Robert J. Elisberg's Open Salon Blog

The Writers Workbench: Portable Chargers

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:05:02 -0400

I have this bizarre fascination with portable charging. I can't quite explain it. In part, it's because the world of technology has expanded so massively that the need to recharge when on the road has expanded with it. But also, maybe even more, what I love is that portable charging is one of the tech fields where elegant design and usability are particularly prominent. After all, since the very point of a portable charger is to augment a portable device, something bulky will be counter-productive. The more user-friendly a portable charger is, the more likely you are to actually carry it around. It's sort of a cousin to camping gear (which I equally love) - products have to be compact, light, easy to operate and be able to multi-task as much as possible. Only a few years ago, the ability to get a single charge from a device to keep your cell phone going was a major achievement. Now, especially with the explosion of tablets and eReaders, that's very old news already. Over the coming months, there will be a couple more looks here at some of the particularly-intriguing, related innovations in the field. (Literally, "in the field," in fact…) This month, though, we look at some of the leaps forward in the basics.

"   myCharge 6000
"   mophie Juice Pack Powerstation
"   ZAGGsparq 2.0
"   Hottips Solar Cell Battery
"   Hottips Mini Solar Battery
"   Revolve xeMilo

myCharge 6000

The myCharge battery pack holds a serious 6000 mAh of power. (That stands for milliampere-hour.) It not only will charge a typical Smartphone up to four times - but is powerful enough to nearly charge an iPad or similar tablet. And can charge an eReader.

What's most notable about the myCharge 6000, however, is that it comes with integrated plugs, meaning that there's no need to carry around cumbersome cords. An Apple plug, as well as micro and mini-USB plugs are built in, which is seriously impressive. (An upcoming model is reported to also have an AC adapter plug built-in, so you'll be able to actually charge the charger when on the road, but it hasn't been officially announced yet, so that remains to be seen.)

The device has a button that when pushed shows your power status, how much is left. And there's a solid on/off switch to start charging.

The myCharge 6000 is a bit bulky, about the size of a large pack of playing cards, but that's hardly problematic, since it is surprisingly light and can still easily fit in a coat pocket. It retails at the time of writing for $100, but can be found online for $58.

mophie JUICE PACK POWERSTATION

The mophie packs a respectable charge, and is 4000 mAh rated. It can charge Smartphones three times, and 30% of a tablet, which is enough to keep you up-and-running. With a charging output of 2.1 amps, it charges fairly quickly.

There are no integrated plugs in the battery pack, so you have to carry your own. However, it comes with a micro-USB plug for charging the Powerstation. There a USB port for plugging in your various adapters.

However, what stands out with the mophie is that it's remarkably small and extremely light, tiny enough, in fact, to fit in a shirt pocket. For some, such a compact size may be the most preferable feature.

The mophie has a stylish design and sleek finish. Pressing a button will show your power status in and LED indicator. Press the indicator to start charging. At the time of writing, it retails for $80, which is pretty close to online prices.

ZAGGsparq 2.0

ZAGG makes a wide variety of portable products, notably keyboards, though much more. Its portable charger packs a big punch, 6000 mAh, which can provide four recharges for most Smartphones and will charge an iPad (or similar tablet) up to 60% of capacity.

There are two USB ports, which means you can charge two devices at the same time, which is a notable feature. It will support two Smartphones at once, or one phone and a tablet - know that with two high-power devices connected (for instance, two tablets), the ZAGGsparq may automatically shut down. It will then have to be reset by simply plugging it in again. But that leads to another nice feature: the device also has a built-in AC wall plug, so if the charger runs out of power when you're away from home, you can just plug it in to store it up again. Further, it comes with an EU adapter plug for the AC wall charger, so it can be used in Europe with no additional accessories need. However, there are no adapters built in; you have to supply your own cords or plugs.

The biggest negative is that the device is fairly heavy and bulky. So, the question is whether you're someone with need of charging two devices at once or want a charger with a built-in AC plug. The retail price at the time of writing is $100, but it could be found online for $70.

HOTTIPS SOLAR CELL BATTERY

With any charger, you will always face the reality of depleting it after usage. So, if you're on the road for a long time, away from a wall outlet, and your charger itself is empty, you could be out of luck. But there is a new breed of charger that resolves even that. A solar charger.

Navajo Manufacturing, the Hottips Solar Cell Battery is not the most powerful fellow on the block. It's only intended for small handheld devices (like Smartphones), but not tablets.   The output rate is just 600 mAh (although the battery size is double that of it smaller sibling below, giving it a "volume" of 1200 mAh), good for almost two charges of a Smartphone. However its value lies elsewhere - as a very light, tiny solar charger that should always be able to provide emergency power for a phone or MP3 player when you need it. If you keep the device in the sun, it will continually recharge - it will also charge from ambient light (like a lamp), though more slowly. And if you stick it away in a drawer, it'll still hold 70% of power for 30 days if kept in the dark.

It comes with three proprietary tips for standard USB, micro-USB and Apple devices, rather than standard ports. (Though not ideal, it's designed that way because the charger is so small. There simply isn't room for USB ports.) The company sells additional tips. Also, an AC adapter is included, in case the device is out of power at night, and to charge it full. (In truth, most serious charging will be done with the AC adapter. Solar panels are efficient according to their surface space, and the surface here is tiny. The solar battery is pretty much to keep it topped off.) By the way, in a nice touch the Hottips battery includes a little but quite bright flashlight, adding to its benefits as a small, emergency device.

