Posts Tagged ‘microphone’

Griffin products are not only very useful, but sometimes very necessary for everyday use. I have a few products from this company for my iPhone, including the MP3 radio tuner. I use these products everyday to get my work done.

This year, Todd Cochrane talks with Jackie about some of the cool new items Griffin has to offer. Items like the HDMI converter cable for those who have one item with and one without this newer technology. Todd and Jackie also talk about the Powerblock – a charger for an iPod or iPhone – and an audio cable that connects the phone to the Aux jack in a car. With the added microphone, you can experience hands free conversations without buying a whole new stereo.

Sponsor:  Try GoToAssist free for 30 days – GoToAssist.com/techpodcasts.

Get this content on TiVo, Roku and Boxee

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (40.9MB)

Whether you want to know where you are when you are biking, or just starting a Geocaching group, this product is nice. Dual Geocache is a cradle for your iPod touch that gives you GPS availability. Figure out where you are and use your iPod as a full location awareness device.

Andy McCaskey talks with Greg from Dual on the Cradle for iPod Touch. It comes with car mount and cable, has a built-in rechargeable battery to double the life of the iPod. It also contains a built in microphone and audio out for car stereos.

Andy and Greg also talk about Geocaching – groups that use the GPS functionality to located prizes. The best part is the $179 price point makes this a practical and affordable device.

Sponsor:  Try GoToAssist free for 30 days – GoToAssist.com/techpodcasts.

Get this content on TiVo, Roku and Boxee

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (48.0MB)

During Digital Experience, over by the Giraffe bar, we spotted Leo Laporte looking at an interesting item. Cat Schwartz and Dr. Kristen Sanford were also there as Ed shows off the OWLE – a Camera case for the iPhone. It basically improves the camera, adds a microphone and attachments for lights, a stand and other items.

We look at the OWLE, and the reaction to this interesting camera enclosure. It works for 3G and 3GS models and costs only $130.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (20.4MB)

The world of Bluetooth headsets has evolved. My first headset seemed like a monster compared to today. Still, there is a level of geekiness that supersedes the functionality the headset can give. That is why Jabra put out the Jabra Stone – a fashion – oriented earpiece for those who don’t like having a microphone stick from their face.

The stone touts one big feature – no visible microphone. The headset is designed for fashion over functionality. All black with no visible buttons.

The stone is Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR compliant. It works with Bluetooth 1.1 or better. Once charged, the device has an 8 hour talk and 12 day standby time. The headset can answer calls, do voice dialing and last number redial and can change in volume.

Jabra Stone

In the review section, I go through and talk about the functionality of this headset. Unfortunately, I can not mark this headset high. There are a lot of limitations that cause this to not be a great headset. One limitation is the $139 ($99 on Amazon) price tag. We talk about it’s charging ability, use in the ear, how carrying it around can be a hassle and if it’s “Rain Shower Proof”.

The headset does have Fashion, so those interested may want to get it. However, this headset is not that great on functionality. In this video, we talk more about the headset by Jabra.

Specifications:

• Wearing Style:
  • Designed for right ear wearing
• Bluetooth® compliance:
  • Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR specification.
• Supported Bluetooth® profiles:
  • Bluetooth® Headset (version 1.1) and Hands-free profiles (version 1.5).
  • Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
• Compatibility:
  • Jabra STONE is compatible with other Bluetooth® devices with Bluetooth® 1.1 (or higher) specifications.
• Operating range:
  • 10 meters (33 feet).
• Multiuse™:
  • Up to 8 devices – connected to 2 at the same time (Multiuse™).
  • Talk time: Up to 8 hours (up to 2h for headset alone).
  • Standby time: Up to 12 days (up to 2.5 days for headset alone).
  • Charging time: Approximately 2 hours.
• Weight:
  • STONE headset 7 grams (0.25 oz), Stone charger 26 grams (0.67 oz), total 33 grams (0.92 oz).
• Microphones:
  • SLR = 14 dB +/- 3 dB 2 pcs Omni-directional MEMS microphones.
• Operating temperature:
  • -20° C to 60° C (-4 F to 140 F).
• Storage temperature:
  • -20° C to 45° C (-4 F to 113 F).
• Jabra STONE materials:
  • Polycarbonate/Acryl Butadien Styren (PC/ABS), Polycarbonate (PC), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE).
• Features:
  • Answer call, end call, reject call, voice dialing, last number redial, call waiting, put call on hold, volume control (Some features are device dependent)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (359.6MB)

All come everybody.  My name is Jeffrey hours.  I am doing well.  How are you doing?

Guess what?  I am using the speech recognition in windows seven to make this article.  I do not have to type, or even get out of bed.  All I need is a good microphone, and a lot of patients.
It is not 100%, but so far, it has done OK.  There are some things that I’ve actually had to redo, but most of the time it’s my impatience that causes errors.  The best part is all I have to say is the word UNDO, and it will all be undone.

I suppose one problem with doing speech recognition is that you don’t learn the mistakes of spelling.  Even while typing in something; whether it be a article, a BLOG, or anything of the sort, I would notice when I make spelling mistakes and quickly correct them, while trying to remember what the mistake was.  Hence, I do not get the opportunity to correct my mistakes (width of the exception of the word UNDO).

One thing I notice in using speech recognition, is that I have to take my time.  I will enunciate part of the sentence, wait for response, then continue – or make corrections.  Some corrections are just overlook for now, as I will get back to them later.

I have dealt with speech recognition for a few we years now.  I understand its advantages and disadvantages.  There were a couple times I had to support people with mobile disabilities who need to use the software on a regular basis.  Otherwise, they would not be able to use the computer.

If you think that you can use the software without training it, then you are grossly mistaken.  Training the computer to your voice is a key element to making the software work.  By training the computer, less mistakes will be made.  For example, one person can say ” the” with a silent ” E”.  The next person might not.  Training will tell the computer that you pronounce the word in the with a silent E.

One thing to remember is to not get frustrated over the speech recognition.  Take your time, watch what you say, and make corrections accordingly.  Sometimes, you might just have to go back and manually correct.

I have left the mistakes in this article to prove a point.  There have been a couple lines I have redone simply because of the fact that it wouldn’t get my point across.  But in general, there has not been any altering to this message.

Now all in hopes to show you something, I will read at normal speed and we’ll see how correct the computer will be.  I will continue on with punctuation.  It goes like this:

Well, a Federal judge ruled and Psystar lost the case.  Apple is definitely showed the hand of god here.  But the real question is: will it be the end of that?  Hopefully not.
On Friday, Judge William Alsop sided with apple that Psystar had in the dot violated the end user license agreement.  He ruled that the installation of the Mac OS on non Apple’s hardware is not allowable.  Therefore, Psystar must discontinue their line of Mac clones.  Finally, he will rule that Psystar as counter claims are not arguable since Psystar altered to the Mac Software to run on other machines.

This was an article I wrote last week.

If you decide to start using speech recognition, you will need a couple things.  The first is patients; it’s not going to be 100% correct.  Secondly, you will need a good microphone.  Right now I am talking through my professional rig.  If you get a USB mike, make sure it has NOISE cutting capability, so if the dog barks in the background, it doesn’t affect your session too much.  Finally, make sure your computer’s sound card can handle the situation.  If your sound card produces a lot of what is called ” white noise”, then you might be stopping and correcting yourself a lot.
I hope that this is help you in determining whether you want to use the speech recognition or not.  When properly trained, this could actually be a very valuable tool to you.  And the best part is its only gonna get better in the future.

But you should really learn how to spell…

**To start using the Speech recognition, simply go to start, then type in “Speech Recognition” in the search area**

2000 – It was a time that would be known as when the Bubble burst – dot com-ers losing their sites and livelihood. Pets.com was no different. They had a pretty good run, but couldn’t make the books run. They even had a mascot – a sock puppet of a dog holding a microphone – that made the marketing of the site. Nonetheless, the only good sales at Pets.com were the sock puppets. The puppet was sold upon bankruptcy to a company called Bar None – an auto loan firm.

Sponsor:  Try GoToAssist free for 30 days – GoToAssist.com/techpodcasts.

Please add to your favorite aggregator. RSS Feed – iTunes – Stitcher – TechPodcasts

Other Historical Events in Technology

• IBM and Motorola shun Microsoft on a new computer platform
• Atari makes IPO
• the Craigslist bandit

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:13 — 4.2MB)

This week, the Podcasts will be done using a Blue Snowball Microphone. We will show how a USB and a XLR mic works in Podcasting.

Saturday March 21, 2009 – 4pm Eastern – 1pm Pacific

We have three presentations

* United Plastics – Soundproofing the Home Theater and Podcast Studio
* OReilly Technical School – Online Certification Programs thru University of Illinois
* Geekazine Podcast – Jeff Powers Secrets of Microphone Placement and EQ

ustream.tv/channels" style="padding:2px 0px
4px;width:400px;background:#FFFFFF;display:block;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-size:10px;text-decoration:underline;text-align:center;"
target="_blank">Free TV : Ustream

We were in the upper area of the CES hall overlooking the Intel Booth. Todd Cochrane talks with Russ and Tyler about the newest Blue Mics.

The trio talk about the Blue Mics

The newest Snowball USB mics, and the iPod nano microphone for quick recording. Snowball is the #1 selling USB microphone. We look at all the mics in the consumer series including the iBall mic – a Webcam attached to a microphone.

Save 10% on your Godaddy.com order using Promo Code ‘Pod125′

Visit Rawvoiceoffers.com and use the Promo code ‘BLUEMIC’ for more info.

To prove that you don’t need a powerful computer to podcast, I brought along my old Gateway Solo. It’s a PIII, 550 mHz laptop. The others were amazed of the older technology. Therefore, they decided to pull out their computers and compare size. An Apple enthusiast and a EeePC Netbook owner – Tom from YourDaily. We put all three together to compare.

The one picture includes the Blue Snowball Microphone. It was the monthly Podcast Meeting.

Last night while uStreaming I was asked what the best advice was for those starting to podcast. Here is my answer