Disqus - Latest Comments for Andrew Liszewski

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » HANDHELDEN - 660 Old-School Handheld Games

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 11:24:00 -0000

Testing.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater In Half-Life 2

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 22:17:30 -0000

Sure,

The path on your drive should look something like this with of course the [username] section reflecting your own Steam login name:

\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\[username]\half-life 2\hl2\maps

The fallingwater.bsp file should go into this Maps folder. Then start up Half-Life 2, go into the console when the game is running and type 'map fallingwater' and it should automagically load the level.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Homer Simpsons 3D Sculpture Puzzle

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:08:21 -0000

No worries. I was a little dismayed to see you actually had to paint the completed sculpture yourself in the end, that's where things usually go wrong for me. Hopefully it turned out as well as their product shots make it look.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Weatherproof Jacket Also Bullet And Stab-Proof

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:04:40 -0000

Well since I provided the link to Spycatcher's website I don't know what other source to put. And since I posted this jacket first around 1am this morning there are no other sites to link credit to.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Singapore’s Floating Apartment Building

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:04:53 -0000

Agreed. But even though the Twin Towers looked like fairly 'ordinary' buildings they were the first to use a revolutionary new design. If I'm not mistaken it was the first to use a central concrete core which allowed the outer walls to be made of steel and glass and each floor to be all open space.

But people saw what happened to what they thought was a standard building design so I have to wonder if unique designs like this would give the average person even less confidence.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » RC Pirate Ship - Dead Man’s Chest Not Included

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:00:22 -0000

I completely agree that he seems far too proud and/or excited given all he did was take the ship out of the box. It's not like this was a model or anything. That's why I had to include that photo.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Giant Treadmill Built For NASCAR Testing

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:19:15 -0000

Keep in mind though that if the steel belt suddenly stopped the car would still be running at 180mph. That's of course assuming the car is actually running and keeping pace with the belt.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Honda Type R Child Racing Seat Accessory

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:07:39 -0000

Hahahahaha. You win this round FarSighted...

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » EPOS Digital Pen & USB Flash Drive

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 07 May 2007 16:34:18 -0000

I have no idea when this thing will be hitting the market. But I'm definitely keeping my eye out. For the price it's worth a shot.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Epoq MP4 Video Watch Poses As A Metal Dress Watch

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:58:53 -0000

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I've taken a solid fanboy stance with this film. Optimus Prime would never have selected a truck with flames painted on the side. It just wouldn't happen. And don't even get me started on their 're-imagining' of Megatron...

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Epoq MP4 Video Watch Poses As A Metal Dress Watch

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:53:21 -0000

Michael, I can definitely see your point but I still disagree with film studios buying the rights to a popular property and then using said property's reputation just to sell a film loosely based on it. Take 'I, Robot' or 'Final Fantasy'. Neither of those films came even close to the already well known materials they were supposedly based on. If you're going to make a Transformers movie then make a movie based on the lore and fitting in with storylines and characters already established. Otherwise call it 'Giant Transforming Robots Adventure' and not 'Transformers'. Can you imagine the uproar if Peter Jackson had made the 'Lord of the Rings' but with a storyline completely unrelated to the books?

It's obviously not easy to translate comics or animated shows to a live-action film but I still think they could have made 'Transformers' truer to the characters many of us grew up with. I'm sure the film will be a success and as summer blockbusters goes it will fit right in, but it's just not what I was hoping a 'Transformers' film would be.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Tunnel House Art Installation

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:12:46 -0000

Oops. Thanks for the heads up Alex. I've put a note in the story clarifying the actual date. It seems I only read the more interesting parts of that press release and breezed over the important facts like the date.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Marvel Ani-Movie Stop Motion Movie Maker

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:19:00 -0000

Believe it or not I actually had that Marvel light table when I was a kid. In fact it still comes in handy from time to time if I need to trace something manually.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Lexmark Z1420 - Affordable Wifi Printing

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:56:09 -0000

Yes, a black cartridge and a single tri-color cartridge. So if any one of the colors in the tri-color cartridge runs out, you need to replace the entire color cartridge. Other printers from Epson or HP these days use a seperate cartridge for each color allowing them to be individually replaced as needed.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Blaupunkt Velocity 2Go Subwoofer/Boombox

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:08:19 -0000

Hm, I think I'm gonna stick with chicken-necks though. It's what Ralph would have wanted...

