My Favorites This Week

Posted on 10. Jun, 2010 by Squealing.Rat in Links

I’m Listening (Yes, that’s reference to Fraiser)

This week I subscribed to a new podcast. Tech News Today, hosted by Tom Merritt and part of the Twit.tv network, is a great show with a rundown of the day’s tech news. I’m also listening to The Moth, a podcast with stories told live without notes, The Pipeline, interviews with important tech people, several other Twit shows, The Dinner Party Download, and, infrequently, This Week in Startups, with an outstanding host, Jason Calacanis. (I am also listening to my own “podcast”, which posts old radio detective episodes as frequently as I require them.)

Gadgets

This week, the weather turned sour for me. I was at my desktop computer when all of a sudden, a tremendous thunderstorm came, causing the lights, and power to go on and off. I was still using my computer when everything stopped. I thought for a second, perplexed as to why I hadn’t lost all of my work, and why my computer was still on. Then it hit me. I was using an APC Back-UPS, which essentially is a battery for your desktop. Or anything else you choose to plug in to it. I was given this as a gift, and set it up, plugging it in to my desktop and never thinking about it since. That is exactly what this device should do, and what it did, performing tremendously without me even thinking about it.

The second device, is actually also an APC device, also given to me as a gift. This one, however, is no longer being produced by the company, but you can still find it online. This device is the APC Mobile Pack, another battery that is for travel. Let’s say you are on a trip, using the hell out of your iPhone or iPod. The battery hits 20%, then 10%. You need it to work for another day before you can plug it in. Fortunately, you have the APC Mobile Pack that acts as a battery you can charge using a computer through USB or power outlet. You can then plug the device into your gadget and charge it using a USB cord. Awesome device.

Online

This week, Google rolled out a neat new feature: the ability to change the background of your Google homepage to a photo. Being an amateur photographer, I searched through my extensive photo library before choosing a photo that worked well with the simplicity of the page.

I also discovered a cool new blog that I found through Backupify, UXRewind. UXRewind mocks up redesigns of your favorite sites for your viewing pleasure. Send in the sites you want to see redesigned next!

Longform is another cool blog/site that compiles neat stories worth reading. Kuddos for coming up with a simply idea and executing it well!

Ever wanted to send something in an envelope that didn’t scream dullness? Look no futhur than MapEnvelope, a site that helps you create an envelope with a Google Map, perfect for your next trip.

What have been your favorites this week? Let us know in the comments!

The writer of this post compiles the latest tech news and more at Squealing Rat, and writes about tricks and tips of deception, trickery and survival at Lone Iguana. Find him on Twitter.

Photo: vramak

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One Response to “My Favorites This Week”

Will

11. Jun, 2010

Thanks for the shout out! What redesigns would you personally want to see?

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