2004 Software Gift Ideas
------------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[ mailto:
editors@tidbits.com ]
editors@tidbits.com>
We're always amused when collating software gift suggestions
because of their breadth. The Mac may have less software available
than Windows, but there are still far more interesting programs
than anyone could ever hope to try. Here are a few that our
readers especially like. It's worth checking out suggestions from
previous years as well, particularly for people with older Macs.
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1250 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1250>
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1802+2122 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1802+2122>
**Collector's Items** -- Many people find themselves, at some
point in their lives, collecting something: stamps, or coins,
or cereal box toys. For some people, the collecting obsession
turns to music, and that's where Jim Kane's suggestion helps out.
"I've been a music collector since I bought my first open-reel
recorder at 14. I've collected music from interesting radio shows
and recorded LPs from libraries for almost 40 years now, building
a collection that's diverse and includes artists that I never
would have discovered without the introduction provided by
'free' music.
"Today I'm recording streams from several Internet radio stations
with the same goal: hearing new artists in my favorite genres.
These introductions inform my purchases of CDs, so I rarely
make a purchase I regret. This year my collecting pleasure was
increased immeasurably by two shareware products: RadioLover and
MP3 Trimmer. Both products make it fun to be a music collector
in the MP3 era.
"RadioLover records MP3 Internet radio streams as individual MP3
songs, automatically tagging each file with artist and album
information. It allows you to schedule recordings and even record
multiple streams at the same time, with nice integration with
the iTunes radio tuner. It's a beautiful piece of work, and very
reasonably priced at $15. For the price of one CD, I have lots
of fresh music every day.
<[
http://www.bitcartel.com/radiolover/ ]
http://www.bitcartel.com/radiolover/>
"As good as RadioLover is, though, its capability to split a
stream into individual song files relies on the broadcast of
tag data, which is not always perfectly synchronized with the
beginning or end of a song. MP3 Trimmer, another nice piece of
shareware, facilitates any cleanup work required. Trim the start,
trim the end, or join a pair of files and trim the result. Again,
it's beautifully executed, with tons of attention to detail, and
well worth the modest $9 price tag."
<[
http://www.deepniner.net/mp3trimmer/ ]
http://www.deepniner.net/mp3trimmer/>
Hans de Wolf offered another idea for collectors of books,
CDs, and DVDs: the $40 Delicious Library from Delicious Monster.
"A lot of people may intend to catalog their books, CDs, and
DVDs. Sometime. But it is a lot of work. Boring work. I found
that Delicious Library is a great tool to help you. It eliminates
a lot of the boring work. It uses the iSight as a barcode scanner,
and retrieves all relevant information from Amazon. You can even
catalog items without scanning or typing in information: for items
in the catalog, it can display similar items (same author, same
subjects, same artist, and so on), and if you have these similar
items you can just drag them into your catalog. The user interface
is beautiful, very similar to the iLife software. Of course you
can get a list (like iTunes), but there is also an iPhoto-like
view in which your cataloged items appear as photorealistic
thumbnails on shelves (the shelves are equivalent to playlists
in iTunes, or albums is iPhoto). While the software shows great
potential, it is still a 1.0 product. There is still some room
for improvement: 'Smart' shelves and a way to distinguish items
that you own from items that you want."
<[
http://www.delicious-monster.com/ ]
http://www.delicious-monster.com/>
Lori Brooks-Manas seconded the suggestion, adding to Hans's
description, "Delicious Library syncs with your iPod, keeps track
of what you have loaned out to people, and is very simple to use.
I tried the demo version for about, well, a minute before I bought
it. Check it out!"
**The Sky Isn't Falling** -- Hans de Wolf returned with a second
recommendation. "Another nice piece of software is Freefall:
a 3D satellite simulator ($30). It shows more than 800 satellites
in orbit around a beautifully rendered earth. You can determine
your viewpoint: fixed spot above the earth, or fly along with
the satellite. Zoom in and out, select satellite, see how the
satellites build radio connections to ground stations. If you
do not understand the technical stuff, it still makes a very
fine screensaver. Freefall is also still a bit of a 1.0 product:
it shows great potential but there are some rough edges. Some
features you can only access when you have read the manual, and
it would be nice if you could save the animation as a QuickTime
movie, or export an image in high resolution."
<[
http://www.xtrememac.com/freefall/ ]
http://www.xtrememac.com/freefall/>
**Get SideTracked** -- Kevin van Haaren proposed the perfect
gift for the PowerBook or iBook user in your life: SideTrack.
"SideTrack is a lovely little $15 utility that turns the trackpad
on a laptop into an even more functional device. It's primary use
is to make tapping the pad a left-click and turning the regular
button into a right-click (Control-click). This makes the trackpad
so much more usable. Other features I use are turning sides of
the pad into scroll areas, and assigning commands to tapping the
corner of the pad.
"I only use vertical scrolling, but horizontal is available too.
I run my finger down the left side of the trackpad and the window
scrolls down, just as with a scroll wheel mouse. I'm right handed
so the left side of the pad doesn't get much use, this feature
never gets in the way of my normal mousing. You can assign
scrolling to left, right, or both sides of the pad (or top/bottom
for horizontal scroll). Tapping the upper left corner of my pad
activates Expose for all windows (same as F9). Lower left is
Expose for the current application (same as F10). All settings
are per user, so if one user doesn't like trackpad clicking they
can turn it off."
<[
http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/sidetrack/ ]
http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/sidetrack/>
**News Junkies** -- Thanks to Robert McGonegal for thinking of
those of us who don't have nearly enough time in the day. He
suggested an RSS newsreader, which can make it fast to browse
the headlines on numerous Web sites. "There are several good Mac
newsreaders to choose from, but I recommend the full version of
NetNewsWire ($40). I've bookmarked about 200 Web sites which,
despite occasionally having very interesting content, aren't worth
my time to visit on a regular basis. By using NetNewsWire I can
find out in about 10 minutes if any new content on those 200
sites is worth loading into my Web browser. As I skim through
the newsfeed list, the Web pages I select load in the background
and are waiting for me. It's almost like TiVo for the Web.
<[
http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/ ]
http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/>
"A nice touch to the gift would be to use the newsreader's Export
function to make a custom-tailored list of which newsfeeds you
think the recipient will be interested in."
**Software Utility Belt** -- Perhaps we're weird, but we love
utilities - the little applications that provide helpful features
and modify the standard ways in which we use our Macs. David
Weintraub clearly thinks so as well, considering the four
utilities he suggested.
* textSOAP from Unmarked Software: $25. If for nothing else,
textSOAP is great for straightening out and requoting email
messages. It works like a charm in Apple's Mail, but not so well
in Eudora. It cleans up DOS/Unix/Macintosh end-of-line problems,
rewraps and unwraps paragraphs, changes capitalizations, etc.
