Gladget Magazine October 2011

Evolution

Robots through history

Dots

Working with megapixels

Triple Play

Three Canon pocket cameras reviewed

I S S U E 1 2 / Vo l . 2 October 2011

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

from the creators

wInner of more than 20 e3 awards

“PushInG fPs BoundrIes” -Games tm © 2011 id Software LLC, a ZeniMax Media company. ZeniMax, Bethesda, Bethesda Softworks and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. RAGE, DOOM, QUAKE, id, id Software, id Tech, and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of id Software LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved.

Windows, the Windows Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and “Games for Windows” and the Windows Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3” and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “Ô is a trademark of the same company. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.

of doom and quake 速

07.10.2011

速

www.raGe.com

Inside 6 From the Editor

8 (R)evolution Robotics through the ages 14 Photography Primer Working with pixels and dimensions 20 Reviews Some awesome hardware, gadgets and toys 58 DVD Seen A collection of DVDs to watch... or not.

66 Money to Burn Cheese...

68 Inner Workings A fan with no blades 70 Dead End Typing up a storm

THIS MONTH’S COVER Canon launches three new pocket monsters See the review section starting on page 20.

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gladget contents • issue 12 • October 2011

Reviews

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Canon PowerShot SX220 HS Camera

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Samsung Smart TV D5500 40” LED TV

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MSI N550GTX-Ti Graphics Card

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AR Drone

GLADGET Volume 2 Issue 12 October 2011 Editor: Walt Pretorius walt@gladget.co.za

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Canon Ixus 220 HS Camera

34

LG P970 Optimus Black Mobile Handset

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Apacer Handy Steno AH552 32GB USB Flash Drive

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Cougar UA64Air Universal Notebook Adapter

Letters: letters@gladget.co.za

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SanDisk Cruzer Edge 4GB USB Flash Drive

Competition Entries: competitions@gladget.co.za

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Canon PowerShot A800 Camera

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gladget.co.za

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Western Digital GreenPower 1TB Hard Drive

Design & Photography: 1337 Media

41

SanDisk Cruzer Blade 4GB USB Flash Drive

42

Apacer AC430 External Hard Drive

44

Gears of War 3 (X360)

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FIFA 12 (X360)

Writers: Charlie Fripp Christo van Gemert Dylan Bouch Alex Scanlon Rob Edwards Suvesh Arumugam

Technical Support: Brian Murdoch Marketing Contact: Katia Taliadoros katia@gladget.co.za

technology. simply.

CREATED USING

50

Adobe CS5

Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge (PS3)

54

Driver: San Francisco (X360)

56

Resistance 3 (PS3)

MASTER SUITE

All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

gladget contents • issue 12 • October 2011

Copyright © 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2011

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Volume Two From the Editor

by Walt Pretorius

T

his issue of Gladget Magazine marks one year of publishing.

Yes, that’s right, its officially our first birthday issue, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Gladget Crew, as well as all our readers, for making it a memorable 12 months.

And what a year it has been. When we made the decision to start up Gladget Magazine – which was our second publication, with the videogaming focussed Gamecca being the first – we had no idea that we would get such a great response.

From all sides, too! While the readers have been very keen to get hold of Gladget each month, the folks in the various industries we deal with have also been wonderfully enthusiastic about the mag.

One of the best things about putting a magazine like Gladget together – aside from the thrilling responses – is the opportunity to experience so much awesome new technology. From top end TVs through to tech-toys that are

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incredible fun to experience, we get to see (and play with) a lot of stuff while putting the mag together. And even in just the space of a year, we have seen technology evolve in the most exciting and often astounding ways.

That’s one of the thing we love the most – seeing human ingenuity grow in leaps and bounds, almost on a monthly basis. In the coming year – and many years after that – we will continue to bring you all the information we possibly can about this incredible journey… whether it be through our ‘user-friendly’ reviews, our informative regulars (be they serious or tongue-in-cheek) and all the other ways we are still discovering.

That’s something we’re aiming at for the next issues… our own evolution, through which we want to make Gladget magazine even better.

There are a few things on the cards already, but we’ll tell you all about them closer to the time.

On something of a personal note,

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those people who have made the past year of Gladget Magazine possible. From the writers, who have been incredible in helping the magazine appear every month (even if deadlines are sometimes considered flexible) through to my partner-in-crime, Katia Taliadoros, for her unwavering dedication and level-headed attention to details (as well as her blood, sweat and tears).

It’s been a great ride thus far, and it’s only just started!

And so it’s time time to get on with the birthday issue. It’s got a bunch of great reviews in it, including a range of Canon pocket cameras, a rather nice TV from Samsung, and the AR Drone, which is – in our humble opinion – simply the best big-boy’s toy ever invented. And, of course, there are our usual regulars, including a look at an obscenely expensive computer mouse in Money to Burn, and an explanation about how those nifty bladeless fans work in Inner Workings. g

gladget column • issue 12 • October 2011

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

INCREDIBLE DEPTH FOR THE ULTIMATE GAMING EXPERIENCE.

South Africa

Experience real-life depth with the new Samsung 3D LED monitor.

Real 120Hz

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2D to 3D image conversion

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

(R)evolution Dreams of robots go back a long way...

Feature

by Walt Pretorius

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gladget feature • issue 12 • October 2011

T

he idea of robotics seems to be a very current one. One could easily be excused for thinking that it developed in fairly modern times, as notions of science fiction developed. And, of course, there is the concept that science fiction often becomes science fact, dragging ideas of automated creations capable of humanlike work with it.

The truth is, though, that only the name ‘robotics’ is relatively new. Ideas of automatons go back a very long way. In fact, one of the very first instances of an automaton, which is defined as “a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power; robot”, appeared in the Chinese Lie Zi text, which dates back to the 3rd Century BC. The text describes an encounter between King Mu of Zhou, who lived from 1023 BD to 957 BC, and a life-sized, human-shaped automaton created by the mechanical engineer and artificer Yan Shi. “The king stared at the figure in astonishment,” the text says. “It walked with rapid strides, moving its head up and down, so that anyone would have taken it for a live human being. The artificer touched its chin, and it began singing, perfectly in tune. He touched its hand, and it began posturing, keeping perfect time...As the performance was drawing to an end, the robot winked its eye and made advances to the ladies in attendance, whereupon the king became incensed and would have had Yen Shih [Yan Shi] executed on the spot had not the latter, in mortal fear, instantly taken the robot to pieces to let him see what it really was. And, indeed, it turned out to be only a construction of leather, wood, glue and lacquer, variously coloured white, black, red and blue. Examining it closely, the king found all the internal organs complete—liver, gall, heart, lungs, spleen, kidneys, stomach and intestines; and over these again, muscles, bones and limbs with their joints, skin, teeth and hair, all of them artificial...The king tried the effect of taking away the heart, and found that the mouth could no longer speak; he took away the liver and the eyes could no longer see; he took away the kidneys and the legs lost their power of locomotion. The king was delighted.”

While there is no evidence of this creation actually having existed – much of the text is based on Chinese mythology – there is proof that automated machines existed as far back as 1088 AD. In that year, Su Song built the Cosmic Tower, a 10 meter clock tower that featured mannequins that chimed the hours by ringing gongs and bells. In 1206, the Arab inventor Al-Jazari constructed what is considered the first programmable human robot… a group of four automated

gladget feature • issue 12 • October 2011

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gladget feature • issue 12 • October 2011

musicians that floated on a boat on a lake for his guests amusement. They were controlled with pegs and levers… pretty much the world’s first drum machine.

Even the great Leonardo da Vinci was interested in robotics, with a famous design for a robotic knight having even been mentioned in Robert Brown’s ‘The da Vinci Code.’ This knight was designed to sit up, wave it’s arms and move its head. The design was made by da Vinci in 1495, and was likely based on anatomical research that he performed when he created his famous artwork, the Vitruvian Man. Interest in automatons seems to have waned in medieval Europe though, until the 16th century AD. Between 1500 and 1800, however, numerous automatons were created, mostly for the purposes of entertainment. There were automatons that could play music and draw, and even do complex actions like fire bows. By 1800, automatons had even found their way into industry; cloth production was almost entirely automated by that time.

Between 1800 and 1900, automation in the workplace became more commonplace – the area in which modern robotics would enjoy its greatest strides for many years.

Automatons also once again came into vogue in fiction.

Even the legendary genius Nicolai Tesla became interested in it, demonstrating what he called a “teleoperated” boat in 1898… essentially the world’s first radio-controlled vehicle.

It was in 1921, though, that the word ‘robot’ first appeared. An author named Karel Čapek first used the phrase in his play Rossum’s Universal Robots, although he credited his brother with inventing the word (taking it from the Czech word “robota”, meaning servitude.) And servitude was what it was all about. Automation became a way to ease labour performed by human beings. Aside from the burgeoning science-fiction market, this was where most ‘robots’ would be introduced during the 20th century.

The word ‘robotics’ was coined by author Isaac Asimov in 1941, when he formulated the now famous Three Laws of Robotics.

From the 1950s to present day, the exponential growth of technology has seen an incredible increase into research behind computer systems and robotics. The famous robots of automobile assembly lines came about in 1961, for example, when Unimate (the first industrial robot ever created) began working on the General Motors production lines.

These days, we are closer to realising the ideals of science fiction than we may think. Work is being done on robots that will not only make production of various gladget feature • issue 12 • October 2011

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gladget feature • issue 12 • October 2011

products even easier, but also creations that will be able to interact with humans on a level they can understand; via speech, gesture and even virtual facial expressions and emotional expressions.

Naturally, the difficult part in all of this is simulating something as complex as the human psyche in a machine.

Machines, technically, need to be told what to do… building a full set of instructions into a system to mimic humanity, even on a minimal scale, is a daunting task. There have been great strides made in these areas, however. The Japanese, for example, are working on an emotive robot to serve as a nurse and care giver… complete with a full range of empathic facial expressions.

Whether robots should have a form of consciousness and self-awareness is something that is not only debated in science-fiction. Fully autonomous robots that are self-aware could, in reality, be a dangerous proposition. Sure, it sounds like science fiction to have machines rebelling against their human creators, but a system of sufficient complexity could, by only a little stretch of the imagination, develop into a dangerous machine.

