6 posts tagged “flash”
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
Litepanels Micro
LED Flash Lighting
Link: Litepanels
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
TTTT could be mistaken for TWiP. This is another photography-related gadget from Leo. Litepanels specialises in LED lighting for photography, videography and cinematography. The Micro is their latest product, even smaller than the Litepanels Mini, designed for use with your camcorder.
It has a dimmer to control the amount of light, and even when dimmed, maintains constant colour temperature, at 5600K. It comes with a Tungsten filter (3200K), a diffusion filter and a ¼ warming filter. The power draw is only 3W and it runs on 4 AA batteries.
What a Gaffer
Leo has got Pat Grosswendt of Litepanels, gaffer for Gosford Park, to set up the lighting for the TWiT Studio.
Ericofon
Alessandro Abate who grew up in Venezuela writes in about dial phones, last talked about in Episode 540. He says you can still get a dial phone, like the Ericofon, on eBay. Dick suggests getting the Big Button from Radio Shack. Learn all about the Ericofon on Ericofon.com.
Leo tells the story again of how Steve Wozniak has a big black Western Electric dial phone with the guts of a cellphone, last mentioned in Episode 287, in which a listener pointed out that Leo broke a promise about getting Woz on.
And between Alessandro abate, Girl Geek, and Karen Toast Conger, they've got the Letters section of DGW cornered.
Listen to Episode 562
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
FlashMic DRM85-C
Digital Recording Microphone
Link: HHB
At the base of the mic there is a USB port for connection to the computer to interact with the software and for the transfer of recordings. There is also a headphones jack for sound output which you can also use for recording directly on to your computer. Optional accessories include a table stand and a wind shield.
Leo has the DRM85-C, which is unidirectional (a cardioid type), to block off ambient sounds, but there is also an omnidirectional model, the DRM85.
Chief Blogging Officer
Leo will be the Chief Blogging Officer on his upcoming photography trip to Tasmania.
Tom Bihn Bags
Leo's coverage of Tom Bihn bags (Episode 522) last week has generated so much response that Tom Bihn's website has now included the Daily Giz Wiz as one of the sources from which customers learned about Tom Bihn. They're going to send a few samples to Dick for his upcoming segment on travel gadgets on ABC.
5 Days of Insanity
Ludwik Trammer from Poland, of GizWizSearch, writes in to tell Dick and Leo that they have passed the 5 days mark in terms of total recording length, although the good stuff can be condensed into a quick 61 seconds (excluding the jingles). He also warns that the simulator model on his computer confirms that if you listen to the 5 full days of DGW in one go, you will become totally insane in the process. Some might say anyone listening to DGW is already certifiably insane.
Dick and Leo keep thinking that Ludwik is 15 years old, which Ludwik tries to correct (there is another listener called Collins who was 15 when he made the DGW Looker-Upper-Listener). For Ludwik's age, see the blog entry here for Episode 407. For more on Ludwik, click here.
Ludwik's says on his site that it is not in any way affiliated with, endorsed or licensed by Dick DeBartolo, Leo Laporte or the TWIT Netcast Network. Dick and Leo say, it is!
Wake And Shake Alarm Clock
Alarm Clock
Link: Clearsounds
The Wake and Shake from Clearsounds is an alarm clock on steroids, with jumbo numerals, phone signaller, under-the-pillow shaker (a vibration pad), and a strobe light. Its alarm can give off up to 95 decibels (adjustable). You can choose any combination of the alarm signals to wake up to (sound, shaker, strobe light, flash). You can also connect your phone to the back of the clock, and it will start flashing for the hard of hearing.
For other alarm clocks for hardy sleepers, see the Clocky Walking Alarm Clock (Episode 306) and the Flying Alarm Clock (Episode 328).
What's Thursday got to do with it?
Leo likes Thursday because it's like the end of the week. That makes sense, except it's Wednesday.
Sleeping Habits
Leo goes to bed around 10 pm and wake up at 6am. Dick goes to bed between 3 and 4 am.
You say Potato, I say Potahto
Dick is reminded of a comedy show of an audition, in which a singer sings "You say potato, I say potato," which Dick thinks is a Cole Porter song. The song is actually "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" by George and Ira Gershwin from the 1937 film "Shall We Dance?" starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
At night the Sporks pick on me ...
Virginia from California was at Taco Bell when she noticed a line on the hot sauce packet which Dick and Leo would love to see: "At night, the sporks pick on me ..." Those poor defenceless hot sauce packets. Who would have thought that sporks were evil? Virginia also points out that Microsoft Word does not have the word "spork" in its English dictionary. Leo confirms that it's not in the latest Mac 2008 Word either. Dick and Leo are justifiably peeved over this glaring omission.
Listen to Episode 508
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
For other alarm clocks for hardy sleepers, see the Clocky Walking Alarm Clock (Episode 306) and the Flying Alarm Clock (Episode 328).
What's Thursday got to do with it?
