Gladget Magazine February / March 2011 by Gladget Magazine

w w w. g l a d ge t . c o. z a

issue 5 / vol 1

Feb / March 2011

Are Your Secrets Safe?

Surveillance Gadgets are everywhere!

Inside 4 From the Editor 6 Eye Spy Are you on camera? 12 Photography Primer Painting with light, sculpting with shadows 18 Reviews Cameras, graphics cards and more! 50 Same Difference Comparing the Nintendo handhelds 54 Inner Workings How glass carries electric signal... sort of... 58 Dead End VHS taken down by a shiny disc...

THIS MONTH’S COVER Do you know if you’re secretly being spied on by hidden cameras? See the feature on page 8

cover art by Katia Taliadoros

gladget contents • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Reviews

MSI WindTop AE2420 All-in-One 3D Computer

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 handset

Apacer Mega Steno AM 500 USB 2.0 Bard Reader

Canon G12 Camera

Razer Naga MMO Mouse

GLADGET Volume1Issue 5 Feb / March 2011 Editor: Walt Pretorius walt@gladget.co.za Sub Editor: Charlie Fripp

Apacer Mega Steno AM 401 USB 2.0 Bard Reader

Writers: Brian Murdoch Dion Scotten Richard Bingham Alex Scanlon

Tomtom Go Live 1000 GPS

Letters: letters@gladget.co.za

MSI R6970 2PM2D2GD5 Graphics Card

Toshiba Camileo Video Camera

Samsung ST600 Camera

MSI R6870 2PM2D1GD5 Graphics Card

Verbatim Clip-It USB Drive

Bulletstorm (Xbox 360)

Killzone 3 (PS3)

Test Drive Unlimited 2 (Xbox 360)

Competition Entries: competitions@gladget.co.za Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gladget.co.za Design & Photography: 1337 Media Technical Support: Brian Murdoch Marketing Contact: Katia Taliadoros katia@gladget.co.za

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All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

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gladget contents • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Making Changes From the Editor

by Walt Pretorius

egular readers will have noticed that we appear to have skipped an issue, with the latest Gladget having been delayed until the 1st of March, rather than hitting the virtual shelves on the 15th of February. In truth, we took the decision to publish Gladget on the first working day of each month from now on. There were many reasons for this decision, which relate to all kinds of business, timing, deadlines and so forth, but the real truth is that we know our readers – at least those who have not yet moved to unlimited bandwidth Internet packages – have more bandwidth to read and download Gladget at the beginning of the month. Also, there’s a more certain feeling to saying “the first working day of the month” than “the middle of the month.” Whatever the case may be, the

result is that this issue has been called the February-March issue around the office for the last few weeks. Other than that, we’re pushing ahead, and have started planning a number of ways to bring a bigger, better magazine to our readers every month. These changes and new ideas will likely roll out over the next few months… we don’t want to overwhelm either you, the reader, or ourselves by cramming a bunch of new ideas into one magazine. Also, there’s the cautious side of us that wants to make sure every piece of content that goes into Gladget is as good as it can be. One of the sections that will see a few changes in the near future is the photography primer. We have a number of very keen photographers working on Gladget, and we have

identified a very unique way to present the ideas and information in the primer in the future… which we will reveal to you when the time is right. Another big push this year is to increase the number of products we review in Gladget. With more products from more manufacturers, we hope to ensure that our readers stay well informed about the world of technology, gadgets, hardware and toys. Just a quick note on this month’s cover article… there are many very cool devices on the market, but we thought that we’d point out that freely available hidden surveillance devices might be all around you. We’re really not trying to make anyone more paranoid. Really... g

gladget column • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Eye Spy...

Are you on camera without knowing it?

Feature

by Alex Scanlon

gladget feature • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

pies are something that we see in movies. Most of us never really get close to people who use subterfuge to gather information… in fact, the closest we get is watching films about dapper British agents trotting the globe with a vodka martini in one hand and an array of awesome, barely believable gadgets in the other. The gadgets are one of the aspects that make the character of James Bond so popular. While his suave handling of the ladies and his two fisted approach is fun to watch, the toys that he gets to use in the execution of his duties are what make every man (and a few women too, most likely) green with envy. Who wouldn’t want a car with an ejector seat, or a pen that is actually a mini-rocket, or a watch with a high powered laser built into it? However, these things always seem to fall into the realm of science fiction, with many gadgets we see on screen seeming to be completely implausible. And yes, some of them are. But not all of them… Over the last few years, spy gadgets have been becoming more and more common on the market. Sure, they don’t have the lethality that 007’s toys often do, but the fact is that anyone can now have access to devices that were previously the province of either science fiction or shadowy organisations with lots of cash to throw into technology and research. In truth, that’s all it comes down to – cash. If you have the money, you can build up quite an arsenal of covert gadgets. Naturally, this raises a number of questions. While millions of people around the globe are concerned with Internet security and the security of their personal belongings and home, many may not realise that the guy sitting across from them might have a camera in his tie. Sound implausible? Think again. By visiting the right website and spending around R700, you can get a tie that has a built in spy camera, 4GB DVR unit, and a remote control. Next time Bob is adjusting his tie a lot, you might want to stop wondering if he is nervous and start pondering the idea that he is trying to get you into the shot! The tie can record up to three hours of audio and video on a single battery charge, and is quite stylish to boot. Before you start avoiding everyone that wears ties in a bid to secure your privacy, keep in mind that there are several other devices that can have cameras built into

gladget feature • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

them. That awesome new sports watch your friend got might just have a camera built into it as well. Only this time the device has 8GB of memory to capture audio and video, while it still tells the time. Accidentally spilling a glass of water on the watch (in case you’re worried about being caught on camera and are trying to take measures to prevent it) won’t have any effect. It’s splash-proof. And at a price just a little over R600, almost anyone can have one. One of the questions that arises is whether all of this stuff is legal to use. The question is not a simple one to answer – there are a variety of different situations covered by the law, and the best course of action – whether you are doing the surveillance or are worried about having been spied on yourself – is to speak to a lawyer. But you shouldn’t relax too much while you consult with one; that stylish wood finish digital clock on the desk might be a motion detecting video camera that captures 30 frames per second at a resolution 1281 x 960. That video would be stored a micsoSD card, to be reviewed later on. It can also record still pictures and at around R760, which lawyer couldn’t afford one? Even the pen that the lawyer leaves lying on a notepad might be taking a video of you, storing up to three hours of sneaky surveillance footage on an internal 8GB memory chip… and that will set you back less than R700! In a bid to avoid all those folks that might be spying on you, you may take a trip to the country. But even the most innocent looking bed-and-breakfast might be a den covert operations. One would shudder to think of the kind of footage that a romantic get-away might result in… particularly if there are one of those alarm clocks next to the bed. If you find embarrassing or compromising videos of yourself floating around dodgy sited on the ‘net, check your home appliances first! That guy in the chequered shirt and cargo pants that seems to be wandering around bird-watching might have something more to his binoculars than just lenses… he could also be recording video, albeit at a longer distance. His ordinary looking looking-glasses might just be capturing video at a resolution of 640x480, and storing it on an 8GB internal memory. Then again, he might just be looking for a rare species of sparrow or something… you never know. And that trendy couple lounging around the pool or gladget feature • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

gladget feature • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

careening around on mountain bikes may never remove their sporty sunglasses for various reasons. They could be light sensitive. They could be shallow and extremely image conscious. Or they could be working for those folks back in the city who are obviously out to get you, recording video with those self-same sunglasses, or even taking still picks which are stored on the internal 4GB memory. And to add insult to injury, they might be listening to the radio or MP3s at the same time, thanks to the same glasses! And the waiter who needs a calculator? Well, that calculator may just be another hidden video camera, recording video and audio to its internal 4GB of memory. The truth is that surveillance cameras can be built into virtually anything these days, and they are generally freely available. From fake buttons and jewellery pendants through to smoke detectors and scuba diving masks, anything could have a camera in it. And, with a bit of searching on the ‘net, you can even find counter-measures for such devices. We love our gadgets and toys these days… perhaps a little paranoia is the price we need to pay. With everyone able to get their hands on devices that were previously the province of law enforcement and other governmental organisations, who really can tell what your co-workers and other acquaintances are up to. We live in a world where spying and surveillance are becoming every-day occurrences, and anyone could fall victim to it. But let’s be brutally honest – most of us (at least most of us gadget fans) would absolutely love to get our hands on these devices. In the “coolest toys contest” that we all seem to be part of, these beauties get more than just a few points. They’re awesome, because they’re sneaky and innovative. And finally, at long last, we can live out those dreams we secretly harbour of being just like James Bond. Incidentally, if you do want to get hold of some of these – and we by no means condone their use for illegal means – all the items mentioned here, and a great many more, are available at www.online360.co.za. We’re probably going to go get some too – they’re just too cool to ignore! And, if by any chance this article made you a little paranoid, we do apologise… but you really never can tell when they are watching you. .g

gladget feature • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Photography Primer

