Technology and Gadgets : iPresents

Hydrogen Fuelled Racing Car

Richard Senior — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:27:00 +0000

Formula 1 is something I have been at times quite fanatical about, particularly so when Ayrton Senna was on the circuit. A couple of weeks ago I got the opportunity to attend a Caterham Track Day round Brands Hatch's full on and legendary Grand Prix circuit, and learnt that I might not have quite as much natural talent for it as I used to think, but I loved it all the same. I used to own a 100cc Racing Kart, and was convinced that only my financial situation stopped my inevitable progress to the upper echelons of Formula 1 motorsport.

Back to reality

The thing is, I have to balance this with the needs of the planet. Sure, I love motor racing, even as a spectator, but, what about our planet?

God's Little Acre is, we are told, going the way of Elvis and emissions is something we should all be looking to reduce. Hydrogen Fuelled Racing Cars, there only emission being water, seems like a great compromise. Sure, I would miss the sound and smells of a multi-cylinder petrol guzzling beast, but maybe hydrogen could give us something really fast?

Ok, this is not a full size car, my dreams of Formula H20 maybe just a dream, but why not?

Formula H20

According to Gadget Stuff

"The genius boffins at Horizon have come up with the world's smallest hydrogen-powered fuel cell car which has been nominated for the Intel Environmental Award in Silicon Valley's Tech Museum ? a grand honour for those of you who are not so technically inclined! The H2 Racer has all the notches on its belt, design, engineering and most importantly is as green-friendly as you can get without being a tree! This wicked little racer comes as a kit so it's perfect for those of you who fancy themselves as being ?good with your hands', or just those of you who have some serious time on their hands! "

"Full instructions are included of course."

Note: I haven't tried this yet!, but after the demise of Airfix, this looks like a great kit, erm for my daughter of course! lol

Buy the Hydrogen Fuelled Racing Car from Gadget Stuff

BlackBerry 8700v

Richard Senior — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 22:08:00 +0000

What to buy?

I was in need of a new mobile phone. My existing Sony Ericson had been a reliable companion, and worked perfectly with my Mac OS X Tiger apps - iSync, AddressBook and Salling Clicker.

I wanted a Mac compatible phone, one that would sync with my AddressBook and iCal. I also wanted to be able to send and receive e-mails and do a little web browsing. I looked at the Nokia E61, which looks cool especially the WiFi connectivity, but the BlackBerry was meant to be the king of e-mails, so no matter how tempting the Nokia was, I went for the BlackBerry 8700v

So far, so good

I downloaded PocketMac for BlackBerry V4, and via a USB lead (which also charges the phone), my AddressBook and iCal calendar all synced up perfectly to the phone. I would prefer to have been able to sync wirelessly via BlueTooth, but syncing is fast as you like with good old USB.

Web browsing was quick too, although many sites are not very friendly to small devices, but it is still very useable and the screen is gorgeous

Unfortunately, it won't let me send SMS messages via my Mac, nor will it let me use it as a modem when I travel. (If you know different, please let me know). What it does do though, it does extremely well. It has good battery life, it is great ergonomically and the Qwerty keyboard is very addictive. I am now mastering some keyboard shortcuts, and can get rid of spam and the like with just a couple of deft strokes. Email on the go is very cool and it works great with my .Mac email.

BlackBerry 8700v conclusion

All in all, this is a great piece of kit, and one that is growing on me the more I use it. Ok, it doesn't take photos and won't sync wirelessly (yet) but it is solid, reliable and well designed, and I am on top of my emails and messaging, which can't be bad.

i360 iMac Turntable

Richard Senior — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 14:12:00 +0000

iMac i360 Turntable Review

When you think of turntables, possibly images of Technics 1200 or Fat Boy Slim form in your head. The i360 is a different type of turntable. It is designed for the Apple iMac and will work with all G5 and Intel Core Duo iMacs and 20 and 23inch Apple Cinema Displays. The idea being that this new base will allow your iMac or Cinema Dispaly to turn easily. Allowing you easy access to the rear mounted connectors or to share the screen with a friend or colleague.

How does the i360 work?

You fit the i360 to the base of your iMac or display, which is a nice and easy task, the hardest part being deciding on which particular piece of included "eye candy" you should choose. Once installed you can easily turn your iMac, through 360 degrees, although this would tangle up your leads.

