What a waste of my time… couldn’t be more biased against MS… it presents office 365 small business as if it was more expensive than office for students, which it obviously is if you are in the business of comparing apples to oranges. This outrageous difference is half of what you pay for a single Numbers license from Apple’s office look-a-like offerings, or a mere $20… Instead it should have compared Office Home and Business for Mac 2011 which is $200 per license (Best Buy, retail price, no volume discounts applied). The right comparison would highlight that it saves users $880 if they take advantage of the 5 licenses they can install with this single subscription when compared to the same product as a standalone license…

It then goes to say that you only get Office for Mac 2011, which in fact is the latest office available for Mac, but of course it fails to mention that ANY future version of Office for Mac to be released will be included in this subscription model such as the version to be released later this year.

It also appears to be shocked when it says that if you stop paying this subscription service, you cannot continue to use the software! What a shocker! How is this any different to say, you stop getting internet access when you stop paying the bill! What do they expect? You stop paying, you get no more service! We are talking about SAAS (software as a service) people… get it? A. Freaking. Service! This is the utility model that so many others have moved into… and by no means or measurement is Microsoft the first one to move into this model…

So instead of paying for 5 licenses upfront ($200 student, or $1000 when properly comparing licenses), you pay $10 a month for the next 2 years which is just $240 for a retail value of $1000…

Hmmm, biased MacWorld? Just stick to the facts next time.

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While the OtterBox Commuter case I reviewed this week gives you some great protection the OtterBox Defender case gives you extreme  protection with a solid thought out design followed up with state of the art materials, it also gives the Defender series case a stylish look but still has supreme protection.

Image courtesy www.otterbox.com

VIDEO

Just as I did with the OtterBox Commuter Case for the Note 2, I have done a video to show the hands on, and how it looks picking it up, also at the end of the video is a comparison against the Defender Case, Commuter Case and Commuter Case for GS3 4G.

INSTALLATION

Side and back views of the internal Plastic case, final photo is showing silicone case being slipped on.

SNAP SHOTS

End view showing MicroUSB port covered and S-Pen.	Side view…
S-Pen, Speaker and MicroUSB ports	Camera up close
MicroUSB cover open	Headphone Jack cover open.
Volume rocker and white clip stud	Power key and white clip stud.

For more information visit www.otterbox.com

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I am personally a big believer in using cases, and can’t believe that consumers invest almost a $1000 on their telco device yet are happy to just use no case or that cheap $10 clip on case or Gel Case that offers no to little actual protection then come crying that they have now damaged their device, I saw this a lot when I worked at Vodafone’s Service Centre here in Perth, they only bought an OtterBox case after the fact, better late than never was the attitude.

Image courtesy www.otterbox.com

VIDEO

For this review I have decided to do a video just to show you a more of a hands on approach, there are also close up photo’s below.

SNAP SHOTS   (Photo’s taken with my Samsung Galaxy Camera with Macro Setting)

OtterBox Commuter Case open ready to install	Note 2 with Commuter Case bottom end
Note 2 with Commuter Case Left side	Top view
Shot of the S-Pen, MicroUSB, Speaker sections	S-Pen pulled out
MicroUSB Charger/Sync cover opened	Headphone Jack port cover opened
Camera section show how it is raised	Easy access to Home button
Raised edge gives freedom to lie Note 2 face down on a table or surface and know that the screen is raised up.	Top speaker, Sensors and front facing camera has full access.

For more information visit www.otterbox.com

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I would say most people that travel a lot, work out side or even those that work in a very busy environment would get the best from this case, both Cody and Myself use the Defender case on our GS3 4G devices, it just gives use that much more protection when we visit stores, and if we have to give demoes of the GS3 at least we know that it is protected if it is dropped or bumped.

The Defender Case

From OtterBox… The Defender Series Samsung Galaxy S3 case offers three layers of protection so you don’t have to fear the inevitable oopsie or accident. The two-piece polycarbonate inner layer snaps together around the device to form a secure foundation. The inner layer includes a built-in screen protector that prevents scratches while interior memory foam pads cradle the device to provide added shock absorption. The outer layer is made up of rugged silicone that wraps around the inner layer to absorb impact. The Defender Series comes with a ratcheting belt holster that can also double as a viewing stand.

Features: Complete functionality of the device through the case, including the microphone, speaker, camera and flash Silicone plugs cover the main openings of the phone, including volume controls, power button, headphone jack and micro USB port Three layers of protection include a polycarbonate inner layer, a built-in screen protector and a silicone outer layer

Material: Built-in screen protector prevents scratches while retaining the touch sensitivity of the screen. Two-piece polycarbonate inner layer snaps together to form a snug fit around the device. Rugged silicone outer layer wraps around the polycarbonate inner layer to create a rock-solid defense against oopsies like drops and shocks. Rotating belt holster fastens to almost anything and can also double as a media viewing stand. Face the screen outward to use or inward for maximum protection.

Weight and Dimensions: Weight (with holster): 4.64 oz / 131.54 g Dimensions: 5.88 in x 3.47 in x 1.41 in / 148.84 mm x 88.14 mm x 35.81 mm

Environmental Protection: The Defender Series Samsung Galaxy S3 case provides added protection against bump and shock but is NOT protective against water.

Information courtesy of www.otterbox.com

 

PROTECTION For those that are more active and out in the elements, then the Defender series gives you that higher protection with three layers of protection with a built in Screen Protector and belt clip. I can personal testify to the solid construction, I dropped one of my phones with a Defender Case on it while running to catch a train, after sitting down on the train I found that my device was fine and that it had no dints or cracks.

UP CLOSE

Power button	Volume control
Covered Headphone Jack	Opened Headphone Jack
Charger port covered	Charger port uncovered
Fits great in my hand and Camera is open and protected.	Close up of the Camera.

DEFENDER BELT CLIP

The belt clip is light and solid to wear, and the GS3 clicks in with a very nice solid sound. I wore this visiting stores, I found I had to take it off while driving as my car has lower seats so can get jammed against the car seat or seat belt, however was great I could put my GS3 in the cup holder or in my Samsung Generic Phone holder.

COMPARISON: COMMUTER CASE (WHITE) VS DEFENDER CASE (BLUE)

Slight difference, the Defender is larger due to the bulk of the Defender case	Volume button located pretty much the same area, the light blue section is the clip for the Belt clip on the Defender Case.
Power button again similar location	The big difference is here is the Cover for the Headphone Jack on the Defender has a hard plastic edge.
The Charger port also on the Defender case has more protection and feels solid	The Defender case comes in closer around the edges with a hard plastic just giving that high impact protection.

MY OUT COME

I believe that if you are the type of person who is on the go and lives life to the most then look no further that the Defender series, and with the wide range of colours and even an option of designing your own colour range.

