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.
Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
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.
No matter how you implement id badges having the means of id card printing onsite can be a great cost savings and help increase security. By this mean that you are not having to ship personal information and pictures out to a local vendor to produce the badges and the turnaround can be minutes and not days. More and more companies and organizations are setting up their own printing solutions on site to help facilitate the time and cost savings of printing in house. To help increase security companies are now using an onsite barcode scanner to help control inventory and people that are coming and going on company property.
I have been doing a lot of flying over the past few weeks and noticed that there is now an airline that offers in air Wi-Fi on most of their flights. For business travelers this could be a huge benefit to be able to stay on top of emails and be able to communicate with the office and for the rest of us to be able to surf while 30K in the air could really open up some great Facebook posts. The newest Toshiba Satellite L655D Notebook is a great companion to take along on a flight or have with you whenever you need to get online. I have noticed that there are more and more of my friends that are now using the social media sites like Facebook and Twitter that being able to stay in touch with them is quite addictive.
For example the other day we were at a neighborhood get together and there were a lot of pictures that were taken and within hours they were already posted on Facebook. This was pretty cool because then we were able to capture and see how the whole event went down and some of the pictures were quite hilarious. These new mini notebooks can be found on sale on sites like buy.com where you can get a great price and free shipping. So whether you are needing to stay connected at the airport, in the air, or while at a neighborhood get together you may want to consider these new devices to help you get online.
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.
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.
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.
Many homes today are being wired to be able to access the internet from any location.Network cables like Cat5e cables are now a common part of any new home as they are wired to integrate not only PCs but home entertainment systems. With multimedia playing a major part in home entertainment systems having the right cables to run all the high tech gear is essential. Running your systems via cable vs. wireless has it’s advantages. Wireless is nice in that you reduce the amount of wires that you have to deal with, but it can run into problems with slower connections if you have conflicting signals within your home such as cordless phones or microwaves. Wired connections are the tried and true best way to optimize your speed and security.
The latest intel processor for laptops and PC’s is the i3 processor. It basically allows you to perform several task at once, improves internet surfing and helps to extend your battery life. The new Sony VAIO Notebook is just the ticket for my upcoming Fathers Day gift. For Fathers that are into surfing the web and staying in touch with their friends and family via popular sites like Facebook or Twitter the new laptop is a great idea since it will give them the connectivity to the web and makes it very portable. Most of the laptops that are available come with a 15″ screen and weigh just under 3 lbs. These present great options to those that want to get connected while they are traveling but are not really into the small phones that allow web browsing and texting.
I have found a few different models on sale at buy.com where they are offering free shipping. This one piece of technology that I am considering getting for my father since he loves to get online but is tethered to the PC and feels that laptops are too bulky and cost too much. This presents a great options since he and my mom can use it while they are traveling across the state or just around town. They can load some of their favorite programs and all their digital pictures of the kids and grandkids. The added bonus for my mom is that now she can have a 15″ picture frame for the digital pictures when they are not using it to surf the web.
If you are looking for a great gift for Father’s Day then take a look at the Canon PIXMA MX330 Printer. This multifunction printer offers a lot to its users and would be a upgrade for most people that have printers already. This printer is compact in size and would fit great on the desktop. It also acts as a scanner and a fax machine, so you get those functions with this printer. You have a large area for storing paper and this cuts down on the number of times you have to refill the paper. I know my current printer will hold about 50 sheets and I often find myself having to refill it. This printer can hold up to 150 pieces of printing paper and that’s a lot of paper room. You get a lot of features with this specific printer and the laser capabilities guarantee that you will have crisp and sharp pictures being copied on this laser printer. It will print them up at high speeds too, so you don’t have to wait a long time for your documents or pictures to be printed out. It does come with the energy star and you can feel good about saving energy with this printer.
This printer normally sells for around $120, but you can find it a lot cheaper than this at Buy.com. They have a great sale right now for this laser printer. If you don’t think dad would like a printer or needs one; then you can shop for a lot of other cool Fathers Day gifts at Buy.com. Just don’t forget about dad this year and get him something special he will remember for a long time. Happy Fathers Day!
The video game market is a billion dollar industry. The popular game consoles like the ps3 are now offering some of the old school games like Pac Man and Galactica. This market just continues to grow and the games are getting more advanced as the years go by. Does anyone remember Pong? Now that was the game back in the day and we use to play that for hours as kids. Pong was the best thing in town; until Pac Man came along. Now Pac Man was the bomb and that still remains one of the most played video games of all time. Ms. Pac Man was a little bit better than the original Pac Man, but it’s all called Pac Man when the subject is brought up. I remember a couple of local restaurants that had Pac Man and I would love going to those places as a kid. The song “Pac Man Fever” was a perfect song for the time. The line that says “I’m headed to the arcade with a pocket full of quarters” was so true. Every time I would see a quarter as a kid, I would think to myself “that’s enough for a game of Pac Man”.The arcade style games are now starting to become more popular as parents of the kids are wanting to join in on the fun.
