In case you didn’t hear, Microsoft announced a partnership with Netflix a week ago or so that’ll allow all Gold Xbox Live customers to stream Netflix’s 10,000+ movies (it’s actually 12,000 now) and TV shows to their Xbox 360. My initial reaction was that it’ll render their stand alone player obsolete for many. After using the Netflix Player for 4 weeks I say ‘on the contrary my dear Watson’.
What does the Netflix Player do?
The Netflix Player allows you to stream (not download) over 10,000+ movies and TV shows directly to your TV. You just need a broadband connection and a Netflix subscription of $8.99 or higher.
What’s the video quality like and does it take time to load a movie?
I have a 6Mbps download connection from Time Warner and I experienced absolutely no lag in service or video quality. Speaking of which the video quality is almost DVD, but lacks the final sharpness. On my broadband connection it took about 10 - 15 seconds to get a movie going. If I fast forwarded more then a few ‘frames’, the process would start over again. I should note that fast forwarding with the Netflix Player isn’t like a DVD or VHS. The system uses tiny little chapters, or mile markers, which are represented by a still image. As you scan forward or backwards you see the still image, which probably represent about 30 seconds of footage.
Any problems or glitches?
Just recently the Netflix service went down and I wasn’t able to play any movies. Once the service came back I had to ‘reactivate’ the box. Reactivation requires you to login to your account via a computer, visit the on screen landing page’s URL and input the ‘access code’ displayed on your TV. This insures that the accounts are synced correctly. I experienced one other instance where the box wouldn’t play movies and I had to turn it off and then back on. This also made me reverify the Netflix Player. A bit frustrating but a simple and quick process I was willing to over look as a major drawback.
How’s the sound quality?
I tested the Netflix Player out using standard composite plugs. Once a movie actually began playing the sound was far louder than the menus’ sound effects or my cable’s audio. Other than that, the sound was fine. I did notice a little ‘crack and pop’ while watching ‘Ghost in the Shell’, but I believe that that could be attributed to the movie’s age and import quality.
What kind of inputs and hardware are available on the Netflix Player? I was actually pretty surprised with the options considering the player’s small size. On the rear of the box there is the following: HDMI out, Optical Audio out, composite out, component and S-video outs. Oh yeah, there’s also an Ethernet port, which mind you isn’t necessary if you have a wireless network, since the Netflix Player includes that functionality. Since the Netflix Player only displays in standard definition, I didn’t see the point of hooking up the HDMI, but nonetheless it would’ve provided a cleaner signal to my 42-inch Plasma.
Can I add movies to my queue using the Netflix Player?
Nope. You have to login to your account via your computer and add them there. I found this to be a frustrating and probably the player’s biggest drawback, but this would probably be a cumbersome process given the remote’s lack of buttons (see my next QA for more info on that).
Anything else? There’s no on/off switch. Yup, it stays on all the time. But thankfully the folks at Roku know what they’re doing and unlike my Macbook the Netflix Player emits ZERO noise. You heard me right, NO FAN NOISE. The included remote is somewhat limited in feature set, but actually ideal for the Netflix Player. It features play/pause, fast forward, rewind, home button, and a directional pad for navigating the simple and easy to use Netflix Player menu. As mentioned previously, you can’t add movies to your queue so there isn’t an alpha numeric keypad.
Should I buy it?
It all depends on what kind of user you are. If you’ve already got a PC media center hooked up to your living room’s TV than you can already stream Netflix. If you’re a Mac user like me or like the simplicity and convenience of having a stand alone and dedicated box than the Netflix Player is a promising addition to your home theater. Keep in mind the Xbox 360 will similar capabilities as the Netflix Player in the near future (more info here) but won’t achieve fanless operation and lower power consumption.
Bluetooth Headsets are pretty common place these days. I myself can’t casually walk around with the thing stuck in my ear where as others aren’t phased by some doodad hanging off their head. Thanks to a new California law it’s now required that you use a handsfree device while driving. Thank God, because cell phones and SUVs don’t mix.
In my opinion, a Bluetooth headset should be both utilitarian and somewhat aesthetically pleasing. Does the Plantronics Voyager 510 meet these stipulations? Read on to find out.
