iGadget Life » Gadgets

High Tech Turns Bathrooms Into Spas

Amanda — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:25:04 +0000

The two most vital rooms in a home for women are the kitchen and the bathroom. The two most important rooms for men are the – game room, entertainment room, office, den, man cave or whatever he chooses to call that special room where he kicks back with a beer and remote control in hand – and the bathroom.

So it’s safe to assume that the bathroom is an essential room of the house.

The bathroom is a getaway… our one true private space. With today’s technology, bathrooms can become an oasis – a luxury spa and your private retreat. The bathroom has seen drastic changes since 3000 B.C.

Whether you call it a bathroom, the loo, lavatory or a water closet, check out these innovative ideas that will transform your bathroom into a sanctuary:

Kohler C3 Toilet Seat

Enjoy some quality personal time with the C3 125 Toilet seat. Soothing water is used instead of tissue. A side control operates two self-cleaning wands and warm air dryer. A deodorizer and a self-warming seat rounds out the throne fit for any king.

GROHE Grohtherm Wireless Shower Control

With the Grohtherm Wireless shower control, you can start the shower from your bedroom and by the time you get into the bathroom it will be on and perfectly adjusted to your temperature and flow choices. Now you can easily set the shower to match your mood, and you can do it all remotely.

MirrorVision

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, what is the Basketball score? Not only can you check out the score, you can watch the game! Mirrorvison by Pro Display combines a mirror with an LCD TFT panel, allowing it to pull double duty as both mirror and TV/PC screen.

Water Sensing Shower Head Light

Immerse yourself in water and light with this unique item from Think Geek. The LED show head light shines blue for cold water and red for hot. What’s more, no power connection is required, since it has an internal turbine that generates its own power. You have to agree, this is a bright addition to a luxurious bathroom.

Towel Warmer

This free standing towel stand will heat your towel for a warm, crisp shower experience. Not only that, it will also warm up bath robe, allowing you to have something nice and toasty to snuggle into after the shower.

TV Tub

Designer Karim Rashid has given us a magnificent deep tub that not only allows you to soak away your cares, it also offers entertainment via the enclosed TV at the foot of the tub. The modern design is executed in Liquid Acrylic Resin, making it antibacterial and easy to care for.

Eago Showers Two Person Steam Shower

Designed for two, the 3 kw steam shower house features a FM radio and built in whirlpool. The system also offers chromotherapy via an integrated color LED system to set the desired mood, from invigorating and healing to calming and tranquilizing.

Ultimate Clean Toilet

The commode has been the site of a constant battle between man and woman since its invention. But with this unique design from Yanko it converts from urinal to toilet with the push of a button. As if making peace was not enough, it also self-cleans with steam and UV lighting.

VADO Squid Shower Head

The Vado shower head may look like something from a horror movie, but its six heads allow for a nearly-infinite arrangement of water blasts to adjust as you see fit. We’ll let your imagination decide where to point the heads.

Ideal Standard New Idea Super Shower

Dubbed the Supershower, the New Idea from Ideal Standard is adorned with whirlpool jets. The jets are arranged in 8 vertical, 3 dorsal, and 2 atomizing specifically for the face. The system encompasses the therapeutic properties of the Kneipp method, givng you a relaxing and delightful shower experience.

So whether you have the budget to do a whole new bathroom or not… you can always do something to make your time in the bathroom a spa-like experience. And remember, on the plus side, you can’t go wrong updating bathrooms regarding resale value.

High Tech Suits Help 2010 Winter Olympians Compete

Amanda — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:27:29 +0000

Today’s Olympic athletes are world class competitors, and often the winning margins are so slight that any edge can have major consequences at the time of competition. As we saw with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the infamous Speedo LZR Racer suits contributed greatly to having a competitive edge.

With that knowledge, it should come to no surprise that the 2010 Winter Olympics are employing special suits with which to compete. The exact physical traits of the suits are regarded as important secrets, and we are left to speculate as to what exactly the advantages a given new design may hold on the field.

In fact, often the new suits are shrouded in so much secrecy that they are often not seen until the day of the competition. The psychological edge cannot be overstated, but technology is lending a hand in making them more than just a flashy appearance.

Shrouded as it is in secrecy, nonetheless there are some things known about the suits certain teams are donning this Olympic season. With that stated, let’s take a look at three teams that are going high tech this year.

US Ski Suits

These suits are, naturally, built for speed. The suits are constructed from a triple layer bonded polyester knit. The surface of the suit feels smooth as marble, and every seam is designed to be hidden from the wind. This approach will play a major factor in reducing wind drag.

In order to avoid additional sewn seam lines, the suit’s protective padding is made separately and the suit is donned in layers. The pads were re-worked by British company d30, and were made from a special engineered material. The material can loosely flow with the skier during the run, and still lock to absorb impact energy when needed.

The end effect is that wind drag is reduced by 3 percent, which could in theory shave up to a second off a downhill run. This amount of time in a typical Olympic run could easily spell the difference between winning and second place. For example, one of the widest winning margins since 1964 was only 0.72 seconds.

Dutch Speed Skater Suits

Nando Timmer, an assistant professor of aerodynamics at the Dutch TU Delft faculty of Aerospace Engineering, has been busy creating something for his countrymen when they line up for the Olympic speed skating races. The orange and black suits feature special fabric that give them a unique ability to go through the air with less resistance.

So good are these high-tech suits that the Dutch are giving up the very successful Nike Swift skin suits that they have employed over the last eight years.

The suits can be adapted to the style of the individual skater, accommodating both lower positions over the ice and stretched tight for upright positions. The new designs build on Timmer’s previous work at the 1988 Nagano Games, where zigzag “Nagano Strips” reduced drag and helped the Dutch capture five Olympic medals.

But as to specifics about the suit’s construction, perhaps KNSB director Arie Koops sums up the competitive environment when he says,

“We have an agreement not to release any information until 2014, making sure we do not endanger our competitive advantage.”