That, though, won’t likely happen. A more immediate and likely problem is the effect that robots have on the job market. It has been seen already that automated systems can be more effective and more efficient than human workers, and as robotics advances ever further, the problem is not likely to go away. Machines that were intended to make lives easier may have the opposite effect, according to many analysts.

However, there are areas were using robots is preferable to human beings – extreme environments make using robots sensible. Even NASA is working on automated machines to be, at least, assistant astronauts and, and most… well, who can tell?

With the inexorable march of technology, it is not inconceivable that the robots of science fiction will become science fact within our lifetimes. The advances made in the modern era are simply too many to mention here, but they touch every aspect of the world… from toys and robot lawn-mowers through to complex machines and near-human creations, robots are here, and there are here to stay.

What they will become in the future is almost impossible to guess. But it is unlikely that they will become the villains that science-fiction authors have often portrayed them to be. A far more plausible future is that robots will eventually do what it is that they were envisioned for many years ago – to make human lives easier. g gladget feature • issue 12 • October 2011

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Photography Primer

All About the Dots Megapixels, resolution and file size…

by Walt Pretorius

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gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

PRESENTED BY

Adobe CS5

MASTER SUITE

H

ave you ever wanted to send a great picture via email, only to be told that the file is too large? On the other hand, have you ever tried to print out an image, only to find that the end result looks blocky and nasty? While these examples may be a little on the extreme side, they can be the result of image files that have been handled in the wrong way.

It is important to know how image files work, in order to use them effectively.

The first consideration is the image’s megapixel rating. This comes directly from your camera… in fact, megapixels is one of the biggest bragging rights digital photographers will use, but many of them don’t know what it really means.

A megapixel refers to one million pixels – a pixel, of course, is literally a dot. All these dots combine to form the final image. So, an image taken with a 12 megapixel camera at the highest quality settings will contain 12 million dots.

The amount of pixels in an image determines the size of the image, both in terms of the physical size of the image and the data size of the file it will be saved as. For example, a 12 megapixel image will yield a photograph that is 4000 pixels wide and 3000 pixels high (a little math will demonstrate that 4000 multiplied by 3000 comes 12 million… or twelve megapixels). A 6 megapixel image will measure 2816 pixels by 2112 pixels. In other words, the larger image has twice as many dots to remember, so the file size will, accordingly, be larger when it is saved to disc or hard drive.

However, in keeping images at their best quality, bigger really is better. It’s a good idea to shoot all your images at maximum quality, and resize them (if needed) using photo-editing software later. If you’re worried about how many pics you can keep on your camera’s memory device, carry more memory devices.

It will save you a lot of heartache later.

The reason why bigger is better takes some explanation, and it comes down to a combination of pixel size, as described above, and resolution.

Resolution determines the ‘clarity’ of an image, by defining how many dots will appear along a straight line one inch long. For this reason, resolution is measured in dots per inch, or DPI for short. You may often have seen DPI used with reference to scanners and printers… now you know!

gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

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Photography Primer

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gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

Different image usage requires different dpi resolution. A monitor, for example, displays images at around 72 dpi (depending on the monitor) while a glossy magazine has images printed at 300 dpi. There are several stages in between, but a good quality setting for projected images (like those you see on your PC monitor) is 100 dpi (just to be safe) while 300 dpi will yield good printing results on any printer.

Your camera will likely capture images somewhere in the 72 to 100 dpi range. As you can see, if you want to create a high quality print, you may need to tweak a bit (although most modern printers have intelligent resolution handling systems.

Before we continue, we need to look at the physical size of images. This may seem like an unusual concept, seeing as how they are actually digital files, but it can be very important. It is ultimately determined by a combination of resolution and the number of pixels making up the image. Let’s go back to the 12 megapixel image. At 72 dpi, an image that measures 4000 x 3000 pixels (that’s 12 megapixels, remember?) will come down to a physical size of 55.556 inches by 41.667 inches. It’s simple maths… divide the pixel size by the dpi, and that’s what you get. In metric terms, that’s 1411.11mm by 1058.33mm.

Now take the same 12 megapixel image at a resolution of 300 dpi. Its physical size works out to 13.333 inches by 10 inches, which is 338.67mm by 254mm. The image is more than three times smaller in physical terms, because the pixels are more numerous per inch. This comes in very handy when resizing photographs effectively. If the image resolution is increased by a factor of three, for example, the image size must be reduced by a factor of three to retain quality. There is some wiggle room here – this is not a hard and fast rule – but sticking as close to this formulaic idea as possible will yield the best results.

The reason for this is quite simple. Digital photographic images fall into the category of bitmapped images. In other words, the image is made up of dots, as discussed before, with no information regarding angles, ratios and the like. When an image is increased in resolution the number of dots per inch will naturally increase. Even if the pixel size of the image is increased, with no change in resolution, the same will happen, because there will be more inches that need dots in the bigger image. The problem is that the gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

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Photography Primer

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gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

computer needs to fill those dots up when the image is increased, and will “invent” dots to put in. This is why images that are increased in size run the risk of losing clarity and quality… the computer assumes what the dots filling the new spaces need to be, based on the original dots around them. The end result is blocky, nasty images.

The same does not happen when images are reduced in size, though. In these cases, the computer will simply blend existing dots, in that way retaining image quality.

This idea is why small images printed out on a large format can look really bad.

So why not just make every image massive then?

Well, it comes down to the end use of the image.

See, a bigger image, with a high resolution, naturally contains more information. And if you’re going to be using the images via a computer screen, or uploading them to the internet, the size of the image in terms of data can become an issue. It’s a case of waste not, want not.

In computing terms, a 72 dpi image will be perfectly clear, and with HD monitor resolution being 1900 pixels by 1080 pixels, anything larger (for computer use, mind you) is overkill and wasted data space.

However, keep in mind that to keep your images versatile, you want to save the larger, original files on your computer.

The changes to be made for digital use need only be done when emailing, uploading to the internet and doing things like creating desktop images. It’s easy to go from big to small when working with bitmap images. Going the other way can be a nightmare. Oh, and even though your file may be saved as a JPEG or Tiff (or whatever) it is still classified as a bitmap image. Bitmap (BMP) is a file type, yes, but it is also a category of image.

In the end, it’s a maths problem, although not a particularly difficult one. Most good photo-editing software will have indicate pixel sizes, physical sizes and other relevant information when you make your changes, so just keep in mind what the end result you’re after is, don’t be afraid to experiment and, as always, keep your source files. Oh, yes, as a footnote… even though your printer may be able to print at a resolution of 1800 dpi, 300 dpi is perfect for printing out crisp, clear, beautiful images. g gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

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Reviews Highlights 22 Canon PowerShot SX220 HS Camera A pocket powerhouse 24 Samsung Smart TV D5500 40” LED TV Crisp, clear, awesome 26 MSI N550GTX-Ti Graphics Card Affordable power 28 AR Drone Best. Toy. Ever!

W

e love reviewing cameras. All kinds of camers... from top of the line DSLRs through to the smallest of pocket cameras, we love ‘em.

So, this month, we have three Canon pocket cameras on review, from top notch to entry-level.

Also, we review the AR Drone, which is the coolest toy ever conceived. And, of course, there’s some other stuff, too, ranging from TVs to external hard drives... g

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gladget review • issue 12 • October 2011

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS Camera

Pocket-Power A capable yet compact camera

by Walt Pretorius

W

hile it’s all good and well to have a great DSLR camera, sometimes you want something that you can whip out of your pocket at a moment’s notice to take a snapshot of something that simply must be photographed.

Additionally, there are many people out there that don’t want to undergo the extra effort that may be involved with using a DSLR camera, opting for the convenience of something compact.

Canon know both of these things, which is why they have consistently produced great pocket camera products for many years now.

One of the latest additions to this range is the Canon PowerShot SX220 HS. This sturdy little camera is perfectly pocket-sized, but doesn’t skimp on performance.

Right off the bat, it delivers a 12.1 mexapixel image size that is pretty generous. This is further supported by a chunky 14x optical zoom, ensuring decent quality images at a distance. Neither of these are extremely

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exceptional, though, in terms of modern cameras. Rather, the added extras that this little beauty delivers are what count.

The camera offers users full HD video recording, with storage of video and images taken care of by an SD card.

In fact, a well-placed movie button will instantly start video recording, without the user having to fiddle with settings.

Photography is supported by 32 Auto Smart scene settings, an optical image stabiliser, Night Scene support, servo auto-focus and auto exposure, advanced subject detection and a very fun high-speed burst mode.

The camera is very solidly built, and is rather compact when not turned on. Touch the power button, and the lens extends (as well as a flash popping up) rather quickly.

The pop-up flash can be opened and closed manually, as needed.

The controls are extremely sensibly arranged on the back and top of the camera. With the exception of the shutter button and the zoom control, everything is placed to the right of the generous and clear 3 inch LCD screen. It g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

makes sense, because that puts everything in easy visual range when taking photographs.

The camera also features several manual options, like aperture or shutter priority, as well as full manual mode.

This is a great plus for more serious photographers who want a good degree of control over their pocket camera.

The LCD will also display a preview of what the image will look like as the user adjusts settings, which is great.

With a solid construction, decent battery life, versatile SD support and a host of functions, the PowerShot SX220 HS is a great bet for a pocket camera. The price isn’t the friendliest around, but this camera is more than just a point-and shoot affair. In fact, when you consider what it is capable of, the price point is really rather reasonable – particularly when you take into account that it delivers the expected Canon quality.

As will all pocket cameras, this one has some limitations, but if you’re in the market for a pretty capable, reliable image capturing device, it’s a great option. It delivers more than expected. And it looks good, too! g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Sturdy • Looks good • Lots of features

CONS:

• A little pricey

Manufacturer: Canon Distributor: Canon Online: www.canon.co.za RRP: R3099

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

12.1MP 14x Optical zoom Full HD High-speed burst Manual modes Movie button

Score

Canon delivers a reliable, tough and capable device in the form of this stylish camera.

