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RainyDayMagazine's content can now be licensed for your print magazine or web site. Please contact us directly here. If you want to see something reviewed, then drop us a note with a link and we'll be happy to take a look.
NOTE: Click here to read more about our approach to product reviews. |
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| Sep 2,2010 - Remote timer for Nikon D-90 |
Time-lapse photography is an interesting way to capture certain types of events. The idea is simple: take a photo every so often to see the progress of something occurring too slowly to be observed in real-time. Time-lapse photography is also useful for capturing: images under very low light conditions; images of the night sky; or creating special effects.
The Nikon D90 camera has built-in timer functions, but its timing capabilities can be vastly extended with the use of an external timer. Nikon does offer a wired remote timer/controller (MC-DC1), but we find that remotes from many 3rd-party vendrs offer more flexibility and setup options. A corded timer will work with a specific camera, but a wireless timer can work with... [more]-Nikon D90 wireless timer FirstLook |
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| Sep 1,2010 - Vacuum Belt Replacement |
The Eureka Capture+ vacuum cleaner served us flawlessly for almost three years. The vacuum cleaner is excellent on furniture, rugs, and bare floor. We use it weekly to clean up after our interns. The other day, a groaning noise started emanating from the front sweeper/roller. Since no smoke was coming from the unit, we kept using it. However, the noise got louder and louder. Something was clearly straining to do something. We switched off the unit, unplugged it from the wall, and gave it a once over. Nothing seemed to be the matter visually. So, we plugged it back in, turned it on, and heard a loud snap. OK...now we did it.
We switched off the vacuum and back on. The noise was gone, the motor appeared to be running, but it just wasn't vacuuming up anything. It turns out the belt connecting the sweeper to the drive wheel had... [more]-Vacuum Belt Replacement |
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| Aug 31,2010 - CraterDot ITW ...a MiloReport |
One of my favorite spots in the RainyDayMagazine office is the CraterDot, specifically the green CraterDot. It is a great spot for both napping and playing. The great thing about it is it can make any spot a comfy spot.
As a sleeping surface, the CraterDot is great, but it is excellent for play as well. The CraterDot is the only place in the office where my claws work really well! I can knead, claw, and... [more]-CraterDot InTheWild |
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| Aug 30,2010 - I am Milo ... |
My name is Milo Suetonius Barney MacFarquharson, but everybody here just calls me Milo. I joined Team RainyDay at the end of May as a Summer intern. The folks here have been great. I have been eating and sleeping a LOT, but I have also managed to learn quite a bit of really cool stuff.
My day used to be mostly filled with running around whacking at shiny things, eating an occasional bug or two, and chasing what turned out to be my tail. I have learned there is no kitten behind the mirror, don't try to climb when you just got your nails clipped, and that it is really hard to... [more]-I am Milo |
| Aug 27,2010 - iPad covers: Best Of Breed |
We looked at ten great iPad covers this week. Whether it was a unique feature, the quality of materials used, or some other criteria, we had an excellent reason for putting it on our Best-Of-Breed list:
Click on any of the image squares below to jump directly to the related article. The question is what are we going to do with all these cases? As with past RDM items, once we are done with the reviews, we need to move them out of the office so we can make room for new gear. We used to... [more]-Best Of Breed: Summary |
| Aug 26,2010 - iPad covers: Best Of Breed |
Companies such as Franklin Covey and FiloFax created the personal organizer market to help people give structure to their busy lives. The paper day planners, appointment calendars, and to-do lists helped people juggle, arrange, and cram more into their day then ever before. All of these different sections were neatly packaged in a handy paperback book size folio. When Personal digital assistants (PDA) hit the scene, their functionalities were modeled after the paper day planners, appointment books, and organizers. So it was not surprising to see them sporting leather folio covers like their analog counterparts.
The iPad, with its notepad-like form factor, was a natural fit for the folio-style covers. Apple even sells a folio cover for the iPad when the iPad. The problem is it is rather bland and uninteresting, but it was the only one available when the iPad was released. Now that the iPad has been out for a while, the selection of folio covers is much richer. We spent the last few months combing through all of the different offerings and selected... [more]-Best Of Breed: folio |
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| Aug 25,2010 - iPad covers: Best Of Breed |
Since the iPad is more transportable than a laptop, it will no doubt be taken to more places. It stands to reason that providing it with some protection when on the move is a good idea. Any iPad cover will offer some sort of protection. All of them cover the back, and some of them also cover the front. As the screen is the most fragile part of the iPad, if you like to just grab your iPad and go, it would be best to get a case that protects both front and back.
Cases with front/back covers come in two basic styles: two-piece, folio. Today, we will concentrate on the two-piece covers from our Best-Of-Breed list:
We have done FirstLooks of both the OtterBox Defender and Vaja iVolution so we will not repeat them here. The OtterBox Defender is first and last stop for those in search of the ultimate in iPad protection. Other then putting an iPad wrapped in a Defender inside one of these, there is nothing on the market that offers more 360º safety. The Vaja iVolution is a two-piece case for those who want something more luxurious, less techie-looking, but still every bit as functional. Vaja is on our Best-Of-Breed list because the leather used for their products are the best available and their workmanship is second to none.
modulR may be new to many, but we expect they will be making quite a name for themselves with their entrant. The case we got was hot off the production line. The modulR case is different from every other case we have reviewed to date. This case is the core of an extensive accessory system (stand, mount, strap, swing arm, etc...). The idea is extremely cool. With the right accessory, the modulR case can transform the iPad into a... [more]-Best Of Breed: two-piece iPad covers
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| Aug 24,2010 - iPad covers: Best Of Breed |
The frame of the iPad is milled from a solid piece of aluminum. As a result, it is about as tough as they come. Thus, adding a back cover to protect the electronic innards of the iPad is really not necessary. However, most of us like to keep our things nice and new-looking, so a cover to shield the back of the iPad from the inevitable nicks and scratches is something of interest to many. Here are three back-only covers from our Best-Of-Breed list which will keep the iPad as blemish-free as the day it was made:
The OtterBox Commuter offers more protection than any other back-only cover on the market. Like the OtterBox Defender we looked at in July, the Commuter's protection is made up of multiple layers. The hard plastic shell will deflect sharp objects while the thick rubber layer will... [more]-Best Of Breed: one-piece iPad covers |
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| Aug 23,2010 - iPad covers: Best Of Breed |
In July, we mentioned that we were going to take a side-by-side look at a select list of iPad covers. We pushed out our editorial schedule on them because we got two (monCarbone, M-Edge) great last minute suggestions from readers. That worked out just fine as the modulR folks were running late because of some production issues.
All the covers and cases have now arrived. Here is the final list:
- OtterBox - Defender, Commuter
- Vaja - iVolution
- Piel Frama - Leather folio w/ magnetic closure
- monCarbone - Carbon Fiber HoverCoat
- XGear - Carbon Fiber Shadow, Carbon Fiber Folio
- modulR iPad case/mount system
- M-Edge - Method Folio
- Sena - Leather folio w/ snap closure
These covers were selected because we felt they were the "Best of Breed" in one way or another. Some were picked for their quality of workmanship or appearance. Others were choosen for their... [more]-Best Of Breed: iPad covers
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