So, today I’m going to give a quick heads up on RedLynx’s new game in the Trial series: Trials Evolution. Now if, like me, you’ve enjoyed the trials series from the beginning, I’m sure you’re going to love this game as much (if not more) than the others. From a distance it looks like the same old game, riding a dirt bike at incredible speeds flying over jumps. Now to be honest I was sold at that point. But for people who want to know a little more, I’m going to dig a little deeper.

So I should start off by saying it is Xbox Live arcade exclusive. Meaning if you have a PC and you really want to play this game, your outta luck. It’s currently sitting at 1600 Microsoft points on the arcade. Unfortunately due to Microsoft’s undying greed, that means you have to buy a minimum of 2000 points. But oh well, you get the game and maybe that master chief mask you’ve always wanted for your avatar?

Gameplay wise it is extremely similar to the previous titles. If you’ve played them, you know what to expect. If you haven’t then I can bet that you have played something similar. It’s a very simple concept really; you ride the bike in a straight line, tilting backwards and forwards to pull off incredible backflips and front flips. Sounds boring right? Wrong. This game is so much more in depth than it comes across. Whilst it is played on a 2D plane, the graphics are 3D. This makes for all sorts of cool looking explosions, mountains falling on top of you, fire everywhere, special effects, more explosions… You get the picture. The idea is to complete the tracks in as quick time and as few faults as possible, and the maps created by the folks over at RedLynx are fairly challenging too. There are numerous objects on the track including huge jumps and cool features. Your times are also recorded and you can see a “ghost” of your friends whilst trying to complete the tracks. Giving it that competitive edge. The customization is also much bigger than the previous titles, with all parts of the bike and the rider being able to be coloured and styled to the players choosing.  But this isn’t even scraping the surface.

The single player aspect is fun, challenging and definitely worth some time. And with 50 tracks to complete and earn that gold medal, you will never get bored. (although I may have thrown my controller around a few times whilst trying to finish 0.484847 seconds faster to get the gold) However I feel the game has the most depth in its multiplayer features. Players can race on the same console or, with up to 4 people online IN REAL TIME. Something which I never saw happening on Trials and was extremely excited when I first heard it. And yup, it lived up to my expectations. Hours of fun, fighting each other and trying so hard to beat each other’s times was more fun than even I imagined.

Finally I come to the games golden apple. Its arc de triomphe the cherry on the cake…. TRACK EDITOR. Now I know the previous title Trials HD came with a track editor. But it was fiddly, hard to use and extremely limited. This time round RedLynx has given us the most extensive track editor I have ever seen.  There are two versions, lite editor and pro. Lite editor is similar to Trials HD’s but with much less limitations. Anything from ramps, cars to explosives and waterfalls can be placed in the games world. Pro however is on another level. Whilst it can be difficult to understand at first, it packs one hell of a punch. All sorts of effects can be created, from animating cars to drive across the track, planes flying over to drop bombs, and event driven obstacles that requires the player to perform something all made by the in game scripting engine. Not to mention the extensive amount of camera angles and button control. I’ve even played a user created map which is in first person and allows the player to jump and use levers, in a motorbike track game! This brings me nicely to what I feel is the most fun in this game, the track downloading. Anyone can create a track and put it up for download. Some people’s creations are just outta this world. From challenging motocross maps to pure fun maps! Some of the ones I’ve played include portal, 2000 foot drop, golf games, Takeshi’s castle. The fun is simply endless with this game.

In conclusion I would say that this game is DEFINITELY worth 1600 Microsoft points. Limitless hours of fun in single player and multiplayer and when you add the track editor and the ability to download and play others tracks, I don’t think this game will ever get old. The only thing the game could put more effort in to is the bike choice. There are only 4 bikes to choose from, with an additional one being unlocked if the player has an achievement from Trials HD. Whilst there is a good amount of customization that can be done to the bike and the player, it leaves the player feeling less than unique in a world of a million bikes all looking the same.  My verdict: 9.5/10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYWjZ66CNCo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nm7-EuctOs

Is it a flat pack... is it a TV? NO! It's the UPPLEVA! The UPPLEVA is an interesting idea that our favorite flat pack furniture company (IKEA) has come up with.