89 23

Samsung Smart TV D5500 40” LED TV

Looking Good Great picture quality and features

by Walt Pretorius

W

hen it comes to TVs, we are really getting spoiled these days. Never before have we had access to the kind of vibrant picture quality that we can find on the market today. And, even better, they are sleek, elegantly designed units that can be fitted into virtually any space, thanks to ideas like flat panels and wall mounting. It is a new Golden Age. Samsung are defining themselves as one of the better TV manufacturers out there, with their Smart TV range delivering not only superb performance, but also excellent versatility. See, a TV isn’t just a box to show pictures anymore, and Samsung know this. Rather, it is an important part of a fully integrated entertainment experience and, because of this, Samsung have created a TV that not only displays pretty pictures – and they are very pretty – but also provides a host of connectivity options.

The Samsung Smart TV UA40D5500RR (or D5500 for short) is a beautifully constructed, very thin 40 inch LED

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TV that delivers awesome clarity and contrast, along with bright colours. It supports a host of added extras, including wireless LAN support and the ability to play media via its USB ports.

One complaint that we can level at this otherwise wonderful TV are the inputs. It features four HDMI inputs, 2 USB ports, a LAN port, headphone jack, antenna input, and a number of audio in and out options. That’s a good list (particularly the HDMI ports.) But the still necessary component cable ports are conspicuously absent. The solution is to supply a specialised interface cable… but although this comes with the unit, it cuts down component cable use to one item. Now, realistically, anyone in their right mind should be using HDMI for… well, everything, but there are still older devices that use component cables only. And we found the performance of the D5500’s component cable converter to be disappointing.

But that’s about it. Everything else, with regards to this TV, was great. OK, it’s not a 3D model, but we’re still g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

a little unconvinced about home 3D viewing (or any 3D viewing, for that matter.) Sure, if you’re after a 3D TV, you’ll probably look elsewhere, but undecided users who don’t think that 3D is a ‘must have it or die’ aspect to a TV need look no further.

The extremely user-friendly device is really top notch. It would be difficult to choose another TV over it, except for almost purely cosmetic reasons (like the fact that it has a very shiny screen that reflects light easily and really is a pain to keep clean) or based on its inputs. Price might be an issue too… it’s not the cheapest TV around, but good quality LED TVs cost more than poorer models.

In short, it is a beautifully constructed TV that has a good, solid base, great remote functions and performs excellently. The decision to buy it or not may only come down to a silly reason like brand loyalty, but there are worse brands to support than Samsung. And if you’re still on the fence, a quick demonstration of its excellent picture quality alone will probably make your decision for you. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Excellent picture • Extra functionality • 4 HDMI ports

CONS:

• Shiny • Expensive • Component ports lacking

Manufacturer: Samsung Distributor: Samsung Online: www.samsung.co.za RRP: R10 999

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

40“ screen 4 HMDI inputs 2 USB ports LAN port Wireless LAN support

Score

A great TV, particularly if you’re not after a 3D option

90 25

MSI N550GTX-Ti Graphics Card

Solid Performer At an excellent price

by Rob Edwards

A

video card is not just a video card, as any enthusiast will tell you. There is a hell of a lot that goes into the design and manufacture of these devices, beyond just the chipset that is used.

But, for the average joe, there may seem to be little difference between brands and models… other than things like price.

What MSI have done with the N550GTX-Ti M2D1GD5 is produce a video card that is quick, capable and generally friendly on the pocket. In fact, sticking two or more of these cards in your machine in SLi configuration would not break the bank… nor would it disappoint in terms of performance.

Even when a single one of these cards is used, its performance is good. It performs a bit better than expected from a standard N550GTX chipset, thanks to a bit of tweaking done to the card by MSI. The chipset is fairly fast, and the 1GB of GDDR5 RAM on-board does a lot to help the card deliver a smooth performance.

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It has also got a number of bells and whistles to help the user along. First off is the Afterburner software, that MSI ships with all of their VGA cards. This overclocking software makes tweaking the card easy and pretty safe, too. Of course, squeezing more power out of any computer component can have undesirable effects, but the Afterburner package is well put together, and allows for the best options to be easily accessed. It also allows for customisable performance for 2D and 3D modes, meaning that the user can keep temperatures down and even use less power when possible. An advanced fan speed controller will further help to keep the card cool.

Speaking of keeping cool, this card has a rather striking housing built over its large heat sink and single fan configuration. Moving away from the boxy look, the red and black housing, with a few nice curves, looks a bit more mature than the run-of-the-mill graphics card. It is also thankfully devoid of images on luscious maidens in chainmail bikinis, or the like. g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

The card handles overclocking beautifully too, without heavy spikes in noise or temperature. You can squeeze a lot more out of this card if you tweak it just right, and sunning an SLi configuration will deliver excellent results.

As with most PC equipment these days, this VGA card makes use of high grade components – Military Grade is the favoured catch-phrase – including solid capacitors and solid state chokes. These deliver less noise, less heat and a better lifespan. They also won’t explode which, as we have pointed out before, is always a boon inside a PC case.

And all of this comes at a really good price tag. In fact, some buyers may be dissuaded by the price, thinking that it is too low for a high quality product.

But, quite honestly, this is one of the best deals we have seen when it comes to graphics cards, and heartily recommend it. It might not deliver true top end performance but, for the most part, you will not be disappointed with what it does. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• A good performer • Easy overclocking

CONS:

• Not the most powerful card around

Manufacturer: MSI Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R1799

TECH SPECS: • Nvidia N550 Chipset • 1GB GDDR5 RAM • Solid CAP • Solid state choke • Afterburner bundle

Score

A good card at a great price.

81 27

AR Drone

Too Cool!

We want one. Now!

by Walt Pretorius

R

emember when you were a kid and there was something that was just so cool that you absolutely had to have it? Even going so far as risking the ire of your parents as a result of your nagging, sulking and crying? Well, we’ve found something that would probably get the same reaction from grown men. It’s possibly the coolest thing we have ever had the privilege to review here at Gladget, and when we had to send it back we cried long and hard…

It’s called the AR Drone, and it is (in our opinion) the best toy ever invented. It’s noisy, possibly dangerous and does the coolest things. Actually, it only does one thing… it flies.

The AR Drone is a fairly large device, with a tough Styrofoam body (covered by a hard outer shell) that is carried aloft by four powerful rotors. It kicks up a hell of a racket doing so, but the noise is just part of the fun. The four rotor system sets it apart from remote controlled helicopters because the user doesn’t have to

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worry about trim. Thanks to the four rotors and a builtin altitude sensing system, the Drone flies steadily and beautifully.

Here’s the real treat though; it’s controlled by a smart phone. Using either an iPhone or an Android device with downloaded software, the user can pilot the Drone by tilting their handset in desired directions. Also, the Drone has a front mounted camera that transmits images back to the handset’s screen. You’re not going to be able to effectively navigate that way, no matter what the makers claim, but it adds a fun dogfighting game element to the device, when two are close together. And it’s cool.

The Drone does not come without its problems, though.

It uses a WiFi connection (we’re mystified as to why the makers didn’t go with Bluetooth, which would have been much better) which can drop in areas of interference. If the signal drops, the Drone goes into a sort of safety holding pattern, hovering above the ground. Re-establishing connection may give difficulties, in which case you pretty g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

much have to wait for the rechargeable battery to run out, forcing the Drone to perform an emergency landing procedure.

Another issue is wind. Even seemingly slight winds can carry the Drone off, prompting the user to perform a quick landing to avoid it leaving the 50 meter range of the WiFi signal. Once again, once it is out of range, the same holding pattern behaviour occurs… but a breeze will carry it away.

The Drone can also be flown indoors, as it has a special protective housing included in the box, which shields the rotors on their sides.

When all is said and done, the AR Drone is a rather expensive toy. It has no function beyond fun. Yet, despite its cost and niggles, it is just about the most fun you can have without breaking numerous laws. We loved playing with the AR Drone, and anyone remotely (aha, a pun) interested in remote control flying should give it serious consideration. It’s a reason to buy a compatible phone! g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Awesome fun • Easy to fly • Did we mention fun?

CONS:

• WiFi connection • Pricey • Wind issues

Manufacturer: Parrot Distributor: Parrot Online: www.parrot.com RRP: R2999

TECH SPECS: • WiFi connection • Android compatible • iPhone compatible • Front mounted camera • Rechargeable battery

Score

The most fun you can have without breaking a ton of laws.

92 29

Canon Ixus 220 HS Camera

Simple and Effective With more bells and whistle than you may expect

by Walt Pretorius

D

ynamite does come in small packages, as they say. Let’s forget the logical idea that you could fit more dynamite in a big package for a few moments, though, and consider that old saw to be gospel. Proof of it would lie in the Canon Ixus 220 HS. This little camera may be small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, but it packs a hell of a lot of punch.

In fact, in terms of capability, it stands just a couple of notches below the punchier PowerShot SX220 HS, which we also review in this issue. In fact, in some areas it matches the bigger camera. It also delivers 12.1 megapixel images, for example. It also features full HD capabilities, Smart Auto scenes (32 of them), advanced subject detection, an optical image stabilizer, servo auto-focus and auto-exposure, high speed burst mode and night scene support.

The differences come in different areas. The biggest is that this camera, although powerful and versatile, won’t allow the full spectrum of manual settings that

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the bigger model will. That doesn’t mean that it’s images will be poorer, but those who want more control over their images will likely look elsewhere.

Another difference, necessitated by the size of the Ixus, is that the LCD screen is smaller, measuring 2.7 inches in size. A third comes in the optical zoom range that the Ixus offers, which at 5x is not bad for a camera of its size.

But, in all honesty, this camera isn’t about extreme control and taking carefully crafted images. Rather, it is a rather awesome, easy-to-use and non-intimidating device designed specifically for people who want to take good, large photographs with a minimum of hassle. And it has been noted before that a good photographer can use any camera.

The sturdily constructed Ixus is wonderfully compact, and the controls, set to the right of the LCD screen (aside from power, zoom and shutter buttons, which are on top) have been kept to a manageable minimum. A movie button allows for more or less instant video recording, which is g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

handy, and all videos and photos are stored on an SD card. The camera is extremely responsive when it comes to powering on and off, but some functions like auto-focus seem a little sluggish.

Naturally, this model is a lot cheaper than the SX220 HS, although its price tag is not as low as its capabilities imply. That said, this camera is far better than one would assume at first glance. Its small size and simple controls belie a lot of power. A 12.1 megapixel camera of this size, with really good quality lenses that aren’t fixed, is something that we would not have seen a few years ago.

