quality apart from (arguably) shooting above ISOs of 6400 and the purple fringing evident in some high contrast shots. The 7D might not be the natural substitute for those social photographers thinking of the 5D Mark II, but for those shooting sporty stuff or where longer focal lengths need to be considered for wildlife work, and you're on a tighter budget, the 7D makes a lot more sense than the EOS 1D Mk III. Looked at in that way, it also represents superb value for money as well.

Tags: Cameras DSLR cameras Canon Canon EOS 7D 18 megapixels

Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:52:20 +0000

So you've got an iPhone?(who hasn't) and you know that it's probably the worst device on the planet for actually lasting longer than a couple of hours without needing a charge.

In steps the Griffin Simplifi, an iPhone/iPod docking station that is designed for your desk rather than your night stand, the principle aim being to keep your Apple created device powered.

We say principle aim, because the Simplifi has more to it than just charging your favourite phone or MP3 player. Closer inspection actually reveals that the Simplifi is about "de-cluttering" your desk, well at least that's what the box says, so what is it exactly?

Put simply (get it) the Simplfi is a memory card reader, USB hub and iPod/iPhone docking station in one.

The square light grey solid lump of anodized aluminium and plastic sports two memory card slots at the front that support CompactFlash, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD, and xD formats. Around the back you get two USB ports as well as a power-in so those two USB ports can in turn power devices like portable hard drives or keyboards without complaining.

The top of that lump sports the iPhone/iPod dock and there are, as you would expect a series of different "cups" to fit the device you have.

As you might imagine there isn't much to the operation of the Simplifi. Power is provided via the included power adapter, while PC or Mac connectivity is via the included USB cable. ?

Memory cards are automatically accepted once you connect them and the same goes for the iPhone/iPod too. Transfer speeds are based on your memory card capabilities, but they will be fast enough for most.

Grumbles? It would have been nice to have included a USB socket around the front, and just two seems a bit stingy. The design would have allowed, albeit a bit cramped, more sockets to make this a "Real" hub of merit.?

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Verdict:

If you are short of space on your desk, need a memory card reader for your camera and looking to expand your USB options (the MacBook and MacBook Pro only come with two remember), this is as good a solution as any.

This is Griffin doing what they do best, creating simple and easy to use products that don't necessarily break the mould, but just work.?

We just wish there were more USB sockets.

Tags: Audio iPod docks iPod accessories iPhone Phones Griffin Griffin Simplifi Memory card readers

Griffin Simplifi dock originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:30:00 +0000

It’s easy to imagine that Sony has been hit harder than most by the current netbook explosion, with little point in paying a premium for high-end ultraportable machines when a netbook will suffice. The Sony VAIO VPC11Z1E/X-series aims to change this, proving far more portable than any laptop or netbook we’ve seen so far.

It’s even thinner and lighter than the company’s own miniscule VAIO P-series, although a lot more conventional in design. It measures just 16mm in depth, and weighs comfortably under 800g, and genuinely is a laptop you can put in your bag, take with you everywhere you go and forget it's there.

The 11.1-inch led-backlit screen is excellent, and every bit the equal of other similarly priced ultraportable laptops. The resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels results in sharp image quality, and colours are also vivid and true. With a screen coating that sits somewhere between matt and glossy, brightness levels are good, and reflections are also well suppressed when working outdoors.

The keyboard is tiny, but is surprisingly usable, even for those with larger hands and fingers. The keys themselves are also small, but it’s not problematic due to decent spacing between each one. The main issue is the amount of travel – or lack of – caused by the thin size of the laptop itself. It means the keys only move a fraction when typing – it’s not an issue once you get used to it – but it’s unlikely to suit all users.

The square touchpad is smaller than the one found on Sony’s VAIO W-series netbook, but it’s precise and responsive. Like the keys, the touchpad buttons are large enough for comfortable use, but are also restricted in movement.

Sony has used carbon fibre to help keep the weight as low as possible, distinguishing this machine from the netbooks it will inevitably be compared to. Quality is excellent, with a perfect fit and finish to all of the panels, with an attractive glossy carbon lid. It’s not a machine you’ll be able to throw in your bag without any protection, however, with the skinny chassis flexing more than most laptops or netbooks.

Those of you expecting to find a CULV processor at the heart of this machine will be disappointed as, like the VAIO P-series, Sony has stuck to an Intel Atom Z550 chip. That said, at 2GHz, it’s quicker than the current crop of netbooks – further helped by 2GB of memory and a 256GB solid state drive. Battery life is also decent – lasting for over 6 hours with the standard four-cell battery.

Unsurprisingly, you won’t find that many ports on the chassis. The two USB ports are located annoyingly close together on the left-hand side of the machine, there’s a VGA port but no HDMI, and a couple of card readers on the front supporting both Sony’s Memory card format and the more popular SD format.?

You’ll also find a half-sized Ethernet port, with the lower half dropping down when you want to connect an Ethernet cable. Because this lowers one side of the X-series slightly, there are a couple of little legs on the bottom of the machine, helping to keep it stable. Wireless connectivity on the range topping model is top-notch, with 802.11n Wi-Fi and a 3G/HSDPA adapter both built-in.

Verdict:

There’s no doubt about the amazing portability on offer from the Sony VAIO VPC11Z1E/X, but whether it’s worth the money will depend entirely how much you value that portability. Think of it as a Sony VAIO TT replacement – a high-end ultraportable for executives – and it’s an excellent little device. It’s difficult to escape the fact that it does the same job as many netbooks however, and although none can match it for wow-factor or quality, several can better it for battery life or performance.

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Related links:

• Photos - Sony Vaio X netbook

Tags: Hardware Laptops Netbooks Sony Sony VAIO VPC-X11Z1E/X

Sony VAIO VPC-X11Z1E/X notebook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:22:57 +0000

If you're a disorganised photographer then chances are you store your digital photos on your computer, back them up and then forget about them until someone says:

"Do you have a picture of a women on a bus in London eating a sandwich?"

Of course you do, but how the devil do you find it. In steps Adobe's Lightroom package that allows you to catalogue your photo collection and edit your photos without getting too "Photoshopy" and then print them or publish them to the Web.

Lightroom has been around for sometime, but with a new version, Lightroom 3, entering public beta, what can we look forward to in the new model, and should you start using it from today.

The first thing you should note is that this is very much a beta and Adobe is keen to express that. What that means is that there is no official support for the software and there are a number of features Adobe says are yet to come. It also means that you can't import your current Lightroom 2 catalogue into the software package just yet and that's probably not that much of a bad thing - you don't want all your metadata corrupting do you?

So for the purpose of our review we imported a number of images into the catalogue and ran the software side by side measuring the performance and keeping a close eye on the differences.

So what's new? Well one of the main things that isn't is the interface. While there were fairly large changes from Lightroom to Lightroom 2 in the look and feel of the package, here, the transition to Lightroom 3 is going to be minimal. For us that's a good thing. While not everything is perfect, we are happy with the structure of Lightroom and find it fairly easy to navigate around the package. The same can be said for Lightroom 3. The panels are all in the same place and apart from the odd new button or panel, everything is how you know it.

The main focus therefore has been on how the program works with your images and how you get them in.

The import window sees the biggest overhaul with a completely redesigned interface that is not only more in keeping with the design style of Lightroom, but also in functionality.

Split into three panels, you can select the source from the left, the target on the right and see the images you're importing in the middle, whether it's from a disk, drive or memory card. You now also get "Loupe" ie single image view and can choose to add, copy or move them into the catalogue. There is also the option to add metadata or keywords as before and save all those options so it's just a press of a single button the next time. If you aren't interested in any of that you can compact the import view to a single bar, which gets to work straight away. Overall it's a massive improvement and makes getting your images into the system quick and simple, especially in comparison to Lightroom 2.

Those familiar with Lightroom know that the package is split up into different zones; Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print, and Web.?

Library

New features to the Library include adding photo uploading services support so you can now upload images directly to flickr and the like. Within the beta you can only upload to flickr, although Adobe says that other galleries, presumably like their own Photoshop online service will be added.

The system works as a gateway to the service rather than just an uploader and that means you have control over what is online, what isn't and the ability to sync it with comments for example.

Interestingly you can also create a synced folder that doesn't have to be online but on a network drive or even your iPhone. With the system you can then sync photos to and from that device. It's easy and if you are transferring images on an external hard drive it's a good way to "check-in" and "check out" images from your catalogue.

Elsewhere multiple info views have been added to the Loupe view, there is the ability to auto sync in library mode (something that was only available in develop previously) and greater import control into specific folders. A small detail, but nonetheless one we've found helpful is the ability to see within sub-folders. And lock filters from folder to folder.

Develop

Develop has seen the most "under the hood" development, after all Adobe has got to justify the upgrade from 2 to 3 somewhere. Here you get improvements to the processing options for RAW and jpeg.

The imaging improvements are there but for the most part subtle. Zoom in 1:1 and you'll see the changes, work from afar and you'll be wondering whether it's done anything, but they are there.

New tools and sliders to master include sharpening, colour noise reduction, a re-structuring of the vignette tool for a more natural effect as well as the ability to control the colour and highlighting vignette to boot.

You can also add a grain effect for those looking for more of a "film" look, although we personally haven't found a reason to use this yet.

There is also a camera calibration mode now that allows you to try and correct chromatic abrasion, however this isn't an automated process like some software packages, which would be a really nice addition.

Finally Brushes has had a good overhaul and its now a lot easier to use on your photos.

When the package is finally ready you'll also be able to choose whether or not to reimport your Lightroom 2 images in with the new settings or leave them as they were - either way doing so will change the look of the image.

The good news is that in the beta the processing and general performance of the software was good, nippier in most cases than Lightroom 2, although we aren't ruling out the possibility that it's because our Lightroom 2 catalogue has over 16,000 (yes 16,000) photos in it.

Slideshow, Print, and Web

Slideshow gets a brief look in via the ability to add music from your music folder to your images. A nice touch is that the software will automatically change the length the photos are shown so it fits the music to save you having to try and work it out. You can then dump the slideshow into H.264 to do as you will.

Likewise Print gets more "interactive" templates that make it easier to create printouts for your clients all at the drag of a mouse, rather than having to actually really understand anything.

As for web support? Easier watermarking and that's about it for the moment.

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Verdict:

Lightroom 3 looks to be taking the software in the right direction, although for beta users you will be mainly seeing under the hood changes rather than anything that will visually knock your socks off from the get go.

Adobe is clearly following Microsoft and the Windows 7 route here by allowing its user base to get to grips with the software in order to hear how they use it so the package can be improved. It's a new way of developing software but one that is worth the input.

I think the biggest disappointment is the inability to upgrade my current catalogue - doing so would allow people to give it a good run for its money rather than treating it like a sandbox. If this was the case it would allow you to really get to grips with what does and doesn't work by the time the software eventually comes out.

Promising, but without the ability to import your own catalogue you'll find this is a weekend intrigue rather than your new favourite software package until the final version is released.

Tags: Software Mac software PC software Photo editing software Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Cameras

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 beta originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

"Oh that's a nice picture" you hear one of your family or mates say when they are around your house looking at a photo on your mantle piece. "Can I have a copy?"

You've then got the hassle of finding that picture, printing it out and then probably sending it to them as the whole process has taken so long they've given up and gone home. Sony is hoping to cut out the waiting with the launch of a digital photo frame with a built-in printer, so you can create and deliver the print there and then.

Sounds great, but is it?

The DPP-F700 sports a 7-inch, 16:10 WVGA screen with a resolution 800 x 480 and can print 4 x 6-inch, 300 x 300 dpi photos in 45 seconds.

The frame, which features a large black boarder offers touch-sensitive controls, that like other frames on the market, appear only on touch, however for some reason Sony has opted to use a different non-gloss material - a matt plastic it seems, which doesn't work.

Controls allow you to navigate through the basic menu system and here you can edit images before printing with options including enlarge, reduce, crop, date stamp on/off, border/borderless as well as brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness adjustment.

Images can be transferred onto the frame via USB from a PC, and there is an array of memory card slots around the side including support for SD, MMC, Compact Flash and xD.

Failing that, there is 1GB of on-board storage. Storage levels will vary, with Sony boasting 2000 images as a headline grabbing number, but as this is only at a 2-megapixel resolution, expect this number to be around 200 if you're using a 7-megapixel or higher camera.

The DPP-F700 uses dye-sublimation as the printing technology, the print quality was good, not amazing, however they were able to be handled straight away when we played with the printer at a trade show.

The concept is perfect, unfortunately the realisation isn’t. The biggest problem isn't the quality of prints, or the software interface, it's the form factor.

As you might imagine adding a printer into a photo frame will add some bulk to a photo frame. Sony has surprisingly done a pretty good job of hiding this underneath the frame (see pictures) and the end result therefore is that it looks like you've perched a regular digital photo frame on to a box, no problem there.

The problem, however, is that rather than then put the photo paper tray within this box or to the side, it sits rather awkwardly out the front giving the game away that there is a printer hiding inside.

Yes it is detachable, but that's not the point. There is no way you could place it anywhere like a window ledge or mantle piece because of the width of the overall footprint. So you might as well give up on the idea altogether and use a small compact printer.

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Verdict:

In the future, if we are still printing photos, all digital photo frames will have a printer built in. It makes sense, it's a nice idea and we can see why someone at Sony approved the making of the DPP-F700.

However, it seems that "approving person" walked away after they were pitched the idea, as the end result neither looks good or has a form factor that would make it suitable (from our brief play) for where it should live in the living room.

This really is one of those moments where the end result could have been so much better.

The DPP-F700 digital photo frame-printer will be available in the States for about $200 in January.

Tags: Cameras Sony Digital photo frames Printers Photo printers Sony S-Frame DPP-F700

Sony S-Frame DPP-F700 digital photo frame - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Monitors are pretty boring things, but that can't be said about the W2230S from LG. Looking to appeal to those who don't want something that looks like a piece of office furniture. The W30 monitor comes in two sizes, 19- and 22-inches, and five different colours: "jelly pink", "applemint", "Hawaiian", "blueberry" and "Oreo". We tested the 22-inch variant in a delightful blue.

The first thing to note is the design. It draws heavily from the Apple Mac school of design, with a white plastic back, which curves pleasingly, giving it a nice clean look from behind, rather like the last generation of iMac. The front colour frame isn't as clean, with a line running across the bottom along the top of four control buttons and the backlit on/off button. But as a monitor it is attractive, something that can't always be said about displays, showing the consideration that LG have put into design recently.

The colours won't appeal to all, but it does give you some option to have it fit into the design of your apartment, or simply to add some colour to your room or student accommodation. We hooked up the W2230S to a Mac mini, an partnership which gives you a compact and tidy solution.

It doesn't have a conventional elevated stand, instead deploying a kickstand. This will allow you adjust the tilt of the monitor, but you don't get any sort of swivel. For those in a workplace who need to re-angle their display to share with colleagues this makes it a little impractical, but for domestic users, the likelihood is that it will be permanently sited on a desk and not moved, so this isn't a problem.

Without a stand, it does mean that the monitor is lower, so the conventional approach of making the top of the screen level with your eye-line as Mr Health and Safety would recommend might not be possible. Again, this might be a concern for business users, but for those who spend less time in front of a monitor it shouldn't be too much of a problem.?Thanks to not having a stand, it has a relatively small footprint on your desk, but doesn't have an option for wall mounting.

Connectivity is one place where the W2230S is lacking. Around the back you only have a D-SUB/VGA connection and the DC power input. You don't get HDMI, you don't get speakers, or a USB loop through which other monitors will offer.

The control buttons across the bottom give you access to the menu - offering picture, colour, tracking and setup options. The action feels a little cheap, but on the whole, you don't spend much time playing with these controls once you have it set-up, another good reason why we'd have preferred to have them out of sight on the side.

Brightness is rated at 250 nits and you also get a a direct control button to jump in and change the brightness, perhaps to turn it down at night or up during a sunny day. You also get a button to change the aspect to 4:3 from the default 16:9. An auto adjustment rounds out the controls offered.

In terms of the tech specs, the W2230S offers dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1 and a response time of 5ms. Hardcore gamers might be looking for something with a faster response rate on paper, but they probably aren't seeking this sort of colour option monitor anyway.

The 22-inch monitor, however, gives you plenty of space on-screen. It's a widescreen 16:9 format and packs in a Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel native resolution. You might initially question the value of HD resolution on a monitor lacking HDMI, but 1920 x 1080 gives a nice crisp look to your PC or Mac. You'll be able to playback your high-def video content filling the screen without resizing, or work with a browser window side-by-side with a word processing document and still see both clearly.

There is plenty of colour and detail available on offer here, although the matte finish to the display means it lacks that ultra crisp look you'll get from some glossy TVs or monitors. It does mean that it is well-suited to its primary task of computing however. We found that our high-definition content played back well, taking advantage of the native resolution on offer. We found a small amount of bleed around the bottom and top edges of the display where is meets the bezel, but not that it really detracts from the overall experience. Colour levels of the box were good too.

Verdict:

The LG W2230S is a great monitor for those looking for something a little different and wanting to avoid the boring off-white or black approach. The clean lines around the back of the W2230S, means it will look good from whichever angle you approach it from. There is plenty of space available, meaning you can get on with whatever work you need to be doing. But it does lack connectivity compared to some rivals so it only really will suit those who are looking for a PC display and only that.

Considering the spec, you can get more fully featured monitors for less, but?we like the size and simplicity and the inoffensive footprint makes the LG W2230S a great partner for a netbook or nettop PC where space is limited.

Tags: Hardware Monitors LG LG W2230S

LG W2230S monitor originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

We've said it a thousand times, but we'll say it again: backing up your hard drive is boring, it is dull, and chances are you don't or can't be bothered to do it. Luckily for us there are dozens of companies that make a living out of making sure your photos, documents, videos and data aren’t lost when your computer crashes and dies a slow and painful death. One of those companies happens to be HP.

Its premise is that it believes, probably rightly so, you can't be bothered to work out how to back-up your files. Its answer is that once you plug the SimpleSave in, it will scour your hard drive for relevant data and then back that up on a drive so you don't have to do remember anything.

Click yes to the licence agreement and that's about it. Software comes on the drive so there are no accompanying CDs and the quick start manual consists of two drawings - plug it in and away you go. For the control freak in you there are options to control everything, but as the name suggests everything is kept simple.

You can select which types of files are included in your backup process and which aren't and these include music, video and photos as well as emails and web page files. Basically you can drill down to a file type or location if you want to be specific or probably more likely the case, opt for blanket backup coverage.

Once selected the drive gets to work doing its job. The ability to isolate certain file types is really handy for photographers for example as you can select or deselect as appropriate and transfer speeds are via USB2.0 meaning it should be fast enough for most of your backup requirements.

Recalling back the files is equally straightforward. The software allows you to search through the drive and find that missing file with minimal of fuss.

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Verdict:

The HP SimpleSave is, as the name suggests, a simple way to save your data away from your computer in case it kicks the bucket. The simple to use software is unlikely to give you any hassles and the restoring process is equally simple.

If you leave it plugged in, you can set it up to automatically check for when files have changed and back those up without thinking about it. Coming in ?320GB and 500GB sizes should give you plenty of storage.

Backup might be boring, but this just works.?

Tags: Hardware Storage HP HP SimpleSave HP SimpleSave 320GB

HP SimpleSave 320GB hard drive originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

We’ve not come across many – if any – digital camera upgrades that have taken a step back in terms of "specification".

But, on perusing the enthusiast targeted G11’s headline features, when compared with the G10 it appears that is exactly what has happened: 10 megapixels instead of its predecessor’s 14.7, a smaller LCD screen at 2.8-inches rather than 3, battery life at 390 shots from a full charge falling short of its forebear’s 400, and even a reduced burst mode of a lowly 1.1fps rather than 1.3fps.

At least the stabilised optical zoom has stayed the same at 5x, with a broader than average focal range of 28-140mm, making it as well suited to landscapes and group portraits as paparazzi-style close ups.

So what gives? Well, while reducing pixel count, Canon has kept the same size 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor as the G10, the inference being that less pixels crammed into the same space may produce a better performance in terms of reduced noise/grain when shooting in low light and at higher ISO settings.

This theory is born out upon discovering that maximum user selectable ISO has been raised from a previous ISO 1600 to ISO 3200, with a further ISO 12,800 equivalent option now achievable via a low light mode on the camera’s top mounted shooting dial – albeit with resolution dropping to 2.5 megapixels at this expanded setting.

The smaller LCD is also explained away by the fact that it is now of the vari-angle, rotate and twist variety, rather than the G10’s standard fixed display.

This is a boon for those who want to experiment with shooting from creative angles where it would be otherwise impossible to get an eye level with the optical viewfinder directly above – and the manufacturer claims its implementation was the result of customer requests. It can further be folded screen inwards to the body to provide an added degree of protection.

Worry not though, as the overall construction of the G11 is, as expected, reassuringly rock solid with chunky lithium-ion rechargeable battery and optional (yet essential) SD media card inserted. Its ruggedness practically matches that of an entry-level DSLR that you could alternatively buy for this compact’s ?569 UK price tag.

Weight without such accessories is a manageable 355g, though its shape – not too dissimilar to Panasonic’s similarly priced rival in the new GF1 – means it is one for slipping into the deep pocket of an overcoat rather than your skinny fit jeans.

Indicating that this camera is aimed at the more advanced user, even if it does feature the usual full auto options, are the array of rangefinder-like dials and controls festooning the top plate.

These allow the manual adjustment of exposure (+/- 2EV), the aforementioned ISO settings, plus the choosing of shooting modes. On the G11 we have the usual program, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual modes, plus 17 pre-optimised scene settings and a video mode, though sadly recording in standard definition 640 x 480 pixels rather than the increasingly ubiquitous high definition. The optical zoom can’t be used either when shooting video, which is a pain.

