iPad and Velcro

Let me first disclose that I’m violating my own editorial guidlines (product must be used by the writer), but hey – I think this idea is too good not to share!  It shows many creative uses for the iPad when you put Velcro on the back.  iPad vs. Velcro

Pocket Cameras – Toys or Tools? (Kodak Zi6)

Over the last few of years, the consumer electronics market has been deluged with small pocket video cameras. Just recently, they started to be classified as “HD” because their image size and frame-rate meets the definition. There are limitations, however. You do “Get what You Pay For”. But can these simple inexpensive cameras be used to create more than family movies — even “professional” results? In many ways, yes.

First, the limitations:
-Just because the image is HD in size, the approximately $100 Zi6 sensor is not equal to much higher priced HD cameras such as a HVX-200 from Panasonic (MSRP $6,300). The Zi6’s image suffers in low light, however it’s surprisingly good for a $100 camera.
-It’s more difficult to get smooth footage: This is a lightweight pocket camera you hold in your hands – how steady are your hands? You’ll know in a few seconds when you shoot with this camera. There is no image stabilization on this camera.
-No external mic input, though no camera at my purchase time had this feature in the sub $100 price category.

The advantages:
-You can take it anywhere! Put it in your pocket! Try that with a 5.5lb HVX-200.
-It records on virtually ubiquitous SD cards. But don’t use the cheap ones. You’ll need the faster class 6 cards. They’ll cost you 10’s of dollars, compared to 100’s of dollars for the proprietary P2 cards used in the HVX-200.
-If you shoot in bright light the image looks surprisingly good on YouTube and compares favorably to much higher priced cameras.
-The on-camera mic is pretty good as long as you stay close to your subject and the background noise is not overpowering

My review:
There are some really useful features about this camera for a serious user: The camera uses rechargeable AA batteries that can be found anywhere. The same with the SDHC cards that are used to record the video. If you’re shooting a lot, you can easily carry spares so you don’t have to stop to recharge the camera or download the video. The lens has a macro setting that allows you to get within a couple inches of an object and be in focus. These are great features to have when I shot for my wife’s running club. See the video on YouTube here. They ran a 204-mile marathon from Gonzales, Texas to the Sam Houston monument in Houston. The team spent 36-hours on the road and I had the Zi6 with me.

How to get good results with these small cameras:
-Shoot where there is light. Keep the sun or bright windows behind you. Don’t shoot in backlit situations.
-Hold the camera steady. Brace your arms against your body. Use your body to help with pans and tilts. Avoid holding the camera one-handed in an outstretched arm.
-Be close to speakers so the sound doesn’t sound too hollow.
-Tell a story.

There is now a 2nd generation of these cameras on the market that have external mic inputs and image stabilization, but these features won’t make up for bad technique. If you give Picaso a pencil and paper what comes from it? A masterpiece! The same applies here: good videography and good storytelling come from the gray matter between your ears, not from the camera in your hands.

Do you have experience with pocket video cameras? We want to hear from you! Please leave your comments and remember: “Technology is your Friend!”

Thanks for reading!
-John (aka Founding Geek).

Blu-ray: Will it Survive?

Question: Do you prefer your entertainment to be at the Highest Quality and be less convenient OR do you prefer your entertainment to be convenient in substitution for Higher Quality? Let the battle begin.

Over the last couple of years, we have seen Blu-ray disc player prices dramatically decrease. Rumor has it: This Black Friday…Blu-ray players for 99 bucks! After these drastic price reductions, you would think people would flock to purchase their very own unit but this is not happening. The market is showing very little growth in Blu-ray player ownership. Why? My theories:
#1: The discs are very expensive. A single disc can cost $35.
#2: You need the right components to make Blu-ray worthwhile. 1080p TV, HDMI cable, Nice Surround Sound amplifier and speakers, etc.
#3: Our ipod generation wants it now!…That’s right…Instant Gratification. The Apple iTunes store has taught us that we no longer have to wait for our entertainment but just merely click. Why go the store when you can watch movies online, on your smart phone, or even better…have them streamed to your TV? Movie streaming pioneers such as Netflix, Yahoo Movies, Apple TV, and services such as cable, TiVo, and satellite pose possible threats to Blu-ray because they give us the ability to watch our movies on demand.

More and more, we our becoming a society of convenience. The Internet has made information global and easy to discover. Carrying around physical media just does not cut it. Generally, convenience and pricing are what have made electronic products succeed and fail. Example, Betamax movies versus VHS movies. VHS movies were cheaper to make therefore drawing the consumer in more.

Digital content via the Internet versus Blu-ray media:
A Blu-ray disc costs close to thirty dollars. Buy the HD version of the same movie on iTunes and the cost is twenty dollars. Purchasing the digital version also allows you to put the movie on your AppleTV, ipod, or computer. Last point; buying a movie off the web lets me avoid SUV driving Soccer Moms from crushing my Honda Civic. This is Ricardo Amell (Correspondent GEEK for John Ahren’s Gadget Review World), signing off…

To Leave Feedback:
Ricardo Amell
rickyamell@gmail.com

Apple TV

Convergence between internet and cable/satellite/broadcast has been the buzz for a few years now and Apple TV is one of the first devices to make it easy for the average consumer. All you need is high speed internet, a network (wired or wi-fi) and the cables to hook up your HDTV. Setup is simple.