As far as a good balance of convenience and capability goes, the Ixus 220 HS is a real winner. It might not allow for the deeper control that some photographers crave, but it certainly won’t disappoint in terms of image quality, for stills or video.

It certainly is a great solution for someone who wants to keep their photography simple, yet good. g

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Solid construction • Great image quality

CONS:

• No manual control

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

12.1 MP 5 x Optical zoom Full HD High-speed burst Movie button

Manufacturer: Canon Distributor: Canon Online: www.canon.co.za RRP: R2100

Score

It’s really easy to use, but still packs a lot of power.

82 33

LG P970 Optimus Black Mobile Handset

In the Crowd Yet another good smart phone

by Rob Edwards

I

t seems, these days, that there is a new smart phone released on an hourly basis. OK, maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but with the market getting fuller, it is becoming tricky to buy the right handset. Even worse, these devices are all really similar to each other, particularly if they use the Android operating system. There’s nothing wrong with Android, but if your preference is towards it, choices get more difficult than if you opt for Blackberry or Apple OS devices.

The LG Optimus Black is a really good smart phone, mixed in with the crowd of other good mobile communicators. It features a 1GHz CPU, which is nice and quick, and comes with all the expected bells and whistles, like a 5MP rear camera, a 2MP front camera, a 4 inch screen, and everything else you would expect from an Android phone. It’s a good phone, too, and performs well in all areas of operation.

Once again, the choice between all these devices is difficult. It almost comes down to brand loyalty these days… and if you are an LG fan, the Optimus Black is a good choice. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Good quality • Stylish

CONS:

• Not that different from other Android phones

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

Android OS 5MP rear camera 2MP front camera 1GHz CPU 4” screen

Manufacturer: LG Distributor: LG Online: www.lg.co.za RRP: R4499

Score

It’s a good phone, but these days virtually ebery new model is…

80

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

A flash drive with a generous storage capacity

by Alex Scanlon

T

he real problem with USB flash drives is their storage capacity. They are extremely handy and, for the most part, offer enough space for documents and data that needs transporting. But there are times when they just don’t have the capacity needed for larger files.

Apacer have an answer to that problem, in the form of the Handy Steno AH552 USB3.0 Flash Drive. That’s quite a big name for such a small device, but bigger still is the 32GB storage that it offers. When it comes to USB flash drives, 32GB of storage is nothing to snort at. See, it all comes down to size, because that storage ‘space’ has a physical element. Yet the metal-cased, elegant AH552 is not much larger than any other flash drive. And while it’s not the biggest capacity flash drive around (Kingston offer a 256GB drive, priced at over US$1000) 32GB is certainly not run-of-the-mill.

In addition to a fairly generous storage capacity, the AH552 makes use of USB 3.0 technology, so it’s pretty quick when it comes to data transfer.

If you’re looking for a larger capacity USB flash drive, this one is a good bet. The price is a little steep, but convenience costs, doesn’t it? g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Nice size • Sturdy construction • Quick

CONS:

• Costly

TECH SPECS: • 32GB • USB 3.0

Manufacturer: Apacer Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R899

Score

Small in size, big in offering, this flash drive holds 32GB of data.

84 35

Apacer Handy Steno AH552 32GB USB Flash Drive

Small, but Big

Cougar UA64Air Universal Notebook Adapter

All-In-One

A charging solution for everything but the kitchen sink.

L

ast month we looked at a rather nice universal notebook adapter, but this month we have it trumped. While the HEC we looked at in the previous issue could charge any notebook under the sun, pretty much, this month’s offering from Cougar can do the same… and it can charge a host of mobile handsets, MP3 players and hand-held gaming devices, too!

The slimmer, smaller Cougar is a brilliant option for people who travel with a lot of rechargeable devices.

Using a digital voltage switcher, the system can be used on all major laptop brands, and an accessory power system cable ensures the safe charging of other portable electronic devices. The tip design also means that there will be no polarity issues when using the device. A whole array of other safety features ensure that the device runs safely, both for the device being charged, and in general.

It’s small, versatile and sensible. It might not be something that everyone would use, but those who travel with a lot of different devices may well find the Cougar UA65Air Universal Notebook Adapter to be an invaluable travel companion. g

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by Rob Edwards

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Very versatile • Nice price • Works beautifully

CONS:

• Lots of little bits that can get lost

Manufacturer: Cougar Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R525

TECH SPECS: • Notebook compatible • Supports numerous devices • Digital voltage switcher • Ultra slim • Low ripple • Low temperature

Score

A truly versatile, truly universal power adapter… handy for travellers.

83

g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Just don’t lose your keys!

by Alex Scanlon

C

arrying data around with you can be quite important these days. There are myriad reasons to carry important documents and so forth on a memory device like a USB flash drive. The thing is, though, that USB flash drives can be quite easy to misplace.

SanDisk’s answer to the problem is the Cruzer Edge USB Flash Drive. We don’t really have to extoll the virtues of SanDisk devices – their memory cards and USB flash drives are top notch. Rather, it’s the design of the device that deserves mention here.

Using a slider design, the USB plug of the flash drive slides into its casing. There are similar devices, sure, but SanDisk have managed to keep this one quite small. It holds up to 4GB of data (give or take, as always) in a compact housing that is sturdy. And the slider keeps the business end of the device clean and safe.

Because of this design, the device can safely be attached to something like a key-ring, meaning that the user will, theoretically, always have their data at hand.

Provided, of course, that they don’t lose their keys… g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Decent storage • Tough • Small

CONS:

• Small enough to lose

TECH SPECS: • 4GB • Compact design • Slider

Manufacturer: SanDisk Distributor: SanDisk Online: www.sandisk.com RRP: R68

Score

A clever, compact and sturdy design from SanDisk

79 37

SanDisk Cruzer Edge 4GB USB Flash Drive

Handy

Canon PowerShot A800 Camera

A Solid Start An easy-to-use entry level bundle

by Walt Pretorius

N

ot all cameras are created equal. That, quite honestly, is a good thing, because we need to have an entry level in photography. It’s an expensive pursuit when taken seriously.

Not everyone is a serious photographer, though – sometimes you need a camera to be just good enough.

The Canon PowerShot A800 is a good place to start.

It’s a relatively inexpensive pocket camera that is sold with a ‘complete kit’, which includes a card reader, 2GB SD card and a battery charger, complete with two AA batteries (which is what this camera uses for power.)

All that, with the camera, will set you back around R800.

It is, in short, a fantastic starter kit, particularly for youngsters who want to start trying out photography, or even for adults who want something that is quick, convenient and easy to use.

But that low price also means that you’re not going to be getting all the bells and whistles that other pocket cameras offer. That, in itself, is refreshing to a degree.

With a number of the assists stripped away, the A800

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makes something of a return to purer photography, leaving the photographer to their own devices and unsupported by a host of automatic fixes.

That said, the A800 is not without its features. 19 Smart Auto scenes, blur reduction, contrast correction, motion detection, noise reduction and low light capabilities all make using the camera a bit easier.

It can also capture video at 30 frames per second, but not at HD quality.

The A800 shoots images at a fairly chunky 10 megapixels. That’s not really the industry standard anymore, but it is still a big picture. The optical zoom leaves a little to be desired, at only 3.3x, but the camera makes up for it by being a really good performer when it comes to macro photography.

The operation of the camera is extremely simple. Most options have been stripped away, with almost everything being handled automatically by the camera. The controls have been minimised, and are all located to the right of the 2.5 inch LCD screen on the back of the device. Naturally, g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

the shutter button is located on the top, with the power button right next to it. Oddly, the zoo controls are in a slightly uncomfortable position, mounted at the back of the camera, above all the other controls.

The A800 doesn’t feel like a sturdy camera. It is rather light and feels like a hard knock might do it in, so users will probably want to treat it with due care.

It’s a well-priced camera, but should not be considered as anything more than an entry level device. The lower megapixel rating, limited zoom and stripped down options may not serve the purposes of more ambitious photographers, and those that want more punch may well want to consider one of Canon’s chunkier options.

Additionally, while the use of AA batteries may seem a bit more convenient, it’s not ideal. The inclusion of rechargeable batteries in the bundle makes a bit of a difference to that, though.

But for those who want something quick and convenient, or those who want to get their youngsters a great gift, the A800, with its bundle, is a great idea. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Very easy to use • Excellent bundle • Good image quality

CONS:

• Not very versatile • Feels flimsy

Manufacturer: Canon Distributor: Canon Online: www.canon.co.za RRP: R720

TECH SPECS: • 10 MP • 3.3x Zoom • AA battery powered • SD card compatible • Blur reduction • Face detection

Score

Although it’s not the best camera around for features, it is a great entry point for photographers

75 39

Western Digital GreenPower 1TB Hard Drive

Greener

Environmentally conscious computing…

by Alex Scanlon

T

rather important consideration. It’s not just a catch phrase or a lofty ideal anymore.

Thankfully, many companies are coming to the party, allowing people to be more eco-friendly, particularly in terms of power consumption. But this is not something that people really think about when it comes to using computers, it seems… most certainly not where hard drives are concerned.

But hard drives can consume quite a bit of power, it seems. Western Digital has the answer in the form of the GreenPower series of hard drives. According to WD, this hard drive is structured in such a way that it consumes less power.

Short of taking their word for it, we have to accept those claims. We really have no reason to doubt them.

And the drive works very well, when all is said and done, so considering one of these 1TB babies for inclusion in your PC system may not be a bad idea. After all, we all have to look after the planet. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Eco-friendly • Good performance

CONS:

• We sort of have to take the manufacturer’s word on this

TECH SPECS: • 1TB • SATA • Energy efficient

Manufacturer: Western Digital Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: ww.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R799

Score

They claim that it uses less power, and we have no reason to doubt that.

78

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A safer option

by Rob Edwards

M

oving data around is all great and stuff, but keeping it secure can be something of an issue. OK, it might sound a little bit like something out of a second-rate spy movie, but what if the USB flash drive you have your documents on falls into the wrong hands. And we’re not talking top-secret government dispatches here, either. Just enough of your details in a document can land you in all kinds of difficulty, ranging from credit card fraud through to identity theft. Sure, you may not really worry too much about it, but better safe than sorry, right?

