Handy Gadgets

A review of Dualit’s DAB Lite Radio has been posted over at Trusted Reviews. 'First and foremost Dualit's eye for elegant retro design certainly seems to be on the ball with the same art deco lines that adorn all the company's products once again being employed. The model we're looking at is finished in a fetching cream colour but Chrome is available if you want something with a bit more bling and black is also an option. Build quality also seems decent enough with a strong moulded plastic chassis that includes some neat little touches like a handle on the back and a neat, crumb catcher recess for stowing the aerial. The controls are also responsive and relatively robust. However, the overall feel isn't really one of quality.'

Read: Dualit Lite Radio - Trusted Reviews

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:13 PM | Permalink

Tablet PC Review have published a review of the portable PlanOn Printstik printer. 'The Printstik printer is definitely not your average printer. Weighing in at less than 2 lbs. and small enough to fit in your average notebook case, it's one of a kind, at least for now. It seems solidly built, although I wouldn't go dropping it on a hardwood floor, and is two-toned, silver and black being the color choices. The dimensions I gave earlier are when the Printstik is lying flat and that's the position I will describe from. The front of the Printstik has the PRINTSTIK label and the PlanOn logo. There is a power button and a paper feed button in the top right-hand corner. Next to the power and paper feed buttons, are the data stream, printing status and battery life indicators.'

Read: PlanOn PRINTSTIK Review - Tablet PC Review

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 1:54 PM | Permalink

Press Release

Cherry Electrical Products has introduced its new J84-2800 Series washable keyboard for the healthcare/medical market. The keyboard helps control the spread of infections in medical facilities, an issue critical to the healthcare industry.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that patients develop 1.7 million infections in hospitals each year, and those infections cause or contribute to the death of 99,000 people a year - about 270 per day. A Northwestern Memorial Hospital study also found that MRSA bacteria can survive on the surface of a computer keyboard for more than 24 hours. MRSA outbreaks in hospitals and schools have been linked to deaths in both the U.S. and the U.K.

Cherry's J84-2800 Series keyboard features a fully-sealed rubber casing rated to NEMA 4. This makes it suitable for rinsing and total immersion in cleaning fluids, allowing healthcare providers and other users to wash the keyboard with hospital-grade disinfectants and commercial anti-bacterial wipes. It is suitable for areas with strict hygiene demands, such as operating rooms, medical carts, ward stations, intensive care units, and dialysis centers, as well as other locations susceptible to cross-contamination. The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths also recommends the adoption of washable keyboards in schools.

The J84-2800 features a CLEAN key that disables key functions during the cleaning process to prevent accidental data transfer and ensure infection control procedures can be carried out without disruption to patient care or costly downtime to system hardware. The keyboard measures 16.7" wide by 7.5" high and features a 104 key U.S. layout.

For further information on Cherry's new J84-2800 Series washable keyboard, contact Cherry Electrical Products, 11200 88th Avenue, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158. Telephone: 800-510-1689. Web: www.cherrycorp.com.

About Cherry Corporation
The Cherry Corporation is a global supplier of computer keyboards & input devices, switches & controls, as well as mechanical & electronic components for the automotive industry. Cherry was recently voted the top keyboard brand by readers of Vertical Systems Reseller (VSR), a leading magazine reaching value-added resellers, systems integrators and other solutions providers.

Cherry Electrical Products is the North American division of Cherry Corporation with its headquarters in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Cherry also has seven wholly owned subsidiaries in Germany, England, France, Australia, Czech Republic, Mexico and Hong Kong.

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:10 PM | Permalink

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Magellan Maestro 5310 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS navigator. 'The Maestro 5310 has an attractive black and silver shell, and a thin profile (0.8 inches) for its size. Its bulky window mount, however, creates a package that isn’t going to fit easily into any glove compartment. You’ll find the standard Maestro interface on the 5310, which is a good thing. The straightforward menu options are easy for anyone to master

Entering an address or planning a multi-point trip is simple, and the device returns a route in just a few seconds. Magellan’s map view is a little more basic than most, a fact that’s highlighted when viewed on a larger screen. It’s easy to follow, though, with the current route highlighted in vivid lime green. Rerouting was also slow, at a poky 7 seconds. Perhaps that big screen slows the processor.'

