National Newspaper Computer Columnist
Click here to see the index of Craig's columns.
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Craig Crossman National Newspaper Computer Columnist Click here to see the index of Craig's columns. |
ANYTHING FLAT CAN BECOME INVISIBLE SPEAKERSFor the most part, good speakers typically need to be large and heavy to produce sounds of decent quality and volume. But there are always exceptions. And a company has found a clever way of producing one of those exceptions by eliminating the speakers themselves. Confused? Well just listen to this.
The SoundBug is ideal for those with portable computers who need big sound for presentations without having to lug around massive speakers. Just stick a SoundBug to any convenient surface, even to the very desk on which your computer is resting and you have an invisible speaker at your command. Each SoundBug is capable of generating up to 75 dBm which is sufficient power to fill an average room with ample sound levels. To produce full stereo sound, two SoundBugs are required and they can be linked in parallel. Manufactured by Olympia in Europe ( www.soundbug.biz), the SoundBug is available online at the Think Geek retail website at www.thinkgeek.com for $49.99 or $89.99 for two.A Flash in the pan.
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| Craig Crossman is a McClatchy-Tribune newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the nation's longest running nationally syndicated radio talk show on computers and technology, Computer America, heard on both the Business TalkRadio Network® and the Lifestyle TalkRadio Network®, weeknights at 10PM Eastern time. Visit his website at http://www.computeramerica.com |
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Around
the size of a computer mouse, the SoundBug is a small electronic gizmo that
plugs into the output of any audio device such as your computer's sound card
or CD player. Powered by 3 AAA batteries, the SoundBug attaches to any flat
surface via its suction cup. By pressing the SoundBug firmly to any clean
flat glossy surface and rotating its push ring, you are assured of achieving
a good seal to a pane of glass, metal surface, a wall or whatever is handy
at the moment. Even the glass in a framed picture will do. This amazing
little gadget converts the audio signals it receives into vibrations that
resonate any surface to which it is attached. This process literally
transforms the entire surface into a speaker.
A
few columns ago I wrote about a Flash memory card reader capable of reading
6 different standards. Unfortunately, I discovered too late that the reader
was not available in the United States. But fear not since I've found
another 6-in-1 Flash memory reader / writer from Kingston. This unit is also
a fraction of the size and reads and writes Compact Flash, Smart Media, Sony
Memory Stick, MulitMedia Cards, Secure Digital and MD. Kingston's FCR-U26/1
attaches to a USB port and is fully compatible with Windows 98, Millennium,
2000 and XP, as well as Macintosh OS 9 and OS X. Incidentally, Mac OS X
users will love the fact that the Kinston device requires no drivers
whatsoever and works natively by simply plugging it in. Now that's a thing
of beauty. The FCR-U26/1 comes with a 5 year warranty and sells for $59.