Archive for the ‘Gadgets’ Category

I was browsing the net, a usual past time, to look for a web site where I can sell used books and earn some money from it. I want to buy this nifty accessory but cannot justify the need for buying it (yet). If you are a gadget freak and a photo snapper, stay away from the PhotoJojo site – you have been warned!

These are the the fisheye. macro and wide angle camera lenses for your – get this – camera phone.

These two small yet powerful and finely constructed lenses, one fisheye and one combo wide-angle/macro, attach to your cell phone transforming your standard flat phone photos into wide and up-close wonders.

They work with any camera phone and attaching them is easy breezy! A detachable magnetic ring sticks to your cell, providing a sturdy, shake-free hold between the lens and your phone.

Unbelievable? Here are some sample shots:

See more of them here:
http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/cell-phone-lenses/

Apple’s latest offering, the iPad, is quickly becoming a common sight wherever I go. I have seen it not just in the stores but also in coffee shops, restaurants, TV shows, and just about anywhere. It seems that more and more people are being convinced into buying this latest gadget. Some people I know would love to buy this tablet they would even go to such lengths as taking out a cash advance credit just to be able to buy it. Unfortunately, many buy it simply because they want to be cool by having the latest gadgets.

So what is all the hype anyway? It made me curious and I wondered whether the iPad is something I would want in the future. The way I see it, below are possible reasons for me to get one.

• It is an e-reader which is an enormous perk for me because I love to read books. Imagine being able to bring tons of books anywhere. Although I would miss the feel and smell of the pages of a good book, the ability to store not just books but movies as well is very tempting. Also, my kids would certainly be entertained by this cool gadget.
• Anyone who has an iPhone or iPod Touch would understand how addicting the games can be, even my kids cannot get enough of it. The iPad promises to take this gaming experience to a whole new level.
• Although the iPhone is okay for internet on-the-go, I have always preferred a bigger screen. The iPad will definitely provide me with a better internet experience.

However, I could also think of several reasons why I should not get it or maybe postpone getting it. First of all, everyone expects Apple to release a newer and better version especially since this is iPad’s first version. So maybe I will give myself more time to think about it.

I can feel my trusty Dell Inspiron 1525 is burdened with all the work I have been putting her through lately. I actually talk to her like a real officemate and beg that she don’t quit on me as I need her for work.

But I know that she can only take as much. So I am saving money so I can get her an alternate, a high end desktop computer with a big hard drive and lots of RAM so I can finally do my graphic design work in peace (and finish it fast) in a big LCD screen. I am going to use the cyberpowerpc coupons I am going to wait on at EBillMe.com.

A good friend generously gave me a couple from the one she ordered from eBay. Now my iPhone sports a lovely pink theme. I’m a sucker for pink:

Ever wondered how to change screensavers or wallpapers for your iPhone? You can do it by following instructions here.

My mini-me insists on orange though. She plays with it when she wakes up and before she sleeps.

You can buy them here. So far I have those and green and yellow (thanks to Diane! hahaha!). I want the red and dark blue too.

I will be back with movie and book reviews. I havent been reading so much last May. Need to hit the books this month. My brain is going dry from playing Scrabble and Words with Friends (and yes those are iPhone apps).

This is on my wish list once the husband treats me out for his own version of Mother’s Day. I want the purple and pink one and I need a rubber case because the iPhone is a family iPhone, used by the husband and the two kids as often as I use it. Next would be matching earphones and an iPhone hard case for the bag.

And an iPhone dock. And an extra battery pack. (This is going to be more expensive than an eczema treatment)!

It never ends right?

Here are some iPhone apps I have tried and definitely recommend. I got these from friends’ recommendations too. If you can recommend anything else, please share!

1. Lose It!  – a great way to track what you eat, what you spend your energy on. Personally, it is an effective tool for me as it makes me conscious of what I eat and tells me I need to do something to keep my calories under “budget”. I have lost 5 pounds with the help of this app. I’ve still got around 70lbs to lose, but I am thankful I am not gaining.

2. AppBoxPro – has Google Reader, GTalk, Google Docs, a flashlight, a calculator, a tip calculator. It really is a BOX of apps for you to try!

3. Files Lite – I can set up a network with my desktop and transfer files from there. I use this to read e-Books (with a PDF Reader)

4. Words with Friends – Scrabble with friends, at your own pace and time.

5. Kid Apps – Dr. Seuss, Matching Zoo, Dress Up, Toddler Time, Monkey Playground.

I also downloaded a nursing app that lets you see nursing care plans, latest diseases and pharmacological doses (for nuphedragen example). I haven’t read it thoroughly.

