The Techie Reports

Review of Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones

2007-12-17T00:05:00.000-05:00

Here I will provide a detailed review of the Logitech FreePulse Headphones. They are pretty much the only half way decent bluetooth rechargeable wireless headphones on the market. There are lots of "corded" headphones from companies like Ultimate Ears, Shure, Bose that get rather pricey.. some over $1000 each. But where are all the wireless ones? We live in a wireless word now. We have wireless broadband, wireless cell phones, wireless cell phone headsets, but very few wireless stereo headsets. Average retail price on these Logitech units are from $50-$99.

SOUND QUALITY
Dont let anyone fool you, these are great sounding headphones. I hooked them up to my IPOD and got full stereo sound. I have also connected the transmitter to home stereo and tv and sounded good.

When I went shopping for phones I actually called Bose and asked them about any wireless models they had. They said they do not manufacture headphones what have the "poor sound quality found in bluetooth or wireless models". That was dissapointing because Bose should be a pioneer in new technology and they basically said these style phones are useless and low end.

I do not agree. The sound was ample for my needs, it was full and clear, no hiss at all. For wireless, what can you expect? If manufactures can make good wireless speakers why cant more of them make wireless headphones?

VOLUME
While these are not noise cancelling phones (which means you can still hear external noises like tv or conversations), they were never designed for that purpose. The volume is adequate enough and I found it reasonable without achieving distortion even at max levels. I actually used them once while I was outside using a powered snowblower. So unless you are hard of hearing or work in a very noisy environment you will find the volume suitable

RANGE
With bluetooth technolgy if it is out of range the signal cuts out. That is the way bluetooth technology is designed. In contrast, with other 900 mhz phones if there is a weak signal there will likely be static. The freepulse headphones never have static. And I found the range good even through walls. Whether walking around the house or with my ipod in my coat pocked the sound may cut out rarely if at all. But with it being wireless, that is expected. My cell phone cuts off sometimes, thats just wireless technology.

BATTERY
Charged it up for a few hours and got hours of battery life. This was more than acceptable since the battery is internal, compact, light, and rechargable. No complaints on battery time.

HEADSET FEATURES
The volume adjustment on the right side is very handy! One toggle style button for up/down makes it convenient and easy to adjust the volume. When you turn it up all the way, maxxed out, it beeps to let you know.

Sound is easy to mute by pressing the on/off once. Holding the same button down for a few seconds turns it on or off. Worked great if I need to talk to someone real quick.

The bass boost is activated by pressing the on/off and volume up simultaneously. The feature yielded maginal results. Which means I really couldnt tell if it was on or off. Regardless there was still decent bass. No complaints.

COMFORT
Here's where the review gets dirty. Yes the negative reviews are absolutel correct when it comes to comfort on these headphones, its horrible. What was Logitech thinking when they designed these things? Lets break it down with a few details on why comfort is the way it is. One, the rubber rings around the head phones hang on your years. Do you think if you hung anything of any small weight OVER your ears that would be comfortable? I found they would actually leave marks on my ears after having them on for even 30 minuites. Secondly, lets look at the cushion on the speaker. If you press on it there is virtually NO padding. Might as well rest a hard piece of plastic over the top of your ears. And lastly, there is no way to adjust the band that goes behind your head. So whether you have a large head or little head you get what you get. If these were rated for comfort alone they would get a negative number. But fortunately there are other positive things that make them worth owning.

FINAL WORD
I searched high and low for some wireless headphones that had a small transmitter (unlike the Seinheiser or Pioneer units with the large base units). Also preferred a product that had decent quality sound, was rechargable, and OVER the head. No luck, they do not exist. What we do have close is the Freepulse phones from Logitech. They arent perfect, but if you can live with the lack of comfort flexibility then by all means give them a shot. Perhaps Bose and Logitech should team up to bring a perfect product. I will be waiting.

you can find more of my reviews at the Tech Reporter Blog
http://techiereport.blogspot.com/

THE TECHIE

Sony Playstation 3 versus Microsoft Xbox 360

2006-06-14T12:44:00.000-04:00

Video gaming has literally exploded in the last decade. First Atari, then Nintendo, and now Sony is dominating the market with the Playstation. However, in the last few years Microsoft has got in the ring with the Xbox, and is seeming to revolutionize the industry all over again. But is it winning the Sony PS users over?