Visit www.otterbox.com

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I write this review on Christmas Eve morning, I start thinking of all those new Samsung Galaxy S3’s that will be given out to the tech savvy, the new user, the teenager and even to granny I wonder if these people or even the people giving the device have thought about how they will protect their new device, most look on eBay or travel to cheap phone shops to get a Gel case or a clip on case but wonder why a week or so later their new beloved device has dints, scratches and marks all over it. I worked for Vodafone’s Service Centre here in Perth and I can tell you I have seen loads of damaged devices over the 3 years I worked there, the best case I personal have used and recommended to people coming into the Service Centre is OtterBox, Why? well for me it was the look and dual protection and that there were two types depending on my situation – Commuter Case for great protection but without a lot of excess bulk or weight, Defender Case is the big bad boy of cases with added protection from 4 layers including a built in screen protector and the added bonus of a belt clip, another reason is that they Work! they are tough, reliable and ready to go. For me it’s like when you have your first child and you take them home for the first time if you don’t use a baby capsule something will go wrong so we protect our new baby by using a baby capsule it’s common sense, just like our brand new devices if we don’t use a case then we are leading to a possible heart ache of losing that brand new Christmas present be it a cracked screen, massive cracks or dents, not a great way to spend your money or your day.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS With the development of the GS3 and how the smooth corners combined with a thin contour show off a great mobile device, in my view OtterBox has kept Samsung’s vision and just extended it with a cocoon of protection and elegance.   By adding the Commuter case to the GS3 I have effectively gained better grip, and for me just that bit of extra weight to make it feel just right in my large hands.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 4G
images & info courtesy of www.samsung.com.au

Design Samsung GALAXY S III 4G’s minimal and organic design is reflected in its smooth and nonlinear lines. Its human-centric nature provides a comfortable experience, while its comfortable grip, gentle curves and organic form helps deliver a natural feel.	Fast 4G Speed# Enjoy a great performance and lightening fast speeds with the 4G network support# on the Telstra and Optus 4G network. On the Samsung GALAXY S III 4G and within selected coverage areas you can enjoy download speeds ranging from 30Mbps to 60Mbps.
4.8 HD Super AMOLED The 4.8 inches of high definition display has true colours, ultrafast response times and HD video playback. It is outrageously sharp and amazingly thin.	Specs 4G – LTE (1,800/2,600), 1.4GHz Processor, Quad Core, 4.8” Super HD Amoled – 720 x 1280 (HD), Battery 2,100mAh, Expandable memory with a MicroSD (up to 64GB),  Bluetooth 4.0.

WHY NOT A CASE? If you look at the way we use our mobile phones on a day-to-day bases, one of the main things  we do is take it in & out of our pockets or like my wife her handbag, with this daily routine we all have the chance be it 50/50 that we may drop or knock it. Unless you have house and contents insurance or have taken out Mobile insurance with your local carrier your pretty much on your own so why do many people  just don’t use cases? Are they that rich that they can afford to purchase another handset outright or add a Mobile Payment Plan to their accounts? I think not most just think that their phone is large enough as it is and don’t want to make it even larger, for example the GS3 has a 4.8” screen, for most this is a very large screen except those like me and my wife who tote around the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy Note. So in saying this wouldn’t it still make sense that you should protect this large device? With most new devices costing around the $800+ outright and to repair the screen anything from $250.00 and the cost of an OtterBox case from $35, for me it makes more sense to go for the protection, but then that’s just me…

Image courtsey of www.otterbox.com

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Power button on the right hand side of the case is fully enclosed.	Volume button is on the left and still gives easy use.	Charging port is covered, still allowing charging when required.
Head phone jack is again covered like the Charging Port	The Camera is protected with a hard plastic surround.	Images above  courtesy of www.otterbox.com, others taken by me via my Note 2.

MY TESTS I try and complete a few traveling tests with the case normally just going to work when I worked at the Service Centre then latter at the Retail Shop for Vodafone, Now that I am Telco Rep I use my car a lot and visit Shopping Centres (Malls for those that live in the USA) this gave me such a great testing ground for this case. I use both the GS3 4G and Note 2 and they are carried in my left pocket of my work pants.

IN MY CAR I find getting in and out of my car with the GS3 and OtterBox is still easy and doesn’t feel uncomfortable. When I travel I take my GS3 and place it in the central dash cup holders and by using the Commuter Case it keeps it from moving around and protects it from scuffing. I have also tried the GS3 with the Commuter case in Samsung’s generic window holder  and it fits perfectly so no having to take it out of the case if I want to use Navigon.
ON THE TRAIN Sometimes I take the train Perth CBD which is around a 30 min ride or going further when I visit Joondalup this is around 50-60 min ride. As like most commuter trains Perth are very busy in the mornings and at night. I found that with the Commuter Case on my GS3 4G it was comfortable to hold and gave me that confidence to use it.
AT THE MALL I spend most of my day going in to Shopping Centres and visiting all the Telco stores, I have my GS3 4G and my Note 2 4G (currently with out a case, its awaiting some OtterBox love). I find that I can carry both in my pocket and it doesn’t feel uncomfortable, it actually made it easy to grip as I take it out of my pocket.
AT HOME Even at home I still found the case came into its own, most of the time my GS3 is beside my bed and if I need it I just ask one of my kids to get it for me and I know that with the Commuter case on that it will give them easy grip and know that if they should drop it, it will be protected.

OUT COME I update this review on Box Day, so those lucky people out there have now and truly received their new Galaxy S3 and looking for that Boxing Day Special why note visit your local carrier, JB Hi-Fi or even Harvey Norman and pickup an OtterBox case for that great new device… If you can’t be bothered going out it in the Perth heat (38oC today – 40/41 oC for the rest of the week) then let your fingers do the walking and visit www.otterbox.com, get that Commuter or even the defender case in that prized device the Samsung Galaxy S3 today.

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Slate Grey Workmate

For me Protection is everything next to design, so for those that have a busy life and are out and about and just want their new iPhone 5 protected at all times then this case is for you. “WorkMate combines a heavy duty shell and impact resistant inner to defend your iPhone at work or play. The slim fit, dual material case is extra protective and pocket-friendly. Enjoy access to all functions and screen protector.” - Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

Fits nicely in my hand, felt comfortable.	Volume keys are easy to get to and well as the vibration rocker	Power button is defined to give fast access and know just the place to press.	At the bottom all ports are open, including speaker, Charger port,

Black Vector

Looks tough and feels great, yet still looks very sleek and professional.  “Vector intersects form and function, with sleek lines and impact resistant design. Inspired by the angles of skyscrapers and stealth jets, it’s pocket friendly and provides access to all functions. Includes a screen protector. “ - Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

Orange Bulldozer

If your on the go and want something that stands out but is still tough, then Bulldozer just like its name will keep on trucking. “Bulldozer is extra-protective and impact resistant, inspired by bulldozer tracks and made tough for active lifestyles. Enjoy easy-grip texture, constructed edges and access to all functions. Includes screen protector.” - Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

Black Apollo

A case even Captain Kirk would have envied, this vibrant case offers great protection with added style and character. “Space-age Apollo is impact resistant, fingerprint proof and anti-scratch, offering 360 degree protection for iPhone 5. With raised edges and a grooved, shock absorbent interior, it attaches and removes with ease. Enjoy access to all functions. Includes a screen protector.”  - Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

Green AeroGrip Feel

The AreoGrip range will suit your everyday use, either the Feel, Crystal or Forum all offer something light, thin and easy to snap on. Change your style and colour to match your day. “AeroGrip Feel is slim fit, hard case with soft texture finish. The snap-on, ergonomic design includes side grip, protection for the edges of your iPhone and access to all functions. Includes a screen protector.” – Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

Black – UrbanShield

For the up and coming business man or woman who wants a slick and well made case the look no further than the UrbanShield. “Set yourself apart with the brushed aluminium, dual material UrbanShield for your iPhone. Precision-machined, this slim statement case protects against scratches and allows access to all functions. Includes a screen protector.” – Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

ICON – Echidna Dreaming & ICON – Rain Making

Want something that is truly Australian, then the Icon range with the Echidna Dreaming and  Rain Making will make your phone standout from the rest. “World-famous Ronnie Tjampitjinpa of Papunya Tula Artists is a grand master of the Australian Indigenous Western Desert Art movement. Artwork steeped in Aboriginal dreamtime adorns the hard, slim case and includes a screen protector.” – Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

ICON – Haven

The Icon – Haven takes style and looks to a new level and also entertains at the same time as giving you protection.   “Australian-born animator Nathan Jurevicius is the creator of the Scarygirl graphic novel and on-million player online game. Be enthralled by the hypnotic Scarygirl fantasy-scape Haven on the hard, slim case. Includes a screen protector.” - Courtesy of www.cygnett.com.au

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If you are shopping on a tight budget, you don’t need to spend all your money on the newer hardware; you can still purchase a Windows 7 PC until the end of 2012 and upgrade to Windows 8 for just $15 by using their promotion.

