Deep Green Crystals

July 1, 2010

I have Jet Pack #26 in production!

Hi Martin, I would like to confirm hat we have allocated the first production slots and your Jetpack will be number 26 Congratulations. I will write and sign a letter confirming this. Kind regards Glenn Martin Founder Martin Aircraft Company ph +64 3 377 8584 mob +64 21109-1851 www.martinjetpack.com

Posted by Martin at 9:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 28, 2010

Initial thoughts on Tungle

I hate all calendar applications.  The best is Outlook/Exchange but only if everyone you are dealing with is on it (like when I was back at microsoft).  Today with the mixed environment, everyone on different email clients, there is no good calendar solution.  Google is doing a stand-up job of sync with iphone, bbry, outlook, etc.  even off-line calendar access. 

My #1 need for a calendar application has always been publishing free/busy to the world and allowing people to self-schedule. For many years I have had assistants to manage the multiple do-loops with customers, partners, employees asking the endless question “does this time work? What about this? What time zone?”.  Yesterday a friend turned me onto Tungle.me.  They have simplified the public access to free/busy in a very elegant way.  Check out mine at http://tungle.me/martingtobias.  Easy set up, simple sync with Google.  Only hic-up was that Tungle choked on my 11,000 contacts. I have added my Tungle page to my email footer.  Now whenever the email is “we should meet, have coffee, etc.” I just say “grab a time at tungle.me/martingtobias”.  Everyone I have pointed there has gotten it initiatively. They just select a couple times, i get an email with a link, i click through, confirm one, and everyone’s calendar is automagically updated.  Here is the brilliant thing in the Tungle.me business model.  Everyone gets a Tungle.me invite. Totally viral.  I probably gave them 10 new customers the first day from the 10 people scheduling meetings with me. 

So far so good.  Love it.

Posted by Martin at 9:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 6, 2009

Life on the bleeding edge

Barely two months after the Kindle 2.0 comes Kindle DX!  doh!  a couple hundred bucks more but i like the larger screen. Now I want the new one.  Gawd I am a gadget nerd.  Anyone want a Kindle 2.0?  Hey, why won’t Amazon.com let me “sell yours here” like I can with EVERY OTHER PRODUCT? 

Posted by Martin at 1:51 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

March 12, 2009

Kindle unboxing video

thanks @lindvall for the video…

Posted by Martin at 9:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 11, 2009

Kindle 2.0 first impressions

Got the Kindle yesterday.  Unboxing. very cool packaging. Very Apple.  totally recyclable no large manual, no device driver software, just a quick start guide, the device and a power cable.  Good stuff. 

Using the kindle

- I somehow thought it had WiFi.  But no EVDO for 3 years.  Slower, but ok. Makes the UI easier to use, no passwords, etc.  Good decision for them.

- There are no free books on the Amazon store, you have to go to a web site that serves them, download, and copy using USB over to the Kindle.  The process is ok for a techie like me, but lacks the love of the iPhone store.  Since the first thing I wanted was free books, the first thing I did was go to other places and NOT the Amazon store. If they had free, I would be there looking for free and probably buy other stuff (like Apple).

-  The Mp3 player thing is cool.  But it won’t play QT files which is a pain

- The Audible integration is a hack, would like to have it tighter.

- my daughter LOVED the text to speech.  You can have the device read you any book, very cool.

- The browser, while no javascript and optimized for a small list of sites, does a good job on any site with an M. implementation.  First site i went to was M.twitter.com and posted a tweet. Worked like a charm!  very cool.

- The dictionary is a blast to use.  Finn and I spent half an hour this morning just looking up words.

- They need more younger childrens’ books like 6-10.  The children’s section is really teen with books like Twightlight, etc.  They need The Giggler Treatment, and more books on poop.

- Love the tactile feel of the keyboard.

- They made alot of UI decisions that make the device incredibly easy and intuitive to use and NOT like a computer.  That is good.  Stuff like you just start typing on the keyboard and the search box starts filling in, no need to open a separate box.  Having a next page button on the right AND left to allow right/left handed people is good. Having no backlight is good because of the longer battery life and more book like feel. 

- i HATE the fade to black flash back to white screen refresh thing when it changes pages or when it loads a new screen. It looks like flicker.   The refresh of graphics is slow.

-  The browser does a good job of rendering color pictures in monochrome.  I could browse my blog www.deepgreencrystals.com and see all the pictures just fine.

- I am not paying for reading any blogs, that is whack

- I like the magazine integration, I am subscribing to Technology review.

I am reading 20,000 leagues under the sea. for free.  

Posted by Martin at 8:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 24, 2008

iPhone continues to be useless

I don't know if all my iPhone problems are related to contacts, but the thing is totally useless now. I can't play music, play a video, browse the web, or use any application at all for more than 2 minutes. Every application crashes.
unbelievable they sell this piece of junk.

Posted by Martin at 6:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 22, 2008

Why I hate the Iphone

I got the iphone thursday. My blackberry curve finally just died. The track ball fell out and is forever lost. The Blackberry Bold is not out yet, so I decided to try the iPhone because they finally added Exchange integration push which is a must have for me. After five days of hell and complaining I am ready to spike this piece of junk. The people at the Apple store were very nice and courteous today as they told me that having 8,000 contacts was my problem and I should cull those down and no their programmer error on how they page contacts in/out of memory is a feature not a bug, but I am rambling...

The reason the iPhone sucks eggs for a long term crackberry addict like myself is actually very easy.

Here are the features that are important to me in a mobile device in priority order, Most important to Least Important

eMail push
Calendar, contact, task wireless sync
Phone
text messaging
Camera
browser
Bluetooth
RSS readers
add on applications
game platform
media player

Here are the features that the IPhone is good at in BEST to WORST

Media Player
Browser
game platform
add on applications
Camera
Phone
text messaging
Calendar, contact wireless sync (no task)
email

Notice that the list is pretty much an exact inverse. The IPhone sucks at all the stuff that is important to me and excells at all the stuff that I don't really care about. Going back to the Blackberry.

Posted by Martin at 8:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 10, 2008

considering evernote and google notebook

looking for a quick note application to keep track of diligence on web sites I review. Neither of these tools are any good for that. Google notebook is an overarchitected to do list only accessible in browser (no good) and evernote you have to pay for (and i don't understand how to use it). I don't see that much difference between firefox bookmarks and evernote. Why add another tool?

Posted by Martin at 10:23 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 1, 2008

just installed drag and drop.io

As frequent readers know I love drop.io. Just installed their firefox plugin and it rules. Can't be any easier to share files... the screen capture with developer voice over is a nice feature as well. Quick and simple.

Posted by Martin at 7:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 17, 2008

card counting

An indispensible skill every man should know.

Posted by Martin at 8:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thought about trying Supermemo

Am looking for a new to-do manager. This one is WAY overkill. Read about the guy in Wired. This is really for crazy learning of lots of data and keeping it packed in your brain. I have enough in there thank you.

Posted by Martin at 8:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 19, 2008

initial reactions of thejimi

got thejimi wallet two days ago. Initial thoughts. Too big. Not enough card space (only four cards). and all the cards are stacked behind each other. you have to take them all out every time just to get one. And there is no special place for your drivers license. I put mine on top, but i still have to take it out for security. Money has to be quad folded instead of half folded to fit in the money clip. Due to twice the folding you can carry half the money. Stupid. I don't like the thing. I am going to live with it for another week then probably recycle it.

Posted by Martin at 11:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 17, 2008

All the best utilities from LifeHacker

Looking for new tools to make my life more productive, i clicked over to LifeHacker. Their LifeHacker Pack has all the essentials. Happilly I was already using most of them. Installed Trillian again for another go and am trying out SyncBack paired with my Drobo.

Posted by Martin at 2:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 4, 2008

Green Gadgets

Gadgets are consumables. Designed to be out gadgeted next year (or month). So why not make them as green and recyclable as possible? There was a conference last week for just that in NYC. InfoWeek has a good review of the products here. I already have a portable solar charger for my gadgets from Solio. A must have.

