Go Pound Air Drums
Diana Forbes
06/09/08 - 01:54 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES -- Small and "fun on the run" -- both are trends to watch for in the mobile sphere.
This small and fun mini-camera recorder is about the size of a pack of gum. However, the audio functionality is lacking.
But Gadget Grrl says you can't miss with this air drum set. The sticks feel like the real thing, and you can play mid-air. Pounding this gadget is a great way to blow off steam on a stressful trip, she says.
This mini-camera recorder is about the size of a pack of gum with 1G of built-in memory. Weighing in at 18 grams, this tiny camera won't weigh you down. Hard to believe, but there is also a built-in rechargeable battery (via USB), so that's also one less thing to lug around.
It records in the 3GP format. 3GPP and 3GPP2 are the worldwide standards for the creation, delivery and playback of multimedia over third generation, high-speed wireless networks. QuickTime has adopted 3GPP & 3GPP2 into the core architecture, giving QuickTime users mobile multimedia capabilities.
You'll get up to two hours of recording time, and if you are a note taker on-the-go, you can also do voice recording on this device.
Playback can be done on a mobile device or PC.
Of note here is that the video is better than the audio. I might use this for establishing shots for a company video.
For those business travelers who need to unwind and want an alternative to Air Guitar, you might like the MiJam Pro Air Drummer.
With this device, you can play Wireless air drums that simulate a full drum set. There are two wireless, multi-functional drumsticks, a wireless foot pedal for bass drum realism and a speaker you can connect to your iPod or any MP3 player (using the headphone jack) to play along with your favorite music.
The drumsticks are about the same size as their wooden counterparts, with rubberized tips that are also similar.
If you can feel the beat and/or clap to a beat, you can play the MiJam Drummer -- these are sort of like air drums, so that you play them in mid-air.
To play the battery-operated sticks, you just start swinging, there is a large, red
button on each stick that acts as a joy stick. Once you get the movement down you should be able to pick up these sticks and play.
I found these to be great for stress relief, especially after getting news of another delayed flight.
Of note here are the number of batteries you'll need to be an air drummer: two per drumstick and four for the control for a total of eight.
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MiJam Studio Mike
$19.99
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Another fun device to help take out the tension is the MiJam Studio Mike.
It contains a speaker at the bottom that you can plug into an iPod or MP3 player using the headphone jack.
Once plugged in, the microphone cancels out the voices on the music track, enabling you to sing along like you would if you were doing Karaoke.
It also has cheers and applause for the hardcore Karaoke fiends.
Site to see:
Wikitravel
Yet another offering from the Wiki World is the Wikitravel site.
Here you will find all kinds of gems, including destination of the month, with a wealth of information. And one of my favorites, "off the beaten path," features destinations you might want to consider visiting if you have a day off.
The site includes more than
18,000 destination guides, and as with all the Wiki sites, you can also add your own 2 cents.
