Gadgets4U: LG GW300

I recently had a chance to be a part of the Blackberry fad that seems to have swept the world.

The device in question, however, was far from being as capable as the American-spawned must-have accessory for those seeking to look cool while keeping abreast of schedules and other business activities. It was in fact an LG GW300 – a poor man’s Blackberry of sorts.

Almost all of my contemporaries commented on what they thought was a “cool-looking Blackberry” upon seeing me exploiting the function of my thumbs on the LG’s QWERTY keypad. But I couldn’t blame them: since the compact dimensions and slim yet square shape have resonated from the trendy ‘berry, the GW300’s aesthetics are stylish, complementing one’s palm.

But unfortunately, this is where the similarity ends. And unlike models from the fruity counterpart, the LG scores low in terms of user-friendliness and ease of use: it’s tarnished by an often unresponsive interface that infuriates and flimsy keys which click loudly and need furious prodding to function.

Being of the Mxit-generation, this was a real disappointment - especially since the packaging of LG GW300 promises a product enabling “better texting”.

My consolation was the impressive music player, which supports most codec types. It obviated the need to carry around my iPod – being just as good, organizing one’s inventory into Recently played, Playlists, Albums and Genres just as one would find on the Apple.

One needn’t undertake the frustrating task of sifting through their song list and selecting just a few tracks to transfer to the LG, as it is equipped with a micro SD slot. The test unit arrived with a 2 Gigabyte memory card that provided ample storage space for my array of tunage, which was pumped out through the LG’s 3.5mm-Earjacked ear phones.

The GW300 will do if you lack the fiscal means to afford the real deal.

Hot cop car could Terminate your ride

Think again next time you consider attempting to evade Police pursuit after hearing those sirens wail – you might be unlucky enough to have one of the six new Nissan GT-R Police vehicles on your tail.

With 600bhp on tap, propelling the GT-R from standstill to 100km/h in a mere 3,5 seconds, this stealthy and agile Japanese ninja is guaranteed to assist our boys (and girls) in blue in their endeavour to rid our streets of the reckless drivers that endanger the lives of other motorists.

As if the GT-R’s aggressive aesthetics weren’t enough to send a shiver down the spin of perpetrators the vehicle has also been given the name, Terminator.

In order to give the vehicle maximum competence in the intensive application of police pursuit, Nissan’s performance division, NISMO was consulted in the development of the GT-R Terminator. The removal of standard luxury items that feature in the GT-R’s interior sees a weight reduction of 200 kilograms. Additional storage compartments have been fitted to house ‘cuffs and other important police paranephilia.

To ensure that the GT-R Terminators enjoy a long service life and are driven properly – these cannot, after all be as easily replaced as the standard Focus ST or Gti cop cars – those lucky enough be assigned to the task of commandeering the vehicles were subjected to thorough training by the Nissan Precision Driving Academy.

Forget the cool uniforms and the guns – never has there been a more exciting incentive to join the force.
  
*Image: Quickpic

Silver Ghost "best of the best"

Since 1955 the “red dot: best of the best” award has been reserved only for the finest and most exemplary pieces of product design, in categories ranging from Architecture, Medicine to even Fashion.


It’s certainly no surprise then, that the new Rolls Royce Silver Ghost has been awarded with the prestigious accolade in the Automotive category.

The Silver Ghost received acclaim for its groundbreaking aesthetics, being said to have an unmistakable appearance and design that reinterperets the classic values of the brand, in a more contemporary fashion suitable for the 21st century.

“This is a tremendous accolade for the entire Rolls-Royce design team, as a designer the challenge lies in translating ideas into a medium which others can see, touch and feel. We are very proud of what we have achieved with Ghost and are delighted to have been recognised with this very special award”. Said Chief Designer Ian Cameron.

While the Silver Ghost retains traditional Rolls Royce styling cues – the long hood and short front overhangs for example, some new, modern elements have been infused too. The renowned grille sees slight rejuvenation, the aim being to “create an effect less reminiscent of the traditional Parthenon style and more like that of a Jet intake” said Cameron.

As if sublime Rolls Royce engineering and the exclusivity that accompanies ownership weren’t enough, those lucky enough to sit behind the coveted Spirit of Ecstasy mascot now have something else to brag about.