Life with Tech

FirstLook: R0DE – iXY iPhone Microphone

Thomas — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:20 +0000

Company: Rode
Model: iXY
Size: 8 x 2 x 3"
Weight: 1lbs
Price: $199.00
Website: www.rodemic.com

About:

The RØDE iXY is the ultimate recording microphone for iPhone, iPad. With up to 24-bit/96k recording and on-board high-fidelity A/D conversion, your iXY recordings are rich, smooth and accurate. At the heart of the iXY is a matched pair of ½" cardioid condenser capsules, fixed in a perfect 90 degree ‘near-coincident’ alignment. This results in immersive and true-to-life stereo recordings, captured in incredibly high detail. The iXY is supplied with a foam windshield for outdoor recording as well as a reinforced protective zip case to ensure your iXY is available whenever you need it. iXY is the perfect microphone for capturing a sermon at church or music from a local cafe, to large stadium shows. The XY stereo pattern lets you record exactly what you hear, and the adjustable input level makes sure you can record even the loudest concert with total clarity. The iXY is also the perfect recording solution for field reporters, giving you broadcast-quality audio at a moment's notice.

First Thoughts:

I was very impressed with all aspects of this product from it's packaging which emphasizes focus on the microphone hovering within a cube above its box. To its solid build quality and feel, which gives an impression that if dropped down a flight of stairs you wouldn't blink an eye. With attention to detail and included accessories like a windshield and molded protective zipper case. You have everything you need to get out the door and record.

Features & Specs:

High-fidelity 24bit/96k
XY Stereo recording
adjustable input level
High pass filter
Includes wind shield and molded case

R0DE Rec App

The $5.99 RØDE Rec app for the iPhone is a complete recording, editing, and sharing studio for your iOS device. Highlights include:

High resolution 16-bit, 48kHz stereo/mono recording (up to 24-bit/96kHz when paired with the RØDE iXY microphone)
EQ and dynamics: Compression, high/low-pass filter, and frequency cut/boost
Live input monitoring
Preset recording profiles for a range of common situations (lecture, concert, interview and more)
Complete control of the iXY microphone, including high pass filter and LED behavior
Real-time waveform and one-touch markers
Landscape mode provides greater visibility when editing
Non linear cut/copy/paste/crop
Output in multiple formats including WAV, AIFF, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC and more

Editing in the RØDE Rec app.

You can edit what you've recorded on your iPhone or iPad before sharing it. This is a great timesaver when working on the go. Rotating the iPhone sideways reveals a waveform editor. Tap and drag downward to select an area. Tap on the blue dot to reveal the contextual menu with options for your selection. Their may be a small learning curve here but works awesome.

Software and Hardware working together

In my sample recording with an iPhone 5, I recorded in my office with windows and doors open without the foam windshield that comes with the mic. I could monitor my input with headphones while I spoke. I used the "Interview" preset that's located in the Input menu for the app. Once I finish a capture, it's added to the Recordings menu where all of my files are listed. I can then have options for sharing them as an AIFF, WAVE, CAF, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC, or Ogg Vorbis. The master audio remains in my Recordings menu until I remove it.

Final Thoughts: (after a week of use)

The RØDE iXY Stereo Recording Microphone is a quality stereo microphone that converts your iPhone into a high resolution audio recorder. As nice as the mic itself is, what pulls this package together is the RØDE Rec app that maximizes the hardware's capabilities. I am extremely happy with this product and plan on purchasing the lightning version of this product as well when it's released. The R0DE iXY replaces my portable microphone allowing me to use my iPhone for recording on the go instead of having to carry a separate devices with out scarfing audio quality.

Disappointments: (small nit-picking)

Only a 30pin connecter version (lightning in the works)

Photo Gallery: [gallery ids="5672,5671,5670,5669,5668,5667"]

QuickTip: Enable tabbing in OSX dialogs

Thomas — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:34:41 +0000

Have you ever wished you can navigate OSX dialog boxes like you can on a PC, By TABBING? With this quick tweak of you Keyboard preferences we will having back to navigating dialogs with your keyboard like a pro. Follow these steps

Open your System Preferences.
Double click on Keyboard icon.
Select the Keyboard Shortcuts tab.
At the bottom of the screen choose option All controls.
Close windows Done.

Now go ahead an enjoy navigating dialogs with your keyboard

quickTip: Enabling FTP on Mountain Lion

Thomas — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:37:25 +0000

If your running Mountain Lion you may have noticed the missing FTP sharing options. Don't worry, FTP server is still there, even if it is a client installation and not a Server install. You have to enable FTP server on a client install from Terminal

Lets get started

Open up Terminal
Copy and past the following command

[code lang="text"]sudo -s launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist[/code]

To disable, do unload instead of load.

Note: The default FTP directory is the users's home directory.

Review: R0DE Videomic

Thomas — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:42:11 +0000

Company: Rode
Model: Videomic
Size: 2.55 x 4.02 x 8.84"
Weight: 6.21 oz
Price: $169.00
Website: www.rodemic.com

About:

The RØDE Videomic is a professional grade condenser shotgun microphone designed for use with consumer cameras. The Videomic line of microphones have always been geared towards videographers and journalists looking to stay mobile and improve their sound quality. R0DE has partnered with Rycote combining their Lyre suspension system with R0DE's VideoMic. In addition to providing a solid mount with resistance to shock and movement noise. They also benefit from Lyre's lower profile build as well. The Videomic uses a super-cardioid polar pattern reducing sounds from the sides. This results in a signal that sounds closer to the camera, even when shooting in noisy environments or at moderate distances.