If this kind of thing is something that does worry you, SanDisk’s Cruzer Blade USB Flash Drive may help to still your worries. This device comes with built in software – SecureAccess, it’s called – to help you protect any sensitive information on the flash drive. It’s pretty handy, actually, if it is something you might need (or if you are the right kind of paranoid) and with a 4GB capacity, the diminutive drive can store a fair chunk of data, safe from prying eyes. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Data security • Small • Good capacity

CONS:

• No USB interface cover

TECH SPECS: • 4GB • Compact

Manufacturer: SanDisk Distributor: SanDisk Online: www.sandisk.com RRP: R68

Score

Built in security software will help secure this USB data device

79 41

SanDisk Cruzer Blade 4GB USB Flash Drive

Secure It

Apacer AC430 External Hard Drive

Travel Space Lots of portable storage here

by Alex Scanlon

A

few years back, buying an external hard drive meant buying an overpriced, clunky housing, and then having to spring for a hard drive separately. It was, essentially, a pain. Even carrying it around was an annoyance, to some degree.

These days, things have changed. Now the purchase of an external hard drive is a simple affair. Pick the one you want, with the capacity you want, and take it to the check-out point. This is probably largely due to the popularity of external hard drives these days. Shifting data around is always needed, whether it be important work documents or a bunch of illicit video files nicked off of the Internet. And, with long download times via email (aside from email size restrictions) and the generally smaller storage capacity of other data transfer devices, the external hard drive makes a lot of sense.

And among those sensible devices are some that make even more sense, for various reason. Apacer’s AC430 external hard drive is one of those.

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First of all, it makes use of a 2.5” drive. That means that it’s small. It’s not quite what one could consider pocketsized, but it comes close. That means easy transportation, facilitated by a stylish protective slip-case included in the box.

Further portability is implied by the unit’s sturdy design.

The casing is mostly finished in brushed metal, with sturdy plastic caps covering the ends. An internal anti-shock system will help protect against accidental bumps and bruises, although heavy blows may still have an effect on the device’s performance. So don’t throw it at people who annoy you.

The 2.5” drive in the model we tested offers a fairly generous 500GB of storage space, which can be transferred to and from the device via a USB cable. Power is also supplied to the unit via the same cable, so the need for lugging an extra power adapter around is removed. On the downside, though, it uses a very specific USB cable… the plug on the unit itself is an odd one, so you’ll want to g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

treat the included cable like gold. The carry-case has an elasticised strap to hold it in place, but you may want to consider a slightly sturdier option than that.

Best of all: it’s USB 3.0. We haven’t seen too many devices using this new speed standard yet, so the very fast data transfer rates that the AC430 offers are something of a treat. Naturally this can be used with all other iterations of USB technology, but that speed is sublime.

The device also has a smart power management system, so leaving it plugged into your PC or laptop for extended periods of time will not put too much strain on the system.

The drive’s power status is indicated by an LED light housed behind one of the plastic end-caps.

OK, maybe the USB 3.0 isn’t the best aspect here… we really like the price. Considering the reliability and performance of the unit, as well as its sleek, sturdy design, the recommended retail price is really rather sweet. All in all, a winner. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 1 2 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Good value • Fast • Well-built

CONS:

• Proprietary USB plug

Manufacturer: Apacer Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R645

TECH SPECS: • • • •

500GB USB 3.0 Anti-shock system Smart Power management • Self-powered

Score

Sturdy, stylish and fast… it’s like an external HDD version of a sports car.

90 43

Gears of War 3

Brothers in Arms Another COG in the machine

I

t’s been one of the most recognisable and bestselling franchises, and with the release of Gears of War 3 it all comes to a rather spectacular end.

Players will once again have to steer Marcus, Cole and Dom through the hordes of nasties, but luckily they won’t take it lying down.

In terms of a bit of back story for gamers who can’t remember what happened in Gears 2, or for newcomers to the series, the game conveniently features a “Previously in Gears” option. It’s a short video and only touches on the most important aspects, but players should get a good idea of what happened before.

The setting for the final Gears of War game takes place around 18 months after the events of Gears 2, and it finds Marcus Fenix, Anya Stroud and two other

44

by Charlie Fripp members of their squad aboard the Raven’s Nest, a naval vessel.

Although there is a short tutorial in the beginning, players are immediately thrust into the action as Lambent stalks start pushing up everywhere, and naturally allowing the bad guys to start shooting at will. It’s great when a game starts off with a strong focus on the action, as it sets the tone for the rest of the game.

We’re not in the business of giving away plots, but everything Marcus finds out in the first few minutes of the game will dictate the rest of the plot. There will be some surprises along the way, but gamers will be able to vaguely figure out what’s going on if they have a strong knowledge of the previous game.

In terms of gameplay, not much has changed. The control

g l a gd agm e te cvci ad eroe vgiaem w e • • i si s suue e 1172 • • NOo cv teombbeer r 22001110

layout is still the same as it was when the first Gears game came out. This is naturally a good thing, as returning players won’t have to battle the Locust and the controller at the same time. It’s also very easy for first-timers to remember, and complexities have been kept to a minimum.

A couple of changes have been made in terms of the game’s mechanics. At certain scripted parts, Marcus will be required to kick down doors or break a couple of wooden crates. It’s good to see the characters progress in development, and although the events are scripted, it’s a nice break from the action and tradition.

Another first for the franchise is the introduction of the Silverback mechs, which players will get to play around with in the first Act. Firing two miniguns by default, the Silverback can bunker down to fire four missiles before

gladget video game • issue 12 • October 2011

it needs to reload. They do cause a lot of destruction, but are slow and reloading the missiles leaves players vulnerable.

Those are about the only major differences that developer Epic Games worked into the final chapter, but don’t let that detract from the game play. The graphics have naturally been improved to the point where even Gears 2 will look amateurish, and a lot of smaller details have been added.

They kept the familiar design style, which would make sense, since the game takes place only months after Gears 2, but there is a noticeable difference in graphics. A few texture issues did crop up, but nothing what a day-one update couldn’t fix.

With all the improvements and the familiarity, the real

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gem of Gears of War 3 lies in the team dynamic and ingame music. It is made very clear that certain members of the team have started to develop feelings for each other, and the game cleverly plays on that.

But there is definitely a feeling of camaraderie between all the members of Delta squad, and rather emotional scene in Act 3 will leave gamers grabbing for the tissues, which is also partly due to the excellent music used. It conveys a bit of a human touch - something that games these days don’t really exploit.

Players will also get to see more of Anya, who previously only had a supporting role, and learn more of the personalities of other team members like Jace, Carmine, Baird, Dizzy and everybody’s favourite Australian, Sam. Fans of Gears of War will certainly not be disappointed with the final game in the story of the COG and the

46

Locust. Almost every question gets answered, but it will also open itself to more debate. It does, however, conclude the story line in a rather spectacular fashion. As with any Gears battle, the final fight is tough and challenging, put the spoils of victory are so sweet.

Although Gears 2 had a small serving of multiplayer, the third game really takes it to a new level in terms of variety.

Sure, it has more modes than you can shake a Lancer at, but there are some that just stand out.

The usual frenzy of Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill is as exciting as ever, but the true fun is in the updated Horde and Beast modes.

For Horde, or Horde 2.0 as they call it, the concept is still the same as with previous games - eliminate wave after wave of enemies - but the twist comes in the form of construction. Players start off with a certain number of

gladget video game • issue 12 • October 2011

they build up their defences. It’s great fun, but can be a bit confusing at times.

Multiplayer can be played online through Xbox Live or through system link. This is a great option for some players, as the campaign supports up to four player co-op campaign. With internet costs and bandwidth issue in South Africa, system link is the only option for many gamers, and through it they can also be part of the multiplayer action.

But when all is said and done, does the game live up to expectation? It certainly does and it serves as a great conclusion to the trilogy, as it has everything a fan could have hoped for.

The graphics are fantastic, the controls are easily remembered and the game’s dynamic is great. And who knows, we might just see a new story arc soon. g

AT A GLANCE: It’s a stunning conclusion to the trilogy, but not all questions will be answered.

Developer: Epic Games Publisher: Microsoft Distributor: Microsoft SA

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

18+ gladget video game • issue 12 • October 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

credits, and as they kill more enemies, the more credits they accumulate.

These credits can then be spent on all sorts of wonderful battlefield armament, such as turrets, miniguns, barricades, decoys and extra ammunition. All of the playground toys can naturally be upgraded; for example a flimsy fence can be turned into razor wire and then into a true monster-stopper. But all these upgrades need to be unlocked first, and that is only done by surviving more waves.

Beast mode is sort of like Horde 2.0, but only in reverse.

Where gamers will take on the role of a COG soldier in Horde, Beast mode sees them stalking the map as a Locust or Lambent.

Instead of building fortifications, players will have to eliminate the other team, namely COG soldiers before

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

91 47

FIFA 12

Eye on the Ball A game so beautiful, its blinding…

T

he latest title in the FIFA stable has just been released, and while a lot has been promised for this iteration, developer EA Sports didn’t disappoint. The entire game has been given an overall, and right at the beginning players will notice that even the menu has been changed - which is the first time in several years.

One thing that really makes the title shine are the graphics. There has been a clear upgrade in the visuals, and simply put - it’s stunning. Although the graphics in FIFA 11 were good, they just seem to be a lot smoother in FIFA 12.

The faces of all the players are clear and full of features. They have really gone out of their way to make them look as realistic as possible, and that is always a good thing. There is nothing worse than playing with a character which looks nothing like his real-life counterpart.

But it’s not only the facial graphics that have been

48

by Charlie Fripp

improved - the entire game has been given an overhaul.

The whole package just feels cleaner and right and it makes one wonder why they haven’t designed the previous games in the same style.

One aspect that FIFA 12 still doesn’t get right is the spectators. There seems to be a problem with EA games, as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 and NHL 12 suffer from the same design mistakes. The crowds look like cardboard cutouts, and it really distracts from the otherwise awesome visuals. Granted, the game doesn’t focus on spectators often (or at all), but the long camera shots clearly show them moving all together like robots when the action gets a bit heated.

Speaking of action, at the heart of the game it is still a football title, and there isn’t much EA can do about that. There is no point in reinventing the wheel, and their winning formula will always be the best in the business.