Charging begins when the On switch is flipped. Because the battery has a solar panel, it will constantly charge the battery when a green indication light on. When solar charging, though, there's no way of knowing how the status of charged the battery is, which is a shame. However, if you're using wall charger to charge battery, an indicator light on wall charger will inform you when the battery is fully charged. The device is quite inexpensive, only $20 at the time of writing.

HOTTIPS MINI SOLAR BATTERY

Similar to its bigger brother, the small and light Mini Solar is also for small handheld devices only, not tablets, with the same output rate of 600 mAh, though the battery volume is half the size, enough for approximately a full charge of a cell phone.

In many ways, the two work the same. Because the solar panel will constantly charge the battery, but there's no way of knowing how charged the battery is. However, when using the included wall charger, indicator light on the charger will inform you when battery is fully charged. And it too holds 70% of power for 30 days if kept in the dark.

And similarly, the company, Navajo Manufacturing, recommends charging the device first with the wall charger, though there's no user guide to tell you this. Mostly, the solar panels are for topping off the battery. Oddly, though, the wall charger for this device uses a different connecting plug than the same wall charger for the larger solar battery, so if you have both, you can't swap one wall charger between both devices. Also, there's no on/off switch.

There is one notable thing about the Mini version that is nicer than the other model - it has built-in Apple and micro USB plugs. The cords are short, and slightly flimsy, but if you handle it carefully they seemed quite stable. Also there is a mini-USB cord for the included AC adapter, in case the device is out of power, and it's night. (Again, ambient light from of a lamp can charge the battery, though slowly.) It retails at the time of writing for $16.

REVOLVE xeMILO

The xeMilo is another a hybrid solar charger, though by comparison on steroids. This is an elegantly designed, very well-made, high-end portable charger from a company, Revolve Electronics, that calls itself "Environmentally Responsible," using recycled plastics in its products and donating 10 percent of their profits to socially conscious companies. (Note that the company makes numerous chargers, not all of which are solar.)

The xeMilo has a 4400 mAh internal battery, slightly under the level of the highest-powered chargers discussed here, but will be able to charge your Smartphone up to three times, as well as charge eReaders and other devices, including tablets (though you won't get a full charge with such power-devouring devices.) There are also two USB ports, plus a mini-USB port for charging with an optional car adapter or connected to a computer. You can charge two devices at once, as well as charge the internal battery all at the same time. Especially nice is that there's an AC adapter plug built right into the xeMilo, letting you charge it directly in a wall socket. Lights show how much power is stored in the internal battery, and it will hold its charge for months. It's not the smallest, lightest kid on the block, weighing 10 ounces, and at 6 x 3.5" is about the dimensions of a small remote control, but it's nonetheless respectably portable. It's also worth noting that unlike most chargers, the battery is replaceable.

But most notably, this is also a solar charger for road warriors. If you're nowhere near an electrical outlet and need power, its front screen provides a large solar panel to recharge from the sun (or, more slowly, from an ambient light source). Most solar chargers will take quite a while to fill up to full power because surface area is what impacts how efficiently solar panels will work, and the xeMilo is no exception - but because it has a reasonably large solar panel compared to most, and high quality silicon cells, it charges much faster, taking about 17 hours to fully charge its internal battery, albeit under ideal sunlight conditions. (It only takes about five hours of ideal sun conditions to store enough energy to charge a Smartphone.) Still, no matter how good a job the xeMilo does, you'll always face the issue of all such devices: limited solar panels due to limited surface space. Ahhh, but that's where Revolve's technology kicks in with an impressive option.

And that option is its companion accessory, the Sol-Sport. This is a very thin, ruggedly-made, portable solar panel that folds open to provide significantly-added surface space that will charge much faster. The added benefit is that in an emergency if you're nowhere near a power outlet to recharge your Smartphone (or charge a non-solar charger), this will allow you to do so, using sunlight. (Two important things to note: 1) the Sol-Sport is made up only of solar panels - it's not a storage battery - so there needs to be immediate access to sun for it to work, and 2) because Smartphones can be temperamental about the source of power they use, you can't charge a Smartphone directly from the Sol-Sport - you must use the Sol-Sport to first charge a battery/charger, which will then "condition" the power for use to charge you Smartphone or device.) Revolve offers two models, headed by the Sol-Sport 5, only about the size of a TV Guide, which generates 5 watts of power to solar recharge a Smartphone in only about two hours. The smaller Sol-Sport 2.5 provides half the wattage and will charge a smartphone in perhaps four hours. Though not as powerful, it's half the width and even more portable, something you could simply stick in a coat jacket. By the way, a Sol-Sport should work when connected with any charger, but it's guaranteed to work with one from Revolve.

(Side Note for math geeks: the xeMilo has 1.2 watts of solar charging capability. The Sol-Sport5 generates 5 watts of solar. Together, therefore, you get 6.2 watts of solar charging power. That's why the combined charging time is so significantly reduced.)

By itself, the xeMilo is a very good portable charger. While it doesn't carry the 6000 mAh capacity of some, it's plenty powerful. It's also not the smallest or lightest device to carry, and there are no built-in adapter plugs, however, it has a built-in AC charger which is a major plus. But the main reason to consider the xeMilo is its hybrid solar charging which, if you have a need for such a thing, extends the device's usability significantly.

However, it's when combined with a Sol-Sport panel that the two devices together are unique in helping overcome the limitations of solar charging. The panels are of course less convenient to carry around and use than a charger alone - but if you have a briefcase or backpack they're so thin and small enough to easily pack away. And though they don't store a charge, they are particularly of great use for those who expect to be far away from an electrical source, for instance when hiking. Or for the eco-minded.

