2007 Holiday Gift Ideas: Computer Miscellaneous

I've been using my iPod on plane trips with a Philips portable dvd
player/ipod dock:

<http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/us/consumer/cc/_productid_DCP850_37_US_CONSUMER/Docking-Entertainment-System+DCP850-37>

The iPod docks right in the player and plays video through the screen.
It'll play music just fine too, but there isn't any info on the screen
(i.e. no artist/track name) while it plays.

It'll also play regular DVD's, DivX DVD's (or from SD cards). It will NOT
play MP4 video files except from an iPod.

One thing I really like is it will charge the iPod while charging itself so
you don't need an extra adapter to carry around. I also like using it as a
music player via the built-in speakers at the hotel. Gives my ears a bit of
a rest from the headphones.

It doesn't stretch iPod videos quite right if the iPod is in widescreen
mode, of if the player is in widescreen mode. All the widescreen movies
I've tested with (ripped from my own DVD's) I've had to play in normal mode
on both devices. Still bigger than the ipod screen though so it works OK
for me.

iPod menus are via the iPod and the menus do not display on screen.

Probably doesn't work with the new Classic, video Nano iPods, or iTouch (or
iPhone). Not sure if they'll have new models that do.

A gift I'm considering giving is a digital picture frame. I'm curious
what brands/features all of you TidBITsians would recommend. One
brand I've been looking at are those by PhotoVue <http://www.photovu.com/digital-frames/overview.php
 >

Bill

---
http://billbauer.net

For better or worse, we all know we don't always have time to purchase the 'right' power strip. You know the one that safely lets us plug in the wall warts. For all of us old men, who are loathe to throw away that old badly design power strip buried in the dust bunnies behind our desks, there is the Ziotek Power Strip Liberator:

http://www.ziotek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?productID=8269

Check out the photos! I don't know if it meets NY State fire regulations Adam, but it is truly a tool for 'getting things done'. Man I cannot tell you how many of these I'm getting for myself and giving out as gifts this year. I just found it today, by accident on Amazon as I was goofing around at work.

For under 20 bucks you can pick up a password organizer:

<http://www.internetpasswordorganizer.com/index.html>

Nice stocking stuffer or gift for your friend.

>For better or worse, we all know we don't always have time to
>purchase the 'right' power strip. You know the one that safely lets
>us plug in the wall warts. For all of us old men, who are loathe to
>throw away that old badly design power strip buried in the dust
>bunnies behind our desks, there is the Ziotek Power Strip Liberator:
>
> <http://www.ziotek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?productID=8269>
>
>Check out the photos! I don't know if it meets NY State fire
>regulations Adam, but it is truly a tool for 'getting things done'.
>Man I cannot tell you how many of these I'm getting for myself and
>giving out as gifts this year. I just found it today, by accident on
>Amazon as I was goofing around at work.

Alternately, if you do want to get rid of "that old badly design
power strip buried in the dust bunnies", I would recommend the
PowerSquid
<http://www.amazon.com/Power-Sentry-5-Outlet-PowerSquid-Suppressor/dp/B000GZ09YQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195841380&sr=8-1>


-- Marshall

Marshall Clow Idio Software <mailto:marshallidio.com>

I'm going to put in my perennial oar in here for good cheap speakers.

Nothing changes your Mac, no matter which one you have, like a good
pair of cheap microcomputer speakers, including a subwoofer.

The best ones for the least money that I've found are the Cambridge
SoundWorks PCWorks Amplified Multimedia/Computer Speaker System,
found here:
<http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=mul_spk_csw&item=c1pcwzzzz>

Normally fifty bucks, now on sale for forty. Two little cubes for
your desk, a little box on the floor, plug 'em into your headphone
jack, and hey, presto, the neighbors now complain 'cause your movies
and tunes are too loud. :-).

No, I don't work for Cambridge Soundworks. I just move the ones I
have from one machine I own to the other, and have had 'em for 8
years, now...

Cheers,
RAH

For iphone (and presumably iPod Touch) users, I can highly recommend the SEIDIO belt-clip case. It's leather, with a magnetic clasp, and snugly fits the phone. Very high quality. It's cut so that the headphone cord can extend out of the case when in use. Everyone who has seen mine has ordered one. It's a very good value at $29.95 compared to others I've seen at the Apple store.

http://www.seidioonline.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=853

Flatscreens are getting larger and cheaper. As evidenced by the popularity of LCDs, plasmas, and 4/5 of Apple's computer product line.

Keep them clean with KlearScreen wipes. There is no way computer users will leave these gifts unused.

http://www.klearscreen.com/

I love my Speck ToughSkin iPhone case. The belt clip doubles as the perfect stand for video viewing on the airplane. Worth the $29.95 I paid for it at the Apple Store, but I see lots of great deals on it online.

http://www.speckproducts.com/products/toughskin/iphone/93

I haven't had time to buy or install Leopard, and have fallen
woefully behind on TidBITS Talk, and I do have a few suggestions of
fun gifts for what has traditionally been my favorite issue of
TidBITS every year, during my favorite time of year.

