June « 2010 « Girls n Gadgets

Archive for June, 2010

Raffle.it – Play to give, give to win

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Raffle.it

The iPhone 4 is so cool it practically sold out before it even hit the shops. At £500 a pop, it’s not cheap…but every time Steve Jobs presents something new in a typically Apple over-the-top video you can’t help but drool. Only

10% of retail outlets in the UK actually received any stock of the phone on the launch date, 24th June. They’re now predicting at least early July before anything else comes their way!

What if I told you there was a way to get your iPhone 4 without the hefty price tag and with the added bonus of doing good? Raffle.it does online raffles for charity. 80% of the profit from every ticket you buy goes straight to the charity of your choice. You could get an iPhone 4 for just £2 a ticket with the added warm fuzzy feeling of giving to a great cause and doing your good deed of the day! They support some great causes such as War Child, Bullying UK and Opportunity International. Get in there quick, the raffle finishes Wednesday 30th June at 5pm!

If you want slightly less geek and slightly more chic they also happen to have a pair of Jimmy Choos for £2. If you can get over the disappointment of Sunday they also have a signed England shirt – again just £2 a ticket.

Keep an eye on the site for future giveaways as well and have a go. Play to give, give to win – have a go! Http://raffle.it

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Knomo Sale – London – 14th & 15th July

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Tags: bags, fashion, knomo, laptop bags, quality
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

JBL IIIP On Stage Portable Loudspeaker for iPhone & iPod

Monday, June 28th, 2010

First impressions: glossy, sleek and sexy

I love my iPhone, my iPod and music. I also love any self-contained amplification system that will free my precious playlists from the sonic prison of my earphones and launch them into the big wide world where they belong. In other words, I am a sucker for a sound dock, or, as JBL define it, “a portable music loudspeaker”. I have a Bose in the bedroom, an Intempo in the living room (super cool design, gets lots of “aaahs” at parties) and a Creative Labs ‘TravelSound’ in the kitchen … so when Leila asked me to do this review, I nearly bit her hand off, as I don’t, as yet, have a sound dock for the iPhone.

What’s in the Box?

mains adapter
dock adapters + identification chart
remote control
3.5mm stereo jack for connecting external devices
travel pouch
instruction manual

The remote comes with basic functions – no treble or bass adjustment – and the ability to navigate menus, from the top level all the way down – a breeze, although I wasn’t too fussed about the feel of the remote’s controls, which were a little too rubbery for my liking and demanded to be firmly pressed under the thumb.

What’s on the Box?

Remote Control: basic functions + menu navigation

“… for iPhone … “. There it is, right at the top - “… for iPhone … “. It’s actually part of the product’s title, so you’d believe it to be the case … wouldn’t you?

Additionally, the box is covered in photos of the iPhone (not the iPod, I checked, the ‘Call’ icon is clearly displayed) duly positioned in the loudspeaker.

Working my way down the box, the device is described variably as a “Loudspeaker for iPhone …”; “Compatible with [the] iPhone …”; and “Works with the iPhone”.

It is not, apparently, made for the iPhone, as a list of gizmos for which it is made excludes the iPhone completely.

Missing from the box is any reference to the iPhone 3GS 32GB which implies it is a) neither “for”, “compatible with” or “works with” this unit; or b) that it could just be old packaging that needs updating – but that doesn’t seem plausible, as this loudspeaker is supposed to be a new model and the iPhone 3GS has been around for quite a while now.

Thankfully, it does refer to my model, the iPhone 3G 16GB, yet confusingly, the dock adapter guide only refers to the 1^st Gen (4GB) and 2^nd Gen (8GB) iPhones, which begs the question: will my iPhone even work with the dock adapter supplied? Hmm.

So where is this heading? Well, the second I insert my iPhone into the cradle on the appropriate dock adapter (fits, although a little too tightly for my liking) than my iPhone delivers the message (and I paraphrase) that this loudspeaker device is not [after all] compatible with the iPhone and would I like to turn on Airplane Mode to help with noise reduction?

