Why isn’t there a Dick Tracy style radio wristwatch on the market? (Asked by Nadia from Los Angeles, California)

(Asked by Nadia from Los Angeles, California)

Before I answer your question, I have a question for you; what’s the weather like in the City of Angels?

Because right now, as I type this from my home in the UK, its bloody freezing and if it’s warmer where you are, then I think I may have to answer your question in person!

Just kidding.

On to your question, does it matter if the watch isn’t ‘Dick Tracy’ branded? Because if that’s what you’re after, then I’m sorry to say that, to the best of my knowledge at least, a ‘Dick Tracy’ branded two-way radio wristwatch doesn’t exist. If/when they make another DT movie (the last time they did, I was a little boy and I had the promotional T-shirt, so we must be due for one), then it seems likely that they will make one.

However, if you just want a two-way radio in the form of a wristwatch, then actually, you’re in luck. Two-way radio watches, like those used by DickTracy, do indeed exist and are available for purchase as I type this. They don’t appear to have gotten big as a consumer item (which is somewhat odd, when you think about it), but you never know, you could start a trend.

Wow. I’ve actually finished early this time out, I’ve still got a fair old bit of space to use up. What I’ll do, then, is list a few of the available products for you.

First, there’s the XACT X2X Wristlinx, which boasts 22 available channels and a 1.5-mile range, then there’s the AGPtek Multi-channels wrist-operated walkie talkie which, clumsy name aside, offers 5 hours of talk time and full headset/headphone compatibility (though quite how attaching headphones to your wrist would work is anyone’s guess), although it only has 12 hours of time display before the batteries conk out of you (and, somewhat disappointingly, it has no back-up power source), this isn’t really a bad bit of kit. After those two, there are a bunch of variations on a theme, most of which can be ordered via Amazon, they are usually priced between $45 and $95, but you can probably find a bargain if you look around a bit.

So, as I shuffle off to bed in time for my long winter’s nap, I hope I’ve helped answer your question, Nadia. Enjoy the weather while you can, you’ll miss it when it’s gone!

How To Make Spy Earpieces?

As with many things, it is possible to make an invisible earphone set out of stuff you may have lying around the house and materials that are easy enough to source online. For an easy-to-follow instructional video below.

The method relayed here has been taken from Frank GuYun of Instructables.com. Links to the original article have been provided. In order to follow the process completely, you’ll need to follow both his technical schematics and his instructional video. This answer will work best if you relate to it as a companion piece, or ‘checklist’ if you will.

What now follows is a step-by-step guide to making your own pair of invisible earphones.

You will need:

1x Piece of cardboard (ideally larger than your head).

2x (or more) Neodymium magnets.

1x Knife.

50m Enamelled wire.

2x LM386 batteries.

1x Soldering iron.

1x Circuit board (and components, including headphone jack)

1x Multimeter

1x MP3 player

1x Roll of electrical tape

STEP ONE – You’ll need to acquire some small magnets (about 6mm in length and the same in diameter is best). If buying online, the best keywords to use are ‘neodymium + magnet’, as this will generate the type of magnet you will need.

STEP TWO – You will now need to make a coil necklace. For instructional reference photos of this process, click HERE. Firstly, you will need a piece of cardboard and roughly 50 metres of enamelled wire. Enamelled wire is copper wire that is coated with polyurethane. The wire necklace must be able to fit around your head. Fashion the wire ring into a necklace that fits you comfortably (and can easily be taken on or off). Then, you cover the wire with electrical tape (in order to protect it). Next, take a knife and carefully strip away the plastic tips of the wires (you’ll find out why later).

STEP THREE – You now need to source two LM386 batteries. These batteries will power the earphones. Then, you need to construct the amplifier; a schematic is linked HERE regarding what components are needed (and what goes where). The amplifier is relatively easy to construct, but requires patience and a little bit of electronics experience. Following the video is absolutely the best way to do this.

STEP FOUR – Connect the wires to the appropriate spots on the amplifier (remember when you stripped those wires? Well now you need to solder them into place). Locate the grand wire using a multimeter and attach everything to the circuit board the way that Frank does.

STEP FIVE – Place the wire necklace around your neck and the small magnet inside your ear. Then plug the device into your MP3 player and listen to some tunes!


How To Make Spy Earpieces?

What features does nintendo 3ds have

I have a Nintendo DS. I suppose its maybe a bit passé by current standards, with the Wii, the PSP and what-have-you out on the market, but for me it picked up where my Gameboy Advance left off, which picked off where my original Gameboy did. It works well, the games are great and the touchscreen works perfectly. It’s smart-looking and feels cool.

So how do you improve on a big selling, popular DS model? Answer: Take a leaf out of Hollywood’s book and embrace digital 3D technology. TheNintendo 3DS is a major new invention in gaming, though time will tell if it will catch on. If the device sells, its promise of using autostereoscopy (which creates a 3D effect without the requirement of nerdy glasses) could potentially revolutionize the way we play video games.

The Nintendo 3DS and its new line of 3D Nintendo games will cast an imposing new challenge to the portable gaming world. Personally, I can’t wait. The DS, already a classy, grown-up take on the Gameboy, played by professionals on lunch break, retirees and Uni students as well as young children, is set once more to lead the charge with its current 3D incarnation.

