Not your father's pocket knife
Victorinox, manufacturer of the world famous Swiss pocket knives, wants people to consider these tools essential even in this digital age. Their SwissFlash USB memory sticks give a visual indication of operating status and also use the LED color to signal the operating mode — write protected or normal.
The SwissFlash line offers storage from 1 GB to 16 GB in combination with a new-style laser pointer or ultra-bright LED. The laser pointer is the smallest in its class and boasts an automatic power control and also a safety dimmer. The laser pointer is powered using just one small button cell battery. The integrated LED light also requires only a single small button cell, despite producing a light beam of up to 18,000 mcd, equivalent to the light of a normal torch. The light features a battery alert function, which gives the user advance warning that the battery will soon need changed.
Depending on the model, not surprisingly the SwissFlash pocket tool also offers other integrated features such as a blade, scissors, nail file with screwdriver and a pressurized ballpoint pen, which writes at any angle.
Making transcription easier
If you’ve ever had to transcribe an audio tape of a speech or presentation, then you know what a painful experience it can be. Express Scribe Transcription Playback Software is free professional audio player software for PC, Mac or Linux designed to assist in the transcription of audio recordings.
The program is installed on the typist’s computer and can be controlled using a transcription foot pedal or keyboard with “hot” keys. This computer transcriber application also offers valuable features for typists including variable speed playback, multi-channel control, file management and more.
Express Scribe offers variable speed playback with constant pitch. The software has the ability to dock both analog and digital portable recorders to load recordings. The software can also work with speech recognition software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking to automatically convert speech to text. Download it from www.nch.com.au/scribe/index.html.
Play it all
Most computers come with some sort of media player software that plays some formats. ALLPlayer plays anything. It has a built-in connection to Opensubtitles.org, which enables you to watch movies with instant subtitles. Plus, ALLPlayer contains a subtitle speaker function, which allows users to hear the subtitles, too. Download it from www.allplayer.org/en.