Fortunately, you won’t need to break your piggy bank to get your hands on a handy recording device which will make you sound like a real pro.

Samson’s Zoom H4 Handy Recorder delivers awesome sounding results wether you’re recording live performances, podcasts, classes (or workshops), rehearsals or even songwriting sessions. This little device weighing only 6.7 ounces (190 grams) features more recording tools than any other device of its category, on the market.

Looking beyond its fine exterior looks, the built-in studio effects include compression, limiting and mic modeling. Those who need it can use XLR and 1/4-inch inputs for external mics, guitars, bass and keyboards but onboard, you’ll find Zoom’s remarkable microphone, guitar and bass modeling capabilities, reproducing the tone of the most famous mics and amps ever made.

The audio can be recorded as either .wav or .mp3 files and moved to your computer, through USB, for easy editing, mixing and mastering. The H4 comes with Cubase LE (for both PC and Mac) but you can use any other sound editing software which fits your needs. Lets add that the Zoom H4 runs on either two AA batteries or a DC power supply.

That’s a lot of horsepower for such a small form-factor and a complete package, including headphones, a tripod and an 8GB SD Card memory module can be purchased for around $300.

A special note goes out to the bloggers who need to carry out interviews. The H4‘s capabilities are much better than the older H2 and it’s well worth the upgrade. The H4′s stereo sound recording will amaze your end-users who will be under the impression that you’re a real pro, soundwise.

Tags: samson, h4, h2, h4 handy recorder, h4 portable recorder, stereo recorder, quality recorder, high-quality sound recording, mobile sound recording, device to record pro-quality sound, pro-quality sound device, zoom h4, zoom h2, excellent sound quality, professional, mobile field recording

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Furthermore, most of us have more than one computer per household so sharing data can become something of a challenge without a network-attached storage (NAS) device that basically makes centralized data available to all connected computers (clients).

This being said, not all NAS devices are created equal and since you’re probably not inclined onto spending your money on the wrong device, you’ll be happy to know a company named Synology all but reinvented what a NAS should do for you, the end user.

Let’s look at their smallest NAS appliance, the DS207+ which is a high performance “networked hard drive enclosure” that goes beyond simple network storage. It stores your data (and it does that very well) but it can also replace traditional PC servers and act as a stand-alone file server, web host, back up for your home/office data and get this, it’s fully compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux networks so everybody in the house will be happy.

To achieve all this, the DS207+ comes with its own 500 MHz processor accompanied by 128 MB of RAM memory but you’ll need to supply (up to) two hard drives, on your own. It’s probably better that way since you can make the device as spacey as you need it to be.

With a 1,000 Mbps ethernet transfer rate, your data and built-in network services will fly. Among the services you’ll eventually want to use are FTP, HTTP (using Apache, with PHP and MySQL Server), SMB, AFP, CIFS, Windows ADS and even and iTunes server!

The AJAX-based web interface is a snap to master so you’ll be productive in no time, especially compared to other NAS devices which don’t have such a quality interface to play with. The fan could’ve been quieter but it’s not a deal breaker. This RAID 0/1-capable NAS device is generally performs very well and looks nice.

If you’re new to NAS devices, this is a bit pricier than the “low cost” alternatives but at around $300 for the DS207+ and 200$ for two 1 GB hard drives, it’s not enough to break your bank, especially considering all the bells and whistles that come “standard” with it.

Tags: synology, ds207+, nas, network hard drive, hd, external hard drive, back up data, home office data, extra hard drive, raid hd, raid 0, raid 1, web server, networked data sharing

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Island Outpost’s resort has been designed by Greer-Ann and Bertram Saulter to deliver an organic interpretation of romance — and intimacy.

The ten handcrafted cottages are planted in a garden, on the edge of the sea making it a fine choice for guests who value spirituality, romance, privacy and verdant beauty.

The Caves’ two seafront acres hide many secrets such as sundecks and nooks and even grottos, in the cliff itself. One of these grottos is designed for dining. Just imagine the lit candles and the whole place strewn with flowers. This original offering should please even the most demanding couples looking to spend unforgettable moments together.

The Aveda Mini-Spa looks out on deep blue ocean water and it’s a wonderful place to be with friends to reinvent the world. The high-ceilinged cottages are made of wood and stone while also being roofed in thatch. If you’ve never stayed in such amenities, you’ll likely find it quite enjoyable.

Set in lush indigenous tropical gardens, every cottage has its own name like Blue Dolphin, Butterfly, Blue Hole, Sea Turtle, Bird’s Nest, Sun Dancer, One Drop, Macka Tree, Moonshadow and Clandestino. It just adds to the uniqueness of this resort’s offering. Furthermore, all accommodations underwent a complete refurbishment in 2007, including air conditioning for all downstairs suites.

