Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway for the amazing Uniden Wireless Power Pad. We got a huge response from people who commented on how having the Uniden Wireless Power Pad would improve their lives.

Permalink to this gadget topic

Last month Verbatim announced their latest gadgets in portable disk storage the Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive range (320GB and 500GB). I’ve been playing around with it for the last couple of days and I really wish I could keep it for myself – I like its stylish black finish, ease-of-setup and of course portability. Check out it’s size compared to my iPhone 3GS above.

The Turbo USB technology that comes packaged with the Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive is very handy especially when transferring large amounts of data. You’ll notice around a 25% increase compared to normal USB 2.0 transfer speeds which is mainly attributed to Quality Of Service that the software executes on the connection.

Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive 320GB Giveaway Details

* COMPETITION NOW CLOSED. JUDGES WILL CONFIRM WINNER THIS WEEK *

Yes, as promised in the title of this blog post, we’re giving away ONE Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive 320GB to one of our beloved readers. All you have to do is comment below on what you like best about the Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive 320GB and how it would improve your work life. This giveaway is open to all readers across the world (because it’s cheap to ship). We’ll select the best comment and winner at the end of this month (February 2010). Go for it!

Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive (320GB) Press Release
Melbourne, 22 January 2010 – Verbatim are adding to their
Portable Hard Drive line-up with the launch of the Mobile Hard
Drive, a portable 2.5″ Hard Drive in a stylish piano black
casing. The new hard drives are available in 320GB and 500GB
capacities and are Verbatim’s most compact and lightweight 2.5″
drives yet.

External Power: USB Port
Interface: One USB Mini-B port
Data Transfer Rate: USB 2.0: 480 Mbit/s (max)
Software: Turbo Speed 2.0 (Windows only)
System Requirements: USB Port, Windows 2000, XP, Vista or
Windows7, PowerPC G5 or Intel Mac,
Pre-Formatted HDD: FAT 32
Unit Dimensions: 11.5 x 7.6 x 1.2cm
Unit Weight: 140g
Warranty: 2-Year Limited Warranty
Package Includes: Hard Drive, USB 2.0 cable
Capacities: 320GB & 500GB
Part Numbers: 320GB – 62872, 500GB – 62873

The Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive features USB Turbo Speed improving
transfer speeds by up to 25% via the USB 2.0 interface. Palm
sized and lightweight, the Mobile Hard Drive is easy to carry
with you weighing only 140grams and with an ultra compact size of
only 11.5 x 7.6 x 1.2cm making it remarkably smaller than other
2.5″ drives on offer. The Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive is USB 2.0
bus powered (1x USB 2.0 interface) and requires no external power
for operation, simply plug’n'play.

USB turbo software
The increase in data transfer speeds of up to 25%* via “Turbo
USB” is realised by a special filter driver. TurboUSB creates a
QOS (Quality of Service) to let USB devices work more
efficiently. USB protocol is changed from single task to multi
task. Data packet size is increased which reduces the USB
overhead. Therefore, equipped with TurboUSB the Verbatim Mobile
Hard Drive can save more time by shortening the data transfer
time.

The Mobile Hard Drive is compatible with the Windows 7, Vista and
XP operating systems. A reassuring LED light on the front of the
drive is illuminated when data is being transferred.

*Actual performance may vary and will depend upon the hardware /
software specifications / settings of the device in which the
item is used.

Pricing and Availability
The Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive is available now with a
recommended retail price of $119.00 for 320GB and $159.95 for
500GB.

About Verbatim
Since 1969, Verbatim has been shaping the development of data
storage technology – from Floppy Disks and Magneto-Optical
storage media, CD and DVD formats to the latest High Definition
media Blu-ray. Moreover, Verbatim offers high quality products in
the field of Portable USB Drives, Flash Memory Cards, SSD and
External Hard Drives as well as a broad variety of computer
Accessories. Verbatim is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical
Group and benefits from the outstanding research and development
department. With these innovations Verbatim has played a key role
in shaping the storage media market. Ultra-strict quality
controls during the manufacturing process ensure the high quality
of Verbatim’s products, which have been the winners of numerous
international comparative tests. The company is the worldwide
leader for Optical Media.

Verbatim Mobile Hard Drive Product Page

As mentioned two wees ago, I received a Blueant Q1 Bluetooth Headset to review. Yesterday evening, I pulled out the trusty video cam and did a review/ unboxing clip for it (I even included Bloopers at the end!). I must say that it is an impressive bluetooth device that with voice commands that worked flawlessly with my iPhone 3GS.

Guess what?

I’m now giving a chance for one of my beloved readers (that’s you) to own the Blueant Q1 Bluetooth Headset review unit!!