A couple of tweaks were made in terms of the actual gameplay, and it also seems like the difficulty has been

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The jockeying has also been given an bit of an add-on, as players will now be able to not only jockey for the ball, but they can select an AI teammate to jockey a player, while the gamer waits for the ball to pop out.

EA also included an Impact Engine, Tactical Defending, and Precision Dribbling in the game play. The Impact Engine will ensure that no two player-collisions will ever be the same, and it also allows for players who don’t have the ball to collide. The collisions all depend on the force involved, where the players are, and where they have been hit. It works really well, but it seems as though players might get injured more frequently than before.

FIFA 12 is definitely the best football title that EA has ever developed, and although it seems as though the entire game has been given a loving overhaul, there are still a couple of minor bugs that needs to be sorted out, such as camera placement. And for some reason, the loading times are much longer than FIFA 11.

But it’s definitely a title that every FIFA fan should get.g

AT A GLANCE: It’s definitely the best FIFA game that EA has developed so far.

Developer: EA Canada Publisher: Electronic Arts Distributor: EA South Africa

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

3+ gladget video game • issue 12 • October 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

upped a bit, as the AI takes more chances and use a lot of skill moves. That isn’t a bad thing, as a challenge is always good… and it hasn’t been increased to the point where it becomes ridiculous.

A disappointing aspect of the title is that players won’t be able to import their FIFA 11 character, and will be forced to create a new player for the Be A Pro mode. The game does scan for FIFA 11 achievements, and notifies the player that they have been found, but other than that, there is no cross-content. A game face from EA’s servers will also have to be downloaded and re-applied to a created player.

As mentioned, at the heart it’s still just a football game and EA’s options on how to improve the game are somewhat limited. But they did manage to improve the controls and how the players on the field can interact with one another. Gamers will now be able give opposing players a bit of a nudge or tug on their shirt in order to steal the ball - it’s a nice feature but it’s not often used.

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

88 49

Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge

Crouch! Touch!

Pause! Engage!

An easy to play rugby game for half-time!

S

ports sims are the most fun games for me (I may have said this before!). A good sports game must have a balance of career modes to engage the single player, and enough multi-player variations to entertain four to eight people at a time. Unless it’s a game like golf or snooker, where you don’t have that many players, it’s got to be party friendly! The original Jonah Lomu Rugby, developed by Codemasters in the model of their Brian Lara series, was truly a classic.

Aside from making rugby easy and understandable, the game featured all sorts of extras like Classic Matches, famously random commentary, and the Jonah Lomu All Star team, where every player was Lomu! Aside from Lomu’s likeness and endorsement, this game is no relation to the PlayStation version, and is developed

by New Zealand based Sidhe Entertainment, whose previous efforts include the NRL Rugby League series.

Rugby Challenge features fully licenced players, teams

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by Suvesh Arumugam

and stadiums from New Zealand and Australia, including the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Super 15 teams like the Brumbies and the Hurricanes. Aside from a few US and Dutch teams, the rest of the rugby playing world’s teams and stadiums are unlicensed, which may phase Bokke and Lions fans (conversely it’s rival Rugby World Cup 2011, does not features Australian & New Zealand teams). Some players who play in Australia or any of the smaller leagues are included, but that’s small consolation.

Perhaps due to Lomu’s involvement, the game follows a very similar formula to its PSOne predecessor.

Aside from the Classic Match mode (which is sorely missed), the gameplay is much the same. Rugby Challenge scores big on having a very helpful and easy to use tutorial.

The rules and moves are kept simple (or can be made realistic if you choose) and each one is explained in a series of videos, followed by a couple of mini-games.

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teams and players.

A few annoying things though – Firstly, whenever there is a kick-off, the perspective changes from the opponents first person view to yours, as the ball is in flight. So as you are about to make a tackle, you realise your player is running the wrong way! This is only in single player mode, but I would be nice to turn this feature off. Also, if you or your opponent play as the All Blacks, you are forced to sit through the Haka, which is cool at first, but makes rematches painful!

I really enjoyed the fluid gameplay, and just the fun factor of Rugby Challenge.

The controls are easy to pick up, and non-rugby fans will get into the action, especially while with the Bokke doing their thing in New Zealand.

But even though I will not be trading my AC Milan jerseys in for Blue Bulls fan gear, it irks me that I have to play as the Pretoria Cheetahs, with Bobby Havana. g

AT A GLANCE: Pick up and play, just don’t look too closely at the player names!!

Developer: Developer Publisher: Publisher Distributor: Distributor

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

3+ gladget video game • issue 12 • October 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

Completing these also earns you some Rugby Cash, which can be used to purchase content in the game (like the LOMU Super team, or his favourite players).

The controls are simple, with shoulder buttons making left or right passes, and face buttons for drop goals, touch or grubber kicks. The right analogue becomes your “trick stick” as you fake, dummy or drive defenders. Defence is straightforward; run at the ball, take down the man! Rucks can be tricky, as you balance bringing more players in, with binding your players to protect or overturn the ball. From there on, you are your own Peter De Villiers as you decide how to play - for defence, possession or attack.

Rugby Challenge features a Quick Match or Career option. In career, you play both National & Club teams. The game also features an Online head-to-head mode, where up to eight people can compete online. You can customise players and teams, though the options are limited.

Dedicated fans could probably rename their favourite

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

88 51

Driver: San Francisco

Grand Theft Awesome …now with more polish and variety.

I

t’s hard to recall when last I had as much fun as I’ve been having with Driver: San Francisco. Notice how I say “having”, as in “present tense”. Usually reviews are written in a past tense: that game was awesome.

That game had a great story. That game blew my mind.

Driver: SF is still awesome. It manages to balance real life physics with Hollywood physics. You know what I’m talking about. Watch a couple of car chases from blockbuster films. Cars don’t really behave like that, but it sure as hell looks awesome. Real life physics are a bit more toned down, but it’s also what brings us back to reality. We’re already familiar with how cars drive, so why take any of that away? As a result, the 140 real-world cars in Driver each behave uniquely. An Audi R8 handles like a car with all-wheel drive. The American musclecars do burnouts and can hang tail going around corners.

Slower city cars lack poke, but are made fun by using the handbrake. They’re all like their real-life counterparts, but with a more exaggerated character. It’s great – and

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by Christo van Gemert

makes you want to own each of the cars.

After finishing the single-player campaign I am still doing online races or just driving around the many hundreds of kilometres of roads, loosely based on those in San Francisco. It’s exhilarating just rushing down the highway in a Lamborghini, dodging cars and ducking under trucks.

Think “Burnout: Paradise” for open world driving and speed, but with less detachment. And when you hit a truck, it’s as simple as just getting into another car…

And that’s where Driver blows my mind. With the second Driver game the developers let you get out of the car to go find new rides. This was a badly implemented mechanic, and outdone by Grand Theft Auto 3. What they’ve done with Driver: San Francisco is give you the ability to “shift” into new cars. The simplest way of describing this by saying that it lets you possess the drivers of other cars.

Crashed yours? Simply shift out of your current body and float above the city, like a ghost. See a car you like? Zoom in and posses its driver. This is very well explained in the

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you’ll be leading a race by a few hundred meters, but the next an opponent’s car slingshots past you like you’re looking for parking. Not cool, but also only annoying enough to make the game artificially more challenging.

Besides, shifting around into other cars is already an overpowered mechanic and maybe the AI needs all the help it can get. In total you can spend more than 20 or 30 hours just cruising around town doing crazy stuff like ramping off trucks, causing pileups or finding collectibles, which unlock movie challenges. These challenges are based on actual movie chases – and if you love both film and cars, these are a real treat.

Technically, Driver: SF is also excellent. Graphics are crisp and the world is colourful. The action is as smooth as silk pyjamas. If you like cars and fun, this game will impress. If you want something different, I can heartily recommend it as a welcome break from the cookie-cutter FPS games hitting the shelves. g

AT A GLANCE: All-out automotive action and fun, with comedic dialogue to spice it up a bit.

Developer: Reflections Publisher: Ubisoft Distributor: Megarom

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

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Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

story – something I don’t want to spoil here, because it’s already thin on substance – but this little trick makes the game a lot more fun than it would’ve been in any other case. You can zoom around in the clouds, visit your garages and find the cars you want there, or simply take over the next car.

This comes in handy when you do some of the challenges. Can’t finish in first place? Simply shift out of your car and find a car in oncoming traffic. Use that to slam into the race leader. It’s like having a win button, but way more satisfying. You can’t obviously cheat by taking control of the winning car, so there are non-documented limitations to your ability – but anything more than they’ve given you will ruin the fun.

With the selection of cars, the awesome physics system and the shift mechanic, the game’s single-player objectives are a total riot. You have actual fun while racing around in any of the cars, and the only real annoying is the rubberbanding of the artificial intelligence. One minute

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

90 55

Resistance 3

The End?

Saving humanity one more time

T

he Resistance franchise is a PlayStation 3 stalwart; it has been there since the very beginning. And, as developers around the world managed to squeeze more and more performance out of Sony’s console, so too the team behind this series – Insomniac Games – have upped the ante in terms of Resistance with each iteration of the game. Now, with the third game in the series has arrived, and brings with it a better technical experience, without skimping on one thing that has always been important to these shooters: story.

The tale tells of Joseph Capelli (a name players of the previous game will likely recognise.) After he is dishonourably discharged from the military, he takes up residence in a small town in Oklahoma. The war against the insidious Chimera forces is all but lost, and humanity faces its final days as the alien invaders begin terraforming the planet, making it more like their frozen

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by Walt Pretorius

homeworld. But when Dr Malikov (another name you may recognise) convinces Capelli that there is still hope to save the planet, he begins a perilous journey to New York City to stop the invaders.

It’s a long way from Oklahoma to New York. Surprisingly, the game only weighs in at around ten hours of single player campaign play, but the pacing of the story and the action is tight and never lets up. It’s an intense ten hours, with the player experiencing tension and emotional changes in equal measure. See, the developers managed to counterbalance the intense action of the game with a heart-rending story of loss and desolation, and they did so very well. Story is important here, which is a refreshing change to the truckload of shooters that leave plot behind these days.

The combat in the game is extremely exhilarating. With enemies that are smarter than before, the player will be challenged on a very high level. There are times when this

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game system refinements also make for a change… things like weapons that upgrade automatically the more they are used.

As intense as the single player campaign is, the longevity of the game comes from the multiplayer aspect.

