Gladget Magazine August 2011

Forever Young Medical technology meets science-fiction...

I S S U E 1 0 / Vo l . 1 August 2011

w w w. g l a d ge t . c o. z a

Inside 6 From the Editor

8 Healthy Technology Where medical technology and science-fiction meet 14 Photography Primer Getting arty with composition 20 Reviews Lots of hardware, gadgets and tech to look at.

62 DVD Seen More movies, ranging from winners to whiners 72 Money to Burn Heavenly sounds 74 Inner Workings Working in the clouds 76 Dead End Compact cassettes for everyone

THIS MONTH’S COVER Medical technology enters the realms of the near-fantastic every day.

See the feature on page 8.

cover art by Katia Taliadoros

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gladget contents • issue 10 • August 2011

Reviews

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MSI 990FXA-GD80 Motherboard

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Samsung SyncMaster DSA950 3D LED Monitor

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Sony Vaio F226 Laptop

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LG E2290 Super LED Monitor

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MSI FX620DX Notebook

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Epson EH-TW5500 Home Projector

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Apacer AP520 USB 2.0 Hub

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Logitech K750 Wireless Solar Keyboard

Writers: Charlie Fripp Dylan Bouch Alex Scanlon Rob Edwards James Francis Christo van Gemert

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Tomtom Via 110 GPS

Letters: letters@gladget.co.za

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Nitho Charge 4 PS3 Charger

Competition Entries: competitions@gladget.co.za

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Sony Vaio EH18 Notebook

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gladget.co.za

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Nitho Charging Plus Wii Remote Dock

Design & Photography: 1337 Media

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SanDisk Sansa Fuze + MP3 Player

Technical Support: Brian Murdoch

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Verbatim Multimedia Audio Bar 2.1 Speaker System

Marketing Contact: Katia Taliadoros katia@gladget.co.za

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Nitho Jumbo Kit Mix for Wii

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Logitech Vantage USB Headset for PS3

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Call of Juarez: The Cartel (video game)

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F.E.A.R.3 (video game)

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 (video game)

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Captain America: Super Soldier (video game)

GLADGET Volume1Issue 10 Augusy 2011 Editor: Walt Pretorius walt@gladget.co.za

technology. simply.

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gladget contents • issue 10 • August 2011

Copyright © 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2011

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Memories...

From the Editor

by Walt Pretorius

I

grew up largely in the 80s. OK, those were my teenage years, but that’s when you do most of your growing up, after all. There was a band that was very popular at the time, called Alphaville. They were a German band, living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall and possessed of a unique perspective that they brought into their music.

The song that launched them into the limelight was a moving, beautiful piece called ‘Forever Young’. It was beautifully melodic and thought provoking and has really got nothing to do with this issue of Gladget magazine, other than the fact that I heard it playing in my head while researching our cover-feature.

While the song really doesn’t speak about medical technology, the idea of ‘Forever Young’ is one that we seem to be striving towards in medical

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science. From the ability to create new skin and teeth using - believe it or not - printer technology through to being able to grow replacement organs from our own stem cells, we are pretty keen on making sure that we stay alive.

This isn’t necessarily a good thing.

I mean, to quote the song ‘do you really want to live forever?’ I could imagine that it would be fun for the first while, but unless medical science could preserve quality of life, there would be a hell of a lot of really grumpy old people around. Not to mention that the world would get pretty crowded.

I will admit, though, that the idea of a long life does have a certain appeal for me, quite simply because I don’t want to miss out on all the new technology that will come up after I have left the mortal realm.

OK, stop laughing. I might not be a super-geek, but I admit to being enough of a geek that something like that would bother me. Then again, they might have some really cool gadgets in the afterlife - for it to be any form of heaven for me, they would have to...

Speaking of cool gadgets and tech, we have some excellent reviews for you this month, ranging from a handful of console accessories through to three awesome laptops, two great monitors and a fantastic AMD motherboard. and pretty much everything in-between, of course.

So, while you read through the pages of this month’s Gladget magazine, you can also ask yourself if you would like to live forever, if only to see what cool gadgets come out a hundred years from now... g

gladget column • issue 10 • August 2011

© 2011 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Screen images are simulated.

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*3D glasses are required and are included with purchase.

Healthy Technology Staying alive with tech…

Feature

by Walt Pretorius

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gladget feature • issue 10 • August 2011

R

emember the Six Million Dollar Man? After a horrendous accident, this fictional TV series character had numerous body parts replaced by a specialised team – a procedure that cost six million dollars. OK, that was a lot of money back then… today, maybe he would have been a little less awesome on that budget.

Still, science-fiction has been fascinated with ideas that medical technology will advance to such a point that humans can be augmented with cybernetics, and that longevity of the individual will be assured by new drugs and treatments.

And, for the most part, it still sounds like science fiction… until you consider that, in 2008, the first successful full face transplant took place. It sounds like a movie starring Cage and Travolta – actually, it was a movie starring them. But it’s happening in the real world too.

Let’s take a look at the Six Million Dollar Man again. He had a pair of bionic legs that allowed him to run at amazing speeds. While that kind of prosthetic doesn’t exist yet, our own Oscar Pistorius uses specialised prosthesis that make him and incredibly fast athlete. And, recently unveiled, prosthetic legs have evolved into being far more than what they used to be. Take, for example, a new technology that allows for a lightweight, lifelike prosthesis to be fitted. Running is possible with these legs and, for those that are image conscious, a special control can be used to adjust the ankle angle, so that fashionable ladies will be able to wear high heels.

He also had a bionic eye… OK, we’re probably a way away from that. But new technology in false eyes even allows for natural eye movement.

And his arm? Well, an amateur inventor recently created a replacement hand that will allow amputees to replace their lost hand with a fully functional prosthetic – able to perform a variety of tasks from gently gripping a wine glass through lifting a heavy chair.

Medical technology also borrows from more mundane sources. Take, for example, research being done into the idea of ‘printing’ human skin.

Great strides have been made in this field already with successful experiments already creating new skin for mice. This technology, based on – believe it or not – inkjet printer techniques, could greatly assist the healing process of burns and other injuries that would normally require painful skin grafts. And the research goes even deeper,

gladget feature • issue 10 • August 2011

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gladget feature • issue 10 • August 2011

with certain groups investigating the possibility of “printing” complete organs. The 3D Bioprinter already exists, although research needs to be done into the more complex organs.

Controversial though it may be, stem cell technology is also making leaps and bounds.

Wake Forest University’s Institute of Regenerative Medicine – the same folks who are behind the skin-printer – have managed to achieve preliminary success in growing new organs from human cells.

In fact, the growth of new organs using stem cells is a hot topic at the moment, with several research institutes working on the idea. There have even been successes in lab conditions, and growing your own replacement organs – using stem cells harvested from your body – is a technology that may well be closer than we think. With extremely low chance of rejection and perfect tissue typing, organ donation may become a thing of the past within the next few decades.

The implications of these types of technologies are massive. Human beings will soon be able to effectively replace lost limbs with simulacra that aren’t just aesthetically designed, but also work like the real thing. In fact, research into neural control of such limbs – in other words, bionics and cybernetics – is not just the work of science-fiction authors, even though we’re still in the early stages. Add to that the fact that we will soon have the facility to grow replacement organs, eliminating the need for donation and the possibility of rejection, and the human race suddenly has a whole lot of longevity thrown in.

All this leaves are the dread diseases that take so many lives each year.

Even these are under constant research, though.

Take the example of Parkinson’s disease. This terrible affliction causes uncontrollable tremors and painful muscle spasms in its victims, which number anywhere between seven and ten million people worldwide. But research into a new gene therapy could soon see sufferers get – if not cured – improved to a point where they can live relatively normal lives. Gene therapy is still controversial and many wonder at its effectiveness, but the possibilities for this science are staggering.

Diseases often thought fatal could be cured, once researchers find the right genes that need to be ‘reprogrammed.’

Medical nanotechnology is also makes great strides in fighting diseases like cancer – the gladget feature • issue 10 • August 2011

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gladget feature • issue 10 • August 2011

techniques used involve the utilisation of nanomaterials to directly treat diseased areas, and the results have been rather promising.

Where all of this will lead is difficult to pinpoint exactly. New ideas are constantly dreamed up by researchers and, while they might not make the evening news, the impact that these technologies will have on our lives will be immense. If we look at the rate that technology advances – and it’s plain to see, even for the layman – and apply that kind of growth to medical research and technology – ranging from imaging technologies right through to using microscopic materials to treat dread disease - it is by no means a stretch of the imagination that science-fiction favourites like bionic limbs and vat grown organs will be available for those in need with a handful of decades – if not years. A little research into the field yields the most eyebrow raising results… ideas that seem almost too advanced to be true. And yet these advances are being worked on, daily, right now. We selected only a handful of new technologies to mention here, but a few hours with Google and the right search phrases will leave you astounded. In fact, we urge you to check it out – it may be the most interesting surfing you’ve done in a good long while.

All of this seems very positive, and it is. But one does need to speculate on the long term effects of this kind of advancement. It has often been theorised that, as technology advances, each generation will live longer than the one before. If humanity gets to a point where life – as well as quality of life – can be sustained long beyond what is currently considered normal (a wholly viable thought) then numerous other issues become problems. Even with a normal birth rate, for example, the human population will expand rapidly.

This would be even more prevalent if modern medicine allowed people to have children well into what Is currently considered old age… bearing offspring younger than their grand-children, in effect. What would the impact on society and the environment be? Would we see a shift away from prolonging human life through technology, in favour of research to preserve our already straining environment? Time, as always, will tell.

For now, though, this is an exciting technological field indeed, with advances occurring all the time.

And who knows… maybe one of those super smart research teams will even discover a cure for the common cold. g gladget feature • issue 10 • August 2011

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Photography Primer

But is it Art? Part One: Composition

by Walt Pretorius

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gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

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W

e often see photographic images that are, quite simply put, superb. The creation of these images relies a lot on the photographer’s technical knowledge. The photographer will know that using the right settings for aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus will yield the results he is after. We have discussed all of these elements in previous issues of Gladget, and we’re sure that you will have seen the effects they have on your photographs.

But even the best technical knowledge needs to be tempered with an idea of what looks good. This is where the artistry of photography comes in, and when an artistic approach is combined with technical knowhow, the results can be truly spectacular.

The art of creating a stunning photographic image encompasses the entire process, from choosing subject matter right through to producing final images, whether they be printed or digital. In terms of choice of subject matter, this really is the easy step – anything can be artistically portrayed in a photograph, and even candid images or snapshots can have an artistic appeal to them, if the photographer keeps a few ideas at the back of their mind during the process.

Perhaps the most attention needs to be paid to composition. It is just as important as any other element of creating a photographic work of art, but it is also possibly the easiest element to make a mess of. Getting composition right is not something that is necessarily difficult, but there are times when it can be tricky, depending on the chosen subject matter.

While there are no rules in art per se, composition has a number of guidelines that are best followed.

The number one suggestion of composition is that placing something in the middle of the photograph is a complete no-no. This can be problematic, particularly for inexperienced photographers, because the camera’s auto-focus point is generally defaulted to that exact area. Many cameras will allow the user to adjust the focus hot-spot to a number of preset points, but even in this case the results aren’t necessarily exactly what you would want them to be.

