7 posts tagged “3g”
Dynaflex Powerball Gyroscope and Dynamax Core Trainer 2
Resistance Training
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Leo has 2 related gadgets to show today. The first one is the Dynaflex Powerball Gyroscope, which you shake using the arm and wrist. Inside the ball is a gyroscope which by its nature keeps itself stable by resisting outside movements. The resistance offered by the gyroscope, up to 40 lbs of torque, makes you work hard to speed up the movement inside. Light and sound included. A speedometer is optional. so is a docking station. You can also get it at Think Geek.
If you want serious resistance, you can try the Dynamax Core Trainer 2, offering up to 200 lbs of torque, which works in the same way, but with 2 handle bars for upper body training.
Power Demos
Watch Leo demo the 2 gadgets today. Clip taken from odtv.me.
Another Guest Appearance on DGW
Guests on DGW are rare. There have been Amber MacArthur (Episode 77) and Henry Laporte (Episode 252), and Dane Golden, after his voice appearance as White Fang in Episode 826, makes his video debut as himself. He's angling for a Dick and Dane show, but before he can do that, Leo will make him work hard for it, by acting as Leo's proxy in exercising with the Core Trainer. Dane is also thinking where the TWiT Head Office should be, perhaps in Truth Or Consequences in New Mexico.
InsideDGW on GizWiz.Biz
Dick has created a page for InsideDGW on his new website at Square Space, which features all the letters read on the shows, plus any links, pictures or videos worth following up. Check out InsideDGW on GizWiz.Biz.
Thumbs-Up for the Pogoplug
Toyota Boy is very happy with the Pogoplug (Episode 817), and Leo confirms that the iPhone App designed for it works on 3G as well as Wifi. Pity it doesn't work as a cup warmer too.
Exercise Fanatic
Leo has become an exercise fanatic. He goes to the gym, does TWiT Fit, rides his Terratrike, and has just signed up for a Pilates class, working on the "Reformer" Pilates machine.
Terratrike on TTTT
Next Tuesday, Leo will review the Terratrike. See Episode 829 for a preview. Leo is going to ride it through Petaluma with an orange pennon and a TWiT pennon.
Listen to Episode 832
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Power Demos
Watch Leo demo the 2 gadgets today. Clip taken from odtv.me.
Another Guest Appearance on DGW
Guests on DGW are rare. There have been Amber MacArthur (Episode 77) and Henry Laporte (Episode 252), and Dane Golden, after his voice appearance as White Fang in Episode 826, makes his video debut as himself. He's angling for a Dick and Dane show, but before he can do that, Leo will make him work hard for it, by acting as Leo's proxy in exercising with the Core Trainer. Dane is also thinking where the TWiT Head Office should be, perhaps in Truth Or Consequences in New Mexico.
InsideDGW on GizWiz.Biz
Dick has created a page for InsideDGW on his new website at Square Space, which features all the letters read on the shows, plus any links, pictures or videos worth following up. Check out InsideDGW on GizWiz.Biz.
Thumbs-Up for the Pogoplug
Toyota Boy is very happy with the Pogoplug (Episode 817), and Leo confirms that the iPhone App designed for it works on 3G as well as Wifi. Pity it doesn't work as a cup warmer too.
Exercise Fanatic
Leo has become an exercise fanatic. He goes to the gym, does TWiT Fit, rides his Terratrike, and has just signed up for a Pilates class, working on the "Reformer" Pilates machine.
Terratrike on TTTT
Next Tuesday, Leo will review the Terratrike. See Episode 829 for a preview. Leo is going to ride it through Petaluma with an orange pennon and a TWiT pennon.
Listen to Episode 832
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
T-Mobile G1
Smartphone
Link: T-Mobile G1
As hinted at in Episode 673 and last week, Dick and Leo finally talk about T-Mobile's G1. Made by HTC, the G1 is the first phone featuring Google's open-source smartphone operating system Android.
