Manufacturer: Storage Applicance Corporation

Portable Clickfree Automated External Backup Drive

The common problem with doing a backup of my computers is dealing with opened files and opened programs always meant saving and closing the applications before doing a backup. Using the computer while the backup was taking place meant not having access to the computer. Installation of automated backup software always promised simple and headache FREE operations but this was never the case with all backup software I have used. The setup alone would be a nightware to configure. Did I want a file backup, mirror backup, backup right away, schedule a backup, uncompressed files, compressed files, encrypted files, incremental backup, overwrite old files and many more annoying decisions to make before you can start the backup process. If I forget to leave the computer on or the backup drive installed on my laptop, a message usually appears the next time I turn on the laptop that the scheduled backup was not completed and provide options but usually meant I would just reschedule. Sometimes missing 2 – 3 backup sessions.

Now, there is a product on the market called the Clickfree which aims to resolve these annoyances and more by truly making the backup process as painless as possble. First, here is a small list of issues I have always had a disliking to over the years.

• USB was always promoted as PLUG N PLAY but not all backup drives came this way.
• Separate backup software on CD that requires setting up.
• USB backup drives are generally far more expensive compared to getting just a USB external hard drive plus separate backup software.
• External backup drives only backed up one computer.
• Using an APPLE and a Windows PC meant two backup drives and two different backup software programs to learn.

First, the product being reviewed here is the 250 GB version of the portable Clickfree external backup drive. The process and features are the same with all the portable Clickfree external backup drives. The only difference is the capacity of the storage drive inside plus the 120 GB and 160 GB drives support Windows PC only. The 250 GB comes in a nice red colored casing with both PC or MAC support.

Before opening the package, I always like to look at the specifications listed on the outside. I was intrigued when I read what was included inside was a SUPPORT MANUAL. Typically a Users Manual or Users Guide is the standard wording. SUPPORT MANUAL gave me the impression that only information required if or when you run into any problem later was supplied. When I opened the package and took a close look at the manual, there was very little information on how to setup the Clickfree.

Here are the 4 simple steps outlined in the SUPPORT MANUAL for Windows XP/2000.

• Ensure that your computer is on and that you are logged in.
• Connect Clickfree Backup using the USB cabled included.
• Wait for approximately 60 seconds. Clickfree Backup will automatically start and run on its own. If it does not start, please see troubleshooting.
• When backup is complete, disconnect Clickfree from your computer by disconnecting the USB cable. Congratulations! Your files are safe.

For Windows Vista, the instructions were very similar and short. For the MAC, there are no instructions but I understood why later. Now, I was getting even more excited that this could finally be the first simple external backup system.

The first step was to connect the external drive to my Windows laptop. The supplied cable has two USB connectors for the PC and one mini plug for the external drive. I have two spair USB ports on my laptop therefore I connected both USB ends to the laptop. Depending on the PC, you may only need the main USB connection. The seond short plug is for additional power if the single port does not offer sufficient current. You can always plug in both just to be safe. Then I connected the small plug into the external drive unit. I waited as the instructions have stated.

In about 40 seconds or so, I was prompted by my SPYWARE TERMINATOR program that an executable file wanted access to my computer. This is a small message window that appears down by the taskbar. I clicked ALLOW to continue. A total of 7 messages popped up which I had to deal with. Most of you will not have this issue unless you have this feature turned on in your spyware or anti-virus software. In most cases this type of notification would be turned off as a default setting so nothing really to worry about here. If you have the file execution notification turned on then I might suggest turning this off before connecting the Clickfree drive.

After the application appeared on the screen, the laptops internal hard drive was being accesed to determine the number of files and total space required to backup. Once this was completed, the backup process began. The interesting thing about these windows where that they were not your typical Microsoft application Windows. These windows are very clean looking with no standard menu bar and easy to read.

Clickfree Screenshot

My hard drive is 70 GB in size with about 98% full capacity. I am really reaching my limit on this laptop. The whole process took about 2 hours to complete. At the end, I was presented with a complete summary of what was backed up. Now this window has a number options displayed. The screenshot shown was taken on a subsequent backup.

On subsequent backups, I can have only certain files or folders backed up if I wish. I can also setup a password protection to avoid unauthorized access to the files. Make sure you keep the password stored safely somewhere separate from your computer for maximum protection. If you do forget the password completely, you can reset the password but this means the Clickfree drive is wiped cleaned before backup can begin again so be careful before setting a password.

One odd message I am getting on every subsequent backup is this:

“Windows mail is transferring your email account and messages from Outlook Express to Outlook”. I have 2044 emails listed as new in the Clickfree summary page after the subsequent Clickfree backup is completed. I can cancel the transfer message that is coming from Windows Vista. Sometimes I get a message, “rolling back migrated messages” and sometimes I get a message, “error transferring email message”. Regardless of if I have the transfer completed or cancelled. I still see the above message each time I reconnect the Clickfree. These messages are about the old Outlook Express messages which were originally transfered about 1 1/2 years ago when I moved from Outlook Express to Outlook. Once I allowed this transfer to complete after each reconnect for a total of 6 complete Outlook Express to Outlook transfer, I nolonger get this message. Initial check of my IN and SENT boxes in Outlook does not seem to show duplicate email messages.

Automated backup:

There is no automated backup feature since the drive is designed to be disconnected after each backup so that the drive can be stored somewhere off-site or at least away from the backed up computer for safe keeping. What Clickfree does offer is a reminder program that can be easily installed and removed if nolonger needed. At least you have the ability to be notified when the last backup was completed.