I will never be techno savvy, despite the fact that I own most of the gadgets one must need to be classified as such.

I admit that.

It took me lose to two months to finally try and install our Linksys router after my husband refused to budge and told me that I should learn how to install stuff (he is the one responsible for installing my computer software, the printer, the tablet and calibrating E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G related to my computers). Since we needed wi-fi to fully use my iPhone, I decided I need to get it done – and what do you know? It took me TWO minutes to have it installed.

So now I don’t need to get up with two eyes closed so I can check my mail. Once the alarm goes off, I grab the iPhone, and with one eye, check which work came in when I was in dreamland.

Now my kids, ages 9 and 4, want one too. My 9 year old says he “needs” it for Facebook and reading Archie comic books (I downloaded four books for him) and my 4 year old tells me “Mom, that’s my toy.”

Uh-oh.

Finally got myself an iPhone – can you believe it? I can’t either. I haven’t been (that much) lusting after this freaky gadget like I do used golf balls (sorry, bad joke there). But after a brief rundown and iPhone 101 talk by friends, I’m won over. Sold. Fell in Love. Obsessed.

And I know I am going to be addicted to this baby (see I refer to it as my baby already!) and this will go high up there together with my basic needs, like the internet!

So tell me, what apps should I use? Any tips? Any accessories I should add?

I have my Canon Digital Rebel xTi since 2007, and until now I still have the basic kit lens (18-55mm). I do not have any lenses, I have not invested on one. Now that I’m involved with Project 365 – shooting random things creatively such as a stack of books, scalp pimples or me in glasses have become a challenge. I think I am ready to invest in one.

Here are the lens recommendation from I blog I always read (and yes, she is a great photographer!)

For indoor and low light shooting, nothing beats a 50mm lens in my opinion.  You can pick up the following 50mm lenses:

- 50mm f1.8 (Canon $100/Nikon $120.  This is a great lens for the price but if you can swing the price of the 50mm f1.4, you’ll find that it focuses quicker and sharper and produces better color.)

- 50mm f1.4 (Canon $350/Nikon $300 for the 50mm f1.4D and $430 for the 50mm f1.4G AF-S.  The Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S is a MUCH higher quality lens than the 50mm f1.4D and is worth the extra expense.  In addition, the Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S has an autofocus motor built into it, making it the ONLY 50mm lens that will autofocus on the Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D3000 and D5000.)

- 50mm f1.2 (Canon $1500/Nikon does not make this lens.  This is a great lens but is ridiculously priced and is overkill in my opinion for anyone who’s not shooting professionally and anyone who is working on a budget.)

The 50mm lens is also a great ‘everyday’ lens and can be really great for portraiture too (if you’re NOT using it on a full frame camera).  If I could only OWN one lens, this would be it.  Keep in mind that this lens does NOT ‘zoom’…you are the ‘zoom’.  Walk forward to ‘zoom in’ and walk backwards to ‘zoom out.’

If you shoot in a lot of cramped situations though, you might actually like one of these lenses BETTER than the 50mm:

- Canon 28mm f1.8 ($450.  Canon makes more expensive lenses that are similar, like the 24mm f1.4 and the 35mm f1.4 but they’re really spendy.)  This lens does not ‘zoom.’

- Nikon 35mm f1.8 ($200.  This lens will NOT work correctly on Full Frame cameras like the Nikon D700, Nikon D3, D3x or the D3s.)  This lens does not ‘zoom.’

For outdoor, everyday shooting, I recommend a zoom lens like the 24-70mm f2.8.  (Tamron makes a REALLY high quality version of this lens at the most affordable price, the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 for about $450 – this is the ONLY lens I owned for 3+ years and I think it’s wonderful.  Canon and Nikon have much more expensive versions of this lens; Canon $1400/Nikon $1800.)

For sports, recitals, theater (and any other subject that is far away from you while shooting), I recommend the 70-200mm f2.8.  (Unfortunately, this is an EXPENSIVE lens and a very HEAVY lens, therefore, you want to put a lot of thought into whether or not this is the right lens for you – maybe even trying it out at a camera shop.  Again, Tamron makes the cheapest version of it, the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 for about $750 and both Canon and Nikon make more expensive versions of this lens that are closer to $1700.)

