My Tech Talk

Technology and children.  Welcome to my world.

As a father of four young children and an avid user of technology, I’m always on the look out for toys and electronics that will educate, entertain and inspire.

My 3 year olds enjoy playing online games (must be genetic) on nickjr and pbskids, but that requires immense parental involvement navigating to those sites and through the different games.

To help parents, I’ve added an “Electronics for Kids” product page in the MyTechTalk Amazon Store.  It is filled with toys and games from Leapfrog, Fisher-Price, vTech, Hooked on Phonics and other reputable toy makers.

To view the kids electronics I’ve listed in the store - including a learning radio, laugh n’ learn laptop, talking  Smart Sticks and kid tough DVD players -  follow 2  steps:

1. Click this link to visit the MyTechTalk Amazon Store
2. Once in the store, click the “Electronics for Kids” link under the “Browse by Category” header.

Some of these toys are already enjoyed by my kids while others will likely find their way down the chimney on Christmas or wrapped up for a birthday.  In other words, I either bought these for my own kids or would like to at some point.  These items also received favorable reviews from customers on Amazon.

Your feedback and comments are always welcome.

Happy Shopping!

Will the Blackberry Bold get swept away by the Storm?

That’s the question I asked myself recently and decided to do a little Internet surfing to see what answers I could uncover. I looked at detailed reviews, YouTube videos, Blackberry’s own web site and even Research in Motion financial documents for clues.

Since some of you may want a quick answer in order to get on with your day, I’ll provide one here and say thank you for visiting today:

In my opinion, the answer is NO. The Bold will not get swept away.

If you want more details, please read on.

Blackberry Bold Reviews

To restate the facts, the Bold has a QWERTY keyboard whereas the Storm is a true touch screen model similar to the iPhone. In the United States, the Bold is sold by AT&T while the Storm is on the Verizon network. I’ve left the comprehensive reviews, or heavy lifting if you will, to Gizmodo and CNET.

Read Gizmodo’s review of the Blackberry Bold.

Read CNet’s review of the Blackberry Bold.

If you’re a visual person, watch a YouTube review of the Blackberry Bold.

Here’s what I gleaned from these reviews:

Strengths:

• Speed (faster processor = faster performance)
• Crisp screen for multimedia
• WiFi and GPS built in
• Impressive Battery Life

Weaknesses:

• Web browsing is better than previous models, like the Curve or Pearl, but still not as user-friendly as some other smart phones.
• In the above video, the reviewer cites video playback on the Bold as problematic.

Blackberry Storm Reviews

The Storm’s touch screen uses “SurePress” technology that realistically simulates the click of a keyboard button by requiring the user to actually push down on the screen.  For this device, I read through the reviews on Gizmodo and CNET.

Read CNet’s review of the Blackberry Storm

Read Gizmodo’s review of the Blackberry Storm

For a visual review, watch a YouTube video of the Blackberry Storm.

Strengths:

• Touch Screen
• Video recording capabilities
• 8 GB microSD card included
• Dual mode for easy switching between CDMA and GSM phone networks

Weaknesses:

• “Sluggish” (Cnet) and “lags” (Gizmodo) are not the words you want to hear about performance
• No WiFi
• No trackball or scroll wheel (apparently still the ideal way to navigate the Blackberry menus)
• 2 hands are required to operate many features (a departure from previous models)

Side by Side Feature Comparison

If you’d like to forgo the wordy reviews, take a look at this table from the Blackberry web site that compares the features of the Bold and Storm.

You can also read Technewsworld’s article, Blackberry Battle Royale: Storm vs Bold

Final Thoughts

If you’re using your Blackberry for business, stick with the Bold.  The speed of the device and the familiarity of the QWERTY keyboard are both important to getting work done quickly and efficiently.  If you’d like a Blackberry for fun or casual use, the Storm is worth considering.

The introduction of both devices in the 3rd quarter of 2008 resulted in an incredible increase in # of devices sold. If you’d like the numbers, RIM reports a 117% increase in # of devices sold from the 3rd quarter of 2007 (p. 13 of the 3rd Quarter Fiscal Financial Info Document found on the RIM web site).

The Bold should please business customers while the Storm attracts the general consumer to the Blackberry brand.  Appealing to two different types of customers (with marginal overlap?) should boost RIM’s revenues.

