Category: Travel

July 5, 2008

National Speed Limit is Simply...Unamerican!

A screwball Senator is proposing a national speed limit to save gas.

That's a bizarre suggestion for this country, which is infamous for its willingness to just let market forces work things out.

No, instead, we should just tax the heck out of gasoline and let people decide how fast they can afford to go...if they can afford to go at all.

Or better yet, let's take those tax revenues and actually invest in public transportation infrastructure. If we also reward good local development decisions, people might not require a car for 99.99% of their trips. And that would be the best situation by far.

BTW, here's a nifty Department of Energy report from April, 2008 on gasoline usage trends chock-a-block full of graphs, charts, and other statistical goodness. Enjoy!

Posted by Craig in Cars and Society / Politics and Travel
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July 2, 2008

The Upside of $4 Gasoline

Time.com has positively deviated from the typical "gas prices are awful, aren't they?" approach most journalists take when writing about the fuel situation. Instead of adding to the incessant yammering about how life is going down the crapper because of $4 gas, they decide to highlight 10 positives that might come about because of it:

1. Globalized jobs return home
   
2. Sprawl stalls
   
3. 4-day work weeks
   
4. Less pollution
   
5. More frugal use of transportation
   
6. Fewer traffic deaths
   
7. Cheaper car insurance
   
8. Less traffic
   
9. More cops out of their cars
   
10. Less obesity

Now, I'm not confident all these will happen just because of high gas prices, but you have to give them a nod for at least trying to remind us that some good will likely come out of this.

Read the whole story here.

Posted by Craig in Cars and Health & Medicine and Industry and Other and Society / Politics and Technology and Travel
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June 12, 2008

Another Reason Why Streetcars Are Better than Buses

Apparently, a man rear-ended a Cincinnati city bus and then claimed he didn't see it.

A bus. You know, they're quite large...pretty hard to overlook.

And what do you think the man was driving when he hit the bus?

Yep...another bus.

At least that's one problem we shouldn't have with streetcars.

Posted by Craig in Other and Travel
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March 1, 2008

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones

I've always been curious about those noise-canceling headphones you see all the business guys wearing on planes. Do they really help that much? Are they worth the expense? After grabbing a set of ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint headphones from Audio-Technica, I can answer definitively "yes" and "yes."

The ANC7s are over-the-ear (or "earcup") headphones (as opposed to in-ear- or earbud-style phones) and they do a bang-up job blocking out noise. Even without the active (i.e., powered) noise-canceling circuitry enabled, the ANC7s do reduce environmental noise. But when you flip the switch to ON, man, it's like a veritable cone of silence has descended over you (Google if you don't get that reference). The specs say they reduce ambient noise up to 20db or 85% (I've no idea how the conversion works, so don't ask); I can tell you that 20db (or 85%) makes a heckuva difference. After a couple of recent 4-hour flights, I was noticeably more relaxed and less stressed than I usually am after such a flight, and I attribute that to the use of these headphones.

The ANC7 has some nice design features as well. For starters, the cord is removable, so if you only need noise canceling (i.e., you don't want them plugged into an audio source, such as when you want to sleep on a plane), then you don't have to futz with a cord. The ANC7s come with a semi-hard case, too. The case has an interior accessory pocket that stores the audio cord and included full-sized (1/4-inch) stereo and airplane (two-prong) adapters (a nice touch, Audio-Technica!). The ANC7s are powered by a single AAA battery (1 included) and I got about 15 hours of mixed use (noise-canceling only and noise-canceling + audio) from a new cell.

Unlike the Bose models (which generally run $299 and up and don't offer any better sound quality than these), the ANC7s can be used as unpowered headphones. Sound quality without noise-canceling turned on isn't great; it sounds a bit muffled, but it'll do in a pinch. However, with the noise-canceling enabled, the sound quality of these is very good; they almost give my open-air Grados a run for their money, and that's saying a lot.

So, if you travel a fair bit, or perhaps work in a noisy environment with white noise you find distracting, plunk down the $120 or so for a set of these and prepare to be amazed.

Posted by Craig in Home A/V and Travel
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February 17, 2008

Archos 605 WiFi Portable Media Player

The 605 WiFi, a fifth-generation portable media player from the French electronics firm Archos, is an impressive device. It boasts a vivid, high-res 4.3" touchscreen, 802.11g Wi-Fi (more on that later), and the ability to handle a reasonably broad array of media formats (although the larger, more expensive Cowon A3 handles far more). Plus, the 605 WiFi is available with hard drives of 30, 80, and 160 gigabytes or with 4GB of flash storage (the flash model also sports an SDHC slot for unlimited expansion). This review focuses on the 4GB flash version, which can be had for under $200 online and at a few brick-and-mortar electronics retailers.

After using the 605 WiFi for about two weeks now, I've come to appreciate it quite a bit. It's certainly not perfect, but it offers good value and some of its attributes that seem like weaknesses at first blush actually turn out to be strengths.