US Luge Suits

The new suits for the U.S. Luge Olympians may be designed to compete at almost 100 mph speeds on Whistler, but they were born in the wind tunnel at the San Diego Air and Space Technology Center. The typical Luge suit is made of a Spandex material with only slight rubberizing on the inside to protect the athlete from frigid outside air.

Even very small items are not over looked. For example, the Luge athletes wear boots without any tread in order help minimize all drag. Engineers took all of this into consideration as they tested various combinations of materials and construction techniques in the wind tunnel. The wind tunnel itself was no picnic, as the wind climbed upwards of 90 mph.

In order to keep the simulation as authentic as possible, Olympians Grimmete and Sheer rode the virtual tracks in the wind tunnel, allowing the testing to include which material worked best for their particular riding styles.

After the extensive testing was completed, engineers crunched the data to create the optimal suits for the 2010 US Luge team.

Although many factors can impact an Olympic competition, having even a tiny advantage can make a big difference in both the physical and mental aspects of the game. But one thing is certain – we are probably only seeing the beginning of technology’s contribution in shaving time by improving the very clothes on the competitor’s backs. It only gets faster from here.

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Windows 7 Tablet Perks Infographic

Amanda — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:08:44 +0000

Windows 7 continues to build on the tablet capabilities that we first saw on Windows XP. We have an infographic that details some of the new (and improved) tablet features that you will find with the latest from Redmond, Windows 7.

(Click on image to enlarge)

10 Bizarre iPhone Apps

Amanda — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:06:49 +0000

If you own an iPhone, it’s probably safe to say, you’ve downloaded lots of apps. I know I’ve got loads of apps, from those to keep me on track with my calorie intake and exercise to those that help me connect socially (like Tweetdeck and Facebook). And I have tons of educational and kid-friendly games… hey, I’m a mom, and the iPhone comes in handy to occupy my son in places like doctor’s waiting rooms, long car rides, etc.

Well, while looking for some apps the other day, I ran across one of the most bizarre apps. Of course, this got me wondering just how many bizarre, ridiculous and just plain stupid apps are in the app store. And I didn’t have to look far to find them, either.
So without further adieu, here are 10 of the most bizarre iPhone apps I found (and this is just the tip of the iceberg):

iPoo – Bored While You Poo? – Do you enjoy using your iPhone while you poo? And wonder if others are using theirs while they’re pooing too? Well, there’s an app for that! iPoo is an app that will let you share with others where, when, what and how you poo.

As I said, I’m a mom, so I’ve been through the diaper changes and potty training… I’ve seen enough poo to last a lifetime. I do not want to see or hear about some total stranger’s (or worse someone I know) poo. Besides, I don’t use my iPhone in the bathroom – It’s NOT sanitary, people.

iPoo which will cost you $0.99 wins the top prize for bizarre in my book.

iFart – Do you have the mentality of an 8 year old boy and love fart noises? There’s an app for that! Yep, iFart falls into the same category as iPoo, in my opinion. Seeing that I’m an adult and a woman, iFart has no appeal to me. However, my 7 year old son would love this app.

I must say the iFart has been a popular app (it was the #1 app in the iTunes app store 23 days straight last December)… so there’s no accounting for taste. Must be a “guy” thing. Personally, I think this app stinks (pun, intended). But to each his (or her) own… if you want to use your phone to make fart sounds you can get this app for $0.99.

Zit Picker – Are you that person who enjoys picking zits? There’s an app for that! This one is a close second. Honestly, I don’t understand why someone would want to pop pimples. Seriously, what would possess a person to enjoy squeezing zits?

So, I don’t get the fascination with the Zit Picker app. But for those of you that do, at least this one is free… because, quite frankly, I can’t imagine paying to pop zits. The Zit Picker is just plain stupid.

iBubbleWrap – are you bored or maybe you don’t have anything better to do? Maybe you have the attention span of…. hey, look, a squirrel!? There’s an app for that! I do have to admit that I enjoy popping bubble wrap. But it seems like such a bizarre app, or more of a waste of time really.

However, if you want to pop (which granted, is much better to pop bubble wrap than zits) your day away, it will cost you $0.99.

Beautiful Boobs – Are you a guy? I need not say more. There’s an app for that! Unfortunately, you’ll be sorely disappointed. The reason this app is bizarre? There’s no boobs. You can find more boobs in an old Sears and Roebuck catalog!

With that stated, I cannot find a reason for this app to exist. It is obviously walking a fine line between selling hopes of soft porn with what Apple will allow. And in this case I have to give the “fail” sticker to both the app AND Apple. The Beautiful Boobs app is free, so at least the only thing you end up wasting is your time.

Blower – Real Air – Are you short of air? There’s an app for that! Sometimes you can take the Rube Goldberg approach and turn a simple action into a very complicated one. I think that the Blower – Real Air app must fall into this category.

The app uses the iphone speaker to produce air pressure. Using a small computer (the iPhone in this case) to play audio through a speaker to create a small amount of air to, say, blow out a candle or a match, seems like a weird application to me.

Surely there are better uses for an iPhone and its hardware? And better uses for the $0.99 it costs?

iSteam – Are you a heavy breather? Maybe you like steaming things up? Now there’s an app for that! If you’ve ever written a message on a steamy shower door or car window, then you know what to expect from this curious app. The app creates a fake steamy surface for you to practice your steam writing skills.

However, without the real steamy circumstances surrounding the occasional steamy writing opportunities the whole effort simply dries up. Save your steamy writings for the real thing, perhaps best shared… iSteam sells for $0.99.

sim Stapler – Do you spend nights dreaming that you had more time to staple? Do you yearn for that “chachunk” of the stapling action and the satisfaction that you have just brought two pieces of paper together? There’s an app for that! The sim Stapler may be perfect for you. As the name implies, it simulates the action of a stapler. Whenever you get a free second you can sim-staple to your heart’s content.