How would you like to take notes with a pen and a small electronic device about the size of garage door opener? 

Wirelessly Record Your Handwriting

Meet the Mobile Digital Scribe by IOGear.

 No wires. No special tablet or paper.

No computer needed until you wish to transfer your writing into a digital format.

The wireless receiver records your handwriting and drawing on any paper or surface. You can later connect the receiver to a computer via USB cable to have it transcribed into typed text.

Don’t confuse this product with the similarly named IOGear Digital Scribe either —note the omission of the word “Mobile” —as this model is not wireless and requires a USB connection to work at all.

Who Can Use it?

A wireless digital pen really has the potential to attract a wide range of customers, including:

• Students
• Health Care Professionals
• Outside Sales Representatives
• Parents
• Administrative Assistants
• Paralegals

Good News - Hardware

Consumer reviews on Amazon.com indicate that the pen and receiver work great.

Bad News - Software

Consumer reviews on Amazon.com indicate that the handwriting recognition software shipped with the product does a below average job of transcribing your scribbles into typed text on the screen. 

Possible Solution to Bad News

IOGear offers an upgrade to the software that presumably “learns” your own handwriting style to improve the accuracy of the transcription.  It is *not* included in the original purchase.

Read G.B. Ludwig’s comment titled “product with potential.”

Final Thoughts

My impression is that this gadget needs some fine tuning and better software included. 

Comments about ink refills, flimsy spring load clips to hold the receiver to the paper and problems for left handed writers indicate that IOGear needs to release an updated model to address these issues.

Until then, the pen is not yet mightier than the keyboard. 

However, the Mobile Digital Scribe should make keyboards very nervous about their long term future in the computing world.

Read More Gadget Posts:

Green Umbrella’s Extended Warranty Service for Electronics

Hot Holiday Gadget: Pocket Video Camcorders

“Take the ease of iTunes and apply it to IT Management.”

What is Spiceworks?

Spiceworks is free software designed to help small or medium sized businesses on a budget manage technology assets.

• Track inventory, including software, computers and network devices.
• Monitor a network, Exchange service or software licenses.
• Generate reports on assets and inventory.

What Information can it give me?

Network scans can identify which devices are attached to your network at a given time. It will display information on personal computers, network printers, Cisco switches, routers and anything else that has an IP address.

For each device, the scan can display detailed information, such as:

• Service Tags
• Serial Numbers
• MAC Addresses
• The Operating System version

What else can it do?

• You can add non-network devices into the inventory (like phone equipment or projectors or furniture)
• Track IT projects like equipment upgrades or office moves.
• Manage Help Desk activities, like submitting tickets for problems.

Read a detailed review from the HelpDeskGeek to get another opinion on the software.

Cost/Benefit

The software is free, but ad supported. The ads are not aggressive or irritating, but they do exist. It is a small sacrifice for access to such an immensely useful software program that can help you get control of your technology once and for all.

Get Started

Sign up to download Spiceworks software today to get started or visit their web site for more information.

The Flip Mino Video Camcorder and other “mini camcorders” look to be a hot ticket item this holiday season. The Flip Mino is getting a lot of buzz. It is a cell phone sized camcorder with built in memory and built in software for easy editing, emailing and uploading onto the web. In fact, its built-in, easy to use software may be the feature that distinguishes the Flip from other competing products.

There are other products within this “Mini Camcorder” category that you should consider as well.

Below is a collection of information and links to review regarding the Flip Mino (sometimes mistakenly spelled “Mimo”), RCA Small Wonder EZ200 series, Kodak Zi6, Best Buy’s Insignia and Creative Vado.

1. The Flip Video Mino

• Price range from MySimon: $150 and up
• Product web site: TheFlip.com
• Read reviews from Best Buy Customers
• Read 253 (and counting) reviews from Amazon customers
• New(er) feature: Buy the camera from TheFlip.com site and choose (or create) a custom design.
• Typical features: Built-in software, 2 GB internal flash memory, no media slot for expansion memory, internal battery.
  

