Thumbtack Microphone Price Now Down to $5.50 CAD

I just ordered a backup (I missed posting my regular Friday spot on RadioLabour a week ago because I left my then-only Thumbtack on my desk) and found it on (ugh) Amazon for $5.50 plus a couple of loonies for shipping.

New Uses for Thumbtacks

Eric Lee at LabourStart.org has discovered a new use for the Thumbtack. Read his blog entry HERE.

I'm thinking of starting a Thumbtack Fan Club.

Windsor Strike Rally Audio and Photos

I attended the Windsor muni strike rally yesterday. Two locals out for two months over a demand for an end to retiree benefits - by a city council that gives itself lifetime benefits.

I used my cute little Thumbtack to record some march noises and a few speeches. They're available off the FILES section on my UnionBook page HERE.

Stills of the march and rally are on Flickr HERE.

Thumbtack Obsession

I am still obsessing about this little gizmo.

So, imagine that you have a strike. Hand out a few dozen of these things to picketers with iPods and Hey! Presto!: instant strike podcast with interviews and feedback from the lines.

Or do what CGIL did, and send out a few folks, each with a small bag of these (and at $13US minus the bulk discount you can afford to). They hand them out like candy to people with iPods in view at a demo or march, along with a card encouraging them to record their thoughts and those of their co-demonstrators and activists, then send them along to a specified e-mail address.

Instant audio record of the demo, some useful campaign material perhaps, and just as importantly, a broader, deeper bit of feedback than you'll normally get from such.

Thumbtack Update

Can you tell I am easily obsessed with the latest gadget?

I recorded some speeches and some interviews at yesterday's Day of Mourning event in Cobourg (Ontario). It was windy, there's some of that in the recordings, but they're still useable.

Anyone any tips on reducing the wind interference?

Sitting on a Thumbtack

Well, perhaps not sitting on it, but keeping it in a pocket for sure. Perhaps even my back pocket.

The Switcheasy Thumbtack that is. The size of a plastic pushpin, it's a $13USD microphone that allows Nano 4G and Touch 2G owners to record on their iPods. There are mics that get slightly better reviews, but none as small.

Or near as cheap either. Which, given that my thought is to encourage 'citizen journalism' amongst union members, is a far bigger deal.

It will be a while before I check it out other than indoors and under near ideal conditions, but so far, so good. I'm actually rather impressed, but that initial take may be the gadget freak in me coming out (not that it is ever far from the surface). Clarity, recording levels and sensitivity/distance - all quite good. Given the physical design and size I'm a little concerned about how it will perform in a wind, and it'll be interesting to see and hear how it handles lots of background noise.

More later here on those points.

The idea is to have it and my iPod handy to record quick and dirty interviews and such which can then be sent on to a podder or two. And then to convince millions others to do the same...