Back to your choice; Windows 8 is divided into 2 versions: Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 RT. These two lines are almost exactly the same to the untrained eye. They behave the same but their feature set is somewhat different. Regardless of the version and hardware you choose to run Windows 8, this OS is extremely fluid and is so light that it requires less hardware to run than Windows 7 requires.

Some very interesting features offered with Windows 8 are Xbox Smartglass and Xbox Music which enables your devices (Windows Phone 8, Windows 8 and Xbox) to interact with each other. The new Xbox Music service for example works in a similar way to Pandora, Spotify for free (ad supported) but it additionally offers a subscription model where you are allowed to download all the songs you want from the service into all your devices as long as you are a subscriber.

Windows 8 RT is a smaller and more compact version of Windows 8. It typically runs on smaller hardware, meaning that it may be less powerful but with the added benefit of much better battery life. Windows 8 RT also comes bundled with Microsoft Office 2013 (it actually comes with a preview version and a free upgrade/download when the final version is out). You get the chance to use MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint and MS OneNote. All the typical Windows applications are still included with Windows 8 RT and then some. You get Windows Mail, People (Contacts) and all your basic productivity apps. The down side of Windows 8 RT is that you will not be able to install your existing Windows legacy apps. This implies that you will only be able to purchase or download for free apps from the Windows App Store which will have less than 10,000 apps at the time of launch. In any case, I consider the need for apps a superfluous and over-hyped requirement: The main need for apps in other platforms has always been there to cover for a crippled browser. In this case, we are still talking about Windows, where you will have IE 10 in two revisions (desktop and metro; both with Flash compatibility) in addition to the freely available Chrome and Firefox (to say the least). This will guarantee that even if you don’t like third part apps to connect to Twitter (for example), you will not be left waiting for the official Twitter app… you simply need to go with your browser to Twitter’s website for accessing the full functionality. In the long run, you install less apps, because you have a better browser experience. This version of the OS is prepared to run in ARM CPUs, which are not compatible with the x86 platform that Intel and AMD use for PCs. This means that Windows 8 RT is not backward compatible with your existing software or hardware; it is a “forward-looking-only version” of the OS. Therefore, you can only purchase this version of the OS with the purchase of new hardware. One example is the Microsoft Surface RT; a tablet available starting at $499 from the Microsoft Store. Other OEMs have announced their own devices running Windows 8 RT such as ASUS, Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, etc. They are all priced at a lower range than Ultrabooks or between $350 and $800. Windows 8 RT devices cannot be added to a Windows Domain (which is mostly used in your work environment as opposed to your home, where you have a Workgroup or Home Network. One way you will be able to “cheat” Windows Legacy functionality out of these devices will be to use RDP (or Remote Desktop) where you will be able to run a remote session to other devices who happen to be running other versions of Windows (even older versions).

Windows 8 Pro is the full version of the OS. Windows 8 allows you to run Windows legacy apps and is fully backwards compatible with your existing hardware and currently installed software. You can purchase it with new hardware and by itself so you upgrade or install from scratch your own Windows device. This version has many more features, it runs in more powerful hardware but can also be used for tablets, ultrabooks, laptops, desktops and all-in-one computers. Tablets based on the new line of Atom dual code processors offer the features of Windows 8 Pro with the power and price savings benefits fo the ARM processors while still being backward-compatible. If you are concerned about your Windows Legacy software and still want to use a lightweight tablet, you will certainly be better off with these devices. Almost all new hardware (even for non-tablets) will start being rolled out with touch-screens given that the Windows 8 UI greatly benefits from the touch-interface. This is not to say that we have gotten rid of track-pads and mice; on the contrary, you can still use them if that is your preferred controlling method for your device. All the apps listed in the Windows App Store will be 100% compatible with both Windows 8 RT and Windows 8 Pro, so you will also benefit from the newer apps as they are released to the new OS while at the same time you will be able to run your legacy applications. In corporate environments, it will be typical to see a transition into Windows 8 Pro as it will be the best way to leverage existing corporate apps developed for internal use and as part of a Windows Domain. IT departments have already expressed a certain interest in rolling out Windows RT only as a replacement fr those who use other OEMs’ tablets and are used to running devices that sit outside of the Windows Domain while at the same time they have expressed a strong interest in rolling out Windows 8 Pro into their existing devices by means of an upgrade to their aging hardware (since Windows 8 is less resource intensive than previous versions). Windows 8 Pro comes packed with features such as RDP, Active Directory Domain support, Encryption File System, Hyper-V, BitLocker, etc. Windows 8 Pro also exists as Windows 8 Core which is a bit less feature-rich; for example lacking the Media Center app from the bundled apps.

I am sure there will be a few disappointed users. There will almost surely be some buyers’ remorse for whoever buys one type of OS and realize they really needed the other, but arming yourself with this information is the smartest way you can go about deciding which is going to be your platform going forward. Walk around, try out different devices, go to a Microsoft Store where they have a huge selection of Windows devices in a single place and spend some time testing all form factors they have… then make your purchase. This way you will not regret your decision.

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With the availability of content consumption-specific devices and some cloud-services such as storage, it is now an easier choice for consumers to choose a device that was specifically tailored for their needs. Users who will most likely not need to create content can easily choose to rid themselves of their home PC or laptop and choose to go for the far-easier to make choice: the Post-PC device!

Back to the key word I mentioned before: Users will “mostly” consume  content… but what about when they need to create content? Will they need another device; dedicated to their content creation? What about their budgets: their content consumption devices are less expensive than PCs but they are still not cheap, do consumers now need to purchase two devices? So, here is the main issue where most consumers will end up disappointed with their devices: Yes, they will enjoy consuming content in a personal device but will be extremely disappointed by the inability to create content with those devices.

Enter Windows 8.

This new Windows version is not just for PCs any more… it also runs on Post-PC devices making them the ultimate Post-PC PCs! Tablets running the lightest version of the Windows 8 OS are truly mobile, practical, terribly easy to use and a much safer option than regular run-of-the-mill PCs. Yes, there will be a few draw-backs such as not being able to run legacy software on Windows RT, but they will still be able to create content in a reasonable way while still being able to use a content consumption device. Some consumption grade devices even run Windows 8 Pro which can run legacy software.

Windows 8, in all its versions breeds new life to the PC by re-imagining the whole PC concept. Windows 8 devices will be here to stay in only 4 days and they will transform how you use your PC without needing to get completely rid of it.

The PC is dead, long live the PC! or more accurately: the PC is dead in its old form, long live the PC in its new form!