Painting with Light Sculpting with highlights and shadows

by Walt Pretorius

gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

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Adobe CS5

MASTER SUITE

ven with all the fundamentals in place – with a firm understanding of aperture, shutter speed, ISO and so on – a photographer can produce images that don’t quite make the cut between snapshot and art. There are so many factors outside of the photographer’s control that even the most technically skilled image creator still needs a modicum of luck, or rather “right place, right time.” This can, in certain elements, be forestalled by a bit of research, and an extended understanding of what exactly it is that the camera does. And this, quite simply, is recording light waves that are reflected off of the subject, or subjects, of any given photograph. Whether it be a landscape or a portrait study, what the camera is capturing is essentially the same thing. An understanding of light, and how light behaves and, more importantly, how light behaves in relation to the camera, is an important thing to have. See, the human eye and brain combine to see light waves one way, compensating for areas that are very bright or very dark to create a more ‘level’ image. The camera cannot do that. There are photographic techniques that try to emulate this idea, like HDR, but the camera itself interprets light in a very different manner to a human’s ocular arrangement. This is less of an issue than it sounds. A firm understanding of how the camera will react in various lighting conditions can lead to excellent photographs, from crisp and clear documentary style images right through to moody artworks. The most important thing to remember about light is also the simplest; light has a source. Whether it be an array of studio lights, or the sun, or anything in between, light has to originate from somewhere. It travels from the source, striking objects and reflecting from their surfaces, creating colours as we perceive them. The second most important thing to remember is directly related to this: light cannot pass through solid objects. Therefore, a solid object will cast a shadow on things, and always in the direction opposite to where the light source is. The larger the object, the deeper the potential shadow becomes… with light reflecting off of all manner of objects, even shadows can have some detail (it’s the idea of ambient light) but the larger the object, the less ambient light is likely to penetrate the shadows created by it. Also keep in mind that we can see detail in shadow because of the way that the eye and brain compensate

gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Photography Primer

gladget regular â&#x20AC;˘ issue 5 â&#x20AC;˘ Feb / March 2011

for varied lighting conditions. It’s a complex biological algorithm that cameras are not capable of. This is a good point to remember; just because we can perceive details in shadow areas doesn’t mean that the camera necessarily will. This often results in heavy shadows obscuring faces, or even heavy facial shadows creating a stark look. This will particularly happen in bright sunlight, and even more so if the sun is high in the sky. Shadows and other light effects should be treated as part of the composition – just as the photographer wouldn’t want accidental obscuring of subjects by other elements in a photograph. The photographer always needs to be aware of what is happening with shadows, and needs to keep in mind that ambient light may not be the same in a photograph as it is when seen with the naked eye. One of the ways around this is to manipulate the light source. Obviously, this becomes tricky with natural light. While artificial light sources can be moved and positioned as needed by the photographer (at least in most cases) natural light comes from the sun, and there’s not a lot one can do about its position. The trick would be either to wait for the sun to reach a point where it’s direction is better for the photograph (which can take a long time and isn’t always possible) or to make use of a reflector to bounce the light where it is needed. A reflector need not be an expensive, store bought piece of equipment. A large piece of white card or Styrofoam will also do the trick. Different reflective surfaces have different effects on the photograph, introducing light from different angles and at varied intensities. It’s a logical process, really: a shiny surface, like highly polished white surfaces or silver surfaces, will reflect more light than a ‘matt’ surface. Experimentation is always a good idea… get a reflector, a willing subject and see how you can move the light from the sun around. It’s always a good idea to use natural light when taking photographs, as it provides a wonderfully smooth and vibrant illumination to any photograph. There are other ways to manipulate natural light, of course, and some of them are very obvious. A window can serve as an excellent manipulator for light, and can add a lot of drama to a photograph. Using natural light while shooting indoors may be tricky at times, because it may mean using lower shutter speeds or wider apertures, but the results can be incredible. This can often be used for effective silhouetting (with the subject lit from behind) or side lighting. gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Photography Primer

gladget regular â&#x20AC;˘ issue 5 â&#x20AC;˘ Feb / March 2011

While artificial light can be manipulated far more easily, the photographer will need to be aware of the fact that they will need to do regular white balance settings to achieve the best results. Artificial light can result in some very dramatic and emotionally charged photographs, purely because the light source can be manipulated more than in natural light conditions. However, when it comes to the most popular form of artificial light – flash photography – the photographer is entering a potential minefield of lighting issues. Light fired directly at the subject bounces back at the camera in the same way. This can result in images that look flat… keep in mind that we rarely naturally perceive anything with direct lighting. In addition, problems like red-eye can plague photographs of people. A good solution is to acquire a decent hot shoe flash (if your camera has a mount) which can be angled. While not ideal, bouncing the light off or a surface above the subject will have better result than direct lighting normally does (that said, there are certain direct lighting techniques, like using a ring flash, that have excellent results.) An even better idea to is to take the plunge and buy an off-camera flash kit. This is basically like a studio lighting system, except that it uses a camera flash for light, rather than a lighting head. The flash is triggered by a unit that fits to the camera’s flash mount, and most units will activate up to four flashes. A set-up like this is extremely versatile, and can result in studio quality lighting – a number of professional photographers actually use an offcamera flash system in studio, because it is versatile and portable. Whatever technique you use to light your photographs, remember that physical forms are described by a balance of light and shadow. This balance is needed for us to perceive form visually, and is important for well-presented photographic images. Light and shadow, if used effectively, can turn an ordinary photograph into a masterpiece. Experiment with it. Play with it. But above all, always be aware of it. g

gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Reviews Highlights 24 Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Smart 28 Canon G12 Canon’s pocket powerhouse 30 Razer Naga MMO Mouse Oh, the buttons! 34 Tomtom Go Live 1000 Get lost... not! 40 Samsung ST600 Ultra-convenient

here is so much cool technology on the market these days. Whether it’s something to get you safely to your destination, or a device that captures special memories, technology can take care of almost everything. This month we have some very cool tech for you to look at from cameras and a GPS through to some top notch graphics cards and even a funky USB drive. g

gladget review • issue 5 • February / March 2011

MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D All-In-One PC

Everything-In-One All you need in one box…

by Walt Pretorius

e recently had our first look at one of MSI’s range of Wind Top All-In-One computers. The idea struck as us a good one, but the model we saw wouldn’t really qualify as a very powerful machine. Now, though, we’re looking at that PC’s big brother, and the two units are like chalk and cheese. The Wind Top AE2420 3D is the kind of compact PC that one would really like to have on top of one’s desk. Out of the box, it runs an Intel Core i5 650 3.2GHz processor, with a 1TB hard drive and 4GB of RAM. Graphics are handled by an ATI 5730 chip with 1GB of RAM. That’s pretty impressive for a store bought package. It can handle most games passably (although you may want to tweak some of your graphics down on a few of them) and visuals are delivered by a crisp, clear 24 inch monitor. The monitor runs a full 1920 x 1080 resolution, making it HD by definition. On top of it all, the AE2420 has an integrated 3D system, and comes complete with a set of 3D glasses

(as well as a wireless mouse and keyboard, and remote control) in the box. With all its features, the AE2420 comes across as a great media PC, and it is. An optional Blu-Ray optical drive accentuates that, and a TV input confirms it. While it is a great PC to work on – with touch screen functionality that can make tasks a bit easier – it is awesome as a PC to watch movies and DVDs, play games (at least ones that aren’t too demanding) and listen to music on. Actually, the sound delivery is the most disappointing aspect of the AE2420. Its sound delivery is not very loud, although it is crisp and clear. However, using the unit with headphones is perfect. Although everything is integrated into one case, and the touch screen (with an on-screen keyboard and a stylus pen in the box) means that it can also save space with not requiring the keyboard and mouse for operation, the size of the screen makes it a rather chunky piece of equipment, at least width-wise. It is stylishly designed, g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

though, and will complement any room. In an environment where saving space is important, it becomes a fantastic multi-function PC and entertainment centre. The PC side of things is further supported by a card reader (which handles SD, MMC and MS cards), six USB ports (although you’ll lose one to the receiver for the mouse and keyboard, if you choose to use them), and HDMI, SPDIF, eSATA, LAN and RGB ports. The unique approach taken by the Wind Top series is amplified by this unit. It offers excellent performance, trumping many notebooks in power, if not portability. The integrated 3D is also a great option, if 3D is your thing. The glasses are, admittedly, a little less comfortable than we would have liked, and are rather large and extremely nerdy looking, but they do the job they were designed for admirably. It’s not the cheapest of the Wind Tops, and with good reason. If you are looking for an excellent out-the-box option, you need look no further than this versatile and surprisingly powerful PC. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: A surprisingly powerful PC solution that gives you everything you need in one box.

