Here at We Do Tech, we have the opportunity to check out the Edifier; Prisma multimedia speaker system. We’ll start with what Edifier say about there unique looking system….

An exotic looking pyramid-shaped subwoofer with super fashionable satellites from Edifier, the Prisma is a fashion statement in any home.

An audio and visual delight, the Edifier Prisma speaker system is a treat for your eyes and ears.

The exotic looking pyramid shaped subwoofer and satellites will complement modern PC and monitors styles, while the glossy white finish will suit contemporary homes.

With hi-tech crossovers for the new anti-resonant material satellites and a down-firing subwoofer driver, the sound is superb.

The ergonomic, wired, low profile control means that adjusting the volume is easy, whilst the built-in headphone and MP3 jack offer flexible listening options.

The soft touch on/off switch with ‘red halo’ lighting located on top of the subwoofer allows for an easy operation and available in a gloss white finish, the Prisma is designed to complement any home.

Listen to our audio review above. The Edifier Prisma E3350 really is a beautifully designed piece of kit, it holds real value and whilst it may retail at the price of sound systems, how many people can really say they listen to the conventional CD system anymore? The Prisma looks like and sounds as majestic as the Cairo Pyramids themselves. They are sleek and find clarity in all types of music from Heavy Metal to Classical. It even deals with bangs and whistles well too. It’s a great system for PC gamers with its headphone port easily accessible and the bass speaker packing a real punch. Here are the product features and specifications below:

What do we think?

Our review will be here within 24 hours. Check back soon!

We rate the Edifier; Prisma a total of 5 out of 5

What Phosphor Say:

An oversized time display and graphical calendar ensuring you always know the time and date with this watch.

An elegant curved watch case houses a distinctive digital display that fits comfortably on your wrist. The bright, high contrast E Ink electronic paper display insures readability day or night and allows you to select between differing watch dial modes to match whatever style fits your mood.

• Case width: 38.0mm
• Edge thickness: 8.0mm
• Overall case thickness: 12.5mm
• Water resistance: 5 ATM – 50m
• Display: 12 hour only

How E ink Works:

Electronic ink is a proprietary material that is processed into a film for integration into electronic displays. Revolutionary in concept, electronic ink is a fusion of chemistry, physics and electronics to create this new material. The principal components of electronic ink are millions of tiny microcapsules, about the diameter of a human hair. In one incarnation, each microcapsule contains positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a positive electric field is applied, the white particles move to the top of the microcapsule where they become visible to the user. This makes the surface appear white at that spot. At the same time, an opposite electric field pulls the black particles to the bottom of the microcapsules where they are hidden. By reversing this process, the black particles appear at the top of the capsule, which now makes the surface appear dark at that spot.

 To form an E Ink electronic display, the ink is printed onto a sheet of plastic film that is laminated to a layer of circuitry. The circuitry forms a pattern of pixels that can then be controlled by a display driver. These microcapsules are suspended in a liquid “carrier medium” allowing them to be printed using existing screen printing processes onto virtually any surface, including glass, plastic, fabric and even paper. Ultimately electronic ink will permit most any surface to become a display, bringing information out of the confines of traditional devices and into the world around us.

Visit E Ink’s homepage (www.eink.com) to learn more about this exciting technology.

What WeDoTech Say:

The Phosphor calendar watch is my new best friend. It’s an eye catcher and if you are someone like me who loves to grab the attention of those passers by this is definately a watch for you. Yes, its got a big display and yes its a heavy mofo but believe you me its a stylish brand with a lot to boast about.

Setting up the time and date was easy, simply following the instructions I was able to set the watch up within a couple of minutes and bammm away I went to show off my newest piece of technology.

Simply pressing the bottom right button you can switch between the Calander and Time. You can also have a positive or negative display with this what I mean is you can have a black screen with white writing or a white screen with black writing.

