MercuryAV leather flip down smartphone cover
I bought a smartphone recently, and it is all kinds of awesome. However, I'm on not going to go into any more detail than that, other than to say it is quite thin. There are enough phone review sites out there already.
This post is about the case that I bought for my new phone.
The MercuryAV leather flip-down smartphone cover (which I will refer to as 'the case' from now on) is black, with a stitched tan-leather interior, afixed to a black plastic hardshell backing which surrounds the edges of the phone and the back leaving the leather front to cover the screen. There is a hard flat piece of plastic stitched inside the front cover to protect the screen. It was purchased for ~$20 at Allphones in Vic.
The good
- Material. The outer (faux??) leather feels extremely durable and looks like it could take a few knifings without breaking a seam.
- Lining. The inner leather lining is extremely soft and won't scratch a plastic screen let alone the fancier gorrilla glass on the phone the case was designed for.
- Latch. The latch is magnetic but the contact plane runs along the bottom edge of the phone. This keeps the latch small and flush with the edge so is very compact. It also means there is no unbuttoning to open the cover and it can even be pulled open without touching the latch as the magnets slide past each other. The other neat thing I've noticed is that as you close the cover, the latch will rise above the edge due to the particular poling of the magnet, so there is never any chance the latch lip will close into the screen rather than around the edge as it's supposed to.
- The Look. The unit looks very slylish and it would be hard to not be able to accessorise around it. Unless you are wearing a clown suit or a white tuxedo, it won't look out of place.
The bad.
- Size. Considering this case is meant for one of the slimmest phones in the market today, I can't see the point in making this case so thick. It's at least twice the thickness of the device and it really doesn't need to be. While the outer leather looks nice, since it was going to be reinforced with plastic, it didn't need to be, it just needed to be a facia. The plastic backing where the phone clips onto is also way too thick. There is bulge on the phone, which fits into a cutout of the plastic, but they've based their minimum thickness on this, rather than the larger area of the phone back, so the entire plastic section is about 2-3mm thicker than it needs to be. Even with a thinner plastic, the leather on the back is also too thick for the purposes of protecting the phone. Another 1-2mm wasted.
- Weight. The case weighs almost as much as the phone. Same arguments as above.
- Finish. On the inside of the plastic are some rough edges and raised sections where there shouldn't be. I'm not sure if this is on purpose or not, but it looks slightly poor.
- Price. $20 seems a bit much for this. I can understand the materials cost, but the design seems to be based on a cookie cutter template rather than a custom design specifically for this phone, even it is meant to fit that phone. I've seen this case design on other phones and I'm sure they just input the alternate dimensions and extrude the plastic without a second though.
Conclusion:
A nice looking phone cover that ultimately won't get used except when taking the phone to rough environments, as it negates most of the selling hilights of the phone, and even then other cases would be more appropriate as they would be designed for harsh conditions.
Score: 6/10
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Strike Bowling Nightclub, Melbourne
Strike.
Strike is a nightclub situated in Melbourne which has bowling as its main feature. There are multiple lanes set up across two areas with an arcade/dance floor style area in between. There are also Karaoke rooms beside the bar. The club is actually down one level from the street and the bowling reception greets you as you decend the stair with the first four lanes visible on your left as you enter.
Even though bowling is main feature, don't expect to find any bowling gloves on the clientelle. The lanes a strickly for show-boating. Complete with flashy lights and disco LEDs, the only thing missing was a smoke machine. The music is loud but you can still hear yourself talk.
The bar has beer on tap, and other drinks too. I didn't get a chance to purchase one, but I assume standard club prices with a slight markup. The karaoke rooms are quite large but not airlocked, so everytime you open the door, music from each area will spill into the opposing one.
The atmosphere is hard to pinpoint and it could swing either to bowling or to dancing at any given moment.
The good:
Atmosphere. The feeling of the place is a mix of the seediness of a club, with the pedestrian vibe of a bowling alley, but by having both intertwine, they create something fun with the potential to very entertaining.
Staff. The staff were exceptionally polite, and this includes the doormen. IDs were checked, even for the older members of our group, which might seem annoying but is reassuring in the end.
Registration. The registration process for bowling was painless, although by using pen and paper, a few names were lost in translation.
Shoes. The bowling shoes are comfy velcro instead of laces, and sprayed with deodouriser after each return. This is a cut above even some well established alleys. Original footwear is stored in a box with your group and was returned without issue.
Standing room. Not everyone likes to sit and watch bowling. There were a plethora of standing and leaning areas which still had a good view of the lanes.
The bad:
Lanes. The lanes aren't very good. Plain and simple, but as I pointed out before, they aren't being used for (official) competition. I felt there was a slight drift to the left on our lane which seemed to help the intermediate bowlers, but hinder both the very good and the very inexperienced.
Ball selection. The number of heavy balls available seemed to be less than the number of light balls, which seemed to indicate a more female biased crowd than the normally male dominated sport. This ties in to the club aspect with a high chance of being knocked back at the door to maintain the female:male ratio.
Toilets. The facilities for the males was sorely lacking. If the venue was packed, a trip to the toilet could end up being a long wait.
DJ. The DJ serving the music seemed very unenthusiastic. Maybe because no one was dancing, but that shouldn't discourage you from putting some effort into your set. Still, the music choice on the night was better than most clubs.
