If you hear, or be the one to reflexively blurt out the phrase "I only read it for the articles!”, then we all know what we are referring to ... right?  Well now, an iconic skin rag have interestingly launched a website that may well test the veracity of that universal cliché.  Playboy has launched a “work–safe” website that has been designed to get past your workplace internet content security filter - which in theory, would probably present to the user a Playboy medium that really only gives you "the articles".

 

Without the obligatory naked images and various words (or phrases) that your run-of-the-mill filter would normally block, you could be forgiven for believing that http://www.thesmokingjacket.com (or abbreviated to TSJ) is a sure fire way to bring Playboy into the workplace.    Right?

 

So when I heard about this site a little while back, I thought that Techblah! needs to review it and I know just the man for the job.

 

 

So here I am at work, click and away I go.  As it loads up, my first (and somewhat premature) impression is exclamation of "YES! … soft core p0rn at work!"

 

I say premature because it isn't too long before TSJ begins to disappoint.  The site doesn't always pass the content filter – meaning you can only land on the site about half the time (probably filtered because of the amount of exposed flesh even if they are not naked pics).  So this means that you can't even enjoy "the articles".

 

For those times when you do land on the site, the ever trusty content filter then prevents you from doing anything else – except scrolling.  

 

TSJ, the self proclaimed work–safe website … that is not safe to use at work!!!  WTF BBQ Sauce?

 

Blocked by the filter means that the only practical way you can use this site is to access it in a more "adult content tolerant environment" …

 

And lets face it, how much call is there for Playboy rated PG 13+; when in that same environment there is a much "cooler" version?

 

So here I am sitting there wondering why the heck did they build this useless ... thing ... if it is not doing what it was designed to do.  And furthermore, how do I do this review?  Is it going to be really short?

 

Then a thought came to me, whatever was blocked by the filter must have been good.  What didn't I see?  So I trek off to a more "adult content tolerant" location and resume the review … In the interests of 'Research' … of course!

 

If your familiar with Playboy the magazine … then you will be happy to note that, while there are a few differences, on the whole TSJ is much like the magazine.  Lots of content aimed at the red blooded man.  The site revealed some interesting galleries and pics of scantily clad ladies, blokes blowing sh!t up, sports and entertainment news, racy stories, lifestyle articles, not to the mention the advertising and competitions.  And last but certainly not least, there is a whole section devoted to sex – all of those things that you would normally find in a Playboy magazine – I think.

 

The website does however have a few key differences.  There are no centrefolds or nude / risqué photos on the website.  The advertising online is abundant and more intrusive than the magazine. But there is a nice inclusion of video … although nothing racier than MA15+!

 

In contrast to the magazine, the online format relies on 'posts' to publish content – this means that the site can offer me something new every day – so more excuses to look at it.  Which t me is better than getting a magazine once a month. 

 

A website obviously brings with it standard website user interface functionality – like searches, most read, no pages that get stuck together etc – that you just can't get with a magazine.

 

Even so, the way that the site hangs together doesn't sit right with me.  It is lacking something.  Perhaps it is the 'blog like' posts that do nothing to improve the user experience.

 

That being said, the overall experience was not unpleasant.  While the level of adult content has been curbed (compared to the magazine), the website does offer a richer (if your after a 'less adult' experience) user experience …

Overall I would say that the site isn't bad – the eye candy is the right way to make sure of that.  But I just can't get over the fact that this acclaimed Playboy website that is "Safe to use at Work" ... can't be used at work.  That kind of says it all for me.

 

I can't in good conscious give this site any more than three (3) bazingas – 2½ of which were awarded solely for the pics of scantily clad ladies (which is always nice).

 

 

A Techblah! Review of the iPad

By JT

The Apple™ phenomenon is running rampant here in Australia. We have iPods – in a multitude of sizes and specs; the Apple Mac collection – including the iMac; the MacBookPro; the MacBookAir etc. And let’s not forget the iPhone.

So … given all of this hoopla … and given the fact that I have some opinions on the

iPad … I thought that I would voice aforementioned opinion by doing a review. And here we are.

Introducing the iPad

The iPad has Apple’s customary ‘sexy’ trademark look and feel. Being fairly light – weighing roughly 730 grams – it is not as large as a notebook and isn’t encumbered by a physical keyboard.

The 9.7 in (roughly 245 mm) screen is first-rate and the aluminium casing reinforces the feeling that the build quality is excellent.