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The top of the line Kindle Fire HD (not including 4G access) lines up almost perfectly with the lowest entry level Microsoft Surface. So, why should Microsoft sell its Surface entry level tablet for less than its equivalent Kindle Fire HD? The answer is simple… to out-Amazon Amazon’s strategy. Microsoft will be coming in late, very late in the tablet game… but where other OEMs have failed with their own Android “me too” tablets; Amazon has captured in less than a year 22% of the market, out-shining all of the other Android OEMs. Now with a solid footing it is aiming to undercut the iPad which is confirmed to be preparing its own 7 inch iPad mini in Brazil.

It’s going to be a bloodbath… and while Apple focuses on Amazon and producing a tablet that competes with the entry level Kindle Fire or Fire HD 7; Microsoft should try to enter the market and take it by surprise much like Amazon did last year… The potential is obviously there and could be a huge move by Microsoft.

What everyone complains about in Windows 8 RT is that it does not offer a full desktop, and Microsoft has the perfect excuse for that… it is the entry level models, and it comes with MS Office 2013 included! What more can you expect! If you want a full desktop experience, just spend a few more Dollars and buy yourself a higher end model or one that has equivalent hardware but with the brand new Atom multi-core (such as IBM, Dell, etc) that use less power but can still run the full version of Winows 8 as opposed to Windows 8 RT!

$300 is a great price to compete with Amazon, Google and the iPad at the same time. Microsoft Surface RT is about as close to the iPad and Amazon Kindle Fire HD (top tier) as it can be. Compare all these devices and they all come up short to an Ultrabook, Laptop or Desktop: obviously! But the closest match is certainly and without a doubt the Microsoft Surface RT. All these devices have the great advantage of being mobile while not sacrificing functionality and keeping a huge battery life. But their distinguishable factors are not necessarily that unique, except the Microsoft Surface RT.

Microsoft Surface RT devices have a more “premium feel” than Google and Amazon’s devices which technically allows Microsoft to charge a little bit more than their competitors as the Surface RT offers MS Office and will allow users to potentially skip the idea of getting a PC altogether. At the same time, the Surface RT comes head-to-head with its Apple counterpart with the benefit of offering MS Office and being a bit less expensive than its equivalent iPad. So, while Microsoft could charge more; charging less for their Surface RT will enable to undercut all other competing devices without leaving the consumer feeling that they purchased a “cheap device” as was the case last year with the Kindle Fire first generation.

At the highest end of the spectrum, the most expensive iPad compared to the most expensive MS Surface has no place as the iPad is still a kid’s toy compared to the business level PC replacement the the Microsoft Surface Pro will provide with the Intel i5 processor, more storage, higher screen resolution and overall design of its OS and device.

With October being one of the busiest months in terms of product launches in history, Microsoft is pushing forward with a completely renovated software UI, hardware lines, developer products, server-side systems, even its own media organization. I am very excited to see this much innovation and high quality coming out of Redmond’s Giant.

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Introducing Freedom Sprint Premium Bluetooth Buds
40% Smaller, Secure Fit, Wireless Music + Calls

JayBird is pleased to announce a new addition to the Freedom line of Premium Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, the all new Freedom Sprint.

Taking the trusted Secure Fit and High Performance Audio Quality of the Freedom, we have enhanced nearly every element of the all new Freedom Sprint.

The Freedom Sprint is 40% smaller than Freedom and boasts 4.5 hours of play-time for all your Wireless Music and Calls. The evolved offering also features a reverse LED light, so it is not visible to others, micro USB charging, a refined cord for improved comfort on the neck and enhanced voice call quality. The Freedom Sprint offers the same trusted patented Secure Fit for Sports, Lifetime Warranty against Sweat and continued focus on Premium Sound and Warm Bass tuned to reduce listener fatigue during long work outs and activity.

You can be confident knowing you are getting a personalized and proper fit with 3 sizes of ear tips and 3 sizes of Secure Fit ear cushions included in the Premium magnet sealed carry case.

Freedom Sprint comes with a 3 month Premium Membership trial to MapMyFitness, an added $60 value!

Key Features:
- 40% smaller design
- Bluetooth Wireless Music+Calls
- Secure Fit for Sports
- Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat
- Premium Audio Quality

The Freedom Sprint is available now at JayBirdSport.com and retails for $129.
Learn More

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Experience the best retro classic games from the 2600 era with the all-new Activision Anthology App for tablets and smartphones! Available for the first time on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices, gamers can play the original games that started it all. Activision Anthology gives gamers KABOOM!™  for FREE and access to 45 Activision and Imagic games including: PITFALL!™, RIVER RAID™, THE ACTIVISION® DECATHLON, BARNSTORMING™, STAMPEDE™, PITFALL II, ENDURO™, DEMON ATTACK, and many more!

Activision Anthology features multiple control schemes so gamers can choose a play style that suits them. Activision Anthology has Game Center and Facebook integration including leaderboards and achievements to share and compete with friends!  Players can also earn digital versions of the renowned Activision game patches offered in the 1980′s. Original cartridge and box art, game manuals, tips and strategies from the original game designers are also included.

Download some Activision nostalgia now!

Activision Anthology is available for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android devices for free (includes Kaboom!). Players can purchase four additional bundle packs with 11 games each at $2.99 or collect all 45 games for a special limited-time introductory price of only $6.99.

App Store Link: goo.gl/JFnNB

Google Play Link: goo.gl/pTRL4

For more information, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ActivisionAnthology

All trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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Please do not assume that my frustration stems from not knowing MacOS. I am way past that. In the time since, I have used MacOS, configured it, installed several software suites, etc. I have gotten used to the gestures for the large touch pad without buttons, where the whole touch pad acts as a clickable button, or the lack of a right-click button on your mouse. These are all simple hurdles that anyone with an open mind can get past with a few hours of usage.

It all started a few months ago when someone I know decided to go with a MacBook Pro after having used Windows PCs forever. Starting from a very open-minded position I figured: we might test it anyway, everyone is praising both software and hardware so much that we might as well try, everyone says how easy it is to have them up and running that it was a tempting scenario. What reassured me the most that it was worth going in this direction was that I had been mostly surrounded by a like-minded group and it would be a reasonable experiment, just to know what the Apple crowd was so hyped about. After all, even though they are a mere 4% to 6% of the computer market, they are still in the millions. When compared to the 1.5 billion Windows users, they are just an insignificant sample, but my curiosity was excited with this opportunity. I thought “Who knows, they might be on to something I don’t know!”

What a disappointment! Never in a million years I would have thought that Apple was so messed up, particularly in light of the comments that most users have for their products and services.

Where can I start! Apple Mail is so limited: connecting into Google Apps corporate account was a struggle. After Apple Care was unable to connect into the service and account that worked just fine from a Windows PC (with and without MS Outlook), Android smartphone, iPhone and Windows Phone… The files were even packed and sent out to Apple for analysis and after about 24-48 hours it came back with a verdict of “Not our problem” and no additional help. Fortunately, we were able to resolve the issue in-house without Apple Care’s help. In the process we proved that it was actually an Apple issue when we had to rebuild the Apple Mail store (or whatever they call it).

