Gizmophobe Technology & Gaming

The music never stops with the Intempo Go Pack; it’s the essential kit for music lovers everywhere! With a portable iPod speaker-dock, an FM transmitter, an in-car iPod charger and a worldwide mains charger, the Go Pack has it covered whether you are at home, abroad or travelling in-between!

The Intempo Go Pack is exclusive to Comet and is available now for £59.99 when you buy any iPod from the store.

Whether you are at home, on holiday or on the move, the Go Pack makes sure your music comes along with you. The ‘iDS On-the-Go’ is Intempo’s latest iPod speaker-dock and it is exclusive to the Go Pack. Available in high-gloss black, it offers true portability powered by the mains or four AAA batteries. The iDS On-the-Go is small enough to slip into your suitcase but the sound from the eight watt speakers will fill a room, making it perfect for an office Christmas party or a winter get-away.

Planning a long journey? The FM transmitter instantly updates your car stereo, letting you listen to your iPod tunes through the car radio, while the in-car charger ensures your iPod always remains topped up. And wherever you are in the world the Go Pack ensures you never run out of power because the international mains plug will charge your iPod in any country.

Almost everyone is aware that out there on the web there are numerous websites from which it is possible to illegally download countless music tracks or films at the click of a button. With a library containing the very latest DVD releases from the French-Iranian animated film, Persepolis, to Mike Leigh`s charming and witty Happy Go Lucky, these sites have attracted millions of users. As soon as they are available, DVD releases become accessible on these sites and the latest films such as the romcom What Happens in Vegas and thriller-drama 21 are quickly downloaded illegally. This has been going on for several years and the sites have probably gained their popularity largely through their extensive music library. More recently, however, those in the industry have retaliated and attempted to combat the problem by introducing their own sites from which movies and music can be downloaded completely legally.

Legal Download Sites

There are in fact very many websites currently available for people wishing download music and film online, as opposed to getting their entertainment through CDs and DVDs. This is seen by many as the next stage of the entertainment industry and downloads are often more convenient, easier and quicker than purchasing a physical CD or DVD.

The first type of legal download worth mentioning is direct downloads from a band`s website. In recent years there have been numerous music artists or groups that have decided to allow fans to download an album straight from their own website for free. Tom Fox, Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead are perhaps the most famous examples of this.

There are also countless online music download stores. Most of these have cottoned on to the trend of downloading tracks as opposed to entire albums and offer users the option to download individual songs for a set fee. These sites follow copyright laws and the biggest have several million tracks available for downloading. The fee is usually between 50p and £1 and a few of the biggest online stores are the iTunes Store, Amazon MP3 and Napster.

Some other download sites offer an innovative download scheme whereby users can download legally and for free. Qtrax, for example, allows free downloads, supported by advertising. From websites like this, the artists do not lose out and for music lovers who want free music and do not mind hearing advertising, this can be the perfect solution.

As for movies, the film download business is not quite as advanced as that of music downloads. There are numerous legal sites that allow users to watch and download films and these usually have impressively extensive libraries. These websites, such as Lovefilm and Eztakes, either offer a set fee per film or a subscription fee per month and these prices vary.

With regards to the software required for all of these download sites, it is usually the case that if a certain program is needed, it will be offered on the website itself. There are websites that cater to different types of computer and most are compatible with a range of platforms.

The Consequences of Illegal Downloads

Those who break the law by illegally downloading music and films may have their internet cut off under new legislation. Given the billions of pounds lost by the industry each year, tough new measures have been brought in and following a few warnings, these downloaders may be prosecuted and cut off, meaning they will have to resort back to physical legal DVDs and what DVD players they own.

Christmas is just around the corner and with only 35 days before the big day, Gourmet Pixel has announced the release of the first Advent Calendar application available on Apple’s iPhone and 2nd generation iPod Touch models.

Once downloaded, a countdown to the 1st of December greets the user upon first opening the application and once into December, the user is able to open each relevant window and in return, will receive an interactive gift, which culminates to a spectacular interactive finale on Christmas Eve.

The application can also be used year after year, so it is cost effective. While it ticks all the boxes, in terms of classic Christmas imagery, watch out for some special surprises that the development team has added.

The “24 Christmas Days” advent calendar is available to download from iTunes.

Parents stuck for ideas on what to buy their sons this Christmas will have all their problems solved by THE WAVE, the combination snow, surf and skate board that will keep them away from the TV all day.

