They make many items, focusing on excellent design.
The IPod case looks very good, although I don’t have any personal experience with it.
I’m also interested in the Shuttle Pro. This is used for video editing, and could speed up the task of trimming and scanning through video. I’ll have to find one in a store so I can test it out and see if it’s worth the price.
I have a cellphone that I’m quite happy with, but it doesn’t have a to-do list feature. I have a PDA, but it’s too big for me to want to carry it around. Well, I’ve found a way of providing myself with a makeshift to-do list.
My service is with Rogers Wireless on the Pay-as-you-go plan. This plan allows me to receive text messages with no charge (I believe all plans allow for text messages to be received for no charge). Rogers is also kind enough to provide an online method of sending text messages. So now anytime I want to create a to-do list, or have a note for myself without having to carry a piece of paper, I send myself a text message. My phone will store quite a few messages, so I’ve found this to be very useful.
1-700-555-4141
Just found out about this number. It will tell you who the long distance carrier is for the number you are calling from, and is no charge (although other 700 numbers ARE NOT!).
Also, appears that 500 and 700 numbers can be setup by your phone provider as ‘forwarding’ numbers. You create a 500/700 number and pay them a fee for the service. When someone calls the number, they pay for the call, but they reach you at whatever number you’ve defined as the target phone number. It appears some phone companies even allow a list of prioritized numbers to try, so it will automatically work its way down the list.
How did I find out about this? Just signed up for a Rogers bundle which includes relatively inexpensive long distance. They gave me the number, telling me to call it to confirm that my long distance was switched. Before calling the number, I did a search on Google, and eventually found a site that talked about this number (it was on the second page of my ’700 phone number’ search).
A free Calibrator utility is available here. Nothing to download directly as it runs in your browser. Very helpful for configuring and testing your monitor.
A collection of reviews on almost all technology. The site compiles reviews done by many sites around the world, so should give a good overview of the performance of any component you are considering.
Looking at a projector for your home theatre? Here’s a good article on the technologies currently available.
Tom’s Hardware Guide Video: Home Theater Cinema Paradiso With Video Projectors – DLP Technology
Now that 123 Studios has been shut down by the MPAA lawyers, you have to look further to exercise your fair use rights. Here are some possibilities.
and my previous post: Copying DVDs with ease
Looks like the power and usefulness of a cellphone is constantly increasing. Of course there will be transaction charges associated with the airtime used, so the telcos love it.
An interesting resource for children’s books and activities.
They put 6 formats of memory cards through the wringer, and they survived. Good to know that you can do most anything to the card, and have it survive.
They were dipped into cola, put through a washing machine, dunked in coffee, trampled by a skateboard, run over by a child’s toy car and given to a six-year-old boy to destroy.
Perhaps surprisingly, all the cards survived these six tests
Most of them did fail to get through two additional tests – being smashed by a sledgehammer and being nailed to a tree.
Even then, data experts Ontrack Data Recovery were able to retrieve photos from the xD and Smartmedia cards.
An interesting article discussing how manufacturers release products under different brands, and at largely varying prices.
Fully Equipped: Separated at birth: bargains on cloned products – CNET reviews
An amazing example of CGI actors done on a basic PC. Must have taken a very long time to render it.
I don’t know how long the link will be active, so if this one doesn’t work, you may be able to search CG Channel for it.
I haven’t actually used any of these software products, but I’ve read about them before. A good way to backup your DVDs that you use all the time, and don’t want to lose…
As it’s name implies, DVD Shrink allows for putting a 2 layer disc onto a single layer DVD-R. It does it either by increasing the compression, or by you telling it you don’t want everything. That includes not including subtitles, certain audio tracks, extras, menus etc.
PC:
Download and install DVD Shrink. There are links to tutorials written by users.
Download and install Nero
Run DVD Shrink and choose “Backup!”.
MAC:
Download and install DVDBackup
Download and install DVD2oneDownload and install Toast
An interesting article on Analog to Digital TV: How to “Get” HDTV
As noted earlier, I’ve been looking at portable music players. Bought an Apple iPod, and so far, so good.
It’s a reasonable size (although probably a bit large for jogging). Stores tons of songs (got the 20GB version), sounds good and a good interface design.
I’ve read about the battery issue. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, search for ipod battery problem in any search engine, and start reading. Reports vary, but the battery doesn’t appear to be any worse than other Li-Ion batteries. The big thing is the process of replacing the battery and the cost. I figure a third-party battery will do the trick, and I can replace it myself. That way it isn’t as expensive (about $49 US for the battery).
One other great option for me is Belkin has made a Media Reader accessory for the iPod. What this allows you to do is copy files off a memory card. This means I don’t have to buy any more cards for my camera as long as I have the iPod with me.
One thing Apple did which doesn’t make sense. The 20GB version ships with a docking station. To me, this means I can take the dock and hook it to my pc. Well, I can, BUT I have to use the 1 cable that came in the package. This means I can’t have the dock permanently connected to my pc, and also have it hooked up somewhere else. I have to keep connecting and disconnecting the cable. Major oversite (or another instance of a company wanting to make more money by selling another cable). I’ll be writing an email to them about this, and I’ll see what sort of response I get…
Looking for a portable music player, and really like the new MP3 players. Debated about hard drive vs flash memory based, and decided to go with memory. 256MB is good for about 5 albums, and it doesn’t take that long to load new music, plus it’s less expensive to start. Also definitely shock resistant!
First attempt is the Creative MuVo Slim. Bought one and started using it. First, it is very tiny. The display is reasonably sharp inside, and backlit so probably not bad outside either. Built in FM tuner and recording capabilities. It even comes with a case.
The sound with the supplied headphones is reasonable, but hook up a good pair of headphones and the sound is significantly improved.
The controls are straightforward, and it doesn’t take long to get the feel for it. 3 buttons on the top plus a slider that can also be pushed. 2 of the buttons are for volume. The third is the power switch (when held down) and play/pause otherwise.
The slider/pusher controls everything else. Slide it one way or the other and it does next/prev track. Press it and the menu pops up where everything else is controlled.
The biggest drawback is it isn’t expandable. Some of the players allow for use of an SD/MMC/Memory stick to expand there storage capacity, but not this one.
I’ll use it for awhile and see if the lack of space becomes a real issue. For day-to-day use, it is probably fine, but if I’m away from a computer for an extended timeframe, something else might be better (can you say iPod?)