In contrast to the busy top plate, which also throws in a hotshoe for optional flashgun, the G11’s front plate looks rather spare. It’s dominated by lens with automatic cover that slides open on activation as its barrel extends to maximum wide-angle setting in just over a second. A filter thread is provided for the attachment of supplementary lens converters, while a subtly sloping padded ridge to the front provides purchase for the fingers.

Oddly though, we couldn’t find anywhere identifiable to place our thumb at the G11’s back plate when gripping for a handheld shot, leaving it to wander over the operational controls, one of which is the delete button.

Once you’ve lined up a shot via the adequately clear LCD or optical viewfinder above, press the shutter release button encircled by the zoom lever, and, with no noticeable shutter lag, a maximum resolution JPEG is committed to memory within 2-3 seconds.

The camera offers maximum quality, unprocessed RAW file capture too, selectable via a L-shaped toolbar on screen. Take a further shot in this mode and any difference in writing speed is barely noticeable, suggesting operational speed and image quality need not always be separate bedfellows.

Verdict:

So is it really worth spending as much, or more on the G11 than an interchangeable lens camera such as Panasonic’s GF1 or Olympus EP-1, or a full-blown digital SLR with standard APS-C sized sensor?

If the choice is a straight one, arguably not: we’d prefer the ability to swap lenses any day. But everyone’s requirements are different and the G11 does present photographers with a rather neat all-in-one solution, so there will be those thinking "so what that you can’t change the optic in use? What’s there is as much as I need".

It’s worth noting however that despite Canon trumpeting that with the G11 it has greatly improved low light photography, reducing noise and delivering a two-stop advantage, the camera has to first find a subject bright enough to focus on – in spite of its admittedly powerful AF assist lamp.

Even when it does, at maximum ISO 12,800 setting resultant images take on a watercolour effect, detail smudged. However, stick less ambitiously at ISO 3200 on the dial, and you get a result comparable to lesser compacts at ISO 800; much more impressive.

Shooting in less challenging daylight conditions the G11’s focus remains sharp with just a touch of barrel distortion at max wide angle and pixel fringing upon close inspection. We welcomed the ability to add punch to colours via a vivid "My Colours" option, plus apply a neutral density (ND) filter setting to preserve detail in landscapes when shooting images with contrasting dark foregrounds and bright backgrounds.

Taking all of the above into consideration however, unless you regularly shoot in low light and/or low to the ground or over the heads of a crowd whereby that flexible LCD screen might aid composition, sticking with the 14.7 megapixel G10 – identically priced at the time of writing – seems the sensible option.

But for those who do prefer that extra flexibility to "push" the image without resorting to the use of flash, the G11 is a solid contender in every sense.

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PHOTOS: Canon PowerShot G11

Tags: Cameras Digital cameras Compact cameras Canon Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11 digital camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Microsoft has quite a task on its hands. Most people agree that its last operating system release, Windows Vista, was actually a perfectly respectable bit of software once driver manufacturers were on board after a year or so, but that didn't stop it becoming the butt of almost every single one of the tech industry's jokes since 2006 (that weren't about the Zune).

This time round, Microsoft has taken a decidedly different approach to the launch of the OS. In stark contrast to the relative secrecy of the Windows Vista release, combined with a marketing campaign with the slogan: "The Wow Starts Now", the launch of Windows 7 has been totally open and subject to very little marketing.

Many technology enthusiasts, ourselves included, have been running 7 in either its Beta or Release Candidate version since early 2009. The OS hasn't changed significantly in that time, but a few features have been tweaked and improved upon, and we've been running the final release of the OS now for a little while.

As such, we've got a good idea of how it runs in both the short and long-term. We've worked with it, played games with it, and this review will aim to answer three main questions - "is it any good?", "should I install now, or wait a year like with Vista?" and "is Ultimate worth the price over Home Premium?".

So let's start with the first thing most people will experience - the install procedure. For a long time Microsoft has been trying to cut down the amount of steps required to install its operating systems and Windows 7 seems to have stripped the whole thing down to the bare minimum.

The whole process is mercifully brief - slightly longer if you want to upgrade from Vista rather than reformat your hard disk (required if you want to switch from XP or any of the early releases of Windows 7). You just pick a language, pick a drive to install on, and that's it! Go make a cup of tea and you'll be done.

When you get into the OS itself, the first thing that'll strike you is the brand new taskbar. It's wider, and the start button no longer says "Start" on it, but it functions mostly the same as it always did with one exception - the quicklaunch area and the list of running programs have been merged.

Now, when you launch a program its icon appears along that list and mousing over it will give you a preview of what the window looks like. In some cases, you'll also be able to interact with that program, thanks to "jump lists" accessible with a right-click. These lists include options like skipping between tracks on a music player, or setting status on an IM application.

This seemingly minor UI improvement actually increases productivity quite a bit. Instead of a rammed taskbar where you can't see which windows are which, icons will stack, so it's a rare situation where you run out of space. Also handy is that the system tray won't fill up with icons either - it's easy to relegate ones you don't need into a hidden space.

That usability factor is a difficult one to pin down. We found that after using Windows 7 for a bit it was actually a little bit painful to go back to Vista. We would work slower, despite having used Vista for years in the past. Windows 7 is a genuine pleasure to use, and seems to suffer considerably less than its predecessors from random crashes and blue screens.

Media streaming is another big deal in Windows 7. Straight out of the box you can have a hard disk chock-full of content (acquired legally, obviously) and then share that media with other Windows 7 devices on your network, or even over the web. A biref download lets you link a Windows Live account with your Windows account, and from there you can use Windows Media Player to send audio and video wherever you like.

You can share particular libraries from Windows Media Player 11 and 12, from Windows Home Server, but most excitingly of all you can hook up a DLNA-enabled television or stereo and see it appear as a device on your network to stream music to. From there, you can just right-click tracks and send them to your television, for example.

Windows Media Centre is mostly unchanged from its Vista incarnation, but has a few nice features that you may find useful. There's a whole pile of media extenders available that are a bit like Firefox Extensions - they can enable additional functionality.

For example, if you have an Xbox 360, you can install an extender that lets you view all your computer's multimedia content on your Xbox. If you have a Sky subscription, another extender will add a tile in the "TV" section that enables Sky Player content streamed over the web. Windows Media Centre is a well-put-together bit of software that should cover most of your audiovisual needs in the OS.

Those of you who are purchasing the Ultimate edition of Windows 7 will get a few extra features too. There's BitLocker encryption for drives if you want to protect particular content from prying eyes. This offers AES encryption algorithm in CBC mode with a 128 bit key, combined with the Elephant diffuser for additional disk encryption specific security not provided by AES. If you're not sure what that means, then it basically means "you're not breaking into this one".

If you're upgrading from Vista to 7, you'll have relatively few of the problems that you might have run into between XP and Vista. 7 uses almost exactly the same architecture, meaning that if something worked in Vista then it's more-or-less likely to work fine in Windows 7 too.

In fact, it's fair to say that if your device doesn't work in Windows 7 or Vista now, then the blame can only be pinned on the manufacturer - they've had nearly four years to get things working. The only issues we faced were linked to running a 64-bit operating system which, while supported pretty well, didn't have quite the same catalogue of drivers as the 32-bit edition.

And if the worst happens, and a program defiantly refuses to work then Ultimate edition also includes an XP Mode that lets you virtualize the aging OS inside Windows 7. From there, anything that worked on Windows XP will work, though you'll suffer a slight performance degradation.

Those who experiment a lot with different operating systems will also find Windows 7's virtual hard disk booting a boon. This allows you to section off a bit of your drive and pretend that it's an entirely different hard drive, allowing you to test out alternative operating systems without having to partition your drive. It's a bit like Boot Camp in OS X - allowing you to run more than one operating system with ease.

There's now widespread support for more file formats. Wordpad, for example, supports .docx and .odt extensions from Office 2007 and upward and OpenOffice respectively. Microsoft seems to have tried very hard to make Windows as compatible as possible with a wide range of different bits of hardware and software - a task that's not trival for it to accomplish thanks to the huge ecosystem of software developers that code for its platform and the sheer weight of users that go for Windows.

We don't really do benchmarks or overwhelm you with graphs here - instead we prefer to tell you what kind of experience you'll get. With Windows 7, performance is great. While Windows 7 isn't as lightweight as the latest Linux builds, it behaves beautifully on both weak and powerful machines alike.

We didn't get the change to test it on a netbook, but we did try a laptop that's about four years old. We found Windows 7 perfectly operable on systems that Vista struggled with. Give it a try on a netbook or old laptop to see what we mean - you'll likely be impressed.

You might have to turn off Aero mode, which is the translucent window edging that you'll see in many screenshots of Windows 7. This was present in the more expensive editions of Vista and also lets you use the Windows and Tab keys to scroll between Windows as if they were bits of paper. Try it and see.

Windows 7 doesn't waste the capabilities of top-end hardware, either. While you might lose one or two frames per second on the latest games compared to the same hardware on XP, you'll benefit from considerably better security and usability than Microsoft's 2001 OS. We found games performance unnoticably different in real terms from XP and considerably better than Vista. Gamers have nothing to fear from Windows 7.

Verdict:

So, firstly then - is it any good? Unequivocably yes. Windows 7 is the best OS Microsoft hasever made, and they've learnt all the necessary lessons from Vista. While it doesn't have some of the slickness of OS X, or the speed of Linux, it offers a fantastic compromise between the two with by far the biggest choice of software available.

But if you're happily running XP or Vista, is it worth the upgrade right now? We'd still say yes, but more hesitantly this time. Despite Microsoft's wide-open testing process, once the final version of Windows 7 hits the big, bad, world there's sure to be one or two glitches that show up and need patching.

Lastly, is it worth shelling out for Ultimate over Home Premium or Professional? On this one, we'd probably say that for most users it's not. If you're using software that refuses to work in Vista and Windows 7, but worked fine in XP and you need the virtualization mode, then you could be swayed. If you work with sensitive information regularly, and need Bitlocker's encryption, then you should get it. But most users don't need those things and will be happy with Home Premium or Professional.

Microsoft, probably as a result of being such a big company, can be a little schitzophrenic with the quality of its products. Sometimes you'll get an Xbox 360, other times you'll get Windows Mobile. This time round, Microsoft has learnt from its mistakes in the past and created a stable, speedy, and usable platform for computing. Thumbs up.

Tags: Software Operating Systems Microsoft Windows 7

Windows 7 Ultimate originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:11:23 +0100

The Buffalo MiniStation Metro is a 500GB portable hard drive that hopes to offer a little bit of pazzam into the usual hard drive proceedings with a glossy case and a in-built USB cable that folds out of sight. But does it perform? We plugged it in to find out.

To say there is lots to the MiniStation Metro would be an overstatement, it's of a medium size comparable to most hard drives on the market. It certainly isn't going to win any awards for being the smallest on the block. That thickness, which is actually the width of a USB socket is down to the "BumperBody Shock Protection" system not just an urge to build big.

While the plastic shell doesn't look like it could withstand a good bashing (it's not rugged or metal) the idea is that if you drop the drive it will be protected by small shock absorbers surrounding the hard disk.

The plastic shell is well-built with a plastic flexible cable that wraps around the top and slots neatly into place on the side. The move, which actually seems to have dictated the thickness of the drive does mean you will always have a USB cable to hand and if you're looking to travel with this unit means the bottom of your bag isn't going to be cluttered with cables.

Plug the drive in and the USB 2.0 connection offers fast transfer and power. There is an additional USB cable extender if the in-built one isn't long enough (it's about 15cm) and speeds are as good as other drives on the market.?We transferred a number of files to and from and were happy with the performance (it took 35 seconds to transfer a 900MB file).

Bundled on the drive, rather than an accompanying CD for Windows users are two bits of software, a Hardware Disk Encryption package and E-Z Logon that lets you lock your drive so people can't access the data. Both are basic, but do what they set out to do.

Verdict:

The new Buffalo Ministation Metro will come in three colours: black, red and white, and come in sizes up to 500GB giving consumers plenty of options when it comes to storing their data.

It's stylish, well as stylish as a hard drive can be, and gets the job done. Travellers will like the no cluttered cable approach.

Tags: Hardware Storage Buffalo Buffalo MiniStation Metro Buffalo MiniStation Metro

Buffalo MiniStation Metro hard drive originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0100

They say, well the non-biblical they, that the geeks shall inherit the earth – but it’s clear that the horror film directors among their number are already making serious headway. After making their name with their fanboy-chic low-budget horrors, former blood and guts junkies like Peter Jackson and Guilermo del Toro have gone on to dominate the mainstream, giving Hollywood a fresh shot of flair and imagination with the likes of the Hellboy and Lord of the Rings franchises.

Chief among their ranks must surely be Sam Raimi, who, after rising from the underground to give the establishment a near-coronary with the Evil Dead, achieved universal acclaim with his Spider-Man reboot. Drag Me To Hell finds Raimi returning to those grisly roots in full-on, yet utterly accessible style.

Fiendishly simple, yet devastatingly potent, Drag Me To Hell offers a welcome return to the creepier old school of shocks, away from the brutality of modern horror, yet without reducing the shock value. Meek loans officer Christine Brown is keen to prove to her boss that she has the tough streak needed to win the promotion to assistant manager, so she decides against cutting an elderly lady some slack on her mortgage payments.

Being of east European gypsy stock, the proud woman takes umbrage and busts out an ancient curse on her, and soon Christine’s job prospects become the least of her problems. After kicking off with a bout of impressively nasty geriatric catfight action with the gypsy in the confines of her car, Christine finds herself being relentlessly pursued by both the crone and a malevolent spirit who make her life a living hell, from rearranging her furniture and facial features with extreme prejudice and ruining dinner parties to introducing swarms of maggots and flies into her daily diet.

A bit put out by this, Christine goes with boyfriend Clay to see a medium, who has the tricky job of telling her she has 3 days to lift the curse before the spirit claims her soul and gives her a one-way ticket to the one hot place they’ve yet to make a strong enough sun-factor lotion for. Events take a frantic turn as she attempts to prevent her fire and brimstone destiny, as she is forced to compromise her placid nature in the hope of redemption.

Drag Me To Hell is a fun-packed shocker with a strong eye for striking visuals, all merrily soaked in director Raimi’s trademark sick tastes – bodily fluids are exchanged in the worst way imaginable, fists find homes where they rarely belong and stationery is put to bizarre and painful uses.

But curiously, it plays out like a strange cross between two of Raimi’s biggest successes – fusing the teeny melodrama of Spider-Man with the gross-out stunts of the Evil Dead films. The two play-off against each other with great glee; despite the demonic aggravation, Christine still has to try to win over Clay’s snooty parents and deal with a back-stabbing work colleague.

It’s this juxtaposition between the mundane and the outlandish that gives the film its drive. Christine and Clay are irritatingly bland, while she couldn’t be any less of a horror movie heroine, as Raimi pushes the idea of a what a normal person would do in that situation, rather than following the well-worn Hollywood path of heroic dynamism.

But mostly it’s Raimi’s abyss-dark humour that carries the picture. Twisted, playful and more than a touch reminiscent of Tex Avery cartoons, the viewer is repeatedly given a treat as Raimi works his magic to squeeze every ounce of intensity out of the stripped down set-up.?

Verdict:

Raimi set himself a tough task by making a low-budget, mainstream horror without an 18 certificate and pulled it off in great style. The plot and characters, though kept to a minimum, work in service to the rollercoaster ride. Swapping brutality for good old-fashioned primal fear and imagination, Drag Me To Hell turns out as a striking, enjoyable, and at times startlingly visceral shocker.

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Rating: 18

Starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver.

Directed by: Sami Raimi

Extras: Production notes featurette.

Tags: Home Cinema DVD

Drag Me To Hell - DVD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

When Apple update a product, it generally keeps the name that it had before. We saw quick hop with the reshuffle of the MacBook line-up to give space to the new entry-level 13-inch white model, but the last Mac mini update we saw was in March of this year. So our trend of clarifying using the year doesn't really work in this case. It also means that anyone who bought a Mac mini in recent months might be a little cheesed off.

Fortunately no one will know you are rocking the last generation of Mac mini, because externally the 2009 models all look the same. There has been a bump in the internal specs however, which now gives you the option of a 2.26GHz or 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (with a bump-up 2.66GHz option for ?120 more on the 2.53GHz version). The 2.26GHz model comes with 2GB RAM and 160GB hard drive as standard, which the 2.53GHz - the one we have on review here - gets 4GB RAM and 320GB hard drive as standard. Both Mac minis get the option of expanding the hard drive further to 500GB, and the entry model can also expand its RAM up to 4GB.

The Mac mini represents the cheapest option for entering the Mac world, with the 2.26GHz version costing you ?499, whilst our test model will set you back ?649, which now comes in at ?150 cheaper than the new MacBook. As it is, the Mac mini is simply a compact mini desktop computer. We've seen a growing trend in mini PC computers or "nettops" late, but the Mac mini shouldn't be confused with some of those budget models, as the Mac mini packs in the power to complete pretty much all of your home computing needs.

The box itself measures 15.5 x 15.5 x 52mm and is wrapped in aluminium, reflecting the trend across the Apple range. The top is glossy plastic, emblazoned with the Apple logo and the bottom is largely rubberised, so grips on whatever surface you place it on. A slot-loading DVD drive sits to the front and on the back is the connection panel.

Like many nettops, the Mac mini doesn't come with any peripherals: you need to supply the monitor, the keyboard and the mouse and anything else you might want to use with it. But you do get Wi-Fi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth packed into the box, to accompany the Ethernet connection on the outside, so you can easily drop your Mac mini into an existing Wi-Fi network without worrying about cables.

In terms of ports and connections you get the 5x USB2.0 connections, Mini DisplayPort, Mini-DVI, FireWire 800 and the Ethernet we've already mentioned. You also get a 3.5mm headphone socket/optical out and an optical/audio in. The power button, Kensington lock slot and connection point for the power supply are also here.

The USB ports are all fairly close together, so if you are using a USB device with a fat cable (or you want to connect something like a Flip pocket camcorder) then you might struggle. If it is just a case of a wireless dongle for a keyboard, a webcam, and mouse, then you'll have no problems. You could always use a USB hub to get round this problem, if you have specific USB needs.

Apple pitches the Mac mini as a computer for those trading over to the Mac brand. They can use their existing Windows PC parts - the monitor especially - without worrying about a complete new setup. Display connectivity - as is the Apple way - is limited to the Mini DisplayPort or the Mini-DVI. It might seem like overkill having both as the chances are you'll need to buy an adapter for one or the other. Bundled in the box is a Mini-DVI to DVI converter, so if you have this breed of monitor already, then you won't need anything else.

But for the majority of newcomers, the likelihood is that you'll have a monitor equipped with D-Sub/VGA or HDMI, in which case you'll need to buy the respective adapter, which will cost you ?15. This would also be the case if you want to just hook your Mac mini up to your TV and use it as an entertainment centre on the big screen, using it for internet, storing movies and using the likes of BBC iPlayer. We connected the Mac mini to an LG W2230S monitor also on test and the only change we needed to make was to switch the display resolution to 1920 x 1080.?

From opening the box, it was about 5 minutes to getting on it Pocket-lint.com, including all the set-up steps. Running Mac OS X Snow Leopard you get a simple set-up process with the offer to transfer data from an existing Mac and connecting you into your wireless network with no problems. It's a refreshing when compared to the out-of-the-box experience of a Windows PC, which takes much longer and forces the update cycles on you. In this case, however, there were a couple of updates to Snow Leopard and the installed applications, although these may well be updated on the retail unit you buy.

Despite its compact dimensions however, the Mac mini packs in plenty of power. Graphics are handled by the Nvidia GeForce 9400M GPU, as it is in many other models across the Mac range, which means you get silky smooth playback of your high-definition content and the power to play your Mac games, if that's what you want to do. With a 2.53GHz processor you have the power to do some of the more power-hungry features too, so photo and basic video editing and encoding is fine, but you don't get the power you'll find in the new quad-core iMac here.

As an everyday computer the new Mac mini performs very well. It comes pre-installed with iLife 09, but if you want to put it to work with office functions you'll need to invest in iWork (?69) or Microsoft Office for Mac (?109.95), or simply use cloud applications like Google Docs. Running and switching multiple applications doesn't phase the Mac mini like it does some cheaper nettop offerings, and playing a DVD whilst browsing the Internet and writing up some notes all on the same page is no problem at all.

The Mac mini also features a built-in speaker, so if you are only after basic system sounds and the occasional soundtrack to online videos, then you don't need to worry about hooking up external speakers. The sound quality isn't great, but adequate for occasional use. Of course, if you are after digital audio, you can always make use of the optical output, something that those using this as a home entertainment device might take advantage of.

It runs relatively quietly, without the offensive disc accessing noises that can sometimes blight computers and doesn't suffer from the sort of fan noise that even comes into the MacBook. Using the SuperDrive does up the noise levels somewhat, but it is never at a level that is distracting. However we did detect the occasional very barely perceptible high-pitched noise coming from the Mac mini although we couldn't pin in down to anything persistent and wasn't audible except when everything else was silent.?

Verdict:

The Mac mini is a fantastic entry point into the world of the Apple Mac for those switching over from a PC - with existing peripherals - or for someone looking for a compact but powerful desktop computer. Given the growth of digital content and the popularity of connecting up your digital home, the Mac mini is a solid choice. It gives you the power to handle your HD content with relative ease and connectivity to match. It is perhaps a shame that Apple haven't made the move to Blu-ray yet, as a Mac mini with Blu-ray would see it as real power house.

