|
Newstips Electronic Editorial Bulletin Issue # 2010-10d
This Halloween, we're going as news
In this issue:
Wait-list real on LanBoard, Rockus... Franklin AnyBook lets them
hold you when you're not there... Iconosys Collision Watch for
Android arrives this month... Kent helps Europeans catch their
buses... Even with smaller camcorders, it's Domke versus
donkey... You don't have to live alone on RFD Zoom; wired
fallover... Special Report: Harvesting water from orbit...
Reviews: Clingo mounts (P4B), Smarty Ants Phonics Reading Pup,
Fallout New Vegas... plus our commentary on Onboard with outboard
but let's get above-board
Wait-list real on LanBoard, Rockus
It's not exactly a sad moment when sales get ahead of production,
but that's been the case for the new Antec LanBoard (list $35)
skate-wheel base for desktop PC cases; it makes them easier to
move & clean around, elevates them to help keep dust out &
includes a strap handle. The marvelous new Rockus 2.1 stereo
system ($250) is still in production ramp-up, so the on-hand
quantity of those is very limited. These are both Antec forays
into things that you don't have to be a build-your-own gear geek
to love, so they seriously want to get them broadly reviewed.
Don't be bashful; this time, when they say there's a wait list,
it's not a euphemism for "unworthy"; they're working to keep it
short & get your hands on this gear. Contact: Veronica Feldmeier,
Antec Inc. (Fremont, CA) 510-770-2150 vfeldmeier@antec.com
http://antec.com
Franklin AnyBook lets them hold you when you're not there
Anybody with any kid who ever was asked to read a story will
proffer the glory of the new Franklin AnyBook ($40 DRP3000 holds
15 hours; $60 DRP4000 holds 60 hours). You prep the pages of the
storybook with a small removable sticker & read the page into a
handheld AnyBook; when the kid gets to that page & touches the
tip of the AnyBook to that sticker, it's your voice reading back
that page. The less you're a Grinch, the more it's a cinch for
the Holidays; ask Aline to get you one. Contact: Aline Boutin,
Franklin Electronic Publishers (Burlington, NJ) 609-386-2500x4434
aline_boutin@franklin.com http://franklin.com
Iconosys Collision Watch for Android arrives this month
When there's something less friendly than Emeril behind the
"Bam!" a new Iconosys app for Android can let people know even
when the driver can't. Collision Watch ($99) ships later this
month, goes on active watch when it's going faster than 35mph,
but when that suddenly changes to 0, it sends its location to
primary & secondary contacts as well as notifying 911. Ask Wayne.
Contact: Wayne Irving II, Iconosys Inc. (Laguna Hills, CA)
949-335-5350 wi@iconosys.com http://iconosys.com
Kent helps Europeans catch their buses
Ask Kevin for the photos & info about the solar powered bus stop
information boards being built & deployed in Europe that use
Kent's passive LCD display (digital signboard) technology to keep
power requirements minimal. Contact: Kevin Oswald, Kent Displays
(Kent, OH) 330-673-8784x161 koswald@kentdisplays.com
http://KentDisplays.com
Even with smaller camcorders, it's Domke versus donkey
Don't be fooled: while some very professional results are
possible with some of today's better "butter box" size
camcorders, the camcorder itself is rarely all there is to carry;
consider lights, mikes, headphones, spare batteries, spare memory
cards, filters, etc. You could stow all that in checked luggage
if you trust the crews behind the carousels, but how do you carry
it all & still comply with today's tighter carry-on rules? Domke
has been solving that kind of problem for photographers since day
one & the new Domke ProPack 414 (street $200) video backpack fits
everything you need for HD location shooting in a single bag -
with room to spare for a notebook & some sustenance. Ask Hilary.
Contact: Hilary Araujo, Tiffen Company (Hauppauge, NY)
631-609-3216 haraujo@tiffen.com http:/.tiffen.com
You don't have to live alone on RFD Zoom; wired fallover
The places where wired wideband doesn't reach are primarily
rural, which has long made the sticks some less than favorite
picks for connectivity. Zoom 3G modems are a cool way to get a
single PC connected via cellular wideband, but what if there are
more of you? For Rural Fast Delivery of multiple connections, the
Zoom 4501 3G Wireless-N desktop (or totable) router works with
most 3G modems to let even fairly large numbers of users &
devices connect. If you're not rural & have wired wideband, does
it ever fail? The 4501 can work in fallover mode to keep you
connected even when the wire gets disconnected. The 4506 Travel
model includes a LiIon battery to keep connected even away from a
power plug. With routers like these, if you can reach a cell
tower, you can get your work done; reviews anyone? Ask Terry.
