April 2010 Archives

Everyview have published their review of the Zune HD digital media player. 'The Zune line of music players from Microsoft has gotten a bad rep from the majority of the moving music listening world, perhaps for unjust reasons. The original Zune failed because of ridiculously high price tags, and the fact that it was purely heinous in physical build. Sure, the price tag may have been justified by the wealth of features the device housed within its massive shell, but the majority of casual music listeners didn't want those features. They wanted something that could organize and play music in a manner that was easy to navigate and understand. Compared to Apple's iPod, the Zune just couldn't do that.'

A review of the Jetbook Lite ebook Reader has been posted over at Gear Diary. 'One of the best features of the Jetbook Lite is how easy it is to rotate the screen. It doesn't seem like it would make a huge difference for a 5-inch screen, but due to the battery hump the Jetbook Lite can feel very unbalanced holding it over time. A quick press of the screen rotation button, though, and the whole display rotates horizontally, distributing the weight of the battery hump across the top instead of one side. It also gives you a much wider reading area, instead of a tall one.'

Stuff.tv have published a video review of the Sony Walkman A8 portable media player. 'Measuring 7.2mm thick and weighing 62 grams, it really is a featherweight MP3 player. It's not all beauty, though. Throw in BBC iPlayer compatibility, noise-cancelling technology and the option to hook it up to your TV with the optional A/V out cable and the A845 has the potential to become seriously coveted kit.'

The SanDisk slotRadio Player with slotRadio Mix Card (Black/Silver) is on offer for $74.95 with free standard shipping over at Amazon.com. 'The slotRadio player's unique design lets you enjoy the convenience of digital music technology without the hassle of downloads or the hidden costs of subscription music services. Simply find the slotRadio card that's right for you, insert it in your player, and start listening. The player comes bundled with a slotRadio Mix card that features seven playlists and 1,000 songs in various genres including country, Contemporary, R&B/Hip-Hop, Alternative, Rock, and Workout/Chillout.'

A review of the Apple iPad internet tablet has been posted over at Only Gizmos. 'Given the metal back and slate shape, handling / carrying the device isn't the easiest of job. If I ain't carrying a backpack, I just can't think of having the iPad with me. Its no mobile that would slip into a pocket. The gorgeous screen makes the iPad look fragile. I wont really feel comfortable going out with this without a screen protector and a case. I am hoping that the screen protector would help reduce the smudge caused by the fingerprints. While the iPad screen catches those marks very easily they just don't appear to you when you are working on the device indoors. But once outdoor you will starts noticing the marks on the screen and a greater concern at times is the glare. Not a deal breaker but irritating at times.'

MobileTechReview have published their review of the Archos 5 Internet Tablet. The Archos 5 supports a good range of formats including MPEG4, H.264, WMV including DRM protected WMV, MKV and Motion JPEG files. MPEG2 and WMV HD comes via optional plugins you must purchase separately. Audio support is also strong with MP3 up to 320kbps, AAC, AAC+, WMA including DRM protected WMA files, OGG and FLAC. You'll have to pay extra for AC3 stereo and 5.1 audio output (through the $139.99 optional DVR Station).'

A review of the Aluratek Libre eBook Reader Pro ebook reader has been posted over at ZDNet. 'The majority of the front of the Libre is taken up by the 5 inch display. Over on the left side you will find the slider bar that is spring loaded to snap back to center. You can turn pages using this controller and you will find there are actually three ways to turn pages. The second method for turning pages is found below the display to the left and here are two buttons about where your thumb falls to easily let you turn pages forward and backwards. This is the controller I used most of the time. Over on the right side below the display you will find quite a cluster buttons.'

PC Advisor have published their review of the Sony Reader PRS 300 Pocket Edition e-book reader. 'The Sony Reader PRS 300 Pocket Edition can store around 350 books on its 512MB of internal storage, compared to the 1,000 or so or its larger siblings. Sony bases this figure on a typical e-book being around 1.2MB in size; graphics-heavy books will take up more space. With a 5in display, the Sony Reader PRS 300 Pocket Edition puts itself head-to-head with the Hanvon readers. It's easily small enough to slip into a pocket, but heavier than rival offerings, thanks to the aluminium casing and chunky screen surround. We recommend investing in a protective case to prevent scratches.'