Now the Sony Playstation 3 will be out and it's sure to bring a fierce battle betwen Sony and Microsoft. Who will become the newest leader in gaming? Just ask any hardcore gamer and they will tell you what their preference is, with deep conviction.

To read up on a detailed comparison of the two platforms, take a look at this:

Playstation 3 vs. Xbox 360

Vonage to charge sales tax

2006-05-05T00:22:00.000-04:00

Just released.

According to a statement from Vonage:

NOTICE:
On or about May 1, 2006, we will begin charging sales tax to customers in several states across the US. Some state and local governments are requiring that we assess sales taxes on your internet phone service. These charges may be a flat fee or a percentage of your charges and may change from time to time without notice.

This makes no sense.
"Some" states? Which ones?

"May be a flat fee or a percentage"? Well what is it?

More details at the Vonage Forum here

More Google Controversy

2006-03-05T13:11:00.000-05:00

The Latest Google Headlines

March 8, 2006

Google to pay $90M in fraud case
Web search leader Google Inc has agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle a class action lawsuit over advertising fraud by outside parties on its site, in a bid to put the controversy behind it.

February 25, 2005
Google is fighting the wrong battle on that subpoena
A commentary about Google's controversal court battle. The author states "Google's arrogance will be its downfall"

More interesting articles following Google
Google Watch

Cool Screen Capture Software

2006-03-02T01:58:00.000-05:00

Here is perhaps one of the best (still) free programs on the net. It's called Cam Studio and it allows you to record your screen activity into into standard AVI video files.

"If you move the cursor, launch a new program, type some text, click a few buttons, or select some menus - anything that you see on your screen - CamStudio will be able to record all these and allow you to play them back later on." - masternewmedia.com

And here is the great part! It is a totally FREE program, and you can download it here

Though it has always been a free program (labeled "open source"), the company Macromedia recently began offering the same program with a different name, "Robodemo". If you search for Cam Studio you will eventually be routed to Macromedia's site to buy it.

It seems whenever something really good is out there, and it's free, then some company comes along and wants to sell it.

Here is more information about the program:

"You can use CamStudio to develop videos to demonstrate features of a new software, for creating movies used in user training or tutorials, for tracking the progress of a program that executes for a long time, or for recording the sequence of steps that cause the occurrence of bugs in faulty software.

You can create demonstrations of programs by recording the movement of the cursor, the selection of menus, the entering of text or the display of messages. These demonstrations, when shown to users, can illustrate features and usage of the program in a short period time with crystal clarity.

The recorded movies can be added to the accompanying help files of commercial software to make them more professional.

The recorded videos, if converted to a stream-able format, can also be posted to your websites to provide extra help and just-in-time customer support."

SOURCE: Masternewmedia.com

VOIP - A Telecom Revolution

2006-02-08T17:31:00.000-05:00

If you have local phone service for your home or business, chances are you are going through an RBOC (or Regional Bell Operating Carrier) like SBC or Sprint, or you go through a reseller (CLEC, Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) like Talk America or the 1000 others that have came into the reseller business.

You pay your flat monthly fees, plus what they call "applicable taxes and surcharges". But how much are you really paying? Let's break it down. Suppose your monthly service plan is $19.99. On top of that you are billed the following:

Sales Tax (State) $0.75 or more
Federal Excise Tax (Fed) $0.68 or more
Interstate Network Charge (Fed) $0.03 or more
Common Line Charge $5.35 or more
State Access Charge $3.28 or more
Fed USF Combined High Cost and School (Fed) $0.57 or more
Local Number Portability Surcharge $0.28 or more
E911 Operational Surcharge County Commission (County) $0.80 or more
E911 Operational Surcharge Voter Approved (County) $3.20 or more
Telecommunications Relay Service Surcharge (State) $0.17 or more

So is it really $19.99? Actually it's not anywhere close to that rate.
The ADDITIONAL fees and charges can total from $12 to $20 a month on top of your service plan. Expect to pay about $35-$50 a month for local phone service WITHOUT any features.

And if you do want some line features or an unpublished number you can expect to dish out even more.

But what happened to those laws that were supposed to lower phone service costs and invite competition? Yeah right! There has never really been a true competitor to the ancient land line service (copper wire) technology. You could only chose what phone company to go with, but the rates were still pretty much in the same ballpark, and it was still the same outdated technology.

Even worse, just recently AT&T merged with SBC forming what is now one of the largest phone companies on the planet. It looks like we have come full circle to the monopoly of the not to distant past.