On subsequent backups, the software will recognize the changed or new files to be backed up only. This saves loads of time during backup. Also, you can backup while using the computer. The backup programs will recognize if a program or file is open and prompt you to click a couple buttons to continue backig up these opened files. No more saving and closing the program before the backup can continue.

Restoring or Transfering Files:

The main purpose of the drive is to backup automatically upon connection, subsequent backups will start after 20 seconds. This is when you need to select the option the Restore/Transfer button before the clock reaches ZERO. You have complete control of folders and individual files to restore or transfer. If the software automatically starts the backup process, you can select restore/transfer once the backup summary appears later on.

MAC Computers

The HD225 is also MAC compatible. The interesting added feature of the Clickfree is that you can backup upto 15 computers on one drive. Since the HD225 is Windows and MAC compatible as indicated on the website, I also plugged the drive into the iMAC. Unfortunately the Clickfree softare for the MAC does not recognize the Windows drive format which is normal therefore requested that the drive be initialized which will cause all data to be lost. For this review, I did just as requested. The initialization took less than a minute and the software continued until the backup was complete. As the product indicates, the backup process was very easy and painless. I did have to click once to initially start the software though.

Back to my Windows laptop, I was presented with the same issue. The software failed to recognize the MAC drive format and I had to initialize the drive again. The process was easy and painless just like on the iMAC. This just meant starting from scratch again as a fresh backup. I would require a Clickfree for the Windows system and a Clickfree for the iMAC system if I wanted to keep both systems backed up.

usb drive comparison in size

The Nexstar 3 is a do it yourself case that was purchased for around $40.00 USD and a 2.5 inch laptop drive was installed side. Took about 10 minutes to assemble and cost approximately $80.00 for the 250 GB drive for a total of $120.00 USD with no backup software. The Clickfree has a retail price of $129.99 USD which comes with the automated backup software. FREE shipping currently from www.goclickfree.com anywhere in North America for any purchase over $99.00 USD. This is truly a great deal for the Clickfree drive.

You have to check out this and all the other offerings from Storage Appliance Corporation.

Installation Ease: 10

Fun Factor: 10

Usability: 9

Documentation: 9 (not really required)

Online Support: 8

 Cons:

• Access to the files via File Explorer or a third party application is not that convenient since the folders and files are located in a 7 layer deep subfolder within a folder labeled s.
• Changed files are overwritten on top of older backed up files. If you need older copies of files like an Excel spreadsheet, you should save them under a new file name when you use the files regularly.
• Does not support Windows and MAC OS simultaneously. Website indicates works with Windows and now MAC  plus one Clickfree™ portable backup drive can backup multiple computers which I assumed as supporting both simultaneously. I would suggest stating “Works with Windows or MAC” to minimize confusion. 
• Second USB connector on the transfer cable maybe too short for some users that might require both connection for proper power.
• Not very flexible for seasoned or professional users but still very convenient.
• Model numbers do not match drive storage sizes. Lower drive sizes have higher model numbers which makes it also confusing when buying.

Pros:

• Works as advertised
• The 250 GB drive means you have 250 GB of file storage space. The actual backup software is stored on a virtual CD drive separate from the main drive. Program is over 40 Megs in size. Not large compared to the actual drive space available but is still a substantial savings.
• Very easy for  novice to use and customize.
• Backs up 15 different computers running the same type of operating system.
• Large LED power and drive access lights.
• Second USB connector is clearly labelled to indicate for “Extra Power”.
• Very small and lightweight.
• Software update is recognized and downloaded automatically. This occured during a subsequent backup.
• Drive is very quiet.
• No need to tell Windows to disconnect the external drive before physically removing.

Overall Rating:

9.2

Overall:

I really like the Clickfree even though it does not support Windows and MAC OS simultaneously. The logistics in supporting both simultaneously is probably complex and prone to issues. The product works very well straight out of the box and the price is very reasonable for an external USB hard drive with built in backup software. I would highly recommend this package for individuals and even small offices. There are other options available from Storage Appliance Corporation like the larger 1 terabyte drive, the solid state Traveler and the Transformer adapter for those that already have a spare external USB drive to use as a backup. 

Portable Clickfree

Clickfree

Traveler

Transformer

Manufacturer: Trispecs

Trispecs Bluetooth Sunglasses

Bluetooth headsets have become very popular in the last couple of years since many countries have instituted a law prohibiting drivers from using a cell phone that is held against your ear while driving. Most of these Bluetooth headsets have been the mono/single earpiece design. The lack of wireless stereo headsets was mainly due to the fact that a phone conversation is mono in nature plus the lack of software or Bluetooth stereo profile support. Now that the proper stereo profile A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution profile) and the remote control profile AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile) has been created, we are able to take advantage of the stereo music that many cell phones support now wirelessly.  To add more style and functionality to the wireless stereo music enjoyment and cell phone call access, Trispecs has combined the stereo Bluetooth headset support into a stylist pair of sunglasses.

The Trispecs sunglasses are truly sunglasses with the added wireless music and cell phone support. The sunglasses come in various colors and in mens and womans styles. The lenses used in these sunglasses are manufactured by a company called SOLA Sunlens which is a brand of Carl Zeiss Vision. From a sunglass standpoint, these Trispecs are very light and comfortable to wear.

