Brigada » Cool Tools

4) Revisiting Our Question, “Which Camcorder Is Best”?

Editor — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:56:17 +0000

A lot has changed since our July 2006 item trying to determine which camcorder is best for missions travel and promotion. Mark, a regular Brigada reader, asked if we could refresh the review. (Thanks for asking, Mark!)

One factor we keep observing is the convergence of high-end pro-sumer digital SLRs and medium-duty camcorders. In other words, it’s gotten to the point that your still camera can take your high-def videos. One factor: the on-camera microphones on those SLRs is sometimes of lesser quality than the mics on dedicated camcorders. I think manufacturers believe they’ll only be used to annotate stills.
Then there’s convergence from the other side. Some of the camcorders are now making still images at 3 megapixels and up. Of course, you have to check to make sure that options like optical image stabilization are also online when taking stills (not just when doing video).
Since 2006, we’ve seen the blossoming of the entire market of camcorders using hard drives. They’ve dropped from $1600 down to $500 in just 3 years.
Then you have this whole new crop of miniature high-def camcorders that capture movies to flash cards (as opposed to mini-DV, DVDs, or hard-drives). For sure, one gives up some things on those $100 models, not the least of which is lense quality and CCD image clarity.

So what’s a body to do? Maybe the best recommendation is to fit the need. (In fact, maybe you’ve decided to stop doing video all together in favor of just doing slide shows with stills.) In the comment box below, please describe your own specific case and explain why you chose what you did — and whether or not you’re happy with your choice. There’s no one-size-fits all solution. Please make your case. :-)

10) Get Your Item Published Now

Editor — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:50:10 +0000

Our queue is lots longer than the number of items we can publish weekly. We do eventually publish all items, regardless of sponsorship. However, those who pitch in to help cover Brigada’s expenses are treated with special dignity — because they’re helping pay the bills. We bump them directly to the head of the line. All of which means… if it’s Friday and you send in an item with a gift, there’s a good chance your item might be featured as quickly as 48 hours later (the following Sunday). Just follow the instructions for submitting an item (at our website, brigada.org, by reading the guidelines when you select “Submit an item”), then click on one of the “Donor” links at the top of this page. Both are safe, the one with PayPal and the other with one of the most well-known “real” online merchants on the web. Neither requires you to open an account with anyone … and neither ever spams you. Or, if you prefer, just send an old-fashioned check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) How much should you give? We’ll leave that up to you. Basically, any amount gets you bumped to the front of the line. Obviously, the more you give, the more thankful we are. And thank you in advance for helping.

11) The Backpage: Will You End Up Buying An Amazon ‘kindle’?

Editor — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:49:35 +0000

Check it out. Just head on over to Amazon at:

http://www.amazon.com

The lead item will probably be about the Kindle. There’s a 6″ diagonal screen and a 9.7″ screen — and either one will cause your eyes to pop. Keep in mind that these screens aren’t your typical backlit computer LCD. They use a completely different technology that is more like electronic ink (thus the name of the vendor that sells the screens to Amazon, “e-ink.” Regardless of the unit you pick (whether you want to accommodate 1500 books in a smaller package or 3000 books in a not-quite-as-small-but-still-amazing package, it really doesn’t matter. Both devices represent a new segment of the electronics market that is quite remarkable. Slim, lightweight, and wireless while you’re in the USA on home service or visiting. No monthly fees. And order & receive a book in under 60 seconds. Most books are $10 or less, too. Be kinder to the environment, enjoy all your books in your briefcase (instead of at home on the shelf) and, get this — it even reads aloud to you. (Although ours is comical when it tries to read the Bible. You can hear the voice mixing the verse numbers in with the text of the verses themselves! :-) ) Some 300,000 books have been prepared in this format — ready to download in one minute.

Disclaimers, they’re expensive — but so is/was your library. They run on electric (but they last for like 4 days of full-time reading). And more importantly, you won’t be able to hold the page in your hand. Also, if somebody steals your Kindle, they’re stealing your whole library. Finally, be careful what PDFs you put on it. There’s no password-protection, let alone encryption, of any kind. (There isn’t even a log-on password.) This last item is the thing that made our I.T. guy’s hair stand on end. Greg took a while to warm up to it. I think, in the end, it kind of grew on him though. He just helped us resolve to not put anything sensitive on it.