It's a shame that Apple haven't seen fit to include an SD card slot with this revision: it has found its way onto the MacBook Pro and iMac, but is notable in its omission here. What better way of appealing to those with digital cameras? Some may also criticise the use of Mini DisplayPort over a conventional HDMI, which would simply and easily integrate with your AV receiver or HDTV without the need for another connection. Apple have always said that Mini DisplayPort surpasses current standards, but the question is always whether the life of the product is long enough to see that promise come good.?

So there are few niggles with the Mac mini. It's the usual seamless operation we've come to expect from Apple. You take it out of the box and it just works. With the upgrades coming in at the same prices as the previous versions, they look very tempting indeed.

Tags: Hardware Apple Nettops Mac mini Apple Mac mini

Apple Mac mini 2.53GHz originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Let's face it, your laptop or netbook speakers are pretty drab aren't they? Unless you've opted for one of those Toshiba Qosmio's with the Hardon Karmen sound systems, chances are the noise you get isn't going to make it beyond your desk let alone give you a chance to party in your hotel room.

That's where Altec Lansing is hoping to step in with an update to its Orbit range to allow you to plug it in to your laptop rather than just an MP3 player. Rather than a 3.5mm jack socket as found on the virtually identically named and spec-ed iMT237, it plugs in via USB giving you a digital connection rather than an analogue one.

Looks wise, the speaker is, as we've said, virtually the same in design and performance. You get the same hockey puck styled speaker, but this time it comes with a kick-out stand giving you the chance to aim it in your general direction. The stand certainly aids the speaker's performance over the sound just rising from the desk as before and it means you won't have to have it so loud. ?

When not in use the kickstand can be folded away and the in-built USB cable folded away out of sight for travelling.

Other notable differences over the previous model include the loss of the AAA battery in favour of taking a charge from your computer and a more stylish black and gold colour scheme over the previous silver offering.

The power option will save you having to worry about AAA batteries but it does mean that it will be draining power from your laptop or netbook and it's something to bear in mind if you are worried about power usage.

What about sound performance? As you might expect the Orbit iML237 isn't going to blow you away and audiophiles should probably stop reading now. While at loud volumes the performance is dubious for the price, but for what Altec Lansing set out to do the Orbit iML237 isn't too bad. It is all about giving you volume and the chance to share your music at your hotel bedroom desk rather than being a replacement for your home PC stereo system.

Verdict:

We tested it on a range of music from The Presets to Rolling Stones and while the speaker coped well enough, we wouldn't recommend them for every day listening if you are really into your music.

Of course it lacks any real bass element or depth, but then that's not really the point. This is a way of enhancing your laptop's speakers on the cheap rather than making your tunes sound the best they possibly could.

With that in mind, it's not too shabby.

Tags: Audio Speakers Altec Lansing Altec Lansing Orbit iM237 PC speakers Altec Lansing Orbit iM237

Altec Lansing Orbit iM237 USB speaker originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

While there are plenty of wireless notebook mice around, that hasn't stopped manufacturers attempting to try and innovate. Microsoft's latest attempt is the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000.

It's a wee little nipper - 61mm by 103mm - but despite its size it's relatively comfortable. Rubber grip pads on either side hold your hand in place, while your fingers rest on the smooth upper surface. In the middle of that surface is a black panel with a Microsoft logo, battery indicator and the mousewheel.

But not just any mousewheel. Imagine coating yourself in vaseline, then getting in a bath of baby oil, then slipping yourself between a set of the smoothest, most silken velvet sheets you can picture. That's what using this mousewheel feels like.

Of course, what that means is that gamers will hate it. There's no definition between clicks - it's one fluid motion. Flicking between weapons will be irritatingly imprecise. Though, to be fair, gamers aren't exactly the target audience for this product.

Along with left and right clicks, the mousewheel click, and the ability to click the wheel left and right to scroll in those directions, there's also a fourth button positioned forward on the left. Unfortunately, it's just out of comfortable thumb-reach, but that's not too big a deal.

The sensor seems accurate and responsive. It was able to track with only a couple of very minor glitches on the surface of a glass desk that we tested it with. On a mousepad, it was very quick so if you find you need a bit more precision, it might be worth dialling that down a little in the settings.

The sensor is miniscule - so small you might lose it - but luckily it slots into the base of the device for when you're travelling. The mouse also has a hard on/off switch so you can save battery if you're not going to be using the device for a little while.

Verdict:

Microsoft's latest iteration of its mobile mouse is great. It's compact, smooth, and full-featured. The only criticisms we could level - like comfort - would require a full-size mouse to rectify.

Available for just ?25 at the time of writing, the Mobile Mouse 4000 is a great investment for a regular traveller that's fed up with their cramped trackpad.

Tags: Hardware Mice And Keyboards Mice Microsoft Microsoft Mobile Mouse 4000

Microsoft Mobile Mouse 4000 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:53:51 +0100

RIM picked a hell of a week to release its new flagship smartphone, the BlackBerry Bold 9700. Microsoft and Apple have been fighting for press attention, with the former releasing its most-anticipated operating system for many years and the latter attempting to drown out that announcement with a slew of product updates.

Nevertheless, the new Bold has managed a decent amount of attention from the world's media. Much has been made of its new, slimmer form factor, and the improvements in responsiveness over the occasionally sluggish original. Pocket-lint managed to get hands-on with the smartphone as it was announced today. Does it stack up to its competitors? Read on to find out.

Let's start with the looks. The Bold 9700 doesn't throw any of RIM's established style out of the window - it looks like a BlackBerry and no-one would mistake it for anything else. There's plenty of rhomboid-y shapes and the keyboard is as familiar as ever. But it's certainly more refined than past handsets from RIM.

Performance has improved too. RIM told us that a whole host of bug fixes and little tweaks to get more out of the onboard hardware have been included in the form of BlackBerry OS version 5. The hardware comprises a new 624MHz processor and 256MB of flash memory which definitely seemed, in our short play with the device, to make things more responsive.

In fact, the only time when it behaved slowly was when it had to load a big chunk of text - specifically the subscriber agreement for the App World which is present and correct on the handset - which took a good 30 seconds or so. In terms of the actual operating system, very little has altered from the changes we saw come in with version 4.6 last year.

The keyboard is top-notch, as you'd expect from a handset from RIM, as email and instant messaging is still key to the whole handset, with BlackBerry's exemplary email system underpinning the experience. If you're not the kind of person who spends all their time in their inbox, then given the advances in multimedia on rival devices, you'll probably want to look elsewhere.

That said, the speakers aren't bad. Blaring out Beastie Boys yielded a reasonable level of detail, but a complete lack of bass. You'll want to plug headphones into the included 3.5mm jack if you're serious about listening to music on this handset, but it doesn't get a look-in on the multimedia keys found on the Curve 8520.

The screen, which isn't touch-enabled, is 2.44-inches and slightly smaller than its predecessor (which was 2.6-inches diagonally). It does, however, run at a slightly higher resolution than the original Bold. It's clear and bright and displays colours well. Although we didn't get a chance to take a look in direct sunlight, if it anything like previous screens, it will be happy outdoors. Viewing angles are also impressive.

The camera isn't too bad, either. Although it's only 3.2-megapixels, it captured images acceptably in a well-lit room. We weren't able to test how well that'll stack up in a darker situation, but there is a flash onboard, and we'd imagine the performance to be much like previous BlackBerry handsets.

Verdict:

Overall, in our short time with the device, the Bold 9700 seems like a solid improvement on the old Bold. It doesn't do anything terribly revolutionary - focusing on the communications experience above everything else - but it's a solid smartphone choice for those who prioritise messaging functionality.

It's sure to be widely adopted in business and email-aholics, but we’ll be giving the handset a full rundown when we get a review sample.

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News -?BlackBerry Bold 9700 announced

Photos -?BlackBerry Bold 9700

Tags: Phones Mobile phones BlackBerry RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700

BlackBerry Bold 9700 - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:04:36 +0100

While most gamers have pinned all their Holiday gaming hopes on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Uncharted 2, despite the mass hype, had slipped a touch below radar, until reviews started appearing that is.. The sequel to Nathan Drake's Tomb Raider-esque exploration seemingly expected to be decent enough, but not quite hitting the heights of the Call of Duty juggernaut.

Uncharted 2 starts out with a cliffhanger. Literally. You begin with a stunning set piece, with Indiana Jones-a-like explorer Nathan Drake clinging onto the remains of a half obliterated train that's precariously hanging over a huge cliff face. Slowly and methodically you pull yourself up and finally come to rest on solid ground. Only for all hell to break loose.

This supremely bombastic opening does its level best to show off right at the very start every major asset that Naughty Dog have crammed onto a Blu-ray disc. Most obviously there's the huge attraction that are arguably the greatest visuals witnessed in a video game thus far. Everything from eye popping vistas, through to incredible character animation, via stunning lighting effects. It all culminates in quite a stunning visual spectacle.

Similarly high levels of production have been plunged into the aural experience too. The voice acting – in part due to the hefty quality of the script – is absolutely top notch, with none of the usual hammy over the top, or bored sounding individuals simply eager to grab their pay cheque. This helps bring about the almost unimaginable; cutscenes that you will want to witness multiple times.

The high quality continues with some superb physics, more obviously helping make Drake's regular climbs and jumps seem all that more real, but also enemies that perish and move in stunningly realistic manners. We spotted one recently blasted enemy caught on a high railing, and couldn't resist giving him a nudge off his precarious resting place and watch him land bone-crunchingly hard on the rocks below. Yet another sign that some real love has been fed into this game.

Enemies also show a huge amount of intelligence in the way they duck behind cover, try to flush you out with grenades and flank your position, rather than wait to be slowly picked off one by one. With combat outnumbering exploration/platforming by a factor of about 2:1, it helps make the most of every single level of the game.

Drake's adventure isn't quite the new Tomb Raider that some might have you believe, with gunplay playing a major part to proceedings. Weapons are well powered and sound wonderful, and the cover system is as fluid as any other title out there. But when you do get the chance to climb, Uncharted 2 makes it feel so incredibly fluid when compared to Lara Croft's still somewhat stilted nature. There's no slow methodical lining up of jumps required, and you can easily cover huge distances in seconds. It just feels so natural.

Spread throughout the entire game there are a number of fantastic set pieces coming your way. Where some titles may keep the most spectacular experiences for passive cutscenes, Uncharted 2 sets you as the star, allowing you to frantically run from a truck, or swiftly jump across a crumbling bridge. You can always assume that one more breathtaking moment is only a few minutes away.

The single player experience described above lasts a solid 8 to 10 hours of game time, and certainly contains enough to keep you coming back time and time again. There are a few less than stellar moments however. While the latter enemies who can soak up a number of bullets are explained away, one earlier human who can withstand clip after clip of ammo is a strange anomaly.

And then there's the online multiplayer. All the usual standards apply, with the usual Deathmatch and Capture The Flag options made available. But they've been crafted with the same unnerving brilliance that the single player story offers, culminating in something which might not be brand new, but you can't help falling in love with.

Verdict:

Uncharted 2 is just an incredible package. One of the most stunning single player outings in years is fantastically complimented by such an impressive multiplayer offering that all PS3 owners can't pass up this opportunity. It might not have the hype of Modern Warfare 2 behind it, but Activision have got a real test on their hands if they want to be sure of being the PS3's Christmas must have.

Tags: Gaming PS3 Sony Uncharted 2 Among Thieves Action

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - PS3 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:42:28 +0100

HTC has played the biggest part in bringing Android to the masses. If you want a new operating system to take off, you need to gain some degree of market base, which is why the HTC Tattoo is exciting. Like the Huawei's T-Mobile Pulse, the HTC Tattoo is pitched as an entry level device, for those that can't afford a premium phone like the HTC Hero.

It is no surprise to see the Tattoo coming from HTC: they have a history of producing various formats of Windows Mobile devices so are ideally placed to repeat this operation for Android. The HTC Tattoo, then, follows the inoffensive design lines of preceding HTC touch devices and at first glance could easily be taken as a Windows Phone.

Although it is an entry-level or "mass market" device, the build quality is still good. Plastics are used throughout, but they are free from creaks and it looks smart. A range of custom covers will be available with the option of designing your own through tattoomyhtc.com; ours simply had an Android popping his head out of the back cover, the cuddly little chap that he is. The HTC Tattoo measures 106 x 55.2 x 14 mm, so is relatively compact.

The front sees the usual range of controls: Home, Menu, Back and Search sit paired on two rocker keys under the screen, with a central four-way/ok controller flanked by the calling keys. The action on the buttons is reasonable, if a little shallow, although those with bigger hands might find that bending your thumb to use them is a little uncomfortable.

The locations are reasonable too but you'll probably find in one-handed use that reaching the extreme left or right key (Home and Search respectively), depending on which hand you are holding the phone in, is difficult. The four-way controller might not actually get much use, but can slide through the HTC Sense homepages or up and down menus as you see fit without touching the screen, perhaps overcoming some of the niggles with screen responsiveness.

The left-hand side of the phone sees a volume rocker. The top of the phone gives you the 3.5mm headphone jack and around the back is the 3.2-megapixel camera, sans flash. On the bottom is the bespoke USB connection, which we have found will accept a standard Mini-USB in absence of the supplied cable.

The screen is the area where the HTC Tattoo really differentiates itself from the HTC Hero and other Android devices released so far. The HTC Tattoo comes with Android 1.6 (Donut) which supports a wider range of screen resolutions than previous versions, which is where HTC really save the money in this model.

The screen is a 2.8-inch QVGA 240 x 320 pixel resolution display and it is resistive - quite a drop down from the impressive screen found on the HTC Hero. The operating system, Android with HTC Sense sitting on top, is essentially the same but the experience is quite different.

Being a resistive display means that you lose the multi-touch support that gives the Hero such a good browsing experience. It also means that general navigation of the user interface loses the precision and immediacy that the best devices have. It means you'll spend more time poking the screen to elicit a response and scrolling isn't as accurate as you'd like it to be.

That said, Android and HTC Sense have been well designed for touch control, so this isn't a throwback to the bad old days of Windows Mobile: it still all works as it should, with HTC Sense binding together the Android experience.

We won't go into detail in HTC Sense here, but if you haven't heard about it, we'll run through the highlights. You get five homepages and the ability to flick left and right through them. They can be customised to your liking, adding HTC widgets for major applications like weather, email, Twitter, etc as well as Android widgets or shortcuts to people, applications, bookmarks and so on.

You also get Scenes, so if you want a different homepage selection for work, home, travel or whatever, you can do so. Android already pulls on your Google account for calendars, email and contacts, but Sense takes it a step further, giving you the option to pull in Facebook and Flickr too. It links Facebook and Google contacts, giving you a rich contacts experience, with easy access to an individuals updates, photos and so on. It doesn’t go quite as far as Motorola's Motoblur, but as a front end to a phone, we can only say that HTC Sense is the way modern mobile phone should be.

You still get those Sense quirks that don't quite work, like arriving at a "live" widget and finding it isn't updated, so you have to then wait for the refresh before you get the current information, but the same is true of the Hero. You'll also get the occasional pause on opening your more information-intensive apps, but nothing devastating.

But the biggest thing you'll notice is the step down in quality that dropping to QVGA resolution brings. The screen isn't as sharp as we'd quite like and the smaller size means less space for widgets overall. It also means that you'll need to view text larger for it to be clear enough to read.

However, if you haven't been living with a higher resolution device, then this isn't something that will really bother you and it competes with other compact smartphones, bringing with it both the customisation advantages of the Android platform and the friendly and fun HTC Sense.

But not so fast. As this is a Donut (Android 1.6) device with a lower resolution, there is a marked difference in the Marketplace too. For those that don't know, the Android Marketplace is where you go to pick up applications. The combination of Donut and QVGA mean that at present not all the apps are available yet. Developers have to recompile their app for 1.6 (which shouldn't be a problem) as well as make any changes to the user interface to it works with the screen. It's a process that will take time, but at the time of writing, most of our favourites have not yet made an appearance.

The Browser is good, but really misses multi-touch. It is fast enough, but you are dependent on double tap zooming or zoom buttons at the bottom the screen. The low resolution also means that you need to zoom a lot, because you can't read the text.

The smaller size and resistive screen also have an impact on the keyboard experience. You get HTC's keyboard with suggestions, which will smooth out the majority of spelling mistakes, but if you have big fingers, even the landscape QWERTY can be a little small. One advantage though, is that if you have fingernails/false nails (girls, I'm talking to you) you'll be able to bash out messages using the tips of your nails, something that the Hero won't let you do.

The hardware specs are comprehensive however. You get HSPDA, you get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well as an FM radio, a commuter favourite. You also get lots of sensory awareness including GPS, accelerometer and a digital compass, so as far as smartphones go it ticks all the right boxes.

To expand the memory there is microSD card slot hiding under the back cover, which you'll need to store all those pics, videos and music that the Tattoo is waiting to take on. Battery life is fairly average for a connected touch device, giving you about 5 and a half hours of talk time and 20 days on standby. In practise, once you start drawing on all that data you'll be charging it every night.

Verdict:

Overall the HTC Tattoo experience is a good one. Sure, it is a noticeable step down from the Hero and rightly so. You don't get the same touch response and it doesn't look as sharp as the Hero. The keyboard experience isn't as good (with a caveat on long nails) and the browser doesn't have the same natural experience without multi-touch.

But you don't lose out on the spec sheet, meaning that you'll still be able to take advantage of all the smartphone goodness you are looking for with all the Android customisation to make the phone your own, once the Marketplace catches up. The icing on the cake is HTC Sense, which we love.

If you are looking for an affordable and friendly entry to the Android world then the HTC Tattoo is worthy of consideration, but if you can stretch to the Hero, you'll get so much more out of it.

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PHOTOS: HTC Tattoo

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC HTC Tattoo Android

HTC Tattoo mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:33:28 +0100

The MSI X600 is the latest addition to the company’s ultra-slim X-series, following on from the affordable X300. With a larger 15.6-inch screen, the X600 isn’t as small, but it’s still impressively portable for such a large machine.

The most striking aspect is just how thin and light it is – measuring 25mm at its thickest, and weighing in at 2.1kg. The 15.6-inch screen offers impressive brightness levels, but contrast could be better, with colours appearing over-exposed. With a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, it’s a sharp panel, and it’s great for watching films on.

With a similar design to the X300, it looks like a scaled up MacBook Air, with curved edges and getting thinner at the front and sides. Despite this, it feels robust in the hand, with no sign of flex from the chassis itself. The screen doesn’t offer quite the same level of strength, bending slightly in the centre, but overall it feels like a quality piece of kit.

After the X300’s disappointingly bendy keyboard, we were sceptical about this machine’s build quality, but needn’t have worried. The keyboard is a vast leap in terms of quality, offering a solid base on which to type. The flat keys are large and responsive, and offer a comfortable typing action.

The left-hand of the chassis houses a USB/eSATA combo port, HDMI, Ethernet and VGA ports. They’re all located quite close together though – which could prevent you plugging in an HDMI cable if you’re using a bulky USB device. On the right-hand side, you’ll find a further two USB ports – which are also situated infuriatingly close together – headphone and microphone sockets, and a memory card reader.

Features-wise, you’ll find a capacious 500GB hard drive in place, and connectivity includes 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Gigabit Ethernet. A webcam in the top of the screen surround rounds off the specification.

Processing power comes from an ultra-low voltage Intel Core 2 Duo U9600 chip, running at 1.6GHz. With 4GB of memory, we found performance to be impressive, and much better than most low voltage systems. At around 4 hours, battery life is slightly more average, but at least this is a portable machine that is actually capable of multi-tasking.

Things get even better when it comes to multimedia use, as MSI has somehow crammed in a dedicated graphics card. With ATi’s Mobility Radeon HD 4330 chip in place, HD movies play back smoothly, you’ll be able to carry out video editing tasks, and even play the odd game in your spare time.

Verdict:

MSI’s X600 is an impressive laptop, packing a lot into its svelte lines. It may not offer the aluminium finish of Apple’s MacBook Pro, for instance, but it’s still robust and comfortable, and one of the most portable 16-inch machines we’ve seen. Add impressive performance to that, and it’s a difficult package to beat for the price.

Tags: Hardware Laptops MSI MSI X600 MSI X600

MSI X600 notebook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0100

War. Every gaming platform does it and each year a new pretender steps up to try to take the crown. Operation Flashpoint – the PC original – left fond memories of a true sandbox combat sim, with freedoms that aren't always found in other combat games, then and now.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising picks up the action in the not to distant future, weaving a neat historical timeline to set the scene before pitching you into the action. But action of the Operation Flashpoint variety doesn't mean a baptism of fire: you are broken in fairly gently, although the tutorial-style hints soon drop off and you are left to figure things out for yourself.

As Operation Flashpoint is a combat sim, you are given command right from the off: as a sandbox game, you can walk off and do what you like how you like, but your mission objectives have to be completed. Before starting a mission you are given these objectives and a map to peruse, a map which you can access at all points during actual gameplay.

Some missions will suggest you don't engage the enemy at all and with command and control playing a large part, you may find yourself completing objectives without actually firing your weapon at all. Mission objectives will be relayed to you over the radio, but it's easy to miss them. On normal difficulty it perhaps doesn't matter, as you can just follow the waypoints.

Commands are accessed through a menu on the right bumper button, leading you through a series of options to the final order. There are a range of things, some you might never use and some which become frequent occurrences. Setting the rules of engagement (through ROE) can be useful, to stop your men blatting off at hostiles as you move around the area of operations. There is no point in alerting them to your presence when you can just box round them and get on with the mission at hand.