2. RCA Small Wonder EZ200 Series

• Read a review and see a video demo on Cnet.
• Price Range from MySimon: $85-$99
• Product web site: MySmallWonder.com
  
• Read reviews from Amazon customers
• Key differences from the Flip Mino: Lower price, media slot for memory expansion, flip out LCD display.

3. Kodak Zi6

• Price range from MySimon: $179.99 (site lists Amazon.com as only seller)
• Product web site: Kodak.com
• Read reviews from Amazon customers.
• Read a product review from Cnet.
• Key differences from Flip Mino: HD camcorder, larger size, media slot for memory expansion (which is essential), only 128 MB onboard memory with 30 MB reserved for storage, rechargeable batteries.

4. Insignia 5.0 MP Digital Camcorder (Best Buy exclusive)

• Price at Best Buy: $99.99
• Product web site: BestBuy.com
• Read reviews from Best Buy customers.
• Key differences from Flip Mino: Swivel LCD display, uses 2 AA batteries, 64 MB internal memory, media slot for expansion memory.
  

5. Creative Vado

• Price range from MySimon: $79-$107
• Product web site: Creative Labs
• Read reviews from Amazon customers.
• Read review and watch a demo video from Cnet.
• Key differences from Flip Mino: Lower price

A camcorder like these make it easy to capture life’s spontaneous moments and share them online. While the Flip Mino has gotten the buzz, there are other products with similar features and lower price tags for those keeping an eye on their holiday budgets this year.

Click here for a side by side comparison by CNet of most of these “You Tube” camcorders.

I love reading the comics in the newspaper. However, I have one slight problem: I don’t subscribe to a newspaper. And, I’m not alone. Newspaper subscriptions have plummeted and some comic strip creators have taken notice and taken action, most notably, Berkeley Breathed.

Sadly, he has chosen to end his beloved “Opus” comic. You can read about the end of the Opus comic in a letter Mr. Breathed posted on his web site. Here’s what was written in a San Francisco Chronicle article by a reporter who interviewed Breathed recently:

After he brought Opus back in 2003, he noticed that his core audience - readers 13 to 30 - was no longer reading the newspaper. “It wasn’t just that the market had shrunk and some readers had left,” he said. “They had virtually disappeared. “I hadn’t appreciated that until I came back and realized that if I strolled into a college campus after three years of doing my strip, no one had ever read it….Breathed thinks comics will be left behind when newspapers go “fully digital.”

(You can click here to read the full article by Regan McMahon, published on 10/27/08: Berkeley Breathed’s Opus Bows Out.)

Comics.com has helped carry the comic strip torch into the online world. Recently, the web site received a Web 2.0 makeover which will help comic strip fans share their favorite funnies via social bookmarks and RSS for free.

With web sites like this, I hope that comics continue to tickle the funny bone long after newspapers have gone “fully digital.” We could all use the laughs, especially in these dreary economic times.

Below is one of the final Opus comics, courtesy of the new Comics.com web site.

Schools, youth groups, charities and other non-profit organizations earn money by recycling technology products through the Cartridges for Kids program.

Cost to participate?

It is free.  Cartridges for Kids supplies participating non-profit groups with program marketing materials and shipping at no cost.

What items can be recycled?

• laser, fax, copier, and inkjet cartridges
• used cell phones
• laptops
• PDAs (Palm Pilots)
• GPS Systems
• iPods

Click here for a detailed list of acceptable items to recycle.

How much can we earn?

The answer varies, depending on how what items are being recycled and how much is being recycled.

For example,  recycling one Blackberry 7520 model = $5.00.

For a breakdown on pricing, visit the recycling list page.

How do we sign up?

Click here to enroll your non-profit organization now.

Upon enrolling your non-profit organization with the program, you will be sent an enrollment package which includes:

• Program Guide
• Poster
• Fliers
• CFK Stickers
• Pre-paid shipping labels

Getting Started

Click here to read about how to create a successful program.

Also, look on their home page for information on “6 Ways to Boost Your Organization.”

Cartridge for Kids can be an on-going fundraiser for a non-profit organization looking for some additional cash to fund their operation.

Data Center

JungleDisk’s online storage service will give you a secure and reliable method for backing up your data on a regular basis.

I’ve been using it for a couple of months and it works as advertised. I’m very pleased with their service and software.

