Wendy and/or Mikey one up'ed me, here's a wonderful post about what might be the next renaissance, I think so too! What an interesting Friday this turned out to be...
In 2000 when I quit my job and reoriented myself away from money and towards the gathering of skills: welding, sewing, building, growing food, many of my friends thought I was nuts. I did not make these changes with a doomy perspective. The epiphany that inspired me was one of a better world that followed a great collapse. So here we are. Some of my friends no longer think I'm nuts. The nearing end of oil and the collapse of the monetary system have set rapid change in motion. Oil had enabled us to fraction ourselves off from the natural world and build an artificial one on top of it, a poor and unsustainable mimic. Yet the natural world we started off with actually perpetuates life, it is life, needs no caretakers and naturally provides. We replaced it with a dependent machine. Without oil the machine grinds to a halt and leaves us where we started, with the only task we've ever been given, to live on earth. Our monetary system enabled greed to be the road to wealth. Wealth was not measured by generosity, creativity or love. When I look at what's dying I see things that never had life in the first place. The lifelessness of our way of living is just becoming more evident. But remember we are life, and life has always existed. And so I feel no reminiscence towards what's passing away now.
So I made my choice a few years ago. I left NYC for Truth or Consequences, NM, a tiny desert town that was never fully dependent on the national economy. Folks here have skills: welding, sewing, woodworking, canning, growing etc. The domestic economy is vibrant, in fact barter is more respected than the dollar which says so little of one's character. When a developer came here with big plans to "help us" I realized that he could not see that poverty is being redefined. While one in four American homes are empty, here in T or C we have a nearly full occupancy. He sees trailers and mobiles, "poor folks!" I see balance, living within one's means. This is wealth! This is a place that skirted through the great depression of the 1920's and 30's. Here locals grew food and stocked the supermarket for those who could not grow. That supermarket is still here.
In Truth or Consequences one must bring their work or create it here. You could say that it's a perfect place for folks who attend Burning Man. Like the desert utopian experiment T or C is pioneering, it asks you what your made of and what your skills are. You can still buy a home here for $50k, taxes average at a couple hundred bucks a year. What's here? Whatever you bring here. Like Burning Man it asks you to manifest and share what matters most to you. This place highlights my own belief that in this time the maker is the revolutionary.
We'll all find our place soon enough. As we slide deeper into what's being now called the 'greater depression' I suggest we consider this collapse is also the renaissance in disguise. If your tempted to savor what was: money, consumerism and greed, consider how little life it contained. Mystics over the ages have told us that we fell from paradise, from the garden. Religious texts speak of man's fall into idolatry. These concepts need not be filed under religious thinking. When we built a world on top of one that was given to us and we thanked ourselves for it we parted ways with the natural world and we made gods of ourselves for the doing of it. What do we have to gain from this collapse? Only paradise and the rediscovery of our humanity. And perhaps wealth will finally move to the hands of those most capable of holding it, those who know how to live in the real world a world that teaches us through our ability to live in it that the health of the individual is dependent on the health of the whole.
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Written by Phillip Torrone on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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ASUS’ N10 might be a netbook, but it’s certainly no Eee PC - not if your general conception of the Eee range is a basic web-surfing machine that would run out of breath even at the mention of gaming. Mobile Computer have been putting the N10 through its paces, and one thing is clear: a netbook becomes a very different animal once you add switchable NVIDIA GeForce 9200M graphics, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard-drive and HDMI output.
Check out the ASUS N10 gaming demo video after the cut
The switchable video card - the N10 has both onboard Intel 945 graphics, like other netbooks, together with the NVIDIA card, that you swap between with a reboot - means games like Call of Duty 4 play smoothly at the LCD’s native 1024 x 600 resolution (although a little tweaking to the anti-aliasing was required). It’s also capable of handling 480p high-definition video, though reviewer Julian Prokaza had trouble with 720p.
Mobile Computer are basically calling the ASUS N10 a crossover, a blend of netbook and traditional ultraportable, and it sounds like many of the strengths of each are brought along too. Pre-orders for the N10 are currently starting from around $600, though that climbs rapidly when you start looking at more traditional-spec models.
[via Slashdot]
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Written by Chris Davies on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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Earlier this week, AT&T announced a new product called the AT&T HomeManager which attempts to integrate Internet content, VoIP service, cordless/wireless handsets and frames, and a typical home POTS service into a single package. The HomeManager package is made up of three parts - a seven inch wireless touch-screen panel, a cordless handset, and a basestation which connects to your router or gateway.
