Overview

We all know that Christmas is just around the corner.  Almost a week away to be more exact!  Apart from partying, eating lots of Turkey and spending time with the family. There will be no doubt that if you’re a gaming fan then Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if you didn’t have a few rounds on your Xbox 360 or PS3.

Well, if you’re looking to boast about your latest gameplay to all you gaming friends then you might want to invest or get one of your loved ones to buy you Roxio Game Capture to capture all those gaming moments.  Roxio Game Capture includes everything you need to capture your Xbox 360 and PS3 gameplay in realtime while playing in HD. Then easily edit your footage, to keep just the action you want, and share on YouTube and other sharing sites – direct from your PC. Roxio Game Capture is an all-in-one product, including Roxio video-editing software, and a powerful Roxio capture device.

Fortunately for us we managed to get hold of one to review to let all you gaming fans know whether it is one to invest or something which is better left on shop shelves.

Review

Set Up: 3/5

Let’s not beat around the bush, there’s a bit of a split in the gaming community when it comes to this device. Some praise it for its extremely easy set-up whilst others are so frustrated by it that they send it back to the shop. The two main complaints are poor video quality and the PC software making laptops crash. When it comes to video quality it seems that many people struggle to find the correct settings to suit their gaming set-up. This is, for some users, a major flaw in the product. Actually hooking up the wires is very easy, as is installing the software which took a few minutes for and worked first time with no signs of lagging or crashing. The problem is altering the display settings on Xbox/PS3 system and televisions. Ultimately if you have a good quality (preferably HD) TV and you know your composites from your SCARTS and your PALS from your HD then you should be fine. If you’re not so knowledgeable when it comes to picture quality then stay away. This device is designed for serious gamers. The reason it scores low is on set-up is that it is marketed as something gloriously easy to install which is not always the case. The instructions aren’t terrible but neither are they the most illuminating in the  world.

Value for Money: 3/5

The price of the Xbox/PS3 capture device tends to be around the £65-75 region. If you’re serious about capturing your gaming, whether you’re simply a nerd that likes to show off or your headshots or a blogger/reviewer then you’re going to get a lot of use out of the device for under £100 which is quite a reasonable price. Another popular capture device is Dazzle which is slightly more expensive at around £90-£95. So in context £65 is good value for money. If you’re paid for your footage you’ll get the money back in a few reviews time. You can go down the DIY route but this is notoriously difficult and will probably involve ordering a tonne of cables and spending hours digging around forums. One minus for Roxio’s device is that some users may need to buy a composite cable to use the capture function and  this isn’t included.

Features and Design: 5/5

The quality of the box is fantastic. It’s light, strong and actually looks pretty cool. It’s not going to look ugly stacked up next to your game console. The wires on the other hand may, but they are unavoidable and with some careful planning you could set the box up nicely with the wires tucked out of sight. You will of course have to find somewhere for your laptop/computer to sit as you will have the device hooked up to your computer via USB. What’s more, the wires are gold-plated which is a nice touch for a cheap(ish) device. The software ran great for me, even on my bog-standard Windows 7 laptop. There’s enough editing software to suit any capture needs and it is very easy to use. One word of warning though -memory- make sure you have enough to save the files you plan to save.

Gaj-it Verdict: 4/5

A good device but it requires a top-end TV and reasonable knowledge of gaming to truly shine. Some users will find it frustrating and  it may not be quite good enough for professional game reviews/bloggers who need super-high end capture quality.

Roxio Game Capture

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Roxio Game Capture Review is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Whether it’s your Christmas party at home or at work, these gizmos will get nan off the eggnog or even involve Barry from accounts to end 2011 in a memorable way.

10. Karaoke Machine

What better way to subtly hint to your third cousin twice removed that you fancy them a bit than by singing along to a bit of “All I want for Christmas is You” with Mariah Carey? Or keep the kids entertained for hours by having them re-enact their favourite moments from Glee.

Karaoke Machines come in all shapes, sizes and prices with basic machines costing as little as £40, and Karaoke Box-Set CDs from £20. There are also DVDs players that have a karaoke function, so all you need to do is plug in a microphone and claim your five minutes of family fame.

9. Photo Cube Smartphone Printer

If you have a bit more budget and want something to get the kids involved in, the Photo Cube Smartphone Printer is a great idea to instantly print off pictures snapped on your phone. It only takes 60 seconds for a digital picture to leap off your phone into your hands.

No longer will you have empty promises of sending that great pic you took to everyone else in the group shot, just pop your phone into this printer and provide a picture for everyone. Christmas is sometimes the only time everyone gets together, so it’s nice to provide a memento of your gathering to keep everyone going until next year.