The Physical Unit
The 605 is 4.8'' x 3.2'' x 0.6'', about the same overall dimensions as an old PalmPilot, which is fairly compact for having such a large screen. The 4GB flash model weighs in at 5.3 ounces (the hard drive units weigh more, up to 9.2 oz. for the 160GB). The buttons to the right of the screen are two-way toggles (one function on each side, left and right), which take some getting used to. Thankfully, the touchscreen makes using the buttons unnecessary (although they're preferable in a few situations, such as changing volume). Two hardware buttons on the top of the unit include On/Off and a button to send video out via the docking station (when attached). The SDHC card slot is also on the top (nicely recessed so as to avoid any chance of accidental card eject). On the left is the headphone jack, and on the right is the pull-out kickstand (a very nice touch). The bottom of the unit has Archos' proprietary connector (which, of course, requires Archos' proprietary USB cable or dock to attach to it). The unit charges and syncs data through these connectors. The front also includes a very loud, clear mono speaker. The back is completely plain. In a departure from the 4th generation units, the 605 does not offer a user-swappable battery. But none of that really matters, for the 605's pièce de résistance is its screen. This 800x480 resolution beauty is simply stunning. It has an amazing angle of view and, at over 200 pixels per inch, gives every bit of clarity and detail you could hope for. Colors are well-saturated and there's no hint of screendoor or other effects that low-quality LCDs can have. Everyone I've showed this to has remarked almost immediately how good the display is. In the box, the 605 comes with headphones, a USB cable, a rudimentary slip-case, and some documentation.

The User Interface
You may have read somewhere (OK, everywhere) that the Archos user interface is terrible. It's not quite terrible...just very bad. But, I'm happy to say that (a) the touchscreen makes it a LOT easier to navigate, and (b) once you get used to certain conventions, it really isn't that bad (certainly no worse than Office 2007's new menu structure!). For example, the [X] button always takes you backwards (or back up a level) from wherever you are. Some have contrasted the 605 with the iPod Touch and come away saying the Touch is easier to use. I agree...for one main reason: the 605 has way, way more options, settings, and customizability than does the Touch, and all that requires a bit more complexity in the menus. For example, you can separately set the gamma, contrast, brightness, and backlight level of the 605's screen. The Touch, by comparison, doesn't even know what gamma is. So, if customizability is a desirable thing for you, the 605 will have you covered. But, if you're afraid of menus, then it may be a bit daunting until you read through the manual (a few times).

Media Performance
Overall, media playback is superb. Audio quality is high and videos look and sound awesome (even ones where the 605 has to up- or down-res to match the screen's resolution). The audio interface provides all the tag-based organization you'd expect -- Artist, Album, Genre, etc. -- with full album art support. The video interface even has nifty full-motion thumbnails, which is nice. Out of the box, the unit supports a variety of common formats (such as MP3, WMA, MPEG-4, WMV, and others; see the product webpage for complete info). Additional media formats (e.g., h.264 and MPEG-2) are supported through extra-cost plug-ins. One comment about the plug-ins: Archos takes the controversial approach of charging a fairly rock-bottom price for the hardware, but then charged non-trivial sums for plug-ins that provide additional functionality, such as the web browser ($30). If you don't need these plug-ins, then you'll likely feel like your 605 is a true bargain out of the box. However, if you do need several of the plug-ins, your sense of value will be diminished significantly. In the end, my feeling is that the 605 with all the plug-ins is competitively priced, just not the huge bargain it is bare-bones.

A couple of nifty things about media playback include the use of bookmarks (locations within individual files to go back to from the main screen) and playback at 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1X, 2X, and 4X normal speed. Plus, when playing back video, you get several options on how you want the video to be fit to the dimensions of the 650's 1.67:1 aspect screen (which is nice if you're picky about that like I am). Also, when viewing photos, you can use touchscreen actions to manipulate the images: a single swipe left-to-right (or right-to-left) advances to the next (previous) image; a swipe up (down) rotates the image counter-clockwise (clockwise); and holding your finger on a point on the image causes the 605 to zoom into the image until it reaches 100% resolution. A quick double-tap of the screen or a tap of the [X] button returns you to normal view.

Other Functions
Nobody buys a PMP mainly for web-browsing capabilities; that's always an afterthought. Thankfully, the 605's Opera-based browser is quite good. It provides Flash compatibility (for playing streaming video, such as from YouTube) and tabbed browsing (an Opera trademark). Rendering performance is so-so, but the screen's resolution means that typical pages are readable without a lot of side-scrolling. You cannot rotate the screen, so as long as you're OK with viewing webpages in landscape, you won't be disappointed.

The built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi is quite handy. The 605 not only includes a standard file management utility, it also lets you move and copy files from one location to another on your 605 and between your 605 and a computer elsewhere on the network you're on. Plus, it will stream media from locations on the network to the 605. I was able to watch an entire movie streamed wirelessly from a PC to the 605 without a single hitch...and it looked great! Fast-forward and rewind don't work when streaming, but pause does. Also, the 605 will talk to any UPnP media server active on the network, so if you're running Orb or TwonkyVision or something like that, the 605 will happily stream from it. You can also buy or rent content online through CinemaNow directly via the 605, which might be handy if you're stuck in an airport without a laptop and absolutely gotta have something to watch to pass the time.

Finally, the 605 offers a set of other functions that are nice touches. An Acrobat PDF viewer is included. Firmware updates can be done either via USB (after downloading to the PC from the Archos website) or directly to the 605 itself via Wi-Fi. If you purchase the additional DVR (digital video recording) dock and hook it up to a cable or antenna feed (via something else, though, as the dock only has S-Video and RCA inputs), you can schedule your 605 to record TV shows straight to MPEG-4. Of course, you can also record line-in audio and video as well, but that's not quite as trick as having your 605 emulate a mini-TiVo.

Conclusions
Overall, I like the 605 enough that I elected to keep it. It does what it does very well and tosses in some extra tricks in a fairly well-polished package. Sure, it has some rough spots -- the menu system and buttons are still a bit nutty and the codec support could be more extensive -- but it has met my rather modest needs 100%. Battery life is fair; I get about 4-4.5 hours of video playback on a charge (without Wi-Fi). I wish the unit had a regular USB port and that some of the codecs were included rather than handled via plug-ins, but these are all nitpicky details. The main thing that really matters, and the primary reason I'm happy with it, is the gorgeous screen. One look, and it was a done deal.