I hope maybe the deadline will be a little flexible, as I have some
suggestions I think TidBITS readers will like, and that I'm not
duplicating recent suggestions. Here's the first:

I saw this at a store and just couldn't resist buying a wi-fi enabled
bunny rabbit that will respond to spoken commands to and deliver
(either by reading aloud and/or blinking or flashing lights on his
tummy to alert you to view online) weather and news reports, e-mail
alerts, rss feeds, etc. Nabaztag can share and play MP3s, and also
performs tai-chi like movements with its ears. It's got a microphone
in its tummy that will let you record messages and podcasts. And it's
very sociable as well - it can "marry" other bunnies and share
information, and is available in a few languages.

www.nabaztags.com/

I can hardly wait for present time to have it opened and set up...

Marilyn

A few years back, I suggested what were then revolutionary USB coffee
warmers and beverage coolers. These USB foot warmers would be nice
and comfy on a cold winter's day:

http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0502

Marilyn

If you live in or near a top 10 or 15 US city, I recommend signing up
for a free e-newsletter, Goldstar Events. You'll get a customized,
weekly list of bargains on local performances and sports events at
50% off. And if you live in New York City like I do, it beats
standing in line for the TKTS booth in wintry weather. I recently got
a newsletter featuring the Radio City Christmas spectacular:

http://www.goldstar.com/

We're jazz fans, and regularly get great deals at The Blue Note,
Iridium and other clubs here.

Marilyn

-----Original Message-----
> I saw this at a store and just couldn't resist buying a wi-fi enabled
> bunny rabbit that will respond to spoken commands

<snip>

> www.nabaztags.com/


Some serendipity here.

I followed the nabaztag link in Marilyn Matty's earlier message, which brought me eventually to a YouTube video of two Jesuit priests (!) reviewing Nabaztags on the Easter Sunday edition of their tech podcast called Gadgets, which broadcasts from "The Center for Apostolic Technology" in Honolulu.

 The tagline for this particular edition was "It's Easter Sunday. Christ is risen, and he wants you to get your Geek on!"

You can't make this stuff up.

http://www.thetechstop.net/?page_id=448

They were hilarious, so I found their website, Techstop.net, and browsed through their gadget blog and other Gadget podcasts.

http://www.thetechstop.net

And out of the Jesuit heavens came the perfect gadget gift for the many photographers in our family who already own all the other photo gadgets: the QuickPod.

http://www.quickpod.com

A QuickPod is a handheld, extendable tripod. Very lightweight and portable. It has a standard tripod connector at the top, so you can mount any camera or camcorder and shoot photos/movies of yourself, shoot over crowds, around corners, under cars, and so forth. The shaft even has a little mirror you can use to properly position the QuickPod to get the correct framing.

The bottom (usually the handle) also offers a tripod connector, so you can accessorize the QuickPod with, say, an equally light and portable set of tripod legs. Perfect if you occasionally need to shoot time-lapse photos or use slow shutter speeds, but don't wish to carry a full-blown tripod (or stabilizing beanbags, as one family photographer currently does).

Techstop offers a short review of the QuickPod in its latest podcast, episode #28.

http://www.thetechstop.net/?page_id=680

Prices for the QuickPod start at US$24.95.

Thanks Marilyn.

James Atkinson
Asheville, NC

There are many people who like glossy screens, but don't have one.

Power Support makes a screen film that gives non-glossy screens the
glossy look. You can also use it to protect a glossy screen from
scratching. It's quite easy to apply, too.

<http://www.powersupportusa.com/products/kf.php?category=ib>

--
=Alex Hoffman

On Dec 4, 2007, at 9:13 AM, James Atkinson wrote:

> And out of the Jesuit heavens came the perfect gadget gift for the
> many photographers in our family who already own all the other photo
> gadgets: the QuickPod.
>
> http://www.quickpod.com

Careful! That URL is
http://www.quikpod.com !

(And thanks, james -- I just ordered one for my son-in-law!

Joan

On 4/12/07 14:13, James Atkinson wrote:
> http://www.quickpod.com

... sadly it looks like their domain has been napped by lowlife scum. Which
doesn't mean that they've gone out of business, and certainly the product is
still available from many of the usual online suspects.

> The bottom (usually the handle) also offers a tripod connector, so you can accessorize the QuickPod with, say, an equally light and portable set of tripod legs. Perfect if you occasionally need to shoot time-lapse photos or use slow shutter speeds, but don't wish to carry a full-blown tripod (or stabilizing beanbags, as one family photographer currently does).

In regards to which I'd mention the Gorillapod

http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/

A mini-tripod which can also wrap it's legs round a railing, branch, etc.
Presumably if you can find a stick, you could use the Gorillapod to simulate
the QuickPod's "camera on a stick" functionality for taking your own picture.
 Whether this works so well in urban developments - may depend on whether you
carry an umbrella.

- Ben

>A few years back, I suggested what were then revolutionary USB coffee
>warmers and beverage coolers.


I seem to be riffing off of Marilyn Matty's samples today.

The mention of USB coffee warmers and beverage coolers sparked a memory of the perfect gift for the sweaty Geek on your holiday list:

The USB Air Conditioned Shirt

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2007/07/03/usb-air-conditioned-shirt/

James Atkinson