Here’s some stuff I talked about on the SA Living Show today…
StickK.com
Founded by Yale economics professor Dean Karlan -- research has shown that signing commitment contracts and publicly announcing a goal helps people stick to it. (The extra K in stickK is shorthand in legal writing for "contract.") stickK offers you the opportunity, through 'Commitment Contracts', to show to yourself and others the value you put on achieving your goals.
More than 30% of the stick users sign up for a specific amount cash they’ll lose (via their credit card) if they don’t reach their goal. These users also designate a recipient: a person, a charity or, as an additional incentive, an "anti-charity," i.e., an organization on either side of several highly controversial issues. (Think pro-life or pro-choice advocacy groups or the presidential libraries of Bill Clinton or George W. Bush.)
Telling your friends about your goal and staking some money on your success is a powerful combination. Says Karlan: "It increases the price of vice and lowers the price of virtue. We think of it as Facebook with a purpose."
Since January 2008, more than $3 million has been put on the line.
StickK.com
Textecution ($40)
Textecution is an Android application that completely disables texting while driving. Textecution is designed for parents to install on their teenage driver's phone so they know their child is safer behind the wheel of the vehicle. An iPhone version should be available soon.
Textecution.com
Perspectives
You can now buy the entire first season of "Perspectives" on DVD. That's 16 episodes for just $10!
The DVD includes the Christmas episode - what some puppet enthusiasts call an instant classic. Also included is the infamous trek to Windsor Park Mall. This is a big favorite with the 'Rackers' here in San Antonio.
Perspectives is San Antonio's #1 historical news program featuring Laughn De La Croix and Rodney Grimes. It's your chance to venture back in time with San Antonio's favorite puppet anchors.
Click here to purchase...
Ritmo Advanced Pregnancy Sound System from Nuvo $130
Ritmo is designed for women who are in at least their 17th week of pregnancy based on scientific studies stating the baby can hear between 17 and 20 weeks. Ritmo allows you and your baby to share the sensory and emotional experience of bonding through sound and music, while being supportive, safe, and stylish at the same time.
Reactive listening begins at 17 weeks, so choose classical music for the calming Mozart Effect, the classic rock of The Beatles, or the upbeat show tunes of Broadway. David Mazza recommends Metalica and "smooth jazz." Hmmm. Any type of audio you can listen to on your iPod/MP3's earphones can be enjoyed by your baby at the same time.
Ritmo’s soft fabric belt is lightweight, elasticized and supportive. Whether you’re doing yoga, walking the dog, working or simply relaxing, Ritmo will allow you to interact with and experience sound with your child in a whole new way.
A special switch makes sure volume won’t harm baby. You can mount it to the crib after the baby is born.
http://www.nuvo-group.com/
Vibe headphones from v-moda $60
V-moda’s product description: Fashion-conscious style and audio enthusiast sound unite to form the most sophisticated electronics accessory in the world. Vibe's metal craftsmanship delivers the perfect balance of rich bass, superior audio clarity, and luxurious design. Unlike other uncomfortable and obtrusive in-ear headphones, Vibe presents essential active lifestyle comfort, security, and noise isolation for the discerning music enthusiast. The modawrap cable manager is included to control the length of the cable while listening and a gold leather carrying case is provided for storage.
V-MODA's engineers spent over a year of the design phase crafting the perfect sound signature of the Vibe series of headphones. Designed to mimic the warm, sweet sound of hi-fi stereo speakers costing thousands of dollars apiece, the curve remains amazingly straight with no bass roll-off which delivers a smooth and detailed bass response. A sensitivity dip in the 500hz to 2kHz range accentuates the bass slightly and reproduces a warm soundstage. The gentle dropoff in the high ranges was carefully designed to avoid harsh or "clinical"-sounding highs, making the Vibes suitable as in-ear monitors.
V-MASQUE is the speaker technology designed to reproduce V-MODA's sculpted sound curve. It involves using micro-sized metal alloy housings with dynamic neodymium speaker drivers to produce intense clarity and a warm, rich sound. Many other high-end headphones use balanced armature drivers, which can produce clarity well when inserted deeply--and for many people, uncomfortably--into the ear. Yet even in the best-case scenarios headphones using balanced-armature drivers can often lack warmth, producing a "mechanical"-sounding midrange and highs that feel flat and cold. The sound signature of the Vibe series is specifically designed for juicy lows and a sweet midrange yet maintains very precise highs.
Vibe's amazing hi-definition sound makes every element of your music crystal clear and present on a 3-D soundstage. The unique V-MASQUE dynamic driver and "beat port" airflow system recreates the sensation of a LIVE music experience. The "beat port" airflow system works by allowing the airflow to move throughout the housing naturally thanks to precision-cut holes in the driver and the housing. This airflow creates an organic output that is far different than other high-end in-ear monitors that can sound distant and mechanical. The Vibe simulates an experience of listening to live music thanks to the circulation that takes place inside the headphone.
BLISS is the acronym for "Bass-Level-Isolating Soft Silicon". Passive noise isolation by itself is not unordinary for in-ear headphones, yet extreme attention to detail is critical because of the fitting's effect in both comfort and sound. The exact thickness of the silicon can make all the difference in the world. Many of the "softest" silicon fittings on some brands proved to be too thick in V-MODA's user test panel. BLISS is made to not only be extremely comfortable in the ear canal, but also to be the easiest earphone to put in and take out quickly. This way one can rock quickly in a matter of seconds, then take an intermission before another encore.
The shape of the fitting is also extremely crucial to prevent them from popping out too easily by providing a proper seal. One of the interesting things V-MODA discovered is that the smaller the fitting, the better the fit for some users since the smaller fitting fits slightly deeper to prevent fall-out. However, many people commonly try only "larger" fittings thinking they may be tighter when the opposite is true. This is why V-MODA puts the small fittings on by default in the packaging, but users should try a few different sizes to decide for themselves optimal sound and comfort.
The design behind BLISS is also an ideology of how far deep the fittings should lie in the ear and the level of noise isolation. In V-MODA's user test groups, many users found that other high-end headphones required a fit too deep and too intrusive to get the best sound and comfort. BLISS fittings are "just right" for everyday use and the amount of noise isolation they provide.
Though designed as an audiophile headphone, the Vibe was also specifically designed to be used on the go while moving: at the gym, heading to the venue, or walking down the street. Even though the casing is made of metal, the Vibe amazingly weighs only 12 grams, which is a third of the weight of many other competing high-end headphones. It is also the only headphone designed to lie flush within the ear so that you can use it while laying down on a pillow.
Extra thought and research was also put into the cable. Why is the cable so important? The main cable diameter of 2.2mm and overall cord length of 44"-46" work best to prevent "earphone fallout". V-MODA's cables are rigorously tested with weights to withstand abuse.
In addition to all this, the Vibe comes with a lot of extras. A gold leather pouch provides quick and easy storage, and the Modawrap cable manager can be used to control the length of the cables which is especially great for use with sport armbands. Black and clear fittings are included for extra personalization and two pairs of each size fittings are included. Try all 3 sizes (small, medium, and large) of fittings to create secure fit maximize music listening experience. Gently insert fittings into ear canal deep enough to ensure optimal seal.