I'm sure I haven't covered everything here, so if you have questions about the 605, please ask.

Update: Mitch wrote in with a few comments and clarifications (thanks, mate!):

Very in-depth. A few things I would add:

Existence of the mini dock and battery dock. These will allow direct interface to USB disk drives and industry standard cables. They also give you the ability to keep the unit playing indefinitely as they allow more charging current from external battery packs.

The Archos file manager will also allow you to move files between two other computers on your network. Nice if you're already in bed and remember that you need to put something on your laptop for the next day.

The MPEG-2 plug-in activates the digital audio out for 5.1 AC-3 surround sound.

Also includes 2 styli (yay!)

The DVR dock turns it into an Apple TV with a screen allowing you to wirelessly play content to your big screen as well as browse the web, rent or buy videos, etc.

Update #2: A few other things that occurred to me after I finished up the review:

• SD card reading/writing via the 605 is much slower than it is via a card reader, so only use it for that in an emergency.
  
• The unit is mostly stable except when updating the firmware. Both times I've updated it, it's reset itself and/or behaved weirdly until after I did a full shutdown (complete "off" versus the "standby" mode it typically resorts to when you hit the Power button).
  
• The browser is quite good, actually. If you've used Opera on one of the Nokia Internet Tablets, you'll know what I mean (same res screen).
  
• Charging the 605 via the USB cable is sloooow; it takes 5-6 hours to go from empty to a full charge. Charging it via A/C using one of the docks Archos sells, however, takes about half that time. So, getting a dock has benefits beyond just a bigger variety of outputs and inputs.
  
• Accessing the bookmarking feature from the main screen only works on the most recently played file, so you can't easily jump between videos or songs without manually selecting each and entering into the menus to go to where you left off before.
  

  Posted by Craig in Home A/V and Mobile & PDAs and Movies & Books and Music & Audio and Technology and Travel and Wireless
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  October 9, 2007

  Some Recent New Gear Additions

  I've not posted about much technology recently. For that, I truly apologize. This is, after all, GearBits. So, to fill that void, here's a brief recap of some gadget and gear acquisitions over the last six months or so (and why they're my picks).

  GPS: Garmin Nuvi 370
  After borrowing Mitch's Garmin for a recent roadtrip to the Smoky Mountains, I was hooked. The Nuvi 370 is a terrific combination of features and portability. Text-to-speech keeps my eyes on the road and the bright screen and simple menu system makes it an easy-to-use travel aid. Plus, it's small and light enough to take with you on a walkabout, as I did recently when hiking around San Francisco.

  TV: Samsung LNT-5271F 52" 1080p LCD
  Yeah, this is a bit over-the-top, but I told my wife that I reserved the right to redo the basement TV setup if I got my promotion at work (I did). So far, it's a really nice TV. The first one died on me (the screen went weird a week into the relationship), but this second one is doing fine. Discovery HD Theater has never been more impressive, although crappy SD cable channels now look just as crappy, but bigger. Now I just need to start working on a way to justify getting a Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo player.

  A/V Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR705
  As part of the upgrade of the basement TV area, our old receiver just had to be replaced. It was ca. 1996, so its idea of "A/V" meant two composite video inputs. The Onkyo is a nice balance between performance (100W x 7 and 3 HDMI inputs + upconversion) and bulk. It definitely is more capable than the Yamaha it replaced (although the Yamaha still sounds great).

  DVD Player: Oppo DV-981HD
  The new TV quickly showed just how awful our previous DVD player was. I shouldn't have been surprised, really. After all, it was a Sony VHS + progressive scan DVD combo unit that I got from Woot.com for like $40 last year. Man, the video signal it put out, even over component, just made my eyes bleed. The Oppo, on the other hand, makes standard-definition DVDs look really quite excellent, even converting them to 1080p and outputting via HDMI. Its video-processing circuitry is optimized for getting the best possible picture quality off those 480p discs we all know and love. And it's way cheaper than a high-def DVD player.

  Media Streamer: DivX Connected (Beta)
  I was invited to be part of the public beta of the DivX Connected wireless/wired media streamer concept platform that the DivX folks are currently refining in preparation for licensed production with D-Link. Suffice to say that it's a really nice user experience; much, much better than all of the other media streamers I've used that are supposed to handle video. I hope DivX and D-Link do well with it...I'd definitely consider buying one.

  Networking: TRENDnet TEG-S80TXE Gigabit 8-Port Switch
  I know, wired networking is a little tame, but when you can get a reliable, all-metal, 8-port Gbit switch for $23 (after Newegg.com rebate), it's worth noting.

  Oh, and I've found that MonoPrice.com has some terrific quality cables and audio parts (e.g., speaker mounts) at really excellent prices. Shipping is fast and cheap, too.

  So, that about wraps it up for now. Any questions about these items, feel free to post a comment.

  Posted by Craig in Home A/V and Mobile & PDAs and Music & Audio and Popular Media and Technology and Travel
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  June 13, 2007

  The 3-State Race (3SR): 86-Mile Road Race around Cincinnati I-275 Loop

  I have an idea. It's pretty crazy and 99% likely never to bear fruit, but I feel compelled to describe it here...just in case. And don't think this is entirely thought out...I'm imagining it literally as I type.

  Imagine this: a road race around the 86-mile loop of highway circling Cincinnati, Ohio known as I-275 (map below). I-275 in Cincinnati is a divided highway ranging from 2 to 4 lanes in both directions. It wanders through three different states -- Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky -- and crosses the Ohio river twice.

  

  Who could race in this event? Anyone. It would be a true road race where any road-worthy automobile may enter. Think road rally for the everyman.