However, the other 99.99999% of us without a stapling fetish may decide to avoid this app. The only good news is that the Sim Stapler is free.

Rotary Dialer – Ah, do you long for the time when you had to put your finger in a hole and dial a number? If so, your wait is over… there’s an app for that! I may be confessing something about my age, but I grew up with a rotary phone. I learned to dial on the circular finger hooker (not sure what the technical name is), and to this day the soft “thip thip thip” is a sound that I remember.

However, I do not miss the time it would take to dial up a number. Nor do I miss the potential to break a nail just by making a call. So, why would I want to simulate the process in order to place a call?

Trust me, it is better now with the buttons. Give me DTMF over “thip thip” any day. Even go one better, and use the contact list – retro has its place, but a smartphone doesn’t seem like the right one. The Rotary Dialer sells for $0.99.

Hold the Button – Do you have too much free time on your hands? There’s an app for that! For anyone training and improving their sloth skills, this app may be useful. The idea is to see how long you can hold the button down without moving your finger.

I prefer to think of this app as a measurement of the time that you will never get back. At best I can see it as an ADD test, but anything over 20 seconds leads me to a different conclusion altogether – Get a Life! At least Hold the Button is a free app.

There you have it – 10 of the zaniest and most bizarre iPhone apps I’ve seen, to date. Please share with us some of the most bizarre apps you’ve run across.

10 Gadgets for 2010

Amanda — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:51:34 +0000

In today’s world of hot gadgets and breaking software, it can be confusing as to what is practical to have and what is a lot of flash with little real functionality. In order to try to separate the brands from the functions, we are trying a different approach here.

Instead of listing 10 great gadgets to have… we are describing our 10 favorite TYPES of gadgets. We try to make a case for why they are handy, and what kind of gadget you can find, since often you will find these things in different physical forms. With that said, on with the list.

Laptop or desktop computer

In today’s increasingly technological supported world, not being online tends to be the exception. From banking to shopping, online provides a way to do tasks from home that before required a trip out. Now you can get a lot accomplished without getting dressed or being out the gas money.

But that is not the only reason to have a computer. When it comes to research on all types of important and mundane issues, it is hard to beat an online computer. In fact, there is so much information available online on practically any topic that filtering skills are soon developed. Even small things, like TV show schedules and telephone numbers, are easy with a laptop.

Communications on a computer have moved from email to live voice to live video. With a small laptop incorporating a built in mic and camera you can stay in touch with business partners or loved ones. It is now simple to have a face to face conversation with that second party without having to travel to make it happen.

Then we can talk about the media available with a laptop. The typical online laptop can get on demand movies and TV shows that dwarfs cable systems of the past. Add to that an absolutely huge number of online radio stations and it is easy to see exactly why an online laptop is a very nice to have gadget.

Laptops do not come in a one size fits all size. If you travel or move around the house a lot, then a cost effective netbook might be a great choice. For the writer, a full size laptop with a generous full action keyboard might be the perfect ticket. And for the media lover, a large screen model with designer speakers could make for a dream system.

Portable Media Player

Practically everyone likes to listen to one form of music or another, and a portable media player makes it possible to take the tunes with you. With a player and a comfortable set of headphones you can transform the world into your private symphony. But Portable Media Players are good for much more than just that.

Portable players now also provide video for your enjoyment. Missed the latest episode of “Lost” or want to rent a new movie? It’s now possible with such portable media players as the iPhone or iPod Touch attached to a laptop running iTunes. Even your favorite videos and family home movies can be put on your portable player to enjoy privately or share with others.

Portable players open up a world of audio books that allow you to enjoy the latest works and favorite titles as you go about your activities. In fact, some titles can even be educational and you may even learn something along the way.

Speaking of learning something, iTunes University now offers an exhaustive array of audio and video titles for your continuing education. From actual college classes to more esoteric topics, it is now very possible to get a lot of knowledge from a Portable Media Player.

Portable Media Recorder

How can you put a price on memories? Well, there are times you can, but for family and private memories it’s nice to have those moments to look back on. This is when it’s nice to have a modern digital media recorder handy. Whether it is a straight digital camera or a digital video recorder, having a small but capable recorder makes it easy to capture those fleeting moments.

They also make taking notes a snap, and many forms of desktop software (Microsoft OneNote, others) will even translate your spoken words to text. As for taking notes from a white board or an expressive presenter, a video recording lets you capture the whole picture. Even a simple picture can be worth, well, a thousand words when it comes to flow diagrams.

Today we have portable media recorders in many different forms. Many smartphones, such as the iPhone and the Android family of phones, offer different means of recording audio and video. Even multi use players such as the iPod Nano now records audio and video, making it great for note taking.

Stand alone dedicated units offer good performance with extreme ease of use. Point and shoot video recorders such as the offerings from Kodak and Flip give a solid picture with a relatively modest price tag… great for uploading your videos to YouTube.

Smart Phone

If I had to pick one gadget I’d hate to lose… I’d choose a SmartPhone hands down. Not only can they do practically everything on this list, but new software (which is appearing daily on the iTunes AppStore and its competitors) can take the unit in a bold new direction, providing functions that to this point required a dedicated device.

Now, a converged device is definitely not for everyone. And you could argue that a dedicated device will more than likely do a better job since it was designed for that specific task. But in some applications the smartphone can now do a great job, and it allows you to carry only one device to do many jobs.

Smartphones also become a portable research device perfect for any number of applications. From party trivia to replacement part research on the job, an online smartphone with a browser opens up a world of information.

I have taken it even one step further, and kept a recent copy of Wikipedia on the device itself for offline access on a Windows Mobile device. Since then the connections have gotten better to the point where offline access is not such a concern – but I do have a copy just in case. The implementation is not as robust as the TR3 reader version was, but it beats nothing on a camping trip.

A few of our favorite smart phones over the years have included Pocket PCs (now monikered, poorly in my opinion, Windows Mobile), Blackberry devices, various Java based units, and more. But currently we like the app rich iPhone and the new but exciting Google Nexus One (and all Android based smart phones, for that matter).

