Tech The Style

I’m not one for talking on the phone, so when I read about Scott Jangro downloading Skype two years ago, I didn’t follow suit.  Until this week.

See, Andrew Wee wanted to interview me for a podcast yesterday and beings he’s 10,000 miles away in Singapore, he suggested Skype for the call.  So I went to Skype.com and took the plunge. 

But then what? I figured I would need a headset and that my son would have one I could use.  I figured wrong.  So the night before the call, I ran to Wallyworld and picked up an Altrec Lansing Stereo Headset with Mic for only $15. It had the Skype logo on the package, so I knew I was good to go.

I plugged my in “gold-plated connectors” (I could have sprung an extra $5 for a USB connection), and went to make my “test call”.  It didn’t work worth a hoot.  The English lady was too scratchy to make out.  Thinking at first my headphones were crap, I played around listening to everything else on my computer (ie iTunes), and I could hear everything else right on. WTF?

It was now past my bedtime, and my call was early the next morning with Andrew (late evening for him).  I ended up re-installing Skype on my laptop, and although the gal was still scratchy, I could at least make her out and record my own voice to hear.  I know no other friends that use Skype for me to test call them.  And I kept getting pop-up requests from strangers wanting to talk (and I didn’t put “desperate” in my profile, I swear), so I chose to go invisible and sleep on it.

So yesterday morning,  I grabbed my laptop while still lounging in bed (working in my pajamas at it’s finest), and Andrew did a test call with me first to make sure I had it all set up correctly.  I could hear him near perfectly! Andrew used Pamela for Skype to record the call. I am anxious to hear Andrew’s podcast due out this Friday to hear the quality and to see how much I screwed up the content.

I captured the pic above while still trying to figure out Skype on this computer.  Note, my daughter in the background writing a post for her blog, Tatym.com. Not sure I’ll keep it installed on here, mainly because I never got it to work, and the software automatically highlights every phone number on every webpage.  Here is the screenshot of my own work phone number.  Go ahead and call me if you wish, but I won’t answer, thanks to my new phone/fax machine. And don’t plan on any social calls via Skype anytime soon.

The magicJack is an interesting concept (plug your phone into the magicJack that then plugs into any USB port on your computer and make calls for free), but I’m not gonna bite as I don’t make a lot of long distance calls.  And when I do, I use my cell phone and still stay under my monthly minutes quota. I can see it being a good thing for someone who makes a lot of international calls or maybe someone who doesn’t have a land line though.  And they offer a free 30-day trial, so it doesn’t hurt to check it out.

Ok, so Pat not only has a way cooler iPod than I do, he also outdid me with his video performance as seen above.  Not only does he have a nicer webcam for higher quality presentation, he is also better at public speaking than me.  And he didn’t even write a script, so I’m really impressed!  Here he shows us his 6th generation iPod classic (available in both black and white).  His is the 80 GB, but they also make a 160 GB. He shows us the new album cover flow action (and actually admitted he listens to Culture Club).  He concludes that it’s a neat little toy that has provided him with tons of hours of entertainment and suggests we should all go out and get one, too! Available from Apple.com for $249.

Apple New iPod Classic and 5th gen video mp3 Skin 3 set US $8.75 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Aug-20-2008 20:49:21 PDT Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Retractable 5th gen iPod Classic Composite AV Cable US $8.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Aug-20-2008 20:50:40 PDT Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Ok, here is my second attempt at video-blogging.  It was a spur of the moment thing, so I didn’t write up a script to read or anything.  And I simply used my Logitech Quickcam perched on my monitor (that I usually use just for chatting) instead of the FlipCam.  In my minute of fame, I show off my new JVC HAFX33P Marshmallow In-Ear Stereo Headphones that I invested in for my iPod nano. I love ‘em and highly recommend them (in my favorite color of pink, of course) for people with deformed ear canals that can’t keep regular earbuds in place. Get yours while they’re on sale at Amazon!

Thanks to Patrick for noticing that I look at myself on the screen while recording instead of looking into the camera.  Patience Patrick, practice makes perfect. 

I tried to add some text (ie TechTheStyle.com) to the video, but my attempt obviously didn’t work. And how come youtube picks the dumbest frames for the stillshot?  My eyes are shut again.

Any guesses on what song I was listening to (or trying to listen to)?   It’s one of my favorites.

Andrew Wee, are you proud of me? (And I’m a poet, too.)

Here is my first attempt at making a video with our FlipCam.  My daughter, Tatym, was the cameragirl.  I take no liability if you get motion sickness.  I’m showing off my new iPod nano that I got free, yes free - I am the queen of freebies.  How did I get it free you ask?  Simply by signing up for a free Preferred Rewards American Express card. You get bonus points just for using the card one time, so my initial idea was to redeem my points for a gift card, until I saw that the apple iPod nano was an option!  All of my kids have iPod shuffles, so I knew they’d be jealous (they are), and I’ve been excited for it arrive, which it did today! 

My iPod nano is the new style in silver.  On Apple.com, they sell for $149 and you have your choice of pink, teal, green, red or black.  I would have picked pink if I had the choice.  I got the 4 GB (my friends urged me to get 8 GB for more points), but 4 GB holds 1000 songs, and that is way more than I’m sure I’ll need.  I have fourteen songs added so far, including the songs I’ve written about on HouseForKim.com.

So, there you have it.  Sign up for an AMEX card and get your own for free, or buy your own if you don’t have the patience. Or if you already have one, leave a comment and tell us your opinion! Stay tuned for more videos.  Patrick has been buying a lot of new electronic toys, so I’m hoping he will spit out some videos for us.