Posted by Martin at 12:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 18, 2007

Save watts while searching

Here is a concept.  All that white on your screen.  Know what it is? Burning crystals is what. White is created by energy exciting the crystals.  Black is no energy exciting the crystals.  A black screen uses no energy.  What if you reversed the fonts on most screens and made them white on black instead of black on white?  How much energy would you save.  Find out at Blackle.com  (google in black)

Posted by Martin at 9:50 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 24, 2007

Starting out with Control4

OK, so I am a bit of a gadget geek and I would like to get back to those roots here on the blog. I have consumed a large number of gadgets lately and will be writing a few more reviews. The most top of mind is my recent installation of Zigbee based Control4 system at home. I have a VERY light and very large room upstairs. the IR based universal remote I had before had a hard time with the interference and would not work most of the time. Downstairs, in the bedroom, the IR receiver was mounted just below the 60 inch Runco flatpanel that was pumping out so much interference that the remote only worked half the time as well. I am going to put those old suckers on e-bay. I picked Control4 because it is Zigbee (no light interference) and because it came standard with a web interface.

The good:
1. It worked right out of the custom installers hands. All the integration with my existing AV system and the blinds worked. The blinds were not on the previous system.
2. No interference, works every push of the button.
3. integration of the blinds was quick and easy

The Bad:
1. Control4 couldn't get onto my Wifi network so we had to create a new one just for it. The installer used the same SSID name as my existing one, thinking to be cute, but didn't connect the new WAP correctly to request DHCP addresses from my SonicWall, so when my laptop connects to this new newtork, it doesn't get an IP address. I had to rename that network to not confuse my laptop.
2. My system is still not visable to the outside world, probably due to configuration of the SonicWall. We have configured them to use only the SonicWall VPN client for increased security at work. Control4 servers in the cloud only speak OpenVPN, so I suspect it is going to be a challenge getting my system connected to the Mycontrol4 in the cloud.
3. I thought I could connect to my home system directly. NO way. Every individual system is configured as a node on the Control4 master network, requiring access thorugh their ($149/yr) server. They say it is for security, but I really know it is just to gouge us for more fees. I wonder if someone has hacked the local device to allow direct connection to the IP address rather than going through the Control4 cloud proxy.
4. Their media software doesn't come standard and I had to install myself. They have a hardware limit of 256mb in the local server device limiting them to 12,000 albums. I have 52,000 tracks and counting. My music won't fit. The solution, a hardware upgrade to a $5K server from Control 4 of course.
5. Thier music software can't deal with more than one master director of music. I have five. Ok, so I should organize better, but I do. They should deal.
6. Their software can't deal with AAC files produced by Itunes, only MP3 files. Stupid.
7. Their ComposerME music management software is not registered with Vista and has problems running. Stupid.
8. The system has thermostats which should be able to "auto connect" but I got them and they don't. I have to have the installer come out.

The UGLY.
1. The hand held standard TV style remotes are fine, but do not have all the keys I need to emulate the DVR functions and cable remote functions. They are missing a page up and down key for example.
2. The touch screen remotes are basically complete touch screen computers 10 inches wide costing $3,500. ouch! I sent them back.
3. IT still doesn't really work and is NOT an install your self system.

Basically $10K later my system is half working, and I am hopeful, but this is still the bleeding edge. If you have a light room and lots of IR interference, this is the only way to go though.

Posted by Martin at 8:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 28, 2007

Voice recorder for Blackberry 8800?

Just tried the : VR : Voice Recorder for BlackBerry - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com from Shape. Says it works on the 8800, but it does not. Tries to access my phone records (which I don't like) and then has an "uncaught exception". I took it off.
anyone know a real voice recorder for the blackberry? I don't understand why they didn't just make the media player a recorder too?

Posted by Martin at 8:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 13, 2007

Watch your cell phone!

The Europeans have pretty good commercials sometimes. Check GoodHusband~TM.WMV. Better than UTube...

Posted by Martin at 4:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 22, 2006

addictive blackberry games

Just bought Texas Hold'em no Limit from Concrete Software: Concrete Software Mobile. I had the demo and kept playing five hands, restart, five hands, restart. It costs only $14.99 so it is actually cheaper than most of the books that I buy to pass the time on airplanes etc. I have tried to buy the game three or four times and the MobiHand server has not been on-line and I have not been able to complete the transaction. There purchase interface is also confusing in that they offer blackberry users an over the air download but in fact you can't and have to download it to your PC then use Blackberry Application Launcher to install it. VERY confusing and way too hard for the average user. This has to get easier. Other platforms (Windows mobile, Palm) are easier to install apps on. Major downside for Blackberry.

Posted by Martin at 10:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 20, 2006

what Finn got for christmas

Every good Girl needs a playhouse jumpy. If you are coming to my new years party, you can use it too!

Posted by Martin at 11:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 11, 2006

What I want for Christmas

Being a surfer, I am at the whim of the ocean. This week it should be 30Ft waves on the Washington coast so I will be watching not riding! But what if you could surf anytime? Check this toy out: Banshee Riverboards and Riverboarding Products - "Surf the River!". Hey Santa, I have been good!

Posted by Martin at 12:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 13, 2006

More gadgets - the best coffee press

Tonight was going to be an e-mail catch-up night, but it has turned into an on-line buying spree. Had a coffee from one of these: Aerobie� AeroPress(TM) Coffee & Espresso Maker last week at a friend's house. Being from Seattle and a VERY discriminating coffee drinker, I have to say it was a damn good cup o jo. So a couple e-bay and paypal clicks later and one is whisking its way northward from Florida as I type. Go Joe...

Posted by Martin at 9:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 6, 2006

The ultimate phone has arrived...

Blackberry 8800 Spotted, Spec List, Too - Gizmodo Now I just have to find one with a camera. I can't wait!

Posted by Martin at 9:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 12, 2006

Blackberry finally adds a camera

Finally: BlackBerry's sexy Pearl made me a convert - MarketWatch. NOw if they just put one in the 8700 size. I can't stand Suretype.

Posted by Martin at 10:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 29, 2006

Bluetooth Roomba

here is how to make your Roomba dance to via Bluetooth. This is next weekend's project. MAKE: Blog: HOW TO - Roomba Bluetooth Interface

Posted by Martin at 9:41 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

hacking my Scooba

Thanks Chris for teh pointer to: What's up with the RoombaDevTools RooStick? - Engadget. As I listen to my Scooba run around the house cleaning up the last of Finn's birthday party yesterday, hacking it sounds good. I have a couple of stairs and small niches where it tends to get stuck. It could use some re-programming in that area. I also have a 3,000 sq ft concrete floor. The Scooba was programmed to cover a 400 sq ft floor. It needs some tuning. Hummm next weekend.

Posted by Martin at 9:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 28, 2006

My new favorite on-line store

X-tremegeek.com - Extreme Electronic Gadgets, Computer, Toys & More. Just bought the wood Trebuchet. Look out.

Posted by Martin at 9:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 21, 2006

Bye bye Treo 700W

I hate the Palm OS. I bought the first one that came out. At the time i was using a Psion PDA. I ditched it for three months and tried to force myself to use the Grafiti handwriting stuff on the Palm. It was hell. If all you do with your PDA is sync with your desktop and use it to check your calendar then ok. If you actually write things of any length forget it. Then along came the blackberry with it's wonderful keyboard and push e-mail and I was sold. I have owned every blackberry model since the first one. But Blackberry doesn't do multi-media very well, the document attachment service is clunky and I wish it had a camera. Oh, and there is that little problem that they may be out of business soon.

So when the Treo 700W (windows) came out I thought to give it a try. I have been playing with it for the last three weeks. The primary appeal was:
1. a camera
2. direct connection to Exchange 2003 without a Blackberry server (that I just paid $4k for)
3. easier desktop integration (maybe)

After three weeks, the Blackberry is still standing and the Treo 700W is headed to e-bay. Here are the problems

1. Windows is great on a big screen. It SUCKS on a small screen. Half the screen is taken up with scroll bars and boxes and whatever. Your effective viewing area is cut in half.
2. The exchange connector didn't work. Some problem with the security certificates. Three days on it with my IT guy didn't get the Treo 700W connected to my exchange server.
3. Pull e-mail sucks when you are used to push. I want the stuff to just arrive, I don't want to have to keep going to get it.
4. Windows is not a good interface for a camera.
5. Outlook Web Access sucks on the 700W. The IE browser effectively manages the frames, but they make the content area so small that you can't read your messages. On the Blackberry with it's 4th Pass browser, they gracefully degraded the frames into something that was actually viewable and worked better.

