Gadgets and Accessories

Memory Cards and making Sense of Them

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:09:07 +0000

Memory cards come in a wide variety of styles, capacity and format, and these cards are useful in so many different devices that sometimes choosing the correct memory card type and format may seem bewildering or overwhelming. However, a basic understanding of memory card types can help narrow down the choices so that selection may be based upon storage capacity alone.

Memory cards are commonly used with digital cameras, cell phones, portable media players, and even game console systems. With these many uses and more, it is no wonder there are so many formats available. Some of the more common ones are SD cards (secure digital), Compact Flash, Smart Media, Multimedia cards as well as many variations such as SDHC cards, micro SD and so on.

What you should know is that a device designed to use an SD memory card may not be compatible with another type of memory card such as compact flash unless an adapter is used.

The trend with memory cards has been that as the technology evolves the cards themselves decreasein size and their storage capacity increases. Even as the logical memory capacity increases, memory cards become more compact, and these cards have become very affordable.

Memory cards started down with storage capacities as small as 8 and 16 MB, however, with the new generation of memory cards size as large as 32 GB and more are available.

Memory Card Reader Choices – A World of Differences

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:08:26 +0000

As portable storage devices come into their own in today’s technology, a new device has evolved as well in order to easily transfer the information from the portable drive to the computer – the memory card reader. There are many different variations in capabilities in memory card readers. Some types such as the single card reader only read and transfer one type of data from a single type of portable data storage such as flash drives, and others such as the multi card reader can accommodate as many as 35 or even more different types.

Memory card readers can be included in newer computers as an internal drive, or more commonly, they are external and connect to an available USB port. There are several clear advantages that a memory card reader has over older means of data transference from portable storage media. One is the camera or player need not be hooked by means of cables to the ports on the PC, instead the storage media is inserted into the memory card reader and power supplied by the USB port connection. In addition, many of the newer memory card readers are capable of faster data transmission than the cable hookups allow.

People who commonly use several types of portable storage media such as SD, Micro SD, Mini SD, MMC, Memory Stick, RSMMC or MS Duo should choose a multi card reader with capabilities matching those cards they use. A single card reader would better serve those who commonly use only one type of portable storage drive such as digital cameras or music players.

The choice of which memory card reader of course depends upon the need but they are undeniably convenient and there is a model to suit almost every use and budget.

Infinitec USB Memory Device-Preview

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:07:28 +0000

The IUM or Infinitec USB Memory device is the latest offering from USB technology. Imagine what it would be like to be able to play movies/files streamed on your computer on your new Blu-ray player or HDTV? IUM does just that!
IUM is debut launch from Infinitec a Dubai based startup that multimedia junkies should keep close eye on. The stick soon to be launched, promises ad hoc streaming from any Windows-based PC to just about anything you can think of: Blu-ray players, media streamers, printers, and practically any other gizmo with a USB port.

How does it work?

The goal is to make the other devices ‘think’ as if a giant USB flash drive was plugged in, whilst the data read is saved on the host device. So in a way, the drive is like a bluetooth dongle that can be paired with a wide variety of devices.

Here’s how to go about doing it:

Plug IUM on to host PC
Pair it with the PC just once, creating a maximum file size (1GB if it is to be paired with a cheap device and higher if the receiving device is capable of receiving bigger file sizes)
Connect IUM to device of your choice and use it as a regular plug-and-play device, giving access to the file created above on the host PC

New details released by Infinitec confirm IUM’s compatibility with all the gaming consoles and high definition video content. The company has also demonstrated more usage scenarios on the official press release. The price and retail release date is yet to be confirmed. It surely sounds like a boon for unification of variety of gadgets we use in our day to day lives.

