Geekanoids

Three new Apple Adverts... Calming Teas

2008-08-19T07:21:00.002+01:00

Apple have three new adverts today, as part of their 'Get a Mac' series. Things kick off with 'Pizza Box' which is kinda funny, moving on to 'Throne' and then my favourite of the trio 'Calming Teas'. You would have thought that the humour would be wearing a little thin on this format. Not so, Apple deliver the message with their usual pizazz, I suggest you check the new ads out here.

Yazsoft Sharetool - sharing for the masses

2008-08-17T10:37:00.002+01:00

Yazsoft is proud to announces a major new application, ShareTool. Developed for Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, ShareTool is hands down, the fastest, easiest, and most secure way to access all of your Bonjour services from anywhere in the world. No server or technical skills required. Just a simple mouse click. Also works with VPN connections. For anyone that's been itching to get Bonjour working over VPN, ShareTool is for you!

ShareTool lets you access all of the Bonjour services on your home or office network from anywhere in the world - securely. This includes iTunes Music Sharing, Screen Sharing, File Sharing, printing, and more.

With ShareTool, you can listen to your entire iTunes music library at work, control the screen of any of your home computers, or grab that important file you forgot to bring with you. And this is simply the tip of the iceberg. With ShareTool, it's as if you've never left the comfort of your very own network!

Some Key New Features in ShareTool:
* Simple Setup: ShareTool automatically configures routers supporting NAT-PMP or UPnP.
* Easy Access: Remote services automatically appear in Finder, iTunes, and other applications.
* Compatibility: ShareTool enables remote access for any application or service that advertises itself using Bonjour and runs over TCP/IP.
* Security: All network traffic is strongly encrypted. Access to your services requires your Mac OS X username and password.
* Dynamic domain name support
* On the fly compression: Transfer large files quickly.
* Secure web browsing: surf the internet using your own browser securely.
* and much more!

What's New in version 1.2.2:
* New: Major new interface changes for even more simplified usage.
* New: Updated internal ShareTool protocol to be more versatile.
* New: Added Remote Printing functionality.
* New: Integrated Sparkle support for future updates.
* New: Remote Login detection procedure.
* New: Built-in Help menu added.
* New: Updated ShareTool manual added.
* Other: Many internal tweaks to ensure optimal performance and security.

Supported Languages:
* US English

System Requirements:
* Requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later; Leopard ready.
* 22 MB Hard Drive Space.
* Internet connection.

Pricing and Availability:
* $20: 1 User license.
* $30: 2 User license. (Save $10)
* $75: 5 user license (Save $25)

Free demo is available today from this link.

Ring Automotive 12V Can Multisocket Review

2008-08-12T08:27:00.003+01:00

If you have a lot of gadgets (don't we all?) that need charging, then why not tackle some of that whilst on the move. The 12V Can Multisocket with twin USB sockets from Ring Automotive offers up a handy solution. Check out the video review of this bargain product.

Product: Ring Automotive 12V Can Multisocket
Price: £12.99 (average)
Supplied by: Ring Automotive
Contact: +44 (0)113 213 7389

Sennheiser MM 50 iPhone Headset

2008-08-10T10:28:00.004+01:00

This classy looking headset will in fact work with any iPod or MP3 player, though it was specifically designed for the iPhone. It'll work with either the original generation or the new iPhone 3G. The MM 50 iP from Sennheiser is an all black affair and I must say it looks really classy. They are supplied with a useful 1.3m cable length, that seems less prone to tangling than other offerings.

Using an in-ear design, to both help acoustics and block out unwanted noise, you get three different sized silicone ear sleeves. They do not go too deep into the ear canal (I hate deep fitting ear phones), so they feel really comfortable. In use they block out a decent amount of noise from the outside world. The acoustics when listening to music or watching a movie are sublime to say the least. With a frequency response of 18-22,000Hz you really do get a deep bass response, very rich and full bodied. Midrange is very good too, with only the higher end lack (but only by a cats whisker).