The Photo Cube will set you back £120, with an extra £20 for ink cartridge and paper.

8. Digital Photo Frame

Grandma and grandpa will love the novelty of watching the family through the ages flick past while they sip on punch. Digital photo frames take up little room and are a great feature for a family get-together.

You can theme photos to just show funny snaps, or take a tour through the ages starting with mum and dad as kids moving onto the latest addition of the family. If you’re hosting a work party, fill it with past party photos or as a bit of a look-back on everything that’s happened this year.

Digital photo frames have been around for awhile and as such have dropped in price since they were first released. If you’re a bit of a savvy shopper you can pick one up for £20, but it may be worth spending a bit more to up the photo resolution and memory capability so that you can keep the photo show going for hours.

7. iPod Dock

There are a few options for getting the carols pumping in your house or office this year, and one is getting an iPod dock to shuffle through your tunes through a decent pair of speakers.

Logitech has a range of docks that provide excellent quality sound and will look great on the mantelpiece. The Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus and the Rechargeable Speaker S315i both sells for £64.99 and are portable so can even come outside should the need for a snow-picnic arise.

6. Snow Machine

For some people, this might not be such a great Christmas Party gadget with the abundance of snow already piled up outside your front door, but for those dreaming of a white Christmas and getting nothing of the sort, a snow machine can make that dream come true.

Priced from as little as £50 for a small device, a snow machine doesn’t have to cost the earth. For this price, you can get a machine that will project snow up to 6 metres, and is remote control so you don’t have to end up looking like the abominable snowman when trying to turn it off.  If you do spend more on a snow machine, you are more likely to get a quieter device that won’t sound like a chainsaw going off in your living room.

Just to be clear, a snow machine doesn’t produce real snow, and you do need some special Snow Fluid to make the magic happen, which costs around £20 for 5 litres of the stuff.

5.  Home Brew Beer Machine

Why not compliment the roast potatoes with a glass of your finest home brew, vintage 2011? Home brew kits are easily accessible, and just by mixing packets of ingredients with water you can call your living room a microbrewery.

The Beer Machine Model 2000 is just £90 with an impressive-looking bar-style tap and pressure gauge to make sure your liquid gold doesn’t explode all over the place.

There are a range of beer mixes to choose from as well so you’re not just stuck with your standard ale. Flavours include Dutch Lager, Canadian Red Lager, Nut Brown Ale and Czech Pilsner.

4. Cocktail Fountain

On the topic of innovative inebriating drinks, this is a chance to combine practicality with a stylish interesting looking centrepiece. This cocktail fountain will let the daiquiris flow from four dispensers to create a lovely water-feature for you to stick your glass under.

It lights up too to create a night-club-esque ambiance which is great for gearing the office party up for the real night clubs afterwards.

At £24, this little gem of a party feature won’t break the bank and leaves you with enough to fill it with your spirit of choice.

3. Game Consoles

How do you tire the kids out when they’ve been cooped up all day? Yes they’ll want to play with their presents for a bit, but what happens when little Johnny steals little Frankie’s transformer pack? You distract them with something to tire them out- like a bit of Wii.

With games for kids and adults alike, a Wii or PS3 is a great idea to have set-up in a corner to get everyone involved. If your work Christmas budget allows for it, a bit of Guitar Hero 5, Dance on Broadway or Just Dance 3 won’t go astray. Or maybe it will but that’s the whole point really.

For PS3 faithfuls, get all of the aunts and uncles around some Family Game Night 4, Truth or Lies or Yoostar 2.

2. Mini Projector

While you may have last used a projector to display your PowerPoint prowess, they are also a good idea for scrolling through funny photos, or for playing a heart warming movie on Christmas bringing families together or something of the like.

You can get pocket projectors for around the £80 mark, but that may not be the right device to sit through the Titanic with, mainly because the battery life just won’t last.

Mini projectors are larger than pocket projectors and some come packaged with a screen. They have better resolution but will still fit into tiny spaces. Expect to spend around  £270 for a decent one.

1. Portable Hot Tub

If the snow machine didn’t do it for you this idea will- banish the Winter chill in your very own affordable portable Hot Tub. This may not be appropriate for every office party, but it will provide a talking point if you and your co-workers decide to go tenths in one.

The Lay-Z-Spa will set you back £330 which includes a water filtration system, Lay-Z massage system, rapid heat adjustment and 12 months warranty in case someone decides to wear stilettos in it. It takes 30 minutes to set-up and will fit back in its little box when you’re done resembling a prune.

Even if you don’t end up using it on Christmas day, what better way to melt away the stresses of having all of your family factions together than by spending all of Boxing Day in your very own hot tub eating turkey sandwiches?

