Editor’s Message It’s that time of the year again. It’s a merry Chrismas from us at The Browser Magazine. We’ve done our Christmas snooping so you should find our five best gifts quite a well chosen list. We are also rolling out our online coupon shop, we’d love to get your feedback on the idea of shopping for online bargains and sharing it with friends. Once again - do send us websites of interest or disaster, you feel we should review, enjoy the magazine.
The Team
Sandy Basset News/sub editor Zachary Saumanahaii Staff Writer Anil Dauche Contributor Blaine Smith Gaming Editor Gary Hammond Webreview Editor Daniel Baker Art Director Misgelle Waterman Staff Writer Catherine Monreal Staff Writer Natalie Chandler Staff Writer Christopher Williams Staff Writer Diogo Mourato Staff Writer Cormac Reynolds Gaming Editor
December Issue • • • • • • • • • • •
Digital News They came from the net Get a life featur Christmas 5 of the Best Future Times Rise Of The freelancer Readers vote - great software downloads Browser Likes COD MW3 vs Battlefield 3 Get a life feature: streetlife.com E coupon Shop
Commercial Distribution Amber wide Online manager Kofi Saunders
Managing Director Sola Akinfie
Sales manager Adam Scope Marketing manager Franck Artridge Advertising manager Jane Mitzef
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Martin Harwell
Groupon gets baker into hot water There’s nothing better than a promotional campaign that creates a huge response. Trouble is when it works well, the only people smiling are Groupon and the greedy bargain hunters. Spare a thought for Need A Cake bakery owner Rachel Brown. With the unprecedented demand for the cupcakes Need A Cake really needed outside help to meet the overwhelming demand. 8500 greedy Groupon members later and Need A Cake chalked up a loss of £12,500. “This sort of promotion, she admits, is best suited to a much larger company and not a small one like ours.” We still don’t see Greggs offering such a deal in the foreseeable future, their take away units won’t cope for one.
Finger Licking Dictatorship
Mugabe and the Nandos ad Last dictator standing is the title for this internet hit. Nando’s have always pushed the boundaries when it comes to TV advertising. This spoof commercial for the purveyors of perperi has become a Youtube hit with Mugabe reminiscing about his absent buddies and Idi Amin, Saddam, Ghaddafi, Mao and PW Botha as cast. It shows a lonely dictator deprived of a more enjoyable meal of Nandos without much company. It ends with the saying –“no one should ever have to eat alone” You actually feel sorry for the dictator octogenarian. Black River FC agency put the ad together for Nandos and it looks like there’s more to come. The ad on Youtube has generated scores of hits with comments and a viral sharing on the other social networks.
SCAN TO VIEW FOUR women have set up a Facebook page to name and shame a love rat that cheated on them all at the same time. Who says men are not great at multitasking. Computer worker Shaun Richings used his transferrable skills to mastermind a logistical challenge of mammoth proportions to juggle his social diary to tend to 4 lonely heart victims he snared online. The serial womanizer efficiently managed simultaneous relationships spanning between a few months and 6 years between them. Shaun being an advocate of equal rights to all genders hasn’t left men out but describes his relationship status as complicated (probably the most understated explanation) Once the lonely heart girl band found out about each other, they got together to set up a Facebook page under the category –‘public figure’ One of the victims, clerical assistant, Tracie explained that using Facebook was the best way they could expose him and to warn other women about his devious motives. Someone should have told them that Facebook was also used by nut cases, and women that are attracted to serial killers, bigots and erh cheating men. They’ve certainly done him a favour. All they have to do now is add his email and phone number. Better still; make him an administrator of the page
That darn Youtube Two daft women are competing fiercely for the title of Youtubes biggest embarrasement to Britain. First contender is Emma West from Croydon. This young lady gave commuters on the tram, a drunken rant about too many immigrants in her beloved England. While balancing her young child (God help him) on her lap, She slurred her thoughts on who is really British, and suggested that black people should go back to some country called Nigragua. We struggled to find if such a country existed but failed. She was filmed on a commuters phone and has successfully notched up 7m views on Youtube. Contender number two,another woman looking worse for wear took it upon herself to inform suspected immigrants to learn the language of English if they wanted to stay in her country. We were a bit confused with that one, as she was supposed to be English born and bred, and all we could make out was a slurring swearing barrage of verbs that came out like some vile morphed dialect with not much resemblance to the English language she was claiming. Her performance has also been viewed in huge numbers.
Facebook under fire for photo tagging feature
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Facebook has again received more flak in its privacy policy by activating the face recognition software feature – tagging. With tagging suggestions, members can tag pictures of friends using facial recognition software on the social network. The system doesn’t just sit idle in Facebook waiting to be used but it gives you a prod to use it on your friend’s pictures. You don’t even need the real or virtual friend’s permission to do so. The tagged victim would have to take the trouble to change their own privacy settings in order not to be tagged by friends. Problem with the opt – in position is that before you have any knowledge, your mates at work and half the UK plus the world would have seen your scruffy self teetering askew after one to many bevies and a dodgy looking smoke in your hand. Faultless Facebook defends its decision that it’s your friends that do the tagging and not them. A bit like the gun dealer selling you the gun and encouraging you to shoot. They don’t shoot the gun but they are as guilty as sin. Facebook in its infinite wisdom has made it a bit tricky to alter particular settings in your members profile, try removing unflattering pictures or altering your private settings and you get an interface like a chess board.
Virtual affair leads to real divorce Mary Atherton a devoted wife based in Tyneside Newcastle decided to end a marriage of 3 years as a result of her husband’s obsession with make –believe dating of other avatars on the global MMO game Second Life. ™ The cyber errant husband, a freelance web developer was known as a serial flirt on the gaming system and even set up virtual speed dating events which soon became quite popular. Things got out of hand when the misses found her husbands avatar interacting with the same slim blond looking female avatars. She complained –“this is no overreaction, my so-called husband spends more time online with this pixelated waif than with me, he even goes after her during office hours and has been spending house keeping money on virtual gifts to win her over. Husband George Atherton has since left their home and changed his Avatar profile to Dino Valentine from Napoli.
Google spring cleaning Google has decided to slow down on the hunt for more services provisions. In fact getting rid of some and fusing others with new services like Google plus seems to be on the cards. Google Wave, Google book marks and Google timeline are all going. Streamlining the portfolio is a change that has been needed as someone should tell the Geeky Goliath that you don’t have to Google own everything. Some things should be left for others. Google has had its flops and it hasn’t always been sweet dreams since their global expansion. Even the PR driven renewable energy research by Google is to be axed Google offers – “there are other companies out there which can carry on the research better than the search giant.” Google. Tail between its legs Google reminds us that their overall aim is to build a simpler, more intuitive Google user experience. “Ah, that’s noble, perhaps Google plus may be going too.
Steve jobs the movie Not another one – Well, It was always going to happen. Steve Jobs biography – authorized or not, have been flying off the shelves, hungry publishers have done it to death. But Sony have gone one further by buying the rights and asking script writer Aaron Sorkin to consider having a go at putting the script for the proposed movie. Sorkin had some success with ‘The Social Network’ and it follows on with Hollywood playing it safe by choosing to make movies that would be a sure bet at the box office. Trouble is the casting - considering George Clooney to play Jobs doesn’t quite fit. Some of the lesser known characters from ER are deemed more appropriate. The growing trend to bring the dotcom and digital heroes on to the big screen is nothing short of predictable. We suspect that Bill Gates the movie won’t want to be waiting for his passing before the film is realised. Getting a known actor to play Bill Gates would have to be one heck of a challenge.
