Touch This! The HTC Touch Pro Review

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, you might want to take a hard look at the HTC Touch Pro.  It runs Windows Mobile Pro 6.1 OS with HTC's TouchFLO 3D interface layered on top of that.  It has a full QWERTY keyboard, so if a viryual keyboard has been keeping you down, this is the solution you've been looking for... check it out!

Acer Aspire One Review

Here's a review we did on the Acer Aspire One computer.  It's a tiny laptop that technically falls into the new class known as a netbook.  Perfect for email, surfing the internet, word processing and spread sheets, at $349 it just might be the cheapest full-feature laptop you'll ever love.

Take Two Bullets and Call Me in the Morning

Well, it seems the proverbial itchy trigger finger has become the itchy trigger thumb?!?  A company called Constitution Arms has launched a pistol (as in handgun) aimed at (pun intended) "seniors, disabled or others who may have limited strength or manual dexterity."   Called the Palm Pistol, it looks like no conventional handgun I've ever seen, nor does it work like  one, using a thumb trigger to fire it's single round.  

In fact, if you meet certain criteria you can even have one prescribed for you by a physician.  Yep, that's right, the FDA has determined that the Palm Pistol is a Class I Medical Device!  Wow, a doctor prescribed handgun... what has this world come to anyway?

UPDATE - Apparently the folks at Constitution Arms spoke a bit too quickly...  it seems the FDA has issued a statement saying that they have determined that the Palm Pistol "is not a medical device".  Whew!  For a few days there I thought our government had lost it's collective mind(s).  Wait, what?

Beer & TV...Together at Last!

It's no secret that watching football while drinking a beer is one of life's simple pleasures. But, unless you wanted to waste a lot of beer, you had to break eye contact with the TV to assure an accurate pour...UNTIL NOW! Introducing the Micro Matic V-Pod, an invention that is what we like to call, "a no-brainer".  Combine beer taps with a 10" LCD TV and stereo speakers and you have yourself a little slice of heaven.  Sure, you could buy all three components individually for far less money, but where's the fun in that?

The Simpsons Skewer Apple

I don't care if you're an Apple fanboy (or girl) or a Windows devotee, this clip from the Simpsons is darn funny.

Flip & Fold Screens?

By now you've probably heard about a new screen technology called OLED (organic light-emitting diode). Samsung is pioneering it and debuted a wafer thin .05 mm screen back in October. Well, now they have unveiled a cell phone with a FOLDING screen built into it.



Wow, imagine being able to unfold your phone and reveal a nice, BIG, bright screen! Finally, we can watch movies on a plane on a screen bigger than a postage stamp! Yay!

Now, we just have to wait and see how much lighter this will make our wallets...

Now It's Okay to Choke Your Chicken

Seriously, I couldn't let that one go, but a company out of Hong Kong has a new take on the rubber chicken.  Brando Toys has developed the Screaming Chicken to help relieve stress or to just give you a good laugh.  hit it, kick it or choke your chicken and it'll scream in pain.  So release your inner sadist and have at it!

The Lesser of Two Evils? Or Three?

My cellular phone contract is just about up.  Soon.  so, I have to make a decision regarding my carrier.  Currently I have AT&T and except for the frequent dropped calls and excessive rates, I'm pretty happy with them (this is sarcasm for those of you not familiar with it).  So, that leaves me with a few other choices.  T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint are the only companies worth considering in my opinion given their size and coverage.  However, each has it's drawbacks.  

T-Mobile doesn't have any phones that particularly "trip" my trigger, nor do their plans excite me.  Verizon has great phones, comprehensive plans and a great reputation for customer satisfaction..but their rates are sky high.  Which leaves me with Sprint... good old Sprint.  Sprint has good coverage, cheap all-inclusive plans and great phones.  But, their reputation for customer service and satisfaction is in the toilet.  People are leaving them at a phenomenal clip, but the iPhone might've had something to do with that.  Still, I could save $80/month going with them.  Although their top executives are among the most over compensated of any U.S. company, still, if they can save me money, what do I care?

Decisions, decisions... do I choose bad or worse?  

Picture This...

Back in the olden days, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, we took photographs with cameras that used a media called film.  The most popular variety was 35mm film and people either made negatives to print photos, or they made positive images called slides for projection.  Very old school.  So, here we are, decades later, and what do we do with all of that old media now?  Why digitize it of course!  Stafford Labs offers a Digital Image Copier that hooks up to your computer via USB and it transforms all of your old slides and negatives into digital gold.  It's virtually plug and play and it comes with Arcsoft's Photoimpression 6 software.  Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I sold this item on the Shopping Channel in Canada some weeks back, but hey, that's where we fell in love...

