       |
Episode 52: Mac Pro and Leopard
SUBSCRIBE
Coolness Roundup's first birthday is celebrated with a special guest, columnist Alex Goldfayn of the Chicago Tribune. The Gurus of Cool also take a look at Apple's rollout of the new Mac Pro workstations and preview the Leopard version of Mac OS X.
Listen to Coolness Roundup
Join us in the Coolness Lounge!
Features by the Gurus of Cool
Going Digital by Alex Goldfayn
Book for beginners takes the complication out of getting into digital photography
by Charlie White
Going Digital is a basic primer of the tools and techniques associated with digital photography and video editing. Written by Alex Goldfayn, a noted Chicago Tribune technology columnist and radio host at WGN Chicago, the book does an excellent job of showing beginner digital photographers and videographers the most efficient path to digital nirvana. Offering bite-sized pieces of wise advice throughout, the author has arranged the book in a modular format, inviting the reader to pick and choose topics and projects in skill-appropriate amounts. It's well-written, and goes a long way toward demystifying digital photography and its associated tools. Read More
Blu-ray vs. HD DVD, Part 2: Andy Parsons Speaks for Blu-ray
Interview by Charlie White
In Part 2 of this extensive four-part interview, Consumer Electronics Net talks with Andy Parsons, Senior Vice President of Product Development for Pioneer USA and the Chair of the Blu-ray Disc Association's US Promotion Committee. In this second part, Parsons talks about compression formats used for Blu-ray content, and details what Pioneer is doing to improve performance of its Blu-ray player before it reaches the marketplace. He also explains why the Blu-ray players were beaten to market by their rival HD DVD format, and why the marketplace would prefer having just one high-definition disc format rather than dual-format players. Read More
Rapid-Fire Roundup® of the Top Ten Cool Products
Marware Sportsuit Sensor+
Don’t want to buy a new pair Nikes to use with the Nike+iPod kit? Get the Marware Sportsuit Sensor+. This case for the sensor allows you to attach it to your favorite pair of running shoes at a tenth the price of a pair of Nikes. $10.
Illuminair Air Pump Lamp
If you want to turn on the Illuminair air pump lamp, instead of flipping a switch, you squeeze a rubber bellows that pumps air into the lamp. The more you pump, the more of the fluorescent bulb is revealed. Release the valve and it lowers the bulb back into the tube. It's a design concept; no release date was announced.
Sony GPS-CS1 GPS Camera Accessory
Ever forget exactly where you took that picture? Never wonder again, with the Sony GPS-CS1 Camera Accessory. It records the latitude, longitude, and time reading that you can download to your computer and synchronize with photos from your digital camera. $150
VIVOphone VoiceKey
Plug the tiny VoiceKey adapter into any USB port, plug your phone into the other side of it, and suddenly you have voice over IP using either the Skype or Vivophone services. Small enough to carry in your pocket, lets you talk to anyone in the world (using Skype) for free.
CinePlayer PDP100
We all know DVDs are on their last leg, but if you are going to go out, go with style. The CinePlayer PDP100 is a wall-mounted ultra-thin DVD player that is only a couple of centimeters thick. The slot-loading player will play DVDs, MPEG-4 and DivX files. It's $167.
Koss Cobalt Bluetooth Headphones
Get rid of those wires all over the place with the Koss Cobalt Bluetooth Headphones, giving you wireless music up to 33 feet away from its dongle that you plug into a PC or music player. The battery lasts eight hours, and it has a built-in microphone. The only catch? It costs $180.
The Cork Catcher
If you aren’t careful when opening that bottle of bubbly, you could put someone’s eye out. The Cork Catcher is a device you put on the end of a bottle and it catches the cork when it shoots out. You get to keep the great pop, too!
Ben and Jerry's Waffle Cone Flavoroma
Don't you love that smell of fresh waffle cones baking in the oven? Spread it all around your house with Ben and Jerry's Waffle Cone Flavoroma, a spray bottle full of magnificent hunger-causing aroma from those two guys who make that irresistible ice cream. It's $15 for a four-ounce pump spray bottle.
Spa Lights
These waterproof lights can be stuck to the sides or bottom of your bath or shower and create a soothing light throughout the room. The two pack will last 120 hours on a couple of batteries.
Kangaroo TV
Kangaroo TV is a handheld multimedia and data receiver that can show you up to 10 channels of video and audio. You rent it at sporting events such as car races. Not only can you switch between cameras, you can hear the chatter between the pit crews and the drivers. Rent it at the racetrack for $50 a day.
Show Links
You can also subscribe to the Coolness Roundup Podcast using your RSS Reader.
VOTE
Please take a moment and vote for us at Podcast Alley. Your votes help us in the monthly rankings. You are allowed to vote once each month.
CONTACT US
Call Us
Call and leave a message on our tipline at (785) 727-1942 or on Skype
E-Mail of the Week
Send your comments and questions to
Where Are You?
COMMENTS
"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:
Russell Wolfe:
Pumpkin Pie
LINKS
Charlie White
Verbatim
|
Coolness Roundup ©2006 Charlie White and Stephen Schleicher
No portion of this Web site or podcast may be used without the expressed written
consent of the authors.