Read: Magellan Maestro 5310 - Laptop Mag

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:08 PM | Permalink

A review of the Samsung HT-BD2 Blu-ray Home Cinema System has been posted over at Trusted Reviews. 'All of the processing and amplification takes place in the main unit, which pumps out a respectable 1,100W (RMS) or power, which works out at 135W per channel with 155W for the sub. The built-in disc drive obviously plays Blu-ray, but it also spins DVDs (upscaling them to 1080p if you want), finalised DVD-RW/-Rs and CDs, and you can also play MP3 and JPEG files from recordable CDs and DVDs. However, the unit is locked into Blu-ray Region B and DVD Region 2 and you can forget about DVD-Audio playback, which would have been a nice bonus feature for fans of hi-res music

The HT-BD2 also benefits from Samsung's exquisite taste in design. The main unit is a slim, sleek and beautifully built piece of kit, adorned with the company's usual seductive high-gloss black finish and blue lights, plus a grey section that juts out and houses the playback, volume and power buttons. The icing on the cake is the front loading disc slot, which sucks up the disc in a way that Alan Partridge would describe as a ‘nice action'.'

Read: Samsung HT-BD2 Blu-ray Home Cinema System - Trusted Reviews

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 5:18 PM | Permalink

The Gadgeteer have published a review of the Altec Lansing T612 Digital Speaker for iPhone and iPod. 'The T612 is the first "iPhone Certified" dock and takes care of the "Interference" of speakers that the iPhone is known to cause. Since you don't have to turn the phone on Airplane mode, there is no chance that you will miss a call. If you happen to get a phone call while you are listening to your music, the dock will stop playing music so you can hear the phone ringing.

The appearance of the dock is nicely done with a silver plastic strip going around the dock. The grill and the back of the dock are black and surprisingly has a rubberish feel. The dock has six blue LED lights behind the grill on the front to show where the volume level is. The lights are also used to fine tune your treble and bass. The top of the dock contains five buttons: Power, Volume up, Volume down, Bass and Treble.'

Read: Altec Lansing T612 iPhone Speaker System - The Gadgeteer

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:28 PM | Permalink

CNET have published a review of the Samsung HL61A750 61-inch rear-projection HDTV. 'Like most modern big-screen LCDs, the HL61A750 has a native resolution of 1080p, which works out to 1,920x1,080 pixels. While we often downplay the importance of 1080p resolution at smaller screen sizes, with a 61-inch screen you should be able to see the benefits of 1080p over 720p, albeit at a very close seating distance of 7 feet. Three picture modes are available, including Dynamic, Standard, and Movie. I chose Movie, as it produced the best results at the factory presets. The selectable color temperatures are Cool 1, Cool 2, Normal, Warm 1, and Warm 2; we selected Warm 2, as its by far the closest to the broadcast standard color temperature.'

Read: Samsung HL61A750 - CNET

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:12 PM | Permalink

The Register Hardware have published a review of the Roberts solarDAB radio. 'Firstly, let's look at the other functions on the radio, which are pretty good. There's the detachable aerial, for instance. This can be clipped into a recess on the back of the radio to fully protect it. It's a nice feature, but we couldn't help thinking that if the radio was frequently used outside, the aerial could very easily get mislaid. However, once clipped into its little hidey-hole, the aerial is hard to dislodge. So as long as you remember to stow it away, you should be fine.

Once installed, the aerial is a good size and, although not directional, provides the first link in what is a pretty robust signal-to-output path. Indeed, the sound quality is better than we'd have expected for a single, small 80mm speaker with just 1W of power to call upon. Clarity of speech for talk radio is good, and any type of music played through the device is delivered in a well-balanced manner. The unit can also maintain clarity at high volume and the volume itself can be turned up quite loud, a useful quality in a product that is destined to spend a lot of its time outside.'