It is good to remember that tip we gave about getting focussed, keeping the button depressed halfway while recomposing the shot, and then snapping the image.

Also keep in mind that the indicator in the middle of your camera’s viewfinder is not a targeting reticule –

gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

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Photography Primer

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gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

it’s not like you’re taking a shot at your subject matter. It purely indicates where the focus point is, and should never be treated as a guide for composing your image. If you do that, you end up with one of those nasty images with far too much above the subject, and far too little below it.

Rather, treat the actual boundaries of your viewfinder as a compositional frame. The photograph will generally include a little more at the edges than what you see, but it’s a good start.

Basic composition speaks of something called the ‘Rule of Thirds’. If you mentally divide the area of your photographs into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, you get four strong compositional points where the lines intersect. These are excellent options for placing the main focus of your photograph. Some cameras, even allow the viewfinder of LCD screen to display these divisions… a little digging around in the menus will find the setting, if your camera has the facility.

It’s also good to keep in mind that the second you depress the shutter button, whatever is captured is captured. You can, however, recompose the photograph alter, using computer software, much like darkroom work allows the same idea. But you cannot use elements that do not appear in the photograph to improve the composition; it’s possible to cut away things, but you cannot add it what is not there. With this in mind, it’s best to shoot your pictures a little more generously in terms of background and subject framing. The final cropping – or composition, if you will – can be done on a computer system. Considering that most cameras shoot very large images, the final product should still be a decent size, even after a fairly substantial crop. This is particularly useful if you don’t have the time to compose the picture perfectly when shooting it – like with fast action shots and so on.

Changing the composition of an image can certainly change its overall feeling and mood. There are guidelines here, too, (which we’ll get to shortly) but often just looking at the image for a while, before cropping it, will give a good idea of what kind of emotion it may evoke. Art is intuitive. Use your intuition. But be sensible as well… whenever cropping an image, save the original elsewhere. Create a new folder to save your reworked images, not just for cropping, but for every kind of change that you may gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

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Photography Primer

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gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

make to the original photograph.

Composition can help lead the viewer’s eye through the photograph, and can evoke emotion, as stated before. In the West, where we read from left to right, the left side of an image (your left, as you’re looking at it) is often associated with positivity, while the right side can evoke the opposite. For example, an image of a person looking to their left, placed on the left side of the image, means that they will be looking into the photograph. This could evoke feelings of expectation and contentment. The same photograph, with the subject on the right, could create feelings of isolation and even loss. That’s a very basic example, but the trend follows through. Look at your photographs, and the photographs of others. Investigate the emotions they create – one of the functions of art, after all, is to evoke emotion.

Emotion can also be created according to the final aspect ratio of the photograph. Most photographs are shot at a 4 x 5 ratio, but there is no rule that says you cannot crop your image into a different shape – like a long horizontal picture , for example. If it works for the final image, do it. But don’t do it just to be different.

The same goes for odd placements of subject matter.

If you want to cut off a portion of the subject, have a reason for doing so. Cutting off a model’s legs or cropping away half of a face need to be done with a reason in mind… not because it “looks cool.”

That’s the key thing to remember here. The image must work, on some level, to be truly impressive.

Composition, including placement of subject matter and final cropped dimensions, can all add to the impact that the photograph has. But trying to create an artistic photograph for the sake of creating an artistic photograph is contrived, and it shows. The image needs to ‘tell a story’, to evoke emotion to be considered a good work of photographic art.

Composition is one of the keys to a good image, so keep the following in mind: don’t centre your subject matter, shoot your images ‘loosely’, to allow for space to play with when cropping, and always consider whether the composition is helping tell the photograph’s story – in other words, is benefiting the image.

Paying heed to composition is the first step towards turning your snapshots into true photographic art. g

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Reviews Highlights 20 MSI 990FXA-GD80 Motherboard Power in your pocket 26 Samsung SyncMaster DSA950 3D LED Monitor Multimedia on the move 36 Sony Vaio F226 Laptop Active HD gaming 40 Epson EH-TW5500 Home Projector Top notch graphics

E

ach month we really get some awesome stuff to look at here at the Gladget office. This month is no different...

We have three laptops, two monitors, an awesome projector and lots more to tell you about, so let’s not waste any more time! g

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gladget review • issue 10 • August 2011

MSI 990FXA-GD80 Motherboard

The Right Price A great AMD option for those on a budget

by Alex Scanlon

M

SI continue to impress with their products, and they manage to deliver reliability and good performance across their whole range of devices. Sure, higher end stuff makes for quite a performance boost, but a user on a budget will be able to rest assured that they can still get the best possible performance for their budget with products from this company.

While we most often get to see Intel based boards from MSI, this month we’re taking a look at an offering for those who prefer their processors to be AMD flavoured.

In all honesty, there isn’t too much of a difference between MSI’s Intel and AMD boards, save for the slot into which the CPU fits. One could argue a similar point about the processors themselves, but we’re not going to start that particular bun-fight.

The MSI 990FXA-GD80 is a good option for an AMD user on a budget. The board supports AMD FX, Phenom II, Athlon II and Sempron processors with it’s AM3+ socket, meaning that it’s fairly versatile for

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those who need to make purchasing decisions based on processor. The board will squeeze everything it can out of the processor, thanks to MSI’s OC Genie II system. It’s really easy to use, and extremely fast... the whole affair is automated, meaning that the user can overclock and unlock hidden processor cores in seconds (the box claims one second, but that all depends on system performance and configuration). Speed aside, it’s an extremely simple way to unlock the PC’s potential, and it works rather well.

Like all boards these days, the 990FXA is emblazoned with statements that it makes use of military grade components (because we’re still impressed by that kind of claim). Tantalum core hi-c caps, super ferrite chokes and solid capacitors are go towards improving performance and, rather importantly, lifespan. It might seem funny when they say that parts won’t explode, but having a component pop is no laughing matter, so that’s really a plus point.

The board also comes with numerous features that are extremely useful. These include SuperCharger, which provides high speed recharging for mobile devices, even when the PC is not powered up, and the lamentably named g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

Winki 3, which allows for web-surfing, file maintenance, photo and document editing and more, even if the user has no OS installed.

Other features include a mouse-controlled BIOS and onboard THX audio.

The board offers users four USB 3.0 ports and six SATA6 ports, so it allows for fast performance of peripherals and components. In addition, four PCI Express X16 slots mean that those who want to run multiple graphics cards, in either SLI or Crossfire configurations, can do so... up to four graphics cards can be supported, depending on their size.

All this comes at a very reasonable price... reliability, performance and a long life-span won’t break the bank here, and the versatility in CPU support means that it will have a wide appeal for AMD users.

It’s not a top of the line board, but it does allow for a lot of power, when all is said and done. At the price, one would expect far less than it actually delivers, which is a bonus. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Good performance • Great price • Good features

CONS:

• Graphics cards limited for larger devices.

Manufacturer: MSI Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R1 999

TECH SPECS: • AMD 9 series chipset • 4 x USB 3.0 ports • 6 x SATA6 ports • 4 x PCI E x16 slots • THX Audio • Click BIOS

Score

Very good performance from a board that is relatively light in price.

80 23

Samsung SyncMaster DSA950 3D LED Monitor

Eye-candy

Good looks and great performance

by Walt Pretorius

I

t’s been some time coming - thanks to clashing schedules and all that kind of thing, we’ve been waiting some time to take a look at one of Samsung’s monitor offerings. But the SyncMaster SA950 was well worth the wait.

The apparent battles between monitor suppliers have been more or less dominated by LG and Samsung for some time now, with both companies pushing out new technologies on an almost daily basis. Samsung’s latest idea, encapsulated in their 9 Series range of SyncMaster monitors, is effective 3D in a desktop format. While this is a major selling point, it shouldn’t be the only consideration when looking at a purchase of the SA950... this monitor has a lot more going for it than just good 3D performance.

From the get-go, the SA950 makes an impression, thanks to a rather unique look. Rather than being supported by a central pillar, the monitor connects to the base via a wide metalic support set to the far right of the device. This curved support, combined with the

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brushed metal and glossy black finish of the device, makes for a monitor that definitely looks good - and unique.

But the glossy black surface is also a downfall for the unit. Call me picky, but I hate fingerprints on sleek looking surfaces, and the surface of this monitor marks up very quickly, thanks to that shine.

This is exacerbated by the fact that the controls are touch sensitive, and are set into the glossy part of the pillar. Even worse, the screen part of the monitor is also very glossy.

Being the kind of person that chops the hands off of people who touch the screen, that’s not a big problem, but a light beam coming in at an unfortunate angle may make viewing the screen difficult, particularly if the image is a dark one.

That, though, is the only criticism for an otherwise superb viewing device. With Samsung’s general magic, like the ECO Light Sensor, ECO Motion Sensor, ultra clear panel and Magic Angle Technology, this unit performs beautifully and economically, delivering excellent visuals g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

across its 23 inch wide screen. Numerous inputs, like HDMI and DVI, make it versatile, and an audio output means that it can be used for more than just computing in fact, it makes for an awesome console monitor, too. The quick and simple control system makes it a breeze to use, too.

And the 3D? Well, it certainly does push the price up, but the performance is good. The monitor supports several 3D modes, for which a pair of active shutter glasses are included. The glasses are more stylish than some we’ve seen, and are battery operated. Using a flat battery for them is a good idea, but if the power runs out, you won’t just be able to recharge them quickly.

In addition, the monitor provides a 2D to 3D function, which works fairly well, but don’t expect to see your movies is breath-taking depth... the system is based on assumptions and while it works well, it isn’t absolutely perfect.

Despite the relatively high price tag and a few little quibbles, the SA950 is a superb monitor indeed. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Awesome image • Looks great • Lots of features

CONS:

• Pricey • Fingerprint magnet

Manufacturer: Samsung Distributor: Samsung Online: www.samsung.co.za RRP: R6 499

TECH SPECS: • 23” Widescreen • Ultra Clear panel • ECO Motion Sensor • ECO Light Sensor • LED • Magic Angle

Score

Although not cheap, this is a superb monitor indeed.

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Sony Vaio F226 Laptop

Understated

Performance without the garish looks

by Rob Edwards

W

hether or not there is a definite move away from desktop computing towards the more portable notebook or laptop alternative is debatable, but the increase in power of the latter categories certainly opens up the option for a wider variety of users. Where laptops used to be generally less powerful than desktops not so long ago, these devices are certainly catching up.

Take the Sony Vaio F226, for example. It sports a rather impressive set of specifications: an Intel i7 CPU running at 2.2GHz, 8GB of RAM, a 640GB HDD capacity and 1GB of VRAM running off of an NVidia chipset. This is supported by a 16.4 inch LED display, as well as a backlit keyboard and highly effective touch pad. A Blu-ray drive, multi-card reader and numerous other bells and whistles are standard for this model.

It all looks very good on paper, of course, but the proof is in the pudding. The real test is how it actually performs. And we can safely say that it does what it is

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supposed to admirably. It is powerful enough to be treated as a multimedia and even gaming machine - although, in the latter aspect, it should be considered a middle-range option. We have seen some laptops, built for gaming, that certainly out-perform this one.

Still, the performance - even in gaming - in none too shabby. In fact, the only real criticism is levelled at the unit’s speakers, which (as is often the case with laptops) are a little less than satisfactory.

