http://guidewireservices.com Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:37:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 en http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/16/april-16-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/16/april-16-2008/#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:37:53 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/16/april-16-2008/ [THE GET IT] Honestly, one of the most neglected pieces of equipment in most home and office computer configurations is some sort of uninterrupted power supply (UPS). In addition to providing surge protection, they will keep your computer running until you can shut it down properly. Just ask anyone who has seen their computer or external hard drive rendered unusable after a power failure. APC is the leader in this field and the APC BE350R is a nice model. It can even communicate with your computer in order to shut down properly in the event you’re not around. Circuit City is featuring the BE350R right now for $32.99 with free shipping! http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/APC-UPS-Surge-Protector…   [THE GIZMO] Time to offload that old analog video collection. You know you’d better make a digital copy of that Logan’s Run cassette before it degrades beyond repair. Blackmagic Design is about to make the process that much easier with their new Blackmagic Video Recorder. It is a device, only about the size of a Bic Lighter that allows you to capture video from any analog source such as VHS, Video-8, DVD, Set top boxes or any other composite video device. It then captures files directly to H.264 files for iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, YouTube, IPTV, Web or full resolution archiving. It comes in both consumer and professional editions and includes software to help edit the final product. So get out there and rescue that old movie collection before it’s gone forever. The Blackmagic Video Recorder will be available in mid July for $119 with the SDI (pro) model retailing for $299. http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/videorecorder/   [THE GORGEOUS] Wow, this isn’t your nephew’s frat house foosball table. Named for the number of players on each team, the ‘11′ was the result of a collaboration between GRO design and Tim Modelmakers. Designed specifically to be shown at Milan Design Week, the team wanted to focus on an object they “could enhance through design, and that had lacked serious design attention in recent years.” I’ll say, foosball tables don’t exactly scream out high design. Inspired by the current trend of stadiums being built with strong architectural and sculptural beauty, the team was “interested in creating atmosphere through form, colour, material and subtle use of light.” Each player is machined from solid brass and finished in bright-silver highly polished chrome. After clicking the link below, make sure you page through the photos using the arrows, it really is remarkable. http://www.eleventhegame.com/   [THE GREEN] Hey, when it comes to preserving the rainforest, every little bit helps. So next time you reach for that jimmy hat, make sure it’s from Natex. Natex is a new Brazilian company, located in Xapuri which is the first factory to produce condoms with latex from Amazon trees. These condoms will be produced with natural, sustainable materials from seringai trees and will help reduce the country’s dependence on imported condoms. According to the Brazilian government, Brazil is the biggest buyer of condoms in the world, importing more than a billion of the contraceptives in recent years to give away as part of the country’s national program to combat HIV. The factory will produce about 100 million condoms annually and will provide about 150 jobs for rubber tappers in the region. In addition, Natex condoms are 10% more cost-effective to produce and are also more resistant for having 50% less minerals than cultivation latex. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7335925.stm   [THE GOSSIP] Boy, it seems like it was just yesterday when we were discussing the rumors of the forthcoming Jesus phone. Now here we are talking about the upcoming new version and the rumors are running wild. All sorts of details are surfacing. Besides the obvious 3G support, we are hearing about Bluetooth headphones, GPS, a 2.5mm slimmer profile, a black shiny finish, a 32GB model and most excitingly, video chat. Let the games begin! http://www.intomobile.com/2008/04/10/next-gen-iphone… ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/16/april-16-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/09/april-9-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/09/april-9-2008/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:21:46 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/09/april-9-2008/ [THE GET IT] Thinking of upgrading your mouse? Look no further. Buy.com is offering a super low price on the Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse. This mouse is so feature packed, it makes your old mouse look like a pet rock. I won’t bore you with all the details, just the most important one; Buy.com is basically giving this mouse away for the low price of $34.99 after rebate. That is less than half the price everyone else is charging. Don’t believe me? Check it out. Dell and Radio Shack both have it for $79.99 and Staples lists it at $99.98! http://www.buy.com/prod/logitech-vx-revolution…   [THE GIZMO] Boy, it’s hard to believe that just a short time ago folks were walking around with video cameras equipped with shoulder supports. You remember those, don’t you? On top of the fact that you were basically carrying the equivalent of a car battery on your