Kingston class-10 microSDHC card Review

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:11:51 +0000

If you were amazed as to how small and fast a micro sd card got, you are in for a bigger surprise.
Kingston has just announced its very first 16 GB Class 10 micro sdhc card! As indicated by its ‘class 10′ moniker, it’s faster than any other memory card on the market. Class-10 label for the card specifies its sustained data transfer speed in MBPS. Kingston’s fastest micro sdhc so far was a class 4 graded card, while what you might find in your mobile phone or mp3 player is usually a class 2 card. So, whilst much is spoken of this new fast and furious card, tests were made on the card to see exactly how fast we are talking about.

When plugged on to a PC with the Micro SD Card Reader that comes with it, and tested with HD Tach disk-benchmarking software, the full suite test resulted in average read speed of 19.7 MBps and write speed of 14.4MBps. This more than backs up Kingston’s claims of a minimum sustained write speed of 10MBps.
For comparison when the same test was applied to a Kingston Class-4 microSDHC, the results show a slightly slower average write speed of 9.3MBps, and an average read speed of 17.9MBps. That is slower than the class-10 card, but much faster than what its ratings may suggest.
What does it mean to the end user though? Not much! Kingston reckons you will experience a performance gain whilst using it in a high-end mobile phone or camera; although that’s up for speculation. Faster, high-end DSLR cameras may experience speed improvements when taking pictures and recording video.
To summarise, Kingston 16 GB microSDHC Class 10 card is very fast, but at £80, it’s pricey! Whilst professional photographers may appreciate the performance gain, you and I are better off using our good old Kingston 8 GB microSDHC class-4 at £14.

Gadgets for busy women

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:57:38 +0000

Every woman who has been pregnant will know how difficult it is to get clothes to fit, and that will last through the pregnancy. The Belly Belt Combo Kit comes with two elastic belly belts, three colored panels in black, white and denim, and two slide belts. The panels fit snugly into the space where the zipper will no longer do up owing to the growing baby, and belts that hold everything together. At around $20 this is a great way to make normal clothes fit throughout the pregnancy without buying extra.

For ladies just too bored with housework, try out the robotic vacuum cleaner. This is not a new idea but the fine filtration, self charging model does the cleaning and also cleans the air of allergens too. All it takes is a touch of a button, and off it goes to do the work on its own. Called the iRobot Roomba, this machine will surely make light work of the cleaning.

Follow the vacuuming with the iRobot Scooba which can wash the floors in three or four rooms on just one charge. This great little gadget is easily refillable with cleaning solution but since it is round, it often can’t get right into the corners of the room. However, it does take the donkey work out of washing floors and who would mind going behind it to clean the corners? This machine is great for high traffic areas or where there are children and pets in the home.

Useful gadgets

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:16:35 +0000

We all know how it is when the kids start to get themselves organized. They have to learn which desk is theirs at school, or which locker belongs to them etc. Now to start them in that mode of thinking is the little gadget that is so useful. A coat hook with a photograph frame to show who the hook belongs to. Now there will be no more squabbling about who hangs what where. Bliss!

Ever get concerned when seeing the kids, or adults, using a stapler? There is a great gadget out that doesn’t use any staples at all. It cuts and folds the paper in one action and there is no punch action to get those little fingers caught up. This is a great idea for stapling checks to bills or just tidying up the workspace. A clever idea indeed!

Staying with the kids and all those little scuffs and scrapes they have. Make light of the accident by cheering with plasters in funny shapes. Featured here are ones with monkey faces and others made to look like slices of toast. This will soon make them forget that they were hurt in the first place.

For anyone with hearing loss, listening to TV with the family can now happen again with TV ears. Built like traditional headphones they allow the listener to hear at their own particular volume while the rest of the family listens at normal levels. Wireless and light, less than two ounces, this headset will allow anyone to set their own volume easily.

Gadgets galore

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:40:35 +0000

We all know what it is like to be without that beloved iPod, and most of us take it everywhere we go, even into the bathroom. Anyone who loves to have an hour long bath will fear that the moisture in the air will damage their much loved gadget though. So clever inventors came up with the tear drop shaped, waterproof speaker to house the iPod while keeping it away from the water. There are control buttons on the front, and it is powered by battery. There is even a rope to hang this droplet in the shower cubicle too so there is never a need to be without music.

