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Griffin Technology 4020-TALK iTalk Voice Recorder for iPod

GRIFFIN iTalk -- Finally, an iPod Voice Recorder done the right way, with integrated mic and loudspeaker and styling that makes your iPod look even more heavenly! Plays back recordings through amazingly loud and clear integrated speaker, or optional headphones Pass-through headphone jack allows you to monitor voice recording, or listen to music without having to remove iTalk Download recordings to your computer for archiving or playback With iTalk - your iPod will listen to you! Supported iPod Models - 3rd-Generation (4 Horizontal Buttons) / 4th-Generation (Click Wheel) / iPod color / iPod photo

In its bid to make the iPod the handiest device on the planet (right up there with the Swiss Army knife), Griffin created the iTalk voice recorder, a combination microphone/speaker that attaches to your iPod's headphone and remote outputs. Griffin suggests using the iTalk for any number of tasks, from recording personal memos and interviews to archiving class lectures to listening to an audiobook on the speaker without wearing your headphones. And because the iPod offers such a large storage capacity, iTalk users can literally record thousands of hours of voice audio without running out of memory, making the device far more convenient than a portable cassette recorder.
Design and Setup
Griffin has been designing Apple accessories since 1992, so it's no stranger to the sleek styling encouraged by Steve Jobs and crew. And the iTalk--with its smooth, white housing and slick, silver-colored speaker--fits in perfectly. It also pays tribute to the Apple ethos by requiring no setup: just plug it in and start recording (the recording functions appear automatically on the iPod screen). Once the device is connected, a user relies on the click wheel to record, pause, play, save, and delete files. The iPod then stores the files in a Voice Memos folder within the Extras menu. Each time you sync your iPod to iTunes, the files transfer into an iTunes playlist also called Voice Memos, where you can listen to them on your computer or transfer them to other multimedia programs (they're saved as WAV files).
The iTalk includes a couple of features that help it stand out above competitors' products. The first is an automatic gain control, which instinctively adjusts the signal level to achieve the best possible recording. The second is a multifunction pass-through jack located on top of the unit. This lets users plug their headphones directly into the iTalk rather than removing the device to access the iPod's headphone output. Users can also connect an external microphone to the iTalk to enjoy additional recording options. In addition, the iTalk archives the date and time of the recording--a plus for people working on date-specific material.
Features and Performance
At its best, the iTalk performs solidly. The recordings are clear and easy to decipher, and the microphone picks up sounds from all over the room. We tested the iTalk's microphone at distances of a few inches, a foot, 5 feet, and 20 feet, and each time it performed admirably. It also picks up TV speakers and some ambient noise, depending on the situation. Playback quality is mixed, however. It's decent through the built-in speaker when played at high volumes (the sound can be somewhat scratchy), but very good through the headphones. Anybody using the iPod to transcribe recordings should definitely use the latter, as the audio is much crisper.
Unfortunately, the iTalk isn't always at its best. For unknown reasons, it often fails to play recordings it just made through the built-in speaker. The files play for a few seconds, and then the menu inexplicably returns to the recording screen. Occasionally, you can play the file by trying again, but other times the file stubbornly refuses to open. The same files often played just fine through the headphones, indicating that the problem originates in the speaker rather than the microphone. However, anyone using the iTalk for important recording tasks--something more than archiving grocery lists, say--should test the iTalk thoroughly to verify that the files are recording properly. Users should also be aware that the iTalk doesn't actually start recording until three or four seconds after the light turns on, which is somewhat aggravating at first, although you adjust quickly.
The problems with the built-in speaker extended to other forms of playback as well. Griffin touted the iTalk as a great way to listen to audiobooks without headphones, but it refused to play Jon Stewart's America (the Audiobook). Many users have complained that the iTalk often locks up their iPods, especially if the iTalk is installed when the iPod turns on. We suffered through a single lockup, which required a quick reset, but didn't experience the problems described by other users. It's possible that the latest iPod software updates have resolved the freezing issues, but the glitch appears at least common enough to mention.
The iTalk is a mixed bag overall. The concept is terrific, and when Griffin releases the next generation of iTalk, it'll likely be a great buy. But in the meantime, users should proceed with caution. If you can afford to re-record your memos on the occasions that playback fails--or if you can test the microphone to make sure the speaker is the only source of the problem--the iTalk can be quite handy. However, if reliability is a major concern, such as when recording one-time lectures or interviews or archiving song ideas, iPod owners might want to take a pass. --Rivers Janssen
Pros

Recording quality is quite good
Sleek, attractive design complements iPod perfectly
Pass-through jack lets user connect headphones or external mic
Cons

Playback often fails through built-in speaker
Many iPod owners have experienced lockups when iTalk is connected
3- or 4-second delay before recording starts
What's in the Box
iTalk microphone/speaker, user's manual.

