CMUThought Community Thought

Apple announced this week that they will be releasing their newest ipods including the new iPod Touch. They have now included many of the features of the iPhone into the latest iTouch such as HD video recording, Facetime, and the upgraded Retina display. This will help expand the market for the iTouch because it now offers everything that you like in the iPhone and allows you to communicate with other iTouch users and iPhone users. The camera function was a key piece that was missing on the iTouch and now they again set the bar on what music players should look and act like.

Every night we go through the same routine to make sure our house is all locked up. We made sure that our builder used Kwikset locks in all exterior doors to make sure that we had the best locks in order to protect our family and belongings. With the traditional lock and key set and a deadbolt you know for certain that you are locked in and can feel safe going to bed. I like the fact knowing that when I do have to travel that my family is safe and secure along with our other security measures. So don’t comprise on your families safety and ask for the best.

We subscribed to VOIP about three years ago in the hopes to lower our phone bills. We moved from the West Coast to the East coast, and the long distance calls to family and friends were quite numerous. We did land on Vonage, and the difference in cost was amazing. We ended up saving about $30 per month, and could call anytime we wanted. Since the technology was very new, we always had questions. The market is now opening up because of the broad availability. Wireless connections are now becoming an area where developers are concentrating on because of the 3G and soon to be more widely available 4G speed. Now as we move into the smartphone age there is a VOIP for iPhone app that is now available for half of what we are paying. Ok, you are probably asking like I did how does a iPhone VOIP actually work and why would I move my home number to have just my cell number.
What Line2.com has done and what makes this iPhone Apps so different is that it is the first dual line application for your phone. So you have your normal cell number and with this app you now can have a second number that will work over a wifi or 3g connection. They have a great grid that shows the features that they offer over the various voip companies and other internet calling apps.

The new Fall fashions in women’s dresses are now online and available in the stores. Guys can usually get away with what we wore last year, for women having the newest styles and colors is essential to their sense of style. Some of the new looks using a softer material and being able to dress down without looking to formal is what I prefer to see my wife in. The style of dresses that are coming back are moderate in length and women are pairing them with stockings to accent the color and cut of the dress. It provides style along with a functional wear as the weather gets colder.

As companies are looking for ways to get in front of their customers or continue to create brand awareness attending and being present at regional and national trade shows can provide a great avenue. If positioned correctly you can interact with hundreds if not thousands of customers in order to promote a new line or product or simply enhance your brand. Times are tight, and companies are looking to save money any place possible. A great way to cut costs is to by used, and that includes buying or renting a table top display. If you have ever been to a trade show or conference and looked at the various trade show booths you will see a marked difference in those know how to make the most out of their time based on their display and what they offer the customer. Some have gotten the layout and presentation right where they make the experience interactive for the customers where you actually walk into the booth area and become part of the program instead of simply having a table with brochures. The trade show exhibits cost for some of these elaborate setups can be costly but the amount of business you can potentially gain by being at the even. You can usually work with a vendor that can provide a selection of booths that is second to none, are priced to meet any budget, and are all in like-new shape.
If you’re looking to shave some money from your budget but still need to attend all the major trade shows then plan ahead and don’t wait until the last minute. Last minute shipping and handling costs can adds as much as 30% to the cost of the table covers and other trade show items. So if you are going to take the time and personnel out of the field to be at a trade show or conference then you might as well make the most of the event and make sure that you get noticed.

After one of the most successful launches in cell phone history the iPhone4 has made history again. With all the excitement about some of the new revolutionary features such as “FaceTime” and the highest resolution screen it appears that Apple may have overlooked one basic need for cell phone users. That would be a good reception. At first I thought it was the Apple haters just trying to slow down the momentum that this phone was generating but when Apple and Steve Jobs called the press conference then you knew something might be wrong. After waiting for a few weeks I went out and upgraded my 3GS to the new iPhone and have been very impressed.

Now that I have my new iPhone I am looking to protect my new shiny phone with a new case. I have searching the stores and found a iPhone 4 case that is just what I want. It is transparent while offering rugged protection for my phone and it lets me showcase the phone without hiding it behind some colored casing. I found these on sale at buy.com for under $7 which is a great deal. If you look at the ones in the store they start at $25 and are not really that attractive. I know that Apple is offering a free bumper or case to help quiet the noise about the possible reception issue, but I don’t think that I am going to wait 4-6 weeks for it to be delivered.

If you are looking for a solution to help speed up your PC or laptop then you may want to check out one of the top programs that has been rated to help consumers gain back the speed and performance of the PC. With System Mechanic Professional Iolo has combined 5 of their most popular products in one product to help you increase the speed of your speed and overall internet speed. It is estimated that 98% of most PC troubles are due to incorrect settings, clutter, and fragmentation that happens over time. As we surf the web we pick up various viruses, spyware, and malicious files that slowly pile up and create a major bottleneck for your PC and internet connection. I know that I could use a solution like System Mechanic to help speed up our main PC because it has started to act up and really slow down just in some of the simple tasks. With three kids surfing the internet I am sure that there are some hidden files and content that are creating havoc on our internet speed and PC performance.

