TechBlog from Sewell

Opti-UPS just introduced a truly portable charger. How, would you say, can a charger be truly portable?

When it includes built-in solar panels.

This unique charger allows you charge/use many different types of electronic devices. It comes with all the accessories you would typically see in a universal ac adapter. There are plug adapters for iPods, cell phones, CD players, gameboys, and much more.

Check out the product description and feature set by visiting the Opti-UPS Solar Powered Charger page.

You wanted it! You asked for it! Now here it is… The amazing stupendous, magnimarvelous, mouthwatering, nifty table. This table is brought to you by Sam Garfield’s beutiful work. It contains information regarding many of our FM Transmitters, and the functionality differences between the several units.

SW-4336 SW-4415 SW-1154 SW-4424 SW-4799 SW-4675 Click on the respective part number to see the product page.

We just picked up an iPod Nano recently, and ever since, We’ve been trying to plug it into everything with a stereo jack, so we can listen to our tunes on something other than our tinny earbuds. Unfortunately, we’re discovering that the nature of digitally compressed music tends to eliminate the bass, leaving us somewhat less than satisfied. Enter the Xitel Hi-Fi Link for iPod. This little baby lets you dock your iPod (and yes, it supports virtually any iPod) and connect it to a stereo. Big deal, you say. I can walk down to the local Radio Shack and pick up a cable that will do the same thing for a fraction of the cost. And if all this dock let you do was plug your iPod into the stereo, then you’d be absolutely right. But wait, there’s more! The dock has proprietary Xitel technology that fills in where the digital compression left off. It cleans up the audio, and adds in additional bass via Xitel’s TruBass system, meaning that you get a bigger, cleaner sound than you would have with just a plain cable. Not only that, you can control your iPod wirelessly with the included remote. Throw in the fact that this dock also has video connections for the iPod Video, and you’re about out of excuses. Needless to say, we’re pleased.

There is a also a specific Xitel Hi-Fi Link for iPod Nano if you don’t want to pay for video connectivity.

Our toshiba 1.8 inch hard drive enclosures will work with Toshiba 1.8 inch hard drives that are 5.0 mm thick. The enclosure itself will work with Thicker hard Drives without the lid on. Here is a list of drives that are skinny enough that you can use the lid of the enclosure.

Toshiba drives with the proprietary 50 pin interface can be connected to a Standard 3.5 inch IDE connection using the Toshiba 1.8 inch to 3.5 inch IDE adapter.

IDE Hard Drives are sometimes classified by their dimensions. For example, most desktop computers have 3.5 inch Hard Drives, older desktop computers have 5.25 inch drives. Laptops typically have 2.5 inch drives(some do have 1.8 inch drives) while ipods have 1.8 inch drives.

These dimensions are not completely accurate. 3.5 inch drives are actually about 4 inches wide. If you are trying to figure out what type of interface your drive has, the most accurate way is to count the number of pins or holes the drive has on the interface.

If the drive has 39-40 pins in one section, then your HD has a 3.5 inch interface. It is either a 3.5 inch or a 5.25 inch drive. If your HD has 43-44 pins (don’t count the 4 pins that are separated from the other 43) then it has the same interface as a 2.5 inch drive, and is either a 2.5 inch drive or a 1.8 inch drive. If your drive has 50 holes then it is most likely a 1.8 inch Toshiba drive(typical iPod drive).

To cap things off, there are three main interfaces:

40 pins= 3.5 and 5.25 inch drives.
44 pins=1.8 and 2.5 inch drives.
50 holes=1.8 inch Toshiba Drive.

I’ve had iPod since 2003 and have gone through several cases.

I started out with the iskin. The iskin I used (this was in 2003, I don’t know if they have revised the design) scratched the shiny chrome backing in a way that even icleaner chrome polish couldn’t fix. Plus, there was no protection to the scratch prone buttons and screen of the 3G. The rubber texture of the iskin was difficult to put in and take out of your pocket. To take it out of your pocket, be prepared to pull your pocket inside out with it.

I went next to the Belkin Car holster and clip. This holster isn’t designed to be a protective case, but worked surprisingly well as protection. With no face protection, it still gave it a solid backing for drops or slides. Of course, the face scratching was horrendous.

Next, when I got the newer 4G model, I decided to do it right and got the DLO Podfolio. I couldn’t be more unimpressed. It is a leather case with a soft flexible plastic face for protection, and a cut out circle to use the click wheel. The soft plastic face was very abrasive to the screen. It would stick to the screen, causing unsightly permanent scratches and scuffs with any ipod movement. The soft leather bent outward after the wear and tear of 4-5 months, and the ipod could easily slip out.

Ironically, my next case was the least expensive but met all of my requirements. The Sewell aluminum case has a thin felt inner cushion that guards from the shock of a fall and babies the ipod against scratches. The screen is protected by a hard plastic window that doesn’t come close to touching the ipod, ensuring its safety from scuffs. A circle is cut out to give you control without removing the ipod from the case. The ports are also uncovered so you can sync and charge without inconvenient removal. I haven’t removed the ipod since I bought the case.

Check out the case here.

The new iPod stuff is pretty cool, but I really think we need to expand our line to include different colors. I think it’s pretty cool that you can essentially make a boring white iPod another color by adding a silicone skin. Unfortunately, right now we just have white, but we will change this soon. Also, it’s nice to have a degree of shock protection because the skin is pretty thick. If you’re obsessed with protecting your ipod, the best accessory is probably an aluminum case. I’ve seen a few around here and they’re pretty cool. For a brief into to our ipod products, check out Accessory iPod.