Looking Through Google Project Glass
April 11, 2012 by Gordon
Filed under Features & Editorials
Google has given us a glimpse of the future with Project Glass. How realistic is it?
- By Gordon Kelly (for TrustedReviews)
- 10 April 2012
“I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.”
the Terminator
There is fundamental interest in being able to see more than the naked eye can perceive. The analytics of the Terminator, witnessing the magnetic spectrum like Geordi La Forge, Cyclops’s ability to fire laser beams – enhancing vision takes us straight to science fiction and a world of almost infinite possibility. A world that Google this week let us dream may not be that far away…
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Project Glass
Had it come from any smaller company, ‘Project Glass‘ would be dismissed as a pipe dream, the ambitious vision of a design student trying to attract the attention of a high profile employer. However, it comes from Google’s labs, and the company is deadly serious. “We think technology should work for you—to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t,” it proclaimed. “A group of us from Google [x] started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment.”
A promotional video (above) accompanied the announcement demonstrating how core smartphone functionality (mapping, social media, video calls, etc) could be integrated into a pair of lightweight glasses using virtual reality. Google showed off a concept design and then, as if to demonstrate the strength of its conviction, a few days later company co-founder Sergey Brin casually turned up to a public charity event wearing a pair (below). A timescale appeared (late 2013) and even a price range was mooted (£300-£500).
What Nonsense
There is a logical reaction to all of this: “what nonsense!” The Project Glass video has already been subject to numerous parodies and it raises more questions, both in terms of hardware and software, than it answers. Looking at the hardware you have to question battery life in an age where we can barely get a smartphone to see out a day. In addition there are questions of durability, heat, fit (especially for those who already wear glasses), processing power, always-on internet connectivity and much more. Just wait for the campaigns to begin about them cooking your brain.
This is a sample. Continue reading the rest of the article on TrustedReviews
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Apple TV (2012, 1080p model) [Wired UK]
I’ve long said Apple deliberately plays down the importance of Apple TV. My review for Wired UK points out how Apple TV is the glue which holds the Apple universe together.
- By Gordon Kelly (for Wired UK)
- 02 April 2012
Wired Rating 8/10
Price: £99
Wired: Stylish hardware, refined software, 1080p playback and seamless audio and video AirPlay integration with existing Apple products
Tired: Apple TV remains little more than a TV conduit for more capable devices and without them it flounders
Is it better to be a jack of all trades or a master of one? In today’s ruthless technology jungle the former seems to be true. Convergence crushes single purpose products and we buy by ticking off an ever longer checklist of features and minimum requirements. Against this background the Apple TV is a little odd. All it does is interact with other Apple products and services, but it does so brilliantly.
![11 Apple TV (2012, 1080p model) [Wired UK]](http://gordonkelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/11.jpg "11")
The modest, but intense focus is reflected in the Apple TV itself. Now in its third generation and its fifth year Apple’s so-called “hobby” has no time for a distracting redesign. It still looks like a small, square tin of the world’s most expensive hardboiled sweets, it still measures 98 x 98 x 23mm and it still weighs exactly 270g. In fact the only way to tell the difference from the previous Apple TV is to look at the box which has “1080p” written on a single side.
This references arguably the biggest feature of the new Apple TV: the jump from 720p HD video support to “Full HD” 1080p. To achieve this there are further subtle tweaks under the hood. The processor has been upgraded from an Apple A4 chip, as seen in the iPhone 4, to a single-core version of the previously dual-core Apple A5 fitted inside the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Elsewhere Apple has decided not to mess with a simple formula. There is HDMI, Ethernet and WiFi (802.11b/g/n) connectivity, a port for optical audio output and a power cord.
As such the Apple TV sticks squarely to the Cupertino company’s tried and tested formula. The most compelling reason to buy it is the software and the fact it gets considerably better the more Apple products you own. Read the rest of the review on Wired UK
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Audyssey South of Market
An audacious name for an audacious dock. Superb performance, flexibility and keen pricing make this a real contender.
- By Gordon Kelly (for TrustedReviews)
- Reviewed 04 April 2012
Price as reviewed £299.95
Overall 9/10
Key Features
- 200W output with four discrete amplifiers
- PC compatibility with mic & USB connectivity
- Bluetooth with A2DP wireless streaming
- iOS app allows complete sound customisation
- iPad compatible
In terms of pure bang for your buck the £250 Monitor Audio i-deck 200 offers arguably the best dock audio experience on the market. Following comments on the back of this review, however, another contender was suggested: Audyssey’s colourfully named South of Market. Having now put the dock through its paces it is clear you readers know your stuff.
