The (near) future of Personal Computing is here, pt. 2. May 22, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : technology , add a commentI have read several times during this past year that the volume of sales of personal computers in Japan has declined, and that this trend is expected to continue and spread to other markets, the US and Europe included. One of the (many) reasons for this is the continuing increase in functionality, processing power and speed of cellular phones – especially “smart” phones.
More and more, cellular phones have sufficient processing power and memory to run not just email and web browsing app’s, but also full-fledged word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, not to mention games, mp3 and video players, and still- and video-cameras, and oh yes, the GPS. There is still a long way to go before the hand-held device will completely replace the desktop or laptop PC for those home and business users that need more “oomph”, to do photo and video editing, for example.
Having said all of this, it is still obvious that sometimes the small screen real estate and tiny keyboards are just not sufficient. With this in mind, Celio Technology Company recently developed and released what they are calling the “REDFLY Mobile Companion” that “extends the the Smartphone with the most valuable features of a laptop. This is a 1″x6″x9″, two-pound device that looks like a small laptop, but does not have a processor, storage, or RAM. Instead, it is essentially a clam-shell combination of keyboard and video monitor, with a touchpad mouse, a VGA port to plug in an external monitor or projector, Bluetooth, and two USB ports.
At roughly $500 per, these are a bit pricey considering that you can buy a full-fledged laptop for less that that. As far as I can tell, the REDFLY is being marketed directly only to businesses – specifically sales forces, but it’s only a matter of time before something like this is marketed as an inexpensive companion device for consumers.
The (near) future of Personal Computing is here, pt. 1 May 22, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : technology , add a commentI bought a Nokia 6620 when it was newly on the market here in the US from Cingular (now AT&T Wireless) and, for the most part, I liked it. It had a camera, which was relatively new – at least at an affordable price – at the time; had Bluetooth connectivity which was important to me; had good send & receive audio; it’s receiver circuit was sensitive enough, and transmitter strong enough to maintain a good connection to the cellular network when some other phones could not; and it was the first “smart” phone available in the US that supported the new high speed EDGE network. And also, I’ve been using a Palm PDA for years now, and I didn’t want to combine a PDA and phone into one unit, one point of failure. Besides, Palm-based cellular “smart” phones just didn’t have an adequate screen size or resolution for my jaded “requirements”, and I’d used a Compaq WindowsCE PDA for a while before I got my first PalmPilot, and felt the Palm OS was superior. Following the Pilot, I used the Palm III, V, and finally the Palm Tungsten T3, which I’ve had the past few years and which spoiled me – all that screen real estate!
For the past couple of years now, we’ve all seen the power and functionality of cell phones, especially “smart” phones, evolve. In the business world, the “Crackberry” was king (sorry Ring, of course I mean Blackberry!). We’ve also seen some real improvements in Microsoft’s portable operating system, now known as Windows Mobile – enough so that I’ve been considering giving Microsoft another shot.
And then, a few months ago, I fell in lust! One day, while browsing the available offerings from AT&T Wireless to upgrade that I might upgrade to, there was this new “cool tool” that seemed to have every feature a tech junky like me could want: a phone; a high resolution camera (3 Megapixels!); a slide-out, full QWERTY keyboard for texting & email; .mp3 player with stereo audio; stereo Bluetooth; 3G high-speed data network support; WiFi; a GPS; full PDA functionality; and a touch screen with full 240×320-pixel display. This new object of my techno-lust? The AT&T Tilt, a branded version of the TyTN II manufactured by HTC.
Ultimate Homebrew April 28, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : projects, station, technology , add a commentWhile getting caught up with Bill – M0HBR’s podcast “Soldersmoke“, I took a look around his web site, Gadgeteer.us. There he has a video made by a French ham, Claude Paillard, call sign F2FO, showing Claude homebrewing some triode tubes. Plenty of people homebrew tube receivers and transmitters, but how many hams do you know that take homebrewing quite so far? Claude puts quite a few skills in play, and it helps that he seems to have all the right tools for the job.
[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1146720&w=425&h=350&fv=] from vodpod.com posted with vodpod
WordPress Tags: homebrew, tubes, triode, diy, videos
Telegraph Clacks out RSS Feeds at The Steampunk Workshop April 19, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : technology , add a commentMr. “Hieronymus Isambard” (Jake) von Slatt, the Proprietor over at The Steampunk Workshop, has created a couple of very nice telegraph sounders. Taking it even further, he interfaced one with his PC to “copy” RSS feeds in Morse code! I attempted to post his video of one of the sounders “sounding off” an RSS feed in code, but I couldn’t get WordPress to accept it. Take a look at his description of the project.