I can’t wait to see what Windows Mobile 7 is bringing to the table, but for now I can only imagine as Apple and Google grab my attention, along with millions of others.

One thing is certain, regardless of the brand – a modern smartphone is a very powerful device, bringing a lot of growing functionality in a small, mostly easy to use package. In a way, they’re a veritable magic wand of technological capabilities, and something very nice (and handy) to have.

Universal Remote

This one is more for the guys… but I think more and more women have taken over the remotes in their homes. In the average living room you can probably find many devices that ship with a remote control. From TVs and cable boxes to Blu-ray players and integrated amplifiers (no one says “stereos” anymore, do they?), each separate box can be made to do your bidding from the comfort of the couch or big comfy chair. But with all those remotes, how do you manage them all?

Well, outside of duct tape or various clever uses of velcro, a universal remote might be the best friend your media setup has. Instead of five or so remotes to juggle, a universal remote can herd the components into an orderly symphony of control.

The amount of control a universal remote offers appears to be directly related to its price tag. From universal remotes that now ship with cable boxes (such as the Comcast remote, which can control your TV and otherwise along with the cable box), to an Advanced Harmony Remote Control that not only controls many units, it can do so with a single press of a button. This kind of control and simplicity is definitely nice to have at your disposal.

GPS

I have been fascinated by GPS devices for quite a while now. I’ve seen them progress from the dashboard and into your pocket. Today’s GPS units can not only take you across country or to grandma’s house… it can also show you all the cookie and fuel spots along the way. And if you get tangled up with the Big Bad Wolf on the journey, most will dynamically re-route you over the river and through the woods.

You can find a GPS in a stand-alone package, such as the Tom Tom or Garmin Nuvi units, and they offer door to door guidance. You can also find smartphones, such as the iPhone and the Android phones, which incorporate a GPS into their design. With the embedded GPS, the smartphones can offer varying GPS device capabilities. The iPhone, for example, will automatically geotag each picture it takes, which then can be viewed on a map when uploaded to iPhoto. The Google Nexus One offers strong default mapping that will show you locations of various traveling resources.

Augmented Reality applications are an extension of GPS technology which overlays a live picture with various location data, and it is quite slick to use. Currently Augmented Reality is stronger on the smartphone devices, but Tom Tom and others are rumored to have dedicated AR units in development.

eReaders

The printed word is as strong as it ever was, but a lot of times it isn’t printed anymore. Instead, many books are now completely digital in nature, and they offer many advantages over their physical counterparts. For example, you can fit literally thousands of ebooks in a space smaller than that of a single paperback. You can also do content searches on ebooks that would be next to impossible with the printed form. And instead of driving to the bookstore to pick up the newest best seller you can just download it in the comfort of your own home (or wherever you may be).

Of course, these advantages are offset by a requirement, and that is a simple one – you must have something to read them on. Until the cortex data ports are installed in most humans, a good ebook reader can be the best friend an avid reader can have.

The ebook reader can, as with everything else on this list, come in a number of different forms. The most obvious is a dedicated ebook reader, and here you will find the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes and Noble Nook, The Sony Readers, and more. These types of readers favor easy on the eyes electronic ink over color splash. And the displays allow you to take them practically anywhere with a very low power requirement. A lot of ereaders even have their own connection to a store front, allowing you to download directly to the device and avoiding the computer middleman.

eReaders can also be software in nature, made to run on both personal computers and mobile devices. For example, both Amazon and Barnes and Noble offer free ereader software versions that run on laptops and iPhones. With the Amazon Kindle version of the software you can even split your time between computer, smartphone, and standalone reader without even losing your place – the software syncs automatically.

Outside of the convenience of having many, many ebooks at your disposal in a comfortable reader, there is another advantage – book price. New titles often sell for $9.99, quite a bit cheaper than the hardcover version of the same book. Cheaper books prices and ease of portability and storage makes eReaders a very nice gadget to own in whatever form you prefer.

Portable TV or Streaming media player

Broadcast TV is by no means dead, but it is not the heavyweight it once was. However, there is still a lot of great content out there to make it worthwhile to carry a portable TV. The digital upgrade to our television services has given to new life, with many stations having multiple channels that supplement the main channel. This additional content often takes the form of dedicated weather and news channels, keeping you more informed than ever. The great digital picture is not harmed by the fact that it is usually free.

One step beyond that is streaming digital TV services, which offer more selection than typically found in a given broadcast area. You can even find on demand choices, giving you control of your viewing choices even as you are out and about. For example, FLO TV (http://www.flotv.com) is such a service that, for a monthly fee, gives you access to many channels of media. And, as it seems to be the theme here, you can experience FloTV with either a dedicated personal device or on a smartphone. Wireless carriers also offer similar services for many of their smart phones, and I really expect the channels available with digital streaming services to expand as time goes on.

Even streaming your own TV from home is a great option, thanks to devices such as the slingbox. On a lot of mobile devices (such as Windows Mobile), you can be out and about and yet stay connected to your home based TV channels. The hardware connects to software on the device and streams all of your content directly to your pocket live. Unfortunately on the iPhone the software is not allowed to stream over the 3G signal, something that we hope changes soon as AT&T build up their infrastructure.

Whatever your form of TV/streaming media on the go is, it offers a very convenient way of staying informed and up to date with your favorites without the need of scheduling life around a living room near you. That sounds like a handy gadget for anyone that likes TV.

Portable gaming device

By looking at the number of consoles and game titles out there, it appears that a LOT of people like gaming. But gaming is not something tied to a home console any more. Instead, a lot of gamers are finding a pocket device to be perfect for their entertainment needs. Dedicated game devices, such as the uber popular Nintendo DSi and Sony PSP, offer a quality gaming experience in a portable form.

