- December 18, 2010 4:43 pm
Smartphones are proliferating around the world. Similarly, laws to tell us how and when we can use them are growing as well. The most notorious cellphone-based law is none other than the handsfree law. Simply put, you can’t use your hands to interact with your phone. Get caught and the penalties range from monetary fines to jail time.
For iPhone users at least, the “MoGo Talk XD” iPhone case + Bluetooth headset combo is a one-two punch. Not only to you get a case to wrap around your phone, you get a bluetooth headset too! But it this merely a case of “Jack of all trades, master of none”?
Hop inside for the review…
- November 21, 2010 2:33 pm
You may recall the original Ballistic iPhone 4 case that we took a look at back in early October. The general consensus was that it was a very durable, protective case. But that robust construction came at the cost of design (admit it, it’s pretty ugly) as well as usability. The edges of the screen were hard to hit because of the high-rise sides of the case in particular. And then right before Halloween, Ballistic announced a new lighter case that still encapsulated everything Ballistic was about.
Introducing the Ballistic SG. A no-nonsense iPhone 4 case with a prettier face and thinner waistline. Jump inside for the review…
- November 20, 2010 3:49 pm
You know, since I picked up an iPhone 4 back in early September, I’ve amassed quite the collection of iPhone 4 cases. And yet I still jump for joy like a giddy school girl when I get a new one in the mail. And that’s precisely what happened last week. Except it was one but four cases that I received. Today we’re going to look at one of those cases, the XtremeMac MicroShield Accent. It’s a pretty nice case if I do say so myself. But I’m sure you want to know a little more. Jump on in for the full rundown…
- October 10, 2010 10:40 am
What’s in a case? If we’re talking about an iPhone 4 case, the answer could vary wildly. Some people don’t want to destroy the natural beauty of the iPhone, yet want something extra to keep scratches at bay. Super thin film-based “cases” barely offer enough protection on scratches, let alone drops and bumps. More rigorous protection means a thicker, less aesthetically pleasing case — nature of the beast. Then again, if you live an active lifestyle and/or are prone to clumsiness with your gadgets, perhaps loosing some of that gadgety sex appeal isn’t such a bad thing. I mean, if it saves you from having to spend several hundred dollars every couple of months replacing a cracked screen and what not, why not?
So today, we’re going to take a look at the Ballistic case for the iPhone 4. It’s huge, squishy yet hard, and prepared to take a beating so your iPhone 4 doesn’t have to. Hop inside…
The last few days have seen plenty of fury on the internet regarding claimed iPhone 4.0 hardware. And wouldn’t you know it, the lucky folks at Gizmodo actually got their hands on the supposed iPhone 4.0 hardware and have more or less *confirmed* that it is at least an early prototype.
At first glance it’s definitely the most dramatic departure from the classic iPhone styling we’ve seen on the 2G, 3G, and 3GS. It’s a little more boxy — though rightfully so — to cram in a roughly 16% larger battery. (Finally!) The rest of the specs are just as interesting…
While I may run a Mac as my primary computer, I still deal with Windows machines on a daily basis. Because of that, I can never become complacent or comfortable with simply not caring about viruses. Doing so and still spending a considerable amount of time inside of the Windows environment can only end badly for not only me, but those who communicate with me as well. As we all know, much like human viruses, computer viruses can spread just as well, often taking out countless more users in the process. Taking care of these digital diseases over the years has been mainly done with desktop software. The several years however, the digital landscape has changed considerably, with many services that were once considered “desktop only” now moving to the cloud. Highlighting what I said above, how has virus protection done in the migration from local hard disk to blazing fast SSD in a server farm far far away?
Immunet is one such cloud-based virus protection “program” that is a godsend to those with little local space for large programs, don’t want the resource murdering traits of a full blown virus solution, or simply want to try something new. To start, Immunet is 100% free. That right there usually perks up a few ears. But soon thereafter, many quickly lose interest as many desktop virus programs that happen to be free never quite live up to their more expensive brethren. After using Immunet for several weeks, I can honestly say that it is better than the “free” bullet point would lead to. So how exactly did Immunet get started?
The first feature — the cloud — isn’t really new anymore. All it refers to is that something resides on a server, somewhere, far away from your computer. The second “crowd sourcing” feature is actually worth more attention as it is a really cool feature to brag about. The implementation is pretty easy to grasp — whenever an Immunet user encounters a virus, their machine sends the info and scan logs to the Immunet central servers where it is then cataloged and instantly passed on to all other users, giving them protection against that very same virus.
The benefits can quickly be seen. Now instead of having a virus start in a few select areas and spread across unprotected areas because “normal” virus software can only be updated so much, Immunet with it’s cloud based and effectively real-time crowd sourced database means you’ll never be “behind the curve”. If you want a simple image to go by, think of this: Immunet’s business model is effectively an upside down pyramid. Normal virus software downloads MB’s upon MB’s of data to your computer in the form of virus definitions. Immunet on the other hand stores everything on the server and then compares your machine against their virus database and viola!
Overall, using the service is fast and easy. It may not have the numerous windows, panes, tabs, and deep options of some of the more expensive desktop virus software, but for a simple solution (what more do you really need than to scan for viruses?), Immunet is one worth taking a hard look.
Because it’s an extremely light install ~4MB, lightening quick, and barely dips into your local machine’s resources, I have no choice but to recommend Immunet to the millions of net connected computer users out there. It is one tool that your computer shouldn’t be without. Coupled with a desktop virus software package, Immunet’s abilities and usefulness are only magnified. Hey, you can’t ever be too safe, can you?
Immunet
Whenever you increase a particular computer part (such as a processor) with 50% more processing power, real world gains are sure to be evident. In the case of the i7 980X — the new hotness — do the two extra cores actually add any real benefit for that $1k pricetag? Two more prominent and thorough reviews by Benchmark Reviews and Anandtech reveal that while the 980X is faster, current software just isn’t making the most of those 12 threads of fury, resulting in what I would call, slightly less than anticipated speed. Not to mention, if you’re a gamer looking for their next processor, the premium in this case isn’t really worth it as the gains aren’t all that different from OC’d 920′s and 940′s. Don’t get me wrong, benchmarking software shows increases in speeds and power between 130 to almost 200% — nothing to shake a stick at. It’s just that everyday stuff that isn’t so noticeable yet.
Potential purchasers who can afford such luxury however shouldn’t be turned away. Give it 6-12 months. Once software developers really get the hand of this whole multi-threaded thing, the 6-core 980X will fly. Lust for it yet?
Overclockers
Taking low light and no light pictures with a flash often ruins pictures with a harsh flash, demon-esque red eyes, and other unfavorable effects because of the direct light. To remedy such a situation, you can cover the flash with some object or fiddle with your camera until the undesired effect is reduced. Such things however are a pain and take away from you spending time on what matters — taking a picture. The LightScoop by Professor Kobre is a neat little attachment for your digital DSLR that fits nicely in the attachment shoe on top of your camera. So does it actually work?
Getting just the right iPhone case for your tastes is often a quest into the vast world of 3rd party accessories for Apple’s uber phone. I’ve lost count of how many cases have come and gone over the life of me and my iPhone’s relationship. Some were good and I just simply wanted change while others were bad and I had to return them almost as soon as I opened the packaging. The individual traits we all look for in the “perfect” case are objective of course meaning that no case can truly be perfect. Some like a solid, well built, all encompassing case that sacrifices nothing in the name of protection. On the other hand, some merely seek a case that adds a different color or some other desirable physical change. The latter often don’t add as much protection as the more function minded cases for obvious reasons. So how does the line of ultra-thin cases by Blink fair? Read on…
