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The rear side of the Kindle Fire.

A few weeks ago back, Amazon released the latest and greatest installment to their Kindle lineup- the Kindle Fire. If you’re like me and you got  in the month of December, you’re still tinkering with it, download books and apps, and doing tablet-ish things with it. If you’re still debating on if you should get one, look no further than this article.

Design

The Kindle Fire in sleep mode.

The Kindle Fire has a very simple design. With it’s 7-inch LCD IPS display surrounded by a nice, black bezel, the Kindle looks both professional and simple. On the back we find a nice, rubbery-plastic, that is easy to grip. However, I usually find that when I hold my Kindle, I hold it with my entire hand around it, because it’s so small. We also find on the back an engraved ‘kindle’  logo, along with the Amazon logo. The only grip I really have with the design is that the sleep-wake/power button is on the bottom, which is a little awkward to get to. I wish they would have put it on the top, or at least on the side. Speaking of the top, up there we find two stereo speakers, which I found to be very good. Sure, they aren’t Bang & Olufsen’s, but for a tablet, they get the job done. I also wish the Fire had a volume rocker on the side, being the only way to adjust the volume is to pull down the menu in the operating system.

Operating System

Amazon used their own version of Android for Kindle Fire. On my Kindle, the only software version it displays is “6.2.1_user_3103920″. Whatever that means. I cannot find a place in the actual operating system that tells me what exactly the version of Android it is.

The lock screen, in my opinion, is terrible. The lock slider goes from right to left, and when you think reading a book, you read from left to right. It almost seems like Amazon was trying too hard to make the Kindle Fire different. Heck, at least keep the normal lock screen from Android. Another grip about the lock screen is that I have not found one way to change the wallpaper. Amazon has loaded about twelve different photos on it, and I have not found away to change them. Very frustrating. I could go on for days about things that I don’t care for in the operating system. It has a lot of work to go under.

My current system version.

Bottom Line

At $199, the price is hard to beat. I think, however, that the Kindle Fire is almost too in the middle. What I mean by this is that it’s little brother is of course the original Kindle, and it’s big bro, the iPad. I think if I just wanted a normal e-reader, I would go with the Kindle. If I wanted more, the iPad. The Kindle Fire is just too much of a compromise. I would like to see a better operating system (and Amazon, when I say better, I want you to scrap the one now and start anew), and a front-facing camera.

The SoundBender - Small Doesn't Mean Weak

To all iPad users, you’ve probably noticed that the iPad’s speakers location on the back of the iPad causes the volume of music to drop dramatically and lose clarity. Then I heard of the SoundBender, which is a small, powerless device that magnetically attaches to iPads and redirects the direction of the soundwaves towards you. I’ll admit it. When I first got my hands on a SoundBender I had my doubts. I didn’t think it would be able to direct sound as well as it was described to be. I was utterly wrong.

The first time is attached this device onto my iPad 2 the difference in volume absolutely shocked me. The quality of the iPad 2 speakers are maintained, and the focus of the sound being emitted comes towards the user, rather than going away from you. I love how the SoundBender doesn’t need batteries, and simply magnetically attaches itself into place at the speaker location. Now, there are a few small problems that come along with the SoundBender’s simplicity. First of all, it’s not going to work with iPad cases that completely or partially enclose the speakers. My Quiksilver Hard Back Shell case fits nicely with the SoundBender, but many other cases will not. Secondly, the SoundBender isn’t the most attractive of all accessories. It’s presence was quite prominent to me, mainly due to clash between the red of the SoundBender and the white of my iPad. However, if you get a color that matches your style, you’re good to go. A third issue is the magnet strength. The magnet that holds the SoundBender in place is strong, but not strong enough to withstand a light bump directly to the SoundBender. If you are watching a movie without moving the iPad, no problem. But if you are carrying the iPad around with the SoundBender attached, it’s going to fall off.

A perfect fit

To receive your very own SoundBender, visit the SoundBender’s KickStarter site at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1922462513/soundbender and make a donation of at least $10 to help them get the SoundBender funded. Oh, and trust me, even though there are some troubles, it’s worth the investment.

