New Video Eyewear Lets You Watch Movie in Virtual Cinema
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged News
iMovee Cineplus has introduced a new addition to its selection of video eyewear. The Cineplus allows “viewers” to watch a movie in a 72 inch virtual cinema (from 2.5 meters away) via a pair of wireless glasses. It also comes with an ultra thin infrared remote control and hi-fi audio. All you have to do is insert a mini SD card with your favourite movie on it, or anything else you might want to see on a screen, pics, ebooks etc. It’s also compatible with your compatible with your iPod or iPhone. I gotta admit, at first I thought, “well, i’m pretty happy with the way I watch movies right now’” But ooh, what about on a plane? Instead of watching those crappy tiny screens on the back of a seat, and seeing your screen moving because someone leaning back in their seat? I could definitely be up for using them on a plane. Of course, the price tag is almost $400 so not that something i’m gonna beg getting any time time soon, but it’d be nice to get a chance to try ‘em out, that’s for sure!
The Internet- Just Not As We Know It
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged HumourI found this article on MSN today featuring You Tube videos about the internet and thought I’d share one particular video with you. It’s particularly disturbing to me… both how right they got things (my husbands and I are eternally grateful for the electronic postage) and how off they still were (check out how she’s shopping- as MSN mentions, it’s not exactly Bluefly). I think also, this commercial kinda creeps me out. It reminds me of old Sixties and Seventies movies like Fahrenheit 451 and their slightly dystopic view of the future.
Songsmith
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged HumourHi folks. I know, it’s been a while again, but I’m really working to change that. Well, I kinda have to since I just renewed my hosting for another year. J
This is something my friend Jon over at the Pinky Show sent me: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/songsmith/
Now the program itself…. Well, I don’t really play music, so I can see why somebody would think it was cool. When I was a kid, I used to fancy myself a song writer so Kid-Me would’ve loved this program. Microsoft’s website claims that songwriters will also like this program because they can use it as an “intelligent” scratch pad.
Well, then Jon sent me the link to this You Tube clip of somebody trying to sing this Van Halen classic with songsmith accompanying… and the results are pretty hilarious actually, however intelligent is one thing it is not. I’m thinking someone at Microsoft needs to go back to drawing board on this one.
4 Best Travel Laptop
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged ReviewAloha! I know it’s been some time since I last posted. Inbetween moving to Maui and getting my other website Inter-Galaxy Portal up and running I have been quite busy. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been geeking out at the latest tech toys. Most recently I did an article for Matador Goods on the 4 Best Travel Laptops currently on the market. It’s a tough list to compile, especially when people have different needs. But since Matador tends to be more for those doing the year long OE I decided to focus on cheap, portable, durable and (most importantly) internet friendly. Enjoy!
Corneal Refractive Therapy
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged ReviewI realize that this is a “gadget” blog, so in a way, this really has no place here, however, this is a piece of technology that I tried, and I have to say, I’m really liking, so I thought I’d share.I’ve worn glasses for about ten years. What’s more, up until a few years ago, my eyes kept getting progressively worse, so I had written off LASIK as an option (your vision has to be stable for LASIK). Four years ago I heard about a treatment called orthokeratology, which is essentially orthodontics for the eyes. People who are short sighted wear special rigid contact lenses at night that re-shape the cornea, allowing you to be able to go about your day without any kind of corrective lenses. And unlike LASIK, it’s completely reversible.For four years I’ve been interested in it, but for one reason or another hadn’t “gotten around to it”. Once I settled on the idea of going for this treatment though, I went to the Paragon CRT website for a list of practitioners. Paragon CRT were the first lenses to be FDA approved for night time Corneal Refractive Therapy. Surprisingly, I went through a list of practitioners before I found an optician that does CRT regularly. As my optician explained it, a lot of companies push LASIK because the machines involved with laser eye surgery require a certain amount of regular upkeep, so doctors are under pressure to keep customers coming in, versus selling what is essentially a contact lens. I was particularly impressed with my eye doctor for the very reason that he not only uses CRT himself, but speaks regularly about new findings. One of the latest findings being a recent study that shows that children with myopia who are treated early on with CRT may actually prevent their eyes from worsening!
The procedure itself cost me around $1300 for the initial fitting, a set of lenses and several follow up exams. The lenses will need replacing every year or so, and after the initial fee, cost about the same as any regular lenses. The doctor of course checked my vision, and then did a topographical map of my eye. Then my doctor showed me how to put my lenses in. I’ve never worn contact lenses before, and the last time someone tried to put a contact lens in my eye, I just about leaped out of the exam room. I won’t lie, they took a little bit of practice, and they feel weird. They still do. This is why it’s a good thing that you wear them at night! You can see through them though, so it’s not like you’re completely blind at night. Aside from accidentally losing a lens in the fitting room (which he found the next day) it went well, and I got the hang of it, pretty much. After showing me how to care for them, I went home, the proud owner of a set of RGP contact lenses.