The MM 50 iP does not stop delivering there... the 'iP' at the end of the model number should give the game away. As I mentioned earlier, although you can use this with virtually any MP3 player that sports a 3.5mm connector, they were designed for use with the iPhone. They have a slimline 3.5mm plug, so they will work with the original iPhone without the need for an adapter, or of course with the iPhone 3G which negates any of these special needs anyway. They sport an intergrated in-line microphone, which has a button to start/end calls. Acoustically, the microphone delivers yet again with a wide frequency range. I performed a lot of test calls and the recipients reported a nice clear voice quality, with no distortion. When on the receiving end of a call I experienced this first hand... voices sound very natural and accurate, I could definitely tell the difference between the Sennheiser mic and the one that Apple supplies with the iPhone.

Everything about the Sennheiser MM 50 iP ooozes quality. The physical feel of the headset, the comfort factor and the superior audio and mic quality all add up to a superior product. It delivers on all fronts.

Product: Sennheiser MM 50 iP earphones
Price: £59.95
Supplied by: Sennheiser UK
Contact: +44 (0)1494 551551

Griffin announce iTrip Universal

2008-08-08T17:43:00.002+01:00

Griffin Technology Inc., creator of all things iPod and iPhone, today announced the availability of iTrip Universal, the newest addition to Griffin's iTrip family of FM transmitters. iTrip Universal is compatible with most portable audio players and is the first iTrip to feature a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

iTrip Universal allows audio to be played through the FM stereo at home or in the car using any portable audio source that uses the common 1/8" (3.5mm) headphone jack, including iPod, Sansa, Zune, portable CD players and more.

iTrip Universal's internal battery can be recharged through any USB port, and then connects to the player with the included stereo audio cable. Three user-programmable presets save the best frequencies. In addition, stereo/mono output modes are also user selectable.

iTrip Universal Features:
Streams music to any FM radio
Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Quick set-up and easy frequency selection
Three-station memory and backlit LCD screen
Compatible with Samsung, Creative, Sansa, Sony, iPod and any audio source that uses a 1/8" headphone jack

Pricing and Availability
Griffin's iTrip Universal is priced at $39.99 and is now shipping and available. For more information, please visit www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip-universal

Razer Destructor Gaming Mouse Mat Review

2008-08-04T11:26:00.002+01:00

Don't let the title deceive you. If you are not into gaming, then this pro level mouse mat might still be of interest. As a graphic designer I really appreciate the precise tracking on offer here. Check out the video review below.

Product: Razer Destructor Gaming Mouse Mat
Price: £25.99 (average UK)
Supplied by: Razer USA Ltd
Contact: saleseu@razerzone.com

QuarkXpress 8 Available Today

2008-07-31T13:44:00.003+01:00

Today Quark announced that QuarkXPress® 8, the next major release of the industry standard page-layout and design software, is now available to purchase directly from Quark and through Quark Authorized Resellers worldwide.

As a user of QuarkXpress for many years, this new release really excites me. I hope to bring you two video reviews covering the new features over the next few weeks, so watch this space.

QuarkXPress 8 delivers superior design power through a new, intuitive interface developed purposefully for the creation of high-end page layout and includes new features such as built-in print, Web and Flash® authouring tools, advanced typography control, and global publishing capabilities. QuarkXPress 8 also offers users an enhanced design experience so they can work faster and smarter by quickly and easily accessing the tools they need. The new, intuitive interface delivers updates that allow for more design with fewer clicks. For example:

- Flash and Web Authouring Tools: Without any programming skills, designers and creative professionals can share print content on the Web and in Flash format without purchasing multiple applications or learning code.
- Picture Content Tool: Allows users to grab, rotate, and scale images in real-time without typing in numbers or switching from tool to tool.
- Item Tool and Text Content Tool: Smart behaviour within these tools allows for less switching between tools, even for rotation and managing multiple items.
- New Bézier Pen Tools: Draw illustrations directly in QuarkXPress 8 with the redefined Bézier Pen tool.
- Workspace Enhancements: Include new buttons for instant access to master pages and exporting to PDF, EPS, SWF, and HTML - plus new split-view buttons, enhanced contextual menus, and customisable active pasteboards.
- Measurements Palette: Further enhanced to make even more functions easily accessible, including new clickable controls for on-the-fly drop-shadow modification.
- Drag-and-Drop: Drag text and pictures from the desktop, Adobe® Bridge, iPhoto®, or any other application that supports drag and drop. Alternatively, drag content from QuarkXPress to Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Microsoft® Word, and other applications for direct editing.