A video interview with the creator of this awesome iPad accessory is coming soon.

It’s that time of year again; Apple recently released the new version of the iPhone: the 4S. Boasting new additions such as Siri, this new phone was shown by Apple as the best yet. In the following review, I will be going over the new additions to the phone, along with several other things.

SIRI

The newest addition to the iPhone is called Siri. This is a new type of voice command that is special to the iPhone. The app “understands” exactly what you are saying, then completes an action based on what you ask it. For example, if you tell your phone that you want Italian food in your local city, it will pull up a list of all near-by Italian restaurants. In my opinion, this is the coolest part of the iPhone. Although the Siri servers have been fluctuating up and down for the last couple of days due to high numbers of new users, it will hopefully be consistently up as the number of users diminishes. From my experience, the system has been about 95% right. As most of you know, old voice recognition systems would botch whatever you were saying and tell you it couldn’t help. Siri is shockingly smart. I applaud Apple for their amazing development to future voice-recognition devices.

CAMERA

The iPhone 4S has a Fifth Lens

I have one word for the camera on the 4s: wow. This is the greatest phone camera I have ever seen. The 8-megapixel front and back camera deliver perfect crisp pictures with delicate layering. The new multi-person auto-focus is extremely nice. I was with friends last night, and we all decided to take a picture with my phone. My 4s was able to detect everyone’s faces and take a focused picture. This is a huge improvement from the last iPhone. The HD 1080p video that has also been added is gorgeous. The video is perfect.

SPEED INCREASES:

This is by far the fastest iPhone yet. Because of the A5 chip also in the iPad 2, the phone is supposed to be 7 times faster than the last one. The speed in which apps open up, pictures are taken, and generally everything is ran is mind boggling. I just hope that the next iPhone will find a way to be even faster; if that is even possible… Running IOS 5, this phone has unbelievable capabilities. It has never lagged once, and connecting to wifi or internet is much faster. This phone makes every application ten times better with better graphics, speed, and feel.

THE BIG QUESTION: SHOULD I UPRGADE?

There are many of you out there, just like me, who have the 3gs and are waiting for your contract to expire so you can get a new phone. If you are in this situation: yes. Go to the store as soon as your contract expires, and buy the 4s. It is such a spectacular piece of work, there is no way to pass it up. However, if you have a 4 and are wondering, there is an option. If you do have an extra pile of cash that you are willing to spend, then yes, get the phone. But, if not, wait until the next one comes out. It will be worth it in time.

HELPFUL TIPS

Protect your phone. So far, every iPhone 4 that I have seen without a case is cracked. Spend the money, and get a nice case that protects the screen. A screen protector is not always necessary as long as you don’t put it in your pocket with keys or something like that. Also, set up an account for find my iPhone. This application will display a screen on the phone with a number to call and will lock the phone with a password. I also prefer the black because the white version seems to get scratched much easier. But that’s just my opinion, get what suits you.

The new iPhone 4S is available on AT&T, Sprint, and TMobile with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB for $199, $299, and $399 respectively on a 2-year contract.

Front View of the K-5

The Pentax K-5 is not a new camera but by no means an old camera as it still attracts new camera buyers and camera fanatics that know a lot about digital SLR’s.

Let’s start off with some key features of the Pentax K-5.

• 16.3 Mega Pixel CMOS Sensor
• ISO Sensitivity span of 51,200
• 1080p HD Movie capture that’s shoots at 25 fps and a
• Basic in build video editor
• External microphone input
• News 11+ saphox system
• 11 focus point with a wider array than the K-7
• 100% view finder coverage
• 3inch 921000 digital LCD Screen

The technicality of the product is amazing for its price and still matches most of the cameras out on the market at that price today. The K-5 is no means the same as the K-7 but if we compare most of the key aspects from both cameras there are a lot of the features that are the same.

Design

The design of the camera (body) is almost exactly the same as the K-7 and to the naked eye you can barely tell the two cameras apart. The shape, quality and construction quality are practically the same on both cameras with their sturdy and solidity of the magnesium alloy body.

