Digital Technology for Digital Living.
February 22, 2007
The FreeLoader charges your gadgets
The FreeLoader charger from Solar Technology is a gadget that can charge your other gadgets harnessing solar energy. It can charge a whole host of gadgets such as iPods, digital cameras and mobile phones.
The FreeLoader is also good for the environment as it uses a renewable nergy source and it can save money on your energy bills which is a big plus. Its also incredibly useful if you find yourself away from a USB socket or power point.
The FreeLoader can charge your gadgets and its internal battery at the same time and holds its battery charge for up to three months. It requires daylight and not direct sunlight so it will work even on cloudy days.
The FreeLoader will cost £39.99 and is available from March 1st. It will retail in the US for about $60, available through Solar Technology’s eBay store.
Reference for posting: http://techdigest.tv
AndyD | Comments (1) | Peripherals
February 21, 2007
Co-inventor of the Remote Control passes away
Robert Adler co-inventor of the remote control, has died of heart failure, aged 93. Robert Adler died in a Boise, Idaho nursing home of heart failure on February 15, 2007.
In the mid 1950’s Adler produced a remote control that communicated with a tuner using four prongs that produced ultrasonic sounds whilst working for Zenith Electronics Corp. His remote control was better than other previous remotes in that it did not require wires and was not prone to interference.
The remote control itself was called The Zenith Space Command remote control, which I’m sure was a really cool name at the time.
Adler leaves behind a legacy of gadgetry which makes it so much easier to operate our beloved televisions.
Reference for posting: http://www.engadget.com
AndyD | Comments (0) | Peripherals
January 17, 2007
MoGo Wireless Bluetooth Mouse
The MoGo Wireless Mouse is a business-card sized, Bluetooth-enabled mouse that stores and recharges neatly inside (yes, inside…) your laptop’s PC card slot. To recharge your MoGo Mouse, just slide it into the empty PC card slot in your laptop. It will fully recharge in less than an hour and provide you with enough power for about 8 or 9 hours of use.
As you can imagine, the MoGo Mouse is specifically designed for people who spend a lot of time traveling like writers, reporters and sales reps. Other mice, even those meant for travelers, usually don’t cut it. Mini-mice (aka “walnut shells”) get lost in your hand and are difficult to maneuver, and the idea of carrying a full-sized mouse defeats the entire purpose of mobility on the go.
The MoGo Mouse is a natural fit for road warriors. Storing it inside you PC Card (PCMCIA) slot is pure genius and the fact that it charges there is just the icing on the cake. The only thing I’d like to see in future models is a scroll wheel. I know that the size of it makes it hard to have a wheel but maybe a touch wheel, like one some laptops, could have been possible.
“an excellent tool for the road warrior or… minimalist.” ~ GetUSB.info
If you spend a lot of time on the road with your laptop, then the MoGo Wireless Mouse will just make your life easier.
methodshop | Comments (1) | Wireless, Peripherals
December 31, 2006
SnowDrive USB Flash Drive
Our friends over at GetUSB.info stumbled upon this one while researching another product. ACP-EP Memory has teamed up with the best snowboard companies in the industry to create the first and only authentic USB Flash Drive Snowboards. They’ve combined the graphics from actual Forum Snowboards like X-Games Snowboarding Star Eddie Wall’s Signature Series Board.
With a cool rubberized feel, these snow board shaped UFDs also have authentic graphics. At the head of the board there’s even a LED light to indicate activity.
- Forum Recon 2GB SnowDrive USB 2.0 Flash Drive
- Forum Eddie Wall 1GB SnowDrive USB 2.0 Flash Drive
- Forum Recon 512MB SnowDrive USB 2.0 Flash Drive
Capacity ranges from 512MB to 2GBs with 2 year warranty. Prices range from $20-$50USD respectively.