Score

Manufacturer: MSI Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R18399 Tech Specs: • Core i5 650 CPU • 2GB RAM • 1 TB HDD • 1 GB VRAM • 24” screen • Integrated 3D

Pros: • Powerful • Versatile • Space saving Cons: • Sound • 3D Glasses

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

Smart!

A good Android handset by Walt Pretorius

nce upon a time, everyone wanted smaller cellular phones. It was just the thing to do… your degree of coolness was determined by how small your mobile handset was. It was even made fun of in certain movies – with Zoolander, as an example, showing a memorable scene with an obscenely tiny phone. Those days, though, are apparently over. These days, people are using clunkier phones, which (while slick) just aren’t all that sleek anymore. It’s the smart phone thing… people now want handsets that have a generous screen, so that they can do all kinds of things on it, like watch movies, surf the web, view pictures, and a whole lot more. The days of small phones are gone, along with the days of a phone just being a phone. In fact, the concept of the mobile phone almost doesn’t exist anymore. Perhaps we should start referring to them as ‘mobile communication, multimedia and productivity enhancement devices’. Actually, let’s stick with ‘phone’… it’s less of a mouthful. The smart phone market is hotly contested, particularly now that the Android system is making massive inroads

into a market previously dominated by Blackberry and Apple. The robot is taking the two fruits on in a rather strong fashion, and handsets that use the Android operating system are becoming an increasingly common sight. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is such a phone. It’s a large device, slightly taller than the iPhone, with a very generous four inch screen that delivers crisp and clear images. It’s the screen, really, that defines the modern phone (and determines the size, because you cannot put a big screen on a small phone.) But the OS is equally important and, thankfully, Android does a great job. Yes, it’s relatively new and still requires a number of updates, but it certainly is getting to be an exceptional system rather quickly. Back to the Xperia. To help with the multimedia aspect of the device, it sports a very impressive 8.1 megapixel camera (with face recognition), as well as the ability to record video at 720p, 24 frames per second. OK, so there’s a bit of an issue there – the makers claim that this g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

is a full HD resolution, but anyone in the know is aware of the fact that doesn’t quite cut it. Still, it’s not bad, but you’re not going to get a lot of video saved on the phone’s 1GB of internal memory. MicroSD cards can be used to expand that up to 16GB. The handset also offers the usual, expected applications, like web-surfing, music playback, messaging and all that kind of stuff. Things like a built in GPS and the excellent apps available for the Android platform make it even more functional and useful. The menu system on the X10 is easy to use and rather functional, with the phone being responsive and fairly quick. You’ll want to download whatever updates are available as soon as you get it, though – which is always the best idea these days. The 1GHz processor makes it a fairly speedy device, and we didn’t find too many issues in terms of performance and reliability. With up to ten hours of talk time and 415 hours of standby, it will also not be a pain when it comes to recharging the phone, which is always a plus. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Big screen • Android OS • Good camera

CONS:

• 720p video • Needs OS update

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

4” screen Video recording 8.1mp camera 1GHz processor Android OS

Manufacturer: Sony Ericcson Distributor: Sony Ericsson Online: www.sonyericsson.com RRP: TBC

Score

A good choice for those who want to move onto the Android platform.

80 23

Apacer Mega Steno AM401 USB 2.0 Card Reader

No Clutter Small, but effective

by Alex Scanlon

ard readers are handy things, for a great variety of reasons. Whether to back up data off of cards used by consoles or handheld devices, or photographs from a camera, and so on, the card reader is becoming more of an essential item than a luxury. Apacer’s Mega Steno AM401 USB 2.0 Card Reader has a lot going for it. It’s a little larger than the average USB stick, but it manages to provide support for SD, SDHC, miniSD, miniSDHC, MMC and MMC plus cards. With applicable adapters, RS-MMC, MMCmoblie and MMCmicro cards can also be used. In addition, it offers support for the full range of Memory Stick and Memory Stick Duo cards, as well as M2 cards. That’s a pretty versatile card reader, crammed into a ‘no mess, no fuss’ package. The reader interfaces directly with a USB port, so there is no extra wire clutter created when using it. On the downside, you will want to be careful when inserting or removing cards from some of the slots; they are a little tight. But, with use and time that should be sorted out. And you generally want to be careful anyway…

As a card reader, the AM401 is a very handy and practical device, and is extremely reliable too. g

AT A GLANCE: With wide card support and a very handy size, this is a great card reader.

Score

Manufacturer: Apacer Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R110 Tech Specs: • USB 2.0 • SD card support • MMC card support • Memory Stick support • M2 support

Pros: • Small • Wide support • No wires Cons: • Slots a bit tight

g a m e c c a h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

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Canon G12

Dynamite

Small packages and all that… by Walt Pretorius

ocket cameras are often maligned by those that own SLRs, because they consider these smaller devices to be less capable than their bigger brethren. Sometimes, this is true… but there are pocket cameras out there that are surprisingly good, considering, making them not only great cameras for those that want to take good photographs without getting into the SLR nittygritty, but also fantastic back-up cameras for those that have a good SLR kit. Canon’s G12 is such a camera. It is quite exceptional in the pocket camera field, combining power and versatility with speed and convenience. At first glance, the G12 really is compact. It’s heavier than one would expect, but that weight feels comfortable (and comforting) when the camera is in your hands. But the confidence inspired by the feel of holding the camera is carried further by its performance. The G12 produces a variety of photograph aspect ratios, from standard to wide. It tops out at 10 megapixels which, at a glance may seem a little on the low side, but is still more than sufficient to produce large, high quality prints.

It also shoots HD video, which is an added bonus, and delivers stereo sound along with those files. There are several photographic shooting modes available to the end user, including the whole gamut of expected preset image modes, and a variety of manual modes for added control. Additionally, the G12 handles ISO ratings ranging from 100 to 3200, which makes it a very capable camera in low light. The higher ISO ratings will result in a lot of noise, but that’s to be expected. On top of it all, it shoots RAW images as well, making it a useful back-up camera for photographers who want an added level of control over their final images. The lens is great quality, and offers a zoom that, while a little limited, results in good images. When the camera is turned off, the lens recedes into the camera body and is protected by an integral lens-cap system. In fact, this feature is indicative of the clever design that Canon put into the G12. The whole thing is very compact, without feeling fiddly. The controls are sensibly placed, all within easy reach while the camera is in use. g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

From the front mounted dial through to the rear fiveway control, everything is placed with ease of use in mind. Often used functions, like ISO settings, are easily accessed via dials at the top of the camera’s body. Composing of shots can be done either via the camera’s top mounted dioptre (which mimics the lens zoom level) or the 2.8 inch LCD screen mounted on the back of the camera. This screen is very versatile. It folds away, which helps protect it, and can be used in multiple positions for easier shooting – even facing forward if necessary. The G12 is well supported with accessories, even allowing the user to add lens modifiers for more versatility. If you’re in the market for a very good pocket camera, that sits at the high end of that category, or even a backup camera, the G12 is a very safe bet. It is surprisingly good at what it does, producing high grade images across a broad range of conditions. It’s feature rich, making taking excellent photographs a breeze, and it’s powerful enough to impress even the most hardened SLR devotee. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Compact • Versatile • Powerful

CONS:

• 10 megapixels may seem a bit low

Manufacturer: Canon Distributor: Canon Online: www.canon.co.za RRP: TBC

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

10 megapixel Up to 3200 ISO HD video 5x zoom Stereo sound (in video) • 2.8” LCD screen • Spec

Score

A very powerful, very versatile pocket camera… its size belies its potential.

96 27

Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse

Shift CTRL

Moving from the keyboard to the mouse by Alex Scanlon

good mouse is an essential piece of equipment to anyone using a computer, but gamers particularly need a device that is better than average to make sure that their performance is tip top. It may seem strange to non-gamers, but the truth is that video gaming is extremely competitive, and top players can even earn a lot of money from the activity. But it’s not just about winning competitions. It’s also about comfort and ease-of-play. See, most gamers don’t just spend a few minutes playing games, and so they need a device that is comfortable to use and, above all, effective. This is doubly true for those that play Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games like the extremely popular World of WarCraft. Razer have been creating specialised mouse products for a long time now, and since their very first offerings, they have managed to bring something exciting and effective to the table with each new design. Their range is rather extensive, these days, and most gamers will find an input device that suits their specific needs.