Top 10 Christmas Party Gadgets is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

If Aunt Maud is in need of a camera upgrade, this is the guide for you. We’re taking a snapshot of the Top Ten digital cameras on the market that will produce a great picture.

We’ve covered a range of price-ranges to make sure you get the camera you want but still have some pennies left over to buy Uncle Bill’s pressie as well.

So get the siblings together and chip in for one of these stocking fillers.

Fujifilm FinePix Z90
RRP: £129.99
Specs: 14 megapixels, 5x optical zoom
Key Feature: Upload pics straight to Facebook

Featuring a large touchscreen on the back, the Fujifilm FinePix Z90 will appeal to anyone not wanting to squint at tiny symbols to change picture settings. For the younger generation, this camera has the ability to upload pics directly to Facebook or YouTube.

The camera comes in six different colours so will quickly become a fashion accessory in your handbag. Tech-wise, the camera offers digital image stabilisation to prevent blurry action shots, and you can also touch-up pictures without having to download them to your computer first.

This is a great all-rounder camera that looks great and won’t break the bank.

Kodak EasyShare M575
RRP:  £90
Specs: 14 megapixels, 5x optical zoom
Key Feature: Easy to use, great pics

For a camera that won’t break the bank but will still take a good picture of it, the Kodak EasyShare M575 is a great option. It’s easy to use with its default “Smart Capture” mode which just means you can push the button and the camera will take care of everything else. In doing so, this camera provides quite impressive pictures considering its budget price tag.

Available in red, green and black (all metallic), the EasyShare M575 is perfectly themed for Christmas. There is also a video record function that will let you film High Def up to 720p, which isn’t top of the market but is definitely decent. Unfortunately you can’t zoom while filming your latest Spielberg moment with this camera.

The Kodak EasyShare M575 is a stocking stuffer that beats a pair of socks.

Nikon Coolpix L120
RRP: £249.99
Specs: 14 megapixels, 21x optical zoom
Key Feature: Extreme zoom capability

For something that looks a bit more serious at a relatively affordable price, the Nikon Coolpix L120 provides easy-to-use functionality in a serious camera casing. With an impressive 21x optical zoom, the Coolpix L120 will ace that hard-to-get-to shot. The camera also features a Vibration Reduction lens which provides an additional 4x digital zoom.

Seventeen dedicated scene modes will keep those with a basic understanding of photography happy, or there is also an easy to use auto function for those who prefer to point and click.

For the budding photographer, the Coolpix L120’s super zoom ability is bound to impress.

Canon PowerShot A800
RRP: £70
Specs: 10 megapixels, 3x optical zoom
Key Feature: Best cheap camera on the market

For a basic, no bells and whistles point and shoot, the Canon PowerShot A800 is hard to go past. It doesn’t have the best specs in the world with video resolution of 480p and limited zoom, but it does take surprisingly good photos and really represents value for money.

The PowerShot A800 is also good for travellers as it takes 2 AA batteries (remember them?) instead of having to be charged at a strange-looking international powerpoint. While it won’t max out your credit card, it doesn’t look cheap as it’s available in 4 metallic colours with a silver lens housing. There is no image stabiliser but there is face detect which goes a long way to helping you take great family portrait snaps.

At a bargain basement price the Canon PowerShot A800 punches well above its weight.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3
RRP: £369.99
Specs: 12 megapixels, waterproof to 12m, shockproof to 2m, freeze-proof to -10° C, dust-proof
Key Feature: Will go to Everest with you

This camera is for the extreme adventurer in your life. It looks like a rugged piece of work because it is. With its own GPS system, the Lumix DMC-FT3 will make sure you never get lost in the Alps. It also packs a compass, altimeter and a barometer which will also read underwater depth. While you pay a bit more for this camera, you will get your money’s worth in terms of extra features.

The Lumix DMC-FT3 comes with full 1920×1080 HD video recording so your scuba diving movies will turn out a treat. There is also the now standard face detection focus as well as AF tracking and spot focusing.

For a tough camera to take on a snorkel adventure, the Lumix DMC-FT3 is exactly what you need in your wetsuit pocket.

Pentax Optio RS1500
RRP: £80
Specs: 14 megapixels, 4x optical zoom
Key Feature: Batman (or if you like, changeable skins)

The first thing you may notice about this camera is Superman. With a range of changeable skins, the Pentax Optio RS1500 can be personalised to express almost any personality. You can either choose from Pentax’s DC Comic range of skins, or pop on over to the Pentax site and upload images to create your own skin.

