Polaroid Two PoGo leaps into the market

Times change and sadly sometimes things that were once considered state-of-the-art and a ‘must have’ slip very easily into obscurity and it is only when you are reminded of them, you think… Oh yes, that was good, those were the days! If like us you remember the joy of experiencing instant Polaroid pictures (then you are knocking on a bit – oops sorry!) then be happy because you can enjoy all that instant heaven all over again with the release of the Polaroid Two PoGo next week.

The Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera will allow you to print off your favourite picture instantly using inkless technology. The Polaroid Two is a 5 megapixel digital camera, featuring a 3” LCD screen with 4 x digital zoom and of course the ability to print via the integral 300dpi printer instant 2” x 3” pictures.

The Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera will allow you to save to a memory card and can be uploaded to your PC via the USB cable. Whilst in use the camera will allow you to do simple editing such as removing red eye, adding borders and cropping and also has a very useful movie mode.

Now for the downsides of the Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera the special paper required will set you back £8 per pack of 30 sheets and the rechargeable battery will only provide the ability to print 15 before it will require charging again. The price tag is set to shock at just a smidgen under £230.00.

The Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera is what you would expect it to be a fun camera, with something just a little bit different to offer in today’s market. But it has to be said with mobile phones having 8 megapixel cameras, the ability to film videos, and the option to text or email them to friends or family whenever you wish instantly, we have to ask does the PoGo actually have a valid place in the modern world?

New Volvo racing game – no it’s not a joke!

Imagine the excitement of the racetrack or a car chase, all that thrilling speed, the stomach churning rush of taking the corners just that little bit too fast and too sharp, the unmistakeable sound of squealing rubber on tarmac, maybe a handbrake turn, the buzz of crossing the finishing line. What car do you have in your mind when you imagine these experiences? A Ferrari, or something with street cred like a Subaru? Clearly what you don’t imagine is a ……………….Volvo!

Well mark your diary for the 26th May because that is exactly when a racing game featuring a Volvo S60 is released! The new racing game is collaboration between Volvo and Swedish gaming company SimBin Studios, the remit for the gaming company was to develop a game suitable for PC and which featured Volvo cars but in particular the latest S60 concept car from Volvo. Both companies are excited about the alliance of two big Swedish names to deliver a new gaming experience to the waiting public. Volvo – the game actually isn’t for sale but will be available free of charge from the Volvo website. The game will feature two tracks, three different difficulty settings and a leaderboard will also be available on the Volvo website with competitions and prizes to be won.

For all the doubting Thomas’s out there Volvo have clearly developed an original marketing concept to promote their vehicles in what is a very difficult market and for that alone they do deserve some admiration. Clearly this is not intended to be any competition for the more popular video racing games, but is an outstanding vehicle to promote the new Volvo S60 in all its glory inside and out.

Now get your flat cap, driving gloves and tartan blanket for the back seat and of course don’t forget a flask of tea for the journey and you are ready for the driving excitement of a lifetime!

Size clearly does matter for Acer with launch of Aspire One 751

Acer are launching a new and improved netbook Aspire One, model no 751and this version unusually sports a 11.6 inch screen, which is almost and inch and a half bigger than the largest screen netbook currently available. It is believed that the larger screen of the Acer Aspire One 751 has come about as a result of the widescreen aspect ration of 16:9, and clearly from a widescreen film perspective this can only help in providing a superior visual experience for the end user.

The new Acer Aspire One 751 should be available during May and is expected to retail at about £349, and for that price tag you get and Intel Atom processor160GB Hard Drive, Mobile Intel US15W Express Chipset, Wi-Fi, option of Bluetooth and 3G connectivity, Pro Logic Dolby sound, multi card reader and WXGA LED backlit display.

This latest version of the Acer Aspire One is able to provide in excess of eight hours of battery life if the largers 6 cell batter pack is chosen. If the standard battery is opted for then the Acer Aspire One 751 will still deliver a very respectable 5 hours of battery life.