"Heal wounded" is a command you'll find yourself using perhaps more often than you want, to force team members to patch up wounds, rather than just walking around bleeding out. But be warned, your medic and the injured party will often walk off to find some a tree to stand under, rather than just doing it where they are, so often expose themselves to the enemy. You can patch yourself too with a field dressing, but if you take a serious injury, you'll have to call the medic as you writhe on the ground.

You won't find yourself soaking up bullets however: one well-placed shot will kill you and if you take a leg wound you might find yourself unable to run or sprint. Mortars are especially irritating, but fortunately the enemy fire a spotting round first, giving you the chance to get out of the target area. But this is what you expect from a combat sim and it is often the case that if multiple members of your team are walking wounded, you need to re-think how you are going to achieve your objective.

Waypoints are provided to guide you in and out of the mission (until you move up to a higher difficulty level) and being sandbox, you'll find yourself doing a lot of walking and running around. Some might not like having to spend 10 minutes simply traversing the countryside, but it's inherent to how Operation Flashpoint works, and if you can find a vehicle, you can often steal it.

In some cases, waypoints will guide you straight into the enemy, so it is well worth making use of the binoculars in your inventory to recon the route before you step into the open. And that's the great thing about Dragon Rising – you can view the map, look for topographical features and use them to your advantage, as you would in real life.

But the game does show its hand far too often with autosave. You'll be walking along, approaching a ridge line and you'll notice the autosave symbol. Step over the ridge and the enemy engages you. It means that if you mess it up you can reload from that point, yes, but the nature of the game doesn’t always make this as smooth as it is in other combat games.

Because of the open nature of the game, you might arrive at an objective and get your autosave point in a position that you can't survive. After you try various tactics to extricate yourself from your predicament, you'll realise that restarting the mission is the only way you'll get through it, remembering, of course, not to barge straight back to the same spot again.

Graphically Dragon Rising is impressive. Time has been spent on character models, weapons and equipment to make things realistic. The terrain too contains plenty of detail, although once you are on your belly in the grass, you might find it is a little blocky. Settlements can be a little bland compared to some of the on-rails FPS titles out there, with the island of Skira looking like an awfully boring place to live, devoid of almost all life except the odd PLA solider and the occasional tractor.

But you probably won't notice, because I'll spend most of the time scrutinising the terrain looking for PLA adversaries. Missions hang together loosely along the plot, but do feel as though they sit in isolation. Special Forces do one thing, the Marines follow-up with something else, but really they could be totally disconnected events. It is also irritating the game selects your weapons load out and dumps you on the ground, not always best equipped to do your job. Still, half of the fun here is stripping your enemy of their weapons and rolling on with something different. Scoped weapons give you a distinct advantage as sniping enemies will make things much easier.

You also get access to vehicles which you can command or drive yourself although they don't play much of a part in the campaign itself, which is dominated by grunts on their feet.

Playing through the campaign in normal mode will only see you through a weekend of gaming, we spent perhaps 8 hours getting though it. Going back to complete the missions on more difficult levels may not appeal so much, as you already know what you have to do and more or less where it is, so if you fancy a challenge, it is perhaps worth avoiding the normal level altogether and setting out in a higher difficulty level.

Unfortunately the game is littered with the bugs, none that stopped us progressing, but making us keen to get the forthcoming patch into place. Shoot someone and you get a satisfying red mist (with a red cross on normal difficulty to indicate a kill shot), but sometimes you'll put a couple of slugs into someone and they just freeze, standing, lying, kneeling, without dropping down dead. We're also annoyed that corpses disappear after time, taking their weapons with them, so back-tracking to get more ammo doesn't always work.

AI is also a bit of a let down too. You fire team members will often walk right into the line of fire, or crouch on the wrong side of cover, meaning that despite your stalwart leadership, your team isn't always dependable. Things are much better, ironically, when playing as special forces, where your team seem to be able to fight and move without taking so many hits.

Online cooperative modes let you pair up with real teammates and ditch your AI buddies. There are also Annihilation and Infiltration online gaming modes, letting you battle it out with real people, which is fearsome, and really the scope for longevity as the game stands.

Verdict:

To be fair we were slightly disappointed with Dragon Rising. Having loved the original PC version, we expected a longer campaign, or more out of the box options. Multiplayer is great, yes, but we can't help feeling that Dragon Rising is really about opening the door for extending the game via downloadable content, which is rumoured to be coming soon.

Despite the bugs in the initial playable content, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising will entertain, but won't quite leave the impression that the original did.

Tags: Gaming Xbox 360 Action Codemasters Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising - Xbox 360 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0100

Joining Fujifilm’s current F200EXR and S200EXR models comes an attractive, largely metal build, pocket compact incorporating the same innovative "switchable" Super CCD EXR sensor and, for the first time in the series, marrying it to a 10x optical zoom (27-270mm equivalent in 35mm terms). It does this whilst maintaining a depth of a relatively slender-for-the-spec 22.7mm, and all for a price that, on initial inspection, suggests very good value.

Aimed, apparently, at "the gadget lover who likes to be in control", as we noted in our review of the DSLR-styled S200EXR, Fujifilm’s unique EXR sensor technology allows the user to utilise the F70EXR’s chip in three different ways. To kick off, photographers can shoot maximum resolution JPEGs – here 10 effective megapixels – or, secondly, capture images with increased dynamic range. The camera does this by taking two shots in quick succession – one at a high ISO (light sensitivity) setting, the other at a low ISO setting – combining them as a single five megapixel image.

The third user-selectable EXR option aims for high sensitivity but low noise; achieved by coupling together same colour pixels to achieve larger light gathering pixels. Again final resolution is 5 megapixels.

Can’t decide which setting best suits? Well, in addition there’s an auto EXR option that allows for point-and-shoot operation, the camera comparing the scene before it with six pre-programmed settings and deciding which EXR mode fits. Like rival intelligent auto modes, Fujifilm’s offering gets it right most of the time, allowing the user to concentrate on subject rather than settings if so desired. Anti-shake is offered in the form of CCD shift to cancel out any effects of hand wobble shooting in low light or maximum zoom.

With the camera powering up in 2 seconds, in the main, the F70EXR’s buttons and controls are of a decent size and similarly responsive, though we found the zoom lever a tad loose. Images are composed via an adequate 2.7-inch, 230k dot resolution LCD monitor at the rear, while EXR and regular auto shooting modes are selected via a dime-sized mode wheel set into the top right hand corner of the camera’s back plate, where it naturally falls under the thumb.

Other options include the more regular program AE and manual modes, plus video capture (disappointingly at a standard definition 640 x 480 pixels, whereas HD would have really helped this camera to shine), scene modes (including pro focus and pro low light modes alongside the regular pre-optimised beach, snow and firework settings), along with Fujifilm’s separate natural light and natural light with flash modes. Take a shot and the camera commits a full resolution image to memory – here a 47MB internal cache or removable SH/SDHC media – in less than 2 seconds.

Worth singling out for further attention are those pro focus and pro light options, as Fujifilm is claiming the F70EXR can deliver a "DSLR-like" performance in these modes. The first is, effectively, a focus bracketing mode that takes several images and combines them into a single shot to deliver a shallow depth of field effect, blurring distracting background detail and therefore making it best suited to portraits.

To get it to work properly you need both subject and camera to stay completely still, therefore use of a steady surface or tripod is a must. Ditto when selecting pro low light mode, which itself combines four frames taken at high ISO.

As on the S200EXR, helping the F70EXR to stand further apart from the pack – and make the most of its manufacturer’s analogue heritage – are additional eccentricities such a trio of film simulation modes located by pressing the quick-access "F" (for "Foto") at the rear, as are the essentials of image quality and ISO settings – here up to a whopping ISO 12800 equivalent on offer.

With an identical range of offerings to its sibling, F70EXR photographers can aim to match the look of shooting with the naturalistic Provia (the camera’s default setting), the warmer, flattering Velvia, or smoother, softer Astia film (Slightly wishy-washy for our tastes), plus more commonly found black and white or sepia colour effect options.

Use of the F70EXR will be intuitive for anyone who has previously handled a Fujifilm compact – there are many common family traits – whilst, for new converts, point and shoot operation will ease them in gently.

To our eyes, images straight out of the camera were naturally coloured if a little flat looking when left on default Provia setting. We welcomed the in-camera Velvia setting therefore for capturing the first colours of autumn. If, inevitably, the lower resolution shots look a little soft and almost painterly in comparison when downloaded and viewed on the desktop, a subtle application of Unsharp Mask in Photoshop can add the missing crispness.

Shooting at top ISO 12800 equivalent setting similarly delivers results more closely resembling a watercolour than photograph, but that said cheaper digital compacts deliver comparable results at a much lower ISO 1600. On this Fujifilm, users can shoot up to that ISO 1600 setting with surprisingly minimal amounts of noise. Plus you have all the additional features to tailor your images in camera we’ve already outlined.

Verdict:

More than most of its ilk, the F70EXR suggests itself as an ideal travel companion best suited to spur of the moment snaps. That said the broad focal range and EXR and film simulation modes do provide a wealth of creative possibilities, ably allowing the photographer to take in everything from landscapes to candid close ups. With the F70EXR suggesting excellent value even at its top UK recommended price of ?260, the ultimate winner here is the consumer.

Tags: Cameras Compact cameras Digital cameras 10 megapixels Fujifilm Fujifilm FInePix F70EXR Fujifilm FInePix F70EXR

Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR digital camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Last year’s XDE-500, the first DVD player equipped with Toshiba’s eXtended Detail Enhancement (XDE) technology, certainly took upscaled picture quality to new heights, but a replacement for high-def it was not.

Since then Toshiba has announced plans to launch a Blu-ray player, which means that this follow-up deck can be judged on its own merits and not as a Blu-ray substitute. The other good thing is that the price of the XDE-600 has been dropped to a more affordable level, costing almost half as much as its predecessor.

The feel and look of the XDE-600 is fairly similar to the rest of Toshiba’s current DVD range with its ultra-slim dimensions and snazzy gloss-black styling. Build quality is decidedly lightweight but acceptable for the money and it’s pleasing to see a USB port on the front, which allows you to play DivX, XviD, MP3, WMA and JPEG files.

With its generous array of sockets, the deck should slip into your system with minimal fuss. On the digital side you get an HDMI output as well as optical and coaxial audio outputs, while old-school users can opt for the Scart, Component or Composite video outputs – but none of these offer the benefits of XDE processing.

DVDs can be upscaled to 720p, 1080i or 1080p, and when playing an NTSC disc you can even choose to output at 1080/24p, but as the deck is locked into Region 2 it’s not much use.

XDE isn’t always activated when watching upscaled DVDs – you can toggle through three different modes using the "Pic Mode" button on the remote. Colour Mode tweaks blues and greens to give the picture a brighter and more natural look; Contrast Mode boosts the light/dark balance and makes detail in dark scenes easier to spot; while Sharp Mode improves the clarity of fine detail and edges.

Cleverly, XDE only enhances parts of the picture that need a leg up and leaves the rest alone. And very effective it is too – Colour Mode manages to boost the vibrancy of blue skies and sweeping green fields during The Fellowship Of The Ring without affecting the authenticity of skin tones and other hues.

Meanwhile, the superb Contrast Mode improves the visibility of the swarming goblins during the Mines of Moria sequence, without compromising on cinematic solidity or lessening the sense of dread and tension in this pivotal scene. During brighter scenes, it gives everything a greater sense of three-dimensionality and depth.

But if you simply want to boost detail, then the Sharp Mode does a great job. It emphasises fine textures on facial close-ups and makes scenery detail snap into sharper focus, resulting in beautifully punchy images. And it does all this without adding a hard white line around edges as some picture-sharpening modes are prone to do. In Colour and Contrast modes, this detail sharpening is also applied to the picture alongside the other enhancements.

Verdict:

Of course the quality of this processing does highlight how mediocre the XDE-600’s non-XDE upscaled pictures are – detail is vague, colours are uninspiring and noise seems more of a problem. But then buying this player and not using XDE is like driving a Formula 1 car and not hitting the KERS boost button – keep it activated and you’ll be treated to some of the best upscaled pictures you’re likely to see at this price.

Tags: Home Cinema DVD players Toshiba Toshiba XDE-600 Toshiba XDE-600

Toshiba XDE-600 DVD player originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Napster has had a tough time since "going legit". While it was the foremost filesharing network of its day, and arguably the original source of the explosion in P2P antics over this decade, it's had trouble transferring that brand power into a legitimate service.

Until recently, Napster offered two tiers of subscription: ?10 per month would get you unlimited streaming, and ?15 would get you DRMed downloads that wouldn't work on iPod and would be unlistenable if you let your subscription lapse. But recently the company withdrew these offerings and launched a new service which is cheaper and offers more than both of those options.

For ?5 per month, you can now get a Napster subscription which offers you streaming and five non-DRMed MP3 downloads each month. The idea is that you listen to loads of different music and then download the best tracks so you can burn them to CD or put them on your MP3 player.

The company is undercutting rival streaming service Spotify by offering what appears on paper to be a more generous deal for half price, but how does it really stack up in reality? Can Napster grab a piece of the digital music pie by making its subscription options finally worth the cash?

Napster has two interfaces for playing music - a website and a desktop app. The two resemble each other very closely, and a number of times while testing them both we got confused as to which we were in and had to double-check. Why? Because it all runs at the speed of the website.

And that's not quick. From double-clicking a song to hearing it come out of your speakers means buffering for 4-7 seconds on a connection that can play uncached tracks out of Spotify in less than a second. This is likely because Napster streams all its music itself, whereas Spotify relies on P2P - pulling tracks off other users nearby who've listened to that song recently and have it cached.

Once things are going, transfer is fine. Streams are at just 128kbps, which is rather on the too-low side, but we didn't get a single dropout or buffering experience during our testing. So far, so okay. You can right-click tracks to buy them in 256kbps MP3 format, and once you do, they'll play in the desktop app at the higher quality.

That desktop app also doubles as a music library organiser. Unlike Spotify's client which is stripped-down and just does streaming and playlists, Napster takes a leaf out of iTunes' book. It lets you rip and burn CDs, control your MP3 collection, generate "Genius"-style autoplaylists and access preprepared playlists from Napster, albeit with bizarre and terrifying titles like "A special compilation of tracks about mum", "Songs about being crazy" and "Tony Blair's 10 years in power".

That last bit reflects in a nutshell what permeates the design of Napster. It doesn't feel like it's designed for music fans. It gets in the way of what you want to do - constantly asking if you want an auto-generated playlist of a band, rather than letting you get access to that band's catalogue for you to choose yourself. It takes two clicks to start playing the current top 10 singles in the UK, but five actions to get up a list of songs by a band.

Then there's other strange hoops that the software demands you jump through. It demands that you download and install a plugin as an EXE file downloaded off a website, then restart the software, before you can rip a CD in 320kbps MP3 format - the default WMA encoding (which won't work on iPods) will only go up to 128kbps, bizarrely.

And media buttons on your keyboard, if you have them, will only work if the application has the focus on your screen. If you're writing a word document and you want to skip tracks, you'll need to swap to Napster, then hit the "skip forward" button - completely negating the usefulness of such features.

But let's go back to the original question - is it worth ?5 per month? The answer is "yes". A fiver for an unlimited amount of listening whatever you like in a big catalogue (no real complaints in that department) is worth the asking price, even if it's in low quality on irritatingly slow software. The free MP3s are great, but amount to little more than a conscience boost - they won't win over anyone who's ever used a filesharing network.

But don't click that subscribe button just yet. If you're a music lover and want a tool to listen to the songs that you want, in great quality, on fast software without getting a computer-generated playlist constantly in the way, then Napster isn't as good an experience as its competitors. Spotify gives you far more for the extra that it costs - Napster has said that it has absolutely no plans for mobile streaming, for example.

Spotify has also been undercut by Sky's "Sky Songs" offering, which will give you ten songs per month for ?6.50 or 15 for ?8. Seems better value on paper, but we haven't seen the catalogue or the usability of the service yet.

Verdict:

If you love music and know what you want the listen to the majority of the time, Napster is a little irritating and a pain. If you're a more casual fan, then it's a decent budget option to get more music into your life.

Tags: Audio Software Media streaming Napster Music downloads

Napster UK subscription service originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:23 +0100

It is probably safe to start this review by saying that the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj is the one with the projector. A bold move by Nikon, perhaps, launching a device that mashes together the trend for pico projectors with a regular 12-megapixel camera.

If you are really wondering how you combine a camera and a projector, then it is worth glancing at the iFixit teardown of the camera that lays out its innards. It's probably not as exciting as you'd expect, it simply adds the small projector into the mix.

This does of course mean that the camera carries a little weight, making it larger than other 12-megapixel compacts. So you do make something of a compromise for your pocket projector but it's not devastating. The measurements swell to 99.5 x 62.5 x 23mm, average dimensions for compacts a few years back, but well above the likes of a comparable modern camera. It will still slip happily into your jacket pocket and it isn't as though it is wasted space – there's a projector in your pocket after all.

Build quality is good and the S1000pj feels solid in the hand, free from creaks as you manipulate it. Controls are logically laid out, with most of the options sitting to the right of the 2.7-inch display on the back, where they fall neatly under your right thumb.

Across the top of the camera you get the usual shutter button surrounded by the controls for the 5x zoom. You also get a dedicated projector button and a slider so you can get the thing in focus depending on your distance from the surface you are projecting on to.

The extra bulk of the camera means the 5x optical zoom is housed internally, without the need to slide out the lens as is common on smaller models. Startup is reasonably swift and zooming is fast, if a little noisy. You get a 28-140mm (equiv) range from the lens and when out of use it sits behind a lens cover. No protection is offered to the projector lens, however, which sits in the centre of the camera under the flash.

Menus are easy to navigate using the four-way controller and ok button on the back. Although no manual control is offered, the Auto mode does offer you the likes of limiting the ISO range, or indeed picking the option you want, right up to the top ISO 6400, albeit accepting a drop to 3 megapixels at this setting, and the 3200.

Menus change based on whichever shooting mode you have currently selected and once you dive out of the regular Auto mode you find your options are limited, usually to the overall resolution and nothing else. Direct controls through buttons let you selection flash firing mode, self-timer, exposure compensation and macro mode (good from 3cm) however.

The usual scene selections are in here, as well as a Smart portrait mode which combines all the technical gubbins to try and eke out a good shot: face detection, skin softening, smile timer and blink detection. Why this isn't simply bundled into the Scene options too we don't know. You also get Subject tracking which is a neat focus lock, whether you use it to track a subject across the lens or to reposition a focal point to aid composition.

Video capture is supported at an average top setting of 640 x 480 (which holds a fairly solid 30fps). The results are good in daylight, but even in shadow or shade outdoors does pick up a lot of noise bands, with lower light video very noisy overall. The front mounted mic is relatively good though, giving good results, but exposed to wind noise and the like outdoors.

As a camera the S1000pj gives you results you'd expect from an experienced company like Nikon and it is good to see that image quality hasn't been compromised to deliver the novelty of the projector.

Colours are well represented, with nice punchy blues, giving great rich skies. Reds can be a little over-saturated at times, but not to a degree that detracts from the overall image and you do get colour presets in the menu if you want? something different. Exposure and metering is good, with clear on-screen symbols of when camera shake is likely to occur, when the included vibration reduction tries to help out.

Low light performance is reasonable, with the ISO 6400 taking on something of a mottled appearance. It won't stand 100% views or cropping, but if your plan is sharing online, then it works well enough. With the lens packing a max aperture of F/3.9, it isn't as versatile as some rivals in low light. However the best results come out of restraining the ISO range through the menu to stop Auto running wild, something we like a lot. High contrast scenes are handled relatively well with purple fringing kept under control and certainly no more of a problem than in other compacts out there.

We did notice some darkening in corners when using the camera at the widest angle with some barrel distortion too, but once you know it is there it can be used to artistic benefit – see the Cenotaph sample image.

Sitting at the left-hand end of the top plate is the projector button. Press it once and the projector fires up and you have your image beamed out the front. It is rated at 10 lumens, so best results come in a darkened room. Daylight with the lights off is certainly possible, but you really need to pull the curtains or close the blinds to get the greatest impact. Outdoors, in daylight, you won't get a visible image.

The throw is from 26cm (5-inch image) up to 2m (40-inch image) and the slider on the top will help you get it in focus across this range. Resolution of the projected image is 640 x 480 which is to be expected from a projector this small. It supports zoom however, so you can zoom in on parts of a photo to see more detail if you wish.

Options are limited, but you can set-up slideshows so you don't have to keep pressing the buttons and it even comes with music tracks. In the box you'll also find a small stand, giving the camera an angle to raise the projection off the end of a table. You also get a remote control, so you can show your images with ease, or use it for remote capture, a much preferred option over the usual self timer, with zoom controls too.

You can only project those photos and videos you have taken, you can't use it as a giant Live View option – you'd be looking at what you were projecting, so you'd be left with a feedback loop and little else anyway. It isn't designed for playing back media from other devices, but it did project other image files we had on our memory card.

Battery life is rated at 220 shots, although using the projector cuts this drastically and we found with mixed snapping and projecting we managed nearly 100 before we got a battery warning: some of this can be put down the excitement of having a projector to show off though.

Verdict:

So the camera delivers decent results and the projector works too. But the real question is what you are going to do with it. We guess that if you are interested in the camera you can already see the benefits of having projection in the same device.

If you spend your time taking shots and then instantly plugging into a computer to show them off again, then this saves that step for sure. We don't know who might do this, but the S1000pj makes it possible. But then we've all been in that situation when someone shows you a shot on the back of a camera. Give yourself a darkened room and you'll be able to entertain wedding guests or party goers with shots of the day. Kids love it too and there seems to be limitless entertainment in taking photos or video and projecting it onto the wall or ceiling.

