Archive for October 2006
Keychain Video
by David English on October 13th, 2006
Portable video players are becoming smaller and smaller, but this is one is downright tiny. It’s 3.7 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.57 inches. At a DigitalLife press event in New York last night, I had a chance to see a demo of Kingston’s new K-PEX media player.
The two-inch screen has a resolution of just 220 x 176 pixels, and the 15 frames-per-second video had a slight stutter. On the other hand, the video was surprisingly sharp with excellent color. You can’t beat the weight (2.2 ounces) or price ($129.99 for the 1 GB version or $179.99 for the 2 GB version). Expect the 1 GB version to be available online for as low as $75.
It can handle MP3 music files, JPG photographs, and TXT documents, in addition to MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVI, WMV, and ASF video files. You’ll have to convert any video files to the .MPX format. Fortunately, Kingston includes conversion software. As if that weren’t enough, they throw in a miniSD card slot, two games, and integrated FM radio.
In case you’re wondering, you can’t record the FM radio, as you can with some other media players. You can record voice, however, using the built-in microphone. Along the top, you’ll find an audio line-in jack, which is unusual for a low-end player. There’s also a built-in speaker that sounds reasonably good (and loud) given its small size and back-of-device location.
The K-PEX isn’t really designed to be placed on a keychain. Even if it were small enough, you wouldn’t want your keys scratching up the screen.
Take It with You
by David English on October 9th, 2006
Need more hard drive capacity for your notebook computer? One option is a small USB-attached portable hard drive. Because they’re external, you can use them to shuttle files back and forth between your notebook and desktop computers. Capacities run as high as 160GB, which could hold plenty of whatever you want to have with you when you travel.
There’s some confusion about which of the small drives can be powered exclusively by a notebook’s USB port. Some notebooks can’t provide enough power to run some drives, and some drives require more power than other drives. As a general rule of thumb, the 1.8-inch drives draw less power than the 2.5-inch drives. And if your notebook doesn’t provide enough power to its USB ports, look for a portable drive that supplies a second cable that lets you tap two USB ports simultaneously.
Hold the Jitters
by David English on October 9th, 2006
More digital cameras are including image stabilizer technology, even when the lens is just a 3x or 4x optical zoom. As the zoom becomes longer, camera shake becomes more noticeable. So why add this technology to relatively short zoom lenses where camera shake is less of a problem?
An often overlooked benefit of this technology is improved low light photography. As the light level decreases, the lens opens up and the shutter speed slows in order to let in more light. That can cause blurring — not because you’re moving the camera too much, but because the longer exposure captures those movements over a longer period of time. With a stabilized image, the subject will shift around less, and you’ll be able to take better pictures in less-than-optimal lighting conditions.
Air Apparent
by David English on October 7th, 2006
I finally got around to replacing my eight-year-old notebook. My ancient ThinkPad 600E worked reasonably well after several hard drive transplants and memory upgrades, but I was ready to move on. When it came time to configure my new ThinkPad X60s, I knew I wanted to include a built-in wireless wide-area network (WAN) modem. It lets you connect to the Internet over a high-speed cellular network.
The X60s is configured with a Sierra Wireless modem that’s locked into Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO network. Verizon has expanded its EV-DO coverage recently, so I contacted them about their 30-day trial offer. I called on September 29, and it turned out that was the last day the 30-day trial would be offered. Now it’s just a three-day trial.
Though Verizon’s connecting software (VZAccess Manager) is flakey, the service itself is excellent. I’m getting speeds that vary from about 300 kbps to 800 kbps. That’s not exactly DSL or cable modem speeds, but it’s fast enough to make mobile browsing an enjoyable experience. There are two downsides, however. The first is the price. You’ll have to pay $80 a month, or $60 a month if you currently have your cell phone through Verizon. The second is the restrictions on the “unlimited” service. You’re prohibited from streaming or downloading movies, music, or games. You also can’t use your notebook as a server or with a webcam.
Am I going to sign up after the 30-day trial period is over? I’m not sure. There is an option to pay $15 a day, which may work out better for me, as I’ll mostly need the service when I’m traveling to and from tradeshows.
Hot Seat
by David English on October 7th, 2006
I covered this on my main site (davidenglish.com), but it’s worth a mention here, as well.
If you travel frequently by air, you may be frustrated in finding an in-seat power port for your notebook computer. Some seats have them; some seats don’t. Most don’t, so I usually leave my DC-power adapter at home, since it weighs more than my regular adapter. Even so, I’ve been curious to know which seats have power ports, especially for cross-country or international flights.
Now you can find out ahead of time by consulting SeatGuru.com. There you’ll find a breakdown by airline, flight, and individual seat for such amenities as in-seat power port, extra legroom, superior location, and proximity to the nearest exit or lavatory. You’ll need to find out the type of aircraft for the flight, which could change at the last minute. Still, this might be useful information, and there’s no charge for the service.
Pocket Recording Studio
by David English on October 7th, 2006
I’ve always had a fascination with portable audio recorders. Back in my youth, I imagined buying a NAGRA recorder to capture ambient environmental sounds in different parts of the world. Later, when I needed a pocket-sized device for recording interviews at technology tradeshows, I bought a small microcassette recorder (a Sony BM-575). It was fine for interviews, but had too much hiss for anything else.
That’s why I was excited to try out the Edirol R-09. It weighs just six ounces and measures a scant 2 1/2 by 4 1/16 by 1 3/16 inches. Yet it can record stereo 24-bit 48kHz (or 44.1kHz) linear PCM audio, as well as make MP3 recordings up to 320 kbps. Because the recorded audio is digital, there’s essentially no hiss to mask the softer sounds. It has a built-in stereo microphone, is powered by two AA batteries (either alkaline or rechargeable), and stores its audio on a SD card.
I love it, except for the double-hinged door on the bottom that leads to the batteries and SD card. Not only is it a tricky to maneuver, it doesn’t feel substantial enough to withstand years of normal use.
Look for similar devices to be released soon by a variety of professional-audio and consumer-electronics companies.