Acer, the electronic company based in Taiwan seems intent on cornering the netbook and notebook market and in fact is the third largest PC supplier and is the number two netbook supplier in the world. Acer are very keen to knock HP off the top spot and have actually made this aim their modus operandi and with the launch of not only the Acer Aspire One 751as well as three new ‘Timeline’ laptops, it would seem a very good prospect that their plans may well be brought to fruition.

Samsung SMX-C10 perfection in the palm of your hand

The very latest camcorder from the Samsung stable is the SMX-C10, and this is a camcorder that is going to appeal to the person who likes their gadgets to be high on functionality and to also have style in huge quantities too. The Samsung SMX-C10 camcorder is elegantly and more importantly ergonomically designed, and will no doubt appeal to the person who oozes style. The casing of the camcorder features Samsung’s state-of-the-art finish ToC (Touch of Color), which is a deep black with a hint of colour and a three-dimensional crystalline appearance. Certainly the casing of the Samsung SMX-C10 camcorder is delightful to look at, but will no doubt require a polish cloth similar to the iPhone if the beauty of the product is going to remain a priority to the user.

The Samsung SMX-C10 camcorder features 10 x optical zoom and the very latest stabilization technology so that images can be recorded without blurring. The incorporated 230,000 dot 2.7” wide swivel LCD screen allows for perfect framing of subjects without missing the action. This ‘fist grip’ camcorder allows for ease of handling and certainly ease of use eliminating uncomfortable stresses being placed on the wrist and arms. The Samsung SMX-C10 camcorder will provide in excess of two hours and forty minutes of video recording on a single battery charge.

Samsung have also included a useful USB connector on the SMX-C10 camcorder which will allow linking directly to a PC or laptop providing access to playback or edit footage without the need to install special software. Footage can also be uploaded directly to websites such as YouTube via the ‘upload’ facility. There is also a fantastic time lapse recording option which can provide many artistic opportunities for the camcorder end user.

The Samsung SMX-C10 camcorder is due to be released by the end of May but as yet there is no indication as to price tag.

T-Mobile are in the Pink at Trafalgar Square

T-Mobile the mobile communication giant has endeavoured to follow on from the success of their recent dance television advertisement. The T-Mobile advert was filmed at Liverpool Street Station on the 15th January 2009 at 11.00 am and featured hundreds of ‘commuters’ dancing in unison to dancing in unison to the likes of Lulu and the Pussycat Dolls. The T-Mobile advertising campaign was to promote their corporate message ‘Life’s for Sharing’ using an ‘impromptu’ dance extravaganza to hit the message home. The original fantastic T-mobile advert starts gently with a handful of ‘commuters’ dancing to ‘The only way is up’ building to a dancing crescendo when literally hundreds of dancers merge to do a routine to the classic tune by Kool & The Gang ‘Get down on it’

The latest T-Mobile event features the singer Pink with a crowd of 13,000 of the general public singing along with Pink to her hit ‘piece of my heart’ in Trafalgar Square. There is also a rendition from the crowd of The Beatles classic ‘Hey Jude’. This part of the T-Mobile event was used by advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi to create the ‘next T-Mobile event’ advert which was shown on the 2nd May during the commercial break for Britain’s Got Talent.

The presenter Vernon Kay acted as the motivator and had the crowd participating karaoke style to ‘Is this the way to Amarillo’ and even joining in a Mexican wave. How much of the filmed footage will make its way to the television screen in a new T-Mobile advert remains to be seen, however even with the undoubted success of this advert, it can no where near match the spectacle of the Liverpool Street Station dance which has had almost 11.5 million hits on You Tube alone.

Wi-Fi on the move with Proxicast Cell-PAK 3G HotSpot

Getting mobile internet connectivity for a laptop on the move is now relatively simple with the advent of the dongle. However what do emergency services and major businesses in war torn or disaster areas do when there is no means of wired communication? Wireless communication equipment manufacturer Proxicast have developed the solution with the Cell-PAK. This compact, heavy duty 3G cellular router provides a mobile communications centre whatever the location.

