The first one that caught my eye – The SpaceExplorer from 3DConnexion (that they were apparently using to control the aerial drone).

Next one up: The tiny diNovo Mini from Logitech:

On another note, while not a “gadget” for most of us, the launcher used to take down the CTU chopper seems to be an AT4-HS (could identify it thanks to my Modern Warfare 2 skills):

Feel free to add your comments and I will update the post with anything else you find.

]]> http://www.thebloog.com/2010/01/24-gadgets/feed/ 0 http://www.thebloog.com/2009/10/how-to-pair-your-iphone-with-vista/ http://www.thebloog.com/2009/10/how-to-pair-your-iphone-with-vista/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:02:48 +0000 TheBlooger http://www.thebloog.com/2009/10/how-to-pair-your-iphone-with-vista/ I have been able in the past to enable Internet Tethering on the iPhone and use it to get internet access on the laptop, but only via a usb cable connection. I knew that this can also be done via Bluetooth as long as the laptop has built-in Bluetooth or if you have a USB Bluetooth adapter.

The problem I ran into was that while trying to pair the iPhone with the laptop running Vista, it would end up in a driver error. Fortunately, there is an easy way around.

1. On the iPhone, go to Settings/General/Bluetooth. This will set the iPhone in discovery mode.

2. On the computer, go to Start Menu and type Bluetooth. In the list you should see Bluetooth Devices. Click it.

3. Click Add Device and then select Phone from the new window. You will get a pairing code that you need to enter on the iPhone.

4. Once the pairing is done, you will most likely get prompted for a driver. You can ignore or skip this step. You will end with a message saying the device drivers were not successfully installed. That’s fine.

5. Now go to Network and Sharing Center. Click Manage Network Connections on the left.

6. You should be able to see a Bluetooth Network Connection that is disconnected. Right click and select View Bluetooth Network Devices. In the window that appears you should see your iPhone. Select it and click Connect.

That’s it. If your iPhone was already set up for Internet Tethering and if Internet Tethering has been enabled in Settings, then you’ll simply be able to surf the net on the computer.

Luckily, Windows 7 seems to have built-in support for burning disc images (an .iso file in this case).  Simply right-click the image file and choose Burn disc image. Quite a time saver.

Windows 7's Disc Image Burner feature

One of the ways to make things simple and intuitive again is to go back to the way Skype used to be: a dedicated contact list and individual windows for each contact/conversation. To do that, you can simply switch to Compact View. Switching to compact view is as easy as going to View/Compact View, if you can remember that that’s what you need to do, which people tend to forget.

So I get asked very often: “How do you make Skype normal again?” – “You switch to compact view”.

Today, I just noticed that there is an even quicker way to switch to compact view by clicking the dedicated button in the window title area. Once clicked, that “switch view” button can be clicked again to go back to “default view”. See screenshot below:

Use Skype's dedicated Compact View button to make Skype "normal" again.

The other issue I came across today while fiddling with Skype is that of making a test call. Usually, there is a contact in your list called “Skype Test Call”. Strangely enough, that test call contact was missing from my list. So how do you get to make a test call then? There is a way. Go to Options/Audio Settings and click on the link at the bottom of the window, called “Make a free test call”. That will automatically call the Skype Test Call contact which will also suddenly reappear in your contact list and then just as suddenly disappear at the end of the call.

How to make a free test call when the Skype Test Call contact has gone missing.

As a last quick tip, in the screenshot above you will also see an additional option highlighted. That is the Ringing dropdown menu. Up until Skype 4, you could only choose one ringing device to ring when a call would come through. If you have a USB headset like the Logitech ClearChat Wireless one, then that was a problem if you didn’t have the headset turned on and on your ears. Fortunately, as of Skype 4.0, now you can set Skype to ring on all devices, thusly increasing the chances of hearing the call ringing.

Happy Skyping!

For a more detailed article, see the link below:

Rob Galbraith DPI: DSLR Camera Remote for iPhone comes to life in v1.1.

Jawbone PRIME™ brings consumers even better audio quality, improved comfort and fresh, fun color choices. This release continues Aliph’s tradition of marrying technology and design to deliver the best Bluetooth headset on the market.

Jawbone PRIME and its EARCANDY colors are available today for pre-order here on Jawbone.com and will be sold in retail stores nationally starting May 2, 2009.

More info: Jawbone Earcandy + Prime (NOTCOT).

Recently, as I was reading through some of his older posts, shamelessly, yet thankfully, downloading all the Lightroom presets he makes available on his blog, it occurred to me of a little useful technique I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere so far: quick adjustment brush adjustments.

So I sent Matt a message about it and today he was kind enough to post a video describing and showing the tip to the masses. Yet another great little video tutorial. Thanks Matt.

Follow the link to the Lightroom Killer Tips blog to see the video tip.

See the video here: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips » Video – Adjustment Brush Adjustments.

However, there is a way to get downoad Skype for iPhone even if you are in Canada.

See the steps to follow here: Skype for iPhone Blocked in Canada.

Themes can be easily enabled in your Google Apps Gmail account like in any ordinary Gmail account. Go to Settings > Themes and pick a theme.

Well, apparently due to some patent issues, Canadian iTunes users will not have the priviledge of downloading and installing the Skype app for the iPhone.

The other thing that I have just found out is the reason for which Skype’s SkypeIn service is not available in Canada. The CRTC requires from phone operators (which Skype is, to some extent) to offer enhanced 911 so that the operator can find the location of the caller.

Read more here: Skype app for iPhone to launch Tuesday, but not in Canada.