Pervs. As stated before, there are a lot of standing areas to watch what's going on in the lanes. With a high female ratio though, there were a number of onlookers who's interest didn't extend to bowling.
Price. Bowling was quite pricey and the premium is assumed to offset the upkeep of the other facilities.
Conclusion:
If you were looking purely for bowling, then you would be better served elsewhere. If you were looking to dance, there are better option. If you want to be able to hot the dancefloor or karaoke with an option to bowl, only then does Strike look like a good option and cuts down on the walking.
Overall, a niche place but not a bad one.
Score: 7/10
Strike is a nightclub situated in Melbourne which has bowling as its main feature. There are multiple lanes set up across two areas with an arcade/dance floor style area in between. There are also Karaoke rooms beside the bar. The club is actually down one level from the street and the bowling reception greets you as you decend the stair with the first four lanes visible on your left as you enter.
Even though bowling is main feature, don't expect to find any bowling gloves on the clientelle. The lanes a strickly for show-boating. Complete with flashy lights and disco LEDs, the only thing missing was a smoke machine. The music is loud but you can still hear yourself talk.
The bar has beer on tap, and other drinks too. I didn't get a chance to purchase one, but I assume standard club prices with a slight markup. The karaoke rooms are quite large but not airlocked, so everytime you open the door, music from each area will spill into the opposing one.
The atmosphere is hard to pinpoint and it could swing either to bowling or to dancing at any given moment.
The good:
Atmosphere. The feeling of the place is a mix of the seediness of a club, with the pedestrian vibe of a bowling alley, but by having both intertwine, they create something fun with the potential to very entertaining.
Staff. The staff were exceptionally polite, and this includes the doormen. IDs were checked, even for the older members of our group, which might seem annoying but is reassuring in the end.
Registration. The registration process for bowling was painless, although by using pen and paper, a few names were lost in translation.
Shoes. The bowling shoes are comfy velcro instead of laces, and sprayed with deodouriser after each return. This is a cut above even some well established alleys. Original footwear is stored in a box with your group and was returned without issue.
Standing room. Not everyone likes to sit and watch bowling. There were a plethora of standing and leaning areas which still had a good view of the lanes.
The bad:
Lanes. The lanes aren't very good. Plain and simple, but as I pointed out before, they aren't being used for (official) competition. I felt there was a slight drift to the left on our lane which seemed to help the intermediate bowlers, but hinder both the very good and the very inexperienced.
Ball selection. The number of heavy balls available seemed to be less than the number of light balls, which seemed to indicate a more female biased crowd than the normally male dominated sport. This ties in to the club aspect with a high chance of being knocked back at the door to maintain the female:male ratio.
Toilets. The facilities for the males was sorely lacking. If the venue was packed, a trip to the toilet could end up being a long wait.
DJ. The DJ serving the music seemed very unenthusiastic. Maybe because no one was dancing, but that shouldn't discourage you from putting some effort into your set. Still, the music choice on the night was better than most clubs.
Pervs. As stated before, there are a lot of standing areas to watch what's going on in the lanes. With a high female ratio though, there were a number of onlookers who's interest didn't extend to bowling.
Price. Bowling was quite pricey and the premium is assumed to offset the upkeep of the other facilities.
Conclusion:
If you were looking purely for bowling, then you would be better served elsewhere. If you were looking to dance, there are better option. If you want to be able to hot the dancefloor or karaoke with an option to bowl, only then does Strike look like a good option and cuts down on the walking.
Overall, a niche place but not a bad one.
Score: 7/10
Friday, August 12, 2011
Google Chrome browser
Google Chrome
Chrome is an HTML browser program designed by Google to compete with the likes of MS Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera Browser.
I've only just recently installed it on my PC to see how it fares against my current Firefox 5 installation.
So far, seems rather snappy and quite fast at rendering pages that bog down on Firefox. The interface is clean (if a little spartan) and add-on integration appears to work well. Searching is integrated into to address bar. Overall, I would say it is a very focused browsing experience, and if set up well, can make using the internet very efficient.
It may be that I've been using Firefox for too long and my history of browser experience can be traced back to the days of Netscape Navigator 2.0, but I find the uncluttered layout and multifunction widgets a little unnerving. For an analogy, it's almost as if I've stepped out of my 'homely country cottage' and right into a 'fast-paced city apartment'. Sure the latter has everything I need at arms reach, but I can't customise it much, it's cold, and nothing is where I want it.
I get the feeling each time a open a new tab that Chrome wants me to do what I need to do with the page and then close it.
I know that probably countless hours of design and programming have gone into making Chrome as fast and intuitive to interact with but I just don't like it (yet).
The Good:
Fast. Chrome seems to perform better than Firefox in almost all my browsing situations.
Uncluttered. There isn't much on the screen by default so more room for the actual page contents.
Small. The download and setup for it were extremely easy to setup and didn't take long at all. So far, it's been the smoothest browser install/update of any browser ecosystem I've used.
Pretty. There's no other word for it, but the interface is pretty and very easy on the eyes. There are themes that can be downloaded too.