THE WAVE is responsible for the birth of a unique new sport, Streetsurfing, which combines the natural fluidity of surfing with the smooth maneuverability of snowboarding and skating into one new action board sport. Easy to ride both down and uphill, THE WAVE is perfect for the driveway, the park and the pavement. Progress is also quick and kids will progress to grin-splitting tricks before the end of Boxing Day.

This present is perfect for kids who have an interest in snowboarding or surfing as it forces the body to use all the same balance and movement mechanisms and is a great dry-land preparatory toy. It’s uses are so well recognised that it is currently used by the British Surf Team and the Olympic Junior snowboarding coach as a training aid.

To ensure a Christmas Day spent away from the computer or TV, visit www.streetsurfing.co.uk for more information. The boards start at £79.99 for young riders (aged up to 7) and £89.99 for anyone over the age of 8 (there is no upper age limit).

Millions of tracks, thousands of artists, yours to keep forever - one special price from Sainsbury’s

Datz, the online music download store and community website, today announced the retail launch of the Datz Music Lounge; a revolutionary new way to buy and enjoy music. Music lovers can now have the music they want for a single one off cost, retailing from today at Sainsbury’s.

The Datz Music Lounge lets you download as many tracks as you want over the course of a year for a one off cost of £99.99 (RRP). Members of Datz Music Lounge can keep all the tracks they have downloaded forever. Every song is in MP3 format, free from DRM and 100% legal. Music can be transferred to an iPod, any MP3 player or a mobile phone.

Featuring millions of songs from thousands of artists, the catalogue of hits includes everything from classic artists to modern stars. In addition a wide selection of new music released in 2009 will be available to Datz Music Lounge members, enabling them to enjoy the hits of the future as well as an incredible back catalogue.

The Datz Music Lounge has been created by leading music download site Datz.com along with leading record labels to encourage people to find new ways of enjoying legal digital music. Record labels whose catalogues will be part of the Datz Music Lounge at launch include Beggars Group, EMI Music, The Orchard & Warner Music with more joining over the coming weeks.

Michael Richardson, Managing Director of Datz says: “We wanted to find a safe and legal way for users to download music to keep. With literally thousands of artists and millions of tracks all in unlocked MP3 format, the Datz Music Lounge provides safe, carefree downloading for all music enthusiasts. Datz Music Lounge gives people a way to bolster their back catalogue, try new music and rediscover artists they love. All the music is theirs to keep forever and they can download anything they like for one year after they join Datz Music Lounge. Not only does Datz Music Lounge fundamentally change the way people can enjoy music, it also provides one of the greatest offers of all time.”

Music is downloaded DRM free to a computer in MP3 format. The user can then transfer the music to any music playing device. Users can purchase the limited edition Datz Music Lounge gift box, available from Sainsbury’s or online at www.datzmusiclounge.com. Simply insert the Music Lounge CD and USB key into your computer and start building a record collection over the following 12 months, safe in the knowledge that the music is 100% legal, 100% original and 100% yours to keep forever.

Become the master of all things mechanical with this fully functional remote control fork lift. As if you were driving the real thing, you can whizz around your lounge shifting stuff on pallets from one end of the room to other. Now this really is a big boys toy!

The RC Forklift Truck comes with all the functions to one you’d find down your local industrial estate.  You can control it with the six function remote control to make it go forwards at three speeds, backwards, left and right. The rear wheel steering system allows this toy to achieve a small turning radius letting you work in and out of even the tightest of spaces. The forks provide both tilting and lifting for easy controllability of heavy loads.

Supplied complete with four cones, two euro pallets and a cardboard crate, for guys this will be extremely addictive fun and girls if you’re looking for a gift for a man this should be right there on top of your list.

Gizmophobe has negotiated an exlusive 5 per cent discount off product at Deviltronics.com. Simply enter discount code GPHOBE5 at the checkout.

For more unique gifts for men and to buy the RC Forklift Truck click on this link - Buy RC Forklift Truck.

GAME, Europe’s premier video game retailer, has launched a new, innovative advergame where the prize is the player’s wish list. GAME hopes the offer of such a prize will encourage more users to create wish lists at game.co.uk.

Understanding that the campaign will have to work hard to standout from the crowd, GAME has created a concept that taps into two of the great debates among gamers: which consoles and are the best and who are the best players?

