Blu rays of the month September 2009

With top notch new Blu-Ray releases hitting the shelves almost every day it’s hard to keep track, but here are the top high def movies to come out in September 2009. Better start saving those pennies.

This Is Spinal Tap 25th Anniversary Edition
The original rockumentary makes a return to the spotlight after a quarter of a century. Still considered by many music fans as the best biography of a band that never existed, its influence is still felt today in shows like The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The special edition even comes with a mini Marshal amplifier which doubled up as iPod speakers. Turn your HD TV to 11 and enjoy!

The Quick and the Dead
In the 90s the best western in town wasn’t Unforgiven, but this offering from Spiderman director Sam Raimi. Packed with shoot-outs and starring Sharon Stone and a fresh-faced Russell Crowe it’s an action packed epic that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Crank 2: High Voltage
Quite simply the most bizarre, indulgent, excessive and crude action film ever made, topping the insanity of the first outing in many ways. Jason Statham takes to the streets as Chev Chelios, a virtually invincible hitman who’s had his heart stolen by the Chinese mafia and replaced by an electric substitute. How does he keep his new ticker beating? With constant electric shocks. Mad genius at work.

Fast and Furious
The fourth film in the famous franchise saw a return to form earlier this year with fast cars, hot chicks and manly super studs all wrestling for superiority in the California deserts it’s got everything that a blockbuster could need. Also out this month is a box set containing all four of the films in the series in high definition, a must for all petrol-heads.

The Deer Hunter
Another classic from Robert DeNiro’s golden days, the Deer Hunter examines masculinity and relationships against the backdrop of Vietnam. It’s a true classic that rivals anything made by Scorsese or Coppola during the same period and will make a triumphant return in high definition.

State of Play
Arguably the most intelligent blockbuster released this year, it follows Russell Crowe’s investigative journalist from the oldschool and his young, female, blogging sidekick as they attempt to uncover government conspiracy. In many ways it’s an old fashioned thriller filmed in a modern way, but if you want to have your head and heart satisfied this is a good buy.

Snakes on a Plane
The film that proved the true power of the internet to influence the movies, it sees Samuel L. Jackson fending off attacks from pesky snakes whilst flying at 10,000 feet. Very silly stuff but endearing because of it. It shows that the 80s cheesyness hasn’t been completely washed away in a post-Bourne world.

Gladiator
Russell Crowe seems to be all over the September Blu-Ray release schedule and this is perhaps his most important entry onto this list. This movie won multiple Oscars and reminded the world that Ridley Scott was a great director. Ancient Rome has never been recreated with such atmosphere and authenticity and the gladiatorial fight scenes make Spartacus look like…well, Snakes on a Plane.

Fame
Just in time for the revamped remake, the classic 80s musical gets another going over for the high definition generation. The story of performing arts students trying to make it in the cutthroat world of show business isn’t tarnished by time and the delicious sense of place is a rare thing to find in any movie. If you’re a fan of Fame then you’re probably already rushing to pre-order it now.

Leon: Director’s Cut
Luc Besson’s entire back catalogue is making its way to Blu-Ray this month and Leon is the best of the bunch. Jean Reno stars as a hit man with a heart of gold, who takes a young Natalie Portman into his care and imparts some of his deadly knowledge to her in the process. Americans thought this was typically French, whilst French viewers though Besson had gone all American. Have a look and decide for yourself.

Dead Man’s Shoes
Before Shane Meadows took the world by storm with This Is England, he made Dead Man’s Shoes, a tragic and funny story following an ex-soldier seeking revenge on the local men who tormented his disabled brother whilst he was serving abroad. Typically English in its execution, it’s an involving and stylish film that invites close attention.

Freddy Vs Jason
Whilst both of these classic horror franchises went off the rails decades ago, this movie saw the rebirth of two cult horror stars, competing for the spotlight and fighting to rack up the highest body counts.

Computer Games Of The Month September 2009

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (PS3, XBOX 360, PSP, DS)

Release Date: 04/09/2009

The game is based around aerial-combat during the Second World War. Boasting an all-new damage effects engine (showing damage to the aircraft as it happens) and outstanding visuals and fantastic details, IL-2 Sturmovik gives gamers the chance to pilot fighters and battle heavy bombers or planes through exhilarating missions set over stunning scenery.

