New Technology Reviews!.: gadget

US Army testing solar powered tents for troops, gadget addicted campers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEavdZU1jt8WiyO0KCgu3yoRxqfazR_xvvftUgmRtrCZiHyukAz7Mz6dWyMu0VhqY3EqVfOsi5SzrOf1wEamqixhgJjYAC0_BunwdviIsOvhKAu4TybeaHiL4UWFpAPXSue70TZVsRvPw/s1600/101217-wargadget-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEavdZU1jt8WiyO0KCgu3yoRxqfazR_xvvftUgmRtrCZiHyukAz7Mz6dWyMu0VhqY3EqVfOsi5SzrOf1wEamqixhgJjYAC0_BunwdviIsOvhKAu4TybeaHiL4UWFpAPXSue70TZVsRvPw/s1600/101217-wargadget-02.jpg" /></a></div>While the military is still hashing out plans to outfit soldiers with their own smartphones, gadgets are already a part of daily life of troops in the field. Of course, more technology means more demand for power, and the Army has been evaluating technologies for flexible, lightweight photovoltaic tents and shades. "They are ideal for charging up batteries, making sure your (communications), night vision goggles and computers are powered up. You don't want a generator on top of a mountain, and you don't want to have to bring fuel to a generator or haul batteries," said assistant secretary of the Army Katherine Hammack. Among the various items being tested are the TEMPER Fly, a roughly 16-by-20-foot tent able to generate 800 watts of electricity; QUADrant, a smaller version of the TEMPER Fly that generates roughly 200 watts of power; and Power Shades capable of generating up to 3 kilowatts of exportable electrical power. Sounds like a kick-ass tent for next year's festival season!

US Army testing solar powered tents for troops, gadget addicted campers

While the military is still hashing out plans to outfit soldiers with their own smartphones, gadgets are already a part of daily life of tro...

In Depth: The 10 biggest gadget letdowns of 2010

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20298/PCP298.ot01.joojoo-200-200.jpg"> Not everything lives up to the impressive-sounding, bullet-point list of features that appeared on the internet six months before launch. Sometimes owning high-spec gadgets is best left to the imagination, as the result of your latest internet shopping spree can end with the courier dropping off something that isn't quite as life-changing and empowering as the multi-million pound, pan-European marketing assault initially suggested. Spec sheets are one thing, but as tech gets more and more complex and attempts to please more and more people by combining ever-longer lists of features into one box, we're seeing companies fail to get the dizzying modern blend of software and hardware anything like right. So what products have disappointed us this year? Which ones do we wish we'd waited for a few more reviews to filter through before maxing out the credit card? And which product was so terrible it was pulled from sale in the face of mass consumer disgust? 1. T-Mobile Pulse Mini <img alt="Pulse mini" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/T-Mobile/T_mobile_pulse_mini-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Barely passable when we <a href="">reviewed it in May</A>, it's now been absolutely shamed by the new wave of entry level Android phones. Comparing the Pulse Mini with the similarly priced <a href="">Orange San Franciso</A>, you'd think six years had passed, not six months. An awful screen had you regretting the purchase within seconds, and the general laggy operation made it a pain to use if you had no choice in the matter due to contractual reasons between you and your network. 2. Disgo Tablet 6000 <img alt="Disgo" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20144/WLT144.rev3.disgo_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The post-iPad tablet explosion has seen some real duffers emerge, with their resistive screens, poor OS implementations and general corner cutting when it comes to features. The <a href="">Disgo 6000</A> suffers from all of the above, with a touchscreen so unresponsive it hinders everything. It's slow, there's no Android Market, and it's... terrible. God knows how bad the Disgo 5000 must've been. 3. Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 <img alt="Xperia x10" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/Sony%20Ericsson/XperiaTM_X10Orange_2-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> There's nothing incredibly wrong with the original, big <a href="">X10</A>. It's a lovely piece of plastic with a good screen and camera, it's just the user experience that's lacking. In the ultra-competitive smartphone world Apple and HTC are delivering smash after glorious smash, so for Sony Ericsson to release a flagship phone with an old OS, no multitouch and a glitchy interface, it was product suicide. Even the 2.1 update arrived late - and significantly after many other Android phone users got 2.2. One big mess, this poor thing. 