Although a great idea I do see some flaws in the product. One being that the blu-ray player and TV are part of the unit. Although this is the main feature of the product I have to ask what happens when you want to upgrade your TV to a newer and better quality one? What about the wireless sub? If it's battery-powered will you have to charge it up all the time? or will it need new batteries every week? And isn't there already "one remote" solutions available already? The Logitech Harmony springs to mind.

I think the UPPLEVA is a very cool idea, but I don't think this will have a place in my home, as customization of the technology that you use doesn't seem to be an option with this funky piece of flat pack furniture. However, I do see this being an appealing option to someone who's not to bothered about what TV they have as long as it looks good and is easy to use, and possibly the older generation who would like a do it all system so they can watch TV and show their friend photos of the grandkids without having to press 30 different buttons on 3 different remotes.

Aiptek has brought its new V100 compact projector to the Gadget Show Live 2012 press event.

The V100 is compact pico projector developed for business users. It boasts rich colours and high contrast and up to 100 Lumen brightness thanks to its DLP chip. It also features an internal media player which allows you to play MP3s, view photos and watch all standard video formats up to a resolution of 1080p.

It also comes with a wealth of connections including a HDMI-in, AV-in, USB and SD-card slots.

. DLP Technology provides sharp and rich image quality
. Up to 100 lumens of brightness
. Modern RGB LED with a working lifetime up to 20.000 hours
. WVGA (854 x 480 Pixel) resolution in 16:9 ratio
. 1000:1 contrast ratio and 100% image offset
. Projects photos and videos up to 300 cm (120쳌h) picture size
. HD video playback up to 1080p video resolution
. Supports SD/SDHC memory cards up to 32GB and USB sticks
. Connection via HDMI port to PC or Notebook for projection
. Embedded rechargeable Li쳌]Polymer battery for 2 hours of mobile use
. Support Android Smartphone storage projection via USB cable and
power bank feature

Techstrike has been invited to the private presentation hosted by US recording artist 50 Cent who is making his Gadget Show debut and presenting his new audio brand SMS Audio to the UK market.

50 Cent will be showing of his new SYNC by 50 wireless and STREET by 50 wired headphones at 12:30 before a Q&A with the man himself.

The new line of products will be distributed exclusively by Kondor and are available from all good retailers.

Press Release

“The unique SYNC by 50 headphones are wireless headphones that incorporate full on-board controls, and integrate Kleer™ wireless technology to allow up to four listeners to simultaneously rock from a single source. Unlike standard Bluetooth wireless headphones, Kleer technology gives SYNC by 50 16-bit CD quality digital sound and boasts longer battery life, less interference and feedback – which means better overall sound quality.

Additional features include passive noise-canceling and built-in controls to let listeners, control volume levels, fast forward, rewind and boost the bass. All headphones are custom-acoustically tuned to produce unparalleled sound quality and provide the listener with brilliant, non-compressed CD-quality audio.”

Turtle Beach is showing off its new sound processor at The Gadget Show Live 2012. It’s called the Ear Force DSS2 and it’s a Dolby Surround Sound Processor for Stereo Headsets.

The device features: adjustable positioning of sound, multiple EQ presets, Auxiliary and Analogue inputs (for connecting a secondary audio source) and a Digital Optical connection. The DSS2 is USB powered so no batteries are required.

The Ear Force DSS2 is compatible with Xbox 360, PS3 and PC/Mac.

More information can be found here: http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/audio-processors/ear-force-dss2.aspx

Press Release

“The DSS2 will transform your stereo headset or headphones into Dolby® surround sound, immersing you in your favorite video games, movies and music with a stunning 3D audio environment. Dolby Digital technology allows you to pinpoint the direction of every sound, enhancing enemy footsteps and amplifying bone-rattling explosions with amazing 360-degree audio. Adjustable surround sound angles and multiple EQ presets let you enhance subtle sound cues and customize the audio for any gaming situation. The DSS2 also includes an auxiliary input so you can listen to your favorite music while gaming in Dolby surround sound. Gain a competitive edge with the DSS2 and experience audio like never before!”

