ClockerZ RecommendZ
Posted on November 8th, 2006 at 8:27pm by EripmaVYou know how it is, there's always at least one person in the family who is an absolute nightmare to buy presents for. Be they your mother, father, sibling or spose; it can drive you crackers searching and burning the midnight oil.
So we at ClockerZ are going to have an article running until Christmas, featuring gift ideas to help and inspire you, our readers! Don't worry, not all gifts will be videogame, gadgets or computer based and we're aiming to cover all possible avenues.
Freeview
A fantastic item to consider is Freeview. The service certainly has come a long way since the days of ITV Digital, with over thirty channels on offer which include BBC Three, E4, ITV2, CBeebies and now Film4! So there's a channel on offer for every member of the family, so why not treat everyone this Christmas?
With set top boxes starting at a meagre £20, there's an option for every wallet. Some now even have incorporated a harddisk, which allows for them to act like a personal video recorder (or Tivo or Sky+)! These are slightly more expensive (retailing at £150 onwards) but with no subscription charges or fees, unlike Sky+ and Tivo, you'll save money in the long term.
For coverage information or more details on the actual service itself please go to www.freeview.co.uk.
Nintendo Wii
We are now well into the next phase of games console releases and if you are not someone who rigidly sticks to a PC or has sworn loyalties to Microsoft or Sony, then the comically named Wii is something to consider as something all the family can use. If you wanted an Xbox 360 you would have one by now, or would be waiting for any price drop when the high priced PS3 hits the shops next spring. This is the ideal window to buy a Wii.
The Wii is going to be small and inexpensive (about the size of three DVD cases and under £180) so you know you will have space for it. It will have revolutionary controls that work using motion sensers, so when playing golf, you swing it like a club and it will react depending on the direction and intensity of the swing. Playing a shooter? Hold and point it like a gun. Playing Zelda? Slash it like a sword. Could this be the answer to overweight kids who play computer games instead of exercising? Something to help work off all that over indulgance this festive season?
Best of all, it will play all your old GameCube discs and will allow you to download other classics via wifi/internet links, so you should never be short of something to do.
http://www.wii.com
SanDisk Memory Cards
So, Christmas is nigh on here and you want to capture every moment of the special day but there's a problem. The ickle 128mb card you use in the digital camera simply isn't big enough. SanDisk have the perfect and affordable solutions.
For a measly £18, you can purchase a 1GB SanDisk Ultra Compact Flash card which allows for lightning fast speeds. Enough space for 480 pictures (at 4MP level), there really is no excuse to miss the little ones opening their presents.
Speaking of the Nintendo Wii, SanDisk have teamed up with Nintendo to produce the official SD memory cards for the system. Coming in 512MB, 1GB and 2GB sizes there's enough storage to save your favourite games to, rip MP3s for custom soundtracks and even use it in your digital camera and then browse the pictures on the Wii.
To buy the 1GB SanDisk Ultra CF card, click here and for the official SanDisk Wii memory card (1GB) click here.
Piggyback Pro Evo 6 Expert Guide
Let's face it, we all know someone who has a keen interest on footy and chances are they'll have a PS2. Pro Evolution Soccer's generally the games of choice for the real connosieur and as such, Piggyback have created a full expert guide to take the player through the ins and outs of the beautiful game one step at a time. What's more, it also comes complete with a free and exclusive DVD companion that helps players learn secret moves, tricks, techniques and more! As you watch, each move or shot are displayed onscreen for both the PS2 and Xbox 360, what buttons to press when and how. Actually written with the development team, this guide really hammers home how to pull off the fancy moves and shots on both the PS2 and Xbox 360 variant of the game.
Start reading through the 174 pages, watching the companion DVD and you'll soon be the household champion. From start to finish, the guides quality and an inciteful read for both seasoned players and beginners alike. Covering aspects from Tactics to Strategies, Coaching to Secrets, the book has everything your budding footballer will ever need.
Retailing at just £11.99, it won't break the bank and it has the potential to become almost bible like to avid Pro Evo fans!
Click here for the official site or here for a direct buying link to Amazon (it's now less than £8!).
AGEIA PhysX
So, bit of a gamer are you? Happy with your graphics, sound, ram and monitor but want something to give your gaming a bit more...oopth? Well, how about an Ageia PhysX card?
Basically AGEIA have developed a piece of hardware that slots into a PC to significantly enhance video gaming graphics. One for serious PC gamers, the PhysX card from AGEIA uses physics technology to simulate the motion of fluids, hair, clothing, toppling buildings and explosions to create dramatically realistic features and make PC gaming a more sophisticated experience. FYI - AGEIA’s PhysX technology was recently adopted by the manufacturing industry to effect factory simulations in aero-dynamics.
I can thoroughly recommend a visit or two to the AGEIA. Seeing the card in action is truly an awe inspiring event and even more so when you see the videos of one physics accelerated and one non running side by side.
The PhysX card works with an increasing number of popular games on the market and AGEIA last week announced their Autumn promotion whereby customers receive 3 free computer games with any purchase of a PhysX card in the run up to Christmas. Further details of the promotion can be found on the website http://www.ageia.com.