For a new gizmo, it’s not the most auspicious of starts. To be honest, I think even JBL are confused as to what they have produced with this loudspeaker dock.

The iPod Classic (5G 80GB)

I tested the unit on a variety of genres to assess performance at different frequencies: Robbie Williams; Muse; Muddy Waters; Neil Diamond; Monteverdi

Ibiza? Pah! I have a IIIP ...

The amplification of this model iPod using the JBL On Stage IIIP was very impressive … so impressive, in fact, that I got quite carried away with my video review and, with a bit of editing, one video became two (the censored version and the uncensored version – more of this at the end of this review!). Robbie’s voice dripped honey on ‘Bodies’, Muse was bold ‘n’ bassy on ‘Plug In Baby’ and Muddy’s rich, baritone drawl damn near had me drooling.

It wasn’t until I reached Neil’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ that I encountered a sound that was less than perfect for a dock of this size. This is a remastered track and there was a discernible hiss on the acoustic verses, which was eradicated when the band kicked in on the chorus. On the plus side, the brightness of the chorus brought back memories of seeing the Big D live in concert under a starry sky a few years ago.

Then onto Monteverdi’s ‘Cantate Domino’, and a mellifluent treble transported me, in the realms of my imagination, from seat to sky and almost had me soaring with the angels.

An excellent start all round, then.

The iPhone 3G in Call Receiving Mode

Jack in the box .... external devices catered for

I have to say, I approached this with trepidation and no small degree of skepticism. I mean, having already been informed that the IIIP was not compatible with the iPhone and needed to be in Airplane Mode, my hopes weren’t high. You may be asking why I even bothered even assessing its performance without turning Airplane Mode on. Well, to put it bluntly, we are talking about an iPhone – there is a reason we are carrying an iPhone and not an iPod and that is to receive calls and IMO, any device worth its salt that is bold enough to describe itself as a “music loudspeaker for iPhone”, should, in fact, be just that. You shouldn’t have to turn your phone’s operation off in order to hear a good result. You may need to be available for calls when you are listening to the device. Airplane Mode is … well, it speaks for itself. Of course, you might choose to enter that mode to maximise battery performance for gameplay, but you should never have to put your phone in Airplane Mode to optimise the performance of an external device which claims on its packaging to be “for” the iPhone. That’s just being cheeky!

OK, rant over. The result? I was pleasantly surprised. Okay, the amplification lacked the same “oomph” on the iPhone in Call Receiving Mode, and the sound, though by no means remarkable, was pleasing to the ears. In fact, the hiss that was so noticeable on ‘Sweet Caroline’ when played on the iPod was barely perceptible on the iPhone.

There was some modulation on Muse – not enough to ruin my listening experience on the one track, but it might be an issue when listening to an entire album. The bass was cancelling out the treble and it was as though someone was playing with the volume control, turning it up/down/up/down. This was the only truly dodgy moment of this particular test.

The sound was perfectly acceptable otherwise.

The iPhone in Airplane Mode

Music purists will like this. The bass is muted – no modulation on Muse this time – the sound even across every track. If the iPhone’s iPod had an EQ setting, then this would be described as ‘Flat’ – a pure sound, but subdued. It’s all down to musical preferences … as a rock chick who likes a good bass, I like my devices to have more power. I even listen to classical music in ‘Dance’ mode in order to brighten the sound (I sense I’ve just blown my chances of reviewing for Classic FM.) I didn’t dislike this result, but it did nothing to turn me on, either … it was pleasant. Nothing jarred. There is nothing to criticise.

Verdict

Travel pouch big enough for IIIP, Pods + accessories (but not my make up).

As far as portable loudspeakers go, you’re certainly not going to get one as travel-friendly as this in terms of dimensions. It won’t weigh your case down or cause any inconvenient bumpy lumps in your suitcase. It should even fit with ease in your carry-on.

When it comes to performance, much depends on your musical preferences.

If you are going to use this system primarily with an iPod*, then I would not hesitate to recommend it. The results were excellent. The bass was extremely powerful for a sound dock of this size and there was no distortion, even at high volume. My only criticism would be that the volume could go a little higher, but then, the likelihood is you will be playing it outdoors or in your hotel room, so maybe JBL have shown some social responsibility by limiting the power of this device.