Clearly for domestic situation this is not useful product but for a business this could be critical for providing a much needed internet service in the event of a disaster whether natural or manmade. The uses for industry however are not confined to emergency situations this product will provide internet connectivity for locations where a conventional router is not possible or should there be an interruption to power and wired communication services.

Some of applications that the Proxicast Cell-PAK could potentially be used for are Humanitarian Aid and relief services, emergency mobile medical operations, site construction and engineering works, backup service for conventional wired internet connections, disaster management zones and relief effort services, emergency services including police and fire brigade services and emergency vehicles. In fact the uses for the Proxicast Cell-PAK are almost endless, no matter what business or industry the downtime implications to services and the incurred costs in respect of lost revenue are astronomical, by keeping one of these portable high speed cellular broadband packages to hand the financial effect on any industry can be minimised.

The Proxicast Cell-PAK provides over twelve hours of continuous high speed wireless communication service from one battery charge. Proxicast Cell-PAK has a 12 volt battery, AC/DC adapter included, crushproof , impact resistant, water resistant, cellular long range and Wi-Fi high gain antenna, LCD battery level meter, multiple LED charging status, continuous operation possible can also be recharged whilst operating.

The new Citroen C1 ev’ie Eco car, big on advantages and pricetag

The latest environmentally friendly electric eco car has just been launched; the Citroen C1 ev’ie is the first four seater eco car to be assembled in Britain by ECC (Electric Car Corporation), the main parts of which are manufactured in the Czech Republic. The new Citroen C1 ev’ie eco car has been created in a joint venture between Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota and will be assembled in Flitwick by a six strong team of craftsmen.

The 4 seater Citroen C1 ev’ie comes in either a three or five door option with electric power steering, CD/MP3 player, electric windows and central locking. The C1 ev’ie eco car will travel 60 – 75 miles on one full charge, will charge in 6 hours, comes with full safety features including ABS brakes, side impact door protection, crumple zones, driver and passenger airbags and child locks.

For the new car purchaser who wants or needs to travel around towns or cities this is a fantastic purchase offering no road tax, no congestion charges whilst driving in London, and even free parking in some areas, extremely low car insurance and costing only 95p to charge overnight – the advantages are a positive no-brainer. Yes it will only reach a maximum speed of 60 mph, but let’s face it with the way that the traffic moves in most cities the chances of moving much faster than that are pretty slim anyway. If you offset the advantages of the Citroen C1 ev’ie against all other common modes of transport then the C1 ev’ie leaps to the top of the pile; expensive rail transport, inconvenience of delays and cancellations, traffic costs, congestion charges, taxes and insurance, rising fuel costs – the Citroen C1 ev’ie eco car is suddenly looking mighty attractive.

The advantages of the new eco car are many; however the price tag seems extortionate at £16,850 – though in the car’s defence this is still cheap for a green car. The Government indicated in the last budget that subsidies for eco cars will be made of up to £5,000 however these will not be available until 2011.

Music to your ears the Belkin TuneStudio 4 Channel Audio Mixer

For the musicians, podcasters and amateur journalists amongst you who have always wanted to have the opportunity to have your day in the recording studio but have never been able to do it then the TuneStudio 4 Channel Audio Mixer from Belkin will be of great interest.

The Belkin TuneStudio 4 Channel Audio Mixer is fully portable, extremely hardy and provides the opportunity for every budding singer, musician or emerging band or group to record their work directly onto an Apple iPod MP3 player. The Belkin TuneStudio 4 Channel Audio Mixer is compatible with iPod 80GB and 160GB Classic, third generation iPod 4GB or 8GB Nano’s, fifth generation 30GB, 60GB or 80GB Video iPod’s and second generation 2GB, 4GB and 8GB iPod nano’s. The recording levels are delivered within the iPods sound gamut with the 44KHz sampling and 16-bit quantization CD sampling rate. The power enabled Phantom XLR inputs allow for mic gain of 60 Db, and the stereo compressor provides enhanced audio whilst still remaining within the iPod range.