At the time of writing, the xeMilo retails for $125, but could be found online for $71. The Sol-Sport 5 should be available for $70. The company also offers various "packs" with a charger, Sol-Sport panel and accessories bundled together, though the reviewed xeMilo is not part of any pack.

“Soon To Be a Major Motion Picture”

Mon, 7 May 2012 09:05:16 -0400

In some corners of the world, the word "soon" is instead a tour through hell.

This is a tale of perseverance and taking control of one's life. It's a look behind those so-glamorous curtains of Hollywood and New York book publishing, where the way the real world works is totally different from how rosy it looks out front.

Like all good stories, though, it has a happy ending.

Bart Baker has had a career in Hollywood as one of those talented, workmanlike writers you've never heard of who labor hard and turn out fun, entertaining scripts. He's written a few feature films, including one that starred Pierce Brosnan, as well as seven made-for-TV movies, and worked on such TV series as The Outer Limits and Dirt, starring Courteney Cox. He's produced many of his films, too.

He's also brutally honest, with zero patience for pretense, and an imposing exterior (he looks like Mr. Clean. Seriously. Proctor & Gamble should sue him for copyright infringement) that all serve as a front to ward off fools. That's because underneath he's a giddy, bend-over-backwards-to-be-kind soul, who recently chose to adopt two toddlers at the same time.

(This is the quintessential Bart Baker story: on the set of a movie he'd written, an actor complained about a line, whining, "My character wouldn't say this." Baker cheerily said he'd fix it. Later, though, the actor was confused; he read the newly-rewritten scene, but… he no longer had any lines in it. "Oh, right," Baker warmly replied, "You told me your character wouldn't say that, so I took him out of the scene." The actor never complained about his lines again.)

And so it was, after a lifetime of nose-to-the-grindstone work in TV and film, Bart Baker sat down nine years ago to try his hand writing a novel.

And thus began Mr. Baker's Wild Ride.

What resulted was "Honeymoon with Harry". Handing over the rough draft of his first book, he admitted wariness and reticently asked if I'd like to edit it. It was remarkable. Lest you think I'm speaking in subjective, hyperbolic exaggeration, New Line Cinema (which made The Lord of the Rings, Wedding Crashers, and countless others) immediately bought the movie rights. Yes, it was that wonderful.

And it was Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture.

Seriously soon.

Though Baker was himself a well-credited screenwriter, the studio went all-in and hired Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning writer/director, who made Million Dollar Baby and Crash. They liked his script so much (as did Baker) that they quickly were able to get Vince Vaughn anxious to come aboard.

This was a movie on the fast-track. For one of the rare times in Hollywood, "Soon to Be" actually meant "soon."

Except - well, perhaps you've also heard the expression, "Development Hell." Honeymoon with Harry was about to enter the first circle.

Paul Haggis left the project. Vince Vaughn went off to make other films. And the "soon to be" movie suddenly came to a screeching halt.

And so did that book publishing deal for Baker's novel which started everything. "Let's wait until there's an actual movie ready to go," he was told.

So, no book published yet, and no movie.

But the project stayed very alive. Actors kept anxiously wanting to get involved. Directors eagerly made their availability known. And because indecision is the gold standard in Hollywood, they'd all fall through. And ultimately, publishers would keep saying, "Well, let's wait until you officially have a movie."

For someone who doesn't suffer fools lightly, it became so frustrating for Baker that every collapse seemed like the end of the project, and hope of publication.

It was always the material, though, that kept it active. The story is deeply funny, adventurous, tragic, wildly romantic, and edgy. It tells of a self-admitted, womanizing, utter jerk, whose life blossoms when he meet the true love of his life - and also meets her inhibited father, Harry, who viscerally hates the guy. Days before the wedding, the girl is killed in a car crash. These two totally devastated men, who fully distrust and dislike each other, find themselves forced go to Hawaii together. Connected only by their love for the same young woman, the twisted path that follows, often hilarious, ultimately allows them to finally move on with their lives.

But then, Jack Nicholson got involved with the project as Harry. The movie looked like it might finally go - and the novel published. It didn't happen. Yet remarkably, Vince Vaughn returned - and Robert DeNiro was so interested that they did a reading together. Until they both dropped out. However, Jonathan Demme, the acclaimed director of "Silence of the Lambs," got involved…but left. Years still went by. More actors. Other directors. And the book - oh, sorry, remember Bart Baker's book? The actual point of this? - remained unpublished. Despite all the non-stop, high-end interest, as long as the motion picture was "Soon to be," publishers still wanted to hold off.

"Overnight Success" happens. But it's usually after a really, really long "night."

And yet Honeymoon with Harry still won't die. Because now, Bradley Cooper is interested. Not just to act in, but to direct, as well. And so Warner Bros. is interested. So…so…maybe…?

Yet book publishers keep holding off. Waiting for "Soon."

This is the glamorous worlds of film and book publishing.

And this is what helped Bart Baker decide that "soon" was finally now. And take aggressive control of things. He understood that while he couldn't move a studio, the book was his. The goal was not a publisher waiting for a movie to be made. It was a publisher who would publish his book. Which was the point of writing the thing. It's the "Enough Already" syndrome.

And so, he got it done. After nine years of just about, almost, no, wait, maybe, so close… the novel, "Honeymoon with Harry," has finally found a home and been published. At the moment, it's available in trade paperback, Kindle edition, and on the wings of smiling angels. And most importantly of all -

It's soon to be a major motion picture. But finally a book.

Happy Maurice Cheeks Day!

