Gadget Spy

What is web 2.0?

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:38:11 +0000

Ten years ago, the Internet was about Altavista, e-mail services (in particular Hotmail) and some illegal downloading of Mp3s. Today, we have Google and their e-mail service Gmail, and we can stream music to our computers, through legal sites where the artists and record companies get some money. We also have web-based applications, such as document management systems.

This development was predicted in 1999, in an article called “Fragmented Futiure”. The writer, Darcy DiNucci, stated that the internet would development into a means of communication, and be incorporated into things as diverse as a TV set, a cell phone and maybe even a microwave oven.

Today, we do have cell phones through which we can access the internet, and the first TV sets running Android have recently been released. These are all part of web 2.0. The best example is probably user-generated content, such as blogs. Already in 2006, Time magazine put a mirror on the cover of its person of the year issue. According to the editor, the person of the year in 2006 was you. In 2008, it was probably Barack Obama, who managed to mobilize his voters through the use of social media, e.g. Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare. These services are also part of the web 2.0.

Learn about penny auctions

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:30:32 +0000

Auctions online is something that has increased a lot more during the last years and more and more seem to like this way of shopping. In fact, if you´re lucky and bid on the right stuff you may actually be able to get the product a lot more cheaper then in store. How great is that?

A lot of you are probably wondering exactly how this types of auctions work? And to tell you the truth, it´s not hard at all. On the contrary, penny auctions online like these are the easiest ones to handle and get a hold on. The Internet is full of them and the only thing you need to do is to sign up and get started!

This is how you do: First you sign up and buy bids, a lot or just a few. Depending on what kind of product you want to bid on. Then you choose products from the vast variety of all the latest products that the site offers.

Bid to win, that is obviously what you´re aiming for. And that’s why you are here, to buy stuff you want and bid on them for a cheaper price than usual. It is simple and it pretty much works as a usual auction, which means if you are the last one to bid, you win the auction and the product is yours!

On t-shirts

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:16:54 +0000

Tees have been perhaps the most emblematic piece of clothing of the 20th century, and will continue to be so, probably until we all start wearing silver onepieces.

It started out as an undergarment, worn under shirts. One of the first people to wear the t-shirt with nothing over it was Pablo Picasso. At that time, wearing only a t-shirt on your torso was like wearing long johns instead of pants. However, it was not Picasso that made the t-shirt an important part of youth culture. For many Europeans, their first contact with t-shirts were the American soldiers stationed in Europe after the end of World War II.

But most people today do not think of military green GI t-shirts when the word tee is mentioned. I the 60s and 70s, the first t-shirt prints where introduced. Tourist resorts and hotels put their logos on t-shirts, and these tees are still a big inspiration to fashion designers around the world. Another big inspiration were the band t-shirts, especially the heavy metal tees of the 80s.

Today, all fashion labels make printed t-shirts, and many of them collaborate with artists and designers. It is not unusual for a “boring” label to release limited edition tees designed by hip artists.

How to use the Apple iPad

admin — Mon, 09 May 2011 08:33:09 +0000

Since it was released on the market about a year ago, the Apple iPad has in many ways come to revolutionize the lives of its’ users, and of many other people who have come into contact with this nifty gadget. The iPad has the perfect size for being able to bring almost anywhere, yet it is big enough for performing demanding tasks. It is rarely ever too big, nor too small. There is also a wide variety of accessories for the iPad that enhances the experience, and enables the user to use the iPad as a synth or as a laptop. The people at Cupertino have come up with a truly versatile product.
To learn to use your iPad, there are many guides available for free on the internet. Some of these guides are better than others, so it might be a good idea to always double-check on the advice that is given.
With the spread of wireless networks that we see today you can use it almost anywhere, even if you do not have a SIM card in it. You just have to read a guide or to on how to surf on your iPad.
Many people are concerned about connecting to local wireless networks, as they are afraid that they may get their devices hacked or be exposed to other dangers such as malware. This is another reason for choosing the iPad: since it is an Apple product, the security software protecting the product is highly competent, just like on the Macintosh computers.

