Merlins Tower

Best iPad Case - Official Etch A Sketch Case

Posted on September 24th, 2010 by Merlin.
Categories: Gadgets, iPad.

I need to get one of these cases - This has to be the coolest looking case made for the iPad - even better looking then the Dodo case. While it will not hide the iPad like the Dodo case it does the opposite - it shows off and makes the iPad noticed.  While this case is cool looking it is quite functional, too. HeadCase - The makers state that this case is also designed to protect the iPad too. It is made of impact resistant plastic, has rubber feet and a felt backing inside to hold the iPad gently. The etch a Sketch Ipad case also allows for easy use of all the switches, ports and buttons. This case also comes with a retractable kick stands that allow you to either lay the iPad flat, or angle it for easier usage of the iPad keyboard. Yes it has the Etch A Sketch  knobs but they are low profile and really should not get in the way of using the iPad.

The price is not too bad either - Only $39

Tags: ipad case etch a sketch

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LaCie XtremKey 16 GB All-Terrain USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Posted on September 13th, 2010 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Communication, Computing, Gadgets, Life, Travel, Weird Stuff.

Just overhear this being talked about on one of the PodCast I listen too. But I forgot to write down which one I was enjoying at the time. But this LaCie XtremeKey 16 GB All-Terrain USB 2.0 Flash Drive seems to be the cat’s meow.

With many features such as a 2mm thick full metal casing.  It is hot, cold, water, pressure and drop resistant. But only when closed. This Drive has fantastic write and read performance. And this comes with a wear-resistant braided metal cable ring. And this device performs equally between PC’s and Mac’s.

As I mentioned the metal casing can withstand a truck up to 10 tons.

And this sturdy drive can survive 200° C or 392° F or survive the frigid temps as low as -50° C or -122° F

Plus up to 333 ft deep water resistance.

This is just a really cool drive and a 16GB Drive is $74 (9/13/2010)

I can’t wait to try one of these drives out. With the speed rated at 40MB/s Read and 30MB/s Write this could be a really nice drive to have with you. Having this when you need a some files or need to save files that you need to take with you or take back home can be a really life saver knowing they are really protected.

This can also be a great place to store all your confidential info and keep it with you at all times. What a better way then with something that is this disaster resistant. Yes you can keep some of your info in the clouds but what do you do when the connection to the clouds are severed.

Tags: lacie flash drive all terrain water resistance resistant usb fire ice

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Flip Clock Screensaver for PC or Mac

Posted on January 17th, 2010 by Merlin.
Categories: Computing, Freeware, Gadgets, Life.

I have been looking for a good screensaver for my PC that will give me a nice looking flip clock on my desktop. And I finally found one. It is freeware from 9031.com. Check them out there are a few other screensavers and check out their wallpaper generators too.

fliqlo - is a quick and easy setup - and only has a few adjustments available the left right keys switch between 12 / 24 hour format and up down arrows increase or decrease the size of the clock.

I like this because I can see this from way across the room and even down the street if need be.

I like the clean simple look. Nothing fancy just a great looking flip clock.

Enjoy

Technorati Tags: screensaver, flipclock, pc, mac, freeware

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Coffee Cup Art - Sharpie Love

Posted on July 26th, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Gadgets.

As most people that know me - I like pen and I love attempting to draw - But then you find someone that can really make beautiful art like - Cheeming Boey - Styrofoam Coffee Cup Artist.

His preferred Medium is the plain white Styrofoam coffee cup found in many coffee houses. He only uses a fine sharpie marker to work on his creations.

Some people are saying that this is not art - I believe art is in the eye of the beholder - Take a look at Pittsburgh’s Andy Warhol - He used many different mediums and he is touted as a great artist. Or how about scrimshaw - Drawing on whale bones (Waste ByProduct of the Whalers) and filling in the creations with candle black or tobacco juice. Boey - is just using the type of medium today’s waste byproduct of the modern day world -  Styrofoam cups and  drawing with Sharpies.

I found out about this artist on Twitter the other day Linking to the Sharpie Blog.

His Photos of his Cup Creations Can be found on Flickr - Boy Obsolete - Cup Creations.

Below is how he creates one of his pieces of art - Click to see full view.