Bummer. I wish Microsoft could create a good handheld experience. For now I am sticking with my Blackberry and waiting for a handheld with a camera.

Posted by Martin at 12:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 11, 2006

Here is a gadget that I must have

and it is good for diesel trucks too! Oil bypass filter that filters your oil on your big rig and reduces 99% of your engine wear. Change your oil now every 50,000 miles. Thanks to Cool Tools for the tip.

Posted by Martin at 8:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 16, 2005

Apple swings and misses

The new Apple - iPod finally has video. Frequent readers know why I don't have an ipod, and most don't agree (got lots of mail on that one). Well I still don't have one (although I bought my wife one - kinda like when the H2 came out Arnold said "it will be a good car for maria").

I have had conversations with various Apple watchers over the years about a video IPod. One of them, Mike Slade, actually gave me a very detailed and well reasoned argument against a video Ipod. The crux of his arguement was "what problem are you solving?". With music, the experience (listening) is largely the same from all devices and the problem being solved was easy UI and portability. With Video on a small screen, you solved portability, but give an order of magnitude worse experience. But in the end the market demanded and Apple delivered.

Unfortunately they continued to deliver along the same lines that keeps me from bying into the Ipod deal. The new Video Ipod only plays Quicktime format files. You can't move your ripped DVDs over there and watch them. The new form factor is completely incompatable (yet again) with all accessories you have for your other ipods. Back in the bad old days of IBM controlling the plug interfaces this was called planned obselence. Every new version of the device caused you to upgrade ALL your hardware periferials. I remember IBM and Compact doing that with the laptop interface to the docking station with each new model. There was no technical reason to do it, they just wanted to force you to buy a new docking station. Apple is following the very well know hardware lock-in strategy circa 1970. But this time they wrap it in a happy face white box.

I for one, am having none of it.

Posted by Martin at 10:33 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 2, 2005

A Dongle for your car...

Last week my wife's car was broken into in front of our house without the alarm going off. They didn't steal the car, but they did steal the cash and some CDs. Probably just looking for money. The police say there is a new way to break into cars that involves drilling a microscopic little hole in the door and cutting a wire. Well, here is the solution: Ravelco Anti Theft Device. Basically a dongle for your car. When the part on your keyring is in place the car will start. When it is not, it won't. Has to be installed professionally. They claim a user base of over 3M and zero thefts. An amazing record.

Posted by Martin at 8:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 25, 2005

Just did the IAT test

Just did the Implicit Association Test for the 2004 Election. Basically it tests your implicit associations with Bush or Kerry. The first part they flash pictures of bush then Kerry in random order and you have to press the "i" key for bush and the "e" key for kerry. Simple right? Then they have you do the same for "good" and "bad" words like Agony, crash, love, joy. Easy right? Then they want you to associate those words with Bush or Kerry. Easy if you have a preference right? Then they want you to reverse your associations. That is, if you associate Good with Bush and BAd with Kerry (based on your responses), they want you to reverse those and tag "good" words and Kerry pictures together and "bad" words and Bush together. That is the hard part. It is VERY hard to associate a different feeling when you have a heavy implicit association.
Very revealing.

There are also implicit association tests around Age, Gender, Race which may reveal somethings you don't know about yourself.

Posted by Martin at 9:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 24, 2005

A must have summer camping gadget

Ordering mine now... Hand-cranked travel blender - Engadget - www.engadget.com

Posted by Martin at 10:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 8, 2005

Rainy day activities with the kids

For the DIY'er, click on over to Science Toys for toys you can make at home with common household materials, often in only a few minutes, that demonstrate fascinating scientific principles. I can't wait for the rain to come back!

Posted by Martin at 1:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 1, 2005

Why I don't have an IPod

Ok, I am going to be the last guy at Ignition to own an IPod. Maybe I will never buy one. I know Rich and the other guys are in love with theirs, but here is why I haven't bought one yet and may never buy one.

1. Proprietary AAC format. Buying into the iPod ties you to the iTunes software on your desktop for playing all your songs. And eventually video. I know you can just move your MP3 files over and it does play AIFF which is the lossless format I use, but at every turn they try to convert your songs to AAC. For example if iTunes finds any .WMA files (windows media), they will automatically convert them to the "import" format you have specified in iTunes (default AAC). This is just the ongoing "ownership" battle between Microsoft/Real/Apple for the music file format. As a consumer I don't want to be "owned" by anyone. I want one archive format and I want to trade out my playing software/hardware as it improves over time. Don't lock me in!

2. Apple uses the inferior CDDB for data lookup. When I was running Loudeye, I looked at all the metadata providers in the industry. Since CDDB was mostly user generated, they could not and did not enforce any data entry standards. That meant poor data quality and inconsistency. For example some people would put the artist name in the title and some wouldn't, some would capitalize words while others wouldn't. Now I know CDDB (now Gracenote) got a pile of venture money and tried to clean up their database, but it is still the worst in the industry. Microsoft licenses the far superior AMG database. Since data quality is key to a good user experience, I can't convince myself to use a set of tools and hardware I know are built on the cheapest dirtiest database on the planet.

3. Apple is screwing up the iPod as a hardware platform. Remember the bad old days of proprietary plugs and hardware interfaces? When IBM could charge you 10x what they should for disk drives because they owned the hardware interface. You thought all that went away with industry standard interfaces didn't you? Well you would be WRONG with the iPod. With the first iPod Apple did a truly remarkable job of building an ecosystem of vendors around their one simple form factor. You can now buy hundreds of add-ons like microphones, cases, speakers, even whole cars! But with the latest versions, the Mini and the Shuffle (and somewhat the Photo) they have blown all those vendors out the window. The plug spacing is different on each one. Even though the plugs themselves may be standard (but the Apple proprietary plug changes on each one), the space between them and the attachment to the case changes so all the hardware guys need to make a new device. Now what if I have an iPod Mini and buy the photo and want to have a voice recorder? I need TWO different ones. Why can't I buy one and use it on either iPod. Now Apple, the whole idea of a platform is compatibility and portability of applications and devices. The iPod is NO LONGER an adequate hardware platform. May be iTunes will be an interesting software platform (i am importing my whole collection now and benchmarking it against Microsoft Windows Media Player), but that is yet to be seen. Maybe Apple's strategy is to design in hardware obselence to force hardware upgrades. As a consumer I HATE that and recognize it for the crass greed that it is.

4. No removable battery or battery upgrade options.

5. Proprietary charging interface. And of course different between each model so you can't use the same periferals. Do I really want a different charger for my shuffle than my photo? Hey Apple, can you spell USB? It does charging and syncing AND audio out just fine thanks! Learn something from Blackberry that dumped their proprietary charge/sync interface in favor of USB.

6. No removable memory. I want SD please

7. No direct photo load to the iPod Photo. Why can't I plug my camera into my ipod photo? two reasons, 1. proprietary hardware interface and 2. proprietary data format (iPhoto has to convert your files probably). Silly. Hey guys it is just a big hard drive. Again, can you spell USB?

8. No video support. I had a long talk with Mike Slade (on apple's board) about this and he had some very eloquent reasons why video doesn't make sense. But I don't care. I want it! Yes even on that little screen (although I would prefer a larger one, hey my Blackberry 7100t has a larger screen!). That would be one less thing I had to carry on a trip to entertain my daughter (I now carry a portable DVD player).

So Apple, just fix those few little things and I will be a customer...

Posted by Martin at 10:18 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

February 7, 2005

A new mag for geeks like me

O'Reilly has had MAKE: Blog in the works for awhile. The first issue just came out. I subscribed. Maybe they will print my home RAID project...

Posted by Martin at 3:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 8, 2004

An old Froe to save the fingers

thanks to Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools for the reference to this one. I am buying one right now. Save my fingers out there in the woods!

Kindling splitter
Froe

I don't know how many CT readers spend much time splitting wood to make kindling for their fireplace or wood stove. But when I think of tools that I love, this one is near the top of the list.