The Dutch firm Eminent has announced the release of yet another product at Gadget Show Live 2012.

It’s the EM8102 WEB-TV Box which combines a home cinema experience with Smart TV features like online interactive media, on-demand media streaming and over 500 Internet TV & radio stations.

The EM8102 features support for almost all video codecs all the way up to Full HD 1080P video via its HDMI 1.3 port. Gigabit LAN, built in hard disk, USB 3.0 port, a web browser, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio support, network media playback and access to services such as YouTube, Facebook and local weather.

The Eminent EM8102 WEB-TV Box comes with a 5 year warranty.

Press Release

“The Dutch brand Eminent adds Smart TV and Media Player functionality to the television with its WEB-TV Boxes. The EM8100 and EM8102 WEB-TV Boxes combine home cinema experience with Smart TV features. A Media Player functionality, online interactive media, on-demand streaming media and over 500 Internet TV & radio channels become one. The EM8100 WEB-TV Box and EM8102 WEB-TV Box for internal hard disk are available now.

Combine home cinema experience with Smart TV functionalities
As a manufacturer of Full HD Network Media Players Eminent offers functionality to display almost all video and audio formats on the television. The EM8100 & EM8102 WEB-TV Boxes support almost all movies formats in Full HD 1080P on your television. The WEB-TV Boxes are equipped with a web browser and full HD Media Player that supports displaying video and audio on the TV from any other device in your home network.

The Smart TV functionalities are instant available and updated in real-time. These web services do not require additional installation. The Smart TV functionalities ensure optimal TV display and ease of operation. The WEB-TV Box can be controlled via an one-click remote control with additional shortcut buttons, via the Eminent EM3140 Wireless Mini Keyboard or via the Android or iOS remote control mobile app. It is also possible to customize the WEB-TV Box portal overview. The consumer puts his or her favourite channels next to each other via a single-click and drag-motion.

Something for everybody
With a wide range of Smart TV functionalities like Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, weather forecast, eBay, live music concerts and video-on-demand, there is something available for everybody. Even favourite games like Connect 4, Solitaire and Sudoku can be played directly on the television. For the sports fanatics Smart TV functionalities like football, rugby, cricket, tennis, winter sports and motorsports are available. As well as English Smart TV content there is also German, French and many other global Smart TV content available.

WEB-TV Box versions
Eminent launches two WEB-TV Boxes versions: the EM8100 WEB-TV Box and the EM8102 WEB-TV Box for internal hard disk. The EM8102 WEB-TV Box has extra features like the possibility to build in a hard disk, USB 3.0 port and Gigabit-LAN connection.

Eminent: Full HD Media Player brand
Eminent is a leading HD Media Player brand in the Dutch market. Eminent offers its users five years warranty, easy installation and full support. The WEB-TV Boxes come with a multilingual user manual and all the necessary cables, including a HDMI cable.”

Eminent a Dutch business has just launched its latest and most advanced HD media player: the EM7285.

The EM7285 is a limited edition HD media player with a black aluminium body with an easy-mount slot and built-in wireless adapter.

The device features a Gigabit lan, full HD (1080p) video, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio, a USB 3.0 port and a Realtek RT1184 chipset which supports almost all video codes.

Eminent’s device also sports an interface designed by Project Mayhem, a built-in Torrent and Usenet program and access to web services like YouTube, Flickr and Internet Radio.

All of Eminent’s HD media player range are provided with a 5 year warranty, a multilingual manual and all the essential cables.

RRP £189.90

Press Release

“The Dutch brand Eminent launches its most advanced HD media player: the EM7285. This limited edition HD media player with black aluminum body, easy-mount slot and built-in wireless adapter is available now.

The EM7285 HD media player is equipped with a luxurious aluminium body that keeps the unit cool and isolates noise from the optional internal hard drive. The easy-mount slot allows the consumer to connect this hard disk conveniently. The consumer gains access to more media in the home network via the Gigabit lan or the built-in wireless adapter. The HD media player EM7285 comes with a web browser, YouTube XL, Twitter and Facebook.