Connection of instruments and microphones to the Belkin TuneStudio 4 Channel Audio Mixer is simple, and the portability of the device makes it ideal for taking on the road to jam sessions out on location, gigs in pubs or clubs, impromptu mini rock concerts or just about anywhere where you will be performing. The TuneStudio has an integrated USB port which allows for connection to a computer and provides streamed audio.

The Belkin TuneStudio is reputedly the first 4 Channel Audio Mixer that has been developed specifically for the fifth generation Apple iPod. Although not a new device by any stretch of the imagination it is certainly worth including here for those that may not have already discovered it. This useful gadget costs under £100 which is cheap in comparison to a day’s hire of a recording studio.

Get your 3D specs on – 3D home entertainment on its way

A new report released today by Screen Digest the media analyst company predicts a massive growth in 3D home entertainment technology. At present to enjoy the superior 3D visual experience people mostly need to visit the cinema to watch 3D movies, wearing the rather peculiar 3D glasses that make the whole enhanced viewing experience possible. There is expected to be a growth in demand for 3D home entertainment in the very near future, however although the ability to release films in 3D for home entertainment is possible at present, there are a few factors that remain as stumbling blocks to a larger distribution of this service. The first is the need for specialist equipment including 3D glasses the second is the shortage of films released in a 3D format.

Screen Digest anticipates that the home entertainment 3D market will gradually increase due to the continued advancement in 3D technology namely the development of autostereoscopic systems – this technology will not require the use of special 3D glasses and the expectation of the end user to have sufficient content to warrant further expenditure for the new home entertainment 3FD technology. At present film studios are releasing only a very small quantity of films, in 2008 there were only seven 3D films released, in 200 there are expected to be seventeen new releases and in 2010 there is expected to be 28 films released. It is expected in the early development of the technology that the most releases will be from animated film companies as this technology is much easier to adapt than mainstream films.

The Screen Digest report also focuses on the need for a unified standard of home entertainment 3D technology so as to avert the possibility of any technology format wars, although they expect this to be via the high definition capabilities of the Blu-ray disc. The report also focuses on projected market distribution with an anticipated 10% of world markets by 2011 rising substantially to 16% in 2015 which equates to 2.8billion sales of 3D home entertainment equipment.

Racing game fans will love Codemaster’s FUEL, F1 to follow

FUEL the exciting driving game developed by Codemasters has a new and exciting website that provides news, information, the ability to view routes and see a gameplay video to give a taster of the excitement to come in the all-terrain racing game. The FUEL website also provides the ability to download this fantastic game, but should you prefer FUEL is also available on the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 formats.

FUEL is an atmospheric all-terrain driving game that takes the player through some of the roughest and frankly scariest terrains conceivable such as snowy mountains, deep ravines and arid deserts and sometimes in extreme weather conditions such as tornados. FUEL features a helpful GPS system that allows the player to take an alternative route, though these routes are not always the most sensible option as this often requires navigating the vehicle across some extremely treacherous terrains.

There are seventy different vehicles for adrenaline junkies to drive on the FUEL game including quads, cars, trucks, buggies, dragsters and off-roaders, all can be raced with better classes of vehicle being available to be unlocked as the game progresses. The vehicles have names to get you keen to get out on the rough terrain like Doomsday, Speed Demon, The Enforcer or Scorpion.

The interactive map at the FUEL website allows you to get up close and personal to see first hand the nineteen areas of the 5,000 miles of the driving race game. Areas like Drownington Cove, a flooded city which has also suffered an earthquake making the drive extremely hazardous or Dead Lady’s Lake that is reputedly haunted and full of nuclear waste. The game has single player and multi player options and will give those that have got bored with conventional driving games something to get their teeth into.

Good news for F1 fans, Codemaster are busy adding the finishing touches to their Formula 1 racing game which is hopefully due to be released by on the Nintendo Wii and PSP later in 2009 with the XBOX 360, PlayStation and Windows version available next year.

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