September 27th, 2007

Swedish FireSteel

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Sweden brings a lot of things to the US market, Volvo, Saab, hey, even Ikea. In fact, I remember when Ikea first opened in my city, there were huge lines of people waiting to get in and spend money. So maybe there won’t be a huge line to buy one of these, but still, maybe there should be.

The Swedish Department of Defense has developed a small item that is used to create a spark, in any condition. The FireSteel, is simple, two elements that are linked together by a small lanyard are struck together and a flurry of sparks shoot out, helping to ignite campstoves, kindling to start a camp fire, or anything else you’d like to light (don’t try to like a cigar though, we don’t want to pay your hospital bill). Simple and effective seems to be the motto of this gadget, as it is already used by numerous armies around the world, as well as backpackers and campers looking for that extra spark. (That was horrible) Infact, the spark is so bright it can actually be used as a signal in case of an emergency.

Through testing the FireSteel has shown to spark even when soaked through with water, making it the greatest travel companion yet.

Pick one up from Amazon.com for only $15

September 27th, 2007

Choosing a Laptop for travel

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There are almost too many choices for computers on the market. What’s even worse (greater) is that they are all becoming more and more affordable. Five years ago, if you wanted a Laptop with 80gb and running over 1.5 ghz you would have to shell out quite a bit of money-quite the contrast of today. With so many options, it can be extremely difficult to find a laptop you will A. Be happy with, and B. Feel like you got a good deal.

Obviously, if you’ve got a lot of money to spend, and you travel to areas that will put your computer at higher risk to being dropped, smashed, covered in dust, dirt or sand, and generally abused more than a red-headed stepchild, you’d probably want to buy a Panasonic Toughbook. Personally I feel that they should be renamed the Panasonic No-one-can-afford-book. All joking aside, these are fairly “normal” computers, they run on Windows, and include all the features any other computer would, but they are built in rugged cases that are designed to withstand the shock of being dropped and hit, as well as gel inserts that surround key components like the hard-drive, CD-rom drive, etc.

If you are not so concerned with the durability of your computer, and you prefer to use a Mac, for instance, you could find yourself down at the Apple store checking out the MacBook and MacBook Pro. Like most Apple products, these computers are available in Silver, White, or Black, and match the other items Apple makes that probably take up space on your desk. As far as the performance goes, the MacBook is available in three versions, a basic white version with a 13-inch screen, all the way up to black version with a bigger hard-drive and some other small tweaks. Expect to spend about $1,300 on a MacBook. The Pro is just what it sounds like, a larger professional version, available in either a 15, or 17-inch version, over 2 ghz, and a titanium case. You can expect to pay around $2,000.

Obviously the price and practicality are important when you are looking for a laptop, so it helps if you have an idea of your needs, as well as an idea of how much you’re willing to spend.

A few other models to check out:

Sony Vaio
Toshiba Satellite
HP Compact Tablet

September 27th, 2007

AOL has invaded Mac

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If you once thought PC users were doomed thanks to America Online, then you haven’t been reading the news lately. With the release of Leopard, the new Mac OS, AOL will be launching “AOL Desktop.” The application is said to launch within seconds, allowing the user to access AIM clients, tab browsing similar to Firefox or newer versions of Internet Explorer, as well as multiple e-mail account configuration. No word yet on if it will sync with mail servers and take the place of Outlook, or other user-based mail programs.

We still haven’t seen if there is a box you can uncheck to tell AOL to stop sending you CD’s with their viruses, er, software in the mail, but if we find one, we’ll let you know.

September 26th, 2007

Validas goes Public

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If you’ve been reading up on our posts lately, you may have seen that Validas released their beta test a few weeks ago in order to spread the word about their new cell phone bill organizer.

If you’re too lazy to read back, in short, the program breaks down your monthly cellular bill into the different expenses that you’re paying for, helping you to weed out the extra charges that you are being billed and do not deserve. Validas is backed by former professionals of both Research in Motion and Verizon Wireless.

If you log onto the website at www.myvalidas.com you can see the amount of bills already uploaded for analysis as well as the annual savings-currently about $250 a year. Pricing starts at $5 per upload but you can save some money if you purchase multiple uploads.

Check out a sample of Validas here.

September 26th, 2007

USB 2.0 for Mac

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Next month, Pinnacle (not the golf company) will be releasing the USB 2.0 Video Capture software for your Mac. With many users jumping from PC to Mac thanks to the new Macbooks and user-friendly software that Apple has been introducing, some people are stuck with the problem that their certain video gadgets may not work with their Firefire Macs. Mainly, if you want to be able to take your files and convert them from your camera or camcorder for use in your iPod or iPhone, perhaps even Apple TV, or other Apple products, without jumping through tons of hoops of converting files for different formats, then you’ll want to pick up this software.