Despite the smallish size it has a excelling build quality. The feel of the camera while holding it is quite light and makes it feel like a more professional product. While holding the camera it feel comfortable in one or two hands and the ergonomics of the product where obviously thought out well. The quality compared to the size of the viewfinder is remarkable and clear so you can see every detail on the product with ease. Also the eye piece is great since you get 100% coverage in the view of what you are shooting. It also offers 0.92 magnification.

The viewfinder is also compared to having warm color rendition this is far from unpleasant and can go without being noticed in normal shooting conditions. The button layout and functions of the camera where well thought out and it is easy to master where the controls are on the camera and what they do. Beneath the rear control dial is a green button which has two purposes one to instantly set aperture and shutting speed for the correct metered exposure in manual mode and the other thing it does is to set the camera back to the normal programme mode in hyper program mode. I’m not going to go into detail of what all the buttons do but here are a few more that I thought would be at interest for you Pentax followers.

There are some standard AF pattern selection switches this has a down side that the switch is not stiff enough and can be flicked by an accidental nudge. The Af button is in the middle of the camera and can be used to toggle auto focusing supposed to half holding the shutter down. Below the af switch are a range of buttons which provide access to the self-timer, while balance, flash and colour contrast and sharpness settings.

There is a standard LV button which turns it into live view mode. There is no Lv switch from photo to video mode you have to rotate the dial and select it.Up above the Raw/FX button there is the flash button which activates the in built pop up flash. For the SD card there is a single right hand side slide to lock door a standard mechanism for cameras today.

That’s really it for the viewing and look specifications that’s remarkable to the camera to finish off on the view it’s a well presented camera which suits any buyer male or female the camera also works with previous Pentax lenses.

Below is a table listing the full technical specification off of the Pentax website  it tells you all the nitty grits and bits that I’m sure you’ll agree it’s one impressive piece of kit when you compare it to the price Pentax are selling the camera for.

What’s new in the camera compared to older products and the K-7?

The K-5 From the Back

The most noticeable and new feature to the k-5 is the 16.3 megapixel Cemos censor. The iso sensitivity can be extended up to a full 51,200 at top end. The camera also has an 11+ saphox system with 11 focus points that have a wider array that the k-7 this means they have a better reach of what they can focus on. This is one of the best yet on the Pentax market. Other things that are new include an electronic level that detect vertical and horizontal tilt it can be toggled in the RAW/FX button. The K-5 camera offers a full 1080P recording that shoots at 25fps.custon image modes and digital filters can be applied to the footage. An external mic can be inserted but it costs and is sold separately. There are many more effects most of them appear in similar cameras but not to the quality and working satisfactory of the K-5.The camera offers 18 digital images modes/filters,9 new ones to the camera.

In terms of operation and controls it is basically the same as the K-7.Despite the size of the pleasing 3 inch digital lcd screen the Pentax designers and producers made a lot of room and good space for a considerable amount of buttons on the camera. The buttons are hard to operate with cold fingers when we went into the field shooting and also with gloves on are hard to control and set with gloves on but this is not a setback. The buttons have a great feel and press to them and can be operated simply and happily.

As with previous Pentax cameras, the K-7 has an amazing selection of external. It also has an exposure mode dial that plays host to the conventional PASM options. There are three Pentax only shooting modes – Sensitivity Priority Aperture Priority. You can also select the custom user mode in which you can create up to 5 different profiles.

There is no direct movie shooting button on the K-5 body, you must unlock the exposure mode dial and rotate it to the movie shooting position before you can record video. I suppose you may get used to it in the future.

On the top right of the camera there is a front dial which by default, adjusts shutter speed in TV and manual exposure modes. Just Behind this is the shutter release button and next to which is the main power switch.

I won’t go into much about the menus as it is practically the same as the other Pentax cameras. They are great menus and easy to navigate. At a first glance at the menu you would probably think what is this and how am I going to use this. This is only a first impression and as you get to know the menus and the ways they work they become easier to control. The menu is split into four main segments the custom menu, the shoot menu, the review menu and the settings menu. Otherwise known as the record, playback, setup and custom functions

The playback menu doesn’t offer as many options as the record menu but who would expect it to. It has the basic functions such as auto images rotation which is surprisingly sharp and does it almost instantly along with the slide show option which allows you to change the interval and transition mode. There not really a lot to be said about the view menu as it is pretty much the same as any other SLR on the market out there. No one really expect the review menu to change as nothing can really be done about it.