Just like the iPhone, the ‘Home’ button is located on the bottom edge of the screen. The speakers are also positioned on the bottom edge and a standard head phone jack is positioned on the … so that you can listen to it discreetly at need.

For me personally, the design is only just good enough to hit the mark – like horseshoes and handgrenades. And there are a few reasons for that.

Firstly, the iPad ‘kind of’ looks like an oversized iPhone to me … they have always reminded me of a squashed boat or flattened barge. The iPad just emphasises this.

Specifications

• The basic specifications of the iPad are:
• Height: 242.8 mm
• Width: 189.7 mm
• Depth: 13.4 mm
• Weight: 680 grams (WiFi) & 730 grams (WiFi & 3G)
• Display: 245 mm
• Capacity: 16GB; 32GB or 64GB
• Built-in battery – lithium polymer – roughly 10 hrs duration
• Operating system: iPhone OS 3.2 – upgrade to iOS 4 coming.

• No phone function / capability
• No camera – stills or video
• No USB connectivity
• Speaker components aren’t good

Battery and Accessories

There are heaps of accessories available which include everything from protective casing to wireless keyboards. See here⁴ for more details.

User Interface (UI)

Applications are prevalent. You perform functions using the touch screen. The patented rotating display makes for a fantastic user experience.

However, I think that where the iPad really falls down in the user interface is the virtual QWERTY keyboard. For me the virtual keyboard was dreadful.

In portrait mode – it was too small and so it was cumbersome to type (especially if you have large hands / fingers). When in landscape mode the size was better but it was still annoying because as usually rest my fingers on the keys while I type – on the iPad’s keyboard every time I did that I got letters I didn’t want.

The next pain point for me was how the numbers worked on the virtual keyboard. Numbers are displayed by pressing a specific function ‘.?123’ button. The letters disappear and you can then type symbols and numbers. And if you are used to using a key pad for numbers, you will be disappointed as only the QWERTY numbering is available.

The whole virtual keyboard interface works … but to me it just felt cumbersome. Perhaps I could get used to the idiosyncrasies of this keyboard with time and use … but I doubt it.

Applications

The applications available for the iPad are being continually created and improved ... which will make the way that you use the iPad better.

Most of the applications that I tried (YouTube, Wall Street Journal, etc) worked pretty much the same as they did on the iPhone. However, the iTunes interface was just a bit different than the usual look and feel. This was confusing … but not insurmountable.

Generally, with the exception of the virtual keyboard, the UI and Apps made the iPad like every other Apple product … intuitive and user friendly.

Gaming

Media

For music, iTunes and the internal storage provide standard iPod functionality. Please note the difference in UI for iTunes mentioned above.

Movies that you obtain through applications or iTunes; coupled together with the 10 hour battery life make this an excellent device for watching movies. Imagine watching movies for an entire eight (8) hour flight without having to recharge.

The speakers – which have been mentioned before – again let this device down. I recommend using a good set of headphones.

Internet and Web Browsing

However, one major drawback was the lack of flash. This issue has been pretty well discussed to death before today … so I will just mention that the plethora of applications seemed to cater to the ‘Flash Deficit’. For example, YouTube has an app that lets iPad users view YouTube video content. In saying that, there are sites (that utilise Flash) that just won’t work well if you use your iPad to view them.

The Verdict

Given that this is one of the first of these tablet PCs on the market, I think that it still has a little way to go. As subsequent models emerge I think that the price should come down and the more problematic issues will be addressed.

Personally however, I don’t have the need nor the inclination to spend $628.00 (up to $1,024 for the 64GB WiFi & 3G model ) for another device that doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles. I think that later models will be better and cheaper.

I am giving the iPad a personal score of three (3) out of ten (10) bazingas.

 

 

By JT / AD / TR

 

This is the part where we give a breif spiel of why we are doing the review.

 

 

An overview of that which is being reviewed.

 

Design - This talks through the design features of he product.  How does it look?  Quality?

 

Specifications - pretty self explanatory.

 

Accessories and Battery - if applicable.

 

Gaming - as it applies to this product

 

Media - how good is the media experience.

 

Internet and Web Browsing - if applicable we will talk through the i nterweb and browsing cabaility of the product.

 

 

You've heard it before and I am sure that you will hear it again.  We here at Techblah! have an opinion.  This is the section where we voice it.

 

 

It's pretty simple.  We give a score of 'Bazingas' - with one (1) being the lowest and ten (10) being the highest.