If it’s the iPhone you are wanting to purchase it for, then it really comes down to your musical tastes. If your preference is for easy listening, jazz and classical, then you should be very pleased with the quality of the output. If you’re into rock, pop, metal, punk – anything requiring a heavier bass – then you could well be disappointed … but this is a travel system, after all, and for the amount of time you will probably spend listening to it, you will probably find it adequate. If you buy it expecting an iPhone boombox you will be very disappointed, and my advice in this instance would be to shop around or invest in an iPod*, if you haven’t already got one, and take that on vacation with you, too.

JBL do need to be consistent on their packaging and printed matter – the box is out of date and is full of discrepancies and the dock adapter guide inside the box also needs updating to reflect more recent iPhone models.

I award the JBL On Stage IIIP 3 Sticky Fingers (out of a maximum of 5) – a great purchase and highly recommended.

My ToffiAppl video reviews at http://bit.ly/dhqYay complement this article – hear the system for yourself!

* Tested only on the iPod Classic 5G 80GB

Posted in Technology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Tap Resort: Owning your own island has never been cuter

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Tap Resort

When I first downloaded Tap Resort, I honestly didn’t expect much from this CMS game. After all, I’ve learned to have low (or no) expectations when it comes to free iPhone apps. Not to say there aren’t great ones out there, but they’re a bit like unicorns really.

Too Long; Didn’t Read answer: I was pleasantly surprised, download this game.

First Impressions

It might make me sound easy, but I really enjoyed the loading screen music. I like opening the app, just for the cute island-themed jingle, and it will probably get stuck in your head, like it did in mine. The graphics are colorful and well-done, with a simple user interface to boot. I found myself getting a tad addicted!

Diving In

I usually jump right into games, and it’s easy to start off buying decorations and a couple properties to populate your little island. The decorations (trees, fences, etc.) are pretty cheap, but everything else seems expensive. I ran out of coins pretty quickly, and the properties make money slowly, only topping off about once a day.

How much each property makes depends on it’s level out of three stars, earning 500 coins per star. You can upgrade a property level by spending coins, or shells for an instant upgrade. What it comes down to, is managing your coins really. And having patience.

So what happens when you run low, or out, of coins? There are three options: Buy more coins with shells (5 shells per 500 coins), sell your items/properties for half of what you paid, or wait until your property makes money. If you run out of shells, you have to earn them by installing other apps. It can be annoying (and it’s become a trend with apps it seems), but there are both free and paid apps to choose from, paid earning you more shells of course. So, it really depends on how badly you want more coins! I only wish there was another way to earn them.

Buying and Maintaining

It also turns out that your tourists are dirty little guys, so you have to maintain the island by cleaning up trash; they leave behind things like banana peels and soda cans. Your tourists also can get unhappy — I mean, you wouldn’t be happy with banana peels everywhere — so, you simply tap on their frowning face to buy them a drink. “Yippee!” they say, and all is well.

The more you build up the island and upgrade your properties, the more tourists come to visit, and the faster you earn coins! A plus is that you earn coins even while away, so you can come back to the game to collect earnings when convenient. There’s also an option to buy a “Resort Telegram” push notification with one shell, so you’re alerted as soon as your properties are topped off for collection. To be honest, a few coins might be a more reasonable price for something like that though.

Progress

If it doesn’t seem like much at first, just keep at it. It’s really the nature of CMS games — patience! As you build new properties and maintain the island, you level and unlock new items, and even more islands to purchase. I was surprised to find that when I hit level 5, my island grew in size! So, it seems the guys down at the Brooklyn Packet Co. really put thought into how to keep me playing Tap Resort, and from the looks of it, they’re on the ball with updates (now including World Cup country flags for your island!) and quick to respond to support tickets.

Overall, Tap Resort was a pleasant surprise. It’s well-made, cute, easy to play — oh, and free. You can download it here on iTunes.

