The Flip Video Ultra
April 18, 2008
Everyone loves a high power, low maintenance, easy to use gadget. When it looks like a fun toy, so much the better. The new Flip Video Camera is a fun alternative to your clunky handheld strap-over-your-hand video camera. It makes video blogging as well as adding video to YouTube easier, more fun, and a much more enjoyable experience than ever before.
From the four fun color choices - including green (pictured) and fuchsia - to your choice of the 30 or 60 minute models, the Flip gives you everything you need for seamless, easy video file sharing in one compact camcorder.
A few of the Flip Ultra’s great features include:
- One-touch recording with 2x digital zoom
- 1.5 inch color playback screen
- Instant playback, review and delete features
- Play videos directly from the camcorder to any TV
- Uses AA batteries
- Built-in software for instant viewing, editing, and sharing
- One-click emailing
The Flip Video Ultra can be found everywhere from Costco to Toys “R” Us, and the $149.99 price tag seems small when you consider it has a preview screen and offers the simplicity of one-touch recording and built in software that makes uploading a breeze.
Really, the Flip is the perfect excuse to add video to your blog, send videos of the kids to relatives, and start really documenting the world around you. A video camera that can fit in a purse or fanny pack is an accessory that can make everything more fun, from a day at the beach to a picnic in the backyard.
The Flip Video Ultra
April 17, 2008
The Flip Video Ultra is a stylish hand-held digital video recorder. Gone are the days of cumbersome connectivity wires, tapes, and loose photo cards. Record your memories instantaneously without fuss or complication. With a flip of your thumb, a USB arm is ready to launch built-in software and transfer your videos onto your computer.
This little recorder runs on two AA batteries and has room for a tripod mount and television playback capabilities. At a reasonable price, the Ultra series comes in either a 30-minute or 60-mintue recording capacity. You can choose from a variety of fun colors (black, white, pink, orange and green) and accessories. The most popular accessory is the underwater case. You will be able to record at the beach, pool, rain or sporting events without fear of ruining your camera.
The most important feature is the quality of your finished product. Yes, Flip Video Ultra is easy to use, and yes, you can practically do it with your eyes closed, but is it worth the money? Since Flip Video has taken thirteen percent of the camcorder market within the year of its release, one is safe to say “yes”. Simplicity has finally taken a stand in the world of over-embellished technology.
Next Gen Yuno PC - definitely not decaf
April 14, 2008
There are many Next Gen PCs coming out that are going to make lives easier and change the way we rock our personal computers. One of these is the Yuno PC. While at first glance it might look like any other travel coffee mug, this one is very different.
From screensavers to checking your email to surfing the web, Yuno can do that and at the same time keeps your coffee (or tea) piping hot. It comes with selective email filtering so you only get your most important emails while on the go, but the touchscreen keeps you busy and working during your commute.
My fear, of course, is that this will be more distracting to morning commuters than the cell phone has been. Will it become illegal in some cities to drive with a Yuno PC in the car? Since it has a touchscreen, it’s not like a cell phone where you can plug in an earbud and be hands free. But, people have been drinking coffee on the morning commute for as long as there has been a morning commute, so what to do?
Outlaw the commuter travel mug? I don’t think that would go over very well. The Yuno does have a projector display so you can see directions and even information on your car window…but will this be even more distracting than checking email? Or will it be able to replace those little TomTom satellite directional devices.
Only time will tell if the Yuno Next Gen PC will be a commuters wildest dream or worst nightmare.
Windows Vista Pros and Cons
July 10, 2006
I was thinking of reinstalling my Windows XP when I thought that I should try the Windows Vista Beta 2. However, I also realize that depending on how it is I would have to uninstall it and go back to Windows XP and that is quite a hassle, so I decided to find out more about this new Vista.
I ended up finding an article that highlights some of the pros and cons in Vista. Some ideas I liked was the fact that you can take a snap shot and do a quick shut down of your laptop and then have it boot right back up to where you were, eliminating the need to put it in hybernate and allowing you to turn it off completely.
One thing I really hated was the extra security. It is a little bit of an overkill. Whenever you attempt to install or program or do some other regular tasks you are bombarded with questions you must answer before you can continue. The questions also gray out the rest of the screen so you can’t do anything else. This might sound great for the security and the prevention of anyone else installing spyware and such on your pc, but when you think about the fact that some people install things weekly or daily it becomes a pain in the neck. It would be a better idea to make it optional. It’s not fun to have an Operating System that takes you hostage.
What I love about Windows Vista
What I hate about Windows Vista
Ten Bizarre Gadgets For The Home
April 21, 2006
This article has the top ten strangest home gadgets but I don’t find them all that weird. Maybe the pong clock is a little strange but no all that bizarre. My favorite is the harddrive table. That is something I would definitely own.
Intellicot Cot: High Tech Baby Crib
April 15, 2006
The Intellicot is a new high tech crib for children. It prevents back pain from bending to lift your child out of the crib by lifting the child up until you can reach them easily. It comes with a built-in video camera, wireless baby monitor, has automatic rocking, storage, safety window and good air circulation.
As I first looked at the picture I was think why did somebody lock a child in a storage kit. I read about the product and thought why did somebody lock this kid in a storage kit. This thing just looks to freaky for me to consider putting my child in it.
Lemur Touchscreen Controller for Musicians
April 5, 2006
If you’re a musician, you need to check out JazzMutant’s Lemur — a “multitouch control surface” that may just herald the future of music creation.
This unconventional device has a colorful interface that takes time to learn how to use, but that goes way beyond typical controllers:
The Lemur’s user interface objects have “physical” properties (including friction, evaporation, and attraction force) that can be customized at any time - even while performing. Items can either stay where you drag them, or slide away from your finger as if on ice. Apply a gravity model to a bank of sliders and they will behave as if they were held by a virtual string. “Throw” a low-friction fader hard enough and it will bounce off the bottom of your mixer.
Want more info? Check out the two reviews at Electronic Musician and Keyboard Magazine.
The Lemur will cost you about $2500, so be sure you’re up to the task of learning how to operate it before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Sources: Gizmodo, Create Digital Music