That’s no real matter, though - anyone using this device for multimedia or gaming purposes will either be using headphones or external speakers, anyway.

The whole unit looks really good, finished in matt black metal and durable, low-gloss black plastic. It sports a full chicklet-style keyboard that is wonderfully quiet, and a beautifully sensitive touch pad.

While it is capable of high end performance like gaming, the F226 hasn’t been designed to look the part. That’s not a bad thing, trust me. Many of the higher end laptops buy g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

into the whole idea of ‘looking cool’, which often turns out garish. The F226, though, looks like it means business, and it does. This device would be as comfortable in a business setting as it would anywhere else, with the added bonus of being powerful and pretty impressive. It doesn’t show off with its looks, which seems to grant it some weird kind of confidence...

And confidence is what the user of this well built, powerful laptop will have when they power it on and get to business - or pleasure.

Further versatility is granted by two USB 3.0 ports, a single USB 2.0 port and an HDMI output. Built in wireless functionality and a FireWire port, as well as a LAN port, take care of connectivity.

All in all, this stylish and understated laptop makes for a great option - it delivers power without being garish and, while not being the most potent laptop on the market, still makes for a solid multi-usage option.

Well done, Sony! g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Generous spec • Stylish • Versatile

CONS:

• Slightly pricey

Manufacturer: Sony Distributor: Sony Online: www.sony.co.za RRP: R19 999

TECH SPECS: • Intel i7 2.2GHz CPU • 640 GB HDD • 8GB RAM • 1GB VRAM • Blu-ray drive • 16.4” screen

Score

It might look understated, but this stylish laptop packs tons of punch!

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LG E2290 Super LED Monitor

A New Look But not very practical

by Walt Pretorius

T

here isn’t much left to say about LG monitors that we haven’t said before. After all, a monitor is a monitor, right? Wait a moment, what’s this? It looks... different.

When it comes to monitors, LG can’t exactly be accused of straying off of the beaten path. With the general exception of support pillars - and occasionally controls - you may be challenged to pick one out from another in a line-up. Not that you would ever have to (monitors don’t really mug people) but you get what I am saying. The general look for LG is predictable; black bezel, black base, red (or similar) support. Maybe a bit of clear plastic here and there. But even that variation doesn’t take a departure from the norm.

But when you unbox the E2290 Super LED 21.5 inch monitor, you may well be excused for thinking that they stuck the wrong product in the box. It’s got an allbrushed-metal finish, which can be best described as a rosy-metallic colour (in the right light.) The all metal and perspex look is a massive departure for the brand, and

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unless you see the LG logo on the front, you wouldn’t peg it as such.

The fixed support (another difference - you don’t get the fit this one yourself) is a slender silver column that allows for a fair amount of tilt. It’s all finished off with a chunky, block-like base with rounded corners.

The performance of the monitor is excellent. Being an LED monitor, it delivers crisp visuals at the expected full HD resolution. Contrast has been boosted too, which makes the images look even better. It’s an energy saver, which is a plus, and Image Booster technology makes the pictures that little bit prettier. In addition, it’s really skinny, which looks impressive and saves a bit of desk space.

The performance is excellent, and the overall design is unique and rather stylish. These are good things, because they mitigate the pain in the neck that using the monitor can result in.

To keep the bezel small, the controls have been shifted to the base (hence it being fixed in place out of the box).

They sit on the top of the base, which is fine. The power g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

switch at the base’s front right corner is clearly indicated; also fine.

But somewhere in the brushed metal expanse the other four controls lurk. Finding them can be tricky for the first few times, and they seem a little less responsive than they should be - they’re touch sensitive, which is why they’re so hard to spot.

Next up, the connectors. LG are calling it the EZ Cabling system, but that’s a little far from the truth. It’s neat, sure, but easy? Don’t bet on it.

See, the cables connect to the base (another reason for it being fixed into place) but instead of being flush with the back of the base, the cable connectors are recessed around a third-way into the base. There simply is no easy access here. To connect anything to the D-Sub, DVI, HDMI or audio-out ports, you need to lift the monitor - or at least tilt it considerably.

That aside, this is a good - and very different - offering from LG. It may just take a bit of getting used to. g

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Unique looks • Good image • Great price

CONS:

• Temperamental controls • Nasty input position

Manufacturer: LG Distributor: LG Online: www.lg.co.za RRP: R2 499

TECH SPECS: • 21.5 inch • LED • Mega Contrast Ratio • Full HD • Super Slim • Energy saver

Score

It has good looks, but features impractical input placement and temeramental controls.

79 29

MSI FX620DX Notebook

Balanced

Performance and price in good harmony

by Rob Edwards

L

ast month we took a look at MSI’s GT780R laptop, and it made us nervous, because its spec beat most of the desktops in the Gladget office. This month, we have a slightly smaller offering from MSI’s notebook range, just so we can feel a bit better about ourselves (and our machines). Not that the FX620DX is exactly a slouch in the specification department... this little powerhouse might not be top-ofthe-line, buit anyone using it will likely not want for more in the performance stakes.

The performance is delivered by an Intel i5 2410M CPU. It’s not the quickest processor around, but it does the trick quite nicely in this case. This is supported by 4GB of DDR3 RAM. Storage is provided by a 500GB HDD, and images are delivered to the 15.6 inch screen via an Nvidia GeForce 540M chipset, running with 1GB of VRAM. Anyone who knows there specs will agree that this is not a bad set of numbers, particularly when

30

you consider that it weighs in at a fairly pocket friendly R8 299. Sure, there are cheaper notebooks out there, but the balance between power and price in this one is pretty damned good.

It will not deliver the experience that it’s bigger brother does, but that’s OK - this machine, while capable, is not built to house the power that the GT780R does. It’s more of a practical machine, both in size and price, and midrange users will be more than happy with what it delivers.

The screen doesn’t hit full HD resolutions, unfortunately, but other than that, it’s pretty much everything a work and mid-level multimedia machine needs to be. And it features great sound - we though we should mention that - as well as an HD webcam. Incidentally, the sound performance is powered by a THX system, so there’s no surprise at its quality.

The chicklet-style keyboard is full, despite the slightly smaller size of the unit. This is supported by an effective slightly-left mounted touch pad. An odd design decision g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

placed all the indicator lights (for CAPS Lock, NUM lock and so forth) ‘beneath’ the touch pad, so using it will obscure those indicators. A set of multimedia keys are positioned above the keyboard, including the power switch and an eject button for the unit’s DVD optical drive.

The finish of the unit is quite unique - it’s all done in a matt black plastic, textured to resemble... something woven, perhaps? Whatever it may be, it looks pretty cool, although I personally have a preference for the more common brushed-steel look that the GT780R has.

One the whole, this machine is pretty decent. It will serve the purposes of a mid-range (maybe even the lower end of the power-user range) very well, and is supported by numerous MSI apps, preinstalled on the unit. It’s priced well, and is reliable and fairly decent where battery life is concerned. It’s also a bit smaller, and lighter, than some of the other models in its class, which makes lugging it around easier. All in all, it’s a good bet for those whose requirements aren’t too extreme. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Fairly good price • Excellent sound • Decent performance

CONS:

• Not a full HD screen

Manufacturer: MSI Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R8 299

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

Intel i5 CPU 4GB RAM 1GB VRAM 500GB HDD 15.6” LED screen THX audio

Score

With a decent performance and fairly friendly price-tag, this is a good bet.

80 31

Epson EH-TW5500 Home Projector

The Bigger Picture ... from the big projector.

by Walt Pretorius

W

hen it comes to home entertainment, the idea of a projection-based system is aspirational. A TV is all fine and well - a massive clear screen is awesome after all - but the idea of a projector displaying a really massive image is one that virtually every home entertainment aficionado finds extremely appealing.

But there are certain things that might result in this set-up not being ideal. First off is space... in fact, the room in which the system is put into needs to be pretty much perfect; enough space for the image to be a suitable size (both in projected size and viewing distance) without much interfering light (because other light sources can mess with even the best of projected images.) And then there’s the projector itself. A really good model can take care of some of the issues, purely by providing a better picture. But good models tend to cost a lot more than others.

The Epson EH-TW5500 Home Projector is an excellent model, when all is said and done. And it has the price

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tag to prove it. At around R29 900, it is a heavy knock to the pocket (although not quite as much as some of the 3D TVs we’ve seen). It is a big unit, built for high-end users... they might call it a home projector - and it would certainly do very well in virtually any home environment - but this powerful unit would do well in numerous settings.

It’s all about the picture quality, see, and the way that the image is projected by the unit. With a very good lens, capable of vertical and horizontal projection, and 3LCD technology, this Epson delivers great images. But these alone do not define its performance... Epson have put a lot into this model.

This includes full HD projection at a 16:9 aspect ratio, supported by a 1 600lm colour light output and a contrast ratio of 200 000:1 (thanks to Epson’s DeepBlack technology). Seven colour modes support the HQV image processor to deliver the best image possible.

With numerous inputs (including HMDI, component and the expected PC ports) and a full function remote control, this monster is a really good projector - one of the better g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

ones we have seen, in fact. But it does carry quite the price tag, putting it out of the reach of the average homeentertainment enthusiast.

That said, it’s performance is worth every cent, and if you’re the type to build a room around a projector set-up, you won’t be sorry for spending the thirty grand it will take to acquire one.

The unit performs well under various conditions, and delivers a very clear image, even when projecting on a fairly large surface area. It requires a hefty investment, but is well worth the price - if that’s where your priorities lead you, of course.

The only real downside to this projector is that it is much larger than other systems labelled as home projection units. It is really quite huge, and would probably need some kind of ceiling mount or similar to avoid it taking up too much valuable popcorn and drinks space on the table.

But, then again, if you have the cash to buy one of these, a ceiling mount is chump-change.

This is a treat for super-enthusiasts. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Good image quality • Performs well in varied conditions

CONS:

• Big! • Expensive

Manufacturer: Epson Distributor: Epson Online: www.epson.co.za RRP: R29 900

TECH SPECS: • Full HD • 3LCD technology • DeepBlack technology • 7 colour modes • Full function remote • 16:9 aspect ratio

Score

A really big picture, a really big projector, a really big price...

90 33

Apacer AP520 USB 2.0 Hub

The Extender For those who need more USB access

by Alex Scanlon

O

K, here’s something that is not seen all that often anymore... a USB hub. This four-port USB 2.0 hub from Apacer is a solid device with really good performance, but the question does arise; are USB hubs still necessary?

The compact, portable nature of this hub makes it obvious that it is meant for use with notebooks, which often don’t offer enough USB ports. So, in that case, the answer is yes. Let’s be honest - if you’ve used all your desktop PC USB ports you either have too many USB devices, or you need a motherboard upgrade.

The unit is rather stylish in looks and is solidly built, so carrying it around shouldn’t provide too many problems.

It’s pretty small, too, which helps, and comes with a port for an external power supply, if needed. It also comes with a USB cable that fold-up into the device... this particular cable once again points to notebook use, because it is very short indeed (the only real downside of this capable little device.)

So, if you’re after a way to maximise the USB ports on your notebook, this brilliantly priced Apacer solution should provide exactly what you need. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Four extra USB ports • Nice price

CONS:

• Only USB 2.0 • Short cable

TECH SPECS: • 4 USB ports • USB 2.0 • Fold-up USB cable

Manufacturer: Apacer Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R155

Score

A rather useful device for those hampered by too few USB ports.