Is the Plantronics Voyager 510 any different from other bluetooth headsets?
Yes, it is. In addition to being able to pair the Voyager 510 with a cell phone, it can also be used in conjunction with a computer. Some might think this is pretty common place as well, but without the included Plantronics USB Bluetooth Adapter, I struggled to get my Macbook to recognize it as a mic or headphone. In addition, the Voyager 510 can be paired with two Bluetooth devices (something Plantronics calls Windsmart) allowing you to answer calls or incoming chats from either device with no effort on the user’s part.
How’s battery life?
I always find it difficult to truly gauge battery life with devices like this. I use my cell phone a few times a day, nothing extensive, and found myself charging the Voyager 510 every 2-3 days. Standby time was a solid 3-4 days, with the 4th stretching it a bit. When the battery starts to die, it switches from a blinking blue to an alternating blue and red flash. Unfortunately, when battery life starts to go, which is also signified by an intermittent beeping noise, so did the quality of my voice on the receiving caller’s end.
Is it comfortable?
In the past I’ve struggled to find a comfortable Bluetooth headset. The Voyager 510 is just large enough to hold on tight to your ear, and small and light enough not to cause any ear pain from extended use. In fact, sometimes I forgot I was even wearing the Voyager 510. Included in the box are 3 ear piece attachments. I chose the middle sized one which seemed to work fine, but I didn’t find myself needing to jam this thing deep into my ear canal to hear the other caller.
How’s the sounds quality and connection?
Over the included USB Bluetooth adapter, sound quality is top notch. I made numerous calls over Skype and iChat and enjoyed virtually crystal clear sound, putting aside the Internet connection. Unfortunately, the tests with my iPhone didn’t prove so positive. Although most of the time I could hear the callers fine via my iPhone, often times I would experience ‘crackle and pop’ in the connection. Furthermore, pairing the Voyager 510 with my iPhone proved challenging. In my most recent testing, I’ve had to ‘unpair’ the Voyager 510 from my iPhone and then ‘pair’ it again to obtain a connection. In an ideal world, I’d hit the ‘connect’ button once and the two would pair. This isn’t to say the Voyager 510 has a shortcoming, but it just doesn’t appear to be ideal for iPhone use, iPhone Gen 1 that is.
How long does charging take?
You can grab a partial charge on 20 minutes if you’re trying to get a quick meeting or conversation in. For a full charge you’ll need 3 hours.
I’ve got massive hands, will it be a pain to work the Voyager 510?
Worry not, I’ve got reasonably large hands and I didn’t suffer too much. The volume button was surprisingly easy to reach during a call, where as the power button requires you to remove the Voyager 510 from your ear, unless of course you wanna crush your cartilage - the power button requires a bit more strength to toggle it on and off. On the side of the Voyager 510, just above the ear piece, is the connect/disconnect button. This is easy to reach and works just fine.
Is it worth buying?
The Plantronics Voyager 510 is worth it’s weight in gold. It’s a tad on the larger size, but with that comes comfort and decently long battery life. I’m marking the Plantronics Voyager with a ‘buy’
The Plantronics Voyager 510 is available here for $45 with Free Shipping
Verizon’s enV2, otherwise known as the VX9100 is a texter’s delight. Hidden beneath the standard keypad is a complete QWERTY keyboard sporting two additional soft keys for on screen demands. This iteration of the enV series is slimmer, more compact, and cooler looking than its predecessor. It’s standard keypad and outside screen gives the VX9100 a wolf in sheep’s clothing appearance and unfortunately might deter the teen crowd whose always looking to wow their pals upon initial unveiling. With a little patience though, the enV2 can be everyone’s desire.
I know it’s a cell phone, but what makes the LG enV2 special?
Not only is the LG enV2 compact and unassuming, it sports a complete QWERTY keyboard. The phone opens like a book revealing not only the keyboard but a larger screen for complete navigation of the phone’s menu and Verizon’s online portal. The LG is also capable of high speed internet access, includes a microSD memory card slot for expansion, and GPS, but more about that later.
How’s the battery life on the enV2?