  But who would race in this event? That's an entirely different question. Since closing I-275 would be impossible for any period of time more than, say, a few hours (if even then), the field of cars would have to be limited to about 180. Here's how I figure that. If one lap is 86 miles and even the pokiest racer should be able to average 100 mph, that's .86 hours, or about 50 minutes around the whole loop. If you want to finish the last car in by noon (to re-open the highway), and you wanted to start each car a minute behind the previous one (so as to limit bunching up), then you could launch cars for three hours straight (e.g., starting at 8am, the last one leaving at 11am and returning just before noon).

  But, who would those 180 racers be? Well, we'd need to make sure that they know how to drive, so they would have to show that their cars are road-legal and pass a full race safety inspection (a la SCCA rules). But that would still leave thousands aching for a chance to blast through closed highways at ridiculous speeds.

  So, to further pare the field, a $500 entry fee would be required. Maybe make it $1,000...or maybe auction off the spots. Alternately, and this could be done to help offset the costs of hosting the race (more on that later), the organizers could require a $X00 fee to enter a RAFFLE from which participants would be drawn. Then, each participant would have to pay the entry fee to actually race. The motivation would be the thrill, potential prize money, and some local fame.

  I also imagine that you'd need a few classes of cars, primarily for sequencing the starts (you should have the fastest cars at the beginning and the slowest at the end in order to minimize overtaking and passing) and based primarily on top speeds (e.g., 180+, 160-180, 140-160, and less than 140). This would be the perfect opportunity for those rich guys with their Porsche Carreras and Mercedes SLRs to really open them up on public roads. It would also make for a really fine exotic car show.

  Staging the cars could be done at an on-ramp area near I-75 and adjacent to a large commercial base of restaurants, etc. for helping support the hordes of tourists.

  And that brings me to the money part. This could, if managed correctly, be a HUGE money-maker for the region. While you could you sell TV rights to the event, the tourism dollars alone would be enormous. If the race is on a Sunday morning (lightest traffic means the best time to close the highway for a few hours), then the day before, a Saturday, could be a huge parade of all the cars through downtown Cincinnati. It could be like a public Indy 500 for the everyday guy.

  My biggest concern would be the ability to negotiate a way to close down a major highway loop that crosses three different states for a period of 4 daylight hours. If that could be done, the rest would be perfectly feasible, I think. And, if it could be pulled off once, the second year would be bigger, better, and easier just because a lot of the complexities would have already been worked out.

  So, if anyone from Cincinnati town council or Hamilton County is reading this, please consider this idea; I think it would be at least an interesting thing to attempt. Heck, Cincinnati once proposed to be the site of the summer Olympics. This race wouldn't be one-tenth that much cost or effort, yet might still accomplish many of the same goals for the city and the region.

  Posted by Craig in Cars and Industry and Society / Politics and Travel
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  May 30, 2007

  What Palm Should Have Announced Instead of the Foleo

  Today, Palm announced its new Foleo smartphone companion (shown, next to the Treo). You can learn about it at the Palm website and read some first impressions here, here, and here.

  I'm going to reserve judgment on the Foleo until I get some hands-on time with it (you hear that, Palm? Bump me up a few spots on the review unit list, will ya?). It has some interesting points, but I'll admit to being skeptical that the market for this device exceeds a few thousand people.

  But it did get me thinking just what would have been a better product (or products) to announce today that would have served a similar purpose (i.e., extending the usefulness of a smartphone like the Treo...or the iPhone)? Here are some ideas that I've seen proposed various places today:

  1) Linux-Powered Tablet Treo -- Combine the radio and multimedia functions of a Treo with all the open-source goodness of a Linux kernel and a big touchscreen display.

  2) Bluetooth Virtual Display -- Giving the user a better bigscreen view of her Treo's data while only adding a few ounces to her bag seems like an interesting idea. Just one question, though: How do you interact with the Treo if your eyes are blocked by the display?

  3) Clamshell Treo -- Proposed by the many who wish the Treo's 2.5" square display was a shade larger yet still pocketable, a clamshell Treo could even have two displays (a la Nintendo's DS) for double the productivity.

  4) A Universal Treo-Laptop Interface -- Some have suggested that what Palm really needs to offer is a piece of hardware that would connect a Treo to any PC's USB port and automatically broker data and Internet sharing between the two devices. Imagine a continuous "smart" syncing between the two devices so that the PC could be used as an interface to the Treo's contents, or vice versa.

  What's your suggestion? What should Palm have released instead of the Foleo? Or do you think it really is a viable new product category?

  Posted by Craig in Computing and Mobile & PDAs and Phones and Technology and Travel and Wireless
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  March 11, 2007

  Virtual Reality Sound Labs VRFM9 Quite the Multi-Talented FM Transmitter

  While at Target earlier today looking for something else entirely, I stumbled upon the VRFM3 FM Transmitter by Virtual Reality Sound Labs. What caught my eye about this FM transmitter is the fact that it will play MP3 and WMA files directly from either a flash drive inserted into its USB port or an Secure Digital (SD) card inserted into its SD slot (see below). Of course, there's also a line-in jack for transmitting audio from another source (e.g., an iPod or Treo), but this is the first unit I've seen to offer both USB and SD interfaces. So, excited by the prospect of easy, cheap, portable, and completely wire-free tunage for any car I happen to be in, I plunked down my $49.99 and headed home to put the VRFM9 through its paces.

  After an initial test, I'm very impressed by how well this device works. It does exactly what you would expect, if not hope, it to do, which, unfortunately, seems to be a rarity in consumer electronics. Plus, even more a rarity are the extensive written instructions (including color diagrams) that came with the device.