Nikon have stuck to their principles and delivered a compact camera which performs as you would expect it to, so you don't lose out in opting for the S1000pj, except in pocket bulk.

If you've never been in the situation where you need to instantly share your images you'll get the same imaging quality in a smaller package for less money elsewhere. You do pay a little over the odds for the camera, but what price do you put on novelty?

Tags: Cameras Digital cameras Compact cameras Nikon Pico projectors Nikon Coolpix S1000pj 12 megapixels

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj digital camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:30:48 +0100

While the first Zune was just another MP3 player to many, the same can't be said about the Zune HD, the follow-up player from Microsoft. Could the Windows maker finally have a device that will give a new impetuous to the MP3 player market? We've been living with one for the last month to work it whether the hype is justified.

Coming in two sizes - 16GB and 32GB - the Zune HD is sleek, solid, and well-made, with plenty of wow factor. It is light years ahead of the original model: it's Schwarzenegger to Danny DeVito in Twins. It really is that different.

Now you get a thin player, dominated by the 3.3-inch OLED screen with a single button underneath. The screen, which is capacitive, multi-touch and gesture-enabled is crisp, bright and clean in its performance. It will make your video and images come alive to an extent that we haven't seen on a PMP before. It's impressive.

The rest of the design is equally minimalist. The single button is rectangular as not to be confused with another more popular MP3 player on the market, while the power button can be found at the top. A 3.5mm headphone jack can be found next to the dock connector at the bottom, which is used for charging and plugging into accessories. Placing it at the bottom means its ready to use when you pull it out of your pocket - a nice touch. For those who like buttons there is a further side button that gives you direct access to the player controls.

The metal casing, which is held down by four mean looking screws is tough and all in all this is one good looking device.

Power it up and you'll quickly find that it's made by Microsoft. Why do we say that? Well because before you go anywhere you have to sync it with your PC. Once synced, you've then got to update it with the latest firmware version and that's after you've downloaded the Zune software to get the thing working in the first place. It's not the end of the world, but you expect gadgets these days to just work, not to have to be updated from day one.

Mac users with the urge to sign up, take heed: the Zune software isn't Mac compatible and therefore you'll either have to find a friend to install the software or invest in virtualisation software to run on your Mac. If you don't it's a charming looking paperweight. Microsoft has teased with the promise of Mac software, but don't hold your breath.

So you've updated the software and you're up and running. The Zune's interface is stunning: graphically luscious and very fast thanks to the Nvidia Tegra chip inside. That means rather than a 2D menu interface that sees you scrolling from left to right, things pop, slide, shizzle and generally pazzam their way around the screen.

The touch interface only helps in the day-to-day control of the player and we found it incredibly responsive to use, Apple responsive to use.

The Zune HD offers two menu systems to get to your music, pictures, videos and apps quickly. The main menu gives you an overview of what is happening now with a "Now Playing" box starting proceedings. Then there is something Microsoft has called "Pins" that allow you to Pin something to the menu.

The idea, and it's one that works, is if you have a favourite album or video you can "pin" it to the menu for quick access. After "Pins" comes "History" so you can see what you've been listening or watching and then "New" which lists the latest tracks you added to the player - handy if you are wanting to go straight to that new funky track you just bought.

While the system works incredibly well it does look complicated if you don't have all the album art in place - you just get placeholders.

A more traditional menu system, and the one you are more likely to use on a day-to-day basis is the list menu that lists the core functions and features of the player. Here you get access to music, video, pictures, radio, Marketplace to buy apps, social aspects of the player, the Internet browser, apps, and settings.

The main focus here is the music, although it's not the only focus. Pressing the music button whizzes you into the your music collection and you can, as you would expect, list songs as Playlists, Songs, Genres, Albums, and Artists.?

If you don't have your own music collection, or are just bored with it, then you can sign up to get a Zune Pass. Think Napster or Spotify for your MP3 player. For $14.99 you can access thousands of songs to download them on to your Zune HD and swap them out when you are bored. It's not a new idea, but it is a great way to get unlimited music with minimum of fuss, if you are happy to pay the price of two new albums a month. Within the deal you also get to keep 10 tracks a month, so when you exit the programme you at least have something to show for it.

With your Zune Pass sorted (you get a 14 day free trial in the box) you can then go about creating Smart DJ lists. Basically they are like Genius lists from Apple, created in the accompanying PC software rather than on the player itself.

When you think you're just about done on the music front, the player then smacks you with what Microsoft call HD radio. In reality it's a standard FM radio, but the reception is excellent (we tested it in New York). If the radio station provides track details then you get that information on the screen, and the player allows you to seamlessly pause the radio so you don't miss the best bit, be it a song or documentary.?

Better still if you really like the song, and it is recognised, you can add it to your "cart" to buy the track from Marketplace. Clever.

Marketplace is where you spend your money. With a music and apps store, the offering isn't massive at the moment from the player itself. It's more of a "glance" rather than a compressive offering on the go, and you get access to top songs, top albums, new releases.

Apps are a combination of games, productivity tools and bits and bobs. So far there are just 10 available, eight of which are games. The other two are a weather app and a calculator app.

Of course this will grow in size and scope as Marketplace gains momentum. At the moment you can only search via New, Update and All. If you had 85,000 apps in there it would get very complicated to find relevant apps.

With a multi-touch gesture-based screen and a Tegra graphics chip, this should, if the Marketplace can get momentum, have huge potential. But for now it is a bit of a damp squib. Why Microsoft didn't allow developers to port games from Windows Mobile is beyond us. Apps is definitely one to watch, but for the moment not something you would base your purchase on.

Something else you shouldn't base your purchase on is the browser. It might say internet browser on the box, but it is very basic experience. Utilising the on-board wireless connectivity you get a very simple browser based on Internet Explorer. On the plus side it's quick and you can zip around the Internet checking out your favourite websites like Pocket-lint.

There is an on-screen keyboard (portrait and landscape) so you can enter the URL, there is a favourite button so you can access your favourite sites, and finally a Bing search button so you can search the web. There isn’t multiple tab browsing, history, and any navigation elements apart from refresh and back. There is no Flash support for watching video, YouTube or not.

As for the software, the interactive interface is easy to use allowing you to manage your syncing options, and follows the same flow based interface found on the device. It owes more to Microsoft's work with the Xbox 360 rather than PowerPoint.

Verdict:

As a music player this is a pretty compelling offer. The player is small, well priced, and sexy enough to impress. The music, HD Radio, video and image playback on that OLED screen is very cool, and the Zune Pass if that's what you want, is great. However that's where it stops. The Internet browser is pretty worthless for anything other than checking the odd web page and the app's offering at the moment is heavily unrepresentative of what it could be.

So where does that leave you? If you are anti-Apple and just want a decent MP3 player that will grow over time then this is a great choice. If Microsoft had released this as the first Zune it's market share would be very different. Compared to the competition, other than Apple, we would put this in second place.

However just as Microsoft catches up with Apple and it's iPod touch, Apple moves the focus towards gaming and being a device that's more than just music. If you are looking for something more than just a music player and more along the lines of a games console, come internet browser, come app device, come music player, then while the Zune tries, it falls drastically short.

It's a shame, because combined with the Zune Pass, the Tegra 3D chip, and OLED screen the Zune HD has the potential to be so much more than it currently is. The good news for Microsoft is that its a lack of software that's the problem, not something lacking with the device itself.

Lots of potential, but at the moment very much a wait and see unless that Zune Pass really is what you are after.

Sadly, it's only available in the US, starting at $219.99 for the 16GB version.

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Tags: Audio MP3 players Microsoft Zune HD Microsoft Zune HD

Microsoft Zune HD MP3 player originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:05:43 +0100

Hugh Jackman busts out his fulsome sideys for a fourth time, as the X-Men creative team attempt to discover if three films in a series really is the cut-off point before the rot sets in. Focusing on the pedicure-phobic firebrand, XMO:W delves into Logan’s pre-trilogy past to explain how he became the much-loved cigar-chomping berzerker Wolverine.

It turns out that not only is he nigh-on indestructible, Father Time also has a hard time landing one on him, as it all kicks off back in the mid-1800s with a young Logan inadvertently killing his father with the aid of his trademark claws. Fleeing the crime scene with his equally mutanty brother Victor, the genetically gifted pair drift into military service, fighting for over a century thanks to their invulnerability.

Victor’s increasingly unruly nature eventually lands the pair in front of a firing squad - and when that fails to hit the spot, they’re enlisted by a General Stryker into a covert black ops team of fellow mutants. After one mission to locate a crashed meteorite in Africa leaves a bad taste in his mouth, Logan walks away, leaving Victor behind in favour of an idyllic life as a Canadian lumberjack with girlfriend Kyla.

Of course, there’s no place for an idyll in an action film, and Stryker tracks Logan down, claiming that Victor is killing off his former team-mates. After he refuses to help, Victor’s actions soon force his hand.

Stryker offers Logan assistance in his quest to get revenge on Victor by reinforcing his skeleton with the metal from the meteorite, but Stryker’s attempt to wipe his memory at the same time causes the newly pimped Wolverine to do a runner. After an attempt to take Wolverine down fails, the spiky-knuckled hero realises he needs to deal with Victor and Stryker – plus any other surprise packages the general has up his sleeve.

Less operatic than the X-Men trilogy, this outing feels more conventional action fare and a perfect jump-on point for newcomers. Hugh Jackman is reliably spot-on as the reluctant ass-kicker, capturing the more human, renegade anti-hero vibe that makes Wolverine closer to cinematic icons like Dirty Harry than spandex-packers like Spider-Man.

Packed with gorgeous Canadian scenery, it has a less intense, densely packed quality than the trilogy, which is both a good and bad thing. That sense of airiness reinforces the fact that for all its merits, this film is merely a sub-plot blown to feature length.

The origin story is an import from comics, usually used as either a filler between storylines or as a major exercise in character exploration – we’re unsure how much a fan will have got from this, so we feel inclined to the more exploitative former.

Verdict:

Enjoyable as it is, we can’t help but be distracted by the efforts to rinse the franchise – especially by the proliferation of new characters, who feel more like markers for future films (a trend Marvel films has been working recently, with small guest spots setting up future films like The Avengers).

With the casting of these roles also favouring newbie actors over the experienced heads that populated the trilogy, the films LAO SADLY lack the weight of presence that the likes of Ian McKellen, Halle Berry and Patrick Stewart gave (oh, and Vinnie Jones).

It’s a dynamic, entertaining and solid piece of cinema that won’t disappoint fans of the series – yet it won’t wow them either.

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Rating: 12

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Dominic Monagahan, Ryan Reynolds.

Directed by: Gavin Hoods

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Extras: Commentaries, interviews, featurettes, deleted scenes

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Tags: Home Cinema DVD X-Men Origins Wolverine

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - DVD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

The smartphone market might be dominated by phones from Apple, HTC and BlackBerry, but there are some users, mainly teenagers, who can't afford high monthly phone bills. What happens then??The Nokia 6790 or Surge to use its American name is a QWERTY sporting smartphone with a strong focus on attempting to be cool. You know, for the kids.

Those who sign up get a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, a slide-out keyboard and 3G connectivity. Kids might be all about happy slapping and sending picture messages, but Nokia doesn't seem to care that they'll want to do this with any quality. So on the back there is a rather disappointing 2-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom.

If you're worried about getting lost you don't have to as GPS is included, while stereo Bluetooth should appeal to those of a music disposition although the lack of a 3.5mm headphones jack is disappointing. A microSD card slot, not hot swappable, makes up for the rather poor 128MB of internal memory.

As this isn't your high-end smartphone, you don't get Wi-Fi nor do you get a stylish, mature design. It's not Sony Ericsson Walkman handset crazy, but then it is rather plastic. Designed to be used landscape rather than portrait as you would normally expect a phone to look, the black glossy handset is small enough to put up against your head for the 4 hours of talk time you get without looking like a tool. Compared to the Motorola CLIQ/DEXT, this is decidedly miniature.

In use and that design is cluttered with buttons. Besides the four row QWERTY keyboard, which features flat rectangular keys, the top slider element that houses the screen is awash with them as only Nokia know how. That means two home screen keys (why oh why?) a very clicky loud d-pad and shortcuts to the browser and mail.

Get past the design and surprisingly you do get Nokia's S60 rather than S40 operating system giving you plenty more scope when it comes to apps.?If that wasn't enough to get Nokia fans excited then full Flash support that you can show full screen probably will. None of this ?coming 2010 malarkey, Flash videos from YouTube and other players on your phone. Take that Apple fanboys.

Of course you can't say that too loudly as the browser certainly isn’t the speediest around, and even on the 3G network it will take time to stream those YouTube or Flash video favourites you've found. Getting a "Running low on memory" error message mid watch, doesn't help the cause either.

Head over to the social aspects and you get Facebook on-the-go and JuiceCaster pre-installed, not that it makes much difference as you can download them and others anyway via the Ovi store. This is S60 remember.

Verdict:

As an entry-level phone the S60 sporting Nokia Surge is best described as a mini mini N97 with some of the features stripped out.

The S60 interface is looking tired, certainly compared to many of the more innovative handsets from Samsung, LG and INQ, although we are pleased that Nokia opted for the more functional S60 over S40 OS.

The form factor does make for easy typing, but everything else just lacks excitement. Sorry.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Nokia Nokia Surge Nokia 6790 Nokia 6790 Surge

Nokia 6790 Surge mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

EA's Rock Band has been rocking the gaming world with its four player band action on the PS3 and Xbox 360 for some time now. EA is clearly hoping that success will translate to a mobile phone version available on the iPhone and iPod touch with the launch of Rock Band for the iPhone and iPod touch. But will it be any good, are you going to strum your way to success on the train, and what about the vocal elements? We managed to get a sneak peak of the new title before its official launch in the App Store.

If you are wondering where you are going to plug in the guitar, bass, drums and microphone, don't. That's right, this is a mobile game designed for a touchscreen phone rather than something on your console. That means there are no accessories, and no having to drag a guitar on the bus or train to work. Instead everything is controlled via you tapping your fingers in tune to the music at the relevant moment, like Guitar Hero on the DS.

As you might expect the game's core values and approach are still here and that means you get to choose up to 20 songs initially to "Rock" to.

The game itself is broken down into a number of different elements; quick play, world tour, multiplayer and a music store that allows you to buy additional songs to play. All are self-explanatory, but the one you will be attempting to play the most is the Multiplayer mode.

Here you get to play up to three other players (four in total) just as you can in the console version. You can connect to other iPods or iPhones via a Bluetooth or wireless connection although for the Wi-Fi they have to be on the same local network.

Players can then grab an "instrument" and start tapping away in tune to the music that blurts out of the speakers or your headphones.

With three difficulty levels and the ability for players to choose different level settings, you should be able to cajole other mates in on the action as long as they have bought the game as well. Disappointingly the vocal selection doesn't require you to sing into your phone or iPod (something to do with EA not believing people would be happy doing that on public transport - what do they know?), but it's still good fun.

Graphics are basic but effective and in our multiplayer gaming session with a spokesperson from EA the game played with zero lag across a Bluetooth connection.

On it's own Rock Band is fun, but short-lived. While our play was brief you could see that unless you like the repetitive nature of tapping on a screen then you'll soon get bored. That said, the multiplayer element is much more fun. While you don't get the bonus of real instruments, you still get to play with you mates on the back of the bus, helping each other out, and generally knowing that you have a better fingering action than your mate.

Verdict:

With pricing details yet to be confirmed, but confirmation from EA that it is likely to be in line with other "premium" games they offer, if you're a Rock Band fan who has an iPhone this will allow you to take the action on the road.

There is no connection with the console version, i.e., you can't share songs, but with 20 to get you started and the ability to buy more from a dedicated music store, this should give you plenty of entertainment, especially when you get your mates involved.

Rock Band for iPhone is expected out at the end of October.

Tags: Gaming Phones Mobile phone games iPhone EA Rock Band iPhone apps Rock Band for iPhone

EA Rock Band for iPhone - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:33:27 +0100

RIM today announced the BlackBerry Storm 2, the second iteration of its touchscreen handset. We had our hands on the new device this morning, and this is what we made if it.

In terms of look, little has changed from previously, following those distinct BlackBerry design lines, which now includes rubberised side volume and convenience keys. The backplate is metal, so feels sturdy enough and is comfortable in the hand. Measuring 112.5 x 62 x 13.9mm, its dimensions are average, even if the 160g is surprisingly weighty.

The front sees a 3.25-inch 480 x 360 pixel resolution display, featuring SurePress technology. SurePress, RIM tell us, is designed to differentiate between touching something and actually wanting to trigger that action. So, to select something on the screen, like an icon, you press the screen, it clicks and the phone reacts.

Previously this was enabled by a mechanical system residing behind the screen. The downside was that the screen had to return to its original position before you could select something else. This system has been replaced with an electromechanical system, so you still click it, but the phone can respond to subsequent clicks straight after. If you are typing, you can now use two thumbs to bash out emails without waiting between letters.

It seems to work too and settling down to crack out an email on the landscape keyboard is easy enough, once you remind yourself to press and not just touch. This is a pretty essential point, as BlackBerrys are known and loved for their keyboards (along with the email service, of course).

Various versions of the keyboard ware available, from QWERTY in landscape and portrait, through to RIM's SureType keyboard, which Pearl users will be familiar with, and works really well in portrait mode. Predictive text helps to iron out any mistakes you might make, whilst the key you press glows blue: it doesn't give you pop-up letters like you get on the iPhone and others, but we found it accurate enough in our short play.

Of course, it is difficult to judge the overall performance of the keyboard experience without really getting down to some power email action – something that BlackBerry users know all about. Email is a core component of your BlackBerry experience, and nothing has changed on this front, which is a good thing, but from a visual point of view it doesn’t have the impact that some of the recent alternatives do.

If you are a BlackBerry user, you'll be able to pick-up the Storm 2 and know where everything is. You'll know how to access the menu, you'll know which settings to tweak. The BlackBerry Storm 2 will ship with OS version 5, which has been waiting in the wings for some time and in that regard, nothing much has changed from a cosmetic point of view.

So your home page carries a number of shortcut icons allowing you to dive into your applications. Once you've entered say, emails or contacts, you'll find it the same as other BlackBerry devices. The touch response was pretty fast, but in a device that is free from content, it perhaps isn't a fair test, so we’ll reserve judgement on how it really performs until we've played with it some more.

Searching is pretty smart however, with touch bringing information to your fingertips easily. For example, you can press a contact's name and the Storm 2 will search for that person. Press the subject of an email, and it will search for that. We didn't get the chance to really test out how far you can go with it, but if it saves you opening a search window and typing in a search string, then so much the better.

We had a little play with cut and paste too, which takes advantage of multi-touch. Put two fingers on the screen and – like the iPhone – you get two tabs to select the text you want to copy. We tested it in a number of different places, so it seems like you can copy pretty much anything – unlike the Palm Pre, for example.

But having said that, we did find it being incredibly sensitive to our touch, jumping over lines and sometimes giving us three tabs for selecting text, suggesting that it's either a system that needs some refinement, or it's going to take a little practise to really use well.

Wi-Fi is included on this model, having been omitted from the original Storm, which will please those who like to browse within a home network, or those who want to avoid the burden of data costs whilst roaming.

You get the usual combination of HSPA, GPS and Bluetooth too, to keep you connected, and around the back is the usual autofocus 3.2-megapixel camera, with an LED flash. A 3.5mm headphone jack will let you listen to your music on the move.

Verdict:

Whilst we are fans of BlackBerry and their exemplary email service, you can't help feeling that the BlackBerry Storm 2 doesn't quite wow like the recent crop of touch devices. You don't get that easy OTA syncing out of the box like you do with Android devices and you don't get that super intuitive interface like the iPhone.

We pushed RIM on this point, asking about whether we would see an integrated contacts list or a "people-focused" approach, but it doesn't seem to be coming. Sure, you can install the Facebook app and use Google Sync to bring your contacts in with pictures, but it doesn’t have the buzz of something like Palm's Synergy or Motorola's Motoblur.

It is worth asking who the Storm 2 is aimed at: is it designed to dominate the consumer touchscreen space, or is it supposed to bring a larger screen to enhance the multimedia experience for business users? In today's world of smartphones is there really a difference between the two?

Taken at first glance, the BlackBerry Storm 2 doesn't seem to make inroads into the consumer space with any great pace. It gives you your core BlackBerry functions - that premium email service that BlackBerry users know and love - but you can't help feeling that over the life of your next BlackBerry contract, the Storm 2 and the BlackBerry OS is going to age quite fast.

We will be getting the BlackBerry Storm 2 in for a full review soon, where we'll see if it really keeps pace with the rest of the touchscreen pack.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones BlackBerry BlackBerry Storm 2 RIM

BlackBerry Storm 2 - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:46:35 +0100

The Ricoh CX2 is basically the same as the CX1, it looks stylish and is undoubtedly well made; once again we had the black liveried version to test, though silver and a two-tone version with a coloured top plate are available. A simple control layout belies the underlying complexity; a small mode dial perched on the rear corner joins with a small on/off button and a combined zoom control and shutter button.

The lens zoom lever controls a very nice 28-300mm (35mm equivalent) lens that has a respectable F/3.5 to F/5.6 maximum aperture range that is only slightly reduced compared with the CX1’s F/3.3 to F/5.2 aperture range.

The lens is very sharp and helps gather and direct light on the same 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor as found in the CX1, but what is more remarkable is the fact that such a large lens can be folded away into the camera’s svelte 29.4mm wide body. Though slim, the camera’s handling is actually rather good, although the long focal lengths on offer mean reduced apertures, and so camera shake can become an issue, particularly in low light and at the longer end of the 300mm zoom.