I have only 1 criticism, this is when it is 12 o’clock the 1 in the number 12 becomes really small as though the watch finds it difficult to allow 2 full sized characters on one line. 

There are 3 different styles of this watch. 1 with a leather strap, 1 with a Polyuethane strap and another with a stainless steel band. These range in price from £125 to £170 depending on the style with the stainless steel band being the most expensive.

I love this watch, you can show it off at any occasion, in the pub, at work or even in bed with a potential partner. its stylish, eye catching and a watch that gives the impression that you have alot of money.

I give this watch an 4.2 out of 5.  What do you think?

* LCD display

* Breo Roam watch is made with a material called tourmaline

* A naturally occurring mineral, tourmaline is widely used as a semi-precious gemstone and is responsible for many beneficial health effects including:

- Increased concentration
- Natural detoxification of the body
- Improved sleep, relaxation and meditation
- Improved vitality and mood

One of the more interesting features of the Breo Roam is that the watch is also made out of a natural mineral called Tourmaline. This mineral is scientifcally proven to help with concentration, natural detox, improved sleep and vitality. Whether there is enough of this mineral present in the watch to make much of a difference we can’t really comment but in terms of marketing what is essentially a watch it certainly caught our eye.

Case Size: 17mm x 10mm
Strap Width: 5mm
Weight: 10g
Material: Soft touch rubber
Dial Colour: LCD
Movement: Digital
Water Resistance Depth: 10m
Warranty: 12 months

We feel the price point for a watch like this, is nicely set and whilst quirky in style it’s unforgivably modern. A watch such as this is perfect for the swimmer, with 10 metres of water resistence it’ll cater for more than your depth allowance and that’s where I really see this watch making a splash. Excuse the pun, I feel terrible now. On that note I best leave you all, I should write for The Sun with lines like that!

* Case Size: 4.3cm x 2.9cm
* Strap Width: 4.3 cm
* Weight: 54g
* Material: Plastic
* Dial Colour: Blue
* Movement: Japan Movement
* Warranty: Breo 12 Month Guarantee

The Rio is an interesting looking watch and it’s unique design is all a bit Marmite. You will either love it’s straight edges and rounded rectangle bracelet style or you will absolutely hate it. The watch comes with a 12 month guarantee and where the main compound is plastic based it’s extremely light. We’re not so sure this watch is very masculine at all so we’d only advise it for the female purchaser. The watch rolls in at £18.00 which is considerably cheap and can be accessorised as an outfit piece as opposed to an every day watch for use. The Rio series comes in black, red and blue and can compliment an outfit of the same colour most definately. The watch is very comfortable but remember to take it off before you go into the pool as it most certainly isn’t water proof. Not that we’ve tested it but that there is no reference of it being water resistant by the manufacturer.

As stated earlier in this piece, this style is very much a matter of taste whether you like retro and minimalist is really down to your preference and given the lack of any real features to this watch it really isn’t very practical as an every day use accessory. As a guy I much prefer the Vitoria or Grande watches they do, not forgetting the Palmas range which really are quite sexy. Once again Breo caters for all price ranges and the bigger the budget the more noticibly attractive the watches are.

Style and comfort, couldn't ask for much more really

Ultimate sound and digital clarity, specially designed for multi-environment use. The 44mm drivers have a special diaphragm, which allows them to sustain a high SPL and give a wide frequency response with exceptionally clear sound. With the DJ environment in mind, the full size closed cups are padded with soft, low compression set foam, giving a durable and extreme comfort for long periods of use. The earcups can be swivelled by 180 and rotated by 90 allowing the user to wear them in multiple styles and also allowing them to be folded for compact storage.