Standby time is beyond stellar. I left the phone alone for 2 weeks. Literally on day 14 the battery died. Be warned, though, GPS will drain this sucker. I used it to navigate to downtown LA. I forget to turn it off, and just over an hour later the phone’s batter was dead.
Speaking of GPS, is it a reasonable substitute for a stand alone system?
Hmmm, that’s a tough one. If you’re just driving local, or need to get the occasional directions, sure. In my testing the enV2 had a hard time finding some locations or venues by name, unlike my iPhone’s Google maps where I can just punch in a venue and 9/10 times it will locate it. In the event that I did take a wrong turn or went an alternative direction, the LG enV2’s GPS was quick to reroute and provide accurate directions. In short, the database of venues and locations needs a little updating, which is probably more a component of Verizon, and less the phone.
Any other notable features on the LG enV2?
For sure. It’s got a 2 megapixel camera that doesn’t work half bad, but much like all cell phone cameras, don’t expect stand along camera quality. Adjacent to the internal screen is also 4 speakers that produce amply volume for their size. The internal keyboard, and external keypad are both backlit which is a nice touch but pretty standard these days. One other notable feature, was the ability to download new apps to the phone. I particularly enjoyed the free and unlimited use ‘V Cast Song ID’ that determines the song playing by listening to a 10 second sample.
How about design, any draw backs or pluses?
On the outer left edge of the phone are dedicated camera and volume buttons. Hold the camera button down and you can record video. Just click the camera button and your ready to snap photos. The microSD slot is a nice option for those looking to expand their music library. Unfortunately, LG failed to include a full sized headphone jack (3.5mm) and for some reason opted for the 2.5mm input instead. Most annoying was the placement and size of the ’space bar’ on the phone’s internal full QWERTY keyboard - it’s too small and placed in the lower right corner. Perhaps after long term use you could adjust to this short coming but I felt it impeded my texting and emailing abilities. On the outer keypad the ‘# sign’ doubles as vibrate/ring button when held down, and the ‘CLR’ button doubles as a start/stop button for recording voice notes - great for spying or recording heated arguments with the girlfriend (wink). The outer screen it a tad on the small side, but serves it’s purpose for screening incoming calls and with some acclimation taking photos or recording videos. The hinge, which allows you to open the phone and reveal the enV2’s keyboard and larger screen, offers two viewing angles: 120-degrees, or 180-degrees.
All I care about are ringtones?
The included ringtones are just so-so, but what can you really expect. One thing I can say is that the LG enV2 has a crazy loud ring, and when shuffling through the included rings my ear drums almost exploded a few times. Fear not, you can download MP3 ring tones for a small fee.
Anything else?
Why, sure. The LG enV2 is ideal for texting and I suppose emailing. Particularly weak, is the included IM application. For every ‘instant message’ sent you’ll be charged a text message, thus defeating the purpose of ‘IMing’. By no means is it intended to be a smart phone replacement. The web is really just WAP and is at best good for checking news snippets, downloading music, or checking sports scores.
Is it worth buying?
If you’re looking for a text/email machine then Verizon’s enV2 will have you dialed in. It leaves something to be desired when it comes to the phone’s overall aesthetic, which as mentioned may prove to much a hurdle for those looking to show off their latest tech toy. Call quality was fine and the Bluetooth worked when pairing with a Plantronic Bluetooth headset. Lastly, battery life is pretty kick ass as long as you don’t go GPS crazy.
The Verizon enV2 (VX9100) is available here for $50 after mail-in-rebates and contract signing.
Everyone’s primary complaint about the iPhone is the length of the battery life. It’s way too short. I’ve become conditioned to charging my iPhone as much as possible in order to not run out of “juice” when I’m away from home. To help quell this problem arrives the iPhone Juice Pack from Mophie. Mophie is most known for it’s variety of iPhone and iPod cases, but should now be known for it’s excellent iPhone battery extender. Not only does it serve its purpose as an external battery source for your iPhone, but it also is a wireless charger. I’ll explain further.
How Does it Work?
