scattered technology news

Wicked Lasers Nexus 95mW (Review) - Friday, May 16, 2008

Exactly 48 years ago today, the first laser diode was demonstrated by Theodore Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories. Today lasers are being used all the time and can be found in devices such as CD/DVD burners or laser printers. A couple of months ago I reviewed the 5mW Wicked Lasers Core laser pointer. Today Skatter Tech brings you an in depth review of the 95mW Nexus Green Laser Pointer thanks to the folks over at Wicked Lasers. This green laser isn’t the average laser you can pick up for a couple of bucks at a retail store. The Wicked Lasers Nexus is powerful enough to melt plastic, light matches, pop balloons, and can be seen from over 50 miles away. (The beam is actually visible at night!)

Wicked Lasers Nexus Specifications:

• Output Power: 95mW
• Beam Diameter: 1.6mm
• Laser Lifetime: over 5,000 hours
• Power Consumption: 500mA
• Battery Supply: 2 x AAA (1.5V)
• Battery Life: 90 minutes
• Body: Black Polished Brass
• Wavelength: 532nm
• Size: 13mm x 144mm

The Nexus 95mW is bright enough that the target is clearly visible even in bright daylight. The actual beam isn’t so visible during the day, but is clearly visible when indoors. At night this laser pretty much resembles a Star Wars light saber. The beam doesn’t seem to ever end if you shine it into the sky at night. This is excellent for pointing planets or stars. It’s power might not be the best for all situations, for example a PowerPoint presentation. The laser will probably be much brighter than your projector and will most likely blind the audience. At night the Nexus can literally light up an entire room.

Read More

LG VX9100 enV2 - Verizon Wireless - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Last week Verizon Wireless announced the true successor to the popular LG enV (VX9900), the LG enV2 (VX9100). I was wrong to have previously concluded that the LG Voyager (VX10000) was the replacement. The Voyager seems to have been a “premium” version of the enV meant to take on iPhone sales, while the compact and affordable enV2 remains in the same class as the original. When the VX9900 originally was released it was quite a robust and powerful phone featuring the latest technologies, however the enV2 doesn’t seem to have any revolutionary features. The phone seems to be merely a simple upgrade to its predecessor with a new user interface, a compact body, a better build quality, and other minor improvements. There’s plenty of good and some bad, so lets get started.

LG VX9100 Specifications:

• Provider: Verizon Wireless (800MHz / 1.9GHz CDMA )
• Form Factor: Laptop-like w/ QWERTY keyboard
• Internal Display: 2.4-inch 320 x 240 pixels
• Media: MP3, WMA, AAC plus WMV, MP4, 3GP
• Imaging: 2.0 mega pixel camera and camcorder
• Other: Bluetooth, microSD (8GB max), stereo speakers
• Battery Life: 320 Mins Talk-Time or 520 Hrs standby
• Dimensions: 4″ H x 2.13″ W x .65″ D (inches)
• Price: $130 after $50 rebate plus a 2 year contract

LG enV2 Body: 4/5 stars
The enV (VX9900) was a more compact version of the LG V (VX9800) and now the enV2 is even smaller. The phone is quite small and can fit in just about any pocket. It’s a bit heavier than I had imagined (4.23 oz), but it’s still lighter than the enV. The enV2 is a whole lot shorter and thinner than the enV, however it is slightly wider. Both the front and back are pretty flat and all edges are smooth and rounded. It’s a pretty good looking phone and is easy to handle as well. On the front you’ll find a tiny display at the top and improved numeric keypad right below. The backside of the phone has the removable battery and the 2.0 megapixel camera. The right side of the phone has the 2.5mm headphone jack and microSD card reader/writer while the left side has the volume toggle keys and the camera button. As for the inside of the phone, the top portion features the 2.4-inch display with stereo speakers on the sides and the bottom portion has the QWERTY keyboard. And finally a micro-USB port can be found on the bottom under a socket cover for charging and data transfer. The only thing that I found disappointing was the extremely small screen on the front which has been rendered almost entirely useless. I feel that there would have been more to gain by making the keypad a bit smaller and by adding a larger screen.