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:04:53 -0400

[Yes, it's that day again. This is the annual reprint of a column originally written in 2009. Some stories simply demand repeating. Or better put, demand not being forgotten. This is one of them.]

April 27, 2009

Oh, Say Can You Sing? A National Anthem to Remember

As I prepared to write about an act of uncommon decency by a professional athlete, I realized that calling it that was unfair, that it diminishes what happened, because this was simply an act of uncommon decency, period. That it happened on such a high level and under such a bright microscope might likely stir the heart more, but it's the act itself that is ultimately what stirs us to begin with. Who it was and when it took place simply moves it up the pedestal.

Today is the sixth anniversary of Maurice Cheek's moment on the pedestal.

There is in the American consciousness for notable performances of the National Anthem at sporting events. Jose Feliciano's evocative singing at the 1968 World Series in Detroit was the first to interpret the "Star Spangled Banner" before a national audience. Because 1968 was one of the most tumultuous years in U.S. history, many at the time were so outraged that it took his career years to recover. Today, the rendition not only seems tame, but one of the most tender and beautiful. (And among the least known. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and click here to listen.)

Whitney Houston gets mentioned often for her rousing rendition at the 1991 Super Bowl, during the Gulf War. For many, Marvin Gaye's deeply soulful performance at the 1983 NBA All Star is the most memorable.

But for sheer emotional joy, it's hard to top what happened on April 27, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs between the Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks.

Context only adds to the story. So, once again:

This was the playoffs. This is what all professional athletes live for, what their year is about. The regular season is a prelude, an effort to get into the post-season and be in place to win the league championship, to become a part of your sport's history. Everything centers on this. As the start of each playoff game nears, as the roaring crowd is at its highest pitch, as players put on their proverbial "game faces" and the battle is moments from beginning, all external thoughts get filtered out, and focus is completely, solely on their task ahead.

The National Anthem, for most athletes, must be one of those external influences. More than most of us, who hear the "Star Spangled Banner" largely on special occasions, professional athletes have heard the National Anthem played before every single competitive game they've played. Game after game repeatedly each season, and season after season, for decades. Relentlessly. As meaningful as the song is, it is also just part of the ritual for a professional athlete, focused on the game, geared up for the game, anxious to start the game. Silent, not singing, maybe not even hearing the music. Waiting for the National Anthem to be played, and finished, so that they can finally start what they're there for. It's likely as much background noise as it is patriotic uplift.

And so it must have been as the Trailblazers and Mavericks prepared for their playoff game to start.

Stepping out onto the court was Natalie Gilbert, a 13-year-old girl. Just another National Anthem, just another youngster who won a contest, just another two minutes the crowd wanted to get past for the game they were there to see, to start. And she started fine. A little hesitant, since it's a frightening occasion for a child, with a national audience, flashing lights and a military guard. But in her wavering voice, she was prepared.

Except that a few lines in, the high pageantry of the moment got her, and something went very wrong. She totally, thoroughly forgot the words. A young 13-year-old child, standing in front of over 10,000 people, lost. Alone.

And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was.

Maurice Cheeks had had a very good NBA career as a player. He played for 15 years and was selected to four All Star games. When he retired, he was the all-time leader in steals and fifth in assists. He averaged over 11 points a game. And then he later became a coach, the position he was currently in for the Portland Trailblazers. It was Cheeks who was responsible for his team, responsible for keeping them focused on the game, responsible for guiding them. But he saw a 13-year-old girl in trouble.

And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Immediately.

Cheeks always had a reputation in the NBA as a good guy. But he was about to prove it on a national stage. And what happened next - not just with Maurice Cheeks, but eventually with all the jaded players whose minds had been previously-focused on their game, an entire stadium of basketball fans there to see basketball, even the opposing white-haired coach Don Nelson - is just enthralling.

The moment is wonderful, but how it builds and surprises is even better.

And at the end, this tiny girl looking up at the giant of a man - who stayed around, refusing to leave her side and return to his team - with her face awash with relief, a huge hug, and the clear words mouthed, "Thank you," is all you need to see to why it's hard to top what happened on April 27, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs for sheer emotional joy. Six years ago today.

The Writers Workbench: The Other Tablets

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:04:37 -0400

It's not the biggest secret in the tech world that tablets and their e-cousins, eBook readers, have exploded onto the market. It's hard not to have been inundated reading about them. We've reviewed a couple of the more popular eBook readers here in the past, but these month tablets take the front seat. But from a slightly different angle, not the ones you've read about. It's easy to think that if a tablet isn't an iPad or Kindle Fire, Nook or Galaxy Tab, it must not exist. But the options are there - including an existing option that will no doubt boom onto the scene later in the year when Windows 8 is released. It turns out that the world isn't entirely iOS and Android after all. Though, like water, it's certainly most of it…

"   Pandigital SuperNova
"   Kupa X11

PANDIGITAL SUPERNOVA MEDIA TABLET

Late last year, Pandigital (a company best-known for its excellent line of electronic photo frames) introduced a major upgrade in its ebook/tablet line with the Nova. It was reviewed here, generally positively, though it had some issues. Subsequently, the company built upon that and has soon after now released its SuperNova, a higher end tablet. On the surface, the two units are pretty similar, but it turns out that the small improvements make all the difference in the world. While the Nova is a nice, inexpensive tablet with some issues, the SuperNova is a slick, mid-range tablet with reasonably strong features.

First, the differences.