75

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

But only some of the time

by Alex Scanlon

R

ight on the front of the box it says ‘powered by light - even indoors’. Well, I should hope so!

I don’t know of too many people that would brave the elements by setting up their PC outside.

That statement shows the good intention and misguided thinking that seems to pervade the Logitech K750 Wireless Solar Keyboard; it shows responsibility and ingenuity, using a wonderfully renewable power source - the sun - to keep it running. But it shows impracticality too... solar power requires the right kind of light, after all, and in an environment where most of the light is generally synthetic - like in an office - it falls flat. Never mind the fact that insufficient light requires it to be charged up every now and then, interfering with work. It might be dead by morning...

If you have a sunny work area, it’s a great idea. But this well-intentioned keyboard will only work under the right circumstances. That’s a pity, because we love the notion that drove its creation on.

It’s a good keyboard, as most every Logitech keyboard is, but it will not be effective for everyone.

And that is it’s downfall. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Looks good • Environmentally friendly

CONS:

• Costly • Impractical

Manufacturer: Logitech Distributor: Logitech Online: www.logitech.co.za RRP: R895

TECH SPECS: • • • •

Solar powered Ultra-thin Wireless 2.4GHz connectivity • Plug and play

Score

It’s a great idea... but solarpowered PC equipment can be impractical.

70 35

Logitech K750 Wireless Solar Keyboard

Renewable Resource

Tomtom Via 110 GPS

Get There!

A no-frills experience

by Walt Pretorius

T

he point of a GPS unit is to get you from one point to another - any other functions are extras.

This attitude may be one taken by either the pragmatic or the cash-strapped... and seeing as we have both kinds of people here in South Africa, Tomtom have a GPS unit exactly for them.

The Via 110 is a stripped down version of their generally great GPS devices, offering exactly what the motorist needs, without providing the added extras that they may want. With voice control, spoken street names, advanced lane guidance and traffic camera warnings, the device provides exactly the kind of functions a motorist needs, without all the extra bells and whistles. It keeps things simple and functional, which we like.

The integrated mount isn’t ideal for quick storage, though. Still, it’s a useful device, and it’s slightly short battery life is dealt with by the included car-charge cable. The 4.3 inch screen is clear, and the unit works perfectly well, meaning that even those a bit short in the wallet department can find their way effectively. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Effective • Good price

CONS:

• No extras

Manufacturer: Tomtom Distributor: Tomtom Online: www.tomtom.co.za RRP: R1 999

TECH SPECS: • Voice control • Spoken street names • Advanced lane guidance • Speed camera warnings • Integrated mount

Score

Effective, sturdy, and without any frills... this is a purely functional GPS

78

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

An elegant PS3 charging solution.

by Alex Scanlon

K

eeping things tidy when it comes to console controllers can be a bit of a chore. Thankfully Nitho have many solutions, ranging from full PS3 docking systems through to this elegant answer to the console clutter The Charge 4 allows the user to charge up to four PS3 controllers at the same time; two via the special controller mounts it houses, and two via side mounted USB slots. It might not be quite as neat as the Nitho Curve charger we reviewed last month, but for those who do not have four controllers (or additional Move controllers) it’s perfect. The two side USB ports are a great idea, but they don’t really solve the wire-clutter issue.

The beautifully built device can be powered either via USB, straight from the console, or with an included power adapter (for constant charging, seeing as console charging stops when the PS3 is turned off).

Those running a two controller set-up will be perfectly at home with this stylish device... but if you have Move controllers as well, the Curve might be a better idea.

Either way, both units are stylish and help with that whole clutter problem. The Charge 4 also includes LEDs to show charge status. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Looks good • External power option

CONS:

• A bit messy when charging 4 controllers

Manufacturer: Nitho Distributor: Gammatek Online: www.gammatek.co.za RRP: R299

TECH SPECS: • 2 PS3 controller docks • 2 USB ports • USB powered • External power supply • LED charge indicators

Score

A good solution for two controllers, slightly messy for four...

79 37

Nitho Charge 4 PS3 Charger

In Charge

Sony Vaio EH18 Notebook

Pretty

In looks, in performance, and in price

by Walt Pretorius

P

ortable computers come in a wide variety of flavours, as we all know. And, unlike desktop PCs, which are often an amalgamation of different parts from various manufacturers, as selected by the user, laptops and notebooks are branded products. This, of course, leads to various debates and arguments, regarding which make is better than which.

In the end, though, they all tend to be rather similar, and bad experiences that users have with particular brands are more likely the result of a dodgy unit, rather than a poor brand as a whole.

One of the brands that has gained quite a lot of status is Sony’s Vaio range of laptops. You see them pretty often in movies, and people who use them tend to have a bit of a smug air about them. And that’s no surprise, really, because the Vaio range is certainly a reliable one, and tends to be good in terms of performance - even if a bit pricey when all is said and done.

The EH18 is a good mid-range notebook for those who

38

want to have Vaio performance without a decimated bank account.

But, as to be expected, a better price point means that it isn’t the top of the line. Still, the specs are quite decent: an Intel i5 processor drives the whole thing along at 2.4GHz, supported by 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD. Graphics are taken care of by an Nvidia chipset, using 512MB of VRAM, and visuals are supplied by a 15 inch screen.

It’s not the punchiest machine around, but for work purposes it is not bad at all. And it’s sturdy performance is supported by a good design, too. That said, it isn’t exactly what we’d call sleek...

The outside of the unit is finished in a matt black textures plastic. The texture is a sort of diamond shape affair, slightly raised. This carries into the inside of the laptop as well, with the front plate being made of the same material, with an understated, untextured touch pad built in slightly to the left of centre. The full keypad spans the g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

entire width of the device, and features chicklet style keys.

Performance-wise, the EH18 does the job, although it isn’t the kind of powerhouse that some may want in a laptop. Additionally, the sound isn’t great when using the built-in speakers, although it isn’t abysmal either.

Naturally, the unit comes with a number of Sony utilities pre-installed, which is generally a bonus (although whether you’ll use all of them is a good question.)

Overall, this device is a good performer, but the Sony Vaio name does drive the price up just a little, it seems.

Still, at R7 499, it’s not a bad deal, although a little more RAM and hard drive space would have been nice. And in terms of high end performance, well... this unit isn’t built for that. It will be fine with things like video playback, but really demanding applications - like games - are not a good option.

If you’re in the market for a reliable mid-range machine that is pretty too, this is a good bet. But it might not be the best deal around. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Reliable • Looks good

CONS:

• A tad expensive

Manufacturer: Sony Distributor: Sony Online: www.sony.co.za RRP: R7 499

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

i5 2.4GHz CPU 4GB RAM 500GB HDD 512MB VRAM 15 inch screen Full keyboard

Score

It performs well and looks good, but may not be the best deal you can find.

79 39

Nitho Charging Plus Wii Remote Dock

Style-Power

A good looking Wii charging solution

by Rob Edwards

K

eeping your Wii controllers powered up is getting easier and easier, thanks to a large number of third party charger options on the market. The Nitho Charging Plus is a stylish one, allowing two controllers to be charged simultaneously.

And the design, which puts the charge interface on the rear of the included battery pack, means that the player can leave their Motion Plus unit connected during the charging process.

On the downside, this means that the Motion Plus will need to be removed from the protective rubber housing, which may not sit well with some users.

The stylish Charging Plus houses clear plastic cradles for each controller, which light up and indicate charge status - either charging or charged.

The Charging Plus connects to the Wii by way of a USB cable. Unfortunately this cable is rather short, meaning that it needs to be positioned very close to the console. That’s not really a train smash in most cases, but it may cause a hassle for some folks.

Aside from needing to remove the protective covers and the short USB cable, this is an extremely sensible Wii remote charging solution. And the batteries deliver

40

a very good life, too. The unit has a unique look and is certainly aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately it only charges two remotes, but at the price, buying two isn’t a bad option. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Nice design • Motion Plus compatible

CONS:

• Short USB cable • Must remove rubber covers from remotes

Manufacturer: Nitho Distributor: Gammatek Online: www.gammatek.co.za RRP: R299

TECH SPECS: • USB powered • Two charging docks • LED charge indicators • High capacity NiMH battery packs

Score

A good looking Wii remote charger, with a unique approach

80

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

SanDisk Sansa Fuze + MP3 Player

A Sound Bet Look, it’s not a fruit!

by Alex Scanlon

D

espite the dominance of the iPod (which really goes to show how brand-awareness and keeping up with the Joneses can drive a product line forward) other manufacturers persist in producing MP3 players. There are numerous reasons for this, but quite possibly one of the main ones is that iPod are ridiculously priced, thanks to their brand name. Let’s be honest here - the iPod is fantastic, yes, and it looks great. It delivers good audio too. But the only reason that it has become essentially the de facto portable music player is because there is a hell of a lot of status attached to owning one. And who doesn’t enjoy that?

That really is the issue with some of the other MP3 players out there. People will look down their noses at you if it’s not made by Apple. The performance is probably as good (in the case of some) and the price is probably much better, but instead of lauding you for making a smart purchasing decision, people will deride

42

you because you’re not part of the in-crowd.

Take the SanDisk Sansa Fuze+, as an example. SanDisk may not be extremely famous for their MP3 players, but they are renowned for their memory cards... and what is an MP3 player really, other than a music player attached to flash memory?

This 8GB device is wonderfully versatile, capable of audio and video playback (via a 2.4 inch screen). It features a built in FM radio, an expansion slot for more memory (thanks to the microSD and microSDHC support it has) and a built in microphone. It’s battery will last for up to 24 hours of audio playback, and its capacitive touch controls are responsive and accurate.

And the audio quality? Well, it is really very good.

It has a few features that iPods lack, as anyone in the know can see - even just the expandable memory is a huge bonus. In fact, the only thing that doesn’t elevate it to iPod status is that it doesn’t have an apple on it somewhere, g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

which is just plain ridiculous.

And the cost? R899, which is really rather reasonable.

Sure, there are cheaper players out there, but this one delivers good quality and versatility, backed by a reputable name.

So, if you are not one of those who needs to make a statement with the labels you wear and carry around, the SanDisk Sansa Fuze + is a great option for a music player.

It comes with a soft cloth carry case and a fairly decent set of earbud headphones, too, as well as a USB cable to connect it to a PC for charging and file transfers.

It also features a fairly stylish design, and controls that are responsive easy to use and sensibly placed.

All in all, it’s a very decent option, and one that you should consider if you are in the market for a portable music player. Unless, of course, you are a slave to brands... g

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Good sound quality • expandable memory

CONS:

• Not the prettiest device

Manufacturer: SanDisk Distributor: SanDisk Online: www.sandisk.com RRP: R899

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

8GB MicroSD port Video playback Music playback 2.4 inch screen Touch controls

Score

It might not be the coolest brand on the block, but it is a good performer.

88 43

Verbatim Multimedia Audio Bar 2.1 Speaker System

No Distortion A sleek speaker solution

by Walt Pretorius

I

t often surprises me when a review product arrives, and the brand name doesn’t seem to correlate with the type of product in question. Maybe that’s because we haven’t seen enough of certain manufacturer’s ranges... after all, we are sometimes a little behind the times here at the southern tip of Africa, particularly when it comes to tech products. But we are valiantly playing catch-up, with a good degree of success, and so products like this are becoming more and more common.