For a sub-£100 camera, the Optio RS1500 really does pack in the tech with video recording to 720p and advanced automatic features, such as automatic tracking and face detection. There are night, sport and portrait capture modes and also one for taking pictures of text documents, which might come in handy for the student in the family.

For someone’s first grown-up camera the Pentax Optio RS1500 is fun and will capture growing-up years in surprisingly good quality.

Samsung ST6500
RRP: £150
Specs: 16 megapixels, 5x optical zoom
Key Feature: A designer’s camera

This camera looks stylish with a wavy finish on top and large touchscreen on the back which lets you change settings by tapping of large icons.  Its slim design also means that this snapper will fit snugly in your pocket or even the smallest of handbags.

The Samsung ST6500 comes with plenty of artistic filters and setting to keep any creative entertained. You can “vignette” or “object highlight” your pics with ease before loading your artistic endeavours to Facebook. The standard picture quality is good too considering the price, with a hybrid image stabilisation that uses both optical and digital anti-shake techniques.

For a design camera with artistic photo features, the Samsung ST6500 is hard to top.

Casio Exilim EX-H15
RRP: £180
Specs: 14 megapixels, 10x optical zoom
Key Feature: Great zoom in a compact case

This compact camera packs a wicked 10x optical zoom. Combined with 720p HD video recording capability and an excellent battery life, the Casio Exilim EX-H15 makes it worth the extra few pounds for a performance digital camera.

The camera’s big screen isn’t touch-responsive but there aren’t many buttons to play with. You can access most of the camera’s features through an easy-to-use  on-screen menu and five-way pad system. One thing this camera lacks is an HDMI output, and video recording is limited to 29 minutes, but for most people that’s more than enough to claim their two minutes of fame on YouTube.

It’s pretty in pastels to match any clutch purse but it does feel a bit chunky in your hand, while you use it to take quality pics up close and personal.

Fujifilm Finepix X100
RRP: £999
Specs: 12 megapixels, 35mm fixed focal length
Key Feature: Manual control for the photo aficionado

For a super-stylish retro camera, the Fujifilm Finepix X100 will take you back to the days when photography was a real artform. This camera is unique with its extensive set of manual controls, uilt-in lens filters, a large DSLR-size sensor sans the bulky camera casing and a bright F2.0 aperture lens.

What you don’t get for your high-end £999 is optical zoom. The Finepix X100 does however provide a lens and sensor combo that is tailor made for each other with very fast power-on-to-first-shot time and no distortion that you can get with many other wide-angle, long-zoom lenses.

For its old-style charms this camera still shoots 720p HD video, and has been one of the most exciting cameras to have been released in 2011.

Samsung EX1
RRP: £399.99
Specs: 10 megapixels, 3x optical zoom
Key Feature: Full manual mode in a compact package

While the zoom on this camera isn’t exactly telescopic, the Samsung EX1 packs a large sensor, f/1.8 lens and a maximum ISO 3200 which is not to be blinked at. That’s a lot of camera speak for this camera can take pretty much any photo you want.

The Samsung EX1 has a full manual mode, HDR capability, can capture files in RAW and comes with a good range of filters to get your artistic side excited. If all of that is somewhat meaningless for you, the camera also comes with a fully automatic mode so that it does all the hard work for you.

This camera takes great low-light photos, making it perfect for capturing those embarrassing moments at the pub.

Top 10 Digital Cameras for Christmas 2011 is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Here in the tech world the number one lazy gift is speakers. I mean, you can’t go wrong really, if you buy someone a pair of speakers they will ‘get used’, but why settle for a pair of boring second rate portable speakers or a supermarket-standard iPod dock when there’s some epic music lover’s toys out there!

The Pocket Boom Portable Vibration speaker is one of them. So what’s so great about it? Check out our review and find out.

Portability: 5/5

At last a company who truly understands portable. This speaker is small enough to fit in your pocket and can be taken and used literally anywhere. It’s a magical, sticky, battery powered pad that you attach to anything you please and turn said object into an epic booming speaker. And I mean anything.  Your office desk, a teacup at home, your car door when you’re on the move, a lamppost when your outside. The pad will turn almost anything into a speaker.

Features: 3/5

The 3.5mm jack allows it to connect to almost any media device you can find. There’s not much else than the speaker and the jack. Controls are, basic. You can turn the thing on and off but the volume controls are limited and there’s no equalisers are anything like that, but come on this isn’t a studio monitor it’s a potable speaker designed with portability in mind. One neat little bonus feature is its ability to charge via USB whilst you’re running from home/office which helps to save battery life.