Which brings us back to MMO players. Razer created the Naga mouse specifically with them in mind. That doesn’t mean that this mouse won’t be effective for those that play other kinds of games, particularly games that need a lot of hotkeys and keyboard shortcuts, but the design principle puts MMO gamers first and foremost with the Naga. Even the software that ships with the mouse is built to take MMO gaming into account, with specific addons made for existing games. The first thing one notices with the Naga is the grid of 12 buttons placed for easy thumb access. These buttons are for hotkey purposes. Their placement is sensible, allowing the user to quickly access functions that may be required within the game. However, the user will have to train themselves in recognising the specific button placement, and getting to the last three buttons requires a bit of thumb-dexterity. Additionally, the user will have to work at not pressing multiple buttons at once; they are fairly small and placed right next to each other, so people with big, clumsy thumbs will need to be diligent in getting it right. g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

Aside from the twelve side buttons, the Naga offers five more clicky bits: the usual large left and right buttons, a clickable scroll wheel (that lights up) and two smaller buttons on the outer edge of the left button. That’s an unprecedented 17 buttons built into the device, all of which can be mapped and customised for macros. On the technical side, the Naga is powered by a 5600dpi precision laser sensor, which makes the mouse very sensitive to movement, meaning that the player won’t have to make massive movements to get the desired result. It has a 200 inch per second tracking speed, which is also very impressive and adds further to the overall sensitivity of the device. The non-slip coating and Teflon feet help to make using the Naga comfortable – something which is added to by the ergonomic design. The Naga is a comfortable, effective and accurate mouse which, with a bit of practice, can become a valuable tool in any gamer’s arsenal. It’s not the cheapest mouse around, but it certainly is worth its weight in gold for anyone who takes their MMO (and other) gaming seriously. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Lots of buttons • Comfortable shape • Sensitive

CONS:

• Right hand only • Takes a bit of getting used to

Manufacturer: Razer Distributor: Apex Interactive Online: eu.razerzone.com RRP: TBC

TECH SPECS: • 17 buttons • 5600dpi • 1000Hz Ultrapolling • 200 lps tracking • Teflon feet • Non-slip

Score

An excellent mouse for all gamers, particularly those who play keyboard reliant games like MMOs.

95 29

Apacer Mega Steno AM500

All the Cards Quick and versatile

by Alex Scanlon

ard readers have been around for quite a while – pretty much as long as data cards have been. Getting an effective card reader is a must for a great many reasons… sure, cards are generally used for multimedia storage, but having the ability to transfer other data via a card never hurts. Even if that isn’t your main goal, using a card reader to, for example, transfer video or images from a card is generally a better idea than transferring them directly from the device that recorded them. It just tends to be quicker and easier. Additionally, a card reader leaves things a bit less cluttered, in terms of physical space and software, and removes the need to keep track of a bunch of different cables for connecting devices to the PC. Apacer’s Mega Steno AM500 is a good choice, offering slots for compact flash, MicroDrive, SD, SDHC, miniSD, MMC, MMCmobile, MMCplus, RS-MMC, SmartMedia, xD, MemoryStick (all of them), microSD and M2 cards. It’s a very versatile USB 2.0 reader that will enable the user to always be able to get data off of a storage card, no matter what kind it is. It’s also a relatively small and solidly built device, which is not only functional, but also rather stylish. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Small • Fast • Versatile

CONS:

• Cabled • Not USB 3

TECH SPECS: • USB 2.0 • Supports most cards

Manufacturer: Apacer Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: TBC

Score

No card will be left unread by this small, stylish and quick card reader.

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Razer Imperator The Razer Imperator is not just a mere mouse, it is an extension of your hands. Its right-handed ergonomic form factor with a contoured thumb grip delivers comfort and a better fit for gaming, whether you use a palm or fingertip grip. Be empowered to take on foes and fatigue alike -for longer gaming sessions without strain. When every aspect of your game matters, customize your game play with the unique adjustable side buttons, giving you optimum reach for easier access to mission critical keys and macros. Razer Naga The Razer Naga is the ultimate Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming mouse that shifts the balance between keyboard and mouse by putting an unprecedented number of in-game commands in one place. A multi-button thumb grid and Razer’s MMO game interface add-on combine to place every command you need in the palm of your hand. An ergonomic form shaped to maximize ease of use lets you game in comfort for hours on end. With the Razer Naga, you will Get Imba.17 MMO-optimized buttons Program up to thousands of different in-game commands, featuring a multi-key cluster easily accessible at the gamer’s thumb. Maximum Comfort for Long Gaming Sessions Game for days with the Razer Naga’s ergonomic design, optimized for easy access to every button. An intelligent form factor provides a solid grip to access the thumb buttons without affecting cursor movement. Custom Interface Add Ons for MMO Games Organize your skills and eliminate visual clutter with the Razer Naga’s in-game custom interface Add Ons (available for World of WarcraftTM and WarhammerOnline: Age of ReckoningTM, and more)

Distributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexint.co.za Email: sales@apexint.co.za All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners.

Tomtom Go Live 1000

On Track Big, bold and effective

by Alex Scanlon

he GPS is undoubtedly one of the most popular and pervasive gadgets around these days. It’s fundamental function is based on confidence and relaxation – anyone who has got lost with nothing but an out-dated map book to guide them home through dodgy areas certainly can attest to the stress that such an experience brings. A more relaxed, less stressful driving experience is actually a selling point for the Tomtom Go Live 1000. With services that include an extensive point of interest set up, really detailed maps, Google search and spoken street names, Tomtom believe that the driver can relax and have faith that they aren’t going to run into any problems. Advanced lane guidance helps as well, with the unit indicating where exactly the driver should be on the road in order to take the right turn at the right time. In addition, the service guarantees regularly updated maps. All of these things help, of course. Adding to the feeling of reliability that the above create, other services will give added peace of mind, and even help the user avoid costs. These include regularly updated traffic reports, speed

camera warnings and a very clever system for calculating routes. This system, called IQ Routes, takes traffic times, traffic lights, zebra crossing, school exits and a whole lot else into account, providing the user with the fastest possible route at any given time of day. Additionally, the Eco Routes system will enable the driver to make use of directions that consume less fuel and have less of an impact on the environment. Even if the route is not one that the user wants to take, or if they need to make a change for whatever reason – even while driving – the Go Live 1000 recalculates a new route extremely quickly. Other factors also come into play with this device – most notably the safe use of the GPS system. A large screen (4.c inches, or 11 centimetres for those who prefer sensible measurement standards) means that the information displayed is easy to recognise at a glance, and the wide screen aspect ratio means that it doesn’t sit too high in the driver’s field of view. The unit also allows for hands-free cell phone calling via Bluetooth, and even has voice activated commands, which g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

will help keep the user’s attention on the road, where it belongs. A Help Me emergency menu will also identify the nearest emergency services for the user, meaning getting to hospitals and police stations, among others, is quick and easy. The unit also features weather updates and frequent destination memory, and the screen allows for pinch zooming. The Go Live 1000 slots firmly into its in-vehicle cradle thanks to a rather strong magnet, meaning that it won’t surprise the driver by falling about the interior of the vehicle. The only real down-side to the unit is that its battery life could be a bit better. With only two hours of autonomous operation, long trips could be a problem. The unit is supplied with a car-charging cable, of course, but those people who do not have a cigarette lighter port in their car may suffer a little. On the whole, this high end GPS from Tomtom is a safe bet for effortless and effective navigation. It’s on the more expensive side of the scale, but the performance does warrant the cost. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Large screen • Intelligent systems • Magnetic mount

CONS:

• Battery life • Pricey

Manufacturer: Tomtom Distributor: Tomtom Online: www.tomtom.com RRP: TBC

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

11cm screen Speeding alert Magnetic mount Google search Traffic updates Eco Routes

Score

A large screen, excellent services and great functionality justify the higher cost.

92 33

MSI R6970 2PM2D2GD5 Graphics Card

Big Boy

With multiple display support, too… by Walt Pretorius

ou don’t often see PC component manufacturers talk about the lifetime of their life-pan of their parts. At least, not regularly upgraded parts, anyway. Keyboards and monitors will have their life-spans explained, but graphics cards? Not so much. Yet this is one of the selling points on the MSI R6970 2PM2D2GD5. This card, with the hefty name and all, boasts a lifespan of 12 years in a gaming rig, and up to forty years in a machine used for work or other applications. Actually, that’s the claim for the Solid Capacitors that the card makes use of. These aluminium core components take the strain very well, delivering higher efficiency at a lower temperature. And they don’t explode. This is also stated on the box. It might seem a little funny at first, but if you have ever had a capacitor pop on your graphics card, you will know that such an occurrence isn’t much of a laughing matter. The card boasts the Radeon 6970 chipset, which is a powerful processor for getting the graphics job done. This is supported by 2GB of GDDR5 RAM, which is rather generous.

