Corsair USB w/Memory Guage Display
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
I can’t wait for this to become the standard of usb drives. A drive that can always tell you how full it is. The display is a “Bi-stable Cholesteric” Display, which is similar to the epaper that’s coming out which also only requires power to update the screen. With 1 or 2gb capacities, you can tell this is only the beginning.
[Animation] [Specs] [Thx Gizmodo]
Tags: Gadgets
iPod Nano Car Stereo Adapter
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
One of my biggest uses of mp3 players is in the car. That being said, when I got my nano I experiemented with the best option.
I started with the plain old tape adapter I had been using. Sound quality was fine, but at the time our other car liked to eat tape adapters.
So I moved on to the iTrip Nano. It was designed specifically for the Nano, it should be perfect, right? Wrong. While the device was shaped to fit perfectly on the Nano, the suction part on the back would never stick for me – probably because of the StuffBak label on the back of the iPod. Also, the battery life suffered because it was powering 2 devices, and you couldn’t use any type of case when you had the iPod plugged into the iTrip because the device hugs the Nano’s body.
So that one went back and I upgraded to the iTrip Auto – the perfect fit for me. It charges the iPod whenever it’s plugged in, meaning I will never be without music in my car and I can go weeks without having to dock. The reception I’d rate about a 9/10 once you find a clear frequency, and the display is very easy to read to do that. It even connects through a dock connector, so the case can stay on. It costs a bit more, but it’s worth it just for the commute to/from work.
Now the battery became an issue and even though
Tags: Gadgets
TuneJuice
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
iPods don’t have the best battery life out there, but they do ok. But what about when you’re camping and trying to avoid your fellow campers? No more plugging you iPod in at the washroom and babysitting it like I saw someone doing last weekend. TuneJuice is one of the cheapest iPod accessories, and with one 9V battery you can prolong the music for up to 8 hours. I got one for my journey to the US last month and didn’t have to be tuneless. It does plugin to the dock, so if you’re using any accessories that need the dock connector you’re out of luck. Also, it doesn’t charge the iPod, it just prolongs the battery life.
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/tunejuice/
Tags: Gadgets
Web 2.0 Logos
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
I just stumbled across a series of logo re-makes I thought was interesting: Corporate Logos redesigned in [web] 2.0.
Not just a forum of hot air
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
Its been a long time since I’ve seen a social site used for a topic of real thought. Many sites get filled with teens with too much time on their hands and nothing to say. However, Slashdot is pointing out that Dr. Stephen Hawking has asked this question to the yahoo community: How can the human race survive the next hundred years? So far about half of the answers are usable and fewer still have put real thought into it, but it’s good to see communities being put to good use. One place I avoid like the plague is MySpace because it’s become a zoo, so seeing something like this is big to me.
Tags: Web Apps 2.0
Windows XP Bluetooth Warning & Fix
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
I discovered yet another flaw with Windows XP today. I have a Bluetooth wireless desktop (keyboard & mouse) from Logitech and I wanted to connect to my Razr, but the My Bluetooth Places took forever to come up and when it did it was blank. I would close that window and see a message saying “Unable to start Bluetooth stack service.”
After an hour of reinstalling and some digging around, I find out that Service Pack 2 for XP’s bluetooth support likes to override any custom software you install to manage Bluetooth. In this case, Logitech had bundled the best BT stack from WIDCOMM, which acted fine until you wanted to manage devices. I found this page (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=840635) on Microsoft that tells you how to disable the native support for Bluetooth. After another remove, restart, reinstall, restart, it’s working fine at last and I’ve downloaded all the pictures from my phone.
JumpDrive FireFly
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
I’ve already mentioned the Pass2Go software I keep all my passwords in, but what good is it unless the device will securely stay on my keychain? My Sony drive just doesn’t have anything to lock it in place physically and I’ve had it returned to me once so far. Well today I picked up a tiny 256mb Lexar JumpDrive FireFly just for passwords and a few crucial apps. This drive locks much more securely onto the keychain and is pretty tiny.
