A GRILL FOR CONDO-DWELLING BAR-B-Q ENTHUSIASTS

© 2009 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BOB SKIDMORE

CORRESPONDENT

As one who lives in a high rise Florida condominium where gas and charcoal grills are forbidden by law, I find the availability of quality electric grills to be disappointing. Florida, Arizona and California probably lead in such condo-dwellings, but yet try to purchase an electric grill there, it’s near impossible!

In recent years I’ve located and tested a few electric models found on the web. Unfortunately, all were disappointing, including a well-known celebrity brand.

Recently, Weber introduced the Q 140, a moderately priced compact electric grill patterned after their Q Series gas models. This grill features an easily removable aluminum bowl liner that can be lined with foil to make clean up a snap (figure A); a stainless steel rod cooking grate that creates perfect sear marks and is dishwasher safe; 1560 (2000 European model) watts of heat created from two coils that are uniquely configured into six exposed rods that create the most even heat surface I’ve ever experienced in an electric grill (figure A); an over-sized, replaceable grease catch pan that eliminates the mess after the cooking experience. (You can also line this with foil and extend the replacement life of the disposable pan); cast aluminum construction, stainless steal and plastic throughout prevents rust and makes the unit very light weight. The lid has a built-in heat retention liner that reflects the heat back to the food being cooked. This also acts as somewhat of an insulator keeping the heat contained while minimizing the heat on the outer lid surface, a feature not often found on other grills. A multi-adjustable thermostat allows for a variety of heat settings.

Unfortunately, very few factory options are available. While the catalog refers to numerous such items for the “Q” Series, they’re actually referring to non-electric models only. I would like to see a griddle made available. Weber does offer an inexpensive model 6507 rolling cart ($55.00). Since the Q 140 is so compact I found the Rubbermaid # 7085 storage cabinet to work well too ($89.00). The grill nicely sets on the cabinet surface, and is easily stored and protected from the elements on the enclosed shelves below. While not supplied, casters can easily be added by the handy do-it-yourselfer. As for a griddle, several name brands are available. The trick is finding one small enough to fit the cooking grate. The thickness of such griddles prevents keeping the lid closed, thus much heat is lost in the cooking process. While a bit clumsy, I found the Emerileware cast iron reversible grill/griddle to work reasonably well ($35.00). When using any griddle attachment extreme caution should be taken, as the griddle, as well as the Q 140, will be very hot long after the food is cooked and the unit is shut off.

My overall experience was exceptionally good. The grill is extremely well built and virtually rust resistant. It’s very compact and heats up fast and evenly. Clean up is very quick due to the easily accessible and removable parts. I give it three thumbs up, my highest rating. The Q 140 should be typically a retailer item, but be prepared to special order it as I could not locate this model in stock at numerous Weber dealers I visited. Weber has an on-line store, but this item is not a selectable item. They do show a phone number, 800.446.1071 as an alternative to on-line ordering. Amazon U. S. and UK* do list this model. *A 220/240-VAC model is available for the European market. More details available at: weber.com. The Q 140, a well kept secret well worth the effort to locate it!

U. S. MSRP: $279.00

Weber and Q are registered trademarks of Weber-Stephen Products Company

Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer who may be contacted at bskidmore@mac.com or twitter.com/bskidmore.

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ARE “Z buds™” FOR YOU?

© 2009 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BOB SKIDMORE

CORRESPONDENT

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, CES, I had the opportunity to obtain a pair of Z buds™ Music Control™ ear buds manufactured by Zagg. For the uninitiated, ear buds are extremely lightweight headsets that fit in your ear and are used in products such as cell phones, ipods and virtually any other listening device.

Z buds™ were designed primarily for Apple products such as ipods and iphones. (Music Control only works with iphone) These buds and some of their features will, however, work with non-Apple products that use a 3.5mm four conductor mini plug.

The Z buds™ are well designed. They incorporate features like a noise canceling microphone that reduces ambient sounds from overpowering your speech when talking; a click button on the mic’s housing that can turn music on and off, or answer and hang up your phone calls; a two-click feature advances you to the next song; an in-line volume control that readjusts volume when the device’s volume is set to max; multiple sliders for cable length adjustment; a wide selection of ear bud adapters to fit all ears.

