The iGo Green Power Smart Tower can save up to 85% energy consumption.
Being “Green” is all the rage these days. I don’t know where this insurgence of care and concern for the environment sprung from, but it’s here in full force and all of sudden people are becoming aware of their carbon footprint on the planet. Don’t get me wrong, I do my part in many ways, but sometimes I think companies or people are expected to go to unrealistic levels just to be green.
Well the iGo Power Smart Tower is one of those instances where going green is made easy. It’s not unrealistic for tech users to have power strips filled with plugged in devices all running dangerously throughout the day. The iGo power strip is definitely innovation in it’s own right by monitoring our power consumption and also reducing consumption from devices not currently in use.
In some tests up to 85% of power is reduced simply because the strip is smart enough to identify which devices are not being used and which are. When you need to access your device, there is no lag, the iGo is quick to make sure power is there for when you need it.
Two of the plugs are stationary the rest are movable, rotating to fit all needs and sizes of plugs to ensure ease of use. Other features included with the iGo are an internal cable management system, two front mounted USB connectors, and a 6-ft power cable to ensure it can be place anywhere in a room and still reach a wall plug.
We can’t all be DJ’s carrying around our speakers everywhere we go. Heck most of us will never be DJ’s but it doesn’t me we care about the sound of our tunes. Carrying out portable speakers has been something no one has done simply because the types of products out there don’t create anything worth listening to. Most likely we’ll connect our mobile audio devices to a stereo using a complicated cord system, or docking station enabled device. Good speakers are hard to find.
Entering the market of mobile speakers is Kerchoonz, which admittedly does not look like a name people will be talking about in households around the world, but don’t be so quick to judge. Despite it’s funky name, the practical purpose of this device is to turn surfaces into sound, providing for you just the right sound for your music no matter where you are.
Kerchoonz uses patented gel-audio technology to turn surfaces into speakers.
Hooking up to your mp3 player, computer, laptop, mobile device, and using patented gel-audio technology, Kerchoonz is able to turn any flat surface, table, wall, or box, into a full speaker with little problems. It offers up full bass response 40-20KHz with up to 20 hours of battery life, also rechargeable via a USB connection.
While it may not look like a lot, Kerchoonz has a lot to offer in such a small package. If you’ve got other small portable speakers you’d like to recommend, leave them in the comment section below.
*This article is purely speculative based on information gathered from a variety of rumor sources and track record of Apple.
Could Apple's new device be the casual gaming machine Nintendo fears?
Many of us have been waiting for Apple’s big announcement with more anticipation than I’ve seen collectively in a very long time. I can remember when the iPhone was first rumored that the world waited, breath held, and excitement at an all time high. I can’t say that any other company has truly fascinated the world as much as Apple has in the last ten years, but then again, very few companies have changed the way we interact the way Apple has. From the launch of the iPod, to the launch of the iPhone, and even dating as far back as their initial Apple computer, the company is known to make waves.
As we approach the big announcement date, the word on everyone’s mind is tablet. I can’t imagine that anyone has not heard the rumors, but this coming Wednesday, along with some other announcements, the world is waiting for the announcement on what they see as the iTablet. Will happen? Does it exist. I’m not here to neither confirm nor deny what’s happening, I’m not privy to that information. But what I will do is make an assumption that I think is at least 85% true.
Should an iTablet of sorts arrive, I’m looking at a device that is purely a media consumption device. I don’t see any content being created with this device, but more for entertainment purposes. While the device will more than likely play movies and audio, it’s being said it could also function as an e-reader. But what I’m looking at is the gaming value.
There have been numerous sources stating that games would play a big factor in this new device and if so why, to what end? Currently the mobile gaming industry throne is held by Nintendo. Since the release of its Gameboy, which was a revolutionary device in its own right, it has been known as a great gateway gaming machine for those not typically used to playing games. Nintendo enjoys its position as being an easy point of entry for the casual gamer that perhaps would not pick up an Xbox or a PS3. This has been the bread and butter for this market, followed by the hardcore fans that thrive on franchises like Mario and Zelda.
The iTouch/iPhone has quickly become the gaming alternative for those of us waiting in line or just passing the time. With quick pick up games that can be played in short bursts and then put down, the release of an iTablet could easily transcend the small screen but bring the same mindset of carrying a slightly larger device that won’t just offer the same gaming diversion, but also offer up video, audio, and published entertainment.
