Talon is a free screen capture utility from the Aviary developers. It’s delivered as a nice Firefox add-on and does the job it’s designed to do. Beyond that what else can we say? Take screen shots and edit images directly from your browser with Aviary.com applications. Tags: freeware, talon, screen+capture
Read MoreMonthly Archives: August 2009
The 8 Rules of Blog Comments – or how to spot a ‘turfer
[Image] 1. If the comment starts ‘I love your blog…’ then goes on to extol the wonders of the product that has been posted. It’s a PR agency. 2. If the comment starts ‘I’m not an expert but…’ and then praises the product in question. It’s an in-house company marketing shill. 3. If the comment starts ‘I bought one of these a few months ago, and it’s a great/fabulous/amazing/whatever….’. It’s an outsourced company paid to astroturf the client’s product anywhere they…
Read MoreGoDogGo – automatic tennis ball launcher for dogs
I thought the point of having a dog was to get you outside and exercise, but what do I know I’ve got children. GoDogGo is a tennis ball launcher that throws tennis balls for Fido to fetch. It will launch a ball 15 to 30 feet (adjustable) so it should fit in most yards. In automatic mode it will launch a ball every 7 to 15 seconds or you can control the action via the included remote control. It needs…
Read MoreSuper User – Q and A for computer minded people
It’s one of those days, you’re running the friends-and-family IT support desk and the person on the other end of the phone has done something inexplicable. Before you start a-googlin’ check in with Super User, a Q&A site where computer people who seem to know what they’re doing ask questions and give answers. It’s collaboratively edited, and if you create an (optional) account you can vote on answers to raise or lower their rankings. Well worth a visit on a…
Read MoreCerulean RX Bluetooth Dock Adapter – turn any iPod dock into a wireless receiver
The Cerulean RX Bluetooth Dock Adapter converts any standard iPod dock into a Bluetooth enabled sound machine. Just slot the gizmo into the dock, pair up with your iPhone (or use the optional TX adapter to pair up your iPod) and you’re good to go. From then on you can broadcast your phat sounds from the phone/iPod to the dock without cables hindering your l33t coolness. $89.99. Take advantage of your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3G S’ Bluetooth wireless stereo…
Read MoreAuvio In-Ear Armature Headphones – Hands on review
I’ve spent the last week enjoying a pair of these Auvio In-Ear Armature Headphones from Radio Shack. For anyone who hasn’t tried this style of ear phone they can be a little strange at first as the speakers actually sit inside your ear canal. Once you get over it though, these types of earphones are really comfortable and produce a much better, clearer sound compared to earbuds as they isolate you from external sounds.
Read MoreThermaPak Cooling Pads – cool your laptop without a fan
I’m intrigued by this ThermaPak laptop cooling pad technology. Primarily because it sounds too good to be true. I’m sceptical that something can move heat away from a laptop as effectively as a fan, but I’m willing to be convinced. Unfortunately the company refused to reply to my enquiry, so I’ll just have to remain doubtful. Around $27.92 depending on size. ThermaPAK Laptop Cooling HeatShift Pad is the most effective solution against laptop computer heat. The HeatShift Pad performs better…
Read MoreLaptop Case Against Crime – laptop bag disguised as a newspaper
Sick of being mugged for your laptop? Well this Laptop Case Against Crime newspaper laptop bag is just what you need to disguise your valuable computer. The bag is made of plastic fabric sealed with a ziplock fastener and equipped with a removable carry chain. It’s 35cm x 28cm x 5cm and �60 from Mitemite. Comes in a few different versions of newspaper too. Handbag made out of plastic fabric with zip/metal chain as a handel which you can take…
Read MoreOutssider – freeware tells you when it’s found an open WiFi connection by sound
Outssider is a rather nifty piece of free Windows software that tells you when it’s found an open WiFi connection you can use. Just fire it up, close your laptop lid and keep moving. The program will periodically try to connect to surrounding networks, and when it succeeds it will announce it with a ding ding ding bell sound. Clever and ever so useful in an emergency. It’s cold and rainy and you are walking outside in the need for…
Read MorePrintee – Fixes Internet Explorer printing
Internet explorer is notoriously bad for printing web pages. While there are numerous Firefox extensions to deal with the problem there isn’t much out there for IE (especially older versions like IE6). If you’re lucky, the web page you’re viewing has a printable option, but you have no control over what the developer has chosen to include or exclude in that page. Welcome Printee, a free extension for IE that lets you select regions to include or exclude in your…
Read MoreFerret posts this week
Here’s a quick round-up of Red Ferret posts from the past week for those who missed them. Enjoy. UbiSurfer – GPRS enabled netbook provides budget level go anywhere Internet – The new UbiSurfer is a 7 inch… TextOn9 – control your computer via a keypad – TextOn9 is an onscreen keyboard… Ultimate 3-Point Camera Strap – hold your camera extra securely – Remember the WristShot video… Ammyy Admin – freeware gives you control over a remote computer – Ammyy Admin…
Read MoreSmartNav 4 EG – hands free ergonomic mouse
SmartNav 4 EG is an infrared mouse controller that allows you to drive a computer cursor without using your hands. Designed for people who can no longer use computer mice due to repetitive strain the SmartNav attaches to the top of the monitor and tracks a reflective spot attached to the user’s glasses, hat, or even just stuck on the forehead. With one small head movement you can move the cursor from one end of the screen to the other….
Read MoreMartin Logan Summit X Electrostatic Speakers – super skinny designer foibles for the aesthete
These Martin Logan Summit X Electrostatic double up as fly catcher screens when they’re not outputting music for your aural pleasure. Well OK we’re lying, but it looks like they should do something like that. We’re not going to bother with all the tech speak because life’s too short, but suffice it to say they’re loud, use a ‘Vojtko Voiced crossover network’ (oops slipped out) and they cost slightly more than my gran’s first house. That’s $13,995.00 to you. Man, I…
Read MoreWi-Fire – WiFi antenna promises extended range
The Wi-Fire WiFi Antenna is designed to provide an extended range for your Wi-Fi connection, so you can theoretically access the Net wirelessly from up to 1000 feet away from your router. The guys at the company sent me one to test out, and so I put it up against the latest and greatest Netgear Wireless N router/USB dongle combo, which is supposed to be the bees knees in terms of range and effectiveness. Installing the Wi-Fire was easy, and in minutes I…
Read MoreRizone Winsock Repair – freeware fixes those pesky Internet connection problems
I get the feeling that this Rizone Winsock Repair freeware program is really a tool of last resort, after you’ve done everything else you can think of to restore the lost Internet connection on your Windows machine. That’s because it resets all the Winsock values to default in the registry, which implies that it will overwrite installed stuff which you may need. Still, if you’re desperate. Not Vista compatible note. Winsock Repair is a portable software program for the Windows operating…
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