It has bluetooth, wifi, GPS (though not turn-by-turn), 512 MB built-in memory, although it has an microSD card slot and comes with a 1GB card; a back-lit qwerty keyboard (which is revealed by sliding out the screen) and a replaceable battery; a 3.2MP camera, but like the iPhone, it does not shoot video, and like the iPhone it does not support Flash on the internet. Unlike the iPhone, it supports voice dialling and "cut and paste".
Physically, it weighs just under 6 ounces. At the bottom is a panel of buttons: a big Menu button, underneath which at the centre is a trackball (for navigation and as a select button). To the left of the trackball are the "Call/Send" button and the "Home" button; to the right of the trackball are the "Back" and "Hangup/Power" buttons.
On the left hand side of the phone is a Volume toggle, and on the right hand side the camera button. For the earphones, unfortunately it's a microUSB connection and you'll need an adapter for your 3.5mm jack earphones.
The display is 3.2 inches at 480 x 320 resolution, with a capacitive touch-screen. It does not support multi-touch, but does support long presses (through which you get a context menu including "cut and paste"). It has an accelerometer and is supposed to adjust itself to Portrait/Landscape mode, at least when the qwerty keyboard is open.
Since Android is open-source, many applications are expected to come out supporting the platform, and will not be filtered as in the case of the iPhone. You can access the apps from the Android "Market", and Google will tell you in relation to each app what types of access the app may have on the phone - such as communications, your location and your personal information.
The phone comes with the standard Google apps, such as Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, and like the iPhone, offers a mobile version of YouTube. If you don't use Gmail, there is another mail application. Unfortunately, this other mail app cannot open attachments (which Gmail can by HTML conversion), nor save them. The IM app supports major instant messengers such as AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo and of course Google Talk. Like Google's desktop browser the Chrome, the Android browser is WebKit-based. Another app that comes with the phone is AmazonMP3, with access to Amazon's DRM-free mp3 downloads - which only works with Wifi, and not 3G or Edge. The phone also has its own music player software.
At the moment, the phone is available in T-Mobile stores only in cities which has T-Mobile's 3G coverage.
Favourite Episodes
In Episode 679, Dick and Leo were asked if they had a list of their 20 favourite/funniest episodes. Ludwik Trammer of gizwizsearch can answer for them. Search queries on his site show which episodes are most frequently accessed - 182 Titanium Spork, 465 Electron Echo Piano, 462 MP4 Watch, and of course 282 Toothpick Bird.
Ludwik also tells us that the accumulative length of all the DGW shows now exceeds 7 days.
One More Thing
Ludwik is going to introduce a new feature on his site. In fact it is already operational. Just go to his site and see if you can spot the difference. Otherwise, just wait for an announcement through Dick and Leo in tomorrow's recording session, or in next week's episodes.
Video Podcasts To Wait
The last time Leo talked about video podcasts (with hopes of getting DGW on video) was Episode 671. Unfortunately, with the economic downturn, Leo has decided to be a little more prudent, and maybe putting that on hold, although he may still put out a weekly "best of" video podcast.
Second Longest Episode
At 31:03, today's show is the second longest episode, just 12 seconds short of Episode 634, the Lexmark X9575 Professional.
Listen to Episode 686
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
It has bluetooth, wifi, GPS (though not turn-by-turn), 512 MB built-in memory, although it has an microSD card slot and comes with a 1GB card; a back-lit qwerty keyboard (which is revealed by sliding out the screen) and a replaceable battery; a 3.2MP camera, but like the iPhone, it does not shoot video, and like the iPhone it does not support Flash on the internet. Unlike the iPhone, it supports voice dialling and "cut and paste".
Physically, it weighs just under 6 ounces. At the bottom is a panel of buttons: a big Menu button, underneath which at the centre is a trackball (for navigation and as a select button). To the left of the trackball are the "Call/Send" button and the "Home" button; to the right of the trackball are the "Back" and "Hangup/Power" buttons.
On the left hand side of the phone is a Volume toggle, and on the right hand side the camera button. For the earphones, unfortunately it's a microUSB connection and you'll need an adapter for your 3.5mm jack earphones.