For the ultimate naturally ventilated private cliffside villas experience, in sunny Jamaica, The Caves delivers a distinctive take on the Caribbean life.

Tags: the caves, resort, island outport, negril, jamaica, cottages, deep blue ocean, accomodations, tropical gardens, cliffside villas, mini-spa, amenities

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Now, we’re happy to report that the project is well on its way and on schedule.

Right now, this integrated resort’s construction is in full swing with deep pile foundation systems installed to most areas of the site while the excavation work, for basement structures, is also progressing.

The site’s aerial photos show two large circular reinforced concrete temporary coffer dams for the Hotel’s Towers 1 & 2 as well as the strutted basement for Tower 3 which is now clearly visible, adjacent to the ECP.

The third and largest circular excavation, closest to the bay, is the first of two coffer dams being excavated for the MICE building.

Furthermore, marine works are visible along the bay’s foreshore area to support the promenade substructure works while piling works occupy the remaining large land area adjacent to the bay for the arts science museum, casino, theatres and retail precincts.

As a reminder, here’s what the project will look like once it’s finished:

As you can see for yourself, Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands will likely be ready for 2009, as expected.

Tags: marina bay, sands, singapore, construction, towers, art science museum

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If you decide to become a client with XOJET, you’ll be seeing a whole lot of them since that’s the only plane model the private aviator has (although it’s planning to buy the ultra-spacious Bombardier Challenger 300 model, starting next year).

Why would a private aviation service that’s the talk of the industry operate a single class of aircraft? To cut down costs — and it works, big time!

So you’re tired of waiting for hours on end for your plane to arrive and then take off? If you fly over 100 hours a year, XOJET may be the answer to the commercial airlines’ colossal time wasting habits.

Furthermore, flying with up to 11 other clients per aircraft is a whole different experiences than being crammed into a commercial flight with hundreds of other strangers. One could say it’s a lot more fun and the in-flight service is much easier to get a hold of.

While fractionals are inherently restrictive because they link users with a specific number of hours corresponding to the size of their share, if you’re still looking for more thoughful alternatives, you’ll be happy to learn that XOJET doesn’t sell shares, at all -and- they don’t allow more than 3 clients per jet (which yields more flexibility).

XOJET clients get a 20% overflight allowance built into their contracts and in the event they need more hours, they simply pay for them (extra) as they go along.

To this day, XOJET boasts an on-time departure rate that’s north of 99% which exemplifies, once more, the proverbial “other end of the rainbow” compared to commercial airlines. Clients are garanteed aircraft on just a 12 hours notice and top clients (flying 400 hours of more per year) are garanteed multiple aircrafts on a single day which comes in handy when, for instance, the CEO goes to New York and the CTO goes to San Francisco.

So all this brings us back to XOJET cutting down the cost, up to 40% compared to the runners up, because, over and above the aforementioned strategies, the private aviator charters unused flights so this brings in revenue to pay for ground and crew costs while significantly driving down the cost of “membership” for clients.

Apparently, a lot of people like the way XOJET thinks about the whole private aviation value proposition since the company is expected to double its 2006 revenues of 36M$.

Furthermore, the company recently announced the purchase of 2,5 billion dollars worth of new aircraft, which will bring its fleet to 127 planes, by 2012.

XOJET is proof that innovation in the air travel industry can make a huge difference, in this particular case, equally beneficial for the private aviator -and- its clients.

Tags: xojet, private aviation, charters, jets, airlines, aircraft, fractionals

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Acura dubs its RDX model to be “technocharged” so it’s very clear the intended customer is expected to be familiar with technology to fully appreciate all this SUV has to offer, especially for young families who wish to drive around in style.

Perhaps trying to curb the gas cravings usually associated with SUVs, the RDX is notably smaller than other crossovers like the Mazda CX-7 and the Ford Edge. Although it’s officially an SUV, it drives like a car, hence the “crossover” tag applied to it.

Featuring a 240-hp i-VTEC turbo engine, Super Handling AWD and a Technology Package including Bluetooth-enabled phone connectivity, the Acura RDX hits all the right buttons for the tech-savvy crowd. As such, the occupants are both firmly connected to the road -and- to the outside world.

Overall, this nicely designed vehicle makes for a fun drive. The engine is peppy, the handling is excellent and the sound system is probably one of the most impressive you’ll get to hear in a long time (even considering it’s in a car).

The 650 voice command and on-board navigation screen (including live traffic reporting) add the the futuristic feature set but perhaps a little more integration between all these “things” would’ve helped. Perhaps that’ll get fixed in version 2.0.

Your kids, assuming you have any, will be delighted by the practical use of interior space, in the Acura RDX. Even parents will be amazed how much useful storage space has been packed in this SUV.