Maybe I’m going out on limb here, but I think Nintendo might be in their sights. Not necessarily as a gaming machine, but rather, eating up their casual gamer market share that are looking for something a little more sophisticated than a Nintendo DS or DSi interations.
What are you thoughts? Do you care? Do you think it’s all hype? Leave your comments and let me know what’s what.
Evernote 3.5 Windows in beta.
When Evernote first came out there was a lot of hype surrounding this all purpose information collector and sorter. Unlike anything that we had really seen before, Evernote allowed users to capture content either in video, internet, or photo, save it and store to the Evernote account and have all devices sync with your account. It was a great way to share information you would need later, or capture something as simple was scribbles on a napkin without actually having to carry the napkin with you. For web surfers specifically the ability to save an entire page along with the URL or just highlighted content allowed us a new way to capture just what we needed without bookmarking an entire site. Evernote really changed the way we capture data on our mobiles and now it gets an upgrade.
Evernote 3.5 for Windows was recently released in beta and it’s nothing significant, but does address a lot of previous annoyances. Evernote has always existed in many formats; an app, a browser button, and a desktop application rounds out how you can find Evernote. The desktop version for windows was nothing fancy, in fact it could be described as clunky, glitchy, with a UI that was not as intuitive as it could be. With it’s Apple counterpart running smooth and clean, it was a wonder why the Windows version could not mimic that same look and feel.
Some updates you will see are as follows:
- three views offered for looking at notes: List, Mixed, and Thumbnails
- geo-location tags activate a map that slides into place to show its location
- interface feels a lot more Windows 7 than its older counterparts
- search database has been improved, and you can save and edit your search filters
- multi-language spell check
So with these minor improvements we’ve seen a nicer desktop app under the hood. The application is still free, with a paid pro account alternative offering more functionality for the power users.
BookBook encases your MacBook Pro
Not sure how many of you have been robbed out there. Perhaps your car, your home, your person, but if you have, then you know the traumatic experience of feeling violated. It’s this raw emotion that someone violated your personal space. Now for some of us, depending on what they took, it might take us longer than others to get past it. But how many of us actually remain in a constant state of paranoia?
It appears that the designers of this little product for Mac Book Pros has not gotten past their loss because they created the BookBook. The BookBook, retailing for $80, is a supposed crafty way of deterring thieves from taking your Mac Book when you’re not home. Creating a facade that to the untrained eye looks like a stack of random books, in actuality it’s a sneaky case where you’ve stored your Mac Book Pro for safe keeping.
Put it away, or use the elastic corner wraps to secure your Mac Book while you use it inside the case, either way if perfectly functional. The distressing and such is customizable to the person making the purchase, but how many of us have books like this on our bookshelf. I feel like I need another set of books that I can pull on to reveal a hidden room behind the bookshelf.
In either case, if you like this style of pulling a ruse on would be thieves, then take the plunge and pick one up. Personally I’d like to know if it comes heavily cushioned inside so that when thieves clear out my books to the floor my Mac Book Pro will remain safe and secure…just saying.
While terrestial radio has suffered severe losses in listenership, satellite radio and applications like Pandora and Slacker have been on the rise. The transition was bound to happen as listeners sought after a la carte style music that played exactly what they wanted. The ability to make your own stations is the next step in this hierarchy of listener ownership of the digital airwaves.
So where does terrestial radio stand these days? Radio stations still maintain an online presence, now offering their streaming content direct from the website. So while advertisers begin to shift with the transition, radio struggles to stay relevant these days as the primary source of information, entertainment and our favorite music.
It was years ago that I was introduced to a little application called Earthtuner. I think it was around 1997 when I came across this application that allowed me to find radio stations from around the world. I remember this clearly because I loved listening to stations directly streamed over the computer from other countries. In the days before iTunes, music apps, and stations with stream content there was Earthtuner, my virtual connector to anything I wanted from around the world.
More recently there is a similar application called Antenna that runs on the Adobe Air platform and offers up similar services to Earthtuner. The application allows users to search a database or interactive map of thousands of stations. User will be able to search by country, genre, or by clicking on any area on the map. Leave ratings for other users as you browse the most popular stations that others have recommended for you.
Do apps like this make terrestial radio interesting again?
Antenna allows you to stream stations from around the world.
*Medical websites should never take the place of professional medical advice.
