I Have The Time, If Not The Inclination

Well, Dear Reader, late last year I bought myself an early Xmas present: the COURG Type-A 39mm Ti-5 watch from RDX.

Yep, yet another watch. And I only had my last watch, the Suunto Traverse Alpha Stealth for less than 6 months.

What gives?

Drone On

Hello once again, Dear Reader, after an undeniably long hiatus I have returned. Actually, I returned a couple of months ago in body, just not in spirit. However, moping never got me anywhere (sadly) so here I am blogging once more.

So, what have I been up to, you ask?

Well, that a story for another day. What I can, and will, say for now is "spending money".

And this is my latest purchase.

Quick Review: Surveillance Operator's Aide Memoire

Greetings Dear Reader. After a slight hiatus for personal reasons, I'm back with a review of the recent purchase (thanks to Pursuit Magazine for the heads-up) of the Surveillance Operator's Aide Memoire by Bill Spikes.

If you don't know what an aide memoire is, you can look it up.

Also, you can follow the author on Twitter.

So what did I think?

Quick Review: 5.11 Covrt ZAP 6 gear slinger

Well, Dear Reader, I've had a chance to trial my recent purchase of 5.11's Covrt ZAP 6 and I'm of mixed opinion on it.

I'm not entirely sure who 5.11 have marketed this product for but the online blurb at their website states: 

Originally designed to provide support for covert fire teams, the COVRT™ Z.A.P. (Zone Assault Pack) has become a popular off duty concealed carry pack for law enforcement officers across the country.

And the features include:

• Rugged and versatile concealed carry pack
• Storage compartment holds tablet or netbook
• Internal organizer pockets for small accessories
• Hydration compartment
• Coms pocket with mic cord pass-through

 Well, here's my rundown.

Quick Review: Sony cyber-shot WX350

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Dear Reader, I recently purchased a new point-and-shoot camera to replace my ageing (if not somewhat battered) Canon IXUS that has served me faithfully.

The purchase was made in haste and without any planning on my part, and I hadn't done my due diligence beforehand checking out the stats as I am usually wont to do.

Oh well.

So how does it stack up?

Significant upgrade to Timeline Maker Pro

This isn't a review, Dear Reader, as I'd already covered that a while back. Just a heads-up, in case you weren't aware, that TLM Pro have released version 3 which contains new features.

Sadly, I haven't had a lot of use for this tool the last few months but purchased the upgrade anyway since I remain eternally optimistic.

You can check out the new features here.

Upgrade cost, if you had the previous version: US$79.00

Full purchase cost: US$195.00.

Tool to add date/time (and more) to photographs

You might recall a similar post I made almost a year ago, Dear Reader, in regards to tools to add date and time to video footage.

Well, I just purchased a new point-and-shoot camera - a Sony Cyber-shot DX-WX350 - to replace my battered Canon IXUS (will review this later). It was an unplanned, impromptu, buy and I hadn't really checked out the stats prior to purchase so was a little disappointed when I got it home to find that you couldn't display the date and time of the photograph, just the date.

And you know how much that really annoys me.

Luckily, there are some tools out there to insert EXIF data onto photographs post-shooting and I pretty much was happy enough with the first one I trialled that I made the purchase.

Review:Lawmate PV500 Lite 2

Well, since I received a working camera unit a while ago as replacement, I guess I should probably review this purchase.

The first caveat is that this is the entry-level model of the Lawmate range of DVRs and is relatively inexpensive when compared to their other products.

However, it's certainly a world away from the cheap and cheerful budget covert cams you might find out there. It wouldn't really be all that fair to compare them.

Anyway, I've had a chance to play around with it several times although I have yet to have the opportunity to actually use it in the field, so to speak.

My thoughts thus far?

Quick Review: Timeline Maker Professional

I've been looking for a suitable programme to create timelines for a while now although, admittedly, not all that hard. I had been somewhat dissatisfied wth previous efforts so finally got around to trying out a range of products to see what meets my requirements.

In the end I decided on Timeline Maker Pro.

Quick Review: Anker Portable External Battery

**This review has changed since originally posted 03 April. See below**

Just a quick post in regards to a recent purchase; the Anker 2nd generation Astro 6000mAh portable external battery (pictured left).

While I have a car charger usually with me in the vehicle, sometimes you might need to quickly charge your phone (or other device) while out in the field and this is where this particular product comes in handy.

Quick Review: Panasonic HC-V250 Camcorder

Hello again, Dear Reader. I just thought I would post a quick review of a piece of kit I recently purchased since I've had a few days to play around with various settings and get to grips with functionality etc.

Basically, a job came up where video footage is sought as evidence and, believe it or not, this really is the first time I've actually needed a video camera during surveillance.