Most internet-dependant software can be downloaded anyways, so I’ve inluded mainly offline applications or tiny ones:
- APO Autorun
- BitComet
- CuteFTP
- DVD Shrink
- Eclipse Palette
- Folder Sizer
- Foxit Reader
- Google Deskbar
- Hamachi
- K-Lite Codec Pack Full
- Motorola Razr Driver (Need a driver to even charge the phone via usb)
- Neowin’s UXTheme Multi-Patcher
- Partition Magic 8
- PrimoPDF Maker
- Portable FileZilla
- Real Alternative (Plays realmedia with the included Media Player Classic)
- Restoration
- StickyPad
- TopStyle
- VPN Client software from work
- Windows 98 Drivers for the JumpDrive
- WinRar
If you’re looking for more portable applications, try www.portableapps.com.
Dell Axim’s Crippled Bluetooth
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
For anyone considering a Dell Axim with Windows Mobile 5, don’t count on your Bluetooth devices being supported. Dell has disabled many Bluetooth profiles on the device. While it’s true there is a new stack (program for managing Bluetooth connections) in WM5, it works fine on devices from other manufacturers. The only profiles left working are Activesync, Dial-up networking, and Dell’s bluetooth keyboard. I assume Dell has done this to sell more wired heasets or something. Before finding this out, I had hoped to be able to use my bluetooth headset with Skype and the Axim, or to get photos from my cameraphone onto the Axim, but alas Dell denied me.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. My Dell Axim X51V is currently downloading pictures from my cameraphone, and has just played audio through my BT headset. By replacing the stack with Broadcomm’s stack used in Windows Mobile 2003, some awesome people have solved my Bluetooth woes. It’s now as easy as installing a cab file like any other program, and they claim that you can uninstall it from Remove Programs. It even includes a new dialog when you press the wireless button which allows you to toggle the wifi and bt independantly. There are of course warnings such as back up the device first and that using the software may void warrenties or deny you support, but for me its worth it.
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=122247
Tags: Axim, Freeware, Gadgets, Software
HP PSC 1510 All-in-One Printer/Scanner/Copier
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
I just got this HP “All-in-one” Printer/Scanner/Copier last week and it has pretty good quality for the $99 price tag. My previous printers have all been Epsons, and the only problems I’ve ever had with inkjets has been the print heads. When you buy more ink for an Epson printer, you are only adding ink, and the heads stay deep inside the machine. Whenever there’s a problem with the print heads, it has to be sent in to Epson. This time when the heads started to go, we decided to go with an HP to avoid that problem from happening again. With HP ink cartridges, the print heads are also replaced with the ink, meaning you never have to send the printer in. The downside to this is the slight increase per cartridge, but its worth it to know it will work when you need it to.
As for the quality, I’ve printed a few photos on 4×6 matte photo paper with fantastic results. I now have a wall covered in Post-It photos. The scanner quality is way more than anyone at home will ever need and
copying is really easy. You pick from 3 levels of quality, whether to
fill the page with a smaller item on the scanner bed, and
grayscale/color print.
It did take some time and wasted ink/paper to get business cards to line up perfectly however. The design I created for my business cards required the top and bottom to line up exactly, which most home-made cards aren’t designed for apparently. I would print a test on plain paper, and it would line up perfectly. Print on pre-scored cardstock and it would be a couple millimeters off. The margins on cardstock were slightly different that plain paper, but that is my only negative comment.
This model doesn’t have the memory card reader built in, but I didn’t really want that feature. If you’re going to get a printer that accepts memory cards, the printer has to have an expensive display to see what you’re getting or waste paper printing contact sheets. This model allows me to print directly from my camera if I need to, but normally I like to see them on the PC first anyways.
Overall, I think this is a great choice for most homes. It even works with Macs, unlike the last Epson we had, although you need to find special drivers online.
Tags: Gadgets
A FooGoo Wedding
Posted by admin | Filed under Random
It’s been over a month since it happened, but a bunch of us made it to Petah’s wedding in Sioux Falls for June 10th. It was the first time most of us had met in person, but it was easy to identify everyone with the FooGoo hoodies and t-shirts. Starting at the top left of the picture we have David from Florida, then me from BC, Jim from Oregon, Dave from Oregon, and Petah the groom. Jim is being attacked by the daisies. I haven’t been to the interior of the continent very often, but I was glad to get home and see mountains and ocean.
Tags: General, Photography