Why should you buy one? Well, more and more developers are supporting the PhysX technology and that can only be a good thing. Immersion is key in gaming and I think AGEIA can bring immersion details to a whole new level!
Lego Mindstorm
Everybody knows robots are cool, but you can't get one that obeys your every whim. Yet. So for now, Lego, famous for their bricks, have now extended the Technic idea to Mindstorms so you can make your own robot that can sense it's environment and react.
At the heart of MIndstorms is the NXT module, a programmable unit with a whole bunch of sensors (touch, sound, light, ultrasound) and some servo controllers. There's a USB port so you can program it from your computer to perform actions. And being lego, you can configure it in a variety of designs. The team at channel 5's "Gadget Show" have demonstated them a few times and they have always been fun. Anyone with an "inner child" (like I have) would love one, although the asking price of £179 cost may feel a bit steep. Unless you love robots and Lego, and who doesn't?
http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/default.aspx
Logitech Harmony 1000
We all know, that when it comes to remote controls Dad rules the roost. So with literally every gadget in the house now being remote controlled, keeping track of what function each one does is such a chore!
Queue Logitech with the latest in the Harmony range, the 1000. Control all televisions, dvd players, hifis and more with the Harmony 1000, even household appliances!
The key features of the Harmony 1000 are:
- easy to use with its one-touch activity based control
- stunning brushed-chrome and piano-black finish
- controls any device with an infrared receiver - including VCRs, digital video recorders, high-definition televisions, and many household appliances
- using radio frequency (RF) technology and the Harmony Wireless Extender, it can also control multi-room entertainment systems and high-end components hidden behind closed doors
- 3.5-inch colour screen displays icons associated with entertainment activities - such as Watch TV, Watch a Movie, Listen to Music, or Play Games
- it only has nine fixed buttons - such as volume up and down, channel up and down, and a directional navigation pad
- with built-in rechargeable batteries, the remote also comes with a convenient and stylish charging stand
Mini Winnies
So, you have a budding fashionista in the house? She's awkward to buy for and craves to be an A-List celebrity? Well, buy her one of the funkiest accessories this holiday, Mini Winnies!
Mini Winnies are the must have accessory and with their new Christmas range, they're even more desirable. For those of you who don't know, Mini Winnies are tiny figurines of various Winnie the Pooh charecters in different poses and outfits. Each can then be attached to various items of clothing or accessories such as handbags, mobile phones and purses.
Like with most collectables, some are rarer than others and as such, there's certain figures that are highly sought after. A quick visit to eBay can give you an idea of what's hot or not. Produced by Tomy Yujin Europe in conjunction with Disney, the Animal Wear range retails at £1 per character and is available from Gacha vending machines in outlets across the UK, including Sainsbury’s, Toys ‘R’ Us, Odeon, UCI Cinemas and in Gacha boxes from Disney Store.
You can also buy Mini Winnies (in tens) online from IWOOT and Firebox.
Toshiba HD-XE1 & E1
Still looking for that certain something for the movie fan in your life? How about buying the next generation of DVD players, an HD DVD player? Boasting not only sharper visuals, higher quality audio but also a higher capacity for those important extras!
With the advent of high definition television (HDTV) technology, Toshiba has co-developed a market-leading DVD standard to bring unrivalled picture and sound quality to market for DVD lovers everywhere. Toshiba has two models – the HD-E1 and the HD-XE1 –and are certain to be the next must-have home entertainment accessory. Both models offer exceptional, unbelievably lifelike picture quality – five times the resolution of normal DVD – as well as next-generation digital sound and extensive access to a whole new generation of broadband enabled special features to take your viewing experience to the next dimension. Make no mistake, HD DVD raises the bar on practically every level and will have your friends drooling with envy!
Xbox 360
Let's face it, everyone has a gamer in their life and chances are, they'll have an Xbox 360. Available from now, Microsoft have released a new line of peripherals to suit every budget.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel
Driving games are two a penny but some are far too tricky to master with a joypad. The Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel changes all of this, giving you the ultimate gaming edge against your competitors. Featuring not only wireless connectivity (so no more tripping over those wires as you toddle off to the kitchen to grab another beverage) but force feedback technology too, bringing a whole new level of realism and excitement.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel is available now and retails for £69.99.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Headset
With the Xbox 360 premium pack, you get a communication headset bundled with the console. My gripe with it was that it'd always get in the way as you're fragging or lapping your buddies online, so it seems MS have taken feedback from gamers into consideration and have released the wireless version. Up to eight hours usage per charge, usage from up to 30ft away and up to four can be used at once to make online gaming or chatting with friends in conjunction with the Xbox Live Vision camera.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Headset is available now and retails for £34.99
The Xbox Live Vision video camera
The Xbox Live Vision video camera is a beautiful in both in terms of looks and functionality. Use it to chat with your friends (in conjunction with the headset), use within games such as Uno (which is actually bundled with the camera) and even take pictures of yourself and overlay them (mapping) onto characters in games such as Rainbow Six Vegas!