"We are excited to announce the broad availability of QuarkXPress 8. This new version of our flagship product raises the bar once again for page-layout and design," said Terry Welty, Senior Vice President of corporate marketing for Quark. "QuarkXPress 8 offers users advanced features and functionality and increased productivity while maintaining familiarity for long-time users. I encourage everyone to try QuarkXPress 8 with our 60-day Test Drive version, or visit us at one of our Xperience Design Global Tour stops."

60-Day Test Drive
In addition to being available for purchase, Quark is also now offering a free, fully functional, 60-day Test Drive version to users who are interested in experiencing QuarkXPress' new user interface, improved typographical control, built-in Flash functionality and much more. The 60-day Test Drive can be downloaded here.

Xperience Design Global Tour
The Xperience Design Global Tour is now underway and, in total, will span 30 countries and 58 cities across the globe. The upcoming portion of the tour to hit the United States includes Dallas and Milwaukee (Pewaukee). The international tour will visit various cities in the following countries: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Please visit this page to find out more.

Purchase Information
QuarkXPress 8 is now available for purchase directly from Quark and through Quark Authorized Resellers. An upgrade to QuarkXPress 8 from any previous version is £279 and full product can be purchased for £779. To purchase, visit the Quark Store http://www.quark.com/sales/estore.html or find your nearest authorized Quark reseller.

Belkin Active Battery Backup UPS Review

2008-07-28T07:17:00.004+01:00

When it comes to protecting your computer kit there are various steps you can take. Most users go along the route of a surge protector, that plugs into their main socket and takes the hit of any electrical surges or spikes before they hit and damage your equipment. One potential hazard that many overlook is that of a power outage or powercut (as we refer to them in the UK). Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) are just like big rechargeable batteries. You plug them into your main socket to recharge and in turn you plug your equipment into the UPS. If the power goes down, then the UPS takes over and gives you a window in which you can save you work and shut your system dow in a safe a proper manner. Some of these units also protect from surges and spikes too. Equipment suddenly shutting down is very important to protect against and can sometimes do just as much damage as a power surge.

In this review I take a look at the Belkin Active Battery. I place UPS units into two categories, those that can protect complete systems and those that are good for maybe one or two peripherals. The 'Active Battery Backup' unit (Part # BU308000ukDB) that I am testing here, just about fits into both categories, let me explain why... all UPS units are rated by Volt Amps (VA) or Wattage (W) and the Active Battery comes in three flavours. A 400A/240W, 600VA/360W and 800VA/480W. The first two in this series I would say are only really good for peripherals or maybe older less demanding computer systems. If you take into account that a 20-inch iMac draws 200W then you would barely expect three of four minutes of battery use from the entry level model if your mains power fails. Imagine you are using a Mac Pro drawing 360W and a separate monitor that draws 60W and you can see where I am going.

