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RadioRecorder (Reviews)
RadioRecorder was an application I came across completely by accident. Now, I can't remember what I was looking for; but I'm certainly glad I found this beauty.
It's one of those great little apps that does one thing; but does it well. RadioRecorder records internet radio streams. Plain and simple. The icing on the cake is how it implements the task. You can schedule your recordings in advance, or instantly at the push of a button. The streams are saved as MP3 files, and automatically added to your iTunes directory in a custom playlist.The big benefit to all of this, is that no matter how many tracks you have on your iPod, there's always room for something new. If you go jogging daily or take long road trips, 10 Gigs of individual tracks will start to seem old. By using RadioRecorder, you can get a fresh morning news program, a special in-studio appearance by your favorite artist, or a few hours worth of London radio (because I know how you feel about that accent!).
The only fault I could find with the existing application was the icon, so I whipped up a few of my own. There are two icons in this zip file → RadioRecorder Icons. Pick your favorite.RadioRecorder is freeware (!). If you find the application useful, send a tip to the developer to encourage continued updates to the software.
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iMic (Reviews)
I've been using the Griffin iMic to transfer old audio media onto my TiBook. Here's a rundown of the why and how, and my consensus on the product.
Why? I have a ton of bootlegs on cassette. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 Maxell XLIIs. I have bootlegs and independent albums on minidisc. I have 7" singles with amazing B sides. There are dusty Funk 8-Tracks sitting in my garage. All of this great music, completely inaccessible to me in my car or at work. I literally have to sit in front of my component rack in my living room to listen to these albums and concerts, which are unavailable on any other media. There was too much invested to let this music rot on tape or warp and scratch on vinyl. Creating digital copies of the music allows me to burn it on CD, convert to MP3, and take with me everywhere on my iPod.
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NewsFire Beta (Reviews)
I'm on a quest to become more productive.
As a part of that journey, I've decided to revisit the realm of RSS feed viewers. I used NetNewsWire Lite for a few months last year; but found it to be too cumbersome. When Safari was released, I completely stopped using NetNewsWire, and condensed all of my daily reads into a tabbed group. On average, I open that group three times per day.Unfortunately, many of my favorite sites don't update as often as I check them. Sure, I'm only wasting 5 seconds per tab; but when you have a few dozen sites, several times a day, it adds up. I found out about NewsFire from browsing the OSX tag at del.icio.us. It looked to be extremely light, performing the bare necessities that I was looking for in my daily browse.
After demo-ing the product for a few days, I have to say "so far, so good." As a web designer, I miss visiting the actual pages; but this frees me up to get other business done. Even if that means finding new sites to add to my daily reads.
It's very easy to add a feed to your list. It is a two-field entry process, and one of the two is optional. You can specify how often to check for feeds, and the alert type (if any) you prefer. The interface is clean and similar to other brushed metal OS X applications like iTunes, but FAR more simple. In fact, NewsFire may be the easiest all around application that I've ever used.
The product is still in beta; but in my testing it was very stable. My only concern is that the product remain true to its current form factor and ease of use. If additional features are added as the point version increases, it would be nice to have a "streamlined" preference to only see and use the basics.
It's currently a free application, so give it a shot and see how much time NewsFire can save you.
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MicFlex (Reviews)
The MicFlex, from MacMice, is a prime-time player in the realm of external microphones. While geared to the Mac gadgeteer, it is a platform independent USB powered microphone, at home with Windows as well as OS X.
In my tests, I used the MicFlex with a titanium Powerbook. Without a doubt, the performance of the MicFlex far exceeds the internal microphone. The bullet-like enclosure focuses the input sharply, eliminating most ambient noise. The goose-neck adjustment aperture bends and transforms with ease, allowing quick-change placement. The base is heavy and substantial, keeping the microphone stable and vibration-free.The bendable neck can be removed from the base, and placed directly in a USB port for travel uses. That's a perfect solution, because I found that the perfect application for the MicFlex was iChat AV. Long distance voice and video chat were enhanced exponentially by the use of the MicFlex. My conversation pals said that the clarity was a noticeable upgrade from the internal microphone.
MicFlex is also an excellent companion for internet radio broadcasting or for recording voice memos. While MacMice encourages the use of the MicFlex with Garageband, it won't be replacing my Shure microphone anytime soon. But, for casual demos, it works well enough.
If ten dollars were shaved from the price, the MicFlex would be a must-own peripheral for any active Mac user. At its current price point, it is a worthwhile upgrade for radio hobbyists and frequent audio chatters.
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Creative Labs Inspire T2900 2.1 Speaker System (Reviews)
The speakers on my Powerbook just weren't cutting the mustard.
Desperate for better, more sound, I set across the vast landscape that is the 2.1 computer speaker terrain. I chose 2.1 because I have a limited amount of space, and wanted as few wires as possible. I also needed small footprints for the desktop speakers, and a small to medium sized subwoofer box.