But it doesn’t require dedicated hardware to provide a good gaming platform. Convergence devices, such as the iPod Touch and iPhone, provide stable and capable gaming muscle that have fast growing libraries that cover any number of gaming types. While these types of devices may not have the same quality of input control as the dedicated units, they offer the advantage that they will probably be in your pocket at your convenience.

As more research on mental acuity is done, it shows that playing a challenging game on occasion may be just the ticket to keep your mind sharp. With that taken into consideration, a portable gaming device might be a very nice gadget to have handy when you find yourself waiting for someone.

Calculator or (even better) a Portable Spreadsheet

I am probably going old school a bit with this suggestion, but it is hard to beat a handy portable calculator when you need to do some numbers. From a small calculator you can find in a checkbook to a scientific version as a standalone device or on a smartphone, it is hard to beat a calculator when dealing with the real world.

Beyond a calculator, a spreadsheet that you can carry in your pocket is my own personal favorite. With just such a device I can stay on top of many things, from financial to physics (and physical) applications, and run what-ifs until I am content with the outcome. Being able to do that makes a simple calculator or pocket spreadsheet a very nice kind of gadget to have. Although, to this day, I cannot understand why no one has brought out the dedicated stand alone spreadsheet device.

Despite the brand names and even implementation approaches, here we have 10 types of gadgets that we believe are a great thing to have at your disposal. Some are tools, and some are just fun, but in the end they all can work together or separate to make us more capable, informed, and better at what we do in our lives. Are they must-have gadgets? No. But they ARE nice to have gadgets.

Laptop or desktop computer

Portable Media Player

Portable Media Recorder

Smart Phone

I can’t wait to see what Windows Mobile 7 is bringing to the table, but for now I can only imagine as Apple and Google grab my attention, along with millions of others.

Universal Remote

GPS

eReaders

Portable TV or Streaming media player

Portable gaming device

Calculator or (even better) a Portable Spreadsheet

Despite the brand names and even implementation approaches, here we have 10 types of gadgets that we believe are a great thing to have at your disposal. Some are tools, and some are just fun, but in the end they all can work together or separate to make us more capable, informed, and better at what we do in our lives. Are they must-have gadgets? No. But they ARE nice to have gadgets.

Thought Boards on a Mac – iWorking Creatively with iWork

Amanda — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:11:29 +0000

Modern computers give us the ability to compose both simple and complex text works with an ease that our previous generation tools could not provide. We can quickly build our literary magnum opus of the day, add in nice graphics or charts, check it for spelling, get a second opinion on our grammar usage, move everything around, and convert it to one of a dozen formats without once having to use a layout board. Everything is tight and digital, and the only time we hit the physical world is when we are finished. It has never been easier.

However, along with this ease of use we have sacrificed some of the mechanics that drove creativity. In the old days, the completed work was more than just the actual output. For example, you would have a running collection of notes to the side that detailed last minute changes or additional thoughts. You would have some material stacked to the side that were less important than the current work, yet they may be promoted in importance as the task went on.

Your source of information could be anything from a stack of index cards to a scribbled napkin, yet when it was all laid out in front of us it magically took shape to define a point we were trying to make. This point was often a mystery to ourselves until we saw this big picture, and then a moment of clarity formed.

But the digital world is working hard to bring this type of creativity to your desktop. There have been many attempts at recreating this thought space in software, from Mind Mapping to freeform desktop information packages.

Being a person who A. uses a computer and B. at least tries to have an occasional original thought, I have tried many of these packages, with a varying degree of success. But I have found them to be either too rigid in their design or too alien to what ticks inside my own head. That is, until I stumbled upon something that works well for me. That creative program suite is iWork from Apple.

At first glance one would think that iWork 09 (the program I am using) would be a strict replacement for a standard office suite. I found that to not be the case. In fact, if you evaluate the package in those terms you may find that it comes up short for the spreadsheet power user.

Instead, let’s look at iWork from the creative viewpoint. Being a number freak, I like to use Numbers for my thought processes, although Pages shares the same great layout capability along with a handy full screen view for reviewing your conclusion. I’ll start with an example thought board (for lack of a better description) about a getaway trip to a rustic cabin.

As you can see from the actual numbers screenshot above, I can easily have my notes about the trip to the side on small index cards. I also have a graph card with notes about the cabin itself, a map stuck to the thought board for quick reference, a picture of the cabin (or one similar to it in this case), and a posted reminder note. I also have three small calculation tables for the cost, trip, and time away along with a large summary table for a quick glance.

By having everything in front of me in a single freeform document I can review all of the details of the trip and make changes as needed. I can also add another card or list as needed for additional detail. I also find that adding pictures helps to jog the memory about anything else I may be leaving out. This non-linear approach mimics exactly the way I would do it in the physical world, with the added bonus that the software does any calculations automatically for me. I also gain the benefit of being able to stick it on a flash drive to have a backup of the board with me.

How do you build a board using Numbers, you ask? Well, that is quite simple, and I will step you through the process. After doing a few of these, I assure you that the important thing is to start first with the immediate items you need, but leave space on the board for more things as they come up. Each item you add can trigger another item, until you have a rather robust board in a short amount of time.

The Tables

First, start a new Numbers file. You will find a single table on the screen. We’ll use this as our summary table, so resize it down as needed. You will find the tabs on the bottom left of the table to be a quick way to resize it, removing unwanted columns. Then take a moment to think about any groups of things that you may want to add up, and for each of these throw in a table. Having these free form tables lying in a workspace that can be easily accessed from a master table is probably one of my favorite things about Numbers. They can have their own column sizes and layouts without affecting the main table, yet I can easily see them all at the same time. Add the table, fill it in, then add a link to the summary table as needed.

The Index Cards and Other Page Notes

The index cards are simple shapes, but with an index card for a background. it is important to select “tile” for the image, otherwise the image will distort as the box resizes. Also, add a shadow in to make it appear a little more bold on the screen. I find a single index card image works well for me, as it limits the text to about that of a real index card. The other notes are done in a similar fashion, just with an appropriate image as desired.

