techsmart 84, sept 2010, tech outdoors issue

ISSUE 84 September 2010

smart ®

ISSN 1726–3358FREE!

TECH OUTDOORS ISSUE

HP and the Science of Ink

TECH FIT

Nokia N8 Toshiba Satellite T110

Gadgets to get youback in shape

Nokia N8Nokia’s saviour?

SA’s LARGEST TECH MAGAZINE www.techsmart.co.za

Garmin FR60

PROTECTING YOUR DATA011-803-6635 l www.maxtec.co.za

United under Tech

There’s a famous NewYorker cartoon where one

dog tells another “On the Internet, nobody knowsyou’re a dog”. This speaks notonly of the cloak of anonymitythe internet provides, but alsoof the fact that on the neteveryone is equal.

I am seeing via the comments posted by users ofwww.techsmart.co.za andon our Facebook page, thatwhen it comes to tech South

Africans are nicely united. We are getting just as many comments from our black readers as from our white ones,and here the discourse is not about things that differentiatesus, but rather that which unites us. Such as the high priceswe’re paying for Apple products, if a new smartphone is reallythat good or whether a notebook is overpriced or not.

While certain political elements are doing their utmost topolarise the country, it’s pretty clear to me that we are morealike than not.

Woof woof, Mike Joubert <[email protected]>

4 EDITORIAL

Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. No material, text or photo graphsmay be reproduced, copied or in any other way transmitted without thewritten consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are not necessarilythose of the publisher or of the editor. We recognise all trademarks andlogos as the sole property of their respective owners. TechSmart shall notbe liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon. All priceswere correct at time of going to print.

CONTENTS

Feature14 The science of HP ink15 Tech to get you into shape

Regulars6 Feedback8 Tech News 9 Sci News22 TechSmart Poll24 Web Time Wasters

Mobiles10 Sony Ericsson Vivaz pro 11 Nokia N8

PC Hardware12 Toshiba Satellite T11012 ASUS CineVibe gaming headset

Gadgets20 Premiumsun Media Player

MP880922 3M Pocket Projector MPro 15022 Solar Flashlight

Internet16 Edimax AR-7266 WnA wireless

router16 EnGenius M35 multi-function AP18 NetComm MyZone Pocket3G

Router

Business16 TalkSwitch TS-350i business phone16 TalkSwitch TS-550i business phone20 Toshiba e-Studio 2330c

Gaming30 Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Competitions and Give-aways6 Lexmark INTERACT 3-in-1 Printer

TechSmart 84

Editor TechSmart & TechSmart.co.zaMike Joubert > [email protected] manager George Grobler > 083-460-0402Print media managerSuzanne Grobler > [email protected]: Sales managerAnneke Kirchner > [email protected] designer Brett Wilson Contributors Tom Manners [TM] Mike Joubert [MJ], Hanleigh Daniels [HD],Johan Keyter [JK], Linda Pretorius [LP], Accounts & subscriptionsRonel Keet > [email protected] van Vuuren > [email protected] smart

Published by

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distribution

Distributed by

98 513 copies per month

Consumer: SciTech[Oct – Dec 2009]

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techsmart.co.za l September 2010

Your Letters, Comments and User replies6 FEEDBACK

Give usyourfeedbackon anyof thearticles by emailing us [email protected] orleave comments on ourwebsite or Facebook page.

The Feedback of the Monthwins the incredible LexmarkINTERACT 3-in-1 printer,scanner and copier withtouch-screen. It includespaper saving Eco Mode anda three-year guarantee withlifetime phone support.

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!!! Comment on the news and reviews on TechSmart.co.zaor our Facebook and Twitter pages and you might win the incredible Lexmark INTERACT 3-in-1printer, scanner and copier with touch-screen.

Comment on the Italian organisationthat lashed out at video game Mafia IIfor being “racist nonsense that perpetuates stereotypes of Italian Americans as violent, murderous mobsters.” (http://tiny.cc/mafiamario)

TechSmart.co.za user “Stupid people”says: [They need] to understand that it’snot games that make people violent andmake them believe certain things aboutother people. Games are fantasy unless otherwise stated.

We received a number of comments onour South African Apple pricing comparison (http://tiny.cc/bw5c7)

Ofentse Sello says: I love Apple products,they look great and work wonderfully, butevery time I see the price tags, I get turnedoff and I look at a similar products on the

market. They really should consider droppingthe prices.

PCKILLEDTHEMAC says: If you know whoto buy from on Ebay you can save at leastR2000 on a Macbook, and that is AFTER paying 14% VAT to customs... go figure.