Quality: 4/5

You would expect a pocket size, battery powered speaker to be very flimsy but this thing is rugged. It could certainly cope with a festival or two. One issue is the sticky pad which will lose its sticky at some point but a replacement pad is supplied so, not major issue by any means unless you plan to  give the thing an insane hammering. Sound wise it’s what you would expect, it amplifies the volume of your media device without tainting the quality too much but certainly not improving it a great deal.

Gaj-it verdict: 5/5

It’s a great Christmas gift for audiophiles and at a smidgen under £19.99 it’s great value.  Don’t expect to plug this thing onto an empty plastic cup and host a rave but if you like to give you day soundtrack and you hate the muted, tiny sound of cheap earphones and in-built mobile speakers then this little piece of kit will liberate your music.

The Pocket Boom is available from the 1st of December at mobilefun.co.uk

Xmas Gift Idea for Music Geeks: Pocket Boom Vibration Speaker is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Waking up to a favorite song is a pleasant way to awake. However, the chosen song eventually loses all its attractiveness when it becomes fused with the thought of cold mornings and work. But thankfully the charmingly named Tick Tock Dock is an alarm clock which has it all. The iPhone/iPod dock come alarm clock allows you to wake up to your favorite songs in beautiful quality and with enough volume to actually wake you and when you begin to feel a murderous rage as soon as you hear the songs from your playlist you can switch the dock to its FM radio mode and let somebody else choose which tune to begin your day.

But iPod docks aren’t new and neither are radio alarm clocks, but this is a useful hybrid which can wake you up with music and keep the grooves going throughout the day. With iPod and iPhone connectivity plus the FM radio (24 stations) and an auxiliary input for even more audio connectivity this is a versatile gadget, but it’s a shame there’s no DAB and on the whole it brings nothing new to the table.

Sound Quality: 4/5

Two 360° degree omni-directional full range speakers allow for rich, multi-directional sound that can be easily controlled using a docked iPod/iPhone. For an alarm clock the sound quality is exceptional and is one of the main pluses of this gadget, but it’s now boom box so don’t expect it to jump from the bedside to the party. But if you want to listen to your playlist while you relax in your bedroom and you want more than earphones can offer than this will more than do.

Style: 5/5

Looks wise, this is a gadget that delivers. The vintage alarm clock shape (as you can see in the above photo) works as a great frame for any shiny little iPod/iPhone and it won’t look out of place on any bedside cabinet no matter how fashion conscious the resident is. It’s classic looking, but modern and what’s more, it comes in a range of colours: black, silver, and beige

Gaj-it Verdict:  4/5

A classic Christmas or Birthday gift. There’s a million and one of these types of gadgets out there and this one brings absolutely nothing new to the market. What it relies on is quality. Every aspect of it has been well designed and well-constructed. If there is someone out there who owns an iPod and still hasn’t got a dock (or has recently broken one) then look no further.)

The Tick Tock Clock  is available at Amazon for £59.99

Edifier Tick Tock Dock Review: Wake Up Happy is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

LightStim for Wrinkles: This handheld device is a godsend for all the busy ladies. If you do not have enough time to go to salon, then you can grab a LightStim and make your fine lines and wrinkles disappear. The gadget is FDA approved, so you do not have to worry about the security factor. You have to use it for about 20 minutes daily on your skin and within a month, you will see a visible difference in your skin. LightStim is advertised to be safe for all skin types, however, as with any other product, it is advisable to consult your dermatologist first. You can buy this handy gadget here for $299.

SkinofMine.com: If you think the above recommendation is kind of out of your budget, then we have another recommendation. And this product is even more portable and hi-tech than the previous one. If your diva friend wields an iPhone or any other iOS product, then you can give her SkinofMine app. This app is perfect for getting preliminary diagnoses of those wretched little dermatological problems. This app lets you upload photos of your condition and asks you to fill a medical form. This data is then used to diagnose your problem. You can buy this app here for free. Again, please use this app for the quick and preliminary diagnoses only and do not forget to visit your dermatologist for complete check up.

Philips USB Toothbrush: Your diva friend is not only stylish but is also very careful about maintaining proper hygiene too. So why not to give her teh state of art USB toothbrush for this Christmas! The toothbrush works well and looks great. The manual toothbrush are a passé, this USB charged toothbrush is perfect for the people who are on the go and do not have enough space for big bulky electric toothbrushes. You can buy this toothbrush from Amazon for £244.

SteriPEN Water Purifier: Of course, we can carry around disposable bottles of mineral water, but apart from being a diva, you fashion forward friend is also environmentally conscious. Give her this water purifying pen and help her in decreasing the number of plastic bottles in landfills. This easy to carry purifier works on a battery and you can also charge it via USB port. The product claims to destroy up to 99 percent bacteria in water. The pen features a beautiful design and your friend would love being seen with it. This little contraption is available for £63.36 from Amazon.