The Xbox Live Vision video camera is available now for £34.99
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player
Bring movies to a whole new level with a very affordable solution, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player! If you have an HD compatible television, experience movies as you've never seen before in true HD quality!
If you've experienced HD gaming, experience HD movies, you'll never look back. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is bundled with the MS Universal Media Remote, allowing you to control your Xbox 360, TV and more!
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player will be available soon.
AOC 193FW
Looking for a new monitor to replace that huuuuge CRT dinosaur you use? Or simply wanting to upgrade your existing TFT to a decent sized screen? Well, AOC could have the solution for you and it's an affordable one at that!
The 193FW is what gamers and designers alike demand from a monitor, featuring 500:1 contrast rate, the 300 cd/m2
luminance, and its short 8 ms response time ideal for those fast paced games. Expect nothing but clear and sharp images and expect the maximal resolution of 1440 x 900@60 Hz and 16.2 million colors to be as high as you'll need for the next few years.
http://www.aoc-europe.com/
Casio
The good folks at Casio may just have the answer for you, with their range of keyboards.
Featuring key-lighting technology, there really is no excuse for making a mistake with the festive carols. Each of the keyboards features a three step lesson function, allowing you to easily teach yourself your favourite tunes and in no time at all, become an expert! The LK-300TV even features a TV output function, transforming the keyboard into a karaoke machine!
• LK-100 – 61 full size keys, key lighting, 100 tones, 50 rhythms, 100 songbank tunes, 3 step lesson function, voice fingering guide.
• LK-200S – 61 full size keys, key lighting, 264 tones, 120 rhythms, 100 songbank tunes, 3 step lesson function, SD card slot, sing-a-long.
• LK-300TV - 61 full size keys with touch response, key lighting, 514 tones, 120 rhythms, 100 songbank tunes, advanced 3 step lesson function, SD card slot, sing-a-long with microphone included, TV output and song recording capability.
Prices start at a very reasonable £129.99 (which is far cheaper than piano lessons!) and are available now.
For more information on the range, please visit http://www.casio.co.uk/music.
Casio High Performance Range of watches
A decent watch will last the wearer countless years and will never look dated and with their latest range of chronographed watches, Casio have a time piece for every man.
The exciting new range is the first Casio chronograph watches to use Wave Ceptor atomic timing. This means they update continuously via radio signals from the UK and Germany! The split second accuracy of the High Performance Collection means that there really is no excuse for running late.
The radio-controlled WVQ-550E-1AVER and WVQ-560DE-1AVER have the following functions:
• DCF/MSF radio-signal receiver for radio reception in UK and most of mainland Europe
• light
• Dual time
• Date-display
• Daily alarm
• 1/100th second stopwatch
• Stainless-steel casing
• Mineral glass
• 100m water resistant
The WV-55OE-1AVER 4 motor chronograph is the slickest of the range, a sexy red and black number with steel bezel and black resin ‘tyre tread’ strap, perfect for a day on the circuit and out on the street.
Alternatively if more you favour more subtle styling, you may prefer the sleek silver form of the WVQ-560DE-1AVER 4 motor chronograph, with steel strap and black facia, it will ensure you’re dressed to impress.
Prices range from £79.99 to £129.99, available in a variety of eye catching colours with a total of nine different designs.
For more information, please visit http://www.casio.co.uk
Casio EX-S770
Still stuck for ideas? How about a camera. Casio have recently released the EX-S770, adding to their already impressive EXILIM range of cameras. Boasting a true 7.2mp output, a 2.8" LCD widescreen display that enables the user to see even the finest of details and a beautifully finished stainless steel body in a number of colours (premium silver, blazing red, and graphite blue).
An interesting new feature, is the Data Storage Function. This allows computer data (web pages, email, business documents and more) to be automatically converted into JPEG format for storage on the camera. An interesting example is storing a map of a city you're visiting for quick and easy viewing allowing you to leave that bulky, often heavy, guidebook at home.
In addition to high-quality, VGA-size movies in MPEG-4 format, the EX-S770 can record 16:9 aspect ratio movies compatible with wide-screen TVs, which are growing in popularity.
Key features for superior performance
•7.2 million effective pixels; 3x optical zoom
•Super Bright 2.8 inch wide-screen LCD
•Anti Shake DSP for reducing photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects
•BEST SHOT modes deliver great photo results simply by selecting one of 35 sample images to represent the current photo scene
For more information, please visit http://www.casio.co.uk
Cath Kidston Nokia 6111 & 6230i
Need something ultimately girlie? Is your partner a typically awkward person to buy for? Then how about the Cath Kidston Nokia range, exclusive to the Carphone Warehouse?
Available in three funky, eye catching designs there's a suitable style for all wannabe fashionistas. Feature packed, beautiful Nokia quality and ultimately girlie, the Cath Kidston range is an ideal gift.
Check out our review of the Cath Kidston Nokia 6111 here.
http://www.carphonewarehouse.co.uk