Another great feature is its backwards compatibility. The old DS Nintendo games you have at home? Don’t worry about them, you’ll still be able to play them on your new Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo’s modern reinvention continues to impress. I’m a poet and I don’t know it!

We could be looking at a brand new innovation in video game technology happening right before our eyes. This could be as big an idea as taking games out of the arcades and putting them in the home in the first place. It’s potentially that important. The Nintendo 3DS and the latest, coolest line of Nintendo games could be the best ever. Personally, I look forward to seeing how great a game can look on a tiny little device, what else can Nintendo offer its customers besides walking on water? It really could be huge. However, if unsuccessful, the Nintendo 3DS could go down in history as a folly of epic proportions. Suppose the picture quality doesn’t deliver or the graphics aren’t up to much? What happens then? If Nintendo falls on this one, they stand to fall from a very great height indeed. Time, and market forces, will tell. 

What features does nintendo 3ds have

How do waterproof headphones work?

Asked by Betty from Hammersmith

I take it you’re a newer reader and you therefore aren’t aware of my dislike for recommending specific sets of headphones. In a usual case, (like when one reader asked me to recommend sweat-proof headphones) I have to answer with “it depends on a multitude of factors, such as how often you use them, how important sound quality is to you or even (in that one case) how much you tend to sweat. However, I’m not going to let you down, Betty, because waterproof headphones are actually a bit different…

 

There are several companies that specialize in designing totally waterproof headphones, some of which I’ll be glad to recommend to you. However, at this point, I really must stress that I have never owned, borrowed, or even reviewed a pair of waterproof headphones, so although I am happy to point you in the right direction, I (metaphorically, of course) wash my hands of responsibility if they don’t quite work. My advice to you is to try Headsetonline.co.uk first and read the customer reviews (especially the negative ones), before making your purchase.

 

Anyway, now that’s over and done with…

 

A company called ‘Swimmer LTD’ specialize in all things swimming related, with special emphasis on watertight cases for iPods, smartphones and even iPads. They also sell headphones, of course and their site features customer reviews for most of their products.

 

Another company called ‘H20 Audio’ also makes waterproof headphones and FINIS have a set called the ‘SwimP3’ which, dopey name aside, seems to be rather well-regarded by swimmers. The ‘SwimP3’ utilizes bone conduction technology, which is probably the best way to go if you’re planning on listening to music whilst swimming.

 

Bone conduction, in case you don’t know, simply bypasses the outer ear and stimulates the tiny inner ear bones (called ‘ossicles’), just as an organic sound would, your brain then interprets this sound exactly the same way as it would if you’d heard it in your ear, only, because your outer ear is not directly being used, you are free to wear earplugs (which some swimmers like to do).

 

These suggestions are by no means your only options though; there are a veritable ton of companies out there all manufacturing products exactly like the ones you want. So, whilst I can’t give any of them a personal seal of approval (sorry about that), I can at least offer a helping hand. Is that enough, Betty?

 

How do waterproof headphones work?

how to buy a laptop computer

There are a great many laptops on the market; it is a very crowded marketplace indeed. This is all very well and good for the techie types out there who live on a diet of stats, acronyms and data, but what about those of us who really haven’t a clue? (And believe me, I am firmly in this category) 

Well, I recently set out to try and buy myself a laptop so that I can write whilst travelling, have regular access to the Internet (without fiddling with the tiny keys on an overpriced phone) and generally update my operations beyond late 19^th century age-of-steam standards. To this end, I have talked to a couple of my more ‘technically minded’ friends and compiled for you a list of three questions that all prospective laptop owners should ask, before you get into anything even remotely technical. 

1) How heavy is it? Some laptops have a ‘dock’, which is a sort of power pack that can also contain things like the CD drive (if it has one) this may be very useful when sitting at a desk, but increases the weight dramatically if you are planning on commuting. Make sure, when choosing the model for you that you know how much it will weigh when carried around.

2) What do you want it for? Many different types of laptop computers are available to buy. Its not as simple as just selecting a certain type and going for it. There are gamer laptops for example, which are, unsurprisingly, for gamers. They can be used for regular functions, but the increase in memory and processing power also necessitates an increase in price. Why pay for more than you need? 

3) Is it discontinued? It may be tempting to pick up a second-hand laptop on eBay, just make sure you don’t get a second-rate one by mistake. Many laptop models are discontinued, some after only a couple of years and that means that its repair value will end up being very high indeed. You also run a big risk of not having enough memory to run the state-of-the-art software package you got for Christmas. It’d be like trying to upload the Matrix onto a typewriter. 

Of course, you should be absolutely sure that the laptop you eventually do buy suits your needs. There is no point buying a Macbook Pro if all you want is access to the chimp video on Youtube, for example (you know the one I mean!!). I strongly advise making some techie friends as well, yes, they are boring and not usually much to look at either, but they pay for themselves with the money they’ll save you. Trust me. 

how to buy a laptop computer

Bring beautiful music (and sound effects) to your ears with this headset buying guide

This Headset buying guide from PC world is one of the most detailed we could find for this christmas, if you’re looking for a headset for a family member then reading this will put you in the right direction.

 

Modern games deliver awesome graphics, but the visuals are only half of the gaming experience. Studies have shown that audio quality can shape your perception of the entire gaming experience. When a high-quality soundtrack reaches your ears, your brain will also perceive the game’s graphics to be of higher quality.