Comment on the Apple iPad 16 GB Wi-Fi(http://tiny.cc/qytao)

WVD says: This is an awesome device, Ihave the 64 GB 3G one. For web browsing andemail it works great and there are thousandsof apps/games available. I think my five yearold son enjoys it even more than I do.

Comment on the 29th birthday of the PC(http://tiny.cc/eydqg)

Tshilidzi Oscar says:This must have been eye-candy in its timeand it still looks good even today. Thanks toIBM for introducing such a useful tool that intoday’s life is so hard to live without. Happy29th.

Hi SP. We are quite sure that gamers can distinguish between that which is presentedin-game and real-life, since it is not commonly believed that all Italians are potbellied plumbers called Mario. Enjoy the Lexmark INTERACT 3-in-1. Mike

FEEDBACK FROM THE NET

PRINT LESS SAVE MORE

Use print previewto avoid layoutmistakes andreprints due to

small errors8

Tips from Lexmark for those of us looking toimprove our printing practices, for the benefitof the environment.

TECHSMART FEEDBACKDid you know? 1 in 6 pagesprinted in the workplace arenever used!

Let’s protect the planet together.Let’s stop printing waste!

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BlackBerry Torch

BlackBerry’s problemsovershadowed some

major announcements fromthe company, including thedébut of their new BlackBerry 6 OS, updatesto App World, and a 3G version of the popularCurve 3G. The limelight

Facebook: http://tiny.cc/TSFB l Twitter: @TechSmartMag

TECH NEWS8 Titbits

people demand from all computing experiences.”

Processing on the up

Mobile devices such as smartphones,netbooks and tablets are set to get

faster with announcements from bothQualcomm and Intel in regards toprocessors. Qualcomm will be shippingtheir dual-core QSD8672 SnapdragonCPU, running at an impressive 1.5 GHz,later this year, while rival Intel announced upcoming Atom processorsoptimised for networked storage appliances, which include the 1.8 GHzD425 single-core and D525 dual-coreprocessors.

was stolen however by their Torch 9800which features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard as well as a 3.2" capacitivetouch-screen. Read about our hands-onwith the Torch here:http://tiny.cc/s3ite.

Dell Streak

Fitting somewhere between a largesmartphone and a small tablet PC, the

Dell Streak was recently launched in theUS. The Streak has a small 5" screen,and does not seemlikely to troubleApple’s iPad except for thefact that itcan alsomake callsand send text messages.

Star Wars Destined for HD

In good news forgeeks every-

where, the StarWars series is destined for Blu-raydisk, bringing HD qualityto a galaxy near you soon. Currentlythere has been no official confirmationon pricing or release date.

FOLLOW US

RIM services almost banned

It was a tumultuous month for Canadian company RIM,

manufacturers of BlackBerry, with SaudiArabia and the United Arab Emiratesthreatening to ban certain BlackBerryservices including email, Messenger andweb browsing. The basis for the disputeis that the countries were unable to monitor information sent before the datais rerouted to a RIM server in the UnitedKingdom. With India also talking about aban RIM eventually relented, announcingthat it will allow authorities to monitorencrypted messages on its networks.

Intel buys McAfee

In one of the biggest tech purchases ofthe year Intel Corporation, the world’s

largest manufacturer of semiconductors,have bough digital security companyMcAfee, Inc for a cool $7.68 billion. PaulOtellini, Intel president and CEO, explains their purchase: “In the past, energy-efficient performance and connectivity have defined computing requirements. Looking forward, securitywill join those as a third pillar of what

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Titbits SCI NEWS 9

Leapfrog

For some frogsjumping is no

joy. Scientists report in a recentissue of the journal, Natur-wissenschaften,that evolutionaryprimitive frogsbelly flop when

they land, rather than landing deftly onthe front legs as more advanced frogsdo. Video footage showed that althoughthe launch actions are similar the moreprimitive species don’t pull in their hindlegs in mid-air and then extend theirfront legs as landing gear. The resultssuggest that stretching out the hindlegs may have developed first duringthe evolution of frog jumping, withlanding on the front legs being a later refinement. The ability to land on thefront legs may have helped frogs tojump further more comfortably and soimproved their mobility and foragingsuccess on land.