Read More

Nokia N95 8GB Review - Friday, May 2, 2008

I recently got a hold of the brand new Nokia N95 8GB (N95-4) smart phone running the Symbian OS. This phone is the most powerful and feature packed phone I have used to date! It truly dominates the Apple iPhone on just about every aspect with features such as a 5 mega pixel camera, 3G enabled, GPS navigation, and plenty more. The only issue I ran into was getting comfortable using the interface since I hadn’t used a Nokia phone in ages. It’s not at all that I don’t like Nokia, but there really haven’t been any quality phones from them available through my service provider, Verizon Wireless. Despite that, the phone constantly kept me at the edge I kept discovering new things that it was capable of doing.

Nokia N95 8GB Specifications:

• Type: WCDMA 850/1900 + WiFi
• Display: 2.8-inch with 320×240 resolution
• Form Factor: Two-Way Slider
• Battery Life: 5 hours talk & 12 days standby
• Main Camera: 5 megapixel w/ flash & auto-focus
• Storage: Built-in 8GB Flash Memory
• Special: WiFi, GPS, 2nd Camera, Home Network
• Other: Bluetooth and Standard Headphone Jack
• Dimensions: 3.9″H x 2.09″W x 0.83″D
• Price: $550 - $650 for an Unlocked Version

The Body - 4/5 stars
From looking at the images, you’ve probably realized that this isn’t exactly the best looking phone. It’s a bit bulky and definitely doesn’t look attractive. Keep in mind the reason you are probably purchasing this phone is for it’s features. On the front of the phone you’ll find the large 2.8-inch display with four-way controls, send/end buttons, the left/right soft keys, and a couple other short cuts. Above the screen is the secondary camera with its flash for video conferencing and self-portraits. Sliding the screen up will reveal a numeric keypad while sliding it in the opposite direction will reveal multimedia controls. The power button can be found on the top of the phone while the mini-USB and charging connections are on the bottom. A standard 3.5mm headphone jack can be found on the left side of the phone besides an infrared transmitter. A volume toggle, media button, and camera key are all on the right side. The 5 mega pixel camera is on the back above the battery compartment which also holds the SIM card.

The Screen - 5/5 stars
The N95’s 2.8-inch screen can only display at a maximum of 320×240 pixels, but is extremely bright and sharp. Just about anything displayed on the screen such as the menus, photos, or videos all look wonderful. The screen also looks great out doors and glare isn’t as bad as it is on other phones. And for those of you wondering if the screen is touch capable, it isn’t. Although I felt it would have been neat for such a large, the control system is fairly easy to use once you get a hang of them. Read More

Belkin USB Plus 4-Port Hub (Review) - Wednesday, March 26, 2008

After reviewing the Belkin USB Plus 7-port Hub earlier this month, I thought it would only be appropriate if I also reviewed it’s smaller sibling the 4-port USB Plus Hub. The Belkin 4-port hub retains the same style and theme as the larger one. It accepts power from an AC Adapter so too much stress won’t be placed on your machine’s bus. And since it’s self powered, as a bonus, USB powered devices can be charged if connected to the hub even when your computer is off. A neat little rubber clamp on the right side acts as a holster to keep cables neatly organized and from running loose.

The Belkin 4-port USB Plus Hub worked without any issues with just about any USB gizmo. Two of the USB ports along with the input and power supply are found on the back. For easy access, the remaining two ports have been placed on top of the unit for flash drives. There are LED indicators embedded into the casing, which indicate which ports are connected and when the power supply status. The hub was able to retain a full data throughput that the USB can support, which is all that we can ask for. It will slow down if too many data intensive devices such as external Hard Drives are being used. Read More

Logitech VX Nano Mouse (Review) - Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The Logitech VX Nano is a tiny portable wireless mouse which features many of the controls a standard desktop mice usually have. The VX Nano has an impressive build quality, is durable, looks stylish, and has true functionality. This product is most notable for it’s unusually small transmitter.

The Buttons - 4/5 stars
The VX Nano houses the standard left and right click buttons which have a good tactile feedback. The scroll wheel can be “frictionless” meaning it can be flicked up or down to quickly drop through pages or can have “notches” so that you can feel each bump while it’s rotating. All you have to do is push in the button to toggle between the two modes. The entire wheel can also be leaned left or right for horizontal scrolling. The search key directly below the wheel functions as a middle-click button. The mouse also features back and forward keys, however they are awkwardly placed on top of the mouse which takes some getting used too. The mouse could have allowed more productivity if those to buttons were moved to the sides.