Which is a little embarrassing because I didn't have one.

True story!

However, I did some quick internet research as to what was available at the usual large retailers and settled on the Panasonic HC-V250.

And?

App Review: Zello PTT App

Recently I became aware of a nifty-sounding application for most phones that essentially turned them into the equivalent of push-to-talk (PTT) radios.

Now, while I have a couple of Motorola MTP-850s the limitation is that I very literally only have a couple: ie TWO. Sometimes, albeit rarely, I work with more than one other investigator and conducting a last-minute, unplanned, three vehicle mobile surveillance operation with only cellphone communications is just asking for trouble.

Which, incidentally, is exactly what happened but that's a story for another time.  

Enter the (mostly) free-to-use app Zello.

Review: Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime

I recently picked up a copy of Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime: Secrets of Calculated Questioning From a Veteran Interrogator by James Pyle and Maryann Karinch. 

That's quite a promise there, James, but can you deliver?

Well, let's start out by looking at what this book is, and what it isn't.

Product Review: Cheap and Cheerful Covert Wearable Cam

So there I was, doing a foot surveillance job at the airport (again!) wishing I had some kind of covert, body-worn, video camera that could record an hour or so of footage. And, most importantly, date- and time-stamp the video. 

All at a reasonable cost, of course.

Well, I think the lesson to be learned here is you really get what you pay for.

Review: Monsieur Notebook

Hooray for free stuff, Dear Reader! Today I received my eagerly anticipated Monsieur Notebook for review.

It is the A6 (11 x 14.5cm) plain notebook in black. 192 pages.

In one word: fairlyfuckingawesome!

However, let's take a closer look inside...

Book Review: Intelligence and Private Investigation

Well, Dear Reader, I try to stay true to my word - except when I'm deliberately lying of course (not that I'd ever lie to you) - so here is that  promised review of "Intelligence and Private Investigation - Developing Sophisticated Methods for Conducting Inquiries", edited by Hank Prunkun, PhD.

Sadly, I came away slightly disappointed.

Why?

Shameless Product Placement: Monsieur Notebooks

As you should know by now, Dear Reader, I have a thing for notebooks. A compulsion that drives me - an urge that cannot be satiated.

Must. Have. More. Notebooks.

Moleskine, Leuchtturm, or some unnamed knock-off - I've gone through them all. And none of them have quite filled all my, quite specific, notebookery needs.

Well, enter a new contender.

I received an email this morning from Tom (probably his real name) informing me of the upcoming launch of Monsieur Notebooks.

They've even offered me a sample for review. That's a first!

Anyway, judging from the content of their website, I'm already excited by the prospect given that notebooks can be customised from a range of options or even created from scratch with their bespoke service.

Naturally, I've replied to Tom kindly accepting his offer and will gladly post a thorough review once I get my hot and sweaty hands on said product.

Lastly, here is a video on their coming launch.

In the the new, out with the old...

So, Dear Reader, you might recall I was feeling a little hurt because I had been described as 'rough-looking'... Well, turns out he might have been right!

You see, one of my favourite pieces of kit is my 5.11 Tactical Covert Vest which allows me to cram all kinds of toys tools into its myriad pockets.

The problem is that this has been my favourite piece of kit for almost 8 years and it was starting to look decidedly shabby. Worse, holes were appearing and things had a tendency to just fall out.

Um, yeah, I really was that rough-looking guy.

Coming right up after this message from our Sponsors*...

Not really a shameless product placement (yet) - just a heads-up that I recently ordered a copy of Becnel & Krischke's "Principles of Investigative Documentation" and it's shipped.

Looking forward to getting this and will post a review as soon as I can.

But while you are waiting, check out the review from Diligentia. You might note that I posted a comment back in early 2012 but have only purchased the book now. What gives?

Actually, I totally forgot the name of the book and where I'd read the review.

I'm good, not fucking perfect!

* Still looking for those elusive sponsor-types who might want to shower me with gadgets and books for review, in-the-field testing, or otherwise because it's my birthday and/or I'm just awesome. Make that Awesome! With a capital A. And it's not my birthday, but it could be. So if you would like to be equally as Awesome, flick me an email. 

Quick Reviews: 'Uncovering Reasonable Doubt" & "Forensic Testimonial Evidence Recovery"

Hello Dear Reader. Some time ago I purchased two texts by Brandon A. Perron in regards to Criminal Defence Investigations: "Uncovering Reasonable Doubt: the Component Method" and "Forensic Testimonial Evidence Recovery: the FTER Method".

It kind of makes sense to review them together as the books complement each other in a number of ways.

So what did I think?