(Andrew Laurence agreed with David's assessment of textSOAP in
general, but prefers the Eudora plug-in.)
<[
http://www.unmarked.com/products/mac_textsoap_desc.php ]
http://www.unmarked.com/products/mac_textsoap_desc.php>
* Path Finder from Cocoatech: $34. Path Finder is Finder
replacement. Extra features include a built in Terminal
application and the capability to display Word, RTF, PDF,
and text files in the preview pane without launching another
application. My favorite is the Drop Stack that allows me to
drop a bunch of files I'm moving and copying into a spot on
the Path Finder window before I actually perform the move.
It's packed full of all the features that Finder should have
had in the first place.
<[
http://www.cocoatech.com/pf.php ]
http://www.cocoatech.com/pf.php>
* LaunchBar from Objective Development: $20/$40. LaunchBar
eliminates the need for placing all the applications I want
quick access to on the Dock. [David isn't singing the praises
of LaunchBar sufficiently here; it's a utility that lets you tap
Command-Space and then type a few characters from the name of an
application, file, folder, volume, URL, or Address Book entry to
open the item. It's a brilliant application, and is improving
significantly in version 4. I almost can't use a Mac without
LaunchBar any more. -Adam]
<[
http://www.obdev.at/ ]
http://www.obdev.at/>
* GraphicConverter by Lemke Software: $30. I'm not a graphics
person, but I still have to pull GraphicConverter out every
once in a while just because program "A" has the picture in one
format, and program "B" insists it must be in a different format.
GraphicConverter can import about 175 formats and export about 75;
it also provides a host of basic image manipulation features.
<[
http://www.lemkesoft.com/en/graphcon.htm ]
http://www.lemkesoft.com/en/graphcon.htm>
**The Contemplative Mac** -- Adam here. A word you seldom see
applied to software is "thoughtful," and in this case, I mean it
literally, as in "full of thought." But I can think of no better
label for Brian Thomas's "If Monks Had Macs," an interactive
multimedia CD-ROM title that defies prosaic description. It's
packed with original texts from the like of Henry David Thoreau
and G.K. Chesterton, highly readable essays and critical analyses,
a visual exploration of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's Tower of Babel
painting, a telling of the story behind an underground newsletter
called The White Rose from an underground student resistance group
in Nazi Germany, and far more. A playful sub-current swirls
through everything - there's an illustrated medieval text
adventure game (you're a monk, needless to say) in which you
find cards for a solitaire game. A journaling application helps
you record your impressions and musings as you meander through
the application's many byways. "If Monks Had Macs" started out
life years ago as a HyperCard stack (now converted to Runtime
Revolution, supported by a separate ebook reader), and that retro
aesthetic now merely adds to the whimsy. The $30 program works
in both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X, as well as in Windows 95 and later,
making it the ideal present for anyone with a healthy intellectual
curiosity.
<[
http://www.rivertext.com/monks.html ]
http://www.rivertext.com/monks.html>
<[
http://members.aol.com/hcheaven/intervi ... omas1.html ]
http://members.aol.com/hcheaven/intervi ... omas1.html>
2004 Gaming Gift Ideas
----------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[ mailto:
editors@tidbits.com ]
editors@tidbits.com>
All work and no play... hey, wait a minute, that sounds
suspiciously close to home. At least TidBITS readers are a bit
better about switching away from the productivity applications.
Even more so than with other software, we encourage you to check
out recommendations from previous years, since many of those games
remain extremely enjoyable for those who weren't exposed to them
originally.
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1251 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1251>
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1801+2120 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1801+2120>
**Is That a Tank in Your Pocket, Or...** Jamie Kahn Genet wrote,
"I recommend Pocket Tanks. Anyone who ever loved Scorched Earth
will find this $16 Mac OS X artillery game fantastic fun. It's
dead easy to learn with numerous outlandish weapons, each with
its own blast pattern. Two player mode is highly addictive and
appeals to young and old alike.
<[
http://www.ctspgames.com/ptanks.htm ]
http://www.ctspgames.com/ptanks.htm>
"Oh, and for any gamer wanting to be taken seriously by the old
school who missed them the first time round, or lost their copy,
I recommend the Marathon Trilogy Box Set (but good luck finding
a copy) and/or Bungie Action Sack (a lot easier to locate on
eBay, plus it has every other pre-Myth Bungie game), Myth: the
Total Codex ($25, with new fan-created updates you can play under
Mac OS X!) or get Myth:TFL and Myth 2 separately, and System Shock
(an amazing FPS/RPG for its time that disappointingly fell under
the radar of most Doom-obsessed gamers). There are a wealth of
treats to be had from old Mac games if you are so inclined."
<[
http://www.playmyth.net/ ]
http://www.playmyth.net/>
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 000031KJW/
takecontroleb-20/ref%3Dnosim/>
<[
http://www.irrationalgames.com/shock2/ ]
http://www.irrationalgames.com/shock2/>
**Airburst Extreme** -- Nik Friedman recommended Freeverse's
Airburst Extreme. "Fun for the whole family. Cheap ($30),
non-violent (well, pretty much), and it has great multi-player
options. It's a fast-paced arcade game in which you play an alien
of some sort sitting on a ring of balloons. You attempt to pop
your opponents' balloons with a bouncing spiked ball. Kind of like
a fighting game version of Breakout. Bizarre power ups, a variety
of variations on the basic game theme (including racing, grenades,
a story mode, soccer, and a seemingly infinite number of other
options), and a funky techno soundtrack make for an extremely
addictive mix!"
<[
http://www.airburstextreme.com/ ]
http://www.airburstextreme.com/>
**Gish** -- Jeff Porten wrote, "I don't recall where I found it,
but I've been extremely impressed with Gish ($20). You see, you're
this ball of tar, and you're fighting robots and snarly round
creatures and... oh, just go download the demo. What makes this
game for me is that the physics of the tarball seem accurate.
If you try to stick to a ceiling but you're moving too fast, you
rebound off at an angle. Your avatar is a thick fluid, and reacts
accordingly. Takes a while to learn all of the things the guy can
do (especially throwing rocks at high velocity), but it's a lot
of fun in the process."
<[
http://www.chroniclogic.com/index.htm?gish.htm ]
http://www.chroniclogic.com/index.htm?gish.htm>
**Solitaire Till Dawn... Again** -- Andy J. W. Affleck commented,
"As usual, here's my annual plug for my favorite game: Semicolon
Software's Solitaire Till Dawn, which is available in separate
versions for the classic Mac OS and Mac OS X ($25). I rarely have
time to play games any more, but this is the one I keep finding
time for. Or rather, I tend to play games which take very little
time so I can squeeze them in whenever I need to. I've tried
many of the solitaire games for the Mac and this is the one
I like best. The interface is simple, elegant, and it just
works. It doesn't have overly fancy graphics, but they're fine
(I use a deck of cards with a picture of my son as the back)
and it eschews fluff like an over-the-top splash screen, winning
graphics, and so on. You just play cards, and that's precisely
what I want to do."
