Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women

Mother's Day Sony Camcorder Package

In honor of the Big Day - of course, I'm referring to Mother's Day this Sunday - Sony Electronics is offering a special package for all of you out there who are gift-challenged; the Sony DCR-SR45 Handycam camcorder with the DVDirect VRD-MC5. Tape those priceless family moments with the Sony Handycam camcorder and then transfer them to DVD with the DVDirect VRD-MC5 recorder. The VRD-MC5 recorder can transfer home videos to DVD without using a computer from virtually any camcorder, VCR or digital video recorder. Tthe Handycam camcorder has a built-in 30GB hard drive for storage and up to 20 hours of recording time (LP). A big 2.7" touch panel LCD monitor keeps all the controls at your fingertips, while a 40x Optical/2000x digital zoom keeps all the action up close and personal.

As a nice little bonus: receive $180 in instant savings when purchasing them both together. Buy yourself a little something with the savings! We broke it down for you:

- HandyCam DCR-SR45: $499.99
- VRD-MC5: $229.99
- Total: $729.98

Instant savings: $180.00 when purchased on the same receipt. Available at Sony Style.

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Posted by Evan Category: cameras | deals | devices | gift guides 2008
Tags: camcorder mother's day
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Could Second Life change your real life . . . for the better?

Those old clichés about sitting around playing video games being bad for your health may be overturned by new research into Second Life, the online virtual world with over 10 million addicts - I mean, users - worldwide. According to research from Stanford University, having an avatar who is thinner/more attractive than your real self is good for self-esteem because you think you look that good in real life, too. Even more interesting, if you exercise in Second Life, the study found that could motivate you to do the same in your real, first life.

Or you might just choose to chow down and do all your socialising via your PC from now on . . . (which wouldn't be that much of a stretch for me, I must admit).

Via Techdirt.

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Posted by diane Category: gaming | on the web
Tags: social networking
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A triumph of a toothbrush - Oral-B Smart Technology

Did you know the average person spends about 47 seconds brushing their teeth, less than half the 2 minutes dentists recommend? Or that you can brush too hard, which can contribute to early gum recession? Scary stuff.

Now, this may not seem like a perfect gift for Mother's Day but if you consider that the "mouth is the gateway to health" and that moms don't spend money on themselves, it makes sense.

The new Oral-B features Smart Technology which enables the brushhead, handle and visual display to work together to give you visual cues that help you brush better. The brushhead and handle, which are embedded with microchips, communicate with the wireless display to signal when you are brushing too hard, when to move to the next quadrant of the mouth, when you have brushed for two minutes, and when it is time to replace the brushhead.

At first, I was discouraged by all the pieces (it comes with a unit to attach to a wall) and the instructions, but it's actually an easy one-step process, and since the display unit is wireless, you can put that anywhere.

Oral-B Triumph with SmartGuide is available for $149 at Amazon.

Just throw in some Godiva chocolate and you're golden.

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Posted by Evan Category: body | gift guides 2008 | home
Tags: mother's day
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Camouflage your power cable with Knit Komputer Kord Kozy

Was that meant to be a tongue (cord) twister ? Probably. And I must confess that I it was extremely difficult for me to pronounce it straight even once.

But that doesn’t have any bearing on what the product called Knit Komputer Kord Kozy can do for your computer’s power cable. Because, the designer of this brilliant product seems to have gotten it right. Completely. The hand-knit Knit Komputer Kord Kozy can shield the power cable within and gently guide it to the power slot. And if that’s not appealing enough, this cover (made from high quality ribbon-style yarn) can also be custom ordered in any color or length you need. A wonderful idea to deck out the power cord. Get yours from Etsy at $4.

Via DVICE.com.

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Posted by kanchana Category: accessories | computers
Tags: cords
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The Photograph To Digital Picture Converter

I have a box that moves with me to every apartment never getting smaller, it holds all my old print photos and a few albums. I get very romantic over this box, because so much of my past is tucked away inside. But, I find myself increasingly worried about losing even a single item or damaging a precious photograph. I also find myself taking photos of my photos to share with friends (as you can see here).

Hammacher Schlemmer’s Photograph To Digital Picture Converter efficiently converts photographs into digital images faster than a conventional scanner. I'm giving it the mom-safe seal, meaning that if my mom can use it so can anyone!

Photographs are placed into a tray that slides into the converter, you just press the button and the image is recorded. The entire image is captured with a 5MP CMOS sensor (just like in your own camera).

This device currently works soley with PCs, so I’m out of luck, but I like the concept and the functionality, so I’m keeping my eyes open for a similar Mac-friendly device.