Split between ‘retro’ gamers who grew up with Pacman and Asteroids and the ‘next generation’ of consoles, such as the Wii and Playstation 3, players can choose which team they want to represent.

To ensure a successful and high quality campaign, GAME commissioned the winners of the Games category at the New Media Age Effectiveness Awards 2008, 4T2 Multimedia, for consultancy and production. 4T2 split their staff into two groups of different age ranges to produce stylised content for each of the teams in the campaign creating a passionate and competitive development.

With ten levels in the initial launch of the viral game, the campaign from GAME has a long lifespan and will be generating repeat visits for many months. Levels 1 - 7 can be played from all over the web while levels 8 -10 are only available for play on game.co.uk. Each level includes hidden crates that players can find which was tied into a weekly competition, enabling GAME to keep talking to players and give the gamers and bloggers an additional storyline to find and share where the crates were hidden.

The “Console Wars” viral game also features an integrated communication plan for all players in the form of a weekly branded e-mail containing hints tips and links to strategy guides. Players who have not yet set up a wish list will receive a custom e-mail reminding them to do so otherwise they won’t win any prizes.

The winner of “Console Wars” will receive a grand prize of £1000 worth of their wish list while five runners up will win £200 of their wish list. Each time a level is completed the player doubles their number of entries into the prize draw.

GAME has created “Console Wars” in such a way that new levels can easily be added and expanded. The video game retailer plans to engage in debate with users to find out what new characters should be added and help shape the game’s future.

GAME hopes the combination of great playability and the company’s interaction with players of “Console Wars” will encourage users to create their Christmas wish list at game.co.uk in the hope of winning the grand prize.

Aiptek have the latest in Pico projectors, the Pocket Cinema V10, a compact projector with built-in media player. This latest innovation from market leading Aiptek is designed as a stand alone media player or for use in conjunction with an iPod, DV, DSC, games console or mobile phone (via AV-out).

The Pocket Cinema’s integral media player will play Mpeg4 movies, Jpeg Photos and MP3 music files. When connected to an external device the Pocket Cinema will project movies and images from any video source with an AV out and gaming graphics.

Measuring just 125mm x 55mm x 23mm the Pocket Cinema V10 is designed for ultimate portability and is convenient for use in or away from the home. The 50 inch projected screen will enhance bedroom gamers’ experience and also provides an impressive outdoor cinema for camping trips or festivals. Due to its small footprint and scalable screen size the Pocket Cinema is also ideal for use on aircraft, in the car or in a hotel room.

Pocket Cinema V10 Product features:

• A mobile media player mini-projector playing back picture, MP3, and video clips.
• Projects image up to 50″ within distance from 21cm to 180cm.
• Projects image from connecting to iPod, DV, DSC, game console or mobile phone (via AV-out) or from playback in embedded flash memory or SD/MMC memory card.
• Resolution - 640 x 480 Pixels (VGA).
• A convenient tool for business meetings and presentations.
• White LED light source.
• 3M technology.
• Li-Ion battery, Tripod and Remote control supplied.
• Cradle with speaker & power charging (Optional).

With 1GB of internal memory and a further 8GB of storage available with optional 8GB HDSC card the Pocket Cinema will beam movies and photo’s up to 50 inches within a distance of 21cm to 180cm.

The Pocket Cinema V10 will be available from November at Amazon.co.uk at an SRP of £299.99. Click here for more information.

Also included in the box is ArcSoft Media Converter, ArcSoft Total Media Extreme, Li-Ion battery, AC adapter, USB cable, AV Cable (3-in-1 AV jack), Tripod, Pouch, Application CD, Quick start guide.
ENDS

Well more expensive than the usual gadgets we feature here, but here is a unique Aston Martin DB 007 in which even the world’s most famous secret agent couldn’t stay incognito in this 24-carat gold and platinum-leafed supercar from luxury customization company, Alchemist.  It is picture below, with London’s MI5 building in the background.

The day after Quantum of Solace premieres in London, Alchemist will showcase its one-off Aston Martin at MPH The Prestige Motor Show featuring Top Gear Live at London’s Earls Court, where the supercar will be auctioned Sunday Nov. 2 at 6 pm.   The estimated price is an eye watering £ 500,000.

And with seven diamonds embedded in the bodywork, it is sure to be a jewel among the 200 supercars on display. This car owned by Prince Francesco Ruspoli.