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » We All Knew This Day Would Come - RIP Joox.net

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:56:45 -0000

In our mad pursuit of the scoop, we members of the press sometimes...make mistakes. "OhGizmo!" would like to make the following corrections.

- Joox.net is not dead.
- Styrofoam is not made from kittens
- Lyndon Johnson did not provide the voice of Yosemite Sam
- Roy Rogers was not buried inside his horse
- Audrey Hepburn never weighed 400 pounds
- Salt water does not chase the "thirsties" away
- Cats do not eventually turn into dogs
- Bullets do not bounce off of fat boys
- Everything is 10% fruit juice
- V8 juice is not 1/8 gasoline
- Ted Koppel is a robot

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Metro Roll-Up Lighting

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:44:59 -0000

Thanks for the link, I've added that info to the post.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Golf Launchpad Probably More Realistic Than Using A Mouse

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:58:28 -0000

Prezzybox.com lists the two versions as £229.00 and £199.00. Converted to US dollars that equals $450 and $400 respectively. Though the site you linked to does show them being far cheaper.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Windowherbs Pots Designed For The Urban Gardener

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:08:36 -0000

I have to disagree about the suction cups drying out. The MIO GPS unit I use when driving suction cups to the inside of the windshield and even though it sits in the sun all day long it hasn't fallen off once in the last 6 months. And as for the herbs being toasted in the sun, I'm far from a gardener but I can't see this getting any more or less sun than herbs grown in a window box.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Windowherbs Pots Designed For The Urban Gardener

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 10:58:23 -0000

Yes, you're correct, the suction cup on the MIO's mount does use a lever to create a tighter vacuum. And in all likelyhood the one on this plant pot does not. Thanks for the comments on the site, I'm glad you enjoy it.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo Review - Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse For Notebooks

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:46:06 -0000

Unfortunately I don't have a Mac system at my disposal to test out stability under OSX but I have noticed that the mouse does go into a hibernation mode when it hasn't been touched for a while. (Indicated by the green LED on top shutting off.) So when I want to disable the screensaver/screen blanker on my laptop I have to actually wake the mouse up first. Not a big issue though since technically the mouse powering off is helping to prolong the battery life.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Miniature, Remote Control Mario & Luigi Golfers

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:04:59 -0000

As a Mario fan I think I can speak for all the other fans as well when I disavow any and all knowledge of the Super Mario Brothers film.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:43:40 -0000

Hm, reading the description of the Fly Paper Notebook on Amazon it seems to indicate the older paper won't work with the new version of the pen.

"This accessory works only with the FLY 1.0 Pentop Computer, and is not compatible with FLY Fusion Pentop Computer."

As for charging the pen, with it turned off I just connected it to the USB port on my computer and it started charging automatically. The LED on top of the pen turned orange I believe, indicating it was in the charging mode. Keep in mind that a laptop running off a battery (ie not plugged in) may not charge a USB device. It could also be an issue with a v1.1 USB port, not that they shouldn't work the same as v2.0.

Re: Darklite DVD Remote Matches Your PS3

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:10:33 -0000

And that's because of the incredible lineup of games? Or the fact that it has a Blu-Ray drive? Either way I don't think Sony had imagined that a slightly upgraded GameCube with motion controls would outsell their PS3.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » IsatPhone - Satellite Calls On The (Relatively) Cheap

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:55:44 -0000

As I understand it the IsatPhone's satellite only maintains a geosynchronous orbit over that region of the world, so the phone is only usable in those areas. I have no doubt their cellular systems are fantastic, but I'm sure there are still areas without coverage, and that's where this satellite phone would be useful. I guess I'm not really sure where I'm 'demeaning' their phone systems?

Re: Darklite DVD Remote Matches Your PS3

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:54:49 -0000

Ha, well not surprisingly it seems all you have to do is mention the PS3 in a manner that doesn't blindingly praise its "greatness" to bring out the disgruntled fanboys.