Quite simply, the Mophie Juice Pack is an external lithium polymer battery that fits snugly with your iPhone as it recharges. The best aspect of the Juice Pack is that you can use it anywhere to charge your iPhone. No wires. All you have to do is have the Juice Pack charged up before you go out. There are four lights on the back of the pack that signify how much juice is left. For a dead iPhone, it will take the whole Juice Pack for a full recharge. That’s fine. You can also use the phone when the Juice Pack is attached. I think it actually charges faster than the wall charger. It’s a great device to keep in your car or your bag for when you are on the go. Here’s what the site boasts:
Standby Time – Up to 250 hours
Audio Playback – Up to 24 hours
Talk Time – Up to 8 hours
Video Playback – Up to 7 hours
Internet Use – Up to 6 hours
How Does It Feel?
A little heavy actually. Ergonomically speaking, it feels very smooth and flush with the iPhone attached, but it feels a little clunky hanging out in your pocket for hours on end. I like letting mine do it’s charge thing and then removing it. Though when in dire need, using the phone when attached while it charges is not uncomfortable at all.
Is it worthy buying?
At $99, it might have to be more than an impulse buy, but in my opinion it’s totally worth it due to the fact that it’s gonna cost around $86 to get the battery replaced in the iPhone, which is weak. Furthermore, replacing (or even charging) the battery will take the iPhone away from you, where as the Juice Pack lets you spend more time with your phone. The Mophia Juice Pack looks nice, feels great, and performs it’s primary function flawlessly. Go buy it.
I saw the new Hulk movie at a midnight showing. I’m surprised I even went because I’m not a die hard fan. The movie’s pacing is solid, the action is great and you don’t end up with all that CGI blur that we saw in Transformers. Yes, the trailer looked stupid, but the story is there and this time around they didn’t try to do a film noir style movie. Furthermore, The Hulk isn’t ridiculously huge and no, he doesn’t grow in size as he get’s more angry or wear some stupid ass purple shorts.
A lot of people ‘poo pooed’ me for saying this, but I actually liked it better than Iron Man. I won’t ruin it for you, but there’s a little treat at the end of the film that gives it a nice sugar coating.
Until recently I had one phone line, my cell phone. A few months ago I discovered the downside of my ‘plan to simplify’ in the form of a $130 phone bill. You see, since I started focusing full time on Gadgetreview I’ve been gabbing away and burning through my roll over minutes. Me, the talker that I am, didn’t even bother to look at how much time I was consuming on my iPhone until I got the bill. In a panic I scrambled and blissfully discovered (through an email so I don’t know how blissful) that Skype offers unlimited calls to the US and Canada for one monthly flat fee of $2.95. The only problem? Talking over my computer is was totally impractical and annoying audio-wise to callers on the other end. Enter the Philips Skype phone.
What is the Philips Skype Phone?
It’s a phone that is embedded with Skype software, similar to the one found on your computer. Once the phone is charged up, you login using your username and password. If you don’t have one, you’ll create it online at Skype’s website. It’s a little cumbersome to enter your login and password via the standard telephone keypad (you’ll have to hit the #2 three time to get ‘c’ and so forth) but once you’ve entered it you’re set for life. In other words, the Philips Skype Phone enables true ‘voice over IP’, much like Vonage, Lingo, and a few other services out there.
How do you plug in or use the Philips Skype Phone?
Setup is super easy. I’ve you’ve ever setup a network (i.e. plugged in a router) then it’s a no brainer. If not, it’s still a pretty painless process. First and foremost, you have to have an Internet connection and a router. I guess you could plug this thing directly into your cable company’s modem, but who pays for high speed Internet just to have phone service. Once you’ve ran an Ethernet cord from the router to the included Skype box, and plugged in the power packet you’re just about good to go. The Philips Skype phone will display a ‘gray x’ and the time on the screen. Just hit the ’sign in’ button (left soft key), follow the on screen instruction, and ‘bam’, you’re making calls over the US and Canada (or whatever plan you opted for). If the screen continues to display an ‘x’, then there’s something wrong with your setup.
Is the Skype Phone easy to use?
For 9 out of 10 operations I found the Philips Skype Phone intuitive and easy to use. There are a few advanced features that a small percent of users might take advantage of, but not utilizing these won’t hinder an average, or under average user’s experience.