The R6970 offers many features, including one that most AMD based graphics cards are pushing these days – multiple displays. Using AMD Eyefinity technology, seamless display arrays of up to four monitors can be used. To facilitate this, the card has two DVI outputs, an HDMI output and two Mini DisplayPorts. Just a little about Eyefinity – this allows for multiple, seamless displays that run simultaneously. In other words, it doesn’t just mean a bigger desktop area to work in (which, in itself, is a joy.) Rather, this display performance will operate over multiple monitors, even in things like games. Normally, the game would display on only one monitor in a multiple monitor set up, but this is not the case with Eyefinity. As the bevels at the sides of monitors get smaller, this becomes a more and more viable idea. Anyway, back to the card. Its optimal performance is supported by MSI’s Afterburner software, which allows the user absolute control over the card’s function. The user can customise profiles for 2D and 3D performance, helping keep power consumption and temperatures at necessary levels. Additionally, the on board fan is

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regulated by advanced speed controls, to allow for the best possible operating conditions. In addition to the MSI software, the card is also shipped with numerous AMD utilities and programs. It also, naturally, supports the Crossfire multiple GPU system. The performance of this card is great across all kinds of applications. From watching Blu-ray and HD video through to playing the most graphically demanding video games, the card performs exceptionally well. It is good to keep in mind that the face of the graphics card market has changed. The argument between Nvidia and Radeon fans seems to be moot these days, although marketers will tell you otherwise. But it comes down to the whole package now, not the manufacturer or the specific chipset anymore. And, as a package, the MSI R6970 is a great bet. It delivers top performance in terms of hardware, and comes with an excellent bundle of utilities and other hardware, all designed to allow the user to get the best out of the card. And, as an added bonus, Eyefinity is a very cool tech. If you’re looking for top end AMD performance, this one is a great option.g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: A powerful graphics card, with excellent performance and a host of useful utilities.

Score

Manufacturer: MSI Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R4299 Tech Specs: • Radeon 6970 chipset • 2GB GDDR5 RAM • Solid CAP • 2 DVI ports • 2 Mini DisplayPorts • HDMI port

Pros: • Eyefinity • Powerful • Nice utilities Cons: • Not cheap • Bulky

Toshiba Camileo BW10 Video Camera

Rugged and Ready Ease of use, ease of price

by Walt Pretorius

evices need to keep up with lifestyles. It’s a simple idea, but one that is very important to the success of any given gadget. If the device is not useful in a number of situations, its appeal drops significantly. And so we are seeing devices that are becoming more specialised, in one sense, to enable a wider variety of uses. Last month we took a look at such a device – the Kodak PlaySport video camera. This month, we got our hands on Toshiba’s answer to a similar situation… the Camileo BW10 video camera. The two devices are very similar – they both are HD recorders that are held in an upright position when used. They are both waterproof and shock resistant. In fact, there are only a few factors that set the Camileo apart from the PlaySport, but these may be the factors that are deciders in a buying situation. The Camileo shoots 1080p video at 30 frames per second, which is pretty good. However, it also appears to be the only video mode that the camera has on offer. Try as we might, we could find no way to reduce the size

of the video, or change the frame rate… and the menu system is very simple, so it’s not like we were being silly. This is not really a problem, except for those that want to be a little stingy with their SD card space. Also, the PlaySport offers a 60 frames per second option at 720p, which can make for some nice slow-mo video. Not a deal breaker, but still… The Camileo is extremely simple, from its menus through to its controls. Virtually everything is available at the touch of a button. While this does imply a less versatile device on one side, it also means that it is extremely user friendly. Even youngsters can master the device in a matter of minutes. In addition to video, the BW10 can shoot 5 megapixel stills. With it being waterproof up to 2 meters, as well as shock proof, it is a video camera that begs to be brought along to outdoor fun outings. The video quality is fairly good (although it doesn’t compare well to higher end camcorders) and the sound is not too bad either, although g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

the microphone does take strain every now and then. It has an LED light built in above the lens, for low light filming (which the PlaySport did not feature) and is rather rugged, overall, with a generous screen at the back for viewing images and video playback. On the downside, the unit does not ship with an HDMI cable (which it uses to interface with TVs) or a charger. Charging is done by way of a USB cable plugged into a PC. That’s all fine and well, but if you’re on a trip without a notebook or computer, you aren’t going to be able to recharge the device. Additionally, the hatch which covers the battery and SD card slot is something of a pain. It’s tricky to open, and switching out cards won’t happen quickly. Still, it’s a fun device, and one that is excellent for those who enjoy an active lifestyle. The price, too, is very good, making it a worthwhile addition to a camera collection. You’re not going to film high art on it, but that’s not what it is about. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Handy • Rugged • Waterproof

CONS:

• Some sound and video issues

Manufacturer: Toshiba Distributor: Toshiba Online: www.toshiba.co.za RRP: TBC

TECH SPECS: • 1080p video recording • 5 megapixel camera • LCD light • 2m waterproof • Shock resistant

Score

It’s not the best video camera on the market, but it is rugged, versatile and well worth the price.

77 37

Samsung ST600

The Big Picture … from a small camera.

by Walt Pretorius

ow much power does the average pocket-camera user require? Yes, it’s great to be able to produce truly massive images thanks to a generous megapixel rating on a camera, but does the every-day photo-taker need to be able to produce poster sized prints? The answer is up for debate but, generally speaking, users who opt for a pocket camera are largely going to make smaller prints, or use their images in PC based or other applications. A large megapixel rating seems unnecessary. On the other hand, if the pocket camera features enough functionality to serve as a good back-up camera for a more professional photographer, lots of megapixels are great. But this means that the photographer would need a good level of control over the camera, with options for changing the aperture, shutter speed and all that kind of stuff. There is, of course, a middle ground… let’s call them the photography enthusiast, or the “prosumer”. These are people who may have a good DSLR, but generally use its

automatic functions to take photographs. They probably also have enough know-how to manipulate the pictures they take on a computer. And they may well have need of a backup camera. It is this theoretical group that the Samsung ST600 will hold the most appeal for. The camera may be quite small, but it offers a generous 14.2 megapixel image size – which is very large for its class. On the other hand, though, it doesn’t allow the user much control over the camera functions, other than programmed modes and automatic shooting. Still, it’s a very versatile camera, offering 5x optical zoom, 720p video recording (at 30 frames per second), image stabilisation, face detection and a host of other features that make it a very attractive option indeed. The back of the camera sports a 3.5 inch wide touch screen display. The reason that a fairly diminutive camera can have such a large screen is simple – virtually all of the controls, save for the power button, shutter button, zoom function and image viewing button are accessed via g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

touch screen menus. These are rather friendly and easy to understand, with prompts and explanations telling the user what they are doing. Another button not accessed via the touch screen activates the 1.8 inch front mounted LCD screen. This is a marvellous idea for those who enjoy taking selfportraits, or to show the subject of the photograph what is happening behind the lens. The image quality of the ST600 is surprisingly good. A variety of aspect ratios and image sizes can also be selected, in addition to the other shooting modes. Memory is taken care of by MicroSD cards, which is both a blessing and a curse. The cards allow for the camera to remain compact, but many people feel that these small SD cards are a bit fiddly (and extremely easy to lose.) The camera will even store a few pics on its internal memory which is great in a pinch. One could do much worse than this pocket camera, as long as the impressive sounding 14.2 megapixels don’t blind you to the camera’s capabilities. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Big pictures • Front LCD • Easy to use

CONS:

• Overpowered? • Not much manual control

Manufacturer: Samsung Distributor: Samsung Online: www.samsung.com RRP: TBC

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

14.2 megapixels 3.5” rear LCD 1.8” front LCD 5x optical zoom 720p video MicroSD card

Score

This little camera packs a powerful 14.2 megapixel punch.