Product Specifications

Bluetooth Specification Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, backward compatible with 1.2

Bluetooth Profiles Handsfree, Stereo Headset, A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP

Music Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20000Hz

Telephony Frequency Response 00 Hz – 3000Hz

Battery Type Integrated rechargeable Li-Ion Polymer

Battery life when fully charged Talk Time – 7 hrs

Battery life when fully charged Music Playing – 5 hrs

Battery life when fully charged Standby Time – 70 hrs

Charging Time Fast charge (to 80% capacity) in 1.5 hrs; Full charge in 2.5 hours

Connectivity Built in port for USB (Micro) cable connection

Additional Feature Firmware upgradeable via USB

Radio Frequency 2.4GHz, GFSK

Weight 52 g (1.8 oz)

Operation / Storage environment -10ºC to 50ºC; 5% to 90% relative humidity

Charging environment 0ºC to 45ºC

Black Trispecs Sunglasses – Image: Trispecs

The actual Bluetooth function is something you will need to get comfortable with if you have never used a Bluetooth headset with your cell phone before. For users that have used a Bluetooth headset before, the setup is straight forward and simple as any other Bluetooth headset. Once the sunglasses is setup to work with your cell phone, the sunglasses are a breeze to use anytime. The first step in setting up the headset/sunglasses for use with your cell phone is to pair the two devices. This is accomplished by turning on the Bluetooth on your cellphone and initiating the Bluetooth device search feature. You will need to refer to your owners manual for the exact instructions. 

The Trispecs has full player controls on the sunglasses.

• Call, volume up and volume down buttons on the left arm.
• Play, next and previous buttons on the right arm.

Left Controls Buttons

To initiate the pairing, first turn on the sunglasses by pulling the right earpiece out. Then press and hold the CALL Button on the left hand arm of the sunglassess until the LED on the right arm turns  solid RED. Then initiate the search for Bluetooth devices feature from your cell phone. Eventually the cell phone should detect the sunglasses as EYEWEAR. Now you can select EYEWEAR and then you should be prompted to enter a passkey. Just enter 0000 (zero,zero,zero,zero) as the four digit numerical passkey. Now, you should be ready to listen to music on your sunglasses. It is as simple as launching your music player on your cellphone and you should start to hear the music wirelessly on your sunglasses. If you do not hear anything on your headphones, you will need to refer to the actual cell phones instructions for further steps if necessary. Each cell phone is slightly different in how certain features are accessed.

Right Controls Buttons

On my Palm Treo 700wx, I initially ran into a number of issues. First my Palm smartphone did not come with any Bluetooth A2DP and AVRCP profiles. No problem I thought as I could go to the manufacturer of the phone or the provider of the samrtphone (Bell Mobility) to get a Bluetooth software update. First attempt was to get the software update from Palm. Palm does provide a Bluetooth update for the Palm Treo 700wx. Unfortunately the update is only available for the Palm Treo 700wx available from SPRINT in the States. Bell Mobility in Canada does not offer a Bluetooth update even on their website. I was truly disappointed that a software update available for the actual hardware is not available for my device since it is not offered by Bell Mobility which is the service provider here in Canada.

I did some additional digging on the Internet and came across a solution at XDA Developers. I do not recommend this third party update since it is time consuming, tedious and requires you to use a registry editor. Any incorrect changes made via a registry editor can easily crash your Smartphone if you are not careful.

Windows Mobile 5 Bluetooth Profile

The file to install and configure is available HERE if you feel the need to go this route (Attempt only at your own risk). What I was missing on my Palm Treo 700wx was the wireless Stereo profile that is indicated in the above image. Now that I have this, I am able to activate the feature through my Palm and send music to the sunglasses.

USB Bluetooth Adapters

Before I was able to get my Palm Treo 700wx working with the Trispecs sunglasses, I was able to take advantage of the sunglasses using my Bluetooth connection on my Windows Vista laptop. The real advantage of using the sunglasses on a windows PC is the ability to roam around the house and listen to music. Depending on how strong your Bluetooth wireless is on your PC/laptop, you might even be able to go outside to enjoy the weather or do some gardening. Since the signal is a wireless digital signal you either get full stereo sound or no sound at all once the signal gets weak. The weak signal issue is not a concern using the cell phone since the two devices should be close to each other at all times.

When connected to my smartphone, I had no issues with the signal being 15 – 20 feet away like when I left the phone on my desk. On my laptop the signal would extend 35 – 40 feet since the Bluetooth adapter I am using is a USB adapter with a built in external antenna. I was able to take my laptop outside and plug the laptop in a wall outlet to enjoy the great sunshine. Connecting to itunes online via my Wi-Fi connection allowed me full access to the wide range of online radio stations on my Trispecs Bluetooth sunglasses.

Since the A2DP and the AVRCP Bluetooth profiles are required on the mobile device, a list of current devices that support these profiles would have been a handy reference guide to have in the box or better yet, on the website. I was able to find a list on the Internet that is not up to date but does list some models that are most likely still used. You can go HERE to see the outdated list. Another list that has some of the newer devices is available HERE but might still be incomplete.

Audio Quality

The Trispecs comes with noise reduction circuitry therefore the reduction in external noise is certainly excellent. Sounds like cars and general outdoor noise was almost non existent when using the Trispecs. The downside to this is you sacrifice the bass response. The music can sound flat depending on the type of music being played. Jazz or orchestral music in many cases are not well suited for these headphones. Pop, rock and electronic music with lots of treble and bass in the original recording are fine. Since these are in ear headphones 3 different sizes of silicon tips are included. I had to use the smallest ones and I found those even a little tight.

