TFT | Terry’s Favorite Things

(atmospheric water generator)  or as I call it, a “glorified de-humidifier.”

EcoloBlue

Atmospheric Water Generators

When I saw this I thought I was looking at your typical office water cooler and almost didn’t give it a second glance.  But being the inquisitive sort that I am, I noticed it was indeed something much more.

Atmospheric water generation isn’t really new – think of a dehumidifier. It sucks water out of the environment and collects it in a reservoir.  I have one – it’s a power hungry machine and I avoid using it but on rare occasions.  The water that is collected doesn’t look like anything I’d want to drink – being full of dust and cat hair. And that’s just the stuff that I can see.

This is where the second half comes in.  Add a water filtration/purification system – in this case, reverse osmosis, UV, carbon, micron, etc and you get a really cool GOTTA HAVE IT! product.  This isn’t so much a review of the Ecoloblue water generator as I don’t have one in my possession . . . yet.  But I can tell you, I won’t be without for long.

When it comes to going off the grid and sticking it to the power company… and water company. . . this is just the sort of product that fits the bill for going independent successfully.

EcoloBlue has 2 models as of this writing with a third coming soon.  Starting at $999 for the EcoloBlue 28 (7 gallons per day) and $1399 for the EcoloBlue 30 (8 gallons per day). Units are backordered and expect 3-4 weeks for delivery – that’s how popular these babies are catching on.

Units use a variety of filters that need to be replaced after so much use.  Package deals are offered on their website to make it easy to keep stocked.

From the Horse’s mouth:

EcoloBlue Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) produce unlimited, pure, delicious drinking water from just the humidity in the air. Our machines utilize a cutting-edge, proprietary technology –the most efficient, and energy conscious condensers available today– to extract more moisture from the atmosphere, quicker and more efficiently than any comparable machine.
YES, IT IS REALLY THE HUMIDITY

Believe it or not, Earth’s atmosphere contains more water than it’s vast oceans. 8 miles straight-up of untapped atmosphere just waiting to contribute to life on Earth. Until now, it was a mere fantasy to harness that unlimited, and renewable natural resource. EcoloBlue AWGs bring the previously unfathomable idea of limitless, sustainable, and portable hydration to the masses.

As if these weren’t cool enough, extra snaps:

NO GRID REQUIRED

EcoloBlue’s AWGs are designed to work seamlessly with any power source. Including solar, wind, and gas-powered generators. So you can have limitless, pure drinking water anywhere. Any time.

I’d power it with wind or solar or a free energy device ideally. (CC)

OK, if these home units are lacking and wimpy for your tastes, EcoloBlue manufactures 5 industrial size units that produce from 50 to 1300 gallons per day with units weighing in at 700 lbs for the light weight class to over 7000 lbs for heavy weight.

I’m thinking you install this into one of your shipping containers on property…

05/27/2010 UPDATE:

check this out: 10 Water Myths

TFT – Terrys Favorite Things

Skitch For Mac

“this graphic was created using SKITCH“

This one too – using the apple built in iSight camera.

Very cool and useful program I’ve been using since November of 2008.

It is still free and periodically has to be upgraded and is still being labeled as Beta version.

Skitch has online storage abilities and quick drag and drop onto desktop or email or ????

It allows you to store images online for free on their server.

Personally, I use it for quick screen grabs and drag the jpg onto my desktop for further use.

You can also use your mac’s built in camera if you want to mark up and image. (see above)

The software has tons of customizable features of which I and most people won’t use most of the features – kinda like photoshop.

It has a save function if the jpg (or png, tif, pdf, etc) drag and drop isn’t what you’re looking for.

A history of previous captures is found under the Photo button at the top left of the skitch screen.

Text – size, color and FONT are all customizable.

Click on the hammer/wrench button top left of the Skitch screen to see a pull down menu of functions available.

Flip and rotate image, change font, full screen snap, snap skitch itself. . . these are just some of the tools available.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS (borrowed from Skitch.com)

See it…

• Snap a website
• Capture a chat moment
• Screenshot an application
• iSight snap your bad hair day
• Quickly sketch an idea
• Tap into your iPhoto Library
• Re-open images from your Skitch History

Say it…

• Annotate with circles and gorgeous arrows
• Add text that always stands out
• Scribble and jot… it’s automatically smoothed
• Re-size and crop by simply dragging a corner
• Drag the file to wherever you like, no need to save
• Return to what you were doing — in seconds — not minutes!