* Good attenuation of ambient noise
* Super soft earcups
* Specially designed damping perforation ensures powerful bass response
* Well defined mid-band and spatial sound reproduction due to foam damping element
* High levels and powerful bass for modern, rhythm-driven music
* Extremely comfortable to wear due to ultra-lightweight design, even for extended listening times
* Rubber finish

Unlike allot of professional headphones, the Breo De Janiero doesn’t ask for a ridiculous price, at £44.99 you are looking at unbelievable value for something which has astounding audio quality. The bass on these headphones literally thunders at you and the vocalisation is allot clearer whilst handling high peak audio without sacrificing the quality. At full volume tests these headphones didn’t distort in the slightest and we could be forgiven for not even wearing these at one stage. Due to the soft ear cups they really are comfortable that long session audio or using them to DJ or inside the music studio just feels like second nature. Whilst the Breo De Janiero’s are arguably not as fashionable as the Santos range, they don’t look shabby at all. We were sent the Grey and Orange pair which is to be fair the least nicest looking ones out of the three colours available. This is mainly down to the wire colour which seems to be almost a nicotine like colour. Other colours in the Breo De Janiero range include Lime & Black and Black & Silver.

* Driver unit: 44mm diameter dome
* Impedance: 32 ohms
* Sensitivity: 108dB3dB at 1kHz
* Frequency response: 5Hz to 20kHz
* 6.3mm plug adaptor
* Cord length: 1.5m
* Professional super bass
* Foldable

As the specs state there is an incredible amount of lead here, so if you are working at your computer or on the decks, length isn’t going to be a problem. We also do like the fact that these headphones are foldable, something else the Santos doesn’t offer. If you are going to buy any headphones from Breo, pick these up as you really are paying very little extra for the rise in quality you are getting. Ultra comfort and stylish the Breo De Janiero doesn’t sacrifice style for comfort or quality of audio and whilst these headphones do not offer the Infra Red abilities of the Next Click headphones, they deal with bass and spacial sound much better. Highly recommended!

So you may not have heard much about a brand called Breo at the moment but I can pretty much assure you that give it a few years and it will become a household name, unless we have another big recession again of which they maybe another unfortunate company like Canterbury to go under. We could be wrong on both fronts, but we’re sure that we’re right that Breo at some point in the near future will become a well established brand. To kick off our first review of the Breo range are the Breo Santos Headphones. The particularly variety that we got to indulge in were green but the colour variety also extends to red and blue also. The first thing that we noticed about the Santos series was just how comfortable everything is, the ear cups are super soft and there is none of the discomfort you get with bud headphones. Due to the ears being completely covered the room for bass to travel around is extremely impressive, so much I ended up loudly shouting “WOW” when I first put them on. So what about the features of these headphones? Here is what Breo has to say.

* Good attenuation of ambient noise

* Super soft earcups

* Specially designed damping perforation ensures powerful bass response

* Well defined mid-band and spatial sound reproduction due to foam damping element

* High levels and powerful bass for modern, rhythm-driven music

* Extremely comfortable to wear due to ultra-lightweight design, even for extended listening times

* Rubber finish

One thing we really like about the Santos series is actually the wires that go down into your selected device, the same colour is used throughout creating a distinct minimalist but loud look that will no doubt get the attention of passers by. Unlike many ear cupped headphones, both the Santos and it’s other series of headphones are all aesthetically designed to be fashionable, so there are no clunky edges and certainly no connotations to anything remotely embarassing. You maybe wondering about the actual price, well astonishingly they are only £23.95 currently and for what is a very sturdy and good looking set of audio pounders there simply no reason for this item to be snuffed at. As for the geeky specifications take a look below:

* Driver unit: 30mm diameter dome
* Impedance: 32 ohms
* Sensitivity: 108dB3dB
* Frequency response: 15Hz to 20kHz
* Plug: 3.5mm stereo plug
* Professional super bass
* Cord length: 1.2m

Whilst the bass is most certainly impressive, don’t expect treble and vocals to blow you away. Whilst all audible you never get the feeling that what you are hearing is that of builders of such beautiful audio craft as Bose or Sennheiser. These do match up to the Skull Candy range and to be fair, they are probably slightly better, in the audio department anyway. If you are looking for something a little different and an accessory to complete your look, then you can’t go wrong with the Santos range from Breo. Given the price these headphones should cost way more than they actually do. The bold colours may not be for everyone but put with the right outfit and these bad boys really shine and can most certainly draw attention your way.