The battery on the Trispecs lasts over 4 hours of continous music playback which is very good. Keep in mind if each song is about 4 minutes you will need at least 60 songs. Songs being an average 8 megs in file size means, 480 megs worth of mp3 songs are required to last 4 hours without repeating a song. If you use a better music format like AAC or WMA, the file sizes will be much larger therefore you will require to have 1 gig of memory or more on your mobile device to hold over 4 hours worth of music. In reality, most of us would never listen to 4+ hours of continuous music wearing these sunglasses but if you do, your mobile device may need a recharging long before your Trispecs will. Recharging of the Trispecs is done via a standard micro USB connection on the arm using the included USB cable and wall adapter. You can just use the USB cable on the PC/laptop but it will take slightly longer to fully recharge.

Phone Use

The Trispecs will switch between the music and phone when you press the PHONE button on the left arm. Answering the call is as simple as just pressing the CALL button. This will pick up the call and turn the music off. By pressing and holding the CALL button you can dismiss the call if you wish instead. Depending on the mobile device, the music maybe paused or muted. Muted means the music is still playing while you engage in the phone conversation but not heard. Once the call is complete, another press of the CALL button and your music is back. The handsfree Bluetooth Profile will allow you to dial by voice based on the stored names and numbers on your phone. This is the same as doing a voice dial on the phone directly except the voice is picked up by the built in mic on the Trispecs located at the front end of each arm on the inside.

One interesting thing occured to me when I was cycling with the Trispecs sunglasses. The covering to the arm joint on the left hand side fell off at some point. Only the double sided tape that was used to attach the covering still remained. I noticed this after I was back home. The temperature outside was around 18 degrees Celcius therefore not hot by any means. I mention the temperature since heat can soften many glues on tape. A careful examination of the covering on the right side indicated that the double sided tape is not that secure. I was able to easily remove the covering with one finger. I am guessing that the piece fell off when I was on the park trails going over some bumps. This certainly is a negative for something that costs $199.00 USD. The image below showing the missing corner cover plate on the left side was cleaned to remove the sticky double sided tape before the photo was taken.

Right Arm Corner With Cover Plate

Left Arm Corner With No Cover Plate

The nice thing with these sunglasses is that the curved end allow the sunglasses to stay securing attached to the face.

Cons:

• There are no specifications readily viewable on the Trispecs website. I was able to find some specs in a downloadable PDF press release file located HERE.
• No FAQ or commonly asked question to help those with simple issues.
• Website is fully Adobe Flash based therefore anyone without Flash installed on their computer will not see majority of the online information. You can go HERE which is the store section that fortunately does not use Flash at all and is easily accessible by any computer.
• You must have a mobile device that has the A2DP and the AVRCP Bluetooth profiles installed to take advantage of these glasses. This is only mentioned in the section of the multi-paged manual that specify how to pair the devices (page 6). The Eyewear Quick User Guide which most users will refer to does not mention at all that the A2Dp and AVRCP Bluetooth profiles are required on the signal originating device (cell phone or mobile device). 
• The sound quality lacks true bass response.
• The control buttons are too close together and only two small bumps on the middle button allows you to tell the other buttons apart. Not very user friendly since you cannot see the labels or the buttons while wearing the sunglasses.
• You must hold down the rewind button and then depress the retract headphone button to turn the unit off. This is very awkward to do. The retraction spring is very strong thus I would suggest you hold the earpiece also to avoid damage.
• When putting down the glasses, the earbud tends to face the surface therefore causing contact with the surface. This creates some concerns with unsanitary surface contact. If you flip the sunglasses upside down, this can accidentally depress the headphone retract button. Ok when the headphones are already retracted but not so good when the headphones are fully extended.
• The beep to indicate Bluetooth connection and the various female voice prompts has a volume level that is a little too high for my liking.
• The joint covering is not as secure as it could be.
• Comes with a soft case. I would have preferred a hard carry case.

Pros:

• Very light
• Great sunglass lens. Truly reduces the glare and light while outdoors.
• Easy to establish a connection once setup. Press and hold the call button until a solid led light appears on the right arm. The mobile device should recognize the signal and prompt for connection.
• Voice quality pickup is good when on the phone.
• Battery lasts at least 4 hours while listening to music continuously. The battery on the cell phone may require recharging before the Trispecs.

Installation Ease: 8 (If your mobile device supports A2DP and AVRCP out of the box).

Fun Factor: 8

Usability: 7

Documentation: 6

Online Support: 1

Overall Rating:

6.0

The Trispecs are truly an interesting piece of technology. Unfortunately the online support is lacking and without an up to date listing of supported devices, most curious buyers going to the Trispecs website may be reluctant to purchase these Bluetooth sunglasses. Those that do purchase without checking their mobile device first for compatibility will be disappointed if they discover later that the required Bluetooth software is not on their device. These Bluetooth sunglasses are certainly good in providing handsfree phone access and good music listening without all the wires. Many States and cities now make it illegal for you to use a cell phone while driving. You must be parked to use a cell phone. At least the Trispecs will allow you to place or recieve a call without taking your hands off the steering wheel. If you are interested in these sunglasses, make sure you double check your owners manual or the lists provided above to be certain your phone has the proper Bluetooth support first. Also check the manufacturers website of your Bluetooth phone or mobile device for any Bluetooth updates for maximum features and sound quality.

Trispecs

Trispecs Store

The basic premise is that you are presented with a grid of X by X tiles (where X can be a number between 4 and 7, configurable in the options).  You progress through the 30 levels by making words out of the letters that appear on the tiles.  You can drag your finger across letters to link them, in which case releasing your finger will clear a successfully formed word.  Or, if you like a bit more control, you can click each letter you want to link together.  In order to submit a successful word in this case you must click the check mark at the bottom of the screen.  The game ends when any of the following scenarios are met: time runs out (timed mode only), a timed tile expires, there are no more letters to be formed, or you beat all 30 levels.

Miss Me?