Audio quality can affect your gaming experience in other ways, too. Without good audio, you won’t hear enemies approaching or hiding behind cover. You might not hear your teammates as they try to coordinate with you or give you instructions, and they won’t hear you clearly, either. And you’ll lose that sense of immersion in the game world that turns a good gaming experience a great one. A high-quality headset is just as important as a good graphics card, keyboard, and monitor.

Audiophiles want the best quality they can get, and gamers need the best tech available. Top-of-the-line headsets deliver both. Whichever camp you’re in, the first choice you need to make is between a stereo headset and a surround-sound headset. Stereo—independent sound from the left and right channels—is the more common option, but it can’t match the realism of surround sound.

Headsets that use surround-sound technology simulate realistic room acoustics through digital signal processing. They trick your brain into thinking that sound is coming from specific locations in the environment. It’s a great sensation and can be really helpful in games—when it works. If the designer handles the encoding poorly, however, it can create myriad artifacts and distortions that make audio enthusiasts cringe.

rage 7b
Inline controls make it easier to adjust a headset’s volume and mute functions.

Once you’ve made that decision, focus on comfort. A headset should fit your noggin the way your favorite sweatshirt fits your torso. A too-heavy headset will pull down on the top of your head and strain your neck, turning you into a broken bobble-head. The headband should be well padded, and the ear cups should cover your ears completely to keep sound in and background noise out.

Natural materials such as cloth mesh and leather (especially lambskin) are the most comfortable to wear for long gaming runs. Vinyl and other types of faux leather tend to peel and crack with age, and they can irritate sensitive skin after several hours.

analog or usb
Headsets can connect via USB or analog. The Logitech G430 lets you choose.

You can connect a headset to your PC in one of two ways: with a USB connector or with jacks (typically, 1/8-inch jacks). USB keeps the audio signal in the digital domain until it reaches a digital-to-analog converter, which can be inline with the cable or inside the headset. These designs prevent electrical noise from the PC’s motherboard and other components from contaminating the audio signal. If you’ve invested in a high-end sound card, or a motherboard designed to isolate its onboard audio components from electrical interference, a good analog headset will deliver excellent audio quality.

Don’t forget the element that turns a pair of headphones into a headset: the microphone. Communication is huge in multiplayer games, so a good mic is invaluable. A flexible stalk will enable you to position it comfortably near your mouth when you need it, and easily shunt it aside when you don’t.

bvlack a40 34a0s 0023 astro a40 tag
Some headsets, like the Astro A40s, have such additional features as equalizers, a detachable microphone, and inline controls.

Extra features are the icing on a headset cake. Inline controls provide a convenient way to adjust the volume and mute the mic when you don’t want to broadcast your conversation. A removable microphone allows you to comfortably use the headphones with a digital media player while on the go. And an equalizer or client software can let you establish sound profiles for whatever you’re listening to—games, movies, or music.

Escape the never-ending ambient sounds of holiday music and squabbling families by throwing on your new headset and blasting away in-game baddies while enjoying sweet high-definition audio.

Source – http://www.pcworld.com/article/2069881/bring-beautiful-music-and-sound-effects-to-your-ears-with-this-headset-buying-guide.html

Bring beautiful music (and sound effects) to your ears with this headset buying guide

Why do secret service guys wear those earpieces with the coiled wires instead of something less conspicuous?

That’s actually a pretty good question. Good quality wireless earpieces are available, affordable and would be far more inconspicuous than the classic ‘wired’ models. So why don’t the secret service make their presence a little more, well, secret?

The main reason is largely psychological in nature (though there will be a technical component later on). You see, if a potential troublemaker looks into a crowd and sees nobody there that he/she identifies with as a threat, then said troublemaker will be far more likely to start making trouble. However, if they notice secret service guys using their trademark earpieces, then they might think twice about it and a lot of unpleasantness can actually be avoided.

To you or I (assuming that you aren’t a troublemaker?), the secret service guys are just that, they usually appear to protect someone or something, so we ought to have no reason to fear them. Ergo, they stand out just enough to deter the would-be troublemakers, but not so much that they frighten the rest of us or distract from whatever proceedings we happen to be, um, proceeding with.

If you’re sitting there saying, “hang on, what happens if they want to sneak up on someone?” then my answer is still the same, expect that I would imagine that the secret service would put two or three agents within visual distance of a suspect and then ‘herd’ the troublemaker towards other agents in the vicinity. I have no evidence (or experience, I’m grateful to say), to back that up, but it seems reasonable to me to do it that way.

Now, onto the technical part: wireless communication, whilst it has improved greatly in the last few years, is still not as reliable as the more old fashioned forms of ‘wired’ communication. Wireless communication can be subject to signal interference, as well as suffering from a more limited bandwidth.

Finally, wireless communications gobble up battery power far more than their wired counterparts, so for tasks that may last for several long hours at a time, long battery life is a must.

When the wireless technology improves, I suspect that the secret service will make the leap, but I also suspect that they’ll keep the coil, for the reasons stated above.

Also, as an added extra – if you’re wondering why they touch their ears when they receive a message (much to my fellow Brit James Bond’s chagrin), well, that’s because pushing the earpiece into your ear drowns out background noise and also makes the message louder. They simply do it for sound clarity when receiving important information.