Fullscreen Mode. Fullscreen mode is awesome and switching in and out of it is way slicker than Firefox. It even forgoes the menu when you hover over the top of the screen (which makes sense since there aren't any menus) and this avoids the graphical slowdown present on firefox which annoys the hell out of me on my netbook which is when I am most likely to use fullscreen mode.
Compatible. So far I haven't had any incompatibility with any of the sites I normally visit so substituting for an existing browser is painless.
Memory. Chrome seems to handle memory usage better than Firefox. One Firefox session I had went up to 300+ MB of used memory and I had only a blank tab open.
Management Utils. There are lots of informative windows available once you dig into the Options menu to the right of the address bar. These can show memory usage and active windows and even allow you to kill off any rogue tabs. The memory usage window will even show the memory usage of concurrently running browsers from other companies.
The (in my opinion) bad:
No menu. There is no menu system so trying to find out how to use the program might be difficult as it doesn't match classic windows design.
No bookmarks button. There is no bookmarks drop-down. You can set up a bookmarks bar, but that shows an entire bar and takes up the same amount of screen real-estate. Not a good thing on the netbook, unless you want to go into fullscreen mode...and then out again when you want bookmarks.
Flash installed by default. Normally, I load up flashblock before installing flash. This made it slightly more annoying having to see all those flash ads before I got to install flashblock.
Homepage. I don't like the idea of the Chrome homepage. Security-wise it erks me a little. But sometimes I just want to go to 20 or so of my usual pages. If it only shows 8 that's fine for those 8 but the rest then need a different set of actions to get to them and that makes me angry.
Sensitive zoom. The touchpad zooming in Chrome is extremely sensitive by default. The zoom is also stepped, so it's not the same as on a mobile device like the iPhone. I there is zoom lag, then you can get into all sorts of trouble with buffered zoom commands sending your screen into vertigo mode.
Lots of processes. Chrome opens up several child processes while running. This might be to aid in memory management and cleanup for closed tabs, but is confusing when trying to investigate certain problems or even inspect the Task Manager.
Firefox open concurrently. Trying to install it while Firefox is open in the background (as will happen because the Chrome download page doesn't have a link to an offline installer) will cause the Chrome import function to fail. Trying to continue after closing Firefox will cause the installer to hang. There isn't any fallout from this, but it was quite scary when I couldn't figure out if the installer was still working or not an whether or not it was safe to kill off all those hung chrome
processes.
Conclusion:
Chrome is a great browser. It just does things a little but different to a classical browser and this might divide the target audience. I'm sure with a bit more use, I'll get to know how to do things in Chrome that I used to do in Firefox, and get them done faster.
Score:
7.5/10 (as of the date of this post)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Durarara!!
Durarara!!
Durarara!! is a Japanese animation base on a manga and is set in present day Ikebukuro, a suburb on the south western side of Tokyo, Japan. It revolves around the lives of some of the inhabitants of the area and the fate that befalls them.
There are 25 episodes in the first season and rumors about a seconds season have appeared although it looks like the writers and production house are trying to gauge the response before first committing to anything.
This review is of the Japanese dialogue version with English subtitles.
WARNING: Although I've tried my best to avoid them, there may be some spoilers below, so if you would prefer not to know before watching, please stop reading this post now.
Ryugamine Mikado travels to Ikebukuro looking to escape his mundane rural hometown life. He meets up with his old childhood friend, Masaomi Kida who shows him around and lets him know about all the important figures living in Ikebukuro. He points out Simon, a black Russian who works at a Sushi restaurant and can be found most of the time out the front handing out flyers for the restaurant, and they meet up with Kida's friends Yumasaki, Karisawa, Togusa, and Kadota, who are local otaku (geeks) that drive around together in a van checking out the various curio and manga/anime in the local stores.
Kida warns Mikado about Izaya (whom they meet with), and Heiwajima. Two people whom not to get involved in, and also about The Dollars, a recent underground gang supposedly with no identifying traits, and no known hierarchy system.
As the story unfolds, Mikado soon meets various other important people, the most bizarre of which is Celty, a motorbike rider dressed in black with a yellow helmet with little cat ears coming out the top. Her bike is fully black and seems to make horse noises when moving. Rumor has it that Celty has no head beneath her helmet.
There are also other rumors flying around the place, and there have been incidents where people have been atacked and cut by the mysterious 'Slasher', who never kills the victim but just cuts them.
Mikado also attends the local high school and becomes a class rep, and meets fellow classmate Anri as part of the job.
At the start of the series we see everything from a third person's perspective as apparently random events take place. As the series progresses though, we get to see more and more details that link the initial events and characters together, and get to see those events from the perspective of the various involved people.
It soon becomes apparent that a lot of what was previously seen and taken for granted actually has a significant impact on the bigger picture. Characters in the series are anything but one dimensional and often aren't what they appear to be at first.
The story line is complex and the vast array of characters make the show hard to wrap your head around sometimes, but the rewards at the end are well worth it.
It should also be noted that there are a few supernatural elements to the series, some of which form the crux of various plot elements.
The Good:
- Animation. The animation is really good. No the best I've seen, but still very good.
- Voice acting. The voice acting is also very good and I would say all the voices suited their chararters.
- Plot. The plot is quite simple in structure, but the fact we get pieces at a time, and the general execution means the show is highly addictive, sucking you into it's story. I ran with it and some of the twists in the show are mind boggling.