• Artificial meat – will you eat it?http://tinyurl.com/artmeatismurder

• The science behind better bodybuilding. http://tinyurl.com/mybodyisatemple

Break out the bubbly

There’s more toenjoying

champagne thanjust uncorking abottle with abang. Accordingto a report in arecent issue ofthe Journal ofAgricultural andFood Chemistry itall comes downto pouring style.The fizz of

champagne comes from large amountsof dissolved carbon dioxide gas beingreleased upon opening the bottle, whichhelp to transfer the taste, flavour andmouth-feel of the champagne. Scientistscompared the fizziness of champagnewhen poured straight down the middleof a glass or down the side of a tiltedglass. Results showed that the champagne poured down the tilted glasscontained twice as much fizz as that inthe other glass, possibly because pouring down the side is a gentlermethod. Cheers! [LP]

A burning issue

Although eatingchillies will set

your mouth onfire, it probablywon’t leave youhot under the collar. Quite theopposite actually.According to a report in a recentissue of Cell Metabolism, capsaicin (thecompound that

gives chillies their sting) lowered theblood pressure of hypertensive rats. The relaxing effect on blood vessels may bedue to capsaicin activating a receptor inthe vessels’ lining that causes nitricoxide to be produced. Nitric oxide canprotect blood vessels against inflammation and dysfunction. Althoughthe effects still have to be confirmedclinically in humans, Chinese who regularly eat chilly-spiced foods seem tosuffer less from high blood pressurethan those whose diets do not includeregular chilly dishes. Hot stuff. OTHER COOL READS

• Devices to port thoughts into digitalmemory. http://tinyurl.com/mybraininflash

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MOBILES Smartphones10

Sony Ericsson Vivaz pro

StylishSymbian-poweredsliderSony Ericsson’s (SE) Vivazpro might be using a past-its-prime Symbian S60 opera�ng system, but itboasts some fantas�c features and a stylish design.

Camera and HD-ready recording

Using its 5.1 megapixel camera featuring auto-focus, LEDflash, geo-tagging and image stabiliser, the phone captures

excellent images. Besides the good quality stills, the Vivaz prorecords 720p video at 24 fps with continuous auto-focus and avideo light for darker conditions. These videos look great whenrecorded in normal light, but can be a little grainy when lightconditions aren’t optimal.

Grip-friendly designThe Vivaz pro fits neatly in your hand due to its stylishly curvedback cover. It is compact measuring 109 x 52 x 15 mm andweighing a mere 117 g, but it still does not beat the miniaturesize of the X10 mini pro. This device’s slide-out QWERTY keyboard is easy and convenient to use, although we prefer theraised keys on the Nokia N97 mini’s keyboard. Images andvideos display vividly on the phone’s 3.2" TFT resistive touch-screen (360 x 640 pixels), but it’s a bit of a fingerprint magnet.The one design aspect we didn’t like is the power button positioned at the back of the phone, making it awkward toswitch the phone on or off.

Symbian S60SE has done an admirable job with S60, as the phone is easyto use, albeit with some noticeable lag once in a while, eventhough it boasts a 720 MHz Cortex A8 processor. There are fivehome-screens for favourite contacts, Twitter app, animationscreen (featuring an accelerometer-enabled wave graphic),camera gallery and shortcuts. Only the latter is customisable, allowing you to put in shortcuts to apps.

Other featuresOnboard you’ll also find Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, high-speed HSDPA connectivity, stereo FM radio with RDS, a GPS and microSDsupport for cards up to 16 GB, with an appreciated 8 GB cardincluded. We did not like using the phone’s browser since thescreen size isn’t well optimised for webpages, meaning a lot ofscrolling.

ConclusionSE’s Vivaz pro offers users a grip-friendly design, auto-focus720p video recording and great photo capturing, but wewould’ve loved to have seen Android running the OS show. Westill recommend the Samsung Wave as the best mid-rangesmartphone. The Vivaz pro carries a RRP of R4299. [HD] U

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Nokia N8 Preview

11MOBILES

Back in charge?

Smartphones

In order to address this, the companyhas revamped its ageing OS and is

launching the N8 which it hopes willrocket the Nokia label forward into thepublic consciousness once again.

FeaturesThe N8 is certainly not lacking in features. It sports 16 GB of onboard storage, a 680 MHz ARM processor withan additional 3D graphics accelerator andA-GPS support with Ovi Maps and a 3.5"AMOLED capacitive touch-screen. All thiswhile incorporating HSDPA, Wi-Fi andBluetooth 3.0 options.

Where the N8 really stands out is itscamera and video functionality. It features a 12 megapixel Carl Zeiss opticscamera with auto-focus, plus video capture at 720p at 25 frames per second

(fps). Nokia also included a very handymicro USB to USB and a HDMI to miniHDMI adapter. Both these adapters alongwith a car charger ship in the box.

Symbian S^3So does Nokia’s new Symbian S^3 OS dothe job? In terms of the basic interface,users are given three scrollable home

screens to choose from. Each of thesecan be populated with up to six widgetsper screen. This however is nothing newand really just introduces run of the millsmartphone technology to the Nokiabrand. It also sports Twitter and Facebook integration with contacts viathe company’s Ovi platform and a beautiful music and video interface;overall it is well constructed and attractive.