All in all a must have too for the creatives or online marketers. Skitch. Get it here.

The one thing missing – or I haven’t discovered yet, is the ability to crop an existing snapshot inside the skitch window.

4/16/2010 UPDATE – Just figured out how to crop – it’s really intuitive once I realized what to do. You use the select tool while just inside the borders – top bottom – left – right and crop as you please.

Podcars:

A Reality in an Alternate Universe

I’m picturing visions of Logan’s Run or something out of Disney’s Tomorrowland.

Imagine podcars as the public transportation of the future.  AKA, personal rapid transit, would be a system of vehicles that provide on-demand, private travel. I mean if you think about it, this idea is hardly new or revolutionary.  More like it has not been very popular of a concept for those who own and control the auto industry, the oil industry, etc, etc.

Able to carry people as well as light freight, PodCars would ride on small guideways like a monorail. They could be powered by electricity, or hey, how about that electro-magnetic gravitics we have been withheld by TPPTS?

The podcars would travel on main lines like a freeway with on and off ramp legs that would stop at stations where you can get on and off. A good size would be vehicles that hold up to 4 people, but be cost effective to run even with just one person riding.

Some estimates gauge cost at $25 to $40 million per mile including the rail, vehicles and stations.

Compare this to $100 to $300 million for subway or light rail systems.

Currently, a podcar system called ULTra is being built at London’s Heathrow airport.

Oh yeah, that looks like fun.  Seriously, except for driving enthusiasts, this would allow people better use of their time while commuting and traveling. Minor issue of those who are germaphobes – how do you sanitize each car after use?  For that matter, how  and how often would they be cleaned?

For example, what if someone just came off the beach with their great dane and got in a podcar prior to you using the same car?  Wet and covered in sand and dog hair, not to mention the lingering smell to remind you of the prior occupants, could you request a different car or what?

Hmm. . . sounds like a whole slew of business opportunities and jobs for podcar support that might not be readily considered!

“This device has been given the nod as the one essential gadget destined to make everyone’s life easier. With upwards of 100,000 MP3 players forecast to be sold in New Zealand for this Christmas period alone, not to mention the fact that many of us now have multiple cellphones, PDAs, iPhone and/or a BlackBerry, consumers are crying out for a way to recharge all their devices in one simple way.

“We have the answer,” says Binns. The Powerstick™ is designed and manufactured in Canada by Ecosol, an engineering-led company with a remit to develop and manufacture sustainable products. With the Powerstick™ that sustainability is achieved in many ways:

• Consumers now only need one small product to charge virtually all their portable devices
• The Powerstick™ is a portable rechargeable device that comes with a one-year warranty
• Chargeable from a laptop, desktop or any device with a USB port (including cars and aircraft)
• Once charged the Powerstick™ Polymer Lithium battery retains more than 90% of energy so it can be left unused but charged for up to 6 months
• Having topped up the Powerstick™  will go into sleep mode and will stop drawing down energy unlike normal wall chargers.
• The LCD display lets the user know when they need a top up, no guessing required and no unnecessary drawdowns

“My arsenal of digital devices is now completely taken care of,” says Binns. “The  Powerstick™ comes with 9 different device connectors including iPod, Nokia, Motorola, Mini-USB, LD, and Samsung. You can charge so many things with one stick and it’s also surge protected, so it can’t harm your precious work or play tools. ”

“It’s the essential gadget for the traveller (business or leisure), the student, the music lover and the workplace, pretty much anyone with a portable device. Most of us find it a challenge to run an iPhone all day without charging. With the  Powerstick™ you can charge up and keep talking, giving you greater peace of mind,” assures Binns.

Powerstick™  is available in New Zealand initially through Noel Leeming and online at powerstick.co.nz. With a RRP of $79, it’s an ideal Christmas gift, let alone a useful tool for having the cell, iPod and PDA charged in the beach-bag over summer. And at home users will no longer have to invest in a network of powerboards for their usual electric spaghetti. For more information and for compatibility (virtually all mobile devices are covered). Overseas, check out www.powerstick.co.nz or call Richard Binns on 021 913 984.

Full Article Source

UPDATE – Powerstick is available in US for $49.99

go to POWERSTICK.COM

This is a must have piece of tech in my book.  Especially for the on the go world traveller or even just the on – the – go person who has a lot of energy hungry gadgets.  Heck, for $50, I think I’ll pick up a few.

