Tech Gadgets Tips

December 28, 2008 – 6:41 pm

Reading the manual remains the best advice when it comes to taking a shiny high-tech gadget out of the box: See what the manufacturer has to say about the product.

Here are three other tips. Keep the packaging and receipts. Store them out of the way, but not out in the trash. A lot of high-tech gadgets are also new to the market, which means there could be bugs in software, problems with hardware or other flaws that only time and use will fix. If something drastically bad happens, you want to be able to have every shred of purchase evidence on your side.

Recycle the old gadgets. The local solid waste folks host electronics recycling days. You can drop off old cell phones, computers, monitors and other items so they can be disassembled and, if possible, reused. Many gadgets have small amounts of hazardous materials in them that, in tiny quantities, won’t do harm. But if everyone tosses their old computer monitors into the trash, they end up en masse at the landfill, and so does lead.

Update your computer. Whether it’s a PC or a Mac, you’ll get the occasional reminder that new software updates are available. While it may feel like a hassle to grab 500 megabytes of something as uncool as an operating system, just know that it’s important. There could be security flaws that leave you and your private information exposed. This applies to everything from your Internet browsers to your iTunes software. When prompted, go ahead and get the update. Tech companies make this process so simple and automatic anymore that it’ll be easy.

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Three Must Have Gizmo Gifts

December 1, 2008 – 12:25 pm

If your television is old and doesn’t have a digital receiver, you’ll need a DTV converter to get over-the-air signals when analog broadcasting ends on Feb. 17. Consumer Reports paid $55 for this model and judged it tops of the 35 it tested. The federal government is making $40 debit cards available to help citizens absorb the cost of converting analog TV sets. Call 888.388.2009 or visit www.dtv2009.gov to apply. The Alpha Digital AT2016 DTV converter box will be a must-have.

At a list price of $99, the Netflix Player by Roku is a set-top box that allows you to access 12,000 Netflix titles for instant streaming on your TV. There are other devices that will do the same thing, such as the Xbox 360, which every household with a teenage male probably already owns.

The Sony Reader costs about $100 less than the Kindle, and appears to do a lot less like in the periodicals department, which is a favorite use for e-readers. It also doesn’t have the super-slick wireless-download thing going for it, connecting to Sony’s eBookstore instead through a wired PC connection. But if e-books are your thing, the Reader is a less-expensive option, and some users prefer its look and feel to the Kindle’s.

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World Records for New Technology

November 13, 2008 – 8:17 am

Guiness Book of World Records has come out with some new records for technology. Here are three incredible ones.The world’s lightest cell phone is the modu. It weighs only 40.1 g. It is manufactured by modu in Israel and was launched at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 11 2008. The modu is just 72.1 mm tall, 37.6 mm wide and 7.8 mm thick. It has a full color screen and 1 GB of internal memory for music and pictures.

The first fully submersible sports car? Yes, it is the Rinspeed sQuba car. It is manufactured by Rinspeed of Switzerland. It was presented at the Geneva Motorshow on March 6 2008. This open-top car can be driven on land, float on the surface of water and steered below water by a driver wearing breathing apparatus. The sQuba is also environmentally friendly, powered by lithium ion batteries.

The world’s most powerful laser by output is the Texas Petawatt Laser at the University of Texas. On March 31 2008 it achieved an output of one petawatt when it was fired for a tenth of a trillion of a second (0.0000000000001 seconds). The world’s most powerful handheld laser is also in the book. It can burst a balloon from a distance.

What will they think of next? It is certainly an amazing world of technology.

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Tech Gadgets You Have Never Heard Of

October 5, 2008 – 4:55 pm

We are all familiar with the best known tech gadgets like the iPod and iPhone, but what about some of the lesser known gadgets? Here are three really cool ones that you may not have heard anything about.

Projector Phone

The Tri Brand Phone made by Chinavision is a GSM/GPRS Touchscreen Cell Phone with a built in projector which allows you to project pictures,videos, address and phone data or anything you like onto a wall. The Tri Brand Phone is already selling like hot cakes and one reason for that is because of the affordable pricing of $365. The Tri Brand Phone also include multimedia functions such as digital camera for photos taking and video recording, mp3/mp4 playing functions, ebook reader and 1800mah battery for long battery usage.

Bracelet Video Player

Bracelet media player made with e-paper is a concept media bracelet produced by the Chocolate Agency Company. It has a very thin but flexible display that can be bent on both sides. The bracelet can be unrolled to work as a video player and can play movies and video clips. This gadget requires no batteries as it charges itself using the kinetic energy produced by the person who wears it.

Electronic Key Finder

The gadgets for automotive industry are also coming into prominence, one particular gadget is for finding car keys that are lost by defining location of your keys. This gadget is called the Electronic Key Finder and works with any kind of keys with metal. It is priced at a affordable price of $29.95. The Electronic Key Finder has a range of 300 feet and works by attaching a key ringer to your car keys that respond with a loud alarm and bright flashing lights whenever you press a button.

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New Apple iPods Coming

September 11, 2008 – 4:04 pm

The new Nano is coming and expect a taller and thinner version. The new Touch is sleeker and cheaper. In other words, Apple’s “Let’s Rock” event went down pretty much as expected—and frankly, it was a bit of a letdown. Tech observers and analysts had warned that today’s iPod-focused Apple event might be something of dud, short of a breathtaking “One More Thing!”-type announcement. Well, this time, there was no big surprise at the end—unless you call a pair of acoustic songs by special guest Jack Johnson a big surprise. Instead, we pretty much got what the rumor mongers said we would: A new, tall-and-thin Nano (similar to the first two Nano models), a cheaper and slightly-tweaked version of the Touch, and a new 120GB Classic. iTunes got updated—yes, with a new song recommendation feature, dubbed Genius—and a new iPhone firmware update (with a slew of fixes) is set to arrive.