If someone says the name Verbatim to you, you think storage... whether it be writeable CDs or other storage devices. Audio doesn’t really clamber to the forefront of your mind, now does it? But Verbatim produce a wide variety of products, including the Multimedia Audio Bar, which has absolutely nothing to do with storing files you’d probably guessed that already.

This is a speaker system for those who need better audio (that isn’t private, like in the case of headphones.)

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Verbatim’s answer is a striking 370mm long cylindrical speaker system. The design of this device is actually quite pretty. It looks the part, really, all matt black plastic and strong geometric shapes, with the speaker section covered by a tough metal mesh.

The right hand edge of the cylinder houses the integrated power and volume control, with clear demarcations indicating just how loud it’s set (thanks to a tasteful blue LED arrow that also indicates whether the unit has been turned on or not.) The left edge of the cylinder also features that same speaker grill cover.

The sound quality from the Multimedia Audio Bar is good. It delivers audio in 2.1, with good bass response and crisp mid and high tones. It gets pretty loud, too - ok, you’re not gonna run a party with it, but it will serve most purposes well. And here’s the kicker - even at maximum volume, there was no bass distortion at all... and that’s the mark of a decent set of speakers.

Anything that can handle a 3.5mm headphone jack g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

can be used with this device, making it really versatile.

It has two built in cables - one for audio and one for the microphone, which is built into the device and delivers passable performance. It also features an auxiliary sound jack, and is thoughtfully shipped with an extra jack to jack cable. The whole lot is powered by an external power supply.

You could do a lot worse than this when it comes to speakers for your PC, notebook or MP3 player. Sure, it’s not a surround sound system, but decent stereo is nothing to be sniffed at, and thanks to the wide construction of the unit, the stereo is evident.

The downside here is that the unit may be a little expensive for some. It weighs in at just under R1 000, which is fairly expensive for a single housing stereo speaker set. But the sound performance is good, after all, so it’s not a massive complaint. It’s also fairly portable, but it will need to be near a reliable power-source if you’re going to carry it around. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Good sound • No distortion • Pretty

CONS:

• Slightly expensive

Manufacturer: Verbatim Distributor: Verbatim Online: www.verbatim.co.za RRP: R999

TECH SPECS: • 2.1 speaker system • Built-in microphone • Auxiliary sound input • Integrated jack cables • 8W RMS

Score

It looks good, and it gets fairly loud without any nasty distortion.

85 45

Nitho Jumbo Kit Mix for Wii

Toybox

Lots of extras and things for the Wii

by Rob Edwards

T

hey call it the ‘ultimate selection of extensions and simulation accessories for the Wii console’ on the box. And, quite frankly, it is an impressive collection of add ons for the Wii remote. It is comprised of two wheels, two guns, two ‘joy handles’ (which make playing with the remote turned on its side a bit better) two tennis racquets, one golf club, one baseball bat and two Motion Plus compatible remote covers, which allow interfacing with some the listed devices. In addition, there are two sets of silicon caps for the Nunchuk, and two sets of sticks that convert the Wii remote’s D-Pad into something resembling an analog stick control.

On the whole, this is a great set, if these kinds of extensions and accessories are your thing. They’re certainly great for kids, and the garishly bright colours of the kit implies that.

While none of these items are must-have necessities for your Wii gaming experience, they can enhance the feel of some of the games - the gun housings are particularly useful, as are the steering wheels.

If you’re into accessories and extensions of this sort, the Nitho kit is a great option - it has a lot on offer. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Great for kids • Useful devices • Motion Plus compatible

CONS:

• Not essential

Manufacturer: Nitho Distributor: Gammatek Online: www.gammatek.co.za RRP: R349

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

2 2 2 2 1 1

Wheels Guns Racquets Joy handles Golf club baseball bat

Score

A great kit for those inclined towards extensions and accessories for their Wii remotes.

78

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

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Logitech Vantage USB Headset for PS3

In One Ear...

Really? One earpiece?

by Walt Pretorius

L

ogitech are pretty good at what they do. Not only does the company produce a wide range of quality devices, but they tend to understand the wants and needs of their market really well. At least, they do for the most part... every now and then they come up with an idea that would have been great, if it had been given a little more thought.

The Vantage USB headset is one of those, to a degree.

Consider the fact that Xbox 360 gamers get a single earpiece and microphone headset when they buy their console, but PlayStation 3 gamers don’t. And while Xbox gamers may complain about the fact that they would prefer a full headset that delivers sound and chat, at least they get something to communicate with other players online.

The Vantage headset offers that luxury to PlayStation 3 gamers but, realistically, those players also want a full stereo headset - sound in games is, after all, very important. That’s where this otherwise great device

48

falls flat - it only has one earpiece. Sure, it’s better than nothing, but still...

The Vantage headset connects to the PS3 via a USB cable, and delivers good sound, along with the ability to use voice chat while playing. It’s a very well built unit, and to ensure user comfort, it ships with three interchangeable earpiece covers. It’s also adjustable as far as the headband is concerned, and the microphone boom can swivel out of the way, and be adjusted for best performance.

A generous three metre cable allows the user freedom of movement... but an odd dongle fixed to the cable does not have the expected in-line volume controls, or a microphone mute facility, which is also pretty strange in terms of design decisions.

The unit works with all PlayStation 3 games, and even with some PlayStation 2 titles. And it does exactly what it was designed to do rather well. But that’s the issue, isn’t it? What it was designed to do may not be sufficient for PlayStation 3 players.

Sure, those that only occasionally use online facilities g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

and generally do not use headphones probably won’t have any complaints, but someone who wants their audio solutions built into a single, unified device will be left wanting by the Vantage.

It comes down to assumptions, more than likely... and the assumptions made here aren’t exactly spot on. Sure, most gamers will likely rely on their TV audio, using the headset purely for voice communications. But that’s the bottom rung - a device like this should have more options - and at least one more earpiece. The design should work from the top down, because it cannot possibly work from the bottom up.

It’s reasonably priced, and the performance it delivers is of the usual Logitech level of quality. And if it fits into your setup, then it’s great.

But more versatility - in other words, if it was a complete audio solution - would not have gone amiss here. This one is far too specific in its design, unfortunately, because a set of console headphones from Logitech that took care of every need would be awesome. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Allows chat on PSN • Good sound quality

CONS:

• Not a full headset • No volume controls

Manufacturer: Logitech Distributor: Logitech Online: www.logitech.co.za RRP: R270

TECH SPECS: • Single earpiece • USB • Adjustable headband • Adjustable mic boom • 3m cable • Interchangeable earpads

Score

If you just want it to chat on PSN, it’s great - but it’s not a complete PS3 audio solution.

75 49

Call of Juarez: the Cartel

Bad Cop, Bad Cop The modern Wild West

50

by Walt Pretorius

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A

few years ago, when the original Call of Juarez made its way to store shelves, it presented the player with something out of the ordinary; a shooter set in the Wild West. And even though we have seen a few of these titles in the interim, they’re still rare, so when the sequel to the original Call of Juarez, Bound in Blood, popped up, it was just as exciting.

The third game attempts to carry the lawless feel of these previous two titles but things are rather different in Call of Juarez: the Cartel. The biggest difference comes from that very idea that the games move through history… it’s set in modern times. Going from the early West to the American Civil War wasn’t too much of a jump through history (it was a move backwards, in fact), but setting the game in modern day Los Angeles is perhaps too much of a step ahead.

There were a good many decades between then and now that could have been covered by the game.

But modern it is. This, realistically, isn’t a big problem (other than speeding through the McCall family history). In fact, many were rather excited at the prospect of the game being set in the modern day, a time resplendent with fully automatic weapons and street gangs to aim them at. The developers, Techland, even managed to keep a bit of a lawless Wild West feel in the title, thanks to the sound track, as well as some of the game’s settings (including ghost towns and vast desert areas).

In addition to the excitement that was created by the modernising of the franchise, the core idea of the game also caused a lot of excitement. The Cartel tells the tale of three law-enforcement types, thrown together to form a special task force charged with investigating a powerful Mexican drug cartel. Each of

gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

the characters is playable, either in single player, or in the co-op campaign. There’s Eddie Guerra, a street smart Latino DEA agent. There’s Kim Evans, a sassy African-American FBI agent. And then there’s Ben McCall, a grizzled LAPD detective (and descendant of the characters of the previous games) who quotes expletive-ridden Bible passages while he guns down his foes. Each of these characters has different strengths and weaknesses; Evans acts best in long-range, while Guerra is a mid-range fighter and McCall gets up-close and personal.

Even better, each character has their own story and agenda. Each will be tasked with little ‘sub-missions’ that need to be completed during main missions, while the other two characters aren’t looking. Each has a slightly different story in the game, meaning slightly different endings to the single player campaign, depending on which character is used.

That, of course, would mean that the player would want to play the game through three times… something which might not be the case. See, in converting the whole thing to a modern day shooter, Techland seems to have lost the plot a bit. Their puzzling performance with Nail’d aside, it seems that the company was either in a rush to get the latest Call of Juarez out, or they just weren’t sure where to go with it from the very start. The good ideas that were brought into the game feel somewhat squandered on the final product.

The game dynamic has something going for it; it is fun to play. The guns are fun, and there is a lot of them to use. And there are tons of AI enemies, which are generally fairly smart, to take out. But that really is all that the game is about. Aside from a few bits of lacklustre driving, the player is going to be stuck in a

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really repetitive loop. The scenery may change, but the action doesn’t. Even the slowed time mode gets old rather quickly.

While it may seem that the three player co-op, complete with its sneaking around to do things behind the other players’ backs, may improve the situation, it doesn’t really. The action is still repetitive. In fact, with the AI for the player’s partners being fairly smart, it’s likely that people may find the title more enjoyable in single player modes… the AI is good at taking out enemies, plays to the character’s strengths, and doesn’t get taken out. Ever. It also plays tactically, allowing the player to get into guided flanking positions… something that will only happen in co-op if you’ve got a set of decent partners. The co-op is fun, sure, but it’s not a better experience.

While the game could have been saved by the story and interesting characters, Techland failed to capitalise on these, too.

The story is fairly shallow, and rather predictable. And the characters… well, they’re foul mouthed, unlikeable stereotypes that leave the player with very little to engage with. The voice acting is hammed up, and the dialogue is often laughably ‘cool’, with tons of swearing and inappropriate slang thrown in. While the AI can help the player with audio prompts, indicating where the enemies are and when to sprint to the next bit of cover, these are sometimes miss-timed.

On the graphics side, The Cartel is also a little disappointing. It feels dated, with textures that could have been better, and some models that lack important detail.

The control side of things isn’t too bad, with a decent set of preset controller layouts. The controls are fairly responsive and won’t let the player down, although the characters may inexplicable get hooked up on geometry every now and then, and the AI characters will, at times, do their best to get in the player’s way.

Call of Juarez: the Cartel could have been a much better game, when all is said and done. The co-op ideas behind the title are very good (although the general multiplayer doesn’t even bear mentioning.) The three stories woven into one is also a nice idea, but should have been explored further. The action is intense and often fun, but needs some variation.