Blueant Q1 Bluetooth Headset Giveaway Details
All you need to do is rate the video below on Youtube and leave a comment on what you thought of the Blueant Q1 Bluetooth Headset. We will choose a winner at the end of this month (February). All the best.

Blueant Q1 Bluetooth Headset Product Page

I was quietly agog, when I heard that I was going to get another Leatherman multi-tool to review. This time it was none other than the Leatherman Supertool 300! One thing for sure, this tool is not for the faint-hearted – it’s larger than most pocket knives / pocket tools on the market due to the serious quality of the inbuilt tools.

This would suit someone who spends a lot of time outdoors who wants a quality heavy duty tool with all the major functions. I particularly like the length of the saw which means you can effectively cut branches for a fire, pruning or even carving up a nice walking stick or spear.

The large pliers on the Leatherman Super Tool 300 are also a standout feature – it’s one of the strongest ever produced for a Leatherman which guarantees excellent grip in almost any situation. Get this – all up their are 19 tools on board, ready for the toughest jobs.

Leatherman Super Tool 300 – Tools List:

1. 420HC Clip Point Knife with Straight Edge
2. 420HC Sheepsfoot Serrated Knife
3. Needlenose Pliers
4. Regular Pliers
5. 154CM Removable Wire Cutters
6. 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters
7. Stranded-wire Cutters
8. Wire Stripper
9. Electrical Crimper
10. 5/16″ Screwdriver
11. 7/32″ Screwdriver
12. 1/8″ Screwdriver
13. Phillips Screwdriver
14. Wood/Metal File
15. Saw
16. Bottle Opener
17. Can Opener
18. 9 in | 22 cm Ruler
19. Awl with Thread Loop

Features of the Leatherman SuperTool 300:

- Stainless Steel Handles
- Stainless Steel Body
- Black Oxide Version Available
- All Locking Blades and Tools
- Comfort-sculpted Handles w/ Cutouts for Access with Gloves On
- Leather or Nylon Sheath
- 25-year Warranty

Measurements of the Leatherman SuperTool 300:

- 4.5 in | 11.5 cm (closed)
- 9.6 oz | 272.15 g

Leatherman Super Tool 300 Giveaway Details
Ok so we have ONE to giveaway to one of our beloved readers. To be in the running, simply leave a comment below on a creative way that you would use the Leatherman SuperTool 300. Submit your entry by Wednesday the 25th, November 2009 and we will announce the best comment on the Friday 27th, November 2009. It is open to all readers internationally. Do it!

Earlier this month, new road rules in Victoria came into effect that may result in hefty fines for people who use their mobile phones / GPS devices while driving (press release below). In a nutshell, you cannot handle your device while driving – you can only touch your device to make, receive a call or to activate audio settings. If you don’t comply, you’re in for a whopping $234 fine plus penalization of 3 demerit points (you only have 12 in Victoria).

To help you with your telephone calls in your car, we recommend the Motorola T505 MOTOROKR Bluetooth Speaker Handsfree. This bluetooth handsfree has received many good reviews all over the web.

Its functionality helps you meet all the conditions of the new Victorian Road Rule changes and on top of that has some excellent calling and audio attributes. One feature that sets it apart from the rest is its inbuilt FM transmitter which allows you to stream calls and music (via Bluetooth) to your FM radio. To be honest, I am not a huge fan of FM transmitters due to the noise/fuzz a lot are susceptible to however reviews have shown that the Motorola T505 only has minimum fuzz.

Features of the Motorola T505 MOTOROCKR Bluetooth Handsfree

• Volume, Volume, Volume. It’s your choice – use the powerful internal speaker or get as much volume as you can handle by routing calls & music to your car stereo via the built-in Digital FM transmitter.
• Take your music everywhere. Wirelessly link your music to your car stereo from a compatible Bluetooth stereo enabled phone or music device.
• Clip-tune-and-go. Hooks to the visor and can be taken from car to car. No installation.
• StationFinder™. Breakthrough technology does the work for you – finds and announces the best FM station for a clear FM connection and minimal static.
• Audio CallerID.** Hear the number of the person calling
• Easy Pairing. Exclusive technology simplifies connecting to your Bluetooth devices
• Works with compatible Bluetooth enabled music phones, iPods® and other MP3 players
• Car charger included
• Long battery life

Motorola T505 MOTOROKR Giveaway Details

Motorola has been kind enough to give us one unit to give away. To win this, all you need to do is leave a comment below on what you like best about the Motorola T505 MOTOROKR Bluetooth Handsfree and how this will help you avoid fines! Please submit your entry by Friday 20th, November 2009. The best entry will be named on the Monday 23rd November, 2009. Be in it to win it!

Victorian Road Rules Change – Press Release

All Victorian drivers will need to be aware of a raft of new road rules which come into effect on Monday 9 November 2009.