Payasyougoelectronics.com. or payasyoudare.com The idea of paying for much desired gadgets in instalments without too much of an added interest to the final charge sounds like a good idea. Oh –and there’s a small charge of $25 for the processing fee. The same credit card used is where the monthly charges comes out from. It’s a bit of a shame as your processing fee seems to be insufficient when it comes to sending you your item. You can email as much as you want but maybe the good folk at payasyougoelectronics.com are a victim of their own success – too many orders to process you’d think. So you wait, and wait till your desired item becomes old hat and never hear from the company. Payasyougoelectronics.com or Flashstorm technologies or Rent2owndeals.com are too busy changing the company web address to send out items as agreed. These chaps where gracious enough to warn the would - be - victim that the processing fee is nonrefundable. It’s brilliant – those that were able to get hold of them were promptly told by copy and paste emails that the delay in processing was because they where unable to set up an account for the paying members due to poor credit history, but they’d be happy to give it another go should you pay them another processing fee. Genius!
Main feature story by Sandy Basset They came, they saw, they cashed in. what started as a cute idea that may work, has grown to be the main social network for kids. At last count, the active global membership has reached a staggering 34 million users in 150 countries. Mind Candy the machine behind the clan Moshi Monsters is set to make over $100million this year! According to The Independent - ‘Moshi Monsters’ has about one million new users signing up every month. There are approximately 1 in 3 children playing the game in the UK alone – that’s Facebook territory right there. Combining social networking, cute creatures and mini-games, it’s got children hooked and parents in a panic. Presently housed in the shadows of Battersea power plant Mind Candy is busy with keeping the marketing machine well oiled and efficiently run. Founded and managed by a product of Birmingham University Michael Acton Smith, Moshi monsters is now one of the dotcom success stories with the highest active membership numbers of its category. Michael Smith’s road to success was cemented with the commercial success of Firebox. com – the online gadget gift shop which he set up with a college friend Tom Boardman. Though the profitability of Firebox is no way near Moshimonsters, it has been doing encouraging trade figures since it’s inception, and is one of the favourite boys toys and gadget shops on the net. All this
is now a far cry from Michael’s early entrepreneurial attempts at selling a computer magazine he launched in his primary school years. Though he only managed to sell below 10 copies, it was the genesis of a proactive business man with ideas frothing from the mouth.
further wasn’t too much to ask and made a dash for it. This is how strong the creation from Mind Candy has become – like it or not you’re caught in the Moshi net if you have kids then. I’ve lost count of how much money i’ve spent on the Game time card just to keep my kid happy.
As a parent myself, I’m mindful of anything to do with child products and the marketing shenanigans that go with it. A year ago, my then ten year old daughter pestered me to breaking point to let her sign up to Moshimonsters website. After snooping around as much as I could, I gave her the green light and things have never been the same since. Come 2011, and I spot the last copy of the present issue of the Moshi monsters glossy in my local Tescos, as I make a desperate grab for it, another keen parent reaches at the same time. While I’m contemplating my daughters disappointed face I’d be facing in the car park, I get this glare of “better do what’s best for you” look from one heck of a frustrated mum and her determined 5 year old. I decided a drive down the next Tescos 5 miles
To those who haven’t got 2 - 10 tear old toddlers. Moshi monsters is a web activity site where kids can engage with popular characters in the form of pet monsters. Borrowing from the Tamagochi and Sims idea, kids are supposed to adopt the pesky things and engage with them. They build rooms for their adopted character and design their homes with creative décor. Fancy fittings and furniture is obtained by paying with Rox, which is the virtual currency in Moshi land. It is earned by reward points for achieving certain objectives, puzzles or progressive challenges. Use of Rox within the network allows kids to be as creative as they wish. Mom and dad are not left out as they are made to pay for the monthly subscription. The fee is carefully priced and not exactly exorbitant. A small price to pay for plenty of hours break away from the kids while they mix and do their thing safely in Monstro city - with Lady Gogo, Banana Montana, Justin Bleeber and other celebrity morphs. It seems age is the only way out from the membership subscription. As your kids grow out of it, you have millions more, ready to join up. Mind Candy is quite clever in its efforts to extend the shelf life of the brand. They’re aware that successful child product brands of this category are usually subject to limited shelf life after the peak period has been exploited. You can either go all out, creating revenue streams while the party’s going, or find means of extending the peak period as much as possible through various marketing schemes. Moshimonsters.com has the added advantage of running the social network from where it started. As long as there continues to be a decent amount of social activities and member communication, Moshiville will re-invent itself into a thriving community and an investor’s paradise. The social network end of the model encourages further activity with kids showing off their adopted
Moshi, along with decorative things they can show off. Just like social gaming portals on Facebook, members are encouraged to become A- List monsters by networking for more friends. A bit like asking your friends to help you with your crops in Farmville. You get more things done, and explore the game further with outside help, while the developers capture newbie memberships. It’s even gone further with its own viral strain – the Moshi dance campaign worked like a dream. It got member activity increased significantly, and got quite a number of videos posted on YouTube. It was also great as a tool to increase sign up numbers. Even the legal action taken against Mind Candy for the commercial use of one of ten popular characters based on –Lady Gaga was good for PR. The Moshi dance was eventually laid to rest but it bought the Moshi monsters free publicity that worked like a dream. Not forgetting the bill payers, mom and dad, Moshi monsters is designed to appeal to parental approval by integrating an educational approach to Moshling activity – it teaches kids to use initiative and planning, creativity and art, a bit of math and early project management. Mind Candy also goes to great lengths to make the website secure against unsavoury types, and other shady sorts of child mining. One terrible incident would be a press field day and would prove to be too costly in damage control. In the meantime – Moshimonsters.com has sprung from the computer screens to a massive merchandising force. The magazine is now one of the fastest selling print publications in its category, thereby creating a consistent revenue stream in cover price and advertising potential. Probably won’t be long before we see the squeaking moshlings on TV.
Moshimonsters.com has fortified its investment position with far reaching partnerships investors such as Index ventures, Last FM and Accel Partners who have helped fund the rapid expansion. Even Nintendo has gotten in the act producing the Moshling Zoo on DS. In 2011, Moshi Monsters launched a range of physical products including books, toys, trading cards and a magazine. Earlier on this year Whitley’s in West London welcomed the Moshimonsters pop –up shop, the reception met with such frenzy, there was a need to draft in
extra security to marshal the crowd. The beauty of the Mind Candy creation is its potential longevity, despite trading cards, a Nintendo game, a high sales magazine, toys and other forms of merchandising there is much more to be exploited. I can see Moshimonsters doing well as a TV programme. Stations would bend over backwards to cut a deal. Remember Tellytubbies? It was a phenomenal success for the BBC, but it did peak and dip as expected. Moshimonsters has the massive advantage with actual engagement through the social network from where it originated. There are quite a few subdivisions that can be created from the population of characters within. Imagine your child being able to spot their own Moshi creation on TV? Moshi TV can thrive on it’s own independent platform right within its own website where actual member activity can be fused into a series of programmes. The possibilities are endless, which is why it’s currently valued at $200million. Won’t be long before the kids are drinking Moshi Orange juice to wash down the jumbo sized Moshi Crisps bought with Rox tokens earned from the Moshi monsters website.
Scan to view Videos!
Moshi dance!
Gameplay!
Moshi toys!
Get a life…
Let’s get neighbourly!
Remember the good old days when pubs and the local butchers used to be neighbourly meeting points, when you could borrow sugar from Marge and Desmond next door? Local interactivity like this seems to extinct these days. Matt Boyes founder of Streetlife. com aims to get us back to local interaction with an ingenious web start up with global potential.
