Panasonic GX800
KEY FEATURES
- 16MP Four Thirds sensor with no optical low-pass filter
- 4K Video and 4K Photo
- Wi-Fi
- 12-32mm kit lens
- Flip-up 1,040k-dot LCD
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Review Price: £499.99
WHAT IS THE PANASONIC GX800?
Panasonic has taken the decision to simplify its line-up, ditching the GF and GM strands (in the UK at least). The GX800 is now the entry-level camera in Panasonic’s arsenal. You can move up the GX line to the GX80 or GX8, if you feel that the GX800 is too basic for you, and likewise you can start with the GX800 if you want something a little more straightforward than its siblings. All clear?
The GX800 features a 16MP Four Thirds sensor, which, as with some of the other Panasonic cameras of late, comes without an optical low-pass filter for increased detail resolution. It’s also got a flip-up LCD screen, but crucially no eye viewfinder (or possibility to attach one). Like all other current Panasonic cameras it features 4K Video and 4K Photo modes.
PANASONIC GX800 – DESIGN AND HANDLING
The smallest CSC currently offered by Panasonic, the GX800 is perhaps closer aligned in size to some of the premium compact cameras currently on the market – especially if you're using it primarily with the retractable 12-32mm kit lens. There will be four different coloured versions of the camera available to buy, but some will be exclusive to certain retailers.
With the lens fully retracted, the camera is small enough to fit in a reasonably large pocket, such as a jacket pocket.
It’s clear from the design and layout of the camera that Panasonic is aiming this at a beginner audience. As such, there’s not an overwhelming array of controls to choose from, which is good news for keeping it simple. The majority of the buttons are grouped on the right-hand side of the camera, meaning you can quickly access everything with your right thumb or forefinger if you’re shooting one-handed.
The top of the camera holds a mode dial for switching between different exposure modes. There’s a range of automatic options here, but anybody who's a bit more experienced should be pleased to see semi-automatic and manual options also available – this could be a great camera for experimenting and learning with.
There are two special buttons on the top of the camera which take you to two of the most appealing functions of the GX800. There’s a button for accessing the 4K Photo modes. In short, this allows you to extract stills from 4K video, which records at 30fps. That means that for every second something is happening, you will have 30 different shots to choose from – ideal for catching the precise moment or expression for fast-moving subjects, such as pets and kids.
On the other side of the top plate is the Post Focus button. This allows you to take a photo and then change the focus point afterwards in playback. It's a nifty feature that's particularly useful for macro and so on, but perhaps not something you’ll use quite as regularly as the 4K Photo modes.
On the back of the camera there’s a small selection of different buttons. A scrolling dial surrounds the four-way navigational pad and can be used to make adjustments to various settings depending on how you’re using the camera. The good news is that many of the buttons can be customised to your preferred way of shooting. A quick menu, accessed via its own button, can also also be customised to add or remove functions as you see fit.
Behind the battery door you’ll find not only the battery, but the memory card slot. That gets special mention because the camera accepts microSD cards, rather than full-sized SD. Annoying for anyone who already has a stack of SD cards lying around, but it's good news for anybody who's been using microSDs with their mobile phones.
PANASONIC GX800 – SCREEN
Unlike the other cameras in the GX line-up, the GX800 is not equipped with an eye viewfinder, electronic or otherwise. That’s a shame for anyone who likes to compose using one, but it's perhaps not surprising to see it omitted from an entry-level model. It’s not possible to add one via a hot shoe or accessories port either, as, well, there isn’t one. If you’re inclined to like eye viewfinders, you’d do well to take a look at the GX80, which sits just above the GX800, but doesn’t currently cost too much more to buy.
The screen is touch-sensitive, and tilts to allow you to face it forward for selfies and the like. The flip goes to the top of the camera, meaning that you’re OK to place the camera on a table or a tripod and take your selfies – particularly useful for group shots.
Via the screen you can also carry out a number of tasks. You can set the autofocus point, you can move through images in playback and you can select things from either the full menu or the quick menu. The screen is nice and responsive, and anybody who's moving up from a mobile phone should find it a particularly familiar way to work.
MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK – ULTRA HIGH-END TABLET/LAPTOP HYBRID
KEY FEATURES
- Bundled keyboard dock and Surface Pen
- Optional secondary NVIDIA GeForce GPU
- Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU
- 13.3-inch PixelSense display
- 8GB or 16GB RAM
- 8-megapixel rear, 5-megapixel front cameras
- Manufacturer: Microsoft
- Review Price: £1,300.00
Update: Since my original review of the Surface Book, Microsoft has released a number of firmware updates for various issues that many users encountered. Like with the Surface Pro 4, I didn't experience all of the problems that were listed, but among units sold to the public there appeared to be a large number of problems relating to battery drain, system stability and performance.
Recent updates include improved performance and stability when switching between laptop and tablet mode, with battery life also apparently improved when making the transition between laptop and tablet.
Various patches have been released for the onboard Intel HD Graphics 520, too, which should make a difference to stability. A big one for some users will be improved battery life while the laptop is asleep with various onboard sensors and drivers wrangled into line to prevent them from draining the battery.
There's also been patches that improve stability on the Nvidia GPU, although it's unclear whether this will fix the problems around games being powered by the wrong graphics chip.
The full list of changes can be found on Microsoft's Surface Book update history page. I haven't had a review unit in recently so I can't verify whether the patches Microsoft has issued have actually worked, but we will be requesting a unit so we can check for ouselves. You can read my original review below.
Buy Now: Surface Book at Amazon.co.uk (£1,295) | Amazon.com ($1,349)
WHAT IS THE SURFACE BOOK?
Microsoft’s Surface range of tablets has steadily been growing a huge following since the US powerhouse started shipping the devices in 2012. And for reasons that go beyond monstrous amounts of marketing and product placement.
The 2015 Microsoft Surface Pro 4 offered top-end specifications within a neat portable design and is, in my opinion, the ultimate productivity tablet at the moment. However, its usability as a laptop is marred by its lack of a dedicated GPU and bundled keyboard – the Type Cover keyboard accessory still costs over £100 extra.
The Surface Book, on paper, fixes these flaws, and is being marketed by Microsoft as a laptop first and a tablet second. But with pricing for the most basic version starting at £1,300, can it justify its hefty upfront cost?
SURFACE BOOK – DESIGN
Since the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft’s really come into its own on the design front, which is why I’m pleased it hasn’t rocked the boat too much with the Surface Book.
From a distance you’d be forgiven for mistaking the tablet section of the Surface Book for the Surface Pro 4. The device’s chassis is built of the same grey magnesium, with the only obvious design feature being a shiny Windows logo on its back.
Up close, however, you’ll notice a few key changes. For starters, it's a little larger than the Pro 4, measuring in at 7.7mm thick and 312 mm wide – dimensions that place it in roughly the same size bracket as a 13-inch Macbook.
Microsoft’s also ditched the Pro 4’s kickstand to make way for the Surface Book’s biggest feature – its detachable keyboard dock. Unlike past Surface models, the Book comes bundled with a full-on physical keyboard, not relying on an optional Type Cover.
The keyboard houses the Surface Book’s most interesting feature: an optional secondary NVIDIA GeForce GPU. The GPU activates when the tablet section is docked in the keyboard, and in theory will radically improve performance. When undocked the Surface Book’s tablet section runs using the lower-power Intel HD graphics.
The dock also houses the Surface Book’s primary battery and the lion’s share of its ports – a point that further emphasises the focus on being a laptop first, tablet second. Ports-wise, the Surface Book is pretty well stocked when you consider its tiny dimensions. Along the dock’s sides you’ll find two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, a Mini DisplayPort, a headphone jack and a proprietary charging socket.
The sleak dimensions and wealth of connectivity options make the Surface Book feel unashamedly premium and, in my mind, one of the nicest-looking convertibles around.
SURFACE BOOK – KEYBOARD AND TRACKPAD
The physical keyboard is another neat addition. I personally didn’t have an issue with the Surface Pro 4’s Type Cover, but understand many did. For starters, the Type Covers are paper thin and aren’t weighted, which meant using a Pro 4 on your lap is something of a balancing act. Many people also didn’t click with the touchpad, feeling they were too small and slightly unresponsive.
By comparison the Surface Book’s backlit keyboard is an entirely physical, metal affair, more akin to Asus Transformer Books’ docks than past Type Covers. The keyboard is a definite step up and offers a significantly improved typing experience. This is largely down to the keys' improved travel and spacing.