Read: Roberts solarDAB radio - Register Hardware

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 4:53 PM | Permalink

Press Release

New SecuriTEST PRO adds Video, Audio and Sync Testing, Additional PTZ Protocols, and New Lighter, Easier-to-Carry Housing Powered By High-Capacity Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery

SYCAMORE, IL,The IDEAL SecuriTEST™, the security industry's most popular multi-functional CCTV tester, has undergone a major upgrade, and now delivers to technicians an enhanced feature set to satisfy their requirements whenever they are installing, testing and maintaining analog camera systems.

Available immediately with an MSRP of $849.00 (U.S.), the IDEAL SecuriTEST™ PRO offers the multi-function testing platform of the original SecuriTEST introduced last year, along with new IRE video level and sync testing, new sound level assessment through an integrated speaker and on-screen display, and new additional support for more PTZ camera protocols — all packaged in a lighter, more portable design featuring a high-capacity lithium ion battery.

“We know from talking to our customers that saving time and money is their number one concern,” explained Dan Payerle, Product Manager, IDEAL. “For that reason, in upgrading our SecuriTEST, we were focused on providing more productivity from a single device. The new SecuriTEST PRO allows a technician to verify and troubleshoot a complete CCTV system by himself or herself, significantly reducing labor and overhead costs.”

CCTV installers often need to carry a variety of testing tools to complete their work. SecuriTEST PRO combines the most-needed tools in one easy-to-carry package, eliminating the need to juggle several devices while on a ladder or lift, making working conditions safer and increasing productivity. SecuriTEST PRO empowers CCTV technicians to easily test video and sound, control PTZ cameras, analyze over a dozen PTZ protocols, program PTZ and static cameras, wire map UTP cables, generate video test patterns, and test electrical signals with its built-in digital multimeter.

One of the most anticipated new features of the SecuriTEST is its video and sync testing which assures each camera is set to its correct video output level. Testing determines the overall level of an NTSC video signal (30-150 IRE) and its sync-to-white ratio (30-50 IRE). PAL video can also be measured from 200-1200mV and sync ratio from 200-320mV. In addition, an audio input on the tester allows it to be directly connected to a camera to sample audio though the tester's built-in speaker or on its 2.5-inch color LCD screen as a visible level scale.

The SecuriTEST PRO kit comes with the tester, one lithium battery pack with 5.5 hours of operating time, an AC adapter/charger, 12V auto charger, 4-foot BNC video cable, test leads for the digital multimeter, UTP cable terminator, a neck strap and a rugged carrying pouch.

About IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. has been serving the electrical industry since 1916. IDEAL is one of the world's leading manufacturers of professional quality tools and supplies serving installation professionals in the construction, maintenance, data communications and original equipment manufacturing industries. Website: www.idealindustries.com

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 3:54 PM | Permalink

Pocket-Lint have published a review of the Eastpak Floyd laptop bag. 'The Floyd is a backpack that comes in a variety of colours – our review unit was a black and grey pinstripe but you can choose from plain single colours to blue and even orange camouflage. The design is fairly basic with a large pocket for your personal effects and a divider for your notebook. There are three smaller pockets on the front that are ideal for small items, such as your MP3 player or wallet. It's a compact design and considering it will fit a 17-inch notebook. When Eastpak say a 17-inch notebook, they mean a MacBook Pro, as the space is far too narrow to fit most other makes inside.'