Britain use to be a nation of good neighbours and people who enjoyed the goings on of the local community. These days, parents don’t even know their kids let alone people residing down their road. Modern living with Playstations, XFactor and dare we say it? The internet, people just want to have a virtual life being neighbourly with the world and neglecting the immediate surroundings where they live. We all acknowledge the loss but most don’t do anything about it. I don’t even know who my local MP is till he or she comes knocking on my door with a Macleans smile and a some glossy pamphlets to canvass for my vote. Shame I’m a busy man I’m not likely to know where my town hall is. The idea became a must-do when Matt’s brother in-law a resident of South West London was a victim of local crime and as a result found out that there was no effective means of making enquiries or warning neighbours short of knocking on doors which is simply not a practical solution.
The idea of being able to lock into community activities and getting social locally is not a new one. You can get snippets of what’s on from local newspapers or small hubs on social networks. But what makes steetlife.com unique is the research and delivery of a convenient social network that is truly local. From where to get a verified tradesman to discussing council issues that affect us locally it’s all there on streetlife.com Matt Boyes has used his transferrable skills from an IT and telecom background to devise a platform that works quite well. The second half of 2010 saw the pilot launch initiated and was based on extensive research which confirmed that there was indeed a large amount of residents starting from South –west London that would love to subscribe to such an idea. Just imagine, no more peering through shop windows to score the post –it ads for someone looking to flog there leather sofa. There is so much that can be done on here, and it makes sense for locals to see what they can exchange, sell – off or simply free cycle by giving stuff away. Street life goes beyond being a sort of local Timeout, as it sets the social glue to get individuals of similar wants, interests and appreciation together. Few months after, and the website has an active30, 000 plus members. This is definitely going to grow rapidly as streetlife.com extends beyond the inner parts of South London. Member interactivity doesn’t just cover debating local issues and open letters to local councils, there’s the fun part too. Recommendations for local eateries, places to go, parent interactions and the opportunity to canvass your services locally. According to Matt, there is a wealth of additional services that are bound to be integrated. We especially like the new widget that allows members to create or take part in polls. Who knows, this may be a great way to cast your local vote. It’s websites like this that makes the virtual and physical world able to co - exist. One feeds into the other. It’s great having 1000 Facebook friends, but it only provides a fantasy engagement to most. There isn’t really much
point in only ever getting to physically engage with 5% of your so – called friends. Streetlife.com is all about exploring your local neighbourhood, getting out into fresh air and interacting. Its early days and I can think of so many additions members can benefit from as far as proximity is concerned. How it works Membership is free and encourages you to get your friends on there without too much of an oversell. Matt is careful when it comes to reaping the financial rewards of such as a clever niche idea. It seems their first priority is to get membership higher and more cohesive. We liked the fact that the site is void of commercial spin. You won’t be seeing Tescos Metro having an ad on there, even though we suspect they would love the idea. We even came across some correspondence from Wandsworth Council discussing a recycling initiative, it seems local authorities can use this as a channel to get feedback on their numerous community schemes. It serves as a good sounding board. We’d love it down our way if our own local council would make use of the polls widget too. You’re free to tick the areas you are interested in getting local information from. You get this sent to you by automated email, and you can follow or set up discussions that affect you. It’s Tweeter like facility works well with instant connection to information requests, advice and recommendation. The news feed option seamlessly forwards relevant content to members who don’t have the luxury of time on their hands. Want to know where you can get a good Chiropodist? Ask the locals not the businesses. A user’s recommendation goes a long way. It’s also a good way to verify tradesmen, get a bad service – then put it up there. What we’d like to see somewhere in the future is a score system for different categories of business services, it would make it a users dream to be able to click on a category and look at he feedback scores of registered businesses in that sense. You are able to send private and open correspondence which is great if you
wish to send a referral phone number or offer assistance in a more private scenario. I can see some sort of local dating scene popping up in the future probably. Streetlife.com impressed us with its hands on approach to community engagement. They recently sponsored the Royal wedding street party and have been fronting other get tog ethers, with these chaps they don’t sit in some glass building designing how to simply get the numbers up, and dreaming of becoming the next Facebook but actually get stuck in the real stuff. In street life’s initiatives to cover wider areas across Britain, individuals, groups or organisations can become ‘local champions’ you can get a cheque in the post by inviting other locals to sign up to their local section. So if you’re one who cares about your local community and get sign up and conversations going, then you are invited to give it a go. There’s a handy video with the voice of Stephen Fry to help explain things about getting the best of streetlife.com A Groupon style discount campaign is also a consideration according to Matt, now that would definitely work. Lot’s of us would love it if we had access to special bargains down say the local Tandoori or two for the price of one on a promotional launch at the local Dominoes Pizza. We can see it now. The futures bright with ambitious plans as streetlife.com grows bigger. It would provide a base to introduce more community spirited activity. They do have a massive challenge ahead though, being a social network that likes to know the area it covers is by no means a simple task. The attributes in that are self –rewarding as you use the website and it feels more like the real world, and a great way to know your immediate surroundings even if you’re like us and live on the net. So we encourage others to sign up their local neighbourhood and watch it grow.
www.target.com
Target.com is a US company with a decent ecommerce reputation for choice and customer services. They offer discount and reward benefits to card holders with the Redcard™ Within the US it takes 3-5 working days to get to your destination or postal redirect service, and that’s with a free shipping offer. Your goods can still get to the UK with a membership to one of our recommended redirection services.
Paper jams pro mic $24.99 The kids would love this Chrismas cheer. They can turn up the volume with the rocking new online-compatible Pro Series. With clever audio technology, the Paper Jamz Pro microphone lets anyone sing like a pop star. Voice effects analyze and tune your pitch as you sing, so you never sound out of key. Connects a computer to download more songs to the set list, and to jam with Paper Jamz Pro fans from around the world. Comes with microphone and speakers. Recommended ages 8 + Scan for Product
Girls Hummer H2 in pink $179.00 Just what the little girl ordered for Christmas. This is a battery powered Hummer replica complete with a working horn. It features a chrome grill, forward and reverse gears and rugged tires that can handle the backyard and beyond. Rechargeable battery and charger are included. A forward-tilt hood to access the battery compartment, and forward and reverse gears for realistic driving fun. Maximum speed is 2.5 MPH. Manufacturer’s Suggested Age: 3 Years and Up Scan for Product
Lego –Pirates Of The Carribean £79.99 This is an exciting Lego set themed on the popular Pirates Of The Caribbean movies. It’s a scenario based model with a bit of a challenge to a set task when all the pieces are set up. This one is worth buying outside the UK as it can’t easily be found with UK retailers. It’s got 746 pieces to keep the kids busy with hours of fun during and after the build. Product Weight: 2.92 Lb. Scan for Product
Loopz game $26.00 A popular one states side -Loopz™ is a skill and action music memory game that really gets kids moving. This interactive device consists of four semi-circular rings. The “loops” flash with ever-quickening patterns of light and music which players must mimic by waving their hands through the corresponding loops. Motion sensors in each loop read the action to ensure each sequence was repeated correctly. The longer you play, the faster it gets. Loopz™ includes 7 different games that can be played solo or as a head-to-head competition. For ages 7 + 1-4 players
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Kawasaki I sound $24.99 This digital mixer is a sure bet as a Chrismas present. The unit interacts with an MP3 player and is pretty much an aspiring young DJs practice kit. Instructions are quite straight forward considering the creative things you can do with one. Create mixes and manipulated beats, and builds a playlist of awesome sound magic. It weighs 2.1 pounds and features volume adjustment and competent speakers. Recommended for years 5+ Scan for Product
www.gentsupplyco.com
This US online shop offers occasional discounts and deals when you sign up for the newsletter. There’s free shipping for most orders over $100. To get in with more great deal action it’s best to join the Facebook fanpage where incentive deals are posted regularly.
