Ralford.net

  [Gadgets]

Because Apple's new doo-dad is the thing that everyone is talking about (and because everyone has already written all there is to write about it), I'm going to save us some trouble and point you to an ancient post about how I ain't gonna buy an MP3 player until it has a toaster oven: The Gizmo of Gizmos.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

My PVR is pretty much done for now. I've been working on a list of what it took to get it going - from component selection to driver installation. It should be ready to go soon, so I'll try and remember to post it somewhere on the site. Use it as a review for the products I purchased, or check it out as a reference for your own PVR. Anyway, keep your eyes out for it.



Building my PVR (w)

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

An interesting backpack has been created to generate electricity from a hiker's walking. It bobs up and down as the hiker walks, and converts mechanical energy to electricty. Pretty cool idea, but 85 pounds sounds like a ton. I've done a lot of hiking, and my absolute max backpack weight has probably never exceeded 35 pounds.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

I've found common ground between Bill Gates and myself. An article at CNN.com mentions his opinions on portable techonlogy trends. Gates thinks the cell phone will take over the iPod. I've never used an iPod, but I've certainly been waiting to purchase an MP3 player until I can find one that's integrated into a cell phone.

My gripe is that I don't want to carry multiple devices in my pocket - I want them all in one. A lot of people complain that they don't need a camera, MP3 player, cell phone, and email in one system. Personally, I think it would be great. I like to have my phone on me, check my email frequently, and always wish my digital camera was in my pocket whenever it isn't. If you're in my boat, you're all about the market competition between the companies that make portable devices. Hopefully it won't be long until a small price will pay for an all-in-one unit.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

Some students at MIT made a USB controlled disco floor that uses 1536 LEDs. The floor covers 128 square feet, is capable of displaying 4096 colors, and changes at a rate of 30 frames per second.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

A thread on a TiVo community forum points out that TiVo is managing to work ads into the video display. Having never used or seen a TiVo, I must say that I assumed there wouldn't be any ads on such a service. After all, the purpose of giving the user the ability to fast-foward through a recorded cable tv show is to skip commercials and advertisements. Of course, an advertisement free world is virtually impossible. Businesses need money, and other businesses need to advertise, so the logical exchange is everywhere. With that said, I see this as one more excuse to build my own TiVo (instead of paying a monthly subsciption fee).

For more information on TiVo's new popups, read the article at ZDNet.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

I can't tell you how long I've wanted an MP3 player, but I can tell you that a big reason I don't have one is because there's only enough room in my pockets for my keys, wallet, and cell phone.

They may not be the first to combine a phone, music player, and camera into one device, but you can't help but like the looks of the new Sony Ericsson W800c. The phone supports up to 1GB of storage with a Memory Stick, which can be used to store images from the 2 megapixel camera and your favorite tunes. The phone also integrates Bluetooth technology, which can be used both with a wireless headset and a hands-free device in a car.

Check out the specifications for the slick phone on the Sony Ericsson webpage.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

Mobile PC has posted their list of the Top 100 Gadgets of All Time. A few of the rules to make it on the list included a size and mechanical or electrical moving parts requirement.

My personal favorites on the list were the Sony Walkman, Rubik's Cube, Zippo, and the Pez Dispenser. The number one gadget on the list is the Apple Powerbook 100 - a great contributor to the advancement of portible electronic devices.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

  [Gadgets]

Build Your Own PVR states it the best: "Why TiVo when you can FreeVo?". A recent Slashdot post questions if new TiVo features and applications will keep the customers coming. As more and more computer enthusiasts are leaning towards building their own HTPCs, no wonder the death of TiVo is in question.

Interestingly enough, as a recent college graduate, I myself will soon have conjured up some money which I have been planning to use to build my own PVR. And to answer any questions - Just because I can.

I bought a Mini-ITX form factor motherboard last July out of pure interest in making an efficent, small, and quiet computer. But at the time, I was careful not to buy one that would be "too out of date" any time this year. I've had my desktop PC since I began college, back in 2000, and to this day, it has served me well with its 733MHz of processing power and 512MB of RAM. I'm no up-to-date gamer of any sort, but I do run Apache and like to listen to MP3s that don't "skip" while I'm multi-tasking. So an effiecient computer is of importance, but I don't plan on utilizing all of it's computational power to monitor the Earth's global warming. With that said, the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-350 will gladly record the tube while my CPU does what it wants.

But as things go, nothing in life is free. When complete, my do-it-yourself PVR will probably cost me a good $800 or $900. On the brighter side of things, it will have all of the goodies I'm looking for, and will keep me from having to shell out a monthly subscription fee to pause my TV next time Janet Jackson does the Superbowl halftime show.

Comments (0)      Post a Comment  

<< 1 of 1 >>