It's kind of hard to deny (though some are making a great effort) that PS3 sales figures are well behind the Wii and 360. (http://www.vgchartz.com/) Why that is I don't know, but I'm sure the PS3 will soon find a killer title/price point that will help its sales numbers. It's great that the PS2 is still selling well, but it's also very obvious that every person who bought a PS2 has not felt it necessary to upgrade to the PS3 as of yet. Again, I don't know the exact reason why, but they just haven't, or the PS3 would easily be ahead when it came to sales.

And I'm not sure what makes someone a gaming 'expert' but I've been a gamer since the C64 days and have enjoyed titles on every single console that's come out since then. I guess to be an 'expert' I need to pick a single console and pretend that anything else that tries to compete with it has no merit and is not worth buying. No matter what any crazy 'facts' might claim.

I tire of this conversation now, so comments are closed.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:56:45 -0000

Yeah, the old paper isn't compatible with the new pen. And I don't see why it couldn't be charged with the iPod's USB wall plug. It's not like Apple uses some custom flavor of USB for their devices.

I would also be surprised if the old software and games still worked, again given the fact the old paper doesn't.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 10:07:30 -0000

1. You might need to browse the install CD with Windows File Explorer to find the videos. The CD that came with my review copy was not a final release version either, so things could have changed in that regard. However I'm sure the retail version also includes the videos.

2. Like I mentioned in the review, the pen will only recognise very neat printing, it can not learn to recognize your unique handwriting.

3. Out of the box the pen can perform basic and advanced math operations, but I do believe you need to buy the software for specific areas like Algebra.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Livescribe Creating Another Paper-Based Computing Platform

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:09:56 -0000

"Check your facts. My son owns a FLY Fusion and it can convert cursive writing to digital text. "

Hm, I didn't have much success with this. And the PDF manual states 'Each letter must be separate - no cursive or connected letters.' But I'll give it another try.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:07:05 -0000

To anyone who has been following the comments on this review, it has come to my attention that the FLY Fusion pen is indeed capable of capturing and converting cursive writing, and not just printing like I originally stated.

I've gone through and added a couple of '*Update' notes to the review, and have made corrections to my 'Conclusions' as well as the 'Pros' and 'Cons' to reflect my new findings. I'm kind of surprised the manual is not more clear about this functionality, since it provides considerably more added value to the device. But having just tested it here with the pen I can confirm it works pretty well.

So sorry for inconveniences my mistake may have caused.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Livescribe Creating Another Paper-Based Computing Platform

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:26:09 -0000

Thanks to 'Quinn' for bringing it my attention that the FLY Fusion pen is capable of converting cursive writing to editable text. Even though the manual makes no mention of this, and seems to go out of its way to claim it can't, I just tested it out and it works surprisingly well. (Though the interactive menus and applications on the pen seem to still require you to print.)

I've updated this post and my full review of the FLY Fusion accordingly.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » TurboChef Oven - Just Like Subway Uses!

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:30:47 -0000

Well keep in mind this isn't the same model used at Subway restaurants either. I imagine those models are built for speed and 'fast food.' I think the company just wants to get their name associated with an already successful brand, as they try and enter the consumer market.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:47:56 -0000

Just twist the small grey tip on the end of the pen. This will cause the ballpoint tip to extend or retract.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Special Edition Electrolux Ultrasilencer Vacuum

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:39:29 -0000

I added the 'science types' quip since I'm sure someone would have called me out on it. And once I added that I realized that someone else would call me out on the additive/subtractive thing too.

Now all you can here is the sound of one eye crying...

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Charcoal Toothpaste - Just About The Worst Thing I’ve Seen All Week

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:52:32 -0000

Oh I don't deny that it works as advertised. The reviewer even admitted their mouth felt clean afterwards. I'm just saying I would have to be in a very dire situation before I would even consider using something like this.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo Review - Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse For Notebooks

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:34:43 -0000

No, unfortunately clicking the scroll wheel to switch between the two modes actually physically engages and disengages a ratchet-type system inside. So even if you could use another button, it wouldn't be able to switch the mechanics inside.

Re: OhGizmo! Review - Lexmark X4550 All-In-One Wireless Printer

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 13:57:12 -0000

The only way you can activate the scanner mode is directly from the unit itself. Once you switch to that mode you then select which PC on the network you want to scanned images to be sent to. I wasn't too keen on this when I first realized how it worked, but since you kind of have to be at the scanner already to put your document on the bed, it kind of makes sense. Or at the least is not an inconvenience.

