Well well well - A2000’s very blogger is back with a new blog.  I must apologise for two things.  Firstly i want to thanks the thousands of people who have taken the time and the trouble to read and post comments to the blogs that I’ve posted.  Not only do we here at A2000 appreciate it but also I get abit of personnal satifaction from it.  The Global financial situation is still continuing to bite and as with all businesses we are also having to fight to weather the storm.  The market for our products is still there we are just having to fight leaner and meaner but we will go the distance!!  I will do a quick round up of wots new and handy in the gadget world as I have a soft spot for “useless??” stuff.  Ever fancied have that “pub” vibe going on in your living room - then check out the Wurlitzer Lyra (£3k).  320gb hard disk/200w amp/12in subwoofer it will pick up internet radio (whole world of possibilities and naff music) and even play CD’s.  All you need is a few brews and a lock in!!  Who out there hasnt got an iPhone4?  Got a spare £45 burning a hole somewhere in your clothes??  Try a Griffin AirCurve Play - why I hear you ask.  Its uses an acoustic chamber to amplify your “4″ and give it a reedy and thinlike sound just like your great grandparents used to have when they cranked up the old gramophone!!  Dont you wish watches did more than tell the time - well I dont really but it would be nice if they did look like they did.  Check out the following “style pieces” : the Code Special Edition £80 / Mk2 Circuit £120 / Mk3 Circuit £100 / Rebel £60.  All are available from “Storm Watches” - so check them out (other timepieces are available - I got a pair of funky orange watches off the well known online auction site and the postage was nearly as much as the watch.  Anyway its nice to be back writing again and hopefully I can find some time to post again.  So until next time TTFN!!!  A2000bloggerPaul

Well Christmas has finally been and gone and the New Year is beginning to gather momentum.  I like to take the opertunity to wish everyone who has taken the time to read and comment on the previous year’s blog all the best for the this year.  I will keep this short and light for the time being and then ease you all into my thoughts / idea’s / whats new / general observations ete etc etc.

Sony see that their commitment to LCD’s as not needing reviewing as they believe LCD technology offers great performance and that direct LCD backlighting systems can equal plasma black levels. 2011 will also see them expand on their 3D range so watch that “SONY” space”.  With the increase of on-demand HD content it seems that the death of Blu-Ray may have been exagerated.  The lower quality,compressed audio and video still seem a valuable weapon in its arsenal to fend off the advances of the downloadable and streaming markets so its still worth your while to reach out and grab a physical disc.  With the January sales comes that time when people maybe looking to ugrade their old screen for something more up-to-date so don’t forget to take a look at a manufacturers previous range as they can really offer value for money whilst still being able to compete with the 2011 new boys.  And dont forget if you do have a bit of spare cash in your pocket maybe try looking at a nice piece of furniture to house your set-up and there is no better way than with one of our range of Cable Management Systems which offer a practical and stylish answer to the wall mounting question.

I hope you enjoy my future 2011 blogs and if there is any topic/suggestion you may like to cover then email paul.cheesemore@jmjltd.co.uk and will see what I can do.  Until next time

This will probably be my last posting of 2010 and many thanks for all your interest and comments of the past 12months.  Firstly its been a year for Apple - what with their iPad and iPhone4 being snapped up globally what is next inline for this tech giant??  Others better start getting a good game plan together if they are to put a serious fight.  Well its finally here in the UK - after many a year waiting for GT5 to finally come out its release doesnt disappoint.  Overall a very very good game but with the odd one or two gliches to maybe dampen enthusiasts thoughts it still does what is says on the tin (I personnally give it 8.5 out of 10 - still cant decide if Forza 3 is better??)   With a release due in Feb 2011 and a price “tba” the new Fujifilm Finepix X100 looks like a Leica, works like a Leica and for any photographer out will make you salivate like a Leica.  Its 12MP sensor and fixed 35mm-equivalent lens (with super fast max aperature of f2) will certainly give the results but will probably have “Leica” price tag (start saving then)  2010 was the ten anniversary of the good old Playstation 2 - as of Sept 2009 this machine had sold 140million and gaming geeks are probably looking to that day when the PS4 makes its debut (dont hold your breath??)  With only a few more weeks until 2011 I would like to wish everyone out there a very merry Xmas and all the best for the New Year.  Please keep reading our blogs and also please let us know what you think - we value any sort of feedback.  Until next time - PAUL A2000Blog

Greetings Blog readers.  A couple of things - firstly a very big thankyou goes out to all those not only who have read my blogs since I started but also to those who have taken the time to post comments.  It is really appreciated here at A2000 Systems.  Secondly I must apologised for either not replying or in the delay in getting back to those comments. 