The pictures

Pictures can add a lot of visual information to a project, and they can trigger other thoughts about important items you may have overlooked. So by adding pictures you are making your planning more robust, giving a better end result. For the board, I simply add a shape, set the fill to the desired image, and add the pushpin frame. Add a shadow for a little visual pop, and finally slightly rotate (found on the inspector’s “ruler” tab) to add to the illusion that it is hanging by the pin.

The Yellow Note

The yellow note is quite simply a shape added to the board, changed to a yellow color, and slightly rotated. As you suspect by now, a shadow is added for graphic appeal, and the text is set to center. I use this instead of the regular comment mechanics because it does not include the close button in the corner – I want to be sure that this note stays put until it is done.

The Background Image

The background image is merely a shape with a picture fill, sized rather large and sent to back using arrange. While in no way crucial to the project, a good background image sets the frame of mind for the board. The important thing we are trying to capture here are thoughts about the item at hand, and the more related visual information we have, the greater visual thinkers are going to respond with quality input. Not to mention that it even looks nice.

So, with just a little work in iWork Numbers (or Pages) we can quickly build a board to encompass our thoughts on a given topic. We can add in any number of index cards, paper notes, posted notes, lists, calculated tables, media, and more, giving us a single point to focus all of our thoughts on a given topic. By having this “big picture” along with tabular data on a display, I find it quite easy to see where I may be overlooking something now that may be a major issue later. Once you try it (if not already), I think you may come to the same conclusion – it makes using a computer a more natural thought planning process.

Being a person who A. uses a computer and B. at least tries to have an occasional original thought, I have tried many of these packages, with a varying degree of success. But I have found them to be either too rigid in their design or too alien to what ticks inside my own head. That is, until I stumbled upon something on a Mac that works well for me. That creative program suite is iWork from Apple.

At first glance one would think that economically priced iWork 09 (the program I am using) would be a strict replacement for a standard office suite. I found that to not be the case. In fact, if you evaluate the package in those terms you may find that it comes up short for the spreadsheet power user.

Instead, let’s look at iWork from the creative viewpoint. Being a number freak, I like to use Numbers for my thought processes, although Pages shares the same great layout capability along with a handy full screen view for reviewing your conclusion. I’ll start with an example thought board about a getaway trip to a rustic cabin. (The same process could be used to create a vision board as well.)

Building a thought board with numbers is a very simple process. After doing a few of these, I assure you that the important thing is to start first with the immediate items you need, but leave space on the board for more things as they come up. Each item you add can trigger another item, until you have a rather robust board in a short amount of time.

The Tables

The Index Cards and Other Page Notes

The Pictures

The Yellow Note

The Background Image

So, with just a little work in iWork Numbers (or Pages) we can quickly build a board to encompass our thoughts on a given topic. We can add in any number of index cards, paper notes, posted notes, lists, calculated tables, media, and more, giving us a single point to focus all of our thoughts on a given topic. By having this “big picture” along with tabular data on a display, I find it quite easy to see where I may be overlooking something now that may be a major issue later. Once you try it (if not already), I think you may come to the same conclusion – it makes using a computer a more natural thought planning process.

Budget Friendly Tech Gift Ideas

Amanda — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:14:45 +0000

Everyone knows that tech gifts make some of the really coolest gifts to give out as Christmas presents. But, with the current state of the economy as it is, I proposed to myself a challenge: To find respectable tech gifts for $20 or less. I know what you are thinking – the words “tech gift” and “$20 or less” go together about like Macs and plentiful FPS games, but nonetheless I believe that such a thing is possible.

Finished with the research, I present to you in no particular order my top choices for a budget friendly (“cheap”) tech gift for the tech lovers on your holiday list. These would work great for budget minded gifts, stocking stuffers, or even office gifts.

Wii MotionPlus accessory for Nintendo Wii

Practically everyone knows someone who now has a Wii. They may have spent many hours playing virtual tennis or virtual bowling on Wi Sports. But with the Motionplus Upgrade ($20), they can take their game to a whole new level.

The gadget, which attaches to their existing Wiimote controller, makes the remote much more sensitive to movements. Now with a flick of the wrist or or a small twist of the hand can spin that bowling ball just right. Their whole game gets a performance upgrade thanks to your thoughtful gift (assuming they are playing games that can take advantage of the upgrade). Available at game retailers everywhere.

USB Plasma Ball

Ever since they first burst onto the market quite a number of years back, I have been fascinated by the high voltage plasma ball. I bought one of the first models that Radio Shack produced , and spent hours staring at the glow from the arcs between my finger tips.

Fast forward to today. You can now get one of these highly entertaining if not practically useless gadgets that plug into a computer USB port for power. The USB Plasma Ball sells for only $9.99, and the six inch dome responds to your soft touches with a bright arc of color. It makes a perfect break after hours of coding, and a great gift that does not break the bank. It also makes a cool gift for office co-workers. You can find the USB Plasma Ball at Think Geek.

USB Pet Rock

Okay, so maybe this is not such a practical gift, but it certainly seems like it could be fun in the right situation. I started to not include it in the list, but it is just too much of a Zen thing to pass up.

What is the USB Pet Rock? It is a real natural rock with a USB cable that plugs into your computer.

What does it do? The pet rock spends all of its energy in being a rock.

Does it do any tricks? Only the types of tricks that you would normally expect from a pet rock.

What is the USB for? Without the USB cable it would only be a regular pet rock. With the addition of the USB cable it becomes a highly sophisticated and modern version of the original pet rock.

As you can see, the USB Pet Rock would make a great gift for the more profound tech heads on your tech holiday list. The highly advanced USB Pet Rock sells for $10, and you can find it at Think Geek.