Re: OhGizmo! Review - Lexmark X4550 All-In-One Wireless Printer

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:46:06 -0000

Hmm, that's odd.

Your comment actually reminded me that I forgot to shut down the printer after using it earlier today. So it conveniently went into power-saving mode on its own, making it easy for me to see if this one has the same problem. Unfortunately though the wifi indicator on the front went back to being green less than a second after the printer powered up, and I don't have any problems connecting to it from my PC. And I'm afraid I can't be of much help, other than recommending a call to Lexmark support.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Emoticon Transforming Stamp

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:27:45 -0000

Yep, thanks for mentioning it too. I did notice that ThinkGeek referred to it as 'silicon' and that's primarily why I spelled it that way. But you're right, it was probably supposed to be 'silicone' in the first place.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » PHOSPHOR Ana-Digi Watches With E Ink Display

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:17:51 -0000

[OHGIZMO!] Yes, but does it say 'DELL' or more approrpiately 'LCD' across the screen at all times? I'm usually fine with my [OHGIZMO!] gadgets making me look like a corporate shill, but [OHGIZMO!] when the display is this small, I don't want a portion of [OHGIZMO!] the screen real estate wasted like this. [OHGIZMO!]

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Classic NES Controller Backpack

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:56:31 -0000

Oops, thanks for pointing out my mistake. Where does the time go?.. Oh that's right, I've chosen to forget the 90's too.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Avox NF-101 Ultra Small MP3 Player Manages To Cram In A 500mW Speaker Too

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:04:19 -0000

Yes... yes I did. Thanks for mentioning it.

Re: Rinspeed sQuba Diving Concept Car

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:22:52 -0000

I thought it was a bit unusual too, like the screen door I put on my personal submarine. But I'm pretty sure the passenger section doesn't actually seal shut when underwater, but instead includes a couple of breathing masks presumably connected to a Scuba system. The car just makes getting around underwater a lot easier than with fins.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Razer Mako 2.1 Speakers Use Your Desk As An ‘Aural Mirror’

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:58:13 -0000

Ha, sad but true. I thought the same thing as I looked across the sea of DVD spindles and loose discs on my own desk. But someday I'll have a desk like you see in product shots... someday...

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » kickTrak Baby Kick Counter

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:04:37 -0000

Never being an expectant mother, I'm of course skeptical about the necessity for a device like the kickTrak. However that's just my opinion, and I'm including further information below that Baby Kick has sent me for those interested in it.

------------------------
Thank you for addressing KickTrak recently on your blog. I can understand your initial skepticism about the product as there is some information about kick counting that most people do not know without doing some research. Dr. Diep Nguyen, a board-certified and practicing OB/GYN, created kickTrak because she wanted to make it easier for expecting moms to monitor fetal movement. It simply aids moms in counting the number of kicks, jabs, rolls and turns and monitors the time duration in between each movement. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that expectant mothers note the time it takes for their baby to complete ten movements, at approximately the same time each day when the baby is usually most active. In general, healthy babies should complete ten movements within two hours and most babies achieve ten movements in less than 15 minutes. Moms should alert their healthcare provider immediately if the baby’s normal pattern changes or if the baby takes more than two hours to complete ten movements as decreased fetal movement can indicate increased risk of complications.

Moms use kickTrak by pressing a button each time they feel the baby move during a kick counting session (once daily, as recommended by ACOG). It does not automatically detect each movement, but offers moms an easier way to track their babies’ movement instead of manually recording it using a pen and paper. Dr. Nguyen advocates counting kicks no matter if moms choose to use kickTrak to do it or not. Before she created kickTrak, Dr. Nguyen founded the BabyKick Alliance, a nonprofit organization that offers free kick counting charts and educates parents and healthcare providers about the importance of kick counting.

Public health advocacy groups in Miami and New Jersey have both found the monitoring of fetal movements to be a safe, easy and effective way to reduce infant mortality rates. While manually noting and charting kick counting is an option (and one that many mom-to-be use), kickTrak is a simple and effective way to help track these movements.
------------------------

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:05:47 -0000

I'm just glad so many people have found my review and this long thread of comments helpful. Unfortunately my FLY Fusion was passed onto a younger cousin who's been able to put it to good use, so I haven't been able to test a lot of the problems people are experiencing. Thankfully, many others have stepped up to the plate and provided assistance where they can.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » [CES 2008] Oh No! Iomega’s Zip Drive Is Back!

