Author Archives: Dan

Full Name: Dan Ferris Website:
Info: Dan Ferris is the Red Ferret’s Oceanic correspondent and Associate Editor based in Sydney, Australia. Despite not knowing Russell Crowe or Nicole Kidman, Dan has risen above adversity and now scours the world for interesting tidbits to write about. He spends far too much time photographing stuff and tinkering with computers.
Gadgets April 8, 2013 posted by Dan

RHA SA950i review – stylish do-anything headphones

I’m ashamed to say that I’m not really a fan of this style of over-the-ear outdoors headphone. In my opinion if you’re outside listening to music in all the noise and traffic why wouldn’t you isolate yourself from as much noise as possible with in-earphones? So with all that in mind, why am I reviewing these RHA SA950i headphones? Well to start with they look really good, and secondly because I was so impressed with the last earphones they sent…

Read More
RHA SA950i review – stylish do-anything headphones
general February 28, 2013 posted by Dan

LotusGrill – Where there’s no smoke, there’s delicious barbecue

The LotusGrill (German or Australian sites) looks like the perfect tool for the outdoors, barbecue-loving generation. A battery powered fan sucks air in from underneath, fanning the glowing charcoal and sending the hot air swirling around the grill and up to the food. The fan allows the grill temperature to be adjusted and it’s ready to cook four minutes after lighting. Best of all, the charcoal is in a covered basket preventing fat from dripping onto the coals and smoking….

Read More
LotusGrill – Where there’s no smoke, there’s delicious barbecue
Mobile Tech February 11, 2013 posted by Dan

RHA MA350 earphones – Hands on [Review]

British audio company RHA have sent me a pair of their MA350 earphones to try out. They’re a nifty looking earphone and a very shiny change to your typical after-market earbuds. From the machined aluminium exterior of the trumpet-shaped driver, to the braided cord and the gold-plated plug the MA350s really feel like a premium product.

Read More
RHA MA350 earphones – Hands on [Review]
announcement January 18, 2013 posted by Dan

Biolite Stove Portable Grill Coming Soon

Looks like the Biolite people haven’t been sitting around twiddling their thumbs since their Biolite Camp Stove was released. We quite liked it, and now they’ve just announced a portable grill is in the works and soon to be released. It looks like just the ticket for grilling fish or sausages or even hamburgers. Now I might just have to do a Biolite cooking review. No more information except the above photo, so stay tuned! [Via Biolite]

Read More
Biolite Stove Portable Grill Coming Soon
Awesome January 8, 2013 posted by Dan

Adobe offering complete CS2 software suite…FOR FREE! [Freeware]

Adobe is turning off the authentication servers used with its Creative Suite 2 (CS2) software of several many years ago. The upshot is they’re handing out the software and the serial numbers in case anyone is still using it. This isn’t the 30 day free trial, it’s the whole shebang; Photoshop, Acrobat, Premiere, GoLive everything. Yes it’s old and it probably only runs on OS/2 XP but if your boss won’t spring for Photoshop or Premiere and you’re in a…

Read More
Adobe offering complete CS2 software suite…FOR FREE! [Freeware]
cool tech June 27, 2012 posted by Dan

Biolite Stove review – Hands on with the camping stove for gadget lovers

The Biolite Stove caused quite a stir when it was first prototyped back in 2010 and so it should. How many devices can tie together a wood-burning stove with a fan and a USB port? Well the good news is, Biolite have gone into production and are now shipping the stoves. Mine arrived last week and so I’ve been camping out on my deck putting the stove through its paces. Click through for a detailed hands-on video showing it in…

Read More
Biolite Stove review – Hands on with the camping stove for gadget lovers
Awesome October 11, 2011 posted by Dan

BrillianTab – Is this the best sub-$200 Android Tablet in the world today?

Continuing our foray into low-price Android tablets, Chinavasion have sent me on a journey to the other end of the scale with their BrillianTab, a 7″ tablet running Android 2.3. This is a serious step up in tablets as it’s powered by a 1.2GHz, dual-core A8 processor with 512MB of RAM and boy does it make a difference! This tablet is seriously, seriously good for such a low price point. Click through for all the info and make sure to…

Read More
BrillianTab – Is this the best sub-$200 Android Tablet in the world today?
Gadgets September 27, 2011 posted by Dan

LeoTab – An 8 inch budget Android media tablet review

Chinavasion have sent me their latest Android tablet, an 8″, 800×600 “no frills” media tablet called the LeoTab. Compared to the other tablets available on their site, it doesn’t have a very long feature set, but that’s kind of its charm as it’s only US$99.95. Yes, yes I know, sub-$100 Android tablets are a dime-a-dozen and if Ars’ recent review is anything to go by, they should be avoided, but the LeoTab is different, it actually works. That being said,…

Read More
LeoTab – An 8 inch budget Android media tablet review
Fun & Games April 12, 2011 posted by Dan

Cup Noodle Humidifier – The hydration station

Grab one of these Cup Noodle Humidifier gadgets and not only will you stay nicely hydrated but the boss won’t help but notice how often you eat lunch at your desk. Win. Win. Runs on USB or AC power, holds 75mL of water and lasts about 4 hours on a full tank. US$79.98. Healthy, stylish, Japanese style, in USB or AC, what else do you need? Tags: gadget, usb+gadget, usb, cup+noodle+humidifier

Read More
Cup Noodle Humidifier – The hydration station
Fun & Games April 12, 2011 posted by Dan

explain xkcd – Because you can’t know everything

Yes, quoting xkcd has become the norm. It’s funny, apt, insightful, silly and yes I’m even guilty of it myself. But … do you get it? I mean really get it? No, I mean really, really, really get it? If you don’t, that’s ok because there’s an app a website for that. Explain xkcd. There, now you’re all set for parties. If you assign each letter a value from 1 to 26, then the sum of the values of X,…

Read More
explain xkcd – Because you can’t know everything
Gadgets December 17, 2010 posted by Dan

Swiftpoint Review – Hands on with the mouse of the future

There are two types of people in the world, those that use laptop computer trackpads, and those that think there must be something better. Kiwi outfit, Swiftpoint, clearly fall into the latter category as they have come up with the Swiftpoint travel mouse. It’s about the size of a zippo lighter, charges in 30 seconds and may just change the way you use your laptop forever.

Read More
Swiftpoint Review – Hands on with the mouse of the future
Gadgets December 16, 2010 posted by Dan

Kogan 6″ eBook Reader – Hands on review

The 6″ ebook market is where all the action is these days with new models coming out, it seems, every month. Australian online electronics company Kogan, perhaps better known for their cheap tellies, has dived in with their first ebook reader, the ‘Kogan 6″ eBook Reader‘. It comes equipped with a 6″, 4 bit (16 shades) e-ink screen, 2GB of onboard storage, SD card slot and an mp3 player. Here’s my take on it.

Read More
Kogan 6″ eBook Reader – Hands on review
Free Software September 30, 2010 posted by Dan

Xmarks is closing their doors – Head on over there and show them some love

If you’re an Xmarks user then I’m sure by now you’ve received an email announcing that they’re closing up shop in 90 days. According to the Xmarks blog they’ve been unable to find either a viable business-model, or a buyer for the company. It would be a truly sad day for the internets if this fantastic and extremely reliable service disappears, and a sad indictment that a top 1,500 website can’t make money in this day and age. What I…

Read More
Xmarks is closing their doors – Head on over there and show them some love