The world of HDTV just got a whole lot better. With the new sets now appearing in the stores and online consumers will now have a choice to upgrade their current sets and grab the latest technology that will enable them to view 3D movies, talk with friends online via Skype, shop online, and connect easily to websites like YouTube, Facebook, and Blockbuster. With the 240Hz Clear motion rate you will enjoy stunning pictures and video. We have a Samsung Plasma model currently and the next model we invest will be a 3D model and Samsung will be our HDTV of choice. The Samsung UN46C7000 offers all of the features that we have come to love with the addition of the 3D picture ready set. While the technology is still relatively new there are DVD players available to start viewing current movies that are being rendered in 3D. I love the fact that you can now use this internet ready TV to talk with your friends via Skype and creating a real time video conferencing setup right in your home. Imagine being able to talk to your friends and family and seeing them on a 46 inch or greater screen. Very Cool!
Just a few months ago these sets were starting at over $3000 and now you can find the same sets on sale for under $2500 at sites like buy.com with free shipping. These new 3D sets do require 3D glasses which at this time are an added cost. Samsung has been on the leading edge of features and technology which allows customers like me to gain more confidence in choosing this brand for future upgrades.
If you are like many Americans you probably have some type of movie camera that you record the family events on. Once you get it recorded the question then becomes what do you do with the video and how do you get it to DVD which is the ultimate goal so that you can archive the memories as well as share with others. Many digital camcorders come with a basic video editing software that can be just as confusing to use as trying to figure out how to do a cross fade to the next picture. That is where Roxio 2010 video and music editing software can come into play. With it’s simple user interface you can be creating, editing and burning movies in no time at all. They offer very basic movie editing features that will let you take movies straight from your camcorder and add some chapters and background music to full blown editing to create your own masterpiece.
We have bee looking to upgrade our current version of Roxio so that we can capture and record our videos in different formats that will fit onto DVD as well be able to put them on the web for sites like YouTube. The new version of Roxio allows you do to this and add your favorite music that will actually create your very own music video at the click of the button. At buy.com they have Roxio 2010 on sale currently for $76.99 which is about $50 off retail with free shipping. So if you are wondering what to use to help create those memories then I would recommend the latest version of Roxio fro simple yet sophisticated movie editing and production that anyone can do.
For millions of Americans they are surfing online with a broadband connection and they may not be realizing the full potential of their connection. Since many purchased their wireless routers a year or two ago they may not have the latest technology to keep up with the increased speed that many providers now offer through their networks. Even if you have 54G wireless router you are losing about 50% of the download and upload speed of your internet connection and not enjoying the full advantage of your internet. Thats why I was impressed to see the latest solution from Netgear with the Netgear HDXB111 Powerline device. This simple plug in allows you to effortlessly stream HD movies from your cable set top box throughout your network. At 200Mbps you get clarity and functionality by adding to your existing wireless router.
This device normally retails for over $180 and you can now buy it on sale at buy.com. They are offering free shipping on this item and with the money you save you can also pick the Avatar movie release to try out your new HD wireless connection. This simple tool allows you to use your existing house hold wiring to create a broader and faster network that will enable you to connect devices without having a lot of added expense. With simple connections and push button pairing you will love your new connected movies to stream on your network.
The craze over the iPad continues several weeks after launch. For the most part the launch went very well for Apple and the reviews once the iPad made into the hands of the consumer have been extremely positive. There have been some interesting stories that have come out in the last week such as some major universities banning the iPad on campus and the Israeli government banning the iPad as well. The comments and threads on the iPad ban at some major schools has to deal with possible broadband issues and simple upgrades to their routers needed have a secure connection. Overall the this new device has and will change the face of mobile computing. I joined the crowd and purchased one for myself because of traveling that I do and so far it has been awesome. I got mine shortly after they went on sale and have been adding new apps and learning tricks with my new toy.
Now I have to start looking at protecting my new iPad from scratches and dings because I have been just putting in my backpack or briefcase. For those looking for a simple lightweight solution you can find the iPad Neoprene Soft Case at buy.com. They are offering two for just under $13 with free shipping. This is a great deal because if one becomes worn or dirty you can simply replace it and for only $11.99 for both the price is well worth protecting your new $600 investment. These handy cases are made for both the iPad wi-fi and 3g version so you can be assured that the functionality will always be available when it is in the case. This is something that I have been looking for because our local stores appear to be out of any of the carrying cases made specifically for the iPad. Help protect your iPad against scratches and dings and invest in these handy neoprene cases so you won’t have to worry about toting your new toy around whether in your hand or in your backpack.