Phone wise, the HomeManager connects to both a traditional landline as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connections. A speakerphone is built into both the frame as well as the cordless handset.
The portable seven inch color touch-screen device provides users with one-touch access to a variety of features and Internet content including:
- 7 inch display with a 800 x 480 resolution
- 2 hour battery life during operation and 24 hour standby
- Visual voice mail
- Weather reports
- E-mail access
- Internet content such as local news, movie showtimes, previews, and reviews, sports scores, stock quotes, YellowPage search results, lottery numbers etc
- Speakerphone
- Up to five address books
- Call logs
- Calendars
- Internal storage of 256MB
- Also doubles as a digital photo frame
The cordless handset is a full duplex speakerphone with a 2 inch color screen.
To make use of the VoIP services as well as the Internet content, the HomeManager needs a broadband service with a minimum download speed of 768 Kbs.
Pricing for the HomeManager is as follows. The system is $299.99 if you have the following qualified services:
- If you have AT&T home phone service and sign up for a two-year DSL contract at speeds of 1.5 Mps or higher.
- Or, if you subscribe to U-verse TV, U-verse high speed Internet and have either U-verse voice or a telephone line from AT&T.
This includes the complete HomeManager package which includes the basestation, frame, and handset.
If you don’t meet the requirements, then the AT&T HomeManager will cost you $499.99. You can read more about the pricing details here.
[Check it out]
Technorati Tags: AT&T HomeManager, VoIP
Written by flung on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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Folks, these are the best of times and the worst of times, as they say. I live a couple blocks away from Wall Street in a crummy apartment that is getting torn down as we speak. There are piles of ironic rubble everywhere. As I pack up electronics, copies of MAKE, and tools, it's becoming clear to me that we have an historic opportunity to make things better, not just immediately, but for the future. We're all likely to feel financial pressures with inflation; our dollars won't go as far, so our interests and hobbies should be ones that give back. I'm pretty sure "DIY" is going to get even bigger, as more people will be making things. Some make because we want to, some because it's all we'll be able to do.
When we are young, we have lots of time, but not lots of money, so we play, we tinker, we explore. I think we're going to have that opportunity again. The things we make, the tools we use, the books and resources we buy need to work harder for us and be things we not only learn from, but pass on to others, including children. We can spend more time together at meetups (MAKE, dorkbot, etc) and collectively form places, like hacker spaces and tool shops (NYCR, etc) to pool our resources. We can invest in hobbies that will give back, like electronics, woodworking, and DIY in general. Being able to make, fix, repair, and build might be the most important skills to develop. We really only have each other, and I think we're all better off when we're able to be self-reliant when we need to be.
We have a lot of challenges ahead. I'm an American and I tend to think that we are at our best when we are challenged the most. It doesn't get more interesting than this. There are energy problems we'll need to solve. There are education problems we'll need to solve. If you're a parent, you're in the best possible position to help. You never know what will spark a kid's interest, so you expose them to lots of things. I don't have any kids (yet) but after a few years of doing Maker Faires and talking with thousands of parents, I know that electronics seem to be one of those things that kids go crazy with. I'm not sure how we're going to make the world a better place, but I know we will need scientists and engineers.
As 2008 comes to a close soon, we're doing everything we can at MAKE to inspire the current and next generation of Makers, who will be creating the next chapter in this story. We have a Maker Faire coming up in Austin (October 18-19). Tens of thousands of people will come together to celebrate making things. We also have a giant sale going on for the rest of the month (only a few days left): everything in the Maker Shed store is 10% off, and you get a free Maker's Notebook automatically added to orders over $25. Use discount code CRZYDAN at the checkout. If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for a time to get started with electronics, this is it. Pick up a soldering set, a kit or two, and maybe an Arduino. There are dozens of people I know who got started and within just a few months were considering new careers; some have even started their own businesses making electronics.
I know there are lots of things you can do with your time and money, and I want to thank all the folks who support MAKE: everyone who visits our sites, watches our videos, reads our books and magazines, and comes to Maker Faire. We're just one small group in a giant community that is trying to make things better. MAKE is just a collection of Makers; we didn't create this group of people -- they were and always will be out there. I hope we're doing a good job celebrating this movement and inspiring folks. If you think there's more everyone could do, I'm certain you will join in and help.