Ultra slim ain't the word!

The Eee PC we had the chance to review was installed with a fully operational version of Windows 7 startup allowing practical use where ever you may be. The device has an adequately sized “QWERTY” keyboard which we found easy to use and the touch pad has gestures similar to that of the iPhone thanks to windows incorporation. If you aren’t familiar with this, the range of motion is zoom in/out the ability to rotate, scroll and page up and down. Interestingly enough we really like the touch pad and feels that it actually has one of the best ones we’ve come across, Sometimes it is all too easy to accidentally have two fingers on the pad when editing, but because it is very slightly raised and bumped from the net book you sub-consciously know it is there, a nice touch.

Features of this sleek designed net book include, A 10.1″ LED Backlit screen, Inbuilt 802.11n Wi-Fi, 250GB HDD and an exclusive VGA Dongle allowing clear, practical image output for TV Screens or Projectors. You don’t have to have the extended memory SD card in for the net book to run either, this doubles up as a conveniently placed SD card reader that loads fast and is a god send for those that need their images online fast.

In terms of what this machine can do graphically, well you’ll be pleased that if you do find yourself bored or completely uninspired to work that the Eee PC does run a selection of games. Shareware based titles mostly, it’ll have no problem running some of the earlier Popcap releases that’s for sure. If you’re looking for more fidelity then you should really be looking elsewhere or not even in the net book range as a whole. I was surprised to find that the multimedia aspects of this net book of good quality. Though you won’t get amazing resolution with the web camera, the frame rate is steady and as this machine is tailored for all ages, there is some nice web cam features such as borders and filters. 

Eee Docking; Allows you quick access from the desktop to all kinds of programs / applications. The Eee docking facility sits at the top of your desktop and you can select the applications from one of the 4 categories, Eee Amuse, Eee Sharing, Eee Xperience & Eee Tools. All self explanatory categories covering many things from the inbuilt games to the reliable Asus Webstorage system where you can upload and download your documents onto the easy sharing facility with 500GB of personal storage.

You always get the feeling that the Intel Atom is performing well at all times, though we’ve not stress tested this device to maximum RAM levels and used the device under variables such as the majority of hard disk space used, what we can say is, if looked after well with some good housekeeping, the Eee PC will deliver all of your standard day to day work needs, the fact it is running on Windows 7 and no half baked operating system, means compatibility and cross-channeling between multiple work stations is a breeze and all you’re familiar Microsoft Office based applications will run without any problems at all.

All in all we really recommend this notebook, if your an office professional or student it will have all the power you need to complete your daily tasks whilst looking great, being extremely light and having the juice you need to get you through the day. Highly recommended. The price isn’t shabby either!

At £49.99 (RRP; I’ve seen them going for £44.99 online) the sGs GI’s cost more than the critically acclaimed Turtle Beach X1’s. Taking on a successful product by charging more is a brave move for Skullcandy, but why are they more expensive? The answer is simple; Music. All of Skullcandys headphones are known for their excellent sound quality and the sGs GI’s are no different. As well as pumping the Xbox 360’s in-game sound through its 40mm power drivers, the GI’s can plug into any MP3 player, iPod, stereo or PC to play music. This is a great feature which really expands the products capabilities gives potential buyers another reason to part with their cash.

The sound quality is incredible and the headphones truly squeeze every last drop of power from the 40mm drivers. Fortunately, the in-game sounds from your Xbox 360 offer just the same magnificent quality as that of the music. The headset splits the sound so an explosion on your left is heard through your left speaker, allowing you to track your enemy in online games such as the Call of Duty series. It really does give you a ridiculous advantage as an enemy sneaking to your right can be scouted and killed as they wonder how you knew where they were. This feature is probably the main reason for console gamers buying these headsets as they’re vital for participating in any gaming tournament.