Leo likes Thursday because it's like the end of the week. That makes sense, except it's Wednesday.
Sleeping Habits
Leo goes to bed around 10 pm and wake up at 6am. Dick goes to bed between 3 and 4 am.
You say Potato, I say Potahto
Dick is reminded of a comedy show of an audition, in which a singer sings "You say potato, I say potato," which Dick thinks is a Cole Porter song. The song is actually "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" by George and Ira Gershwin from the 1937 film "Shall We Dance?" starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
At night the Sporks pick on me ...
Virginia from California was at Taco Bell when she noticed a line on the hot sauce packet which Dick and Leo would love to see: "At night, the sporks pick on me ..." Those poor defenceless hot sauce packets. Who would have thought that sporks were evil? Virginia also points out that Microsoft Word does not have the word "spork" in its English dictionary. Leo confirms that it's not in the latest Mac 2008 Word either. Dick and Leo are justifiably peeved over this glaring omission.
Listen to Episode 508
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Gary Fong's Lightsphere II
Photography/Flash Accessories
Link: Gary Fong
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
For your SLR camera with external flash. The "Lightsphere" fits on to your flash and avoids that cold harshness of the flash and gives you gentler, diffuse light. The Lightsphere Clear covers a larger distance and gives a cooler effect, while the Lightsphere Cloud gives a warmer softer atmosphere. Comes in sizes, so check the size chart to see which one fits your flash.
The Lightsphere can be used on its own, but you can add "dome" accessories to this accesory: the ChromeDome, AmberDome and InvertedDome.
The ChromeDome on the left is for increasing the power of your flash (or shortening recharge time), while still giving you diffuse light. The AmberDome in the middle maintains the correct white balance while you shoot in Tungsten mode with your flash. The InvertedDome on the right is actually the original cap that comes with the Lightsphere for reducing the flash output while shooting a subject at a closer distance, but is offered as a replacement part.
NBC and GEC
At various times, GEC owned NBC. The old NBC 3-note signature tune consisted of the 3 musical notes G-E-C. Leo used to work in an NBC-owned radio station, that's how he knew.
Getting Even with the Tech Guy
Speaking of radio shows, the latest episode of The Tech Guy, Leo's radio show which is released as a podcast download, was released yesterday, as Episode 377 (from his Saturday show last weekend). Today, the Daily Giz Wiz has caught up with the Tech Guy in terms of number of episodes. The Tech Guy from last Sunday should be released sometime this week as Episode 378, so by this Thursday the lastest, when DGW reaches Episode 379, DGW will definitely overtake the Tech Guy, as the most prolific podcast on the TWiT network.
What's My Line?
Dick picked up Arlene Francis's mask from "What's My Line?" when the show closed.
Listen to Episode 377
Read Dick's Write-Up
Go to TWiT
For your SLR camera with external flash. The "Lightsphere" fits on to your flash and avoids that cold harshness of the flash and gives you gentler, diffuse light. The Lightsphere Clear covers a larger distance and gives a cooler effect, while the Lightsphere Cloud gives a warmer softer atmosphere. Comes in sizes, so check the size chart to see which one fits your flash.
The Lightsphere can be used on its own, but you can add "dome" accessories to this accesory: the ChromeDome, AmberDome and InvertedDome.
NBC and GEC
At various times, GEC owned NBC. The old NBC 3-note signature tune consisted of the 3 musical notes G-E-C. Leo used to work in an NBC-owned radio station, that's how he knew.
Getting Even with the Tech Guy
Speaking of radio shows, the latest episode of The Tech Guy, Leo's radio show which is released as a podcast download, was released yesterday, as Episode 377 (from his Saturday show last weekend). Today, the Daily Giz Wiz has caught up with the Tech Guy in terms of number of episodes. The Tech Guy from last Sunday should be released sometime this week as Episode 378, so by this Thursday the lastest, when DGW reaches Episode 379, DGW will definitely overtake the Tech Guy, as the most prolific podcast on the TWiT network.
What's My Line?
Dick picked up Arlene Francis's mask from "What's My Line?" when the show closed.
Listen to Episode 377
Read Dick's Write-Up
Go to TWiT
Slingcatcher
Media Streaming Device from PC to TV
Link: Sling Media Announcement
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
This product is still in development but was announced at CES 2007. It works like the Apple TV but unlike the Apple TV, the Slingcatcher is not limited to media playable on iTunes. You can stream anything from your computer to your TV, rather like the Slingbox in reverse direction.
Dick's TTTT Dilemma
Dick gets requests to slam Leo on TTTT, and gets slammed for doing it. He's got scolded many times for mocking the spork (Episode 182).
MicroTrack
John from West Covina, California notes that the 300th Episode will fall on Friday the 13th, April 2007. So buckle down with the Hurriquake (Episode 193). He recommends a DVR that records to compact flash - M-Audio's MicroTrack.
Listen to Episode 232
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