  First, I tried the typical external input mode with my Treo 700p as source. The VRFM9 automatically detects which source is hooked up (if music is available by more than one source, priority goes first to the external line-in, then to the USB port, then last to the SD card slot; the unit will only play music from one source) and transmits that via one of its 15 preset FM channels (8 in the low range and 7 in the high range...enough to satisfy nearly everyone nearly all the time). The two-line LCD (at right) offers some information about the FM channel being used, play mode (normal v. shuffle), source, etc. If the unit is playing an MP3 or WMA file straight off USB or SD card, it will display the artist and song title as well (assuming these tags are present in the audio file). It's a bit cryptic and not a lot of characters appear at once, but given that you likely won't be interacting a lot with this device, it's certainly adequate, if not surprisingly nice. One nice UI touch is that when you switch tracks or change the volume, the display changes to show extra-large characters (e.g., "011/045" to let you know you're on track 11 of 45 total tracks on that source) for enhanced readability.

  Second, I tried a couple different SD cards. Both my 2GB and 4GB SD (not SDHC) cards worked fine. The VRFM9 will scan the card when inserted and start playing the first one it comes across. It appears to play in this order: (1) anything in the root directory, in alphabetical order by file name, (2) anything in sub-directories in alphabetical order by sub-directory, then by file name within each sub-directory. Of course, putting the unit in Shuffle mode randomizes play across all files in all directories. One odd thing I noticed was that the unit would attempt to play the two WMV files I had in one sub-directory, but it was unsuccessful as no sound was transmitted.

  I then attempted to use the VRFM9 with a USB flash drive (specifically, the 4GB Patriot Xporter XT that I reviewed previously), but no joy. The unit displayed "No Source" with that USB drive. I'll hunt around for another one and give it a go when I get a chance. Another note regarding use with flash drives; not all will fit. Particularly fat flash drives may be too girthy to fit into the VRFM9's port. If there's an SD card inserted, this further reduces the space around the USB port. Most normal extension cables will work fine.

  One interesting tidbit is that a USB flash card reader that mounts like an external drive will let the user effectively play music through the VRFM9 via any of the flash media formats the reader supports. But as above, music will be played from only one card at a time. I tried plugging in an external USB hard drive (full 120VAC 3.5" drive), but no dice...the unit didn't recognize that anything was plugged in to the USB port.

  Controls on the unit are spartan but adequate. They all click nicely and the dual-function (click vs. hold) is reasonably intuitive.

  Now, two minor complaints. First, even though the unit ratchets through about a 120-degree sweep, the LCD isn't particularly readable except at very direct angles. So, if your car's cigarette lighter/power socket is way off to the side of the center console, you may not have much luck reading the display while driving. Second, as with all FM transmitters, sound quality is not particularly good. After all, you're limited to the sound quality of FM radio, which isn't going to impress anyone. Audiophiles will want to look to other (and likely much more expensive) hardwired solutions for getting their portable audio broadcast through their cars' stereos.

  Overall, I am quite impressed by this device. Not only does it do exactly what you think it should, it seems reasonably well made and is not terribly expensive. And, given that many people have at least one lower-capacity SD card or USB flash drive sitting in a drawer not doing anything, this makes for a very easy way to put it to work as a music sherpa for your car.

  There are also some nice reviews of the VRFM9 over at Audioholics and Gizmos for Geeks if you're still on the fence or want more opinions.

  Posted by Craig in Cars and Home A/V and Mobile & PDAs and Music & Audio and Travel and Wireless
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  June 12, 2006

  Case Logic SLRC-4 Camera + Laptop Backpack

  Business trips often provide nice opportunities for some travel photography, so taking both my camera and my laptop -- something none of my current bags can accommodate -- was becoming increasingly desirable to me. So, I began searching for a backpack-style bag that would safely house my DSLR and lenses while also providing room for my notebook.

  I found the Case Logic SLRC-4 SLR/Computer Backpack. It's nice and quite a bargain (I found it for about $70 delivered -- the next cheapest similar alternative was a LowePro bag for about $140).

  Granted, if you have a lot of gear and/or really big lenses, this may not be the bag for you. If you want to use it for toting both a camera setup and laptop (with accouterments), you'll be limited to one DSLR body, 4-5 small-to-medium-sized lenses, and up to a 15" notebook. A jumbo 300mm f/2.8 (or larger) lens just isn't going to fit. The inside is very reconfigurable in terms of allocating space for different equipment, so as long as you're not heading off to a month-long safari, you should be covered.

  Build quality seems very good -- definitely better than I expected for such an inexpensive bag. Another benefit is that there is nothing about the bag that screams out "expensive technology inside!" making it less attractive to thieves.

  So, if you have a modest DSLR setup and need to take your laptop with you often, check out the Case Logic SLRC-4 backpack...a good bag and a great value.

  Posted by Craig in Computing and Photography and Travel
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  May 17, 2006

  The Misspellings of Cincinnati

  I live in a city with a name that few people not from here seem to be able to spell correctly: Cincinnati

  Despite being the home of the first professional baseball team, the headquarters of Procter & Gamble and Federated Department Stores (among other large firms), and part of the name of a popular sit-com (WKRP in Cincinnati, Cincinnati seems to be regularly misspelled in various creative ways.

  Using Google Trends, I found out that the most common way to misspell this city's name is "Cincinatti," but other mistakes are also common:

  

  Thankfully, the search frequency of the correct spelling - Cincinnati - is magnitudes higher than any of the misspellings, but it's interesting to see such widespread ignorance. Imagine that many people spelling it "Misisipi". OK, never mind.