<[
http://www.semicolon.com/STDX.html ]
http://www.semicolon.com/STDX.html>
**A Mixed Bag** -- Kevin van Haaren concurred with Andy's
recommendation of Solitaire Till Dawn and managed to change
the subject several times in almost the same breath. "It's one
of my favorites too, for the same reason. I'd love to have a Palm
version as all the Palm solitaires I've found aren't nearly as
nice. Speaking of Palm games, I like the quick little games,
like some of the solitaires in Solitaire Till Dawn. Bejeweled is
probably the most well-known of these types of games. I picked up
the Pop Cap Games Pack ($30) that has five of these types of games
(Bejeweled and Atomica! are my favorites.)
<[
http://www.astraware.com/palm/packs/pop ... 7-027-0027 ]
http://www.astraware.com/palm/packs/pop ... 7-027-0027>
"I also see Bejeweled 2 is available ($20), although the version
for Mac OS X doesn't appear to be available yet. And the Web
version doesn't want to work for me in Safari or Camino.
<[
http://www.astraware.com/palm/featured/ ... 9-445-0166 ]
http://www.astraware.com/palm/featured/ ... 9-445-0166>
<[
http://www.popcap.com/launchpage.php?th ... 2&src=big8 ]
http://www.popcap.com/launchpage.php?th ... 2&src=big8>
"Another great game for Mac OS X is the free Bubble Pop from
Lobotomo Software."
<[
http://www.lobotomo.com/products/BubblePop/ ]
http://www.lobotomo.com/products/BubblePop/>
**Neverwinter Nights** -- Andy also expanded his game playing
beyond cards. He continued, "Even though I plug Solitaire Till
Dawn every year, I do try other games. This year I played another
game so much that I have to recommend it as well: Neverwinter
Nights."
Set in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy realm, Neverwinter Nights
is a role-playing game that provides the visuals and action you
may remember from days of rolling 12-sided dice.
"I downloaded the demo (240 MB) on a whim and fully expected to
play it for a minute and then toss it. I ended up buying the game
($50), completing it over a few months, buying expansion packs
and downloading modules, and getting my buddy to buy the game
so he and I could play online. It's that good. Certainly get
the demo and see for yourself. Note that you need some hefty
graphics processing power to get the most out of it, but it
is well worth it."
<[
http://www.macsoftgames.com/products/nw ... t-NWN.html ]
http://www.macsoftgames.com/products/nw ... t-NWN.html>
**Battlefield 1942** -- You'd think that putting out a TidBITS
issue every week and working on other projects would be enough
computer exposure, but Managing Editor Jeff Carlson likes to
relieve stress occasionally by playing the first-person World
War II shooter Battlefield 1942: Deluxe Edition ($50).
He wrote, "Although it doesn't have the best graphics on the
market, Battlefield 1942 features some of the best online play:
liberate Stalingrad or defend Britain with dozens of other
players, using airplanes, submarines, tanks, and other equipment.
I like to jump into a game for small chunks of time and not worry
about having to spend hours completing a mission - though you can
play an entire campaign as a single player against the computer."
<[
http://www.aspyr.com/games.php/mac/bf1942/ ]
http://www.aspyr.com/games.php/mac/bf1942/>
2004 Hardware Gift Ideas
------------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[ mailto:
editors@tidbits.com ]
editors@tidbits.com>
Apple has outfitted all Apple Store employees in red t-shirts with
the single word "give" emblazoned on the front, next to an Apple
logo. Subtle, but we're sure many people would love to be on the
receiving end of a piece of Apple gear. Readers concurred, with
the AirPort Express as the device of choice. Also, last year's
suggestions might be slightly out of date, but they are still
worth a glance for ideas.
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1249 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1249>
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1804+2123 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1804+2123>
Although no one actually came out and said they'd like a new iMac
G5, PowerBook G4, or iPod, we suspect that's because it's a bit
too obvious. It's not like any TidBITS reader would see such a
suggestion and think, "Wow, what a good idea! I never would have
considered asking for a Mac or buying one for someone else on my
own." There's no shame in giving (or wanting) a new Mac, though we
would of course recommend you first read Adam's "Take Control of
Buying a Mac" ebook to make sure you're getting the right machine.
Similarly, Larry Chen's just-published (a few hours ago!) "Take
Control of Buying a Digital Camera" will help you figure out which
digital camera would be most appropriate for your needs.
<[
http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/buying-mac.html ]
http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/buying-mac.html>
<[
http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/buying-digicam.html ]
http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/buying-digicam.html>
**Music in the Air** -- Lewis Butler called it when he opined that
Apple's $130 AirPort Express would be the most submitted hardware
gift suggestion, thanks to its capability to act as a normal Wi-Fi
access point, share a USB printer, and best of all, send music
played through iTunes to your stereo. Sean Peisert chimed in with
the suggestion of a Keyspan Express Remote ($60) for controlling
your tunes without iTunes.
<[
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/ ]
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/>
<[
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/urm17a/ ]
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/urm17a/>
Of course, if you're getting an AirPort Express, allow us to
recommend Glenn Fleishman's "Take Control of Your AirPort Network"
in either ebook ($10) or print ($12) forms.
<[
http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/airport.html ]
http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/airport.html>
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321321162/
takecontroleb-20/ref%3Dnosim/>
**Bring Your Video into the 21st Century** -- You know those old
videotapes from your VCR and analog camcorder have a limited
lifespan, and your best hope for preservation is to digitize the
analog recordings. Travis Butler pointed toward a product that
will do just that. "If your budget supports it and you have
someone with inclinations towards video hobbyism, you might
consider the Canopus ADVC 100.
<[
http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ADVC- ... vc-100.asp ]
http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ADVC- ... vc-100.asp>
"The ADVC 100 is a converter box that lets you hook a standard
video source - composite or S-Video, two-channel audio - to a
Mac's FireWire port, and record it with a video capture program
like iMovie.
"This is frankly something I wouldn't have bought for myself; at
$300 list, it's something I don't use enough to justify the cost.
But we picked one up at work this spring to convert our VHS-based
training materials to DVD for convenience and durability. The boss
gave me permission to take it home and use whenever I want, and
I've found a surprising number of old videotapes that I wanted
to convert to DVD.
"It's a bit hard for me to judge the ultimate quality of the video
circuitry, since I've never used it with a maximum-quality video
source; a couple of old laserdiscs are probably the best-quality
items I've had, but my laserdisc player doesn't have an S-Video
output - only composite. That said, I've never seen anything come
out of the ADVC 100 at a lower quality than went into it, and even
the laserdiscs over composite look pretty darned good transferred
to DVD.
