Hasta La Gadget!

For parents worried about where their children are going, there are several devices available out there to keep track of them from afar. Every mobile provider now carries kid-friendly phones that have alarms and GPS capabilities that allow parents to watch via satellite. Other techniques, such as sending email alerts to parents once children go through train station gates with their RFID train passes are also hands-off ways to track.

Recently, Princeton unveiled a tiny device that is designed for finding kids, but might be even more useful with your keys! The Kid Finder (shop link) is a remote that displays basic directional information to lead the holder to the corresponding receiver (front, right, left). It also gives basic distance information and has an alarm for the kid’s side in case of strangers bearing candy.

Since it works up top 90 meters, you won’t exactly be able to find your kids with satellite precision from far away, but the idea is that you keep good track on them in public places while you’re there. However, it’s a bit surprising that devices like this haven’t made more of a splash for basic things like bags, pets, and the ever-elusive house keys.

This is radio-based, but with the decreasing costs for RFID tags making the technology more affordable, and receiver integration into most phones in Japan, we could be looking at tagging just about everything we have! Just bring it up on the phone’s menu, and get instant feedback on location. For now, the Kid Finder is the best we have it seems, but combine it with a camera and we’ll need nothing else!

This article was written on August 10, 2008 by CyberNet.

About a week ago we wrote a MyFive including five things we wished the iPhone 3G had. Among them were more than a 2 megapixel camera, a flash for the camera and video recording, multimedia messaging service, a replaceable battery, and a 32GB option. In the comments, Pieter pointed out that to be fair, we should write another article about five things that the iPhone can do better than other phones. We thought it was a great idea because as iPhone owners, there is a lot we do enjoy about the phones. Today’s MyFive will include things the iPhone does better than other phones out there.

1. Battery Life

The iPhone 3G offers up to 5 hours of talk time on 3G, 10 hours of talk time on 2G, 5 hours of Internet use on 3G, 6 hours of Internet use on Wi-Fi, 7 hours of video playback or 24 hours of audio playback, and 300 hours of standby time. Enough said.

2. Browser

When we had Internet capability on previous phones, we really didn’t use it much. Why? Well, because it was a pain in the butt to use! Apple did an amazing job with Safari for the iPhone which makes surfing the web hassle-free.

Studies have shown that iPhone users are more likely to browse the web on their device, more-so than other phones, simply because it’s easy to do. The device is what we like to call “Internet-centric” — it’s centered around the Internet and thus, people actually use it.

3. 3rd Party Applications

If you take the time to go through the applications that are available, you can find some really nice ones that will help increase productivity, and others that will give you a few minutes of fun. Not all are what we’d consider “quality” apps, but there are some great ones out there. For original iPhone owners, these 3rd party applications almost don’t make it a necessity to upgrade to the iPhone 3G.

4. Usability

The iPhone has a lot of features that other phones offer, but the ease of use is what stands out with the iPhone. Simple features that most phones have like a clock or calculator, are presented in front of you instead of buried with-in menus. And the clock is more than just a clock, it’s a stop-watch and a timer, and has an amazing alarm clock system. This alarm clock system has replaced my stand-alone alarm clock.

The camera is another great example. We’ve had camera phones in the past but this camera (despite the fact it’s 2MP) is easier to use than most cameras on other phones not to mention the fact that sharing those photos with others is great with the nice big touch-screen.

Apple definitely made a phone that their users will want to use, because of the ease-of-use.

5. Overall Experience

The overall experience of the iPhone is amazing. Sure, the new firmware has a few kinks, but the overall experience is what makes the iPhone worth all of the hype and the money. Great battery life, an awesome browser, a selection of quality 3rd party applications, and the ease of use provide the user with an overall experience that is hard to beat.

Copyright © 2009 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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I, Mark Wilson, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do declare this to be my last gadget Will.

While at the time of this writing, I am a spry (OK, a bit soft) 26-year-old man, I realize that I could, at any moment in time, die. In such an unfortunate circumstance, should the world ever recover from its loss, I’d like my most important possessions (my gadgets and digital media) to be well-tended pending their obsolescence (two or three months from now).

I will, give, and bequeath unto the persons named below, if he or she survives me, the Property described below:

My iPhone

Pending that my iPhone 3G was not crushed by whatever huge boulder must have smashed me, I would like to leave it to someone very special in my life. My wife Elizabeth, a long time iPhone hater, recently admitted that she was wrong in denouncing the phone and purchasing a Blackberry Pearl instead. I know she would really, really enjoy having my iPhone.

Too late, sweetie! Your penance were not adequate. My iPhone should go to an underprivileged child who is resourceful enough to pay a $100/month subscription even though they haven’t shoes on their feet. Actually, publicize the donation and guilt AT&T and/or Apple into picking up the tab. It’ll help if the child can’t read.

My Flickr Account

You can’t give thousands of pretentious sepia photos to just anyone. No, these all go to the Art Institute of Chicago. May they reconsider my genius when macro photography of mundane objects constitutes an artistic revolution, or when there’s finally a wing dedicated to LOLCatz.

My Plasma TV and Home Theater Accessories

The 46-inch Samsung plasma should be placed in my building’s workout room where, as of now, some devil has placed two crappy 13-inch LCDs under the guise that anyone can actually see those things. My TV now belongs to the condo association, pending that neither ESPN nor ESPN2 can ever be watched on it.