But if you were hoping for, say, a new Apple TV, new MacBooks or MacBook Pros, a new touchscreen MacBook, or an iTunes music subscription service—well, sorry Charlie. Didn’t happen. What was notable, however, was that Steve Jobs looked (by all accounts, at least) relatively healthy. A big title card reading “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” appeared before Jobs bounded on the stage, and Gizmodo reports that the Apple CEO looked “skinny, but energetic.” That should calm any investors spooked by Jobs’ gaunt appearance during June’s iPhone launch, not to mention the obit that accidentally hit the wires a couple of weeks ago.

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Technology fashion show to add glitz to GITEX

August 25, 2008 – 11:28 am

Several state-of-the-arts gadgets and gizmos, many of which are yet to be launched, will be put on show during Dubai’s forthcoming mega consumer electronic event. The GITEX Technology Week, which is also to be accompanied with glamorous Tech-Walk Fashion Show, will provide a preview of brand new consumer technology products. According to organizers, the most recognised brand names in consumer technology like HP, Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo and Sharp will be displaying their new products at the ‘Gizmo Showcase’. Some of the latest technology on show will include designer mobile phones, MP3 players, HD cameras, and one of the biggest LCD screens in the world, they said.

“The best technology is not just built around an impressive specification any more. How the product is designed and looks is critical to get a younger generation enthused with the latest advancements. “Our tech-savvy audience will be eagerly anticipating the exciting line-up of cutting-edge consumer gadgets and product releases on display,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai world Trade Centre. The Middle East is one of the fastest growing consumer electronic markets, with the total ICT spend in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) expected to rise by 50 per cent to $45 Billion by 2010, according to studies by IDC and IMF. The week-long exhibition is scheduled to be held here from 19-23 October this year.

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Gadgets to help you take your life on the road

July 15, 2008 – 10:10 am

 LOWELL CONN, Canwest News Service

Jabra breaks monotony:

In this weekly column generally littered with stereo and navigation systems, I thank the heavens for the occasional Bluetooth headset that comes along and breaks up the monotony. Jabra’s new BT4010 is a worthwhile departure, receiving and transmitting cellular phone calls wirelessly while providing up to six hours of talk time and/or 150 hours of standby time.

It boasts s-ECO technology, which means little to me except for the fact that it provides clearer sound and gets Bluetooth 2.0 transmissions up and running within seconds. The big selling point on this device, though, is its LCD “smart” display, which provides immediate information about battery power, Bluetooth connectivity and call status

While this feature is a considerable upgrade over devices that contain no such feedback — thus providing an easier experience when troubleshooting — the LCD display might be an extravagance on a device that will spend most of its time in your ear.  US$60; visit www.jabra.com.

Deskinacar is not a vacation spot:

While Deskinacar may sound like an exotic destination in Southeast Asia, it is, in fact, a lightweight polycarbonate, durable portable folding desk designed to facilitate working in the car. The accompanying product image does not do justice in portraying its versatility. Yes, it will provide a straight, hard surface on which to store gadgets and equipment, but Deskinacar also offers a comfortable writing space by opening up to various angles.

While it need not be said, I do not condone the usage of this product while operating a motor vehicle. However, I do understand its appeal for quick usage, while stopped at a red light, to jot down a note, sign a cheque or write out a last-minute anniversary card. I’d be remiss if I did not credit the manufacturer, Officeinacar Inc., for managing to create products and company names that are uniquely literal and exotic in one fell swoop.   $50; visit www.deskinacar.com.

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Top Gadgets in the Last 25 Years

July 2, 2008 – 10:17 am

Entertainment Weekly recently came out with The Top 25 gadgets and innovations with the biggest effect on pop culture since 1983. Surprisingly enough, the cell phone did not make the list. I don’t agree with Satellite radio or Stadium Multiplex seating being in there. Here is the top 10.

1. The DVD player

2. Napster

3. TiVo

4. iPod

5. YouTube

6. Realistic CG characters

7. Digital video cameras

8. Flat panel TVs

9. Satellite radio stations

10. Stadium multiplex seating

What will the future technology bring? Stay tuned to this site to see.

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With gadgets, early adopters now wary adopters

June 21, 2008 – 9:17 pm

by Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Times

Do you pride yourself on being an early adopter of new technology? Perhaps you were envied as the first on your block to have the stylish Apple iPhone last year – only to find that those who waited a mere two months got theirs for $200 less. Maybe you bought an HD DVD player last year, wanting to show off the high-definition picture and sound – only to find that the format war that looked to have no end in sight was soon decided in favor of Blu-ray Disc.

Or are you an early-but-not-too-early adopter? You might have waited a few months to get that lower-priced iPhone – only to discover just this month that a new iPhone will be released in July that costs another $200 less and has important new features, including a global-positioning system and access to the faster 3G data network.

You might have thought you were smart by waiting for the high-def DVD format war to end before purchasing a Blu-ray player – but you’ll see new players hitting the market this summer with new interactive BD Live technology that your player doesn’t support. Early adopters have always paid a premium for being the first to sample new technology, but that premium seems to be a lot higher these days.

“I think the new ‘norm’ for technology is change,” says Kit Eaton, a contributing editor of the gadget blog Gizmodo.com. “We’re used to technology advancing quickly, so we know that when we buy something, it’s not going to be the ‘cutting edge’ gadget it was when we bought it for very long.”

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