LIVEdigitally

Category Archives: General

Getting around With Google Via Public Transportation

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The last time I was in Hawaii, this mainlander had a hard time figuring out how to take “The Bus” from the airport to Waikiki. Now the busy folks over at Google labs have a new plan. Google Transit, which is in beta, promises to simplify things. Start with entering your location, and your destination. In a flash, the bus stop closest, the bus times, travel time, as well as walking directions to the bus stop are displayed. There’s even a map showing the route and the price of the fare. This will definitely simplify things next time I venture onto public transportation!

See it in action here.

Network Magic: Reviewed

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People have multiple computers in their homes these days. In my San Francisco apartment, there are currently 6 computers. I can vouch for three of them, that’s 50% of my home network. A computer, by itself, is merely a computer. Multiple computers in the same establishment can combine forces and create a network, like the lions of Voltron.


Thing is, once you’ve physically connected your network, how do you get the network to net-work? I have always had issues with Windows and the My Network feature. Pure Networks saw this problem, and created a simple solution. Network Magic, the software solution that claims to eliminate the hair pulling step in setting up a small network, has been put to the test by LIVEdigitally.

Network Magic can be downloaded and installed, Continue reading →

"Podcast" the word of the year

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The fine folks at the Oxford English Dictionary have made their annual decision about a word of the year, and this time around the nod goes to “podcast.” From the press release:

    Only a year ago, podcasting was an arcane activity, the domain of a few techies and self-admitted “geeks.” Now you can hear everything from NASCAR coverage to NPR’s All Things Considered in downloadable audio files called “podcasts.”

I’m not so proud of the fact that there might actually be people out there listening to NASCAR on their portable audio player, but different, strokes, right? I suppose it’s not all that visually arresting (turn left! turn left! keep turning left!) and might actually lend itself to the audio alone…except for all that engine noise. Kudos to OED for some great runners-up:

• ICE (stands for “in case of emergency;” put such an entry in your cell phone)
• Lifehack (more efficient way of completing an everyday task, like finding a cheap hotel room)
• Bird flu (*groan*)

Geek My Ride

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Next week I plan on winning the lottery. After making all my loans disappear I am going to Geek My Ride.

I have my own personal preference in how my car is going to get tricked out. Chrome 18 inch rims, tinted windows etc. But having a nice car isn’t only about bling anymore. Today a souped-up car has to bring in technology.

I’ll take my pointers from this Boston team of car lovers. Continue reading →

Crucial Gizmo Review

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Introduction

The USB flash drive is THE drive of choice for users on the move with their small to medium sized files. After all, this is the most convenient way to stick data in your pocket, and floppies are so 90’s. Today, we have the opportunity to test the 1 GB version of the Crucial Gizmo! drive which is available on their website for $85.99. The drive is available in 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MG, 1 GB, and 2 GB capacities. Crucial is a memory manufacturer which is best known for their RAM, but also has a full flash memory card line up, and assorted other memory related products, as well as videocards. By purchasing directly from the manufacturer, you bypass the middleman, and keep the cost down. Let’s look at how this drive performs. Continue reading →

Camera Mail

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This is one of the more unique ideas for “new art” that I have come across. The idea is to attach one of those disposable cameras to a box, and to mail it. On the box are the instructions to operate the camera. When it reaches the destination, you develop the pictures, and who knows what you’ll find. In general, it looks like a lot of pictures of inside the post office, with the workers taking a few shots of each other. One challenge is for the camera to not break on its journey. You can see for yourself here some of the shots.
Can’t wait to try this one? Here’s some tips to having a successful photo shoot, postal style!

E-Ink Watch

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The Japanese company Seiko will release a limited edition of 500 units of their Spectrum SVRD001, the first watch in the world that uses flexible e-paper or Electrophoretic Display (EPD). The design of the watch is similar to a bracelet and the body is made of stainless steel and a black & white e-paper. The price of one of these 500 units is an extremely affordable 1900 EUR. It will weigh 134g and will be 37mm thick. It will be available worldwide in January 2006.


This may be one of the first products to come to paper that uses the e-ink technology. E-ink promises to have a high contrast surface, with a minimal power consumption. It uses electrostatically charged balls as the basis for its display.