How’s the design and UI of the phone?
Ergonomically the phone fits nicely in the hand. It’s light weight and includes a belt clips for the true power broker. It also features a speaker phone, but when I tested this callers remarked that they could hear themselves or that there was an ‘echo effect’. I think this was a result of the speaker phone being too loud, but turning down its volume still resulted in the “Am I on speaker phone?” nagging question. Don’t expect cell phone like speedy navigation from the Philips Skype Phone. It’s not molasses slow, but if you’ve acclimated to a top of line handset you ain’t gonna get the same response time. For instance, there are a few short cut moves you can make, such as accessing recent calls. Just hit down on the navigation pad and you can see outgoing and incoming (if you have a Skype number - more money) calls. Accessing this info can take anywhere from 1 to 2 seconds. The Philips Skype Phone will display a little status bar when performing this action. Course the slowness might be more a result of the Philips Skype Phone accessing the network and less of a hardware issue. Otherwise, navigating the phone’s menu and changing the options are no less complicated than a standard cell phone. Just like your Skype account, you can also change your status, since those online will see you as if you’re logged in at your computer. This is handy, especially if you’re in bed on a Saturday morning hungover. You just gotta remember to change your status back and forth.
How’s the sound quality?
Sound quality seems to vary from call to call, but the most part is pretty stellar. Again, I think this is more a result of the Skype software and less of the hardware. Furthermore, with any VoIP, call quality tends to vary in sound quality. I didn’t test this phone over the landline option, but I am confident it would provide a a positive experience.
Wait, do I need a computer to use the Philips Skype phone?
Initially yes, to sign up for the Skype account, but after that you’re golden.
Will the Philips Skype Phone work with a landline?
YES! Philips, the smart cookies that they are, included both an Ethernet input and a landline input. When you go to make an outgoing call, regardless of what is plugged in at the back of the box, the phone will prompt you on what method to use: Landline or SkypeOut.
How’s battery life?
Battery life is of course variable, but in my experience with moderate use, you can go 5 - 7 days without charging the phone. In short, this thing beats any other wireless handset I’ve ever used and it’s got a small LCD screen.
All I care about are Ringtones?!
Yes, the Philips Skype phone has ringtones, the Polyphonic type. There’s 5 standard ring tones (normal ones) and 10 polyphonic. There doesn’t appear to be a way to add more ringtones.
Can you purchase other handsets?
Yes, you can purchase more handsets to work with the receiver box. There’s also an “INT” button located on the bottom of the handset that enables you to intercom the other handsets, making it (I am guessing) a virtual walkie talkie in your own home, but I don’t know how’d you specify which handset you’d like to speak with.
What are some other specs?
The phone can hold up to 500 Skype entries. It can dial pulse or tone, it is ‘Skype certified’, and the spec’d talk time is 12 hours and 120 hours standby.
What else is included in the box?
In addition to the phone and the call box, you also get a base charger, two AAA rechargeable NiMH batteries, an Ethernet and telephone cord.
Anything else?
My only gripe is that the phone doesn’t include Bluetooth for a headset, but I guess this is a little impractical since it’s a cordless phone for the home. It does include a 2.5mm jack for a headset, though.
Would you buy the phone?
YES YES YES. I never understood the attraction to Skype until I got my hands on the Philips Skype Phone. It’s ‘easiestly’ the cheapest and most practical phone setup for small businesses and homes. Who can beat $2.95/month for unlimited call (it’s actually 10,000 minutes per month due to ‘fair practice use’). Also, when you purchase a monthly SkypeOut plan, you get a discount on a Skype number. The only downside is that you can’t dial emergency phone numbers, which may prove to much a risk for those located in remote locations with out cell phone reception.
First off I will say that I love shoes, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I have pairs of Nike Air Max 90’s that I haven’t even worn yet. I wear them all so infrequently that they all look brand new, which is nice. I recently came across an ad in Wired for a company called MBT, who made what they call “Physiological Footwear”. Their goal is to evenly distribute the impact pressure that walking has on your feet and the rest of your body. Very cool indeed. They have a great website that describes the benefits of wearing their shoes which include, but are not limited to: reducing stress on knee and hip joints, improving posture and gait, activating neglected muscles, and help remedy any existing back, joint, and hip problems, etc.