Alchemist’s creative director and modern day ‘Goldfinger’, Jacques Blanc, said: “This is a truly unique car. Tutankhamen’s chariot was decorated with gold leaves. And we have simply brought that ancient and opulent tradition into the 21st century.”

MPH The Prestige and Performance Motor Show featuring Top Gear Live at London’s Earls Court runs from 30 October to 2 November.

This feature packed digital photo frame is really like in a league of its own, as with others it will let you display your photos and videos from your memory card but cleverness comes with the WiFi connection capability. Not only can you easily transfer your snaps from your PC or Mac to the WiFi Photo Frame, you are also able to connect it up to photo sharing sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Webshots, Windows Live, Photobucket (and more) to allow millions of users to add pictures from their accounts. Now this is a proper gadget.

So how exactly does all this work, you may ask. Well each of these WiFi Photo Frames have a unique email address allowing it to receive photos by electronic post from any computer or mobile phone, that’s it, just a simple bit of technology! It also has its own built in spam filter for those unwanted snaps, we all hate junk mail and it seems the makers of this WiFi gizmo made that a priority.

Once set-up the WiFi Digital Photo Frame will check and update any new emails/photo’s every few minutes. It also has the ability to allow you to view your family and friends recent photos by simply inputting their Flickr username – no subscription required! On top of all that you can group a number of these photo frames together to share photos within that group.

The brilliance of the WiFi Digital Photo Frame is not let down by its build quality either, beautifully finished in a glossy black it comes complete with built-in connections, speakers and a separate remote  control. Now you, your family or friends have absolutely no excuse for not staying in touch when you’re far away or travelling.

Gizmophobe has negotiated an exclusive 5 per cent discount off products at Deviltronics.com.  Simply enter discount code GPHOBE5 at the checkout.

For more information on the WiFi Photo Frame and to buy click on this link - Buy Wifi Photo Frame

Choosing In Car Gadgets and Accessories

Everyone wants to give their car the personal feel and the dramatic touch, and some tech-heads out there fill their cars with all of the gadgets and gizmos you would expect to find in the modern living room. Let`s take a look at the kind of in car Gadgets and Accessories which are on the market today and what you can expect from the brands that produce them.

Audio Systems, Hi-Fi and Stereo Equipment - The sheer volume and variety of in car audio equipment is incredible. From the value ranges produced by Rip Speed right up to Sony and Pioneer mega systems with subwoofers and ten speakers, you can put almost anything into your car if you have the knowhow or the money to employ someone who does. Bear in mind that equipping your car with extra audio equipment and amplification devices will drain your battery quicker and result in poorer fuel economy.

Satellite Navigation - Over recent years this has been only available to the wealthy as built in computing software on high-end vehicles, or as expensive, clunky and unintuitive devices which you could take in your car with you. However, now the market has been blown wide open, thanks to the likes of TomTom and Garmin, both of whom are producing cheap Sat Nav systems which are bursting with features and available for use in any car. The current Sat Nav price war means that you will be able to get a decent system for under £100, and some stores and retailers will demonstrate how it works so that you can use it instantly to find your way to destinations without having to glance at a map or get in an argument with your significant other. Shopping around to get the best deal is advisable, as many internet sites have them on special offers, as well as the major high street suppliers. If you want to have face to face contact with a system before you buy, heading to the high street is the best way to see a Sat Nav system demonstrated and in action.

In Car Entertainment - Because of the revolution in LCD screen technology, you can now buy small, great quality LCD screens which strap to the back of the headrests in your car without the need to install them directly into the seats. These units are available with built in DVD players and even digital TV receivers if you want to receive Freeview channels on the move. Some come with connections that you can plug games consoles into to keep the kids quiet during long journeys.

Security - When filling your car with all this expensive new equipment, you may consider increasing the security of your car with a new alarm system or a car tracker system, to make sure that if your car is stolen at any time, you will be able to track it and recover it from its new location. This is something that high end cars are sometimes fitted with as standard, but is a technology that can be installed on nearly any car.

Different types of MP3 players have hit the market recently and a lot of weird accessories come along with it. These are the novelties that you can see in the range of MP3 players. The most unique things about these players are that they are unique and have their own individuality. These MP3 players are perfect to present as gifts at any point of time. Below is the presentation of the five most bizarre MP3 players that you will ever see.
The five items include 1) Snowboard speaker, 2) pillow speaker, 3) B-Bop 4) Talking MP3 player 5) and lastly MP3 player which is egg shaped.