Online medical sites are all over the net. Some are more trustworthy than others, but as we seek medical advice online, it’s important for us to know our symptoms. More often than not I’ve seen people scare themselves with their paranoia of what they think they have based on very general information. Let’s try and avoid that shall we?
I’ve recently been made aware of a new medical site called MedHelp which focuses on determining your likely issue based on the layers of symptoms you go through in order to pinpoint as close as possible the exact nature of your situation. Now it’s not to be taken as concrete law, but it gives you a better idea of things you can discuss with your doctor.
The site instantly offers you the top 50 symptoms that commonly come across the site, but you also have the option of typing in your issue in a search engine. The layers of options that come after your initial search breakdown whether it’s for kids, adults, age ranges, gender, and then other more drill down options for better return of results. The site may look like other medical information sites, but at the top you get options like common tags, medical dictionaries, drug information, and videos which I found pretty useful.
Sites like this are just another example of how even a regulated industry like the medical field is becoming more online oriented, and while these sites become more popular, don’t forget to visit your doctor for more accurate, professional care!
Sprint in partnership with Clear have taken the 4G world by storm. Unfortunately 4G is not everywhere, nor is it that reliable. It has nothing to do with the companies in question, but mostly due to the lack of towers, which are going up as quickly as they possibly can. While service might be spotty, when you are able to access 4G you definitely know you’re in the fast lane.
But what if you can’t keep a constant 4G connection? No worries, the Sprint Overdrive is here to ensure that you can connect to 4G and should your connection drop it transitions to 3G no problem. This instant transition ensures that your web experience is not interrupted and will probably happen without notice.
The Sprint Overdrive 4G/3G Mobile Hotspot device can share it’s connection with up to five devices via Wi-fi. The internal battery is another bonus for those long trips if you’re looking to keep your laptop, or any other mobile device online at all times.
The device retails for $100 and reminds me of the Verizon Mi-Fi 2200. While the Mi-Fi 2200 is the size of a credit card, the Overdrive is bigger. The Mi-Fi also does not offer 4G connections, so this added edge (when you can get it and keep it) is worthwhile.
Sprint Overdrive 4G/3G Mobile Hotspot
I’m know I’m not the only one that has stepped out and saw someone talking to them only to discover that instead of talking to me, they are talking to someone inside an ear piece. You don’t discover this until you look like a fool doing the smile and nod, or the hand signals for “you talking to me,” or maybe even some of us had spoken out loud in response to something we thought they were saying to us. From our perspective we’ve mistaken this individuals for mentally disturbed individuals, but still the ear piece seems to be a highly popular item for cell phone users and Jawbone continues that tradition with their new release.
The release of the Jawbone Icon ($100) sets the stage for more than just a piece of technology that supposedly makes it easier for you to take your calls. Instead it goes for more than function it goes for form as the Icon looks to be more a piece of jewelry rather than a piece of technology. Coming in various colors and styles, the Bluetooth device looks to break away from the faux pa of wearing headpieces that has become the punchline for many comedians. The Icon sports a Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR functionality, 4.5 hours of talk time with an internal rechargeable battery.
Jawbone Icon merges gadgetry with jewelry functionality.
A nice feature is the Noise Assassin 2.5 noise eliminator which is supposed to keep the noise out and your calls clear. We’ve seen variations of this in the past, but this new updated version presumably is something to behold. Another interesting addition is the MyTalk software platform where users will be able to customize their settings of the Icon thanks to downloadable programs. I’m interested to see how this works, but it does making adjustments to your headset a lot easier.
Storage, storage, storage, everyone is looking for ways to maximize their storage space without taking up lots of unnecessary space. I’m not quite
sure why key chain drives are still being developed with all the cloud storage options available like DropBox, Zumodrive, and the dozens of others out there. Nevertheless, key chain drives are becoming extremely small and now the Tuff-’N'-Tiny from Verbatim maximizes both storage space and size.
The drive is penny thin and is resistant to dust, water, and static discharge, ensuring this rugged little drive does not lose your data. The drive comes in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB sizes, depending on how many everyday files you need. For those using Windows machines, the device also comes password protected to ensure an extra measure of security for your stored information. It’s compatible with all USB ports and comes with a lanyard to connect to your keys or your mobile phone.
This little portable gadget seems like the premier choice for storing data, but personally, I’d be afraid to lose it. Sometimes smaller is not necessarily the best thing. Still, there’s logic behind the design and Verbatim is known to build solid hardware.