Whisky Shave Soap $15.00 This is a decent gift that would be appreciated by men that have a for premium grooming. The creamy lather gives off luxurious scents that ooze classic style. Great for the skin too as it manages toxins and unwanted oils from the skin. The cream is whipped and poured by hand. (Also available in very limited quantities with Tobacco scent.) Gent supply say - WHISKEY is a customer favourite scent and not one for every man! Bring out that inner Marlon Brando with this elegant, strong, and charismatic scent. Scan for Product
Gambler card set $49.50 Now this is a man’s Christmas gift – a full and detailed guide to over 350 games which pretty much covers all the known card games in existence. The cards themselves are a work of art with the authoritative granite feel to them. Though the design is aimed as a man’s gift – it would be a gift that can be enjoyed by all the family. The set includes 1 Ultimate Book of Card Games + 1 deck of monochromatic white cards & 1 deck of monochromatic black cards. Scan for Product
Fish Hotel. $36.85 Got a loved one that has pet fish? This gift would certainly delight the recipient as well as the fish that must be bored to death of their ordinary fish bowl or tank. Let the little flappers check – in to the fish hotel. This award winning fish bowl has an ABS black plastic outer shell with asymmetrical windows and a square glass inner bowl that is removable for easy cleaning. Stack a couple of the fish studios to create a stylish and contemporary fish hotel or condo in your home or office. The outer shell can be painted to match your space. One fish per studio is recommended. Fish not included. Size: 7.5” x 7.5” x 8” (19 x 19 x 20cm)
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Stainless steel wallet $66.50 This piece of kit isn’t just for prosperous vanity, it’s a best seller on the Gentsupply website. It also acts as a security cover - as the stainless fabric prevents credit card fraud by blocking non-deliberate communication by RFID enabled smart card and passports. This woven stainless steel wallet is composed of the most widely used screen in the industrial world. It has applications in such diverse industries as petro-chemical, architecture, aerospace and automotive. Although, durable and resistant to corrosive materials such as salts, acids and seawater, these wallets feel like silk to the touch.
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Computer gear traveller set $30.00 Your geeky friends or family would love this gift. They can carry Geekville with them wherever they go and make sure they have their extended gear ready for computer engagement. They can stay plugged in and charged up with this handy computer gear travel set. The set includes a mouse, 4 port USB hub, USB cable, mini USB cable, ethernet jack, and earphone-mic all in a nylon carrying case. Scan for Product
This is a UK favourite for online goodies to buy. Items range between under £10
www.iwantoneofthose.com
- over£100. Within the UK, there’s an offer of free delivery when you spend over £50. It’s a good idea to sign up for the newsletter. This will get you instant information about special deals and the latest cool stuff. They also have an active Facebook fanpage.
Chocolate scrabble £11.99 Can’t go wrong with this gift, tasty fun is how we’d describe it. With 160 g in chocs they’ll be literally eating their words. The centre piece is the large and mouth watering chocolate coin for the winner. The board isn’t on the menu though that’s left for another game. It’s all packaged delightfully in a mini box and ready to eat –sorry play. The craftsmanship in lettering over chocolate is done quite well with the letters engraved in an attractive green. The mouth-watering chocolates replace the word squares. The actual board itself remains just board, which is a pity. The winner also gets a whopping chocolate coin. Choc-tastic.
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Item code: CHOSCR
Giant ceramic mug £19.95 A good looking present that should brighten up the home inside or out. Built with solid ceramic material. It’s one gift that won’t be politely shoved up the attic. It’s Frost and fade resistant so this one would be around for years to come. The union jack in itself is a work of art, the giant mug is quite decorative and should look great on the garden patio. It comes with a convenient drainage hole and is perfect for herbs or bulbs. Scan for Product
Vanilla moon candles £29.99 This one’s a magical gift. No need to work your behind rummaging for a light to get them going. The mood lifting lights go on with a handy remote. It comes with two brightening levels to suit the mood. And if they’re too lazy to switch them off later. There‘s a timer mechanism in the remote control. The scent of this Vanilla version is gentle, not overpowering, and guaranteed to make the ambience of the room you put it in quite lovely. Features: Ivory-coloured, battery-powered wax candles with LED bulbs and remote control (20 ft range). Vanilla pack contains 3 candles. Also available in Original (plain) and Multicoloured. Completely flameless and safe.
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Item code: VANCAN
Hot rocks gift set £13.99 This is what can be described as a thoughtful gift. Pure rock of ages. The gift set comprises of very old stones designed to help deliver stone therapeutic massage. When heated, the rocks penetrate the muscles and eases tension. The cool stones soothe inflammation. The weight of the rocks being accepted by the skin and the muscles has an effect completely unlike a ‘normal’ hot/cold treatment. The stones are great in the application for muscular aches, rheumatic, arthritic and circulation pains. Also quite effective against insomnia, anxiety and depression.
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The scented candle and incense included makes a great addition to the set. It comes as a well presented box of feel good.
Hot rocks gift set £13.99 This gift is sure to get your loved ones in the mood for a cosy evening in front of the box. The device produces nice hot and fresh popcorn in minutes. Once popped you can add salt, sugar, or chilli flavouring to your popcorn for more adventurous tastes! It’s simple to use and the size is convenient to be placed in a small kitchen. The design comes from Giles and Posner’s unique retro range so it looks good and does the job quite well. It’s also available in white with the 1950’s chrome effect. The machine is part of a selection of stylish kitchen gadgets that create a feeling of nostalgia, but with the benefits of modern technology. There’s a guide on how to make perfect popcorn. In the pack.
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Another UK online retailer, with a vast amount of goodies at reasonable prices. Click the ‘click and
www.prezzybox.com
earn button for reward incentives for recommendation to friends. On the Facebook fan page you get 10% off your first order, and it’s a neat way to keep in the loop about great deals.
My Life Story book £29.95 This makes a delightful Christmas present. It’s an excellent and unusual gift for a creative person. High quality and looks good in the sleeve. Your loved ones can give Facebook a break and put some physical records together highlighting significant mementos of their time line. They can be as creative as they wish and its great fun to see all the memories beautifully laid out. This product also comes with a slip case, which will protect it from wear and tear throughout your and its life time. Scan for Product
Pole dancing pole £59.95 Now this is a gift you get for the missus but really it’s a Christmas gift for yourself. Hopefully the pole dancing kit won’t just be for Christmas. It’s a competent bundle of full scale equipment. Complete with the instructions and tips to try out some sexy and exercising moves, it fulfils a woman’s desire to try it once in their lives. The Pole Dancing Pole is a splendid gift for anyone who has aspirations of being a glamorous dance star, or wants a funky exciting way to stay fit. The kit comes with ceiling plates and base plates, instructional video and all the little bits to set it up.
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Monogamy game £19.95 If you’ve got family or friends that have been having a stale romantic life, this is a fun Chrismas gift to send them. Feeding off the popular Monopoly game format - Monogamy is actually an engaging game that aims to rekindle fond thoughts and acts as a catalyst for fireside romance. With three progressive levels, intimate, passionate and steamy and 390 different ideas and actions you can play at your own level. Whatever, level you play at, you will find you’re giggling together one minute and lusting after each other the next. Scan for Product
Ecosphere £99.00 A good gift for Chrismas –this Ecosphere not only looks great as a decorative feature, but it is a totally self contained, self sustaining miniature universe wrapped in a clear glass shell. Now that the budget for space exploration has taken a battering, the chaps at NASA have more time to keep busy with creating great stuff like the Ecosystem. There is a choice of round or oval shaped design. It’s a working ecological system and its biological cycle represents a simple version of Earth’s own ecosystem. While beautiful to look at, it shows the delicate balance of an ecosystem just like our own. Each system comprises a clear ‘soup’ of filtered seawater containing gravel and gorgonia (the non-living branch like material) together with some shrimp, algae and bacteria. Each is a key component of the ecosystem. The gravel, gorgonia and glass all provide surface areas to which the micro-organisms can attach themselves.