Egg MP3 player

This player is in the shape of an egg. It is like a souvenier piece and does not have a display or any buttons. It has basic functions and comes with a remote control. It is portable and helps you to carry anywhere. The main attraction is the design of the MP3 player.

B-Bop

B-Bop was mainly designed for the usage of kids. It has a very neat design and is a very big hit among the kids. This player can record up to 30 minutes of music. These come with headphones that are very handy and can be hung around the neck. It has been designed in such a way that it can be easily handled by the kids who are between 8 and 12 years.

Talking MP3 players (coolboy)

Talking MP3 player is a very unique player that is certain to attract attention. It offers a performance that will be similar to a home music centre. It has a lot of advantages and also functions that a normal MP3 player does not posses. The design of this piece is very stylish and intriguing. It has a lot of new features like opening and closing mouth when the music is being played. The display will read the TXT files which helps you choose files.

Snowboard speaker

It is one hell of an MP3 player and is a very handy gadget. It has a design that helps you to listen to music in a comfortable fashion and has pretty good speakers. It has a very cosy appearance and it is designed in such a way that it can be used as a loudspeaker. It has succeeded to combine style and great sound making it a great set for listening to music. The gadget has a very stylish look and can be used as a style statement. It will be a great hit with the boys because it looks like a snowboard.

Pillow speaker

This following item will be one of the most unusual things that you have come across till now. This speaker will certainly grab attention and is a nice gentle piece that will fit into any room. From the outside it does not look like a speaker and looks more like a pillow. The designs come in various varieties like cow, bear and many other designs. It is designed for travel purposes and offers both comfort and entertainment at the same time. The speakers can be connected to MP3, and other audio devices.

This Twin Rotor PicooZ Tandem Z-1 is set to be one of the best selling boys toys for Christmas 2008. Developed by the well known guys at Silverlit it comes in three snazzy colours and also in a sneaky military camouflage. They have been designed so three can be flown at once, thanks to each colour having a unique infra red channel frequency, so no doubt they will bring endless fun.

The expertise involved gives these choppers excellent flying characteristics, they can be flown with extreme ease even in the tightest of spaces. The sophisticated gyroscopic auto-stability system with precise proportional control and the unique tilting rotors give the PicooZ Tandem Z-1 very good in-flight stability, even a novice can pilot this astonishing micro RC helicopter in no time at all.

The PicooZ RC Chinook weighs a mere 23 grams and has a length of 7″. The crash friendly ultra tough flexible foam body houses a lightweight lithium polymer battery that allows a good 10 minutes flying time when fully charged. The charging is done by simply plugging the Tandem Z-1 into the infrared transmitter so there is no need to plug it into the mains making the whole package very mobile.

Have a look at this video to see how good this is?

Gizmophobe has negotiated an exclusive 5 per cent discount off products at Deviltronics.com.  Simply enter discount code GPHOBE5 at the checkout.

For more information on the RC Chinook and to buy click on this link - Buy the PicooZ Tandem Z-1 RC Chinook

The touchscreen MP4 players are starting to get proper attention among less fanfare. Their popularity is sky rocketing and a major reason behind is that these players are integrated with softwares which support all the major media playing formats. These audio players carry perfect combination of the sleek and cute design along with the best software for hassle free music playing. As these MP4 players are touchscreen they come with LCD screens which provide a smooth operating. The LCD touchscreens allow the manufacturers to add another feature to the MP4 players and it is video playback.

The touchscreen MP4 players support nearly all major audio and video formats like WMA, MP3, WAV, FLAC, OOG and even the XVID format. Depending on the manufacturers, the LCD screens are fitted in varying sizes, but the standard size of the LCD touchscreen MP4 players is 2.5 inch. Most of the MP4 players come with 2.5 inch LCD screen. Yet the players are made up of very light materials and hence the average weight of the MP4 players is around 100g. The battery life of the MP4 players is also exceptionally long and is presumed to be around 50 hours of audio playback and around 12 hours of video playback.