Transmitter - 5/5 stars
The RF transmitter which plugs into the USB port on you computer is probably one of the most impressive aspects of this product due to its size. Since the receiver is so small, it can be left in the USB port while laptops are placed into a bag without having to worry about it snapping off. In addition the receiver also pops into the battery compartment under the mouse for storage. In addition I’ve been told that if you do happen to loose the transmitter, Logitech sells replacements for an reasonable price. The mouse has a fairly good range and worked when I was over 15 feet away from my computer. Read More

Kensington Bluetooth Stereo Headphones (Review) - Sunday, March 23, 2008

Kensington recently released new Bluetooth Stereo Headphones and as promised here’s our review. The headphones, also entitled the BT3071, sports the Bluetooth 2.0 protocol and uses the A2DP profile to wirelessly steam audio from any compatible device. These stereo headphones are fairly affordable and function a whole lot better compared to the previous generation of Bluetooth headphones.

Device Compatibility - 5/5 stars
From some tests, I found the Bluetooth Headphones to work seamlessly with the array of devices I paired it with. It was compatible with the Bluetooth built into a Sony VAIO running Windows XP, a Dell XPS M1530 running Windows Vista, and a Apple iMac running OS X Leopard. In addition it played nicely with the LG enV and LG Muziq mobile phones. And to top that, it also worked with the Sony PlayStation 3! If you’ve got a fairly modern Bluetooth-enabled gadget, chances are that you won’t have any problems.

Headset Functions - 3/5 stars
The Stereo Headphones also feature a built-in microphone allowing it to double as a wireless headset.. This means you’ll be able to answer calls when paired with a mobile phone and can be used for VOIP when paired with a computer. The downside might be that the audio to contained a bit too much static, which I didn’t experience with other Bluetooth headsets. It shouldn’t be much of an issue for taking calls occasionally, however you probably would want to get a different headset unless you wish to irritating the person on the other end of the phone.

Read More

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review Roundup - Sunday, March 9, 2008

Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii was finally released today in the United States. Brawl was preceded by Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee. The first version, Super Smash Bros., was first released in 1999 and became the 5th most sold game for the N64. It’s follower, Super Smash Bros. Melee, which hit the market in 2001 became the most sold game for the GameCube. Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the best of the series and just about every review it has received have earned it a near-perfect if not perfect score. Unfortunately didn’t yet have a chance to post our own review, however here’s a roundup from some major gaming sites:

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Info:

• Platform: Wii
• Release (US): March 9th, 2008
• Players: 1- 4
• Game Type: Fighting Action
• Developer: Nintendo

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review:

• Gamespot - 9.5 / 10
• IGN - 9.5 / 10
• 1UP - A
• Destructoid - 9.5 / 10
• Thunderbolt - ten / ten
• Game Player - 10 / 10
• Games Radar - 10 / 10

Since Brawl utilizes the Wii’s WiFi, players have the ability to enter a match with up to a total of four players connected from different consoles in different locations. With the N64 version selling ~5 million copies and the GameCube version selling ~6 million, we’ll have to see if Brawl will live up to it’s name. If you own a Wii, are you going to get this game? Would you consider buying a Wii just for this game?

Links: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Buy: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (via Amazon)

Belkin USB Plus 7-Port Hub (Review) - Monday, March 3, 2008

I purchased a Belkin 7-port USB Plus Hub about a month ago to go along with my Dell m1530 Laptop and it works perfectly. The USB 2.0 hub replicates USB ports for additional accessories. The hub is powered with an AC adapter as an additional energy source under the circumstances that you are using too many devices that require charging. As a bonus, since the hub has its own power supply, devices such as iPods, Zunes, ZENs, and other USB-powered gizmos can be recharged without having to leave your machine running. The only problem I ran into was the fact that it took up more desk space than an average hub due to the ports being arranged horizontally on the back. However Belkin makes up for it by adding a cable holder on the side to reduce clutter and by simply making a product that works flawlessly.

The overall design of the Belkin Hub is simple and it works as advertised. There are five USB ports on the back along with the power cord and cable that connects to your computer. For easy access, the remaining 2 ports are located on top for use with flash drives. The hub is entirely stackable, so if you demand more ports you can place another Belkin 7-port or 4-port USB Plus Hub on top. You won’t lose access to the ports onto when stacking two 7-port hubs since the ports are still accessible through the hole. The hub also has discrete LED indicators embedded inside the encasement to display which ports are in use. Although we didn’t test the hub with too many data transfer intensive devices such as external hard drives, but rather with small peripherals, Belkin claims a 480Mbps transfer rate.

