Gidget - The Amazon Kindle - 6" Display with Global Wireless

There's a new kid on the block, and his name is Kindle.

I don't like it when a new toy comes out. It gets my Techno-Lust a hoppin' and I have to spend hours on the net researching and investigating and comparing and generally spilling drool all over myself and my keyboard. It's embarrassing, it really is.

Anyway, I've been keeping a keen and slobbery eye on Amazon's Kindle eBook reader. I was super excited about Kindle's second design offering, the Kindle 2. And when Amazon released the Kindle with Worldwide WhisperNet connectivity I practically wet my pants. Practically ... almost ... it was really really close.

I immediately went into research overdrive and got some pretty satisfactory answers to some important questions. And having gotten some answers I convinced my wife that we NEEDED a Kindle. And we got one!

I don’t want to spend too much time here explaining what a Kindle is. If you want to find out then go to Amazon’s Kindle Homepage and do some reading. But, for those of you who don’t want to do that here is a simple explanation of what the Kindle is:

The Kindle is to reading, what the iPod is to listening to music.

Right, now that we’ve got that out the way lets answer some questions:

What does the Kindle Costs?

The Kindle costs $259 (just under R2000) if you buy it off the American Amazon site. Amazon.com claims it will sell you a Kindle if you order it from South Africa. However I’m not sure that’s true because as far as I know Amazon WILL NOT ship anything to South Africa because of our brilliantly reliable postal service. I got my Kindle delivered to someone in America who brought it here to SA.

What is WhisperNet, and what does it cost?

WhisperNet is Amazon’s wireless Kindle service. Originally WhisperNet was only available in the USA, but now Kindle has released a Worldwide Whispernet network. This means that almost anywhere you can get a cell-phone signal you can probably get a WhisperNet signal. Amazon does have a full coverage map available on line. WhisperNet is absolutely and totally and in-all-ways free. Is costs nothing. It is for nothing. And this is what makes the Kindle so cool. If you’re in a WhisperNet coverage area then you can go onto the Kindle Store, via WhisperNet, on the Kindle itself, for free. You can browse books, download book samples, download entire books, and manage your kindle content, for free. Did I mention it dosn’t cost anything? That’s right! The wireless WhisperNet delivery of content is free. This amazes me, in case you haven’t figured this out.

What do Kindle eBooks cost?

The books themselves cost between $2 and about $12 (about R15 to R90). Brand new bestsellers are the most expensive, and old classics are the cheapest.

In general I give the Kindle a 10 out of 10 rating for cost.

How does reading the Kindle compare to reading a normal book?

The Kindle utilises a new form of display technology called eInk. eInk, designed to simulate a printed page rather than a computer screen, was specifically developed to solve the problems of eye-strain traditionally associated with reading off a screen. There is no backlighting on eInk screens so the kindle, like a real book has to be read in ample ambient light. Overall the eInk screen is a great success. I’ve spent hours reading mine and find it very comfortable. The only criticism I have is that the page/type contrast is not as heavy as it is on a normal printed page. The Kindle more than makes up for this slight failing, however, by allowing you to change your letter sizing and word spacing. Try do that with a paperback. Because of the relatively new nature of eInk the tech is still in its infancy. Every time your turn the page on your Kindle the screen flashes black and then refreshes, which seems at first very low tech and clumsy, but which I’ve gotten used to very quickly and hardly notice any more.

You turn ‘pages’ on the kindle by pressing one of two conveniently placed buttons. Words-per-page counts vary depending on the text size settings you’ve chosen. Progressing through a book is easy and convenient and best of all actually fun.

I give the Kindle a 9 out of 10 rating for reading comfort and ease.

What books are available for the Kindle?

You can send any document you like to your Kindle. Each Kindle is allocated a unique Kindle email address. You can email documents and PDF’s to your Kindle for a small fee. This means that you can read non Kindle-original books and documents on your Kindle. I haven’t tried this yet but in know people who have. I really do. Actual people, not people who know people.

In terms of Amazon’s Kindle Store selection, this is my only real complaint about the Kindle. Amazon currently have over 360 000 eBooks available for the Kindle, as well as numerous newspapers, magazines and blogs, but I’ve found that many of my favourite authors don’t seem to be represented. Having said that I’m sure that this will be a short lived problem as creating eBooks for publishers is a very fast and easy process.

To furthur complicate matters some of the eBooks in Amazon’s Kindle Store are not available in South Africa. I haven’t really been able to find out why this is but presume it’s a publishing-rights issue. Again I think this will be a short lived problem, especially as Exclusive Books has recently announced that it will be selling eBooks for the Kindle.