Features
- Forum Graphics w/ Rubberized texture
- Neck strap attachment on USB Drive
- USB 2.0 High Speed Interface (USB 1.1 Compatible)
- True Plug-and-Play connection for hot swap function
- LED indicates when drive is in use
- No drivers required for Windows Me/2000/XP,
- Mac OS 9.0 or later
- Size: 24mm (W) x 4.9mm (H) x 95mm (L)
- Backed by ACP-EP Memory’s 2 Year Warranty
Is surfing not snowboarding more you style? ACP also makes USB surf boards. Check out the 2GB USB 2.0 Black Surfdrive.
methodshop | Comments (0) | Portable, Peripherals
June 11, 2006
Solio Solar iPod Charger
Need to take your iPod places without a power source? Maybe you need a Solio iPod Charger. This fan-blade solar charger allows your iPod to soak up sun rays when placed in direct sunlight (either outside or affixed to a window).
The Solio also has a high capacity internal battery that stores energy and then releases it when the unit is plugged into your iPod. A fully charged Solio delivers enough energy to extend iPod playtimes by up to 9 hours. And it doesn’t take hours of charge time just to get enough juice to play one song. An hour in the sun can give your iPod up to a few hours of play time.
You can even plug the Solio into a regular wall socket to charge its battery for instant power anywhere. Not a bad idea since the Solio can store energy for more than a year.
The Solio may be perfect on your next camping trip, but you may want to avoid pulling it while walking down Madison Avenue… unless you want people to mistake you for Ugly George.
The Solio is available from Amazon.com.
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Portable, Peripherals
May 12, 2006
iTTUSB Turntable
Need a reason to pull your records out of storage? A company called ION has created a USB turntable called the iTTUSB. The company claims that this is the world’s first USB turntable.
The iTTUSB allows you to convert your old vinyl collection directly to CD or MP3 with the included recording software (Mac/PC) and is a must have for people who don’t want to deal with clumsy adapters or mismatched audio formats.
The iTTUSB comes with Audacity, a recording application that works with both PCs and Macs, as well a trial version of Bias Soundsoap 2 to clean and restore vinyl recordings.
As an alternative, the turntable also works with any other software that supports USB audio input sound cards. Once connected, the turntable transfers both 33-1/3 rpm albums and 45 rpm singles to digital formats in mere minutes.
The iTTUSB is great for all those obscure releases that never made it to CD.
More info on the iTTUSB:
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Toys, Software, Peripherals
April 22, 2006
Tetran Eats iPod Earbuds
Tetran is a terrifying little monster cleverly disguised as a earbud cable winder. When you’re not looking, Tetran eats your earbuds, then you can simply wind the undigested cable around his spiked, spherical body and it creates a neat little package.
Tetran comes in the menacing colors of pink, green, yellow, and orange and sells for a pricey $13.
[Syndicated post via iPoditude.com]
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Peripherals
April 08, 2006
Save Your iPod’s Hard Drive
After 2 years of heavy hard drive use, my 30GB 3G iPod died last week. The iPod itself is fine, but the hard drive is toast. Luckily I was able to pull most of my important files off (some of them one at a time). Right now the guys at iPodMods are fixing it for me.
Why did this happen? I wasn’t just using my iPod for playing music. I was transporting large amounts of files everyday to and from work and even capturing DV video to my iPod. I also kept my iPod mounted to my computer all day and played music off it. As I later learned, this is not exactly a smart move. Over time I basically grinded my iPod’s hard drive into the dirt. So please learn from my mistakes. Try to use your iPod mostly for music and not for massive and frequent file transports.
I mailed my iPod off iPodMods to get fixed but I still need a portable hard drive to shuttle files back and forth with me everyday. I needed a small and reliable drive that I can use with both Macs and PCs. I also wanted one made by a very well known hard drive manufacturer. My data is very important to me and spending a little extra for a quality hard drive is well worth it in the long run. I had a bad experience with a cheap Maxtor hard drive before and will never buy a crappy drive for my data again. After an extended search I found the perfect match: the Seagate Pocket Hard Drive.
The Seagate Pocket Hard Drive is a standard high-speed USB 2.0, bus-powered device. It provides a true “plug and play” connection that supports hot plugging so you can connect or disconnect the drive even when your computer is on. The drive receives power directly through the USB connector so there is no need for an external power source or batteries.