Changes include how drivers can use mobile telephones and visual display units and where they can make u-turns.

The changes also mean that children under the age of seven must be in an appropriate child restraint. D rivers can also be fined if they have p assengers not wearing a seatbelt.

The new road safety rules were first announced earlier this year. VicRoads Manager Road User Behaviour, Antonietta Cavallo, said it was important all drivers familiarised themselves with the new rules before Monday.

“From Monday 9 November, the changes to Victoria’s new road safety rules will apply and VicRoads is asking drivers across Victoria to take the time to understand the new rules if they haven’t already done so,” said Ms Cavallo.

She said drivers who fail to obey the new rules could be issued with an on-the-spot fine of up to $300 and three demerit points for some offences. Cases which go to court or involve drink driving could incur more severe penalties.

“It is the responsibility of all road users in Victoria to ensure they are familiar with the new rules before they take to the road on November 9,” Ms Cavallo said.

“One of the key changes drivers will need to be familiar with is the way mobile phones and navigation devices can be used while driving. Under the new mobile phone rule, you cannot use a mobile phone while driving except to make or receive a call or use the audio function, and the phone is fixed in a cradle or can be operated remotely by the driver. To use a mobile phone as a GPS device it must be in a cradle.

“We know that talking on a hand-held mobile while driving is reckless and increases the risk of a crash fourfold. Texting is extremely dangerous and banned. The advice is simple – ‘hands on the wheel, eyes on the road’,” she said.

“A driver found to be handling a mobile telephone or otherwise using it inappropriately will face a fine of $234 and three demerit points,” said Ms Cavallo.

“It is now illegal to perform a u-turn over a single continuous dividing line. Drivers will still be permitted to perform a u-turn over broken dividing lines. In the five year period 2004 to 2008, there were more than 1500 u-turn crashes in Victoria, resulting in 19 deaths and more than 600 serious injuries. Drivers who perform an illegal u-turn or do not comply with changed line marking rules will face a fine of $234 and three demerit points,” said Ms Cavallo.

“In another change that will improve safety, passengers over the age of 16 – as well as their drivers – will face fines for failing to wear a seatbelt. This means if a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt, both the passenger and driver could incur a fine of $234,” said Ms Cavallo. “This rule already applies to carrying children under 16 years.”

Other new road safety rules being introduced include not allowing passengers under eight years of age to be carried as passengers on motorcycles, and when sharing the road with trams, a driver must not pass the rear of a stopped tram with its doors open. Once the doors are closed and pedestrians have left the road, a driver may drive past the tram at no more than 10km/h.

The new road rules are being introduced to improve road safety and provide greater consistency with road rules in other Australian States and Territories.

The changes start Monday, 9 November 2009.

For more information on the new road rules, visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/roadrules and for information about penalties relating to traffic offences go to www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/penalties.

A past work colleague, who is a very talented Web Designer / Developer, SteveK, has in the last couple of years turned his hand towards photography. He’s always been visually creative so it made sense that he plunge into the DSLR world and combine his talents. The result? This year he has made it as a finalist in Canon’s EOS Photo5 competition. Not a small feat, considering there are thousands upon thousands of entries. I believe the short list has been brutally whittled down to only 60.

Here’s his entry which he has entitled “His & Hers“:

If you like it, please consider voting by either clicking the picture or this link.

Prize for Canon Photo5 Competition

What does the winner get? The answer is a brand new Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR complete with 24-105mm lens (this is what I use).  If he wins, I think it will be perfect timing, as he has his FIRST paid wedding shoot in a couple of weeks.

You also get to hang out with one of the world’s best photographers, Chris Bray and visit some picturesque photo locations:

So once again, please help my old buddy out and vote for SteveK!

As a parting note, here’s my favourite photo from his Flickr Stream:

Told ya his good

Yipee! Finally got our first batch of Piel Framas which include the Piel Frama iPhone 3GS Leather Case! We were just talking about this a couple of days ago.

This means it’s time for me to upgrade my case to one of these premium Spanish made leather beauties.
You’ll see the quality of this case in the Youtube video below:

Giveaway Details for Piel Frama iPhone 3GS Leather Case

We’re giving away one Piel Frama iPhone 3GS Leather Case valued at $89.95 to one of our valued readers.
All you need to do is:
1. Visit our Piel Frama iPhone 3GS Leather Case Youtube Page (click here)
2. Give our video a rating
3. Leave a comment below on this blog post about the best thing you like about the Piel Frama Case

Please submit rate and comment by Friday 9th, October 2009 and we’ll announce a random winner on Saturday 10th, October 2009. Thanks and all the best!

Note: Open to international readers and this also fits Apple iPhone 3G.