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4D Cityscape puzzle – New York £29.95 Who said puzzles had to be boring. The 4D scale puzzle is an engaging piece of work. It’s a great gift in 700 pieces of creative fun. Players can watch their work take form as they seemingly build New York from the ground up. This is not just a good looking jigsaw puzzle, the challenge is to develop New York from past buildings evolving historically. With the aid of the poster, players can start to add the iconic buildings in the order in which they were built, starting at 1078, and building the city up to the year 2014.
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Daily Future
Avoid the fine Get Bar coded Today
December 2nd 2090 100credits
Exclusive Googlewatch records 70bn Sports England in position
revenue in sector – wide
Congestion charge penalties By James Joomla
To win 4th world cup
England has maintained its number one ranking after successfully defeating Spain 4-0 in the semi –finals of the FIFA 2090 Gamers World Cup. Gary Bytes from EA games said “England has had a long history of console gaming, our youths have developed a natural affinity for thumb control and controller reflexes, and are major challenge to any team from any continent. In the UK sector, youths spend an average 9 hours a day gaming. Former England manager - David Beckham said “If we never ever win the world cup on the physical pitch, we might as well be masters of the gaming version.” Continued on sports pages
Google watch is still on target to meet its annual revenue targets. The security and surveillance giant reported a whopping 15% increase in quarterly profits this week. Amanda Wordsworth the vice president for Google watch UK said “we lose some, we gain more,” losing the UK sector security surveillance is no reflection on the company’s efficient service. We have taken on the mammoth task of managing the congestion charge which covers a wider area of the whole of London, Manchester and Birmingham and delivered above target revenue in penalty charges.”
Foursquare wins security contracts for 2094 Olympics By Valerie Vista
Google watch was commissioned last year, to install and manage the 2 million Deep search cameras and process penalty charge notification for all UK city sector pedestrians during peak times. They have issued a statement that these same cameras will be available to Murdoch media as a subcontractor for the government sector – wide security and surveillance initiative.
US president Zuckerburger Rejects calls to quit as a Result of Like gate scandals
Further revelations have emerged in the Like - gate saga about voting foul play online. In the Zuckerburger legal corner, they are having to contend with damning law suits which has now reached epic proportions with calls for the impeachment of US presidential re-election candidate Mark Zuckerburger. What started as a pre election smear tactic has developed into a full FBI enquiry. Testimonial evidence has emerged regarding the abuse of the ‘like™’ button used as the official voting system, which may have been the force behind Mark Zuckerburger’s landslide victory three years ago. Even though Mr Zuckerburger stepped down as Facebook 2’s CEO he still holds at least 20% shares of the global corporation. The president scored 28 million likes™ against his rivals 3 million likes. ™The gap in the like registered votes have not been a reflection in the polls and approval rating widgets accessed on Google plus. Gerry Torrent from the US electoral commission has also faced a grilling over his refusal to discard the use of the Like™ voting system. The Like™ voting system may be an accurate, rig free voting facility in other countries, but it’s absurd to use it in the US where Facebook2 is still connected to the same re-election candidate said James Weiner of the US senate.
Foursquare which also lost out to Murdoch Media as one of the bidding contractors for the UK sector surveillance provision, has been chosen as the primary contractor to provide the complete security blanket in the forthcoming Olympics hosted by Europa. The Olympic sites are scattered in four sectors – London, Paris, Rome and Madrid. Last Olympics held in Saudi Arabia had dismal ticket sales of 260, and most in attendance were Olympic officials. The bombing campaign orchestrated by Al Qaeda’s new leader Saleek Ombudsman has deeply affected game attendance. The last video message posted on YourTube has prompted a complete overhaul of security measures at Olympic and world cup events. Michael Webber of Group 5 said security contracting has seen a 500% rise in revenue sources since the last terrorist campaign in Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach. There has been a significant increase in global business providing Deep Scan ™ surveillance stations and Infrared tracker personnel. Continued on page 14
EBay Metro™ to close London Flagship Store Along with 200 others By Daniel Bid
EBay Metro has announced this morning that it will be closing its Oxford street stores along with 200 others in it’s move to comply with anti – competition defaults issued by the office of fair trading. EBay’s gradual down – sizing of its massive retail chain has been welcomed by the Retailers Federation’s UK chapter. Susan Tag said “our campaign against the retail monopoly of EBay has paid off. The big boys are backing off from the streets back to the screens were they belong.” She argued that dot.tailers have not done much for the economy. They have driven corner shops to extinction leaving just 4 convenience stores within the whole UK sector. There is no benefit to employment in most of the EBay Metro stores, as groceries, drinks and electronic goods are sold in self –service pods. Each branch employs only 2 members of staff and they are only there as security staff.
Google watch™ loses UK Sector surveillance contract to Murdoch Media By James Joomla
In a surprise u – turn, the lucrative sector-wide surveillance contracts has been awarded to Murdoch Media. Google Watch was the firm favourite to manage the service with another five year extension on the existing contract. Speaking at the home affairs select committee, home office secretary Anne Robinson argued “I think Murdoch Media have come a long way to prove they are most capable of service provision to cover the next ten years, they’ve come along way since the phone hacking scandal 30 years ago to become the most ethical and efficient media and security contractor in Europe.” She made the announcement citing reasons why they had chosen to end contractual partnership with Google watch. The announcement triggered a costly devaluation of Google corps share price, and may cost the company a whopping 720 million PayPal Credits which it had ploughed into improved surveillance inventory, in anticipation of a 5 year extension on their contract. Google watch had come under extreme peer pressure to dismantle it’s DSXC(Deep Search X-ray Cameras) protests against the government backed installations caused an outcry last month with the wrongful arrest of the Jedward couple caught by Google patrol in sector nine Covent Garden London. They were scanned with tobacco cigarettes in their pockets, which was actually an approved electronic cigarette. Continued on page 9
Hacker Republic steals 800 million From PayPal World Bank By Thomas Ubuntu
Leaked details of Hacker Republic’s latest strike have emerged. It reveals Hacker Republic’s latest victim is PayPal World Bank. 1.5bn PayPal credits have been wiped clean from its Europa accounts in a space of 22 hours. Hacker Republic admitted responsibility for the audacious electronic theft. claiming that their action was a necessary blow against complete government control with the help of global dotcom giants like PayPal World Bank, Amazon Trust, and Googlewatch. Such bold targets are now common place with global hacking groups like Hacker Republic going after dotcom corporations tied to government finance or security services. In its leaked statements Hacker Republic states the reason for going after Amazon’s financial accounts was to cause as much damage to the new banking structure and cause a defragmentation in world banking control. They claim that having one major bank for the whole of Europe was a draconian monopoly, and a bold attempt against finance privacy. Hacker Republic claims Europa aims to achieve complete control over the total population with the help of its dotcom cronies. It makes suggestions that Amazon should go back to selling gadgets online and stop competing with PayPal World Bank in the currency market. PayPal Credits is now the legal tender currency in all countries besides Zimbabwe and North Korea.