The i360 is quite a weighty piece of kit, but this weight gives your iMac or Display plenty of stability. My partner has a 20inch G5 iMac and the i360 has proved very useful for her. Plugging in digital cameras, iPods and other accessories, is now extremely easy.

i360 Verdict

The i360 is a well made and well designed piece of kit which could prove extremely useful for owners of 17 or 20 inch Intel or G5 powered iMacs or Apple Cinema Displays (not 30inch) who wish to share their screen or just gain easy access to the ports. It looks like it is part of the machine and the included eye candy allows you to customise your iMac.

Where to buy the i360

We have a few i360 stands left in our UK shop (hurry - while stocks last) , International shoppers can buy from here.

iPod Tube Map

Richard Senior — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 14:53:00 +0000

London Underground Map

If you can't afford a chauffeur and you want to travel in London, you will more than likely make use of the London Underground. Thanks to Harry Beck you can easily find out where you want to go.

In 1931 Harry was unemployed but that didn't stop him creating the London Underground Map. It ditched scale and confusion for clarity and ease of use, drawn more like an electronic diagram than a map, it made it easy for anybody to find their way underground.

It took Mr. Beck two years to persuade a reluctant London Underground to publish the map, when they finally did it quickly became a hit with the public, and became a design icon for other Tube and Subway networks to copy.

It has only been comparatively recently that Mr Becks acheivement has been finally recognised by the London Underground, when they erected a plaque in his honour at Finchley Central Tube Station and a Beck Gallery in the London Transport Museum.

iPod Underground and Tube Maps

In 2004 I had the idea of making a text version of the underground map, so that people could download it on to their iPods. I gave up about half way through compiling the project. Now that we have iPods that can display pictures, an iPod Tube map is now made possible again and alot easier to use than my text version. Thanks to iSubwaymaps.com you can now download a London Underground Tube Map onto your iPod (requires a iPod Video or Photo iPod). They have many different iPod compatible Tube and Subway maps available. So if you are in Tokyo, Melbourne, San Francisco or anywhere else check out their fantastic free iPod Map downloads.

Mac mini Intel

Richard Senior — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 14:55:00 +0000

Introducing Mac mini Intel

The Mac mini, Apple Computer's affordable and compact PC for your living room, has been given a great big, Father Ted style "kick up da arse". Apple have squeezed Intel Duo Core chips, Frontrow, Bluetooth, Airport and of course iLife '06 into this new digital hub.

It costs more

The only negative thing I can find about the Mac mini is that it costs more than it's Motorola G4 powered ancestors.

It does a lot more

The Mac mini is a BYODKM: Bring your own monitor, keyboard and mouse (or buy new ones). You will get Wireless Bluetooth and Airport, audio in and out (analogue and optical digital), four USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire 400, Gigabit ethernet, and an Apple Remote. It also supports up to 2GB of RAM on 2 slots.

This little Mac is 4 times as fast as before and it's bundled software; Mac OSX 10.4 (Tiger), iLife '06 and Front Row make it an ideal hub for your digital lifestyle. Watch and edit movies, build web pages, create music, listen to music - hey it's a Mac remember, what ever you want to do, it'll do with style.

Mac mini Intel Conclusion

This is a great entry level computer or wonderful digital hub. It will do pretty much anything you would want to do with a computer at a fair price.

Mac mini resources

Google Earth

Richard Senior — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 16:18:00 +0000

"Google Earth puts a planet's worth of imagery and other geographic information right on your desktop. View exotic locales like Maui and Paris as well as points of interest such as local restaurants, hospitals, schools, and more."

Google Earth is something you just have to try. It is the world in 3D and is quite breathtaking. Warning: Google Earth is more addictive than crack, but it is a wonderful way of wasting time.

What a wonderful world

The imagery is for the most part stunning. Some parts of the World are a little lacking in detail. But where else can you fly from Saddam's Former Palace to Nelson's Column, to Lhasa, Tibet so easily, affordably and quickly? This is a world without jetlag and pollution. It still is a world without true freedom though.

It's a funny world

From flying cars to Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction there is a lot more to Google Earth than the average atlas. It is this interactivity that has created a whole biosphere of Google Earth users. The Google Earth Community is a good place to find out more about Google Earth.

Jammin' the G4 till I can afford a G5 QUAD

Richard Senior — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:40:00 +0000

Memory is a good thing, without it we would, erm what was I talking about?

Memory is important to computers too. This is R.A.M as defined by the google.

The definition I liked best...

"Random Access Memory, the volatile memory used to temporarily store information for processing. This is the fastest type of memory for the computer, and the most expensive."