Most folks will tell you that the way to make little sticks (kindling) out of big sticks (chunks of firewood) is to hold the firewood chunk upright on a chopping block in one hand and take a good swing at it with a hatchet. It's pretty obvious what's wrong with this picture: you have a sharp bladed instrument moving at high speed in the direction of your bare hand. After some practice, you'll get the hang of it; the problem is reaching that level of skill without a few trips to your local suturist or finger-reattachment specialist.

There's a better way: the Froe. Traditionally used for splitting shingles, it serves equally well for bloodless, fear-free kindling. The iron blade is driven into the log (another piece of firewood makes a perfect "mallet" for this), and then torque is applied using the wooden handle to complete the split.

Your fingers will thank you.

-- Karl Bunker

Froe
$40
From Lehman's, among others

Old froes can be found on eBay for $10 - $30.

Posted by Martin at 10:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 27, 2004

Another gadget to lust for

XM has finally gone portable: TWICE- Delphi, XM Launch MyFi The MyFi is a handheld portable player with 5 yours storage time for your XM broadcasts. And it comes with car and home antennas and earbuds and an FM modulator. So now, instead of having to get a different system for home or car and have nothing inbetween (running, the gym, etc.) you can take XM with you. Now if only I could put regular MP3s on it and use it for an FM receiver. That would be useful!

Posted by Martin at 9:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Ipod Photo

Ok, so Apple now has an Apple - iPod Photo. But do you care? And the U2 version that is more expensive because it is black? Is this their big holiday announcement? We have to wait till next Christmas for iPod Video? That is what we all want and I don't want to wait. Apple's hubris is showing. They are probably going to punt their lead here again.

Posted by Martin at 9:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 24, 2004

Initial thoughts on Blackberry 7100T

Got the Blackberry 7100T about three weeks ago in San Francisco. Had to go down there because they were sold out in Seattle. Here are my first impressions:

Good:

1. Super price! $199 after rebate. When all the other blackberry products are almost $400, this is truly a consumer price point and I think it will drive Blackberry to a much larger market.
2. Worked with my existing Blackberry server out of the box. I was upgrading from the Blackberry 6230 I just plugged it into the USB cable that I used for the old blackberry, and up popped a window "new device, want to generate new code?" I said yes and it synced right up. Mail started being forwarded immediately from my enterprise server.
3. Form factor is Awesome! It is traditional phone size (slightly larger). While I didn't mind the old blackberry formfactor and LOVED the real keyboard, it was a bit bulky and heavy.
4. The predictive text works GREAT! My greatest fear was loosing my speed typing with a real keyboard. I never could get good at typing text on a standard 9 key cell phone, even with T9 helper. What blackberry did was cleaverly add one more row of buttons on each side of the standard 9 button cell phone layout. This allows them to put one or at most two letters per key (versus the 3-4 on standard phone). Since the possible combinations are fewer, the prediction works an order of magnitude easier. The keys are also wide and I find in about the same place as the old ones if I am not looking. So I just type without looking and it feels like the old Blackberry.
5. Can you say Quad band! I found out that with my Nokia 6230 tri band phone, I was missing half the coverage area of ATTWS. Now I have the whole world!
6. TMobile world coverage. I signed up for world roaming one day before leaving for India. On the way we landed in Scotland (data and voice fine, downloaded mail TMobile network), Amsterdam (voice fine TMobile, no data), Bombay (voice fine, no data) and Goa (voice fine, no data). It costs $3.99 per minute, but when someone called my number, it rang whereever I was (even in the middle of the night!). Voicemail even worked by just pressing and holding #1 (no redial). I could have saved some money with a local SIM, but wouldn't have had the number (or I could have but I didn't want to figure that out).
7. Bluetooth! Finally in a Blackberry. I use the headset and transfer files to my PC. I hate wired headsets! Another fun trick at a recent conference I went to was to turn on discovery and see how many devices were out there. I counted over 50. Tried to connect to a couple, but didn't have the authorization code (since I had no idea who they were).
8. Real HTML browser! Forget WAP. Full color screen. Runs all Java plugins. Every site renders (sometimes slow) in a readable way.
9. Speaker phone. Really amazingly good. I use it most of the time when I don't have my bluetooth headset. Who needs a car adapter when you can just put on the speaker phone and put the phone down? I have even done international conference calls.
10. AOL, Yahoo and ICQ IM clients. And good clients too. The WAP AOL client on the last one was pathetic. I found out that you can also use SMS messages to shortcodes as an IM interface. I bet that is what is under the hood of these other Java clients. Pretty slick.
11. Backlit screen and keyboard. Necessary for those late nights. I have even used the screen as a flashlight to find a dropped pen in a dark club.
12. USB sync and power. I can power the thing anywhere without special adapters.

Wish were better:
1. The speed of predictive text. I can type way faster than it can predict. Maybe it is the java overhead. And the key buffer is not that big, maybe 10 stokes, so if you get too far ahead it stops taking keys.
2. I wish it could show pictures and slideshows and store photos on it.
3. Data speed. I wish it were Edge. GPRS blows.
4. MSN IM client.
5. FM radio.
6. Play MP3 files. Come on guys, business people want to have fun too!
7. A 2MP camera. Since I got a 1MP in my Nokia 6230 the number of pictures and short videos I take has gone up by an order of magnitude. It is just so convenient. I am loath to do without it now.
8. The JAVA implementation. Not all the java apps I have tried to download have worked. Something is fishy.
9. When I landed in Amsterdam and stepped off the plane the first thing I saw was a large banner for the Vodafone Blackberry 7100V! Damn! Not even a week with the device and there is already a newer, cooler, smaller, sleeker one. I have put in my order with Vodafone.

Summary: I am hooked. I am probably going to switch my number over to it and try carrying it as one device. I will miss the FM, music and picture features of Nokia 6230, but may carry that in addition just for fun.

Posted by Martin at 4:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 7, 2004

The ultimate geek DIY magazine

OReilly is launching a new magazine. Make Home Page It is Martha Stewart for geeks. What Popular Mechanics used to be. How to do home projects that are hacks. Can't wait for this.

Posted by Martin at 9:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 19, 2004

The ultimate cell phone headset

I have been looking for a better headset for my Nokia 7230. I now have the Bluetooth Jabra 250 and love the wireless convenience, but am underwhelmed by the noise cancelation. I always have to cup my hand over the mic for anyone to hear me. The wind noise is too great.

Everyone is talking abou the Jawbone which uses three microphones and sits on your jawbone (literally) using the data from it to tell when you are actually talking. The technology was developed by the military. Haven't bought one yet as I am still trying out the ETY.COM headset which the company was kind enough to give me for review. Haven't completed my thoughts yet, but the ETY is $69 and the Jawbone is $149 for starters. If Jawbone would give me one I would do a head to head. For now, though I am quite impressed with the ETY. They can't keep them in stock and the noise cancellation is in both the earpiece and the mic!

Posted by Martin at 8:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 17, 2004

Is it a TV or a PC?

the Qosmio E15 AV Notebook PC - Toshiba has a unique feature. With a built in TV tuner you can turn it on as a TV, DVD, or CD player without booting Windows. Now isn't that a revelation? If all you want to do is watch a DVD or TV on your laptop, why boot windows and use that clumsy GUI? GREAT idea! Look for more like this.

If you want to use windows media center to rip from the TV or DVD to the 80gig hard drive that is built in too. Built in PVR. Look for more of that. This is a great portable machine for work and family play. I wonder if the direct DVD player mode eats batteries like playing a DVD under Windows. One of the advantages of dedicated portable DVD players for family travel (besides the $200 price) is that you can get a couple of movies out of a battery. With my laptop I am lucky to get one.

Posted by Martin at 12:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 7, 2004

EasyGlider, a gadget I gotta have

Gizmo reports on a swiss company what has a self powered wheel that can pull you along on a little sled or on your own wheels like skates or a skateboard. Doesn't look like it is available in america yet, but I am going to start looking for a way to buy it.