  Posted by Craig in Travel
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  December 12, 2005

  Victorinox Swiss Army Eiffel Laptop Brief

  I'll admit it; I'm a bagaholic. Few things delight me more than finding the perfect bag or case for some gadget or use.

  It has to be the right size -- not too big, but not too small. It has to have the right number and size of pockets, if any are needed. It has to have the appropriate closing/fastening hardware in the right spots.

  I have been known to search for months for just the right case, popping into the odd luggage store or outfitter that I happen to see, just in case something there meets all my criteria. And the more true gadget geeks I meet, the more I'm starting to realize that this is not an uncommon affliction amongst us.

  When I saw the Victorinox Swiss Army Eiffel laptop bag (pictured) at a local luggage shop a few months ago, I was convinced it was my ideal "everyday" go-to-work/haul-my-laptop brief. It looked to fit my 12" Panasonic W2 perfectly, with just enough space to fit the A/C cordage below it. There were enough pockets to accommodate some folders/papers, but not too many so that it'd be bulky. And it had a couple of nifty add-ons, like a magnetic close "hidden" external pocket and some nice internal organizing compartments so all my stuff wouldn't just jostle around all higgeldy-piggeldy. Since it's made of ballistic nylon, it's both durable and light in weight (unlike most leather bags). Plus, and this is a subtle issue, the strap clips are metal while the rings they lock into are plastic. This is important because it minimizes the potential for squeaking that metal-on-metal sometimes produces, while ensures the longevity of the clips. I told you it was subtle.

  But, I found an extra surprise feature once I started using the bag. It is covered by Swiss Army's Global Track ID service. Each bag covered has a unique ID permanently attached to the inside of the bag. If the bag is lost and then found by someone (someone honest, that is), all they have to do is call the toll-free number inside and cite the bag's ID code. Then, and this is where my amazement begins, Swiss Army "will notify you, arrange pickup, and then arrange for delivery of your bag-at no cost to you." If it really works like that, I'll be amazed. Of course, I'm not planning on intentionally losing this bag just to test it. ;-)

  All in all, after using the bag for a while, it gets an unqualified thumbs-up. Build quality seems excellent, the strap is sturdy yet comfortable, and the bag holds just what I need with no extra bulk to get in the way. Plus, the vertical storage position (which I think will accommodate most 14" laptops as well, and maybe some 15" models) makes it much easier to carry than a regular briefcase. All in all, a very decent bag. Considering the Global Track ID service, it seems like a pretty good deal, too.

  Posted by Craig in Computing and Other and Travel
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  April 26, 2004

  Chernobyl On Two Wheels

  

  Combine a pretty Ukrainian girl named Elena, a big ZX-11 Kawasaki, a Geiger counter and what's left of Chernobyl and you have a winning website in my book. Elena's probably ill-advised forays into the Chernobyl nuclear dead zone reap some really poignant photos and being the daughter of a nuclear physicist, her insight and commentary on the disaster is excellent. I had no idea the scope of the tragedy. Thanks to Elena, now I do.

  Posted by Mitch in Travel
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  April 18, 2004

  Mobile Phones Legal On Some Flights

  Travel news reports are noting that in some jurisdictions, mobile phones may now be operated in calendar, photo viewer or similar mode.

  The British Civil Aviation Authority has begun allowing this in planes under its jurisdiction, because they've decided that - in this so-called "flight mode" with the radio disabled - phones do not interfere with pilot systems.

  Furthermore, the BCAA suggests that all airlines should let travelers perform all other non-phone functions - read and write documents, play games - on smartphones, in the same vein as laptops, handheld games, or MP3 players.

  Flight crews are saying it is not their responsibility to check for "flight mode", but the BCAA says it is. The BCAA does require that phones make it clear when their transmitter is off - for example, Sony Ericsson's P900 smartphone displays "FLIGHT MODE" on its display.

  It is not clear whether the US Federal Aviation Administration will follow the BCAA's lead.

  Posted by Sam in Phones and Travel
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  January 29, 2004

  Passenger List to a Comet

  

  On January 31, 2004, NASA closes their passenger list for a one-way trip to a comet.

  On July 4, 2005, the Deep Impact spacecraft will launch a 370-kg copper projectile into the surface of comet Tempel 1, forming a football-stadium-sized crater. In that projectile - which will be obliterated by the impact - will be a CD containing the names of spaceflight enthusiasts who signed on for this one-way trip to a comet.

  As the projectile hits Tempel 1 at 37,000 kph, Deep Impact will collect pictures and data on the material ejected from the comet's new crater, the first-ever glimpse into the interior of a celestial snowball.

  "This is an opportunity to become part of an extraordinary space mission," said Dr. Don Yeomans, member of the Deep Impact team. "When the craft is launched in December 2004, yours and the names of your loved-ones can hitch along for the ride and be part of what may be the best space fireworks show in history."

  People can submit their names for the mission by visiting NASA's Deep Impact website.

  Posted by Sam in Other and Society / Politics and Travel
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  January 4, 2004

  China Shoots for the Moon

  

  In my predictions for 2004, my number 8 headline was "China Announces Manned Moon Landing Program."

  I made this prediction because over 2002-2003, China has been revving up their space program, culminating in the launch of the Shenzhou V spacecraft in October 2003, making them only the third nation to launch a man in space.

  Well, my headline hasn't quite come to pass yet, but it's well on its way (and not bad for only 3 days into the New Year).

  The China National Space Administration has just announced an ambitious three-stage Moon landing program. The target is to put a satellite into lunar orbit by 2007, followed by an unmanned landing by 2010, and finally to collect lunar soil samples by 2020.

  Also known as the Chang'e Program (after a mythical goddess who travelled to the Moon), China's lunar program will depend on the Long March III-A launch vehicle and the Dongfanghong satellite platform.

