GPS units represent our 11th pick in the countdown. Our predictions for the best selling units will be the basic and least expensive model such as the Garmin nüvi 260W.
While most will not splurge, some of us simply “need” some advanced features! For example, the Magellan RoadMate 1470 includes advanced features such as multi-destination routing, highway lane assist, spoken street names, AAA TourBook and a Roadside Assistance menu while the TomTom GO 730 tauts IQ Routes Technology giving you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel on your route and Advanced Lane Guidance using photorealistic images to bring even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be more confident on the road.
If you’re a geek like us, you never travel without your laptop. While netbooks have become more popular for lightweight personal travel, most of us still have to lug full size notebooks for work. Given the travel situation in the post-9/11 world, we were extremely happy when we heard that TSA (the airport security folks) put out specifications for laptop bags to allow laptops to go through security without having to be removed from the bag. Sure, you could always travel with your laptop, but those of us who travel regularly know what a hassle the X-ray checkpoints can be.
Typically, with an ordinary laptop bag, security makes you remove a laptop and put it in a bin by itself, with nothing covering it. This means, on top of removing your shoes, emptying your pockets, taking off your watch, belt, cell phone, keys, yank out your zip lock bag with your gels and liquids, you also have to dig out your laptop.
Given that most laptop thefts take place in airports, and the majority of those take place in the exit of the X-ray line, being able to keep your laptop secure and hidden in your bag is a big deal and a time saver. If you travel through a major US airport such as Atlanta or Chicago, you know that even saving 20 seconds per person can add up to huge time savings and shortened lines when considering the thousands of people moving through the checkpoints in those airports.
It has been several years since TSA announced their guidelines for approved bags, and we felt it was time to see what the various bag manufacturers had come up with. We contacted a total of 7 manufacturers asking for their offerings, and three sent us review units: Belkin “Flythru”, Skooba “Checkthrough Brief”, and Tom Bihn “Checkpoint Flyer”. Let’s see if any of these TSA compliant laptop bags fit the bill.
Avid readers are turning digital with the latest eBook Reading Devices including Amazon’s Kindle, the Sony Digital Reader and Barnes & Noble’s Nook. Popularity of eBook Readers has been increasing as thousands of books, newspapers, magazines and even blogs can be read and new features including wireless and WiFi access, additional storage space, longer battery life and even color touch screens hit the market.
Currently Kindle is King but many believe the Barnes & Noble Nook will dethrone Amazon from the top spot with features like WiFi, a color touch screen to view the book covers (like an iPod viewing album covers) and expandable memory. If you want to give a Nook for Christmas, you’ll have to give a Holiday Certificate instead as the expected ship date is not until January 4th while the Kindle and Sony’s Digital Reader are available now.
If you have a big-screen LCD or Plasma TV and/or computer monitors, then eventually you will need to clean them. However, you can’t just use a household glass cleaner and/or an abrasive cleaning cloth or paper towel. Although your cloth may seem smooth, it’s not, at least not to a TV screen. Using those can lead to micro-scratches that will lead to a hazy screen.
Now sprays and microfiber cloths do exist that are safe for LCD screens, but it does take time to use those – spray and wipe and polish again. The TVClean makes this process at least twice as fast by using a roller. However, it’s not just a single lint-styled roller. It is a 2-part roller, with an adhesive roller and a (blue) transfer roller that picks up the particles and transfers it to the adhesive roll. Technologically, the blue roller is similar to what LCD manufacturers use to clean those screens before they box it up for sale.
It’s that time of year again for the Geek’s picks for what we believe will be the hottest Gizmos for Christmas this year. Usually the Geek’s release the picks in a countdown over 12 days, but this year we’re releasing our category picks up front! Each day during the countdown we’ll release our top picks for the category of the day.
There were some changes in the technology world this year and the market’s response to the world downturn in the economy have helped shaped the order of this list. For example, with the release of Windows 7, desktops and laptops have moved up the list with the first decent OS from Microsoft since XP in 8 years (that’s right, we’ve been living on XP since October 25, 2001!). Another area with new technology emerging into the consumer market includes new back-lit (and edge-lit) techniques which has helped lower high-def television prices. Additionally, Apple no longer is the only Multi-touch mobile devices released.
Without further ado, here’s our countdown… 12. eBook Reading Device 11. GPS 10. Digital SLR Camera 9. Mobile Phone 8. Blu-Ray Player 7. Gaming Devices 6. MP3 Player 5. Portable Digital Cameras and Camcorders 4. Games 3. Computers (Desktops/Laptops) 2. High-definition Televisions 1. Gadget Accessories
Check back daily for our picks and defense for each category!
We reviewed Honestech’s VHS to DVD 3.0 product in depth last year and found a top-class product that quickly pays for itself if you have any amount of analog media to save. Well now, Honestech (Honest Technology) has an updated version, VHS to DVD 4.0 Deluxe.
The gist of the product is still the same: it has an A-to-D (analog to digital) converter box that attached to the your computer via USB 2.0. It accepts inputs via 3 RCA cables (1 video, 2 audio) and/or S-Video. This also means that this device is not just about VHS, but can handle pretty much any audio and/or video input that you can push out via one of those cable types. So get those VHS tapes out of mothballs and transfer them today!
In case you were considering v3.0, here’s (just some of) what you can find new in v4.0:
There are literally thousands of items going on sale starting at various times this week, but we just wanted to point out some of the better ones in the gadgets and electronics arena.
You gotta love competition. In response to the Verizon/Motorola ads dismissing the iPhone for the things it can’t do, Apple has responded with some ads of its own. Here is one of them, and below is one of the Droid commercials.
Wow. A plane that actually runs on solar energy?! The Solar Impulse just did its first taxi tests, all completely on solar power. So far, they were low-speed and not that impressive. What’s impressive is that it was run completely on solar power. This holds great promise for the future.
GPS units represent our 11th pick in the countdown. Our predictions for the best selling units will be the basic and least expensive model such as the Garmin nüvi 260W.
Avid readers are turning digital with the latest eBook Reading Devices including 
If you have a big-screen LCD or Plasma TV and/or computer monitors, then eventually you will need to clean them. However, you can’t just use a household glass cleaner and/or an abrasive cleaning cloth or paper towel. Although your cloth may seem smooth, it’s not, at least not to a TV screen. Using those can lead to micro-scratches that will lead to a hazy screen.
It’s that time of year again for the Geek’s picks for what we believe will be the hottest Gizmos for Christmas this year. Usually the Geek’s release the picks in a countdown over 12 days, but this year we’re releasing our category picks up front! Each day during the countdown we’ll release our top picks for the category of the day.
Palm Pre $79.99
