The Gadget Show – Monday 21 Feb
Well, O’Dogg fans, it’s time to give you my thanks for logging in and subscribing. I created this blog as part of a Gadget Show challenge. My side was all about how you can use the Internet to create a full time job for yourself … everything from selling your own artistic creations, to becoming a technology blogger and earning money from ads posted on your site by Google.
It was a very interesting experience, and I do hope you’ll all take some inspiration from the item and go start blogs and online shops of your own.
Obviously, this isn’t the end for the O’Blogg – I’ll keep popping up here from time to time to share my thoughts on life, gadgets and what’s happening behind the scenes on the show.
And rest assured … this is now a 100% ad-free site. Any money I did earn from the short experiment will be donated to charity (once the cheque arrives).
So tune in Monday 21 February at 8pm. And, if you decide to go forth and start a blog of your own, go to The Gadget Show’s official site and let us know how you’re getting on, or share some tips of your own with us to help other new bloggers.
Over and out…
Ortis
Monday, 21 February 2011
Thursday, 3 February 2011
First Gadget review from you
Thank you to http://idivedinthedeepend.blogspot.com for this review, keep sending more into ortisgadget@gmail.com
Thank you to Sam Ard for this review, remember views in this review are that of the author and do not necessarily represent mine or those of the Gadget Show.
Kinect - It let's you walk the walk and talk the talk, but how well?
The Dive In The Deep End review is here
Review by Sam Ard
Christmas day came and went. Let's be honest, it always does come and go like a blur doesn't it? But this year the fat jolly man brought something that will forever stay in my house. Yes, it was a tripod. I did get a tripod but the present that will forever stay in my house is Kinect. The gadget that lets you be the controller, no matter how fat, short, skinny or tall you may be. It's the kind of stuff we've been dreaming about since childhood. So surely Kinect wouldn't dissapoint such long awaited fans and it would blitz the gaming market?
Well your about to find out...
-THE INTRIGUING BOX -
So, here it was. Kinect in my living room. Might as well get it unboxed then? This was pretty easy as Microsoft had included a handy mini setup leaflet (For old 360 and new). The sensor came with two cables which were all easy to set up. The one strange thing is that you do have to plug Kinect into the mains as well as the Xbox. Although this wasn't such a big deal in comparison to the great experience that I was sure to come.
SETUP AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, WAVE
Setup was a doddle, wherever the phrase was intended. As my Xbox doesn't have internet at the moment so the disc Kinect came with 'Adventures' that had the required updates on it. A similar thing happened when I got Modern Warfare 2 last year and that updated my dashboard too. So, updates complete I set off for my gaming experience. A Kinect icon popped up and I was all set to go. If you already had the latest dash' then I guess there would be no setup at all! Now it was time for the juicy stuff...
YOU ARE THE CONTROLLER
VOICE OR BODY
That would be the setup done then, if you could even call it a setup it was so brief. Now to the bit i'de been awaiting. The controlling. I restarted the Xbox to find a little picture in black and white at the bottom left of the dash. Then I realised it was me! Kinect suddenly beckoned me to wave at it and then with that... I entered the Kinect Hub. Amazing that it can track such everyday things as a simple wave. So then, here I was in the Kinect Hub. As you will see in the adjoined picture it is basically made up of four boxes. You can play your game, edit your avatar and things like that. I'm told that this is where Twitter and Facebook will appear with a Live subscription. I decided to play Adventures first and all I had to do to select was point my finger at the box. A little handy hand (excuse pun) appeared and with a single point of the finger the game was playing! You can also select things in the Hub using your voice, which worked well ' most of the time'. When your mother isn't hoovering the room, that is.
THE GAMES
Kinect Adventures
Aah, the delights of Kinect Adventures. The Wii Sports for the Xbox and no i'm not on about thr concept of the game, i'm on about it's coming with the sensor. It offers a lot more than the Wii's free game could ever offer. The game, work's great. Zoom through many different active challenges from sealing holes underwater to a Total Wipeout stylee experience. The sensor is very accurate also, making the game all the more enjoyable. Criticise it all you like but the concept is there and could do very well. Congratulations Kinect. The only downside is that you cant play with your own avatar... You can either choose a male or a female one. My favourite adventure had to be the one where you float in zero gravity popping bubbles! Who needs Virgin Galactic eh?
Kinect Sports
Again, Kinect blew me away with this crack at a life like sports game. Nobody can say they've copied the Wii on this front. You will be sweaty playing this and I make no bones about it. We are not just moving a controller; we are jumping about and ducking and diving! There is a broader range of sports also. Football was my favourite as it is a really full on footy experience. Like playing the real thing but without the studs in your ankles or rain coming down on your head. Unless you have Kinect outside which would be... unconventional to say the least. The only downside to this game was that Peter Dickson (The X Factor voice-over) guy was on it.
MARKS OUT OF TEN
Games - 8/10
Simplicity - 10/10
Compatibility - 9/10
Overall Experience - 10/10
What can I say? Microsoft is back at the frontier of the games world and boy oh boy are they back for good.
Thank you to Sam Ard for this review, remember views in this review are that of the author and do not necessarily represent mine or those of the Gadget Show.
Kinect - It let's you walk the walk and talk the talk, but how well?
The Dive In The Deep End review is here
Review by Sam Ard
Christmas day came and went. Let's be honest, it always does come and go like a blur doesn't it? But this year the fat jolly man brought something that will forever stay in my house. Yes, it was a tripod. I did get a tripod but the present that will forever stay in my house is Kinect. The gadget that lets you be the controller, no matter how fat, short, skinny or tall you may be. It's the kind of stuff we've been dreaming about since childhood. So surely Kinect wouldn't dissapoint such long awaited fans and it would blitz the gaming market?
Well your about to find out...