  Experts noted that the program does not mean that China now possesses manned landing capability. However, manned landings may be possible after completion of the three-stage program.

  Posted by Sam in Other and Society / Politics and Travel
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  December 17, 2003

  Flight: The Next 100 Years

  

  The last 100 years of flight, ushered in by Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903, saw man break the sound barrier, visit the moon, and even leave the solar system.

  The next 100 years of flight, as envisaged by an article in the Economist, promise to be just as astounding.

  If things come to pass as the reviewer expects, the skies of the future will be teeming with unmanned aerial verhicles, planes that morph into optimal flight shapes using memory materials, economically viable supersonic transport, planes powered by new sources of power, and - yes, people have been predicting this since forever - the personal air car.

  Posted by Sam in Other and Travel
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  November 13, 2003

  New from Q: The Aquada

  

  From the James Bond department, the Aquada is a convertible that transforms into a speedboat.

  The high-speed amphibian (HSA) vehicle reaches speeds of up to 100 mph (160 kph) on land and 30 mph (48 kph) over water, taking seconds to make the change from sportscar to jet-powered speedboat.

  The Aquada is powered by a 175-hp, V6 engine with a 4-speed auto tranny linked to a sealed jet propulsion system for marine operation. The car needs a slope or boat ramp to drive into the water, so unfortunately mid-air takeoffs and splashdowns are out.

  However, the vehicle does meet all European road and marine safety standards and is fully-legal for both water and land use. Owners do need insurance for both uses.

  Price tag? About £150,000... only about a week's wage if your agent code has a double-O prefix. Gibbs Technologies, makers of the Aquada, are not commenting on a rumored submarine version.

  Posted by Sam in Cars and Other and Travel
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  November 1, 2003

  Travels...or Travails?

  I just got back from 12 days of vacation. OK, it was Hawaii, if you must know (let the chorus of mock sympathies begin). While there, I found it difficult to maintain the high level of connectedness I've come to rely on in my daily life.

  First, the hotel had no wireless access...anywhere. Not in the lobby and certainly not in the rooms. While this feature is common at better business hotels, I guess resorts don't feel that their guests are all that worried about it. Well, here's a note to all you resort owners: News Flash! We, your guests, want this feature even when we're on vacation. How do you expect us to be able to relax when we just know we'll be going back to face 1,000+ emails waiting for us?!

  Second, the "business center" was a rather lame two-computer setup in a corner office. Internet access, like computer use in general, was an outrageous $5.00 plus $0.85 per minute! My one 17-minute use of the business center cost me nearly $20. While there were much cheaper Internet cafes around, they all required a drive to get there (not easily walkable).

  Third, while I was able to rely heavily on my Kyocera 7135 Palm OS smartphone (pictured) for getting my email, downloading attachments and webpages was sloooow (I use Verizon's free dial-up Internet service). Also, composing longish emails using Graffiti is just painful. So, while I was able to keep up on my email, responding was much more limited. But, I have to say that Verizon's coverage on both Oahu and Maui was superb.

  I know I'll look back on this trip with fond memories. But, had the hotel offered high-speed Wi-Fi access by the pool (or even [gasp!] down near the beach), I know I would have come away thinking this was perhaps one of the coolest hotels I'd stayed in. I mean, what would be better than a Mai Tai and Wi-Fi on Ka'uai?

  Posted by Craig in Mobile & PDAs and Travel and Wireless
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  October 16, 2003

  Sodom and Gomorrah for the Common Man

  

  I just returned from my first trip to Las Vegas and I am so blown away on so many levels that I just don't know where to start. OK, technology...

  Vegas is just brimming with cutting edge tech on every front. You are assaulted by so much high dollar wizardy that you become jaded almost instantly. One hundred foot hi-def jumbotrons, four block long street covering light and music shows, life-like animatronic battles spewing flames and water and steam in the middle of a shopping mall. It's just surreal and it goes on 24/7 in a continuous alcohol besotted, chain smoking, smut infested, jiggling, titillating, cash wallowing, sinfest that will rip your head clean off it you let it.

  Let's talk about the Bellagio fountain (inset picture). You've probably seen this thing on TV backdropping one of our latest scantilly clad pop princesses. Forget the no talent babe, this fountain is dynamite! It's a $40 million dollar, 900 foot long, computer controlled monster with 1200 nozzles and 4500 lights. I watched it six times and was gobsmacked every time as it blasted and swirled and cavorted to various tunes from every genre. When all 1200 nozzles turn into cannons and send their huge streams 240 feet in the air it's just a sensory overload.

  How about old-tech? Have you been to the Hoover Dam? Don't miss it. The engineering scale of this dam is still mind boggling by today's standards. To think that we built this thing in 5 years during the great depression is hard to believe.

  Money? I have seen very few places that exude so much wealth and power. I always thought Vegas was supposed to be trashy and brassy, but this new Vegas is pure class in every way. Sure, it's a nouveau riche kind of class, but there has been no expense spared in the new hotels, shows, shopping establishments, restaurants. Very impressive.

  All in all, I liked Vegas a lot. I never thought I would, but I would love to go back and spend a lot more non-business related time. And win some more money!

  Posted by Mitch in Society / Politics and Travel
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  October 14, 2003

  China Launches Manned Spacecraft

  

  China launched its first manned spacecraft today at 9 am, Beijing time. The Shenzhou-5 blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province atop a Long March II F rocket.

  Yang Liwei, 38, a lieutenant colonel of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), becomes the first taikonaut - Chinese astronaut - in space.

  The Soviet Union launched the first man into space on April 12, 1961, with cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Shortly after, on May 5, Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

  Today's mission makes China the third nation to send a man into space.