The hub is available in two color schemes: brown/white or white/blue. As seen in the pictures, I went with the brown/white configuration to match my other gizmos; however people who own Apple gizmos might want to go with the white/blue. So far the USB Plus Hub has been functioning perfectly, no hiccups what so ever. The only times the hub has slowed down is when we hit the USB 2.0 protocol transfer rate limit. The hub is well built and is available for a very reasonable price of $29.99 with no tax and free shipping from Amazon and other stores. But be aware that some stores such as Circuit City are charging as high as $50-60 for the same item, so shop around before buying.

Buy: Belkin 7-port USB Plus Hub - $29.99 (no tax + ships free)
Links: Belkin.com (Hubs Section | Belkin 7-port Hub (White Version)

Proporta: Alu-Leather Creative Zen Case - Sunday, January 20, 2008

Skatter Tech recently got a hold of Proporta’s Alu-Leather Case and Advance Screen Protector for the Creative ZEN. I put them to the test right away by carrying it around to see how well the Proporta accessories would protect my gizmo. I was quite pleased as the case was quite rigid while it maintained a fairly fancy look and the screen protector adhered and fit the screen perfectly. The Creative ZEN digital audio player slides into the case and is held in place by to well padded clamps. The case is enclosed by a strong flap which is fastened with a magnetic clasp. A lightweight yet strong aluminum sheet is embedded into the leather both on the bottom and top flaps to provide additional support. Proporta provides an attachable belt clip which can be easily removed if you don’t plan on using it. The headphone jack and the USB port have been left open therefore listening to music and/or charging the device won’t be a problem. No functionality of the ZEN is lost and even the SD card slot is reachable without having to remove the device from the case.

The Advance Screen Protector for the Creative ZEN has been pre-cut exactly to fit the square around the screen. Although the protector achieves its goal of guarding the screen, it fails to cover any other portion of the top of the player such as the controls. Proporta provides a cleaning cloth and a application card in the packaging so that the screen protector can be applied easily and properly. The main issue we faced was the fact that screen clarity is lost due to the graininess of the plastic sheet. Although it isn’t a problem for browsing through music, it can become very irritating if you plan to watch videos.

The leather case and screen protector are available for purchase from Proporta’s website for $34.95 and $9.95, respectively. However by using the coupon code “skattertech” (no quotes) during checkout you’ll get a 10% discount bringing the price of both items to just $40.41. Overall we were quite satisfied with both these products, however if you own a Creative ZEN and you feel you know of a better way to protect your device, please let us know by replying in the comments.

Links: Proporta Alu-Leather Case | Advance Screen Protector
Coupon Code: skattertech

Proporta: Alu-Leather Case For iPod Touch - Thursday, January 17, 2008

I recently reviewed Proporta’s screen protector for the iPod Touch, which I highly recommended all owners to purchase. Although that was good step towards protecting your iPod, it won’t be able to protect the other parts of the device from rough handling or drops. This is where Proporta’s Leather Case for the iPod Touch plays a role. The iPod touch slides in and the case’s clamps hold the device in place and it’s actually quite durable. As the implied in the title with the word “Alu-,” Proporta has actually embedded a strong lightweight aluminum sheet in between the leather layers to protect the iPod Touch even further. The case will be able to protect the iPod Touch from a fairly good amount of pressure. Proporta also includes a belt clip which can easily be removed. All ports and buttons are accessible and no functionality will be lost. As seen in the picture, the bottom is left open so headphones can connected even if the case has been closed.

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s a good idea to spend a few bucks to protect your $300-400 investment. Especially since it is something you’ll be carrying around with you everywhere you go. Purchasing a screen protector to go along with this case will offer just about all the protection you can get without loosing usability. If you aren’t a fan of leather cases, take a look at our review of iFrogz’s Silicone Case. Anyways the Alu-Leather case by Proporta is available for purchase on their website. It will cost you $45.95 USD, however you’ll receive a 10% discount if you use the promotion code “skattertech” (no quotes) during checkout. If you know of any better products or have a case you would like us to review, please leave us a comment or send us an email.

Links: Proporta Alu-Leather iPod Touch Case
Promotion Code: skattertech