The display is 3.2 inches at 480 x 320 resolution, with a capacitive touch-screen. It does not support multi-touch, but does support long presses (through which you get a context menu including "cut and paste"). It has an accelerometer and is supposed to adjust itself to Portrait/Landscape mode, at least when the qwerty keyboard is open.
Since Android is open-source, many applications are expected to come out supporting the platform, and will not be filtered as in the case of the iPhone. You can access the apps from the Android "Market", and Google will tell you in relation to each app what types of access the app may have on the phone - such as communications, your location and your personal information.
The phone comes with the standard Google apps, such as Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, and like the iPhone, offers a mobile version of YouTube. If you don't use Gmail, there is another mail application. Unfortunately, this other mail app cannot open attachments (which Gmail can by HTML conversion), nor save them. The IM app supports major instant messengers such as AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo and of course Google Talk. Like Google's desktop browser the Chrome, the Android browser is WebKit-based. Another app that comes with the phone is AmazonMP3, with access to Amazon's DRM-free mp3 downloads - which only works with Wifi, and not 3G or Edge. The phone also has its own music player software.
At the moment, the phone is available in T-Mobile stores only in cities which has T-Mobile's 3G coverage.
Favourite Episodes
In Episode 679, Dick and Leo were asked if they had a list of their 20 favourite/funniest episodes. Ludwik Trammer of gizwizsearch can answer for them. Search queries on his site show which episodes are most frequently accessed - 182 Titanium Spork, 465 Electron Echo Piano, 462 MP4 Watch, and of course 282 Toothpick Bird.
Ludwik also tells us that the accumulative length of all the DGW shows now exceeds 7 days.
One More Thing
Ludwik is going to introduce a new feature on his site. In fact it is already operational. Just go to his site and see if you can spot the difference. Otherwise, just wait for an announcement through Dick and Leo in tomorrow's recording session, or in next week's episodes.
Video Podcasts To Wait
The last time Leo talked about video podcasts (with hopes of getting DGW on video) was Episode 671. Unfortunately, with the economic downturn, Leo has decided to be a little more prudent, and maybe putting that on hold, although he may still put out a weekly "best of" video podcast.
Second Longest Episode
At 31:03, today's show is the second longest episode, just 12 seconds short of Episode 634, the Lexmark X9575 Professional.
Listen to Episode 686
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
iPhone 3G
Smartphone
Link: Apple
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
No one except Leo believed that he would be able to hold off buying the new iPhone 3G for long, and true to form, by Saturday he had got himself a white-back 16GB iPhone 3G. The main new hardware features includes 3G and GPS, and improved speakers. There is no 3G coverage in Petaluma for Leo, and there are no turn-by-turn directions for the GPS. According to Leo, what makes the new iPhone is the version 2 software, and the new App Store.
Leo talks about some of the new apps, including the iPhone app from Omnifocus, the Enigmo game, Aqua Forest, location-based Loopt, a New York Times app, Pandora, and AOL Radio.
But still no voice dialing, and no cut and paste.
TWiTLive Viewership
Since Leo's coverage of the iPhone 3G launch, viewership of TWiTLive has gone up about 30%.
DGW in Order
Opher Banarie finally figures out how to listen to his DGW in the correct order (earliest first) on his new iPod (see Episode 609). From the Main Menu, select Podcasts, scroll to DGW, and just press the centre button. Other listeners have also written in with the same tip, including Sue Watkins and Jacob.
Listen to Episode 617
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Leo talks about some of the new apps, including the iPhone app from Omnifocus, the Enigmo game, Aqua Forest, location-based Loopt, a New York Times app, Pandora, and AOL Radio.
But still no voice dialing, and no cut and paste.
TWiTLive Viewership
Since Leo's coverage of the iPhone 3G launch, viewership of TWiTLive has gone up about 30%.
DGW in Order
Opher Banarie finally figures out how to listen to his DGW in the correct order (earliest first) on his new iPod (see Episode 609). From the Main Menu, select Podcasts, scroll to DGW, and just press the centre button. Other listeners have also written in with the same tip, including Sue Watkins and Jacob.