How do they look?
The primary thing you will notice about the MBT’s is the orthopedic nature of the their appearance. They have very large rounded soles that you would have made fun of your grandmother for rocking. The model that I tested out was the Tariki, which is sort of like a casual dress shoe. They had a very fine oiled leather look about them and you could tell that the overall construction of the shoe was meticulously designed with the longevity of the shoe in mind. They had nice off color complimentary stitching which gave them a modern flair, and they looked good in jeans as well as dress pants.
How do they feel?
Immediately upon wearing the shoes you can feel your back straighten up and your posture improve vastly. You actually feel taller, and at 5′10” that works for me. The sizing was accurate and true to other brands I wear though thicker socks were more of a snug fit for me. Something to get used to would be the weight of the shoe. Due to the size of the sole they easily weigh about twice as much as any sneaker I usually sport. These shoes are designed for walking and standing only, as I’d imagine running and dancing would not work as well (note: I did not test the MBT Sport Shoes).
Anything else?
Overall I thought these shoes are a great idea and they would be a welcome addition to anyone looking to improve their posture, or any of the afore mentioned remedies. I would especially recommend these shoes to anyone who works a job where they are standing or walking for the majority of their shift, like in a restaurant. The ones I tested carry a hefty price tag at around $270, which may be a deterrent for some, but as with anything that improves your body in the long run, price should not be a concern.
Let’s face it — we’re living in an electronic — and increasingly mobile — world.
While desktops still exist, it’s the “on the go” devices that are gaining market share each day. However, even users that sport the latest laptops (like the new MacBook Air), tablet PCs or smartphones need to use a traditional pen at some point. When this happens, the choices aren’t attractive options: place the physical paper in a pile on your desk (or in your file cabinet) or manually re-enter your notes into the computer. But what about the images, charts and “brainstorming notes” you jot down? If you’re lucky enough to have a smart board in your office, home or school, you transfer them — otherwise it’s back to the proverbial drawing board. Not anymore …
Welcome to the new era in note-taking … the expanding industry of digital pens. For years, people have utilized different gadgets to write in the computer age — whether it was light pens to write on screens years ago or the stylus for PDAs and (more currently) Tablet PCs. The disconnect was still in merging the physical aspects with the electronic. Sure, you could scan them — but that still adds a usually more frustrating step into the process. Recently, the market has exploded with “digital pen” devices that take these efforts from “write down to right now.” In the past, many of these options required special paper or ink — but that’s changed as well.
Enter the EPOS Digital Pen & USB Flash Drive.
EPOS made a big splash at the 2008 CES show in Vegas … where they announced the distribution details for this new product. Many people may doubt the need for a device like this as I did. However, after using it and realizing how often it would be useful in bridging the gap between traditional and electronic writing — and end results, it became more ingenious. Once again — it doesn’t take any special paper or transcription device. EPOS provides everything you need to have a true “plug and play” digital pen. You simply place the accompanied USB device at the top of your paper and write as you would with any traditional instrument. Finished? Just plug the USB cord into your computer and upload the information through the included software.
So, why use EPOS over the countless other digital pen choices on the market today? Well, aside from being relatively simple for even the most unsophisticated user, the technology is based on ultrasonic waves between the pen and capture device. What’s the significance? By basing the technology on these sound wavelengths (yes, the receiver actually has two small microphones on it), information is captured in a three-dimensional capacity. As a result, this serves as a reliable handwriting-recognition device … and reads objects too.
Testing EPOS out — successful, for the most part.
As the old saying goes, the proof is in the pudding.
The promotional (review) package came with everything that would be included in the retail package available to consumers today — the digital pen, a USB flash drive, an optional USB cable to plug the receiver into tight spaces (like a USB hub), and required software that needs to be installed for using the “Pen & Ink Editor” capabilities (on the CD, while the receiver embeds the “Pen & Ink Viewer” application that can be utilized without a full software installation for simplified viewing aspects) … as well as the usual “User Guide” to get the party started. The user guide isn’t the best product description guide I’ve ever seen, but using this device isn’t brain surgery either — so it’s simple enough to get from Point A to Point B of use.
