Blackberry Classic

Instead of always coming out with new gimmicks, Blackberry Classic is packed with features that make work increasingly efficient. That is how it promises success at work - for many a particularly satisfying type of fun.

If you want a good career, you shouldn‘t waste time - that goes with out saying. But many modern smartphones entice you to do just that; they entertain us more than they support us in our work. In this regard, even the - overall very good - Blackberry Q10 can be seen as a step backwards compared to the older Bold 9900. Because by not using the trackpad, function keys and the sophisticated system of shortcuts previously common with the Canadians, many ways to increase effectiveness were omitted with the Q10.

With the Classic for 429 euros, Blackberry has ironed out these wrinkles and combined the past focused on efficient work with the touch operation issues so challenging in the present. Has the bridge building been successful?

Samsung Galaxy A5

The Galaxy A5 is a real high flyer in its price range and will win you over not only with perfect workmanship, but also with great inner values.

Constant dripping wears away a stone. This saying comes to mind when looking at the first models of the brand new A-series from Samsung. The Koreans were criticized more and more for their choice of material - that the current Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 flagships are still housed in plastic annoyed many smartphone enthusiasts. Samsung is at last tackling the issue of tactile quality - first in the mid-range. The A-series models are covered in a chic unibody aluminum housing, there by eradicating the last area of attack for the competitors. Can the Galaxy A5 for 399 euros show off in other areas?

iKettle

Michael lets his mobile do the work of switching on his kettle

While medical opinion and certain technological products, such as activity trackers, encourage the general population (including yours truly) to get off their backsides and do more exercise, other aspects of technology could be said to be encouraging a more couch-potato type of existence. Maybe I am being a little harsh, but the term 'couchpotato' immediately sprang to mind when I started to review the Smarter iKettle device.

HitmanPro 3

Is your PC infected with malware? Roland Waddilove recommends getting a second opinion

Acommon complaint from people that have had their computers infected with malware is that they had security software, but the system was infected anyway. It seems that some malware can bypass some antivirus software. What is the answer, two antivirus programs? Well, this is where HitmanPro 3 comes in.

Acer Chromebook CB5-311-T7LG

Mark is seduced by a laptop that owes little to Microsoft or Intel

To hugely exaggerate, I’ve been trying to get my hands on Acer's Chromebook since the formation of the early solar system. I was therefore delighted when it provided its latest CB5-311-T7LG so I could experience how these devices have evolved from the initial hardware released when Google’s Web OS first appeared.

Video Pro X7

Magix updates its top of the range video editor

Magix publish a wide range of video editing solutions, from those costing just a few pounds, to the product that’s the subject of this review: Magix VideoPro X7. This is the most comprehensive and most expensive product in its range, but if you’re serious about the videos you take, it’s could well be worth being as serious about how you edit them.

Drift Stealth 2 Action Camera

A small camera ready for plenty of action

It’s fair to say that GoPro has an almost strangle hold on the action cam market at the moment. It’s hardly surprising since we’re regularly fed video clips from notable organisations or personalities, such as the recent GoPro feed of the astronauts. It’s difficult to see another contender being able to its head enough to be seen in such an environment. However, Drift Innovation’s Drift Stealth 2 Action Camera may well be one to send shivers down the collective spines of the GoPro community.

AOC I2473PWY 23.8" LED Monitor

Mark reviews an interestingly featured monitor from AOC

In the past couple of years the monitor market has become very tough indeed, with lots of manufacturers chasing scarce customers. Prices are probably as low as they can realistically be, so the makers are always looking for new markets. The AOC I2473PWY is a product aimed at the teenage bedroom buyer, if I’m not mistaken, in that it provides better than average audio and a HDMI port for connecting a games console.

NZXT Kraken X31 Closed Loop Liquid Cooler

Superior cooling and impressive features are the order of the day here

We’ve had a few liquid coolers fitted to our test systems in the past. The likes of Coolermaster, Corsair, and Thermaltake have impressed us with high efficiency, ease of setup and low maintenance kits. Now, though it’s the turn of NZXT, a young company with some rather exceptional skills when it comes to keeping your PC cool.