I have always tried to write topical and interesting blogs and take most of my information from readily available sources and mixed them in with my own points of view.  I have also slipped in the odd funny blog which I hope people havent taken too seriously and that it has made a change from all the “serious” stuff.  As I have mentioned before its always difficult to write articles without them sounding like a sales advert but we hopefully have generated interest in our range of products by using this format.

I would like to write some more blogs soon but with the Christmas period upon us who knows when this will be.  Once again a big THANKYOU to everyone out there and a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2011!!!    PAUL (A2000 Blog writer)

I thought I had better get round to writing a blog as havent done for what seems like ages.  Firstly apologies for the lack of reading material for those who are interested in whats happening at A2000 systems and those that enjoy me nattering on about various things and secondly sorry to those who have posted comments to some of my previous blogs.  I always appreciate your comments or insights and if I havent thanked you it doesnt mean we are not grateful for them.  Well I havent got anything planned to say or any topics that are making the news so will just write something off the top of my head.  Well its only just under 3 months before the BIG DAY and alot of shops and people are already gearing up for XMAS.  Heres a couple of suggestions for presents:

Cyberman Cookie Jar - 12in jar for your biscuits £75 (or you could just spend £75 on digestives)

Space Slug oven mitt - ideal prezzie for sci-fi fans to prevent burnt hands

iPad - is this must have Apple gadget??  Have seen 2 people in public with them (is it a blokie device??)

Money - this I have always found to be the ideal Chrtistmas or Birthday present for family and relatives (and if you like your friends them too)  It can be used for a variety of sins from spoilling those loved ones to being used to buy the person who gave you the money a present (or just give them some of the money back as a gift??)

If you have any thoughts about this jolly time let me know!!!  Until next time readers    PAUL A2000

Everyone is familiar with interchangable lenses for the “old” film cameras and these varied in focal length and prices.  Now with digital SLR’s most use this system to achieve closer results - handy for snapping at lions on the dusty plains of Africa.  Most camera makers use a lens mount that is compatible with the lenses that you used on your old SLR - older Sigma lenses can’t be used on most Canon DSLR’s without being rechipped (I have heard that Sigma can no longer re-chip these older lenses due to no chips being available - if you know otherwise please correct me)  There has also been a firm line in the sand between DSLR’s and Camcorders however with Canon’s 5D which is getting in on the video action there is now maybe a case for interchangable lenses on camcorders.  Sony’s “interchangable lens HD camcorder” will take NEX lenses as well as Sony’s range of A-mount lenses (via an adaptor)  This may be the way forward in combining the unique qualities of both the camcorder and the DSLR as many of the latter lack the features of the former.  So hopefully other manufacturers will follow Sony’s lead and produce a camcorder that can take not only a new range of lens but also be able to use existly lenses.  However the only down side to this will be if makers stick with a mount that only takes lenses from the same manufacturer and thus depriving users from what maybe be better quality optics.