The Smooth Imaging Engine IV returns and combines with the sensor to give high-speed image processing for an improved 5fps shooting an impressive frame rate as good as some entry level DSLRs. It can also shoot in an “enhanced” ultra high continuous shooting mode, that provides VGA sized images at up to 120fps. These images are combined into one final Multi-Picture Format image.

An M-Continuous Shooting Plus mode joins the high-speed snapping systems and provides a way to shoot images at 15fps or 30fps, the camera storing the 1 or 2-seconds worth of frames just prior to removing your finger from the shutter release.

In other words, keeping your finger on the shutter button until just after the key event has finished, you can be sure you’ve captured it on one or more of the preceding 15 (or 30) frames, each shot at 2MP necessary to achieve the high frame rate.

The screen stays active throughout – so you can pan along and compose with fast moving action – even though the refresh rate is reduced. Ricoh’s high-speed shooting system works very well, with the caveat on the image file size, but even an 2MP, astute use of image editing software should give reasonable sized prints if required.

One of the other features developed for the CX1 and found here also, is the rather tongue twisting Dynamic Range Double Shot Mode, thankfully, DR for short. DR is designed to boost the camera’s effective dynamic range – something often seen as the Achilles heel of digital cameras – to around 12EV, at least according to Ricoh. In essence, the system works by combining two images, or rather, the properly exposed portions of two images shot at different exposures, one biased to the highlights, the other shadows.

An obvious downside is immediately obvious if you try this hand held, or with moving subjects; the combined image is blurred and so DR is only really effective on static subjects that are shot using a tripod. However, when it works the effect is akin to an HDR image and helps get more shadow and highlight information from otherwise hard-to-expose scenes.

So, a tripod and careful use of DR can provide a powerful tool for hard to expose shots or where (perhaps) you might want to dig out more detail than would otherwise be achievable. Of course, the inclusion of a RAW shooting mode, something lacking here, might have helped too as you can claw back extra highlight and shadow detail when playing with RAW files on a PC. But, the extra processing “at home” this needs, may be a step too far for the potential, “snapper” oriented market?

The “strength” of the DR effect can be adjusted in four steps from “very weak” to “strong” but that necessitates a certain amount of trial and error to learn which strength is best for specific subjects; practice is important then here and on balance it’s better to shoot four (or rather eight!) images at each level and be safe than waste time fiddling, since you’ll need to “test” the effect for each subject you use it on.

However, the excellent screen makes this experimentation in-camera and when in the field achievable, since its 920,000-pixel resolution provides enough detail to see what’s going on. However, the cleverest bit about this is that Ricoh’s boffins developed an algorithm that compensates for overexposure within the green segments of the R, G, B, Bayer colour filter matrix (green allows more wavelengths of light through, than does the red and blue sectors of the matrix) used to reconstruct colour in the images. It re-calculates lost green values from surrounding blue and red sections of the Bayer filter helping get better and more natural colours.

Just like the CX1, there’s a dedicated processor for this, so it does not slow image capture or image processing and it is always active, can be used in the DR mode and on the two DR images (see above) to give a much more dramatic boost, if needed. Another big plus for those needing high quality images, is this system works without affecting the sensitivity, so does not have the problem of increasing image noise within images.

The CX2’s white balance control includes Multi-Pattern Auto White Balance. This is great for scenes where you have mixed lighting such as flash, sunlight and tungsten, for example. The camera can define the “correct” white balance for each section of the image and fit the white balance to the proper level for each zone within the image. This seems to be an accomplished system, as some of my abstract fibre-optic lamp shots, taken in low and mixed light, have been handled extremely well and with few noise artifacts.

Indeed, colour rendition and saturation are great, easily on a par with the CX1, as you’d expect, and yet lifelike, with a deep richness that is natural looking rather than overblown as some consumer oriented digital compacts tend to be.

The Multi-Pattern Auto White Balance is also great for fill-flash work shooting portraits, where you have mixed lighting – natural light with flash – say, and as you’d expect (and just like the CX1), you still have all the “normal” WB presets to choose between such as sunlight, cloudy and shadows. The set of manual WB setting, set via a single press of the display button, once this mode selected from the menus.

The next feature of note is the focus system. AF is very good, the multi-AF system works well and will pick a range of options within a complex scene to give a correct focus range encompassing the lot, or you can pick a single (central for example) focus point if preferred, ideal for macro or portrait work.

Alternatively, Multi-Target AF shoots seven, quick-fire images with a variety of focus points based on elements within the scene, and you can then choose the most appropriately focused image. Interestingly, Ricoh recommends this focus mode for macro work and given the excellent closest focus point of 1cm, it can help get the correct focus point if you don’t have the time to set up on a tripod, for example. A new mode is continuous AF, which makes shooting a sequence of a moving subject much easier to do – and keep the shots sharp.

Multi, centre-weighted and spot metering are very good; exposure control overall is excellent, particularly given exposure compensation can be quickly accessed via the ADJ(ust)/OK button on the back. This mini joystick, while a little fiddly to use, also provides fast access to WB, resolution, ISO and focus controls; adding to the camera’s armoury further is the auto exposure bracketing mode, and there’s flash exposure compensation too.

Other back plate controls include a “Fn” or function button that can be assigned up to 11 separate function, from Macro focus point selection to WB bracketing, or limiting the minimum aperture that can be used by the camera; useful if you need further control the amount of light reaching the sensor to help prevent camera shake or add an element of control for depth of field.

The excellent digital spirit level remains, via a small graph-style indicator on the screen to show whether the camera’s horizontal or vertical, an excellent handling bonus on a svelte camera such as this. And so there’s plenty of complexity crammed into the CX2, all reached via menus presented as two large lists.

Just like the CX1, the menus seem rather daunting at first. The more enthusiast user will not be put off, but given most users will simply point and shoot and (probably) won’t delve into menus unless something goes wrong, this is a menu layout that may make a few users tremble in trepidation, should they should dip in.

However, the detailed menus are easy to read, thanks largely to that stunning LCD with its high-resolution, 920,000-pixels. The screen is good to use for composition in most conditions, but only just in direct sunlight, when even with the low reflection coating, it’s often a challenge to compose (or check the correct focus point has be selected) for a shot.

The lack of an optical viewfinder means you have no fallback composition tool either, or should you need to conserve battery power; having said that, for power consumption, Ricoh claims a full charge will provide enough juice for around 290-shots. Actually that’s about average performance at this level in the market.

There are a couple of new shooting modes to join the array already present and carried over from the CX1. The Easy Shooting mode remains for those that want to leave the “thinking” to the camera. However, when shooting both the focus and exposure areas can be shifted within the scene to anywhere, making fine tuning of exposure and focus in portrait or macro work easy and eminently controllable.

One of the new scene modes is the very clever “Miniaturize” mode, which blurs an area at the top and bottom of the image to give the impressions you’ve shot a miniature scene. A little bit of creative fun then but how useful it is remains to be seen. The new High Contrast B&W mode seems more useful and, as you’ve probably guessed, it boost contrast and shoots a mono image akin to that from grainy black and white film.

And the CX2 now has its own “Manner”. No, not an area in East London, but a scene mode for snapping indoors, a mode more commonly called a “museum” mode on other makes of camera. Here, operational beeps and whizzes are muted; flash and the AF auxiliary light are also cancelled, so you can shoot with impunity inside a museum, for example.

In terms of image quality, the CX2 offers an extremely good performance; with the slightly over saturated colour from the CX1 tamed nicely here, out of the box. Sensitivity is usually the key to image quality, or rather noise at higher ISOs. For the CX2, things are as rosy below ISO 400 as was the CX1, at ISO 800 noise is obvious and at the top ISO 1600 setting, as expected, noise becomes intrusive.

Detail does not suffer the image processing working to preserve detail, even if that means more visible noise in the final shot, but the film-grain like quality at least allows you to make a more (arguably) creative decision on its inclusion, should the high ISO mode be your only option, given there’s still no optical image stabilisation on offer and the longer focal lengths make camera shake even more likely than with the CX1.

The slight smoothing of detail from the CX1 at low ISO is less prevalent so that’s an improvement, and so, overall the image quality, metering, focus and WB setup is excellent and better than the CX1. And yes, the image processing, used to pull detail out of the highlights works and actually does help get more subtle tones from within highlights and detail within shadows.

Verdict:

The CX2 is, well, just the like the CX1 – only more so. A relatively minor update might furrow some brows as to why the CX1 needed replacing so soon. The longer focal lengths are (arguably) more useful, but the flip side is problems with camera shake and low light. However, this is a highly specified, well-crafted camera with a host of very clever and new features that work.

The Ricoh CX2 is undoubtedly a machine for the more advanced user, but offers image quality to match for those that know what they’re doing and is easy enough to use. The all-auto and scene modes have useful tweaks but to get the most from the camera you’ll need to keep control to yourself and you’ll be amply rewarded with some stunning shots.

Tags: Cameras Digital cameras Ricoh Ricoh CX2 9 megapixels Ricoh CX2

Ricoh CX2 digital camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

While other sites are writing reviews of Google Wave, we think it's a little unfair to judge Google's new communications tool so early, especially as it's only just stepped blinking out into the light of the web and already the hype bubble is bursting.

Much of the pre-release coverage consisted of breathy reports about how Wave was going to revolutionise communications. According to blog posts from the people who snuck into the developer preview of the service, we would all be dumping email and IM wholesale within minutes of getting an invite to this shiny multicoloured Googlegasmic utopia.

The reality was less impressive. When most people activated their Google Wave invitations they opened their browsers to a barren wasteland, because they didn't know anyone else on the service. They waved with themselves for a minute or two, before closing their browser bitterly disappointed. Some discovered "Public waves" - which are waves available to anyone, but were then overwhelmed with too many messages, too quickly.

At that point, the hype bubble burst and scathing articles and tweets proliferated about how Wave was pointless. But over the last few weeks, more users have trickled onto the service and most people will now know one or two others who are using it.

At the time of writing, Google Wave consists of four panes. There's an inbox, a pane to view selected waves in, a contacts bar (which lists any of your Google Contacts that are in the test program, as well as anyone you've invited) and a navigation bar. All can be collapsed into a space at the top of the screen where they become a drop-down menu instead.

You can save searches for particular subjects, as well as file things into folders (GMail's tagging functionality is still present too, but at the bottom of individual waves). There's a settings menu, too, though that's currently empty. There's currently a few extensions available - weather, maps and a poll gadget.?

So what's the reality? The answer, happily, is both. Google Wave in its current state is an impotent, stunted, stub of a web service, which is functional at best, and buggy at worst. But it's also the future. Consider the state of Twitter in 2007 - it was just a website with little messages that people pushed out via SMS. No one was terribly impressed.

But then it opened up its platform. It put out an API. It let other applications interface with it. The simplest examples were desktop and mobile apps that meant that you didn't have to visit the Twitter website to find out what was going on. Instead, you could have little notifications that popped-up as necessary when things happened.

Gradually, as a result of these "extensions" to Twitter, its popularity started to rocket. The same thing will likely happen to Wave. While it might, for now, be a strange communications tool that sits awkwardly between email and instant messaging, it has the potential - as a platform - to really improve communications on the web, for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it can be used both actively and passively. You can ignore a Wave from your boss about why your project's late, like you would an email, while still gossiping with your friend about last night's Strictly Come Dancing, like you would in IM. But it takes the best bits of both, and chops out the worst bits.

It's better than IM because all history is saved, searchable and taggable. You can also add new people into the conversation very easily without them missing anything that's already been said. It's better than email because response can be instant - so instant you can see people typing (though that's more of a gimmick than a useful feature), and all messages about a subject are grouped into one thread, rather than filling up your inbox as multiple people reply.

Tools could roll out that - for example - automatically add in Spotify links to songs when you're talking about them, or allow some users more control over a Wave than others have, or even that let you integrate voice and video chat into waves, and use speech-to-text engines to automatically transcribe conversations for future annotation.

Verdict:

The possibilities are endless and so, therefore, are the possibilities of Google Wave. What it needs most now is to be made stable and opened up. Once developers can access the API and anyone can freely sign up, and when there's desktop notifiers for Wave, people will begin to see its true potential.

Tags: Software Online Google Google Wave Websites

Google Wave - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Gadgets are great aren't they? The problem is, is that the current batch of latest and greatest last about 12 hours before you need to find a power socket. If that sounds familiar then you need to look at alternative power solutions. In steps the Energizer range of power of the go options and in this case the Xpal XP2000.

The new range, called Energizer Energi To Go, range in size and capability with the smallest offering starting at 600mAh for phones to an 18,000mAh charger that can power up to three devices at once, including a notebook.

Each battery will come with a series of power "tips" in the box that lets you connect and charge most devices, with the company going as far as to say that they've got virtually every device built in the last 10 years covered. If you do manage to outsmart them, Energizer says that it will build you one at no extra cost.

So keen is the company to appeal to gadget fans, they are even promising two free tips a year for the life of the Energi To Go product to ensure that as consumers purchase new devices they will have the right tips to charge them.

Back to the XP2000 and you get the main charging unit and six tips including iPod/iPhone 30-pin dock connector, Mini-USB, Micro-USB, as well as tips for Samsung, Nokia and LG phones. The unit itself is also capable of taking a USB as well as a Mini-USB cable directly, so you can get around the lack of a cable/tip for your device.

In use and the battery gadget gets to work charging your gadgets for you. All you have to do it plug them into the main element and away you go. To give you an idea of charge there is a basic blue LED bar system that lights up accordingly. It doesn't tell you how much charge you've got or how much longer it will take to charge your device, just that the unit has charge.

The unit isn't without catches however. Without a power socket in the box you will have to charge the battery via USB and charging on the go is rather cumbersome, as you've got a battery dangling from your phone.

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Verdict:

It's basic in its offering, but then it is just a battery. Where the Energizer Energi To Go range succeeds is that it's not just restricted to one gadget.?However where it all falls down is that you can't really use or travel with your charging gadget effectively. While you can theoretically do it, it's a pain to use your phone and this battery at the same time.

What about at your desk? Well chances are you've got power at your desk so a backup battery isn't really a requirement.?This really is for those who know they are going to be without power access at some point of the day (like the train) or heading out into the wilderness.

Tags: Gadgets Batteries Energizer Energizer Xpal XP2000

Energizer Energi to Go Xpal XP2000 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0100

We make no qualms about Sonos here at Pocket-lint. We think it's an excellent system that allows you to listen to your music from a single source in multiple locations around the house. It's expensive, yes, but then the experience is such a nice one that works first time (over the various different models we've tested over the years) that we really can vouch for the fact that even your Grandma should be able to do it.

Adding a new ZoneBridge as they are called, is as simple as pressing a button and as long as you are sensible in your locating of the devices, i.e., not at opposite ends of the house with nothing in-between, the wireless Mesh network that it creates is effective in delivering you music wherever you are.

So why are we reviewing it again if we've already reviewed numerous iterations of the same device before? After all the main elements of the 250 Bundle haven't really changed. You get two Sonos ZonePlayers - the ZP120 and the ZP90. The ZP120 comes with a 55W per channel built-in amplifier so all you have to do is add speakers. The ZP90 is a smaller box-like unit that connects to an amp you already have. It's a simple way to connect it into your home cinema system for example.

Of course you can add more and more of this units till the cows come home: 42 is the limit at the moment, which means you've got to have a fairly big house before you run out of options.

No, the reason that we've chosen to review the 250 Bundle is the inclusion of a new remote control - the Sonos Controller 200.

Moving with the times, Sonos has ditched the click wheel interface that aped the original Apple iPod to one that now imitates the Apple iPod touch. What that means is you get a full touchscreen remote control that looks like an iPod touch that's just eaten too much, way too much.

You can of course get a Sonos App for the iPhone and the iPod touch, so why bother with the dedicated remote? Well purely for that reason. The reason it is considerably thicker is because it has a battery that can last over a week and a dedication to performing the tasks at hand rather than being asked to play games or make phone calls. The result is a remote control that works on the Mesh network so you don't need line of sight, as well as giving you full functionality over your system wherever you are.

As for the interface, it's virtually identical to the iPod touch offering, after all why wouldn't it be? There are dedicated hardware buttons for quick access back to the home menu, volume and muting. A press of the home button zips you to the Zone selection page where you can select the Zones you want the music to be played in. Once selected you can control, at the press of a finger, whether or not to access your music library, radio, line-in or services like Last.fm, Napster, Pandora Radio or Rhapsody. The list of online music services does change depending on where in the world you are (it's a licensing thing) but you are given options in all cases. Spotify fans will be disappointed though, there isn't any support currently (it's an API thing).

Press a couple of buttons and you're streaming your music to that location, be it the bedroom or the living room. Names can be assigned to any Zone you create, and all can be managed via the remote quickly. There is even a pop-up keyboard for text input and searching. You can of course choose to link Zones or choose to listen to different music in different Zones from the same music source.

Music can be queued, played straightaway or played next with the option to view and manage the queue at any point.? On the Internet radio front you can search for stations around the globe and create favourite presets. A clock allows the system to be turned into an alarm clock and yes you can have it so the kids bedroom Zone goes off at a set time.

Imagine this is a really easy-to-use iPhone app, but with a ?800/$1000 piece of equipment at the back end doing all the work and you get the picture. It really is simple and functional.

Away from the controller everything can be organised via the accompanying PC or Mac software and unlike most streaming systems where the software is an after thought, Sonos continue to create a very clever solution here too. Scanning your music collection really is just a couple of clicks. Awesome.

Verdict:

Okay so we've heaped more than enough praise on the Sonos Bundle and accompanying controller. There must be something wrong? Well there are two gripes, both of which are us clutching at straws to be honest.

The first is that we found the remote control was constantly firing into action, almost to say hello. It didn't make anything happen, but on a coffee table or desk out of the corner of your eye its something you notice and therefore becomes annoying.

Then there is the other gripe. You don't actually need it - the controller that is. If ever there was a device that was a pure luxury element this is it. The iPhone or iPod touch app will do what you need to do and if you aren't bothered about freedom then you can do it all via the PC or Mac.

Of course we don't all have an iPod touch or iPhone and the longer battery and faster processor do make a difference, but if your already stretching yourself to afford the system then you could cut out the controller and survive on the cheap getting yourself a games console (yes the iPod touch we are talking to you) at the same time.

That said, if you are about to pay out almost ?700 for the basic system, chances are adding in the controller at another ?121 isn't going to be an issue, in which case it will be ?121 well spent.

Related links:

• Pictures - Sonos CR200 remote control

Tags: Audio Connected Hi-Fi systems Networking Remote controls Sonos Sonos Controller CR200 Sonos Bundle 250 with Sonos Controller CR200

Sonos Bundle 250 with Sonos Controller CR200 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

GPS units like those made by TomTom have a number of key selling points that make a dedicated device king of the crop when it comes to getting from A to B and beyond.

A large screen, good GPS receiver, the ability to search for addresses and points of interest all at the press of a button. However as the iPhone promises all of the above can it really save you having to worry about a dedicated unit?

Before you think that the app is going to be 59p or the like, it's not. This is a full blown GPS software package and because of that it will set you back ?59.99 for the UK and Ireland maps app and ?79.99 for maps of Western Europe. You get the application on your iPhone to use as you will in your car, but you don't get the optional iPhone cradle you might have seen.

Structured like the TomTom software on the company's dedicated units, the main menu screen provides you with a number of navigation and setup options. Settings include enabling sound, night colours, 2D map, Manage favourites and other not so exciting options. Yes you can change the voice, language and tone, but TomTom hasn't bundled anything out of the ordinary here. UK still gets Jane and Tim, although opting for Ken from Australia or Katrina from New Zealand will give you that holiday feeling.

The settings also allow you change distance units, route favourites like Toll Roads and whether to avoid unpaved roads. Get past the settings and you get a number of features: you can call a POI, browse the map as you would a Google Map and plan a route ahead of schedule.

The Advanced Planning mode is incredibly handy as using IQ routes (included) you can work out how long a journey will take at a specific time before you even get in the car.

For those in the dark as to what IQ routes is, it's basically TomTom's massive database of traffic and scheduled estimated journey times. Rather than saying it will take you the same length of time to cross London at 5pm on a Friday and 2pm on a Sunday, it knows that the former will involve heavy traffic and gives you a travel time accordingly.

Before you press the route button you are given a series of choices from: fastest, shortest, avoid motorways, walking, bicycle, limited speed and choosing gives you different results.

Driving from Tower Bridge in London to Edinburgh Castle leaving at 7am will take you 7 hours 15 minutes for example while walking will take you considerably longer, 122 hours.

Of course the main function of the TomTom for iPhone app isn't Advanced Planning but day-to-day navigation and for that there is the Navigate To... menu option. Here you can punch in your Address, Recent Destinations, Points of Interest, Postcode, Point on Map as well as Contact from your Contacts Book on the phone.

Full postcode support is provided allowing for quick address entry and it was the most common way for us to enter an address in our tests. Entering information into the system is all down via the touchscreen interface, and the application works in both portrait and landscape modes making it easy to enter information.

So the data entry is easy, the software offers plenty of features, surely this will replace the dedicated device market? Not so fast.

The software does work very well and we had no qualms with the software, the GPS signal or the performance of the device. The TomTom for iPhone app was quick to start and quick to find a GPS signal in our tests. Likewise traffic updates while driving were as good as a dedicated machine.

So what's the catch? The main one is that you've got to find somewhere to perch it on your dashboard, the second is running the GPS on the iPhone is a power hungry experience. The iPhone battery is poor as it is, let alone if you plan to drive for 2 hours on top of that. Just don't expect to get much use out of your phone at the other end if you've stuck to the battery.