Targus continue to bring out both stylish and functional PC gadgets. I was sent the Targus Wireless Keyboard and Optical Mouse Set a couple of weeks ago and I must say that I was impressed with its compactness and low profile. One the best things about this desktop set is that it’s wireless; allowing you to control your PC / laptop from up to 10 meters away. The mouse is not your average run of the mill mouse either – it features 1000 DPI resolution which means accurate and smooth movement. Particularly handy if you do graphics work. Other cool tidbits are the 12 hardware shortcut keys and battery-saving capabilities.

Features of the Targus 2.4 GHz Wireless Keyboard and Optical Mouse Set

• Easy to use: 2.4GHz USB receiver provides wireless connectivity for up to 10 metres
• Built in Multimedia/Internet buttons: including 4 programmable buttons provide instant access to frequently used commands and allow easy management of multimedia files
• Space-saving design: Slim, space-saving keyboard features 103 low profile keys for comfortable, effortless typing
• 1000 DPI Optical Mouse: Attractive mouse with 5 buttons out of which 2 are programmable allowing smooth, simple navigation and includes power saving mode to extend battery life while not in use

Targus 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Giveaway Details

We have one Targus 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboard and Mouse to give away. To be in the chance to get this all you need to do is leave a comment below about the best thing/s you like about this wireless desktop set. Submit your entry by Wednesday 30th September, 2009 and we’ll choose and announce a winner on the next day (1st October 2009). Pretty easy!

Look forward to reading your comments.

Targus | AKM11AU – 2.4 GHz Wireless Keyboard and Optical Mouse Set

The good folk at Uniden were generous enough to give me their new Uniden BTSC1500 Bluetooth Speakerphone to review this week and I must say that the overall experience was quite impressive.

Simple Setup

Setup was very easy with the Uniden BTSC1500 – just switched it on and it entered pair mode. Hooking it up with my iPhone was a breeze; just went through the Bluetooth setup (0000) and was able to make calls in a matter of seconds.

Very Clear Sound

I think my family is sick of me asking “How do I sound?” every time I get a new bluetooth gadget to test. In this case, the reply I got was positive. The Uniden BTSC1500 Bluetooth Handsfree provides good quality audio without any apparent echo or noticeable distortion. It also had a powerful enough speaker to provide clear conversation even in noisy conditions like when my window was down.

Handy Display

Having call details appear on the Uniden BTSC1500 comes in useful when you’re driving and don’t have the ability to check out who’s calling you on your phone. It also shows telephone signal strength, battery, mute and bluetooth status.

Superior Bluetooth Device

In summary, the Uniden BTSC1500 is once of the most fully-featured bluetooth car kits on the market. Other cool stuff on the device were calling number voice announcements, dual microphones  and voice activation. Highly recommended.

Two-Thumbs up for Uniden!

Features of the Uniden BTSC1500 Bluetooth Handsfree Speakerphone

• Bluetooth 2.1
• Perfect for “hands-free driving”
• Unique CID Number Voice announce ™ – Actually speaks the number calling “800-123-4567″
• Noise and Echo Cancellation
• Dual Mic Technology
• Full Duplex
• OLED Display for CID and status
• Powerful 2 Watt Speaker
• Up to 12 Hours Talk Time/10 Days Standby

Uniden BTSC1500 Bluetooth Handsfree Giveaway Details

We’re giving away the review unit to one of our valuable readers. Simply leave a comment below on how the Uniden BTSC1500 would make your driving experience better. Make sure you do this by Tuesday 25th of August. The best answer will be chosen and announced on Wednesday 26th of August. You have to be in it to win it!

Uniden BTSC1500 Bluetooth Handsfree / Speakerphone

Need a light compact keyboard that you can take with you on the road or to fit on that small desktop space?

Check out the Targus Compact USB Keyboard (AKB05)!

The beauty about this keyboard is that despite being compact, it comes with standard-sized keys so you get the feel of a standard keyboard. However it’s missing the numeric keypad which isn’t a big loss if you’re using it more for wordpressing and sysadmin work.

Other features I liked on the Targus Compact USB Keyboard were the built-in Internet and email hot keys which makes quick access to these most daily-used functions. The USB interface offers hot swap and plug and play functionality for ease of use and deployment.

Features of the Targus Compact USB Keyboard

• Built-in hot keys: Pre-programmed Internet and email hot keys enhance productivity
• Transportable: Lightweight and compact for maximum portability
• Plug and Play: Provides seamless desktop replacement for notebook PC users
• Languages: AKB05 is available in English, German, French, Italian, and Dutch layouts

Giveaway Details

Targus has kindly offered us one Targus Compact USB Keyboard to give away. To be in the running, simply write a comment below on what is the best feature you like about this keyboard by this Friday 17th July 2009. We will select a random comment and announce the winner on Saturday 18th July 2009. Easy huh?

Targus Compact USB Keyboard