These modernized MP4 players come with varying memory capacities like 2GB and 4GB. They also come equipped with SD and even the latest SDHC memory card slots which increase their memory capacity to around 8GB. The video formats that are played by the MP4 players are MPG, rm, AVI, rmvb and even dat format. The video resolution provided by the MP4 players is around 320 x 240 and is equipped with the video speed of 35 frames per second. Also the transfer rate is around 350 Kbps. It also lets the users to view pictures in the JPEG format.

The new age MP4 players with touchscreen come with an in-built mic and can record audio clips in the WAV format. The players also contain a 3.5 earphone jack and 20 mW speaker output. The users have the option of choosing the MP4 players that operate in their own language. These languages include English, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Arabic and so on. They are also equipped with a 2.0 USB port for audio and video transferring. The users can also choose which operating system to be installed on the players. The users can choose between Windows 98/ME/200/XP/Vista. The power source is rechargeable lithium ion battery.

The MP4 players have full touchscreen function, easy to use and also have a very smooth function. The users are free to define their own equalizer mode with one blank slot for user defined equalizer mode and 8 pre-defined modes. There are also a number of different settings for the recording that include the noise reduction and sound sensitivity. Then there are also the backlight options that include the on-time in seconds. Then there is the power saver mode that dims the backlight and even turns off the power after user defined timings. The options of screen lock, mute button and also the backlight brightness adjustments are included.

Water-Powered Calculator is considered to be the most unique product as concerned to water utilization. The setup and installation of Water-Powered Calculator is quite easy and takes very less time. The most important feature associated to Water-Powered Calculator is that it requires water filling just once and than for its whole life no refilling is required.

Working of Water-Powered Calculator

Though the working of Water-Powered Calculator is quite similar to other calculators available in market but the concept behind its working process is quite different. As Water-Powered Calculator is filled with water once so whenever the energy is required according to the mechanism the evaporated water gets converted to steam and than these steams are again melted to water form. Therefore after a particular time interval water automatically formed and the process gets continued. This process generally occurs in the interval of two to three months. As concerned to the H2O battery of Water-Powered Calculator it can be easily processed for minimum two years. The most important factor associated to Water-Powered Calculator is the H2O battery. As compared to ordinary batteries H2O battery has more life even double to other batteries. One more advantage of Water-Powered Calculator battery is the state in which it can be remained. Water-Powered Calculator battery can be remained in dry state within its life. Due to such process its life also gets increased. Water-Powered Calculator H2O battery is formed from recyclable components which have several ad vantages s compared to ordinary batteries. Water-Powered Calculator is able to handle any type of weather whether it is sunlight or moon light. No problem is faced at the time when Water-Powered Calculator is used in sunlight. The screen is so cleared in sunlight that no effects seems. Water-Powered Calculator batteries are quite adjustable and with some drops only they can be refilled and works same as new.

Mechanism related to Water-Powered Calculator

Water-Powered Calculator use a different mechanism according to which the batteru associated to it is equipped with anode and cathode rods. These rods work within the charges associated to it. As we know cathode is always positive and anode is negative. Therefore when water is supplied between the rods it gets divided in H positive and on negative which means hydrates and oxides. After the separation of H2O all the positive charge is reflect to anode and all negative charge is attracted towards cathode. Due to high resolution power these charges are quite strong and don’t get effected for several years. If Water-Powered Calculator suffers from low energy by putting just few drops of water the cathode and anode again come to the motion and starts working again.

Features available with Water-Powered Calculator

Though most of features are similar as other calculators but due to hydrated battery and antic Lear screen the display is quite effective. As the battery is dry mostly so water is not evaporated. Therefore when Water-Powered Calculator is used in sunlight it doesn’t show any bubbling and the display remains as it is.

The NW-A3000 is a small MP3 player from Sony. The A3000 shares many of its features with its younger sibling, the A1000 which comes with a storage space of 6GB. The A3000 has a beautiful design, yet the specifications overpower its looks. The A3000 comes with a 20GB storage space which is much more than its sibling. Then there is the 2 inch display which is completely OLED. The dimensions of the A3000 measure up to approximately 65.2 x 104.2 x 21.4 mm. The A3000 has an aggregate weight of 182 g and the buyers have the option of obtaining the model in silver and violet colors.

Features:

The A3000 comes equipped with a revamped and powerful playlisting by Sony. This means that the users now get to play the smart playlists. Then there is the well-known ‘Artist Link’ which also works fine. When you play a song, you also have the option to press the orange-lit button located at the top-left corner of the player and it will list the songs with similar artists, genres or moods.