shoulder, the video quality wasn’t anything to write home about either. Well, we’ve come a long way. This week Sony released a new model that is being dubbed the world’s smallest full HD camcorder. The new titanium-bodied Sony HDR-TG1 is a diminutive 1.3-inches wide by 4.7-inches tall by 2.5-inches deep and is capable of recording 1920 x 1080 HD video and 4-megapixel digital photos! The media is stored directly to Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo™ or PRO Duo Mark2 media cards. In addition, the HDR-TG1 features a high-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10x optical zoom lens, Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel surround sound, face detection technology, and a unique processing engine that automatically adjusts under- or over-exposed areas in a picture. Click here for a gallery of the HDR-TG1. http://gizmodo.com/375454/sony-hdr+tg1-handycam…   [THE GORGEOUS] I have to admit, it’s sort of sad to see all of these companies clamoring to develop something to compete with the Jesus phone. For the most part, it has been nothing but an exercise in futility, however, I think some of the smoke is starting to clear. This is especially true when you see a product like Lenovo’s new Ideapad U8. Packaged in a beautiful ergonomic design, this feature-rich “internet device” looks to be a real player. All the specs are still yet to be confirmed but we do know that it will be running the new micro-sized Intel Atom chip, has a 4.8 inch touchscreen, supports 3G, EDGE, has GPS, hand written note taking, and support for MS Office applications. More importantly, in the photos it looks to have a full phone keypad which hopefully means it will be capable of making calls. Check out the video for the full marketing experience. http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/02/lenovos-ideapad…   [THE GREEN] Already putting those new CFLs to shame, some smart boys over at Luxim labs have created a light bulb, not much bigger than a Flintstone chewable, that is more powerful than a modern day streetlight. Utilizing some serious scientific voodoo, the Argon gas filled LiFi bulbs transform the contents into plasma as electricity is focused through it. This process allows virtually all of the energy to be converted to light instead of heat as a conventional bulb does. At 140 lumens/watt, these bulbs are 10 times more efficient than traditional incandescent light bulbs, twice as efficient as current high-end LEDs, and also beat CFLs, most of which are around 50-80 lumens/watt. Moreover, they are not plagued with the issue of unattractive light like most high-efficiency light sources. The color rendering index (CRI) for the LiFi is 91 (max is 100). This is the index that measures the ability of a light source to reproduce colors naturally. In addition, the lifetime for the LiFi bulb is estimated at 20,000 hours! Page down and watch the video, it’s truly amazing. http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/04/07/luxim-plasma-light…   [THE GOSSIP] The stage was set, one sponsor, three computers, three different operating systems and a boatload of hackers. This year at the CanSecWest Applied Security Conference, a MacBook Air running Mac OS X, a Fujitsu laptop running Vista SP1 and a Sony Vaio running Linux were all pitted against each other in a nerd Battle Royale. The rules were simple, hack into one of the systems, run your own software and the computer was yours for the taking. Well, the results are in; The MacBook Air fell on day two, with the Fujitsu biting the dust on day three and the Linux-sourced Sony left crying “Adrienne” in the center of the ring, undefeated. There were a few attempts to break the Linux but none succeeded. Terri Forslof, a manager of security response with TippingPoint said “I was surprised that it didn’t go.” http://www.technewsworld.com/story/62378.html ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/09/april-9-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/02/april-2-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/02/april-2-2008/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:33:29 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/02/april-2-2008/ [THE GET IT] Is that a radioactive isotope in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Who needs batteries when you can employ Tritium. Get the new Mini Tritium Glowring Keychain. It’s a small clear plastic cylinder that contains a rod of Tritium for your radioactive glowing pleasure. It uses the same stuff that makes watches and traffic signs glow. According to the manufacturer, it will glow continuously for 10 years and is completely safe. The beta particles it emits are too weak to even penetrate human skin. You can pick one up at DealExtreme for $9.80 http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6830   [THE GIZMO] Back in February I featured the fantastic SpaceStation desktop organizer from Bluelounge. This week Bluelounge comes to the rescue again with The Sanctuary. In addition to bringing organization to your bureau top, kitchen counter or nightstand, The Sanctuary can also act as a universal charger for all of your gadgets. So instead of throwing your change, wallet and mobile into that plain old valet of yours, use The Sanctuary and keep everything organized and fully charged. The universal charger hidden below the top tray comes with 12 built-in adapters and is compatible with over 1500 electronic devices from most major brands. It also has a USB port allowing hundreds more electronic devices to be charged. The Sanctuary is available in white or black and will run you $129.95. http://www.bluelounge.com/thesanctuary.php   [THE GORGEOUS] Let’s face it, the technology