Posted by Martin at 9:46 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 1, 2004

Review of Whipple Supercharger Systems Programmer for the 2002 Avalanche

A couple months ago, I installed a Whipple Supercharger on my 2002 Chevy Avalanche. For the next month I drove around town with a huge smile on my face and my foot on the gas. Every excuse to break the tires loose was taken. After awhile, the thrill wore of somewhat though and I wanted more. So next step is to reprogram the trucks computer to change the shifting, fuel mixture, and a couple other things. I had to wait for Whipple to come out with a reprogrammer specifically for my Avalanche/supercharger combination. There are lots of reprogrammers on the market, but you really need to get the one which is designed to work with what you have, especially if you have changed anything else. My friend Steve got one of the first specifically for the Whipple on the Avalanche from Street & Performance Electronics. With may reprogrammers you can twiddle with all the settings yourself to tune the thing to run how you like. You can do that with this as well, but they also offer a "performance tune" which has been optimized for the Whipple/Avalanche 5.3 combination. Just use that and you won't run the risk of blowing up your engine. The only other option is the speedometer. The factory setting maxes out at 98MPH, you can keep that or bump up the cut-off to 130MPH or choose "unlimited". You can guess what I chose. Now the only problem is that the needle is stopped by a pin in the speedometer just after 100mph. Time to open the dash and break the pin. I used to have a Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer when I lived in Munich. It didn't have a pin. I drove to work every day at "D". The needle went all the way around and was pointing straight down to the six oclock position to the "D" in the transmition list. Don't know how fast that was, but it could have gone faster.

So how does the reprogrammer work? GREAT! Installation was completely painless. There are two pages of directions only. You just locate the OBD II connector (just under and to the left of your steering column) and connect the cable of your reprogrammer. There are only six steps. Three you don't have to do unless you changed the size of your tires. When you have uploaded the "performance tune" the reprogrammer is now locked to your vehicle VIN and can't be used on another truck. Good software work to get $600 bucks for one small program use. After less than a 5 minute install and 5 minutes to wait, we were ready to drive! The first thing you will notice is that the shift points are WAY better. Much smoother shifting, no more jerking. And less delay when you stomp on it to get the boost. We floored it on a straight away and it pulled like a wild dog all the way up to 120mph without loosing any power. There was a slight knocking sound when we stepped on it though. Sort of like the rattle of a deisel engine. Steve said that was not good and asked if I had a full tank of super 92 octane or above in it. Yup, from Chevron. Chevron and BP make the best super I hear. 76 and Texaco suck. Never buy non-name brand super for your supercharger. The next thing he asked about was the fuel filter. The truck has 40,000 miles on it and I have never changed the fuel filter. That is most likely the problem. When you stomp on it, the boost needs to suck gas very fast, with an old clogged fuel filter it could be starved and cause that rattle. No good. So I have to stay off the gas until I get the new exhaust installed (friday). With new stainless exhaust I will replace the fuel Filter. After that I will put it on a dyno and see how many horsies I am pushing!

Summary: the ProFlash reporgrammer is worth the $$. Much smoother accelleration and some noticable improvement in pick-up lag and overall boost. Can't wait for the exhaust.

Posted by Martin at 2:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 25, 2004

Car power gadget I gotta have

My inbox brought me a tasty treat this morning: ThinkGeek :: Firepod. A cigarette lighter plug in that has USB and fireware power out. My Blackberry gets power from a USB cable. My cell phone has a USB charger. Many things are getting that these days and this is a must have! Even my camera gets USB power.

Posted by Martin at 9:30 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

August 17, 2004

Now this is fun

What to do with those gadgets that turn out to be useless? Or too frustrating? www.weblowitup.com > WeBlowItUp. Very satisfying. I am sending them an old cell phone right away!

Posted by Martin at 7:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 12, 2004

The power of Camera phones

I heard the FotoLog pitch last week and one thing the CEO claimed has really stuck with me. He said the ubiquity of cameras (because everyone always has their phone with them) will breed whole new forms of behavior and a next generation of web photo services. All the self-serving of that comment asside, I would have to agree. V 1.0 of photo services were basically all trying to sell you photo paper re-prints of your digital photos. Replication of the old model. Most of the digital photos I take with my camera phone I don't want to print. I just want to share. This IS a whole new behavior. Like my photoblog. And some pictures here:
Cloudmark and AhnLabs sign a major strategic deal in Korea:

Posted by Martin at 12:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 10, 2004

Another Lazy American Gadget

One of my core investment tenents is: Americans are lazy. The Toymaker's Workshop has a new "invention" that proves just that (if they sell any). A motorozed ice cream cone. Could you get any more lazy?

Posted by Martin at 12:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 23, 2004

Gadget of the week

Think you have it all? Not until you have the Swiss Memory USB. That's right, a Swiss Army knife with a USB hard memory stick in it. What is there not to love?

Posted by Martin at 7:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 20, 2004

Surf and surf..really!

Intel has spent another chunk of it's massive marketing fund to create a prototype gadget near and dear to my heart. BBC NEWS | Technology | Surf the net while surfing waves. A surfboard with a touchscreen WiFi enabled computer in it! Between sets, you can check the surf at other breaks, your stock portfolio, or send web cam pictures back home to the jealous relatives. I gotta have one!

Posted by Martin at 9:47 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 14, 2004

Welcome to Vapor Rafe

Rafe Needleman in his latest Vapor Trail :: AO has discovered an "invention" that I wrote about last year.
Nothing new about the technology in his column. MSR (not surprisingly) slipped it's consumer version of the camp stove. Originally reported for this summer by Wired, the company now says they will have a camp stove out next spring. Still waiting!

Posted by Martin at 11:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 17, 2004

The Powerizers, two months into it

I have had my Powerizers for two months now. Time to do a review (and a couple of readers have asked for a review as well - must be responsive to my public).

I have actually now ridden them five or six times. The high level review is FUN FUN FUN! The details are a little more sobering. While not difficult to learn, you should take some basic precautions which I (being of small brain and big ego) of course did not. Immediately when I got them in the office, I strapped them on sitting in my chair and pulled myself up by the edge of my cube and took off walking! It is easy to start going, you just lean forward and pick up one foot after the other. Just like stilts actually. About 3 foot tall stilts. But you are not really getting any of the benefit of the jumping or spring. I wondered around the office peeking over cubes and scaring people for awhile. The receptionists just shook their heads at yet another gadget I was trying out. Unlike the Segway, I didn't run into the wall with this one. So out of the box I was able to walk around with no trouble. To get them off, make sure you sit down in a chair as it is quite a way down. To get started, lean forward and walk like normal. Stopping may be a little tricky at first, but just don't get going too fast.

The real fun started when I went outside to try the jumping. I just took them outside and sad down on the sidewalk and strapped them on with my jeans and tennis shoes. The first problem was getting up with these extensions on my legs. It is not a intuitive thing. The trick is to get on one knee then life the other leg up and put the "foot" on the ground, then press up on that one to bring the other leg up. So I take off walking then speed up into taking BIG MOON WALK strides. Very soon I am going too fast and I can't get the feet pegs in the right place with every step and I plunge one of them off the concrete sidewalk into the grass. Immediate forward motion stop. If I were skiing you would call it a yard sale. Just like catching an edge. Down I went from a high height. Of course no gloves or helmet. Ouch! That was it for that day.

Back home the next week I was smarter and put on some leather gloves and a helmet and a long sleeve jacket. With a couple practice runs I got very good at jumping about 5 feet in the air and taking about 10 foot steps. It is totally fun! And quite a bit more of a workout than I thought it would be. Since then I have suited up for a run workout and gone out with helmet and wrist guards. After two minutes you are breathing heavy and having fun.

Lets me clear. These things have no practical purpose in life except to bring a smile to your face (and maybe some bystanders too). They are not a better way to get from point A to point B. They are tricky to learn, but not difficult for someone good at balancing sports. You need to be fairly athletic to enjoy them. But if you like the wide gaping childish grin of doing something so totally fun it should be illegal, order your pair today!

Posted by Martin at 11:32 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

May 13, 2004

Wired is behind

I remember coming unglued when I first saw the Fetish section of Wired. It was Nirvana. I told Andrew Ander who was running Hotwired at the time that I wanted a store where I could just give them my credit card and just have them ship me everything that was reviewed in Fetish every month. The section has gotten a little less leading edge over the years. On-line the section of their web page is GadgetLab. But they only review a couple things each week. And they have a newsletter to subscribe to but no RSS feed.

No RSS feed? How 1990 of them. Only e-mail based newsletter? That is so last decade. A shame to see Wired fall behind.