First Thoughts:

When picking up the VideoMic, the first thing you will notice its lightweight. I for one don't want to add any unneeded weight to my DSLR. Installation was very straight forward with it's hotshoe mount and mini plug. Lyre suspension does a great job at removing unwanted vibrations, handling and cable noise. Best yet no rubber bands to deal with. Barrel Canceling results in a better sounding source in noisy environments. By using a super-cardioid pattern in front of the barrel while canceling unwanted side-audio. Selectable Padding 10 or 20dB PadCapturing audio in loud environments can be challenging. With the selectable 10 or 20dB pad gives users the ability to lower microphone sensitivity, allowing it to handle higher levels without sacrificing clarity. High Pass Filter Switch does a good job at eliminating the room ambiance and noise below 80Hz. This results in improved recordings around machinery, wind. Internal Power with up to 100hours using a standard 9-vole battery is awesome. I have yet to come close to killing the battery in a weeks time.

Features & Specs:

Directional video condenser microphone
Rycote suspension system
Standard Camera shoe mount
3.5mm mini plug
Studio-Quality sound
Powered by 9v Battery

Final Thoughts: (after a week of use)

I would suggest R0DE's new Videomic to anyone in needed of a shotgun mic. This mic is well worth its money and a nice addition to any kit. However keep in mind this in no way will replace a good lapel mic. But that's like comparing apple's to oranges. For the money and sound quality this shotgun mic can't be beat.

Disappointments: (small nit-picking)

I love that the product is light, But wish it had a more solid feel maybe an aluminum body vs the plastic it currently uses. But then again this may effect how it's new suspension work.
I it would be nice to have access to the padding selector on the outside of the case for easier access.

Photo Gallery: [gallery ids="5634,5635,5636,5633"]

Health Apps: Instead of giving myself reasons why I can’t, I give myself reasons why I can

Thomas — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:39:44 +0000

Spring is upon us and summer is just around the corner, the hunt for tech to help in the fight to manage, log and improve overall health is on.

Let me start by saying, find something that works for you and enjoy doing. The key here is to keep at it regularly until it becomes a habit. It's much eaiser when it's something you look forward to doing. About a year ago Nike had an open beta for a new product called "FuelBand". I dove right in, excited about a piece of hardware which could log all my daily activities. No one likes wearing unnecessary bulk the new form factor made this product very appealing. All that being said I love when hardware and software play nice with each other. Fast forward a year and I'm still using the FuelBand daily and loving it. My wife, sister, mother and a few friends have all joined in as well. Now don't get me wrong, I do wish there was more it can do. But I'm sure in time new integration's and features will come.

These days everything starts with social media. So what better place to start then with a good and private social medium.

Over the past year, my social medium of choose has been "Path". It was meant to be a Facebook for that inner circle of friends. A place to share moments and conversations. I personally don't share much on Facebook, as it has become more of an advertisement medium. Facebook seems to change their privacy polices way to often. I've given up trying to keep up. Path has been a great place to share, a place where privacy comes first without the public eyes. Making this a great place to share your health goals and accomplishments with others. A few nice features, that we will elaborate on are Nike+ FuelBand and Nike+ Running integration. The Nike+ FuelBand App is Nike's app for logging all your FuelBand data. It tracks and sync's all your activities online where it can be managed. There are also options to connect, share and view your activity through Facebook and Twitter as well. The FuelBand app's fun animations help to motivate you into hitting your goals while tracking and logging all your fuel points.

What is FuelPoints you might ask?

FuelPoints was designed by Nike to be a basic metric that everyone can compare with each other. Unlike comparing how many calories someone has burned. Nike has developed an algorithm that is based on the individuals sex, age, height, weight and activity. So everyone is comparing a baseline number. Another nice sharing feature when hitting your goal for the day is the ability to auto post to Path a very nice looking graph of your daily activity.

The key to improving your health all starts with the same strategy. Watching and logging what goes into your body.

For almost two years I used the LiveStong MyPlate app exclusively for logging my food. Between it's huge food database and active community it was a no brainer. After a while I slowly stopping logging my food, due to the fact of getting lazy and not wanting to look things up. Searching for things was just taking its toll. After not logging my food for almost a year, I wanted to revisit what options are out there. What I realized was LiveStrong has not made any improvements within that time. It was still lacking a barScanner (something everyone else is doing) and limited integration with other apps and hardware. On the flip side Fitnow the makers of Lose it! Have made huge strides within that time. They have produced a very polished open API application called "Lose it!". In my opinion they have managing to pickup where LiveStrong fell short. Features like the ability to scan food barcodes. They also have done a great job integrating with a majority of hardware and software. Such as the Nike+FuelBand, Fitbit Tracker, Withings Scale, Fitbit Aria, Nike+ Running, RunKeeper, MapMyFitness even blood pressure monitors. By no means did they over look Social media sharing with friends via Twitter and Facebook are there all due to their open API. A nice thing to having is good scale to help you understand what is working and what is not working. There are many different scales on the market. I am personally using a the Withings WS-50 Smart body analyzer. This scale doesn't just monitor your weight. It monitors and logs your weight, BMI, HeartRate and even your quality of air. This scale also uses your home wifi to control, manage and view all your data right from you iPhone. As well as syncing all your data online. Withings is also good with integrating it's data with other open API's software. Like Lose it! However in order to benefit from the integration you do need a premium service with Lose it!

Now that were tracking whats going into our body we can focus on getting more active.

In my early 20's I was heavily into weight lifting but now in my mid thirties I'm more health conscious and want to just slim down enjoy life and keep up with my boys. That being said my activity of choice these days is a good run. Preferably early in the day when it's still cool here in Southern Califonia. I have a few App suggestions that I have been using for quite some time. These apps have helped me make my runs even more enjoyable while making it easy to log all types of data about them.

Back to basic, Lets start with Running / Walking gear.

I would suggest you get out to a local running store. Get fitted properly by people who understand running can avoid any unnecessary injures. Out here in Southern Califonia I would recommend Runnergy they have a great knowledgeable and friendly staff. You don't need much, just get out the door regularly. My personal must have running gear is my iPhone5, SPIbelt and the Jaybird BluebudX bluetooth earbuds. The back bone to improvement or motivation is having the ability to analyze your run. There are many running applications out there. I've tried many of them and always find myself back to Nike+ running app. It's just so well polished it's hard to beat. It does everything you would expect out of a running app. GPS, Pace Tracking, Timer, Calories, Pedometer, Music Player and you can even set power songs to push you when you need it. All the social media services are integrated as expected Facebook, Twitter as well as Path. I personally auto post to Path where friends and family can view a nice looking map of my run. They also are given options to cheer me on during my run. I've said it before I love when hardware and software play nice. Nike+ running also work's with the fuel band to give you more accurate measurements of your run.