Just like the previously launched HD media player EM7280 the EM7285 HD media player supports Full HD 1080P video and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio. The latest Next-Generation Realtek RT1185 chipset supports almost all video codecs. The USB 3.0 connection provides a quick data transfer from the PC to the internal hard disk. The EM7285 HD media player is equipped with an exclusive user interface designed by Project Mayhem. This user interface offers the consumer a new library system for movies, music and images.

The built-in Gigabit LAN port allows the consumer to quickly connect to the home network and play files directly from the PC or NAS device on the TV. The EM7285 HD media player comes with built-in Torrent and Usenet programs. The consumer gains access to web services like YouTube, Flickr and Internet Radio.

All Eminent HD media players are provided with five year warranty, a multilingual manual and all the essential cables, including an HDMI cable.

The recommended retail price of the EM7285 is £ 189,90.

Take a look at www.eminent-online.com/en/site/EM7285 for more information.”

With only one day to go the UK's biggest tech event is right around the corner! Techstrike has attended since day one and has signed up the team for this years press event. Stay tuned from Tuesday the 10th of April for all the latest news and gossip from the NEC!

Techstrike will be taking a break over the Easter period to give our team some time to relax before our next big event. The gadget show!

Happy Easter everyone from the team!

"At first I was very skeptical about the new portable speaker from Sony."

Sleek 360 design makes listening a whirl

I thought that gone were the days where you would go to a party armed with an mp3 player and a cheapo speaker system for the novelty of carrying your music for everyone to hear.

But it seems that Sony has hit all the right notes so to speak, with their new "Ultimate Party Speaker", the N300 delivers exceptional audio clarity with a 360 degree directional speaker so your music can hit every wall in the room.

The N300 features wireless capabilities allowing for you to connect your music through WiFi and the new 'Party streaming' option, giving you the ability to sync your music to the same stream to be played in every room in the house using a pc, home theatre system or internet music arrangements.

While being technologically advanced Sony has not forgotten about the importance of looking good, with an innovative and modern design, the N300 is suitable for any setting.
The N300 comes with a remote used to control the device or you can use your iPhone or iPod with a free app called 'Network Audio Remote' downloadable from the app store.

Overall the N300 is a very useful little device to have and with the help of a Sony home system makes your music life much simpler and with a price of $229 AUD you would expect nothing less from Sony.

UK high street retailer has announced today its plans to enter administration. The Game Group has been struggling for months following layoffs, store closures and rumoured acquisition plus issues stocking the latest games.

UPDATE: The 101 G9 Tablet has just been updated to Android 4.0 ICS

Introduction:

If you already own a light and fairly high-powered laptop, you would be forgiven for questioning why one would sacrifice performance over size (and a touch interface) and buy a tablet. I have often been doubtful of the capability and relevance of tablet devices and was interested to see if testing the Archos might change my preconceptions about the concept.

Tech Specs:

For your money, you get a very reasonable 10.1 inch 1280x800 high definition tablet which comes pre'installed with Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) and is powered by an OMAP 4 smart multi-core ARM CORTEX A9 Processor at 1GHz (or 1.25-1.5GHz if you buy the “turbo version”). In practice, this means that most apps run very smoothly and the display boasts a very sharp picture quality. For the standard model, the Archos 101 g9 includes 8gb of internal flash memory, which may not seem like much if you have a vast music/video collection, but can very usefully be extended with a microSD card (also sdhc compatible).

The device also features a mini HDMI out, a mini usb port, a front facing webcam, Li Polymer battery and an attached pull-out stand for viewing the device in landscape (mainly for watching video etc)

In terms of connectivity, the Archos is WiFi compatible, features Bluetooth 2.1 and also includes an optional 3g port on the back of the device.

Out of the box:

The 101 g9 comes complete with usb cable, English, European and American Power adapters, a booklet on legal and safety notices and two additional documents which discuss installing the optional 3g card into the back of the device. It seemed surprising that no headphones or even a basic instruction manual were provided. One can only assume Archos felt operating the tablet would be relatively intuitive for its users.

