The MikeCam » Hardware

optimus keyboard

Miquel Rodríguez Telep / Michael Rodríguez-Torrent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Sweet concept renders of a keyboard whose keys use OLEDs to display the function of the keys in the current program (i.e. in a shooter WSAD would become arrows, etc.).

guitarplug

Miquel Rodríguez Telep / Michael Rodríguez-Torrent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Ran across this neato little device by Mac hardware-maker DVForge. On One side it has a male quarter-inch audio plug to connect to an electric guitar and on the otherside has a female USB connection, to connect to the computer. Samples sound really nice, and I would love to be able to use this to make recordings, as one of the big problems I’ve had in the past is distortion, low gain, and generally poor sound quality when I record directly from a soundcard input jack.

They say, however, that it is “Not For Use With MS Windows,” so I’m not entirely sure what that means in terms of the possibility of using it on the PC (under Linux). It also seems a bit pricy, at almost $40, and a review also notes that the device is rather fragile, counter to DVForge’s claim that it is a “ruggedly made device intended for serious use by serious musicians.”

In addition to the GuitarPlug, they offer the MicPlug – an identical device, but with an XLR plug. Another device that caught my attention is the JamPod, a device that plugs in to an iPod and allows connection of a guitar and mixing with music played from the iPod. More appealing to me, however, is the JamPlug, basically a miniature amplifier, with no speaker and an 1/8″ output jack, as well as overdrive distortion. Hell of a lot better than carrying an amp around. If I had something like this, it would actually become feasible to carry my electric around.
A HarmonyCentral review, however, says that the JamPlug is a piece of crap, so I’m sure I can find something better…

sgi mobile innovation center comes to asu

Miquel Rodríguez Telep / Michael Rodríguez-Torrent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

5g ipod info

Miquel Rodríguez Telep / Michael Rodríguez-Torrent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

ThinkSecret has posted some information and speculation regarding the next generation of iPods, predicting a middle of the year release of an 80gb iPod with a slightly new design.
Ran across it via Engadget.

Linksys 802.11g gear

Miquel Rodríguez Telep / Michael Rodríguez-Torrent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Is this the first of the real 802.11g equipment out? I know there was some stuff out before the spec was really finalized, but I’m not sure when that all went down. Hafta check it out, I guess.

it’s shiny and cheap! (sort of)

Miquel Rodríguez Telep / Michael Rodríguez-Torrent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Ooh, the $500 MacMini, an itty bitty inexpensive Apple desktop. It looks nice for a half-decent price, but if they’d drop that another hundred or two like Cringley suggests I might very well get it. As it is, $500 can get me significant upgrades to my current PC or a new PC with better specs and more customizability. So, while I’d still very much like to have a Mac, I’m not interested in shelling out $500 for only 256mb of RAM and a 40gb hard drive. Another $100 buys you another 150mHz on the processor and 40 more gigs on the hard drive, whoop-dee-doo.