2008 February 27 archive - markpascua.com

Daily Archives: February 27, 2008

Chumby reviews

February 27, 2008 – 3:03 pm

So, in case you weren’t aware of what the ‘Chumby‘ is, it’s a small computer enclosed inside a beanbag-like casing. It is capable of displaying the news headlines, stock information, email, and other Internet content through the use of ‘widgets’. It does all of this over a Wi-Fi network. The Chumby can act like a clock (or alarm clock) and also play games. The gimmick with the Chumby is that you can ’slap’ it around to navigate between widgets. However, before we get to the summary review, here’s the specs:

* 3.5-inch LCD color touchscreen
* 350MHz ARM processor
* 64MB SDRAM
* 64MB NAND flash ROM
* Wi-Fi connectivity
* Built-in stereo speakers
* Squeeze sensor
* Accelerometer (motion sensor)
* Audio support: MP3
* Two USB 2.0 ports
* Headphone output

Good:
+ Touch-screen LCD
+ Tons of widgets available (60+)
+ Capable of playing music off of a thumb drive
+ You can plug in your iPod and the Chumby will play your tracks
+ Photo viewing is admirable - you can invite friends to send photos to it
+ Software updates over Wi-Fi
+ It’s cute

Bad:
- Screen size too small?
- Mashing the Chumby to navigate between widgets is painful and slow
- Adding and managing a widget must be done on a computer, not on the Chumby
- Must be plugged into a power outlet - no rechargeable battery
- Screen is too bright to be used as an alarm clock - even in ‘night mode’
- You can’t pause podcasts
- Onboard keyboard can be hard to use
- No iPhone support

The Chumby costs $179.95 (including shipping) at Chumby.com. It is available in latte, black, and pearl (white) color. For what it does, I think it’s over priced. The Chumby needs to be constantly connected to a power outlet, which is a deal breaker for me.

By mark | Posted in computers, reviews | Comments (0)

Munchkin Voice Activated Crib Light: soothe your baby

February 27, 2008 – 2:45 am

For brand new parents, I’m betting you haven’t had much sleep lately, right? Want a solution to help with the crying baby in the wee hours of the morning? Check out the Munchkin Voice Activated Crib Light. The device is sound activated, so as soon as your baby begins to cry it will either turn on a soothing colored light or it will play ‘womb sounds’. I suppose the sounds of a mother’s womb will calm the baby down. I personally don’t know (or remember) what that sounds like. However, the Crib Light can also do both (sound and light), depending on your preference. The device can output 3 different ’soothing’ colors and each activation cycle lasts 10 minutes before it shuts off. You can also manually activate the Crib Light.

You can attach the Crib Light either directly on the crib’s railing or stand it on its own on top of a table. Hopefully, this’ll help you get more sleep. You can get the Munchkin Voice Activated Crib Light for $12.99 via Amazon.

By mark | Posted in household | Comments (0)

USB Optical Liquid Mouse

February 27, 2008 – 2:25 am

Is your current optical mouse boring you? If so, check out this wireless USB Optical Liquid Mouse. You can order either the duck or clownfish (Finding Nemo) version. The duck or fishes will move around inside the liquid filled mouse as you move it. It’s like an aquarium on your desk!

All you have to do is simply plug the wireless receiver into an available USB port on your computer and turn on the mouse. Establish a connection between the mouse and receiver by pressing the ‘connect’ button on the receiver. Then, begin using the mouse. Simple as that.

Specs:
* 800 dpi resolution
* Wireless - using radio frequency (2 meter range)
* Rechargeable via two NiMH 1.2V batteries
* PC and Mac compatible

The USB Optical Liquid Mouse is available at Kleargear for $16.99.

By mark | Posted in fun, gadgets | Comments (0)

Load-ding Charge Station: Hammock for your gadgets

February 27, 2008 – 1:51 am

Don’t you just hate it when you need to charge your ‘toy’, be it a cell phone, iPod, or Nintendo DS, and there is no table to place the device on while it charges? Sure you could put it on the floor, but then there’s the possibility that someone will trip on the power cord or worse, step on the device. Plus, who wants to get floor dirt and other gunk on their devices? With the Load-ding Charge Station, you don’t have to worry about that. It is essentially a ‘hammock’ that provides a bed for your toy as it charges. The Load-ding is made of plastic with a soft inner lining that won’t scratch your toy. It is a home for your gadgets while it is charging.

The Load-ding Charge Station comes from Germany in a either red, black, or pink color. It costs 9.90 Euros or about $15 USD (not including the 19% tax). Get it here.