Staying with speakers, there are also some other pretty designs like the four leaf clover speaker. Although some may consider this to be for the feminine gender, they do look good on anyone’s desk and have rechargeable batteries. The 2.5 w speakers can plug directly into a PC and will at least brighten dull desks everywhere. At only about $15, and available in four colors, these would make great secret Santa gifts for anyone in the office.

Whenever anyone gets a new office, one of the first things they do is buy a plant to brighten the place up. Now this has gone high tech too. The Power Plant Growing Machine has everything in the pack to grow the plant, but without soil! A sponge is filled with the provided seeds, water and nutrients added (nutrients included), pop on the lid and in a few days, hey presto!

Goofy gadgets

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:41:52 +0000

For anyone with nothing else to do how about trying to make a sand picture? This gadget has colored sand steeped in liquid and trapped between sheets of glass. To change the lunar like landscape, simply turn the frame and watch the hypnotic shifting of sand until it shows a completely different picture every time. At only fifteen dollars, this is great for those who have a lull in the day and need to do something with their hands!

There is yet another time wasting gadget on the market; the goo tube. This acrylic tube is filled with goo – obviously – but when the tube is overturned, the goo drips, dribbles and bubbles through to the bottom making it a little hypnotic also. It takes about ten minutes for the goop to dribble down and it comes in several colors to go with any color scheme. This looks a bit like the old lava lamps but no power is needed for this one.

Has anyone ever wondered how those voice changing gadgets work? We have often seen them in the movies or on TV when the kidnapper is asking for a ransom, but now this technology is available for all to try out. The gadget has nine setting for changing the voice effect and is powered by just one 9v battery. Not for the kidnappers though! Try playing jokes on workmates or loved ones for some extra fun.

Cute gadgets

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:33:30 +0000

Whenever there is party, most of us look for something just a bit different to show off to the guests. Here comes the Laserpod light show projector which will light up the room in multi colored patterns. By placing different covers on the gadget, different effects are possible. Lasers, in red and blue, shine through a rotating crystal to give a truly psychedelic look to any party. Or just use it in a room to meditate in. This would be a great gift for the teenager who always has friends over and will keep them occupied for hours.

For those who love watching fish but can’t stand to look after them, the MiniQuarium is probably the next best thing. This desk decoration just needs water to set it in motion. It has a realistic jelly fish that swans around the mini tank and keeps the watcher engaged with its antics. Great for those who don’t have the patience to look after real fish, and it also doubles as a soothing night light too.

This one is for those who have cold hands (and a warm heart?). With freezing temperatures abounding across the world, what better way to keep hands warm than by using these twin hearts with hand warming properties. Simply pressing the disc in the pack will heat the hearts for about 45 minutes. When the hearts are no loner getting warm, immerse them in hot water until the crystals melt, let them cool and then click away again. Cool!

Geeky gadgets?

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:17:47 +0000

For anyone who just loves anything to do with cell phones, the circular cell phone must be a dream. This phone has a stainless steel rim and a glass like interior, which has the numbers, printed on it.

Used like a touchpad, the numbers will dial after they have been touched and the microphone extends around the circle to 180 degrees. A must for all those who want something completely and absolutely different!

Another cell phone, the Nokia 888 that is still in the design stage, is completely different from all other designs in that it looks like a bracelet. It has liquid batteries, has a flexible touch screen, speech recognition and a touch sensitive cover.

All in all, this is one concept that will really take off if it ever hits the market. It is being aimed at the young and free wheeler market – teens and twenties – but the older geeks will love it too!

Finally, for geeks who spend too much time dreaming about their gadgets, the Clocky is a great device. Built like a normal alarm clock, this gadget will wake up the sleeper, but if they go to press the snooze button to get some extra minutes in dreamland, it runs away!

The sleepy head has then to get off the bed to find it, which is really what it is all about. A great device for kids who don’t like to get up too.