I give the Kindle six and a half out of ten for content availability.

How many books fit on a Kindle?

The Kindle has 2 gigs of onboard memory, with 1.4 gigs of that available to the user for storage. Amazon says this enables the Kindle to hold over 1500 books. That’s a lot of books.

The kindle definitely gets ten out of 10 for storage capacity.

Is the Kindle worth buying?

I have no doubt that the eBook industry is in its fledgling stages, and that significant improvements and advancements are in the not too distant future. It may be worth waiting for these developments before you buy Kindle. But in my opinion this always true of any tech, and thus is a defunct point. I love my Kindle and my wife also loves my Kindle. It is strictly speaking her Kindle but lets not get stuck down in the details. Our biggest problem is fighting over who gets to use the Kindle. My wife is freakishly intelligent and reads at the speed of sound. On holiday she can read a book a day. So for a two-week holiday she has traditionally had to pack 14 or 15 paperbacks. Now we can just take the Kindle and have hundreds of books at our disposal, and thousands more just a whisper away.

Bottom Line Verdict: The Kindle is great. Not perfect, but then what is? The Kindle is well worth having, and until Apple brings out a better eBook reader the Kindle is top of the pops.

Life - The Bush

Finally back in the bush.

There was a time, not too long ago, that I seriously considered chucking it all in and heading off into the bush for good. By ‘it’ I mean all things citified and civilised: all the skyscrapers and fashionistas, the sales and salespeople, the bustle and the hustlers. Leaving it all behind me and trading it for the soft swishing song of the bush, for the animals and the game trails, for the trees and the birds, for the sign and the lore of the bush.

I had a grand plan, I’d sign up for a six month game ranger course with &Beyond (then Cons Corp the pre-eminent luxury safari service provider in Africa) and spend at least two years guiding and ranging in my beloved African bush. The only thing that stopped me was that even though I’d be deeply ensconced in my aforementioned beloved bush, I’d also be surrounded by my antithisisisedly-hated people. And not just any old hated people: tourists, and not just any old tourists: foreign tourists: Americans and Germans and Italians and Frenchies and the Dutch and the English and the Japanese and the … eeeeewwwwwwww … Israelis. And not only would I be surrounded by them, I’d have to be nice to them, all of them, all the time, everyday, for ever.

Yeaaaaggggghhhhhh!!!!

So I chose to stay in the world of cities and towns and malls and up-to-50% off sales. But every now and then I come back out here, into the bush and listen to the grass stalks rubbing up against each other and watch the Impala peering through the trees trying desperately to spot the lion that they’re sure is creeping up one them, and all of a sudden just like that my shoulders relax, and my deeply etched frown lines smooth out, and just like that I’m part of everything again, and that’s just cool.

So, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, stop, just for a second and relax your shoulders and uncrease your deeply etched frown lines and listen for the grass. It’s out there and it’s rubbing against itself, and it’s making a little noise, and if you listen for it, you may be able to hear it.

Bottom Line Verdict: There’s nothing like the bush. Nothing at all!

Gidgit - The Invisible Shield

In today’s techno-mailstromic world I’ve become hopelessly addicted to gadgets. I’m constantly surfing the net and browsing the shops to find the newest ones and get my hands on them. And once I’ve actually bought a new gadget I want to keep it safe and sound. A huge problem in this regard has always been the rough and tumble nature of my world. I’m a big brutish lump of a man and I’m constantly dropping, sitting on, throwing, scratching and breaking my toys. So I;m always on the lookout for ways to protect my techno-babies. Screens are perhaps the most vulnerable of tech-toy components. Not only are they very scratchable and crackable but without them the gadget become very hard to use. Ever tried dialing a number on your phone when the screen’s dead?

I was desperate for a solution, some kind of almost indestructible protective shield that encases your phone/iPod/computer/etc and DOESN’T RUIN THE CAREFULLY THOUGHT-OUT DESIGN AESTHETIC OF THE GADGET (If you’re an Apple freak like me then you’ll understand the importance of this. I didn’t buy the most beautiful gadgets ever made just to hide them in ugly neoprene or plastic sheaths. NO!) Some kind of Invisible Shield.

Enter stage left the: (you guessed it) Invisible Shield by Zagg. What is the Invisible Shield you ask? It’s an almost indestructible protective shield that encases your phone/iPod/computer/etc and DOESN’T RUIN THE CAREFULLY THOUGHT-OUT DESIGN AESTHETIC OF THE GADGET. Brilliant!

