Shopping for a new WebCam – Microsoft Lifecam Cinema HD or Logitech Quickcam 9000 Pro?

29 10 2009

Since I started to regularly Video-Skype with my parents I want to replace my old webcam with something more sophisticated.

My general first idea was to go with a Logitech Webcam Pro 9000.

Logitech Webcam Pro 9000

But after seeing Scott Hanselsmans review for the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD I was also taking this model into account.

Hanselman Review of Microsoft Lifecam Cinema HD Microsoft Life Cam Cinema HD

As my main system currently is a Mac and Microsoft doesn’t listen any reference to specific Mac software I was wandering whether the Lifecam Cinema HD would work with the Mac. Generally the Mac supports USB Video Class – Universal USB 2.0 devices without any additional software. But I couldn’t find any decent answer if the Microsoft cam supports this standard.

I however found an interesting video comparison by Leo Laporte that answered more or less all my questions. In a essence:

  1. Microsoft Lifecam Cinema HD and Logitech Quickcam 9000 Pro both work on MacOS Leopard without any additional software.
  2. Respective image quality for both devices is much better when used on Windows with the supplied software pack.
  3. Logitech Quickcam 9000 Pro seemed to deliver a better picture quality on the Mac.

Leo Laporte Comparison

 

For now it’s pretty sad to see that something generally works on a platform, but that the quality of the produced result could be better.

So I suppose I’ll go for the Logitech cam.

– PerstechLife —


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Categories : WebCam

WMWifiRouter as alternative to the MiFi – A brief comparison and some time travel into Windows Mobile history.

29 10 2009

After using the MiFi 2352 for some month now I’m really hooked to the concept when going to foreign (roaming) countries. Previously I had to change my internet usage when outside of my home country. Now it’s just the additional switch on and off for the MiFi.

But unfortunately does my MiFi have problems with charging (MiFi 2352 – Does Novatel have a larger problem with charger or device?) so it’s traveling back and forth to the supplier. For some trips I had to find an alternative.

In the back of my mind I remembered that I tested WMWifiRouter a year back. So I dug out my old Windows Mobile (HTC Hermes) and bought a version of the software for € 19.99. My trail license had expired. After 15 minutes for the download and some configuration everything was set to go.

Thumbnail: http://www.wmwifirouter.com/

Sidenote: Windows Mobile is so “old” compared to the iPhone

For me this was the first time I used Windows Mobile after switching over to the iPhone in September ‘08. And to be clear: I was a heavy and long-time Windows Mobile user. Which means that my Windows Mobile history goes back to the first Casio Windows CE device (without mobile phone in 1998 and black and white screen) .

I used my Windows Mobile device (the latest was the HTC Hermes) daily, mostly for an hour or more. My device was heavily customized and tailored to my needs and had plenty of additional apps installed. But after a year with the iPhone it felt like a trip back in history. I found most of the settings I needed to make very fast. But the overall GUI impression including the touch interface was really bad. It’s amazing how fast I adopted the iPhone UI and how fast my requirements set for applications changed-For now there is definitely no way back.

Brief Comparison

Comparing the MiFi to the HTC Hermes with installed WMWifirouter seems like comparing apples and oranges.But however I just do it.

  HTC Hermes with WMWifiRouter Novatel MiFi 2352
Pro
  • Display delivers better information on status
  • UI based configuration.
  • Could remain on when Wireless Hotspot was deactivated as battery wouldn’t be drained.
  • Very light
  • Simple usage – just one button to switch on and off
    • Web interface for configuration
    • WPA and WPA2 encryption for the WLAN

Con
  • Only WEP encryption for the WLAN connection
  • More weight.
  • More complicated to activate.
  • LED status display inferior

Equal
  • Similar activation time
  • Overall Internet delivery performance felt the same.
  • Battery time roughly 4 hours when permanently used.
  • Different UI but similar configuration options.
  • Similar activation time
  • Overall Internet delivery performance felt the same.
  • Battery time roughly 4 hours when permanently used.
  • Different UI but similar configuration options.

Overall the WMWifiRouter might be an alternative for you if you have some old Windows Mobile hardware just sitting around.

- PersTechLife –


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Categories : MiFi, Mobile, iPhone

What’s different with the International Kindle (store) – A review

22 10 2009

I received my International Kindle 2 yesterday. Following are my observations an some research on the differences for US and non-US customers.

General

Please allow me some general remarks to the Kindle 2 as a new user to this device.

  1. So far I like the experience and it delivers everything I expected. The Kindle could become a replacement for printed books in the casual category. I strongly doubt that I would like for any books with extended graphics or layout on the Kindle. It’s an ok alternative for accessing newspapers that aren’t  available locally. I’m however missing the layout of a newspaper.
  2. I previously had tested a Sony eBook reader and was very annoyed with the screen blackening per page change. Kindles page turning experience is ok, but just ok.
  3. Unpacking the device was, compared to unpacking an Apple device, very spartan.
  4. Overall Kindle UI experience is ok for me. Some menu options are weirdly placed (for me), I’m wondering why the ‘Home’ button is located on top of the “next page” button and not nearby the joystick.  
  5. I appreciate amaon’s the nice gesture to refund US$20 due to the latest price reduction of the device to US$ 259.
  6. Whispersync for reading position is working between Kindle and iPhone client.

International Aspects

I ordered my Kindle with my amazon.com account, which has a US address and a European address in my profile.I will however use the Kindle mostly in Europe.