Once again the time of the month has rolled around for my to do my usual blog about whats new and useful in the world of gdagets.  Microsoft having learned from the old Xbox’s lack of stuff (Wi-Fi and meagre hard drive) have released the 360 Slim.  With its 250GB hard drive and built in Wi-Fi all packaged nicely in a slimmer look box this quieter version is sure to be a hit with the gamers among you.  Have you got a spare $158000 stuffed under your mattress and wondering what the time is?  Then get yourself a MB&F HM4 Thunderbolt!!  With its titanium jet turbofans shape comprising 311 parts this top timepiece took 3 years to design.  So roll up your sleeves and show it off - you know you want to!!  Having been bombarded with the iPad over the last few months one of the things that makes all this marketing annoying is the lack of competition for it.  Well now Toshiba are planning what could be a challenge ot it.  Their Libreto W100 features not one but two 7in LED-backlit touchscreens with a crisp 1024X600 resolution.  Use both screens to view different tasks or view content across both screens.  At 819g and 1.2in thick its not what you call lithe and its spec does seem like it will be up to the job but would you choose it over a normal laptop - prices TBA.  Peckish for some browned bread?  Then Tefals ToastN’Light could be your thing.  Its front changes colour from blue-green-yellow-orange to finally red to let you know how your toast is done.  I suppose it beats black?? At the moment it does seem like there are 2 battlegrounds in the tech world and both featuring Apple as the champion having to defend its title.  How long will it be before a young upstart pulls off a shock victory and takes away the top spot from the iPhone and the iPad??   A2000 Paul

Has Panasonic seen the future as being green??  The corperation says that its going to build it business over the next 3 years by focusing its aims on eco-related fields.  This news comes on the back of its buying of Sanyo, a leader in rechargeable batteries and solar cells.  AV and Hi-Fi specialists Pioneer and Denon have both confirmed that they will be introducing 3D Blu-ray players although dont hold your breath for an immediate stocking of the shelves just yet.  Denon players are only due for the US market whilst Pioneer is waiting for its “preferred chipsets to become available” before it brings its hardware to the market place.  Pioneer says its optimistic that 3D will take off when software availability becomes increased.  It still seems that whilst some bigs names are going to jump into the 3D market with both feet there are some that prefer to take the cautious approach.  At the moment there still seems to be a slight nervousness about 3D and it will be a difficult market to predict whether it be a service thats provided or from a hardware point of view.  Whatever the outcome A2000 systems products will be an ideal way to compliment the eventual result whether its 3D or not 3D!!    A2000 Paul

Dont always believe the hype of picture processing.  Almost every TV these days boasts a proprietary picture processing engine that supposedly gives you all manner of video improvements.  But some of these may not be as clever as you think and in some cases can make the viewing experience worse.  For example while some PPE’s work great with standard definition they can be unnecessarily distracting whilst viewing HD - or visa versa.  They may look superb with static images but then breakdown with fast moving ones.  Or they can throw up side effects like blocking and smearing.  In short dont be afraid to switch off picture processing engines with certain sources to check out if they are having a negative impact.  Are Flatscreens better than CRT’s??  Well in hi-def they are heads above the old technology but with standard def nothing looks as rich and noiseless as a really top quality CRT.  However flat panel technology is getting better all the time and it will only be a matter of time before those die-hate CRT fans make the leap over to LCD/LED/Plasma!!  With all these technological improvements and extras (like ambient light sensors) sometimes it boils downs to just disengaging them to get a better picture - so is all this new tech a good thing??

1939 - Year John Atanasoff’s ABC computer is built (it uses “binary” formed from just 2 commands ON+OFF)

50 - The number of years CDs were meant to last before quality degraded (try more like 25??)

2,073.600 - Number of pixels that make up a 1920X1080 Full HD telly

20 - The speed in Mbps of the average Sth Korean broadband connection

5945 - starting price of Treks Madone Project One 6 series custom built road bike (thats in £’s)

18 - Tracks on Technasia album “Central”

1967 - Year I was born (in the metropolis of Hitchin, Hertfordshire)

102,800 - Altitude at which Joe Kittinger jumped from a balloon in 1960 (still a record!!)

360 - Degrees that the Lomography Spinner can take a panoramic pic 4x the standard snap

50 - Hard boiled eggs Paul Newmans character attempted to scoff in “Cool Hand Luke”

2262.7 - This years Tour de France mileage

30 - Fujifilms HS10’s powerfull 24 to 720mm built in zoom lens

1966 - Only time England has ever lifted the World Cup (some say may be the only time??)

9.7 - The iPads multi touch screen size (well had to mention them didnt I)

5 - Next instalment of the ever popular driving sim “Gran Turismo” (thats if it is ever released)

0 - Chances of me going out with the lovely Claudia Winkelman

If you have any interesting number nuggets let me know - until the next blog!!   “A2000 Paul”