Boys and their Toys

I never bothered buying the fist iPhone when it was released but I did purchase the iPhone 4 as soon as it’s was released having decided not buy the 3GS and patiently wait for the 4th generation.
I was disappointed because the smart phone is brilliant and I don’t how could ever go back to a normal mobile. Although lots of people suffered reception difficulties I never have so I don’t have any complaints about the device.
The 5th generation is due to be released this summer so I’ve been looking at the rumours that have been circulating about the possible upgrades it will feature:

Ultra fast mobile internet
A new redesign instead of the current model.
Upgraded CPU.
More memory and faster processor.
Larger screen.
Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, enabling the phone to act as a debit/credit card.
8 megapixel camera.

There are obviously more rumours floating about but I don’t have the time to list them all. I think the most important update for most people will be improved reception!

Before the Nintendo 3DS was released warnings were issued that young children shouldn’t be allowed to play with the devise because it could cause eye sight problems.
However, since its recent release there have been some reports of adults suffering health problems after playing with the console.
Nintendo have officially said that children under the aged of seven should play with the console whilst in 3D mode and gaming time should be limited to just 30 minutes.
Thousands of people have claimed that they’ve suffered with headaches and spells of dizziness after just 24 hours. This has now led a lot of customers asking for refunds from retailers.
This is a big blow for Nintendo who saw device as revolutionary step forward in gaming and to tell customer s that they shouldn’t play 3D games for more than 30 minutes is ridiculous. If you were to obey to the rule then you’ve bought the console for no reason.
What the point of paying extra for 3D when you can’t actually use for more than half an hour?

No sooner has it arrived then it’s pretty much sold out, no surprise there though.  The iPad 2 is now one of the must have gadgets of 2011 and millions of people are desperately trying to get their hands on one.
I’ve had the original iPad since December and wont be upgrading until the 3rd version has been released next year.
The main reason for this is that I really don’t see why I should splash out on the new one when there really isn’t that much difference to mine. Yes, its slightly smaller, has a quicker processor and has two cameras but these upgrades can’t really push me to change.
I understand if you didn’t have an iPad and waited a little longer for the updated version because they cost the same price.
However, I’ll be waiting for the 3rd generation hoping that it will feature a HD screen, USB port, micro SD slot and maybe even the ability to browse Flash based web pages.

If you are sick and tired of your office desk looking dirty and unsightly then you may wonder what you can do to improve the situation. Well, there is now a handy gadget in the form of the USB Mini Vacuum Cleaner which will do the trick.

This smart little device, which can be bought for under a fiver, is extremely practical and will suck up all the fluff and crumbs currently taking residence on your desk.

All you need to do is simply attach the vacuum cleaner via its USB cable to your computer and turn it on, then you are away and can get cleaning!

The quote above is one of the most memorable at the end of Star Wars IV: A New Hope when Luke Skywalker of the Rebel Squadron is about to start his attack on the Death Star’s Defences.

And now you can feel what it is like to be in the Rebel Alliance, with the highly anticipated Star Wars Rebel Alliance Headphones which are now available for pre-order from gadget stockists.

The officially-licensed headphones have been designed so they look just like the ones worn by X-Wing pilots in Star Wars and be the envy of your friends. I’ve not tried on a pair yet, but the screenshots so far make them one of the must-have gadgets of 2011.

This cold weather we have all been experiencing the past few months has certainly made it more difficult to use our gadgets when we are out and about. If you have had trouble typing on your modern touchscreen device, then make sure you consider these Isotoner SmarTouch Gloves.

The gloves make it possible for you to use your gadget as much as you want when in the freezing cold and are responsive enough to do what you need to do, be it type, tap or scroll the touchscreen, all thanks to the special conductive material found in the thumb and index finger of each glove.

Isotoner SmarTouch Gloves are now available from all good gadget stockists.

There are many rumours and debates flying round the internet at the moment regarding the 2011 release of the iPad 2 and the iPhone 5. And while Apple themselves remain understandably tightlipped (as they usually do) on such matters, there are a few things which are generally agreed by the internet geeks.

One is that the iPhone 5 will be more slimline in design than the disappointing iPhone 4 and Apple are already working on the issues associated with making and receiving calls using the device. The phone may even be 3D in keeping with the latest in innovations.

The iPad 2 is expected to be made with an in-built front camera so that video calls can be made from the device. This would be a much appreciated enhancement to the original design and in keeping with the demands of tablet users. Despite this omission, sales of the iPad in 2010 were very impressive for Apple.

Something which has sprung up recently as a viable alternative to eBay is the growing number of free use websites in the UK.

Here you can buy (or sell) any unwanted items which have found to be cluttering up the home, for free, as the seller may not be interested in trying to make money out of the sale of these gadgets.

By finding old gadgets or unwanted gifts using this method, you could quite easily grab yourself a real steal and get something you will put to good use.

While there is plenty of junk on the site, it is all about hunting for the right gadgets for you. Who knows what you will find on there?

Those of us who grew up in the 80’s will fondly remember the commodore 64 as being an absolutely brilliant games computer which everyone wanted for Christmas. It introduced a new generation to the concept of PC gaming with its then powerful 8-bit processor and 64KB of RAM.

The good news for all those who look back at the 80’s with a nostalgic tear in their eye is that Commodore are reincarnating the 64 as a nettop computer, the 64x.
This time its an up-to-date fully functioning PC boxed inside the design of the original keyboard. The 8-bit processor has been replaced by a Dual Core 525 Atom processor, 2GB of RAM (expandable to 4GB), and an Nvidia Ion 2 graphics chipset.
You’ll be able to connect peripheral devices to the Commodore 64x via numerous USB ports and it will house memory card slots, along with HDMI, VGA and DVI-D ports.
You’ll also be able to watch your DVD’s through the device as it features a slot/tray load DVD R/W (Blu-ray optional).

The 64x will be able to connect to any modern TV and deliver 1080p HD video and 6 Channel High Definition Audio. It also incorporates wireless wifi for exceptional quality video streaming.

However, for the the full nostalgia trip the reincarnated device can be switched to emulation mode which allows it to operate as the original 80’s computer so you can play all the classic games. Awesome!

There are no details on pricing yet but rumour has that it’s marked for an early 2011 release.

The universal remote control isn’t anything new obviously but, what if you could turn you iPhone into one? The stumbling block with this has been the lack of an infrared port on the phone. However, there is now a solution.
Several companies have now designed items that will transform your device into a remote control. The first option is the iWavit from thinkoptic which has an infrared transmitter that plugs into your iPhone. This then sends a signal to a receiving device which you plug into your TV.

The next option is the Re from NewKinetix which works with a plug-in transmitter as well as a downloadable app which contains the codes for most AV devices.

The third option is the L5 remote which is similar to the New Kintetix where you attach the transmitter and download their free app.

The main problem with these devices is that each of them occupy the docking port so you won’t be able to charge the phone. Maybe we’ll see enhancements in the future.