Do you want some entertainment during your runs? Do you want to immerse yourself and be part of a story? If so you should check out ZombieRun2.

Let me start by saying I am not a zombie lover like some people out there. I love the idea of immersing myself in a story and for this reason I backed ZombieRun when it was still a KickStarter project. My hope is that other developers will see how successful it has been. Inspiring them to create stories of their own. This by all means is a running app first and story second, so all your running data is logged. They have done a great job creating a map that over lays all the details of your run. Including basic stuff like your pace how long you ran and route all with visual indicators. Markers of every song you were listening to and at what point on your route as well. They have also placed story markers with a written out outline of the story and the location. Everyone loves a good game. ZombieRun2 has elements similar real time strategy games. You play the part as Runner 5. Hundreds of lives are counting on you. You've got to help your base rebuild from the ruins of civilization by collecting critical supplies while avoiding roving zombie hordes. Can you save them and learn the truth about the zombie apocalypse? A nice touch is the way they handle music, by injecting bits of the story between pauses in you music. You are also given the option to enable Zombie chases. Every so often you will hear a faint sound behind you. The idea here is to pick up your pace and out run them, forcing a short sprint.

I do love listening to music during my runs.

I am a big Spotify user but Apple's iMatch is really nice to have since. Most applications will let you stream from it as if it were local. Nike+ Running app works very well this way. However ZombieRun does run into some DRM issues which require songs to be physically local. Both of these apps can run side by side with spotify. They both will pause and play as needed however you do lose some specific functions within there apps.

FirstLook: ZombieRun2

Thomas — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:26:07 +0000

ZombieRun2 has hit the Appstore.

"You are Runner 5. Hundreds of lives are counting on you. You've got to help your base rebuild from the ruins of civilization by collecting critical supplies while avoiding roving zombie hordes. Can you save them and learn the truth about the zombie apocalypse? Even better, you can create your own custom playlists before you start running: the story unfolds in between your tracks through a series of dynamic radio messages and voice recordings. 33 missions included for free, with 60+ extra missions available with a Season Pass."

Review: Bluebuds X – bluetooth earbuds for an active lifestyle

Thomas — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:53:21 +0000

Company: Jaybird Model: BlueBuds X Size: 8 x 2 x 3 inch Weight: 1 lb Price: $169.95 Website: www.jaybirdgear.com About: Jaybird has been pioneering the way when it comes to audio fitness gear. The Bluebuds-X' is blurring lines between wired and wireless audio performance. Along with eight-hour battery play time, patented secure fit for sports, sweat proof with Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat, and the all-new X-Fit—which lets you lift the cord off your neck for the perfect workout headphones. First Thoughts: Packaging displayed and secured the unit while maintaining a clean look. It was however a but hard to remove the earbuds. I eventually gave up and cut the tape that held the buds in place within its foam housing. Upon unboxing the first thing you will notice is how much more compact they are compared to older models. I then went a head and got a full charge into the unit before using it. On the side of the unit underneath the rubber secure fit is a Red charging indicator that lights up bright and is seeable surprisingly thorough the rubber. Features & Specs:

8hour battey life
X-FIT - over/under-ear fit options
Jenna - voice prompts
Signal Plus - For skip free music
Sweat-proof
Liquipel - Treated with liquipel
Sensitivity 103 dB
Frequency (high) 20 kHz
Frequency 20 Hz
Impedance 16 ohms
Cable Length 0.54 m

Battery life: (will run you about 8hrs) On a full charge I get a good seven one hour workout sessions per charge. Jaybird has also included a battery indicator which is displayed on your iPhone. Now you can stop guessing and know how much of a charge you have. It's the little things that make great products. I used to plug my Freedom earbuds in every night just to be safe. Signal Plus: (Bluetooth headpone are only as good as it's signal) Up until now their has always been limitations that hold back athletes from using bluetooth headphones. Even Jaybirds own Freedom earbuds ran into the dropping due to signal issues. I found myself only being able to hold my iPhone in my right front pocket because moving it to my rear pockets would just make the signal drop 10 times more. Again I felt the technology was just not there yet. Jaybird had developed something called SignalPlus. They confident in their claim in skip free and no droppage of music. I must say I don't know what's in their magic sauce but I am impressed. I have yet to have a drop or skip during my workouts or at all in fact.

On a side note: Bluetooth is like an InferRed beam.. Meaning a bluetooth signal can bounce off walls. So if you plan on testing bluetooth headphone/earbud you need to go outside. Somewhere like an open field. Testing indoors don't help because the signals will just bounce off the walls.