The SuperNova has an 8" screen, rather than the 7" of the Nova. Personally, I prefer the smaller screen because the model could fit in one's pocket, making it especially easy to carry around. But the larger screen does provide more landscape (always a benefit when watching videos) and allows more room for productivity - though productivity is less a strength of any tablet (including the iPad), compared to how it handles content.   My preferences aside, it's likely that the larger screen will be of interest to a wider segment of the public. It weighs in a touch over a pound, at 16.6 ounces.

The SuperNova also now includes Bluetooth. You may not be able to connect to all Bluetooth devices, since the SuperNova runs on Android 2.3 and some Bluetooth devices might require Honeycomb, which is version 3.2. However, the addition of Bluetooth means that a lot of devices that weren't accessible before with the Nova will now work with the SuperNova.

(Note: Subsequent to writing this review, Pandigital has said that they will be upgrading the device to the new, upcoming Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. This is a notable advancement when it takes place - if it already hasn't by the time this review appears. Not only will the SuperNova have the most advanced Android O.S., but that will allow users access to the high-end Android Market for downloading apps. More on apps later.)

Additionally, there is an advanced processor. If you're interested in such techie explanations, it's a Samsung S5PV210 Cortex 1.06Hz Performance processor (1 GHz) with dedicated GPU graphics engine. The short, human version of this is to say that the SuperNova is much faster, run videos and music notably smoother, and apps open more quickly.

But the most noticeable difference is that the screen is capacitive multi-touch digital TFT LCD, while the Nova is active touch. The biggest qualm I had with the Nova is that its touch screen wasn't overly responsive - you'd often have to tap an icon several times (and in the direct center), and scrolling would sometimes cause an app to pop-up prematurely. With the SuperNova, the screen is as extremely responsive. Combined with the faster processor, apps open fast, and scrolling is very smooth. Turn the device to landscape mode, and the switch is near-instant. With the Nova, the touch screen is a little temperamental. The SuperNova is as fluid as you'd want it to be.

I've also noticed that WiFi works better on the SuperNova. There were a few radio stations I had difficulty connecting to with the Nova - being a lower-end device, its chipset that supports WiFi connection isn't as strong as high-end units. But with the SuperNova, I was able to connect to those same stations, and the WiFi works well.

In most other ways, the SuperNova is near-identical to the Nova - though make no mistake, those are significant improvements. They're the differences that move a nice, low-cost beginner's tablet into the realm of the solidly competitive with the Big Boys.

And the Big Boys, in this case, start with the Amazon Kindle Fire and Nook Color. (The iPad remains at the high end, in the $500-600 range.) The Pandigital is available at the time of writing for $229. The Kindle/Nooks are $199. It's certainly possible that the SuperNova will come down in price by the time you read this, but if not, know that for all the good things the Kindle Fire and Nook Color offer, like content connectivity, they don't have a camera, microphone or webcam - and the SuperNova has them all. In fact, it has a two cameras - front and back, so you can use Skype with it.

To be clear, as well, the SuperNova does provide strong connectivity for eBooks. In fact, like the Nook, it has direct access to the Barnes and Noble eStore, and the full range of content there.

(One thing this reviewed unit doesn't currently have is access to the extensive Android Market, since that requires Android version 3.2 and above. But there is an included app to the GetJar appstore, which offers a huge amount of free apps. Though not as rich, high-end and comprehensive as the Android Market, you're pretty well covered - and also have access to other Android app websites. As importantly noted above, however, the Android Market will soon be available.)

The SuperNova has 4 gigabyte shared storage, which is fine for limited use, though it also has expandable memory up to 32 GB using a microSD card.   I tested this with a Kingston Class 10 32GB MicroSDHC card, and they worked well together. Using this expanded memory significantly improves the usability of the tablet, allowing you to add a heavy compliment of photos, a music library and videos. (The Kingston card comes with an adapter included, and cost $33 at the time of writing.)   By way of comparison, the Nook Color can also be expanded with a 32 GB microSD card - however, the Amazon Kindle Fire has 4 GB memory only.

The Pandigital plays back videos fairly smoothly. Photos take a second or two to come into focus, but afterwards are sharp. It takes a minute or two to load photos into Gallery at start up (depending on how much content needs to be loaded). However, this is not an issue if you are using the tablet for other things before accessing the Gallery, because it loads them in the background.

The sound quality when using headphones is pretty good. It's quite listenable when using the external, built-in speakers, but don't expect anything better than that, sort of at the thin level of an AM portable radio. One big quibble I have: the headphone jack is located at the bottom of the tablet which means you can't stand it up with a plug inserted, unless you lean it on the side, lengthwise.

The screen has a 600x800 resolution. Though the image is a little on the darkish side, and you won't be blown away by a lush brilliance or high resolution, it's reasonably sharp and easy on the eyes,.

As noted, the rest of the SuperNova is very similar to the Nova.

The SuperNova is a Wi-Fi only device. That limits its versatility, though also helps keep the cost down. Its battery life is rated at 8 hours with the WiFi turned off. It takes about 2-1/2 hours to make a full charge, and you can use the device while charging.

(Importantly, this is why if you're mainly interested in reading eBooks you're far better off with a dedicated eBook reader than any tablet. A standalone eBook reader will have a significantly longer battery life - up to two months, turned on all the time - and be significantly lighter to carry. But if you do want the added content and productivity features, and Internet and email connectivity, along with the ability to read eBooks, then a tablet is the option of choice.)

The tablet some with several "widgets" built in that provide more functionality - among them are a clock/alarm widget, one for weather, a power-setting widget with controls available for easy access, and an ebook reading widget.

