01. 1.2010
Top Ten--er, Nine--Best Tech Ideas for 2009
Yet another year-end Top Ten list, this time a Top Ten list--Top Nine list, actually--of 2009 tech ideas that get a gold star from David Pogue, technology columnist for the New York Times.
I have experience with a couple of his choices and think they are indeed worth recommending.
One is the cute trick found only on WebOS phones, at the moment the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi. The phones can collect. consolidate, and color-code data from various calendars and Facebook events, all on a single calendar, plus also data from your contact and messaging lists. At last a way to bring together much of your data, online and off, into something like a genuine personal information manager for your phone. And you hardly have to exert yourself at all; the process is mostly automagic.
The other fine tool is Readability, a marvel of a bookmarklet for your browser toolbar that nearly always can figure out what text you want from any old Web page and make it simple, handsome, and free of surrounding clutter. You don't have to use the Select command, and the result is readable--and easy to copy, mail, and/or save to your hard drive. The Readability folks are calling it an experiment, so don't expect perfection. But they are attentive to your needs. I had a problem using Readability on particular pages, dropped them a note, and in their update they fixed the problem. The only response to that is: Wow.
The Times site is free, but requires registration. Happy New Year! We certainly need one.
Posted by Tam
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12.31.2009
AViiQ's laptop stand is the most portable ever--and gorgeous too
The AViiQ laptop stand is the most portable I've ever seen--and also the most gorgeous. At 12 3/4" long, unfolded and supporting your laptop, the AViiQ laptop stand is only a little bigger than a sheet of paper. Folded, it's not much bigger than a No.10 envelope and weighs just 5.5 oz, so it fits easily into your laptop bag or even just a laptop sleeve.
I'm a veteran laptop traveler and for years carried a (relatively) lightweight plastic laptop stand that kept the thing from sliding off my lap and folded to provide a decent typing angle. But the fold didn't change its outer dimensions--bigger than my laptop's footprint, which dictated which bags I could carry. The AViiQ laptop stand, said to fit laptops up to 17", is a dream by comparison.
The AViiQ folks, like other laptop stand makers, claim their laptop stand will dissipate heat and prolong battery life. I can't evaluate that claim, but I can tell you that the 12% slope the AViiQ laptop stand achieves is, as they claim, the perfect typing angle. I was actually kinda startled by how much it improved typing ease. All of a sudden I can race along almost as quickly on my less-than-optimum laptop keyboard as I can on the classic IBM keyboard I use with my desktop.
And did I mention gorgeous? The AViiQ laptop stand is a tech beauty worthy of Apple. The stand is four lightweight plates made of Hylite, a composite of aluminum sheets bonded to a polypropylene core. The material is milled to be both flexible and rigid. AViiQ says that in testing the stand was folded more than 5000 times and showed no wear.
With all that perfection, you knew there was some bad news coming, right? Here it is: the price. $80.
Posted by Tam
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computers
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12.31.2009
Sony Vaio P is Pocket Friendly
Though netbooks couldn't get any smaller? Guess again. Sony just released the Sony Vaio P in Korea. The 1.3 lbs. netbook has an eight inch display and is small enough to fit in your pocket. There are currently two models, the VGN-P35LK and VGN-P33LK.
The VGN-P35LK is available in Gold, Green, Black, White, and Red. It features a 64GB SSD and an Intel Atom Processor. The VGN-P33LK has a 80GB HDD and 2GB of DDR2 memory and is available in black or white. Both models will have an integrated webcam, Windows 7, and Bluetooth capability.
No word on whether or not these minis will make it stateside.
Via AVING USA
Posted by sherri
Category:
computers
Tags: computer netbook Sony Sony Vaio P
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12.30.2009
Gravida Nurse Puts Prenatal Education in the Palm of Your Hand
The Gravida Nurse Prenatal Education Device is a great gift for first time mothers. Instead of spending a small fortune on parenting books, expectant mothers can turn to this handy gadget. The device is a small handheld device that features helpful articles focused on providing good prenatal care for both baby and mom.
There are also voices recordings and pictures to help reinforce the information. Everything can be accessed via the large touchscreen. There's also a slot for a memory card and it can be hooked up to a computer via USB. No word on if additional information can be added to the Gravida using these means.
The Gravida Nurse is small, cute, helpful and going for $22.65
Via UberGizmo
Posted by sherri
Category:
devices
Tags: device Gravidas Nurse Prenatal Education pregnancy prenatal
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12.29.2009
Kind Reminder Gives Comfort to Alzheimer's Patients
It's never easy caring for someone with Alzheimer's. It can be a devastating experiences watching a loved one slip in and out of lucidity. One can only imagine the confusion, anger, and fear a person affected by the disease experiences during these moments. A daughter of an Alzheimer's sufferer wanted to lend some comfort to her parent and created this ingenious device.