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:39:13 -0000

I can buy a 500GB SATA drive for just over $100, and I know that will be reliable. I just can't see spending $70 for a 70GB drive that will cause me nothing but headaches. I have no idea how Iomega is still around.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » [NAIAS 2008] Saturn Flextreme Plug-in Concept

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:25:28 -0000

Actually Bob, what I meant was that I'm ashamed it's taken me (a gadget writer) so long to get the opportunity to ride one. I'm actually a fan of the device but my only concern is the price, and that's probably the main reason I don't own one. I live in a downtown core and don't own a car because of it. I actually love walking whenever I need to go somewhere, but at times (the morning) I'm less thrilled about walking an hour just to make a meeting on time.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » [NAIAS 2008] Hummer HX Concept

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:33:17 -0000

Martin, this is actually a concept vehicle, so there's no official fuel consumption rating on it. And I know that many people still disagree with the Hummer and SUVs in general, but that being said, there are just as many people still buying them. And if people are buying them, the automotive manufacturers of the world are still going to make them. I wasn't given a Mach 5 in exchange for my post on that either. Like you said, it's just car pr0n.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » [NAIAS 2008] Dodge Avenger Stormtrooper - Is This What Vader Drives?

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:44:14 -0000

As far as I can tell it is not officially licensed by Lucasfilm. I suspect if it was, they would have gone out of their way to include the Star Wars logo, and make it obvious.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:12:41 -0000

Any standard 'USB' to 'USB Mini' cable should work fine with the FLY Fusion. I don't think I ever even took the included cable out of the box, since I have a small collection of 'USB' to 'USB Mini' from cellphones and other devices already.

Re: [NAIAS 2008] Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept - I’ll Take Ten

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:10:02 -0000

Indeed, it's probably not a bad idea to keep an extra set of tires on hand. With that much torque you'll probably be leaving shredded piles of rubber behind you.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:33:30 -0000

No need to explain yourself. Customer support can be just as important a factor when it comes to making a decision, as any other feature. I never needed to contact Leapfrog support as part of my review of the pen, but it's interesting (and a bit upsetting) to hear what others might have to deal with.

Re: [NAIAS 2008] Auto Show Wrap-up - Going Green, Electric Cars And A Company Called Coskata

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:21:59 -0000

I'm just reporting what I saw at the show. Like I said, so far the Volt is nothing more than a concept car, and the Coskata announcement is just an announcement. It would be great if they eventually both came to fruition, but it's not going to be anytime soon.

And I do remember all those electric cars that required people to install special chargers in their garage, and worked great in warm climates like California. But I can't help but feel the EV1 wasn't exactly the perfect solution for the rest of the world. Maybe I'm just not drinking enough of the 'Who Killed The Electric Car' Kool-Aid?

Re: [NAIAS 2008] Auto Show Wrap-up - Going Green, Electric Cars And A Company Called Coskata

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:17:38 -0000

Ha... Yeah that's another good point. People seem to forget that the electricity needed to recharge electric cars has to come from somewhere. I have to admit it was disappointing seeing another auto show come and go without anyone announcing a Mr. Fusion option. Some day.... some day....

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » My Asus EEE PC - Goodbye Xandros, Hello XP

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:46:42 -0000

I actually debated using nLite, but decided against it because a) I was lazy and b) I'd read that once XP was installed and updated there was still more free disk space than the EEE had out of the box with the Xandros OS. And this turned out to be true. The rest of the disk space went to applications I rely on, like Photoshop etc. Otherwise XP has been stripped down as much as possible via post-install methods, and I'm happy how it turned out.

I may try an nLite install the next time around though.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » My Asus EEE PC - Goodbye Xandros, Hello XP

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:49:39 -0000

No, I didn't try GIMPshop. Mostly because installing GIMP itself wasn't exactly straightforward. (For someone new to Linux.) I'm sure the application will mature over the years, and while it might actually have to avoid certain Photoshop-like functionality for legal reasons, it's probably the only way they'll convert Photoshop users like myself.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » My Asus EEE PC - Goodbye Xandros, Hello XP

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:27:14 -0000

Yeah, I was actually surprised how well many apps run on the EEE. I mean Photoshop isn't blazing, but it's totally usable. The speed of the SSD also helps with load times, particularly with XP itself.