After all of the software was installed, I started to test it out. The overall product is attractive — a simple black, white and gray color palette. The Flash Drive reminds me of a clipboard, since it connects the same way — but the benefit is that it’s small enough to sit at the top or side of the paper. In addition, you’re not limited to a piece or pad of paper. You can attach it to anything at hand. Once attached, you turn the system on (which isn’t the most intuitive process — but that could be b/c I tried to just use it without reading the guide). After it was on and functional, I started to write and doodle. Since it uses a standard ink cartridge (that can be replaced easily with a visit to your local Wal-Mart or office supply store, there was no learning curve.
The pen itself was comfortable — slightly larger than the average writing device, but much smaller than some of the behemoths tested in the past that have large components attached into it. Since the transfer mechanism is separate from the pen itself, both of them are a good size. The pen has two small watch batteries in the top (which I find slightly annoying since I’d prefer some kind of rechargeable solution that could be powered by plugging it into the computer like the receiver is) and some flashing indicators. The only additional note is that the ink can be removed and replaced with a stylus. Many people found this to be an attractive feature, but it’s seriously been many years since I used one of those back with my PalmPilot Professional (although I suppose you can use this with a WACOM tablet - but I don’t know why anyone would really do so). Nonetheless, it should meet the needs of various users. I wrote down some information and couldn’t figure out how to start a new page — again, another good reason to read the User Guide. Open and close the clip — new page. Simple enough. I did wonder about editing or marking up things on previous pages as well — no solution. You can’t go back, but then again it’s possible to edit your notes on the computer once transferred so it shouldn’t present a major challenge.
So - as for simplicity in function, EPOS has performed well. The results were better-than-expected. Like anything that’s different than what you’re used to, the first trial with the software was a hassle. When the drive is connected, it’s automatically detected as a storage device which can be utilized for any files. The software simple … now that it’s been updated. I actually received two promotional review kits — the first one had an OCR (optical character recognition - the software that reads the handwriting and drawings, similar to a scanner) converter that worked at times, but had a variety of errors in converting my documents into editable files for Word (with the installed editing application) although the viewer worked fine (with PDF files). After touching base with their QA department and their PR firm, I received a new version of the Digital Pen and USB Flash Drive that would be available on retail shelves. The initial test version didn’t have the Vision Objects OCR converter (which has worked well in all aspects upon receiving the second kit). The new software applications worked well — but there’s still room for improvement there to make it a bit more seamless and intuitive. And one other drawback — the editing software wasn’t available for Mac users — but they could still use the pen and view the files. In a discussion with the CEO of EPOS, he confirmed that a version of the software for Apple computers was on the agenda. Overall, it’s still a worthwhile purchase for anyone interested in these capabilities.
The EPOS site also has a simple demo that presents the product well to complement this review — you can check it out here.
The end result — to buy or not to buy?
The EPOS Digital Pen & USB Flash Drive has quite a bit of competition to contend with, but its simplicity and effectiveness make it a worthwhile investment. While everyone has their own set of qualifiers and needs, this product steps up to the plate and offers a good solution for merging the physical writing and electronic environments. As both a business and personal PC user, this addresses almost every need I’d encounter … and I can see this as a viable tool for students, especially college ones. The company promotes the product with the line: “Write it, store it, send it” — and that’s exactly what it does, barring some of the stated minor issues that can be overlooked.
Price and Distribution
At the 2008 CES Expo in Las Vegas, EPOS discussed the retail price of their Digital Pen and USB Flash Drive at $149.99 as set by their channel partner dane-Elec. The product is being marketed under the “Zpen” name/brand and can be found in a variety of retail outlets — predominantly online. I recently saw the device on Buy.com for under $100 — and the offer included free shipping.
Product Specifications
Dimensions
Pen: 144 x 13 mm
Receiver: 110 x 40 x 28 mm
Weight
Pen: 16g
Receiver: 56g
Paper format
Up to vertical ISO A4 (portrait)
Ink refill
Standard
Image resolution
From 300 to 900 dpi
PC Interface
USB 1.1 (2.0 compatible)
Internal memory
Flash type memory (1Gb)
Will store hundreds of written pages.