"As a side note, the combination of iMovie, iDVD, and a video
capture box like the ADVC 100 makes it easy and relatively quick
to put your old videos on DVD; frankly it felt easier than the
times in the past I've transferred old records and tapes to CD.
And iDVD is capable of doing fairly professional-looking work;
I'd like to think the job I did on the original Mind's Eye
laserdisc is better than the professional DVD releases of the
second and third collections, though that's not too hard.
"For those not familiar with them, the Mind's Eye series was
one of the original collections of early computer animation; the
second collection (with music composed by Jan Hammer of Miami Vice
fame) and later were released on DVD, but the original one never
has been so far as I can tell. I'm still not sure why; the best
guess I can make is that the animation is relatively primitive by
today's standards. I still think it's worth having it available
on DVD; even if there weren't historical reasons, some of them
were rather cool as works of art."
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... electro00/
ref%3Dnosim/>
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... electro00/
ref%3Dnosim/>
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... electro00/
ref%3Dnosim/>
Denis Jarvis concurred with Travis's gift suggestion of an
analog/digital video converter. "However," he said, "I bought
a Datavideo DAC-100 for $176, including shipping. This is
substantially less than his $300 Canopus ADVC 100, yet it seems
well constructed, has similar specifications, includes a full
set of cables and has performed well for me.
<[
http://www.datavideo-tek.com/products/d ... n_page.htm ]
http://www.datavideo-tek.com/products/d ... n_page.htm>
"During the past month, using DAC-100 with iMovie and iDVD on
a 20-inch iMac G5, I have converted my camcorder VHS tapes to
several DVDs. I added titles and edited out the boring parts,
something I would never have attempted with tape-to-tape editing.
With this application alone, I have justified purchase of my
new iMac!"
Editing out the boring parts isn't the only reason to make the
conversion from tape to digital, as Jeff Carlson learned last
year when he watched his 10-year-old wedding video. VHS tape
deteriorates over time, so those memories you think are stored
safely on the shelf are likely losing their quality. (For an
example, see the following Web page.) Although DVD isn't an
archival-grade medium (the surface materials wear out over time),
you can more easily move the digital data to new media later
on without further loss of quality.
<[
http://www.necoffee.com/imovievqs/vhs.html ]
http://www.necoffee.com/imovievqs/vhs.html>
**PowerBooks in the Key of G** -- Kevin van Haaren wrote: "If you
know someone with an older PowerBook who is jealous of users with
54 Mbps AirPort Extreme speeds, wants better reception signal,
or wants to take full advantage of that new AirPort Express hub,
take a look at the Sonnet Aria Extreme ($80).
"It uses the same chipset as the AirPort Extreme card so no
drivers are necessary. First time installation was as simple
as powering down, inserting card, booting up (only one AirPort
chipset will work at a time, so powering down is required to
switch between Aria and a built-in AirPort card.) Once the
computer is set to use the Aria, you can pop the card in and out,
put the computer to sleep, and so on, with no problems. You just
have to make sure the card is inserted at power-on time for it
to work (if you have an existing AirPort card.)"
<[
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/aria_extreme.html ]
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/aria_extreme.html>
**Bluetooth Headset** -- Kevin also noted, "The Jabra BT250
Bluetooth headset ($100) works nicely with my Mac and Windows
boxes. Unfortunately I don't have a Bluetooth phone to test with.
<[
http://www.jabra.com/JabraCMS/NA/EN/Mai ... aBT250.htm ]
http://www.jabra.com/JabraCMS/NA/EN/Mai ... sHeadsets/
JabraBT250/JabraBT250.htm>
"I was reluctant to buy initially because all the pictures made me
think I was going to have this huge thing hanging from my ear, but
it really is pretty small and most of the bulk is behind the ear.
It's balanced well enough that it doesn't feel like it's pulling
on my ear, and doesn't interfere with my glasses.
"At first I started to have a reaction to the silicon ear piece
but washing it in warm water and soap, per the instructions, fixed
that (I have allergies to perfumes so it was probably a coating
of some sort that washed off.)"
**Swiss Army RAM** -- Marilyn Matty (seconded by Roy Morita)
writes: "Here's a gadget that I think anyone Macintosh-minded
will yodel about - a Swiss Army knife elevated to a new level
of geekdom - a model tricked out with between 64 MB and 512 MB
of removable USB storage ($65 to $160).
<[
http://www.victorinox.com/newsite/en/ne ... memory.htm ]
http://www.victorinox.com/newsite/en/ne ... memory.htm>
"These highly functional devices come with a knife, a red
LED flashlight, a nail file/screwdriver combo, and a scissor.
A no-knife version (great for frequent flyers who don't want
to get hauled into security at the airport for trying to carry
it on board) has the flashlight and a ballpoint pen in addition
to the memory card.
"It's encased in a clear plastic version of the traditional -
and cool looking - Swiss Army housing, and sports a handy keychain
ring. And it's Mac-, Windows-, and Linux-friendly, making it a
great gift for even non Mac-minded geeks. I don't have one yet,
but I will be ordering one for myself and some for gift giving."
**The Well-Loved Mac** -- Just because a Mac is old doesn't mean
it's useless, a fact Roger Adams reminded us of. "I am planning
to give my wife a PowerBook G3/500 (Pismo) to replace her aging
Wallstreet model."
If you're looking for a reliable source of older Macs, check
out the listings from TidBITS sponsor Small Dog Electronics.
<[
http://www.smalldog.com/ ]
http://www.smalldog.com/>
Contributing Editor Matt Neuburg raced to support Roger's
suggestion. "At the risk of belabouring the obvious, I'd like
to point out that there's a lesson for us all concealed here.
The Pismo is an old model, so Roger is planning to give his wife
a used computer. It might be his own old Pismo, or he might get
it from somewhere else (e.g. eBay). Let's presume the former.
I too am planning to give my used Pismo to a family member.
Although giving a used object as a gift is traditionally
regarded as somewhat iffy, in the case of computers it's
entirely appropriate, and even advantageous.
* You prevent waste. The machine goes to a good home and someone
gets use out of it. Better than recycling or throwing away the
machine, for sure.
* On eBay, the machine is near worthless, so getting money for it
won't be a satisfying experience (especially when you remember
how much you paid for it). But to the recipient it feels as
valuable as it did to you when it was new, which is satisfying
to both of you.
* If it's your own old machine, you are familiar with its specs
and can be helpful.
* Family involvement, as a recent report on NPR pointed out, is a
primary force in getting people to use a computer; if it's your
own old machine, that's actually an encouragement to the new user.