The Kind Reminder is a recorder that can be worn around the neck as a necklace or just kept close by. When the patient has a moment of disorientation, they can press the button on the recorder and the voice of their caretaker will play. The website says the product is designed for people with early to mid-stage Alzheimer's or memory loss related to age.
Continue reading "Kind Reminder Gives Comfort to Alzheimer's Patients"
Posted by sherri
Category:
devices
Tags: Alzheimer's device Kind Reminder medical
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12.28.2009
Smart Umbrella Tells the Weather
Ever missed the weather report and got caught in a torrential downpour? With this handy gadget you'll never have to worry about the rain again. The Ambient Umbrella is an intelligent accessory from Ambient Devices. A series of flashes in the handle indicates whether it's preparing to rain or snow and whether it will be a light drizzle or a heavy thunderstorm.
The umbrella receives local updates from Accuweather.com. Not sure how the umbrella itself will hold up in rough weather. The website says that it was constructed with a "top-quality "gust-buster" umbrella canopy design." If you're interested in owning a smart umbrella, you can pick one up for $129.
Via Technabob
Posted by sherri
Category:
accessories
Tags: accessories Ambient Devices Ambient Umbrella
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12.24.2009
S&J's Incredible, Non-edible Speakers
Computer peripheral manufacturer, S&J Co., Ltd, proves that sometimes to get great sound you have to break a few eggs. Their new line of ultra portable speakers are egg-shaped and awesome hence their name, Eggy.
The little speakers pack decent sound thanks to their 2W output and digital amps. They're USB-powered so there's no need to worry about batteries. The coolest thing about these speakers is that the magnetically lock. Once you're done using them, just put them together and you've got a shiny egg that can be easily slipped into a bag or pocket. These speakers would be an awesome peripheral for all those netbooks and laptops out there.
No word yet on price or availability, but they will be showing at this year's CES, so hopefully there will be more information in January.
Via Coolest Gadgets
Posted by sherri
Category:
design
| entertainment
| peripherals
Tags: design Eggy Ltd peripherals S&J Co. speakers
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12.23.2009
CO2 Dress Senses Pollution, Owns the Runway
The pretty frock in he picture is more than the latest piece of haute couture. Thanks to the efforts of Forster Rohner, Alexandra Institute, diffus.dk, and The Danish Design School this dress is not only fashion-forward it's also eco-friendy.
The LEDs embroidered into the dress actually show the levels of CO2 in the room. The dress monitors CO2 levels and transmits the information to the LEDs which flicker in response to the data. I wonder if the decision to make the dress a charcoal gray a purposeful one made by the collaborators to symbolize our declining air quality. At any rate, this is another example of how technology and fashion can come together to create something that's beautiful and functional both on and off the catwalk.
Via Fashioning Tech
Posted by sherri
Category:
design
| eco
| novelty
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Tags: CO2 design eco-friendly fashion technology
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12.22.2009
Casio Celebrates Hello Kitty's 35th Anniversary
Hello Kitty, the fictional character that adorns everything from purses to laptops is beloved around the world. The iconic kitty is turning 35 and to celebrate, Casio is unveiling this limited edition Hello Kitty Casio EX-Z90 digital camera.
The camera is available in two versions of pink. The area surrounding the lens is decked out in Swarovski crystals and of course features the face of Kitty and her trademark bow. Spec-wise, this is a a solid camera. It has 12.1 megapixels and 3x optical zoom. There's also intelligent Auto Focus that can detect any subject and automatically adjust exposure and focus. In addition, the Dynamic Photo function has been tweaked making it both easier and faster to create animated greeting cards or any other digital creations.
Unfortunately, this camera is a Korea exclusive, so you'll have to find an import site. But that shouldn't be too big of a hurdle for Hello Kitty fans.The price tag, however, might be a little much to swallow. Expect to pay $500 to satisfy your Hello Kitty lust.
Via Aving.net
Posted by sherri
Category:
cameras
| novelty
Tags: camera Casio hello kitty
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12.21.2009
Picnic by Juicy Couture
Juicy Couture new product is putting a fresh coat of paint on the old picnic theme. Available for pre-order, the Staycation Kit has everything you need to have a fun day at the park. The kit comes in a logo-themed leather tote bag that contains two mp3 speakers. There's also cutlery, dishes, and tumblers which are diswasher safe. There's even a blanket and cloth napkins that are machine washable.
The speaker dimensions are 12"H x 13"W x 6"D. There's no word on the wattage, so the sound quality is anyone's guess. The kit is available for $248. Just like the tagline says it's "everything you need to take your beau or bestie out for a picnic."
Via UberGizmo
Posted by sherri
Category:
luxury
| misc gadgets
| on the web
| shopping
Tags: fashion gadgets Juicy Couture picnic Staycation Kit
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