Listen to Episode 617
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Parking Meter Alarm
Parking Timer
Link: Spoon Sisters
The Parking Meter Alarm is a timer which alerts you to feed the meter when your parking time is up. You can set the time by 5-minute increments. It has a spring-loaded cylinder which holds up to 10 quarters, and a key-ring for your keys. Available from Spoon Sisters.
iPhone 3G Coverage
Leo's 24-hour iPhone 3G marathon coverage turned out to be easier than he thought. A lot of his friends called in, including Dick and Steve Wozniak; Alex Lindsay arrived at the TWiT Cottage at 4.30 a.m., Scott Bourne came at 7 a.m. Poor Dane Golden stayed up all night and didn't get a rest until 6 a.m.
Visa is Back
As Leo promised in Episode 601, Visa is back as a sponsor, along with Audible. Let's hope they don't blow it with Visa, which they nearly did back in Episode 145.
B & B with BBBs
Inspired by the Japanese Capsule Hotel for salarymen (tubes stacked up in rows and columns), Dick and Leo have come up with the idea of an invention of the bunk bed bench.
A Giant Plant
Lenny Brown took Dick's recommendation in Episode 503 to heart. His girlfriend is notorious for killing plants, but after over 100 episodes, the Thirsty Light is still keeping his plant alive, in fact so well that the vine plant is taking over his window.
Listen to Episode 616
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Leo's 24-hour iPhone 3G marathon coverage turned out to be easier than he thought. A lot of his friends called in, including Dick and Steve Wozniak; Alex Lindsay arrived at the TWiT Cottage at 4.30 a.m., Scott Bourne came at 7 a.m. Poor Dane Golden stayed up all night and didn't get a rest until 6 a.m.
Visa is Back
As Leo promised in Episode 601, Visa is back as a sponsor, along with Audible. Let's hope they don't blow it with Visa, which they nearly did back in Episode 145.
B & B with BBBs
Inspired by the Japanese Capsule Hotel for salarymen (tubes stacked up in rows and columns), Dick and Leo have come up with the idea of an invention of the bunk bed bench.
A Giant Plant
Lenny Brown took Dick's recommendation in Episode 503 to heart. His girlfriend is notorious for killing plants, but after over 100 episodes, the Thirsty Light is still keeping his plant alive, in fact so well that the vine plant is taking over his window.
Listen to Episode 616
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Cradlepoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot
Networking/Travel Router for Mobile Broadband
Link: Cradlepoint
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
A tip from Ron Rosberg who appears on The Tech Guy, Leo's radio show. The PHS300 works like your router at home, except that instead of connecting your DSL or cable modem to the WLAN port, you connect a USB 3G modem or your 3G-enabled cellphone to the USB Host Port. Other devices can then use the 3G mobile broadband (HSDPA or EVDO from A T & T, Sprint and Verizon) via the PHS300 using wifi (wirelss b/g compatible). Cradlepoint calls it their WiPipe technology. Otherwise it works just like any other router, with WEP and WPA support, and device management via web browser. 4.7" x 2.8" x 0.8" in dimensions, 4 ounces in weight, with a Li-ion battery which can also charge your 3G-phone or power the USB modem. An ultraportable mobile personal hotspot.
For a list of compatible devices, check here. The firmware can be upgraded.
Other models with different feature sets are also available. The CTR350 is a similar to the PHS300, except that it has no built-in Li-ion battery, but has an extra ethernet port for standard internet connection. Like the CTR350, the MBR1000 has an ethernet port for internet connection via a DSL or cable modem, an Express Card Slot for express card 3G-modems, and supports wirelss-N in addition to wirelss b/g, with 3 external antennae to broaden the range of reception. The only thing it doesn't have is a built-in battery.
And Fun For All ...