Harry Potter & the poison PDF biggest box office flop By Susan Wander
The 18th instalment of the Harry Potter franchise has recorded dismal figures in download sales. It has grossed only 2000 PayPal Credits profit world wide. Director, Guy Ritchie insisted “the end of cinema viewing is the cause for films like Harry Potter doing so badly” downloads maybe great for a society that doesn’t go out anymore, but films of our genre don’t do well as downloads.” He argued. Bill Gates biographic movie clocked 115million PayPal Credits in its first week of release. Reviews claim that the Harry Potter films have been done to death and people were now bored with the 50 year old Daniel Radcliffe prancing about like Peterpan on crack.
WATCH
pedestrian congestion charge. Late payments will cost you 500 Paypal credits Nookia Graft X The new touch skin phone. Implants just 2000.000 PayPal credits at Mobiles4u
Rise Of The Online Freelancer By Sola Akinfie
We talked to Skillspages.com to get an angle on how they managed to gain such a phenomenal user engagement in quite a short time frame. The online freelance market is growing at a very fast pace and has been one of the recent fastest growing sectors on the net. Other providers are shelling bank rolls of cash to get the message out but it seems Skillspages.com do their thing differently - we found out what sets them apart.
The online freelance market is a growing trend of connecting people with various skills, to individuals and employers of all business sizes. This phenomenal growth seems to be the new way of doing things and is showing no signs of slowing down. There are currently more than 50,000 companies and individuals turning to the freelance market place to source workers. According to Which lance - more than 150,000 individuals globally registered with the leading freelance websites in an attempt to secure work. Is this the sign of increasing global unemployment or is it more to do with a change to how things are done thanks to new media. Whatever the case, here in the UK people are getting more comfortable with the idea of relying on fixed fee or hourly contracted work online. Most of the bigger name providers can boast of hundreds of thousands of members but how active are they? It’s normal to find members use all the known freelance websites to pitch for work that in itself is a challenge all together, but Skillspages.com appeals to most by extending freelance participation beyond the usual white collar contractor, they have actually made the idea quite interesting and fun. It’s a hub that provides a whole mix of providers and contractors from every corner of the globe.
Launched in January 2010 - Skillspages. com is the brain child of co – founders Ian McDonald and Michael Gallagher. Both have impressive entrepreneurial report cards having developed the Dublin based telecoms operator Perlico into a profitable commodity attractive enough for Vodaphone to snap it up for the princely sum of 80 million Euros. Ian Mc Donald says they raised about $5 million in financing that should last them through to the end of next year. The interesting thing is they haven’t had to dip into the piggy bank for vast expenses in marketing and promoting the service. It’s a self driven mechanism powered by social networks and user recommendation. The team have found an ingenious way to get friends, workers and employers talking to each other with a clever web of community interaction plugging into the popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked in. Trust which has been an issue with the online freelance concept is easily addressed with the Skillspages approach.
exposure for your skills profile. It’s a whole new way of getting out there and finding skills before credentials. Users favour the appeal this brings. You can be a plumber, a 17 year old teen with skills in comic illustration or a business consultant –they all meet in here and bring with them skills for the world to make use of. The idea seems to work well as it is evident from the score sheet. Within 150 days of launch, Skillspages has amassed a healthy 2 million users from 160 countries spread across the globe since January 2011, now that’s growth! The idea is rapid connection between providers and contractors leveraging a user’s network of real life contacts. Laying emphasis on what your friends or connections know you can deliver. Social networks provide a useful spring board but Ian McDonald says the trend is leaning toward greater interaction within the websites expansive population on it’s own.
As a community member at Skillspages there is an even playing field where your ranking position is determined by how much interactive activity you put in as supposed to how much you can spend getting yourself featured. If you engage with the concept you’re rewarded with a greater
The future The term freelancer is no longer the preserve of those with niche skills, or keyboard professionals such as those in new media, project management or IT. We are all freelancers as far as websites such as Skillpages is concerned. Some SME employers are known to use the service to get short term jobs done and have themselves gone on to use the website to find jobs that suit their management skills in order to pay for the services of future providers within the came community. Who knows – with the way we do things differently these days, we may find freelancer websites adopting their own barter currency. One can imagine - Skillpages credits used as legal tender within and beyond the website. It is a possibility if this community keeps on growing at the rate it is doing so now.
Freelance websites still have a number of challenges when it comes to the issue of competing for posted work across continents. A person residing in a third world country with equal skills is most likely to be comfortable bidding at a rate well below the western going rate thereby making their offer much more competitive. They can and are doing this as a result of currency exchange rates in their favour, A fixed job to build a website for instance would be a good call for a member in say India at $150 compared to a member in the UK who would need to earn at least $400 for the same job. Those in the western hemisphere sometimes have to compromise and try to compete with these individuals with equal skills in the same area of expertise. Hopefully – it may
adjust itself depending on the nature of the work posted. There will always be work needed based on geographical proximity, again Skillspages has an advantage here as recommendations and cross posting with friends tends to form numerous hubs of people in the same geographical locations. Don’t be surprised if we get to the point where political positions are posted for bidding on a freelance website, it seems to make perfect sense anyway – you can see it now “ New Labour chairman and PM candidate needed,” must be of reasonable height, good orator with a background in political wit and charm.
Every month we get our member readers to send us a list of their favourite software and why they voted for them. Cast your vote for next issues list of favourites online. This is the best list for Decembers vote.
Camfrog video chat www.camfrog.com
The Camfrog offers a platform for real-time chat with webcam and video broadcast capacity. You get free video chat rooms, private video and audio VOIP, and you can watch or upload super fast video to share. It’s also extended to Windows, Mac and mobile phones. It boasts of 70 million downloads and up to 100,000 plus active users online 24 hrs a day, so there is lots of activity and community engagement. Call it the Facebook of video chat rooms. You can also set up your own video chat room based on your social interests. Whether you speak English or Swahili, there are pages you can go to get stuck in. If you sign up to the paid version which is Pro you get a number of cool added functions. Pro users can view up to 100 video windows in video chat rooms simultaneously. Camfrog is the only webcam software with Camshare technology that allows multiple super fast video in windows. You can send and upload files which is great for conferencing. The Camfrog is really amazing in function and performance. This one gets five thumbs up rating
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VSO Downloader www.vso-software.fr/products/downloader/vso-downloader.php
With tons of video being put out there by the second, from every place you can think of a programme like this is an absolute dream. Being able to do multiple downloads at rocket speed makes all the difference. Streaming content is automatically detected and downloaded. Download engine is optimized for fast download speeds and is resource friendly. VSO Downloader works independently from web browsers, which makes it adapt to all of them seamlessly. No annoying ads either, the ad blocker does its job so that only relevant content is downloaded.
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Google sketchup This is an impressive software that let’s you get as creative as you can imagine. Redecorate your living room. Invent a new piece of furniture. Model your city for Google Earth. There’s no limit to what you can create with SketchUp. You can build models from scratch, or you can download what you need. People all over the world share what they’ve made on the Google 3D Warehouse. SketchUp is great for working fast and loose in 3D, but it’s more than just a fancy electronic pencil. Because you’re working on a computer, everything you create in SketchUp has a precise dimension.
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Pidgin www.pidgin.im
Lots of people use instant messaging and most of them use not very attractive solutions such as AIM client. There’s an alternative that works and that’s pidgin. It’s a simple, lightweight instant messaging client that works with AIM, GTalk, MSN Messenger, ICQ and some others. It makes managing friends across different networks quite easy. If you are on Mac, feel free to try Adium, which is basically Pidgin by a different name. It even uses the same code. Language reach is quite extensive, there are versions from Chinese to Vulcan. It’s had a few bugs in the past but works really well presently.
