Video: Christmas Weather Gadgets, Part I.

UPDATE: Part II of Christmas Weather Gadgets is now online!

UPDATE: You can see some sample videos that I have done with the Flip Video camera here. I also added a video of the Weather Beacon cycling colors below.

It's that time of year... if you have last-minute presents to buy for your friend the weather geek, or maybe you're getting money for Christmas (you weather weenie, you!)...

During this Pre-Christmas week I am examining several gadgets that I use to keep an eye on the weather. This blog entry is Part 1 and contains two videos; Part 2 is coming later this week. In the video below, from my home office, AKA Gadget-ville, I demonstrate and review...

The Ambient Weather Beacon, The Brookstone 5-Day Weather Forecaster, the Flip Video Camera and Verizon VCAST.

NOTE: THE VIDEO ABOVE MAY BE PRECEDED BY ADVERTISEMENTS ON AD-SUPPORTED SITES

All The Weather Information Comes From

Ambient Devices

Both the Beacon and the Forecaster can receive data for (1 on the Beacon, 5 on the Forecaster) by default, and any zipcode with their Premium service.

On the box there is a picture of a satellite (high above the earth transmitting the information to the device), but if you read their it reveals that they use the Flex Paging Network installed on cell phone towers and other places, meaning it's better than Wireless Broadband, but not as ubiquitous as satellite (check the map on their site to make sure you're covered).

NOTE: THE VIDEO ABOVE MAY BE PRECEDED BY ADVERTISEMENTS ON AD-SUPPORTED SITES

Here is some video taken with my digital camera of the Weather Beacon in "demo mode" cycling through all the colors (the pulsing light freaked out the camera's light sensors so this is a little dark, a slightly better version appears in our Photo Gallery):

Join me later this week when we take a closer look at an or two... and I might even tell you how to make a cheap, high-resolution webcam for under $100.

P.S.: This blog entry was recorded Sunday, but due to the Superstorm, transmission was delayed until today.

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