Contact: Terry Manning, Zoom Telephonics Inc. (Boston, MA)
617-753-0087 terrym@zoom.com http://zoom.com
Special Report: Harvesting water from orbit
Two high-altitude meteorology experts at the University of
Colorado - Jim Russell & Gary Thomas - very generously endured
our questions about the practicality of harvesting water from the
upper atmosphere for use at a LEO (low Earth orbit) manned space
station. After some discussion, they think it's possible to use a
chilled front scoop to condense upper atmospheric moisture into
ice crystals then scrape them into a collection tank.
Solar-powered electric (like ion engine or plasma engine)
thrusters could give it upper-atmosphere maneuverability, some
ability to change speed or direction & a way to climb back to the
altitude, speed & position it needs to dock its water cargo with
a manned station. A lot of work remains for every aspect of this,
including finding the "sweet spot" of the total full-tank mass of
the craft & the thrust available from such engines. Since every
human population needs water & it's enormously expensive to
launch from the ground, such skimmers could prove an enabling
technology for the ultimate industrialization of near space.
Special Report Bonus Review: Clingo mounts (P4B)
The Picks for Bricks editorial call had only been out about an
hour before we heard from Clingo, an Allsop offshoot with a
series of mounts for handheld gear that are all based on the same
sticky green gel. The sent their Universal Mobile Stand (folds up
to the size of a thin powder compact, unfolds & clicks in place
to expose a sticky bottom for the dash & a sticky face for the
gear), a Universal Podium (swivel-angled sticky pad on a handsome
black bent steel foot) & a Universal Hands-Free mount (with a
windshield suction cup). The sticky stuff didn't come off on our
fingers or the gear & if it gets dust or hair on it, almost any
non-paper cleaning wipe will restore it. You don't have to press
hard; even a lightly placed handset stays where you put it then
easily peels off. Bottom line: cute, clever, useful Clingo mounts
are good enough to be a Picks for Bricks winner.
Special Report Bonus Review 2: Smarty Ants Phonics Reading Pup
This is tough to review briefly, but we'll try. The Phonics
Reading Pup is a motorized stuffed dog that can tell stories &
sing songs; its head & mouth move in sync to the sounds coming
out (with a cute mouth flutter for sustained notes). It ties into
the Smarty Ants World Web site (subscription required) for teach
reading to very early learners (pre-K to grade 1) using; the
child interacts with the Web site & a USB hookup lets the
robot-puppet pup offer updated song & story content after online
sessions. Bottom line: between the interaction on-screen & the
dog toy, we can see the Smarty Ants World Phonics Reading Pup
encouraging kids to spend some of their fun time with
literacy-promoting activities.
Special Report Bonus Review 3: Fallout New Vegas
This is a preliminary review of the newest Bethesda Softworks
Fallout franchise installment, Fallout New Vegas. Its predecessor
(Fallout 3) was an interesting, involving, even addictive game.
FNV is more so, while also being more complicated, more involved
& more fraught with consequential choices that can dramatically
alter the player's role during gameplay. Like any well-designed
game (a nod to Dr. Pournelle for this observation), it should &
does seem like you face the impossible but success turns out to
be possible after all. Players prone to addiction to challenging
new games are advised to either avoid or surrender to this one.
Bottom line: Fallout New Vegas is break-a-sweat fun.
Onboard with outboard but let's get above-board
We like those outboard press events during trade shows
(admittedly, Showstoppers is a favorite) & we round up a good
number of review products there (though only about half ever show
up here). While such events attract a good showing from those of
you who vendors consider to be top-tier, we'll guess that these
venues seldom lead to coverage in those strata, either because
the product isn't yet available to your audience or because it's
a little less than a bar-raiser & so many others are covering it.
That's our guess; what can you tell us about the usefulness of
these events from your perspective? Contact: Martin Winston,
Newstips (Novelty, OH) 440-338-8400; marty@Newstips.com
http://Newstips.com
# # #
Newstips Bulletin [Novelty, OH] +1.440.338.8400 http://Newstips.com
|