From Popular Technology and Akihabra News.

(Yahoo!)(RSS + SMS) = OMG

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A few days ago, Yahoo! Announced RSS features incorporated into their email service. That’s great news for the few people who know and use RSS feeds. But, the aim is teach and tell the world that RSS is your friend.

SMS text messaging on the other hand is established, understood, and used by almost all. Hey, my mom replied to a text message I sent her, she’s in her mid 50’s I mean, she looks 28 tho (hi mom).

So Yahoo! has decided that meshing the two together would be a nice means to get RSS into the public’s eye. SMS meet RSS, WTH, OMG, BRB!

What do all these 3 letter acronyms mean? Continue reading →

Digital TV, Computer Style

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Advanced Media, Inc., manufacturer and marketer of the popular RIDATA brand of recordable CD and DVD media, electronic storage products, and digital media accessories, is set to introduce a USB-powered digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) tuner. The unit allows over-the-air or broadcast digital television signals to be received by and shown on PCs, laptops, or other mobile devices such as PDAs. It will be introduced at 2006 International CES. The DVB-T standard is applicable in Europe, Taiwan, and Australia.

The company expects to have available a similar device for the American ATSC standard when ATSC-compliant Transport Streams to be transmitted via terrestrial broadcast include the necessary embedded digital compression components in the Program and System Information Protocol is available.

“Until recently, it was not possible to enjoy over-the-air digital television programming on anything other than a television set,” stated Harvey Liu, Advanced Media president. “Our USB DVB-T tuner now makes it
possible in an easy, one-step, plug-and-play device. That means anyone with a PC or laptop, among other devices, will have instant access to their favorite digital programming as well as be able to record it without needing a television.”

Its compact, easy-to-transport size (it resembles a RIDATA EZ Drive portable storage device) assures users will be able to take and use it virtually anywhere. All it takes is a simple connection to a compatible unit’s USB port.

Too bad the rest of the world will have this before us in the States. I can’t wait to have something simple like this that can tune in TV on my notebook.

Podcast: Word of the Year

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Only a year ago, podcasting was an arcane activity, the domain of a few techies and self admitted “geeks.” Now you can hear everything from NASCAR coverage to NPR’s All Things Considered in downloadable audio files called “podcasts”. Thousands of podcasts are available at the iTunes Music Store, and websites such as iPodder.com and Podcast.net track thousands more. That’s why the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary have selected “podcast” as the Word of the Year for 2005. Podcast, defined as “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player,” will be added to the next online update of the New Oxford American
Dictionary, due in early 2006.

So this is what dictionary writers get excited about! My favorite runner-up is “lifehack (a more efficient or effective way of completing an everyday task: ‘I found a great lifehack for getting a cheap hotel room.’)”

Dell steps it up

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It looks like Apple’s not the only game in town anymore if you’re interested in monstrous flat-panel monitors. Engadget reports that Dell’s adding a 30-inch beast to its stable, set to be released on the streets around December 21. If the pricing scheme is similar to that of its 24-inch models, look for something a few hundred smacks less than the Apple cinema display. I must confess, however, that I love me some brushed metal exterior. Drool-worthy, either way.

Mmmmm. Huge display.

Spear Me Up Another

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I’ve always lived near the coast, and as a result have fished most of my life. I even took up spear fishing a few years back. Spear fishing is great, you swim around with the fish, and shoot only the ones you will take home and grill.

That’s why this new term, “Spear Phishing” has really got me worried. Phishing is a tech based form of conning individuals into revealing sensitive information like passwords, account numbers, etc. Spear Phishing is a newer, more malicious form phishing.

Imagine an email from your bank, or what appears to be your bank, asking for your account number and pin. Some spear phishing attempts may look like your employer, or a bank/payment service you use. The “spear” is a spoof of your existing relationship with a sensitive company.

Instead of getting a realistic email from “Bank of the United States needs your Visa Check card number and PIN”, you’d get one from what looks like your actual bank!

What’s next? Bomb Phishing? Net Phishing? Harpoon Phishing? Out of season Phishing?!