As mentioned, the SuperNova has a relationship with Barnes & Noble, so you have direct access to their online store by clicking on the B&N app. The My Library screen provides a graphical bookshelf, and the top "shelf" shows your most recently-accessed books. (Note: by placing the B&N "widget" on the home screen, your two most-recently read books will be displayed there, as well as provide a direct link to your magazines and newspapers.)

The e-reader itself is basic but well-featured enough and works nicely. Being an LCD screen, there is absolutely no flashing when you turn a page - pages smoothly slide left or right. Text is crisp black on a bright, white background. This makes for pleasurable reading, and you don't need any additional light in a dark room, as you would with E Ink. That said, unlike E Ink, you can't read outdoors in bright sunlight, since the text will be washed out. And some people find the bright light of LCD more tiring on the eyes than E Ink.

You can highlight selected text to access the dictionary or add a note. If your Wi-Fi is active, another option will take you to the Internet for a Google search. At the top of the screen, always-accessible options include easy bookmarking, changing font size and search for text. You can also invert the brightness for reading at night so as not to disturb anyone else in the room, changing the black text on a bright white background to white text on a black background. The Table of Contents page is where all your notes, highlights and bookmarks are kept.

But as noted, the Nova does a great deal more than offering e-reading. Some of those things it does quite well, though a few not as much.

The two cameras (front and back) only have a 1.3 megapixel resolution, which is quite low end, though for quick-need occasions it's fine. (Megapixels are mainly of use if you plan to print out or enlarge a photo.) You can choose between three levels of picture quality, though there's no flash. Photos are extremely crisp when viewed in the device's Gallery.   The web camera takes video, but the camera has to be moved extremely slowly or you'll get blurs and graininess.

The browser is basic, but respectable and gives you a full Internet experience. Of course, you can download another browser app if you'd prefer. Typing in commands is done with a pop-up keyboard (as is all typing on the Nova). Keys are responsive, and it works very smoothly.

It takes about 25 seconds to boot-up the Nova. Because of the 8-hour battery, you may not be as ready to leave it on all day as you would an eBook reader, and definitely won't want to leave the WiFi on all the time, unless you have the device plugged in.

There's also Email widget, as well as one for social networking. The email reader is extremely basic, with only a few bells-and-whistles, but it works okay. It's not anything that will replace a featured email reader, but will suffice for on-the-road needs.

The SuperNova also has a built-in MP3 music player, which is easy to navigate, with large text, and big, clear controls. It provides a lot of information on the song playing, though it's a touch convoluted to maneuver through everything. You can also do a web search of the song, album or artist while a song is playing.

All of your apps appear alphabetically on an Applications page - this is good if you like things hidden away and organized, but if you prefer immediate access to everything, it's an extra set to go through. However, you of course can move apps to the home screen and create additional screens for them, as well as create folders to organize related-apps together.

The Nova can read PDF files, but doesn't handle them especially well with the built-in OfficeSuite app. However, better 3rd party apps will likely do an improved job, so it's easy to download one.

Android is not my favorite operating system, though this is true for whatever the device uses it. Built on the Linux system, it doesn't have the most intuitive functionality and therefore isn't always user-friendly. But that's an Android issue only, not anything unique to the SuperNova.

The User Guide is alas not one of the device's best features. A great deal is explained in only the most cursory fashion, with a lot of information nowhere to be found - and some not completely accurate, based perhaps on an earlier build.

You use the included USB cable to get access to the device for storage. When plugged into your computer, the SuperNova and its microSD card (if you've installed one) will then show up in Windows Explorer just like they are external hard drives, so you can copy/paste ebooks, photos, music files, documents and more that way.

As noted, at the time of writing the Pandigital SuperNova retails for $229. However, it can generally be found online for less, at a competitive (if not lower) price to the Kindle Fire and Nook. The big question is what you want to use a tablet for. Dedicated eBook readers are far superior if what you want to do almost exclusively is read eBooks - they're far lighter with significantly longer battery life. A high-end tablet like the iPad provides much more functionality and 3G connectivity, though at a much greater cost. The Amazon Kindle Fire is especially well-configured for accessing Amazon's world of content, particularly videos. And the Nook Color is highly regarded, as well. But - the Pandigital SuperNova definitely has its place in this lower-end landscape. It's priced competitively and includes two cameras, a webcam and microphone. So, it comes down to your personal needs and interests.

One last thing: though I prefer the smaller size of the Nova, the SuperNova is a far superior media tablet for only $40 more. If a smaller device that will fit into your pocket is a critical point, then the Nova is the choice of the two. But other than that, Pandigital made a significant improvement with the SuperNova.

KUPA X11 WINDOWS TABLET

The tiny, little-known company, Kupa, has decided to take on the iPad and Android tablet world. And though that might seem an uphill challenge, they've actually come up with something that stands out and is worth paying attention to. What's special and so different is that the Kupa X11 operates on Windows 7. Further, it can also run the upcoming Windows 8, though at the moment that's in beta form. (More on this later.)

As widely popular as iPad and Android tablets are, they are most effective when it comes to content - browsing the Internet, checking email, watching movies, reading books. But productivity takes a back seat - it's difficult to do serious work on them. In some cases, depending on your job, it might be impossible. Not only are there no apps for things like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, QuickBooks, and such, but more importantly, if you're in a profession that uses proprietary software (like the legal or medical profession), you're out of luck. For instance, if you're a professional screenwriter who works with your beloved Movie Magic Screenwriter or Final Draft, they simply don't exist as apps.

But being a Windows-based tablet, that's no problem for the Kupa X11 - you don't need apps. It runs actual, full programs. You simply install your favorite software, and use it exactly like you do now. You can download the programs online, or use one of the two USB ports to plug in a DVD player or Flash drive to install software the same as you do with any laptop or desktop.