<[
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4190131 ]
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4190131>
* Computers do age and things can go wrong over time, but the more
common case is that they just keep working fine for a very long
time, so used is almost as good as new.
* You contribute less to rampant consumerism. Not to mention
saving money.
"So I think 'my old computer' (scanner, hard drive, etc.) is an
excellent gift idea in the hardware category. The one mistake one
can make, I think, is to give a device that's not powerful enough
to make the recipient's life easy. Make sure that what you give is
fast enough, has enough memory, or whatever, for the use to which
the recipient will put it. The device you are giving should be a
useful tool, not a bottleneck whose shortcomings the recipient
must struggle with."
**Kinesis Contoured Advantage USB Keyboard** -- Sore hands from
typing? Andrew Laurence offered a possible solution, the Kinesis
Contoured Advantage USB Keyboard. "Kinesis has kept the same basic
design since my 1998 review (see "Kinesis Ergonomic Contoured
Keyboard" in TidBITS-454_). The keyboard is still rock-solid,
well-built, programmable, and remappable. The Mac/PC key switching
is now accomplished via firmware. I've seen a lot of 'ergonomic'
keyboard designs, but this is the only one that seems designed
with actual ergonomics in mind - the keyboard is broken into
halves, with each half at the outer border to minimize ulnar
deviation, and each half is shaped like a bowl, allowing fingers
to travel their normal range of motion. (RSI solutions are very
subjective, however - the keyboard that works for me may not for
another user.) At a list price of $300 it ain't cheap, but to
this day my hands hurt if I use a standard 101 layout keyboard
for any length of time."
<[
http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/contoured_usb.htm ]
http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/contoured_usb.htm>
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=05168 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=05168>
**Serious Sound** -- Managing Editor Jeff Carlson wrote, "A few
years ago while on vacation, I rented a house that had no stereo
system. No problem, since my PowerBook was nearby - but the
built-in speakers just weren't going to cut it. This was back
when Outpost.com offered free overnight shipping, so I ordered
an inexpensive set of computer speakers that have been adequate,
but not stellar.
"Earlier this year I replaced them with a set of Harman/Kardon
SoundSticks II. What a difference! The sticks themselves produce
clear sound, but it's the jellyfish-looking subwoofer that kicks
the gear into a great-sounding system. They plug into the audio-
out port of my PowerBook; previous SoundSticks were USB-based.
"$200 may sound like a lot to pay for computer speakers, but when
you listen to music while working, as I do, the cost is completely
worth it."
<[
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_det ... II&sType=C ]
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_det ... Country=US
&Language=ENG&cat=MME&prod=SOUNDSTICKSII&sType=C>
2004 Miscellaneous Gift Ideas
-----------------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[ mailto:
editors@tidbits.com ]
editors@tidbits.com>
Last year we joked about how Apple must have built a subliminal
message into the iPod: "Buy more iPod stuff," the voice would
whisper. The voice apparently hasn't shut up, since quite a few
of our reader suggestions are for products to protect or enhance
your iPod. Laptop users aren't ignored, though, so read on for
a slew of great ideas (and as before, don't ignore previous years'
suggestions!).
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1252 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1252>
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1800+2119 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1800+2119>
**Tunes on the Road** -- Wires, wires, everywhere! There is a
better way. Roger Adams plans to present his daughter with a
Griffin RoadTrip ($80) "so she can listen to her iPod without all
the wires that normally clutter the car when she drives to work.
It's a great addition to the iPod and one that I have myself and
use during the 65 km drive to my office here in Bangkok,
Thailand."
<[
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/roadtrip/ ]
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/roadtrip/>
Andy J. W. Affleck recommended another Griffin product for
listening to an iPod in the car: the Griffin iTrip ($35, reviewed
in "Taking an iTrip: Three FM Transmitters" in TidBITS-681_).
"I got one during the Apple Store one-day sale and it's excellent.
Although it's annoying to change stations while driving (so much
so that it's best to pull over to do it), which makes it a bit of
a pain on long trips where you pass through multiple metropolitan
areas and need to change frequencies."
<[
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/ ]
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/>
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07191 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07191>
**I Need More Power, Scotty!** Apple puts a lot of effort into
long battery life on the iPod, but the simple fact is that if
you're using it a lot, it's going to run out of juice eventually.
For people with regularly drain iPods, Tony D'Emanuele recommended
the Solio, a backup battery system that can recharge itself
from an electric outlet or via its integrated solar panels.
The Solio can also recharge a host of other battery-powered
mobile electronic devices with additional tips (not included).
It's apparently available only from UK distributors for about 50
pounds (US$95) at the moment, but perhaps one of them will ship
to other parts of the world (be sure to verify that you can plug
it in your area).
<[
http://www.solio.com/html/ ]
http://www.solio.com/html/>
<[
http://www.disruptivegroup.com/products/solio/ ]
http://www.disruptivegroup.com/products/solio/>
**Protect that iPod!** Of course, practicality should be foremost
in your mind when looking for an iPod case, but since we are
talking about an iPod, style can't be ignored, and Marilyn Matty
certainly isn't one to ignore either aspect. She wrote, "There
are many high-fashion gift-giving options available this holiday
season for the iPod-minded. Though I do have a pair or two of
Manolos and Jimmy Choos mixed in with shoes from the 9 West
Outlet in my closet, as well as Furla, Coach, and Kate Spade bags,
I am totally horrified at the price points, design, and overall
tackiness of premium iPod carriers. In addition to not liking to
wear someone else's initials, I can't see paying $200 for a Gucci
iPod case that forces you to remove the iPod to access the display
and controls, and I'm equally shocked by the $220 Dior Black Tie
version.
<[
http://www.gucci.com/product-shots/us-e ... _9791.html ]
http://www.gucci.com/product-shots/us-e ... _9791.html>
<[
http://www.eluxury.com/browse/product_d ... ionID=7000 ]
http://www.eluxury.com/browse/product_d ... d=10612035&
SectionID=7000>
"As someone who had to give up knitting and crocheting years ago
due to carpal tunnel syndrome (I had to choose between crafts
or the computer), I was appalled by the $30 cost of the tacky,
machine-knitted-in-what-looks-to-be-cheapo-acrylic-yarn iPod
Socks that Geoff mentioned in a recent issue:
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07889 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07889>
"The materials to knit an iPod Sock would cost pennies, and it
doesn't even involve making much of a pattern, since you won't see
the controls or display when your iPod is covered. It would take
minutes and cost about a dollar or two as most for ultra premium
yarn. Even the most inexperienced knitter or crocheter could
easily craft a beautiful, stylish, and functional carrier that
would keep your iPod snuggly warm in inclement weather. And there
is a chance, however remote, that your design might be featured
on a runway at Fashion Week or on display at a design museum.