Well, although I tested the Belkin 800VA/480W model on our 24-inch iMac, my main test was in keeping my broadband equipment protected and running. I already have a beefier Belkin UPS (1200VA Universal UPS) which I will be reviewing next week for you, so my iMac is safe. What I need to ensure is that I can still communicate with the outside world when the power goes out. So, into the Active Battery I plugged the following. A Linksys WAG160N router, a Negear GS608 ethernet switch and my BT DECT landline phone. This presented me with the first stumbling block, but one that is very easy to overcome. Almost all UPS units have IEC sockets on the back, rather than 3-pin UK sockets.
If you take a look at the image here, you will see what an IEC socket looks like. Well, this is east to overcome with a computer, you simply plug in with the supplied IEC cable, or purchase extra ones for a couple of pounds. They have an IEC plug on one end and a socket on the other that plugs into your computer. Well, all three of the products I wanted to plug in have their own AC/DC adapters, so I could not exchange these for new cables, nor could I chop their plug off and replace it.
The solution was to get a two or three gang trailing socket, with an IEC plug on the other end. These are available from the likes of Maplin or CPC in the UK. Problem solved, I now had three standard 3-Pin UK sockets.

Once everything was plugged in, I left the UPS charging for a good 24 hours. It was then time to simulate a powercut. Switching the socket off that the UPS was plugged into was the easiest way. The Active Battery lets out a beep to warn you that this has happened. Then I carried on using my laptop with full network connectivity for a very useful 16 minutes. I must admit I was expecting longer, but I am no mathematician, so was part guessing the result. Just under an hour of continuous hard use, without mains power is fantastic. The results on the computer set-up were a lot different, but again they really impressed me. With a 24-inch iMac, external 21-inch Samsung monitor and ScanSnap S300M scanner plugged in, I flicked the switch off and was able to finish a few scans and post an article on the website. I also checked my emails one last time, then safely saved my open documents and shut the system down. This took around six minutes and no sooner had I shut down the iMac safely that the battery was depleted. In total this meant I in real use, you could expect around five or six minutes using this sort of system to save your work and safely shut down, this is more than enough time.

For your money you get a fairly compact UPS here, capable of protecting either just a few peripherals or a medium sized computer. The Active Battery Backup also protects from electrical surges and spikes, with a £40,000 connected equipment warranty too. Add to this a two year replacement warranty (including the battery itself) and this really puts the icing on top of the cake. This is fantastic value for money, it does exactly what it claims for a really great price.

Product: Belkin Active Battery (BU308000ukDB)
Price: £51.96 (Amazon UK)
Supplied by: Belkin UK
Contact: +44 (0)1933 35 2000

Pure Digital Highway DAB Review

2008-07-24T13:14:00.004+01:00

If you want to get DAB into your car, it normally involves having a new head unit installed. Although this is not too expensive, in modern cars it is sometimes not possible, due to the mouldings and custom-made units they have. The Highway from Pure Digital is an option, allowing your to wirelessly send DAB broadcasts to your existing car stereo. Check out the video review below.

Product: Pure Digital Highway
Price: £59 (average price)
Supplied by: Pure Digital
Contact: +44 (0)1923 277488

Lexar Media - Expanded Crucial Ballistix DDR3

2008-07-23T17:24:00.001+01:00

Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced immediate availability of Crucial Ballistix® PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333MHz) and PC3-14400 (DDR3-1800MHz) high-performance memory modules. These new modules expand on the award-winning Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 and DDR3-2000MHz product offering. As part of its commitment to the PC enthusiast and gaming community, Lexar Media continually seeks to bring new memory offerings to market and enhance its product lines.

Specific Crucial Ballistix modules, such as the DDR3-1600MHz, -1800MHz, and -2000MHz modules, have enhanced performance profiles within the module programming that when paired with a supported platform, provide users with an option for easy setup and configuration instead of a manual process that may require trial and error or advanced system knowledge. The modules also support manual configuration in the event the user wants to maintain full control.

"We're pleased to offer gaming enthusiasts a full spectrum of DDR3 product speeds and densities that will satisfy their system and over-clocking requirements," said Jeremy Mortenson, Lexar Media's senior DRAM product marketing manager. "Crucial customers can now select from a wide variety of award-winning DDR3 offerings to best suit their needs, while experiencing advanced performance and stability."

The new Crucial Ballistix DDR3 memory modules are available in 1GB modules and 2GB kits at www.crucial.com/ballistix, www.crucial.com/uk/ballistix or www.crucial.com/eu/ballistix.