Salt Water Burns April 13, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : science, technology , add a commentVery interesting… But I have to wonder just how much power is needed to run the RF generator…
Kindle: A must have gadget for readers January 18, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : technology , add a commentDo you read? Do you read books, magazines, newspapers, blogs? I do; I read a lot. I don’t read newspapers, and I read magazines only occasionally, but I am constantly picking up a book. I read hard, bulky, paper books; I read electronic copies of books, either on my laptop or on my Palm T3 PDA. So yes, I do a lot of reading.
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ASIN: B000FI73MA |
Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle StoreThere is a new gadget available for readers, marketed by Amazon.com, arguably the largest bookseller on the planet. Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device. I have not actually held one in my hands, but I’m impressed enough by what I’ve seen in the videos and description on Amazon’s web site that I’ve put the Kindle right up at the top of my “wish list”. Here is a video introduction to this heavenly device:
And here is some of the marketing description from Amazon’s Kindle web site:
Paper-like Screen
Utilizing a new high-resolution display technology called electronic paper, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white screen that resembles the appearance and readability of printed paper. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. It reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.The screen never gets hot so you can comfortably read as long as you like.
See what others are saying about the Kindle screen:
James Patterson, author of You’ve Been Warned, “The screen is fabulous. You would expect that, with a screen, there would be a glare, it would be hard to read but it’s not. There’s no glare. It’s not backlit, which is kind of magical. I think people are going to be very, very surprised and delighted. This is a lot easier to read than a lot of books are these days.”
Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball, “I’m telling you, after five minutes I’ve ceased to think I’m looking at a screen. It’s not like reading a computer screen. It’s more like reading a piece of paper. I think it’s actually clearer, easier on the eye than the printed word.”
Neil Gaiman, author of Stardust, “It’s like paper and it’s very interesting. It’s very, very crisp. Very functional. Very readable.”
Wireless Access with Whispernet™
Whispernet utilizes Amazon’s optimized technology plus Sprint’s national high-speed (EVDO) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, download, and read content on the go.
Unlike WiFi, you don’t have to find a hotspot. Amazon pays for Kindle’s wireless connectivity so you will never see a monthly wireless bill for shopping the Kindle Store. There is no wireless setup—you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box.
Note: There is no wireless coverage available currently on Sprint’s data network for Kindle in Montana and Alaska.
Check Wireless Coverage
Carry Your Library in 10.3 Ounces
At 10.3 ounces, Kindle is lighter and thinner than typical paperbacks, and fits easily in one hand. Its built-in memory stores hundreds of titles. An optional SD memory card lets you hold even more. From Melville to Morrison, your favorite authors can always be with you.
In addition, a copy of every book you purchase is backed up online in Your Media Library in case you ever need to download it again. This allows you to make room for new titles on your device, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library, which can always be re-downloaded wirelessly. If you are out of wireless coverage, such as traveling overseas, you can download books to your computer from Your Media Library and transfer via USB to your Kindle. Think of it as a bookshelf in your attic—even though you don’t see it, you know your books are there.
Ergonomic Design
We wanted Kindle to be as easy to hold and use as a book, so we designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions often. Kindle’s full-length, vertical page-turning buttons are located on either side, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably from any position. Navigation on both sides means both “lefties” and “righties” can easily use Kindle with one hand. And at only 10.3 ounces, Kindle is lighter and thinner than a typical paperback.
Shop the Kindle Store Right from Your Device
You can shop the Kindle Store wirelessly right from your device, allowing you to click, buy, and start reading your purchases within a minute. The Kindle Store offers the same great Amazon.com customer experience you’re used to, including customer reviews, personalized recommendations, and low prices. Simply search for the title or author you’re interested in reading, or browse the store to discover titles and download your reading choices. We auto-deliver your selections wirelessly, so the next time you hear about a great book, just click, buy, and read.
Search
Kindle makes it easy to search across your library. To use the Search feature, simply type in a word or phrase you’re looking for, and Kindle will find every instance across your Kindle library. Looking for an article you read a couple of days ago about hybrid cars but can’t remember where? Simply type in hybrid and Kindle will search your library for each reference, making it easy to jump directly to what you’re looking for. You can extend your search to the Kindle Store to find related titles you may be interested in. Explore even further by searching Wikipedia.
Keyboard
Kindle’s QWERTY keyboard puts the Kindle Store at your fingertips. Simply type in a title, author, or keyword to find the book, newspaper, or magazine you are looking for. From there, click to buy, and begin reading your selection in under a minute.
The keyboard also enables you to do a full text search across your entire library or within a specific title. To find the article you read last week on globalization, simply type in globalization to locate each relevant reference. You can then jump to Wikipedia to learn more about it. The keyboard also means you can annotate text and utilize Kindle’s built-in dictionary without interrupting your reading.
Bookmarks and Annotation
By using the keyboard, you can add annotations to text, just like you might write in the margins of a book. And because it is digital, you can edit, delete, and export your notes, highlight and clip key passages, and bookmark pages for future use. You’ll never need to bookmark your last place in the book, becau
se Kindle remembers for you and always opens to the last page you read.