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Screamer Radio www.screamer-radio.com/download
There are thousands of radio shows online, problem is they can be tedious to find – especially the worthwhile ones. And most of the time you only have the option to stream them as they are live. With this great download you are the master and your time really is your time. You can record the stations that you’ve stacked and there is no limit. The software finds the radio stations for you stored conveniently according to your interests, language or region. It’s free, easy to use and there are no intrusive adverts. It’s light on hardware resources doing its thing merrily. It offers a decent choice of music and programming resources. Set up is quick and avoids jargon and fiddly protocols.
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VLC www.videolan.org
This project is voluntary and it’s worth dropping something in their collection tin. The VLC is nimble and quick. You probably use windows Media Player which is fine in most cases. But try playing something that is not supported and the fun ends there. Enter VLC, the Swiss Army Knife of media players. While it’s ugly as sin, this nifty lightweight application can play pretty much any movie or music file you throw at it. It even manages to play broken files. That other media laugh at! It may not be pretty, but it’s nice to have as and when you have an odd MKV or MMA file a friend in their infinite wisdom sends you. An additional treat is that it plays most DVDs.
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PDANet www.junefabrics.com/index.php
If you use a lap top and tend to use it anywhere –that means you’d tether your smart phone to your laptop and use the phones 3G connection, but you don’t have to use your carriers tethering solution. You can use PDANet PDA Net was originally meant for those hefty bricks, nerdy business types carried around in their pockets, now it’s dead easy to share your internet connection. Created by the oddly named June Fabrics, all you do is run the PDANet application on your phone and your computer. It works on Android, phone, Blackberry and Windows phone. Connect your phone to your computer by USB, select tether, and you’re done. Now why would you pay $30.00 per month for that again? Commercial option: $25.00 /£14.00
Anki www.ankisrs.net
This is a flash card program unlike the ones you used to make for your language course. The cards support graphs, audio, pictures, mathematical formulas and more than 2 sides. The biggest difference however, is how it displays your cards. Anki relies on something called the Leitner principle which suggests we forget things in a curve, it also states that the most efficient way to learn something is to remember it when you are on the verge of forgetting it. Anki works on this principle and uses flash cards in the program to devise clever ways to recall academic details. This is a God send to students.
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Ad Block plus Adblockplus.org.en
These are not stand-alone programs but they make browsing the web a bit more pleasurable. Using Chrome or Firefox, you can get rid of ads that slow down page loading. It effectively strips web pages of unwanted adverts. The add-on is supported by over forty filter subscriptions in dozens of languages which automatically configure it for purposes ranging from removing online advertising to blocking all known malware domains. Adblock Plus also allows you to customize your filters with the assistance of a variety of useful features, including a context option for images, a block tab for Flash and Java objects, and a list of blockable items to remove scripts and stylesheets. Install it, run through its configuration and you’re away. You can even do something interesting such as replacing the ad’s white space with art. Click on the ‘add art’ button for a choice of great options.
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The light touch projector touch screen Light Touch is an innovative projector from Light Blue Optics. It uses the Holographic Laser Projection to produce high quality video images into a virtual touchscreen. It will turn any flat surface into a beautiful sci-fi touchscreen that actually works. You have the option to use with a virtual keyboard which is similar to the ipads we have today. Some would argue that you still have to carry the projector around and that I probably the same as having to carry a physical keyboard about. But we still think it’s a cool piece of kit that would be great for presentations of all sorts, plus it looks really cool when lit up.
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Mercator personal manager bracelet They call it Nano technology with a micro AMD processor chip housed in a stylish bracelet. This bit of kit is a personal assistant in the real sense. The design work of Chinese UI designer Kingyo - the bracelet is designed to bring order to a cluttered life of appointments, shopping and to-do lists and it’s also a GPS health monitor all in one. The device can also be configured to store and display other tasks that require visual documentation. It looks good too and is made of sophisticated Nickel – metal hydride and carries rechargeable batteries. It’s got the colour changing thing around the general design which fits nicely with the ability to display holographic imaging in a sort of transparent screen like box. Using GPS and a locator programme it can tell where you are and offer information about the place. The display is nothing short of spectacular.
The light touch projector touch screen The Diana watch designed by Tommaso Ceschi, is a fusion of futuristic technology and ancient time keeping in terms of design and some function. It works like a sundial. The screen also keeps record of seasons with the aid of stars within the design. It’s not restrictive and you can still see minutes and seconds by changing the screen appearance. The watch is quite a looker, and also quite efficient. Gives that air of precise time keeping. It’s sustainable and clean, powered by solar energy with spheral cells on the wrist band designed to capture light from all angles. www.h-i-g-h.org/beautiful-and-sustainable-watch
Ondo Music Editing Phone The Ondo music editing phone is a concept designed by Pilotfish, the device is aimed at the complete music enthusiast with an ear for precision sound. Going beyond software-based solutions of other products, it is specifically designed to effectively collect pure sounds and is specially constructed to create a tactile sound editing experience. Made from form-sensitive flexible materials, the “Ondo” allows the user to modify recorded sounds by physically twisting and bending the device. Like a guitarist pulling on a whammy bar, the user can feel and hear the musical effects as they create them. In party mode, Ondo works as a digital mixer enabling the user to create seamless transitions between songs. This is made easy with interactive touch functions combined with integrated software support. Oh! and you can send your recordings by MMS and less we forget, make phone calls. Still in prototype stage we may see it in electronic stores if Pilotfish source the right partners for mass production.
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Virtual Sphere The Virtusphere consists of a 10-foot hollow sphere, which is placed on a special platform that allows the sphere to rotate freely in any direction according to the user’s steps. The sphere is equipped with a wireless receiver and built in sensors that interface with the computer running the simulation. Wearing a wireless, head-mounted display, the user is able to walk and run being immersed into virtual environment. It promises to be the ultimate computer games peripheral, the ultimate treadmill at the gymnasium, the ultimate educational resource with remarkable flexibility and offer the most realistic virtual experience of almost any kind. Courtesy of virtualventures.com
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Sony Nextstep the wrap–around computer Never mind the beauty within this beast. This computer is worn as a wrist band and wouldn’t be out of place in some sort of Tron –like movie. Designed by Hiromi Kiriki it’s aimed for launch by 2020. By then we may be using head devices as personal computers. The device is constructed out of a flexible OLED touch screen. It uses a holographic projector for a screen. You get a pull – out keyboard with a choice of colour schemes to suit the mood. You get all your whistles and bells and is great for keeping up to date on the social network scene. We can see this one working well in VOIP applications, video calling may never be the same. www.infrabodies.com/sonys-conceptual-next-step-computer-bracelets
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Packaged advice by email – the way forward www.businesscatalystuk.com Skype: businesscatalyst.uk
Gaming World Call of Duty MW3 Review by Cormac Reynolds
We enter another season of Yuletide, with our trigger fingers on the ready, as the Call of Duty franchise rolls out a new offering with Modern Warfare 3. Love it, or hate it, Call of Duty still manages to pull in the punters and shifted 6.5m copies worldwide in its first 24 hours, making it the biggest entertainment launch of all time. ing familiar landmarks getting blown up, while changing nationality between missions. The storyline itself can be a little confusing. This all part and parcel of the Modern Warfare franchise. However, that’s not to say it’s not the most gripping thing this side of a super glue laden ice pick.