If you thought your Apple iPod was just an MP3 player, you're in for a surprise: Griffin Technology's tailor-made iTalk plugs into the top of your iPod and turns your digital music player into a world-class voice recorder with literally thousands of hours of recording time.
With iTalk you can record seminars, meetings, classes, notes in your car, songs in the woods, whatever your life or imagination dictates. iTalk's built-in monaural microphone is designed to record crystal-clear audio from sources up to 100 feet away, and onboard Automatic Gain Control ensures optimal recording levels. You can even connect an external microphone directly to iTalk for greater flexibility.
iTalk's built-in speaker is great for playback of voice memos. You can also use iTalk as a mini-speaker for your iPod's music files. Play your favorite audio book through iTalk or listen to a downloaded seminar. You'll never realize how much you've missed a built-in speaker--until you have one.
There's a stereo headphone jack too, of course. It includes an iPod passthrough circuit so you can monitor your voice recording or listen to your music without removing iTalk. You can even download your recordings to play back on your computer.

The Fairmont Gas Engine & Railway Motor Car Co. was founded in Fairmont, Minnesota in 1909 and began building a variey of gasoline-powered motor cars which would replace the Pump Car. These early internal-combustion vehicles became the basis for all motor cars built since. By 1949, the renamed Fairmont Railway Motors Company was offering 19 models of motor cars to customers, most being available in 11 different gauges from 23" to 66".

Fairmont became a pioneer in the development of mechanized track maintenance equipment and introduced hydraulic power to the difficult tasks of pulling and driving track spikes and replacing crossties. In the 1940's Fairmont developed road / rail guide wheel attachments, and its HY-RAIL (R) guide wheel units revolutionized track inspection transportation. Demand was very strong for 50 years, but by the 1970's, sales of motor cars were slipping, due to the rapidly shrinking railroad network and a widespread switch to Hy-Rail Vehicles. The Hy-Railers, which utilize a commercial truck frame and body that can travel on both track and roadways, began to rapidly replace the faithful motor car as a way to transport trackworkers and equipment. In 1979 Fairmont was acquired by the Harsco Corporation, and became part of Harsco Track Technologies. The last of a total of nearly 73,000 Fairmont motor cars was manufactured in 1991.

The Museum's Section Gang Car is a Fairmont Railway Motors "A6-F" Model built new for the Morristown & Erie Railroad (M&E) circa 1956. The unit weighs approximately 5,100 lbs, is just under 10 feet long and has a seating capacity of 6-9 workers. It is powered by a Ford Industrial 6-cylinder, 185-horsepower, 300 cubic-inch engine, and is capable of 20- 40 mph. It is a 4-wheel drive model with a 4-speed transmission. Fairmont manufactured 1,216 models of this type between 1956 and 1985. As built, the car features front and rear windscreens and bulkheads as well as a roof. Originally the sides were open, but had additional canvas side-curtains to protect the crew during inclement weather. During the 1980's the M&E added removable side doors with windows as a feature to further protect the crews and keep the car locked up at night.

Owned by Steve Pratt of Missouri City, TX

Engine:
351 Windsor Bored 0.030 Over
AFR 185 Aluminum Heads
Wiend Stealth Aluminum Intake
Holley 750 Double Pumper w/ mechanical Secondaries
Crane Hydraulic Flat Trappet Carn (502/520 Lift 226/236 Duration)
Edelbrock Aluminum Water Pump
Griffin Aluminum Radiator w/ Dual Electric Fans


Exhaust:
Hooker Ceramic-Coated Long Tube Headers
2-1/2 inch X-Pipe
Flowmaster Three Chamber Mufflers
Magnaflow Stainless Steel Tips


Driveline:
Tremet TKO 600 5-Speed w/ Pro 5.0 Shifter
9-inch Ford 3:50 Trac-Loc
Moser 31-spline Axies
Baer Four-Wheel Power Disc Brakes w/ PBR Calipers
American Racing 15 x 7 Torque Thrust "D" Wheels
Nitto NT 450 225/50-15 Radials (Front)
Mickey Thompson 225/50-15 ET Street Drag Radials (Rear)


Body:
Color: Factory Tahoe Turquoise
Original Glass & Trim
Fiberglass Cowl Induction Hood
Fiberglass "Shelby Style" Front Apron


Interior:
Original Dashpad/Headliner/Back Seat
15-Inch Moto Lita Steering Wheel
Hurst Stick w/ Line -Loc Handle
Auto Meter Gauges
Alpine CD Player w/ Four Polk Speakers
3 Point Safety Belts
Vintage Air A/C w/ Sanden Compressor
Attachment Console
Tinted Windows


Quarter Mile:
13.6 @ 102 MPH on Drag Radials

Taken at the Ellington Field Airport JRB Aeros & Autos 2009 Open House Drive & Fly in.

Christys photos

This authoritative work provides a systematic, comprehensive overview of theory and research on adult attachment. The authors—who have been at the forefront of this rapidly growing field since the concepts of "adult attachment" and "attachment style" were first developed—trace how Bowlby and Ainsworth's original constructs have evolved through the study of adolescents and adults. They review extant measures and analyze how attachment theory has been used to advance scientific understanding of emotions, social cognition, close relationships, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.