Our harshest criticism towards theS^3 platform is that it is almost exactlythe same in terms of design to SymbianS60. While Nokia may argue that it didn’twant to depart too strongly from what itscustomers are used to, we argue thatthis is exactly what the company shouldhave done. The simple fact that themenu structure and even the fonts remain unchanged, which made for avery disappointed TechSmart crew.

ConclusionAlthough we’d love to say the N8 andSymbian S^3 will rescue Nokia’s dreamsof smartphone market domination, theunfortunate reality is that Nokia didn’ttake a chance when it should have, whattheir smartphone needed was a desperately daring offering from the company, not a safe bet.

Nonetheless, at R5500 it is very competitive in terms of overall featuresand will surely be a hit amongst Nokiafans. [TM]

The smartphone market is an aggressive one; several years agoFinnish mobile manufacturer Nokiawas at the top of the pile with its lucra�ve Symbian S60 based E Series and N Series ranges, but recently they seem to struggle inthe smartphone department.

> 50 m

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drives are included with the machine,something which may not sit well withsome users.

The 11.6" 1366 x 768 display isclear and bright in normal conditionsbut when using the device outside theglare can become a little annoying. Wewere sorely disappointed by the HDmovie playback on the T110, experiencing noticeable lag duringplayback.

The T110 comes preloaded with the Windows 7 Home Premium OS, in either a 32-bit or 64-bit configuration.

ConclusionThe Toshiba Satellite T110 is the perfect device for the frequent travellerlooking for a compact “almost-netbook”sized notebook.

With a recommended retail price ofabout R5499 it proved itself to be aforce to be reckoned with, although ifyou’re serious about performance youmight want to look a little furtherafield. [JK]

PC HARDWARE12

Toshiba Satellite T110 The T110 stakes its claim in the market as being the size of a

netbook with the specs of a notebook.This is true to an extent, but the machine couldn’t always stand up toscrutiny on the technical side. So don’texpect gaming and high definition playback, but for all other purposes theT110 offers a stellar package.

SizeThe T110 barely tips the scales at acarry-friendly 1.76 kg with measurements of 286 x 211 x 24.9mm. A sturdy design makes it easy tobe carried around in a backpack dayafter day. The keyboard, touchpad and

palm-rest areas are comfortable and responsive.

Battery lifeThe device’s 6-cell Lithium-ion

battery performed very well and lastedmore than 10 hours when left standingwith the energy savings settings turnedon. With WLAN and an internet browseropen, the T110 lasted for an impressive7 hours and 45 minutes.

FeaturesUnder the hood you’ll find an Intel Pentium SU2700 CPU running at 1.3GHz, 2 GB DDR3 RAM (upgradable to 4GB), a 250 GB 5400 rpm HDD (500 GBalso available) and an Intel GMA 4500onboard GPU. Unfortunately no optical

Notebooks l Peripherals

September 2010 l techsmart.co.za

mic moves on a swivel arm allowingusers to move it out of the way whenneeded, making it easier to transport toLANs. The earpieces also swivel 90° degrees allowing flat storage of the device. The mic itself features directional voice cancelling technologyallowing clear and crisp voice commandsto be issued while in-game.

The cushions are reasonably comfortable but the headset itself is abit on the heavy side and pressesagainst the ears which may cause discomfort after long hours of gaming.It’s bundled with a 1.5 m long cable allowing the headset to be used withany kind of desktop configuration. Theheadset is available in white and blackcolouring and the overall build quality isgood but not as solid as some of thelarger gaming headsets.

Final thoughtsThe sound of the headset, while verygood, edges short of being spectacularbut the low frequency transformationdoes aid it somewhat. The rumble feedback is a nice addition and all-in-allthe Cinevibe stakes a good if not amazing initial claim for ASUS in theheadset market. For more informationcontact Jack Chen on 083-393-6788.[JK]

Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS hasentered the audio entertainmentsegment and if their notebooks areanything to go by, it’ll be a goodidea to keep an eye on the ASUSCineVibe gaming headset.

ASUS CineVibe gaming headset

Feelingthe beat

The CineVibe gaming headset introduces rumble feedback,

something which has been seen in similar devices for some time. But theCineVibe’s vibration settings doesn’t

work on a force feedback system, instead it is tuned to interact with lowfrequency sounds. With a force feedback system audio elements inthe games, such as gunshots orpunches, trigger the vibration function. But the rumble settings onthe CineVibe aren’t strictly game related, they’ll work in any situation.We tested this and to our delight, the

rumble feedback responded perfectlyeven when playing music.