-THE INTRIGUING BOX -
So, here it was. Kinect in my living room. Might as well get it unboxed then? This was pretty easy as Microsoft had included a handy mini setup leaflet (For old 360 and new). The sensor came with two cables which were all easy to set up. The one strange thing is that you do have to plug Kinect into the mains as well as the Xbox. Although this wasn't such a big deal in comparison to the great experience that I was sure to come.
SETUP AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, WAVE
Setup was a doddle, wherever the phrase was intended. As my Xbox doesn't have internet at the moment so the disc Kinect came with 'Adventures' that had the required updates on it. A similar thing happened when I got Modern Warfare 2 last year and that updated my dashboard too. So, updates complete I set off for my gaming experience. A Kinect icon popped up and I was all set to go. If you already had the latest dash' then I guess there would be no setup at all! Now it was time for the juicy stuff...
YOU ARE THE CONTROLLER
VOICE OR BODY
That would be the setup done then, if you could even call it a setup it was so brief. Now to the bit i'de been awaiting. The controlling. I restarted the Xbox to find a little picture in black and white at the bottom left of the dash. Then I realised it was me! Kinect suddenly beckoned me to wave at it and then with that... I entered the Kinect Hub. Amazing that it can track such everyday things as a simple wave. So then, here I was in the Kinect Hub. As you will see in the adjoined picture it is basically made up of four boxes. You can play your game, edit your avatar and things like that. I'm told that this is where Twitter and Facebook will appear with a Live subscription. I decided to play Adventures first and all I had to do to select was point my finger at the box. A little handy hand (excuse pun) appeared and with a single point of the finger the game was playing! You can also select things in the Hub using your voice, which worked well ' most of the time'. When your mother isn't hoovering the room, that is.
THE GAMES
Kinect Adventures
Aah, the delights of Kinect Adventures. The Wii Sports for the Xbox and no i'm not on about thr concept of the game, i'm on about it's coming with the sensor. It offers a lot more than the Wii's free game could ever offer. The game, work's great. Zoom through many different active challenges from sealing holes underwater to a Total Wipeout stylee experience. The sensor is very accurate also, making the game all the more enjoyable. Criticise it all you like but the concept is there and could do very well. Congratulations Kinect. The only downside is that you cant play with your own avatar... You can either choose a male or a female one. My favourite adventure had to be the one where you float in zero gravity popping bubbles! Who needs Virgin Galactic eh?
Kinect Sports
Again, Kinect blew me away with this crack at a life like sports game. Nobody can say they've copied the Wii on this front. You will be sweaty playing this and I make no bones about it. We are not just moving a controller; we are jumping about and ducking and diving! There is a broader range of sports also. Football was my favourite as it is a really full on footy experience. Like playing the real thing but without the studs in your ankles or rain coming down on your head. Unless you have Kinect outside which would be... unconventional to say the least. The only downside to this game was that Peter Dickson (The X Factor voice-over) guy was on it.
MARKS OUT OF TEN
Games - 8/10
Simplicity - 10/10
Compatibility - 9/10
Overall Experience - 10/10
What can I say? Microsoft is back at the frontier of the games world and boy oh boy are they back for good.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Toy Fair 2011
For the last few years Jason has gone to the Toy Fair at Olympia, Kensington, but this year the wise people at the Gadget show have decided to send me. Oh yeah!!
I'm really looking forward to it for 3 reasons: HANDS. ON. TOYS!
I'm going into the fair with an open mind, but will likely make a beeline to try out some of the toy guns. Nerf are normally amazing in this department. I got to play with one last Christmas and had great fun shooting the other presenters. Unfortunately I had to give it back. I’m hoping all the toys live up to the Gadget Show's high expectations, and secretly hoping I can keep one of the toy guys after this fair.
I'm really looking forward to it for 3 reasons: HANDS. ON. TOYS!
I'm going into the fair with an open mind, but will likely make a beeline to try out some of the toy guns. Nerf are normally amazing in this department. I got to play with one last Christmas and had great fun shooting the other presenters. Unfortunately I had to give it back. I’m hoping all the toys live up to the Gadget Show's high expectations, and secretly hoping I can keep one of the toy guys after this fair.
Friday, 21 January 2011
Nintendo 3DS and Be Part of this Blog
Nintendo 3DS
Before you get too excited, there are no pics of the tech. I wasn't allowed to take any. But surely by now you've seen photos of the hottest bit of kit to hit 2011 so far. It was a very long day for me. I woke up at 3:30am to catch a 6:20am flight to Amsterdam. I eventually got back home and into bed at just before midnight, same day.
So, what was it like? Well, take a look at some of the photos I was allowed to take. Jonathan Ross was host of the presentation and I did a little backstage stuff for Nintendo (view highlights here: live.nintendo3ds.nintendo-europe.com - 72mins and 15secs is a key point, might I add XD).
It's my opinion that Nintendo have got nearly everything right. The tech works very well, including the AR capability. Its portable, the 3D screen - which works for taking photos, playing games and viewing movies - is amazing and there'll be a raft of titles and clever software (the Street Pass is genius!) available on launch.
What they've not got right is the price. At a rumoured £220-250, it'll initially be the reserve of those with a bit of cash to spare and as a result, sales may be sluggish to start. However, don't make up your mind until you've had a go. It has to be seen to be believed. Anything that brings the likes of @wossy and myself together in a mighty Streetfighter IV 3D Edition smackdown has to be worth a look.
By the way, fancy being part of this blog?
As I mentioned in the last blog I'm really up for reading your reviews so I am inviting you to submit any gadget reviews and the best one’s will feature right here. I’ll make sure I link back to your site as well.
Reviews on any gadgets (within the realm of good taste) accepted – drop me an e-mail at ortisgadget@gmail.com Look forward to reading them.
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