Fortunately, we have seen development of new and emerging technologies that can give the local phone companies some apparent competition. One being the Internet, using VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology. And of course the other more obvious competitor, the cell phone, which many wireless providers have included long distance in their plans to make it more attractive than landline.

But though cellular has been around for about 10 years, it is still wireless and dependent on "in-air" transmission. It's proven that this technology has its limitations and does not have the same degree of quality compared to wired landline service. There is the tendency to have more dropped calls and breakups depending on how good your signal strength is.

But thankfully over the last few years ther have been huge advances in VOIP, allowing people to effectively use the Internet in place of their traditional voice traffic carrier. Many predict the next wave of the future will truly be Voice Over IP. As broadband phone service become more readily available in new areas it has brought an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on this technology by using it for something other than sending and receiving data.

However, it will only be a matter of time before the FCC comes in and starts to put their own little regulatory fees in place for these services as well. Technically, the services are not telecommunications providers since the voice traffic is sent via data transmission. We will have to wait and see how that all pans out.

If you have never tried a VOIP service before it may just be the time to check it out. Many of the providers like Vonage will offer trial periods where you can demo the service and then cancel without any risks or contracts. And expect the competitors in the VOIP business to only grow more and more as eventually there is the possibility the baby bells themselves will run all of their traffic over VOIP.

Granted, there is a lot of user's bashing voice providers due to their own bad experiences. But bear in mind, those comments may be outdated, and people are more likely to complain then they are to provide praise.

Check it out for yourself, and see if just possibly you too can join this revolution and ditch your local phone provider once and for all, and not to mention save a few bucks in the process.

Some of the latest VOIP providers include:
Vonage, AT&T CallVantage, Packet8, BroadVoice, Lingo, and SunRocket Internet Phone Service.

For more information try these links:

IP Phone Ratings.com

Whichvoip.com

VOIP Provider Reviews.com

Phonedog.com Phone Company reviews

Vonage Broadband Phone Service

What is Microsoft Hiding?

2006-02-02T05:55:00.000-05:00

Computer privacy has long been an ongoing and controversial issue. And with the latest Google saga here comes yet another "gut renching" discovery.

What if you learned that Microsoft logged all of your data and actions on your computer and stored it in hidden files that can not be accessed?

Here is what this one web site says:

"There are folders on your computer that Microsoft has tried hard to keep secret. Within these folders you will find two (major) things: Microsoft Internet Explorer has been logging all of the sites you have ever visited -- even after you've cleared your cache, and Microsoft's Outlook and Outlook Express has been logging ALL of your e-mail correspondence -- even after you've erased them from your trashbin. (This also includes all incoming and outgoing e-mail attachments.) And believe me, that's not even the half of it. "

Is it really true? Does Microsoft take all of our information and store it in a big data vault somewhere? While there are obvious legalities in this, it still has yet to be fully uncovered, or proven.

But if so, why hasn't anyone done anything about it? Could it be that Microsoft executives may have found ways to secretly provide huge payoffs to lawmakers to stop any detailed investigations? Nobody really knows. And proving that would be a whole different story. Perhaps it should at least be acknowledged that it is indeed possible.

I can only recommend that you take a look at the article "Microsoft's really hidden files" and just judge for yourself.

Here's the link:
http://www.microsuck.com/content/ms-hidden-files.shtml

Be forewarned - Any actions taken to modify your PC can be risky.

A New Way To Fight Spyware

2006-01-25T14:26:00.000-05:00

The latest reports say that over 65% of all home computers are infected with some sort of spyware. And the fight to overcome the battle of keeping our PC's clean seems to be never ending. Three are many programs made to scan your computer and identify potential spyware applications running, but is that enough?

Recently a new web site, stopbadware.org has created a new approach to spyware. Since it can be hard to get rid of the companies that are guilty of creating it, they are creating a database listing of all of them. They feel if we can't make these companies go away, it least they can make them look bad.

According to their site:
StopBadware.org is a "Neighborhood Watch" campaign aimed at fighting badware. We will seek to provide reliable, objective information about downloadable applications in order to help consumers make better choices about what they download onto their computers. We aim to become a central clearinghouse for research on badware and the bad actors who spread it, and become a focal point for developing collaborative, community-minded approaches to stopping badware

Check it out at http://www.stopbadware.org

Google battles over privacy

2006-01-22T23:04:00.000-05:00

This just in! The top Internet search provider Google is now in a heated battle with Federal lawmakers over issues of personal privacy and security. Recently a subpoena was sent to several of the Internet's search engine providers, asking for specific information on user search habits and web site listings. The request comes from the government’s latest effort to revive a law involving online pornography.