of today’s television sets are outpacing the design by light years. I mean come on, they can only get so thin and for the most part your color choices come down to black, silver or black and silver. Taking a cue from some of those old amazing television designs of yore, London-based ChauhanStudio has developed a new design for Humax Electronics that will be unveiled at Milan’s Zona Tortona design show. Looking like the son of HAL or maybe a leftover prop from Blade Runner, the LCD TV concept is an exercise in retro-futurism. There isn’t much yet in the way of specs, but it looks to have a speaker built in to the base and features a nice small footprint. http://mocoloco.com/archives/005291.php   [THE GREEN] Here’s some hope for those of you out there that consider yourself laundry-challenged. You know who you are, mixing colors with whites, too much or too little detergent, unaware of the consequences of bleach, etc. Well here is your chance to make your life a little easier and most importantly, much greener. Laundry detergent is just loaded with all sorts of things that wreak havoc with the eco-system, whether it’s leaching into our drinking water, damaging fish DNA or causing all sorts of allergies. However, the folks behind Dropps have tried to eliminate these dangers and just maybe make laundry day a little easier. Dropps are small little pods of super concentrated (6x) detergent that you drop into your washing machine. No more messy bottles or measuring needed, the biodegradable “power pacs” simply dissolve in the wash water. As a result, it reduces the footprint of the packaging considerably. One empty jug of detergent equals 292 of the Dropps packaging pouches. In addition, they are phosphate free, chlorine free, NPE (Nonylphenol Ethoxylates) free, safe for septic tanks and are he (high efficiency) compatible. Dropps are readily available at your local Whole Foods, Target, Wal-Mart or Amazon right now for $22.46. http://www.dropps.com/index.html   [THE GOSSIP] This week I was about to get up on my soapbox, but luckily for you I talked myself down. I was going to feature this story highlighting the fact that NVIDIA video drivers have been responsible for an incredible 28.8% of all Vista crashes. It’s important to point out that this figure also includes all the computers that don’t have NVIDIA graphic cards! So next time you want to take a swing at old Bill and the big M, maybe stop and consider the fact that not everything is always Microsoft’s fault. Oh, that’s right; I was not supposed to be on my soapbox. Sorry, in that case, I will just say that the only thing better than a prank on April Fool’s Day is a prank on any other day. So even though it’s April 2nd, here are ten pranks you can plan out and play on your coworkers and friends in the next 364 days. Have fun. http://lifehacker.com/373817/top-10-harmless-geek-pranks ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/04/02/april-2-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/26/march-26-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/26/march-26-2008/#comments Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:18:41 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/26/march-26-2008/ [THE GET IT] Looking to expand your network? The Netgear FS605 5-Port 10/100 Fast Ethernet Switch allows you to connect up to 5 computers, printers, or other peripherals to your network, all at speeds of up to 100 Mbps. In addition, it features zero configuration plug and play installation and sports Auto Uplink™ which allows the correct signal to be used for each type of Ethernet cable. Office Depot is offering the FS605 for the ultra low price of $9.99 with free shipping! http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?id=411472   [THE GIZMO] Get your mojo working and conjure up some sweet peer to peer sharing. Mojo is a new and extremely easy way to share music over the internet. Once you download, install it and create an account, you simply add your friends who also have it installed and you’re ready to get started. You can then share any song in your iTunes library or download any song from your friends’ libraries over the internet, free of charge! Just double-click an entry in your Mojo friends list and Mojo will open a new window showing every song in their library, along with their playlists, movies, TV shows, Podcasts, and audio books. Mojo even shows you the entries that you already have in your library by displaying them in gray. DRM protected tracks are shown in red and the rest in black. Click here for Lifehacker’s enthusiastic introduction and guide to the product. https://www.deusty.com/   [THE GORGEOUS] Man, this is some clean livin’. Fisher & Paykel’s new Izona Cooksurface is as beautiful as it is functional. Sporting an elegant, flush, easy clean design, it also features the best of gas and ceramic technology combined. No ugly knobs or pot supports here, the Izona keeps them tucked away, flush to the seamless black ceramic glass just waiting to be summoned. Once activated, they rise from their hiding places and can be raised or lowered to your liking. These support pins are also removable for easy cleaning and have seals that ensure that liquid and cooking overspills are unable to leak into the pan support cavities. In addition, each burner has its own precise temperature control and LED displays. Unfortunately, the Izona is not in production just yet; however, the company plans to announce a release date once testing and regulatory approvals are completed. http://www.markpascua.com/2008/03/23/izona-cook…   [THE GREEN] Back in December I told you about a company named SkySails and their bid to bring wind power back to the shipping industry. If you