Seriously though, being able to take thirty year old negatives and play them on your iPod or digital picture frame or even email them is a pretty cool thing.  And it's ridiculously easy to do, in fact, it's addictive.  You start out with the intention of digitizing just one image and the next thing you know five hours have past, you haven't taken a bathroom break, and you're still going strong.  

To Text, or Not to Text, That is the Question...

I was just reading an article on CNET on the CTIA show about how cell phone manufacturers are scrambling to create phones with full QWERTY keyboards that are not smart phones.  Why?  Because of the preponderance of people texting these days, despite the rising costs or messaging.  Makes sense, I mean what does a fourteen year old need with a a phone that has Microsoft Office anyway?  What didn't make sense was one of the user comments, which said in part, "And now a word from the age of the dinosaurs (i.e., people born before 1980) - I've never sent a text message in my life and I'm not going to start now. Not interested."  HUH?!?  I was born back in the '60's and I text like a mad man.  Granted, I work in a technocentric  industry (video production) with a lot of people younger than me, but hey if you don't text these days it seems like nothing will get done.  Yes, I still think it's important to talk with people to establish relationships, build trust, etc.  But, if you can't have a conversation (or don't want to have a conversation) a nice quick SMS is the way to get things done. Although, lately I've noticed a lot of people texting at lunch, and I consider this to be a serious breach of etiquette.   Everyone knows it's rude to speak on your phone during lunch, so why is it acceptable to text.  After all, you're still having a conversation with someone else, albeit a silent one.  Nonetheless, not cool.  

So, to recap... texting good.  Texting at lunch, bad.  Not texting at all, stupid.

Palm in my Hand...

Palm has released their newest smart phone, the Treo Pro... very quietly.  The phone itself (in my opinion) kicks ass.  Having owned a Treo 650 (which I still break out every now and then), I can testify to Palm's productivity and reliability.  Which is why I was SO excited when I saw this little beauty, which bears a slight resemblance to that phone from Apple.

Here's the problem ( and you just KNEW there had to be one), the phone is only available unlocked with no carrier support to subsidize the whopping $500+ price tag.  YIKES!  So, with the iphone costing less than $200 and the Samsung Instinct costing just over $100, what's a boy to do?!?  Pray for a miracle friends.  Although, rumor has it that an even newer, better smart phone from Palm is right around the corner anyway, with the Treo Pro being a stop gap more or less.  After all, two years ago palm was the dominant smartphone company in the USA, but with Apple, RIM and HTC grabbing more and more market share, well, they had to do something to stop the bleeding till their future phone hits the shelves... and I hope they do, I really do.

Now That's Service!

I'm a middle aged man.  I have no children.  I own an xbox 360.  It's mine, I play with it and I'm not ashamed to admit it.  Call me Peter Pan, but I love it.   So, when my xbox displayed the infamous Red Ring of Death, I was both saddened and dismayed.  Now, if you don't know what the Red Rings of Death are, it basically the xbox's way of telling you that you're screwed.  You're baby is dead and there is nothing YOU can do to bring it back to life.  The situation is caused by an over-heating of the motherboard and is not something new... it was just new to me.  

So, when I called Microsoft customer service, I already knew that they had extended their warranties for three years to cover this phenomenon.  What I didn't know, was how they were handling the complaints.  The answer surprised me... they are handling them really well.  In one call, I had a case number and return packaging on their way to me.  Within a few days I had sent my xbox back to the mothership and forgot about it.  So, when i recieved a package the following week, I was truly at a loss as to who it was from.  But, low and behold the label read Microsoft.  "No way", I thought, but it was true, the prodigal gaming console was back.  I unwrapped it and was marveling at the speed with which they had repaired it, when I noticed something odd.  Was it possible that they had repaired all of the nicks and scratches too?!?  Nope.  It was a brand NEW unit!  So, rather than inconvenience me with a greater wait, they just shipped me a new one from their stock.  Did they have to do that?  No.  But the fact that they did speaks volumes about their commitment to customer satisfaction.

We've all spent too much time on hold listening to muzak before we speak to someone in a call center on the other side of the globe.  We've all been disappointed by the resolutions we were offered to our complaints.  So, when we come across a company that goes that extra mile to make us feel whole, we shout their praises from the rooftops... although I'm still not a fan of Windows.

Photographing Nemo

Has this ever happened to you?  You're snorkeling (or scuba diving) and you think to yourself, "gee, if only I had a camera built into my mask."  Well, your prayers have been answered!  A company called Liquid Image is offering a diving mask with an integrated camera that shoots both still images and video.  