The first night was a difficult one. I think it took me over half an hour to get them in my eye. After reading about other people’s experiences too, I was very paranoid about getting dirt on the lens. I think I must’ve used up half my eye drops and saline solution in that first week! The first night, I put the lenses in right before I went to bed, and took a Tylenol PM for fear that I’d stay awake all night aware of the lenses in my eyes. As it goes, once my eyes were closed, I hardly noticed them at all. And getting them out the next morning wasn’t too big a deal either.
I went in for a check up the next morning to make sure it was going okay, and found that I had already had about a 50% improvement in my vision, which I could already see for myself (excuse the pun). Over the course of the week, I found I actually got pretty good at putting the lenses in. It was taking me only about 10 minutes instead of 30 to get them in. I also found myself getting used to them more, so that I didn’t have to put them in right before I planned to go to sleep. I don’t see myself driving in them any time soon, but the discomfort does subside. I think the only complication I’ve had with the lens was one time where I couldn’t find it immediately in my eye. As a non-contact lens wearer that freaked me out a little, although my eye doctor had assured me that a lens can’t get lost in you. Eventually, with a little help from my hubby, we got it to slide down back into place. Since then, I’ve been a little more gun shy with the lenses.
One thing I did notice was glare, which I’m still getting used to, due to the fact that I have a bit of astigmatism that can cause a halo effect with lights. I think it’s gotten better than when I was first wearing the lenses, but it’s still something I’m aware of. Although from what I understand, glare can also be a complication resulting from laser surgery, too.
A week later, I went back for another follow up, and my eye doctor decided to change out my lenses, since my right eye was only 20/40, and not catching up with my left. Since then I’ve seen more improvements, although I think my left may need a different lens, which I’ll find out about tomorrow when I go in for my third follow up exam. Typically, with Paragon CRT you should only need just the one lens pair, but that is why you have a series of follow up visits over the first few months, to make sure you’re on track, and make any corrections.
I think it took me two to three days from the day of my treatment before I was able to drive. Not a big deal for me, since public transportation in Honolulu is plentiful. I had hoped that I might be able to go a night here and there without wearing my lenses, as it can take up to 72 hours for your eyes to revert to the way they were, however I’m liking my vision so much right now, that I don’t feel the need to do that, although if I were particularly tired, sick or staggeringly drunk, I might make an exception! One thing’s for sure, I do not take my new vision for granted!
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GET QUOTEBest Travel Gadgets
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged Review
So I mentioned that I did an article on some of my favourite travel gadgets out on the market right now. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to travel. As well as writing for this blog, I’m a also a travel writer, which is fun, but there are times when traveling can be a pain in the butt. Especially when you’re trying get through those transatlantic flights. I can never sleep in them, so I always need some entertainment like a laptop, Ipod, or PDA. The article for DISfunkshion magazine won’t come out until October, but here’s some of the things I talk about, that I think, makes life a little easier while traveling.
Voltaic Backpack
I couldn’t resist talking about this backpack. It’s just so cool! With four solar panels, a battery pack to store the energy in, and eleven different adapters, this backpack is capable of charging your mobile phone, Ipod, PDA and other small devices. This is perfect when you’re gonna be nowhere near an electrical outlet. The only thing we need now is a laptop bag that does the same thing for laptops!
The Doberman Bag Protector Alert
I was in Genoa a number of years ago. We had a flight in the evening, so we left our luggage with the hotel, and spent the day sightseeing, only to come back and find our luggage was stolen. Let me tell you, trying to do a police report when you speak almost no Italian is not fun! That’s why, out of all the products I’ve talked about here, this is most certainly one I plan getting for myself. It’s twenty bucks, but the ease of mind it gives you is priceless. Basically, it’s a like a car alarm for your bags. You set your bag down, set the alarm, and if the bag is moved it will set off a 100 decibel alarm, sure to put off any would-be thieves. An added bonus too is that it has a special pull-pin feature that can be used as a panic button. Perfect, if you’re out wondering around some dodgy streets at night.
Powermonkey eXplorer
This is another charger device that can either charge via solar power, or through the power adapter that can be used in some 150 different countries. It can charge anything from mobile phones to games consoles and is a great alternative to the Voltaic backpack.
Reef’s Stash Sandals
Anybody that lives in Hawaii know that car break-in’s at the beach can be a fairly common occurrence, particularly at touristy beaches. That’s why I LOVE these sandals. They have a hidden compartment, just the right size for storing keys, credit cards and other essentials, while you’re out for a swim.