“Fail Nation : A Visual Romp Through the World of Epic Fails”

The book version of the popular failblog.org, “Fail Nation : A Visual Romp Through the World of Epic Fails” brings you a collection of over 100 of the best reader submitted fails in the modern world. From wacky signs to silly machines, your gift recipient will enjoy reading and sharing the modern examples of great attempts that just didn’t connect all the dots. The book sells for $12, and you can find it at major book stores and online.

Ipod Building Block Speakers

So, you have a friend who has an iPod, and they still play with building blocks (secretly, you suspect). What could be a more perfect gift than an iPod speaker that is a building block. Imagine the hours they could spend jamming to music as they build their latest creation. They can even take it with them, having that musical block building experience as they work or travel (okay, that was a stretch). The speaker sells for $19.99 and you can find them at perpetual kid online and other places.

Mix Tape USB Drive

Back in the old days a person might build a custom mix cassette tape and give it to another person as a way of sharing an interest or expressing an emotion (usually love, but sometimes hate – to each their own) .

Now we have the modern version of the classic mix tape. Contained within the cassette tape holder is a 64mb USB stick. 64mb, you ask? Well, that is just about the right size for an hour of music, which happens to be the same amount the venerable C60 tape would hold. The cover has a place to list the tracks in your best penmanship (as if the player for some strange reason did not have a display) , and the whole package just screams retro. The Mix Tape USB Drive sells for $19.99, and you can find it at perpetual Kid.

(Now, I am not going to say a thing about illegally distributing music, because I am going to assume that everyone knows about that by now and will select appropriate media. This is unlike the good old days where a mix tape was a thoughtful act that helped to spread the word about great albums. )

E-books for the Masses

Does someone on your list own a spiffy new Kindle? If so, consider an Amazon.com gift card for $20. With most e-books selling for $9.95 or less, they could have two great reads of their choice thanks to your gift. You can get a physical gift card to send to them, a printable gift card to give as a gift, or you can opt for the electronically delivered gift card. They can then go online and choose their own titles for reading on their PC, iPhone or Kindle.

What’s that – they do not have a Kindle? Then do what I like to do, and head over to Barnes and Noble (bn.com). You can get a gift card there for $20 as well, and the books tend to run about the same price. As with the Kindle books, they can read their electronic wares on a PC or iPhone. They can also read the titles on their new Nook electronic reader, if so equipped. Unlike the Kindle titles, as of this writing the BN e-books also work on a Mac and a Blackberry, making it a more versatile choice.

Either way you go, it is hard to go wrong with the gift of reading. This is especially true with e-books, which are delivered instantly. This lets them bundle up and enjoy a new title over a cold holiday season without trudging to the book store first. (This would be a great time to insert a “Back in my day” story, but I will refrain.)

As I have discovered, it is not hard to find a gift for $20 or under that will please the tech minded person on your holiday list. Some will be more whimsical than useful, but many will bring a smile to the gadget-lover’s face. So go ahead, set your gift limit low – there are budget friendly potentially cool gifts out there for the taking.

Wii MotionPlus accessory for Nintendo Wii

USB Plasma Ball

USB Pet Rock

What is the USB Pet Rock? It is a real natural rock with a USB cable that plugs into your computer.

What does it do? The pet rock spends all of its energy in being a rock.

Does it do any tricks? Only the types of tricks that you would normally expect from a pet rock.

What is the USB cable for? Without the USB cable it would only be a regular pet rock. With the addition of the USB cable it becomes a highly sophisticated and modern version of the original pet rock.

As you can see, the USB Pet Rock would make a great gift for the more profound tech heads on your tech holiday list. The highly advanced USB Pet Rock sells for $10, and you can find it at Think Geek.

“Fail Nation : A Visual Romp Through the World of Epic Fails”

Ipod Building Block Speakers

Mix Tape USB Drive

E-books for the Masses

As I have discovered, it is not hard to find a gift for $20 or under that will please the tech minded person on your holiday list. Some will be more whimsical than useful, but many will bring a smile to the gadget-lover’s face. So go ahead, set your gift limit low – there are budget friendly potentially cool gifts out there for the taking.

BlackBerry to Laptop Tethering Made Easy

Ted — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:34:07 +0000

Searching the internet for methods of tethering your phone to a laptop can be overwhelming. There are dozens of ideas out there depending on your phone model, service and software. Some look easy, some look complicated, some look illegal, and some look like they’ll end up costing you your first born child in fees. With everything out there and the evolution of the technology over the past few years, it’s hard to know which approach to take.

Tethering has become extremely useful, particularly for people on the go. Wi-Fi spots still don’t exist most places, and the busy person never knows when they’re going to need an internet connection. Whether you’re on the bus embarking on a lengthy stop-and-go trip through the city, or sitting in an airport trying to avoid using that hideous Boingo service – you may wish you could harness the internet power of your cell phone for your laptop’s use.

While some phones and services still have very specific, controlled methods of tethering your phone to your laptop, others have become less complicated.

Blackberries now have new features that make turning your phone into a tethered modem simple, doing away with APN settings, making CDMA / GSM problems irrelevant, and there’s no spending money on third-party apps to simplify the process. It just straight up works, which is hardcore.

The Desktop Manager for Blackberry now comes with a fancy new “IP Modem” feature, as of last month’s Service Pack 1 (Desktop Manager 5.0.1). This delicious interface only works on Windows, so Mac users are out of luck for now. IP Modem makes tethering your Blackberry device to a laptop or PC easier, requiring only your data plan, a USB cable, and the Blackberry Desktop Manager software installed on the machine to which you are tethering.

Here are the steps:

Note: Not all providers’ standard data plans include tethering (Verizon, for example). If you tether without a plan that supports it, you’re bound to incur some pretty drastic overage fees. Make sure your plan includes tethering coverage before trying, or else pick yourself up a tethering package if you think this is something you’re going to do frequently.

If you haven’t, you need to set up your modem connection settings. Plug the BlackBerry into the computer with the USB and open up Desktop Manager to get started.

Another Note: If you are on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, your Disable IP Modem IT policy rule needs to be set to “true” before the below will work.