Amazon currently distinguishes your physical location only based on your originating IP address and the allocated physical location of this address. Using my desktop  web browser and a VPN (same on the iPhone) I can suggest to the amazon.com store a different physical location. With the built in GSM module this currently is not possible.

As far as the Kindle shop is concerned I will maintain my US location. Therefore I need to do all my shopping with a desktop web-browser or the iPhone over VPN and can’t use the Kindle built in shop connection.

This location setting gives me the following advantages:

  • Primary reason: Ability to order from a larger selection of books. Detailed drill down on numbers of books in country stores to be found here:
      Thumbnail via WebSnapr: http://blogkindle.com/2009/10/kindle-international-coverage-update/
  • Freedom of choice whether I want to use the wireless (GSM) connection for the download (and pay for it) or if I want to leverage my existing internet connection and download via PC.
  • Ability to use the experimental Web-browser (even when roaming).
  • Ability to subscribe to blogs.

Comparison between the US- and non-US-Kindle Store

To start of, the US store has a significantly larger choice of books. In the European version I couldn’t find a significant number of 2009 releases. (All prices below as of 2009-10-22).

 

US Kindle Store

Non-US Kindle Store

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

$9.99

Not available

Valentine’s Exile by E.E. Knight

$8.39

$8.39
(includes wireless delivery outside of US)

Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn

$9.99

$11.99
(includes wireless delivery outside of US)

New York Times subscription (*)

$13.99

$27.99
(includes wireless delivery outside of US)

Frankfurter Allgemeine Subscription (*)

$14.99

$27.99

(includes wireless delivery outside of US)

Blog subscriptions

beginning with $0.99

Not available

International Book Service

$1.99 per download

included in book price

International Current Issue Service

$1.99 per issue

included in issue / subscription price

International Subscription Service (1)

$4.99/week (week = 7 days) including all subscribed blogs, magazines and subscriptions

included in issue / subscription price
blog subscription not available

Personal Document Delivery

$0.99 per megabyte

$0.99 per megabyte

The International Subscription Service can be activated as a recurring option. When enabled you’ll pay US 4.99 per week, whenever the Kindle is connected to a roaming network and is downloading blogs, magazine or newspaper issues.

Summary

As stated previously:

The Kindle by far isn’t the perfect device. But it will do for now.

The distinction between residence, especially regarding the available content is bad. But there are ways (VPN) to circumvent the restrictions.

Additional fees for wireless delivery are not nice. But I understand that the data network roaming system overall is a pretty nasty thing and amazon needed to play by.

Overall I’m looking forward using the Kindle.


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Categories : Kindle, Reading, Travel

MiFi 2352 – Does Novatel have a larger problem with charger or device? [2 Updates]

22 10 2009

When I received my MiFi in early August I had a problem with charging the device.

Connecting the MiFi device to the supplied charger provided me immediately with the solid red LED of death and doesn’t charge the device. This "error” statement only vanishes when removing the battery or when the device is completely discharged.

As a first resolve I bought a Motorola Micro-USB charger. But this didn’t help. Same error as above. In the meantime I had found out that the device could be charged when connected to a computers USB port using the provided USB cable. Also a 12V car adaptor and the supplied USB cable did the job. And surprisingly  the Apple iPhone power adapter plus the USB cable also work fine for charging the MiFi device.

After returning from my trip I returned the charger device to mobilx in Hungary (where I bought the MiFi). But the charger problem remained with the new charger.

Next stop was sending in the complete device including charger for a repair. After a month today I received the “repaired” device and guess what: the charging problem remains. I don’t know what they did with the device. But I have to assume that somebody did something to it. The complete firmware was erased and a new tape cover was applied to the unit.

Googling for the same problem brought some hits. So there seems to be a larger scheme to this problem:

http://www.expansys.at/ft.aspx?k=121209
http://www.expansys.ch/ft.aspx?k=121331

Plus a comment entry to my original blog pot:

http://blog.perstechlife.com/2009/07/20/mifi-2352-or-tired-of-data-roaming-charges/#comments
Was interesting to read about your experience with the charger – my MiFi doesn’t seem to charge at all using the wall charger. Immediate solid red LED whenever I plug it in. Going back to the store with it tomorrow. Does it indicate charging when connected by USB cable to a PC?

For now my working assumption is, that has a problem with the supplied voltage or current from the chargers.

I now has escalated this problem to my supplier. I will follow up here.

[Updates]

2009-10-28: mobilx now has picked up the defective MiFi and promised to sent a new one instantly back to me.

2009-11-04: I received a completely new device and the problem is completely gone. Thanks to mobilx for exchanging the faulty device.

Regards,

PersTechLife


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Categories : MiFi, Mobile

Kindle International – Amazon $20 Refund

22 10 2009

Nice move from Amazon to lower the price for the International Kindle by US$ 20 and refund that amount to already processed customers.

“Hello,

Good news! Due to strong customer demand for our newest Kindle with U.S. and international wireless, we are consolidating our family of 6″ Kindles. As part of this consolidation, we are lowering the price of the Kindle you just purchased from $279 down to $259. You don’t need to do anything to get the lower price–we are automatically issuing you a $20 refund. This refund should be processed in the next few days and will appear as a credit on your next billing statement.

We’ll also send you a follow-up e-mail to confirm the refund once it has been completed.
We hope you enjoy your new Kindle. Please send us your feedback at: Kindle-feedback@amazon.com

Sincerely,

The Kindle Team”

– PTL –


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Categories : Kindle

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