At buy.com you can find System Mechanic Professional on sale for under $20 that will cover three PC’s and offers some great tools to help you keep your PC running smooth and fast. With simple point and click solutions you can have your PC protected 24/7 that will help monitor and remove unwanted files to help maintain the optimum speed of your PC. So don’t take sub-par performance from your PC any longer and try out System Mechanic to de-clutter your PC and get it back to new.

I have always wanted to purchase land up in the mountains and have a log cabin home that we could use for summer and winter vacations. I have seen the pictures where you have the rustic furniture that gives it that lodge type feeling with the exposed log beams above and a gigantic stone fireplace. I would create our new home with a large great room that overlooked the trees and mountain’s while keeping the bedrooms off to the side of the home in order to create that open feel. That would be my idea of a great second home so that you have a place to get away with family and friends.

If you own a digital camcorder then you know that having a great video editing software package can make or break your whole experience. While the new digital camcorders come with basic editing packages you really need to invest a solution like the new Pinnacle Studio Ultimate v12. I have been using Pinnacle software for the past few years and am looking to upgrade to the latest version for several reasons. One of the biggest ones is that you can now edit in HD by using the formats that I have on my video camera and output to HD and Blu-ray formats. Keeping with Pinnacles easy to use interface the most novice camera operator can create great looking videos and DVD’s in just a few simple clicks. They have great feature where you just load the video clips and then put it to your favorite music and it will create a video matching the beats of the music. It really is a nice feature if for example you have lots of footage of a soccer tournament for example and want to create a quick and memorable keepsake for the team.

The Pinnacle Studio comes with a ton of features that cannot all be listed here but you can find it on sale at buy.com for under $50. It will also come with a green screen which you can place behind a video shoot and then magically drop in a background of your choosing. The creation and editing possibilities are almost endless and the overall quality and value is tough to beat. Pinnacle continues to upgrade it’s software to make sure it plays well with the most current operating systems and digital camcorder settings. So don’t let your videos go to waste and upgrade your movie editing capabilities with Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 12 I know I will be.

Have you noticed that most car insurance companies are now offering different services like providing coverage for your boat,motorcycle, and RV. These new offerings are a signal that car insurance companies are trying to attract new customers and provide a convenient solution for their existing and new customers. The days of having multiple carriers to provide coverage is coming to an end. I love that the insurance companies have all come up with some sort of mascot to help brand their services which in todays environment makes total sense. With more and more people using social media and recommendation from their facebook friends being able to put a face on a company will make the purchase that much easier.

If you are like millions of Americans who work at home you need to make sure that you have the most productive tools at your disposal. Having the ability to work from home should not be a hindrance to your productivity because you have limited access to the tools that you would have at the home office so that is why the 4 in1 solution from Lexmark like the PlatinumPro 905 can give you a complete solution. With it’s intuitive 4.3 inch touchscreen display you can easily print/scan/copy/fax with ease. Through it’s intuitive display you can create your own apps to help simplify the most common tasks and you can even view your documents on the screen before printing. This wireless printer makes it simple to print in color from anywhere you are within your home so that you have the ultimate in speed and convenience. With an  industry leading 5 year warranty and low black and white print costs this all in one unit will start saving you money right out of the box.
I would love to have this type of solution in my home office that could save space and money. Currently we have a separate fax and printer which add up in supply costs as well taking up precious space on my desk. The Lexmark Pro 905 is now on sale at buy.com for under $300 and they are even offering free shipping. You will also find some great deals on the latest desktop and laptop technology. Saving over $100 on this purchase can help extend your budget to purchase other items that you will need to have to provide the convenience of the corporate sitting in your own home.

Do you have a green thumb?  Well, I don’t, and I have had to learn from experience.  Perhaps it is a genetic problem, because my mother wasn’t much of a planter either.  Everything she planted almost always died.  The only thing she could keep alive was her “mother tongue” plant, which for those of you who know, lives even under the most difficult circumstances.You can find some great house support resources through the forums at Home Tips plus where people just you like you are sharing tips and tricks on how to make their gardens and plants better.

So, what do plants need?  Sunlight, a good source of nutrients from its soil, and of course water.  Each plant’s needs in these areas are different of course.  For example you would not want to give a cactus too much water (such as flooding it everyday).  Something like a cactus should be watered maybe once a week since it is made specifically to survive in a desert environment.

In order to provide the right sunlight, many people chose to build a nice greenhouse.  But, for those of you who may not be able to afford a nice greenhouse for your plants, a great second choice might be some window planters.  Window Box Planters are a great way to have your plants get great sunlight, and yet they will be right next to the house so that you can just open the window, lean outside and water them, or cut off what you need (such as a flower, or if they are herbs, you can cut some of the plant off for cooking).