Digits for Gloves:  Christmas season is here and so it means that we will be getting all wrapped up in jackets and gloves. However, it becomes frustrating when you cannot work on your touchscreen device with your gloves on. There are a couple of specialized gloves available which work well with touchscreen, but then you have to forgo the luxury of choice and have to pick one of those drab gloves. Not Anymore! With Digits, you can turn any glove into touchscreen friendly piece of clothing. You can buy a pack of Digits for only $20 from Quirky.

No matter, how fussy your BFF is, we are pretty sure, with the help of this list, you will be able to pick the perfect gift for her. So go ahead, and make her day.

Christmas Gift Guide for Your Diva BFF is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

So around 8am this morning, I waited in anticipation to buy the iPhone 4S on the Offical Apple website. The website was down for quite a while however at 9:05am I managed to a pre-order for my shiny iPhone 4S, 32GB in white. For those of you that still want an iPhone 4S and have it delivered straight to your doorstep rather than queuing at the Apple store on the 14th of October, there are quite a few retailers that are accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 4S, however you will need to hurry fast as they are being snapped up like hotcakes at the moment:

Buy iPhone 4S: Apple Website

If you’re looking to get a sim only iPhone 4S then you can visit the Apple website, however they have estimated that you will receive between 1-2 weeks so it might not be in time for the 14th of October. If you can’t wait that long then there are some contract versions available from other providers below or you could start camping out your local Apple store now…

Buy iPhone 4S: 3 Store

If you’re looking to get a new contract then Three are offering a pay monthly option for the 32GB and 64GB versions. To work out which plan is best for you, visit their store here which will direct you straight to the pre-order website. For the 16GB version unfortunately they are only available in store.

Buy iPhone 4S: Vodafone

Similar to Three if you’re looking to get a contact then Vodafone are offering some contract options for the iPhone 4S. However unlike Three they are also accepting pre-orders for the 16GB as well as the 32GB and 64GB versions. Their tariffs range from £26 to £65 per month for the 16GB, and increase as you want more the other two GB versions. Check out what they can offer you by visiting directly online here

Where Can I Buy the iPhone 4S? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Last week we took a long hard look at what the Fire can’t do. Today we take a slightly more optimistic look at what the Kindle Fire can do.

Unfortunately there’s no plans for a UK release date as yet, which does seem a little short sighted, and looks as if the plans for Fire aren’t as quite set in stone as we were led to believe. If Amazon is so confident surely a worldwide release is necessary and in the pipeline?Anyway, here’s what the Fire does have to offer.

Design

The Kindle Fire is one of a few new tablets that seems to be turning their back on the standard 10-inch size and is going down the route of 7-inch form factor.  Now we don’t see this a problem, but for us personally – a thin 10-inch tab should be the de facto size. But for the $199 (£130) asking price Amazon wouldn’t be able to make something of that size – so 7-inches is what they have decided on.

The Fire measures 119 by 190 by 11mm – so it’s a far bigger prospect than the current Kindle eBook, but it will still sit comfortably in the your hand. You’d probably even get it to fit in a large pocket.

Unfortunatley the Kindle has added some weight compared to its inked cousin; weighing in at 413g – so its light, but nowhere what the original Kindle can offer when it comes to super-portable tablet computing.

Specs

Under the plastic you’ll find a workhorse in the shape of a dual-core processor, but at the time of writing no one really knows how fast this stallion really is. It’s not going to challenge an iPad 2 or Galaxy Tab, but from the demo we’ve seen it’s no slouch. Amazon has decided to do away with any form of camera, and to be honest we agree with this decision. You’re never going to use a tablet as a camera – end of – yes, you might use it for video calls, but again that’s so niche – it’s not worth losing sleep over.

The Fire offers a paltry 8GB of storage, but Amazon argues that there’s no need for masses of storage if everything is hosted in their South American cloud. Yes the cloud is coming, but we’re not there just yet. But ultimately they’re right. When it comes to selling a tablet – admitting it has less memory than some calculators isn’t a smart move.  But it’s not a deal breaker for the price.

It looks as if Amazon wants to be the hub for all you media needs, so you’ll be expected to buy books, stream videos and music through there media eco-system. If it does make it to the UK then Amazon might need to get some of these services to blighty or this tablet just won’t work.

Software

As you may know the Kindle Fire is running a version of Android, but not the tablet version, it’s the mobile phone iteration; Gingerbread 2.3. So when you fire it up it’s not going to look like a Android tablet. It’s a sleek, clean, simple interface – which considering its target market might well be a stroke genius. We’ve got a Honeycomb Tab – yes it amazing, but it’s so complicated and after 6 months of use we’re still unsure how it all works.