remember, the SkySail consisted of a large, self-deploying 1,700-square-foot parasail that is tethered to the bow of a cargo ship. According to the company, once deployed, this sail is capable of lowering fuel costs an average of 10-35%. Up to this point it has all been testing and speculation. That is until now. The cargo ship Beluga SkySail set “sail” to Venezuela from Bremen on January 22nd and reached the Norwegian port of Mo-I-Rana on March 13th after travelling a total of 11,952 nautical miles. What was the result? Right in line with SkySails prediction, the sail was able to substitute for 20% of the engine’s power. That represents a savings of about 2.5 tons of fuel and works out to more than $1,000 a day. For the next trip they’re planning to double the size of the sail which they predict will double the fuel savings. http://earth2tech.com/2008/03/19/maiden-voyage…   [THE GOSSIP] Last week the Federal Communications Commission’s coveted 700MHz spectrum auction ended. Although the winner will be officially announced within the next 10 days, the smart money is on Verizon. The price tag? How about $19.592 billion! In a giant nyah-nyah, auction loser Google has announced they “don’t need no stinking 700MHz spectrum.” Instead of paying for the cow, they’re looking to get the milk for free by planning to utilize the slivers of unused TV airwaves between channels, otherwise known as white space. These airwaves will become available after the February 2009 digital TV switchover. In a letter to the FCC, Google outlined plans for a new class of phones and wireless devices that use local wireless airwaves to access this unused space. The FCC is currently testing equipment to see if this space can be used without interfering with TV broadcasts. Meanwhile, the price of a Google share rose $27.63. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/… ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/26/march-26-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/19/march-19-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/19/march-19-2008/#comments Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:35:47 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/19/march-19-2008/ [THE GET IT] Wake up your next presentation with the Trust TK-4300p Wireless Presenter Mouse. It’s a 6-button 2.4 GHz wireless controller that’s a presenter, trackball, laser pointer and desktop mouse all in one device. It charges via USB so you don’t need to lug around a power adapter or travel plug and automatically switches to presenter mode when picked up. In addition, it can be used for browsing the internet and playing your movies/music, wirelessly, from up to 15 meters. Buy.com is offering the TK-4300p for the low price of $49.99 with free shipping. That’s nearly half the price of anybody else. http://www.buy.com/prod/trust-tk-4300p-wireless…   [THE GIZMO] Back in December of ‘06 I featured the DARPA-funded BigDog, “the most advanced quadruped robot on Earth.” It was developed by Boston Dynamics and included a video that was quite unsettling. For those of you that remember it, you know what I mean. Well, Boston Dynamics has announced a new version of the BigDog and a video to go with it. The new unit is more capable, able to now carry 340 lbs, and just to warn you, much creepier. The video shows it navigating through all sorts of hazards like ice, piles of cinder blocks and deep snow, all the while able to regain its balance on its own. Honestly, this thing is more fit and athletic than most of your coworkers. I will say no more, just watch the video and be prepared to be frightened. Mules everywhere are emitting a collective sigh of relief. It’s a little long, but well worth the time. http://blogs.spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/2008/03…   [THE GORGEOUS] Said to be inspired by old train station clocks, the new Snap, designed for Diamantini & Domeniconi by Lorbus, looks more to me like a nice big slice of juicy candy. Kind of like a giant Starburst. The force behind Lorbus is Lorenzo Bustillos Galavis, a 32 year old industrial designer from Caracas, who now lives in Milan and is a self-proclaimed “freak for technology”. In addition to its beautiful design, the Snap features a base that rotates, allowing it to either be hung on the wall or used on a table and comes in two sizes: 28 x 28 and 37 x 37 cm. No word yet on pricing or availability. Unfortunately, the D&D site isn’t much help either. http://lorbus.com/snap-for-diamantini-domeniconi-2008/   [THE GREEN] I know what you’re thinking, not another piece on e-cycling, but I promise you this is different. Normally, you get information on a particular company or organization that handles a particular product. Or maybe a guide or web site that points you in the right direction. Well, e-cycling is about to get that much easier. You can now e-cycle your crusty old gadgets for free with the new “Mail Back” pilot program launched by the US Postal Service. Customers can pick up free envelopes in over 1,500 Post Offices to mail back inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players, free of charge! Clover Technologies Group is picking up the tab and there’s no limit to the number of envelopes customers may take. Clover is a nationally recognized company that recycles, remanufactures and remarkets your old gadgets and anything that cannot be sold is then broken down into components for reuse or safely recycled. http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008…   [THE GOSSIP] As you know, THE GOSSIP section of the Hit List is usually reserved for stories like this one chronicling how the House of Representatives defied President Bush and the Senate by passing their version of a surveillance bill without legal immunity for telcos. Or maybe this one reporting that Toshiba will take nearly a $1 billion hit this year for its losing HD DVD campaign. So when I first came across this video, I knew that it really didn’t fit here, however, it was so good, I felt that I had to put it somewhere. So here it is, no real story, just an independent dog, passing the time away with his very own gadget. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PcL6-mjRNk ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/19/march-19-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/12/march-12-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/12/march-12-2008/#comments Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:47:27 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/12/march-12-2008/ [THE GET IT] Believe it or not, there are different levels of quality when it comes to DVD-R and CD-R media. TDK is one of the producers of higher quality media. Meritline is offering the 100 pack of 8X DVD-R White Thermal Hub Printable Blank Media, 4.7G Shrink Wrapped Bulk for the low price of $22.99 with free shipping. That’s 4.7GB for about 23 cents! Use coupon code TDK2OFF at checkout. http://www.meritline.com/tdk-8x-dvd-r…   [THE GIZMO] When you find yourself on the road, don’t forget that those outlets in hotel rooms, trains and airports are still susceptible to surges. Plus with more and more of us computing on the road, there are less of those outlets every where we go. But what are you going to do? You can’t lug around one of those giant power/surge strips. Get yourself the new Mini Surge Protector from Belkin. This tidy little model packs three grounded three-prong power outlets and two powered USB ports into its tiny frame, and plugs directly into the wall socket, so there’s no dangling cord. A green LED confirms that connected devices are protected against surges, which Belkin backs with a $75,000 warranty. Just a fantastic travel tool. PC Connection currently has it available for $19.99. http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage…   [THE GORGEOUS] Okay, so we’ve seen 1TB external hard drives for some time now, but I don’t think I have ever seen one so ominous. No ugly plastic case here, just 1 terabyte of monolithic badass at your service. The new USB 2.0 Desktop Hard Disk from LaCie has a beautifully clean design, done up all in minimalist flat black with the exception of a single blue light behind the grill that periodically glows to signal it’s working. It features a quiet, compact, high speed 7200 rpm disc, 16MB (2 x 8MB) cache and measures 4.5 x 2.5 x 8.2 in. so it won’t take up a lot of desktop real estate. In addition LaCie includes ‘1-Click’ Backup Software for quick backups. The Desktop Hard Disk also comes in 250GB and 500GB flavors. I found the 1TB model on Buy.com for just $216.99! http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=11051   [THE GREEN] You probably wouldn’t have to look much further than your umbrella to find your most un-green product. After all, it’s almost always made of some unrecyclable material and is usually poorly constructed which many times results in a short lifespan. You’ve seen those old carcasses floating around on a stormy day like tumbleweeds. Feeling guilty yet? How about a 100% biodegradable umbrella that looks great? I’d like to introduce the BRELLI from PAM&Co. The frame is constructed of bamboo, cotton string and is covered in a unique, patent-pending biodegradable clear canopy that will biodegrade in less than five years. Despite its delicate appearance, the makers claim it can withstand heavy downpours and high winds, crediting its design and use of bamboo. The BRELLI comes in two sizes: a 35″ diameter stow away version for $28 and a full sized 52″ for $38. The BRELLI will be available March 18th but can be pre-ordered right now. http://www.thebrelli.com/   [THE GOSSIP] Woo-hoo! Removing any doubt that the iPhone could be the corporate business phone that we all hoped, Apple has announced support for some serious bidness tools. The big bomb? How about Microsoft Exchange and ActiveSync support. Yes, that’s right, I said Exchange support. In addition, we’re talking about push email, push calendar, push contacts, global address list, Cisco VPN, certificates and identities, WPA2/ 802.1x, security policies, device configuration and Remote Wipe. According to Information Week, Nike and Disney have been testing Exchange for iPhone and are pretty happy with it. I’ll bet that infamous laugh by Steve Balmer, when asked about the iPhone, is surely haunting him this week. . http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle… ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/12/march-12-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/05/march-5-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/05/march-5-2008/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:40:14 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/05/march-5-2008/ [THE GET IT] If you’re still doing that landline thing, here’s your chance to upgrade the whole house in one shot. The Panasonic 5.8GHz Cordless Answering System comes with four handsets and a built-in digital answering machine. In addition, it features call-waiting/talking caller ID, speakerphone, visual ringer, handset locator, built-in clock with alarm, four-way conferencing, voice enhancer technology and intercom. Circuit City is offering this feature-packed system up for the low price of $99.98. http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasonic-5-8GHz…   [THE GIZMO] After nearly a year and a half of lighting up the photography blogs and web sites, the new Sigma P1 will finally begin to ship