4 out of 10 Movie Reviews

Latest Spiderman film named with new image

Richard Mann — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:15:33 +0000

Going back to the very first comic starring the web slinging geek, the upcoming Spider-man film starring Andrew Garfield as the lead character along with Sally Field, Rhys Ifans and Emma Stone this is looking to be worth a re-look. I still don’t see why they have to reboot every series 14 times throughout my lifetime!

2012 Spider-man film starring Andrew Garfield

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Archos 5 Internet Tablet – A 4 out of 10 Gadget Review

Richard Mann — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:24:21 +0000

I have a problem with edges. Edges are something that for me, just get in the way somewhat. In this review I am reminded of several of my pet hates whilst discovering a brand that I knew existed but had never paid attention to. The brand is Archos and they seem to have spent the last decade being mostly ignored by the casual shopper but lusted after by pure geeks. Whilst Mr and Mrs Average walked lustfully into the Apple store to buy the latest colour iPod, the wisest of us all kept quiet about the technical marvel that was in our hand at the time….I’m talking about the Archos you disgusting people! Incidentally I want it made clear that I am Mr Average in the example above. I’m a geeky sort of fellow but there are limits.

With the recent release of the 8th generation of Archos devices, the company decided to send me a 7th generation product. This is presumably due to the fact that I (like most others) have ignored them in the past and this is their introduction to their range. So here it is: a review of an Archos 5 Internet Tablet that is going to be largely ignored because everybody who wants an Archos, wants the latest generation of it.

Announced in 2009, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet sports a 4.8 inch 800 x 480 resistive screen and a range of options regarding storage space. This is the beginning of a long list of reasons why these devices are deemed a tad too geeky for us average people. All I want as an end user is to decide on the size of the hard drive. In truth I don’t give a flying monkeys whether it is solid state or not. The Archos 5 can be supplied with a relatively tiny 8 GB flash memory or a massive 500 GB hard drive. You see? You are totally bored by the fact that I said “flash memory” instead of using more user friendly terms like “the anorexic model” whilst calling the 500 GB goliath “the fatty”. The bottom line is (as an end-user) I care about only a small number of things:

Does it work?
Is it pretty?
How long does it last?
What it can do?
How much does it cost?
What’s annoying about it?

These questions will be answered below in the simplest of ways:

Yep
Not as pretty as the iPad
Anywhere between 7 hours for video use and a massive 22 hours for music use (my experience was somewhat different to this but still extremely impressive)
This is a very big list but basically with a few minor adjustments everything an Android 2.1 system can do which is a lot!
This is another quite annoying question to answer as Archos likes to complicate their pricing somewhat; offering four hundred prices for the four hundred different versions of the product. I’m exaggerating somewhat but I hate unnecessary complications. The bottom line is, if you’re quick you can pick up the device that I have reviewed for under £150 (at PC World UK who are selling it at nearly half of its retail price). They are doing this because the aforementioned 8th generation of Archos devices are being released next week.
The annoyances of the device revolve around edges, sound issues, paste lids and cost.

When you pick up an iPad or iPhone you are welcomed by luxuriously clean lines. You can effectively molest the screen unhindered by some nasty bits of plastic getting in the way. This is not the case on the Archos. Around the screen lies the nasty edge which makes for pressing buttons at the very top, bottom or sides, very difficult. This is such a shame as the screen itself, despite being resistive, is very impressive. Unlike previous resistive products the screen only requires a firm touch and not necessarily a fingernail to operate and despite my first worries, became second nature to use. Typing with those blasted edges in this way is a pain in the proverbial bottom and I demand that the person involved in the design of such edges be flogged!

Second up, if you take a gander round the back of the device you will notice what i refer to as the paste lid problem. Most of the back is covered by a metal-looking plate which (like a ham and beef paste lid that has been opened) makes a popping noise when it is depressed. Call me a fussy man but this started to grate on my nerves after about ten minutes. I had just expected a bit better design from a french product.

The sound coming out of the speaker is almost entirely worthless and for the price of the device this is just not good enough. Yes, I mostly gave up on the internal speaker and used an external sound source and to be honest, if I had the money to buy this then a pair of headphones is not exactly a vast investment. Nevertheless I had hoped for a few speakers capable of producing more than the odd squeak.

The retail cost of this device when new was absolutely insane! At a retail price (for the 32 GB device I reviewed) of £279.99 I could not justify the expense of a book reader, video player and games device………That was until I used it.

This review is perhaps 3 weeks too late. This is simply because I have used the device each and every day and have forgotten that I needed write some notes on it. On average, each day I have used this fantastic tablet for about 6 hours and have found it to be the most impressive eBook reader out in the market today. It is small and comfortable enough to hold in one hand and using the Aldiko or Laputa app I have managed to find a modern and effective way of reading on the move.