"Before I hauled out my old needles and yarn, I did a quick search
and found that other fashionistas and craftistas have come up with
a number of attractive designs with easy-to-make patterns - some
have attached arm or wrist bands, pockets for earbuds, etc. Best
yet, all patterns are easily customizable. And you can easily whip
together coordinates to tie in your iPod to outfits with covers
for your earphones, as well as scarves, hats, wristlets, ponchos,
wraps, and any number of other chi-chi items.
<[
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTsx3.html ]
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTsx3.html>
<[
http://www.figandplum.com/archives/000181.html ]
http://www.figandplum.com/archives/000181.html>
<[
http://www.crochetme.com/Oct_Nov_2004/p ... icozy.html ]
http://www.crochetme.com/Oct_Nov_2004/p ... icozy.html>
<[
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=10239.0 ]
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=10239.0>
<[
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=2082.45 ]
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=2082.45>
<[
http://radio.weblogs.com/0129449/catego ... 12/30.html ]
http://radio.weblogs.com/0129449/catego ... 12/30.html>
"There is a veritable iPod fashion show in the eight pages of
comments and links to patterns for iPod cozies on the following
URL's bulletin board - all of them can by easily slimmed down
for iPod minis by trimming off a few stitches on each end of the
pattern. Some of them have pockets on the back to store earbuds,
and other handy features.
<[
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=2082.0 ]
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=2082.0>
"Not inclined to knitting and don't know anyone you can convince?
I did find two pre-built knit iPod covers that are useful,
fashionable, and reasonably priced ($24): C. Ronson's iPod hoodie
and the Chuckles iPod cozy ($18).
<[
http://www.fredflare.com/customer/produ ... 24&cat=108 ]
http://www.fredflare.com/customer/produ ... 24&cat=108>
<[
http://chucklescentral.com/store.php?Item=00991 ]
http://chucklescentral.com/store.php?Item=00991>
"For those who want to learn to knit, or want to encourage someone
to do so, there are free instructions and online videos here."
<[
http://helloknitty.com/videoinstr.htm ]
http://helloknitty.com/videoinstr.htm>
<[
http://www.stitchguide.com/general_info/videos/ ]
http://www.stitchguide.com/general_info/videos/>
<[
http://www.knittinghelp.com/ ]
http://www.knittinghelp.com/>
<[
http://www.wonderful-things.com/newknit.htm ]
http://www.wonderful-things.com/newknit.htm>
<[
http://www.wonderful-things.com/newcrochet.htm ]
http://www.wonderful-things.com/newcrochet.htm>
**iPod (and iBook) Decorations** -- Tired of Apple's white-on-
white color scheme? You have options for customizing your iPod.
Josh Rafofsky wrote, "Here's a unique accessory that's sure to
tickle the fancy of your favorite iPod owner. The iPoDonut is a
glow-in-the-dark sticker that illuminates your click-wheel. You
can choose from an assortment of cool designs, and the envelope
it arrives in from Japan is quite charming. This sticker is a tad
pricey at $10, but that does include shipping to anywhere in the
world. According to the FAQ: 'The iPoDonut is made from silicon,
so it will not leave any sticky residue on the surface of your
iPod's touch wheel.' The FAQ also mentions that the iPoDonut
'is not edible.'" In case you were wondering.
<[
http://www.ipodonut.com/english/ ]
http://www.ipodonut.com/english/>
Marilyn Matty offered another idea. "Know anyone who's a little
bored at having the same old iPod like everyone else? Hewlett-
Packard has a $15 Tattoo system that can give a fourth-generation
iPod a customized makeover. It's only $15 per Tattoo for the kits
that include 10 sheets of the adhesive skins, each of which lasts
about a month. Intrepid do-it-yourselfers can risk printing
out and pasting direct from the PDFs. I personally prefer the
unadorned, classic pearl white look, but I suspect my 14-year-old
nephew might like a Tattoo. I might throw one in with the knitted
iPod covers I'll be making."
<[
http://h10049.www1.hp.com/music/us/en/tattoos.html ]
http://h10049.www1.hp.com/music/us/en/tattoos.html>
<
http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdi ... ipts/home/
store_access.jsp?product_code=Q6625A&aoid=23655&template_type=
product_detail&script_name=product.cgi>
Tomoharu Nishino pointed at a different option. "If you want
something that doesn't leave the corners exposed like the HP
Tattoos and don't think the slight increase in bulk will be an
issue (as well as cost - $30 for matching front and back), check
out PodSkinz. The patterns are somewhat limited, but you might
find one that someone on your list would like.
<[
http://www.macskinz.com/ ]
http://www.macskinz.com/>
"And if you want to go all out, you can do roughly the same thing
for an iBook with a custom painted lid from Painted Bytes ($140).
You can either mail your laptop to them in Maryland or install
the new lid yourself, but note that installation will void your
warranty unless performed by an Apple-authorized technician.
Personally, I'm not too keen on the art that the various artists
have come up with, but the solid color options they offer might
be just the ticket to hide those scratches that are starting to
become visible on my mother-in-law's iBook. Heck, if you are the
creative type, you could even order an unpainted iBook case from
them ($70), and paint an unique iBook shell for that special
someone."
<[
http://www.paintedbytes.com/ ]
http://www.paintedbytes.com/>
**Conquer Cable Clutter** -- If your laptop bag is anything like
ours, you have phone and Ethernet cables snaking around in the
bottom, probably doing unspeakable things with the FireWire cable.
If you'd like to tame the cable beasts, check out Nik Friedman's
suggestion. "The RoadWired CORDZ Multi-Connection Survival Tool
is an excellent little package of gadgetry for $25. Basically,
it's a spooled Ethernet/phone cord with a variety of extra
connectors to share a connection or create a crossover cable
for connecting two computers. Great for the road warrior or
Internet cafe addict."
<[
http://www.roadwired.com/store/Product.cfm?Productid=87 ]
http://www.roadwired.com/store/Product.cfm?Productid=87>
If the cables that cause you conniptions are your iPod earbuds,
Jeff Carlson offered another solution. "I've been meaning to write
about the Sumajin Smartwrap ($5) for a while, but I don't have
much to say besides: cool! It's a silicon rubber, peanut-shaped
bit of industrial design simplicity that you wrap your iPod
(or other headset) cord around to keep it from getting tangled.
It's great for wrapping and storing my earbuds in my bag without
having to fight and untangle the thing each time I want to listen
to tunes."
<[
http://www.sumajin.com/online.htm ]
http://www.sumajin.com/online.htm>
**Protect that PowerBook!** Nik Friedman piped up with a
suggestion that would be appropriate for any laptop user. "How
about a nice backpack that can lug around their laptop? Or maybe
a computer sleeve and a nice strap for it? Or maybe they're more
the briefcase type? Nothing says 'I care about your PowerBook'
more than a Tom Bihn backpack or case and Brain Cell or Monolith
laptop sleeve/insert. They're excellently made (hand stitched in
the USA), there's a variety of products at different sizes and
prices, and they're even somewhat customizable.