The Gorillapod
Okay, so a lot of my vacation pictures usually involve my husband’s arm, as he tries to get us both in the picture. Either that or only one of us is in the picture. That’s why the Gorillapod tripod is great. Designed for self-timer photography in mind, this tripod has three bendy, segmented legs, so you can wrap them around pretty much anything. Not only that, but they also make a good brace if you’re in a somewhat unstable environment, like a boat, trying to snap steady pics.
Of course, these were just the ones that made it into the article. The Travelstick II allows you to later plot your travels via Google Earth. USB rechargeable batteries allow you to plug in to your laptop so you can charge up your AA batteries without having to pack a charger. Looking for a WI-FI detector? ThinkGeek has a WI-FI detector t-shirt so you can access the internet during your travels. Very cool!
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Netflix Streaming Box
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged Uncategorized
It’s been a long time since my last post and I have a lot to talk about. I still owe you my rundown of favourite travel gadgets which you will most certainly see later this week. Another thing that I’ve been busy with is a new eye treatment called CRT. Basically, it’s like orthodontics for the eyes. I’m not sure if it fits into the “gadget” arena, but it’s a fantastic technology, of which I will definitely be talking more about later.But as a long time Netflix customer, I felt the need to look at the new streaming video box they’ve released. Gizmodo has a fabulous review on it that, if you’re a Netflix customer, which I am, is worth checking out. I’ve found the instant play feature that Netflix has had for computers interesting, but I don’t watch a whole lot of movies on my computer, so I like the idea that you can play it on your TV. And with HDMI capabilities and the ability to be upgraded, it sounds wonderful. However, with the instant play feature, the titles have always seemed limited to me. I don’t have a whole lot of new blockbuster releases on my Netflix list, but still , only maybe 5 DVD’s on my list are capable of instant play. I’m hoping that by releasing this new box they’ll add even more titles.
Even then, I’m left wondering… do I need this extra service? For a person that has the plan that just barely makes the minimum for the box (the service is free only if you pay $8.99 or more a month on rentals) it might be a good idea. Since I do the 3 DVD’s at-a-time plan, sure, I could lower my plan since I don’t need as many discs at a time, but I wouldn’t exactly be making much of a savings to cover the initial 99 bucks cost of the box. I also have to wonder about the quality of the video itself, for those high-definition fans. So while it’s perfect for when you’re in-between discs, and waiting for the mail, as I happen to be doing, this weekend, I don’t know if it’s the best long-term option out there.
Cube Warfare Office Gadgets
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged Uncategorized
Sorry it’s been a while since I last posted. I’ve been working on another article for DISfunkshion on travel gadgets, which I will talk about more in another post. Right now, I absolutely love ThinkGeek’s website. They have some pretty cool stuff! The mini business card file cabinet is so simple, and yet, I’ve never seen it before! But it’s their Cube Warfare page that I’m really digging. I’ve spent my fair share of time working in a “cube” before, and oh, how I wish I had some of these toys to make the days go by a little easier. While the Screaming Monkey Slingshot will definitely liven things up a bit, I like the idea of the cold cube warfare that could be waged using the Annoy-a-tron. This device will make intermittent beeps which will drive your co-worker mad as he or she attempts to figure out just what is making that beep. I love it!
Watch Streaming Content on Your TV
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged Uncategorized
The other day I talked about how I was looking at getting the Iomega 500GB Multimedia drive, but the one thing it didn’t do was allow access to internet video content. Well today on MSN they have a list of media players that do (almost) that. For now, none of these devices pull streaming video from just anywhere. So no watching videos of a baby rhino busting a move on You Tube. Instead, it allows you access to certain TV-ready video websites. D-Link’s DSM-330 looks most interesting to me, allowing you to stream DivX titles from websites like Veoh as well as pull video, photos and music from your hard drive and view it on your TV. I don’t know that it has the HD options that the Iomega has, but at $300 it’s not a bad price, if all you’re looking to do is watch stuff from your computer on your TV.
Iomega 500GB HD Multimedia Drive
Published by Britgirl1 on Tagged Uncategorized
So currently I am switching back and forth between two DVD players which are only reading my discs about half the time. Then the other day, as if calling out to me, I get this ad in the mail about Iomega’s new 500GB HD Screenplay Multimedia drive. Now, sure, I have an external hard drive, and I even keep some of my movies on that hard drive, but half a terabyte for storage?! That’s a lot of movies and music you can put on there! Complete with remote, it’s designed to be plugged directly into your home theatre, without having to be hooked up to a computer. It also has an upscaling HD feature to provide better quality video. And at around $200, it’s pretty competitively priced! In fact, the only thing that would make this thing better was the ability to watch streaming video on my TV. Oh well, it beats having two barely working DVD players.
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