On the surface, the South of Market dock is an intriguing concept. Unlike traditional docks, Audyssey has designed South of Market (named after a San Francisco neighbourhood) to be a multipurpose product doubling as both a dock and PC/laptop speakers. Given most docks have 3.5mm auxiliary outputs (the NAD Viso 1 excluded) this seems a weak boast, but South of Market also connects directly to a computer’s USB port so docked devices can sync with iTunes. In addition its unusual shape makes it more practical to position alongside a monitor.
This shape is worthy of further discussion. Looking somewhat like a curvy version of theCoolerMaster CM 690 II PC case, it has dimensions of 23 x 28 x 13 cm (H x D x W) making for a narrow, but deep, form factor with a small footprint. At 4.1Kg it is also relatively light, though packs no internal battery or carry handle for easy portability. This is a dock designed to be have a permanent mooring position. On the plus side Audyssey has managed to squeeze the transformer inside the dock meaning there is no leaden power brick on the cable.
Beyond simple differentiation, however, the shape of the Audyssey South of Market dock is fundamental to its audio performance. Taking a leaf from the Arcam rCube, Audyssey has positioned its speakers at opposing angles on each side of the dock to create the widest possible stereo separation.
Separation is a near constant problem for docks. Their small dimensions mean speakers have to sit close together and this is compounded by positioning them in the same direction. In the worst examples this can create a near-mono experience. So does Audyssey’s approach work? More later. Continue reading the full article on TrustedReviews
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[BBC Future] Titanic Anniversary: The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship
April 3, 2012 by Gordon
Filed under Features & Editorials
My debut feature for new BBC Worldwide site BBC Future.
Note: as part of BBC Worldwide, BBC Future is not available to available UK dwellers. You can use this ‘anonymouse’ link to view it.
The official link can be found here:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120402-the-myth-of-the-unsinkable-ship
The full article can also be read below, click to enlarge each page.
![Titanic Anniversary The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p1 [BBC Future] Titanic Anniversary: The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship](http://gordonkelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Titanic-Anniversary-The-Myth-of-the-Unsinkable-Ship-p1.jpg "Titanic Anniversary- The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p1")
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![Titanic Anniversary The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p2 [BBC Future] Titanic Anniversary: The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship](http://gordonkelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Titanic-Anniversary-The-Myth-of-the-Unsinkable-Ship-p2.jpg "Titanic Anniversary- The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p2")
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![Titanic Anniversary The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p3 [BBC Future] Titanic Anniversary: The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship](http://gordonkelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Titanic-Anniversary-The-Myth-of-the-Unsinkable-Ship-p3.jpg "Titanic Anniversary- The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p3")
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![Titanic Anniversary The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p4 [BBC Future] Titanic Anniversary: The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship](http://gordonkelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Titanic-Anniversary-The-Myth-of-the-Unsinkable-Ship-p4.jpg "Titanic Anniversary- The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship p4")
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The Scotsman: Myths & Miracles of Social Media
April 3, 2012 by Gordon
Filed under Features & Editorials
In the run up to Digital Scotland last month I produced two features for The Scotsman newspaper: ‘Myths and Miracles of Social Media’ and a ‘Smart Devices: Roundup’.
Many thanks to all the contributors involved in this.
- Chris Owen, senior account director at Octopus Communications
- Allan Barr, head of digital & social media at PR agency The Big Partnership
- Dan Monsieurle, co-founder of justFDI, creator’s of ThinkWall.com
- Ben Mathews, founding director at Bright One
- Stephen Pritchard, business journalist, broadcaster and producer
- Chris Lee, MD, Planet Content
Please find an image of the articles from the newspaper below and a PDF can be downloaded here. Questions, comments and further professional enquiries welcome.
Click to Enlarge
Logitech UE Air AirPlay Dock
Two newcomers to the world of premium docks combine to teach the sector something new…
- Reviewed by Gordon Kelly (for TrustedReviews)
- 31 March 2012
Price as reviewed £299.99
Overall 8/10
Key Features
- 2.0 speaker arrangement
- AirPlay Wireless Streaming
- Smart AirPlay setup app
- Slide out Apple dock connector
- Slim & lightweight
The Logitech UE Air AirPlay Speaker is a strangely branded item. For a start it carries both the Logitech and Ultimate Ears brands, the latter of which has not made a dock before. Secondly it is being promoted as a speaker when it is actually fitted with an Apple dock connector. None of which matters when forces come together like this…
Design
The first thing to say about the Air is it is clearly a labour of love for both companies. Apart from a few iconic exceptions like the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin and Arcam rCube most docks have become variants on a shell/rugby ball theme, but the Air is far more graceful than that. Shaped like a single curved wing, the Air gives the pleasant sense of being familiar but new. If Batman owned a dock, it would be this one.