- Characters. The characters in this anime are characters in the true sense of the word. All have their own backstory and all have their secrets.
- Humour. There is a lot about this show that is funny. Some people might not think so though.
The Bad:
- Addictive. Near the end of each episode, the show always reveals something new about someone and almost every episode ends in a cliffhanger. I found myself wanting for more.
- Complexity. Some people may find that there are so many characters in the show that it's too hard to follow. Also, there are many plot elements that are just unbelievable, however, this is pure fantasy it doesn't detract. The characters are what makes this show.
- Slow start. The start of this show takes a long time and some characters aren't shown at all until after midway through the episode list.
Conclusion: As far as anime goes, this was one of favourites.
Score: 10/10
Durarara!! is a Japanese animation base on a manga and is set in present day Ikebukuro, a suburb on the south western side of Tokyo, Japan. It revolves around the lives of some of the inhabitants of the area and the fate that befalls them.
There are 25 episodes in the first season and rumors about a seconds season have appeared although it looks like the writers and production house are trying to gauge the response before first committing to anything.
This review is of the Japanese dialogue version with English subtitles.
WARNING: Although I've tried my best to avoid them, there may be some spoilers below, so if you would prefer not to know before watching, please stop reading this post now.
Ryugamine Mikado travels to Ikebukuro looking to escape his mundane rural hometown life. He meets up with his old childhood friend, Masaomi Kida who shows him around and lets him know about all the important figures living in Ikebukuro. He points out Simon, a black Russian who works at a Sushi restaurant and can be found most of the time out the front handing out flyers for the restaurant, and they meet up with Kida's friends Yumasaki, Karisawa, Togusa, and Kadota, who are local otaku (geeks) that drive around together in a van checking out the various curio and manga/anime in the local stores.
Kida warns Mikado about Izaya (whom they meet with), and Heiwajima. Two people whom not to get involved in, and also about The Dollars, a recent underground gang supposedly with no identifying traits, and no known hierarchy system.
As the story unfolds, Mikado soon meets various other important people, the most bizarre of which is Celty, a motorbike rider dressed in black with a yellow helmet with little cat ears coming out the top. Her bike is fully black and seems to make horse noises when moving. Rumor has it that Celty has no head beneath her helmet.
There are also other rumors flying around the place, and there have been incidents where people have been atacked and cut by the mysterious 'Slasher', who never kills the victim but just cuts them.
Mikado also attends the local high school and becomes a class rep, and meets fellow classmate Anri as part of the job.
At the start of the series we see everything from a third person's perspective as apparently random events take place. As the series progresses though, we get to see more and more details that link the initial events and characters together, and get to see those events from the perspective of the various involved people.
It soon becomes apparent that a lot of what was previously seen and taken for granted actually has a significant impact on the bigger picture. Characters in the series are anything but one dimensional and often aren't what they appear to be at first.
The story line is complex and the vast array of characters make the show hard to wrap your head around sometimes, but the rewards at the end are well worth it.
It should also be noted that there are a few supernatural elements to the series, some of which form the crux of various plot elements.
The Good:
- Animation. The animation is really good. No the best I've seen, but still very good.
- Voice acting. The voice acting is also very good and I would say all the voices suited their chararters.
- Plot. The plot is quite simple in structure, but the fact we get pieces at a time, and the general execution means the show is highly addictive, sucking you into it's story. I ran with it and some of the twists in the show are mind boggling.
- Characters. The characters in this anime are characters in the true sense of the word. All have their own backstory and all have their secrets.
- Humour. There is a lot about this show that is funny. Some people might not think so though.
The Bad:
- Addictive. Near the end of each episode, the show always reveals something new about someone and almost every episode ends in a cliffhanger. I found myself wanting for more.
- Complexity. Some people may find that there are so many characters in the show that it's too hard to follow. Also, there are many plot elements that are just unbelievable, however, this is pure fantasy it doesn't detract. The characters are what makes this show.
- Slow start. The start of this show takes a long time and some characters aren't shown at all until after midway through the episode list.
Conclusion: As far as anime goes, this was one of favourites.
Score: 10/10
Friday, July 29, 2011
Cobi nostalgia themed USB1.1/2.o Webcam and Spotlight
Cobi nostalgia themed USB1.1/2.o Webcam and Spotlight
The Cobi USB webcam and spotlight are USB devices that have been shaped to look like an early model movie camera and spotlight. Other than the design, there isn't much out of the ordinary about the camera or the light. The camera is a standard USB webcam and the spotlight is just an LED that is on the end of a flexible arm. Accessories include a small extendable tripod and a screen mount for the camera.
There is no software supplied in the box.
Windows 7 detects the USB camera and install the correct device driver for use with video conferencing software like Skype or Gmail video chat. The camera also works with security focused software and any program that can interface with a generic USB video input device.
The frame rate of the camera isn't known and the resolution of 640x480 can't be changed using the default windows 7 software. So far, I haven't been able to change the default resolution and haven't been able to find a frame rate control, even in the options of various software programs.
The Good:
- Design. The plastic moulding of the camera, while not designed for utility, is quite pleasing to look at and when combined with the spotlight can add to a creative mood.