Commercial scoreboards The follow-up to 2009’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game, offers in many ways a similar experience to that of the recent games. The formulaic storyline and design really tend towards the don’t fix it, if it’s not broken line of thinking. However, Infinity Wards and Sledgehammer games have changed things around a little, with some extra additions and enough shine to ensure it is the best of the trilogy of Modern Warfare offerings to date. This is probably reflected in the fact the game, which is sold across Playstation, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and Wii and PC managed to gross $775m globally in its first five days, exceeding the record of $650m achieved by guess what? - Call of Duty Black Ops. In fact, the Call of Duty franchise has received this title for the previous three years running. Modern Warfare’s three week on top of the charts is also a week longer than last year’s version managed. Continuingly expounding its status as the most successful Call of Duty ever. Campaign mode Visually, the game is a barrage on the eyeballs and earlobes and looks fantastic, even though it uses an older engine than some newer games such as Battlefield 3. It’s the usual array of carnage on screen, rubble falls; buildings burn, and battles are waged as you navigate the steady flow of AI soldiers. It’s fast; it’s furious and the 60 frames per second rate explodes with life, though with the feeling of business as usual. Single player mode offers the usual storyline that just about scrapes behind the line of incredulous. It’s the familiar mix of military jet setting, blowing up, or watch-
The ridiculous and the exhilarating combine, and after a few levels it all seems like there could be nothing more left to blow up. In fact, it seems like all the endings, of every James Bond movie have been thrown together in one place and then loosely stitched together level after level. The ends of level set pieces are excellent and mix it up between, plane, train and automobile constantly, and so it’s always interesting and slightly rewarding. Shooting is responsive and well tuned and the game’s battle area is alive, keeping you on the edge. Some, will find the checkpoint format, where soldiers come in indefinite numbers until you get so far on the level, tiring and the calls of your fellow soldiers to ‘keep moving’ does grind after a while. However, the single player mode is among the greatest out there and certainly the best the Call of Duty Modern Warfare series has produced. Though, it’s a war and not merely a battle and Modern Warfare 3 certainly is up for the fight with its excellent multiplayer option - single player is good, but multiplayer is great.
bat. Modern Warfare 3 comes with 16 new maps and unlike the games that came before, it offers far fewer opportunities to sit and wait. This is done through a mixture of fewer hiding places and also that it is a likelihood one member of either team will have a drone in the sky at nearly any given moment. These factors limit opportunities and necessitate speed if such chances do arise. The Kill streak system has had some changes applied, and is now reworked into Strike Packages. These strike packages still reward kills, but recognises those who don’t go on massive streaks but watch their kill/ strike ratio, or facilitate teamwork. These are rewarded rewards in the shape of defensive perks, which carry over between respawns. Kill streaks are rewarded in the same fashion, with more points and more rewards offered to those who last longer, though these rewards are still lost during respawn. This feature will manage to increase the input of less accomplished Modern Warfare gamers, while also add a new tactical aspect to multiplayer game and creating the need for unified teams that pull together. We loved and thought the specs op mode was a fantastic addition. Also available as in previous incarnations. The mode has a whole new set of levels and takes on the vein of taking over a plane in an allotted time period, or sneaking past enemies in long grass before disarming a bomb. Nothing succeeds like success, and the Call of Duty series is testament to this mantra. Even with a number of flaws in its single player mode, it’s still fantastic. The excellent multiplayer mode with new features and levels, Call of Duty Elite info and the fun Specs Op mode, speaks volumes about a game that believes change is good in small portions. The graphics are ambitious and a detailed wonder.
Multiplayer it’s extremely face paced, and like its predecessors, is constantly exciting and engaging because of the continuous comVideos courtesy of pixelenemy and The Agent Assassin
Scan to watch : Teaser
Scan to watch : Gameplay
Battlefield 3 The battle for the best-selling shooter has never been so intense and EA’s effort at overthrowing the well-founded Call of Duty series came about with the release of Battle field 3 in October 2011. It’s ironic that two of the highest selling war games are actually waging a commercial war against each other. Whereas Battlefield seems to do so in a self-aware fashion, which takes away some points from it. Like COD, you follow your AI lead counterparts, never making your own decisions. End of level set pieces also just seems formulaic and try so hard to be immersiveit’s apparent, and this greatly detracts from the single player mode - which to be brutally honest is good, but at this level it needs to be great. EA’s direct assault on the market with a large pre order promotion saw them garner 3m pre-orders by its release and go on to ship over 5m units in the first week. making it the company’s fastest selling game. It is expected the marketing campaign for the game cost EA and developer DICE upwards of $100m. Commercial scoreboards Having sold over 50m units since its first incarnation, Battlefield 1942, in 2002, the DICE developed games have seen 11 incarnations, with Battlefield 3 looking set to topple the 11m units shifted by the previous Battlefield 2, having already topped 8m with Christmas still on the horizon. So does it succeed in its grand ambition and topple the leading game in the genre? Campaign Mode The game scores quite high in its graphical outlay and performance. Using a new engine, the textures and levels of detail in the game are top class. From water spots on goggles, to clothing detail. Battlefield 3 is one of the best-looking games around, even though this attention to detail can be an irritation sometimes, with these water spots and certain other details distracting from the game. The games exertive effort, is to an extent its flaw - it just seems to want to be better than Call of Duty in every way - yet the sum of its parts though individually greater don’t come together to make a better overall product. Where Call of Duty is renowned for its plot that nearly defies logic, Battlefield’s is equally ropey, but seems almost clone like. It’s got every mundane war game stereotype offered, from shifty Russians, to crazy Middle Easterners. Though Call of Duty also offers these, it seems to do so naturally, as part of its off-the-wall series.
Anyone who’s not played COD MW3 will be impressed; however, those that have will feel a little disappointed. It’s a little like a decent Hollywood remake of a classic; it’s enjoyable but just not satisfying when you know the original offers that bit more.
The Spec Ops mode is good but could have been better. Unlike Modern Warfare 3 which has 23 operations. Battlefield only has 6. This is compounded by the fact the levels are extremely scripted and feel a bit wooden. MultiPlayer gaming in a sentence, its multiplayer experience is exceptional. The disparity between the single player campaign and the multiplayer option offered is poles apart. The attention to detail works brilliantly here. The level of personalisation and choice in weapons and options is vast and works to very impressive effect. Battlefield 3 rewards gamers for kills in multiplayer, but also those who capture flags, get health and ammo and use tactics. This means the game is as accessible for the hardcore element as it is for those who just pick up and play for a few hours, now and again. The depth of the levels means people won’t find that air of familiarity with a 64
player map and all the formulaic gaming negatives that go with it. Battlefield has also reintroduced going prone, allowing for the sniper in the grass to take successful shots with some patience and skill. Other welcome changes arrive in the shape of vehicles, which don’t tend to explode as quickly and grenade launchers, which don’t have the same amount of blind, easy damage. However, it is the depth and choice of the game that really is its strength. Users who purchase Battlefield for anything other than this will be disappointed. However, as hardcore gamers know such games aren’t bought for less than ten hours of campaign mode, they’re bought to wage warfare on your fellow man on the other end of an internet connection. Battlefield 3 really manages to hit the mark and offers expansive levels, with numerous choices and amazing graphics, leaving a high-tide mark for multiplayer shooters in 2011. This has seen unprecedented numbers logging in for the multiplayer experience. Battlefield’s has currently generated over $300m in revenue and understandably so when the quality of the multiplayer gaming and levels are considered. Figures suggest Battlefield is outselling Call of Duty by 24 per cent on PC, with PC gamers love of online gaming apparent. However, it is far behind on console sales where single player is often where the onus lies. These figures give testament to its strong point really and tell the whole story. The Final Shot Battlefield 3 essentially is a Call of Duty light in campaign mode; it’s short, a bit copycat and a little try hard. However, the attention to detail, choice and sheer enormous size of levels mean it trumps the former in multiplayer gaming.
Scan to watch : Effective Gameplay
Scan to watch : Multiplayer carnage
Videos courtesy of pixelenemy and Techlabvids
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