Each powerstick comes with 9 adaptors but one shortcoming I can see right away is this won’t help me with my 2 AA powered digital camera that loves to run out of juice before the party is over.  Maybe I just need a new camera, but I don’t like to be wasteful as the old one ain’t broke yet.

A bit of local news (at least in my part of the world)

When Ed VerVane moved to Florida from Michigan in the early 1990s, he welcomed the sunshine and then spent the next 17 years earning a living trying to tame its harmful effects.

VerVane created the Winsulator, a clear acrylic interior window attachment that fastens to the inside of windows via magnets. The insets keep the heat at bay and deflect damaging UV rays, creating a comfortable environment inside residential and commercial buildings.

With a background in window installation, VerVane used his knowledge and skill to come up with a design that created energy efficiency, reduced UV exposure and noise levels and could be used as a retrofit in existing buildings.

To gain credibility for his invention, VerVane went to NASA and had its engineers test the product. “They said you have a flawless design,” VerVane said. He then installed the product in the fourth-floor windows of the Kennedy Space Center’s headquarters. “It cut the temperature through the windows by 30 degrees,” he said.

The product, which carries a 10-year guarantee and 100 percent replacement coverage, also has been tested by the Florida Energy Office. The Sarasota-based company has installed the window attachments in the Selby Library, Sarasota County judicial center and residential homes in the area.

Recently, VerVane has concentrated on promoting the preservation aspect of Winsulators and installed the custom-designed attachments in windows in a long list of historical buildings in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Should Apple Be Worried About Google’s New Nexus One Smart Phone?

Google just released a potential iPhone killer named the Nexus One this January 2010 at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show.  I decided to check out it’s specs to see how it compares to the iPhone 3GS which I’ve had my eye on for a while now.  Being a diehard apple/mac user since the apple II+, I fall into that elitist, smug, fanatical apple fan description.  So it’ll take a lot for me to choose something else.

Many think the Nexus One could be a strong challenger to Apple’s iPhone 3GS. Let’s take a look at each phone’s strong and weak points as it compares to the other.

Apple iPhone Pros:

1. Industry support with 100,000′s of apps available through iTunes
2. can buy it and play with one in an Apple store
3. longer battery life overall
4. seamless integration with mac and iTunes (strong point for mac users)
5. video capture up to 30 FPS
6. multi-touch ability

Google Nexus One Pros:

1. 5MP camera with LED flash
2. micro SD card slot (this is one of my pet peeves with the iPhone)
3. removable battery
4. noise cancellation mic to cut out car / background noises
5. 3.7 inch display compared to apple’s 3.5 inch
6. 480×800 pixel screen to 640×480 for iPhone

Google’s Nexus one claims a 1Ghz processor to apple’s 600Mhz for the 3GS.  But that could be apples and oranges as we know processor speed isn’t the be all end all of true speed.

The iPhone has 256MB of main memory whereas Nexus one has 512MB – double the memory.

Apple iPhone Cons:

1. currently only available on ATT network unless you jailbreak it (which voids warranty and ability to do software upgrades)
2. only 3MP camera without a flash
3. no micro SD slot
4. non-removable battery

Google Nexus One Cons:

1. Can’t buy it in a store – only available online
2. Tmobile network – questionable coverage in many markets
3. video capture rate up to 20 FPS
4. lack of apps available

Now a few of those cons are easily remedied.  Eventually, if the Nexus One is successful, it will get more support for apps.  Google could also allow its phones to be sold in stores.

Apple and Google both  have plans to make their phones available on Verizon’s cellular network sometime in 2010 which many people think is a far superior cellular company when it comes to reliability and coverage.

I would guess Apple may have some new improvements in the next version when it comes out this year (I’m assuming).  May only be the verizon version that gets some advancements, but we’ll see.

I know where I live it is certainly the case.  I’ve been with Helio (riding on sprint network) and found it to be HORRIBLE. Before that I was with Nextel, which I thought was bad, until I got Sprint. Now unless I want to wait a few more months, I have to deal with ATT which isn’t too much better.

As a mac user, I am still leaning towards an iPhone, even with its shortcomings. Besides, with planned obsolescence and the blindingly fast speed of technological improvements, no one will have the best or fastest for long at any given time.

I am also a little apprehensive of Google’s dominance in our online lives.  Google is an industry giant and the majority of people use their search engine – which tracks and stores every search ever made.

More people use Gmail which has unlimited storage.  I wonder, when I delete trash forever, is it really gone?  They now have a new Browser called Chrome to compete with IE, Firefox and Safari.   . . .And now a phone.

