MarcForrest.com

Category: Tech News

  • DSTV Mobile with the Drifta & iPhone

    Today sees the launch of the DSTV Mobile platform to the public. The platform allows you to watch DSTV while on the go, by either using a DVB-H enabled cellphone or a DSTV Drifta Device. Subscription is R39 a month, but is free until the end of March 2011. They currently offer 9 channels including:

    • Africa Magic
    • Channel O
    • Trace TV
    • The eNews Channel
    • SuperSport Blitz
    • SuperSport 1
    • SuperSport 2
    • SuperSport 3
    • Cartoon Network

    DSTV Mobile have launched the product by supporting the Nokia 5330, ZTE F900 & the Nokia N96. By using the Drifta device you can also watch selected DSTV channels on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch by downloading the DSTV Decoder app (iTunes Link) or your Windows computer. The Drifta device costs R599 and you can get it at your Mulitchoice office or buy online from Kalahari.net.

    I popped past Multichoice during lunch today to pick up a Drifta and see how it works. The lady behind the counter had a quite giggle, cause I was the first person to ask about it. I got back to the office and tried it out. Much to my disappointment, it didn’t pick up any channels and gave me an “Orange Signal light” which means it can’t pick up any channels. I have also double checked the coverage map, and it says I definitely have coverage in the area that I am in.

    I will give it another try later by going outdoors as well as trying at home a bit later. The lady at Multichoice also confirmed that they offer a 7 day money back guarantee.

    I will do a another post soon about my “Drifta journey”, and hopefully get it up and running soon :)

  • Nokia N8 Review

    As I mentioned a while back, the guys from Nokia kindly sent me a Nokia N8 to review for 2 weeks through the #N8ReviewZA competition.

    From the minute I opened the box, I have to admit that I was really impressed with the phone. It’s actually a bit of an understatement to say it is JUST a phone, because the N8 packs a whole lot more into the device. There are a couple of things that impressed me with the phone, which I will list a bit further down the page, but there is still that room for improvement.

    As you know, I am an iPhone fan through & through, but to be honest ol Nokia & I go way back. Right back to that 3310. Ahh, those were the days hey. You could play snake all day, as well as this cool thing called SMS. The fact that you could change the face and colour of the phone made it so much cooler as well. I don’t think I will ever forget the Nokia 6210. Now that was a phone (in it’s time). To be honest, still one of my best phones ever. Had exactly what you needed. Still today, I have a Nokia E52 for work, which is a brilliant device. Does exactly what is needed and a little more.

    The fact is, Nokia have, and to a degree make some of the best mobile devices around. It shows. They are THE biggest mobile handset provider in the world. But, I think I lost my “lust” with the Nokia when they started deriving away from simplicity. When they moved to N-Gage and the likes, I think they closed a gap.

    But that said, the Nokia N8 is definitely one the newer Nokia devices to really impress me. The device is built with multimedia in mind. If you think about it, we are consuming media more and more. Be it taking photos, or listening to music, or even watching videos, the N8 is a solid & complete device in the multimedia sphere. If I have to compare it to the iPhone in this regard, the N8 wins. The fact that you have a built-in HDMI port to display HD content on your TV or monitor is a big plus. With the iPhone, you need to buy a separate cable, which only works with some apps.

    But when it comes to overall user experience, I have to say, iPhone takes the cake. The usability of an iPhone, for me, is by far one of the best user experiences I have ever encountered. Everything just works. A couple of times I had the N8 crash on me.

    I thought I would put down a list of Pro’s & Con’s about the N8, and compare it to the iPhone where I can:

    Pros

    • The HDMI port. This is a biggie. You can watch movies, view photos, and even display the device interface on a HDMI capable device. The HDMI converter cable is included in the box, so no need to buy any accessories.
    • USB ON THE GO. Also included in the box is a mini USB to USB converter, which allows you to plug-in a flash drive with media on and view it. This means if you have an AVI video or picture on the device, you simply plug the flash drive in and it allows you to play the content. This means you don’t have to fill up your phone with unnecessary rubbish.
    • Dual charging. This is also a nice one to have. You can charge the phone via the mini USB port, or via the supplied standard Nokia charger.
    • Built in FM transmitter. This means if you have music on the phone, you can play it on your car radio, by setting a frequency on the device, which it transmit to the car radio. Very very cool. For the iPhone, you need to buy a separate transmitter to get this to work
    • Ovi Music & Maps. Included in the N8 box is a 6 month subscription to the Ovi music store for UNLIMITED music downloads. This means you can download full albums and play them on the device, or through the FM transmitter or HDMI port. The drawback of this though is that the unlimited downloads are DRM’d which means you only play them on the device or a selected windows PC. Also included is Ovi maps which offers free navigation software with turn by turn instructions. On the iPhone or most other devices you need to buy a separate app to allow you to use this functionality.
    • Lastly. The camera. A full 12MP built-in camera with Carl Zeiss lens. The clarity on the photos is amazing. You can also record HD video at 720p. A small niggle here is that the Ovi store doesn’t have any really cool photo editing apps that the iTunes store offers. Check out this fantastic blog post about the Nokia N8 Camera

    Cons

    • The Ovi store. I don’t suppose I can really call this a con, because it does have some cool features like paying with your cell bill, so no credit card required. But for me, it’s the lack of apps. Maybe I’m just spoilt with the choice that the Apple app store offers, but I really couldn’t find any “exciting” apps on the Ovi store. I did find Angry Birds & Gravity (The best Nokia twitter client), but other than that, nothing really that grabbed my fancy. As I said above it would be nice to see some cool photography apps to compensate for the cool 12MP camera.
    • The interface. This is probably one of the biggest bugbear for me with the N8. To get anywhere you need to “tap” in and out of menus. It just doesn’t feel right, after using the iPhone for so long. But…that can all be changed with 1 software update from Nokia ;) I don’t think Symbian is built for a touch screen device. It just doesn’t seem to work.
    • Battery life. Ok, ok. There isn’t much to write home about, about the iPhone battery, but I was pretty dismayed by the N8’s battery. The fact that it has 2 charging points does make up for a bit though.