The web browser comes from Amazon itself and is called Silk, using clever tracking software it’s being billed as a intelligent browser – so after a few weeks it will automagically know what sites you may visit and will cache them so you get a super-fast surfing experience. Quite how this works remains to be seen, but if it does work it will be great. After all, your average internet user is a creature of habit and in time the Fire should know you better than you know yourself (scary, we know).

One of the major stumbling blocks for the Fire seems to be Amazon’s decision to let the Fire only access its own Amazon App store. But this actually might be a good idea. If you’ve got a Honeycomb tab you’ll probably know what we’re about to say. The Android Marketplace is awful; it’s full of apps that don’t work, some only work on some phones, most are often viruses or aren’t even meant to be available in this country. It’s a right old mess. So it’s no surprise that Amazon wants to make is own little application nirvana – will it succeed? Quite possibly.

Screen

Unlike its cousins the Fire will not be coming with the same ink screen that has come before, but will be a traditional colour screen, with a resolution of 1024×600 – so, yes you’ve spotted it, a non-HD screen. There’s no way to sugar coat what is a pretty lackluster screen. There’s no real silver lining, but for the price, you can’t expect too much. So it’s not too bad, but won’t be something you’ll be braggin’ to your mates about.

From what we’ve seen, the Fire’s screen looks pretty bright. We’re looking forward to having a proper eyes-on session with some good-quality video content. We’re hoping that the capacitive touchscreen is responsive too – it’s no fun swiping around on a tablet that won’t properly register any of your movements.

No Cameras

Unlike pretty much any tablet you can buy at the moment – the kindle Fire – does not have any cameras. But honesty if it did for the money you’d be getting something that comes somewhere between a grainy CCTV camera or one of those throw away cameras. It’s a bit of a disappointment, but this again for the price it’s not the end of the world.

Considering what you do get it does seem that the accountants have been given permission to run riot over the Fire. Yes. its being sold at a loss, but the list of what it hasn’t got is far longer that the list of what it does have. At the moment that list contains the word; Kindle.  There are plenty of apps that rely on built-in cameras, not just for taking snaps, but also for fun things such as augmented reality. The lack of a front-facing camera is also likely to be a problem for those of you who’ve grown used to video calling your friends and family.

Conclusion

The Amazon Kindle Fire doesn’t offer the same features as a premium tablet and certainly won’t offer the same powerful performance. But, with a considerably lower price tag and the already established Kindle name behind it, the Fire could be a strong seller. We’ll have to just wait and see if it ever hits UK shelves.

Amazon Fire: The Recession Friendly Tablet for Christmas is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

1. Ultimate Swiss Army Knife

The ultimate of all camping Gadgets. Heaviest than most of its contenders weighing in at almost 3lbs it requires BIG pockets, but with over 100 features all can be forgiven. The Ultimate Swiss Army Knife has 85 Gadgets in one. Wenger have pulled all the shots when manufacturing this giant, with more gizmo’s than James Bond’s secret lab.

Largely different from its tiny predecessor its tools include:

• An all-purpose wrench.
• Swivelling compass.
• Laser pointer.
• Spot light.
• Magnifying glass.
• Chain rivet setter.
• Combination tool.
• Vast range of knifes and screw-drivers.

The Wenger Giant Swiss Army Knife has a price tag of £550.00, so not the cheapest of gadgets, but with almost everything in one – maybe two – hand then its the must have mulit-functional gadget for every camping occasion.

Available from: Amazon.com

2. ”Foldaway-loo”

No camping trip can be complete without the “Foldaway-loo” (politely put!) This camping accessory is a must! After all the Swiss Knife does not include a shovel!

 Retailing at £16.99 its affordable, foldable (and will double up as a coffee table)

Unlike most gadgets, this needs no explanation, you simply pop-up, bag and poop! Job Done.

 Get yours now from: Packyourbags.com

3. Sea to Summit

The space saver! Sea to Summit is revolutionary in the great outdoors, specialising for the avid camper and outdoorsman.   

This perfect concept is the ideal camping gadget. The Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink can hold up to 20 litres of hot water, and can then be folded away into its small carry case.

Smaller size are available and the biggest – 20 litres – retails for £16.99.

Pocket one now from: Amazon.com

 4. Mini-Kin

The Mini-Kin is the ultimate rechargable power accessory to take on your outdoor adventure. The tiny wind power charger is perfect for attaching to your bike, boat, arm band for running or to your tent. The Mini-Kin comes with attachments for most phones, MP3 players, phones and more. So whilst trekking the summit of a mountain or amidst a crowd of a festival, you need not to worry if your camera immediately falls ill of battery life, your Mini-Kin will be your saviour!  Mini-Kin facts:

• Built in 1500mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery.
• Supplied with a selection of phone connectors and a power adaptor.
• Accessories include: Stand, arm strap, bicycle clamp and window sucker.