First Impressions of the Device:

After holding the tablet for the first time, my impression was that the plastic casing felt fragile. Although the detachable stand is an excellent idea, I could only wonder if it would last more than a year of intensive use before breaking?

Video/Music:

If the pre-installed video clips are anything to go by, the playback quality on the Archos is fantastic. It was disappointing, however, to find that the device does not run common video formats (like AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, VOB etc.) without a downloadable plug-in which costs $10 on Archos.com. This essential download seems to be a cunning way to make a bit of extra money on the side.

With regards to music and sound playback, the 101 g9 generally copes pretty well and thankfully runs all the expected codecs (mp3, flac, wav etc) without a pricey download. There were no surprises whilst wearing headphones, however, if turned up to full volume using the internal speaker, the sound distorts and becomes unpleasant to listen to. The built-in speaker performed best at about 2 notches below full volume.

Games:

The 101 g9 performs pretty well as a gaming device. It runs most of the popular titles from the android market with relative ease and upon investing in a wireless controller accommodates very well for dedicated gamers, who can stream higher-spec titles using apps like OnLive.

Internet:

Although you can choose to download preferred internet browsers from the Android Market, I found the default browser to be more than sufficient for the job. What immediately struck me (as an outsider to the growing tablet trend) was how effective and accessible the internet is to view in 'portrait', as opposed to the landscape orientation we all know from our laptops/netbooks/desktops. browsing the internet in this way works well. It felt like I was controlling an interactive magazine and made for a refreshing experience. The high quality resolution screen went a long way to enhancing this experience.

Books:

With the prominent rise of ebook readers in 2011, it only seemed natural to test how well one could read books on the Archos 101 g9. After a few chapters of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' using Amazon's Kindle App, I realised the tablet was just as effective, if not more useful than a dedicated ebook device and with its high resolution screen, made for effortless reading, with little strain on the eyes.

Office Utilities:

If we really are on the verge of a “post PC” era, it would seem extremely important that all tablet devices cope well with basic office tasks, such as word processing. Using Picsel Smart Office (on the Android Market) I found that the functionality exists, but the touch to edit experience is extremely unsatisfying and feels long-winded. The 101 g9 does have bluetooth keyboard functionality, but does not come included with such an accessory and (although not mentioned if compatible on the Archos website) would also benefit enormously from wireless mouse compatibility.

Camera/Microphone:

The Archos 101 g9 features a front facing “HD” Camera, intended for web videocalls. The Archos website states that it is designed for 720p recording, but upon trial, I found the picture quality to be rather grainy. It also seemed surprising that the 101 g9 did not feature a higher-spec rear camera, like most of its competitors. This is not a device for making amateur videos.

Although the device performed well in most areas of this review, the one issue I had with the device was the quality of its built-in microphone. If you want to record anything beyond a basic (and gentle) voice recording, look for a field recorder or just use a mobile phone, the mic quality on the tablet is poor.

Battery Life:

The 101 g9 battery lasted quite well during testing. The tablet is able to survive a day on a single charge if used casually like a smartphone. If used intensively and multitasking, the lifespan is no more than a few hours. An interesting observation was that the battery life continued to decrease during a recharge session if the wifi was switched on. If I had not known how to switch off the wifi in the device settings, I could have gone for a full recharge only to find the battery at 0%!

Conclusion:

On the whole, the Archos 101 g9 is a good entry level tablet computer. There are some issues with the overall design of the device and the quality of its camera and microphone. I am also unimpressed that you have to purchase vital video codec plug-ins separately from the Archos website, but on the other hand, the tablet offers a high definition screen you would be lucky to find on similar devices for less than £350. The video quality is excellent, the web browsing experience is vastly more enjoyable to use in portrait mode, it's good for gaming and with the right bluetooth equipment would be accessible for creating office documents. So does the 101 g9 replace a laptop or a pc? In my opinion, it doesn't even come close. However, I would hasten to add that it's ideal for home users who want an affordable and good quality product which provides a refreshing take on home computing. It's highly portable and relieves the burden of having to sit in front of a desk.

We wish to thank Harvard PR/ARCHOS for supplying us the tablet to review.