the end of this month. The P1 is unique in that Sigma has managed to crowbar a full size sensor (14MP) and specs of a full-size, high end SLR into the body of a compact camera. It features a 14 megapixel Foveon X3 image sensor that is currently found in Sigma’s SD14 dSLR, a 16.6mm F4 lens that is equivalent to a standard 28mm, providing low distortion, high contrast images, QVGA video mode (320 x 240 @ 30fps) and an audio capture mode. In addition, it has support for RAW, the “TRUE” image processing engine and features full manual controls for photo enthusiasts. The Sigma P1 is currently available for pre-order on Amazon for $799. http://www.sigma-dp1.com/main.html   [THE GORGEOUS] Looking for a nice place to keep that new gadget warm and safe? ‘Cause you know that new little anorexic MacBook Air of yours is always complaining its chilly. Then definitely check out the simple, beautiful, handcrafted line from Working Class Heroes. These sleeves and pouches are made from soft, water-repellent 3mm grey German wool felt and are finished off with nice simple snaps for closure and a bit of leather for accent. The line currently features pouches for your laptop, moleskin or iPod/iTouch along with a mousemat done up in the same style. Trying to distinguish themselves from the plastic and rubber usually used for these types of products, founder James Teal says. “We were inspired by the past, when handcrafted items were almost an everyday commodity.” http://www.workingclassheroes.eu/products.html   [THE GREEN] This week at the Geneva Motor Show, Morgan, creator of those crazy wooden-framed, retro-styled roadsters, unveiled the much anticipated hydrogen-fueled LifeCar. Beyond the advantages of zero emissions, the LifeCar has some beauty and a little beast in it. Along with a well appointed interior featuring steam-bent plywood covered in hand stitched leather and a wood-rimmed steering wheel, the LifeCar is slated to do 0-60 mph in 7 seconds and have a top speed of 100 mph. In addition to the hydrogen-fueled powerplant, the LifeCar sports an advanced regenerative braking system that rescues some 50% of its kinetic energy giving it a maximum range of 250 miles. Okay, I get it, beautiful, powerful and green but do I have to look like I just carjacked Liberace or Cruella de Vil? http://jalopnik.com/363442/morgan-lifecar…   [THE GOSSIP] A small device that you attach to your surfboard or wetsuit to repel sharks? Sounds great, doesn’t it? The Shark Shield was designed to emit electrical waves, giving sharks uncomfortable muscle contractions to drive them away. However, while being tested in South Africa, under the supervision of the Natal Sharks Board, a female great white shark actually ate it! I’m no scientist, but that doesn’t sound so good. This on the heels of the death of Jarrod Stehbens, who was “taken” by a shark while studying cuttlefish for the University of Adelaide after being provided with two Shark Shields. Probably feeling a bit on the defensive side, Rod Hartley, director of Sea Change Technology, which manufactures the Shark Shields, states “The surf product only can be guaranteed to work when it’s stationary, not when it’s surfing in the wave or paddling.” Huh? Now you just have to figure out how to stay stationary while surfing. http://www.uberreview.com/2008/03/shark-shield… ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/03/05/march-5-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/27/february-27-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/27/february-27-2008/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:53:52 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/27/february-27-2008/ [THE GET IT] Backups, backups, backups. Come on people, you know it’s a disaster just waiting to happen. Your little computer hard drives are spinning tirelessly all day and all night, all the while deteriorating. It’s just a matter of time. Protect yourself and pick up a Western Digital 1TB My Book World Edition network external hard drive. Yes, that’s right, I said network drive. That means you can plug this little baby right into your router or hub without the need for a computer and because it features WD Anywhere Access™ and Data OnHand™, you can access your data from anywhere in the world. You can pick it up over at Buy.com for the bargain price of $254.99 with free shipping! http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=205599887   [THE GIZMO] Being German and a Virgo, it’s safe to say I know a little bit about the desire to keep the clutter down. It’s good to see a company like Bluelounge lending a hand with a product like the SpaceStation. The SpaceStation is a sleek new desk organizer that consists of a long hollow rectangular block with a rubberized top to keep your gadgets in place and a coil system underneath to keep all your cords organized. The block itself floats just above the surface to allow the cords to poke out where they are needed. In addition, the SpaceStation can act as a prop for your portable computer, providing a more ergonomic angle and better airflow. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Bluelounge went ahead and added an internal 4-port USB hub and a rail system on the back that can keep your papers standing upright for easy reference. To me, the SpaceStation is a bargain at $79.95. http://www.bluelounge.com/spacestation.php   [THE GORGEOUS] Man, it’s like the love child of Ray Eames and “Fast” Eddie Felson. On the surface, the Fusion tables by Aramith feature a beautifully clean, modern design, but underneath they each conceal a secret that would make Andy Capp green with envy. Convertible in just seconds, the Fusion table transforms a highly designed dining table into a high quality billiard or gaming table. It comes in a variety of surface and fabric options and features a real slate bed. The tables also feature an optional spring assisted Easy-Lift system that allows you to raise the Fusion table from the standard 30” dining height to the optimal 33” playing height. In addition, it has a unique system to store the racks, cues and balls right under the table top so this way you don’t have to tell your spouse about the gaming side until after you purchased it. Check out the video. http://www.fusiontables.com/en/   [THE GREEN] It looks as though Volkswagen is about to make a big splash next week at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show by announcing a new diesel-electric hybrid flavor of the already popular Rabbit. This new version is promising an astounding 69.9 MPG and will emit just 89g/km of carbon dioxide, besting the already stingy Prius which puts out a mere 104g/km. In addition, this new engine meets all Euro 5 emissions criteria and also passes the Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards here in the US. This standard is considered to be the world’s strictest, and limits emissions of oxides of Nitrogen to 70 mg per mile. So what does that mean? The lower the bin number, the cleaner the vehicle. As an example, the Hummer H2 is a whopping Bin 11. http://www.dailytech.com/VW+Prepares+69+MPG+Diesel…   [THE GOSSIP] I don’t know if it’s just the computer nerd in me, but I laughed my ass off when I saw this prank. The New York City based group, Improv Everywhere, had three of their members enter a Starbucks and set up full-blown desktop systems, complete with giant CRT monitors right along side laptop users and began to work. One of the desktops even had a wireless card that allowed them to surf the web. Before you judge me you should watch the video, the reactions are pretty funny. My favorites have to be the girl who actually places the CRT and keyboard on her lap and the use of Windows 95 on one of the computers. http://improveverywhere.com/2008/02/25/mobile-desktop/ ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/27/february-27-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/20/february-20-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/20/february-20-2008/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:41:44 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/20/february-20-2008/ [THE GET IT] With the integration of video into VOIP and some of the instant messenger programs, if you don’t have a video cam, you’re really losing out on a lot of functionality. So if you’re ready to make the leap, look no further. The highly reviewed QuickCam Pro 9000 Webcam is a winner. This webcam features a Carl Zeiss lens, a true two-megapixel sensor (gives you up to 8 megapixel photos), and an integrated microphone with RightSound technology for crystal clear conversations free from echo and annoying background noise. PC Connection is offering the QuickCam Pro 9000 for just $59.99 after a $30 rebate. Check around, you won’t find it for less than $80 anywhere. In fact I just ordered one for myself. I’ve listed just some of the reviews here, here and here. http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail…   [THE GIZMO] Do you often find yourself in the middle of nowhere while asking yourself, “I could really use an espresso right now”? Well, fret no more; I’ve got something that’ll ease that caffeine jones. It’s called the Handpresso. This new portable espresso maker will give you 16 Bar of pressure in your back pocket. Give it a few pumps, add hot water from a kettle or a thermo insulated bottle, add any old E.S.E. pod (Easy Serving Espresso) and with a push of the button, you’re ready to serve. In addition, you can pick up all sorts of accessories for the Handpresso like a thermo insulated flask with integrated thermometer, portafilters, outdoor cups or a nifty carrying case. Click here for a video of a very handsome European couple enjoying the Handpresso out in the wild. http://www.handpresso.fr/index.html   [THE GORGEOUS] I know it’s hard to believe that a camera claiming to be “the toughest point-and-shoot camera in the world,” could also be called gorgeous, but to me, the new Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is a thing of beauty. Packing 10.1 megapixels, the 1030 SW is also shockproof (6.6-ft drop), waterproof (33ft), freeze proof (14°F), crushproof (200LBF) and dustproof (air-tight seal impervious to dust). Clad in a rugged, but stunning, all-metal body, the front plate is secured with four large chrome hex bolts, giving it a great armored look. It also features revolutionary shock-absorbing construction and has waterproof seals and gaskets. In addition, the 1030 SW sports a 3.6x wide-angle zoom lens, 2.7” HyperCrystal™ II LCD and comes in black, silver and green. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product…   [THE GREEN] Talk about your renewable energy. A student at Virginia Tech has developed an LED lamp, dubbed Gravia, which uses that all too available energy source, gravity. Clay Moulton, who received his Master of Science in Architecture with a concentration in industrial design, won second place in the Greener Gadgets Design Competition as part of the Greener Gadgets Conference in New York City. The lamp consists of an acrylic tower roughly four feet tall which generates energy by the ultra slow freefall of a mass that in turn spins a rotor. The lamp powers 10 high-output LEDs that generate 600-800 lumens, roughly equal to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. When the mass reaches the bottom, you simply turn it over, much like an hourglass and the process starts all over again. Operation