Though providers Yahoo, AOL, and MSN have all adhered to the legal requests, Goggle refuses to give in. They stated the company will fight vigorously to protect user identifiable information, as it would reveal company trade secrets and also violate individual privacy. Following the news, Goggle's stock fell $36 a share.

According to Nielson ratings, Google is currently the top U.S. search site and attracts 380 million unique users per month, with nearly half of all U.S. searches, 2.4 billion a month, going through Google. They also get 50% of traffic is from outside the USA, spanning from 112 international domains.

Can people really tell who Internet users are and where they go? Absolutely yes! There are many techniques employed for search companies to "track" and "identify" surfers. It's actually pretty simple. When ever a person types a search word in a search engine, the site records their unique address that can be traceable to who they are, where they live, as well as many other things, including what they read about, download, or search for regularly. It can be "linked" to their credit cards, social security number, date of birth, pretty much anything about them that is gathered, compiled, and stored in the data centers. The key word is “linking”, as all of this information is not sent or shared at every site, but the data centers have the capability to track your assigned “number” and link it to other specifics about you.

But why would any one care that the search engine companies collect information about users and store it in their mass data centers for years and years? What is this data going to be used for? Are there any laws that say what they can and can't do with this information? Does the scope extend far beyond the reported "marketing purposes"? What is the real value of this data and who gets access to it?

For centuries there has been the old cliché "Big Brother is watching", indicating the government is smart and sophisticated enough to track our every move. But with the growth of the Internet, it appears obvious that there is much information even they do not know about. But do they have a right to that information, or is it best kept by a private company? Who has the real jurisdiction here?

So what can the average computer user do to prevent others from collecting and using their information? Some say to delete the Internet "cookies' regularly (since cookies are the very files that store your “user identifiable information”). But that technique only goes so far. If you ever log on to Google's gmail, it automatically "sets" your personal cookie (yes all over again). Like any public email service such as Yahoo you are not able to login without using a cookie. So, there really is not any point in removing your cookies, since they will just re-appear.

What about the notorious spyware or adware applications that have a reputation of not only screwing up a PC, but also jeopardizing a users privacy by sharing information to third parties? There are many popular programs available to prevent or remove spyware type from your PC. But even if you do spyware prevention and removal, what is the point when all of your personal information is already collected from companies that you are supposed to trust? Companies like Yahoo, AOL, and Google for example. Those organizations or web content providers may as well be labeled as spyware companies as well. And why not? Funny, they may know more about you than the government does.

Sadly, there is not much one can do (realistically) to prevent from being cataloged in a data warehouse somewhere. If you have ever filled out an online form or bought anything from an online store you are in a database somewhere. The only real preventative measure is to leave your computer off (as silly as that may sound). But even those without a computer are cataloged by many companies that have and use their private information too. There simply is no getting around it.

So rather than do something stupid like bang your head against the wall, or blowing up your PC, here are a few small things you can do, online anyway.

For online searches, there is one site called http://www.scroogle.org/ that allows searches on Google and Yahoo without providing your user information. They use technology that will hide or block your identifiable Internet address, among other things. So if you care to remain anonymous about what you are searching for, give that a try.

Also, there is another search engine called clusty.com, which is similiar to Google but doesn't track you.

Using an alternate search service may prevent your searches from being logged, however, once you get the site you want, from there your surfing habits can be tracked by 3rd party advertisers recording your activity. So really, there is no getting around it. You are being tracked!

One another thing you can do is block 3rd party advertisers on your computer, since they are the one's that collect and compile data from you the most. (doubleclick.net is pretty much the devil) . Definitely set your browser privacy to block all third party cookies (or may turn cookies off all together if you can get away with it). You can use an adblocking application like the Zone Alarm firewall. Or try surfing with Maxthon (www.maxthon.com), which is built on Internet Explorer, and will allow you to turn on and off the advertising in web sites, which can offer some additional protection.

One more tool, the Cloak (www.thecloak.com) will allow user anonymous web surfing all together. It uses what is called a proxy server to block or hide your computer's Internet address. Limited surfing is free, but if you want maximum usage and protect you'll have to fork out some cash.

