Random Alan

Money, money, money. We would all love to have more of it, but the question is… how do we get more?!

Well, I’m not going to answer that for you, simply because I don’t know the answer! What I will talk to you about right now, though, is what I would do if I did have more money.

I’m not just going to tell you that I’d go on some really expensive holiday somewhere, but I’m going to talk to you about the gadgets/technology I would buy if I had a bottomless wallet.

First of all, I would update every single piece of technology I own. Most of my important items are already up-to-date, such as the computer I’m using right now. But I wouldn’t mind getting myself a really expensive top-of-the range digital SLR camera.

I’ve always been a fan of photography, but never had time to really dive into it… so that’s the first thing I would do.

The next thing I would do is buy myself a huge home cinema system, and kit my home out with a theatre room. Nothing beats watching a movie, or playing some games, on a massive screen with surround sound – it’s just something else.

I would then, just because I love the sport, invest in a golf simulator. I would have this installed in a room in my house (which would be new house if I had a bottomless wallet!), and would be in there all the time perfecting my swing!

Finally, I would invest in some sort of cleaning robot – or pay for one to be developed! I just want my house to be allergen-free and clean all the time… I know that’s a little obsessive of me, but it’s not too much to ask!

I never used to be into the whole home security industry – you know, cameras, surveillance goods, etc… but I’ve got to say that in recent years I’ve really become ‘hooked’!

Just last week I went to a home-security convention (well, it was more of a road show), and I came away in awe.

These guys are developing technology that will pretty much guarantee your home is a safe place at all times. OK, so nowadays, we can make our place of residence safe and secure, but there’s still some risk of some little low-life getting inside. However, with the sort of stuff that’s being developed right now – as I write this post – you’re home will never be the same again.

Security doors that can’t be broken into, quick-closing metal ‘curtains’ which will either lock the intruder out of your house, or keep them in a certain room until the police arrive… and it’s all done automatically. The system recognises people who are meant to be there, and shuts in/out those who don’t.

Of course, basic models/beta releases are bound to make a few mistakes here and there, so you will be able to tap in a code to over-ride it. But this really is the future of home security.

There were a few other things dotted around like retina scanners, voice detectors, pressure pads that you turn on at night (to determine if someone steps foot into your house)… but nothing was as impressive as the full system. I’ll be sure to look out for that in the years to come… might even get one installed in my home, I think it would be quite cool – a bit like something out of a movie!

I’ve literally just walked in from a long long day testing my favourite gadgets. I know… it sounds so hard and so strenuous – but let me tell you, it’s not!

In fact, I have absolutely loved today, because not only did I got to try out some of the latest home-security software for PCs, laptops and notebooks, but I got to play around with some of the latest mobile phones coming on to the market.

Some of the technology these guys have got coming through in the next few years is absolutely amazing. One gadget, which is just coming on to the market now, actually allows you to determine what strength prescription you need for your eyes… and you’ve guessed it, that’s on the Iphone (so if you haven’t got one yet, what are you waiting for?)!

One of the best pieces of technology I had a play around with, though, was a voice recognition program.

Sure, there’s some voice recognition software out there already, but none if it even comes close to what I saw today.

This software provides voice to text in a matter of milliseconds, and it is 100% accurate – even when you put on silly voices (something I did several times…). It’s absolutely amazing! No longer will you say ‘Hello my name is Bob’, and get ‘Gello sits on the plate in a blob’… you’ll get exactly what you say.

This will make things like essay writing, presentation creation and document writing so much quicker and easier – saving companies so much money. I’m all for this software, and can’t wait for it to hit the market. Unfortunately, this may be some time off, as it’s not even made it to the Government or military yet!

Now then, how many of you budding tech geeks have taken your laptop to pieces, just to find out exactly what goes on inside?

I bet it’s a lot of you, and I can pretty much guarantee a lot of you will have also taken your laptop apart and forgot how to put it back together (an ideal way to learn!)!

Well, I’ve just been playing with the Sony VAIO M Series VPC-M11M1E/W – Atom 1.66 GHz, and I’ve taken it apart… and now I can’t put it back together!

Well, I can do, but it will just take me a little bit longer. This is the first time I’ve actually taken a notebook to pieces, and I’m really impressed with the VAIO M Series VPC-M11M1E/W – Atom 1.66 GHz’s functionability.

I had a play around with the notebook for a while as soon as I got my hands on it – and that’s what inspired me to take it apart.

I must say, that little machine certainly packs out the power and speed for it’s size. You sort of expect notebooks to be a little slower and harder to use than your standard laptop – but they really aren’t… not the Sony VAIO M Series VPC-M11M1E/W – Atom 1.66 GHz, anyway.

What really impressed me with this notebook was it’s speed and it’s screen.

First of all, yeah, the screen is tiny… but it’s meant to be! It’s a notebook guys, not a billboard!

Next up, the speed. It’s incredible. I am always in awe and wonder at how far computers and laptops have come over the years, and I get quite nostalgic when thinking about them – but this notebook really blows competition out of the water… it is A-mazing.

The Sony VAIO M Series VPC-M11M1E/W – Atom 1.66 GHz, with all it’s littleness and tiny curves, is a beautiful machine, and I would recommend you all at least try and have a go on one!

Some of you may think I’m a little obsessed with technology, and you’ll be right to think that – because I am! This post is about the new Iphone – yes… another Apple product I know. It’s no surprise, though, because their technology is just light years ahead of the rest.