The Caped Crusader may be tempted to take the Air with him as well since it lives up to its name by weighing just 2.81Kg and measuring only 506 x 152 x 140mm, making it one of the lightest premium docks we’ve tested. Unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to use it on the move since the Air is mains powered only, but it remains easy to shift from room to room in Wayne Manor.
Build quality is good too. An aesthetically pleasing mix of minimal piano black on the top and front slide out dock connector, a matt rear finish (with clear smiley face) to keep away the dust and the dominating material grill covering the front speaker. Those who like to remove their speaker grills should note the Air’s is fixed. That shouldn’t be a deal breaker, however, as working itself further into our affections is the smart dock. Read the rest of this review on TrustedReviews
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Klipsch Gallery G-17 Air Soundbar
Klipsch enters the premium AirPlay speaker market, and finds the competition tough.
- Reviewed by Gordon Kelly (for TrustedReviews)
- 29 March 2012
Price as reviewed £429.00
Overall 5/10
Key Features
- AirPlay
- 60W 2.0 speaker system
- Bass reflex acoustics
- USB digital & 3.5mm auxiliary inputs
- Bundled remote control
You want a premium speaker for your iPhone, you want it from a premium brand and you want AirPlay? Step forward Klipsch with nearly 70 years of acclaimed audio history and its £429 Gallery G-17 Air speakers with integrated AirPlay. If only it were that simple…
The Gallery G-17 is Klipsch’s first dalliance into the expensive world of Apple AirPlay systems and it is immediately out to make an impression. How it achieves this is by daring to be different. The G-17 breaks from the usual rounded rugby ball/shell-like designs that swamp the market, with a retro 80s-esque rectangular design atop a detachable stand.
Build materials are an interesting contrast. The speaker itself walks the well worn path of piano black plastics and dares to expose its speakers, a raw look we think more manufacturers should choose. Klipsch does supply a simple material grill, which cleverly attaches with magnets, but one look at Klipsch’s marketing materials will tell you leaving them exposed is its preferred look. In contrast the G-17′s stand is metal, surprisingly heavy and dares to step back into a time when you connected things using screws.
Together speaker and stand weigh just 3.5Kg, and the stand accounts for 800g of that. The Klipsch Gallery G-17 doesn’t have an internal battery so isn’t portable in the strictest sense, but it is light enough to carry from room to room and measures just 43.2cm long, 14.4cm tall and 10.1cm deep (17.78cm tall with the stand) so it is relatively small even if the actual footprint isn’t quite so petite.
In terms of connectivity the G-17 ticks the right boxes. Continue reading the rest of the review on TrustedReviews
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House of Marley Bag of Rhythm iPhone/iPod dock
The House of Marley enters the hugely competitive dock sector. Could you be loved?
Reviewed by Gordon Kelly (for TrustedReviews)
25 March 2012
Price as reviewed £299.99
Overall 6/10
Key Features
- 40W 2.0 Speaker System
- Carry handles
- 3.5mm auxiliary jack
- D Cell Battery Powered
- Up to six hours battery life
Celebrity endorsed products come in for a lot of abuse from audiophiles, but it is impossible to ignore their value in reaching a wider audience and educating them about the benefits of superior sound quality. At the forefront of these brands is The House of Marley, founded by the family of reggae legend Bob Marley, which releases audio products it claims are founded upon his same environmental and philanthropic beliefs. To date it has proved a hugely successful combination.
The Bag of Rhythm is The House of Marley’s first iPod/iPhone dock and, as could be expected, it is unmistakeably unique. No doubt launched to cash in with the arrival of summer, the Bag of Rhythm, more than any other dock we’ve seen recently, pushes its role as a portable sound system in the mould of yesteryear’s ghetto blasters. To (literally) carry this off the dock is wholly contained in an earthy canvass bag with hand and shoulder carry handles. This fits snugly, clipping to the dock with popper buttons and there are holes to avoid blocking the power port and bass output. Further pushing its claims for an outdoor life are useful pockets on both sides and a khaki colour scheme with numerous inevitable references to the Rastafarian flag.
