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USB Talking Globe offers up to date geography education

Greg Chaffins

Geography education seems to be very weak in today's society, and given that we are more interconnected than ever before, that is probably not a good thing.  The Always Current Talking Globe may help with keeping your geographical knowledge up to date, since the educational device will plug into an USB port and update once a week.  According to the website:

30 learning activities with facts about countries geography, currency, political leaders, history, language, and population are narrated in a clear digital voice. Once a category is selected on the control panel, users place the stylus on a country to listen to up-to-date global info, or they can compare the currency, population, and travel times of two countries by moving the stylus between the two nations.

Young geographers test their knowledge in “Find” mode; the globe asks up to four players to find countries, capitals, and cities, and users race against the clock to locate the correct locations with the stylus. Simply connect the included USB cable to a PC running Windows Vista or XP and access the manufacturer’s website to download current statistics and world news; download service is free for the first year ($14.99 per year thereafter).

The Always Current Talking Globe from Hammacher Schlemmer measures 14(H) x 12(W) x 12(D) inches for $179.95.

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Add a toaster bay to your PC

Greg Chaffins

Most of the time when you refer to your PC  as "toast" it is a very bad thing.  However, the CrazyPC 5.25 Bay Toaster can make it into a good thing by allowing you to turn an unused drive bay into a small toaster.

The toaster fits into a standard 5.25 inch drive bay, and software allows you to fine tune the toasting temperature and time.  Yes, now you can toast your pop tarts with not only computer controlled accuracy, but with the computer itself.

I have a laptop that I believe could almost toast bread, and I have in fact used it to keep food warm.  But without the finite software control other than a timer it lacks the finesse of the toaster bay.

The CrazyPC 525 Bay Toaster costs $30, and you can find it at CrazyPC.

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UseeIsee Video Phone Offers Unlimited Calling to Regular Phones

Greg Chaffins

You see and I see – that seems to be the concept of a video phone, and it is also the sound alike name of the GXV-3000 SIP UseeIsee Picture Fone broadband video phone. The phone comes with an agreement that allows unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles phones for a modest $39.95 flat fee.  There have been other video phones on the market, but not many had the unlimited calling to standard phones through broadband as part of the package deal.

Of course, you have to buy the phone itself, which is $249.95, but that was probably expected. The phone's strength as compared to a Skype enabled PC is that there is no computer required, and it is tremendously easier to use.  You do have to plug it into a broadband connection to use, but any plugin phone requires a hookup of some kind.  And you will not get video if the other side does not have the capability, but you can still talk as part of the same one time fee.

 Mechanically the phone is an advanced IP video phone running on SIP and H.264.  With a 5.6 inch TFT LCD display and built in speakers it should be a pleasant experience to use.  You can find the GXV-3000 SIP phone at UssIsee.

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