Plug and playThe plug and play headset requires noextra software installation and workedwithout problems. This can be seen asboth a good and bad thing as some userswill find this feature useful for savingtime, although some gamers would prefer to have customisable software forunique settings.

Features and comfortThe headset features in-line volume andmic control for adjusting settings on thefly, the in-line controller is sturdy and thebuttons are responsive and large. The

Quick Specs

• Thin-and-light• 11.6" HD TFT LED screen• Intel Pentium SU2700 CPU @ 1.3 GHz• 2 GB RAM• 250 GB hard disk• Intel GMA 4500 GPU

Who says sizedoesn’t matter?

The Toshiba Satellite T110 is blurringthe line between netbooks and notebooks, offering users a compactand reasonably powerful machine ina single package. With its appealingdesign and beau�ful metallic redpaint job, the T1110 is a looker aswell as the perfect companion for the always-on-the-go individual.

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Cups of coffee might have sustained many ideas, but it’s thecoffee percolator that’s responsible for thermal ink-jet

printing. In 1979 HP researcher John Vaught stared at waterhissing off his percolator and wondered if the same principlecannot be applied to printing – using thermal energy to get inkonto paper. The idea for the thermal inkjet printer was born.

What happens when you print?In today’s inkjet printing world, the process behind getting inkto paper is truly amazing. When you click “Print” ink inside afiring chamber located on the printhead is heated up to 300°Celsius. This heated ink shoots through the microscopic nozzle,1/3 the width of a human hair, and with speed of about 50km/h hits the printing paper below. To do this accurately canbe compared to dropping a grape from a 30-story building intoa bucket on a moving pavement below. The fact that modernprinters does this at over 30 million ink drops per secondmakes it a mind-blowing achievement.

Why original cartridges?With the fine detail involved when printing, it is understandablethat manufacturers like HP insist that only original cartridgesare used to ensure quality and reliability. HP claims that impurities in the ink reservoir as small as 0.001% can clogprint heads. Furthermore a recently conducted survey fromQualityLogic revealed that more than 15% of all tested refilledink cartridges streaked or failed. Another survey found that45% of HP owners that have used non-original ink cartridgeshad a negative experience. Apart from this, HP original cartridges deliver 34% more pages than refilled cartridges.

Better valueWhile it might be true that refilled cartridges can cost considerably less than originals, we are seeing a drop in inkprices. HP is offering savings in the form of their high yield cartridges, marked with an XL, that provides more ink at abetter price than smaller ones. Multi and combo ink packs alsooffer savings of up to 20%, while photo value packs that combine ink with photo paper cuts the costs associated withbuying these separately.

While we’re not quite convinced that ink isn’t overpriced, itdoes seem that there are some viable reasons to stick withoriginal cartridges. [MJ]

FEATURE14


While the high cost of original ink cartridges mightnot sit well with many users, there’s more to printingthan meets the eye. On a recent trip to HP’s DublinInkjet Manufacturing Operation in Ireland, TechSmartlearnt a lot more about the science of ink.

Printing

THE SCIENCE OF HP INK –

What are your thoughts on ink? Mail [email protected].

WHAT HAPPENS WHENYOU HIT “PRINT”

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TECH TO GET YOU INTO SHAPE

adidas miCoach appadidas’ miCoach app foriPhone and BlackBerrydevices will help youachieve your athleticgoals via real-time voicecoaching, while alsotracking your distanceand pace via GPS, calculating caloriesburned and recordingyour time. With a wholehost of training

programmes online, you’ll find one to suityour goal, whether that is to not lookcompletely out of sorts at your company’sannual 5 km fun-run ormanaging a sub-threehour marathon.

Garmin FR60sports watchUnlike some of theGarmin’s Fore run-ner sports watches,their FR60 is smalland light with a stylishdesign. This is mainly dueto the fact that it does not include a GPS,

Outdoors FEATURE 15

Too much Xbox makes Jack a plump boy, and with winter almost behind usTechSmart has compiled some of the best tech to get you back into shape,or there about at least.

rather just opting to hook up with a heartrate sensor and a foot pod to track your distance and pace. All data is stored onthe watch and can be downloaded wirelessly to your PC to keep a digitaldiary of your performance. The FR60watch with heart rate sensor and foot podretails for about R2000.

Oregon ScientificPedometer withPulse MeterMaybe not bestsuited for ahigh speed runbut more for acomfortable walk,Oregon Scientific’s Pedometer not only tracksyour steps and distance walked, but byplacing your finger on the sensor alsotakes your blood pressure plus monitorscalories burned. It goes for R298. Phone021-508-4700 for more info.