The battery life seems endless and after fighting with a modern Smartphone with a battery that lasts approximately three seconds I was amazed this tablet was so efficient. Streaming films through my home network was a breeze and it accepted all of my randomly codec-ed videos I threw at it. Browsing the internet was perfectly reasonable for a device of this size. The largest of issues came though, with regards to the Android Market. Google allegedly only allows devices to have the Android Market installed on the machines that they deem fit. As an alternative to this, Archos manage and install Appslib which is a suitably large alternative market offering many free apps. However I suggest you take advantage of the very easy workaround that allows you to install the Android Market on the device as whilst Appslib is good, it certainly isn’t the mutt’s nuts!

All in all this is a device when at the right price, is well worth your attention. Sound issues, paste lids and edges aside, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet is a better choice for mobile reading down your local Starbucks than all other options on the market.

Ultimately despite being a fantastic product, the fact that it is last year’s model becomes evident as when compared to the upcoming Archos 70 and 101 the Archos 5 is found wanting with a smaller and resistive screen. Admittedly I am excited about using the 8th generation of Archos products and after using this device I am actually moist with anticipation. If they can only address the relatively few problems I have had using this device, then I will definitely be in line for the upcoming Archos 101….who am I kidding? I’ve already pre-ordered it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Without question, the greatest mobile book reader and handheld device I have ever used.

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The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – trailer online

Richard Mann — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:43:28 +0000

I cannot be the only individual in the world that expects dancing broomsticks in the upcoming Disney film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. In fact when you say the word “Sorcerer” the last person you would associate with this career choice is the ever-dull-sounding Nicolas Cage.

Nevertheless Nicolas Cage has been cast alongside Jay Baruchel in an attempt to excite us next Summer. Judging by the trailer all substance seems to have been thoroughly flushed from the film. Let us hope this video is not indicative of what we can expect in August 2010.

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Messless Charging Unit vs. Powermat – gadget review

Richard Mann — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:12:41 +0000

Thank you for checking out our first of many gadget, mobile and Smartphone reviews that ushers in a new dynamic tangent for 4 out of 10. Wow. That sounded pretentious!

First up is that of the battle of the charging units: Messless versus Powermat. Who will come out the victor? How will the “wired” Messless stand up to the “wireless” Powermat? How floppy is an iPhone when docked into a Messless? Well these and many more questions will be answered…probably.

If you don’t know what a Powermat is then I suggest you take a gander at this link. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? “Wireless” charging: fantastic…except for the fact that the cellular phone or gadget needs to be in physical contact with the device! In fact calling the Powermat wireless is much like me referring to a plug and socket’s relationship as wireless…It just isn’t! However don’t you worry your pretty little head about it, as we were also sold “mobile” phones and “portable” televisions in the 80’s which were utter fabrications as well!

Let’s ignore the science bit shall we? Assuming you know what a Powermat is (or have watched the very helpful YouTube link I provided) you don’t much care how it works. The facts are these: both the Messless and the Powermat are multi-charging devices. They are basically a cool alternative to one of those multi-plug dooberys that you buy from Argos. But instead of being £14.99 they are a cool £79.99 (for the Powermat) and 69 Euros /£62 ish (for the Messless). What is almost a brutally unfunny kick in the ghoulies is the fact that these companies expect you to pay for extras!

If you have an iPhone or Blackberry you would be an utter loon if you didn’t take up the wireless sleeve / jacket / case option (costing up to another £35). So for your £79.99 (for the Powermat) you can expect a useless bit of art to slap on your desk and pretend you meant for it just to sit there! All in all the Powermat would have cost you a couple of pence shy of £100. One hundred pounds for a charging unit? I know we love our iPhones but surely not enough to spend nearly one third of our hard earned money out on them again (not after that cool D3O case that was on Dragon’s Den).

I wouldn’t mind this financial insult if the Powermat was actually wireless! Here I am in possession of a serious bit of kit (a HTC-HD2) and the best that can be offered is that of a “Powercube” that wirelessly connects my phone to the board – except for the fact that it is connected by A WIRE! Don’t get me wrong, I am just as excited by this technology as the next man but I refuse to be insulted by a company who is holding back the good stuff until they’ve managed to convince the world’s cellular manufacturers to include a receiver on each of their products.

When all is said and done though, there is a satisfying magnetic force keeping the charging device in place and the power savings are obvious along with the fact that if you do have the right phone, you will feel so cool when you slap your device down on the unit and it charges (not a euphemism). Excellent stuff. It’s just a shame that it has to take up so much space on the desk!

I was advised a few days ago that I may not want to compare the Messless to the Powermat as the latter is an induction charging unit allowing it to be “wireless”. I love the way that everyone throws the “W” word around as if it means anything. The Powermat is wireless but still requires contact; in fact the only way that you can get away with no wires is when you have one of the correct phones! To an end user, the Messless and the Powermat are much of a muchness. In fact the Messless is so much more. Firstly it charges so many more items right out of the box. With 6 interchangeable adapters you can charge a hefty range of devices. Unfortunately, true to form my HD2 requires a micro-usb connector and that costs an extra £9. However ignoring the fact that you could lose money faster than HBOS by buying extra adapters, the Messless is almost a wonder to behold. A colleague of mine recently mentioned that she couldn’t see the purpose in the device as it simply charges… “and not even wirelessly, like the Powermat”. After a bit of a telling off I informed them that they were not only looking at a useful and necessary appliance but also art! This inverted hat sits on your desk and as the day progresses you add different shaped devices that sit in all manner of ways (thanks to the obscure location of connectors). If you don’t know what I mean, then I suggest you place a Blackberry, a PSP a HD2 and an iPod on it…and after then, if you don’t know what I mean then you really shouldn’t be watching that Saatchi programme on Beeb 1!