Bone conducting technology, how this trumps any type of earpiece

Music is a big part of daily life and it has been for almost as long as Human beings have now been on this earth. I often point to a discovery of a 40,000-year-old flute dating back to that ice age as evidence for this, but truly, all the facts you will need is all around you, every day. We remember ballads and songs long after the people who initially composed them have died and rotted away (a plan which I find curiously soothing) plus the music industry, love it or hate it, is always a large business.

Though, whilst the ice age musicians likely survived during a world of stark violence, frozen, dull wastelands and harsh, ‘kill or be killed’ inter-cave politics, they by no means required to cope with road works, transport lorries, screaming babies or drunken crowd-rousers on their way to a stag evening. Lucky buggers.

Today’s listener has to accommodate all that and much more, that may make listening to your music not just difficult, but additionally risky.

Now, though, contemporary science has stumbled across a way in which you’ll be able to still listen to the favourite songs, even if you’re wearing earplugs (no, I have not been sniffing discarded paint cans yet again). It is called bone conduction technology and no, despite the marginally odd name, it really doesn’t hurt…

Based on recent research, exposure to any noise over 100 decibels wears away a membrane known as the myelin sheath and leaves your inner ear susceptible to problems like tinnitus and temporary deafness, which can be the beginning of even more important problems. Bone conduction technology is designed to bypass many sensitive parts of the ear and reduce the risk of inner-ear damage.

How? Well, so as to know that, we need to first understand how our ears actually work. (HERE COMES THE SCIENCE-Y BIT) Principally, noise travels though the air, these sound waves are intercepted by numerous structures in the ear and are finally translated and transmitted into our brains (if it helps, visualize it like the encoding/decoding of digital information, like that which leads the movements of the wireless mouse).

The sound waves first meet a bit of cartilage (yes, the same stuff that a shark’s skeleton is made of), which helps to concentrate the sound, this known as a pinna (but you’ll call it your outer ear without looking too silly).

After that, the sound waves pass into your central ear, it is filled with air and also includes both your acoustic canal plus your eardrum (my little brother burst his when he was little and virtually burst mine crying about it). The eardrum vibrates, passing the sound through to a ossicles, which are three small bones (that are actually pretty necessary to the sense of balance, I’m told). These tiny bones transmit the signal to the cochlea, that is a fluid-filled structure that ‘encodes’ the signals for our noggin to ‘decode’.

Bone conduction tech vibrates the bones of your skull, distributing the sound directly to a cochlea and bypassing the rest of the ear entirely. The nerve impulses transmitted to your mind are exactly the same, however the sensitive instrument of the ear does not need to deal with the hassle of, to quote Anchorman’s Brick Tamland “LOUD NOISES!”

This process seems to be completely safe; in fact, the legendary deaf composer Beethoven applied a rudimentary version of this process to be able to compose his most well-known works. He attached a rod between his piano and his head and, as such, was able to hear the music he was playing.

So here you go, rather than exposing your delicate ears to louder and louder volumes, to drown out the environment noise, it is possible to alternativily stick your earpugs in and play your music at the correct volume. Make no bones about it (groan!)

for more information on the full range of bone conductor earpieces visit www.earpieceonline.co.uk

MP FREE! Or how I learned to stop worrying and love new technology

I am a vinyl fan. You’ve never heard of most of my favourite bands, and if you have, you won’t like them. Modern music leaves me extremely cold. I’m a fan of most styles, but the current production methods (lets bury everything under a million layers of random sounds just because we can, then we’ll get rid of all background sound and make everything pitch-perfect and soulless) are lost on me. 

As you can imagine, I came to MP3 rather late. For the longest time I wandered around with a portable CD player in my pocket that skipped if I moved even a step too fast. It ran on batteries that would run out regularly and was, generally, a pain. However, I persevered with it because I’m a compulsive music addict. The rock, blues, folk and reggae tunes I listen to daily are the soundtrack to my life. 

This, then, is how I learned to love portable music (and MP3 is the first truly portable music – believe me, I also once carried a tape player). These days I carry an Apple iPod, an ever-ready library of about 60Gb of music at my fingertips, but I have also used (and worn out) several other MP3 players in my time. 

MP3 isn’t the best way to listen to music. The sound is too ‘scrunched’ (for want to a technical term) At the moment, it is winning on convenience grounds as its space-efficient, cost-effective, easily copied/transferred to other gadgets and can be obtained in just a few minutes. In addition to that (perhaps worryingly if you are a fan of album music) you can purchase only the particular tracks you want at the time. Vinyl is still the best way to really hear a band. But you can’t play a turntable on the train, you can’t take it on holiday with you and you really don’t want to carry a suitcase filled with vinyl anywhere unless you are some sort of DJ and being paid to do so. 

The MP3 is without a doubt the finest development in portable music since the travelling band. But its also really good for alternative music; the mainstream’s brow-beating tactics have rendered a good deal of great music unfashionable, and nobody wants to walk around blasting Celtic Folk or Delta Blues tunes out of a ghetto blaster, do they? Likewise, your favourite band’s foray into soundscapes or clever-dick psychedelia may be awesome, but might not be a hit with the ladies, so to speak, but with MP3, you could be listening to anything and its entirely up to you. Its also good for independent music, bands can cheaply distribute their music (often giving away free songs) which makes starting a band and sharing your music that much simpler. So, to sum up MP3 is a very freeing experience indeed. Just don’t chuck out your turntable!