- Spotlight. The spotlight has it's own hard switch and is on a separate USB plug so it can be used as a standard USB light. The flexible arm has very good articulation and can even snake between various paths to give the best vantage point. Twisting the arm in one direction can stiffen the arm, and twisting the other way can loosen it (to an extent).
- Focus. You can focus the camera. This is great as a lot of inbuilt camera's don't provide this.
- Instructions. The instruction pamphlet is concise and easy to read and has 4 languages. Even without the instruction, the entire setup is quite straight forward.
- Cheap. The whole package was really cheap.
The Bad:
- Screen mount. The screen mount is a 'C' shaped plastic thing with rubber on the ends and a standard screw-type camera mount on the mid section. The mount is supposed to sit on the top edge of the LCD screen or a laptop and the screw mount is to mount the camera. The mount is not a clip (which would have been infinitely more useful) so it won't stay still on the screen where you place it. It also won't fit on most shaped that aren't like that of a laptop lid when open. There also seems to be an issue with the screw mount and the locking system for it. If you tighten the screw on the camera, the camera faces the wrong way. If you spin the camera, the screw loosens on the mount, so the camera tends to swing left or right either way you tighten it.
- Tripod. The tripod is really cheap. You can tell as soon as you pick it up. The extendible legs don't extend much and even when they do, they don't lock so it's not really a sure thing. It can support a point and shoot though, so the webcam which is a lot lighter should strain it too much.
- Light bleed. The baffles on the LED spotlight have been modeled on the real thing, but on a real spotlight, the light source is mounted far back in the barrel. The LED on this light is mounted in front of the barrel, so light shines out the sides and into people's eyes. You can get away with it by carefully positioning the barrel, but it would have been nice if the LED was mounted further back. The actual LED and power transistor circuitry wouldn't be longer than the barrel, so this is a design flaw.
- Frame rate. I haven't been able to change the frame rate and I'm convinced that it may be at maximum of the sensor. This is a shame as the frame rate I've been able to attain is quite slow.
- Image quality. At 640x480, the image is fine for a face directly in front of the camera, but anything else is just washed out.
- Camera mount thread. The thread in the camera is part of the housing which is plastic. Too many attachments or detachments and the thread will wear out.
- Spotlight arm. The spotlight arm is too loose by default for the weight of the light, and it isn't immediately obvious that twisting will tighten it.
Conclusion:
The camera portion of the package isn't much to talk about, but the spotlight is quite useful as a generic light. The articulated arm is great for aiming and lighting up the keyboard if the screen doesn't happen to aim at the keys or the screen image is actually dark.
Coupled with the free YAWCAM software you can set the camera up to detect movement and take a picture if the movement is above a certain threshold and it also has many other useful security focused functions.
I just wish the camera was a little bit more functional or at the very least had a faster frame rate.
Score: 5.5/10
Up next: I was going to review the last item I got from CotD but it may end up being a present. So instead, I will review an Anime: Durarara!!
The Cobi USB webcam and spotlight are USB devices that have been shaped to look like an early model movie camera and spotlight. Other than the design, there isn't much out of the ordinary about the camera or the light. The camera is a standard USB webcam and the spotlight is just an LED that is on the end of a flexible arm. Accessories include a small extendable tripod and a screen mount for the camera.
There is no software supplied in the box.
Windows 7 detects the USB camera and install the correct device driver for use with video conferencing software like Skype or Gmail video chat. The camera also works with security focused software and any program that can interface with a generic USB video input device.
The frame rate of the camera isn't known and the resolution of 640x480 can't be changed using the default windows 7 software. So far, I haven't been able to change the default resolution and haven't been able to find a frame rate control, even in the options of various software programs.
The Good:
- Design. The plastic moulding of the camera, while not designed for utility, is quite pleasing to look at and when combined with the spotlight can add to a creative mood.
- Spotlight. The spotlight has it's own hard switch and is on a separate USB plug so it can be used as a standard USB light. The flexible arm has very good articulation and can even snake between various paths to give the best vantage point. Twisting the arm in one direction can stiffen the arm, and twisting the other way can loosen it (to an extent).
- Focus. You can focus the camera. This is great as a lot of inbuilt camera's don't provide this.
- Instructions. The instruction pamphlet is concise and easy to read and has 4 languages. Even without the instruction, the entire setup is quite straight forward.
- Cheap. The whole package was really cheap.
The Bad:
- Screen mount. The screen mount is a 'C' shaped plastic thing with rubber on the ends and a standard screw-type camera mount on the mid section. The mount is supposed to sit on the top edge of the LCD screen or a laptop and the screw mount is to mount the camera. The mount is not a clip (which would have been infinitely more useful) so it won't stay still on the screen where you place it. It also won't fit on most shaped that aren't like that of a laptop lid when open. There also seems to be an issue with the screw mount and the locking system for it. If you tighten the screw on the camera, the camera faces the wrong way. If you spin the camera, the screw loosens on the mount, so the camera tends to swing left or right either way you tighten it.
- Tripod. The tripod is really cheap. You can tell as soon as you pick it up. The extendible legs don't extend much and even when they do, they don't lock so it's not really a sure thing. It can support a point and shoot though, so the webcam which is a lot lighter should strain it too much.