Power supply
Pen: 2 V393 batteries
Receiver: 1.2V DC NiMH
(Rechargeable battery included)
System requirements Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Pentium III 1GHz or up
200 Mb free disk space
256 Mb RAM (512 recommended)
1 USB port available (2.0 or 1.1)
I think I’ve said it before, but if I didn’t, here it is again: Speakers aren’t easy to review and are in fact extremely subjective. I don’t use any type of technical measurement to see what the Hz range is, or if the signal-to-noise ratio is up to snuff. Nope, I just listen to them, play with the plugs, etc, and give my real world opinion.
How do they sound?
The Scandyna Mircopods sounds good, but fall short when it comes to any level of bass. With that said, they achieve great highs for a pair of self powered computer speakers, which is probably due to the separated tweeters mounted at the top of the speakers. I maxed out the volume on my Macbook (both the computer and iTunes volume) and experienced absolutely no distortion. I tried these speakers out with a variety of music and found that the Eric Clapton and Norah Jones genres sound best. Where as bands like Kayne West (puke), or Daft Punk’d don’t get their complete range displayed.
Any design flaws or highlights?
The Micropods are without a doubt retro meets the future. The ones I received were finished in an orange-yellow and served as an excellent desktop accent. Notably, the included metal feet pop into the base of the Micropods and require no screws or threads to install - a great design that makes install extremely intuitive. The powered speaker includes a ’sub out’ headphone jack to bring the bass up to par, and also feature a unique speaker input positive/negative plug. The nonpowered speakers features a high end postive/negative post for attaching the speaker wire. The powered speaker is also denoted, when powered that is, by a glowing logo on the face of the speaker. The speakers drivers are made of Kevlar, which should insure a long life and also provide an aggressive look since the Micropods are a grill-less design. One notable flaw, which may be related to the included headphone cord, was when the headphones plug was removed or unplugged from my computer, the Micropods emitted an obnoxious buzzing noise even though the headphone jack wasn’t in contact with any metal. Nonetheless, the Micropods made little to no buzzing noise when music wasn’t playing (plugged in) and the volume on my computer was cranked to 100%.
Final thoughts?
The Scandyna Micropods SE Active Speakers sound excellent with the correctly matched genre of music. Add a Minibass to the setup and they’ll boast ‘knock your sox off’ sound. Scandyna has clearly put some effort into designing and building these speakers. I was tempted to toss them down a flight of stairs because I was confident they’d survive the fall given their extremely sturdy build. But then the better part of me thought of the PR agency that loaned these to me, and how they might frown upon receiving a pair of scratched, but fully functional speakers.
Included in box:
Headphone to headphone cord
About 4 feet of Speakerwire
6 metal feet (3 feet per speaker)
Power adapter
Available in store only with some Ebay presence. Check the Scandyna website to find a retailer near you.
Crackberry.com got their hands on a Blackberry 9000 via Ebay. In the video they compare the Blackberry 9000 to some other Blackberry phones, and take us through the new OS featured on the 480×320 display. Crackberry liked its speed (i.e. fast processor), the killer screen and the menu features that Blackberry added. And yes, this Blackberry includes a camera that can record video and pictures. Youtube videos open in the media player. The web browser shown looks a little old school, but as Crackberry points out, they don’t think the version in the video is final. What’s really cool, though, is that you can GEO TAG your photos!
In case you didn’t hear, Microsoft announced a partnership with Netflix a week ago or so that’ll allow all Gold Xbox Live customers to stream Netflix’s 10,000+ movies
I was actually pretty surprised with the options considering the player’s small size. On the rear of the box there is the following: HDMI out, Optical Audio out, composite out, component and S-video outs. Oh yeah, there’s also an Ethernet port, which mind you isn’t necessary if you have a wireless network, since the Netflix Player includes that functionality. Since the Netflix Player only displays in standard definition, I didn’t see the point of hooking up the HDMI, but nonetheless it would’ve provided a cleaner signal to my 42-inch Plasma.
There’s no on/off switch. Yup, it stays on all the time. But thankfully the folks at Roku