A revised and more appealing definition of memory...

"Up to 16GB of memory (RAM) provides ample bandwidth to compose using an unprecedented number of tracks."

It can also support up to eight 23inch monitors - far out!

Rich Man, Poor Man

Man, I can't afford a new Apple PowerMac G5 Quad. I want one so bad, but they cost just a Rizla short of £2300

Jammin' my PowerBook G4

My PowerBook G4 struggled with iPhoto and Photoshop open at the same time. What to do? I had 1GB of RAM, didn't think having 2GB would make a lot of difference - I was wrong, a big mistake.

After undertaking a remarkably simple procedure of buying two 1GB memory sticks, undoing 3 phillips screws, my G4 showed 2GB of memory and now everything is a little quicker. Some things are a lot quicker.

I have just bought Logic Pro, and hopefully next week I will have a chance to see how Logic runs on my slighty greying, but Viagra popping G4 PowerBook - 'Kundun'. Which has been given a good kick up the arse (Father Jack style) by it's new found maxed out RAM.

Feck Off! lol

Peace

Memory and RAM linkage

iGo iMac Desk

Richard Senior — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:54:00 +0000

Rain Design's iGo iMac desk is a fantastic accessory for your iMac G5. Now you can buy a desk which enhances the iMac's minimal styling and poise. It has an adjustable keyboard stand, suitable for left and right handers. The sitting model can be pushed around on it's wheels, so if you fit an airport card, you can work wherever suits you. It's also a lot more compact than most computer desks, so it'll take up a smaller footprint than a regular boring desk.

Gorgeous iGo

It comes complete with a iMac turntable so you can spin your display to exactly the right angle, great for working with others. Also your wrists will rejoice at the matching white gel filled wrist pad. Although it does show the dirt, it can be washed in warm soapy water. It also has a 'halo' lamp fitted beneath the computer which makes it glow in the dark - great for impressing your mates. It has a 'digital hub panel' which could also be described as a lightweight shelf and also has cup/speaker holders, depending on what is more important to you - caffeine or your audio.

iGo a Go-Go

The only thing that really lets down the iGo is the lack of space for books, paper, scanners etc. If like me you like to surround yourself with manuals and books, it may not be the desk for you. However if you clear your clutter and prefer a zen-like clear working space, then the iGo is a perfect mobile platform for you and your iMac. It will produce envious looks from friends and family and has a certain wow factor that I have yet seen to be matched. It is available in 2 versions - sitting and standing. The standing model has no castors but is perfect for a showroom or a designer reception.

Rain Design

iLap Laptop stand

Richard Senior — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 10:29:00 +0000

The iLap laptop stand is unique among the vast array of stands available for laptop computers. The iLap's cool design, keeps your laptop cool, and at the same time, lets you work comfortably on your lap as well as your desk. Making your laptop computer run cooler, elevate it to a better ergonomic position and protect your lap from heat and radiation.

iLap for your desk

The iLap is crafted from lightweight aluminium which helps your laptop or PowerBook run cooler. This is extremely useful for anybody working with audio, helping null any distracting fan noise, which is particularly invaluable while recording. The iLap also raises your laptop screen higher to reduce strain on your neck and shoulders. My laptop is a 17-inch Apple PowerBook G4, which I use with a 20-inch Apple Cinema Display. So the brushed aluminium looks as cool as it works in this configuration. It is available in different sizes from 12-inch iBooks and PowerBooks up to 17-inch for 17-inch PowerBooks. If you have a PC, then chances are the standard 15-inch model will be ideal for your Dell, Toshiba, IBM etc.

iLap for your Lap

This is where the iLap really excels. It sits on luxury velvet cushions, the front one is removable for desk use (if preferred). Which makes the iLap sit comfortably on your lap, while your checking your mail on the sofa. It lifts the height of your laptop which is helpful ergonomically and could even help with your sex life. Studies have concluded that using a laptop on your lap, could be potentially damaging to your crotch area. The heat can also make it very uncomfortable. So the iLap will help alleviate this heat from your lap, making the laptop run cooler, which has a number of benefits, including increased battery life.

iLap Criticisms

My only problem I have encountered with the iLap is that the removable velvet front cushion gets in the way of a front loading CD/DVD drive, like on the PowerBook. Not a big deal in real-life use. It is also quite expensive, but I wouldn't like to put a price on my sex life, and the way it works is just so elegant and useful; It easily justifies this expense.

Macidol iLap Review, Rain Design