88 39

MSI R6870 2PM2D1GD5 Graphics Card

Pretty Pictures

A good performer in the middle to upper range by Alex Scanlon

good graphics card is a must, and MSI are producing top notch devices on the whole. Whether your tastes run to either Nvidia or Radeon chipsets, the MSI range are a very safe bet. They deliver reliable performance and a good set of software to support the cards. The R6870 offers solid performance for a card that is approaching mid-range, with 1GB of GDDR5 RAM to help push the rather impressive processor along. In addition, the card offers AMD’s Eyefinity technology, which allows for up to 4 seamless displays to be run off of the one card at the same time. To facilitate this, the R6870 comes with two mini DisplayPorts, 2 DVI ports and an HDMI port, allowing the user a degree of versatility in connecting monitors. In addition, the card supports SLi and CrossFire X, making using multiple graphics cards a breeze. Advanced fan speed controls and settings to optimise for 2D and 3D performance help guarantee the longevity of the card, which is estimated at around 12 years under full strain. If you are looking for a strong GPU performance that

won’t break the bank as much as the top end cards, MSI’s R6870 is a good one to back. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Effective • Cost efficient

CONS:

• Not top of the range

Manufacturer: MSI Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: TBC

Expect reliable performance from this card, which might not be the top notch, but still does the job admirably.

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

6870 chipset 1GB GDDR5 SLi CrossFire X Solid Caps 12 year lifespan

Score

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A little more difficult to lose… by Alex Scanlon

SB drives are awesome. Being in this industry, we get a lot of them, generally themed around some or other product. So, theoretically, we have lots. But the truth is that USB drives, or sticks, or whatever you want to call them, have an uncanny knack of getting lost. They’re not exactly the biggest things around, and so they tend to find hidey holes and disappear into them. Verbatim’s answer is the Clip-it USB drive. This USB drive is smaller than most, which is a downside, but it has one particular design feature that makes it easier to hang on to. It has a built in clip. It can, in fact, be used as a paper-clip, a tie clip, or whatever. It can even clip to a pocket or inside a wallet, and the clip is tight enough to make sure it will stay where it’s put. On the downside, the pins which interface with the USB port are exposed, meaning that they could potentially become damaged. However, a little care exercised with this little USB 2.0 data transfer device will ensure years of reliable use. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 5 • Fe b / M a rc h 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Clip • USB 2.0 • Great idea

CONS:

• Very small • Exposed pins

TECH SPECS: • USB 2.0 • 2 GB • Built-in clip

Manufacturer: Verbatim Distributor: Verbatim Online: www.verbatim-europe.com RRP: TBC

The clever design of this device makes it a great choice for those wanting a new data storage and transfer stick.

Score

84 41

Verbatim Clip-it USB Drive

Clip-On

Bulletstorm

Rude, Lewd… … and crammed with attitude!

rior to the release there was a lot of noise surrounding Bulletstorm. On one side you had the mother grundies saying that this game would turn all our kids into mass-murdering rapists. On the other side were the critics saying that the game just didn’t cut it – even though they admitted that their opinion was based on videos and the demo (which are hardly a basis for this kind of statement.) What all of this did was generate a lot of interest in the game, rather than the desired shunning of it. I know I was more interested to see what People Can Fly would deliver with this title. I mean, really – here’s game that has been accused of being too violent, to explicit and just too plain old rude on one side, and being an utter waste of time on the other… which reviewer wouldn’t want to see what was going on there? In the end, both groups were not quite right with their statements. In fact, many of the statements were completely wrong. Bulletstorm is a great experience, if you accept it for what it is, and one that delivers tons of

by Walt Pretorius action and more than a few chuckles. The player takes on the role of Grayson Hunt, the once leader of an elite military squad called Dead Echo. However, when Hunt and his squad mates find out that an unscrupulous General is using them to eliminate innocent targets, he and the crew go AWOL, becoming space-faring pirates. A life of debauchery ensues as they dodge the forces of the Confederacy they once served. But when the chance to take General Sarrano out presents itself, Gray (in a drunken stupor) makes a call that ends with the bulk of his crew dead, and the survivors marooned on a savage, once inhabited planet. It sounds like an OK premise for a game that is filled with near mindless violence, but the thing is that People Can Fly did more than throw a semi-plausible plot together as an excuse for lots of virtual violence. One of the most surprising aspects of the game is the fact that it actually has a decent plot (if not the most original) that is filled with little nuances and ideas that set it a bit higher than the average game story these days. And these added

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elements come from the characters. There is no two dimensionality here; these characters are fleshed out and even believable at times. Yes, Grayson may be a smacktalking potty-mouth, but inside he is ripped up by his actions, the fact that his drunken quest for vengeance brought misery and death to so many people. Ishi is a balance between his loyalty to Gray and his outrage at Gray’s actions. Trishka Novak is a character that comes up a little later in the game, and she too has more complex motivations than one might expect. Even the planet that the action takes place on is a character in the story, to a degree. It is a very dangerous place, crawling with mutants, massive monsters and very dangerous plant-life. But it wasn’t always like that and, as the story progresses, the player learns more about the history of this world. A decent story, solid characters and a detailed setting all work towards one thing – a franchise. And, if the ending of the game is anything to go by, we will see more Bulletstorm in the future. Whether that is a good thing

gladget video game • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

or not depends on your experience with the title… in my book, I cannot wait. The core game play is… well, shooting stuff. People, mostly, but there are a few plants and the like that need a good seeing to as well. The action is fast paced, intense and brutal, and is based on a skill-shot system. What this means is that taking out enemies in certain ways earns you a number of points. These points can then be spent to buy ammo and weapon modifications at numerous supply drops that the player will encounter during the game. These skill shots are further enhanced by a sort of electro-magnetic leash that the player uses to pull enemies towards them, or manipulate marked elements of the setting. So, for example, kicking an enemy and then blasting him full of bullets will earn you a “bulletkick” point award, while booting a guy off of a ledge will result in a “vertigo” point bonus. There are hundreds of these to earn and discover, with some being a bit… suggesting (hence part of the outcry about the game.) There’s the ‘rear-entry’ for

shooting someone in the butt, the ‘double penetration’, which is awarded in multiplayer games when two players shoot the same enemy and the ‘nut-cracker’ for… well, I am sure you can figure that one out. Yes, they are suggestive names. But that’s part of the reason why this game has an 18 age restriction. Kids shouldn’t be playing this one at all. Parents, do your job here! But even this rather unique skill system has an explanation in the game – it wasn’t thrown in “just because”. We’re not going to go into detail, but the “survival of the fittest soldier” concept behind it feels plausible. Each weapon unlocks a number of new opportunities for awesome “skill-kills’ as well. Another reason why the game shouldn’t be played by youngsters is the presentation. The graphics are beautiful and, well, graphic. We have seen worse, but Bulletstorm doesn’t pull too many visual punches. Even more, though, is the dialogue. It is extremely… colourful… with the F word being thrown around like confetti at a wedding. And some of the phrases and comments that the characters make are screechingly funny, and completely inappropriate. I would quote one or two, but this is a family

show. The voice acting is exemplary, as well, with the lines feeling natural and witty, rather than forced and directed. Bulletstorm also presents a fun multiplayer aspect, in which players will need to act as a team to get some of the skill-kills. It might wear a bit thin after a while but, for now, we’re having a great time with it. The only multiplayer competition within the game comes in the form of leaderboards for replaying missions. While this may seem like a bad idea at first, the paradigm of the game means that it makes sense… skill-kills against other humans would be very difficult to deliver effectively. The shine may wear off of the multiplayer for many, though… The only real downside is that the game is linear. That said, it doesn’t feel that way while playing through the rather long, frantic single player campaign. Bulletstorm, with its new ideas and ways of doing things, brings a breath of fresh air to the FPS genre. For all the criticism and controversy, it’s something of a triumph for People Can Fly, and it will become a solid cult classic, if not more. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you have an off-beat sense of humour, are not easily offended and want tons of action, Bulletstorm is the way to go. g

gladget video game • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Frantic, fast and furious, this game is one of the fresher FPS titles we’ve seen for a while. Developer: People Can Fly Publisher: Electronic Arts Distributor: EA South Africa

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

18+ gladget video game • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

AT A GLANCE:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS PS2

Score

90 45

Killzone 3

Surviving Helghan Outgunned, outnumbered…

he shooter market is now so flooded with games that it takes something truly exceptional to stand out in the crowd. While Killzone 3 does not strictly fall into the category of ‘exceptional’, it does have enough going for it to rise above the norm. That said, one or two of the elements that make up the game could have done with a little more care on the side of the developers. Killzone 3 starts off exactly where the last game ended. With the death of their leader, the Helghast are in disarray, as various factions try to take control of the Empire. They aren’t in so much trouble that they can’t give the ISA some serious stick, though, and the player starts off (once again in the role of Sev) trying to escape the brutally shattered planet of Helghan. Things don’t go too smoothly, though, and Sev and his squad mates are left on the planet, fighting to survive and remain hidden from the Helghast. But soon a plot that threatens all of humanity comes to light, and it is up to the handful of ISA stragglers to save the day. The story is one of the parts of the game that really

by Walt Pretorius doesn’t deliver the goods. We’ve seen it a hundred times before. But, with that said, it really doesn’t matter. The story is purely a basis to allow the player to enjoy non-stop action. And that is something that the game has in spades. It will keep pounding at the player with wave upon wave of pretty smart AI enemies, all cloaked in the ‘evil empire’ look that makes the Helghast so much fun to shoot at. The levels that the player passes through are breathtaking in their scope and design. With plentiful supplies and lots of sensible cover, the player will be able to stay in the thick of the fight for the whole game. AI buddies will also resuscitate you if you’re taken down, although too many of these incidents will render the player’s character unrescuable. The action sequences are interspersed with impressive set pieces and cut-scenes, all of which seamlessly integrate with the experience. The game is very linear, but the developers have avoided frustration and boredom setting in by allowing the player access to other ways of killing the Helghast. These include space battles and vehicle combat, which break what could become a pedantic, repetitive experience up rather nicely.

