Weekly digital photography podcasts, photo tips, reader submitted pictures, equipment reviews and more.

I've been testing the Logitech Z-10 Interactive Speakers, which are stylish desktop companions for your Mac or Windows computer. The Z-10s feature 30 watts of power driving a pair of 1-inch dome tweeters and 3-inch high-excursion woofers. They can sit on both sides of your laptop or desktop computer and deliver full-bodied audio for slideshows, movies, digital music, and gaming. Logitech's innovative backlit display features tons of control and information for Windows users, but is only partially enabled for the Mac set. You can get all of the details about this, included set up for Macs, in my blog... read more

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Posted by dstory on December 3, 2006 | Comments (1)

The 30GB iPod video (5G) is my top pick iPod of all time. Great sound, slim design, amazing video capability, and excellent storage for my still photos. But after trying many different cases, I had yet to find one that I liked as well as the iPod itself. That is, until I discovered the Marware Trailvue iPod case ($27.95 from Amazon.com). First of all, this case is rugged. It feels good in the hands. Marware uses a combination of nylon and other synthetic materials to create a case that inspires confidence while on the go. Plus it looks good,... read more

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Posted by dstory on May 31, 2006 | Comments (0)

I've always thought that the black iPod nano was one of the best looking music players ever, and XtremeMac's new MicroBlast powered speakers do justice to the nano's stylish design. The black aluminum grill, clear folding cover that ingeniously becomes the base, and tailored protective pouch all perfectly match the nano. And if you have a white iPod, the MicroBlast includes a matching interchangeable frame. The quad micro speakers are powered by four AA batteries or the included AC adapter. If you use the AC adapter, it also charges the docked nano, even while it plays. I rate the... read more

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Posted by dstory on April 25, 2006 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (3)

Today, I'm going to air show #22 on The Digital Story, and I've been thinking about what I've learned during this experience. Since you may be thinking about your own podcast right now, or know somebody who is going to take the leap, I thought I should share some of that knowledge. I posted What I've Learned After 20 Podcasts on O'Reilly's Mac DevCenter (another site that I run). In that piece, I talk about the things I've learned after putting together The Digital Story audio shows. I mention that listeners are the true profits because their contributions of... read more

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Posted by dstory on March 7, 2006 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Back in December, I posted an overview of the XtremeMac FS1 High Definition Earphones and the Griffin TuneBuds. For my testing, I removed both items from their packaging and plugged them into three different iPods. I also had three other people blind test both sets of earphones, right out of the package. My conclusion was that the Griffin earbuds sounded good for $20, but I was disappointed with the $149 XtremeMac FS1 earphones. I received a few notes about my review. I listened to what the company reps had to say and agreed to revisit the FS1 earphones. This... read more

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Posted by dstory on January 26, 2006 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (4)

Sandisk chose the spotlight of the CES show to unveil their new digital audio players dubbed the Sansa c100 series. They will be available in March in 1GB and 2GB models. The features include: Color screen (up to 64,000 colors) displays cover art and photo thumbnails Plays MP3 and WMA audio files By capacity, holds large number of MP3/WMA songs and hours of playback (see above capacity matrix) Easy-to-use interface for sorting and playing back your music Digital FM tuner with 20 preset stations FM "on the fly" recording and voice recording Supports Subscription Music Stores Includes one AAA... read more

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Posted by dstory on January 5, 2006 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Griffin EarThumps and Marware CEO Card Wallet are my two favorite nano accessories for under $25 I've been reviewing lots of iPod accessories for the holiday season. But the two that I'll be keeping for my nano are the Griffin EarThumps and the Marware CEO Card Wallet. You can read my reviews of the EarThumps and the Card Wallet for more details. But the bottom line is that both of these accessories are affordable, stylish, and very functional. I had a difficult time finding a nano case I liked until I tested the Marware Card Wallet. And the... read more

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Posted by dstory on December 16, 2005 | Comments (0)

You'd think this battle of earbuds would be no contest -- pitting XtremeMac FS1 High Definition Earphones that cost $149.95 against Griffin TuneBuds that only set you back 20 bucks. But I've just finished testing both on my iPod shuffle, and I was surprised by the outcome. Overview of XtremeMac FS1 Earphones The FS1 package is an attractive one (bottom image to the left). You get very stylish earphones that fit comfortably. XtremeMac includes silicon and foam sleeves plus a set of flanged tips. So you're bound to find something that's perfect for your ears. Plus you get a... read more

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Posted by dstory on December 8, 2005 | Comments (5)

Twisting the ends of speaker wires, then getting them inside those little holes on the back of your amplifier can be a maddening experience. This is especially frustrating for portable units that you're constantly moving around the house, such as the Sonic Impact Class T Amp that I recently reviewed (and complained about this very problem). I finally took my punctured finger tips to the local Radio Shack in search of a solution and discovered their Flat-Pin Connectors that are 24-karet gold plated and easy to secure on the ends of your speaker wires with a standard crimping tool.... read more

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Posted by dstory on November 27, 2005 | Comments (0)

I've been reading all sorts of good things about the Sonic Impact Class T Amp. It's the battery-powered amplifier that fits in the palm of your hand and produces sound that has audiophiles harmonizing with joy. I bought mine for $30 at Amazon. I agree that the sound is excellent. I've connected my iPod nano to the Sonic and wired up a couple of two-way speakers and was throughly impressed with the output. But I want to cover a few other aspects of the device that aren't as widely discussed. The Sonic amp takes 8 AA batteries. I loaded... read more

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Posted by dstory on November 13, 2005 | Comments (0)

Griffin TuneBox is a speaker system that doubles as a charger... I've been using the Griffin TuneBox, which is an iPod shuffle speaker system/charger, for a couple months now. During that time I've been debating what my final opinion is about it. As a speaker system, the sound is average to above. Good midrange and treble, not much bass. Not too surprising since we're talking about four 1" speakers with a total of 4 watts of power. The TuneBox does have plenty of volume, however, which I really appreciate. It's very much like listening to a quality portable radio.... read more

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Posted by dstory on November 5, 2005 | Comments (0)