I tested these buds under various conditions and found the audio reproduction to be outstanding (30hz to 16Khz). A friend of mine with a hearing loss in one ear used them while driving home and commented that she could hear so much better. It’s important to note that the unique “hangin’ tight” neck-cord feature keeps them in place around your neck. (See illustration above) The materials used to construct the buds are top notch and include a heavy-duty 54” cable. The rugged construction revivals that of units costing many times over the MSRP of $79.95. I give the Z buds™ a thumbs up for a feature packed, quality product at an affordable price. Z buds™ are available with or without a mic, in black, red, yellow or pink at leading retailers and on line, zagg.com.

Apple, iphone and ipod are trademarks of Apple, Inc.

Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer who may be contacted at bskidmore@mac.com, or twitter.com/bskidmore.

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CD/DVD PRINTING MADE EASY

CD/DVD PRINTING MADE EASY

© 2009 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BOB SKIDMORE

CORRESPONDENT

CD and DVD media storage has become quite the popular method for copying data, audio and video material. The difficulty becomes trying to identify the material once it’s on the disc. Numerous attempts have been made by inkjet printer manufacturers to incorporate disc media into paper fed printers. The problem typically is that mixing paper and disc stock results in ink residue that appears on the next printing job after changing the print stock. Printing on paper labels or stickers that are affixed to Cd and DVD media is not recommended by hardware manufactures as it can jam the recorder/player or create improper balance that results in disc errors. The use of a Sharpie looks very unprofessional and mistakes are not easily corrected. So what’s the solution?

DYMO® has introduced the DiscPainter® that is a low volume USB printer made exclusively for printing on discs. The DiscPainter® interfaces with Windows® and most Mac® OS X systems. Its small size, about like two stacked cigar boxes, allows it to be easily stored with your computer. Unfortunately no power switch is included, something I hope they correct. Printing is accomplished by a “spin on disc system” known as RadialPrint™, that results in very high quality reproduction of up to 1200 dpi. Depending on the quality setting, printing takes place from 1-3 minutes. The DiscPainter® uses one all-color ink cartridge with built-in print head. This is a nice feature since you are automatically getting a new print head with each new ink cartridge replacement thus maintaining high quality printing over the life of the printer. DYMO® tells me that one can expect better than 5000 impressions before printer replacement. Since this unit is not intended as a high volume printer it should provide many years of service. The ink cartridge will last from 100-150 impressions, or more, depending on the quality setting and equal use of colors in the artwork layout. (The use of the high quality setting uses much more ink, creates a thicker coating on the surface which may result in ink cracks and peeling over the life of the disc. This applies to any disc printing device.)

DYMO® includes a feature-packed software program known as Discus®. It can be used as a stand-a-lone creator or with PhotoShop®, PrintShop®, Adobe Illustrator®, InDesign®, QuarkXPress®, and SureThing® just to mention a few. Discus® includes several canvases as general backgrounds. Personally, I’d like to see more backgrounds made available as they speed up the process in making a quick layout. The DiscPainter® printer and Discus® software may be used with many other printers and software programs which makes this product extremely versatile. I was able to print professional quality discs straight out of the box without the use of test prints or lengthy instructions. I give it a thumbs up. Professional quality and good value are the key here! MSRP $279.95. On-line demos available at global.dymo.com

Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer who may be contacted at bskidmore@mac.com

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BUDFITS, A SECURE AND COMFORTABLE WAY TO WEAR EARBUDS.

© 2009 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BOB SKIDMORE

Correspondent

If you use Apple™ earbuds for listening to your ipod™, or iPhone™ you know the discomfort one can experience wearing them. Earbuds are made from a hard plastic that is wedged into your ear canal. The Budfit is a simple plastic molded device that fits around the rear of the ears. The earbud’s wire slips into a cutout in the mold and the physical earbud slips into the top end. You place the Budfit behind your ears so that the earbud hangs in front of the ear canal opening. You’ll still experience all the fidelity of sounds generated by the earbud with none of the discomfort even though there is a bit of space between you and the earbud. Ambient noise is kept to a minimum, however someone speaking to you, providing the volume is set to a normal listening level, can still be heard.