Tags: apps, free, iPhone, mobile gaming
Posted in gaming | 4 Comments »

Prepare to get wet…

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Heavy Rain (PS3)

Overview
Heavy Rain is the latest instalment for the PS3 from Quantic Dream, the same folks who brought us the interesting and innovative “interactive movie” that was Fahrenheit (or Indigo Prophecy in the States). After playing Fahrenheit on the Xbox many moons ago and becoming completely enthralled in the unique playing style and interesting storyline, I was very excited when I first spyed the trailers for Heavy Rain. The premise of Heavy Rain is fairly similar to that of Fahrenheit, an interactive movie that the player essentially directs, every action the player takes (or chooses not to take in some cases) affects the storyline and final outcome. Without providing any significant spoilers for you, the game revolves around four playable characters who are all affected or connected to a series of grizzly deaths undertaken by the origami killer who, as the name suggests, has a penchant for origami figures. Through playing various sequences as each of these four characters, the storyline develops and gradually a gripping plot unwinds and the identity of the origami killer is revealed. Each character, particularly the four main characters, is well constructed, very interesting and important to the storyline.

First Impressions
One thing that has to be said for Heavy Rain is that it starts really slowly – there is a very extensive opening sequence that, although it does set up the rest of the game and acts as a tutorial to learn the control system, is far too long and if you choose to play through multiple times it’s recommended that you start from a later “chapter”. It is well worth staying patient and sticking with it though, as a couple of hours in you’ll really get your teeth into it and be on the edge of your seat until the end. Heavy Rain really is unlike any other game available out there at the moment and is a refreshing injection into the gaming industry.

Interface
Anyone who has played Fahrenheit previously will understand the type of control system that Heavy Rain employs. The game successfully brings together intricate storytelling with gameplay by using a series of quick-time events (like Dragon’s Lair, or God of War’s takedown sequences) but unlike Fahrenheit, missing a prompt doesn’t mean curtains for you – in fact, you can’t actually fail in Heavy Rain. There is no game over, just a different conclusion to the story. It’s actually possible to “kill off” certain playable characters, this doesn’t mean that you are forced to replay the part where your character dies, it simply means that their portion of the game and storyline is over. However, thanks to the chapter options (much like a DVD) it’s possible to replay any sequence at anytime if you are unhappy with the outcome – but of course, this all affects the overall storyline.
The game makes quite effective use of the Sixaxis controller too – for example, opening a door that sticks requires a swift tug using the controller – however, this can be quite annoying when trying to play the game subtly whilst your flatmate is asleep on the sofa next to you!

Aesthetics
Quite simply put Heavy Rain is a stunningly beautiful game. I got it as part of my PS3 bundle, and the first evening I played it, I was using standard definition (damn you Sony and your lack of included HDMI or Component Cable!) and even in SD, the rain drops of the opening sequence are wonderful. However, the real magic comes when it’s played in High Definition – the attention to detail on the faces of the characters is simply awe inspiring and looks more lifelike than any other game I have ever had the pleasure of playing. The developers have effectively used actors for motion capture and likeness that certainly brings a realistic quality to Heavy Rain that enhances the gameplay experience and makes you feel like you really are in control of an interactive movie.
The voice acting for the most part is also very good, however, during one or two particular scenarios it repeats several voice samples, often in quick succession and this does unfortunately detract from the experience as a whole.
As you play through the game you can unlock bonus features, much like you would find on a DVD – these come in the shape of behind the scenes snippets and loads of frighteningly beautiful concept art. These bonus items that are a really nice treat to anyone who really appreciates the art and craft of making games, especially one that is so majestically delivered such as this.

Difficulty
The game comes with three different “difficulty” options. Although, as I stated previously, there is no way to actually fail Heavy Rain. These options are based on your familiarity with similar games and merely adjust the time in which you can react to the quick-time prompt sequences, or the complexity of the buttons that need pressing to complete a particular action. Heavy Rain is a game that can be enjoyed by even the most casual of gamers thanks in part to its riveting storyline, very simple control system and no fear of being unable to complete the game.