Price: $149.95 at Hammacherschlemmer.com

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Posted by chrissie Category: devices | gift guides 2008
Tags: photographs printer
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Track your missing purse via GPS

Here's a novel idea, not to mention a sad reflection of the times we live in: LightsBags sell pretty purses with a difference: each one comes with GPS as standard, so that if your bag ever gets stolen, you'll be able to track it down (and tell the police rather than acting out any vigilante justice, presumably...)

The GPS can not be turned off by a thief (well, they can try, but you can override it) and if you're not living in a crime-ridden inner city but are just succumbing to premenopausal forgetfulness, this could be useful for you, too.

Call me a crazy optimist but I can't help thinking it's a bit sad to make sartorial choices based on potential future crimes. But if you're interested, bags start at $30.

Via Shiny Shiny.

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Posted by diane Category: devices | wearables
Tags: gps purses
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Popgadget Drop email - correction

A message to Popgadget Drop email subscribers: The giveaway drawing for the pink Panasonic Lumix camera closes on May 15, 2008, not May 1, 2008. Thanks, J, for pointing out this error.

To sign up for our emails, go to this page.

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Posted by Hoyun Category: Popgadget | contests
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Family locket bracelet for Mother's Day

This cute little family locket bracelet is bound to delight any mother – for now she can wear her heart on her (sleeve) wrist with pride. Meaning, with the locket bracelet, she can have photos of her dearest family/friends right on her wrist at any time. Sweet.

The bracelet is not only stylish but has utility too. Made from sterling silver, it has four lockets - each of which holds two photos. You can also add some personalization as each locket can be engraved with one initial - for that extra mush.

Available from RedEnvelope for $140. The personalization comes at an extra $10.

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Posted by kanchana Category: gift guides 2008
Tags: jewelry mother's day
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Foldaway kitchen scale for mom chefs

This is the mother of all scales -- the brand-new Tanita KD400 at Competitive Edge which features a stain-resistant steel plate and an add and weigh feature. Best of all, it completely folds up for easy storage. Mine is discreetly standing up with my cookbooks.

The eye-pleasing compact digital lithium scale is only $60 at fine cooking stores and Competitive Edge. Backed by Tanita's three year warranty, the KD-400 is designed to live up to abuse from the toughest cooks, or, in my case, munchkins who are just learning to measure. (A frog weighs just over 3 ounces, just so you know.)

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Posted by Evan Category: gift guides 2008 | home
Tags: kitchen mother's day
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"Blush" Earbuds for Mother's Day - For fashion-forward moms

Make Mom blush with these gorgeous earbuds from V-MODA which are available starting today. And it's not enough just to be beautiful, they're also some of my favorite for sound fidelity. (I own the VIBE modaphones in Gunmetal Black, and Red Roxx. I know, I know, I'm so spoiled.)

As with the entire audio line, they're light-weight, fit comfortably in your ear, and are noise-isolating.

VIBE Blush earbuds are now available for $101 (a nod to the landmark Highway 101 that runs past V-MODA’s Hollywood Hills headquarters) at all Apple Stores, as well as online at Shop V-MODA.

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Posted by Evan Category: accessories | gift guides 2008 | portable media
Tags: earbuds mother's day
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Hello Kitty solar charger

Hello Kitty has always been a lot of things to a lot of people: casually cute, adorably addictive, freakishly frightening, you name it. Sure, she's clawed her way past countless characters backed by Sanrio and somehow managed to get her mouthless mug stamped onto every product imaginable, but the demure feline is nothing if she's not environmentally responsible. Yes, friends, Ms. Kitty has officially achieved superstar status. She's finally met and teamed up with the hottest powerhouse known by everyone in the world: the sun.

The result of the dynamic duo's new partnership is this Hello Kitty solar charger ($160). The built-in 1200mAh lithium battery receives a full charge through six hours of sunlight (ah, teamwork) or an hour of outlet time (so much for loyalty) and can charge a variety of small electronics via USB. Cool, I mean, hot!

Via Crave.

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Posted by Jenn Category: accessories | devices | eco | novelty
Tags: hello kitty
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SIM Recovery Pro helps restore lost SIM data

To erase data is human. And to want it restored is even more human. The SIM Recovery Pro apparently understands this “more human” need and helps you get back all those phone numbers or text messages that you deleted.

This SIM card reader can retrieve lost SMSes and phonebook entries in “minutes”. It can also be used to program your SIM to allow fixed calls, to backup/edit the phonebook, and to print out SIM card information. All this without any effort being needed on that common headache called installation procedure, or so the product specs claim. Pretty useful if you habitually delete cellphone data. Only, look forward to possible surprises with this device as the specifications are vague and mention no specific figures in terms of performance. And to part with $110 if you must.