Of course there is a solution. TomTom just happen to make a cradle, which for an additional ?99.99 will offer you a place to put your iPhone, will boost the GPS signal and offer you a speaker to boost the audio as well.

But here is the rub? ?99 plus the ?59 for the app means that before you know it you've spent ?158 for a device that is as good as a dedicated device, but not a dedicated device. You'll still have the cradle to hide and you'll still be able to get cheaper solutions, even from TomTom themselves.

Verdict:

The TomTom for iPhone application works and works well, the problem is that by the time you buy either the official TomTom cradle or a cradle and car charging kit you'll be better off getting the newly announced TomTom Start for just over ?119.

Good, but unless you really need, and or want to have the TomTom software with you wherever you go on your phone and not just hidden in your glove compartment, then there are cheaper solutions out there.

Read our TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review here.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps TomTom for iPhone TomTom Apple iPhone Car And GPS

TomTom for iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

If the recession has eaten into your Blu-ray player budget then all is not lost - there are some great-value decks on the market that deliver the high-def basics without making a large dent in your savings. We’ve already looked at the Samsung BD-P1600 and Philips BDP3000, both of which deliver solid features and performance for under ?150, and now there’s another one to add to the list - the Sony BDP-S360.

The follow-up to last year’s BDP-S350, the S360 once again offers full 1080p picture quality and support for HD audio but strips away the fancy flourishes found on the step-up S560 announced at IFA. This time round it supports BD Live from the box (the S350 had to be firmware upgraded), so you can vent your spleen over the latest Saw instalment online, or download trailers to your heart’s content.

Understated, minimal looks are the order of the day - a large flap covers the entire fascia, hiding the buttons and disc tray, while a blue light gives it some much needed glitz. Around the back you get a limited selection of sockets, including an HDMI v1.3 port, Component and Composite outputs, plus optical and coaxial digital audio outputs.

Of course, being a budget player the lack of built-in Wi-Fi, multichannel analogue outputs and built-in memory is no surprise. But less forgivable is the Sony’s limited digital media support. The rear-mounted USB port is only for BD Live storage, and it only plays MP3 and JPEG from discs - surprising from the company that brought you the PS3, a device more media-friendly than Max Clifford.

The S360 makes up for it with a fantastic operating system. Dubbed the Xross Media Bar, the main menu presents its options as intersecting horizontal and vertical rows, while the cursor skates around the funky icons and colourful backdrops with pleasing fluidity.

There’s also a quick start mode that boots-up the Sony in 6 seconds, but it comes unstuck when you load a disc, taking close to a minute to fire up Java-heavy platters like Spider-Man 3 when other decks do it in half the time.

Limited features, slow disc loading - it’s a good job this deck’s pictures are up to scratch. Decent detail retrieval gives images that searing sharpness that you expect from Blu-ray, while strong colour saturation injects warmth and vibrancy into the picture, without compromising the accuracy of skin tones.

Noise is kept to a minimum and motion looks generally judder-free with 24Hz output engaged. We won’t deny that you get better picture quality from step-up decks like the Pioneer BDP-LX52 or Panasonic DMP-BD80, but it easily matches other players at this price. The Sony even provides impressive DVD upscaling, with crisp detail, vivid colours and effective suppression of edge jaggies.?

Verdict:

If you’re looking for your first Blu-ray player then the BDP-S360 is a definite candidate for your cash. The feature list is unduly sparse, but its user-friendly operating system, BD Live support and solid picture quality just about make it money well spent.

That said, in our eyes the Samsung BD-P1600 is still a better bet, boasting wider digital media support, faster disc loading, a USB port and the option of adding Wi-Fi.

Tags: Home Cinema Blu-ray players Sony Sony BDP-S360 Sony BDP-S360

Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray player originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

The Dell 1320C is a personal colour laser printer with USB and networking connections. It's just ?204, which is impressive given the decent specification. A personal laser printer is a great alternative to an inkjet-based equivalent as it will produce a higher number of pages for your money. If you don't print many photographs and find yourself doing more business type documents this might be the printer for you.

The 1320C is a basic beast having just the two buttons and a selection of flashing lights, but to be honest there's not really much more you need. The design is simple too, however the Dell feels well built. The paper tray only holds 250 sheets of A4 at a time it does have a manual feed for envelopes though. Our only minor gripe with the design of the Dell is that the paper tray extends a couple of inches past the rear of the machine, but it's not a major issue.

It's not too large for a laser printer, but you will have to make extra room on your desk if you're replacing an inkjet. The toner cartridges are held in a single caddy-style arrangement, which is removed in one piece. We've seen more elegant approaches, but it does the job.

Where it really matters the Dell is a very capable performer. Print quality is impressive across the board; it's fast too with just 8 seconds needed to print 1 page of text and 57 for 10 sheets. Characters are well defined and we were impressed by just how sharp the output was from this ?200 printer. Colour output was just as good; we tested the 1320C with a business document that included the usual graphs images and multi-coloured backgrounds you'd expect. Each page was sharp and colour accuracy really impressive. Even the images, which are usually a weak spot for laser printers were excellent. Again, it took the Dell just under 1 minute for 10 pages. One other aspect of the Dell we were impressed by was noise or more appropriately a lack of it. A small thing, but the 1320C is pretty quite in operation.

When it comes to consumables the laser clearly outdoes the inkjet on the number of pages produced front. However, it should be noted that a set of replacement cartridges for the Dell will set you back ?220. That's ?20 more than the cost of a new printer. Of course, the replacement toner capacity is higher than the ones shipped with the Dell, but it's worth considering. Also, it's unlikely you'll be able to pop down to PC World or other high street retailer and pick up toner for the Dell in same way you could for an inkjet.

Verdict:

The 1320C is a great little printer, not only does it produce fantastic quality colour documents it includes network connectivity in the price. The speed, price and unfussy design combine to make the Dell a great choice. The toner replacement could be a little less fiddly and we'd have liked the paper tray to sit flush with the back of the printer, but these are very minor gripes. If you find your inkjet is proving too costly then perhaps it’s time to investigate a small home laser such as the 1320C.

Tags: Printers Laser printers Dell Dell 1320C Dell 1320C

Dell 1320C printer originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0100

Tony Hawk: RIDE is looking to break new ground when it launches next month, thanks to a newly developed controller. We were lucky enough to get our hands and feet on the new game at a recent preview event, and here is what we thought.

Let's start with the controller, after all, that's the novel aspect. Designed to look and feel like a skateboard, the controller is wireless, giving you complete freedom of movement, and packed out with sensors so it knows what you are doing.

The first concern about any controller you stand on would be build quality: it is going to support a fully grown man wobbling around on it? Most certainly yes: it didn't complain or creak underfoot when we started playing, although it has a max load of 21 stone, which hopefully won't be a problem for most.

It isn't just the size and shape of the controller that resembles a skateboard, it has also been finished with grip tape, so it feels like a skateboard too. The bottom has been sculpted to give you the motions you'd expect, with a central ridge allowing left and right tilting of the board like you'd get out of the trucks on a skateboard. You also get raised ends, so moving onto the nose or tail is possible, with the tail playing a fairly large part in proceedings here.

Down the left-hand side of the controller you find your conventional Xbox controller buttons (although stretched out in a line) with the most significant being the large Start button which will reside under the heel of your right foot (if regular) and can easily be kicked with your toes when you want to start a game.

In our session we didn't use the other controls at all, so at this point it isn't clear exactly what they'll be used for, however, some might want them to navigate menus without having to use the regular controller, or the menu motion controls.

That's right, you can navigate the menus using the skateboard too, moving it left and right to move up and down menus, and an "ollie" to select (stepping back onto the tail to raise the board up). It can be a little fiddly at first, but you can easily hop off and do it with one foot, rather than whilst standing on it.

We played through a couple of levels which saw us riding down an LA storm sewer and another through a trick park. There are various game modes available (not all were available for us to play), with the time trial, challenges, free ride and so on. There are also various difficulty settings which makes it much easier to pick-up and play. Some game modes are very much on-rails, with your movements making very little difference to the route you take. In these modes you have to concentrate on tricks and timing.

We found the first few times we played through a level it felt a little unnatural, but you soon get a feel for it and can begin to explore the range of possibilities on offer. Balance stops being an issue pretty quickly, but your physical involvement in the game can see you moving around a fair but - we started off in front of the screen, but over the course of a level drifted off as we moved across the floor.

The controller is equipped with two accelerometers which can detect pitch, roll and yaw, so it knows how you are moving the deck around. This is accompanied by IR sensors on both sides and the top of the nose and the tail.

These IR sensors detect movements around the controller and will detect when you swipe your foot past to push off or gain speed once moving. It will also detect your hands when you move them into range, which is how it knows you want to perform various grabs. Obviously, you can't just stick your arm out, you have to crouch and get your hand into the right place. It feels a little weird, but saves you having to actually grab the deck.

Performing tricks does take some practise and longer than we in our play. One thing is clear though, and that's that you have to be positive in your actions. You will look a little stupid, but once you see the results on-screen no one will be mocking you any more.

Ollies and grinds are easy, especially on the casual skater mode, with a simple lift of the nose of the controller popping you into an ollie. There were plenty of edges to grind around the course we were riding too, so even as a novice you can dive right into some basic tricks. Kick flips are pretty simple too to mix up some of the jumps and dismounts along the way.

There is a fair amount of branding in the game which some like and some dislike, but many of the main controls take place in a T-Mobile Sidekick frame, a decision that might be regretted considering the recent data loss.

Verdict:

It is a real blast and hugely addictive. If you like existing skate games with a handheld controller then Tony Hawk: RIDE takes things to a new level. Yes, you do have to get off the sofa. Yes, there is more to the game than carefully timed button presses. But it makes it completely different to games in the past.

But being different doesn't always mean better. Of course there is a premium to pay for this controller, and at ?99 it is double or nearly three times what you might pay for a rival title. It might also price some gamers out, especially when the future of the controller is an unknown. Will there be future titles for the controller? Will it branch into snowboarding too? We have asked Activision these questions and will update if we find anything out.

Is it like skateboarding? No, it isn't. You don't actually have to perform the tricks you start pulling off on-screen, but no doubt there will be some who will try to. The learning curve seemed to be just about right to, with the free ride offering the chance to just skate around and try stuff out. We liked the game during our preview session, but we'll reserve final judgement until we've lived with it for a while.

PHOTOS: Tony Hawk: RIDE skateboard controller

Tags: Gaming Xbox 360 Tony Hawk Tony Hawk Ride Activision Sports Fitness

Tony Hawk: RIDE - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

The Asus G71Gx is the latest laptop in the Taiwanese company’s gaming line-up, and balances a powerful GPU with a high-end quad-core Intel processor. Although it only has a single graphics card, it’s also a lot cheaper than many high-end gaming machines, striking a good compromise between price and power.

With bright colours and an edgy design, the G71Gx is a distinctive machine. The styling won’t appeal to all users, proving slightly fussy, but overall it’s a reasonably attractive product. As with many of its rivals, you’ll find coloured LEDs as an integral part of the design, including lights on the sides of the screen and surrounding the touchpad.

The 17-inch screen is on par with most other gaming laptops, which means you’ll find a high-definition 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and near faultless image quality. Colour reproduction is especially good, producing bright and even colours.

Asus has fitted a high-end GeForce GTX 260M graphics card. It’s not the company’s flagship GPU, but it’s still more than powerful enough to play most games. The screen’s HD resolution does take its toll in some of the more demanding titles, however, where you may have to turn down detail settings slightly. Despite this, games still look great, and for the most part run smoothly and at high frame rates.

Along with the powerful graphics card, Asus has fitted Intel’s Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor, which runs at 2GHz. We’ve seen more powerful machines when running single tasks, but this machine is really in its element when it comes to multi-tasking. 4GB of memory rounds off the specification, resulting in smooth office performance. With a weight of over 4kg, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to take this machine on the road with you, but if you do you’ll find the battery lasts for just over an hour between charges.

The keyboard offers good levels of comfort, with a responsive and springy keyboard that has a great typing action. It’s not the quietest board we’ve seen though, and the sparkly finish is reminiscent of Asus’ Eee PC S101 netbook. Although it looks great on a ?400 netbook, it’s slightly more questionable on a laptop that’s getting on for ?2k.

The materials are all of a good quality, with robust plastics used, but it’s a shame Asus has abandoned the aluminium finish of the more powerful W90 gaming laptop. The thick screen surround offers loads of protection for the display, with no sign of flex under pressure, and details such as the magnetised covers for the ports are a nice touch.

The plastic flaps cover ports on both sides of the chassis. Along with a USB port, on the right-hand side you’ll also find headphone, mic and SPDIF sockets. The left flap covers a further two USB ports and 1394 FireWire. There’s an HDMI port for connections to HD screens, a VGA port for analogue displays, and also an eSATA port, letting you transfer data to external hard drives at high speeds.

There’s an optical drive that’s capable of playing Blu-ray discs, along with writing to regular CDs and DVDs. 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Gigabit Ethernet combine to make this a very well specified laptop.

Verdict:

The G71Gx can’t match some of the more expensive gaming laptops when it comes to sheer power, but it does strike a good compromise between price and performance. The quad-core processor sets it apart from many of its rivals when it comes to multi-tasking and, aside from battery life, it’s a good all-round package.

Tags: Hardware Laptops Asus Asus G71Gx Asus G71Gx

Asus G71Gx notebook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:09:44 +0100

We all know the iPhone camera isn't the best, we also know that chances are you take pictures that are good, but maybe need a little help on the improving side. Yep, there is an app for that. But has the imaging software company cracked it, or is this one Adobe app you shouldn't bother to download??

Available for the iPhone, the app is currently free, however isn't available in other countries like the UK. You can however get it on Windows Phone handsets.

Fire it up and you are presented with three main options: edit a photo, view your online Photoshop.com gallery and upload your images to the service.

Opt for the editing process and you can either select a photo from your camera roll or take a fresh photo to then edit.?Once you've got your photo loaded you can then start manipulating it. There are a plethora of options from cropping (1:1, 3:4, 4:3 ratios or custom) to rotating your image to flipping horizontally or vertically.

But it's not just about cropping out the random dude in your photo, Exposure, Saturation, Tint and Black & White are also available to you. All the editing features are controlled via your finger simply by moving it from one side of the screen to the other. The editing process is incredibly easy and luckily Adobe has thought to add a numbering or colouring system to each editing filter so you can achieve the same settings each time on different pictures. You can't punch that in as a number, but at least you can replicate it.

All that's good, but where would a photo editor be without the ability to create crazy image effects? Here you get a range of them. Two - Sketch and Soft Focus - will actually change the image drastically, with the Sketch option making it look like a drawing. The other photo effects are based on colour washes, most of which are fun rather than useful. We can't really see you wanting to "Rainbow" or "Pop" many pictures (see images for example), however used on the right photo and Black & White, Warm Vintage, and Vignette Blur could be very handy.

Once you've created and edited your work of art you can then save it to your Camera Roll as a new image or chose to upload it to Photoshop.com, Adobe's picture service.?As you would expect the app gives you access to that space so you can view images stored on the service and you get 2GB free with the option to add more storage at a price.

Uploading is simple but limited as you can only upload your image to the Photoshop.com service. There is no social networking functionality, no Flickr support, no Facebook support, no nothing. It's a shame because if you want to do upload anywhere else you have to come out of that app and then start up another app (i.e., Facebook) to get the job done. It's no biggie, but it would have been nice to have been able to do it from the one application.

With live access to your Photoshop.com galleries you can then bore the world with your favourite images from the palm of your hand and you can play albums and images as a slideshow, but you can't play it back to music or anything.

On the PC or Mac you can access the site via a standard browser.

Verdict:

The Photoshop Mobile for iPhone app is impressive when it comes to editing your images, especially as it is free.

The big catch is that it is isolated to the one service, something that makes this more of an advert for Photoshop.com rather than an all powerful imaging app that will make you dump all the others you've downloaded on your phone.

If that doesn't bother you and you just want a basic image editor with some fun features then you might as well give it a spin, after all it's not going to cost you anything.

Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps Adobe Apple iPhone iPhone apps Photoshop Mobile for iPhone Cameras Photoshop Mobile for iPhone

Adobe Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:30:46 +0100

Okay, admit it, you've got an iPhone and you tweet. There, now that we've got that out in the open, lets move on. If you are already tweeting chances are you are using a dedicated twitter app, probably the original Tweetie or maybe Tweetdeck or the other one that's now called Echofon.

While there are free twitter apps available, if you want to manage your tweets like the pro you are you've got to stump up the cash for it. Tweetie 2 is $2.99 or ?1.79 depending on where you are in the world. But is it really worth the same as a couple of pints of milk? We get tweeting to find out.

The biggest rub, and we will get this out of the way quickly, is that even if you've bought Tweetie, you are going to have to pay once more. There is no VIP access, no cheap upgrade route. You are dead to them unless you pay cold hard cash. Of course Tweetie (the original) still works and will continue to work, you just won't get the new features.

Legacy issues aside, and at ?1.79 you really shouldn't get too hung up on this, firing up the app brings you the ability to manage multiple twitter personalities, check you Twitter streams and a whole lot more.

Account setup is as easy as remembering your username and password and once you've set-up your account(s) you are done. Likewise switching between them is simple.

Within the application there are overriding settings that can be controlled, such as the date format, and font size, but also more relevant things like which image, video, URL and read later services to use. All the main ones are here including a couple that you probably aren't so aware of, giving you a wide scope in getting the service you are most happy with. Better still if you can't find the one you want you can create a custom setting for it anyway.

Taking things even further there is collection of advanced settings as well, going to the extremes of letting you decide how you want it to handle retweets (-@user or via@user). It's intense, but still simple.

But you haven't downloaded this just for the settings options, you want to tweet, and tweet it will let you.

Like Tweetie the layout is very similar. Out are the "speech bubbles", in is a simple timeline that is easy to read. Speed has been drastically improved while your previous tweets will also be cached for offline reading - a big annoyance of the original Tweetie. Your feeds come in and your place remains where it was for you to scroll up through your timeline.

New tweets, replies, direct messages are highlighted at the bottom of the screen on the nav bar, however you don't get numbers like Echofon.

Dragging the timeline down towards you scrolls up and rather than a refresh button, all you have to do is drag it down to see if there is more chatter. It's a nice design feature.

Find a tweet that interests you and a quick scroll to the right brings up a series of "hidden" options: reply, link details, user details, mark as favourite or do something with it like retweet, quote, post link to, mail or even translate with Google.

Press compose and you get a standard looking tweet input page. New here is a character counter, which pressing gives you the chance to add images, take a picture, geotag, search those you follow, see popular hashtags and auto shrink URLs. It is by far the most comprehensive offering we've seen on an iPhone Twitter client. There is also a draft mode for when you're on the Tube or subway without connection.

But Twitter isn't just about you. It's about the timeline. Here you get to search your timeline (very handy) as well as Twitter names of?those you follow.

You can of course also search Twitter as a whole, and then save those searches for access later. Trends are here too, updating live, and more intriguingly the ability to search nearby your location so you can see your neighbours tweeting around you. I am not sure I really want to see what someone down the street is saying, but I can see it would be helpful tracking mates in a nearby bar playing Foursquare.

Verdict:

Get past the gripe that previous users will have to pay again and we are really impressed here. Tweetie used to be our default iPhone app of choice, however having to remember to load up the tweets before hitting the Subway was a real bind. Here that issue is gone, and in place a shiny new fast Twitter app appears.

There are some really cool clever features to be found and Tweetie 2's makers Atebits has managed to somehow pack this app with so many features but not made it complicated in the process. The result is an app that once again wins a place in our hearts.

If you are an iPhone twitterholic, this is money well spent.

Related links:

• Link - Atebits.com

Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps iPhone apps Tweetie 2 tweetie atebits Social networking iPhone Twitter

Tweetie 2 - iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:24:04 +0100

Despite what the name suggests, Mobi Headphonies are not headphones. Nor are they tipping their hat the wonderful Simpsons episode about the Apple generation. No, a headphony – which I assume is the singular of Headphonies, is around 3-inches high and in the shape of a dumpy middle aged man wearing what looks more like a pair of ear muffs than headphones. It's not dissimilar to a Telly Tubby. Our particular model came in a rather boring matte black, but looking at the website it is available in various interesting decorations with obvious scope for expansion.

The back of the head is grilled, and a dead give away as to what it actually is – a portable speaker. With it being at the back, it means to get the best sound, you'll want it facing away from you – perhaps going against the point of having a fancy design.

There is a power switch on the base of the foot with a notification LED on the front. This will apparently last for 4 hours of playback. There is no volume control – this is instead done on the input device itself. Annoyingly, it's not smart enough to detect a null input and so it's very easy to leave it switched on with nothing playing and drain the battery.

At the rear of the device, where a tail would normally be, is a 3.5mm jack. Supplied is a male-to-male cable of around 30cm for connecting to your audio device – MP3 player, laptop, etc. This port also doubles up as a charging port, using a USB cable that adapts to 3.5mm. Because the charging port is the same as playback – there is no option to charge while you play – annoying if you happen to have left it switched on.

The natural option is to leave the cable permanently plugged into the device. But this sticks out at 90 degrees from the device, so being carried in a bag it gets damaged very quickly and you'll soon find the sound cutting in and out. Disconnect it and you run the risk of losing the cable – either way, you'll get screwed in due course.

This isn't the sort of thing you'd buy if you were worried about sound quality – realistically, it's a toy. However, we were quite surprised with the sound quality, being generally quite balanced and able to produce a fair amount of volume. It was significantly better than the inbuilt speakers on the N97, which we've always been quite impressed with.