Expect to see more “tech-savvy cars” coming to the market, in the months to come as all major car makers are “gearing up”.

Acura did a great job with this one… even if it’s still at version 1.0.

Tags: acura rdx, suv, crossover, cars, trucks, family, driving, turbo engine

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In fact, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that human activity is the dominant single cause of global warming. As a consequence, temperatures could dramatically change living conditions on the planet leading to more droughts, erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels.

Appliances account for about 20% of the average household’s energy consumption via refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers as well as stoves / ovens that all happen to use the most energy of any appliance in a typical house.

The much awaited 2007 Electrolux Design Lab challenges students to design eco-friendly, sustainable household appliances and solutions, for the year 2020. It’s sure good to know that some of the brightest minds out there are busy working to save the planet, one household at a time.

Like the past years, submissions are expected to be environmentally-sound, commercially-viable while enabling people to better live in harmony with the environment.

The ultimate goal, sought by the Electrolux Design Lab organizers, is to go above and beyond simple energy and water efficiency and suggest ways to foster sustainable behavior and product usage.

To get you in “the mood for innovation”, here are the finalists for the 2006 Edition of this international competition:

• Nevale – A food carrier designed in layers offering consumers the opportunity to store up to four different hot and / or cold meals.
• Organic Cook – Appliance that offers oil-free frying, grilling and boiling using infrared technology and vacuum cooking.
• VESSTO – Sleekly-designed, portable cooker that uses renewable energy as a power source through an advanced version of the Stirling Engine.
• Fit-Snack-Joy – Table-top appliance that turns raw fruits and vegetables into healthy cookies.
• HotPod – Delivers healthy food in single portions in each color-coded pod so everyone can enjoy their preferred meal.
• HydroSphere – Transparent, clear sphere, that allows consumers to grow their own herbs, small fruits and vegetables in their kitchen.
• Nutri Print – Makes use of fruits and vegetables to process them into a fun figure which can be selected from the menu screen, thus ensuring childrens’ interest into healthy food.
• SpiceHood – Revolutionary cooker hood with an integrated spice rack and dispenser system. It reduces the clutter around the kitchen while simultaneously encouraging the use of herbs.
• VEGE – Appliance that allows consumers to grow fresh, healthy vegetables in their kitchens all year round using hydroponics.

It’s pretty obvious that this prestigious competition encourages students worldwide to fire up their creative juices to design the household appliances of tomorrow.

In roughly 24 hours from the moment this post is published, the competition will close and on October 1st, 2007, the finalists will be announced while on November 27-28, the global final (in Paris) will be the place where the winner will be announced.

Anyone looking towards a more sustainable future should love this year’s exciting new entries.

Tags: electrolux, design lab, household, appliances, future, environment, competition

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Since 1978, Magenn Power has been researching and developing advanced materials and structures, from their head office in Ottawa, ON.

Their hard work has given way to an amazing concept that helps produce power from wind currents in the sky. Generally refered to as “MARS”, the Magenn Air Rotor System is an innovative lighter-than-air tethered device that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at a lower cost than all competing systems, namely the various types of ground-based wind turbines.

The electrical energy, produced by a MARS unit, is transferred down the tether to a transformer at a surprisingly compact ground station and then transferred to the electricity power grid. Just imagine the “clean energy generation” possibilities!

From a technical standpoint, helium (an inert non-reactive lighter than air gas) sustains the Air Rotor which ascends to an optimal altitude, high off the ground, for best winds and where its rotation also causes the amazing Magnus effect.

This well-known physical phenomenon provides additional lift, keeps the device stabilized, keeps it positioned within a very controlled and restricted location allthewhile causing it to pull up overhead rather than drift downwind on its tether.

To make a long story short, Magenn has taken what’s best about ground-based wind turbines and multiplied the efficiency by inventively tweaking the basic design or the rotor while having it ascend between 150 and 1,000 feet, in the air.

The sheer genius behind the Magenn Wind Power Anywhere solution should help even more demanding customers to benefit from the wind to produce clean energy. Advantages over existing Conventional Wind Turbines and Diesel Generating Systems include: global deployment possibilities, lower costs, better operational performance and greater environmental advantages.

Remotely located potential customers will love the speed at which they can become fully independant from “the main power grid” with their very own MARS unit generating power 24/7, way up in the sky above their location.

Magenn is still working some of the technical and regualtion details but overall, this wind-power solution is, in many way, a notch above the rest.

Tags: magenn, wind power, windmills, air power, remote locations, power generation

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Say hello to iRobot’s selection of pool cleaning robots: the Verro 300 and 600. Both use the same fine filter bag to pick up and trap dirt and debris plus algae, bacteria and debris as small as 2 microns. These devices make it possible for pool owners to clean their whole pool, from floor to waterline, in roughly an hour… with the touch of a button.