There are a nice amount of options in Wordsworth.  Add to that bonus tiles and buzzwords, and 3 different word lists to choose from, and there’s certainly plenty of variety to keep you entertained.  The controls are actually pretty well implemented.  There were times where I’d accidentally “overshoot” and link too many letters together when dragging my finger, but this is a minor quibble and is easily overcome by using the “tap a tile” method instead.

Graphically, Wordsworth looks pretty sharp.  The interface is well laid out, everything is easy to read (even on the biggest grid setting), and pretty much everything looks like it goes together.  I’m not a real big fan of the guy in the splash screen, and for some reason the layover of the status screen when transitioning between levels seems a bit cheesy to me, but otherwise I like the look.  The sound effects are good enough, though the riff that accompanies beating a level sounds more like a losing than winning sound.  The music is really good.  It has an almost magical quality about it, maybe like something you’d expect in the background of a movie about magicians or carnivals or something.  It’s actually quite relaxing.

Wordsworth might not have all the glitz of Bookworm, but it certainly will keep you entertained for quite some time.  If you like word games that have an almost “match 3″ feel about them, this is a good game for you.  If nothing else, there’s always a lite version that you can check out.

Final Verdict: Recommended
App Store Link
App Store Link – Lite Version
App Shopper Link

[Note: image courtesy of App Shopper]

The premise is simply to catch enough fish to satisfy your point total for each round.  You’re in a boat at the top of the lake, and you tilt the device left and right to move your boat back and forth.  Tilt the device up and down to raise and lower your fishing pole.  If you snag a fish they’ll jump out of the water, at which point you have to catch them in your boat.  It sounds simple enough, but the game is timed, so you need to work as quickly as you can.  Also, in later levels there are eels, which prove to be a shocking experience, and swordfish, which “cut” your experience short.  Neither of these obstacles kill you, but rather they waste time where you could be catching fish.

I'm As Shocked As You Are

You get three lives to start, and lose a life if you run out of time before accumulating enough points from catching fish.  When all of your lives are gone, or you’ve completed fifteen levels, the game is over.  There’s really not much to complain about here.  The game is simple to play, it’s entertaining, and it can actually be somewhat of a challenge in the later levels.  It would have been nice to have more levels (this technically feels like it could support an infinite mode quite well), but in the end it’s a quick enough play that going through the whole game several times is no big deal.

The graphics are quite well done.  Everything is detailed and colorful, and there’s just enough animation to catch your eye.  I especially like the animation when you accidentally snag an eel.  The girl in the boat has that typical “time management character” look to her, which somehow seems to fit the mood of the game.  The sound effects and music make the game feel like an interactive morning cartoon, which is always a bonus for me.

Fish Frenzy might be a bit too simple or short for a lot of people, but I find it makes a nice diversion every now and again when I want to play something but don’t have the desire to jump into a time consuming game.  And it sure beats playing solitaire!  Also, if you’re looking for a game to throw on your iPhone for your kids, or your kid has an iPod Touch and they want games, this is a great choice.

Final Verdict: Recommended
App Store Link
App Shopper Link

[Note: image courtesy of App Shopper]

Pop The Bubbles

The basic premise is to continually clear the screen by eliminating groups of 3 or more like colored bubbles.  You do this simply by tapping on them.  As you eliminate bubbles your score increases and the purifier meter gets filled.  When the meter is full you can click on it and select a bubble, and all bubbles of that color will disappear (nice feature number one).  To boost your score you’ll want to eliminate multiple chains of 5 or more bubbles in a row.  This creates a score multiplier that fills the purifier even faster (nice feature number 2).  At random intervals in a level a charge bomb will appear.  The bomb is activated when you click on it, and will grow with each subsequent click.  After 5 seconds the bomb will go off and destroy all bubbles that it’s covering (nice feature number three).

The combination of score multipliers, charge bombs and the purifier add levels of strategy to Pop-A-Tronic that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced in this style of game.  The only down side to the game play that I’ve seen so far is that only clicking on the center of the bomb will cause it to grow.  If you click on the outer areas of the bomb you’ll actually interact with the playing board below, which means you might accidentally click a bubble and break your score multiplier.

The graphics are pretty sharp for a puzzle game.  I particularly like the spinning gears and swimming fish in the background.  The sound effects are decent enough, though the noise of selecting bubbles can get a bit irritating.  Sadly, there is no music.  If you’ve been following my reviews long enough, you know how I feel about music in a game.  If you’re new to my critiques, I really like music in my games.  But, I digress…

Overall, Pop-A-Tronic turned out to be quite the pleasant surprise.  It took what in my opinion was a worn out puzzle format and added a fresh spin to it.

Final Verdict: Recommended
App Store Link
App Shopper Link

Oh, and for those who might be wondering / skeptical, the offer for a free desktop version is legit.  Be forewarned, though, that the registration code on the PC side is a bear!

Oh Happy Lines!

For those unfamiliar with the “lines” concept, you basically move objects around the board (in this case cute smiley faces) until you make lines of a certain size, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.  However, the folks at Herocraft throw a wrench in here because on certain levels you have to form squares and rectangles instead of lines!  They’ll make sure you know which at the beginning of each level.  Also, in some levels your goal is to earn a certain number of points, while in others you’re trying to fill a meter up while it’s slowly emptying.  In a way this provides you with four different styles of play throughout the course of the game.  On top of all that, the game board varies in size and shape with each level, providing an extra challenge.  This is the most unique variations in this genre of game that I’ve run across so far.

