Minus The Sink

Casio Men's G-Shock Atomic Tough Solar Watch #GW530A-1V

2010-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is an excellent watch. 5/5 Stars, available on Amazon here.

One feature I completely forgot to mention is the Atomic time keeping. Every night at 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 this watch goes out to update the current time, making sure it stays accurate.

While good in theory, I have yet to be able to get this watch to successfully update the time. There is a way to see the time it last updated, and mine reports a date from before I even owned it. Probably while it was being stored or something.

The instructions say it must be near a window, or preferably outside during the update, with no obstructions, so it can obtain a good signal. I have not tried doing it under these optimal conditions yet, and predict having no issues once I do.

Motorola MOTOROKR S9 Bluetooth Headphones

2010-03-01T08:00:00.003-05:00

I listen to music pretty much all of the time, especially when I am traveling to and from class. One huge complaint I have, however is with the cord associated with my headphones. I found myself catching this on door knobs, getting it caught in my zipper, etc. So I decided that since my phone supports bluetooth headphones, I would give the Motorola MOTOROKR S9 bluetooth headphones from Motorola a try. I give them a rating of 2/5 stars. I'll let the video do the talking.

As you can see from the video, I am very unimpressed with this product. So much so that I won't even put a link to the Amazon page for you to go and purchase them. However, if you do find them on Amazon, please not the price of around $70.00 is way more then I paid for these headphones. I only paid $40.00, and would still classify them as not worth it.

PopCap Games' Plants vs. Zombies for the iPhone

2010-02-26T18:04:00.000-05:00

Last week, Plants vs. Zombies for the iPhone and iPod Touch [iTunes Link] was released. It apparently sold like hotcakes. As of yesterday, it had sold 300,000 copies at $2.99 each.

But please, don't let it's sales and the current 4393 5-Star ratings on the App Store convince you that this is truly an excellent game, leave that to the following video.

Before you drop $2.99 for this game in the app store, decide for yourself that it is a must have for any iPhone gamer by playing it online here.

Canon Vixia HV30

2010-02-11T21:27:00.000-05:00

So I decided that I was going to review my video camera, because I think its really great, however when I sat down to do so, I realized that I had no way of filming it. So... yeah. Its a good camera. Stay tuned for more real reviews.

Nerf N-Strike Firefly

2010-02-08T10:00:00.004-05:00

Well, we told you we were gonna review everything but the kitchen sink, so here we go: the Nerf N-Strike Firefly. You thought we were all about technology and stuff, well you were wrong! When we're not reviewing the latest and greatest in iPod apps and HP mini netbooks, we're reenacting WWII battles with our Nerf guns (and experience shows that I'm the better gunman. But dont tell Luke that). This one is a single shot, 8 bullet-holding pump action gun, and when compared to other N-Strike guns, it may not seem like much. But when you look closer, you'll see this gun has more to offer: glow in the dark darts!! Included with the gun are 8 glow in the dark darts and a special light thing that makes the darts glow even more (I'm still not completely sure how). So, if you're fighting in the dark, this gun has the advantage...except the light will give away your position. But it's ok, this gun is battle tested and battle approved by Minus the Sink. 4/5 stars.

HP Mini 110 - 1030NR Netbook

2010-02-02T14:45:00.006-05:00

Specs:
- Intel Atom N270 Processor (1.60 GHz)
- 160 GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive
- 1024 MB DDR2 SDRAM
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 3 for ULCPC program
- Webcam
- 10.1" Diagonal SD Anti-glare Widescreen display
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with shared graphics memory
- 802.11 b/g WLAN
- 5-in-1 Digital Media Reader
- 6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery

I have only had it for a few days, so I can't really speak about its performance or anything. But today I went to the library at 3 pm and left at 8 pm and I still had 25-30 percent battery life left. And I was using it constantly for those 5 hours (at half brightness, updating stuff, messing around with different mail clients, reading some boring film papers). So, the battery life is pretty good. It doesn't have a lot of RAM, so I can't do a lot with it, but that's to be expected when buying a netbook. I'm not looking to use it as my primary computer, its just something that I can take around to class with me and take notes and not pay attention and go on facebook during lecture and stuff, so it does the job in that regard. If you're looking for a netbook, I would suggest the HP Mini 110-1030NR. Good computer, good value. 4.5 stars.