I’m not very comfortable putting so many details of my life in the hands of  one very powerful far reaching entity.  Google’s  slogan from the start has been “do no evil”, but I find it harder to believe that is anything more than an outdated and ignored slogan now that they have so much control and power and influence and are no longer this cute little fledgling start up.  I don’t care who you are, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Another thing, Do No Evil backwards Spells Live On OD…. Hmm… does the OD stand for OverDrive or OVER DOSE?

Other good posts on this subject:

TechNightOwl

Cool cost comparison sheet of iPhone, Nexus, Palm and Droid – but don’t let those bullet points fool you on what’s not shown. Click for full size image you can read.

The folks over at Icon Aircraft will even train you to fly your new A5 amphibian.

Being classified as a sports plane, you only need 20 hours of training for your license to fly.

If you don’t have one, they will train you over the course of a few weeks before you take delivery of your plane.

Training will run about $3000 to $5000.  Hey, if you can afford the very affordable price tag of the A5 [$139K], then a few extra Gs should be nothing.

Delivery is still expected to be in late 2010… oh, the waiting is the hardest part.

Hey, why not go get your license now if you haven’t already?!

Blog Pee  11-11. . . 2009 . . .

Change isn’t made by asking for permission. Change is made by asking forgiveness later.

Various interesting bits found around the web . . .

Forbes Top 400 Richest Peeps in USA List in Pictures

Complete with mini bios and occasional insight into their success mindsets.

Like Google founders Sergie and Larry using goats on the corporate lawn instead of lawn mowers under belief of it being better for environment.

Don’t they know about the amount of air  pollution caused by a lifetime of goat farts?

Gee, Bill Gates is still at the top @ $50 Billion

Steve Jobs #43 at just a measly  5.1 Billion

Oprah and Steve Wynn tie for #143 @ 2.3B

Donald Trump #158 @ 2 Billion – tied with FaceBook founder Mark Zuckerberg [youngest person on the list]

Simply because of  their shear wealth, they have a massive impact on the planet – good or bad compared to most people.

Most of the people on this list you wouldn’t recognize on the street. Until #392, all are worth $1 Billion +.

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This is cool – but don’t get in trouble

Convert Video / DVD to any device How To (for Mac)

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In Other Local News . . .

YouTube has been soliciting me to sign up for Rev Share for several videos.

They finally targeted one that I was confident was not violating any copyrights.

The scary thing is if they decide you have violated something, they’ll pull your video off for good.

Plus I would guess you get a black mark against your account – 3 strikes and you are out.

That can really suck because these videos are the ones that have a lot of views and comments on them.

Send Free Text Messages Via E-Mail

If you have an iPhone or any other cellular plan that doesn’t have unlimited texting or texting at all, then you know how annoying and expensive it can get if other people text you.

One option is to turn off texting capabilities on your phone or plan. Another is a relatively unknown way using email.

Keep in mind the person receiving the message still has to pay for these—but you won’t have to.**

Here’s how:

Enter the person’s phone number, along with the appropriate carrier-specific e-mail address from those listed below, into any e-mail client.

The result will appear on the person’s phone as an SMS text message.

Note: All phone numbers are 10 digits with no dashes (example: 2135551212).

• Alltel: [Phone Number]@message.alltel.com
• AT&T: [Phone Number]@txt.att.net
• Nextel: [Phone Number]@messaging.nextel.com
• Sprint: [Phone Number]@messaging.sprintpcs.com
• T-Mobile: [Phone Number]@tmomail.net
• Verizon: [Phone Number]@vtext.com
• Virgin Mobile: [Phone Number]@vmobl.com
• US Cellular: [Phone Number]@email.uscc.net

**The person receiving the text can then text you back and it goes to the email account you sent your text from.

I tried this the other day and it works great!

source:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2352105,00.asp

What Time Is It?

• Sceen Saver
• OSX Tiger Widget
• iPhone App

I discovered PolarClock  in the March 2009 WIRED magazine and just got around to checking into it.

Polar Clock 3.0 is now available as a screen saver for Mac and Windows, and also as a dashboard widget for OSX Tiger.

PolarClock is  also available in the iTunes App store as an iPhone App [more pics here] - last price check – $0.99.

Although the screen savers and widget are free, the creator appreciates donations for his efforts

As one commenter stated, this would make a really cool wrist watch display.  I’m sure someone is working on that!