Sennheiser sport headphonesJogging with regular in-ear headphonesis entertaining for about 10 steps beforethey pop out. The Sennheiser/adidas

PMX 680i sportsheadset containsan ergonomic neckband that secures the headphonesin your ear almost nullifying movement whilejogging or gyming.

Nike+The Nike+ system is by far themost popular sports tracking systemworld wide, with more than a massive432 000 000 kilos logged by athletesusing it. By employinga sensor that canbe placed insideNike+ shoes, thesystem tracks your distance and pacewhile displaying it ona Nike Sportband thatcan be worn on the wrist. Partof this reason for the popularity of Nike+is that the system can also integratewith iPhones and certain iPods to helpyou track your distance in real-time,while using iTunes to keep a history ofyour runs.

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ho use Google as their preferred search engine.

One of the leading providers ofphone systems for small

and multi-location businesses, TalkSwitch has sold over 37 000 systems worldwideand remains a good bet for business centered communication solutions.The TS-350i phone comesbundled with the TalkSwitch ManagementSoftware version 6.12, which gives users the ease of use of anew line optimisation tool as well as an automatic Voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP) service provider configuration.

The phone features six bright programmable multicolouredLED keys for one-touch access to lines, extensions, queues andfeatures. The phone also sports crystal-clear sound and a fullduplex speakerphone as well as dedicated headset support. Thedevice can be integrated with any TalkSwitch phone systemrunning version 6.12 or higher of the TalkSwitch software.Caller ID display, a phonebook with unique ringtone assignment, conference calling features and support for 80 twodigit speed dial entries completes the TS-350i package.

Available for R1620, for more info contact Miro distribution.

The device supports a highdata transmition rate

allowing it to play the varied rolesit was designed for, such as AccessPoint, Client Bridge, Repeater, WDS AP,WDS Bridge, Client Router, AP router andMesh router. Enabled with 802.11b/g wireless capabilities andMesh and NMS support it operates perfectly in the 2.4 GHz frequency. Support for different output power level settings,bandwidth selection and RSSI indicators enables the best transmitting and receiving of signals for traffic communications.

The device can easily be used to establish a mesh network,eliminating the need for expensive equipment. And if you needmore stringent security the M35 can encrypt all wireless transmissions through WEP data encryption. Ease of use is alsoon the M35’s agenda, the MAC address filter lets users selectany stations that should have access to their network while theUser isolation function can protect users on a private networfrom unauthorised access.

It retails for R1333, for more info contact Miro distribution.

This Edimax is equipped with 300 Mbps wireless 802.11b/g/n and

provides a full rate of ADSL2+connectivity. The device isfully compliant with 802.11n,the next generation standardof wireless transmission. Advanced multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology provides the routerwith up to nine times betterdata transmission rate andfive times the coverage of anormal 802.11g/b router.

The device offers a myriad of features. Wi-FiProtected Setup (WPS) allows users to secure their wireless network with the push of abutton, simply press the WPS button and your network securitywill be setup in moments. ADSL broadband connection sharingallows you to share a single line between various users (253users max), on both wired and wireless networks.


All-in-one access Edimax AR-7266 WnA wireless router

Staying on the gridThe Edimax AR-7266 is a high quality wireless router providing full ADSL2+ compa�bility along with superiorreliability all in an affordable and easy-to-use package.

This owner-friendly phone will give customers added choice,features and functionality and also

comes bundled with version 6.12 of theTalkSwitch Management Software. TheTS-550i IP phone is aimed at the premium business market and willoffer power-users (those that workat large companies making lots ofcalls), 22 appearance keys aswell as advanced expansionand connection options inthe form of the TS-50e expansion module. Thismodule, which is easily installed via two included screws, adds another 12 appearancekeys, with a maximum of up to 46 different keys (recipients).

Like its little brother, it offers a phonebook and caller IDamong other features as well as a clear 4-line backlit LCD display. There is also an optional Bluetooth attachment availablewhich will add impressive wireless capabilities to the phone.With new management software, simplified VoIP service configuration and a best-in-class audio rating, customers willwant to hear a whole lot more about the new TalkSwitch phones.


TalkSwitch TS-550i

One-touch caller

The EnGenius M35 wireless accesspoint (AP) is a powerful product which supports seven mul�- func�onalways in which it can operatebased on its current working environment.

Miro distribution16 BUYERS GUIDE


EnGenius M35 multi-function AP

The big brother of the TS-350i, the TalkSwitch TS-550i incorporates the same outstanding business func�onality, with lots of extras to beef up the offering.

TalkSwitch TS-350i

Office WarriorThe TalkSwitch TS-350i is an easy-to-use business phonewith enough features to turn it into the perfect workhorse for any office environment.