4. LG Viewty Snap <img alt="Viewty snap" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/LG/Picture-31-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> LG was caught out by the lightning fast evolution of smartphones, here. Launching a phone without 3G or Wi-Fi and charging £80 for it may have worked a year or two ago, but with blistering smartphones like the Orange San Francisco and LG Optimus One out there for only a few quid more nowadays, it's hard to see why the Viewty Snap exists at all. Still, it's got a radio. Radio is a bit like Spotify. You could put that on the box, LG - "Has a thing that is a bit like a popular other thing". 5. Sony Qriocity <img alt="Qriocity" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Qriocity/Qriocity-MockUK-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Just what we need. Another way to shovel a regular, small amount of money to a major corporation in return for some of its media products. The main problem with <a href="">Qriocity</A> at the moment is that we just don't really need it. iTunes is entrenched already, many other movie streaming services exist, and charging £4.99 for a rental of a standalone HD film is rather excessive. Clever if you have a Qriocity enabled Bravia, but excessive. 6. ViewSonic ViewPad 10 <img alt="ViewPad 10" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/Viewsonic%20ViewPad%2010/viewpad%20main-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Another product that reads like a fantasy creation on paper. A <a href="">tablet</A> with a 10" screen, the power to dual boot both Android and Windows 7 - what's not to get excited about here? Well, there's the Android element for a start, which is the outdated 1.6 version of the OS, due to compatibility issues with the Intel chipset. And Windows 7 isn't great on touchscreens, so... what was the point again? 7. Boxee Box <img alt="Boxee box" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/networking-and-wi-fi/media-streaming/images/boxeebox/boxee3-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Decent hardware in a pretty box that'd look great sitting beside your BT Home Hub, - but the problem with the <a href="">Boxee Box</A> is down to Boxee's lack of know-how when it comes to creating and managing the software side of things. It's nice having apps for YouTube and iPlayer, but it'd be nicer still if they worked properly. The web browser's a nightmare and although it does work as a streamer you'd be better off shuffling things about on USB sticks than trying to learn and tolerate Boxee's many odd OS choices. 8. Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro <img alt="Vivaz pro" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/Sony%20Ericsson/Sony_Ericsson_vivaz_pro-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> A QWERTY keyboard and the Sony Ericsson brand - what's not to like about the <a href="">Vivaz Pro</A>? Well, there's the Symbian S60 OS for a start, which used to dominate but is now very much showing its age in 2010. Plus for some odd reason the Vivaz Pro fails to run it well, resulting in a slow experience hampered further still by a resistive touchscreen. Which makes the Vivaz Pro a clunky phone with an outdated OS that's hard to use. Awesome work, Sony Ericsson. 9. JooJoo <img alt="JooJoo" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20298/PCP298.ot01.joojoo-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Another poorly planned tablet for the plastics recycling bin. The <a href="">JooJoo</A>'s complex interface is a pain to use and the hardware big and awkward, while its Flash capabilities are so poor it's better to just not bother. Oh, and battery life's pretty bad and it's generally glitchy to use as a web browser. When a thing fails at its primary function, you have to wonder how and why it exists at all. 10. Toshiba Folio <img alt="Toshiba folio" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/images/ToshibaFolio03-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Surely <a href="">this</A> would be good? An Android tablet powered by Nvidia's cutting-edge Tegra 2 processor. The Folio wouldn't just kill the iPad - it'd dismember its body and disrespect it on the internet. The reality was a disaster. The 10.1" screen featured an awful viewing angle, the OS was glitchy and it was received so poorly by the first wave of buyers that it was <a href="">pulled from sale</A> by Dixons Group due to the high number of returns. A proper tech catastrophe.