Comfort is vital when deciding which headset is worth your money. The sGs GI’s creators obviously realised this and haven’t let themselves down. I have always found that when I wear on-ear headphones my ears feel strained after about an hour’s use. Skullcandy have been smart and put some very soft padding that cushions the cups of the speakers snugly round your ears, maximising comfort for long-time usage. The speakers themselves are cushioned by a soft layer off padding and can be moved to fit even the biggest and mutated of ears.

Despite all of this padding, the appearance of the headphones still manages to be gorgeous, they look genuinely stunning. Just look at the image below and you can instantly see how sleek the sGs GI’s design truly is. Arctic camouflage surrounds the under-band connecting the two speakers and a sort of denim pattern covers the top. The sides of the speakers are covered with a gleaming reflective black finish with the Skullcandy logo emblazoned in the centre. Some on-ear headphones are simply embarrassing to wear in public but Skullcandy ensure that you’ll look fashionable if you ever take them into the outside world.

As well as looking brilliant, the wiring from the headphones is kept to a minimum, unlike their rivals. Whilst the wired Turtle Beach X1s have an extraordinary amount of cable only necessary if you want to play your game from across the street, the sGs GI’s wiring is only long enough for a TV-soft gaming session. There is still enough wire to play a game from a considerable distance but the lower length allows the wiring to sit tidily and if an extension is required then extra cable can be purchased.

However, all is not perfect with this headset. Bizarrely, rather than utilize the good-quality mic and transmit voice through that using a separate channel, the sGs GI’s mix the voice with the in-game sound. This means that, in the midst of a game with loud noises, it can be excruciatingly difficult to hear teammates speaking. The Turtle Beach range of headsets increase the sound of the voice when in-game sound increases in volume automatically but Skullcandy have forgotten this feature and it genuinely lets the product down. Communication is the key to success for online gaming and it’s near impossible with this method of sound transmission.

As well as this, it can be complicated to set up and the instructions bundled with the headset are useless. Research is required to really figure everything out and, although only slightly annoying, it is an unnecessary problem that Skullcandy should really have sorted out.

Still, if you’re the kind of gamer that doesn’t require a lot of communication with teammates while in a hectic online match then this is the perfect headset. Although it’s a bit pricier than the Turtle Beach range it’s also a hell of a lot comfier and looks incredible. The fact you can use it to listen to music as well means that it got the nod over the Turtle Beach X1 for me but its online speaking flaws meant I only use it when not playing multiplayer.

Wireless IR headphones, for many years they have been the bane of the audio world. Even the slightest piece of interference would cause havoc and scratchy audio in the home and if it wasn’t for the radiation causing the problem, the IR signal wouldn’t be strong enough to warrant having wireless in the first place. Yes, admittedly the last time we tried an IR device was a couple of years ago but that’s not the point. Oh and before people say ‘I’ve seen them in pound shops, sounds like a bargain!” don’t bother. You’d have to be a complete fluoride head to even consider doing that.

Introducing then, is the Next Base IR wireless dual channel headphones. They are sturdy, built to last and designed for comfort. Forget spending stupid money on Bose we’ve seen these headphones around online for as little as £25.00 and they are simply phenomenal. Designed for but not just, Next Base systems, these headphones just mark highly in all areas. How do they fare for there initial purpose? Well, firstly you have the dual channel feature, meaning that you can tune into one of two different devices at the same time. This is a great feature, especially if you happen to own multiple car DVD player systems, the flexibility to switch audio at the flick of a button isn’t to taken for granted and whilst for many purchasers this feature wouldn’t be used too heavily, considering the price you can’t argue at having that feature available.