is silent and Mr. Moulton estimates that the mechanism is nearly indestructible. Here are some detailed images of the patented design. http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2008…   [THE GOSSIP] Ripped straight from the pages of a James Bond script, the US military is planning to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite. They plan to accomplish this with an interceptor missile relying on a ship-based weapon developed to defend against ballistic missile attacks. Apparently the satellite contains a half ton of Hydrazene, a nice little rocket fuel that can burn the lungs and even be deadly in extended doses. So that sort of thing falling in our backyard would not be a good thing. According to the New York Times, this “makes it a real-world test both of the nation’s antiballistic missile systems and its antisatellite capabilities” and these systems “have not been used except in carefully controlled tests.” Yikes! A real-world test? Are you kidding me? My question is who is going to shoot down the missile when this little bit of technology malfunctions while attempting to shoot down the original little bit of malfunctioning technology. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/science/… ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/20/february-20-2008/feed/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/13/february-13-2008/ http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/13/february-13-2008/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:37:17 +0000 wayne http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/13/february-13-2008/ [THE GET IT] Looking forward to all the new features of Office 2007 but don’t want to shell out the $500 or so for the full version? Well if you don’t need Outlook, pick yourself up the Office 2007 Home and Student Edition and save yourself some dough. This version includes Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Word. Computer’s Worth is offering this version for the low price of $102 with free shipping. http://www.computersworth.com/item.cfm?id=1013   [THE GIZMO] It seems that there is a new docking station/speaker system for the iPhone or iPod every time you turn around. However, there are a few out there that have distinguished themselves from the others in either their features or design. DLO has done a bit of both with their new amplified portable speaker system. The new system has a great design, looking a bit like a retro phone handset but also packs in some great new features. The system utilizes a removable rotating stand that holds the iPhone vertically when you want to listen to music, or horizontally if you want to watch video. In addition, you don’t have to disconnect your phone when you get a call; the speakers automatically turn it into a speaker phone. More importantly, they are shielded from the usual TDMA interference that plagues many traditional speaker systems. And when you are ready to take them on the go, each speaker snaps neatly into the base to create a 6 inch “ball” which also features a recessed area for keeping cords securely wrapped and out of the way. Although they are designed for the iPhone, they will also work with any audio device that has a 3.5mm headphone jack and will run you only $49.99. Click here to see it in action. http://dlo.com/products/portspeakers_iPHone_prod.tpl   [THE GORGEOUS] Since its introduction in 1932 the Zippo lighter has stood the test of time as a true American classic, whether it’s Donna Reed lighting Montgomery Clift’s cigarette in From Here to Eternity or used by Bruce Willis in Die Hard. From its recognizable click when snapped open to its flint-wheel ignition, the design has stood the test of time. Now after 75 years, the Zippo is finally getting an upgrade. Morphing the past with the present, the new ZippoBlu is the world’s first blue flame butane to incorporate a flint-wheel ignition. In addition, its patented two-stage burner “delivers an easy starting, consistent, clean burning hot blue flame.” It has a whole new profile and comes in a whole new line of skins — from the classic brushed chrome to 18-karat gold plated. They’re made in the USA and have a lifetime guarantee. http://www.zippoblu.com/   [THE GREEN] You’ve heard and seen plenty of eco-conscious alternatives for grocery bags, but how about those little plastic bags we use in the fruit and produce section? Think about it, they have a shorter life than a first round contestant on American Idol. We literally use them from the fruit and produce aisle to the kitchen counter where they are usually discarded. Well, Shelly Orr of Re-Market at Etsy had the same idea. She has developed a produce bag that is both lightweight and reusable but also has the distinct advantage of being see-through. This allows the clerk to easily see what goodies you have. The new bags are constructed of feather-weight recycled nylon tulle (fine mesh) so they don’t add any weight on the produce scale and are machine washable. They come in sets of three (M, L, XL) and will run you $7.50. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9528281   [THE GOSSIP] As we hurdle ever closer to the end of civilization as we know it, I’ve come to realize that apparently it isn’t fast enough for some folks. In a recent survey of some 2,000 Brits it was revealed that 47% of men would give up sex for six months in return for a free 50-inch plasma TV. Yes, you read that right, a television set. And before you start on the men, the survey also revealed that about a third of women felt the same way. Folks, what are we doing here? http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews… ]]> http://guidewireservices.com/2008/02/13/february-13-2008/feed/