As before, it is very good. However, fans of the franchise may be saddened to see that the 60 player multiplayer modes from previous titles have been trimmed down to 16 players. However, this does make for a very different experience: the multiplayer here is more strategic and less chaotic, complementing the title beautifully.

Resistance 3 is not just another shooter. It is a great action game that shows how a good plot doesn’t ruin a shooter experience in the slightest. The controls may feel a little sluggish at times, but once you’re used to them, the dark atmosphere, emotional strength and intense combat presented in Resistance 3 will sweep you away. g

AT A GLANCE: Resistance 3 is the best of the franchise, bordering on art. It’s intense, emotional, challenging and dark… and very satisfying.

Developer: Insomniac Publisher: SCEE Distributor: Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

18+ gladget video game • issue 12 • October 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

title is extremely tough – even seeming to be impossibly difficult – but perseverance has its rewards. And rewarding it is; the great selection of weapons, featuring old favourites and some new oddities, makes for a satisfying game, and the challenging enemies mean that every kill is a victory.

This game feels less like a war and more like the franchise’s title implies: it is a resistance, a freedomfighter bent on sacrificing everything to save everything.

Part of the game’s emotional charge stems from Capelli’s selfless actions, while the rest comes from the tragedy and pain of leaving his wife and young son behind. While it sounds very Hollywood, there is something very believable and moving about Capelli – even when he’s blasting the heads off of Chimera grunts.

As is expected, the level of presentation – in terms of voice acting and graphics – is very high in this game. It is a fine example of what the PS3 is capable of. A number of

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

90 57

Movie of the Month DVD Seen

Brain power!

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gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

Limitless Bradley Cooper stars as a down-on-his-luck writer who stumbles across a drug that stimulated his brain, resulting in him being able to use 100 per cent of his brain power. His new-found mental capacity allows him to change his life entirely, turning his struggling career into a highly successful one and making money left and right. But his sudden rise draws the attention of all kinds of unscrupulous people (on both sides of the law) and the drug’s detrimental side effects start showing themselves…

Director Neil Burger handles this interesting, almostsci-fi thriller with style. The cinematography is excellent, often overwhelming, as clever camera work and colour usage show the changes in the writer’s life along with the plot line. And the cast is excellent, as one would expect from the likes of Cooper and De Niro… but Cooper really is the star of this film, showing a versatility that will take him far. The overall production of the film is good, too, including crisp editing that adds beautifully to the tension that the film builds.

The story idea is pretty interesting, but the film does have a plot hole or two that bring it down a bit. That said, Limitless is a fun romp that doesn’t require too much thought, and will certainly entertain thriller fans. g

DIRECTOR: Neil Dixon DISTRIBUTOR: Next Entertainment

FPB Rating: 16VL Score

STARRING: Bradley Cooper Abbie Cornish Robert De Niro

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MOVIE

OF THE MONTH gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

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DVD Seen

Love & Other Impossible Pursuits

If you were to take some extremely deep, existential concepts, mix them with really off-beat and sometimes shocking humour and present them in the bright container of an animated feature, you would have Rango – provided you served it up with a twist of ‘messing with people’s minds’ and a side order of weird.

Rango tells the tale of a chameleon who gets lost in a desert, only to stumble upon the critter-filled town of Dust… where water is so scarce that it is treated as a currency.

Rango makes use of all the old Western clichés, and pays homage to movies ranging from Star Wars to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It’s bright and colourful, which the kids will love, but until you realise that this film has a much deeper message and is crammed with very adult humour, you may not appreciate it for what it is.

Featuring extremely good computer animation and top-notch voice acting, Rango is a deep film that investigates the nature of identity and the importance of self. It even delves into a few deeper spiritual concepts from time to time.

It might look like a kid’s film, but adults will draw far more from Rango than youngsters will. It is extremely deep. g

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DIRECTOR: Gore Verbinski

DISTRIBUTOR: Nu Metro

FPB Rating: PG Score

STARRING: Johnny Depp Timothy Olyphant Isla Fisher

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A young step-mother (Natalie Portman) wrestles with the death of her own baby, while trying to balance living with a distant husband, his nasty ex-wife (played exceptionally well by Lisa Kudrow) and a step-son who is manipulated by his mother, even though he is a great kid.

This film is a strange one, in terms of character, because it plays with an idea that investigates the duality of morality; in other words, here we see a character who judges other people harshly, in the form of Portman’s role, while failing to see that she is guilty of the same misdeed she accuses other of.

And that is what makes Love and Other Impossible Pursuits an interesting film. It is a fairly heavy, emotionally charged drama that could have done with a bit of a better budget. The production feels a little cheap at times, yet the acting and direction are excellent.

The plot is actually quite complex, featuring a number of grey-area concepts one is not used to seeing in American cinema. It is an interesting film, but not one for everyone. If you appreciate a good emotional drama that doesn’t present it’s moral too blatantly, you may want to take a look at this one. g

STARRING: Natalie Portman Lisa Kudrow Scott Cohen

DIRECTOR: Don Roos

DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13L Score

Rango

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gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

Jane’s Journey

“Miral is a red flower that grows on the side of the road, you’ve probably seen millions of them”.

Based on a true story from the book by Rula Jebreal , this movie presents a Palestinian point of view of three generations.

The development of the life of a young girl Miral (Freida Pinto), born in 1973, finds herself in the wake of the Arab-Israeli war and a growing individual conflict that gets her involved with a terrorist group.

She is torn between the diplomatic values taught to her by Hind Husseini, a teacher and mentor who helped orphans off the streets and out of refugee camps and her growing understanding of seeing her environment and people fall apart.

Schnabel, a Jewish American director refuses to take a stand dedicating this film “to everyone on both sided who still believe peace is possible. With every territorial struggle to survive; there will always be two points of view. What Julian Schnabel tries to accomplish is expressing these points of view somewhat passively without taking any sides and perhaps focusing on an emotional and physical human perspective through the eyes of a youthful idealistic young girl, rather than a political one. g

DIRECTOR: Julian Schnabel DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 18PGV Score

STARRING: Hiam Abbass Willem Dafoe Vanessa Redgrave

gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

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Jane’s Journey is a documentary about the career of Jane Goodall, her outstanding work as a primatologist and her current humanitarian work around the world.

As a UN messenger of peace, Jane Goodall travels around the world, spreading the message about our suffering environment and promoting peace. However, every year Jane still gets to go back to where it all started, Gombe National Park (in Tanzania) to visit her chimps.

The film is very informative, but those expecting a “Gorillas in the Mist’ feel to this documentary may be a little disappointed. The earlier parts of the film deal with her career as a primatologist among chimpanzees.

As it progresses, though, it begins focussing more on her current work as a humanitarian.

Made up of archived footage, as well as new footage shot specifically for this film, Jane’s Journey is more of a bio-pic than anything else. It features numerous interview slots with her, as well as a number of celebrity interviews, including the likes of Angelina Jolie and Pierce Brosnan.

Anyone interested in the work of this rather amazing human being would do well to watch Jane’s Journey but, just as with any bio-pic, it’s not about tons of excitement. g

STARRING: Jane Goodall Director: Lorenz Knauer

DIRECTOR: Lorenz Knauer DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: PG Score

Miral

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DVD Seen

Another Year

An American-Irish woman is unhappily married to a cheating husband. The depressed and lonely woman soon finds herself being approach by a Lebanese man, who sweeps her off of her feet. The two are passionate about each other but the Lebanese man is driven away by her marital status and the fact that he has a different skin colour.

The acting was very natural , with strong Chemistry between the various cast members. Joan Allen portrayed the role of the dissatisfied wife beautifully, and was well complemented by the supporting cast.

This film was very poetic… when the characters spoke their words felt a lot like well-constructed verse, rather than just plain reciting of lines. This adds a romantic element to the film which suits the plot very well.

The sound track also added in this regard, but it was by no means what one could call masterful..

Writer and Director Sally Potter made a fantastic film and I would recommend it to any one that appreciates a good movie in general, although it is a rather artistic drama that may not appeal to absolutely everyone. g

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DIRECTOR: Sally Potter DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16L Score

STARRING: Joan Allen Simon Abkarian Sam Neill

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Tom and Gerri are a happily married couple in the autumn years of their lives. They have a happy, simple existence, surrounded by love and stability. But, just as their lives seem sane and normal, the friends around them are conflicted, unhappy and sometimes downright odd.

Another Year tells of this group, with the married couple at the core of a group of people who don’t seem to be coping. They are the eye of this storm, the emotional anchor for their friends and family, and often unwitting therapists to those they know.

This film is a strange one because, although it seems almost devoid of plot, it features intriguing character depth and development. The story is really rather arbitrary, but the way the character interact is fascinating. Long shots showing characters engaging in dialogue that is so ordinary you wonder how it made it into a film are the order of the day here.

This film will, if you appreciate emotionally charged dramas, get its hooks into you. You will probably sit through it, and may even enjoy it… but you probably won’t be able to put your finger on why. It may well be because of the sensitive and sometimes powerful performances delivered by the cast, who feel so incredibly natural that the viewer cannot help but feel like a voyeur for most of the movie. g STARRING: Jim Broadbent Lesley Manville Ruth Sheen

DIRECTOR: Mike Leigh DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13L Score

Yes

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gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

Beautiful Boy

Sanctum

DIRECTOR: Shawn Ku

DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13LS Score

STARRING: Michael Sheen Maria Bello Alan Tudyk

gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

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A team of extreme cavers and scientist head off on an expedition to the largest cave system known to man, the South Pacific Esa Ala caves. While exploring the depths of the enormous caves the team is hit by a tropical storm. Still stuck in the caves, it’s a fight for survival with the clock ticking… trying to escape the cave could be the last thing they do.

The overall feel of the acting was not too bad, and as the movie progresses the acting improves slightly but there are not any standout performances. The film was made very well; the beginning scenes are colourful and with extraordinary views of the South Pacific. Beneath the surface, in the cave we also get great shots with often astounding lighting. The underwater filming stood out most of all, giving the audience a real sense of fear and how dangerous this kind of situation could be.