In conclusion, we are all just numbers in the new world of Internet information sharing. We are often told the information obtained is used for marketing purposes, but the question remains what will happen if and when the information winds up in the hands of the wrong parties? There is no doubt your personal information will be stored and used in some fashion or another, like it or not. And for the most part you really have no choice but to play along. So site back and enjoy the ride. It's about to get even more controversial as technology continues to evolve and the government and corporate world continue their head-to-head battle for money, power, and control.

related stories:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2006-01-19-google-search-records_x.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-01-22-google-image_x.htm

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/01/21/google..

Podcast named "Word of the Year"

2005-12-07T17:59:00.000-05:00

The term 'podcast' has been declared "Word of the Year" by the New Oxford American Dictionary.

The term is defined as "a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the internet for downloading to a personal audio player". The word is derived from a combination of "broadcasting" and "iPod". It will be added to the online version of the dictionary during the next update early next year.
Read full article here

Source BBC News

Related articles:
Yahoo offers podcast services (12 October 2005)
Podcasts on your mobile (22 August 2005)
Apple adds podcasting to iTunes (30 June 2005)
Afterdawn News

PC Repair Software Frauds

2005-11-28T00:53:00.000-05:00

Internet security has become a huge issue in recent years. There is now spyware, adware, and the latest frequently used term "scumware". There are viruses, trojans, and hijackers. Whatever it's called, they all do pretty much the same thing - screw up your computer and jeapordize your privacy. It's not something you want on your personal or office PC.

And with the growing "epidemic" of evil forces set to destroy your computer, there are even more programs that claim to FIX them. Some of the more common, reputable programs include Norton Anti-virus, Lavasoft's Adaware, Spybot Search and Destroy, and Hijack This.

But lately I found out something rather shocking.

There are literally thousands of programs on the net that are supposed to "FIX" your PC, but do exactly the opposite - putting scumware or viruses ON YOUR COMPUTER.

What?

Yes, for example, applications called Spyinator, Spy-Kill, SpyKiller, SpyFirewall, SpyFighter, SpyFerret... (and the list goes on and on) will actually plant spyware on your computer, or tell you that you have it until you buy the application from them to remove it.

IT'S A HUGE SCAM!!

Imagine you purchase a program to fix your computer and it does the opposite?
It makes me wonder, why is it legal for these application developers to offer these products?

So be forewarned when you are looking to do something to "protect" your computer.You just might be making it worse.

Before you install anything, read this extensive list of suspected spyware programs:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Beware of online camera scams

2005-11-05T17:41:00.000-05:00

Looking to buy a new digital camera? With so many places to purchase one it helps to shop around. But beware, since not all online retailers are legitimate, especially in this industry. It's wise to do your homework not only on the camera, but the retailer you get it from.

One price shopping site, www.streetprices.com, shows some great deals prices on new digital SLR cameras from Nikon, Minolta, and Canon. For example, the Nikon D50 which typically retails for $799 (with basic lens) was listed at a couple of online retailers for around $500.

After seeing one of these "great deals" I decided to contact the that camera store directly. It was found that they were only open certain days of the week, and when they were open it was hard to get someone to answer the phone. When a person finally took my call, I asked them about the Nikon model and if it was available. They said they were OUT OF STOCK. Well since it made no sense to order an out of stock item, I stopped there. It was still rather frustrating since it was listed as "In Stock" on their website.

The next store, with the second best price, also had limited hours and was hard to reach by phone. Upon finally getting a call answered they said they had availability and urged me to give them my credit card to place an order right at that time (rather than on the web site). I asked some other questions. Like, "how are you able to provide such great prices?". They replied, "because we are a wholesaler". And I asked about their return replicy, and they mentioned they do allow returns. (some low price dealers sell as-is without returns so I had to ask)

That wasn't so bad, and at the time I was ALMOST ready to order.

Before proceeding forward with a major purchase of over $600 I decided to do a search for ratings of online stores. That's where I found www.resellerratings.com. What a relief that I didn't make any purchases! There were an overload of negative reviews of each of those stores mentioned. And as it turns out there were everal OTHER online retailers offering camera deals at rock bottom low prices as well - and ALL SCAMS!

When looking at these so-called deals, it's hard not to point and click to buy at that time. But it's evidently clear, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

BUYER BEWARE!

According to various online reports, there are an abundance of online scammers running a multitude of ever-changing on-line camera stores. These places appear to be based out the same areas - Brooklyn, New York and New Jersey.