Technorati Tags: Coffee, Cup, Art, Sharpies, Sharpie, styrofoam,

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iPhone to Relax

Posted on August 28th, 2008 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Communication, Gadgets, MP3, Music, iPhone.

Just playing around with the iPhone - and downloaded a great relaxing iPhone App - called Ambiance - This gives you about 20ish environment enhancers. (Rain, Rain on Tin Roof, White Noise, Pink Noise, Ocean, Stream, and Many More) It has to be the best 99 Cents I have spend for the iPhone. I used it several times today - This morning on the bus I started the white noise plugged in the earphones and was able to enjoy the rest of the ride into work in total peace. Now the software alone is not good enough to block out all the noise that is why I would not trade my shure earphones for anything else.
I also got to use it at work this afternoon when I was doing a bunch of work on a group of computers and I popped in the earphone and was able to block out all the office noise and concentrate on all the work at hand.
Technorati Tags: iphone, ambiance, environment, white, noise, rain, thunder, sounds, efx, effects, tin

1 comment.

What is Twitter?

Posted on March 9th, 2008 by Merlin.
Categories: Cell Phone, Communication, Freeware, Gadgets, Human, Video, Web Service, YouTube.

What is Twitter you ask - I mentioned it in a earlier blog and got a question to explain it - Well, instead of re-inventing the wheel I will post the video from CommonCraft - Who did the earlier video about what is a blog.

So, now start following your friends 140 Characters at a time.

Technorati Tags: twitter, tweet, twittering, mini, blog, personal, people, comunication, common, craft, video, youtube

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Things that Are not there Anymore!!!

Posted on March 9th, 2008 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Gadgets, Hack, Human, Pittsburgh.

I was playing around on Twitter today and found this great tool for twitter called TerraMinds - It allows you to search for a topic you want to see if anyone wrote about. I did a search on there for Pittsburgh and found some interesting articles. But I was lead to LyriqueTragedy and her web blog - DawnPapuga.com - And she wrote about Things that were not there anymore and specifically to Pittsburgh - But there are the general topics as well - Such as the handwritten note - to quote her on this:

There’s something magical about handwritten letters. To receive a handwritten letter from someone is a gift.

Boy isn’t that so true - I think this leads me to why I love to use my fountain pens and write things down instead of using a computer for everything.

Yes, Email is much faster. But, receiving a letter from a friend that was written down is way more personal.

They actually took the time to sit down at a desk, pull out a piece of paper, select a pen, and put their words in ink on paper. This truly is Magical.

Something that used to be taken for granted has been over taken by email, voicemail, faxing, (All things Digital) - Trust me - I love digital devices more then the next person but… There has to be a time and a place to sit down and write your friend a letter just because…. I know I would really enjoy getting a letter in the mail from a friend - Much more then I would like reading that same letter in email form. Yes, even the same words seem more powerful when put in ink on paper and not just represented on the screen in ones and zeros.

Well this is just my little push to go out and write a letter to someone that cares. And see what happens. You really don’t need to have a fancy pen, fancy paper or anything fancy at all. Just pull out a sheet of white paper from your printer and grab that bic pen that you have been chewing one and just write it down. Nice to write your thoughts down - when you have to think about them first and not have the backspace key at your beck and call. Now you don’t have to pre-think the whole letter but just think about the current sentence you are writing and just write what comes from your heart. I am pretty sure whom ever you are writing will be surprised and will love what ever you write no matter what.

Well now you need to send it to them - I know I don’t have any blank envelopes on hand so here you can make your own. - DIY - Fold Your Own Envelope.

But now that you have it folded what about a stamp - Two things - There are many post offices that are open 24 hours and you can put your pocket change in and get a stamp feed out to you - or go to and purchase a few booklets of the Forever Stamp from the post office - Cost the same as a first class stamp does now $.41 but it doesn’t have a price on it and can be used anytime in the future for no additional postage due. Very Cool - Nows the time to buy in bulk and use them in 20 years. :-)

Merlin

Technorati Tags: Handwriting, letterwriting, writing, ink, paper, envelope, stamps, stamp, make, your, own, envelope, Hack, DIY, Free, love, fountain, pen, analog

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