I’ve tested the Budfits while walking in 35 – 40 mile per hour wind gusts along Florida’s Intercoastal Waterway and had no problem keeping them in position on my ears. Thus, they are great when running, skateboarding or any other fast moving activity. A neat, simple invention that deserves a try. I give them a thumbs up.

Budfits were invented by Innovelis and are only compatible with iPod™ and iPhone™ branded earbuds. They are available at many retailers nationwide, or on line at www.budfits.com.

Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer.

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Is the videophone here at last?

Is the videophone here at last?

© 2009 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BOB SKIDMORE

Correspondent

Many years ago it was predicted that by the end of the century we would all have video telephones. Well, many attempts have been made at this, but until recently it was not a practical means of communications. High costs, bulky equipment and large bandwidth requirements slowed down the progress. Enter the Internet and a company called SKYPE. SKYPE, now owned by EBAY, is one of many VOIP (voice over internet protocol) providers. What makes them different is that they offer a live video service in addition to standard voice communications. Like other providers, a small fee is charged for voice communications unless you are calling another SKYPE subscriber, and then it’s free. Since video-to-video calling requires a service such as SKYPE chances are it will be free to you.

How does it work? First, you need a PC or Macintosh computer hooked up to a cable or DSL broadband service. Your computer should be a model manufactured within the past three or four years. In the case of a MAC it needs to have OSX as its operating system. You need a webcam and a microphone. Many computers now feature built-in webcams and microphones, but if yours doesn’t have one, low cost models are available for under $50. Such external components generally require USB2 or Firewire inputs to make them work. If you have a MAC you may have to download a free driver since many webcams come with PC software only.

One such site for Logitec cameras is: webcamosx.sourceforge.net/downloads.htm. You may also be able to use your home digital camcorder that has a Firewire output. When you have all the necessary components at hand you’ll need to download the free SKYPE software at: skype.com. Once installed, webcam and microphone plugged in, just follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation and camera/microphone preference settings. Now you’re ready to add SKYPE addresses that your family or friends may have given you, or simply look them up in the worldwide SKYPE directory. SKYPE protects you from receiving unwanted calls by asking the called party if they wish to add you as a contact. SKYPE also works with audio/video on one end and voice on the other in the event you call someone who doesn’t have a webcam. They’ll see and hear you, but you’ll only hear them. You’ll be amazed at the video quality. The only thing better is something Apple calls iChat. This software is a standard feature on all Macintosh computers. While iChat is superior and also free, it only works Mac-to-Mac, whereas SKYPE is a multi-platform service. No matter which one you choose, imagine the thrill of seeing your grandchild for the first time, or that long lost friend. This is also a great tool for business where the conference feature could be valuable.

The photo above is an actual screen shot of a call between a grandmother in Boca Raton, Florida and a son and grandson in Seattle, WA. Large picture represents the party you called and the small insert, bottom left, is you, the caller.

You may wonder how SKYPE makes any money. Most SKYPE subscribers call people that are not SKYPERS. In other words they use the SKYPE network to make regular landline calls worldwide. Naturally there is a charge for this. Using SKYPE video-to-video or calling fellow SKYPE subscribers is always free. Have you been SKYPED?

Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer.

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VOIP, A new phone technology…. Is it for you?

Typical VOIP modem

© 2009 Bob Skidmore All Rights Reserved

BY BOB SKIDMORE

Contributing Writer

 

Years ago communities were served by only one phone provider. There was simply no alternative. Today the market is flooded with numerous choices, which have dramatically lowered the price of phone service while adding many more features. One such choice is VOIP (voice over internet protocol) that uses your existing cable broadband Ethernet Internet connection in place of a phone line. The advantage of VOIP is that you already have a link to the outside world, so shopping for service plans becomes the only additional cost. The key is to compare the offers. Things to consider are price, calling areas that are included, features such as message waiting, caller ID, voice mail and the reliability of the company. Some of the better-known providers are,  Brighthouse (mybrighthouse.com), Time Warner (www.buytimewarner.com), Vonage (www.vonage.com) and Knology (www.knology.com).  An interesting point is that Vonage has been hit by several patent infringement lawsuits brought by some of its competitors, but to date seems to have satisfactorily resolved these issues and remains very much a player in this competitive field.