Here is a "partial" list of such stores found to have fraudulent and deceptive practices. (as noted from reseller ratings.com). Click on rating for a new window about the store reviews.

Infinity Photo (www.infinitiphoto.com)
0.12/10 rating
- a.k.a. Infinity Cameras (www.Infiniticamera.com)
0.44/10 rating
- a.k.a. Mr. Accessory www.mraccessory.com

Genius Camera (www.geniuscamera.com)
0.49/10 rating
(aka Save Here Distribution, Express Cameras, Jack's Photo, Photo King and Photo Distribution)

Royal Camera (www.royalcamera.com)
1.84/10 rating
related article

USA Photo Nation (www.usaphotonation.com)
.71/10 rating
related article
(a.k.a. www.radioactivedeals.com)

Note the decimal point, most didn't even get 1 out of 10.
And these people are still in business because?

Again, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

FOR MORE INFO

Check out these pages providing further documenting of these cases.

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,107855,00.asp
http://www.viewonline.com/pages/editorials/cameraincident.htm
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=0juf3vkhatjsr6tnnineu41nnvrce1d562@4ax.com
http://www.donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/
http://www.donwiss.com/pictures/ManhattanStores/
http://www.photoreporter.com/091800/features/the_way_it_is.html

Here are some product review sites to help find the right camera for your needs:

www.epinions.com
www.resellerratings.com
www.cnet.com
www.mysimon.com

Best Innovative Software in 2005

2005-09-29T04:24:00.000-04:00

Here are some very innovative software applications worth checking out.

Maxthon
If you are looking for the perfect browser, this baby has it all. Tabbed buttons, mouse gestures, script blocking, rss feeds, and much much more. It's really an addon or enhancement to the already developed but not perfected Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. Sure there are other alternatives then Microsoft's IE, such as Opera, Mozilla, and Netscape. But those alternatives often require installation of additional plugin applications to see Flash, view movies, and other things. It's a mess to have to download all the patches to make the browser do what it is supposed to do. Besides, IE is pre-installed with Windows XP, so it's already there. And with Maxthon it transforms IE into the browser that it should be already - safe, secure, and flexible. It's well worth a try and free too!

VMWare
Truly the future of operating systems and computer platforms. This special software will allow you to run multiple operating systems SIMULTANEOUSLY! Boot to XP and then start Windows 95 in a window, within the XP system. Though the older operating systems may be quite obsolete and unnecessary to use in today's world, it is the actually the technology that vmware offers that is so fascinating. Check it out. Oh, and it's not free but there is an evaluation version to try. Make sure you have a ton of time to read through all the documentation, it can be tricky to install and setup.

Bart PE Builder
With this interesting application you can boot to Windows XP right from a CD! Great to have in the case you need to access your computer and it will not boot. But this technology has greater potential then just a troubleshooting tool. Imagine running your entire computer not from a hard drive, but a CD. The opportunities are incredible!

Wallwatcher
If you have a router attached to your broadband connection than it is quite possible that you experienced an outside attack that may have been "blocked" from the router. It is common to have random Internet "broadcasts" that send popups and or viruses to unprotected computers. Well the router can act as a natural firewall to prevent such attacks. With this free program you can actually see the outgoing and incoming traffic going through your router. For those who like detailed statistics this great tool is a must for your local network.

PalmMame
If you own a Palm then this is the ultimate free application! Remember the old Atari 2600 video games? What about the classic arcade games you used to play? They actually used a 5 mhz processor with about 128k of memory. That's pretty small compared to the speed computers run at now a days. Well now you can now get these classic games right in the palm of our hand. Just last month they released a new Palm OS game emulator stemming from the original MAME for Windows. When properly installed, Palm MAME will allow to play thousands of old arcade games, for hours of enjoyment. Technically it is not legal to download or install a game that you do not have the rights to own. There are many sites to get the games at like romnation, ect, or you can try your favorite peer to peer application. Aside from the legal issues this application is amazing to see developed. Imagine now you can actually have the original Pacman arcade game in a handheld version. And no coin slot either!

will add some more apps soon....
also, will add links to the above mentioned programs, so check back.

Blogger got SPAMMED!

2005-09-19T01:40:00.000-04:00

I created a few articles here, only to find a week later 20 people posted "COMMENTS" about a great BLOG, ect... Well all the comments were SPAM, since each included a link to their web site. How stupid!

