Atomic Pico Bluetooth Dongle Review

Bluetooth has become the most common way of connecting wireless peripherals and mobile devices to a PC or laptop. In the world of the Bluetooth dongles arms race it has always been about miniaturisation, without compromising on features and functionality. That’s where the Atomic Pico Bluetooth dongle comes in, rightly claiming the title of smallest USB Bluetooth dongle in the world. With its tiny design it is dwarfed by even the next closes competitor, the Nano. The question is, should you consider picking one up for yourself?

The Design
Aesthetically there is very little to comment on because of the Atomic Pico’s small size. It will fit into a USB port and remain virtually flush with the edge of your PC or laptop while it is in use. The main benefits of this unobtrusive operation is that it will be impossible to knock, damage or snap off when in use. This makes it extremely suitable for users who take their laptops and Bluetooth dongles with them and use them whilst out and about. It is not the most attractive device ever conceived, but it is designed for covert operation rather than as a flashy accessory.

The Functionality and Technical Specifications
The Atomic Pico may be small but it packs in all of the capabilities that you would expect from a modern Bluetooth dongle. It uses the advancements of Bluetooth v2.0+ in order to transfer data at a maximum rate of 3Mbps. Additionally you can connect up to six different Bluetooth devices to your PC at the same time using a single Atomic Pico dongle and it can broadcast in stereo for those with advanced Bluetooth headsets. It is also backwards compatible with devices operating with older Bluetooth standards. The Atomic Pico can be used for simple drag and drop file transfer between mobile devices wirelessly, but it is also compatible with top mobile phone software suites for more complete control. The manufacturers state that it has a 10 meter coverage range, which is adequate if you are going to be sitting near your computer whilst you utilise the Bluetooth connectivity. However, for connecting to devices in adjacent rooms, such as printers or networked drives, you may have more trouble. However, since the most common use of a Bluetooth dongle is for data transfer between a mobile phone or PDA and a computer this will not affect a majority of Atomic Pico customers.

The Compatibility
Like most modern USB Bluetooth dongles the Atomic Pico is a plug and play device. That means you can slot it into a spare USB port and in a matter of moments it will have installed all of the drivers that you will need to begin using it. It is also compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7 so it will work with future as well as past operating systems. Mac users running OSX can also enjoy the Atomic Pico dongle. There is even the option to install BlueSoliel software for free which will give you access to advanced connectivity options, although for standard use the device will function well without this. Because of the frequencies which this device uses the manufacturers claim you will experience less interference with wireless networks that you would with other Bluetooth dongles. However this will of course depend on the specific calibration of your own wireless network.

The Negatives
Though on the surface the Atomic Pico Bluetooth dongle is ideal, there are a couple of problems that could surface through prolonged use. The first issue is that because of its small size it is very easy to misplace if not stored safely. On the flip side the manufacturers suggest that because of its small size, low power consumption and unobtrusive installation you could leave it plugged in to your laptop at all times. The problem with permanent use is that you will always have one of your precious USB ports taken up by the Atomic Pico. This issue goes hand in hand with the next problem. Bluetooth connectivity is now fairly common in mid range laptops, but the inexpensive netbooks with which this device will be most commonly used will also have fewer USB ports available. This may result in a Catch 22 situation, so you will have to weigh up the convenience of such a small device against the potential downsides.

Conclusion
There is simply no smaller Bluetooth dongle solution available at the moment, so if you have a laptop or PC without built in Bluetooth then this product should be a serious consideration. You could use this single dongle to connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, a mobile phone and a headset while still keeping the ability to connect more devices should you need to. This product is available exclusively from the mobile fun website.

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.

Let the Devolo MicroLink sort out your home networking problems

The Devolo MicroLink dLAN DUO HomePlug 14Mbps Ethernet & USB Starter Kit is not a new product to the market, but it is a damn useful one! We just felt we should share the details with you just in case you have never heard of it.

This useful bit of kit will allow you to have access to the internet to practically any location in the house via the mains power circuit. This is an amazingly simple solution to those annoying problems that crop up at home; such as trailing wires, connection drop outs on laptops or gaming devices, data sharing, having an additional internet connection in a home office, studio or shed. The Devolo MicroLink is a fantastic plug and play device and is the easiest problem solver possible.

The range the Devolo MicroLink can cover is up to 200m and it can share up to 14 Mbps of data. The kit comes complete with two of the MicroLink dLAN adapter sockets and cabling, as well as full simple to follow instructions. Just a simple case of plugging your PC or gaming devices to the power via the MicroLink dLAN Duo adapter and connect the DSL modem/router to the power via the MicroLink dLAN Duo adapter – instant internet access.

The Devolo MicroLink dLAN DUO HomePlug 14Mbps Ethernet & USB Starter is retailing for about £55 though we have found it cheaper so it is certainly worth looking around for the best price, but even at £55 we think it is a great price for such a huge problem solver. After all if you wanted to get an engineer out to sort out any of the above problems then you are talking over £50 call out charge without even touching anything else.

The all new LG W53 Monitors are a lot easier on the eye

LG the global electronics brand has released a new series of LCD monitor screens that they claim will help alleviate eyestrain. The new W53 series monitors feature LCD High Definition Widescreen technology that alters and optimises the brightness levels depending on the surroundings, the monitors also feature a black out function that will remove flickering pop up images when there are video clips displayed.

 

More on LG W53

Want ultimate gaming graphics? GeForce 295 GTX can fix it!

For all you gamers who would like the most superior gaming experience possible then you really need to get your hands on the GeForce 295 GTX graphics card. Providing the fastest possible graphics and the same performance as two of the previous 200 GTX processors, the 295 GTX delivers an unrivalled gaming experience which is without doubt the ultimate gamers heaven. The GeForce 295 GTX graphics card has been hailed as the “Most Powerful Dual Chip Graphics Card” ever, and the gaming experience is certainly second to none.

In brief the tenth generation 295 GTX comes complete with Farcry 2 and is packing HD PureVideo Technology, NVIDIA CUDA technology, HDMI certified, Dual Link HDCP and Quad SLI capable. PCI express, DirectX 10 support, Open 2.1 support and second generation unified architecture.

All this speed and excellence however comes at a cost, and you had better start dropping hints for Christmas as this is not a cheap acquisition. It is a real ‘must have’ and it really is worth the enormous expenditure of, maybe you should sit down at this point …. The recommended retail price of almost £470! It honestly is the ultimate in graphics card and the bigger the screen the better to really fully appreciate the outstanding image quality

One criticism that has been levelled is that it can cause overheating so good ventilation is essential to eliminate any risks of this happening. Also it is worth bearing in mind that you will need a good computer system to ensure the motherboard is up to the job and of course to get the most out of what it can offer and of course some really great games. With this graphics card installed, which in itself is fairly simple then you won’t look back, getting you away from the PC though that is another matter.

HP Photosmart C4380 All In One Printer Review

The HP Photosmart C4380 all-in-one printer has a lot of features and you can pick one up for £80. The range of features it has means that it’s most definitely an all-in-one rather than a 3-in-1 although simplistically it features a printer, scanner, and copier. Geared towards the home office or small business worker it combines high quality prints, excellent features, and speedy printing times to make it a highly desirable addition to the office.

The wireless printer is extremely portable but its not lightweight in terms of options. You can print directly from memory cards, digital cameras, and other external storage devices and it includes a 3.8” preview screen so you can view them and make any minor adjustments before you print them.

It’s possible to print a photograph in under 30 seconds and general printing speeds of up to 30 pages per minute in mono and 23 in colour means it’s no slouch in the printing speed department. As a standalone copier it offers one touch copying so is great for small businesses limited on budget or space.

Other features include borderless printing, automatic paper type sensing, and two different HP Photosmart software packages.

Buy your HP C4380 printer from PC world today

MX Air – Precision Mouse That Looks A Bit Like A Whale

In a PC gaming environment, the onus is very much placed on speed and reaction. The last thing you need when you’re clicking the mouse buttons or trying to quickly use the scroll wheel is any lag or lapse in reaction from the mouse itself. As ever, when we’re looking at PC precision gaming equipment, we tend to first turn to Logitech.

The MX Air is, to start with, probably one of the most expensive mice you will ever see at around £100. And, in reality, it probably has more functionality than the average user will ever demand or truly take advantage of (In air hand motion sensors kind of spring to mind here) but there’s no denying it’s a seriously impressive piece of kit.

The laser precision is incredibly accurate and offers instantaneous response time, while the wave and click multimedia control detects motion in your hands and the click of the buttons. The scroll panel is designed to offer ultra fast scrolling while the Li-ion battery lasts longer and recharges faster minimising the time you need to take away from your gaming session. A 9 metre operating range means you could, if you really wanted, use the mouse on the other side of the room or even in the hallway.

Oh, and it kind of looks a bit like Moby Dick too, which has got to be a good thing.

[Logitech MX Air]

Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard

Few companies create PC gaming devices as well as Logitech and while you might have to pay a premium the Logitech G15 keyboard represent the top end of the PC gaming market. The GamePanel LCD Display shows game statistics, system information, and server notifications while illuminated characters let you dim the lights, immerse yourself completely in the game world, and still hit the right buttons. Programmable G-Keys quickly let you program a macro or custom functions while you continue playing.

The GamePanel LCD Display works with a range of the latest games providing the avid PC Gamer with essential information. You will be informed which servers your friends are playing on, how your system is running, and you can quickly access game stats without having to pause the action.

You’ll never know how you managed without G-Keys once you’ve assigned a couple of the more tedious and repetitive tasks to them. They are an absolute must in role playing and strategy games and can be programmed while you play to ensure that they’re mapped properly and that you don’t have to risk all by pausing the action.

The Logitech G15 also has cord tracks so you can keep everything neat and tidy while you’re playing, media control buttons for quick access and control of all your media files, and illuminated keys. At £70 it represents pretty much the ultimate in game playing control devices for your PC.

Sony SRS-Z510 Speakers

Sick of the tinny sound emanating from your computer? Want to watch YouTube videos with clear audio? You need to get hold of a set of desktop speakers. They don’t need to be expensive but you can bet your onboard soundcard that they will improve the quality of the audio on your PC. Upgrade your sound card as well and you can blast your neighbours with heartfelt Celine Dion choons all day long.

For less than £40, which is still in the budget range of speakers, you can buy a set of Sony SRS-Z510 desktop speakers. 2 way audio input enables you to plug your PC and your mp3 player in at the same time so you can enjoy 7W total output from any music source. Detachable guards enable you to choose between the industrial natural look, and the desktop look while the Mega-Bass provides you with a powerful bass sound and improved overall sound quality.

If you’ve been relying on your tower speakers and you want a little more richness from your audio then buying an inexpensive set of speakers is the way to go. Alternatively, upgrade to 5.1 or 7.1 sound card and buy a multi-channel set of surround speakers to get an even heavier, crisper, and neighbour-annoyingly loud experience. The Sony SRS-Z510 speakers offer a sensible and affordable solution.

The TVR Tuscan Mouse

The TVR Tuscan Computer Mouse is the perfect blend of functional and beautiful. Even a second hand Tuscan is probably a little unaffordable for the majority of us, with prices from £15,000 for an 8 year old model to £50,000 for last year’s model getting you one in good condition. In contrast, the Tuscan Mouse could be yours for less than £20.

There’s a wireless and a wired model available for £19.99 and £14.99 respectively, both featuring realistic light-up headlights, a scroll wheel on the bonnet, and realistic styling. Unfortunately, this model won’t do 0-60mph in under 4 seconds like the latest life size Tuscan models and we wouldn’t recommend throwing it past those funky speed displays at the side of the road (it doesn’t work).

There’s no chameleon paint jobs either but you can choose between the sporty red in the picture or a classy silver when placing your order. The 800dpi optical, two button mouse, is a genuinely good mouse that happens to be formed in the shape of one the greatest sports cars ever made and designed.

<Next Page » 1 2 Next Page »