October 28, 2006
Garmin Streetpilot C550
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I previously owned a Garmin Streetpilot C330. It served me well for over a year getting me to wherever I needed to go. But now out comes the Garmin Streetpilot C550. This one is much better! Not only does it do GPS directions, it also has a MP3 player in it and, most importantly, a bluetooth speakerphone! As soon as I turn it on, the bluetooth speakerphone connects to my mobile phone and it's working. Through the GUI of the Garmin, I can access the phonebook and call history as well as directly dialing through its dial pad. It's speakerphone is one of the best I've used. It is clear and loud, and the mike picks up my voice very well. A great implementation! |
Posted by dshen at 08:56 PM
October 02, 2006
Verizon Broadband with Curitel PC Card
Funny that free WIFI is supposed to get everyone online, but yet when everyone jumps on, it slows to a crawl. Then, since free WIFI is everywhere, all the paid services get tossed out of the cafes since they don't want to deal with that. Add to that, some free WIFI services make you watch ads in every browser window and they proxy serve every website, which makes the sites even slower to respond.
Frustration sets in. I run down to the local Cingular store and they have this awful Sierra WIreless card. Oh, I'm sure it works great, but I hate the removable antenna because I'm sure to lose it. And they don't have any builtin antenna models in stock. By the way, their plan is 2 years for contract and $80/month. Kinda pricey, but I want to compare! So next I run to the local Verizon store and their card has no external antenna AND it's faster than Cingular AND I only have to sign a 1 year contract! SOLD!
I test the card at home, at my favorite Starbucks, and at SJC. It works great at all the places! It's expensive, but hell I must be online everywhere.
Too cool. I can do all the simple things AND streaming YouTube videos also works great. I love it!
Posted by dshen at 08:54 PM | Comments (5)
September 20, 2006
Polycom Communicator
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Someone else showed up to a meeting one day with one of these and we conferenced in someone remotely via Skype from Europe. WOW. It's the best speakerphone I've ever used! Made by Polycom, the experts in conference room speakerphone technology, the Polycom Communicator is a portable speakerphone for the PC which connects via USB. It works seamlessly with Skype and now you can conference in someone via internet connection so easily! You can also plug in a headphone for privacy. The USB cord itself conveniently wraps around a post under the single leg, which closes on the wrapped cord for transport. It also comes with a zippered bag to protect it. Perfect for remote meetings! |
Posted by dshen at 08:52 PM
July 26, 2006
Sony DSC-W100 Digital Camera
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I am a big fan of Sony digital cameras. I have a Sony laptop which has a built-in memory stick slot and allows me to download pictures easily wherever I am. Before this camera, I had a Sony DSC-W1 which I absolutely loved. It had 5 MP and was extremely good in low light and took great pictures. Unfortunately, it was also a bit bulky. It was, however, black and looked very stylish. Then Sony just came out with the DSC-W100. This camera is even better! It shoots at 8 MP, and has an even better low light capability pumping the ISO to 1250 so that you don't have to use flash. It also has much better noise reduction in low light too. The package is much thinner now too. A relief from the DSC-W1! But they did not skimp on the lens which is about the same size (but definitely better) than the one on the DSC-W1. Thus, this camera does not suffer from the problems other thin cameras have, which is very poor performance in low light due to a smaller CCD. Be warned: this camera has now switched to Memory Stick DUO for compactness, and a custom battery (versus the rechargeable AAs in the DSC-W1). But all in all, it's worth it for a thinner camera. I took this camera with me to Europe and shot all over at Ironman Austria. Hats off to Sony for creating yet another great camera! |
Posted by dshen at 08:51 PM
July 09, 2006
Plantronics Discovery 640 Bluetooth Headset
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I had a Motorola Bluetooth headset previously and thought it worked pretty well, but for some reason sometimes the volume was so low I could barely hear the person I was talking to. It's probably a combination of ambient noise leaking into the headset, the headset's upper volume, and the fact that I'm getting old and my hearing ain't what it used to be. So I went to a Cingular store and found this nice Plantronics Discovery 640 Bluetooth Headset. It's pretty small, stylish and also hooks over my ear although you can use it without the hook. The best part about it is the rubber earpiece which points directly into my ear canal. By driving more sound directly into the ear, I can finally more clearly hear whomever I'm talking to. What a relief. It also comes with some funky charging accessories. One nice thing is that it comes with a bunch of adapters to use many different brand AC adapters, like my old Motorola one. So now when I travel, I don't have to carry another adapter! Nice for Plantronics to provide this feature. Buy it from amazon.com |
Posted by dshen at 08:49 PM
June 14, 2006
Sony MDR-NC50 Noise Canceling Headphones
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Before I bought these headphones, I had a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones. I thought they cancelled noise poretty well, but the frequency response really stunk. Then, I found these at the Apple Store in NYC. These work just as well in cancelling noise AND have a better frequency response! Not only better functioning, but better in price - only $149.99! Maybe cheaper at Amazon if you click below.... |
Posted by dshen at 08:47 PM
iGo Power Adapter
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I was in the LAX Brookstone and bought the iGo Power Adapter set. I bought adapters for my mobile phone, iPod, and bluetooth headset. I purchased this because sometimes I need power either at an airport lounge or on the plane. But bringing so many power adapters is a real drag. Today I tried it out in my car. How cool! It is really light and everything packs into a little bag. I also bought the adapter which allows me to charge two things at once. That is a nice addition so that I can charge my laptop and another device at the same time. A great little package for road warriors! |
Posted by dshen at 08:45 PM
June 05, 2006
Bones in Motion Cellphone GPS Tracking for Training
I haven't tried this yet, but this is really cool that it's worth posting about. Bones in Motion is developing mobile phone apps to take advantage of the GPS capabilities of the mobile phone to track your location, speed, and elevation using only your mobile phone!
The only have Sprint and Nextel phones now, but I hope they bring up Cingular soon.
Check it out here at BIM Active.
Posted by dshen at 08:43 PM
January 04, 2006
Riedel Merlot Glasses
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OK so a wine snob might look at these glasses and puke. I got them as a present because I have a tendency to break regular wine glasses with stems. I put them in the sink, and then I inadvertantly break them when I am washing them and/or other things. With these glasses, at least they won't tip over. Wine still tastes great, although I have heard that holding the glass too long may warm the wine. Otherwise, very cool and less breakable.... |
Posted by dshen at 08:42 PM
December 31, 2005
XBox 360 and Project Gotham Racing, King Kong
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I couldn't wait. I went on Ebay and bought my Xbox 360 a few weeks ago and paid double what I would have paid for a Standard unit. But it was worth it. Clearly the graphics of the Xbox 360 are incredible. I play Project Gotham Racing incessantly, just to watch the scenery fly by my car as I race through major cities of the world. Next in line is King Kong, an adventure game which follows the movie's storyline. Also very cool - to become King Kong is my goal which is what will happen a few more steps down into the island. The hype is real - the graphics and gameplay are truly outstanding. Will it get overshadowed by the new Playstation III? Buy the Premium Bundle with Project Gotham Racing from amazon.com |
Posted by dshen at 08:38 PM