MP FREE! Or how I learned to stop worrying and love new technology

Will I be Able to Hear Bone Conduction Headphones Even if I Wear Earplugs?

Because bone conduction bypasses the ear entirely and directly stimulates the ossicles (which is the scientific name for the tiny bones that reside in your inner ear, as well as the rationale behind comic book hero Daredevil’s athletic prowess), it is entirely possible to stick your ear plugs in and still listen to your ‘Bonephones’.

In some respects, it’s actually preferable. Y’see Nick, using headphones is fine and dandy, until you have to turn the volume all the way up in order to drown out noisy children, busy traffic and/or people shouting into their phones all around you. After that, if you increase the volume to too great a degree, you can expose your ears to sounds that can actually permanently damage your hearing.

Bone conduction, however, carries much less of a risk, because it does not effect the parts of the ear most at risk from loud noises.

Hearing is a process that actually has several stages. At first, your ear picks up sound waves, the sound waves pass into your middle ear (specifically, your auditory canal) before hitting the eardrum. The eardrum then vibrates, passing the sound down to the aforementioned ossicles (‘aforementioned ossicles’ is a lovely phrase, don’t you think?) From there, the ossicles transmit the sound to the cochlea, which is a fluid-filled structure that encodes the sound information in order for our brain to decode it (this is not unlike the way a wireless mouse works, actually).

Yup, the inner ear is a wacky world.

Essentially, bone conduction technology rattles the ossicles in the same way that they’d rattle in your inner ear, it just, to turn a phrase my father is particularly fond of ‘cuts out the middle man’. It really is an interesting invention.

So, as you see, there is no way a pair of earplugs pose any problem at all to your enjoying music or audio content on your Bonephones. I hope this helps. You’ll likely find this method especially useful if you happen to find yourself on a long plane journey and seated next to a disgruntled infant.

I’m actually fairly certain that bone conduction technology was invented during a similar scenario.

Will I be Able to Hear Bone Conduction Headphones Even if I Wear Earplugs?

Bone conducting technology, how this beats any kind of earpiece

Music is a huge element of everyday life and it has been for nearly as long as Human beings have now been on this planet. I often point to the discovery of the 40,000-year-old flute dating back to that ice age as evidence for this, but truthfully, all the facts you may need is all around you, each day. We bear in mind ballads and songs long after the people who initially composed them have died and rotted away (a plan which I find curiously comforting) plus the music industry, love it or hate it, is definitely a big business.

On the other hand, whilst the ice age musicians probably survived during a world of stark cruelty, frozen, unimaginative wastelands and tough, ‘kill or be killed’ inter-cave politics, they never had to contend with road works, transport lorries, screaming children or drunken crowd-rousers on their way to a stag night. Fortunate buggers.

Today’s listener has to accommodate all that and much more, that may make listening to the music not only difficult, but also dangerous.

Now, however, current science has stumbled over a way in which you can still listen to your favourite songs, even if you’re wearing earplugs (no, I have not been sniffing discarded paint cans yet again). It is called skeleton conduction tech and no, despite the slightly odd name, it in truth doesn’t hurt…

Based on recent fields of study, exposure to any sound over 100 Dbm wears away a membrane known as a myelin sheath and leaves your middle ear liable to problems like tinnitus and temporary deafness, which can be the beginning of even more significant problems. Bone conduction technology is made to bypass various sensitive portions of the ear and reduce the risk of inner-ear damage.

How? Well, so as to understand that, we have to first understand how our ears essentially work. (HERE COMES THE SCIENCE-Y BIT) Basically, noise travels though the space, these sound waves are intercepted by quite a few structures within the ear and are finally translated and transmitted into our brains (if it helps, visualize it much like the encoding/decoding of digital information, such as that which guides the movements of the wireless mouse).

The sound waves first meet a bit of cartilage (yes, identical stuff a shark’s skeleton is formed of), which helps to focus the sound, this is named a pinna (but you can call it your outer ear without looking too stupid).

Subsequently, the sound waves pass into your middle ear, it is filled up with air and also contains both your acoustic canal and your eardrum (my little brother burst his when he was little and almost burst mine crying about it). The eardrum vibrates, passing the sound through to the ossicles, that are three small bones (that are actually pretty essential to your sense of steadiness, I’m told). These tiny bones transmit the sound to the cochlea, that’s a fluid-filled structure that ‘encodes’ the signals for our brain to ‘decode’.

Bone conduction tech vibrates the bones of your skull, distributing the sound directly to the cochlea and bypassing the remainder of the ear totally. The nerve impulses transmitted to the brain are precisely the same, but the sensitive mechanism of our ear does not need to deal with the hassle of, to cite Anchorman’s Brick Tamland “LOUD NOISES!”

This process appears to be totally safe; actually, the famously deaf composer Beethoven employed a rudimentary version of this method to be able to compose his most renowned works. He attached a rod between his piano and his head and, as such, was able to listen to the song he was playing.

So here you go, instead of exposing your delicate ears to louder and louder volumes, to drown out the environment noise, you can instead stick your earpugs in and play your music at the appropriate volume. Make no bones about it (groan!)

for more information on the full range of bone conductor earpieces visit

Bring beautiful music (and sound effects) to your ears with this headset buying guide

This Headset buying guide from PC world is one of the most detailed we could find for this christmas, if you’re looking for a headset for a family member then reading this will put you in the right direction.