Uninstalling an application is simply a joke! The official documentation indicates that for uninstalling an app, you just need to drag the icon to the trash… well; on the PC side, I thought; if you did that, you would only be removing the shortcut and not the actual program, settings and files that the program saves on the hard drive. I thought that this was one of the advanced MacOS features that make people praise the OS so much… How naïve of me! After finding some odd looking files, I just discovered that the program files were still there… so, in fact it is a similar scenario as Windows where you could potentially delete the shortcut to the application without actually uninstalling it. The only difference is that in Windows you have a Control Panel screen where you can uninstall any installed application, and this feature has only been in Windows since … err… Windows 95, for only 17 years! Apple’s detractors have always said Apple was extremely arrogant… but to this extreme? Unbelievable! To make matters worse; this was not a typo or mistake someone made on their documentation: Apple Care (Apple’s tech support over the phone) officially pushes this procedure and asks unsuspecting users to simply “delete their shortcuts“. I wonder what they would tell the users when they unsuspectedly run out of space even though they “uninstalled” all their software from their Macs.

I remember from the ad campaign from a few years back “I’m a Mac; I’m a PC“, one ad in particular where the PC was being poked fun at for having a security guard that wouldn’t let it do anything. This guard would keep asking for permission when a particular task needed to be done. This was a feature introduced in Windows Vista that would ask a do you allow app X to do Y; expecting the user to click on yes or no. MacOS takes this one step further and instead of just asking the user and instead it requires for the user’s password. So, back in the ad, the Mac; would have to key in a password every single time it needed to do something. Personally, this is a security measure I can live with,but oh…the irony is that after all the nagging and whining, in just a few years, MacOS could not find a better process than what was being ridiculed in an ad.

Malware prevention is one of the hottest topics of our time. A past lack of security in Windows allowed a whole generation of black-hat hackers (hackers with evil intentions) to write malware and viriii aimed at Windows PCs. Fortunately Windows is today one of the most secure environments in the market. Not because of lack of interest in writing malware for the environment but because some hard lessons were learned. MacOS has recently been characterized as being at least 10 years behind in terms of malware protection by industry experts. There is no education or documentation as readily available as there is on the Windows side that will teach users they need to protect themselves from these threats. Windows has a set of alerts that will raise a flag whenever you are running and your Antivirus is either inactive or hasn’t been installed; MacOS: nope.

Malware Prevention II: My friend was at an Apple Store, where one of the so-called “geniuses” recommended him to remove the AntiVirus that was installed on his computer. Whether MacOS protects against Virii or not or whether anti-virus software is needed or not has been long debated but Apple marketing would like users to believe they do not need it… while malware (amongst which Virus is just one category) spreads rampant on MacOS computers. Anti Virus software, these days covers users not only against Virus, but all kinds of malware. Suggesting users to uninstall the very software that will prevent malware from getting installed on your device, even if you specifically have to trigger it yourself is definitely non-genius-worthy.

Malware Prevention III: Apple Marketing’s half truths only hurt their own customers… they claimed that MacOS does not get PC virii on their website. As noted by PC World in “Apple Quitely Pulls Claims of Virus Immunity” article; Sophos, Kaspersky and other security expert companies are hoping that Apple takes security a bit more seriously. The latest malware, worms, botnets, trojans, etc have been particularly harmful for MacOS users.

MacOS plays nice with… nobody, not even customers. After several attempts and failures, we searched online for potential solutions to each and everyone of these issues and found millions (millions!) of pages of people that report the same set of issues we had, all of them reported similar lack of support, indifference and an utter lack of care from, ironically, Apple Care.

The funniest thing was that when I started talking about these issues with users that normally use Macs, the merrily acknowledged that this is very common. Everyone started mentioning how flaky Apple software was and how easy it is to just change one little setting and have the whole OS blow up in a mess that needs to be reconfigured completely. In fact, I heard from Mac users mouths’ come words like “fickle”, “flaky”, “inconsistent performace”, “high maintenance”, “unpredictable”, “erratic” and “unreliable”. I was as much shocked as I was amused! How could these people not switch to “the other” platform? In their minds Windows was worse, even though this might have been true in the past and true no more.

Given all these shortcomings and many more that are of smaller importance I can say that MacOS is a very frustrating yet inept OS for users who are not technically savvy. The risks that unsuspecting users face with an OS that does not aim at protecting the users or even itself it just too high for anyone to wants to place personal and private files in it. In addition to MacOS’s shortcomings, most Apple users are so blindly following Apple and anything it does, that they cannot even notice how much more useful and EASY Windows has become over the years.

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”Ideal for easy on-the-go use, the protective Lavish Connect features a super-thin magnetically-attached 84-key QWERTY Bluetooth keyboard and integrated stand. Concealed magnets activate the sleep/wake function and keep the case securely closed when your new iPad is not in use.”
Courtesy of Cygnett.com

When I took the case to work to show my work mates as pretty much 90% of them have an iPad 2 or 3, they all loved the case and one even wanted to take it home, one wanted it in hot pink… yes she loves that colour, maybe a black case with highlighted pink…

THE CASE

I was quite surprised with the feel and the look of the case, simple but elegant look speaks business and functionally use. 

FEATURES & SPECS

• Slim folio case includes magnetically-attached yet easily removable Bluetooth keyboard, allowing you to make the most of your new iPad experience
• Beautifully crafted & elegantly designed to protect your new iPad from drops & scratches
• Concealed magnets keep the case securely closed when The new iPad is not in use

The front case is smooth and classy, with the Cygnett logo showing prominently in the middle…	The back has kick stand in the middle, see below for closer view, and camera cut out at the top left corner…

INSTALLATION

The iPad slips in from left to right…

The iPad is kept nice and safe with a flap that tucks under the iPad…

The kick stand is connected to the back with additional support of a ribbon…	The keys have good feed back, a bit small for my large hands, however once I played with it for a while I could touch type with a only a few errors…
The Keyboard is charged via MicroUSB, and all connection buttons next to it…	Close up of Camera cut out…

THE SET UP

I must admit that the actual set up of the case and the iPad was great, no need to take the separate keyboard with you, my wife liked this case a lot more that me, so will most likely be using it loads more. She just liked the keyboard and how easy it was to set up and connect to the iPad and that she could use the keyboard with no real checking of the buttons (she has smaller hands than me…).

I could really see this case being used on the train, plane or your next business meeting.

The keyboard looks great and will turn heads at your next meeting…

The Lavish Connect Bluetooth Folio Case closed…

To find out more and where you can buy yours visit here

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Cygnett’s Transport for London Series for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, RRP $24.95;

THE UN-BOXING

TubeMap: ditch the A-Z when travelling in central London with this scale tube map case, featuring a glossy, pocket-friendly finish. NightLines (DayLines): both powder-soft rubberised cases pop with the vivid colour palate of London Underground train lines, over DayLines’ bright white or NightLines’ moody black.

The box looks great for both, they come with the clip on case and screen protector…

Up close the look awesome, both are so different yet have a real class about them, when I showed them at work, my work mates loved them, they thought the TubeMap was cool, but loved the colours of the NightLines case (even if they didn’t know the names…)

The cases just clip onto your iPhone 4 or 4S….

Smooth corners and great lines the case will make your iPhone standout from the crowed…

Retail stockists include Optus, Harvey Norman and JB Hi Fi. Get yours today!

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With Samsung Galaxy S III – the Official Phone of the Games – taking the world by storm and Cygnett set to release the Official Transport for London cases for the SIII in mid-July, it’s time to limber up for the Games.