Posted by Martin at 10:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Here is a fun service

Have a phone number and want to know who it belongs to? There is a web page for you. www.reversephonedirectory.com. Basically the site uses three other data providers to do the look up, sortof like a meta crawler for search. You can try each web service. I put in my home phone number and my name and address faithfully showed up. My cell number came back with nothing. Good. They have options to do bulk look-ups for money. I can see how that would be good for marketers trying to clean or add to their lists. But you would have to believe the sources the site was using were as good or better than yours. I don't know the quality of the data at all. But a fun web service when in need.

Posted by Martin at 10:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

New knife

Just bought on e-bay a Buck 760 Summit Mountaineer folding knife. Designed by local seattle boy Peter Whittaker to carry up Mt. Rainier. It is light and has all you need to get to the top and back down. A handy dandy carabiener clip so it can hang on the outside of your pack. Very cool....

Posted by Martin at 10:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The solution for my Bose speakers clicking

This is it: stereo-link: Connect your computer to your stereo with our high-fidelity USB converter! I bought the Bose Companion 3 speakers for my home PC. Love the sound! But there is interference. Some clicking and popping and a humm. I think it is the harddrive. I called Bose. They said run the speakers in a room with nothing else in it. I said that didn't sound too good for computer speakers! So I talked to a friend at microsoft today who said the problem is that you get interference by doing the Digital to Analog converison in the computer housing. I just have the speakers plugged into the headphone jack which is on the motherboard. With the Stereo-Link gadget, you get the music out digitally from the USB port and do the converison in their clean box. No more noise. I can't wait to try it! Wait for the review.

Posted by Martin at 2:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 12, 2004

Cool Camp LED

Kudos to Kevin Kelly for this:
I am going camping this weekend and want a very light flashlight.

Ultra-lightest camp light
Pak-Lite LED

The ultimate lightweight backpacking camp light. A tiny 4 gram chip sits atop a regular alkaline 9-volt battery which acts as body, handle, stand and power source. Two modes: high (75 hours) and low (600 hours). High mode produces about as much light as a candle, only steadier, harsher and whiter. The Pak-LIte is an ideal tent light. You can set down and let it burn hour after hour, night after night. I once ran mine for 48 hours continuously and found no drop off in power. One battery should last the longest thru hike. You can make it last years by substituting a 9-volt lithium battery (200 hours on hi, 1,200 on lo). It's easy enough to grab it and use it as a torch or map reader as well. Since the 9-volt battery has a long shelf life it makes a pretty good hurricane/emergency light too.

-- KK

Pak-Lite LED Flashlight
$25
http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?T1=142+0386

Posted by Martin at 1:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 18, 2004

Migo part 3: Here goes Nutt'n

Back at the laptop. Password screen. Starts sync. I stop it and pull down login window from stub on desktop. Click on "NewHP". get the warning about IE. OK, here goes nutt'n. The computer seems to be doing something, but I get no hourglass or anything. I can't click on any icons. Taskbar is locked. NO messages. Ouch, maybe the people in the office were smarter than I thought. When I mouse up to the PocketLOgin stub on my desktop, I get an hourglass. And the graphic is gone. Ah, something is happening, I can feel it. But I can't see it. In addition to PocketLOgin, I have AIM, IE, Blackberry destkop redirector, and Outlook running. None are doing anything. Lets check Task Manager see what is up. It says everything else is "running" and pocketlogin is "not responding". Hummmm. Hey, all my desktop icons just disappeared! Something must be happening. Try to close Task Manager and it stays on the screen, but becomes unresponive. Both NewHP and my laptop are XP machines. But the HP is XP home and the laptop is XP Pro. Wonder if it matters. Shouldn't. Still get an hourglass when I mouse over the white space on my desktop where the PocketLogin icon used to be. HUmmmmm.... Try Task manager again. CPU is at 2-5% and pocketlogin is still not responding and everything else is running. When I drag the window around, it leaves traces all over the window. YOu know the type, when memory is just trashing. It has been 10 minutes. I am pulling the plug and tossing this thing.

Summary. Total failure.

See also, Migo Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Posted by Martin at 7:28 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Migo part Deux: review of the plug-in process

So after not being able to convince anyone in the office to be a guinea pig, I got home and plugged the Migo into my shiny new Sony Vaio desktop. It has two USB 2.0 ports in the front behind a handy little door. First problem was the same as when I put it into my desktop docking stations. The ports are very close together. I had to take out both USB cables to plug it in. Since one of these is for my printer, putting the MIGO in took my printer off-line. Not good.

Again, Windows faithfully plug-and-played the device and opened an explorer window with Pocket Login exe in it. Now being a savvy guy I knew to click on that program. Again, would be nice to have auto-run. So click away I go (this time there is a delay because I am using the Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard and mouse which has to "wake up" after being off line). I get the password screen. Now what password did I use? There is a very handy dandy "show hint" button right next to the password box. One click of that and I remember the password. Very handy. There is also a "Forgot Password" button which is tempting. So I try that one too. It informs me that "secure data" is still running and the only way to get into the Migo is to reformat it, do I really want to do that? Now let me get this right: Without a password, my only option is to reformat. Humm. Not sure I love it, but I guess it is better than letting someone in.

After the correct password, I get the Migo screen again with the flashing windows showing my how wonderful it is and how to use it. Second time around wasn't so interesting. Only option is continue. So I do. Instead of just going ahead and making my new desktop look like my old one (which I thought was the point), I get a screen asking me to choose a nickname for this computer. It happilly put in the windows name. I don't understand this. But not wanting to mess with the juju, I click ok, my only option really. I get the "Syncronize" window and the Migo Meter starts clicking along inventorying my desktop items and internet explorer favorites from this computer. The only option is "start Syncronize:" or cancel. Now I wonder if it is going to copy the stuff from this computer to the Migo. That is not really what I wanted, I only wanted to bring my work desktop home.

"Syncronize" does just that. First it copies my desktop files from this computer to the Migo. Which I didn't want to do. Immediately I get a "failed to copy file" "File does not exist" message. Then why are you trying to move it? Do I wish to continue. Sure, I am a gunslinger. I guess Pocketlog-in just reads the registry entires and waits for file validation. Sloppy. Next up a sync complete window with "ok". I don't understand these windows. When there is only one option and it is "ok", why bother. Then I get a message informing me that this computer "NewHP" has been faithfully syncronized to the Migo and I can now take it whereever I want to. Ok, fine, but what about what I really want to do which is to go from Migo TO NewHP? The only way forward is another "ok" button. OK.

I now have a pocket log-in stub on my desktop. And no further guidance. Well, after a couple of clicks, under Pocket Login Options, I find a button called "computer use". Intriguing. Here I get two radio buttons. One to run Pocket login in "Syncronize mode" (which is the default and which I just did). And one for "Login mode". That is apparently what I want. Since PocketLogin, the executable lives on the Migo itself, when you start it in the Explorere window, you are running it off the USB drive. What would have been nice, is after the last sync operations, if it had notified me that I should change the mode to Login if I wanted the application to start differently. As it is I had to hunt to find. Bad Bad Bad. So I change the mode to Log-in and click "ok" (again my only option). All the windows go away.

Silly me, I think I can just go back to the Explorer window and run PocketLogin again. Nope. Even though I changed the mode, the stub on my desktop doesn't have any new options. The task bar app has no new options. The removable disk window (the USB) only lets me browse the files that I syncronized from NewHP to the Migo. Ouch, looks like I have to pull it out and plug it in again. Being frustrated, I think to just yank it out, but being a student of many computer failures, I go instead to the task bar to the "safely remove hardware" window. Here trouble starts again. You see, I have a 250gig external harddrive plugged into a USB 2.0 port in the back. Windows can't tell them appart so I see two "USB Mass Storage Device" listings. Which one to stop? I click on one then the other. Thankfully in the "Stop hardware" window, it shows you the volume name which has been assigned. I have to check to find out that the Migo has been given "H" and not "G". So I try to stop my MIGO drive "H". But it can't. Duh. The application on my desktop is running off the Migo. You can't stop it. So I just yank the frigg'n thing out. Happilly one USB Mass storage device disappears from the "safely remove hardware" window and the Pocket Log-in stub disappears from my desktop. No blue screen. Now what is the purpose of the safe removal again?