The Verro is basically a “drop in the water and forget” device. You plug it in a standard (outdoors) electrical outlet and gently drop it into your pool. Then, you let it go to work against whatever shouldn’t be in your pool, wether you see it or not.

Technically speaking, roller brushes scrub pool surfaces while a powerful vacuum and self-contained filtration system assist in the cleanup process. It works so well that it’ll even reduce the run times of your pool’s filtration system -and- improve the distribution of chemicals and temperature. Needless to say you’ll love bathing in this much cleaner water.

Compared to other pool cleaners, this one really hits the bullseye. The fact you can let it do the dirty work for you is amazing enough but the quality of the cleanup it provides set it in a class all by itself. Even in the deeper end of you pool, this robotic marvel easily climbs up walls (yep, it’s a lot of fun to watch) and therefore cleans the pool floor -and- all sides.

When you empty the fine filter bag from all the debris the Verro gathered, hose it down a bit and then, make sure to throw it in your washing machine to make it even cleaner (read: like new). Ideally, you should get yourself a second fine filter bag, for about 50$.

Considering how much it costs to have the “pool boy” come and clean things up, the Verro 300 at 699$ and the Verro 600 (which scrubs surfaces) at 1,099$ mean that your investment will likely pay for itself in about 6 to 10 weeks.

If you’re used to cleaning your pool by yourself, consider that using the iRobot Verro will help you reclaim at least two hours a week which you can spend doing all the other “interesting” things you want to do.

Overall, it’s a wonderful new way to cut back on the pool-related chores while still diving into pristine pool water.

Tags: irobot, verro, pool cleaning, clean water, algae, bacteria, debris, cleanup

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Too much sugar (boatloads of it, actually), excessive use of salt, freightening amounts of cholesterol, heavily OGMed ingredients and dubious mixes of chemical additives should rightfully be feared by everyone, not just the savvy grocery shopper crowd.

Because your health is priceless, you’ll probably be happy to learn that Arthur’s Fresh is offering a delicious array of nature’s finest fruits and vegetables in the form of juice smoothies kids, teenagers and parents will all quickly fall in love with.

If you plan on enjoying on healthy life, these are the nutritious juices you want to add to your diet: Strawberry Rainforest, Blueberry Tea, 24 Carrot Energizer, Mango Plus, Verry Berry, Green Energy, Pomtastic and last but surely not the least, A?ßai Plus which sports a tasty little berry coming straight from the lush Amazon Forest.

Like all Arthur’s products, A?ßai Plus provides 2.5 servings of fresh fruit from completely natural ingredients but that’s not all because each serving of A?ßai Plus provides a good source of fibre and precious prebiotics. Ingredientwise, expect non genetically modified (non GMO, hurray), amazingly fresh (meaning not concentrated or adulterated) and as previously stated, it’s completely natural.

If you’re an Oprah fan, you probably already know the acai berry tops the number one position in her superfood list. The fact you can benefit from the very strong antioxydant power of this Brazilian berry just by drinking Arthur’s A?ßai Plus juice is news worthy of writing home about.

The company producing this unique collection of juice smoothies also has a different take on life than that of the widely known food industry giants — and it’s very refreshing:

Arthur’s Fresh was founded by a 5th generation fruit farmer from Goderich, ON and the son of Arthur John Bell (where the name of the company comes from).

His commitment to the land and making products that are actually beneficial to consumers has been passed down through the generations and shapes everything Arthur’s Fresh does.

This lays in stark contrast to the recent trend of products being made with lots of marketing hype that are empty calories offering little nutritional value for their consumer.

More specifically, here’s how Arthur’s Fresh is seeding positive changes:

1st make 100% natural products that are 100% good for people.
2nd procure ingredients ethically and support the agrarian lifestyle.
3rd minimize waste and maximize total system recyclability.
4th lead by example and take the high road.
5th seed profits into ideas that enrich childrens lives.

Walking their talk, Arthur’s Fresh seed at least 10% of their annual profits back into the community, every year. Even better, since 2003, their contributions have actually exceeded their annual profits, thus greatly exceeding their “minimum” commitment.

This quote from their web site really sums up their philosophy quite well: “We want to leave things a little bit better than we find them” and if every other food company out there observed such high ethical standards, the planet would arguably be in much better shape.

For all these reasons (and your own good, of course), it’s probably time that you changed (at least part of) your juice drinking habbits to include your favorite flavor of Arthur’s Fresh juice smoothies.

Tags: arthur’s fresh, juice, juice smoothies, health, acai, berries, fruit, vegetable, grocery

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