Pulp Fiction Reel to Reel tape deck.

Your erstwhile reviewer was having a night in with friends. We happened across Quentin Tarantino genre defining film Pulp Fiction, on one or other of the generic movie channels. This being one of our favourite films the remote was placed safely on the arm rest and viewing joy ensued.

In an audio geek extraordinaire moment, I could not get over just how cool Mia's Reel to Reel tape recorder was. It's a lovely piece of audio nostalgia.

While not offering the versatility, storage space and all-round awesomeness of modern day music systems like the Sonus s5. I can’t help but be awed by how cool the simple reel to reel player is. True if I was to own one it would hold nothing but the pulp fiction sound track and go largely unused.

Its definitely a style over substance issue. At the price the Teac X-2000R change hands for these days you could buy a rather comprehensive Sonus set-up, or a small set-up with an iPad to use as a controller.

I think unfortunately the tech geek in me would always win over the nostalgic audio geek.

Where is the iPhone5.

Where is it?...

...I did consider leaving this post thus. That aside, we had very reliable sources say that iPhone 5 would be on limited "beta" release in June this year. Its 3 months later and we have had to strip our source of their "reliable" status. Its not something we liked doing and damn you apple for making us do it.

So what is going on. Rumours have been abound pretty much since a week after the iPhone 4 came out. Over the proceeding months, the rumour mill has moved from suggesting an iPhone Nano, iPhone 4gs and back to iPhone 5. We think the time lag screams of new handset as opposed to an improved version like the 3gs.

So when do we expect to see it? Some people are saying early October. I think we have probably missed the boat for this year, unless of course their are hundreds of warehouses across the world filled with i5s ready to ship.

If you can't wait why not check the price on the iPhone 4 over at spree4.com.

NewsFlash: Microsoft to release windows 8.

Very surprising news from microsoft. They have yet again released a new version of windows. Perhaps caused by the need to release windows 7 fast due to the negative reaction to vista.

Microsoft hope that windows 8 will regain the ground they have lost to andriod in mobile devices. They claim that windows 8 will work across laptops, desktops, tablets and other touch screen devices.

Interesting news we can't wait to have a good look at the new windows. Lets hope it isn't another lame duck.

IFA Expo

Keeping our disappointment at bay at the withdrawal of the Samsungs Galaxy tablet ( due to yet more ridiculous patent infringement lawsuits.) Its been an exciting week for tech fans thanks to the IFA Expo in Berlin.

Top of the tech treats as was the case in Vegas at the beginning of the year is 3d TV without glasses. While I’ve made my opinion on 3d TV in general very clear, it can’t be denied that this is very cool tech. Toshibas ZL2 is 55 inch’s of sheer brilliance. The TV actually tracks your face so to correctly calibrate the TV. So no blurring or headaches if your not straight on.

While we are on the subject of 3d if you wish your 3d experience to be a little more private why not try Sony’s new personal 3d viewer. It can be connected to your blueray player or ps3 and gives superb 3d pictures and 5.1 virtual surround sound. While not as clunky as the old vr headsets its definitely channelling their style. If you feel you can rock the Geordi La Forge look why not give it a go.

Ford have introduced their MyKey device which takes the personally defined settings seen in some high end cars and runs with it. Among other things mykey allows parents to set maximum speeds and max volumes on a key, so no more worries about those speeding tickets for your teenagers should you lend them the car.

While the Samsung kept their tablet away from the expo, as at the moment it is not available in Germany pending the results of apples patent infringement suit. They did show case their slate computer. The slate is effectively a portable desktop, complete with ultra thin touch screen tablet and paper thin keyboard and looks very cool.

Looking Back: Amazon Kindle

The Amazon kindle appeared on our radar around about the time this blog came into being. While it had been out briefly before, it was starting to make big waves in the tech world. Amazon cleverly had ignored the apple inspired rush for top of the range functionality and top of the range prices, and instead went for something simpler and more importantly cheaper.

By keeping the kindle simple yet fantastically designed they single handedly lit a fire under the fledgling eBook industry. While others will point to competitor models and claim them "better". This was a case of good enough being, well...good enough. The kindle at 8.5mm was incredibly thin, with up to 2 months battery life and a capacity of around 3,500 books the kindle had the specs were it needed it. The kindle like many of its competitors made use of eInk screens that allowed for zero eyestrain on those using it. The inclusion of wi-fi and 3g was an inspiration allowing for easy access to amazons huge library from almost anywhere in the world all included in the purchase price (another fantastic idea.)

What really knocked my socks off though was Whispernet! The fact that the kindle would seamlessly update a central server with where I was up to in my book was a wonder. Meaning that if your kindle wasn't to hand and you picked up your android phone or laptop or iPhone (using their freely available apps,) you could continue from where you left off. This is were the kindle really wins over its rivals, its a service you are buying not just a device. The kindle itself is just an interface to that service, admittedly a beautifully designed interface but its the extras that Amazon include in the already low price that make the kindle the market leader now and for the foreseeable future.

Did the kindle live up to its hype. It most certainly did, amazon have sold many tens of millions and the reviews seem to be nothing but positive. The kindle was in great demand by spree4 users and has been very popular in the short time it has been available on the site.

New Kindle?

The Amazon Kindle has been an unquestionable success for Amazon. It managed to do what other companies (including Amazon itself,) had failed to do and open the eBook market to everyone.

Over the last 12 months there has been lots of rumour about the next kindle. It would have a touch screen, it would be high res, it would be colour etc etc. All of it had the distinct smell of being made up. The simple fact has been that as the kindle sold in ever increasing quantities, Amazon had no real reason to add any of the functions above that are not necessary to the kindle's functioning as an eBook reader. The public seemed quite happy to buy the kindle as is, and the drop in price over time just sweetened the deal. Lets not forget that even though kindle is a fantastic bit of kit it isn't "the best" eBook reader on the market. It works, its simple, its well designed and its cheap.

So what’s changed. Well Amazon recently reduced the price of its refurbished kindles and looks set to follow with a reduction on new units. If they are following the apple model this generally signals a stock clearing before an upgrade. Also Amazon have just registered a new domain kindlescribe.com. Unless this is baiting us tech bloggers to get some free marketing (and I wouldn't put it past them,) this seems very suggestive we are about to get a new kindle.

An educated guess would be that the new kindle will incorporate a stylus that will allow the reader to annotate their eBooks. i.e. to right in the margin or highlight paragraphs much easier. Not a massive upgrade so expect to see more storage space and higher res screens.

We'll keep digging and let you know the minute we find any better facts.

If you can't wait why not buy the excellent Amazon Kindle on our parent site Spree4.com.

Getting on a bit!

So it’s August and we are fast approaching this blogs first anniversary. #PartyTime

It’s been an interesting time and we’ve enjoyed providing Tech news for our followers, our friends and those just passing through. We hope we have been of use, or at the very least mildly entertaining. We know you have a choice in your tech news sites and appreciate your patronage. Our parent site Spree4.com has gone from strength to strength offering great savings on consumer goods, following on from the site redesign that hit our screens earlier this year they have some interesting plans for the coming months (watch this space.)

Over the next few months we’ll be looking back at those products that have made the biggest splash over the last 12 months, discussing if they lived up to the hype, what impact they had on our lives or failed to have (I’m looking at you 3d tv.). We’ll also be looking at those rumoured products that will be lighting up the last few months of this year or the first few of next. In November we will be naming our product(s) of the year to mark our first birthday. It realise is exciting times hear in spree4 towers.