Thursday, November 9, 2006

Boys' toys

I'm an unashamed gadget freak. I adore useless toys, in fact they're almost as good as useful toys.

From iPods to G shocks, from credit card shaped multi function tools to multi device LCD remote control units I've got them all. Rhythmic Towers is so full of gadgets that I have to hide them at work to stop the wife seeing them. Women object to these things you know, something to do with wasting money.

Now that I've told you that you can imagine the damage that one of these "gadget" magazines can inflict on a person like me. There I was, sailing along happily and thinking that I had the almost latest of everything, when this magazine found its way into my Tesco's basket. What have I discovered?

Well I'm ok on the camera front. After buying three of the babies in the last year even I think I've got that area covered. Although these new Samsung cameras with the innovative cross hair menu system do look appealing.

I need a new iPod as a matter of urgency. My one is now 2 generations old. It doesn't even have video. It's got a so yesterday 60gb drive, which means that, with 5000 odd songs on it, I've only got about 35gb of free space. I need that extra 55gb of free disk space and of course I am in desperate need of the brighter and bigger screen to view all the photographs which are on my iPod and I never view anyhow. The battery life on my current one is a paltry 10 hours too.

The new iPod shuffle, the world's smallest MP3 player, will have to be bought too. Just look at it.

Then there's the matter of my phone. The old Motorola RAZR thing is a sexy beast but it's a bit, you know, last week. There's this new one coming out by Xcute, whoever they are, with a 6 megapixel camera. It's got MP3, 20MB internal memory, 30 frames per second video and a TV out thing to view on your TV. It makes phone calls too.

What better way to tell the time than on the new Casio "24" range of watches? The red one looks like the one for me, it's probably got all sorts of functions but the only ones I'll ever use are the time, date and the world time zone thing, so I know the time in CMB. 100m and 200m water resistance is handy, but if it will work in the shower and the average hotel swimming pool, then that's fine for me. Does anyone else play the game when you try to make the stopwatch stop so the hundredths of a second bit says "00"? After some trial attempts I can usually do this and accurately stop within about 5 - 10 hundredths of my target.

Another thing that I was taken by is these big feet stilty springy robocop type things. Personally I think my description says it all, but they're a pair of scaffolding looking things that you strap to the bottom half of the leg. The blurb says you can "jump u to 2m, leap 3m for every stride and run at speeds of up to 20 mph." I really seriously need some of these. They're called Powerizers. As far as I'm concerned they are an essential for modern day life.

The new Logitech "Entertamer" multi device remote control looks damn sexy. Apparently you can tell it to do something like "watch a DVD" and it will automatically turn on the TV, DVD player and set the channels and all the other settings for you. How many times have you been caught short, trying to watch a DVD but you can't find the remote for one device, or you can't quite remember which button to press to get the TV on the AV channel? Well, this baby could solve all your problems.

The digital photo frame looks like a handy object too. I could download pictures straight from my camera and they'll be displayed on this nice looking silver edged device. I could put it on my desk right next to the binary clock with its blue blinking lights.

The best things I have seen, the things I am going to buy ASAFP, the little beauties I know my children will love and I'll have to pretend to like too, just to join in you know, are called "Cube World".

They're little coloured boxes with a kind of LCD screen on them. Each screen then has a LCD stickman character inside it. Apparently as you tip or roll the cube the character inside it reacts by falling around the cube. The piece de resistance is that, when you place the cubes next to each other, the little men interact and visit each other's homes. How great is that?

Here's a small teaser for you. Not a chocolate coated honeycombed centred confectionary piece, that's a Malteser, just a little question.

Out of all the items I have mentioned there is only one that I really wouldn't buy.

Which one is it?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The digital photo frame?

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

Nope. That looks good to me!

Anonymous said...

I love toys, getting a new camera, laptop or anything remotely electronic keeps me occupied for hours.

I would have to hazard a guess to what your wouldnt buy, maybe the Powerizers?

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

N - No, the Powerizers were the subject of a pissed discussion with my mate last night and we are seriously thinking of each getting a set. We're a bit concerned about the safety aspect though!

Anonymous said...

How about a fixed focal lenght USM lens for that camera?

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

There's a good thought. Any recommendations. I haven't used a fixed length lens since I started taking pics all those years ago. My first was a Minolta 58mm f1.4m, a gorgeous lens that is probably in my garage somewhere. It might have been 55mm actually. I remember that the filter thread and focal length were 58 and 55, just not sure which way round

Anonymous said...

hows about that Sigma 70-500mm...I drool everytime I see that lens....wish I could afford to drop a G...

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

n - 70-500? - I didn't know Sigma did one. I've got a 70-200 f2.8, That's lovely and is rapidly becoming my "standard" lens.

Anonymous said...

I'd like a 50mm fixed focal length one as it's supposed to best approximate what your eyes see, and it also forces you to pay more thought to framing the photo instead of being lazy and zooming in and out. That would be nice for a beginner in photography like me.

Anonymous said...

A 50mm fixed focal length lens is something I'd quite like as a beginner to DSLR photography as it's supposed to best approximate what the eye sees without distortion. It's also supposed to force you to pay more though to framing the picture without lazily zooming in and out for the frame because you have to move around or better position your subject. At least that's what the books tell me. Childof25, maybe you could compromise with the Tamron 55-200 lens? Pretty cheap, but probably not as good as the Sigma. Like my momma said, if you want it and can afford it you probably should get something cheaper. :)

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

anon - don't Sigma do a 55-200 too? I wonder if I would have the patience to cope without a zoom now. I'm so used to being lazy with my framing, just zooming in and out, that I might just spend too much time moving around otherwise. The exercise would be good for me though!

Anonymous said...

You'd have to cultivate it I guess? I think I'll be getting one for my birthday, not a USM one though, but one of the cheaper ones sells for less than £70 delivered! Oh, and a Gorillapod as well!

Anonymous said...

Anon thanks for the tip but I already have a Canon F4L 70-200mm, which is a dream of a lens...I'm looking for that little bit of extra reach for wildlife work

Zooms handy because sometimes...unless you can walk on water or on crowds...ur mobility is limited...fixed focal length is good at the lower end, like 50mm...