yeti

There are those who believe that Yetis exist, most especially Georgians.

All too often when these claims are investigated, though, they turn up a gorilla costume and a couple of rogues.

However, someone is finally bringing scientific credibility to the search not only for Yetis, but also the Loch Ness Monster and, for all I know, unicorns.

Oxford University's Wolfson College has decided to invite every human being in the world to send in samples of animals that appear to be something of a mystery. … Read more

With ever-increasing numbers of people turning to VoIP services, online video chats, and even personal podcasts or Webcasts, top-shelf audio equipment like headsets and desktop microphones are becoming as common as the computers they complement.

The Yeti Pro is an attempt by veteran audio-peripheral maker Blue Mic to offer an elite-function microphone at a price accessible to consumers. An upgrade over the Yeti, the Yeti Pro proclaims itself to be the "world's first USB microphone combining 24 bit/192 kHz digital recording resolution with analog XLR output." It allows the warmer sound of that analog to emerge from the 1s and 0s of its Mac or PC hub.

The Yeti Pro promises to "capture digital audio with up to four times the clarity found on CDs." It also provides a built-in headphone amplifier and direct controls for headphone volume, mute, and microphone gain. This all means that the microphone records professional-quality audio through computers any average consumer can snag. With its suggested price of $230 to $300 (depending on outlet and extras), the microphone is not outside the reach of amateur audio enthusiasts looking for a professional home microphone. … Read more

When Blue Microphones announced the Yeti USB microphone ($149) in November, I was a little apprehensive about the name. Sure, Blue Microphones has been playing it cutesy over the years with microphones named Snowball, Snowflake, Mikey, and Bottle Rocket--but Yeti?

Well, after getting my hands on this thing I can now say that I fully understand the thinking behind the name. For starters, this microphone is huge--like, disturbingly huge. It measures a foot tall, weighs 3.5 pounds, and--to be perfectly frank--it's starting to give me a complex.

But beyond its intimidating size, the Yeti moniker is just as fitting as a way to describe its sound. Compared with similar microphones, such as the Samson G-Track or even Blue's own $99 Snowball, the Yeti's sound quality offers noticeably better depth and detail. It's a big sound from a big microphone, which is probably what I should have said in the first place instead of wasting your time with the last two paragraphs.

OK, so what else are you getting with the Yeti? From a features perspective the Yeti offers an integrated control for gain adjustment, zero-latency headphone monitoring, headphone volume control, a handy little mute button, and a switch for selecting between four microphone recording patterns (omni, cardioid, stereo, bidirectional). The solid metal man-shaped stand is also a nice feature, and does a better job than the G-Track or Snowball at placing the microphone at mouth level. If the cutesy-ness of the stand is overwhelming, a standard, threaded mic stand mount is also included on the bottom of the Yeti.

When it comes to performance, the Yeti has plenty to brag about. For starters, this is the first microphone or audio input device to receive the coveted THX certification. I asked Blue Microphones to tell me what was required to get the THX stamp of approval. Apparently, it involves a multitude of factors, such as tests for frequency response and signal to noise ratio, and--perhaps more importantly--proof of performance consistency across multiple product batches. In other words, it had to sound good and have a reasonable chance of sounding good every time.… Read more

It seems so long ago that a couple of chancers from the state of Georgia declared that they had found Bigfoot. And it seems almost as long ago that it was discovered that they had merely purloined a gorilla suit and stuck it in a freezer.

However, one of the most renowned naturalists in the world, Sir David Attenborough, said this weekend that he still believes it might be out there.

Appearing with British talk show host Jonathan Ross, Sir David, the man whose whispering voice has never disturbed even the most skittish bird, said, "I'm baffled by … Read more

In uncertain times like these, we are desperate to turn myth into reality.

Sex with Madonna really isn't all it's cracked up to be, according to those gossiping over her divorce. And there really are supranatural creatures out there that have evaded captivity, according to many explorers, scientists, and teenagers.

So if you're not persuaded that a Creepy Gnome really is terrorizing Northern Argentina, or that Bigfoot will ever be found (and certainly not by a couple of mendacious hicks) then perhaps you will believe Yoshiteru Takahashi.

Takahashi has caused a great stir over the last couple … Read more

"You are a young gifted mountain climber traveling to Nepal with your best climbing buddy Carlos, to find the legendary Abominable Snowman (otherwise known to locals as a "Yeti"). Not long after your arrival in the Himalayas, Carlos goes missing. What do YOU do?," asks R.A. Montgomery.

Do you look for your friend Carlos or do you continue searching for the Abominable Snowman without him? You decide. Only this time, you click a link instead of turning to page 46.

The Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) series books of yesteryear are back as downloads for … Read more