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Written by Phillip Torrone on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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Delivering crisp and clear sounds is the aim of Sony’s extensive range of speakers, designed for audiophiles like you. To ensure high-quality audio, our speakers also feature subwoofers that produce clean bass sounds that perform its best at higher frequencies. Regardless of external noises from outside the car or other disturbances, our speakers are built to deliver what it’s supposed to- quality sound and bass. Now, take your ears out for a ride and let the melodious tunes envelope you.
Complete your car entertainment system with Sony’s high performance Subwoofer, certain to bring that extra boom to the bass of your favourite tunes, you’ll be grooving to the music in no time.
Features
Type Component
- Elements 1-Way
- Function Subwoofer
- Size 12"
- Nominal Power Handling 380 Watt
Technical Features
- Peak Power Handling 1300 Watt
- Frequency Respond 18 Hz - 2,000 Hz
- Sensitivity 89 dB
- Impedance 4 ohm
Components
- Woofer Material Poly / Plastic
- Surround Material Rubber
Mounting
- Enclosure Non-Enclosed
- Top Mounting Depth 5.31 In.
Review By crutchfield
Here’s something that will really turbocharge your sound system. Sony’s popular XS-L122P5 12" subwoofer features a "turbo" design cone that practically eliminates standing waves for improved sound. Plus, the unique five-sided design (and five-sided center cap) keeps the polypropylene woofer cone rigid for supremely accurate bass.
Read Full Review Here
Review By reviews.digitaltrends
The XS-L122P5’s unique five-sided polypropylene cone not only looks cool but is stiffer than conventional round cones for lower distortion and higher power handling. The solid construction P5 center cap adds additional strength to the cone assembly and looks cool too! The unique foamed rubber surround with stroke stabilizers and double damper suspension ensures distortion free bass response, even at ¿wake up the entire neighborhood¿ volume levels. The P5’s unique basket design allows the woofer to mounts in regular round woofer holes.
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Review By abt.com
Thermoplastic materials such as polypropylene can go through many temperature change cycles without any appreciable chemical change. They are created from polymers, which are long, repeating chain of atoms formed through the linkage of many monomer molecules, which are small molecule that may become chemically bonded to other monomers.
Polypropylene is inexpensive to manufacture and quite robust, and has found to be quite useful in a variety of products, speaker cones among them. It offers a low cost solution as a material that exhibits strength, rigidity, high internal loss, moldability, and excellent resistance to environmental influences such as moisture, UV radiation, fatigue, and temperature.
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Price $72.95 at pricegrabber
Written by jounxp on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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The netbook parade continues. LG Electronics has introduced a new netbook in South Korea called the Xnote Mini. Specs are as follows:
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor
- 10 inch display
- Weighs 2.6 lbs
- 160GB HDD
- 1GB RAM
- Wi-Fi support
- 3G support coming
- Built-in 1.3 megapixel camera
- 3 cell battery
- Three USB ports
- SD card reader
- VGA port
- Ethernet port
- Stereo audio connectors
The Xnote Mini will be offered in three colors - white, black, and pink - and one OS - Windows XP. Prices are expected to be around $600 dollars..
[Check it out via NetbookTech, Electronista]
Technorati Tags: LG, Xnote Mini, netbook
Written by flung on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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The JVC GZ-HD7 high definition camcorder was the first camcorders that records high definition video on a built-in hard drive, as well as onto a secure digital memory card. It is the first consumer camcorder to record in 1920×1080 resolution, sometimes nicknamed FullHD.
The camcorder employs three 1/5-inch 16:9 progressive scan CCDs in a diagonally offset pixel configuration. Signals are processed first as 1920 x 1080p progressive signals, then converted to 1920 x 1080i interlace signals for recording. JVC does not explain in greater detail how exactly progressive signal is converted to interlaced, but claims that chosen approach allows recording a higher resolution HD image than the interline (IL) CCD system.
The camcorder records in three quality modes with different data rate and frame size. The medium quality mode, "1440CBR", delivers the same frame size, aspect ratio and frame rate as 1080i HDV and can be loosely called "HDV on disk". The camcorder preserves compatibility with the tape-based video format, giving an opportunity for recording onto a hard drive instead of tape.