 

Modern games deliver awesome graphics, but the visuals are only half of the gaming experience. Studies have shown that audio quality can shape your perception of the entire gaming experience. When a high-quality soundtrack reaches your ears, your brain will also perceive the game’s graphics to be of higher quality.

Audio quality can affect your gaming experience in other ways, too. Without good audio, you won’t hear enemies approaching or hiding behind cover. You might not hear your teammates as they try to coordinate with you or give you instructions, and they won’t hear you clearly, either. And you’ll lose that sense of immersion in the game world that turns a good gaming experience a great one. A high-quality headset is just as important as a good graphics card, keyboard, and monitor.

Audiophiles want the best quality they can get, and gamers need the best tech available. Top-of-the-line headsets deliver both. Whichever camp you’re in, the first choice you need to make is between a stereo headset and a surround-sound headset. Stereo—independent sound from the left and right channels—is the more common option, but it can’t match the realism of surround sound.

Headsets that use surround-sound technology simulate realistic room acoustics through digital signal processing. They trick your brain into thinking that sound is coming from specific locations in the environment. It’s a great sensation and can be really helpful in games—when it works. If the designer handles the encoding poorly, however, it can create myriad artifacts and distortions that make audio enthusiasts cringe.

rage 7b
Inline controls make it easier to adjust a headset’s volume and mute functions.

Once you’ve made that decision, focus on comfort. A headset should fit your noggin the way your favorite sweatshirt fits your torso. A too-heavy headset will pull down on the top of your head and strain your neck, turning you into a broken bobble-head. The headband should be well padded, and the ear cups should cover your ears completely to keep sound in and background noise out.

Natural materials such as cloth mesh and leather (especially lambskin) are the most comfortable to wear for long gaming runs. Vinyl and other types of faux leather tend to peel and crack with age, and they can irritate sensitive skin after several hours.

analog or usb
Headsets can connect via USB or analog. The Logitech G430 lets you choose.

You can connect a headset to your PC in one of two ways: with a USB connector or with jacks (typically, 1/8-inch jacks). USB keeps the audio signal in the digital domain until it reaches a digital-to-analog converter, which can be inline with the cable or inside the headset. These designs prevent electrical noise from the PC’s motherboard and other components from contaminating the audio signal. If you’ve invested in a high-end sound card, or a motherboard designed to isolate its onboard audio components from electrical interference, a good analog headset will deliver excellent audio quality.

Don’t forget the element that turns a pair of headphones into a headset: the microphone. Communication is huge in multiplayer games, so a good mic is invaluable. A flexible stalk will enable you to position it comfortably near your mouth when you need it, and easily shunt it aside when you don’t.

bvlack a40 34a0s 0023 astro a40 tag
Some headsets, like the Astro A40s, have such additional features as equalizers, a detachable microphone, and inline controls.

Extra features are the icing on a headset cake. Inline controls provide a convenient way to adjust the volume and mute the mic when you don’t want to broadcast your conversation. A removable microphone allows you to comfortably use the headphones with a digital media player while on the go. And an equalizer or client software can let you establish sound profiles for whatever you’re listening to—games, movies, or music.

Escape the never-ending ambient sounds of holiday music and squabbling families by throwing on your new headset and blasting away in-game baddies while enjoying sweet high-definition audio.

Source – http://www.pcworld.com/article/2069881/bring-beautiful-music-and-sound-effects-to-your-ears-with-this-headset-buying-guide.html

Bring beautiful music (and sound effects) to your ears with this headset buying guide

The Best CP040 earpiece

Previously, we checked out an earpiece specifically designed to use with the Motorola gp340 2 way radio series. This time, we will be investigating the CP040 earpiece, an affordable and versatile little doohickey that is amazingly exciting, but also does little to break your bank account.

The Motorola cp040 earpiece is much like the GP300 earpiece. It’s tiny, smart and cheap, but it also represents pretty good value for money. EarpieceOnline lists this earpiece for about £11.50, however it’s a pretty good deal for the cost.

We’ll be candid, everything is pretty essential on this model, however the earpiece performs its function well and definitely will not let anybody down.

The noise quality of this Cp040 2-pin earpiece is excellent indeed and also the PTT ‘push to talk’ utility is handy and easy to use. As usual, the Motorola cp040 earpiece features a sprung clothing clip that attaches easily to nearly all items of clothes (you may find it a problem if you’re planning on using it while dressed as a giant Sumo wrestler and competing on ‘Takeshi’s Castle’, but apart from that…).

As on the gp300 series, as it only features a 2-pin plug, an adaptor block will be required to be used with the Motorola gp320 and Motorola gp340 series of 2 way radios.

The ergonomic D-shaped earpiece itself is comfortable to wear and generally inconspicuous. It may be effortlessly used in either the left or right ear, depending on one’s own liking. The Motorola cp040 earpiece fits most ear sizes, so if you happen to be Prince Charles or Martin Clunes (Editor’s Note: or my Uncle Dave), you shouldn’t have many comfort issues, if any.

There’s no Kevlar cable on this one, though but it certainly isn’t one of the best model around. Still, this is not to say that the CP040 is a substandard earpiece, not at all. It just isn’t the best.

Overall, the CP040 earpiece is practical, instead of flashy. It does its job with no frills (but also no temper tantrums). This is a fine, trustworthy product from a team that excels at making such products. It also provides great value for money, too.