The settings menu is rather like the shoot menu with multi options and tools that makes the camera so easy to work with and use.

In a nutshell the menus are easy to navigate and change the options usually with the tap of two buttons to move across and select. There are several smaller menu buttons while shooting photos or videos that you can press to adjust the mode or features in the particular mode.

While in the Programme automatic mode which is probably the easiest mode to take high quality pictures in without having to adjust too many settings, to get the crisp clear look you expert from the camera. You can press the up arrow to take you to the shoot mode menu which allows you to change the shoot type to options like self-timer and multi shot mode. Each of the directions give you a different menu. The down arrow flash and the left and white arrows previous picture editing. These are all helpful and handy tips to make you pictures look better even when there still on the camera.

Overall Handling

The overall handling is superb and the feel of the camera when holding it is superb you basically get a more high end camera in the body of the K-5.This is in terms of the picture quality and the performance and what the Pentax is capable of. Despite the size of the camera being fairly small it lives up to the standard it should. The camera is quite like the K-7 with a few more features and improvements on the K-7 .The aspects that weren’t so good on the K-7 have been touched on and bought back up to standard with the K-5.The grip of the camera gives a comfortable handle on the camera and is easy to grip even for people with large hands or in the opposite direction of small hands. The menus maybe be scary and complex at first but as you get used to them you become more fluid with the operating. Another excellent thing is the button placement how easy it is to change the mode and settings from a few presses on the front of the camera without flicking through the menus. The video shooting expectations were high and we expected the films to be at a high quality which they were but we felt that they could have been a bit sharper and some of the cheaper video camera on the market did a better job. This doesn’t let the camera down as the videos are still at a 1080p HD and produce excellent videos just not the best.

Performance

The performance is excellent and what you expect from a modern DSLR. Shutter lag is minimal and the 7fps is fast and smooth producing the same quality pictures everytime.When the camera is not in the mulit shot mode the camera can still take several pictures while continuous clicking the capture button. The review time on auto review is about a second which isn’t really much of a delay at all while waiting for your picture to show on the LCD screen. Some things that did let the camera down was that in bright light the camera did overexpose a little under bright light and underexpose a little in dull and cloudy situations. In normal light the camera is at its best and work to the standard Pentax says it does. The ISO automatic functions are one of the best on the market. In its default mode, it aims to deliver a shutter speed adequate to prevent camera shake using the 1/equivalent focal length so a minimum of 1/40sec at 18mm, 1/200sec at 135mm, and so on. But there are two other options, labelled fast and slow. The instruction manual cover everything in detail so after reading that or just browsing through it you can master the camera in no time at all.

When we tested the fps we found the camera does shoot at a promising 7fps but can averagely range between around 6.4 and 7fps.Pentax says that the camera has a faster and more accurate autofocusing system than the K-7 which is does and to a much high standard as well. The camera has the safox IX+ the plus meaning that the sensor is also sensitive to light as well as colour. The camera shoots well in under most lighting conditions whether dull light or a mid-tone. When the camera is running low in battery you can really tell as the performance drops and the 1 second view time changes to about a 3 second view time. Also we feel that the changing in the menus slows down as well.

The Bottom Line

Overall the performance is fast and very responsive. The camera takes stunning pictures if you have it in the right setting and it offers personal user settings to personalize to your own unique style. Although the video is not as good as it could be the camera still offers 1080P HD.We have tested the camera in multiple environments and it works up to scratch. The camera offers a comfortable design and the ergonomics have been thought of well. Overall I would give the K-5 9 out of 10.With its amazing technical specifications it beats most of the new DSLR’s on the market out there. It is a promising camera and is worth buying if you are into photography or just want to take awesome photographs then the camera is worth having a look into.