 

SuperCar Challenge (PS3)

Release Date: 04/09/2009

SuperCar Challenge features more than 20 different tracks and over 40 different cars in an arcade simulation racing game. The game allows the player to experience all the emotions that come with driving cars such as the Aston Martin DB9, the McLaren F1 and the Lamborghini Murcielago RGT on famous tracks (such as Silverstone, Spa and the Nürbergring) and several fictional circuits alike.

Dirt 2 (XBOX 360, PS3, WII, PSP, DS)

Release Date: 11/09/2009

The Dirt series returns, with this game possessing improved physics and visuals, new features to keep the racing community interested and head-to-head online play. Dirt 2 allows the gamer to take part in adrenaline-fuelled events set in real-life locations, such as “Stadium King Shootout” in a massive Los Angeles sports stadium, “Creek Trailblazer” in Utah and the “Battersea Battle” set at night at the famous London powerstation.

Guitar Hero 5 (PS3, XBOX 360, WII, PS2)

Release Date: 11/09/2009

The aim of Guitar Hero 5 is to elevate the whole Guitar Hero series to new heights by including unmatched social gameplay, an improved style to the game, new artists and more legends of rock. The game features new challenges and surprises that the games creators hope will fire-up music enthusiasts and create a new group of Guitar Hero addicts. This new version of the very popular music game allows players to take total control by customising and personalising the game to suit their demands with any in-game combination of instruments in any of the game modes on offer. The all-new Party Play Mode makes getting the band together simper than ever before. Gameplay is now more accessible and Guitar Hero 5 gives the player the entire set list from the start, including massive hits by artists such as the Kings Of Leon, The White Stripes, Tom Petty, Iron Maiden, Vampire Weekend and Stevie Wonder.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (with Armoured Batsuit Unlock Code) (PC)

Release Date: 18/09/2009

Batman: Arkham Asylum takes the player to the depth of Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane in an atmospheric, dark and unique adventure game that has fantastic graphics and level of detail. Gamers will have to move in the shadows, investigating fear amongst the enemy, confronting The Joker and the most well known villains from Gotham City who have taken over control of the asylum and try and foil the evil scheme of The Joker.

Need for Speed: Shift (PC, PS3, XBOX 360, PSP)

Release Date: 18/09/2009

This is an all-new simulation racing game combining the true experience of driving with real-life conditions, a wide range of authentic racing tracks and cars that look stunning. Need For Speed: Shift will take gamers down a unique route to create a simulation experience that will feel the same as actually driving a top-of-the-range performance car. The game features an accessible and accurate physics-based model of driving that allows the player to feel every change of surface, every bit of grip and every crash that occurs whilst they are racing.

Halo 3: ODST (XBOX 360)

Release Date: 22/09/2009

Halo 3 is a prequel campaign to the best-selling shooter Halo. Set in 2552, the gamer takes the role of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, with orders to stay alive, meet up with their squad scattered all over the city of New Mombassa and eventually escape the area.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (XBOX 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, WII, DS)

Release Date: 25/09/2009

Create your own team from over 24 playable characters from the Marvel Universe, each of whom possess a specialized power in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. As the Superhuman Registration Act becomes law and all Super Heroes must be registered as weapons of mass destruction, Captain America leads the Anti-Registration side whilst Iron Man heads the Pro-Registration team as Civil War looms. Depending on the side you choose to be part of in the game, you will have to tackle different missions and enemies.

Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box (DS)

Release Date: 25/09/2009

Navigate your way through numerous puzzles as Professor Layton and his apprentice, Luke, to determine who or what caused the death of Dr. Schrader, Professor Layton’s mentor.

Freeloader Globetrotter Solar Charger Kit review

With climate change and the environment currently at the top of the political and business agenda, there is now a huge demand for products that can be used ‘sustainably’. Unfortunately, this is also occurring at a time of insatiable demand for the latest power hungry gadgets. For the ordinary person, the ability to use your favourite electronic toys without harming the environment is probably preferable, but becomes extra appealing when combined with saving money and making life easier. Enter the Freeloader Globetrotter Kit, which is designed to recharge a massive range of gadgets on the move, with no need for mains powered or battery electricity.

