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  UofMTiger Tech
UOFMTIGER'S DEN

Cool Tools - A Catalog of Possibilities

12/28/2013

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Finally, the PERFECT book for gadget geeks!  I don't normally review books, but I will make an exception in this case.

This book is based on the Kevin Kelly website that features cool tools.   While Amazon has thousands of reviews, it is hard to tell which reviewer has credibility and which reviewer doesn't.  Pick out a book by a controversial author and you will see plenty of reviews (negative and positive) by people that have never read the book.  Also, when you read a review of a product, the issues that are raised are often an issue with the reviewer not understanding how to use a product.  Therefore, having a credible reviewer is as at least as important as a bunch of random reviews.

There are several things I love about the "Cool Tools" book.  The layout that features many areas that most people have an interest.   "Edible", "Household", "Clothing", etc... are all featured in the book with subcategories and have product reviews that make you want to investigate further.   Obviously, these reviews are based on what the authors have used, so you don't get a cross reference of the many competing products, but it at least gives you a starting point.  Also, the book has products that you may have never heard of, but now realize that you desperately need!  For example, I have an Ice Cream Maker that I reviewed, but I do not have a scooper.  Most of the scoopers I have used aren't much better than a large spoon, so I didn't think I needed one.  Well, I ended up getting a Zeroll Ice Cream Scoop (that is heat activated)  that they featured on page 198.

The "Cool Tools" book has QR Codes that can make it easy to find the product.  I installed the "Scan-QR Code and Barcode" app for $1.99 that works on both my iPad and iPhone.  You simply hold the scanner (camera sensor) over the code and Safari will open up to the webpage that sells the product (typically, this is just a link to the product on Amazon).   How much easier can it get?

The book is fairly large, so it is easier to read at a table/desk, but I often just look at it on the couch and bookmark the pages I want to scan later.    It is the ultimate coffee table book because you will find yourself referring to it over and over again.   In other words, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this incredibly awesome book!  

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Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Pancake Lens Impressions

12/19/2013

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I have been using the Olympus E-PL5 for a few months now and discovered that my favorite lens is the Panasonic 20mm.  

There are several reasons I  like this lens when paired with the E-PL5.  The main thing is that the lens is tiny.  It makes it easy to pop the camera, with lens, in a Scottevest Jacket and it is barely noticeable.  The second feature that I like is the f1.7 aperture.  This makes it my "go to" lens for taking pics in the house.  Sure, I can get great performance from my Canon 5D Mark III with a 50mm lens, but it would need more space on my already crowded table top area by my seat on the couch.  I have the E-PL5 with lens attached sitting in a magazine rack and it takes up very little space. Thirdly, the 20mm (40mm equivalent) is pretty much perfect for getting pics in a tight space.  

I own the original 20mm, but they have updated to version 2.  The new version has a bit better build quality and is supposed to have some slight benefit in picture quality.  However, it doesn't sound like enough reason to go through the process of selling my current lens.

Below are a few samples of pics with the lens.  All of them are edited, so these aren't the out of camera samples.  There are plenty of sites that offer that type of info if you are interested.

The pic below is the benefit of having a small camera around your neck when something random happens.  Since I can aim and fire the camera with one hand, I was able to get this pic when a dragonfly landed on my left hand...no one would have believed it otherwise:

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Because of the small size and light weight, it is perfect for the amusement park or other crowded places that you plan to walk around all day (the pic contains mostly "in camera" editing thanks to the artistic settings in the camera) :

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In the winter/fall, I like to stay inside and get pics of my pups.  With the f1.7 capabilities and the 40mm (equivalent), it is perfect for these types of conditions:

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When I do get outside, it makes it possible to hold the camera in one hand, while throwing a ball with the other.  For my camera shy pup, it make it easier to get pics because he is mainly concerned with the ball in my other hand:

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One other cool feature is the ability to play with the DOF:

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All in all, I am very happy with this lens.  I usually shoot with zoom lenses, so having a fixed lens is a bit different, but the trade off is faster speed and smaller size.  
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Audioquest Dragonfly - The bargain of the year!

12/15/2013

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If you have scanned my other web pages (see links above), you know I have plenty of DACs and headphone amps to keep just about anyone happy for a lifetime.  However, when I saw that the Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC which many were calling a bargain at $250, was selling for $99, I just had to have one.

I should mention that I wanted one of these when they were priced at $250, but I couldn't justify the cost.  If you are curious about how this thing works, it simply plugs into your computer's USB port and has a headphone output on the other end.  I plugged it into my MBP and it was automatically listed in the audio choices.  I plugged in some headphones and selected the Dragonfly as my output and I was up and running.   It features Asynchronous USB, which is to say that it is one of the best ways to get audio from your computer to your ears.

I have an old uDAC portable DAC/Amp that I bought for using on vacations or out on the deck in the backyard.  I wanted to combine it with an iPad and it worked great with the CCK (Camera Connection Kit).  The main downside was that Apple decided to limit the power of the USB port  (or at least put up a message saying that the USB did not have enough power for the connected device) with a firmware update that tried to made it impossible to work without plugging it into a powered USB hub.  I was hoping the Dragonfly would not have this issue, but it does.

While that is bad news, the good news is that with iOS7, it is possible to use the CCK with an iPhone.  The question is how to use these without plugging them into a powered USB hub.  I have found a way around plugging it into a power source, but it is a bit unwieldy.  I found a device called "T3Hub" (if you want one, you may have to check eBay) that will trick the iPad/iPhone into thinking that it is being powered.  It works great!

I should mention that I also bought a DragonTail.  Since the Dragonfly is shaped like a USB thumb drive, it sticks out when it is plugged into a laptop.  This can put stress on the connector and if it is bumped, it could break.  I have three energetic pups around the house, so I would rather not risk it.  The DragonTail is a 4.4 inch USB extender that is flexible and makes it less likely to mess up the Dragonfly.  I had a Boxwave USB adapter that is similar, but it didn't work.  Not sure if it was faulty or if there is some inherent issue with using it with the Dragonfly.
 
Personally, I don't usually comment on how something sounds because it is often subjective, (some like tube and some like solid state, for example).  However, below are a few links to reviews that some may find interesting:

Stereophile
Computer Audiophile
Sound&Vision

I should mention that Audioquest has come out with a new version of the Dragonfly that is priced around $150.   Personally, I wanted to keep the budget under the $100 mark, so I went with the older version and I couldn't be happier.   One thing that I like about the Dragonfly is that the dragonfly emblem changes colors when it gets a different signal. As an example, it is a pinkish color when playing 24/96 (see iPhone shot below), an orangish color with an 88.2 signal (see MBP below), and other colors depending on the signal.
 

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2 Comments

    About me:

    Dog loving, Big Green Egg worshiping, Tech enthusiast, residing in Memphis, TN.  Home of the Tigers, Grizzlies, Elvis, Al Green, Stax, Hi Records, Ardent Studios, Beale Street, Peabody Ducks, etc..  I have also added the Jeep Wrangler to the list of things I am enthusiastic about.

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