The one down side is that other than theme, the two games are basically the same.  It’s really just a matter of trying to decide whether you want the original Happy Lines (which boasts somewhat of a fall theme complete with falling leaves) or Snow Lines for that wintery Christmas feeling.  I realize that there’s something to be said for franchising, but it honestly would have been nice if, at least for the iPhone version, the visuals and audio for Snow Lines would have been added as a “skin” for Happy Lines.  Personally, I think I’d rather pay $1.99 for a two-themed game the $1.98 to have two games that are basically the same except for theme.  But, that’s just me.

Let It Snow, Lines...

The visuals live up to the usual Herocraft high standards.  I particularly enjoy the animated smiley faces, as well as the falling elements (leaves in Happy Lines and snow in… yep… Snow Lines).  I think I enjoy the Snow Lines visuals just a bit more, mainly because of the winter apparel – ear muffs, scarves, etc. – that just seems to give the smileys a bit more personality.  The main sound effects of interest revolve around the smileys as well.  You’re greeted with a “humph” when you select a smiley to move, and occasionally a random smiley will giggle for no apparent reason.  Again, it just adds to the personality of the game.  The music in both games is good, so it’s really a matter of whether you’re more into Christmas type tunes or mellow rock type ballads.  Either way you’ll probably enjoy listening to the tunes even if you aren’t busy playing the game.

I wasn’t really familiar with the “lines” genre before playing Happy Lines and Snow Lines, but I’m glad these were the first games of this type I had played.  They are both fun, colorful, and get progressively challenging as you beat each level.  I’m not sure that you’d find much added value in owning both games, aside from the different themes, but at 99 cents a pop, you won’t lose much in finding out.

Final Verdict: Recommended (at least one of the two)
App Store – Happy Lines
App Shopper – Happy Lines
App Store – Snow Lines
App Shopper – Snow Lines
HeroCraft Web Site

Siso Tablo Specs - Image: Hantech

The Siso Tablo consists of two components. First, is the transceiver which is a small unit that attaches to the laptops screen and plugs into the USB port. The transceiver uniquely combines an ultrasonic and infra red signal. The second is the stylus that provides full mouse or touchpad capabilities with additional features. Just like most PC accessories, the first step in getting the Siso Tablo working is to install the software. Once the software has been installed, you can insert three batteries into the top of the pen which comes in the package. Actually 10 L738 button batteries are included which is really sweet.

Siso Tablo Stylus - Image: Hantech Siso Tablo Transceiver - Image Hantech

Siso Tablo Transceiver - Image: Hantech

The Hantech website and various promo literature shows the transceiver mounted centrally on top of the laptops screen. Initially, I had mounted the transceiver on the top also but I had some problems. The trasceiver attaches to a rectagular magnet which is first attached to the outside of the screen using the attached double sided tape. Since my Dell laptop is silver with white trim, the silver colored magnet matches well to the exterior. On the taskbar near the clock on the bottom right of Windows Vista or XP is the laptop Tablo button. You can display the menu which has a number of options by right clicking this button. The first option that you need to access is the Adjust Working Area selection listed at the very top. This allows you to calibrate the stylus to your specific screen size. 15 inch screen is the maximum this device  currently supports.

After going through this process, I had the stylus working. Unfortunately, I found the mouse pointer and the actual stylus resting on the screen was always off by 2 – 3 mm on one side or another of the stylus tip. For the most part, like clicking a large button or menu options was not a problem. Accessing the Windows close/minimize/maximize at the top right was a problem though. I could not quite reach the X to close the opened Windows. 4 attempts to recalibrate the stylus did not improve the situation. One problem was my laptops screen has a locking button in the middle of the top edge plus the top edge is also curved on the outside. This prevented me from mounting the transceiver right in the middle of the screens top edge and fully extended to allow the transceiver a non obstructed view of the screen. Luckily, the Siso Tablo also supports the ability to attach the transceiver on the side of the screen. My screen has a sharp 90 degree edge on the left and right side of the screen with no obstruction on the outer edge. After moving the magnetic attachment to the right side of the screen, I was able to indicate in the Options menu that the transceiver is now located on the right side of the screen. I was able to then recalibrate the stylus to get the mouse cursor and the stylus point to match exactly on the screen.

The real beauty of the Siso Tablo is it uses the Native Tablet PC feature built into Windows XP and Windows Vista. The Pen and Input Devices section in the Windows Control Panel has the Tablet PC configuration section. The specific Siso Tablo driver and software adds some extra features not included in Windows. I wanted to cover all the aspects of the Siso Tablo but there are just too many features to cover in this review without turning the review into an actual text book. One immediate advantage the Siso Tablo has which an expensive Tablet PC does not is the ability to convert a standard notepad into an input device.

Siso Tablo Notepad Use - Image: Hantech

Two things are required first:

1: Remove the stylus tip and replace it without an ink filled stylus tip.

2: Remove the transceiver from the screen and clip it onto the top of the notepad using the built in clip.

Now, you have the ability to write directly on the notepad which allows you to have a duplicate digital file on your computer plus the physical hard copy. No need to draw or write on the screen and print this afterwards. You can use the Tablo Board software or any of the Microsoft Windows apps that support the Tablet PC or any programs that provide drawing or handwriting capabilities. Specific third party software can be a CAD program or Adobe Photoshop just as two examples.