The reviews for 2.1 speakers are a mixed bag, across the board. The best reviewed sets were, by and large, the most expensive. The discounted speakers, including many that were once upper-tier, received bad to horrible reviews.
Based solely on the customer feedback at Amazon.com, I chose the Creative Labs Inspire T2900. The price was at the higher-end of my budget; but the scores of positive reviews led me to cough up the dough. It was a wise decision.
The T2900 fit all of my size criteria, my budget constraints, AND has a sharp, full sound. The "Audio Control Pod", used for managing volume and bass response, is a little bulky; but is easily velcroed to a permanent spot on my desk, next to my laptop stand. It's a short reach away from my mouse to dial in the perfect volume or subwoofer level. The desk speakers have bright highs, and have a considerable mid-range. Their silver stands are a perfect match for the Titanium Powerbooks. The subwoofer is consistent in providing deep bass, redirecting the output to give the hint of surround. It is in a solid black cabinet with reflex tubes. Give it some space for best sound.
The system is a great fit for proofing mixes in Garageband, serving as monitors for my internet radio broadcasts with Nicecast, or rock and roll playback via
The only drawback is in relaying the deep bass in R&B and hip-hop. The redirection and implied reverb cause the staccato rhythms to become a little muddy. It can be remedied by adjusting the levels in your audio player; but can be annoying if you are listening to a varied mix of musical styles. This complaint is minor in comparison to the value and overall performance of these speakers.
A recommended pick for an inexpensive, performance-driven 2.1 desktop setup. The Creative Labs Inspire T2900 is a perfect match for expanding the volume and capabilities of a notebook computer.
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New Displays (Quickbits)
Drool: The new Apple displays are here.
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Airport Express (Quickbits)
Apple unveils the Airport Express
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Shure E2 Earphones (Reviews)
In case you're worried about getting your iPod stolen thanks to the tell-tale white earbuds, or (like me) you just can't stand the way said earbuds feel, the Shure E2 earphones may be a good replacement set.
The first difference from the defacto iPod buds is that fact that the E2 series fits inside your external ear canal, and not precariously nestled up to the Crest of Helix (that meaty part in front of the canal - okay, here's a diagram). The benefits are two-fold.
1 - The earphones do not fall out as easily.
2 - The sound is directed right into your ear, providing better sound quality and eliminating surrounding noise.
As a frequent jogger, I was most concerned about keeping the earphones in place. The set comes with several different sleeves to provide comfort and stability. The disposable foam pads were the right match for me. Even so, it took weeks for the pads to properly "shape" into my ear and provide the best sound and fit. The reusable "flex sleeves" were too rigid to stay in the canal. While working out, the flex sleeves became slippery and would rotate outward, giving a weak signal and almost no bass.
The fit of the earphones requires the cable to go down the neck and back, as opposed to the front of your body. This took some getting used to; but is not a distraction with frequent use. The cable is short, so you'll need to pocket the iPod, or use an arm strap. The cable is not long enough to stretch to the display panel on an elliptical machine, for example. Again, a minor disurbance; but not a deal breaker.
Judged simply by quality and price, the Shure E2 series is a safe bet. Far better than the iPod earbuds, and far less conspicuous. Give them time to find the proper fit and you'll be a happy customer.
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HDTV + Firewire (Quickbits)
Record HDTV with Firewire
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Flyback Transformer Prevents iMac Upgrade (Articles)
I pulled a "rescued" G3 Rev C iMac out of storage this weekend. It was my sister's, and before that, my college roommate's, and before that, his sister's. It had been around.
My sister ultimately abandoned the machine when it began shutting down without notice, and failing to restart. That should have been my first sign.
Without starting the machine to test it out (generally assuming that a bad hard drive was the source of the original problems), i quickly took it apart based on the instructions from Macworld. A note - use a magnetic screwdriver. Second note - those metal edges are sharp! I sliced both thumbs while removing the drive chasis. Ouch!
I swapped the hard drives easily and re-assembled the iMac. Proud of myself, I pressed the power button. The computer made the familiar chime and then, a pop came from the monitor, and the power died. I tried to restart the iMac; but nothing happened.
I tried again, replacing the hard drive with the original, making sure all of the connections were tight. Same end result. The machine had to be unplugged for ten minutes before getting any response from the power button; but it powers off within 10 seconds. Holding the option key (disabling extensions) encouraged the computer to stay on indefinitely; but there was no image in the monitor.
Research led me across the internet. I couldn't reset the PRAM (nothing happened). I removed and checked the internal battery. Removed the ram, re-installed the ram. Finally, I came across an article on the Flyback Transformer. It perfectly described my symptoms and presented a step-by-step guide to fixing the problem.
I don't solder (That gives me far too much room to screw something else up), and there is no way I'm buying a new board. I've already invested enough time and effort into this machine, so I'm going to have to pass on completing this upgrade. It would have made a great DIY; but instead, it will be a reminder that sometimes, it's better to walk away.
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