Posts tagged USB
I remember it and yes, I was there
May 20th
Grace Slick’s famous quote about the 60’s could be more narrowly applied to many gigs and festivals of this or any year.
I’ve been to quite a few (ever since my first one which was Kula Shaker at the Leicester De Montfort Hall, oh dear) and other than the really recent ones, I actually struggle to remember most of them. This is probably down to a combination of the time that’s elapsed since I went and my alcohol consumption when I was there, but given the amount of time and budget I’ve invested, this is a bit of a shame.
The only token reminder I do have of most of these events is in the form of a sad little collection of tickets in an old shoebox, but while they confirm my attendance, they don’t actually remind me of the experience itself.
I’m sure most music fans would empathise with me and in their heart of hearts wish they could remember a lot more about the live events they’ve been to.
What was the atmosphere like? What was the set list? Did the band play any new songs for the first time? Was it actually any good? God knows.
A story on the radio (digital radio since you ask) the other day caught my attention as it mentioned a company who are trying to satisfy this demand for a more engaging music souvenir, one that not only will help you remember a set list, but what it sounded like.
Musicnetworx have come up with the ‘Simfy live’ product , a USB stick containing a recording of the live show recorded at the event itself and available for punters to buy as they leave it. If this sounds a little lo-fi, the recording is also made available online as a download.
Such a product not only satisfies consumer demand for a ‘richer’ gig souvenir, but also serves as an extra revenue stream for the touring artist – in theory everybody wins.
Quite a few bands are getting involved, with Kiss signing up for their most recent tour and Iggy Pop, Elton John and a few others also signing up.
The price point is a little high (£20 odd quid) which might be a bit prohibitive and mean it’s more appropriate for the older, more affluent fan base (hence the artists above I guess), but if it proves successful this price will no doubt reduce over time.
Personally, I’d give it a go (not for Kiss though as I’ve seen them live and they’re RUBBISH) if I thought I’d been to a great gig and it was something I wanted to look back on or re-experience. Music fans are also a bit collectible crazy which only adds to the product’s appeal for them.
A slight issue might be that your opinion of a gig might change when you play it back a few weeks later and hear it sober for the first time. Without the benefit of the more usual, fuzzy, rose-tinted gig glasses you might suddenly realise that the show was a load of crap and massively over-hyped – something I’ve always suspected about the 60’s to be honest, sorry Grace.
Have Keyboard, Will Travel: Android Phones Capable of Using USB Keyboard.
Mar 2nd
Image Credit: Andrew de Quincey
In an article over at jkontherun.com, it seems that some enterprising Android enthusiasts have found that some Android powered devices have the ability to support USB keyboards built into their stock firmware.
As the author of the article points out, it is not as simple as plugging in that extra keyboard you have laying around, indeed it takes some splicing and some soldering to make it work. You also have to enable USB on the go host mode on the phone.
Credit for this discovery goes to Chris Paget, who lists the steps out on his blog. Chris used three different components to get a keyboard working on his Verizon Droid: a micro USB cable, a car charging cable and a USB extender cable. It seems Chris may be the McGuyver of the Android platform as he outlines how he spliced different things together to make the hack work.
For those of you who have been looking to use your Android handset with a keyboard, and posses the necessary savvy to splice cables together, make sure to check out Chris Paget’s blog. It is a very cool read on how he did it. You can also look here at Andrew De Quincey’s livejournal as he was able to achieve USB Host mode on his HTC Hero, using a simliar method.
The exciting thing about this kind of development is the possibilities of using USB Host mode for may other applications, USB devices, webcams and other things that you can interact with remotely. Here’s to looking forward to what comes next!
Might We Suggest…
This Clothespin-Looking USB Pendant Will Save Your Long-Distance Relationship [Concept]
Nov 10th
OK, so they won’t really save any relationships, but the idea behind the Presence in Absence USB pendants is almost sweet. You keep digital scrapbooks on your pendants and then swap those instead of bodily fluids when you finally reunite.
When you get your Presence in Absence kit, the two pendants are actually one single birch wood-encased gadget. You and your dear one are supposed to use the included carving knife to separate the two flash drives and bond while cleaning up the wood shavings. This process and the future data sharing represents how the two of your are parts of a whole and belong together. You’ll share pictures, videos, music, the events in each other’s lives that you miss out on during times apart.
Quite sweet. Call me crazy though, but I think I’ll stick to less symbolic bonding experiences when reuniting with my long-distance lover. [Dezeen]
Every Beatles album in the world will now fit on Carmen Miranda’s head
Nov 5th
In one of the more bizarre USB products we’ve ever seen, The Beatles’ Apple Corps corporation, in conjunction with record label EMI, are releasing the entire Beatles catalogue…in a USB flash drive shaped like a Granny Smith apple. The data contained on the drive will include 14 albums, 13 mini-documentaries, liner notes, album art, and rare photographs. Read the rest of this entry »
Patriot Offers Cheap 1080p Media Streaming In a Box [Media Players]
Oct 18th
Forget the obscure brand of this Patriot media streamer. For a cheap cheap $130, this 1080p box is worth a quick look, so long as you can stomach the equally cheap UI.
The kit includes a remote, 2.5-in space for a you-provided HDD, three USB slots, Ethernet, and support for more than a few file formats. It launches, well, soon, as there’s no date and it’s currently in pre-order. [Amazon via The Gadget Site via Engadget]