There is an integrated graphics user interface that comes with a dual-rating system. The A3000 has a unique feature in which it puts stars on the songs depending on the times you have played it, the ratings you have set the song and also the number of times you have passed over the song. You can also assign the star ratings similar to the iTunes. The A3000 is more precise that any of the MP3 players in its category.

Body and Build Quality:

The design of A3000 is the most sleek and tidy work of exceptionally skilled people. The body is made scratch resistant but can also be used by the forensic people as it attracts all the fingerprints in the vicinity. The OLED screen is the best suited for the body design and is absolutely stunning. It is comfortable to use and the iPod users can feel at home at it feel similar to the 4th generation iPods. There is also the specialty of the player that its buttons change their color which depends on the mode selected. The best part of the A3000 is that the batteries of the player are easily replaceable which is a pleasant touch.

Sound Quality:

The Sound quality of the A3000 is the best among its siblings and competitors. It is also very alike the HD5 which means that you can now enjoy more bass in the songs that you play on it. The credit goes to the engineers at Sony, who have given the bass boost to the player. You also have the option to unlock the all the equalizer options if you are listening to the songs that are encoded using Sony’s ATRAC format. This is a bit of dismay.

Regrettably the co-operation between the software provided by Sony and the device is not at its best. The Connect Player software provided by Sony has neat and effective features and great user interface but fails to flawlessly co-operate with the device. This proves as a major dismay as you can transfer songs on the device only through the computer.

Virgin Broadband have are now the UK’s fastest broadband supplier from according to broadband analysts at broadband.co.uk, having overtaken O2 broadband in the latest analysis..

According to broadband.co.uk, the average download speed for a Virgin user is now 6.13Mbps as compared to 5.32Mbps for O2.

The results were calculated from thousands of broadband speed tests taken on the broadband.co.uk during September 2008 by ordinary broadband users UK wide.

For full details including speed test results for individual suppliers please see the full results pdf.

At the first glance most of the DJs think that the output of their regular set-up of two iPods plugged into their DJ set was the same as that of the new DJ set from Numark called the iDJ, yet they are proved wrong once they start using the iDJ.

There are special docks for the iPods which comfortably accommodate the iPods and are controlled by a scroll wheel that imitate the functions of the music player and also the blue neon lit buttons. An additional point is that there is a cross fader and volume control that help to control the iPods more efficiently. Then there are the customary options included like the Bass boost, treble, mid, and gain knobs for every channel and a single master gain that affects both the units. It is made in plastic and is much lighter than the traditional mixers.

The main utility of the iDJ is that you get the ability to mix songs directly from your iPods and also allows you the facility to make use of the huge collection of sound tracks that you have on your iPods and iTunes. Then there is the most important aspect, the iDJ has two additional functions which help you get additional song collections from MP3 CDs or DVDs. It is very important aspect as during private functions the organizer or anyone might hand the DJ a disc at the last minute.

The iDJ is compatible with both the USB 2.0 and Firewire so that you can now use the new generation iPods, viz. iPod photo and iPod mini and other new generation iPods on it. You also have the option of taking a step further with the iDJ in which you can also connect other devices via the S-video connection port. This makes the iDJ a cool customer and is a great mixer for small parties, churches, schools and other business applications so that people don’t have to the numerous computers and the projector connections and the web of wires running around.

Among other options of the iDJ are the options like an industry standard Kensington security slot that enables you to lock down the iDJ in its place incase you have to move around a bit or take a quick brake for toilet. The other options consists a separate three-band equalizer that helps in increasing the intensity of the songs being played whenever the need arises. The iDJ also has a headphone pre-cuing.

The following are some of the specifications that have added to the popularity of the gadget:

• The voltage required by the iDJ is 110 volts;
• The iDJ weighs 7 pounds which is lighter as compared to the traditional mixers;
• The inputs consist of a microphone, 2-phono or turntable, 2-line CD/DVD player and most important of all the 2 iPod jacks;
• The dimensions of the iDJ are approximately 14 inches wide, 5.9 inches in height and 18.5 inches long.
• The outputs for the iDJ are the headphone, S-video, Record RCA and the Master RCA;
• It is compatible with the iPods of all generations.