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MyZone Mobile 3G Wifi RouterThe Business class champion

If you have a mobile broadband SIM card, the MyZone is the perfect companion. It is justslightly bigger than a credit card and fits in yourpocket. Slip your SIM card into the MyZone,and you are instantly connected. The MyZone willconnect to the Internet using NetComm’sconvenient SmartConnect Technology.

Wacom Bamboo Pen & TouchWith the new Bamboo, Wacom is introducing thefirst tablet combining multi-touch functionality andpen tablet technology in a single device. The result:a totally new, simple and inspiring way to work withcomputers, for example, a simple tap of the fingerwill select an icon or open a menu. With two fingersyou can easily flip through a presentation or scrolland zoom through a blog, websites or photos.

extremely easy. Users are simply requiredto insert their SIM card into the router,turn the device on using the slider powerswitch, scan for wireless devices on a relevant device (notebook, smartphone)and connect to the MyZone using ’password’ as the initial password. Thiscan however be changed at a later stageto allow for greater security.

Like all routers, the MyZone has an administration portal which can bereached by typing an IP address(192.168.10.50) into your browser. Fromhere a user can change password information, alter wireless settings andset up additional security protocols. It’s avery friendly user interface which madechanging settings a breeze.

OnboardThe device features UMTS, HSPA, HSUPA5.76 Mbps, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g support. It is also compatible withboth Mac and Windows operating systems.

The MyZone also ships with a USBtethering cable which can be used tocharge the router on the go directly fromyour PC, a quick start guide and a poweradaptor.

Overall, the MyZone pocket 3G routeris a solid offering and certainly provesthat dynamite comes in small packages.

Available from Navix on 087-820-7220. Recommended RetailSelling Price R1999. [TM]

INTERNET18

In countries with low fixed line penetration rates, such as South Africa,

portable 3G routers are often the answerfor broadband users who wish to attachmore than one device to a single connection.

More often than not, local broadbandusers primarily access the internet bymeans of wireless 3G interfaces providedfor by South African mobile operatorssuch as Vodacom and MTN. In such situations, a new wave of portable 3Grouters offer the most simple solution.

Great sizeAlthough we’ve had the benefit to reviewseveral of these units, NetComm’s MyZone pocket 3G router certainly standsout for a number of reasons.

This pocket 3G router’s strongest benefit is its size. Measuring in at just 97x 80.6 x 9 mm it is little bigger than a business card and would fit comfortablyinto any notebook bag or suit pocket.Weighing in at just 75 g it is also the lightest 3G router we’ve ever encountered, which makes it perfect forusage on the road.

For this reason, we believe the MyZonewould be most beneficial to the travellingexecutive who needs to connect severaldevices on the go but can not always besure of access to ADSL Wi-Fi.

Getting startedPreparing the device for usage is also

NetComm MyZone Pocket3G Router

Dynamitecomes in smallpackages

3G Routers

NetComm’s portable 3G router offering is certainly one of the bestwe’ve had the pleasure to encounter,making it easy to wirelessly connectPCs to the internet via SIM card.

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GADGETS Gizmos BUSINESS Copiers20

This compact (24 x 143 x96 mm) media player

is easy to usethanks to itsstraight-forwarduser interface, featuring big iconsfor music, pictures andvideo. A remote control isincluded in the box as well. Thedevice doesn’t offer on-board storage, but is compatible with a varietyof storage types including SD cards,MMC cards, Memory Stick Duo cards andUSB 2.0 devices such as portable harddrives.

It supports many video file types including Mpeg, VCD,DIVX, XVID and AVI, whilst also supporting both JPEG andBMP for images and MP3, AAC as well as WMA audio files. HDcontent playback isn’t offered as playback is limited to lowerresolutions of 480i/p and 576i/p, so if you have XVID files(which the player supports) that are HD Blu-ray rips, they willnot play.

Premiumsun isn’t a household name locally, but at an affordable R604 from Timeline Computer on 011-791-2468,this device should have its audience.

Premiumsun Media Player MP8809

Media on the go

Acolour touch-screen, with easy-to-use picture based

menus makes using the2330c a breeze. It featuresan 80 GB HDD and 1 GB ofDDR RAM allowing it to scanat an amazing 57 pages perminute.

The device is fully networkable, meaning it’s

accessible from all PCs on thesame network. This allowsusers to access the device

through a web browser interface and checkthe status of the device, arrange files or check toner and paperavailability without ever leaving their chairs.

It also supports user accounts and a private print functionallowing the printing of sensitive documents without having toworry about them lying in the feeder for all to see.