I had both Movie Magic Screenwriter and Final Draft installed on the Kupa and gave them a run-through. They ran perfectly, especially using portable Bluetooth wireless keyboards, like Verbatim's (reviewed here previously) that folds up to fit in a jacket pocket or ZAGG's (which will be reviewed here shortly), tiny enough to stick in a carry bag. For more substantive work, you can plug in a full-size USB keyboard. The tablet also has an onscreen keyboard which works well. (It's not something you'd want to use to write with at length, but if you're on the road without a portable keyboard, it could be a lifesaver.) The bottomline is that was a pleasure to be able to take a tablet with me and be able to work on a script anywhere.

The X11 also comes with a full, working version of Microsoft Office suite. Further, any little utilities you use now on your PC system and find indispensable to your work, you're not lost without them on your tablet - just install them on the X11, same as you would on a computer. For instance, I use the utilities HyperSnap to take screen shots and ClipMate, a great utility that keeps an extensive record of text that gets copied and which I've come to rely on, but neither has an app. However, I was able to simply install them both on the X11. (With HyperSnap, I could also transfer these graphics back to my desktop by simply copying them to a Flash drive.)

They X11 has a Multi- touch, capacitive high-resolution screen. The screen is very clear, easy to read and operate. It's also extremely responsive and, like any tablet, will change orientation if you turn from horizontal to landscape. Know that the default on the Kupa is horizontal, unlike most tablets - but that's because it runs programs like your desktop or laptop computer would, whose programs are designed for horizontal. Also, while the screen switches orientation quickly, there was a slight lag.

Because its resolution is 1366 x 768, some icons are small for your finger and therefore easier to access with the included Tablet Pen. (Keep in mind that this is likely to be slightly more the case with Windows 7 than Windows 8, whose resolution and "tiles" are designed from the ground up for tablets.) You can also use the Tablet Pen to draw or take handwritten notes in the Windows Journal. It does a very nice job, too, with the tablet's handwriting recognition feature: write out your notes, and they get converted to digital text, impressively accurately.   Somewhat similar, Microsoft Word on a Windows 7 tablet has an effective handwriting feature that allows a range of formatting.

Video plays back smoothly, and was easy to watch without jerky frame-loss of the image. Sound was fair, but as with all tablets, you'll likely use earphones or an external speaker. There also is a fingerprint reader, something which tends to be temperamental on most computers but worked surprisingly well, for logging into sites with just a swipe.

No ebook reader is pre-installed, but it's simple to download and install whatever you want, for instance, Adobe Digital Editions or Calibre

Probably the first thing you'll notice about the Kupa X11, before getting to any of this, though, is how impressively solidly-made it is. The negative of that is it's noticeably heavier than most tablets - weighing about two pounds. The positive is that it's immediately clear this isn't a toy. This is a real computer. It just happens to come as a tablet.

Before getting to the specs, it's important to bring up the aforementioned Windows 8. Though that operating system won't be available until later in the year at the earliest, the Kupa is compatible with it, so the tablet won't be outdated when the operating system arrives. Furthermore, with Microsoft's recent release of the Consumer Preview beta of Windows 8, I was able to give the X11 a test with it.

This isn't the place for a long, detailed review of Windows 8, but the quick version is that it's as major a revision of Windows as you've perhaps read. In fact, although it's a single operating system, it has two separate interfaces, meaning there are different ways you'll use it. The "Metro" interface is for touchscreens on a tablet (like the Kupa).   With a simple tap, you can toggle between Metro and the more standard desktop interface that uses a traditional mouse and keyboard. The two are reasonably well-integrated, though not perfectly so. But running on the Kupa X11, Metro is slick, smooth and fast (though it will be most responsive with 4 GB of RAM), and uses large "tiles" to tap or click on to launch apps. (Yes, with Windows 8 there are now apps with the tablet. A Windows App Store has also been established.) Swiping to flip between screens works fluidly.

Windows 8 has familiarity to it, but there is a definite learning curve, just as Apple's iOs and Android had learning curves. Much of it is intuitive, but surprisingly not everything. The old Windows "Start" button is gone, but you access much of the same material by swiping from the sides or top/bottom to bring information screens sliding out. Know too that you can still load Windows software programs, as noted above, along with using apps.

The larger point here is that the X11 bridges the gap between the current world of a Windows 7 touchscreen tablet and the upcoming universe with Windows 8 created expressly for tablets that uses apps, swiping screens, "live" utilities and pinch-zooming, as well as being able to run full-featured Windows programs.

As for the physical Kupa X11 itself, it has strong specs. There are two cameras (front/back), a built-in microphone (therefore, you can easily use Skype), two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI slot, a SIM slot (on some 3G-capable models, so you could use those as a phone), and it comes with 2 GB of RAM. Wi-Fi is, of course, built-in on all models. (By the way, it talking with Kupa, they seem to be continually tweaking their tablet, so it's worth checking these specs, since some of them might be subsequently upgraded.)

Additionally, the X11 has very respectable battery life, with a rated 10 hours. Standby is 30 hours. The tablet is about 11x7x.5" and has a large 10.1 LED backlit screen.