The product works by collecting light energy from either the sun or an artificial light source. This is then converted into electricity and stored in the supplied battery. The battery itself is 1000mA power, meaning that it will charge a large proportion of mobile phones and MP3 players to full, although it is really designed to give a ‘flash’ part charge to allow you to use your electronic devices whilst on the move. The battery is of the modern lithium ion type, which is environmentally friendly and can withstand two years of constant use. If you happen to visit somewhere with a computer, but no compatible wall socket (or if you don’t have it with you), the battery can also be charged directly via a USB connection, providing a further option. The solar panel itself is around eight inches wide by six inches tall, which is bigger than the original FreeLoader Portable, but offers a much more reliable charge time, of as little as four hours in direct sunlight.

 

 

The solar panel comes housed in its own smart carry case, which is made of canvas and so protects from light bumps and from scratches, without adding any significant carry weight for when – as expected – you’re travelling with the device. The solar panel is also designed to be actually used whilst moving and offers two lever secured clamps to attach to a strap, a bicycle or a bag and there is also a velcro strap for extra security. This means if you plan on spending the day, for example, walking or cycling, you needn’t worry about finding somewhere that you can leave the Freeloader unit to charge. As well as the main large solar panel, the Globetrotter kit also comes with two smaller panels, which can be more easily transported if this is an issue for you. They also fold up neatly into the same style as the brushed metal battery pack and the best bonus of having these extra chargers is that they can be used in combination with the main charger to collect more light and therefore maximise your recharge times.

If using artificial light as a charging method, its likely you’ll have a longer charge time, unless the lights are especially strong, or the unit is close to the light source. However, this still remains a great way of charging your phone or MP3 player for free, as you can always leave it charging, wherever you are, even if you don’t think you’ll be needing it – allowing you to reclaim some of the cost of powering your lights at home or in the office. The unit does not have a dedicated indicator to tell you when the battery is full, as the assumption is that you will leave it on charge for as long as possible at all times. However, it does have an indicator telling you if the battery is being charged at full rate (i.e. from direct sunlight), or at a lower rate (e.g. if it is cloudy or you are using an artificial light source). The device holds its charge for up to three months, so you can easily make sure you always have the battery fully charged before you even know you’re going to need it again.

Because of the wide range of phones this device is compatible with, it is stocked by leading retailer mobilefun.co.uk and makes a great purchase alongside an LG Chocolate, Motorola V3, or any Nokia phone, as well as others from Samsung and Sony Ericsson. However, while its most useful application is probably phones, it can also be used with any iPod or iPhone, a range of satellite navigations systems as well as hand held gaming consoles, such as the PSP. The unit is designed to be incredibly easy to use, with different cables included in the box for the range of compatible devices and simple ‘plug and play’ functionality.

Top Ten Iphone Apps For September 2009

The iPhone is still winning hearts and minds around the world and with the latest version, the 3Gs, it’s now more powerful than ever. Thousands of Apps are available, produced by big companies as well as entrepreneurial individuals looking to be the next thing and they range from incredibly useful down to the downright bizarre. Some great apps are available completely free of charge, whilst others are priced reasonably and can be downloaded quickly via 3G or Wi-Fi. Here’s a brief rundown, in ascending order of the top 10 iPhone Apps available in September 2009. These apps are certainly great, but they might not be useful to everyone and if you’ve got a favourite app that you think has been missed off then join in the debate let everyone else know what you think. The only way apps can improve is through community input and voting with your wallets. Read more

LG Watch Phone

Dick Tracy fans are rushing in there hoards to the nearest Orange shop to get there grips on the LG Watch Phone, if you haven’t got one it’s probably already too late.

There is something very appealing about watch incorporated gadgetry; Ian Fleming found the idea one to elaborate on hence James Bonds’ series of handy timepieces.