Specification
- Sensor: 3 x 1/5" CCDs
- Sensor resolution: 3 x 530,000 effective
- Lens speed: f/1.8-f/1.9
- Filter Diameter: 46mm
- Optical Zoom: 10x
- Image Stabiliser: optical
- Headphone Out: No
- Microphone In: Yes
- LCD Screen: 2.8"
- Recording media: built-in 60GB HDD, SDHC Class 6 memory card
- Connectivity: HDMI out, Component out, FireWire Out, S-Video Out, AV Out, USB 2.0
- Dimensions, mm: 91×77x186
- Weight: 750 g
- Scenic Mode
Review By products.howstuffworks
The Everio GZ-HD7 represents a series of firsts for JVC. This is the first consumer camcorder to record in full 1,080i HD resolution, and it is also the first high-definition Everio camcorder to record directly to a hard disk. In addition, this is JVC’s first consumer model to feature a third-party lens. The broadcast-caliber Fujinon lens with 10X optical zoom is normally found only on JVC’s professional cameras, which should give you a good idea of the video quality you can expect from this HD camcorder.
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Review By reviews.digitaltrends
The GZ-HD7 comes with a good kit. Along with the camera and lens hood, there’s the rechargeable battery, component, A/V and USB cables and a remote. If you want to buy an HDMI cable, expect to pay $30-$40 USD; better yet, ask the dealer to throw one in since you’re spending a pretty penny for this camcorder. The CD-ROM has a number of programs to help you deal with high-def video and stills. These include Cyberlink PowerCinema NE for Everio, PowerProducer 3 NE and PowerDirector 5 NE Express plus a Digital Photo Navigator Ver. 1.5. Once the battery was charged, it was time to see how it performed.
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Review By cnet.com
The HD7 can output in two different 1080i formats. The first, 1920 x 1080, dubbed "FHD" for "Full HD", uses variable bit rate compression for a theoretically better picture. The second, 1440 x 1080, dubbed "1440 CBR" uses constant bit rate compression, and is the HD format you must use if you wish to edit your video with iMovie; iMovie doesn’t speak FHD. On Windows, we suggest you stick with the bundled Cyberlink software for playing, editing and burning your FHD video. Figuring out which third-party software will work with FHD and how to finesse it takes some major Googling.
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Review By lasplash
Picture size wise this camera produces very beautiful HD footage. Compared to other HD camcorders and DV camcorders the JVC HD7 doesn’t handle motion very well. There are often artifacts on the edges. For most people this won’t really be an issue but if you’re a picture quality fanatic then this camera may not be for you. The low light recording on this camera is also very poor. It was hard to record anything with dim lighting even using the manual controls to try to compensate.
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Review By camcorderinfo
Power Director 5 NE Express is a simple NLE that allows you to capture video from an HDV, DV, TV, DTV, Webcam, or microphone source. In the timeline, you can trim clips, add a text and transitions, adjust color, and apply Magic Clean—a modifiable feature that allows you to “clean up” the look of a video image or remove unwanted pops and hisses in an audio track. Power Director is equipped with an Audio Mixing Room, which allows you to adjust the volumes of the video, voice, and music tracks independently, in addition to a Voice-Over room. Finalized videos can be exported as an .AVI, .DivX, MPEG1, or MPEG2 file. In order to burn videos to a DVD or use video effects, you are required to upgrade to Power Director Deluxe. This program is merely for touching up video and exporting it as a recognizable file to be used in a real editing program.
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Starting Price $716.00
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Written by jounxp on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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SimpleTech have unveiled a pair of external hard-drives offering multiple connectivity options and a reinforced casing for durability. The Pro and Duo Pro drives each have eSATA, FireWire 400/800 and USB 2.0 ports, for data transfers up to 3 gigabytes per second, and in the case of the Duo Pro will offer a choice of RAID 0 or 1 configuration.
It’s increasingly common for external storage to come with included online backup service, and SimpleTech’s is no different. Both the Pro and Duo Pro include subscriptions to Fabrik Ultimate Backup, which offers up to 2GB of free online backup; unlimited capacity is priced at $4.95 a month. The drives are both compatible with PCs and Macs.
The SimpleTech Pro Drive is available now, priced at $159.99 for 500GB, $209.99 for 750GB and $259.99 for 1TB. A 1.5TB single-drive model will also be available mid-Q4, although pricing is as-yet unknown. The SimpleTech Duo Pro, meanwhile, is available now priced at $279.99 for 1TB, $419.99 for 1.5TB and $549.99 for 2TB. A 3TB model - the first two-drive external disc with that capacity - will ship mid-Q4. Again, no pricing has been announced.
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Written by Chris Davies on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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