Photo Resurrection

So I’m not that old, but I must say that my earliest childhood moments are recorded on film, not online.  I remember loading film, and to be honest, I liked it.

So now the USB Negative Scanner comes into play.  Still have all those negatives hiding in drawers stored in envelopes from CVS?  Well now it’s time to share the memories in our new digital age.  It’s simple, load the 35 mm negative strips into the bottom of the scanner and suddenly you are the proud owner of a new wondrous library of digital pictures.

Give new life to old stories, upload an excellently embarrassing profile picture, the options are unlimited!  Think of how much extra use you’ll get out of any new film photos you take today.  I know kids taking a black and white photo class and as lovely as their final prints are it’s hard for those photos to translate appropriately to the computer through the lens of a digital camera.  Add in the fact that this scanner is much more desk sized than a regular scanner and you see how college friendly it becomes.  At $140 it’s not the cheapest gadget you’ll ever buy, but not the most expensive either.  And memories are priceless, right?

Father’s Day Gift Guide

I know it is last-minute, but Father’s Day has really snuck up on me this year. I’m always looking for something clever and tech-y for my dad who is an original computer geek and software designer.  This year I have found some very cool prospects I thought I would share. Of course you may have to pay extra shipping to get them by Sunday!

For the Stargazer-Meade Mysky $349 

This “point-and-shoot” sky guide lets users point at an object in the night sky and get an instant 411. It easily locates nebula, planets, stars and more than 30,000 celestial objects. Has a full-color LCD screen and easy-to-use interface.

For the Adoring Grandpa-Digital Brag Book $120

This super-sleek aluminum case digital brag book holds 2000 images and features a 3.5″ LCD screen. Perfect for the dad or grandad who likes showing off his brood.

For the Scale-Model Afficianado-Lego Mindstorms NXT $250

Not your kids’ Lego set! These ultra-high tech robots, errrrr . . . models,  are full of digital features. They contain built-in rotation sensors to align speed for precise control and can react to sound commands, patterns and tones.  With more than 500 pieces, these are not for the faint-of-heart, but if you have your own programmable robot at the end of it, who cares?! (via WIRED)

For the Sports Fan-Ambient Wireless Baseball Scorecast $130

Great for the on-the-go sports fan. This hand-held or desktop device receives info from any MLB team via a free network. The 3×5 screen displays score, standing, and schedule information with the press of a button. Other models exist for additional sports.

For the Beer Lover-USB Beverage Chiller $40

OK, so it’s not just for beer lovers, but you can keep your cans, bottles and glasses a cool 45 degrees just by plugging in the USB cord to your computer.

For the Chef-Wireless Talking BBQ & Oven Thermometer $60

This thermometer will keep dear old dad from charring his favorite steaks or burning the burgers. The thermometer features five languages, eight entrée programs, four doneness levels, and four verbal and audio alert options—”almost ready,” “ready,” “overcooked” and “out-of-range.”

For the Boy Scout–Swiss Army Memory Tool $85

He’ll be at the ready with this super-cool Swiss Army knife and USB flash drive. The tool features a blade, a screwdriver, scissors, key ring, LCD light and ballpoint pen. It comes in a 1GB and 2GB model ($120).