Palm T3 Dead PDA Theory - Why it won't turn on

2005-09-16T23:31:00.000-04:00

This is about the Palm Tungsten T3 problem where the screen goes out and it won't turn on. If you do not own one, then you probably don't care, but if you do then read on.

If you own a Palm Tunsten T3 and the screen has ever went blank and the unit would not power up, it can be a real frustrating experience. Knowing whether or not to send it in for repairs is a good question, since Palm charges like $150 to fix any problem on PDA's.

It might be safe to assume it's any of these:

1) Unit has an actual failure of internal system
component(s).
2) LCD has gone bad (sometimes due to dropping unit).
3) Battery connection comes loose.
4) Battery is bad, worn out and needs replacement.

And if so, the unit will never come on, until repaired.
But chances are it is NONE OF THESE!!

In my case, my T3 has died on several occasions,
each after using for only a few minutes at 100% power,
THEN it has TURNED ON,
AFTER connecting to the charger for ONLY 15 seconds.

The most likely cause of a unit that wont power up is
A LACK OF SUFFICENT POWER.

But does that mean the unit eats battery life, the battery
is junk, or the battery life is short? Not necessarily!

Obviously, the device requires a certain amount of power to "boot up".

But the battery may not be bad at all.

SO WHAT ABOUT THIS THEORY?

Perhaps the unit (as built) has an internal communication error
between the software used (Palm OS) and the hardware (battery and charger).

What about a SYSTEM that "THINKS" the battery is dead???
when essentially it is not, so it shuts OFF!

DOES THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE???

Example:

Say, you put the unit on the cradle/charger overnite,
(leaving it showing 100% battery level)
then you use it for an hour,
then turn it off at, showing 85% on the battery meter.
Then a few hours later it WONT TURN ON?

Is it because the battery went dead that quickly?
Not necessarily!

Maybe (just maybe) in this case when you turned it off at
85%, the battery was really at 50%, (and was never fully charged to begin
with), and therefore was below the amount able to boot up by the time it was
turned back on?

In Conclusion:

There is an obvious critical ERROR in reporting and syncronization of the battery power setting in the T3 system.

First, the battery level reading is NOT always what you think it is!!
Second, in the case when it reports at 100% (incorrectly),
the unit does not get charged.

Here's a nice article about Power management, with tips
for best use:

http://www.palmzone.net/modules.php?name=Sections&artid=37

Shure vs. Audio Technica - Wireless Systems Review

2005-09-15T18:55:00.000-04:00

Featured here is a detailed review and comparison of two high performance microphone systems, the Shure PGX 14/20 and the Audio Technica ATW 2110. Both systems are UHF frequency systems with multiple channels.

Shure PGX 14/20 system:

Components:
WH20 headset, Transmitter (beltpak), Receiver, and carry case (plastic).
Retail $618.00 / Price paid: $333.00

This is a full wireless microphone system with a headset/mic and carry case, compared to the AT which does not offer either.

Microphone Audio Quality (WH20):
The Shure PGX 14/20 system has a "dynamic" microphone headset with a 200k-10,000k frequency response. From testing, the audio quality (vocals) were adequate but did not have acceptable bass response, leaving the low end vocals with a somewhat "tinny" sound. This particular dynamic mic system may be more suitable for vocalists, since you could literally scream into it without getting distortion. Shure does offer a different headset (WH30 for $150 MSRP) that is a "condenser" mic, offering better bass response, but was untested in this situation.

Audio (Volume):
The Shure unit offered limited options for setting volume. With a 3 position switch on transmitter you can set it to instrument, 0, or mic. There is no gain setting on the receiver unit. When setting the transmitter to mic, the volume level on the connected mixer had to be turned up substantially (more than half way) in order to achieve adequate volume level.

Ease of sensing Channels:
Setting the channels on the Shure system was simple and quick! Just pull the battery door down on the transmitter and hold it up to the receiver, then press the channel scan on the receiver. It is then synced up by infrared technology.

Receiver:
The receiver has rear rubber antennas that are collapsible, but not removable. When tested, the unit had pretty good range, with no dropouts.

Transmitter:
The top button is both a mute switch and power button. Press once to mute, press and hold to turn off power. The LED on top of the unit changes color to amber when muted. This is a nice feature for someone that needs to mute quickly. The batteries are AA and easily removable (they slide out of bottom).