Sound Quality & Fit: Let me start out by saying I am no Audiophile. My goto Headphone/Earbuds are AKG Q701 headphones and Monster's Miles Davis Trumpet ear buds. Any one who knows alittle about earbuds knows you can't talk quality with out talking fit. The bluebuds come with 3 sets of silicon ear tips, which have color coded centers. White - Small, Neon - Medium, Grey Large. I'm personally using the Large tips and they work perfectly for me. (as a reference I also use large with my Miles Davis Trumpets) I was surprisingly impressed with the quality of sound when I put on my bluebuds. I's not about volume, however I've never had to turn down the volume before on bluetooth earbuds. I've always wanting more volume. Like i've stated before i've always felt bluetooth technology wasn't their before. I shrugged off quality of sound as agh it's just bluetooth. We have defiantly made it over that hurtle. I don't feel it's just bluetooth is an acceptable excuse any longer. On a side note: It seems the Bluebuds X and Monster Miles Davis Trumpet use the same size earbuds. Making them interchangeable which is nice. I do love foam tips and use them regularly on my Monster Miles Davis Trumpet's. However for workouts I like a little ambient noise so I hear whats going on around me. Also Complyfoam sells foam tips for Bluebud X. Over & Under wearable options: I love having the option to wear this earbuds over or under the ear. Jaybird includes 2 small plastic adjusters for managing the cable and wow what a difference these little things make. Jaybird is certainly paying attention to the little things. I find myself liking the over the ear style with the cable management. In this configuration it feels as though you have nothing on your head at all. In the over the ear configuration you will fine that the microphone is behind your ear effecting the quality of the microphone. Charging connection (Worth a mention) Jaybird has finally made the move to a standardized connection yay(mini usb). This makes it so much easier to charge on the go. Their is also a nice looking flat and bendable mini usb cable included. This was a really nice addition. Final Thoughts: (after a week of use) Jaybird has made great strides in their bluetooth technology. The Bluebuds X is far the best bluetooth earbuds by a great margin on the market. I've owned many bluetooth headphones in the past, including the Freedom from Jaybird. The one thing I come away from all of them is that bluetooth technology was not there yet. These earbuds prove to me the technology has made it over these past hurdles. Brining us to what we always wanted real wireless headphone with superior sound quality and battery life to boot. I can only imagine what low power Bluetooth4.0 will bring in the future wow could you imagine getting a month on one charge. This is just my thoughts there has been no indication from jaybird of bluetooth 4.o be we can only hope.. Disappointments: (small nit-picking)

Need smaller secure fit and tips for Women (I returned one due to the fact it didn't fit my wife's ear - loss of revenue for jaybird)
These earbuds are bluetooth 2.1 I would love to see what a 4.0 pair would do to battery life.

Photo Gallery:

[gallery ids="5453,5452,5454,5450,5455,5456,5457,5458,5459,5467"]

Tip: Ask Siri for a Spotify Artist link

Thomas — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:35:53 +0000

Let's say your driving listening to Spotify and all of a sudden you have a sudden desire to listen to a specific artist. This might not be the perfect solution but a nice option until some real integration is available. Spotify has a not so secret phone number which has an automatically response to a text with a Spotify link. This link can open the request artist right in spotify. Here's what to do:

Tell Siri to send a text message to (603) 821-4328 (you can enter this number in your phone as something like "Spotify" to make it easier).
Say the artist name and send that text message.
Wait a couple seconds and you'll get a text message with a link to open the requested artist in Spotify

FirstLook: iPhone 5 Armor series case by OtterBox

Thomas — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:42:07 +0000

Company: OtterBox Color: neon Size: 5.51 x 2.97 x 0.70 inch Weight: 3.91 oz Price: $99.95 Website: www.otterbox.com About: The Armor Series waterproof iPhone 5 case is a rebirth of classic OtterBox protection. Watertight latches, O-ring seals, port covers and mesh coverings allow the Armor Series case to be completely waterproof, tolerating submersions for 30 minutes in up to 6.6 feet of water. Vents made of a non-permeable membrane and protective mesh layer allow sound to move through while keeping harmful elements out. The exterior of the case features advanced materials that protect the device from 10 foot drops. The high-strength reinforced plastic of the Armor Series case can withstand up to two tons of crushing force, while the built-in screen protector prevents scratches and damage to the glass display. Get protection that truly inspires confidence with the Armor Series waterproof iPhone 5 case by OtterBox. The Armor Series waterproof iPhone 5 case has been tested to be underwater at 6.6 feet for 30 minutes, withstand a 10 foot drop, allow zero entry of dust or debris and sustain 2 tons of crushing force. The Armor Series is not waterproof when the charging port or headphone jack are in use. First Thoughts: Packaging was nice looking while pointing out all of it's features. Upon unboxing you can feel how solid the plastic and rubber material is. It does feel like it can do it's job well. Latches close very tightly and took me a minute or two to figure out how they open. However I did see a bit of spacing at the seam where the two half's meet. This is just cosmetic and me just being nit picky. I was pleasantly surprised at how responsive the screen was when swiping. On the other hand when tapping an application it becomes more like pressing. The home and volume buttons are a bit stiff but nice. The mute lever seems to go back to center even though it's not physically there. Also note when installing make sure that mute lever goes into the grove made for it. (pointed out in video) Features:

Over molded bumpers on the inside and outside protect the corners and edges of the device from drops
Metal latches lock the two halves of the case together completing the waterproof seal
Interior silicone is custom fit to cushion the device and ensure reliable performance
Precise openings allow for full functionality of the camera and flash with the case on
Water, Dust, Shock and Crush Proof

Wife's Thoughts: (After a few days of use)

I like the case, Think it protects the phone very well. My phone seems to be protected on all sides. In this case the keypad is not as sensitive so you do have to push down harder on the keys to write but it works well when your just swiping from page to page as your browsing, the mute button is kind of hard to push back and forth.

It's a great case for the outdoorsy people and people that allow their kids to use their phone for games. Cause you don't have to worry about the phone dropping and braking it.

I wish the case would be a little less bulky and thinner. I have small hands and it's to big for me to hold the phone in one hand and try to text. It's to big to fit in my back pocket or small purse

Veronika...

Final Thoughts: (after a week of use) OtterBox has hit the nail on the head once again with their armor series of cases. This case was well constructed and does protect from all the elements as promised. If your worried about damaging you iPhone and want some peace of mind this is the case for you. This case also only takes a few seconds to put on or take off. Which makes having one laying around for those Snowboarding or Beach trips great for protecting your iPhone from water and sand. Nitpicking: The only thing I would improve would be the cosmetic quality control and there tolerances i.e. gapping around the case when closed.