So check it out. It just might be your library of the future — in your briefcase.

6) Portable Backpack

Editor — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:53:00 +0000

Looking for a solution for carrying all those assorted items once you reach your destination? Try the $10 Kiva backpack at…

http://www.amazon.com/Kiva-Key-Chain-Pack/dp/B000BNGHJO

My 19-year-old says it folds up really small… and it would be very handy to throw into your luggage… then deploy upon arrival. Can’t beat the price.

3) "COOL TOOLS FOR TRAVEL"

Editor — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:56:00 +0000

Without a doubt, the Brigada story that seemed to garner the most interest was the series we did on “Cool Tools” for traveling missionaries. See it by clicking “Cool Tools” in the tag cloud on the left side of the page, or just click to:

http://www.brigada.org/search/label/Cool%20Tools

The “Cool Tools” that seemed to draw the most attention were the item on jet lag, the one on “herding kids”, and the most recent one on which browser to use for travel & mission.

6) Missionary-Types Love Their Tools

Editor — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Some 200 items dealing with technology (VPNs, for example), Facebook, webinars, another couple of hundred on training, dozens more on software, … the list goes on. The missionary enterprise (and Brigada in particular) seem keen on “gearing up” for missions. In the end, however, we realize the entire process is a work of the Spirit. We just enjoy keeping in touch while He helps us carry it out.

7) The Great Browser Bash: Which Do You Prefer?

Editor — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:50:00 +0000

OK… here’s your chance to vote: Which browser are you preferring for general missions use and why? How do you use some special feature… one that perhaps nobody else has thought about? For example, I recently tried out FireFox again and, for a fleeting moment, I thought I’d like the tags. So… vogue. Somehow I managed to shake off the temptation though… and now I’m back to Internet Explorer. I know, I know — somebody’s going to say that FireFox is more secure, right? (I thought that too ’til last week, Firefox picked up a drive-by-download that, in my own testing, Internet Explorer easily ignored.) Perhaps you’re *way* out there on the edge — and you like Opera better? Or something else? (There’s got to be a MAC version someone likes: Safari???) Just click comment on the web version of this item and sound off. (Thanks for helping me think this through, Greg — our I.T. guy at Team Expansion.)

3) In The "What’ll-They-Think-Of-Next!" Department

Editor — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:56:00 +0000

Check out the new bullet-proof polo shirts at geek.com. (Just go to
http://www.gizmag.com/bullet-proof-polo-shirt/10187/
and search for “polo shirts”.) At first glance, these might seem like the latest fashion-conscience missionary-wear, until you see the price tag.

9) For Those Who Travel

Editor — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:46:00 +0000

Here is an excellent site full of useful information about electronics and communications, especially helpful for those who travel.

http://kropla.com/index.html

1) New Cool Tool For Travlers (And Hikers & Campers)

Editor — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:45:00 +0000

Recently, we featured several “Cool Tools for Travel” that Brigada has highlighted down through the years. It instantly became one of our most popular editions in all of Brigada history. Today we add a new “Cool Tool” to that collection, and while doing so, we encourage you to go back and check out the other Cool Tools when you get a chance. Find previous Cool Tools at at:

DETERMINE TO BEAT JET LAG
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/3-determine-to-beat-jet-lag.html

“SLEEP EAST, PARTY WEST”
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/4-sleep-east-party-west.html

“GEAR UP TO SLEEP”
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/5-gear-up-to-sleep.html

HERDING *KIDS* WHILE TRAVELING
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/6-herding-kids-while-traveling.html

YOUR OWN MOSQUITO TENT
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/7-your-own-mosquito-tent.html

AC ADAPTORS THAT DON’T REQUIRE CONVERTERS/TRANSFORMERS
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/8-ac-adaptors.html

RENT OR BUY A “WORLDPHONE” FOR EMERGENCIES
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/9-rent-or-buy-worldphone.html

RENT A SATPHONE
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/10-rent-satphone.html

RENT A SAT MODEM
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/11-rent-sat-modem.html

PACK BY CHECKLIST, PACK LIGHT
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/12-pack-by-checklist.html

USE ROLLER BAGS
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/13-use-roller-bags.html