Airun + - at last an alternative to Nike+

2008-07-23T17:11:00.003+01:00

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

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

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

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

Griffin announce Lucky 7 Slots for iPhone

2008-07-23T16:54:00.002+01:00

Griffin Technology Inc., creator of all things iPod and iPhone, today announced the availability of its second app for iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch. Lucky 7 Slots, a Vegas-style slot machine game, is offered exclusively through Apple's App Store and iTunes.

Lucky 7 Slots is the second in a series of applications that Griffin is rolling out for the Apple App Store. Griffin apps are available for download directly onto the iPhone or via iTunes, and give users the convenience of accessing the game at all times, even when iPhone is in Airplane Mode.

To play Lucky 7 Slots, simply place a bet and set the reels rolling. The machine begins the game with 1000 credits and allows you play between one and three credits a spin. When you're finished playing, Lucky 7 Slots keeps track of your winnings.

Easy to play slots simulator
Fast animation and graphics
Keeps track of your winnings and hands played, won and lost
An iTunes App Store exclusive

Pricing and Availability
Lucky 7 Slots is priced at $1.99 and is now available for download at Apple's iTunes App Store. For additional information on Lucky 7 Slots, please visit the product here.

Buffalo LinkStation Live Review

2008-07-21T10:03:00.003+01:00

In this ever-growing digital world, where for entertainment we rely on digital cameras, MP3 files and movie downloads, the need for more and more storage space is a weekly, if not daily problem. For those of you who produce projects, such as home videos, the problem is even more evident. Add to this that the average household will have more than one computer, the value of some sort of shared centralised storage device is very valuable indeed.

Network Attached Storage devices (or NAS as they are often referred to) are growing in popularity. In their simplest form, they are hard drives that connect to your network via ethernet, rather than locally to your computer via USB. The fact that they are attached to your network means that you can make the content accessible to computers that are also attached to your network. This even extends to wireless use, whereby if your NAS is attached to a wireless router, then the content can also be accessed wirelessly.

Over the past week I have been testing the LinkStation Live from Buffalo Technologies. It is availble in sizes up to 750GB. The model on test is the 250GB HS-DH250GL. This compact box contains a SATA hard drive and sports a nice front panel with informative status LED's up front. Around the back of the unit you plug in your power cable (the power supply is in the unit itself, so no external brick). The back also sports the 10/100/1000 Mbps ethernet socket, so it is nice to see that Gigabit speeds are supported. When viewing the back you can also see a vent, behind this hides a tiny fan for cooling purposes. In use, you can definitely hear the fan, but is is very quiet, so not intrusive at all. There is also a USB 2.0 port, which is great. It allows you to plug in another hard drive, so you can expand the amount of storage capacity on your network with a standard external hard drive.

Setting up the drive is really easy. Everything is configured via a standard web browser interface. You can set up users and passwords, folder shares, maintenance of the drive etc. It is also possible to schedule backups, so that USB 2.0 port around the back has a second use. Rather than using it to add storage, you can assign the connected hard drive to act as a backup drive. Once scheduled the LinkStation will backup files to this second drive, even when your computer is switched off... this is a very useful feature.

The flexibility of the LinkStation Live is where the added value comes in. Rather than me trying to guess what your use would be, let me tell you a little of how it helped me. In just 30 minutes I was up and running and had set up folders and shares on the drive to tackle two organisational tasks that I wanted to do with my iMac. Firstly, I have a large iTunes library, probably around 100GB including the downloaded video content. Having moved this all over to the LinkStation (which took a lot less time than I had anticipated), it solved two problems. Not only had it freed up 100GB of space on my iMac, but it also allowed me to wirelessly access my iTunes content on my MacBook Pro too. My second task was to move all of my video content. Producing the videos for Geekanoids eats up a lot of space. So I moved all of the completed movies I had made, some 120GB. Although they are uploaded to various sites already, it is essential that I keep them locally too. Again, the LinkStation handled the transfer with no problems, and also allowed me to stream them to my computers easily. On the wired network (the iMac) the streamed content played back with no hitches. Over the wireless connection (the MacBook Pro) there were a few stutters, but these were very minimal and once some buffering was done things ran very smoothly.

