SD memory cards, netbook, thumb drives, USB external hard drive, GPS, cameras, lenses, microfiber cloth and lenspen, monopod, binoculars, headphones, maps, guidebooks, passport, e-tickets, yada, yada, yada are all strewn about as I go through my final preparations for extended international travel with Zegrahm Expeditions. Departure is imminent: I jet out of Grand Junction, Colorado this Sunday for Dallas, then onto Madrid and finally Dakar, where I'll board the Clipper Odyssey for a month of exploration of the eastern Atlantic region.
My Powerpoint lectures for presentation on board are pretty much in final form on my netbook, covering topics ranging from general plate tectonics to hotspot volcanism, with specific tidbits about local geology (Atlas Mountains in Morocco, the Rock/Straits of Gibraltar, etc.) that we'll experience along our route. I've also included snippets on the historic observations of the numerous islands we'll visit made by Columbus and Darwin on their famous voyages. On top of this, I'm also the designated expedition photographer, and so there is considerable extra gear to organize and carry. I think I'm pretty much ready.
Oh yeah, my toothbrush.
Showing posts with label gadget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gadget. Show all posts
Friday, April 20, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Guess what's the fastest-adopted gadget...
of the last 50 Years. You'll be surprised at the answer, and cell phones aren't even close.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Indispensable Android apps...
in my geeky opinion, each with links to the Android Market.
General applications:
Astronomy specific:
Geology:
Specifically for the Galaxy Nexus:
Cool physics game:
Miscellaneous utilities:
General applications:
Astronomy specific:
Geology:
Specifically for the Galaxy Nexus:
Cool physics game:
Miscellaneous utilities:
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Bye-bye BlackBerry...
and hello Samsung's Galaxy Nexus running the new Android 4.0 OS code-named Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). Here's a comprehensive review of the leading edge smartphone.
I've ditched my BlackBerry Storm2 during my two-year upgrade cycle with Verizon and acquired this new device at a nicely discounted price. I've been using it for three weeks and absolutely love the vibrant display, and battery life is good for a 4G phone. I eagerly await the ICS upgrade on my Galaxy Tab 10.1 that is presently running Android 3.2 (Honeycomb).
In sum, it's awesomely awesome technology. Highly recommended. I'll post more later about what I personally regard are indispensable Android apps.
I've ditched my BlackBerry Storm2 during my two-year upgrade cycle with Verizon and acquired this new device at a nicely discounted price. I've been using it for three weeks and absolutely love the vibrant display, and battery life is good for a 4G phone. I eagerly await the ICS upgrade on my Galaxy Tab 10.1 that is presently running Android 3.2 (Honeycomb).
In sum, it's awesomely awesome technology. Highly recommended. I'll post more later about what I personally regard are indispensable Android apps.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Camera lost at sea...
for more than a year returned to owner based on information on the SD card. While the camera was a complete loss, the images were still accessible on the memory card.
This suggests to me that it's a good idea to photograph a note with your name and phone number as a first image on the memory card in your camera. In case your camera is lost and subsequently found, a generous and honest person could then very easily contact you.
This suggests to me that it's a good idea to photograph a note with your name and phone number as a first image on the memory card in your camera. In case your camera is lost and subsequently found, a generous and honest person could then very easily contact you.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Gutting gadgets...
so you don't have to: Teardowns by iFixit. You know, just in case you're curious about what's inside your latest high-tech device. Warning: Don't try this at home - it will almost certainly void your warranty.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
My first impressions...
after using the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android-based tablet for a while are nothing less than overwhelmingly positive. It's blazing fast, has the most vibrant and sharpest screen available today, and the Android Honeycomb 3.1 operating system is highly intuitive (I didn't even look at the manual during the first three days of use, and I don't use an Android cell phone.)
It is clear to me that tablets are primarily information consuming devices. I've enjoyed reading books using the Kindle app, surfing the web, playing Mahjong and Angry Birds, watching videos and listening to music. Although I might make minor edits to documents/spreadsheets, or compose the occasional blog post using the included software on the tablet, it's certainly not a replacement for a desktop/laptop computer for serious and/or professional work.