One of my biggest concerns with the Messless was that of wobbliness. I was convinced that mammoth phones (as they seem to be going that way) would feel a little unstable as they were fitted to the device. Surprisingly though, this was not the case as my HD2 sat in the unit with a comforting clunk! I’m not entirely sure of how long the connectors will last (all interchangeable with a push-down system) but after rigorous shaking and abuse the device still held all of my gadgets well (and that is not a euphemism).

I can only truly think of two things that bother me about the Messless. Firstly the price of the unit: it is shame that it does not have a lower RRP. If this unit was at the £49.99 mark I’d be rushing to buy it. Unfortunately the fact that it sits nearly £20 more than that figure and a micro USB connector isn’t included by default, I am tempted to be a little more careful with my money.

So who won? Where should your money go for a charging device this Christmas? No doubt you are very sold on the idea of “wireless charging” and it is an upsetting fact that we are not quite there yet (largely due to the fact that the Powermat group wants us to buy their don’t-do-much-first-generation-products before their technology is integrated into handheld devices at the manufacturing level). I’ll admit to completely losing faith in an item that doesn’t support arguably one of the most popular phones on the market (HTC-HD2). The very fact that I had to borrow my friend’s iPhone to completely test out the “wirelessness” of the device angered me from the beginning.

For my money I’d grab hold of the Messless. The fact is, it is unlikely to be superseded three months from now and it can charge a huge range of devices straight out of the box. Hey, even if you have no need for a multi-charging station on your desk, then think of it as the cheapest artwork you’re ever likely to buy!

Messless Rating: 4 out of 5

Powermat Rating: 2 out of 5

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Latest Iron Man 2 posters and Black Widow image revealed

Richard Mann — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:27:33 +0000

Almost five seconds after the first Iron Man was considered a “hit”, a second film was underway starring Robert Downey Jr, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle.

We’ll get to see the continuation of the tale (in May of 2010) and we can only hope that Jon Favreau shows as much passion for this project as he did for the original. I for one, am hopeful.

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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has trailer released

Richard Mann — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:03:18 +0000

The Prince of Persia seems to have gone all British guv’nor on us as Jake Gyllenhaal is sporting a decidedly un-Persian like accent (not that I know what that accent is…is it an accent)?

Anyway, here is the trailer you have all been waiting for….well I have at least.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is based on a video game and before you move quickly on, I suggest you take a gander below as the trailer is actually pretty good. Prince of Persia: The Sands of time is released in the Summer of 2010 (May) and co-stars Ben Kingsley and Gemma Arterton.

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The Men who stare at goats trailer

Richard Mann — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:56:37 +0000

Okay so the title does nothing for the film but be sure to watch this trailer and you’ll be converted.

Starring big names such as George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges and Ewan McGregor, The Men Who Stare at Goats truly looks like the one to look out for this year.

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The A-Team group shot

Richard Mann — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:51:01 +0000

The A-Team (with or without the hyphen) was perhaps one of my favourite shows as a child. The very fact that no-one died, there was no blood, Hannibal smoked too much and they managed to make supertank like vehicles with just a small ammunition box (in a cave) didn’t dissuade me from loving it!

Being back to the fray for the 21st century we will get to seem them on the big screen and being played (mostly) by some very capable actors: Liam Neeson as Hannibal, Sharlto Copey as Howling Mad Murdock, Bradley Cooper as Face and finally Quentin Jackson as B.A. Baracus! Apart from the casting of Mr Baracus, it looks as if they are really trying! This may actually be worth a watch! Released in July of 2010.

Here is their first official group shot. Also be sure to click here where Movieweb have posted EW’s featurette.

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Salma Hayek in Cirque Du Freak – The Vampire’s Assistant poster

Richard Mann — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:46:28 +0000

Surely there is only one thing not to like in this promotional desktop wallpaper (1280) for The Vampire’s Assistant and that is the word “bearded”. Thankfully we are saved the beard it seems in this poster but that word still concerns me greatly! If you are seeking more wallpapers for The Vampire’s Assistant then click here (although they are not as good as this one).

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Win an iPod Nano

Richard Mann — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:42:07 +0000

Do you want to win the latest Apple iPod Nano? All you have to do is complete a very dull questionnaire on eggs! Seriously: it couldn’t be easier!

Click here and you’ll be transported to the survey. Winner will be announced on January 1st 2010 and they will get the opportunity to choose their favourite colour iPod Nano along with a text engraving of their choice for that personal touch!

Good Luck!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Gary Green (of Camden) who has won an orange iPod Nano. Admittedly not my favourite choice of colour but nevertheless it will be winging its way to you within the next few weeks.

Look out for further competitions on the site

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