However, it’s not what one would consider a complete waste of time, either. While it is not a ‘must-play’ game, it does offer a decent amount of action, an often challenging set of AI enemies, and lots of guns to play with. It will require a lot of patience and forgiveness from the player, though. It is not a step forward for the franchise… in fact, it might even be a bit of a step in the wrong direction. g

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gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

It offers some fun, but The Cartel is certainly not of the calibre that one would expect from a modern FPS title.

Developer: Techland Publisher: Ubisoft Distributor: Megarom

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

18+ gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

AT A GLANCE:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

60 53

F.E.A.R 3

Family Matters Alma’s at it again…

T

he third instalment of the F.E.A.R franchise, which is alternately called F.3.A.R or F.E.A.R 3, has been expected for some time, and provides a welcome approach to first-person shooters. It’s more of a sequel to the original game than the second, with the player reprising their role as the genetically enhanced supersoldier known, tritely, as Point Man. The story is simple enough – Point Man needs to break out of prison and stop his mother, Alma, from giving birth. Accompanied by the apparition of his brother Paxton Fettel – who he supplied with a bullet to the brain at the end of the first game – Point Man has to blast his way through hordes of Armacham troops (working for the same company that ‘created’ him in the first place) to prevent Alma from delivering a potentially

54

by Walt Pretorius horrific abomination. Fettel has other ideas, though…

Incidentally, the kid that Alma is carrying was fathered by the protagonist of the second game in the franchise.

Although the name implies a tense survival-horror blended with a first person shooter, one of F.E.A.R 3’s shortcomings is that it isn’t really very scary. There are more than a few tense moments and a handful of well times frights, but playing as Point Man – an extreme badass in many ways – helps the player feel somewhat secure in the knowledge that they are going to make it. Not that the game is easy, even at the easiest difficulty settings.

F.E.A.R 3 is out to challenge the player, and it does so beautifully.

See, F.E.A.R 3 is a more than decent shooter. While it may not be top-of-the-line, it certainly does a lot that

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will please shooter fans. It makes use of an extremely effective cover system, which is almost crucial to the game dynamic, without making it the only way to play.

Occasionally the player will be able to run-and-gun as well. And with the cover-system comes an enemy AI clever enough to know how to flank the player and flush them from the cover. Add to that the fact that the cover (some of it, at least) can be destroyed and the battles get very intense at times.

In fact, the game should probably have been called T.E.N.S.I.O.N, rather than F.E.A.R, because that’s what the player is going to feel a lot of – not the cold clammy terror one would expect, but rather a sweaty-palmed, edge-of-the-seat tension that gets the adrenaline going. A lot of this is thanks to the atmosphere that the developers

gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

built into the title. It’s almost pitch perfect, with varied, atmospheric environments complemented by very wellproduced sound effects and music. This, combined with a decent shooter dynamic, makes for an enjoyable experience.

What makes it addictive is something else entirely. See, progress within the game – in other words, increasing your character’s abilities, comes not from a standard experience point system, but rather from a collection of achievements. So, for example, killing a certain amount of enemies with a specific weapon will get you a bunch of points, or spending a certain amount of time behind cover will earn you a similar reward. These point awards add up towards increasing the player’s level. Which in turn unlocks more health, longer time-slowing periods and

55

similar bonuses.

The player can check their progress in these rewards at any time, and getting better scores will keep you coming back for more.

In addition, the game offers a fair amount of freedom, considering that it is pretty much a linear experience. In areas that are off the beaten track, the player will find collectable items that further increase their point tallies.

While the above-mentioned linearity does hamper the game, the levels are cleverly designed, and players will be able to take a number of approaches to completing them.

The developers were generous enough to provide the tools to do so – so a player can pick between a stealthy sniper approach or a guns-blazing one, for example.

Speaking of guns, F.E.A.R 3 doesn’t offer too many – in

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fact, it features just enough, allowing the player to use the kind of weapon that suits their overall approach, rather than being overwhelmed by statistics and options. There are grenades in the game too, but for the most part the physics in using them are just a little wonky… unless the player scores a direct hit, hand-held explosive projectiles are a bit useless.

Once the player has completed a level in the campaign with Point Man, they can go and replay it with the other brother, Fettel. This apparition doesn’t use guns, but rather lays waste to enemies using psychic powers and possession.

The game can also be played co-operatively, with one player controlling each of the brothers. While good team work in this mode makes for an awesome experience

gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

dynamic is extremely addictive… it was played through multiple times for this review.

All achievements are kept from one play-through to the next, and carry over from single player to multiplayer games, and vice versa.

So while F.E.A.R 3 might not be the finest shooter around, it certainly is up there, delivering an experience that is far more than the sum of its parts.

It might not be overly terrifying, but it does get the player right to the edge of their seat, offering moments of extreme tension along with awesome satisfaction when getting through tough situations.

If you’re looking for a shooter that offers something a bit different, as well as more than decent longevity and an overall solid approach, F.E.A.R 3 is a reliable, fun option. g

AT A GLANCE: It might not be revolutionary, but F.E.A.R 3offers enough freshness and good design ideas to be well worth playng.

Developer: Day 1 Studios Publisher: Warner Bros Distributor: Nu Metro

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

18+ gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

(which is still slightly competitive, given the brothers’ different motives) the game really shines as a single player experience, where the isolation enhances the atmosphere.

That is until you turn to the game’s four multiplayer modes. These are excellent, and offer quite a bit of originality to the player. The approach taken by the developers to these modes keeps them fresh and addictive, with scenarios ranging from the very familiar defending of a location through to fighting off enemies while running away from a toxic cloud.

While the campaign is a bit on the short side, F.E.A.R 3 offers the player a lot to do.

The graphics are a little dated here and there, but the overall presentation – including voice acting and atmosphere – is good. And the achievement-based game

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

86 57

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

The End?

Will this be Harry’s last gaming adventure?

T

hose that already finished JK Rowling’s series of Harry Potter books in a timeous fashion know what to expect from the movie – more or less, thanks to massive gaps that the film makers saw fit to inject into Harry’s last appearance on the silver screen – and consequently, what to expect from the game. This is because the game manages to stick to the film plot pretty faithfully. Let’s not fool ourselves here… these days, the film carries more weight than the books (sad but true). And those that played the previous Harry Potter game will have an even better idea of what’s coming their way; this new title makes use of a similar third person cover based shooter system. But while the developers of the previous game seemed to get things largely wrong (including the use of motion based controls) this time around the whole idea is a lot better.

Not that we’re singing this title’s praises, because we aren’t. We’re just saying that it’s better than before…

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by Alex Scanlon

which may not be saying all that much.

The player gets to take to the battlefield in the guise of several characters from the film, including Harry, Hermione, Seamus and Neville. And, as these different characters, they get to do more or less the same thing over and over again; run from one batch of obvious cover to the next, take out a few waves of bad guys when they’re there, and move along.

The action is extremely repetitive, even though Bright Light tried to introduce variation in the form of slightly different mechanics in some missions, like giving another character covering fire, or running away from danger while avoiding obstacles. In fact, these mission don’t feel like they’re breaking the pattern at all… they’re just adding to it in slightly varied ways.

Instead of weapons, the character gets various spells, each of which could be equated to a weapon in games that have guns. There are rapid fire spells, and big explosive

g l ag da gmeetc cvai dreeov igeawm e• i•s si suseu e1 71 0• N • oAvue gmubset r 22001110

combat. They may well forgive the game dynamics and short campaign play time. But they shouldn’t have to – a property like this could have gone a great many places, and a large number of those places would have delivered a better gaming experience than is currently to be had with Harry Potter and the Deathly hallows Part 2. But the game is what it is – crying over lost potential isn’t exactly productive, and one doesn’t expect too much from titles based on movies. That’s a sad fact, really, because these games could be so much better.

Whether this will be the last game in the franchise or not is unsure. After all, movie series like the Lord of the Rings are still seeing games released, and it’s doubtful that EA will let go of this lucrative series very quickly. If they do carry on with it, though, here’s hoping that any subsequent titles avoid being rushed out (which really is what all the problems in this particular game come down to.) It would be good to see a great Harry Potter game. g

AT A GLANCE: None of the Harry Potter games have been awesome, and this isn’t the best of them, either.

Developer: Bright Light Publisher: Electronic Arts Distributor: EA South Africa

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

12+ gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

spells, and even sniper style spells. These are accessed very easily, thanks to the face buttons, and switching between the various spells quickly will provide the player with a tactical advantage as situations demand it. But even this variation, and the graphically pretty effects that the spells have, don’t do much to elevate the title above the status of ‘rushed-out movie-game’.

Another area that offers a bit of variation is the game’s settings. These will be familiar to those that saw the film, and include Gringott’s Bank, Hogsmead village and, of course, Hogwarts. But the variation in settings doesn’t mitigate the repetitive action.

Add to all of this the fact that the game is painfully short, and doesn’t offer any real replay value, and its exploitative nature becomes more than obvious. Big movie equals big game sales. And any fan that isn’t a particularly serious gamer will likely enjoy the game for what it is. They will probably look past the stilted animations and repetitive

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

55 59

Captain America: Super Soldier

Ultimate Warrior A surprising game indeed

I

t’s not often that a game released to support a movie franchise does anything spectacular. So, when Captain America: Super Soldier arrived for review, there was much rolling of eyes, and even a little gnashing of teeth. But, quite honestly, this is one of those games that falls into a different category – it’s still a movie-based game and it’s far from perfect. But when compared to any of the other movie-based titles that hit the shelves of late, Captain America rises up above the competition.

Naturally, the player assumes the role of Captain America, the World War II super-hero that takes on the forces of Hydra, led by the enigmatic Red Skull. In this role, the player becomes a one-man army, taking on a whole bunch of the Skull’s genetically altered minions. It could easily have devolved into a linear button-masher but, while it does still feature elements of hammering the buttons and an often linear story-line, Captain America manages to save itself from becoming ‘just another

60

by Walt Pretorius movie game’ with some clever elements that really set it apart.

First off, there are the game’s looks. They’re pretty good for a game of this type, with highly detailed environments and character models, complemented by good animation.

The voice acting isn’t bad, either, although you’ll have to deal with that ridiculous Hollywood version of a German accent that turns every ‘s’ into a ‘sh’ sound. There are some big names behind the voice talent, including some of the actors from the movie, like Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones and Hugo Weaving.

The real delight comes from the combat, though. On the surface it’s pretty simple, with one button for melee attacks and another for throwing Cap’s shield. But the apparent simplicity of the combat hides a system that is a bit more tactical than one might assume. When combined with counters, grapples and acrobatic moves, the whole affair ends up being rather enjoyable… not brain-busting, but good fun.

g l ag da gmeetc cvai dreeov igeawm e• i•s si suseu e1 71 0• N • oAvue gmubset r 22001110

And then there’s the movement, divided between normal running around and slick movement puzzles that test the player’s timing and allow Cap to show off his acrobatic skills.

Extra experience points can be earned by playing through the game’s challenge mode. New challenges are unlocked periodically, with missions ranging between beating up a certain number of bad guys within a given time period through to puzzling out how to reach hidden objects, and even navigating a maze in a mission extremely reminiscent of Pac-Man. While Captain America: Super Soldier is not a perfect game, it is surprisingly good when considering that it is here to support a movie release. The most obvious problem with the game is that it is a little too easy, but it does have variable difficulty levels to help mitigate that. In the end, it’s a game that is fun, if nothing else, and fans of the film will enjoy this often amusing and rather addictive combat adventure title. g

AT A GLANCE: Captain America: Super Soldier is proof that games based on movies can be fun and put together fairly well.