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Design

The design is pretty nice on this joystick though it is made of plastic. First of all, it has a great, sturdy base with rubber grips so it doesn’t slide around. Obviously there is a joystick in the middle that moves around, and last of all there are 11 programable buttons and a little “dial” thing.

Compatibility

This thing connects simply by plugging in the USB cord into your computer! No drivers or softwares are required to start using the joystick. It is also Mac and PC compatible which means that it works for almost everyone. The games that it work with range from flight simulators like X-Plane and Flight Simulator X, shooting games like Call of Duty, and so much more!

Customization

Like I said earlier, the joystick has 11 programable buttons that are strategically placed for many actions. For example, there is a button on the back of the joystick which is good for a trigger if your shooting, or if you are flying a plane it can be used for a engine starter! There is a little “dial” in the front which can be used for a throttle in a boat or plane simulator, or could be used to do pretty much anything!

Price and Conclusion

For only $20 dollars, this seems like a no brainier for those that want to one up their gaming experience. The build quality is solid, it works well, and its not very expensive!

A few weeks ago, we decided it was time to replace that remote. (the display was hard to read for the older folks) We ended up getting the Harmony One for $164.99. Though it was expensive, it had great reviews and a color backlit touchscreen. For now, all I am going to say is that it is simply amazing.

Design

The Harmony is a very ergonomic design that fits perfectly in your hand and has a nice soft touch backing. On the top you will find the micro USB sync/setup port. On the bottom you will see the battery cover that houses the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. Most of the remote is made of plastic which loves fingerprints, but it isn’t very bothersome.

In the Box

Inside of the box (which is actually easy to open!) you will find:

• The Harmony One remote control
• Charging station
• USB cable
• AC adapter
• Lithium-ion battery
• Installation CD
• Installation guide
• 1-year limited hardware warranty (U.S.)

Setup

Setup is relatively easy because of the included setup software. It will guide you along to setting up all your devices to work from the touch of a button. For the first time sync, you have to connect the remote via USB to your computer, but after that, you shouldn’t have to again. If you are upgrading from another Logitech remote control then all you need to do is plug it in and let it sync, without you needing to start over.

Use

When you are ready to watch/play something, you simply use the touchscreen to select what you want to do such as “Watch TV.”
I found that you needed to have a good line between you to the devices to have all of them start up the first time you tell it to. Also, my device sometimes wouldn’t change the input on the TV to what was needed for the action I was telling it to do. If something isn’t right, simply hit the help button. (I used it a good amount in the beginning!)

Conclusion

Though the price might deter some, I think the Harmony is a good investment for those who want a simple and easy experience. On the other hand, my device at lease had some trouble changing inputs, but gradually it learns! Finally, if you only have just TV and a cable box (or something of that nature), you don’t need this at all! With capabilities of up to 15 devices, this is for the people that have have a good number of devices. If you want to order it for the cheapest, you can do it from Amazon.

Design

Being the “G-Drive Slim”, this hard drive is you guessed it; really thin. It’s by far thinner than my iPhone and MacBook Air. It has a sort of curved design which makes it slightly thicker, but definitely makes it look nice.

Speeds

I’ve found the best thing to use this drive for is using it as a Time Machine backup drive. It’s definitely got enough storage, and the speeds are adequate for backing up. It also works great for storing pictures, videos, and other large files on the go, because it’s so slim. Hey, it even passes for basic video editing in iMovie. It really is an awesome all purpose hard drive.

The Bottom Line

With the purchase of the QC15’s I expected the stellar quality and service provided to me the last time around, and I must say this product lives up to all of it. These headphones offer extremely clean and beautiful sound in a comfortable and light form factor, along with added noise cancellation, allowing you to virtually hear nothing but your music playing. With that said, you will have to deal with replacing those pesky AAA’s and a $300 price tag, but if you are a fan of good sound like I am then you are in for a treat.