I have recently started to look at the Samsung TL220 DualView camera which is one of the first of it’s kind on the market. The unique feature that is possesses is the dual lcd screen with one on the back and one on the front. This is a great way to be able to take those self pictures which most of us do on a regular basis. The rear LCD screen is an intuitive touch screen making navigating that various functions easy for anyone. With the dual view LCD you will never have to retake your pictures when you are trying to snap photos of you and your friends. It also possesses an impressive 12.2 megapixels and image stabilization to help reduce blurry pictures. And plus it offers burst shot mode which allows you take multiple pictures at once in order to get those action shots that many point and shoot cameras have trouble getting. You can also shoot HD movies that can be stored to the optional SD card in H.264 format which allows you to record and store twice as much as the MPG 4 format. This camera offers a ton of features that will make your pictures standout but most importantly it is user friendly and offers high end features for a great price.
You can now find it on sale for under $200 which is about $100 less than it was almost 8 months ago. I am looking to buy this camera to help capture our kids sporting moments and upgrade our current 5 MP digital camera. My family and I have played with this camera in the stores and the dual view screen is pretty cool with the touch screen feature.

You can find various diet supplements and compare prices even the ones with the popular weight loss supplements. Many supplements acts like an appetite suppressant and helps to trick the brain to thinking that it is full. This presents a quick weight loss option for many and along with a balanced diet and exercise this may be a helpful tool in the fight against obesity. Those that are trying to lose weight should carefully weigh the options and ask their providers before starting any weight loss program.

There is a thing as being under weight and that can create problems for people that don’t eat enough. I know we mainly suffer from people over eating and that makes us unhealthy as a society. There are weight loss pills that were once only available via prescription are now available over the counter. We should really watch what we eat more closely and our school systems should focus more on eating a healthy diet. Schools do educate children on this subject currently, but I think they could do a better job at the high school and even college levels. We retain more knowledge from those years than we do our elementary and middle school days. Education needs to start as early as possible, but continuing it in high school is what more school systems need to adopt.

Originally rogaine was being studied for a treatment for hypertension. During the studies they noticed that while it was not as effective as some of the currently available options on the market in treating hypertension the subjects in the study were reporting hair growth. This was an interesting turn of events for a drug that would have otherwise gone by the way side and now has helped millions of men in their fight to regain some or all of their hair. This helped pave the for other solutions like a hair loss shampoo that can help slow the loss of hair. Their are several options available to both men and women who are looking to stop or slow hair loss.

With the price of digital cameras and camcorders so cheap these it seems that everyone has one. We have both and while they are great for taking movies of the kids games sometimes being to share those movies with family while we are visiting can be quite problematic. We have burned some of the movies on DVD which are great but them come to find out that someone can’t read them for some reason. That is why we have been looking for a better solution for sharing and storing our video and pictures. We have been looking at some of the new more portable hard drives and wanted to make sure they were durable and password protected. We were able to come across the newest line of Western digital portable hard drives on sale at buy.com.
For all those people out there who love to take digital pictures and movies and wondered the best way to take those with you when you are  not on your computer then take a look at the Western Digital My Passport 320 GB portable hard drive. This sleek new drive comes with the reliability and protection that one can take comfort in. The size of the actual device makes it very portable and the plug and play feature to easily move files between computers is awesome. Just to think about a year ago we were paying the same amount for a 64 GB thumb drive and now can get 5 times the storage for the same price.

One of the constant themes that we hear and read over and over again that in order to stand out in the blog world you need to find a niche and write about it constantly. This will help gain search engine traffic and create a loyal following. We found one such niche blog at Mens Blog Talk where they focus on health and nutrition for just men. They cover everything for men from the exercise workout PX90 to vig rx a male supplement. They let users comment on their success or troubles with the various products and provide a good source of new products for health and fitness that are on the market. This is one example of how to stay focused on your blog and create a good following and improve overall traffic.

In our state they just made it a violation to talk on your cell phone without a hands free device. If you are caught talking on your cell with it up to your ear the police can pull you over without any other cause and write you a ticket. While I absolutely agree that people should not be talking on the phone while driving there are options for those traveling professionals who rely on the cell phone as part of their business. That is why we are seeing multiple hands free devices going on sale to accommodate the thousands of people who are not yet compliant. It was estimated that in the first week alone more than 3K tickets were written for this new cell phone law.
Having a device like the Miccus Bluebridge hands free device is something that I would love to get for my wife. While she does not regularly talk on the phone if the kids are trying to get a hold of her she will need to answer the phone and having a device in the car where you simply touch a button and you are talking can be a great gift for her. This simple device can simply be plugged into your car and be operational in a few minutes with no special installation needed. Most car companies charge up to $300 for a hands free wired into your car.

For this Fathers day why not surprise your father with a new netbook. With all the hype around the iPad and the portability of being able to read books and surf the net the current netbooks offer more programs and very easy access to a wi-fi connection. The cost of the iPad starts at $499 while you can now pick up a netbook for under $300 and some wireless carriers are even offering discounted netbooks if you sign with them for your wireless plans.