Adidas Predator X
The new predator is here! Now in its 10th installment, the predator is one of adidas’ defining and most iconic products. Since its introduction in 1994 it has been the boot of choice for some of the world’s best football players. One of these players was legend Zinedine Zidane, who has played a part in the development of the new Predator X.
The new boot is constructed from TAURUS calf skin leather, a move away from the K (Kangaroo) leather traditionally used on predators. Adidas have employed an asymmetrical lace system to increase the size of the strike zone, into which a large rubber-silicon predator element with a high coefficient of friction is integrated in order to improve control of the ball.
Powerspine technology, as previously seen in adidas goalkeeper gloves (fingersave) has been used in the sole of the boot, replacing the Powerpulse system. Essentially the Powerspine is an structure which can only flex in one direction. This means that in general movement such as running where the foot requires flexibility the structure can bend, but when going the other way as during a shot, the elements of the Powerspine structure lock together, increasing the overall stiffness and therefore the energy transfer to the ball for more shot power.
Following the launch of the boot on Monday, this weekend will see the debut of the boots in the Premier league by key adidas players. They are due to go on general sale mid November and are available to pre-order now with an RRP of around £135.
Nikon 85mm Macro
An 85mm macro from Nikon - get closer.
Nikon has recently announced the release of a new lens, the AF-S DX MICRO NIKKOR 85MM F/3.5G VR
Firstly, it its worth pointing out that by micro, Nikon actually mean macro. It is a strange terminology not generally adopted by other manufacturers and initially led me to believe that Nikon did not in fact produce a modern macro lens.
Luckily, this is not the case and Nikon have finally decided to add a DX macro to the line up. The lens features a built in Silent wave AF-S motor for fast autofocus, even with entry level DSLRs like the D40/D40x/D60.
The lens employs an advanced VR (Vibration Reduction) for sharp results even at slow shutter speeds, and with a reproduction ratio of 1:1 is ideal for close-up photography.
The lens should go on sale in the UK in Dec with a RRP of £500. Dear Santa…..
Powermat – The future of power?
The Product This new charging system does away with wires and allows you charge a a device simply by throwing it onto a mat. This special mat, known commercially as a Powermat is an innovative technology that is able to wirelessly charge a range of handheld electronics. It is compatible with a number of products including the iphone, Blackberry, and Nintendo DS. There is a catch of course, in that a separate receiver case must be attached to a device to make it compatible with the Powermat. Additionally, you still need to plug in the actual powermat, so there will always be one cord, rendering it somewhat ineffective if only one device is being charged.
The Price Luxury charging comes at a cost. Investment in the technology requires not only the purchase of the base Powermat, but also individual receivers for each device. To give you an idea of how this might tally up, lets look at buying a system to charge an iphone and an ipod Nano.
Powermat £69.99
iPhone Receiver £34.99
Ipod Dock £34.99
Total Spend: £139.97
The Problems For a system that simply charges, this is a hefty tag, particularly for only two devices. Everytime you want to charge a new device, you would have to purchase a new receiver. The receivers themselves are not interchangeable between devices, instead each one is tailored to best fit a particular product. For instance, the iPhone receiver is an outer case whereas the Blackberry receivers take the place of the battery door. Another major drawback is the charging of other devices (ie not an iphone, Blackberry, ipod or Nintendo), which do not seem to have purpose built receivers. For these products, the connection to the Powermat is via a “Universal Powercube receiver” with “interchangeable tips”. Essentially this is a simple receiver with a cable that attaches to the device, negating the main purpose of the Powermat, which is to provide wireless charging.
The Plus Points Criticism aside, the Powermat is a great product. It looks incredible and the premise of wireless charging is extremely exciting. Product reviews have given huge acclaim to the system and it seems to deliver on all of its promises. It is packed with features including magnetic alignment and an RFID handshake to ensure effective power transfer. As well as the main Powermat, there is also a portable fold up version with carry case for wireless charging on the go.
Overall, the Powermat is functional, innovative and highly desirable. It provides a glimpse into the future of wireless power and despite the high price, gives the buyer an easy and effective way to charge multiple handheld devices.
A Passion For Live Music
Since arriving in the steel city (Sheffield) I have developed a distinct taste for live music. Its everywhere and there’s always something going on here. A stark contrast to Bath, the city I have spent the last 5 years of the young life residing in.
Massive Attack
The first gig I attended in Sheffield was Massive attack. They have been on my “to watch” list for many, many years and after missing out on a joint venture with Portishead in Bristol back in 2005 I have had the urge for them wow me musically in person. When I saw they were performing at the O2 arena there was no hesitation. I was going.
Splitting The Atom EP
Massive attack are (were) huge. They have had some absolutely massive tracks. You know some of them. One of these tracks is teardrop, a beautiful and melodic concoction of deep beats and inspiring vocals. It was featured brilliantly on the American TV series prison break at the end of the first season, acting as an emotional summary capsule of each prisoner’s place within the story up to that point. It has also been recently been covered by Newton Faulkner. Being their biggest single, it is song the majority of the crowd is there to see. It happens at every gig. There will be people attending who have not listened to an artists album, let alone dipped into the rich musical back catalogue that a group such as massive attack have at their disposal. They are there to hear that one big chart hit, waiting in suspense for it be played. And play it they did. However, it took a while for the crowd to realise exactly what they were hearing. Cleverly, massive attack had decided that rather than succumb to the pressures of the eager crowd they would remix the original, providing fans of the group an additional dimension to the classic track, rather than laden them with familarity. They used the support act Martina Topley-Bird (who is rumored to feature heavily on their upcoming album LP5) to deliver the poignant track vocals. Here is a video of the track being performed in a similar fashion in Moscow, a few concert stops down the line from Sheffield:
There were some outstanding individual performances. The song Angel in particular was very well delivered, due in part to the vocal presence of reggae legend Horace Andy, who has a real charisma about stage and a very unique singing voice. However, in regard to the overall experience, I came away disappointed. I didn’t feel the musical connection I had been hoping for, and the hour long delay didn’t exactly add to the occasion. Perhaps its because they failed to play the songs I was really craving to hear (like heat miser, which for some reason does not feature on their great hits album, Collected) It made me realise that I had alot in common with the concert goers that only know one or two tracks, we are all holding out for that familiarity we can share with a song and an artist.
Passionpit
On Wednesday 21st Oct 2009 I ventured to the Leadmill to see Passionpit. I have to be honest, I was expecting. That is because Passionpit, who hail from Boston, recently released a debut album nothing short of incredible. Laced with delights, the album is one of those rare collections that doesn’t seem to falter on any level. It is arranged such that each track is like a thread, when all weaved together create a rich and complex tapestry of music. Each listen improves the experience, much like any album with true musical longevity. It has rocketed up my play count rankings in itunes in recent months, with some songs getting more air time than others, namely swimming in the flood and Moths wings.
The band came about when the founding member, Michael Angelakos wrote four songs for his girlfriend as a Valentines day gift. When the songs were heard by friends, they urged him to release an EP. In doing so, two additional tracks were added to the roster: Sleepyhead and Better things. The EP was rapidly spread around the Boston area and before long, Passionpit was a household name. Sleepyhead is perhaps the most well known track and was featured in numerous commercials in 2008. The video (shown below) made its way into Pitchfork’s top 40 Videos of 2008.
The gig itself lived up to the hype. The band were engaging and the music was intoxicating. I even bought a T-shirt to commemorate the occasion. It was also my little brother’s first gig, and I feel privileged to have introduced him to the world of live music with such a bang!