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As for the dock itself it looks somewhat like a skateboard attached to bongos and continues the naturalistic outdoor theme. The top surface is birch, the enclosure made from recycled plastic and notably the speakers are ceiling-facing, which assumes it will be positioned below you on the ground. Connectivity is kept to a minimum with just a 3.5mm auxiliary jack, no wireless (Bluetooth or AirPlay) and a snug iPhone/iPod dock that stops a connected device from falling out on the move (though excludes iPads). Controls are kept to a minimum too with only power, volume up and volume down buttons.
Batteries keep the Bag of Rhythm playing on the move. It swallows no less than six D cell batteries (not included), which The House of Marley says will last up to six hours. What is worth noting is the weight these batteries add. The shoulder strap makes the Bag of Rhythm relatively easy to carry, but at 6.8kg and roughly 100-150g per battery (depending on its type) you are looking at a product of around 7.5kg.
So what about the audio itself? Continue reading
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iRobot Roomba 780
The first robot vacuum to truly deserve its title? Yes indeed.
- Reviewed by Gordon Kelly (for TrustedReviews)
- 20 March 2012
Price as reviewed £449.00
Overall 8/10
Key Features
- iAdapt navigation system
- Compatible with all floor types
- Under 10cm tall
- Scheduling
- Cliff detect
- Auto docking
- HEPA filter
- Soft touch bumpers
How busy are you, really? If you are considering spending the best part of £500 on a device to assist with the vacuuming then the obvious riposte would be to suggest you take a long, hard look in the mirror. The surprising news, however, is in this case you may come away from it smiling.
iRobot has been in the robot vacuuming business since 2000 and the ‘Roomba 780′ is the company’s latest and greatest. After selling 7.5m units worldwide over the last 12 years the circular form factor is well known, but much of what is inside the 780 is brand new.
Of these iRobot is keen to stress the ‘Dirt Detect Series 2′ technology inside the 780. To improve pick up it uses an acoustic sensor to detect excessive amounts of small and hard debris (such as sand) and an optical sensor to detect larger and soft debris (such as popcorn). Also new is an ‘AeroVac Series 2′ bag-less bin with easy release (dirt is simply tipped out once removed) and the addition of a common sense full bin indicator. You will likely need to empty this more regularly since the 780 has new power management software which iRobot claims will provide up to 50 per cent longer battery life than previous generations. As such a single cleaning session lasts approximately 90 minutes.
This is just the start of the technology designed to keep your lazy backside on the sofa. Continue reading
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NAD VISO 1 Wireless Digital Music System
NAD’s first Apple dock is stylish and sounds great, but is that enough?
Reviewed by Gordon Kelly (for TrustedReviews)
16 March 2012
Overall 8/10
Price as reviewed £499.99
Key Features
- 80W output (1x 50W sub, 2x 15W speakers)
- Direct Digital onboard amplifier
- Bluetooth aptX
- Locking, rotationing Apple connector
- Output audio input, Component video output
Hi-Fis are out, docks are in. This may be a sweeping statement, but the addition of yet another high end audio specialist into the sector only adds further proof. For 40 years NAD has been a standout name amongst audiophiles and it has now joined the likes of Bowers & Wilkins, Arcam, Monitor Audio and more by entering the incredibly competitive sector of Apple docks.
Like its peers NAD has stuck to what it knows best, pitching the ‘Viso 1′ at the premium end of the market. This approach becomes clear before you switch the dock on. Out of the box it delivers a sense of déjà vu, yet somehow has a look all its own. NAD describes the Viso 1 as a ‘ring design’, referring to the silver band around it which contains the Apple connector. This is clearly inspired by the Zeppelin Air, but when combined with its tubular shape creates a dock that is stylish in its own right and delightfully different.
Build quality is similarly impressive, successfully blending the piano black finish of the rear with the matt speaker covering and brushed aluminium ring. NAD takes pleasure in showing how the Viso 1 was put together too with the exposed screw at the top of the ring almost daring us to reach for our screwdrivers. Meanwhile the Apple connector itself has an industrial feel, sliding open to accept the iPhone/iPod before closing back down to hold it securely. This needs to be done as the connector can rotate 90 degrees allowing devices to be used in landscape mode. The genius of the ring design is it allows comfortable use of the device while connected, the sizeable downside is it means an iPad won’t fit.