There is a lack in character depth and I could not tell if this was a disaster movie or a horror. It does lean towards disaster film, though, and features a few good elements… but it is by no means a cinematic masterpiece. g

STARRING: Richard Roxburgh Rhys Wakefield Alice Parkinson

DIRECTOR: Alister Grierson DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13LN Score

Bill and Kat, played by an inspiring Michael Sheen and Maria Bello, are a couple on the verge of a break-up, when they are thrown into the darkest kind of reality any parent could undergo.

A day after planning a family vacation with their son, Sammy (Logan South), they are distressed to hear that there is a mass shooting at Sammy’s college.

Terrified to hear that their only child is hurt or worse, a parent’s nightmare is made worse when cops at their doorstep report that Sammy is the shooter.

The movie focuses on the emotional survival of these two ordinary people within an angry society who want someone to blame for this tragedy. In addition to the turmoil of emotions of denial, anger, and depression as they begin to mourn their son, they are confronted with the mix of humiliation, guilt, blame and scorn from society as a whole.

If you are in the mood to delve into one of the deepest heart-breaking and most challenging emotional experience of human behaviour, then this is certainly a movie for you. You have been warned - this is a heavy one. g

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Collectables DVD Seen

Zombie nation...

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gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

The Walking Dead (Season 1) When a sheriff wakes from a coma, he discovers that the world has gone to hell… a zombie apocalypse has taken place, and the few survivors who are still human have to band together, avoiding cities in which the flesh-craving undead cluster.

The Walking Dead is based on a graphic novel series of the same name. Now, before you go rolling your eyes at the idea of more zombies, you need to consider that the undead are almost an afterthought in this surprising series. Rather, the crux of the tales told in this rather short first season is the effect that this event has had on the human psyche.

Often emotionally charged and always gripping, The Walking dead is a powerful viewing experience. With excellent acting and stunning cinematography, this series is hard-hitting and moving, almost despite the zombies. It is beautifully put together, and hints at a good enough budget to allow for excellent special effects and high production standards.

Be warned: it is a rather graphic series. They may be zombies, but the action sequences can get extremely messy and graphic. This is a trend in modern TV, though – producing series that are more adult and deeper than the stuff we watched as kids. And The Walking Dead is a prime example of good, solid TV. g

CREATOR: Frank Darabont DISTRIBUTOR: TBC

FPB Rating: 15 Score

STARRING: Andrew Lincoln Sarah Wayne Callies Laurie Holden

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COLLECTABLE OF THE MONTH

gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

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SQUEEK!

Money to Burn

A mouse to scream about...

by Walt Pretorius

T

he Swiss are well known for numerous things, possibly most notably watches, army knives and cheese. And good Swiss cheese is expensive.

So why should Swiss mice not be the same?

OK, hang on. Perhaps you thought we were talking about those furry little rodents that get women screaming and standing on chairs. No, we’re talking about computer mice. There is a distinct correlation between them and cheese, of course… and if we have to explain it to you, you just aren’t thinking hard enough.

So anyway, where were we…. Watches, army knives, cheese… oh yes. There’s this Swiss company called Pat Says Now. Weird name, we know, but that’s really neither here nor there. Pat Says Now produces a computer mouse called the Diamond Flower RF. And, as the name implies, it has diamonds on it. In a flower pattern.

So here’s the pitch… the mouse measures 10 x 6 x 2.5cm, and weighs a mere 375g. It uses 2.4GHz radio signal, picked up by a slim nano receiver, and operates at 1200 dpi. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries. Now, if it was a normal nouse, it wouldn’t cost that much. It’s specs are decidedly run-of-the-mill.

But a normal mouse isn’t made out of 18-carat white

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gold, and doesn’t have 59 brilliant diamonds set into it in a cute little flower pattern. So don’t expect to pay a few bucks for it. Rather, you’re looking at a price tag of 18 600 Euros. Yes, that’s right. 18 600 Euros. That’s, what, around R190 000 locally?

So this insanely priced mouse might cost more than a small car, but it is sure to have a few bells and whistles, right? Right? Wrong! It’s a stock standard mouse, when you get right down to it… except for all that gold and all those diamonds.

It’s the gift for the computer user who has everything (including, probably, a much better mouse) to be bought by people with more money than sense. Surely there aren’t people like that out there, right? Wrong again! On the official website, the Diamond Flower RF Mouse is listed as being in low stock. Either they only made a few, or people are actually blowing a small fortune on buying these gizmos. The mind, quite literally, boggles. But, just to be sure… the batteries are included. Thanks, guys…

In closing, while we are still stunned about this incredulously overpriced bit of tech, we will explain the correlation between cheese and a computer mouse. Well, they both start with C and end with SE. That’s pretty much enough for us. g gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

The Art of Fanning No blades required...

Inner Workings

by Charlie Fripp

W

e have made many in-roads since reading maps, whipping out a compass or asking for directions at the next rest stop, and it’s almost hard to imagine that’s how we got around for a very long time.

With summer strong on its way, if it isn’t just already, we can expect our days to be filled with lots of sunshine and the accompanying heat. While eating tons of ice cream will be a really neat way to stay cool, the sale of air conditioning and fans will naturally start to sky-rocket.

However, there is a really cool toy on the market that will be users cool, no matter what. It’s called the Dyson Bladeless Fan or Air Multiplier, and as one might guess, it’s a fan with no movable parts.

We all know the traditional pedestal fan, with the spinning blades and the protector cover on the front - the one which makes your voice turn into a sci-fi character well, this is nothing like it.

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It hardly seems possible that a fan with no blades can generate a breeze, as logic tells us the faster an object spins, the more wind and thrust it will create. So, how does the Dyson Bladeless Fan actually work?

For starters, the fan has a rather strange design, as it only consists of a circular tube mounted on a pedestal, and the tube is only a couple of centimetres deep. The pedestal of the fan contains a brushless electric motor that sucks in air and feeds it into the circular tube.

As the air flows through the unit, it reaches a narrow slit in the tube, which provides the basic airflow and the wind one would feel when standing in front of it.

The creator, James Dyson, once said that the Air Multiplier generates a breeze with 15 times more air than what the device actually takes in.

According to Dyson, “the breeze generated by the Air Multiplier is more consistent and steady than one from a standard fan with blades. Since there are no rotating gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

blades, the breeze from the fan doesn’t buffet you with short gusts of air.”

But there is a bit of a secret to the fan - it actually does have blades, they’re just hidden away. See, it’s virtually impossible to create something from nothing, so a plan had to be made in order to hide the blades. Inside the pedestal hides the motor, which rotates nine asymmetrically-aligned blades to pull air into the device - which then gets pushed through the narrow slit.

Once again, Dyson said that these blades can pull in up to 20 litres of air per second - which is an awful lot of air.

“The air flows through a channel in the pedestal up to the tube, which is hollow.

The interior of the tube acts like a ramp. Air flows along the ramp, which curves around and ends in slits in the back of the fan. Then, the air flows along the surface of the inside of the tube and out toward the front of the fan,” he explained. gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

As for the ‘multiply’ part in Air Multiplier, the atmosphere is gaseous and gases thus obey the physical laws of fluid dynamics.

Through a process called inducement, the air that flows through the slits in the front of the fan actually pulls along any air that is around it, and through the tube. With this motion, the more air that flows through the tube, the more air gets pulled in - thus multiplying the air flow.

But there is another factor to help along the air flow in the room, which adds to the overall coolness of everyone.

The air surrounding the edges of the fan will also be “sucked” into the current, giving it that extra bit of flow, which is called entrainment.

But there is no rush to go out and buy the Dyson Air Multiplier. The smallest model (25.4cm) will cost in the region of about $300, while the 30.5cm version retails for US$330. g

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Clack Clack Clack Mechanical writing

Dead End

by Alex Scanlon

T

he image of an author sitting at a typewriter pounding out page after page of a novel while smoking a pipe is probably extremely common, although it’s as likely to be inaccurate – most authors spend a lot of time staring at blank sheets of paper. Or throwing said typewriter in a fit of frustrated rage.

Still, the typewriter is, to this day, a symbol of industry, even though they have fallen out of vogue for a great many reasons.

The typewriter revolutionised communication, at least in the written sense. Until its creation, documents were either hand written or printed. The productivity allowed by typewriters is possibly one of the factors that lead to explosive increases in business, because communication and record keeping gained a lot of speed thanks to these clever devices. Secretaries who could type at a fast rate became invaluable. One could even argue that the

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typewriter did a lot to empower women in the workplace, but finding evidence of that claim may be difficult.

But the speed granted by the metal ‘hammers’, each bearing a letter of the alphabet and responding to a corresponding key-stroke, produced correspondence and documents is undeniable. Calling them one of the greatest inventions ever conceived is not an unfair statement, because their impact on the world was massive (if often understated or overlooked.)

The typewriter wasn’t really invented, though – not in the strictest terms. Rather, it evolved, with many contributors adding to the creation of this ingenious machine. One of the earliest recorded patents for a device that seems to have been a typewriter was filed by Henry Mill in 1714.

The patent read: ““[he] hath by his great study and paines & expence invented and brought to perfection an artificial machine or method for impressing or transcribing of gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

letters, one after another, as in writing, whereby all writing whatsoever may be engrossed in paper or parchment so neat and exact as not to be distinguished from print; that the said machine or method may be of great use in settlements and public records, the impression being deeper and more lasting than any other writing, and not to be erased or counterfeited without manifest discovery.”

Wherever they might have come from, typewriters became ubiquitous by the early 20th century.

Advancements still continued, though. Even though typewriters were more or less standardised by 1910, new ideas kept popping up (something as simple as the Shift key, for example.)

Electric typewriters became popular during the 1920s, and reigned over offices and typing pools for around 60 years, until word processors and personal computers began supplanting them. gladget regular • issue 12 • October 2011

The thing was that these new machines could do things that typewriters couldn’t. They didn’t need to be fed sheets of paper. They didn’t suffer from jams. They did not require ink ribbons. And, best of all, corrections could be made before documents were committed to paper (via a printer, naturally.)

Typewriters may have lost a lot of ground, but they haven’t disappeared yet. They are apparently still in use in certain US Government organisations, and can commonly be found in places where electricity supply may be a problem – like Africa, India and Latin America.

But their days are likely numbered, as even impoverished regions of the globe are undergoing development (even if it is slow.)

However, there is still something very comforting about the clatter of a typewriter… they will be sorely missed by many writers when they finally do disappear. g

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