Developer: Next Level Games Publisher: Sega Distributor: Nu Metro

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

16+ gladget video game • issue 10 • August 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

The linearity of the game is actually fairly minor. While the game’s story is delivered in such a fashion, and there are no side missions to speak of, the player has quite a bit of freedom within each mission, and can even take different approaches to achieving the same goal, at times.

The story is set in a massive castle complex and, within its confines, the player’s movement is almost free. Every now and then Cap might comment that he is straying off of the right path, but this doesn’t happen too often. The missions will also offer varied activities, from time to time.

The game also offers a ton of collectable items and minitasks, like blowing up anti-aircraft guns and destroying sculptures. One of the joys here is that the player will be able to complete tasks like these without finding every single item: collecting fifty ceramic eggs, for example, can be achieved because there are more than fifty within the game. Collectibles also add to experience, to upgrade Cap’s combat abilities, and may unlock film reels and diary entries to give the tale a little more depth.

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

79 61

Movie of the Month DVD Seen

Becoming king of the ring

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gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

The Fighter Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams star in a film based on the true story of Micky “Irish” Ward, a boxer who overcame all kinds of adversity to rise to great heights.

The true star of this film is Bale, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund, Ward’s burned-out, drug-addled half-brother and wannabe trainer. Another Oscar went to Melissa Leo for her portrayal of their mother. Amy Adams also joins the cast in a role that many will find surprising from her. Overall, superb acting is the name of the game in this film.

David O Russell’s direction resulted in a film that is heart-felt, sometimes shocking and often moving. As Ward tries to rise from the mire of his background, the viewer cannot help but feel emotionally attached to him – although Wahlberg sometimes feels a little unconvincing in the role.

This is a quality film, and although it has boxing at its core, it is a movie about relationships, more than what happens in the ring. A tweak here or there could have elevated the film a bit higher, but as it stands, this is a movie that is well worth the effort of watching. g

DIRECTOR: David O Russell DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13LVD Score

STARRING: Mark Wahlberg Christian Bale Amy Adams

86

MOVIE

OF THE MONTH gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

63

DVD Seen

Deep Blue

Documentaries often make for some really entertaining, as well as informative viewing.

Freakonomics: The Move is based on the popular book

by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, and explores a slightly left of centre side of life.

If nothing else, the film is extremely interesting, being something of an amalgamation of short films, made by various crews, that touch on subjects covered by the book. However, where the film falls a little flat is that it just isn’t long enough to cover a great many topics.

From cheating in Sumo wrestling through to interesting theories for the drop in USA’s crime rate, the film offers some real gems, but t should really have been a series – the book just holds that much information.

Still, as a sort of teaser of what the book has on offer – a taste of the theories behind Freakonomics – the movie is extremely interesting, and worth watching if you want to learn a little more about the left-offield. If you’ve read the book, though, you may be disappointed. g

DIRECTOR:

H. Ewing & R. Grady

DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

64

FPB Rating: 13PG Score

STARRING: Steven Levitt Stephen Dubner

79

Based on the BBC’s Blue Planet series, Deep Blue is a fascinating documentary that looks at life in the seas and oceans of the world. It is narrated by Michael Gambon (the guy who played Dumbledore in the later Harry Potter movies), and offers the viewer tons of powerful, beautiful imagery from the mysterious world beneath the waves.

If you’re a fan of nature films, this is a winner. The only two criticisms is that there is too little narration, and that some of the scenes are a little long. Still, it’s a sweeping and often powerful documentary that manages to avoid jumping up on too many environmental soap-boxes (not a bad thing, that, but really overdone) and allows the viewer to get lost within this often odd and truly magical realm. Stunning cinematography combines with a stirring musical score

by George Fenton.

You need to like nature documentaries, of course, but Deep Blue will entertain those that enjoy that kind of thing immensely. Be warned, some of the footage is not for the faint-hearted. g

STARRING: Whales Sharks Fish

DIRECTOR:

A.Fothergill & A. Byatt

DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: PG Score

Freakonomics

79

gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

Winter’s Bone

Based on a true story after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, this film tells of a down and out basketball team, still hopeful after losing everything.

They come together and fight for their dreams. Al Collins (Forest Whitaker), the basketball coach for John Ehret high school, puts his own life and family on hold as he motivates and inspires not just the team but also a whole city on their way to win State Championships The acting was quite good all round but was really held together by Forest Whitaker. He really made the film, as he captured the true emotions of Al Collin as he motivated his team… and the viewer, too. Other actors such as Shad Moss and Isaiah Washington were also good - very convincing and showing great acting skills. The soundtrack of the movie represents the people New Orleans and some of the actors, too, including Hip Hop tracks from Lil’ Wayne.

The movie is good; it is hard to believe the devastation left behind by Katrina and this movie shows an inspiring true story that was partially hidden from the public eye. Great story, good actors… Hurricane Season is well worth watching. g

DIRECTOR: Tim Story DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13PG Score

STARRING: Forest Whitaker Lil’ Wayne Isaiah Washington

gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

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This movie got nominated for four Oscars, and maybe it should have won one or two – but it just dips below the level that one would expect from an Oscar-winner.

That doesn’t make it a bad film – not at all.

Winter’s Bone tells the tale of a young girl in search of her father. We’ve heard that before. But the difference here is that her father is on the run from the law (seeing as how he’s in the habit of cooking meth) and he’s put the family home up as collateral for his bail. If he fails to turn up for court, the house will be lost, and the girl (with her ill mother and two younger siblings, all of whome she cares for) will be out in the street.

It might even be a comedic plot, but the deep, meaningful portrayals by Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes drive this sad story home beautifully. Set in the deep South, among characters that are dirt poor and one step away from being hill-billies, the movie is a fascinating and often moving look at life on the wrong side of the law and the wrong side of the tracks. It’s a powerful drama that might not suit every taste, but is worth watching none the less. g

STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence John Hawkes Dale Dickey

DIRECTOR: Debra Granik DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13LV Score

Hurricane Season

82

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DVD Seen

Fireball

Animated films are becoming more and more common these days, and you’re likely to get the good as well as the bad. Gnomeo and Juliet falls into the category of pretty good, with a star studded cast retelling Shakespeare’s classic romantic tragedy as… garden gnomes? Well, yes, and it works.

A lot of the references to Shakespeare’s work will be lost on youngsters – or anyone who doesn’t know the Bard’s works in general – but the humour and likeable characters are still appealing for the kids. The film pokes irreverent fun at the classic play (and a few others, too) and tends to be a little left-of-field at times, but is still rather entertaining.

High quality animation blends with excellent voice performances from the likes of Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart, helping to create a believable – if slightly odd – fantasy film. The plot is pretty much exactly what one would expect.

And if you’re an Elton John fan, even better – he was the film’s executive producer, and the sound track is crammed with his songs.

This one offers a little something for the whole family. g

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DIRECTOR: Kelly Ashbury DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: PGV Score

STARRING: James McAvoy Emily Blunt Michael Caine

80

Tyler Draven is a disgraced, wife beating, washed out ex-football player with a short fuse. When thrown into prison for an explosive outburst towards a reporter, he discovers that he can suddenly create fire with his mind. And so this so called “horror” begins as he escapes with an FBI Agent (Ian Somerhalder) and fire inspector (Lexa Doig) after him. Draven sets out to get revenge on everyone who has wronged him.

The acting skills reminded me of the old classic Hulk series, in fact combine that with a little bit of the eighties A-Team and voila, we have “Fireball”. In truth I am still looking for the flame in this movie.

One would at least expect a little romance in this “flaming “ movie, but alas the two characters that charge forward in the hope of saving the town are as boring as the film itself.

If you have insomnia and are in great need of a sleeping pill and there isn’t one in the house – Just watch Fireball – Ta ta ta taaa! g

STARRING: Ian Somerhalder Lexa Doig Aleks Paunovic

DIRECTOR: K T Donaldson DISTRIBUTOR: Nu Metro

FPB Rating: 13V Score

Gnomeo and Juliet

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gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

Right Hand Drive

Somewhere

DIRECTOR:

Dominique Devoucoux

DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: PG Score

STARRING: Clare Welch Ed Jaspers Annabelle Wallis

gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

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The name of this film is quite ironic, because the plot seems to really go nowhere. It tells the tale of Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff), an actor on the rise whose life is a haze of parties, babes and pills. But he soon realises that he has become disconnected from his daughter (played admirably by Elle Fanning) and might not actually know how to reverse the situation.

Well, that’s what we think it’s about. We’re actually not quite sure. See, Sofia Coppola decided to get overly arty in this movie, without concentrating enough on elements like plot resolution. It’s one of those films that end oddly, like it’s trying to make a point – but doesn’t bother to make the point plain enough for people to get. It’s the kind of film that people will say they understood, just to sound all superior, when in fact they probably have no idea what Coppola was trying to say.

Odd static camera angles, weird editing and a plot that plods along to nowhere mar the acting talents in this film. It should have been more of a movie, and less art for art’s sake. g

STARRING: Stephen Dorff Elle fanning

DIRECTOR: Sofia Coppola DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13LN Score

Some people are really gifted comedians; some are good at writing it, and others are good at performing it. None of those people where anywhere near Right Hand Drive.

This film tells of a devout young Christian man whose faith is challenged by an accidental meeting with some American tourists. The idea has a number of good points, but the scriptwriters missed out on capitalising on them. The dialogue is weak, and the acting isn’t much better. When it isn’t hammed up, it’s poorly timed, leaving lines that might have been funny falling flat.

Right Hand Drive smacks of a film that shares the lamentable combination of low budget, a poor script, lacklustre direction and a message that is a little confused, even if it gets rammed down your throat rather blatantly. It feels forced and anachronistic, and has a slightly holier than thou flavour to it.

Don’t expect a laugh riot, because you won’t get more than a chuckle or two out of this one. It’s almost as though the film isn’t sure who it should be making fun of... g

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DVD Seen

Needle

Disconnect

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DIRECTOR: John V Soto DISTRIBUTOR: www.amazon.com

FPB Rating: 16LV Score

STARRING: Michael Dorman Trilby Glover Tahyna Tozzi

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After the death of her mother, a crazed daughter finds a phone that can call the past, in which she can speak to her mother. When she discovers that her mother was murdered the daughter tries to change the past by making a phone call. Every call just makes things worse and even more complicated than before.

The acting was below average; Haley (Steffany Huckaby), the daughter, was unable to cry successfully throughout the entire movie and her friend Cathy (Amanda Troop) constantly has a straight face and seems unable to show any type of emotion The story line is unpredictable during most of the film and has a few twists that could keep the viewer interested throughout, however the cinematography seems under budget, and looks as if it was filmed on handheld camera. The soundtrack was not too bad and suits the movie.

The movie is decent if you don’t really count the acting and bad cinematography. g

STARRING: Eddie Jones Steffany Huckaby Holmes Osborne

DIRECTOR: Robin Christian DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16V Score

Ben inherits an antique box from his deceased father, which soon gets stolen from him. Unknown to Ben, this mysterious box has evil powers and is used to kill his friends. As time runs out, he needs to find the box...