Read: Eastpak Floyd rucksack review - Pocket-Lint

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:08 PM | Permalink

PC Magazine have published a review of the Philips SPC 620NC webcam. 'Somehow Philips didn't get the memo about how design can drive demand. The SPC 620NC looks like webcams from circa 1999. Your color options are humdrum black or silver, and the plastic stand feels cheap—it's really just a tripod that rests on your desktop or clamps to your laptop screen. If you do stand it on a desk, it's likely to tip over, thanks to the cam's extreme lightness in relation to its substantial USB cord. If you clamp the camera onto your monitor or laptop screen, it doesn't exactly stay firmly in place nearly as well as the better-designed LifeCam VX-5000. Worse still, when I was testing the SPC 620NC with a Sony VAIO AR790 widescreen notebook, I was afraid that the device's troublesome plastic hinge would scratch my screen.'

Read: Philips SPC 620NC WebCam - PC Mag

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:10 PM | Permalink

Press Release

This Pen is Mightier than…You Get the Point

Fountain Valley, CA - SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of the world’s finest illumination tools and tactical products, has created a pen that belongs in the streets, on the battlefield, or in the pocket of anyone who truly appreciates a functional, beautiful American-made writing instrument. The new SureFire pen is a tactical yet stylish pen that blends melded lines and smooth writing with the superior strength one would expect from SureFire.

The SureFire Pen will be the first in a new product line from SureFire’s Edged Weapons Division, helmed by renowned knife maker, Steve Ryan. This new product line of fine pens will provide a lifetime of quality that SureFire customers have come to expect. The SureFire Pen incorporates unique mechanisms and rock-solid construction which makes it ideal for any situation.

Like all SureFire products, the SureFire Pen is made to be used—hard. It’s built to meet the needs of military, law enforcement personnel, as well as those in the board room. The SureFire Pen is CNC machined at SureFire’s turning center in Fountain Valley, CA, from aerospace grade aluminum that’s been Mil-Spec hard anodized—it’s made in America. Seamlessly integrated into the tailcap is a rounded stainless steel window breaker that won’t snag clothing. The tumble polished stainless steel pocket clip, tailcap, and tip resists wear, corrosion, and provides additional durability.

The durability and beauty of the SureFire Pen will ensure that it stays in your family for generations to come. The Schmidt® Technology easy FLOW ink cartridge glides effortlessly without smearing. To deploy the ink tip simply twist the pen one and a half turns—there’s no cap to lose.

The SureFire Pen has an unassuming design with dimensions similar to that of most high-end writing instruments: 6.04” (15.34 cm) with the ink tip retracted, and it weighs in at 1.85 ounces (51 grams) with the ink cartridge in place. And the SureFire Pen is fully adjustable and accepts most ink cartridges between 3.875 and 4.25 inches long, so finding a replacement cartridge is not a problem. This pen is beautiful, well-balanced, and always at the ready in case of emergency.

For more information about the SureFire Pen visit SureFire.com or call 1-800-828-8809 and ask about the Pen, Model/SKU #: EWP-01-BK. Each individually serial numbered Pen is backed by SureFire’s No-Hassle Warranty and has an MSRP of $125—cartridge included. Whether you dress in 5.11s or Brooks Brothers, this pen will fit your needs.

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 4:32 PM | Permalink

CNET have published a review of the Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver. 'The TX-SR606 looks essentially the same as the TX-SR605. It's big and boxy, with its dimensions coming in at 6.88 inches high by 17.13 inches wide by 15.06 inches deep. From the front, there's a big volume knob in the upper right-hand section. The middle of the receiver is dominated by a strip of glossy black plastic, and in the center is an LCD screen, which is easy enough to see from about 7 feet away. To the right of the display is a front-panel directional pad, which is nice for navigating menus in case the remote is lost, and underneath the glossy black strip are several additional front panel buttons. Along the bottom is a headphone jack, along with more front panel buttons plus a standard AV input. Overall, it's not exactly stylish, but that's pretty typical for an AV receiver.'