Retailing at £27.99 the Mini-Kin is a snip given its uses, a definite must have. Get blown away at: Lazyboneuk.com

5. Sea to Summit Pocket Shower

The Sea to Summit Pocket Shower. Perfect for the camping season with its 10l capacity and heat absorbing bag, giving you a warm shower lasting roughly 7 minutes. Simply twist mechanism, 20ft cord, controlled head shower and flow adjustment, ideal for around £16.99.

Get it now: Foxter.com

6. TentLED

Invented by dutch designer Van Burlo, this ingenious concept is what every responsible camper needs to stop people tripped over their ropes – we’re all guilty.

However since the invention of the TentLED they are stocked by most good camping stores ranging in price from £3 – £7.

Running off batteries the LED’s adjust themselves to the right ambient light, and shutting themselves off when in storage. TentLED’s are a given must have for all campers!

7. Lightcap

The light emitting drink cup is innovative in design. The Lightcap as its known is a bestseller at most big camping stores. Running off solar power the Lightcap illuminates the water with its LED’s.  The Lightcap 300 retails for £25 making an ideal drink cup and light, perfect!

Get yours:  Solight.com

8. Igloo Cool Fusion Icy Tunes

Igloo Cool Fusion Icy Tunes – even the name is cool! Basically just a glorified cool bag, the Igloo Cool Fusion is fully insulated for a 38 litre capacity which can fit up to 58 cans of coke. It weighs almost 6kg but given that its on wheels and has a telescopic handle, its no strenuous task. it benefits from exterior pockets, two built-in drinks holder and - the main attraction – built-in speakers and stereo.

Powered by 4xAA batteries the stereo and speakers are compatible with Ipod and has FM/AM functions.

This is the mother of all cool bags and averaging at £120 between models, its price tag is just a snip for the “cool” factor, be the talk of the party with this camping gem.

Available from: Igloo-store.com

9. JetBoil

JetBoil the only way to cook! JetBoil makes cooking clean, easy, quick and safe. Boasting many designs with this tipping the bar at £50 JetBoil is affordable given the market for camping stoves.

Rubberised handles, safe locking lids and rapid heating pans, JetBoil is a must have for the camper on the go.

Get it from: Amazon.com

10. Battery Controlled Marshmallow Roaster

Last but no means least, the ultimate in companion camping has to be handed to the Battery Controlled Marshmallow Roaster! For £6 this rotatable roaster will gain you at least two new friends abolishing their sticks for an even marshmallow roast. Must have for party campers.

Buy from: Amazon.com

Top 10 Must Have Camping Gadgets is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

1. Tesco DIY Charcoal BBQ Grill

This great looking Tesco DIY barbecue grill comes at an affordable price of £24 and is made from steel; however bricks and mortar are not included. So unless, you know your way with a bit of DT from the school days, this barbecue might not be for you.

2. Landmann 43cm Kettle Charcoal Barbecue

Charcoal kettle barbecues are renowned for their quality cooking. With a 44cm diameter grill this BBQ is great for smaller patios, terraces and gardens. The barbecue also has enamelled lid enamelled hearth, charcoal grill, chrome plated cooking grill, ash Catcher and wire base tray.  It’s priced at £29.95 and can be purchased on Amazon.

3. John Lewis Roaster Burner

This smart gas barbecue features 3 stainless steel burners and a stainless steel roasting lid with cool touch handle. The frame and grills are made from porcelain enamel. It has a large warming rack, drip tray and flame tamers, as well as side shelves, and is fitted with wheels for manoevrability . Keep utensils and sauces at hand on shelves at either side. It’s a known fact that gas barbecues are great for cooking meats, as they seal in the flavour and give all-over even results. Priced at £299 and available from John Lewis.

4. Weber Spirit Gas BBQ

The Spirit E-210 Classic is the finest entry level full size grill on the market. The combination of a compact design and 26,000 BTU-per-hour inputs courtesy of two stainless steel burners make this grill a star! Priced at £350 and available from Amazon.

5. Miele CS1312BG

If you are a king of barbecues you probably already have one of these – Miele CS1312BG. This 30cm Domino Barbecue Grill in Stainless Steel has 12 power levels and not one but two cooking zones: Front 1.5kW, Rear 1.5kW.  Priced at £885.95 and available from Co-operative.

Top 5 Barbecues for the Summer is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com