Girls Gone Gadget

If you’re immersed in the blogging world, at all, you often hear the word “niche” come up.  What’s your niche. Niche-blogging. Developing your niche. It’s basically “the focus of your blogging”.  I have to laugh at that because, well, I think I blog because I lack focus.  In a way.

This blog  was created this past fall when I decided that I really wanted to write about tech and gadgets on a regular basis and it didn’t seem that those topics would fit with my personal blog, Stacey Says. My feeble attempt at focus.

The problem with niche blogging or at least with the tech/gadget niche is that each post takes so long to write. Typically I can ramble off a post in an hour or two.  Tech posts take me days.  Unless I’m just writing about a program or gadget that I’m already using, there is research that must be done.  I don’t want to post about something that I don’t know anything about so I first need to learn about it and then write about it a unique way.  It takes a lot of time!

Too much time.  More time than I have.  Between writing at Stacey Says, writing for 5 Minutes for Mom, planning the Gleek Retreat, and, oh yeah, taking care of the house and kids, I just don’t have the time to dedicate to another site.  Posting once every two weeks isn’t going to keep my readers coming back for more.  So, I’m hitting the pause button on Girls Gone Gadget.  But, I’m not hitting the pause button on writing about tech and gadgets.

I’ve decided that, since this blog is an extension of me, then writing about gadgets and tech at Stacey Says isn’t completely out of place.  So, from now on, I will be writing tech posts over there. This isn’t to say that I’m completely tossing Girls Gone Gadget away.  I just might resurrect it when I get a little better handle on my time!

I’d love to have you follow me over to Stacey Says and, if the family stuff isn’t something you want to read, then skip over those and just read the techy ones.

This is me continuing to find that illusive balance of blogging!

Which Pocket Cam should you pocket?

As the warmer weather approaches, I am looking forward to getting outside with my girls more.  Of course it seems that the more outside activities we do, the more videos I shoot.  From my four year old learning to ride her bike without training wheels to two year old running through the sprinkler…I’m hoping to catch each of those moments on video this summer.  But what camera should I trust those memories to?

It’s no secret that Pocket Cams are quickly replacing the bulky camcorders and when I say “bulky” I have to laugh because the camcorders on the market now are a fraction of the size of the camcorders we used when I was a kid!  I digress, back to the Pocket Cams!

The Flip has been the front runner of Pocket Cams since it first hit the virtual-shelves in 2007.  It’s compact design, easy connectivity, and affordable price tag took the market by storm and the Flip still seems to be a hot commodity with it’s updated design and features.  However, the Flip isn’t alone in the Pocket Cam family.  So, let’s compare a few!

The Flip

Flip now offers the Ultra and the Mino.  Both versions are available in a HighDef model and range from 2GB to 8GB, capturing 60 – 120 minutes of high-quality video.  They feature a convenient playback screen for easy viewing and a nifty little USB connector that flips out and plugs your camera directly into your computer for easy downloading (thus the name, Flip).

Flips range in price from $149.99 to $229.99 and now come in a variety of colors and designs.  You can even create your own custom design, pick from an design gallery (which has some very cool designs), or upload your own personal image, making the Flip even more desirable and fashionable.

With the latest FlipShare software you can even upload your videos directly to Facebook, making the Flip MinoHDeven more desirable!

Kodak’s Zi8

With their finger on the pulse of photography and videography, Kodak took a little more time developing their amazing Pocket Cam.  This makes the Zi8 less known but also means they have put some pretty cool features together in this compact video camera.

The Kodak Zi8 captures HD quality video and can record up to 10 hours of HD video with the expandable SD/SDHC card slot.  The external microphone jack allows you to capture quality audio as well.  The Zi8 allows you to easily transfer your videos to your computer through a built-in USB arm, released by the flick of a button at the bottom of the camera.

Those cool features I mentioned include the ability to take 5 MP 16:9 HD still photos, image stabilization, and smart face tracking technology.  The Zi8 only comes in three colors, so it’s not as fashionably fun as the Flip but I do love that the SD/SDHC card slot allows me to shoot a ton more footage without having to offload to a computer right away.  At $199.95, the Kodak Zi8 is definitely a contender!

iPod nano

Yes, I said iPod!  The newest release of Apple’s iPod nano, on top of playing music from your iTunes and FM radio, also shoots video.  The downfall is that it only shoots in standard-definition, which means lower quality than the Zi8 or the Flip.  Although the Nano lens does offer the widest-angle of most pocket cams and offers sharp images when shot very close-up.

While the Nano may not be the best on tech specs, it does scream fun!  Of course it comes in a range of vibrant colors and has the whole music player side of things, but the Nano also comes loaded with 16 fun video effects.  As you shoot your footage you can add trippy effects (like Kaleidoscope or Twirl), robotic effects (Cyborg), or the classic Film Grain effect.

The iPod nano is currently priced at $149 for 8GB and $179 for 16GB.

The Verdict

So, where does that leave us? Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for in your pocket cam.  All three brands are comparable in price, are small enough to throw in your pocket or purse and each has it’s own set of special features.

If you’re looking for something fun and aren’t concerned with HD footage, then the iPod nano might be a good fit.  Fun colors, small, and serves a dual purpose (video and music player).

If you’re looking for high quality video and like to personalize your gadgets, the Flip is a good option.  But, if you’re fine with a camera in the standard color, the Zi8 seems like the best bang for your buck!  High quality, room to expand, and great price!  And the image stabilization and smart face tracking technology seems perfect for catering those kids on the move!!!

Good luck with your camera shopping and your video shooting!

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before — rugged computer, durable laptop, fun colors, nifty little carrying handle!  Ok, I’m going to guess by the confused look on your face that you’re not quite sure what I’m talking about.  Well, I could be talking about my very first Apple laptop (the Apple G3 iBook, aka The Clamshell) or I could be talking about Intel’s new convertible Classmate PC.

As skeptical as I was at first about the Classmate PC and it’s resemblance to Apple’s Clamshell, I’m actually very intrigued by it now!  Especially since it is Netbook!!!

Photo courtesy of ClassmatePC.com

The Classmate PC is designed with kids in mind!  The Classmate PC is built to be more durable than the standard netbook and includes a built-in case with a handle for easy portability.  This netbook, unlike other kid targeted netbooks, is not designed around a specific cartoon character or kids show, but it still has a kid-friendly design.  The Classmate PC is targeted toward K-8 students and is rumored to include educational software.

While the Classmate PC has been around for a few years now, the new Convertible Classmate PC has a fun, fresh little twist!  And I mean twist in the most literal sense!  The screen on the convertible Classmate PC can be twisted so that the netbook transforms from from a netbook to a slate!  That’s pretty cool!!!

The convertible Classmate has not yet been released and pricing is not available, but I’ll be very interested to see how it performs.  The idea is absolutely fabulous and I think it would be perfect for my preschooler!  The extra durability factor boosts this netbook up pretty high on my list of ‘must haves’!