There's no denying that the sound is impressive for its size – but having to keep charging it is a real pain. We'd have sooner taken the minor hit in sound quality to have had it un-amplified, as so many external speakers are.?

Verdict:

The Mobi Headphonies have a few design flaws, but once you get used to this – it does what it's meant to. It's a portable speaker that stands out from the crowd. But the question is – when will it get used and who will use it? We've all been on trains where people are blaring out music on their mobile phones – it's annoying and we do all we can to discourage it. We can't help but feel that this attempts to encourage exactly this, with groups of kids sat around tables, showing off their cool speakers and music taste. God help us.

At ?19.99, this is about double the price we'd expect it to sell for. It's not something we'd recommend buying, but it's not a bad product and if it floats your boat – then go for it.

Tags: Audio Speakers Headphonies Audio accessories Toys Mobi Mobi Headphonies

Mobi Headphonies portable speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0100

I’m worried about Charlie Kaufman. His films show such an unwillingness to adhere to the crushing universal guidelines that we all live under, basics like the laws of physics and the tedious linear rigidity of time, that I wonder that he might decide that everyday existence is too bland and start eating power cables or trying to find portals to the future in a Staffordshire bull terrier’s arse.

As arguably the most forcefully imaginative mind working in modern cinema, Kaufman’s scripts for films like Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind have all refused to fall in with the accepted perception of reality, instead tinkering with the language and structure of film to create a universe that’s at the same time recognisable and wildly transformed.

Equally liberal in its relationship with everyday logic, Synecdoche is a vast, sprawling epic of personal crises. Given a prestigious cultural grant, New York theatre director Caden Cotard (a typically weighty turn from Phillip Seymour Hoffman) attempts to create a significant, meaningful and truthful play, and takes up residence in a massive warehouse space so as to develop his masterpiece.

Deserted by his wife Adele, a celebrated painter, and his daughter Olive, Caden struggles to fill the void with the play and with his relationships with box office girl Hazel (Samantha Morton) and leading lady Claire (Michelle Williams). As the play and cast expand, it fills the warehouse, becoming a world within a world, then a world within a world within a world.

In pursuit of the unforgiving truth, Caden casts actors as himself and those around him, re-enacting events. Divorced from the crumbling world outside, the play becomes its own reality, and the barrier between the characters and their actors vanishes as art begins to dictate reality. With Caden’s body in a continual state of decline, he slowly and painfully tries in vain to come to terms with his life and art, and attempts to resolve the differences with his family that fuel his turmoil.

Synecdoche, New York often feels like a slog – it’s dense, morose and wilfully obtuse, but it’s also stunning, breathtaking, passionate, innovative and genuinely moving. While Kaufman’s work with Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry had seen them marked out as a new school of visionaries, Synecdoche emphatically proves that it is Kaufman who is the true genius among them. Until now his scripts were interpreted by those directors, but this time Kaufman sees the job through, taking on the director’s role for the first time.

While both Jonze and Gondry have had much less of an impact without a Kaufman script behind them, Charlie more than holds his own when flying solo. One of the problems of the likes of Being John Malkovich was the overt eccentricity, an attention-seeking quality that amused and irked in equal amounts, but Kaufman has risen above that.

Synedoche is no less odd, but it’s tied to such a powerful human touch that it over-rides any potentially grating archness. Kaufman drenches every scene with such personal detail that it makes the unbelievable utterly resonant. So much care and attention has gone into Caden’s world, from the set to the seemingly throwaway clues in the script, that it doesn’t feel like it’s 2 hours long - instead it feels 2 hours long, but a lifetime wide.

Verdict:

There was a massive wave of negative feedback for Synecdoche on its initial cinema release, openly acknowledged in the extras, and it’s easy to see why it may not be for everyone. But for all its reluctance to spoonfeed cheap thrills, this film is a marvel – rejecting comfortable predictability for a heartfelt philosophical piece that’s astounding in both its vision and execution.

?

Rating:15

Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Katherine Keener, Samantha Morton

Directed by: Charlie Kaufman

Extras: Interview, Charlie Kaufman Q&A, featurettes, Kaufman animations

Tags: Home Cinema DVD Synecdoche New York

Synecdoche, New York - DVD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

When it comes to Blu-ray players, Pioneer always puts performance high on the agenda, an approach that’s made it the darling of the home cinema cognoscenti. All of its decks to date have delivered stunning picture and sound quality, usually accompanied by tank-like build quality and generous connections. If there’s a weakness it’s features - Pioneer’s players lack the envelope-pushing pizzazz of Panasonic or Samsung, but perhaps the BDP-LX52 can redress the balance.

It certainly looks like a tasty proposition on paper. This player, the midrange BDP-320 and entry-level BDP-120 are the lowest-priced Pioneer decks to offer BD Live support, which has previously only been available on the reference BDP-LX91. You also get 1GB of built-in memory for BD Live downloads, which saves you the hassle and cost of plugging a USB flash drive into the back.

And yes, the LX52 is a beautifully built machine, tarted up in Pioneer’s customary gloss-black finish and peppered with ice blue lights and silver flashes on the fascia. At 83mm high it’s the type of important, imposing piece of kit enthusiasts die for, and its build quality is immaculate.

The back panel covers the essential connections but the lack of multichannel analogue outputs is surprising, given that they’ve featured on every Pioneer Blu-ray deck to date. It means you’ll need an HDMI-equipped amp to savour the delights of Dolby True HD or DTS HD Master Audio, although it doesn’t necessarily need to decode these formats - the deck will convert them to LPCM for you.

The Ethernet port provides wired hook-up to the web but we can’t help lamenting the lack of Wi-Fi on a premium player like this, especially as rivals like Sony and LG are about to unleash wireless-capable players. Still, if you can conceal the cable then there’s fun to be had downloading bonus content from the web.

Also disappointing is the uncharacteristically awkward media support. Yes you can play DivX, MP3, WMA, JPEG and AVCHD but only from CDs or DVDs and not USB – the port on the back is used only for adding extra memory if you need it.

Elsewhere on the feature list you’ll find a wealth of detailed picture adjustments and presets for different types of display, plus Pioneer’s Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS), which eliminates jitter when playing audio through the HDMI output. This is the first player to apply it to multichannel PCM as well as stereo, but it only works with a compatible Pioneer receiver.

The LX52 takes over a minute to load up some Blu-ray discs, which is an age compared with some rivals, but once the film starts you can see why cinephiles hold Pioneer in such high esteem. 1080/24p pictures are so smooth and sharp that we couldn’t take our eyes off the screen, while the deck’s inky blacks and wide ranging contrast gives the image a richness and solidity that most budget players can only dream of.

It also displays admirable deftness with colour, rendering delicate skin tones and strong hues in the same frame without making any of them look unnatural. Noise reduction isn’t flawless, with some grain slipping through the net but you’ll be too dazzled by the deep colours and meticulous detail retrieval to care.

Decoded Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio soundtracks are relayed with plenty of detail and vitality, while the LX52 delivers stereo music with a maturity you normally get from a dedicated CD player, making this a great all-round performer.

Verdict:

Given the LX52’s wallet-busting price, the lack of bells and whistles is slightly jarring - there’s no Wi-Fi, multichannel outputs or USB media playback, all of which can be found on Samsung’s much cheaper BD-P3600. But what might convince you to crack open the piggy bank is the Pioneer’s luxurious picture quality, which is among the best we’ve seen at this price point.

Tags: Home Cinema Blu-ray players Pioneer Pioneer BDP-LX52 Pioneer BDP-LX52

Pioneer BDP-LX52 Blu-ray player originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

It's easy to think of on-ear phones when choosing a computer headset, but the Sennheiser PC 300 G4ME solution proves that in-ear isn't only for your MP3 player. The first major advantage is that the canal-tight buds make for an excellent noise isolation, which not all headphones can produce. Closed cup headsets are usually pretty good at this but even they don't always provide that complete seal between you and the outside world.

For people with their games consoles and PCs tucked in away in a quiet corner of the house, that might not be a problem but. if you have to share the room with other people - perhaps watching TV or using the phone or just clanking about in the kitchen - then the PC 300s are something seriously worth considering.

As with headphones of all levels, they do the job, so it's really a case of measuring up just how well they do it compared to the money you're asked to spend. If you look hard, you can find them at around the ?60-?70 mark and the short answer is that they are indeed well worth the outlay.

They're made of a standard, light-weight, black cable material of 1m in length running from the green and purple colour coded 3.5mm plugs at one end through a volume control, then a microphone and finally to the ear buds set at different lengths with the shorter going to your left ear and the longer heading round the back of your neck and into you right. And, at 7g of weight, there are simply no comfort issues at all.

If that's not long enough for you, the PC 300s come with a 2m extension lead which should span the distance between most console and sofa setups. The build is light but strong, the volume control is smooth and easy to use and the choice of three sets of simple, rubber, black ear sleeves will fit any lug holes they meet. The buds themselves are a sturdy, good looking and not too heavy or cold mix of black plastic and metal with a well-chosen protective gauze over the drivers.

One of the best parts of the design, though, is the unassuming looking professional standard microphone that hangs comfortably away from your face. It has a frequency response of 18-15,000Hz which in real terms means that it effortlessly picks up the full details of whatever instructions you maybe muttering to your Call of Duty teammates and just how you feel about their style of play.

The audio coming in the other direction is no disappointment either. The noise isolation means you get don't get any distortion of the sound from over-amplification and the sound scape is very complete. Although a balance, it doesn't sit right in the middle with all the sections equally represented. It's not supposed to. The majority of gaming noises are at the mid-range and at the bass and, accordingly, it's those that are by far the best represented in the PC 300s. The top end may be a little quiet and without personality but the middle is dead on the money and the bottom end is huge, dramatic, if slightly on the spongy side, but are guaranteed to make you jump out your seat when the in-game action hots up.

You aren't just restricted to computers and consoles either. The phones work perfectly well with an MP3-player by using just the one 3.5mm plug. You'll get better sound quality than a pair that came free with your iPod, but the less interesting top notes mean that a dedicated set of buds of equal value would probably offer a better experience on the move.

To top it all off the Sennheiser PC 300s come with a nifty rubber travel case with a magnetic clasp that you can't help but open and close over and over, so satisfying is the action. Lovely touch, just a shame it's not big enough to comfortably fit the full 3m extension.

Verdict:

They're not the world's cheapest gaming headphones and there's something a little weird about going in-ear at home but the experience is a very, very, good one well worth the ?60-?70 outlay. Lots of positives here with not a bad word to say about them at all.

The PC 300s are perfectly acceptable for just listening to your audio tracks too but, if that's a main point for you, then you'd best buy a pair better suited for pure music audio rather than in-game sound scapes. You'll get more bang for your buck on something specialised for that purpose.

The only real question mark above this in-ear headset is whether or not people really want a wired set of phones for gaming and Skype. Regardless of how many metres long the cables are, you're still tethered to a console or PC and ultimately it just means more tangling and more chance of tripping people up. On the plus side, you'll never have forgotten to charge them or run out of batteries during gameplay. So, if you want to go in-ear and you're happy to deal with the cables, then these Sennheisers are most heartily recommended.

Tags: Audio Headphones Headsets Sennheiser Gaming Sennheiser PC 300 G4ME Sennheiser PC 300 G4ME

Sennheiser PC 300 G4ME headset originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

With the trend of late for ever-larger zoom lenses crammed within ever more miniscule camera bodies, Fujifilm’s new S200EXR – which offers a 14.3x optical variety – comes as a something of a shock.

Upgrading the S100fs?and ape-ing a digital SLR "proper" in design and control layout – not to mention price – this 12-megapixel bridge model is unapologetically chunky and substantial at an 820g body-only weight.

Hefting this latest super zoom out of the box and holding it firmly in both hands, construction feels rock solid too; the digits of the right comfortably wrapping around the large grip, while the left encircles the prominent zoom barrel with manual focus ring. To zoom in or out you simply twist said barrel, which feels much more satisfying than merely pressing a button with thumb or forefinger.

Though a broad focal range equivalent to 30.5-436mm in 35mm film terms proves ideal for both candid portraits and amateur wildlife photography, plus its Tonka toy-like physical dimensions are what make the biggest initial impression, again with this camera it’s what’s on the inside that counts – as much if not more.

For this is Fujifilm’s third camera (after the pocket-sized F200 and F70) and its first bridge model to feature the company’s innovative Super CCD EXR sensor technology that allows the user to utilise said chip in three different ways. EXR option one is to simply shoot regular 12-megapixel maximum resolution images (as JPEG or RAW files), while the second is to capture images with increased dynamic range. The camera does this by taking two shots in quick succession – one at a high ISO (light sensitivity) setting, the other at a low ISO setting – combining them as a single image.

The third user-selectable EXR option aims for high sensitivity but low noise; achieved by coupling together same colour pixels to achieve larger light gathering pixels.

Additionally there’s an auto EXR setting found on the top plate mode dial that allows for point and shoot operation, the camera itself choosing which of the trio of options best suits subject and conditions. Other shooting modes include the more regular program, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual modes.

Though this all sounds like fun, at times the differences between shots taken in the various EXR modes are very subtle – particularly in daylight conditions – leading us to conclude that, for general-purpose usage, one shouldn’t be swayed to buy this camera for its "EXR" properties alone.

Fortunately, helping the S200EXR to stand further apart from the pack – and make the most of its manufacturer’s analogue heritage – are additional curiosities such a trio of film simulation modes.

Photographers can aim to match the look of shooting with the naturalistic Provia (the camera’s default setting), the warmer, flattering Velvia, or Astia film, plus more run-of-the-mill black and white or sepia. These options are accessed via the easy to read and intuitive to navigate menu screens, a dedicated button for the selection of which is located at the centre of the four-way control pad on the camera back.

With the camera powering up ready for the first shot in just under 2 seconds, pictures are composed via fixed 2.7-inch LCD or electronic viewfinder (EVF) directly above the larger screen (and in place of the optical alternative). It would have been good to see a higher resolution screen and a tilting one at that for maximum visibility, but what’s provided is adequate.

The camera is commendably fast to determine focus and exposure if left on auto setting, though when shooting handheld at maximum telephoto, even with image stabilisation on board, we found we sometimes needed to take two or three shots to get one that was nicely crisp. Purple fringing can also be a problem when shooting subjects framed against bright skies, though that’ true of most of Fujifilm’s competitors.

Whilst both pop-up flash and hotshoe for supplementary alternative are offered, so is up to ISO 12,800 light sensitivity for those who want to switch off any artificial illumination and go for the natural look.

In practice however noise intrudes noticeably from ISO 800 upwards when left on the camera’s default settings, detail softening at ISO 1600 which is a little disappointing, as is the fact that the S200EXR’s video resolution is a mere standard definition 640 x 480 pixels rather than the latest high-def 1920 x 1080 or 1280 x 720.

More positively the full extent of the zoom can be utilised when recording, focus automatically adjusting – and quickly – as the user moves through the range.

Verdict:

So does the Fujifilm S200EXR offer pretty much all that a DSLR does, whilst saving the need to swap lenses or invest in additional optics? No, but it gets a fair degree of the way there, the combination of Super CCD EXR sensor and bolted-on Fujinon branded lens delivering an impressive degree of sharpness under most conditions.

That said, as we usually find with Fujifilm cameras with the camera left on its default settings, colours can look a tad wishy-washy, particularly on overcast days. Therefore we welcomed the added punch provided by selecting the Velvia film mode, which for us often delivered results closer to those seen by the eye.

So, while results straight out of the camera at times benefit from further tweaks in the image-editing package of your choice, the Fujifilm’s intended audience of photo enthusiasts who’ll want to get hands-on shouldn’t be dissuaded from purchase – even if the suggested retail price still smarts.

Tags: Cameras Prosumer cameras 12 megapixels Fujifilm Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR

Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR digital camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

HTC isn't a company that's shy: over the past few years it has broken out from white label supplier to one of the most exciting and handset manufacturers in the smartphone sector. HTC is now synonymous smartphones, from Windows Mobile to Android and the company isn't afraid of making bold statements. The HTC HD2 can only be seen as that. We were fortunate enough to get our hands on the new model as it launched, and here are our first thoughts on it.

It stands up to Toshiba's TG01 handset, but puts into place a winning formula. Toshiba's handset is unwieldy, with a resistive screen which doesn't respond well to the touch and a software skin on Windows Mobile which offers little gloss and hardly enhances its performance.

The HTC HD2 is a stark contrast to this. The 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 pixel (WVGA) capacitive display puts a shine on even the blandest screen from Windows Mobile 6.5. The touch response is also incredible. You not only have acres of screen to play with, but it reacts with very little lag.

Yes, the HD2 is an enormous mobile phone, measuring 120.5 x 67 x 11mm and weighing in at 157g. But it has all the hallmarks of good design: it looks and feels luscious, with a brushed metal finish and stunning quality. Despite it's enormity, it actually feels comfortable in the hand.

Across the bottom of the screen are the regular complement of controls – the calling buttons, a Home button, the Windows and back buttons. By default the Home takes you to HTC's Sense UI and the Windows button opens the honeycomb Start menu.

On the bottom of the phone is a 3.5mm jack sitting alongside the Micro-USB connection. The only other external control you'll find is the volume rocker.

Sitting inside the HD2 is Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset giving you 1GHz or processing power. This is backed by 448MB RAM and 512MB ROM. Of course you get a full complement of connectivity too – HSDPA, GPRS, EDGE, GSM, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi b/g. There is even an FM radio.

The neat thing about Wi-Fi is that the HD2 can be used for Wi-Fi tethering, so can function as a Wi-Fi router whilst you are out and about, using your phone's data connection.

Around the back you have a 5-megapixel camera supported by a dual LED "flash". It's an autofocus camera, but beyond that we didn't have the chance to look at anything else it offers.

Peter Chou described to HTC HD2 as an "intelligent phone" and this is certainly true thanks to a number of sensors that it has on-board. It features an accelerometer so will switch from portrait to landscape when you need it to. A proximity sensor lets the phone know when it is next to your face, shutting off the backlight. Cleverly, mid-call when you take the phone away from your face, it lights up again, so you can refer to something you've been discussing with a caller.

An ambient light sensor will also adjust the brightness of the screen for you, dimming it for bedtime viewing and boosting it in daylight.

There is also a GPS and digital compass. HTC also make a car kit for the HD2 (sold separately), making a departure from the normal plastic monstrosity you have to stick to the dashboard of your BMW. By changing the back panel of the phone, you'll get a twist connector to fix it to the slick metal rod mount.

Attaching to the car kit will switch over to the NaviPanel, which optimises the phone for using in your car, giving big buttons for calling and navigation. It looks fantastic and you can check it out in our photo gallery.

Of course the HTC HD2 runs on Windows Mobile 6.5, an operating system which comes with inherent problems. HTC has sidestepped many of the most apparent problems as they have done in the past by including their own skin on the device. HTC are now pushing this as HTC Sense, which we first saw on the HTC Hero.

When it comes to the crunch, HTC Sense on the HTC HD2 is very close to the HTC TouchFLO offering on other HTC Windows Mobile devices such as the Touch2. It has been tweaked and enhanced however, with luscious high-resolution icons giving it a premium look and feel. It is also incredibly responsive thanks to the raw power available here.

We didn't get a chance to explore or test HTC Sense to any great extent in our hands on, so from a performance point of view, with real-world data and populated with hundreds of contacts, we'll have to wait until we have had a chance to give it a full review.

But you get smart features like the grouping of interactions with a particular contact, which is the very essence of what HTC Sense is all about – shifting the focus from applications to people. So when you make a call, you'll be able to touch through tabs to access messages you've received from that person and so on.

In a nod to social networking, you'll find HTC Peep the company's popular Twitter client is installed and easily accessed through HTC Sense's shortcut bar. Running a finger across the bar at the bottom of the screen moves you through to a different section so you can dive into your contacts, emails, photos or music to name a few.

HTC has always been fanatical about weather, with TouchFLO offering smart weather apps for some time. The HTC HD2 takes weather to a new level. As standard it is integrated as part of their homepage in Sense, sitting just under the clock. But now rather than being a static icon, it is supported by full background animation.

When you wake up your phone in the morning, you'll be able to glance at it and lose yourself in the 3D animated weather rolling around the background of your phone. It really uses the sharp screen to best effect and we had a look at cloudy, stormy (complete with lightening), sunny and windy screens (with leaves blowing around). It has to be seen to be believed, it's absolutely stunning.

As we mentioned, this is a capacitive device, so that brings with it multi-touch support. Using the Opera browser, you'll now have finger zooming when you are browsing the Internet. It's very smooth and a world away from what Internet Explorer Mobile is offering on other devices with boring double tap zooming. The text reflow is also very fast, and with the screen size available, it is easy to browse full internet pages. It's just a shame that we're all still waiting for Flash video support.

HTC are claiming 8 hours of video playback, 12 hours of audio playback or about 5 hours of talk time over a 3G network from the 1230mAh battery.?

Verdict:

In the HTC HD2 you can see years of experience in dealing with Windows Mobile devices. The quality of the build and the construction, combined with HTC's Sense skin on Windows Mobile puts it a step ahead of rivals in this super screen size.

We were wowed by what we saw, with the multi-touch browsing really impressing. We've seen some sluggish Windows Mobile devices in our time and the HD2 cuts through it with sense and purpose. But we'll reserve judgement until we've lived with it for some time and given it a real world testing.

Will the HTC HD2 appeal to consumers? Perhaps not, but it may well find itself sitting in the hands of company CEOs all over the world. Peter Chou certainly looked comfortable with his.

Related links:

• Photos - HTC HD2 mobile phone
• Review - Window Mobile 6.5

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC HTC HD2 Windows Mobile Windows Phone

HTC HD2 - First Look originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:05:00 +0100