These trees are across from the MAX platform. I was looking at them this afternoon, when I realized that I’ve seen one too many Cingular “more bars” commercials…
Monthly Archive for June, 2005
This is the third pair of EX71s that have done this to me within 2 months or so of purchase. Even though they sound great, and are superbly comfortable, I’ll never buy another pair of Sony headphones.
Now, I have to decide what to replace them with. I’m spoiled by comfortable isolating earbuds like these, so I’m looking at the Etymotics ER6is and the Shure E2Cs. Decisions, decisions. Would have been a lot easier if I hadn’t forked out for a third pair of these Sony EX71s.
Creative on the left, iPod on the right. Notice how the orientation (left/right, up/down) is opposite?
Takes a lot of getting used to, especially if you’re used to the iPod remote. At first, I wondered if I got a defective unit, but I think they designed it this way. Why, I have no idea, but there you have it.
Here’s the video we shot with my new camera (Nikon Coolpix 5600) during today’s TinyPodcast.
Download the video directly, (about a minute, 12MB Quicktime) or subscribe to the TinyPodcast Video Edition RSS feed to get this and any future video content via enclosures. Use a video-capable aggregator like Doppler, iPodder, or FireANT to subscribe to video content like TinyPodcast Video Edition and RocketBoom.
Check it out, and let me know what you think!
EDIT: Fixed the broken link to the video. Stupid URL is case sensitive, for some reason, and the .MOV part wasn’t capitalized. Now it is. Let me know if it’s still not working for anyone.
Here’s this week’s show. You can download the MP3 file directly (right-click, save as), or subscribe to the TinyPodcast RSS feed in your favorite podcast aggregator to get the show delivered automatically to your computer and MP3 player. This week’s show is about 20 MB, 40 minutes, as usual.
Here are the various topics that Brian and I cover this week:
- Barnes & Noble and Starbucks hate their customers (or: Why I’ll Go To Borders From Now On). I’m going to write up a full blown rant about this soon. No self-search, no taking books into Starbucks to read and hang out (and no bringing drinks into B&N), and you have to get a key to use the restroom. All of these things made me feel like I was despised and untrusted in their store. Borders is completely the opposite, and this bad B&N experience created a loyalty to Borders in me. Way to go, B&N!
- EBooks should be cheaper than they are! I hardly ever buy dead tree books anymore - trying to vote with my wallet.
- Why oh why does Intel bundle Skype with some of their products but prohibit its use internally?
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released a Legal Guide for Bloggers. Know your rights as a blogger, and know what to watch out for to avoid getting int trouble.
- Simultaneously recording this show on the Creative Zen Micro via the built in mic, just to see how it sounds.
- Josh’s new gadget - Nikon Coolpix 5600 digital camera. 5.1 MP, 3x optical zoom, SD memory, AA batteries, tons of “scene assist” modes, and great video capabilities (records to Quicktime/MOV). Slightly smaller and faster than my Nikon Coolpix 3200, with a larger LCD. We shoot a quick demo video with the camera, at 320×240 pixels, which you can check out, unedited, here.
- I’ve been taking tons of pictures, and sharing them via Flickr. Lots of cute photos of my daughter Emma over on my family blog, GadgetFamily.org.
- Apple’s Intel announcement caused the “Osbourne effect” with me - I was close to buying a 12″ Powerbook, but I’m now going to wait until Intel-based versions are available next year. Besides, I really want the new IBM/Lenovo X41T Tablet PC.
- Tiny laptops, like the Flybook. Sexy, but for the $2000 price tag, we’d take a Sony U70 or Thinkpad X41T Tablet PC. Rachel and I have become a laptop-using household. Where is the market for a tiny laptop like the Flybook, in between a laptop and a PDA/smartphone?
- Check out PortlandPodcasting.org, and don’t miss out on the Portland Podcasting Meetup. This month, it’s going to be on Tuesday June 28, 2005. Watch the site, or email portlandpodcasting@gmail.com for more info. You don’t have to be a podcaster to come - anyone interested is welcome.
- Come join the TinyScreenfuls Flickr Group and Photo Pool, and share your own photos of your gadgets, computers, and toys. If it’s got a screen (or not, even), come share it with us.
As always, we love to get feedback! You can email us at tinyscreenfuls@gmail.com or call our voice feedback line and leave us a message - 206-339-TINY. Let us know how we’re doing - good or bad.
Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!
Theo volunteered his large hand to show how small my Creative Zen Micro really is.
In my mind, it’s an iPod Mini killer. More storage (5GB) and features (FM radio, recording, etc.) for the same price ($199).
One of my favorite uses for my Smartphone is keeping up with my RSS feed subscriptions using Bloglines Mobile. I use the full blown version of Bloglines to read my feeds on the computer (integrates wonderfully with Firefox), so everything I read on my Smartphone stays in sync with what I’ve already read on the computer, and vice versa.
Use Bloglines and have a mobile device with a web browser? Give Bloglines Mobile a try.
I got the news on the Michael Jackson verdict via a Newsflash alert on my MSN Direct SPOT Watch.
Took some shots of my gadgets with my new camera while I was waiting for the light rail shuttle after work.
Here’s my Audiovox SMT5600 Windows Mobile Smartphone.
TinyScreenfuls Feed (this blog)
Still quite useful. 