I picked up an Iphone 4g the other day for free off one of my techie friends (always good to have a few contacts!), and spend the best part of 6 hours fiddling around and accommodating myself to the new features.

Video calling – something that’s been missing from Iphones, has finally arrived. And it’s arrived with a bang – one that should be loud enough to ‘out’ any Iphone killers approaching the market.

The interface is the same as it’s always been, the ideas are the same, the app store is the same (but with more apps, of course). Essentially, this is an Iphone, but with the extra bits – a bit like a cake, but with icing and sprinkles to add a fancy touch.

To be honest, and sorry if I sound cynical, but I’ve been using my other phone to make calls and text my friends… and I’ve been using my Iphone 4g for all other things, such as browsing the net, playing games, etc.

I just don’t get along with some of the features on the Iphone 4g and I think they’ve got a little bit further to go until they really crack it.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re not far off – the Iphone 4g is better than anything else out there (on the whole), but some other phones… from the likes of HTC, for example, do have some more useful and better thought out features.

I guess it’s down to personal taste really, but if you’re a fan of Apple’s previous masterpieces, you’ll be a fan of the Iphone 4g… guaranteed.

Well, here we are again. I have just got back from my local tech store and was given the opportunity to try out the new Nikon D700 Digital camera.

Ok – just to clear up some confusion (some of you have been grilling me with your questions!) – my friend works at the store… so that’s why I get to try these things out!

I’ve got to say, I’m very impressed with the camera’s function ability. I was, however, a little let down by the image quality on the earlier pictures I took. I know that when using a new camera, you’ve got to play around with the settings a bit, but to be honest with you… it must have taken a good 2 hours of constantly taking photos for me to get used to this camera!

On the plus side, though, I really did enjoy playing with the camera – and would love to go back in now and have another play around! When I got used to taking pictures with it, the Nikon D700 Digital camera really shone through as a quality, high-end, professional camera.

It doesn’t match up to some of the other cameras I’ve seen – but that’s a different story! All in all, this camera is a little gem – it’s just a shame I didn’t have longer to explore the features!

Well, I’ve only actually seen this bad boy on display, and haven’t had a chance to watch some footage on it – but from what I’ve seen, it’s safe to say that the future of TVs is now here.

The footage I did see on the Samsung – UE40C7000 – 40″ LCD TV was of a waterfall – and let me tell you now… it looked magical.

I’m not normally blown away by TVs and displays like this, but there’s just something about 3DTV that gives it some mythical feature. You feel like you’re being invited into a new world, one where the colours are all so vivid… where you can look but can’t touch (no, really… you can’t touch).

Of course, 3DTV is still in its ‘early release’ stages yet… I mean, just look at what happened to HDTV when it was first released – it was just update after update after update.

My recommendations to you, my fellow tech enthusiasts, would be to wait a while before you buy a 3D TV. Just wait until the initial hype has died down, and the technology has improved a little – and you’ll be sure to pick yourself up and absolute beauty.

One little note on this, though, and that’s to be aware of the difference between 3D-ready and Full 3D. 3D-ready means you can, if you want, watch 3D movies on your TV. Every TV is 3D ready right now – but the newer ones just enhance the picture a bit. Full 3D, as you can guess from the name, means that you get the whole package… and when 3D TV channels are rolled out, you’ll be at the front of the queue watching them (Full 3D TVs are notably more expensive than their 3D-ready counterparts, though).

Since I lent my Ipad to my brother, I decided it was time to build yet another computer. But this time, I built a computer with a difference! I built a super computer!

My new super computer is actually made up of several other computers… as well as a few new parts.

Basically, my three old laptops (had them for years just sitting in the cupboard like they do), were beyond individual repair, so I harvested the good/working parts from each… tuned them up a bit, and added them to my super computer. For the rest of the job, I had to improvise with bits from other useless machines.

Ok… I’ll admit at this point that the whole reason behind creating a new super computer was so I could try out my new 26″ LED computer monitor (with a lovely piano-black finish to it). I felt that the only way to do this beautiful masterpiece of a monitor justice was to plug it into a mammoth machine – hence the new-born super computer!

It’s been up and running for a few hours now, I’m just installing Windows 7 on there – and I know for a fact that it’s going to be a fast one! I might sell it on to my brother, but then again… I want to have my fun with it first!

I am always always ALWAYS being asked about new technology, and how far I think it will be until a certain product becomes mainstream.

Recently, it’s been going like this..

“Alan, oh so mighty god of technology, how long do you think it will be until I can have a touch-screen TV in my house?”

Ok, so maybe it’s been without the god reference, but you get the picture! People are calling out for touch-screen TVs… we’ve got our touch-screen mobile phones, we’ve got our touch-screen home-security devices… we want touch-screen TVs!

Well, to be honest with you guys, the technology is already out there, you can, if you fork out a healthy sum of money, go out and buy yourself a touch-screen TV. However, this won’t be amazing… it will be a pretty standard model with a few nice features here and there.

What we want to know is when will we be able to control our entire home-cinema catalogue at home via our touch-screen TV (that can access the internet, make video calls, etc.). Well, I’m going to tell you the same thing again! The technology is out there, it is being developed as we speak! So sit tight, and I’m sure your patience will be rewarded in the years to come.

Oh, and one thought to leave you with… think about how cool touch-screen 3DTV would be! It would be like stepping into a living hologram… now that’s amazing.