London will be calling on the Galaxy SIII, with every athlete sporting a limited edition model of the device – not to mention a good proportion of the rest of the world. Sales of the very-fit smartphone are predicted to be close to 21.5 million by Q3 2012, according to International Business Times.

Cygnett will release their Official Licensed Transport for London Series (Registered User no. 11/4927) and Great Britain case for the Official Phone of the Games throughout the world in mid-July, just before the opening ceremony.

Samsung Galaxy S III users can wrap their phone in their favourite London icon (RRP $24.95);

TubeMap; perfect for getting around central London during the Games, the precise tube map features Leicester Square, Oxford Circus, Convent Garden and more.

Underground; the embossed, iconic logo, ‘the roundel’, designed by Edward Johnston in 1908.

NightLines and DayLines; iconic coloured train lines, over black or white, features a powder-soft rubberised texture.

TubeTrain and NightBus; each captures the movement of the tube and double-deckers, in dynamic, white line design, over a black glossy background.

Union Jack; an attractive powder-soft, raised texture case commemorating the Games, Queen’s Jubilee and all things British. (RRP $29.95)

Cygnett have posted videos on the cases on their YouTube Channel, featuring the Samsung Galaxy S III Transport for London and Great Britain cases. Click to view; http://www.youtube.com/user/CygnettSneakPeek/videos

To track the cases down, visit http://www.cygnett.com/find-a-retailer/

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Now normally I try and get my reviews done within a few days of getting the review unit, however I really felt I needed to test this case a lot more to see if I really could use this larger case as my main case for the Note, so read on to see some up close pics and get my thoughts on protecting your new Samsung Galaxy Note from bumps, knocks and much more…

PROTECTION

The case is made up of three main parts a Plastic bottom, Plastic top and Silicone Cover. The plastic internal cases clip together, which is then covered by the Silicone case? By having the plastic case internally gives you further protection than the Commuter case. The Defender case also comes with a plastic belt holster.

Top Plastic Case with built in screen protector	Bottom Plastic case, clips together with top part
Silicone Case, fits around the Plastic hard case	Hard Plastic Holster that the Defender case clips into.. has 360 turning belt clip.

STYLE AND ACCESSABILITY

The case is classic black, which some people may find boring, whereas I just love the simple sleek look, it looks very sturdy and strong. It does add some bulk to the phone but for me it wasn’t a deal breaker.

Front speaker, Sensors and front facing Camera are protected with hard plastic edges…	Plastic clip dome, this is on both sides of the case which clips into the supplied Holster…
Volume keys are fully protected…	As is the Power key on the right side…
At the top the noise cancelling mic is open and the Headphone jack port is cover, what is great about this is there is a very hard plastic edge around the Jack port.	As with the Top the Bottom is also well protected namely the Micro USB Charging port. The S-Pen is fully open giving great ease of use when pulling out the S-Pen. Microphone and back speaker are also open.
Close up of the USB Charging port…	Close up of S-Pen…
Showing you how easy it is to take out the S-Pen…	S-Pen is now pulled out…
Camera and Flash are also surrounded by hard plastic protection…	As I stated above the Defender Series cases come with a Screen Protector already built into the case, with this in mind you will find the Home Button is also covered, at first it took a little bit to get used to these as it gave a different textile feel…

With the Case on you can still Charge your device…

USABILITY

I had previously used the Defender series case for my Old Dell Streak (R.I.P), and originally found it a bit harder to use than the Commuter series, so was trying to see if there was a difference with the Notes Defender Case, below you will find some of the places I tried the case and how I found the case went.

	AT HOME Some would say that it’s really not that important an area to be over zealous in regards to the protection of your beloved device, however I think this would in fact be the main one, well for me it is as I have three kids aged 11, 9 and 4.5 so can have a wide range of oops and near misses. One thing I found I used a lot at home was the Belt holster, which surprised me a lot as I had used the holster for the Dell Streak a small amount of time and wasn’t too into using, unlike I did with my HTC HD2 holster, just was a great way to carry it around, not saying I couldn’t carry it in my pocket on the contrary I could and can carry it in my work Jeans, my Levis Jeans (smaller pockets than my black work Jeans), shorts and even my track pants.
	AT WORK I work in a very busy Mobile Retail Store and used it for a for a few days, with loads of customers and moving around the store I was again surprised with how light weight the holster was even with the Note in it and no real bumps or knocks. I worked yesterday and had started using the Note with the Defender Case in my pocket but after a few minutes grab the Holster and used that for the rest of the day, was comfortable working at the Computer sitting on a stool, and out back sitting in a chair, didn’t need to keep moving it or adjust it in any way.
	ON THE TRAIN I no longer work in Perth so don’t use the train like I used to, so was great when I had to go into Perth CBD for some training and was able to test the Defender Case and Holster on the 30 min ride in. Again sitting down on the train or moving around it the train was easy and not awkward in any way. With the ability to rotate it from Portrait to Landscape depending on the situation.
	DRIVING As with the train ride driving is pretty similar however with the adding of the seat belt pressing against the Holster can feel a bit weird, but got over that pretty fast, I would only drive with Note in the Holster if I was using my Bluetooth headset other wise it is out of the Holster on the centre console. (Still waiting on my car holder that will fit the Note with the case on… Hint.. Hint OtterBox)

 Icons are TouchIT HD visit mactheme.net

THE HAND HAS IT

Ok for me the Note is note really a huge phone for me to use as I do have quite large hands, where as the major user may not so here are some of the People that have used my phone with the Defender case on… MY WIFE – “I did find it a bit awkward at first but, was ok for me to use it for short times, was pretty surprised how well the case fitted the phone and it looked great…” MY KIDS – “My dad lets me to get his phone if he has left it the dinning room and or lounge, I feel safe know that it is really protected and that he trust me to get it…” MY MOTHER IN-LAW – “I use my son in-laws phone to call my brother in London via Skype and found the case was soft and had great feel to it, gave me secure grip also.”

OUT COME
Well after almost 3 weeks using the case I can say that it’s here to stay, I even took it off the other day to put the Commuter Case back on it and only after a few minutes took it off and put the Defender Case back on it. For me the Protection that this case brings to the Note is just awesome I feel that much more secure knowing that I have some serious Protection on it. I hope to see OtterBox move their Armor Series onto these devices, I can tell you now that if OtterBox bought at the Armor Series case for the Samsung Galaxy Note or S III then it would be a HUGE winner… Lets share some of that Tough Case love to us Android users.

To find out more head over to www.otterbox.com and find a case for your device today or click here for the OtterBox Defender Case for Samsung Galaxy Note for $59.95…

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However, not all is great in the Nokia camp… this is the third consecutive billion-dollar quarterly loss. If anyone can weather this storm, it should be Nokia  since it has multi-billion dollar reserves. Nokia should be able to survive and even turn some serious profit if the trend continues. Given that it jumped into the smartphone arena so late and made such a bold move of essentially throwing away its own legacy phone OS (Symbian) and its smartphone OS (MeeGo) for a switch to Windows Phone OS.

Analysts say that for this trend to continue, Nokia must continue this sales trend and be able to come up with devices that should stand out. I think that should not be a problem considering the current offerings by Nokia and that they have unofficially confirmed that their 42 Megapixel camera technology will be coming to their Windows Phones. With that feature alone and considering that their only and closest competitor across all smartphone platforms can do only 16 Megapixels and the rest of the market is somewhere around the 5 to 8 Megapixels… it should not be much of a problem.