The high-speed USB 2.0 is backward compatible with the older USB 1.1 standard. However, USB 1.1 only supports transfer rates of 12 Mbits/sec. To take advantage of the speed of your Pocket Hard Drive, connect it to a computer that supports high-speed USB 2.0 connections. High-speed USB 2.0 supports data rates up to 480 Mbits/sec (40 times faster than USB 1.1). You can save any type of data and files on the device including text, graphics, programs, music, and even multimedia files.
This hard drive is big on storage but small in size. If you are looking to put fewer “hard drive miles” on your iPod, then definitely look into getting an alternate portable data drive.
Seagate is well known for their quality drives and their Pocket Hard Drive gets the job done at a great price.
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Portable, Peripherals
March 01, 2006
Apple Event Lacks Wow
The speculation is over. Those of us expecting touch-screen iPods, PDAs, Apple phones or even an Apple TiVo were left a little disappointed.
Taking the stage at today’s announcement, CEO Steve Jobs said, “We’ve got some fun things to introduce today. Sort of medium-scale things.”
As soon as Jobs said “medium-scale things” I knew everyone with high hopes for today’s announcement probably felt a pit in their stomach.
After all the hype around Apple’s invitation to see some “fun new products,” Apple only announced an Intel-based Mac ($799) and a high-end speaker, the iPod Hi-Fi ($349). Apple also announced some expensive leather iPod cases ($99).
Did today’s “fun new products” announcement really require a special event? Usually Apple just adds minor new products to their website and issues a few press releases.
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Peripherals
January 03, 2006
iTrip LCD Review
The iTrip is a FM transmitter specifically designed for the iPod that allows you to play your music through any FM radio wherever the mood strikes you. The car, the beach, grandma’s house… it doesn’t matter, as long as you have access to a FM radio, your iPod can broadcast audio like a small portable radio station.
Griffin Technology, the maker of the iTrip, has made several major improvements to the new version of the iTrip, called the iTrip LCD. These features include a backlit LCD screen, tuning knob, a stronger FM broadcast mode call DX, and
the ability to broadcast to international FM frequencies.
Full Review: iTrip LCD - iPod FM Transmitter
methodshop | Comments (4) | General, Music, Portable, Peripherals
September 08, 2005
Belkin Prepares To Release The TuneFM
Our friends at iPodStudio.com are reporting that iPod accessory company, BELKIN, is about to release a new device known as the TuneFM.
TuneFM is a FM Transmitter that allows you to listen to music on your iPod via any FM stereo receiver.
Belkin explains: “Proximity switches give you total control at the touch of your fingertips, and the LED display indicates FM frequency and memory preset, eliminating the need to use the iPod interface for frequency selection; because the TuneFM is powered by the iPod no batteries are required.”
No price info is available at this point.
[Syndicated post via MethodShop.com]
methodshop | Comments (1) | Music, Portable, Peripherals
July 18, 2005
powerMate Review
Buy from Amazon.com
I have always had mixed feelings about gadgets. I like the cool factor inherent in some of them, but I tend to find that the cooler they look, the less useful they are. So I rein in my gadget-buying impulse, and try to purchase only those that are both cool and useful.
Sometimes it’s hard to find whether a given gadget is useful. If a friend or colleague owns one, you can try it out; if you see it on display in a store, you can give it a whirl. But some gadgets are hard to find - especially here in my Alpine village, where mail-order is my only option.
When Griffin Technology’s powerMate came out in 2001, there were lots of articles saying how cool it was, including a mention in the traditional TidBITS Macworld Expo Superlatives article. The coolness is clearly visible - an attractive brushed aluminum knob/button, taken from the most minimal of stereo designs, sits atop a thick layer of translucent plastic with a soft blue light pulsing beneath it.
However, cool is one thing, but not one of the articles I read, nor the manufacturer’s Web site, did a good job of describing how I might apply the powerMate to my everyday tasks. This brief article is intended to do just that - you’ve gotten a gist of how cool it looks, so let me tell you how I have been using this gadget for the last week, and why it will most likely remain by my keyboard for a very long time.
Thanks to Kirk for allowing us to reprint.