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Still, just like the story, this doesn’t become a dealbreaker. It would have been nice to see a bit more depth to the characters, but there is nothing in that lack that ruins the feel of the game. The developers have included several options, including 3D support (which speaks for itself) and an option to use the Move control system, rather than the traditional controller. While the Move is fun with Killzone 3, it doesn’t trump the traditional controller. It’s really more of a fun option than a must-play aspect of the game. Speaking of must-play, Killzone 3 offers some excellent multiplayer action, with three game modes available for online play. Co-op is conspicuous in its absence online, although it can be played locally. Killzone 3 is the best game yet in the franchise, showing good progression in all technical aspects. Fans will certainly love it, and those that enjoy shooters should certainly consider it as a solid PS3 option. g

AT A GLANCE: This third instalment of the Killzone franchise is the best yet, with tons of action and awesome graphics. Developer: Guerrilla Publisher: SCEE Distributor: Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

18+ gladget video game • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

The control has also seen some improvement, although they still do not ascribe to the control scheme that most other shooters use. While it is within the developer’s rights to do whatever they like with control schemes, the departure from what has become the accepted ‘norm’ for shooting games means that the player may, at times, pay the price for hitting the wrong button. That’s ok, because the game is generally forgiving, and doesn’t punish the player overly much for deaths. However, occasionally the player may become victim to a cycle of cheap deaths; getting taken down in the wrong spot means that once the character is revived he’s pretty much going to go down again right away. It’s annoying, but the player is largely to blame for rushing in. The game isn’t about run-and-gun as much as a careful picking off of enemies. Charging blindly into combat is a bad idea. The other area that the developers could have put a little more effort into is that of the characters themselves. They’re the same ‘good old boys’ that we ran into in the previous game; they lack depth and motivation, feeling more like two-dimensional grunts than human beings.

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS PS2

Score

88 47

Test Drive Unlimited 2

A Testing Drive Eden’s sequel to the world’s first MMO racer

hose who played the original Test Drive Unlimited for more than a few hours will remember what made the game awesome. It wasn’t the flurry of DLC car packs, bringing a handful of exotic cars to the game’s virtual dealerships. Nor was it the lifestyle aspect, where you were tasked with chores such as dropping people off, delivering supercars to new owners. The selection of racing events and challenges were also not what endeared the game to its faithful audience. No, the thing that made the original TDU so fun was its open world, and community engagement. Unlike traditional games, where you go online and find people to play with, TDU’s world was always online and always interactive. I have fond memories of just getting the game and driving down the highway in my lowly starter car. I wasn’t driving anywhere in specific – I just wanted to explore the island. So there I was, on the arrowstraight highway, maxing out my car at about 200km/h. I thought I was making heady progress, until I passed by a motorcycle doing many kilometres per hour more than my little hatchback. Hot on his tail were two Ferraris.

by Christo van Gemert

These weren’t just other cars in the game. They were other players. I didn’t join their game and they didn’t join mine. The game just had us all on the same server, and in that instance we were both on the highway going in the same direction. From then, I was hooked. Of the many flaws TDU had, its sequel fixes some. Graphics are a bit better, but nowhere near the classleaders. Sounds are really good – cars emit rumbles and pops closely imitating those produced by their real life counterparts. The weather system is fantastic and the daynight cycle is a great new addition, too. Where we really wanted to see improvement is in the game’s physics engine. In the first game, this was a sore point. Cars were easily able to get airborne over the slightest undulations in the road. Now, they feel more planted and it’s easier to keep control of your car. This does come with a catch, though: in TDU2 you’re given a choice of five camera angles. Two chase cams, where you see the rear of your car, a cockpit view, a bonnet cam and a bumper cam. The latter two are what you need to be using for ultimate fun, because the former

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beaches in your Hummer H3, but the real meat is in the on-road sections, with those supercars. At the time of writing, it’s also a very buggy game. It’s not quite sure what happened, but some parts of the game’s online system are horribly broken. Getting together with your actual friends, from your Xbox Live friends list, is a real nightmare. For reasons unknown, the game has its own friend list and that doesn’t work at all. Nor does the system that is supposed to keep you linked with your friends, no matter where you are on the island. Car clubs also make a return, but for now they’re unusable. The developer and publisher has been taking a lot of complaints from disgruntled gamers on its forum, so things are bound to be sorted out soon. At the moment, though, it’s a bit of a crapshoot. When it eventually does get fixed, TDU2 will be huge fun. You’ll be able to hook up with your buddies, set a waypoint on the GPS and just cruise on the highway, doing illegal speeds in magnificent cars. And if that doesn’t sound like fun, you’re probably a Communist. g

AT A GLANCE:

It can be a real fun romp in the countryside, when it works. Developer: Eden Publisher: Atari Distributor: Megarom

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

12+ gladget video game • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

three are fatally flawed in a way that makes the game’s physics seem at fault for your horrible crashes. Long story short: the cameras sway towards the direction in which you are steering. This gets disorienting very quickly when you go into a slide and correct to the opposite direction, and the camera sways that way, amplifying the effects of your inputs. Viewpoint issues aside, the game plays very solidly. It’s fun to just drive around – and that is what the original game was about. There is a story, and I use that term loosely, which sees your character entered into a race series called the Solar Crown, but what this is really about is playing with your online friends in the open world. With two islands – Ibiza and Oahu - and 3 000 kilometres of driveable road, things look good. At least, they do on paper. In execution, it’s slightly different. The starting island, Ibiza, is a lot smaller than Oahu. The latter was used in the first game and has 1 000km of tarred roads, while the balance of 2 000km in TDU2 is split between off-road trails and the tarred roads in Ibiza. Sure, there are SUVs now and you can go exploring mountains and

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS PS2

Score

72 49

Development System The Nintendo handhelds compared…

Same Difference

by Brian Murdoch

he 3DS hits South Africa on the 25th of March 2011 and some of us can’t wait. Let’s go through the technical details of the DS models and answer the question as to whether another DS needs to be bought or if the current version is enough. This is putting the software features aside for a moment as we can’t really go through this without the actual product. If you don’t have a DS then the 3DS might be a good start. But some people just be happy buying another version at a very reduced price. All the games will work on all the consoles, other than some new ones with 3D effects, and even those will work on older units (just without the 3D effect). The DS stands for Development System and is Nintendo’s idea of providing tools for the 3rd party developers to work with and incorporate in their mobile gaming. The iterations have come a long way from the now

so-called Phat, to the Lite, the DSi and big DSi XL. These have come with improvements and enhancements in each version but have they really changed the game play? Is your life that improved in each version and is it worth the R2000 or more every 6 – 12 months? The battery life is something that has been steadily declining with each version. We understand that each console does more than the previous but should this really drain that much battery? Battery life is not something that will be improved in the 3DS and actually might seem much worse because the Street Pass feature will require the console to at least be on stand by and each person you pass will almost be like turning it on, battle, and then back to stand by. Imagine if you pass 20 people while on the train, bus or just driving in traffic. You get to your destination and want to play a game but the console battery is flat. Not gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

to mention the 3DS effect taking more out of the battery, with an extra screen and processing power. Size is only something that matters to boys and a few girls, but the XL and Phat are the only ones with it. While the Phat just comes in looking like an old cell phone the XL, which I love because of the features, is sometimes just too big for me. Holding it up is a pain at times. It’s too big to quickly pack when the bus or train arrives and it takes up all of my pocket space. A good note is that Nintendo have no immediate plans for a 3DS XL because the two main factors for the XL are not needed in the 3DS... older people needing bigger fonts and multiple people watching the same screen. The 3DS is a standard lite version and a 3DS lite will only come if there is a new nuclear power source that is safe for people to carry in their pockets, but even this might only add 5 hours of game time. Did you know that 3D was possible with the Nintendo gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

