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Episode 34: Computer Accessories
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The Gurus of Cool have tons of suggestions for the best accessories to enhance your computing experience in this rip-roaring episode. They'll also tell you about the new notebook from Alienware, Apple's Boot Camp software that lets you run Windows and Linux on an Intel Mac, and a special kind of backup software that's the easiest to use yet.
Features by the Gurus of Cool
Jam Packs
by Stephen Schleicher
If you have GarageBand 3, Soundtrack or even Logic, chances are you have experimented with the royalty free loops provided by Apple. But as with anything “free”, you will discover the loops are few, limiting, and will quickly be snatched up by everyone else. The solution? More loops of course, and with the Apple Jam Packs, your addiction to music creation is quelled for the time being. Read More »
NTI Shadow 3.0 Backup Software
by Charlie White
We're sticklers for backing up our data. But what happens if we've backed up everything early in the morning, but then some calamitous computer crash ruins our day at 5pm? Everything we've done that day is lost. That's where NTI's Shadow 3.0 ($29.95 for Mac OSX or Windows) can help. It's backup software that works in the background, quietly copying every file you designate. Then, you can go to your backup disk and grab any of those mirrored files without using any proprietary software – they're just sitting there, exactly as they were on your hard drive.
Read More »
Podcasting with iChat
by Stephen Schleicher
One of the great things about creating podcasts with GarageBand 3 is the ability to record multiple people at once. The bad thing about GarageBand 3 is that unless the audio signal is panned everyone gets recorded to the same track. That is unless everyone has iChat. With this instant messaging application everyone gets their own track instantly. In this quick tutorial, I’ll walk you through the steps.
Read More »
Mac and PC Together: Gefen Extend It DVI KVM 2-in-1 Switcher
by Charlie White
We previously published a review of the Gefen Extend-it DVI KVM switcher, a small box that passes through DVI video signals along with USB and audio, enabling you to switch between two computers using the same keyboard, video and mouse (KVM). The review tested two Macs plugged into the same 23-inch Apple Cinema Display, but we wanted to see what would happen if we mixed a PC and a Mac together, and then tried to control them via the optional remote control. Would there be odd behavior when two worlds collide?
Read More »
Show Note Links
Apple Boot Camp Software
Alienware MJ-12 m7700a Notebook
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Speakers
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Rapid-Fire Roundup® of Cool Products
COMMENTS
PimpStar LED Rims
Nothing says "pimp my ride" like a set of rims – and while you're crusing down the highways you can let everyone know you are pimpin' with a set of LED Rims from PimpStar. These rims have a LED system that allows you to put nearly any image on your wheels. A sure conversation starter and a way to attact the attention of the ladies, but you better make sure they are legal in your state.
Motorola Talk and Tunes Wireless Internet Calling Kit
Motorola and Skype team up for a Bluetooth headset with Skype phone calling. This is a high-fidelity pair of Bluetooth headphones that pause the music when a Skype phone call comes in. Plug the wireless Bluetooth adapter into your PC, and you can talk and listen up to 30 feet away. And, the headphones are nicely designed, too. Sign me up.
Proscope
Get up close and personal with any object with the USB Proscope. You’ve seen it on CSI, now you can use the same USB-powered microscope, allowing you to connect a variety of lenses to go from 10x all the way up to 200 times magnification. Best of all, it works with a Mac or a PC. Fun science doesn’t come cheap – this unit runs $250.
Samsung t509 Cellphone
When it comes to cellphones, thin is in, and it's hard to beat the Samsung t509, which the company calls the thinnest phone in the US. It's 9.8mm thick, even thinner than the Motorola Slvr which is 11.5mm. It has Bluetooth and high-speed Internet connectivity, it's got a camera on board, and it'll be available from T-Mobile in the second quarter of this year.
Sushi Drive
USB storage is a big, big deal. But boring-looking thumb drives are so 2004. With the Sushi Drive you can store up to 128MB of data on a drive that looks just like a salmon roll. Sure to catch the eye of those around you, just make sure you don’t eat it during one of your late-night binges.
Imagic PJ95 Clock
This alarm clock projects an analog clock face that can be up to 3 feet in diameter. Use the included clock face designs or create your own on your PC. It has an hour, minute and second hand, with the digital date in the middle, and when it's released there will be wall-mounted, table-mounted or floor-mounted models available.
"Week after week, Stephen and Charlie boil down the morass of tech info into solid gold nuggets of information, with a dash of opinion thrown in. Nothing sterile here, they have timely hard-hitting news each week. "
"With all the information out there, it can sometimes be overwhelming to filter the signal from the noise. These guys send the signal loud and clear! Great podcast!"
"You can tell by listening to them they know their stuff and they're not fooled by hype. They calls 'em as they sees 'em. These two have reached escape coolosity!"
"Stephen Schleicher is very knowledgable about his technology and I can only assume he would surround himself with like company. Which is why I think Stephen and Charlie definitely know what they are talking about in the venue of tech tips and reviews. They rock my face off!"
This week's featured music:
"Summertime"
by Brother Love
LINKS
Charlie White
Adobe Systems
Verbatim
DV Creators
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