<[
http://www.tombihn.com/ ]
http://www.tombihn.com/>
"Add to that a Snake Charmer cable bag and your favorite
PowerBooker will be all set. Personally, I have a Brain Cell
(size 5 for my 12-inch PowerBook) and a Brain Bag with a Snake
Charmer and a Freudian Slip insert (sort of a backpack-mounted
filing cabinet). Great for getting to work/class/everywhere else.
My wife has a similar setup, plus a large Cafe bag which is her
favorite purse ever. (And she's owned a lot.) Can't say enough
good things about the company."
Andrew Laurence recommended another brand. "For the laptop
user who demands the very best conveyance for his/her Mac,
look no further than Brenthaven. Their cases, packs, and luggage
are marvels in strength, durability, and attention to detail.
Shoulder straps are padded and contoured, and their backpacks
feature an iPod slot and cord route for the earphones. The company
started in backpacking, and the knowledge of engineering for
'human as pack mule' shows. Apple's Professional cases are made
by Brenthaven."
<[
http://www.brenthaven.com/ ]
http://www.brenthaven.com/>
Lorin Rivers suggested a different way of protecting your
PowerBook. "I am a big fan of Vix's TiArmor line of protection
products. They are die-cut clear urethane shields for the palm
rest area (and elsewhere) that protect the finish of TiBooks and
AlBooks ($14 to $30). After the beating my caustic skin dealt my
TiBook, this is one of the first products I bought for my new
AlBook."
<[
http://www.vixinc.com/ ]
http://www.vixinc.com/>
Other protection ideas come from James Ray and Keith Dawson. James
wrote, "I love my iBook's Radio Shack rubber feet! They are Archer
Cat. No. 64-2342 self-sticking heavy-duty cushion feet, and they
come eight to a package for $2.19. (I like sticking on more than
just 4, for stability and to keep the thing up out of carpets.)
The only trick with these feet is to peel first to let them
cure in the air for about a minute while you use alcohol to clean
(on a molecular level!) the spot on your notebook to which you're
going to apply them. I've used these on four Apple notebooks so
far, and they're the first thing I buy when I get a new one."
<[
http://www.radioshack.com/searchsku.asp?find=64-2342 ]
http://www.radioshack.com/searchsku.asp?find=64-2342>
Keith also recommended little rubber cushions, but for your
laptop's screen, rather than the bottom. "RadTech Wildeepz are
tiny neoprene stick-on cushions that you place in strategic
spots around your iBook or PowerBook screen bezel. With Wildeepz
in place, a closed laptop feels much more solidly closed. When
I bought my set eight months ago, printed instructions were
included showing where to place the cushions for each laptop
type. Now RadTech has downloadable graphics (zipped GIFs) that,
when opened in Preview in Full Screen mode, show clearly where
to place the little beasts. Brill! $12 to $16 depending on
laptop model."
<[
http://www.radtech.us/Products/Wildeepz.aspx ]
http://www.radtech.us/Products/Wildeepz.aspx>
He continued. "Plus, the Marware keyboard cover protects your
iBook or PowerBook screen, when closed, from whatever has
accumulated on your keyboard. The cover doubles as a screen-
cleaning cloth. $7."
<[
http://www.marware.com/cgi-bin/WebObjec ... gCatID=126 ]
http://www.marware.com/cgi-bin/WebObjec ... gCatID=126>
**Pockets Galore** -- Just carrying all your geek gear can be
a chore these days, but Miraz Jordan suggested a completely
different solution. "By the time you've gathered your iPod
and accessories, cell phone, digital camera, keys, sunglasses,
cash, plastic cards, and all the other paraphernalia of stepping
outside the front door you're about ready to order the extra
large backpack. Or you could pick up a clothing item from
Scott eVest.
<[
http://www.scottevest.com/ ]
http://www.scottevest.com/>
"This technology-enabled clothing has pockets beyond count, but
is designed in a way to make the pocket contents invisible, rather
than hanging out as bulges and lumps. There's even a pocket sized
to hold a small laptop!
"I've recently received a fleece jacket ($130) and the
cargo pants ($110) and am still finding all the pockets.
The clothing is well made and very comfortable. Magnetic
closures, zips and deep pockets keep all your stuff from falling
out. Special channels in the clothing allow you to install your
iPod earbuds. The pocket design gives easy access, and yet keeps
stuff separated.
"The budget-minded may choose a baseball cap ($20) with secret
pockets for a key and credit cards or an older model windshirt
($40). For the big spenders there's the solar system jacket
with built-in solar panels ($535). In between are various
possibilities.
"The help desk response was efficient, friendly and helpful, but
international readers should beware: the quote for shipping to
New Zealand was horrifyingly expensive. Although Scott eVest were
sympathetic, they gave me a perfectly understandable reason why
they couldn't offer a cheaper rate. If you're outside the U.S.,
find someone in the U.S. who can receive the clothing and send
it on."
**Keep It Simple, CD** -- Although the mix CD we're making for
a few people this year will have a snazzy label created with
SmileOnMyMac's disclabel application, Brian Wessels wrote in
with an idea that's more appropriate for situations where you
just want to scrawl a few words on the surface of the CD.
"Sometimes the little things delight (or perhaps I just amuse
easily). Put a package of CD-R marking pens in someone's stocking,
and they never have to worry again about whether or not they're
using a CD-safe felt-tip pen. I got a package of four colors,
Memorex-branded I think, at K-Mart about a year ago."
<[
http://www.smileonmymac.com/disclabel/ ]
http://www.smileonmymac.com/disclabel/>
<[
http://www.memorex.com/html/products_su ... 5&opento=8 ]
http://www.memorex.com/html/products_su ... ?section=2&
CID=8&SID=25&opento=8>
**Online Identity** -- On the Internet, no one knows you're a
dog... unless you have your own online identity. You could
consider buying someone their own i-name for $25 (good for 50
years; see "Persistence Pays: The Return of XNS" in TidBITS-752_
for more details), or, you could go with David Weintraub's more
traditional idea. "Last year, I recommended getting someone their
own domain name. Since then, two things have happened: the price
has dropped, and the .name top-level domain has finally been
released. You can register a domain with GoDaddy for less than
$10 per year. For that price, you get automatic forwarding to
whatever mailbox you're using (heck, they give you over 100 mail
forwarding addresses you can use. I've set up email addresses
for my entire extended family). For a bit more than $10 per month,
they'll actually host your domain. If you're not Smith or Jones,
there is still a good chance that the .name domain is still
available for your last name."