Price

Firstly, I’m going to start off with price, since you have to be able to pay for the product before you can buy it! And with that said the price is unfortunately nothing but a turn off for many customers. My partial remedy to this, either buy on eBay or buy factory renewed (basically new) like I did from Bose for about $30 off. When I bought them Bose also had the factory renewed products on sale, putting me in the $240 range, which was better than eBay! The problem that many have with the full price is that it is estimated that it could only cost 10% of the $300 to manufacture the headphones due to outsourcing. Even with that said, when you put them on the price will suddenly become adequate, because you are listening to some serious sound reproduction.

In the box

Inside of the box you’ll see the nice included hard shell carrying case and your various manuals. Simply unzip the case and you’ll see the headphones along with the airline adapter, detachable 3.5mm gold plated audio cable, as well as a few courtesy cards resting inside so you can show off where you got your new headphones to anyone who inquires more about them.

The picture above, show’s everything included except for the now standard iPod/iPhone cable, which allows the device to make phone calls as a headset or move between songs with the small inline, Apple remote-like device. Unfortunately not included are the 1/8 stereo jack adapter and extension, which were included in the previous iterations.

Sound and Comfort

For this pair of headphones I am going to mix the sound and comfort categories for obvious reasons. Firstly, addressing sound, I can assure you, after testing various genres of music, from Pachelbel’s Canon in D to some RHCP and even some Cee Lo Green, these headphones preform excellently in all categories. The mids and highs are quite good and the bass will rattle your eardrums. The bass response surprisingly is superior to my Tritton Ax Pro’s, which have dedicated 40mm subs! The only con I have here is that the drivers beneath the ear cups tend to rattle at high volumes. Putting the cushions back on your head seems to mollify the rattling, however I would suggest keeping the volume to a good listening level. Other than music these headphones have performed well with video games as well. The noise cancelation gives an added effect for playing your favorite Xbox 360, PS3 or PC game. And speaking of noise cancelation, it is fantastic. The noise cancelation is most definitely the selling point and arguably the best thing about the product. Bose’s noise cancelation is by far the best on the market, and combined with wonderful and immersive sound, the headphones simply can’t be beat.

Before I wrap up the topic of sound, I would like to address the critics of headphones. Many critics of the product will argue that the headphones’s sound could be changed in certain areas, such as the mids and highs, but there is a key element to my review that others doing the same thing do not have. What this is, is the ability to play music. In my opinion, being a musician allows one to know respective sounds, and know when they are reproduced correctly. When listening to Yiruma, a famous pianist, for example, you can only hear the piano when he plays because he is a soloist. But now, take Maynard Ferguson for example, a famous trumpet player and lead in his jazz orchestra. When I listen to him on my headphones, each instrument sounds separated, sort of like a soloist, but complied to make an entire arrangement of instruments. It is exactly like what you ears would naturally be able to perceive in a concert, but the headphones allow you to do the same thing. The noise cancelation basically allows you to be the only one at that concert.
Next, when addressing the headphones from a comfort standpoint, they are nothing short of their name. The headphones could be worn for hours without any issue. Some may say the headphones feel cheap, but I say they feel light. The cushions are made of extremely soft leather, on the outside, and foam on the inside. The headband is fully adjustable, and the pivoting and rotating earcups can be fitted to any human head.

The Bottom Line
If you like playing or listening to music, and don’t want any distractions while doing it, buy these headphones!

While Verizon iPhones have Hotspot features already it’s AT&T brother will be getting it March 11th with the release of iOS 4.3. The feature is going to allow AT&T user to create wireless WiFi hotspots with there phones, to be used with other devices. To get the hotspot feature it is going to cost you an extra $20 a month and have a $25/mo 2GB Data Pro plan on their handset, The hotspot plan adds an additional 2GB to the existing 2GB data plan so you have 4GB to play with and tether around. Verizon’s hotspot plan is similar but you they have unlimited data on the phone and only 2GB of tether data.

Additional GB of data on AT&T are $10/GB, while additional GB on Verizon are $20/GB.

Give me your thoughts on this and if you think it’s worth getting for the cost. I had it back when the 3g iPhone was new and i loved it, due to the amount of traveling i do for work it was very handy. There are products out there now like the Rover Puck that give you 4G WiFi tethering with no contract so is it really worth it to get it on your iPhone?