Archive for the ‘Computers & Technology’ Category

So I came across this article the other day and didn’t really think much of it. But today Computer World had this article about it. Here is an excerpt; “January 03, 2007 – Autonet Mobile, a San Francisco startup, said yesterday it is preparing to release a product for cars that combines 3G cellular access and Wi-Fi that will plug into your car’s cigarette lighter. Users will be able to connect the same way they do at hot spots or their home Wi-Fi network. The company will show off the system at the Consumer Electronics Show next week in Las Vegas.”

So at fist, I am thinking how cool that could be. There are all sorts of situations in which I could envision this being helpful. For instance, I wouldn’t need GPS because I could always have Mapquest or Google Maps available for my laptop or PDA. I would have always on access to restaurant reviews or movie times as well as a host of other entertainment information. I would have constant access to YouTube and other fun websites to pass the time on a long drive. Maybe the person who finds my car smashed into the tree (caused by my lack of attention while driving) can use it to look up how to apply a tourniquet to my upper leg to stop the bleeding from lower let where my foot used to be.

That’s when it hits me. Is this really stuff I need, let alone, should be doing in my car? When taking into account the increase in traffic accidents related to cell phone use, is having internet access a good thing while you are driving. I know you what you are thinking. You’re thinking that no moron would use it while driving, it would be more for passenger use or for use while not driving. That was my thought too, then I remembered the degrees to which I have seen my fellow man (and myself for that matter) stretch the bounds of idiocy. I see the guy sitting at the stop light looking up something, the light turns green and he starts to go while reading the last little bit of information or watching the last little bit of video or whatever. That is all it takes.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for this kind of advancement, I’m just not sure that Darwin’s theory of evolution moves fast enough to protect us from the people that will choose to use this technology while driving their vehicle. At the risk of sounding old and out of touch (neither of which I am, unless you ask my children) maybe just driving in the car is enough. Maybe we don’t need to be working or entertained or searching for information every second of every day. Maybe once in a while it is OK to be alone with our thoughts or maybe it would be OK to simply pop in that eight track tape and sing along (just kidding, for those of you who have any idea what an eight track tape is). Maybe rather than trying to find ways to distract our children on that long trip, we could take the time to engage them and make them part of the discussion. Maybe, just maybe, we could take a short break from the internet and all it has to offer, and still be OK.

Enjoy your day!

Norm Thompson has created a unique product known as the Intelligent Lantern. Campers around the world have been asking for solution to the typical lantern. Anyone who has been camping understands how annoying a lantern can be to light. This can be especially true for those of us who forget the equipment needed to light it. The Intelligent Lantern makes lighting the outside that much easier. Oh yeah, it also acts as an alarm clock and has the ability to play music for you as well.

It appears that the Norm Thompson company has created a unique little product here. The Intelligent Lantern delivers what is best described as a super-bright beam. Tests have shown that the light beam has the power to be seen nearly a mile away. This is a handy little light to carry around with you while walking alone at night. The best part is that the lantern is powered by 5 C batteries. There is even the ability to charge or run the Intelligent Lantern through the cigarette lighter of your car. Basically, you can pretty much guarantee yourself that the lantern will not die on you during your camping trip.

There is much more to the lantern that make is even more fun to own. Perhaps my favorite feature is the incorporated AM/FM tuner that comes with the Intelligent Lantern. You can now listen to the local radio as you sit around your camp fire. The only issue many of you may have with this device when it comes to music is that it is not MP3 compatible. My guess is that the company could upgrade the lantern in the near future with this. For now, the AM/FM tuner delivers enough fun to satisfy most of us. At least we have music that we may of not had in the first place, mainly thanks to the Intelligent Lantern.

Another feature that a lot of consumers will probably enjoy is access to NOAA Weatherband. You will be able to turn your lantern on to this channel and hear about the local weather. This will enable you be better prepared if a storm is planning to make its ugly face present. As if that were not enough already, you finally have the alarm clock system. You will be able to take the lantern into your tent and set up the time that you want to get up the next morning. Or you could just use the clock as an indicator of what time it may be.

The Intelligent Lantern is 9 inches tall and only costs $39. This is a bargain because of all the specially added things that come with this lantern. A lot of regular lanterns will cost you much more than this unique little machine. The powerful light is as powerful as they advertise and the music sounds awesome through the built in speakers. For $39, how can anyone really go wrong in shelling out the money for this lantern. I know that I will enjoy using it on my next camping trip. Live a little and buy one yourself.

There are four common options for successfully connecting your MP3 player to your car stereo. I will list them here in optimal order from best to worst it terms of setup and quality.