Gadgetman | Comments (0) | General, Peripherals
May 29, 2005
Foofpod Review.
When I first received my iPod a few years ago, I bought the middle of the range 15GB model. Back then the pack included the iPod Case and Dock. It didn’t take long for me to realise just how fragile the chrome and plastic of the player was when the little Apple tag in the back of the iPod case made nice little scratch marks. I wouldn’t choose the Apple case as a method to protect it.
Foofpods on the other hand are like little sleeping bags for your iPod. If it’s one thing they are, they’re nice and soft, and certainly not likely to scratch the chrome or plastic. In fact when you slip them into one of the soft cases it seems to lighten the music player. My iPod seemed more like a swisho wallet than a 15GB hard drive when I slip it into my pocket encased in a Foofpod.
There are currently 15 types of Foofpods. The samples I played with were the corduroy Hot Pink, the Wool Irish Tweed Herringbone and the denim Green Jeanie. Half the time I was happy just to enjoy the feel of the different materials. Certainly nicely made with Polyester quilted satin lining with polyester wadding, which will certainly keep your Pod safe. They ship in nice little snap bags, and best of all are made in good old Australia. Saying that they have some great arrangements for delivering international orders, and they take a PayPal payment as well. Just makes for easier ordering.
Besides the protection, the best feature of the Foofpod is the individual looks and feels. If you have a few, you’ll have a look for your iPod for every occasion. It’s tempting to treat them like ties, or shoes. A little fashion item for every occasion. I’m just sad that I missed out on the Feep Foofpod which they suggested was angora sheep like.
All in all I think that Foofpods make for a fantastic choice of case for you portable digital music player. Ranging from $AU18 up to $AU28 for the Kimono Obi material (the Obi is the “belt” worn as part of a Japanese Kimono), there are plenty to choose from, one for every taste. Or as I see it, one for every occasion. Next up I’ll have to try their range of Foofbags for my Powerbook.
Gadgetman | Comments (1) | Music, Peripherals
April 14, 2005
Cold Soldering Tool
Something I’ve come across on a few sites lately is a Cold Soldering Tool. It claims to be able to heat up to 500F (260C)in less than a second, and then cool down in less than five.
The other handy thing is that it’s completely portable and cordless. It runs on 4 AA sized batteries, and is suitable for hobbyists with light PCB work.
Now being an Engineering student, and the tool costing roughly $20 USD from various sites like thinkgeek, I’m quite tempted to have one shipped over ASAP just to try it out.
Anyone else heard about this neat tool?
Review at OCWizard
Ken | Comments (1) | Portable, Peripherals
April 13, 2005
iPod dock for Onkyo
Onkyo has available a special dock for the Apple iPod, which makes use of Onkyo’s RI (remote interactive) feature on many of the amps and receivers.
The dock allows basic charging of the iPod, as well as the full use of the Onkyo remote to control the iPod.
I’m personally a great fan of integrating devices, eliminating the need for a dozen remotes and increasing user-friendliness for the less geekily-inclined.
Original Onkyo Press Release
Onkyo’s Japan site with more pics.
Ken | Comments (1) | Music, Peripherals
March 13, 2005
24″ LCD Monitor For Cheap.
It appears that a few people on the Whirlpool Forums are organising a group buy of the Dell 2405FPW 24″ Wide UltraSharp LCD Monitor, with a sweet 1920 x 1200 resolution. The list price of the item is $1788.60, but they aim to get it for around $1340 by buying over 100 at a time.
This thread is the central thread of the group buy for the 2405FPW as suggested by martino. Several other threads have come and gone in an attempt to make a solid commitment to getting this group buy happening. The list price for the 2405FPW is $1788.60, although most people who’ve ordered over the phone have got it for around $1650.
It seems that people in the US have managed to successfully orchestrate one of these, and were able to get a dramatically reduced price on the item. I’m not quite sure what would happen about payment and shipping, but it’s seemed that in the past Dell has been open to each individual in the group ordering separately, but under a group order code that has allowed them to benefit from the price reduction.