In Depth: The 10 biggest gadget letdowns of 2010

Not everything lives up to the impressive-sounding, bullet-point list of features that appeared on the internet six months before launch. S...

Buying Guide: 10 cool Christmas gift gadget ideas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.iopd-200-200.jpg"> Christmas is a time of plenty for gadget lovers, but finding the latest technology can be tricky. We look at the tech that's hot this festive season 1. Get away from your PC When it comes to hype and anticipation, it doesn't get better than the updated <a href="">Xbox 360 S</A> with <a href="">Kinect</A>. Microsoft is expecting huge demand for its new gaming technology, which analyses and reads your body movements, facial expressions and gestures to give a new dimension of control. If active gaming isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of traditional PC games out this Christmas to feast on. Fallout: New Vegas, Fable 3, FIFA 2011, the latest Medal of Honor and Civilization 5 will all be hitting the shelves in December. 2. Easy video recording <img alt="pocket camcorder" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.camileo-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Pocket camcorders have exploded in popularity in the last two years, and there are some fantastic cameras on the market fighting off stiff competition from the latest phones. If you want something designed for short videos, the new Toshiba Camileo S20 is perfect, with 1080p video and 4x digital zoom for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-Camileo-1080p-Camcorder-version/dp/B002RL9SVC/" rel="nofollow">£130 at Amazon</A>. If it's just for the kids, try the Kodak Zx1, which is available for <a href="http://www.techstore.co.uk/details/productdetails/146366">£50 from </A><a href="http://www.techstore.co.uk/details/productdetails/146366" rel="nofollow">www.techstore.co.uk</A>, or the Busbi Digital Video Camera at <a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/2160/Busbi-Digital-Video-Camera" rel="nofollow">£40 from Firebox</A>. 3. Read your Ebooks in style Ebook readers are the hottest technology on the market, and the ubiquitous Kindle 3 is the most desirable of them all. Amazon has slashed the price to £109, or £149 for a 3G version, which enables you to browse websites and download books on demand. However, they are highly sought-after, and if you can't wait three weeks for a delivery, the iRiver Story is also extremely good. It costs <a href="http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/13007635/iRiver-Story-eBook-e-Reader/Product.html" rel="nofollow">£140 from Play.com</A>, and while there's no 3G, you do get full support for Microsoft Office documents and PDFs. 4. Great pictures <img alt="picture frames" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.pictures-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Last Christmas was the year of the photo frame, and our love affair is set to carry on into 2011. Kodak came out with top marks in issue 50's digital frame group test with the Pulse, which can be bought for <a href="http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/13869162/Kodak-Pulse-7-inch-Touch-Screen-Wi-Fi-Digital-Photo-Frame/Product.html" rel="nofollow">£85 from Play.com</A>. If that's too much, you can opt for the bargain Jessops 8-inch frame which is just <a href="http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Digital%20Photo%20Frames/products/Jessops/8%20Compact%20Digital%20Picture%20Frame-78746/Show.html" rel="nofollow">£25 on jessops.com</A>, or just pick up a keyring frame such as the Tao Digital Photo Keychain for just <a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/2552/Tao-Digital-Photo-Keychain" rel="nofollow">£13 from Firebox</A>. 5. Can you feel the noise? There are some superb value speakers doing the rounds, and if you're looking for a great gift for a music lover, you're in luck. The Logitech Z523 is a bargain at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-980-000320-Z523-Speakers-Black/dp/B002MHYQJA/" rel="nofollow">£50 from Amazon</A>, or you can pick up the massive Teufel Concept C 100 for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teufel-Concept-100-2-1-multimedia/dp/B002BAWV6S/" rel="nofollow">£109 also from Amazon</A>. If volume and bass aren't your thing, the Logitech Z320 is a decent 2.0 system and costs just <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-980-000330-Z320-Speaker-System/dp/B002L3TSMK/" rel="nofollow">£35 at Amazon</A>. 6. Amazing multimedia <img alt="iPod" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.iopd-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you're looking for MP3 players this Christmas, the updated <a href="">iPod Touch</A> will be flying off the shelves. Apple has given its new touchscreen MP3 player the high-res, vibrant screen from the iPhone 4, as well as adding a 720p HD video camera. This makes the iPod Touch a force to be reckoned with, but at £189 for the 8GB version, it doesn't come cheap. If you're looking for a more cost-effective MP3 player, you can opt for the Sandisk Sansa Clip (<a href="http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B149179" rel="nofollow">from £38 at www.lambda-tek.com</A>). 7. Safe and sound this Christmas Backing up doesn't conjure up images of the festive season but the fact is that hard drives and USB sticks make really useful presents. There are some great deals around, such as the Buffalo 320GB MiniStation Lite for <a href="http://www.dabs.com/products/buffalo-320gb-ministation-lite-usb-white-6P1X.html" rel="nofollow">£64 at Dabs.com</A>, which has enough room for most backups. Portable storage is also cheap at the moment, and you can get a rubberised 8GB Corsair Flash Voyager for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Rugged-Water-Resistant-CMFUSB2-0-8GB/dp/B000J35DR8/" rel="nofollow">£12 at Amazon</A>, or a cute USB Flash Hero cuddly toy USB drive, which is perfect for kids, from <a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/2516/USB-Flash-Drive-Heroes" rel="nofollow">Firebox for £14.99</A>. 8. Stocking fillers <img alt="gorilla pod" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.camera-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Photographers will love a Gorillapod (<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joby-GP1-D1EN-Gorillapod-Original-Black/dp/B000EVSLRO/" rel="nofollow">£12 from Amazon</A>), a versatile tripod that can be used anywhere. Cameraphone fanatics will also love the PoGo printer (<a href="http://www.scan.co.uk/products/polariod-pogo-digital-instant-mini-printer-battery-mains-portable-bluetooth-usb-see-details" rel="nofollow">£25 from www.scan.co.uk</A>), which enables you to print off pictures via Bluetooth. If your PC-loving relatives are a little harder to please, try some USB-powered rechargeable batteries. 9. Stay in touch with family <img alt="webcam" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.webcam-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Christmas is about getting people together, but unfortunately, we can't always get to our family and friends over the festive season. The perfect present for distant loved ones is a webcam, so you can still wave hello on Christmas morning, and you can find great quality cameras for bargain prices. The Microsoft LifeCam HD-6000N can be bought for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-7PD-00003-LifeCam-HD-6000N/dp/B0033B0FMG/" rel="nofollow">£32 from Amazon</A>, and is designed to work with Windows Live Messenger, so even the most computer illiterate relatives can get to grips with it. 10. Bargain sat-navs <img alt="Sat nav" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.satnav-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Sat-navs are expensive, but they do make great presents for road warrior family members. If your relatives are iPhone users, the <a href="">TomTom for iPhone</A> app works wonders, and at £43 it represents a big saving on the cost of a full unit. For non-iPhone users, the TomTom Start2 caters for basic navigation and is packed with cool features such as lane guidance and spoken road names for just £120. See <a href="http://www.tomtom.com/">www.tomtom.com</A> for both products.

Buying Guide: 10 cool Christmas gift gadget ideas

Christmas is a time of plenty for gadget lovers, but finding the latest technology can be tricky. We look at the tech that's hot this f...