Headset:
The WH20 included headset is supposed to be customizable to fit any person. The instructions say to "bend the wire carefully" so that it is form fitting. However, this headset is not form fitting at all. Even after many careful attempts to mold it, it still did not fit well and the wires actually hang over your ears, which was somewhat uncomfortable. Also worth noting, you can only wear the headset one way, with the mic boom on the right side of your face.

PROS:
Includes microphone with system.
Quick and Easy to sync channels.
Convenient mute switch on transmitter.
Easy to replace transmitter batteries.

CONS:
Microphone performance less than optimal.
Limited volume (gain) adjustments.

======================================

Audio Technica ATW 2110 Wireless System

Components:
Transmitter (beltpack), Receiver, Rack adapters, (No Microphone Headset included).
Retail $499.00 / Price paid: $225.00

Though the Audio Technica did not include a carry case, it did include some custom adapters to mount the receiver in a gear rack.

Microphone Audio Quality (ATW75cW):
Again, the AT 2110 systems do not include microphones so an Audio Technica (ATW-75cw) was purchased separately for $55.00 new (retail 79.99MSRP). The audio quality was far superior compared to the Shure system, with great base response on 100-10,000khz. The mic is "condenser', which is more sensitive (however it may be more prone to feedback too).

Ease of Syncing Channels:
In order to set or change channels you have to manually turn a switch on the belt pack transmitter to the correct channel on the receiver. There is no infrared connection between the two.

Audio Volume:
There is an audio gain adjustment on both the transmitter AND receiver, offering optimal quality volume levels. After setting this, the mixer volume only had to be turned up a couple notches (opposed to half way on the Shure)

Receiver:
This receiver was intended to be out your way, hard mounted in a rack. Though Shure may make an adapter for racks to accommodate their systems, it is great to have it included with the system. There is also audio gain adjustment on the back of the receiver, making it easy to tweak the audio levels.

The antennas are on the rear of the unit and even when installed in rack they provided great performance. AT recommends keeping them in "line of site" but with this unit it didn't seem to matter much. AT does offer 2 optional kits that will allow replacement of the disconnectable antennas to hardmount on front of rack or anywhere else.

The front LED on the receiver features indicators for RF and audio volume. This is great to be able to identify possible frequency interference and set proper volume levels (Yet another feature the Shure does not offer) .

Transmitter:
The Audio Technical receiver uses what is called a "Uni-Pack" connection. This makes the compatible microphone/headset/lavalier very easy to clip on and off the belt pack. Compared to Shure it was much easier to disconnect it for storage.

There is NO mute button on this unit, but an on/off switch doubles as what AT calls a "soft mute". The downside is there is a 2-3 second delay when turning it back on before it is valuable for audio transmission. Not quick, but simple.

Unlike the Shure, there are dials under the battery cover to adjust audio gain where ever you are.

One small but notable drawback of the transmitter is that it was difficult to remove the batteries. They fit in the pack very tightly (with springs), and it takes a while to carefully remove them. In the Shure system they are easy removed by "sliding" out. However, the AT 3110 series offers a battery compartment where they slide out.

Headset (ATW75-cw):
The headset/mic used for review is the ATW75cW. This unit is very comfortable to wear with cushioned pads on both sides, and also the boom is able to be positioned on either side of the head. The retail MSRP is $79.99 which is quite affordable for a good quality microphone headset.

PROS:
Adjustable audio gain volume levels.
Quick and easy headset disconnect from transmitter (Unipack)
Includes rack mounting kit.External antenna mounts available.
Detailed front display on receiver.

PROS ATW75cW Headset (purchased separately):
Great audio sound and good low bass response (nice for speeches).
Comfortable and adjustable.

CONS:
Channels manually set with turn dial on transmitter (no infrared)
No dedicated mute key (the other AT 3110 model has it).
Hard to remove batteries (not that big of deal).
No case for transmitter and headset.
---------------------------

Summary
Both of these systems are from leading manufactures in wireless technology and pro performance gear. It seems true that with either of them you can't go wrong.

Each are however completely different systems. One uses a dynamic microphone, the other condenser. And even though the microphone used may make a difference in performance, it's easily changed.

I particularly liked the extra features and flexibility the Audio Technica system offers. There
is more ability to adjust audio the way you like, and then see visible results.

In my opinion, the Audio Technical out performed the Shure in features, easy of use, quality, and overall value.

Introduction

2005-09-10T13:50:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the "Techie Report" Blog.

Here you will find reveiws and articles about different evolving technologies. Mobile computing, Internet Technology, Telecommunications, and more.

Thanks for visiting!