1. Almost all newer car stereos come with a AUX in jack on the front of the stereo unit. An AUX in will be a hole on the face of the stereo that matches the size of the headphone jack for your MP3 player. You will need to connect your MP3 player to this AUX in hole with a stereo 1/8″ cable. You can do a search for these on Ebay and find them for less than $5. If you are a little more impatient, then you can find them at your local Radio Shack or Frys Electronics for not much more. Simply plug the cord out of your MP3 player and into the AUX in port on the car stereo system, select AUX as your input device (other options will be CD player, FM, AM, etc.), and then turn your MP3 player on. This option will not power your MP3 player, so either charge it up good or have a charge in your car that will adapt to the cigarette outlet. (some very high end stereos can connect to Apple’s IPOD and allow you to browse your song library on the stereo instead of on the IPOD)

2. Another way to connect the Ipod will be on semi older systems that have stereo AUX in RCA on the back of the unit. RCA is a connection that looks like the audio for connecting your TV sound and is usually signified by a cable with two ends, one white and one red. In order to successfully hook up your MP3 player to this scenario, you will need to invest in a stereo 1/8″ to Male RCA cord at your local Radio Shack. Pull the stereo out of the console. Hook the white and red RCA ends with their corresponding female RCA ends on the back of the stereo and then wrap the cord out of another socket to the side of the console to the place you commonly keep your MP3 player. Plug the 1/8″ inch side of the cord into your MP3 player, power it on, and there you have it.

3. One option for MP3 playback through your stereo is to use the FM airwaves. They sell FM transmitters at most mass merchant stores like Target & Wal-Mart, as well as online retailers. Decent FM transmitters run in the $20-35 range. The way these work is by plugging the supplied 1/8th cord into the headphone jack on the MP3 player. Then on the FM transmitter you can select a FM channel. Tune your stereo to the corresponding FM channel and you should be able to hear your MP3’s through the airwaves. This option needs power for the transmitter to work. If you’re lucky and have a couple of extra dollars, you can invest in a charger that powers both your MP3 player and FM transmitter. Some FM transmitters have battery options for power as well. This option is capable to have audio dropouts if you drive very far and radio stations change. It’s best to choose a station that isn’t being used for broadcast.

4. The last decent option for listening to your MP3s is to use a Tape Deck. They make a tape adapter with an 1/8″ cord coming out of it that you plug into your MP3 player. Stick the tape in your stereo tape deck and the other end to your player and listen to your tunes flow. My only caution with this option is that a lot of these types of devices seem to get stuck in the tape deck rendering both devices useless. Consider yourself warned.

Good luck and enjoy the tunes!

Have your whole music collection at your fingertips while driving with your iPod and your car stereo.

Here are some ways you can listen to your iPod through your car stereo system.

Since driving with your iPod earbuds in is both dangerous and illegal in most states, you’ll want to use one of the following methods to listen to your tunes safely and through your car stereo system. You don’t have to spend a lot to get set up either.

Use a cassette adapter:

Originally designed to allow you to hook up a cd player to your car stereo, if you have a tape deck in your car stereo then you can use an adaptor. Just plug the cable end into your iPod headphone jack and pop the cassette end in the tape deck and you are ready.

Of course the audio quality won’t be the best, but this can be a cheap and easy way to play your MP3s over your old car stereo.

Use an FM transmitter:

These small devices are growing in popularity because they are easy to use, compact, and offer decent audio quality. You can purchase them in a wide range of electronics stores and they are even popping up in non-electronics stores as well.

They plug into the docking slot of your iPod and transmit a short range FM signal to your car stereo. All you have to do is plug it in to your iPod and tune your FM radio to the dial number indicated on the transmitter’s packaging. Some are powered by battery while others will be powered by your iPod. Some will plug into your cigarette lighter for power.

Use a direct connection:

As MP3 players have grown immensely in popularity, makers of car stereos have taken notice. Many new car stereos come with auxiliary (AUX) jacks on the front of the faceplate. Often these are displayed as direct connection inputs or simply headphone jacks.

If your stereo didn’t come with a male-male cable you can purchase one for a few dollars at any electronics store. The standard headphone jack is usually 3.5 mm so you’ll want a male-male direct audio cable with that size.

Some car makers and car stereo makers have even started to include iPod ready systems that are designed to work seamlessly with your iPod with the first use.

Use these options to connect your iPod to your car stereo system safely and easily. Never drive a vehicle with your iPod earbuds in as this is extremely dangerous and often illegal. You can do any of the above options as a low cost way to access all your MP3s while driving.