Reasonably priced at just under $100, it could save you a lot of hassle. You can read up on the release and other info from the website.

September 25th, 2007

Microsoft to buy Portion of Facebook

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Most of us own an account at one of the online networking sites. Not long ago, Myspace made news by being sold for what seemed at the time to be a rediculous price. What is the fact, however, is that large companies like Yahoo and Microsoft are willing to fork over large amounts of cash for what they deem as the future of marketing. Let’s face is, large companies don’t want to do anything that won’t somehow make them more money down the line, so obviously Microsoft hopes to use the network that is being expanded daily that is Facebook to their advantage in some way or another.

Through the months, privacy advocates have been attempting to make their voice heard over the masses, appealing that “selling out” to these companies will decrease the quality and low-key interface of some of these sites. Myspace is a common example, as the website has now become corrupted with more and more ads, attempting to target users.

Currently, Microsoft is said to be in discussion about a 5% stake purchase of Facebook, for somewhere between $300 million to $500 million, a lot of cash, but significantly less than the rumor of the $1 billion offer from Yahoo to purchase the entire website.

You can read more about this here.

September 24th, 2007

SwissCard Lite

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Ever find yourself needing clippers, tweezers, or a small screwdriver? Sure, you could try to use a dime, your finger nails, or something else, and you may feel resourceful afterwards, unless you end up hurting yourself (admit it, you do). Victorinox, the maker of the popular “Swiss Army” watches, utility tools, and other small items has a device so small that it will fit into your wallet right next to your credit card.

The SwissCard Lite is the size and shape of a common credit card, ID card, or another other card you would keep in your wallet, only this doesn’t cause you more problems like a credit card, it can actually help you solve some. Crammed into the small shell are 13 tools. Yes, 13:

1. Small blade/letter opener
2. Scissors
3-4. Mini-ruler (cm and inches)
5. Stainless steel pin
6. Ballpoint Pen
7. Tweezers
8. LED Flashlight
9. Magnifier
10-13. four screwdriver bits (3mm, 5mm, Phillips 00-0 and Phillips 1-2)

If that’s not a good enough reason to get one, how about the fact that they are over 40%, but only at Amazon.com here.

September 22nd, 2007

Airport Screeners reading books

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If you travel through air, it’s a given that you’re going to be going through security screening. While things have began to relax a bit since the time of 9/11, and screening seems to be running smoother, it’s still not uncommon to have long lines and be manually frisked by security agents while trying to board an aircraft.

Most of us wouldn’t realize how in-depth we are actually being screened however, as most of the methods used to choose individuals for more intensive screening are kept private. Recently, some privacy advocates have located records of international travelers. The records depict the race of the person being screened, but also record the answers given to agents when they are asked questions regarding their belongings or the purpose of their trips.

Supposedly, the documents show only a small portion of the larger file that records traveling actions and tendencies, as well as other details regarding passengers to help assign a “terrorist score,” a number that indicates the threat level of a given individual.

The article continues at WIRED here.

September 21st, 2007

Ooma Telephone

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No, I wasn’t watching Teletubbies before this post, but with a name like Ooma, who would have guessed? Despite the name, Ooma promises to bring very grown up solutions to a problem that has been around for years, bills. Mainly your telephone bill. We are probably all familiar with programs like Skype, and other Voice-over-IP (VOIP) methods of making calls for either free, or significantly reduced prices.

Ooma’s device, called a “hub,” is a small unit that is smaller than most message machines, and works by connecting it to your currently broadband internet connection, as well as your telephone. From there, you can make local and long distance phone calls (as long as they are within the lower 48) for free. If you wish to make an international call you will be charged a small fee, but significantly less than with traditional carriers. The service also includes voice mail and call screening, allowing it to actually replace your current phone line.

The initial cost is a little steep-you’re looking at about $399, but the price is set to raise to $599 starting in 2008. Ooma launched after an invite-only beta test during the summer, and users all over have been very satisfied with the results. You can read a more indepth article about Ooma from USA Today.

September 20th, 2007

iPhone also releasing in Germany

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Just a few days ago we posted that the Apple iPhone was swimming across the Atlantic to be released on November 9th in England. At the time, Apple CEO Steve Jobs declined comment on further releases, staying true to his humor in leaving everyone outside of the fruit company out of the loop. Shortly after, however, it’s been broken that the iPhone will not only be released in England, but as well as Germany.

T-Mobile will win the exclusive contract to provide service within Germany, and the phone will be priced at 399 Euros, including the famous VAT. Like with AT&T here in the United States, the contract will be a two-year commitment. The phone will be using the EDGE network, leading to speculation about it’s success in Europe, which is mostly converted to the newer, faster 3G network.

Experts predict that an announcement about a release date for France will be coming next, as there has been talks between Apple and Orange, one of France’s leading mobile services. Stay tuned for more updates as Apple seems to be appending their press releases constantly.