Select “IP Modem.” The option should be in the bottom-right corner of the Desktop Manager menu screen.
The next screen should let you know which wireless carrier you use. After an explanation of the service, look for the words “Current connection profile:,” followed by your carrier. If it says something contrary, click the Configure button and select the correct carrier from the drop-down list of available carriers on the next screen.

If your carrier requires a username, password and access point for tethering, you will have to contact them for the appropriate information.

If you plan to close Desktop Manager while tethered, enter Configuration and check the little box at the bottom of the screen that reads “Keep an IP Modem connection open after the BlackBerry Desktop Manager is closed.”
Click connect.

Leave Desktop Manager open if you didn’t check the box in Step 4, or if you did, close DM and it will move to your taskbar.

The following screen will show your data sent/received totals, as well as your total uptime connected to the tether. Your connection status is in the lower-left, in green.

When you are finished…

Re-open Desktop Manager via the taskbar, or switch back to its window if you left it up. Go back to the IP Modem section and click the big Disconnect button.

With IP Modem, there are only a few reasons why tethering would fail. If your wireless carrier isn’t the right one in the configuration settings, or if the wireless radio on your device isn’t turned on.

If you don’t see the IP Modem feature in your Desktop Manager, or if it isn’t working despite your settings being correct, try uninstalling the software then re-installing. You may also have problems if you’ve upgraded to Windows 7 and didn’t do a complete reinstall of the Desktop software after the upgrade. Many folks who have had issues with IP Modem are seeing results after re-installing, regardless of the cause. The latest version can be downloaded here (as of 11/23/09): https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=A8BAA56554F96369AB93E4F3BB068C22

There may also be complications if you use a crackberry, as the IP Modem won’t stay active. There are some explanations for solving this problem here: http://forums.crackberry.com/f153/5-0-1-ip-modem-fixed-353251/

Happy tethering!

Be.ez LA robe Netbook 10.2 Sleeve Review

Kristofer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:29:46 +0000

So you may have went and grabbed a great deal on a Netbook on Black Friday, but now you must have something to protect it. Let’s face it, we’re not the carefullest of creatures when it comes to our things, and of course accidents can happen anywhere and anytime. Netbooks are great for kids, but they’re especially not very careful with their things, they’ll certainly need some sort of protection for that nice new netbook if you want it to last for them. Either way, if it’s for you, or it’s a gift, you can do yourself a favor and get a protective sleeve at the very least to protect that netbook. The product I’ve got for review today is called the LA Rode netbook 10.2, it’s from a company called Be.ez that specializes in protection for laptops and netbooks. The 10.2 in the name is referring to the size that the sleeve can accommodate , meaning any laptop or netbook up to 10.2″ in size will fit in the LA Robe sleeve. The sleeve is nicely made with very thick shock absorbing material and it’s available in several colors as well, so you’ll find one that’s suitable for anyone you know. So read on for a brief review of the La Robe from Be.ez…

Info:

LA robe Netbook 10.2
Fits most 10.2” Netbooks

Low Resilience Polyurethane (LRPu) Technology
Robe protection Thickness 5MM
Trendy, Unique Design
Inner Lip for maximum protection
Stand alone or in your bag
No more Scratches for your Netbook

Initially designed for the Apple notebooks, LA robe is made in a soft, shape-memory material, ideal to dress your notebook in an original fashion while protecting it from mobile life worries.

Fits:
Computers up to 266 x 192 x 30mm (10.5 x 7.6 x 1.2”)
Asus series 1000 and S101, MSI Wind, Medion Akoya mini E1210, ECS G10IL, Samsung NC10, and many more…

What’s in the Box?:

There is no box for this product, it’s inside of a heavy duty vinyl zip lock style bag. The bag itself has the information printed on it and it’s semi-transparent so you can see the color through the bag. There’s a hang tag as well with a sample of the sleeve material so you can feel it before you buy it.

The LA Rode I got for review is obviously a bright green in color called ‘2Green’ but it’s available in Pink, Blue, Red and Black as well. The only marking is the Be.ez logo on both sides of the sleeve:

The LA Robe features dual zipper with nice large pulls on them, the zippers feel heavy duty and inside there is a cloth flap that covers them to protect the netbook or laptop inside.

The LA Robe is a basic sleeve, you won’t find any pockets on it, and there’s no room for a power supply either, it’s meant to be an easy and protective way to carry your netbook from place to place. You can use it as is, or slide it into another bag to take other stuff with you. Inside you’ll find a soft, non-scratching material where your netbook will be.

The outer material is a memory shape material, meaning it will bounce back to it’s original shape if pressed on. It is thick and should offer good protection for the netbook inside.

Installation:

As far as installation is concerned, just open it up and slide your netbook in. I’m using the LA Robe with my Acer Aspire One D250:

Once you put your netbook in there there is no other room for anything else, it fits nice and snug. You can though use a smaller netbook with it, I found I could fit my Asus EeePc 900a in there with the PSU with no problem, but that’s a 7″ netbook.

You might complain that there’s no pockets, but it’s designed that way, and for me that’s not a big deal. It’s meant to protect the netbook inside and I believe it will do a good job of that. I’ve got a Tom Bihn messenger bag that I use for my laptop and netbook, I can just slide this right in there and off I go if need be. You can just through it in any bag really and it will be safe I’m sure.

As far as price is concerned, I checked Amazon and found it new for as low as $16.99, which is not a bad price really, well worth it.

Conclusion:

As far as I’m concerned the LA Robe is a great product, I like it very much, I trust my netbook being inside of it. I will be using the LA Robe from now on for my Aspire One, and I can recommend you getting one for your netbook as well.

Pros:

+Well made of thick protective material

+Dual, heavy duty zippers

+Basic and functional

Cons:

-No pockets

I would like to thank Be.ez for the chance to review the LA Robe 10.2 Sleeve and for their support of iGadgetLife.