... and things that make life easier, or not. Shane Shellenbarger (of Wandering Attention) writes in about a fun site: andfunforall.blogspot.com. From the Smart Cup (with built-in cookies holder), the Penguin Tea Timer, to the Banana Guard and the Lock-Cup, you get the wackiest of gadgets on this page of andfunforall.
Alternatively, you can find the same gadgets on Cool Inventions at fwdemails.com, or Things That Make Life Easier Or Not by LiYu, or Cool Inventions/Things That Make Life Easier by AlvinPoh, or XPigs Part 1 and Part 2, with no attribution to the source. Fun for all indeed.
The Banana Guard is available here. The Penguin Timer has been covered before, in Episode 501 (and suggested by George from Ajax, Ontario, Canada). The Lock-Cup is still awaiting a manufacturer.
Listen to Episode 542
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
For a list of compatible devices, check here. The firmware can be upgraded.
Other models with different feature sets are also available. The CTR350 is a similar to the PHS300, except that it has no built-in Li-ion battery, but has an extra ethernet port for standard internet connection. Like the CTR350, the MBR1000 has an ethernet port for internet connection via a DSL or cable modem, an Express Card Slot for express card 3G-modems, and supports wirelss-N in addition to wirelss b/g, with 3 external antennae to broaden the range of reception. The only thing it doesn't have is a built-in battery.
And Fun For All ...
... and things that make life easier, or not. Shane Shellenbarger (of Wandering Attention) writes in about a fun site: andfunforall.blogspot.com. From the Smart Cup (with built-in cookies holder), the Penguin Tea Timer, to the Banana Guard and the Lock-Cup, you get the wackiest of gadgets on this page of andfunforall.
Listen to Episode 542
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
LG Voyager
Cellphone
Link: Verizon
Dick follows up his coverage of the V (Episode 9) and the enV (Episode 219) with the LG Voyager. Carried by Verizon in the US, the Voyager has touch screen controls, like the iPhone, and it opens up revealing a Qwerty keyboard. 2MP camera and camcorder, microSD slot, bluetooth capable.
You can subscribe to Vcasts and even TV broadcasts (with a built-in TV antenna). It can also do web browsing, and utilises Verizon's fast 3G wireless.
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Mike Kunkel, who previously corrected Leo about the PSOne in Episode 409, writes in about another vintage game gadget, the Nintendo Virtual Boy, which Leo thought in Episode 450 was a hood you put on a Game Boy. Mike explains what it was.
Listen to Episode 478
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
You can subscribe to Vcasts and even TV broadcasts (with a built-in TV antenna). It can also do web browsing, and utilises Verizon's fast 3G wireless.
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Listen to Episode 478
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Marware iPod Shuffle Dock
USB Travel Dock for the 2nd-Gen Shuffle
Link: Marware
A USB travel dock for the 2nd-Gen iPod Shuffle from Marware. The new Shuffle does not come with a USB plug any more and requires a dock and cable to connect to a computer. The Marware dock is like a USB thumb drive and is much handier than Apple's dock and cable method.
The Doom of Society
Despite his protestations, Dick loves the Toothpick Bird (Episode 282) because it's lowered the bar so much for him. Dick remarks that even the Spork (Episode 182) has generated tons of love mail. Years from now, later generations are going to find out the reason for the doom of our current society - all because we worship the Toothpick Bird as God.
File Numbering
Only This Week in Tech has a 4-digit file numbering, but of course, of all the podcasts Leo does, the only show that has the remotest chance of reaching a 4-digit number is the Daily Giz Wiz.
An Apple Cables Tip from Leo
The iPod video actually works with normal AV cables (3.5mm jack to 3-way RCA cables). Just switch them around. Plug the red RCA jack to the TV's yellow RCA port, the yellow RCA plug to the TV's white RCA port, and the white RCA plug to the TV's red RCA port. There is no need to buy the expensive ones from Apple.
Gadget Dreamhouse
Leo said he'd love to have a cellphone with 2-way video conferencing functionality (Episode 278). Tim from Australia says, "Come to Australia!", to use their 3G bandwidth there. Or come to most of Asia and Europe.
Listen to Episode 293
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