Next episode: We have looked at some of the mid level models available, now its time to see what else is about. We’re disscussing James Bond stuff! (Well, you know, But if you are looking to learn more on this earpieces see www.earpieceonline.co.uk


The Best CP040 earpiece

The Finest Cp040 2-pin earpiece

Previously, we looked at an earpiece purposely made to use on the GP340 radio ranges. This time, we will be investigating the Cp040 2-pin earpiece, an affordable and versatile little doohickey that is amazingly thrilling, but also does very little to damage one’s deposit account.

The CP040 earpiece is much like the Motorola gp300 earpiece. It’s little, clever and cheap, however it also represents pretty good value for money. EarpieceOnline lists this earpiece for about £11.50, but it’s a pretty good deal for the price.

We’ll be honest, everything is quite basic on that model, however the earpiece performs its function well and definitely won’t let anybody down.

The noise quality of this Cp040 2-pin earpiece is superb indeed and the PTT ‘push to talk’ function is convenient and simple to use. As usual, the Motorola cp040 earpiece features a sprung lapel clip that attaches simply to nearly all items of clothing (you might find it a challenge if you’re planning on using it while dressed as a giant Sumo combatant and competing on ‘Takeshi’s Castle’, but besides that…).

As with the gp300 series, because it only includes a 2-pin plug, an adaptor block might be required to be used with the GP320 and GP340 series of radios.

The ergonomic D-shaped earpiece itself is comfortable to wear and generally inconspicuous. It may be effortlessly utilised in either the left or right ear, depending on one’s personal liking. The Cp040 2-pin earpiece fits nearly all ear sizes, so if you happen to be Prince Charles or Martin Clunes (Editor’s Note: or my Uncle Alan), you shouldn’t have too many comfort problems, if any.

There is no Kevlar cable on this one, however but it definitely is not one of the best model around. Still, this isn’t to state that the Cp040 2-pin is a bad earpiece, not at all. It just is not the greatest.

Overall, the Cp040 2-pin earpiece is practical, instead of flamboyant. It does its job without frills (but also no temper tantrums). This is a fine, dependable product from a company that excels at selling such earpieces. It also offers enormous value for money, too.

Next episode: We have looked at some of those mid level products available, now its time to find what else is around. We are talking James Bond stuff! (Well, you know, But if you are looking to discover more about this earpieces see www.earpieceonline.co.uk

The Finest Cp040 2-pin earpiece

How does an aeroplane’s ‘black box’ work?

After doing a little research, I can now tell you (basically) everything you ever wanted to know about black boxes…

In the average commercial aircraft, you’ll find the presence of multiple (usually four) microphones in the cockpit at any given time. They are located in the pilot and co-pilot’s headsets, as well as in the cockpit itself. Not only do these microphones record conversations between the pilots and cabin crew, they also record any ambient noise (such as switches being thrown or sounds generated by technical issues). The microphones all connect to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), a master unit that stores the last 30 minutes of sound. The tape operates on a loop, essentially erasing itself every half hour.

This device is known colloquially, but a little misleadingly, as the ‘black box’ (it is usually quite brightly coloured in order to make it easier to find in the unlikely event of an accident). Another device also referred to as a ‘black box’, is the flight data recorder (FDR), which automatically records data regarding the plane’s flight path, speed and movements in the air. Although the devices are distinct from one another, the information they record goes to the same place and is used for the same purpose, thus their shared name of ‘black box’.

In recent years, manufacturers have moved away from magnetic tape-based CVRs and FDRs and towards ‘solid state technology’ boxes. These improved devices store the relevant data on memory boards, which can hold up to two hours of cockpit recording and 25 hours of flight data. The solid-state devices are also sturdier than their tape-based counterparts.

Crash survivable memory units (CMSUs), are large cylinders that back up all the relevant data and are designed to withstand extreme heat, pressure and violent impact. They are typically contained within the box itself. In the more severe accidents, the CMSU is all that survives of the black box.

The black box, then, simply records all the relevant data before an accident occurs. This serves to provide engineers with an explanation for a crash, as well as providing investigators and regulators with the same information.

So there you have it, of course, a lot of information is stored in an aircraft’s black box (much more than I’ve detailed here), but as a general example, that’s what it is and how it works. Hope that helps. 

How does an aeroplane’s ‘black box’ work?

How Can I Make A Pair Of Invisible Earphones?

As with many things, it is possible to make an invisible earphone set out of stuff you may have lying around the house and materials that are easy enough to source online. For an easy-to-follow instructional video below.

The method relayed here has been taken from Frank GuYun of Instructables.com. Links to the original article have been provided. In order to follow the process completely, you’ll need to follow both his technical schematics and his instructional video. This answer will work best if you relate to it as a companion piece, or ‘checklist’ if you will.

What now follows is a step-by-step guide to making your own pair of invisible earphones.

You will need:

1x Piece of cardboard (ideally larger than your head).

2x (or more) Neodymium magnets.

1x Knife.

50m Enamelled wire.

2x LM386 batteries.

1x Soldering iron.

1x Circuit board (and components, including headphone jack)

1x Multimeter

1x MP3 player

1x Roll of electrical tape


STEP ONE – You’ll need to acquire some small magnets (about 6mm in length and the same in diameter is best). If buying online, the best keywords to use are ‘neodymium + magnet’, as this will generate the type of magnet you will need.