DS (Phat)? The main core CPU there is powerful enough to process the 3D images… all it needs is the screens or glasses. The power supply socket is very interesting as well, because each version up has either only been backwards compatible with the previous version or had their own. I would have thought that the 3DS would come with its own. Nope, the car chargers and extra chargers that you have for the DSi will work on the 3DS. Nintendo do always have the gamer in mind and don’t just believe that it prints money. This version of the DS does have very good selling features but nothing other than interaction improvements. Looking at the difference table the previous versions of the DS have the same general power and feel other than the graphics. If you only like playing the odd game by yourself and don’t care for 3D then look around for a better deal on the previous versions. g

TECHNICALSpecs SPECS Technical

Nintendo DS Nintendo Phat DS Lite Mass Dimensions

Nintendo DSi

Nintendo DSi XL

Nintendo 3DS

300 grams

218 grams

214 grams

314 grams

230 grams

148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9

133 x 73.9 x 21.87

137 x 74.9 x 18.9

161 x 91.4 x 21.2

134 x 74 x 21

Graphics

Nintendo proprietary

CPU

ARM946E-S (67MHz) for gameplay + ARM7TDMI (33MHz) for sound

RAM

PICA200 by Digital Media Pro

ARM946E-S (133MHz) for gameplay + ARM7TDMI (33MHz) for sound

TBA

4MB (Expandable via GBA Slot)

16MB SRAM

TBA

Storage

Internal 256KB flash memory

Internal 256MB flash memory

TBA

Wireless

802.11b (WEP only)

Battery Capacity Battery Life Card Slots

802.11b (WEP, WPA, WPA2)

850 mAh

1000 mAh

840 mAh

1050 mAh

1300 mAh

10-14 hours

15-19 hours

9-14 (low) or 3-4 (high)

13-17 (low) or 4-5 (high)

3-5 (3DS Games) or 5-8 (DS Games)

DS, Game Boy Advanced

DSi, DS, SD

3DS, DSi, DS, SD

5 levels

6 levels for 2D and 3 levels for 3D

Screen brightness

backlight on/off

4 levels

Stylus

75.0 x 4.0 mm

87.5 x 4.9 mm

92 x 4.9 mm

129.3 x 10 mm

Extendable to 100mm x 4.9mm

Compatible with GBA EXT2 port

Incompatible with GBA EXT port

Incompatible with DS Lite

Compatible with DSi

External connectors

gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

Feeling the Fibre Taking a look at optics

Inner Workings

by Charlie Fripp

e often buy the best and latest video cables, or get them supplied in the box of the gadgets we bought, but how often do we go that extra mile to deliver some really good sound quality? Most of the sound systems on the market are pretty good, but not all of them are fully compatible with any given hardware. For example, an Xbox360 game might have brilliant sound, but it doesn’t mean that it’s true DTS 5.1 Surround Sound. The way that we can solve this problem is by using small strands of glass. It’s fairly easy to do, and doesn’t cost a pretty penny. The only problem is having the patience to connect up thousands of hair-thin glass strands between the output and the surround or home theatre system. Granted, we are making it out to be more difficult and complicated than what it is, but we are of course talking about fibre-optic cables. It is true that fibre-optic cables consist of thin pieces of glass, but it isn’t nearly as difficult to connect.

But how does thin strands of glass, or sometimes plastic, carry the audio signal from, say, a Playstation 3 to a home theatre system? Well, it’s not only used in gaming consoles for audio, but we can see the use of them in internet connections, telephones and in American cable television, as well as medical equipment. The strands of pure glass come in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from the width of a human hair, to about 1mm, each serving a different digital purpose. Taking a closer look at the cables will help us understand better the way in which they work. Thousands of the optical fibres are grouped together, called bundles, which makes up a single optical cable. There are three parts to a single optical fibre, namely the core (the glass centre where the light travels), the cladding (the outer optical material surrounding the core that reflects the light back into the core), and the coating (the protective coating guarding it against damage and moisture). All the bundles, once grouped together, are held gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

The GPSIIF1 rocket carries a new GPS satellite into space gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

in place by the cable’s jacket. Now that we know what makes up a cable, one will wonders how the signals get from one point to the other. Light is main element in distributing or carrying the signal, but we all know that light travels in a straight line and the cable is almost never straight. Well, that is where the cladding comes in. As the light travels and the cables gets bent, the light reflects on the cladding, pushing it back into the strand, a principle called total internal reflection. The principle was also first demonstrated back in 1840, and since the cladding doesn’t absorb any light, it’s great for long distances. Great, we know light is the source of the information, but who does it all work? Well, in order for the signals to reach their destination, the entire process is made up of three steps, or components. The Optical Transmitter sits physically close to the optical fibre and is responsible for producing and encoding

the lights signals – almost like Morse code. The optical fibre takes that signal and conducts it to the Optical Receiver, which in turn receives and decodes the light signals. The real magic happens at the Optical Receiver, and just like a remote control’s IR receiver, it takes the digital light signals and decodes them, before sending the electrical signal to a computer, TV, telephone or home theatre system. Some signal loss might occur over great distances, so an Optical Regenerator might be used to boost the light signals at certain intervals. It might all sound very foreign, but fibre optical cables were actually used in the cameras that NASA sent to the moon. At the time, the technology was ‘classified confidential’, and only operators with the right clearance could use them. g gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

by Alex Scanlon

Dead End

DVD Killed the Video Star

he theory of evolution states that survival of the fittest determines the future of any given species, and that adaptation is necessary for long term survival. Well, that’s in a nutshell, actually. But it sort of goes that way. Interestingly, the same principle can be applied to technology. In fact, the evolution of technology can be very easy to track, and exact points where changes come in are bright spots on the radar… no archaeology needed. Just look at home video if you need proof of that statement. Video evolved through several stages, with VHS proving that is was the strongest, fittest animal out there, beating back all competitors (even those that appeared superior) to become the only way that home video could be delivered. But, like the dinosaurs, a technological comet was headed its way, ready to drive it into extinction. VHS dominated the market for a long time indeed. Initially introduced at the 1977 Consumer Electronics

Show (yes, CES goes back that far) but gained true prominence in the 1980s. This dominance was due to several factors. These included longer recording times than competitors (read as Betamax), faster rewinding and fast forwarding and licensing fees charged by the format owners, JVC. This meant that more companies were willing to look at VHS compatible equipment than Betamax. Several smart business moves on the part of JVC meant that their format would be king for almost 20 years (for more about the war between VHS and Betamax, check out the very first issue of Gladget). The VHS format became all-pervasive for home use. From rentals to home recording equipment – including video cameras – VHS was definitive of the home entertainment industry. As with all tape based recording formats, though, it wasn’t free of problems. The sensitive tape could get damaged by over-use or equipment that was faulty or dirty. Still, a little care by the user meant that VHS tapes would last for many, many years. gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

But the position held by the dominant format came under fire during the 1990s. VCD (Video CD) made its first appearance in 1993. Although the playback time of a CD is only 70 minutes (meaning that almost every movie had to span two discs) and occasional colour banding and compression artefact issues, the minimal degradation of the format showed potential for replacing tape. But it was the creation of the DVD, introduced to the world between 1996 and 1998, that would signal the death knell of VHS. At least, it would in the rental industry. The more damage resistant, smaller and easier-to-store DVD format swept through the rental and sell-through industries swiftly. Renting or buying movies on DVD made sense (and while Blu-ray makes even more sense, we’ll deal with that in a later Dead End). However, VHS still held sway in the home recording field, because of a less temperamental performance and longer recording times. That position also came under fire, with the introduction

gladget regular • issue 5 • Feb / March 2011

of the DVR. These systems have a wide variety of form factors, but their general high quality and long recording capacity was yet another nail in VHS’ coffin. But VHS isn’t dead yet. Several US retailers still sell recorders and blank tapes for the format, which is proving to remain popular. Despite that popularity, though, the demand for the format is steadily shrinking at a retail level. Even JVC abandoned the format, producing their last standalone VHS unit (ie, not a combined VHS and DVD unit) in 2008. And Hollywood has also turned away from the format. The last major Hollywood film to be released on VHS was A History of Violence, directed by David Cronenberg. Despite all of the signs, VHS is hanging on by a thread, and may well become a cult icon, much like vinyl has for the music industry. The format did nothing wrong. But time and technological evolution meant that it wouldn’t survive forever. g