- Light bleed. The baffles on the LED spotlight have been modeled on the real thing, but on a real spotlight, the light source is mounted far back in the barrel. The LED on this light is mounted in front of the barrel, so light shines out the sides and into people's eyes. You can get away with it by carefully positioning the barrel, but it would have been nice if the LED was mounted further back. The actual LED and power transistor circuitry wouldn't be longer than the barrel, so this is a design flaw.
- Frame rate. I haven't been able to change the frame rate and I'm convinced that it may be at maximum of the sensor. This is a shame as the frame rate I've been able to attain is quite slow.
- Image quality. At 640x480, the image is fine for a face directly in front of the camera, but anything else is just washed out.
- Camera mount thread. The thread in the camera is part of the housing which is plastic. Too many attachments or detachments and the thread will wear out.
- Spotlight arm. The spotlight arm is too loose by default for the weight of the light, and it isn't immediately obvious that twisting will tighten it.
Conclusion:
The camera portion of the package isn't much to talk about, but the spotlight is quite useful as a generic light. The articulated arm is great for aiming and lighting up the keyboard if the screen doesn't happen to aim at the keys or the screen image is actually dark.
Coupled with the free YAWCAM software you can set the camera up to detect movement and take a picture if the movement is above a certain threshold and it also has many other useful security focused functions.
I just wish the camera was a little bit more functional or at the very least had a faster frame rate.
Score: 5.5/10
Up next: I was going to review the last item I got from CotD but it may end up being a present. So instead, I will review an Anime: Durarara!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Flexi-Pod SLR camera tripod
Flexi-Pod SLR camera tripod
The SLR is the big brother of the standard Flexi-Pod camera tripod. Both have the same unique flexible ball-jointed legs that allow the camera to be positioned in almost any orientation and also attached to beams and tree branches. The SLR variant is just larger and can hold up to 1kg (although I suspect it can actually hold more in certain configurations). When straightened, the legs serve the same function as a standard small non-extendable tripod.
Each leg is made up of 8 interlocking joints that meet at the base of the main joint which is also flexible with a joint between it and the tripod head. The ball joints have a rubber ring on them which helps grip onto various sized cylindrical extrusions (poles, branches, beams, etc.).
The head itself has a further base plate that can be quickly detached and reattached with the flick of a small lever. There is also a safety ring that needs to be twisted before the plate will detach so you can lock the base plate to the tripod head securely.
The good:
- Grip. The Flexi-Pod can use its three flexible legs to wrap around many objects and this opens up many opportunities which a normal tripod or monopod would find difficult. The rubber rings mean the camera will resist slipping around smooth objects that it is wrapped around. The angle the camera sits does not have to be horizontal, which opens up creative options. The feet at the end of each leg is also rubberized so it shouldn't slip on most surfaces when in standard upright form.
- Light. The tripod itself is quite light with no extending legs and the ball joints are narrow between each connection, so there is minimal material where it is not needed.
- Versatile. By bending or straightening the legs, you can set the camera up in almost any vantage point. It also works just like a normal small tripod and you can move the legs together for a quasi-monopod form. It has a standard mount that is tightened with any small coin so you don't need to carry any special tools or keys.
- Fast. The detachable base plate is very quick to attach and reattach so you can have your camera setup for a steady shot but you can also detach the camera anytime for an impromptu shot very easily and very quickly.
- Cheap. The version from Flexi-Pod is a cheaper knock-off of another brand. It's made from cheaper parts and probably cheaper labor and as such, is much cheaper to buy than the other brand. This doesn't mean it sacrifices much in terms of functionality though. At most you may find the rubber wears a bit quicker or the joints don't stay as stiff when new, but if you look after it, it will function just as well.
The Bad:
- Ugly. The Flexi-Pod is very ugly. The design requires it to be so, so you may find your subject getting distracted by it or drawing unwanted attention to yourself.
- Limited. Unlike a traditional tripod, it cannot support large heavy lenses attached to full body SLRs. The joints are all potential failure points, so nearing the maximum load may be dangerous, and potentially costly. It also doesn't extend so it's limited in height. You will need to prop it up onto something first for something like a portrait shot.
- Wobble. The rubber and joint design allows a lot of flexing to take place, which can turn into vibrations in the camera. A useful companion to this setup would be a cable or wireless remote shutter release. Alternatively you can use the timer to give it enough time to settle down before the shot is taken.
- Packaging. The packaging is plastic. This could have easily been packaged in a cardboard box or even free standing. It seems a bit wasteful.
- Fit. The baseplate is somewhat loose after inserting into the head socket, and could have used some cushioning material. There is already some of this on top of the baseplate so I don't understand why a small amount wasn't put around the socket. It would have made the for a much snugger fit and reduced vibrations/movement of the camera.
- Colour scheme. Black and grey. It should have just stuck with black for everything. I find it hilarious that the packaging actually shows a picture of a different tripod with much better all-black looks. It almost makes me want to hunt down this better looking version.
Conclusion:
The Flexi-Pod SLR definitely has some drawbacks in both function and build quality, but it more than makes up for it with versatility. Used as a companion tripod it would fill in all the gaps where a traditional tripod falls short. I would have liked to have seen a master locking mechanism for all the legs so once you had them set up, you could trust the tripod wouldn't collapse or shift position due to weight. If you want to avoid using the camera's timer, definitely invest in a remote shutter release with this tripod. A remote release is a handy tool anyway and you will find much use for it and even away from a tripod.