Back-in she goes. Again explorer window and password prompt. I remembered it this time. Back to the flashy screen with a "continue" button. Then it asks me to register! ouch, totally tacky. I am going to not register. I get the screen again where I can only see synced files on NewHP. No option to login as the other desktop. I click around some more and can't find anything. So I figure somehow I might have erased it above when I was trying the password feature. So I yank the damn thing out and plug it into my laptop (now right next to the Vaio). It happilly asks for a password then starts syncronizing and running the Migo Meter. There is some serious copying and hard-disk spinning going on so I figure I must have screwed something up. I wait. I also wonder why if this laptop data was gone, and I rest the Migo mode to Log-in, why didn't it ask me to login the laptop as NewHP to copy that desktop over? I am confused.

After a long while, I just click close on the sync window. I try to open the pocket login stub on my desktop. There is an option for "NewHP" sounds promissing. So I click it. The screen warns me that if I want to make internet favorites look like NewHP they will have to close all IE windows. This is where it gets good. So I take it out of the laptop and try it back in the NewHP.

Another password screen, another OK. PocketLOgin stub again only offers me the "NewHP" option and says I am already on that computer so don't even bother. Frustrated I try the "help" option off the Migo task icon. "No help found". Well this isn't going to work. I am going to have to take my chances on the laptop. Time to post and go over to NEWHP to edit this blog. Fingers crossed.

See also, Migo Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Posted by Martin at 7:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 15, 2004

Migo review

So I got a Migo yesterday. Talked to the company that wrote the software that runs on it. I am intrigued by the idea that I could take my desktop with me on a USB keychain dongle. So I just plugged it in.

First problem: The dongle has a hump in it. I am using a Toshiba Protege in a docking station. The docking station has two USB ports in the back (the ones on the laptop are covered by the docking station) that are very close together, infact on top of each other. I have a USB cable in one. When I plugged in the dongle, the bump on it rubbed against the adjacent cable and made it hard to plug it into the slot. Not a good experience. While the bump may add tactile feel when carrying it around or holding it, it impeeds easy use in a crowded set of slots, bad design.

So Windows XP faithfully recognized the Migo and opens a Explorer window with a shortcut to PocketLogin. Now I have to be smart enough to click on that to run the application. I understand they are working on getting it to auto execute, but there are security concerns with auto-running .exe files in plug and play. When I click, the first thing the application asks me is "do you want to password protect your Migo files". Now that may be a logical question to ask a geek like me, but I don't know if that is a good first question for the mass market. You see I just got this dongle in the mail. No manual. No explaination of what it is. The average user maybe would like to take a tour of features or demo before they just launch into configuring the application.

But being a geek, I soldier on. Of course I want to password protect my files. "PocketLogin SecureData is now enabled", how conforting. That pop-up goes away and a Migo configuration window comes up. At the same time, my ZoneAlarm firewall burps and asks me if I want PocketLogin.exe to access the internet. Now I am bit of two minds when I get these. Why does it want to access the internet? What is it going to do? I haven't even given it any information yet? Will it go out and share my info with the world? ZoneAlarm doesn't give me any details. Migo doesn't even notify me what it is doing. I know from experience, if you say no, the install program usually crashes. So I say yes to the firewall with a little trepidation.

Meanwhile back on the Migo configuration screen, it is happilly flashing me some screens extolling the wonders of the Migo and how to use it. Would have been nice to get that before I was asked any hard questions. The only option is continue. This is like the "hints at startup" feature of many products. I usually turn it off after a couple of times. After Continue, I get the EULA license agreement. I read it of course (don't you?) The agreement is from Forward Solutions, the software company. They actually got quite a bit of branding in the deal. This is great for them, but a little confusing as a user. Am I installing a Migo or something from Forward Solutions? Pretty standard stuff. Interesting that Support Services provision is provided by FWD solutions not Migo. So I don't call Migo for support? That is setting up a customer satisfaction issue. I hate when they play hot potatoe with me. Under Software Transfer, they allow me to sell the device and software once. Gee thanks. But nice to see that they specifically address it. Many don't. Can't export the software supposedly because they use such strong encryption. Too bad for their market size. No gotchas on data sharing or privacy. Happy now so I accept.

PocketLogin then grabs my computer name and asks if that is what I want to have as my computer nickname. Why do they bother? Would I want a different one? Too much information, just assign it and let me change it to a friendlier name later if I really care. Suddenly my ZoneAlarm Pro burps again. "Do you want to allow PocketLogin by FWD Solutions Inc. to act as a server?" This one totally scares me! They nicely remind me that this program has previously asked for (and I have graciously granted) internet access. But what does this server thing do? I know from talking to the software guys and being a geek myself, that they use this server thing as a way to do sync. But to an end user it is a scary thing. So as a server, can anyone access my data? What will the server be sharing. I believe many end users would bail out at this point because they have simply not been given enough information on what the hell the application is doing to their computer. But being a geek, I think I understand this stuff and want to try the software, so I tell ZoneAlarm to let the server run.

Back in teh PocketLogin Syncronize window, the Migo Meter is being quickly chewed up (disk space on the Migo) as files whiz by in the box below. These files are obviously the ones that Migo has chosen to copy over from my desktop to the Migo. I am offered a couple of options. Desktop files changed in last XXX days. (or none at all) Set to 30 default. Looks fine. Outlook Inbox items from last XXX days (or none at all) also set to 30. Internet Explorer Favorites or none at all. And a "More Options" button. Being curious I click it... Here is where it gets interesting. Under the Outlook tab you can select any folder to be synced. I try my contacts. One click and the program starts copying and dutifully telling me how much of the Migo I have taken up. It seems slow, but then again I have over 7,000 contacts. While it is working I can click around other tabs (good). On the File tab, you can add any folder on your harddrive to the sync thing. VERY good. I decide not to since I will probably be full. There are lots of ways to parse the files by folder, file type, days old, subfolders, etc. Very helpful one-click boxes to grab whole groups. Contacts sync done, took up 42MB, inbox took 2MB, desktop 132K, other stuff about 15MB. They are using MSMAPI to get to the files which is good. You can ask to sync one file individually and it just brings up the windows file selection box. But it goes to the 1033 directory in the MSMAPI directory, way down in the guts of Windows. Not good. Should default to MyDocuments or something. I put a couple MP3 files on just for kicks. Done screwing around selecting what to sync. I "Apply" changes. The applicaiton is working on something. Moving the Migo status bar eating up memory. Don't know if it is only now copying the files and prior screens were just discovering and sizing them. In any case, the delay is a pain. I don't get any message about what it is doing. If it is writing the files, just tell me that. After I "Apply" I still have to hit "ok". But nothing tells me that. Fix your UI guys.

Out of the More Options tab and back in the PocketLogin Syncronize screen, the Migo Meter is once again growing as files fly by on the screen. It seems now is the time of actual copy. Or sync. I wonder what happens when I close the application. It stops syncing. I wonder why it can't sync in the background. I have to open the app to finish syncing. Not a real big pain because of course I can still go use any other windows app. Like this blog poster.

I just noticed that PocketLogin put a little icon on my desktop. When you mouse over it, a menu drops down telling you how to sync then remove your Migo to go to another computer. Well I guess it is time to do that. They don't tell me to use Windows remove device to keep windows stable, but being experineced I do that anyway.

Well my office manager is too smart to let me use her computer and so is everyone else in the office, so I will have to wait till I get home to be my own trial. More coming...

See also, Migo Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Posted by Martin at 11:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 28, 2004

My favorite direct from Japan gadget retailers

Dynamism.com
iCube.us
Japan-direct.com
Kemplar.com
TKNY.com

Posted by Martin at 7:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 18, 2004

Power to go

Just bought one of these little beauties: Statpower XPOWER-75 Single-Outlet 75 Watt DC-AC Mobile Power Inverter. You can basically use it to power anything that doesn't pull alot of resistance (like a hairdryer) out of the cigarette lighter in your car. Wish I had this before I bought a special airmatress for camping that ran on 12 volt itself. I could have just used my existing aerobeds. Oh, well, now I have computer power in the car, and don't need a special car charger for my cell phone.