Will you still be playing it in 6 months?
Due to the fact that pretty much every action or option you can take in Heavy Rain will have an effect on the storyline, it’s possible to play through the game several thousand times and have a different experience every single time. Yes, certain scenarios will always have the same set up so a player can be forgiven for not wanting to replay it immediately after completion, it really is just like a movie in that aspect…there aren’t many movies out there that I want to watch again in its entirety immediately after first watching it. However, like a very good movie, it will sit on the shelf and will be brought out and replayed several times (frequently on rainy Sunday afternoon!)…in fact it was less than a week after I first completed Heavy Rain that I was back playing it again, this time to do essentially the exact opposite of everything that I did the first time round just to see how the storyline and end result would differ.

Overall
I thoroughly enjoyed Heavy Rain, it’s just the type of game that I’ve been waiting for ever since I first played the brilliant Fahrenheit. It’s one of the few games recently that really hooked me and had me playing until the small hours. Plus after first completing it, it had me wanting to go back for more. Sure, it’s not for everyone – hardcore first-person shooter fans will probably be bored by the lack of explosions and it certainly features enough swearing, violence, nudity and sex to be unsuitable for kids (it is an 18 after all), but for gamers who are looking for a really absorbing storyline coupled with stunning aesthetics and an innovative control system – Heavy Rain ticks all those boxes and comes highly recommended.

The Scores…
Concept – 9.5
Graphics – 9.0
Sound – 8.0
Gameplay – 8.5
Longevity – 8.5

Overall – 8.7 out of 10

Tags: gaming, Heavy Rain, PS3
Posted in gaming | 1 Comment »

To scribe or not to scribe, that is the Livescribe Pulse

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen

When you get the pen out the box, you may be disappointed, it’s not exactly the prettiest pen on the market, it’s quite bulky and is in effect a glorified biro.

However initial appearances don’t take into account of what the pen can actually do. It has an infrared camera in its snout, a cradle (USB) connector slightly further up, then a speaker, an OLED display, power button, microphone and a earphone connector in the top.

Livescribe USB dock

Livescribe Pen USB connector

The name smartpen is just that. The pen can record everything you write on their special dot paper (more on this later) which includes text and graphics. The pen doesn’t actually care what you write, it just notes the position of the pen and how it’s moving across the paper and stores that information. Livescribe do sell additional software that can take written text and convert it to digital text (which is also included in the Pro version of the product).

If you go back and use the same bit of paper, then the pen will notice that the sheet has been used before and store the new annotations seperately.

Pen showing OLED display

The pen can also record audio in addition to storing the notes written on the paper. This can be achieved by the in-built microphone or using the (supplied) earphones which also have a microphone in each one, so the sound recorded is in stereo.

Dot paper

The special dot paper is at the heart of the Livescribe system, it’s completely proprietary and you need to use it to both control the pen and for it to recognise the text or graphics being written.

The paper has controls for recording, playback, jumping, volume etc. So tab the record button and the pen will start recording what’s being written and what’s being spoken.

You need to get used to the way the Livescribe system is meant to be used, so say you’re in a meeting taking notes, the notes can be simplified as they’re actually pointers to the audio. Later tapping on a note and the pen will play back the audio from there. Of course copious notes can be taken and the pen will record them all.

There are some ‘special’ types of dot paper which allow the pen to act as a calculator (basic, financial and scientific) by tapping on the printed calculator keys. Other pen features can also be accessed such as setting the time/date, viewing the memory used, software version etc.

dot Paper 'calculator'

The dot paper is usually sold as a pad or journal and the inside cover contains these functions.

It is possible to print your own paper (printer must be colour and support at least 600 dpi), however currently the system only supports US letter sized paper which is a problem for most of the world (apart from the USA).