Microsoft has a history of playing for long term wins; the Xbox is clear proof of that. Windows Phone is clearly taking that same route and Nokia’s seemingly bold move doesn’t seem to be that crazy after all.

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Our Fan page contains the links into the articles we publish in addition to the Twitter feed that we create.

Feel free to comment or drop us a line on each article or link. We sure will try to answer all your questions!

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• The most obvious one, it is a Friday, you can buy Windows 8 and spend all weekend playing with your new OS and upgraded PC or new  PC
• PCs from third party vendors will be made available on this same date to carry both Windows 8 and Windows 8 RT.
• Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 RT will be available that same day as announced a few weeks earlier.
• Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro will be available 90 days from October 26, which is January 24, 2013

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Microsoft expanded the information available about their Windows 8 product line during their WPC event. Windows 8 is expected to reach the Release To Manufacturing  (RTM) milestone sometime on the first week of August. The final General Availability (GA) milestone will be at the end of October. This means that now we have officially confirmed not only the date for Windows 8′s release but also confirmed that Windows 8 RT Surface tablets by Microsoft will be released within the same time frame. This is nothing new if you wanted to believe the rumors, but now they are finally confirmed. Also this settles the time frame for the release date of Windows 8 Surface tablets running the more powerful Ivy Bridge processors.

In addition to these announcements, one clarification stood out where Microsoft confirmed the option to setup Windows 8 on a thumb-drive. Microsoft demoed earlier today the ability to use an old computer running Windows 7 by booting from a 32Gb thumb-drive where the settings would be stored within the thumb-drive itself and the ability to “carry your computer in your pocket”. This is especially useful for corporations where users can bring their computers’ settings into a conference room desktop and have that desktop act just like their own desktop without much work needed or for corporations using floating cubicles where anyone can use any computer while still retaining their settings and/or being able to bring their settings from other corporate locations without affecting or requiring additional help.

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One is an Advertising company, wants you to use their software and hardware so you can count as captive audience to their advertising clients. Hardware and software are a way to capture as much behavioral information as legally possible to be able to target advertising to you and whoever uses their devices. Profitability is determined by how effective they target those adds to you since their own devices hardly break even and OEMs make cents on the Dollar.

The second is a Retail company who wants you to use their hardware so you can purchase their retail products and licensed content. Hardware is a no-thrills, non-profitable means to get you to their ecosystem. Once in their ecosystem, they can profit from their retail margins and licensed content. Profitability is determined by cut-throat margins offered for their retail products and content licensing fees you will pay.

The third is a Hardware company who builds overly simplified software so you can feel at ease while using the hardware they hyped (and sold) to you. Software is merely a path for you to purchase their over-the-top hardware priced at elitist prices that profits out of the most commoditized components plus the percentage of its licensed content.

The fourth is a Software company who wants you to use their software but sees itself forced to build hardware that highlights their product. Profits will come out mostly from their software as their hardware is just a vehicle for you to adopt their software. Even when the hardware partners fail to produce attractive products, it is the software company that will be criticized for going against its partners, when it is only building a platform guidance product that should urge OEMs to compete for the top spot.

All companies make mistakes and even though all companies will produce similar hardware and software, their products will be quite different and yet:

• The Advertising company will undercut its OEMs.
• The Retail company will trim features and lower specs to be able to sell hardware at cost. This hurts users as they get a cheaper product obviously at a lower price.
• The Hardware company will squeeze the manufacturers and dictate what content is appropriate claiming users do not know what they want.
• The Software company is rumored to overprice its software… hurting only itself. Still, nothing is confirmed yet… one can only hope they will do what’s right for the consumer and in the process gain market share.

The market is absolutely screwed up… somehow, the hardware company, who basically sold the overpriced snake oil to the public is the one everyone around us seems to adore, the advertising company is the one that sells the most devices and the retail company is the one that everyone considers the up-and-coming company while offering nothing but cheap-also-ran hardware.

I am sorry, but I am rooting for the Software company, not out of loyalty; although I admit I have made a decent profit out of servicing and consulting for their products so far, but because it is the one that has catered to the requirements of its users and has been catering to the public and the enterprise for the most time.

Name the companies if you can… if you know who I am talking about, you will probably agree with me.

They are:

• Advertising company: Google
• Retail company: Amazon
• Hardware company: Apple
• Software company: Microsoft

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Over the last few years I have used Bluetooth headsets and very much enjoyed the freedom of no cables, sometimes I would use my HTC wired headset just because I liked the fit and if my Bluetooth headset need to be charged.

My view of the wired headset has been radically changed since I was sent Cygnett’s InSound Noise Cancelling Headphones, in my house I have a bit of a war with my Wife in regards to the sound of our two TV’s, one is in the Theatre Room and the other one is on the Family Lounge. If the sound is up on one it’s very hard to hear the other one. This has now been fixed with the InSound headset and a 5m 3.5mm extension cable, Modern Warfare 3 has now been played FULL sound. 

THE PACK

I was very pleased with the arrival of my InSound headphones, and great to see such a nicely organised setup, see below for a break down of each parts…

THE HEADSET

The headphones overall size is actually very good, not so large…

1.0m, 3.5mm Cable	1.5m, 3.5mm Cable	Airplane connector	Cable Traveling Bag	Hard Carry Case

I was surprised that the Headphones comes with an Airplane adaptor which is great for those that travel a lot and don’t like using the on-board headsets that they give you…

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Logo is nicely done and not over the top so doesn’t distract from the Headphones itself…

Volume slider is at the top, Noise Cancelling button and indicator…

3.5mm jack port for the provided cables…

Like most men I don’t use or read instructions and wondered at first why when I turned on the Noise Cancelling button why I couldn’t hear anything, dah it needs two AAA batteries…

Once I put the batteries in the indicator turn’s blue and it worked, must say that the Noise Cancelling worked a treat on my 4 year old couldn’t hear him also blocks out “Downton Abby” drama my Wife watches…

The two supplied 3.5mm cables slot into the jack port on the headset…

THE PERFORMANCE

I have found that since I have started using the InSound headphones I am loving listening to my music and watching movies. I tested the InSound Headphones on my Samsung Galaxy Note, (Original) iPod 16GB, iPad 2, Samsung Notebook (listening to music on it with the headphones as I write this review) and my surround sound system that is connected to my Samsung 3D TV and Xbox 360.

The headphones have soft padded earmuffs, enabling you to use them for a longer periods of time…	Fully adjustable to fit pretty much most heads…	With loads of padding at the top of the headphones…

This was the saving grace, a 5m extension cable that I got from Dick Smith’s for $21.99 AUD add this to the InSound Headphone and I can reach either TV’s and not get in trouble with my lovely Wife…

The base and treble are excellent in my view, listening to all the explosions and battle sounds on Modern Warfare 3 on my Xbox is out of this world. With the InSound headphones I believe that I have been converted back to the wired headphone world..

TO get yours today head over to Cygnett’s website by clicking here

Well got to go Modern Warfare 3 is calling me up for another mission, until next time…

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Windows Phone 8 is a major generational change, not an incremental upgrade, this is why it is not possible to release the new OS on old smart phones. The most important architectural difference is that the OS core will be shared with the Windows 8 core. This means that Windows Phone 8 will be designed from the ground up to run essentially the same applications as its bigger brother Windows 8. Windows Phone 7 is based on a previous generation OS core. This is great news moving forward but unfortunately it hurts users of the Windows Phone 7.x platform.