The Flexible keyboards that are now available in market are virtually indestructible. The keyboard is Silicon based that comes with the exclusive combination of being very flexible, durable and the comfortable feeling due to the soft texture. The keyboard has the unique specialty that it can be literally ‘rolled-up’ or folded and can be easily carried around. The keyboard is being called as the boon by the laptop users as it also doesn’t consume much space. The keyboard is an excellent recipe of the state-of-art technology and the perfect practical design. The layout of the keyboard is so distinctive that that it also offers a smooth and sound free and is hassle free which is opposed to the conventional plastic key boards. The design of the keyboard is technically perfect which eliminates the awkward wrist angle and thereby distressing the typing. The Silicon material used for the manufacturing the keyboard is impermeable and keeps out virtually every type of fluid from reaching its electrical part. The keyboard has virtually started a revolution in the field of computers and

The requirements of the keyboard are that your desktop computer or your laptop should have USB port or PS2 port will also do. The keyboard also works on any of the operating systems like the Windows 98 / Windows 2000 / Windows ME / Windows XP. The keyboard also works on the Mac OS and Apple computes. The keyboard comes in two types and numerous colors. The mini keyboard comes with 85 keys and the full size keyboard comes with the whole 105 keys. The mini comes with a dimension of the approximately 5.25” tall 13.7” long and the width measures upto 0.5”. The keys are set on the right side of the length and the left side consists of the ‘brains’ of the keyboard. That is to say that the left side consists of all the electronics and that is where the USB cable comes out of the keyboard which can be connected to the computers.

The following are the main features of the flexible keyboard that has helped it to revolutionize the world of computers:

• It is USB responsive;
• Super flexible. Can be rolled up or folded and can be carried around easily;
• Keys are silent and the keyboard offers air cushioned keys;
• Completely fluid proof and can endure any type of fluid spill;
• Absolutely child friendly as the keyboard can be washed clean after a particular messy work from kids;
• Helps in stress free wrist work that is it eliminates awkward wrist angles;
• Easy to use and soft keyboard work under any type of circumstances or even hostile environments;

The flexible keyboard is currently manufactured by a number of computer equipment manufacturing companies and depending upon aspects like the manufacturer, life-term, warranty and so on, the price of the keyboard varies between £10 and £40. The only drawback of the keyboard is that if you plan to work on the keyboard for a long time then you would understand that a small platform is required for it to be more comfortable for a long-term use.

Alienware® the leading manufacturer of high-performance notebook, desktop and professional systems offer up a tasty feast this Christmas with the very latest in PC gaming. The Area-51 m15x and Area-51 desktops are the ultimate Christmas ‘must have’ in raw gaming power not to mention heaps of style and the very latest in cutting edge technology. Alienware serves up more tasty trimmings than a full on Christmas lunch and packs more punch than a brandy fuelled Christmas pud.

Bored of small gifts? Fancy unwrapping a real present that truly means business? Want to escape your relatives for a few hours and immerse yourself in your favourite PC video game? Alienware has a range of gaming systems that give you more oomph than a glass of bucks fizz!

How about the extremely affordable and mega powerful Area-51® m15x notebook, already a favourite of gamers and entertainment enthusiasts. Armed with a range of Intel® Core TM 2 Duo or Core 2 Extreme mobile processors including the new 45nm Intel® Core TM 2 Extreme X9000 and the world’s fastest notebook GPU, the NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800M GTX all fully primed for the new wave of DirectX® 10-fuelled games. Blow your friends and relatives away with the amazing AlienFX® lighting and the AlienFusion power management system. Completely customise the look and feel of your laptop lighting, change the keyboard lighting at the touch of a button - very TRON!

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For those that want the absolute in ultimate Christmas platters then the range of Area-51 desktops will fatten up any thin and spindly Christmas tree and give Santa a headache when it comes to pushing it down the chimney. Alienware’s award-winning advanced line of desktops including the Alienware Area-51® , Area-51 ALX and Aurora now feature the ATI RadeonTM HD 4870 X2 graphics card. It’s the world’s most powerful graphics card and offers the ultimate in HD gaming and multimedia entertainment. The ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 features 2.4 teraflops of graphics power, 1,600 stream processing units, 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and more for uncanny performance in PC gaming and high definition video playback.

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Visit www.alienware.co.uk and start building your Christmas list, and they also have AlienFinance which gives you the opportunity to spread the cost of the products you want now, over a time-frame that suits you. http://www.alienware.co.uk/sub_pages/financing_options.aspx