Tag: Hardware

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Blogging Chester County Downingtown Equipment eWaste Google Maps Hardware Information Recycle Reference

eWaste Recycling in Downingtown area

Like many folks, I want to do my part in trying to save the planet by recycling the various things that I use, and over the years, I have collected a few things…

Recycling 2005
Recycling 2011

Sometimes it is not easy to know what to do with a collection, and things like eBay, are not the best or easiest solution, so…

So I have put together a Post on where to Recycle eWaste in the Downingtown, Chester County PA area, for those that might be experiencing a similar situation.

If know of any other ways to locally recycle eWaste, please let me know!

Borough of Downingtown

The Borough of Downingtown also maintains a website for Recycling, which include such things as:

  • Trash & Recycling on Tuesdays
  • Bulk Trash on the LAST Tuesday of the Month
  • Tree Limb Chipping on the 2nd Monday of the Month (Appointment Only)

For more information, please check the website, or their Facebook page.

Chester County Solid Waste Authority

Bet you have never heard of these folks, but they help run many of the local recycling efforts, and should be first on your list of places to check.

The map below show what is going on currently in the Chester County area:


View 2013 Regional Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection Program in a larger map

Additional Links can be found at their main website, chestercountyswa.org.

There is also a Facebook page, where you can also “Like” them!

RecyclingCenters.org

Doing a quick search on recyclingcenters.org, can also be helpful if you have something more unique.

Best Buy

This was another national company that I found that has an eWaste program, and has a local drop-off policy.

I called the store in Downingtown, and spoke with someone in the Geek Squad about what to do when you bring in your 3 items per day limit.

You do not need to call ahead, but you are asked to bring items to the Customer Service people at Geek Squad desk, at the right when you walk in.

If you have more than one item or need help, it is requested that you contact the Security for further assistance.

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Hopefully, this information will help someone else in the area!

I do plan to up-date the page as needed, so please, if you find something, please let me know!

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Categories
Camera Equipment Gadgets Hardware HDR Long Exposure Photography Reviews Tips

TripodClamps for iTouch – Review

TripodClamps.com RAP-B-121-UN7U Cell Phone Clamp

Abandoned Paper Mill Reflections hdr 09
Abandoned Paper Mill Reflections hdr 09

When I originally wrote my research review, and posted it on Google+, one of the companies that I heard from was TripodClamps.com, and they suggested that I take a look at their Model RAP-B-121-UN7U Cell Phone Clamp on their website.

After reviewing the information, we exchanged a few more comments on Google+, about my concern for the iPod slipping from the four fingers of the clamp, and I was reassured that the rubber and the tension from the string grips would be sufficient.

So I ordered a unit, and several days later, my box arrived, and I quickly put the unit together and on my tripod for testing in my office.

Interestingly enough, I did allow my kids (8g & 6b) to play with the clamp and my iTouch, while connected to my camera, and I did not see any real reason to worry if the iTouch was slipping, even as my kids removed and replaced the iTouch, several times. I did this to try to judge the grip strength.

They could do it, but not easily.

Testing on Land – Completed and qualified

My next test was going to be over some water, on a little damn spillway near me.

This was my first time carrying my tripod while the clamp was attached, and it became quickly apparent, that it was there.

At first, there was now only one way I could carry the tripod on my shoulder, without the unit poking me in the head or shoulder, and while climbing through the brush, it was another item that did get caught in the branches as I walked around.

Another thing that I wanted to check, while over water, was how easy it was to trigger the camera from the iDevice, and not cause any additional movement further up the tripod.

Yes, I tried this on land, but there is something about being over water, and about to trigger a 15+ minute series of exposures.

One already has to worry about the water rushing around the tripod legs causing vibrations.

I was happy to find, that the clamp did not seem to transmit any additional moment, and the iDevice seems to be more sensitive than I had realized!

120912 Marsh Creek Spillway bw 07 - (3) Stops [32-259 seconds] f22 ISO 100
120912 Marsh Creek Spillway bw 07 – (3) Stops [32-259 seconds] f22 ISO 100
Testing over Water – Completed and qualified

Conclusion

If you are interested in a way to attach your iTouch to a Tripod, I would definitely invite you to take a look at this TripodClamps.com offering.

I am also still looking for a water-proof case for my iTouch, and the Clamp seems to have enough extra ‘reach’ that I will not have to by another mount.

Even though I did run into some issues while first working with this Clamp, that seemed more about me, learning how to best work with new equipment, then the function of the clamp, and I offer the following “Notes to Self”…

Notes to self

  • Carry clamp in a vest pocket while walking/exploring
  • Attach clamp prior to going over water
  • Keep iDevice in a pocket till needed

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Categories
Gadgets Networking Reviews Web

Pogoplug – Easy File Sharing

I first read about this in the current (12/7) issue of Networkworld.com

Pogoplug: A wolf in sheep’s clothing

It is a very interesting idea for a home User, but as the article points out, one would NOT want to have something like this in a Corporate environment!

Need to do some more reading, and budget some money…

Let me know what you think.

– Andrew
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