Trusted Reviews have published their review of the Viewsonic VEB612 E-Ink eReader. 'The VEB612 doesn't look all that different to most ebook readers currently on the market. Rather than the aluminium finish used on Sony's recent models, the VEB612 is finished in a white plastic that reminded us a little bit of early iPods. At 127 x 203 x 9mm it's quite small and the plastic construction means it's light too weighing just 180g. As a result it's quite comfortable to hold even for prolonged periods of reading. We also like the fact that Viewsonic has included a white leather-effect carrying case with a magnetic clasp on the front to protect the reader when you're carrying it around in a bag or rucksack.'

ZDNet have published a "Hands on" review of the Kobo eReader. 'The front of the Kobo eReader is dominated by the 6 inch eInk display that looks as good as the Barnes & Noble Nook. While Sony adds touchscreen displays and gets away from clarity as the number one priority it is nice to see Kobo lowering the prices on ebook readers while using an excellent display technology. You will find the rather large rubber covered directional pad to the right and below the display. Pressing up and down on the directional pad toggles you through different font sizes (isn't this convenient?) while pressing right and left turns the pages forward and backward.'

A review of the Sony NWZ-A845 Walkman portable media player has been posted over at Tracy and Matt. 'The front of the device is where most of the controls are of course, there is quite a large OLED screen, a d-pad which contains up, down, left, and right controls; also in the middle of this is the play/pause button; and just above the d-pad is a back/home button and a multiple use power button that also doubles as the option button. There is nothing to speak of on the back of the device however apart from the walkman logo and a little information about the company on the bottom.'

CNET Asia have published their review of the Sony NWZ-W252 (2GB) ultra-compact MP3 player. 'We have to give Sony credit for the W-Series Walkman's design, which is now available in a single all-black model. The two rectangular audio modules have been rounded off slightly, which gives the design an updated look. These pieces measure roughly 50.8mm long by 20.3mm wide and 10.1mm deep and attach to one another via a flexible, twisting neckband. The W-Series continues to be the most compact all-in-one MP3 player/headphone we've ever seen, and at 43g, it's impressively lightweight as well.'

PC Advisor have published their review of the Cowon iAudio E2 MP3 player. 'The Cowon iAudio E2 player measures 26.6x64.2x7.7 (mm) which is just as big as a cigarette lighter and it is also quite light at 16.6gm. The Cowon iAudio E2's design is simple and the built is solid. On one end the player is a metallic ring, which apart from enhancing the aesthetic eases carrying it around the neck or on a keychain. On the other end of the player is a headphone jack which also is a port for connecting the data cable (for data transfer and charging the player).'

CNET UK have published their review of the Nintendo DSi XL games console. 'Measuring 160 by 20 by 91mm, the DSi XL makes the DSi look tiny. Its dual 107mm (4.2-inch) screens are a whopping 93 per cent larger than those found on the DS Lite, and roughly an inch larger than the screens on the DSi. The three LED lights found on the left hinge of the DSi XL have symbols for power, charging status and Wi-Fi activity. Nintendo has made a big deal about the wide viewing angles of the DSi XL's two screens, and, although it's difficult to discern a huge difference compared to the DSi's screens, this improvement is very apparent compared to the DS Lite's displays. This makes it easier to watch people play when you're sitting next to them or watching over their shoulder.'

A review of the Archos 9 touchscreen tablet has been posted over at TechRadar. 'At first glance the device looks smart. The chassis is solid and thin, although prolonged use can be awkward due to the weight. Thankfully a fold-out stand takes the burden when used at a desk. Battery life - at 311-minutes - is excellent. The bright and sharp 8.9-inch screen makes up the bulk of the unit and impresses when used in darkened interiors. However, the highly reflective coating greatly limits outdoors use. With an Intel Atom Z510 processor on board, performance is comparable to most modern netbooks. Basic office tasks run smoothly, but only the most simple games and multimedia applications will work.'