BRING A FILTERED WATER BOTTLE
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/14-bring-filtered-water-bottle.html

CARRY A THIN NOTEBOOK & A PEN
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/15-carry-thin-notebook.html

USE A MONEYBELT
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/16-use-money-belt.html

TRY A PHOTOGRAPHER’S VEST
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/17-try-photographers-vest.html

STAY HEALTHY, BUT DON’T BECOME O.C.
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/18-stay-healthy.html

FIND A CAMERA/KIT
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/19-find-camerakit.html

PACK MODULARLY
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/20-pack-modularly.html

PASSIVE NOISE-REDUCING EARPHONES
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/21-passive-noise-reducing-earphones.html

BUY TRAVEL INTERRUPTION INSURANCE
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/22-buy-travel-interruption-insurance.html

GRAB A CAMEL’S HAIR BLOWER-BRUSH
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/23-grab-camels-hair-blower-brush.html

CARRY AN 8′ BROWN EXTENSION CORD
http://www.brigada.org/2008/09/24-extension-cord.html

FIND A USB-CELL-PHONE CHARGER
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/25-find-usb-cell-phone-charger_17.html

TAKE [THIN] EXTRA READING (INCLUDING BIBLE)
http://www.brigada.org/2008/09/26-thin-reading.html

EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
http://www.brigada.org/2008/08/27-external-hard-drive.html

2) "Spot" Satellite Locator Device Is Spot On

Editor — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:30:00 +0000

Lately, I’ve been testing a new 7-ounce device called “Spot Messenger”. Watch the Guided Tour at…

http://www.findmespot.com/

Now let me first clarify — there’s no “affiliate” tag on the end of that URL. (The people who make these devices don’t even know I’m writing this.) So note that there’s no kickback in the works here. I’m referring you to this device as “one beggar telling another where to find bread.” What I *can* tell you is that, with very few downsides, this device is a hit. Exactly what does it do? Using GPS satellite technology, it first pinpoints your location to an accuracy of 20′, almost anywhere on the earth. Next, using GlobalStar’s Low Earth Orbit satphone network, Spot sends the equivalent of a text message back to its home base in Milpitas, CA, where the tech guys there have created sophisticated software that plots your location on a GoogleEarth map, then relays carbon copy messages to the people you’ve chosen to notify in your Spot online web account. You can designate cell phones to receive text messages or email accounts — Spot doesn’t mind either way.

3) Does Spot Messenger Really Work?

Editor — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:15:00 +0000

In a word, yes. Of course, there are the normal limitations associated with any GPS/satphone device. Namely, you have to be outside with a clear view of the sky. What’s more, as with any of these class of 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons, the communication is one-way only. Your friends are going to know exactly where you are… and that you’re ok… but they’re not going to be able to send you a message that says, “Honey I miss you.” As for dependability, the device has a lot going for it. This same network (GlobalStar’s simplex network, that is) is currently handling ship locator beacons and lots of other tracking devices to the tune of some 6 million messages per month with a reliability rate said to be close to 95%. Just in case, any message you queue up on your Spot Messenger is automatically re-sent 2 extra times for a total of 3 instances (the duplicates are dropped in Milptas if the original got through ok). So… barring any financial difficulties at GlobalStar (Hey, even Iridium had trouble staying afloat), the device should be good to go for years. There are still other caveats, however. Because it’s relying on the GlobalStar satphone simplex network, there are some limitations as to location. For example, forget the southern half of Africa, much of India, regions to the north of India, and even northern Alaska [updated: See "comment" below for more on this]. So if you’re heading to one of those locations, you definitely need to get this device in hand and try it there prior to depending on it for a life or death situation. (If it doesn’t work for your geographic area, my guess is they’d refund your money.)

4) See Spot Run: How Fast Can It Find You?

Editor — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:00:00 +0000

It takes Spot about 1′ or less to pin down your location. (Tests show about 46 seconds, actually.) That’s assuming you have clear sky though. Inside, I found it to be rather unreliable. In a car, just velcro it to the dashboard in view of the windshield and you’ll be good to go. In one setting, you can configure Spot to send an update on your location once every 10′. Talk about phoning home. The kids will think they’re watching Bond. James Bond.