So in my tests the LinkStation Live gave me back over 200GB of space on my iMac. It also allowed for a much more useful and versatile experience. The single fact that it opened up my iTunes library to my laptop too is worth the spend alone. It is a very solid unit, good build quality, easy to set-up and as such offers superb value for money.

Product: Buffalo LinkStation Live (HS-DH250GL)
Price: £118.23
Supplied by: Buffalo Technology
Contact: +44 (0) 1344 381700

Why my iPhone 3G went back

2008-07-18T13:54:00.003+01:00

It is a sad day in the Geekanoids office. I love my Mac computers, my Leopard, all of my iPods, but my iPhone 3G just did not cut the mustard. I had the original iPhone and loved it (still do) and I suppose that the greatness of the original, plus a couple of other things, combined into the decision to return my 3G... let me explain...

First off, the iPhone 3G. Yes, it was sexy, but it felt cheap. The 3G connectivity was poor to say the least. I found myself turning 3G off to get a good signal in my area, and to correct an error where the handset would not receive cellular data. This error would stop Maps, Email, Internet, basically anything that needed access to the cellular network would fail. It also ran warm, and after a couple of days use a small pimple had raised up on the back of the handset. These problems may have been isolated to just my iPhone, but they worried me.

Then throw in the equation of the original iPhone. It was better built and felt classy. The brushed aluminum back was really nicely done and did not show those fingerprints. The screen seemed nicer to me, yes, we all know about the yellow added to the 3G, but c'mon Apple, you should give us the choice.

Finally, a look at me. I am in the office probably 75% of my time, bringing you reviews. Of the remaining time that I am out, I probably have my laptop with me. During this time, I only get a few calls, so I can pick those up on my original iPhone. If I want an Application, I can get that over my broadband connection at home (rather than EDGE). If I want to find my way, I have a TomTom. So I came to the conclusion, that problems aside, I did not need 3G. Don't get me wrong, it is a great mobile phone, just not essential for everyone, and definitely not an essential upgrade from the original iPhone.

Apple give 30 day free extension for MobileMe problems

2008-07-16T14:44:00.004+01:00

Well, you certainly can't say that Apple don't value their customers. They acknowledge that the MobileMe roll-out did not go quite as smoothly as planned. They also tell us that their use of the word 'push' was not exactly as users had expected. As a goodwill gesture, they have given all MobileMe subscribers a FREE 30 day extension to the service.

Text below;
We have recently completed the transition from .Mac to MobileMe. Unfortunately, it was a lot rockier than we had hoped.
Although core services such as Mail, iDisk, Sync, Back to My Mac, and Gallery went relatively smoothly, the new MobileMe web applications had lots of problems initially. Fortunately we have worked through those problems and the web apps are now up and running.
Another snag we have run into is our use of the word "push" in describing everything under the MobileMe umbrella. While all email, contact or calendar changes on the iPhone and the web apps are immediately synced to and from the MobileMe "cloud," changes made on a PC or Mac take up to 15 minutes to sync with the cloud and your other devices. So even though things are indeed instantly pushed to and from your iPhone and the web apps today, we are going to stop using the word "push" until it is near-instant on PCs and Macs, too.
We want to apologize to our loyal customers and express our appreciation for their patience by giving all current subscribers an automatic 30-day extension to their MobileMe subscription free of charge. Your extension will be reflected in your account settings within the next few weeks.
We hope you enjoy your new suite of web applications at me.com, in addition to keeping your iPhone and iPod touch wirelessly in sync with these new web applications and your Mac or PC.
Thank you,
The MobileMe Team

Aten CS1782 KVM Switch Review

2008-07-14T18:21:00.003+01:00

If you own a couple of Macs, or perhaps a combination of a Mac and PC, then this product could be for you. The Aten CS1782 KVM Switch allows you to have two computers connected, but to tidy up your desktop by using just one keyboard, mouse and screen. It even handles the sound too, so one set of external speakers are suffice.