For portraits, the 50mm lens I mentioned earlier is a great lens (unless you’re using it on a Full Frame camera) and so is an 85mm lens (these lenses create some of the most beautiful images you’ll ever see).

- 85mm f1.8 (Canon $440/Nikon $450)  This lens does not ‘zoom.’

- 85mm f1.4 (Nikon $1230)  This lens does not ‘zoom.’

- 85mm f1.2 (Canon $2000)  This lens does not ‘zoom.’

So I have promised to rekindle my passion for reading. Before my addiction to the net came, I was such an avid reader – reading all the time, while eating, doing number two, in bed, in front of TV – I was such a bookwork. And I would read ANYTHING I can get my hands on, even those paparazzi magazine of Hollywood celebrities.

When I became a mother, acquiring the latest books out in stores got pushed back in the burner as I need to prioritize my kids’ needs. However, thanks to technology, I can now read books as much and as often as I like at a fraction of a cost – through e-books!

I have been secretly itching (and madly curious) about the Kindle but as friends have told me, you can get a similar Kindle app on the iPhone or iTouch. So, if I can avail of a payday loan, which one should I get?

One of the things we are going to be investing on soon is a new desktop computer. Our trusty old one gave in last month and I am running work on my laptop. It doesn’t work if I need to be online for 24 hours a day, it might break again (It just got back from the shop). So we might avail of payday loans if we would not be able to produce the funds this month (Wasn’t I just talking about saving from my previous post?!). We have no choice. My flow of money depends on the amount of time I put online.

We will be investing on these:

• Quad Core Processor
• 22’ LCD screen so I can design better
• 3-4GB RAM so I can work faster

Everything else will be coming from our old computer. We will invest, but we will be investing wisely and prudently.

Life has been crazy lately, hence the lack of posts that share stuff I find while surfing the web. I have been very busy with real life that I don’t get to exercise much (surf online). We have dealt with two medical emergencies this week. They were accidents mostly and we are thankful that they are safe. However, it doesn’t make me feel less apprehensive thinking that accidents can happen to anyone – we can all do something to prevent it.

My parents are getting old and in a few years time, they would be prone to falls. A Medical Alert bracelet might just be the thing for them. I have read all about them and the more I am convinced that I would need to get them when the time comes. Medical Alert are not only house sensors but are objects that can be clipped to the body so that they can be worn.

Take for example, a house sensor. If no activity is sensed in the house for 24 hours, a call will be done to make sure everything is OK at home. This is going to be so convenient for my peace of mind since my parents live alone. The body sensor can also detect falls and can be alerted even if the person can’t speak!

Say hello to the latest Kindle!

I would love to have one for Christmas, especially now that it is available internationally. Imagine being able to read thousands of books at a fraction of cost, comfortably (no scrolling down so much and squinting!) and be able to save the environment in your own (no paper used = no trees cut!)Throw in the best fat burners and you will MAKE my Christmas!

Here are its features:
Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines
Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
3G Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle; no annual contracts, no monthly fees, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
Global Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries. See details. Check wireless coverage map.
Paper-Like Display: Reads like real paper without glare, even in bright sunlight
Carry Your Library: Holds up to 1,500 books
Long Battery Life: Read for days without recharging
Read-to-Me: With the experimental Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder made the feature unavailable
Free Book Samples: Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy
Large Selection: Over 360,000 books, including 101 of 112 New York Times® Best Sellers, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs. For non-U.S. customers, content availability and pricing will vary. Check your country.
Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases are $9.99, unless marked otherwise. When traveling abroad, you can download books wirelessly from the Kindle Store or your Archived Items. U.S. customers will be charged a fee of $1.99 for international downloads.

Retails for $259.00

I WANT!

It has been a few months since my trusty lovely laptop died on me. I have been living day to day with my desktop computer (which is ancient by the way) but I am getting by. I am wishing I can get great laptop coupons though as Christmas is nearing and I know I can wish this for Santa and he will surely grant my wish – I have been such a good girl!

Now, I have decided I just need a small notebook – 10-12 inches, with great RAM. I don’t need big laptops as I will do design work on the desktop computer from now on. I will just use the notebook when I exercise – surfing the web while watching my favorite shows at night, at least I get to sit with my kids on the couch!

Any recommendations?

I have never been someone who needs to have the most updated mobile phone there is in the market. Truth be told, I have been using the second to the oldest model of the Nokia series for five years (GASP! Yes!) up until I got a free phone when I applied for a line. So I have never been updated with polyphonic tones, bluetooth messaging, tunes, MMS and G3 access. Until now.