    Overall, I have to admit I was pretty convinced by the Nokia N8. I think, if the iPhone was out of my reach (for whatever reason), I would put this on my list of phones to get. I would actually go as far to say, that because everyone in my family now has an iPhone, I could easily opt for the N8 on my next upgrade and I would keep it as a spare phone, and use it as a primary Multimedia device in both my car and home.

    A big big thanks go to the guys & girls at Nokia for giving me the opportunity to review the N8. It’s really awesome to see companies like this interacting with the bloggers & tweeters of South Africa, and giving them these cool opportunities.

  • Logitech Harmony 600 Remote Review

    Logitech Harmony 600 Remote Review

    Ever had one of those days, when you can’t find the remote. The days that end up with you turning over every single piece of furniture in the house, only to find it stashed away in the drawer where you left it the night before? Or when your PVR remote decided to suddenly stop working because the batteries have run flat ? I know I have. Often.

    Enter the Logitech Harmony 600 universal remote. Simple to set up, and even simpler to use. The universal remote, allows you to pre-program all your electronic devices in your home. This means your PVR, DVD, TV & Surround sound system; can be controlled from 1 single remote.

    The setup of the remote is as simple as connecting to the Internet, selecting your equipment from a menu, and uploading it to the remote. You are also able to set specific programs up, which allow you to for example, “Watch a DVD”, and all the right buttons will be pressed. I been using one for the last week, and I am in awe. This is the ideal device for anyone who has more than 1 remote lying around.

    The Logitech Harmony 600 remote retails for around R650, and is the ideal gift for the man who has (almost) everything.

    The guys from Logitech also dropped off a new Logitech Colour Mouse to try out for a while. The wireless mouse is available in a number of different colour schemes from Blue right through to Pink.

    The new Logitech Colour Collection mouse is lightweight & simple to use. Given my rather large hands, I adjusted to the mouse in no time at all, and have grown quite fond of it. They are priced at around R349 and can be purchased at most electronic retailers. Nice little stocking filler (hint hint wifee :))

  • Win a copy of Halo: Reach for the Xbox

    Win a copy of Halo: Reach for the Xbox

    Remember the other day I told you about the Xbox Kinect that launched in South Africa. Well the guys from Xbox caught wind of the post, and very nicely, offered me a copy of the latest popular Xbox title, Halo Reach to be given away on my site.

    Here is a little bit of info about the game:

    In 2552, the Covenant discovered the planet Reach, humanity’s last line of defense. The UNSC mounted an unparalleled assault against the alien war machine, and at the heart of this conflict was Noble Team, an experienced group of accomplished soldiers prepared to meet the enemy head-on. Now, with the addition of the team’s newest member—Noble Six—this squad will face its most challenging mission yet: the defense of Reach…in what may well be the twilight of human existence.

    Halo: Reach, easily the biggest and most ambitious Halo title yet, includes an intense, pulse-pounding Campaign, an addictive and frenetic Multiplayer, a riveting four-player Co-operative Firefight mode, the massive ForgeWorld experience, and a Theater mode to capture it all. With more modes, maps, missions, and features than ever before, Halo: Reach represents the complete Halo experience—a tour de force of stunning visuals, powerful story, epic encounters, and more replayability than any Halo title to date!

    The guys over at IGN have given the game a 9.5 which is one of the highest scoring games ever !! The game also sold over 3 million units in it’s first month in the US.I also played the game for a couple of minutes (hours) at Tech-Ed where they had a couple of demo units on display.

    To win a copy of Halo Reach here, all you need to do is leave a comment below, and I will randomly choose the winner…simple hey :) The competition closes on the 25th November at 12pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org…

  • Giving the Nokia N8 a run

    Yesterday I received a package, and when I opened it, found a brand new Nokia N8 to use for the next 2 weeks. The review is part of a promotion at the moment where Nokia selected 60 people from around South Africa to give the phone a run for 2 weeks. They will also be selecting 2 of the best reviews to keep the phone.

    I am going to try to do a comprehensive review once my 2 weeks is up, and my main goal is to see if I can use the Nokia, alongside the iPhone4.
    My first impressions of the phone was that it was pretty slick. The phone matched up size & weight wise to the iPhone4. The packaging was different what we have become accustomed to in the sleek Apple packaging, but that said, the Nokia does come with a lot more accessories.The other thing that grabbed my attention was the 12MP camera the phone has. Nice !

    I’m not going into much detail, for now,  but what I can say so far, is that I am very impressed with the phone, after playing around with it for a couple of hours.
    I will be tweeting updates using the #N8ReviewZA hashtag during the course of the next 2 weeks, and when I am done, will do that review. Standby :)