No one will ever get lost again. Thanks to the modern technology of GPS devices, we won’t lose our way ever again! Yeah right, I wish this was true, but this technology is still very new and the kinks are still be worked out. GPS has made it a lot easier for companies and people who travel a lot to find their ways to certain locations. This past Christmas it seemed as everyone one was having a sale on the newest navigation models with new features like touch screen and bluetooth capability. This technology is also causing people to trust their electronic navigation devices and this may not always be a good thing. If you use common sense, understand where you’re going by using an old fashion map, and use a GPS device; then you’re going to do fine in your travels. If you solely rely on technology to find your way for you, this may be an accident waiting to happen.
It’s no fun getting lost or not knowing exactly where to go. It gets more frustrating when we turn around and have to drive over the same roads we have already been on. If you do this over and over a few times, your blood pressure is sure to increase. I do think GPS technology is good and has few down sides. It is important for everyone to have a general idea of where you’re going and this will help your tech gadget perform like the way it was meant to. Devices like the Nextar X3 is one such navigation device that we saw for sale at buy.com for under $70. With its 3.5 inch touch screen LCD it is big enough to help you find your way and the simplicity of the touch screen can fit almost any learning curve. Don’t forget our out-dated technology like the cell phones either. It’s always a good idea to write down the phone number of the place you’re traveling to or having a phone number to a person that knows where you’re traveling to. The GPS is not the king of the road yet and human beings are still in charge.
Just recently we were installing a database application to help with some data monitoring and we got an error code that we were missing a .net file that could not be found with our new Windows Vista operating system. So we did what most people would do is get online to search for this particular file to find out what it did and where we could locate a copy. We searched the Windows developers application with some success and then went through google to find some expert help. When all was said and done we actually came across what the file extension actually stood and this helped to simplify our search and solution. For many of us we have seen the file extension PDF which is for Adobe created files that is used commonly to help create documents. And most people are aware of the .exe, .doc, and .jpg file extensions and can figure out what that file does and know what to do with particular file.
We recently found a site that takes all the guess work out of the file extensions and provides a great tool to help you find out various file extensions and what exactly they do. File extensions were created to help developers and end users to understand what a particular file does and how Windows and Macs should treat this file. These file extensions have also been used by malicious hackers to hide a particular executable file that when opened can leave and install programs on your PC to collect and potentially harm your computer. So if you are unsure of a particular files type and get those common error messages that Windows is missing or does not what program to associate with a file then you can check out file-extension.com to help provide common language about what a file does and even find tools to help diagnose the problem and find a possible solution.
A sluggish computer can be the result of many things. It seems spyware can often be the culprit for our slow or sluggish computers. We do use a lot of memory surfing around the Net these days and many people like to save a lot of files and pictures to their computers. Taking away our memory can cause our computers to be slow also. If the pages you visit daily don’t load as fast as they once did; then you may need more memory for your computer. It has been said that the Apple or iMac are less prone to these issues because of their design so looking to have a good virus protection software and added memory can be key.
You don’t have to buy a new computer to get more memory. You can buy more memory for the computer you’re using now. You can see the tech and computer stores selling memory and there are several places online that allow computer users to purchase more memory. If you do a search online, you can find various types of memory for sale for your laptop or PC. I’m sure you can find places online selling all types of memory or compact flash memory for your computer or other tech gadgets you have that may need more memory. You don’t need to be an expert to install more memory either. Even finding iMac memory from makers like Kingston can now be purchased for a very affordable price. It’s very simple to follow a few steps and you can install the new memory yourself. It’s no fun using a slow computer and everyone should try to fix their speed problems as soon as they notice them. More than likely you just need more memory or a spyware remover to get your computer performance back up again.
Do you have several domains? Don’t have them spread all over. Get them all on one DNS server. You can keep track with all of your domains a lot easier, if you have them on the same DNS server. Concentric’s Corporate Domain Manager will make the most sense for you, and getting all your domains organized. DNS hosting will put you in firm charge with all of your domains. Using Concentric’s Services you can rely on email security and have anti-spam services available at your fingertips. Some of the benefits of using Concentric’s DNS Hosting service is an easy to use interface. Not only do you get all your domains on one server, but you will also have customer support that you can call by telephone. So any problems or questions that you might have, you will get them solved quickly and efficiently. So you can get on with managing your domains. These services are available at affordable rates, and you won’t have to sign any contracts.