Some minor quibbles: The USB charging cord is astonishingly too short (only 20 inches) for some strange reason. And although you can download drivers to link and transfer files to/from your PC using the USB cable, you have to buy an additional $20 adapter in order to enable a functional USB port on the tablet itself (I feel the adapter should have been included).
In sum: Highly recommended.
RELATED: Google’s Android Platform Dominating World Market.
It is clear to me that tablets are primarily information consuming devices. I've enjoyed reading books using the Kindle app, surfing the web, playing Mahjong and Angry Birds, watching videos and listening to music. Although I might make minor edits to documents/spreadsheets, or compose the occasional blog post using the included software on the tablet, it's certainly not a replacement for a desktop/laptop computer for serious and/or professional work.
Some minor quibbles: The USB charging cord is astonishingly too short (only 20 inches) for some strange reason. And although you can download drivers to link and transfer files to/from your PC using the USB cable, you have to buy an additional $20 adapter in order to enable a functional USB port on the tablet itself (I feel the adapter should have been included).
In sum: Highly recommended.
RELATED: Google’s Android Platform Dominating World Market.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Modern living...
Why You Should Always Encrypt Your Smartphone.
Always a good idea in order to protect your privacy, even if you don't run afoul of the law.
Always a good idea in order to protect your privacy, even if you don't run afoul of the law.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Electronic paper realized...
in the form of the NoteSlate. I hope this is a real product, and if I were a student, I'd jump on it. This device would seem to be better than typing notes on a laptop in class during lecture, especially in geology (or other science, math and technical fields), where there are a lot of equations, complex diagrams and labeled sketches.
UPDATE: But is it real?
ANOTHER UPDATE: Wired magazine calls this gadget "wish-ware."
UPDATE: But is it real?
ANOTHER UPDATE: Wired magazine calls this gadget "wish-ware."
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
High five for Eye-Fi...
memory card technology that automatically transfers images from your digital camera to your home wireless network (or from any public hotspot) as they are being shot. You never have to cable the camera, or pull the SD card, to load images on your computer. This is likely the one and only memory card you need for your camera, unless you have an insane need to archive all of your images on a multitude of cards. It cleverly geotags images, too.
My experience with the Pro X2 card has been excellent: the card configured seamlessly with my home Wi-Fi network, and images transfer quickly and without error. Easy. (I haven't configured the ad-hoc wireless connection with my netbook, enabling transfers without a router, just yet.)
Highly recommended, especially if you're a shutterbug or professional photographer.
My experience with the Pro X2 card has been excellent: the card configured seamlessly with my home Wi-Fi network, and images transfer quickly and without error. Easy. (I haven't configured the ad-hoc wireless connection with my netbook, enabling transfers without a router, just yet.)
Highly recommended, especially if you're a shutterbug or professional photographer.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
30 to 60 images...
is about what I shoot with my digital cameras each week, on average, and vastly more when I'm traveling or doing field work. So I'm gifting myself an 8GB Eye-Fi Pro X2 card for Festivus. I'm springing for the premium Pro version ($99 at Amazon.com) since it incorporates ad-hoc wi-fi capability, allowing for wireless connection between the camera and a laptop without needing a network router. I'm eager to give it a test drive and I'll post my impressions in a short bit.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Operator error, not GPS failure...
Don't Look Down: White Van and Driver Airlifted to Safety After Satnav Error Sends Him to Top of Mountain
Reminds me of this story.
UPDATE and BUMPED: GPS Directs Driver to Death in Spain's Largest Reservoir. Yikes. It's like the machines are out to get us.
Reminds me of this story.
UPDATE and BUMPED: GPS Directs Driver to Death in Spain's Largest Reservoir. Yikes. It's like the machines are out to get us.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Solinst equipment is entirely unreliable...
for monitoring groundwater, as I've just discovered that two more of their LTC loggers have died while deployed in the field. That makes a total of six of eight Solinst loggers that have ceased to function and resulted in months of lost data, a failure rate of 75% based on my experience. Sheesh.
Here's a blog post about their earlier failures, and it doesn't involve battery problems. In addition, I got no satisfaction from their technical support staff, and valuable research data was irretrievably lost.
They have competitors. Use them.
Here's a blog post about their earlier failures, and it doesn't involve battery problems. In addition, I got no satisfaction from their technical support staff, and valuable research data was irretrievably lost.