App Update: 2Do: A Stunning ToDo List with Push and Sync

2010-01-14T12:32:00.003-05:00

2Do [iTunes Link] has just been updated to version 1.2, touting a slew of new, very welcome features. We have reviewed 2Do before at MTS, and our opinion of it continues to improve. With version 1.2, you can now tweet your to do tasks for your followers, import birthdays as tasks from your phone's address book, create projects and checklists, and much much more.

Probably one of the most welcome updates for some is the ability to sync with Outlook, however I have no use for the feature.

We want the developers to keep up the excellent work with this application.

Check out the developers application website for more info.

InCharge Xbox 360 Dual Controller Charger

2010-01-09T00:06:00.007-05:00

Wireless controllers are the way of the future, everyone knows this. So companies now are competing to see who can make the best controller charger for the battery packs that you can use for the controllers. Now, I can't vouch for PS3 or Wii chargers, but for Xbox 360, the InCharge Dual Charger is the best that I have tried out.

This charging station has almost no flaws, hence its 5/5 star rating I give it in this review. There is one thing, though, that does not make sense to me. When a controller is charged, the corresponding light is solid, but while the controller is charging, the light blinks. This seems backwards; every other charging station I've seen blinks while charging and is solid when charged. That's pretty much the only qualms I have with it, and it's not even a qualm. It's just something that seems a little backwards.

InCharge also sells charging stations for the Wii and PS3. Those reviews are pending. We need to buy a PS3 and stop using batteries in our Wii-motes first.

Case Mate Clear Armor for iPhone

2009-12-26T12:00:00.001-05:00

While most know the iPhone for its incredibly designed user interface and high degree of functionality and usability unmatched by other phones of its category, it is also known for its sleek, and stylish form factor and glossy look. In other words, it is impossible to look at an iPhone and say "that phone is not attractive". However, thanks to the awkward, clunky cases on the market, this becomes a very commonly uttered statement.

Not even entertaining the idea of a construction worker quality hard core case, I have always sought out thin, minimal cases. I have tried cases such as the barely there by Case-Mate as well as its ID holding brethren. While both cases do a good job of protecting the (back of the) device, they do not do the form factor and sleek feel of the phone justice. The added 8th of an inch makes all the difference in the world.

When I got a replacement device from Apple due to a crippled sleep/wake button, I took the opportunity to try Case-Mate's Clear Armor, an invisible protective film that covers the whole device.

Applying the Case
This was probably the most buyers remorse-inducing task I have ever experienced. The case is a complete PITA to apply. The company provides it's customers with a "helpful" video to aid in the application of the case, however, the video makes it look as easy as [insert super easy task here] when in reality it is quite the opposite.

Because the case comes with a lifetime warranty, included in the packaging is two films. One for your initial application, and one as your first replacement on the warranty. The video instructs customers to be generous in their use of the application spray, however after applying the first case, the bottle was completely empty, leaving none for the warranty case. So, be generous in your use of the spray, so long as you save half of the (tiny) bottle for the other case. Right.

Applying the front of the case was as easy as applying any screen protector, and maybe even easier because the spray enables you to slide the protector around once laid down, however application of the back is what causes the real headache.

The back of the phone has 7 obstacles which you must perfectly align the case to: camera, 4 corners, volume buttons and the silent/ring switch. Application of the case is basically a balancing act between the camera and volume buttons, and only once those are aligned can you pay attention to the corners, which will undoubtedly be completely misaligned. After 30 minutes of futzing with the position of the film, I said screw it, cut off the top two corners and everything fell into place. I am not sure if there is some degree of retardation which I was experiencing or if it was a design flaw in the case. But since my girlfriend had the same issue, I would put my money on the latter.

Using the Case
The company says wait 48 hours for the liquid under the case to work its way out and for the case to actually appear clear, and they are basically right. After 48 hours the little bubbles and stuff that looks like it will never leave is gone, however the larger air bubbles take more like a week to work their way out. Finally the case is completely clear, and when I say clear, I mean it. The lack of pictures on this post is not out of laziness, it is out of the case not showing up on camera because its just that clear.

I do have a few gripes. The corners that were not sacrificed to the gods during application of the case, are basically sticking, however I can tell that they have a very strong desire to peel away and it seems like it is only a matter of time. Additionally, the case, in an attempt to make a flat film protect a curved body, does not protect some crucial points of the device, such as the very corner, as well as the top and bottom, all of which are the most accident prone parts of a device. Because I am pretty good about not dropping my phone, this isn't much of a concern for me, but for the gravity friendly, this may be something to look out for. Lastly, it seems like the case is more dirt prone then other films I have used. I find myself wiping the screen more often then before, and find that visible dirt sticks to it more easily.