Possible uses for the Siso Tablo:

• Drawing using Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Autocad, Autodesk Softimage, Blender and many others. The one feature not supported on non Microsoft applications is the brush effect which allows you to adjust the width of the brush based on the pressure applied to the stylus.
• Take quick hand written notes using the INK feature within INK NOTE, Windows Journal Note, MS Word, Sticky Notes and many others.
• Using Ink Desktop which converts your Windows desktop into a virtual notepad.
• Ink Chatting in MSN Messenger. You can actually talk to someone via Messenger and also display a white board that can be seen by both parties. Drawing on the white board allows the party on the other end to see the same text or image you create on the screen immediately. Works really with any Windows software that has two way communication that includes a white board.
• Great for filling out PDF, MS Word and other forms that require your signature included. No more printing, signing and snail mailing the form or scanning the signed form for sending via email. Just use the Siso Tablo and sign the completed form directly on the screen and then save the file. Now you have a 100% completed form for emailing back.
• You can easily create annotations to any document,  website content, picture or video that is currently visible on the screen. Great when doing a presentation. You can save the image or quickly erase the annotatation using the Tablo Board software.
• Playing strategic games like Maxis Sim City online.

Siso Tablo Applications - Image: Hantech

One of the software categories I really wanted to try the Siso Tablo on is with music software. I enjoy using a number of MIDI music related software connected to a MIDI synthesizer. Using a mouse is not possible due to the limited space. The touchpad on the laptop on many occasions does not offer the quick response when neccessary. Sometimes, I am searching for the cursors location first before I can point to the feature required. The Siso Tablo allows me to quickly point and tap the required feature and edit pieces of music very quickly. Adjusting virtual buttons and sliders is a brezze with the Siso Tablo. The actions required are exactly the same as a mouse. Select the virtual dial and move the stylus up to increase the value and move the stylus down to decrease the value. Using the Siso Tablo with music software reminds me in some ways to the old sampling Fairlight CMI III Synthesizer which came with a screen and a wired light pen.

 Overall I am impressed with the Siso Tablo. I have access to 4 USB ports only on my laptop therefore all are doing  multiple duties with 2 or more devices. These are what I use on a regular basis with only 4 USB ports.

• i-Mate Jasjar and Palm Treo 700 wx for recharging and syncing files.
• Microsoft USB headset.
• M-Audio USB MIDI interface.
• External USB hard drive which requires 2 USB ports for proper power.
• USB powered laptop cooler.
• Various MP3 players for recharging and transfering music.
• A USB multi card reader.
• Various digital cameras.
• USB printer.
• USB Bluetooth adapters.

All of these devices when used in different combinations with the Siso Tablo all work beautifully. No issues what so ever with the Siso Tablo or the other USB devices.

Cons:

- Stylus is very light and unbalanced. I feel the stylus should have been heavier to provide some added resistance while holding the pen and using the two buttons. Slightly heavier on the top end due to the batteries which makes the pen feel unbalanced in the hand.

- The Windows minimize/maximize/close/ buttons are sometimes hard to access when using the touchpad since the cursor seems to shake at times around the top right corner of the screen. This only appeared after installing the Siso Tablo software.

- Manual indicates a number of FREE Microsoft Windows applications that you can download with the direct link indicated or available through the home page. Unfortunately the titles are not located at these specific locations and hard to search for on www.microsoft.com.

- Should include a docking clip that can be attached  to the screen and easily removed to hold the stylus when not in use.

- The stylus does create some very faint scratches to the screen. Only slightly visible when the screen is off. For those using a new laptop, I would recommend a screen protector. Nushield or Protect Covers

Pros:

- Very easy to setup.

- Supports FLICKS which is the ability to access commonly used functions just by waving the stylus in a specific motion/direction.

- Easy to transport with the laptop.

- Durable.

- Works well with all tested programs. Absolutely no issues with the various programs.

- Great Industrial Design. Perfect EYE CANDY.

- Certainly adds many more miles to this laptop that is now close to 4 years old.

Comes with:

• 4 replacement stylus tips.
• 3 ink filled replacement tips. Make sure you remove the very small cap on the tip of the pen before using.
• Carry case for the tips and another larger case for the transceiver, stylus and the tips.
• Added accessories like the magnet and support pieces to mount the transceiver to your laptop.
• Two fold out manuals. One for the hardware and one for the software which is easy to read and full of diagrams to make your setup and usage very straight forward.
• Lots of batteries.
• Installation CD.

Siso Tablo Included -Image: Hantech

Installation Ease: 8

Fun Factor: 10

Usability: 9

Documentation: 8

Online Support: Limited – Maybe since it really does not require one beyond what is included in the package.

Overall:

The Siso Tablo from Hantech is a great add-on tool for anyone that spends long hours on their laptop. I find using the stylus more relaxing over using my index or middle finger for hours. The quality of the materials used are good and the design is pleasing to the eye. The suggested retail pricing is $129.99 USD but I have seen some online shops selling the Siso Tablo for as low as $99.99 USD. The Siso Tablo is one accessory that will be around for a long time for me and is one I would recommend to anyone that has a Windows Vista based laptop currently.

Overall Rating:

8.75

NOTE:

The are some notebooks that the Siso Tablo does not work with. This is clearly indicated on the outside of the box.

• Toshiba A1XX – A2XX – L3XX Series
• Dell FWXX – CSXX – SXX – SZXX – CXX – 15LN Series

FREE Downloads:

Microsoft INK Desktop Similar to the Tablo Board software but has a virtual notepad with lines on the screen to cover any desktop images you may have. Makes taking quick notes and seeing what you have written much easier.

Microsoft Experience Pack For Windows Vista 

• Media Transfer
• INK Crossword
• Equation Writer
• INK Flash Cards

I recommend you also read my initial MSI on the Siso Tablo which has some additional interesting comments.

Future versions slated for release later this year according to Bryon Lee General Manager of Hantech Corporation:

• Mac version.
• Desktop model which supports upto 22 inch screen support.
• Electronic blackboard for TV with upto 52 inch support.
• Smartphone version.