Gallery:

[gallery columns="1" link="file" ids="5347,5345,5348,5349,5350"]

Review: Jadu Skadoosh Mini stand

Thomas — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:50:21 +0000

Company: Jadu Industries Color: Glossy Silver Size: 3.2 x 6.2 x 1.4 inch Weight: 9.6 oz Price: $59.99 Website: www.jadu-industries.com About: The Skadoosh Mini is an innovative stand that combines adjustability, portability, stability and good looks. A simple push-button lock holds your iPad Mini at just about any angle. Made from a solid piece of aluminum, machined by CNC this is a solid stand built to last. First Thoughts: These stands have intrigued me with their solid build and tons of angles. I've had my eye on them for some time now, but have since stopped when I moved to the iPad mini. So I was very happy when I heard that Jadu-Industires has released a version that will in fact work with the iPad mini. Upon unboxing, right away I could feel the solid build of this stand. This stand is pretty straight forward it is a stand after all. The iPad mini fit nicely, The plastic and padding will prevent any scratches. The movement of the bar which the back of you mini rests on works like a ratchet letting you lock in any angle you like. I will admit I was a bit worried about the stands foot print. It held firm on any surface I used it on, including soft ones like a couch or bed. Features:

Multiple angles
Landscape or Portrait
Portable
Firm, but gentle, Grip
In black or Glossy silver

Final Thoughts: (after a week of use) After using this the Skadoosh mini for a week I have no doubt found a new favorite stand. Now if I only had one in every room. So I don't have to carry it back and forth that would be great. With that being said I did find one draw back in using the iPad mini itself with this stand. It seems with the iPad mini's new design the curvature of the edges prevents you from grabbing the iPad mini it self and adjusting the angle. This is not a deal breaker for me since the iPad mini is so small it's easy to grab the side of the iPad mini and the back bar with one hand and adjust the angle. Closer look: https://vimeo.com/61059463

Headline: Google Two-Factor Authentication Compromised

Thomas — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:32:18 +0000

Security is always a battle between Connivance and security.

The more convenient something is the more skeptical you should be. I personally use a YubiKey and Lastpass.

Slashdot reported that an anonymous reader wrote in the following.

"The team at Duo Security figured out how to bypass Google's two-factor authentication, abusing Google's application-specific passwords. Curiously, this means that application-specific passwords are actually more powerful than users' regular passwords, as they can be used to disable the second factor entirely to gain control of an account. Duo [publicly released this exploit Monday] after Google fixed this last week — seven months after initially replying that this was expected behavior!"

Review: Logitech K811 Blutooth Easy Switch Keyboard

Thomas — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:31:50 +0000

Company: Logitech Model: K811 Size: 12 x 1.3 x 5.7 Inches Weight: 1 Pound Warrantee: 3 Year Price: $99.00 Website: www.logitech.com

About:

Logitech released their newest Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard, the K811. Powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery, this ultra-thin illuminated keyboard features a 2.4GHz radio frequency (works up to 10 meters), 81 keys, a one-touch switching button to switch between your Apple Bluetooth devices (Mac, iPad, iPhone) and is backed by a 3-year warranty

First Thoughts:

I was very excited to hear that Logitech has released a new Keyboard. The Logitech K811 can switch between three Bluetooth sources quickly on they fly with dedicated buttons.These days many people are working with multiple devices. I personally have 5 computers in my home office not counting mobile devices such as iPad's and iPhones. I felt I had to get my hands on one the K811's this could make life more productive if it works as advertised. You can thing of it like a bluetooth KVM for your keyboard. With the size, foot print, illumination and feel of a Macbook keyboard Logitech is going after Apple users with the keyboard.

Current Keyboard:

That being said my main keyboard is a Logitech G19 however I do travel with my iPad and Apple's bluetooth keyboard. I've always been a fan of logitech keyboards even though their Mac support leaves a bit to be desired. A good example is the limited support for the G19's built in screen on a mac. So this leaves me a bit skeptical if logitech products work as advertised on Mac's.

Unboxing:

The Logitech K811 Packaging is very basic. Included is the K811 keyboard, usb cable and instructions. The plastic wrapping of the keyboard really reminds me of apple products with the pealing back of plastic wrapping. They are marketing towards Mac users so this makes some sense. The keyboard has a brushed aluminum top and Black plastic bottom. Setup is straight forward as with any other bluetooth setup. The only additional step here is choosing a specific button that will be paired to a specific device.

Pairing:

I pair the K811 with out a hitch to my Macbook Pro, iPad mini and my MacPro. I was presently suppressed at how well the bluetooth connection held and the responsiveness when switch back and forth. Their was no lag or waiting.. Very nice.

Illumination:

The illumination works very well just like macbook pro. The brightness should be more then enough even in normal office light. This keyboard does sense when you hand moves over and lights up. It seems their may be a touch sensor connected to the aluminum. So when touched the illumination turn on as well. Makes you think how come Apple hasn't released an illuminated bluetooth keyboard yet. Yes battery life is a concern, but illumination is pretty much a given when it comes to keyboards already.

Mac Specific Buttons:

The addition Apple specific buttons are huge if you intend on using it with iOS devices.One of these being a Home button which works like your iOS home button. People have been suggesting is that you save the money and get the windows version. Well yes basic buttons would work but you also would be missing Mac specific things like home button for your iOS which is a big benefit. If you ask me if your using a MAC defiantly get the mac version.

Final Thoughts:

I was presently surprised with what Logitech has done here and YES everything works as intended on a MAC and iOS device's. Logitech could of splurged a bit and made the whole keyboard aluminum rather then just the top. The construction is solid but I will probably continue to take Apple's bluetooth keyboard on trips because of it's solid aluminum build. I would worry about the K811 banking around in bags on long trips and braking . You should look into this device if you

If your a Geek and work on multiple computers or devices at the same time you should
- This may improve your productivity.
If your in need of an illuminated keyboard for a Mac

Features:

Logitech Easy-Switch
Reliable Bluetooth connections
Laser etched backlit keys
Auto-adjusting illumination
Hand proximity detection
USB rechargability
Power Management
Compact and wireless
Ultra thin
Logitech Incurve Keys
Logitech PerfectStroke key system

Photo Gallery:

Tip: Get MyScript Calculator while it’s free

Thomas — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:47:10 +0000

MyScript Calculator is an awesome application so much so I can't see it staying that way forever it performs mathematical operations naturally using your handwriting. Easy, simple and intuitive, just write the mathematical expression on the screen then let MyScript technology perform its magic converting symbols and numbers to digital text and delivering the result in real time. The same experience as writing on paper with the advantages of a digital device (Scratch-outs, results in real time, ...). BENEFITS AND FEATURES

Works on your smartphone (Android & iOS)
Works on your tablet (Android & iOS)
Use your handwriting to write any arithmetic formula.
Write and calculate mathematical expressions in an intuitive and natural way with no keyboard
Supported mathematical symbols:
- +, -, x, ÷, +/-, 1/x, ()
- %, √, x!, |x|
- ℯ^x, x^y , x²
- cos, sin, tan
- acos, asin, atan
- ln , log
- π, ℯ,
Scratch-out gestures to easily delete symbols and numbers

[appext 578979413]

Review: iTwin Connect

Thomas — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:23:20 +0000

Company: iTwin Model: Connect Color: Grey Size: 3.5 x 0.8 x 0.3 inches Weight: 1.8 oz Price: $129.00 Website: iTwin Connect About: iTwin Connect ensures that no one can eavesdrop upon your activities when you access the Internet from untrusted networks. Plug in one half of your iTwin and select the "Teleport Me" feature. iTwin Connect encrypts all your data and routes it through the host server of your choice. It can be either one of the iTwin dedicated servers set up in various locations for your convenience or it can be a Trusted PC to which you have attached the other half of your device. Any network sniffing or intelligent proxy servers in your location will be unable to decipher the data or ascertain anything about your browsing activities.

First Thoughts: The thought of an easy hardware encrypted Plug-N-Play VPN Tunnel has always been on my wish list. iTwin managed to produce just that so need less to say we were very excited to one for review. Packaging leave's a-little to be desired but gets the job done. Personally I would rather save some money on packaging and make a better product. The iTwin connect feels well built in hand with it's aluminum brushed casing. I will admit I was a bit worried about the way the iTwin connects to each other. From the pictures it seemed they held together magnetically or something. At first I thought that could be cool but after some more thinking I figured it could be more of a pain. It's NOT held together magnetically at all. The iTwin connecters are built with good tolerance's allowing for a very tight fit. By NO means does it feel like it will fall however it does take a bit of force to pull apart. Features:

Access geo-restricted sites and services
Easy to setup personal VPN tunnel
Browse Securely
Hardware grade security and two facto authentication
No monthly subscription

Final Thoughts: (after 3days of use) The iTwin Connect lives up to it's mission, by giving people an easy way of creating a secure tunnel. I found this device very easy to use and setup on Windows. The iTwin software checks online and installs there more current software version.This software is very straight forward and put together nicely. It would of been nice to launch with Mac support as well. From what I've been told their looking at a June launch. This to me is a missed opportunity seeing how many people are using Mac's on the go. I do worry a bit about the need for iTwin's servers to make your connections. Even making a connection between both half's there is still the need to communicate with an iTwin server. Which for me raises other questions about server security procedures as well as the viability of this hardware if iTwin closes down or sells to another company. Now don't get me wrong there are some benefits of having a server in the middle. For example the ability to Disable your iTwin in the event one is lost or stolen. Disappointments: (small nit-picking)

Released without Mac Support (coming in June)
Need more Exit VPN server (suggestions)
- United Kingdom
- Canada

Photo Gallery:

FirstLook: Unboxing iTwin Connect

Thomas — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:25:09 +0000

iTwin connect gives you an easy solution for keeping you files and internet private. By creating a Hardware 256-bit AES encrypted Tunnel between both USB Paired half's. In addition to the file sharing iTwin connect's hardware give you the ability to use there out bound VPN servers in US, Asia and Europe enabling you to get other region addresses for use with service like Hulu. The iTwin connect is going for $130 Keep any eye open for the Full review coming in a few days.

VPN: OpenVPN installation and config

Thomas — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:49:50 +0000

OpenVPN is one of the most secure VPN service. It is also open source making it widely used solution. We will be doing our installation using Ubuntu Server Lets dive right in

Install OpenVPN:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo apt-get install openvpn [/sourcecode] Server certificates

Create the OpenVPN server certificates.
- Copy the easy-rsa directory to /etc/openvpn. This will ensure that any changes to the scripts will not be lost when the package is updated.

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo mkdir /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/ sudo cp -r /usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples/easy-rsa/2.0/ /etc/openvpn/ [/sourcecode]

Edit /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/vars and adjust the variables for your environment:

[sourcecode language="plain"] export KEY_COUNTRY="US" export KEY_PROVINCE="CA" export KEY_CITY="MyCity" export KEY_ORG="MyCompany" export KEY_EMAIL="webmaster at mycompany.com" [/sourcecode]

Run the scripts to create the server certificates:

[sourcecode language="plain"] cd /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/easy-rsa source vars ./clean-all ./build-dh ./pkitool --initca ./pkitool --server server cd keys openvpn --genkey --secret ta.key sudo cp server.crt server.key ca.crt dh1024.pem ta.key /etc/openvpn/ [/sourcecode] Client Certificates

A VPN clients requires a certificate in order to authenticate itself to the VPN server.
Create the certificate:

[sourcecode language="plain"] cd /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/ source vars ./pkitool hostname [/sourcecode] Note: Replace hostname with the actual hostname of the client machine that will be connecting to the VPN.

Copy the certificate files that have been created to the client:
- /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/hostname.ovpn
- /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/ca.crt
- /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/hostname.crt
- /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/hostname.key
- /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/ta.key

Note: Use the files that correspond to your client machine's hostname. Server Configuration

On the OpenVPN server, modify /etc/openvpn/server.conf from the example file:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo cp /usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples/sample-config-files/server.conf.gz /etc/openvpn/ sudo gzip -d /etc/openvpn/server.conf.gz [/sourcecode]

Edit etc/openvpn/server.conf:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo nano /etc/openvpn/server.conf [/sourcecode]

Changing the following options to resemble:

[sourcecode language="plain"] local 172.18.100.101 dev tap0 server-bridge 172.18.100.101 255.255.255.0 172.18.100.105 172.18.100.200 push "route 172.18.100.0 255.255.255.0" push "dhcp-option DNS 172.18.100.20" push "dhcp-option DOMAIN example.com" tls-auth ta.key 0 # This file is secret user nobody group nogroup [/sourcecode]

Notes: local: is the IP address of the bridge interface. server-bridge: needed when the configuration uses bridging. The 172.18.100.101 255.255.255.0 portion is the bridge interface and mask. The IP range 172.18.100.105 172.18.100.200 is the range of IP addresses that will be assigned to clients. push: directives to add networking options for clients. user and group: configure which user and group the openvpn daemon executes as. Replace all IP addresses and domain names above with those of your network.

Create helper scripts to add the tap interface to the bridge.
- Create /etc/openvpn/up.sh:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo nano /etc/openvpn/up.sh [/sourcecode]

Add the lines:

[sourcecode language="plain"] #!/bin/sh # BR=$1 DEV=$2 MTU=$3 /sbin/ifconfig $DEV mtu $MTU promisc up /usr/sbin/brctl addif $BR $DEV [/sourcecode]

Create /etc/openvpn/down.sh:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo nano /etc/openvpn/down.sh [/sourcecode]

Add the lines:

[sourcecode language="plain"] #!/bin/sh # BR=$1 DEV=$2 # /usr/sbin/brctl delif $BR $DEV /sbin/ifconfig $DEV down [/sourcecode]

Make the scripts executable:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo chmod 755 /etc/openvpn/down.sh sudo chmod 755 /etc/openvpn/up.sh [/sourcecode]

Restart OpenVpn:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo /etc/init.d/openvpn restart [/sourcecode] Client Configuration

Copy the example client configuration file:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo cp /usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples/sample-config-files/client.conf /etc/openvpn [/sourcecode]

Edit the client configuration file:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo nano /etc/openvpn/client.conf [/sourcecode]

Change it to resemble:

[sourcecode language="plain"] dev tap remote vpn.mycompany.com 1194 cert hostname.crt key hostname.key tls-auth ta.key 1 [/sourcecode] Note: Replace vpn.mycompany.com with the hostname of your VPN server, and hostname.* with the actual certificate and key filenames that correspond to the client.

Restart OpenVpn:

[sourcecode language="plain"] sudo /etc/init.d/openvpn restart [/sourcecode]

Connect the VPN client to the remote LAN through the OpenVPN server.

FirstLook: Cookoo Watch

Thomas — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:40:54 +0000

Company: CooKoo Color: White Case Diameter: 44mm Case Thickness: 16.3 Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 Water Resistant: 5 ATM Warrantee: 1 Year Price: $129.00 Website: www.cookoowatch.com

About: Cookoo is a making a name for it self within the smart watch market after reaching their funning goal on Kickstarter. The Cookoo Smart watch connects to iOS devices using bluetooth 4.0 (android coming soon). This gives you the ability to get ICON and Sound notifications for phone calls, missed calls, Facebook posts, messages, low battery, Calendar events and SMS and email Cookoo notifications are coming soon. Their is also a command button that gives your the flexibility of running actions. These actions are configure within the iOS application and include things like Facebook Checkins, Remote camera control, Find phone, Start and stoping music and Dropping pins on a map.

First Thoughts: Cookoo seems to have a great graphic design group. Their branding and Packaging is spot on and my hat is off to them. Seeing the packaging I was excited to open and dive in. I went straight for the instructions, which was a bit shabby mostly tells you how to Pair the device. Then they point you to the iOS app. That being said after installing the application I got paired up and ready to go. I ran through their apps notifications demo options. I then felt confident and was ready to strap on the watch. When putting on the watch it seemed pretty thick however it felt fine on my wrist. The screen did seem a bit hard to see indoors. In dark area's the built in light really works well.

Final Thoughts: (after a 3 days of use) Cookoo is heading down the right track with their smart watch. This is a defiantly a Version: 1 product with allot of potential. Seeing a Kickstarter project leave the gate running is a wonderful sight to see. I would love to see where they go from here. The watch works as intended however for me I find myself going to my iPhone way to much but I'm not the average guy. I get tons of messages and meetings through out the day. For me it just seems like another step since details are not on the watch. I am going to my phone to get those details way to often. Now for someone like my wife who keeps their phone in her pocketbook and the fact she doesn't get tons of notifications during the day it would be great. Now the command button features are awesome. This stops me from having to pull my phone out for simple tasks. There isn't a ton of command features built in yet. Cookoo has told me there is more in the works as well as an open API for developers coming soon. What I would love to see in a Version 2 is a real slimmed down version. If they can get the internals more compressed and slimmed down then aim marketing towards women they will hit it out of the park. I personally would like to see higher quality watch versions as well (leather and stainless) once everything they get to that slimmed down version. Disappointments: (small nit-picking)

Occasionally dropped connectionChange to thirds
Light needs to be brighter
Light only last 3 seconds (would be nice if it was configurable in the app)
Launched with no SMS and Email notifications

Photo Gallery: [caption id="attachment_5114" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Cookoo in Tree[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5112" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Cookoo - Men's wrist[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5111" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Cookoo - Women's wrist[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5113" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Cookoo - Men's wrist[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5115" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Cookoo - Women's wrist[/caption]

Tip: Access blocked content from any country with Hola

Thomas — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:00:36 +0000

Hola Gives You Access to services like iPlayer, Netflix, Pandora, Hulu, and More Regardless of Region

is a Chrome/Firefox extension which removes region locks allowing you to watch service like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hula, Pandora, and more regardless of where you live. Their is other ways ways to circumvent region-locking but none as easy and free. Hola works right out of the box no setup and easy to use. www.hola.org

Tip: Use Dictation to Search on Apple TV

Thomas — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:55:24 +0000

This is one of those tips that makes you think..

How come I haven't been using that.

On the AppleTv you have search options almost everywhere within the iTunes store, Computer, Podcasts, Netflix, Youtube etc.

Using the remote that come's with the apple tv is cumbersome since their is no keyboard. Most people who have Apple Tv's also have an iOS device as well and most have or at the very least heard of Apple application called "Remote" which lets you use your iOS device as a remote for the Apple Tv. A key feature of this app a side from letting your control your Apple Tv is that it gives you a virtual keyboard making searching that much easier. Taking this another step forward you also have the option to use dictation for your searches.

Have you used dictation for your Apple Tv searches in the past?

To use dictation is fairly simple use

Open Apple's Remote application on your iOS device
Navigate to a search dialog on the Apple TV. (A Virtual keyboard will pop up)
Press the Mic icon to the left of you spacebar.
Speak what your looking for.
Tap Mic icon when done.
Done (Your list is populated with your search results)

VPN: L2TP Server installation and config

Thomas — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:49:51 +0000

Layer Two Tunnel Protocol is one of the trickier VPNs to configure and setup. L2TP encryption is stronger then PPTP and is widely available with out 3rd party software and supports most Mobile devices makes this a top choose for tunneling though the internet. We are going to run though the installation and setup of L2TP on an Ubuntu Server. Please take the time to look though L2TP bug reports before updating or installing. L2TP always seems to fix and brake things on new versions.

Side Note: I normally use apt-get to install packages however I did find a bug in openswan with mismatch versions using apt-get however using aptitude seemed to fix the issue

Lets dive right into the installation and configuration of L2TP on Ubuntu

We will need an IPSec daemon to provide encryption and authentication [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo aptitude install openswan[/sourcecode] You will be prompted regarding RSA keys. Since we will be using preshared keys (PSK), say no/skip the RSA prompts Next we will be adjusting /etc/ipsec.conf [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo mv /etc/ipsec.conf /etc/ipsec.conf.old[/sourcecode] Make a backup of the default ipsec.conf file [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo nano /etc/ipsec.conf[/sourcecode] Copy and paste the following into /etc/ipsec.conf [sourcecode language="plain"]version 2.0 config setup nat_traversal=yes virtual_private=%v4:10.0.0.0/8,%v4:192.168.0.0/16,%v4:172.16.0.0/12 oe=off protostack=netkey conn L2TP-PSK-NAT rightsubnet=vhost:%priv also=L2TP-PSK-noNAT conn L2TP-PSK-noNAT authby=secret pfs=no auto=add keyingtries=3 rekey=no ikelifetime=8h keylife=1h type=transport left=[Server IP address] leftnexthop=[Server Gateway] leftprotoport=17/1701 right=%any rightprotoport=17/%any[/sourcecode] Now, we save the preshared key [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo mv /etc/ipsec.secrets /etc/ipsec.secrets.old[/sourcecode] Make a backup of the default ipsec.secrets file [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo nano /etc/ipsec.secrets[/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"][Server IP address] %any: PSK “[Your preshared key]”[/sourcecode] The preshared key is anything you choose, but be sure to remember it as you will need it for authentication. EG: “testkey” Switch to root and input the following command to make sure that IPSec runs properly [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo su for each in /proc/sys/net/ipv4/conf/* do echo 0 > $each/accept_redirects echo 0 > $each/send_redirects done[/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"]su [primary user][/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo ipsec verify[/sourcecode] It should say that everything is running properly except for Opportunistic Encryption Support [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo /etc/init.d/ipsec restart[/sourcecode] Now let’s install and configure L2TP [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo aptitude install xl2tpd[/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo mv /etc/xl2tpd/xl2tpd.conf /etc/xl2tpd/xl2tpd.conf.old[/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo nano /etc/xl2tpd/xl2tpd.conf[/sourcecode] Paste the following [sourcecode language="plain"][global] ipsec saref = yes [lns default] ip range = 10.1.2.2-10.1.2.255 local ip = 10.1.2.1 refuse chap = yes refuse pap = yes require authentication = yes ppp debug = yes pppoptfile = /etc/ppp/options.xl2tpd length bit = yes[/sourcecode] The ip range is the range of internal ip addresses. The local ip is the internal address of the server itself. Now we acquire and configure PPP [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo aptitude install ppp[/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo nano /etc/ppp/options.xl2tpd[/sourcecode] Paste the following (don’t worry, the file is supposed to be empty) [sourcecode language="plain"]require-mschap-v2 ms-dns 8.8.8.8 ms-dns 209.139.209.33 asyncmap 0 auth crtscts lock hide-password modem debug name l2tpd proxyarp lcp-echo-interval 30 lcp-echo-failure 4[/sourcecode] Now we will need to create user credentials to be used for the VPN login [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo nano /etc/ppp/chap-secrets[/sourcecode] In this file, you will see something similar to this. Give it the credentials that you choose and remember them. They will be used every time you access the VPN. [sourcecode language="plain"]user server password ip [username] [server] [password] *[/sourcecode] save the file and restart the service [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo /etc/init.d/xl2tpd restart[/sourcecode] If you are using iptables, input the following [sourcecode language="plain"]iptables –table nat –append POSTROUTING – jump MASQUERADE echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward[/sourcecode] openswan doesn’t appear to start after rebooting. Add this line to /etc/rc.local [sourcecode language="plain"]sudo nano /etc/rc.local[/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"]iptables –table nat –append POSTROUTING –jump MASQUERADE echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward for each in /proc/sys/net/ipv4/conf/* do echo 0 > $each/accept_redirects echo 0 > $each/send_redirects done[/sourcecode] [sourcecode language="plain"]/etc/init.d/ipsec restart[/sourcecode] You should now be able to connect to your new L2TP VPN gateway.