Score:
8.5/10
Up next: Cobi nostalgia themed USB1.1/2.o Webcam and Spotlight.
The SLR is the big brother of the standard Flexi-Pod camera tripod. Both have the same unique flexible ball-jointed legs that allow the camera to be positioned in almost any orientation and also attached to beams and tree branches. The SLR variant is just larger and can hold up to 1kg (although I suspect it can actually hold more in certain configurations). When straightened, the legs serve the same function as a standard small non-extendable tripod.
Each leg is made up of 8 interlocking joints that meet at the base of the main joint which is also flexible with a joint between it and the tripod head. The ball joints have a rubber ring on them which helps grip onto various sized cylindrical extrusions (poles, branches, beams, etc.).
The head itself has a further base plate that can be quickly detached and reattached with the flick of a small lever. There is also a safety ring that needs to be twisted before the plate will detach so you can lock the base plate to the tripod head securely.
The good:
- Grip. The Flexi-Pod can use its three flexible legs to wrap around many objects and this opens up many opportunities which a normal tripod or monopod would find difficult. The rubber rings mean the camera will resist slipping around smooth objects that it is wrapped around. The angle the camera sits does not have to be horizontal, which opens up creative options. The feet at the end of each leg is also rubberized so it shouldn't slip on most surfaces when in standard upright form.
- Light. The tripod itself is quite light with no extending legs and the ball joints are narrow between each connection, so there is minimal material where it is not needed.
- Versatile. By bending or straightening the legs, you can set the camera up in almost any vantage point. It also works just like a normal small tripod and you can move the legs together for a quasi-monopod form. It has a standard mount that is tightened with any small coin so you don't need to carry any special tools or keys.
- Fast. The detachable base plate is very quick to attach and reattach so you can have your camera setup for a steady shot but you can also detach the camera anytime for an impromptu shot very easily and very quickly.
- Cheap. The version from Flexi-Pod is a cheaper knock-off of another brand. It's made from cheaper parts and probably cheaper labor and as such, is much cheaper to buy than the other brand. This doesn't mean it sacrifices much in terms of functionality though. At most you may find the rubber wears a bit quicker or the joints don't stay as stiff when new, but if you look after it, it will function just as well.
The Bad:
- Ugly. The Flexi-Pod is very ugly. The design requires it to be so, so you may find your subject getting distracted by it or drawing unwanted attention to yourself.
- Limited. Unlike a traditional tripod, it cannot support large heavy lenses attached to full body SLRs. The joints are all potential failure points, so nearing the maximum load may be dangerous, and potentially costly. It also doesn't extend so it's limited in height. You will need to prop it up onto something first for something like a portrait shot.
- Wobble. The rubber and joint design allows a lot of flexing to take place, which can turn into vibrations in the camera. A useful companion to this setup would be a cable or wireless remote shutter release. Alternatively you can use the timer to give it enough time to settle down before the shot is taken.
- Packaging. The packaging is plastic. This could have easily been packaged in a cardboard box or even free standing. It seems a bit wasteful.
- Fit. The baseplate is somewhat loose after inserting into the head socket, and could have used some cushioning material. There is already some of this on top of the baseplate so I don't understand why a small amount wasn't put around the socket. It would have made the for a much snugger fit and reduced vibrations/movement of the camera.
- Colour scheme. Black and grey. It should have just stuck with black for everything. I find it hilarious that the packaging actually shows a picture of a different tripod with much better all-black looks. It almost makes me want to hunt down this better looking version.
Conclusion:
The Flexi-Pod SLR definitely has some drawbacks in both function and build quality, but it more than makes up for it with versatility. Used as a companion tripod it would fill in all the gaps where a traditional tripod falls short. I would have liked to have seen a master locking mechanism for all the legs so once you had them set up, you could trust the tripod wouldn't collapse or shift position due to weight. If you want to avoid using the camera's timer, definitely invest in a remote shutter release with this tripod. A remote release is a handy tool anyway and you will find much use for it and even away from a tripod.
Score:
8.5/10
Up next: Cobi nostalgia themed USB1.1/2.o Webcam and Spotlight.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
STM 11" Netbook glove
STM 11" Netbook glove
The Netbook Glove is a neoprene cover for a netbook or small computing device of 11" dimensions. It has a zipper along the short end with a narrow length of neoprene to prevent the zipper from scratching the device.
Overall construction is excellent and the zipper feels durable and sturdy. The neoprene is soft but feels like it could take a solid hit or cut and still survive. It's quite slippery on the inside so inserting or removing a device is very smooth and easy. It has a slight memory effect so leaving it on a sharp edge will indent the surface, and any feet of protrusions on the device itself will indent the interior (which turns out to be a good thing).
The cover only weighs a few hundred grams or so it won't stop you carrying your device. The only issue you might have is if you previously carried the device in a snug pocket, and it may not fit anymore with the glove on.
The glove is specified as 11" so most 10" netbooks and tablets will find there is a bit of play when the glove is on. As the interior is so soft, you shouldn't notice any scratching due to the movement. Still, it definitely isn't a snug fit for most 10" devices. I don't have any 11" devices to test, but I assume an 11" Macbook Air would be too slim to fit properly either.