In terms of interference we tried them away from radiation areas such as the home living room and used them in both the home and car environment. In the home space we did find some crackle and fuzz but they were certainly behind the audio of the film, as opposed to layering over it. It didn’t distract from the experience and at no point did it lose connection, nor did the audio levels drop. If anything, it sounded similar to when you hear an audio cassette after the song has finished playing, a slight hissing if you will. Stand these where they are most used (in the car) and the clarity is great, you get the sense that it’s wireless but generally things are more crisper, which is great because your unlikely to use the IR device that much indoors and if you are, then we’re sure you can sacrifice the need of your computer router being on, which often causes the distraction.

Now on to what I love. Bundled with these headphones is a standard audio jack, which will enable you to connect to convention devices without the use of power and this is where ironically these headphones come into their own. I am simply astounded by the audio quality that is on offer. You get the bass, you get the treble, you get the subtle notes that you wouldn’t hear on conventional headphones. We loaded up conversations and you could hear the background ambience you simply wouldn’t pick up on a standard set of buds. As an avid PC gamer, we’ve given these a test on games too and wow, these really draw you in to the game. You don’t feel like you are getting surround sound with Next Base IR headphones but the quality you are getting feels as smooth as a marble kitchen surface, no bumps, no high peaks, just pure immersion. Just why would you spend £300 on a set of headphones when you can buy these and be quite content.

I’m not finished. To pack these headphones away, you can invert them back on themselves to tuck them into a hard resistant case. The case has a hard outer edge to ensure impact with the ground will not affect the headphones. Not only is the case well made, but you are getting comfort of the highest order without the ridiculousness of some whole ear headphones. The Next Base cover the ear nicely but at the same time keeps itself compacted and close to your head. You could wear these for hours and be comfortable, in fact I love them to bits and because of the the jack port they aren’t just an investment for wireless purposes, these are an investment for all purposes. Got an iPhone? We’ve tried it, are you a gamer? We’ve bench tested it and even if you are not remotely interested in the IR side of things, pound for pound these are probably the best headphones that money can buy and that’s not a dramatisation.

To learn more about Ricco visit there website at www.ricco.tv

 
 ”Tasty and Scrumptious, it’s the Cuisinart Soup maker”.

Over the last 3-4 years there has been a sudden emergence about tackling carbon emissions in a bid to save our planet for cataclysmic disaster. That is no thanks to Mr Al Gore who has been profiteering from a carbon trading scheme since his Inconvenient Truth had environmentalists screaming blue murder at anyone not driving a Toyota Prius. Politics aside it does look as though carbon credits will be allocated to every family in Britain and in the overreaching and totalitarian authority that is the EU. Finnish based Iqua may find that they have inadvertently set themselves up for this period of faux planet saving with the Iqua Sun Bluetooth Headset. You may ask then, why we’re reviewing such a product if indeed our theories over global warming and cutting carbon emissions are stanced more towards the climate sceptics and Lord Christopher Monkton. There is a reason. If each indvidual were to be have monthly carbon credits quota, it would mean to avoid getting taxed by our peace loving government then we’ll need to ensure we’re investing in green technologies and that includes electronic devices.

So, let’s talk about this device from Iqua Sun. It’s small, it’s compact and of course it has the benefit of a longer battery time thanks to the sun. The device requires an initial charge but after that you will find that the bluetooth system has the ability to perform consistently given it’s solar panel is put to use. Impressively the headset is extremely light with only 14g sitting on your ear. The device comes with an ear piece attachment that will wrap around your ear, it’ll provide you stability and ensure that the device doesn’t slip from your head with any sudden jolts. So you maybe asking, how long can this headset run for? I know one of the most frustrating parts of bluetooth devices are that so many of them have talk time that is so low that you’ll eventually revert back to a wired based system. Even without the solar energy taken into the equation you get a stonking 9 hours talk time, 200 hours standby time and the device only takes 2 hours to charge approximately. All in all the stats look pretty good and recommendable. Don’t expect to be walking long distances away from your PS3 or mobile phones, you’ll only have 10 metres to play with here and for practical use that should be fine. Whether that 10 metres figure still stands going through walls, I don’t know but you would assume that the signal would be weakened much like a WiFI signal would.

