Not So universal USB

USB_Cables Originally uploaded by shersteve There is a need for the 4 port hub and maybe even for a larger size. The more devices I get, the more unique connections they require. While the large end of the USB cable is common, the small end is unique and in some cases proprietary. The Canon cable can't be used elsewhere. Neither does the Apple iPod Nano dock and cable. I can use the iRiver on my BlackBerry but not the Blackberry on my iRiver. How do you avoid getting tangled up in cables? FYI: click through to Flickr to see the descriptive note on the picture itself.

Microphone makes a difference

Yes, this is simple enough insight. It took a while to arrive at but I got there today, finally. One, the problem I have had with my MP3 player may really have been the microphone all along. It is a small unit from Giant Squid. I had purchased a stereo mic at Radio Shack and had trouble setting it up. If I set it to record mono, I got nothing. If I set it to record stereo it did record. Come to find out: The iRiver recorder requires a mono microphone to have a certain type of mono plug in order to record in the mono mode. If the Iriver detects a stereo plug it will automatically switch to stereo mode. To avoid this the "+" of the mic has to be connected to the the ring of the plug. "Tip" is left open. The Iriver thus detects it as a mono mic. Our iRiver Omni Mono Microphones are wired this way. So that is why! I ordered a new one today.