Read: Onkyo TX-SR606 (black) - CNET

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:07 PM | Permalink

The Washington Post have published a review of the Vita-Mix 5200, Waring Pro 3HP and Blendtec Total Blender food processors. 'After weeks of working with the Vita-Mix 5200, the Waring Pro 3HP and the Blendtec Total Blender, I think the answer is: almost, but not quite. Take out the food processor requirement, and any of these blenders could indeed be an all-in-one appliance. Granted, if you already have a fully stocked kitchen, spending $400 or more on such a workhorse might not fit into your budget, especially during tough economic times. But if you're building a kitchen from scratch or putting together a wedding registry, if you're a smoothie addict or if your diet demands lots of fruits and vegetables and perhaps some alternative flours, one of these nifty things might be worth a look.'

Read: Big-Time Blending - WashingtonPost.com

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:12 PM | Permalink

Pocket-Lint have published a review of the rechargeable Remington Titanium 360 R5130 electric shaver. 'The R5130 Titanium 360 rotary shaver is the "budget" model of the company's new range, fitting in under the R6130 and R7130. It delivers 30-minutes shave time from a 90-minute charge as well as offering a 5-minute quick charge option for grooming on the go. The design is simple, straightforward and unlikely to win any awards - you can tell this is the entry-level of the three models available. Instead of an LCD screen as found in the R7130 and R6130 you get a six-LED "Fuel Gauge" which will keep you in the know when the power gets low and this is great for a quick glance but nothing more.'

Read: Remington Titanium 360 R5130 electric shaver review - Pocket-Lint

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 1:24 PM | Permalink

PC Advisor have published a review of the Samsung XL24 24in LED monitor. 'The Samsung XL24 comes bundled with X-rite’s Eye-One Display 2 colourimeter, and Samsung’s own Natural Color Expert and MagicTune software; there’s also a hood to block glare. MagicTune provides basic control over brightness, contrast and other functions, but Natural Colour Expert is the tool most creatives will be interested in, as it provides monitor calibration tuned to the XL range.

Natural Colour Expert calibrates the Samsung XL24, and allows you to set brightness levels, emulate other monitors or standards such as Adobe RGB, and test consistency over nine areas of the screen. It’s missing an ambient lighting adjustment, but overall it’s a nifty and easy-to-use piece of software.'

Read: Samsung XL24 24in LED monitor review - PC Advisor

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 10:16 PM | Permalink

A review of the Brother MFC-7840W All-in-One wireless device has been posted over at IT Reviews. 'The MFC-7840W is at the top end of this series of five models, which start at £102.12 (plus VAT). Aimed principally at the small business end of the market, this is a sturdy, solidly square machine - 428 (W) x 396 (D) x 304 (H) mm - that weighs 11.2kg. Yet it's far from ugly, designed with sleek, ergonomic curves and in shades of gun-metal grey and silver. This is a four-function All-in-One combining fax, scan, copy and print. On the top is the 50-sheet ADF and at the bottom is the front-loading, 250-sheet input tray. Unfortunately there's no automatic duplex facility, so double-sided printing will have to be dealt with manually. The supplied toner cartridge has to be slipped into its housing at the front and, apart from attaching the usual cables, that's most of the physical work out the way.'

Read: Brother - MFC-7840W review - IT Reviews

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 5:51 PM | Permalink

PC Magazine have published a review of the sleek IOGear GBMH211W6 Bluetooth headphones. 'Shipping with a USB charging cable, two sets of ear cushions, and a quick-start guide, the headphones use the Bluetooth 1.2 profile and support A2DP and AVRCP profiles. If you want to use them with an iPod or any other device that doesn't integrate Bluetooth, you'll have to purchase a separate dongle from IOGear for $79.99. Most of the other Bluetooth headphones we've seen, including the Genius BT-03A ($119.99 list), come bundled with a Bluetooth audio transmitter. Because of this limitation, I'd recommend the GBMH211W6 primarily for music phone users, since Bluetooth is standard issue on most handsets these days. It will work also with Bluetooth-enabled music players such as the Haier Ibiza Rhapsody and the Samsung YP-T10.'

Read: IOGear GBMH211W6 - PC Mag

Posted by Handy Gadgets Admin at 5:16 PM | Permalink