scattered technology news

Powermat Wireless Chargers (Review) 0

Cables, cables, cables. Everyone hates them. With more gadgets in our everyday lives, cables have become a large mess. Today, we arrive at the Powermat. It is a simple accessory that lets you charge all your gadgets wirelessly. Although the technology behind it, electromagnetic induction, has been around since the early 1800s, it has only reached consumer electronics recently. Simple household electronics such as the Philips Sonicare toothbrush, have used this wireless charging technology for sometime. With the Powermat, we can now charge just about any gadget: iPods, Blackberry, and Nintendo DSi.

Using Powermat is quite easy. There’s only one cable needed to power the Powermat itself. Gadgets can be placed on any of the three magnetic charging spots on the device. It plays a futuristic sound and display an LED indicator to verify that it’s charging. If you begin to get annoyed with the sounds once the “coolness-factor” fades, there are buttons on the back to adjust the volume and indicator brightness level as well. An additional powered USB port has been conveniently added to the back to charge legacy devices that don’t yet have support for the Powermat.

Here’s when it gets tricky. The devices you own just don’t charge on their own if you place them on the Powermat. You’ll first need to place them in special Powermat sleeves. There are a number of receivers offered, however we were provided with three: iPod Touch Sleeve, Nintendo DSi Sleeve, and iPod Dock. Their website reveals sleeves for other devices including popular models of the RIM Blackberry. The Powermat representative we spoke with stated that many more accessories for popular gadgets are on their way. Read More

Blue Microphones Snowball (Review) 0

Although most laptops now feature built in web cameras and microphones, they often produce mediocre results. Those components might be great for video chat, but not for producing semi-professional content. For the audio portion, a new market has introduced USB-based microphones, that produce surprisingly good recordings. The California-based company, Blue Microphones (Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics), produces many high quality retro-looking audio products. The one I’m taking a look at today is the Snowball. It’s quite affordable, easy to setup, and produces great results.

Hardware: 5/5 stars
Blue Microphones includes all the essentials to get started with podcasting or recording audio. The box includes the baseball-shaped microphone, a tripod stand, and a USB cable. The tripod extends upwards, rotates a complete 360 degrees, and even allows tilting the head back and fort. Rubber tips on the legs of the tripod are a neat addition as they offer a strong grip and reduce vibrations. The unit also has a standard threaded connector, so it can attached onto any standard microphone stand. There’s a red LED indicator on the front and the USB port resides right below the mode setting switch on the back. The unit stands sturdy and has a unique retro look that catches glances. Read More

Jabra Halo (Review) 0

I’ve always wanted a pair of wireless headphones, but I have never had a compatible device and plus the technology just wasn’t ready yet. When the Jabra Halo showed up at our doorstep, I had also just upgraded my phone to the brand new Sprint HTC Hero. A perfect match. It paired up quickly and I was finally untangled from my phone. The Jabra Halo, appropriately named for its unique, thin, and sleek design, strays away from other traditional bluetooth headphones. They look great and are aesthetically appealing, but how do they hold up in other distinguishing areas? Read on to find out!

Body Design: 4/5 stars
As the name suggests, the Jabra Halo simply resemble a halo. As I removed it from the packaging, it struck me a luxurious gadget. They felt quite lightweight as I picked them up and the black trim was elegant. After skimming through the product info sheet, I looked at the quick-start guide for directions before trying them on. Ok, easy enough, just unfold and snap in to lock the headphones into position — wait… ’snap’? Although I was a bit worried, I realized that the headset actually had a joint to fold. This wasn’t just to make the device more compact for travel, but it was actually what turned it on and off as well. It’s unique, new, and the sharp look definitely certainly got me a few glances.

Read More

OtterBox Commuter & TL iPhone 3GS 2

As you may be aware by now, all of us here at Skatter Tech strongly recommend buying a protective case for your phones and other expensive gadgets.  Spending a couple bucks is well worth the investment.  Today I’ve reviews of two new cases for the iPhone 3G and 3GS by OtterBox. The Commuter and the Commuter TL are both are quite similar, but have a few differences, keep reading to find out which one’s right for you.