The more comfortable typing experience is aided by the Surface Book keyboard's intelligent hinge. The hinge has been designed to evenly adjust the Surface Book’s weight balance to ensure it doesn’t become top heavy, irrespective of the screen’s angle. The design works a treat and means it's one of the most lap-friendly convertibles around.
My only issue with the keys is that they aren’t quite as tactile as I’d like, compared to, say, the Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi or Dell XPS 12. With prolonged or rapid typing the keys feel a little spongy and aren’t quite as reactive as I’d like – though, being fair to Microsoft, this is an issue I have with most laptops and convertibles.
The trackpad’s also been improved. As well as being larger, the glass-finished pad feels more responsive and accurate than its Type Cover siblings. Two finger gestures work a treat and in general I have no issues using it.
SURFACE BOOK – DISPLAY
The Surface Book’s screen has also had a modest makeover. Microsoft’s increased the Surface Book’s PixelSense screen size to 13.3 inches, making it over an inch bigger than the Surface Pro 4’s.
For general consumers the screen is brilliant. The 3,000 x 2,000 resolution and 267ppi pixel density mean icons and text are constantly sharp. Brightness levels and viewing angles are stellar and I didn’t notice any backlight bleed.
Cracking out my trusty colorimeter, I found the Surface Book’s screen also to be well calibrated. The 1,750:1 contrast ratio I recorded is great and means the screen can display suitably nice deep and inky blacks alongside clear, unmuddied whites.
The 6,377K colour temperature I recorded is less than 200K away from the 6,500K ideal – meaning colours don’t look overcooked or too cool to the naked eye. The Surface Book’s 0.19 Delta E is stellar – any score floating around or below 1.0 indicates excellent colour accuracy. The screen’s 94.3% sRGB colour gamut coverage is above average, and more than wide enough to meet general users' needs.
My only issue with the Surface Book’s screen is its average coverage of the Adobe RGB colour gamut. For non-techie folks, the Adobe RGB is a standard used by many creative professionals that dictates the range of colours a screen can accurately display. As a rule of thumb any serious art or photography display should cover 90% or above of the Adobe RGB. The Surface Book only covers 67.6% of the Adobe RGB.
Being fair, Microsoft’s never made any claims about the Surface Book’s Adobe RGB coverage, but when you consider the fact that it’s marketing the device as “ideal for creatives” I’m still a little disappointed. Hopefully Microsoft will fix this issue with its next wave of Surfaces.
LS30 Wireless Gaming Headset
This LucidSound LS30 Wireless Gaming Headset is a stylish and sophisticated choice.
Boasting complete versatility and cross-platform compatibility, the LucidSound LS30 works seamlessly with the Xbox One and PS4, as well as legacy consoles including the Xbox 360 and PS3.
Equipped with intuitive controls and a revolutionary design, this gaming headset comes with an integrated microphone and a removable boom microphone, so that it can be used on the go with mobile gaming devices, phones and audio devices.
Useful info:
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Compatible with legacy consoles
- Intuitive, easy-to-use controls
- Integrated microphone
- Removable boom mic
- Suitable for mobile and audio devices
- LucidSound LS30 Wireless Gaming Headset
- Depth: 90 MM
- Height: 190 MM
- Width: 185 MM
- Gaming Accessory Type: Headsets
- http://www.very.co.uk
Playstation 4 Silver DualShock Controller
MPN: 9895657 EAN: 711719822943
The DUALSHOCK®4 wireless controller defines the new generation of play, combining revolutionary features with an intuitive design and precise controls. The new models feature a stylish matt finish, show your light bar from above and allow you to control your PS4™ via USB cable as well as through Bluetooth®. Ergonomic Design Get to grips with an elegant, super comfortable design, while highly responsive analog sticks and buttons mean greater precision during gameplay. SHARE Button Use the SHARE button to upload your gameplay videos and pictures on social networks. Stream live gameplay to Twitch, YouTube and Dailymotion or edit your recorded gameplay videos and share them on Facebook and Twitter. You can also invite online friends to play your games with you, even if they don’t own them with Share Play*2. Touch Pad Guide, gesture and draw with the responsive touch pad – now restyled so you can see your light bar colour from above as you play. Light Bar The integrated light bar provides gamers with visual information at a glance, such as which character they control or health status, for more intuitive gameplay. It also helps the PlayStation®Camera track your controller position – allowing you to interact with your virtual surroundings while using PlayStation®VR. Built-in Speaker and Stereo Headset Jack Enjoy extra sound effects – straight from the controller – and chat with online friends via a headset, such as the stereo headset included with the PS4™ system. Vibration Feedback Feel even more deeply engaged with the action as the controller shudders and shakes in your hands, thanks to intuitive vibration motors.
Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD
Combine your favourite streaming and subscription services with the Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD.
Now, you can experience all of this with stunning true-to-life picture quality when you watch on your 4K Ultra HD TV. Without a UHD TV, you can still stream plenty of titles in high definition up to 1080p for an amazing viewing experience!
For completely fuss-free viewing, you can even speak into your voice remote to find your favourite shows, films and games with ease. With access to Netflix, Amazon Video, BBC iPlayer and much more, you're sure to find something you love.
Boasting 75% more processing power, a dedicated graphics engine, enhanced Wi-Fi support and 2GB of memory, Amazon Fire TV will become an essential for your home.
- Blue Tooth: Y
- Depth: 17.8 MM
- Height: 115 MM
- Width: 115 MM
- Dongle Required: N
- Wifi Enabled: Y
- All-new Amazon Fire TV, now 4K Ultra HD compatible. Enjoy movies and TV episodes in stunning 4K Ultra HD with your compatible 4K UHD TV.
- No 4K UHD TV? No problem. Amazon Fire TV lets you stream thousands of titles in high definition, up to 1080p.
- Tens of thousands of TV episodes and movies, from Amazon Video, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITV and more, plus games, music and apps.
- Now 75% more processing power, a dedicated graphics engine, better Wi-Fi support and 2GB of memory.
- Say it. Watch it. Simply speak into your voice remote to find TV shows, movies and games.
- No more buffering - ASAP learns what Amazon movies and TV episodes you like and buffers them for playback so they start right away.
- Great for gaming with a quad-core processor and dedicated Imagination GX6250 graphics engine. Add to the fun with optional game controllers.
- Amazon Prime members get unlimited access to Prime Video, including original programming such as Transparent and over 1 million songs with Prime Music
- With access to Netflix, Amazon Video, BBC iPlayer, Demand 5 and more, you’re sure to find something you love.
- Enjoy bestselling titles from Hipster Whale, Sega and Ubisoft. Many games are free, and paid games start from
- just £0.59.
Apple iPod Nano
The death of the dedicated audio player has been greatly exaggerated. There are plenty of people who still want to play music from a source that isn't their smartphone. Certainly fitness enthusiasts will be fond of the iPod Nano's Nike+ integration. But even if you're not a runner and would rather hit the weights, you'll likely be fond of the Nano's diminutive size as alluded to by its name. It's small enough to slip into a pocket, even the smaller zippered pockets on a pair of running shorts. But the other reason you might want to listen on a dedicated audio player is to save battery life on your smartphone.
The current Nano, which is in its 7th generation, has been out for a few years now, but Apple hasn't revised its design since its original 2013 launch. There are numerous colour options now available including blue, silver, gold, space grey, pink and red after the introduction of a few new shades this year.
The 2.5in touchscreen is multitouch, and the iPod has obligatory Bluetooth, so you can use wireless headphones. Another coup for the fitness inclined. The whole thing is just 5.4mm thick and it weighs just 31g, so you can fit it almost anywhere. There's no clip on the back, so it's not quite as well suited to sporty users as the previous version. However, most people will be pleased with the improved movie viewing experience provided by the display’s 240x432 widescreen aspect ratio.
Like its squarer predecessor, the Nano’s touchscreen lets you flick between two menu screens displaying large icons. It even comes with a selection of wallpapers that are matched to the colour of the iPod itself. Unlike the iPod Touch, you can't install apps. The first menu provides shortcuts to your music, videos, podcasts and photos, along with a Nike Fitness app and radio tuner. On the second screen, you'll find a handy clock, settings menu shortcut and access to your audiobooks.
In addition to the usual options of sorting by playlist, artist, song, album or genre, you can also use Apple's Genius to put together a playlist of songs similar to the one you're currently listening to or create a playlist based on iTunes' analysis of your taste, but you have to enable the feature in the iTunes desktop client first. iTunes itself has undergone some changes lately, simplifying and streamlining its previously clunky interface, but in the process also removing a few familiar features, such as Cover Flow.