Connecting the Iqua Sun Bluetooth Headset to any device is pretty simple, as long as it’s switched on it will register to pretty much any device that is supported by Bluetooth. We used it on the iPhone 3G and PS3 and it worked like a charm. We’ve used headsets before that have complicated LED systems and found that through our own use with other Bluetooth devices such as the Mad Katz PS3 headset we’d often lose power and charge because the device was left on unknowingly. Thankfully turning the device off is allot easier on the Iqua Sun, a relief then. When you purchase one of these, you get a lanyard style holder to keep your headset attached to you whilst not in use, another nice touch. You can hear people fine when it comes to telephone calls and the audio whilst not superior and amazingly crystal, it’s adequate enough and you won’t decipher incorrect words said by the caller. There are two areas where we feel that the device doesn’t quite hit it for us. Firstly the design, now I understand that you have to include a solar panel into the device somewhere but the attachment which secures the device to your head looks almost medical. It’s a bland grey colour that exuberates connotations of hearing aids. Secondly the microphone could of been a little more sensitive. When you speak on this, you will need to speak loud to ensure the quality of the call is consistent. That in turn may well make you look a bit of a prize prat but to be on the safe side be clear and consise. These two flaws then are worth taking into consideration when you purchase. Is your purchase intent driver built upon superior battery time and comfort or is it about style and audio quality?

In conclusion then, The Iqua Sun Bluetooth Headset has an impressive scientific edge to it which will appeal to the gadget lovers and the ecomentalists, it’s a commendable effort but slightly lacks in the areas which maybe of more importance to others. Whilst the solar powered energy will be appealing to ensure a higher charge times, other competitors offer a similar quality build for a lower price. Iqua Sun’s model runs in between £50-£60 depending on the retailer and can be ordered on various online portals including both the Orange & T-Mobile accessory stores. To learn more about Iqua and there products visit there website at www.iqua.com

“This system is an Olympic Dream”

Made for the 3^rd Gen iPod, this waterproof headphone system looks appealing and does what it says on the tin. With a lifetime guarantee you know you’re getting a product which has been developed with a purpose. You will be pleased to know that development team collaborated closely with Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin to bring you a more secure swim goggle attachment system and new ergonomic design thus making it easier for you to swim longer than ever before.

“Music is a big part of my life; this system allows me to listen to music where ever I am”
Michael Phelps – Olympic Gold Medallist

“This is an amazing training aid”
Natalie Coughlin –Olympic Medallist

Once managing your way through the packaging you are greeted by a sleek looking, stylish system in blue and black colour. On the top of the unit there are 3 control buttons, allowing volume and playback control. On each side of the unit there are looped holes where you can easily connect your goggles.

Slip in your iPod 3^rd gen, and leave it to play for a little while to equalise your headphones accordingly. Whilst your headphone system is equalising why not choose your earplug size? This system comes with 5 sets of Elastomer earplugs and 2 sets of Foam earplugs; this ensures you have the right size for your comfort and best sound quality.

“I felt like this system was specifically made for me, to fit in my ear”.
Michael Phelps – Olympic Gold Medallist

Once equalised your headphone system is ready to use. It’s quick; it’s simple and effective and will motivate any swimmer to push that little hard whilst training. Simply attach the unit to your googles then use to your heart’s content.

We tested this unit locally and although far from Olympic athletes we too were impressed by the simplicity yet effectiveness of this product. You are paying for a top quality system and though priced £89.95 we feel that if you are going to make regular use of this item it would be mutually beneficial for you. On the other hand if you’re only going swimming once a week. Is this price justifiable? We’ll let you make up your own minds on that.