Installation – 5/5 stars
Some cases that I’ve come across have been a pain to install. For example the Griffin Wave even ended-up scratching my iPhone. Both the Commuter and Commuter TL are truly easy to install. It took less than a minute to place my iPhone into the silicone sleeve then attach the hard case onto it. I was a little worried that the silicone might tear when the plastic portion was going on, but it went on just fine with some caution. OtterBox also includes a screen protector with both the Commuter and the Commuter TL. It’s a decent screen protector, but it does slightly reduce the screen’s sensitivity.

Read More

Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 0

The Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 is a portable mouse for notebooks that boasts a long battery life and plenty of customizations. It has an ergonomic build and a stylish design with a new innovative technology behind the scenes. It’s a reliable piece of hardware available at a great price.

Precision and Responsiveness
Microsoft’s new Mobile Mouse 4000 works on both PCs & Macs using the USB 2.4 GHz wireless receiver. It features Microsoft’s new and advanced BlueTrack Technology, which is the biggest selling point for the device.  The BlueTrack Tracking Engine diverges from the typical wireless laser mouse. It uses an advance incoherent Blue LED.  With a wider beam and high angle optics, it can track on even granite, marble, and glossy surfaces. So I put it to the test. And it worked on my black mouse pad, a somewhat glossy desk, the carpet, and even the textured wall. It worked just as advertised. The next time you are at a coffee shop and decide to use a shiny magazine as your mouse pad, you can be assured that this mouse won’t fail. This is a great improvement from the last generation of mice, but competitors are already another step ahead. For example, competing products from Logitech sport a new technology called Darkfield that work even on glass. Although the Mobile Mouse 4000 can not match that feature, it is also a much more affordable device and won’t disappoint.

Read More

Kensington Mini Battery Pack (Review) 0

Since Apple’s iPods and iPhones stole the spotlight a few years ago, a huge market has emerged for accessories. While most of these tend to be funky looking cases, cheap chargers, or portable speakers, there are a few unique accessories that will help deal with some frustration Apple’s products cause. For example the latest iPhone 3GS iteration has been known for it’s extremely poor battery life. And if you own an iPod Touch you are well aware that there isn’t a removable battery to swap out when the device runs out of juice. Kensington fortunately offers a simple and viable solution with their new compact Mini Battery Pack and Charger for the iPhone and iPod.

As the name suggests, this product is the portable version of Kensington’s larger Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod. While the larger version offer a more powerful battery, the unit is almost the size of an iPhone and requires a cable to connect to your device, which is a bit messy. On the other hand, the Mini Battery Back is only about one third the size of its counter part and plugs directly into your devices dock connector. It clings on well enough that you can continue to use your device while it’s getting charged. The unit is roughly the width and thickness of an iPhone but is only two inches tall, small enough to slip away into your pocket or purse. An included plastic cap prevents dust from building up on the dock contacts and also doubles as stand. It is supposedly suppose to be able to hold your device upright to watch a movie, but it’s quite flimsy and I wouldn’t count on it. Irrespective of that small quirk, it doesn’t deter from the quality of the rest of the product. Kensington also includes a USB cable, which winds up itself, for charging the battery pack. Read More

Back To School: JanSport Revolt 0

With school starting just around the corner, students everywhere are looking to purchase new backpacks to start the year. We would like to thank JanSport was kind enough to provide us their Revolt day pack for this review. An important aspect of backpacks these days is included protection for laptops and electronics. And with that being said, it must be done without adding too much bulk or weight to make the bag uncomfortable to wear. The Jansport Revolt is fairly lightweight, looks great, and was spacious.

The day pack features the new “Biovent” padded shoulder straps and the “Ventech” cushioned back panel. This is essential for those who have longer commutes as it helps reduces strain and adds some comfort. Plus the design is suppose to improve airflow between you and the bag, to keep yourself cooler. After a few days of use, I actually have to say that I actually found it uncomfortable. I continued to use it for another week and breaking it in helped it become a lot better.  The bag weighs just under 2 pounds and can hold up to 2001.6 cu in, which is about the average size for a backpack. The Revolt also has adjustable chest and waist straps, to help transfer the weight.