Pricing

Unlike many other online storage services, you aren’t required to pay a monthly or annual fee. You do need to pay $20 for the JungleDisk Desktop Edition software, which includes a lifetime of free updates.

After buying the Desktop Edition software, you are charged for data storage (.15¢ per GB per month) and data transfer services. Take a moment to read about their pricing.

Features

JungleDisk has partnered with Amazon.com so that data stored online will be put onto Amazon’s S3 datacenters. By using the datacenters of a well-known and reliable company, JungleDisk provides its customers with stability and peace of mind that their data will be accessible and secure.

Read this to find out why JungleDisk is better than other online services.

Once purchased, the software license for the JungleDisk Desktop Edition is good for an unlimited # of computers. You won’t be required to by multiple licenses. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Click here for details on how the Desktop Edition software works.

I do recommend spending the extra dollar per month to buy the optional Jungle Disk Plus service. With it, you can access your data files from any web browser and the software will be able to resume uploads of large data files (like video files) should the connection be disrupted.

JungleDisk Workgroup Edition offers a backup solution for workgroup or office environments.

Free to Try

JungleDisk offers a free 30 day trial. To get started, visit the download page.

JungleDisk in the News

The company was recently acquired by Rackspace.

Read the company announcement from JungleDisk about the Rackspace acquisition.

If you have multiple emails, then you spend time checking multiple inboxes. Well, it is time for you to reclaim that precious time.

NutShellMail will consolidate your inboxes from email accounts and social networking web sites (specifically Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace for now) for FREE.

Watch a Video Demo of NutshellMail’s Service

Before setting up this service, I’ve had emails languish in seldom used inboxes that I forget to check. Now, that doesn’t happen to me anymore.

And NutshellMail is free.

You get back precious time in your day and it doesn’t cost you a nickel?

Wow!

Here are some additional features:

• Parents can configure the service to check their child’s inbox.
• The service is compliant with most corporate email policies
• The “boomerang” button delivers emails from a secondary inbox into your primary one.

I really like this service. It saves time and it is free.

Click here if you want to sign up for a free NutshellMail account.

Read Michael Horowitz’s article, originally posted on CNET News, for some good common sense practices to help secure your web mail account on Yahoo, GMAIL, Hotmail and others.

Being Smart About Web Mail

Tags: Email, Yahoo, Gmail, security, Internet

Read this article from Internetnews.com to get detailed information on how the Blackberry touch screen will differ from the Apple iPhone’s:

Smartphone Success May be in the Touch

Tags: Blackberry, Smartphone, iPhone, Touch screen, Email, News Article

View Original Article

Tags: Yahoo, online calendar, organize

View Original Article

Tags: Blackberry, mobile device, touch screen

Here’s a link to McCain’s Senate voting record.

Here’s a link to Obama’s Senate voting record.

Forget the hype.

Forget the spin.

Ignore the commercials, the editorials and the talking heads.

Watch the debates, but compare what is said with their past voting history.

Take a few minutes to review the Senate voting records of our 2 presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama.

The Washington Post has compiled this information on ALL members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives:

The links have additional information on the 2 men, but the voting records should provide a good indication where the candidate’s stand on a variety issues.

The Internet has put the facts at your fingertips. Reading them is up to you.

Remember to vote in November!

Technorati : Election 2008, McCain, Obama, Voting Record
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Mobile phones are more indispensable than ever. And, more expensive than ever if you’ve got a smart one that can do everything but cook dinner for you.

At any rate, the folks at CPR in San Jose, CA can help you fix that phone when you drop it or damage it. If you don’t live in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you’re still able to get a phone repaired by shipping them the damaged phone.

One of my colleagues took a few phones there and said the prices are reasonable and the service is good. Cell Phone Repair will also provide you with free estimates so that you’ll know how much money it will cost before deciding to fix it.

One of the postcards I’ve received from them states the following:

1. Authorized repair center for Motorola, Samsung, LG, Kyocera, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Sanyo.
2. Most repairs done on the spot.
3. Repairs include: Liquid damage, cracked LCD, dropped phone, shattered, no sound.
4. iPod repair also available.

Keep this option in mind if you’d rather pay a little to get a phone fixed instead of paying a lot to get it replaced.

Technorati : San Francisco Bay Area, mobile phone, repair
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