In use, the Aten CS1782 performed very well, with no degradation in video quality. It worked very well with two Macs connected and I assume equally as well when you add a PC into the equation. For the full rundown of what this device can offer, check out the video review below.

Product: Aten CS1782 2-Port USB 2.0 KVM Switch
Price: £118.66 (inc. VAT)
Supplied by: Aten UK
Contact: +44(0)1753 539121

iPhone 3G - First Impressions Review

2008-07-13T16:28:00.007+01:00

So, it might be a day later than anticipated, but I finally got my iPhone 3G. After spending a tiring (but enjoyable) day at the Apple Store Bluewater, I returned yesterday to pick up my new baby. Many thanks again to Nick for bagging me up a shiny new version of what is likely to be the most successful device of 2008. Having now used it for almost a whole day, I am happy to say that it performs admirably. Take a look at my video coverage below to see exactly what I think;

The Pros for the iPhone 3G
Much faster data download speeds
Richer colours and deeper on-screen blacks
GPS is very accurate
Sleeker styling

The Cons
No dock included for the iPhone 3G's new shape
Plastic back seems as though it isn't as strong as the original iPhone

Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D for iPhone

2008-07-13T16:17:00.003+01:00

When the App Store first went online a few days ago, I rushed to download all the free apps that caught my attention. Then I came across some users reporting that Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D was only available in the UK store and that it was pretty good. So I splashed out the £5.99 for it... and was it worth the money? Well, I have to say a resounding YES.

The graphics are amazing, on par if not a little punchier than the games dedicated Nintendo DS. The game play is very smooth, with good animations and special effects. There is a little bit of slow redraw in the distance, but it is not distracting. The controls are superb too. You tilt forwards to speed up, backwards to slow down and left/right to steer. Skids are performed by touching the screen whilsts turning and power-ups are planted onto your opponents by tapping the appropriate icon. On the sound front it is amazing, very cool music and in-game sound. It also shows that the iPhone 3G has greatly improved speakers, having played this on both the new unit and the first generation.

If you want to give a paid for App Store offering a go, make this one of your first choices.

iPhone 3G GPS Not Working - How to fix it

2008-07-13T16:04:00.003+01:00

There have been many reports of the iPhone 3G having problems with its GPS positioning. Many users are reporting that they go into Maps on their new iPhone, click the target to lock onto their position and it is just not working. I too was experiencing this and have three things to advise, that may point to a solution.

Firstly, check the version number for your 2.0 software. Mine was factory shipped with 2.0 (5A345). I did a restore through iTunes and it downloaded the later 2.0 (5A347) version. After this was downloaded the iPhone got a cellular signal a lot quicker, plus a lot stronger signal too.

Secondly, check you at least have a cellular or mobile phone network signal. The iPhone (both 3G and first generation) use the cell network to work out your position. I found that once I had a four bar signal or more, the iPhone locked onto my position very quickly. It was not that accurate, but it did respond quickly.

Finally, put your iPhone 3G outside for at least 15 minutes. You will find that if it has a non-restricted path to the satellites you will get it to lock on. After leaving mine outside, the target changed to the blue glowing dot and found my position. It was very very accurate, even tracking if I was at the top or bottom of my back garden. This is very impressive indeed.

iPhone 3G update : thanks Apple Store Bluewater

2008-07-12T20:27:00.004+01:00

A very quick update for you all. Having driven back down to Apple Store Bluewater today, I am a happy bunny. Just 30 minutes later and I was out of the store with my iPhone 3G. A big shout out to Nick, thanks so much for doing the VMWare goodness on my contract and getting the iPhone into my hands so quickly. It makes a lot of difference when you are served with a smile, by someone who is genuinely interested that you have a great Apple experience.