The mask comes in two models, one with a 3.1 MP camera that retails for about $79 and one with a 5.0 MP camera that retails for $99.  The masks have a maximum depth of 5 meters (16 feet) for the 3.1 MP and 30 meters (98 feet) for the 5.0 MP unit, so regadless of whether you're a snorkeler or a diver, they've got you covered.  Both versions record video and stills onto a Micro SD card and come with photo and video editing software and they have a USB port to get your underwater phone onto your computer easily.

Now, being a diver myself, I know how cumbersome a regular camera can be underwater.  If the mask on this is half-way decent, this could actually be a really neat toy or an indispensable tool depending on the applications.  So, whether you're an avid diver, or just a poolside voyeur, the Liquid Image Camera mask has something for everyone!

Something tells me we're going to be seeing a lot of odd underwater videos on You Tube in no time...

Mac Vs. PC is FUNNY

If you've been reading my blog, you know that I recently took the big leap and transitioned from a PC to  a Mac.  I didn't do it to follow a trend or because of some marketing campaign, I didn't do it to save money or because I like the aesthetics of the Mac better.  I did it because everyone I know with a Mac NEVER complains about having any conflicts, problems or daily crashes.  for me, the switch is working out, and yet the great debate rages on...  Mac or PC?  

Check out this video, you need a good laugh anyway...

Toyota... Moving Forward... Without Walking?!?

Wow, the folks at Toyota have really done it now.  They've finally invented something that will put an end to all of the incidental excercise we get walking around every day.  Their latest invention, the Winglet, is a mini-Segway of sorts. Watch the video for a few moments, and you'll find yourself thinking, "gee, I could really use that."  And you could too, regardless of your athletic prowess or lack there of...

You steer the Winglet by shifting your body weight and Toyota is proposing three different models ranging from sporty to practical with the only difference being the handlebars. 

The "S" model will be controlled by your calves, the "M" model by your thighs and the "L" model will have standard handlebars.  Depending on the price, this might very well be next years "must have" Christmas toy, er, gadget.

I'm Singing (and Talking) in the Rain...

How any times have you been talking on your cell phone and it starts to rain?  You're suddenly torn between continuing the conversation and abruptly ending it and shoving the phone in your pocket.  Well, talk on my rain soaked friends!  A new process called Golden Shellback promises to completely waterproof ALL of our precious electronics.  Developed by the Northeast Maritime Institute, Golden Shellback is a barely discernible clear coating that is applied in a vacuum and covers all of the electronics' components, both inside and out.  So, if you're fond of sipping soda while working on your computer, fear not!  Dribble all you want.  Talk in the rain, type while you wade and use your iPod in the shower.  

The only drawback I can see with the process is that you have to send your electronics to Golden Shellback for the procedure to take place, not a big deal, but you will have to go without your toys for a few days.  Still, that's a small price to pay for being able to dunk your phone in a bucket and not have to worry about it.  In fact, they actually have footage on their website of that very scenario taking place, and considering the premium we pay to have cutting edge electronics, this process just might pay for itself the first time you're caught in a downpour.

Follow Your Instinct!

Have you seen the Samsung Instinct cell phone yet?  It is one sweet looking phone and something of an homage to the iPhone.  It has a haptic touch screen (it vibrates when you choose an icon), a really cool UI and a built in GPS, that actually works.  The best thing about it is that it's on the Sprint network using their EVDO REV-A, which offers faster speeds than AT&T's 3G AND has more reasonable data plans. In fact, Sprint is known for their Everything plans, which give you unlimited data and messaging with generous voice time.  

I like this phone, A LOT.  Having played with it in the store and read extensively in the user forums, I think it's a great alternative to the iPhone. Sure, it's not perfect.  The browser is not as elegant as Apple's, but compared to most other cell phones it's above average.  Plus, the GPS works with voice commands.  You can say "pizza" and it'll take you to the nearest pizzeria.  OR, what if you want to find the cheapest gas in your area?  It can take you there too.  Plus is give you verbal directions while you're driving... or walking for that matter.  How much would I have loved that last year when I walked around San Francisco for an hour looking for a particular Dim Sum restaurant.

For me though, the deal breaker with the phone is the fact that it won't sync with Outlook calendar and it won't sync with a Mac at all.  So, while it's a killer phone, it might not qualify as a SmartPhone for the business user.

I Hate You Too, Windows!