It’s important to use journals in order (or numbered pages from the same pad) as the pen ‘remembers’ what was entered in a specific numbered journal or pad. This isn’t immediately obvious, i.e. journals are sold as say Black Unlined Journal, 2-Pack, Numbers 1 and 2 or Black Unlined Journal, 2-Pack, Numbers 3 and 4 and the journal number means something, so if the journal is really being used as an ordered journal, use No 1, then 2 then 3 then 4 then go back to a new No 1 etc. The (4GB) pen will keep track of up to 4 journals at once, but it can’t differentiate between to journals both numbered say 2. Once a journal is filled, it can be archived through the desktop software.

The pen comes with desktop software for both Windows and MacOS X. This allows transferring data from the pen to the PC (where PC in this case means the computer being used whether Windows or MacOS X based). Audio files are saved as MP3 and any graphics can be stored as PDFs. Livescribe also offer on-line storage so recorded information can be stored (archived) on their servers.

The pages of a pad or journal are stored as that, with the associated graphics and audio. If the pen has been used multiple time on the same page, then each new use will be a different colour.It’s also possible to buy/download applications for the smartpen and these are available through the desktop (or via the web) these run on the pen itself and range from cheap and cheerful to weird through quite sophisticated. Things like hangman require drawing the noose etc like you would on the paper version.

Disadvantages

The only real disadvantage is being tied into using Livescribe’s dot paper, this is available in various sized pads and notepads, notebooks and journals and the price varies considerable (mainly due to the bindings), but they are generally slightly more than an equivalent ‘normal’ version so 4 notepad refills (4 x 60 sheets of dot paper 3″ by 5″) costs about $9.00 while a notepad pack (4 notepads) costs $13. Maybe soon they’ll let you print your own on A4 rather the US Letter. All the pens can be purchased through Livescribe’s site (though some pads and journals etc wont be shipped outside of the US).

The pen comes in 3 versions 2GB $149.95, 4GB $169.95 and the 4GB Pro Pack 229.95 which also includes a black (rather than Titanium pen), a desktop charging cradle and leather case for the pen and a download code for the MyScript transcription software (to convert the written text to digital text). All pens come with a 3-D recording headset (really earphones), spare ink cartridges and a USB mobile charging cradle and 500MB of on-line storage.

UK prices start around £120 for the 2GB pen and £140 for the 4GB version.

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Waze is in need of some girlpower!!!

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Waze, the navigation mobile application, has been taken over by boys! Their stats show a staggering 98% are male and are looking to change that – They are running an iPad competition for girls only. Help the Waze guys out by entering their and don’t forget to ‘chit-chat’ GIRLPOWER!

Click ont he graphic above for details about the competition.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Knomo know their accessories!

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

What is it with mobile phone and Laptop accessories available for women?! Why do companies seem to think that branding something in pink is the answer to capturing the female market? OK… so, some people do like pink, I for one have a few pink accessories, but that’s mainly down to the fact that there isn’t that much out there. But what if you’re a business woman who doesn’t want brightly coloured, ‘in your face’ accessories?

iPhone Wallet Wristlet

Well… Your search is now over! Knomo have a beautiful range of laptop bags and iPhone covers as well as an iPhone wallet wristlet, which in practice, is extremely useful – Although not ideal if your someone who loses their phone a lot! It’s nice to see a company think about what women *really* want from their accessories. The leather iPhone cover fits snugly and looks very smart and professional. I had lots of compliments from friends when sporing this around town. Although, my wish would be for them to produce some nice Blackberry covers too.

Rosa Laptop Handbag

Knomo’s Laptop bags, like their iPhone accessories, are quality stock. I had the pleasure of trying out their ‘Luxury Tan’ coloured Rosa 15 ” laptop handbag , which looks extremely sophisticated I have to say. Now don’t get me wrong, these accessories are not cheap to say the least – the Rosa laptop handbag retails at £245. I can’t help but think, however, that if you can afford it, it’s worth the investment as it’s made extremely well and doesn’t look like something that’s going to fall apart in a few months. The phrase ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ comes to mind. They offer a range of bags in all different shapes and sizes to suit the various laptop sizes offered these days. To compliment the bags, they offer laptop slip cases.

Knomo is a smart and sophisticated brand and one that I most certainly would recommend. Check out the mens range too for that perfect birthday gift to special someone

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »