Coffee break!

I’m at starbucks ’cause my office is so damn hot! and I was getting really sleepy! I could’ve done this on Twitter.

Dragon Dictation

I just downloaded an application called Dragon Dictation. So, what it is is an application that allows you to simply speak what you want to type and it automatically writes it out for you. In fact, I’m actually writing this blog post with the dictation program just see how well it works, and so far so good. My only concern with this application is that it seems to require a network connection in order for it to decipher what it is that you’re trying to say. I guess that’s okay though. However, the one thing that would make this application extremely awesome is if it were integrated into every other application that you would normally type in, but that’s probably not something that’s possible unless Apple allows it.

Well, I guess that’s it for now. So far so good. It’s free. So get it!

Casio Exilim EX-G1

for the few who read this site, you may know that i’m a fan of casio digital cameras. canon fans, i know canons are pretty awesome too, but i just like casios for some reason.  i’ve been using them for the past 5 + years. lately (in the past few years), they haven’t really come out with anything that impressed me too much. but this was just announced.

casio is going to release a g-shock camera this holiday season. just on design alone, this camera rocks my socks off! it may be a bit busy for those of you who love clean lines and simple forms (i like that too) but on the other end of the spectrum this camera hits the nail on the freakin’ head. features are pretty standard, but the factors that win me over are its design and ruggedness. i want!

dpreview has a bit more info on their site.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TIFFANY YUNG!

sup dup?

ice pack in my bag

I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.
this is an ice pack in my bag. it keeps my back cool when im riding with my bag on. my bag doesn’t insulate all that well so the cold transfers through. I’m still all sweaty when I’m done, but it’s a heck of a lot better feeling than riding without it.
simple good ideas!

New Knobs

found these beautifully machined knobs at Mar Vac Electronics. the original ones were flimsy plastic – i had already kicked one off. Maxon made some pretty nice pedals back in the day (i think their pedals are still nice, but i haven’t tried them) but used unusually weak parts for some components. to make it worse, these parts are impossible to find. i already had to have special 1/4″ jacks sent for Maxon in Japan (!) to replace one that had cracked. replacing these knobs weren’t easy either. the shaft wasn’t a full 1/4″ cylinder. it was a freakin’ 1/4″ shaft cut in half! after finding some plastic material to fill in the gaps i was able to get these knobs on successfully. happy with the results!

Review: Case-Mate Vroom iPhone case

back in january i reviewed a small handful of iphone (3G) cases – Case-Mate’s Vroom being one of them. a few months ago they sent me their updated Vroom case for free, along with a little tin of mints. not sure if it was a PR move or not, but if it was i guess i’ll say a few things about the updated design.

the good:
the case maintained it’s cool tire tread look. coverage is as complete as can be with cut-outs for the hold switch, headphone jack, data/power jack, and of course the screen (screen protector film included). in comparison to the original, the new one was smoother to the touch, which made it less prone to attract lint and dust. another major plus is that the edge of the case now covers the chrome bezel of the iphone.

the not-so-good:
this case is said to be 100% rubber, however, i have my doubts about that. while i believe the original was 100% rubber, i think the new one is a thick silicon. what gives it away is the fact that it’s a little more stretchy the the old one. the rubber case was much stiffer. this change in material causes the case to be a little challenged at staying in place*. really, it’s not something that a quick adjustment won’t fix…but it’s the fact that you have to do that all the time that makes it a bit of a bummer.

very cool aesthetic factor and very precisely fabricated. silicon material, while being better at repelling dust and lint, causes the case to underperform at staying put around the iphone.

on a scale from 1 – 10 i give it a 7.

*something i may try: a few strips of double-sided tape (non-permanent) on the inside of the case to add some tackiness!

iphone bike mount

so far this is the best iphone bike mount i’ve come across. the other’s i’ve seen are too bulky! but for $30, i’m not sure i want it that bad. but it’d be a nice thing to have on a long bike ride.
http://www.ibikemount.com

Family Trip

hello friends!
it’s been a little over a week since my family came back from our trip to Maine. It had been a while since our entire family went away on a vacation like this. the last time, i think, was when we went to Tennesee! i know Maine doesn’t sound that exciting (and it really isn’t) but the Yung family can make a boring place ridiculously fun! i’m just gonna post up a few pictures here. the rest you can check out in the flickr set.

upstairs living space of the condo where we stayed

the yungs on some rocks

my dad on some rocks

parents on a kayak…on top of lots of little rocks (ok, no more rocks! haha)

yung sisters and parents tearin’ it up on the waves!

guess who was here…THE FREAKIN’ YUNG BIKE GANG

unattended pie stand – you could totally steal these and get away with it. but you’d be eating it with a guilty conscience…never a great way to enoy a pie.

antique store – these were great!

lobsters! big juicy lobsters! seriously, the best i’ve ever had.

my parents – thanks mommy & baba!

Dusty brings me my socks, poses for picture