Over the years the humble wrist watch has undergone many technological advances from the incorporation of chronographs, digitalisation and a multitude of alarms and stopwatches. Likewise the mobile phone has immerged to be one of the most rapidly advancing gadgets on the market from the introduction cameras, Bluetooth and voice recognition to touch screen, internet and lord knows what multitude of apps available. Now the two have become conjoined in a very welcome and long overdue fashion.

Initially obvious scepticisms of such a relationship spring to mind, can a wristwatch / mobile phone combo work? Can it really look and perform as both a phone and a watch at the same time? The answer to both these questions is a resounding yes. The LG Watch Phone is not only stylish, elegant and comfortable, its usability and function is of top draw calibre.

The touch screen I am reliably informed is both smooth and responsive allowing easy menu browsing and typing. Bluetooth synchronisation is quick and simple. An all round cool bit of kit the LG Watch Phone has surpassed my expectations, will it yours?

Available exclusively to Orange, released in august and limited numbers mean it may be too late to get your hands on this head turning timepiece.

Skullcandy Asym Headphones review

Skullcandy have already established a name for themselves as designers of hardwearing, high quality and attractive earphones of all shapes and sizes (i.e. over ear and in ear models). The ‘Asym’ model is an in ear piece, designed as a lightweight, comfortable option for those exercising or playing active sports, that are inconspicuous while also being attractive when examined. To achieve this final aim, the Aysm earphones are designed to fit smoothly within the ear, so that they barely stick out at all once inserted. The ‘attractive’ aspect comes from the nimble angled design, distinguishing them from ‘straight out’ conventional earbuds, like those used in the iPod. The upper part of the wire, the insulation leading to the head of the earphones, is also coloured in a choice of different colours (black, pink and white casings), which are smart enough to avoid making an overt fashion statement, but which does add a touch of style to both male and female users. The earphones’ design allows you to easily hide the wire from sight by positioning it over the top of the ear, rather than letting it dangle straight down. This feature also makes the Asym headphones very suited to the most active sports, where over ear models would normally fall off and inner ear models would fall out. The style of the Asym headphones is finished off nicely by the Skullcandy logo, which comprises, unsurprisingly, of a metallic stylised skull.

With sports use in mind for the Skullcandy Asym headphones, the cable has been thoughtfully designed at only four feet long, enough to reach to a pocket, a belt clip, or into a rucksack, while avoiding moving around as you move, or catching on arms or objects. If you are intending on using this model in combination with a television or a computer, however, a standard headphone extension is recommended, as this length is not enough for you to sit comfortably from the screen and is thus a minor criticism of the design. One of the performance areas that Skullcandy have tried to improve upon with the Asym model over previous models such as the ‘Smokin’ model, is the bass response. One of the common complaints of standard manufacturer headphones is that the sound can be tinny and treble heavy. The Skullcandy Asym headphones offer a noticeable emphasis on bass sounds and perform well in terms of distortion when bass levels are turned up on your MP3 player. Of course, if your taste in music is more classical than R’n'B, you can manually lower you MP3′s bass settings to achieve a more neutral sound.

Quality of the manufactured headphones, as with other models from Headcandy, offers challenging competition to other models in the same price range. As the head of the headphones is larger than most other in ear models, they can take some getting used to before they feel ‘right’, but it is this design that ensures they fit snugly within the natural shape of the ear and do not fall out. The ‘user experience’ of the Asym headphones is very good, with a soft carry case, a choice of three different rubber tip sizes and – unusually for a relatively basic bit of technology – a user manual. The manual helps you get to grips with Skullcandy’s innovative system for keeping the headphones securely in place – keeping the principle behind the Aysm (as in, we all have ‘asymmetrical’ ears that deserve fitted headphones) in tact. Once you have become used to fitting them correctly, they fit easily underneath hats and even crash helmets and allow you to avoid worrying about them becoming loose from your ear and causing any discomfort. The Asym headphones offer noticeable sound reduction to the background environment, even when turned off. However, they are not designed to be fully sound blocking as some models, like the ‘Full Metal Jacket’ model aim to do (although this is very difficult to achieve on in ear models and is usually only a feature of high end over ear ‘cans’). Instead, the Asym headphones let in a certain amount of environmental noise to help keep you aware of what is going on around you if, for example, you are using them whilst out cycling or jogging. If conditions change around you (e.g. you enter a park having travelled along a busy road), you are able to easily increase the volume with the in line switch built into the cord. With a standard gold plated 3.5 mm jack, the Skullcandy Asym will fit most MP3 players and make a superior alternative to those included by the manufacturer, available from mobile fun.