More details are available at the forum
Other Websites: Cheap Cigarettes Only at Buy Discount Cigarettes
Gadgetman | Comments (3) | General, Peripherals
March 08, 2005
Waking Up to the iPod Alarm Clock
The iPod’s Alarm Clock is nestled among other features like Calendar and Notes under the iPod’s Extras menu. While you may already be familiar with many of the iPod Extras (especially Games), the Alarm Clock is largely an under appreciated feature.
Whether you prefer to be woken by the scream of a rock star or the French horn in a classical symphony, the iPod’s Alarm Clock can help you open your eyes every morning with style!
Tutorial: Waking Up to the iPod Alarm Clock
BeSocial: digg it | methodshop.com
methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Peripherals
February 26, 2005
The Mac Mini Lexus.
Not only has this guy got a Mac Mini, he’s got a Lexus. What better way to enjoy them both than to mount the Mini into the car.
For more info there is a short interview at 123Macmini.com.
What parts did you use?
A Mac mini 1.42GHz and Apple wireless keyboard and mouse. I use the mouse on my armrest for those who want to know. Its big enough for what I need. A DVI to S-Video / Composite Converter, midi to (L) and (R) audio adapter by Monster, shielded Cables for both audio and video by Monster. Also installed a hub that has 4 USB 2.0 ports and 2 Firewire ports, the another USB hub in the back for the passengers, Have 2 Firewire cams and I am able to have up to 8 more for a total of 10, not that I think I will use nor do I need 10 but I still have that option. I have plenty of ports to plug whatever I want in, including my digital video camera, and my 60GB iPod photo.”
Thanks Mario for the tip on your nice little project.
Gadgetman | Comments (0) | General, Motorised, Peripherals
January 28, 2005
Seagate’s External Consumer Hard Drives.
Seagate has announced the Australian release of a few of its external USB drives.
Of the three products launched, the Seagate Pocket Hard Drive (RRP$349) is the most visually distinctive, with its shell-like design winning it the Innovation Award at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Pocket Hard Drive has a 5GB storage capacity and a retractable USB 2.0 cord.
The 100GB Portable External Hard Drive (RRP$599) is another stylish model with a small footprint. Aimed at business travelers, the drive connects via USB 2.0 is hot swappable and requires no power cords or adaptors.
The beefiest model released by Seagate is the 400GB External Hard Drive (RRP$619), which can connect via USB or FireWire. It features one push button back-up, a 7200RPM high performance drive, and has an interlocking design so it can be stacked horizontally with other External Hard Drives.
More details at Smarthouse or Seagate’s international site.
Gadgetman | Comments (0) | Portable, Peripherals
January 13, 2005
Making the Mac mini Into A Real Home Hub.
With the focus now off MacWorld, it gives everyone a chance to really assess the announcements made by Jobs. One thing that immediately struck us about the Mac mini was it’s instant appeal for a home hub or media centre. The only thing lacking is an internal HDTV card, but that’d only bump the price up for what is meant to be a simple cheap Mac. So, if your interested there is an option, EyeTV from Elgato.
EyeTVs advanced portable digital terrestrial TV tuner lets you watch live TV directly on your Mac in perfect digital quality.
Using the on-screen Remote Control or included IR Remote you can:
- pause the program when the phone rings
- repeat a favorite section
- fast forwardRecord TV on your Mac
EyeTV records digital television directly to your Macs hard drive to watch immediately or later. Collect and organize your favorite shows to watch again whenever you want.
Program EyeTV to record your favorite shows once, every day or every week.
Given the firewire interface on this and the new Mac, the setup would be very easy and elegant in any home cinema setup. It’s $AU580 at MacMall, added to the Mac mini means the whole package comes in at under $AU1400. A little pricey when compared to current digital TV receivers with built in hard drive (see DBA), but you’re getting the flexibility of a Mac including all the software, ability to connect to the net, and CD-R/DVD-ROM (upgradable of course to the SuperDrive) for archiving or playing DVDs.
Add a RadioShark from Griffin for another $AU120 (also at MacMall), and you can schedule recordings from the radio, and you’ll never miss any type of broadcast again.
Gadgetman | Comments (1) | Video, Digital TV, Peripherals