Via The Red Ferret Journal.

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Posted by kanchana Category: devices | misc gadgets
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Trace Me keeps track of luggage

I recently spent 12 hours flying from England to Singapore, then another five flying to Australia. If I'd disembarked the plane to find out my luggage hadn't completed the journey, I would have been a little unimpressed, to say the least. In fact, (knock on wood!) I'm been very lucky in my travels so far: the one time my luggage was misplaced, the airline found and delivered it to my door the very next day. But that experience was enough of a scare for me to relate to the 37 million (thirty.seven. MILLION!) people who lose their luggage every year, and never get it back.

Trace Me is a luggage tracking device that keeps your details on file, for life. All you pay for is a luggage tag with an exclusive bar code and your details are then registered on Immobilise - a database used by baggage handling organisations across the globe. As an added bonus, it's reusable and environmentally-friendly: there will be no need to write your name on a flimsy old paper tag ever again.

Buy one tag for £12.50 ($25) or two for £19.95 ($40) from the Trace Me website.

Via Shiny Shiny.

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Posted by diane Category:
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No more tech help for Mom - Give her a photography class for Mother's Day

Are you "tech help" for your Mom and it's driving you bonkers? "Dear, just show me how to re-size this photo so I can send it to Aunt Patti." "Why are my photos always so dark?" "What's this Photoshop everyone's talking about?"

Then give yourself and your Mom a gift of a digital camera class through Panasonic's Digital Photo Academy, a series of nationwide digital photography workshops, which is offering a Mother’s Day special so when a course gift certificate is purchased for a mother, the gift giver can attend the same class with Mom at no additional cost. This two-for-one Mother’s Day special can be purchased by calling 1-877-DP-ACAD-1 or just go to their information page at Digital Photo Academy which details the three course levels available, and view course schedules and locations, hours, and instructors. (Courses are available in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa and Washington, D.C.). And no, you don't have to own a Panasonic camera - any digital camera will do. (Though check out our Mother's Day give-away in this week's Popgadget Drop newsletter, where we're giving away a Panansonic Pink Lumix digital camera for some lucky Mom, or me, if I figure out how to rig the contest.)

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Beginner Course: Three Hours, $50. The Discovering Digital beginner course is designed for all types of users, whether it's Mom as the the family record keeper, Mom the scrapbooker, or Mom the casual point-and-shoot user Instructors address how to reduce red-eye, better use a flash, include special effects and create better composition. Beyond photographic techniques, the course also teaches valuable “post-capture” skills, such as how to use Adobe Photoshop elements to create a greeting card or calendar, and send prints to friends and family via e-mail.

Intermediate Course: Four Hours, $65. The Digital Endeavours intermediate-level course is designed for users who are quite familiar with the settings on their point-and-shoot and are looking to take digital photography to the next level.

Advanced Course: Eight hours, $150. At the advanced level, the Digital Vision course is divided into two parts: in-field shooting and learning post-capture computer application skills. The four-hour in-field shooting session will be held in local parks and vibrant streets, during seasonal events like fairs and marathons to capture newsworthy current affairs. The second component, involves four hours of classroom time learning techniques from Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 2, such as converting and processing RAW files, using layers and masks, working with black and white files, and more.

And before you ask, the idea is that you spend quality time with Mom so you have to take the same class.

More info at Digital Photo Academy, but you'd better move fast since Mother's Day is this weekend. You can thank us later.

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Posted by Evan Category: gift guides 2008
Tags: mother's day
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Sansa Fuze: Righteous iPod rival

Back on the market for a new music player and you want to avoid the Apple store, the Apple geniuses, and personally you like FM radio and on/off button? A favorite company of mine, Sansa, has recently released the newest member of their family, Sansa Fuze.

Smaller than your credit card (if you lose things this is not a selling point), Fuze comes with 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB of storage. If you get the 8GB you’re getting a guarantee of 24 hours of battery life and room for up to 2000 songs (est. 4 min songs).

Download and watch your favorite video on Fuze’s 1.9” color screen. Tune into public FM radio with 40 present stations. Make your mental notes real audio ones with the built-in voice recorder. And, finally share your photos with friends and family.

Personally, I love my 5th generation iPod Classic, but I'd consider giving it up for a comparable model with a larger screen that didn't cost as much as an iPhone. That would likely create a convert out of me. Mind you, my little music-toting buddy is on the fritz, which is why I'd consider parting ways.

Price: $79.99-129.99 at Sansa here or at Amazon (currently out of stock).

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Posted by chrissie Category: devices | portable media
Tags: mp3 player
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