Blame it on Twitter and Facebook. Somehow, it has become a need to stay connected all the time. Add to that was my rediscovered love for reading but apparent lack of funds to support buying books made of paper (my green mind doesn’t want to support them anymore even if my eyes love them) – enter e-books. So there goes my dilemna.

The solution? Upgrade my phone.

I am torn between the iPhone and the Blackberry. Of course, I *think* most features are the same (correct me if I am wrong). A friend has demonstrated to me the features of an iPhone (and even I was impressed, Apple non-lover that I am) and pointed out to me I can get the iTouch for less but with the same features except for a mobile phone (which is the only feature I don’t mind having, really). Apparently, with the iPhone/iTouch, I can have applications installed so I can play games, read books, listen to music, and priority number 1: CONNECT TO THE INTERNET. And, I can put it into an iphone dock and it will become like a Nano/mp3 player.

Does the Blackberry have the same features? All I know about the Blackberry is that most celebrities use it for Twitter, it has a QWERTY keyboard, needs a special blackberry case because of its width, and its screen is obviously smaller than the iPhone (negative points for eBook reading). Would I need a Bluetooth Headset for it? (Yes, I am THAT clueless).

So your choice – convince me, which one should I get?

Wine, has better benefits than other alcoholic drinks. For one thing, it contains antioxidants – more on the red wine than the white – which help anti-aging and cancer. It is not only used for drinking but also for adding flavor to food, like stocks and braising.

And when you are fine dinging, you need to be acquainted on how to open a wine bottle! Granted that the waiter on hand might probably do it for you, he might even use a rogar estate wine opener, but you need to know how to open one just in case you might want to entertain guests at home.

You might want to invest on rogar wine openers too. Look at this beauty:

**This one is the Estate Antique Bronze Wine Opener Sets with Hardwood Handle & Table Stand.**

The steps I am outlining here are to be used with rogar corkscrews: (these are steps summarized from e-How)

1. Remove the top of the lead or foil capsule with the sharp point of the corkscrew.

2. Stand the bottle on a flat, hard surface. Lower the arms of the corkscrew. Holding the corkscrew as vertically and straight as possible, place the sharp end directly into the middle of the cork.

Read the rest of this entry »

Another alternative option for a point and shoot camera. I love Canon so I’m thinking about getting one too.

The good: Excellent photo quality for its class; optical image stabilization; pleasing interface and design; wide-angle lens.

The bad: Mode dial spins a bit too freely; button positioning might bother some users; very noticeable fringing.

The bottom line: Simply put, the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS is an excellent point-and-shoot camera.

Specifications: Digital camera type: Ultracompact ; Resolution: 10 megapixels ; Optical zoom: 4 x ; See full specs

We already own an SLR (a Rebel xTi) so getting a point and shoot can be called needlessly necessary. But hey, I want this and there is no point denying me when I want something.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Specifications

• Image Sensor: 10.9mm. 9.1 million effective pixels.
• Lens: Leica DC Vario-Elmar f3.3/4.7-47mm. 28-280mm (35mm equiv). 4x digital zoom.
• Focus Range: Wide/tele 50cm/200cm-infinity.
• Metering: Intelligent Multiple; centre-weighted; spot.
• Image stabilization: MEGA O.I.S.
• Image Sizes (pixels): 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 3456×2592, 3072×2304, 2560×1920, 2048×1536, 1600×1200, 640×480. 3:2
• Aspect Ratio: 3552×2368, 3072×2048, 2560×1712, 2048×1360 pixels. 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 3712×2088, 3072×1728, 2560×1440, 1920×1080.
• Movie Clips: 4:3 aspect ratio: 640×480 pixels, 320×240 pixels at 10 fps/30 fps.16:9 aspect ratio: 848×480 pixels at 10/30 fps. HD 16:9 aspect ratio: 1280×720 at 15/30fps.
• File Formats: JPEG, QuickTime Motion JPEG, AVCHD Lite.
• ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 100 to 6400.
• Shutter Speed: 60-1/2000 second.
• Flash: Auto, auto/red-eye reduction, forced on and forced off, slow sync/red-eye reduction.
• Flash Range: Wide/tele 60cm/1.0m to 5.3/3.6m.
• Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, AC.
• Weight: 214 g (minus battery).
• Dimensions: 103.3×59.3×36.5 WHDmm.
• Price: At the time of publishing this review the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is currently $378.10 USD on Amazon.