<[
http://www.godaddy.com/ ]
http://www.godaddy.com/>
Although they don't provide registrations of .name domains, we
recommend easyDNS in general for domain registration and hosting.
They're not the cheapest option, but if reliability is as high on
your list as it is on ours, you'll appreciate easyDNS's service.
<[
http://www.easydns.com/ ]
http://www.easydns.com/>
**Store More Pictures** -- Digital cameras are great for holding
far more pictures than was possible with rolls of film, but memory
cards can still fill up at the most inopportune times. If you,
or someone you know, runs into that situation, Roy Morita noted
that "prices for memory cards seem to keep dropping. A 1 GB
CompactFlash or Secure Digital card can be bought for a bit over
$50. Digital camera buffs can never have enough memory cards.
They will always be appreciated." If you're looking to compare
prices on memory cards, try the dealram Web site.
<[
http://dealram.com/ ]
http://dealram.com/>
**The USB Christmas Tree** -- Looking to spruce up your desk
during the holiday season? Or perhaps you're just pining for
a little holiday cheer? Melanie Watts pointed out that "the USB
Christmas Tree is just the thing to bring holiday cheer to your
workspace. Just plug it in to any USB port and the glowing LEDs
cycle through a number of colours - red, green, purple, white,
and light blue - stopping at each colour for about five seconds.
It's the perfect gift for the person whose name you drew in the
office Christmas exchange." If you're too cool for a tree, there's
also a USB snowman, though he cycles through only four colors.
<[
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/6e2c/ ]
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/6e2c/>
<[
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/707b/ ]
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/707b/>
2004 Gift Ideas for the Macintosh-Minded
----------------------------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[ mailto:
editors@tidbits.com ]
editors@tidbits.com>
We're always impressed at the wide range of interests and
experience of our readers, so we love seeing what totally random
gift ideas come through in this category. Ideas from previous
years also remain relevant if you're looking for additional
unusual gifts.
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1253 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1253>
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1803+2121 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkt ... +1803+2121>
**Meanwhile, at his night job...** Travis Butler wrote, "Steve
Jobs's other company, Pixar, has done a simply superb job with
their latest hit, The Incredibles; it's the first movie in several
years that I've gone back to see a second time. It's a good movie
about family, it has a cool (and frankly more honest than other
recent superhero movies) take on superheroes, has a number of fun
riffs/homages for fans of the Bond movies, and is just generally
a helluva show. Recommended." And if it's not still in theaters
at Christmas, we're sure the DVD can't be far behind.
<[
http://www.theincredibles.com/ ]
http://www.theincredibles.com/>
**More Good Christmas Music** -- Tired of the same old bland
holiday songs and arrangements? Andrew Laurence comes to the
rescue again this year (be sure to read last year's list, linked
below, for other holiday music recommendations.)
<[
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07471 ]
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07471>
Andrew wrote, "How about another list of toe-tapping, heart-
stopping, roof-raising holiday music? My first attempt for this
year's list was to find artists who had run afoul of the law,
if only to tweak Adam for pulling last year's Phil Spector
entry. An "I Found The Law" holiday list, if you will. Alas,
'twas not to be. My first rule is that the music must keep your
toe a-tapping, and that keeps the list pretty short."
* "Christmas Collection: 20th Century Masters" - James Brown
Culled from Brown's three holiday albums in 1966, 1968, and 1970,
these 17 tracks crackle and sizzle with the Godfather's special
brand of funktastic soul. Most cuts are originals, belying other
artists who phone in their holiday albums. "Soulful Christmas"
is a hypnotizing groove, and "Santa Go Straight to the Ghetto"
is a plea for the less fortunate. "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" is
a straight blues reading of holiday loneliness, tempered only
by a lascivious reading of "Merry Christmas, Baby."
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... electro00/
ref%3Dnosim/>
* "Boogie Woogie Christmas" - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Polish up the hot rod and grease your hair into a duck tail.
Brian Setzer's big band orchestra (and his crisp lead guitar)
lead the way through this collection of holiday classics done
right. "Blue Christmas" and "Santa Claus is Back in Town" give
us an idea of what Elvis might have sounded like with modern
production, while Brian gets playful with Ann-Margret on
"Baby It's Cold Outside". "Nutcracker Suite" is a nod to Duke
Ellington, while "(Everyone's Waitin' for) The Man with the Bag"
has a swagger all its own.
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... electro00/
ref%3Dnosim/>
* "Billboard Rock 'N' Roll Christmas" - Rhino Records
God bless Rhino Records. Rock 'n' roll is littered with little
jewels of holiday rock bombs, but they're usually buried amidst
horrifically pedestrian dreck. Rhino saves us the trouble of
making like a truffle-hunting pig and puts all on one disk:
George Thorogood's "Rock And Roll Christmas," the Kinks' "Father
Christmas," the Beach Boys' seminal "Little Saint Nick," and,
at long last, Dave Edmunds' authoritative "Run Rudolph Run."
Oh, and let's not forget Cheech & Chong's, er, slightly confused
"Santa Claus and His Old Lady."
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... electro00/
ref%3Dnosim/>
* "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector" - Phil Spector
(if only to trust the art and not the artist...) This is the
album that all pop stars try to imitate when they record a holiday
album. For my money, this album contains the canonical renditions
of many holiday tunes. We get the Ronettes performing "Frosty the
Snowman," "Sleigh Ride," and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause."
The Crystals give us "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," but best
of all is the thunderous "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Haul
the volume knob all the way to the right, baby, 'cause this one
goes to eleven.
<[
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... f%3Dnosim/ ]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... electro00/
ref%3Dnosim/>
**Kitchen Geek Gear** -- Nik Friedman acknowledged that some of us
appreciate good design in other parts of our lives. "If you have
a Mac-head who cooks, or just someone who appreciates a finely
made kitchen appliance that's simple to use and trouble-free
(just like a Mac!) take a look at a Kitchen Aid food processor
or mixer for them. I've had great experiences with the company
(and their truly no hassle, you break it/we replace it, warranty)
and their products are top notch."
<[
http://www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/categ ... goryId=310 ]
http://www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/categ ... goryId=310>
**And All Through The House** -- First the kitchen, now the loo.
Aaron Roth succinctly noted, "Here's something that's suitable
for nearly everyone: The LavNav Lavatory Navigation Toilet Night
Light ($20)."
<[
http://www.arkon.com/gadgets.html ]
http://www.arkon.com/gadgets.html>
Of course, that endorsement prompted Marilyn Matty to suggest
that the LavNav "could be augmented with a purchase of an iToilet,
which, while little retro in iDesign, would be useful in theory."
<[
http://www.electric-chicken.co.uk/ ]
http://www.electric-chicken.co.uk/>
**Roomba Does Floors, not Windows** -- In keeping with the
house