My Tangled Box of Cords

Everyone has an obnoxious, tangled box of various cords, and I was no exception. I hated this box, but found it a necessity in the mortal world. Now that I have transcended to a higher plane of existence (hopefully involving wireless HDMI and unlimited refills at a peach margarita machine), I leave this box to the last person who wronged me in life. Whoever that may be, I fucking hate you and my grudge will be eternal, just like that knot of cords.

My Xbox 360 and Games

OK, now this was a tough one. Who gets all the games, the controllers and the overpriced Wi-Fi dongle? Humanity, that’s who. And my gamer points go to Adam Frucci, the only guy who I know with less Live street cred than me. Well, him or my mom. Figure it out, lawyers. This point might go to trial.

My Wii

Sell it on eBay. I wouldn’t subject anyone I love to dealing with the horrors of the current Wiimote. If eBay has gone bankrupt, the lawyer has been instructed to bury the system in a time capsule until Wii MotionPlus comes out. If there’s a decent amount of game support (I’m talking games with headshots and blood, people), it should go to my two adorable nieces to aid in their development.

My PS3

Hahahahahaha. I mean, whoever will take this can have it! Hahahahahaha. Really though, in ten years, everyone will have them…pfft…hahahahhahahaha. Oh man, I’m funny even when dead.

My Low Digit ICQ Number

Mom, I know this has been hard for you, especially as you have no one to turn to regarding all things tech. No problem. You can have my five-digit ICQ number. (I realize you have no clue what that means.) It’s OK. Walk into any chatroom with that and, trust me, 87264829 isn’t giving you any shit, ever. You rule the internet now. Go forth and crush the opposition.

My MacBook Pro

Ahh, the MacBook Pro, the center of my digital life. That’s why you’re all here, isn’t it? Well, of course my darling wife Elizabeth receives it. With some provisions:

Always wash your hands before using. Before you turn it on, say three Hail Maries with “Steve” replaced for “Mary.” No Boot Camping Vista, but Win 7 is fine. No watching YouTube clips where kids light their own farts on the screen. No chatting with other men on it. Don’t worry about webcam restrictions, I’ve taken the liberty of breaking the iSight for you.

It should be noted that there is a lot of important media saved on the hard drive that represents not only my musical preferences but snippets of our life together. You are now the owner of all MP3s, photos, animated GIFs (this is a big score, honey), and videos.

On the condition that you never delete my Springsteen collection, as low as you may be on space, it’s all yours. The computer is out in the hall. Please go claim it now. Mom? Sis? You can go with and help.

[They should leave the room.]

OK, Jason Chen. Quick. The MacBook is under your seat. I need you to delete some files. Go to my hard drive. Open “Applications.” Open “System Files” folder. Open “DO NOT OPEN OR COMPUTER WILL MELT” folder. Open “I’M NOT JOKING.” Open “SEARS CATALOG BABES WINTER 2002-2008.” Select all files. If you have time, you can copy these to the external drive you were instructed to bring with in a past email. If not, select all and delete. Then empty trash. Thanks buddy. You’re a true friend.

Oh, and to everyone. Don’t mourn my passing. Remember, I’m not dead. My crippled body is merely frozen. When I awake from my long winter slumber, I’ll be totally cured of ailments and donning a 7-foot titanium robot body complete with laser Gatlings and a turbo orgasm button. So don’t feel sorry for Mark. That guy’s doing just fine.

Well, that, or the cryogensis freezer failed, I was wrong about Christianity being fake and I’m burning through eternity in some poorly ventilated internet cafe that only has dial-up.

Gadgetell: Novelty speakers are a dime a dozen these days, but this pair in particular is pretty amazing. The “Speak-er” is for the most part your average run of the mill speaker, except it looks like a speech bubble.

The bubble measures in at 4 x 6 x 2, so it’s not terribly large, and is made of white ABS with a matte black steel grille on the front. The speakers are expected to be released later this year for $120 for a pair. There currently isn’t any information available about the interior specs of the speakers, but really, when you look like a speech bubble does it really matter?

New Speak-ers look like speech bubbles [Gadgetell]

This article was written on January 20, 2008 by CyberNet.

There are certain gadgets out there that while they may be considered “geeky,” they’re still cool to be seen with.  Other things, well, you wouldn’t even want to get caught dead with! Today’s MyFive is a list of some of those things you’d want to think twice about buying for the sake of your reputation…

1. Geekiest Tattoo Ever
   I really hope I don’t have to explain this one – it’s HTML, get it? How many times do you think he has to explain his tattoo to “non-geeky” friends?
    
   Source
2. LapDome
   From LapDome’s website: “This laptop computer carry case transforms into a sheltered, darkened work environment.  It offers privacy, security, and protection from the elements, but most of all, computer screen visibility outdoors in the daytime.”
   
   Source
3. USB Eye Massager
   “For the computer operator, who could relax the eye pressure because of long time sitting before the computer.” Just plug it in to your USB port and you’re ready to go! Hmm… you could bring it along on your vacation to use with your LapDome! Ultimate relaxation…
   
   Source
4. Wi-Fi Detector Shirt
   Yes, it really can detect Wi-Fi hot spots around you and shows a signal each time it detects one. You’ll even know the strength based upon how many bars on the shirt are lit!
    
   Source
5. Driving LED Emoticon
   Place this gadget on the back of your car. It can display five different messages, and you can change them using the wireless remote! You may want to be careful when you decide to use the “Back Off” or “Idiot” message — you could end up dealing with some serious road-raged drivers!
   
   Source

Copyright © 2009 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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