Submersible to 12ft underwater you know you can swim in the knowledge that your iPod is safely waterproofed in this systems click open compartment.

In terms of audio quality, it’s not the best we’ve ever witnessed but again you cannot complain because when comparing with other waterproof headphones these bad boys are Olympic champions.

Interested in purchasing this wondrous piece of kit? Why not visit http://www.h2oaudio.co.uk

We Do Tech rate this item;
4.2 out of 5

“A top quality product which does what it says on the tin. Should the product have been cross compatible with other iPods / Mp3 players, we would have scored it a 5″

Podcasters need look no further

 When I first saw the Snowball from Blue I had to check my boxers afterwards for traces of man mayonnaise. There aren’t many things that tingle the loins of a tech-enthusiast than pieces of high quality gadgetry with bespoke design and that is exactly what Blue have made with their USB condenser microphone. Sure there are competitors on the market such as the Samson CO1U but it doesn’t come with a stand and it doesn’t boast the features of the Snowball. Admittedly, the Samson is very impressive and it can be argued that on the whole it has a slightly better audio quality for a lower price, however once you outlay a cradle and anti-shock for it, it becomes more expensive and it doesn’t have the same level of  Omni-directional support of the Snowball either.

The Blue Snowball is a pleasure to use. Its plug and play functionality is so easy to use that even the most novice PC users can use it and the results are exceptionally audio quality that adds a whole layer of professionalism to both your, podcasts, music recordings or video narration. Because the USB microphone has 3 different settings it’s easily adaptable for the method of use at hand. The microphone is Omni-directional whilst also keeping the cardioid feature to ensure full volume is heard speaking directly into the Blue Snowball. There’s more, the mic’s third setting is cardioid -10db which is perfect for recording instrument recordings that are beautifully crisp and not overpowering to an amount that would ruin the playback experience.

So it sounds great, it looks great, but what about the quality of the build? The version we have here comes in silver, but it’s also available in Snowball white and also black. I prefer the chrome version as it sparkles off the light and has a certain regal quality about it. The design of the Blue Snowball is both a mixture of futuristic in its spherical quality, but also a throw back to the microphones of the 60’s with its grilled front and iconic branding. The Snowball also has a nice weight to it, you can feel it’s going to give you the quality you need. A feeling you don’t get with microphones that are light as a feather. The six inch stand adds real stability and allows full directional movement to point the cardioid at anyone you please.

What we have here then is the Rolls Royce microphone for the home user, without the Rolls Royce price tag. It looks great, feels great and most importantly sounds great and for anyone that has any semblance of taking their music or podcasting seriously, you need look no further than the Blue Snowball. Please read below for technical specifications, compatibility and a little more information about the guys at Blue. 

Technical specifications

Acoustical operating principle: Position 1-3: Pressure gradient
Polar Pattern: 102: Cardiod; Position 3: Omnidirectional
Frequency response: 1 – 3: 40 – 18000 kHz
Sample/Word Rate: 44.1 kHz/16 bit
Weight: 460g
Dimensions: 325mm (circumference)

 System requirements

Mac computers require MAC OS X, USB 1.0 or 2.0 port and a 64MB (minimum) Ram.  PCs require Windows XP Edition or XP Professional and a USB 1.0 or 2.0 port.

The snowball comes with a 6 inch stand and USB cable. 

About Blue Microphones

Founded in 1995 by Skipper Wise and Martins Saulespurens, Blue has grown from a desire to refurbish vintage high-end microphones for fellow musicians into a unique, multi-faceted audio company with a prestigious line of award-winning microphones and accessories. Headquartered in Westlake Village, California, with onsite engineering and manufacturing facilities in Latvia, Blue Microphone’s current projects include the building of a state-of-the-art recording and training facility and capsulate testing area located at its headquarters.  

We Do Tech score this product: 4.9 out of 5