What the heck did I ever do to Bill Gates, except help him amass his quintillion dollar fortune by buying his products for nearly 20 years?  I mean really, what did I do to deserve all of the HATE I still get from Windows, even on my new Mac?  

If you've been following my blog (and I don't know why you would), you know that I just got a Mac Book Pro.  I was a bit skeptical at first, but now I know why they cost so much more than a PC laptop...because they're worth it.  But I digress...anyway, I'm loving this Mac and having NO problems with it, until I install a program called Parallels that allows you to run Windows on your Mac.  In case you haven't guessed, the only problem with it is that it requires...wait for it...WINDOWS!  Kill me now.  Four attempts at installing a working version of windows on the Mac, FOUR!  WTF?!?  Why do I get no love from windows?  I was SOOO happy to be working in the Mac OS and then I just HAD to use a windows program.  Just when I thought I was free, they pull me back in...

BTW, if you're wondering, now that I have a successful install of windows on my Mac, it runs like a champ on those occasions when I need to run a windows program.  In fact, Windows XP actually runs better on my Mac then it did on my old Acer laptop.   Man, I hated that Acer.

Learning to Walk All Over Again...

Well, after staying home ALL day yesterday waiting for the UPS man to bring me my new MacBook Pro, he finally showed up at 6:30 PM.  What a waste of a day.  BUT, on the bright side, I did get my new Mac, my first Mac for that matter.  Here's what I noticed right away...

• REALLY slick looking machine in a nice understated way.  It's not all whored up like a lot of PC laptops I saw while shopping.  Simple, beautiful aluminum case.
• Lightweight.   It really is a laptop.
• Quiet.  You don't even know it's on, because there's no fan noise.
• Fast.  It boots up really quickly and opens programs in seconds.
• Maybe the best keyboard ever.
• Intuitive, if you're not already a slave to Windows.

I was going to do a list of pros & cons, but so far I haven't found anything not to like about this laptop.  Except, maybe the learning curve.  I'm not a programmer by any stretch of the imagination, but with a PC you have to learn your way around the machine's back alleys as a matter of necessity.  With the Mac, I almost get the feeling the machine is telling me, "yeah, don't worry why this happening, it just is", which is both comforting and disconcerting all at once.  I'm not used to trusting my computer to do exactly what I want without some prodding on my part.  So, for now, I just go with it.

A Mac, a Mac, my Kingdom for a Mac!

According to UPS tracking, my new MacBook Pro should be here tomorrow morning. From what I've been reading, I'm one of the lucky ones.

Apparently, the feeding frenzy caused by the iPhone 3G launch had an adverse effect on those wanting to stroll into an Apple store and buy a Mac, as in they couldn't get into the store. In fact, even today in some areas there was still a line for those wanting to buy a 3G (which makes sense) and another for those who wanted to do other Mac stuff like buy a computer (which makes no sense). Even worse, some AT&T stores actually made ALL of their customers wait in line last weekend, regardless of whether they were in line to get an iPhone or pay their bill. Ouch.

Over One Million Served...Um, Sold!

Wow, have you seen the stats on the sales of the iPhone 3G?!? After three days they did what it took McDonalds years to accomplish...over one million sold. By comparison, last year when they introduced the original iPhone (which BTW, was updated to software version 2.0 as well) it took them 75 days to sell that many units, so it looks like all off the hype worked!

Now, the last thing I want to do is too turn this into an iPhone blog (I'm no Apple fanboy...yet), but hey, it is the hottest thing out there right now. Sure there have been some issues with the supply meeting the demand and LENGTHY activations, but even if the darn thing was a brick right out of the box, you have to admire the marketing machine that made it all possible.

So Many Gadgets, So Little Time...

Folks, this is a magical time to be alive! Every day some new digital toy is coming on the market, ready for us to consume...new cell phones, computers, gaming consoles...isn't it great having some shiny new toy to lust after every few months? Even if it's just an updated version of your last shiny toy...which you paid double for...and bought just six months ago.

If you're like me (what marketing types call an early adopter), then you HAVE to have the latest digital toys as soon as they come out. If you're also like me (what financial types call poor), then you HAVE to window shop while you save up for the aforementioned latest digital toys. But, in doing so, I usually manage to wait out the beta's, the bugs and the fixes that plague most new products. Still, you have to admire the moxie of all of those folks who waited in line for days to get the new iPhone 3G. Sure, they could've waited till this week and walked right into the store and bought one, but those two days when THEY had one and YOU didn't was priceless! Don't get me wrong, I love the little electrotoys as much as the next geek, but sheesh, I like my sleep a little bit more.