Hantech

Siso Tablo

Video Demonstrations

There are two modes to Batter Up Baseball: Home Run Rally and Arcade mode. In Home Run Rally you start out with three swings, and each hit that’s not a home run costs you a swing. If you can hit one of the targets scattered around the billboards in the outfield you can earn an extra swing (up to a maximum of 3). In Arcade mode, on the other hand, you start out with 20 swings. This time, each swing deducts from your total. However, if you hit three home runs in a row you’re “on fire”, and every home run after that until you miss is considered a “free” swing, and doesn’t deduct from your total. If you hit three targets in a row you earn an extra swing, and there’s no limit to extras in this mode. This is what I meant by “infinite” playability, because as long as you keep hitting home runs while on fire you could potentially play forever. That would probably get a bit boring, but at least it gives you more control over when your game ends.

Here Comes The Pitch

The control scheme is pretty simple. You swipe downwards to get your batter in position, then swipe up and towards the direction you want to hit when the ball comes at you. It does take a bit of getting used to, and chances are good you’ll never hit the ball quite the same twice, even if you think you have, but that’s the fun of the game. My favorite part of the game, however, was in the last round I played before writing this review, where I got to go all “Bull Durham” and take out some of the stadium lights. I wasn’t really sure they’d let me do that, but I’m glad they added that little detail.

The graphics are probably the best of the bunch. It’s not so much in the overall, because the images in 3 Point Hoops are probably a bit more polished. Where Batter Up Baseball scores is in the details. The signs look like authentic vintage advertisements. When you hit a target there’s always some sort of reaction, usually accompanied by a small shower of fireworks. Hitting a light is actually location sensitive, so the part of the lights you hit actually go out instead of the whole thing. And you’ll definitely want to try and hit the clock at least once. My favorite effect of all, however, is the flaming bat when you’re “on fire” (they really weren’t kidding about that). I just wish that every home run you hit with the flaming bat would have left a trail of flames instead of the standard white trail.

Yet Another Home Run

The sound effects worked really well. From the crack of the bat against the ball to the clunk when the ball fell short and hit the wall, everything sounded right. There were only two things that I was a bit disappointed with. The first was the lack of some shattering sound when the ball hit the lights. Might not have been overly realistic, but it would have been cool. Second, when the audience was cheering and a ball went foul, the audience fell silent immediately. It just seemed a bit odd. As for music… well, there was none, aside from the quick riff played over a home run. This was somewhat surprising, since the other games had pretty decent music.

For being nothing more than a home run simulator, Batter Up Baseball was surprisingly fun. The inclusion of targets and the potential for playing “forever” in Arcade mode just add replayability to the game. Aesthetically the game was all there except for the music. As a result, Batter Up Baseball scores a home run in my book.

Final Verdict: Recommended
App Store Link
App Store Link – Lite Version

[Note: image courtesy of App Shopper]

Clickfree HD Transformer - Image: Clickfree

For those of you that have a large capacity external hard drive that is collecting dust or rarely used have another option at a lower cost. For $59.99, Clickfree has a USB adapter plug called the Clickfree HD Transformer that accepts any USB mass storage device and works just like the other Clickfree products. If you are looking for even a better deal, Clickfree has a number of Clickfree HD Tramsformers + an external hard drive at a great combo price. The Clickfree which comes with 160 Gb of storage retails for $109.99. Clickfree offers the Clickfree HD Transformer + a separate external 160 Gb USB hard drive for a combo price of $139.99. Regardless of if you go the basic route or the combination route, you are insured a great price point. Currently Clickfree is even offering FREE shipping for purchases over $99.00 anywhere in North America. How cool is that?

Final Verdict: Recommend

Clickfree

Clickfree Portable Backup Drive

Clickfree HD Transformer

Clickfree HD Tramsformer w/ External Hard Drive

Each level starts out with the outline of a polygon. Enclosed in that polygon is a ball and an *. Your job is to hit the ball around until it makes contact with the *, at which time it will grow spikes. When the spiked ball hits one side of the polygon that side will shatter, and another * will appear. Ultimately you must destroy all but one side of the polygon to proceed to the next level. You get points for each side of the polygon you break, and additional points if you collect the $ that appears every once in a while. You have 3 lives, and you lose one each time the ball escapes whatever is left of your polygon. Lose all of your lives and its game over. It probably wouldn’t hurt to mention that you have to start the level again when you lose a ball as well.

5 More Sides To Conquer

iPolygon uses tilt controls to turn the polygon, and it actually works fairly well. However, I would highly suggest playing the game on a full battery if you’re going to play for a while, because you’ll be spinning the device a lot and you probably won’t want to have a power cord plugged in. Personally I couldn’t see myself playing the game for hours on end, but rather using the game as filler when I have a few minutes to spare. Naturally, you might feel differently.

The graphics are simple but effective. I particularly like the fact that the pieces of a shattered side can actually get caught in the remainder of the polygon, and they still interact with the ball as if they were actually pieces. That’s a really nice touch. The sound effects are decent overall, and a shattering side sounds pretty cool. There’s no music which is a pity, as the lack of continuous sound does get noticeable at times.

I snagged iPolygon during a time when it was being offered for free, not really knowing what the game was about. I’m glad I did. On a device that’s plagued with numerous clones of all the most popular puzzle games, it’s nice to run into something fresh every once in a while. As of the writing of the review this game was priced at 99 cents, and that’s still a steal for a new take on a venerable game genre.

Final Verdict: Recommended
App Store Link
App Store Link – Lite Version
App Shopper Link