They have competitors. Use them.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
My new sleep system...
for summer backpacking/camping consists of the ENO DoubleNest Hammock. I slept it in every night during my field class this preceding week and found it highly restful.
It is well made and sets up quickly and easily (the straps are sold separately). It's fantastically comfortable but likely not for everyone, especially if you're not a back sleeper. Helpful hint: on chilly nights you should use a sleeping pad to provide insulation from the cold on your backside.
It is well made and sets up quickly and easily (the straps are sold separately). It's fantastically comfortable but likely not for everyone, especially if you're not a back sleeper. Helpful hint: on chilly nights you should use a sleeping pad to provide insulation from the cold on your backside.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Best to-do list manager is...
paper.
I agree, and particularly enjoy the physical act of crossing something off the list. That's so much more satisfying than clicking on a delete button or an "x."
I agree, and particularly enjoy the physical act of crossing something off the list. That's so much more satisfying than clicking on a delete button or an "x."
Friday, June 4, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Um, why exactly should one buy the iPad?
13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings
RELATED: This reminds me of this satirical video (warning - it contains very crude language - if that sort of thing bothers you).
RELATED: This reminds me of this satirical video (warning - it contains very crude language - if that sort of thing bothers you).
Monday, March 1, 2010
Necessary chores were completed...
yesterday in preparation for the field season that commences in late March when I am on leave from the university. I spent much of the morning updating the unit software on my handheld GPS receiver as well as transferring map sets from DVDs to micro-SD cards. Here are some of the details:
1.) I use a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx for my field work. Garmin makes it easy to keep your unit software updated to the latest version by using their on-line WebUpdater. In my personal opinion this is the best and most versatile GPS device available.
2.) Map sets are available at various scales that can be uploaded to micro-SD cards from DVD (or you can buy the pre-loaded cards) and then inserted into the GPSMAP 60CSx. I don't like the pre-loaded cards as they contain gobs of megabytes of map data for areas that are irrelevant to my projects, and consequently the GPS unit boots much more slowly because of the gargantuan map files. Hence I like to use the Garmin MapSource software to specifically select the maps from the DVD that correspond to my particular area of interest.
I have the following Garmin map sets:
a.) WorldMap v4 is used for my voyages with Zegrahm Expeditions.
b.) TOPO U.S. 100K includes coverage for the entire US at 1:100,000 scale.
c.) TOPO U.S. 24K includes all 1:24,000 topographic maps for various regions in the western US.
d.) US TOPO 24K National Parks, West v3 includes all of the National Parks in the western US (really not necessary if you have 'c' above).
I have ten micro-SD cards onto which I've loaded subsets of map files from the DVDs listed above. So when I'm engaged in a project, or travel, in a particular place I can pop the appropriate card into the GPS unit and, voila, all of the relevant cartographic information is available.
UPDATE: Previous related post and a couple of pics.
1.) I use a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx for my field work. Garmin makes it easy to keep your unit software updated to the latest version by using their on-line WebUpdater. In my personal opinion this is the best and most versatile GPS device available.
2.) Map sets are available at various scales that can be uploaded to micro-SD cards from DVD (or you can buy the pre-loaded cards) and then inserted into the GPSMAP 60CSx. I don't like the pre-loaded cards as they contain gobs of megabytes of map data for areas that are irrelevant to my projects, and consequently the GPS unit boots much more slowly because of the gargantuan map files. Hence I like to use the Garmin MapSource software to specifically select the maps from the DVD that correspond to my particular area of interest.
I have the following Garmin map sets:
a.) WorldMap v4 is used for my voyages with Zegrahm Expeditions.
b.) TOPO U.S. 100K includes coverage for the entire US at 1:100,000 scale.
c.) TOPO U.S. 24K includes all 1:24,000 topographic maps for various regions in the western US.
d.) US TOPO 24K National Parks, West v3 includes all of the National Parks in the western US (really not necessary if you have 'c' above).
I have ten micro-SD cards onto which I've loaded subsets of map files from the DVDs listed above. So when I'm engaged in a project, or travel, in a particular place I can pop the appropriate card into the GPS unit and, voila, all of the relevant cartographic information is available.
UPDATE: Previous related post and a couple of pics.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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