  Posted by Sam in Other and Society / Politics and Travel
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  September 26, 2003

  Segways Recalled

  

  The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) and Segway LLC have announced the recall of the Segway human transporter (HT), after three people were injured in falls from the scooters. One person sustained a head injury, requiring stitches.

  Resembling a souped-up reel lawn mower, the Segway HT can hit top speeds of 17 mph.

  However, under certain conditions, primarily when the batteries are low, some Segways may not deliver enough power. In that instance, if the rider speeds up abruptly, encounters an obstacle, or continues to ride after receiving a low-battery alert - the Segway forgets its auto-balancing tricks, and the rider can fall.

  The recall affects some 6,000 vehicles. Segway customers can receive a free software upgrade that will correct the problem.

  Either that, or customers can turn to an alternate mode of transport, the Megway.

  Posted by Sam in Other and Society / Politics and Travel
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  June 26, 2003

  Back from the Wilderness

  I survived 48 hours in the back-country. It turns out that my cell did have reception, but it was roaming, so no data service was available. For me, a voice-only cellphone is pretty much pointless.

  Once on the highway (the wife was driving) heading back, however, data service was regained. I spent an hour wading through 180 emails sucked down to my Kyocera using the excellent Palm OS email client SnapperMail -- definitely recommended if you use your Palm OS device for industrial-strength email duty.

  While out camping, however, my most useful piece of tech was my Swiss Army knife. Maybe somebody ought to start looking into how we can toss in some Wi-Fi or Bluetooth into these things. Why? Because we can...of course!

  Posted by Craig in Travel
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  June 22, 2003

  Into the Lo-Tek

  Well, the wife and I are heading into the vast wilderness of Red River Gorge in South-Eastern Kentucky for a couple days of camping and hiking. While my trusty Kyocera 7135 will be with me, I seriously doubt there will be any cellular coverage anywhere in the vicinity. Kind of like having a Ferrari and no gasoline. At least I can get in some ebook reading if need be.

  Posted by Craig in Travel
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  May 25, 2003

  New Photos Posted

  I've posted new photos in the Photography area of my website at http://craig.dynup.net/photography. Specifically, some select shots from our trips to Alaska and Hawaii (in 2002) were posted, and I added some sections about my camera equipment and some links related to digital photography. Enjoy.

  Posted by Craig in Photography and Travel
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  April 1, 2003

  Qantas -- the Gadgety Airline

  Well, I just returned from 2 weeks in Australia. What a great country/continent! Thoroughly enjoyed just about every aspect of the trip. The worst part was the 16-hour flight between Melbourne and LAX on the way home, and that was mostly tolerable. Qantas is a pretty great airline, from my limited exposure to it. It really tried to make the trip enjoyable, but being surrounded by bawling 3-year olds (not mine, other peoples') for 16 hours will make anyone question his sanity, let alone not get much sleep.

  The coolest thing about the Qantas flight was that it was on a pretty new Boeing 747 (2002, I believe). We were flying coach and every seat had its own 8" LCD display in the seatback ahead. Now, I immediately thought, "how cool...the tall guy in the seat ahead of me won't block my view of the movies." Well, that wasn't the half of it. Each seat had its own controller that you could use to select from about 12 channels of continuously running programming (movies, tv shows, news, etc.) as well as 10 different video games (simple stuff like trivia, backgammon, Tetris, and a Loderunner-esque game). How much did each of these features cost, you ask? Nada. Zilch. Zippo. Was I ever a happy camper to find that out. Just hit "On" on the controller and it's there just waiting for you.

  All this gadgety goodness got me to thinking what other kinds of tech-related services they could (or should) offer to help us wary passengers pass the time. Here's a short list:

  1) Multi-player head-to-head gaming. An obvious next step would be to let multiple players on the plane compete with each other. At the least, it'd be nice to play virtual backgammon with your pal in the next seat. But, it would be quite the treat to have a Quake/Warcraft server on board to let the more violent-minded of us get some frags in on the long journey.

  2) Instant messaging. For large groups, like tours, it would make talking to each other a lot easier than shouting over the heads of sleeping passengers (who, if awakened, can be a bit surly). Granted, entering text would be limited to T9 or something akin to a phone-pad, but that's certainly better than nothing.

  3) Video-on-demand. As it was, the 12 channels of programming looped every 2.5 hours, so if you wanted to see a second movie, you had to wait for the 45 minutes or whatever after the first one ended to start the second one. The other disadvantage to not having it VoD is if you make a bad choice (e.g., choosing to watch Matthew Perry's Serving Sara) and decide to abandon the movie after 20 minutes, you're screwed until the 2.5-hour mark rolls around again.

  4) Memory card readers in the controller. Stick a CF-slot in there and make adapters available for the asking from the flight attendant. That way, you can sit there and share all those kewl vacation photos you took with your friends and neighbors.

  5) Internet access. Sure, I can dream. Heck, if I'm dreaming, make it broadband access as well.

  6) Access to an MP3 library. Hook up with a major record label and provide access to the entirety of the company's offerings. Since you're listening through their headphones on their system, it'd be somewhat secure. I think this would be pretty trivial to do if they really wanted to. Just add some "Buy this album now" buttons and you've got a built-in revenue stream from a captive audience.

  Anyway, those are just a few ideas. I'm glad to see that some airlines are embracing the future, at least in some ways. It's still a bit ironic that this good-sized color LCD screen in the seatback was on throughout the flight (runway to runway) but my little low-res, low-power monochrome PDA had to be "switched off until 20 minutes into the flight." Oh, well...

  Posted by Craig in Travel
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