And the Invisible Shield (www.zagg.com / www.invisibleprotectors.co.za) really is. It’s a military grade clear ‘plastic’ film that was originally developed to cover and protect helicopter blades. It’s virtually indestructible and can be bought specifically manufactured for specific devices, so you know the parts will all fit and will expertly protect your device.

I got one for my wife and one for my Blackberry Bold. The application seems a little daunting when you see the instructions. But if you pop onto Youtube you’ll find tons of application videos that show you exactly what to do. Once you’ve watched the videos you’ll find the application quite easy.

You’ll also find some videos on Youtube showing the Invisible Shield being tested. They scratch it with a key and leave not a mark. I tried to do this, showing off my new gadget protector to a friend, of course I ended up scratching my Invisible Shield and moped around for a few months in a serious sulk. Then it occurred to me to check the website, which I did, and found to my delight that the Invisible Shield comes with a lifetime guarantee against scratches. I contacted the South African supplier; Invisibleprotectors.co.za and they told me to bring the phone in. I did, they took a look at it, I explained that I had caused the scratches while over zealously trying to demonstrate the Invisible Shield’s indestructibility and they replaced the scratched piece without any fuss. It must be said that when I scratched mine I was gouging the phone with a key, using all my weight and considerable gusto. Nothing in everyday life has left a mark on it.

Bottom Line Verdict: The Invisible Shield is the low viz gadget protector you’ve been waiting for. Get one.

Gidgit - VW Golf 5 1.6 Comfortline

Golf 5 1.6 Comfortline

Here's a few thoughts about my car. It’s a 2004 VW Golf 5 1.6 Comfortline. I bought the car second hand from my favorite second hand car dealer: Gary Judge. If you're looking for a trustworthy, honest, honorable guy to buy a car from, then Gary's your man. He owns and runs SMT Motors in Randburg, Johannesburg and I have bought three cars from him, my mom bought a car from him and at least four of my friends have bought cars from him. All have been brilliant buys. But back to my car.

My first car was a Toyota Corolla 1.8 GLE. And I bloody loved it. It drove like the wind and never gave me any trouble. In fact we still own it and use it at my parent’s beach house. It’s a 1997 model and still turns over first time every time no matter how long we leave it unattended for. After that car I swore I’d always buy Japanese cars. Until I bought my Golf.

The Golf was the best I could afford at the time. Compared to its price range rivals: The Toyota RunX, the Ford Fiesta or Focus, The BMW 1 series, the VW Polo it was a no brainer. The Golf is far higher specced than the Fiesta, the Focus, and the RunX. And when comparing prices you’ll only get a very low spec 1 series for the price of a Golf 5. Obviously its a better buy than it's poorer, badly built cousin the Polo. With the Comfortline Golf, however you get great build quality and all the specs you could ask for: My Golf has all round electric one-touch windows, leather interior, ABS, 5 start NCAP safety rating, automatic front rain sensor wipers, automatic headlight management, automatic dimming rear-view mirror, full on board computer, front loading CD shuttle plus six CD shuttle, climate control and independent front seat warmers. You won’t find those bells and whistles in any of the Golf’s price range competitors. Just after I bought the cars quite a few things went wrong. With all those complex electricals running around things tend to, and I was convinced I’d made a mistake and should have stuck to my guns and bought Japanese. But Gary-the-honest-and-honourable car dealer sent the car in to be serviced and everything was sorted out. Since then the car seems to have settled down.

Now I have a real love/hate relationship with the car. I love its features and smooth ride. I love it on the open road. I love the way it looks and love the relative luxury inside. I love a lot about the car. But I hate its engine. I hate it!

The 1.6 engine is a lame donkey. Its 1^st and 2^nd gears are like old women with zimmer frames and its power to weight ratio is that of an American tourist wearing socks and sandals. Once you get up into the higher gears things seem to catch up a bit and the engine performs very well. This means that the car is a dream on the open road, cruising smoothly and overtaking easily. But in the city, stopping and starting in traffic I feel like I'm constantly fighting the car for a little power and performance. A fight I have yet to win.

Bottom Line Verdict: I like my car, its comfortable and very fancy in many regards. But if you’re thinking of buyin one, get one with an engine instead of a sowing machine under the hood.