We're pleased that the sidebar that makes it easy to copy content from your PC to your iPod and move content between different playlists is still present. You can also opt to sync specific types of content only. As an example, can have your podcasts synced every time you connect the iPod to its associated PC, but not your music or videos. You can, of course, organise the content on the iPod Nano manually, too.
Audio files in MP3, AAC, AIFF, WAV and ALAC formats are supported, as are Audible format audiobooks; you'll have to convert other audio formats to a supported one to listen to them. Audio quality is, of course, very good indeed. The DACs favoured by Apple for its iPods are characteristically bassier than those used by some other rivals. The Nano sounds detailed and accurate, particularly if you upgrade it to a better pair of headphones. The Nano's warm sound complements balanced armature earphones extremely well and also sounds great through high-quality dynamic headphones such as Soundmagic E10s.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there's no support for Apple's burgeoning music streaming service, Apple Music. So you'll have to make do with locally stored tunes and that does mean dealing with iTunes.
Like the new versions of the iPhone and iPod Touch, the Nano comes with the improved EarPod version of Apple's earphones. They're still white, plasticky and none too comfortable to wear, but they're less leaky than their predecessors and sound more detailed and less fuzzy. They sound a bit better overall too; they're not quite ear-canal headphones, but their plastic casing is shaped to direct sound to your eardrums and less towards innocent bystanders.
They also tend to sit in your ears more comfortably with less of a tendency to pop out at a moment's notice. Still, for anyone who wants to better appreciate their music library, you're better off replacing them with a higher quality pair of headphones. See our guide to the best headphones for some improved options.
The video player doesn't have very wide format support. It can't handle 1080p content at all, but will happily play standard Apple-compatible video content, such as 720p MPEG4 or H.264 encoded video in M4V, MOV or MP4 wrappers. We were slightly disappointed to find that video podcasts available via the Apple Store didn't appear in the video player's menu, but instead were only available in the podcast player.
Poor contrast on dark areas and the Nano’s small screen size make watching some content, especially fast-moving films, a bit painful, leaving us squinting despite the great clarity of the tiny display. It's great for bright TV and cartoon content, though, so it could be a decent entertainment device for younger viewers. We wouldn't want to watch it for extended periods, but it's excellent if you want to catch an episode of your favourite sitcom on the tube home or keep the kids entertained on a car ride.
Details | |
|---|---|
| Price | £115 |
| Rating | **** |
| Headphone Rating | *** |
Hardware | |
| Capacity | 16MB |
| Interface | USB |
| Storage medium | flash memory |
| Battery and charge options | Li-ion, USB |
| Size | 40x77x5mmmm |
| Weight | 31g |
Features | |
| Device has screen? | Yes |
| Viewable size | 2.5 in |
| Native resolution | 240x432 |
| Memory card support | none |
| FM Radio | yes |
| Audio record options | none |
| Video record options | none |
| Supplied with | headphones |
Test Results | |
| Tested battery life (MP3 playback) | 29h 40m |
| Tested battery life (Video playback) | 3h 57m |
| 500MB transfer time | 23s |
| Audio MP3 playback | Yes |
| Audio WMA playback | No |
| Audio WMA-DRM playback | No |
| Audio AAC playback | Yes |
| Audio Protected AAC playback | Yes |
| Audio OGG playback | No |
| Audio WAV playback | Yes |
| Audio Audible playback | Yes |
| Image BMP support | Yes |
| Image JPEG support | Yes |
| Image TIFF support | Yes |
| Video MPEG-4 AVI playback | No |
| Video MPEG-4 MP4 playback | Yes |
| Video WMV playback | No |
| Video MPEG-1 playback | No |
| Video MPEG-2 playback | No |
| Video MPEG-2 VOB playback | No |
| Video MPEG-4 DivX/XviD support | No |
| Video H.264 support | Yes |
| Video MPEG-4 MP3 audio support | Yes |
| Video MPEG-4 AAC audio support | Yes |
| Download compatibility | iTunes |
Buying Information | |
| Price per MB | 718.8p |
| Warranty | one year RTB |
| Supplier | http://www.amazon.co.uk |
| Details | www.apple.com |
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