Read More

InvisibleSkinz for LG enV Touch 0

Last week we reviewed the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for the Apple iPhone. And as we mentioned there, we highly recommend purchasing cases to protect expensive gadgets. But even with the best cases, there are a couple of drawbacks. These include reduced functionality, extra weight, and loss of the original design. An alternative option, that has become increasingly popular, is using Invisible Skinz. It’s a piece of durable, but barely noticeable film that safely adhere themselves to the device. The film will help ward off  scratches and wear and tear. The best reward of using a skin instead of a hard case would be that the device would look just about the same as before adhering anything to it.

Installation: Time Consuming + Difficult
Getting the InvisibleSkinz film on the LG enV Touch isn’t a few minute job. It actually took us about 45 minutes to get everything installed properly. It comes with a few pieces of film, which was a bit of a puzzle to figure out which went where. (15 included pieces) Installing it requires using a “SHIELDspray” liquid solution, to be applied to both your hands and the film. One thing that may worry many is actually getting this liquid all over your device. I can assure, after installing this type of product on many devices, that using a proper amount of solution won’t cause any issues. Just be sure to avoid getting any solutions into any critical openings. If the device is off and allowed to dry for a couple hours after installation, there’s nothing to worry about. Applying the film was pretty difficult, you only have a short window of time to get it adjust to the right spot. If there are any bubbles caught between the film and the body of the phone, just squeeze them out with the included tool. There’s also a ton of smears and small particles making the entire thing look horrible after you finish. However if you wait patiently overnight or a day, most of those work themselves out. Read More

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for iPhone 3GS 0

As mentioned in many articles on Skatter Tech, we place great emphasis on purchasing cases to protect expensive gadgets. Unfortunately even some of the best cases come with a some drawbacks. These may include loss of functionality, added weight, and loss of the original design elements. An alternative solution, which has been becoming increasingly popular, is ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD. The entire accessory is merely a few pieces of thin durable films that safely adhere themselves to the device. These protect against scratches, minor nicks, and deterioration. The most important aspect would be the fact that once applied properly, your iPhone 3GS will look as it did when it came out of the packaging.

Installation: Difficult
If you thought getting the flim onto the device was simple, you’re wrong. Installing the invisibleSHIELD onto the iPhone 3GS will take at least 20-30 minutes of your time. Plus I should mention that it’s recommended to let the film settle and dry overnight once applied. This means the phone should be untouched and remain turned off. The invisibleSHIELD is actually a “wet installation”. First step would be to clean off any dirt or fingerprints on the iPhone. Second spraying your fingertips and a piece of the film with the included liquid solution. Then align and place the clear film onto the iPhone. It’s best to work quickly, but can be removed to be readjusted in the first few minutes. The final step would be to use the squeegee to push out any air bubbles caught in between the film and the iPhone’s body. This may not seem like much, but it definitely takes a while. The most interesting part is how horrible it looks immediately after application. There’s usually a ton of micro bubbles and smears. However if you let it settle for the mentioned duration, those work themselves out and turn out looking excellent. Of the included pieces, the film for the the display was the easiest to install. The rear was the most difficult since it has to deal with curvature of the iPhone. Despite that being said, installing one of these isn’t rocket science. If you have the patience and time, it’s well worth the effort. Read More

OtterBox Impact Case For iPhone 3GS 0

On Skatter Tech we constantly emphasize purchasing cases for your expensive gadgets to maximize protection and to prevent them from experiencing any damage. Today we’ve got a look at the Impact Case for the iPhone 3G/3GS by OtterBox. The company specializes in making heavy duty cases for just about every popular gadget on the market. Some of their cases look as though they could be run over by a tank and still survive. Some of these items are a bit overkill for the average user, but there are definitely situations where they would be put to good use. Fortunately the Impact Case being reviewed is fairly compact, offers decent protection, and is affordable.

Installation – 4/5 stars
Some cases I’ve come across have been quite a pain to install. Placing the iPhone 3GS into the OtterBox Impact Case takes just a few seconds. The silicone case easily stretches to let the device slide in. The Screen Protector wasn’t too difficult to install. Just clean the screen with a microfiber cloth first, then wipe it down with the cloth they provide to clear off any lint.I aligned and placed the screen protector onto the display from the top to bottom. A few large air pockets got caught in between, but they weren’t to difficult to push out with the included “application card.” Afterward just peel off the remaining layer. Read More