Film - Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

If you're a concerned parent, shocked and appalled by the amounts of gratuitous gushing, gurgling, spurting and spraying blood into today’s popular media, and wish to protect your little weemlings from said hematological spectacles then please never ever allow them to watch Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

This is the latest offering of 90’s film genius Tim Burton, who brought us such classic as Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Batman, Batman Returns, The Nightmare before Christmas and Mars Attacks in the late 80’s and 90’s.

However this 90’s genius somehow managed to pupate into a new millennium flopper. In fact since Mars Attacks (1996) you’ll have no trouble fitting good Tim Burton films on DVD into your back pants pocket. Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride all fall into what I like to call Burton’s: Rubbish Phase. I’m a huge fan of his but simply have been underwhelmed by all of his new films.

So I didn’t even bother to go see Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street when it was on circuit. But the other night it was on TV, and being the huge, all-be-it recently disappointed, fan that I am I gave it a gander.

And bloody loved it. It’s witty and dark, as all Mr Burton’s film should be. It’s quirky and beautifully styled as all Mr Burton’s film should be. It’s costumes and sets are vintage Burton, all greys and blues. The performances are great and the story is brilliant. Even the singing, I am very dubious of sung movies, is awesome. Burton and his cast have perfectly pitched (excuse the pun) the musical aspects of the film as a story telling medium, as opposed to a gimmicky exploit.

If you’re like me and have been wishing Tim Burton would find his way back onto the dark and twisted path he set for himself long ago, then this movie may signal the beginning of his return.

Bottom Line Verdict: Welcome back Mr Burton!

Gidgit - The Nanopad

Here's a great, and cheap, piece of tech. The Nanopad (www.nano-pad.co.za / www.nano-pad.com) is a great little invention that utilises nano-vacume-technology (apparently based on the same principles that enable a gecko to stick to a wall) basically a small sheet of sticky rubber-like stuff that you can slap onto your dashboard.

Once there anything you place on the Nanopad: phone, iPod, glasses, keys, etc, just sticks. There's no glue involved so the Nanopad doesn't have any sticky residues, there's no magnets involved so you won't wipe your iPod's memory. It's as simple as advertised: just slap the Nanopad down, pop something onto it and hit the skidpad.

I've had one for a few months now and I love it. There are, however, a few cons: the first, and no fault of the Nanopad's, is that most cars don't have a good spot to place the Nanopad. it measures about 145mm x 80mm and you shouldn't place it over any airbags. This leaves a very limited choices of prime spots. The second con, and I think this is the fault of the Nanopad, is that it's ability to stick to the actual dashboard, also done via nano-vacume-technology, is highly dependent on what the surface you're sticking it to is made of. In my wife's Toyota Yaris the dashboard is made of a highly stippled, slightly spongy material and Nanopad just doesn't like it. This means that every time she tries to pull her phone off the Nanopad she ends up pulling phone and Nanopad off the dashboard. In my VW Golf 5 I've found an awesome spot for the pad over my emergency flicker button. The pad sticks like a dream and my devices are close to hand.

Bottom Line Verdict: I love the Nanopad, but it's application can get a little tricky.

Film - District 9

There aren't many South African movies that I’d go out of my way to recommend, but District 9, which I firmly believe IS a South African film, is truly worth seeing. It won't be on circuit for too much longer so you should really make a plan and get to it before it's gone forever.

I'm not going to go into much detail about what it's all about because I think the movie is even better if you don't know. I went to see it because everyone was raving, and the surprise when you find out what is what was even more rewarding because it all came out of the blue.

Here’s some info though. Yes it is a movie about aliens landing and living in a Johannesburg squatter camp, yes it does have main characters called Wikus and Kobus, yes the aliens do look like huge bi-pedal parktown prawns, and finally yes the film is written and directed by a South African, all-be-him an ex-South African. Now almost all of those ideas, intriguing as they are do put many people off the film immediately. But I promise that they are all brilliantly conceptualized and fantastically woven together in what is, to me, one of the best plotlines and story narratives I’ve ever seen.

District 9 is the perfect example of what a South African film can be like when it’s backed by Hollywoodesque money, expertise and experience. The film was produced by cinematic genius Peter Jackson, and written and directed by Neill Blomkamp. For the most part all the production staff was South African and the entire cast is South African (with a lead performance by Cape Town based Shalto Copley that’ll blow your socks off).

It’s not perfect, but it’s bloody good, and really really worth seeing. In fact it’s so good that it’s joined the hundreds of other movies on my Top 10 films of all time list.

Bottom Line Verdict: See this film!