The 6120 Spyphone with SpyTEXT

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:54:38 +0000

The 6120 Spyphone is a boxed phone with inbuilt spyware that enables you to listen in to calls and receive copies of texts if you suspect someone you know is up to no good.

It’s very simple, you just give the phone to that person, make up your own excuse as to why you are giving to them, and when they have it switched on but are not on a call, you will be able to dial in and listen to what’s going on in the environment around them. Any conversations they may think they’re having in secret will now be tapped into by you. You can also request a copy of all of the text messages that person sends or receives with the SpyTEXT function.

The Spyphone works with any network and comes fully boxed with all accessories. If the person you give it to wishes to put their own SIM card in it, or change the SIM along the way, that’s no problem either – you don’t need to access the SIM to activate the spy functions. It works all across the world so even if they think they’re sneaking off to Paris instead of that work weekend in London, you’ll be able to tell.

It’s so easy to set up and it is very unlikely that your surveillance operation will be detected using the Spyphone as the technology is inbuilt. The only thing you need to decide is whether you distrust someone enough to spend around £400 to find out if you are right or not.

Sony Walkman W-Series - get unwired!

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:41:44 +0000

Sony Walkman W-Series - wireless MP3

First of all, the iPod/MP3 player brought new dimensions to the world of sport. It was finally possible to for a run with music to your ears without it jumping, skipping or starting and stopping. Then it was a bit annoying trying to carry them so out came the ingenious MP3 sport armbands; perfectly crafted to hold your iPod or MP3 player so you can run hands-free, let alone enjoy any number of other sports to your favourite tunes. But there’s just one thing we can still moan about. The wires get in the way. Picture it, you’ve got your iPod plugged in at the gym and the headphone wire is dangling annoyingly in between you and the machine. Every time you pump your arms, you yank the wire and more often than not, your headphones pop out. Very frustrating.

Well, fear not! Sony have had enough of this wire chaos so they’re simplifying things for us. Enter the wearable Walkman W Series. Designed especially for those with an active lifestyle, this MP3 player gives you a totally wire-free experience. The player itself becomes the headphones and the wire that does feature is what holds them over your head. The unit is lightweight, comfortable, holds up to 500 tracks and has a one touch song selection function. The battery life lasts up to 12hours and has 90 minutes of playback time from just a 3 minute charge. So training for the marathon is no problem for this little gadget.

The look perhaps needs to be perfected as not everyone will think it is that ‘cool’, but technology is always getting smaller and that’s perhaps all this needs to really make its mark. In short it is a liberating bit of kit if you have a passion for the active life or, just want to put a soundtrack to your everyday tasks without the hassle of wires getting in your way.

Revolutionising the fridge magnet

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:16:31 +0000

From colourful alphabets to magnetic note pads, the fridge door has seen it all. Littered with kid’s paintings and family photo’s stuck on with blue-tack, it can become tricky to get to your milk without creating a landslide. That’s why the new digitalised photo fridge magnet is so simply ingenious.

Holds up to 60 photos

The Digital Photo Frame Fridge Magnet

It combines two of the most common household objects into a really handy and actually quite novel product. Storing up to 60 photos that it will display in a slideshow or stills, depending on your preference, this gadget lets you clean up the fridge but keep all your favourite smiling faces on clear display.

A great gift

If you pre-load this compact little gizmo with a selection of photos, it makes a brilliant gift for a friend or family member. It’s a really personal token that will get lots of use and loads of appreciation from the recipient!

And if you like that…

You’ll also love the digital photo i-wallet. A normal looking wallet with a small, slim digital photo screen inside so you can carry your loved ones around with you wherever you go!

Introducing the ‘Selk Bag’

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:42:06 +0000

The Selk Bag is basically a body-shaped sleeping bag! It has all the features of a regular sleeping bag; it’s lined and quilted and able to withstand temperatures as low as -8.4 degrees, but it fits like a giant jump suit with a hood. You can literally wear it to walk around in. No more having to get out of your sleeping bag for a cold walk to the toilet in the night or struggling to shuffle around a tent to find the torch. The Selk Bag lets you manoeuvre around easily in the warmth of your own bed. What’s more, it’s well thought through. There are strategic zips that let you get your hands and legs out easily if you have a more fiddly operation to perform. Plus, it’s a real crack when there’s a bunch of you all messing about in your Selks!