STEP TWO – You will now need to make a coil necklace. For instructional reference photos of this process, click HERE. Firstly, you will need a piece of cardboard and roughly 50 metres of enamelled wire. Enamelled wire is copper wire that is coated with polyurethane. The wire necklace must be able to fit around your head. Fashion the wire ring into a necklace that fits you comfortably (and can easily be taken on or off). Then, you cover the wire with electrical tape (in order to protect it). Next, take a knife and carefully strip away the plastic tips of the wires (you’ll find out why later).

STEP THREE – You now need to source two LM386 batteries. These batteries will power the earphones. Then, you need to construct the amplifier; a schematic is linked HERE regarding what components are needed (and what goes where). The amplifier is relatively easy to construct, but requires patience and a little bit of electronics experience. Following the video is absolutely the best way to do this.

STEP FOUR – Connect the wires to the appropriate spots on the amplifier (remember when you stripped those wires? Well now you need to solder them into place). Locate the grand wire using a multimeter and attach everything to the circuit board the way that Frank does.

STEP FIVE – Place the wire necklace around your neck and the small magnet inside your ear. Then plug the device into your MP3 player and listen to some tunes!


How Can I Make A Pair Of Invisible Earphones?

Where can i buy waterproof headphones?

Asked by Betty from Hammersmith

I take it you’re a newer reader and you therefore aren’t aware of my dislike for recommending specific sets of headphones. In a usual case, (like when one reader asked me to recommend sweat-proof headphones) I have to answer with “it depends on a multitude of factors, such as how often you use them, how important sound quality is to you or even (in that one case) how much you tend to sweat. However, I’m not going to let you down, Betty, because waterproof headphones are actually a bit different…

There are several companies that specialize in designing totally waterproof headphones, some of which I’ll be glad to recommend to you. However, at this point, I really must stress that I have never owned, borrowed, or even reviewed a pair of waterproof headphones, so although I am happy to point you in the right direction, I (metaphorically, of course) wash my hands of responsibility if they don’t quite work. My advice to you is to try Headsetonline.co.uk first and read the customer reviews (especially the negative ones), before making your purchase.

Anyway, now that’s over and done with…

A company called ‘Swimmer LTD’ specialize in all things swimming related, with special emphasis on watertight cases for iPods, smartphones and even iPads. They also sell headphones, of course and their site features customer reviews for most of their products.

Another company called ‘H20 Audio’ also makes waterproof headphones and FINIS have a set called the ‘SwimP3’ which, dopey name aside, seems to be rather well-regarded by swimmers. The ‘SwimP3’ utilizes bone conduction technology, which is probably the best way to go if you’re planning on listening to music whilst swimming.

Bone conduction, in case you don’t know, simply bypasses the outer ear and stimulates the tiny inner ear bones (called ‘ossicles’), just as an organic sound would, your brain then interprets this sound exactly the same way as it would if you’d heard it in your ear, only, because your outer ear is not directly being used, you are free to wear earplugs (which some swimmers like to do).

These suggestions are by no means your only options though; there are a veritable ton of companies out there all manufacturing products exactly like the ones you want. So, whilst I can’t give any of them a personal seal of approval (sorry about that), I can at least offer a helping hand. Is that enough, Betty?

Where can i buy waterproof headphones?

Where can i buy waterproof headphones?

Asked by Betty from Hammersmith

I take it you’re a newer reader and you therefore aren’t aware of my dislike for recommending specific sets of headphones. In a usual case, (like when one reader asked me to recommend sweat-proof headphones) I have to answer with “it depends on a multitude of factors, such as how often you use them, how important sound quality is to you or even (in that one case) how much you tend to sweat. However, I’m not going to let you down, Betty, because waterproof headphones are actually a bit different…

 

There are several companies that specialize in designing totally waterproof headphones, some of which I’ll be glad to recommend to you. However, at this point, I really must stress that I have never owned, borrowed, or even reviewed a pair of waterproof headphones, so although I am happy to point you in the right direction, I (metaphorically, of course) wash my hands of responsibility if they don’t quite work. My advice to you is to try Headsetonline.co.uk first and read the customer reviews (especially the negative ones), before making your purchase.

 

Anyway, now that’s over and done with…

 

A company called ‘Swimmer LTD’ specialize in all things swimming related, with special emphasis on watertight cases for iPods, smartphones and even iPads. They also sell headphones, of course and their site features customer reviews for most of their products.

 

Another company called ‘H20 Audio’ also makes waterproof headphones and FINIS have a set called the ‘SwimP3’ which, dopey name aside, seems to be rather well-regarded by swimmers. The ‘SwimP3’ utilizes bone conduction technology, which is probably the best way to go if you’re planning on listening to music whilst swimming.

 

Bone conduction, in case you don’t know, simply bypasses the outer ear and stimulates the tiny inner ear bones (called ‘ossicles’), just as an organic sound would, your brain then interprets this sound exactly the same way as it would if you’d heard it in your ear, only, because your outer ear is not directly being used, you are free to wear earplugs (which some swimmers like to do).

 

These suggestions are by no means your only options though; there are a veritable ton of companies out there all manufacturing products exactly like the ones you want. So, whilst I can’t give any of them a personal seal of approval (sorry about that), I can at least offer a helping hand. Is that enough, Betty?

 

Where can i buy waterproof headphones?