Last Words
All in all, this is a very good case. While it does not provide full protection from dents and such, it does a great job of protecting from scratches and other minor setbacks. The lifetime warranty shows that the company backs their product and means you will not be out of protection if your case gets ruined. For those looking to enjoy the form of their iPhone while still giving it some protection, this is definitely the way to go.

Hiatus

2009-12-17T18:20:00.003-05:00

For the thousands of readers of our blog, we are well aware that you are by now fiending for another Minus The Sink review. You probably are waking up in the night in a cold sweat asking yourself: "Where did Minus The Sink go?"

Dont fret. We are in the midst of finals week here at UofM. We will be back after Friday with fresh reviews.

-MTS

2Do: A Stunning ToDo List with Push and Sync

2009-12-14T14:21:00.010-05:00

I have been looking for a good ToDo manager for a long time. I was pretty dedicated to PTO (Put Things Off) for the iPhone, which focuses on simplicity. It allowed me to create a list of tasks, and decide each day if I wanted to do them today, or put them off. It was that simple.

While this method of managing tasks has its merits, I found that some of my tasks had more importance over others. Not only that, I found that, with the volume of ToDos I would sometimes manage to generate, PTO was unable to aid in my finding the more important tasks.

To resolve this issue, I moved to using PTO on my phone to manage the more pressing tasks, and using iCal to manage the long term tasks that I know I will want to deal with in the future.

This worked for awhile, until I found myself spending 10-15 minutes a day manually transferring tasks to PTO from iCal and vice versa.

Although I was ready to remain committed to my system, my girlfriend mentioned 2Do [iTunes Link]. A ToDo iPhone application that, with the help of a client application on my MacBook can keep my tasks in sync between my phone and my computer. This seems like the perfect solution. ToDo is available on the app store for $5.99 with a lite version that lets you try before you buy.

The application boasts features such as push and email alerts, recurring tasks, password protection (app-wide or per calendar), drag and drop arrangement, swipe to mark done, quick add, phonetic search (for the pour spellars), and many, and I do mean many, more features.

I am very impressed with the interface and usability of the application. Considering the features presented, the interface is kept intuitive and elegant. 4/5 Stars from me.

One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that, in landscape mode, you are presented with a calendar and can select a day and view all of the tasks due on that day.

I keep coming back thinking of more things I forgot to say in the video. So let me say this: while I covered a lot of features 2Do has to offer, I did not by any means cover them all. So purchase the app and see for yourself.

Check out the developers application website for more info.

Sony Heavy Bass Headphone MDR-ED12LP

2009-12-11T20:37:00.001-05:00

Minus The Sink's second review is on Sony Heavy Bass headphones. I bought them on bestbuy.com for $20. Well worth it.

These headphones are good, solid in ear headphones. The sound quality is good, and the noise cancelling is pretty good for the price. One thing I forgot to put in the video is that because they are not like the in ear headphones where you can take the squeegie on and off, there is no risk of losing the squeegie. Because when this happens, the headphone is totally useless. So, overall, 4/5 stars. Good headphones at a good price.

ReelDirector

2009-12-10T22:23:00.003-05:00

Our first review is of an iPhone application by the name of ReelDirector. This app is available for 4.99 on the App Store [iTunes Link]. It is the first video editing application available for the iPhone.

I think that it is a very solid application. Considering that it is on a mobile device, it is packed full of features that you would find on most basic desktop editing applications. The company promises to keep updating the application and, from my experience listens to what it's users wants.

Since doing this review, I have discovered that the application has FULL landscape support. Which is quite useful as your video gets longer because it enables you to view more of your time line at a time.

Check out the video for a more in depth review.

All in all, I would rate it a 4/5 stars.

Application Website

Welcome to Minus The Sink

2009-12-10T20:12:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Minus The Sink. We are two University of Michigan students who plan to review everything...technology...clothing...various arts and craft supplies. Literally, everything. Minus The Sink. But if you send us one of those to review, we'll think about it. So, if you're in need of a world class review, send us your stuff. Until then, we'll review our own stuff. And that might get old very quickly. So, if we start reviewing coffee mugs and printer paper, email us for our address and send away.