Rather than rush my review for you, I have left my iPhone sealed until tomorrow. Hopefully, by about midday, you will be able to see a very special video review of my new baby. It'll be worth waiting for... believe me.

iPhone 3G Speeds - 2G Queue - no iPhone for UK

2008-07-11T18:09:00.003+01:00

Please excuse the rather strange title, but I would love to share my experience with you today... one that was shared by thousands. It purely reflects my personal experience, not my opinion of the product... the new iPhone that I have yet to get my hands on.

So, my iPhone was ordered from O2 just over two weeks ago. Yes, I know it was first come first served, but when I was in the store there were supposedly six 16GB versions in stock and four people ahead of me, so no problem. Then when I sat to do my paperwork, oh no, they had sold the last 16GB version. Well, an 8GB one would not do, and whilst the salesperson was very apologetic, they did not really seem that bothered. The customer experience at O2 is nowhere near that of an Apple Store, so it is a shame they tarnished my experience.

I then headed on down to take some more photos at the Apple Store in Bluewater. Mid-morning and about twenty people in front of me, there were problems. Aparently the O2 servers that allows Apple to activate the sim cards was down. Perhaps it runs on Windows, if only O2 would listen to Steve Jobs ! An hour or two passed, and although it was a long wait the guys and gals there were great. They served up cappucinos and hot chocolates from the local Starbucks. Then lunchtime came around and they were waiting on O2 to call them to do things over the phone. That call did not happen for a long time, so an Apple provided prawn sandwich found my hunger satisfied, but no sign of my iPhone. Around 4pm I really had to leave, at which time they had sold just three iPhones. What an absolute mess. As I write this I am trying to ring them to ask if they actually put on aside for me, along with my £15 complimentary iTunes voucher.

Well, the good news is that the Apple Store seem to have plenty of stock and some more customers have been lucky and got their sims activated and are now enjoying using the device. From what I saw whilst at the store, the device is very sleek, with the curved glossy back being very comfortable to hold. The screen also seemed very bright and crisp, although I did not side-by-side comparison.

A big thank you to all those smiles at the Apple Store Bluewater. Although I came away empty handed, you made the day bearable, although the caffeine shots have left me a bit wide-eyed.

iPhone 3G activation DOWN at Apple Store

2008-07-11T11:49:00.004+01:00

After waiting in queue at the local O2 store and having an iPhone 3G sold from under my nose, I headed on down to cover the launch at the Apple Store Bluewater. Unfortunately the O2 servers were experiencing serious overload, so the queue was not moving. The guys and gals here were breaking into the petty cash to supply us with coffee and cakes, but people were getting a little frustrated. Let's hope the queue starts moving soon. Expect to see full coverage on the website later in the day.

iPhone 2.0 Software - £5.99 for iPod touch

2008-07-10T18:08:00.002+01:00

We all wait with baited breath for the new iPhone 3G tomorrow, but don't forget, existing iPhone and iPod touch owners can upgrade to the new version 2.0 software. It will be free for all iPhone users and just £5.99 for iPod touch users.

Apple's App Store is online - gallery

2008-07-10T12:28:00.006+01:00

Wow, now this is exciting, the App Store is online. A bit hard to get to, but if you follow this link and then backtrack to the App Store (next to the little Home button in iTunes) you get there. Loads of App goodness to browse through, so you can get downloading ahead of tomorrow.

Twitteriffic is there as a free app, as is SmugShot a geotagging photo app, PayPal for sending money, Shazam for identifying music tracks, and Sketches for jotting notes and scribbles. Most of them are free, which is fantastic. See our gallery below, for some App Store goodness.

iPhone 3G lands at AT&T Store

2008-07-10T07:11:00.001+01:00

Wow, this video is an exciting one, building up some great anticipation for tomorrows iPhone 3G launch. It shows a delivery of the new iPhones to an AT&T store, duly stacked onto shelves and locked away. I am very surprised that this video was allowed to be shot, I guess it is an employee or a friend of a friend. The 16GB white models come in white boxes, how cool is that!

Click here to watch the attvideolog Youtube video.