The demise of the regular sleeping bag could be nigh!

What’s with all the willy stuff?

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:37:30 +0000

Time for a bit of a poll. Novelty gadgets designed specifically for blokes have long since consisted of the fart noise maker, the frosted beer glass or that hat with drinks can holders on it, a popular Father’s Day gift, if not birthday present, the world over. But what’s the verdict on all the willy stuff? Are guys buying these willy-related paraphernalia for themselves or getting them as gifts from their girlfriends, partners or, worse, mothers?

And how do you feel about that? What’s going through your mind as you open up your neatly wrapped birthday present, look up lovingly into your partners oddly smirking face and return your eyes to your lap, where now sits a gleaming, leather encased, gentleman’s willy care kit. What’s she trying to say? OK so it is funny. The thing has a member-sized medallion included in it– just to make the old man look special once you’ve shined him up. But who’s finding this more funny one has to ask. And wouldn’t a wireless nunchuck have more onward value.

There’s also the love muscle toner, the ball scratcher and the good old belly button brush. Not to mention the trouser expander – an inflatable device designed to increase the bulge in your trousers. Could you ever wear it seriously outside of a fancy dress or stag do? Well… maybe if you’re having a cold day.

But it’s funny how girlfriends don’t give you novelty gifts like a fantastic pair of shower breasts: Shower cream and shampoo in a wall-mounted holder that, when squeezed, distributes your cleaning products… oh and it looks and feels like a pair of breasts, bonus. Now there’s a real boy’s toy for you – the perfect mix of immaturity, intrigue and perversion. And who wouldn’t want to fondle a pair of soapy breasts every morning? Perhaps the girlfriend, but then surely it would just take the pressure off her?

At which point it’s a good idea to embrace the willy care kit and be quiet.

Gentleman's Willy Care Kit

The adventures of iPod

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:04:15 +0000

New, super-sleak iPod Shuffle

Elton John got the iPod nano off to a glittering start this year with his Swarovski crystal encrusted ‘Starburst’ model designed to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The iPod Starburst as it’s known is covered with over 250 colour-coordinated Swarovski crystals and has an engraved signature from Elton on the back so you may be expecting it to be more than the £450 it is for the 16GB model. Still a pretty penny but at least 12.5% of the purchase goes towards current HIV/AIDS programmes within the foundation, so you’re doing a good thing if you’re willing to pay for this collector’s item. Following a mass rush after the launch, you’ll find you can still get hold of a Starburst today.

Prices to touch the stars

Next Prince got on the personalising bandwagon (well why not, U2 and JK Rowling have already done it) with his special edition iPod touch – the Prince Opus. Priced in the thousands as opposed to the hundreds, this sleek purple, Prince Symbol engraved model includes little more than the live soundtrack from Indigo Nights plus a 40 minute movie of his 21 Nights at the O2 Arena. Worth it if you are a hardened Prince fan but you also have to by his Opus which certainly isn’t cheap – hence why only 950 iPods were ever made.

But that’s just small talk…

Let’s get back to basics. Forget celebrity endorsement, this summer it’s all about the new iPod shuffle. If it’s possible, it is now smaller than ever, making it a perfect accessory for lightweight summer clothes with no pockets! It’s affordable, functional and now informative - the new iPod Shuffle actually talks to you. At the push of a button, the new VoiceOver function will tell you what song you are listening to, who the artist is and which playlist you’re on, meaning it’s easier than ever to navigate around your music. And you might just want a bit more help these days because, despite its minute appearance, the shuffle now holds 4GB of storage space which is about 1,000 songs. A definite improvement on the previous model.

Unlike its star-studded big brothers, the shuffle comes at a fairly reasonable £59. And you can always engrave it yourself…. as long as your name’s not too long.