Built-in Dictionary
Never get caught without a dictionary. Kindle includes The New Oxford American Dictionary with over 250,000 entries and definitions, so you can seamlessly look up the meanings of words without interrupting your reading. Never fear a sesquipedalian word again—simply look it up as you go.
Wireless Access to Wikipedia
Kindle also includes free built-in access to the world’s most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org. With Kindle in hand, looking up people, places, events and more has never been easier. It gives whole new meaning to the phrase walking encyclopedia.
Adjustable Text Size
Because one size doesn’t fit all, you can increase the text size of your favorite book or periodical with the push of a button. If your eyes tire, simply increase the font size and continue reading comfortably. Kindle has six adjustable font sizes to suit your reading preference.
Long Battery Life
Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly. Kindle fully recharges in two hours.
What’s included in the box?
Kindle Electronic Reader
Book cover
Power adapter
USB 2.0 cable
With all of that magic going on, what’s the down side? The cellular wireless service used for downloading books and subscriptions is not available everywhere. To see the wireless coverage, click here. Fortunately, you can connect the Kindle to your PC via a USB cable, and transfer all supported materials to the device. Supported materials include books and subscriptions from Amazon; Audible audio books; .mp3 music files; .txt files; Mobipocket files that do not have DRM (digital rights management); MS Word and HTML files that have been converted for you by Amazon; and JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP files (remember, the display is black and white, not color). Only the Amazon-supplied books, newspaper, magazine and blog subscriptions, and your converted Word and HTML files can be delivered direct to your Kindle via the wireless network; all other files must be copied to the device from your PC.
What else is there on the “down side”? There is no optional backlighting so you can’t read in bed with the light off (and you just know that your bed partner will complain about the light); there is no WiFi support; and hopefully future versions will allow me to read all of those Mobipocket books that I already own. And while we’re at it, it should also support both eReader books (of which I have quite a few) and .PDF documents as well. And, of course, even with all of those added features, it could be less expensive, so that I might actually be able to afford to buy one.
K5EHX Repeater Mapping December 11, 2007
Posted by N9IK in : technology , add a commentTom White, K5EHX, of Tulsa, Oklahoma has done some creative work combining GoogleMaps and repeater and callsign data from QRZ.COM, Repeater.org, and ARTSCI Publishing, resulting in a “cool tool”. In a nutshell, Tom’s web site offers you a chance to map a location, with the locations of repeaters and the repeaters’ coverage ranges shown. Search options include searching by Callsign, by geographic search (ZIP code or City, State), or by Tag. Tags could include a callsign, city, state, or frequency band. For example, the tags listed for the repeater belonging to KP4EOP, located in Deer Park, Illinois and operating on the 70 centimeter band are: “KP4EOP”, “Deer”, “Park”, “IL”, and “70cm”. You do not seem to be able to combine search functions; you cannot, for example, search for repeaters located in area code 60047, limited to a subset of those operating on the 2-meter band.
Performing a search against my local area code, the query returns 82 repeaters, but only 30 are drawn on the map. To utilize the full list of repeaters returned as a result of the query, I can download the results as either a .csv file, for import into a spreadsheet program for example, or I can download the data as a KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file, to use with another on-line mapping program (2d), or an Earth browser (3d), such as GoogleEarth. I chose to download the search results as a KML file, to be opened in GoogleEarth.
Technorati Tags: mapping, maps, repeaters, internet
Pay-by-fingerprint November 1, 2007
Posted by N9IK in : security, technology , add a commentAccording to a news article that I read this morning, a few Shell gas stations in the Chicago area are “testing biometric systems that let consumers walk up to the pump, scan their fingertips on a device and fill up their vehicles. The systems, also installed at Shell convenience stores, are directly linked to customers’ checking or credit-card accounts for payment.”
I’m going to have to think real hard about this one. The author of the article notes that “Shell officials note that the system is less susceptible to identity theft since it’s impossible to duplicate or steal a fingerprint.” Unless the pad where the finger is placed for it’s print to be “read” is designed appropriately (and I would not make that assumption), this is most patently false. It’s really not that difficult to “lift” a fingerprint from many surfaces. I know, because I’ve done it with my own prints when testing out a biometric security device to use on PC’s at a previous client. If these biometric kiosks are not designed appropriately, it would be a simple matter to get the fingerprint of the previous user, and if I’m observant and they’re careless, I’d probably able to watch them enter in a pin if that’s required. Never tried it myself, never will, but I know it’s easily done. At the very least, be sure to wipe the pad after you have your fingerprint scanned. Oh yeah. Don’t forget about the photograph that’s taken of you at the same time (at least by the station’s security system), as is done at ATM machines. Easy for the photo and fingerprint to be matched together in the transaction logs, which is good from a law enforcement perspective, anyway.