As mentioned, the Kupa X11 is very well made. There were a couple of small glitches with the Wi-Fi connection, touchscreen calibration, and camera software (things that are easily resolved), but overall it was extremely solid, and I enjoyed the experience - both with Windows 7, and the brief Windows 8 test. My impression is that right now (pre-Windows 8)   it's quite good for people who have a professional need or deeply want a tablet while also wanting something they can actually do work with when on the road, not just run content. And to be clear, there are a lot of people like that. But for everyone else - right now, before Windows 8 comes along - the X11 acts more like a Windows notebook that does a few things better than a notebook, but most things more inconveniently. It fits a need for a specific group of people, but will see its greater benefits with Windows 8.

At the time of writing, the Kupa X11 starts at $700 for the 64 GB model with Wi-Fi. The same configuration but with 3G added is $800. At the top end with 128 GB, 3G/Wi-Fi, it retails for $970.


"The Writers Workbench" appears monthly on the website for the Writers Guild of America. To see this entire column, with complete product graphics and additional "TWW Notes," please click here

Good News! Mitt Romney Never Ate a Dog

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:04:05 -0400

May God love and protect the tone-deaf and clueless.

The Republican world was all a-twitter Tuesday with a story on the far-right website, Daily Caller. It quoted President Barack Obama's autobiography about his stepfather having served him dog meat when he was nine in Indonesia. The article hoped to divert ridicule from Mitt Romney for strapping the family pet dog, Seamus, to the roof of a car on a family trip.

The problem is…well, you see, the problem is many. And it all centers around the blind, giddy glee with which Jim Treacher attempted to put his Great Find into perspective.

"So what? It was a long time ago," you say. "He was a lot younger. Customs are different there. He was just doing what his stepfather told him. And hey, you can't even prove that the dogs were ever left on top of a car, you racist."

Hey, whatever you have to tell yourself, libs. Say what you want about Romney, but at least he only put a dog on the roof of his car, not the roof of his mouth. And whenever you bring up the one, we're going to bring up the other.

It's no fun when we push back, is it? That's why it's so much fun.

No fun???   No fun?!! It's so freaking fun it makes a sun-filled day at Disneyland seem morose.

Oh, my, not only is it fun when people push back like that…it's otherworldly joyous. You read that and realize how incredibly, stultifyingly stupid that was. On levels heaped on boneheaded levels.

No fun? This was more fun than listening to a Ted Nugent rant as his brain cells fly away.

It was fun because you read it and realize that these giddily self-pleased Republicans, and the Romney campaign itself, just don't have a clue. Not a clue.

"It was a long time ago," Treacher writes, trying to be sarcastic. Well, no, the issue isn't that it was "a long time ago." Most of life was "a long time ago."   The point is that Barack Obama at the time was…nine-years-old.

Oh, but "He was a lot younger," Treacher writes next, continuing his wink. Well, again, no, it's not that Barack Obama was "a lot younger."   It's that he was only nine-years-old!

They are making fun of a little, nine-year-old child. Who was indeed doing, as Mr. Treacher thoughtfully explains, what his parent was telling him to do.

But that's not how stupid this was.

You see, Jim Treacher goes on to write, "Say what you want about Romney, but at least he only put a dog on the roof of his car, not the roof of his mouth."

It's like watching a car crash in slow motion. The article takes a story that the Romney campaign dearly, achingly wants forgotten…and swaggeringly crams it in your face again! Clearly Republicans must think that what a child once did makes their own problem magically disappear. But all it does is remind everyone that Mitt Romney strapped his Irish Setter to the roof of his car on a family vacation.

And yet, in the very next sentence, the author makes it even worse. Because he writes, "And whenever you bring up the one, we're going to bring up the other."

You want to shout for joy, "Oh, please do! In fact, don't wait for others to bring up that Mitt Romney strapped his family dog, Seamus, to his car - bring it up whenever you like. Because every time, it will just remind everyone that Mitt Romney strapped…" well, you know.

And for some bizarre reason, even the Romney campaign thinks this train wreck is a winner. Romney campaign spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom sent out a tweet with a photo of the Obama pooch safe in a limousine. "In hindsight, a chilling photo," Mr. Ferrnstrom wrote, thinking he was being clever - when he had just reminded people that Mitt Romney strapped his own family dog to a car.

But the thing is - that's not how stupid this was.

What was most stupid about this article, and the Romney campaign keeping it alive, is this -

Republicans and the Romney campaign are all comparing the decision-making prowess of a mature adult running for President of the United States to a nine-year-old child.

Mitt Romney wants to impress Americans how good his decision-making is, how smart he'll be when dealing with the economy, national health care, women's issues, foreign leaders and terrorism - and the standard he's holding himself to that's he's better than a nine-year-old boy.

(Side note: how many of you have a nine-year-old boy? Or know a nine-year-old boy? Would any of you ever hold a nine-year-boy as a standard for…well, anything? Nine-year-old boys would eat a live frog on a big-enough dare.)

But let's go further. For the sake of argument, let's even accept the worst. Let's say it doesn't matter when the story took place, or that it's another culture. Or that doing what one's stepfather says is no excuse.   Let's accept all that.

This story still compares Mitt Romney's decision-making expertise for being Leader of the Free World to a nine-year-old boy.

And whenever anyone brings up that rich, entitled Mitt Romney strapped his family dog to a car roof, Republicans vow to compare him to a poor, hungry child?!

Oh, dear Lord, who art in heaven, please let them liveth by their promises.

While the story might play grand to far-right reactionaries with a blind hatred for the President, none of them were voting for Barack Obama anyway. For everyone else, it only serves to do one thing - remind people that when Mitt Romney chose to strap his family's pet dog to his car, it wasn't something a nine-year-old boy did.

"It's no fun when we push back, is it?," Republicans swagger.

It is more fun than a barrel full of Romneys.