Nikon did it a couple of weeks ago by announcing their new twins in the professional DSLR segment (D4 and D800/E). Today Canon held a global press event where they announced the result of their long overdue pregnancy, the 5D Mark III.

The 5D is, and has always been the flagship camera for the professional on the road portrait shooter. However the 5D doesn’t limit itself to solely portrait purposes, I dare say you will find a fair deal of 5Ds in the Sports and Wildlife photographer’s backpacks. Before the III was the II, an already spledid piece of equipment, and a first in showing the world that DSLR video should not be regarded inferior to your average run of the mill HD Cam.

Today Canon’s representatives showed the world the new heir to the 5D fullframe throne: behold Canon’s 5D Mark III

Technical specs:

Unsurpassed Image Quality

• 22.3 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor
• DiG!C 5+ Image Processor
• ISO 100-25600 (expandable to L:50 H1:51200, H2: 102400
• Full HD Movie (ISO 100-12800 (H:25600)

High Performance Operation

• 61-point high-density reticular AF (up to 41 crosstype points)
• 6.0 fps for high continuous shooting
• Intelligent viewfinder with approx. 100% coverage
• 3.2-type, approx.1.04m dot (3:2 wide) Clear View LCD II
• iFCL metering with 63-zone dual-layer sensor
• Shutter durability of 150,000 cycles

High end features

• Silent & low vibration modes
• Dual card slots (CF & SD)
• High Dynamic Range (HDR) Mode
• Multiple Exposures
• Comparative Playback function
• Improved durability & water and dust resistance

• Megapixels – 22MP
• Sensor Size – 36 x 24mm
• ISO/Sensitivity – 100 – 25600
• Autofocus Points – 61 points
• LCD Size – 3.2″
• Liveview – Yes
• Viewfinder – Optical TTL
• Min Shutter Speed – 30 sec
• Max Shutter Speed – 1/8000 sec
• Continuous Shooting Speed – 6 fps
• Self Timer – 10 sec, 2 sec
• Metering – Centre-weighted, Spot, Evaluative, Partial
• Video Resolution – Full HD 1080
• Memory Type – Compact Flash
• Connectivity – USB 2, HDMI, Mic Input, Wireless (optional)

• Battery – LP-E6
• Battery Type – Lithium-ion
• Charger – Includes Li-Ion Charger
• File Formats – AVI, RAW, H.264, MOV, MPEG-4
• Dimensions – 152 x 116 x 76mm
• Box Contents – Battery Pack LP-E6 .. Battery Charger LC-E6 .. AV Cable AVC-DC400ST .. Interface Cable IFC-200U .. Eyecup Eg .. Wide Strap EWEOS5DMKIII .. CR1616 Lithium Battery+

No official word on availability yet. Knowing the 1Dx production is taking up most of their time & efforts to get a solid batch ready for launch, the 5D MIII might hit the shelves around the same time. Give of take a couple of weeks. Don’t expect the 5D to be available before the 24-70 USM II release, as Canon made it clear this new lens will be part of their 5D kits.

Customers were greeted yesterday morning with the news that their pre-order of the hotly anticipated Mass Effect 3 had been cancelled. The UK retailer GAME announced yesterday that it would not be stocking the game due to problems they currently have with EA "unfortunately we are not in a position to supply you with your copy of Mass Effect 3." Because of this GAME also saw a 15% fall in there share prices. Reports are that the high street retailers shares have dropped 90% over the last year, a large percentage of that because of online services such as Steam.

You can read the full update on their Facebook page here

What are your thoughts on this matter? Post below.

USBFever has been generous to allow us reviewing some of their latest gadgets for Apple’s iPhone/Touch and iPad. We got hands on some screen protectors, some cases and some power/charging docks. Let’s hit it.

Something to protect your screen

•  Anti Glare Screen Protector for Apple iPad 2

Ipad or iPhone 4/4S version

This screen protector, manufactured by TuneWear (Japan), is the definition of an easy to use foil cover. Both iPhone as iPad version get sucked to your screen without the annoyance of becoming all “bubbly”. The iPhone version attached itself flawless without the need of using the included squeegee. The iPad version of this cover, due to the larger screen estate, can accidentally pick up some air if you rub it on too fast. The supplied squeegee did an excellent job of popping the air bubbles to the sides to be released.