Not all is bad hews, however; as Microsoft has committed to recompile and make sure that all of its apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace are available and compatible with the new Windows Phone 8 OS. Which means that more than 100,000 apps will be ready for the next version when it is released around the October time-frame.

Windows Phone 7.8 will sport three features that will also be available in Windows Phone 8 when it is released:

Windows 7.8 Delivery: The Windows Phone 7.8 update will be delivered over the air, directly from Microsoft. No longer will you have to wait in line until your carrier decides to bench Windows Phone for some other artificial process that delays goodies getting to you. Once you receive the notification on your Windows Phone that you have an update available, you will be able to connect to a WiFi network to receive the download/update and execute the update in place. There was no information available at the time of writing this article whether you could execute the download from your smart phone’s 3G/4G data connection and whether you would need to be connected to a power adapter in order to execute the update process. More information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. This same method of updating Windows Phone will be also available moving forward in all future Windows Phone versions.

Start Screen Tiles: Starting with Windows Phone 7.8 and future versions, tiles will be re-sizeable to 3 possible sizes. The existing 2 sizes Square (medium) and double-wide (large) will continue to exist and will be joined by a small sized square which will be one quarter the size of current square sized tiles. Apps can now be written to support these 3 sizes for auto-refresh of tiles. The user itself will be the one who chooses the size of the tiles, being now able to assign larger size (or importance) to some apps over the others. The video attached [HERE - Start Screen] shows what you can do and how you can make your Windows Phone yours.

Start Screen Look & Feel: While keeping the look and feel of Metro, and allowing you to show more tiles of relevant sizes; more of your screen will be usable for showing tiles. Windows Phone 7′s Start Screen has empty/unused space on the right side of the screen. The combination of large, medium and the new smaller tiles with the new/better use of screen real estate will help users take advantage of almost all the screen space for allocating tiles.

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Microsoft Surface with Touch Cover

The mystery event that Microsoft had planned for today is over now. Today, Microsoft has blown away everyone’s mind with this new, fresh, attractive and smart line of products called Microsoft Surface. You will be able to find more information about it at the corresponding Microsoft website [HERE]. Microsoft Surface is a line of Windows 8 tablets that focuses on quality, stability, performance, ease of use and pragmatism.

Microsoft Surface sitting/connected to Touch Cover

Microsoft once more advances into the hardware world delivering a product that seems ready to take on the iPad and other Android tablets. This line is a full line of devices that will span all tablet price-points and will be competitive with ultra-book prices when the features are comparable (on Intel/AMD processors). Windows Surface will have at least 4 different models running two sets of processors and Windows 8 lines: Windows 8 RT (with ARM processors) and Windows 8 Professional (with Intel/AMD processors).

Microsoft Surface back with Touch Cover

The different tablets look almost the same. They are 16:9 screen tablets with a screen 10.6″ diagonally protected with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2. These tablets are made of what Microsoft is calling a “VaporMag” (Vapor Mg for magnesium). The VaporMag casing is a Magnesium alloy case that gives the structural strength that is needed for this device. The screen looked gorgeous, with bright and vibrant colors. The different Microsoft Surface models weigh between one and two pounds (676 grams to 903 grams). The smaller-lighter models are the ones running Windows RT which will be most likely a consumer-oriented product. It will come with MS Office embedded on the device and will be just 9.3 mm thick whereas the Windows 8 Pro devices will be 13.5 mm thick. Making the larger model still about a half an inch thick for a full fledged Windows 8 PC that can be used for business!

Touch and Type Cover selection

The Windows RT models will come with 32 Gb and 64 Gb of storage and the Windows 8 Pro versions will have 64 Gb and 128 Gb of solid-state storage. One of the incredible features that these devices will have (most likely as an Accessory, although it is still possible it will come bundled with it) is the keyboard. Microsoft Surface will have two different sets of keyboards available, they will magnetically click into the base of the tablet and will light up, at the same time, they will act as a cover when closed and will be disabled if flipped all the way to the back to prevent accidental keystrokes. The two keyboards/covers mentioned are called “Touch Cover” and “Type Cover”. Touch cover is made of a material with a rubbery feel where the keys seem to be either easy to press or it behaves as a touch-pad with pre-printed key locations. The Type Cover keyboard has a more laptop-like feel to it, it is made of hard plastic and looks great, it also comes with a touch-pad with multi-touch features to take advantage of Windows 8.

Nothing was mentioned officially about the battery life, but we have to assume that Windows RT will have a better battery life given than the battery is only 31.5 Watt-hours and the Windows 8 Pro is 42 Watt-hours. Directly linked to the battery life is the processor that they will use. While we know that the Windows RT devices will use an ARM processor, it is still not confirmed which one it is; however, it was mentioned that the Windows 8 Pro device will come with the brand new Ivy-Bridge line from Intel.

Microsoft Surface connected to Type Cover

The devices will come with rear and front-facing cameras, Bluetooth and USB connectors while at the same time having mini-HDMI for video-out connection.

Nothing has been mentioned about a stylus for the Windows RT model, however one is provided and clicks into the case when stowed away. Even if none is provided for the low-end device, generic touch-stylus will still work with the touch interface as they are standard for all touch tablets.

It is obvious that Microsoft has started a huge push towards consumer products and while some products have not attracted the market share that Microsoft expected (such as Zune music player), others such as the Xbox brand has taken over the consumer market to become a leader in its own right. Windows Phone will greatly benefit from Microsoft’s move towards consumer products. The synergy that Microsoft Surface can generate for Windows Phone may lift up both lines of products.

While many people out there have declared, the PC era to be over, I can attest that this line of products and the tablets running Windows 8 from other manufacturers will extend the PC era at least another decade, leaving competing tablets with other OSs such as iPads and Android tablets in direct conflict with their full feature OS counterparts MacOS and ChromeOS respectively.

Microsoft has demonstrated once again that you can have the full set of features in a no-compromise device.

Microsoft Surface Official Specs so far

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The MBR originated in the late 1970′s and it what the computer uses to hand over control of the boot-up process from the BIOS in the hardware to the software in storage. While the old MBR process ultimately works, it is the root cause for a lot of malware injecting itself into the computer before the OS loads and can detect it. In the MBR world, whoever loads first can decide what later components are to load… So, many malware programs do this in order to choose not to load a preventive software (or even worse, loads an infected version).

Enter Windows 8, the boot-up process will include different forms of this secure-anti-malware process called UEFI, which is an open and independent standard that requires certification. In Windows 8 RT the process will be called Trusted Boot. UEFI’s Trusted Boot will execute a series of validations and checks on the program that is asking control for the next step. If the process passes validation, then it knows it is OK to continue and that the booting process has not been compromised. In addition to this, it moves the loading of the anti-malware process at an earlier stage so that it can prevent malware from affecting the PC. So far, it would be a great enhancement to Windows PCs, but what happens when the process does not pass validation? Here is the great thing about this process, it will simply replace the bad-malware-affected program with a safe-checked-and-validated copy of it giving Windows 8 a self-healing ability against boot-process malware!

This is very bad news for black-hat hackers and malware coders, but it is awesome news for users.

For regular Intel/AMD Windows 8 PCs, this process will be supported only on devices that support UEFI boot-up. Legacy hardware cannot be updated to support the whole change, but will have firmware updates that will adopt some of these principles. If you are planning on buying a Windows 8 ARM device you are going to be much more protected than upgrading from an older Windows PC or Tablet.

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