CrunchGear have published a review of the Aluratek Libre eBook Reader PRO. 'The hardware is a little old but the fact you can by a fairly capable ebook reader for under $150 is an interesting thing, especially in this overpriced world of iPads, Nooks, and Kindles. A great device for those who want to experience the ereader revolution with no frills. Because this device is so old I'm approaching this as a public service rather than a full review. Essentially, here's what's going on with this ereader: It costs $149 online at numerous outlets and has a 5-inch LCD screen. It lasts about 24 hours on one charge and supports a plethora of formats including ePub and PDF. In short, you can drag almost anything onto here and have it work.'

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the PocketBook 360 digital reader. 'The 5.5 x 4.6 x 0.5-inch PocketBook 360 is smaller than the $199 Sony Pocket Edition reader, though they have the same size screen. To the left of the 5-inch E-Ink electronic paper display (EPD) sits two large buttons for page turns and a centrally located navigation pad with up/down/right/left and Enter buttons. Along the top edge there's just enough space for a microSD Card slot and the power button. The 360's mini-USB port sits on the bottom edge.'

IT Reviews have published their review of the iRex DR800S eReader. 'If you want a big screen it has to be said that the iRex DR800S could fit the bill. At 8.1-inches across diagonal corners it is large, and its 760 x 1024 pixels at 160 dots per inch ensure the E-INK display is sharp and clear. But the price you pay for that big reading area is sizeable hardware. The DR800S measures 193mm tall, 149mm wide and 10.7mm thick. It weighs 360g. This is not a pocket sized ereader.'

A review of the Cowon S9 touchscreen portable media player has been posted over at Edd Noble. 'Video wise it plays a lot of codecs out of the box (DivX, Xvid, WMV) so most of the time there is no need to re-code (unlike Sony and Apple) but firmware upgrades add more support, not everything but it's pretty good. It will play some MKV files, I know it's just a container but you know what I mean. The audio for the movies gets the same treatment as the music so that's great! The image quality on the AMOLED screen is almost as rediculously good as the audio! When I watched StarWars on there the space scenes are so deep because of the black levels I had to watch them all on here just to see them properly for the first time ever! Honestly better than any TV I have ever seen!... just small =P. Yeah ok it doesn't work well in the sun but I never expected miracles.'

IT Reviews have published their review of the Nintendo DSi XL games console. 'The main selling point of the original DSi over the previous DS Lite was the addition of two interactive cameras which encouraged more members of the family to interact. With this much larger version, there seems to be a two-fold intention to expand the appeal to older members of the family and to enable more people to participate on one console at the same time. The physical changes are obvious and dramatic. The DSi XL comes in two colours - dark brown and wine red - that wouldn't look out of place next to household furniture and would therefore be attractive to more mature players who don't necessarily want vibrant white or flashy shades.'

A review of the Fusion Garage JooJoo touchscreen tablet has been posted over at PC Magazine. 'Measuring 7.8 by 12.8 by 0.7 inches (HWD) and weighing in at a portly 2.4 pounds, the JooJoo really needs a lap or a desktop to rest on--this is not a handheld device. Its bright, good-looking 12.1-inch multi-touch capacitive wide screen features 1,366-by-768-pixel resolution, and like the iPad, it's a serious fingerprint magnet. Unlike the iPad, it comes with a cleaning cloth to wipe the screen down. The JooJoo only comes in a single 4GB capacity, and currently, according to Fusion Garage, those four gigs are reserved for caching, not storage.'

The Gadgeteer have published a review of the Apple iPad internet tablet. 'The iPad is very solid, it feels like a giant iPhone or iPod Touch. It does not flex, creak or crack at all if you try to perform a gadgeteer squeeze test on it. The display is glass with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. Don't let that geeky feature fool you though, it still attracts smudges and prints. Like the iPhone and iPod Touch, the front surface is completely flat and just has the Home button. It's unfortunate that there is such a wide bezel though. I do wish that the display was edge to edge instead of having a 3/4in Black border around it.'

Digital Trends have published their review of the new Apple iPad internet tablet. 'It's the best e-book reader. In fact, it's multiple e-book readers. Not only can you download Apple's iBook e-reader app, but Kindle has an upgraded iPad app and the iPhone Barnes & Noble app, as well as the half dozen or so other iPhone e-reader apps such as Stanza, Course Smart's eTextbooks, Google Books and Wattpad. Unlike other e-reader apps, iBook let's you see two facing pages when turned to widescreen mode. Yes, the iPad works for "just" 10 hours compared to the Kindle's days-long battery life, but you're likely already used to plugging in your cell phone every day.'