The overall feel of the acting was good; the actors where convincing enough to make the film enjoyable.

With a story line that is similar to teen horror movies, the next scene is almost always totally predictable.

This movie won award for best cinematography, which was indeed great on this film, as well as best supporting actress (Jessica Marais) - both from the British Horror Film Festival.

This film has a good concept and is a good horror overall, only if the special effects were slightly better this good film could have been great. The film was competently directed and written by John Soto. g

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gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

The Perfect Teacher

Set in Roman occupied Britain, this movie tells the tale of a young Roman noble who wants to restore his family’s honour by recovering the lost standard of the 4th Legion – a golden eagle – from beyond Hadrian’s Wall. Travelling into lands that the Romans could never conquer with his slave, he encounters extreme danger at the hands of savage tribesmen.

The Eagle is entertaining, with a great performance

by Jamie Bell (who was the kid in Billy Elliot) and a passable performance by Channing Tatum. Excellent cinematography and well-choreographed fight scenes mingle in this picture. The production design is also of very high quality, although some historical inaccuracies will be extremely evident to those that know the period.

Inaccuracies aside, The Eagle makes for exciting, if relatively mindless, viewing. The relationship between slave and master is the crux of the film, although the plot does descend into predictability at times. Still, it’s worth watching… as long as you’re not expecting an epic masterpiece. Centurion was better, but not by too much. g

DIRECTOR: Kevin MacDonald DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13V Score

STARRING: Channing Tatum Jamie Bell Donald Sutherland

gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

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When a new maths teacher and volleyball coach joins a high school staff, Devon (Megan Park) a 17-year-old school pupil falls in love with him. Nothing will stop Devon as she tries to make sure that she is the only one to end up with her true love, Mr Wilkes. Nothing will stand in her way… not even murder.

David Charvet, who acts as Mr Wilkes rose to fame on the hit shows Baywatch and Melrose Place. He seems to be the only half-decent actor in this film even though his acting in this movie was not exactly Oscar winning.

The film is very slow and features a plot that has already been seen before. With a super insane woman, you would expect to see a couple more murders or some extra ‘accidents’. There is just not enough in this film to keep you thrilled, or even entertained, for too long. g

STARRING: David Charvet Megan Park Boti Bliss

DIRECTOR: Jim Donovan DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13 Score

The Eagle

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Collectables DVD Seen

The realities of war

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gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

Band of Brothers Based on the novel by Stephen E Ambrose and with a massive grounding in actual events, Band of Brothers is a ten part series that tells the tale of Easy Company (of the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army) during World War II. From the Normandy landings of D-Day through to the fall of Hitler’s empire, this series tracks the exploits of several remarkable men, mixing acted footage and interviews with surviving members of the real Easy Company gracefully and tastefully.

Getting into the mindset of the characters and their real-world counterparts is fascinating, and the gritty, real feel of the combat scenes is thrilling and often crammed with tension. Band of Brothers is a noholds-barred look at war, and particularly as a war that happened in a time when attitudes of loyalty, patriotism and trust were very different to what they are today.

With Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks as executive producers, Band of Brothers offers top notch entertainment for war movie fans and history buffs alike, although some scenes can be rather disturbing in their realism.

This series really is a must-own option for anyone who has an interest in this period of history. It provides a deep, moving and real look at America’s involvement in the European theatre of World War II, approaching the subject matter with both sensitivity and a desire for accuracy. It is powerful stuff indeed. g

DIRECTOR: Various DISTRIBUTOR: Nu Metro

FPB Rating: 13VL Score

STARRING: Kirk Acevedo Eion Bailey Michael Cudlitz

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COLLECTABLE OF THE MONTH

gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

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Heavenly Sound

Money to Burn

Speakers for a king’s ransom...

by Walt Pretorius

S

ome of us like good sound. Strike that, all of us like good sound. But some of us will go to any lengths to get it. If you’re one of those that want to feel like you’re being carried on the voices of an angelic choir every time you kick back and chill to some tunes, you should probably have a look at the Kharma Exquisite Extreme Grand Limited Edition speaker set.

Now Kharma are known for top notch audio, but anything with any of the words “exquisite”, “extreme” and “grand” in its name is going to cost a pretty penny… and these have all of those words, with a side order of “limited edition” for good measure.

There are only 25 of these sets in existence, which accounts for the limited edition, and at around R4 200 000 a pair, we don’t see a massive rush for them down at the local hi-fi store. And here’s the kicker – no bling. Almost every item we have looked at over the last few issues has had its price inflated by being diamond-encrusted, ruby-polished, gold-plated or platinum-sealed, or whatever. That’s not the case with these babies which, by implication, means that they must sound extremely good. All the other devices were

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almost standard to high end, but these are so high-end that they’re almost in orbit. We’d love to tell you what they sounded like for sure, but when we requested review units the palpable tension in the silence on the other side of the phone call was enough to sear the bristles off of a buffalo.

OK, that’s a lie. We didn’t request review samples. But we imagine that the reaction we would get if we did would be unpleasant.

The technology built into these speakers is extremely advanced. We didn’t understand a word of the technical specifications, but they sounded extremely fancy. Fancy enough that if you spouted them out to anyone they would get that kind of glazed expression on their face that meant they had no idea what you were talking about, but were pretending to anyway.

And then there’s the other issue… you’ve just spent enough money to buy a modest mansion on speakers… you unpack them and… where’s the hi-fi? Well, that price will get you some awesome speakers, with extremely high quality sound, but you better save up the cash to get a hifi system to match. And we really doubt that these come with an iPod dock… g

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 0 • A u g u s t 2 0 1 1

” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “

” is a trademark of the same company.“Ô” is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.

Resistance 3™ ©2011 Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Developed by Insomniac Games. “Resistance 3” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. All rights reserved.

“2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3” and “

18V

Share and Share Alike Cloud Computing demystified

Inner Workings

by Charlie Fripp

W

e have all heard the words Cloud Computing being thrown around in conversations and while the concept might not be new, many users of computers are still not familiar with it. The practice of Cloud Computing is that anybody can access certain information from a remote location, and it’s really not that complicated.

If it’s not a new concept, then why all the fuss? Well, it’s strategically placed to be the next big thing in how users can use the network to collaborate and share information.

It’s like being connected to a giant server, but the server isn’t necessarily in one place, or even just one server.

For a more technical description, Wikipedia tells us that “Cloud Computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.”

That is a bit of a mouthful, but there will be some readers to who that completely makes sense. But for the laymen around, how does it work? In simple terms, what is

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Cloud Computing?

For purposes of explanation, we’ll use an office environment, as that is where it is more than likely to be used the most.

To keep an office running can be a costly affair, especially if the company needs to be licenced for each computer and buy software packages accordingly.

With the use of Cloud Computing, a company will only have to set up a web-client on each machine which is connected to the internet. The software required will then be loaded onto a central machine, and all the client machines will run the software they need from that computer. It eliminates the need to register many copies of MS Word, for example, as they will all be access the one loaded onto the cloud.

The word “cloud” is also a bit fancy for something that is actually so simple, and can be a bit misleading, but it sure sounds better than “central server” or something like that.

Just to clarify, all the programs won’t be loaded onto the central computer, as there is no standard computer strong enough to support such as structure.

The word “cloud” conjures up images of immeasurable gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

hard drive space and sprawls of data, but it’s a bit more down to earth than that.

When users log in to the web-based service, they will have the information at their fingertips, but the data that they are accessing is still running from a database, control node, computer network and applications severs, which are all interconnected.

It’s really all about shifting the work load away from the desktop computer. To make a rather crude comparison, it’s like watching television through your neighbour’s window.

He is the one who bought the television set and paying the license, but you are watching shows for free through the window.

So with that in mind, Cloud Computing is also a form of remote access, but it’s just more streamlined. Instead of the desktop PC doing all the loading, it uses the webbased applications to execute and load programs on a massive network.

Many users might have already had dealings with Cloud Computing, and didn’t even realise it. Users with Gmail or Yahoo accounts have all accessed the cloud. Instead of running an e-mail program like Mozilla’s Thunderbird or gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

Microsoft’s Outlook on a computer, users log in to a Web e-mail account remotely. The software and storage for the account doesn’t exist on the user’s computer, as all the data is stored on the service’s computer cloud.

Microsoft’s Xbox Live also have plans to start utilising the cloud for storage. Xbox gamers will no longer have to recover their gamertag when they want to play on a different console, as they will only have to log in to the Xbox Live server and all their information can be accessed.

The user can choose to store their gamertag in the cloud (Xbox Live server) instead of locally on the Xbox.

As the technology grows, many more fantastic applications will be discovered, but for the time being we have to be content with corporate offerings. Several legal issues have also started to crop up, such as under which laws does the content fall - the country where it’s hosted or the country it originated from?

It’s certainly a great way to store massive amounts of data and information, and it will be possible for people to collaborate on projects at the same time. The technology is only in its infancy, but it’s rather exciting to see it grow. g

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Mix Tape

The compact cassette phenomenon

Dead End

by Walt Pretorius

I

n 1935, AEG released the first reel-to-reel tape recorder, named the Magnetophon. Magnetic tape has been invented, as an audio recording medium, in 1928, but prohibitive costs prevented the technology from becoming common place.

In 1958, however, RCA produced their reversible tape cartridge, and the idea of capturing music on tape began gaining ground with consumers. And then, in 1962, Philips produced the device that would define portable music for almost two decades – the compact cassette.

In 1965, record companies began producing four track compact cassettes with prerecorded music, following the growing demand for these easy to use recordings. The problem was that compact cassettes, which were easy

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to use and were played on equipment that was relatively inexpensive, spurred on music piracy through the next two decades, particularly when (in the early 1970s) the quality of the recording on these small tapes caught up to that of the ill-fated 8-track. In the late 1970s, it became a viable alternative to vinyl records, thanks to it’s ease of storage, ease of transportation and rerecorability.

The real success of the medium came about in the 1980s, when personal audio devices became more popular, thanks to gadgets like Sony’s original Walkman. Up until this time, compact cassettes had been playable on a wide variety of devices which were, over the years, getting smaller and smaller. But the Walkman was unique, and the idea of personal music perfectly supported the format. gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

But compact cassettes weren’t without their problems – repeated play could cause degradation in quality, and equipment that wasn’t properly maintained could damage the sensitive four track tape. Worse of all, though, was the fact that the tape could stretch, resulting in playback that was noticeably slower than it should have been.

While many seemed to accept these problems as par for the course, the introduction of the compact disc soon allowed users to have a more reliable, more durable portable music format. Although personal tape players held on valiantly, improvements in portable CD players and incar stereo systems marked the death-knell for the compact cassette as a common sight.

They’re not all gone, though – compact cassettes are still gladget regular • issue 10 • August 2011

in use, particularly by independent musicians, who use the four available tracks for music recordings.

The ‘feel’ of the sound produced by these tapes is very raw, and recording demos on them has come back into vogue. This practice requires specialised equipment, however, and effectively halves the recording time of the cassette, as all four tracks are utilised in one play direction.

While they may not be as prominent as they once were, compact cassettes need to be credited with the role they played in the portable music industry, allowing the Walkman, portable CD player and eventually MP3 players to become reality. g

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