Re: ecobutton Provides An Energy Saving Alternative To Shutting Down Your PC

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:01:53 -0000

Anytime I've put my system into Standby mode, it dumps the contents of the system RAM into a temporary file on the hard drive, and then dumps it back into RAM when the system wakes up. It's much faster than closing all the running apps, shutting down the machine, powering it up later and reopening all the programs again, but in my experience going into Standby has never been an 'instant' process.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Panasonic Center’s Solar & Wind Powered Streetlights

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:16:03 -0000

Really? You mean the Panasonic building you can see from the 401 just before you hit Dixie Rd? (Heading east.)

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » My Asus EEE PC - Goodbye Xandros, Hello XP

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:05:04 -0000

Well in terms of being processor intensive, I'd say Photoshop ranks pretty high. But I don't have any intentions of processing RAW files, or other complex operations like some of the blurs. I mostly wanted it for the work flow I'm used to.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Equal Measure Cup Seems Perfect For The ‘Gotta Watch Wapner’ Types

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:44:15 -0000

I actually go through all the online stores they recommend for finding their stuff, but like you said, it seems most of them are slow on the uptake for new products.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Jeremy Kipnis’ $6 Million Home Theater

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:06:46 -0000

Well you can at least feel superior to me. My Sharp Aquos only has 2 HDMI ports. Which is weird because it also cost me $6 million.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » AquaFit 19DT - Exercise Machine And Hot Tub In One

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:36:49 -0000

Apparently each section has its own separate filter system. So at least sweat from one side won't be mixed with sweat from the other. But based on the general consensus here I guess I should abandon my plans for a hot tub/kitchen combo?

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Z-CoiL Shoes Are Apparently Not A Sight Gag

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:58:34 -0000

I'm glad (and not surprised) to hear these shoes have provided relief for a lot of people. But at the same time I don't think my initial reaction to their appearance would differ from the general public. It's obvious a lot of work has gone into designing the actual shoe part, but I can't help but feel that some people (even those suffering from foot pain) would be turned off by the design of the 'Z-coil'. The desire to "fit in" is unfortunately human nature, and it's not surprising how far some of us will go to do just that. The fact that people feel compelled to post comments here defending their shoe choice, instead of just not caring about what I think is evidence of that. But I'm glad they have, since it shows the shoes do work as advertised for some people.

But I still think a more subtle approach to the design of the 'Z-coil' would make people less apprehensive about trying the shoes in the first place. A wider acceptance would increase sales and hopefully reduce prices, making the shoes available to people who can't afford $190 for a pair of sandles.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » MEDIVista Info System Also Provides Bedside Entertainment For Patients

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:33:13 -0000

I also wondered if giving hypochondriacs access to the internet in the hospital is really a good idea? Maybe the system allows search results to be filtered or blocked on a patient by patient basis.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Scan-It X-Ray Machine Playset - Seriously?

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:16:20 -0000

We can all laugh, but how else can you explain to your kids why the security agent had to gut their stuffed animals with a pocket knife to make sure they weren't hiding any contrabands? It's also a good way to take their minds off the fear of flying since they'll be even more scared of the airport itself.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Pogo! Radio YourWay Mini - Digital Radio Recorder

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:38:02 -0000

Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately this isn't technically a review since I have never, and probably will never try the device. I'm sure it works as advertised, but radio just isn't my thing. Given the option of listening to what I want (CDs, MP3s) or what someone wants me to hear (including commercials) I'll choose the former. But if you enjoy the radio, then more power to you.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » iPhone Wide Angle Lens Accessory

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:55:52 -0000

Andy, I can't argue with you there. If you're looking for a unique aesthetic of random everyday shots then sure, the iPhone has its own appeal. I have a few photographer friends who love shooting with the various Lomos for just that reason, and at one point I even followed a photography site that was dedicated to the GameBoy camera add-on.

But one of the reasons I love the iPhone is it serves as an all-in-one device for me. Phone, music and in a pinch, a camera. Unfortunately though the camera part has let me down on many occasions, and it's probably because the rest of the time I shoot with a Nikon D70. I know it's ludicrous to compare a DSLR to a cameraphone, but the few times I've tried to use the iPhone to snag a sudden photo of a celebrity or a rare car, the results have been terrible. Of course I'm sure it will only get better over time.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Kiddo Kidkeeper Proximity Alarm

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:28:53 -0000

I have to agree Skeptik. My parents somehow managed to keep track of my whereabouts when I was younger. And this device basically means I have to listen to both the kids that are running around screaming and the alarm that the parents are ignoring.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo Review: Tom Bihn Empire Builder With Brain Cell & Soft Cell

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:03:02 -0000

While the Empire Builder is a fantastic bag, I only use it for travelling purposes since I find it too big for daily use, and I'm 6'2. I would definitely recommend something smaller if you intend to carry it to school every day. And while I haven't had a chance to try out the Zephyr, I would just recommend emailing the company and asking if your laptop and textbooks will fit. The company has great customer service and I'm sure they'd answer all your questions.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » GROW - Leaf Like Solar Cells Inspired By Nature

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:59:12 -0000

Good question. I guess they'd need to incorporate some kind of clever, per leaf monitoring system that wouldn't add too much to the price. Of course the coolest way would be for a failed leaf to simply turn brown on its own, like the real thing.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » IOGEAR Mobile Digital Scribe

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:33:06 -0000

Hm, while I didn't go all the way through with the purchase, clicking on the 'Buy Now' link on the left side of the page seemed to work. But I can't say for sure if the order would actually be shipped immediately, or put on the backburner until stock is available.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » TF2000 Proximity Sensor Auto Locks Your PC When You Walk Away

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:08:28 -0000

That's exactly what this thing does actually. When you walk away it sends the Windows Key + L keystrokes to the system to lock it. But I guess it's targeted at those who might wander away and forget to do so.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » My Asus EEE PC - Goodbye Xandros, Hello XP

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:05:11 -0000

Well I don't know what else I can say. It's obviously not as fast as a desktop or other high-end notebooks because of the EEE's processor, but it's completely usable. When I got the EEE I immediately traded the 512MB stick of RAM for a 1GB stick because the default Xandros OS is limited to 1GB. And while XP will accept up to 2GB, I haven't felt the need to upgrade the RAM again.

The biggest challenge with installing XP is freeing up space on the 4GB SSD drive, but since the default OS takes up a good chunk already it's not like you're making a big sacrifice by switching to XP. In fact it's made the EEE considerably more useful to me.

And I wouldn't compare the EEE to a PDA at all. It's definitely still a notebook, just one that's been shrunk to the limits of usability. In my opinion if you're looking for a small, relatively cheap computer that will run XP there's still no better solution on the market.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Remote Control Transforming Amphibious Tank

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:11:44 -0000

I'm all for toys that can actually shoot, but with a range of 100 feet there's a good chance you would have given your left eye whether you wanted to or not.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Camouflage Your Fridge With Leave Magnets

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:26:45 -0000

Actually 'Leave' is the name given to them by Richard Hutten. You'll have to take your grammar concerns up with him.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:44:36 -0000

For those who have been following the comments on my FLY Fusion review, but aren't regular readers of OhGizmo!, I just wanted to let you know that I've just posted a review of the EPOS Digital Pen to our site.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2008/03/28/ohgizmo-revie...

The EPOS is definitely in the same market as the FLY Fusion, and while it lacks a lot of the functionality of the Fusion (MP3s, translators, etc,) it has a much better form factor and is considerably smaller as far as the pen goes.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Pandora Alarm Clock For Chronic Snoozers

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:34:25 -0000

That's exactly why I keep my alarm's radio tuned to whatever the popular station in town is. Not having to hear that crap every 5 minutes is enough incentive to get up.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Design The OhGizmo! T-Shirt, Win Stuff

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:22:38 -0000

Just a quick note, I've temporarily disabled the link to the OhGizmo! logo. We're actually uploading a better version so check back here soon to grab it again.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Design The OhGizmo! T-Shirt, Win Stuff

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:25:23 -0000

Oh, we definitely read the comments, that's half the fun. And the updated version of the logo is ready to download now. I hope I didn't hinder anyone's creative juices with the delay.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Gangster Shooting Gallery

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:32:43 -0000

I'm just trying to speak up for the little guy. Or at the least the little guy with a tommy gun.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Hydrodynamic Deluxe Building Set

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:28:42 -0000

Yeah, there are a few containers of LEGO and Construx still sitting in my parent's basement. They were definitely my favorite as a kid. Construx were particularly useful for building GI Joe HQs and what not. However those blue connectors were almost as painful to step on as the 4-dot square LEGO bricks.

And while I was aware of Crossbows and Catapults, I never had them as a kid. I had to rely on the original firing cannons on the LEGO Black Seas Barracuda pirate ship for waging any kind of wars.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Update On The T-Shirt Contest

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:59:15 -0000

Yes, perhaps those weren't the most appropriate examples, but we were hoping it gave people a better idea of what we were looking for. We were really impressed with some of the entries Joystiq received for their shirt contest, and they have a similar 'text only' logo like us.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/05/joystiq-t-shi...

That's why we haven't really put too many limitations on the design. We're hoping there's enough inspiration in the world of gadgets, gizmos and technology to inspire people. And thanks for participating.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Neuromonics Oasis Provides Tinnitus Treatment

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:32:14 -0000

Uh, just so we're clear here, we don't actually manufacture or sell this device. We just report about various gadgets and electronics. Are there people out there who still don't understand the concept of a gadget blog?

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - EPOS Digital Pen & USB Flash Drive

Andrew Liszewski — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:18:44 -0000

The current EPOS digital pen does not include pressure sensitivity. As far as I know, only the Wacom products and other tablet based devices have the ability to detect stylus tip pressure.

Re: Master Replicas Force FX Lightsaber Construction Set - Just Like The One Real Jedis Use

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:39:48 -0000

Uh, I think in Jedi terminology 'a thousand' actually refers to 720, not 1,000 as we know it. So technically, 729 is over a thousand if you're a master of the Force.

Yeah, let's go with that.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Sega Private Ocean Interactive Clock Is Nothing Like Being There

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:44:47 -0000

Ha, yeah. Maybe it could become virtual fishtank Thursdays.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » From The Road: Time For A New Keyboard

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:51:14 -0000

I understand your analogy, but I see it a bit different.

Apple sells many products that work on both Windows and OSX, including this keyboard. If they didn't intend for people to use the keyboard under Windows, why go to the trouble of adding the 'alt' text on their 'option' key. I wasn't asking some in-depth question about DLL libraries or other Windows-centric concept, I just had some simple compatibility questions. Somehow I don't see a Windows PC and a MAC PC being as different as a car and a lawn tractor.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » From The Road: Time For A New Keyboard

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 09:20:31 -0000

David, thanks for the suggestions. However, the Wacom tablet was the only thing plugged into the Apple keyboard, which is plugged directly into my PC. Since the Wacom is also my mouse, I don't use a separate one. I've also experienced the same low-power USB error when plugging a USB memory card reader into the keyboard, though just flash drives seem to work fine.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » F-111 Fighters And Pelicans Don’t Mix

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:56:59 -0000

$35 million AND they told it was pelican proof.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » From The Road: Goodbye Old Friend

Andrew Liszewski — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:06:42 -0000

Sorry, if I could replace this one with another LaCie CRT with a Trinitron tube I would do it in a heartbeat.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - Corsair 32GB Ultra Rugged Flash Survivor USB Drive

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:51:57 -0000

Ha, yeah, I guess 'absorber' would probably work better.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Anti-Monopoly Board Game - Yeah, That Sounds Just As Fun

Andrew Liszewski — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:35:46 -0000

Or I've even heard they've developed some form of electro-tronic games with full moving images that can be enjoyed on a TV!

But seriously, Ticket To Ride isn't bad, though I got destroyed my first time playing.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Motorized Spray Bottle - Have We Really Become This Lazy?

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:48:52 -0000

Yeah, it would definitely come in handy for those with arthritis, or other conditions that make using their hands difficult. For the rest of us though, it still seems to me like another battery-eating device that doesn't need to be.

Re: Instructables - Make Your Own Iron Man Arc Reactor

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:48:28 -0000

Exactly. Well that makes 2 of us. I wonder if that's enough votes to get this shirt actually made?