Posted by Martin at 11:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

March 12, 2004

Terminator 0.1

Ever wanted a little help walking around? The guys at Bezerkley have a robotic exoskeleton for you: What the BLEEX Is That?


Designed for firefighters, rescue workers, combat soldiers and others who might have to move heavy loads in the course of their duties, BLEEX is an exoskeleton that lets the average person carry much more than normally possible. It is also the first step (punn intended) to the Terminator.

Posted by Martin at 8:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 1, 2004

A truly accurate lie detector?

'Brain fingerprinting' touted as truth meter Why can't science just figure out a way to read brain waves directly? Go around all this language stuff. Be able to tap into things in the brain that the conscious has problems getting to. Well we may be getting closer. Apparently there are things called P Waves that the brain gives off. By measuring the curve and shape of these, one (with the help of alot of math) can figure out if the brain remembers something that the eye is seeing or not. You can imagine how useful this could be in a legal case. Say you flash 30 pictures in front of a suspect. 15 of them are details relevant to the crime. 15 are not. The brian of the person who performed the crime would recognize the details of it. Someone who hadn't been there would not. Apparetnly a Seattle company called Brainwave Science is working on commercializing just such an invention. Wow, it is getting harder to be a criminal every day.

Posted by Martin at 9:08 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

January 29, 2004

Remember moon shoes? Here is what you need for today's generation

I am ordering mine right now! Poweriser.

Posted by Martin at 3:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 28, 2004

More time wasters...

Play Smack the Pinguin Great for long hours of entertainment during conference calls and after that particularly infuriating board meeting. Click mouse once to set up the batter, second time to hit the sucker! I know everyone in the executive office at Microsoft is playing this one...

Posted by Martin at 3:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 26, 2004

Google is joining the social network craze

orkut

Posted by Martin at 3:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

January 19, 2004

Now here is a cool digital media gadget

The Aireo. It has built in WiFi, built in FM transmitter AND receiver, dual headphone jacks, 1.5Gig hard drive AND SD card slot. Now that is EVERYTHING I need in a portable music player!

Posted by Martin at 12:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 15, 2004

fun time waster

Got a few minutes to waste? Try the Oddcast TTS Demo. Type in any set of words and the on-screen personality says them. Their eyes and head follow your cursor. Fun to make them swear!

Posted by Martin at 3:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Brain/Computer interface moving along

Cyberkinetics Inc has apparently applied to the FDA for approval to test it's brain to computer interface on humans. It works in Chimps. Remember Strange Days? This is Strange Days come to reality...

Posted by Martin at 3:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

January 1, 2004

Ever wanted to be a bubble boy?

Kudos to Kevin Kelly for finding this gadget. "waterball". You zip yourself inside this thing and can walk on water or roll around town inside a great big bubble. Fun... Gotta try this one soon on Puget Sound!

Posted by Martin at 8:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 29, 2003

The IT gadget for 2004

Every IT administrator (and some geeks) will want wone of these: National Scientific WiFi tracker. With this nifty little hand held device, you can find WiFi users postion. Great help in the coffee shop to find the cute girl surfing Friendster near you.

Posted by Martin at 3:13 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Where to buy a HERF gun

A while ago, I posted some plans for making your own HERF gun. Now I have found where to buy one! EMP/HERF SHOCK PULSE GENERATORS Of course you need to be an "authorized resaercher".

Posted by Martin at 1:37 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

December 26, 2003

Kevin Kelly and Cool tools

So I like to usually post the latest cool electronic gadget that is to lust for. Kevin Kelly -- Cool Tools
is his personal list of cool things from many different categories. In fact mostly not electronic consumer stuff. Cool charity organizations, movies, etc. Worth keeping up on.

Posted by Martin at 5:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 19, 2003

The human robots are coming

watch this video to see the future of toy robotics. The motion is unbelievably lifelike.

Posted by Martin at 2:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 12, 2003

Newsweek's digital IQ test

I just took this and it is amazingly good for Newsweek. Digital IQ test. I scored 173, off the charts. But then I am a geek. This just confirms it

Posted by Martin at 11:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 9, 2003

Pulse Wave stun gun?

I just bought an AirTazer for jollies. It uses electric shock to incapacite an attacker. I found this little gadget that claims to incapacitate thorugh pulse waves that disrupt the brain waves and voluntary muscles. Pulse Wave Myotron - 30 Day Money Back Guarantee I gotta try one. I understand that pulse waves are omnidirectional though. How do you prevent your own incapacitation?

Posted by Martin at 1:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 3, 2003

A revolution in vaporization

So I just bought a new camp stove. Camp stoves have had the same basic technology for decades. So has the aerosol can. One of the basic subsystems of all these things is some sort of mechanical device that converts liquid fuel to a vapor mixed with air that can burn. These guys Vapore have come up with a new method of vaporizing fuel which is way smaller and way more effecient. They even got some Wired coverage: Wired 11.11: START Not the kind of investment Igniton would make, but I love these kinds of basic material science inventions that could fundamentally change alot of products. The challenge is how to go to market and get paid a meaningful amount to replace those subassembly sockets that are currently inhabited by other technologies (that have been fully depreciated).

Posted by Martin at 8:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 26, 2003

The coolest Gadget... Wheelman

I have been following these guys for a couple of years. Invented down in Australia. Wheelman. It is a powered offroad surfboard/skateboard thing. You stand inside the wheels and there is a handbrake. They are just starting to make them for the US. Gunna put my order in tomorrow...

Posted by Martin at 8:42 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

October 16, 2003

The one dongle that may be useful

You see those USB hard drive dongles everywhere these days. I get them free at trade shows. I never understood who would really pay for just repackaged memory. There has to be more value. Now there is: Migo by Forward Solutions, Inc.. When you put some smarts on the memory, sync all important files and settings so that when you plug it into another computer it basically becomes your computer, now that is useful. Think about it. How many files do you normally use. I bet there is way less that 1Gig of files that I actually care about on my 60GIG drive. There are less than 200mb of files that I use in any one week. Lets see, would I rather carry an extra bag with a laptop and all the associated crap, or a little dongle on my keychain? Which is more likely to be stollen on a trip? Which costs more?

The Migo is definitely a 1.0 product. According to Rafe the thing doesn't sync all the stuff that you need (like network settings, VPN settings, IDs, passwords) and the first one he got didn't work, so he had to send it back.

There was actually a guy in my office three weeks ago from a different company with a prototype of a similar device that was still in R&D stage. His had a fingerprint reader like the next Migo is supposed to have. I would probably want that.

It will be interesting to see where this goes. I would buy one.

Posted by Martin at 7:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 1, 2003

If I had a travel trailer

this would be it. Not that I am the travel trailer type. But if i HAD to... <a title="Airstream :: International CCD" href="http://www.airstream.com/product_line/travel_trailers/intccd28_int.html">Airstream :: International CCD</a>

Posted by Martin at 11:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 25, 2003

now here is a toy

Tired of playing "virtual reality" games? Try taking out your frustrations in the office with a REAL tank... <a title="ThinkGeek :: R/C Shooting Battle Tanks" href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/6279">ThinkGeek :: R/C Shooting Battle Tanks</a>

Posted by Martin at 3:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 13, 2003

Gotta upgrade my blackberry again

I just got the 6210 with integrated GSM phone and WAP browser with monochrome screen. Now they come out with a color screen! <a title="BlackBerry" href="http://www.blackberry.net/products/new_handhelds/index.shtml?CPID=ILC-7230">BlackBerry</a>
And it has a real HTML browser. Can never stay up enough...

Posted by Martin at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 15, 2003

Water rocket cars!

<p>If you have a little time this weekend, build one of these....<a title="W A T E R - R O C K E T - P O W E R E D - C A R S" href="http://www.outsideconnection.com/rockets/rocketcar.htm">W A T E R - R O C K E T - P O W E R E D - C A R S</a></p>

Posted by Martin at 8:19 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

May 3, 2003

Just the toy I have been looking for

I have alot of books and DVDs at home. Lots of my friends borrow them. I never know where they are. Finally, a solution! <a href="http://www.knockknock.biz/html/kits.html#">Knock Knock Kits: The Wishing Kit & Personal Library Kit</a>

Posted by Martin at 7:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack