RockBuds earbud giveaway is coming

Need some "buds" for your ears?  How about some earbuds...to be specific:  "RockBuds"!

Rock Band

(The set I have in my ears at this moment is pictured above...)

"...These buds feature a built-in retractable device that’s not only tricked out with stylish designs, but serves a functional purpose too! The retractor allows the cord length to expand and retract to 5 stopping points... shorter for use on an armband and longer to reach an iPod on a belt. (The clip prevents cords from bouncing around). This compact retractable device also prevents cords from tangling when not in use.."

Wings Like Eagles

The plug on it is a standard 3.5 mm...it fits iPods, iPhones, MP3 players, Walkmen, computers headphone ports, etcetera.  Three silicon tips...small, medium, and extra-large...are included.

Rock Star

[NOTE:  I'm currently on MST/PDT...]

On Tuesday (Nov 1), after 12 PM EST...on this blog...I will post how you can win a set.

For more free products and giveaways, go to http://www.facebook.com/chicbuds

A mouse made for DJs....

DJ-Tech has created a mouse specifically for use by DJs.  At first,  I wasn't sure this product needed to exist.  But, I now know it does.

DJs using computers need to a mouse designed for the environment they will be in, and the mouse needs to be an instrument with certain particulars that will not hamper their performance.

I was sent a DJ-Tech DJ Mouse (Deckadance), and love it.  It has a nice weight to it...enough that makes me feel that when I am in control of it, I am sure my movements will be precise.  (I was unable to weigh it...since the "DJ Mouse Traktor Edition" states it weighs 120 grams, I assume the one I received is the same weight).

To aid in low-light situations, like nightclubs, three controls on the mouse are lit:  the vertical wheel, the jog wheel, and the "scratch" button.  The vertical wheel is rubber for comfort, wider than normal, and has raised bumps for accuracy when scrolling.  The vertical and jog wheels also have button functionality (for pressing and "clicking").

I did not spend time with the software because it has too many features for me to cover in one article.

I am impressed by the hardware, and wish there were drivers so I can customize the mouse for use without the Deckadance software.  I want to be able to use this as my primary mouse, and assign specific functions to the controls.

The mousepad they provide is the right size for use in areas that can be crowded with other equipment around:  7 by 8.5 inches.  (The mouse uses an optical sensor at 800 DPI.)

Deckadance software was included with the DJ-Tech DJ Mouse, but there is a DJ Mouse Traktor Edition...

which includes software from Native Instruments.

Videos of the mouse and software in use can be viewed at:

http://youtu.be/PgLH45il9iw

http://youtu.be/OSzS5Wlsocs

http://youtu.be/Ove4zoBVT9s

http://youtu.be/quOjhnJJ0tY

Take note that one of my computers which can boot to USB drives and devices would not boot to the internal hard drive if the mouse was attached when I powered-on the computer.

Is Compaq is too damn compact?...

I just received a call from a computer repair shop that I've been assisting at...

"Hey...I just opened this tower of the new computer that the customer left...there's nothing in it..."

What?  The tower of a one day old, brand new Compaq CQ2010 contains almost...nothing.  The day before, I went into the Base Exchange ("BX") on an Air Force base with an older couple to try to help them choose a new computer.  From what they told me about how they use computers, I saw no reason to not suggest purchasing the least expensive computer that was available.  Which was the Compaq for $299.  And now, I know why the older woman had no problem lifting it...

Take a look at the specifications here.

And now...the motherboard:

Manufacturer: Pegatron
Form factor: Mini-ITX form factor: 17 cm (6.7 inches) x 20 cm (7.9 inches)
Chipset: AMD Hudson-D1 FCH
Memory sockets: 2 x DDR3
Front side bus speeds: 4 lanes, 2.5 GT/s per lane UMI (Unified Media Interface)
Processor socket: Not applicable because the processor is soldered down to the motherboard

Notice anything missing?

(Answer:  PCI slots.)

The technician who opened they case said the motherboard is about as large as those found in netbooks.

And, take a close look at the power input port:  "DC input power".  Just like they use for portable/notebook computers.

Buyer beware.

"Connect computers over the internet via USB"

"iTwin is like the two ends of a cable, without the cable."

Well...for me, it's like Dropbox, but it uses two USB devices as physical keys to portals with which you connect through...they are not physically connected, yet they are connected via the internet.  (And there is no 2 gigabyte storage limit for accounts that are free.)

The "local" computer is to be "the one at which you are sitting"...however, I rather consider it to be the one that is the "source" or "primary" computer.

The "remote" computer is...the other one.

With the two dongles physically connected together, as they come out of the box, I connected them to a USB port.  I opened My Computer to find a drive letter labeled "iTwin".  And after double-clicking on it to launch the drive, the installation procedure began.

I set a "Friendly name" for the pair (such as "itwinnumber1").  After registering an eddress, a disable code was sent.  I can use it to terminate service between the two dongles, as in the instance I may have lost one of them.

Now, with the two halves paired, when they are plugged into computers they can find each other over the internet.

When the USB dongle is connected to the (local) computer, I have access to a window that I can copy files to...and when the other dongle is connected to a different ("remote") computer, I can access the files (from there) with AES-256 encryption.  Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) has been determined by the National Security Agency (NSA) to be secure enough for U.S. Government classified data and information...

A password can be set so, after the two dongles are connected to computers, it will be needed to access files (between both computers).  Per iTwin:  "If you forget your password, simply pair both halves of your iTwin, plug them into a computer and set a new password..."

I connected the remote dongle to a different computer...it installed, but needed me to log out of the user profile I was in for an update to be installed.

At the local computer, it recognized that the remote dongle was online.

A nice surprise feature is that:  "If you leave one half of iTwin connected to your computer at home, iTwin won't let your computer fall asleep..."

When it was sent to me, it was only compatible with Windows.  I recently viewed their website, and found there is a "free upgrade" so they can be used with the Apple Macintosh operating system.

In the Getting Started Guide, on page 7, it states:  "Drag & drop as many files & folders as you like into the iTwin 'local files' window..."

One thing that you need to know is that:  when I dragged a file into the windows for "local" files, and then deleted the file from it's original location...it was deleted from the iTwin window.