iPhone 3G Desktop Dual Charging Dock and Battery Charger review

Since its release, the iPhone has been one of the few truely ‘must have’ gadgets that has seen mainstream acceptance and that has revolutionised the way people use hand-held devices. However, there is still one major issue that iPhone users all agree holds back their full enjoyment of the phone: the iPhone’s sleek design and high functionality betrays a battery life that would have been unacceptable on phones a few years old, let alone the current generation of smart phones. Users of the iPhone 3GS have even reported the battery not lasting a full working day, even on low use. This is a particular problem for iPhone users, as the whole idea of the phone is that it should be used as an MP3 and video player, as well as for a myriad of games and web apps. Unfortunately, the iPhone does not leave itself open to one of the possible solutions of other phones and MP3 players, which is to buy a spare battery that you can swap in the back of the unit as necessary. The iPhone, like other Apple portable devices, has a sealed battery that is not designed to be removed or replaced by the user.

For this reason, two major options have been developed to allow users to get more usage out of their iPhone when out and about. The first type are those solutions that allow the unit to be charged easily when away from the home and the second is to have a portable external power supply. Now the iPhone 3GS – 3G Desktop Dual Charging Dock + Battery Charger unit, available from mobilefun.co.uk has managed to combine both solutions into one stylish package. The set comes with a two in one docking unit. The iPhone can be easily placed into the front dock of this unit, to work like an ordinary dock offered by a range of manufacturers, i.e. it sits on your desk and allows the iPhone to charge throughout the day. The unit can be put in place neatly on your desk, without having wires dangling around, which look messy and can easily be lost. Placing the iPhone into a dock in this way also makes it easy to monitor your phone, meaning that you don’t even have to move to pick up the phone to see who is calling or texting you. However, the innovative aspect of this product comes from the secondary dock within the unit, which connects to a purpose built battery charger for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

The battery charger is the same width as the iPhone itself and is designed in the same curved glossy finish as the phone. This unit is simply put into the secondary slot to charge and removed at attached to the iPhone when necessary, extending the length of the iPhone by less than two centimetres and also fitting snugly along the back of the phone. The two in one charging unit means that you are able to have your iPhone on charge in one port and the battery charger in the other – effectively giving you the power of two batteries. What’s more is that some users have reported the battery charger may be able to provide more than one full charge to an iPhone, giving you further backup if needed. The dual charging dock can also be a great ‘communal’ option for the home or for the workplace. This is because both ports can be used to charge phones at the same time, so that one dock can charge just a phone and the other can charge a phone connected to the portable battery charger. There is also no need to disconnect the iPhone from the charger and reconnecting when transferring data from iTunes, as the front port also offers a data hot sync feature, acting as a full replacement for your standard data cable.

One of the best things about the innovate solution offered by this item is the fact that, if you’re leaving home or the office and want to take your iPhone somewhere that you don’t want the extra size of the battery charger, it can simply be removed as necessary. It simply needs to have been attached for long enough to have transferred some of its charge to the iPhone. It is also arguably better than having an actual replacement battery – even if this were possible – as the portable charger can simply be snapped on and snapped off when not needed, without having to open up the phone. For this reason, a dual dock makes a great option that doesn’t compromise the iPhone’s style, or its portability.

This great product is available from mobile fun.

Gmail Down Time Causes Huge Social Network Traffic

On September 1st 2009 widespread panic and speculation took over social networking sites. I logged into my twitter account and by the time I had read the first three comments at the top of the keyword list there were over 2000 more ready to be loaded. This mass tweeting continues as speculation grows over what has caused this problem and when the problem may end?

Our questions to you are:

How did this effect you?
What do you think caused it?

All comments are welcome so let’s have them

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