On the negative side, except the fact that the protector has a really nice rough feeling to it, this rougher surface brings a certain matte/crystalized overlay with it. This won’t matter much when reading emails and so on, but once you start watching movies or photos it really degrades their luster a fair bit. Yet it’s still one of the best protectors I’ve tested to date when it comes to avoiding fingerprints.

• Anti-Fingerprint Screen Protector for iPad

Ipad version

Manufactured by S-View (South Korea) is a similar protector like the one from TuneWear; yet with a very peculiar difference. This foil has an incredible silky feeling and makes it feel like stroking a matte Macbook pro screen.  But… there is one thing that makes this cover a no-buy for us: the application.

Though they all are categorized as screen protectors, they all apply differently. And this one is a particular pain in your a-double-s. Applying it (even with the squeegee constantly pushing out the bubbles) was almost impossible to do without leaving some tiny bubbles behind. Even re-applying it didn’t help the cause. If you’re like us, who don’t want to spend 30 minutes applying a bubble free cover, you probably wont like this product.

Something to protect your phone

• TUNEFOLIO for iPhone 4S/4 Book Type Leather Case

Iphone version

If you are into book type iPhone cases you’ll definitely love this one. It comes in synthetic leather in both black, white and sand color. The synthetic leather looks fairly genuine and will be liked by vegetarians as it leaves one more cow alive.

Another great thing about this book system is that you can put your credit card in the sleeve, making it an interesting idea when you go running or activities where an extra wallet is just too much of a bother. This cover comes also in a flip-type edition, for those of you who prefer that.

• Waterproof Bicycle mount for iPhone / iPod / Smartphone

Iphone version

Bicycles, a fantastic invention for the non-lazy going to work, to be used recreational or for competition purposes. When it came to mounting systems for phones, there weren’t many around till recently. We got hands on a model manufactured by TuneWear (Japan) which showed remarkable potential to enhance your riding experience.

The cover comes in a synthetic (rubber feeling) fabric. The front is made from a clear high durable foil. Particularly noteworthy that iPhone (and other smartphones) are still fully responsive after touching the screen when inside the bicycle housing. We tested this with an iPhone who had a screen protector applied to it, and even with this applied the housing still was very touch responsive. Oh, and it is weather sealed, rain and dirt proof…  just don’t go diving with it.

Something to charge on

• Super Mobile Power Pack w 2 USB Power Sockets for iPhone/iPad/ Cellphone

Charge pack here

A mobile power pack, not something we tried before. This pack can hold up to 6000mAh, enough for nearly 3 full iPhone recharges. It comes with a retractable USB2 to Mini-USB2 cable. There are a bunch of conversion plugs in the box to allow various phones from different manufacturers to be recharged. It features both 1 and 2A 5V outputs. Recharging this unit can be done with the same retractable cable on power socket or PC/Notebook USB ports. It’s weight is about the same as an iPhone, so definitely something handy for the travel bag to assure you’ll never unexpectedly run out of juice.

• Universal Cradle for iPhone / iPod with USB Hub

Cradle here

Cradles, lovely pieces of hardware having the advantage you just can pop in your iPhone/iPod or even iPad to charge on. Most cradles only distinct difference with Apple’s white cable by the fact that they keep your phone upright and are just easier to use.

This particular model pushes the bar on expandability. You get 3 additional USB ports and 1 audio output next to the standard Apple connector.  This allows you to attach a keyboard, mouse, flash memory and external audio systems (music output of your i-device will be routed to that port). This last part might come with a negative side, since your iPhone/Pod’s internal speaker becomes disabled.

We mentioned it also accepts iPads, it does, but we wouldn’t recommend you using it for iPad as the weight of the iPad will make the cradle collapse.

Conclusion

Well there isn’t much to add to the products featured here, all have their particular use. We recommend you to check out USBFever’s website if you are looking for something special to enhance your iPhone, iPod, iPad or smartphone experience.