This all-in-one device sports the features of higher-endmodels minus the price tag and should make a welcome addition to any office environment.

The e-Studio 2330c is available for R1490 (excl VAT) permonth. For more info contact Jayson on 011-796-4889 or 082-557-6490. Alternatively email him [email protected].

Premiumsun’s Media Player MP8809 allows you to playthe media (music, movies and photos), stored on yourportable storage devices, via your TV.

The copier that does it allToshiba e-Studio 2330c

The Toshiba e-Studio 2330c is an impressive new all-in-one photo copier that can print colour and blackand white pages at a blazing 23 copies per minute.

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Solar flashlights have been around for a while, and these oftenforgotten pieces of technology can be the perfect tool

when heading out camping. This specific solar flashlight from Cameratron features a 5.5 v/ 90 mA solar panel and utilises 28LED lights to provide it with a verybright beam of light. It can alsobe used to charge your mobiledevices on the go via a USB cableand a number of adapters. Available from Cameratron (011-622-0556) for R180.

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Is that a projector inyour pocket?3M’s Pocket Projector MPro 150 brags with both size and

features, and as the name implies, it’s small enough to fit inyour pocket. But the 3M MPro 150 has much more than sizegoing for it, the device sports an interchangeable MicroSD card(2 GB included in the box), 1 GB internal memory and integrated speakers, meaning you can store and play your presentation quickly anytime, anywhere without the need for aPC.

The device is also very compatible, able to work with a standard PC/notebook, digital camera or DVD player. It supportsa wide range of software including the entire Microsoft Officesuite, Adobe PDF and loads of music and movie files. Although ahandy machine to have, its 15 lumen picture on a ‘screen’ sizeof up to 50" might not provide the brightness you’re looking forsince it needs to operate in almost complete darkness withoutany ambient light. It comes included with a tripod to help thissmall device balance. It retails for R4195 including VAT and isavailable from www.webantics.co.za.

3M Pocket Projector MPro 150

1. Sumo Paintwww.sumopaint.com

Always wanted to create some digitalart but did not have the money for

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2. ZooBornswww.zooborns.com

This site will make even Chuck Norrisgo “aaah cute” after ogling pics of

all the newest baby animal additions tozoos and aquariums throughout theglobe. You can browse the site for aparticular animal, as they are listed alphabetically on the left side of thehomepage or you can type in a name ofan animal in the search bar.

3. The Universal Packing Listwww.upl.codeq.info

Why is it that you always rememberthat extremely important item you

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4. The Subservient Chickenwww.tinyurl.com/ youareachicken bra

Subservient Chicken has to be oneof the most peculiar sites on the

internet. Featuring a man in a chickensuit performing actions based on user’sinput. User’s are invited to submit textbased commands via a box at the bottom of the video feed. It’s then timeto sit back and enjoy the antics.

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Snake slitherssneakily backonto the PSP

Story

Snake and his military version of Doctors Without Borders, known as

Militaires Sans Frontieres (under which soldiers have no national allegiance andcan be hired by anyone), are hired to goto Costa Rica to investigate reports of anarmy that has been brought into Central

America by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It’s herewhere things take a turn for the worst.

PresentationThe in-depth storyline is complemented greatly by the excellent cut scenes that occasionally let you catch your breathin between all the stealthy action.

A lot of these comic book styled sequences are also interactive, whereby you need to press a button quickly or repeatedly to perform an action like zooming your gaze onto acharacter or firing a rocket launcher at a flying mechanisedrobot. The sequence will restart if you make a mistake, untilyou hit the correct button at the correct moment.

For a PSP title the graphics look amazing with detailed environments, good effects such as explosions and good character models. The voice acting is also top notch and helpsto make the story more appealing.

ControlsAt the start the control system takes some getting used to asyou have to control the character’s movements, actions as wellas the in-game camera angle. This can become a bit hectic incertain situations, such as when a horde of enemies descendupon your location. Trying to run away while firing in theenemy’s general direction and finding the right camera angle soyou can see where you’re going, is about as challenging as trying to beat the All-Blacks with 14 men.

The deeper you get into the game the less of a hassle thecontrol system becomes, plus there are a few configuration options to assist in finding one that suits you best. You can alsoswitch between these at any point.

ConclusionIf you’ve always been and MGS fan, then this instalment won’tdisappoint with its top notch plot, voice acting, graphics and interactive comic inspired cut sequences. Those new to the series will be left hooked, hotly anticipating the next KojimaProductions release. [HD]

The Metal Gear Solid franchise returns to the PlaySta�on Portable(PSP) with a bang courtesy of MetalGear Solid: Peace Walker.

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techsmart 84, sept 2010, tech outdoors issue

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