CNET have published their review of the Apple iPad (64GB, 3G) internet tablet. 'The iPad is a touch-screen tablet computer, roughly the size of a magazine, with three models that connect to the Internet strictly over Wi-Fi (16GB for $499, 32GB for $599, 64GB for $699) and three that use a combination of Wi-Fi and AT&T's 3G wireless (16GB for $629, 32GB for $729, and 64GB for $829--pay-as-you go for the data subscription). The iPad runs the same software found on Apple's popular iPhone and iPod Touch. Apple calls this software the iPhone OS, and it's generally regarded as one of the most successful operating systems designed for use with touch-screen devices. Unlike conventional computer OS software, designed around the mouse and the keyboard, the iPhone OS responds only to touch input and is generally capable of running only one application at a time.'

Macworld have published an in-depth review of the new Apple iPad. 'The iPad is designed to be held and carried, and it couldn't have felt more solid in my hands. What my senses told me is that this is not a delicate piece of technology to be coddled, but a rugged device that I should feel free to tote wherever I want to go. (Yes, I know some of that feeling is an illusion--it would probably be a bad idea to hurl the iPad like you're tossing a ball of pizza dough, especially while standing on concrete. But that doesn't change the fact that, with the solid glass front and tapered aluminum back, the product feels nigh invulnerable.)'

Anthing But iPod have published their review of the Viliv S5 tablet/portable media player. 'The S5 comes with a triangular stylus/hand strap, earphones and the AC adapter. There is a decent amount of additional accessories available from Viliv, and they are actually reasonably priced compared to other official accessories. An extra battery is only $50, which is less than half of what most spare netbook batteries cost. Doubling the battery life means you get about 12 hours before you run out, so with batteries this cheap the S5 becomes a very good solution for people who travel a lot. You will need a external battery charger though if you don't have an extra 6 hours to charge the extra battery in the device, and that will set you back $40.'

A review of the Apple iPad (Wi-Fi) tablet/portable media player has been posted over at PC Magazine. 'There are two different iPad flavors: Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + 3G. Pricing starts at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model, and continues like this: $599 (32GB Wi-Fi only); $699 (64GB Wi-Fi-only); $629 (16GB Wi-Fi + 3G); $729 (32GB Wi-Fi + 3G); and $829 (64GB Wi-Fi + 3G). Remember, if you buy the Wi-Fi + 3G model, you'll need to pay AT&T for 3G coverage. (The device is locked to AT&T's network, so you can't use another mobile carrier.) You can opt to pay for coverage on a continual monthly basis ($14.99 per month for 250MB or $29.99 a month for unlimited data). There's no commitment or contract to sign, so you can switch your 3G service on and off whenever you like, and with no service, your 3G iPad will still be able to connect to the Web via Wi-Fi. In the U.S. you can purchase AT&T's 3G service right on your 3G-enabled iPad.'

The Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB Black 4th Generation (NEWEST MODEL) is on offer for $56.99 with free standard shipping over at Amazon.com. 'iPod shuffle is jaw-droppingly small and enormously colorful in black, silver, pink, blue, and green. And even more brilliant, the VoiceOver feature tells you what song is playing and who's performing it. It can even tell you the names of your playlists, giving you a new way to navigate your music with the controls located on the earphone cord. Clip a 2 GB or 4 GB iPod shuffle to your sleeve, running shorts, or backpack and take up to 1,000 songs wherever you go.'

The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ 2 GB MP3 Player (Black) has been reduced from $79.99 to $28.54 over at Amazon.com. 'With two gigabytes of storage, this tiny player lets you listen to up to 500 songs in stunning audio quality. It boasts a wide array of outstanding features, including an FM radio, long-life battery, and integrated voice recorder. And with its expandable memory card slot, you can add pre-loaded microSD, slotRadio or slotMusic cards, so you can listen to your favorite music, podcasts and audio books without having to access a computer or wait for downloads.'