The good:
- Protective. The thickness, smoothess, and padding all combine to protect the device extremely well. The neoprene should also absorb any liquid that doesn't run off it's surface so spills don't pool and end up in the device.
- Flexible. Due to the stretch, it's able to form around most shapes and stretch to most devices within the 10"-11" class.
- Cheap. At less than AU$10, it's not the cheapest cover and probably still more than the constituent parts and labour combined, but relatively cheap compared to other covers available which can run upwards of $60.
- Colours. The glove comes in a variety of colours and if you find older models you can get access to the old colours such as blue like i did.
The Bad:
- 11". There are a lot more 10" devices than 11" and STM do not make a generic 10" cover. Most are targeted at particular device (which makes sense from a marketing perspective). As such, the cover never feels quite snug when covering any of the 10" netbooks I own, but it does fit all of them, regardless of the shape and battery size.
- Not waterproof (?). I haven't tested it, but it never says anything about being waterproof on any of the accompanying literature.
- Thick. It does add a bit of bulk to the standard size of a device when covered making it harder to fit into other carriers such as pockets and carrying satchels.
- No handle. The glove doesn't have a handle or strap so you will have to put it into another container or bag to carry it hands free. In saying that, with the cover on, I'm less likely to worry about it crashing around in my backpack with other things like cameras and power packs/plugs.
- No extra pockets. If your device has a power adapter/brick, it will not fit into the glove or anywhere else on it. It would have been nice if STM added an elastic strap or loops along one of the edges where you could hook the brick and cords of a power adapter. More loops on the outside could hold SD cards, CD's, or disks. This would help keep all the related accessories together and make the glove a lot more useful.
Conclusion:
Not the most complete implementation of a cover, and could have been made much better with a few small additions, but overall a solid performing and protective cover.
Score:
8.5/10
Update: STM have changed their webpage to target the 11" glove at a Macbook toting audience. As such they have updated their colour range and also the internal lining. Functionally, they should prove better, but the colours apart from black look gross to me and rather pretentious. Perfect for all you MBA owners. ;P
Next up: Flexi-pod SLR camera tripod.
The Netbook Glove is a neoprene cover for a netbook or small computing device of 11" dimensions. It has a zipper along the short end with a narrow length of neoprene to prevent the zipper from scratching the device.
Overall construction is excellent and the zipper feels durable and sturdy. The neoprene is soft but feels like it could take a solid hit or cut and still survive. It's quite slippery on the inside so inserting or removing a device is very smooth and easy. It has a slight memory effect so leaving it on a sharp edge will indent the surface, and any feet of protrusions on the device itself will indent the interior (which turns out to be a good thing).
The cover only weighs a few hundred grams or so it won't stop you carrying your device. The only issue you might have is if you previously carried the device in a snug pocket, and it may not fit anymore with the glove on.
The glove is specified as 11" so most 10" netbooks and tablets will find there is a bit of play when the glove is on. As the interior is so soft, you shouldn't notice any scratching due to the movement. Still, it definitely isn't a snug fit for most 10" devices. I don't have any 11" devices to test, but I assume an 11" Macbook Air would be too slim to fit properly either.
The good:
- Protective. The thickness, smoothess, and padding all combine to protect the device extremely well. The neoprene should also absorb any liquid that doesn't run off it's surface so spills don't pool and end up in the device.
- Flexible. Due to the stretch, it's able to form around most shapes and stretch to most devices within the 10"-11" class.
- Cheap. At less than AU$10, it's not the cheapest cover and probably still more than the constituent parts and labour combined, but relatively cheap compared to other covers available which can run upwards of $60.
- Colours. The glove comes in a variety of colours and if you find older models you can get access to the old colours such as blue like i did.
The Bad:
- 11". There are a lot more 10" devices than 11" and STM do not make a generic 10" cover. Most are targeted at particular device (which makes sense from a marketing perspective). As such, the cover never feels quite snug when covering any of the 10" netbooks I own, but it does fit all of them, regardless of the shape and battery size.
- Not waterproof (?). I haven't tested it, but it never says anything about being waterproof on any of the accompanying literature.
- Thick. It does add a bit of bulk to the standard size of a device when covered making it harder to fit into other carriers such as pockets and carrying satchels.
- No handle. The glove doesn't have a handle or strap so you will have to put it into another container or bag to carry it hands free. In saying that, with the cover on, I'm less likely to worry about it crashing around in my backpack with other things like cameras and power packs/plugs.
- No extra pockets. If your device has a power adapter/brick, it will not fit into the glove or anywhere else on it. It would have been nice if STM added an elastic strap or loops along one of the edges where you could hook the brick and cords of a power adapter. More loops on the outside could hold SD cards, CD's, or disks. This would help keep all the related accessories together and make the glove a lot more useful.
Conclusion:
Not the most complete implementation of a cover, and could have been made much better with a few small additions, but overall a solid performing and protective cover.
Score:
8.5/10
Update: STM have changed their webpage to target the 11" glove at a Macbook toting audience. As such they have updated their colour range and also the internal lining. Functionally, they should prove better, but the colours apart from black look gross to me and rather pretentious. Perfect for all you MBA owners. ;P
Next up: Flexi-pod SLR camera tripod.
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