How does VOIP work?  The company you select will either install or provide you with a modem, a device that converts the digital signal to work with your existing telephone instruments in your home network. You may also request your old phone number be transferred to this service. The modem, the size of a paperback book, simply connects to your existing router, which in turn is connected to any telephone jack in your home. Now you have connectivity between the Internet and the phones in your home network. Your computer does not need to be on or plugged in for this to work. Pick up any phone in your home network and start talking. You can even take the modem with you when you travel providing you have access to a broadband Ethernet Internet connection. This permits you to still receive and make all your calls from your home number wherever you may be.

The downside to VOIP is that you are dependent on a good broadband Ethernet connection. Faster speeds mean better voice quality. If the power goes out, so does the phone, however, this is easily remedied by adding a low cost battery backup system, better known as a UPS (uninterruptible power source). You are probably not aware of it, but this is exactly what the large phone companies do. Heavy Internet network system usage can cause busy signals or dropped calls. This is rare, but a possibility. Also, many fax machines and TIVO devices have difficulty communicating with VOIP service.

There are many benefits to VOIP, such as lower costs with a greatly expanded calling area. Vonage, for example treats all of the U. S., Canada, Puerto Rico, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland and the U. K. as a local call. They also provide local access numbers in Canada, France, Mexico, Spain, the U. K. and the U. S. that allow free calls to be made to their customers from these countries. Furthermore, you may check your messages by not only dialing into a mailbox, but also going on line. Business plans are quite often available too, but you would be well advised not to switch all your lines to VOIP. By not doing so you create a backup source in case either service has a major outage. I have used VOIP technology in business and residential applications and have benefited from significant cost savings over landline service. Generally speaking, I am very satisfied.

Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer.

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Plain phone lies in wait as household spy

Review | TeleSpy

© 2008 Bob Skidmore All Rights Reserved

 Plain phone lies in wait as household spy 

 BY BOB SKIDMORE 

 Contributing Writer 

  One of the innovative items at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was the TeleSpy, a traditional-looking and normally operating telephone. What makes the TeleSpy unique is its ability to act as a no-cost security monitoring system.

  Installation is quick and simple. If you can plug a phone into a standard phone jack, then you can install the TeleSpy. There are no complicated adjustments to activate. Simply position and aim the phone in the direction of the area you want monitored. Plug the standard modular plug into your phone jack and plug the supplied AC power adapter into the jack on the side of the phone.

  The 30-foot throw distance covers a 20-foot-wide area. Use the test position switch to compensate for pets. To arm, pick up the handset and dial in the phone number you want called in the event of an intrusion, then hang up. Since this becomes the last number dialed, it’s in the phone’s memory and will be the number called. Turn the power switch on.

  When the phone senses an intrusion in the specified area, it will silently dial the number you requested, be it a wired or cell phone model, anywhere in the world. When that phone answers, you will hear everything going on for up to 60 seconds. After a 30-second reset period, that number will be dialed again if the activity is still present. In the meantime, you contact your local law enforcement agency to report the intrusion.

  When you use an external siren and the security mode is turned on, no number is dialed and the siren is heard immediately.

  This feature is handy when you are sleeping and want to be alerted to unwanted activity in the area.

  An additional feature allows external devices like a smoke alarm or window/door switch to be plugged in. If a fire breaks out or an unwanted entry is made, the phone is triggered to become active and you are alerted.

  Since this is a self-contained device you pay no monthly fees to anyone. I tested this phone and found it to work well.

  Retail prices vary from $80 to $125. You can learn more at the company’s Web site, www.telespy.biz. 

 Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer.

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