Category: Reviews
Review: Ask3D – Ask's revamped search engine
I’m choosing to forget Ask’s rather bizarre ‘propaganda’ advertising of their new search “Ask 3D” search engine as I take a look at how effective it is as a tool, and whether it’s going to pose a threat to Google.
There’s more to Ask3D than the slightly shiny, icon-based eye candy that greets you when you arrive at their front page.
Both Google and Ask are keen to offer a more holistic approach to search results. A search for “Steve Jobs” in Google brings up the usual listing of results, but interspersed with news and video. It’s easy to find these items by scrolling through the results, but they’re not particularly distinct at first glance.
Ask, on the other hand, clearly separates regular web pages, listed in the middle column, from multimedia content and the latest news, displayed in sections in the right-hand column. It’s an elegant layout, marred only slightly by the “Sponsored Results” boxes which don’t integrate as well as their Google counterparts, and can sometimes take up to half of the screen before search results are displayed.
Review: HTC P4350 smartphone
HTC have an announcement due tomorrow, which apparently is going to be Big and Quite Exciting. In the meantime though, I thought I’d take a look at the P4350 smartphone.
It runs Windows Mobile 5.0 (that’s not the new and exciting 6.0, then). It sports a QWERTY keyboard which flicks out from the right hand side, and a nice brushed rubber feel casing.
Shiny Review: Intempo IDS03 2.1 Docking Speaker System for iPod, MP3 and other audio devices
The Intempo IDS series, far from being designed for former Tory leaders, is a succession of faintly monolithic audio player docks, packing decent stereo features in an elegant, but large, case.
Despite being a lot smaller than the IDS01, the IDS03 is definitely not a portable device – it plugs into the wall and is clearly designed to sit neatly on a desk, dressing table or living room shelf – but what did I think of the sound quality and ease of use? Read on and watch this space for a video review coming soon.
Shiny Video Review: Reallusion Crazy Talk 4 Image Manipulation Software
Alex distorts herself in the name of software testing when she attempts to turn a still image into a video…
Shiny Video Review: iLuv i1055 iPod Multimedia Player
iSusi and iZara embark on further exploration of the iPhenomenon with the iLuv i'D Think About It.
Shiny Video Review: Samsung F300 Phone
Ashley and Susi talk Samsung and marvel at the size of the…. user guide.
Review: iRiver X20 – flash video MP3 player
The propaganda The iRiver X20 joins the growing ranks of small, flash based players that can handle both video and audio playback. It's compact, light and portable making it a good travel companion. In addition to playback it can…
Shiny Video Review: Sagem my411x Phone
Alex is disappointed by the Sagem my411x, despite its video capability, media player and super-slim looks.
Shiny Video Review: Creative Zen Stone 1GB (the iPod Shuffle alternative)
Susi compares and contrasts Creative's affordable alternative with the Shuffle. Rock (on) in colour, as Creative say… (although we were sent a black one).
Review: Philips SHB6102 – Stereo MP3/Phone Bluetooth headset
The propaganda We've all done it – you're plodding along, merrily engrossed in music only to arrive at your destination with 20 missed calls because you didn't hear your phone ringing. With Philips SHB6102 headset, however, those days are behind…