I purchased my Apple TV in June 2007. It’s worked flawlessly for over two years now. Of course you can listen to music through your entertainment system and watch recent movies and TV shows on your TV. With the software upgrades Apple has added the ability to send audio from the Apple TV to any other sets of speakers connected to your network. I have an Apple Airport Express in my study and also my wife’s study. In effect we can pump out The Beatles to Beethoven to every corner of our house.

The big surprise to me…
… was that I would become hooked on video podcasts and YouTube videos. There is lots of useful information on podcasts. Whether your interests are in gadgets, cooking, pets, broadcast news repeats, whatever; you’ll find entertainment and useful information in these podcasts. It’s easy to find video podcasts through the iTunes store. I like being able to watch them in the comfort of our den, instead of watching hunched over my computer in the study. You can download podcasts or just stream them over your wi-fi network.

My only request to Apple…
… is to combine Apple TV with the Mac Mini so I can also surf the internet on my HDTV. All you would need additionally would be a bluetooth keyboard and some sort of bluetooth pointing device (mouse). With such a device, we would essentially have full convergence of internet and traditional television content in the comfort of our living room.

In a future post, we’ll discuss how you can add more capability to your Apple TV using a free program called Boxee.

Do you have an Apple TV? We’d like to get your comments. Please click on the link and let us know about your user experience.

Why am I blogging about gadgets? Find out here!

Zagg “z.buds” earphones

I purchased the Zagg z.buds about a month ago and have been using them daily. They offer a number of improvements over the regular free or low cost bud-type earphones.

Features:
–z.buds have heavy rope-like wire instead of the thin plastic (nylon?) wires. This makes them very tangle resistant. When I wrap them up and put them in my pocket, I don’t spend much time untangling them.
–z.buds have an ingenious cable management system (pictures here). Basically you stick your head through a loop created between the earbuds and they stay put whether they’re in your ears or not. (See diagram here.)
–They are offered with or without a microphone. I purchased them for my Palm Pre so I ordered the microphone.
–They have about 6 or 7 different earbud tips so you have the correct size for your ear. Replacements are available on the zagg website.
–z.buds come with a little carry pouch.

Review:
When you open the package, the first thing you have to decide is which eartip to install on the buds.

–Selection of eartip is VERY important. The best way to do this is to listen to music that is familiar to you, and try on the different tips. You should find a set that isolates outside noise and retains fidelity of music. Trust me, the tip makes a huge difference. For me, some didn’t isolate outside noise and made the music tinny. One gave me a muddy sound. However, I did find a couple of tips that fit my ear and significantly attenuated outside noise while providing an accurate reproduction of the music. I like this passive system better than the active noise reduction systems I have tried.

–Cord management system: It works very well once you understand how to wear the z.buds. The trick for me is to make sure that the first retainer-bead is about 12-inches from the buds. You have to make sure that the buds will reach your ears with enough slack so you can turn your head. I can use use the 2nd bead to loop the cable around a shirt button to keep the cable close to my body so my flailing arms to catch the cord.

–integrated phone and volume control: They have changed the arrangement and now both controls are on one switch close to the left earbud. It works well. You can use the controller to start and stop music, end calls, and adjust volume. However, I’m not certain this is the best place for it. For me having a control like this next to my left ear is awkward. I often pull the left bud out as I fiddle with the control. I wonder if a better position would be at the base of the split which would put the control down by my waist.

–Price $69.99 for the version without the mic. $10 more if you want the mic. Pricey compared to the free ones that come with your device, but well worth the value. The quality of components is great. z.buds are proof you get what you pay for. Zagg always has a special running so if you plan to use their invisible shield product you can get some good savings.

–Conclusion: Great job Zagg folks. Change the position of the controller/volume control.

Why am I doing this blog? Answer here.

Please your experiences with these or other earbuds. Which ones work for you? Which ones don’t?

-Remember, technology is your friend!
John (aka “Founding Geek”)

Netflix Player by Roku

We have had a Netflix account since August 2003. And we have always had great service even when we received a bad DVD or some shipping problem. This box is an welcome addition to our Netflix experience. This was a Christmas purchase (“Merry Chrismas, me!”) so here are my thoughts with my new gadget:

*Easy to open from shipping. Easy setup! I have talked to one other user who had the same reaction.

*I use a wireless internet (cable) and had trouble setting up WEP security on the Player. It might be me but the Roku support forum has others with WEP problems. I switched to WPA security and everything worked fine.

*I connected it to my HDTV via a HDMI cable. There are also component (RCA connectors), composite, and S-Video connections. There is also a digital optical audio output.

*The Player uses streaming technology to deliver content. Skipping around a program means that the player has to reload content. Apple TV isn’t plagued with this problem.

*Good picture quality.

*Sometimes there seems to be a problem with audio/video sync – at times there is a 2-3 second difference.

*I had one video that was scrambled. It looked like interference from copy protection. I called NetFlix, and reported the problem.

*Great price $100-ish. Only $10 bucks/month for the service.

*Not all movies or TV shows on Netflix are available for streaming.

–Please comment and tell me about your experiences.
Remember, technology is your friend!
John (aka “Founding Geek”)