Posts Tagged ‘Movies’

shoX Review

Friday, June 13th, 2008

shoXMany iPod fans love to take music with them where ever they go. They will never be found without their iPod or MP3 player handy to turn up the music. But often we want to play music for friends to hear, watch movies together, or browse photo collections whilst listening to music. This is extremely restrictive, you end up fighting over wire and eventually one person just doesn’t listen or you both give up.

Solutions have been made in the form of portable speakers. Although a great idea, these are often so bulky that your iPod looses its take me everywhere factor. Call in tevo. They have designed a small speaker which they call shoX.

Your shoX can be connected to any audio device – iPod’s and other media players, portable game consoles, computers and PDA’s – with a standard 3.5mm stereo socket. They claim unbelievable sound, and if you feel even more generous with your music sharing you can purchase the optional shoX custom adaptor which will let you use shoX to get, ‘great,’ sound from your mobile phone.

We’ve been testing shoX for a couple of months now. The sound is pretty good for such a small speaker. Don’t expect to wake up your neighbours or blow of your grandmother’s glasses but if your music files are of a decent quality the speaker will perform. The speaker is compact and easy to use. In fact if you want to add a bit more bass to your music you can give the speaker a twist and it’ll pop open. You will find that this becomes the only way that you use the speaker. The difference in sound is clearly audible.

Some things the shoX could improve on? The speaker’s wire, although innovative because it can be extended and shortened easily, becomes unnecessarily bulky. It may be better if they supplied a second simple wire for use on the go. The other big one is the price. For this little speaker they want a hefty R199. Although this may seem a good investment to you, I don’t think many parents will be too impressed with the price. However you do get value for money, the quality is excellent and it comes with a grantee.

Otherwise we have used it on the beach, on walks, at home, in the shopping centre and it is the coolest addition to your MP3 player. We don’t condone getting it dirty though as this could damage the speaker significantly.

Product Rating: 7/10

iTouch Review

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

iTouchApple’s iPhone is a groundbreaking cell phone, but unfortunately many people can’t buy them in their countries. People resort to illegally importing and hacking into the phones to use them. If you aren’t the criminal type or feel you just don’t want another phone the iTouch is the best iPod ever made.

The iTouch sports the same design as the iPhone but sheds some weight and looses a few buttons. There are only two buttons on the iTouch. Everything else is controlled through touch on the beautiful 3.5-inch screen. I have heard people say the screen is not as good as the iPhone, I can’t really see how.

iPod Touch

From Apple: Flick through album covers and find your music. Download and watch your favorite movies, rentals, TV shows, and more from the iTunes Store. Tap into thousands of photos. All using incredible Multi-Touch touchscreen technology on a beautiful 3.5-inch display.

The iTouch comes in three versions. The only difference being the space. 8G, 16G and the latest 32G. Users have complained about the size of the hard-drives, which is the reason Apple later released a 32G version, but to be honest I think those people are being picky. On a 16G hard-drive you can comfortably fit 1.5 days worth of music and 8 full length movies and still have 2G left to play with. Most people plug their iPod into their computer regularly so I do not see how there is a need for more space. No normal person could watch 8 movies and listen to 1.5 days of music so quickly that they would not have time to go to the computer and put on new movies. The battery power lasts for 5 hours of video OR 22 hours of audio.

The iTouch interface is the same as the iPhone in most respects. Most people who play with one for the first time don’t even need to ask questions. The interface explains itself making it extremely easy to use. The best thing about the iTouch is not the music, the great 3.5-inch screen to watch movies or the cool sensor which flips the screen according to how you hold it. It’s the fact that it’s fun to use. And it never seems to wear out. The idea of using touch is just so natural.

I managed to embarrass myself the other day when looking at a friends normal iPod. I automatically touched the screen trying to navigate the menu. It was just so natural for me. That for me is the best proof of how this is the best iPod to ever grace our stores, and until we get the new iPhone in our countries it will be the best compromise you will ever have to make.

iPod Touch

Life, Love and Sliced Cheese

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Life, Love and Sliced CheeseThe rain poured down the glass as James sat reading in his chair. He was reading his favourite book, the only book he had ever read and he had read it more than twenty seven times. His parents were out shopping for groceries and he had opted to stay.

He had nobody to take to the annual dance and he was drowning his sorrows in cheese. Cheese was one of the most satisfying tastes to James’ selective palette which cautiously stayed away from exotic foods and stuck to burgers, noodles and of course, cheese. James was no couch potatoes though. He played soccer and cricket, and was one of the school’s top basketball players.
The phone rang and James put down his book. He sighed heavily as he picked it up.

“This is James.”
“Hey James, how are you?”
“Sup Alex? I’m O.K.”
“I heard about you and Sam, bummer man. What happened?”
“Oh, she said she couldn’t keep up with me, that I was too friendly with other girls and stuff.”
“What’s wrong with having a few good friends that are girls?”
“She was super jealous. I’m over her, although it is sad.”
“Well, are you coming to youth tonight?”
“I suppose it would be good to get out. I’ll see you then.”
“Cool, see ya.”

James put the phone down slowly. It wasn’t cool being let down but he knew he needed to get out and get over it. Life goes on. Besides he had so much to be thankful for. He had a quick shower and got dressed.

Alex met him at youth. The place was packed with teens and tweens. They met up with some other friends and James began to feel better already. That was when he saw her. She was standing in a group just a few meters away. Her hair was a golden brown, long and silky as it fell behind her ears and half way down her back. Her eyes were a stunning sky blue lighting up as she spoke excitedly to her friends. She turned her head and saw James. She smiled, her perfectly white teeth just exposing themselves between her gorgeous lips. James gulped. She turned back to her friend and she giggled.

She said something to her friends and walked towards James. His heart skipped a beat.
“Hi, I’m Storm.”
“Um…, hi.” She giggled again, her nose wrinkled up in the cutest way, James thought.
“I couldn’t help seeing you stare at me.”
“Sorry about that… I’m James.”
“Nice to meet you James, do you want to join me for a soda?”
“Soda?”
“Yes James, a cool drink.”

How could somebody so beautiful be so sweet? James nodded slowly and walked with her towards the tuck shop. His friends watched him leave, whispering among themselves. He asked what she wanted, and she replied with a Fanta. That was James’ favourite drink. They spoke for a while and he couldn’t believe how much they had in common.

The youth leaders called everybody inside and praise and worship began. James was fascinated by Storm’s love for Jesus. She danced and worshiped him with all her heart. James was falling for her in a big way. The youth pastor spoke on friendship and how Jesus wanted to be their ultimate friend. Storm’s laugh was contagious and every joke that she laughed at got the entire building laughing.

After the meeting they walked outside together. James looked at her and smiled.

“I think I really like you Storm,” She smiled again making James’ heart race, “Will you come with me to my schools annual dance?”
“I would love to James.”
“How about movies tomorrow night?”
“What time will you pick me up?”
“Six, we can see the eight thirty show.”
“I’ll see you then”

She lent forward and kissed him softly on the cheek. James stood, glued to the spot watching her get into her parent’s car. She waved and he waved back. When James got home he raced to the fridge. He pulled open the door and grabbed a piece of sliced cheese. He kissed it and smiled. Life was good!